The night air buzzed with the sounds of the forest. The humming of cicadas, the chirping of crickets, the mournful calls of distant owls, and the gentle rustling of wind through the leaves. These were some of Fluttershy’s favorite sounds, and were what drew her away from the Camp Everfree fundraiser-turned-victory-party and into the calm stillness of night.
But there was one sound that stood out amongst the others, as foreign to the serene ambiance of nature as it was to the far-off music and revelry that echoed from within the cave. It was the sound of crying, not anguished wails or bitter sobs, just a quiet weeping that made Fluttershy’s heart feel heavy. She knew the sound well, and unable to bear the thought of another living being sad and alone on a night as beautiful as this, she decided to follow it.
The soft lament led her down a short path and into a small clearing. There, perched on a rock with tears glittering in the moonlight, she found its source.
“Sunset?” she asked, tentatively. The other girl looked up in alarm, wiping away her tears with the backs of her hands, leaving behind dark smudges of displaced makeup.
“Fluttershy?” croaked Sunset, clearing her throat before continuing. “What, uh, what are you doing out here?”
Fluttershy approached timidly, her hands clasped together over her chest. “Sunset, were you crying?”
Sunset sniffed, then let out a sad laugh. “That obvious, huh?” She scooted over on the rock, making room for Fluttershy to sit next to her.
Fluttershy obliged.
“So, you probably want to know why I’m out here,” said Sunset.
“Only if you want to tell me,” replied Fluttershy, turning her gaze upward. This far from the city lights, one sure could see a lot of stars.
Sunset sighed and hugged her legs tightly to her chest. “It’s… just me being stupid, I guess.”
“You’re not stupid,” said Fluttershy. Sunset laughed again, though this time it seemed a little more genuine.
“How do you know if I’m being stupid if I haven’t told you what’s wrong yet?” she asked.
Fluttershy thought for a moment before responding. “Because you’re too smart to ever be stupid.”
Sunset smiled and wiped fresh tears from the corners of her eyes. “Thanks,” she said “I needed that.”
Silence fell over the two girls, and together they stared wistfully into the night sky. It was beautiful, the way the stars twinkled, like a living painting whose canvas stretched off into eternity. It made all of life’s problem seem so small by comparison.
“I’m happy for her,” said Sunset. Fluttershy tore her gaze from the stars, only to find them reflected in her friend’s glistening eyes.
“Happy for who?” asked Fluttershy.
“For Twilight,” said Sunset. “I meant what I said, Timber does seem like a cool guy, it’s just…”
Sunset’s voice broke, and she took in a long, trembling breath. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks, hanging from her nose and chin. Fluttershy gently wrapped an arm around her and held her close.
“I love her, Fluttershy.”
Sunset pressed her face into Fluttershy’s shoulder as a sob racked her trembling form. Fluttershy stroked her head, knowing that this moment of anguish, like all moments, would soon pass.
“I’ve known for a while now, ever since I held her hand in mine at the Friendship Games, I knew there was something different about her. Different about me.
“Ever night I lay in bed thinking about her, and when I sleep it’s her face I see in my dreams. I tried rationalizing it, telling myself that I saw that I saw a part of myself in her, or that I wanted to help her like the other Twilight helped me, but that didn’t explain the butterflies I felt every time our eyes met. No, I knew then like I know now: I love Twilight Sparkle. But she doesn’t love me.”
A crow cawed somewhere in the distance.
“How do you know?” asked Fluttershy.
“Do you mean ‘have I asked her?’ No, I haven’t, and while I know there’s not a cruel bone in her body, I couldn’t bear to hear her say the words ‘I just don’t see you that way, Sunset’ or ‘you’re like family to me.’ And what then? ‘Hey, Twilight, I know I just confessed my love to you and you turned me down, but let’s go back to pretending everything is normal between us. Sound good?’” She looked up at Fluttershy. “I can’t risk losing her.”
“You should talk to her about it,” said Fluttershy. “Tell her how you feel.”
“Weren’t you listening? What if things change between us?” Her voice was filled with doubt.
“Not all change is bad,” said Fluttershy.
“You make it sound so simple,” sniffed Sunset.
A shooting star traced its way across the night sky. “Sometimes it is.”
Quiet fell over them once again. Sunset’s head still rested on Fluttershy’s shoulder, and she could feel her tears running down her arm as she continued to stroke Sunset’s hair. They sat like that for a long time, watching the stars and listening to the sounds of the forest.
Finally, Sunset let out a long sigh. “Maybe you’re right,” she said meekly. “Maybe I’m just being stupid.”
“You’re not stupid,” Fluttershy repeated.
Sunset choked out a laugh. “Okay then, maybe I’m just overthinking things, is that better?” Fluttershy nodded. “Okay then. Maybe I will talk to her – that’s a maybe, I’m not committing to anything – but I’m not going to do it tonight. She seemed so happy with Timber… and she deserves to be happy. I don’t want to confuse her, or worse, take that happiness away.”
Sunset picked her head up off Fluttershy’s shoulder and turned her gaze to the sky above. A stiff breeze caught her fiery hair, and clad as she was in a mantle of moonlight, Fluttershy found that Sunset Shimmer was especially beautiful that evening.
“I’m happy for her,” said Sunset. “I really, truly am.
“I’m just sad for me.”
Author's Note
This story was written and edited as I lay in bed tonight. It's rather short, but I hope you enjoyed it.
Thank you for reading.
