A Glimmering Sunset

When they arrived at the cinema, Sunset's friends couldn't help but notice that she and Starlight were holding hands, which is something that they had not seen Sunset do in ages. The first one to bring it up was Rarity, "Sunset darling, I'm surprised to see you holding hands with her, you've almost never held anyone's hand like that!"

Applejack added, "Yeah, even when you were with that Flash Sentry feller you never held his hand like that." She motioned for Sunset to come closer and whispered, "Sunset, Ah know it isn't any of my business but why are you holding hands with her?"

Sunset held her head down to where no one else could see and blushed, "Well, I kind of have a crush on her, I don't know what it is but I feel a real sense of attraction to her."

Applejack was shocked because not only did she think Sunset only liked guys but also that they barely knew one another. She whispered, "Sunset, y'all barely know one another and what does she think about you two holding hands?"

Sunset whispered back, "This is her first time in the human world so I don't think she has even given it that much thought. She may think it is just something human friends do."

Applejack whispered, "Well alright, Ah just wouldn't want her to think anything that may not be true." She motioned for Sunset to return to Starlight and continued, "Well ladies, shall we go and buy our tickets?"

They all began cheering as they headed in to buy their tickets but Starlight realized something, she didn't have any money. She turned to Sunset and asked, "Sunset, how am I supposed to get in to the premiere? I don't have any money!"

Sunset put her arm around her and replied, "Don't worry Starlight, I was planning on buying our tickets."

Starlight was relieved but wasn't exactly sure as how to react to Sunset putting her arm around her so she put her arm around her as well. Sunset gave her a smile and they approached the ticket counter where they were greeted by Juniper. Despite her earlier apology, she was still nervous that Sunset and her friends were angry with her. She nervously asked, "Oh hi, here to see the premiere?"

Sunset replied, "Yes, two tickets please."

Sunset bought their tickets and they headed off to the concession stand. Starlight looked at the prices and thought that if the cost of things in the human world were comparable to how they are in Equestria, that they were horribly expensive. She gasped, "Sunset, you don't have to get me anything because it is all so expensive."

Sunset replied, "Don't worry about it Starlight, get what you want."

Starlight was looking at some of the things other people were ordering, especially the beverages. When she saw the pop some people were buying, she couldn't help but be turned off by it. She said, "You know, I think maybe I'll just get some water and popcorn."

Water was a bit cheaper than the pop and Sunset thought that maybe she was simply ordering it because of the cost. She suggested, "Why don't you get some pop, it tastes good."

Starlight still couldn't help but cringe at the dark brown liquid. She replied, "That's alright Sunset, I think I'd rather have water."

Sunset sighed in frustration but remembered how Twilight cringed at it the first time she came as well. Once they received their concessions, they headed to watch the movie. There were still a ton of empty seats and Starlight asked, "So where are we going to sit?"

Sunset asked in return, "Would you rather sit to where you could get out right away if you had to or would you rather sit in the middle?"

Starlight replied, "I would rather sit to where if I had to get out immediately if I had to."

Sunset grabbed her hand and led her to two seats on the outside. Sunset sat in the second seat while Starlight sat right on the very edge. She saw some people were sitting right in the very middle and couldn't help but wonder how anyone could stand to be so closed in. Soon they were joined by their friends who were shocked to see them sitting right there on the outside. Pinkie asked, "Sunset, what are you doing sitting all the way out here?"

Rainbow added, "Yeah, normally we all sit in the middle!"

Sunset replied, "Well Starlight said that she would feel more comfortable if she could get out right away if something happened."

Starlight smiled and nodded as Sunset continued, "Why don't all of you just sit here by me."

Her friends preferred to sit right in the middle and hoped that they could perhaps change Starlight's mind since they weren't fond of an off-center view. Rarity asked, "Starlight darling, we all like to sit in the middle. Would sitting there just this one time be ok?"

Sunset looked over and gave her a smile. She realized that this would likely be the only time she would do this so she reluctantly agreed to. As they headed further in Starlight began to become more nervous but thought to herself, "Come on Starlight, you've stole cutie marks, you've traveled through time and you saved Equestria from Chrysalis so this shouldn't be too hard!"

Once they got sat down Sunset looked over at Starlight and saw a nervous look on her face. She asked, "Are you ok Starlight?"

Starlight was already feeling fairly nervous focusing on all the what if scenarios that could happen but wanted to appear strong. She replied, "Yeah, I'm ok."

Sunset wrapped her arm around her prompting Starlight to do the same. She was able to reassure her that nothing would happen and soon the lights dimmed as the movie was beginning. Starlight couldn't help but watch in awe as the film began to play on the screen. Despite wanting to ask Sunset how that worked, she could hear other people being told to shush so she decided against it.

As the movie progressed, most everyone in the theater became absorbed in it but Starlight just couldn't get into it. It was a romantic comedy and Starlight never had been much for romance whether it was in real life or in books. She put her free hand over her mouth and yawned. Sunset saw this and whispered, "I know it isn't very exciting but I'm certain it will....."

Sunset was interrupted by someone in the row behind them, "Shhhh."

Sunset went silent but Starlight got her message. Once a more romantic part of the movie came along Sunset began to massage Starlight's shoulder and she wasn't sure exactly why she was doing that but decided to reciprocate the action. Like it had been with the hand holding, Starlight wasn't sure why Sunset was doing that but she did think it felt wonderful and thought to herself, "If this is what friendship here is all about, I'd think everyone would be friends with each other!"

Once the credits began to roll and the lights came back on, everyone got up and began to leave. Once they were outside Sunset asked, "Starlight, what did you think of the film?"

Starlight had not payed a ton of attention to the movie as her attention was mainly focused on Sunset's hand holding and shoulder massaging so she decided to lie, "Oh it was alright." She held her head down and blushed, "But I'm going to admit, that shoulder massage you gave me did feel really good."

Sunset gave her a smile and replied, "Well the massage you gave me felt good too."

It was getting late and not only were Starlight and Sunset tired, but so were their friends. Once they gathered together Sunset yawned, "I don't know about all of you but I'm getting tired. I'd love to stay and talk but I really want to get some rest."

Starlight yawned, "I know how you feel, when you're not used to sitting in the dark, it is tiring."

Rarity said, "Well we were really hoping that we could go to the cafe and chat but we understand that you want to go home and get some re...."

Sunset grabbed Starlight's hand and replied, "Well thanks for understanding but both Starlight and I want to get some rest." She turned to Starlight and asked, "Shall we?"

Starlight replied, "Yeah, I'm really tired and some sleep sounds really good."

As they headed off in the other direction, hand in hand, Sunset's friends couldn't help but wonder what was going on with her. Rainbow was the first to say anything, "What is up with her, she is never in this big of a hurry to get home."

Rarity added, "And her holding hands with her, she wasn't even that affectionate with Flash Sentry when they were dating!"

Pinkie continued, "Yeah and did you see Sunset giving Starlight a shoulder massage during the movie?"

Applejack, despite likely knowing why Sunset has been behaving the way she was around Starlight simply decided to make a suggestion, "You know, this may sound sort of odd but y'all don't think maybe Sunset has a crush on Starlight do you?"

Rainbow broke down laughing, "That's a good one AJ, I don't think Sunset would have a crush on another girl!"

Fluttershy, who had been more quiet than normal suggested, "Well maybe there is just something about Starlight that she likes."

It was all Applejack could do not to say anything, especially since Fluttershy's suggestion was correct and she wanted to change the topic. She suggested, "Well ladies, since Sunset headed home, think we should head to the cafe?"

They all agreed in unison but most of them still couldn't help but wonder why Sunset was being so affectionate towards a girl she barely knew and likely had no clue that everything she was doing were her ways of saying that she had a crush on her.