One Week in Puerto Caballo
Pinkie stared at the balloon-shaped earrings resting cozily in their little jewellery box. She smiled as she lifted them out and fastened them to her ears with all the care and attention of an expert cake builder, being careful as not to blemish their shine.
“And done!” Pinkie looked at herself in the mirror and frowned. “I think.”
“Ooh!” Rarity’s excited voice called out from her phone. “Come on, darling, show me!”
Pinkie lifted her phone so Rarity could see.
“My goodness! You look—”
“Stupenderrific?” Pinkie asked.
“Well, I was going to say beautiful, but yes, that too.”
Pinkie giggled. “Well, I just did exactly what you told me to.”
“Yes, but you did it all by yourself. I knew that dress would look fabulous on you, but those earrings you chose, they really are the pièce de résistance.”
Pinkie gently ran a finger down one of them and blushed. “Sunset gave them to me on our fourth date. I’ve only ever worn them on our most specially important dates.”
“Such a romantic gesture!” Rarity’s image swooned out of view of her camera.
“Do you think it’ll work?” Pinkie asked.
Rarity fell back into view. “Of course it will! Honestly, Sunset would have to be blind to miss how stunning you look.”
“It’s not the look I want, Rarity,” Pinkie said, “it’s the feeling. Like it’s our first date again.”
“Yes, well, let’s hope this time it doesn’t involve getting yourselves plastered in chocolate cake and kicked out of the restaurant.”
Pinkie giggled. “Okay, so maybe more like our fourth date.”
“This restaurant is one of the best, Pinkie. Well, I’ve never been to it myself, but I’ve read the reviews! I’m sure you two will have a splendid time. Now, you’ve taken long enough. Get out there and enjoy yourselves.”
“Thanks Rarity!” Pinkie quickly put her phone away.
She took one last look in the mirror, making sure everything was as perfect as Rarity had said. Her makeup, the pink and blue dress—made by Rarity, of course—and her hair. It had to be the best for Sunset.
The earrings where a bonus, like the sweet, chocolatey core of a chocolate surprise cake. When Sunset had given them to her, Pinkie had gasped so hard she nearly fell off her chair and into the waitress behind her.
Pinkie almost jumped as her phone buzzed. She glanced at the reminder and gasped. “Oh no! Rarity was right! I’m going to be late!”
Pinkie grabbed her phone and threw it into the purse Rarity had picked for her and rushed out of the bathroom of the modestly sized hotel room. She made a mad dash for the door only to stop at the last moment.
Something's missing. Something’s missing!
She patted down her dress and pushed her head into her purse, then twisted around—a difficult feat in her heels—and looked at the bed.
A small blue present sat there, wrapped in a pink bow. Pinkie sighed and scooped it up.
“Couldn’t show up at our one-and-only nine month ‘let’s make Sunset happy again’ date without you, could we?”
She rushed out of the hotel and into the cool evening air of Puerto Caballo. It wasn’t far to the restaurant, so she walked down the streets, enjoying the golden glow of the setting sun. She bounced along the avenue, dancing amongst the palm trees and skipping along the beachfront. She got a few odd looks from the people she passed, but she didn't mind. Finally, she stopped under the bright golden sign of the restaurant.
She glanced at her phone and let out a sigh of relief. She had made it just in time and Sunset should already be inside. As Rarity had suggested, they had agreed not to arrive together. Pinkie was sceptical at first, but she had asked for Rarity to help plan the vacation. It had to be the bestest and most perfect of vacations after all.
She took a deep breath, savouring the salty Caribbean air, which mixed nicely with the scent of the restaurant's fresh food. The restaurant was in a classy looking building overlooking the glimmering sea. Tall palm trees stood outside and as Pinkie bounced through the door she entered a large hall of bronze and gold. The waiter at the door smiled to her and after checking the reservation led her out to a balcony.
Pinkie could see why Rarity had suggested the place; it was packed with couples in fine suits and dazzling dresses whispering to each other over fancy looking plates of food.
“Here we are, Madam,” the waiter said. He pulled out a seat at a table by the edge of the balcony, an entirely empty table apart from the bread basket and flickering candle.
Pinkie frowned. “No, this isn’t right.”
A flash of worry crossed the waiter's face. “Madam?”
“Where’s Sunset?!”
“If you look to the west—“
“No! Not that sunset. Sunset Shimmer. The kind, beautiful and super dooper awesome fun Sunset!”
Pinkie looked around, her heart pounding. The waiter and a couple from a nearby table were giving her those confused looks most people gave her, but everyone else was busy enjoying their meals with no sign of Sunset among them. She’s not here! Something awful must have happened to her!
Pinkie reached for her phone. Sunset surely would have sent her a message. She opened the text app but frowned when she noticed the last text from her had been sent before they had boarded their flight.
Pinkie gulped. Sunset said she would be here first, so why wasn’t she? Maybe she had fallen into the sea? Or gotten locked in a bathroom? Or caught up in a carnival! Although, it would have to be a surprise carnival, as there sadly wasn’t one planned tonight.
“Madam, I’m sure your friend will be here soon,” the waiter said with about as much joy as a stale cookie. “Please, take a seat. I shall fetch you a drink if you wish.”
Pinkie’s phone trembled in her hand, her finger over Sunset’s text messages. She looked at him for a moment as more possibilities crossed her mind: a zoo escape, a monster attack, a wall in desperate need of paint?
She gulped, nodded, and took her seat.
She ordered some juice—the waiter rolled his eyes as he left—and sat staring at the entrance. Her fingers drummed against the tablecloth and she was only vaguely aware of the annoyed glances from the nearby table. She’s just running late, that’s all. Any moment now she’ll come right through that door…
There was movement in the doorway. Pinkie sat upright, her smile growing.
A pair walked in, a mother and daughter from the looks of it.
Pinkie sighed and slouched in her chair. She glanced at her phone again. Not a single text. No alert. Nothing.
“Where are you, Sunny?” She sighed and buried her head into her arms.
What if she wasn’t coming?
Pinkie tried to keep the thought away, but the more she was left alone, the stronger it grew.
What if she finally got bored of you? What if she found someone more fun?
Pinkie sat up and let out a frustrated groan. “Sunset’s the only one more fun than me!”
She stared out at the last rays of sunlight that disappeared below the horizon and, for a moment, she saw her Sunset fall with them. It had been three months since she first noticed the change in Sunset’s smile. They had been growing closer each day but then it felt like it just stopped. Sure, Sunset still smiled, still kissed Pinkie and held her tight, but there was something different about it. Sunset tried to hide it, but Pinkie could tell that her smile wasn’t as big as before and that her hugs were not as tight.
Pinkie sighed and rested her head in her hands. “Sunset will be here, Pinkie. Don’t worry. It will all be okay—”
There was a rush of movement and a flash of red in the corner of her eye.
Pinkie lurched upright, her heart hammering away.
“Sunset!” Her cry startled the diners at the neighbouring table.
Sunset rushed onto the balcony as well as she could in her tight red and gold dress and high heels. Her hair was a mess of gold and red, tied back by a single band.
“I’m so sorry!” she panted as she reached the table. “I’m so, so sorry Pinkie. Were you waiting—Ack!”
Pinkie didn't let her finish, cutting her off with a tight hug. The smell of strawberries and soap greeted her nose.
“I’m so glad you’re here! I was so worried about you. What was it? A carnival? An escaped alligator? Oh! Please don’t say you were watching paint dry!”
Sunset chuckled softly. “I guess that means I’m forgiven?”
“You’re here, Sunny. That’s all that matters,” Pinkie said, releasing her hug.
Sunset smiled and fell into her seat. “And I was just held up trying to find somewhere to change, that’s all. I still don’t get why we couldn’t walk here together.” She grabbed her menu and started scanning its contents.
“I just thought it would make things interesting.” Pinkie took her seat and smiled. Any moment now.
Sunset had that cute reading smile of hers as her eyes scanned over the menu. A bang of hair fell in front of her eyes. She winked her brow and quickly tied it back.
Pinkie tapped her foot impatiently, her cheeks beginning to strain.
It’s okay, Pinkie. It’s okay. Sunset’s probably super into the food. That’s all.
She picked up her own menu and examined the long list of overly fancy names. They didn’t even have pictures!
She peeked over the top of her menu and met Sunset’s eyes.
“So, do you know what you want?” Sunset asked. “You’ve probably had plenty of time to read it by now.”
“Not really,” Pinkie said.
“Well, I like the sound of the vegetarian paella.”
Pinkie nodded absent-mindedly. Okay, think, Pinkie. What would Rarity do? She put the menu down, gave her hair a small flourish and leaned forwards, fluttering her eyelashes. “You look great tonight, Sunset.”
Sunset looked up from the menu. “Really? Thanks Pinkie. I was sure I’d messed up somewhere.”
Pinkie’s eye twitched.
The waiter came over and took their orders. Pinkie, still unsure of the menu, chose to follow Sunset’s lead; after all, if she liked it then it must be good.
"This is a really nice place, Pinkie." Sunset took a sip from her drink. "It’s very classy."
Pinkie nodded. “Yeah. I thought it would be fun to try somewhere different.”
Well, Rarity did, she added in her mind.
Pinkie thought those cozy little restaurants nestled between brightly painted buildings would be good enough. However, Rarity had insisted that the first meal of their vacation had to be special. It was all a part of the plan and when it came to relationship advice, Pinkie was desperate.
“And the city!” Sunset continued. “It’s amazing here. I can’t wait to explore more tomorrow.”
“But, I thought we were going to the beach tomorrow?” Pinkie said.
Sunset shrugged. “We could go. I just wanted to look round a bit more. There’s just so much cool stuff to do and we have only a week to do it.”
“Oh yeah, there really is! I planned out every awesome thing we could ever possibly do together, Sunset. It’s going to be great!”
“You planned it?” Sunset chuckled. “You really were keen on this vacation, weren't you?”
Pinkie laughed nervously. “Well… I did have a bit of help. But I was just so excited I didn’t want to miss out on doing anything cool and exciting with you, Sunset.”
Sunset smiled, rolled her eyes and reached across the table to place her hand on Pinkie’s. “I just know that whatever it is, it’ll be great. You, me, here in this strange place together; thank you for thinking of this vacation. It’s going to be fantastic.”
“You really mean that?” Pinkie interlaced her fingers with Sunset's.
“Of course.” Sunset squeezed Pinkie's hand, sending a warm tingle coursing through her.
Pinkie sighed dreamily. Perhaps it really was all in her head. Or maybe the vacation really was already working.
Either way, as she stared into Sunset’s eyes, shimmering in the golden candlelight, she was reminded of the campfires at Camp Everfree. They were sitting around one when she first discovered that Sunset meant more to her than just being one of her bestest friends.
Pinkie’s eyes widened. “Oh! I almost forgot—”
“Your meals, Madams,” the waiter said, interrupting their moment with the clatter of plates.
Sunset thanked him and quickly tucked in.
Pinkie frowned. Even the cute little faces Sunset made when eating couldn’t sustain the warm feeling in Pinkie’s heart. “Sunset.”
Sunset gave her a half smile. “Yes Pinkie?”
“As I was saying, I got something for you.” Pinkie reached into her bag and pulled out her present. Sunset’s eyes widened, and for a brief moment, a look of panic crossed her face.
“Is something wrong?”
“No! Nothing’s wrong!” Sunset gulped down her mouthful of food. “For me? Really? Pinkie, you shouldn't have.”
A lump formed in Pinkie’s throat as she placed the present on the table. “You didn’t get me anything, did you?”
Sunset lurched forwards and grabbed Pinkie’s hand before she could pull it away. “Pinkie, I’m sorry, okay. It’s just… This was our first day here and I haven’t had time to find anything nice for you.”
Pinkie nodded and took a deep breath. “I… Okay, Sunset.” She forced a smile. “It’s fine. Honestly. You know I just love giving you presents.”
“I’ll make it up to you, I promise. And if it helps, I won’t open this until I do.”
“Oh, you don’t have to—”
“It’s only fair. Don’t worry about it. Let’s enjoy the night, okay?”
Sunset gave Pinkie’s hand another squeeze, only this time, it felt cold. And not the good kind of cold, like ice cream with a milkshake.
Pinkie tried her best to eat. It tasted great, of course, but, but the nagging at the back of her head prevented her from enjoying every mouthful, and her twisting stomach made each bite almost unbearable. But she didn’t dare reject the food. Sunset would know something was wrong if she didn’t eat, and the last thing she wanted was to ruin the night.
It has to be perfect. It has to work.
She glanced at the unopened gift in the middle of the table. Pinkie supposed she couldn’t blame Sunset for not buying her a gift. Her excuse was reasonable, after all. And it wasn't like she kept track of each moment in their relationship as well as Pinkie. Most people wouldn’t even remember that today was the nine-month, one week, four day, thirteen-hour and forty-two minute anniversary of their first kiss.
“So,” Pinkie eventually said, “was there one thing you really, really wanted to do on vacation?”
Sunset looked up from her plate suddenly. “To do here? Well I… Uh… I would like to go jet skiing! Yes, that’s it. What about you, Pinkie?”
“I’d love to see a carnival.”
“Oh yeah, that would be good.”
“But there’s also this really, really cool pirate experience thing around here somewhere. You get to go on a real pirate ship and be part of the crew for the day and stuff. I saw it in the tour guide!”
“Of course you’d like that,” Sunset chuckled. “Yeah, that does sound fun.”
“Just think of how great it would be, Sunset? Me, you, being pirates! We’d get to roam the sea and get treasure. And with our super awesome magic no one could stop us—”
“Pinkie!” Sunset snapped in a hushed voice.
Pinkie froze at Sunset’s icy glare. “Is something wrong?”
Sunset threw a glance to the nearest table where yet again the couple at it were giving both of them annoyed looks. “Can you please stop shouting about magic all the time,” Sunset whispered.
“But why?” Pinkie asked softly. She smiled at the couple who just rolled their eyes and went back to their food.
“You know why Pinkie. I explained this the last time you did it.”
“Oh?” Pinkie’s mind ticked back in time to the last conversation it came up. It was only a few days ago at the airport. A pang of gilt gripped her. “Oh… I’m so sorry, Sunset. I just can’t help it. It’s just so super awesome that I can’t help but get excited about it.”
Sunset gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I understand, Pinkie. But please try, okay.”
Pinkie put on a smile to hide her guilt. “For you, anything.”
The rest of the meal went by in near silence, save for the occasional commets about the rest of their vacation plans. Surfing, hiking, dancing, carnival—all the things that they enjoyed and that this island had in abundance.
And they would be together for every moment of it.
Sunset smiled the whole time. But it wasn’t the joyful loving smile Sunset used to have on their dates. It was one of contentment. It was missing that little thing that made Sunset’s smiles so special to Pinkie. That small spark of sunny joy. And as far as she could tell, the meal wasn’t helping at all.
“Are you still upset?” Sunset asked.
Oh phooey!
“I’m just thinking, that’s all,” Pinkie said, turning her frown upside down.
“About what?”
“About all the cool stuff we’re going to be doing together. It'll be like old times, right?”
“Old times?” Sunset raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Pinkie, we’ve only been dating for eight months.”
“Yeah, but, think of how awesome those nine months have been,” she said. “Come on, you can’t deny that you don’t wanna have all that fun again, right?”
Sunset prodded at her food and chuckled half-heartedly. “I don’t know. Is there such a thing as too much fun?”
“No,” Pinkie said, putting on her serious voice.
Sunset laughed once. Just once. It was an honest, genuine laugh, but it wasn’t the rolls of laughter that such things used to get out of her. Sunset hadn’t laughed like that in a while. At least, not at Pinkie’s jokes.
Sunset yawned. “Sorry, I guess I’m still tired from the journey.”
“Did you enjoy your food?”
“It was very good. Yours?”
Pinkie nodded. “Yeah, it was good. But, uh… Did you like anything else?”
Sunset leaned forwards. “To be honest, this place is kind of dull.”
Pinkie’s stomach twisted, making her lose what little appetite she had left. “Oh…”
“But the view and food are great, so I guess that's all that matters.”
“Yeah, right.” Pinkie tried to smile.
Their waiter approached the table. “Are you ready for the desert menu?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Sunset.
“No,” said Pinkie who then flinched under Sunset’s wide-eyed stare. “I’m not feeling well.”
“Oh. Well, I guess we’ll have the bill then.”
The waiter nodded and returned with it a moment later.
Sunset took one look at the bill and frowned. “I really hope dollars are worth a lot here.” She reached to her side only to pause as her mouth opening in horror. “Oh… That’s what I forgot.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll pay for it.” Pinkie said.
“You’ve paid for me enough times, Pinkie.”
“Yeah, but I’m the one with money. It’s okay, Sunny. Don’t you worry.” She flashed her a tired smile.
The journey back to the hotel was short and silent. Sunset tucked her arm under Pinkie’s and gave a half-smile.
“Are you feeling better?” Sunset asked as she unlocked their hotel room’s door.
“A little,” Pinkie said. “I’m sorry, Sunset. I wanted tonight to be great but…”
“Hey, it was still fun.” Sunset lead Pinkie to the bed and sat her down. “And it’s not your fault you’re feeling ill. Just get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
Pinkie smiled.
Maybe there’s still a chance.
She changed into her candy-blue PJs and curled up under the bedsheets. Sunset laid down beside her, shooting her a small smile, only for it to fall a moment later. “You’re thinking of something.”
“Am not.”
“You are. Your forehead goes all wrinkly when you think hard about something.”
Pinkie sighed and rolled over. “It’s just that I wanted tonight to be just perfect and it wasn’t.”
Sunset leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “It’s the thought that counts.”
Pinkie flashed her a smile that lasted for only a few moments. “My dress.”
“Hmm? What about it?”
“What did you think?”
“That it suited you. Then again, it was made by Rarity, so of course it did.”
“Of course…” Pinkie sighed. “Anything else?”
“You looked amazing, Pinkie.”
“Thank you.” Pinkie didn’t feel like she deserved to smile.
Sunset gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before switching off the light.
Pinkie lay on her back, waiting. “Goodnight, Sunset,” she eventually whispered. “I love you.”
There was a moment of silence. “I love you too, Pinkie.”
The darkness masked Sunset's expression.
Pinkie stared off into the inky void that surrounded her. It didn’t feel like she had Sunset by her side. She might as well have been all alone with only her restless thoughts.
I love you. Sunset’s words where a clear as day, but it was with the same tone she had used for the past month. A far cry from the warmth and joy those words had once brought. But still, she said it.
So why didn’t Pinkie believe her?
Pinkie woke up. The first rays of light hadn’t yet broken. She turned to her phone to check the time. Five in the morning, far too early for any sane person to be up. She sighed and rolled back into the bed, splaying herself across the soft mattress until she reached the other side of the bed.
Her eyes shot open. “Sunset?”
No response. Not even those cute little snores Sunset made.
She slammed on the bedside light and jumped out of bed. Sunset wasn’t in bed. In fact, she wasn’t even in the room! Pinkie checked the bathroom, the closet, even under the bed and behind the TV.
There was no sign of her.
Pinkie scooped up her phone. Still no texts. Surely Sunset would have left her a note if she was going out, right?
Sunset’s phone was also gone, along with one of her bags and her leather jacket. Pinkie slowly sat on the end of the bed. Her fingers hovered over the text screen, but she found herself unable to write anything.
She’s gone… Pinkie clenched her eyes shut. No! There must be a reason! She must be kidnapped or doing world-saving magic or something!
The door’s lock clicked.
Pinkie looked over as it opened just a crack. The door suddenly froze, just enough to let a thin beam of the hallway’s light funnel in. Whoever was on the other side let out a familiar pony-related curse.
Pinkie jumped at the door and flung it open. “Sunset!”
Sunset yelped, stumbling back a bit only to be dragged into the room by Pinkie’s crushing hug.
“I was so worried about you!” Pinkie whimpered. “Where were you? Kidnapped? Saving the day?” Her nose wrinkled. “And why do you smell funny?”
“Pinkie!” Sunset managed to gasp out. “You’re awake?”
“So are you! But why, Sunset? You don’t like mornings.”
Sunset pushed away from Pinkie just enough for her to loosen the hug. “I… I couldn’t sleep, that’s all. So I decided to go for a walk.”
“In the middle of the night? Without me?”
“You were just sleeping so peacefully. I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Pinkie frowned. “You could've left a note.”
Sunset sighed and then yawned. “I’m sorry, Pinkie. I really am. But I thought I’d be back long before you woke up.”
She gave Pinkie a kiss on the forehead. “I didn’t think you’d be up so early.” She walked over to the small couch by the balcony window and yawned before falling into it’s plush softness. She kicked off her boots and dropped her bag to her side. “But now I’m tired. How about we get a little more sleep?”
Pinkie nodded. “I had so many ideas of cool things we could do today.”
“That’s good,” Sunset said with another yawn and closed her eyes.
Pinkie grabbed her hand and pulled her upright. “Come on, Sunny. The bed is for sleeping.”
Sunset smirked groggily and allowed herself to be pulled into bed. She threw off her clothes and crawled under the sheets.
Pinkie crawled in beside her. “Sunset?”
“Later,” Sunset groaned.
“Goodnight,” Pinkie whispered.
Sunset mumbled something into her pillow before drifting off to sleep. Pinkie reached over to the bedside lamp, only to pause at the last second. She glanced over to the bag Sunset had. It was an old gym bag she had packed some clothes in before they left. But why would Sunset need it on a midnight walk?
Pinkie frowned for a moment, then shrugged. She flicked off the light and snuggled up next to Sunset.
Whatever the reason she had for taking the bag could wait. After all, Sunset wouldn’t hide anything from her.
As she fell asleep, doubt crept into her mind.
When Pinkie woke again, her legs had tangled with Sunset’s. She smiled and yawned, rolling over to nuzzle against Sunset’s side. The thought of waking Sunset crossed her mind—after all, every moment together mattered. That, and she didn't want Sunny missing out on a free breakfast. But the thought of relaxing in bed together was too tempting to ignore, not to mention that it was always a fun thing to do. They would talk about random things: how their day had been, plans for the future, stories from their past and all the cool dreams they had. Sunset would always laugh at Pinkie’s stories, and Pinkie would laugh too—they were just that funny!
They hadn’t had a morning like that in exactly forty-one days.
“Sunset?” Pinkie whispered.
Sunset cutely snored in response.
Pinkie just shrugged and climbed out of bed. She yawned and stretched before taking a seat on the couch.
Sunset had always been a messy sleeper, but then again, Pinkie was too. They often woke up in the night with each other’s limbs entangled and the blankets twisted around in an uncomfortable heap. It was annoying. Sometimes Gummy would even end up on the floor! But she didn’t mind in the end. Sunset always gave better hugs than Gummy ever had.
But like everything from Sunset, her hugs hadn’t been feeling the same recently. Sure, they were still warm and comfy, but they were shorter than before and lacked in their tightness. Was she getting bored of hugs? No, that would have been impossible.
Her phone buzzed from atop the chest of drawers, grabbing Pinkie's attention. She picked it up and glanced at the message on the lock screen. A text from Rarity simply asking, “How did it go?”
Pinkie thought about it for a moment.
How did it go? Well, Sunset didn’t notice my earrings at all. She didn’t want to open my present because she didn’t bring her own. But she did still hold my hand, kiss me, and said she loved me. But… It didn’t feel right. None of it did. It was like being on a date with Maud’s boyfriend! (Only way less annoying.)
Pinkie’s finger hovered over the send button. She hadn’t meant to type all that out. She considered it for a moment, and then deleted the text, replacing it with a simple, “It was okay. But I think we need more time.”
“Oh dear,” Rarity replied. “Want to talk about it?”
Pinkie thought about her reply. “Do you know if Sunset likes midnight walks?”
There was a pause.
“Midnight walks? I’ve never heard of that before.”
There was another pause.
“Why do you ask?”
“No reason. Just thinking of fun things to do,” Pinkie lied.
She felt guilty as she sent the message and immediately wished she could have taken it back.
Quickly, she sent off another text. “We’re going to explore today. I wanted to go to the beach, but Sunset said we’d do that another day. I heard they have great joke stores here!”
“Sounds fantastic, darling. Have fun!”
Pinkie leaned back into her seat and sighed. If last night couldn’t reignite that little flame in Sunset, then today would surely have a better chance.
Her foot knocked something hard. She looked down to realise it was the bag Sunset had last night, still lying discarded next to her leather jacket. Pinkie frowned, remembering the questions from the night before. Why would Sunset need such a thing on a walk?
She reached out for it but paused. Was it right to open it? What if Sunset had a surprise in there for her? Opening it would surely ruin any surprise, not to mention be a big breach of Sunset’s private stuff. Sunset always took privacy seriously. It probably had something to do with her mind reading magic.
She stared at Sunset's sleeping form, just in time to witness her eye's flutter open and a meek groan escape her.
Pinkie gently rested a hand on her arm. “Sunset?”
“Five more minutes please,” Sunset groaned into her pillow.
“Okie dokie. I’ll just go and get some breakfast in bed for you.”
“Ugh..." Sunset sat up, allowing the pillow to slip away as strands of hair now blocked her half-opened eyes. "Nah, I'll just run down and grab something."
“Are you sure? I really don’t mind.”
“You’re still in your PJs.”
“And you’re mostly naked,” Pinkie giggled. “But fine. If you want breakfast downstairs, then we’ll go together.”
“I wasn’t kidding about the five more minutes,” Sunset threw her head into her pillows.
Pinkie smiled softly and petted Sunset’s head. “Don’t you worry then. I’ll take care of everything. Just you rest, Sunset.”
Sunset snored in response.
The large square by the shorefront was dominated by a really big and important building with a high dome and lots of statues. Twilight probably would have many facts about it whilst Rarity would go on about its grandeur. To Pinkie, it looked just like any other big and important building. But with her hand curled around Sunset’s, it could've been a rickety shack and she wouldn’t have minded.
“So, exploring time?” Pinkie asked.
Sunset nodded. “Exploring time. Which way?”
Pinkie glanced around the plaza and hummed to herself. The sea was behind them and they could walk along its shoreline, enjoying the salty smell and cool breeze. Or, they could delve into the twisting streets between the tall, brightly painted buildings.
Pinkie chose the latter.
“Come on, this way,” she giggled and pulled Sunset towards a side street.
They passed into a maze of tall terraced homes and shops.
Pinkie loved the bright and vibrant colours they were each painted, reminding her of a packet of crayons. Bunting and flags hung over the cobbled streets, alongside large flashy signs which advertised stores of all kinds. They passed boutiques and bookstores, places Rarity and Twilight would no doubt love, but not at all suitable for Pinkie.
Sunset walked by without even sparing them a glance.
The rich smell of coffee and sweetness of cake wafted through the street from the many cafes and restaurants, all of them looking far cozier than the one they’d been the previous night.
Was Rarity wrong? Would the night have gone better if we'd gone to one of these places?
Still, they kept walking through the bustling crowds, arms linked together. Pinkie squeezed especially tight in case she lost Sunset in the wave of tourists and locals.
“See anything you like?” Pinkie asked.
Sunset shrugged. “It’s nice, but not really.”
Oh no. She’s bored! There’s got to be something Sunset would find fun around here. Think, Pinkie, think!
She looked up and down the streets. Book stores, cafes, music stores—she paused and considered that last one. It may be fun, but she pushed it back to plan B. They stepped out into a square with a fountain at its centre. A large building overlooked it, with several banners showing off snippets of paintings and pottery fluttering from its side.
“Huh, an art gallery,” Sunset said.
Yes!
Pinkie dragged Sunset up the gallery’s steps. “Let’s have a look!”
“I thought you hated galleries,” Sunset said with a smirk.
Pinkie shrugged. “They’re growing on me.”
They reached the doors and Pinkie reached for her wallet. “Don’t worry, this is on me.”
“Uh, Pinkie, it’s free entry,” Sunset said, pointing to a sign.
“Oh.” Pinkie stuffed a few notes into a donations box and smiled at Sunset.
They entered the lobby and stared up at the grand staircase which dominated the room.
“Where to first?” Pinkie asked.
“Let’s start up top and work our way down. We’ll save the best for last.”
“You mean that modern art stuff? I still don’t get how that stuff is art. Your stuff is better than that!”
Sunset rolled her eyes. “Come on you, upstairs.”
The gallery wasn’t as big as its grand outside had led Pinkie to believe, or maybe it was the lack of interesting art inside that gave that illusion. She didn’t know why old people painted such dull things, like people standing around a table, or a mother holding a baby—although the baby was cute.
Sunset just smiled and held Pinkie’s hand as they walked. She would occasionally stop in front of a piece and admire it. As to what she saw in them, Pinkie could only guess.
They eventually made their way to the modern art section on the ground floor, and Pinkie was only slightly disappointed by the lack of superheroes and monsters. As she expected, the room was full of the kind of paintings that a two-year-old could make. But the bright colours and vivid shapes appealed to her.
They stopped in front of a large canvas, and Pinkie tried her best to admire the swirls of pink, red and white that formed cloud-like shapes.
“What do you think?” Sunset asked.
“Oh… well… I think it looks like someone just splashed a load of paint on the canvas and swirled it around. But it looks like they had fun with it!”
Sunset chuckled. “Fun’s always good.”
Pinkie narrowed her eyes, studying the piece intently. “What’s it supposed to be?”
Sunset shrugged. “Beats me. Just so long as you enjoy it, that’s all that matters.”
Pinkie stared at the colours and random lines scattered carelessly around. She pointed to a strange shape on the canvas. “I think that part looks like a penguin with a tuba for an umbrella.”
Sunset draped an arm around her, and Pinkie’s heart almost jumped. She glanced out the corner of her eye and saw Sunset smiling. It was a real smile, the kind that Sunset always used to have when they first started dating.
“I think you’re right. But only you could see that, Pinkie.”
“Don’t worry, Sunset. I’m sure you’ll get there one day.”
Their laughter got them annoyed looks from the gallery staff as they left.
Pinkie was still giggling like a schoolgirl when they returned to the maze of streets. They stopped at a small cafe tucked away on a street corner. The counter was lined with tasty looking pastries and the sweet smell of coffee filled the air. They ordered their lunch and took a seat outside under a palm tree.
“So, where to next?” Sunset asked, finishing off her sandwich.
“I guess we keep going. I still want to find one of those joke stores.” Pinkie took a bite of her cupcake. “You enjoy the gallery?”
“They had some good stuff in there. You seemed to enjoy it.”
“Well, I mostly looked at all the cute little faces you made more than the paintings.” Pinkie giggled.
Sunset just smiled and rolled her eyes.
Their laughter died down and Pinkie stared into her coffee mug. So far, the day had been great, but there was still the nagging feeling in the back of Pinkie’s mind that something was wrong. Sure, Sunset had cheered up, but her mind kept wandering back to last night: the disaster of a meal, Sunset’s midnight walk, and that hollow sounding, “I love you.”
“Sunset?” Pinkie looked up, but then frowned when she saw Sunset playing a game on her phone.
Sunset swiftly threw her phone into her pocket and smiled. “Yes, Pinkie?”
“I was just wondering where you went last night.”
“Last night?”
“Yeah, on your midnight walk. Did you see anything cool?”
“Oh, well…” Sunset rubbed the back of her neck. “It was rather dark, so I didn’t see much.”
“Of course it was dark, silly. It was night. Still doesn’t mean you can’t find cool things in the dark.”
“Well, I didn’t. Sorry, Pinkie.” Sunset stood. “We should get going. Still got plenty of things to see and do.”
“You sure?”
Sunset flashed her a smile and offered her hand.
Pinkie threw the last of her muffin into her mouth and put on a smile to mask her confusion.
They walked arm-in-arm for a few minutes, passing shop after shop. The more they passed the more it all felt the same. Pinkie was sure they may have been walking in circles at times, as they kept passing the same statues. They soon stumbled down a side street and past an old truck that wouldn’t look out of place in an old black and white movie.
Sunset kept up a quick pace as they meandered aimlessly through the streets. Her smile had diminished to a look of dullness.
Oh no, she’s getting bored! Pinkie frantically looked around for anything of interest. Sunset can’t get bored! If she’s bored then she isn’t enjoying the vacation!
A flash of bright colours caught the corner of her eye. She turned her head. Her eyes widened and she came to a dead stop in front of a window filled with streamers and balloons.
A piñata hung in the centre of the window, a large smile on its brightly coloured face. Magic sets, small wooden toys, tricky puzzle things, and all sorts of knick-knacks sat around it. Pinkie felt her cheeks begin to burn from her smile. Her legs buzzed, desperate to burst through the door of the store.
Sunset hadn’t noticed that Pinkie had stopped. She accidently jerked on Pinkie’s arm, almost pulling them both to the ground. Sunset shot Pinkie a questioning look before glancing at the store. A knowing smirk grew across her face. “You want to go in, don’t you?”
Pinkie’s smile faltered slightly. “Only if you want to!”
“Race you inside.”
Sunset didn’t stand a chance. Pinkie squealed as she burst through the door, startling the old man behind the counter. The inside of the store was every bit as magical as the window suggested. Rows upon rows of toys, games, joke books, those little bobble head statues, and so much more lined the narrow maze of shelves.
It was just as amazing as the stories said. Each corner of the store hid more little pieces of joy. Pinkie giggled to herself as she booped the nose of a nodding dog.
“See anything you like?” Sunset asked.
Pinkie twisted around only to burst out laughing at the sight of Sunset’s fake glasses and moustache.
“What? What’s so funny?” Sunset said. She was struggling to keep a straight face.
“I see one thing that I like,” Pinkie said and quickly wrapped her arms around Sunset’s shoulders. “They do suit you.”
“Oh, really?” Sunset giggled, but the joyful tone in her voice had lowered. Most people may have missed it, but not Pinkie.
Pinkie gave one of her most pleasant, loving smiles. She stared into Sunset’s eyes, trying to lose herself in them, but Sunset couldn’t keep up the gaze.
Sunset’s eyes flickered away for brief moments and the corners of her smile twiched.
“Let’s find you something to buy,” Sunset quickly said, giving Pinkie a small squeeze before breaking away from the embrace. “Name it and I’ll get it for you.”
Pinkie frowned. “No, no, you don’t have to do that.”
“But I want to. I owe you a gift, remember?”
Pinkie smiled, knowing full well how much of a warm happy feeling giving gifts gave. If Sunset wanted to give her one, she’d let her. Anything to make Sunset happy.
They left the store with bags full of candy and a backpack of new jokes, games and party tricks. They laughed their way through the side streets, and into a large plaza. A cool sea breezes wafted by, providing a brief relief from the mid-day sun. With it came the upbeat melodies of a nearby street band. Pinkie made note to find a dance club later; Sunset used to love dancing.
She looked up, over the crowds, and gasped. “Sunset! A castle!”
“It’s more of a fort,” Sunset said, eyeing the large stone walls of the star-shaped fortress that sat at the edge of the harbour.
A flutter of movement to the right of the fort grabbed Pinkie’s attention. It was the black and white of a Jolly Roger hanging from the top of a trio of tall ship masts.
She gasped and grabbed Sunset’s arm. “Sunset! It’s the—”
“Pirates!” they both cried together.
“Come on, let’s go!” Pinkie laughed and dragged Sunset along as she rushed towards the dock. They darted over the busy road, reaching a welcoming centre at the base of the fort.
Pinkie paid for two tickets and pushed Sunset on through the gates. “I heard so many great things about this place, Sunset! It’s going to be so awesome!”
“I’m sure it is,” Sunset gave a half-hearted chuckle. “But could you please stop with the pushing?”
Pinkie froze mid-stride. “Oh, sorry,” she said sheepishly.
Sunset rolled her eyes and gave her a lopsided smile. “Come on. Let’s take a look around.”
The harbour was full of old cannons, anchors and other sorts of pirate-like decorations. A small souvenir store sat under the base of the fort selling little trinkets and pirate themed goods. But by far the most impressive thing was the pirate ship sitting in a dry dock. Pinkie bounced with joy when she realised it was the real thing. Or a really good imitation, at least, but she didn’t care. It looked just like something out of the movies.
Jaunty accordion music started up behind them. A wooden stage decorated with cargo nets and a painted skull and crossbones sat by the gangplank onto the ship. A crowd had gathered around it. Sunset and Pinkie stood at the back, Sunset on her toes and Pinkie jumping to get a better look.
Sunset grabbed Pinkie’s hand. “Come on, this way.” She pulled Pinkie through the crowd, carefully pushing people to the side as they inched their way towards the front.
The music reached a crescendo as they reached the front and Pinkie squealed. Sunset locked her arm with hers and smiled slightly. It wasn’t a big, joyful one, but it was genuine. Pinkie’s heart warmed at the sight and she gave Sunset’s hand a squeeze.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” A voice called out. “Put your hands and peg legs together for the one, the only, the most fearsome pirate on the seven seas: Captain Celaeno!”
The back of the stage burst open with the bang of a cannon and a tall woman jumped out. She was dressed in a long jaunty coat with a pirate hat tilted upon her head. In the hat was a single large green feather which jetted high in the air. She even had a real peg leg! Now that was dedication to a costume.
“Avast, landlubbers!” Captain Celaeno shouted. “It looks like we’ve got a big crowd today.” She peered out over them and Pinkie giggled.
“Today’s your lucky day!” she continued. “This is the Prism Wing, a replica 18th Century frigate. She took twelve years to build, has sailed for seven and survived the dreaded storm that struck over a year ago! I lost my leg keeping her safe against that tempest. And today, you will get to join her crew and experience what a pirate’s life is really like! Now, who wants to be the first to join up?”
Pinkie jumped up and down, waving her hand in the air. “Ooh Ohh! Pick me! Pick me!”
Her smile grew when Captain Celaeno pointed a finger at her. “You two! I see you have the enthusiasm for the job. Why don’t you come up on stage?”
“Pinkie…” Sunset began.
Pinkie silenced her with a smile. “Don’t worry, Sunny. It’ll be fun,” she said, bounding up onto the stage, dragging Sunset with her.
“Now, why don’t you introduce yourselves.”
“Oh, well, my name is Pinkie Pie and this here is my girlfriend Sunset Shimmer. She’s actually a magical unicorn from another dimension and has super awesome magical pow—”
Pinkie was silenced by Sunset throwing her hand over her mouth and shooting Pinkie one of her annoyed glares. Pinkie’s heart skipped a beat. It was the same kind of glare the old Sunset used to give her—the really old, really bad Sunset.
Sunset quickly let out a nervous laugh that did little to calm Pinkie’s nerves. “And Pinkie here just loves jokes, isn’t that right, Pinkie?”
Sunset removed her hand, allowing Pinkie to speak.
“R-Right.”
Celaeno gave them a quizzical look, but shrugged. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a clown and a mystery girl.”
Celaeno continued to talk, but the words flowed through Pinkie without registering. Pinkie knew that all eyes were on her and Sunset. Sunset’s face was flushed red as she gave Pinkie a bitter, disappointed look.
Pinkie’s grip around Sunset’s hand loosened and fell away. Her heart sank. Her stomach sank. Her shoulders sank. Even her hair sank.
“Well?” Calemo asked.
Pinkie stared at her for a moment. “I-I’m sorry, what?”
“Do you two want to join my crew or not?”
“A-Actually. I don’t think…”
Pinkie almost jumped when Sunset grabbed her hand.
“We want to join yer crew, so we can sail the seas and plunder lots of treasurrrr! Arrrr!” Sunset said in her best pirate voice.
Pinkie stared at Sunset, her mouth opening and closing a few times. Why would sunset play along as a pirate? Why was she holding her hand? It made less sense than maths homework!
“That’s more like it!” Celaeno laughed. “Welcome aboard!”
Pinkie walked in silence, numbly holding Sunset’s hand as they boarded the ship with the rest of the crowd. She could feel their eyes on the back of her head. People had always stared at her, but this time it felt different. It felt… embarrassing.
Was this how Sunset always felt around Pinkie? She never showed if she did.
Captain Celaeno gathered them around on the deck of the ship. The novelty of being on an actual pirate ship had entirely vanished and Pinkie once again couldn’t focus on the captain's words.
Sunset let go of her hand and stood with her arms crossed and that small polite smile she usually reserved for situations where she had to feign amusement.
“I’m sorry,” Pinkie choked out.
Sunset sighed and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling Pinkie in close. “It’s okay, Pinkie. I… I am disappointed. But I know you didn’t mean to do it.”
Pinkie twiddled her thumbs. "I'm still sorry, Sunset. I promised you yesterday that I wouldn’t but I… You’re so super amazing I want to tell everyone about you and our super amazing secrets."
“I know, Pinkie,” she sighed again.
Pinkie gulped. A lump forming in her throat. “Sunset… I—”
She was stopped when Sunset placed a finger against her lips. “It’s okay, Pinkie. Honest. Let’s just forget it, shall we?”
Pinkie gave a hesitant nod. “Y-Yeah. Just forget it.”
Sunset gave her a smile that Pinkie was sure was supposed to be comforting, but she didn’t feel it working. How could she forget? Well, she had managed it before. After all, why would she have blurted it out if she hadn’t forgot? But that didn’t matter to Pinkie now, all that mattered was Sunset’s happiness, and being a saddy pants wouldn’t help with that.
Suddenly a pair of bandannas, eye patches and cutlasses were thrust into their arms. “Come on Ship Clown and Sea Mage,” Captain Celaeno said. “You two look like your ship has sunk and I don’t tolerate long faces aboard mine. Do you two really want to know what pirate life was like?”
Pinkie glanced to Sunset, who just smiled back at her. “Well, do you?”
“Only if you—”
She was silenced by Sunset snapping an eye patch on. “Let’s go plunder some ships, Pinkie.”
The corners of Pinkie’s lips twitched upwards. Her heart jumped with a spark of warmth as Sunset put on her own costume and gave a genuine smile. Pinkie picked out a candy blue bandana and tied it around her head, complementing Sunset’s red one.
Pinkie's smile beamed as a fit of giggles escaped her “You’re the only ship I need, Sunset.”
They both burst into a fit of laughter.
Pirates. They always made everything better.
They sat in the corner of a small restaurant, sharing a meal in the dim glow of warm candlelight.
Pinkie took a bite of chocolate pudding and giggled to herself before putting the empty bowl on the table next to the others.
“Done now?” Sunset asked.
“Yep.” Pinkie nestled herself into Sunset’s side.
Sunset wrapped an arm around Pinkie’s shoulders. “I guess you’re feeling better?”
Pinkie nodded. “Apart from the whole upsetting you part, today was great!”
Sunset smiled back at her, but couldn’t stop herself from yawning. “Yeah, today sure was fun. But I am beat.”
“So, same tomorrow?” Pinkie asked.
“Maybe something a bit more relaxing.”
“The beach it is.”
“You read my mind.” Sunset chuckled.
Pinkie let out a relaxed sigh as she enjoyed Sunset’s warmth. Today really was great. Sunset had fun, and Pinkie enjoyed sharing in that fun. A ball of guilt twisted itself in her stomach. They had fun, even with the problems. But it still didn’t feel like a victory.
Well, duh, a small voice in the back of her mind said. You upset Sunset and broke a promise! Well, you didn’t actually say ‘I promise’ but it was basically a promise.
You don’t have to rub it in, brain. Pinkie let out a silent sigh and wrapped an arm around Sunset. She waited for any response and just buried her head into Sunset’s jacket when there wasn’t one. Look. She still loves me!
Does she really? She still hasn’t smiled the way she used to smile.
Of course she does! I just need to be better for her, that’s all.
“Pinkie,” Sunset said. “I don’t need to use my magic to know you’re arguing with yourself again.”
“W-What do you mean?”
“I mean that you’ve been acting odd pretty much all day. Is something wrong?”
Pinkie glanced away, the tightness returning to her stomach. She hated that feeling. It robbed her of her ability to both eat any more dessert and met Sunset's eyes. “I just… I guess I still feel a bit ill, that’s all.”
She felt Sunset’s arm tighten around her shoulders. “Want to head back to the room?”
“It won’t change anything.” Pinkie sighed. “I’m just glad you had a good day, that’s all.”
Sunset smiled softly. “All thanks to you, Pinkie.”
“Even the pirate stuff?”
“It was fun.” Sunset shrugged. “Although those biscuits were awful.”
Pinkie giggled. “They really were.”
“But not enough to make you ill,” Sunset said. “Come on, Pinkie, you like telling secrets.”
Pinkie shuddered.
Sunset gently squeezed her shoulder. “Pinkie, listen I know you’re still upset about that, but… Please, just stop beating yourself up over it.”
“But how can I, Sunset?” she asked, pushing herself up. “I keep upsetting you. I keep making you mad. What kind of girlfriend does that!?”
Sunset glanced away. “I know you really don’t mean it, Pinkie. You just get really excited about things, and I just love your excitement. But…”
Pinkie’s heart hammered away, but not the good kind of hammering like the time Sunset first said she loved something about her. “I am so sorry, Sunset. I really, really am.”
“And I know you mean that, Pinkie. But you… You just keep doing it.”
Pinkie pulled back and tucked herself into a tight ball. Her hair drooped over her eyes. “This vacation was supposed to be perfect. I wanted to make you happy. But day two and I’ve already upset you. I always upset you, don’t I?”
“No, not at all Pinkie. You make me happy, Pinkie. You’d do anything to make me happy.”
“You don’t smile…” Pinkie whispered. “You don’t smile like you used to. You’re not happy you’re just… content.”
“Do you really think that?” Sunset asked.
Pinkie nodded and Sunset inched away.
Pinkie’s eyes widened.
Oh no. I’m making things worse. I’m being… miserable! Tell a joke. Crack a smile. Do something!
But she couldn’t. She was frozen. For the first time in their relationship, Pinkie felt something. Something that wasn't easy to describe, it was like a grand piano hung over the table, with the rope slowly being burned away. Ready to drop at any moment and crush what little wondrous spark Sunset had left.
She glanced to the side, looking for inspiration.
Couples sat together in the cozy booths of the restaurant. The tender music just loud enough to fade out the soft words they spoke to each other. Some giggled, others smiled, a few simply held hands and stared into each other’s eyes.
And yet, here Pinkie and Sunset sat almost like strangers.
“Sunset… I…” She bit her lip and glanced up at Sunset who stared at her from across the table. Her face one of uncertainty. “Last night at the restaurant I, I did a lot to make it special for us. I dressed up with Rarity’s help. I booked the best tables. I knew the food there was scrumptious and… I even put on my favourite earrings. The ones you gave me, Sunset. Did you… Did you even notice?”
Sunset looked away, her expression twisting into one of guilt. “Last night... I know it was supposed to be special, Pinkie. But my mind was elsewhere the whole night. I just…” She gripped the table so tightly her hands went red.
“Your mind always feels like it’s elsewhere, Sunset. Not just tonight. But for the last few months.” Pinkie forced herself to look into Sunset’s pretty blue eyes. “It’s like you’ve lost your spark.”
“Spark?”
“Yeah. You know, that super wonderful spark you used to have when we started dating. It was always there in your eyes, your smile, your laugh, hugs, everything. But now… I think it’s gone.” Pinkie gulped. “Do you still… Do you still love me, Sunset?”
Sunset was quiet for a moment. She was probably coming up with a way to say it without hurting Pinkie’s feelings, but it was too late. The silence hurt more than words.
“Pinkie,” Sunset said cautiously. “Being your girlfriend is like a…” She did that hand roll thing she always did, but Pinkie didn’t find it adorable this time. “It’s like being a mother, I guess. It takes a lot of work and effort. And it really tires you out. And at times it can get pretty frustrating, but…” the words seemed to catch in her throat. “But seeing you happy, feeling you next to me, us being together—It's all worth it in the end.”
“That didn’t answer the question.” Pinkie gulped. Her hands trembled against the table and her mouth felt dryer then a plate of crackers. “You say you love me, but it’s not the same anymore. Not like the first one-hundred and six times you said it.”
“Pinkie… Do you trust me?”
This caught her off guard. “What? Of course I do, Sunset! I trust you completely.”
“That’s what I was afraid of…”
“What do you mean?”
Sunset took another deep breath. “Pinkie… I… I trust you too. I know that, when I’m down, you’ll be there for me. I know that if I need help, you’ll help me. I know that you’ll always do your best for anyone. That you’ll never hurt someone, or lie, or betray them. But…”
But?
Sunset’s eyes glistened in the candlelight. Pinkie watched as the tear drew a streak along her cheek, and in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to hug her, apologize, and say that everything was going to be ok. But she froze under Sunset’s tired gaze.
“I know in my heart, Pinkie, that I do love you. I really, really want to but—” Sunset gulped. “I’ve been thinking a lot, recently and... “
Pinkie’s eyes widened as a string of dots connected in her mind and the piano began to fall.
“But you don’t trust me with your secrets.” she whispered.
Sunset nodded. “How can I love you, Pinkie, but still not trust you?”
The piano crashed and Pinkie’s heart stopped. In that moment, the world fell silent.
Sunset stared at her trembling hands. Not uttering a single word.
Pinkie stood, paid the bill, and ran out into the night. Hoping the darkness would hide her tears.
The sound of the hotel room’s door opening woke Pinkie from her restless sleep. Her cheek was tuck to a tear-stained pillow she was tightly wrapped around much the same way she would hold Gummy whenever she was sad.
“Pinkie?” a voice whispered.
“Sunset?” Pinkie whispered back.
In the dim light of the room, she could only see Sunset's shadow hovering over the bed with what looked like a bag in her hand.
Pinkie gulped. “Are you leaving?”
Sunset stood there for a moment, before gently tossing something at Pinkie.
Pinkie yelped as she caught the object. She fell back and slammed on the bedside lamp. She blinked the light spots out of her eyes and stared at the small pink baseball cap in her hands.
Sunset rubbed her hair under her matching black cap. “I know that what I said but… I can't be a good girlfriend if I don’t trust you. So you deserve to know my secrets. I’ve kept it from you for too long.”
“W-What do you mean?” Pinkie asked.
“It means that… It means that I was wrong, Pinkie. While you’ve been in here, I’ve been sulking in a corner of some crummy bar and thinking… thinking a lot.”
“I was thinking too,” Pinkie said softly. “And crying. There was a lot of that too.”
Sunset stood there awkwardly, fidgeting with the strap of the bag hanging from her shoulder.
“Listen, I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I really, really am.” She was using her desperate voice, the one that broke Pinkie’s heart every time. “I messed up, okay. I should’ve trusted you. I should’ve told you my problems and not kept them bottled up. I was just kidding myself when I thought everything would be okay.”
Pinkie felt a lump rise in her throat. “Sunset…”
Sunset raised her hand. “I’m not finished, Pinkie. I want to trust you, I really do. So I’m going to tell you my secrets. You deserve to know.”
“You’re a cat burglar, are you?”
Sunset looked absolutely blindsided. “What? No! Why would you think that?”
“Well, you sneak out at night. Wear dark, nondescript clothing and come home with a heavy bag.”
She sighed. “No, Pinkie. I’m not a burglar.”
“Oh! So are you a vigilante crime fighter?”
Sunset facepalmed and let out a pained laugh. “Pinkie. I’m neither of those things. But… it is a secret. I don't want you to tell anyone. This is really important to me. Even more important than the magic unicorn stuff.”
Pinkie stared into Sunset’s eyes and there she saw it. A spark. It was faint, but it was still there. She wasn’t too late.
“I promise,” Pinkie said. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”
Sunset smiled and nodded. “Alright, then let's go. I'll show you what I've been working on.”
“But, it's two in the morning.”
“It’s is the best time to be out. Trust me, Pinkie.”
Pinkie grinned and pulled the cap over her frazzled hair before leaping out of bed.
Pinkie stared out of the passenger window of their old rented Beetle as they cruised down the winding oceanside roads. The moonlight shimmered on the sea that almost perfectly reflected the stars above. It must have been what an astronaut felt like as they drifted through space.
She turned to Sunset who carefully peered out into the darkness ahead of them. “So, where are we going?”
“You remember that this island was hit by a really bad storm a year ago?”
“Uh-huh. Captain Calemo said she lost her leg in it.”
“Exactly. Most of the island is still in ruins. There’s a town, Mount Aris, do you remember back in 10th grade when Miss Cheerilee got us to send letters to their school?”
Pinkie gasped. “Skystar! Her school is here?”
Sunset nodded. “It was destroyed in the storm and it still hasn’t been rebuilt. I read that they just haven’t received the money to do it.”
“And we’re going to do something about it, right?” Pinkie asked. “Are we going to build them a school before dawn?”
“Not quite,” Sunset said with a chuckle. She flashed Pinkie a knowing smile. “You’ll see.”
Pinkie nodded and leaned back in her seat. She brushed against the small lump still secure under her jacket. The present she had gotten for Sunset the other night, still unopened. She gave it a gentle pat.
My last ace literally up my sleeve.
They soon turned into a ransacked-looking town. There wasn't a single structure that wasn't under repair, or in need of it. Piles of bricks and scaffolding stood along the sides of the empty streets.
They drove up a dirt track and stopped outside of a mesh fence.
“We’re here,” Sunset said, switching off the engine.
Pinkie stepped out of the car and looked up at the gate. A sign warning of unstable buildings had been attached to it.
Sunset pulled out her bag, a pair of flashlights, and a lantern from the back of the car. She handed a flashlight to Pinkie and walked over to a small gap where one part of the fence ended and another began. It took a bit of wiggling, but she carefully lifted part of the fence out of its mount and opened it up just enough to squeeze through.
“Sunset, is this illegal?”
“Technically yes,” she said.
Pinkie cringed. “Please don’t say that. You sound like Mud Briar.”
Sunset choked on a laugh. “Come on, this way.”
Pinkie followed Sunset through the fence, feeling a slight thrill as they trespassed on the former school grounds. They passed a statute on its side. It must’ve once stood out in front of the school, much like the Wondercolt did at Canterlot High. It was a statue of a mermaid. In the darkness, her stone eyes looked almost sad.
Sunset set her bag and the lantern down next to a section of wall that still stood amongst the rubble and pulled out a set of spray cans.
“We’re going to graffiti?” Pinkie gasped.
“It’s not graffiti. It’s street art.”
Pinkie tilted her head in confusion.
“It’s actual art,” Sunset explained. “Graffiti is just making a mark on something. Even worse than that is vandalism. But street art is, well, it’s art. Just like the paintings we saw in the gallery yesterday.”
“But isn’t it still illegal?”
“Kind of. But it means a lot to me, Pinkie,” Sunset said softly. She placed the cans down and turned to Pinkie with a look of hesitation in her eyes. “Have you ever heard of Flanksy before?”
“Flanksy? As in that super world-famous street artist who’s always in the news for their awesome paintings?” Pinkie said. “No, not really.”
Sunset adjusted her hat.
Pinkie gasped. “No. No way! No way that’s you!?”
Sunset nodded. “Yeah. I’m Flanksy. And that’s why I kept it a secret. No one can know.”
“But… but… you’re like, super famous! Everyone will know you!”
“No. Everyone knows Flanksy. No one will know Sunset Shimmer,” she said. “The whole reason why I’m famous is the mystery. Not to mention I’ll probably get in trouble with the law if everyone finds out it’s me.”
Pinkie vibrated with excitement. She squealed and grabbed Sunset in a tight hug. “I don’t believe it, Sunset. That is so awesomely fantastic! I can’t wait to—”
“Pinkie!” Sunset hissed and glared at her with her deadly serious look.
“Oh… Right. Secret. Got it.” She released Sunset and took a stepped back. “I’m sorry.”
“I know,” Sunset sighed.
Pinkie shook her head, getting lost in her thoughts. She told me her secret. One of them at least. And it’s a super big one too. I’ve got to keep it. I’ve got to.
She felt her cheeks dampen and her stomach twist. “Sunset… What if I can’t keep it? What if… What if I tell everyone? I wouldn’t mean to. I really wouldn’t. It’s just… It’s just so hard for me I…”
Sunset closed the distance and pulled her back into a tight hug.
Pinkie buried her head into the crook of Sunset’s neck. “I must be the worst girlfriend ever.”
“Well, you can be a bit of a pain at times,” Sunset said.
Pinkie tensed.
“But, I wouldn’t swap that for anything.” She sighed.
“Does that mean you do still love me?”
“I feel a lot better about it now,” Sunset said with a smile.
Pinkie pulled back from the hug just enough to see Sunset’s eyes. “And you’re not growing bored of me?”
“Bored? Of course not, Pinkie,” Sunset said. “You’re amazing! It’s impossible to ever have an unhappy moment with you.” Even in the dim light of their lantern, the sincerity in Sunset’s eyes was honest.
Pinkie felt her cheeks dampen as they turned upwards into a trembling smile.
“Now, that’s enough sulking,” Sunset said with a smile of her own. “We’ve got a mural to paint.”
“What’s the plan?” Pinkie asked.
“Last night I wasn’t going for a midnight walk. I was planning and practicing for tonight. But after you ran off I scrapped the idea and went for something new. Something inspiring.” She picked up a can and gave it a shake. “Hold that light, please.”
Pinkie lifted the lantern.
“Practicing before painting is always a good idea, but in this case, it doesn’t feel right.” She sprayed a line across the wall. “I used to paint just for fun. Just for the sake of the art. But people began to take notice and plaster my artwork all over the news. Then some crazy art collectors started paying a lot of money to buy the paintings. They take down the walls brick by brick and I presume reassemble them in their mansions. My hope is that this painting will let the world know about the school and that they’ll get enough attention and money to help in rebuilding.”
Pinkie giggled. “That’s so sweet of you.”
“Yeah I know. Perhaps I should go back to being selfish and evil,” Sunset chuckled dryly. “But no, I only use my art for good.”
The hours passed, with Pinkie watching as Sunset transformed the wall into a masterpiece of colours. She was astonished with the transformation taking place before her eyes.
Sunset worked, she continued to talk, telling Pinkie all about her techniques and stories of other projects she'd worked on over the years.
“Does anyone else know that you’re Flanksy?” Pinkie asked.
Sunset paused mid-spray. “Rarity kind of does.”
Pinkie frowned. "You told Rarity before me?"
“Well, I didn’t tell her exactly. She just needed some help with a Flanksy-inspired display and Flanksy conveniently assisted.”
“Right…”
“But talking to you about it feels like such a weight off my chest,” Sunset said. “I’ve only done this alone. I never had anyone to talk to about it.”
“Oh, I get what you mean. It’s like how I love baking cakes but baking them with friends, especially you, is like a gazillion times better!”
Sunset chuckled. “Yep. Just like that.”
Soon, the first rays of light began to glow in the east as the sky turned from black to a deep blue.
Pinkie yawned, and rested her head in her arms as she laid on the grass.
Sunset fell beside her. “Done.”
Pinkie looked up and blinked. The light had began to bath the wall, making the colours come to life. Swirls and swirls of them, merging together into shapes of hearts, and clouds, and all sorts of things. Everywhere she looked her mind pieced together a dozen different images, a hundred different meanings, a thousand difference sensations.
“Sunset… It’s beautiful.”
“No, it’s missing something,” she said. “I don’t know what, but it’s missing it.”
“Well, maybe we can add it.”
Sunset shook her head. “Time’s up. We’ve gotta get out of here before people see us.”
Pinkie stared up at the wall. It really was beautiful. But the more she stared, the more she also felt something was missing. A key element, something right in front of her but also not at the same time.
It was like the time she had baked a cake without enough jam, or the time her triple chocolate brownies only had double chocolate in them.
She glanced at the cans, then without thinking, she grabbed one and sprayed it across the wall. She had no plans nor any idea of how to actually spray, but she followed her senses. They'd never let her down before.
“Pinkie, wait!” Sunset gasped behind her, but it was already too late.
A pair of hearts, one gold, the other pink sat side by side. The paint dripped down the wall and the rough lines didn’t at all match with Sunset’s naet curves but Pinkie couldn’t help but smile at her work.
Her hand brushed against Sunset’s, and Sunset carefully grabbed it.
“Pinkie,” she said slowly. “You… you are a genius.”
“Eh, it was nothing,” she said with a shrug.
They turned to meet each other’s gaze.
Pinkie’s heart hammered in her chest, while a smile grew on Sunset’s face. It was a pure, genuine, radiant smile. The smile that Pinkie loved.
“What do you see?” Sunset asked. “In the art.”
Pinkie looked up at it again, and then back to Sunset. “I see—”
“Love?”
“Yes.”
“Me too, Pinkie, me too.” Sunset took a deep breath and whispered, “I love you, Pinkie.”
Her breath brushed against Pinkie’s nose, as she pressed her forehead against Pinkie’s. She gently caressed the back of Pinkie’s hands with her thumbs.
“I am so, so sorry I’ve been acting like a jerk to you. I really am. I just…” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “I guess I just took you for granted. And that feels so… wrong. If anything, it’s worse than what I did to Flash. It’s unforgivable and I—”
Pinkie silenced Sunset with a kiss. She trembled, her legs feeling like they wanted to jump for joy, but she held them still and let herself sink into the kiss.
Sunset relaxed and wrapped her arms around Pinkie. She signed softly as their lips finally parted. “Does this mean…”
“It means I forgive you, Sunny,” Pinkie said, she had to blink to clear away the tears from her eyes. “And that I love you. Not even a lifetime supply of cakes could ever compare to you.”
Sunset chuckled and kissed Pinkie again, before resting her head into the crook of her shoulder. “Just… Please, if I ever start acting like a jerk again, then please tell me.”
“I will, and I’ll let you know if I’m ever feeling down about something. Because you always make me smile, Sunset. Oh, and I almost forgot!” She reached into her jacket and pulled out the gift. “For you, Sunset.”
“I still haven’t—”
“For you,” Pinkie insisted and placed it in Sunset’s hand.
Sunset carefully opened the present and pulled out a small jewellery box. She tensed for a moment, then flipped open the lid.
A pair of golden two-toned sun earrings lay inside.
Sunset laughed and pulled Pinkie close. “They’re beautiful, thank you.”
“I got them made just for you,” Pinkie sighed and nuzzled up close to Sunset, loving the feeling of her embrace as they watched the sun rise.
