It's after lunch when the team walks through the corridor, clamored around Sunset. Twilight isn’t too used to group walks down small hallways, so she stays at the wing’s end like Fluttershy.
“So, Sunset,” Rarity starts, passing a judging look over Rainbow Dash and the guitar she has slung on her back, “are you free after school? The others and I were going to go to the movies, and dear Applejack is paying for tickets.”
Fluttershy says something just as the bell rings. Everyone nods, and Twilight isn’t sure if they actually heard her or they’re just really good at lip reading.
“But it’s my turn to choose the movie, right?” Rainbow insists more than asks.
Rarity pushes Rainbow lightly. “No, because you always criticize the movies I choose.”
“That’s ‘cause they suck!”
“That’s because you suck!”
“Yeah, I’m down,” Sunset intervenes, amused. “I haven’t been to the movies in ages. I think the last one I saw was – “ she hums, looks up, then snaps her fingers “ – oh, that Western time-travel one.”
“And I accused Rainbow of poor movie taste,” Rarity says critically.
Sunset shrugs. “It was Joe’s turn to choose.”
Rarity instantly softens. “Oh – well, if you wanted to do something else, we could – “
“No,” Sunset dismissively waves a hand, still smiling, “I actually kinda feel like a movie right about now. And I have to go sometime, right?”
Rarity nods, if a little carefully. “Right.”
Twilight is afraid the conversation will fall awkwardly silent, as she used to on her own, but doesn’t know what to say – she’s still new to the group dialogue scene, and especially new to touchy subjects wherein the subject of said subject isn’t acting touchy at all.
Thankfully, Pinkie quickly cuts in with a sigh. “Man, I kinda miss Joe.”
“You’re telling me,” Sunset offers in her grim humour.
“And he knew good movies,” Rainbow adds. “Too bad you didn’t pick that up from him.”
“Well, that’s why I’m not going on movie dates with you,” Sunset quips.
“Thought it was because I’m way outta your league.”
There’s a collective outburst of rebuff, where everyone decides to explain to Rainbow Dash who exactly is out of whose league, to which Rainbow argues back in loud denial. Twilight doesn’t participate, but she watches as Sunset make some sassy remark.
Applejack manages to quiet everyone down – “Calm down, RD, the entire school’d date Sunset before you.” – and gives Rarity the chance to speak again.
“If you’re sure, though. About the movies.” She smiles sympathetically. “If it reminds you too much of Average Joe, you could always go comfortably alone on your own.”
“Honestly, girls, it’s all good.” Sunset smiles reassuringly. “I’m okay.”
Rainbow then grins excitedly and shares a look with Pinkie, who runs ahead of the group with a wide beam and walks backwards in front of them.
Rainbow follows her, slings her guitar around, and starts strumming a muted rhythm, while she and Pinkie sing together – Pinkie adding in what was probably heartfelt interpretative dance to the lyrics.
“Fake a smile, yeah, lie and say, you’re better now than ever and your life’s okay. Well it’s not~”
“For the love of – ” Rarity opts to pinch the bridge of her nose instead of finishing.
Sunset looks like she can’t choose between doing the same or laughing at the display. For her part, Twilight thinks it’s at least a good gesture – even if Pinkie and Dash have been singing impromptu break up songs for Sunset since the week after her break up.
“First, you think the worst is a broken heart.”
“So what movie?” Applejack asks loudly, as if they weren’t audience to the personal concert.
Rarity shakes her head in empathy at Fluttershy being accidentally whacked in the head by Pinkie, then being dragged into the performance. “Something funny, but not drooling-idiot funny.”
“We can just see what’s playing when we get there,” Sunset suggests. “Surprise and all.”
“And fourth!” Pinkie bellows, throwing up five fingers. “You’re gonna think that you fixed yourself!”
Right then, Twilight sees Principal Celestia approach them fast, but she thinks she’s the only one who notices because, while Rarity does stop walking and tells Rainbow this is why no one would date her, the others only stop with her and continue their separate conversation.
Rainbow and Pinkie refuse to stop singing – “and the sixth!” – and, unbeknownst to them, Celestia stands right behind them with her arms crossed and an unimpressed expression.
Twilight tries to warn them, but Pinkie drops to the ground dramatically and stops singing to let Rainbow take the lead.
Which she does, loudly: “ – is when you admit, you may have fucked up a little!”
Celestia raises an eyebrow and chooses then to cough loudly.
Rainbow spins around, and, upon seeing the principal, stops playing and snaps a quick, “Oh fuck!”
All the while, Pinkie continues her dance happily and unaware.
Principal Celestia cocks her head. “Now, I've been tolerating all varieties of magical mayhem in my school without a single complaint, but I think it's fair if I draw the line at cursing and singing badly off-key in the middle of my hallway as classes you should be in go on.”
Rainbow grimaces, but concedes in a whiny voice. “I mean, I guess. But it’s for a good cause!”
“I’m sure. Now,” Celestia points down the corridor, “to my office. You too, Pinkie Pie.”
As she jumps up and pirouettes, Pinkie shouts, “Dancing's not a crime! Fight the power!”
Celestia barely bats an eye. “Pinkamena.”
“Yikes, full name.” Pinkie frowns and tones her dancing down to a sad waltz as she follows a sulking Rainbow Dash to the principal's office.
The remainder of the group watches them go, followed closely by Celstia, until they disappear behind the corner.
“Well, that's two less tickets!” Applejack cheerfully says.
“And two less people with terrible movie tastes,” Rarity adds. She gets reproachful looks from the others. “Oh please. Pinkie likes to watch things blow up just as much as Rainbow Dash. She finds it 'too funny’.”
Sunset shrugs. “Anyway, I'm down for a good rom-com.”
“Lovely!” Rarity claps her hands before starting up the corridor and launching into a list of recommendations with the rest.
Twilight tails the end of the group. She watches everyone happily argue to a choice.
Everyone, including Sunset.
It's late afternoon when Sunset sits across Applejack and Twilight, stirring the ice at the bottom of her drink with a straw.
“There's just something about the water from the movie theatre. Or the ice.”
“I know what you mean,” Applejack says before slurping loudly out of her empty drink. “I'll bet they put some chemical crap to get us addicted.”
Sunset laughs. “Geez, AJ. Can't you just accept that commercial water is better?”
“Jus’ ain't in my nature,” AJ responds, equally jovial.
Twilight thinks she should say something, but she doesn't think explaining water softness is casual conversation.
So instead she busies herself unrolling the lip of her cup as Sunset and Applejack continue debating over the taste of water. They go on for about two minutes, until Rarity approaches and calls out to them.
“Well, excusez moi, but shouldn't you be gentlemanly and help me with these?”
The three get up, Twilight slower than the other two, but Applejack motions them to sit and goes alone to take some soda cups out of Rarity’s arms.
“Honestly,” Rarity huffs and she joins the table, Fluttershy in tow, “you all need to get a Brita filter if you're so crazy about this water.”
“Or we could jus’ come over to your place every time we need a drink,” Applejack suggests.
“Oh, you’ll just take any opportunity to get free water.” She sips her drink, and clicks her tongue. “Though that is some refreshing water.”
“Right? Hey – did you just call me cheap?”
The conversation continues on that beat: Rarity and Applejack taking jabs at each other, Sunset mediating and changing the topic, and Fluttershy timidly offering input that is heard only half the time.
Sometimes they ask Twilight something. She answers as best as she can, but her focus is on Sunset.
Twilight connects the most to Sunset: smart, logical, and a bit of an outcast. But then, they’re completely different: Sunset is adaptive, approachable, and completely put-together while Twilight knows how to be but can’t quite put it in practice.
But right now, watching Sunset explain the difference in taste between melted frozen water and condensed water vapour to a group that just asked for ten separate cups of free water from the snack bar, Twilight most admires Sunset’s maturity.
The maturity that lead a two year relationship, and held steady when it ended.
It’s just past sunset when the group decides they’ll meet up at the fountain in an hour, and proceeds to split into two separate groups.
Fluttershy and Rarity drag Applejack to the makeup store, while Sunset saves Twilight the despair and walks her to a clothing store.
“I thought it the mall would be emptier, given it’s a school night.”
“Yeah,” Sunset agrees as she searches through a rack of jackets, “but no one really cares about sleep anymore, y’know?”
Twilight understood the importance of sleep, but even she often sacrifices it for the sake of a rigorous random-research night. “I guess. That one’s nice.”
Sunset stops at a leather jacket that’s probably been incorrectly placed there by a lazy customer.
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool. But I always wear leather jackets. Rarity always says to expand my stylistic horizons, so I think I’m gonna take her advice.” She shuffles over to a denim jacket. “Do you think jean is my colour?”
Twilight almost starts a critical colour analysis, but then the voice in the back of her head reminds her to be chill.
Sunset won’t make fun of her if she tries and fails to be more laidback, because Sunset is laidback like that. Right?
So, with as much indifference as she can muster – she even slumps her shoulders a bit – Twilight nods and tries to raise just one eyebrow as she says, “Fuck yeah.”
In her defense, Sunset seems to contain herself for all of two seconds before dropping the jacket and doubling over with laughter. It gives Twilight two minutes to mentally reprimand herself, straighten her shoulders, and push her glasses up to hopefully cover her blush.
By the time Sunset’s laughter peters out, Twilight manages to console herself with a mental recitation of the periodic table of elements.
“Sorry, Twilight. I’m sorry – but that – what was that?” She wipes her eyes, and smiles at Twilight with a wink. “I mean, it was hilarious, but where did it come from?”
Twilight shrugs. “Rainbow Dash said I need to loosen up, and in the movie we watched, the girl started using foul language when she joined the popular girls, so…I observe, and I do?”
Dusting the jacket off and placing it back, Sunset shakes her head. “Well, kudos for learning so quick – though I expect no less from you – but I think you should try baby steps instead of jumping the gun like that.”
“Oh.”
Sunset smiles reassuringly at Twilight. “But I gotta say, you sounded pretty badass there.”
Twilight glows at the praise. “Really?”
Sunset smirks. “Fuck yeah.”
This time, Twilight giggles along with Sunset. And, in doing so, she almost misses the sigh Sunset lets slip.
In a moment of absolute clarity, Twilight knows exactly what to say.
“Are you okay?”
Sunset smiles again, but it doesn’t reach her tired eyes. “Yeah. Well, mostly.”
Twilight takes solace in that – in how Sunset is equally willing to drop her defenses around Twilight as Twilight is with her.
“Like, these things happen, y’know? And it was mutual. He was moving even farther away, and – “ Sunset winces “ – well, you know the story. I’ve gone over it a couple times now, huh?”
“Yes,” Twilight says, “but you tell it the same way every time.”
Sunset shrugs, then absently begins to push through the hanging clothes. “It’s pretty cut and dry. Life moves on.”
“And you did, too. Fast.”
Sunset winces again, and follows it up with a chuckle. “You make it sound like a bad thing.”
“I’m not an expert on these things – “ in fact, she only has a single, recently watched rom-com for reference “ – but don’t breakups involve more…misery? And wallowing.”
“Usually,” Sunset agrees, nodding. “You should have seen Rarity after Blueblood. But – I dunno, it just didn’t seem right to. There weren’t any fights, no signs. Joe and I just talked, and it all made sense. So.”
Twilight carefully words her next question. “So…is it good, that things went this way?”
Sunset waits, stops what she’s doing, and sighs. “Maybe. Like you said, I’m no expert at this. But – “ she hesitates “ – I mean, I’m still sad about it, y’know?”
Well, Twilight doesn’t, but seeing Sunset fiddle with her jacket sleeve, she gets the feeling she’s about to.
“There are still times I forget we’re not together, and then it – kind of hurts when I do. And some foods or smells or streets remind me of him.”
“Naturally,” Twilight says, and then decides she should either say something helpful or nothing at all.
“Naturally. And, like, all the breakup songs make sense right now.” Sunset groans unhappily. “It’s cheesy, but I’ve been listening to a bunch of them on repeat, and – ugh. Just ugh.”
“It’s cathartic,” Twilight suggests.
Sunset considers it for a moment. “Yeah, I guess it is. And when Dash and Pinkie break into song – it actually helps. Like they’re taking heartbreak head on and laughing at it.”
Twilight wonders if this is the first time Sunset’s admitted she’s heartbroken, because it doesn’t sound right out of her mouth; it doesn’t fit the mature mindset Twilight sees in her.
Maybe there’s a reason for that.
“Y’know,” Sunset starts with a bit of a laugh, “For someone who’s never been in a serious relationship, Dash has some really hard hitting break up music – but I guess the same could be said for Taylor Swift.”
Twilight chuckles, because she thinks that’s what she’s supposed to do. Then, because she means to ask both herself and Sunset, she says, “So, what next?”
Sunset tugs her sleeve down, breathes in deeply, and levels Twilight with a half-smile. “Your guess is as good as mine. But – well, we keep going.”
“Like you have been,” Twilight says.
“Yeah. Might as well.” Sunset pauses, then adds, “As long as I get to talk it out every once in a while. Like this. Thank you, Twilight.”
“Well, I’m sure if it wasn’t me, the other Twilight would’ve helped. Even better, probably.”
Sunset shakes her head. “Actually, I didn’t mention it to her. It just seemed…too childish, in a way.”
That stills Twilight for a moment – the thought that even Sunset could revere someone else for their sensibleness. What goes around, comes around, in a way.
And some part of it brings a smile to Twilight’s face. “Well, I suppose everyone needs someone they feel okay turning to. And I’m glad I could be here for you.”
Sunset gives her the brightest smiles she’s seen in days. “Couldn’t have said it better myself. And hey, if you ever need someone, I’m always here for you. For heartbreak or otherwise.”
Twilight laughs a bit, blushes a bit. “Oh, well, I’m pretty sure I have a long way to go before that. Baby steps, right?”
“Who knows?” Sunset shrugs with her hands upheld. “Maybe you’ll come swinging one day cussing us off and strutting away with the popular girls.”
“That seems unlikely.”
“Statistically, anything can happen.”
“…Statistically,” Twilight yields.
Twilight expects Sunset to return her attention to shopping, but instead she seems to stall. Before Twilight can say anything to fill the all-familiar pause, Sunset steps forward and hugs her.
There’s a small panic that builds up in Twilight, but it’s quickly smothered by a warm feeling. She hugs back as normally as she thinks she can.
“There was a time when I pushed everyone down and away just because I could,” Sunset whispers, sounding vulnerable. “Sometimes, I’m afraid I still do.”
And again, Twilight is at a loss for words. For all her knowledge, she can’t come up with the right thing to say.
But she at least knows that the divide between what she knows and what she does is crossable, even if not always.
Similar to how Sunset knows how to let people in, even when she lets them go too easily.
They both have a lot to learn – and if anyone loves learning, it’s Twilight.
“Well, I’m still here. And you’re here for me, too, right?” Twilight mumbles into Sunset’s shoulder.
She feels Sunset’s laugh against her, and lets go as Sunset gently pulls away. She’s misty-eyed, but smiling. “Fuck yeah.”
It’s an hour later than they planned to regroup when Fluttershy, Rarity, and a bag-anchored Applejack join Sunset and Twilight at the fountain.
They quickly launch into a narrative of overspending and unexpected adventure, with Rarity showing off a baseball hat she’s made plans to mock Rainbow Dash with.
Twilight watches Sunset, and while she still sees someone who’s years ahead of herself, she also sees someone who’s making the most of what she’s left with.
And when Twilight suggest to Rarity that they go to the science centre tomorrow, maybe even just to miff Rainbow Dash, she catches Sunset smiling softly out of the corner of her eye.
Author's Note
I guess this is technically non-canon, what with Average Joe existing for apparently two years. And various other non-canon liberties.
Please forgive my inaccuracies.
