Author's Note

I hope y'all are enjoying the story so far. I'd love to hear what y'all have to say about it so far. I am open to hearing some criticism; just be respectful, please.

A Celebration and a Revelation

*The Next Day*

Pinkie Pie finished tying the last of the balloons to the barn door. With that done, she looked around at the balloon-infested barn, admiring her work. Streamers lined the walls and ceiling while confetti littered the floor and numerous hay bale stacks, courtesy of her confetti cannon. There were balloons in every color of the rainbow sitting in various places, making the barn look like it had gotten painted by a leprechaun. Pinkie Pie ran over to the cake she’d baked earlier that day and grabbed the mini confetti cannon that was sitting on the table next to it. It had taken her all night to build the mini version, but she knew that she had to for the girls and the party’s reputation.

Just as Pinkie Pie had finished lining the cannon up to the hole within the cake, she felt her ears change to that of a pony. Her hair was next, elongating and forming her pony-like tail in a flash of pink light. She finished wiring the confetti cannon when her tail twitched behind her. That was followed by her ears flapping and her knees jiggling a little, signaling to the party girl that her friends were arriving now. She knew her Pinkie Sense well enough to know what those three signals meant. When she walked away from the cake, she waved to Applejack and Fluttershy.

“Hey girls, I am almost finished setting up all the decorations,” said Pinkie Pie as she grabbed a few more streamers.

Fluttershy made her way over to a set of hay bales near the barn entrance while Applejack placed a case of her family’s famous apple cider on the table.

“It’s fine, Pinkie. We don’t mind waiting for you, right, Shy?” asked Applejack, turning to look at Fluttershy.

“Oh, yes, we don’t mind…” said Fluttershy, looking down at a small lamb that was approaching her.

The lamb was all white with a cute little pink nose to add to its cuteness. Its big blue eyes blinked as it took in the sight of the girl in front of it. The lamb let out a quiet baaa as Fluttershy reached down and stroked its wool. It felt so soft and silky against her palm, which made her want to continue petting it. But she stopped after a few minutes, allowing the lamb to have its space. Petting the lamb had calmed her nerves a little and let Fluttershy relax a bit.

“Where’s your mother, little lamb?” asked Fluttershy, looking around for the lamb’s parents.

The lamb looked behind it as a sheep that was smaller than the average one walked into the barn.

“There she is,” said the lamb, running over to her. “Ma, meet… What’s your name, miss?”

“Oh, goodness. I forgot to introduce myself,” said Fluttershy, looking between the lamb and its mother. “My name is Fluttershy.”

“It’s very nice to meet you, dear,” said the mother, bowing her head down before returning to meet Fluttershy’s gaze. “Would you mind watching my little Snowflake for a while? I have to find her father. We’re going to find a good grazing spot later.”

“I don’t mind at all,” replied Fluttershy, trying to keep her excitement contained. After all, she didn’t want to frighten the lamb or her mother.

“Thank you, dear,” said the mother as she walked out of the barn, searching for her lost husband.

Pinkie Pie, who had just finished adding a few more streamers to the ceiling rafters, wheeled in a DVD player with a tv sitting on the top of the cart. Sitting on top of the DVD player was a small stack of movies. Some of the films were romantic comedies, others were action, but there was one film that was different from the rest. It was a black case with some tape on the side which read ‘Surprise Video.’ It sat on top of the other movies, allowing her to grab it.

“Hey Pinkie, what is this video? Some sort of home movie?” asked Susie, examining the case.

Pinkie Pie grabbed the DVD back, saying,” No, it’s a surprise video for my friends, which I will reveal later.”

“Is it like the video our class made for us when we moved onto fifth grade?” asked Gabriel. “Our teacher had compiled a bunch of photos and videos from that year and made a home movie for our class. It was really neat to see that.”

“Hmm, maybe,” said Pinkie Pie, giving him a smirk as she set the movie back on the stack.

“You’re a big fan of surprises, aren’t you?” said Susie as she watched the party girl prep the tv.

“You betcha,” shouted Pinkie Pie, plugging the tv into the extension cord that ran from the house.

“And you seem to have an obsession with sugary treats too,” added Jeremy as he scanned the table that had many cakes and cookies sitting on it.

“Obviously! You can’t have an awesome party without a delicious cake. And nobody is more skilled in the art of cake-making than me,” Pinkie Pie said as she walked over to Jeremy and grabbed a chocolate chip cookie.

Just then, there were a few knocks on the barn door. Everyone turned to see Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash standing in the doorway. Twilight seemed to be more at ease with her appearance now. It appeared that a good night’s rest helped her injuries heal a bit more too. Her feathers had begun to grow back in and cover up the bald spots caused by the beating. When her wings instinctively stretched to their full length, the kids and girls noticed that Twilight winced at the action. And despite her efforts to hide it, she was still hesitant to look at Cassidy or any of the kids.

“Uh, I hope we aren’t too late. Rainbow Dash made us run late and insisted on taking dangerous shortcuts, which,” Twilight Sparkle turned to Rainbow Dash, “I told her was extremely unsafe.”

“Sorry, but I had to make sure Tank’s stuff was ready for him. Winter is coming soon, and he’ll be hibernating soon,” said Rainbow Dash, walking over to the table and grabbing a bottle of apple cider.

“You’re not late, Twilight. In fact, you’re right on time. I was just about to text Rarity and ask her where she and Sunset are,” said Pinkie Pie as she took a bite of her chocolate cookie.

Twilight Sparkle tensed up a bit at the mention of Sunset Shimmer and walked over to where Fluttershy was sitting. She saw that her friend had become lost in petting a small lamb next to her, paying her no mind as she walked past her. Twilight sat down on the hay bale next to Fluttershy, making the lamb look up at her. That tempted her to pet the lamb, but it shrunk away from her hand as she reached out towards it. She watched as it buried itself behind the animal lover, feeling hurt by the gesture.

“Oh, sorry…” said Twilight Sparkle, letting her hand fall back onto her lap.

Fluttershy took notice of the lamb’s shaking and looked at Twilight Sparkle.

“It’s okay, Twilight. She’s just a bit frightened of your wings like I was at first,” said Fluttershy.

Twilight Sparkle pulled her wings closer to her, regretting that she didn’t bring her hoodie. Even animals were terrified of her, which only made her newly-gained confidence falter. She gripped her arms and looked away from the lamb, a move that didn’t go unnoticed by Fluttershy.

“I am sorry. I know you’re still dealing with what happened on Thursday,” Fluttershy said, a comforting tone to her voice.

“She has some big wings, but they look really cool too!” said the lamb, peeking out from behind Fluttershy, curiosity in her one visible eye.

“Would you like to pet her, Twi?” asked Fluttershy, nudging the lamb out from behind her slowly.

“Do you think she’ll allow me to do that?” asked Twilight Sparkle as she glanced down at the small lamb. “I don’t think she likes my appearance very much.”

“We’ll see about that,” replied Fluttershy, giving Twilight a small smile.

Petting the terrified lamb’s back, Fluttershy said, “Snowflake, this is Twilight. She is my friend.”

Slowly, the lamb lifted its head and stared at Twilight Sparkle. “Woah, she has pretty eyes too.”

Twilight Sparkle, for her part, tried to appear as friendly as she could manage. Her hands remained in her lap as she didn’t want to frighten the lamb further. She kept her wings behind her shoulders but made sure to keep them relaxed at the same time. They were still hurting from the injuries that they had suffered, but not as much as yesterday. With her tail sitting by her side, she offered the lamb a smile. Twilight was careful not to let her fangs show as she looked at the lamb.

Grabbing her bag, Fluttershy pulled out a small plastic container that was full of grass. The grass had come from a garden she had started at the animal shelter. It was something she wanted to use to make some tasty treats for the animals there. She had brought some of the grass with her because she hoped to befriend some of the farm’s inhabitants. Fluttershy opened it and handed it to Twilight Sparkle.

“What is this?” asked Twilight Sparkle, eyeing the container.

“It’s grass, a lamb's natural food. Here,” Fluttershy grabbed Twilight’s hand and set some grass in it. “Hold your palm out flat.”

Twilight Sparkle did as Fluttershy told her. As she held out her hand with the grass sitting on it, she tried to keep her hand from shaking. Unfortunately, her being nervous that the lamb would freak out more didn’t help matters. She became more worried when she saw that the lamb was hesitant to approach her outstretched hand.

“It’s alright, Snowflake. Twilight won’t hurt you, I promise,” said Fluttershy. “I trust her.”

Twilight Sparkle couldn’t believe how happy those three words made her feel. To hear her friend say that she trusted her even with her appearance looking like Midnight Sparkle, it meant the world to her. She smiled to herself, reveling in the joy of having Fluttershy’s trust. Adding to her happy mood, she felt the lamb sniff her palm and then tentatively took a bite of the grass.

“See, Twilight isn’t so scary. Right, Snowflake?” asked Fluttershy.

“Mmm, yeah,” replied Snowflake, swallowing the last of the grass in her mouth. “Can I sit in her lap? Her wings look mighty cozy…”

“I am not sure, but I will ask Twilight,” said Fluttershy, patting the lamb on the back.

“Ask me what?” Twilight Sparkle asked as she looked from Snowflake to Fluttershy.

“Snowflake here wants to know if she can sit in your lap. She says your wings look cozy,” Fluttershy said, looking at Twilight.

“Su-sure, she can,” said Twilight Sparkle, letting her wings wrap around her shoulders. “Did she mean what she said about my wings?”

Snowflake made her way from Fluttershy’s side to Twilight Sparkle’s lap. She tucked her feet underneath herself as she got comfortable. Once she had gotten settled, she nudged Twilight’s one wing. She was careful about where she touched the wing, seeing the bald spots that were on it. When she didn’t move her wing, Snowflake looked up and nodded at her, hoping she would understand that it was okay to move her wing.

“Snowflake says she did. She thinks your wings are beautiful,” said Fluttershy, making sure that Twilight knew that Snowflake was genuine in her compliment. “And I agree with her.”

Twilight Sparkle began to stroke Snowflake curly white wool absentmindedly. When she did that, Snowflake nudged her wing again. This time, she got the hint and draped her wing over Snowflake’s little body, wincing a bit as she felt it move. That made the little lamb snuggle close to her.

“Aww, she is so soft and warm,” said Twilight Sparkle, looking at Fluttershy.

Snowflake’s mother and father returned for their daughter, but they stopped at the barn entrance when they saw Twilight Sparkle and her cuddling together. Looking at Fluttershy, the mother asked, “Is my daughter safe with your winged friend over there?”

Fluttershy nodded.

“Okay, then. My husband and I will come back later. It seems that Snowflake is content here,” said Snowflake’s mother as she turned and walked back to the pasture with her husband.

*** *** *** ***

Meanwhile, at the electrical building, Springtrap was sitting on the concrete floor of the building. He saw 20 copies of himself standing still, unflinching and unmovable. It amazed him how much work the strange magic could do. If he didn’t know that he had created them, Springtrap would’ve sworn he was looking at a mirror. The only downside was their lack of brains, but he could work with it. Over the last four hours, he had begun to master the commands. But he knew that if he wanted to attack the girls and kids, he was going to need a bigger army. And it had to be a united one too, or it wouldn’t work, even with the vast army. Standing up, Springtrap walked over to the group of copies.

With his hand outstretched, Springtrap attempted to conjure ten copies of himself, rather than his usual five. As the magic coursed through him, creating the ten doppelgangers, he struggled to imagine them while the magic drained from his power source. Though, as soon as he began to feel weak, the energy drain stopped and allowed him to recover. Thankfully, after a few minutes, they were slowly appearing in front of him. In mere minutes, Springtrap now had 30 copies of himself standing perfectly aligned.

“Hmm, now that is a good sign,” said Springtrap as he approached the new copies. “Now, let’s see how well you work with the other dumbasses.”

Stepping back, Springtrap held his hand out once more.

“Okay, march forward.”

The doppelgangers, slowly but fluidly, moved forward on command. As they marched, their joints creaked and groaned just like Springtrap’s did. It was music to his ears. Well, that is until one of them fell, causes the others in front of it to fall over. The sound of metal and plastic colliding into each other made Springtrap cringe away. It looked like a bunch of Springtrap-shaped dominos were being pushed over.

“Stop marching, stand still!”

Springtrap stomped his way over to where the trouble maker was. His eyes locked onto it, its anger beaming into it.

“So, your inability to keep your fucking balance lead to you knocking the others over. Are you a goddamn idiot?” asked Springtrap, his voice ringing with sarcasm.

“N-no, I am not,” replied the doppelganger, starting to shake visibly.

“Wrong answer, you asshole,” said Springtrap. “Now, get back into formation again.”

With that command, all the copies lined up again. Sprintrap was rubbing his forehead with his forefinger and thumb. If he still had a human body, he was sure that this would’ve caused a severe migraine. He rubbed his head as he tried to ease the phantom headache. After a few seconds had passed, Springtrap lowered his hand and forced himself to try again.

“March forward, but in sync this time.”

This time, the doppelgangers moved as though they had practiced the routine many times. Their legs moved in sync, like soldiers in an army march. Every movement was precise and perfect, pleasing Springtrap. If things kept going like this, he could have a formidable army at his disposal. Once the group of 30 doppelgangers was within ten feet of him, he held out his hand again.

“Stop marching and stand still!”

Again, the copies obeyed the order and stood still. Springtrap walked over to them, making sure they weren’t glitching out or causing any problems. Satisfied that there was none, he walked back to the front of the group, the magic still coursing through his circuitry. Just like he did earlier, Springtrap held his hand out and envisioned ten more copies standing alongside the existing 30. As he felt the magic exiting him, he opened his eyes and watched as the doppelgangers appeared next to them. Yet, just as they had finished appearing, Springtrap fell to his knees. It felt as though the magic powering his mechanical body was getting drained from him. When he looked up, his vision swirled and blurred.

The Marionette stood up from its sitting position and walked over to the window. It saw Springtrap kneeling on the ground and turned its head towards the horde of doppelgangers. The sight was odd to the animatronic. Why was Springtrap making them? And what were they for? Furrowing its eyebrows in curiosity, it wondered what was going on. Intrigued by the scene in front of it, it went to step out of the building but was stopped by Springtrap getting up. The Marionette backed away and returned to its spot, letting its body go slack.

“Dammit! That was too much magic use, too soon,” said Springtrap as he stumbled his way over to the doppelganger group.

“Do it again, you monster! Do. It. Again!!” thought the Marionette as their head slumped sideways against the concrete wall.

‘Okay, mental note ⁠— don’t push yourself too much,” Springtrap said, looking back at the building. “Well, that sucks some of the fun out of it. But at least I’ve got that stupid ass puppet to bully in the meantime.”

*** *** *** ***

Pinkie Pie was standing in front of a Pin the horn on the Unicorn game, having the blindfold placed on her eyes as they prepared to play their 46th round of the game. The kids had taken several turns at the game, with Cassidy winning the most out of the five kids. Rainbow Dash got up from her seat and spun Pinkie Pie around three times before guiding her in the direction of the unicorn poster. Pinkie Pie walked over to the wall, holding out her hand with the makeshift horn, trying to find the right spot. Feeling the wood wall, she pushed the pin in a place she felt was the right one. She removed the blindfold to see that she had come very close to the x.

“Nice one, Pinkie!” exclaimed Fritz. “You almost got it.”

“Thanks!” said Pinkie Pie. “Who wants to go next?”

Before anyone had a chance to say anything, there was a sound from outside the barn. Everyone, except for Twilight Sparkle, ran out of the barn. Twilight wanted to stay back, unsure if she was ready to see Sunset after what happened last night. Sunset’s odd behavior kept replaying in her mind, not letting her suspicions subside. They all saw a royal blue Porsche pull up, with Sunset Shimmer’s bike pulling up right behind it. Applejack was the first one to greet the girls, leaving the rest of the gang standing at the barn.

Rarity stepped out of her Porsche, saying, “Sorry that I am late. There was a minor traffic jam today.”

“It’s fine, Rare. We’re just happy you’re here now,” said Applejack, approaching the fashionista and intertwining their fingers together.

“Why are you still wearing your hoodie from last night?” asked Rainbow Dash as she leaned against the barn door. “Isn’t your leather jacket back from the dry cleaners, Sunset?”

Sunset Shimmer looked down at her helmet as she spoke. “It’s still there. I forgot to pick it up today.”

Rainbow Dash gave Sunset Shimmer a questioning look before saying, “Right. Well, come on. You’ve already missed half the party.”

With that, Sunset Shimmer followed the girls into the barn. Walking past the door, she saw all the decorations and treats Pinkie Pie had set out. It was incredible how much effort she put into her parties. Yet, she knew that is precisely what made Pinkie Pie’s parties the best. Eventually, Sunset came across the Pin the horn of the Unicorn game on the wall. It unnerved her enough to immediately look away and stuff her hands into the hoodie’s one pocket. She kept her sunglasses on, not wanting to risk the contacts revealing what her eyes looked like now. Looking over to her right, she spotted Twilight Sparkle sitting with a lamb on her lap. Sunset, wanting to talk with her after what happened the previous night, walked over to her.

“Hey, Sparky,” said Sunset Shimmer, hiding her fangs as she spoke.

Twilight Sparkle looked up at Sunset Shimmer, still petting Snowflake. She saw that she was wearing the sunglasses she’d given her on her birthday a few months ago. That confused her even more than Sunset’s odd behavior the day before. Why was she wearing them inside? Wouldn’t have made it harder to see? She wasn’t sure of the answer, but Twilight did want to see what the redhead could be hiding beneath them.

“Hi, Sunset,” said Twilight Sparkle, a timid tone in her voice. “Why are you wearing the sunglasses I gave you months ago?”

Sunset Shimmer gulped nervously. “Um, I…” She couldn’t come up with a good excuse. And standing here in front of Twilight, she didn’t want to lie to her anymore.

“Can you please remove them, Sunset?” asked Twilight Sparkle, trying to sound friendly. “I want to see your eyes.”

Sunset Shimmer’s hand shot up to her sunglasses. She didn’t want to remove them, afraid that unveiling her eyes would expose her. But, she knew that Twilight and the girls were going to be even more suspicious if she refused to remove them. And there was already more than enough suspicion for her comfort. So, with a trembling hand, Sunset Shimmer gripped the frames of the sunglasses and lowered them. She was thankful for the dim lighting as her eyes locked with Twilight Sparkle’s curious ones.

“Twilight, are you okay?” asked Sunset Shimmer, feeling a bit nervous with Twilight Sparkle staring at her.

Twilight Sparkle saw that Sunset Shimmer’s eyes appeared to be normal. However, that didn’t explain her inexplicably wearing the sunglasses all of a sudden. As her gaze shifted away from the redhead’s eyes, she thought she saw the same red skin as before. Twilight furrowed her eyebrows as she tried to get a closer look. Yet, as if sensing what she was doing, Sunset turned away before she got a chance to get a good look.

Dejected, Twilight Sparkle said, “Yeah…I am okay, aside from your secrecy.”

“Sparky, I-”

“I am going to get some cake,” said Twilight, nudging Snowflake gently off her lap. “Why don’t you tell your secrets to Snowflake. Cause it’s clear you don’t want to tell me any of them.”

“Twilight, I shouldn’t have been…” Sunset Shimmer trailed off as she watched Twilight Sparkle push past her.

“Good job! She’ll definitely hate you for that later,” said Sunset Shimmer’s conscience, reminding her just how snarky it could be. “Remind me to give you a medal for that later.”

“Oh, thank you! I'll polish the fucking medal after I finish shutting you up,” thought Sunset Shimmer, sitting next to Fluttershy.

Just as Sunset shimmer sat down, Cassidy joined her on a nearby hay bale. That made her even more nervous than just sitting next to Fluttershy alone. Her appearance was hard enough to hide from Rainbow Dash as it was with her being suspicious, to have one of the kids close to her only worsened her fears. Sunset wasn’t ready to let the kids know what occurred just yet. It was also creepy to see a dilapidated animatronic that had tried to run away from her sit just mere feet away. Though, she didn’t show it, partly because she could tell that the girl was still adjusting to her new situation. Besides, Sunset was feeling enough guilt for her actions with Twilight as it was. And she could see that Cassidy would need support, not someone freaking out because she was forcibly trapped inside of the animatronic.

“What happened between you and Twilight?” asked Cassidy. “I noticed that she seemed a bit upset when she walked away.”

“Twilight was upset because of me…” Sunset Shimmer gripped her arms as she fixed her gaze to the ground.

“Why?” Cassidy couldn’t help her curiosity; she just needed a distraction from her current situation.

Sunset Shimmer swallowed and bit her lip before saying, “Because I… refuse to tell her my secret, even though I know she deserves to know it.”

“What’s your secret…?” Cassidy looked at Twilight Sparkle, noticing that she was staring at the redhead.

“Let’s just say I nearly did something horrible when I went through a… transformation. And because of that, I am afraid Twilight will hate me,” said Sunset Shimmer, looking up for a moment.

Cassidy tilted her head sideways in confusion. “A transformation? Like what Twilight went through?”

“So, she did explain how she came to look like she does now. Well,” Sunset Shimmer met Cassidy’s gaze, “I have been through a similar transformation, but I don’t want to discuss it right now.”

“Okay, I won’t push any further,” said Cassidy. “But I can offer you a piece of advice?”

“What is it, Cassidy?” asked Sunset Shimmer.

Cassidy eyed Gabriel as she said, “Whatever it was that you did in your past that was so horrible, if Twilight cares for you, she’ll see past it and see you as her friend.”

“And if Twilight doesn’t?” Sunset’s voice trembled as she asked the question. The idea that Twilight Sparkle would ever be repulsed by her demonic form and past stung, but she knew it was a possibility.

“Take a leap of faith, Sunset,” Cassidy shifted her gaze to the redhead, “I can see that Twilight does care for you. If you just give her a chance and some time, I am sure she’ll be there by your side. She may even help you come to terms with whatever it is that makes you want to keep it hidden.”

Sunset Shimmer silently watched as Cassidy got up and walked away, taking what she said to heart. When she felt a nudge on her thigh, she looked down to see Snowflake backing up and looking at her. She gave the lamb a small smile, accidentally revealing her fangs in the process. That made the little creature flinch away from her. Its eyes widened, and it pinned its ears back as she moved her hand towards it in an attempt to console the frightened animal.

“Snowflake, please come here. I won’t hurt you,” said Sunset Shimmer in a soothing, calm voice. “I just want to pet you.”

Snowflake looked at Sunset Shimmer’s outstretched hand and decided to sniff it cautiously. When her hand didn’t flinch, she nuzzled her nose against her palm. Once she felt it was safe, she stood up and approached the girl. Her legs trembled as she walked closer to Sunset, still wary of her. Standing next to her, Snowflake noticed that she had what appeared to be wings under the hoodie that she was wearing. She thought about investigating it but decided it was best to leave it alone. Instead, she gingerly made her way into the redhead’s lap and made herself comfortable.

“Aww, you’re so cute, Snowflake,” said Sunset Shimmer as she gently petted the lamb’s head. “Thanks for trusting me, despite my appearance.”

Snowflake let out a quiet bleat as she felt Sunset Shimmer’s hand pat her head.

Here’s your piece of the cake, Sunset,” said Pinkie Pie, bringing Sunset Shimmer’s attention to her as she handed her the plate. “Do you want to join us in watching The Mystery of the Cake-Pie Thief?”

“No, thanks, Pinkie Pie. It’s better if I stay back here,” Sunset Shimmer said, taking a bite of her cake.

“Oh, come on, Sunset! Please, join us. I am sure Twilight would appreciate it if you did,” said Pinkie Pie, putting on her infamous puppy dog eyes.

Sunset watched as Twilight Sparkle approached them, her cake in hand. She could see there was a small, barely visible smile that had snuck its way on her face, revealing that what Pinkie Pie had said was true. Part of Sunset was elated to see the smile. Yet, as she ran her tongue across her fangs, she remembered what she was concealing from her. All the dishonesty and reluctance at letting Twilight get close was beginning to take its toll on her. So, she knew that it was getting to the point where she had to come clean. As she pushed through her building guilt, Sunset Shimmer smiled back.

“Okay, I will join you girls, but I am going to sit in the back,” said Sunset Shimmer, standing up and walking over to where Twilight Sparkle was now sitting.

“H-hey, Sunset…” said Twilight Sparkle, pulling her wings close to her body. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I shouldn’t have acted like that.”

Sunset Shimmer looked at Twilight, their eyes meeting. “You had a right to say what you did, Sparky. I know I haven’t exactly been honest with you lately.”

“That doesn’t mean I had to be as harsh as I was,” said Twilight Sparkle, picking at her cake with her fork. “It was not okay.”

“I forgive you, Twilight.” Sunset Shimmer looked down at her cake, not wanting to eat anymore. “I would’ve done the same, especially with my temper. Now, how about we watch the movie together and just relax?”

“Yeah, that sounds good to me.” Twilight Sparkle looked down at Sunset Shimmer’s hand and slowly moved her own until they were almost touching.

Sunset Shimmer saw that Twilight had moved her hand closer to hers, but was still afraid to hold her hand. So, she slowly moved hers closer until it rested on top of Twilight’s smaller one. She didn’t expect her to be anywhere near her considering their earlier argument. Though, that didn’t mean Sunset wasn’t happy to have a chance to return to how things were before her dam of lies started to crack. The past few days were an absolute nightmare on her emotions, especially with Twilight occupying her every waking moment. Sunset now understood the meaning of “rollercoaster of emotions,” having been on one of her own.

Deep down, Sunset Shimmer knew that when this day was over, she would eventually end up hurting Twilight Sparkle again. And when that happens, she was sure that her fear and guilt would make themselves present, only making her feel worse. But for now, sitting here next to her and holding her was okay, even if it wasn’t going to last for long. Maybe, tonight, the smile she gets in return was going to be enough. And maybe, Twilight will think it’s enough too.

“And...play!” shouted Pinkie Pie, announcing the beginning of the movie.

Seeing a blanket nearby, Sunset Shimmer set her cake down before she grabbed it and pulled it closer to her and Twilight. She let go of Twilight’s hand and wrapped the blanket around her shoulders.

‘Wh-what are you doing, Sunset?” asked Twilight Sparkle, pulling the blanket tighter around herself.

“I just thought maybe you’d like to lay down. Here,” Sunset Shimmer patted her lap, “rest your head. I don’t mind.”

Twilight Sparkle smiled, resting her head on Sunset Shimmer’s lap. “Thanks, Sunset.”

“You’re welcome, Sparky,” replied Sunset, making sure her fangs remained out of sight.

Twilight Sparkle adjusted her position so she could see the movie on tv. When she felt Sunset gingerly rest her hand on her arm, she nearly jumped. Thankfully, though, she managed to curb the reaction and remain still. She didn’t want to ruin the moment she was having with the redhead. Not when it was the first time they could relax and forget the stress that they’d endured lately. Twilight looked up at Sunset and admired how her cyan eyes seemed to glow in the dimly lit barn. It was enough to make her want to kiss her, just to let her feelings show and to get a closer view of the beautiful cyan orbs. But, she pushed her urges aside, knowing it was not the right time to be thinking about that.

“You’re so beautiful, Sunset. I only wish you’d let me in so I can show you that I don’t see a monster, but someone who needs a friend. If only you’d let me be that friend...” thought Twilight Sparkle, returning her attention to the movie, smiling as she felt Sunset Shimmer squeeze her arm gently.

An hour into the movie, Twilight Sparkle’s exhaustion took over. She felt her eyelids drift close without her consent as she fell into a dreamless sleep. Just before she fell completely unconscious, she thought she heard Rainbow Dash approaching Sunset and her. But her growing sleepiness made her too weary to be sure or care for that matter. Right now, sleeping sounded good, and nothing was going to keep her from it.

Sunset Shimmer looked down at Twilight’s sleeping form, admiring the peaceful look she had. The sight was enough to make her reach a hand up to the hood hiding her face beneath a blanket of shadows. Even though it was tempting to remove her hood and relax, she decided it was best not to do that. She wanted Twilight to see the changes in a more gentle approach. As Sunset went to pull the blanket securely around her, she heard Rainbow Dash walk up. Looking behind her, she saw that she had a piece of cake in one hand and her drink in the other.

“Is Twilight asleep now?” asked Rainbow Dash in a hushed voice.

“Yes, she is asleep,” replied Sunset Shimmer, looking away and hiding her fangs from the athlete. “What do you want, Dash?”

“Well, I was hoping that we could talk, but you seem upset at the moment. So, maybe I should just go and leave you alone,” said Rainbow Dash as she began to back away.

“Wait, Dash. You can talk to me,” said Sunset Shimmer. “I am just annoyed with myself at the moment, nothing to do with you.”

“Okay, then.” Rainbow Dash sat next to Sunset Shimmer, setting her drink on the hay bale next to her. “Are you going to tell Twilight about the Fall Formal and the whole ‘becoming a raging she-demon’ incident soon?”

Sunset Shimmer bit her lip, her fangs digging in enough to cause two small cuts on her bottom lip. She was desperate to keep a building growl from escaping her throat.

“Dash, I said that I would, but I am afraid my actions will repulse her. I did unforgivable things to you and the girls. Not to mention that I yelled at her for using magic that she knew nothing about when I did the same thing a few months earlier,” Sunset said, keeping her voice low.

Rainbow Dash looked at Sunset Shimmer, noticing the scared tone that underlined her voice.

“Sunset, the girls and I have forgiven you for what you’ve done. You’ve proven that you have changed, so why can’t you trust that Twilight will see past your mistakes just like we did?” Rainbow Dash took a bite of her cake.

“It’s just...I really care about Twilight. I don’t want her to know the one thing I am still ashamed about.” Sunset Shimmer’s voice quivered as she struggled to voice her fears about Twilight’s possible rejection.

“Why, Sunset? Why is that so hard for you to admit that to her?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“I don’t want to change the way she sees me. I don’t want her to see me as just the monster who nearly killed you guys,” said Sunset Shimmer, accidentally raising her voice and causing Twilight Sparkle to stir in her sleep. “Look, Dash, I don’t think you understand how I am feeling. Aside from pulling a few bad pranks, you haven’t done anything like I did.”

“Oh, really Sunset? I haven’t done anything like you?” Rainbow Dash set her cake down, resting her elbows on her knees. “Do you seriously not remember the incident with Ruby Star?”

“Ruby Star? What does she have to do with this?” asked Sunset Shimmer.

“Oh, so you don’t remember? Well, then let me refresh your memory.” Rainbow Dash looked at Twilight, making sure that she was asleep. “I punched her super hard multiple times. She almost went into a coma because of the injuries I caused.”

“Why the fuck did you beat the hell out of her, Dash?” asked Sunset as she tried to remember what happened. “She didn’t do anything to you, right?”

Rainbow Dash took a sip of her drink. “She didn’t do anything to me. But, she did do something to Scootaloo.”

“Scootaloo? What did Ruby Star do to her?” Sunset Shimmer was beginning to grow more curious as to what would’ve made the athlete so violent towards a kid.

“She had been dragging Scootaloo to illegal places like strip clubs, bars, and even an alley where drug deals were happening.” Rainbow Dash’s expression grew dark as she spoke, letting Sunset know that this was a sensitive subject for her. “So, as soon as I heard that, I decided it was best that I let her know that Scootaloo was no longer going to be hanging out with her.”

“But that still doesn’t explain how or why you nearly punched the girl into a coma...almost,” said Sunset Shimmer.

“Well… that is my fault. Ruby Star was pissing me off at the fact she refused to leave Scootaloo alone. So, being the overprotective sister I was, I decided a good punch would put Ruby in her place.” Rainbow Dash stared at the ground as she recalled her fist hitting the girl’s nose, followed by a sickening cracking sound upon impact.

“Ah, so one punch turned to ten?” Sunset asked, raising an eyebrow as she glanced briefly at Rainbow Dash.

“Actually, it turned into 20,” replied Rainbow Dash, looking away from Sunset’s gaze, hiding her shame from the redhead. “I was really angry.”

“Yeah, no kidding. I don’t think I have ever punched anyone that many times,” said Sunset Shimmer.

“Oh, thanks!” shouted Rainbow Dash, causing Twilight Sparkle to stir in her sleep again. “As if I don’t already regret making that choice, why don’t you just rub it in that you’ve never done that?”

Sunset Shimmer looked at Twilight sparkle, sighing in relief when she saw that she was still asleep. Looking back at Rainbow Dash, Sunset narrowed her eyes at her.

“Oh, sorry,” said Rainbow Dash in a hushed voice. “I didn’t mean to bother Twilight.”

“Next time, watch how loud you talk. I don’t want Twilight to overhear us, especially since she doesn’t know yet,” hissed Sunset Shimmer, meeting Rainbow Dash’s gaze directly.

As she stared at Sunset Shimmer, Rainbow Dash noticed for the first time that her skin had a reddish tinge to it. That made her wonder what she was concealing underneath the oversized hoodie. There was one possibility that could have happened based on what occurred with Twilight Sparkle. Yet, Rainbow Dash was unsure if Sunset had actually gone through a similar transformation. Though, if that were the case, it would certainly explain all the weird things she had been doing. But that left one question; why hide it from her and the girls? Why not let them know what happened and have their help in figuring out why it happened? Was Sunset afraid that the girls would tell Twilight what happened? Something told Rainbow Dash that was likely for the same reason she was keeping the details of the Fall Formal from Twilight.

“Okay, I will,” said Rainbow Dash, holding her hands up in a defensive stance.

“Good. Now, how exactly does what happened with you and Ruby Star relate to my situation?” asked Sunset Shimmer.

“I can relate to you not wanting Twilight to look at you differently because of something you did. How do you think I felt when I had to tell Scootaloo about me almost beating her supposed “friend” into a coma?” said Rainbow Dash, making air quotes around the word ‘friend.’

Sunset Shimmer glanced down at Twilight Sparkle’s still sleeping form and said, “Bad, I’m guessing.”

“Yeah, very bad. Scootaloo ended up not talking to me for a few months after that. I nearly lost her completely because she found out what happened from Ruby before i got a chance to tell her myself,” said Rainbow Dash, her shoulders slumping forward as she struggled to contain the hurt she was feeling. “She told me I was the worst big sister she could’ve asked for when I confronted her about it. Those words hurt me more than anything I had experienced before…”

“Wow, I didn’t realize that had happened. I am sorry you and Scootaloo had that fight,” Sunset Shimmer said, turning to face the athlete and revealing her fangs to her.

Rainbow Dash saw what she thought were two very sharp fangs replacing Sunset Shimmer’s lateral incisors. However, before she had a chance to double-check, Sunset looked away from her and covered her mouth. That made more questions appear in her mind, begging for her to answer them. Taking a gentle approach, so it was not to spook her friend, she rested her hand on her shoulder. Unfortunately, just as Rainbow Dash was about to say something, Twilight Sparkle opened her eyes.

Twilight Sparkle woke up to find that the movie was almost over. When she looked at Sunset Shimmer, she discovered that she was covering her mouth. That worried her enough to push herself off of the redhead’s lap and looked at her. Twilight could see that she was hiding something, but she couldn’t tell what it was. She looked from her to Rainbow Dash, her eyebrows knitted in confusion.

“Is everything okay, Sunset?” asked Twilight Sparkle, resting a hand on Sunset Shimmer’s knee. “What happened?”

Lowering her hand, Sunset Shimmer said, “Sparky, can you please get me a drink?”

“Y-yeah, I can,” replied Twilight Sparkle, wondering what was going on and what Sunset was hiding from her. She pushed the blanket off herself as she stood up. “I’ll be right back.”

Sunset Shimmer watched as Twilight Sparkle got up and walked away. Once she was sure that Twilight was out of earshot, she turned her attention to Rainbow Dash, who by now was giving her a look of “you’re hiding something, and I know it.” That look made Sunset’s stomach churn as her panic grew. She was clinging to the hope that Rainbow Dash wouldn’t expose her yet, even if it were futile. Forcing herself to take a deep breath, Sunset braced herself for the questions she knew were sure to come.

“Damn it! I shouldn’t have gotten so careless!” thought Sunset Shimmer.

“Sunset, do you have fangs now?” asked Rainbow Dash, whispering the word ‘fangs’ under her breath.

“Maybe…” Sunset Shimmer didn’t want to lie to Rainbow Dash, but there was no way she was taking the risk of her appearance getting revealed before she had time to prepare Twilight Sparkle for it.

“Maybe? Sunset, your geode malfunctioned and caused you to revert back to Demon Shimmer, didn’t it? Just like Twilight’s geode did with her,” Rainbow Dash said, crossing her arms across her chest.

Sunset Shimmer refused to say anything when Twilight Sparkle showed up with two cups in her hands. She looked up and took the one cup from Twilight, thanking her for bringing it. Taking a sip, she looked back at Rainbow Dash, a fearful expression in her eyes. She knew anything that she said would only prove the athlete’s point and reveal that she had indeed transformed. Sunset was aware that there was no point in denying what happened. So, she decided to see what she was going to do with the information.

“Dash, please. If you understand how I feel about telling Twilight, then you’ll let it go. Please, give me a chance to explain it to her,” Sunset said, keeping her voice low so Twilight Sparkle wouldn’t hear her.

“I do understand, which is why I am not letting it go,” said Rainbow Dash. And take it from me, if you don’t tell Twilight, someone else will. Trust me, Sunset, it’ll be best if she hears it from you.”

“Are y-you saying that you’ll tell h-her?” asked Sunset, her voice trembling from fear.

“Maybe, Sunset. Somebody has to tell Twilight the truth. And I know you’re not blind to the pain you’re causing by choosing secrecy over a simple act of trust and vulnerability,” said Rainbow Dash, finishing the last of her cake. “Twilight can see that you don’t fully trust her, something I think you can understand.”

Looking at Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer said, “I do, that’s why I know I have to tell her the truth before I miss my chance.”

“You got that right. Look, Sunset, I don’t want you to endure what I had to go through with Scootaloo,” said Rainbow Dash.

“So, you’ll give me a chance to come clean with her before you reveal my secret?” asked Sunset Shimmer, looking from Twilight Sparkle to Rainbow Dash, a hopefulness in her voice.

Rainbow Dash stood up, turning her back to Sunset Shimmer. She glanced over her shoulder as she said, “I won’t tell her about you… for now, Sunset. Make the right choice before I get forced to take it from you.”

“Thank you, Dash,” said Sunset as she watched the athlete walk away.

Sunset Shimmer’s attention was immediately drawn back to Twilight Sparkle as she sat on the hay bale next to her. She could see the mixture of emotions that clouded her mulberry eyes and hid their natural shine behind them. The two most prominent ones were confusion and concern. Sunset’s heart thundered in her chest as she saw a flicker of pain in Twilight Sparkle’s eyes before it quickly vanished. Rainbow Dash was right — there was no way she could be blind to the suffering she was causing Twilight. Swallowing, she forced herself to meet Twilight’s worried gaze, their eyes locking onto the other’s.

"Are you okay, Sunset?” asked Twilight Sparkle, her wings stretching a little as she scooted closer to the redhead. “Did Rainbow Dash say something to you?”

Sunset Shimmer, keeping her gaze on Twilight, said, “No, she didn’t do anything. And no, I am not okay, Sparky. Ever since you heard me say that I went through a demonic transformation and I didn’t give you a straight answer, I have been thinking about telling you the truth.”

"Oh, and have you reached a decision?” asked Twilight Sparkle.

"Yes,” replied Sunset Shimmer, reaching out and holding one of Twilight’s hands. “I have.”

“Well, what is it? Are you going to tell me?” Twilight Sparkle’s eyes lit up with hope as she waited for the answer.

“Yes, I am going to tell you the truth about that,” Sunset said, squeezing Twilight’s hand. “Twilight, when I said maybe, I should’ve said yes because I have gone through a similar transformation to what happened to you at the Friendship Games.”

Twilight Sparkle pulled her hand free from the redhead’s ever-tightening grip. “Sunset, I feel like there is more to that, but you’re keeping it from me. Please, tell me that I am wrong about that.”

“There is,” Sunset Shimmer pulled her hand back, aware that Twilight was in no mood for physical contact anymore. “But-”

“Let me guess, you’re not ready to tell me yet?” asked Twilight Sparkle, growing more annoyed by Sunset Shimmer’s reluctance to let her know the truth.

“Twilight, I will tell you, believe me,” begged Sunset, sensing Twilight Sparkle’s frustration.

Twilight Sparkle inhaled sharply. “That is getting harder to do the longer you make me wait to hear the truth behind your past, Sunset. I find it hard to believe you’ll ever come clean with me.”

“I plan on telling you very soon,” said Sunset Shimmer, eyeing Rainbow Dash before continuing. “Just not right now…”

“And what exactly is your excuse for that?” asked Twilight, not caring to be gentle with her words anymore.

Sunset Shimmer felt tears brimming on the corners of her eyes as she looked away from Twilight Sparkle. “I’m afraid you will feel repulsed if you knew the whole truth, Twilight. Unlike you, I almost did...something horrific. Something worse than ripping two worlds apart.”

Twilight Sparkle watched as Sunset Shimmer wiped a single tear from her cheek. Realizing that she was crying, something that the redhead rarely did in front of anyone, she tentatively wrapped a wing around her. A few seconds later, she felt a hand rest against one of the few untouched spots on her wing. She felt the familiar sensation of Sunset running her fingers through the feather. Twilight regretted being as harsh as she was. She didn’t mean to upset Sunset, especially right after she’d opened up to her.

“I understand that you fear I will hate you for whatever you did. I can see it was a tough choice for you to come clean with me about your transformation,” said Twilight Sparkle, using her wing to nudge the redhead closer to her. “I will give you space and time to tell me when you’re ready, but only for a while, Sunset.”

“Thank you, Sparky. I really appreciate that,” replied Sunset Shimmer, her fingers running down the side of Twilight’s wing.

“The end!” shouted Pinkie Pie as the ending credits began to roll.

“What’s the next movie, Pinkie? Can it be Daring Do and the Marked Thief of Marapore?” asked Rainbow Dash, taking a sip from her cup.

“Sure, right after I show you the special ‘Surprise Video’ that I made for today. Well, with Micro Chips’ help, of course. I wanted to make this video super-tastic!” Pinkie Pie said as she inserted the disc into the DVD player.

As the video began to play, pictures of the girls at the movie set flashed up on the screen. The images faded into a slideshow of all the photos the girls had taken during their time at Camp Everfree. Accompanying the visuals was a song that the girls had written a few weeks ago. It was a song that Pinkie Pie had insisted they record for some mysterious reason. Now, they knew why she had been so persistent about that. It fit well with the video and was making some of the girls feel nostalgic as they watched the memories from the year play.

“So, this is why you insisted we record this song,” said Rainbow Dash, looking at Pinkie Pie.

“Yepperoni! I needed it for this video celebrating the amazing year we’ve all had as friends!” shouted Pinkie Pie, sitting next to Applejack and Fluttershy.

“Aw, shucks! You didn’t have to do this, Pinkie,” said Applejack, taking off her stetson and setting it on her lap.

“I know, but I really, really, really, really wanted to make this for you, girls,” said Pinkie Pie, hugging Fluttershy. “I wanted to show how much I appreciate our friendship. Plus, I wanted to show how much fun we’ve had this year.”

“Well, the gesture is appreciated, Pinkie,” Rarity said, smiling as she

“By the way, what is the song called?” asked Gabriel.

“It’s called We’ve Come so Far,” replied Sunset Shimmer. “It’s a song that I wrote a few months ago.”

“Cool! It’s a really nice song. I like the lyrics,” said Jeremy, looking at the redhead. “How’d you come up with them?”

“Yeah, how did you come up with the lyrics?” asked Cassidy, just as curious as Jeremy

Sunset Shimmer looked down at her hands. “I came up with them thinking about my friendship with the girls and how far we’ve come since the, uh, Fall Formal.”

Sensing the growing tension in the room, Susie said, “Wow, that is cool. And it really ties the video together.”

“Yeah, Pinkie. The video is perfect,” said Sunset Shimmer, trying to change the subject.

“Thanks, Sunset!” shouted Pinkie Pie, giving her a grateful smile.

*** *** *** ***

The girls had finished watching Pinkie Pie’s special video and had changed it to the Daring Do movie, much to Rainbow Dash’s delight. The film was half over already, and some of the girls, namely Applejack and Fluttershy, were passed out on some hay bales. Most of the desserts Pinkie Pie had brought were eaten, leaving behind only crumbs on the empty trays. The balloons had begun to deflate, and the streamers were half-on and half-off of the beams in the barn. Even most of the confetti had gotten thoroughly mixed with the bits of straw on the floor. It had been a long day, and nighttime was beginning to fall over the farm, casting it in a reddish-orange glow while the sun disappeared behind the horizon. Sunset Shimmer pulled out her phone and turned it on.

“6:30. I better head home if I want to be able to get to school before the girls tomorrow,” thought Sunset Shimmer as she saw the time.

Twilight Sparkle looked at Sunset Shimmer, seeing that she had her phone out. “Are you leaving?”

“Uh, yeah. I am getting tired, and I don’t think I’ll find hay as comfortable as AJ and Shy seemed to,” said Sunset Shimmer, looking over at her sleeping friends.

“I am pretty sure they’ve become accustomed to it by now,” said Twilight Sparkle, pulling her wing off of Sunset’s back. “If you’re heading home, mind giving me a lift to my house?”

“Um...sure,” mumbled Sunset Shimmer, nervously rubbing the back of her neck.

Turning to the rest of the girls, Sunset Shimmer waved goodbye and said, “Bye, see you girls tomorrow.”

Getting up, Sunset Shimmer made her way to the yard outside the barn, where her bike was still sitting where she had parked it. She approached her bike, resting her hand on the handlebars. Her nerves were beginning to get the better of her as she struggled with the realization that Twilight Sparkle was unknowingly going to be close to her wings. A shiver ran through her body as she recalled her agonizing transformation into Demon Shimmer. It left her body feeling sore and stiff from all the intense waves of pain it had endured. Yet, nothing compared to stabbing pain in her chest at the thought of Twilight’s hand brushing against her wings. Sunset jumped and spun around when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Sor-sorry,” said Twilight Sparkle, removing her hand from the redhead’s shoulder. “I didn’t mean to spook you, Sunset.”

“It’s okay, Twi. I just wasn’t expecting you to come up behind me is all,” replied Sunset, reassuring the bookworm.

“Oh, okay.” Twilight Sparkle grabbed her helmet as Sunset Shimmer did the same.

Sunset Shimmer swung herself over the bike as she settled into the seat. She felt the bike shift beneath her as Twilight Sparkle sat down, closing the space between them. She braced herself for Twilight wrapping her arms around her, gripping her handlebars in an attempt not to flinch away. The feeling of Twilight’s arms gripping her lower back made Sunset’s skin form goosebumps. Her grip on the handlebars tightened to the point where it almost hurt. For a split second, she thought about slipping on her sunglasses but decided it was best not to with it being nighttime. So, leaving them in her pocket, she slipped on her helmet and closed the straps under her chin. Sunset was grateful that she had chosen to wear contacts.

“Oh, Celestia, please don’t let Twilight notice my wings,” thought Sunset Shimmer as she felt Twilight Sparkle brace herself against her back. “Not yet…”

To Sunset Shimmer’s relief, it seemed that Twilight Sparkle hadn’t noticed her wings yet. Nonetheless, she slipped her keys into the ignition and revved the engine, wanting to get Twilight home quickly. The faster she could get her there, the less chance there was of her changes getting discovered. Or, at least, that’s what she was hoping would happen. Despite all the advice she’d received, Sunset wasn’t ready to tell the bookworm her secret. However, she was planning on changing that very soon. Without waiting another minute, Sunset pulled out of Applejack’s driveway, heading towards the street and Twilight’s house.

While the bike rolled down the street, Twilight Sparkle held on tightly to Sunset Shimmer. The wind whipped against her wings, making her wince in pain as she struggled to keep them closed. Thankfully, she had enough muscle strength to keep them pressed against her body. It took all her will power not to give in to the pain that her barely-healed wounds felt from the lashing of the wind. But she managed to keep herself from doing that by resting her head on Sunset’s back. Yet, when Twilight placed her cheek flush against her, she felt a bony structure that wasn’t supposed to be there. Pulling away, she looked down at the spot where her head had just been moments ago.

“What the-?” Twilight Sparkle said as she stared at the two vague wing-shaped outlines underneath the hoodie.

Twilight Sparkle leaned in closer and tried to get a better look at the shapes. Unfortunately, without her weight pressing down on the hoodie, that allowed the wind to hide the vague shapes once more. She slowly removed one of her hands from around Sunset Shimmer’s waist, moving it towards her back. Her curiosity drove her onward as she gently put her palm against the middle of her back. Running her fingers along her spine, Twilight felt the warm wing-like appendages underneath the hoodie. The sudden feeling of warmth made her jerk her hand away and look at Sunset.

“Does she really have wings…?” thought Twilight Sparkle, her hand still hovering over Sunset’s back. “Why does she feel the need to hide them from me when I have said I wouldn’t judge her? Are her wings that repulsive-looking that she doesn’t want me to see them?”

Sunset Shimmer, who was paying attention to the road, didn’t notice that Twilight Sparkle had touched her wings. The padding in her hoodie was thinner, thinner than what was in Twilight’s hoodie, but it was enough to prevent her from feeling anyone touching her back. And Twilight’s touch was light enough that it didn’t alert her to what was happening. Thankfully, despite its thinness, it kept her changes from being exposed. As Sunset turned the corner, she felt a hand get forcibly pushed onto her wing. The action of the bike leaning to the left caused Twilight to brace herself against Sunset, accidentally making her hand fall onto her wing.

“Twi-Twilight, can you please remove your hand? You’re hurting my wi-” Sunset Shimmer stopped herself as she was about to say ‘wing.’

“Oh, sorry!” said Twilight Sparkle, looking down at her hand resting on Sunset Shimmer’s back. “I-I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Sunset Shimmer leaned forward, saying, “It’s alright, Twi. I know it wasn’t on purpose.”

Sunset Shimmer sighed in relief as she felt Twilight Sparkle ease her hand off her wing. There was a desire to stretch her wings out and make sure they weren’t injured, but she pushed it aside. A part of her knew that Twilight had most likely figured out what her hand had rested upon, that it was useless to hide it now. Yet, even with that knowledge, Sunset couldn’t find the courage to reveal it to her. The risk of rejection weighed too heavily on her for her to overcome it right now. She didn’t want to confirm Twilight’s suspicions, not until she knew the whole story. Turning another corner, Sunset could see Twilight’s house coming into view.

As Sunset Shimmer pulled up to her house, Twilight Sparkle deliberately placed her hand on the redhead’s wing. She felt her jump at the touch, which only made her keep her hand pressed against her back. She wanted to show Sunset that she meant what she said about not judging her for her past. Twilight’s hand remained on the wing-like appendage as she felt her unconsciously push against it. A smile formed on her face when she saw that. It pleased her to see that her touch was appreciated, even if Sunset had done it unconsciously. Eventually, they stopped in front of her house.

Twilight Sparkle took off her helmet, handing it back to Sunset Shimmer, who still kept her helmet on. As she swung her leg over the side of her bike, she noticed the slight bulge underneath her hoodie that her hand was resting upon. It confirmed her theory about the redhead having wings. She ran her hand along her back, admiring the warmth radiating against her palm. When she caught herself staring at them, Twilight shook her head and pulled her hand away before she did anything to spook Sunset.

“So, Sunset has wings just like I do. I wish I could see them as I am curious to see what they look like,” thought Twilight Sparkle as she approached Sunset Shimmer and gripped her forearm gently. “I wonder if they are like mine…”

“Wh-what are you doing Twilight?” asked Sunset Shimmer, looking down at Twilight’s hand on her arm.

“Sunset, remove your helmet,” said Twilight Sparkle as she leaned in closer.

Sunset Shimmer obliged, setting her helmet on her lap. "Why?”

“So I can do this,” said Twilight Sparkle, kissing the redhead on the cheek.

Sunset Shimmer felt her body heat up as Twilight’s lips brushed against her cheek. The gesture reminded her of when she had kissed her a few months ago. That had been the first she learned of Twilight’s scars, and she’d only done that to prove a point. She did that to show that she saw Twilight for herself, not the scars she bore on her back. And right now, in this very moment, it felt like Twilight was returning the gesture. Sunset, seeing that the bookworm was about to move away, leaned in, and kissed her in return.

“What was th-that for, Sunset?” asked Twilight Sparkle, flustered by the sudden kiss.

"That was for listening to me tonight, even though I haven’t been the greatest friend lately,” replied Sunset Shimmer, looking down at her helmet.

Twilight moved her hand from the redhead’s forearm and rested it on her shoulder. “I know that you’ve been struggling with being honest, so I wanted to make sure that you understood that I see that.”

“Thanks, Twilight,” said Sunset Shimmer, sensing the growing tension between her and Twilight. “Uh, I think I better head home now.”

“Yeah, I guess you should. See you Monday morning then?” asked Twilight Sparkle as she turned to face her house, looking over her shoulder.

“Yeah,” replied Sunset Shimmer, slipping her helmet back on.

“Okay, bye!” said Twilight as she watched Sunset drive off down the street.

While Sunset Shimmer drove home, her mind was racing about what Twilight Sparkle had touched on the way to her house. She knew that there was no point in denying the fact that Twilight had felt her wings. Numerous times. Not that she was going to object to the touch, she enjoyed the gentleness of it. It made her forget how horrible her appearance was for a few precious moments. Yet, that still worried Sunset since she knew that Twilight, being the smart and occasionally geeky one of the girls, would’ve easily guessed what it was that she tried to hide from her.

“Well, you should’ve come clean tonight. Maybe then you wouldn’t have to worry about Twilight finding out that you have wings,” said Sunset Shimmer’s conscience.

“Oh? I missed that the first billion times you’ve said that to me,” thought Sunset Shimmer, hating the fact that her conscience was right.

“Funny. You’re sarcastic now, even when you don’t listen to your friends. Yet, I know that you are aware that the girls are right – you should’ve told Twilight the truth a year ago,” Sunset’s inner voice said, reminding of the conversations she had that day.

“Well, back then, I didn’t think it was the right time to tell her,” replied Sunset Shimmer.

“Didn’t think it was the right time?! You have similar scars and have endured the same experiences! How the hell did you think it was not the right time then?!” shouted Sunset Shimmer’s conscience, growing angrier.

Sunset Shimmer remained silent, unsure of how to respond to the question.

“My point exactly. It was the right time then, but you were too scared to tell Twilight. Now, you’ll have to face the consequences of possibly losing her because you wanted to conceal your past from her,” said the redhead’s inner voice in a calmer tone.

“I know…” thought Sunset Shimmer, trying to keep her guilt at bay, not wanting to ruin the rest of the night.

Sunset Shimmer’s inner voice left her alone, letting her drive home with only the sound of the engine and the wind rushing against her to fill the deafening silence. The day’s events replayed in her mind and made her wonder if Twilight would be able to see past her demonic appearance and know that she was still the same person underneath. While her mind was saying no, her heart was saying yes, which only confused her more. But remembering what Cassidy had said, Sunset knew she had to follow her heart. After what seemed like the longest drive home, she finally saw her apartment appear in the distance. Pulling into her driveway, Sunset removed her helmet and turned off the engine. She walked up to her dark apartment and unlocked the front door.

Walking into her apartment, Sunset haphazardly tossed her keys, helmet, and sunglasses onto her desk. She turned on the light and made her way up the stairs to her bedroom. Just as she got to her bed, Sunset saw her reflection in her full body mirror. She stood in front of it, staring at her skin and ears. She removed the leather gloves, being careful not to rip them in the process. Her hand rested on the zipper tab, tempting her to pull it down and reveal the rest of her changes. After a few seconds of deliberating, she made a choice and slowly began to pull the zipper down. Once the front of the hoodie was fully open, she gripped either side and started taking it off, reluctantly revealing the full extent of the transformation to herself. Sunset shrugged the hoodie off of her body and let her wings stretch to their full size. Her eyes hesitantly took in the reflection that stared back at her.

Sunset Shimmer felt disgusted by the way her wings looked, though it was nothing compared to the texture of them. The leathery feel of them was enough to make her want to cut them off. Her claws were the one feature she feared the most due to the danger they posed to her friends. Sunset looked down at them, fearing that she would hurt Twilight should she touch her without the gloves. Looking away in both fear and disgust, she clenched her hands tightly, feeling the tips of her claws digging into the soft flesh of her palm. The changes to her skin, hands, ears, and the growth of her wings made her look like a horrifying monstrosity straight out of a horror film. Yet, it was her eyes that, despite still showing her usual kindness, seemed to make her look evil. Not even the contacts could disguise the evilness that shone within them. Growling, she turned away from the mirror, no longer wanting to see the monster she had become.

“Rainbow Dash is right. Someone has to tell Twilight the truth. And that someone has to be… me,” Sunset shimmer said to no one but herself. “If I don’t do it, she’ll hate me for not being the one to tell her about it.”

Sunset Shimmer went over to her dresser and pulled out her pajamas from the top drawer before making her way downstairs, walking into her bathroom. As she took off her shirt, she saw her scars in the mirror above her sink. The ghastly sight of her wings jutting out from them nearly made the redhead throw up as she eyed it. Her scars were similar to the ones Twilight Sparkle had, but hers were longer and rougher. Not that it surprised Sunset, given the circumstances under which her transformation had occurred. To her, the scars represented the painful experience of her unexpected change into Demon Shimmer. All they ever did was remind her of her past and how she got caught up in her selfish desire, failing to see that friendship was its own kind of magic.

A shiver ran through her body as the images and memories resurfaced in her mind. Gripping the edge of the sink counter, Sunset inhaled shakily and forced herself to push past the regret caused by her actions. She grabbed her pajama top and slipped it over the two leathery nuisances that had destroyed her favorite jacket the day before. For a moment, she hoped that her shirt would remain untorn until her wings stretched against the fabric. Sunset attempted to get them to relax but only succeeded in making them rip through her shirt, much to her annoyance.

“Just great. Yet another shirt I have to repair later. Or maybe… I should just leave it in case I am stuck like this permanently,” said Sunset Shimmer, recalling what Twilight Sparkle had asked her two days ago.

Now Sunset Shimmer understood why Twilight didn’t want to be stuck looking like Midnight Sparkle forever. It was incredibly jarring to see the demon from her past reflected at her every time she looked into a mirror. Yet, she knew that despite her hatred of her actions as Demon Shimmer, it was a part of her. Regardless of her feelings about it, there was something inside that was beginning to embrace it. Maybe it was because Twilight had deliberately touched her wings after the first time. Sunset smiled to herself as she felt the lingering sensations of Twilight’s hand resting against them. It almost was enough to make her forget that she had a terrifying appearance.

After finishing her normal routine, Sunset turned off her bathroom light and headed back upstairs to her bedroom. As she sat down on the edge of her bed, her massive wings draped themselves around her body, keeping her warm. The feeling of them surrounding her with their warmth was almost a pleasant sensation. Though, their odd look and similarity to bat wings as well as their leathery texture still freaked her out. It was still too strange for Sunset to feel them rubbing against her skin, reminding her of their presence. But she was starting to get used to it, not that she could say the same for the rest of her appearance. She kept her wings pulled close to her as she laid down on her side. Sighing, she reached over and turned off her light before closing her eyes.

“Please, Celestia, let Twilight see past my appearance when I show her,” mumbled Sunset Shimmer as exhaustion overtook her, and she fell asleep.