Twilight curled in on herself, breathing heavily. Her heart was racing and her mind was moving a million miles a minute and she just couldn’t get the thought of Midnight Sparkle out of her head. She was laying on Sunset’s bed up in her loft, trying to hold back her tears as she clenched her eyes shut.
Sunset had invited her over for a movie night, but now as the clock ticked past one am, Twilight had yet to fall asleep. Sunset was passed out next to her, snoring lightly every now and then. Sunset being next to her was the only thing keeping Twilight sane.
Twilight soon couldn’t take her intrusive thoughts anymore. She reached out for Sunset in the dark. The Christmas lights wrapped around her loft were the only things providing light to the apartment. She gave her shoulder a light shake.
Sunset groaned, waking up from a deep sleep. She rubbed at her eyes, turning over to face Twilight.
“Twily? What’s wrong?” Sunset reached out and wrapped her arms around Twilight. She already felt safer in Sunset’s grasp.
“I-I can’t sleep. Every time I close my eyes I just see her.” Twilight didn’t even realize she was shaking until Sunset dragged a hand through her loose hair and placed a hand on her back to stabilize her.
“Shhh, it’s okay Twi. It’s okay, I’ve got you.” Sunset tried her best to console Twilight, but her sniffling and shaking wasn’t getting any better. She hated to see her girl like this, suffering through a panic attack while the only thing Sunset could do was hold her and whisper sweet nothings until Twilight was calm again.
“Su-sunny, I-I don’t want it to happen again. It hurts.” Twilight choked out through her sobs. Sunset’s heart clenched for her baby. She didn’t want Twilight to be hurting like this, she wanted to help her but she had no idea how. Her heart ached.
“She’s not going to come back. She’s not going to hurt you. This will pass, I promise. It gets better. Just breathe, I’ve got you.” Sunset played with Twilight’s hair as she held her.
Twilight felt safe with Sunset. She felt like all her fears were irrelevant when Sunset held her. Sunset was the only person that understood her the way nobody else could. She was smart and funny and caring and only wanted what was best for all her friends.
That gave Twilight hope. When she was curled up next to Sunset, her girlfriend stroking her hair and holding her hand, she felt like nothing could hurt her. Not even her memories and nightmares of Midnight Sparkle.
“You know Twily, I might just have an idea that could help you cope with all of this. The nightmares and what-not.” Sunset was nervous bringing this up, but she had a feeling it could actually help Twilight. She had been thinking about it for a while, and collecting things so if the time was right it wouldn't be a problem.
“Wha-what is it?” Twilight rubbed the tears out of her eyes, rolling back so she could see Sunset’s face. She could see the hesitation in the redheads eyes even in the dim lighting of Sunset’s apartment.
“Do you know what littlespace is?” Sunset was blushing, embarrassed. Now she almost regretted bringing this up.
She convinced herself to meet Twilight’s eyes and saw nothing but relief and excitement in them.
“Yeah. I-uh, actually kind of thought that it might be a good thing for me.” Twilight was blushing so much that Sunset could see it in the dark room.
Sunset smiled a little. “I did some research. It’s supposed to be a good coping mechanism for things like what you’re dealing with. I thought maybe it would be something you enjoyed, you know, a way to take your mind off everything…” Sunset was almost already regretting bringing the idea up while Twilight chewed on her bottom lip, contemplating.
“Yeah, I like that idea. Being taken care of like a kid, I don’t know, I feel like it would make me feel safe.” Twilight leaned back into Sunset and buried her face into her chest.
“I’ve been picking up things every now and then since I came up with the idea. I just never knew how to bring it up to you…” Sunset was the one biting at her bottom lip now as she waited for Twilight’s response.
“Really? Wow, sometimes I forget why I love you.” Twilight smiled lovingly at Sunset. The redhead returned the smile.
“One second,” Sunset climbed out of bed, crossing over to her dresser. She pulled a cardboard box out of the bottom drawer. She brought it over to Twilight.
She reached over to the bedside table, picking up Twilight’s glasses and slipping them on her face, causing the other girl to giggle quietly.
Together, they slowly went through the box. Cuddly toys, pacifiers, sippy cups, a variety of soft blankets. Twilight was smiling so wide at how thoughtful her girlfriend was.
If Sunset ever left her, she had no idea what she would do.
At that thought, Twilight’s eyes began to fill with tears and she sat back, lifting her hands to her face to hide her crying.
“Twilight, baby, what’s wrong? Is it something I did? Is it all of this?” Sunset gestured to the box, reaching out to rest a hand on Twilight’s shoulder.
“No-no. I just, I just was thinking about how lost I would be if you l-left me.” Twilight wiped at her tears. Sunset crawled over to her and took Twilight into her arms once again.
“No baby, I’m not gonna leave. I’m never leaving you. Come on, let’s get you changed, your shirt is soaked with tears.” Sunset patted her head, lightly kissing her forehead.
Sunset climbed off of the bed, crossing the room to her dresser. Twilight grabbed one of the fluffiest blankets from the box, wrapping it around herself. She automatically felt safer at the idea of Sunset taking care of her, and she began to relax.
Sunset returned holding one of the shirts Twilight had left in her apartments. It was from a concert Sunset and Rainbow had dragged her to a few months ago. It was slightly too large on her thin frame. Sunset flicked on the light beside the bed, illuminating the room in a soft yellow light.
Sunset sat in front of Twilight, the shirt in one hand and the other sliding the glasses off her face. She lightly tapped Twilight on the nose.
“Did you find a cozy blanket?” Sunset asked, her voice slightly pitched up.
Twilight let out a light giggle, followed by a soft “Yeah.” She tugged the blanket around her tighter, burying her face in it, a blush spreading across her cheeks.
“Come on, let’s get you changed.” Sunset gently pulled the blanket off of her shoulders, letting it pile at Twilight’s waist.
“Arms up.” she gave Twilight a small smile and Twilight complied, lifting her arms above her head and letting Sunset change her shirt.
Getting the sweat and tear damp shirt off was a relief for Twilight. Sunset adjusted her blanket, pulling it up as Twilight grabbed onto it and wrapped it around, nuzzling into the fluff.
Twilight looked back to the box She leaned forward, searching the contents with her eyes. She reached for a purple and yellow sippy cup with a handle on each side. She pulled it out and pushed it towards Sunset.
“Warm milk?” she asked, feeling the cup leave her hands as Sunset took it. Sunset smiled in a way that Twilight knew was a combination of relief and pure happiness. She nodded and left the loft, turning on the light that was underneath the loft, where her kitchenette was. While Sunset was heating up some milk for Twilight, Twilight herself was digging through the box and pulling out any plushie that had any sort of fur on it, which was almost all of them.
When Sunset returned, she found Twilight buried under the comforter on Sunset’s bed and her new fluffy blanket, surrounded by a variety of plush toys. She was hugging a puppy dog stuffed animal, her face buried into it while she waited for her milk.
Sunset giggled at the sight. She crawled into bed beside Twilight, careful to keep the sippy cup she held upright. Twilight rolled over to face her. Sunset helped her sit up against the pillows a little bit more, handing her the milk.
“Thank you,” she whispered, smiling around the cup. Sunset leaned forward and kissed the top of her head in response.
Twilight tipped it upward to her lips, drinking slowly and feeling the effects of the warm milk making her sleepy. She burrowed further down into her blankets and stuffies.
“That better baby?” Sunset asked as Twilight handed her the empty sippy cup a few minutes later. Twilight smiled.
“Y-yeah.” Twilight’s eyelids were already drooping as she was getting sleepier by the minute. Sunset rested a hand on Twilight’s waist underneath the blankets.
“Is there anything else you need?” Sunset asked Twilight. Twilight shook her head.
“No. This is nice. I love you.” Twilight lifted a hand and flicked out the bedside table light with her powers.
“I love you too.” Sunset rubbed her hand up and down Twilight’s arm to comfort her.
“Thank you.” Twilight smiled at Sunset, all the signs of her panic attack gone.
“You’re welcome baby. Now get some rest, you need it. I’ll be here when you wake up.” Sunset leaned in and pressed a kiss to Twilight’s lips, pulling away just as Twilight dropped off into sleep.
Sunset followed suit, surrounded by Twilight’s cuddly toys. She liked this a lot, getting to help Twilight calm down and take care of her. If it could make Twilight happy, she was willing to do whatever it took.
After all, Sunset understood. After her demonic transformation, she had been in so much pain. She had been forced to suffer it all alone, just coming off of being Canterlot High’s “biggest meanie”. Being able to support Twilight and help her cope with her pain, it took away some of the regret she felt from all her years as a bully.
Sunset hugged Twilight tighter, finally drifting off alongside her girlfriend, her soft breaths a comfort to the golden girl’s ears.
Author's Note
This was inspired by ChiakiNanamemes' story Darkness Calls on Archive of our Own and Fanfiction.net. You can read it here:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/17831777
