Stockholm Shimmer

Upon finishing college, the Rainbooms faced a tough challenge, keeping in touch. At first it had seemed like a near impossible task, since the only three girls who stayed in Canterlot had been Applejack, Twilight and Sunset, the rest of them went on to live miles away.

Rainbow Dash lived upstate in a Wonderbolt military zone, Pinkie Pie travelled all over Equestria with Cheese Sandwich throughout the whole year, Fluttershy had moved to Vanhoover to work as a veterinarian, and after making it big in Equestria, Rarity moved across the sea to spread her fashion brand all over the world. Applejack still worked near Canterlot in Sweet Apple Acres and Sunset Shimmer had become the school psychologist at Canterlot High School.

Nevertheless, ever since they parted ways they had successfully kept their promise of reuniting every now and then at their favourite spot to hang out; the Sugarcube Corner café. It was common knowledge that every six months the Rainbooms came back together to play at local pubs in Canterlot, including Sugarcube Corner, and they enjoyed every bit of it. Twilight always loved going back to their days in the school battles of bands and going in the afternoons to earn bits around town. Playing music with her friends filled her with joy and helped take her mind of the constant stress that was being a detective. She always looked forward to their reunions with enthusiasm, but today was different, the archive with Sunset's name failed to leave her mind, the thought lingered with her as she drove to the cafe to meet her friends. She wanted to think about the meeting, she wanted to get her mind back to the band, to playing music, singing and having a few drinks with her best friends in the world, but whenever she pictured Sunset she could only remember the box, and the label; missing person. She tried to shake it off, but failed. Her curiosity slowly began to get the best of her.

Only when she got to the café street she realized how late she was, the meeting was scheduled for six o'clock and it was quarter past-six already. Twilight had never enjoyed the prospect of being late for anything, but her mind was not focused on that, and Twilight knew that that wasn't normal.

Close to being twenty minutes late she saw her destination. She immediately recognized her friends had already arrived. In the parking lot she saw Rainbow Dash's sleek racing bike, painted in the colors of the Wonderbolt Academy; blue, silver and pastel yellow; right next to it she saw Rarity's one-of-a-kind supercar, a flamboyant piece of machinery that embodied Rarity's love for show with elegance and style; after that was Applecjack's bulky old pick-up truck and finally, Sunset's simple, yet elegant jet black motorcycle.

Twilight pulled up next to Applejack's truck and left her car. Next to Rainbow Dash's and Rarity's flamboyant rides, the rest of the vehicles looked dull and monotone, she glanced at her old black sedan one last time before entering Sugarcube corner. Looking good. She had never paid much attention to buying a fancy vehicle, something that moved fast and lasted long was enough for detective Twilight Sparkle.

She headed into the building. Outside, the sun was beginning to fall over the horizon and the sky had painted itself with a bright orange hue, the sun looked like a bright flashlight looming over the distant hills, clearly visible from that side of the city. It was refreshing for her to be in a place that wasn't so busy, the metropolitan area of Canterlot was as stressful as big cities can get, especially in the police station. The temperate air of the café filled her lungs as she strolled in, breathing in she could feel the smell of lattes and espressos as well as newly-baked donuts. There was some mild chattering in the few tables that were occupied, but indubitably the loudest of them all was the one that was waiting for her. From all the way across the room, the Rainbooms caught sight of her and began beckoning her enthusiastically.

"Over here, Twilight!" yelled Pinkie Pie in her usual extraverted demeanor and high-pitched voice. Her words flooded the room like a siren had gone off. Twilight blushed but with unhesitant steps made her way to her friends who were eagerly awaiting her arrival. One by one, her friends greeted her with warm words and hugs, their voices overlapped onto each other as they tried to get her attention.

"Sorry I'm late." Twilight apologized once she had seated herself. "We had a pretty busy day at the station today, I kinda lost track of time."

"Oh, that's okay darling, we understand." Rarity reassured her. "Work can be a bit too much sometimes, one simply gets absorbed, so you're excused."

The rest of her friends nodded in agreement. The next to speak was Fluttershy.

"She's right, I could barely make time to travel all the way from Vanhoover, there is an awful lot of work at the clinic, but I could never miss out on our meeting, I just hope everything is okay back home while I'm gone."

"I'm sure everything is just fine, Fluttershy." Applejack replied. "For now let's just forget about work, it's our week off, we gotta make the most of it."

"So, what's with the trench coat, Twi?" Rainbow Dash asked.

She only then realized that she had not had time to go home and leave her uniform.

"I...uh, well, like I said, busy at work." Twilight replied with a nervous smile. "Didn't exactly have time to change."

"Well, I for one think it looks fabulous on you, Twilight, it really goes with the season." Rarity complimented.

"Thanks, Rarity." Twilight replied. "So what have you guys been up to? I'm sure you've already caught up on some stuff"

"Well, I for one have finally struck a deal with a very important businessman across the sea in Gryphonstone, and my first overseas boutique is soon to be opened there." Rarity explained. "Needless to say, I am quite excited about it."

"Wow, that is very impressive Rarity, I'm happy for you." Twilight replied proudly.

"Well, that's just Rarity for you, wherever she aims, she strikes." Applejack said, winking.

"Oh, stop it AJ! you're gonna make me blush." Rarity giggled. "But you're right, I am a great negotiator, am I not?"

The rest of them chuckled in unison. Appplejack was about to speak up but Twilight interrupted her.

"Uhmm...has any of you seen Sunset Shimmer?" Twilight asked after scanning the room twice and finding no sight of her. "I saw her motorcycle outside, why isn't she with you?"

"Oh, she said she really had to go to the bathroom." Rainbow Dash replied. "I think she left right before you walked into the café, she should be around any minute now"

Twilight sighed in relief and the six friends continued talking about their lives across the country while they waited for Sunset Shimmer to arrive. Pinkie Pie was in the middle of explaining her travels across Equestria with her husband Cheese Sandwich when Sunset Shimmer came walking from the restrooms. Twilight tried to keep a straight face and avoid thinking about the file.

"If it isn't Canterlot's best detective in person!" Sunset exclaimed. "How're you doing Twi?"

"I've been better." Twilight replied, trying to sound as enthusiastic as she could. "But right now I'm mostly tired."

The two friends exchanged a brief hug and went back to their seats. In that moment Pinkie Pie resumed her story. As she spoke, Twilight could not get her eyes off Sunset, and her mind kept veering off towards the file, she felt she could not contain it any longer, but she made her best attempt to keep it cool. The group talked for hours, by the time they finshed the night had already kicked in. Outside, the sky had become a blue so dark it was almost black, save for the astounding white, shiny full moon that grazed it with its beauty.

"So, how about a little concert tomorrow, huh?" Rainbow asked as they exited Sugarcube Corner. "We can't have a Rainbooms reunion without some actual Rainbooms action, you know?"

"I sure do miss playing with y'all. I say yes." AJ replied.

"Oh, I wouldn't mind picking up my old keyboard one more time." Rarity replied. "Say, Fluttershy, do you happen to have written any new songs since our last reunion?"

"Funny that you should mention it, I have one new song I've been practicing by myself, I could give you the lyrics tomorrow morning so we can rehearse."

"Awesome, I know a great pub that accepts last-minute submissions for night performances." Rainbow replied with excitement. "I still got their number, I'll hook us up asap"

"Super Rainbooms reunion concert!" Pinkie exclaimed. "This is going to be exciting!"

"I can't wait to hear the new lyrics, Fluttershy." Sunset said.

"Yeah, me too." Twilight agreed. Fluttershy blushed and nodded. After talking some more in the parking lot and saying their goodbyes, everyone got in their vehicles and drove away. The first one off was Rinbow, she waved at them from the street as she revved up her bike and quickly drove out of sight. Rarity and Fluttershy had booked the same hotel and left together on Rarity's extravagant car and Applejack offered Pinkie a ride to her own house; one by one, the lots of the café car park were emptied, leaving Sunset and Twilight alone under the moonlight.

"Sunset." Twilight called as Sunset grabbed her helmet from the bike.

"Yes, Twilight?" Sunset turned to look at her. There was a silence. She hadn't thought of how to tell her, what if she said the wrong thing? what if it was all a misunderstanding? Could it have all been a product of her imagination? The more she thought of the file the more it began to feel like a distant, but strangely vivid dream. She saw as the expression on Sunset's face turned from a warm smile to a concerned frown. "Something wrong?"

"It's just..." Twilight struggled to formulate the words in her mouth. "We have been friends for a long time, so you know I trust you completely, right?"

"Right." Sunset answered, her eyes fixed on Twilight's slightly nervous temperament. The two of them shared a moment of silence, then Sunset spoke again. "Did something happen Twi?"

"You wouldn't hide anything from me, even if that something could potentially change everything we know about each other, right?"

"Why are you asking me this?"

"Just answer; yes or no."

"Well, of course not, why would I keep secrets from my friends?"

"Correct." Twilight answered coldly.

"Twilight, what's going on?"

"At the police station, earlier today, I found something very peculiar in the archive room." Twilight explained.

"Okay."

"It was an old file I hadn't ever seen." Twilight looked her in the eyes. "From back when we were in high school, before I even met you."

"So, what was so special about this box? I'm sure there are many old files from those times there."

"It had your name on it"

Sunset's eyes twitched barely noticeably, her expression became subtly more stiff. Twilight could see Sunset was not being genuine, she had dealt with too many investigations to be led astray by false words; her vast experience with criminals and witnesses had made her immune to visual trickery, she was able to see through people's emotions, and she could see Sunset's, it was discomfort.

"Well, I'm sure there's a sound reason for that I...may have skipped over a few stop signs in the past." Sunset evaded. "I'm sure transit fines must be worth archiving."

"Maybe you're right."

Sunset put an arm over Twilight's shoulder.

"Come on, you must be really tired, and we have a lot planned for tomorrow." Sunset said as she ushered her to her car. "Let's take our minds off work for a bit, Twi. Enjoy the moment, it's not everyday that we all get to spend time together."

"I guess you're right." Twilight said unenthusiastically before gently breaking free of Sunset's grasp. "I'm gonna go home. It was good seeing you again."

"It was good seeing you too." Sunset replied before leaning in for a hug. The two girls shared the embrace for a few seconds. For a moment, Twilight wasn't sure if it was Sunset she was feeling, or if it was someone else, as her mind twirled around her answers and the memory of the box, she started feeling like she was hugging a stranger. "It's all going to be okay Twilight, we'll have time to properly unwind with the girls tomorrow."

Sunset said her goodbyes and quickly made her way out of the parking lot and off into the darkness of the night cityscape. Twilight wandered around her car for a bit, considering seriously going home and brushing all this off as a machination of her mind. But something inside her told her to dive further into the mystery, she could not shake off the uncertainty and the relentless curiosity that swarmed her thoughts. After what felt like an eternity of thinking she finally decided to get in her car and drive back to the police station, she needed answers, and she was going to get them no matter what.