Sunset and Twilight are Definitely Not Dating, Probably
Normally, Sunset Shimmer would be awoken by the light of the sun streaming in through her window onto her eyes, or the obnoxious beeping of her alarm clock. Usually, she would start her days annoyed, bleary, and half alive, let alone awake. This time however, she was annealed against the accursed morning. Today, she was not alone, and what had woken her up was not the aforementioned maladies, but instead was the aroma of some of her favourite instant coffee wafting up from underneath her bed.
Sunset knew well what this meant, as she had the good fortune of experiencing such an awakening more often than not lately. She slowly opened her eyes and let out a loud yawn as she sat up in her bed, seeing the curtains mercifully drawn to protect against the ever-offensive sun. Inhaling deeply through her nose, she was able to confirm the scent of coffee, and Sunset managed to crack a smile.
“Did I hear a yawn up there? Are you finally awake?” Sunset’s smile grew wider as she heard the voice of her girlfriend, Twilight Sparkle. Even though they were out of high school, Twilight always made sure to wake up and be ready early in the morning. It was an endearing quirk, and habit Sunset should probably start before college. “I made you some coffee. Come down and take it, I’m not bringing it up to you so you can spill it on your bed.” I don’t deserve her. But I’m damn happy I have her.
Sunset stretched out her arms over her head to get the blood flowing as another yawn escaped her mouth. Feeling awake enough, she threw her covers off of herself and swung her legs over the side of her bed, pivoting with them. It was then that she realized her own distinct lack of clothing, which made her face turn a deep red as memories of the previous night surfaced. There was, after all, a good reason Twilight was making her coffee in the morning.
“Hey Twi, do you know where uh… Any of my clothes are?” Sunset heard Twilight barely stifle a giggle from below before responding.
“On the ground next to you, Sunset. You were the one who put them there, remember?” True to her word, Sunset just had to look over the side of the bed to find her abandoned clothes piled up next to it. Still blushing feverishly, Sunset quickly got dressed and made her way down the stairs, wanting to collect her morning coffee, as well as properly greet her girlfriend.
Twilight was already waiting at the bottom, fully dressed and smiling lovingly, handing Sunset her cup of coffee. Sunset, not paying the hot drink any mind, set it aside as she pulled her bespectacled beloved into a passionate kiss, catching the latter off guard. She quickly adapted and returned it in kind, however, before the two broke apart again giggling.
Sunset picked up her drink and took a small sip, relishing the invigorating brew before finally speaking up. “Thanks for the coffee, Twilight. How’d you sleep last night? I didn’t hog the sheets or anything, did I?”
Her girlfriend waved her hand dismissively, rolling her eyes. “Don’t worry, there were plenty of covers for me. I slept pretty well, even if you kept me awake longer than I’d like.” She accentuated the innuendo with a wink, making Sunset blush again.
“Right, right… To be honest, I was worried that it was just a really nice dream.” She leaned back on her desk as she ran her fingers through her bedraggled hair, hoping to pull out some of the tangles. She couldn’t help but feel completely unpresentable next to the properly groomed and neat Twilight, even though the latter had about an hour of a head start on her. “Still can’t believe we’ve been dating for a month now. It’s surreal, you know? I used to dream of dating you, and now that I am, I keep on expecting to just wake up again. Difference is now when I do, you’re still here.”
It was Twilight’s turn to blush, as Sunset’s words were a certain kind of gooey romanticism that just made her heart melt. Normally she wouldn’t be into that sort of thing, but with Sunset, it was different. It just felt so right. Still, the two didn’t have time to just swoon over each other all day. It was already 10am, and even if Sunset had forgotten about today’s plans in the heat of the moment, Twilight most certainly did not.
“Don’t try and distract me from the fact that you woke up late again, Sunset. You need to drink your coffee and get ready. We’re meeting the girls at the mall at noon, remember?” She tried to sound serious, but her rosey cheeks and sappy smile betrayed any attempts at authority.
In response, Sunset pulled Twilight close again, kissing her on the nose mischievously. “Oh, is that part of your list today? And what if I refuse to drink the instant coffee you slaved to make? Is that going to throw the day off? Will we be forced to stay the day here, together instead?”
Twilight giggled, kissing Sunset back on the lips before straightening her glasses. “I can’t force you to get ready, but I can give you an ultimatum. I know that the threat of consequences gets you motivated.” Sunset responded to the half-hearted threat with a sly grin and a raised eyebrow.
“Oh yeah? And what if I want you to punish me, how about that? What will you do then?” Twilight returned the gesture with an added sarcastic eye roll.
“Ha-ha. Very funny, Sunset. If you’re really willing to blow off your friends like that, then I can just as easily revoke all kissing privileges. No more kisses if you don’t get ready.”
Sunset stumbled backwards, gripping her chest mockingly. “Oh, how could you? Such a terrible fate beyond imagination! No more kisses! Surely, your cruelty knows no bounds!” They both shared a giggle at Sunset’s theatrics before she started for the bathroom. “I guess a quick shower is a small price to pay for the honour. I’ll be ready soon, I promise. I love you, Twi.”
Twilight sipped at her own cup of coffee, hiding her smile behind her cup. She did agree with Sunset that the relationship felt surreal, though not for the same reasons. She never thought that she would be dating an interdimensional magical pony, and as much as the thought made her head spin, she managed to push the thought away and just enjoy the moment. She was in love with a girl who loved her back, and although they had only been dating for a short time, they had been friends for years, and Twilight felt confident that their love was as rock-steady as their friendship.
Her smile dropped however, when she realized that Sunset had neglected to finish the cup of coffee, which was going cold on the desk.
"What is taking them both so long? We've been waiting for hours!" Rainbow Dash faceplanted into the table, rattling the drinks as Applejack raised an eyebrow from across the table.
"What are you talkin' about, Dash? We only sat down fifteen minutes ago."
Rainbow Dash looked up at the farmer with a frown, narrowing her eyes in annoyance. "Fifteen minutes feels like hours when you're as fast as me. Still doesn't change the fact that they're late."
Rarity picked up her soda and took a tentative sip, not trusting Rainbow Dash to not knock it over with her rustling of the table. She glanced at the large clock hanging from the ceiling in the center of the Canterlot mall food court. Sure enough, it was 12:15, exactly fifteen minutes past the agreed meeting time.
"Whatever could be holding them, I wonder? Sunset I could believe being late, but Twilight is always on time. It's very unlike her."
Applejack crossed her arms as a smirk crossed her face. "Oh, I'd reckon Sunset is the reason they're late. She's the only one who could muck up Twi’s schedulin’. Five bucks says they arrive together.” Applejack accentuated the challenge with a wide grin, but Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes, tapping the table impatiently.
“Normally, I’d call your bet, Applejack, but we all know that’s one I would lose. Any idea why those two have been hanging out so often lately anyway? They’ve been joined at the hips for weeks.”
“Oh well that’s obvious, Dashie! They’re totally dating!” Pinkie Pie arrived back from the snack stand with Fluttershy in tow. The pink haired girl was carrying an armful of various snacks and drinks, with the quieter of the two sipping on a fruit smoothie through a straw. They returned to their seats at the table between Rarity and Rainbow Dash as Pinkie distributed refreshments.
“Pinkie darling, that’s quite an accusation to make. I had noticed that they had grown closer since Twilight had her breakup… but do you really think that Sunset swept her up afterwards?”
Applejack jabbed Rarity with her elbow playfully, laughing out loud at her friend’s ignorance. “What, yer sayin ya didn’t put two and two together? Sunset has been crushing super hard on Twilight fer years now, and Twi was so heads over heels for Timber that she didn’t notice!” Rainbow Dash was now totally engaged in the conversation, sitting up.
Pinkie Pie continued the conversation with a mouthful of chocolate pretzels. “Yeah, I bet that Sunset was all over Twilight as soon as she heard the news! Candlelit dinner, smooth jazz, the whole chimicherrychanga!” Rainbow Dash opened her bag of potato chips, listening intently as she offered some to Fluttershy next to her. All this talk of Sunset crushing on Twilight was news to her. Rarity still wasn't convinced yet.
“I don’t know if jazz is exactly Sunset’s style, darling. And I don’t think she’d be so crude as to ‘get all over Twilight,’ as you put it. If she has really been attempting to keep it nonchalant for so long, surely there is more to it than just that?”
Rainbow decided now was her time to butt in, with half a mouthful of partially chewed, starchy snacks. “But wait, Twilight’s been with Timber for like, a year! Are you telling me she’s secretly been gay this whole time? Do you think Timber was her beard or something?”
Rarity rolled her eyes at Rainbow Dash’s own accusations. “You do know bisexuals are a thing, right Rainbow? I for one fancy a strapping man just as much as a pretty face. Sunset dated Flash before, and Pinkie Pie is… I believe the term is pansexual?” Pinkie Pie took a long, loud sip from her own soda’s straw, giving Rainbow Dash a thumbs-up in affirmation that her preferences are indeed as broad as advertised. Rainbow Dash opened her mouth for a moment as if to say something, but abandoned the thought immediately, snapping her jaw shut again.
Fluttershy took advantage of the momentary lapse in conversation to get her own two bits in. "I personally don’t really have an opinion on the matter, but I have noticed that they’re both very happy lately, and I think that’s all that matters, really.” As soon as she said her part, she returned to her sipping, as quiet as before. All four of the others at the table settled back into their seats, nodding in agreement.
Applejack tipped her hat smiling, “Fluttershy is right. It shouldn’t matter what those two are doin’ in their time alone together. Gay, straight, or bi, it don’t matter to me none as long as my friends are happy.” Rainbow Dash shrugged, loudly chewing another handful of chips.
“Well yeah, I wasn’t saying there is anything wrong with it! I’m just saying that if they’re gonna bang, they should at least try to be on time! Waiting sucks.”
“What’s this about banging?” Rarity and Fluttershy simultaneously spit out their drinks as Sunset’s voice cut through the din of the mall food court. Rainbow Dash spun around in her seat, coming face to face with Sunset and Twilight, who were approaching the table that the friends were all sitting at.
Rarity was quick to change the subject, not wanting to be caught gossiping. “Nothing! No such talk over here, Sunset! Surely you must have misheard Rainbow Dash. We were having a perfectly polite conversation.” As Rarity dabbed at her lip with a napkin, Applejack got to cleaning up the mess that had sprayed all over the table, a bead of sweat on her brow from the sudden appearance of the two that the group was so carelessly gabbing about just a few seconds ago.
As the pair sat down to join their friends, Applejack attempted to salvage the situation. “Uh… yeah! We were just talkin’ about uh… Stuff! Wonderin’ where you two were, but here you are now! So no need to worry!” Applejack’s honest nature was once again her undoing, as Sunset’s acclimation to deceit saw straight through the hastily constructed lie. However, she chose not to say anything at the moment. Instead, it was Twilight that took the opportunity to prod her friends.
“Oh really? Because I could have sworn that it sounded like you guys were talking about us.” She directed the pressure at Rainbow Dash, who she knew could stare down a bear, but crumpled in social interactions like this. As predicted, Rainbow Dash started looking anywhere but at the pair.
“Oh you mean that talk? We were just… joking around! You know, because you two are always hanging around nowadays, right? Just some kidding around with friends, y’know?” Sunset and Twilight shot each other unconvinced glances, before sweeping the table with their scrutinizing gaze.
Pinkie leaned over to Rarity, Whispering behind her hand, “I think the jig is up! They’re onto us!” Unfortunately, she forgot that whispering actually involved lowering your voice, to which Rainbow Dash applied her own hand to her forehead.
With a sigh, Rainbow finally turned to face the newly arrived pair as she apologetically scratched the back of her head. “Alright, I’m gonna be up front with you two. We were totally talking about you. Nothing bad, just wondering about… What’s been going on lately?”
Rarity, having properly gathered herself nodded, decided to also come clean. “We just… Noticed that you have been spending a great deal of time together. More than usual, and more than with us. I will be the first to admit that it is decidedly uncouth to go gossiping behind a friend’s back, let alone two. I think I speak for all of us when I say we are sorry.”
Pinkie Pie clasped her hands together pleadingly, letting loose her own long-winded apology. “I am really sorry because I was the first one who said you two must be dating! I started the whole gossip party, which is a kind of party that I know I shouldn’t be starting, but I love parties so much that sometimes I forget that some kinds of parties aren’t good to have, like pity parties, so I want to make sure you both know that I am really super duper sorry if I hurt your feelings by throwing a bad kind of party!” Pinkie Pie had wormed her way across the table over the course of her defence, giving puppy dog eyes the entire time.
Applejack was next to speak, taking off her hat remorsefully and placing it over her heart. “And I’m sorry for tryin’ to lie and cover it up. I should know better than that by now, to be honest. I’ve always been a cruddy liar.”
When it came to be Fluttershy’s turn, she shrugged slightly, before quietly announcing, “I was really just sitting here. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Twilight and Sunset couldn’t help but laugh out loud at being bombarded by all of the apologies from their friends. At first, everyone only looked awkwardly at each other, but managed to muster some weak chortles of their own.
Sunset finally put a hand up, waving away some of the remaining tension. “Girls please, it’s alright. We’re just teasing you. I know it was all just a bit of fun, so it’s ok. Besides, it just means we should tackle it here and now instead of waiting any longer.” The promise of a formal address caught the table’s attention, and everyone clammed up to listen.
Twilight nodded at Sunset before continuing the sentiment. “We’ve been keeping a tight lip for a while now, but we decided on the way here that it’s not fair to keep this from you all any longer. You’re all our friends, after all. And friends don’t keep secrets from each other.” Sunset and Twilight looked at each other with a smile, before locking hands together on the table.
“Twilight and I are dating. Not only that, but we’re going to be moving in together soon, too.” The stunned silence was only broken by Pinkie Pie’s loud gasp of excited surprise. Immediately after, Applejack busted out laughing loudly.
“I told y’all! They’ve totally been dating this whole time! I knew it! I was right all along!” While Applejack enjoyed her victory, Pinkie Pie nearly climbed over the table to get at the pair, smelling an opportunity for a celebration.
“So you two are gonna be moving in together? Does that mean I can throw you a housewarming party?” Sunset gingerly placed a finger to Pinkie Pie’s forehead, pushing her back into her seat.
“Uh… That’s not how housewarming parties work, Pinkie. If we’re having one, it’s supposed to be the couple moving in who throws the party, not the guests."
Rarity leaned in much more casually, with an inquisitive hand on her chin. “Isn’t it a bit soon to move in together? Surely you haven’t been dating for that long. It’s quite a commitment for a young couple!” She couldn’t help but express concern, as she had seen many couples come apart due to the stress of living together.
“Well actually, I asked out Sunset the same day Timber and I broke up. We’ve been dating for just under a month. Besides, we’ve known each other for years, it’s not like we’re strangers or anything.” Sunset squeezed Twilight’s hand slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to show that she was still aware that they were holding hands, a gesture that earned her another loving smile from her girlfriend.
“Yeah, it’s not like we haven’t saved each other’s lives a bunch of times. Been on wild adventures together, visited other realities… Total strangers who know nothing about one another. The relationship is totally doomed, I’m just biding my time.” Sunset’s dry sarcasm scored her a few more giggles from the love of her life, which was also shared by her friends.
“Alright, alright. We get it, you two are the perfect match. I wanna know if you actually were late because you were banging.” Rainbow Dash’s smirk was interrupted by Rarity swatting at her from across the table.
“Rainbow! That is completely unacceptable! You can’t ask a couple things like that! What they do in their own time is their own business!” However, the blushing faces of the lovers proved that the line of questioning was not entirely unfounded.
“Well, if I’m going to be perfectly honest, we were going to be on time until I saw Sunset come out of the shower, and we just sort of…”
“Lost track of time,” finished Sunset. Their cheeks burned with embarrassment, which only grew a deeper shade of red as Pinkie and Rainbow burst out laughing by the admission of guilt. Fluttershy turned almost as red as the pair, even though the embarrassment was only second-hand. Thankfully, Applejack was still present to reel in the conversation and redirect everyone back to the original purpose of the meeting.
“As much as I’m sure you two would love to keep spillin’ yer guts for Pinkie and Dash’s amusement, let’s not forget why we came here in the first place. It’s been way too long since we all spent the day together, and I ain’t too keen on missing our movie! So let’s get a move on before all the good seats are taken!”
Rainbow Dash was the first to get up, practically jumping with excitement. “Oh yeah! I can’t believe I nearly forgot that the new Daring Do movie came out! Let’s go!”
As she led the group to the mall’s cinema, the group seamlessly shifted back into its typical state of being, with the friends chattering away happily with each. The only discernible difference now was that two of them were tightly holding hands the whole way.
Author's Note
I had some requests for a sequel, so I made one. Hope it was as fun to read as it was to write! I definitely have some SciSet fever lately, so maybe there will be more to come, who knows? If you liked it, drop a like and a comment! If you didn't, go ahead and tell me what you didn't like. I love feedback!
