Afterparty

Chapters

Chapter 1: Rainbow
Chapter 2: Sunset
Chapter 3: Rainbow
Chapter 4: Sunset
Chapter 5: All Together Now

Chapter 1: Rainbow

Rainbow Dash could only feel her head throbbing. Slowly the rest of her sluggish, heavy body filtered into consciousness. Her legs and feet came into focus next. They ached too and she vaguely remembered her moves on Pinkie's living room turned dance floor. Heh. She'd torn it up, even drunk. It seemed she was finally paying for all that awesomeness now. She gripped her pounding head and managed to croak out a single, groaning syllable. “Ughhh…”

After a solid half minute, Rainbow pulled her hands from her head. Something briefly kept her hand and hair together, something sticky, then it broke apart. Rainbow examined the substance on the tips of her fingers. She guessed it was alcohol or maybe soda. A little bit gross but not alarming. She’d just wash up in the bathroom. When she actually managed to get up.

Rainbow Dash didn’t rush for once, she simply lay there and let her mind slowly sort through the sensations the rest of her body was sending. Her limbs and chest brushed freely against the sheets and blankets atop her. She registered for the briefest moments that she was naked, then forgot about it. She usually slept naked. Though if more than just her friends were in the house, she'd probably need to get dressed before leaving… whatever room this was. Getting up was first priority though.

She’d only squinted through her blurry eyes thus far and when she tried to open them more, a hissing came unbidden from the back of her throat. Her hand shot up, blocking out the small knives of light stabbing through the blinds. She didn't really get much of an idea of what was around her as she covered her eyes with one hand and held her head with the other.

"Fuck." She said softly as the pounding in her head eased just the slightest bit. Still, that barely helped and her entire body worked together, rebelling and making it clear she should never do whatever she did last night again. Well, she could remember the drinking, but not much else. "I think this might be my worst hangover like... ever."

She started to reach forward, feel her way out of the bed and onto her feet. She hurt like hell, but knew that the best way to deal with this was water and maybe some food if she could keep that down. Plus, clothes. She needed clothes. She had to keep some decency at least.

As she started shifting off the bed, she heard something to her right. A rustling, then a groan. Feminine but low. Then a swear. From a voice she recognized.

Her first thought was that she'd hooked up last night. Which. Nice. Her second sluggish thought as she started turning around to look at the other girl in the bed was 'Oh. Shit. I hooked up with one of my friends.'

She recognized the red hair and blonde streaks immediately, and when Sunset Shimmer poked her head up from under the covers, Rainbow Dash's eyes got wide and her slow, lazy pulse caught up to her rapidly spinning brain.

Sunset seemed to go through a similar process as her, opening her eyes, covering her eyes, swearing, but her hangover wake up process was interrupted by Dash's voice. "Yo."

Sunset didn't startle. She was much too out of it for that. She simply turned, propping herself up slowly with an elbow. The blanket slipped down her shoulder, exposing one of her breasts. Dash tried not to think about that, or look. Sunset's confused, then concerned expression gave her plenty to stare at. "Dash?" She said. Then. "Dash." Then. "Oh. Sh-shit. Dash."

Sunset's eyes were wide, then squinting as more light pierced them. "Did... did we?" She said as she brought a hand up to her eyes again.

Dash sat up completely. Her head and stomach protested in equal measure. "I... I don't know," she said. Which was technically true. She remembered dancing with Sunset. Grinding against her maybe? Not much else. She remembered the stickiness on her hand. Whatever the fluid was, it was clear. Her eyes wandered over to Sunset, then down to her crotch, covered by blankets. "I mean-"

The door burst open with a loud sing song, "Helllooooo~"

Sunset and Dash both cringed and covered their ears. Pinkie was at the door, mixing a bowl of something in her hands. "If you aren’t—“ She stopped, looking between Dash and Sunset.

"Oh! There you are! I was wondering where you two ended up after you started making out on the couch last night." Pinkie started stirring the bowl in her arms again. "We have water, coffee, and milk downstairs, and pancakes should be ready soon. Take your time though. I know you both went pretty hard last night." She grabbed the door and started to close it, then popped her head back in.

"Oh! And wash the sheets please! Thaaaat is my parents bed. And like. I get that sometimes you just gotta fuck, but you both were pretty loud so I'm kinda just assuming you made a mess. And uh... don't exactly wanna explain sticky sheets to my parents, y'know?" Pinkie made a face, nose and eyes scrunching closer together. Then she finally stepped out, door closing behind her.

The confirmation didn't jog Rainbow Dash's memory much. She did remember something warm against her mouth, a tongue against her own, but that was it.

Sunset didn't seem much clearer on things either, looking between Dash and the door, baffled and speechless. Their eyes met when Sunset looked her way again, and as soon as they did Dash’s gaze flashed back to the floor. The world spun a little bit as she did, and as nausea rose she could feel heat doing the same, pooling in her cheeks. Questions about where this left her relationship with Sunset started bubbling to the forefront.

They didn't get far though. The wall of pain in her head stopped them with a chaotic, skittering crash. She put a hand to her head, another to her eyes. She was too hungover for this shit.

"Look," Rainbow said to the floor instead of Sunset, but who else could it be for? "Can we talk about… whatever the fuck that was later. I need- I need water. And food. And Tylenol."

"Sounds good." Sunset replied, her voice hoarse and low.

Dash didn't need any more response than that. She stood. Something stabbed into her skull, then flipped her stomach. Her head swam and she almost sat right back down.

Instead she swayed there for a bit, until her whole form steadied enough to support itself. She bent down and grabbed her clothes, skipping the bra. When dressed she headed for the door. Each step wasn't particularly fun, but she managed to drag herself there. She smelled cooking pancakes as she stepped into the hallway. That and... was that bacon? Her mouth watered, and her rumbling stomach carried her the rest of the way. Down the stairs and into a seat at Pinkie Pie's family dining room table.

Applejack was already there, coffee in hand and head down, hat over her eyes. She looked at Dash for a second, but didn't say anything, only waved weakly in greeting. When Sunset came down the stairs a minute or so later, Applejack looked up again, and this time her eyes darted from Sunset, to Rainbow, and back. Still, she said nothing, and only waved to Sunset as well.

They heard Pinkie in the kitchen say something. Someone responded but Rainbow didn't catch their voice. She only knew someone else spoke because Pinkie responded a moment later.

After that there were some steps, a twisted door handle, and Fluttershy walked into the room, looking tired, but not in horrible aching pain. "Hi girls..." She said softly, which to Dash was a feat all its own. Her head hurt too much to say anything right now.

True to that fact, no one at the table responded to the greeting with words, just waves and in Sunset's case, a slight groan. Fluttershy didn't seem to mind. She just sat down and waited like the rest of them.

Pinkie came in next, two plates piled high with food in her hands. One was stacked with fluffy warm pancakes and the other was a pile of crispy, still sizzling bacon. The table was already set, including syrup and butter, so Dash started reaching for food, not really thinking about manners until Fluttershy thanked Pinkie and the other two girls followed her example.

In lieu of a thank you, Rainbow Dash spoke as she shoved a piece of bacon into her mouth. "Pinkie Pie. You're a goddess."

That seemed to be an appropriate substitute because Pinkie smiled and held up a hand in front of her like it was a notebook. "Something to drink, ladies?"

"Coffee." Sunset said.

"Just water." Fluttershy said as she spread butter on a pancake.

"Water." Dash said. Then she swallowed her bacon and added. "And Tylenol." Then after she grabbed more bacon, but before she could shove it in her mouth. "Please."

Sunset and AJ seconded that request and Pinkie made another note directly into her pink hand. "Alright. Comin' right up!" Her voice was too loud for Dash's headache, but she'd cooked them breakfast and delivered it to them, so Dash wasn't about to complain.

"Oh!" Pinkie snapped back around right before she walked through the kitchen doorway again. "Shy and Sunny I've got veggie sausage patties too. Those will be out soon."

Fluttershy and Sunset thanked her, and she really went to go get drinks this time.

There was only chewing for a while, but halfway through her pancake, Fluttershy asked to the table. "Where are Rarity and Twilight?”

"Rares is in the bathroom. Has been since she woke up twenty or so minutes ago. She came out here, saw me, and immediately walked down the hall and locked herself in there. She did look a right mess, but I don't know why she thinks me or Pinkie would care. Twilight, I don't know." Applejack said it all to her plate, but with food in their stomachs they could probably manage small talk if not eye contact.

Fluttershy looked over at Sunset, then Rainbow. "Have either of you seen her?"

They both responded negative and Dash watched as Fluttershy frowned.

"She's a big girl, Shy. If this were her first Pinkie party I'd be more concerned, but she's been hanging with us for almost a year now and she's like you, not that big into alcohol." Dash assured her.

Fluttershy nodded, but still looked mildly concerned.

They went back to silent eating for a couple minutes, until Rarity and Pinkie stepped into the room at the same time. Pinkie was carrying several glasses of ice water, a bottle of Tylenol, and a mug of what was presumably coffee. Rarity's hair was a little frizzy, but other than that she looked completely put together, eyeliner winged, blemishes concealed, even a light coating of lip gloss. She betrayed herself when she opened her mouth though. For one her voice cracked weirdly, for two she said, "Oh thank fuck. Painkillers. Hand them here darling." She reached out a hand. There were mild grumbles from the table, and Rarity raised an eyebrow as she picked out a water glass at random, grabbed two pills, and gulped them down.

"We asked for em first, sugarcube." AJ mumbled as Pinkie passed out the rest of the drinks.

Dash took hers gratefully, washing down pancake with several greedy gulps. She left just enough to still take the Tylenol. Rarity sat down as Dash drank, handing over the pills to AJ with an apologetic smile. "Oops."

Applejack, for her credit, didn't say anything else. She just took two pills and passed them to Fluttershy, who took one and passed them to Dash, who took two and passed them to Sunset. Once the bottle had been passed around completely Pinkie looked to Rarity. "Coffee?"

"Pinkie Pie. My savior. My triumph. My goddess. Please."

Pinkie giggled and bustled off again. Rarity's grateful smile turned into a slightly puzzled frown as Pinkie disappeared. "How. Is she so chipper? She was drinking just as much as I was last night."

Dash shrugged. To her there was no explaining the mystery that was Pinkie Pie.

"She drank more water than you too." Fluttershy supplied.

"Still." Rarity narrowed her eyes. Then shrugged and seemed to let it go, grabbing for food.

"Um..." Fluttershy looked at Rarity as she pulled several pieces of bacon and two pancakes onto her plate. "Have you seen Twilight?"

"On Maud's bed. Likely still asleep. Or she was when I woke up at least. Not sure how she managed to stay asleep through Pinkie Pie's wake up call, but she looked peaceful and she is still breathing, so..."

They all looked at Rarity, and Applejack was the first one to speak. "Did you..."

"What?"

"Y'know..." Applejack waved her hands vaguely, but apparently that and her embarrassed tone was enough.

Rarity gaped at her and stopped dripping syrup on her food. "Applejack!" She said, incredulous. The word was almost a surprised, offended scoff.

"Well. You weren't very specific. I think it was a legit question." Rainbow Dash offered from her side of the table.She kept her eyes squarely on Rarity, then slid them down to her food as soon as she was done speaking. Looking, talking at Rarity was safe. Sunset had happened to sit furthest from her after all.

Rarity turned on her, indignation still clear on her face. "We slept in the same bed. Because that was the easiest way to do things. Thank you very much." Her face calmed and she turned back to her food. Then, she smirked and kept going.

"Just because you had your tongue down Sunset's throat halfway through the party doesn't mean we all suddenly went feral and jumped our friends."

Sunset spluttered on her coffee, spitting it back out into the mug and coughing. Applejack patted her back roughly as she coughed and a moment later she was back to deep, steadying breaths.

Rainbow half choked too, gripping the table and swallowing once, twice, thrice to get a bite of bacon she hadn’t chewed properly down her throat.

"What?" Rarity asked as she picked up a fork and knife and started cutting into her food. "You weren't complaining, darlings. Oh you definitely weren't complaining."

Fluttershy's face was bright red, Applejack was hiding behind her hat again, really only Rarity seemed nonplussed about the whole thing. She just sat there, calmly eating. As she chewed, her expression changed from satisfied to curious and her eyes went from Rainbow Dash to Sunset, then back again. Rainbow sat stock still, and she felt very much like the deer she’d almost hit with her van last year. Rarity swallowed, and a sly, dangerous smile spread across her face.

"Now, hold on. I lost track of you two after a while. I thought I heard something upstairs but..." When everyone at the table shifted uncomfortably. Her smile turned delighted. "Well then. My my you two."

"Can we talk about literally anything else?" Sunset said into her food. Her face was mostly hidden by hair.

"When shall I expect an invite to the wedding?" Rarity asked as she took another dainty bite.

"Rarity!" Rainbow and Sunset barked her name in unison.

She giggled around her bite. Then swallowed. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I just think it's cute is all. I was kind of thinking it might take alcohol for everything to come out and for you two to start dating but-"

"We aren't dating." Sunset snapped.

Rainbow felt a little tug at her chest, but she still nodded along all the same. "We haven't even. Like. Talked about anything. Not dating though."

Rarity looked between the two of them. "You... but you said." She pointed at Sunset. Then at Rainbow, "And you... I thought." She looked summarily confused at this point. "And then... if you. Upstairs." She pointed above herself with both fingers.

"Rares. I barely remember last night. Like I remember the park, then getting back, dancing, then... some blurry stuff. And that's it." Rainbow shrugged.

Sunset chimed in. "Yep. I'm in the same boat. We... probably drank too much last night."

"We definitely drank too much last night." Rainbow corrected.

Rarity frowned. "Oh. Oh my. Then..."

At that moment Twilight walked in, bleary eyed and stumbling. "Food..." She mumbled like a zombie.

"Over here Twi Twi." Pinkie had stepped back in, with more coffee and water along with a small plate all resting on a waiter's tray. She was tapping on one of the chairs. Twilight wobbled over to it, and sat. Pinkie immediately set coffee and water in front of her. Twilight grabbed for the water without looking. Dash wasn't sure she'd even known what she was about to drink before she put the water to her lips, but she sucked it down regardless, draining the whole glass as Pinkie handed Rarity her coffee and set down the cooked fake meat for Sunset and Fluttershy.

She rushed back over to grab Twilight's glass, then Dash's and replaced both of them with new glasses of water. "Thanks Pinkie." Dash said, and took more greedy gulps of water. Her head was really starting to feel better at this point. "Shouldn't you eat too though?"

"I already ate silly! I nommed on pancakes and bacon and toast while I was chasing everyone but you girls out. Gave em all breakfast of course! Well okay brunch, it is almost noon now after all! Whatever. I just knew I couldn’t send them out onto the streets without a patented Pinkie-Pie-hangover-recovery-meal. I even had bottles of water." She reached into her hair and pulled one out, smiling broadly.

"That's mighty considerate of you Pinkie." AJ tipped her hat.

"Oh! Nah that's not too big a deal! When it comes to parties this big you gotta plan everything or else somebody might leave unhappy and that's no good!” Her bright smile waned a little, turning trepidatious. “Speaking of unhappy, you girls will help me clean this place up, right? My parents knew I was doing a big senior skip day thing today but uh... if things aren't all nice and neat when they get home… well okay, they'd understand but they're gonna be tired after traveling to Fillydelphia for the conference and I don't wanna burden them more by making them pick up cups and do laundry and-"

"Pinkie!" Dash cut in. Her voice eased as she said. "Course we'll help. Or at least I'm in."

The girls around the table followed suit in agreeing to help clean, though most of them specified they wanted to finish their food first. Pinkie was fine with that, and only made one last trip to the kitchen for a pitcher of water this time, before she too sat down at the table. No food in front of her, but clearly happy to be sitting down and eager to chat with her friends.

"Sooooo... how was last night?" Pinkie was looking from Rainbow to Sunset, but Twilight, still buried in her food, didn't notice. She gulped down a huge bite and replied.

"Super fun as always Pinkie! I think... we should maybe cool it for graduation though? Flash threw up in the backyard and I thought I heard someone... oh! Nothing's broken upstairs right?"

Sunset Shimmer groaned and pressed her palms into her face. Dash echoed her, and said with a sigh. "We weren't that loud right?"

"Uh. Sorry Dash, but, ya kinda woke me up actually? I was in the room across the hall. Marble's?" Applejack stopped to turn to Pinkie, who nodded.

"And uh. I don't. Some of it I don't exactly remember but... I heard way more than I ever wanted to."

Sunset groaned again, and Twilight finally caught on to exactly what was being talked about. Her face went from purple to red. "I... that was. You two?” A beat, then. “Did you break something?"

"No!" Dash and Sunset responded in unison.

Twilight shrunk back and though they were both flustered and frustrated, they apologized anyway.

"It's alright I just. I didn't realize. I mean. You were..."

Annoyance flared back into Sunset's face. "We get it. Loud."

Twilight drummed her fingers along the table. "I was going to say I didn't realize the two of you were… a thing." Twilight's face was still glowing red and she seemed very preoccupied with the way her fingers were tapping the table.

"We aren't, a ‘thing.’" Rainbow corrected this time. Her voice was quiet but sharp. She was just glad that they were all at the table now and neither of them would have to set the record straight again.

"But..." Twilight looked between the two of them. Then realization crossed her face, followed very closely by a slight wince. "Right."

"Right." Sunset said matter of factly as she stood, plate clattering as she took it with her. Rainbow's eyes flicked to hers, but when their gazes connected they went right back down to the swirling patterns in the wood.

For several seconds the only sound was Sunset walking across the floor, her boots on wood, and then the door squeaking open. Quiet reigned for several more seconds. Until AJ, closest to Rainbow, asked. "Are... y'all gonna be alright RD?"

"It'll be fine." She grumbled into the table.

"Have you two... talked about it?" Twilight asked now.

"We agreed to wait until after the hangovers cleared some. Not really a fun conversation to have when your head is pounding like a jackhammer."

"Ah." Twilight said softly.

A beat, then two. "Maybe... now would be a good time darling?" Rarity suggested. "We can wait in here while you... hash things out?"

Rainbow groaned, then picked her head up and nodded. She moved to stand, but as she did, an engine revved outside. They all recognized the rumbling sound of Sunset's motorcycle, and Rainbow could only stare, opened-mouthed, as it faded into silence.

"Or... not." Rarity said with a frown.

Author's Note

Welcome to my first real story on this site. I threw together Longing pretty quickly but it's not particularly polished because of that. This is my first attempt at something much more put together and cohesive. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2: Sunset

Sunset Shimmer meandered through Canterlot City on her motorcycle. The machine looked relatively new and sleek, but only because Sunset had spent a long time fixing it up after she’d found it in a dump. Even with the few scratches and dings though, it was still Sunset’s most prized possession. So she was treating it well, even with her emotions flaring and mind spinning, even with the desire to rip through town like a rampaging, wounded dragon simmering in the back of her mind.

Herself on the other hand… well at least the wind whipping through her hair and brushing against her arms felt nice. Not that Sunset had forgone the helmet and leather jacket to court danger, she’d just… hadn’t had the time. Or really, she hadn’t spared the time in her rush to get out of Pinkie’s house as fast as possible. She just couldn’t face any of her friends watching her go, couldn’t see their disappointment or anger or blame. She couldn’t have stayed either, not with the buzzing wasp nest of thoughts inside her head, stinging her, poisoning her mood.

She turned a corner, moving at the speed limit on a winding backroad as she tried to sort those rumbling thoughts now that she was alone.

Rainbow was a good friend. A great one at that. A good person. So what, if anything, did she see in Sunset Shimmer? She was the girl who had nearly ripped the world to pieces, the girl who had almost killed her, the monster. Sunset told herself and was told by others that she wasn’t that girl anymore. That she was different, better, nicer. She believed it in rare happy moments, surrounded by her friends, laughing, joking, smiling. Most of the time though, it was like this, her past sins a constant dragging weight and her present a flawed mirror, cracked in a million different little ways.

Sunset was supposed to learn from her mistakes. She was supposed to look at the lives she almost ruined, the people she terrorized, remember the realm she nearly destroyed and be better. Still, the Friendship Games were only eleven months ago, and she could remember cutting Twilight down so vividly. How righteous and correct she felt, all while leading an innocent girl toward painful, monstrous magic. She remembered how proud she felt getting that lead yearbook editor position at the beginning of this year. How good it felt to win. To beat Trixie and… and… and she couldn’t even remember who else was on the ballot! Someone she didn’t care enough about to pay attention to apparently. And now. Now she was riding around Canterlot with no helmet, no pads, no jacket berating herself into anger and sadness. Right after running away from her best friends.

She yelled, the sound rising as her speed did, as she got more and more upset and cared less and less about the bike. Less about herself.

Someone honked at her as she wove around them, she ran a red light. She didn’t care. She just wanted to just drive away from here, as far away as possible. She escaped all her mistakes before maybe she could escape Rainbow-

Sunset squealed her bike to a stop, turning enough so her front wheel just barely managed to not bump into the couple that had been crossing the street in front of her. They were staring, jaws slack, or Sunset could assume they both were, even if the glasses covered whatever Vinyl Scratch happened to be looking at.

“Sunset Shimmer?” Octavia Melody asked, still staring.

“That’s me.” Was all she could reply with. It sounded hollow and lifeless.

“Are you quite alright? You were… well that seems a little fast for a thirty. And well… your eyes.”

Sunset put a hand up to her face. Her fingers came away wet with tears. She breathed in deep, ignoring the way the breath hitched. Then she shook herself. “I’m fine. Thanks.” She wove around her two classmates and took off again, this time back at her reasonable meandering speed.

She swallowed, then gritted her teeth. Who was she kidding? She couldn’t run away from her friends. Not from Rainbow or any of the rest of them. She’d only been apart from them for fifteen minutes and had almost committed vehicular manslaughter. She was crying too. She was a total mess.

Sunset had to figure out what to do, had to solve this Rainbow Dash dilemma, had to fix things. She took another deep breath, it stumbled and hitched before steadying out into something calming. She was smart, she could do this.

Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash was… what to her? An infatuation? A crush? A close friend. A friend that understood her need to keep moving, to chase impossibilities, to push herself to limits. Sunset could see herself with someone like that, could see herself chasing Rainbow, catching her, touching her. She swallowed, shook the memory away.

Maybe it didn’t matter what she saw in her mind. She didn’t know how Rainbow felt after all. More than that, Sunset couldn’t trust herself with that kind of vulnerability from another person. She didn’t really trust herself now, when they weren’t anything more than friends. Romance was out of the question. It was too dangerous, she was too dangerous. She definitely wasn’t going to let Rainbow be another Flash Sentry. Which, ugh talk about people who she’d really wronged.

Then what did she do? Let Rainbow down easy? Then again Rainbow had seemed pretty vehement about them not being a thing. Which meant, she didn’t have to do anything. Right? They’d slept together and she was just going to… what? Go back to how things were before? No changes, no words, no discussion?

She grumbled and this time turned on a dime. Her cracked, weed-invested driveway was right there, and her emotions were welling up too much again. The bike seemed to screech in pain as she stopped, but Sunset just dismounted and stormed toward the door. Off of the motorcycle and not a real danger to herself or anyone else now, Sunset didn’t hold back, slamming her door and screaming when she was finally sealed inside her humble home. How could she have been so stupid? How could she have jeopardized the one good thing she had? How in all the fiery, tortuous pits of tartarus was she going to fix it?

“Fuck.” She swore vehemently, intensely, loudly, and the venom dripping down from that word at least felt good. “Fuck!” She yelled again. It gave her enough relief from her internal storm to start pacing, to start thinking up a plan.

Turning her down and going back to the way things were before was a no go. So… dating her? Absolutely not the right answer. Either Rainbow wouldn’t be interested and things would get awkward, or Rainbow would be interested and somehow, someway, Sunset would end up hurting her.

Talk with her about it? Just… talk. It was the most likely, the most sensible idea, but whenever Sunset tried to imagine how that conversation would go, each fiery disaster was worse than the last. She’d ruin it, someway, somehow.

They could… be friends but with added sexual benefits? Change the dynamic enough that last night wasn’t a weird fluke they’d have to talk over, but not so much so as to make Rainbow vulnerable to getting her heart crushed. Only… what if more serious feelings developed? Then it was basically dating and Sunset had already thrown that option away.

It was impossible. At least from where Sunset was standing. Maybe she really would just ride off into nowhere, never to be seen again.

Or… she could always stop running. She could return to Equestria to be tried for her crimes. Be put in a cell forever somewhere. Or maybe she’d return to Equestria and go by a fake name. Dusk… Dusk something…

Sunset shook her head, waved her hands in front of her, chasing the way those over the top thoughts. They weren’t solutions, not really. It’d just be running in a different direction. She didn’t really want to leave this world, more importantly, she didn’t want to leave her friends.

She needed other solutions, other eyes, another mind. She needed– Her eyes flicked to her bedroom door… advice.

Sunset rushed to her room and saw it. The journal, resting on her nightstand. She practically dove for it, and tore it open. The pen saving her last place was a salvation.

Princess Twilight,

I need emergency friendship advice. S.O.S.

She stared at the page. She knew that it wasn’t helpful, that it wouldn't make Twilight write back faster, but the thought of putting down the journal made the pancakes she had that morning rush back up into her throat. She swallowed. The pancakes!

She reached for her phone in her pocket. Most of her friends had texted of course. Applejack suggested she faced the music sooner rather than later, Rarity asked if she needed anything, Fluttershy sent... cat pictures. Yeah that was Fluttershy. Only Rainbow Dash was absent in her recent texts. Their last shared messages were from the amusement park.

Where'd you go?

br be there for boarding dw

Sunset tried not to dwell on that. On how they'd spent half the day on ride after ride, coaster after coaster. Sunset and Rainbow were the thrill seekers, the daring ones. They'd connected back with their friends at lunch and spent a good amount of time after that as a big group. Playing games, seeing shows, but... Sunset scrolled up a message. It was a picture of her and Rainbow, both beaming as they waited in line for a ride. Rainbow had taken it and Sunset had asked her to send it.

Another ping came in. It was a punchline to one of the two or so dozen jokes Pinkie had sent her. And then another. Are u okay?

Pinkie had been the reason she picked up her phone. So she scrolled back and typed up a response. I'm fine. Sorry I ditched on the cleaning. I owe you a favor for that one. Name when and where and I'll be there okay?

She sent that, paused, then added. Just needed some time alone.

Pinkie’s reply was near immediate. Awwww don't worry SunShim! You feel better! That's all I need, kay?

She wasn't going to let Pinkie get away with that, but arguing about it over text wouldn't get her anywhere. So she flipped her phone closed, and saw that Princess Twilight had written back.

Oh Stars! Is everything okay Sunset? What happened?

Then as Sunset looked at the book, another message scrawled itself on the pages.

Sunset? Are you there?

Whoops. Now she had left Twilight waiting. She gripped the pen firmly in her hand, and sighed as she tried to think of exactly what to write.

I'm okay physically.

She hovered over the paper with her pen. Ugh, what would Twilight even say. She had a Rainbow Dash of her own. Would that be weird? What if... did Twilight have anything... more with her friends?

Well I'm glad for that at least. You said you needed friendship advice though, so I kind of figured. Did you have an argument or something?

Twilight's neat swirly script appeared again.

No, nothing like that.

Her thoughts went back to the texts, to how her friends would advise her.

Applejack would just tell me to rip it off like a band-aid, and just say it right out. But Celestia, that is scary.

Part of me doesn't even want to acknowledge it happened.

If she wrote it out that would make it even more real. That would make one of the scattered outcomes she thought of actually come true.

Twilight's script came again, fast this time, and a little messier.

Well Applejack does give solid advice, and honestly the more you talk about this, the more worried I get. It might be best to just be open and honest. I promise I won't be mad? Does that help?

Sunset was surprised to find that it sort of did. She didn’t know what Princess Twilight had with her friends and that assurance felt like a safety net. No matter how she saw Dash. Still.

Can't I just... ask you to come through the portal and tell you in person?

She doubted that would make it easier, but it bought time at least.

I mean if that's what you really want, I can probably find the time, but be honest about this at least. Is this just to stall?

Sunset sighed. Even a world away, Twilight was good at seeing right through her.

Maybe.

Then it's probably best if you just say it here. If you need to talk more in depth then I can come to your realm, but let's start here alright?

It was still hard. She pressed her pen into the pages of the journal for a good thirty seconds, sending just a dot across dimensions. She breathed in deep and on the exhale, scribbled.

I slept with Rainbow Dash last night.

Sunset waited an agonizing full minute for a response. Then finally, a question.

You mean... I assume you didn't just sleep in the same bed, correct?

No. We- Ugh! They were adults for Celestia's sake! -had sex.

Right. Twilight responded, then after a pause, continued.

I'll be over in twenty minutes. Meet me at CHS.

Author's Note

Here's chapter 2! My original plan was to post every part of this story weekly, but I started a new five days a week job and wednesday is a terrible day for reading over chapters to check for mistakes/make edits! Because holy hell I am tired. So I'm switching update day to Sunday and posting two chapters this week. :yay:

Hope you all enjoy and thanks to everyone who commented for their thoughts and encouragement.

Chapter 3: Rainbow

The rest of breakfast was stilted, quiet, awkward. Pinkie tried her best, but even her bouncy energy and genuine smile weren't enough to restore the groggy but peaceful mood that had filled the dining room when they were all gathered together.

Sunset’s departure had just made things… weird, and Rainbow Dash was already getting tired of her friends shooting her concerned glances. They were trying to be stealthy about it, but they weren’t doing a very good job. She'd started to feel nauseous and unbalanced when Sunset left, and their misplaced concern was just making it worse. At least her head wasn’t pounding anymore.

“Rainbow I-“ Dash cut Twilight’s worried words off with a nonchalant wave.

“It’s cool, girls. I’m good. I just have some sheets to wash and a bed to make. Plus I’m all full up. It was delicious Pinks, thanks.” She grinned at Pinkie, who beamed back and winked.

Rainbow picked up her plate, but she didn’t get far before Twilight tried again. “Are you sure? Because I had this whole plan on how we could do things super efficiently and-“

Pinkie interrupted this time. “That sounds like a great idea Twilight!”

“Yes, but my plan include-“

“It’ll still work fine, silly! Rainbow does need to clean up the upstairs. I told her to!” She leaned in then and as she was walking out of the dining room, Rainbow just caught the whispered words “time to herself” before she rounded the corner and stared up the stairs. She wasn’t particularly surprised Pinkie had seen through her. They almost certainly all had, save for Twilight. That was good though. She knew it meant they wouldn’t follow her.

Rainbow tried not to stomp as she climbed the stairs, but there were dark anchors of emotion tangled around her, so each step was still as heavy as she could manage with just socks. Her friends were used to her clomping around in heavy combat boots at this point though, so they didn’t complain.

Her attitude was all frustration, with some small sprinkles of confusion and anger mixed in. Sunset didn’t have to want her or anything like that. Rainbow was far from desperate, but couldn’t they have at least talked?

She groaned at the thought as she walked into the master bedroom. It would have been a weird conver-

The scent of Sunset Shimmer was so distinct and powerful that she physically flinched as she stepped closer to the tangled, messy bed. She hadn’t taken it in, or simply noticed. No, the smell had hit her like a wall of force. Memories of the night before came rushing up now that she was in less pain. They were hazy and warm like steam, just as oppressive and muggy too. Sunset close to her, grinding into her, kissing her. Rainbow sunk into remembering, into the warmth, until it became… heat.

Her cheeks burned in sympathy.

She shook it off. She had something to take care of. Since Sunset had so kindly left her all the work.

Rainbow grabbed the blankets and was hit with Sunset's scent again. It rocketed an older memory to the forefront of her mind this time. One that wasn’t muted by celebration and liquor.

Sunset's home. Just outside, on her cracked overgrown driveway. Rainbow leaned against the house, drinking a soda, watching Sunset, who sat on the concrete. She twisted bolts and screws, pulling at cords or nozzles or some other thing Rainbow didn't recognize. She had never really gone in on cars. There were just cooler things to get into. Watching Sunset work was fun though. There was a relaxing rhythm to it, like a heavy bass drum, and now she knew why Sunset always smelled a little bit like engine grease.

She smelled it now. Just a hint, but still definitely there and definitely Sunset.

"Focus, RD." She grumbled the words to herself and quickly gathered the large pile of blankets and sheets into her arms. She couldn't see much past the bedding but stomped out of the room and down the stairs nonetheless. Only when she caught a brief glance of pink hair at the bottom did she stop.

"Oh Dashie! So okay, laundry's this way." A pink hand grasped her arm and pulled her to the left, then spun her around. "Right! Now just go all the way down to the last room. Door's already open."

Rainbow nodded, or tried to against the bundle of blankets. "Thanks Pinks."

She heard a satisfied 'your welcome' sort of sound as she moved again, placing her feet carefully until she met resistance. Rainbow tilted herself to the side until she could see the solid metal washer in front of her, then promptly dropped blankets, sheets, and pillowcases onto the ground. They were dirty anyway, what did she care?

With full sight now, she started on her task, reaching down to grab blankets and stuffing the washer full. There would be at least two loads, but that was fine, she had way more to help out with around the house anyway. Right now she just wanted to get away from the tangled, misty memories that kept bubbling up from obscure parts of her mind. None of them were unpleasant, but really that was the problem. Instead of helping Pinkie, she kept glimpsing into those shards of her recollection and making her present more twisted and confused. Last night was past, and held no answers, but she kept catching on the bedding in her arms anyway.

She balled it all up, threw it inside, and shushed it all with one heavy slam of the washer door. Then she took a breath and checked to make sure she actually knew what she was doing. Pinkie’s unit was similar to the one in her home though, so she set to work on the detergent and fabric softener, humming “Awesome as I Wanna Be” as she went. It was her song; from the lyrics to each instrument’s notes, and it was so ingrained into her head that she found herself coming back to it often. That was fine. It always made her feel better, made her feel more... awesome.

"You wish you could be twenty percent cooler." She half mumbled, half sang the words as she hit the start button on the washer and spun around.

"Woah!" She had already started her momentum out the door, but Fluttershy was there, blocking the exit. She stopped herself in time to not run headlong into her, but Shy still winced, bracing for impact. "You totally snuck up on me. Jeez Shy."

"Sorry." Fluttershy murmured. The response seemed automatic. Given how many times this had happened before, maybe it was.

Fluttershy had a weird thing about not interrupting, and often would hover in the background silently until being noticed. Rainbow usually wasn’t caught off guard by Fluttershy just appearing suddenly in her peripheral, but a bad mood always wound her tight with anxious energy, always made her more… jumpy. She would have to go for a run after this, get her mind off of anything that wasn’t the wind rushing through her hair.

With a deep sigh Rainbow asked, "What's up, Flutters? Need help with something?" She thought it was a good guess, but Fluttershy shook her head.

"I thought... you could use my help actually."

She rolled her eyes. “Oh boy. Here we go.” She had expected this sooner honestly, but still wasn’t pleased to see it come. She didn’t need anyone to throw her a pity party. She was only irritated that Sunset had left the work to her, but Fluttershy would expect mushy emotions like sadness or hurt, and Rainbow just didn’t have that in her.

“I know this isn’t really your forte, but it can help in the long run. Not just you, but Sunset too.”

“Then why aren’t you talking to her?” Rainbow knew that sounded bitchy, and she almost took it back, but Fluttershy just smiled like she’d said something endearing.

“Because I haven’t known her since I was five. Because we didn’t grow up together. Because I know you Dash, and can help you more.” Then she shrugged, like all that should have been obvious.

Maybe it should have been. Rainbow slumped against the washing machine, and crossed her arms. She wasn’t going to talk about her feelings or anything like that, but it was only Fluttershy, not the rest of the girls. So maybe she could ask the one question that had been simmering in the back of her mind since she woke up this morning.

She glanced at Fluttershy, who only smiled and gave her a little encouraging nod.

Rainbow sighed. “What do I do now?”

“What do you mean?”

She unfolded herself and groaned, gesturing to emphasize words and exclamations. “I mean! Like! What do I say to her? Or do I just not say anything? Do I just let it go? Forget about this and never bring it up again or what? Should I… should I ask her out?”

“Well, what do you want to do?”

Dash folded up again and grumbled, “You know that isn’t really helpful. That’s why I’m asking you.”

Fluttershy sighed and stepped toward Dash, putting a hand on her tense shoulders when she reached her. “Dashie… look. I can’t tell you what to do. I can’t decide for you. You know that. I can only help you talk it through. Can we try again? What do you want to do? And really think it through this time, okay?”

Rainbow groaned but Fluttershy’s comforting voice and touch convinced her to at least not shut down the question right away. What did she want, really? Sunset was gorgeous, and had a cool, bad girl sense of style with her spiked leather jacket and the sleek motorcycle she rode around in. She played a mean guitar, she could paint, and do sports, and was even smart like Twilight. Rainbow knew what she liked, what she found hot in a girl: talent, confidence, a penchant for a little bit of recklessness. Sunset had it all. She’d honestly suspected these feelings before last night, but their tryst had crystallized them into something clear and tangible. Rainbow wasn’t going to be coy about them now.

It wasn’t that simple though. “I mean… I… want to kiss her again?”

Fluttershy smiled.

“But…” Rainbow let out a loose breath as she watched the smile drop. She could see the frown on Sunset’s face too. Rainbow could imagine it perfectly.

I’m sorry Dash, but last night was a fluke. I don’t feel the same way.

Then she saw Sunset’s sad eyes, paired with a sympathetic smile.

You’re really nice Dash, but I had my eye on someone else.

Then she saw Sunset looking away, trying not to meet her eyes, blush on her face.

Oh stars. Look, Dash. I don’t…. want that at all. Ugh this is so awkward. Maybe we should just not talk for a couple days? So things can go back to normal.

Every new imagining was worse. She didn’t see any reason Sunset would reject her. She was awesome, amazing, just as cool as Sunset, but there was always a chance… and no matter how slim, Rainbow didn’t want this to be a wall between them. If it wasn’t already. She wanted more, but didn’t want to abandon their current friendship to get it. She was… she groaned… scared of what might happen.

“I want… answers I guess? Why did she run away? Was she scared? Upset? Sad? Angry? Does she hate me now?” The thought struck into her chest, into her stomach, painful and heavy. “She doesn’t, does she?” Her voice sounded small and she hated that it did.

“Oh Dashie. I can’t imagine that’s the case.”

“Then why did she leave?”

Fluttershy wrapped her up then. Rainbow didn’t break down, didn’t start crying, but she did hug her best friend back, gripping tightly. “Have you considered that she’s asking the same questions you are?”

“What do you mean? I‘m still here.”

Fluttershy shook her head. Rainbow didn’t see it, but she could feel it against her shoulder. “Not what I meant. I mean… what if she thought you were scared? Or angry? Or sad? Or ashamed? Or all of that together. She probably got… scared of what you might say, how things might turn out. Just like you are, right?”

“I guess.” She said it miserably, because as much as she disliked being afraid, she hated admitting it even more. Especially to Fluttershy. “But I stayed, even if I was freaking out. She should have too. And talked to me. At least then this would be over with and I wouldn’t feel like shit.” She gripped at her shirt, right over her stomach, where she could feel the fear roiling.

Fluttershy pulled back from the hug, keeping her hands on Rainbow’s shoulders. She was smiling. It was a smile that Twilight usually gave her. The smile that said she’d misunderstood something. Rainbow scowled back.

“Sorry.” Fluttershy chuckled. “It’s just. Remember freshman year? When Gilda came over from Cloudsdale and introduced herself to us. She was planning on transferring and you spent like every day after school with her for a full two weeks.”

Rainbow’s frown just got deeper. “I remember her being a total ass and treating Pinks all awful, yeah. I remember nearly chasing her all the way back to Cloudsdale too.”

“Right, but you didn’t see it at first. And afterwards you were totally convinced Pinkie was super mad at you even when she kept saying she wasn’t. You’d only met about six months before, at the start of high school so it made sense you weren’t really that confident in your friendship with her yet.”

Rainbow lifted a brow. “As much as I appreciate the blast from the past. I really don’t see how it matters now. I’m not mad at Sunset and she didn’t even stay long enough to ask me if I was.”

Fluttershy rolled her eyes. “Sunset’s only been ‘doing’ friendship for a little over a year. You didn’t leave because you’ve gone through stuff like this before. Gilda and Pinkie fighting, that competitive iron woman challenge with AJ, even Sunset splitting us up. Sunset doesn’t really have a lot of friendship experience, and well…” Fluttershy looked around, then leaned in and whispered. “Don’t tell her or anyone else I said this, but I think her knee jerk response a lot of the time is to run away.”

Given how she’d ended up in their world, Rainbow couldn’t exactly argue that. “So… what? Fight or flight and she chose flight?”

“I could be wrong I guess, but honestly I think if she hadn’t needed to eat, she would have left earlier. She masks it well, but I could tell she was… tense.”

They sat there, not speaking for a little bit. The sound of the washing machine kept going in its regular ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-chunk. Rainbow pulled away from Fluttershy’s grip and reclined back against the machine. Then she leaned back further, bending her back until her shoulder blades rested upon cool metal. She groaned. “So what the fuck now? Do I go chasing after her all dramatic like?”

Fluttershy snickered, shook her head, and pulled her phone from her pocket. “Or… you could just call her?”

Rainbow sighed, patting at her pockets. She frowned, double checked, then made a sound that was part hopeless moan, part irate growl. No phone anywhere on her person. Of course she’d lost it during the party

“I’ll call it…” Fluttershy said, and started dialing.

Author's Note

And here's Chapter 3! Now we can get back to a weekly update schedule c: Thanks again for all the comments/bookmarks/etc they really make my day and fuel me to write more and more. This story is already complete but it's been a big motivator for other stories that are works in progress.

Chapter 4: Sunset

With twenty minutes to work with, Sunset had just enough time to grab milkshakes from Sugar Cube Corner and make it in time to watch Twilight step out of the statue’s base. They didn’t say anything at first, didn’t even greet each other. Sunset just handed Twilight her vanilla shake and they both sat on the stairs leading up to Canterlot High, each of them sipping silently.

Sunset got through half of her shake before Twilight finally spoke. “So, Rainbow Dash huh?”

“Yep.” Sunset had a million questions running through her head, but could only manage that one word. This was already so awkward and she was sure that anything she said would only make it worse.

Twilight seemed to be stuck in her head too. She had that scrunched up look she’d often get when she’d been trying to write the musical counterspell during the whole battle of the bands fiasco. Sunset couldn’t help but smile at it. She’d missed the princess, and more than that, was grateful she was taking this so seriously.

She rose out of her thinking haze suddenly, back straightening and voice taking on a strict, teacher-like tone. The voice she usually used when lecturing someone. Sunset remembered it vividly from her first encounter with Twilight. “So!” She raised a hand and a finger along with it. What was this? Super lecture mode? “I do have some experience with friendships… uh developing like this. Into romantic relationships. You’d still do better talking to Cadance of course but I’ll-“

“Wait, you do?” Sunset cringed into herself. One of her most insistently poking questions burst out of her. “Please tell me you aren’t dating your Rainbow Dash and this isn’t… super awkward.”

Twilight gaped for a second, rapid blinking completing the dumbfounded look. “Rainbow Dash and me?” She recoiled a little where she sat. “Inconceivable really. We’re great friends but I think our way of communicating wouldn’t work in a romantic context.” She finally seemed to relax a little and Sunset watched a blush creep up her face. “No uh… Rarity and I haven’t told many ponies but… we’ve been together for about a month now? Really only you and Fluttershy know. She… noticed before anyone else did and I’m only telling you because well, it’s rather pertinent to this situation.”

“You haven‘t told any of your other friends?”

Twilight shrunk into herself, looking guilty now, suddenly finding the straw of her milkshake very interesting. “I want to, of course. Rarity told me she wants to as well. It’s just... complicated.”

Sunset‘s face twisted up in confusion. “I haven’t been to Equestria in a bit, but last time I checked ponies were pretty comfortable with the whole same sex relationship idea. More than here anyway.”

“It’s nothing like that.” Twilight leaned back on the stair behind her, propping herself up with both her elbows, and tilting her head toward the blue early summer sky. “If I were still just Celestia’s student it wouldn’t matter. Maybe I’d get a few questions, but Rarity and I would just be two mares who happen to be in a relationship. Nopony would bat an eye. But now that I’m a princess…” She lifted her shake to her mouth and drank for a moment, then two, before letting it drop from her lips.

“Well, there are some ponies, I won’t name names, who already question how much preferential treatment I should be giving my friends. Rainbow got into the Wonderbolts a little while ago and there were stories made up about me using my influence to get her in faster. Somepony even said she would have never had the flight skills to get in by herself if I hadn’t ‘helped’ her! Which is just! Rainbow became a Wonderbolt entirely on her own merits. I helped her study I guess, but all of the recruitment tests are either skill based or involve publicly available information. More than that, you know who taught me how to fly when I became an alicorn?” She waved her drink around as she spoke, using it to emphasize certain exclamations.

“Rainbow Dash?” Sunset said mildly. The answer was a little obvious but she wasn’t about to interrupt a ranting Twilight.

“That’s right. Rainbow Dash. And she’s just a friend. I don’t know what ponies will say when they find out about Rarity and me. She doesn’t either. All her sewing skills, networking, and business sense have gotten her so far. I don’t want to steal credit from her like that.” She seemed to relax a little after getting that off her chest. “And while I know my friends wouldn’t run to the papers or anything, everypony makes mistakes. Says something to the wrong pony. Or just can’t keep a secret when asked directly. What kind of friend would I be if I asked them to lie for me anyway?”

Sunset frowned. She couldn’t really imagine dealing with all that pressure, all those eyes on her, and having that spread to her closest friends too. She didn’t envy Twilight’s crown.

That thought made her freeze, then let out a weird sort of half snort.

“Huh?” Twilight looked over at her. “Are you… laughing?” She sounded shocked and maybe even a little hurt.

“Sorry! Sorry!” Sunset half said, half giggled. “Not at you. It’s just. Just…” She covered up another chuckle, and stuffed down the amusement until she could explain. “I… when I was Celestia’s student all I wanted was to be a princess. I yearned for it, strived for it. The six or so months before I stumbled into this world it was all I could think about. I was obsessed. But now… sorry, but it kind of sounds like it sucks?”

Twilight looked aghast at first, like she couldn’t believe Sunset would even say that, then she relaxed and smiled. “It’s not all bad, but yeah, this one part? Does suck.”

Sunset smiled back, looking hopefully more sympathetic than amused now. “I’m sorry Twi. But hey you’ve still got great friends to support you. And… a marefriend now too, right?” Sunset nudged her a bit with an elbow.

Twilight blushed, but her laughter made it clear she didn’t mind the ribbing. “Yeah, Rarity’s been amazing. She always knows how to say the right thing and pull me back down when I start to spiral. I don’t really know where I’d be without her. She definitely makes what might come in the future worth it, even if it’s bad or invasive.”

“Well, I know this world’s Rarity, and if they're as alike as you say then you’re a lucky mare Twilight.” Sunset nudged her gently again, and this time when Twilight smiled back there was no hint of blush, no hint of embarrassment.

“Yeah. I really am.”

Sunset was caught off guard by that smile, by the shimmering brightness of it. There was something that throbbed in her chest, some twitch of something old finally being let go. Twilight was happy, beautifully so, and that was amazing.

“So, Rainbow Dash.” Twilight said with a bit of her princessly authority. Whatever part of Sunset’s heart that had just collapsed into defeated relief shifted, revealing a new, strange, flickering ember.

“Rainbow Dash.” Sunset sighed.

“How… was she?” Twilight ventured cautiously.

“A-Are you curious?” Sunset stuttered out, cheeks heating up. She hadn’t expected such forwardness. Not from Twilight.

“N-no! I mean yes? Not like that though! I’m very happy with Rarity, she really knows what— Well… I mean… ugh! My point was, how…” Twlight grasped at the air in front of her like it would magically produce the word she was looking for. “How were… how did she make you feel? Did you have fun? Did you feel good? Or were you bored? Was there… anything… there?” Twilight had lost all of her authoritative tone and just looked frazzled now.

“Oh. Right.” Sunset said simply. “I don’t remember.”

“You don’t… remember?”

“I was drunk. She was too.”

Twilight stared at her for several moments. “I thought humans weren’t allowed to drink here until they’d turned twenty-one.”

Sunset didn’t say anything, just gave her a look.

“I see.” Twilight steepled her hands together. “And you got so drunk while drinking illegally that you do not remember what you did last night?”

“Correct. Before Pinkie said anything we weren’t even sure we uh… did… that.” Sunset answered lamely.

Twilight rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Honestly I think what we should do first is have a conversation about responsibility but considering we’re past that…”

“And that I didn’t ask you here to tell me to drink responsibly?” Sunset said with a smirk.

Twilight glared at her for a moment.

“You drank at this little get together too. Well not you. The other you.”

Twilight looked absolutely horrified, eyes wide and mouth agape. “She did not!”

Sunset nodded through a fit of giggles, then her hands as she tried to stifle the laughter.

Apparently sensing a losing battle, Twilight shook her head, sighed, and asked, “So you don’t remember, but how about now? What are your thoughts on last night? Not actual events but the fact that it happened at all.”

Sunset’s smirk dropped into a confused frown. “I mean… does that even matter?”

Twilight’s eyes widened. She blinked once, then twice. “What do you mean does that even matter? Of course it matters!” She spluttered. “Your feelings and thoughts are what will determine how you proceed and how you want your relationship with Rainbow Dash to change or stay the same. That and the key to any relationship, friendship or otherwise, is communication. If you don’t care to know how you feel, how can you communicate with Rainbow?”

“I…” Sunset slumped, resting her chin on her knees and hugging her legs with both arms. “I understand that, I do but… I don’t know the first thing about relationships Twilight. The only guy I’ve ever dated was a tool to me. A means to an end. The last person I loved sent me away because I ruined our relationship so much it couldn’t be repaired. I want… I called you here to get advice on how not to let this ruin everything. Again. I just…” Sunset gripped the sleeves of her leather biker jacket. “I don’t need her to love me. I just want her to not hate me. How do I do that?”

Twilight slumped too. “Sunset…”

That sad, cloying voice made Sunset want to huddle up even more. She didn’t want Twilight’s pity, Twilight’s care, especially now that she knew it wasn’t really hers to take. She wanted to hide inside her spiky impenetrable walls long enough so she could calculate how badly she’d fucked up and fix it logically.

Twilight didn’t say anything. She just reached over and touched Sunset’s shoulder. Sunset turned slowly and saw carefully measured comfort in the princess’ eyes. She watched Twilight’s small smile, felt her sure grip.

She wanted so badly to clamp shut, cut the tether, the hand gripping her, off. But she knew that was how she’d ended up bitter and angry before. She’d stubbornly gone it alone, trudging forward no matter how much she needed a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. So she let her shoulders drop, let her crossed arms open. “I’m… I’m scared. I’m scared I’ll hurt her. Scared I already have.”

Twilight sighed heavily again and shook her head. “You know you’re not that person anymore.”

“I know but— But sometimes it feels so easy to slip back. Someone says something that makes me angry and my first response is lash out. To yell. To hurt. I have to step back and… rewire myself to not just blow up.” She gripped the concrete stairs, doing her best to not just close in and up again. “It’s easier with the girls, they’re so nice, forgiving, but even they snap sometimes and I have to try so hard to not snap back.”

“And that’s the difference, Sunset. That’s what changed. Do you think you would have hesitated before? Do you think you would have cared?” Twilight grabbed her other shoulder, applying light pressure until they were staring each other in the eyes. “Friends fight. AJ and Rarity bicker all the time. Sometimes Dash doesn’t take Fluttershy’s feelings into account. Pinkie is too much for me every once in a while. It happens. It doesn’t make us bad friends or bad ponies.”

“And… marefriends?”

Twilight grinned and nodded, amusement dancing in her eyes. Then she pulled her hands away before launching into a story, switching her princessly lecture voice back on as she did. “Years ago, before I became a princess, Rarity made us all dresses for the grand galloping gala.”

Sunset hadn’t heard about the gala in years, but remembered it vaguely from the time she was Celestia’s student. She always thought it was too stuffy, full of ponies who only cared about money and social status. Not important things. Like magic and power.

“They were all gorgeous of course. Rarity’s only gotten better over time but she’s always been a fashion genius. All of us had our… own ideas about what made a good dress though. I wanted an accurate star map on the skirt because back then I was… very persnickety about accuracy, about how important that was. I still enjoy when things are perfectly in place, perfectly correct, but I know now that a friend’s happiness is more important than things being just so. Rarity was different back then too, not as confident in her design sense and desperate to make us all happy. So she followed our crazy instructions, making change after change to our gowns and when it was all said and done… she almost got booted from the fashion scene when she showed our designs off.” Twilight said the last part in a rush, cringing slightly.

Sunset gasped. She didn’t know pony Rarity, but her world’s Rarity was always looking for opportunities to get her foot in the door as a fashion designer. Apprenticeships, projects, even small boutique jobs. If Rarity was black booked or something, Sunset couldn’t even imagine how much that would hurt her.

“It was a long time ago and it all worked out in the end.” Twilight continued quickly when she saw Sunset’s wide eyes. “She never held it against us either, but… well… having an accurate, portable star map is really useful.” Twilight was playing with her straw again.

“You kept it?” Sunset exclaimed.

“Yes, I kept it! Do you know how much getting a perfectly accurate star map costs? Let alone doing it in fabric? I couldn’t just throw it away, especially when my friend turned marefriend made it for me. I get it now of course, but at the time it seemed harmless. Honestly, the obvious choice to me was to keep it.”

Sunset slowly absorbed that, lips pursed. “Soooo… she found out… when exactly?” Twilight wasn’t avoiding her marefriend as they spoke, was she?

“Last week. She was pretty upset, asked me to throw it away, said she had never wanted to see it again. Gave me the silent treatment when I explained how much getting something like it would cost, how valuable it was. After that I took the time to think it through and I gained the understanding I’d been lacking. I’m not an artist, but I can understand not wanting to look at your previous work. I thought I was so magically astute when I was younger. I didn’t boast but I knew I was good. Now those spells seem like foal’s play.” Twilight smiled a little at some unknown memory. “I almost got rid of it. It was worth a lot of bits, but not her being angry and hurt. Before I could, Rarity… decided to stop sulking? No, that sounds mean. She’d thought it over too. Was still… grumpy, but she realized something I didn’t even see.”

“And that was?”

“It was the first thing she ever made for me.” Twilight smiled softly, her eyes looked a little wet. “More than that it was, well… me. A completely accurate star map skirt with a royal flowing train? She said there was nothing in existence that was more Twilight Sparkle. It became… sentimental because of our love. A little piece of our history. We compromised on it too. I could keep it, could use it, could even display it in the castle’s astronomy tower, so long as no one ever knew she’d made it.”

Sunset burst out laughing, then quickly covered her mouth. “Sorry sorry!”

“No, you're fine. I thought it was kind of funny too. I mean I agreed! Of course. Because why wouldn’t I? But she was so insistent, so grumbly about it. It was cute. We ended up putting it up together in the tower and I showed her the stars that night. She loved that, the hopeless romantic.”

“Awww that’s… tooth rotting kinds of sweet.” Sunset smiled at the image Twilight’s words and smile conjured in her mind. Then she frowned a little. “But that… was just a dress right? I mean it can’t all be that easy.”

Twilight shrugged. “I guess so, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t hurt her feelings, Sunset. She was so mortified, so upset when she first found the thing. But in the end we talked, we compromised, and came out the other end better for it. Stronger for it, both individually and together.”

Sunset rubbed at her leather sleeves, played with the little strings that were fraying at the stitched shoulder seams. Twilight didn’t touch her this time. Just asked gently, “Sunset. Look at me?”

She did, staring into the deep amethyst of Twilight’s eyes. “You are going to hurt Rainbow Dash. Whether you stay friends or start dating. It’s inevitable. Friendship and love means being vulnerable, means opening yourself up to disappointment and hurt and even betrayal. That’s the magic of it. That’s what makes it special. The fact that we can give ourselves to another person, that we can rely on them, that we can be that close. That trust is what makes a bond like that strong, and repairing it, linking all those threads back together through communication and understanding after they’ve frayed or broken. That just makes them stronger.”

Sunset felt warm wetness in her eyes and Twilight blurred a little. “And if she doesn’t want to repair them with me?” She was still so scared, still so prepared for the day Celestia had, Rainbow would, they all would realize she was too fucked up to salvage, and cut her loose.

Twilight took her hands. “Sunset Shimmer.” She said the words with a steady, heavy, sure rhythm. “You are preparing for a catastrophe, a future, that doesn’t exist. Rainbow Dash is the element of loyalty. She won’t abandon you. Not unless you ask her to go away. And even then she might be too stubborn to listen. So long as you meet her half way and work with her, she will always be willing to fix things, okay?”

“Okay.” The word came out choked, but laced with a smile.

“Now, how do you feel? What do you think about last night?”

“I think…” Sunset sniffled. Then reached into her pocket, and pulled out her phone. “I think I want to talk to her.”

Author's Note

A quick note about Twilight's comment on her possibly dating Rainbow: I really like TwiDash actually, and think they work great together, but that was a bit of an inside joke with my partner who finds the idea of Twilight not dating Rainbow Dash 'inconceivable' (which was the exact word used)

Anywho! Hope you like this chapter! And one more time a thanks to everyone who has shown their support thus far c:

Chapter 5: All Together Now

“Found it!” Rainbow called from the master bedroom. She was face down on the carpeted floor, stretching her hand under one of the charcoal gray end tables. She had no memory of her phone falling there, and no idea how it could have gotten there otherwise. Her pants had been several feet away when she’d picked them up that morning. It didn’t matter much now that she was securely snatching the phone from the floor. She just hoped it hadn’t been damaged in last night’s misadventures.

She flexed her muscles and twisted her body back up into a sitting position, phone in hand. Fluttershy’s name and picture still flashed on the screen, but Dash was more interested in looking for cracks. She turned the phone this way, then that, and finding none, hit the end call button.

She rose to her full height then, stepping out of the room, device held aloft triumphantly.

“Where was it?” Fluttershy asked from the bottom of the stairs. Applejack, large trash bag in hand, stopped to hear the answer too.

“Under the nightstand. Not sure how it ended up there, but it isn’t broken so,” she shrugged dismissively.

“Are ya gonna call Sunset?” Applejack asked.

Rainbow watched as Fluttershy rapidly shook her head, but it had already been asked and it wasn’t like Fluttershy was hiding her attempt at dissuasion. Still, Applejack rubbed at her neck with one hand and averted her eyes. “Whups. Never mind. Forget I said anything.”

Rainbow sighed. “Yeah I’m gonna call her, okay? Up here. So you girls can’t-'' her phone, still in hand, blasted out a couple guitar riffs. Each girl froze. Then their friend’s voice followed the electric notes. Power. Was all I desired. But all that grew inside me was a darkness I acquired.

Rainbow tilted her eyes down at the screen, blinking in disbelief as she looked at Sunset’s smiling bright face.

“Well? Pick it up, Dashie!” Fluttershy insisted.

“B-But… what do I say?”

“Say what we talked about! Tell her the truth! About what you want and how you’re feeling.” Fluttershy encouraged.

“But…”

“Girl, if you don’t pick up that damn phone then I will.” Applejack said flatly.

Rainbow hit the accept call button.

“Hey Rainbow.” They all heard Sunset say into the empty, silent air. Dash looked at Fluttershy, she waved her hands in a ‘go on’ sort of gesture.

“Rainbow Dash?” They all heard Sunset say again.

Rainbow scrambled to put the phone up to her ear. “Heyyy Sunset.” She rasped into the receiver.

“Phew. I’m glad you actually picked up.”

“You are?” Rainbow said without really thinking that question through.

“Of course I am Dash! I-“ Sunset stopped suddenly, almost as if she cut herself off from finishing that thought. “I wanted to talk to you.”

“Okay.”

“In person. If that’s alright.”

“Oh. Right. Yeah. Okay yeah.” Dash nodded along. That made sense. This wasn’t really an over the phone kind of conversation.

“Can you meet me at CHS?”

Rainbow frowned a little. She just expected Sunset to come back here. Then her eyes wandered to the bottom of the stairs. Fluttershy and Applejack were still looking at her curiously. At this point, Twilight had joined in too, looking slightly perplexed for a moment, before it dawned on her who Dash was probably talking to.

No, Sunset had the right idea.

“I’ll be there.” She said definitively. Then, after a pause. “When?”

“As soon as you can get here?”

Rainbow barely noticed the hesitant lilt in her voice. Instead, she walked back into the master bedroom and searched for her van keys. They hadn’t been in her pants either, but this time she luckily didn’t have to go scrounging for them. “Here? Are you already at CHS?” Rainbow asked as she swiped her keys off the nightstand and turned back toward the stairs.

“Yeah. I…” Sunset cut off again, a little bit longer of a pause this time. “It’s complicated. I’ll tell you about it when you get here, okay?”

“Okay. Heading over now.” Dash said as she took the stairs two at a time.

“Great.” Sunset said, and the relief in her voice made it clear that it really was. Dash smiled at that.

“Be there soon.” Then she hit the end call button and rushed past her friends and toward the door.

“Where're ya goin, Dash?” Applejack called after her.

She opened the door and called back as she slipped out of it. “School!” Before the door could close all the way behind her, she whipped around and caught it with her elbow. She wasn’t surprised to see AJ heading toward her. “No following. This is between me and her, okay?”

Applejack scowled, Fluttershy didn’t look super pleased either, but they both stopped and waved Dash out the door.

Satisfied, Rainbow rushed to her van and hopped in. Then, tingling with excitement and nerves, she twisted the key in the ignition, and sped off toward Sunset Shimmer.

—

Rainbow Dash saw the gleaming marble base of the destroyed statue first. Then she caught sight of Sunset, leaning against it and shining just as beautifully. She nearly planted her face into the wheel at that thought. That lame, lame thought. Instead of cringing into her bones, she focused on spinning the steering wheel, parking in one swift, fluid motion. Now still, she pushed away the gooey, mushy nonsense thoughts that had caught her off guard when she’d seen Sunset again and shored up her confidence and cool.

There was no need to be intimidated or scared. She was Rainbow goddamn Dash after all. She just needed to make things clear and be direct. Chicks were into that sort of honest, confident approach, or the ones she’d flirted with in the past had been anyway.

One more centering breath and she stepped out of the van, the sound of the door slamming closed drew Sunset’s attention and ocean blue eyes. She smiled when they landed on Dash, and Rainbow felt something reverberate in her chest. Not painful like before, when Sunset had left, but deep and resonant, like a bass note on a blaring concert’s dance floor. “S-Sunset! Hey!”

“Dash. Good to see you.” She said as she pressed away from the statue into a proper standing position. Sunset’s grin was infectious, and she found herself matching it without thinking. Rainbow walked toward her, intending to give her a friendly greeting hug, but on the way she remembered why she was here, what had happened earlier today. So she stopped a good foot or so away, putting her hands in her pockets. Sunset stopped too, and they both stood there silently. Rainbow rocked back and forth on her feet. Sunset rubbed at her arm.

Confidence. She reminded herself. “Sooo… you wanted to talk.” She offered. It wasn’t the best start, but at least she was taking the lead. At least it wasn’t just awkwardly silent.

“Yeah…” Sunset responded, still rubbing at her arm, still taking her time. “About last night.”

All of Rainbow’s senses focused in on Sunset and only Sunset. This is what she wanted: answers, or at the very least a look into what Sunset was thinking.

“I think I’d like to… try that again?” Sunset was still smiling, and a blush crept onto her face.

The bass resonated through her chest again, down her body, and pleasant, happy warmth followed the chord. She almost giggled. Almost. But really what had she expected? She was the Rainbow Dash. Star athlete, rockstar, and all around total babe. Who wouldn’t want another chance with her? She smirked. The confident approach had already paid off, so it only made sense to push it. “Well, I can’t say I’m surprised.” She hooked her thumbs into the loops of her jeans and leaned forward a little. “I mean. Few women can resist my charms.”

Sunset, instead of stammering or blushing more, snorted and rolled her eyes. “Really now?” She said with an amused, crooked smile. Ah. It was a game. She was playing hard to get.

“Really.” Dash said as she took a step forward, closing the distance between the two of them. “I mean I’ve got girls lining up around the block to get in my bed, Sunset. You’re one of the lucky few to actually manage it though. Even luckier that I’d wanna do it again.”

Sunset’s smile fell and now she just looked… confused. “Was that a compliment?”

Dash felt like she might have misstepped somehow, but it was fine. Sunset had left a perfect opening for her to correct it. “Well. Duh. Sunset you’re a total babe. Like, smoking hot. Of course I’d wanna roll around in the sheets with you again.” She had finally closed the distance enough to touch Sunset, and chose to walk her slender digits up Sunset’s arm as she spoke.

Rainbow got another smile, but it wasn’t as brilliant this time, not as bright. “So… is this a friends with benefits sorta deal then? Is that… is that what you want?” Sunset asked.

Rainbow paused, realizing she only had a blank spot in her mind where the answer to that question should be. She had wanted answers, she had wanted another kiss, and… she hadn’t thought much farther ahead than that. She honestly hadn’t expected to get this far. To push for anything more than she was getting seemed dangerous, seemed stupid. Sunset saying yes to them kissing, and touching, and pressing their warmth together was already so fucking awesome. No. No, Rainbow wasn’t going to be greedy about this. “That’s... yeah. I mean. Sounds good to me. If it sounds good to you.”

“Oh uh… yeah! Totally. If that’s… I mean. Yeah.” Sunset was still smiling, but it wasn’t reaching her eyes. They weren’t gleaming like the marble anymore. “But uh… not right now? If that’s cool. I mean. I still stink from last night and I’m assuming you haven’t showered either so…”

“Yeah no totally. I’ve been at Pinks’ all morning so. Need to get back home and stuff.”

“Right.”

There was more silence, and this time Rainbow didn’t know how to fill it, didn’t know what to say. Sunset finally did instead.

“Maybe… next weekend though? We can… I mean without all the alcohol and stuff.” Sunset moved her arm forward, like a small, unsure offering. Then she dropped it just as quickly.

“Right. Yeah. Totally.” That definitely sounded good. Nothing muffling the experience, just Sunset’s body against hers, their heat exchanging. It sounded hot. It looked hot, when she glanced at Sunset and imagined her bare curves and soft, smooth skin that hid beneath her leather jacket and t-shirt. But…

But then Sunset started to walk away. She didn’t say bye, just sort of waved weakly, and Rainbow saw her heading toward her stylish, sleek motorcycle. She didn’t know why, but she’d expected some kind of kiss: either soft, slow, and romantic or heated, passionate, and frantic. Instead, Rainbow got a half wave.

The deep base faded from her body and was replaced with some sort of whimpering pain. It hurt to realize, she still wanted Sunset, even though she already had her. The half measure wasn’t enough.

What do you want…?

Fluttershy had asked her that, and at the time Rainbow thought she knew. She wanted whatever Sunset wanted, whatever would make her friend happiest, she just wanted the answers on how she could make that happen. Asking for more felt like it led to a road of a strained, then broken friendship. It felt like a betrayal, just one that took place in slow motion, and Rainbow Dash would never do that to a friend. Watching Sunset walk away felt so wrong though. She could feel that invisible awkward distance she’d feared spreading between them, pushing them apart like an unstoppable force.

“Sunset! Wait!” She’d been steps away from her bike and Rainbow had panicked. She had no plan of action, no big speech prepared, she just didn’t want Sunset to ride off, to spread that distance impossibly, insurmountably wide.

Tell her the truth! About what you want and how you’re feeling!

Fluttershy had insisted on that, but was it really so simple? Rainbow Dash knew from Twilight, Princess Twilight that is, that honesty was AJ’s bag, not hers. She knew from her own mind that opening her heart, spilling every whiny, sappy, lovey-dovey emotion sounded incredibly lame. The exact opposite of the cool, confident girl she was supposed to be.

Though, she did also know that Applejack, though stubborn and bossy at times, was an amazing friend. A friend that would never bullshit you, a friend that wouldn’t lead you astray. She knew that every one of them together, all of the elements, equaled amazingly powerful, crazy awesome, magic rainbow beams.

“Rainbow Dash?” Sunset had been waiting patiently and at this point decided to speak up. She looked confused again, more so than before.

“I…” She could only really get that out. She was standing at the edge of a pool she didn’t really want to jump into. Fluttershy’s voice shoved her in. Tell. The. Truth.

“I’m super scared.”

“Scared?” Sunset stepped away from her bike, back onto the curb.

“Yeah. I mean. Terrified… actually?”

“Should we not…” Sunset was frowning now. “I mean, Dash, if you just wanna be friends I totally get it. I’m not going to push you into anything.”

“No!” Rainbow blurted. “No. I… I mean.” She covered her face with her hands, groaned, and then swore. When she dragged her hands down her face enough that she could see beyond them, Sunset was still there, looking at her expectantly.

Rainbow Dash bit her lip, breathed in deep, and dove down into the water that Fluttershy had pushed her into. “I’m so scared that you don’t want what I… what I want. Or that you do, but that someday you won't anymore. And then we'll fight and break up and things will become weird and then we won’t be friends anymore, but… but I also! I can’t take back what I did last night and this,” she gestured emphatically between the two of them, “this, right here, right now is already happening. It’s already becoming awkward and shitty and I’m scared that no matter what I do things are going to change. So!”

Rainbow threw up her hands. “Fuck it! Right?” She tried to laugh, but it was a pitiful, dead sound. So she stood a little straighter and gulped down the weak chuckle, her fear, and her pride. Then she let honesty spill from her lips, like any good friend should. “I… I want you Sunset. I want sex, yeah sure, but not just that. I want to play guitar with you in my basement, and I want to kiss you when I see you between classes, and I want to do dumb, cliché study dates with you and not just because you’re way better at pre-calc than me, but because doing pre-calc with the hottest girl I know makes it sound way more bearable. Still bad, I mean it's pre-calc but, whatever.” She tried to just smile this time, but Sunset was staring at her with wide, brilliant sea-green eyes. So she swallowed again and went on.

“I wanna. I don’t know, get on your bike and drive like two hours just so we can hit up the beach. I want you to come to all my games. I wanna kick your ass in like every fighting game ever because somehow that’s like the one thing you don’t absolutely rock at.” She gestured at Sunset helplessly. “I want you. I don’t know if I’m… in love, or anything, but I know I want you in my life. And I want you there as not just my friend, not just my fuckbuddy, but as… my girlfriend? My date? My… you get it right?” She swore in her head, why was she so bad at this of all things? Why couldn’t she just string all her mushy emotional thoughts together properly?

Sunset, thank the summer sun above them, nodded in understanding. Rainbow nodded back, a quick jerk of her head more than anything, the stiffness of the movement brought on by the nerves building in her stomach and chest.

“So. What… what do you want, Sunset?”

Sunset responded by rushing forward and giving Rainbow that kiss she’d been wishing for. Only it was better than what she’d been dreaming of. Hot and passionate, but not hurried, not panicked. A slow, sensual exchange of tongues and wetness and heat, of exploring limbs and skin touching skin. Rainbow didn’t want it to end. She just wanted to stay there and explore every inch of Sunset that her alcohol addled mind had forgotten. Still, it did end, eventually. With panting from Sunset and one whispered “awesome…” from Rainbow Dash.

Still, there was a voice nagging. “But…” she couldn’t tell if it was Fluttershy’s or her own. She suspected her mind was too fuzzy from the kiss to separate that out. “I do… I want to hear it in your own words. Exactly what you want.”

Sunset looked down at her quizzically. She had never noticed exactly how much taller Sunset was until they were pressed together like this.

“I know, I know it’s… I just… I mean I already almost fucked things up by not spelling things out and you’re always saying that Pony Twilight harps on the ‘communication is the key to good friendships’ thing and-“

Sunset put a finger to Rainbow Dash’s lips. “C’mon. Have a seat with me, and I’ll tell you.”

The sun was starting to descend by the time they both got situated on the statue’s now free base. Not quite setting, but starting to turn the sky that slightest bit darker.

Sunset wanted to pull Rainbow close where they sat, wanted it to be all cheesy and romantic, but this was new and really she didn’t know if Dash exactly went for that sort of thing. So she compromised by reaching her hand out, placing it just over where Dash had rested hers.

Rainbow jolted when skin touched skin, and for a beat Sunset had worried even this had been a step too far. The rare, soft smile that Rainbow gave her chased that notion away though, and Sunset smiled back when their fingers twisted awkwardly for a second before intertwining.

“I want you too.” Sunset said. “I was…” She debated exactly how much she wanted to tell, but Rainbow Dash had been painfully, awkwardly honest, so she would be too. “Twilight. Princess Twilight. She saved me when she first came to this world, she turned my life around, was the first one to reach a hand out to pick me up after I hurt all of you so much. After I hurt myself so much. That still means so much to me, but she’s happy in her world and I think I need to try to be happy in mine.”

Rainbow scowled and quirked a brow. Then put a hand to her forehead and let out a soft “Ohhh…”

“Yeahhhh… I didn’t really realize I was still sort of holding a flame for Twi til today. I talked it out with her though. She helped me realize a lot of things actually.”

“Talked it out? Wait! She was here?”

Sunset laughed. “Why do you think I’m at CHS?”

“I thought it was like… neutral ground or something.”

Sunset laughed harder, doubling over where she was sitting. “Wh-what?” She exclaimed between guffaws.

“Y’know! Love and war and all that.” Rainbow shrugged. She was starting to blush, a line of pink painting her blue skin. It was cute as hell.

Sunset scooted closer, and kissed her cheek, which made Rainbow’s cheeks go from pink to red. “You’re a dork.”

“Y-You’re a nerd.”

Sunset shrugged. “Can’t argue with that.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a while then, watching the sun sink lower, feeling the late spring day grow colder. There was a slight breeze, birds chirped, the sky grew more beautiful with each passing minute. This was nice, Sunset thought. She could get used to this.

“So… what? You confessed and she just wasn’t into you?” The question seemed to have been burning at Rainbow because she blurted it out into the silence.

Sunset let out a short snort of amusement and shook her head. “Nothing like that. She’s dating her world’s Rarity and… she’s really happy. Like, stars in her eyes, mushy gushy happy.”

“Blegh.” Rainbow responded, tongue stuck out.

“I know, right?”

“We can’t be one of those couples.” Though as she finished her sentence Sunset turned to look into her eyes. They both smiled, then kissed. It was a soft, quick thing but Sunset still had the same big grin on her face when they separated.

It only faltered when she thought of what else Twilight had told her. “I was scared too. That’s why I took off. I… didn’t think about our friendship changing, about the awkwardness. I think… you were more optimistic.” She’d been staring into Dash’s eyes, but at that she turned back toward the setting sun.

“I’ve hurt you before. I was afraid I’d do it again.”

Rainbow got out a syllable of protest before Sunset put her hand up. “I know. Trust me. Whatever you’re going to say Twilight already told me. I’m not that person anymore, I’m different, better. And neither of you are wrong…”

There was a short pause. Short because Rainbow blustered in again. “I feel like there’s a but coming.”

Sunset shrugged. “But I can’t pretend I’m not still worried. Not nearly as much as I was. I… I don’t think I’ll do anything. I don’t think I’ll slip back into my old ways. Really I don’t. But those memories are still always simmering in the back of my mind. What I did, who I hurt. Twilight helped so much, but she can’t fix everything with two heartfelt speeches and a rainbow laser blast.”

Rainbow didn’t hesitate. She squeezed Sunset’s hand and offered, “Let me help then. Let me… I don’t know, make you think about something else? Twilight’s back in Equestria, but you’ve got me now, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Sunset Shimmer smiled softly, felt her heart swell into her throat with emotion, before swallowing it down. “I know. I’m not going anywhere either.”

Author's Note

And one final thank you to all of you that stuck through to the end!

I don't believe I ever specified how long this story was going to be, but it was always intended to be five chapters. It's definitely more polished and cohesive than my one shot, but I still haven't exactly reached to the heights that I want to be at. In other words, if you liked this and enjoyed my writing, watch this space. I have a lot of wips sitting in various places and almost all of them are much bigger. (This includes more SunDash because these two have become the weird, silly little rarepair I've adopted for some reason)

Now that this is all done I'd love to hear you're full thoughts. I've already really enjoyed the feedback but any more you want to toss my way is always appreciated, even if it's just something brief. :twilightsmile: