It was strange that she was suddenly spending so much time with people. A few days with her brother and Cadance had been obviously expected since she’d planned the whole thing, but to find her schedule now filled with the names and faces of friends. So much of her life revolved around her work; her first years at Ionis had been delightfully busy, working as an assistant on the Terraform project. Transforming the outer casing of the prosthetic to fiberglass had taken her months- developing the gel layer to aid the working knee a good year and a half before finally having an ounce of the stuff to present. Then Project Valiant…

She’d hardly known much of any life beyond her lab ever since. So much of her mental concentration had to be focused upon equations and theory, mathematics and design with no aid from outside minds or prior knowledge that could be used as a stepping stone; a social life was too exhausting to maintain, nor could she talk about her work. At least not much. To be someone that could make friends had become an identity of the past.

Yet here she was. Walking into a brewery, of all places, alongside her war hero brother and beautiful sister-in-law to go see an old friend from high school play music. Twilight couldn’t tell if she’d been transported back into time or had suddenly found a new life she’d never known she could have.

She didn’t need to say much. That was a thing she liked about Cadance and her brother, more than perhaps any other companions she’d had. They were just as likely to welcome her as part of their world whether or not she had something to say, fully willing to accept that there were times when she just wanted to be quiet. As more gregarious personalities than she, they could fill the empty silence themselves with ease, especially when their banter had a prime subject to expound upon.

Like alcohol, for example.

“What? I didn’t say I was gonna get smashed,” Shining was protesting. Kept slightly abashed by the disapproval that currently occupied his wife’s face, the enthusiasm expressed only a moment before had run into a brick wall. “I just said I was going to enjoy myself. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“The last time you said that you were just gonna ‘enjoy yourself’ was when you went out with your old platoon and didn’t come back till the next day,” Cadance reminded him. She smirked, but there was a firmness in her voice impossible to miss. “If I have to drag your stumbling self back into the car, so help me-”

“That was a one-time thing! I didn’t do it on purpose, I just kind of- went with the flow. Besides, you act like I’m driving, Twilight will be responsible.”

“Don’t use that as an excuse, I’m just asking you to not go nuts. You broke one of your legs last time because you fell in a ditch.”

Now that was enough to engage her brain. “I’m sorry, say that again,” Twilight remarked. “You broke one of your prosthetics? What were you doing?”

Shining opened his mouth to answer but only gave a muffled sound before having to consider the question. “I- hmm. I’m not really sure. We kinda ended up hanging out at an old gravel lot for the night just whacking golf balls, and after that… it’s a little hazy.”

She had seen her brother drink once or twice, but the thought of one so responsible as he being a catatonic drunk was a visual she couldn’t quite imagine. “Do- you don’t do that often, right?”

He laughed. “Are you kidding? She’d kill me.”

“You’d better believe I would,” Cadance said. “Come on, let’s get something to drink. I’ll find us a place to sit?”

“Sure.”

The brewery was a rather simple old building, crafted in the style of a German beer hall. A small interior was primarily devoted to the bar and a couple of small stools and tables, but the large portion of their seating was outside in their garden that was comfortably shaded by ivy and greenery that grew along the rafters above their heads. All about them was the sound of activity and life, the evening only just beginning and inviting those departing from work to come and mingle with those who had come to socialize.

“You don’t really drink much, right?” Shining guessed.

“Maybe a bit of wine for when my stomach hurts,” Twilight answered, looking at the list of styles on the wall behind the bar and finding it rather intimidating. “Anything you’d suggest?”

“Go with the hefeweizen. It’s a wheat beer, usually pretty juicy. That’s what Cadance likes a lot of the time.”

What was put before her was indeed a brightly colored beer, rather blonde in color and rather thick in texture upon first glance. A hesitant sip found it frothy- and with a hint of orange in it. “It’s… pretty good,” Twilight said.

“They usually are. Good for warm days like today,” Shining said, another hefe in hand while he held a particularly light-looking beer in a tulip glass with the other. “I, personally, however, want something with a little kick.”

They retreated out into the garden to find their absent companion, Cadance’s luxuriously colored locks the sight for which they longed. A bit of a journey through the crowd brought them out to a small open courtyard where she came into view- and there she spoke with two younger women, one with vivid red hair and the other a softly colored pink.

Twilight came closer, scrutinizing the newcomer- and then giving a start. “Fluttershy!” She hadn’t been able to recognize her at first, so changed was she. The timid young girl was no longer so skinny and tiny, but instead had grown tall. Almost as tall as Shining, in fact, and a healthier glow to her features than what she had possessed through high school. Gone was the soft river of hair that had flowed down to her waist, now a short cut woven into a lovely dutch fishtail braid that trailed to just across her shoulder. Twilight had obviously expected some measure of change to have occurred since they’d last seen one another, the years of time in between all but assuring that, but the difference was stark. Fluttershy appeared happier, healthier, even confident. And all she did was sit there.

The soft woman looked up from her conversation with Cadance and gave a bright smile at the sight of Twilight. A wave of her hand and she was up on her feet to give the spectacled woman a hug. “Hello, Twilight! It’s lovely to see you again.”

“You, too! You look so different- in a good way, I mean!” The changes the once-timid woman had undergone seemed to make her radiate happiness, a quiet soothing of the spirit that made one’s heart mellow. Being near her in this sort of state, particularly when one was in a mood to be influenced by good cheer, was all it took to make her feel at ease.

“Thank you. And I know you meant nothing mean by it,” Fluttershy said. “You look really nice, too, by the way. I guess you’ve been having a lot of fun working wherever you ended up. Last I remember was that you were going for your PhD!”

“Yeah, that was- oh jeez, that was six years ago,” Twilight murmured. She wasn’t quite thirty yet, but the rapidity of time occasionally frightened her. “But hey, it’s good to see you. How’d you know to come here?”

The pink-haired girl gave a nod towards Sunset, who promptly blushed at such an action. “She asked if I wanted to come by and see her sing. Of course I would show up! And now you’re here, and- oh yeah, Cadance said she was your sister-in-law. What a lovely surprise!”

“We just happened to be on the same flight as Sunset when we were coming in,” Shining said, taking a seat beside his bride and placing drinks upon the table, a slow stretch as the effort of walking wearied his tired body. “Ooh, that feels better- and yeah, we got to talking. Doesn’t seem too bad a place to hang out, either.”

“I like it. It’s very relaxing a place to be.”

“Wait. You’ve been here before- you!” Sunset said, she staring at her companion and wondered perhaps just how much she had changed in their years of absence. “What on earth for? I- honestly, I wouldn’t have guessed you drink…”

“Oh, not really drinks, except maybe every once in a while,” Fluttershy said. “I’ve helped run a few adoption events for the shelter here, and they’ve been very kind as to let us keep coming back. They told me once that their sales go way up whenever we have puppies and kittens available for adoption.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. Any drunk people try to adopt on the spot?”

“A few. We always play it safe and say no, though. At least until they can think things over properly,” the soft-spoken woman said.

Their small group chatted amongst themselves comfortably for a time, Twilight delighted that her brother and sister-in-law could so easily mingle with her friends. There had been a time when such things would have been difficult, age and maturity to keep them separate. But now was a merging of their worlds, old life and the new blending together into something cheerful. Though she was glad to hear of what Fluttershy had to say regarding her work, as well as Sunset’s storied travels, the thinking girl took the opportunity to study her companions further- and Sunset in particular.

When they’d been friends, Sunset had more or less been the defacto leader of their group, or perhaps better described as den mother. She and Applejack had been the more mature, protective personalities that had helped to keep them all in line and focused on their goals, as well as maintaining the group’s friendliness. In the role, the crimson-haired girl had seemed to revel, if not radiate. There was a comforted light in her eyes back then… one now absent. Though Sunset spoke happily of her travels; things and places seen, people met, experiences had, the silence would eventually befall her tongue and those eyes would flitter away from the rest of the world and settle upon Fluttershy’s form. She would take in a breath, gaze at her, and there within those pale pools would come to life a sorrow, an ache across her features that belied her smile. Just what did she see every time her eyes fell on that quiet beauty? Regret? Longing? Twilight had eventually clued in to Sunset’s attraction to the animal lover, but never had she seen them interact in such a way. With their worlds so different, did Sunset now believe any hope she’d had with Fluttershy was gone?

Maybe she asked her to come here and hoped things would be different. Or maybe it just hurts to see her now.

“Sorry I’m late, darling! I didn’t expect there to be so many people out and about today, I didn’t think it would be so difficult to get here.”

The cool voice carried even through the chatter of the crowd, meant for them and difficult to ignore. Shining paused halfway in sipping his beer to seek out the source, and giving a wide, cock-eyed stare when he found it. “Uh… she’s a friend of yours?”

She felt ashamed to say that Rarity was the one she’d lost contact with first. Both had become so busy in their respective endeavors, so different in scope and path and yet time-consuming all the same. Probably since the end of their first year in college was the last time Twilight had met her old friend, and time had done wonders in causing her mind to forget the fashionista’s loveliness. Good heavens, she was getting stares from all around her! Not quite as tall as Fluttershy but with a shapeliness that was envious to women and eye-catching to everyone. About her supple form was a white floral dress that fell to just beyond her knees, the puffy sleeves and softness of the pattern upon it giving her the appearance of something sweet and serene rather than sensuous, a perfect fit for the greenery and life that hung all about her. The long locks she’d always possessed were still present, but put to waves rather than the curls she’d once been known for. As always, Rarity dressed for the occasion- and made everyone else appear out of place and ill-dressed in comparison.

“Wow, Rarity- goodness, what are you doing here?” Sunset was first to be on her feet, giving the seamstress an embrace as she marveled still at this sudden reunion. “Not that I mind, but just- wow, I keep running into so many of you all! This is so great!”

“I asked if she wanted to come see you sing tonight,” Fluttershy explained, she amongst the many as old friends came and celebrated one another. “I hope that’s alright. I thought it would be fun, since we’re not always all in the same place.”

“And I am perfectly happy to oblige, darling,” Rarity added. “I don’t think I’ve heard you sing since… has it really been since high school?”

“Eugh! I hope I sound better than I did back then,” Sunset said, her horror at the talents of youthful days apparent. “I should- oh crap, I need to start getting set up! Sorry, guys, I gotta go back to the car and grab my stuff.”

“Do you want any help?” Fluttershy offered.

“I’ve got it, but thanks!” And off was the red-haired woman in a rush, back to the parking lot where materials awaited her hand for reclamation.

Rarity watched Sunset trail away. “I hope she doesn’t still get nervous before she performs. I know she was always so hard on herself about playing when we were younger.”

“I doubt she’ll ever get over it fully,” Twilight said, and she scooted over a seat so as to offer their newest arrival a place to sit. “You have to always be a little nervous just because you care, right?”

“I would guess so.” The great beauty looked about at the group. “Rainbow wasn’t able to make it? I would have expected you to extend her an offer, Fluttershy- oh I’m sorry, my name is Rarity, you must be-”

“Shining Armor. Twily’s brother-”

“Cadance. Wifey!”

“Lovely to meet you- as you were saying, Fluttershy?”

“Rainbow is still out at LA competing,” Fluttershy said. “She told me she won’t get back in until next week, actually. The National Team wants her qualified in as many events as possible before the Olympics start their trials.”

“She’s that good now?” Twilight inquired. She’d known Rainbow for being a magnificent runner back in high school, with even a state title under her belt. She hadn’t realized just how far that might take her.

“I think she’s got… two? Records now?” Fluttershy said. “100M and the 200, and I think they want her to compete in the 400M, too. But she hasn’t told me if she’s made up her mind about that after the last Olympics.”

“Jeez, you’ve got a friend who’s an Olympian?” Shining remarked. Eyes upon his sister, disbelief etched in every fiber of his war-wearied form. “What is it with you? Everyone you know is making something of themselves, including you.”

Twilight smiled at the praise despite the blush. “I guess we all just got lucky.”

“Yes, we certainly all had our share of that,” Rarity remarked.

She’d known Rarity to be ladylike in all circumstances; cool, calm, controlled. But unless the years had changed her that drastically –and her senses weren’t wrong- then she might have just noticed the slightest tremor of a dryness to the fashionista’s words. A bitterness.

Bitter? What does Rarity have to be bitter about when it comes to… she wasn’t hoping to run into Rainbow today, was she? Twilight considered the thought- and the match, if she had to let it evolve further; the two weren’t exactly similar in any sense, polar opposites in both tastes and personality. Maybe an example of opposites attract? Not really one I would have guessed.

Sunset returned with an armful of things before too long, guitar slung across her back in a black bag, an amp with a trio of cords wrapped about its handle in one hand, and a microphone stand in the other. She waved away those of her company who rose to try and lend a helping hand, she merely setting her things down at the corner of the patio and beginning to see herself settled. Though she meant to concentrate on her work, eyes would be seen flickering towards them whenever a few moments had passed. Settling on that elegant braid, then back to plugging in her microphone; setting volume for her amp, and another glance as she saw Fluttershy laughing at a story Cadance was telling.

She’d never really been one to pry into the lives of her friends, but mistaking that ache in Sunset’s eyes was impossible; Twilight doubted even she had expected to be struck this badly after so many years apart. Was this how she had always seen Fluttershy? Not fearful or timid, but serene and lovely, a gentle strength used only for the benefit of others. A radiance within that shone like the first warm rays of spring, no ferocity to be found. And she was about to have to perform in front of this woman who she deeply admired with a stomach full of butterflies. Memory flitted to the presentation only just the other day; not quite the same, but similar enough to engender empathy.

Sunset took a seat upon her stool and let one finger tap against the microphone, the free hand strumming across cord in the rhythm of a gentle warm-up meant to request the attention of her audience rather than demand it. “Hi, everybody,” Sunset said, voice seemingly calm yet not quite rid of a nervous tremor. “I’m… I’m Sunset, and- hope you enjoy what you hear.”

Instrument was raised into position so that she might play, yet head was bowed and eyes held closed. Pale-blue light flickered back to life only to be overwhelmed by a flare of panic, desperate to burn across body and mind and heart. One strong, swift glance towards the one girl who agonized her, the shudder across her body a heady thing like a great wave crashing against the rocks. A cacophony of emotions, all in the manner of an instant- then gone as hand gripped instrument with tightness, breath sucked in and notes were summoned forth to life by the skill of the woman who wielded it.

It had been too long since Twilight had heard Sunset sing. She’d been of a deeper tone than perhaps most would have expected of so petite a girl, kept sickly by trauma and shame. Yet now was instead an adult, fully alive and bettered by years of good care upon her heart. That strong voice carried free and far, yet a softened note within that blunted the edge she had once possessed. A voice that had once so easily sung of strong and fiery feeling had cooled, a blazing wildfire isolated and transformed into the gentleness of a hearth’s flame that meant only to warm. Fingerwork across the neck paired with pickwork over the body, the acoustic instrument sending forth its quieter, less raucous peals out into the shadows of sunset, combining with that softened song and gracing the evening with a melancholy comfort.

The spectacled woman felt slightly ashamed that such skill astonished her, but the growth since they’d last been friends was remarkable! Sunset could sing and play- wonderfully so! Not quite elegant but not casual, comfortable and yet lonesome, meant to pluck at the heart just as much as soothe it. She could gently tend to the emotions of sorrow and heartache and yet soften tired souls and fix them upon a warm mood. The prickling of emotion somewhere on the back of her throat brought a taut smile to Twilight’s face. She had her brother her, she was with old friends- though not fully whole, and not everyone here. A wish for things to have turned out differently, for a real reunion- yet how good this was all the same!

The first set of songs came to an end and was then met by a smattering of applause- a few from the crowd that currently inhabited the vine-grown brewery, but the majority of it coming from those she called friends. Sunset turned a shade of red even as she smiled in her return back to the table of her comrades, greeted with praise well-earned and compliments she would never think she deserved.

“It was alright. It was just alright!” She said, even if her complexion was shining beneath the weight of it all. The nerves she’d felt only a spare few minutes ago were lost amidst the streaming sound of laudations, too miniscule and insignificant to last when faced with genuine feeling. “Seriously, thank you, but I know I’ve done better-”

“Better? Goodness, how did ‘better’ not get you an album deal?” Twilight asked. “You were great, you sounded even better than I remember!”

“Truly marvelous, darling,” Rarity insisted. “Why, you sound quite like an angel.”

“You’re just saying that ‘cause we were friends,” Sunset protested. Abashed, embarrassed, and most definitely delighted, she was trying with all her might to not let the kind words tickler her vanity. “I know there are plenty of people better than me.”

“Well we weren’t your friends until today, and I think you sounded great,” Cadance jumped in. “Right, babe?”

Shining was more subdued in his praise, only offering a nod and a smile alongside what applause he’d given. “You got skills, girl. Why else would people ask for you?”

“But I-”

“Oh, just let them be nice to you, Sunset,” came the unexpected chiding of Fluttershy, last to speak but the one whose features shined most brightly. “Everyone wants to be nice to you, you don’t have to try and stop them. It’s OK to let people love you.”

The most shocking, most unexpected of advice to ever emanate from Fluttershy’s lips had just suddenly escaped out into their midst, dumbfounding them all into a silence they’d never felt before. Those who knew her could hardly have been rendered more speechless, amazed that the words the gentle beauty had decided to speak were actually a criticism, especially when it was Sunset to whom it as directed. But more shocking, even to all, was the bright-red flush that came upon the musician’s cheeks that entwined itself with the bashful smile erupting across her lips without any bidding. A nod of her head, a gleam in her eye, and back down among their midst was she, enjoying company and not offering an ounce of protest further.

The night carried on splendidly, almost perfectly. Sunset would carry on in her play and offer more beautiful sound for the world to enjoy, dropping down from her musical perch to return back to her friends and enjoy company for a brief repose, and maybe a drink or two as the night carried on. Darkness fell before anyone chose to abandon post, most of the brewery’s crowd long gone when Rarity proclaimed that she could not withstand her weariness any longer and decided to retire for the evening.

“You know she had to have made that outfit herself,” Sunset offered as she watched the fashionable woman head off to what ride awaited her; a personal limousine, a fine vehicle, the likes of which they could hardly guess. “Nothing she ever wore was store-bought, she likes to show off her skills.”

“It looked really good,” Cadance assented. “Does she sell anywhere?”

“I- I don’t know, actually,” Sunset admitted, bashful giggles erupting from her as her lack of knowledge grew apparent. “I know she was looking at starting up her own store a while back, but that was ages ago. Like when we were leaving high school. I don’t know how you could get her stuff now, you’d have to ask.”

“I just might. I was hoping for something-” a halt to her words as she gazed down at her husband, momentary silence before allowing a smirk across her lips. “Nevermind.”

Shining knew the words had been meant to entice his attention, but he didn’t care if it was only meant as bait. His wife would forever be beautiful in his eyes, forever a vision of feminine magnificence; the idea that she was planning something with beauty in mind was a concept he was eager to imagine. “No, no. Please continue,” he said, a hand reaching up to his wife’s body and giving a brief massage. “I don’t mind sneaking a look at my presents early-”

Smack! Across his fingers were a gentle swat, only enough to see hands retract from breast and elicit a laugh from the remaining crowd. “And to think you say you trust me,” Cadance chided, eyes dancing with light. “Come on, you’re getting handsy. We need to go to bed.”

“Whoa now.”

“Oh no, not in my bed, thank you,” Twilight protested, disgusted and somehow impressed to laugh at this brash behavior. “Those sheets are clean and the only ones I have, do not dare to try and-”

“Oh gosh! No, not what I mean,” Cadance protested, realizing her mistake and immediately finding herself the subject of laughter from all sides. “No, I mean actually going to sleep. It’s getting late and it’s been a long day, so I wouldn’t mind getting some rest. Twilight, you feel good enough to drive us?”

“Mhm. I only had the two,” the younger woman said. She offered her goodbyes to her old friends, promising to try and keep in touch this time around rather than allow work and time to perform their malignant powers upon her world. Sunset and Fluttershy were a delight to be around, and loathe was she to let these newfound connections be severed just as they had been reformed; much as her time may be consumed, there was too much good with them to be ignored.

“Oh! Have fun, you two!” Twilight called as they departed, almost too late in noticing that she had unwittingly left Sunset and Fluttershy to be on their lonesome; goodness knew what might come from such time spent together. “Can’t wait to hear from you!”

Absolute cruelty, that’s what it was. She hadn’t intended for her night to end up like this, not by a longshot. But goodness, had everyone else tried to make it be so? The flame-haired girl found herself wondering if her old friends had been conspiring against her, intent on seeing old flames rejuvenated from long-dead coals. She had only invited Fluttershy out of courtesy’s sake, meaning for her to come by and maybe enjoy a quiet evening. Nothing romantic at all!

Then again, she had invited her so that she could watch her play. Maybe there had been some romantic intent after all.

“You don’t need to help me get any of this cleaned up,” Sunset said. A hand on her speaker, Fluttershy walked along beside her with cables and microphone stand in her grasp back to the car that had once housed them, the night drawing to a close and the brewery on the verge of locking their doors. “I promise, I had it, you don’t need to feel like-”

“I wanted to, Sunset. It’s perfectly alright.” Fluttershy’s words were given with a smile, soft in all the warmth of spring and yet delivered in a surprisingly firm tone. The backbone of this new Fluttershy, found in the midst of their years spent separate, continued to show itself in surprising ways. “You shouldn’t feel like you have to do everything on your own.”

“I don’t, I swear, I just- you don’t need to feel like you should have to help me, that’s all.” The extra company –well, Fluttershy’s company- was more than welcome. But there was no way she could go back into old roles, old lives. They were adults, just asking for her aid felt like going too far, particularly when there had been so many years spent apart. But God help her, the feel of her being so close, the shivers of delight that came when she caught sight of that smile~!

“I want to. I’m glad to be with you again.” Fluttershy said it so calmly, so simply, no fear or hesitancy in speaking words that carried such extravagant weight within them. Did she know how they would be received? Just what Sunset would think and feel when they came? The sweet girl never had been much of a fool, surely she had to.

“Oh.” For a time longer, silence. Sunset set her things down before the trunk of the car, keys extracted from her pocket so that she might unlock the vehicle and see equipment put within. There was a stinging in her eyes even as her heart tried to sing, misfired emotions striking against one another with equilibrium trying to find itself within. Fluttershy surely couldn’t mean what she said, not like that.

Into the trunk went the microphone stand, the music sheet, the amp just above with wires beside. Her eyes were stinging even more. The guitar, well-cared for in its bag, sat atop the mound of equipment and she struggled to see it through darkness and the damp blur filling her eyes. Gods, this was the alcohol, wasn’t it? She was never emotional like this, not even when the raptures of a great show coursed through her veins and set blood aflame; that cold yet vibrant wonder couldn’t strike her like this, how did something so simple manage to defeat her so easily? Surely nobody else was this vulnerable.

It hadn’t been intended, but from her lips came the sucking of air in a watery hiccup. A pause so that she might regain control of herself, but how difficult it was! Upon her hands came the grasp of something gentler, and soon about her form was the sensation of one so loving. The embrace of Fluttershy could be mistaken for nothing else, for no one else.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tease,” Fluttershy said, words said so softly that surely her voice was held as tight to the chest. Had she, too, spent the years yearning for a love thought to have been lost in the flow of time? One so good and lovely would have had to forgone so much in the vain hopes of a reunion. “I promise I wasn’t trying.”

“This is wrong. I shouldn’t have,” Sunset hiccupped. She wasn’t at all in control of herself, doing what she could to try and refocus her mind. “I just wanted you to have a good night, I wasn’t trying to- to make a move, or anything!”

“Well I wanted to make a move on you. Thank you for giving me the chance, by the way.”

Said openly and without a hint of shame; Sunset gawked at Fluttershy for a moment before the two women burst into laughter, still holding to one another and letting the cheerful wave flow through them. It was such a brazen thing to say!

“What on earth have you been up to since we last saw each other?” Sunset asked. “Goodness, you- you’ve changed a lot. And all in a bunch of good ways, too. I wouldn’t have ever guessed- oh gosh, that sounds bad!”

“It’s alright. I… didn’t really expect for everything to be so different, too,” the warm-hearted woman said, gently playing with her braid as she rested within the sunstruck girl’s embrace. “But I kept missing you. In, like, every way. So I’m glad you invited me. Because I think even though I grew up, I never really grew out of you.”

“I missed you, too,” Sunset murmured, her face shining with all the warmth of the sun and light that had been lost to time. This was not a new step in an old relationship, not with all the time that had passed; this was to be a new day, a sunrise on something totally unique. “Sorry that all I wanted to do was… well, you know. Sleep with you.”

“I never said no, you know,” Fluttershy grinned.

“You never said no!”

“What do you think that meant, silly?”

A mouth made open to protest soon fell shut. Oh.

Fluttershy smiled, gazing at her companion’s things and giving them consideration. “Where are you staying tonight?”

“I’ve got…” So it would be a bit of confession time. “I’ve got a hotel over in Springhurst for a few days.”

The quiet beauty pursed her lips and gave a shake of her head. “No. Never again, do you hear me?” She said. “Now come on, we’ll go by your room and grab your things. I’ve got plenty of room at my place and I don’t mind sharing.”

It was moving swiftly- too swiftly, if she were to be honest. “Fluttershy, wait, that’s- no, I can’t just let you do that for me-”

“As if I don’t want you to spend time with me! Goodness, I wasn’t that much of a pushover, was I?” Fluttershy’s eyes danced with laughter, delighting in each new revelation; who had changed, how they had changed, and all the time in between! “I didn’t say you had to spend it in my bed, if you don’t want to.”

“I didn’t- I wasn’t meaning- if you want me to, then that’s OK,” Sunset eventually settled, wild voice turned impressively meek with a blush to match. She had perhaps hoped for something like this, but to see it unfold so quickly, and by the insistence of the one she’d adored, was a bit much to take in.

“You’ll follow me once we head home, OK?” Fluttershy said; on her lips was a smile so playful, teasing as she enjoyed this strange role the likes of which she’d never played before. Leading on even if she were the one to follow, each new step that came was to be brought about by her own will. “We don’t… if you just want to snuggle tonight, that’s alright. We can get comfortable first.”

“That sounds like heaven.”

The sweet woman beamed. “Welcome home, Sunset. I missed you.”

Author's Note

One more, I think. Then things begin to change- badly.

Keep reading, I guess.