This Is Awkward

Sunset and Silverspeed trotted past a restaurant, missing the two ponies inside staring at them.

“Was that Sunset Shimmer?” Twilight asked as she set down her coffee cup.

“I believe so and her friend it looks like,” Moondancer mused as she rested her head on her hoof. “Interesting. I didn’t know the Princess was coming back to Canterlot.”

Twilight scoffed and levitated some bits out of her bag, placing them on the table.

“She’s not a princess, she’s a bully,” Twilight remarked and Moondancer gave her a flat look.

“Careful. That could be construed as treason talk,” Moondancer warned quietly and looked around. “Sunset is Princess Celestia’s kid. That makes her a princess by extension. We both read the same book about it. And she’s not really a bully, she’s very stern. There’s a difference.”

Moondancer paused her lecture to fix the collar of her sweater, pushing her glasses up with a hoof.

“Keep this conversation up and we’re both bound to get arrested. Or worse,” Moondancer sighed and took a bite of her donut. “I’m not too eager to end up in a cell again after the Twinkleshine incident where she slapped her cheating ex and I shot him in the chest. Thank the lord above that Princess Celestia bailed us out.”

Twilight winced and sipped her coffee. She had to agree that the jails aren’t a nice place.

“I think you mean thank the lord you didn’t kill him. Even Princess Celestia can’t help my marefriend out of a murder charge. Lucky she convinced him to not press assault charges,” Twilight frowned at Moondancer. “Even I don’t have enough sway as her other student to get you out of that.”

“I know,” Moondancer shrugged and rested her hoof on top of Twilight’s. “Let’s just stay away from her. Did the princess say anything about Princess Sunset coming?”

Twilight’s eye twitched slightly. While she didn’t hate Sunset, it sure seemed Sunset hated her wholeheartedly. Sunset had always been somewhat friendly with other ponies in her own special way. Twilight didn’t really know what she had done to Sunset and not even Celestia knew.

And apparently Sunset told Celestia everything. Allegedly.

“Where’s Spike at?” Moondancer asked and Twilight smirked. “Uh oh.”

“Mhm. Last time I saw him was sneaking into the castle to go see Lemon Hearts on her break,” Twilight answered with a grin and shook her head.

“They still doesn’t know we know they’re dating, do they?” Moondancer asked and smirked. “Oh boy.”

“Just wait till they find out. Those two could be way more subtle about it. Twinkleshine has commented on it a few times.”

“Oh, I one hundred percent agree. She’s lucky I trust her with Spike.”

Lemon Hearts levitated some cakes out of the oven, dropping them with a tired sigh onto the counter.

“Who even eats this much cake?” Lemon Hearts complained and wiped some sweat off her forehead with a hoof. “Somepony needs a diet. If it was my lemon bars, I’d understand their obsession.”

“Miss Lemon Hearts. We got a special request from two guests for you lemon bars,” a royal guard stuck his head in and Lemon Hearts perked up.

“Ooh finally. Who is it?”

“Sorry, I’m under specific orders to not say. Once they’re done, please deliver them to room seven fifty five.”

“But that’s just an empty storage room?” Lemon Hearts muttered in confusion and the yellow unicorn levitated some baking trays out. “How many they want?”

“Three,” the guard answered and Lemon Hearts raised her eyebrows.

“Damn,” Lemon Hearts whistled and started levitating more baking ingredients out of cupboards. “Do I knock or?”

“Yes. Just knock and then leave the goods on the doorstep. I will pick up any empty plates when they tell me they leave,” the guard answered and opened the door. “And be careful. There’s reports of a dragon sneaking around the castle. Nopony knows where Spike is or if it even is Spike. Come find one of us if you come across it.”

Lemon Hearts hid her smile behind a hoof and watched the earth pony trot through the double doors that marked the kitchen entrance.

“He’s gone,” Lemon Hearts announced and turned to see Spike climbing out of a cupboard. “You know, the whole point of sneaking into the castle to see me is to not get caught, right?”

“Yeah well I fell,” Spike answered and Lemon Hearts nuzzled him before kissing his forehead. “Aren’t you on your break?”

“I was supposed to but I got orders to bake something for guests. Which I didn’t know we were expecting anypony. They must be important if they have the ability to order the Royal Guard around. And they’re in a empty storage room. Weird, right?”

“Very weird,” Spike agreed and climbed onto a stool Lemon Hearts had levitated over. “Want help?”

“Yeah, of course. At least it’s not Twilight trying to help. Last time, she almost set the castle kitchen on fire.”

The two laughed before Lemon Hearts kissed his cheek.

“Love ya Spiky.”

“Love you too, Lemon.”

Lemon Hearts and Spike quietly trotted(walked in Spikes case)down the hall to avoid being heard on the floors below them, the dark purple light from Lemon Hearts horn being the main source of light.

“Who do you think is in there?” Spike asked and hugged Lemon Hearts leg. “What if it’s a monster?”

“I highly doubt a royal guard would work willingly with a monster,” Lemon Hearts retorted and rolled her eyes. “Now stop before you make me have nightmares.” Lemon Hearts shot him a pointed glare.

“Heh, sorry.”

The two approached the worn door and Spike set down the wrapped plates in front of it, Lemon Hearts knocking and the two took over around the corner, peering around the corner as the door opened and the two watched curiously.

“Huh,” Spike mused as Sunset’s amber hoof nudged the door open further and the mare stepped out properly.

“Silverspeed, we should have paper in there. We need to leave a thank you note. I’ve always freaking loved lemon bars. Lemon Hearts always did make great ones,” Sunset mused and Lemon Hearts blushed at the compliment. “I wish she didn’t hate me so much like her friends do. I may not like Twilight Sparkle, but I still wish her friends were nice to me. At least Lyra and I are good friends now.”

Lemon Hearts and Spike shared a confused look before peering around the corner again. Neither of them really hated Sunset if they were being honest. And they didn’t hear anything about Lyra becoming friends with Sunset recently.

The two made out a feminine voice and raised an eyebrow.

“Yes Silverspeed, I actually called her Twilight Sparkle, not Twilight Snarkle,” Sunset rolled her eyes and Spike snorted. Sunset’s head whipped to the left and narrowed her eyes as Spikes mouth was covered by Lemon Hearts yellow hoof. “It’s nothing. Thought i heard something. Might have been there castle staff or the sergeant heading back to the rest of the castle.”

The mare called Silverspeed said something and Sunset gave a giggle. An actual giggle and Lemon Hearts eyes widened.

Lemon Hearts glanced at her pulsing two blue and green heart cutie mark before glancing at Sunset.

“What’s wrong with your cutie mark and flank?” Spike whispered and Lemon Hearts shot him a glare.

“There is nothing wrong with my flank, dear,” Lemon hissed and narrowed her eyes. “My cutie mark pulses like this when somepony loves another pony. So Sunset i presumes like this Silverspeed. And based on how fast the hearts on my flank are pulsing, Silverspeed returns the gesture. Which makes it our responsibility to get them together. My cutie mark did the same thing before you even admitted to liking me, Spiky.”

Spike blushed and Lemon smirked at him.

“You knew and you just sat there as I did that awful, awkward confession? Could have made it easier on me,” Spike crossed his arms and Lemon Hearts hugged him, nuzzling his head spikes.

“It was also adorable. Now come on, let’s get back to the kitchen. We have dishes to do.”

Spike groaned before hugging her back and Lemon Hearts snickered. She may hate doing dishes too, but it was more tolerable with somepony else.