With sunlight shining through the spaces between the wooden slats and creating golden beams on the hay-strewn floor, the barn exuded a cozy, rustic charm.

I sat on a hay bale Sunny was next to me, her shoulder was pressing lightly against mine. She leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees, her chin in her hand, looking like she was trying to puzzle something out and the other girls were in the middle of yet another attempt at the counter-spell song.

Sunset was looking at me, her teal eyes catching the light just enough to make them shimmer. There was a flicker of amusement in them, like she was trying to share a silent joke about the slightly off-key harmony coming from Rainbow and Twilight.

She looked... peaceful.

“They’re, uh... trying,” I whispered, leaning slightly toward her.

Sunset snorted softly, covering her mouth to stifle the sound. “Yeah, trying is the right word,” she murmured, her voice tinged with humor but not unkind.

Twilight flapped her arms impatiently as the song faltered. “No, no, no! That’s not right! The bridge doesn’t transition smoothly into the chorus!”

Rainbow groaned, throwing her head back dramatically. “It’s fine, Twilight! No one’s gonna care about some dumb bridge if the main lyrics are awesome.”

Applejack adjusted her bass strap and shook her head. “If it don’t sound right, it don’t matter how good the main lyrics are, sugarcube.”

Pinkie Pie, perched behind her drum set, started tapping out a random rhythm. “I think we’re overthinking it. Maybe the counter-spell just needs more fun! Like, bam! Crash! Sparkle!” She punctuated each word with an exaggerated hit on the drums.

Fluttershy, holding her tambourine timidly, added, “Or... maybe it needs to feel more, um... heartfelt?”

The girls all started talking at once, their voices overlapping in a chaotic swirl of suggestions and complaints. I glanced at Sunset again.

She wasn’t watching the girls she was staring at her hands, her fingers idly twisting a loose thread on her jacket.

“Hey,” I nudged her gently with my shoulder. “You okay?”

She blinked, snapping out of whatever thoughts had been pulling her down. “Yeah”

The girls launched into another attempt at the song, and as they sang, their magic started to swirl around them. It wasn’t quite as intense as before, but the faint glow of their pony ears and tails appeared. The sight still made me pause it was so surreal, yet oddly beautiful.

Changing my view to Sunset, half expecting her to shrink back or look uneasy like she had in the classroom. But while there was still a trace of discomfort in her posture, she wasn’t pulling away. Instead, she watched with a thoughtful expression, her eyes following the glow as if trying to make sense of it.

“You okay with this now?” I asked gently.

She shrugged, her shoulders brushing against mine. “It’s... weird. But I guess I’m getting used to it.” She paused, then added in a quieter voice, “Still gives me shivers, though.”

They girls were improving slowly but the magic felt... incomplete. Like something was missing.

My gaze drifted to Sunset again. She caught me staring and raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly, looking away. But the thought lingered. Hm, Could Sunset and I sing too? Could we contribute something?

The idea was ridiculous, wasn’t it? I didn’t sing. Sunset didn’t either—or at least, she’d made it clear she didn’t want to. But still, the thought gnawed at me. Maybe there was something more we could do, something beyond just watching and supporting from the sidelines.

“Whatever you’re thinking, stop,” Sunset said, her voice teasing but with an edge of seriousness.

“I’m not thinking anything”

She gave me a look, one that said she didn’t believe me for a second. “Good. Because I’m definitely not singing.”

I chuckled, raising my hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. No singing.”

For now, I added silently.

The girls wrapped up their latest attempt, and Twilight sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. “This isn’t working. We need more time.”

Rainbow groaned. “More time? We’ve got, like two days since the first round!”

“Then we’d better make those two days count,” Applejack said firmly.

I raised a hand “Why not take it slow in the first rounds? You don’t need to go all-out immediately. Just do enough to win and save the counterspell for the final battle with the Sirens.”

The girls turned toward me, some nodding thoughtfully. “That’s... actually not a bad idea,” Rainbow said, crossing her arms. “Why waste all our awesome power before we really need it?”

Twilight’s brows furrowed as she considered my suggestion, then a flicker of realization lit her face. “Wait,” she said, her tone growing excited, “Wait, wait, If you’ve ponied up before, just by playing music, maybe the counterspell doesn’t have to be anything complex. It could just be... a normal song!”

She slapped her forehead hard enough that the red outline of her hand started to appear. “Why the hay didn’t I think of that earlier? Of course it can work!”

Huh i only told her to wait for the 1vs1 on sirens and she changed that to ,,The best counterspell is no counterspell?" Da heck? Only twilight can come up with something like this.

Sunset let out a small chuckle and bumped my arm. “Nice going, Mr. Prince of Magic.”

I rolled my eyes and leaned back slightly, giving her a teasing smirk. “Yeah, yeah. Keep calling me that and see what happens.”

“This changes everything” twilight muttered to herself, flipping through pages filled with half-written lyrics and diagrams of magical theory. “We just need to focus on the magic we already have.”

The rest of the practice session wound down after that. The girls spent a little more time tweaking their melodies, but it was clear their spirits were lifted. They had a plan now, a clear path forward.

Eventually, the group began to disperse.

The others gathered their things and preparing to leave. Twilight, still buzzing with ideas, stayed behind with Applejack to continue brainstorming. She will prob sleep at her place, men what would my father thought if i would invite her over? Nah, he knows Sunny that's enaugh, and somehow pinkie got his number, again weird.

“Thanks for the ride, Sunny,” I said as Sunset tossed me her helmet. She rolled her eyes at the nickname but didn’t argue

“Hop on,” she said, patting the seat behind her.

The roar of the engine echoed as we pulled out of the barn. The wind whipped past us.

We rode in silence, the hum of the engine and the rhythm of the road filling the space between us. It wasn’t awkward, though. If anything, it felt... comfortable.

We reached the outskirts of town, Sunset glanced over her shoulder. “You did good back there,” she said, her voice barely audible over the wind.

I shrugged, not sure how to respond. “I did nothing, i just said what i thought.”

“And that was enaugh for twi”

"Thanks"

We finally reached my house, Sunset parked the bike. She smiled, a soft, genuine expression that made her look more relaxed than I’d seen her in days. But something was still in her... “Good. See you tomorrow handsome, then.”

"Y-yeah see you tommorow Sunny" I Should say something in return but nothin came so we just departed.

As I stepped through the door of my hause, my dad was sitting on the couch, his laptop resting on the coffee table. He looked up from the screen, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, well,” he said, closing the laptop and leaning back with his arms crossed. “Look who’s finally home. You know, this isn’t a hotel, right? You do remember you live here?”

I gave him a sheepish smile, kicking off my shoes. “Hey, Dad.”

“Don’t ,hey Dad’ me” his tone was more teasing than serious. “What’s been keeping you out for almost 2 days? Your friend Pinkie texted me something about ‘magic stuff.’ Was it really that bad?”

Of course, Pinkie would think it was a good idea to give him a vague update. She probably thought she was helping, but now I had to explain. Or... maybe I didn’t? I could just give him some half-truth and hope he’d drop it.

“Well,” I started, my voice shaky, “actually... there’s something I need to tell you. It’s—” I paused, realizing just how much there was to say. “It’s kind of a lot.”

He gestured to the couch. “I’m listening.”

I sat down, fiddling with my hands. “Okay, so, uh... here goes.” I took a deep breath and launched into the story, starting with my accidental arrival in Equestria.

At first, he looked confused, his brow furrowing as I described the portal and the strange, colorful world on the other side. But as I kept talking about the story of mom, and the confrontation with her former pupils i could see his expression shift. He wasn’t just listening he was absorbing every word.

I skipped over some parts, of course. Like the flying memories about my kiss on cheeck with Sunset. No way I was bringing that up. But I told him about the magic, about how Mom had fled to this world to anguish that umbra thing? Was it a thing or someone? Who knows.

By the time I finished, my throat was dry, and my hands were trembling slightly.

He gave me a small, knowing smile. “She always had this way of making you feel like you were the center of the universe. And when she loved, she loved deeply. To think she.... she was hurting and didn't show that to anyone, aw fuck, i should saw that”

Woah woah my dad never cursed, that must've put a lot of him. Hm yea the thing about his wife having evil entity in herself could put anyone in sad tone.

“So she was that special, she saved what? a whole universe?” he continued, his voice tinged with both fondness and regret. “But you are so simmilar to her, it feels like she's still here. You have the strength to face things head-on. You didn’t run from her, i mean real her, even when you had every reason to. That’s something to be proud of.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Then, in true Dad fashion, he tried to lighten the mood, changing the topic. “So, speaking of special... what’s going on with you and Sunset?” He was still hurting, but had the decency to still think about me, he is cooler than i think.

“W-what?” I stammered, feeling my face heat up. “Nothin changed still friends”

“Friends” he said, smirking.

“Dad” I groaned, burying my face in my hands. I peeked at him through my fingers, trying to suppress a smile. “We’re really just friends.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

But in truth, i dont think we are friends anymore, not couple not lovers, at least not yet? Noone said magic words ,,I love you,, you can think that our relation is still growing but it's not so far for climax. Hm maybe? Nah. But? Eh what do i have do lose. He married someone, maybe he knows somethin.

“Dad, Don’t even think about laughing now. This is gonna be my moment just listen.”

“Alright, alright, I’m listening. What’s on your mind?”

"SHHH let me concentrate"

But i wasn’t sure how to say that it felt... too personal?. Finally, I just blurted it out. “How did you know Mom was the woman you wanted to spend your life with?” ah cringe asf

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, and for a moment, he was silent. I could see the gears turning in his head as he processed my question. “That’s... quite the question, kid,” he said finally, leaning back in his chair.

“Well” his voice was tinged with a mix of amusement and tenderness, “it’s not a simple story. Your mom and I weren’t exactly... on the best of terms when we first met. To put it bluntly, we were enemies.”

Huh? "enemies?” who would know my dad can even have enemies

“Yeah. Enemies. She was a politician just like me, one of the sharpest minds I’ve ever met. She had this fire in her, fierce, unyielding, and, frankly, intimidating. I, on the other hand, well...” He hesitated, searching for the right words. “Let’s just say I didn’t exactly have the most lawful or... admirable reputation back then. We stood on opposite ends of a line, she fought for order, justice, and progress, and I...”

He paused, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “I was the chaos in her way.”

I stared at him, trying to imagine my parents in that dynamic. My mom, this beacon of light and determination, and my dad, standing in the shadows, opposing her. It didn’t make sense, hes not like that. “How did that... work?”

“It didn’t. Well at first,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair. “We clashed constantly. Your mom would organize rallies, push for reforms, and I hm, I’d find ways to undermine them. Not out of malice, but because I thought the world couldn’t be fixed like that. I believed in power, not principles, and I thought she was naive.”

He sighed, a hint of regret slipping into his tone. “But she didn’t back down. No matter what I threw her way, no matter how hard I tried to prove her wrong, she stood her ground. And she didn’t just fight me—she tried to understand me. She wanted to know why I was the way I was, why I didn’t believe in the things she did. It was like she wanted to change my ways”

“Did you tell her?” Even i didn't knew that part of my dad, was he really going to become like the other sombra? If not for my mother?

“At first? No,” he admitted. “I was too stubborn, too caught up in my own anger. But she didn’t give up. And, over time, I started to see things differently. She wasn’t just some idealistic politician. She was someone who genuinely cared, who wanted to make things better not because it was her job, but because she believed it was the right thing to do.”

He smiled faintly. “And the more I tried to break her down, the more I found myself drawn to her. She wasn’t afraid to challenge me, to call me out on my mistakes. But she also saw the good in me, even when I couldn’t see it myself. She taught me that strength isn’t about control or dominance, it’s about standing up for what you believe in, even when it’s hard.”

“So... you two just fell in love? Like that?”

"Not right away of course. It took time, years, actually. We argued, we fought, and we hurt each other more than I’d like to admit. But somewhere in all that chaos, we found common ground. She still saw a side of me I didn’t think existed, and I saw a side of her that wasn’t just about politics or ideals, it was about her as a women.”

His voice grew quieter, more introspective. “And when we finally stopped fighting long enough to really listen to each other, we realized our views weren’t so different after all. We both wanted a better world to live in. We just had different ways of going about it. And in the end, those differences didn’t drive us apart, they brought us together. Love isn’t about finding someone who’s exactly like you. It’s about finding someone who challenges you, who makes you better, and who stands by you even when things get tough. Your mom taught me that. And I see some of that same fire, that same determination, in you.”

I looked away, unsure of what to say. “So... you think that could happen to me and Sunset? You know..”

“Who knows? Maybe. But the question isn’t whether it could happen, it’s whether you want it to, you might be surprised at what you find. But it’s up to you, son.”

"I think I do dad” I began, my voice a little unsteady. “This is real talk right? Eh i need to tell you something about her.”

Dad nodded, his eyes steady on mine, encouraging me to keep going.

“I wasn’t honest before." I admitted, my gaze dropping to the table. “I said my first days of school were good, but they weren't. They were… awful to say the least. And Sunset was the reason why. She bullied me a lot back then. She’d make comments, humiliate me in front of others.”

Dad’s expression softened, a mix of concern and patience, and it made it easier to keep talking.

“But now…” I paused, searching for the right words. “Now, everything’s changed. She’s changed. It’s like... like some kind of magic, this ‘friendship’ thing. She’s not the same person she was before. She’s kinder, more thoughtful. It’s like she’s fighting to leave that old version of herself behind, and honestly? I’ve fallen for her. The girl I see now? She’s amazing. But the thing is.... I think she thinks it’s because of me. Like I’m the reason she’s changed. But that’s not true. It’s her. It’s fully her way, her choice, her fight. I was just… there.”

There was silence for a moment, the kind that feels heavier than words. Finally, Dad spoke, his voice low and thoughtful. “You’re wrong about one thing, son.”

I looked up, startled. “What do you mean?”

“You weren’t just there,’” he said firmly. “You were someone she could trust, someone she could lean on when she needed. That’s not nothing, it was everything to her. Sometimes, when someone’s trying to change, they need to know that someone believes they can. It sounds to me like you were that person for Sunset.”

“But she’s the one who did all the work. I didn’t—”

“Stop,” Dad interrupted gently but firmly. “Listen to me. It isn’t about taking credit or keeping score. It’s about showing up. It’s about being there, even when things are hard, even when you don’t have all the answers. If Sunset thinks you helped her, then you did. Maybe not in the way you think, but you mattered. And you still matter to her.”

For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. He leaned forward, his eyes full of understanding. “Let me tell you something I’ve learned in my long life. People don’t change because of grand speeches or big gestures. They change because someone makes them feel seen, makes them feel like they’re worth something. You’ve done that for Sunset, whether you realize it or not.”

“I just… I don’t want her to think she owes me anything. I don’t want her to feel like I’m expecting something in return.”

“And that’s why I know you really care about her. Because you’re thinking about her, not yourself. Love is something like a two-way street. She chose to let you in, just like you chose to let he-.”

My frustration started to bubble up, and before I could stop myself, I slammed my hand down on the coffee table. The sound of the impact echoed through the room, and the glass surface cracked under the pressure. Dad flinched slightly but didn’t say anything, his eyes fixed on me as I stared at the jagged line running through the glass.

“Enough” I said, my voice trembling—not with anger, but with something deeper, something raw. “Enough of the sweet talk, Dad. I know it’s supposed to be comforting, but it’s not helping."

"Dad i can’t… I can’t get this feeling out of my head.” My hands clenched into fists as I tried to keep my voice steady. “Every time I see her, every time she looks at me, I can’t stop thinking about it, about that feeling.”

Dad stayed silent, his expression calm but attentive, waiting for me to let it all out.

“That feeling that she’s only attracted to me because I helped her, the one that's allways when i start to feel happy with her, the feeling i see on her face.” I continued, my voice breaking slightly. “Because I was there when she needed someone. That’s all it is, isn’t it? Gratitude. I mean, yeah, I was nice to her, I stood up for her when no one else would, but does that even count? What if… what if she’s just confusing those feelings with something else? What if I’m just some kind of… placeholder until she figures out what she really wants?”

I stood up, pacing the room now, unable to stay still with the storm of emotions crashing through me. “And the worst part? I don’t even know if I’m good enough for her. What if she wakes up one day and realizes I’m just this ordinary guy who happened to be in the right place at the right time? What if she regrets everything? What if—”

“Stop.” Again, what is with him stopping me?

Dad’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts like a sharp blade. It wasn’t loud, but it was firm, grounded, and it made me freeze in my tracks. I turned to face him.

“You’re not just anything,” he said, his voice steady but laced with emotion. “You’re not some placeholder, and you’re not some ordinary guy. You’re you. And that’s exactly why Sunset trusts you, why she feels the way she does about you.”

“But what if it’s not real?” I shot back, my voice cracking. “What if it’s just some leftover feeling from everything she’s been through? What if I’m just convenient for her?” No i don't think that, stop yourself.

Dad stood up now, closing the distance between us, his hands resting on my shoulders. His eyes locked onto mine, i saw a kind of fierce determination in his expression. “Do you think love is about convenience?” he asked, his voice low but intense. “Do you think it’s easy to let someone in after you’ve been hurt? Do you think Sunset would risk letting herself feel something for you if it wasn’t real?”

He shook his head, his grip on my shoulders tightening slightly. “Listen to me, son. You’re scared. I get it. You’re scared of being wrong, of being hurt, of not being enough. But love isn’t about certainty. It’s about taking a leap, even when you’re terrified of what’s on the other side.”

“But what if I’m really not enough for her?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Sombra's expression softened again, and he pulled me into a hug. It was strong, grounding, and it made me feel like a little kid again.

“You’re enough,” he said quietly. “You’re more than enough. And Sunset sees that,you need to trust her. Trust that she knows her own heart.”

"I just don’t want to let her down,” I admitted, my voice muffled against his shoulder.

“You won’t, because you care. Because you’re willing to fight for her, even when it scares you. That’s what matters.”

Tears welled up in my eyes before I could even stop them. My voice cracked “Dad, I don’t want to lose her. I really love her, I just…” My throat tightened, making it hard to breathe.

“I just don’t want to lose her like my brother.”

The room fell into an almost deafening silence, the kind that presses down on your chest. My dad’s hand froze mid-pat on my back, and I could feel the faint tremor that ran through him. His breath hitched, and I could tell that my words had struck him like a lightning bolt.

“You really think you’ll lose her like him?” he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper. It wasn’t accusatory, but there was something in it shock, pain, understanding, that made the tears flow even faster down my cheeks.

I couldn't respond to him. My voice was unintelligible. I was unable to do anything but press my face against his shoulder while tears tore through my body.

“I don’t want to put my feelings on the line if she’s just going to dump me later,” I choked out between gasps for air. “I don’t think I could take it, Dad. I can’t lose anyone else.”

Dad’s arms wrapped around me, holding me tighter than he ever had before. “Hey, hey,” he said gently, his voice raw with emotion. “Listen to me. Just breathe, okay?”

I tried, but the grief and fear bubbling inside me were overwhelming. “What if I mess it all up? What if she sees me for who I really am and realizes I’m not worth it?” My words came out in a rush, like I was desperately trying to empty the fear out of my chest before it consumed me.

Dad pulled back just enough to look at me, his hands gripping my shoulders firmly. His eyes, glassy and red-rimmed, locked onto mine. “You are worth it. You have always been worth it. Sunset isn’t going to leave because she sees the real you. The real you is the person she’s already falling for.”

“But I’m scared,” I admitted, my voice small and broken. “What if I let her down? What if, what if I push her away without even realizing it? What if I hurt her like…” My words trailed off, the weight of what I wasn’t saying settling between us like a heavy fog.

Dad’s grip on my shoulders tightened, and he leaned in closer. “Listen to me,” he said, his voice trembling but resolute. “You are not the same person you were back then. You’ve grown. You’ve changed. The mistakes you made don’t define who you are now. Do you hear me?”

I nodded weakly, though the guilt still gnawed at me. “But what if I hurt her without meaning to? What if I lose her?”

“That’s yet another thing about love. It’s a risk. Every time you open your heart to someone, you’re taking a leap, not knowing where you’ll land. But the fact that you’re this scared, that you care this much? That’s proof that you’re ready for this. You just have to trust her. And trust yourself.”

Tears continued to fall, but I used the back of my palm to wipe my face. “I don’t know if I can. What if I’m not strong enough for both of us?”

“You’re stronger than you think. Talk to her. Or talk to someone who knows her, someone who can help you understand what’s going on in her head.”

“But what if it’s too late?”

“It’s never too late to be honest, to put yourself out there. Sunset sees something in you, something special.”

Slowly, I pulled away from his embrace, the warmth of his arms giving way to the coolness of the room. I took a shaky breath and let out a small, nervous laugh. “All this… all this because I asked you about how you met Mom,” I said, shaking my head. The laugh bubbled up again, but it was uneven, almost hysterical, as if my emotions were tumbling out all at once.

Dad’s brow furrowed slightly, concern etched on his face. “He—”

“Don’t worry, Dad,” I interrupted, cutting him off before he could dive back into reassurances. “I needed to get this out. Really. I’m good now.” My voice wavered slightly, but I meant it. I felt lighter. “You’re right. I just need to talk to someone.”

Twilight.

It was like a voice whispering in the quiet corners of my mind. She always seemed to know more than she let on, and if anyone could help me make sense of this tangled mess, it was her.

“Oh, right,” I left that part too, well. “Dad, there’s… there’s something else. Something that's kind of.... weird.”

His eyebrows rose slightly, and he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Go on,” he said, his tone cautious but curious.

“There’s this… voice. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like… like Mom’s voice. It’s been with me lately, it’s guiding me. Telling me what to do, what to say, helping me figure things out.” I looked at him, searching his face for any sign of disbelief. “NO NO NO i'm not crazy i swear it appered when, well at fall formal i think was the first time, but since them i fell mom is closer than ever.”

Dad stared at me, his expression frozen in surprise. For a long moment, he didn’t say anything, and I felt a pang of regret for bringing it up. Maybe it was too strange, too much to admit out loud.

But then, slowly, his lips curved into a small, almost wistful smile. He shook his head, a soft chuckle escaping him. “Why wouldn’t she be close?” he said, his voice warm and full of a quiet kind of awe.

I blinked, caught off guard by his reaction. “Don't you think its weird?”

“Nah i married a queen of another realm,” he said, his smile growing. “i know what's weird and what's tollerable"

“Okey, just....Thanks for that talk, i needed it, and i think the girls wouldn't do as great job as you”. I got up and gave him a final look. He gave me a proud gaze in return, one that always seemed to convey more than words could.

“Anytime,” he replied, his voice steady. “I’m always here.”

A lump rose in my throat once more as I nodded, but I forced myself to swallow it and forced a tiny grin. I turned and went to my room without saying anything more, my head spinning from all that had just transpired. I took a deep breath and leaned against the door for a second as I shut it behind me.

Twilight, the voice in my mind whispered again, arlight shes at Aj hause and its isn't that late.

She's a princess of friendship right? Friendship love relations. The same thing, and shes from the same world as Sunny. She will surelly know what i should do.

Taking my phone out of my pocket i called Applejack. After 3 rings she responds," Hey AppleJack, Twilight still at your place?" why wouldn't she be there she's slepping there you idiot. "Can you give me her for second"

Author's Note

Heyoo its good to be back, a quick chapter explaining why there was so often that feeling that oc couldn't understand when talking/looking at sunset. next chapter will prob be longer showin battle of bands, but not in the way you would have think, have fun reading give yours opinion on the new writing way, cheers