Looping Over Feeling

“Sunset!”

Sunset groaned. She snapped her book shut and dismissed the magical shield she had around herself that kept the snow out. She was bundled up tight against the cold, but quickly becoming warm from sheer irritation.

The whole point of reading in this snowstorm was so she didn’t have to deal with other ponies. Though, Sunset did admit that Flash barely qualified as one.

“What are you doing out here?” Flash asked.

He was an easy grin bundled up in a too-big-for-him knitted scarf. He looked like a dork. Correction, was a dork. The prior statement implied there were times in which he didn’t look like one.

“I’m trying to read. Privately.” Sunset punctuated the last word with a glare.

“Well, if you want you could read privately at my—”

“Not interested.”

“Oh, come on, Sunset. It’s almost Hearth’s Warming. You can’t sulk through—”

“Not. Sulking.”

“Yes. Sulking,” Flash countered. “And you’re gonna end up getting sick if you just stay out here and read.”

“Good. That’ll keep that harpy away from me.”

“As her guard, I can guarantee that Princess Celestia will not keep away and instead absolutely mom the Tartarus out of you if you end up sick.”

“Why would she want to be around a sick mare?”

Flash quirked an eyebrow.

“Well?“ Sunset demanded.

“Yeeeah, even if I told you, I don’t think you’ll get it. Look, no one should be alone on Hearth’s Warming. Fine, you don’t want to be around Celestia, but I haven’t pissed you—”

Sunset quirked an eyebrow.

“Okay, I haven’t pissed you off recently. My point is that I don’t want you to be alone during the holidays.”

“Well, I want to be alone for the holidays,” Sunset declared. She stood up, a scowl firmly affixed to her face. “I don’t need you around to pity me.”

“Sunset, I don’t—”

“Buzz off, Flash. I don’t want to deal with you right now. I’m finding a new place to read. Don’t find me again.”

She stomped off, not looking back.