//------------------------------// // Act 10, Too Late! It’s Opening Night... // Story: Sunset Shimmer Discovers Her Feet // by TheOneAJ //------------------------------// “Wow,” Twilight breathed as she looked through the curtain. “Big crowd.” “Why wouldn’t it be?” Sunset smirked. “Hey, could you double knot these shells for me?”  “Um, right,” Twilight nodded as she walked over, taking in a sharp breath at Sunset’s bare back. “You sure I can do this?” Twilight asked, rolling up her white sleeves when they got in the way. “I wouldn’t have suggested you play Eric if I didn’t think you couldn’t.” Sunset assured as she spun around when Twilight was done. “You really don’t think anyone’s going to make that big a deal out of Eric being played by a girl?” Twilight nervously laughed. “Excuse me,” a dry voice said from behind them. Jumping, the two girls turned to see Maud, staring blankly at them in her tux. “Theatre has too few boys. Although, women weren't originally allowed to be actors. So it balances itself out.” She took Boulder out of her shirt pocket. “Here, pet the rock. I heard petting a pet helps.” Slowly, Twilight did as Maud suggested. “Better?” Maud asked. “A… little.” “Good. Now break a leg. Not literally of course.” Without another word, she walked off. “Um, yeah,” Sunset laughed awkwardly. “That.” Twilight sighed. “Well, yeah, but this is the… you know...” she frowned and blushed. “...romantic lead, so there’s potentially more issues.” Twilight began to tear up. “Come on now!” Sunset ordered as she lifted up her friend's chin. “You know I hate seeing you cry, Sparkle.” With that, she was rewarded with a smile from Twilight. “Sure, I can see some people having issues with the prince being a...” she blinked. “Princess... Dammit, Twilight! I swear, I wasn’t thinking about Princess Twilight when I suggested you do this!” To Sunset’s relief, Twilight let out a laugh. “Guess that makes us even for you casting Flash in the first place.” Seeing as how her adorkable, human Twilight meant it whole-heartedly, Sunset chuckled. “Yeah, I guess. Still...” Curious for no reason, Sunset stole a glance at the crowd. “I hope Flash is okay. I can understand why family would be…” Her eyes widened as she quickly stepped back from the curtains. “Oh gods, fuck above a holy grail dammit! Nope, nope, nopenopenopeNOPE! Sorry, Twilight, but I can’t go out there! You’ll have to find someone else!” “What? Hey, HEY!” Twilight said as she realized how serious Sunset was by grabbing the girl by the shoulder as she tried to walk away. “What happened?” “It would seem your actual princess half decided to surprise us with her presence. Along with who I’m guessing isn’t principal Celestia, and my parents.” Twilight’s eyes widened. “Really? I mean, you sure?” “Well then, that would be one fucking hell of a coincidence!” Sunset took in a breath, pacing back and forth for a bit, then nodding to herself. “Yeah, nope! I am really sorry about this, Twilight,”  She started pacing back and forth with her arms behind her head. “I can’t do this, I can’t go out there! I’m not ready to face them again! I can’t, I won’t, I can’t, I won’t, I— The next thing Sunset knew, a foam fish was being slapped across her face. “Pull yourself together, woman!” Twilight commanded, lowering the prop. “You’re freaking Sunset Shimmer! You can do anything! And you would never let your friends down on such an important night!” Blinking, she rubbed the spot where she had been slapped. “Did you just… No, I deserved it.” Sunset said as she leaned against the wall, slumping to the floor. “Hey, don’t be like that,” Twilight said in a comforting voice as she knelt down next to her friend. “Whatever happened between your parents, however you think they feel; they came. And not just from the other end of town, but through a different dimension! Into an alien world just to see their daughter again. Hey, I’m not saying that makes everything magically okay, but whatever issues you have with them, it has to mean something.” “You…You think?” Sunset said as she wiped away her tears. “I know so.” Twilight nodded determinedly. Sunset took in a deep breath and grinded her teeth. She noticed Twilight had a spark in her eyes. “You’re right.” she said, fist clenched. “So let’s give them the best performance a bunch of high schoolers can give!” “Yeah!” Twilight beamed. The two of them went back and forth on the ‘Yeahs!,’ before they laughed and pulled into a hug. When they pulled away, still smiling, they stayed together for a while. Holding hands, they looked at each other, thinking, “How lucky am I to have a friend like her in my life?” Then, as if they were a pair of magnets, their faces started to inch towards one another. “Two minutes to curtain!” someone shouted, breaking their trance. “Places!” “Oh, um,” Twilight said, taking a step back, blushing madly. “I should, uh, get ready for the opening number.” “Yeah,” Sunset nodded, her face as red as Twilight’s. “Should also make sure I didn’t ruin my makeup before I go on.” They both smiled awkwardly at each other but quickly walked away to get the show on the road, but not before looking back at each other to give a friendly wave.                   ❤️ ♥️ ❤️ ♥️ 🎭  It wasn’t too late! Sunset said to herself between breaths as she climbed up the anchor ropes of the wedding ship. She was nearly pulled back down to the sea by her soaked clothing several times. No! she screamed after such a close call. Inches from the deck. I’ve come too far to give up without a fight! My soul be damned, if only I can see Twilight one last time! Heaving, she finally pulled herself up onto the boat into what could only be described as chaos unleashing. All kinds of sea creatures and humans were running about making a mess. Twilight was easy enough to find. She was the only person standing perfectly still at the altar like nothing was wrong. Twilight she started to call out, before reality hit her. Okay, she told herself, racing over to her friend's side. Maybe if I just plant one on the lips... she pondered, touching Twilight’s arm. I can apologize later when my soul isn’t on the– “Can I help you?” Twilight asked. Sunset jumped back. She was honestly not expecting a response with how brainwashed Twilight was. “Excuse me,” Twilight said. “I’m in the middle of something…. Do I know you?” While she now knew Twilight was under a spell, the words still stung Sunset’s heart. “Oh no, wait!” Twilight said, stepping off the altar to stand next to the mysterious girl. “I’m sorry! It’s nothing personal. I’m just really bad with names. But,” hesitantly, she took Sunset’s hand. “Something about you feels familiar. Am I sounding crazy?”  To Sunset’s delight, Twilight started to blush. “Um, oh dear. Look, I’m honestly not very good at making friends. Opening up to people. I’m still flabbergasted that anyone would want to marry me! Actually, I wonder what Adagio sees in me. Well, she did save my life and she’s normally nice.” Twilight blinked in confusion at that. Her eyes flashed back-and-forth from yellow to violet. “I mean, I know it’s just wedding stress, but did she have to kick my dog? No idea what’s been getting into him. Or with my brother and sister. You think they would be happy I found someone! Then again, is kicking my dog excusable? Why isn’t it? Oh, what am I saying! Ugh! This is what I mean.” Twilight rubbed at her head. “Now I’m sure I won’t hear the end of this from Adagio about how I shouldn’t have said that! But, I owe her, as pious as that sounds. Is it so wrong that I have trouble being socially acceptable and– Sunset brought a hand up and held Twilight's face, silencing the girl with a smile. Same old idiotic dork that I love. As irrational as it was for Twilight to feel the way she was feeling for a stranger, she allowed herself, for once, not to think. Whoever this girl was, she wasn’t put off by her rambling. If anything, she enjoyed it. She smiled back at her as she kept holding onto her hand. Twilight found herself leaning towards the girl, as irrational as it was. To her delight, the girl was leaning in as well. Closing her eyes, Twilight started to– Twilight pulled back and placed her free hand to her aching head.  “Get away from her!” Adagio huffed. Looking worse for wear, commanded, the shell necklace she wore glowing the same bright yellow. “She’s not the one who saved you, I did! That’s why you love me. Not her! Don’t be such a stu–Silly, girl!” Yes, Twilight thought as her headache began to subside. Adagio was the one who saved her. Adagio cared about her when one else did. When no one else bothered to get in the water when she was drowning. That was why she wanted to- Twilight's eyes widened when the mysterious girl raced towards her bride, a look of righteous fury, and started to grab at her Adagio’s shell necklace. Wait, if that pendant was so important for Adagio to wear at their wedding, why hadn’t she ever told her about what made it so important before? “Get off me, you little brat!” Adagio cried out. Slapping Sunset across the face. In that moment, while it didn’t make a lot of sense to Twilight, Adagio’s actions—the person she thought she loved—pushed Twilight over the edge enough to put ‘logic’ to the side. Instead, for once, trusting her emotions.  “Leave her alone!” Twilight cried. She raced forwards and, to Adagio's surprise, thinking Twilight was still fully hypnotized and talking to Sunset, shoved her away.  As the witch fell backwards, she let go of her grip on the shell. Sending it and Sunset flying through the air. Which, unlike the Adagio, had someone to catch her. The shell flew through the air, shattering upon impact on the ground. The beautiful voice from before rang out through the ship as a golden orb floated towards Twilight and Sunset. As it did so, the fog from the witch's spell started to clear from Twilight’ mind. Things Twilight thought to only be a fantasy, turned into real memories. Where Adagio’s face had been in her memoirs in that fateful day, Sunset’s face– “Sunset!”  It was Sunset! That was the name of the girl in her arms right now. Sunset, the girl who made her smile. The girl she had allowed closer into her heart than anyone else before her. Whom she wanted to spend time, maybe even forever if possible. Sunset was the one, who in only a few days, Twilight had fallen in love with. It didn’t matter if Sunset hadn’t saved her life. She could live without the voice, if it meant she could be together with Sunset for the rest of her life. That said, as the two of them got to their feet, arms still draped around one another, Twilight couldn’t complain when that angelic voice floated into Sunset’s mouth instead of her ‘brides.’ “-Aaaahhhhhaa!” Sunset sang out.”Twi,” she crocked, holding her neck. “Twilight?” “Sunset,” Twilight breathed, holding a hand to her lips. “I… I honestly thought it was you,” she said with a sniffle. “Believe me! I just, even if you could have talked, I was so scared about opening up to anyone. But, but then I got to know you, and I was still scared, but I was more scared of what would happen if I pushed you away! If, if I didn’t have you in my life. The thought was even scarier. I was going to say so last night, but then- “It’s okay,” Sunset assured, bringing a hand to Twilight’s face. “I couldn’t imagine a life without you in it either.” Speechless at such declarations, the two girls brought their faces together, only for Sunset to arch backwards in pain. Adagio started to laugh. “You’re too late, princess.” To Sunset’s horror, as she looked out to the dark sky, saw that Adagio  was right.  “You’re too late!” Adagio cheered at her victory. Twilight stared in alarm, trying to keep a hold of Sunset, but found herself unable to do anything as Sunset fell down onto her tail. Indeed, they were too late.                       🏃‍♂️ ⛅️ 🧜‍♀️