“Here you are. Two vanilla cones for the young lady.”
Passing an assortment of bills and coins across the counter to the vendor, Sunset Shimmer took a cone in each hand. “Thanks. Keep the change.”
“Much obliged. You have a pleasant day, Miss.” Tipping his hat her way, he prepared to serve his next customer as Sunset walked away from the ice cream truck parked outside the city park.
With ice cream in hand, Sunset set off across the park, narrowly avoiding being knocked over as a group of laughing kids ran passed her, likely too engrossed in a game of tag with their friends. Eventually she came upon a bench sitting in the shade of a tree, where a girl with light lavender skin patiently waited for her.
“Sorry for the wait, Twilight.” Taking a seat next to her friend, she offered one of the cones to Twilight. “Line was a lot longer than I thought it would be.”
“Oh, I wasn’t waiting that long.” Twilight replied as she took the ice cream from Sunset. She wasted no time in digging in, forgoing the act of licking at the ice cream, instead resorting to biting large chunks out of it and swallowing them whole.
“Easy, Twilight. It’s not going to melt if you don’t eat it right away.” Taking a few licks from her own ice cream, Sunset glanced over to see Twilight still devouring the dairy treat. “Careful, you don’t slow down and you’ll give yourself—“
“Ack!” Twilight grimaced, clamping her eyes shut at the presence of a throbbing pain at the back of her head.
“… Brain freeze. You okay?”
“Fine… just fine. Just… give me a minute.” Wincing again, Twilight rubbed a spot between her eyes with her free hand. Gradually, the pain subsided. When it was all but gone, she took another tentative bite of her ice cream, taking care not eat it too quickly this time.
Snickering from beside her drew Twilight’s attention, turning her head to see Sunset looking at her while covering her mouth with her hand, trying her hardest not to laugh.
“What?” Twilight asked.
Removing her hand from her mouth, Sunset pointed to a spot on her face. “You got a little something on your face.”
Confused, Twilight reached up and wiped the sleeve of her shirt across her face. “Did I get it?”
Shaking her head, Sunset leaned over and wiped her thumb across Twilight’s cheek, pulling back to reveal ice cream smeared on the tip of her thumb. “There, that got it.”
“Oh. Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” Hooking her arm around Twilight’s shoulders, Sunset pulled the girl across the bench until they were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder “That’s what friends are for after all.”
Returning to enjoying her ice cream, Sunset didn’t notice the faintest hint of a blush coloring Twilight’s cheeks.
They ate in silence after that, simply enjoying the cold ice cream on a warm day like today, mixed with the pleasant company only close friends could provide. As Sunset finished off the last of her cone, she turned to ask Twilight a question, but the question died on her lips when she saw Twilight staring off in the distance with a thoughtful expression etched across her face, her fingers locked together as she rested her hands in her lap.
“Something on your mind?” Sunset asked, snapping Twilight out of her trance.
“Hmm? Oh, I was just thinking about this world’s Twilight.” Twilight sighed, looking down at her hands still resting in her lap. “I still remember how hard it was getting used to this world, I hope she’s alright back in Equestria.”
“Considering she’s still you in a way, I wouldn’t be too worried. Besides, you said the Princess is with her, right? She’ll make sure nothing happens to her before you get back.”
The faintest hints of a smile peaked at the edge of Twilight’s face. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. You should have seen her though, Sunset.”
“Who? The other Twilight?”
Twilight shook her head. “No, Princess Celestia. When she said she was going to help this world’s Twilight in understanding magic, I didn’t think she was going to offer to teach her personally! I think the only time I’ve ever seen the Princess happier was after Luna came back.”
“Yeah… She must have been pretty excited…” Pulling her arm back, this time it was Sunset’s turn to stare off into space, her hands balled up against her legs.
Twilight almost smacked herself, realizing her mistake right away. “Oh, Sunset! I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it like—“
“Don’t worry, I know you didn’t. It’s just…” Sunset sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Just another thing I need to make up for someday.”
“You know…” Twilight put her hand over Sunset’s, smiling as the girl looked up at her and their eyes met, “my offer to come and visit me in Equestria is still open. We could even go to Canterlot and visit the Princesses together, if you’d like.”
Keep asking and one day I might take you up on that offer. Today though… “I’ll think about it. But enough about that!” Sunset abruptly took Twilight’s hands in her own, a wide smile replacing her previously dreary expression. “I’ve got something to show you I think you’ll like.”
Startled by Sunset’s sudden newfound enthusiasm, all Twilight could manage to utter was a hesitant, “O…kay?”
“Great! Let’s go!” Pulling Twilight to her feet with her, Sunset held onto Twilight’s wrist as she led her through the park.
***
Twilight could barely contain her excitement. Sunset had dragged her to the outskirts of the city, where the two of them were now standing outside a massive building, easily dwarfing Canterlot High in size and scale. Elaborate carvings were etched into the triangular roof, supported around by a wall of columns interspaced every few feet. Huge steps paved the way towards the building’s entrance.
Just the sight of it filled Twilight with nostalgic glee, since the exact same building back in Canterlot had been her home away from home during her time at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.
“The library!” Twilight shouted, throwing up her arms in excitement once they were finally standing right outside the main entrance.
“Actually,” Sunset put her hand on Twilight’s shoulder, a hint of disappointment in her voice at having to be the bearer of bad news, “it’s a museum over here.”
“Oh…” For a moment, Twilight appeared crestfallen as she lowered her arms back to her side. It didn’t last long though, as she perked up seconds later with renewed vigor. “But still, that’s just as good! Even though I already read up on this world’s history the first time I was here, I wouldn’t mind learning about it in greater detail!”
Sunset shook with restrained laughter. “I thought you might. Oh Twilight, you are such a nerd.”
“And you’re not?” Twilight shot back, looking over at Sunset with her eyebrows raised as she waited for a response.
Patting Twilight on the shoulder, Sunset answered with a quick, “C’mon, let’s get our tickets,” before running off towards the museum.
“That wasn’t a no!” Twilight shouted as she ran up the museum steps after Sunset.