Sunset put one foot on the main road, then grabbed Twilight and jumped back behind a tree, nearly tripping over Fluttershy as she did.
“What is it?” Twilight asked.
Sunset poked her head around the trunk and pointed. A group of bystanders stood in the hotel parking lot, talking loudly and pointing toward the forest. Sunset could spot a few of Twilight’s family members mixed in.
“It’s gonna be real hard to sneak back into the hotel now,” Sunset said.
Twilight looked down at her clothes. “We need to think of something. There’s no way I can explain this to my parents.”
Rainbow zoomed over to them, digging her heels into the dirt to come to a stop. “I haven’t... found anyone else yet. Maybe... they’re inside,” she said between breaths. In a flash, her ears and wings were gone, and she doubled over with her hands on her knees.
“Whoa… guess I was more exhausted than I thought.”
“Probably for the best. Sneaking inside is already gonna be tough. We don’t need you in pony form and bringing more attention to us,” Sunset said. She pointed to the other side of the road. “Maybe we can sneak the long way around. The crowd might disperse on the way.”
“It’s as good a plan as any,” Twilight said, resigned. She followed Sunset’s lead and quickly skirted across the main road, ducking behind more trees.
They kept themselves hidden in the foliage, sticking close to the leaf-covered slopes that preceded the mountains towering over them. Sunset paused and looked over her shoulder. Through a gap in the trees, she could see the last wisps of smoke curling off the scorched grove.
The hills and trees curved back toward the resort. The group followed the bend, passing through a small, rocky outcropping where they spotted—
“Shiny? Cadence?” Twilight ran toward a group of figures just ahead at the mouth of a cave.
“Twilight!” Shining ran toward her, slowing down as he got a closer look at the state of her attire. “What… what happened? Are you alright? …Is that a sword?”
Twilight tried to hide her schiavona behind her back. “It’s a long story?” She tried to smile.
“Girls, girls!” Pinkie emphatically waved her hand. “Guess what?”
Sunset saw Rarity and Applejack sitting on the ground, looking exhausted, then saw Aria sulking off to the side before spotting Sonata hiding behind Pinkie’s hair. Sunset narrowed her eyes and felt her phoenix fire run through her again. “No…”
Pinkie’s wave turned into a desperate flail of her arms as Sunset stomped toward her. “Wait, wait! Everything’s fine now! We worked it all out!”
“I vouched for them, and they turn around and break my eardrums and steal from my adopted family!” Sunset’s chest still ached, and while she could feel the heat of her powers, they weren’t manifesting. That wasn’t going to stop her from planting a boot in someone’s teeth.
“I know they did bad things,” Pinkie said frantically, “but they did good things, too! Aria broke the staff so Adagio couldn’t take our magic anymore!”
Sunset stopped her march and glared at Aria.
Aria gave a noncommittal nod. “I just got tired of her bullshit.”
“That doesn’t make up for what you did!” Twilight shouted. “Sunset trusted you!”
Sonata stepped out from behind Pinkie. “We know! We’re really sorry! We’ll make up for it, we promise!”
Sunset raised a fist. “Yeah? I’ve got one way you can start!”
Shining slid over and put his hands on her shoulders. “You’re angry, I get it. I’ve got a lot of feelings right now, too. But they’ve already agreed to turn themselves in.”
“And you believe them?”
“They haven’t run away yet.”
“And trust me, the temptation is there,” Aria snarked.
Sunset fixed her with a burning gaze. “So then, where’s Adagio?”
Shining pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at the ground. “She got away.”
“Of course she did!” Twilight shouted, throwing her hands up.
Rarity stood up and lifted her hands in a calming manner. “Look, a lot has happened and we’re all a little frazzled.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Applejack muttered.
“The point,” Rarity punctuated, “is that we all need to collect ourselves for a moment.”
Silence descended upon the group. Sunset continued to glare at the two remaining Sirens throughout most of it. Neither of them returned her gaze. A piece of her wanted to believe Pinkie, that they had really turned over a new leaf this time. But she hadn’t been there—she had no proof other than word of mouth. Another piece couldn’t help but draw more comparisons to herself. How many times had she messed up on her road to redemption?
Of course, she had never assaulted anyone. Except Gilda, but she started it.
Sunset turned away. She exhaled and felt the fire in her blood cool. She didn’t have the energy to process all of this right now; she would just have to trust her friends.
Cadence clapped her hands. “Okay! Introspection time is over! We’re supposed to be having a wedding in a few hours!” Her face paled. “Oh god, how am I supposed to explain why I almost called it off? A bunch of singing monsters brainwashed me? And I got rescued by magical teenagers?”
Her eye twitched. “I’m surrounded by magical teenagers.”
“If you could not mention the magic part, that would be great,” Sunset said.
Shining walked over to Cadence and took her hand. “We’ll figure out something. Together.” He slipped his other hand into his pocket and pulled the ring out.
“That’s what marriage is, right? Figuring it out together from now on,” he said, sliding it onto her finger.
Sunset couldn’t help but look in Twilight’s direction. Twilight met her eyes. They both blushed and looked away.
Cadence sniffled and threw her arms around Shining’s neck. “Yes! Together! For the rest of our lives!”
Aria made a gagging gesture and Rarity backhanded her shoulder, tears welling up in her eyes.
Applejack jumped to her feet. “Well, c’mon then! Let’s get you two hitched!”
Arm in arm, Shining and Cadence led the group from the forest and back to the hotel. The crowd had dispersed from the parking lot, but now a small group stood right in the middle of the courtyard, blocking the main entrance.
So much for sneaking in, Sunset thought.
“Twilight!”
“Cadence!”
Velvet and Rose broke away from the group and sprinted forward to pull their respective daughters into an embrace. Velvet pulled away first, appraising Twilight with the worried look only a mother could give.
“Where were you? What happened? … Is that a sword?”
Twilight squirmed, unable to look her mom in the eyes. “Ummm, you see…”
“Twilight tried to stop desperate fans in the forest!” Sunset blurted out. “They tried to start a fire… to stop the wedding?” She inwardly winced at her own questioning inflection.
Velvet looked between Sunset and Twilight. “She… you… that was horribly reckless! And it doesn’t explain why you have a sword!”
“I knew it! I knew she had fallen into some bad influences!”
Sunset tightened her core, physically and mentally suppressing herself from powering up as Golden Light hobbled forward, looking even more ornery than usual.
“Riding motorcycles and carrying weapons! Look at what these hooligans have done to her!”
Cadence broke from her mother’s arms and marched forward. “Hey! These ‘hooligans’ just saved my wedding!”
Rose held a hand to her heart and made a quiet sigh. “Oh thank god, there’s still a wedding.”
Golden pointed a sharp nail at Cadence. “You’re no better than the rest of them! Breaking my grandson’s heart the day of the wedding and trying to run away!”
Shining stepped forward. “That was just a giant misunderstanding influenced by… outside forces.” He shifted his eyes to Sonata and Aria, standing off to the side.
“And how do you know these ‘outside forces’ aren’t going to ‘influence’ her again? You deserve better than a disk jockey who might run out on you at the drop of a hat.”
Cadence and Rose opened their mouths to retort, but Twilight beat both of them to the draw. “Just because you can’t see the real value in people doesn’t mean we all have to stoop to your level!”
Golden rounded on her. “Excuse you?”
“No, excuse you!” Twilight said loudly, her face red. “You’ve demeaned and made assumptions about everyone since you got here! Yes, this is a sword! I’ve been learning how to defend myself for situations like this! These ‘hooligans’ are not only my best friends, they’re some of the best people in the world who accept me for who I am! Cadence is wise, caring, funny, loving and an all-around incredible person! She was the best babysitter and she’s going to be an even better wife and sister-in-law!”
Twilight finally inhaled, but she wasn’t finished. “We just risked our lives to save this wedding and everyone here, so now, we’re going to go have a beautiful ceremony, Shining and Cadence are finally going to get married, I’m going to dance with my girlfriend, and we’re all going to have a good time after this horrible morning! Either stop your nagging and enjoy the wedding, or leave!”
Everyone slowly panned from Twilight and her blotchy and tear-stricken face to Golden Light, with her lips pursed and her eyes wide. It would have been dead silent if Aria wasn’t trying and failing to hold in snorts of laughter.
A few tense beats passed. Twilight looked ready to fall apart at the softest word, while Shining and Cadence had their focus lasered on Golden, ready to fight for Twilight at the drop of a pin.
Golden sniffed and turned on her heel, clicking her cane against the pavement. “Well, at least someone has a backbone in this family.” She hobbled away, parting the crowd without a single word.
Twilight dropped her sword and collapsed into her mom’s arms. “I just yelled at grandma,” she said, dazed. Her chest rapidly rose and fell. “I just yelled at grandma!”
Velvet hugged her tight and ran a hand through her hair. “Sshh, sshh, it’s fine. You’re fine. I don’t think your father is going to be mad. Everything you said was true.”
Sunset stepped up and slid her hand into Twilight’s. “You were real brave right there, Sparky.”
“Yeah, way to put that old bat in her place—ow!” Rainbow glared at Applejack. “What? We’re all thinking it.”
Twilight gained control of her breathing, but her eyes were dilated and a fine layer of sweat coated her face. Velvet eased her upright but kept a hand on her shoulders.
“Let’s get you inside so you can lay down for a little bit. I need to check you for injuries anyway.”
Twilight squeezed Sunset’s hand before she was pulled away. Her throat convulsed like she wanted to say something, but it couldn’t reach her lips.
“It’s okay,” Sunset said. “Go get some rest. I’ll see you in a bit.” She watched Twilight nod before being steered into the hotel.
Rose wiped her brow. “Well, hopefully that’s the last of the wedding drama. Come on, Cady, let's get you ready. We’re behind schedule as is.”
Cadence brightened immensely. “Yes! Let’s go! Ugh, I can’t believe the whole morning got wasted! But it’s fine! Everything’s fine now!” She brought a hand to her chest and inhaled, then pushed it away and exhaled. She spun on her heel and gave Shining a kiss on both cheeks.
“I’ll see you at the altar.”
Shining gave her a goofy smile. “Uh-huh.”
Cadence then swooped over and gave Sunset a kiss on the cheek as well.
Sunset pressed a hand on where her lips had been. “What was that for?”
“For giving Twilight so much courage. She never would have done anything like that a year ago.” Cadence looked at the rest of the Spectacular Seven. “That goes for all of you as well. You’re the best thing to happen to her.”
Applejack tipped her hat. “The least we could do for everythin’ she’s done for us.”
Cadence flashed them one more grateful smile before grabbing hold of her mom and running back inside.
Shining picked up Twilight’s fallen sword and turned it over in his hands. “How long has Twilight been practicing with a sword?”
His tone was more curious than accusatory. Still, Sunset couldn’t help but remain apprehensive. “About a month. Selena’s teaching her, and she’s really good at it.”
Shining didn’t answer right away. He looked over his shoulder at the Sirens first, then locked eyes with Sunset. “How often do you guys run into all these… magical situations?”
“Less than you’d think, but more than I’d like.”
“I see.” Shining let out a long, tired breath and raised his head to the sky. “Every part of me wants to say no and find some way to forbid her from going on these… otherworldly adventures and facing potentially dangerous threats. But that would be counterproductive to everything that just happened here. And she’s not my little sister anymore. She’s grown.”
He sighed again and handed the sword to Sunset. “Just promise me something? Promise me you’ll keep her safe?”
Sunset held the sword firmly in her hands. “I swear on my life.”
“I hope it never comes to that.” He turned and addressed Sonata and Aria. “All right, let me find an officer to get you two out of here.”
Aria put her hands on her hips. “You promise to try and get us off easy?”
“Only if you swear not to do anything funny.”
Sonata hunched her shoulders. “Awww. Does that mean no knock-knock jokes?”
Aria slapped a palm against her face. “Can we have separate cells?”
Shining gave them a concerned look, then leaned toward Sunset. “Am I making a mistake here?”
“I honestly can’t tell you anymore.”
“Right. Uhh, just keep an eye on them for a sec. I’ll be back.”
As Shining walked away, Pinkie ran up to Sonata and took her by the hands. “Don’t worry! I’m sure Shining will be super fair and make sure you guys get to go free! We’ll get to play again real soon!”
“I know.” Sonata used her shoulder to wipe away a tear. “I’m still gonna miss you.”
“I’m gonna miss you, too,” Pinkie said, tearing up.
Sonata took her hands back and slipped one of her spiked bracelets. It might have been a trick of the light, but Sunset thought it shimmered for a moment.
“I want you to have this. This one’s my lucky one, so it’s extra special.” Sonata slipped it onto Pinkie’s wrist. “Just so you have something to remember me by.”
Pinkie looked at it in awe, then pressed it against her heart. “It’s the bestest gift you could’ve given me.”
Sonata tilted her head to one side. “Really?”
“I mean, any gift would have been the bestest because it came from you.”
“Awww!” They embraced again.
As much as Sunset wanted to hold a grudge, seeing Pinkie this happy with Sonata brought a smile to her face.
Aria skulked up to Rarity, hands shoved deep in her pockets. “Again, sorry about… you know… trying to take your magic and stuff. And despite what you might think, I wasn’t faking everything. Making dresses with you... wasn’t the worst, I guess.”
Rarity gave a good-natured smirk. “I had fun, too. And after the way you stood up to Adagio… I think I can say, apology accepted.”
Aria rolled her eyes and turned away. “You girls are way too forgiving.”
“Tell me about it,” Rainbow said.
Shining returned with two officers. They handcuffed Aria and Sonata and led them to a squad car. Sonata waved enthusiastically to Pinkie one last time before getting in.
The police car drove off and Sunset relaxed her shoulders. “We beat Tempest, hopefully reformed two Sirens, and saved a wedding, all before lunch. Good job, team.”
“You fought Tempest?” Rarity asked, aghast.
“And Moondancer,” Rainbow added. She looked impressively at her knuckles. “I punched her in the face.”
“Sounds like we got some stories to swap later,” Applejack said.
“Yes, later.” Rarity pointed a finger at the front door. “All of you, upstairs, now! Get showered and get ready to be blown away by your outfits!”
*******
Tempest sat down in a rolling chair, hissing at the slight movement her right shoulder made as she came down. She dropped the crystal shard into her lap then twisted her chair about. The office was empty, not including the houseplant sitting on the desk next to the open laptop. A window next to the closed door looked out to the laboratory beyond, where a handful of people in white coats bustled back and forth.
She looked down at the shard and clenched her jaw. Why was it so hard to find reliable help now? She gave those damn Sirens one job, and they managed to blow it! She’d be angrier if this burn didn’t hurt so much.
There was a soft click as the door opened up. “Oh, what a coincidence! I just went to check our magical readings! I’m guessing that sudden spike was your doing?”
Tempest looked up at the newcomer. A sugary smile rested on her lilac face. Her purple and teal hair was pulled into a ponytail with bangs that fell across her forehead. A white lab coat hung loosely over her shoulders and a pair of goggles hung from her neck.
“Did that spike actually move the needle at all?”
Starlight Glimmer raised her arms in a hapless shrug. “Well, you maybe shaved off a month or two. But I told you, unless these magical outbursts can be maintained for a long period of time, there still isn’t enough residual magic in the world to fuel something like this.”
Tempest squeezed her fist, gasping and wincing at her burn. “I suppose that’s better than nothing,” she growled.
Starlight leaned over and examined the laceration marring Tempest’s shoulder. “You should probably do something about that.”
Tempest glared at her. “My healing magic isn’t working. Do you have any spare vials of the rejuvenating liquid?”
“Of course I do.” Starlight walked around to her desk and pressed a button on her personal intercom. “Party Favor?”
“Yes, Ma’am?” a voice responded a moment later.
“Could you bring up a vial of RL-IV to my office, please?”
“Right away!”
Starlight straightened up and folded her hands behind her back. “Tell me, how did you end up with such a burn? With Lord Tirek literally around your neck, I thought you were invincible.”
With her tone the perfect blend of sweet and curious, it was hard to detect any sarcasm. Tempest clicked her tongue. “Sunset Shimmer has better reflexes than I expected.”
“I see.” Starlight’s eyes drifted down to the shard in Tempest’s lap, and she finally frowned. “Please don’t tell me…”
“The Sirens managed to break the Staff of Sanacas!” Tempest seethed, then cringed as her shoulder burned. “This was as much as I could recover.”
She gingerly picked it up and held it out to Starlight. The scientist took it and weighed it in her hand, pursing her lips. She paced back and forth around Tempest’s chair, holding the crystal up to the light.
“There’s still magic inside of it,” she said, eyes widening in awe. “It still retained its functionality!”
“Truly?”
“Yes! Though, I doubt it could hold the same level of magic as it could if it were whole. But, I can still use this to some degree. At the very least, it gives me something to study!”
“So, what does this do for our timetable?”
Starlight looked past the crystal and gave Tempest a flat stare. “You just handed this to me. Could you be patient and let me actually do my work first?”
The door opened up before Tempest could snap back. A young man, presumably Party Favor, walked in with a tray, a vial of cerulean liquid resting on top.
“Here you are, Doctor Glimmer,” he squeaked, presenting the tray.
Starlight took the vial and gave Party Favor a loving pat on the head. “Thank you very much. You may go.” She ushered him out with a wave of her hand.
Tempest materialized her shadow arm and snatched the potion from Starlight, ignoring her grunt of displeasure. She twisted the cap off and poured the cool liquid over her shoulder. It sank into her skin, easing some of the constant burn. However, as the seconds passed, the blistered skin refused to heal or even scar over.
“Damnit, what did that girl do to me?”
“Fascinating,” Starlight said. “Her fire must be magical in nature. Yet, neither your magic nor my science could fix it. It’s almost like a curse.”
Tempest snorted. As much as she hated to admit it, she could empathize with Moondancer and her burned face now. She rolled her shoulder. The pain was more tolerable but still stung considerably.
“Well, since that plan was a moderate failure,” Tempest admitted, gripping the arm of her chair, “It’s time to move on to our contingency plan. How soon can you be ready?”
Starlight curled her lips into a devious smile, eyes twinkling with mirth. “Very soon.”
“Perfect.” Tempest stood up and opened a portal. “I’ll go get our subject ready. Lord Tirek will be revived.”
*******
Sunset let Pinkie shower first. She chose to lay down on the bed and decompress for a moment. Her thoughts slowed and she closed her eyes. A pain still lingered in her chest, and now that she laid on her bed, a blanket of exhaustion fell over her.
Tempest, the Sirens, her growing powers. Everything flashed through her mind, but nothing stuck. Even Twilight was hazy in her thoughts, though Sunset’s heart still went out to her.
Rarity bustled about, pulling out the garment bags from the closet and running back and forth between the rooms. She hummed in delight and spun around with her arms over her head.
“How do you have so much energy? Didn’t Aria drain your magic?” Sunset asked.
“She could have drained me dry but she could never touch my excitement for today! Seeing you girls dressed in your best and getting to play the bride and groom down the aisle are what give me life!”
“Glad someone still has energy.”
Sunset heard the bathroom door burst open and cracked an eye to see Pinkie wearing a sleek and glossy pink gown. It was sleeveless and had ruffles around the waist. Sunset wasn’t used to seeing Pinkie wear something so form-fitting. Usually, her dresses were large and poofy. Speaking of poofy, Pinkie’s hair was pulled back into a large ponytail with only a single, large tress left to hang over her face.
Pinkie spun into the center of the room. “Wheee! I feel super pretty, Rarity!”
“Just what I wanted to hear. Well, chop-chop, Sunset. Into the shower you go.”
Sunset groaned but pulled herself off the bed, taking the garment bag with her. She peeled off her soot-covered clothes and hopped into the shower. The hot water fell over her shoulders and massaged some of the tension away. She lifted her face to the shower head to let the hot droplets rouse her from her groggy state.
Okay. Overthink and critically analyze things later. It’s time to have fun and celebrate!
It then dawned on Sunset that her actual birthday was still today.
Meh. Still beats the last four.
She washed and rang her hair out, then pinned it up and stepped out from the shower. She brushed her teeth again, applied some lotion, then unzipped the black bag hiding her dress. Rarity had been insistent on keeping their wedding attire a secret until the day of. By this point, Sunset had full confidence in her. Or at least, she did until she opened the bag.
Sunset secured a towel around herself and stuck her head out the bathroom door. “Um, Rarity? I think you gave me the wrong bag.”
“No, I didn’t. That one is definitely yours,” Rarity said in a singsong voice.
“Rarity—”
“Just trust me, darling and try it on. I really think you’re going to like it.”
Sunset looked back at the outfit and squinted her eyes. Rarity was good, but she wasn’t that good. Still, she gave her best friend the benefit of the doubt and got dressed.
Ten minutes later, Sunset stepped out of the bathroom. Her black slacks hugged her waist perfectly, showing off her subtle curves. Her ivory shirt was buttoned up and tucked in, and a red bow tie sat around her neck. Sunset left her vest unbuttoned for now. It was just the lightest hint of burgundy, bringing out the vibrant crimson in her hair. The tails of her dress coat hung down to the back of her knees.
Sunset adjusted her white gloves and appraised herself in the full-body closest mirror. “Rarity, I don’t know who’s better: you for making this, or me for pulling it off.”
Rarity swooned and fell back on her bed. “It’s even better than I dreamed of!”
“Yeah, Sunny! You look amazing!” Pinkie said.
Sunset drank in her own image. Her soft cheekbones, round chin, and bust stopped her from striking a complete masculine figure, but damn if she didn’t wear a suit better than most guys. “Where did you even get the idea to do this?”
“It was like a bolt of lightning,” Rarity said dreamily. She waved her arm through the air. “A tuxedo to compliment Twilight’s gown. Strong, sharp, dapper! Yet still accentuating your womanly features!”
Sunset played with her bow tie. “You know, this might also cushion the blow to the rest of Twilight’s family about her dating another girl. The ones that didn’t hear her shouting anyway.”
“Mmm, yes, it does have that extra benefit, doesn’t it?” Rarity said coyly.
Sunset looked over her shoulder. “No. There’s no way you could have known that!”
Rarity got up and gathered her toothbrush and comb, an easygoing smile on her face. She grabbed her dress, winked, then locked herself in the bathroom.
“How does she do that?” Sunset asked. She blinked and looked down. Pinkie was playing with her coattails. “Stop that.”
As they waited on Rarity, the other girls made their way over one by one. Applejack arrived first wearing an ankle-length evening gown. The front was beige and pleated with thick folds, while the sides were a golden delicious shade of red. Her hair was up in a braided ponytail like she had worn at Prom.
Rainbow joined not long after. Her dress was a single-shoulder and midnight blue. A black sash was wrapped around her waist, and starting just below it were angular ruffles that extended down to her knees. Crossing over her other shoulder was the red scarf she had taken to wearing everywhere.
Fluttershy arrived last and wore a long, layered teal cocktail dress that matched her eyes. The back hem almost touched the floor, but the front exposed Fluttershy’s legs all the way up to her knees, showing off more skin than Sunset would have thought comfortable for her. The sleeves were twisted strands crisscrossing over each other to look like a woven basket and ended in silk, fingerless gloves. She had twisted her hair up into long ringlets that parted her face.
Everyone gawked and complemented each other, paying extra acclaim to Sunset in her tuxedo. She tied her hair into a long ponytail to finish off her debonair look.
Half an hour after Fluttershy arrived, Rarity emerged from the bathroom dressed in a smooth, shoulderless black gown. It glittered like it had been brushed with stardust and had ruffles similar to Rainbow’s. They were softer and layered over one another, flowing down to her ankles. A blouse started at the base of her collar and was cut into a heart that sat in the middle of her chest. She had lacy diamond patterns stitched into her sleeves that extended down to the edge of her palms. Her hair was rolled up into a rounded updo, tightly packed together. A diamond-shaped pin sat to one side.
She took one look at the rest of her friends and hurriedly fanned her face. “Oh, I’m so glad I haven’t put my make-up on yet. You all look so amazing!”
“We got you to thank for it, Rares,” Applejack said. “You really outdid yourself this time.”
Rarity blushed and giggled. “I don’t like to toot my own horn too much but, you’re right! This is some of my best work!”
With two hours until the wedding, the girls killed some time by playing some of the board games from last night while sharing their exploits from earlier.
“You guys should have been there!” Rainbow exclaimed, not even caring Pinkie had just won her third hand of cards. “Sunset just goes Super Saiyan all of a sudden and blasts through the trees and decks Tempest in the face! It was so awesome!”
“I told you, we’re not calling it that!” Sunset took the deck and shuffled the cards back in. Her resentment toward the Sirens had cooled even more once she heard how Aria had told off Adagio and smashed the Staff of Sanacas of her own volition. Though the fact that Adagio had escaped left an uneasy feeling in her stomach.
After Fluttershy finally broke Pinkie’s winning streak, Rarity brought an end to the games and pulled out her makeup bag.
“All right, let’s get all dolled up and get down there!”
Lipstick, eyeshadow, eyeliner, and blush applied, the girls gave each other one last round of praise before migrating down to the first floor. Heads turned as they stepped out of the elevator, and Sunset couldn’t help but strut through the atrium, feeling like she was the queen of Canterlot High again. It was made better by being surrounded by her friends.
Pockets of family members whispered as the girls passed. Everyone was sharply dressed, but thanks to Rarity’s divine fashion skills, the six girls and their array of colors stood out. Though Sunset couldn’t help but notice many an eye lingered on her.
Twilight Jazz and Orion stood near the door to the back courtyard. Jazz smiled fondly at Sunset, showing the laugh lines around her eyes. “Well, don’t you clean up nice.”
Sunset bowed cordially. “Thank you.”
Orion chuckled. “You all look great. Just make sure you don’t show up the bride and groom.”
“We wouldn’t dream of it,” Rarity said.
One of the hotel staff opened the doors and led the wedding crowd outside. The sun was setting behind the mountains, casting an orange glow across the sky that the lake reflected. Everyone paraded down the steps and took their seats, Sunset sitting on the outside of the third row, while the rest of the girls got up onto the bandstand and readied their instruments.
Sunset caught sight of Golden Light on the other side of the aisle. Their gazes met, and Golden flared her nostrils. Sunset resisted the urge to stick her tongue out.
A silence lapsed over the crowd as the last person took their seat. Everyone fidgeted and twisted in their seat to look up at the balcony. Finally, a staff member held his hand up, and with a soft beat from Pinkie, the band started to play.
The audience rose as the officiant walked down the stairs, followed close behind by the flower girl, haphazardly tossing petals everywhere.
From the left staircase came Shining Armor adorned in an officer’s uniform that was as red as his cheeks. A golden collar and cuffs accented it, and a blue sash ran over his left shoulder. It was all tucked into a pair of white dress pants, hemmed at the bottom. His hair was perfectly combed and slicked back. In fact, Sunset had never seen it so neat before.
Velvet hugged his arm, tears already flowing down her face. They broke apart at the top of the aisle, Velvet taking her place in the front row while Shining stepped up to the gazebo and faced the crowd. Night and Rose came down next from the right side of the stairs, arm in arm. When they got to the end of the carpet, Night took his place next to Velvet while Rose stood on the opposite side of the aisle and waited for her husband.
Then, Twilight stepped down the stairs. Sunset held her breath as she watched her girlfriend descend. Her dress was soothing pink with a white train that ran from the back of her knees to the ground, trailing a step behind her. A golden sash wrapped her waist, two pink bows hanging off the front. The sash matched the low golden collar, pinned in the center by a starburst clasp. Her hair was done up similar to how she wore it at Prom: a large side bun with an orchid tucked behind her ear.
She was on the arm of Gaffer, one of Shining’s police buddies, and, Sunset guessed, his best man. He and Twilight led the procession of groomsmen and bridesmaids to take their place on either side of the gazebo.
Twilight’s eyes searched the crowd until she found Sunset. She did a double-take, mouth flying open as she spotted Sunset in her tuxedo. Sunset smiled and winked at her, savoring the crimson hue her cheeks took.
The music swelled, and all eyes turned back to the top of the steps. Elm, with unfallen tears, held his arm out. Cadence stepped up and took it, bouquet in one hand, and the other holding the front of her dress as she walked down the steps and onto the carpet.
It was a lustrous white, like Princess Celestia’s ivory fur. The back end was ruffled and layered, with each border a glittering gold, matching her gold, sleeveless vest. A large pink ribbon sat at the top of her train which extended three feet behind her and had to be held up by an additional bridesmaid. The front of Cadence’s hair was curled up into two large bangs that hung over her ears, while the rest of it was woven into a flower-laden French braid.
She reached the bottom of the steps and took her time down the petal-strewn aisle. Her smile was radiant and contagious, infecting everyone as she passed. She and her father reached the end of the aisle. Elm gave her one last kiss on the cheek, then joined Rose. Cadence stepped up to the gazebo, taking her place next to Shining just as the music ended.
Everyone took their seats, and for a brief moment, there was only the lapping of the lake waves against the shore.
The officiant cleared his throat. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Shining Armor and Mi Amore Cadenza.
“Love is never easy. It’s fraught with confusion and complications. This morning is a prime example. But, despite the chaos and misunderstanding, here these two stand, prepared to commit their lives to each other.”
Sunset wasn’t sure which one of them was trying harder not to cry. Cadence had lifted her bouquet up to hide her smile, but nothing could hide the glow she gave off.
“Now, I believe you have written your own vows?”
Cadence nodded and handed her bouquet over to Twilight before taking Shining’s hands. She looked into his eyes and gave a wet giggle before composing herself.
“There is no love at first sight. You were a scrawny middle-schooler when we first walked by each other. It wasn’t until freshman year when we got paired up in history that I got to know you. I thought you were going to be another wannabe macho jock. Instead, you were sweet, you were funny, you were honest, and you were a major comic book nerd!”
Shining laughed along with the crowd, the tips of his ears pink.
“But most of all, you cared. You cared about your friends, you cared about your family, and you cared about doing the right thing. The more time I spent with you, the more I grew to love you. It deepened with every little thing you did.” Cadence’s smile faltered, and her eyes drifted toward the lake. In a softer voice, she said, “I know I said some hurtful things earlier. Yes, you have your flaws; no one is perfect. But I love you, flaws and all. I can’t see a life without you in it. I want to share everything with you, Shiny! Every accident, every triumph, every mistake! I want us to be together, forever!”
With a tear running from the corner of his eye, Shining leaned in and whispered with a comical grin, “That is not what we rehearsed.” The audience laughed again, and Shining cleared his throat.
“You said there’s no such thing as love at first sight, but I know I felt something the first time I saw you. You were beautiful, braces and all. I didn’t know what to expect when I finally talked to you. I didn’t know it would lead to so many amazing days and nights together. I didn’t know it would lead to you being the one. I didn’t know you would be so inspirational that I would do anything to better myself for you. Because you’re right: no one is perfect. But when I look at you—your kindness, your empathy, your love, it makes me want to try harder and be a better person.
“Today, you’ve made me the happiest man alive. Knowing that from now on, I get to wake up every day and share everything with you is indescribable. No matter what happens, as long as we’re together, we can get through it. I love you, Cadence. So very much.”
Sunset wiped her eyes, drawing her gaze away from the couple. Twilight was staring straight at her. If there were any lingering frustrations from this morning, any anger or resentment, in that moment, they were completely gone.
Twilight’s eyes sparkled with warmth. “I love you,” she mouthed.
“I love you, too,” Sunset mouthed back, her heart fit to burst.
“May we have the rings?” the officiant asked.
The ring bearer walked down the carpet, holding a throw pillow with the two rings laying on top. Shining took the first ring and held up Cadence’s hand.
“Do you, Shining Armor, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”
“I do,” Shining said, sliding the ring on.
“And do you, Mi Amore Cadenza, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? For richer or poor, for better or worse, ‘till the end of your days?”
“I do,” Cadence said, placing the ring on Shining’s finger.
“Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss!”
The officiant stepped back as Cadence grabbed Shining by the cheeks and pulled him into a deep kiss. Everyone jumped to their feet and clapped and cheered. Applejack let loose a loud whistle, and Pinkie threw out a handful of confetti. Even Golden Light applauded, the barest trace of a smile on her face.
Cadence and Shining broke apart and faced the crowd, hands clasped together. Twilight returned the bouquet, and the newlyweds strolled down the aisle as the band played them out.
*******
While the wedding party took their photos in the front courtyard, the rest of the crowd moved to the reception hall. Sunset sat at her designated table, waiting for her friends to join her. The waitstaff walked around and offered drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Sunset accepted some cheese on toasted crackers and was tempted to see if she could get away with getting a glass of wine. She settled for sparkling cider, not wanting to push her luck today.
The rest of the Spectacular Seven were the last to join, coming in with their instruments and setting up on the bandstand. They seated themselves around the table, and Rarity pressed her palms into her cheeks.
“Oh, that was the loveliest ceremony I’ve ever seen!”
“It was so romantic,” Fluttershy said with a dreamy sigh.
“Someday, we’re all gonna have weddings like that!” Pinkie threw her arms up. “I can’t wait to throw you girls the biggest, greatest weddings ever!”
They chatted amongst themselves for half an hour, keeping their snacking to a minimum. Soon, the ballroom doors opened and the wedding party came in, Shining and Cadence at the front. The girls got up and took their places on the bandstand, Twilight hurrying to join them, violin in hand.
Night Light moved to the front of the room and grabbed a microphone. “Thank you, everyone, for being here on this special day. It was a long time coming, but I’m happy to finally see the union of our two families. I also want to thank our band, not only for providing the music, but for helping the bride and groom when they needed it the most.”
Sunset looked over her shoulder and grinned at her friends.
“And now, the first dance of the newlyweds! Take it away, Spectacular Seven!”
Rarity started with a string of gentle notes on her keytar as Shining led Cadence to the dance floor. Twilight jumped in after Rarity, overlapping her keys with gentle strings.
The new couple revolved around each other, waltzing across the floor, holding each other close and gazing into one another’s eyes. Pinkie tapped on her drums, picking the beat up, and Sunset stepped up to the mike.
“Love is in bloom!
“A beautiful bride, a handsome groom,
“Two hearts becoming one!
“A bond that cannot be undone because,
“Love’s in bloom!
“A beautiful bride, a handsome groom!
“I said love’s in bloom!
“You’re starting a life and making room
“For us!
“For us!” her friends chorused.
Applejack and Rainbow pulled off a bass and electric guitar duet before they returned to the bridge. Twilight aided Rainbow in bringing the song to an end, capped off by another kiss between Cadence and Shining. Everyone applauded, and more couples took to join them on the ballroom floor.
The girls moved through their set, playing a few of their own songs and covers of others. Sunset worked up a fine sweat just from singing and swaying from side to side. The crowd was gracious though, smiling the entire time and clapping at the end of each song.
Perfectly timed, the kitchen staff marched in carrying trays and chafing dishes just as the Sunset got to the final lines of ‘Shine Like Rainbows.’ Sunset carried out the last note, then stepped back from the mike and sighed, tugging at her collar.
“Dinner is served, everyone!” Rose called over the ovation. The seven put their instruments down, released from their task by the music now playing from the speakers hanging in the corners of the room. They ended up near the back of the line for food, however.
Rainbow groaned loudly. “All the good stuff’s gonna be taken! Shouldn’t we get, like, VIP treatment? We’ve been working hard all day!”
“Calm down, Dash, there’s plenty for everyone,” Applejack scolded.
Sunset and Twilight stood at the very back. Up close, Twilight’s scent of lavender was stronger than usual. Sunset could also see the glitter of makeup on her cheeks.
Twilight looked Sunset up and down. “That’s not fair.”
“What isn’t?”
“You look good in a dress and a tuxedo.”
Sunset snorted, getting Twilight to giggle as well. When their laughter subsided, Sunset's gaze turned affectionate. “How are you doing?”
Twilight’s smile wilted and she looked out the window. Night was fast approaching. “I’m… better. I had to come up with three more lies to avoid talking about Moondancer or Tempest. And I know Shining or my parents are still going to have words about me using a sword. I’m probably out of my grandma’s will. But, Nana Jazz slipped me fifty dollars, and my cousin Silver Dawn gave me a thumbs up.”
She shook her head. “There’s just… a lot happening right now. I don’t want to think about it. Today’s supposed to be great.” Her hand moved to the collar of her dress. “Yet, my chest won’t stop hurting.”
Sunset took Twilight’s hand, interlocking their fingers. “Is there anything I can do?”
Twilight turned her head back to her girlfriend. “No. You’re already… perfect,” she said with a defeated sigh.
“You and I both know that’s not true.”
“I know. But you… you’re always… you just…” Twilight closed her eyes, on the verge of tears. She squeezed Sunset’s hand hard. “I don’t know why I feel mad. Why wouldn't I want you to come help me? I would do the same thing if the situation was reversed. But it wasn’t. I needed protection again, and I just… I want to be able to stand up for myself. And I know I stood up to my own grandmother! But it’s not… it just isn’t…”
Twilight took her glasses off and furiously rubbed her eyes. “You must think I’m a mess.”
“No, I think you’ve been through a lot and you’ve got a lot of emotions to process.” Sunset patted her pockets and frowned.
An ivory hand appeared in her peripheral, holding a tissue. Sunset took it from Rarity, who was facing the front tables and humming softly to herself.
Sunset mentally thanked her and dabbed at Twilight’s eyes, trying not to remove her makeup. “You know the last thing I ever want to do is belittle you. But like Fluttershy said: our magic is always a temporary thing. Your sword skills, and beyond that, your intelligence, your bravery, your compassion—all of the things that matter, those will last forever. And maybe you couldn’t beat Moondancer today. Someday, you will. Because the Twilight I know doesn’t quit.”
Twilight let Sunset finish drying her face, then set her glasses back on. She took Sunset’s other hand and said, “Dance with me.”
Sunset ignored the growl in her stomach. An upbeat song was playing, and the dance floor was almost empty. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Twilight said firmly.
“Okay then.” Sunset guided them from the carpet to the hardwood floor. She took the lead, moving her hips and shuffling her feet to the beat. Twilight kept up in a less graceful fashion, flailing her arms as she tried to imitate some of Sunset’s moves. Sunset laughed and took her hands, spinning her around and dipping her low to the floor.
Twilight beamed with delight, squealing at every rotation. Her face was redder than a tomato, and every time Sunset took hold of Twilight’s wrist, she could feel her pulse pounding. But she kept dancing. She held onto Sunset at the end of every song, the look in her eyes saying, ‘let’s keep going.’
The buffet line was almost empty when Twilight finally put her hands on her knees, her dress damp from sweat. Sunset leaned over her, resting a hand on her back.
“All right, babe, I’m starving,” Sunset panted. “Let’s get some—mmm!”
Twilight grabbed Sunset by the folds of her vest and pulled her into a kiss. Sunset almost lost her balance from the surprise attack but balanced herself by grabbing Twilight’s waist. Her eyes darted about the room. Half of the guests were too engrossed in their meals to notice, but the other half had their eyes squarely on the two girls making out in the middle of the ballroom.
Face still red and breathing hard, Twilight pulled away. “Thank you.”
Sunset gave her a softer kiss on the forehead. “Come on. You look like you need some water.”
They gathered up plates of food and drink and settled themselves at the band table. Twilight had to steal an unoccupied chair again to make room for herself.
Rarity smiled at them. “You two certainly made quite the splash.”
Rainbow snickered. “Yeah! Some old dude totally sprayed his drink all over his wife when you guys started making out.”
Twilight shrank in on herself and stared at her plate. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make a scene. I was just in the moment. I hope I didn’t take anything away from Shiny and Cady’s big day.”
“Ah don’t think they’ll mind,” Applejack said, easing back in her chair. “They both looked awfully proud when y’all were dancin’ together.”
Twilight cracked a smile, but Sunset could tell whatever energy had seized Twilight during their dance had been extinguished entirely. She remained subdued throughout dinner, perking up slightly when the wedding toasts were given out.
All of the parents spoke, each of them gushing over their children and wishing them a long and happy marriage. The cake was brought out, a two-tiered marble white masterpiece with pink and blue frosting shaped into roses. Shining and Cadence cut it together and took the first two slices for themselves. A staff member cut the rest of it and handed a piece out to everyone.
The music started up again, playing louder, more festive songs. People left their tables to mingle and groove. A young man around their age walked up to Applejack and asked her to dance. Stammering, Applejack said yes and was led away.
After gobbling her second slice of cake, Pinkie was up and tearing across the ballroom, showing off her wildest moves.
Fluttershy tapped her fingers together. “Umm, Rainbow, do you want to dance? Just as—”
Rainbow hooked an arm around her neck and grinned. “Of course I do!” She pulled Fluttershy to her feet and took off.
Rarity wiped the cake crumbs from her face. “I believe I shall go burn this off. You two enjoy yourselves.” She winked then got up and disappeared into the crowd.
Sunset looked from the moving mass of people to Twilight. “Do you wanna dance anymore?”
Twilight shook her head. “I’m done for the night.” She stood up and gave one more look to her brother and new sister-in-law at the heart of the party. She then stooped and kissed Sunset on the cheek. “Um, could you come to my room before you go to sleep? Your birthday present should be ready by then.”
“Yeah, of course.”
Twilight kissed her again and headed out the door, leaving Sunset alone at the table. She took her glass of cider and turned in her chair, watching her friends dance. Part of her wanted to get up and join them, but Twilight had taken most of Sunset’s enthusiasm with her. So, she was content to just watch Pinkie do an Irish jig.
A few family members walked past and said hi or complimented her singing voice. One even complimented her tuxedo. A few others glared at her but didn’t say anything.
Shining and Cadence eventually made their way to Sunset’s table. “I’m not overexaggerating this time. You really did save our wedding,” Shining said.
“It was the least I could do. You helped give me a second chance.”
Shining smiled. “I don’t know if I believe in destiny or fate. But the day you ran into Twilight turned out to be one of the most fortunate days for all of us.”
Cadence gave a quick scan of the room. “Where is Twilight?”
“She decided to head up to her room. She’s had a long day,” Sunset said, looking at the ballroom door.
“We all have.” Cadence yawned. “Honestly, Twilight has the right idea. I can’t wait to go to sleep. But, we have guests to entertain. Thank you again, Sunset. And happy birthday!”
Sunset waved them off. They mingled with some of the other wedding-goers, then Cadence picked up her bouquet and moved to the front of the room. All of the women scrambled to get closer, and Cadence tossed the bundle of flowers over her head. All the girls jumped up to grab it, scratching at each other’s arms. It was Rarity who proved victorious, holding the bouquet above her head like a trophy.
Sunset stretched her arms out, feeling exhaustion settle over her. She finished her cider and took her leave. The atrium was silent compared to the ballroom, filled with only the bubble of the fountain and the soft buzz of scattered groups of people. She paused at the pool of water and watched the fish swim by.
A yawn rose from her throat, and she reminded herself she still needed to see Twilight before heading to bed. Sunset climbed the stairs to the second floor and knocked on her door.
“Sparky, it’s me.”
“O-oh! Umm… j-just give me a second!”
Sunset patiently waited, curious and eager to see what Twilight had made. She just hoped there weren’t any puns involved. The door opened and Twilight appeared in a purple bathrobe, her hair down in a ponytail again. She quickly pulled Sunset inside and shut the door.
“You came sooner than I thought you would,” Twilight said in a mousy voice. Her face was burning red again, and she stared at the floor instead of Sunset.
“Yeah, sorry if I threw you off. I was getting tired too, and I didn’t really know what to do with myself.”
“No, no, it’s fine!” Twilight said hastily. “It just… means I get to give you your present earlier.”
Sunset smirked. “Well, you’ve kept me in suspense. Hit me.”
Twilight swallowed hard. “Okay.”
Whatever Sunset was expecting, it wasn’t what happened next. Twilight unfastened her robe’s belt and let it fall to the floor. Hiding underneath it was black and lacey night lingerie that clung tightly to Twilight.
Sunset sucked in a quivering breath, her face aflame. It was the most skin Twilight had ever revealed; the lingerie hid almost nothing. Yes, Twilight was on the petite side, but to Sunset, she looked incredible. And yet, Sunset felt guilty drinking in her visage. She was red, flustered, and shaking like a leaf.
“D-do you like it?” Twilight asked. Her arms gravitated to her chest, like she wanted to cover herself, but she quickly dropped them to her sides.
“Y-yeah, you look… Sparky you’re beautiful, but…” Sunset took in another breath to stop herself from becoming flustered too. “Are you okay?”
Twilight pressed her lips together and nodded stiffly.
Sunset crossed her arms. “Are you sure?”
“Yes! Today’s not supposed to be about me!” she said, practically throwing up the words. “It’s still your birthday!”
Sunset uncrossed her arms and took a step toward her. “Twilight—”
“I-it’s your birthday! A-and, I was wondering for so long what I was going to get you! I-I thought, maybe a new jacket because it was getting warmer! Or, or maybe a motorcycle repair kit! B-but, people kept asking if we… if we had… you know… a-and I remembered the night on the mountain… and I-I thought for your birthday, I w-would give… myself… to you…”
Twilight’s words tumbled out of her mouth and into Sunset’s ears, stumbling over one another and slowly arranging themselves back into logical order within Sunset’s brain. They brought with them a flurry of emotions, excitement, panic, anger, though not directed at Twilight.
Sunset realized she must have been silent for too long because Twilight was fidgeting more and looked close to tears. Sunset closed the gap between them and gently took Twilight into her embrace. She pressed her close, keeping one hand on the small of her back and the other atop her head.
“Twilight,” Sunset whispered to her forehead, “I love you. And I’m… touched that you were willing to be this intimate with me.” She moved a hand to cup Twilight’s chin and raise her to eye level.
“But sex is a two-way street. And I love you way too much to just take it because you’re offering it to me. I want you to enjoy it, too. I want our first time to mean something. Not because it’s my birthday or because people keep asking us whether or not we’ve done it. Forget about all of that.”
Sunset rubbed a thumb along Twilight’s cheek, brushing away a tear. “I need you to answer me truthfully. After the day we’ve had, are you ready for this?”
Twilight trembled against her, her composure cracking more and more with every breath. “I-I wanted to!” A loud hiccup interrupted her. Her lower lip quivered, and she burst into a powerful sob, pressing her face into the crook of Sunset’s neck.
“I was so n-nervous and worried a-and… but I wanted to! But then, M-Moond-dancer and Tempest and the S-Sirens happened and I felt so…. B-but then, we danced! I-I saw h-how beautiful you l-looked! I wanted to make your birthday s-special! But, I p-put this on and I started thinking about it! And I want to, but I don’t want to, but I do with you, and, and, and…”
Sunset hugged her tight while Twilight let everything out. She understood how Twilight felt. Sunset would be lying if she said seeing Twilight in her lingerie and holding her this close didn’t spark something. But actually stopping to think about it: sleeping with Twilight. It was terrifying as much as it was fascinating.
Ignoring the corner of her mind that told her to give in to her fantasies, Sunset gently guided Twilight to the edge of the bed and sat her down. Twilight’s sobs slowed and she eventually pulled herself off from Sunset. Sunset got up and grabbed tissues from the vanity.
Twilight took them with silent thanks. “I keep crying today,” she said miserably. “I don’t even know why this time.”
“Twilight, we had a long day. We almost died again—and the sad thing is, I’m already numb to that. You came out to your family, and you just fought Moondancer.”
“And lost,” Twilight muttered into her tissue.
“The point,” Sunset said, putting a hand on her back, “is that you’re exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally. And sex takes all three things… I think. This is a first for both of us, so it’s going to be scary and confusing. Of course you’re a nervous wreck.”
“Thanks.”
Sunset flinched. “Sorry. Though, I’m surprised I’m not a nervous wreck after the way you just threw your clothes off and presented yourself to me like a purple goddess.”
Twilight made a weak chuckle.
Sunset sat down next to her and placed a hand on her leg. “I will never pressure you to do something you don’t want to do. And you shouldn’t feel pressured into doing anything you’re not comfortable with. Maybe someday soon, the stars will align, and we’ll make each other scream in ecstasy.”
Twilight laughed and gave her a gentle shove. She quickly fell back to a somber expression. “But… part of me still wants to though.”
A strong part of Sunset still wanted to as well. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll sleep here tonight if that’s okay with you. We can sleep together; destress, relax, get comfortable. And, if at any point in the night you truly feel ready, just tell me, okay?”
Twilight nibbled on her bottom lip. She looked into Sunset’s eyes and nodded. “Okay.”
Sunset got up and stepped into the bathroom to undress. She regretted she hadn’t brought anything alluring to sleep in. Not that she wanted to entice Twilight! But if they did do it, she wanted it to be enticing. Instead, she simply stripped down to her bra and panties. She had a hand on the knob when she realized Twilight would be seeing her almost naked.
A nervous flutter, different from all the ones preceding it, passed through her. Sex or no sex, this would be the most they had seen of each other. And they’d be lying next to each other.
It was exciting.
It was horrifying.
Sunset turned and looked at herself in the mirror. Slim with a little bit of muscle definition. Tall, long flowing hair, and generous bust size.
Who am I kidding; I’m freaking gorgeous! Her reflection grinned back at her.
But, it wasn’t about her. It was about Twilight. Sunset didn’t want to add any extra pressure to her, so she slipped her dress shirt back on to give a small sense of modesty.
Back in the bedroom, Twilight had already slipped under the covers. Sunset turned off the lights, leaving only the moon to shine through the balcony bay doors. She climbed into bed, resting her head next to Twilight’s.
Twilight smiled at her. There were still tears caught on her eyelashes. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
Sunset raised a hand and stroked her hair. “You were you. Cute, annoyingly curious and persistent, and open-hearted. You’re so amazing, Sparky. You just need to believe that more.”
Twilight curled into herself, eyes hooded. “Y-yeah. I know. I’m going to get better. I’m going to keep fighting.”
“That’s my girl.” Sunset leaned over and kissed Twilight’s forehead.
Twilight’s eyes lit up to their usual wondrous luminescence. She scooted closer and kissed Sunset on the lips, soft and gentle. They stayed pressed together for a whole minute, just enjoying each other’s presence.
“I love you,” Twilight whispered.
“I love you, too,” Sunset said, her eyes falling shut.
Volume III
End
Posted 54 seconds ago, TIME TO READ BABY!!!
This is why Sunset is deserving of Twilight's love. She cares about the feelings of her beloved. She cares about her comfort. Her safety.
This is where Moondancer ultimately failed. She couldn't see Twilight as anything but a prize.
What a wedding!!! Wonderful job here!!! And wow Twilight, awesome speech!!! Can’t wait for volume 4!!
Keep going!!
Awww, you didn’t use the fanfic version of Glimglam that I solely built up in my head.
It was wild, but that was a great volume!
Can't wait for the next one!
heart-shaped rock?
Yeah, but how do Twilight's parents NOT know about the magic? They knew she went to the Dazzling's concert at the ending of Volume... One? I think.
BURN, KAREN!!
Oh shi-
How the turn tables. Tell me it is a curse!
A suit? Very fitting.
Yes, we are. I know I am at least.
Awwwww, this is ADORABLEEE
Wait, WHAT?!
Even more cuteness!!
I'm fucking speechless.
Ain't wrong.
That was an absolute roller-coaster of emotions. And Volume IV comes out later this year? Awesome!
Well if this was the calmest volume then i cant wait to see what the next one has in store
OMG I LOVE THIS!
The wedding was so beautiful and the vows made me cry so badly ;w;
Also Sunnykins and Sparky are soooo cute and adorable x3 At the beginning of LRTF I wasn't even sure what to think about the shipping and now I get heads over heals just reading how they're dancing and kissing afterwards x3
Really liked how Twilight stood up to Golden Light there and how she develops so much courage and sword skills recently :3 It's sooo awesome!
What a fascinating finale! <3 Love it!
Beautifully spectacular chapter. Very well done on keeping to realism with how Sunset might feel about the Sirens after the betrayal of trust, but showing her staring to cool down as she witnessed things and heard more details later on helping to accept this. She may still have concerns about Sonata and Aria going forward, but this seems to be setting the right path for them. And great to see Sonata give out what is sure to be the next key to Pinkie - that was perfect.
And it was glorious to finally see Sci-Twi defend not only herself, but her friends and family against Golden Light. She has had a day and will not take anything more. She still has much growing to do, but this burst of confidence was exactly what she needed. And seeing that extend to the dance and kiss with Sunset was so amazing and beautiful. Especially with Sunset in that tux because she can and will look good in anything.
Sad to see some people at the wedding glared at Sunset for dating Sci-Twi, but, sadly, that is realistic. At least they didn't bring anything up and good on Sunset to stay mature throughout. Golden Light may still be a horrid woman, but at least she respected Sci-Twi's backbone, made no comments whatsoever about her dating a girl, and even cracked a smile at the wedding. She does need to learn to see real value in people and not judge on stereotypes. But well done on handling her and how it played into Sci-Twi's growth.
And nice to see Tempest's burns will not heal. She deserves that after everything and now the Spectacular Seven have left their mark. Starlight being confirmed is worrying, as she does seem to have some control over the others working for Tempest in that sweet, controlling way. Her being the head scientist makes me worry about how she will proceed, as she could be very dangerous.
And that last scene with Sunset and Sci-Twi was great. Sunset handled that excellently and made sure Sci-Twi was comfortable and that waiting is OK. Who knows how things may have gone had their battle not happened, but it was good for them to recognize this moment was not the right one and settled for sleeping next to one another. Much of their words remind me of me and my girlfriend, so, kudos for accuracy on relationship building. ^_^
This volume was freaking spectacular and I can't wait for volume IV to come underway! Thank you for sticking with us this long; your stories are amazing and make things better.
Why won’t you let me up vote? Take my love, dang it!
The ending was so romantic and the ending song is so fascinating I enjoyed so much of the ending of Volume 3 and I can’t wait to find out what happens in Volume 4 the hype still continues 😊
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Oops! Hold over from a previous idea that we just changed! Fixed it! Ignore that!
Albi, that was a wonderful wrap-up to Volume III. Where to begin.
I'm glad everyone made it back to the wedding in one piece, if a little rattled and scuffed up.
Tempest's now bearing a nice, painful reminder of Sunset's power. And I'm not going to lie, Starlight reminds me a little of Dr. Tomoe from the Death Busters arc of Sailor Moon.
I'm glad to see Twilight tell off Golden Light like that. I may be a firm believer in respecting one's elders, but that crotchety old bat really needed to be put in her place.
The wedding was magnificent, as was the reception. And, I'm glad that not everyone was alright with Sunset and Twilight being a couple. As much as we want to think that people would just accept it, there's still a lot that don't. But, how it was handled was good. Acknowledge it was there, but don't dwell. And don't think that I didn't notice Rainbow giving Fluttershy that dance. Even if she doesn't love Flutters the way Flutters loves her, Rainbow still loves her friend, and wants to make her happy.
And of course, Sunset being such a good girlfriend to Twilight when she offers herself to Sunset. They both want to go all the way, but it's so wonderful that Sunset wants to be sure that they're not just jumping each-other's bones. She wants them to make love.
Beautifully done Albi. Thank you.
Does this story have Midnight Sparkle and Sunset Satan?
*you have received a new object*
=>add to inventory
Inventory
Loyal scarf
Kind bracelet
Laughing bracelet
Voy a extrañar esta historia ya vez esperaba cada fin de semana par ver si había actualizado.
Espero que vengas con otra historia sobre las aventuras de sunset y twi
*massive applause*.
I was so exited for this like you wouldn’t believe. I actually went out, bought my favorite beer, grabbed my juul (smoking is bad kiddos), grabbed my favorite bean bag sofa and locked my self in my reading room. All just to read this chapter. And I was NOT disappointed. Amazing work as always and I can’t wait to read what happens next
I love this so much.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrruuuuuuuh! I....KEEP...FUCKING...CALLING IT xD
Human Starlight? Called it.
Reformed Aria and Sonata. Called it.
Twilight snapping on Golden Light, Called it.
Twilight and Sunny FINALLY getting in some bow chicka wow wow(implied). CALLED IT
Bruh I love this story so damn much xD
Phrasing you know what you did there.
*standing ovation* Bravo! Bravo!
Heck if he's smart, he'd be throwing you a party if not for the wedding. Maybe a raise in allowance?
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No midnight yet, Sunset Satan at some part yes
ESPERA, final de año? :(( y ahora que hago con mi vida... por cierto, me encanta esta historia sigue así we, :,)
I would love to see this scene drawn
1) I so called it with the sirens (see my comment from chapter 16)
2) That was a beautiful wedding with lots of beautiful dresses.
3) I'm pretty sure if the morning hadn't gone down the way it did there would have been no hesitation on Twilight's part.
4) I am worried for Twilight, this entire story and this recent volume especially has been a major hit to her self esteem. I'm worried she might be tempted to the dark side (or at least get tricked by the dark side) in order to obtain magic... not for long mind you.
Just wow! Another part of this masterful fantasy epic has come to a close. So much character development and all the small details you’d expect from a professional novelist. I’ve loved every bit of it. From your hints at the upcoming chapters it’s going to be rough, but it’ll definitely be worth it I’m sure!
Thanks for sharing such a amazing story with us!
WOW. I mean, WOW. LOT to unpack. But yeah, this chapter was awesome. That last scene nearly floored me, though.
Lots of amazing things in this chapter. For one, yay the wedding. I loved Shining and Cadance's vows. Two...we get another key. This is...number 3, I think? Hard to remember. More stuff. Sunset looks fucking good as hell in a suit. Wasn't expecting that, but hey, it got a great reaction out of her girlfriend. ALSO TWILIGHT STANDING UP TO HER GRANDMOTHER AND MAKING OUT WITH SUNSET IN THE MIDDLE OF RECEPTION WAS AMAZING. Screw hiding, screw the haters, they love each other. I also can't tell if Golden Light is being hateful because that's just who she is or if the entire time she was testing to see who had the balls to stand up to her....could be both.
And finally, Sunset's "present". Beautiful. I really wasn't expecting Twilight to just...drop her bathrobe like that but...hey, it made for a great surprise. Sunset had a beautiful conversation with her girlfriend. Yes, she'd like to sleep with her, but she's going to make sure they're both ready first.
Somebody's going to see Sunset coming out of Twi's room in last nights clothes and the rumors are gonna fly, lol.
Slow clap. Stands up. Bravo, Albi, bravo. You know, I honestly had no idea that I would be reading professional novels on this kind of website.
Everything about this chapter, this volume, this story is a treat from start to finish. You are truly a gem. But why canʼt I give this story the upvote it so deserves? But I guess thatʼs your choice.
Onto the hiatus. Hope we can get the next part soon. Volume IV, here I come!
Crap, they got someone to be an (likely unwilling) soul jar for Tirek
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Now that we know Twilight have some conflict with herself for not having magic or being "reliable" in a way, even if Sunset and the others are here to tell her otherwise, we're in for the ride for sure, though I don't know how it'll end.
When I first saw the actual cover, that''s when I first started to worry about it.
Albi told me, months ago though, when I asked if this cover was related to the story in any way,of course, about Twilight's device, he answered not really (if I remember correctly). He also told me that he wished for a new cover and found the artist for it.
And after the character development Twilight had in this Volume, it would just ruin it.
Albinocorn once again showing himself to be a king among fanfic writers. Many others would have gone "and then they banged"; there are so many fics here of characters having an emotional outburst and then shagging. This is how characters who love each other truly act.
My brain, immediately: Tusken raider noises
Calling it now, Moondancer's burn scars will disappear once she finishes a redemption arc
Not shocked, seeing as you were fending off Moondancer.
To say the least.
Not you.
Wow, she got burned harder than Moondancer's face. (I'm not apologizing.)
You are SO fucking amazing right now.
Grandma nothing. She's just some ornery old bitch whom you happen to share blood with.
I'm with RD here.
I love smart characters.
Sunset punched TEMPEST in the face. And then blasted her with fire. A lot.
Starlight. Of course.
Oh good, Starlight has lackeys.
Welcome to Moondancer's world, BITCH!
Sunset in a suit was not something I thought I needed but now I do. Thank you, Albi.
Super Sunset then? Like Super Vegeta?
YES!
You know what? Sure. I ain't even mad, I kinda like this song.
Sorry, but she IS Best Human.
Empathy for the win.
YEEEEEEAAH!
Get the feeling she's not wearing much else.
Called it.
Because it has been a VERY emotionally exhausting day.
Consent for the win.
Wonderful ride and the end for the volume, I'll be honest this and LRTF are the best works I've ever read in the fanfiction, waiting for the next.
Amazing. Makes me yearn to be friends with such realistically-written people such as these. And to have a GF such as Sunset....just amazing. I also love how you don't simply focus on Sunset or Twilight - that whole plotline about Fluttershy and her feelings for Rainbow Dash was great. These characters, though not acting like normal high school teens in terms of how mature they are as a whole, do feel realistic. I feel like each character has their own story, as if you have little biographies from everyone from Sunset to Cadence to Trixie to Golden Light tucked away somewhere. Another story I feel the characters come alive is The Silver Standard(amazing story, even if you guys don't like Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, I would recommend it. Everyone just feels real and alive.)
I can't believe this website is free sometimes. People like you need to write and release your own book series.
Ohh Good Lord.
Ohh, yeah!! Calling the old hag out!
Huh, would you look at that.
And it was glorious.
Cadance is just the best. You just can not not love.
So, cute!!!
I think we all know where this is going, but I wish to point it anyway.
Yeah, Sunset have very potent flames. Dare to say it works like her own curse- the burns will heal when the burned one better themself.
And as always Starlight is the one causing trouble without care. At least until someone points it out.
Birthdays are always better when spend in good company. You've come a long way Sunset.
Lot's of pent-up energy there.
Those two are perfect together.
And I must say, the last part was masterfully done. Those two are clearly attracted to each other, yet love even more. How the other one feel, it's the most important to them, and won't do anything they would regret later. That's a very healthy relationship. And The Wedding itself was beautiful, really emotional and tears causingin in a a good way. Plus the dresess (and tuxedo) were fantastic.
It's going to be equally sad anf glorious day when this story ends.
So here's something that I've been giggling about- supposedly the tradition of the Best Man dates back to medieval times (if not even before that!), and the full title (or phrase or whatever) is actually "Best Man with a Sword"! It was a sort of guard position, where the Best Man would be armed and dangerous, ready to defend the bride and groom from anyone who might try and interrupt the wedding.
So really, Twilight with a sword, using it to defend Cadence's wedding? Just tradition, really.
I need to be able to upvote and favorite this more than once. It’s all just so great!
I suggest Solflame.
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I nominate Solflame.
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I can't find any reliable reference to that, but the idea that the groomsmen were armed to prevent any attempt to interfere with the wedding is true. Though the most likely threat would have been the unexpected appearance of the bride's lover, or (from the days or arranged marriages or even captured brides) the escape of the bride.
Well, I was only supposed to read the first few chapters of the volume and space this out over a week. Guess that plan went up in flames. This volume was riveting from start to end, and I love all the developments of all the various relationships, and I especially love just how much time got to have Sunset and Twilight being a couple. It's been a long time since I've binged this many words and enjoyed every single one of the them, and I can't wait to see where this story goes from there.
Also, as someone who generally doesn't like action scenes, I particularly noted how glued to the screen I was during them. You write some amazing fight scenes, and I would kill to see some some of these rendered in visual media.
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If I was a betting man, I'd say Golden's backbone comment was her attempt to make it seem like getting her bigotry thrown back in her face didn't affect her as much as it actually did. People like her don't think they're ever in the wrong, so when they get confronted they rationalize it as "well they're still wrong but at least they had the balls to disagree."
I took a break from this story after volume 2 was complete, so I just finished reading all of volume 3. I loved it, please take all the time you need with the next volume, and thank you for bring some light into an increasingly dark world.
PS I liked Moondancer in volume 2, I hated her, but I loved hating her.