I watched Sunset Shimmer walk into the café. I had sent her a text asking her to come and meet us here. She was searching the rows booths looking for us.
I waved her over.
She waved back and walked over to join us.
"Hey, I got your text," she said. "What's up?"
"So, we've made our decision," I said. "You can join our group."
Sunset appeared stunned.
"R-really?!" she exclaimed.
"Yes," I said.
"Thank you!" she threw a hug around me.
I flinched. I thought nothing could faze me, but apparently there's something that could. Being hugged by her was a strange feeling and my mind seems to be having trouble comprehending it. I can't even think of the last time someone just hugged me out of the blue, let alone the last time I hugged someone.
"St-stop th-that!" I said, flustered.
I pushed her away from me.
"Sorry! I'm just so overjoyed!" she blubbered.
"It's okay," I said.
"So, now that you're one of us... what do you want to do?" I asked.
"What do you normally do?" Sunset asked.
"We usually hang out back at our place or hang out here," Aria said.
"Then do you wanna hang out here?" Sunset asked.
"Sure," I said. "I'll be right back; I need to go and order mine and the girls' milkshakes. Do you want anything, Sunset?"
"How about... just a cookie?” she said. "You got it," I said. I walked up to the counter.
"I'll take three milkshakes; the usual. And, I'll take a cookie as well," I said to the employee.
"Hey, Sunset, what kind of cookie do you want?" I turned toward Sunset Shimmer.
"How about chocolate chip?" Sunset said.
I turned back to the employee. "Three milkshakes; the usual, and a cookie; chocolate chip," I told her.
She nodded and walked off.
I leaned back on the counter.
The employee returned with the milkshakes and cookie. "That'll be four-fifteen,” she said.
I handed her a five dollar bill. "Keep the change," I said.
I took the stuff, then sat down with the girls and Sunset Shimmer.
I handed them all of their stuff and decided to sit next to Sunset Shimmer.
"So-o-o, Sunset, we haven't really talked about our interests much. How about we get to know each other some more?" I said.
"Alright. What do you want to know?" Sunset said.
"How about... favorite movie?" I said.
"Okay. Hmm... that's a tough one... " Sunset stared off into space. "I don't think I have one. How about you?"
"I don't know either," I laughed. "So next question, I suppose? Unless, do you girls have something?"
Aria and Sonata shook their heads no.
"How about we move onto personal interests? Sunset, do you have have any hobbies?" Aria said.
"I like to play guitar," Sunset said.
"Neat. Do you play well?" I said.
"Yeah. It's nothing to brag about, but I do play pretty well," Sunset said.
"Nice," I said.
"How about you? Do you have any interests outside of singing and performing?" Sunset asked.
"Hmmm... I like video games, both heavy reading and studying, mythology, and hanging out with friends," I said. "Girls? How about you?"
"Video games, karate, and hanging out with friends," Aria said.
"EATING TACOS, EATING TACOS, and did I mention EATING TACOS?! I also like video games, hanging out with friends, continuing my rivalry with Pinkie Pie, making tacos, eating at Mexican restaurants 'cause they have tacos, annnnnnd yeah," Sonata said.
"So moving on, favorite food?" I said. "And Sonata, you're not a part of this conversation because we already know your answer."
"My favorite food is, hands down, pizza," Sunset said.
"Same here. It's nearly impossible to go wrong with pizza," I said.
"Agreed," Aria said.
"Meh, I still like tacos better," Sonata said.
I rolled my eyes. "Anyways," I said.
"Hey, thanks again for letting me join your group. You have no idea how much this means to me," Sunset said.
"You're so welcome!" I said, voice dripping with false sweetness.
Not, I silently added. You fell right into my trap, Sunset Shimmer, and you don't even know it.
"I'm glad you're a part of the group! 'Cause, now we can all be BFFs!" Sonata exclaimed.
Sunset giggled a little bit.
"You're so cute, Sonata," Sunset said.
"Thanks! I can't help it. For realsies," Sonata said.
Aria rolled her eyes.
"So, Sunset," I said. "Do you like watching videos on the internet at all?"
"Yeah, but not much," Sunset said.
"Do you make any?" I pried, leaning in closer.
I knew it was Sunset Shimmer who had made the video I had watched that was an attempt to humiliate whoever Twilight Sparkle is. I had recognized her voice from the video.
"Um, I haven't made any in a long time," Sunset said, seeming a little uncomfortable as if she was hiding something.
I decided to take it down a notch.
"Oh, I see," I said nonchalantly.
"You two are so lucky you're partners; I got stuck with the worst possible partner," Aria said.
"Who?" I said, though I knew the answer already.
"Ugh, Sonata," Aria answered.
"Hey! I'm not the worst — you are!" Sonata exclaimed.
I looked at Sunset Shimmer who looked concerned.
"Sorry. They've got this thing, and I don't even know how it got started, where they think each other is the worst and it's just a part of their weird friendship," I explained.
"That is a weird friendship," Sunset laughed.
Aria shrugged.
"I don't even know what it is between us two, if it's a friendship or what," she said.
Sunset giggled.
"But you know what; I like that about you girls. It's just one of many interesting but likable things about you," she said.
Why does Sunset Shimmer like us so much? Is there something about her I'm not aware of? It's a mystery. I was just going to have to ask her.
"Hey, Sunset, why do you like us so much?" I asked, puzzled.
"Why? It's because you're a good group of friends. While you all may annoy each other sometimes, you're not trying to get each other to change. You accept each other for who you are. You all work so well together when you play, or, well, sing," Sunset said. "And so I admire your friendship."
"You make some interesting points. I never thought about those before," I said.
Sunset sighed. "I wish my other friends could be like that; well, they used to be like that, but, ever since they started their band… I don't know… it seems like they're taking it too seriously and letting it interfere with their friendships," she said.
"That's just sad," Aria remarked.
Of course, she wasn't being sympathetic, she was just commenting.
"And absolutely pathetic," I added.
"I know," Sunset said, "I wish there was something I could do, but, I don't think it's my place since I don't know much about friendship."
But she was wrong. She knows plenty about friendship, it sounded like. She just didn't realize it. But of course, I wouldn't be telling her any of that.
"For realsies?" Sonata said.
I motioned for Aria to do something because I had a feeling Sonata was about to tell Sunset that Sunset did know plenty about friendship.
"Because it seems—"
Aria cut Sonata off mid-sentence by dumping Sonata's milkshake on Sonata's head. To cover it up Aria said she was starting a food fight.
Sunset laughed.
Sonata's face turned a bright red.
"Ugh! Aria, I wasn't done with that milkshake yet!" she fumed, dumping Aria's milkshake onto Aria's head.
"Hey!" Aria exclaimed.
It was too bad we couldn't gain power off of our own negative energy, otherwise things would be so much easier with Aria and Sonata around.
Sunset seemed to be getting a bit uneasy because of all the tension.
"Alright girls, that's–"
Sonata hurled whipped cream at my face, cutting me off mid-sentence. She began giggling as the whipped cream hit my face and got all in my hair. Aria was laughing too, as was Sunset Shimmer.
Well, I did like whipped cream, but Sonata touched it (and who knows where she's been) so I wasn't going to lick it off my face.
Sunset extended a hand out to me holding a napkin.
"Um, you have a little something... everywhere," she said with a giggle.
I took the napkin from her and cleaned up my face and hair.
I pulled my phone out of my bag and turned it on to check the time.
"Girls, sorry to cut this short, but Sunset and I will need to leave if we're to work on our project," I said.
"Oh, is it getting that late already?" Sunset asked. "Then we'd better get going."
I grabbed Sunset Shimmer and pulled her away. I don't even know why I did that.