"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE -"
"Sonata, stop squealing already! We get it!" Soarin ridicules as he, Caramel, and I cover our ears.
It's the school day after the date. The four of us bumped into each other in the halls on our way to meet up with the Rainbooms for lunch.
"Sorry, Soarin, I just can't believe it!" Sonata exclaims excitedly. "One date later and Rough Draft and Sunset are already kissing buddies! I'm so happy right now!"
"We're not kissing buddies yet, Sonata. We just happened to have kissed at the end of our date," I say.
"Oh come on, Rough Draft, that's bologna," Caramel rebukes. "Soarin and I saw the way you and Sunset Shimmer were looking at each other before and after you kissed. Do you expect us to believe that you two are just gonna leave it at that?"
It turned out I forgot to tell Soarin that I ended up getting the date with Sunset after all, so he and Caramel decided to visit me at my house, thinking I was just gaming or writing in my room. My mom told them I wasn't there right before I called her to let her know that I was at Sunset's apartment, and I needed to be picked up. My mom told Soarin and Caramel that I was there, and then Soarin told Caramel about the plan, so they decided to go with her. As you can imagine, neither they nor my mom wanted to drop it until they got some answers the moment I entered my mom's car.
"I don't know, I hope not," I admit. "I wouldn't have asked her out if I wasn't hoping something like that would happen eventually, and we did say that we should go out again sometime, but we didn't plan on doing that. I was kind of expecting a hug or a kiss on the cheek like Octavia did on our first date, but then we kinda got drawn to it."
"Yeah, just like your first kiss with Tavi that sealed the deal with you two getting together," Soarin teases. "Except you've known Sunset Shimmer way longer than you've known Octavia, so why didn't you guys just get together right now?"
"Because it's too soon," I claim. "It's taken so long just for us to be friends again. Don't you think it should take more than one date to see if it would be right for us to take it further than that? I mean, you and Caramel were the ones who told me to be careful about how I felt about Octavia when I said I was falling in love with her after dating her for less than two weeks. Shouldn't I do the same with Sunset?"
"I don't know, Rough Draft," Sonata says teasingly. "Two kisses on the first date does seem like there should be something more going on already, especially since she took the initiative with the second one."
"Well, there isn't," I claim. "We kissed and had a good time, but for now, that's it, okay?"
Sonata, Caramel, and Soarin look at me with disapproving looks, but then reluctantly sigh.
"Fine, we'll drop it for now," Soarin says. "But for the record, I think you're being as silly as you were when you thought she was still evil."
"Duly noted," I say. "Now come on, everyone else is waiting for us."
The three of them reluctantly comply as we make it to the cafeteria. We get in line and grab our food from Granny Smith, who not-so-subtly gives Sonata an extra apple again, much to Sonata's cute delight. We walk over to our usual table with the Rainbooms when I notice Sunset isn't there, and Rainbow Dash is smirking at me. I look at her curiously until it hits me and I glare at Soarin.
"You told Rainbow, didn't you?" I growl.
"Sorry, bro," Soarin says with a shrug, clearly not meaning it. "I'm not keeping secrets from my girl, and you didn't say your date was supposed to be a secret. Maybe if you're lucky, she hasn't told the other girls."
I sigh heavily as I reluctantly sit down in my usual spot on the table and try to act like nothing is going on. Unfortunately, that doesn't go as well as I want because while Rainbow Dash is smirking at me, Rarity and Pinkie Pie are trying to hide their excited smiles, Fluttershy is smiling cutely at me, and Applejack smirking with her eyebrow raised.
"You told everyone, didn't you, Rainbow?" I ask bluntly.
"Yup," Rainbow Dash says almost immediately. "In fact, we're just waiting for Sunset to come over and tell us her side of your secret date."
"It wasn't a secret date. You just didn't know about it," I claim. "I also didn't tell Sunset not to tell you guys that I even asked her, so that's on her."
"Fib all you want, Mr. Draft," Rarity says, giggling. "You still went on a date with Sunset and kissed her, so we'd like to know what's going on."
"Nothing is going on. Or at least it's too soon to say," I claim again. "We just had one date and there just happened to be kissing involved. If you don't believe me, then you can ask her when she comes."
"Good, because she's coming right now," Rarity says, pointing at the cafeteria entrance.
Sure enough, Sunset is walking towards us with a smile on her face, not bothering to grab lunch first. I feel uneasy with her smile as it looks like she's smiling because of last night, which might be working in everyone else's favor.
"Good afternoon, Sunset," Rarity greets. "You're in a cheerful mood today."
"Indeed I am," Sunset confirms. "I have some important news for all of you."
We look at each other, thinking that she's going to say something about the date before she continues.
"I'm going to Equestria to visit my family," she announces.
"What!?!" Everyone exclaims.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking, and I think I need to see my parents," Sunset explains. "I've been talking to Twilight, and she just happens to be in Equestria's Canterlot where they still live, and they're back home for a couple of days before they leave for business trips."
"Wait, you've never told us about your parents before," Rainbow Dash says.
"Wait. What?" I ask, shocked. "She's never told you about her parents?"
"Er, no," Sunset admits. "You're the only person who has asked me about them, Rough Draft."
"What? Only he gets to know about that, and we don't?" Rainbow Dash ridicules.
"You've never asked, Rainbow," Sunset points out.
Rainbow Dash scratches the back of her head, admitting defeat.
"Well, yeah. It just never came to mind and..." She says before chuckling nervously.
"When are you leaving?" Fluttershy asks.
"Tonight after school," Sunset answers. "Equestria's portal is in Twilight's castle, which is a day's train ride away from the city, so I have to leave as soon as I can. That's why I'm late for lunch today; I was letting Principal Celestia know what I'm doing because I probably won't be back until next week."
"Next week?!" Pinkie Pie exclaims. "But that's such a long time! What if you decide to stay and don't come back? What if the portal breaks? You won't even be here to wish Rough Draft a happy birthday!"
...
What?
Everyone but Pinkie Pie turns to me, confused with what she just said. I stare at Pinkie Pie, equally befuddled.
"What are you talking about, Pinkie?" I ask.
"What am I talking about? WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT!?!" Pinkie Pie screams. "Your birthday is in three days, and you're asking me what I'm talking about!?!"
I stare at her dumbfounded before I take out my phone, open the calendar app, and sure enough, my birthday is this Saturday, March 11th.
"Oh, it is in three days," I say with an uncaring shrug. "Go figure."
"Go figure?!" Pinkie Pie screams. "How can you say that about your birthday?! You're turning 18 for cupcake's sake!!"
"What? You're turning 18?" Caramel asks in disbelief. "You've never told Soarin or me this before, or even when your birthday is."
"Me neither," Sunset says, confused and hurt. "We were still hanging out last March, and you never told me when it was your birthday."
"Well, first of all, it's not like you ever told me when your birthday is, much less that you were a pony from another world bent on world domination," I say, smirking at Sunset to which she replies with a shrug and her own smirk as if to say "Touché," before I turn to Pinkie Pie. "Second of all, what I want to know is how do you even know when my birthday is, Pinkie?"
Pinkie Pie's frantic face immediately turns into an unamused one as she looks at me as a way of asking, "Have you met me?"
"Okay, fair enough," I say, scratching the back of my head. "But in all seriousness, it's not that big of a deal."
Everyone looks at me as if I just said a horrible swear word. Pinkie Pie looks like she's about to faint.
"Now, why would you say something like that, Rough Draft?" Applejack asks. "Birthdays are a time to celebrate your life with friends and family."
"And that would be true if I had friends most of my life," I say. "Don't forget that I never had any friends back when I was in Applelosa. My parents used to invite kids to birthday parties, but no one would ever come. After a while, I just quit caring about my birthday and eventually forgot about it. My parents will wish me a happy birthday and take out for a birthday dinner or something, and I'd shrug and go with it, not knowing it's my birthday until they said it. To me, it's as big of a deal as a less popular holiday."
"But birthdays shouldn't be treated like that," Sonata whines in protest. "They should be a happy occasion to celebrate your life. Even Adagio, and Aria, and I would take time to celebrate our birthdays, and we're over a thousand years old."
"Yeah, and besides, you have friends now, Rough Draft," Soarin points out. "And I don't know about everyone else, but I'd like to celebrate it. Heck, even Octavia and the other guys at the E.M.R. would want to throw a party if you two were still together. Derpy would probably take the time to try to make a birthday cake completely made out of muffin batter."
I chuckle and say, "That girl does love muffins."
"Exactly," Soarin says. "So you have people besides your parents who would love to celebrate that you were born, dude. Especially if it's your 18th birthday."
"Yeah, I'd like that too," Caramel says.
"Me too," Sonata says firmly.
"I'm down for that," Rainbow Dash says.
"I'd love to," Rarity says.
"I would like that," Fluttershy says quietly.
"Same here," Applejack says.
"Rough Draft, just say the word, and I'll throw a party you'll never forget no matter how hard you try," Pinkie Pie says, determined.
They all look at me with friendly smiles on their faces, waiting for my answer. A part of me wants to say no since I still don't care that much about my birthday, but at the same time, I feel touched that they all care so much that they want to celebrate it. A small smile forms on my face as I make my decision.
"Okay, I guess a little party would be okay," I say. "Pinkie, you have my permission to throw one."
"YAY!" Pinkie Pie screams. "Don't you worry, Rough Draft, when I'm through, you'll have a smile plastered on your face for days, or my name isn't Pinkie Pie."
"She'll do it," Rainbow Dash says with a smirk. "We'll have to arrange it so that it's after the playoff game."
"Oh yeah, you guys have your first playoff game that day," Applejack says. "No doubt you're ready to -"
Suddenly, Sonata gasps loudly, and we all turn to her.
"Wait, this is wrong," she says. "Sunset won't be able to come to Rough Draft's party."
Sunset frowns at this before she shrugs.
"Well, I could postpone my trip," she suggests. "It'll be a while before I get another opportunity like this but -"
"No, I want you to go," I say.
"Are you sure?" She asks. "After all, I could visit my parents another time, and you only turn 18 once."
"Yeah, but I know how much you want to settle things with your parents and Princess Celestia," I point out. "I appreciate the offer, but I'd rather you get the closure you desire now than to postpone it any longer on my account. You could call it your birthday gift to me to settle things with them if you'd like."
Sunset looks at me, surprised at my words for a moment before she smiles kindly.
"Well, if that's what the birthday boy wants," she says.
"I insist," I say. "Go to Equestria."
"Alright, then I will," she says. "But if my trip turns out to be shorter than planned, I'll be sure to come back as soon as I can in case I can make it to the party."
"I'll be sure to save you a slice," Pinkie Pie says, beaming. "Until then, it sounds like you should start packing for Equestria."
"You're right, Pinkie," Sunset agrees. "I have to head to my apartment and grab some things, so I'll meet you guys after school once everyone is gone for the day to say goodbye before I go into the portal."
"Oh, so we're trusted to see this portal?" Caramel says.
"Sure you are," Applejack says. "You boys have given us little reason to believe you'd betray our trust, and I imagine Sonata would find little interest in going back to her homeworld."
"Pff. Homeworld, Shmonworld," Sonata says with a wave of her hand. "This place is my home now, and there's no way you can make me go back to a place that I haven't been to in a thousand years."
"My point exactly," Applejack says.
Everyone smiles at this before Sunset says, "Well, I better go. See you guys after school."
"See you," we all say as she leaves.
After another moment, I finally get back to my lunch when I notice everyone looking at me again. I roll my eyes and groan.
"Yes?" I ask, annoyed.
"What's this about you knowing that she wants closure with her folks, eh?" Rainbow Dash asks teasingly.
"Don't look at me, ask her," I say. "If I'm the only person who asks about her past, that's your fault."
"Whatever you say, Draft, whatever you say," Rainbow Dash says, still smirking as everyone else quietly goes back to their lunch.
I roll my eyes again before I return to mine. As I eat my burger, I think about how surprising it is that I'm the only person who has asked that much about Sunset's past. I guess that makes me feel somewhat special when I think of it that way.
All the same, I hope Sunset gets the best closure possible at Equestria.
********************************************************************************************
It's been an hour since school ended, and Sonata, Soarin, Caramel, the Rainbooms, and I are waiting for Sunset by the CHS statue. I didn't see her at English class, so I assumed she was still getting ready. Just as I was about to worry about what's taking Sunset so long, I hear her running towards us with her backpack.
"There you are," Applejack says. "We were starting to worry."
"Sorry, it took longer than expected, and I had errands to run after packing," Sunset Shimmer explains.
"Well, the least you could've done was text us," Applejack says.
"I was too focused on the task at hand," Sunset replies with a shrug. "Besides, according to Twilight, my parents don't return to Canterlot until tomorrow."
"Then why are you leaving today?" Caramel asks.
"I'd like to settle personal matters with Princess Celestia first," Sunset explains. "Figure it's best to handle that before I talk to my folks."
"What I don't get is why you feel the need to go over there at all, darling," Rarity says. "You still haven't told us much about them."
"I'll say. I mean, we know so much about you, and yet you never brought them up," Pinkie Pie says.
"Well, it's like I said earlier, you didn't ask, so I didn't tell," Sunset explains. "Though if you girls want a quick explanation about them, I could tell you now."
The Rainbooms agreed to this plan, and Sunset gestures them to huddle together and whisper to them.
"I guess we're excluded from this," Soarin says. "Well, all except you, Rough Draft."
"Oh, what can I say?" I shrug. "I wanted to get to know the real Sunset Shimmer after accepting that she's good now, and it turned out that her parents were partly the reason why she came to our world."
"How so?" Caramel asks.
I hesitate before I say, "It's a long story that is better told by Sunset, but the gist of it is her parents are snobby rich ponies who raised her to believe that she's better than anyone."
"Oh, that makes sense," Sonata says bluntly.
"Uh, ponies?" Soarin and Caramel ask simultaneously, making Sonata and I chuckle.
Before I can explain, the Rainbooms part from their group huddle and turn to the four of us.
"Well, that was quick," I say. "I just gave Soarin, Caramel, and Sonata the general gist too. I hope you don't mind, Sunset."
"Not at all," Sunset replies. "Although, I would like to have a quick private chat with you, Mr. Draft, if that's alright."
Everyone else gives smug looks at the two of us. I roll my eyes at them and say, "Sure," before Sunset gestures me to follow her. I can hear our friends not-so-secretly tease us as we walk to a corner, and Sunset turns to me with a nervous look.
"So..." she begins.
"So..." I say back.
Sunset clears her throat before she takes out her backpack and unzips the front pocket.
"I know it's still a couple of days away, but I wanted to give you this in person," she says as she takes out a small box wrapped in Star Wars wrapping paper and a purple bow on top. "Don't open it until your birthday, obviously."
I can't help but smile at this.
"You didn't have to do that," I say.
"I know, but I wanted to," she says. "Besides, if I know Pinkie Pie, she'll make sure everyone has given you presents to make this the greatest birthday ever or something."
We both chuckle, and I say, "Yeah, you're probably right."
Sunset's smile falters before she starts to speak again nervously.
"Also, I wanted to talk to you about last night," she says.
My face turns serious before I politely say, "okay."
Sunset hesitates for a moment before she speaks again.
"Look, I had a great time and everything," She begins. "Though can we agree that the kissing was...not expected?"
"Um, the first kiss, maybe, but not so much the second one," I say with a smirk. "That was all you."
"Okay, fair enough," she says, smirking back before she turns serious again. "All joking aside, I want you to know that I'm going to do a lot of thinking about you and me while I'm in Equestria. Seeing Princess Celestia and my parents on top of returning to my homeworld again is going to be an emotional experience for me obviously, but I also will be asking myself what this thing between us is now and where we should go from here, and I ask that you do the same. I know it was one date, but I don't think we need our friends nagging us to know that there's more to it than that now, and we should try to figure things out."
I sigh before I nod in agreement.
"Yeah, I agree," I say. "I admit that I'm a little unsure about where we're at now after the kissing."
"So you'll think about us while I'm gone?" She asks.
"You have my word," I say sincerely.
She smiles and hugs me tightly.
"Thank you," she says. "And happy birthday in advance."
"Thanks," I say as I hug her back.
When we part, we walk over to the others, and Sunset faces all of us.
"Alright, everyone, wish me luck," she says.
We all say words of encouragement as she walks over to the school statue. I watch her curiously before she gives us one last look, smiles, and walks to the wall of the statue. As soon as she touches it, sparkles begin to form around the wall as she walks through it and vanishes without a trace.
"Huh, so the statue was the portal along," Sonata comments before she giggles cutely. "I guess it's kinda funny that Adagio and Aria never thought of that. I mean, you'd think it was obvious when it's basically a statue of a pony."
I think about it before I chuckle.
"Yeah, I guess it is," I say. "Though now that I think about it, what do you think would happen if you went back, Sonata? Would you turn into a pony, or would you still be one of those giant horse-fish thingies from the Battle of the Bands?"
Sonata giggles again and shrugs.
"Who knows?" She asks. "I'd probably hate the experience either way since I don't know what it's like to be either after a thousand years. Either way, I hope Sunset finds what she's looking for back in Equestria."
I turn my head to look at the statue, and smile before I say, "Yeah, me too."
*********************************************************************************************
The next couple of days go by slowly. Sonata, Caramel, Soarin, and the Rainbooms are looking forward to my birthday party. I pretend to be excited, but in reality, I'm secretly thinking about Sunset and me like she asked. The others still want more information about what happened between the two of us on our date, but I quickly deny that anything is going on. Eventually, they leave it alone before I ironically go back to thinking about the two of us and hoping that things with Princess Celestia and her parents go okay.
Finally, come Saturday morning, I'm in bed and wake up to two, cute, light-purple eyes staring at me excitedly.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROUGH DRAFT!!!!"
I scream in panic and nearly fall off my bed before I recollect my surroundings to find Sonata sitting on her knees right next to my bed with Caramel and Applejack standing behind her chuckling at my reaction.
"Sorry, Rough Draft," Applejack says. "Sonny wanted to be the first person to wish you a happy birthday."
"Just playing my part in making this my buddy's best birthday yet," Sonata says bubbly as she pulls me into a big hug.
"Uh, well, thanks, Sonata," I say with a smile while still startled. "You guys came over just for that?"
"Nope, we're your escorts today," Caramel answers. "Your mom and Granny Smith are getting breakfast ready, and then we're heading to the playoff game. Rainbow Dash and Soarin are already there with the team and Fluttershy, Big Mac, and Pinkie Pie are going to meet us there. Rarity couldn't get time off work for the game, so she's going to meet us at the party."
I can't help but smile at how they have the day planned out like this just for my birthday. As much as I don't care about my birthday in general, it feels nice to have friends who want to celebrate my mostly friendless life. I suddenly smell the bacon, scrambled eggs and pancakes coming downstairs from my open bedroom door and hear my mom humming as she makes breakfast.
For the first time in a long time, I feel genuinely excited about my birthday.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" I say as I get out from under the covers, grab clean clothes to change out of my pajamas, and start getting ready for the day.
********************************************************************************************
I pat my belly, feeling a little heavier from eating breakfast. I ate whatever my mom put on my plate until I couldn't stand it much to her delight. She commented to the others how I hadn't been this excited for my birthday breakfast since I was seven and started telling embarrassing stories about me to which I try to make her stop while the others giggled at her tales.
Currently, we're riding Applejack's truck to CHS while Granny and my parents stay at home to set up the party...sort of. Apparently, since Pinkie pie wanted to help with the party but also wanted to support Rainbow Dash and Soarin during the game, she practically disciplined my parents and Granny to set up my party the way she envisioned it to the last detail with blueprints and everything. The only problem is, as detailed as Pinkie Pie's plans are, they seem to imply that my parents and Granny Smith only have to take care of rearranging furniture for guests, setting up balloons, and making the food. Whatever is on Pinkie Pie's mind, the adults decided to trust that she knows what she's doing.
That's the thing that you can always count on when it comes to Pinkie Pie; she's as unpredictable as she is pink, but when it comes to parties, she knows what she's doing.
Thinking about it suddenly made me remember her party several months ago. To think that about six months ago, she forced me to go to her party just to find a girl to date, and that night changed me forever the moment I laid eyes on Octavia. Now we're broken up, and I'm wondering if I will end up dating Sunset. I sigh sadly, thinking about it as I rest my arm on the window seat and think about how part of me still wishes Octavia, and I never broke up and wondering if she's happy with this Treble Clef guy.
Then I start to wonder how everyone else at the E.M.R. is doing. Lyra Bon Bon, Derpy, Doc, even a part of me kind of misses Vinyl despite how venomous she was to be the last time we spoke. Sure, I'm happy hanging out with the Rainbooms, especially with how happy Soarin is with Rainbow Dash and Caramel seems to be more hopeful than ever in having a chance with Applejack, but at the same time, I still missed my old friends. They were a fun group to hang out with, they have a noble cause, and it is a shame that they probably all hate me just as much as Vinyl does because of the Anon-a-Miss incident.
"Rough Draft?"
I snap out of my train of thought and turn my head to see Sonata looking at me with a concerned look.
"Are you okay?" She asks.
"Uh, yeah, I'm fine," I lie. "Just lost in my own thoughts."
"Thoughts like Octavia and her friends again?" she asks.
I give her a sad smile as I respond.
"For someone who can be a little ditzy, there's no fooling you, is there, Sonata?" I state.
"Well, you have done that enough times for me to recognize when you're thinking about them," she says. "Do you wish they could come to your party?"
"A little," I say with a frown. "I'm mostly sad about my break up with Octavia as usual and missing the others."
"Yeah, I miss them a little too," Sonata says. "They were a fun and caring group to be with before finals week."
"Yeah, they were," I agree. "Though I don't miss Lyra and Bon Bon calling Caramel their 'Caramel Bear.'"
"And I don't miss those experiments Doc used on me," Sonata says with a shudder. "He's a nice guy, but I'd rather get tazed again than to go through all those experiments again."
"Yeah, probably for the best," I say. "We haven't had a real magic problem since the Battle of the Bands, and they only had one mission that led to capturing you."
"You captured me," Sonata corrects. "In fact, if I recall correctly, Dagi's flash bomb would have gotten Octavia as well as everyone else if it wasn't for you. If you hadn't done that, no one would have been there to track Dagi and me down, and who knows what would have happened to me."
"That's true," I say. "Still gets you to wonder what might have been if the Crusaders hadn't caused all that trouble."
"Yeah," Sonata says sadly before her sad face turns bubbly. "But hey, let's not worry about that now. This is supposed to be a happy day with the Wondercolts hopefully getting their first playoff win and you turning into an adult."
I smile and say, "Yeah, you're right. Let's focus on watching the Wondercolts defeat the...actually who are we against?"
"Baltimare High," Applejack answers while driving. "According to Rainbow Dash, they're one of the worst teams in the state, so facing them should be a breeze."
"Well, that's good to know," I say. "Hate to see us disqualified on the first round and on my birthday."
"Not to mention Rainbow would probably blow a fuse," Caramel adds. "God help Soarin if that ever happens."
"Amen," we all say at the same time as Applejack makes a turn to the school parking lot and parks her truck.
The place looks already packed even though the game doesn't start for another four minutes. Friends and families are crowding the bleachers, looking forward to the game. Most of the crowd is rooting for CHS, as shown by our school Wondercolt ears and tails, but there is a small group of people showing some support for Baltimare High. We walk up the stairs to the middle row of the bleachers to find Fluttershy, Big Mac, and Pinkie Pie saving seats for us. Fluttershy and Big Mac are wearing Wondercolt ears and tails while Pinkie is dressed and in a blue and yellow cheerleading outfit and has her face painted in blue with a yellow W on her right cheek and a yellow C on the left cheek. It doesn't take long, however, before some unknown force somehow informs Pinkie Pie that we are here and her face immediately turns to me with pure excitement.
"THE BIRTHDAY BOY IS HERE!!!!" She screams before she runs over to me with inhuman speed and gives me her most painful, spine-crushing hug yet. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROUGH DRAFT!!!!"
"T-thanks, Pinkie," I manage to say with whatever air is left in my lungs before she lets go. I rub my sore back as she returns to her spot while Fluttershy and Big Mac walk over to greet me.
"Happy birthday, Rough Draft," Fluttershy says as she gives me a soft hug.
"Thank you, Fluttershy," I say, smiling from her kind embrace while Big Mac says, "Eeyup," while patting me on the shoulder.
After Fluttershy breaks the hug, she and Big Mac return to their seats while the rest of us begin seating. I sit between Sonata and Caramel while the latter sits next to Applejack, who is sitting next to Fluttershy, Big Mac, and Pinkie Pie.
"Who's ready to see the Wondercolts kick some butt?!" Pinkie Pie screams in excitement.
"I know I am," Applejack says.
"Me too," Caramel says.
"I would like that," Fluttershy says quietly.
"Eeyup," says Big Mac.
"How can the birthday boy say otherwise?" I answer.
"Oh, I'm so excited!" Pinkie Pie squeals. "Dashie has been training the team to the bone for like, ever for this."
"I can vouch for that," I say. "Both Sunset and I have seen the way Rainbow Dash treats soccer practice like they're about to go to war or something. Clearly, she's determined to make our last year the year that we make it to Nationals."
But instead of a comment, everyone looks at me with smug looks on their faces.
"You watch soccer practice with her, huh?" Pinkie pie teases.
"Oh come on, guys," I protest. "I take Sunset out on one date, and you just won't live it down."
"Buddy, if you didn't kiss her on that 'one date,' that would be true," Caramel says. "But you did kiss, so we're gonna keep at it."
I grew in annoyance until a mischievous idea forms in my mind.
"Well, if you really feel that way, Caramel, then maybe Applejack would like to hear a certain Revan and the Soaring Revanites song."
Caramel's smug face falls while everyone else looks at him in confusion.
"Uh, what does that have to do with you and Sunset?" Applejack asks.
"Oh nothing," I say playfully. "It's just that if we're going to tease each other, maybe you'd like to hear a song Caramel wrote that he was hoping we would play during the Battle of the Bands, Applejack."
"NO!" Caramel shrieks with his tan face turning bright red.
"Why would I want to hear this?" Applejack asks, still confused.
"You don't!" Caramel shouts, waving his hands in panic. "He doesn't know what he's talking about! He's messing with us to change the subject!"
"Aw, now don't be shy, Caramel," I say teasingly. "An artist like you should show people his proud work. In fact, if you won't sing it, I will."
Caramel's frightened face turns into a mad one as he gives me the biggest death glare he can muster.
"Rough M. Draft, I swear by the Force, if you sing so much as five notes -" he threatens.
"Sing up to five notes? Well, if you insist," I say before I clear my throat and begin to sing, "Never knew I could -"
"Alright, alright, you win!" Caramel screams with his arms flailing in the air. "I'll stop teasing!"
"Aw, come on, Caramel. Don't be a party pooper," Pinkie Pie says.
"Sorry, Pinkie," Caramel says. "It's a song I want to take to my grave."
I smirk proudly at my accomplishment before I notice Applejack looking at Caramel curiously. He was looking at the field defeated, so he doesn't notice that she appears to want to know about the song. I smile at the thought and wonder if I unintentionally started something that could help Caramel get with the girl of his dreams.
*********************************************************************************************
To make a long story short, we won...and it was pitiful.
The Wondercolts scored eight goals before it was halftime, and after a while, they let Baltimare High score at least three goals during the second half just out of good sportsmanship. When the referee blew the final whistle, we all cheered both out of excitement and relief. Even Pinkie Pie, with all her school spirit, grew a little eager for it to end.
Regardless of the outcome, however, we were still happy that we won and can continue to the next round of the playoffs. Caramel, Applejack, Big Mac, Fluttershy, Sonata, Pinkie Pie, and I decide to meet up with Soarin and Rainbow Dash at my house. The couple waits for us on my front porch when Applejack parks on the sidewalk.
"Hey, here's the birthday boy," Soarin announces before patting me on the back. "Happy birthday, bro."
"Thanks, man," I say. "Glad to get the first game over with?"
"Ugh, that's an understatement," Rainbow Dash groans. "I hoped we would win, but I was hoping for an actual game too."
"Well, better luck with the next game," Caramel says encouragingly. "But hey, why stand here waiting for that when we got a party to go to?"
"Amen!" Pinkie Pie concurs. "Which makes it my cue to make my final touches. Everyone follow me!"
She opens the front door, and we follow her curiously. I find the family room partly decorated with balloons, but apart from that, the place looks less like a party and more like just the family room with extra tables. My parents and Granny Smith are waiting for us while Rarity is sitting on the couch before she sees us and walks over to me.
"Happy birthday, Rough Draft," Rarity says in a singing voice before she gives me a big kiss on my cheek.
"T-thanks, Rarity," I say bashfully as I rub my cheek much to Rarity's amusement.
"Okay, what's up with this, Pinkie?" Rainbow Dash asks. "This doesn't look like your typical party."
Pinkie Pie giggles at the question.
"Oh Dashie, that's because I want to finish the decorating with this," Pinkie Pie says as she pushes something big covered in a large white cover. She takes the cover out to reveal a blue and pink cannon aiming at the family room.
"Introducing the party cannon!" She screams excitedly.
All of us, including Granny Smith and my parents, stare at her contraption.
"The party cannon?" I ask, confused.
"Observe," is Pinkie's only reply before she grabs the string on the back of the cannon and pulls. With a bang and a loud squeak, the cannon fires, and the next thing either of us know, the tables are covered with pink party covers with all sorts of cups, drinks, plates, and snacks stacked perfectly on top of them. Streamers and confetti fly all over the place as the family room is suddenly turned into a party room. We all gasp and wow at this accomplishment as Pinkie Pie boastfully pats her party cannon.
"Yeah, I've had my mind on making one of these babies since the Fall Formal, and Cheesie helped me make this during his last visit," she says. "The perfect invention for making parties in no time flat. What do you think, Rough Draft?"
"I-It's amazing," I say. "I don't know how it works or why, but you outdid yourself, Pinkie."
"Aw shucks!" Pinkie Pie says, pretending to be bashful. "Anyway, what are we waiting for? Let's party!"
We all say words of agreement, and Pinkie Pie takes out a stereo from her hair, places it on a table, plugs her phone into it, and starts playing some tunes. We all join in together to eat, drink, dance, play games, and otherwise hang out and talk. The entire time I can't help but smile and be thankful for everything that is happening around me. To have so many people besides my mom and dad here to celebrate my life feels more uplifting by the minute. Sunset is right; there is a kind of magic in having friends. For the first birthday in my life, I am happy to be alive.
After about a couple of hours, Pinkie Pie stands up and announces, "Alright, everyone, time for presents."
We all say words of excitement as my mom has us form a circle while Pinkie Pie leaves for one second to come back with a pile of presents in a flash and lays them in the center of the circle. Before I join everyone, I quickly go up to my room and grab Sunset's gift from my backpack. I race back down to find everyone waiting for me, and I place Sunset's gift next to the pile of presents planning to save it for last before I sit down.
"Oh, oh, ours first! Open mine and the Apple's present first!" Sonata shouts.
"Now, Sonata, don't be impatient," Granny Smith says.
"It's alright," I say, chuckling. "I'll open yours first."
Sonata squeals in excitement as my mom picks up a large box and lays it in front of me. Sonata tries to hold her excitement as I undo the wrapping to find a box. Inside the box is a large blanket that is knitted together with mine and Sonata's faces with words saying 'besties forever.'
"Do you like it?" Sonata asks. "I had the idea while Fluttershy, Big Mac, and Granny helped make it."
I smile as I turn to Sonata.
"I love it," I say kindly, which earns a big hug from Sonata, who squeals in happiness. Big Mac and Granny Smith smile pleased while Fluttershy says a small, "yay," before my mom grabs the next present.
Rarity got me a fancy looking hat that is "all the rage," Soarin and Rainbow Dash got me a Canterlot High soccer hat, Caramel got me a new Star Wars t-shirt, my parents got me a new video game, and Pinkie Pie got me a giant marshmallow pillow. Finally, all that is left is Sunset's gift.
"Whose is that?" Rainbow Dash asks as I pick it up.
"Sunset's," I answer. "She gave it to me shortly before she left."
Rainbow Dash and Soarin give me smug looks that I ignore as I unwrap the gift. Inside is a small, white box that contains a golden locket with Sunset's personal mark inscribed on one side and my personal mark engraved on the other. I'm touched by the detail of each side as everyone looks at it in amazement. Then I notice a small button on the side, and I press it. The locket opens to reveal a picture of Sunset Shimmer and me huddled together while she holds the rose I gave her.
"What's inside?" Caramel asks.
"It's Sunset and me from the picture Mr. Cake took on Valentine's day," I answer with a smile. "She cropped it to just the two of us and her rose."
"Awwww!" Sonata coos as she looks over my shoulder. "Hey, there's something on the other side."
"Really? What is it?" Rainbow Dash asks.
I look to where Sonata is pointing and say, "It's an inscription. It says 'faith, hope, love, but the greatest of all these is love.'"
"Sounds like she's looking for more than friendship to me," Soarin says smugly.
"Yeah, I don't think she's trying to be subtle there, buddy," Caramel says with a grin.
"Oh, our dear Sunset is never one for subtlety, Caramel," Rarity says with a wave of her hand. "Why I remember when she started crushing on Rough Draft, and she convinced Pinkie Pie to invite him to her party so that she could try to talk to him."
...
I stare at Rarity in shock and ask, "What did you say?"
Rarity turns her head to me, confused until her eyes widen as she realizes what she just said. She turns to everyone else to find they all are looking at her in surprise. She turns back to me and tries to come up with an answer.
"J-just wanted to talk to you?" she stutters.
"N-no, no, the um...the part about Sunset crushing on me since Pinkie's party?" I ask.
All eyes are on Rarity, who stutters frantically, trying to undo the damage, but as she does, I begin to realize how her words suddenly make sense. Pinkie Pie did describe Sunset's looks when she asked me to come to her party, and Sunset did try to talk to me and asked if I wanted to dance with her that night. In fact, the more I think about it, some of Sunset's words over the past several months start to echo in my mind as hints of her crush. How she said she was thinking about dating someone when I confronted her on Valentine's day, or how she was worried sick about me when she saw me beaten on the ground after Octavia and I fought Adagio. She was sad when she saw me and Octavia walk hand in hand for the first time as a couple and looked bummed when I told her that Octavia and I confessed our love for one another. She hesitated when she brought up the idea of Octavia and I getting married and having children when we were at the mall and froze in shock when I went into detail over why I wanted to get Octavia's necklace. The more I thought about it, the more it all came together.
"Oh. My. Gosh," I say in shock.
"Oh, no, no, no, no, no!" Rarity panics while rubbing the sides of her head. "Not another Pinkie Pie Promise!"
"Uh, Rarity, rubbing your head doesn't turn back time," Pinkie Pie says, earning an unamused look from Rarity.
I turn my head to the locket, looking intently at Sunset in the picture. She has her arm around me, and she seems to intentionally be holding her rose up to make sure that it is in the photo. Now that I look at her face, I realize how much she is beaming after I had just given her the flower. It makes my heart flutter and my purple cheeks turn red at the idea of how much it meant to her and how she proved to be taking good care of the rose when we went to her apartment after our date.
"Sunset has had a crush on me all this time?" I manage to say.
For a couple of minutes, no one says anything. Rarity continues to rub the side of her head, ashamed at what she accidentally revealed while Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Fluttershy look away from me, unsure of what to say. Big Mac and Granny Smith turn to each other with raised eyebrows while my parents, Caramel, and Sonata look at me with equal surprise. The only two people in the room who appear unfazed are Soarin and Rainbow Dash. Rainbow especially stares at me with her arms crossed, and her eyebrow raised, which catches Caramel's attention.
"Uh, Rainbow, did you not hear what Rarity just said?" he asks.
Rainbow Dash turns her head to face Caramel and stare at him in disbelief.
"Are you kidding?" She ridicules. "I've been dying for anyone to tell that blockhead about Sunset's crush for ages!"
Everyone but Soarin turns to Rainbow Dash in disbelief.
"W-what?" I ask.
"Do you need me to spell it out for you, Rough Draft?" She ridicules. "Of course, Sunset Shimmer has feelings for you! It's been driving me crazy how you have been completely clueless about it, and we couldn't say anything the entire time because Sunset made us Pinkie Pie Promise not to tell you! I don't care how much you were deliriously in love with Octavia Melody. You should have picked up Sunset's feelings ages ago! And I'm hardly the only one who thinks so!"
I turn to the other Rainbooms and stare at them in surprise.
"Is this true?" I ask.
Applejack scratches the back of her head before she reluctantly replies, "Well, since the secret is out, I may as well say it's remarkable how you've been completely blind to her feelings even after you were long past hating her to no end."
"I'll say," Pinkie Pie concurs. "Why else would I have asked you about her looks when I invited you to my party? Heck, when she saw you with Octavia at Sugarcube Corner, she was so shocked that she dropped the glasses she was carrying! I was struggling between being happy for you and sad for her when you and Octavia became boyfriend and girlfriend. She had to give me permission to choose the former, so that I could congratulate you."
"I said too much already," Rarity says frantically. "But, I will say that it is most unbecoming of a gentleman that you didn't pick up her feelings for you even once."
I turn to Fluttershy, who is looking away at me nervously as she hides her face with her hair and holds Big Mac's arm.
"Fluttershy?" I ask.
Fluttershy whimpers before she reluctantly says, "Um, personally, I can understand not paying attention to Sunset's feelings when you hated her and dated Octavia Melody. But other than that, it was so obvious that even I don't understand how you didn't notice her feelings before."
"Eeyup," Big Mac says
I stand flabbergasted at their words.
"Have I really been this clueless the entire time?" I ask.
"Buddy, if you were any more clueless, you'd be as absent-minded as Sonata," Rainbow Dash says.
"Hey!" Sonata retorts.
"Sorry, but it's true," Rainbow Dash says. "You should have taken a moment to see how you scared her half to death when you and Octavia were chasing Sonata and her sisters after the trial or how you hurt her feelings when you claimed she is still evil at DJ-PON-3's house. Not to mention how hopeful she was when you agreed to try to act better towards her after she gave you back your silly notebook or how bummed she was when she saw you and Octavia working together to keep an eye on Caramel when he had his 'double date.'"
"But that doesn't completely make sense," I say, holding the sides of my head as if that keeps myself together. "Sunset was so supportive of my relationship with Octavia. She was giving me advice and tried to stop Octavia from dumping me during the Anon-a-Miss incident and everything."
"That's because that's how much she cares about you, Rough Draft," Applejack says. "She was hoping that you would notice her, but she also wants your happiness, and she knew as well as anyone how Octavia made you so happy before my sister and her friends ruined your relationship through Anon-a-Miss. She didn't want to take that away just for her own wants. She would never have forgiven herself if she went back to her old ways so that she could have a chance to be with you."
"She cares that much?" I ask.
"Yes, you doofus," Rainbow Dash ridicules. "Seriously, did you think she just wanted a guy best friend like some super cliché, teenage, chick flick?"
"Well, I don't know," I say, trying to process all of this information." I guess I never really thought about why she would do things like that. She did say she wanted her friend back when she gave me back my notebook, but after I forgave her and we started patching things up, I assumed we were just friends. I mean, yes, I'm happy to know she likes me that way. I mean, I asked her to the movies hoping she would someday, but finding out she thought that much about me even before I met Octavia? Ugh, I feel like my brain is going to break from this information."
"Yeah, well, that's what you get for being dense," Rainbow Dash says. "So whatcha gonna do, lover boy?"
"I don't know," I say before turning to Soarin, Caramel, and Sonata. "What about you three? You guys have been quiet this whole time."
"Well, I knew she had something for you," Soarin says plainly.
"What?!" I exclaim.
"Hey, what can I say, bro? It may have been a Pinkie Pie promise, but Rainbow Dash for one had no problem telling her boyfriend what's up as long as I don't say anything either." Soarin says with a shrug. "But even then, it was clear that something was up for a while. That's why I encouraged you not to give up when you were trying to ask her out."
"Well, I had no idea, but with the benefit of hindsight, I feel I should have known this too," Caramel says.
"I think this is so romantic!" Sonata squeals. "You go on a date with her, and then you find out that she loves you all along. It's like confessing your love with Octavia all over again except it's Sunset Shimmer!"
"Now hold on, Sonny, this doesn't mean that she's in love with me, just like, likes me," I claim before turning to the Rainbooms. "Right?"
All five of the Rainbooms make gestures of hesitation before Applejack answers, "I can't say she said anything like that to us, but given how persistent she has been trying to be on good terms with you and the quote she has inscribed inside your locket, I wouldn't rule it out."
"Okay, but she does realize that it might take a while before I feel the same, right?" I ask nervously. "I mean, we've only had just one date."
"Sweetie, I realize you don't have much experience apart from Sunset and Octavia Melody, but even you should realize that is far from true," Rarity says. "It's been more than just one date, Rough Draft. You did spend time together with her before, and that time counts. The clock doesn't reset to zero. It unpauses. Why else do you think you guys ended up kissing after your first date?
"No way. That doesn't count, because that time was a lie," I claim. "We never kissed or anything like that before the Spring Fling. We just said our fake I love yous before we ruined your gown."
"And yet she kept your notebook as a memento," Rainbow Dash remarks.
Nothing else is said right away until Applejack sighs, walks over to me and puts her hand on my shoulder.
"Tell me something, Rough Draft. There are a lot of people she pretended to care about before the Fall Formal, but the only one she has tried to be close to for real is you," she says. "Not Cloud Kicker, not Mystery Mint, not even her ex-boyfriend, Flash Sentry. Even when you hated her guts, she kept trying. Sure she gave up after you blew up on her, but when you came to her and apologized, she realized there's hope for the two of you yet, and it warmed her heart when you finally forgave her for what she did. Doesn't that tell you something?"
"Well yeah, but this is just so sudden," I say.
"Oh, what's the big deal, Rough Draft?" Sonata asks. "She cares about you, and you care about her too. She offered to stay for your birthday, but you insisted that she goes to see her family for tacos' sake. Shouldn't that say that maybe both of you are past the point of taking things slowly by like, I don't know, a lot?"
I stutter in response, unable to find the right words to say. Everyone looks at me with expectations for an answer, but nothing comes out.
"Hey there now, what are we doing bringing up all this drama?" Granny Smith asks. "It's Rough Draft's birthday. We're not here to confuse him with all the stuff he should have realized ages ago. We should keep making this his best birthday ever. Now, who wants some cake and ice cream?"
Everyone makes words of agreement and proceeds to the dining hall. I slowly stand up to follow them, but I stop for a moment and look at Sunset in the picture inside my new locket. As I stare at her beautiful, cheerful face, everything everyone said becomes clear. It's at this moment that I know what my answer to Applejack's question is, and I know what I must tell Sunset when she returns.
********************************************************************************************
For half an hour, everyone seems to leave the matter of Sunset's feelings for me alone as Granny and my mom bring out the birthday cake. Everyone sings happy birthday to me I blow out all the candles, we start to chow down on cake and ice cream. But while I am happy and enjoying my food, my head is still wrapped with everything my friends just told me. Every now and then, I will secretly look at my locket and stare at the picture inside. I smile at the thought of the day when Sunset was so happy when I gave her that rose and promised that she'll find someone, but I never suspected that she already found him.
The thought made me smile more, though I try to hide it from the others. To think that in a twist of fate, Sunset Shimmer and I are meant to be even after everything that's happened. Yet, at the same time, why wouldn't we be together? I have been valuing her company ever since we made peace with one another, maybe more than I realized back then. She's so smart, understanding, forgiving, and it's always so exciting to talk about her world, and how it connects to this world that she values more than any magic just by being with those she cares about, including me.
Yet it makes no sense that she would pick me over anyone else. I know we have a lot of similar experiences and everything, but why would she want to be with someone like me? There's so much that she could do just with her knowledge of magic, science, and world-traveling, and yet on top of going to school and hanging out with her band, she wants to spend time with someone who enjoys the pleasures of...well...stories. She would even write a song to try to make me happy when it felt like everything came crashing down on me. At least with Octavia, she found how we relate to each other as artists, but Sunset doesn't. At least not to the extent that she would defend me in front of multiple people like Octavia did.
Suddenly, there is a loud knock coming from the front door. Everyone stops talking and eating and turns to the door, curious. My mother decides to walk over and see who's there, and we hear her open the door and talk to someone for a couple of seconds before she calls out to me to come over. I look at everyone and shrug, figuring it's someone who wants to wish me a happy birthday or something before I get up and walk over to the front door. As I walk down the hall, my mother starts walking back to the kitchen, telling me that she'll be sure everyone leaves "us" alone. I look at her confused as she proceeds to her seat on the dining table. I walk to the entrance hall to find the front door slightly open, waiting to reveal who's on the other side. I hesitate for a moment before I fully open the door and stare in shock as I see who is on our front porch.
"Hey, birthday boy," Sunset says with a smirk. "Hope I didn't miss everything."
"Uh, no, actually. You just arrived in the middle of cake and ice cream," I say still, surprised. "We still have more than plenty of both."
"That sounds great, but if it's okay, I'd like to talk to you first," she says with her smirk changing to a small frown. "Can we talk privately?"
"Uh, yeah, absolutely," I say as I walk outside and close the door behind me. "Would you like to sit down on the porch?"
"No, I'm okay standing up," she says.
"Okay," I say.
For a moment, no noise is heard except for the sounds of crickets in the distance. Sunset looks away from me and rubs her arm nervously.
"So..." I say.
"So...." She says back.
"How was Equestria?" I ask.
"It was good," she replies. "It was great to see the land again and say hi to Twilight."
"Did you get to talk to Princess Celestia?" I ask.
"I did," She says, still not looking at me.
"And?" I ask, expecting more.
A small smile enters her face before she turns to look at me.
"It went better than I hoped," She answers. "I didn't get a chance to apologize for anything. She just raced from her throne to the entrance on the complete other side and hugged me tightly. I kept trying to say that I'm sorry, but she didn't have it. She just held on to me and kept whispering that it's okay, and she was happy to see me again. I couldn't believe what was happening, but it felt so good to see her smiling at me again."
I smile at this as I say, "Told you so."
She rolls her eyes at my proud words, but her smile remains before I frown nervously as I start to ask my next question.
"And your parents?" I ask.
Sunset frowns depressingly and looks down on the floor.
"Not so much," she says.
I feel my heart sink before she sadly says, "I didn't even get to talk to them. I knew they were home, and I made myself presentable and everything, but when I made it to their house, I decided to peak in the living room to see what they were doing before I knock on the door, and I saw..."
She doesn't finish her sentence. I can see her eyes beginning to water, and I feel my heart sinking deeper at the sight of her misery. I don't know if I should ask what happened or hug her, but before I can do anything, she continues.
"They had another foal!" She chokes out. "I saw them teaching him some big important, fancy stuff, and he was obeying them like a precious, uptight angel. Judging by his looks, he must be no older than ten or eleven. So, as far as I know, they decided that I was a failure after I left and decided to just try again with another foal as if I was some failed science experiment or something. There were no pictures around to indicate I even existed before they had this little tyke. Just pictures of him flooding the house as if they made the whole house a shrine for him, knowing that he's going to become something they always wanted. I don't know if they would even remember me, but it was clear that even if they did, they wouldn't acknowledge that I'm their daughter. So, I guess my closure involves knowing that I'm replaceable in their eyes. But hey, now I know I have a bouncing baby brother. Mazel tov."
She tries to hold back her tears with every word, but I can see that she can't hold back any longer. Without further hesitation, I walk over to her and wrap one arm around her while I lightly push her head to rest on my shoulder with the other. She sobs bitterly on my shoulder and wraps her arms around me as tightly as she can. I hold on to her for half a minute before I quietly shush her for comfort.
"Shhh, it's okay," I say quietly. "I'm sorry that they did that. If I had known, I would never have asked you to -"
"No," She says, breaking the hug. "It wasn't your fault. I knew it wasn't going to end well, and hey, I guess knowing the full truth of how they felt about me is still a serviceable closure. I mean, they barely paid any real attention to me when I was around, so they may as well have needed to do something to make their case clear. And now any doubt about who my real family is, it's completely demolished. Now I know that all the happiness that I ever wanted rests with no one but Princess Celestia, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Sonata, Caramel, Soarin, and you."
I give her a sad smile at her realization before she recollects herself and looks at me directly in the eye.
"Speaking of which, I hope you were thinking about us while I was going through all of this," she says calmly.
My smile turns cheerful as I say, "Yeah, I have. I also opened your gift."
"And?" she asks.
My smile grows as I respond.
"I love it," I say. "It must've been difficult to get a locket designed like that after just finding out about my birthday shortly before you left."
A small smile forms on her face as she replies, "Well, I kinda wanted to make something out of that photo from Valentine's Day for a while. I just wasn't sure what to do until after Pinkie Pie gave us the news. Speaking of which, how much teasing did the other give you for it?"
I smirk at her before I respond.
"Funny story actually," I say. "While we were talking about it, Rarity accidentally slipped out something about you having a crush on me since before Pinkie's party."
Sunset frowns at this.
"I get the feeling we should stop trusting her to keep secrets anymore," she says. "Her track record has become a little disapproving of late."
"Yeah. Of course, I had no idea," I admit, scratching the back of my head.
"Seriously? I thought I was being so obvious, especially after you and Octavia had long since broken up." she ridicules.
"Nope, totally clueless," I confess. "Maybe in hindsight, I should have at least taken a hint from your quick yes to asking you to the movies."
"Yeah, I wonder how you could be so dense even after having gone so far in life as to have dated a girl like Octavia," She says with a smirk.
"Maybe I was too distracted from all your stories about your world and you introducing me to new magic, minus telling what your new technique in getting your wings and tail is," I say. "Though with that said, Sunset, I honestly don't get why you would be so interested in me."
Sunset frowns and looks at the floor as I continue.
"I mean, I'm glad that you are; don't get me wrong. But you could be interested in anyone else who would be happy to be with an amazing girl like you, and you choose a nerd who wanted to persecute you even when everyone else knew better. You have all these people who have already seen how much you have changed and really value what you've become and yet it's -"
"Can I say something?" Sunset interrupts, looking back at me with pleading eyes.
I stutter, trying to say something against her request, but I hold my tongue and gesture her to proceed. She looks down on the ground again and sighs nervously as she plays with her fingers anxiously.
"The ability to conjure those wings that I told you is a secret..." She says quietly for a moment before she lifts her head, stares deep into my eyes, and speaks firmly. "The secret to my wings is you, Rough Draft. When I first began to conjure the wings and tail, it was because I was so happy to be with my friends who guided me to be the person I am today, but then I discovered that I can also gain them just by thinking of you. You, the only other person who knows what it means to be truly alone most of your life and only now experiences the joys of friendship. The only difference between us, apart from the fact that I was a pony from another world, is you still grew up having a kind and caring heart that just wanted to love and be loved in return; something that I never truly wanted until I was shown how wonderful it is to have any of that. Since the Battle of the Bands, it warmed my heart whenever I saw you from afar, always happy with Soarin and Caramel in the same way Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie make me happy. I didn't see you as a former lackey or some dork that writes fanfiction. I saw you as the only person from here to Equestria who knows what it is like to be alone with practically nothing but your dreams. From then on, I wanted nothing more than to repair our relationship. I didn't know if I could gain more than friendship from you or if it was all doomed from the start, but I didn't care. All I wanted was to be with the one person I can relate to. And you know what? As much as I wanted that, I truly was happy for you when you were together with Octavia because she was giving you what you always wanted, and my heart broke for you when she turned her back on you. I thought there was no hope between us after that until you finally forgave me for what I did to you. Since that day, you showed me that you not only finally believe who I am now, but want to know all about me both good and bad. Nobody else asks why I came to this world or what my life was like before then, but you did and accepted me all the same. You encouraged me not to let the past get the better of me by suggesting my makeover. You melted my heart when you gave me my rose. You cared so much that you realized that I was thinking about my parents and convinced me to find closure with them for crying out loud! There's a reason why the thought of you alone can give me the ability to fly, Rough Draft: it's because you make happy more than anyone else. Only you lift my spirits whenever I see your face or get the chance to hold you in my arms even if it's just for just one moment. I would never have thought it to be possible in all my life, but now I have someone I want to protect. Someone that I want to make as happy as I am to be near him for days to come. Someone who I know I can be myself wholeheartedly when it's just him and me."
"Sunset..." I begin before she puts her hand on my mouth, and she continues with a heartfelt smile.
"Look, I know you think this is too fast, but just know that I love you," she says.
I stare at her in shock, unable to believe what I just heard. For the second time, Sunset straight out tells me that she loves me, but this time it's real. I feel my heart leap for joy as those words echo in my mind, and Sunset's smile grows as she continues confidently.
"Yes, it's true. This time I mean it," she says. "I love you, Rough Draft. I love you with everything that I am. I can't hide how I feel about you anymore, and I don't care if you don't feel the same. I'm going to do whatever it takes to -"
This time, it's my turn to interrupt her as I gently place my hand on her mouth for silence. I remove her hand from my mouth with my other hand to show a happy smile on my face.
"I love you too," I say sincerely.
"R-r-really?" Sunset asks, surprised.
"Really, really," I say. "It may have taken some looking back, but I know that this time it's true. When I gave Octavia her gifts, I told her through a note that I would be waiting for her to return to me, but now I've accepted it's not her I should have been waiting to be by my side but you. You kept trying to make peace with me and tried to help me when things in my life were bad even when I wanted nothing to do with you. I still don't understand how I could catch the heart of someone as wonderful as you, but I don't mind because I now know deep down in my heart that I truly love you back."
Sunset stares at me shocked after I finished speaking. After a few seconds, her eyes begin to water again, and a small, loving smile grows on her face. Before I know it, she wraps her arms around me, pulls me towards her, and kisses me with all her might. My eyes widen at her sudden approach, but it doesn't take long before I happily close my eyes and wrap my arms around her to deepen the kiss. We hold on to the kiss before we reluctantly separate due to lack of air. I stare into Sunset's shining cyan eyes as they continue to shed tears of joy. I caress her cheeks to wipe away the tears running down her face as I look at her lovingly.
"You want to be my girlfriend, real or not real?" I ask.
Sunset's smile brightens, and she whispers, "Oh, so real," before she goes in for another kiss. This one is more tender yet passionate as she wraps her arms around my neck, and I continue to caress her cheeks. The kiss turns into a makeout as the kissing becomes more intense with every second. Before we can continue, however, Sonata's voice is heard from the other side of the front door.
"Can we open the door yet? We're dying over here!"
Sunset and I break apart, trying to contain our laughter as Sunset says, "Go ahead! Go ahead!"
Immediately, the door flies open to reveal Sonata, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Big Mac, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Caramel, Soarin, Granny Smith, and my parents looking at us with anticipation.
"So, what's going on already?" Rainbow Dash asks.
"We're dating!" Sunset announces.
Without missing a beat, everyone else cheers, and they run over to hug and congratulate the two of us. Sonata especially is laughing and cheering with happiness as she hugs me tightly while the Rainbooms are already asking Sunset questions about what happened. After about a minute or two, my mom suggests we take this back inside so we can continue this over the rest of our cake and ice cream, and we all go inside, ready to continue the celebration.
Whatever lies in store for me next, there is no denying that this is without a doubt the best birthday I've ever had.