When Twilight got home the Monday after Thanksgiving break, there was a poster board taped to the front door. When she got close enough to read it she noticed there were different candies used to replace some of the words in the message.
The poster read. "Please don't Snickers. It would bring me Mounds of Almond Joy if you would join me at the Winter Formal. It would make me feel like 100 Grand if you said yes. So one last time, will you be my Bit o' Honey at the dance? From, your SweeTart.
Twilight took a picture of the poster and laughed to herself. She brought it inside, immediately thinking about how to answer Sunset. She was typing a message to her when her mom called from the living room.
"Whatcha got there sweetheart?"
Twilight jumped a little, placing a hand on her chest, she turned, hiding the poster behind her a bit. "Mom! What are you doing home? I thought you had book club today."
"Oh Midnight Sentry had to cancel, her husband Stalwart had the day off so they went on a day trip. The others are meeting at someone else’s house, but I’m just not feeling it without Midnight today." She looked at the poster her daughter had tucked behind her legs. In a singsong voice she said. "I bet I know who that's from."
"Really? And you're okay with it?" She said with hope rising in her chest.
"Of course, I told Flash he should ask you to the dance." She said.
"Oh, well I think someone already beat him to it." Twilight said nervously.
"Oh? Who's that?" Velvet asked her daughter with a smile.
"... Sunset." She said. After a pause she quickly added. "But we're just going as friends. The seven of us are going as a big group to the dance."
"Oh," she sounded slightly disappointed. "are you sure you don't want to go on a date? It's been a while since you've been on one."
"I think I'll be ok this time just going with friends." She saw her mom's expression change. "What's wrong Mom?"
She took a moment to answer. "I just worry about you. You spend a lot of time with Sunset, you haven't dated at all since starting at Canterlot High and the few times you have been asked out you turned them down."
This was true, a few guys at school had asked her out, but she had politely declined. She had shared those times with her mom after she'd been asked about her dating life. She had told her that it was because she wanted to focus on her schooling.
"I just wish I knew what was going on. Is there anything you're not telling me? You know you can talk to me." Velvet said, worry apparent on her face.
She wanted to hug her mother and tell her everything. She wanted to tell her that she was gay, that she was in a relationship with Sunset. She wanted her mother to hug her back and accept her for who she is and to accept her girlfriend, but all she could muster was.
"N-no, everything's fine Mom. School is just keeping me busy." She felt a lump form in her throat. "Well I'd better put this in my room."
"Let me see it first." Her mom said, a little more cheerful. "She's such a creative girl." She said with a laugh after looking over the poster.
Twilight hugged her mom and finally made it to her room. She lay on her bed, a few silent tears fell to her pillow. Something had to change, she couldn't keep lying to her mom.
Twilight wiped her eyes, looked at the poster again and smiled. Sunset really was creative. She sent a picture of her with the poster.
"Thanks for the candy :)" she typed.
"Whatever do you mean? You must have a secret admirer ;)"
"I think I do. Are you jealous?" Twilight played along
"Oh so jealous, how are you going to answer her?"
"Now how do you know it's a girl?”
"Educated guess?"
They continued talking for a while, which put Twilight in higher spirits. She spent some time with her mom before her dad got home. At dinner she told her dad about going to the dance. He was very excited for her and thought the idea of going with friends was a good one.
Twilight was excited for school on Thursday because there was a big mandatory assembly at the end of the day. This meant both lunches would be combined, so she was going to be able to have lunch with all of her friends.
The bell rang for everyone to go to lunch, Twilight met up with Sunset and they walked hand in hand toward the lunch room. The entrance to the lunch room was just ahead, but Sunset pulled Twilight past it.
"Where are we going?" Twilight asked.
They rounded the corner, then Sunset pulled Twilight close and planted a big kiss on her lips.
Bright red, Twilight caught her breath and asked. "What was that for?"
"I've wanted to kiss you all day, and this was my first chance." She said with a wink.
"Did you pull me aside just to make out with me?" She said playfully.
"As great as that sounds right now, we actually have somewhere to be. But I'll take a rain check on making out." She grabbed Twilight's hand and they went to Pinkie's locker.
When they arrived she noticed that AJ, Fluttershy and Rarity were already there.
"What are we all doing here?" Twilight asked quizzically.
"You'll see," Fluttershy said with a big grin on her face. "We're just waiting for Rainbow and Pinkie to- there they are!"
The two rounded the corner, Rainbow was speaking. "Thanks for letting me store my books in your locker. I got mine cleared so I can take them back now."
"No problem, I'm glad I was able to help." She noticed the rest of her friends. "Hey girls! What are you all doing standing around here?"
"Your locker's closest to the lunchroom so we figured we'd meet ya here." Applejack responded.
"Okie dokie lokie! Rainbow's just gotta get some stuff out of my locker."
Rainbow put in the combination a couple times. "Ugh, pinkie I can't get it. Would you mind?"
"Sure!" Pinkie said cheerfully.
She opened the locker and yelped in surprise. She jumped backward as a curly haired boy popped out of her locker with a small accordion. He played a little intro then started singing at a quick pace.
"This is your singing telegram I hope it finds you well. I'm asking you to the school dance, i think you're really swell. I wrote this song to ask you, if you said yes that'd be great. Sorry that it took so long, but I hope you'll be my date!"
On the last note the others pulled the strings on the party poppers Rarity had handed out. Confetti floated down, getting caught in both their hair. Cheese was standing with his arms raised at an angle when Pinkie scooped him in a hug.
"Of course I'll go to the dance with you! I've been waiting for you to ask me since the day they announced it!" She said with delight.
"Thank goodness! I was worried I had missed my chance." Cheese hugged her back.
"I loved the song by the way. Did you come up with it by yourself?" Pinkie asked after she released him and they all headed toward the lunchroom.
"I wrote the music, but your friend Sunset helped me with the words." He admitted.
Twilight smiled as Pinkie thanked Sunset. They found a seat in the crowded lunchroom. When they had all gotten situated Twilight showed the others the picture of the poster that Sunset had made. This sparked a conversation about how the others had asked and answered.
They were all smiling over Rainbow Dash having asked Applejack in a cutesy romantic way when a girl with curly orange hair walked behind Sunset and hip checked her, which caused Sunset to spill her drink into her lap. The girl's two friends that were with her laughed and continued walking.
"Hey! Do you want to apologize?" Rainbow called after them.
The girl merely glanced back with a wicked smirk and kept walking.
"I'm talking to you!" Rainbow yelled and stood. "You did that on purpose."
This got Adagio's attention. She faced Rainbow Dash and locked eyes with her. "Is your little friend right Sunset? Do I owe you an apology?" She didn't so much as glance at Sunset when she asked the question.
Quietly, she responded. "It's fine, I'm sure it was an accident." She started dabbing at her skirt with napkins. Twilight helped her and looked in disbelief at Adagio.
"See, she says it's fine." Adagio sneered. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to eat my lunch." She turned to go.
"Why you-" rainbow growled.
"Let it go Rainbow, it's not a big deal." Sunset pleaded.
Rainbow clenched her fists, but sat down. "What was that Sunset?" Rainbow asked incredulously. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Don't worry about it Rainbow. I'll deal with it." Sunset said while averting her gaze.
"You don't have to deal with this alone sugar cube." AJ assured her.
"Yeah, we'll stand by you if those meanies mess with you again." Pinkie added.
"Just drop it ok!" Sunset snapped. She put her hand to her forehead. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get mad. I can deal with this myself. Thank you all for your concern though, it means a lot just knowing you care."
After an uncomfortable silence, the group conversed until the bell rang to dismiss lunch. Everyone went their separate ways to class, Sunset and Twilight walked together. Silence hung between them, the events during lunch had upset them both. Twilight had never seen Sunset like that before. Finally, Twilight couldn't take it anymore.
"How long have you been getting bullied?" She blurted out.
She looked at her girlfriend. "A while." She sighed.
"Why didn't you tell me? I would have helped you, stood up for you, whatever you needed!" Twilight said.
"I didn't want to involve you. It's not your problem." Sunset said.
"It is my problem. I care about you and don't want you to be in pain." Twilight placed her hand on Sunset's arm.
Sunset covered Twilight's hand with her own. "I know, but this is something I have to deal with on my own."
"Why haven't you gone to the principal though?" Twilight asked.
Sunset didn't answer immediately. "I... I guess I feel like I deserve it... to make up for everything I've done. I know it doesn't make a lot of sense."
Twilight stared intently at Sunset. "You don't have to put up with this. I know you made mistakes in the past, but that doesn't give those girls the right to bully you the way they have been." She wiped the corner of her eye. "Maybe if you talked to the girl who dropped out and apologized you'd feel better."
Sunset's eyes dropped to the floor. "I could never face her. She probably hates my guts and would never talk to me anyway."
"I may not understand, but if this is what you feel you need... I can't promise I won't interfere," Twilight took her girlfriend's hands in hers. "but if you ever need to talk or need help you know I'm here for you right?"
Sunset smiled and kissed Twilight. "I know."
The rest of the day got better after that brief unpleasantness. The seven of them met up before the assembly so they could sit with each other in the auditorium. After the students sang the school anthem Principal Celestial and Vice-Principal Luna took the stage and thanked the students for a wonderful year thus far. They went on to explain the different activities that would be available during the week of the dance, including the next home games for the girl's basketball and volleyball teams. They also asked students to submit pictures of themselves and friends to the yearbook club for a picture slideshow that would be playing on a loop at the dance. The student body officers announced a fundraiser they would be running and implored any and all volunteers to sign up.
After the assembly, Sunset saw Twilight off at the bus stop, with a smile she turned to go to her car. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Sonata. Her old friend looked uncomfortable being there. Sunset had always liked Sonata. Of the three, she was the nicest and was even kind of sweet when she wasn't around the other two.
"Hey Sunset." She began. "Adagio wants to talk to you."
"Does she? Well, I'm not interested." Sunset started for her car.
"She said she wants to apologize." Sonata called after her.
This gave Sunset pause. She considered for a moment before responding.
"Fine, I'll give her five minutes." She finally said.
The two walked to the back of the school where Adagio and Aria were sitting on an old table.
"I'm surprised you actually came." Adagio said.
"I'm probably an idiot for doing so, but my curiosity was piqued." Sunset folded her arms.
They were all silent, finally Sunset broke the quiet.
"So why did you want me here?" She asked, annoyed.
"Feisty today aren't we? That's the Sunset I know." Adagio got off the table.
"Well you do bring out the worst in me." She responded curtly.
"Now now, there's no need for the attitude. I wanted you here so I could say I'm sorry for making you so upset."
This took Sunset by surprise, she didn't expect an apology of any kind.
Adagio continued. "And if you'll apologize to me I might even take you back and take you to the dance."
"What now?" Sunset said, taken aback.
"That's right, I figured it out. You broke up with me to make me miss you. Admittedly it took some time but it worked. Then you started "dating" that dork Twilight. I must say, that was pretty clever, using that plain looking girl to make me jealous. But you don't need to settle anymore, I'm willing to forgive you and take you back."
Sunset's temper started to flare hearing Adagio say those things about Twilight.
"Are you serious? Are you really that full of yourself that you thought this was all a clever ruse to get back together with you? Did you honestly think that a half-assed apology would just make these weeks and months of abuse just go away?" Sunset pinched the bridge of her nose. "I can't believe I felt bad about breaking up with you the way I did. That's half the reason I've been taking all this shit from you. I felt guilty for not being able to talk to you in person, but now I don't care anymore."
Adagio glared daggers at Sunset. "You want to choose your next words very carefully, I could ruin you."
"What, by telling my friends about my past? Too late, I already told them, and they forgave me because they're good people and true friends. And I am not settling with Twilight, if anyone is, it's her. I don't deserve someone as good as her. I actually care deeply for her, and she cares about me. I'm not just arm candy for her to parade around. She's building up what you tore down!" Sunset breathed deeply, calming herself. "This is the last time I want to talk to you. I don't want you messing with me anymore and if you do anything to me or my friends, I will report you to the principal. Goodbye Adagio."
Sunset left without another word, leaving a silent but furious Adagio behind. She drove home feeling liberated and hopeful that things could finally be alright.