//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: Canterlot High Christmas Tales 
// by Indefintehiatus 
//------------------------------//

It was a warm and sunny afternoon upon a scenic countryside a few miles from Canterlot, where Shining Armour and Cadence Amore had just hours ago gotten married, as their reception party was currently taking place in a snowy white tent atop a gorgeous green hill. The newly-wed couple were affectionately dancing together and simply couldn't be happier, as the sister of the groom, Twilight Sparkle, proudly watched them from a nearby table where she sat with her fellow bridesmaids, who were her best friends from Canterlot High. 

Rarity, now obviously fully recovered from her winter cold, had designed the seven of them each brand new elegant dresses for the ceremony. Just as Sunset predicted, she was beyond ecstatic at the offer to do so and her effort certainly paid off as It was some of the best work Rarity had ever put out. Fluttershy's' hair had begun to grow back after its drastic cut for Charity over the holiday season, but it was yet to return to its regular length. She was currently sporting more of a puffy lob hairstyle, which many of her friends thought really suited her. Applejack, along with Granny Smith and her siblings, had been put in charge of handling some of the party food and Pinkie had been given the position of chief party planner for the ceremony under Twilight's recommendation. 

As for Twilight herself, her breakup really started to take it's toll once the Christmas period was over. She was heartbroken and would often disappear into her bedroom or the school library to cry. She would sometimes even attempt to cut herself off from the rest of the group. Luckily, Sunset and the rest of her friends were there to help get her through the rough times and now, she was over it and joyous as ever.  In fact, today was the happiest she'd been in quite a while. 

Sunset's crush over the months had become much stronger than she could've anticipated. Instead of constantly fearing Twilight might find out, she now desperately wanted to tell her but was never sure if the timing was right. 

Soon enough, the rest of the girls decided to head toward either the buffet or the dance floor while the two of them were left alone at the table together.  

"So, are you feeling okay?" Sunset asked, attempting the break the ice.

"I'm doing great!" Twilight smiled. 

"That's good, I don't think I've seen you this happy since Christmas."

"Well, I'm feeling much better now. Thank you and the rest of the girls so much for helping get through that, you guys are really supportive and the most amazing friends I could ever have. Though, I'll admit I could've done without one of Pinkie Pies 'Super Silly Clown Makeovers'!"

"Well, you definitely took yours better than Rarity took hers!" 

The girls began to laugh as they pleasantly continued their conversation. Sunset thought Twilight looked adorable today, especially in her new magenta dress. Sunset's outfit was almost identical in design, except hers was in forest green.

"So, do you think you'll ever give dating another try?" Sunset questioned curiously.

"I don't know." Twilight shrugged, "I'm not sure if I'm ready to put myself self out there yet, I'm scared I'll get my heart broken again. Maybe I'm worrying too much, but I'm still a little on edge."

"Well who knows, maybe you'll find somebody like your brother found Cadence?" 

"Yeah, maybe. I guess it's something to think about. I'll be right back!" Twilight finished as she left the table. As Sunset watched her walk away, Cadence began to approach the table wearing her gorgeous brides gown and vale she'd worn throughout the day. Shining Armour actually cried when he first saw her in the gown.

"Hello Sunset!" She appeared, sitting down next to her. 

"Oh, hi Cadence." Sunset smirked, "I know you've probably heard this a dozen times already but congratulations! I'm really happy for you both and Twilight's gonna have an amazing sister-in-law!" 

"Thank you Sunset, you and the girls were all great bridesmaids."

"Well, thanks for offering us the position. The ceremony was really beautiful."

"Hey, do you know what would be the perfect wedding gift?"

"What?"

"I would like for you to tell Twilight how you feel."

"Cadence, I can't. I'd love to, but I can't. I just don't think I'm ready and I don't think she is either!"

"I completely understand, how about you just ask her to dance for now?" 

"I guess I could but, I don't think she's really danced with anyone since her date with Timber."

"It's up to you Sunset. I'm going to go dance with my husband, maybe you'll join us?" Cadence finished as she left Sunset at the table to think.

"Okay, I'll go ask her to dance!" Sunset decided, as she began to nervously approach the buffet where Twilight was. She walked right past the CMC who were cheerfully dancing alongside their sisters to DJ PON-3's tunes with Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna, who were enjoyably showing off the dated dance moves from their youths. Sunset then found Twilight chatting with her parents, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, who was holding an unimpressed Spike and waving his paws around in a dancing-like motion. 

"Hey Twilight?" Sunset stuttered, "um...would you like to dance?" 

"Okay then, sure." Twilight shrugged, as she followed Sunset to the dance floor. The music playing was very upbeat pop tunes, nothing especially romantic, as the two of them danced like it was any average school party. They swayed and chatted with each-other as Twilight also playfully danced with her brother and challenged her new sister-in-law to a good-natured dance off. Then the music changed to that of slower placed ballads as many of the couples began to take to the floor. Shining & Cadence decided to do their romantic 'first dance' as Twilight's parents also decided to join them on the dance floor, recognizing the song playing as the same one from when they shared their first dance as man & wife.  The dance styles changed to become more close and intimate as Twilight began to feel slightly uncomfortable. Sunset looked around the area and noticed that Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were slow dancing with their sisters and even Fluttershy could be scene holding Spike and swaying him, much to the canines' disapproval.  So, this wasn't just a couples thing. Sunset put her hands around Twilight's waist and pulled her closer, as the two of them decided to join in the slow dance. They simply stepped back and forth in time with the music as Sunset began to notice an uneasy expression upon her friends' face. 

"Twilight, are you okay?" Sunset inquired. 

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just need some fresh air." Twilight insisted, releasing Sunset's hands from her waist and awkwardly leaving the tent. Cadence noticed and asked Sunset to check on her, who quickly chased after Twilight and found her sat on the grass outside with her head in her hands. 

"Hey, what's wrong?" Sunset comforted, sitting down next to her. 

"I don't know, I's just...I thought I was over it but just." Twilight panicked, unable to get out her words properly. 

"Well, are you gonna come back inside? I'm sure your family is worried about you!" 

"Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry Sunset, we never even got to finish our dance!" 

"How about we dance out here? Just the two of us?"

"Um, okay then?" 

Twilight put her hands around Sunset's waist as the two tried to dance once again. The music was slightly more faint sounding from outside, but it was still easily audible. The two swung and stepped along to the music as a happy smile slowly but surely began to return to Twilight's face. 

"You're gonna find somebody Twilight." Sunset promised, "Somebody who makes you happy, somebody who will look out for you, someone who can see clear as day the intelligent...funny......beautiful and just all around amazing person that you are!" At that moment, the two girls locked eyes as Sunset felt a strange urge she hadn't felt in a while. Before she knew it, Sunset found herself leaning in closer towards Twilight as her heartbeat became rapid and blood rushed to her face, making it as red as a tomato. This time, there was no helium-influenced Pinkie Pie with mince pies to interrupt as before she had time to think about what she was doing, Sunset had just spontaneously kissed Twilight. Once she realized what had happened, she was about to stop when she felt something unexpected. "Is she kissing me back?" her mind began to race, "what does this mean? does she like me back? what if I've just ruined our friendship?" 

Sunset quickly pulled her lips away as her the two girls stood together speechless, neither one of them sure what to say next. 

"Well, I didn't expect that." Twilight smiled awkwardly, still feeling slightly dazed. 

"Twilight, I'm so sorry!" Sunset blushed, "I just don't know what came over me and...."

"Sunset, do...you...do you like me?" 

"Um.....yes. I like you, I've liked you for quite a while now actually!" 

"Wow, I'm not sure what to say."

"You don't need to say anything, just forget about it." Sunset regretfully requested as she began to head back inside. 

"Sunset wait!" Twilight called, "when you saying all that stuff earlier about me finding someone, were you talking about yourself?"  

"Maybe a little bit, I really really like you a lot Twilight and I can't help it. It's okay if you just wanna be friends, it's just nice to finally get those feelings off my chest." 

"Sunset, I.......I had no idea you felt this way."

"I really hope things don't become awkward between us now." 

"Well, that depends.."

"On what?"

"On how you react to this." 

Before Sunset could ask what she meant, Twilight had kissed her. Their eyes closed and their warm lips locked together as Sunset put her hands around Twilight's waist once again and Twilight put hers on Sunset's shoulder. Neither of them felt an urge to stop or let go, both of them were just happy in the moment. 

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important!" A sudden voice chuckled, as the girls stopped their kiss and turned to see Cadence watching them with a smirk upon her face. 

"Cadance!" Twilight gasped, letting go of Sunset, "I can explain!" 

"I'm sure you can." Cadence grinned, "We're about to serve the wedding cake so if you and your girlfriend want some, you should come back inside."

"Okay, we'll be there in a minute" Sunset waved, as the bride walked back inside. "So, does this mean we're a couple now?" Sunset smiled, holding Twilight's hand. 

"Yeah, I guess so." Twilight giggled, "how are we gonna tell the rest of the girls?" 

"Let's wait a little bit. We don't want to steal the thunder from the wedding!" Sunset decided, giving her new partner a quick kiss on the cheek before they walked back inside. 



THE END