//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: High Above The Sun And Stars // by TheNewYorkBrony //------------------------------// “Pretty long line, huh?” Sunset said, poking at Twilight’s rib with her elbow. “Thanks for coming with me on the Ferris wheel, Twiggy. Though I do remember you saying something about a fear of heights at Pinkie’s last sleepover,” she added thoughtfully, rubbing her chin. Twilight chuckled nervously. “Me?! Afraid of heights?! Pssh! No fear of heights here!” she hoped Sunset couldn’t notice that she was sweating and that her hands were starting to go clammy every step they took further and further forward towards the ferris wheel. If Sunset had noticed, she didn’t say anything, because as they got closer and closer to the front of the line there was a pep in her step and a smile on her face a mile wide. “I’ve never ridden one of these things before,” she linked arms with Twilight, humming a happy tune. “I’m so glad you came with me! I can’t think of anyone else I’d want to ride the ferris wheel with!” Twilight felt her heart beat faster, the joy and happiness in her friend’s eyes making a blush rise to her face. Sunset was truly beautiful, and extremely cute when she was excited. It was like watching a little kid. She couldn’t say no to that! She couldn’t tell her the truth! “That means a lot, Sunset, you have no idea,” The kind words calmed Twilight, at least until she turned to face in front of her and realized that they were the next in line. They were all the way in the back just a second ago! Had she really been staring at Sunset for that long?! Twilight watched in horror as an empty cab came down in front of them and the ride attendant lifted the bar to let them on.The cab swayed slightly as they stepped into it, Twilight trembling the entire time. Was there really only a bar standing between them and the ground?! Slowly but surely, the ferris wheel cab started to rise, and with it, Twilight’s anxiety. How tall was this ferris wheel?! Twilight’s stomach lurched as the lights that were strewn about the game booths and the people around them became nothing but colored dots. “Uh, Twilight, are you alright?” Sunset’s voice broke the spell slightly, and Twilight realized that her grip on the safety bar was so tight that her knuckles were going white. She immediately released her hold and placed her nervous hands in her lap. “N-Never better.” she lied. “Oh, well okay,” Sunset said, smiling. “Wow!” She exclaimed, leaning forward to the horror of the girl next to her. “You can see the school from here! How cool is that?!” she turned to Twilight, who was looking just as uneased and clammy as before. “You know...” she said softly, “If you want to get off, it’s okay. We could ask them to stop the ride and—” “NO!” Twilight shouted. “No,” she repeated, softer this time. “That, that isn’t necessary,” she took a deep breath in and then exhaled, a calming technique her sister in law Cadence had taught her when she had first started having panic attacks. “I uh...just...saw a bee! Yeah! And it made me nervous! Cause like, what if there was a beehive around here? We wouldn’t be able to protect ourselves! Hehehe!” Twilight lied, her hands on the bar again. This time, she made sure not to hold on with so much force. Sunset, not quite sure how to respond to that, nodded and leaned back in her seat. “I never went out to amusement parks or anything back in Equestria. I didn’t think they were worth the time. I always got invited by people who wanted to be my friend, but I always brushed them off. Studying was so much more important than just relaxing and having fun for once. I honestly didn’t know how to do any of that stuff before I met you guys,” she confessed, laughing a little. “I’m glad I met you. All of you guys. I’ve experienced so much because of our friendship. So thanks, Twilight.” Sunset flashed Twilight a toothy grin that almost made her forget what was happening until she heard a loud creak and crunching sound, followed by the ferris wheel cab coming to a complete stop. “Hello ferris wheel riders! It has come to our attention that there has been a malfunction in the system. Just sit tight and we will have you down in a few!” Twilight’s eyes were pinpricks. “A-Are we stuck up here?!” She leaned over the rail to see that they were at the very top, and were indeed, stuck. “A-A few what?! A few hours?!” The world started to swirl for Twilight and her breathing became heavy and short. Sunset grabbed her arms. “Twilight! Hey—” her eyes went white, and suddenly she was no longer on the ferris wheel. She was in Twilight’s room, watching her pace in front of her mirror. “What do I do, Spike? I’m terrified of heights! Oh, why did I promise that I’d ride the ferris wheel with her?!” Twilight Sparkle threw her hands in the air and flumped down on her bed, groaning. Spike rolled his eyes. “Why don’t you just tell her the truth? I’m sure Sunset would understand,” Twilight rolled over to face him. “It’s not that easy, Spike! She asked me to go up there with her! Not any of the other girls! She’s...She’s so pretty and cool...I want to spend that time with her. I think my heart wouldn’t be able to take it if she took someone else up there with her.” “I don’t think your heart would be able to take it if you forced yourself on that thing. Remember the last time Shining and Cadence took you up there?” Spike responded, raising a brow. Twilight sighed. “Yes, I know. I threw up all over the ride and they had to stop it to let us down,” she said, wincing. Twilight then hugged herself. “But...I don’t want to miss this opportunity. This might be my only chance alone to tell her how I feel,” Spike shrugged. “If it means that much to you, then go up there with her. Tell her how you feel. Just you know, don’t throw up all over her.” “Spike!” Sunset blinked and she was back in the present, Twilight shaking like a wet dog beside her. “Twilight, why didn’t you tell me? We could have done something else together,” Tears welled in Twilight’s eyes. “I’m so sorry! I-I should have been honest with you! I really like you, Sunset. And, and I didn’t exactly know how to tell you. I thought this could be really romantic but all it was was an epic disaster.” “It wasn’t an epic disaster,” Sunset told her, smiling. “I mean hey, at least you didn’t throw up on me.” Twilight glared at her. Sunset threw her hands up in defeat. “You’re right, you’re right. Bad choice of joke. I guess you could say it leaves a bad taste in your mou—ow!” she giggled when Twilight punched her arm. They did get down, eventually, and Twilight had silently swore she’d never go on a ferris wheel ever again. She held onto Sunset the entire time they were led to the ambulance where they were offered cups of water and safety blankets. Twilight stared into her cup, not quite sure how to start the conversation. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “You’re right. I should have been more honest with you. About my fear of heights, and...my feelings,” she looked away ashamed. Sunset let her safety blanket fall off of her as she put her arms around Twilight in a comforting hug. “It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Promise me though, no more secrets? If something is bothering you, just let me know. I won’t get mad.” she held out her pinkie finger, which Twilight took with her own. The two giggled, and Twilight sighed. “I know this part wasn't particularly my fault, but I’m sorry your first ferris wheel ride was ruined by a system malfunction,” Sunset shrugged. “Eh, it happens. Without it, I might not have known how you felt about me. Plus...this is a good first date story to tell the kids.” she joked cheekily. “Me and you..first...Date?” Twilight murmured dumbly in a stupor. “Maybe we could try it again? How does Friday night at six sound? And I promise there won't be any heights involved,” Sunset told her, grinning. Twilight nodded like a bobble head. Incoming footsteps snapped her back to reality as she saw their mutual friends running at them full speed. “We heard what happened!” Rainbow Dash shouted, of course being the first one to arrive. Rarity was close behind. “Indeed! Darlings, are you alright?” the others nodded in agreement. Twilight looked at Sunset, who winked at her and made a shhhing motion with her finger. Twilight smiled too. “Never better.” “What the hay happened between them up there?” Applejack mused. Pinkie shrugged. “Beats me.”