//------------------------------// // Not What You Expected // Story: A Different Sort of Sunset // by MareDoVVell //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle couldn't help but grin, a heavy blush on her face as she and her best friend Sunset Shimmer exited the movie theater together, their hands still intertwined, as they had been for most of the movie. This was it, after months and months of failed advances, it seemed like Sunset was finally showing some romantic interest in her, and Twilight felt like she was practically floating. The pair walked casually through the parking lot until they came up to Sunset's motorcycle, where they stopped to face each other. "I-I had a great time with you tonight Sunset." Twilight breathed, a nervous smile splitting her face. "Yeah, me too, we should do it again sometime soon." Sunset said with casual nod. She wants to go on a second date! Twilight's heart was beating a mile a minute. It was really happening! "Well, I should probably get going, it's supposed to rain tonight and I'd rather not get caught in it on my bike." Sunset admitted wryly as she checked the weather on her phone. "You said you were taking the bus home right?" "Mmhmm." Twilight nodded, before taking a shaky step forward and closing the gap between them. "B-but we have a while before the next bus shows up, so no need to say goodnight just yet..." She whispered, her mouth going dry. Tonight's been going so well, I just have to! I'm going in for the good night kiss! She began leaning up towards the taller girl, her eyes going half-lidded. "Yeah well, like I said I wanna try and beat the rai..." Twilight leaned in even more, her eyes closing as her lips lightly puckered. "Snrrk!" Twilight's eyes shot open at the sound of Sunset trying to hold back a laugh. "Y-y-ya alright there Twi? Y-y-you look like you're about to sneeze or something!" Sunset stuttered as she tried to hold back a series of high pitched giggles. Twilight leaned back, standing ram-rod straight and staring wide eyed at Sunset, her blood suddenly feeling more like ice water. N-not again, please don't tell me it's happening again!? Sunset took another minute to get her giggle fit under control before slamming her motorcycle helmet onto her head. "Man, you're a riot Twi, later tater!" She called before bopping Twilight's nose with a finger and hopping on her bike, starting the engine. The cold in Twilight's veins quickly turned into the heat of anger and frustration as tears began to creep into her eyes. "YOU'RE SUCH AN IDIOT SUNSET!!!" She screamed, venting her heartbreak to the world, but of course even that was swallowed by the roar of Sunset's motorcycle as she gave her a casual wave and zoomed out of the parking lot. Twilight bit back a sob as she felt the tears start up in full force. "Damnit Sunset, I'd hate your guts if I wasn't in love with you..." she whimpered, trying to scrub the tears from her eyes, but that only made her feel more miserable. Realizing she was about to start bawling in the middle of a public parking lot, she gave a panicked look around and spotted a secluded looking alley next to the theater. Casting caution to the wind, she made a dash for the nearest shred of seclusion so she could have a good long cry before going home and facing her parents, who also thought that she had been out on her first date that night. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sunset Shimmer stretched languidly as she stepped off the bus and observed the collection of buildings surrounding the bus stop. "Hmmm, convenience store, coffee shop, movie theater, yeah this'll work, took longer to get here than I expected though." She mused to herself, looking between her watch and the rapidly setting sun. It was at that moment that a few stray drops of rain began to fall, causing her to glance up at the graying sky. At least it was warm out. She glanced behind herself at the bus schedule posted at the stop and did some quick math in her head, before shrugging to herself. "Not like anyone'll come looking if I don't make it back to the orphanage by curfew." With that, she walked up through the parking lot towards the theater, intent on checking the posters along the wall. "Hmmmmmm, trash, garbage, seen it, trash, good trash, the book was better..." She muttered to herself as she looked over each poster, moving from the entrance towards the side of the building. ",trash, boring trash, loved it but will never tell a soul, and finally trash. Guess that's a no go for catching a movie, guess I'll check out..." She snapped her mouth shut as a high pitched whimper drifted from around the building. "Huh, is somebody back there...?" She took a few slow steps closer to the mouth of the alley and attempted to peer into the shadows. Unfortunately she couldn't see a damn thing from this distance, but she did hear more distinctly human noises towards the back. It may not have been the wisest idea, investigating a sketchy alley in an unfamiliar part of town, but Sunset didn't scare easily, not to mention she was already bored out of her mind, and the alley offered at least some refuge from the steadily heavier rain. Maybe the suburbs weren't the land of adventure and freedom she had been hoping for. With that thought, she stepped fully into the shadows of the alley and headed towards the figure crouching deeper in. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every time Twilight thought maybe she was done crying, she'd be hit with a renewed wave of sadness, and bury her head between her knees once again. It was beginning to get on her nerves. "I'm so stupid! Of course she didn't think this was a date." Twilight grumbled between sniffles. "She didn't think the library or the aquarium was a date either, why would tonight be any different!" with that she slammed her fist against the brick wall she was sitting against, which immediately drew a yelp and fresh tears as she cradled her sore hand. Between what was sure to be a fresh bruise and the rain picking up, Twilight was just about ready to give up on the last of her dignity and go cry in the bus stop until the next bus came when she was interrupted by heavy footsteps further up the alley. Suppressing a yelp of surprise, she glanced up to see a tall, intimidating looking figure approaching her. In a fit of panic and shame, she reflexively curled into herself, hoping the stranger would just walk past her, maybe not even see her at all. Of course that hope went out the window as the sound of footsteps came to a stop a mere foot away from her, eliciting a fresh whine of sadness and fear from Twilight. "L-look, I'm having a really awful night and this is just the icing on the cake. I don't have much money on me, but it's all yours, just d-don't hurt me. Leave me alone, please." she squeaked, clenching her eyes shut as hard as she could even as she sobbed into her knees. What followed was the longest silence of Twilight's entire life. "Jeez girl, I'm not mugging you, am I really that scary looking?" Twilight's eyes shot open. That voice... She looked up at the figure before her, but it was still shrouded in the general darkness of the alley. It was rummaging in it's pockets for a second before before lifting something to it's mouth. There was a scratching noise, followed by a click as a flame sprang to life, lighting the end of a cigarette. In the brief flash of light, Twilight's eyes went even wider as she caught sight of amber skin, capped by crimson and gold hair. "Suns...!" "Whoa! That was bright, blinded myself a little." The girl said, stumbling a little. "Uh, I know you might wanna be alone right now but...mind if I sit down for a second, just until I get my bearings back?" She asked, a hint of awkward guilt in her voice. Twilight kept staring at the dark figure wordlessly, before realizing she had been asked a question. "Oh, umm, sure I guess..." "Thanks!" Was all the warning given before the girl plopped down right next to Twilight. "So, you want one?" she asked, gesturing towards Twilight with what looked like the silhouette of a cigarette pack. "I-I don't smoke." Twilight half-whispered, still trying to piece together what was happening. "Might make you feel better." The girl mused with what sounded like a good-natured grin. "You sure?" She asked again, shaking the little box. "No, thank you for the offer though." Twilight said with a small smile herself, belatedly realizing she seemed to have finally stopped crying. "Hmmm, suit yourself." The girl took a drag of the cigarette hanging from her lips, causing the end to flare and provide Twilight with another flash of a face that was familiar yet completely different from what she expected. A hand extended through the darkness towards Twilight. "Anyways, I know I'm interrupting, but what can I say, I'm a bit nosy. I'm Sunset Shimmer, it's nice to meet ya."