Chapter 12. Indulgence.
Sunset Shimmer had been nervous that morning, fidgeting and drumming her fingers everywhere and all the time. Being away from the house had been the sensible thing to do, for sure, but once she woke up she couldn’t shake off the feeling that something bad could happen at any moment.
And so, once she got to the motocross field, she channeled all her energy into her job. Trixie had asked her to take it easy, but Sunset had already made her mind to work her worries off, and once she made her mind about something, it would be betraying her own beliefs to stop half way in. And the object of her obsession was currently the damned motocross bike she had been trying to fix for the past month.
At first, everyone at the field would often take pity on her futile attempt, some would even mock her, but Sunset never gave up. Every day she did her usual mechanic labor, cleaning, fixing and giving maintenance to the bikes, and when everyone was ready to wrap up, she would work on her personal project.
Sometimes, Lightning Dust or Stinger would stop by to give her company and tell her to just throw the thing away. They weren’t the best cheering crowd, but they at least had a spark in their eyes every time Sunset worked on the bike, like they actually wanted her to fix it.
Today, once she had finished all her obligations and it was just half an hour before the field closed down, Sunset began working on the bike. She cleaned it and tweaked the motor and tried her usually futile first attempt at turning on the engine.
To her surprise, the bike actually started up for a second before it died again. Sunset grinned and began to thoroughly examine it. At some point she noticed quite the crowd surrounding her. Apparently, Stinger had given word that today might be the day Sunset fixed the damned thing, and some of the mechanics and drivers had come to cheer for her.
Sunset didn’t really need to be cheered, but she appreciated it nonetheless. She had been working on it for quite a lot of time now, and the good wishes helped her keep focused.
She finished tightening yet another piece near the front wheel. Her back hurt a little from her awkward position, so she suppressed a moan when she threw her arms up and stretched, feeling quite a good amount of pops all throughout her back.
With a huff she stood up and climbed on the bike. The crowd got silent, and she could actually feel the expectation. She braced herself, introduced the keys and turned.
The bike vibrated and coughed, but didn’t do much more. Sunset felt a sting of disappointment, but decided to try again.
This time, the bike roared to life.
“Yes!” Sunset yelled at the top of her lungs before facing the crowd. “You’re all my bitches!” She told them with an accusatory finger. “All of you!”
The crowd applauded and cheered, if a little bit unsettled by those words.
Lightning Dust approached her, whistling in surprise. “I can hardly believe you made this piece of trash work, Sunset.”
Sunset’s was high on adrenaline, mirth taking over her broad smile. Her legs were shaking like crazy. “But I did! And she’s purring like a kitten! Ain’t that right you beautiful thing?” She asked the bike, gently patting the handle. She briefly considered kissing it.
Lightning chuckled. “Hey, want some advice? Take it to the flat field first. Don’t want it breaking down in the middle of a jump ey?”
Sunset rolled her eyes, but smiled nonetheless. “Thanks, Dust.” She grabbed the throttled and pulled, eliciting a high pitched roar that made Sunset’s arms shiver. “Oh how I want to taste this baby…” She said as she looked toward the crowd. “But, I have to do something first.”
Turning the key, the bike quickly fell silent and inert. It almost made Sunset’s heart sink. She got off the bike and faced the crowd. “Alright, time to scatter,” she said. Disappointed, the people turned around and little by little the garage was left with only three people.
Sunset, Lightning Dust, and a middle aged woman of pale blue skin and long emerald hair. It was Selene, Trixie’s mother.
“Hey, Dust,” Sunset called. “Do me a favor and go away for a few minutes.”
Lightning frowned, then looked at the woman and back to Sunset. She shrugged and left the garage.
Selene looked exactly like the last time Sunset had seen her. The only difference was the longing look on her face, and she somehow seemed… smaller.
“Hello, Sunset,” Selene said.
Sunset used a thumb to point to the office before turning and walking there while she wiped her blackened hands on a dirty piece of cloth. Selene only followed her inside. Once there, Sunset motioned her to close the door and sat on her boss’s chair.
“Let’s cut the chase, shall we?” Sunset said as she crossed her arms. “Why the change of heart?”
Selene didn’t answer right away. She instead grabbed the only other chair available, in front of Sunset, and slowly sat down. Her expensive-looking clothes, a nice dark green sweater and jeans, didn’t help hide her shame and exhaustion.
“I’m not going to think of excuses,” Selene said, her head hanging low and eyes staring at her own knees. “I said… I did a horrible thing to Trixie… I thought I was in the right but… But…” Tears were already forming in the corners of her eyes, but she managed to contain her cry, and even her voice didn’t crack that much. “Trixie’s my only daughter. I may not agree with… her preferences… But I love her…” She sniffed and turned her hands into fists. “I love my daughter, Sunset. I just want to tell her that... and apologize…”
Sunset did her best to keep a serious face, but Selene’s sobbings made it quite difficult.
“Why wait until now?” Sunset asked as calm as she could.
“You think I haven’t tried?!” Selene refuted, finally looking up at Sunset. Tears cascading down her cheeks, eyes reddened. “I’ve gone to Canterlot High practically every day, but somehow she’s never there! I know she’s avoiding me like a plague, but how am I supposed to apologize if I can’t even see her?”
That came as a surprise to Sunset. It did sound strange. Had Trixie been actively avoiding Selene? But then again, why had she never told Sunset?
Is that why she was so livid last night? Sunset thought.
“Then I came across these flyers advertising her,” Selene said, taking out a small piece of paper. On it was a picture Pinkie had made of Trixie in a flamboyant pose, with her name above in shiny, almost obnoxious letters, and her contact information below. “When I first called a few days ago I was so surprised that you answered… I panicked and played it off as a wrong number… I thought you’d hang up the moment you knew it was me, so I tried to find another way…”
“Until you realized there isn’t another way,” Sunset agreed. “But you called pretty late, Trixie and I were… Fast asleep.”
“I’m sorry…” Selene said, lowering her head again. “I had a… bad day yesterday, and I decided that I had to at least try… I didn’t even glance at the clock…”
“That’s… ok,” Sunset said, glad that Selene wasn’t looking at her blush.
“So where is she?” Selene asked. “What else do I have to say for you to call her?”
Sunset leaned back. “She’s not here,” she said evenly. “She’s at home, doing a research paper.”
Selene looked up at her and mouthed silently for a moment. “Then why did you tell me to come here?”
“Because I wanted to talk to you first,” Sunset replied, a bit too quickly. “I wanted to make sure you wouldn’t hurt her, again.”
“H-How dare you?”
“How dare I?!” Sunset said, standing up. “Do you have any idea how broken Trixie was after her own father kicked her out and her own mother told her to apologize to him?! She and I were going through some serious stuff back then and I still was there to collect the pieces!” She huffed angrily, glaring down at Selene. “And where were you? In the comfort of your house, feeling like it was totally ok to do that to your daughter.” She snorted. “And it only took you, what? four months to finally put on your big girl pants and recognize you fucked up?”
Selene could only look at Sunset, eyes widen and mouth slightly agape. When Sunset had finished, she was looking down at her own knees.
“You’re right,” she finally said, barely above a whisper. “You’re right, I get it.” She sniffed and pursed her trembling lips as she looked up, tears running down her reddened cheeks.
“Do you, though?” Sunset asked, unable to contain herself. “Do you really understand she’s gay and she won’t change just because you say so?”
Selene cringed slightly, but held Sunset’s gaze. “Yes, I do. I may not agree, but she’s my daughter, and I love her.”
“I love her, too,” Sunset said, then sat back down. “I love her just enough to yell at her mother, mind you.”
Selene chuckled, taken by surprise by the sudden joke.
“I want to trust you, Selene,” Sunset said, leaning forward a little. “I want to believe you really want to put aside your prejudices and just hug Trixie and tell her you love her no matter what. Just because that’s how it should be.” She regarded Selene for a moment, trying to study her facial expressions and body language.
After a long while, she nodded. “I can take a day off tomorrow. I’ll see you at Canterlot Mall’s food court at this hour. Trixie’ll be there, of course.”
Selene breathed out, as if she had been holding back her breath, and smiled from ear to ear. “Thank you, Sunset.”
“But,” Sunset said as she raised a finger. “If you hurt Trixie, I’ll make sure you never see her again.”
Without even thinking it over, Selene nodded.
~~~~~~~~
“Why did I even agree to this?” Trixie asked to herself after she nervously sipped on her chocolate milkshake.
Sunset had told Trixie what had happened the day before, and how Selene seemed truly apologetic. It had taken a lot of convincing, but Trixie had agreed to see her mother in the end.
They were now in the center of the food court at Canterlot Mall. There were so many people they had been lucky to find a free table. While they waited, Sunset had brought a pair of milkshakes, chocolate for Trixie and strawberry for herself.
“Because you want to see your mom,” Sunset replied softly.
Trixie rolled her eyes. “You know, I’m still mad at you,” she said before sipping on her milkshake again. “You know how hard it is to avoid someone that is actively looking for you? And you just go and tell her you’ll help her!”
“We already talked about it, Trix,” Sunset replied. “Besides, you never told me she had been going to CHS. I can’t read minds, you know?”
“Well you should!”
Sunset breathed out heavily through her nose. “Trixie, honey,” she began, taking Trixie’s hands and wrapping them with her own. “If you really don’t want to do this, we can just leave.” She gazed into Trixie’s eyes and gave her hands a soft squeeze. “But I still think you should at least try to talk to her. If she acts like an idiot again, then we know it was just a charade, but if she really is sorry and willing to apologize and accept you for who you are, then you’ll have your mom back. And I think that’s worth the risk.”
Trixie pursed her lips for a moment before offering her a half smile.
“Fine, but if this whole thing fails horribly, you will regret it,” Trixie said.
Sunset offered her a tiny smile. She looked around, seeing people talking and walking by. She noticed some people had t-shirts with designs that reminisced her to a certain red gemstone. Some of them were listening to some music on their phones, although Sunset couldn’t quite recognize it.
She considered telling Trixie, but right then she spotted Selene among the crowd and raised an arm to get her attention. She felt Trixie tense up so she squeezed her hand in an attempt to give her some confidence.
Trixie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Let’s get this over with,” she said before standing up.
She barely got the chance to turn around before Selene quite literally tackled her and trapped her in a tight hug. Trixie’s first reaction was to squirm away, but then she felt her mom’s body spasm in short hiccups and heard her soft and quivery gasps, and stopped.
“Oh Trixie, I missed you so much,” Selene whispered through ragged breathing. “I’m sorry for what I did and said the last time we met. I’m sorry, Trixie.” She tightened the hug as if she was holding on to Trixie for dear life.
Trixie didn’t move, she wanted to hug her back, but they had been in this exact situation the last time they met, and it hadn’t ended well. Last time, Trixie had let her mom decide the duration of the embrace, this time, Trixie was the first one to step away.
Trixie regarded her mom in silence, looking her up and down a few times over. “Hi,” she said, and let the silence become as uncomfortable as possible.
“I-I…” Selene stuttered. “T-Trixie, I don’t know what to say, what to do… I…”
“Hey,” Sunset chimed in, getting both of them to turn to her. “Why don’t you sit down and talk?”
Trixie frowned and obliged, sitting next at Sunset’s right. Selene sat down right in front of Trixie, at Sunset’s left.
Sunset felt like she was being used as a sort of wall.
“Sunset says you had a sudden change of heart,” Trixie finally spoke up, crossing her arms and leaning back. “And for some strange reason she’s under the delusion that I should give a damn.”
It was an interesting sight, Sunset thought, how Selene’s whole body struggled to contain an explosive need to scold Trixie for how she was talking to her. She had to give credit where credit was due, though, as Selene remained silent, prepared to let Trixie vent.
“I want to make it clear now, mother,” Trixie continued, trying her very best to make an annoyed voice. “I won’t talk to that poor excuse of a father until he fully compensates my friend and her family for letting me stay with them for so long, and is ready to kneel at my feet begging forgiveness.”
Selene mouthed silent words for a moment. “I… I think that’s fair…” she said.
Trixie frowned. “And I want you to know I’m gay,” she said, emphasising that last word with a lower speed. “I’m gay and I love Sunset, and it’s not a phase, and if you ever dare even look at me wrong because of it, I swear not even Sunset will convince me to give you another chance.”
With her threat in place, Trixie fell silent, cautiously observing Selene’s reactions. According to Sunset, Selene seemed truly guilty, but Trixie still needed to confirm it herself.
Selene placed both hands on the table and looked down. “Sunset told me more or less the same thing, and I had all night to think about it.” She then looked up at Trixie and gave her a tiny smile. “Do you think I’d be here if I’m not willing to accept you for who you are?”
“I don’t know you anymore,” Trixie replied instantly. “I always knew my father would act like a complete asshole, but I had my doubts about you, and last time we met, for a very brief moment I thought I...” Her voice softened and almost became a whisper in the last words. “I thought you’d support me…”
“I’m sorry, Trixie…”
Trixie sniffed loudly and pursed her lips. “You know, it was a good thing in hindsight. Had you acted like a sensible human being back then, you would’ve convinced me to come back to live with you again and I’d be miserable again.” She then extended an arm and side hugged Sunset. “But instead I’m living with Sunset, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
Selene looked at Sunset with widened eyes.
“Yep,” Sunset replied the unasked question. “I asked her to move in with me a few days ago. It isn’t the biggest place, but it’s enough for the two of us.”
“The… two of you?” Selene asked. “Oh, that’s right. You said you live alone.”
Sunset snickered slightly. “Well, not anymore.”
Selene did her best not to cringe at that. “Right.”
Trixie gave Sunset a very slow kiss on her cheek, dangerously close to her lips, and leaned back.
Clearing her throat in an attempt to hide her blush, Sunset spoke up. “So, Selene, I think you’d like to know Trixie’s career as a magician has been having pretty good results. I’m confident by the moment she finishes High School she’ll be able to start performing professionally in big stages.”
Selene looked from Sunset to Trixie, and gave a slight chuckle. “Of course…” she muttered to herself before giving Trixie a warm smile. “So you’re following your dream after all. I always thought it was a risky choice, but if it’s working out, then you have all my support.”
Trixie frowned. “Wow, you really are trying hard. I clearly remember you agreeing with my father that being a magician was a stupid little girl’s dream.”
“I’m allowed to change my mind,” Selene replied, straightening up. She then cleared her throat. “I mean, I’d still like you to go to college, call it a mother’s nature if you will…”
With a roll of her eyes and a loud huff, Trixie crossed her arms again. “If I ever want or need to, I will do what I must. Right now, I’m dead set on my goal of becoming the world’s best magician.”
Selene made a face she quickly tried to hide. “Trixie, I know you’re now just trying to get me to say something that’ll give you a reason to leave. I already told you I’m sorry, and I already said I accept and respect you and your choices, even if I don’t agree quite yet. But above all that, I love you, and I don’t want to disappear from your life.” She inhaled sharply and leaned over, intertwining her fingers in a sort of pleading way. “Please, tell me what do I have to do to convince you of that?”
Trixie snorted. “Well, if you really want to know. You could pay off all the clothes Rarity made for me. I remind you I was kicked out with nothing but my pajamas. And yeah I also ate their food and overall made them spend extra money.” She leaned in, placing her still crossed arms on the table, and narrowed her eyes. “And you know who else is been spending money because of me? Sunset. Do you have any idea how much it costs to do all the things she does in order to get me performances? She won’t tell me, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.”
Selene inhaled sharply and closed her eyes.
“Yeah, thought so,” Trixie said as she leaned back and looked away.
“It’s not that I don’t want to do that,” Selene quickly said. “It’s just… I-It’ll take me a while.” She saw Trixie raise an eyebrow and let out a deep sigh. “The truth is… Your father and I are… taking a break.”
Caught by surprise, Trixie straightened up. “What?”
Selene looked away. “He is really stubborn. I tried, many times, to convince him that what we did to you was just not right…” She hung her head and closed her eyes, furrowing her brow before continuing. “We argued day in and day out, and… I decided I needed time to think. So I’m currently living with your Aunt Merrymoon.”
“Of course I still have money,” Selene continued. “But you know pretty well I don’t earn nearly as much as your father. I have to save it up in case things never get better.” She then quickly looked up at Trixie again and offered her a nervous smile. “But I still want to repay your friend, and you as well, Sunset!” She quickly looked at Sunset before turning back to Trixie. “Just tell me how much and we can work on a monthly payment and-”
“No need,” Trixie interrupted her, and Sunset noticed she sounded quite annoyed. “I don’t want your money.”
Selene cocked her head. “But you said-”
“I was testing you,” Trixie said evenly and looked away, crossing her arms again. “I think… I can give you a second chance, after all…” A huge smile formed in Selene’s face and tears started to appear in the corners of her eyes as her cheeks reddened. “Yeah, well, we’re busy.” She stood up. “We got things to do. See you around.” And with that, she quickly walked away.
Sunset stood up and looked at Selene. “We’ll uh… We’ll keep in touch,” she said before going to catch up with Trixie.
“Hey, Trix!” Sunset called her out. “Trix, wait up!” She finally caught Trixie, placing a hand on her shoulder to make her stop. “That went better than expected ey?”
Trixie turned around, having to lift her face to look at Sunset. Her face was rigid and her lips trembling. She didn’t let Sunset react before she hugged her and tried to bury her face in Sunset’s chest.
“Trix?” Sunset asked as she hugged Trixie back, and for some reason, Trixie felt smaller, more delicate, as if she would break if she hugged her any harder. Then she heard Trixie sobbing. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“I was so scared…” Trixie whimpered. “I just kept giving her reasons to snap and I thought she would yell at me o-or she would say something humiliating or-”
Sunset gently placed a hand on the back of Trixie’s head and quietly shushed. “It’s ok, Trix. Everything’s alright.” She heard Trixie’s ragged breathing and caressed her head. “I’m sorry I put you through this, but I knew it was for the best. She is sorry, and she wants to make it up to you. Even if your dad is still an asshole, this is a victory in my book.”
That got a chuckle from Trixie, who leaned back just enough to look up at her. “Thank you, Sunny,” she said and started to stand on her toes.
With a small smile, Sunset leaned down and kissed Trixie, never ending the hug, never wanting to get away.
~~~~~~~~
It had been three days since Sunset and Trixie had last gone to Shimmer’s house. Fortunately, Twilight kept constant communication with Sunset, always updating on the situation. Apparently, the siren hadn’t noticed their absence, and was talking with Shimmer like she always did with Sunset.
That gave them both peace of mind, knowing that everything was still going well. And it helped them relax; they both knew they needed it.
And like so, they were now sitting on Sunset’s couch, watching some random action movie on Sunset’s laptop, which sat neatly on the coffee table. Sunset was resting on the armrest, and Trixie was leaning on Sunset, resting her head on her girlfriend’s shoulder.
“Why do they always run in front of whatever’s chasing them instead of out of the way?” Trixie asked with a bored tone.
“He’s in an alley, Trix,” Sunset replied softly. “There is no out of the way.”
Trixie huffed. “You know what I mean.” Sunset chuckled, but said nothing else. Trixie hummed as a car nearby the protagonist exploded and quite miraculously did not kill him. “Hey, Sunny?”
“Yeah?”
“Can you stop teasing me?”
Sunset groaned slightly, her left hand had been spending the past twenty minutes or so idly caressing Trixie’s bossom. “Do I have to?” Trixie hummed affirmatively. “Oh come on, Trix, you know this is my favorite thing to do in the world.”
Trixie grabbed Sunset’s hand and gently took it away from underneath her t-shirt. “Yes, I know, but I can’t concentrate on the movie. Afterward, well...”
“Party pooper,” Sunset muttered as she relocated her hand around Trixie’s waist. There was an explosion on the laptop screen and some more shootings. Sunset hadn’t really been paying much attention to the movie, and now Trixie had taken away her only entertainment. “Say, how’s your little project going on?”
Rolling her eyes, Trixie shifted to look up at Sunset. “You’re not going to let me watch the movie, are you?” Sunset shook her head mischievously. Trixie sighed, then leaned forward to pause the movie and back to Sunset. “So, Adagio says Shimmer is opening up.”
“Really now?”
“Mhm.” Trixie shifted to take her phone from a pocket and tapped on it a couple times. “‘Sunset didn’t flee today’,” she read. “‘And she gave me a compliment without me giving her one first’.” Trixie giggled and looked up at Sunset again. “Give it two weeks before they become a couple again.”
Sunset smiled but retained a curious look in her eyes. “Why are you doing this again? I mean, I get helping a friend is good and all, but…”
“Because I promised her,” Trixie replied. “Besides, Shimmer may still be a massive bitch, but she’s been changing. Her injury humbled her down some, and who knows? Maybe some TLC is just what she needs.”
Sunset puffed. “If you say so.”
Trixie snuggled Sunset. “Can we go back to watching the movie?”
“But you know how it’ll end,” Sunset whined. “Good guy wins and gets the lady.”
“Yes, but if the story is good, it’s worth knowing the end,” Trixie replied as she leaned in to unpause the video. “Besides,” she said, looking back at Sunset. “When it ends, we can continue what you started.”
As Trixie leaned back again, Sunset couldn’t help but smile.
~~~~~~~~
It was the last day Sunset had been told to leave Shimmer’s house. Tomorrow they’d return and get back to work. According to Twilight, Dusk had started to act a bit weirder than usual. She hadn’t given more information, saying it was probably just her imagination, but Sunset was now anxious to return.
Fortunately, the constant purr of her bike made her feel at ease. She had managed to make it work at last, and she had even taken it to a few laps around the flat field. Sure it wobbled a bit and the suspension was stiff, but the bike worked, and it was hers.
Today, after some tinkering, the bike felt much better, and Sunset decided to take it to the beginner’s field.
“Sunset, please reconsider,” Lightning Dust told her worriedly. “That thing was literal trash last week. Sure it worked fine yesterday, but it doesn’t look solid enough to handle the jumps. You’ll hurt yourself.”
As Lightning talked, Sunset was donning a borrowed suit, green with black stripes and white sides. She grabbed the helmet, also borrowed, put it on, and lifted the visor. “Chill, Dust. It’ll be alright. Besides, my girlfriend and her mom will be watching, and this’ll be the best spectacle I can give them.”
Lightning groaned and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Geez you sound just like Stinger when he met that girl Vapor Trail.” She shook her head. “Listen, hot stuff, if you really want to do this, then at least try not to overdo it. One strange noise, and you stop the bike, ok?”
“Sure thing, Dust,” Sunset said and kicked turned on the engine. The bike roared with no coughs, which made Sunset smile behind the helmet. She began walking in wide steps, slowly moving the bike towards the start of the beginners’ field.
Turning her head a bit to her right, she saw Trixie sitting on the bleachers with Selene sitting an arm away. Sunset smiled, kicked her bike and accelerated.
“And she just fixed it?” Selene asked, looking worriedly at Sunset as she approached the first jump. “Why not buy a new one?”
Trixie shrugged, never looking directly at her mom. “She likes challenges.”
“But you said the bike was basically just broken down parts, right?” Selene continued. “And it took her months, as well.”
“Yeah, well, once Sunset sets her mind on something, she won’t stop until it’s firing on all cylinders,” Trixie replied evenly, then added on a much softer voice. “I should know…”
Selene gave Trixie a side look, then turned just in time to see Sunset land roughly and wobble for a second before speeding up again. “She is… quite determined, I see.”
Trixie hummed with a bit of annoyance. “People saw junk and trash, she saw a treasure,” she said as she crossed her arms.
Selene kept looking at Sunset, who was started her second lap. She was idly twirling and intertwining her fingers, only stopping when Trixie spoke up. She turned several times to look at Trixie, but could never really meet her eyes.
“Trixie,” she started, mouthing silent words as she organized her thoughts. “I’m glad that you had Sunset to support you. She really is a nice girl, responsible and kind. I… I think she’ll do you a lot of good.”
Trixie didn’t look at her.
“And of course, you can do her a lot of good, as well,” Selene added. “You’re smart, proactive, and decisive. You, too, make an effort to see things to completion, and I’m proud of you.”
And yet, Trixie still didn’t look at her.
Selene looked at Trixie nervously, then at Sunset’s wobbling form, and back at Trixie. “H-Hey, do you remember my friend Jubilee from poker night? Her daughter’s birthday is coming up soon and she’s looking for a good magician…”
Trixie finally looked at her, if only for a second. “Talk to my manager.” Selene opened her mouth to keep talking, but Trixie stood up and walked down the bleachers, reaching the field’s finish line just as Sunset pulled over.
“Hey,” she said after Sunset stopped and took off her helmet. “How’s the bike working?”
Sunset smiled broadly. “Just perfect,” she replied as she patted the handle. “I turned this lion into a tamed kitten. I’m even considering naming her, any ideas?”
Trixie raised an eyebrow. “Really? Name a bike?” Sunset nodded furiously, making Trixie laugh a bit. “I don’t know, Sunny. I’m bad at naming inanimate objects.”
Sunset shrugged and turned of the engine, then put the bike on neutral. “So, how’re things going with Selene?” She asked as she got off the bike, placing the helmet on the handle.
“Good, I guess,” Trixie replied with a shrug. “She’s really trying, and I appreciate it, but… I don’t think I’m ready to forgive her just yet.”
Sunset gently placed a hand on Trixie’s cheek and caressed her with her thumb. “You go at your own speed. She can wait.”
Trixie smiled, then narrowed her eyes. “Sunset Shimmer, I hope you’re actually not smearing my face with oil and grease.”
At that, Sunset bleached and her smile disappeared as she retrieved her hand. “H-Hey, Dust?” She yelled.
“What?!” Lightning Dust yelled back.
“I want to be buried with my bike!”
“... What?!”
Trixie snorted and quickly stepped on her toes to give Sunset a quick peck. “You’re such a dork.”
Sunset hugged Trixie by the waist. “But really, I must say you look positively beautiful with a black smudge in your left cheek. Is that a new trend? Very in season.”
“Shut up,” Trixie said giggling. She opened her mouth, but closed it when she saw, through the corner of her eye, her mom approaching, and instead circled her hands around Sunset’s neck and turned to Selene with a frown.
Selene regarded them with curiosity for a moment. “Thank you for inviting me,” she said. “I’ve never been interested in sports of any sort, but I can see why people like them.” She looked at Sunset from top to bottom and smiled. “Those colors don’t suit you, I’m afraid, but you still look like a racer.”
Sunset smiled. “Thanks. I’m still debating whether to become a racer or stay a mechanic, though. I like doing both, after all.”
With a loud huff, Trixie stepped back and passed a hand through her hair. “So I have to finish my paper for science class,” she told Sunset. “Can we go home now?”
“S-Sure…” Sunset said as she looked between Trixie and Selene. “Just let me change back into my clothes, ok?” She said, then grabbed her bike and took it to the garage, leaving Selene and Trixie alone once more.
“She’s very down to earth,” Selene noted.
Finally, Trixie turned to her, sporting a scowl. “Can you stop trying so hard? I get that you’re sorry, but worshipping me and my girlfriend is not really helping.”
Selene’s mouth was a thin line, and her eyes were widened in surprise.
“This whole thing is weird, ok?” Trixie continued. “Being able to freely say the things I always thought in front of you, act the way I really am…” She sighed. “I just need time.”
“I’m sorry,” Selene replied. “I’ll try not to be so insistent in the future.”
Trixie nodded, but before she could answer, she saw that girl Lightning Dust approach her.
“Hey,” Lightning said. “Your name’s Trixie, right? Listen, I gotta go, got some stuff to do, so can you give Sunset a message?”
“Sure, I guess.”
Lightning smiled. “So, we’re all going to the Dazzling’s concert next month, and we thought you and Sunset could come with us,” she explained. “Afterwards we could go grab a beer or somethin’.”
Trixie blanched and stepped back, feeling cold sweat running down her face.
“Trixie?” Selene called her. “Are you feeling alright?”
Trixie looked at her mom, then at Lighting Dust, who had a concerned frown. “Y-Yeah…” she lied. “Just got a little dizzy…” She then looked at Lightning. “Sure, I’ll tell her…”
“Cool,” Lightning said. “See you then!” And with that, she left.
It had been a week of distractions, Trixie realized. Playing matchmaker with Adagio and Shimmer, her mom wanting to meet her, school projects… She had almost forgotten what was going on!
The Dazzlings had not been wasting time, and they had to stop them somehow. She and Sunset had to return to Shimmer’s house and start moving.
Otherwise, nothing that happened during the week would matter anymore.
“Trixie?” Selene called her. “Are you ok?”
Trixie blinked and turned to her mom. “Yeah I… I need to go get Sunset,” she said and ran towards the garage.
They had to start planning, stat.