The hot afternoon sun beat down on Trixie as she made her way through town. Her flip-flops made a slapping sound with each step against the searing asphalt. She fanned herself with her hand and adjusted her sunglasses with the other. The weatherman had warned about the scorching heat and she had applied a liberal coating of sunscreen as protection. She shuddered as a bead of sweat crawled down the curve of her neck and along the small of her back. Ick. She hated sweat. Dry heat she could handle, but the humidity was killer. She ruffled the front of her t-shirt to get some cool air moving and exhaled.
“Almost there,” she muttered under her breath.
Her pace quickened as she rounded the corner and saw Sunset's building. It beckoned to her like a dewy oasis in a desolate desert. Sighing heavily, she jogged across the street and plunked her bag down on the step just as Sunset emerged from the front door.
"Oh! Trixie! You're a little early," mused Sunset, taking a quick peek at her watch.
Trixie struck a dramatic pose.
"No, a magician is never late, nor is she early. She arrives precisely when she means to.”
"Um, I think you mean wizard, and isn’t that from-“
"Never you mind that, Sunny," interrupted Trixie, waving her off. "Do you have the stuff?" Her eyes widened noticeably.
Sunset furrowed her brow for a moment at the less-than-specific word.
"If by stuff you mean the food and drinks, then yes," replied Sunset, gesturing toward the basket at her feet. Trixie pushed her sunglasses up the bridge of her nose and nodded, satisfied that everything was in order. Sunset took a seat on the front step and motioned for Trixie to do the same. Trixie gasped a little as the cold concrete touched her bottom.
"You didn't have to walk all the way here; Applejack could have picked you up."
Trixie shrugged and leaned back.
"Trixie got bored waiting... and figured everyone would have more time at the beach if there was one less stop to make."
"Well, please tell Trixie that was very considerate of her," replied Sunset, playfully punching Trixie's shoulder. The two shared a laugh and fell into a comfortable silence as they waited for the others. Trixie’s mind turned to the deck of cards in her bag. Any magician worth her salt could keep a crowd entertained with it; it was one of her most elementary tools. She cast a sidelong glance in Sunset’s direction. No, she thought to herself. Not yet. Maybe tonight, she concluded.
Trixie watched a group of birds fly from a tree to a powerline, and back again. The constant buzzing of the cicadas brought a smile to her face. Summer: her favourite season. Images of ice cream and the beach drifted through her head. Oh, and best of all: no school! She cut the thought there to prevent dreary textbooks from usurping the glorious symbols of summer in her head. September was still a long way away, after all.
As her mind changed pace, she turned her attention back to her friend. Sunset’s usual leather jacket had been replaced with the upper half of a black two-piece bathing suit. Below her bare midsection, a fiery skirt made of an impossibly billowy material fluttered gently against her legs. Trixie swallowed hard. She wasn’t used to seeing this much of Sunset’s skin. Scratching her cheek nervously, she looked down at her own outfit. Powder blue t-shirt, light shorts. She grimaced a little then turned back to Sunset.
The girl wore a satisfied smirk and looked on the verge of laughing.
“Checking me out, huh?”
Trixie sputtered and managed a feeble reply.
“I j-just thought you looked nice, that’s all.”
“Well, thank you,” Sunset replied. “You do know we’re going to the beach, right?” she asked, pointing to Trixie’s clothes. Trixie’s cheeks flushed.
“I know! Come on, I had to walk here, right? I’ve got a swimsuit on underneath,” said Trixie, her usual boisterous self-confidence evaporating in the summer heat.
“I’m just teasing you,” said Sunset, chuckling. “I’m sure it looks great.”
“Hah! No need to feel sure, Sunset. You will know soon enough!” A glimmer of her usual showgirl self was rapidly returning. She blew a stray lock of her white hair out of the way and continued. “You will see that we are equally ravishing.”
Sunset smiled and cocked an eyebrow.
“Is that so?”
“But, of course! Just look. With your reds and yellows, and my blues - we’re practically complimentary colours!”
The two girls burst out laughing and continued to do so for some time. Eventually it died down and they settled back into waiting for their friends. All the talk of swimsuits and bare skin had brought Trixie’s mind back to the beach. Itching to get a move on, she began to tap her toe impatiently.
"Are they almost here?" she inquired.
Sunset, who had been staring at her phone looked up for a moment.
"Uh, let me check the group chat."
Trixie nodded and leaned back on her elbows. The two sat in silence for a minute as Sunset tapped furiously at her phone.
"Um, like ten minutes? I'm not sure," she said, confusion straining her features. "I think Pinkie's using AJ's phone. AJ messaged that she had picked up Pinkie twenty minutes ago, and all the messages since have been strings of emojis," Sunset said, passing the phone to Trixie to take a look. Trixie, after a quick glance, was just as bewildered as her friend.
"Like, is she sitting on the phone?"
Sunset shrugged. Trixie stared at the screen for a couple more seconds then waved her hand dismissively.
"Trixie is thirsty," she stated matter-of-factly as she began to rummage through Sunset's picnic basket.
"Those are for later, you know," said Sunset as she watched the blue girl attack the wicker basket's contents with gusto.
"Mhm," mumbled Trixie as she continued to search. "There's like infinity of them in here, what are you so worried about?" she muttered.
"Aha!" she gasped as she pulled out two juice boxes. "Catch!"
Sunset reached up and caught the drink that Trixie had tossed her way. She took a look at the label.
"Fruit Punch," she said as she poked her straw in and took a sip.
"The only juice worth drinking," replied Trixie confidently. Sunset took a long sip and sighed.
"I'm more a peach juice kind of girl. I grabbed a bunch of each flavour yesterday at the store. The concession stands at the beach are so expensive."
Trixie gazed over the top of her sunglasses at Sunset as she continued to sip her drink.
"Always prepared," replied Trixie mischievously. "Were you a boy scout in a previous life?"
"Oh shut up!" giggled Sunset as she elbowed her friend.
"Ah! The lady doth protest too much, methinks!”
The two collapsed in a fit of giggles on the front step and were only roused from the hilarity by the sound of two loud honks. Applejack's van pulled up against the curb and came to a stop. The passenger window rolled down and Pinkie stuck out her head, waving her arms.
"Sunseeeet! Trixiiiie!" she screamed.
Applejack leaned over beside Pinkie and called out the window:
"Sorry we're late, guys. Ah've never driven here before and, uh, Pinkie was navigatin' so..."
Trixie and Sunset nodded in complete understanding.
The rear door slid open to reveal the rest of their friends. In the third row seats were Fluttershy, smiling happily, and a very bored looking Rainbow Dash. Rarity was fussing with her hair in the second row and beside her, tinkering with her phone, was Twilight. Everyone looked up and waved as Trixie and Sunset threw their bags inside and stepped in. Trixie took the last seat in the third row of the van, and Sunset took the last in the second.
"It's pretty packed in here," mused Sunset.
"Yeah which is why we should get going, I'm dying back here!" complained Rainbow Dash, looking dejectedly out the window and fanning herself with her hat.
"Um, could we maybe open the sunroof?" asked Fluttershy.
"Goodness, no! I'm having enough trouble with my hair as it is," replied Rarity in horror.
Trixie and Sunset arched their eyebrows and smirked at each other. Twilight leaned towards them.
"It's been like this the whole drive," she whispered.
"Hoo-eee, finally here," said Applejack, equal parts triumph and exasperation.
"You said it!" came Rainbow Dash's reply.
Trixie heaved a sigh as she opened the door and stepped out of the van. Rarity's refusal to allow anyone to crack a window had made the trip unbearable. Trixie wiped the sweat from her brow and grabbed her small bag of beach things. The others seemed just as relieved that the drive was over and set about gathering the food, towels, and other necessities.
Trixie kicked off her flip flops and took a few tentative steps out onto the sand. The shadows of the trees had made the sand cool. Trixie wiggled her toes as she walked; anything remotely cold was welcome after that sweltering ride. She reached down and helped Sunset with her basket of treats and the two began to make their way through the thin line of trees and out to the beach. The cool sand ran out quickly, however, as they pushed past the treeline.
She gasped a little as the sun hit her face and her eyes were bombarded with the endless sparkles of the water. The glittering ocean stretched out to the horizon in a vast panorama of blue. A smile crept across Trixie's face as she saw that the beach wasn't filled with people. A few groups dotted the beach here and there but, for the most part, they had the beautiful vista to themselves. The girls stepped back into their sandals before continuing forward and plopping the basket down. Trixie removed her towel from her bag and laid it out.
"AIEEEEEEEE!"
Trixie and Sunset whipped their heads around to see Pinkie Pie dancing on the sand, her face contorted in pain.
"No flip flops, huh?" remarked Trixie.
"Nope," replied Sunset.
The two watched as Pinkie dropped an armful of umbrellas and, arms flailing in the air, raced across the sand to the water. The rest of the group giggled as they continued to the spot Sunset had picked out.
"Rarity, do you have an extra pair of sandals for Pinkie?" asked Applejack. She scratched her head, a look of concern on her face.
"I do, but I doubt she'd wear them anyway," replied Rarity who began to divvy up the umbrellas to her friends. Rainbow left hers on the ground and went for the bag with the volleyball equipment.
"Alright! Who's up for a game?" Rainbow tossed a volleyball from one hand to the other.
"Rainbow, darling, some of us are here to relax. To soak up the sun," said Rarity with a flourish. She smiled and slid a pair of designer sunglasses over her eyes.
"I-I could play with you for a while, Dash," said Fluttershy. "I'd like to relax a bit later, though."
"I'll play, too, Rainbow," Applejack said with a smirk. "I still need to get my revenge for last time.
Rainbow laughed and waved them over. The three began to walk down the beach toward Pinkie Pie who was splashing and waving. Trixie took another of Sunset's juice boxes and set up her umbrella above her towel. Settling into the shade, she lowered her sunglasses to her face and took a long sip of fruit punch. After a moment of admiring the beach, she removed her shorts and t-shirt, then adjusted her two-piece. Sunset set up her towel and umbrella beside Trixie and did the same. Twilight, kneeling in her one-piece, was digging around in her backpack, a serious look etched on her face.
"Whatcha looking for, Twi?" asked Sunset. Twilight adjusted her glasses and smiled nervously.
"Books! And also... I, uh, brought my shortwave radio with me."
Trixie propped herself up with an elbow.
"What's a shortwave radio?" she asked. Sunset looked equally puzzled.
"Well..." Twilight stopped her rummaging and began twirling a lock of her hair. "You obviously know what a radio is. Well a shortwave radio picks up a different band of frequencies from the ones we have in cars. So you can get lots of different programming, sometimes from other countries!" She smiled to herself sheepishly. Trixie and Sunset nodded, a little overwhelmed by the explanation. Twilight continued looking then sprung up to her feet, a grey box in her hands. "You can even pick up signals from across the ocean!"
"Right.." replied Trixie, obviously not as interested as her purple friend.
"That sounds pretty cool," ventured Sunset, trying to mirror some of Twilight's enthusiasm. Twilight gave a little shrug, but continued smiling. Trixie and Sunset's eyes went wide as Twilight began to pull out an impossibly long antenna from the radio. She gave a short wave and ran out onto the beach.
"And then there were three," said Rarity as she applied a liberal amount of sunscreen to her ivory skin.
"Do you want some juice, Rarity? Something to eat?" asked Sunset.
"No, thank you," replied Rarity. "Later, perhaps. For now I just want to enjoy the sound of the waves." With that, she reclined in her chair and closed her eyes.
Sunset nodded and smiled to herself. She knew better than to disturb Rarity during her quiet time. She swivelled around and saw that Trixie was eyeing her bathing suit. She arched an eyebrow and smirked. The blue girl's gaze wandered up and down Sunset legs and came to rest on the bottom of her bikini.
"Ahem."
Trixie flinched when she realized she had been caught and quickly averted her eyes. Sunset ran a hand down her leg and tossed her fiery hair back in an overly dramatic fashion.
"Like what you see?" she said with a wink.
"Oh, shut up!" replied Trixie with a laugh. "It looks good, it suits you.”
"Well, thank you," replied Sunset with a grin. "You look pretty good, yourself," she said, admiring the purple bow on Trixie’s sky blue top.
Trixie peered over her sunglasses.
"Pretty good?"
"Very good! Very good!" replied Sunset hastily.
"Better," replied Trixie with a satisfied smile. The two settled into a silence as they listened to the sounds of the volleyball game and Twilight chirping about her radio. A few seagulls squawked as they hovered in the air and a crisp sea breeze blew over the girls.
Sunset took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She had spent many days like this in Equestria. The smell of brine in the air, the heat of the sun warming her skin, the breeze tickling her coat. This feeling was so familiar, and yet altogether different. She concentrated for a moment but couldn't detect why. Sighing, she opened her eyes to see Trixie staring wistfully out at the ocean.
"What are you looking at?" asked Sunset, leaning forward so her head was over Trixie's shoulder.
"Just the water," replied Trixie after a moment. "It's... helpful."
Sunset puzzled over that statement for a few seconds.
"Helpful?" she asked.
Trixie bit her lower lip in thought.
"It's... I mean this is the same ocean that existed millions of years ago, right? Like with the dinosaurs and stuff." She paused and gestured toward the water. "And it's still here."
"Well, it's not really the same ocean-"
"I know, I know," replied Trixie quietly, turning her eyes to Sunset. "It's not exactly the same. But still.. it's interesting to think about right? It's helpful.. for me. Reassuring, maybe? I don't know, I'm not sure how else to put it."
Trixie suddenly looked very vulnerable. Her dewy eyes pleaded for understanding. Sunset met her gaze and smiled warmly. Something about what Trixie said had resonated with her but, like her blue friend, she wasn't quite able to put it into words.
"I think I know what you mean," Sunset said.
A small wisp of a smile appeared on Trixie's face before she turned back to the water.
"Oh, and Sunset?"
"Yeah?"
"Your boobs are touching me."
Sunset straightened up and began to blush.
"Oh, uh, s-sorry!" she gasped.
"It's okay," giggled Trixie. "Here, lie down with me." Trixie adjusted the umbrella so it still shaded them but gave them a better view of the sky. Sunset lay down beside Trixie so that their shoulders were touching and looked up. A few small clouds were lazily making their way across the blue expanse above them.
"I used to guess their shapes when I was a kid," said Trixie.
"I did, too," replied Sunset.
They sat and watched the gentle trajectories of the fluffy white tufts in the sky.
"It's a beautiful shade of blue, isn't it?" remarked Trixie.
"Just like you."
A beat passed then Sunset's eyes went wide. The words had just slipped out. Her face went hot and beat red. She peeked at Trixie from the corner of her eye.
"Thanks," was the reply. Simple. Not the end of the world after all. Trixie grinned and lightly elbowed Sunset's side. The scarlet began to leave Sunset's cheeks and ears, and her heartbeat returned to something approaching normal.
"I think I'm going to take a short nap," said Trixie quietly.
"Okay," replied Sunset in barely a whisper.
Trixie wiggled her toes for a few seconds and closed her eyes.
Sunset continued to steal glimpses of Trixie for a few minutes, but eventually closed her eyes as well.
The gentle, rhythmic breathing from the two girls beside her mixed with the sound of the surf, and Rarity, eyes still closed, spoke in a quiet, sing-song voice:
"A-dor-a-ble!"
“Girls! Quick! Come quick!”
“Rarity, what’s got you in such a tizzy?” asked Applejack, slightly annoyed to be pulled away from her game against Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash.
“It’s them. Sunset and Trixie. You all have to see!” yelled Rarity, swinging her phone madly in one hand. A crazed look lit up her features. Twilight looked up from her radio and shrugged at Applejack. The farm girl looked back at her teammate and opponents. All of them were just as mystified as she.
“Well, okay, Rarity. But this better be good.”
“Oh it is, darling! Just come. Scoot. Now!”
Rarity led the group of friends up the beach to their umbrellas and towels. Her pace slowed as they approached and she turned around with a finger to her lips.
“Hush or you’ll wake them,” she whispered.
Applejack scratched her head.
“Wake them? What do yo-“
The group came to a sudden halt. Pinkie and Fluttershy began to giggle. Twilight, who had been following along glued to her radio, bumped into Applejack’s back and looked up. A blush swept across her face. Rainbow Dash smirked and rolled her eyes.
“W-well shucks, aren’t they cute?” said Applejack, doing her best to stifle her own giggles.
“They are!” said Rarity in an excited half-shout, volume control now forgotten. She quickly knelt down and took a picture with her phone.
Before them lay Sunset and Trixie dozing in the midday sun. Sunset lay on her side with her head resting on Trixie’s shoulder. Her arm was draped over Trixie’s stomach, and Trixie’s hand lay on top of Sunset’s. The blue girl’s breath gently tousled the red and yellow hair that had fallen on her chest.
“A-are you sure you should take their picture, Rarity?” asked Fluttershy meekly.
Rarity raised her hand and took a selfie of her and the sleeping duo.
“Oh relax, darling. I can show them and then delete it later.”
“They are pretty cute,” offered Twilight.
“Um, okay. Should we wake them though?” said Fluttershy.
This question stumped the group. It was nearing lunchtime and they’d probably want to eat something… but their collective will to break up a situation that was becoming cuter by the minute was rapidly waning.
“Let’s, uh, leave them for a little longer and get lunch ready,” said Rainbow Dash, speaking for everyone. The rest nodded and started retrieving food from their bags and Sunset’s basket. Rarity, still enamoured by the spectacle before her, hesitated, then took one last photo before running back to the others.
Twilight, who had finally been pried from her radio, was hungrily tearing into a sandwich while scrolling through her phone notifications. She paused and laughed a little before poking Applejack. Applejack tore herself away from a heated discussion with Rainbow Dash about the day’s volleyball match to see what Twilight wanted. She squinted at Twilight’s phone for a moment then turned to Rarity.
“Dangit, Rarity, I thought we agreed to show them first. You can’t just make them your snapgab story like that,” said Applejack, exasperated.
“Oh pish posh, Applejack. The world must see this! They’re so cute!”
“Yeah, well maybe they don’t want everyone seeing that just yet.”
“Please, Applejack. They’re not fooling anybody,” said Rarity with finality. “But fine, I will refrain from posting it anywhere else until they see it,” she muttered with a look as though she had been asked to commit a crime against humanity.
Applejack rolled her eyes and resumed sucking on her juicebox.
The buzzing of her cellphone roused Sunset from her sleep. She peeped her eyes open and groggily propped herself up on an elbow. She looked down and watched Trixie’s chest rise and fall for a few moments. Her breath caught in her throat. In a sudden moment of realization, she took in the scene before her. She was cuddled up with Trixie. Trixie was grasping her hand. Some of her locks still rested on Trixie’s chest. She gently removed her hand from Trixie’s and slowly turned toward the sounds of her friends, hoping that they hadn’t… a storm of giggles and a few waves quickly dismissed the notion that this had gone unnoticed. She blushed hard and carefully nudged Trixie’s shoulder.
The blue girl stirred a moment then her eyes opened. She sat up, still looking half-asleep, and stretched her arms out above her.
“Looks like we had quite the nap, Trix,” said Sunset. “The others started lunch without us.”
Trixie seemed to still have one foot in the dream world so Sunset took her hand and helped her to her feet. As they approached their circle of happily munching friends, Sunset scratched her head nervously.
“So, I see you found the sandwiches and juice boxes that I brought,” she offered.
The others nodded their approval but a few sidelong glances between the girls told her what they were thinking. She led Trixie to a gap in the circle and sat down. Trixie announced in her usual third person that she wanted a cucumber sandwich.
“Me, too,” said Sunset. “And two fruit punches.”
Rainbow Dash reached into the basket and tossed the items over. Sunset took a sandwich and passed one of the juices to Trixie. She peeled the plastic wrap from her food and started to eat as her friends’ gazes pounded into her. She turned to her right and saw that Trixie was completely oblivious to the stares, focusing instead on her lunch. Sunset took a bite and chewed thoughtfully, then felt a poke in her side. She turned to her left and saw that Fluttershy wanted to show her something on her phone. She leaned over to take a look and froze.
It was a picture of Rarity kneeling in front of her and Trixie sleeping with the caption: “sleeping beauties <3”. She tried to smile and managed a nervous laugh. This was why they had been giggling so much.
“So, uh.. that’s us, huh?”
“We look cute.”
Sunset turned her head and almost bumped noses with Trixie. The blue girl was now staring over her shoulder at the phone. The smile on her face was unexpected.
“Right?” Trixie asked, now facing Sunset. Sunset felt Trixie’s breath on her lips and blushed a little.
“Y-yeah. We do look cute, don’t we?” said Sunset. Trixie’s nonchalant reaction brought with it a sense of relief. It was only a big deal if she made it one, after all.
“Seeee, Applejack? No harm done, they love it!” chirped Rarity with a smug look.
“If you say so, Rarity,” was the curt response.
Rarity, now less sure of herself, turned to Sunset and Trixie.
“You don’t mind, do you?” she asked, concern on her features. Sunset fidgeted for a moment, not sure how to respond.
“I guess you could have asked before posting it?” she ventured, not wanting to make Rarity feel too guilty.
“Oh I know I shouldn’t have, Sunset. You two just looked so adorable. I couldn’t help myself,” said Rarity with a pout.
“It’s okay,” said Sunset quickly. “I mean it is a cute photo.”
The radiant smile returned to Rarity’s face. She licked her lips before continuing.
“You two would make such a nice coupl-oof.”
A swift elbow from Applejack put an end to the comment.
“That’s enough, Rarity,” she said firmly. The other girls laughed as they continued to eat and shot knowing glances at Sunset. Trixie seemed unfazed and continued to nibble at her sandwich.
“H-How did the match go? Who won?” asked Sunset, hoping to bring some sense of normality back to the conversation.
Rainbow Dash grumbled something non-committal and Applejack gave a hardy laugh.
“Aw, no need to be a sore loser, Rainbow,” said Applejack.
“We did not lose!” cried Rainbow in return. The conversation continued in this manner but Sunset was no longer listening. Satisfied that she was no longer the centre of attention, her gaze drifted to Trixie. She had finished her sandwich and was now working on her fruit punch. Her knees were held close to her chest, her eyes staring off at nothing in particular. Sunset sometimes forgot that Trixie had not always been a part of this group and was naturally a little withdrawn around the other girls. When she was sure no one was looking, she scooched a little closer to Trixie and poked her shoulder.
“Any good dreams?” she asked with a smile.
Trixie’s eyes brightened at the sound of Sunset’s voice. She took a final sip from the juice box and set it down on the sand.
“I had a wonderful dream. I dreamt of two beautiful girls having an afternoon nap on a tropical beach and- …wait, that’s us!” Trixie feigned amazement before settling back into a grin. Sunset laughed and punched her lightly on the arm. It was amazing how her attitude changed when it was just the two of them together.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack were still arguing over the volleyball game, Twilight was trying to explain something to Pinkie Pie, and Rarity was fussing over Fluttershy’s hair. Sunset and Trixie sat back on their elbows and watched the spectacle.
“Pretty great group of friends, huh?” said Sunset.
“They are,” replied Trixie. “I’m really glad I came today.”
“I’m glad you came, too. It’s good to get away from it all sometimes.”
Another comfortable silence passed then Trixie spoke up.
“Do you ever get tired of fighting magical bad guys from Equestria?”
Sunset didn’t have to think very hard about this one.
“Yes. Yes, I do. That’s why days like this are so nice. We can just get away from it all.”
Trixie simply nodded at this.
“The last one wasn’t so bad though,” Sunset continued.
Trixie looked up.
“It brought you to me, right?” said Sunset with a grin that Trixie quickly returned.
Trixie leaned back onto the sand and looked up at the sky.
“Do you think you could tell me about Equestria some time?” she asked.
Sunset was caught off-guard for a moment. No one had ever asked her before. A flurry of memories from a different world swam through her mind. She swallowed hard.
“Sure.”
Trixie and Sunset rejoined Rarity under the umbrellas and spent the remainder of the day reading and watching the waves. With the exception of a few spats between Rainbow Dash and Applejack over the result of a game, the time passed peacefully.
Trixie stretched out on her towel and yawned. Marking her spot in her book, she sat up and nudged Sunset.
"What's up?" asked Sunset.
Trixie pointed to the horizon. Sunset, still lying on her front, peeked over her shoulder. The sky was slowly changing from a deep blue to a rich amber as the sun descended toward the water. The gulls hovered lazily above the waves as though they, too, were transfixed by the setting sun. The rest of the girls had stopped their own activities to take a look as well.
"Time flies when you're having fun," mused Sunset.
Trixie glanced furtively at her friend then smiled.
"I have something I want to show you," she said.
Trixie hopped to her feet and held her hand out. Taking it, Sunset hoisted herself up and the two set off across the sand. Trixie led Sunset away from the other girls and beyond the tree line. They stepped carefully around the roots of small trees and bushes. Sunset stumbled a few times with her flip flops but managed to keep up.
"Where are we going, Trixie?" she asked as she looked around for some clue as to their destination.
"You'll see," Trixie replied happily, not looking back.
They continued like this for a few more minutes until they emerged from the trees into a small clearing. A weather-beaten log lay on the ground before them. Trixie, still holding Sunset's hand, led her to the log and gestured for her to take a seat. Trixie pointed forward; Sunset followed her hand then gasped.
The clearing had a perfect view of the beach and, more importantly, the setting sun.
"Voila!" said Trixie with a wide grin.
Sunset laughed but couldn't take her eyes off the gorgeous panorama that stretched across the horizon. The sun's yellow disc was slowly descending into the ocean creating a million dancing sparkles across the water. The red and orange hues of the sky melted into one another, and the sun's rays shot through the clouds in a celestial light show. An old flame seemed to light within her but, like before, she had trouble describing it. It was just...
"It's breathtaking," she said quietly.
"Worth the walk?" asked Trixie.
"Yes," said Sunset, scooching closer to her friend. "You wanted me to tell you about Equestria, right?”
Trixie nodded.
“Well this is it."
Trixie looked a little confused at this, but Sunset pressed on.
"In Equestria I was a unicorn. A gifted unicorn. This meant that I could use magic, cast spells, that sort of thing." She paused for a second to collect her thoughts, then continued. "Our horns connected us to a great network of magic. It's hard to explain, but it made you feel like you weren't just a participant in life - it was like you were part of life itself. One with the world." Sunset now turned to Trixie.
"But when I came here and I lost my magic abilities, I lost that sense of belonging as well." She clutched her pendant hard. Something deep inside her was threatening to overflow, but she took a breath and steadied herself. "My friendships with the girls have helped, but it still felt like something was missing. But this," she gestured to the setting sun, "it's... so different yet so much the same. I didn't realize it, but I felt the same way when we were looking out at the ocean earlier today. Being a part of something so much bigger than yourself..." her voice trailed off.
Trixie noticed tears forming in the corners of Sunset's eyes. She gently held Sunset's hand and slipped her fingers between hers. They stayed with each other and watched until the sun was just a thin sliver peeking over the edge of the sea, and then until it had disappeared altogether. The red and yellow pastel sky gave way to blue and eventually darkness. The sparkles on the ocean flickered and disappeared, and the sky shone with blinking stars. Neither Sunset nor Trixie had made a move to leave, each content with the other's company.
"I'm really glad you stopped and talked to me in the hall that day," said Trixie, breaking the silence. Sunset smiled to herself at the memory.
"I wasn't exactly on my best behaviour though," she said sheepishly.
"You were hurting. I know that feeling," replied Trixie. "Earlier you were talking about how you felt out of place when you arrived in our world. Well, I think I can relate."
Sunset grasped Trixie's hand and leaned in closer.
"No one really takes my illusions seriously," she continued. "I try so hard to entertain people but I always fall flat on my face. And I'm just left thinking: 'How do they not see it? Why am I the only one that likes this stuff?' It feels like I've always been out of step with everyone else. But since we became friends, I've been feeling that way less and less. So maybe I was never a unicorn in Equestria, but I think I can sort of see where you're coming from." Trixie sighed after her long speech and looked up, hoping that it had hit the mark.
Sunset drew her into a tight embrace, burying her face between Trixie's neck and shoulder. Trixie gasped in surprise and sat with arms at her side for a moment. But as the warmth of Sunset's skin passed into her own, Trixie wrapped her arms around her and held on tight.
Sunset brought her mouth to Trixie's ear.
"I think I-"
CRACK!
Both girls looked up to see the sky explode in a shower of colourful light. Fireworks were going off in quick succession and the sound was near deafening. Sunset started to laugh. Pinkie must have brought some with her, she thought to herself. She turned to Trixie to gauge her reaction.
Trixie stared up at the sky, grinning ear to ear, as the reflection of the lights danced in her eyes. In that face, Sunset Shimmer saw a flicker of that sense of oneness, that sense of belonging that she had felt herself twice already that day. Smiling, she gently placed her hand under Trixie's chin and guided her so they were facing each other. Staring into her eyes, she spoke.
Trixie squinted in the dark as the fireworks continued to blink overhead. An ever-changing pattern of light and shadow danced across Sunset's face.
"I can't hear you!" she yelled, laughing and pointing to her ear.
Sunset smiled warmly, leaned forward, and the world came to a standstill.
Trixie felt Sunset's hot breath against her lips, and the warmth of her body. She felt the fineness of the sand as it rubbed between her toes, the rough wood of their makeshift bench, and the tingle of a cool sea breeze on her skin. A firework gave another great crack and the sky was ablaze with colour as Sunset's lips pressed against hers.
Trixie’s heart felt ready to burst from her chest and her breath hitched in her throat. Slowly, gingerly, she brought one hand to Sunset’s cheek and the other held her waist. Sunset sidled closer and pushed their chests together causing a brief sigh to escape Trixie’s lips. An unfamiliar yearning surged through Trixie’s body as she centred her mind on the girl pressed against her. Shivers of excitement raced across her skin and she pressed her eyes shut.
The last firework went off and Sunset pulled away. She helped Trixie to her feet and the two held each other in the moonlight. The cacophony of the fireworks had given way to a profound silence punctuated only occasionally by the rustling of leaves and the surf below. Trixie pressed her forehead against Sunset's and smiled. After a few minutes they left the clearing and walked back to the beach.
“Look, they’re back!” Rarity shouted to the others.
Sunset and Trixie’s barely visible forms emerged from the trees and made their way through the murky darkness toward the girls.
“Good timing, we were gonna start looking for you if you were much longer,” said Applejack as she picked up a pile of umbrellas.
“Oh stop it, Applejack. They just needed some alone time, that’s all,” said Rarity with a wink.
“Sorry to worry you guys,” said Sunset, nervously scratching her head. “We were just exploring and lost track of time I guess.”
She wasn’t fooling anyone, and the looks on the other girls’ faces made that plain. Not wanting to draw further attention, Trixie quickly nodded and she and Sunset started helping their friends pack. They had been fairly tidy so the cleaning up went faster than expected. Applejack heaved a great sigh as the last of the bags were thrown into the van. She closed the trunk with a satisfying ‘clunk’ and turned back to face the others.
“I guess that’s it,” said Applejack, looking content.
The rest of the girls seemed to waver between a sense of happiness and one of melancholy that the day had come to an end. Glimmers off the water could still be seen through the trees, and the nighttime wildlife had shown up in force. The crickets had struck up a symphony in the grass and a few stray fireflies floated overhead. A hush fell over the group as they watched the little orbs of light trace their way about.
“Quite the day, wasn’t it?” said Applejack, swatting away a mosquito.
“I’ll say!” cried Rainbow Dash, balancing a volleyball on her nose. “What has two thumbs and is still the undefeated champ of beach volleyball? This guyyyy.”
“You’ve got a funny way of keepin’ score, but alright, Rainbow,” said Applejack with a grin. She made her way around the van and stepped in. With the turn of a key, the engine rumbled to life. She rolled down the passenger seat window and called out. “Alright, y’all, we better be goin’.”
The rest of the girls filed into the van and began the trip home. It had been a fun day, but an exhausting one. So, with the exception of Applejack and Pinkie battling over who got to decide the radio station, the ride back was mostly silent. To the pleasure of all aboard, Rarity relented and allowed Applejack to open the sunroof. The cool summer air made the girls drowsy and each seemed lost in their own thoughts.
Trixie leaned against the window and watched the streetlights tick by as she reflected on the day’s events. Her gaze naturally drifted to the seat in front of her. Sunset, too, was looking out the window. The streetlights lit up her face for a second or two at a time as they passed by, revealing flickers of a delicate smile. Her hand hung loosely over her armrest, and Trixie carefully leaned forward and took hold of it. Sunset squeezed Trixie’s fingers and continued to look out at the stars.
The van came to a slow stop outside Sunset’s building and Applejack turned to face her remaining passengers.
“Ya’ll awake? We’re here.”
“Thanks a lot for the ride, AJ,” said Sunset, rubbing her eyes. She pulled the handle on the door and hopped out. The chill night air embraced her skin and she briefly closed her eyes. A bump on her back made her turn round and, to her surprise, she saw Trixie emerging from the van as well. Applejack peered out the passenger window.
“Where you going, Trixie? I can drive you to your place, you know.”
Trixie stared at her toes a moment before replying.
“It’s cooled down a lot, so I think I’ll walk from here,” she said, closing the door.
Applejack squinted in the dark to see if she was missing something.
“…I like nighttime walks,” said Trixie, nervously playing with her hair.
“Are you sure? It’s no trouble, you’re not tha- Oh,” she stopped and grinned sheepishly. “Uh, okay. I’ll, uh, see ya’ll later, then,” said Applejack who, though a little late, had taken the hint. With a smile and a wave, she pulled away and the two girls were left alone in the light of the street lamp. For a few seconds neither said a word. Smiling, Sunset broke the silence.
“Sooo, I’m guessing you don’t actually like nighttime walks?”
Trixie’s face turned red but she laughed all the same.
“Not really.”
“Wanna come up?” said Sunset, gesturing to the door with her thumb.
A pause.
“Sure.”
The End