Chapter Thirty-Two
Warmth in the Snow
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There were a lot of thoughts that could’ve been going through Fluttershy’s mind. She could have been upset with herself for letting things go the way they did. She could have been anxious about what would happen next. She could be lingering in the afterglow of what had been, to be fair, an amazing night.
But none of those thoughts were on Fluttershy’s mind. All she cared about was how wonderfully warm she was pressed against Sunset, and doing whatever it took to keep that feeling going a little bit longer.
She snuggled a little closer to Sunset and smiled to herself. It had been the first decent night’s sleep she’d had since, well, since the last time she was cuddled up with Sunset. She kept her eyes closed and tried to get a little more sleep.
So of course, it couldn’t last. “Sleep well?” Sunset asked softly, pulling Fluttershy a little closer.
“…still asleep,” Fluttershy mumbled, hoping Sunset would join her in trying to get a little more sleep in.
But Sunset laughed and held Fluttershy tighter, and she knew it was all over. Still, she could pretend for just a little longer.
A few blissful moments passed, but it was apparent that Sunset was done sleeping. She shifted positions a few times, then sighed and kissed Fluttershy’s head.
“Sunny, I can’t sleep while you’re fidgeting.”
“Oh, right. Sorry.”
Oh well. It was a good way to wake up, at least. Fluttershy giggled and opened her eyes, letting herself savor the sight of Sunset in the morning before the inevitable doubt hit her. “It’s fine. I guess it’s probably time to get up anyway.”
“Oh. Okay.” Sunset looked over at Fluttershy and didn’t seem to share in her bliss. She looked apprehensive, no doubt trying to figure out what to do next.
Fluttershy felt the same way, but there was no changing what had happened. Nor was there any denying that she had liked it, or that there was no going back to simply being friends.
It was with that in mind that Fluttershy stretched out and planted a kiss on Sunset’s lips. The way Sunset’s eyes widened as her mouth curled into a smile was adorable.
“I, uh, I guess you’re not upset then?”
“Why would I be upset?” Fluttershy asked as she absentmindedly ran a hand across Sunset’s stomach. She’d been just as much a part of what happened as Sunset had, after all. Maybe even more so.
Sunset didn’t seem to see it that way. “Well, you know. Last night was kind of… unexpected.”
Fluttershy nuzzled against Sunset’s shoulder. “Hmm… maybe for you. Check your texts.”
Sunset turned to reach for the bedside table, only to find it empty. That was right, Fluttershy had left it on the living room table.
Fluttershy wasted no time in pulling Sunset back under the covers. “That text I sent Rainbow was to tell her that I was spending the night and didn’t want to be interrupted.”
Sunset grinned. “You actually planned that?”
“Well, sort of. I… I kind of knew things might lead to… that.” Fluttershy blushed. “Even coming here, I knew it was a possibility. I was originally planning on leaving before anything could happen, but…”
“Old habits die hard?” Sunset asked when Fluttershy trailed off.
“Sunny, you’re not just a habit. I… I do still really care about you.” She buried her face in Sunset’s neck. “I miss you. I miss us.”
Sunset stroked her hair. “I miss you too. Maybe… we can try again?”
There was a part of Fluttershy that wanted exactly that. A large part, especially now. The months without Sunset had been miserable, and this was a chance to change that. Not to mention that any chance they had to be regular friends had been shattered by the night’s actions. But there had also been a reason that they broke up…
Unable to find an answer, she just tightened her hold on Sunset.
“Shy, I’m sorry for everything that happened between us. It was pretty much all my fault. But please… I promise I can be better!” Sunset tightened her hold to match Fluttershy’s.
Sunset thought she could be better… She thought she was the problem. That was exactly why Fluttershy should say no, but then, Fluttershy had always been selfish… “Maybe… maybe we can try again.” The answer caused Sunset to beam, which made Fluttershy smile despite her worries. “Uhm… maybe we could try going a little slower this time, though?”
Sunset laughed. “Sure, but uh, I think it’s a little late for that.” Sunset ran her hand across Fluttershy’s naked thigh, which caused her to laugh too.
“Well, last night doesn’t count,” she said with a smile. “We didn’t decide on anything then.”
“Hmm, can this morning not count either?” Sunset asked, moving her hand along towards Fluttershy’s butt while leaning in to kiss her.
Fluttershy returned the kiss but pushed her hand away. “No, but maybe if you’re a good girl, you’ll be rewarded before too long.”
Sunset smirked. “So if I’m a bad girl do I get punished?”
Damn it, why did Sunset have to make it so hard to keep saying no? “Maybe. But for now, I think it’s time to get out of bed.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Sunset took a moment to steel herself, then threw off the blanket. Fluttershy held it tight, staying under for a bit longer.
Besides, the view was nothing short of perfection.
It took until Sunset was pulling on pants that she noticed Fluttershy was watching. She hardly seemed upset, just chuckling as she turned towards the bed. “Hey, I don’t think watching me dress counts as taking it slow.”
“Oh, uhm…” Fluttershy pulled the covers over her head to hide her blush. She was still smiling, though. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, Shy, I really don’t care.”
A moment later, Sunset tossed something onto the bed. Fluttershy hesitantly pulled the covers away to see it was her clothes, and that Sunset had finished getting dressed.
“I’ll wait in the living room,” Sunset said, then stepped out of the room to give Fluttershy some privacy.
Not that she really cared either. Even if there was some pretense of taking things slower, last night had very much still happened. It was a bit silly to be modest now.
She dressed slowly, thinking things over as she did. Sunset was her girlfriend again. Even just thinking about it made Fluttershy feel excited. She was worried, but for now, she found it easier than she thought to just be happy.
And maybe this time would be different. Fluttershy didn’t have to move back in, she was living with Rainbow now. If they stayed at separate houses, maybe they could enjoy the good parts about being together without dealing with all the bad.
It was at least worth a chance. They were worth another chance. Fluttershy finished dressing, then left the bedroom to greet her girlfriend.
She found Sunset eating a slice of the pizza from last night. She shook her head at the sight. “I can’t believe you’re eating that. It was out all night.”
Sunset took another bite and shrugged. “It’s fine. It was probably colder in the living room than the fridge anyway.”
Fluttershy sighed and sat next to Sunset. There was no point in arguing. She noticed Sunset was on her phone and asked, “Did Rainbow ever reply?”
“Nope.” Sunset finished what she was doing and put her phone in her pocket. “So now what?”
“Well, it is still Hearth’s Warming,” Fluttershy said. “How about we go out? We can do whatever you want, my treat.” She noticed Sunset had left out a glass of water and a couple of painkillers for her. All things considered, Fluttershy didn’t feel too bad, but she took them anyway. The water was more appreciated, and she drank it happily.
“That sounds great, except you’ve got to let me pay for something.”
Fluttershy shook her head. “You might as well leave your money here, I insist.”
“Fine.” Sunset crossed her arms and looked around. After thinking about it for a moment, she said, “How about we go down to Mirror Pool Lake? If the water’s frozen over we can go ice skating, and if not it’s still a nice view.”
Fluttershy realized that Sunset had conveniently settled on something that neither of them would have to pay for, so she gave a knowing smile. “Sunny, I really don’t mind paying.”
“Okay, you can buy lunch after,” Sunset agreed reluctantly. “But I really would like to go ice skating.”
Ice skating did sound like a nice way to spend the day. “Okay, sounds like a plan.” She stopped to think for a minute. “Hmm, did I leave my ice skates here?”
“I dunno,” Sunset said. She stood up and walked to the bedroom, where they had stored stuff like that under the bed.
Since Sunset wasn’t around to notice, and since she was rather hungry, Fluttershy took the chance to grab a slice of pizza. True, she’d just chided Sunset for eating it, but she did have a good point about how cold it was.
After several minutes, Sunset popped out of the bedroom with two pairs of skates. “Here we go!”
Fluttershy froze with the slice of pizza hanging from her mouth. Sunset smirked as she blushed. “I, uhm… I guess I’m a little hungry…”
Sunset laughed it off. “How about I make us some breakfast before we head out?”
“Breakfast sounds nice.” Fluttershy stood up and led the way to the kitchen. “But don’t worry about it, I’ll make it.”
“Shy, you bought dinner last night,” Sunset said as she followed. “If you won’t let me buy lunch, at least let me make breakfast.”
Fluttershy ignored her request as she looked through the cabinets and fridge, deciding what to make. “How do pancakes sound?”
“Great! You should take a seat while I make some,” Sunset said, gesturing to the kitchen table.
“Sunny, relax. I want to do it,” Fluttershy said, pulling out ingredients. “You should put away the rest of that pizza though.”
It took a moment before Sunset answered. When she did, it wasn’t with anything Fluttershy wanted to hear. “Shy, I really appreciate everything you’re doing, but I feel useless when you don’t let me do anything.”
Fluttershy wanted to answer, wanted to explain why this was important for her. But as always, words failed her when she needed them most, and she remained silent. She felt guilty as Sunset sighed and left the room, and resolved to be better.
She thought of what to say as she prepared the batter and Sunset put the pizza in the refrigerator. Once she noticed Sunset had finished, she set her mixing spoon down and turned to her. She forced the words past the lump in her throat and just hoped she could do her feelings justice.
“Sunny, you’ve done so much for me. I can never repay you for everything. You gave me a home, made me feel safe for the first time in my life, helped me with college, taught me how to support myself. I don’t even want to think about what my life would be like without you. But then…”
Without looking up, she walked over and put her arms around Sunset. “Then I left you. I left you all alone when I knew you still needed me.”
“Shy…” Sunset returned the hug and kissed her forehead. “I… wasn’t exactly easy to live with. I don’t blame you at all for leaving, and you definitely don’t owe me anything. I wanted to help you, really. Any of our friends would have done the same thing if they had the chance. And even if we didn’t get back together, it was worth it for the chance to be with you.”
Fluttershy smiled and kissed Sunset. “I knew you’d say that. And I know I shouldn’t feel so bad, but I can’t help it. So please, let me take care of you, at least in some small way.”
Sunset didn’t look convinced. “Shy, you really don’t need to –”
“Please? I want to make your Hearth’s Warming perfect.”
Sunset finally relented. “Fine. But come Christmas I’m taking care of you, got it?”
Fluttershy nodded. “Deal. Now go sit down while I finish getting breakfast ready.”
Sunset obeyed while Fluttershy busied herself with making pancakes. “Tell me about Hearth’s Warming,” Fluttershy said.
“Well, what do you want to know?” Sunset asked. “It’s really not all that different from Christmas.”
“Well, how did it get started? Is there a pony Jesus too?”
Sunset snorted. “No, it’s a celebration of the founding of Equestria. Actually, most ponies don’t even know the full story. It’s a bunch of history stuff.”
“So what happened?” Fluttershy asked.
“Well, if you really want to know. It all started thousands of years ago. Back then, there were three pony nations. No one’s really positive what started it, but they were all at war with one another. It went on for generations, with paper-thin alliances forming and ending constantly. At the end there were no more alliances, all three nations were fighting for total dominance. The unicorns, led by King Palladium, had the upper hand in terms of power, with magic and all. But the pegasi, led by Commander Hurricane, were better practiced in the art of war, and were capable of aerial assault. The earth ponies, led by Chancellor Puddinghead, were –”
“Chancellor… Puddinghead?” Fluttershy repeated, looking away from the pancake she was frying.
Sunset shrugged. “Hey, I didn’t name her. She’s still kind of remembered as an idiot, but she was actually a hero of the revolution. See, a lot of ponies from all three nations were fed up with the war, and there was a rebel movement spearheaded by King Palladium’s daughter, Princess Platinum. Scholars still disagree on whether she was really a visionary or just wanted political power for herself. But she forged alliances with ponies from the other nations, notably Chancellor Puddinghead’s secretary Smart Cookie and Commander Hurricane’s niece Pansy.”
“Pansy?” Fluttershy chuckled.
“Yup. I dunno, maybe a lot of parents hated their foals back then. Pansy was actually only a private, but she had a silver tongue and convinced tons of ponies to join them. Anyway, the earth ponies had the best stores of food, but they generally lacked military resources, which made them a target for both other nations. Smart Cookie was able to convince Chancellor Puddinghead to join the resistance, effectively winning a third of the population on top of the members they already had.
“Chancellor Puddinghead then led her troops in an assault on the unicorns using information Princess Platinum provided. While they were distracted, Clover the Clever – the unicorn’s court mage and confidant of Princess Platinum – shifted King Palladium’s guards around so he was being watched entirely by rebel soldiers. Under Princess Platinum’s orders, they had him executed and she seized power. She refused the title of queen as a symbol that she wasn’t putting herself above the other races, a tradition that remains to this day.
“From there, the unicorns and earth ponies officially made peace while keeping the true nature of their alliance a secret. Outnumbered two to one, the pegasi still sought to hold their lines, right up until Private Pansy’s troops all pulled out of the combat. With the pegasi’s surrender, the three tribes held a meeting and officially decided to abolish the three nations in favor of Equestria.”
Fluttershy set two plates of pancakes down. “That’s not as nice of a story as I thought it would be.”
Sunset poured maple syrup over her pancakes. “The pageant tells a kid-friendly version of the story. Which would be fine I guess, but most ponies actually think that’s what really happened.” She took a bite. “These are delicious, Shy.”
“Thank you,” Fluttershy said as she cut up her own pancakes. “Uhm, I’d like to hear the happy version, if you don’t mind.”
“You just want me to keep talking so you can eat,” Sunset said. Fluttershy smiled and nodded with her fork sticking out of her mouth. Sunset took another bite before telling another story about the three tribes, which culminated in them becoming friends and fending off evil windigos with the fires of friendship.
“You know, I thought I’d prefer the happier version, but I like the real story better,” Fluttershy said when Sunset had finished. “I guess you must be rubbing off on me.”
“It’s funny, last night before you showed up, I was thinking about how much I wanted to see that dumb pageant again. I guess you’re rubbing off on me too.”
Flutershy had eaten most of her breakfast while Sunset talked, so she gave her girlfriend the chance to eat while telling her about what she had been up to, which mostly amounted to working with Bitchette. She told her about how she’d helped write some lyrics, and how she’d designed the band’s logo. It was nice to share that side of her life with Sunset, who smiled and praised Fluttershy for her work.
Once Sunset had stuffed the last of her breakfast into her mouth, she carried her plate to the sink. Fluttershy followed suit, then smiled at Sunset before noticing something. “Hold still,” she said as she stood on her toes to reach Sunset’s chin, which she licked some syrup off of.
“Maybe I don’t want you rubbing off on me after all. That was gross.” Sunset rubbed the saliva off her chin, which was still sticky with syrup.
Fluttershy laughed. “Oh stop. If my tongue can be in your mouth, then you can handle it on your chin.”
Sunset wrapped her arms around Fluttershy’s waist and pulled her close. She kissed her, flicking her tongue into her mouth. “I guess you have a point. You ready to head out?”
Fluttershy nodded. “After you.”
Even though the day was warmer than the night before, the ride through town on Sunset’s motorcycle was still frigid. Not that Fluttershy could complain too much – it must have far worse for Sunset. Since she hadn’t counted on a motorcycle ride, Fluttershy had left her helmet at Rainbow’s house. And of course, Sunset had insisted that Fluttershy borrow hers or they wouldn’t go. Despite her attempts to protest, Sunset won in the end.
It always made her anxious when Sunset drove without her helmet, so she did what she could to get past that by holding onto her girlfriend tightly, as if she could protect her if they got into an accident. It also helped stave off the cold, which served as an added bonus.
It was a huge relief when they dismounted safely. She’d had faith in Sunset’s driving, of course, but other drivers could be unpredictable. They both knew that all too well.
No amount of good driving from Sunset’s part could have saved her hair, however. To no surprise, it had been whipped around until it was a tangled mess. Fluttershy smiled as she pulled off her helmet and set to fixing it.
Sunset tried to protest. “Hey, Shy, I’m trying to –”
“Hold still for a second,” Fluttershy insisted. Sunset relented and Fluttershy pulled off her gloves for better dexterity. “There, much better.”
“Thanks, I guess,” Sunset said, then went back to getting the motorcycle locked up. She chained the helmet to the bike so they wouldn’t have to carry it, and Fluttershy put her gloves back on.
She smiled warmly as Sunset turned around, and Sunset smiled as well. As they made their way down to the lake, Sunset found Fluttershy’s hand and laced their fingers together.
“This was a good idea,” Fluttershy said while they walked. “It’s so lovely this time of year.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“What would you have done if I didn’t stay last night?”
“I dunno,” Sunset said with a shrug. She looked out towards the lake, so Fluttershy followed her gaze. Apple Bloom and her friends were already on the ice. “Gone to Applejack’s if I was smart. Stayed home and watched Christmas specials if I wasn’t.”
“Applejack said you spend a lot of time over there.”
“Huh? I guess so.”
“Oh! She wasn’t complaining or anything! It’s just, uhm… I would ask about you a lot. Just like… how you were doing, if work was giving you too much trouble. That sort of thing.” Maybe it was silly, but Fluttershy couldn’t help blushing.
Sunset smiled. “And I bet she just told you something like ‘Well, why don’tcha jus’ ask her yourself?’ ”
Fluttershy laughed. “Yes, every time. How’d you know?”
“Because that’s what she said whenever I asked about you.”
Fluttershy let go of Sunset’s hand and instead wrapped an arm around her back. They walked silently for the rest of the way.
“Hey, Sunset!” Apple Bloom called as they sat down to put on their ice skates. She started skating over, wobbling all the way.
“Hey AB! What’s the matter, forget how to skate?” Sunset teased. Before she could respond, Scootaloo raced past her with Sweetie Belle following behind gracefully. Apple Bloom slowly stumbled behind, more walking than skating.
“Aww gimme a break! It’s the first freeze of winter!” Apple Bloom said while trying to catch her breath once she had finally hobbled over.
“Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle don’t seem to have a problem with it,” Sunset said.
“I’ve been out here since the sun came up!” Sweetie Belle announced proudly. It was impossible to tell if the cold made her any paler than usual, but her attitude remained as upbeat as ever.
“Not me, I just got here,” Scootaloo said, skating a circle around her friends.
Apple Bloom crossed her arms. “Yeah, well, I’m just not feeling so good. Besides, we don’t all have Rainbow Dash to give us lessons on, like, every sport.”
“Actually Scootaloo helped Rainbow with her skating,” Fluttershy said. Every head snapped in her direction.
Scootaloo chuckled nervously. “What? No way, that’s crazy. I couldn’t teach her anything…”
Sunset grinned wickedly. “Ooh, was that supposed to be secret, Shy?
Fluttershy blushed, realizing too late that it was indeed supposed to be secret. “Uhm… please don’t say anything. I uhm…”
“Relax, we won’t tell anyone. Least of all Rainbow.” Sunset looked up to see Apple Bloom grinning. “Or Applejack. Right?”
Apple Bloom frowned. “Fine.”
“So where did you learn to skate, Scoot?” Sweetie Belle asked. She started skating idly, leaving Apple Bloom the only one standing still.
“My dad taught me years ago,” Scootaloo said. “We used to practice together every year.”
Sunset finished lacing up her skates and stood up. She offered her hand to help Fluttershy up, then the two skated on to the ice together. By then Apple Bloom had resumed skating as well. or at least, she tried to.
It was clear that whether she wanted to admit it or not, Apple Bloom didn’t really know how to skate. Fluttershy cocked her head to the side. “Why don’t you ask Applejack to teach you?”
“I’m not a kid Fluttershy! I don’t need anyone to teach me how to skate,” Apple Bloom said before slipping backwards.
“Applejack doesn’t like ice,” Sunset said, quiet enough only Fluttershy could hear her.
She let go of Fluttershy’s hand and skated closer to Apple Bloom. “You know, I could give you some tips. Maybe tomorrow, if you want.”
“I don’t mind,” Fluttershy said. “You should help her out!”
Sunset shot her a warning look and nodded over towards Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, who thankfully were too preoccupied with their own skating to notice. Fluttershy covered her mouth and waved before skating leisurely away.
Fluttershy wasn’t bad at skating, although she found it hard to get the hang of it this time around. She was forced to remember she was heavier than she had been last year, the stubborn weight refusing to leave even after so many months.
‘Well, I can get some exercise today,’ she reminded herself. It certainly wasn’t what Sunset had in mind when she suggested ice skating, but it made for a nice perk. She got to spend time with her girlfriend at the same time that she could work on feeling better about herself.
She spent the next hour or so skating around, even trying a few tricks that Sweetie Belle tried to teach her. None of them ended well, but it was still fun. Meanwhile, Sunset helped Apple Bloom until she was over her embarrassment enough to allow her friends to help as well, and they managed to get her skating much better.
For her part, Sunset was only a passable skater. By the time she returned to Fluttershy, she was wet from all the times she’d fallen down. “We should get you warmed up,” Fluttershy said. “What do you say we break for lunch?”
“Sure. I wouldn’t mind being able to feel my toes again,” Sunset said. They skated to the edge of the lake and sat down to put their shoes back on.
Apple Bloom skated over to them. She wasn’t as fast as Scootaloo or as fancy as Sweetie Belle, but she was at least steadier on her feet. “Are you two leaving already?”
“Yup. I’m cold, wet, and starting to sound like an old person,” Sunset said. “Besides, I’ve got a date.” She wrapped an arm around Fluttershy’s shoulders.
“Thanks for helping me. And I’m glad you two are back together,” Apple Bloom said. She turned to Fluttershy and added, “Although, I don’t really get what you see in her.”
Fluttershy giggled and Sunset threw a snowball at Apple Bloom while she skated away laughing.
“You two got close,” Fluttershy said as they stood up.
“Sure. Apple Bloom’s around a lot when I visit Sweet Apple Acres. She’s pretty cool, actually.” Sunset shrugged. It made sense; Apple Bloom was only a few years younger than her other friends, which was becoming less and less of a difference as time went by. “So are you really hungry?”
“Uhm… not really,” Fluttershy said, “I just wanted to get you warmed up.”
Sunset frowned as they started walking back to the bike. “Well, getting back on that motorcycle isn’t really gonna help that too much. How about we walk down to Sugarcube Corner? It’s not too far, and we can get something sweet.”
“Sounds good to me,” Fluttershy said.
Sunset walked ahead, leading the way back into town. As they were walking through the parking lot, Fluttershy caught up to her and looped their arms together. “You’re gonna get all wet,” Sunset warned.
“I don’t mind,” Fluttershy said, smiling up at her. She suspected Sunset could use the extra warmth.
“Suit yourself,” Sunset said.
They talked about ice skating as they went. Apparently, Sunset had only learned to skate herself a few years ago, having never cared for winter games when she was younger. From the sound of it, she could use a teacher herself. Fluttershy filed that info away for later.
Even if the walk was nice, Fluttershy was glad when they finally reached Sugarcube Corner. As they walked in, they were greeted with a wonderful rush of warm air and the delightful aroma of fresh baked cookies.
As much as Fluttershy enjoyed it, Sunset seemed even more won over; she had her eyes closed and a blissful expression on her face. Fluttershy couldn’t help but giggle at the sight.
Sunset opened her eyes. “What’s up?”
“Nothing,” Fluttershy said. She pulled on Sunset's jacket to bring her down so their faces were level. “You're just adorable.”
Fluttershy cupped Sunset’s face in her hands and guided her into a kiss. She didn’t even care that other people were around, didn’t care that they might be watching. She was with Sunset, and that was all that mattered.
Right up until Sunset broke apart and wheeled around unexpectedly. Fluttershy turned towards where she was looking to find Pinkie in her work uniform. She was leaning over a table as she watched them and her expression suggested that Christmas had just come early.
Apparently deciding being noticed was a good reason to stop holding back her excitement, Pinkie launched herself at the couple. “I knew it! I knew you two were gonna get back together!”
“Uhm, thank you Pinkie,” Fluttershy said. “We’re excited too, but maybe you could let go, at least a little bit?”
“No way! I’ve been waiting too long for this, you two are just so adorable together!”
“That’s nice, but uhm… I’m not sure Sunset can breathe…”
“Oh! Sorry…” Pinkie let go, leaving Sunset gasping for breath. She glared at Pinkie, who smiled innocently.
“Come on, let’s go find a seat,” Fluttershy said. Sugarcube Corner was always busy, but since it was winter break, it was packed with teenagers. Pinkie managed to lead them to an open booth though, and Sunset was able to take off her wet jacket.
“So what happened?” Pinkie asked. “Ooh! Did Sunset stand out in the rain with a boombox playing love songs until you gave her another chance?”
“It hasn’t even rained for weeks,” Sunset pointed out.
“But it’s more dramatic than standing in the snow!” Pinkie said, as if that would make up for the lack of rain.
“That doesn’t even… Whatever, that’s not what happened. We, uhm…” Sunset turned to Fluttershy, who knew exactly what she was thinking. They had never decided what story they wanted to tell their friends. And somehow ‘we got drunk and slept together’ just didn’t seem like the type of story they wanted to tell everyone.
Fluttershy took Sunset’s hand in hers. “We just got to talking and decided we wanted to give it another shot,” she said. It was true enough, anyway.
A bell chimed. “Oh, I’ve got a customer. I’ll be right back,” Pinkie excitedly ran towards the counter.
Sunset grinned as she watched her run off. “Now we’ve done it. No chance to back out now that Pinkie knows we’re together again.”
Fluttershy leaned on Sunset’s shoulder. “That’s fine with me. My mind’s made up anyway.”
“Since when are you so affectionate?” Sunset asked as she put her arm around Fluttershy.
“Are you complaining?” Fluttershy asked as she snuggled closer.
“No no, definitely not,” Sunset said.
Fluttershy giggled. “I guess… I never realized how much I liked being near you until I wasn’t anymore.”
“Hmm. I think I always knew how much I liked being with you.” Sunset said as she brought Fluttershy into another kiss.
Once they pulled apart they noticed two cups of hot chocolate in front of them, with Pinkie sitting on the other side of the booth sipping a milkshake. “Okay, you’re doing that on purpose, aren't you?” Sunset asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Pinkie said.
“How did you even sneak up without us hearing you?” Sunset asked, gesturing to the mugs that were right in front of them.
“I wasn’t sneaking,” Pinkie said through a sly grin. “Maybe you were just a little too preoccupied to pay attention.”
Fluttershy blushed while Sunset just rolled her eyes. She picked up her mug and took a sip of her cocoa.
“Careful, it’s hot,” Sunset said as Fluttershy reached for her own.
Ignoring the warning Fluttershy took a sip, which she clearly regretted as she set the mug down. Sunset shrugged and continued drinking hers casually. “How can you drink that? It’s too hot,” Fluttershy said.
“I like hot things,” Sunset said. She grinned. “Like –”
“Don’t say it.”
“– you,” Sunset finished.
Fluttershy facepalmed. “You actually said it.”
Sunset just grinned. “Well why not? It’s true.”
“Now, Sunset. I’m sure Fluttershy would just rather you call her something else,” Pinkie chided. “She’s pretty.”
“Just pretty?” Sunset asked, pulling Fluttershy against her again. “I think she’s absolutely beautiful.”
Pinkie ducked under the table and popped up in between the two of them. “You’re right! You’re both gorgeous. Why, if you ever wanted to spice things up with a third person…”
Sunset laughed while Fluttershy blushed and retreated into her hair. “I think our love life is spicy enough, thank you Pinkie,” Sunset said.
“Suit yourselves." Pinkie shrugged. The bell rang again so she extricated herself from in between the couple and ran back to the counter.
“That was… different,” Fluttershy said, finally emerging from her hair.
Sunset shrugged and drank some more of her cocoa. It was almost half gone, while Fluttershy had barely touched hers. “I dunno. From anyone else, sure, that might have been weird. But for Pinkie? That seemed about average.”
“I suppose.”
For the next couple of hours, Pinkie routinely came back with more drinks and snacks. She tried to be part of the conversation while still running the register for the busy store, and she managed to pull it off better than anyone else in her position possibly could have.
But whether she was with her friends or helping customers, Pinkie seemed to enjoy herself all the same. And the same went for Sunset and Fluttershy. The shop was a warm retreat from the cold outside, and it was made even warmer by each other.
After leaving Sugarcube Corner, the couple decided to spend the rest of the day with the tried and true dinner and a movie. It was nothing exciting, but it was a good way to stay out of the cold, and all that really mattered to them was that they spent the time together.
The day had been so perfect that neither of them seemed to want it to end. Fluttershy briefly thought about going back to Sunset’s for another night, but she knew better. They were taking things slow for a reason, and she wanted to stick to that.
That didn’t stop them from lingering in the driveway when Sunset finally dropped her off, of course.
“Did you see that lady in the row behind us, though?” Sunset asked.
Fluttershy chuckled. “The one more interested in watching us than the movie?”
“Yeah. You’d think we strangled her dog or something by the look she gave us.” Sunset folded her arms and scowled at the memory.
“Aren’t you usually the one telling me not to worry about stuff like that?” Fluttershy asked. She pulled Sunset’s arms apart and put them around her waist, which melted away her grumpy expression.
“Yeah, you’re right. Today was amazing.” Sunset smiled.
“Yeah, it was,” Fluttershy said.
Fluttershy leaned against Sunset, putting her ear against Sunset’s heart. They stood out in the cold, sharing each other’s warmth for a few moments more.
Then the sound of a door slamming interrupted their silence.
“Fluttershy, I’ve been trying to call you all day!” Rainbow said. She glared at Sunset, who was still holding Fluttershy. “What’s going on?”
Oh no. If anything was going to ruin the otherwise amazing day, this was it. Fluttershy had hoped to talk to Rainbow in private, so that if she reacted poorly, at least Fluttershy could talk to her about it before Sunset heard.
But as Fluttershy pulled away and cast worried glances between the other two girls, Sunset just laughed. “Oh man, you never turned your phone back on? Sorry about that, Rainbow. But it’s okay, I took good care of her.”
The look on Rainbow’s face made it clear she doubted that very much. “So… what’s going on then?” She gestured between them.
“It’s, uhm… I’ll tell you when I go inside,” Fluttershy said, smiling nervously. Rainbow remained where she was.
“Well, I have work in the morning, anyway,” Sunset said. “I’ll see you on Christmas?”
“Sunset, wait.” Fluttershy made up her mind and took a deep breath, then turned toward Rainbow with her hands on her hips. “Rainbow Dash. While I appreciate your concern I’m fully capable of handling myself. Now, if you wouldn’t mind going inside, I’d like to say goodnight to my girlfriend in peace.”
Rainbow stared dumbfounded, but Fluttershy held her stare. “Fine. But I’m calling it now, this is a bad idea.”
Fluttershy waited until Rainbow went inside, then turned around in time to see Sunset was flicking her off. She sighed and leaned against Sunset. “I wish you two would get along again…”
“I’m sorry,” Sunset said. “And if Rainbow’s willing to let bygones be bygones, then so am I. Who knows, maybe on Christmas everything will finally go back to normal.”
“Christmas Eve,” Fluttershy said. “Uhm, you’re going to Applejack’s party, right?”
Sunset nodded. “Of course, I’ll see you there.”
They shared one more kiss and smiled at each other a moment more.
“Call me when you get home safely?” Fluttershy requested.
“You got it.” Sunset grabbed her helmet.
Fluttershy waved her goodbye, then turned to go into the house. She wasn’t looking forward to what was coming next, but she took solace in the fact that it had still been a wonderful day.
As Fluttershy closed the door behind her, she heard the start of Sunset’s engine. She also felt the glare from Rainbow, who was waiting in the living room.
“So…” Rainbow prompted.
“So,” Fluttershy said, “we got back together.”
Rainbow threw out her arms. “Why? She’s no good for you, Shy!”
“Because she makes me happy.” Fluttershy stomped her foot and frowned. “I know you don’t like her, but please, she’s important to me. I need you to support me in this.”
Try as she might, Rainbow couldn’t keep eye contact for long. “I just… I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“I know. But… I’ve been hurting, Dash. I’ve been hurting this whole time. And last night and today… I finally felt happy again. Isn’t that good enough?”
Rainbow sighed. “I don’t know. I mean, I’m glad you’re happy now, but I just worry, you know? What if she does something to hurt you again?”
“Then I’ll have you to take care of me. Right?”
Rainbow looked at Fluttershy with a weary expression. “You know you always have me. I just…”
“I know.” Fluttershy looked down. The doubts that had stayed away all day finally came rushing back. “I’m nervous too. But I still need to do this. I need to try giving us one more shot.”
Rainbow sighed. “Okay,” she said simply. “Alright. If you think this is for the best, then I’ll do my part to try and stay friendly with her.”
“Thank you, Dash.”
“I’m gonna go down to the basement to work on a song. Feel like coming?”
“Maybe in a bit.” Fluttershy frowned, knowing Rainbow wouldn’t like her reason. “I asked Sunset to call me when she gets home.”
“Right. Of course.” If Rainbow was unhappy, she didn’t say. Instead, she just turned and walked down to the basement, leaving Fluttershy alone.
She took a seat on the couch and sighed. She pulled out her phone, wondering what she’d say to Sunset when she called. No doubt she’d want to know how things went with Rainbow.
But that was okay. The two most important people to her didn’t get along anymore and it was all Fluttershy’s fault, but it would be okay. Somehow, Fluttershy just had to find the way to mend that bridge so everyone could be friends once more.
Eventually her phone rang, and Sunset’s picture showed up on the screen. She smiled and answered it, deciding that for now, everything else could wait.