//------------------------------// // 2: Incidentally Speaking // Story: Amending Offences // by Bookish Delight //------------------------------// Sunset followed Pinkie as the latter strode around the corner. After some time of this, Sunset's impatience finally won out, and she grabbed Pinkie's hand—making sure to do as gently and non-confrontationally as possible, but still firm enough to be felt. "Pinkie, I swear, it's not what you think." "Are you sure it's not?" Pinkie said, stopping, but not turning around. "Think carefully before you answer." "I..." Sunset sighed. Thinking carefully would not get her anywhere good right now. But nor would her saying everything she wanted to.  Pinkie finally turned around to face her. "Sunset, every single one of my favorite ingredients was on that sundae. Even extra-creamy, extra double-whipped cream with rainbow sprinkles embedded inside, which is not a topping I've ever thought up! I wish I had! How did you, even?" Sunset put a hand behind her head. "Mrs. Cake and I might have put our heads together on that one." It wasn't a helpful answer. It didn't stop Sunset from wanting to sink into the floor. But it was... something? "Well, you did great. I love it. I'll get my own sometime." With a sad sigh, Pinkie went on. "But it's always the same story: the easiest and quickest way for a big dessert to get plopped in front of me... is when someone is feeling guilty towards me." She stepped towards Sunset. "Problem is, I don't remember anything for either of us to feel guilty about towards each other! What is it, Sunset?" Pinkie's expression was near-desperate now. "What warrants nine scoops? How bad did we get?" Sunset looked at Pinkie's wide eyes, which showed some fear of what was to come, for sure—but more so, confusion and hurt. And all three, Sunset knew, were connected, and playing off of each other. At this point, keeping secrets would hurt Pinkie far more than telling Pinkie would hurt either of them.  Her decision made, Sunset leaned against the brick wall beside Pinkie. "Okay. You got me. You remember the whole time loop thing the PostCrush concert revolved around?" she asked, spinning both fingers around each other. "Of course I do! It was just yesterday, after all. And yesterday." She counted on her fingers. "And yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday, and yesterday!" She laughed. Sunset laughed, too, despite herself. "Wow, I... can't believe how mathematically correct that was." "Meh. Twilight's not the only genius in our group." Pinkie shrugged. "I was working with universal improbabilities way before she showed up." Turning serious again, she added, "But yes, I do remember." She stepped towards Sunset again, placing a gently hand on her shoulder. "Did something bad happen?" Sunset looked away. "Please," Pinkie said, "you can tell me. I won't get mad." "It's..." Sunset bit her lip, crossing her arms in a self-hug. "Actually not that I'm worried about. It's just... this is so weird, is all. I wish I didn't feel like I needed to bring it up, but..." Pinkie smiled. "Sunset, I eat weird for dessert. You're in the best company anyone could have for this." She placed her other hand on Sunset's shoulder to match. "And you're mine. What's wrong?" A pang hit Sunset's heart as she giggled and blushed at the same time. She truly wished those lines didn't make so much sense in the moment. Finally, through pursed lips, she exhaled in defeat. "Okay. I'll tell you."