Twilight trudged through the barren halls of the school. Barren because of the students still being in class.
She didn’t cut classes, mind you, but more of she simply finished all the tasks earlier than expected but when she usually just stayed inside the classroom and work on her next set of assignments, Twilight decided to use that time to fulfill her mission.
It was really sad once Twilight processed it all but this time, she wasn’t using pick-up lines or any one liner anymore.
After a lengthy research session and vague one-sided conversation with her sister-in-law, Twilight Sparkle decided to just grab the bull by its horns…or horn of the unicorn? Twilight shook her head. Nevertheless, she was planning to just go and outright ask Sunset Shimmer out.
The seventh repeat of that idea didn’t cause her to flare up and blush this time, making her mentally thank AJ for those confidence sessions. At least she managed to still apply them following that random love rival incident.
Looking down to check on her metaphorically shield and sword – flowers and box of chocolates – Twilight believed she was ready for anything. She spotted the opened doors to the music room, knowing that the smart redhead usually used her free time to hang out there while waiting for the rest of their friends. There was a small burst of nervousness before Twilight squashed it down.
She cricked her neck from side to side, a determined glint in her eye as she walked forward.
“Unleash the magic, unleash the magic,” a voice began, immediately halting Twilight in her tracks with her eyes wide open, “if we lose then it’s a crime.”
“But we can win it, if you begin it, so it’s up to you to not fail this time.”
“N-No way! She’s really singing that song? Really?!” Twilight gulped before hurriedly making her presence known, box and flowers forgotten, just as Sunset got to “...unleash the magic, free the magic now - Oh hey Twi.”
Red faced Twilight tried to get it together but the sight of the redhead lounging on the steps of the band room with an easy smile brought all words to a halt.
Sunset furrowed her brows before letting out a wince. “Ah, you heard me singing that song, right? Sorry, it was surprisingly catchy for a song about peer pressure. I’ll stop now.”
“Don’t!” screamed Twilight, surprising them both.
Hurriedly recovering, tried to fix her mistake with a cough and continued, “stop, I mean. Don’t stop.”
Raising a brow, Sunset frowned. “Are you sure? Because you look bothered when you came in.”
Poor sweet oblivious Sunset didn’t seem to know that it was another different kind of bothered, but Twilight’s brain was already a jumbled mess thanks to the redhead’s angelic voice short-circuiting her already hinged senses to say that aloud. She took a moment to respond with a forced smile. “I-I was just surprised that’s all.”
Still suspicious, Sunset shrugged before strumming her guitar, but she stopped once again and turned to the purple nerd. “How about another song instead?”
“S-Sure,” Twilight breathed but her dreamy expression morphed into confusion when Sunset gestured for Twilight to sit on the piano. It took an embarrassingly whole minute for the girl to understand and another so for the bespectacled girl to process what Sunset said.
“Y-You want me to sing?” Already she could feel her heart rapidly beating, immediately going to dangerous heart attack levels when Sunset offered a smile directed at her.
“Yeah, you sing all the time so why not?”
“Because I want to hear you sing, all alone by the way.” She tried not to voice that out as she smiled nervously. “H-How about a duet instead? I’ve never sung all by myself before.”
“At least, in front of anyone I know.” She mentally added.
Cyan eyes stared at amethyst for a minute before Sunset shrugged again. “Alright, but you start though. I can’t think of anything right now.”
“You and me both,” Twilight thought despairingly before she shook her head and focused. Sunset began idly strumming.
“W-What should I sing about?” Twilight asked as she nervously sat on top of the piano.
From her position seated on the steps, Sunset shrugged for the third time around (not that Twilight counted or anything) and said, “Anything, just sing what comes to mind.”
Twilight took a deep breath, letting the calm tune wash over her. She glanced outside, not looking in front of the girl as a sudden wave of self-consciousness possessed her. Odd, since it wasn’t the first time she sang but maybe it was because she was alone with her oblivious crush?
Shaking her head, Twilight steeled her nerves.
“I've walked through all these halls before,” she started, glad her voice was steady enough. “I've been in and out of every door, oh-whoa-oh.” Here she closed her eyes, realizing she was singing the words she thought of in CPA before.
“There's nothin' in this school that I don't know. In every class, my grade's the best,” She bit her lip, hoping she didn’t come off as boasting, “the highest score on every test.” She opened an eye, spotting the encouraging smile of the redhead, urging her to continue. “I think that means it's time for me to go…”
Twilight sighed, not really meaning the last one.
“I know there's more that's out there and I just haven't found it yet,” she was looking at Sunset. “I know there's more that's out there, another me I haven't met.” She then glanced down, blushing.
Sunset Shimmer didn’t seem to notice as she glanced towards the closed doors of the music room.
“Everyone here likes who I am,” Twilight tried not to melt from the angelic voice, “and it's not from a magic spell's command, oh-whoa-oh.”
A small smile graced the redhead’s features. “My friends look past the things I've done before,” the she then looked down with a contemplative look, “but still I miss those quests; the mythic creatures, magic tests.”
“High school's great, sure,” Sunset shrugged, “but who am I anymore?”
Twilight bit her lip, wanting to comfort the girl. Was…was Sunset planning to go back? The continued strumming of the guitar forced Twilight back to focus, singing, “It's not that I'm ungrateful or trying to succeed,” she stared at the redhead.
“But there's something left still missing, something that I need.”
She hoped just a little bit that the other girl got the hint.
“I know there's more that's out there, maybe folks that need my help.”
She didn’t. Twilight tried not to sigh exasperatedly.
Sunset bit her lip. “I know there's more that's out there, because I've seen it for myself.”
“There's only so much this town can offer and I'm not saying that's so bad, but I know there's more that's out there,” Sunset looked out the window, towards the direction of the portal, “cause it's a life that I once had.”
Twilight wanted so badly to reach out to her friend, never mind her feelings for the time being when Sunset was clearly upset, but she didn’t know how to broach the subject. It didn’t seem Sunset would like to talk about it now, so Twilight decided to wait as she continued.
“Beyond these rooms, beyond these walls,” here there was a hint of truth in what she sang, Twilight found herself looking back ever since coming to CHS. “So much to learn, I can't see it all.”
“This town is home, this school is safe,” Sunset sang back, looking up at the ceiling with a frown, “but how can I be home and still feel out of place?”
“Don’t hug her yet.” Twilight mentally reminded herself. Curse this long song! “And I know there's more that's out there, another world to explore.”
“And I know there's more that's out there, am I wrong for wanting more?”
“No, you’re not.” Twilight bit her lip in frustration but when she started again, she nearly faltered when Sunset’s voice joined with hers, making her forget her momentary dissatisfaction. “And I can't wait for it to happen, but what it is I cannot say.”
Sunset had her eyes closed; a fact Twilight was thankful for since a heavy blush coated her face. She didn’t know how to explain that to the girl yet.
“I just know there's more that's out there, and it's calling out my name.
“And I'm searching for the answer, cause I feel I've lost my way.
“I may not know what's really out there,
But I'll find out someday!”
Both girls now had their eyes closed, letting the silent promise echo throughout the band room.
“I'll find out someday...”
The last of the notes faded, blanketing the two in the silence before Sunset broke it with a light giggle. “Sorry it got emotional there, wasn’t expecting that to happen.”
“I-It’s…okay.” Twilight bit her lip before staring at the subdued redhead. “Do you really miss it? Equestria?”
Sunset took a moment to answer before she slung off her guitar and laid back with her hands behind her. “I guess? I mean, I’m not one to get homesick but from time to time, I find myself thinking…what if?” She turned. “You know?”
Twilight smiled sadly, looking away briefly and towards the hallway where a certain box of chocolates and flowers lay forgotten. “Yeah…I know.”
Sunset returned the smile, causing Twilight’s chest to constrict before she focused and said, “You should go back.” At the surprised look, the purple girl repeated, “you should go back.” Purple hands clenched into fists beside her. “It’s your home, it’s your birthplace, you belong there.”
Twilight jumped in surprise when Sunset was immediately in front of her. Piercing cyan orbs pinned her to her seat on the piano as the redhead held up a hand and tugged at one of the loose purple strands framing Twilight’s face.
Blushing tomato a.k.a. Twilight Sparkle merely gaped but Sunset didn’t seem to notice as she bore a serious frown directed at her. “I’m not planning to leave this dimension, you know?” Amber arms crossed, but Twilight force her gaze back and not at the muscles hidden behind the leather jacket. “I can’t believe you’d think I’d leave you girls behind like that.”
Twilight swallowed. “B-But I thought-
“I’m not mad, Twi. It’s just, I thought I made it clear how much I value you all.” Sunset softened her features. “I found friendship, and I’ll be stupid if I randomly decided to give it up.”
“S-Sorry,” Twilight squeaked, more out of being the other kind of bothered than actually feeling guilty.
Sunset smiled, placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “No worries. Come to think of it, I would be thinking like you do too if I heard any of my friends sing that. I’m sorry too.”
“N-No problem.” Twilight was glad she could still reply. With the combination of Sunset’s warm hand on her shoulder, the piercing stare from before, and coupled with the still remaining feelings from earlier, Twilight didn’t know how she refrained from kissing Sunset there and there.
Shaking her head, Twilight slowly pulled away and smoothed out her skirt. All her plans immediately discarded but what she could expect when it came to Sunset Shimmer?
“Okay, I should…go back now.”
“Sure -oh, but Twi?” Twilight turned, heart beating erratically when the girl was once more in front of her. How did she move so fast?!
“You should think about doing something with these,” Sunset said with a playful tug at the loose strands framing Twilight’s red face before her expression morphed into concern. “Are you feeling alright?”
“FINE!” Twilight said in a high-pitched voice before she coughed and asked, “W-what’s wrong with them?”
Sunset blinked and she let go, moving the same hand to rub behind her neck with a giggle. “Sorry, there’s nothing wrong. For some reason though, I just find them distracting lately.” The statement brought hope to bloom inside Twilight’s chest. Could it be?
Sunset frowned. “Odd really, but I’m sure it’s nothing.” She waved a hand in dismissal.
Nope, never mind. Twilight tried not to sigh and sob at the same time, choosing instead to let out a bitter, “I can wear it how I want.”
The redhead lightly recoiled at that, but Twilight walked away before Sunset could say anything else.
Sunset scratched her head in confusion while she stared at the retreating girl. “Was it something I said?”
Inside the classrooms, five members of the Rainbooms slapped their foreheads but they didn’t know why.