//------------------------------// // Act 13, Happy Endings // Story: Sunset Shimmer Discovers Her Feet // by TheOneAJ //------------------------------// Smoke rose up around Sunset as the lights flickered. Like clockwork from all the practice, she stood up, removed her tail, and waited for the lights to settle. Between the flashes, she once again looked to her parents, and swore they were holding hands, and having the same emotions she pictured Triton had in this very moment. Were they really sorry for all they done? Did they actually want to make things right with her? Was it possible they were getting the message of the play at this very moment? She supposed she’d be finding out soon enough.  The lights stopped blinking right on cue, and Sunset Shimmer, still playing the part of the little mermaid, turned human by her own parents. Who, while said parent was not fully on board with their child's lifestyle choices, could see that it made them happy. Or at least knowing that repressing and fighting it would do more harm than good for the child. Yet, despite their fears and worries about what might happen, they allowed their kid to live their own ways.  With how well the play spoke to Sunset, she couldn’t help but wonder if Triton had a backstory where he was in a rock band as a teen in a time period where such music was considered very deviant by the adults.  “Ar… Ariel?” Smiling, Sunset looked to her left to see Twilight as Eric. At that moment, seeing the most beautiful girl in all of Canterlot High. Grinning widely, Sunset raced towards Twilight like she had rehearsed.  Unfortunately, in her sudden rush of excitement, she failed to consider a few things. Namely that Twilight wasn’t as tall, or strong, as Flash had been when they rehearsed. So, when Sunset leapt up into the air, only realizing what was going to happen once it was too late, instead of graciously being swung around, the two girls fell to the floor with a yelp to the audience's alarm. Thinking quickly, Sunset pulled Twilight into an embrace, and whispered, “Go along with it,” and started to roll around the stage.  Laughing happily, giving Twilight—and the rest of the cast—time to figure out what she was doing. Once it clicked for Twilight, she started to giggle along with Sunset. Holding her friend close as they rolled back and forth for several seconds, before Sunset came to a stop with Twilight on top of her. “It’s you,” Twilight said, looking down and into her Sunset’s eye, stroking her beautiful friend’s chin as if nothing had changed. “It really is you. Ariel, I’m so sorry I didn’t— Sunset cupped Twilight’s cheek with her own free hand. “It’s okay, Eric,” and, as tempted as Sunset was to throw in a line about what an idiot, but what a beautiful idiot, her ‘princess’ was, she held back.  They looked at each other, breath quicking at the closeness for the kiss. The stage kiss. As they leaned in, all they had to do was turn their faces slightly to avoid lip contact. Instead, something stirred inside of them. Both of their pent up emotions throughout the past several weeks, how they had been there for each other when they needed it, all of it suddenly came to the surface. So, when their faces came together, they allowed for their lips to touch, and pulled one another into an even tighter embrace. The crowd cheered.                          💜🧡💜🧡 As the mermaid and the human princess broke the kiss, the crowd of both humans and Mer-folk applauded. It was a tremendous occasion. One that would be talked about in the history book at the start of the new relations between land and sea. For Sunset and Twilight, it was simply the happiest day of their lives. “Oh, welcome to the family!” Cadence squeed as she pulled Sunset into a tight hug during the reception. “And my little Twily,” Cadence cooed, moving on to the lavender bride. “Told you the non-shoulder pads would look much better.” She left out the part where it may have been tacky to wear the same outfit you nearly married another woman in, as Twilight had almost done. “You look so ravishing.” “Isn’t that the truth.” Sunset snickered. “Cadence, Sunny!” Twilight said, trying to hide her flustered face. Everyone laughed, before there was a cough from the side of the boat. “Yes, well,” Queen Celestia interjected. “It is no lie, you two do make such a beautiful couple.” Twilight smiled, but caught the briefest of cringes from Sunset before perking up and walking over to the Queen of the sea. “Than… Thank you so much.” Sunset said, wrapping her arms around Celestia. “I love you.” “I love you two.” Celestia assured, and then turned to Twilight who froze up. “I take it you’ll take care of my little Sunset?” “Wi…” Twilight coughed and puffed out my chest. “With my life.” Celestia smiled, but then looked from Twilight to Sunset, and in a non-salient tone said, “Oh no, some of your makeup got smudged.” “It did?” Cadence began, before catching a look from Celestia which seemed to tell her something. “I mean yes!” She took Twilight and Sunset and pushed them in the direction of the cabins. “They—” Shining began, before picking up that something was up. “I mean, oh dear.”  “Why don’t you two go get yourselves cleaned up, and we’ll take care of things up here till then,” Cadence encouraged, giving Shining an assured look before going over to Celestia to exchange stories of when the brides were babies with the rest of the family. Hand in hand, Twilight lead Sunset down below to their honeymoon suit, which had already been stiff full of wedding present and flowers. “Crazy day, huh?” Sunset laughed as she sat on the bed and fidgeted with her crown. “That would be an understatement,” Twilight teased, before rubbing her wife’s arm. “You doing okay?” Sunset tensed. “I mean… I almost destroyed the world and it feels like I’m being rewarded for it.” She awkwardly laughed. “I know, it sounds silly to think and dwell on, but still.” Twilight sternly frowned at Sunset, turning Sunset’s head to face her’s. “Hey, we all make mistakes. We’re all hu—Eh, I guess now we’ll need a new saying. Anyways!” She let go of Sunset to adjust her glasses.  “Maybe we can both agree to disagree?” Sunset mused, giving her wife bedroom eyes. “Sure. But,” Twilight said with a blush as she allowed Sunset’s lips to once again press against hers. And they might have stayed like that a longer while, if Twilight didn’t stop to think, “Maybe we can pick this up later?” she said, using all her willpower to push Sunset off of her. “Wouldn't want the guest to worry about us.” “Oh? Oh right!” Sunset said sheepishly. She started to stand up, but Twilight held her back for one more moment. “You good?” Twilight asked. “For real?” “For now, and with you, always.” Sunset pulled Twilight onto her feet and into a hug. When the two brides pulled back, they gazed into each other's souls and, before having to go back to the party, brought themselves together for a type of kiss that only those of true love could accomplish.                     💞 🤵‍♀️ 💖 👰 💞 “Hey, knock it off you two!” Rainbow Dash said, lightly kicking at the merry couple.  The two stars had still been lip-locked as the curtain fell. Although the show was far from over, evident from the additional scene—added to the stage adaptation so the leads could change costumes— was playing out from the other side of the curtain. Sunset and Twilight broke their kiss at this news, looking wide eyed as they scrambled to get off one another. “We get it, you’re gay,” Rainbow commented. Having been given the short straw among the cast in needing to deal with the two when it became clear that they weren't going to break apart on their own will. “And we’re all very happy for you, but save the sex for after the wedding. Okay? Now come on, hop to it! Go, go, go!!” “Right, right!” Twilight said as she helped Sunset to her feet. Lost in so much thought, neither realized what Dash had said until they made it into the changing room. By then, it was far too late to slap their friend with a lobster or something for her comment. “Well, that was,” Twilight began, only to blush as Sunset stepped out of her silver gown. “Yes?” Sunset asked. “Um,” shaking her head, Twilight turned around to slip on her tux top. “I mean, great moment of improve back there.” “Yeah, sorry about that,” Sunset mouthed as she slipped into the wedding scene dress. “So… You think my parents are enjoying the show?” Sunset asked, eager to bring up any other topic. Even that. “No doubt,” Twilight nodded encouragingly. “Will you be able to face them?” Sunset paused. “I… I’ll try. At the very least,” she took in a breath, and held herself up. “I promise, no more running or putting this off. I owe them that much for coming.” She felt Twilight slip a hand into her own. “Hey, you won’t have to face them alone. I’ll be right beside you.” Twilight said with a squeeze. They stood there, hand in hand, gazing into one another before there was a loud knocking on the door. “Anyways! Ready to get married?” Sunset asked with a nervous laugh. “I mean, normally I’d like a date or two first, but I guess with both of our families here, it would be more covenant.” Twilight giddied. “I suppose that sounds economical… So, that was, well, a real kiss back there? It’s okay if not! I didn’t mean to assume, not that it be wrong! Things just kind of happened, and my brother says I should exercise more, and that I— The difference between a good friend, a great friend, and an even better girlfriend, was being able to learn quickly what could get your partner to relax without needing to say ‘relax’. Which AGAIN, is something you should NEVER do. Regardless, at that moment, Sunset found out the best way to do so with Twilight, was with a quick kiss on the lips. “When this show is all done and I sort things out with my parents, dinner and a movie?” Sunset offered as she pulled away. “Pizza, but no pineapples.” Holding a hand to her lip, it took a moment for Twilight to say anything, with the widest grin Sunset had even seen on the girl. “Half pineapple, but, I’ll let you pick the movie.” “It’s a date then,” Sunset coed. “Now come on, Sparky!” she said, taking Twilight’s hand. “We have a bunch of people waiting for us to get hitched, so let’s not disappoint.” Twilight was far too smitten to say anything else smart. Instead, being pulled by her girlfriend, yes, girlfriend! No, not just a girlfriend, but one of the best friends Twilight ever had. A feeling Sunset shared all the same with what they had been through. Honestly, it was miraculous that it took them this long to get together romantically! Well, much like with her parents, it wouldn’t do to dwell on the could haves and hadn’t. There was only the now, and what you did with it. Such as the many kisses Twilight and Sunset shared while waiting in the wing for their cue to go on. Smiling at one another, hands held together, never wanting to let the other go, the two lovers walked out onto the stage, singing along to the closing number with the rest of the cast, to thunderous applause, ready for whatever life had in store for them next.              📣🍍🧜‍♀️🦵📓✒️🎭👑💖                          The End