//------------------------------// // This is the only Chapter // Story: Writing The Counter Spell // by Richard79 //------------------------------// Writing The Counter Spell Twilight gripped the pen in her hands, she could feel her fingers crying out. Glancing down her knuckles were white. She let the pen drop on the lined paper held in a notebook. She had one task. ONE. “Damn…what am I going to do.” She said gripping her hair on the sides. She winced and let go. “Put myself through more pain trying to come up with one spell that should be easy for the Princess of Friendship.” She threw her hands up and got off the stool she’d pulled up the counter. Outside the stars dotted the night sky, the moon was still up, and so was she. Pacing back and forth she hadn’t realized that her commotion and voice had woken up one of her friends. “I’m just too tensed, to think straight.” Descending the steps the friend in question nearly bumped into Twilight who started to head out of the kitchen, ready to admit defeat. Twilight let out in a little scream before she took in a deep breath. “Sunset?” Twilight asked seeing her in the moonlight that came in through the window in the kitchen. “Did I wake you up?” Twilight said with a yawn. Sunset Shimmer looked over Twilight’s shoulder and spotted the pen and tablet on the island counter. “Not really. Having some trouble Twi?” She asked looking at Twilight with a smile. “That sounds like you.” She said with a playful smile. Twilight let out a huff and turned away from her. “I’m doing fine.” “Really?” Sunset placed her hands on Twilights’ shoulders “Then why’d I hear you giving yourself a hard time?” She could feel the tension in her shoulders. “You need to relax-” Twilight abruptly pulled away from Sunset. “How in Equestria…uh on earth, can I do that Sunset?” She walked over to the sink and placed her hands on it. No, it’s not Sunset that I’m mad at…it’s me- “Twilight, it’s because you’re amazing, strong and so smart.” Sunset stared to say and watched Twilight let go of the sink. She’d walked over to Twilight and glanced at the two pages she’d left open. A little doodle or what could be seen as one stuck out. It was an image, she assumed it was, of Twilight hugging Sunset in their pony forms. Or am I reading too much into it? “Come on Twilight, this isn’t you.” “I’m sorry for that outburst, Sunset. It wasn’t against you.” I can’t just come out and say what’s bugging me…can I? Twilight didn’t turn around, but Sunset could see her reflection in the window, the tears in her eyes. “Twilight, what’s going on?” Besides, you being tensed up She figured now wasn’t the right time to bring that up. “Talk to me, this isn’t you. Where’s the Twilight who’s helped me on more than one occasion. Showed me what having a friend meant when I didn’t even have one? Twilight clutched her hands and kept her back to Sunset; in the reflection in the window, she noticed the notebook was still open. My drawing…it couldn’t hurt to ask…could it. “Can I ask for a favor Sunset.” “Of course, Twilight.” “Please don’t think I’m being weird or anything.” Twilight started rubbing her arms with her hands. “I’ve never thought of you as weird.” She said and then smiled. “What favor are you wanting?” Twilight turned around and dropped her hands to her sides “A hug…” She didn’t bother looking at Sunset, she could feel the heat on her face. “Stress getting to you?” Sunset asked crossing the gap between them. Twilight could feel her face turning a little redder, she nodded. “This counter spell against the Dazzling isn’t as easy as I would have hoped, it needs to be perfect.” “I know what it’s like not to have the answer even when it’s staring at you in the face. You helped me. Now I want to help you.” She reached out and took hold of Twilight’s hands she could feel them shaking. Wow you really are tensed you won’t be able to focus like this. Twilight lifted her head up and gave a slight smile. “Thank you. You’ve always been a really close friend.” She noticed a smile from Sunset with a pink tent rising to her cheeks. “What?” Twilight tilted her head. Sunset didn’t say a word she just pulled Twilight into a hug. Twilight felt Sunset wrap her arms around her lower back near her waistline. The crude drawing she'd drawn rushed back into her mind. “You'd asked for a hug remember?” Sunset said and wasn't able to see the wide eyes on Twilight's face. "Yeah...I...did...." Twilight’s gaze had fallen to the notebook and what she'd started to add to the drawing and had stopped. She'd let her mind wonder while she'd been drawing, trying to clear her mind. "Hey, you, okay?" Sunset could feel Twilight tense up. "You can hug back. It sorta works both ways you know." Twilight let out a breath and wrapped her arms around Sunset's back. “Sorry…” She took in a deep breath enjoying the scent of Sunset. “My mind wondered.” Again… She thought. “About what Twi?” Sunset asked she moved her hands up to Twilight’s hair. “If something is bugging you, you can talk to me.” Twilight could feel Sunset running her hands through her hair and found herself leaning more into the feeling that swept through her. “It's just stuff…” She replied and let out a little sigh and found herself enjoying what Sunset was doing. Sunset smiled and kept running her hands through Twilight’s hair after she heard her sigh. “Stuff that’s making you so tense?” Twilight pulled back so she could see Sunset’s face. “No…why would you ask that?” Sunset saw the blush on Twilight’s face. “Really, Twi? Your face says something different. I’m here for you.” I bet it has something to do with that drawing. Twilight looked away and her face turned even redder. Busted... Twilight's inner voice echoed. “Okay fine…there is…something bothering me.” She lowered her head and turned back to her. “I knew it,” Sunset said. Plus I heard you as I was coming downstairs. She thought and added. “Is it what you're tensed up about? Is it writing that counter spell?” Twilight shook her head. “I know I’ll get it done… Sunset could see a slight smile on Twilight’s face. “Hum…” She hooked her thumb under Twilight’s chin and lifted her head to look into her eyes. “Then what’s bugging you? Is it…me?” Twilight’s jaw dropped open for a second before she closed it, she could feel her heart hammering in her chest. She took a breath and just nodded. “What about me Twi?” Sunset asked turning her head to look at Twilight’s notebook. Staring at the crud drawing something else caught her eye causing them to widen and her heart to skip a beat. She turned back to Twilight. "Can I look at what you have written so far?" Sunset asked. Twilight's darted her eyes from side to side. “Um…sure…” Twilight said her voice barely above a whisper. They stepped back from the hug and the two took a seat together on separate stools with Sunset putting her arm around Twilight's shoulder. Sunset leaned over and looked at the two pages that had been left open. She couldn’t read an of her writing, as Twilight would call it. She focused on the drawing. “Hum…this is a cute drawing.” She said tapping her finger on it. “This is…us.” Twilight watched her trace the crud drawing she’d done of her and Twilight with her finger. “My…mind wondered.” She watched Sunset pause and lean in a bit closer to the drawing, which had Twilight’s heart beating faster. Is that a heart? Sunset thought and she could feel her heart fluttering a bit. I think I understand what’s going on. “Twi, can I ask you something?” “My mind wondered…” Twilight repeated staring at the drawing and blinked when Sunset started running her finger down her cheek. She could feel her body relaxing at the touch and let out another sigh. “That feels…nice…” She blinked and realized she hadn't responded to Sunset's question. "Um...sure..." Sunset smiled at Twilight and placed her hand near Twilight’s on the table. “I think I have a hunch as to what’s going on here, but.” She held up a finger. “I want to hear it from you.” She said placing her hand back down on the island counter. Twilight felt her hand twitch as it bumped into Sunset’s hand, she glanced down and noticed that Sunset had turned her hand over. “You’ll think I’m weird or you might not want to talk to me again.” Sunset let out a little giggle. “Depends on what you’re hiding.” I was beginning to wonder myself. Twilight’s gaze lifted to Sunset who had a smile on her face. “Is it why your so tensed?” Sunset asked and noticed Twilight shifting in her seat. “You can tell me, I bet it’ll help.” Twilight paused for just a second. “You won’t think I’m weird?” “I find it weird that you’re dancing around whatever this is,” Sunset replied. Twilight blew out a breath. “It is…about…” She glanced back down at Sunset’s hand again. Remembering how her hands felt in her hair and then running down her cheek. She found herself liking it, and it confirmed what she was feeling was indeed true. “About someone I like…have liked for awhile now. I was just afraid to tell this person.” “Hum.” Sunset grinned at Twilight and gave her shoulder a little squeeze. “Would I happen to know this person?” She asked and felt Twilight take hold of her hand. I was right. Inside Sunset was smiling. "I think you already knew Sunset." Twilight began. "You...don't think I am weird-" Sunset turned and smiled at Twilight. "I figured I would be the one to scare you away...if I ever told you…" Her voice trailed off when she felt Twilight squeezing her hand. "Guess we've both been holding back. How's the tension now?" Twilight loosened her grip but still kept hold of her hand. "Better now," She smiled and giggled a bit feeling a weight coming off her shoulders, the tension melting away. "Thank you Sunset." Sunset's smile widened. "You're welcome." She got ready to get up so Twilight could get back to working on the counter spell. "Sunset wait-" Twilight started to say. Sunset paused and the second she turned her head back to Twilight her eyes widened when Twilight kissed her. It was just a little peck on the lips, but it said a lot. Twilight pulled back even redder than she had been before. I didn’t even think… She thought before saying. "Sorry...I um...wanted-" Sunset smiled, leaned over, and kissed her back. "Me too, for a while now. " The two of them hugged again while blushing and giggling. Twilight let out a breath and smiled when they separated again. "I'll be able to finish the spell now." "Good, glad I could help…" Sunset replied with a yawn. "I need to get back to bed anyway." She got up, walked over, and stood at the door, she glanced back at Twilight. "Um…I won't mind some company when you're done." Twilight grinned at that. “Sure, I won’t be too much longer.” “Thank you for waking me up,” Sunset said. “I’m really glad I did.” She paused for a second and added. “Um…Sunset” “Yeah?” “Love you, good night.” Sunset couldn’t resist that adorable smile on Twilights face. She walked back over and kissed Twilight on the cheek. “Love you too Twilight.” When Sunset walked up the stairs, she could hear a series of “yeses” from Twilight. That had her smiling even bigger, and she knew this was going to be the start of something new and amazing. Twilight sat there for a few seconds holding her cheek before picking up the pen and flipping to a blank page. She felt a new determination rising inside her as she started to write. The next thing she knew she yawned and put down the pen. Least I got something down. She thought with a smile while she walked up the steps. Entering the room with all her friends she found Sunset laying in her bed and not on the floor like she had been. With the moonlight she could see Sunset Shimmer’s eyes were closed. She had her back against the wall giving Twilight plenty of room. Lifting up the cover she slid into bed and laid down on her side. She felt an arm come across her waist and bit back a gasp not wanting to wake her other friends. “Night Twilight.” Sunset whispered trying her best not to laugh when she felt Twilight tense up there for a second letting out that muffled gasp. Twilight smiled and scooted closer towards Sunset and closed her eyes. The last thing she did before falling asleep was take hold of Sunset's hand around her waist.