//------------------------------// // Promise // Story: You Promised Me We would Stay for the Sunset... // by TakeshiAshirogi //------------------------------// The day was long, but it was slowly ending. Stores began to wrap up and shut down as business hours were ticking away their last minutes. Families returned to their homes as they prepared for the long night to begin. Streetlights lit up as the day started to transition to the night. Izzy Moonbow, one of Maretime Bay’s newest additions, made her way through Manestreet road. Izzy followed the path illuminated by the glow of the orange sunlight as a bag of treasure levitated beside her head. The young unicorn had gone spelunking that day in the residential dumpsters, and now she was heading to the Crystal Brighthouse with that day’s findings. The young unicorn made her way back home until something caught her attention. Looking over the beach down below the town, a great wall had lined the cliff that Maretime Bay was built upon. Izzy took notice of a familiar pony leaning against the railings of the wall. The young Pegasus was on her hindlegs as she watched over the cliff, her forelegs rested on top of the wall. The young Pegasus was Pipp, she was one of Izzy’s roommates and best friends. Pipp was looking over the wall, her eyes staring at the sea below her. She watched as the sun started to connect with the horizon. The young princess was lost in her own little world. She didn’t even take notice of a stranger walking up towards her. “Pipp?” the young princess turned her head. “Pipp, what are you doing out here?” Izzy trotted over with her bag of treasure levitating behind her. Pipp smiled warmly. “Hey Izzy. It’s nothing much.” She turned back to look over the cliff. “I just came out to see the sunset.” The young unicorn tilted her head. “The sunset?” she raised an eyebrow as her head turned to follow her friend’s line of sight. Izzy’s eyes widen at what she was looking at. “Woah~” was all she could muster. The sun started to dip behind the horizon of the sea. The reflection of the orange glow shimmered on the ocean’s reflective surface. It was a warm glow. “It’s beautiful…” escaped from the unicorn’s lips, her body sat down right beside her friend – she was taken in by the scenery. “It is.” Pipp reaffirmed. “Back at Zephyr Heights, I used to always watch the sunset. It was beautiful there as well. Sometimes with mom and Zipp, sometimes by myself.” The princess pony continued. “I loved watching the sun disappear behind the clouds, I loved watching the warm glow filled the chasm at the base of our home. Here? It’s different. But it’s different in a good way.” Izzy turned to look at the mare standing beside her, her pink coat glowed in a warm glow. The warm glow of the sun was only challenged by the warm smile that was on the Pegasus’ face. Izzy’s eyes traveled downward and moved to forelegs that her friend was resting on the wall. In the young mare’s hoofs was her cellphone pointed towards the setting sun. Izzy couldn’t help but remember the incident that had recently occurred between the two ponies. “A-are you livestreaming for your pipsqueaks?” “…” Pipp paused. “…No.” she said shaking her head. “This one is for me. I’m recording this sunset for myself.” The young unicorn paused, “Oh…Okay.” She turned her head to look back to the setting sun. Izzy didn’t know why her friend had gotten so mad when she had accidently broken her phone, but she recognized that That wasn’t a story for her to ask about. If her friend wanted to share, then Izzy would be there to listen. So, for the time being, the two friends watched in silence as the sun set behind the ocean. As the sun started to sink behind the horizon, the golden glow of the sunset started to dissipate and the cool, calm night began to encroach the sky. Seeing the sun finally disappear behind the waves, Pipp’s expression started to sullen as she felt a sharp pain in her chest. It was like, in that moment, as the light disappeared, she was reminded of something that was no longer there. Pipp’s head tilted as her lips quivered. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she began to sing… “Promise that we’ll stay for the sunset,” Izzy’s ears perked. “And when the moon shines through the darkness.” The young unicorn turned to look at her friend as she moved away from the sea. “We can find the path that leads us home.” Pipp turned to walk down Manestreet. “And on the way, you’ll…maybe…sing me a song.” The young Pegasus smiled at the thought, as if to reminiscent of time long gone. “Promise that you will always will be there.” Izzy watched as her friend continued to sing. “Hold my wing whenever I’m real scared.” Pipp’s legs started to come alive. “Help me stand up tall if I fall down,” the young unicorn was mesmerized as the pink princess started to dance in the flickering spotlight of a nearby streetlamp. “Make me laugh away on my bluest days.” Izzy could almost see the shadow of somepony that wasn’t there, Pipp started to dance with that shadow. But then, she stopped. “HOW could you promise you always would be there.” She looked up at the stars as if trying to search for something. “Why’d you have to go away somewhere.” She lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “Every morning into every night.” Izzy listened as her friend sung from the heart. “Do you watch over me like the sun in the sky.” Pipp sung, crying out from her soul. “Am I all alone standing in your light.” She squeezed her eyes tightly, trying not to show tears. “I wish that I could…” Pipp lowered her head, “Maybe…Sing you a song…tonight…” “…You promised me we’d stay for the sunset…” “…” Izzy paused. She had heard this song before. It was the same song that Pipp had debuted with as a pop singer years ago. The young unicorn had heard it before, but never like this. “…P-Pipp?” The young Pegasus pony turned her chin from her defeated position. Her eyes had swollen up and turned red, a trail of tears ran down the side of her face. “I-Izzy?” then she squeezed her eyes, turning her head away from her friend. “I-I’m sorry, Izzy.” She apologized for showing her friend a side of her that she knew that she couldn’t let others see. “…Pipp.” Pipp turned back around to look at her friend. Izzy hesitated to speak, but she swallowed hard. “W-Would you like to come back to my house, someday, in Bridlewood?” Eyes still red, the young Pegasus pony raised an eyebrow. “W-why?” She asked with a dry throat. “…” Izzy paused for a moment as if she were trying to find the right words. “The forest around my house is very beautiful.” She stated. “And during the sunset, the sun’s rays are exceptionally beautiful passing through the treetops. And me, and my parents, would watch the sun set on the grassy fields. It’s all so incredibly beautiful.” Pipp was very confused. “W-what are you trying to say?” “I’m asking you if you would like to come to my house. Come with me to see the sunset.” The young Pegasus pony raised her head as she lifted her body. “A-are you sure? Are you serious?” Izzy nodded. “Yes, I’m sure.” “A-are you s-sure?” Pipp turned her body to look at her friend. “Are you sure we can go see the sunset?” Izzy smiled deeply. “Uh huh.” “D-do you promise?” “I promise!” Pipp’s lips quivered. “D-do you promise? Do you really promise?’ she squeezed her eyes tightly as if she were waiting for rejection. “Of course!” Pipp started to sniffle under her breath. “C-can we go to your house tomorrow?” “Yes!” “Then please…please.” The young princess pony looked at her friend. “Take me to see the sunset!” tears welled up in her eyes. Izzy knelt her head towards the other mare. “I will.” She said nuzzling into the Pegasus’ neck Pipp started to cry. “Thank you, Izzy!” she said wrapping her forelegs around her friend’s body. She could feel the unicorn’s warmth. Izzy’s warmth felt even more warm than the sunset’s cozy glow. “Of course.” “Promise that we will stay for the sunset…”