The Fall Formal brought some painful memories, mainly about who Sunset used to be and what lengths it took for her to finally realise how wrong she'd been to ever go down that route. But things were different now. She had her friends and the other students had warmed up to her. She was in a much better place than a year ago. And it would be even better after tonight.
Weeks and months of pining would finally end tonight, one way or another. Sunset locked eyes with Twilight and then with Applejack as her and Rarity arrived in front of the school. Her dress, hair, and makeup were already beyond what she could have done on her own thanks to her. Applejack headed for them while Applebloom ran to Sweetie Belle, the two of them making off on their own.
"You look great, Sugar. Uh, both of ya do."
"Uh-huh, thank you," Rarity said firmly, with a flip of her hair. "You're lucky it's her night."
Twilight caught up with them as well, after temporarily parting with Timber. "Rainbow and Fluttershy are already with Pinkie. I'm just waiting for their progress report."
"It will take a while for Pinkie to get over her first Party Rush," Sunset said matter-of-factly. "Until then, we should just enjoy ourselves. I mean, I don't want to make tonight all about me. Again."
The heavy implications quickly became obvious for everyone and they nodded.
"Alright, Sugar, let's just go an' dance for a while."
"Right. Twilight, this is your first Formal at CHS. Don't let me keep you from Timber."
Twilight met her smile and squeezed her hand for a moment before hurrying back to her date.
Over the next hour, Sunset slipped from one group to another, trying to clear her head and just have fun. She caught sight of Pinkie a few times and once they locked eyes, the energetic girl had stormed over to give her a heart-fluttering hug, but they had parted again soon after that. It took another ten to twenty minutes before Twilight found her again, wordlessly taking her wrist and leading her out of the gym.
The music carried into the hallways, but once they were at the library, it was only a distant noise. Timber and - to Sunset's surprise - Flash stood by the doors, quickly waving them in. Inside, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack had gathered.
"Okay, Timber and Flash are watching the doors," Twilight said quietly, pulling Sunset along to everyone else. "Where's Pinkie?"
"Up there." Rainbow pointed her thumb over her shoulder, up to the glass dome spanning the wide room. Through the panes, Sunset could spot Pinkie, standing on the roof with her back to them, with Fluttershy standing next to her. "Flutters is making sure she doesn't come back in too quickly. She finally has a rare energy gap."
"Alright, go." Applejack pushed her towards the steps that led to the glass door in the dome. Sunset looked around at her friends, seeing nothing but encouraging smiles. She gave herself another push and headed up the steps and pushed through the door.
Fluttershy heard the door open and raised her voice into a sudden squeak as she interrupted Pinkie. "I'm cold, I'll see you later!" She quickly shot Sunset a smile of her own and hurried inside, the door not quite falling closed.
It was cold. This high on the roof, with the open, starry sky above them, the breeze just blew straight through Sunset. And yet her chest and her cheeks felt hot as she stepped up next to Pinkie.
"Hey... are you enjoying yourself?" she asked quietly.
"Oh, totally!" Pinkie answered, not at all quiet. "This is the biggest party of the year!" She smirked and nudged Sunset's side. "Think you'll make Princess again?"
"Ha! Even if they offered, that's a trend I don't want to continue." Here was her chance. She took Pinkie's hand. "I think you would make a great princess, though."
"Me? Nah." Pinkie's giggle was quieter than usual, a little unsure. She twirled a lock of her curly hair, looking out over the lights of the town. "You think so?"
"Well, I know..." Why did she let Rarity write lines for her? "I know y-you're my princess."
"Huh?" Their eyes met, Sunset's nervous gaze and Pinkie's confusion.
"I mean, what I'm trying to say..." She sighed and turned fully towards her, squeezing her hand. "What I've been trying to say for so long..."
She hesitated again. Pinkie looked up at her, fully focused. Her hair was curled but still falling over her shoulders. The ribbons and frills of her dress danced in the breeze. And she could get lost in those blue eyes, but she knew she needed to keep herself together.
"You're my best friend, Pinkie. But that's not all. I love you." She took her other hand as well as she felt her confidence start to falter again. "Really love you. I... I want you to be my girlfriend!"
A strong breeze blew past them, tussling both their hair. Pinkie's hands squeezed hers back and her eyes started welling up. Sunset held her breath, her heart standing still for a beat as it was ready to either leap or shatter.
"Is this really happening?" Pinkie asked softly, the first tear running down her cheek, but a wide smile spreading over her face.
"Y-yes. Yes it is," Sunset answered weakly, feeling herself tearing up as well.
"YES!" Pinkie slipped out of Sunset's hands and leapt at her, throwing her arms around her neck and wrapping her legs around her waist. Sunset stumbled in her heels but found her balance, wrapping an arm around Pinkie's waist and one under her thighs. She could feel her heartbeat against her chest, her warmth against her body, and the smell of bubblegum and caramel entered her nose as it buried in her hair.
Pinkie howled loudly, a mix between a laugh and an excited scream. After squeezing Sunset as hard as she could, she pulled back and pressed her hands to her cheeks, leaning in for a firm, superficial smooch on her lips.
Sunset scoffed out a short laugh through her tears, accompanied by the loud cheers and whistles from the open door.