Twilight stared in confusion as her friends laughed around her. Was Equestrian language really so strange to them? Even Sunset giggled and gave Twilight an apologetic smile.
"S-s-say it again!" Rainbow begged, holding her sides in mirth.
"Fillyfooler?" Twilight said, quiet and hesitant. She was afraid that her friends were making fun of her, though she wanted desperately not to believe so. It had taken a lot for her to finally say it, and even Sunset had seemed to drift away from her after it had been done. She wasn't sure why they were laughing, and it made her feel awful.
This set the girls off again, which made Twilight pout as she tried not to cry. "Sunset!" She whined, "Why are they laughing?"
"It's a pony term, and they're humans." Sunset chuckled as she saw the look of distress on her friend's face, "Why would a human be called a fillyfooler?" She pulled a face that made Twilight giggle. She hadn't thought of it like that, and supposed the term wasn't exactly meant for humans to understand.
"Oh, good point."
The fact that they were laughing at how it sounded and not that she had just come out as one made her feel a lot better. When Pinkie had opened the perfect door for her to admit it, she had her heart in her throat but Sunset's hand on her shoulder. She felt safe admitting part of herself that even her friends in Equestria didn't know.
"Told you they'd be fine." Twilight smiled at her friend despite her own previous doubts.
"You did." Sunset conceded with a small, shy smile.
"You're still you, Darling." Rarity said, later, when everyone had calmed down. "And we love you."
"Even if you have a funny way of labeling it." Pinkie giggled, and Rainbow high-fived the party girl.
"Thanks, girls. Glad I could make you guys laugh, at least." Twilight shared a look with Sunset. She had wanted her friend to come out as well, but the older girl was against it. She was still afraid of rejection, something Twilight couldn't find in her self to fault her for.
"A human being a fillyfooler would be a totally different thing." Sunset said with a wink. Rainbow and Applejack guffawed, while Rarity and Fluttershy blushed. Pinkie just giggled, and Twilight looked mortified, which added even more to the situation.
Twilight gazed at Sunset for a moment and wondered when the other girl would be honest about herself. Sunset caught her stare and smiled at first, but that smile turned hard once she realized what Twilight was thinking. Sunset turned away, a frown on her face, and Twilight felt a little down.
She has to live in this world, Twilight argued to herself, She probably has to be more careful about it than I do.
She still wished, though. The sooner Sunset was honest, the sooner... Well, she still wished.