The girls had expected to see a lot things come the following morning, but they weren’t prepared to see nothing. When they awoke from their long day of fighting, the four girls watched the news and news sites as Twilight suggested, but in every report about the mall battle, no one mentioned Sunset Shimmer, Rainbow Dash, Lightning Dust, or Gilda. In fact, it was being blamed on a broken gas pipe that combusted and caused the damage in the mall.
This confounded the girls, they knew none of that was imaginary, it did happen. Twilight even tried to levitate a cup, and it worked for a few seconds before she lost concentration. But the point was made, she had magic now, and because of that, everything that happened yesterday did in fact happen. Twilight had told the others about the resources the Organization had at its disposal, but even they couldn’t cover up fiery beings throwing down in the skies or in the city. Something else covered this up, something powerful.
The rest of the weekend ended with Sunset giving Twilight pointers on how to control her newly awakened magic powers. Simple levitation was basic, so Sunset started there. It was a little hard for the bright young genius, being more used to thinking about something wanting to happen rather than feeling it. Thinking was only half of magic, the other half was feeling it out and learning to move that energy through the body.
Thankfully, Twilight was at least able to gain a modicum of control, enough so that she didn’t have to worry about turning someone into a toad at school.
Oh school, Sunset dreaded that. Applejack and Rainbow Dash had waited for Sunset and Twilight to arrive, both girls keeping sentry and watching for any suspicious happenings after their battles. Sunset pulled up in her bike, now having been cleared from quarantine after the Atomic Skull incident, and Twilight was dropped off by her mother.
Sunset noticed that Velvet had given her an especially warmhearted smile. Why that was? She had no clue, but Sunset returned the smile with one of her own. After that, Twilight’s mother left, leaving Sunset still perplexed, still, Velvet was nice, she reminded Sunset of her own mother. The former bully shook her head, dislodging those thoughts of home.
It’s been years since I’ve seen Mom or Dad…I doubt any of them want to see me…
“Sunset? Sunset are you alright?” Twilight asked.
Sunset was snapped out of her memories and focused on the present. “Y-Yeah, I’m fine.” Both girls headed towards Rainbow and Applejack, stopping when they reached the horse statue. “So what’s the word? Any news on us?”
“Not that we’ve heard, but Lyra and Bonbon seem to be doing alright. Take a look,” said Rainbow Dash as she pointed a thumb in the couple’s direction.
Lyra and Bonbon were being their old selves again, with Lyra smiling happily. Her healed left arm was hooked around Bonbon’s right, bringing her lover close enough to rub cheeks. Bonbon struggled in vain to release herself from her lover’s grip.
“C’mon, ya know you want to nuzzle me,” whined Lyra.
“S-Stop it, Lyra! I don’t mind that, but we’re in front of everyone!” Bonbon argued.
“Tough tinkies, you’re my girlfriend, I’ll nuzzle you anytime I want…Like now!”
The mint green girl pressed her cheek against Bonbon’s, rubbing them together. Bonbon groaned and blushed at the display of affection, but that didn’t stop her from smiling or pushing Lyra away.
“Geez, what is your deal with nuzzling like an animal?”
“Not just any animal, I’m nuzzling you like a pony!”
Bonbon sighed. “You’re still hung up on that?”
Lyra unhooked herself from Bonbon and gave her girlfriend a defiant look. “You’re damn skippy I am! There are tons of other worlds out there Bonnie! TONS! The Multiverse is vast, who says ours is the only universe out there! What if there were other versions of this world, ones that don’t have humans on them, but instead have creatures who are the same as us?!”
“Seriously Lyra, some people have a thing about aliens, others Bigfoot and Loch Ness, you have this multi – whatever.”
“Verse, Multiverse!” Lyra crossed her arms in front of her chest and huffed. “It’s a theory that’s even been supported by the scientific community.” Lyra saw Bonbon about to counter. “Legitimate scientists, not the so called ‘nut cases’!”
Bonbon rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine, but why ponies? Why not dragons or those anthro animals you see in those kids shows.”
“Because, ponies are cute and cool! I mean, can you imagine me as a pony?!”
Bonbon raised an eyebrow as she contemplated that thought. She was sure that the kind of ponies Lyra was talking about were not the same kind Bonbon was thinking of. “Sorta…I guess.”
A devious grin appeared on Lyra’s face as she sidled next to Bonbon. “Well, if I was, I’d give you a ‘good, long ride’.”
Bonbon’s face blushed crimson as Lyra said those words. She face palmed herself and kept her hand there to hide her face. “You’re such a pervert sometimes, you know that?!”
“Yeah, but you know you like that about me~” Lyra proclaimed in sing-songy voice.
Sunset, couldn’t help but smile at the display, and at the same time cringe in worry about how Lyra even had the slightest inkling that there might be a parallel world populated by ponies.
“Honestly, it’s too early in the morning for such antics,” Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie, having spotted their other friends, walked towards them as they took note of Lyra’s show. “But I suppose it’s warranted, seeing how she has fully recovered.”
“I’m happy for them,” said Fluttershy.
“Is anyone else going ask why Lyra’s arm has grown back when it was burned off by a Ghost Rider knock off?” Pinkie asked.
“D-Don’t sweat it Pinks, miracles happen!” To this Rainbow winked at Sunset, making the fiery haired girl grin.
Pinkie Pie gasped loudly. “You and Sunny are totally friends now aren’t you?!”
Sunset and Rainbow blushed. “NO WE’RE NOT!”
“You totally are~ You even said that at the same time! Miracles do happen!” Pinkie Pie testified.
Rarity quietly made her way to Applejack and spoke in a hushed whisper. “Can I take it by the fact that Twilight and Sunset are occupying the same space like this that your plan worked?”
Applejack tipped her and nodded. “Eeyup.”
Rarity sighed. “Oh what a relief, so…what was the reason?” She was met with silence, to which she gave the apple farmer a deadpan expression. “You’re not going to say a word of how, are you?”
“Nnope.”
The fashionista released a frustrated growl, details were important in such matters, and something told Rarity that she was missing out on some very juicy details. Heck, even Rainbow and Sunset appeared to be a little closer, she wasn’t even giving Sunset death glares or snapping at her.
“Fine, I guess it is alright seeing as how things turned out.”
“As long as ya understand Rares,” said Applejack.
The bell started ring, making the assortment of students begin their treks to their homerooms. The group of girls did the same, with Sunset trailing behind. As she neared the steps, she froze in place. Sunset felt something, a familiar energy presence. Cautiously she turned her head to glance over her shoulder. What she saw confused her.
Standing near the horse statue were three girls, no older than herself she’d wager. The purple girl looked like some kind of punk rocker, the blue girl was just smiling and giddy, like a kid about to head into an amusement park. The third, she was…striking. All three of them were, objectively speaking, cute and hot in their own way. But the third, the one standing in the middle, it was as if she had an aura of authority, radiating her presence wherever she went.
Her eyes were a piercing rose color, and her smile, it was sultry, seductive, and yet, intimidating all at once. “Um, can I help you guys? I don’t remember seeing you, are you new?”
“Oh no, we don’t attend CHS, but we are thinking about it. It looks like a very entertaining place,” said the yellow girl.
“Well…maybe I could talk to the Principal, see if she could give you tour or call your folks about one or something?” Sunset offered.
The purple girl scoffed. “Please, did the high school thing like a hundred times over.”
“Aria!” The middle girl hissed.
“Well we have!” Aria shot back.
“Ari, you really need to loosen up sometimes, I mean, it’s great that you do in the sack, but you carry too much tension if you do that every day,” said the blue girl.
“SONATA! Shut up about that crap!”
“Oopsie, sorry, just forget I mentioned it.” Sonata apologized.
Sunset could already tell that this girl was possibly the Pinkie Pie of their group, but more airheaded. And ignoring the fact that she just openly admitted to bedding Aria, Sunset decided to address the middle girl.
“Soooo…um, Aria, and Sonata, I didn’t catch your name,” said Sunset.
“Adagio, dear, but we’ll talk a little later, your friends seem to be calling to you,” said Adagio.
Sunset turned back towards the main entrance and saw that the girls were waiting up for her. “Oh crap, yeah, classes are going to start – wait! ‘Later’? What do –?”
When Sunset turned to address the trio, all three were gone, making Sunset do a double take. She looked back and forth, scanning the whole quad for any trace that the three girls were there. Sunset knew she didn’t imagine them, at least she hoped not, what with Hel lurking as close as her shadow. For all she knew, they were manifestations of her Firestorm and magic powers.
“Sonata, Aria, and Adagio…” Sunset turned to the entrance, spared one more glance behind her, and then continued on inside.
PHYS ED. CLASS…
“NO! Absolutely not!” Twilight protested.
“Twi, Ah understand how yer tryin’ to protect us and all, but this ain’t somethin’ we can keep to just ourselves,” said Applejack. “We need to tell the others.”
Applejack and Twilight were busy in the gym, doing some exercises on their own as warm-ups before they got ready to do some exercises. Twilight was holding onto Applejack’s ankles as she performed sit ups, making Twilight express amazement at the ease and swiftness at which Applejack moved up and down with little effort. During this time, the apple farmer was trying to convince Twilight that the information about the Firestorms and Organization needed to be shared amongst the rest of their friends.
“We don’t need to tell them anything, it’s bad enough you and Rainbow Dash know about…me, and all Sunset and I have done,” said Twilight with remorse.
Applejack came up and held herself there as she looked at Twilight. “Sugarcube, Ah realize how you wanted to keep us from danger, but the fact of the matter is, danger’s already here.”
Twilight’s features drooped, she didn’t want to admit it, but Applejack was right. Danger was here, and it had found its way to her best friends. It had already claimed her big brother, robbing Cadance of her lover, it had killed so many, and maimed Lyra. As much as Twilight had been trying, she was only deluding herself into thinking that the danger was kept at bay, that she was shielding them from harm. Twilight was suddenly snapped out of her depression when she felt Applejack’s hand rest upon her shoulder, shooting her a confident smile.
“Twi, at times like this is when you really need yer friends, and when ya really need to trust ‘em. If them Organization guys show up at Fluttershy’s, Rarity’s, or Pinkie Pie’s place, how will they know to call you or Sunset as a first thought? Ah mean, if that happened, y’all two are on my speed dial. But fer them, they wouldn’t know to do that, they’d just call the cops and by then it’d be too late.”
Twilight let out a heavy sigh. “I understand, it’s better to be informed than left in the dark. I’m just afraid of what they’ll think of me…I can barely understand why you or Rainbow are okay with being near me, knowing that I’m not even a normal human being…”
“Hush up about that, it don’t matter if yer not ‘normal’. Twi, to be honest, the definition of what’s ‘normal’ nowadays is skewed, so it ain’t like you’re off by much.”
“But I was grown from nothing more than random bits of DNA! I have no idea who my real parents are, I’m smarter than a supercomputer, and a walking nuclear reactor, and let’s not forget, I’m apparently a Magical Girl?!” Twilight whispered harshly as she threw her arms into the air.
“Twi, if Rainbow and Ah can accept you for you, than why is it so hard to think that the others won’t?” Applejack asked.
“It’s just…I don’t know…”
“Trust me Twi, tellin’ ‘em now will be easier then tellin’ them when all hell breaks loose and it’s too late to do anythin’ about it.”
Well, Twilight couldn’t deny the logic in that. Reluctantly, she nodded her affirmative to telling the others.
“Good, how about we get ‘em all together after school and meet up at your place, and while we’re at it, tell ‘em you and Sunset are together?” Applejack asked.
“Sure, I’ll just call my Mom and Dad later to tell them you all will be coming over………Wait, what about me and Sunset?! ”
Suddenly the coach’s whistle blew, signaling the students to stop their warm ups and huddle up. Twilight and Applejack rose up and joined them. Twilight was now starting to feel differently about this whole thing.
LUNCH TIME…
Sunset’s class had let out a little early, so she got a head start on getting to the lunch room. Rainbow had informed her, a period and a half ago, that Applejack convinced Twilight to have them both tell Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rarity about what’s been going on, and apparently about their relationship. The former bad girl let out a long sigh as she made the trek to the lunch area. She understood the reasoning, but she was still a little edgy about telling the others that she and Twilight were together.
Really though, are we still together, after the way we’ve been avoiding each other? And now she has magic. I was actually happy she has magic, now it’s just something else I can share with her, besides both us being geniuses, I could teach her all I learned about magic! Problem is though…she’s scared of it because of Hel…and now the double fusions, I can’t catch a break…
“Pfft.”
Sunset stopped walking, hearing what sounded like someone blowing a raspberry. She turned to her left and jumped when she suddenly noticed that someone was there. The flash of pink hair she saw made her stop before she completely went up the wall, remembering Pinkie had a penchant for appearing out of random places. But as Sunset prepared to scold her…friend? Acquaintance? Whatever, she was about to scold her but she stopped upon seeing that it wasn’t Pinkie.
The girl standing beside her, looking completely oblivious to everything in existence, had the same pink hair as the party planner, but it was straight and shaggy looking. She wore a white sweater with a pink heart on it, she had pink fuzzy leg warmers on, and pink fuzzy forearm muffs.
“Um…may I help you?”
The pink girl slowly began sticking out her tongue, making Sunset feel a little weirded out.“Pfft.”
“Ooookay…I’m just uh…yeah.”
Sunset started walking down the hall towards the lunch room again, she spared a glance over her shoulder to see that the pink girl was still standing in the middle of the hall. She didn’t know what to do so she just hoped the girl wouldn’t hurt herself, but as Sunset turned her gaze forward, the pink girl was there.
“Pfft.”
“GAAAH!!!” Sunset shrieked.
This time Sunset did jump into the air and land about three feet from where she was standing. Sunset looked back behind her, seeing that the girl was no longer there but now in front of her, which was impossible since it was a linear hallway and there were no other ways to get in front of her unless she ran all the way around to the other end of the hall in less than a nanosecond.
“What the hell?! How did you –?!”
“Pfft.”
Sunset blinked and suddenly the girl was now holding a piece of paper in her mouth. Cautiously, Sunset read what was scribbled on the piece a paper. It was a drawing a girl, blue-green hair, piercing green eyes, and black all over. The drawing itself looked as if a grade-schooler did it, but never the less, Sunset read the words underneath that stated: “Have you seen my Chrissy?”
“Uh…n-no…” Sunset answered, cautiously.
The pink girl’s features drooped for a moment, but then, just as suddenly as she was in front of Sunset, the girl was now standing next to her, staring at her intently. Sunset was about two seconds away from going Firestorm, just to feel some sense of safety at this point. The girl was now but a hair’s breath away, then her gaze focused on a lock of Sunset’s hair that was sticking out and she began pawing at it like a cat.
*Gasp!*
Sunset slowly started walking forward, but the girl kept pace, still pawing at her hair. Eventually she just released a grunt of irritation and just left the weirder-than-hell pink girl do as she pleased. Hoping that as soon as she reached the lunch room that the thought of an audience would make her stop.
It didn’t.
As soon as Sunset entered the lunch room and got into the food serving line, the pink girl continued to paw at her hair. Sunset growled and was about to lay into the pink girl, but then she saw that the pink girl was eyeing the food, scanning it carefully. She then looked to the poster behind her that said “Meatball Monday”.
The lunch lady, Granny Smith, saw the pink girl. Sunset watched as the elder apple gave a warmhearted smile as the pink girl appeared at the tray line. Granny Smith went into the back of the kitchen and after about a minute and a half, she came back with a plate of tacos.
*Gasp!* the pink girl exclaimed.
Sunset looked upon this with utter confusion. It was clearly Meatball Monday, and Taco Tuesday wasn’t until tomorrow, and somehow there was a fresh plate of tacos already made for this, stranger-than-hell girl. She accepted the tasty Mexican cuisine, and in the blink of an eye, disappeared. Sunset’s eye twitched when she blinked again, seeing a box left on the tray line. Granny Smith took the box, unafraid, and opened it. Inside was the money for the entree, plus a bottle of cider that Granny Smith liked.
The former unicorn just shook her head, she was getting used to Pinkie’s level of weirdness and randomness, but this other pink menace, was another beast altogether. Sunset made her way to the register and paid for her food and went to sit at the table where the girls would eventually gather. But as soon she rounded the corner, there was the pink girl again. Like she was waiting for Sunset to appear. The pink girl slid next to Sunset, it was as if she didn’t move but the world did around her as she now stood next to Sunset.
Sunset was trying to be nice in order to make the pink girl go away. Clearly she was childlike and as strange as Pinkie Pie, if not more. So, in as nice a way she could, to try and avoid getting in trouble by making the girl cry, Sunset tried tell her to go away.
“L-Look, whoever you are, I’m not really sure why you’re following me. But I can guarantee I’m not the kind of girl you should be hanging around, and my level of patience is…how shall we say…has yet to become a virtue of mine.”
“Pfft. Pfffft. Pft. Pffft. Pfft-Pfft.”
Suddenly, again, the girl produced the same paper, with the same question.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know who or where this ‘Chrissy’ is!” Sunset said through gritted teeth.
“Puffy? There you are.”
*Gasp!*
Sunset turned to look behind her, and lo and behold, there stood the girl who the drawing resembled. Now that Sunset looked at her, she seemed a lot more intimidating in person. Sunset blinked again, and just as quickly, the pink girl appeared next to “Chrissy”, smiling and still sticking out her tongue.
“Um…do you know her?” Sunset asked.
“Sorry, Fluffle Puff gets a little anxious when I’m not around. And she tends to latch onto the nearest girl who resembles me, or, my attitude, I guess.” The black skinned girl offered Sunset her hand. “Name’s Chrysalis.”
Sunset wearily took Chrysalis’ hand and shook it. “Sunset Shimmer.”
“I know, you’re pretty infamous around here.”
Sunset sighed. “Unfortunately, but I got no one to blame for it but me. Had it coming.”
Chrysalis shrugged. “Maybe, but you seem to have mellowed out recently.”
“I have?” Sunset asked curiously.
Chrysalis began walking towards a table, with Fluffle Puff already at the table awaiting Chrysalis like a puppy would her owner. Sunset walked along with them, seeing as Chrysalis had more to say.
“Yes, last year and up until a few months ago, you were a total queen bee bitch,” said Chrysalis bluntly.
Well, Sunset was never one for beating around the bush, but still, she disliked being reminded of that.
“But now?”
“Now, you’re…mellow’s the right word, but there’s probably another word for it.” Chrysalis took a bite of her meatball and then looked to Fluffle Puff who was somehow ingesting the tacos in one bite, almost as if she were swallowing them. “You got someone?”
“‘Got someone’?”
“Y’know, a boy? Maybe a girl?” Chrysalis asked with a devious grin.
Sunset blushed a little. “I…I…What the hell makes you think that all of all things?!”
“‘Cause we’re not that different, I was a real terror before you came to this school. Then this bundle of pinkness comes up to me and just annoying the crap out me. There were soooo many times I wanted to just punch her and throw out a window. But, for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to hurt her.”
Chrysalis patted Fluffle Puff’s head, making the pink one squeal in delight. “Especially when she was the only person who stuck around me, and actually gave a damn about me. In her own weirder than hell way. So, am I wrong?”
Sunset rubbed her right arm, casting glances at the odd couple and to whatever else was in the room. “No, you’re not. Okay, I do have someone! At least…ugh…” Sunset sat on the table, placing her food tray to the side. “I’m just not sure if I’m right for her…”
“Mmm-hmm, so what’s the hang up? Your ‘rents not into you being a lesbi?” Chrysalis asked.
“No, it’s more me than anything. I know I like her, more than like her, and I know she feels the same way. But lately, some crap’s been happening and it’s…keeping us at arm's length.”
Sunset looked to Chrysalis and Fluffle, the latter was currently chewing on some paper, which made Sunset look to Chrysalis as if expecting her to make the pink girl stop, but apparently Chrysalis was aware and did nothing to stop her. So Sunset did the same, but made sure to keep an eye on Fluffle Puff in case she choked.
“Well, if we’re being honest, I never saw myself ever getting with someone. I was fine with a little casual hook up from some girls I knew, but I never saw myself settling for a single person, or for that matter, being with someone like Fuffle here. She’s weird as the day is long, and I’m not exactly someone I’d call ‘nice’. But, this pink fluff ball grew on me, and before you know it, I’m living with her.”
Sunset did a double take at hearing that. “You’re living with her?!”
“I used to live in a dump of a shack, but then Fluffle Puff follows me home and offers to have me live with her. I was being evicted, so I really didn’t have much choice.” Chrysalis took a swig of her soda before continuing. “But, yeah, I’ve changed. And, also, after one night with Fluffle, well, let’s just say that if anything is wrong with this relationship, it’s not going to be bedroom related, that’s for sure.”
Sunset blushed, now looking at the, seemingly, innocent Fluffle Puff with a little more respect.
“Just give it time, you’ll find your groove with your girl. And, don’t worry, changing…it’s not all that bad, really.” Chrysalis glanced over Sunset’s shoulder and saw the well-known six girls of Canterlot High sit at their usual table. “Looks like your friends are here. Nice talkin’ to ya Sunset Shimmer.”
Sunset rose up and grabbed her tray. “Thanks, this helped a little.”
As Sunset turned to walk towards the girls, Fluffle Puff appeared before her, holding a piece of paper. The paper was chewed into the shape of a heart and on it was scribbled some words and a drawing of Sunset holding hands with Chrysalis and Fuffle Puff.
Thanks for keeping me company until Chrissy found me! You’re really nice, let’s be friends!
– Fluffle Puff
P.S.: They won’t let me use scissors.
There was something cute, and yet worrisome about that last part, but Fluffle kept smiling, her tongue stuck out.
“Thanks Fluffle,” said Sunset.
Fluffle Puff’s eyes went walleyed, Sunset playfully bopped the girl on the head, making her eyes come back into alignment. Fluffle smiled and then…teleported? Flash Stepped? Instant Transmissioned? Whatever, she was sitting with Chrysalis again.
AFTER SCHOOL, AT TWILIGHT SPARKLE’S RESIDENCE…
Twilight had led the group down to the basement, stopping before a large metal door that separated the house from her basement laboratory. Of course, this was going to be the first time that she was going to show this to them. Till now, Sunset and Shining Armor, and Spike, had been the only ones permitted to venture into this lab, but now, she was about to show this to them, and reveal to rest of the girls what was going on.
Sunset bumped Twilight’s shoulder, grinning confidently at her girlfriend to give her strength. Twilight took a deep breath and punched in the alphanumerical code to the door. There was a hiss then a shudder as the door opened up to the group of girls. Twilight and Sunset entered first, followed by Spike.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack entered next, who were gawking at the miniature laboratory with amazement. Rarity and Fluttershy followed up behind them, sporting awestruck expressions. Pinkie Pie came in last, with her mind already at work at what kind of parties they could hold down here, and what all everything did.
The door to the lab shut itself tight, with a thud, somewhat startling Fluttershy and Rarity. Twilight took her seat in her specialized chair, while Sunset stood next to her. The others stood in a circle around the futuristic looking workbench.
“Twilight, Darling, I never knew you had such an extraordinary work space!” Rarity marveled.
“Seriously, it looks like you could build a doomsday weapon in here!” Rainbow commented.
The lavender girl blushed at the compliments her lab was getting, Sunset smirked as she nudged Twilight, and giving her a silent “I told you they’d like it”. So far they had taken to the lab, now came the hard part.
“Um, everyone, there’s something I need to tell…well…something that we need to tell you,” said Twilight.
“It’s going to sound impossible, and at times terrifying, but you need to know this before something happens,” said Sunset.
Both Sunset and Twilight spared a glance to each other, took a deep breath and –
“You and Sunset merged with an orb of super sciency nuclear power, that allows you both to transform into super powered beings and fight against other super powered beings who want to flood the world with others like them in a kind of super powered arms race, and that it was because of this whole thing that you and Sunny are really close and are girlfriends now, and that Twilight is actually a genetically generated human and Sunset is from another dimension, and that you two became one and turned into some horrifyingly homicidal she-demon, while later on Rainbow Dash and Applejack fused with each of you individually to become two totally different fusions in order to fight off two of Rainbow Dash’s friends/frenemies, along with two killer super adapting androids!”
Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and even Spike, all went slack jawed, eyes wide as saucers, completely dumbfounded, mortified, confused, and…and…every other word in the dictionary that could possibly or even attempt to describe what they all felt when Pinkie practically unraveled the entire reason they called this meeting, and deduced the intricacies of the last few months.
“Pinkie Pie, darling, as entertaining as all that sounds, it was rather rude of you to interrupt them when they were clearly getting ready to tell us something important.” Rarity scolded.
Sunset shook her head to snap her out of the daze Pinkie put her into. “Actually she’s pretty spot on.”
“Say what dear?”
“Pinkie Pie’s tellin’ the truth,” said Applejack.
“Um, I-I don’t understand, which part exactly?” Fluttershy asked.
“All of it. Every. Single. Thing!” Rainbow affirmed.
Rarity looked to Applejack, Sunset, and Rainbow with great skepticism. “Girls, please, I know we were called here to discuss something greatly important. Forgive me – even knowing how Pinkie Pie is sometimes – if I find all that hard to believe. Now if…by some chance…the part about Sunset and Twilight being a couple was the reason for this privacy and talk, then I could believe that.” Rarity turned to her gaze to the girls in question. “Are you?”
Twilight rubbed the back of her head nervously, blushing a little as she spoke. “Well…we-we are…Sunset and I, we’re together…”
Rarity released a sigh and Fluttershy smiled happily at hearing the news. “See, there was no need to build up a story like that to bring us to this revelation. Even if it is obvious you two are smitten for each other.”
Sunset cocked an eyebrow at that. “Wait, you’re saying you knew?!”
Rarity put on a coy smile as she addressed Sunset. “Darling, when you’re in the fashion business, details are key. Not just for the designs but for people, too. Body language, changes in pitches or tones, subtle changes that indicate whether or not someone likes what you’ve done. Reading others is part of the business, and I read you two like a book. Although, I will admit, part of me didn’t believe it at first, not after our…ahem…past discrepancies with you, Sunset. No offense.”
“None taken. But the other stuff’s true, too.”
Rarity sighed in annoyance. “Darlings I just said that Pinkie’s elaborate tale is unnecessary, you needn’t hide behind it. Or at the very least, if you’re going to insist that it’s true, offer us some proof.”
Sunset glanced towards Twilight, the genius girl sighed remorsefully, knowing that this was an unavoidable thing that needed to be done.
“Alright, we’ll show you proof,” said Twilight as she rose from her chair.
Rarity crossed her arms, waiting to see where this was going, but then she noticed Applejack and Rainbow Dash backing away. “What are you two doing?”
“Trust us Rares, you want to take a few steps back.”
Rainbow Dash had already taken hold of Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy’s wrists, pulling them back to where she stood. Rarity rolled her eyes and decided to play along with the act, if to prove and/or please Sunset and Twilight’s ruse.
Once they were a good distance away, Sunset and Twilight tapped into the Firestorm Matrix within.
“FIRESTORM!!!”
“FIRESTORM!!!”
Gold and pink flames engulfed Sunset and Twilight, making Rarity shriek with surprise at seeing the pyrotechnic display. Fluttershy “EEPed” loudly and hid behind Rainbow Dash, while Pinkie Pie just stood there and watched with wide eyed amazement. When the flames died down, both Sunset and Twilight were in full Firestorm form, their flame hair wisping to and fro.
“Whelp, this proof enough for you?” Sunset asked smugly.
Rarity slowly approached her two friends. Twilight stepped forward and offered her hand to the fashionista. Despite Twilight’s fear of fusion, there was no danger like the instances with Rainbow and Applejack, so the thought that just mere contact with a person initiated it was discarded.
The violet haired girl carefully placed her fingertips onto the surface of Twilight’s hand. It was warm, but a different kind of warmth, like the sun. But the feel of Twilight’s hand felt akin to a glove worn around it.
“Twilight…this…a-a-and Sunset…you both are the ‘Fire Girls’?!”
“Indeed, we are,” said Twilight confirmed.
“Ha! Told you so! And this is so COOL!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“Yeah, but trust me, it’s more fun when you fuse, now that is cool.” Rainbow commented. The prismatic girl glanced over her shoulder and looked to a still frightful Fluttershy. “It’s okay Flutters, it’s still Twilight and Sunset. Just…super powered.”
No, it was more than that, and Sunset knew it. She wasn’t frightful of Twilight’s transformation, she was a dear friend. It was Sunset she was afraid of, and Sunset knew it. Her bully just revealed that she has super powers, turning her into a fiery super being that can cause the sort of destructive damage the news footage had shown they could wield. Any right minded person would be afraid, it’s their worst nightmare coming true. The person who tormented them had the power to literally kill them in an instant.
And it probably doesn’t help that we’re in a confined space, thought Sunset.
But, like a timid woodland creature, Fluttershy slowly came out from behind Rainbow Dash. The girls went silent when she started approaching Sunset Shimmer, a myriad of scenarios running through their heads as to how this could end. If Sunset could sweat bullets in her Firestorm form, she would. Sunset was determined to make herself into a better person, and not the monster that she had become before. Fluttershy stopped in front of Sunset, looked up to her and into her white eyes.
“Um, I just want to say, that, well, it was scary having you sit with us at our table. And…every other time I saw you…I was afraid that you’d start yelling at me or…do worse…”
Sunset visibly cringed, feeling her stomach tie into knots. Fluttershy was, unfortunately, the one girl who she directed the brunt of her abuse towards. She figured it’d take a very long time to even gain a modicum of trust from her.
“But…after seeing this…I realized that I really don’t know you, Sunset. So…I-I’m willing to, and maybe, we could start over?” Fluttershy asked meekly.
Sunset’s eyes widened, she knew Fluttershy was a kind soul, sometimes too kind for her own good. But, she never thought she’d be as forgiving to Sunset like she was, or willing to put the past behind them. It was more than likely that neither of them would forget about the past, memories would linger, and paranoia about the other would still be there. But, still, a fresh start was nice. Sunset was already feeling better about Rainbow Dash, despite knowing of her being in love with Twilight, she still felt like the sports girl had her back.
Loyalty…Kindness…truly, the Elements did choose their bearers well. “Of course it is, Fluttershy. I…I’d like that.”
The girls released a breath they didn’t know they were holding, relieved to see that Fluttershy and Sunset were on good footing now, or at least starting on the path towards such. It was then that Fluttershy made an odd request.
“Um, if you don’t mind, is it possible to touch your flames? Or is it your hair?” Fluttershy asked.
Sunset willed her flaming mane to drape over right shoulder. “Kinda both, but the flames don’t hurt anybody so long I want them to.”
Fluttershy, gingerly, reached out towards Sunset’s yellow flames, her hand brushed against the fire. She then ran her hand through it as if combing her own locks of hair, feeling the plasmatic flames flow around her fingers like warm silk. When Fluttershy reached back, some of the flames came with her in embers, but the embers left her hand, returning to Sunset’s flame mane. Both girls smiled.
Rarity smiled and then turned to Twilight. “I guess, now would be the time for a little more detail.”
“Yeah,” agreed Twilight.