The party was in full swing. Sunset watched as Princess Twilight danced with Flash Sentry. She wanted to go over and cut in, but she knew she shouldn’t. As much as she liked Princess Twilight, there was no chance for them.
Sunset was about to turn away when she saw Flash lean in. Soon, Flash and Princess Twilight were kissing. Sunset felt her whole body go cold. Tears started to form in her eyes. Numbly, she found her way to the door and pushed it open. She barely registered the cool night air. All she knew was that she had to get away.
She had gone about half a block when she heard someone call her name. She turned to see Twilight running to catch up with her. “Sunset,” Twilight panted. “Why’d you leave?”
“I wasn’t really in the mood to party,” Sunset replied in a shaky voice.
“Sunset, are you all right?” Twilight asked.
Sunset didn’t want to lie, but she couldn’t tell the truth. She just looked away instead. “Did something happen?” Twilight pressed.
Sunset sighed. “Just another case of me wanting what I can’t have,” she said.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Does this have something to do with that other Twilight?”
She didn’t really want to, but Sunset forced herself to answer. “Yeah,” she sighed. “I’ve liked her for a long time, but she likes Flash. And even if she didn’t, we live in different worlds!”
“I know what that’s like,” Twilight replied. “The liking a girl who likes someone else part, I mean. Not the living in different worlds.”
Sunset perked up a bit. She didn’t know Twilight had a crush. “Really?” she asked. “Who’s the girl?”
Twilight blushed. “It’s a secret.”
“I can keep a secret, Twi. Promise.”
“I know. It’s just… well… I mean…”
“What?”
“It’s… it’s you.”
Sunset’s eyes widened. “Me?” Her mind was racing. How could Twilight like her? She looked at Twilight. She looked so much like the princess it drove Sunset mad.
Without thinking, Sunset grabbed Twilight roughly and kissed her. Twilight didn’t react at first, but soon she was kissing back. They stayed like that until the need for air asserted itself.
As Sunset caught her breath, she realized what she’d just done. Guilt overwhelmed her and she began to cry in earnest. “I’m sorry, Twilight,” she sobbed. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry?” Twilight asked. “Why are you sorry?”
“Because I shouldn’t take advantage of your feelings. It’s not fair for me to use you as a substitute for her!” Sunset exclaimed.
“I don’t mind,” Twilight said. “I’m kinda her.”
Sunset shook her head. “But you’re not her! You can’t really be okay with this!”
“Well, I’ll admit it’s not ideal, but…”
“No, Twilight. You’re my friend. I won’t use you like that.”
Twilight stared at her for a long moment. Finally, she sighed, “I suppose you wouldn’t be the girl I like if you would.”
An awkward silence passed between them. Twilight eventually spoke, “Do you want to go back to the party?”
“No, I don’t think I could take it.”
“Well, we could go do something else. I don’t really know what’s around here though.”
Sunset thought for a minute. “There’s a nice tea shop a few blocks from here,” she said.
“That sounds great,” Twilight replied with a smile.
Sunset smiled back weakly. She was glad her blunder hadn’t hurt their friendship. They walked in companionable silence. The tea shop was small and empty at this time of night. The two ordered and sat down at one of the tables.
As they sipped their tea, Sunset wondered aloud, “What do you like about me?”
Twilight coughed and blushed. “I… I like everything about you. You’re pretty, and smart, and nice. You care so much about your friends. And, well, you saved me.”
Sunset let out a short laugh. “I guess we both fell for our saviors.”
“What do you mean? How did she save you?”
“I mentioned that I made the same mistake as you. I stole a magical crown from Equestria, and when I put it on, I turned into a demon. Princess Twilight turned me back. I was a horrible person before I met her. I was cruel, and selfish, and only wanted power.”
Sunset sighed and put her head in her hands. She hated thinking about what she used to be like. Twilight looked confused. “That doesn’t sound like you at all,” she said. “If you were really like that, what changed?”
“Well, the magic that changed me back forced me to feel all the awful things I’d done, all the pain I’d caused,” Sunset explained. “I could hardly stand myself. If it hadn’t been for my friends, I might have done something… drastic.”
“Oh, Sunset!” Twilight exclaimed. “I’m so sorry!”
“It’s okay. It’s in the past where it belongs. I do my best not to be like that anymore. Though you’ve seen firsthand I don’t always succeed.”
“I’ve already forgiven you for that.”
“Thanks.”
The two went back to quietly sipping their tea. Sunset had just about finished hers when Twilight spoke again, “Um, Sunset, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask you for a while now.”
“What is it?” Sunset asked.
“Can… can I study you?” Twilight said in a rush.
“What?” Sunset yelled.
Twilight flinched. “I just want to do a few experiments,” she explained. “Ever since I learned you were from another world and have magic, I thought it would be a good idea to do some tests.”
“So this is strictly for scientific purposes?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, Twilight. But let’s work out the details later. It’s getting late and I’d like to get home.”
“That’s fine. I should get back to the party before Shining Armor comes to pick me up. See you later, Sunset.”
They gave each other a quick hug and parted ways.