//------------------------------// // Scenario 23: The Sunrise // Story: Reality is Magic // by ninjintonic //------------------------------// SUNSET'S APARTMENT - 7:00 AM, SATURDAY I laid on my sofa all night watching my favorite movie series. I finally started feeling sleepy, but the sunlight had already peaked through my blinds. It's too late to sleep now, Twilight's wedding ceremony begins in five hours, and I have to start preparing my dress in about an hour. It's wise to plan early in the morning because the girls take forever in the bathroom. "Maybe I'll take a power nap..." Just as I covered myself with a blanket to take the opportune moment for a power nap, Pinkie called for me, "Sunset, have you seen my high heels?" I was completely covered under my blanket, but let out a grimace, "Pinkie... Can't you see I'm still in bed?" "No..." Pinkie replied sarcastically. I sighed, then slowed a response, with my tone of annoyance, "Pinkie... Have you checked the closet?" "No." "Maybe you should go ahead and check, ok?.. Now let me sleep.." I get really crabby sometimes when someone tries to disturb me from my sleep. I remember accidentally giving Rainbow Dash a black eye when she and Pinkie attempted to pull a wake up prank on me years ago. "Geez... Note to self, never bother Sunset when she's on her period." "What did you say?!" I snapped as uncovering the blanket off my face, showing my glowering expression at Pinkie. "You heard me." Pinkie smirked and snorted out with laughter, then turned to the closet of shoes to look for her high heels, "I thought you were going to sleep." "That's right, go walk over there and find your shoes..." I laid back on the sofa, "Just let me sleep, Pinkie, I don't wanna hear anything from you nor Lyra just for an hour..." I said in a decreasing voice. Pinkie, who was still rummaging through the closet, "Yeah whatever, get some sleep..." As Pinkie found her high heels, she slipped on one of the pair, then tightened the ankle strap. She observed herself from a nearby standing-mirror, "Yeah... It still fits me." Then slipped her barefoot off from her shoe, and set them beside the sofa for later when we're ready to leave. Pinkie noticed how off I was these past few days. My difference of behavioral gestures is what brought her in state of heedfulness. Though I was good at hiding my emotions, but somehow, something managed to fall through the cracks. Like not being able to get enough sleep through the night, quitting my job, and being more lively than normal. She may have lost her doozy sense, but in exchange, she can perceive through our emotional change. I feel her presence near the sofa I currently laid on, completely covered in blanket. I heard her sigh and headed to the direction of her bedroom. I was quick-witted to cover myself in blanket, pretending to sleep. Pinkie had questions that I'm not able to answer, at least not right now. But when the time finally comes, she and Lyra will understand in the long run. "Lyra, wake up!" Pinkie stood by the bedroom door to wake Lyra up in a semi-loud voice. Lyra in a morning voice, followed by a stretch, "What time is it?" "Seven o' clock... Sunset is still sleeping, can you fix a little bit of breakfast for us? I'm hungry.." She walked towards the bathroom to brush her teeth, but still continued with words, "Don't wake up Sunset, she hasn't slept all night... But we gotta wake her up in an hour though, because we gotta be over there by twelve." "Roger that.." Lyra in a low, pleasant voice, followed by a yawn. She ascended from her own bed, and fixed the bed covers and pillows from where she slept. She approached from the bedroom, seeing me laying on a sofa with blanket covered. Just like Pinkie, Lyra also had the same sense of feeling as well. She nonchalantly walked towards the kitchen refrigerator to browse what she can cook for breakfast. Lyra is not much of a cook like myself, but has knowledge on some level. She grabbed a carton of eggs, milk, and a bag of white bread, which is tucked under her arm, then placed them all on the counter to begin prepping french toasts. She approached the living room table to grab the TV remote to tune to today's news. As you can see here, this week is going to be beautiful. Sunny sky, high-temperature of eighty-seven degrees all afternoon but will hit the low sixties at six pm... Lyra lowered the volume slightly, making sure she didn't wake me up. She turned back to the kitchen to continue making breakfast. Pinkie walk out of the bathroom, then towards the kitchen to sit on a stool chair. She watched today's forecast that changed to an outbreak news about information on the seasonal influenza. Pinkie initiated, "Lyra... You think Sunset is going to be ok?" "Yeah... Why?" "I'm worried about her..." "Well... She recently just quit her job, give her some time.. She'll get over it." Pinkie raised her eyebrow at Lyra, "That's weird coming from you... I should be the one saying that." Lyra huffed out in laughter, "Right, but it's only fair that I give you some reassurance too, it's not a one way street." "Come to think of it Lyra... Sunset has done a lot for us. In exchange lets do something for her." Lyra let out in a sarcastic tone, "You think so?..." "Yeah I know... She's done soooo much for us.." "Much better." Lyra grinned. Lyra paused from whisking the eggs into a bowl, "But yeah.. You're right... We should.." Lyra chuckled, "We should make up something... We know she loves to cook, her favorite dessert is the lobster-tail pastry from Sugarcube Corner, loves to walk, read, and spends time at Sweet Apple Pond." Pinkie added, "She's very caring, loving, selfless, and humble." "Ok Pinkie, were getting off topic here..." But Lyra followed through along Pinkie's words, "But... I'd just like to add something to your comment..." Lyra chuckled, "Very beautiful, sweet, and is always there for you when you need her." "She puts her best friends first no matter how tired she can get." Pinkie extended. "I know we can be a pest sometime, especially you, Pinkie." "What?! Look who's talking... Mrs. Morning Dew.." Lyra giggled, "Yeah I know... But she lets all that slide because she cares how we feel, and loves us because were her best friends." "No... Were all literally sisters.." Pinkie corrected. Lyra grinned at Pinkie in thoughtful state, then slowed back a response, "You're right... We are sisters, aren't we?" Then finished her words with a joke, "From another mother." Pinkie snort out a laugh, "Ok Lyra, you killed my moment... Thanks a lot... Just make us some breakfast... I'm going to start ironing some of my dress." Pinkie stood from her stool seat and headed towards the bedroom to take her dress out of the closet for later on. I teared throughout their conversation as I was still tucked under my own blanket. These girls are a big part of my life. No way I'm going to do what Twilight advised me to do. It's killing me. There's gotta be another way, but there isn't. Through all the years of friendship advises I've taken from Princess Twilight, and learning from it, I would say this was the hardest task to nail. I'm beginning to question if Princess Twilight had always planned this from the beginning. Maybe this was all a part of her test of friendship. But why? I'm not one to question, after all, I'm her faithful pupil. At the end, I'll probably know my answer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four hours later... "Ya know, I really don't know what to tell Twilight when we arrive late." I said in a loud voice throughout my apartment, "It's already Eleven thirty p.m., and it takes about half hour to get there depending on traffic." I stood by the living room, patiently waited for Lyra and Pinkie to come out of their room. I was wearing a bright orange and red pattern strapless print chiffon maxi dress. I appeared vibrant in colors that heightens the warm weather like today. The dress extended down, with stretchy smocking through the bodice and built-in bra cups. Cool ladder-stitch detailing and a thigh-high front slit which adds a touch of modern edge to the femme design. It was without a doubt, a high-end looking dress. "Alright, we're done." Lyra walked out of the bedroom, with a gray purse on her right shoulder. Lyra wore a gray beaded mesh drop waist dress which matched her hair. The dress extended down with ornate floral bead work which covers the long mesh overlay of a double V-neck gown fashioned with a Lyre design at the dropped waistline. Pinkie trotted out after Lyra. Pinkie looked astonishingly beautiful, Pinkie's long straight pink hair was tied up. She embellished in a bright pink tiered chiffon halter gown. She also wore the balloon necklace around her neck that Lyra had given her as a gift for her birthday, which matched beautifully all in all together, "I've been ready... You girls are the slow ones here." Pinkie with a smirk. "I don't have time to argue.." I grabbed my purse, "Lets go!" I made a head movement directing towards the apartment door. "Alright we're coming.. Lets go Pinkie!" Pinkie was fiddling through her facebook app for a short while, then finally hid her phone in her purse. "Ok. Lets go." I switched the lights off of my apartment, then locked the door after our exit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OUTSIDE OF CRYSTAL PALACE CHURCH - 11:57 AM, SAME DAY It's a beautiful, breezy sunny day outside of a famous church of HuManehattan, Crystal Palace Church. At a particular area where the three of us stood, were indeed filled with bunch of familiar high school faces, and some unfamiliar ones. It was socially awkward for us. We took a gander amongst the crowded area to see if the rest of our friends had already arrived. *Click* *Click* *Click* The sounds of camera shutters were faintly heard from this rowdy of crowd. It was Photo Finish, who took three random shots of us, and Hoity Toity. "You girls are looking very sexy and radiant! You girls will absolutely look good for my advertisement!" Hoity Toity in an annoying upbeat of tone, "Oooooh, who is this beautiful minty-looking girl?.." Hoity Toity widened his eyes towards Lyra with his facial flirtatious look, and approached her. He gently took her hand, and kissed it. I halted with a glowering expression, "Hoity Toity! You best get your dirty mouth away from her hand." Hoity Toity paused from kissing Lyra's hand, then withdrew himself away, and gawked at me, "My my, Sunset!... It's been awhile eh? Love your new attitude. The feistier you are, the better you are in.... My advertisement." Hoity Toity laughed hysterically. I found him very offensive. Pinkie and I, with our furious expressions, had protested him to leave immediately. He then yielded back with words, "Hey, hey, I'm sorry girls... I'll leave... See you later!" He concluded with an increasing tone. Photo Finish, with a staccato of tone, "I GO NOW! BUH BYE." Then followed after Hoity Toity, who approached another crowd to take random pictures. Lyra, with a teeth grin to me, and Pinkie, "Ummmm... That guy was something else, like literally..." Pinkie with a straight face, "Well... At least he's not Tirek..." I let out a sigh, "I hate men like him..." "Heya girls!" I turned to the voice, then saw Apple Jack, Braeburn, and Granny Smith approaching us from a mid-distance. Apple Jack continued while approaching a hug to me, Pinkie, and Lyra, "How y'all doing?" In a high-spirited tone. Then Granny Smith followed, bestowing a hug and a kiss on our cheek. Braeburn tipped his hat to us with a bright smile, "Hey y'all!" With a friendly wink. "Were doing great, and wow, seems like Twilight invited like the whole world, huh?" I said jokingly with a bark of laughter. "You said it, to be honest, ah don't know half the people here.." Apple Jack in a puzzled tone, then reinitialized, "So what time y'all came here?" "About seven minutes ago." Lyra with a nod. "Should we all be going inside the church now?" Apple Jack questioned as she noticed half the people were already making their entrance to the church. I nodded, "Yeah, lets go in now before they take all the seats.." We all walked together, heading towards the big entrance door of the church. We entered to an immediate spacious church filled with angel paintings all over the windows that surrounded us. There were church pews that extended to fit hundreds of people. I looked at the sound of a melodic organ music being played in the background, overlooking a large wooden cross that stood by the altar. "We should go and take a seat now, I think it's about to start.." Pinkie in a low voice to me. "Yes..." We took another vicinity of the church, scrutinizing for a vacant pew to fit us six altogether. "Over there." Granny Smith pointed on a vacant pew on the middle. We all walked to the spot where Granny had pointed, and the sounds of our high heels had caused some eyes to our direction. "Lyra, you may want to ease on the walking..." Pinkie in a low voice. "Shut up... I'm trying.. Ok?...." Lyra balanced back with slight frustration in a low voice. "Shhhhh, girls, just stop ok? This is not the time to make a scene... We're in a church." I let out a short sigh. As we drew near, we walked in slowly, shifting through the middle of the pew, and sat down, waiting for the ceremony to begin. The melodic sounds of the organ have became more distinct, then everyone's head swung around to the entrance of the church, viewing Flash Sentry in his well groomed tuxedo, and his parents by his sides. They slowly walked down the middle towards the front of the altar, preceding the rest: Rarity and Ringo, a couple of brides maids and groomsmen, Ring Bearer, then the Flower Girl. All walked to the front of the altar, and stood by their assigned seats; Bridesmaids on the left, and Flash Sentry and the Groomsmen on the right. Photo Finish took countless of pictures from that moment of time. Pinkie in a whispering tone to us, "Rarity looked like she hasn't aged at all..." "I was thinking the same thing." I balanced back with a grin. Pinkie replied, "She did get a little fat, though." "Stop it..." "I was just sayin'..." The familiar wedding melody has begun playing as the highlight of the ceremony is about to walk down the aisle. Twilight Sparkle, with her parents right beside her, she wore a beautiful, white, radiant wedding dress that extended to the floor and a wedding veil. Everyone delightfully eyed on the beautiful bride as they slowly walked down the aisle. Twilight looked very happy. Twilight's expression vastly changed to an astonishment when overlooking to our direction of the church pew. We all waved at her with delightful smiles on our faces. "Wow...." Pinkie in a state of amazement, "Twilight on the other hand... Umm.. I have no words to say.. Really..." "Good, then don't say anything, just admire the moment." Lyra disputed. When Twilight had finally reached the end of the altar, her parents parted ways, and stood by their assigned seats. Flash Sentry pleasantly accepted Twilight's hands as she ascended a couple of flights up. The organ melody had stopped, then the priest with white vestment approached in front of both the bride and groom. "Good afternoon everyone. We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, the joining of two hearts. In this ceremony today we will witness the joining bride and groom in marriage. Today we have come together to witness the joining of these two lives. For them, out of the routine of ordinary life, the extraordinary has happened. They met each other, fell in love and are finalizing it with their wedding today. Romance is fun, but true love is something far more and it is their desire to love each other for life and that is what we are celebrating here today. But today is also a celebration for the rest of us, for it is a pleasure for us to see love in bloom, and to participate in the union of two people so delightfully suited to one another... And to have a couple of cocktails in the process. So let's get on with it already!" Everyone let out a joyous laugh. "This priest thinks he's going to get some tonight after the wedding." Pinkie whispered to both me and Lyra. "Goodness grief... Would you please shut up?!" I whispered loudly to Pinkie, "Enough is enough..." Pinkie rolled her eyes, "I forgot, you're on your period, geez, can you even frickin' take a joke?.." "Shhhh." Lyra protested. The priest continued, "I want you two to face each other, hold hands, and repeat after me." Twilight and Flash faced each other, then held hands. Flash remained a grin while Twilight had happy tears rolling down her cheek. The priest turned his head to Flash Sentry's direction, "I, Flash Sentry, take you, Twilight Sparkle, to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever." Flash repeated the words, while looking at Twilight in her salty eyes. The Priest then turned to Twilight's direction, who still had tears rolling down her face, altered the same words, "I, Twilight Sparkle, take you, Flash Sentry, to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish through the difficult and the easy, so I give you my life to keep." Twilight repeated after the priest accordingly, directed to her husband. "Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry, I would ask that you always treat yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together today. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your marriage deserves. When frustration and difficulty assail your marriage - as they do to every relationship at one time or another - focus on what still seems right between you, not only the part that seems wrong. This way, when clouds of trouble hide the sun in your lives and you lose sight of it for a moment, you can remember that the sun is still there. And if each of you will take responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and happiness." The priest looked around from where the bridesmaids and the groomsmen stood, "Who has the rings?" Ringo casually approached the priest with two wedding bands, and gave it to him. The priest held one ring, and directly looked at Flash, "Repeat after me. I Flash Sentry, take thee, Twilight Sparkle to be my wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow, and I promise my love to you. With this ring, I take you as my wife, for as long as we both shall live." Flash repeated the words, then accepted one of the rings from the priest, and slipped it onto her small ring-finger. The priest continued again with words, directly to Twilight, "Repeat after me. I Twilight Sparkle, take thee, Flash Sentry to be my husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow, and I promise my love to you. With this ring, I take you as my husband, for as long as we both shall live." Twilight followed the same words to Flash, and slipped it onto his same finger as she accepted the ring from the priest. "By the power vested in me I now pronounce you, husband and wife." The priest looked at Flash with a smirk, "You may kiss your wife." Flash and Twilight kissed which led the crowd to clap in sudden exuberant joy, with combination of cheerful whistles throughout the church. "Such beautiful ceremony!" Granny Smith who remained clapping. "Indeed it is!" Braeburn added. We nodded in agreement as our claps faintly diminished to a stop. As concluding the ceremony, Twilight held around Flash's arm, then walked back down the aisle, towards the exit of the church, preceding the rest of the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Photo Finish, once again, took countless of pictures while people congratulated Twilight and Flash as they walked. Rarity gasped as she took a gander to our direction, seeing us waving to her whilst she walked down the aisle with the best man. She waved back delightfully. "As expected of Rarity..." Pinkie in a low voice with a single head shake. "What do you mean?" I questioned. "She's probably the same ol' Rarity we've always knew." Apple Jack joined in to answer. As Twilight and Sparkle, and the rest of the bridesmaids and groomsmen had left the church, the rest of the people crowded to the area of exit, leaving for the wedding reception: Grand Galloping Oaks Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GRAND GALLOPING OAKS CLUB - 2:32 PM, SAME DAY The day was still, rather young, as the sun peaked through the sunny sky, with refreshing summer breeze that surrounded us. The wedding reception was held at the most expensive venue in HuManehattan, located in Humanaville: Grand Galloping Oaks Club. We all entered through the glass door that immediately took us to a very futuristic atmosphere. Up ahead from where we stood of the entrance, was a big sign displayed Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry with an arrow pointing to a large open door of an enormous, spacious hall. The place was filled with people who sat by their table-clothed tables, socializing with one another. "My goodness... Good thing this place is huge..." The hall was large enough to fit hundreds of people in the room. We all explored the hall and appreciated the jazz music playing in the background, wondered where we were supposed to sit. Sour Sweet hastily approached us, who wore a headset and held a clipboard with papers, "Hey guys!" We all turned to the sound of her rushed voice. "Oh hey Sour Sweet!" Pinkie let out an ecstatic tone, and approached her with a fast hug. Sour Sweet held both Pinkie's hands and gently swung it side to side in see-saw motion, followed by a grin, "Hey! Wish I can catch up with you since I temporarily took over your position, but lemme tell you... This is soooooo stressful! I don't know how you do it... You gotta come back soon, we miss you!" Pinkie chuckled, "I will, don't worry... So uhhh, where do we sit?" Pinkie questioned. "Oh! Right!" Sour Sweet examined her clipboard of papers which had a drawing of seating pattern arrangements, "Granny Smith and Braeburn... You... guys sit at table fifty seven, which is right over there!" She pointed towards in a mid-distance with her pen. "Aw'right!" Braeburn tipped his hat with a smile, "C'mon Granny, shall we go?" "Sounds like a plan!" Granny Smith in a cheerful tone. Braeburn provided his own arm to Granny Smith, allowing her to wrap hers around it. They both slowly walked towards their assigned table with another group of guests. Sour Sweet chuckled as she watched them walk. She then again focused on her clipboard, turning a couple of pages over, "And you girls...." She skimmed through the seating arrangement, "You girls come with me!" Sour Sweet grabbed Pinkie's hand, and hastily walked, while Lyra, Apple Jack, and I followed, towards our assigned table. Seems like the rest of the guests who were supposed to sit with us, hasn't arrived yet. I viewed the guest names written on the cards that were placed and aligned each on their sides of the table: Rainbow Dash Rarity Flutter Shy Apple Jack Pinkie Pie Sunset Shimmer Lyra Heartstrings We all looked at each other, flabbergasted at the names listed on the cards. I wasn't sure what to think, but I sure can predict that it's going to be really awkward when they arrive. "There you go girls!.. And if you excuse me, I have to go back and help Vinyl Scratch with her turntable." "Thanks, Sour Sweet." I nodded with a smile. Sour Sweet walked the opposite direction, towards Vinyl Scratch, who is currently engrossed with her sound system. "Ummmm... I really don't know how to react to this.." Pinkie chuckled with a raised eyebrow and a single head shake. "You said it... Ah hope this ain't gon stir up things..." Apple Jack with a sigh. "... Honestly... I didn't expect this..." I remained in a state of bewilderment. Lyra, on the other hand, didn't feel any sense of awkwardness in her, because she wasn't as close friends with them like Pinkie, Apple Jack, and I. Therefore Lyra reassured us with words, "Aw, what's the worse thing that can happen?" Lyra took the initiation of sitting down first, and continued, "Besides, haven't you all expected this to happen? And you Sunset, you wanted this to happen, don't tell me you want to back out now..." "Oh no, no no... No no no... I'm not backing out." I stammered in words, but then plopped myself on the chair, with hands folded on the table-top. A waiter approached the table, who held a bottle of red wine, offering to pour on our wine glasses, "Would you girls like a glass of Cabernet?" "Yes please!" I hastily grabbed my empty wine glass that was properly set on my side of the table, and reached it out to him to pour me a generous amount. Fine wine aroma had dispersed as the waiter gently poured it into my wine glass. I drank it all in one go. Apple Jack, Pinkie, and Lyra grimaced at me, then Apple Jack in a concern tone, "Sunset, ah totally know how you feel... But ah hope you're sober enough to show them the real you when they come." "Sunset has great tolerance on alcohol... She'll be ok..." Pinkie in a standardized tone. Apple Jack and Pinkie Pie sat on their seats. As we took another vicinity of this enormous place, I saw a familiar face to my direction, her hair color is almost similar to Pinkie's, but hers was slightly lighter in color. She ran her fingers through her hair, while bashfully walking towards to the direction of our table from a mid-distance. When she finally arrived, we all smiled at her. Just like Flutter Shy, I shied from my own words. Instead, Pinkie asserted with words, "Hey Flutter Shy!" Apple Jack joined in, "Hey! Flutter Shy! Long time no see, sugarcube!" "Hiya!" Lyra added. "Oh ummm, Yes... and Hi girls.. ..." Flutter Shy in a low, pleasant voice, she sat down. Flutter Shy slyly peeked at my direction. "Ummm, Sunset? You do realize that Flutter Shy is here, right?" Apple Jack with a raised eyebrow. "What's wrong with you??" Lyra in a loud whisper, "This is sooo not you, Sunset.. Keep it together!..." I stammered again in words, "Hey Flutter Shy, it's nice to see you again!" Pinkie rolled her eyes. "Oh ummm, It's nice to see you too... Sunset... You look really different... I like your hair.." Flutter Shy responded at the same low tone. "Why thank you!" I was unsure why I couldn't get myself together. I never get socially awkward, but this was difficult for me. Rarity and Rainbow Dash appeared from the same distance where I saw Flutter Shy, heading towards our direction. They were both conversing in acquainted manner. Seems like they're doing okay. As they finally approached our table, they were as shocked as we were. They both jaw-dropped, seeing their old friends for the first time in such a long time, sitting on the same table. "Ohhh, Uhh, Hi guys!" Rainbow Dash asserted in a loud standardized tone with a teeth grin. "Hey!" We all said in unison. Pinkie managed to keep her emotions reserved in this moment of time, even when reuniting with her old friends. She was good, but remained impassive. She took a sip of wine glass of water which was placed on her side of the table. "Hello my darlings, you all looking..." Rarity let out an awkward grin around us and continued, "... Very pretty and different today." She then slowly plopped on her seat. "Yeah! What she said!" Rainbow Dash respectively sat down on hers as well. Apple Jack cleared her throat, "I'm so happy for our friend Twilight and her husband for this day." We all nodded at Apple Jack. "As her best friend, I couldn't be any happier. The wedding dress that she wears, I made it with the finest fabric I could find." Rarity replied conceitedly. "Your best friend? We were all her best friends too at one point." "Yes darling, I know.. But that was a long time ago." "Well, we still are... ah would hope so, she wouldn't invite us all here for nothing, ah reckon.." The jazz music had decreased completely, and the sound of Sour Sweet's voice had reverberated from her microphone through this hollowed reception room, we all looked at Sour Sweet in attentiveness, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to welcome you all here today to celebrate the bride and groom's love for one another. The buffet will be available to you in awhile, we have waiters that are presently roaming around to offer you wines and drinks. I'd like to take this moment to introduce to you all, Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry!" Vinyl Scratch played a celebration tune which made Twilight and Flash to enter ostentatiously in the middle of the reception room, waving at everybody in sight. We all cheered and clapped as they both walked to their own table. "That was quite a flashy entrance." Rarity reinitialized. "Yeah.." I blurted out unintentionally. Rarity smiled at me, then gazed at Lyra and Pinkie, "Sunset, Lyra, and Pinkie... I can't help but notice how nice your dress looks!" "Thanks.." Lyra and I said simultaneously. "Pinkie, your hair is soooo...." Pinkie interrupted before Rarity finished her sentence, "This is my style now... I lost my curls long time ago, don't ask me why..." "Ummm... Also totally not Pinkie as I remembered her to be.." Rarity concluded her sentence. "But... Ummm... She's still a nice person..." Flutter Shy joined in a low pleasant tone. "Hey girls!!" Twilight approached with an upbeat of tone, surprised to see us all seated together in the same table. "Hey!!" They all said with waving hands. Pinkie and I didn't follow through, instead, I nodded with a smile. "It's been too long! How are we all doing today? I know this was rather unexpected, inviting you all here... But it seems like you girls are doing great!" "Yeah, I guess you can say that..." Apple Jack grinned. "We have to get together sometime!" Twilight leered at me, "Sunset! Last I heard you're an awesome nurse from a top hospital!" "Yeah... But I quit.." Sudden silence filled the table after I said those words. Lyra and Pinkie face palmed. "Oh... Sorry to hear that... So what is it that you do now?" "Right now, I'm looking for the right choice in life." "Exciting!" Twilight pulled a random chair to sit in between Pinkie and Rarity, "Look at us altogether here... Never thought I'd see this moment again." Twilight turned her direction to Flutter Shy, "And Flutter Shy, I met your husband and your child on the other table just now. Your little darling looks just like you!" "Thank you.." Flutter Shy expressed in gratitude. Twilight turned to Rainbow Dash, "Rainbow Dash, I really hope you get back on track with your game. The team needs you very badly." "I know! They totally need me because I'm awesome like that..." "Right, I hope you know that healing does take time.." Twilight looked at Apple Jack, "Apple Jack... Must be very tough owning a big apple business, eh? I totally know how you feel about that. I'm a scientist myself, and will soon own a laboratory." "You said it... Our apples are the best in town." Followed by a friendly wink. "Pinkie... Where's your party cannon?" Pinkie slowly gazed back at Twilight, "I haven't used it in awhile... Just been busy with work and all... I took a couple of days off, Sour Sweet over there is taking over my job temporarily, until I come back in a week or so." "Ah, I see... So Lyra, how's everyone in CHS doing? I know Cranky Doodle still teaches there." Lyra chuckled, "Yes, he's still there." "Awesome! Remember that one time when he was grading some papers, we scared him to the point that he nearly peed his pants when we blasted our music in front of him?" Pinkie giggled, "I remember... That was actually funny..." She took a sip of her wine glass of water. Pinkie's emotions had started to lighten up a bit when Twilight mentioned the whimsical past of our high school years. "Oh! Remember that one time Twilight turned to that evil monster, and Sunset defeated her during the friendship games?" Rainbow Dash in a loud tone, but diminished, "Oh... No offense Twilight... But I thought that was awesomeness!" Followed by an innocent look on her face. "No offense taken." Hearing Twilight like this, brought me in state of nostalgia and a smile on my face. She really hasn't changed much. I felt the awkwardness around the table began to subside. This moment took me back when we hung out in Sugarcube Corner. I joined in with words, "Twilight, when you said we should all get together sometime, we should all hang out in Sugarcube Corner. The table where we usually sat, is still there." "That sounds delightful!" Rarity in a cheerful tone, "I can't wait to go to that part of HuManehattan again, it's been far too long! Oh I wonder how Mr. and Mrs. Cake has been doing through all these years.." "Still the same, working hard as usual, they actually have new stuff in the menu." Pinkie answered with a faint smile. Twilight in a loud tone, she announced to us, "Sugarcube Corner we go!" "Yeah!" Rainbow, Rarity, Apple Jack, and Lyra said in unison; While me, Pinkie, and Flutter Shy smiled with a nod. It was a beautiful wedding reception, and knowing that reuniting with my old friends turned out well, I couldn't ask for more. I knew there was hope for us all to get together again. For every little moment we spend on the table, I kept it in my heart. We were all just having fun, bringing old past memories. Pinkie was absorbed as well. "Hey girls, if you please excuse me, I gotta go to the restroom." "Darling, just go ahead, we don't need to know about it!" Rarity said jokingly, which caused everyone to laugh, even Pinkie. I stood up from my chair, and headed towards the direction from where we entered. "The restroom should be in the main lobby somewhere." This venue was really huge. If I had to guess, it was almost the same size as HuManehattan Hospital. I took a couple of turns, and a door which finally revealed that had a plated sign that hung on it Ladies. As I opened it, it took me to an outdoor porch. My eyes had widened as I saw Princess Twilight's back, covered in her long purple hair, which the breeze flew right through it. She stood by the deck railing, appreciating the sun blazing through the deep blue sky. Princess Twilight initiated in a pleasant voice, "I almost forgot how the weather in this world is so different from Equestria..." Princess Twilight swung her body around to face me with a smile, and continued with the same tone, "Why do you look so glum whenever you see me?.." I felt so happy just a couple of minutes ago, but seeing Princess Twilight, right before my eyes, had caused my heart to sink, "Princess Twilight... What are you doing here?" "Sunset, you do know why I'm here..." I was in a mindful thought with the conversation I last had with Princess Twilight. I let out a look of disdain, "No... Princess Twilight... Lemme have this moment please, we just got reunited!..." "I know Sunset, I'm just here for a friendly reminder, that's all..." She slowly approached a vacant porch swing, enough to fit two people. She sat on it, and patted on a vacant space next to her, "Come sit here with me." I took a couple of steps and sat beside her. She chuckled angelically, "It's comfy." My eyes began to gloss, then a tear rolled down my face, and let out words in a low sadden tone, "Princess Twilight... I don't want to go back to Equestria..." Princess Twilight wiped my tears and balanced back in the same tone, "Sunset... I know how you feel... It's very painful to leave this world. But it's the only way to keep this alternate world balanced." "But why now?" "Because the Sunset of this universe is still trying to find her passion. It's like finding your cutie mark. But when you're here, she can't find her true passion in life. Right now, she's in a state of crisis, working hard to earn a living at a dead end job that isn't going to lead her anywhere." I looked down with no words of response. Princess Twilight held my chin up, "Listen Sunset... When I found out that Flash Sentry and I weren't destined to be together, I felt the same way as you do right now. But I had to do what needs to be done... Let it go.." "No! It's different... You have no idea how hard it is to let go of people who you've been with the majority of your life time... And then you come here to tell me about my righteous task... To leave this place forever and forget about whatever memories I shared with them?!" "Sunset, I'm sorry I didn't mean to..." I sighed back to my calmness state "This is not getting us anywhere. I'm the one who should be sorry..." "Princess Sunset... I'm very proud of you. You've achieved this far point of your life. I know you've shared so many good moments with your friends here, but you also have friends waiting for you back home." I was bewildered to hear when she actually gave me the title before my name, "Me? Princess?" "Mmmhmm.." I contorted at the idea, and was not really fond of it, "Do I have to be? I do have a choice, right?" "You do... But why wouldn't you wanna be a princess?..." "I.... I just want to live a normal life, that's all..." "Sunset, you have plenty of time to think about it. But right now, You have to tell your friends about your final departure from this world." "Yes Princess... I will... At the right time." Princess Twilight plunked from her side of the porch swing to stand up, "The portal to Equestria that's located outside of CHS, will close in the next twenty nine hours. I wish you luck on this task." I stood up from the porch swing bench in a rushed tone, "What about Tirek?" "As I said... I wish you luck..." She vanished into thin air, then sparks of electricity followed after as it dissipated in short time. "Dammit Twilight, I may be a princess in Equestria, but I'm no mind reader..." "Oh em gee... There you are Sunset, where the hell have you been?!" I turned to the sudden door that opened with immense force, Lyra appeared from it, "I thought you fell in..." "Oh... I was just getting some fresh air, that's all.." "Anyway... C'mon! There about to cut the wedding cake!" "Ok." I followed after Lyra, closing the door to the outdoor porch behind me, noticing the plated sign: Ladies that was previously hung on the door, isn't there anymore. I could've sworn I've seen it. However, I didn't think much about it. Therefore, we advanced our way back to our table. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MUSIC STUDIO - 1:00 PM, SUNDAY Studio guitars, Keyboards, An Electronic Drum set, and a standing mic were arranged in a decent size music studio where Vinyl and Pinkie usually rehearsed their newly made tracks for future events and parties. Vinyl and Pinkie brainstormed here for hours on end trying to come up with ideas of a song. The song of Kairos was one of them. Vinyl fiddled through her dubstep software to come up with unique beats and sounds through her computer. Pinkie sat down on a chair, with her Chromebook opened in front of her, resting on her lap, typing up lyrics on a Microsoft word as they go. *Unique drum beats and space noises* "Ok Vinyl, that sounds like crap..." Pinkie interrupted Vinyl whilst typing on her computer. "Pinkie, I'm brainstorming here, you don't think I'm actually going to include that to our track." Pinkie continued typing with no words of response. The door opened from the outside of their studio, which Lyra and I appeared from, "Hey guys!" Lyra entered, and I followed after. "Whoa, what you guys doing here?" Pinkie paused from typing. "Yo!" Vinyl waved at Lyra and I. "Oh nothing, just thought we visited you girls..." As I walked around the room, picking up a guitar that was displayed on a stand, "It's been quite a while since we played..." I strummed the strings on the guitar that resonated an E Major chord, then placed the guitar back in the stand. "Yeah... It's been.. How long?" Lyra questioned. Vinyl answered, "Five years to be exact." "Sounds just about right." I stood with both hands on my hips. I scanned the room which brought memories back when I used to rehearse with the Rainbooms. An idea came to mind, "Hey, I have an idea..." "What..." As Pinkie continually typing. "Lets play the song that us four made up!" "You mean The Sunrise?" "Yeah." I smiled to everyone in the room, "C'mon... For ol times sake. What do you say.." "Sure!" Lyra and Vinyl agreed to my idea. Pinkie paused from typing, and switched her Chromebook on sleep mode, "Sure..." "Yay!" "Yeah!" Vinyl and Lyra simultaneously in a cheerful tone. I arranged the mic stand, shifting it in the middle of the room, almost close to where Vinyl's platform of her DJ equipment was set up. Pinkie walked towards her electronic drum set, then turned the power switch on. She adjusted the volume of the sound as she hit the snare and the kick pedal that produced the bass drum. Lyra picked up an acoustic guitar, wearing it around her shoulder, and began tuning the strings. "Test test test" My voice was loudly heard from the speakers, supervening a studio echo. The mic volume was perfect. I looked everyone in the room, "You girls still remember how to play it, right?" "Of course! Like the back of our hand!" Vinyl reasserted. "Ok." I took a deep breath and waited for Pinkie's cue for a metronome countdown of beats with her drumsticks. "One, Two, Three Four!" We synchronized in perfect timing. It began with Lyra's acoustic guitar plucking and Pinkie's drum beats, then merging in with my own vocals. Pinkie and Lyra did some back up vocals on some points of the song. Vinyl produced the keyboard sounds from her dubstep launchpad, along with some unique background sounds that produced from it. When I constructed this track, it goes without saying that the song brought back moments of the past of me, Lyra, and Pinkie. It was indeed a beautiful, but melancholic song. As we got to the climax of the track, noticing the first time in a long time, Lyra's ears had suddenly vanished. Then her magical ears that resembled of pony ears, popped up above her head, and the length of her hair magically extended, passing her knees. She began floating in mid air, while continually plucking and strumming her acoustic guitar throughout the whole track. I then leered over to Pinkie and Vinyl's direction, the same kind of effect was happening in my very own eyes, and their instruments levitated on air. I looked at myself through the faint reflection of Pinkie's Chromebook monitor. The same kind of effect was happening, only difference is, my whole body illuminated the whole studio, and developed wings like a Phoenix: I breathe the air and bite my tongue I have been here in this place for too long I cannot see through what this could be I only dream of what it's like to be free And I wish, in the darkness That I could change the sky so the stars aligned And I'd give anything to feel The sunrise shining in your eyes and onto me All of these steps I take, directing me And now two doors, and in my hand, just one key My heart is yours and I am out of time In luck and love, we can hope, but we are blind And I wish, in the darkness That I could change the sky so the stars aligned And I'd give anything to feel The sunrise shining in your eyes and onto me And what will become of this? Is this the end of resistance? Will we get what we deserve? Will we get what we deserve? Every night I wish, in the darkness That I could change the sky so the stars aligned And you know I would give, anything to feel The sunrise shining in your eyes and onto me ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SUNSET'S APARTMENT - 12:00 AM, SAME NIGHT Pinkie and Lyra wore their usual sleeping attire. Pinkie had a long day and carelessly lied on the bed. Lyra, sat by her vanity table to comb her dampened hair. I walked in to their room with a pillow tucked under my right arm, "You girls ok?" Pinkie slightly ascended her body up in a slant to look at me, "Yeah, why?" "Just askin..." I smiled at Pinkie, then leered over to Lyra, "It's been quite a day, huh?" "Yeah..." Lyra responded vaguely while combing her hair. "Ummm..." I blushed to tell them the real reason I came in the room for. Pinkie sat up with a raised eyebrow, "You okay Sunset?" Lyra paused from combing her hair, "Yeah... Are you ok?" "Well... I've been meaning to ask if I can sleep with you girls for tonight." Pinkie and Lyra looked at each other in quizzical expression, but nodded. Lyra retorted, "Of course, Sunset we all know that you're afraid of being by yourself, hence why you were wide awake the other night." Pinkie chuckled. "Ok... I'm not afraid... It's just..." "Just come here and lie down, you look really tired..." Pinkie shifted to the right side of the bed, allowing me to lay down in the middle. Lyra finished combing her hair, and followed after. She laid down on my left side. The three of us barely fit on a twin size bed, but we made it work. "Turn the lights off please." Pinkie commanded. Lyra switched the lampshade light off. I held my girls securely with a word in a low voice, "Hey..." "Hmm?" Lyra and Pinkie responded simultaneously. "Remember that one time that Pinkie almost slipped on a wet floor at Mulia Mild's Pizzeria?" "Yeah.." Lyra giggled. "Stop... I didn't know the floor was wet, plus they didn't put the sign there." "But it was funny, it's as funny as a fat guy falling." I joked Lyra continued laughing. "Whatever, I'm too tired to say anything back..." "Oh oh! Remember that one time when we were in the park, Sunset threw the football which accidentally landed on the guy's head while he was drinking his cup of coffee?" Lyra added. "Yeah I remember that... Sunset, you can't aim for the life of you..." Pinkie retorted directly at me, "How about when Lyra was asked out by a guy. She was excited because she thought he was really cute, but turned out to be a lesbian." Pinkie and I laughed hysterically. "Hey! her hair was short, anyone could've mistaken her for a guy..." "Yeah whatever..." We reminisced the moments of our past almost the whole entire night. We laughed and told stories. When it was passed four a.m., Both of my girls finally fell asleep, with their heads resting on my shoulders. I remained awake. When Princess Twilight came at the wedding, it wasn't getting any easier. Going back to Equestria is the only option I have, for the importance of my alternate self in this world. But my heart ached whenever I thought about it. I guess I have to take Princess Twilight's advice. I have to let it go. I cried and cried all night, until I finally fell into deep sleep.