//------------------------------// // 3 - Other self // Story: Other // by andrizzi //------------------------------// The door of the storage room shrieked faintly as a light layer of dust floated, carried by the air push. The light entering from the doorway was barely enough to see everything in the room. Upon a trotting, a green-coated pony reached the only window of the room. She opened the shutter, allowing the sunshine to come inside and brighten the atmosphere. From the threshold, a smaller, yellow-coated pony was standing, hesitant but curious. “You can come in, sweetheart,” said the elder pony with a gentle tone. The little filly trotted in, spinning her head around in search of something. Finally, she locked her gaze over an object in the corner. “Mrs. Karwing, is that it?” The elder pony approached the filly and put a hoof over her head. Smiling, she nodded her head. “Also, please, I told you to call me Karry.” The little pony looked up and returned the smile faintly. “Ok, Karwy,” she quietly said as she moved forward. In front of her, there was a white bassinet resting on the ground. She couldn’t quite reach it, though. Instead, she gave an uncertain glance back to the other pony in the room. The little green eyes were mirroring several emotions that were storming too hard inside her at that moment, holding her back. Karry frowned before smiling reassuringly at the little pony. “Take all the time you need. I’ll go checking on the other foals in the meantime. Call me when you want to leave.” The filly waited to be alone before turning her head back to the cradle. It was big enough to carry a newborn foal but also little enough to be carried by a pony. The design was smooth and regular, rich with ornaments. A visor arose to protect the occupant from the light. The colors were bright and the embroidery glowed faintly under the light. The little filly couldn’t find any flaw in its appearance. She approached closer and then leaned over the edge of the object. It was indeed solid and had managed well against time as well. Only a layer of dust proved how long it had been rested unscathed. She touched everything she could inside the cradle: the blankets, the pillow, the strips of fabric, the engravings even. Everything was beautiful, labored with art. She also recognized that the fabrics were made out of silk. Lastly, the little filly focused on the visor. There was a particular ribbon that she wanted to examine. Lifting it, she found what she was looking for. A name embroidered with gold in the tissue. Her name. Sunset Shimmer. The little filly stared at the golden letters for a while, perfectly still and silent. Then, she let her hoof fall over her side as she turned her look down. Without realizing it, tears climbed up her eyes and fall over the fabrics. Only when she heard the sound of approaching hooves the filly regained self-control. She quickly wiped her tears away and turned towards the door. Walking in, there was the same pony of before. “You’ve been here for a while, now. I was starting to get worried.” Karry went over the shutter in order to close it and didn’t notice that her smile hadn’t been returned. Not at all. “Are you ready to come out?” The little filly lurched forward, surpassing the elder pony. “Yes, Mrs. Karwing.” “Please, I told you to call me Karry.” The little filly narrowed her eyes, marching forward. “Whatever.” Sunset Shimmer was glaring at the object behind the shop window. That thing couldn’t help but keep her mind on her unpleasant memory, like a broken disk. “Love,” called Fluttershy by her side, with a whisper. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” Sunset was keeping her eyes firm, and her answer had been quite hasty and sharp. “I just don’t like the brand.” “How is that even possible?!” Rarity approached the couple in a blink. “C.A.R.T. Furniture proves commitment to quality with every piece of furniture they offer. The only thing you can say about their furnishings is that they are simply astonishing. Believe me when I say that the quality of the work is incommensurable –” “Nope.” “– And that every expense here only comes back adding some unique style to your home –” “Nope.” “– And I’ll be glad to bring you inside and prove it,” said Rarity as she walked with a confident smile towards the entrance. “As soon as Applejack here gently steps aside and allow us to get in.” Applejack, who was blocking the door with her body, just stared deadpan at Rarity. “Nope.” The two of them remained still for a long moment, then Rarity fell on her knees and joined her hands in front of her. She began crying, “Oh, ple-e-a-ase! Just look at those cradles behind the shop windows! I must have at least one!” Every girl rolled her eyes at the usual display of drama from their queen. Each one with a different level of amusement. “Rare, a couple of those cradles cost just as much as my pickup.” Rarity stopped her whining and looked at her friend in confusion. “And your point is?” “Ah could build ya a crib out of our apple trees by myself if you asked me!” “Yes. And your point is?” Applejack raised an eyebrow. “It would be practically free?” Rarity took a couple of seconds to think about it. “I did say that they’re on sale, didn’t I?” Applejack groaned as she let her shoulders fell. “Why do you need a crib, anyway? Ah’d say it’s soon for worryin’ about that.” Finally, Rarity got back on her feet and started to move away from the expensive shop. “First, a dear friend of mine and of my family is getting married, and it would be a perfect gift. Second, I could buy it just in order to show it, so stylish as it is. Besides, who am I to say that I won't meet soon my beautiful price rich enough to support my career and at the same time…” Rarity would have gone on and on with her ranting about her possible future conjugal life, but the flat look from Applejack told her how much she was willing to listen about it. Again. Rarity scoffed and changed the subject. “Also, don’t you ever think about the day when we’re going to have babies?” Applejack spun her head over Sunset and Fluttershy. They were looking at a new shop while holding each other. “Don’t think Ah have to.” “I beg your pardon?” “Nothin’.” Fluttershy and Sunset had moved to the front of the electronic shop. They were watching a TV cooking show, the episode was about how to make cookies. Sunset stared at the snacks hungrily. “You know, those bran cookies looks very appealing.” “Um, I could learn how to cook them if you want,” replied Fluttershy, leaning by her side. Sunset looked Fluttershy with tenderness for a long moment, making her girlfriend blush. Aroused by the reaction, Sunset slid her left arm from Fluttershy’s waist to the shoulders, forcing her to come near. When there was just a thumb of air between them, the couple started to nuzzle their noses along. While they were cuddling, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie came closer. Carrying a paper bag, the former caught Sunset’s attention. “Here,” said Rainbow Dash, offering the little bag of paper. “Veggie burger with hot sauce, as you asked it.” Sunset Shimmer quickly released her girlfriend to open the wrapper, licking her lips in anticipation. As soon as she caught a glimpse of bread and vegetables, she bit it off wildly. “I was starving,” she said between her moans. “You really like that stuff, don’t you?” asked Rainbow Dash, who was eating a hot dog. “Hm-hm, you should try one.” “Naw thanks. I need proteins.” “It’s not an attempt at conversion, you could try for once. Just for the taste.” Rainbow Dash just pretended to puke as she watched her friend eating her burger. “How can you claim to like a hamburger with no ham in it?” Sunset rolled her eyes. “Hamburgers are actually made with beef, so –” “I was just kidding, Captain pedantic,” muttered Rainbow Dash. “Anyway, have you seen the other Sunset while Pinkie and I were at the burger shop?” “Not yet, but she should arrive soon.” Sunset finished her snack and focused back to Fluttershy. “Spicy kiss?” Fluttershy giggled. ***** The day before, after having spent all the required hours in class, the Rainbooms were inside the music room of the school. They had reunited with joy, happily greeting one another as every single girl arrived. Once everybody was in, Sunset explained everything about her double to them. “So, let me see if Ah got this rightly.” Applejack raised her hands in thought. “We have two universes. One is a universe full of pony and the other is full of humans. For every pony in the first universe, we have a human counterpart in the second one. So basically, if you consider the universes as systems, we have two congruent universes of inhabitants with an equivalent function.” As she finished, Applejack noticed that all the girls were looking surprised at her. “What?” she asked. “Sorry, it’s just...” said Rarity, trying to not sound offensive. “That was quite an odd phrasing from you.” Applejack merely returned a bemused look. “Y’all remember that we’re attending school and that we have a math exam about polynomial functions tomorrow, right?” Rainbow Dash closed her eyes tight and clenched her teeth as her posture deflated. “I was trying not to.” Sunset Shimmer rolled her eyes before turning towards Applejack. “Anyhow, you summed it up correctly. I still lack proof to support this theory, but it would explain a lot of parallelisms that I noticed between our worlds. Such as my other self, of course.” Rainbow Dash frowned. “So, you’re saying that we can’t know for sure that the girl we saw was your interdimensional twin?” She may have misunderstood, but Sunset didn’t like the tone of her friend. Therefore, she looked at Rainbow Dash with flat eyes. Seeing the hard expression, Rainbow Dash lowered her watch and backpedaled. “I-I didn’t mean –” Sunset diverged her sight. “Of course you didn’t.” Feeling that the atmosphere in the room was getting heavier, Pinkie Pie thought to interject. “Sooooo” – Pinkie grabbed her phone, tapping on the buttons – “Fluttershy is the only one of us who met this girl, right?” Sunset turned to her, smiling. “Yep.” “Hmm, you know, I would really like to spend some time with another myself from another universe! That would be like –” “– The end of reality as we know it?” asked Sunset. “Actually, I was going to say ‘the end of the world’, but it was figurative speech. Do you think that a thing like that could happen, for real?” Sunset smirked before answering. “In my case? I don’t know. In your case? Surely.” If Pinkie Pie took any offense, she didn’t show at all. Instead, she giggled as she was fiddling with her cell phone. “Also, I don’t think we’ll ever have the chance to meet her,” continued Sunset. “I’ve already searched her by myself when Twilight explained this theory to me, and I found nothing. I seriously doubt that any of you could do better than –” “Found her!” announced loudly Pinkie Pie. Sunset was dumbfounded. “How did you...?” Pinkie Pie jumped happily towards her, as every girl came near. “She was on Faaaceeeboook,” sang Pinke. Sunset’s face fell. “Oh.” Pinkie Pie extended her phone so that everyone could see its display. It showed the profile page of a young girl very similar to Sunset. The only difference was her clothing. Instead of a leather jacket and boots, she was wearing a nice dress and sandals. The name of the page, though, was Shimmering Sunshine. “It’s her!” exclaimed Fluttershy. “She’s exactly as I met her at the park. But she told me that her name was Sunset Shimmer...” “She must have used a nickname here,” said Pinkie Pie. “That’s why I didn’t find her sooner.” Sunset snickered. “Shimmering Sunshine? Really?” “She looks so nice in those pictures!” said Rarity. “Her style is quite simple, though.” “Well, what are you waiting for?” said Rainbow Dash with impatience, “Text her and arrange a meeting for all.” Sunset turned a suspicious glance to Rainbow Dash. “You look very eager to meet her.” Rainbow Dash pointed her eyes away. “Oh, you know me. Always ready to jump into the action. In fact, ‘Ready’ is my middle name. Rainbow Ready Dash.” “We should ask her to meet us all at the Crystal Mall!” said Pinkie Pie. “That should be easy for her, and we can go shopping that way!” Rarity clapped her hands. “I think that’s a wonderful idea, darling.” Fluttershy wrote the message on her phone. “Um, so, when should we meet?” “Toda–” “Tomorrow!” Applejack interrupted Rainbow Dash with sternness. “We all have to study this evening.” Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and especially Rainbow Dash grunted loudly. After they finished talking, all the girls sent a friend request to Shimmering Sunshine and went back to practice. They played several songs for half an hour before taking a break. Worn out but happy, Rainbow Dash put down her guitar. “I can feel that this one is gonna be a hit.” Sunset snickered. “Hopefully, not in my face this time.” The smile on Sunset’s lips quickly died as she saw that none of the girls was entertained. Rainbow Dash, especially, looked hurt. “…Too soon?” As a response, Pinkie Pie inhaled loudly through her teeth as every other girl focused on anything else. “Come on, I was just –” Fluttershy’s surprised yelp cut her short. “She answered.” “What did she say?” asked Sunset. Fluttershy read the message aloud. “Hello, you’re the girl from Saturday at the White Tales, right? I just saw your profile and I would like to meet tomorrow. I think there’s something we have to discuss.” “Well, that’s settled,” said Applejack, before turning towards Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie. “Now, what about y’all go home and study, for once? Ah bet that you need it.” The same trio made a loud groan, but they didn’t complain. They all knew that there was no escape from the doom of every school student. Luckily, Sunset saw an opportunity to cheer up everybody. “Hey, why don’t you come to my place? We can have a group study, and I can help you with the subject if anyone needs it.” Pinkie’s face went from despair to excitement. “Uh, can we have a slumber party?” “Only if you’re a good girl.” “Yay!” ***** So, here they were the day after. Waiting at the Crystal Mall for another Sunset Shimmer to show up. While the present Sunset was really trying to not be bothered by Rainbow’s impatience. “There’s no need to climb over the lamp like it was a vedette. We’ll see her soon.” “The sooner, the better,” replied Rainbow Dash, climbing down her view spot. “And why are you not excited? You’re going to meet another yourself, how cool is that?” “Yes,” muttered Sunset. “I bet that’s the reason why you want to see us in the same place so badly.” From her reaction, Sunset could easily tell that Rainbow Dash was upset by that statement. It only took her a moment for her to put on an annoyed expression. “That almost sounded like an accusation. Why, do you suspect something?” Sunset, instead of being intimidated, narrowed her eyes. “Why, do you?” Rainbow Dash was taken aback by that, so she just kept her silence. Luckily, they both noticed Fluttershy approaching. The girl had just run for the water fountain, almost crying. Sunset was quick to turn her frown upside down as she turned towards her girlfriend. “I take it that you didn’t like the spicy kiss.” Massaging her lips, Fluttershy just looked up and shook her head. Her eyes were moist, even. “Aww –” Sunset took Fluttershy’s cheeks between her palms “– Don’t worry. I know it hurts now, but you’re going to like it soon.” Despite the pain, Fluttershy looked firmly at her girlfriend in front of her. “Sunset!” she said with rebuke, her cheeks getting slightly red. She couldn’t keep her firm stare for long, though, snickering as she closed her eyes. That was when Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie arrived in a hurry. “Girls, girls! The bus is coming!” said Pinkie with excitement. The bus made its announced appearance, pulling out from the traffic and into the bus stop. Assuming that this was finally it, all the girls stood in front of it as the bus’ doors opened. A few passengers and a couple of teenagers got off. The Rainbooms focused on the couple, a boy and a girl. The boy was tall, healthy, and good looking. The girl was wearing a dress with sandals and had a yellow skin, with green eyes and bacon-colored hair. Nobody from the two groups spoke. They just spotted each other, and then they all pondered in silence for a while as other persons went along the walkway. … Sunset stepped forward to make the needed presentations, but the girl who was her spitting image raised a palm to stop her. “Hold on, let me try one.” The new girl with a dress pointed at Fluttershy and Sunset. “I saw your Facebook pages, and it’s written that you two are in a relationship. Is that right?” The two involved girls nodded their heads. “Good for you. How long?” Sunset used one arm to hug Fluttershy over her shoulders before answering. “Exactly six months today.” The girl in a dress chuckled. “How cute. Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but the last Saturday I and my boyfriend Bobby here” – Bobby, with ‘unsure what to do’ written on his face, waved his hand uncertainly – “were hanging out, and I think that your girlfriend saw us. She must have mistaken me for you because I heard her arguing with her boyf– girlfriend, which is you, later in the evening. I approached her after she dumped you on the phone and then we talked. Judging by the way she ran away, I assume that she figured everything out and went straight to you. And… I hope that you two sorted everything out?” Sunset gave a happy nod, reassuring the girl in front of her. “Glad to know. Lastly, I guess that you searched a little around for me to close this story. Found me on Facebook, sent a request and here we are.” The new girl crossed her arms with a smug smile. “How did I do?” “Brilliant,” replied Sunset, with a similar expression. “How did she do that?” asked Pinkie Pie, whispering to Rarity’s ear. Rarity couldn’t help but smile wryly. “Maybe it was just a hunch?” As Pinkie glared at Rarity intensely, the new girl spun on her feet and raised her open hand in front of his boyfriend. When she began rubbing her thumb against the other fingers, he pulled off twenty bucks from his wallet and surrendered them, reluctantly. She took them displaying her tongue and a teasing smile. “What was that for?” asked Sunset. Her counterpart turned towards her happily. “I thought up this story yesterday when you all sent me a friendship request. When I told him my theory and everything about it, he just shrugged it off as unlikely and went on with his reconstruction of events. By his judgment, I had a stalker who posted photoshopped images of me on a fake account or something like that.” “You shouldn’t take that stuff so lightly,” murmured Bobby. “Speaking of which,” resumed she, barely listening to him, “your name is seriously Sunset Shimmer?” “Ya-ha.” “Wow.” Rainbow Dash spoke from Sunset’s side. “And so is yours?” “Yep. What are the odds?” Sunset chuckled but said nothing. It would have been too long for explaining about a magic mirror-portal that led to a parallel universe and so on. “Hey,” said the new Sunset. “Why don’t we grab a milkshake or something? My treat for making you cry, Fluttershy right?” Sunset and Fluttershy nodded enthusiastically, and the former answered, “Sure.” Then she turned towards her friends. “Are you in?” All her friend looked in different directions, except for Rarity who stepped in. “Truly sorry, darling, but it’s running quite late. We should all take care of... other things.” She then presented a big smile for her friend. Something seemed odd, but Sunset shrugged off the thought. She turned back towards Fluttershy and the other couple. “Well, it’s going to be the four of us, then.” So, the three girls and the boy walked towards the nearest café. Fluttershy, from the left side, said, “Um, Sunset, –” Both Sunset turned over and replied at the same time. ““Yes?”” The group stopped to watch the girls in the middle. Everybody, Sunset included, had a confused look. “– How do we distinguish you?” concluded Fluttershy. ““Well –”” Bobby snorted as the two Sunset stared oddly at each other once again. As his girlfriend looked at him to scold him, Sunset talked. “Please, you first.” The other Sunset recollected herself. “I was thinking that you could call me Shimmy. If that’s ok with you.” Sunset said teasingly, “Sure. Way better than Shimmering Sunshine.” Shimmy winced, then she rolled her eyes. “Let’s start with something else...” Bobby took a sip from his milkshake before talking. “Favorite subject.” The answer came in sync. ““Everything connected with scientific research.”” Fluttershy’s turn. “Favorite Pop-star?” ““Countess Coloratura!”” Bobby’s turn. “If you were to bring your boyfriend –” Sunset coughed. “– your partner to see a movie, which genre would you pick?” ““Horror!”” “Why so?” “This way, she can hug me tight.” “This way, I can hug him tight.” Both Sunset looked each other with wide eyes. Then, Sunset smirked as Shimmy blushed. “And that confirms that I’m the manlier here.” Bobby Hard coughed. “Don’t worry, it was between the girls,” added Sunset, rolling her eyes. Reassured, Bobby focused back on his milkshake as every girl was giggling. They had been doing this game for a while. Fluttershy and Bobby made the questions to the two Sunset just to test if they would have answered in the same way. Until then, the similarity was astonishing. Fluttershy thought of another question. “What’s your favorite dinosaur?” ““Pterodactyl!”” Bobby’s turn. “Favorite food?” “Veggie burgers!” “Pizza!” The two twins looked at each other again, this time with shock. For the first time, their answers were different and out of sync. “Aw, we were this close to becoming best friends...” “I know,” continued Shimmy with a shrug. “However, having learned of such an abyssal difference between us, I see no other choice but depart and never talk each other again.” “I find myself forced to agree.” They kept a firm face for a short while before burst out laughing. “I have to say, though,” said Bobby Hard, “I’m surprised that the two of you are getting along so well.” His girlfriend turned towards him puzzled. “Why so?” “Remember the other day? When you dragged me into the museum for the night? There was a girl who had your same dress and you immediately went angry with her.” “I did not.” “You called her ‘despicable little thief of style’.” “I didn’t do that in her face,” she objected. “And she should have worn another dress.” “And yet, here you are fraternizing with with your identical twin.” Shimmy looked up to him, without understanding. “This is different.” “How?” “For starters, she’s not wearing my dress.” “That’s practically the only difference between you two!” The girls at the table giggled again. Bobby supported his forehead with the palm of his right hand. “Girls are so confusing.” “Well, how would you react if you met a guy dressed up just like you?” Bobby looked up and frowned in thought for a few seconds. Then he relaxed his eyebrows and answered with simplicity. “I would compliment to him, first, and then I would ask him to become my bro.” All the girls looked bemused to him. “Seriously?” asked Shimmy. “Honestly, I can’t picture it any different.” Sunset chuckled and said, “I know that this will sound narcissistic, but I never had a better first impression.” Immediately after, Sunset opened her eyes wide and turned towards her girlfriend with an apologetic smile. “Second to you, of course.” Fluttershy pouted and looked away from her girlfriend. Meanwhile, Shimmy looked up to her booby boy, who was watching her expectantly. Her face went flat as she answered with a casual tone. “Meh, you lost the golden cup for sure.” Bobby winced, taken aback. Then he pouted and looked away from his girlfriend too. Both Sunset stared at each other for an instant before smirking. At the same time, they leaned closer to their respective partners and used their ultimate weapon: a big peck on the cheek. Bobby and Fluttershy’s pouts disappeared as their faces slowly blushed. Sunset and Shimmy found it hilarious. “I’m not sure how to feel about seeing my girlfriend’s twin kissing another girl,” said Bobby. “It is a little awkward,” agreed Fluttershy. Still laughing, Sunset said, “Why didn’t I find you sooner?” “Well, you should have been looking for me first,” answered Shimmy jokingly. Shimmy didn’t notice that Sunset almost choke herself with her milkshake after hearing that. As she resumed to breathe, Sunset glanced around with a different kind of laugh. “Eh… hehe, Yeah... I meant I wish I found you sooner. Because we’re having so much fun.” Then she took another sip from her milkshake to relax. That worked, and a thought came to her mind. “Speaking of which, I have a question, Shimmy.” “Shoot.” “You live nearby, right?” “Yeah, in this area.” “But why don’t you go to the CHS, then?” “Eh,” Sunset rolled her eyes. “I wanted to, at least I would have taken a shorter route every day to school, but my mother is the principal there and she has to be completely professional in the workplace.” “Wait, your mother?” “Yep, my mom is Principal Celestia.” Sunset kept a dumbfounded face for a long moment, then she relaxed and smiled as she thought to understand. “Oh, I see. She adopted you.” Shimmy shook her head sheepishly. “Uh, no. I’m pretty sure she’s my real mother.” Sunset’s smile went flat as she opened her eyes wider every second. By her side, Fluttershy darted her look between the two Sunset with obvious concern. Shimmy rolled her eyes and put on a sympathetic smile. It looked like she already had this conversation. “Yeah, I know. Teachers actually have a private life, family included. Shocking discovery.” Sunset barely heard her. She barely heard anything. Everything around her suddenly became duller. She sensed it darker, and more distant. She didn’t even care. Sunset didn’t even think it was strange. Her mind had completely stopped. She had nailed her focus on a single matter. A little, simple thing. Something which you can talk about at the coffé with a stranger without even thinking too much about it. She felt her right hand grasping her left arm. Weird, she didn’t want to move. She just wanted to think about... it. About that little concern. It was no biggie. I wasn’t even possible. Was it? Sunset felt herself trembling as she started to breathe louder. She couldn’t... Could she...? The melodic voice of Fluttershy singing pierced Sunset’s state of confusion. It was coming from her phone. Sunset had once recorded Fluttershy while she was performing a song for her, and then she had set the song as her ringtone in an attempt to give her girlfriend more confidence about her skills. Besides, every time that her phone played her voice in public Fluttershy got red as a tomato, and it was hilarious. Then everybody went to Fluttershy, praising her singing skills and covering her with compliments, which was adorable. That time, the song helped Sunset to calm down as she picked up the phone and checked the caller. It was Fluttershy. Sunset understood the message immediately. She quickly stood up, using her arm to support herself on the table. She put a big fake smile. “S- sorry, this is important.” Shimmy and Bobby looked at her confused and a little concerned. “Are you feeling good?” asked she. “Y- yes, it’s just –” Sunset stepped back, shaking a little on her knees “– I really have to take this one. Sorry.” Sunset turned around and went straight for the door, Fluttershy following her. When Sunset went outside, she moved a meter on her right and leaned over the wall. Fluttershy was by her side just a moment later. “Sunset?” Sunset said nothing for a short while. She also did nothing. She just kept staring forward. In the end, she spoke with a firm and flat tone. “Go inside and tell them that we have to go.” Fluttershy patted Sunset’s shoulder, giving her a final touch, then she went inside. She approached their new couple of friends with her head bowed. “Um, sorry...” “Is everything alright?” asked Shimmy with evident worry. “Oh, d- don’t worry it’s just... um, it’s getting late and we have to leave now.” Shimmy looked unsure but said nothing. “We really liked the company, though. And we would love to see you again sometimes,” added Fluttershy quickly. “Yes, of course!” replied Shimmy with a half smile. After the final greetings, Fluttershy made her way back. Once she was outside, Fluttershy looked for Sunset at the same spot where she left her. Sunset wasn’t there. Fluttershy felt a clench over her heart and her lungs being deprived of air as she searched around for her girlfriend. Luckily, she found Sunset after a few seconds. The latter was slowly walking on the walkway, direct towards her apartment. Fluttershy ran after her, but she didn’t dare to surpass her or to reach her side. So she just walked behind her. They both walked in silence for the streets of the town. After a while, Fluttershy spoke. “Sunset?” No response. “Um, Love, how are you feeling?” “Great.” Fluttershy flinched like she had just got a slap. Sunset hadn’t spoke with that tone since... ...since a long time. “Fascinating, aren’t they,” said Sunset, using a detached tone. “The little few differences between me and my counterpart?” Fluttershy was scared. “Um, can we talk about it?” “About what? There’s nothing we have to talk about.” “B- but… Sunset, if her mother is indeed Principal Celestia, then your mom –” “Then nothing!” Sunset didn’t turn, but her anger was clear by the tone of her shout. “Now quit this nonsense that you’re babbling.” Fluttershy knew that Sunset wasn’t lucid at the moment, but that didn’t make the words less painful. She felt tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Fluttershy wanted to cry. As the sun was coming down, Sunset and Fluttershy reached the apartment. While she was going on the stairs, and still without turning around, Sunset talked, “You should go home, it’s getting late.” Fluttershy refused. “Honestly, Fluttershy,” said an exasperated Sunset, while unlocking the front door, “this is just a big –” “““SURPRISE!”””