Wondercolt Weekends

by BlueBook

Sunday In The Park With Sunset

Only the sound of hooves echoed through the stillness of the night as Twilight stumbled along the rutted dirt path. She stole glances at her invisible pursuer, but only opaque darkness created her gaze. The pale rays of moonlight that bathed the spot on which she stood like a stage light, following her every move. She took a hard right, off the road and into the surrounding thicket. The woods here were deep, dark, and overgrown. Branches bit at her hands and clawed at her clothes as she pushed them aside. The scrabbling of disturbed animals and the flap of angry birds taking wing filled the night as she went crashing through the brambles.

Not very stealthy… but at least no one can possibly ride through that mess. Twilight bit her lip as she groped towards a growing light ahead, a clearing in the brush.

I’m through! But her elation was short-lived. Her hiking boots caught on a gnarled root, and she went sprawling arms outstretched into the blackness of the night.

Her eyes fluttered as she regained her sight. She rolled onto her back and stared up at the star-speckled sky. The air was still and cool.

Then she heard it again. The clip-clop, clip-clop of hooves beating out a steady rhythm. A twinge of pain from her ankle confirmed her worst fears. Sprained, probably. I’ve got to stay still; try to hide.

The hoofbeats slowed and came to a stop. For a moment, all Twilight could hear was the beating of her own heart. A voice pierced the heavy silence.

“Twi~light? Where are~you?” The sing-song voice was echoey and distant, as if it were the utterance of a spirit.

Fear is the true enemy. Logic must rule over emotion.

Yet, in spite of her efforts, Twilight’s eyes remained shut, tightly. She curled into a tight ball, unable to move. Then a wave of shivering coldness washed over her. It was the same tell-tale chill she’d felt once before.

No. Please no! Not again. A distant thunderclap resounded in the air as the wind began to howl.

Twilight’s whole being trembled, power surging through it. Her eyes snapped open, feeling as if they were ablaze with lime light. She felt her body move on its own, getting up off the forest floor. Slowly she began to float upwards. She unfurled her raven wings, tips flapping in her peripheral vision.
A cloud covered the moon, and darkness obscured her vision. The cloud passed; the pale moonlight shone once more. But by then, Midnight Sparkle had overcome her.

A dark form exploded from the brush into the clearing. The dim light revealed a lone pony who looked about in confusion. Its coat was pink and its mane curly, in a way which was dimly recognizable. In fact, Midnight noted cooly, they bore a striking resemblance to Twilight’s friend Pinkie Pie, albeit in equine form.

“Twilight, there you are!” the pony said in an unmistakably familiar voice. “I almost lost you, ya silly billy!”

The grim visage of Midnight Sparkle glowered down at the little pink pony.

“LEAVE ME BE!” the demon growled, and with a snap of her fingers, the pony disintegrated into a shower of pixels.

~~~

“Gah!” Twilight awoke from the nightmare suddenly, almost falling out of her desk chair. She lifted her head from the desktop, wiping the cold sweat from her brow. Staring down at her English Literature textbook, she grimaced. Must have dozed off again… that’s enough Wordsworth for one day.

She turned in her chair and gazed at the alarm clock, its LEDs blinking across the darkened bedroom. 8:30… too early for bed. Not that I could sleep after… that. Twilight shuddered. She had to talk with someone, one of her friends. To get her mind off… that. But who was free on a Sunday night?

Twilight got up and hopped onto her bed, retrieving her phone from the bedside table, where she left it whenever she was studying. She pressed “contacts”, and a list of her friends flashed onto the screen. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. Let's see… Pinkie’s right out. Probably still working anyways. It’s Fluttershy and Rainbow’s date night…

Sunset’s profile picture stared back at her. Should I really bother her with this? Twilight shook her head. No, I couldn’t. It wouldn’t be right. She’s my girlfriend; she’ll worry.

Yet she found herself tapping on the photo, typing Hey. Wanna hang out? into the messenger, and pressing send.

The text hung in the air for a second before sprouting the addendum seen 8:40 pm. Then, a trifecta of dots began to dance underneath it.

K. Hang @ Park?

Twilight sighed in relief. See you soon. With that, she tossed her phone aside and walked across the room to where she’d discarded her sneakers hours before. Meanwhile, unseen, an emoji flashed across the screen in response, a pulsating red heart.

~~~~

The park in the center of the city was quiet and still. Twilight walked slowly along the sandstone sidewalk, and turned into the park. She scanned beneath the old oak trees which filled the space carved out of the metropolitan sprawl of the city long ago. Ancient streetlamps flickered their dim lights through the gloom, revealing the iron park bench where Sunset Shimmer sat, her long gold and scarlet locks draped over the backrest. She leaned her head back, and spotted Twilight.

“Heya, Twi! Over here!” she called out, springing to her feet and waving her hand.

Twilight wandered over, kicking aside a stray rock . “Hey, Sunset…”

Sunset’s wide grin faded, replaced by a furrowed brow and a pout. Then her features softened, and she smiled once more. “What’s the matter?”

“Long story.” Twilight sank heavily onto the bench.

Sunset joined her, perching daintily on the edge of the hard wooden slats.

“Tea?” Sunset produced an insulated paper cup bearing the legend Sugarcube Corner, and held it out to her friend. “It’s camomile, it should help you sleep better.”

Twilight blinked, and gingerly took hold of the cup. “How did you...”

Sunset laughed. “I don’t need to be an empath to know when you’re getting frazzled.”

“Is it that obvious?” Twilight bit her lip and stared at the ground. “I... must look terrible.”

“No, no, you’re fine.” Sunset put her hand on Twilight’s shoulder. “It’s just... Well, when was the last time you text me the night before a test?”

Twilight laughed awkwardly. “I suppose it is a little out of character.”

Sunset grinned and reached over to the brown paper bag beside her. She placed it on her lap and opened it.

“Pinkie and I figured you could use something to cheer you up, so I got some of these.” She produced a pair of frosted donuts, made to resemble cats.

Twilight took one from Sunset, and held it gently in her hand, studying it as if it were a scientific specimen. These are so cute...I almost don’t want to eat them!

“Mmmphf!” Sunset took a massive bite out of her donut, bisecting it. Her cheeks bulged a little as she slowly chewed it. She swallowed and took a swig from her coffee cup. “The heads are the best part!”

Twilight sighed and nibbled at the donut experimentally. The perfumed, bittersweet taste of rosewater filled her palate.

“Do you not like it?” Sunset pouted, gesturing to the barely consumed confection.

Twilight swallowed quickly and sighed. “No, it’s delicious… I’m just not that hungry right now.”

Sunset nodded slowly. Her hand brushed Twilight’s, then retreated.

Twilight stared into the night sky at the stars twinkling high above. It was quiet in the city at this time of night, frighteningly so.

Compared to them, we’re nothing. A single living planet, alone in the universe.

“So… uh... are we going to talk about what’s eating you?” Sunset asked.

“Maybe.” With her finger, Twilight traced the embroidery on her skirt.

“Can I take a guess?”

Twilight gulped. “Sure.”

“You’ve been having nightmares about turning into Midnight Sparkle, again. You know it can’t actually happen now, but no matter how much you tell yourself that they still keep happening.”

“OK, that time you definitely used your empathy powers.” Twilight crossed her arms, smiling slyly.

“Yeah, you got me there, Twi.” Sunset chuckled and rubbed the back of her head. “Sorry I cheated.”

Twilight smiled, but looked away.

“Sunset?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you still… does... it ever get better?”

“Probably.” Sunset took a deep breath before exhaling heavily. “But I still have nightmares too, sometimes.”

“How do you stand them?”

“I write them down.” Sunset drew a small notebook from her jacket pocket. “Sometimes, I rewrite them, with better endings. It helps me.”

“I’m… I’m afraid.” Twilight could feel the tears rolling down her face. “Afraid of that side of me. Of hurting my… our friends.”

Sunset’s arms wrapped tightly around her. Their warmth enveloped her, sheltering her from the cool night breeze.

“I understand. Once you’ve seen that side of yourself, it’s hard to unsee.” Sunset’s voice quavered. “But we'll… you’ll heal. It will take time, but you'll get there one day. Eventually, you’ll forgive yourself.”

Twilight opened her eyes, clouded by tears, and looked over at Sunset. Her girlfriend’s eyes were shut tight, her breathing slow and deliberate. She lent her head on Sunset's shoulder. Sometimes, I forget she’s hurting too…

Sunset gently kissed Twilight’s forehead. “Better?”

Twilight wriggled closer to Sunset, putting her arms around her waist. “I am now. You?”

Sunset exhaled heavily. “I’ll be alright.”

The cicadas rattling filled the park, serenading the fireflies which danced through the air. The heavy, honied fragrance of magnolias wafted through the small park, the languid air hanging heavily on the ground. Dew glittered on the blossoms of clover growing beneath the antique lamp lights of the park.

“Times like this, I’m glad we have each other,” Twilight whispered.

“Mmm.” Sunset had her head raised again, and was staring up at the moon. “Twi?”

“Hmm?”

“Earth would be awfully lonely if it weren’t for the moon, don’t ya think?”

Half asleep, eyes closed, Twilight raised an eyebrow. She murmured a reply. “Fascinating…”

Comments

[Scholarly-Cimmerian]

This was quite well done. Twilight's nightmare was effectively portrayed, and I very much enjoyed seeing Twi and Sunset talk about having nightmares and how to deal with them... good, strong characterization there.

[BlueBook]

10942338

I'm glad you enjoyed that dynamic! When I write Flutterdash, my touchstone for their characterization is always Sonic Rainboom. Fluttershy is shy, and has her own issues, but she doesn't hide them and she's also quite emotionally preceptive. Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, is 120% bluster covering up alot of self doubt and awkwardness. As a result, Fluttershy is the one to take the lead in matters of the heart, since although she is shy she has a kind of cool confidence and emotional maturity that Dash lacks. I also tend to write the EQG a little closer to their early season pony counterparts, since they have been through less together than the Mane 6 and have gotten less characterization and character development as a result.

Also, it's funnier that way.

[Finifugal]

I don't know why, but something about this story is so soft in a nice way. It's casual, not wordy, and is overall pleasant. The drama in this chapter isn't overstated. It just happens, and then there's the resolution with Twilight and Sunset's talk. I like the transitions from scene to scene, very flowy. Thanks for writing this!