1. Probably nothing important, but I just can't get it out of my mind...
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Sunset Shimmer stretched out her hand for another sip from her large cup of melted mocha latte. It was a bit too sweet and definitely on the unhealthy side, yet she had purchased it without any hesitation whatsoever. Heck, she was originally a pony and they ate sugar almost constantly, so really it was nothing new for her!
Besides, she’d already decided that this was a perfect day for a sugary treat. She was going to meet Rarity after all and as much as she loved the girl as a friend, spending time with her could be taxing for... Reasons. So, she’d need that extra jolt of caffeine and sugar. In fact, she deserved it!
Thinking of the woman in question, and their upcoming meeting, Sunset took a glance at her watch and saw it was 1:05 pm, causing the girl to sigh through her drink.
“Fashionably late again I see. How sterotypical.”
For all of Rarity’s skills, being punctual was never one of them. And to make matters worse, Sunset was already down two thirds of her drink. At this point, it was now more whipped cream than coffee. Almost undrinkable...unless you are Pinkie Pie... or her kids.
Moving away from the coffee/dessert, Sunset brought her phone from her pocket, opened one of her games and stared at it for a while. If she hoped for a distraction she was disappointed. She put the phone back and started to stare around the room, searching for something to see... But nothing of interest showed up, since every Moonbucks shop looked like the other. More or less.
There were the generic photos of happy people harvesting, the stupid quotes from people that tried to sound intelligent and a blueprint of a coffee grinder. She had seen it all before, but this time she stared at them as if it was the first time she saw them. Like she didn’t want to be caught sitting doing nothing. Or perhaps like she didn't want her mind to wander in unpleasant direction.
She shook her head and took another sip from her cup, trying to look like yes, she was supposed to eat all that whipped cream.
She was an adult, Faust damn it! She could have coffee with lots of cream if she wanted to! And she was waiting for a friend! One of her best friends! She was not having any uneasy feelings and she was NOT trying to drown them in sugar!
She put the now definitely empty cup down. Best friends… Yes, best friends! Even if the years had passed since the days at Canterlot High, and she’d since met many great people, the main seven gang was still her tightest social circle.
Sure, it was mostly on MyStable and not that much irl… but their private little message group was still buzzing with activities. And she had conversations open with all of her friends! Bad science jokes, vegan recipes, Rainbow's shows… Pinkie Pie was still the worst of course. Never forgot a birthday, or half-birthdays, holidays or any day that had the slightest piece of importance to someone. Unfortunately, this included many less-than-pleasant memories, like the the Anon-a-Miss debacle, or when Sunset turned into a she-demon. Not to mention graduation...
*Beep-bop* *Beep-bop*; *Beep-bop* *Beep-bop*
The message alert thankfully kept her from being reminded of her biggest misstep and she turned her attention to her phone. Two messages, one from Rarity, and one from “TroubleAndStrife”, a.k.a. her wife, Starlight Glimmer. She smiled dryly and opened Rarity's message first.
"Prepare yourself everypony, here comes the excuse", she muttered to herself. For some reason, the tension in her shoulder she hadn’t been aware off dropped. And immediately returned, when she read the message.
Went to the wrong Café and sat there for ten minutes. Silly me. Be there soon darling. Ta ta! /R.
She put her phone down and absentmindedly began to massage her neck. So, Rarity was coming.
Of course she was coming! Why shouldn’t she! She was her friend! By Faust, even if they didn’t see each other as much as they used to, they still made time for each other! Like… Like her own wedding! Twi and Trix's wedding, Rarity’s wedding, where she had been one of the maids of honors and toastmaster along with Rainbow! Not to mention Fluttershy's independence day, the wedding of Princess Twilight, endless B&Ws with Rares, Coco, Sassy, herself and Starlight when she visited Canterlot... She looked down at her hands, just to have something to look at.
“But never just her and me. Right?"
But...We've been meeting her alone! Lot’s of time! What about all the times when she visits Manehattan? Always coffee and gossip at Moonbucks!
"But always with Starlight joining us. Or Flutters. Or Jack, when he comes along. Never just her and me. Never.”
Never…?
“Never.”
No. No! Of course they had spent time together just the two of them! For example, she had visited the Acres many times and spent time with Jack, Rares and their kids!
“But it’s not like we were alone in a house full of kids…” She sighed again. Two families lived at the Acres. Other than Jack and Rares, Red and Sugar also lived there, meaning there were A LOT of kids at Sweet Apple Acres.
“I’ve never been alone with her… Just her... have I?” She sat in silence for a while until she sighed again. “No. Not since… High school.”
High school. Nope. Not going there.
She crossed her arms and looked sternly at the coffee grinder, her mind scanning through her collective memories for something, anything else, to think about... Nothing came up.
The tension from her shoulders began to spread, from her back all the way down to her stomach. She reached out for another sip, only to find that it had gone cold, leading to coughing fit after the bitter taste assaulted her tongue.
To distract herself, she took up her phone again and read the message from Starlight as she wiped off her mouth with a napkin.
Hi babe! I’m really sorry I couldn’t come, I would rather been with you and Rares than at this OH HOLY SAINT MEGAN Boring conference. The lecturers are THE driest people I have ever met,. It wouldn’t surprise me if they would spontaneously catch fire if they didn't smell so much off sweat… Even a visit to the “Consolidation” turned into a drag. Well, here’s a few kisses nd hugs and a few more kisses on… you know where… Don’t wanna loose you babe, not when your off to meet your ex without me. ;) XOXO, Starlight.
For a short moment, her wife’s message warmed her up (in spite of the misspellings; you are a headmistress, Starlight, LEARN to SPELL!) in more ways that one as she blushed at the thought of those kisses. But then.... Her ex. Oh yeah. That was it wasn’t it. Her ex.
Not one of her best friends. Not an old friend from school. Not someone who she had hung out with more than a hundred times… At this moment, all the things Rarity was had been reduced to her being Sunset ́s ex. She immediately felt sick, but why? It hadn’t even been that much of a...Okay, it had.
It hadn't lasted for very long, just the last semester before graduation. And yet, it had been one heck of a crazy time. Her first relationship after Flash and Rarity’s third with a girl. And it included all the emotions and hormones that came with the late teenage years.
Sunset was a bit embarrassed when she thought back to that point in time… Even if it had its moments.
But mostly, it was just two teenagers trying to be more mature than they actually were. We were not together, we were having a relationship. Oh sweet Faust… Complete with a messy br… aaaand no, not thinking about that.
She quickly took another sip, and the whipped cream with the last drop of coffee erased any bad feelings with sugar.
Besides, they had reconciled when Rarity had returned from Prance, hadn’t they? Sunset paused as she wiped her mouth and chin clean.
Yes they had. They WERE friends. But when Sunset broke up with her... No, she didn't want to think about that and she especially didn't want Rarity to talk about that! So, why did she have to meet her just by herself? Why did this have to happen NOW!
And in that exact moment...
“Sunset, there you are! Let me just put these here and I’ll go get myself something? You want anything? Your usual? Splendid! BRB!”
And then she was gone from Sunset’s line of vision as quick as she had appeared. ...Okay, not “gone” gone. She was at the counter, ordering. A Chai Latte Vanilla, soy milk and a tiiiny hint of cinnamon, and Sunset’s usual, whatever that was. Rarity always bought her different things.
Sunset, now having a mini panic attack, tried to concentrate on her breathing and collect her still disjointed thoughts.
"Calm down Sunset. This will be fine. Fine. It's a casual get together with Rarity. Stupid Rarity... No! Why did I..."
Sunset tried to think about other things, but it all spun back to the thought of Rarity. To at least try to regain some self-control she began to give Rarity's appearance a scrutinizing look.
Focus on details, forget the big picture. It always worked for Twilight, so…
The Barista was a pretty tall girl, and even wearing her standard high heels, Rarity had to look up to talk to her. She had always been the shortest, second to Rainbow. But she also had the most “womanly figure” of the whole gang, which might explain why she had the barista's full attention. Or as Rarity once put it, Just tell it like it is, a big fat round butt and huge boobs that makes people miss my eyes, that’s what THAT means!
Well, Rarity did her best to get staredlooked at. She really wanted every piece of her outfit to be noticed, which Sunset was regrettably able to do in full detail.
Her outfit was impeccable as always. A dark purple skirt suit, white polo, black high heels, skin-coloured stockings and a grey/blue-isch scarf. It probably had a fancy name, but Celestia help her if she could remember it. She even noticed the contours of Rarity’s underwear as she leaned forward to get the mugs, but that was probably not worth mentioning, visible pantyline was a crime against fashion. A minor one, but still. She didn’t wear a hat as she normally did; instead a pair green sunglasses covered her eyes, which worked surprisingly well with her overall appearance and dark skin.
As Rarity turned around and walked towards Sunset, carrying the two mugs, she could see her reflection in the glasses. She looked a bit like an alien...
“There! Finally, I can get myself something worth drinking! And for you love, a double espresso macchiato, along with a little chocolaty treat for both of us !”
Rarity paused to look at Sunset. “Sunset, DARLING, black jeans are SO you, and you look so relaxed and CASUAL in that Indian yellow button-up! And don’t say anything, I am allowed ONE darling a day. Alright, maybe two. SO, HOW have you been?”
A smile. That glistering, perfectly white smile she knew she used to feel in her left pocket. Sunset fought back the feeling of spitting out The ‘ell you mean with CASUAL? Instead she smiled back and began to talk. Neutral ground, safe subject. Work. Thatchroof Uni was a good place, the latest budget cuts had left her without an assistant, but Bloom had already begun her internship at Rich industries anyway.
Probably her wife that wanted something more posh or she would choke, I suppose.
The coffee machine in the teachers lounge was down again, which meant they had to buy their coffee at the café on the other side of the road and everyone with faith prayed it would be a month before it was fixed up Ha ha ha! Oh Sunny...you’re the worst! Starlight was so sorry she had to go to Baltimare. Of course of course. What is a headmistress life other than conferences? Celestia is always complaining about that! They had finally got to fix up the bathroom and kitchen and they now had a bathtub large enough for two. Oh but that is wonderful! Let me tell you, we had to install TWO separate bathtubs! The kids ALWAYS demanded to bathe with me and Jack! But with one large jacuzzi and a smaller one life is SO much better. ‘Wink wink.’
Sunset rolled her eyes. Then there was a pause. A much longer pause than what really was comfortable. Rarity looked at Sunset, then out of the window before she took a sip from her cup. DAMN that was strong. And probably what she needed.
Sunset did her best not to look at Rarity, trying instead to focus on what was written on that blueprint.
Fig A. Crowbar industries. Patent number… number… whatever.
Losing interest, she took a sip from her drink, leaving the pair silent for another full minute, though it wouldn’t last as Sunset had a strange feeling in her gut that had started to branch out into her legs.
She had to say something, didn’t matter what, she just had to get something out. Before Rarity could ask anything she didn’t want to talk about, Sunset blurted out, louder than necessary, “SO, HOW are YOU then?”
Rarity looked surprised at the outburst, but her smile quickly returned before she spoke in a stream of words, her regular fashion.
Well, Fashion was as it always had been, I won’t bore you with dready details darling, but she was doing quite well, and her latest shop in Las Pegasus has proven to be a solid, even if not impressively strong source of income and she was probably able to open another in Trottingham next year. Oh, Fleur and Flutters promised to make a special appearance, JUST for her grand opening.
-Are people STILL waiting for her comeback?
Oh yes indeed, she has some really persistent fans! She made an appearance at Fashion Week a few years back, there was THOUSANDS there just for her! The children were a riot and she loved them but they had no respect for work ethics it's mom play with me or ma Ah’m hungry and she had told them over and over that was not the language of a lady but do they ever listen oh no and even if they had decided that two kids was quite enough it had still left her body in ruins but she was proud to say that her designer genius has managed to cover most of it. But I did get myself a boob job as a gift for my 35th birthday, yes I said it out loud, no reason to look shocked!
-I wasn’t s…
Rarity didn't seem to pay her reply any attention so Sunset leaned back a and just listened, as she took another sip from her drink. All while Rarity continued to rattle on without a care in the world.
Until...
“But speaking of kids, how are you and Starlight doing? If you’re thinking of having children then you’d better be prepared to lose that rather fetching figure of yours. My body was in a wreck when I had our first and even my poor hard working Jack has gotten a bit of a belly after the birth of our Honeyjack."
Relations. Shit. No no no, she had to focus, had to answer, and she had to be honest. This was her FRIEND, and even so, Rarity could always smell bullshit. But what to say? We need a bigger apartment. In Manehattan. Wanna help with THAT, Rares? No, that was unfair...We’re not sure about who shall be the one staying home… No, she will only say things will work out…”And which of you should be the bearer?” Well, we just need to see if my uterus survived that blow from graduation! Waste thousands of bits only to find out I am USELESS, that sounds like fun doesn’t it! ...I can’t say that… it’s so unfair to… Sunset didn't feel well, but still she opened her mouth.
“It’s… complicated. You...know how things are.”
Sunset bit her lip. Rarity put her hand on Sunset’s. She looked like she’d been able to peer right into her friend's thoughts. “Ah yes. I’m sorry Sunset, please forget I said anything.”
Stupid Rarity. Always the compassionate one.
“Nah. It’s okay.”
Silence. Rarity looked at Sunset, and when she didn’t say anything, Rarity cleared her throat and spoke.
“Well, how are Flash and Sunburst?”
Yes! A Safe subject! “I don’t have that much contact with them nowadays, but I see their pictures online from time to time. They adopted a few years back and they seem to be happy.”
“Wasn’t Flash playing in Rainbow's band a few years back?”
“He was, and technically still is I assume. He was my replacement, remember?”
“Oh yes… of course. But he has stepped down to be with his family?”
“Well yeah, but they’re all taking a break. Rainbow WAS pretty close to a burnout.”
“Mhm…Yes she was. Though, that’s hardly anything new for her. Always running herself into the ground.”
Silence.
“If you don’t mind me saying, Sunset, I think you should decide on what to do soon. Bottling those issues up might lead to a big mess and end up in divorce. Just as it did with Twilight and Trixie.”
Divorce! Red flag! Red flag!
“I kind of do mind you saying, but yeah, I know. They’re still not on speaking terms, right?
“I’m afraid not. And both of them are on the rebound. Big time. Trixie is engaged to one of her assistants. The MALE one, just to hurt Twi. And Twi… Oh that poor dear. They were drowning themselves with work until that new laboratory assistant showed up. And you must have seen how they have been showering MyStable with cute couple pictures! It’s pretty ugly.”
“Yeah I have." Beat. "Breakups usually are.”
Aaand she had said it. Sunset bit her lip again at her fumble. Her eyes immediately hit the table, unwilling to look Rarity in the eye, leading to a long silence. The bitter feeling in her gut was strong now and Sunset was wondering if it was rude to spit on a friend and then make a run for the escalators.
“Well Sunset… At least our breakup was one of the better ones. Though, when I broke up with you, you…”
Sunset had put her cup down on the table with a loud bang and was now staring at Rarity. Rarity gave Sunset an uncomfortable look and uttered, “I’m sorry Da...Sunset?”
Sunset was still silently staring at Rarity.
“Sunset?”
“YOU didn’t… No no NO! YOU didn’t break up with me! -I- broke up with YOU!”
Sunset had raised her voice and pointed at Rarity. Rarity smiled, her trying-to-look-like-one-but-not-a-very-friendly-smile. “Sunset Shimmer. I am terribly to persist an uncomfortable view on things, but that is not what happened between us. It was I that broke up with you, I assure you. I remember it all too well. It was the day before I was going to leave for Prance and…”
Now Sunset was visibly upset. “OH TARTAROS NO! I BROKE UP WITH YOU! AND I KNOW THAT! Because that is the reason why I never wanted to be alone with you! That is why this entire situation is as uncomfortable and itching like a pair of frilly underwear two sizes too small!"
Rarity, along with a few other patrons stared at the fiery girl’s rather specific analogy, almost as if hoping for clarification.
“Don't. Ask. That’s why I always have made sure that someone else is with us in case you should finally tell me that you...you…” Pause. “Di...did I say that out loud?”
“Yes darling. You did.” Rarity looked more taken aback than angry, but Sunset was devastated. Sure, she had been slightly hostile and unfriendly, but she didn’t want Rarity to KNOW that!
“Oh...shit. Shit. Rares… Rares I’m so sorry I’m so…”
Rarity lifted a finger.
“Please be quiet dear. Just for a moment. Let me finish my tea.”
Rarity slowly drank up the last content of her cup as Sunset got more and more red. She felt frozen in her seat, taking the occasional glance at the other people, some watching the exchange with curiosity.
I said it. I finally said it. She stared at her half-empty mug. Stupid mouth! STUPID! Here it comes. It happens now. The… the… What...What’s supposed to happen now?
Sunset looked at Rarity, waiting for her to make a move. Rarity looked back at her, slightly taken aback. Then she took a deep breath and rose. “Darling. Dearie. Sunset Shimmer.”
“Mmmm…”
“As much as I enjoy our little get togethers at these humble cafés... “
Why do you call them cafés...it’s silly. Just go. Leave me…
“...I think it’s safe to say that we both need something stronger. You still keep your little collection of liquor at your place? Especially those seventeen bottles of Scot Whiskey?"
“...Y-yes?”
“Off we go then. This needs to be cleared out and for that, we need a glass of an at least 30 year old Loch Lomond! Allons-y!”
A short walk, a three stop ride with the Q-train and another short walk later, they found themselves in Sunset and Starlight’s apartment. The trip had been painfully silent, save the occasional “left next” and “watch the third step.”
Even as they entered the apartment Sunset could still tell things were awkward as Rarity had surprisingly not commented on the interior. Ignoring her growing worry, Sunset had walked straight to the bar and took two glasses. And now, she had to say something.
“On the rocks?”
“With a small breath of soda water, but indeed lots of ice, please.”
Quickly pouring the glass, she handed it to her. “There. Sorry I didn’t have the 30.”
“Oh, do not fret over that little detail! Two glasses of 15 makes up well enough. So, let’s begin. Why are you afraid to see me alone?”
Sunset looked at Rarity. She swallowed her own drink in one go. Then she refilled her glass and swept that one too. Rarity looked with concern at Sunset, and said, “Sunset, are you mad at me?”
“Yes. -NO!- I… I don’t know…”
Rarity took a sip of her own drink, then she leaned forward and put her hand on Sunset’s with a determined face. “We are friends. We have fought foul magic together. We have seen each other sweaty and covered in mud. And even if it's been a few years, I still love you as a friend. Please, talk to me.”
“I… I…” she sighed and made a gesture towards the bottle, but Rarity stopped her.
“After the explanation, Sunset.”
Sunset swallowed. “No. No, I need to… I can’t…”
Rarity sighed as Sunset refilled her glass for the third time but didn’t drink. After what felt like an eternity of embarrassing silence, Sunset spoke up. “It’s all… It’s so silly. Now. I have been… So afraid. Of this. Of talking to you. Just you. And… Here I am. And I really don’t know why I was ever afraid to begin with.”
“I think it’s pretty obvious it must have something to do with our break-up, dear. It was pretty clear that you didn't want to talk about our relationship back at the café and since that was the moment in our discussion that you broke…”
“Heh, got it on go. Never could hide things from you.”
“Thank you,d- Ehrm. Would you please care to explain now?”
Sunset shook her head. She wasn’t ready to go there yet. She slowly sipped her drink, prompting Rarity to do the same, before looking back at Sunset as she emptied her glass. Rarity was still on her first. She looked at her glass, then at Sunset’s glass, and then at Sunset.
“Okay. While you get slushed, perhaps I shall begin. What happened at the café is history. Done. Nothing. So let’s dive into ‘der pudels kern’, shall we? I have no idea from where you got the impression that you broke up with me, when it was clear that it was I that did it! I still remember that dreadful moment! It was the night before I left.”
Sunset thankfully took a pause from her gulping down booze like water to listen.
“We were sitting under the stars out at the acres. It was on that, Goodbye-Rares-Please-Don’t-Get-Kidnapped-in-Neighrope-Party Pinkie threw. And I… I did really like you darling. But we'd grown apart and even if I hated myself for thinking so, it was better to break up instead of keeping up something that would end in tears later. “
Rarity took a moment to sip her drink, helping to steady herself as she continued to remember that day.
“I had so many doubts. Was I doing this out of egoism or was I really doing what was best for both of us? Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps we were meant to be? But then, why couldn’t I see a future when I looked at you? Why did... but… “
She looked at Sunset, whose face was completely blank. "You don’t… you don’t recall this at all?” Sunset shook her head. “Huh. Here I sit making excuses for you and... And you say YOU broke up with me?” Sunset nodded. “Really?” Sunset nodded again. “Alright… so, how did you break up with me?”
Sunset swallowed and, thankfully, put away her glass. She didn’t need it at the moment. In spite of how things started, the whole situation started to feel less embarrassing and more and more… friendly. Rarity was her friend. A good friend that she could talk to about everything.
She took another glance at her friend and suddenly she wished that hadn’t put her glass away. She could have used that comfort of holding on to something solid. That bitter, cold feeling in her gut and spine wasn’t completely gone. And she was still unsure of what to say.
But she was no longer afraid to say it!
“I… I loved you, Rarity. For real. But you were going away. And I was afraid. I trusted you, I did! But…” She sighed. “Maybe I was too much in love with the idea of love itself then I was with you. You… were my first real love. Flash was a great guy but… “
Rarity blushed and looked at the floor. She seemed uncertain how to handle Sunset’s little confession, but in the end she choose the ‘good friend’-path. She put her hand on Sunsets and said, with a slightly unsteady voice, ”Yes. But that is water under the bridge now Sunset! Please, do go on.”
“Ok. So, um, yeah. I... wasn’t sure of myself. I think that was it. I told myself that it was because I doubted you but… in reality it was me all along.” She paused. “Heh, I even rehearsed a script. It started like that. Kind off. ‘It’s not you, it’s me’.”
Rarity immediately let out a short hearty laughter. “Sunset! Giving me the break-up equivalent of ‘It was a dark and stormy night?’ REALLY?”
Sunset looked at Rarity. Laughing? Really? She wanted to give her a biting reply, but it didn’t come. And she had to admit that ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ WAS lame. She rolled her eyes and smirked at Rarity.
“Ha ha. Laugh all you want, but I thought it was a good start! I can’t really recall the rest but it was something like, ‘Not wanna hold you back’, ‘freedom’ ‘if you love them, set them free...' Etc.”
Now Rarity was laughing with her whole face. “Oh, but Sunset, DARLING! That was the worst staple of cliches EVER! If you had said that, I would have broken up with you just because of lack of originality!”
Sunset was giggling as well. “As if yours was any better! Stars, a moonlit sky? Who’s the queen of stereotypes here?”
“Pot calling the kettle black? Well, then pot! Refill my glass and tell me how I SHOULD have done it!”
Sunset made new drinks for them both and sat down. She was silent for a while.
“Well... I would have sent you a text, asking to meet at a place where we would be alone, but not entirely. As an emergency exit, in case things went south? That...ice cream place near the cinema? And then I would do it simple, yet elegant.”
Immediately, Sunset did her best impression of Rarity’s posh manner of speech, which only served to make Rarity chuckle more.
"Dearest Sunset. I like you very much but I can’t help feeling that things have changed, and will keep changing as the years pass. And… I can’t see us in that. I’m setting you free, darling. You will always have a place in my heart, but it will not be us two anymore.’” She paused and continued in her normal voice. “And then I would cry, you would give me a hug, pay for my ice cream and leave. And I would call Twi and cry my heart out.”
Rarity, no longer chuckling, walked over to Sunset and gave her a hug.
“SUNSET PLEASE! I would NEVER leave you alone like that!" small pause. "Although I admit most of it seemed a tiny bit plausible. A-and it’s good you never got to give me your speech," She added with gusto." That WOULD have ended in tears.”
Sunset smiled. “So, how should I have done it then?”
“We-ell… You would have asked me over to your apartment, asked me to sit down, done a bit of small talk… then you would go…’I’m so sorry, Rares.’ And I would say, ‘Why are you sorry?’ and you would be ‘Because I have something to say… and you won’t like it.’ ‘Oh.’ I would reply. ‘So what is it?’ ‘I don’t wanna say’ you would say, ‘but I need to’ and then we’d go back and forth a bit and then you would blurt out, like you always do when you get to emotional ‘I’m breaking up with you!’ and then you would run out of the room crying and I would run after and find you on your bed and I would comfort you and dry your tears and kiss you and…”
“Rares...keep it PG-13, ok?”
Rarity placed a hand on her chest and stared at Sunset.
“WHY I’d NEVER!... I would just comfort you! Far be it for me to take advantage of you in such a vulnerable state! But I wouldn’t have left until you were asleep and then I would leave… and spend the rest of the night crying and eating ice cream. Maybe call Fluttershy in the morning.”
Sunset put her arm around her friend. “Rares, um, eh, I’m not sure about that running out crying but, yeah… that’s pretty much me.”
The two friends sat in silence for a while. But now it was a good silence, the one you didn’t mind. Then Sunset said, “Rares? You said you broke up with me the night before you left? At the party?”
“Yes?”
“There… There never was a party that night."
Silence.
"Huh?"
"I remember now. I haven't… really thought about this before. But… yeah, that was the day. It must have … yes! Yes! Pinkie got sick the day of that third party and…"
Sunset paused. "And we simply decided to skip it.”
Rarity blinked. “What? No no no, that can’t be! I have pictures!”
“Yes, but Pinkie threw two other parties that week! She did the “Rarity’s-Going-to-Neighrope-Good-Luck-and-Come-Back-Soon” party first, then the “Rarity’s-Going-to-Neighrope-I’m-So-Sad-But-Happy-Too-Please-Send-Me-Swiss-Chocolate” party. There was supposed to be a third one, but then she got sick! And no one was really up for more cake so we just stayed at home and rested. Then we all sent you off at the airport. And I know it didn’t happen there, because Pinkie filmed the whole thing!”
Rarity stared blankly at Sunset. Then she said slowly, “Dammit… you’re right! It never… But...But…Then…”
“Then you didn't break up with me. But since you had it all planned out and with there being two other parties… the memories probably got mixed up.”
Rarity was silent again, deep in thought. She took a final sip of her drink, placed it on the table and looked up at Sunset.
"Sunset! Are you... sure... " Rarity stared at Sunset, then at the wall.
"I think I can call mom and ask her to dig up my old diary for confirmation, or text Twilight if you want confirmation of the dates."
"You know what, darling... I think I would prefer if you did that."
Celestia didn't answer, not even on text, but Twilight did. She didn't ask any questions, she simply confirmed that Sunset had been right. Then they sat in silence again, Sunset with her phone in hand, Rarity with a drink in hers. Finally Rarity spoke.
“Yes...yes that must be it. It's hard when the memories are… And I could see it in my mind, it was so real. But it can't be real." A pause, and Rarity took a sip, then looked at Sunset. "I am sorry I asked you to... well, get evidence but..."
"Rares. Don't worry. I was going to look through my diaries for conformation when I got home-home next time anyway. I am revisiting this as well."
"Yes. But still, I am sorry for doubting you." A brief pause. "But! Here's what’s so boggling about all this! I can’t remember you breaking up with me either! When was that?”
"Ehm...What does Pinkie do nowadays?"
"Don't try to dodge the question!" Pause. "No idea, now that you ask. She's still on myStable, but her address is set as 'unknown.' But still! I want an answer, darling!" Another pause. "Oh, whatever. What he doesn't know won't kill him. So, DARLING. When did you break up with me?"
Sunset sighed. She had almost forgotten that part of their evening. Eh, better get it out as well, she thought to herself. She swallowed and started to speak. Silent and slow at first, gaining volume and speed as she went on:
“It was graduation day. I had it all practiced! We were gonna have the ceremony and then we were going out for coffee, tea and chocolate, and I was going to tell you afterwards. I had spent all night thinking about that and I had decided that I didn't want this to affect us hanging out with the girls, plus I didn't want you to ruin your makeup because you had shown us all the outfits you had planned for graduation and I remember that I felt so sad because of what happened then, especially the blue one that caught fire and … and…”
She was silent and her face got a deep crimson red. “Oh shit."
"Sunset, We don't have to talk about graduation and I have gotten over those dresses!" Another short pause. "Mostly."
"Yes yes, but it's not that! Because in all the commotion that followed after Trixie... I never -we never had chocolate! We didn't have anything. We…" She paused. "I don't need to look at my diary or ask Twi to remember what happened that day. And I..."
Sunset looked up at Rarity. “I didn’t break up with you either. None of us did.”
Once again a deep silence. “Sunset…”
“Yes Rarity?”
“Do you have enough booze to cover this?”
"Let me check."
***
Much much later, the two friends were sitting in the kitchen. First they had cried, then laughed, then they laughed and cried at the same time. Then they had declared themselves to be the masters of friendship and un-break-ups and then they had another drink.
After that, the evening had been more sketchy but Sunset was pretty sure she hadn't had that much fun in years. She had fetched her guitar and sang through a few of the love songs she had written for Rarity. They were all very sincere and sooo cheesy making them both laughing their hair off. Then Rarity shared a few of her love poems from back then.
You really saved those? Ah, you never know when a good rhyme will come in handy darling!
Some she had shown Sunset back then, but most of them she had never dared to show. Rarity had dared to cross over into the x-rated area and… yes. There had been laughs, even more blushing, and Sunset saying “That’s not what cervix means.”
To which Rarity replied, trying intensely not to spit out her drink. “Oh-h-h-h darling! Don’t I know it! First time with Jack… when I asked him to… to...And he just looked at me and was ‘Did y’all sleep through anatomy class or do yer really want me to get mah knife?’
More laughter, more cider. Then silence again. “I can’t believe I have been such a fool through all these years.”
“Well, kettle… I’m right here with ya.”
“Jack is rubbing off on you.”
“Oh, please don’t tell him! It would go right to his head!”
Sunset looked at her friend, and smiled. All the fear was gone. She was still a bit embarrassed, and just wait until Rainbow heard about this… but still. She felt lighter and much happier than she had in years. And then her mouth spoke without her thinking.
“Does this mean that we're technically still together?”
“You mean like in that awful movie? About the girl who wanted to get married and wasn’t divorced?”
“No! Or, um, sorta?”
“...In a way I guess, but not really, right?”
“Perhaps we should do it?”
“Darling. Bisexual or not, I AM married.”
Sunset gave Rarity a punch on her shoulder. “Not THAT ‘It’! Break up I mean! As we, as we planned to do. Also, married woman here too, remember?”
Rarity looked surprised, then she gave it some thought and finally she said, “You know what darling! Yes! I think we should!”
Sunset cleared her throat. “Alright. Rarity Belle-Apple. I’m breaking up with you! AND I’m making it official on MyStable!”
She took her phone up and began to write, but then Rarity smiled and put her arm on her hand.
“Oh no. No no. We are not to be breaking up like adults. That just wont do after this Da-SUNSET. Ehrm. I want you to break up with me just exactly like you would have done it back then. I want my teenage gee-eff Sunset Shimmer to do it. Because she was the one that wanted to, and she should have the honors. And after that… Teenage Rarity would do the same to her gee-eff. To put the past behind us 'for realsies' as Sonata says.”
Sunset shook her head, chuckling again at her friend’s antics, but excused herself and went out into her study. It didn’t take long to get the note. She had actually told Rarity a small lie. She still remembered most of her script and she had saved the note, though she’d never understood why. Perhaps it was for this reason. That she might actually need it.
As she passed the hall, she searched her closet and soon emerged with another accessory that was totally necessary. Her leather jacket. To her chagrin, it didn’t fit as well as it used to … Eh, it wasn’t as she was going to close it anyway.
As she entered, Rarity clapped her hands and shouted "Bravo!" Sunset bowed, produced the note and began.
“So...um...Rares… I…”
“Don’t be shy, dear!”
Sunset threw a pillow at Rarity. “Stop! You’re ruining the mood! So...Ehrm…
Rarity. It’s not you. It’s me. We are going in different directions in life. I can’t go where you go, I want to, but I can’t. And I don’t want to be the burden that keeps you from spreading your wings and flying away. You need your freedom, you deserve that freedom. They say, if you love them, let them go. And that’s what I’m doing. Letting you go. Now. Right. now. Yeah.”
Rarity looked at Sunset. And then, tears started to flow. Soon Sunset joined her, and they sat down next to each other to hug it out. “So...that… that was actually quite painful, darling.”
“I-I know…”
“But at the same time… it felt good.”
“Yeah. Yeah it did.”
“Do I need to break up with you?”
“Only if you want to.”
“I would need that starry sky. And you can’t see the stars in Manehattan.”
“We could take a cab?”
“I can’t walk longer than the bathroom.”
“Just do it here then.”
“Okay...Sunset Shimmer...I...Oh crap. I can’t remember.”
“Just do it anyway.”
“So...It’s not you, it’s me…STOP LAUGHING!”
***
The morning after. Sunset woke up in her own bed with a dreadful headache and a dry mouth. But the toilet called so she had no choice but to leave the bed. As she passed the living room, she found Rarity still sleeping on the sofa, a small string of drool from her mouth. Sunset smiled. She even made an awkward sleeping position after a drunk night in apartment living room look good.
Turning back to her intended task, Sunset went to the bathroom, and after realizing she was way too awake to go back to bed, she went and made some coffee while also clearing up the worst mess they’d made last night. It took an hour for Rarity to wake up and crawl out to the kitchen. She mumbled, “Coffee”, got it, and drank. After that, she was more her usual self.
“Ouch… what a night. And I’m going back home todaaay…”
“Call Jack. I don’t think he’d mind.”
“Oh, he wouldn’t, the dear… but I have business to attend! I… Oh whatever. They can wait. I want to spend the day with my FRIEND. Mrs. Shimmer-Glimmer.”
“It’s just Shimmer. Shimmer-Glimmer sounds like a cartoon character.”
"Indeed it does. Good choice. Can we go to the park? After last night, I need some fresh air.”
“We still need to clean this mess.”
“Darling, why do nasty handiwork when there are people you can pay for it? I have my favorite cleaners on speed dial, just a second.”
Rarity quickly whipped out her phone and speed dialed before listening in. “Maurice! My soap mop superhero! How is business? Oh, that’s lovely! So listen, my friend and I had a bit of a party last night and could you possibly squeeze us in? Upper Hills, 16th and Plain. Third floor. Sunset Shimmer. Yes, her! Exactly! Yes, elevator. ...Yes, they have insurance. By lunch? Oh, Maurice, you are a sweetie! The normal bonus for all...Is it Joan? My my! Then triple bonus it is! Ciao! There! Now, to the park!”
“Wait a minute, did he know me? And why are you on first-name basis with the owner of a cleaning firm in Manehattan?”
"Ah! First, no, but his boy goes to Starlight's kindergarten. Apparently she talks about you a lot. Second, true ladies NEVER kiss and tell! Now come! We’re wasting sunlight here!” And with a wink, they were out of the apartment.
In the cab on the way to the park, Sunset was very much in sync with the world. Things were good. And then her phone started to buzz, A message from Starlight.
What is this *changed relationship status*? BROKE UP WITH RARITY BELLE-APPLE? IS THERE SOMETHING I NEED TO KNOW?
Sunset laughed and pressed ‘call.’ As she waited for her wife to pick up, she chuckled to herself.
“Oh Babe...you don’t know the start of it.”
