Sunset has yet to meet Twilight's family. Anxiety ensues.
Twilight and Sunset have been dating for months and practically live together already. Which makes it increasingly awkward that Twilight's family doesn't even know she is in a relationship yet. Something that is quickly and easily resolved and clearly no grounds for panic.
In retrospect, high school was a cinch. Spend a few hours in class, a few working part time, and count the days until the weekend, or better yet the next holiday. Leaving countless days and hours to spend with friends, get sucked into hobbies, or fight rogue magic from a parallel universe.
Granted, the latter point was probably less common for most people. But it had been as much a part of Sunset's daily life as being a student. Until it also started to fade away with the rest of her school days.
Adult life didn't work like high school. Sure, she could count the days until her next free days, but working shifts was less consistent than the same weekly lesson plan, and responsibilities didn't stop when she made it home. And some weeks, she had to drag herself to work on Sunday, which felt like a particular act of cruelty.
Not to mention, with everyone having different schedules and career plans, meeting with all of her friends was now exceedingly rare. Even getting more than three of them together for more than a quick chat over lunch seemed downright hopeless. They still shared in each other's lives constantly with video calls and text messages, but the distance between them was felt a lot more these days.
Today was another cruel Sunday. Most people still had the day off, so the diner was crowded throughout the early afternoon. Between taking orders, serving meals, and restocking supplies, Sunset was on her feet from the start of her shift until ten minutes after the end, when her relief finally came in, apologising profusely for the delay. Sunset couldn't be mad at her. At her age, she had a lot going on as well.
It was the middle of the afternoon when she was finally walking home, but she was already tired. She stretched her arms over her head and groaned quietly as she felt her muscles ache. She put one of her earbuds in, playing one of the few songs the Rainbooms had actually recorded and mixed properly, back in the day, and quietly hummed along to her own vocals.
Her thoughts drifted, between a few ways she could spend the rest of her day, a couple of projects that had been left untouched for a few days, the letters on her coffee table still unopened. And somehow she always came back to Twilight. She could call her and see if she was busy tomorrow. She didn't quite remember if it was a day off for her. Maybe she would have some thoughts on the song she was trying to write. Though she would probably admonish her about the letters.
With some newfound energy, she hurried up the steps to her apartment door, fishing her keys from one jacket pocket while putting her earbuds away again in the other. Turning the key in the lock, she stepped inside and pushed the door closed behind her. She was already halfway out of her jacket when she noticed the other person in the room.
Twilight was sitting on the couch, her elbows resting on her knees. Her laptop was open on the coffee table, next to a notebook and a star-patterned pencil case. She had looked up at the sound of the door and was still, looking back at Sunset, the end of her pen between her lips.
"Hey," Sunset said after a moment, slipping her other arm out of the jacket, unable to help but smile.
"Hey," Twilight returned, standing up while Sunset put her boots next to her own sparkly high-tops. She smoothed out her short dress over the dark leggings and brushed her fingers over her hair, fussing with her appearance. Sunset had pointed it out to her at one point, how she always tended to tug and pinch at herself whenever they met up. It had been entirely subconscious, but even now she seemingly couldn't stop herself.
"I gave you the key for emergencies," Sunset said with a teasing smile as she crossed the room, pulling Twilight into a hug by her waist. She squeezed her gently as Twilight returned the gesture, wrapping her arms around her back. "Everything okay?" she added gently after spending a moment just soaking in the embrace.
"I was lonely," Twilight admitted, muttering into Sunset's shoulder.
Sunset hummed her understanding, running her fingers through the long ponytail. "Same emergency as last time, then." She let go of her and Twilight did the same, sinking back onto the couch as Sunset headed over to her dresser to get a fresh change of clothes. "I might not be thrilling company, though, I had a pretty long day."
"That's okay." Twilight picked up her pen again, tapping it against the paper. Another tell Sunset had learned to read; she was trying to refocus on her work. "You can take a nap if you want. I'm just glad you're here."
Sunset approached the back of the couch and leaned over Twilight, gently tilting her head back a bit, before placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "Me too."
A quick shower later, Sunset had changed into shorts and an old shirt, and removed what little makeup she wore for work. She had spent enough time - and especially nights - with Twilight to have banished the need to look her best around her. A far cry from how much she had agonised over her appearance for their first date. The first real date, when they were finally clear on what it was.
She joined her girlfriend on the couch, resting her head on two cushions next to her, her legs dangling over one of the armrests to make up for the space she was giving up to her. She watched for a while from her position, trying to gauge anything from the multiple windows of lists, notes, and charts open on Twilight's laptop. Eventually, her eyes closed almost on their own and she let herself drift off, accompanied by the clicking, soft tapping of keys, and scratching of pen on paper.
She wasn't sure how long she'd been napping when she was awoken by the feeling of Twilight's fingers in her hair, but when she opened her eyes, the sun was setting. She turned to look up at her girlfriend gazing down at her, both of them breaking into soft smiles at the sight of one another.
"Did you rest well?" Twilight asked quietly, her fingertips lightly caressing Sunset's cheek.
"Yeah." She raised her hand to take Twilight's, rubbing her thumb over her palm. "Did you finish your work?"
"Most of it. As much as I can focus on today." She sighed and stood up, starting to pack her laptop and notebook into her messenger bag. "I just couldn't focus at home. I thought your shift would be over sooner."
"Don't worry about it. You know I like it when you're here." Sunset pushed herself to sit up and tucked her legs in. For a moment, she just watched Twilight orderly put her things away and occasionally fix her hair, some strands having slipped free from the scrunchy. "You don't want to leave yet, do you?"
"No, I... no." Twilight set her bag down next to the couch and sat down again. She sunk against Sunset's shoulder and took off her glasses, resting them on the table. "I didn't bring a change of clothes, though."
Sunset chuckled and put her arms around her girlfriend's waist, nuzzling her hair and lightly brushing her lips against her forehead. "That's okay. You can take some of mine."
Twilight settled into her embrace and rested her eyes, breathing out slowly. After a few moments, she sighed a second time, adjusting herself and tucking her legs under her, turning more into Sunset's arms, clinging to her shirt with one hand while resting the other on her thighs.
"Something on your mind?"
Twilight opened her eyes again, frowning and looking past her. Sunset waited patiently until she had finished settling on her response. "I come here a lot," she said finally.
"Wow, you're right, I hadn't noticed," Sunset responded with barely concealed sarcasm, before squeezing her reassuringly. "So what? I love every day I spend with you."
"And you come to my place a lot, too," Twilight continued, undeterred. Sunset's arms slacked as she looked at her face more closely. Clearly she was working towards a point. Instinctively, Twilight's hand went to her nose, as if to adjust her glasses, before she redirected the gesture to her scrunchy, pulling it out of her hair to have something to fidget with. "We've been dating for more than six months now. And we're both trying to save money."
Sunset nodded and hummed her confirmation of the data points she had now laid out.
"Do you think we should... move in together?" Twilight muttered, looking down at the sparkly scrunchy in her hands, before looking up at Sunset, subconsciously squinting a little without her glasses.
Sunset looked down, taking her own time to think over the suggestion. She felt Twilight's back straighten as she tensed up waiting for her response. Hoping to reassure her, she slowly rubbed her back with one hand.
"That's honestly a good idea," she said finally, looking up to meet Twilight's eyes, before chuckling bashfully. "I think about you even when you're not here, so... I'd rather have you here. Or there. Or... wherever we'd be." She looked up into the room. It had been her home for almost her entire life in this world, but she'd known already it wouldn't hold her forever.
Twilight released her breath, sinking against her again. "Then we should plan that. The sooner the better."
As if it was passing from Twilight into her, Sunset felt a small tinge of anxiety in the pit of her stomach. "Right. Let's maybe not start today, though. You're starting to get pretty cuddly."
Twilight chuckled quietly and put her arms around Sunset's waist, getting more comfortable with her head on her girlfriend's chest. "Because you're so comfortable."
Sunset quietly held her, soaking up her warmth as she played with her hair and watched the sun disappear through the window. Twilight relaxed under her arms, the remaining tension seeming to leave her shoulders. After a short while, Sunset gently prodded Twilight's side but didn't get a reaction. Careful not to wake her, she moved one arm under her legs and stood up slowly, holding her steady as she carried her up the steps to the bed.
Twilight started awake, opening her eyes as far as she could, but saw nothing but darkness. She gasped, trying to breathe properly, shoving the blanket off of her. Her head spun as she sat up too quickly.
Oh no.
She couldn't see. Those shapes in the shadows weren't there. Quickly, she reached aside for her glasses, but her hand bumped into them, sending them clattering to the floor. Her pulse was thumping in her veins and her body trembled.
"Twilight?" a voice said from far away.
She backed against the wall, tightening her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering, and squeezing her eyes closed to block out the shapes in her vision.
"Twilight, hey."
She flinched slightly as she felt a hand on her cheek. When she opened her eyes again, her vision was still blurry, but a soft dim light surrounded her. She quickly leaned into Sunset and tightly held on to try and make the trembling stop, her breathing coming quick and laboured.
"It's okay, I'm right here," Sunset said gently, calmly caressing her hair. "You're safe and it won't take long."
Twilight focused on her voice, on her warmth, on the lingering scent of shampoo in her hair. Her chest ached as she tried to calm her breathing, but it felt like a small eternity until she could finally take a deep breath and release it through trembling lips. Her fingers were still trembling, then, too, but she could no longer feel her heart pounding.
"Are you okay?" Sunset asked quietly. Twilight pulled back a little and tightened her fingers around the edge of the blanket instead of Sunset's arm, answering with a short hum.
Sunset leaned over her, reaching towards the floor, and a moment later she put Twilight's glasses into her hands. She put them on after wiping the beginning of tears from her eyes. She looked down at the pattern on the blanket, at the fairy lights on the wall, and finally up at Sunset's encouraging smile, to ground herself in her immediate surroundings. "I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from."
"That's okay." Sunset settled next to her, putting an arm around her more casually and her other hand on hers. "Do you want to talk for a while?"
Twilight quickly laced her still trembling fingers with hers and nodded, though she couldn't settle her mind on anything.
"Do you... want to talk about moving?" Sunset asked carefully. "Or is that too much right now?"
"No. I mean, yes. Let's do that." She took another shaky breath and focused on the subject. Moving in with Sunset. What was step one? "First, we should decide where we'll stay."
"I like this place," Sunset said simply, looking past her into the tall room. "But, it's probably easier for me to cancel my lease, too. And yours is close to campus."
Twilight nodded, leaning a little more on her again. "That... would be better. If it's okay with you. There's space for most of your things, too."
"Most, huh? Where would I leave the rest, then?"
Twilight's mind had already moved ahead, thinking about altering her lease, organising the move, grouping Sunset's things into boxes, helping her change her address. Between all those running thoughts, the answer to Sunset's question came to her almost passively. "You can always leave something with my parents."
"Are you sure? That might be an awkward first meeting."
She suddenly sat upright again. Everything on her list moved down a full rung in priority. "First meeting?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I never met your parents."
Twilight's fingers tightened around Sunset's hand and she felt her heartbeat pick up again. She quickly inhaled sharply and slowly released the breath past her lips. "That's right. That's right, you never met."
"Twilight?" Sunset rubbed her side gently. From the corner of her eyes, she could just about see her tilt her head, her wavy hair slipping off her shoulder.
"Okay, nevermind. Move everything back." She slipped her hand from Sunset's and reached over to the side table to look for her phone, getting up when she remembered where it was.
"I didn't move anything yet," Sunset chuckled as she also cast back the blanket to get up. A moment later, the string of lights along the steps lit up.
"We can't move in together if my parents don't know you yet!" She reached the floor and went to pick up her bag, retrieving her phone from it and opening her digital calendar.
Sunset appeared at the edge of the platform, leaning on the railing and looking down at her. "Um, okay. But they do know we're dating, right?"
Twilight silently looked down at her phone, letting her open hair fall like a protective curtain.
"Babe?" Sunset's voice rose a little. "Your family knows you have a girlfriend, right?"
Twilight slowly brushed her hair back over her shoulder, trying for her best sheepish smile as she looked up at her girlfriend, hiding behind the phone a little. "I'm sorry. It never felt like the right moment."
The tension in Sunset's shoulders sunk away with a heavy sigh. She sat on the elevated floor and dangled her legs from it. "They do know you're bi, though, right?"
"Yes. Yes, I just... you know..." She fidgeted with the edge of her skirt, suddenly realising she'd been sleeping in her dress. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine. No big deal." The tone of Sunset's voice said otherwise, but she was playing it off well enough. "I'll just... swing by and introduce myself. Six months late."
"They know of you," Twilight quickly offered, hurrying back up the steps and kneeling down next to her. "You know, as my friend. So it shouldn't be too big a deal." She was lying. Knowing her mother, it definitely would be a big deal. "I'll just call them and let them know I'm bringing someone for dinner."
She backed out of her calendar and looked at the time. 3:23am
"You know... later."
"Twily. Good to hear from you, honey, but why are you calling so early?"
Twilight sat straight like a candle, her free hand fidgeting with her scrunchy. "Hey, mom. I just wanted to say something and it couldn't wait." She glanced at Sunset, who sat passively at the end of the couch, smiling encouragingly.
"You're not in trouble, are you?" her mother's voice asked from speakerphone.
"What? No, no, of course not. I just... wanted to share some... news?" She cringed a little at the word. It definitely wasn't actually news anymore.
"Mh-hm." There was soft clattering on the other end as her mother was evidently busy with something else.
"I, uh... so, you know Sunset Shimmer?"
"Oh, sure, honey, she's one of your friends, isn't she?"
"Yes. We... I mean, she..." Sunset took her hand and squeezed it gently. "I'm going out with her."
There was barely a pause. "Oh. That's nice, honey, good for you. Do you need advice? When are you going?"
"No, I mean... I am. Already. Present Continuous."
"Oh. Oh!" There was a longer pause in which both of them were silent before she continued. "That's wonderful! When do I get to meet her?"
Twilight quickly seized the opportunity, glad that she led so easily into her other talking point. "I'll bring her over for dinner. Um... tomorrow?"
"Marvellous. Tomorrow night, then. I'll let your brother know and we can have a big get-together!"
"O-oh. No, that's okay, you don't have to--" she tried to play down, but her mother wouldn't have it.
"I can't wait, this will be one for the album for sure." She let out an excited little squeal. "Oh, but I should finish Spike's breakfast. Until then, Twily, I love you."
The call ended abruptly and Twilight stared down at her phone for a moment before ending it on her end as well.
"Twily?" Sunset finally asked with a widening smile. "That is so adorable."
Morning shifts were slow, so Sunset checked her phone whenever she had a moment to herself. Twilight had messaged her twice already, first with suggestions about how to dress for dinner, then later with an apology for "telling her what to do", instead with a list of interests for each of her family members, sorted by priority.
By the time her shift ended in the early afternoon, she hadn't sent anything else, but also hadn't responded to Sunset's attempt to calm her down. Even over texts, it was plain to see she was fighting her nerves.
"Hello everybody~!" a cheerful voice called into the diner from the door and her individual greetings came closer and closer to the staff room. Finally, the door swung open and Pinkie skipped over the threshold. "Hey, bestie! Happy quitting time!"
Sunset smiled and opened her arms for Pinkie to skip into. After a short hug, Sunset started changing out of her uniform while Pinkie changed into hers, as eager to get to work as Sunset was to get home. As she adjusted her top, she glanced down at her phone again, before putting it away in her pocket.
"Waiting for something?" Pinkie asked, slightly muffled by her own hair as she fought to pull it all through the collar.
"Oh, I'm meeting Twilight's parents at dinner tonight and she's pretty nervous about it."
Pinkie gathered her hair in her hands to tie it back, a few strands slipping out like springs. "You didn't meet them yet?"
"It just... never came up?" Sunset picked up her jacket and shrugged. "It'll be fine. Might be a little embarrassing, but it's no big deal."
"Yup. Not like you're a bad influence or anything."
Sunset stopped just as she had slipped the studded leather jacket over her shoulders. She glanced down at her studded boots and the small chain hanging from her belt. "Um, yeah..."
Pinkie didn't seem to notice her apprehension, fixing her hair in the mirror. "And sure, you're an interdimensional invader who tried to enslave the whole school, but that was years ago." She turned on her heel, making the skirt twirl, before skipping to the door. "Gotta get started, kiss Twilight for me!"
The door shut and Sunset felt her confidence crack, only snapping out of it when her phone buzzed in her pocket.
Rarity hummed to herself as she reordered the suit jackets on their rack, tilting the hangers so one could have a decent view of each piece at a glance. It was part of her usual closing time routine, making sure everything was in order for the next day. It was her favourite part of working the floor, aside from advising the more pleasant customers.
The door chime abruptly stopped the song on her lips short. Did she forget to turn over the sign? She left the ties and quickly headed through towards the entrance. "I'm so sorry, but we just..." She stopped short again. "Sunset?"
The door fell closed behind the redhead, who was catching her breath and had a look of nervous panic in her eyes, not unlike the one she had worn for nearly all of finals week. "Rarity," she breathed finally, "I need your help. It's an emergency."
Rarity quickly closed the distance and put her hands gently on her friend's arms. "Of course, darling, whatever kind of--"
"A fashion emergency."
The worried confusion was instantly washed away by a swell of confidence. "Tell me everything," she said right away, hooking her arm around Sunset's and leading her towards the women's section.
"I'm meeting Twilight and her family for dinner in three hours, I haven't done laundry in five days and none of my clean clothes will do!"
Rarity slowed a bit, looking down at Sunset's clothes. Cherry red top, dark orange and peach skirt, the usual jacket and accessories. "Oh, but darling, you look lovely! Sure, there's the usual clash, but that's part of your appeal, isn't it? Maybe you're overreacting just a tad," she suggested gently.
Sunset took a breath, running her hand through her hair. Rarity couldn't help but notice one of her rings slightly catching on a strand, but bit her cheek about it. "I don't know, maybe. But maybe my appeal is the problem? Studs and chains don't make for the best first impression, I don't think."
"First impression?" Rarity adjusted her work glasses and gave Sunset another once-over, taking a step back physically to also distance her mind and look at her more critically. "You mean you haven't met her family before?"
"No, it just... kind of never came up." Sunset shifted awkwardly. Her usual confidence was lacking today, the pressure on her was clearly visible.
"Alright, let's get started." Rarity quickly stepped behind her and took Sunset's jacket by the shoulders, helping her quickly slip out of it. "What do you know about them?"
"Well, they're suburban private school parents, for one. Her dad has an office job and her mom is a writer. Hang on..." Sunset slipped her phone out of her pocket, while Rarity was already looking over the shelves and racks, her mind fading out everything that didn't match Sunset's complexion.
"Oh, here we go. He likes fishing, game shows and word puzzles and she likes... literature and thrill sports?"
"Perfect. Then we only need to play down your adventurous nature, not hide it." Rarity picked two different tops from the table display and a short dress from one of the racks, putting them into Sunset's arms. "These should be your size, try them on while I get you some boots."
"Thanks. Hey, do you have a makeup kit on you?"
"Do I have--" Rarity stopped and turned back to her friend with a smug smile. "That's cute, darling. Who do you think you're talking to?"
Twilight hadn't sat down in the last five minutes, she had barely even stopped pacing, unable to keep things out of her hands, torturing a stress ball now that she'd put down her pen. "It's only two hours now. It'll be fine. It'll be fine, right? Tell me again it'll be fine."
"It will be fine," Fluttershy complied patiently, from the other side of the video call.
"Right. Nothing to worry about. They'll like her and everything will go smoothly." She took a deep breath and finally sat in her desk chair again. "Except what if they don't!? What if mom doesn't like her? What if Shining doesn't!?"
"Is there a reason they wouldn't?" Fluttershy asked, passively petting the white rabbit on her bed.
"I don't know? Sunset is almost perfect, but I'm heavily biased!"
"Almost perfect?" Rainbow Dash chimed in, lounging behind Fluttershy, barely in the shot.
"She leaves her clothes everywhere, she sweats easily, and she has this habit of cracking her knuckles that drives me crazy," Twilight explained flatly.
"Yikes, harsh critic." Rainbow sat up and leaned over Fluttershy's shoulder. "So, what if your mom doesn't like her? Will you break up?"
"No, of course not!"
"Would you not move in with her?"
Twilight wanted to answer just as firmly again, but found herself hesitating. "I do want to."
"So? Do it! You're an adult, you can do whatever you want. But it won't matter because they'll like her fine!"
"It will be fine," Fluttershy repeated, with the same serenity as before.
Twilight nervously passed the stress ball between her hands. "Okay, but what if--" Before the thought could fully form, a few notes played from her phone and she nearly dropped the ball to pick it up right away, opening Sunset's image message. "Oh..."
As nervous as Sunset was, she could tell that Twilight was far more in her own head. So as they walked, hand in hand, she started casually chatting about a few different things. About Twilight's course work at first, then, when that topic also seemed stressful to her, about the song she was trying to write.
Besides, Rarity's makeover had given her enough of a confidence boost. A short, blood-orange dress and black leggings, for a feminine, almost conservative look, but with low-heel booties and a light parka jacket to still feel like herself, as if she had simply removed a "punk rock" variable from the equation without making it feel foreign to her. Plus the quick touch-up on her makeup and the braids she had weaved into her hair.
Twilight hadn't dressed up as much, rather she had dressed down, in a way, back to the reserved academic style she'd been more prone to in high school. Not that Sunset didn't like that look on her too. She tugged at her skirt and adjusted her ribbon and her glasses multiple times while they were on their way over, getting off the bus about a block away from their destination.
"Okay. Almost there," Twilight said quietly, playing with a spare hairclip in her free hand.
"It'll be fine," Sunset reassured her, despite her own nerves, squeezing her hand gently. "I'll do my best not to embarrass you."
Twilight scoffed. "If anyone is going to embarrass me, it's not going to be you."
"Oh, is that right, Twily?"
"Stooop!" Twilight whimpered, though it was played up. Sunset chuckled and leaned over to breathe a kiss onto her hair.
"It's really not that bad. I think it's cute."
"Oh yeah? What if I called you Sun-Bun every day?"
Sunset looked down at her, making sure she found eye contact. "I'd like that, actually. I kind of like cheesy nicknames. Why not Sunny, though? Princess Celestia always used to call me that when I was a foal."
"I went to Crystal Prep with a Sunny. I'd rather not conflate you with her," Twilight stated flatly, before furrowing her brow. "And... could you not mention princesses and ponies while we're there?"
"Yeah, I know. No Equestrian stuff. That'd be a bit too much off the bat. I'll stick to everything post-portal."
"I had a hard enough time getting Spike to stay quiet. If I have to explain my girlfriend is a magical unicorn from an alternate dimension..." She chuckled, trying to play it off as a joke, but her posture visibly tensed, stopping just at the edge of their destination's lot.
Sunset looked up at the three-story house, whistling quietly as she took in the spire over the entrance way and the stylised star patterns in the windows, before turning to Twilight again and taking both her hands. "For tonight, I'm just your girlfriend. And I'll do my best to make a good impression."
Twilight looked down at her hands and played with one of the rings on Sunset's fingers. After a few moments of collecting herself, she nodded and turned to lead her up to the front door. The porch light turned on by itself as they approached and just as they reached the steps, one of the double doors swung open.
"Twily! Welcome home!" A slender man with short, dark hair stepped out, wearing a sweater vest and opening his arms wide. Twilight's hand slipped from Sunset's as she quickly went up the remaining steps to hug him.
"Hey, Dad." She stayed in the embrace for a moment before she stepped out and gestured down the steps. "Sunset, this is my father, Night Light. Dad, this is Sunset. My... girlfriend."
Sunset's back straightened involuntarily as he looked down at her. What was she supposed to say? "Hi" seemed too casual. "Nice to meet you, sir" felt too stiff. Was she supposed to shake his hand? Before she could make a choice, he had come down two steps towards her and reached out a hand with a smile, closing his other over hers when she took it.
"Welcome, Sunset, we're all excited to meet you! Come on inside!"
"Oh... thanks." She followed him up the steps, feeling her anxiety ease all of a sudden with the warm welcome. She briefly locked eyes with Twilight again as they both stepped inside and Night Light closed the door behind them.
As soon as they were in the hallway, the sound of soft scraping across the parquet flooring came from around the corner, quickly followed by Spike scrambling and darting into the entrance hallway, his tongue lolling out the side and his tail whipping excitedly. Twilight crouched down right away and opened her arms for him to barrel into, swaying a bit against the weight he had put on along with his growth.
Sunset crouched down next to them, starting to scratch his head while he was busy licking the side of Twilight's face and thumping his tail against the floor. "Hey, buddy, been a while," she said quietly.
Spike looked up at her with bright eyes, before the hint of unusual intelligence crept into them and he looked over his shoulder, watching Night Light move deeper into the house to announce their arrival. He coughed softly into his paw. "About time you come for a visit. I barely have anyone to talk to around here."
"I know, buddy," Twilight cooed, rubbing the fur on his back, "but you know we can't keep you in my apartment. We'll both come take you out for walks more often, okay?"
"You better. Sunset owes me months of missed scritches," he said smugly before leaning into their fingers again, quieting down as Night Light's steps came back, accompanied by others.
Sunset stood straight again. As good a first impression as petting a dog was, she'd rather mind her manners during first introductions. Night Light returned with two more family members in tow, a young man in a varsity jacket and a woman in an evening blouse, proudly wearing the grey streaks in her hair, which otherwise showed a clear resemblance to Twilight's.
Hoping to not play passively all night, Sunset quickly pushed herself through to a greeting. "Hi. Um... good evening. I'm Sunset Shimmer." She consciously kept her hands out of her pockets, despite being unsure what else to do with them.
"Hello, honey," Twilight's mother said warmly, gently putting her hands on Sunset's arms. Her smile was elegant, but in a way that seemed somehow distant. "So nice to meet you, finally. You can call me Velvet, if you like. Now, leave your jackets and come in, dinner's ready and I'd like us to eat together while we can."
"Yes, I'm afraid I need to get back to the office one more time," Night Light said apologetically, glancing down at his watch.
Twilight briefly hugged her mother and then made sure Sunset was properly introduced to Shining Armor. They exchanged more casual greetings as they headed across the wide hallway to the dining room. Two tall windows looked out into the backyard, giving a perfect view of the sun setting between the buildings the next street over. The heavy wooden dining table had five places set, with a casserole waiting in the centre, all atop a cloth matching the rest of the decor.
Sunset sat on one side with Twilight, across from Shining Armor and Night Light, with Velvet taking the head of the table, after she had carefully heaped a generous amount of food onto everyone's plate, inviting them to start right away.
It was still a little hot, but not too hot to eat. Evidently, Velvet had timed her cooking to their exact arrival time. Or she'd gotten lucky, but given whose mother she was, Sunset tended towards the former.
"So, Sunset," she said a minute or two into their meal, "how is it?"
"It's great. It's been a while since I had something home-cooked." Wait! Should she really casually admit she didn't cook? She tried to perceive any change in the elegant smile before quickly adding to her response. "...that's this good."
"I'm glad to hear that. Say, Twily mentioned you a few times, but I'm afraid I don't know much about you. What is it you do?"
"Well, I..." She looked up only briefly, casting her eyes back onto her plate when she saw everyone suddenly focusing on her. "Uh... Right now, I work at a diner downtown, which is enough to make rent and save up. I'm... planning to go to college, maybe next year."
She quickly looked to Velvet for her reaction. The elegant smile hadn't changed, making it impossible to read her actual opinion. "I see. What major are you planning to pursue?"
"Psychology." This at least was something she didn't feel hesitant about. She became aware of her posture and straightened herself again. "Someone will always need counselling. I think there'll just be more demand going forward, with stigmas around therapy and mental illness declining." She could have barely rehearsed it better. Wait, did it sound rehearsed?
"That's great. Shining nearly finished his Political Science degree," Night Light chimed in, patting his son's shoulder, pride evident in his expression.
She snatched it up quickly, to have something to say. "You're going into politics?"
"Yeah, well, I'm going to do my best," Shining said with a casual shrug. "I'm just focused on finishing up, first. Then I'll see what I can actually move with it."
"So, psychology," Velvet picked up again, drawing Sunset's attention back. "That sounds like conviction. Or is it more the salary that tempts you?"
"Mom!" Twilight hissed quietly, but Sunset barely even registered her voice. She almost felt like she was sitting in class again, struggling for a correct answer she knew was there and she knew she should know. What was she testing her on? Was it more important to Velvet that she'd provide for Twilight? Or that she had strong convictions?
"I suppose... both," she said hesitantly.
"Mh-hm," Velvet said pointedly, looking back at her plate as she continued to eat. Sunset failed to read what it meant. She resisted the urge to look to Twilight for the answer.
"Well, I need to head off," Night Light announced, cutting through the tension as he got up from his seat, his plate already empty. He quickly stepped around the table to give his wife a kiss on the cheek and pat his son's shoulder on the way past. "See you next time, Sunset," he said with a friendly smile after giving Twilight a quick side hug.
"Uh, yeah, thank you."
Thank you!? What did that even mean in this context? Sunset stared down at her plate and just continued eating to at least justify her silence. She tried to pay attention as Twilight and her mother caught up on something, but all she really registered was the tension pressing in on her. She was doing terribly, she could just tell.
"I'll... get some fresh air," she finally spoke up when her plate was empty, pushing the chair back and standing up.
"You can get to the patio through the living room," Shining said, pointing her to a door behind her.
With a quick thanks, she pushed through the door and crossed the living room, straight towards the glass doors leading outside, Spike right on her heels, slipping out with her.
She sighed heavily as she sat down on the padded bench, leaning back and running her hands over her face and through her hair. "That could have gone better."
Spike put his front paws onto the bench and pushed himself up, sitting down next to her. "It wasn't so bad. The night's only half over."
"Yeah, and I already tripped all over myself." She sighed and started scratching his head while he laid down over her lap. "Celestia knows what she thinks of me now."
"So that's why you suddenly fled."
Sunset almost flinched as she looked up, seeing Shining Armor follow through the door. "Oh, h-hey, I was... just talking to myself."
"It's fine, he's cool," Spike said casually, waving it off with a paw. Shining chuckled and handed Sunset a can of beer before opening his own, sitting down on the other end of the bench.
Sunset sighed in relief and opened the can as well. "So, are you here to ask about my intentions with your sister?"
"Why, should I be worried?" He crossed his legs and took a sip. "Twily is an adult, I don't need to approve of her choices. And I don't think you're bad for her."
"That's good to know. I try to be good for her." She scoffed at herself and raised her can. "Here's to doing our best, huh?"
Shining tapped her can with his own. "Right. Shame my wife couldn't be here tonight. She did really want to meet you, but just couldn't get out of work."
"Your wife?" Sunset took a longer sip, her other hand rubbing Spike's belly.
"Yeah, Cadence. She's the Dean at Crystal Prep. She saw everything that happened at the Friendship Games." He lightly nudged her shoulder. "Including you saving Twily. So your scoreboard looks pretty good to me."
She hesitated for a moment. "Wow, that... must have been a lot to find out about."
Shining shrugged. "I try not to think too much about it. Some strange things happened, the dog started talking, and Twily made a lot of friends. I don't really need to know anything else."
"That's... maybe for the better." She looked up into the sky, at the few stars she could make out already. "Now I just need to convince Velvet."
"I don't know if she needs convincing. I know she seems a little cold sometimes, but she's really just trying to get a read on you, not judging you."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Sunset, I lived here for two decades. I'm pretty sure I'm an expert. Just assert yourself. As long as you make Twily happy, she won't give you any trouble."
"Exactly," Spike chimed in, turning on his side, "and you can't put on an act every time you see her."
"I could," she protested half-heartedly. "But, you're right, I shouldn't. Thanks, guys." She gently shooed Spike up and took a generous sip of the beer before starting to head back inside.
She was halfway through the living room when the opposite door opened and Twilight and Velvet entered as well. She quickly set the can down on the coffee table and cleared her throat.
"Sorry. I got a little too far into my own head. Do you mind if I start over?"
"Alright. I'm listening." Velvet folded her arms expectantly, while Twilight moved over to Sunset's side.
"I'm Sunset Shimmer. I write and play music. When you ask me what I do, that's really the honest answer. But I'm serious about psychology, too. Because it'll pay the bills, sure, but because I really believe in it. I've met plenty of people who could have used more therapy and support in their lives. And I hope I can make a difference that way." She felt herself running out of steam, beginning to falter again under Velvet's unmoving gaze. "And... I love Twilight very much. I want to spend my life with her," she said more quietly, rubbing the back of her neck with one hand while her other quickly found Twilight's.
Velvet's elegant smile cracked, shifting into a less practised, lopsided one. "That's a great speech, honey. But you don't really have any reason to be nervous."
The breath she'd been holding escaped in a light scoff. "Don't I? I'd rather have a good relationship with my girlfriend's mom."
Velvet chuckled softly and closed the distance between them, putting one hand on Sunset's shoulder and one on Twilight's. "That's sweet of you. But I really was just curious. I had no idea I was giving you a hard time until Twilight pointed it out to me. Besides, you're both adults. I don't get a say in this at all. I just want the best for my daughter."
"She is the best for me," Twilight said quietly, with a firm confidence.
"I am?" it slipped out of Sunset before she could stop herself.
Twilight looked up at her with an annoyed look, putting her free hand on her hip. "Of course you are! You made me go to therapy, you make sure I take my medication, you help me through my attacks, you're supportive of my work, you go to conventions with me even when you know you'll get bored, and even now you're trying your best with my mom! And furthermore--!"
"Okay, okay! You're right, I'm sorry." Sunset put her hand on the side of Twilight's head and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead to placate her.
Twilight scrunched her nose, visibly holding in a few more things, before she just quietly contented herself with one more. "You need to get a laundry hamper, though," she muttered, looking down at their hands.
Velvet chuckled again and quickly ran her hand over Twilight's hair, fixing a strand that had slipped free. "I see I don't need to be worried either. Now, it would be a shame to send you home already. Why don't we all play some games while you're here?"
The Sparkle household had a significant collection of board games hidden away in their living room cupboards. Twilight and Shining clearly had their own favourites, so Sunset let them settle it between themselves.
The four of them sat on the couches, arranged themselves around the coffee table, and played a word game, followed by a tile placement game, finally concluding with a cooperative strategy game Velvet insisted on. Round after round, the tension cleared, until all the nerves and anxieties were as good as forgotten.
"Oh, take my ammo, I'll be fine with the bat," Sunset said, handing two of her cards over to Velvet.
"Are you sure, honey? We're rolling three dice for the next wave."
"We have a choke point. As long as everyone can cover me, I should be okay."
The dice clattered over the table. "Twelve zombies," Twilight announced gravely, then pointed to the blood-stained die. "And a complication."
"I'll take that one," Shining volunteered, discarding one of his weapon cards.
They lasted a few more waves, before their gory end, Sunset and Shining describing their brave but futile last stand, before sinking back laughing. Velvet tallied up their score while Twilight packed the cards and pieces away.
"It does not break the family record, but we did pretty well," Velvet finally announced, packing the score sheet away and taking off her reading glasses.
"I don't know when I last had so much fun with board games," Sunset admitted, adjusting the skirt of her dress as she sat up again properly, "Feels like forever ago now."
"Good thing we fixed that, then," Velvet said matter-of-factly. "Do you not play with your family?"
Twilight paused on her way to the cupboard, looking back at Sunset as they briefly made eye contact.
"I, uh... haven't really talked to them. In a long time."
She could feel the silence settling, then Velvet's hand on her shoulder. "Oh, honey... I'm so sorry."
"It's... fine. We're good, I think. They just weren't too happy with me, last time we caught up." Her chest felt heavy all of a sudden, she breathed in a bit more sharply. "Twilight and our other friends are the closest thing to family I have here, I guess."
Velvet moved a bit closer and her arm came to rest around her, her other hand gently rubbing her arm. "You're part of this family now," she said, quiet but firm.
Sunset pressed her lips together, trying to banish the feeling welling up so it wouldn't overwhelm her. She hesitantly put her hand on Velvet's.
She argued with her parents. Loud but stiff arguments, until she broke away. The pressure of studies and bills, juggling with night life and passions. That one meeting that changed everything. The struggle to make it all work, the panic before the wedding, the surprise of the first child. Raising a young boy while she first found success. The second child. Watching her grow up, so bright but timid. Trying to guide her into a better life, less difficult than her own. The fear of not knowing how to help her.
Sunset quickly pulled her hand away again, blinking the tears out of her eyes.
"Thank you."
When Night Light came back home, it was high time for them to leave and they said their goodbyes, with promises to speak again soon. Shining offered to drive them, and so they huddled onto the backseat together, doing their best not to fall asleep, until he dropped them off by Twilight's apartment.
Twilight unlocked the door and put her thin jacket up. Sunset followed suit and put her booties next to her flats as well before following her through to the small living space.
"That went so well. I can't believe we stressed over this," Sunset said casually, sitting down on the sofa.
"I can," Twilight responded flatly, sitting next to her and leaning her head on her shoulder. "Overthinking these sorts of milestones sounds exactly like us."
Sunset ran her hand up Twilight's arm before skipping from her shoulder to her hair, running her fingers through it. "You have a great family, Twily."
"I do." She shifted a little, turning towards her and sitting up halfway. "Speaking of which, that's definitely a family nickname. Maybe come up with something else."
"Okay, then... Twi-twi?"
"That sounds like I'm a songbird."
"Twiggy?"
"Now I'm a tree. Also, where did the G come from?"
Sunset snapped her fingers with confident inspiration. "Twiggles."
Twilight groaned quietly and leaned on her again, closing her eyes. "Just go back to 'babe'."
Sunset wrapped her arms around her and stared at the ceiling, slowly running her fingertips over Twilight's skin. "My star?" she suggested quietly.
Twilight hummed slowly. "That's not bad... ask me again when I'm awake."
Sunset's way home was longer now, by about fifteen minutes when she didn't catch a bus. After a long shift, when her last day off was almost a week ago, it was definitely something to complain about. But most days, she hardly minded anymore. Even when the sky was covered in grey blankets and rain drummed faintly onto her umbrella. Because she knew she wouldn't be alone when she got there.
She closed the umbrella halfway once she was underneath the canopy in front of the building, shaking raindrops off of it before unlocking the front door. She quickly peeked into the mailbox, then hurried up two flights of stairs and unlocked the apartment door.
"Babe, I'm home!" She put the umbrella into its stand and pushed the door closed with her hip while taking off her jacket, hanging it next to Twilight's coat. She didn't get an answer, but did hear her girlfriend's voice from the living room, talking to someone else. Sunset kicked off her boots and walked past the small kitchen corner, opening the door.
"...and so I want to finish all that before the trip, otherwise I won't stop thinking about it," Twilight explained to the phone lying near the edge of the desk, the rest taken up by her work. She looked up when she noticed Sunset from the corner of her eye and smiled at her.
"Alright, honey, you know yourself best," Velvet's voice responded, "but don't overwork yourself, you'll have trouble sleeping again."
"I'll make sure she takes a break," Sunset said casually as she stepped behind Twilight, putting her arms around her shoulders and kissing the top of her head.
"Oh, Sunset! I thought Twily said you were out."
"Yeah, I just got home from work."
"On a Sunday? Honey, when did you last take a break?"
"I'm off for two days now, don't worry." Sunset chuckled and started heading to the bathroom door. "And now I'm taking a shower, because your daughter is wrinkling her nose at me."
She did manage to get Twilight to put down her pen and focus on something else for a while, then quietly played games by herself as she finished her workload, starting on dinner in time so they could eat afterwards. By the time they had cleaned up and gotten changed, Sunset already found herself yawning deeply.
She crawled under the covers next to Twilight, in the bed that used to be hers and was now theirs. She bunched up the pillow under her head and glanced around the room while Twilight briefly fed her phone game addiction.
The bedroom was slightly smaller than the platform that had served as such in her old apartment, just enough for the bed, a dresser, and some shelves. But the numerous decorations made it feel cozy more than narrow. The fairy lights Sunset had put up ran along the headboard and between some of the photos pinned to the wall above it. Faintly glowing star stickers were dotted around the ceiling. Sunset's guitar stood in the corner, directly underneath two of Twilight's posters.
Twilight finally put her phone and her glasses down on her side table. She raised her hand and the fairy lights turned off seemingly by themselves, before she also took off her geode and properly laid down, facing Sunset.
"Feel like you can sleep?" Sunset asked quietly, voice heavy with sleep already.
"I'll be fine. I don't have classes until noon." She moved closer and cuddled up close, shifting to get comfortable.
Sunset let her settle before closing her arms around her. "Okay..."
"And you're here, too. I'll be okay."
Sunset smiled, her eyes too heavy to open again. "Love you..."
