Twilight Sparkle opened the door to her Crystal Prep laboratory for the first time in several weeks.

She flipped a switch, and a few dim overhead lights flickered on, while several electronics sprang to whirring, blinking life. She let out a small sigh of relief as, save for a slight layer of dust, everything looked to be exactly how she'd left it.

"Wow," Sunset Shimmer said, walking in behind Twilight. She looked around with awe at the sheer number of mechanical contraptions. As she did, Twilight tried to put herself in Sunset's shoes: seeing all of this for the first time. The computer, the blinking lights, a curious, large pegboard sporting a collage of pictures and connecting threads... indeed, even fresh eyes would have confirmed that Twilight had built something impressive.

"I'm beginning to see why your inventions were so... effective," Sunset commented.

Twilight sighed wistfully. "Thanks. It's hard to believe I won't be using this lab anymore. This was my home in my home away from home. I've built, and figured out, and done so much here."

"Don't worry," Sunset said, resting a hand on Twilight's shoulder. "You've already seen CHS's lab, right? Roomy, spacious, well-equipped..."

"And... not mine." Twilight turned to face Sunset. "Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the offer, but I'm not a fan of leaving footprints. Canterlot High's science lab is Canterlot High's science lab. Just like Crystal Prep's main science lab is Crystal Prep's.

"Besides," she added, with a smirk, "I'm pretty sure all of my equipment would just take it over."

Sunset nodded, and started walking around the space. "You have a point," she murmured. "There is a lot here. You'd practically need—"

Sunset froze, then snapped her fingers. "Twilight!" She spun to face her with a wide grin. "You. Are going. To love me."

Twilight half-smiled, bemused. "Uh, Sunset? I already—"

"No, not like—" Sunset blushed and waved a hand. "I mean, I have the best idea. The top floor of the CHS library!"

Twilight blinked, even more confused. "The top... but isn't that your place? The wing full of outdated textbooks?"

"Yeah, but there's an extra room up there, closer to the back of the whole library. It doesn't get used," Sunset explained. "See, I got permission from Principal Celestia a while back to take it over, but to be honest, by the time I did, I'd... already called all of the shelves on that floor my home away from home." Sunset blushed again. "I never got over the feel of just relaxing while flopped over a bunch of books. Is that weird?"

Twilight smiled and stepped closer to Sunset. "Well, some people might think so." She leaned in close to her. "But they're crazy," she said in a mock-whisper. She and Sunset giggled.

"But seriously," Twilight said, straightening up. "I can't take that space. That's where you go to think and have your alone time. Heck, from what I've seen, the rest of CHS knows it and doesn't stay up there too long! I could never ask you to—"

Sunset put her fingers to Twilight's lips. And Twilight blinked, her lips trembling as she resisted the urge to kiss those fingers.

Because this totally wasn't the time for that.

Even if lately, Twilight noticed, there had been a lot of times that weren't the time for that. And she never thought of herself as the kind of girl who wanted time for that. But lately?

Lately... well. She'd been thinking about time. And Sunset. And... that.

Sunset herself didn't help matters by speaking in that honeyed, reassuring voice that always sent warm shivers through Twilight. "If it were anyone else taking the room? I might mind. But it'd be my pleasure to have you that close by."

Sunset brought Twilight close, and kissed her. Twilight's warm shivers approached greenhouse levels on the spot.

When they parted, Twilight scrambled to keep the conversation going. "I-I guess it would be... um... convenient," she stammered, barely able to think through the heat that left her flushed from her cheeks to her toes.

It also didn't help that her mind was now flooded with images of Sunset, and in every image, Sunny wore far more books than clothes. And lay atop a large jumble of literature while smiling up at Twilight, curling a beckoning finger...

"Yeah, it kind of would be convenient," Sunset teased, waking Twilight from her fantasy. "For several obvious reasons." She playfully bounced her eyebrows, which, mercifully, grounded Twilight in reality.

Twilight laughed and wrapped her arms around Sunset. She rested her head on the other girl's shoulder, and sighed happily. "You always know what to say to make a girl feel needed."

Sunset returned Twilight's embrace, and combed a hand through Twilight's hair. "Well, when it's true, it's not hard."

Twilight decided she could get used to this. Sunset holding her, fingers playing around her, their bodies pressed together so tightly... she didn't even mind that Sunny's head moved around a bit—

"But we may need to do some scaling down when we get all this to CHS," Sunset said, again snapping Twilight out of her daydreaming. "Because, wow, Twi, you are a packrat."

Twilight giggled and lifted her head. "Sunset, I'm wounded! You never know what'll come in handy in the pursuit of invention." She disentangled herself from Sunset, then walked to a corner of the room, stopping in front of a box overflowing with bits of metal and wires. The box was labeled "JUNK!".

Squatting down, Twilight rifled through the box's contents. "Case in point: I once fashioned a metal detector and a set of extendable arms onto a four-wheeled miniature robot—ooh! Here it is!" She pulled out the remains of what looked to have been, at some point in its very short life, a remote control car. "See?"

"Wow, that is... wow," Sunset said, appraising the device with a visible mixture of curiosity and delight. "What did it do?"

"Its purpose was to roam a house and scan for metal in order to find and retrieve lost keys," Twilight said, smiling proudly. Then, she sighed. She dropped the contraption into her other hand. "Unfortunately, in the end, I had to archive it due to... setbacks."

"What kind of setbacks?" Sunset asked. "It sounds pretty simple and useful—I don't see how it could go wrong." She scratched her head as she peered at the robot.

Twilight turned the contraption over. "It didn't go wrong. For an hour. Then... it may have started roaming Crystal Prep on its own while I wasn't looking, and grabbing everyone's keys."

Sunset chuckled. "Heh. Well, every new invention's bound to have a glitch or tw—"

"And phones," Twilight added.

Sunset blinked. "Okay, that could be a prob—"

"Aaaaaand money through students' pockets and purses," she continued. Staring off into space, she started ticking off fingers. "Belt buckles... skirt zippers... trophies through their cases…"

"I get it," Sunset said, backing away from the inert robot. She eyed it warily.

Twilight laughed and dropped the failed 'bot back into the JUNK! box. "It was the trophies that got Principal Cinch officially involved." She looked at the failed invention fondly. "You know, I actually never pinned down the exact problem? For all I know, it may have had a short in its power supply, or there might've been a bug in my AI code..."

She shook her head and stood up, smiling. "But don't worry, Sunset. I promise when I officially move my lab to CHS, I'll be..." She put her fingers to her chin. "...at least twenty percent more careful. I mean, now that I have friends who actually worry about me, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to put myself at unnecessary electrocution or explosion risk." She paused. Then added, "Anymore."

"Thank you," Sunset said, with a laugh. "I'd certainly prefer if you didn't explode, please."

"You know? Me too," Twilight agreed. She went to a work table and started moving equipment out of the way. "Which is why, today, I wanted to give you a quick look at how I work! Just so you're prepared. Sound good to you?"

When she turned around, Sunset was holding out one of the lab coats Twilight always kept on hand. "What are we waiting for?" she asked.

"I like your initiative," Twilight said, with a smirk.

With only a little flourish, they donned coats, glasses, and gloves. "All right, then: let's begin science!" Twilight declared, pointing to the ceiling. "Just for the record, I decided to do something easy and fun. No sense messing up the lab like crazy just before we pack up and move everything, right?"

"Yeah, no kidding," Sunset said. Snapping an impressive salute, she added, "And I promise to be the best assistant you've ever had!"

Twilight giggled. "Well, it'll take a lot for anyone to take that title from Spike. But you do have fingers, which means you've got a head start." She resumed making room on the work table. "Now, there should be a bunch of jars in the fridge and the cabinet. I need you to toss me all of the jars containing anything that's white."

Sunset cocked her head. "Just white?"

"Trust me," Twilight said, with gleaming, happy eyes. "There's a method to my madness."

Once Twilight had the space cleared, Sunset set four sizable jars down. Both girls looked at the jars, and Sunset chuckled. "Wow. Colorful cast we've got here."

Twilight scratched her head. "Not... really? We already established they're all white." Not noticing Sunset bury her face in her hands, Twilight opened the jars. "Anyway, this is perfect, thanks."

She pointed at each jar, one by one. "Presenting: sucrose, starch, sodium chloride, and..." Twilight held up the last jar and cackled in glee. "...industrial-grade vanillin!"

Sunset raised an eyebrow at her, but Twilight didn't register it.

"One day I'll take a walk on the wild side and try an ethyl variant, but today is not that day." Twilight shuddered, and completely missed Sunset raise both eyebrows and take a deep breath.

"Anyway, Sunset, while I go get the final ingredient, could you take one part of each of these, then put them into one of the bigger containers? We're going for a simple mixture before the just-as-simple compound, so just toss 'em in and shake 'em up!" Twilight balled her fists and waved them energetically.

Chuckling, Sunset saluted. "You got it, Doctor Sparkle."

Twilight grinned as Sunset set about her assigned task. If Twilight was Doctor Sparkle, then Sunset could certainly be Nurse Shimmer, and one day, Twilight might need her help with an experiment that required both of them wearing as little as possible...

She shivered happily and sighed. "Maybe one day," Twilight murmured, touching her own cheek gently.

She went over to her backpack and dug around. Quickly finding what she was looking for, she turned around, and discovered Sunset mixing the experiment's components with gusto. She even sang a little tune, softly.

Twilight didn't interrupt. She just basked in Sunset's presence.

How did Twilight ever get so lucky? No, really, Twilight wanted to know the statistical probability of her having sufficient good fortune for someone like Sunset to be in her life. Because Sunset was just so, so… wonderful. Absolutely, perfectly great. She was so straightforward, while also having her moments of charming randomness. So easy to read, yet impossibly complex. So easy-going... yet so efficient.

Such a perfect assistant...

...no. Not an assistant. Twilight corrected herself. A perfect partner.

Looking out the window next to Sunset, Twilight recalled the blizzard from last winter and how lonely it had been.

She hadn't been snowed in, per se, but it had been more trouble than it was worth to make it home through the slush. As an added precaution, she'd even left Spike at home—with multiple food and water bowls, of course—and while that was fortunate for him, it wasn't so much for Twilight. Without Spike around, there were fewer options to keep her mind occupied.

So, she'd forced herself to keep occupied. She'd stayed in the lab overnight, solving formulas and making blueprints. Alone. For hours. No one had disturbed her.

Who would have cared to, back then?

She remembered huddling in her jacket, trying to focus on her experiment. The storm had overpowered even the school's expensively overpowered central heating system, and Twilight was shivering so bad her glasses bounced on the tip of her nose. It was one of the few times while at Crystal Prep she'd ever wished for just one friend. If not for company, then for heat!

If only Sunset had been in her life then. It would've been so much… better.

Twilight could see it, too. They'd accept that staying in was their only option. They'd choose the best experiments to do, while keeping one another's spirits up. They'd move in total sync. They'd laugh. They'd joke. But they would still accomplish great things.

And if it got too cold... Sunny would gladly hold Twilight. Completely for warmth, of course. And Twilight would decide that there was too much clothing in the way of efficient thermal transference. So, Sunny would agree to take off their lab coats, and then do so, and then slowly pull Twilight close...

...and then Sunny would kiss her.

And that would heat Twilight up, to be sure, but Twilight would then say that she still couldn't feel Sunny enough. And Sunny would offer to fix that, just like she'd fixed everything in Twilight's life, and Twilight would simply stand where she was, taut, and captivated, and rainforest hot, as Sunny reached around Twilight, and began unbuttoning her blouse...

"All done!" Sunset said, jolting Twilight back to reality. Scrambling, Twilight grabbed a stack of papers from the desk, pretending to read one half as she fanned herself with the other.

"G-Great!" Twilight exclaimed, flapping the paper as hard as she could. Principal Cinch in a bathing suit! Principal Cinch in a bathing suit! she mentally chanted to herself. Gah! Too much, too much!

"That is really, terrifically great, Sunset," Twilight continued, grabbing some nearby goggles. "You're the best assistant ever! Well, next best, you know about Spike? Of course you do. Spike, and Rainbow, and Pinkie, and all the people and dogs we know!"

Sunset laughed. "Yep, I know them." Sunset peered in close. "Are... you okay, Twilight? You look a little flushed."

"I'm fine!" Twilight announced, and she swapped her glasses for the goggles. "Because now, it's time for science!" Again she thrust her finger to the sky, and cackled.

Sunset laughed again and shook her head. "You're certainly in a mood today," she commented.

"Sunset, it's science," Twilight stressed. "Well, actually, it's a simple series of simultaneous chemical reactions. Reactions that're going to need one last component..." She held up the violet vacuum flask she'd gotten from her backpack. It was large, steel, and still cold.

"And that component is… lactose! 'Milk' in layman terms." She looked to Sunset, suddenly unsure. "Um... actually, are you okay with that? I know you're vegetarian, but I don't think milk's ever come up between us."

"Sure it has," Sunset replied. "Milkshakes with the girls at Sugarcube? Like, every other day?"

Twilight froze. "Oh, riiiiiight. Whoopsie."

Sunset laughed. "It's okay! I still appreciate you caring enough to ask," she said, touching Twilight's arm.

Twilight smiled back. "Of course." She slammed her fist into her other palm. "I am nothing if not attentive to details!" She looked around. "Now where did I put that burner..."

"I saw a few sticking out of a box marked 'NOT JUNK!'," Sunset said, jerking her thumb at the box.

Twilight blinked and facepalmed. "Oh, yeah."

She went to the box and got one out. After placing the burner on the table, she hooked it up to the gas line, set the flame, and poured in the milk and the contents of the jar. She stirred the mixture until it came to a boil, then lowered the heat.

After a few minutes—right on cue—Sunset sniffed the air. "H-hey, wait, hang on here. This... this smells good. Really good."

Twilight smiled knowingly. "Does it, now?"

The alarm on Twilight's phone went off. "All done!" she announced, as she turned off the gas.

She poured the resulting gooey substance into a few smaller beakers. After covering them in plastic wrap, she set them into the refrigerator. "In just a little while we'll see the fruits of our experimentation!"

"Yeah, well, I just looked those components' names up on my phone," Sunset said, with a slanted grin, "and I'm beginning to think your definition of 'experimentation' might be a little different from the rest of the world's."

"Semantics," Twilight replied, with a wave of her hand. She touched the substance left in the master jar. It was lukewarm, so she decided it was alright to taste. "If you want a preview, however..."

Twilight ran a finger along the side of the jar to collect the goo. She paused briefly, as an idea struck her. Slowly, she lifted her hand, then, just as slowly, licked it off her finger. Then, Twilight licked her lips, making sure Sunset could see every action.

Sunset stepped up next to Twilight and reached her hand out. Twilight held perfectly still, waiting for maybe. Just maybe. That.

"And this is your 'science experiment,'" Sunset said, instead. Twilight blinked, and quickly realized Sunset was just reaching past her to swipe some goo off the jar, much like Twilight had done herself. "An experiment that smells suspiciously like—" Sunset sniffed, tasted, then her eyes widened. She grabbed a plastic spoon from a nearby table, scooped more of the goo into her mouth, and fell back into a chair, laughing.

"Pudding! You made vanilla pudding in a beaker." Sunset said, still laughing. "I knew it! You weren't doing science at all! You totally lied!"

"I-I absolutely did not!" Twilight put her hand to her heart, trying to shake off her disappointment at the lack of that. "Cooking is science! Flavor is science! Like I said, we were simply preparing a series of mixtures and chemical reactions!"

She crossed her arms and looked at the pudding remains. She smiled. "You know, I've lost count of how many times I used this recipe?" She unfolded her arms and shrugged. "But a scientist has to eat, and sometimes, research nights run really late."

"I hear that," Sunset said. She reached out and snagged another taste. Twilight did as well. "Also, now that I know what this is," Sunset added, "wow, is it good."

"No kidding," Twilight said, looking amazedly at her own spoon. "I think this is probably my best batch." She looked straight at Sunset, blushing as she smiled. "I guess it comes down to motivation."

Sunset smiled back. "Yeah, looks like. This is certainly the best I've ever tasted, too. Maybe I ought to ditch my stove for your setup."

"No need," Twilight said. "I'll gladly get some homemade desserts going for you next time we meet up." She added, "We can even use your stove. You know. So it doesn't feel left out." She giggled.

Sunset blushed, looking away briefly. "S-sure. It's... been awhile since I've had anyone over to my place," she said. "Plus, I've always been good at meals, but sweets..."

"Well, I've never been to your place, and I'm bad at making anything but sweets," Twilight replied. "So we're even."

Sunset laughed and looked back at Twilight. "Looks like we are. Hang on," she said, putting her spoon to the side. "I'm going to buy us a couple of bottled waters to go with our actual pudding cups. I can already tell this stuff might be too rich."

Twilight took another spoonful and nodded in agreement. Sunset smiled and walked out. Twilight ate a bit more, then put her spoon down. As much as she was used to this recipe, the intensity of the ingredients were starting to make even her slightly light-headed.

Twilight left the beaker on the table, sat back in the only other chair, and mused again on just how she'd managed to get things so, so right. Not just the pudding, but… everything. Seriously, what were the odds? She really needed to get cracking on those numbers.

Instead, she took out her phone, and punched up the text message log between herself and Sunset. Eventually, she reached the very first message she'd ever sent.

[Sunset,

Could you meet me tonight at 7 in the park? I'm ready to talk.

But it has to be you. Just you.

Thank you,
Twilight.]

Twilight smiled fondly.

A soft plinking against her window alerted Twilight that a rainstorm was on the way. She looked up from her phone and watched as the drops sped up. A low rumble shook the air outside, and she leaned back. Listening to the patter of the rain, she closed her eyes.

How could I be so lucky? she thought with a chuckle. Because of Sunset. Isn't that always the way? The object of my scrutiny is also the answer. Whatever odds I come up with, Sunset will always be there to tip the scales back in my favor.

Lulled by the steady rain and regular low thunder, Twilight fell into a light doze.

And, as was so often the case recently, she dreamed of Sunset.

————

Clouds lined a dusk sky. A light spring rain made rhythmic taps on ground, grass, and umbrella fabric.

Twilight Sparkle was in her element. She sat on her usual park bench with her usual umbrella, listening to the beat of the rain. She came here whenever she needed to think; when it rained, that sometimes helped. Rain kept her calm. Rain kept the nervousness at bay. With its rhythmic beat in these familiar surroundings, it was like Twilight was in her own little world.

A little world waiting for something. Or, more precisely, someone.

So, Twilight sat, and waited, and focused on the beat of the rain, until... there she was. Sunset Shimmer. And she looked just as magical as the day she'd saved Twilight with… well, magic.

Sunset approached, her own umbrella and a green overcoat with a similar design to Twilight's purple one shielding her from the weather. She waved from where she was across the park, and Twilight waved in return.

It was now or never. Twilight forced her breathing into the same slow, rhythmic pace as the rain.

Soon, Sunset stood in front of her. She smiled, reassuringly, but curiously as well. "You finally took me up on my offer," Sunset said. "Dare I ask the occasion?"

Twilight steeled herself before answering. "Pursuit of knowledge. Same as it always is with me."

Sunset chuckled. "Of course." She sat down next to Twilight, their umbrellas brushing against one another as she did. "But I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific regarding what you want answers about."

Twilight looked at the ground, and at the water droplets colliding and coalescing. The sight calmed her enough so she could speak again. "Before any answers... I wanted to apologize."

"Huh?" Sunset blinked. "What for?"

"For... for being so weird, I guess. I know I came to CHS to learn about friendship," Twilight said. "And I didn't lie about that. But when I finally arrived, I... I guess I didn't know just how not ready I would be for it. There was so much. So many people asking me questions, so many parties, so many outings. Everyone was so nice, so friendly... you'd've thought I was a world hero or something, not the other Twilight, or... you."

Twilight closed her eyes for a moment, steeling herself. "But as friendly as everyone was, they were also everywhere," she admitted, voice cracking a bit. She chanced a look at Sunset, but rather than confusion and annoyance, she saw understanding. Emboldened, Twilight went on.

"When I first came in, when I went to class, even when I went to the bathroom!" She sighed. "I never got a chance to breathe, or recharge. Or with Pinkie, get a word in." Twilight chuckled ruefully. "It was a complete 180 from Crystal Prep... and now I know it was just too much for me to take in at once. Which is why no one's seen much of me outside of class."

Sunset nodded, still attentively listening.

Twilight sighed again. "So, I-I wanted to say something, but I was afraid of hurting anyone's feelings. So, it was easier to just withdraw. Again. Like I always do."

She tightened her grip on her umbrella and took a deep breath. This time, she looked directly at Sunset.

"And if I'd been anywhere else, then that might've been it. A few weeks would pass, and I'd be back to being Isolated Twilight. But you… you were there. And you got it. I don't know how you did, but you got it, and told people that I just needed some space to get my bearings." She smiled at Sunset, grateful. "So, thank you for that—and for not writing me off."

Sunset nodded. "I just made an educated guess. Canterlot High School can be... pretty overwhelming if you let it. Infinite spirit. Zero restraint." She chuckled.

Twilight giggled with her. "No kidding. I... felt bad for turning that spirit away, but I didn't know how to curb it without sounding like a jerk. So, whatever you did, it really helped. I didn't know you had so much pull there."

Sunset blushed, looking away. Twilight cocked her head. Had she hit a sore spot? Best to continue. Yes. Continue. Ignore blushing Sunset.

"I mean, everyone was still friendly after that," Twilight added, "but they let me know that they'd be around for me only when I was ready." She paused. "Your five friends were especially nice about that. Almost as much as you were."

Twilight shifted her umbrella and took hold of Sunset's free hand. She focused on Sunset entirely, making sure Sunset could see how sincere she was being. "I... I don't want to sound ungrateful, because believe me, I'm completely the opposite. But I have to ask... how do you always know what I'm thinking? What I'm feeling? This isn't the first time this has happened."

Sunset smiled tenderly at Twilight, then looked at the sky. The rain was passing. She snickered ruefully up at the stars that just started peeking through the clouds. As the rain slowed, Sunset sighed.

"I don't know if you've already heard the stories, but... I wasn't exactly exactly a social butterfly for most of my CHS career," Sunset explained. "I spent years driving people away from me, to say nothing of driving them away from each other. Even now, I'm still just getting used to people wanting to be friends with me, much less having them myself. So yeah. Jumping into the deep end of friendship without advance prep? I know firsthand that it's a shock."

Twilight huffed. "Tell me about it."

"That said..."

Sunset took Twilight's umbrella, which Twilight relinquished. The rain had stopped by then. Sunset closed them and placed both umbrellas on the ground. Twilight watched Sunset with confusion—a confusion that only grew as Sunset took both of Twilight's hands in her own. They were cold thanks to the rain, but beneath that chill, they radiated warmth.

And, somehow, that warmth felt like it was trickling into Twilight. Not like in thermodynamics, where heat passed gradually, but more like Sunset was willing something warm to Twilight through their touch. Twilight was at a complete loss to explain it.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Twilight," Sunset said. "The girls' invitations to be friends stand... as does mine. I've always been here, ready and waiting for you... and I will always be here. If you want me to be, that is."

As Sunset stared at her, Twilight thought she'd never seen eyes so green. They felt endless, as if she could get lost in them forever. Twilight blinked, chasing away such thoughts. There would be later, better times... certainly ones with better lighting and weather. She freed a hand to wipe the raindrops from her lenses.

"May I accompany you all to Sugarcube Corner tomorrow after school?" she asked.

"Of course," Sunset said, her voice radiating compassion. She gave Twilight's hand a small squeeze. "I already know the girls would love to know more about you. Though if you don't mind..." Sunset bit her lip and smiled a little smile. She took both of Twilight's hands again, and looking down at them, she lightly traced her thumb along Twilight's wrist. "I think... I'd like a head start."

She looked back at Twilight. With those eyes again.

This time, Twilight got lost despite herself. It also became much harder for her to breathe. What... what was going on? Sunset had barely touched her, and it was still cool from the rain—so who, exactly, had ordered the outdoor sauna?

Twilight didn't like coming across something she couldn't explain. Especially something like this. It frustrated her. It confused her.

It... delighted her?

"So what is the great Twilight Sparkle, prodigy across two schools, fond of in her life?"

Twilight shook her head. Right. Sunset was talking. She needed to talk back to Sunset. She also needed to ignore the fever she'd suddenly come down with out of utterly nowhere.

"Well—ahem—science and mathematics, but you knew that," Twilight said, still a bit flustered. "But I also love libraries and books. And long, quiet walks on rainy nights. And my dog. And absolutely anything with sugar in it. And..." Emboldened by the warmth tingling at her hands, she looked back at Sunset intently. "...anyone who's willing to see me for who I really am."

Sunset blushed, which made Twilight smile. Biting her own lip, Twilight traced circles on Sunset's wrist. "And what of Sunset Shimmer, savior of two worlds? What does she like?"

Sunset's smile widened. "Also libraries and books. Riding my bike on a sunny day. Massive meals—the more courses the better... and magic. But you knew that last one."

Twilight laughed. "I did."

"And finally," Sunset said, "Because it was in short supply for a long time, I like anyone willing to see me for who I am."

The warmth in Twilight's hands zipped up her arms and bloomed red on her cheeks. She saw Sunset's smile deepen, and the green of her eyes somehow... brighten.

And Twilight realized. She wanted to feel this warmth forever. She wanted… she wanted Sunset to look at her like that forever.

"It looks like we have a lot to learn from each other, then," Twilight said, voice almost whisper-soft. She ran her thumb along Sunset's wrist again. "I… I propose exchanging notes. Perhaps over a series of meetings. At various libraries. Possibly even…" Twilight looked at Sunset shyly. "Restaurants?"

Sunset's breath visibly hitched. Her eyes widened slightly.

Twilight looked away, cheeks feeling even hotter.. "U-u-unless you... a-already have someone else filling the partner role? It's okay if you do, I... I don't want to get in the—"

Sunset pressed her fingers to Twilight's lips. When Twilight looked back at her, Sunset was blushing too. Not as intensely as Twilight felt, that was sure, but she was blushing. And smiling, ever so slyly.

Removing her fingers from Twilight's lips, she took Twilight's hand, and kissed it.

"I would be happy to exchange notes. At various libraries, or restaurants, or wherever you want to go. Because, if you hadn't asked, Twilight Sparkle..." Sunset purred over Twilight's hand, "...I definitely would have."

————

A hard knock on the door snapped Twilight of her reverie, but not her euphoric mood. Then again, whenever Sunset was involved, Twilight always felt pretty euphoric.

Speaking of Sunset—she must have gotten locked out. Whoops. "Just a second!" Twilight called out. She pushed out of her chair, turned the lock, opened the door with a smile...

...and found herself face-to-face with a scowling Principal Cinch.