I can’t believe we wound up in the same tent!” Sunset exclaimed in mixed shock and delight from the top of her mattress.

The day was still bright, which was made obvious by the generous sun that was coming through the open entryway of the tent. Some light also peaked through the ventilation mesh located in one corner of the tent top. Because Sunset and Twilight had been unpacking and setting up residence like all of the other campers, neither had thought to close the front.

“I know, right?” Twilight fidgeted on her bunk. She had just finished putting up her clothes and was enjoying the firm plushness of the bed. Sounds from outside could still be heard from Applejack, who was saying something or other about camping not involving nice beds. Twilight was just grateful she wouldn’t have to endure the nightmares and the hard ground at the same time.

“It’s more than I could have hoped for...” Sunset trailed on as she watched Twilight turn around on her bed and lean over the other side to grab one of her books that had just fallen over the edge. The glasses-wearing high schooler was leaning over the edge with her pert butt high and well defined by her fit purple shorts.

Twilight’s terribly terrific tush.

Sunset’s mind jumped gears. Of course, that wasn’t saying much since her mind had already been in second gear and she just moved up to third. Something about that round but not necessarily voluminous rear was making Sunset wonder if she could wait until the night to take action. The words that came out of her mouth next were, perhaps, inevitable.

“Damn, Twilight.”

The bookworm fumbled around on the bed until she was half-turned around again to see Sunset. Her glasses were skewed and her ponytail was slightly out of place. “What?! What happened? What did I do?”

Sunset’s gaze darted to the open entryway and she hopped up off her own bed. “You’re being a tease. That’s what.”

“Tease?” Twilight started to right herself and she adjusted her glasses. She was completely confused.

The redhead drew the tent opening closed and tied it shut. The others were all tending to their own tents and luggage and the noise outside was at a large and predictable volume that would more than mask anything said here. Especially with the tent closed, since the covering was quite thick.

Sunset took three healthy strides to Twilight’s bedside and put her hands on the girl’s shoulders. “Twilight, I want to get one thing straight between us.”

“Yes?” Twilight almost whispered. Her face was flushed due to Sunset’s proximity and her physical contact. She hadn’t admitted it before, but she was very fond of Sunset. She was even trembling a bit, unsure of what was going on.

Sunset leaned in until they were nearly nose to nose. “I like you, Twilight.”

“L-l-like…?”

“A lot,” Sunset insisted, her face as stone.

Twilight’s face was deep red now. She was speechless. Never in a million years did she ever think she would hear those words from anyone. Let alone her best friend, Sunset Shimmer! There was no chance Sunset was being platonic in her meaning. Not with that face. Not with that tone.

“You don’t have to like me back,” Sunset dropped her gaze and then settled down on the bed next to Twilight. “I’d be happy if we could just be friends too. Not as happy, of course. But you know...I just wanted you...to know...that.”

With her awkward wording, Sunset smacked her face with her palm. She had done this horrendously. There was no chance Twilight would respond favorably to her. Especially not with such a flunked execution.

“Y-you...” Twilight began to say.

Their words were similar now in that they were painfully slow in coming out. Twilight’s mind was working to form what she wanted to say even as her mouth urged the words out before they were ready.

“...wear your heart on your sleeve,” she decided on, her eyes looking across the tent. She only then turned her head and looked into Sunset’s uncertain gaze again. “You let everyone know how much you care about them and you are blunt – in a good way.”

Sunset’s eyes watered, feeling some kind of rejection coming.

What happened, however, was Twilight’s hand sliding across the bed sheet onto Sunset’s.

“I haven’t had the chance to study intimate interpersonal human relationships yet. I couldn’t let an opportunity like this just pass by. I need to gather data. I mean for the effects and implications, of course!”

It was obvious why Twilight was still blushing even after stumbling out such clinical terminology. The waver in her voice was something Sunset lacked even though their level of nervousness was so similar. They expressed it in different ways.

“Maybe we could...start?” Twilight suggested with no idea what was supposed to happen after saying it. She could only hope Sunset would say something – anything – so that she wouldn’t feel so out on a limb. What she got was even more.

Twilight rolled onto her back from Sunset’s slow and guided push and tried to resist only out of mere reaction, but Sunset was climbing on top of her in an instant. An almost predatory stare from the redhead made Twilight freeze. The uncertainty was gone and no water clouded the corners of Sunset’s eyes now.

“You really want to do this too?” Sunset eagerly asked. Her heart was racing. She was so overjoyed at not only being accepted but so encouraged. This is what she wanted and hoped for and her inner voice was even scolding her for spending precious seconds feeling weak, vulnerable, and shy.

“What are we doing?” Twilight asked simply. She honestly had no idea. They were both stretched out on her bed now with Sunset on top, suspended there just by her arms.

“Nothing you don’t want,” Sunset tactfully responded as she lowered herself until she was laying there atop the other girl, embracing her without putting her entire weight down to crush her. “I just want to feel you.”

The slow and gentle movement soothed the book worm, who was putting up more of a brave exterior than she even knew she could. Her eyes were forced to stay up where they were because of the other girl’s gaze staring into her very soul. And yet it soothed her. The light blue pools that made up Sunset’s irises drew her in like a peaceful spring even as her arms embraced her from the sides and melted her all over.

She finally admitted to herself that it was no great leap for her to accept Sunset’s feelings. She had been mulling over thoughts about Sunset for months in her personal diary. How many nights had she spent analyzing her own thoughts and feelings? They made sense now. She really did have romantic interest in this fellow high schooler. This beautiful girl that had reached out and saved her.

“What is it?” Sunset’s expression became concerned.

“What?” Twilight snapped out of the inner sanctum of her mind.

“You got that look again,” Sunset explained with a frown. “The one you get every time you’ve finalized some new theory or finished an experiment.”

Twilight bit her bottom lip in sheepishness. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “Proceed.”

“Should I get the rubber gloves?” Sunset smirked and rose a brow.

The other girl snorted humorously at the idea. “Your bare hands will suffice.”

“And where do you want them?” Sunset kept up the banter.

That made Twilight pause just long enough to get the arousing suggestion.

“Let’s start here,” Sunset answered for herself in a quiet voice. She nuzzled her face into the side of Twilight’s neck and breathed in the faint scent of lavender. She closed her eyes and imagined a field of flowers with ease, her warm hands matching the warm temperature of the camp’s bright day. Her digits trailed down first to the girl’s hips and then around to the rear that had sparked this life changing event.

Twilight was only lightly returning the embrace with her hands on Sunset’s back. The sensual touch encouraged her to so return the affection even though she had less than half of Sunset’s initiative. She gulped down her trepidation and rubbed Sunset’s back gently with one hand while moving the other down to the girl’s hips.

Time slowed for her as she took a deep breath and rested her face against Sunset’s hair. There was an inspiring scent there. Like a grassy clearing in a forest bathed in a warm spring glow. The nervousness drained out of Twilight and her tension bled out with it. Sunset’s hands continued to caress and sooth her. That’s when she realized that all the fear of physical intimacy that had kept her from expressing her feelings earlier had been misplaced.

This was no mindless rush for gratification.

Sunset truly cared about her.

That understanding created tiny pools of water around her eyes, which Sunset frowned at when she came back up to look the girl in the face.

“Are you okay, Twilight?”

“Y-yes,” Twilight choked down her happiness. “Thank you...”

“For what?” Sunset’s lips slanted.

“For being you,” Twilight replied and leaned up to plant her lips on Sunset’s.

The redhead was surprised but not disappointed. She held the kiss until there was some kind of loud banging sound outside of their tent. It sounded like a metal ladle banging against a cast iron griddle.

“Time for hikin’!” shouted Applejack from outside the closed tent opening.

Sunset bit her lip and gave a frustrated groan.

Twilight, however, brushed some of the fiery locks from the front of Sunset’s face. They had fallen there in their moment of intimacy.

“We can relax after getting back tonight,” Twilight suggested.

Sunset was happily satisfied with the idea. “It’s a date.”