She hadn’t expected the bus to be this... peaceful.

Yet Twilight Sparkle couldn’t appreciate it, not now. As she sat alone in one of the rows of seats in the back, hand clamped forcefully on the bar atop the seat in front of her, she was trembling. A fitful anxiety squirmed under her skin, and it wasn’t because she really wasn’t used to taking the bus, especially not to this part of town, and especially not alone. It wasn’t because some of the characters who lined the seats on the other side of the bus were seedy-looking and gave a sheltered girl from the suburbs pause. It wasn’t even because she hadn’t told her parents anything besides that she’d be a little late home from school and would take care of getting home herself and she knew they’d have plenty of questions for her when she got back.

No, Twilight trembled because she was scared for (or of?) her best friend. Every couple minutes she’d pull her phone back out and wake it to look back over her text messages. The last ones, after Sunset Shimmer’s nearly-incomprehensible one from last night, were sent by Twilight at 12:43pm.

Hey, I’m just worried about you
Is it still ok if I meet you at your apt after school?

That was a few hours ago, and she still hadn’t gotten a reply—and of course, that was worrying Twilight sick. Sure, Sunset had been able to send her a message the night before—sort of—but there was no telling what she could have done the next morning when she woke up.

If she woke up.

Nope. Twilight gulped and banished that thought from her mind as best she could; that wasn’t going to be helpful. She had to focus on what she was doing, where she was going. It was going to be okay, and that was her promise to herself. She tilted her head to glance out through the grime of the window and saw a familiar store, letting her know she was about ten minutes out from Sunset’s place.

Biting her lip nervously, Twilight woke her phone again and tapped out another message.

Umm... I’m gonna be there in 10-15 minutes, lmk if that’s not ok

She felt kind of bad, still going over that way without Sunset’s express confirmed yes-we’re-still-on permission... but at the same time, she was really worried by the fact that her friend wasn’t responding. If she got there and Sunset told her to go, then of course she would—but not until Twilight made sure she was okay.

The rest of the ride on the bus passed uneventfully; Twilight merely watched the people getting off and getting on with each stop, idly guessing at where they might be going. Really, she was just trying to keep her mind off all the possibilities of what was going to happen very soon, with only a mild degree of success—but that had to be enough. A block out, she could see the top of the apartment building peeking out from behind another, so Twilight pulled the cord and soon the bus came to a stop. As she stood up and stepped down from the raised portion in the back, she offered a meek wave of thanks to the driver before walking out the back doors. She tried to ignore the eyes she felt boring into the back of her head as she went.

She was the only one who’d gotten off at the stop, and in another moment the bus was gone, sweeping a few dry leaves from the street in its wake. A shiver went down Twilight’s spine as she stood there by the metal pole, and she wasn’t sure if it was because of the breeze or because she was quite literally facing what she’d been dreading all day.

With a deep breath, Twilight steeled herself—and then she started walking the block, over to the apartment building. It felt like she was moving through molasses, even though her heart beat hard and fast in her chest; she couldn’t get there fast enough. The groundswell of anxiety pushed her forward, though, and soon she had walked through the front doors and into the lobby.

It looked the same as before; of course it did, it had only been a day. Weathered tiles, a mess of cobwebs by the ceiling, a weird probably fake plant in the corner. Actually, maybe it was a rubber plant; Twilight had never paid all that much attention to botany so she couldn’t be quite sure, but it did look kind of like the one at her aunts’. She shook her head as she entered the stairwell, and started the long trek upwards.

The walls of the shaft felt closed-in and claustrophobic, somehow shrouded mostly in darkness despite the frosted-glass windows at each landing that seemed to give off an unearthly glow with how they scattered the sunlight. Her heart pounded more and more the higher she climbed, and the stairs seemed unending. Until they weren’t, and she found herself standing at the fourth-storey door. Even as anxious as she was, there was still a little relief in opening that door and leaving the stairs behind her.

It was easier this time since she knew where she was going, which one of the doors that all looked the same was Sunset’s. And in a moment that was where Twilight came to a stop, before the 419, staring at the peep-hole.

Twilight stood stock still for an unknowable amount of time—a minute? five minutes?—just a step away from the door, thoughts swirling and stomach churning. The more she stared at the door, the more the grain of the wood seemed to gestaltzerfall apart—until she shook her head once more. No. She had to get herself together, and she had to talk to Sunset. Raising a hand, she rapped lightly against the door with her knuckles, three times.

Thirty seconds passed—then a minute. The door did not move... and what’s more, Twilight couldn’t hear anything coming from within. She frowned, took another breath, and knocked again, this time a more forcefully. There was no way that anyone inside could have missed it.

And again, after a minute, nothing. Not even the sounds of shuffling. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, tapping it on—but there was still no reply from Sunset.

Twilight’s stomach dropped. Cautiously, she put her ear up to the door—still nothing. She let out a sigh and leaned her back to the door, laying her head against it.

“Sunset? You in there?” she called with a hand against her mouth, hopefully loud enough for Sunset to hear but not to disrupt the other tenants. She didn’t want to attract too much attention or else she might get kicked out of the building or something. “Sunset, please, it’s Twilight. I understand if you don’t want to see me right now, but please just let me know you’re okay. Please.”

It felt as if all the air was being sucked from the room as the minutes ticked by with no reply, and the last vestiges of Twilight’s composure started to crumble. Why wasn’t Sunset coming to the door? Why wasn’t she responding to texts?

A deep, dark answer to these questions lingered in the back of Twilight’s mind, one which she tried to shove away again once it started to rear its ugly head. But it was no use; Pandora’s box had been opened and the grim reality of the situation began to set in. She couldn’t help but picture Sunset in there, haphazardly splayed across her bed, lying completely still...

Twilight let herself slide down the door, tears welling in her eyes as she reached the floor and pulled her knees to her chest. She tried not to cry, she really did, but her mind was racing—what could she do? She didn’t know Sunset was... not okay, but how could she find out? Should she call 911? She’d never ever done that before but... what else was there? Her hands were shaking, barely able to hold onto herself, trembling, trembling...

Somewhere ahead of her, she heard a door open, and footsteps. Twilight hoped that they would just pass her by, that whomever they belonged to would ignore her and just go about their business—but as the footsteps grew louder, she realised that wasn’t the case; they were coming straight towards her. She kept her head down, but a presence soon loomed above.

“Twilight?” came a familiar voice from in front of her. Twilight gasped, and looked up to see a fiery-haired girl in jeans and a leather jacket. She held an orange twelve-pack of pop with one arm, and a jet-black purse was hanging along her other side.

“S-Sunset?!” In an instant, Twilight leapt to her feet, throwing her arms around the girl before her. Sunset flailed a little, almost losing her balance, but she recovered in time to put an arm around Twilight.

“You alright?” Sunset asked after a moment, clearly concerned.

“Y-yeah.” The purple girl was still trembling. She sniffled, pulling away from the hug and brushing herself off. “I’m just glad you’re okay—you weren’t responding to texts or anything, so I tried knocking and calling for you but you—well, I guess you weren’t here, obviously, but I got worried that you...”

Sunset blinked in surprise, and her free hand quickly tapped around to her pockets on her jacket and pants before momentarily diving into her purse. “Ah, crap, I must have left my phone in the apartment,” she said, shaking her head. “I guess the last time I remember having it was this morning, before I went out.” Her features softened. “I’m really sorry, Twi, I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

“Heh, well...” Twilight shrugged her shoulders, gritting her teeth. “I couldn’t exactly... not worry after yesterday.”

Sunset winced, and now the pain in her eyes was visible. “I’m really sorry for that too; that was so unlike me and I was way outta line and—”

“Maybe we should take this inside,” Twilight cut in quickly, gesturing to the door beside her. “I just don’t wanna make too much noise... you know, the neighbours and all.” She bit her lip.

Sunset nodded. “Yeah, this’d definitely be better with a little privacy.” She reached back into her pocket and pulled out a keychain with a couple keys, idly spinning it in a circle around her finger before slotting one into the lock. “Come on in,” Sunset said as she swung the door open and walked through, sliding off her jacket and setting it on the rack. Twilight followed close behind her.

Unlike the lobby, the apartment wasn’t quite the same as it had been the day before. Where the carpet had looked a little grimy and the kitchen sink had been filled with dirty dishes, the place now looked freshly vacuumed and the dishes were gone, the kitchen counter and sink having been wiped clear. What’s more, the curtains on the living room window were pulled back, casting the room in a warm, natural light—even if the view of the parking lot below wasn’t all that much to speak of. Twilight closed the door behind her as she entered, and she stood aside watching Sunset as she set the pop on the counter.

“You want a Fanta?” Sunset cracked open the cardboard and pulled out a can. “I’m gonna put a couple in the freezer for a few minutes just to cool ’em down quicker.”

“Uh, sure.” Twilight laughed nervously as she watched Sunset open up the freezer and set a pair of pop cans inside. “So, um... how have you been today? We missed you at lunch,” she lied. Well, it wasn’t quite a lie, because the girls probably had; Twilight just hadn’t been there with them.

Sunset glanced back over to where Twilight stood, an eyebrow raised. “I’ve been... fine. Just kind of getting myself together, preparing for... this.” She paused, looking contemplative, then added, “Whatever this is.”

“I-I don’t really know, either,” Twilight managed to get out. “I just... you’re my friend. I want to be here for you.”

In reply, Sunset simply nodded, her expression inscrutable. Once she’d put another few cans in the fridge, she started to walk out from behind the counter over to the small table across from the sofa where they had been studying the day before. She took a seat in one of the chairs, the one closer to the window. “You can sit on the couch if you want—it’s super comfy.”

“Thanks.” Twilight slipped off her shoes by the jacket rack and shuffled across the room in her socks, lowering herself into the worn plush upholstery. “Oh, wow,” she murmured as her body sunk into its depths.

“Toldja,” Sunset said with a wry smile. “Real nice place to lie down and just... space out.” She visibly cringed as she said those last few words, and turned her head away toward the window.

Twilight nodded, shifting on the cushion. An uneasy silence settled between them, and neither of them seemed to want to make eye contact. A minute or two went by.

It was Sunset Shimmer, still looking towards the window, who broke the silence. “So, um... I guess I’ll just start, again, with an apology. Last night I was... really stupid. I know I really screwed up, and I never should have yelled at you.” She paused, sighing deeply. “It was all me, I just freaked out, I should have thought more, and—”

Twilight reached forward, taking Sunset’s hand in hers; immediately, the redhead flinched and jerked back. Twilight took a deep breath, pulling her own hand back as well.

“I-I’m sorry, you just startled me,” Sunset stammered. “I didn’t mean...” She reached her hand out towards Twilight, back to where their hands had met.

Twilight stared at Sunset’s hand for a long moment’s pause, and then reached out to take it once more. “It’s okay,” she said quietly. “Go on.”

“I don’t really have anything else, I just...” Sunset’s features hung low with genuine concern. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

Twilight squeezed Sunset's hand. “I know. But it’s...” She paused, thinking. “It’s not really about me right now. It’s about you.”

Sunset nodded, slowly, though her eyes averted Twilight’s. “I guess.”

“So, um... how... how did this start?” Twilight asked. “If that’s not too much to ask.”

“The, uh, the stuff?” Sunset asked, stealing only a glance to confirm Twilight was nodding. “I... well... it’s... it’s kind of complicated.”

“I talked to Flash,” Twilight blurted, and then as Sunset flinched she realised maybe she shouldn’t have said that. “I mean—he didn’t say that much, I just wanted to—”

“No, no, that’s fine,” Sunset said, finally looking directly at Twilight. Her gaze was sombre, but there was no malice in her eyes. “Should’ve expected that... I didn’t give you much to go on and I know you were worried.” She exhaled. “Makes it a little easier on me now, I guess. Did he tell you what... uh, what we did?”

“Kinda, yeah,” Twilight confirmed, trying her best to look apologetic. “Again... he didn’t say much, but... he said you did... stuff... for a few months with him.”

Sunset sucked in her cheek, but she nodded. “Yeah. Something like that. A lot of time hanging out with him and his dumb bandmates. Probably just kept me there ’cause I was nice to look at, and got me high so I wouldn’t get bored. That was... every week or two for a few months.” She didn’t say any more for some time, and Twilight wondered if she’d said anything wrong. But then she started again: “And that really was it. Once I broke up with Flash, I didn’t think there was going to be anything more like that.”

“O-oh,” Twilight found herself saying. “So it came out of that?”

“Kind of.” At this point, Sunset wasn’t looking at her, not really; though her hand still rested in Twilight’s, she stared past her towards the wall. “As I said, I didn’t plan on doing anything else like that. I wasn’t about to ask any of our friends about it—how could I, after everything they’ve done for me? I felt like I’d be letting them down.”

Twilight hummed. “But don’t, like Applejack and Rainbow...?”

Sunset bit her lip. “Okay, yeah, maybe you have a point there. They wouldn’t mind as much as I thought, but... I would, I guess?” She shrugged. “Weird hangups around asking anyone else about that sort of thing.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Twilight said, slowly nodding. “I... well, I can’t imagine wanting to do those things, but I also can see how that would be really awkward to ask.”

“Yeah,” Sunset said. “But I still... I still wanted to do that sort of thing, I guess. So I did a little looking around on the internet, and well... I figured out what this stuff would do to me, and I read enough to know what wouldn’t kill me.” She looked back down to the floor. “I mean... I don’t know, it’s just a thing to do. It’s dumb, and maybe not the safest thing to do, but... I’m not trying to really hurt myself with it or anything. Just a way to screw around.”

“I think I’m starting to understand that,” Twilight murmured. Sunset actually looked at her, raising an eyebrow; at that, Twilight added: “I mean, not for myself, but... I’ve been talking to our other friends.”

“Like Applejack and Rainbow?” Sunset asked knowingly.

“...Maybe.” Twilight sighed. “I’m having to unpack a lot of stuff my parents told me and my brother over the years, but I guess now’s as good a time as ever to figure all this out. I don’t quite get it still, of course... but it doesn’t freak me out as much anymore, the idea that my friends would want to do that kind of thing.” She looked up to Sunset. “I mean, not to say that what you’ve been doing is okay with me, but... I’m not going to hate you for it or anything.”

Sunset gave her a wry smile at that, nearly laughing. “Hate me? I guess it’d be fair to. I’ve been... pretty awful.”

Twilight was quick to respond. “No, really, I’m over last night—”

“I mean to me,” Sunset said, cutting her off. This time she really did laugh, a dry laugh that Twilight hadn’t heard in some time. “I did say it started as, y’know, just something to pass time. School was boring and I didn’t want to be a burden on our friends by making them hang out with me or anything, and I guess I was just trying to... mix things up a bit.” She sighed. “It sounds silly when I say it like that, doesn’t it?”

Twilight pursed her lips. “I’m not here to judge, only to listen. And to help.”

“It kind of spiralled out of control from there, though.” Sunset’s hand tensed. “I dunno. I’m not good at doing that sort of stuff just a little bit, just every so often. I just kept doing it and doing it, even when... even when I don’t want to that much, or when it makes me miserable.”

“Why?” Twilight asked, tilting her head.

“I...” Sunset started, but she let that trail off into silence. “I guess I’m... not totally sure. I mean, on some level I definitely still want to, for all the same reasons, but... I guess I just got used to it.” She brushed a lock of hair to the side with her free hand. “I still spend most of my time here, cooped up alone in the apartment. At this point I’m just... so used to doing it. Using up all my time that way.”

Twilight nodded slowly. “I don’t quite understand, not completely. But I think to some extent I do.”

Sunset laughed again. “Not everything makes sense, Twi. Even for myself I don’t know if I could say that this does.”

Twilight Sparkle smiled a feeble smile. “Still...” She hesitated, and in that moment squeezed Sunset’s hand. The redhead, for her part, gave her own smile back. “Sunset?”

“Yeah?”

“I, uh...” Twilight swallowed hard. “I want to ask you to do something. I just don’t know if it’s too much.”

“Shoot,” Sunset said, eyebrow raised in curiosity.

“You need to stop,” Twilight said, the words slipping out a little quicker than she’d meant. “I... I feel silly saying this, like I’m being too harsh on you or something, but... this is really bad for you. You really need to not do this anymore.”

There was a certain sadness in Sunset’s eyes, but it didn’t make Twilight doubt herself for a second—nor did it seem intended to make her. “You’re right, I know you are,” Sunset admitted. Her head hung low, red and gold locks hanging over her face. “And I really want to, too. I’m just scared it won’t be that easy, I guess.”

Twilight squeezed Sunset’s hand again. “It might not be. But I’m right here with you, and the rest of our friends will be, too.” She put her other hand to Sunset’s, clasping the other girl’s hand between hers. “I know it’s not necessarily our responsibility to, but... we can spend more time with you, all of us. You don’t need to feel like you have all that lonely time to fill by yourself.”

Sunset took a long, deep breath and didn’t respond for a minute. “I’m... maybe this is dumb, but... I really don’t want the other girls to know. About this, about any of this.” She gazed at Twilight, her eyes pleading. “I might be able to talk about this eventually, but... right now I don’t know if I can.”

“That’s okay,” Twilight affirmed with a nod. “I wouldn’t ask you to talk about this with anyone else, not if you’re not comfortable with it.” She looked at Sunset, and gave her as much of a smile as she could muster. “But I do want to help you spend more time with me and the rest of our friends, if that can help you.”

Sunset nodded. “I know you’re right. And... I’m willing to try that.” She closed her eyes, relaxed, for a long moment before opening them once more. “Yes, Twilight. I’ll stop.”

“Thank you,” Twilight murmured, allowing herself to smile. “And if you’re ever feeling the urge, well... we’re only a couple texts away.”

Sunset finally smiled too, and her face seemed to take on an irradiated glow as sunlight streaked in from the window beside them. “Thank you.” She let go of Twilight’s hand, and stood with her arms outstretched.

For a moment, the purple girl was confused; then, with a moment’s realisation, she stood too and met Sunset’s embrace. They stood there, locked together, for a seemingly unending amount of time, but Twilight didn’t want it to end; she wanted to hold on and not let go of Sunset, never again.

“Oh, shoot,” Sunset said, after some time had passed.

“What’s up?” Twilight replied, still holding her friend close.

“Fanta.” Sunset laughed, pulling back. “Hopefully they haven’t frozen.”

“Oh, yeah.” Twilight shuffled nervously as Sunset stepped away, over to the kitchen. “Oh, um, Sunset?”

“Yeah?” Sunset had the freezer door open, and the burst of cool air could be felt across the room. “Oh, good, they’re fine.”

“Do you...” Twilight searched for the words. “Do you have any more? Of the stuff you were doing, I mean.”

Sunset turned back towards the room, pop cans in hands and elbowing the freezer shut behind her. “No, I don’t. Never really kept any around.”

“What about those boxes in your room?” Twilight asked.

Sunset’s smile faltered. “Those were all empty, actually, I just got too lazy to take out the trash. They’re all gone now—I cleaned up earlier before I went out.” She outstretched an arm towards Twilight. “Fanta?”

“Thanks,” Twilight mumbled, taking the can. “Oof, that’s cold.”

“Heh, yeah, guess I left them in there a little too long.” Sunset pulled the tab on her can and it made a loud fizzing sound. She took a long swig. “Good stuff,” she added, wiping her mouth.

Twilight Sparkle looked down at the can in her hand. “I, um... I don’t know how to open it.”

Sunset blinked, and then clearly tried to stifle a snicker.

Twilight’s cheeks went red. “I—my family doesn’t ever really—”

“Hey, it’s fine.” Sunset smiled. “Just pull that metal tab up. Make sure not to pull it off, though.” She took another sip.

Twilight fiddled with the can for a second, and then she got the fizzing sound too. “Oh, thank goodness.”

Sunset reached over to pat her on the back. “See? You got it easy.”

“Y-yeah.” Twilight looked down at the hole in the metal, gulped, and brought it to her lips to take just a sip. “Eugh!” she exclaimed, face screwing up.

Sunset laughed. “That bad?”

“It’s... it’s just so sweet, jeez.” Twilight shuddered. “Not like a normal sweet, either—some weird sickly chemical sweet.”

Sunset shook her head, still smiling. “I think I know what you mean...”

The door to Sweet Snacks Café chimed, and the two girls walked quickly inside from the cool evening breeze. Both wore leather jackets, insulating them from the cold; Sunset had lent Twilight a spare one. The purple girl hadn’t understood why Sunset kept laughing on the way there, until she saw her reflection in a store window as they passed; then it was giggles from the both of them all the rest of the way to the diner.

Twilight let out a sigh of relief as the door swung closed behind them, leaving the cool outside air behind them. Inside it was a bit more full than the day before, mostly at the counter, but still the same cutesy atmosphere with an old-timey tune resounding through the chatter.

“Ooh!” Sunset exclaimed, lighting up. “Joe Jones!”

Twilight blinked, shaking her head a little with a smile. “Jeez, how do you remember all this music?”

“Hey, the music of this world is friggin’ amazing, I’d have a hard time forgetting it,” Sunset shot back, grinning. “Besides, ‘You Talk Too Much’ is a classic.”

“Helloooo!” called a familiar chipper voice, before they could say any more. “Feel free to take a seat at the counter or an open booth, and I will be right with youuuuu!”

Sunset rolled her eyes. “Oh, Pinkie, never change.” It was her who led the way; Twilight followed dumbly behind as they weaved past the counter and over to the booth in the corner by the jukebox. “This booth’s my favourite,” Sunset said as she turned and slid in to the far side, where Twilight had sat the day before.

“I do like that it’s out of the way,” Twilight replied, sitting down opposite Sunset. “Secluded.”

“That’s a good word.” Sunset hummed.

“A-ha!” Pinkie Pie was upon them in rollerskates, pulling to a halt in front of the jukebox. “Now what do we have here?” She posed dramatically in her baby blue outfit, putting a hand to her chin.

“Heya, Pinkie,” Sunset said, tilting her head with amusement. “I just checked my watch.”

Pinkie’s eyes narrowed. “And what’d it say?”

“Well...” Sunset paused, raising an eyebrow. “Between you and me... it said that it’s burger time.”

Pinkie Pie gasped a loud gasp, pulling back so hard and fast that she nearly fell over, arms like windmills as she tried to steady herself. “Burger time!” she repeated, once she could stand upright. “That’s one of the most important times! I’ll be right on it. And...” She turned, giving Twilight a little bow. “For the lady?”

Twilight opened her mouth as if to speak, but was cut off by Sunset interjecting, “Hey, what about me? Why don’t I get to be ‘the lady’?”

Pinkie rolled her eyes. “The leather jacket, sil—oh.” Mid-sentence, her eyes had followed Sunset’s gesture over to Twilight. “Whaaat? Oh my goodness! You girls are, like, double trouble!”

Twilight blushed. “If it’s okay, I’ll, uh, I’ll just have what she’s having.”

Pinkie gave her a curt nod and a curtsy. “I’ll be back in a jiffy!”

“Thanks!” Sunset called after her. “Clover, that girl’s a handful and a half.”

Twilight smiled. “She’s pretty silly... but she always makes it work. Somehow.”

Sunset nodded, and a silence settled between them. Not an awkward or uncomfortable one—nor really a silent one, given the hubbub of the other patrons of the diner and the cheerful music the jukebox added as a backdrop—but something warm, friendly, and just okay. After a moment, Sunset turned her head to glance out the window, and Twilight followed suit. It wasn’t quite dark outside but it was getting pretty close, sitting somewhere delicate between the two girls’ namesakes.

Twilight sighed, her breath casting a light fog on the window. Yesterday had been rough, and this whole situation had been even rougher for Sunset for far longer. But maybe—just maybe—things were well on their way to getting better.

Author's Notes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLNqNaaVPoo