August 7

Sunset left work hungry. Having only a 20 minute lunch break meant she had a bar and a small amount of old salad before needing to work again, she was eager for something else. As she put on her helmet she considered the leftovers in her fridge. A slice of pizza that was probably spoiled by now, some cooked spinach and more old salad. She thought about her cupboard. A few cans a re-fried beans and a bag of corn chips.

“I guess I'll make myself some nachos… I really need to go grocery shopping.” She said to no one in particular. She hopped on her bike and rode to her apartment.

Sunset lived in a poor neighborhood in an unflattering apartment. She walked into the main living space and moved over to the kitchen aria. She set about to make nachos. She was opening the beans when her phone started ringing.

“Hay Applejack? What’s up?”

“Hay Sunset sorry to call you at this time. Are you at work?” Applejack sounded a little stressed.

“No. Today I got off early. Is everything alright?”

“Well no. I… I was wondering if we could meet and talk. I just… I need a friend.”

“Okay. Where do you want me to go. And how soon?”

“Could we meet at the park near my house? And well now if that’s okay?”

“I'll be there. Can I finish getting some food together?”

“Yeah. Of course. Take all the time you need.” Applejack's voice cracked.

“Umm. AJ are you sure you’re Okay? Should I come right now.”

“No. Eat. I'll… I can wait.” Applejack sniffed.

“Umm okay. I'll be there as soon as I can.” Sunset hung up. Sunset dumped half a bag of chips on a plate then scooped out big globs of beans. After a quick spin in the microwave she dumped the chips and beans into a tupperware container and put it in her backpack.

Trying not to speed Sunset rushed to the park. She circled the area and found Applejack’s bike. She parked nearby and walked into the park.

After a bit of walking on the trail Sunset found Applejack sitting on a bench alone.

“Applejack?”

“You came.”

“Why wouldn’t I? Applejack what’s going on.” Sunset said sitting down next to her.

Applejack sat quietly for a while.

“Sunset, what do you think of me?”

“Umm… what do you mean?”

“I… just… please. What do you think of me?” Applejack’s face was full of anguish, fear and a little hope.

Sunset sat baffled and concerned for a moment trying to figure out what was going on in Applejack's head. “I think you are kind and hardworking. I think that you are brave and loyal. I have always respected your work ethic. You are just so dependable! I really appreciate the help and advice you have given me when I have needed it most.” She said carefully.

“You really think that?” Applejack asked skeptically.

“Yes of course I do!” Sunset was a little indignant.

Applejack looked into Sunset’s eyes for a moment, “Okay.”

“What is going on AJ? I am worried about you. You don’t usually act like this,” Sunset said slowly.

“I… I am just having a hard time.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really.” There was a slight pause and a weird noise. “What was that?”

“That was my stomach.” Sunset said blushing. “I need to eat something.”

“I thought you ate before you got here?”

“I didn’t… I wanted to get to you as soon as possible. I was worried about you.” said Sunset. She opened her backpack and fished out her food.

“Thanks Sunset. I didn’t mean to worry you. I guess I just had a bad day.”

“I’m sorry. My day hasn’t been amazing either.”

“How come?”

“This company we ordered some stuff from got the order wrong and we needed it today and my boss sort of took out her anger on me…” Sunset sighed.

“I’m sorry.”

“Eh. It could have been worse. The mess up meant the atmosphere was more tense and stressed but it was fine.” After a pause Sunset added, “what about you?”

“Well I-” the sound of Sunset’s phone ringing cut Applejack off.

Sunset jumped slightly. “It’s Twilight.”

“How do you know?”

“I set up a special ring tone for her.” Sunset said blushing.

“Are you going to answer it…”

“Ah yeah hold on… Hay Twilight”

“Hay Sunset how was your day at work?” Twilight said eagerly.

“Fine but I can’t talk for long.”

“Okay. I’m calling to remind you to dress up. You need to be in a nice dress tonight ok?”

“Yeah. I’ll dig something out of my closet.”

“Great. See you soon!” Twilight hung up.

“Sorry about that AJ.” said Sunset while she put away her phone.

“What do you need a dress for?”

“Oh. Twilight says she is taking me out on a date tonight.”

“Oh… That sounds nice.” Applejack stated flatly.

“I’m both nervous and excited.”

“Yeah. Umm… So! Do you know what the plan is?” Applejack asked excitedly as she turned to face Sunset.

“I umm… No. Twilight said it was a surprise.”

“But she wants you in a dress?”

“Yes.”

“Why? You don’t like dresses.”

“She said that we are going somewhere fancy and that I need to dress up.”

“Somewhere fancy? I wonder where…” Applejack looked thoughtful. “What are you planning on wearing?”

“I don’t know. Probably my light blue dress with my green post earrings.” Sunset said with a shrug.

After a pause Applejack smiled “I like your idea for eating, however, I think you would look best in a deep red dress and I think you should wear a pendant that matches your eye color.”

“Wow! When did you learn about fashion?”

“I’ve been friends with Rarity since we were six. I know a thing or two about fashion. I just chose to dress for comfort.” Applejack said defensively.

“Okay, okay! I think you’re right about what I should wear. I have a dress like that somewhere in my closet from a few years ago… it should still fit, but I don’t have that kind of necklace.” Sunset sighed.

“I do!” Applejack said quickly. Sunset’s expression changed to confusion and she stared at Applejack. “I mean I have a pendant that matches your eyes. I… Do you want to borrow it?” Applejack rushed to try to explain.

“Okay.” Sunset checked her watch. “If we are going to go to your house we should probably head now so I can get back to my apartment in time to get ready.”

“Actually I have it with me now.” Applejack said blushing. She began rummaging in her backpack.

Sunset noted that Applejack’s backpack was almost empty so why she was spending so much time searching was beyond her.

“Here it is. Applejack straitened up with a small black box in one hand. She wiped off a little dirt off the smooth fabric of the box and then handed it to Sunset. Sunset took the box and opened it. Inside was a polished stone that was the exact color of her eyes. It was an inch long in the shape of a teardrop. There was a fine silver chain attached at the point in a way that made it look delicate.

“This is beautiful! How did you get this?”

“Oh uh. I’ve had if for a while now.” Applejack let out a nervous laugh but Sunset was too transfixed by the stone to hear it. “It’s Amazonite.”

“Wow AJ. You’ll really let me wear this?”

“Yeah. of course.”

“Thank you so much. I will be sure to return it after tonight.” Sunset said with great excitement.

“Actually I was kind of thinking you could have it.” Applejack said slowly. She tried to look Sunset in the face but found she could not meet her eyes.

“But AJ I can’t take this from you!”

“It’s alright Sunset. I wasn’t going to wear it anyway.” Applejack had a bashful look on her face.

“Are you sure.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. Now I have to get going.” Applejack got up and picked up her helmet. “Just promise me you’ll think of me when you put it on. Okay?”

“I will.”

Applejack started walking away.

“Applejack?” Applejack turned and found herself looking directly into sunset’s eyes. “Thank you this really means alot to me.”

Sunset stood before the mirror in her bathroom. Twilight was going to be here to pick her up in two minutes and she wanted to see if anything needed changing. She had spent a half an hour wrestling with her hair to make it sit in a more organized fashion. She had also managed to fit into her old dress and found some while post earrings, but it was the necklace that caught her eye. It was perfect.

Deciding she looked as good as she was going to get she left the bathroom to find her black handbag and put on her gloves. Just as she walked into her room she heard a knock on her door. Sunset rushed over to it and opened quickly. Her mouth dropped open at the sight before her.

Twilight was it a black suit with a flame red and orange tie. She had her hair fixed in a long braid with a ribbon running down it. In her hands was a corsage or small pink roses.

For a moment Sunset and Twilight stared at each other.

Twilight recovered first. “May I have your had?” She asked in a formal and polite tone. Sunset snapped out of her trance and offered her left hand. Twilight tied on the corsage on top of Sunset’s watch tan line. Sunset stared at it. The ribbon was the exact same color as her eyes and the pendant.

Twilight cleared her throat. “Shall we?” she asked. There was a pause. Twilight tried again. “Shall we?”

Sunset jumped slightly and looked up. Her eyes quickly focused. “Umm. oh my bag! I’ll be right back!” Sunset turned quickly to hide her blush and dashed back into her room. She grabbed her wallet and her keys, shoved them in her bag and rushed back out. As she got back to the door she noticed twilight cleaning her glasses. As soon as twilight spotted Sunset she stopped and put them back on.

“Are you ready to begin our evening adventure?” Twilight asked.

“I am” Twilight took Sunset’s arm and led her down the steps. Twilight guided Sunset to a brand new silver Mercedes.

“Wait we’re riding in that?” Sunset stopped when she realized where she was being led.

“Is there a problem?”

“When did you get this car?”

“Does this really matter now?”

“I want to know!” Sunset insisted.

Twilight sighed “If you must know, it’s my dad’s. He said we could borrow it for the weekend.”

Sunset took a moment to process this information. “Okay.” She said and stepped forward. Twilight rushed forward to open the passenger door for Sunset. After Sunset was settled she walked around to the driver side door and got in.

“Ready for an amazing night?”

“Orion's Belt?” Sunset asked as Twilight parked the car in front of the restaurant.

“Have you heard of it?” Twilight asked as she unbuckled herself.

“I think Rarity mentioned it once as a place she wanted to be taken on a date. Also Flash talked about us going here but we could never afford it so we just pretended we went here when we ate at his place... Have you been here before?”

Twilight didn’t respond right a way. She exited the car and walked around it to open Sunset’s door.

“I have been here twelve times.”

“Really? So the food is good?”

“It is the best in all of Canterlot!” Twilight declared with a smile.

“This restaurant gets the ‘I am a super-taster and their for a ridiculously picky eater’ approved award!” Sunset joked.

“Oh shut up!” They walked up to the restaurant holding hands.

“Six thirty reservation for Twilight Sparkle please!” Twilight said to the doorman. He checked his list and whistled for a waiter.

Their waiter walked over and said “Right this way you two.” He said.

A waiter lead Sunset and Twilight to a booth and laid down menus.

“Can I get either of you something to drink? We have a large selection of fine wines and local beers.”

“I’m actually underage… So just water please.” said Twilight.

“I’ll take a glass of white wine please.” Sunset added.

“I will need to see your ID ma'am.”

After Twilight and Sunset got settled in their booth and ordered, Twilight pulled out a box from her handbag. “I brought something for you.” She said with a blush.

“I have something for you too. Umm its not much. I couldn’t do something big on such short notice.” Sunset said bashfully as she picked up her whine glass.

“You didn’t have to! I told you I am providing tonight.” Twilight took off her glasses and started cleaning them.

“Okay.” Sunset put down her wine glass and took the box that Twilight offered her. She took a moment to admire the purple wrapping paper and pink ribbon. She untied the bow and then used a butter knife to carefully cut the tape.

“Gosh you are slow!” Twilight said while squirming impatiently.

“So are you!” Sunset countered.

“Just keep going.” Twilight said sitting on her hands. Twilight looked so eager that Sunset worried that Twilight was going to face-plant on the table.

Sunset finally cut the tape on the box and started opening it. Twilight pressed her hands together, over balanced, caught herself and slid her glasses back up her nose.

“Jeez Twilight!”

Sunset finally looked in the box and found a necklace that had an intricate set of silver chains and beads.

Twilight leaned over to look at it. “It got scrunched!” Twilight snatched up the box and made some adjustments, then handed it back. Upon looking at it again Sunset realized the short chains and beads formed a pattern resembling a familiar molecule but she couldn’t place it.

Sunset hesitated before saying “Umm what is it?” Sunset knew that Twilight was going to be frustrated with her but she had to ask.

“It’s Oxytocin! You know the love hormone! I… I love you Sunset. I wanted you to know that.”
Twilight said earnestly.

Sunset sat for a moment speechless. “I love you Too Twilight.” Sunset dabbed at her eyes then got up to hug Twilight.

Sunset pulled out a envelope and handed it to Twilight then took a sip of whine.

Twilight used a butter knife to cut into the top and ended up ripping the envelope apart. “Woops!” Twilight said and Sunset almost spit out some whine as she laughed.

Twilight removed a card from the wreckage of the envelope. The paper was thick and stiff. It had a vibrant and vivid painting of a sunset over the water on it. Twilight opened the card and read a small poem inside.

Sunset noticed Twilight getting teary eyed as she read the poem. She closed it and wrapped it up in the envelope and put it in her bag. Then She took off her glasses and cleaned them.

“Are you okay” Sunset asked.

Twilight sniffed and nodded.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes. Did you paint it?”

“Yes! I used watercolor crayons.”

“Well it is really beautiful.”

“Thanks It-”

“Your dinner's ready.” a waitress interrupted them. Sunset moved her box aside as the waiter set down her plate of soup and salad. Twilight got an order of crab ravioli.

“Wow. This is a lot of food!” Twilight noticed. She took offer her glasses and started wiping them off.

“You know I’ve noticed you haven’t been cleaning your glasses as much as you usually do.” said Sunset while taking off her gloves.

Twilight froze and looked up as Sunset. “I was trying to control myself tonight.” she said as she shoved her glasses back onto her face.

“Personally I think it is cute.” Twilight sat blushing for a moment.

The two of them ate and made small talk. Eventually a waiter came by and asked if they were interested in desert. Sunset tried to refuse but Twilight insisted. They ordered peanut butter mousse.

“I don’t get why we are getting dessert. I am completely stuffed!” Sunset said after the waiter walked away.

“I have a coupon that gives me a discount if you order two entrees and a desert.” Twilight said quietly.

“Fine! We’ll see if I can fit it in.”

“I’m sure you-”

“Don’t act so surprised Sunset! You knew I was bringing you here!”

Sunset and Twilight turned to see a waiter guiding two women to a booth across from theirs. The shorter of the two of them was in a navy blue dress with a silver waistband of ribbon and the taller of them was in black dress pants, a white maternity blouse and a knitted black cardigan. Both noticed the size of her stomach.

As the pair moved to sit down the taller one looked over and locked eyes with Sunset and froze. The two women were identical. Sunset also spotted a flash of silver on her hand.

“Is that…” Twilight started quietly.

Sunset was panicking.

It’s her. It‘s my human from this world. What is she doing here! What am I doing here? Why tonight? Is that her partner? It is! It is! She's married! She must have her life together! She has a family. I don’t have a family. I can’t believe this is happening. Why is she here. What is she doing here? She is on a date. I’m on a date. We can’t both be on a date. Oh my gosh! This must be one of those parallel things! We can’t both be here then. I should be in equestria. We shouldn’t both here! I can’t meet her it will likely screw up the worlds!

“Sunset? Are you okay?” Twilight asked quietly.

Sunset shot up from her chair and ran out of the restaurant as fast as she could.

Author's Notes:

Man this chapter was long! Then next one will probably be long too. I am really exited about this story right now. As I was comments questions and concerns in the comments.

Also I got a friend to help me edit this. I hope it payed off!