Stable.

Gilda had been woken up at ten in the morning after only a couple of hours of fitful sleep by one of the nurses to inform her that Doctor Tourniquet had pronounced Sunset Shimmer stable and ready to be moved out of the ICU. Her recovery had been almost miraculously quick once her stress had leveled out. Gilda had been almost delirious with a combination of exhaustion and relief as Kindheart, who had refused to leave even after her shift to ensure that Sunset was properly seen to, wheeled Gilda in just behind Sunset as she was being moved to a regular room.

Gilda had refused to go back to her own room. She was determined to be right by Sunset’s side the moment the girl woke up. The nurses and orderlies had somewhat adopted the couple, checking in on them as the events wound down to a happy(ish) ending. At least from their perspective. Kindheart had ensured that Gilda’s things were moved into Sunset’s room, though she’d confiscated Gilda’s ‘talons’. She did promise to return them upon discharge.

Settling in beside Sunset’s new bed, Gilda was still in her wheelchair, but feeling a bit better. Sunset’s breathing was steady and strong, and every so often Gilda reached out and touched Sunset’s cheek. It was warm and soft. She just liked reminding herself that the girl that had, alarmingly quickly, become such a central part of her world was alright. Leaning in, she brushed her lips against Sunset’s cheek.

“I love you Sunset Shimmer,” Gilda whispered as she pulled back, crossed her arms on the bed and laid her head down on them. “You’re never gettin’ rid of me now, Sunflower.”

Grabbing her own phone, Gilda pulled out her earbuds and popped them in, starting up some music and settled in. The vocals always helped her sleep, and she was exhausted. The easy-going voice lulled Gilda to sleep, her hand resting on Sunset’s.

The sun was streaming in through the window as Sunset slowly stirred awake. Everything felt a little foggy but, given that she was waking up at all, she judged that to be par for the course. There was a faint, warm pressure on her right hand though, and when she glanced down she felt her heart swell.

Gilda was snoozing away, her head on her arms, one of her hands was reached out and closed around Sunset’s. It was, quite possibly, the sweetest thing Sunset had ever seen. Sunset narrowed her eyes at Gilda’s condition though, she looked exhausted, bags under her eye, and bandages all over her legs. She was listening to something too, pale grey earbuds were in her ears and there was a soft tune emitting from them. It was… familiar.

Smiling, Sunset reached out on a whim, curious what the tough girl listened to when she was relaxing, and plucked the earbud from Gilda’s left ear and brought it up to her own. Gilda shifted in her sleep at the sudden movement, and turned her head, her eyes widening when she saw Sunset was awake. And then widened more when she saw Sunset was listening to her music.

Sunset’s wide smile turned into a chuckle then a laugh, then a dry cough as she choked out. “I-Is that John Denver?”

Gilda’s face went red and stammered for a few seconds. “Y-you… I… Shut up!” Then made a grab for the earbud. Sunset’s coughing didn’t subside, though and Gilda felt a stab of worry as she glanced around. Seeing a sink with some paper cups sticking out of a dispenser, Gilda lifted herself from her wheelchair and hobbled over to fill one of them. Hobbling back, Gilda sat down on the bed by Sunset’s side, pulled the redhead into her arms, and passed her the cup. Sunset drank it down greedily, gasping for breath as soon as she pulled the cup from her lips.

Leaning back, Sunset sighed as Gilda cradled her. The bigger girl had buried her face in Sunset’s neck and let out a deep breath. “T-thank god, Sunset… I’m… I was so scared you were gonna go’way,” Gilda mumbled from Sunset’s shoulder.

Sunset brought her hand up to stroke Gilda’s short hair and warm cheek. “I’m not going anywhere, Gil,” her voice was a little raspy and weak from disuse, but it was steady. “I promise.”

“Good, because you’re also movin’ in with me,” Gilda said sternly as she lifted her face from Sunset to glare at the smaller girl who shrunk away slightly. “I can’t fuckin’ believe you were livin’ in a goddamn warehouse this whole time, Sunflower.”

Her eyes downcast, Sunset just nodded. “I know… I was… I was gonna tell you this week, during winter break.” Sunset smiled a little wanly and shrugged. “Never really got a chance to though, huh?”

“A-and…” Gilda started, but her words caught in her throat. ‘Nope, c’mon G, you waited too long already you’re not waiting a second longer.’ Sunset looked up at her curiously. “I-I, uh… I mean…” Gilda swallowed nervously, before finally muttering quietly, with her eyes cast to the side and a brilliant blush on her face: “Ya wanna be my girlfriend?”

Sunset’s eyes went wide for a moment. Then she just nodded dumbly and turned to wrap her arms around Gilda’s neck, lacing her fingers into Gilda’s short, shorn white hair, and pulled herself up to kiss her proud, brash, beautiful new girlfriend on the lips. Gilda grinned enormously and pulled Sunset into another, deeper kiss.

After a moment Sunset pulled away, and then frowned, then her eyes widened in panic. Gilda’s expression turned to one of concern, but as she was about to ask what was wrong, a nurse poked his head in and smiled. “Oh good, I’ll let the Doctor know you’re awake Miss Shimmer. Tourniquet just got back in for the afternoon!”

“Sunshine, what’s wrong?” Gilda asked softly, bringing her hand up to wipe the growing tears from Sunset’s eyes. “Sunny?”

“G-Gilda?” Sunset’s voice was small and broken. “Gilda I… I still can’t feel my legs. I-I can kinda move my waist… but everything thigh down is just… gone.”

“I’m afraid that’s certainly possible, Miss Shimmer,” the now-familiar voice of Doctor Tourniquet said from the doorway. He looked worn and tired, but as friendly as ever. “As a point of dotting ‘T’s and crossing ‘I’s as it were,” he said with a smile, “I have to ask, are you alright with my discussing your condition in front of Miss Grimfeather?”

Gilda tightened her grip around Sunset as Doctor Tourniquet spoke, and one hand move down to loop around and captured Sunset’s own hand. Giving Gilda’s hand a strong squeeze, Sunset nodded. “Y-yeah, that’s okay, please… w-what’s wrong?”

Doctor Tourniquet took a breath as he pulled a chair from the side table and sat down. “I’m afraid the prognosis is not good. The accident fractured multiple vertebrae in your lumbar and thoracic area, L4, L3, and T12 being the worst off,” he listed as he thumbed through the papers on his clipboard. “The fractures also left splinters of bone in your disks; surgery removed most of them but a few are too near clusters of nerves to risk touching, so I’m afraid the current damage is more or less permanent.”

Sunset stared, wide-eyed and silent as the Doctor spoke, but Gilda could feel her shaking, her hand was gripping Gilda’s so hard she could feel the prick of Sunset’s fingernails. Leaning down, Gilda put a small kiss on Sunset’s cheek, snapping her out of her daze. She stared up at Gilda with terror in her eyes.

Nonetheless, Doctor Tourniquet continued. “It is possible, once the swelling has gone down and your body has repaired the damage to the other, less seriously injured, vertebrae, that you may regain some limited functionality. But, I’m afraid it is my professional, medical opinion that you will likely never walk again unassisted. I’m so sorry, Miss Shimmer, I do wish I had better news.”

The room was silent for several moments as Sunset slowly absorbed the terrible news she’d just been given. Doctor Tourniquet waited, knowing that it would take some time for her to get her voice back. Eventually though, it was Gilda who spoke up first.

“So what?”

Sunset and Doctor Tourniquet both looked up at Gilda in surprise at her tone.

“G-Gilda,” Sunset said, her was voice choked and dry. “I-I’m… I’m a cripple. For good. What do you mean ‘so what’?”

“I mean, ‘so what’,” Gilda answered, looking down at Sunset, her gaze softening. “Sunshine, we both know ya’ain’t like me. I’ve got my big-ass body and not much else going for me. You, on the other hand’re smarter than any two dozen of those schlubs at CHS put together. You don’t need legs to kick ass, babe, you’ve already got that on lock. Besides, so ya can’t move around as well? No big deal, you’ve got me for that.”

“B-but why would you-”

Gilda silenced Sunset with a kiss before pulling away and angrily saying, “I’m gonna pretend y’weren’t about to say what I’m pretty sure you were ‘bout to say. We promised, remember?”

“Y-yeah but,” Sunset goldfished for a second before hanging her head. “I’m… I’m not worth it.”

To her credit, Gilda didn’t even get mad. She just stared down at Sunset who had her head hung down and buried in Gilda’s chest. Gilda brought her hand up and started slowly stroking her fingers through Sunset’s hair. “Sunflower, Sunshine, light’a my life?”

Sunset sniffled into Gilda’s gowned chest for a moment before muttering a muffled, “yeah?”

“Last night, I flew,” Gilda said softly. “I’ve dreamed a’that since I was little. Now, if yer gonna try’n tell me that the girl who gave me that isn’t worth it, I’m gonna have to respectfully disagree.”

With her girlfriend gently stroking her hair, Sunset nodded, curling further into Gilda’s arms. “Gilda?”

“Mhm?” Gilda grunted as Doctor Tourniquet quietly stood and excused himself.

After a couple moments of quiet, Sunset looked up from Gilda’s chest and smiled. “I love you.”

Gilda’s eyes went wide and her face went red. “Ah geez, Sunshine, ya can’t just go an’- fuck, I… fuckit, I love you too!” Trying to be as gentle as possible given her girlfriend’s condition, Gilda hugged Sunset as tight as she could, burying her face into Sunset’s shoulder as tears of joy leaked from her eyes.

Outside, Doctor Tourniquet had closed the door and was facing the two women standing by Sunset’s room. One was pale with hair the color of the dawn who was leaning against the wall, her hands covering her eyes as tears fell down her cheeks. The other was dark as night and had a comforting hand on her sister’s shoulder.

“Celestia,” Doctor Tourniquet spoke up, his voice soft as he interrupted the older woman’s quiet tears. “Celestia, please, none of this is your fault.”

“I beg to differ, Tourni’,” Celestia answered bitterly, “I was the one who failed to quell this ‘Anon-A-Miss’ business before it resulted in serious physical injury. I also failed to realise one of my best-performing students was living in a damn warehouse. I also seriously misjudged the young woman who rescued her, and just happily volunteered to be her caretaker, as being a delinquent. I think I can categorically say I’ve failed as an educator today, at the very least.”

“Sister,” Luna placed a hand on Celestia’s arm, “you could not have known things would get this bad, and your hands were legally tied either way. I would also like to point out that, even now that she has turned over a new leaf, Sunset is quite talented at deception, if she doesn’t want someone to know something it will not be known unless matters force her hand. As for Miss Grimfeather, Gilda’s constant apathy and laissez-faire attitude towards the general concept of rules is her own fault, not yours.”

Tourniquet put a hand on his old friend's other shoulder. “Your sister is quite right, Celly. And even if you were at fault, which I do not believe, then I would say that the Celestia Sonen whom I both know and admire would not let this break her but instead use it to push forward. You have always done so, even in the darkest times and these times are hardly like those.”

Celestia nodded wearily, wiping her cheeks dry. “You’re right, both of you, still… I think I’m at least within my rights to say: I’m getting too old for this shit.”

“You’re only thirty-nine, Sister,” Luna deadpanned, crossing her arms. “You’re not even in cougar territory yet.”

Letting out a sigh, Celestia just waved her friend and sister off. “I’m just going to let that one go. Tourniquet, have you spoken to Chryssi about that paperwork ‘transfer’? I need to ensure all of Sunset’s identifying papers are in the system to get her what care she’ll need.”

Tourniquet sighed as he gestured for them to follow him to into a nearby empty room which he closed and locked before turning back to the sisters. “Yes, I have, though I’d like to point out that you well know how much I hate dealing with your ex, Celly. Chrys is brilliant, true, but there’s no denying that she’s a complete sociopath.”

“She’s much better now,” Celestia retorted. “We’ve reconciled our differences and we’re definitely better as friends. Besides, her technical expertise is a necessity. We’re basically fashioning a person from whole cloth as far as the system is concerned.”

Luna chuckled, patting her sister’s shoulder. “Ooh, ‘the system’, ah, but that brings back memories. You do have the worst taste in women, Sister dear.”

“Look who’s talking,” Celestia sneered back playfully. “Or do you think I’m unaware of your lurid affair with the Mayor?”

Luna turned red and looked away. “It’s hardly an affair, Mayor Sombra isn’t married. It’s simply a matter of keeping our privacy is all.”

“Juicy gossip aside,” Tourniquet waved his hand to get the attention of the two sisters. “Chryssi made no secret that it would take a matter of months to get everything situated. The blind leviathan of bureaucracy is slow which is in our favor to some extent, but it also means nothing can be done regarding Sunset’s situation until the process is complete.”

“Let us hope then,” Celestia said determinedly, “that Miss Grimfeather is as devoted to Sunset as she appears.”

Luna laughed quietly at that. “Sister, I think that is the least of our problems. While you’ve been cooped up in your office I’ve been more than watchful. Gilda hovers over that girl like a mother hen over her chick. I’m more concerned about Sunset’s mental well-being, she isn’t just academically gifted, she was a fantastic athlete. Losing that much of one’s ability all at once will be… jarring.”

“And we’ll be unable to process a referral to a physical therapist or psychiatrist until after at least the medical paperwork pushes through,” Tourniquet remarked grimly.

“Furthermore,” Celestia cut in, “the matter with Anon-A-Miss, though resolved as of this morning as to the identity, has still effectively cut off Sunset from the entirety of the student body in terms of a social support structure.”

“Sister, I’m certain the students will be contrite,” Luna said with a concerned frown. “They will no doubt be eager to make up for their behaviour, don’t you think?”

“Oh, of that I have no doubt,” Celestia replied scathingly. “The problem is that Sunset Shimmer was just abandoned by everyone she trusted. After the Fall Formal, she was a bit of a shrinking violet, even with her ‘friends’ there to help her. But now I shudder to think what kind of trust issues she’ll develop in the wake of this gross betrayal. I can’t even advise her to forgive their actions in good conscience. The students were so quick to pin the blame on her that it… concerns me.”

“I suppose you have a good point, Sister,” Luna remarked with a sigh. “I, too, am… disappointed in the student body. I’m certainly sympathetic to their outrage at having their ‘dirty laundry’ aired for all to see, but that does not excuse the state of affairs to which this matter descended.”

“Either way, my dears,” Doctor Tourniquet interjected, “I’m afraid this will be a very difficult Christmas for Miss Shimmer. Let us hope her devoted lady is up to the task of keeping her sane.”

Luna and Celestia both raised their eyebrows at that.

“You’re… unaware?” Tourniquet asked, a little surprised. “Why, Miss Grimfeather nearly fractured her legs getting Sunset here in time for treatment and, from there, refused to leave her side, staying next to her or sleeping in a wheelchair at Miss Shimmer’s bedside for the past eighteen hours or so, solely so that Sunset wouldn’t wake up alone. I’ve hardly seen such clear and genuine devotion in my life. That and the fact that I left just as they were professing their love for one another leads me to believe that those two are, as they say, queer as a thirty-leaf clover.”

“I don’t think anyone says that Tourni’,” Luna grumbled as Celestia smirked at Luna, snapping her finger and holding her hand out in a ‘gimme’ gesture to her sister. Luna cursed and grabbed her purse. “Ugh, harridan and harlotry. We are living in godless times!” She cried out as she pulled out a twenty and slapped it into Celestia’s hand.

“I win again, Lulu,” Celestia crowed, “I told you, my sense is infallible.”

“Blast it all, and I thought I had this one, too,” Luna griped. “She even dated Flash Sentry.”

“Sentry is a very nice boy,” Celestia remarked, “that said, he was such a beard that Sunset could have passed for Father Christmas.”

“First my nurses, now my oldest friends,” Tourniquet lamented as he turned away from the friendly bickering of the Sonen sisters, and unlocked the room. “Hopefully that poor girl gets a taste more sanity this holiday season than I do.”

Sunset had been quiet ever since telling Gilda how she felt. She knew she should probably say more but to be honest she couldn’t think of what else to say. Gilda had run herself ragged saving Sunset’s life. She owed her actual life to someone. That was a new feeling. Sure, she owed Twilight a great deal for sparing her and forgiving her admittedly… poor choices. But to owe her life to someone else? Gilda was, at the moment, gently snoozing away sitting up in the hospital bed with Sunset laying down, her head in Gilda’s lap and her mind racing.

She had always been wholly independent. Not necessarily comfortably so, but effective at the very least. Sunset’s survival, and general success, in a literally alien world with few resources, was a testament to her capability. With that said… it was a difficult pill to swallow; the idea that if Gilda hadn’t been as conscientious as she was, that Sunset would have bled out (at best) or frozen to death ingloriously pinned under a bunch of rusty metal. She still didn’t know how Gilda had known where she lived.

Rolling on her back, Sunset scowled as her legs tangled unresponsively in the covers. ‘This is gonna take some getting used to,’ Sunset thought, but turned her mind to more pleasant matters as she looked up at the girl who had just asked Sunset to be their girlfriend. Sunset couldn’t help smiling. Gilda was beautiful. Her stark white hair and dark skin made for a lovely contrast. One that Sunset felt like she could get lost in for days.

As Sunset was staring dreamily up at Gilda, the taller girls eyes fluttered open and she let out a mighty yawn, stretching her long muscular limbs to the tune of several cracks. “S-sorry, Sunshine. Did I fall asleep?”

“Only for a little while,” Sunset answered with a small smirk. “You’re cute when you sleep,” she said before wincing a little. “Sorry if that came out creepy.”

Gilda shrugged. “If you’re close enough t’watch me sleep, Sunflower, then you’re right where I want you to be. Can’t complain about that.”

Sunset blushed and buried her face in her hands. Gilda scooted down so she was laying next to Sunset properly and went about fixing the covers around Sunset’s legs before taking her place next the now much-quieter redhead and wrapped her arms around her.

“You okay, Sunshine?” Gilda asked quietly, enjoying the proximity and warmth of her girlfriend.

Sunset put her hand in Gilda’s and squeezed. “Not really, I keep trying to think about other things, except then I’ll try to do something simple and I can’t because my stupid legs don’t move.” Sunset’s voice came out bitter and a little angry. Gilda couldn’t blame her for that.

“Yeah… I… I’m sorry,” Gilda murmured against Sunset's neck. “I tried to get there as fast as I could but…”

Turning as well as she could, rolling to face Gilda, Sunset scowled and brought her hands up to cradle Gilda’s face and meet her gaze. “You saved my life, Gilda Grimfeather. I… I’d be dead. If it weren’t for you I would be dead. Do you understand that? Are you following me, here? I. Would. Be. Dead.” Tears had started falling down Sunset’s face as she wrapped her arms around Gilda and hugged her. “You’re my whole world, Gilda. Especially now. I’m… I’m angry and I’m frustrated and I’m going to be really difficult, I know myself. I’m used to doing everything myself and that’s… that’s literally impossible now.”

“Y-ya don’t have to though,” Gilda said softly, returning the embrace. “You’ve got me, I can do whatever y’need.”

Sunset gave a dry chuckle. “That’s sweet, babe, but you’re missing the point.” She pulled away and looked Gilda in the eyes. “I want to do things on my own. I want to be able to take care of myself. It’s not that I think I won’t be taken care of… I trust you with my life and… with my everything. It’s the fact that me taking care of myself? It’s not even an option anymore.”

“Yeah, I can get that,” Gilda admitted, sighing. “What’dya want me to do though? I’m not good at this, I don’t even know what I’m doing, babe. I’m… I’m scared. I’m scared I’m gonna fuck up and hurt you, or mess up and make something worse… I dunno.” Gilda buried her face in Sunset’s hair, as she was wont to every time she got flustered.

“I don’t know either,” Sunset said quietly, snuggling closer to Gilda and breathing in her calming scent. “I really don’t… I didn’t have a plan for something like this.”

Gilda scoffed. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure nobody plans for something like this. I sure as fuck didn’t plan for my parents to die and to be left alone, just kinda had to roll with it. Figure I’ll do the same thing here, except neither of us are alone now so… silver lining, yeah?”

“Yeah…” Sunset curled in on herself a little, and Gilda let out a sigh.

“Look, Sunshine, I’m not gonna lie,” Gilda said, gently stroking her hair. “This is pretty much the nightmare, right here, for most folks. But you’n me? We’ve had our nightmares already. We’re better than them, y’know? They’ve already happened and everything else is just ‘same shit, different day’. The next while, here? Next few months, maybe years? They’re gonna be rough, sure, but we’re gonna beat’em. Not a doubt in my fuckin’ mind. I lived through some horrible shit and so have you, and we did that alone. Together? We’ve got this. We did it once and it didn’t break us, the fuck you think it’s gonna do now that we’re together?”

Sunset was silent for several moments as she absorbed what Gilda had just said. The implications especially. There was so much of her that wanted to tell Gilda to just go. To leave her here and stop thinking about her and just… make it easier on herself. Even if it broke both their hearts she wanted it. And she didn’t. It was infuriating. Sunset Shimmer was always sure. Always certain. Always knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it. Except now…

“Gilda? Can you do me a favor?” Sunset asked softly.

“Anything,” Gilda answered

Closing her eyes and burying her face in the crook of Gilda’s shoulder, Sunset sobbed out. “Right now, while you’re here with me, and holding me, and I’m feeling halfway sane, can I ask you to promise that you’ll never let me push you away? I’ll try… I know me. I’ll try to make it ‘easier’ on you but… please don’t let me do it. I’ll do it because I hate myself so much, all the time.” Gilda felt her heart breaking with every other word, but she didn’t want to interrupt Sunset who clearly needed to get this out of her. “But you… you said you loved me. You said ‘a few months or years’ like it was just a given that you’d never let me go. And I need that. I need someone who won’t ever drop me, or get rid of me because I’m… I’m inconvenient. I’ve never, in my life, had that… so please, please never let me push you away.”

“C’mon, Sunshine,” Gilda replied, her voice thick with emotion. “Y’should know by now you don’t even hafta ask. I sure as fuck ain’t planning on losing you anytime soon. I’d do anything for you, Sunshine, so yeah, I promise.”

Gilda held onto Sunset as she shivered, alternating between crying and dozing, then waking up, trying to do something with her legs, getting frustrated, and then crying again. Through it all, Gilda did the only thing she knew how to: she held on. She was Sunset’s rock throughout one of the worst days of her life and every time she felt like she was starting to lose it Sunset would just reach out and Gilda would be there to hold on to. It was later in the evening when a knock came on the door, and Gilda answered.

“C’mon in,” she said a little groggily. The two teens had essentially spent the entire day sleeping, or having an emotional breakdown or three, and Gilda hadn’t slept barely at all the night before.

Officer Shining Armor poked his head in and smiled at the sight of Sunset resting peacefully in Gilda’s arms. “Evening, Miss Grimfeather,” Shining Armor said softly as he walked in. He had a ratty duffel bag and a backpack slung over his shoulder. “During the scene investigation down at the warehouse, we found these. I suspect they belong to Miss Shimmer so I had them release it once the boys in evidence cleared them.”

Sitting the bag down by the bed as carefully as he was able, Shining Armor sat down. “Sorry, been a long day. Do you mind?”

“Nah, take a load off,” Gilda answered softly. “Try not to wake up Sunflower here, though, she’s had a helluva day, savvy?”

“I’ll do my best,” Armor answered, keeping his voice low. “So this is the girl you flew for, huh?”

Gilda blushed. “Y-yeah, I guess so, thanks for covering my ass back there, by the way. I owe you one if you ever need it.”

Officer Armor just shrugged. “Not like anyone would believe me anyway. Hell, I barely believed it and I watched it on video.”

“Fair enough,” Gilda shot back with a wry grin. “Still coulda made our lives a lot tougher than y’did, so I still owe ya one.”

Shining Armor answered with his own grin as he leaned back in the chair and watched the sunset outside the window. Gilda turned her own gaze to the horizon and they watched as the sky went from a brilliant, fiery orange, to lavender, then dark purple as the night settled in. Eventually, Shining Armor looked back over to the pair; Gilda was still laying on her side, her arms curled protectively around Sunset who was sleeping the sleep of the totally exhausted.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll probably mention this one to my wife,” Armor remarked in a quiet voice. “She’s a diehard romantic and I’m pretty sure this story’ll make her entire month.”

Gilda smirked. “Go for it, I couldn’t care less. I’ll probably never meet her anyway, so why not?”

“Thanks,” Shining Armor stood up and stretched, yawning slightly. “Well, better get back to it, I just wanted to let you know the investigation is done. The school was very helpful in locating the ‘Diamond Dogs’ and your statement will definitely help matters. I understand the Principal has already seen to their expulsion.”

Gilda grimaced. “Cool, I’ll still probably smear them across the pavement if I ever see them again.”

“Yeah… as an officer of the law, I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that,” Armor said wryly. “But as a private citizen who is very much in love, I understand it. Still, given how much that girl there relies on you, I’d recommend you stay on the right side of the law. If for no other reason than for her sake.”

Frowning, Gilda looked down at Sunset with a pensive expression. “Yeah… I guess so, huh? Hadn’t really thought of that. Gilda Grimfeather, goin’ legit.”

“Just figured I’d mention,” Shining Armor remarked. “It’s not just you anymore.”

Gilda just nodded, still staring down at Sunset’s sleeping features. It was a little terrifying how important this redheaded fireball had become to her in so short of a time. Important enough to make sure she stayed exactly on the side of the law she needed to. She couldn’t risk herself if that meant leaving Sunset alone. Shining Armor grabbed his officer cap and settled it on his head, gave Gilda a short nod, and left. As the moments ticked by, it occurred to Gilda that she’d forgotten to do something important.

“Right, I should probably let those assholes know Sunny made it,” Gilda muttered. “Hm… guess I should talk to Sunset first though.”

At first, Gilda was about to poke Sunset awake, but a moment later had a much better idea. Shifting the blankets around, Gilda rolled over so she was poised over Sunset, one hand on either side of the sleeping girl. Leaning down Gilda kissed Sunset softly until she felt the redhead begin to stir, then smile against her lips, then start to kiss back.

“Hey pretty lady,” Gilda said softly as she pulled back. Sunset grinned widely up at Gilda, eyes lidded.

“Hey,” Sunset answered in a soft, shy voice.

Slowly, Gilda lowered herself down to her elbows, so only the slightest amount of her weight was on Sunset, who had brought her arms to Gilda’s sides, to trace her fingers along the larger girl’s muscular torso, trailing along her breasts, and up to her neck. Gilda brought herself down to touch her forehead against Sunset’s, brushing their noses together playfully and giving her quick, mischievous kisses before lowering herself further to Sunset’s neck and giving her a quick nip.

‘Ooh, that was a nice sound,’ Gilda thought as Sunset let out a soft moan. ‘I’m gonna remember that spot.’

Bringing herself back up she stared down into Sunset’s eyes. There was so much light there, it was blinding. Gilda loved it more than she could say. She needed to go to English class more often if she was gonna be with Sunset.

Sunset’s hands trailed up to Gilda’s back, tracing along the broad shoulders as she returned Gilda’s surprisingly soft, gentle kisses; every so often she would dig her fingers in just a little, dragging her nails along Gilda’s back and relishing the heat that grew in the young woman’s eyes.

“Mmm… don’t start something ya aren’t gonna finish, babe,” Gilda growled out, with a predatory grin on her face.

“You started it,” Sunset retorted with a smile, bringing her hands up to her favorite place to grip in Gilda’s short hair and leveraging herself up to kiss her girlfriend.

Gilda smiled through the kiss, wrapping her arms around Sunset, one around her back and one trailing down to her waist and rolling over, drawing out a startled ‘eep’ from the smaller girl as Gilda pulled Sunset on top of her. Gilda let her hands trail up and down Sunset’s body, savoring the redhead's delighted hum as Gilda let her fingers touch and trace Sunny’s lithe, athletic form. One hand came to rest directly on Sunset’s rear and gave it a hearty squeeze. Gilda laughed as Sunset's eyes went wide and her cheeks flushed a furious red.

“Hey, toots,” Gilda joked, grinning widely.

“I should slap you,” Sunset warned, her eyebrow crooked up towards her hairline.

Gilda shrugged. “Probably should, but you won’t.”

Sunset growled softly in her throat, but eventually just rolled her eyes and settled down to lay on top of Gilda, resting her head on her favorite spot on Gilda’s left shoulder. “Nah, too much effort. I’m still tired.”

“Y’keep letting me get away with shit like that and I’ll just get worse,” Gilda warned with a smile.

“Yeah well…” Sunset’s cheeks managed to get redder as she mumbled something that Gilda didn’t quite catch.

“What was that?”

Sunset buried her face against Gilda’s neck. “I said ‘I like it ‘cause it makes me feel sexy,’ okay?”

“Heh, like you need any help feeling sexy, Sunflower?” Gilda snarked, planting a kiss on Sunset’s bare shoulder and getting a delighted shiver in response.

“I certainly feel less sexy when I can’t move my legs…” Sunset said a little somberly.

Gilda frowned at her words, leaning back and bringing her hand up to guide Sunset’s face around so they were eye to eye. “Sunshine, I ain’t gonna argue with you on this one. You’re sexy as hell and if I have to spend the rest of my fuckin’ life convincin’ you of that I will do exactly that, savvy?”

Sunset goldfished for a moment before dropping her face back down to Gilda’s chest. “How do you do that?” She asked, her voice muffled. “Why do you do that?”

“What?”

“Talk like that,” Sunset answered without lifting her head. “Talking about spending years together. Or spending your life doing something for me…”

“Should I not?” Gilda asked, “I love you, Sunshine. I love you so much it hurts sometimes, so why shouldn’t I? I’m not really a complicated gal. I say what I mean and I mean what I say.”

Bracing her elbows on Gilda’s shoulders, Sunset lifted herself up so she was looking down at her girlfriend. “Yeah, I guess that’s true, huh?” she said with a small smile, before leaning down and kissing Gilda. “You’re the best, Gil. How did I get so lucky?”

“Probably the same way I did,” Gilda answered blithely. “Anyway, I actually woke ya up for a reason… y’know, other than just kissing you. That was mostly me just gettin’ distracted with how stupid pretty you are.”

Sunset swatted at Gilda’s cheek before kissing her again. “Stop it, charmer. I’ll never stop blushing at this rate. So what was the reason?”

Letting out a breath, Gilda reached for Sunset’s phone. “When you were out, y’know, the nurse and doctors told me… they told me they weren’t sure you’d make it through the night, savvy? And… and they let me come into the ICU to, uh, ta say goodbye… just in case.”

Sunset’s hand flew up to her mouth, and tears came to her eyes. “O-oh, Gilda… I’m… I’m so sorry. I didn’t… no one told me-”

Gilda waved her hand dismissively. “It’s past’n done. You came out of it okay, turned out you were just crazy stressed out ‘cause’ve those stupid night terrors y’get, ya? And when I came in and put my hand on ya, you calmed right down. Doc Tourniquet said it pushed you into bein’ stable.”

“Gilda…” Sunset was on the verge of crying again, and Gilda brought her hand up to wipe away the tears.

“It’s fine, Sunflower,” Gilda said softly. “You’re fine, I’m fine. Everything turned out… well… not okay, but as good as it was gonna. So, the point is… I mighta gotten into yer phone… you really oughta change that password by the way. Nearly cried in my fuckin’ room when I guessed it…”

Sunset chuckled. “Why? I mean, why did you get into my phone? I’m keeping the password.”

Gilda rolled her eyes. “I, uh, I mighta called Applejack and asked her to come to the ICU…” That one drew a genuine look of anger from Sunset that made Gilda flinch. “H-hear me out, Sunshine-”

“Don’t you ‘Sunshine’ me, Gilda,” Sunset growled, slapping her palm on Gilda’s chest. “You know exactly how I feel about them. How could you do something that!”

“Because you were dying, baby!” Gilda choked out, her arms going up to grip Sunset’s shoulders. “You were on your literal deathbed. I… I know you’re mad but… I know you! I don’t give a damn if you forgive’m, but I know for damn sure you’d at least give’m the chance to say good-bye.”

Sunset glared down at at Gilda furiously for several seconds before slapping both palms against the larger girl’s chest again, burying her head against Gilda’s shoulder and letting out a muffled scream. Gilda wrapped her arms around Sunset. She was shaking, badly, and Gilda felt like crying. Even though she knew she’d done the right thing it didn’t change the fact that she’d hurt Sunset by doing it.

“I’m sorry…” Gilda said softly, “I’d do it again, though. It was the right thing t’do. I know you’da done it too.”

There was no response for a long while until finally, Sunset lifted herself back up. Her eyes were a little red but she didn’t look mad anymore. “No, I know… you’re right. I would’ve. I don’t know if I can ever forgive them for abandoning me but… I’m not a completely heartless bitch. I wouldn’t want them to hate themselves over my… yeah. Thanks, Gil… and I’m sorry for hitting you. I got… really worked up.”

Gilda smiled. “Eh, c’mon babe, no offense but you’re not exactly MMA material. Especially not at the moment. I didn’t even feel it.”

Smiling, Sunset leaned down to kiss the spots she’d slapped. “I know… it was still wrong of me though, even if you did technically break into my phone and call my ex-friends. Forgive me?”

“Yeah, of course,” Gilda said, running a hand through Sunset’s hair as the girl smiled down at her. “So… uh, yeah, anyway I promised I’d at least tell them if you made it and I, uh… kinda forgot to do that. So I figure we should probably let’m know. Told’em not to expect a novel or anythin’. Two’re three words at most.”

“Hmm…” Sunset grinned mischievously. “I think I’ve got the perfect idea, actually. Babe, grab my phone will ya?”

Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash had just had what was probably the most miserable day of school in their entire lives. Every waking moment they’d spent wondering if the next text they would get, either from Gilda in Applejack’s case, or from Applejack in the case of the rest of them, was going to be about Sunset Shimmer having passed away in the hospital.

Gilda had warned Applejack to stay away, and that warning had been passed on. They’d been informed in no uncertain terms that if they came they would be turned back. So they waited and waited. After school, the five of them gathered somberly at Sugarcube Corner to wait some more, only in the presence of slightly more chocolate and ice cream, although none of them, not even the normally limitless Pinkie, had any kind of appetite. So they waited.

Until six’o eight in the evening when Applejack received a text, the notification told her it was from Sunset Shimmer. Or at least, it was from her phone. The five girls gathered round, their hearts stony and cold. All of them simultaneously dreading and chomping at the bit to see what the final news was. Applejack slid the message open to reveal not just the promised three-word message, but a picture too.

An exhausted looking Sunset Shimmer was laying happily in Gilda’s arms on a hospital bed wearing a tired but wide smile, one arm around the larger girls neck and shoulders, with the other throwing up a ‘V’. Gilda, on the other hand, was wrapped around Sunset and kissing her cheek, with her right hand held out, presumably holding the phone up, in a perfect selfie angle.

The message was three simple words.

Gilda half-stumbled into her flat, throwing Sunset’s duffel bag onto the futon as she collapsed into her easy chair and let out a sigh of relief to be surrounded by familiar sights, sounds, and smells instead whatever the fuck the Hospital was supposed to look, sound, and smell like. Depression and feces, if her stay was any indication. She still felt bad about leaving Sunny there alone but she’d been discharged yesterday and had yet to leave and Sunset had made a good point that she really did need to take some time to recharge.

Resisting the constant urge to scratch her legs, Gilda took a breath and stared up at the ceiling. Sunset would be getting discharged tonight and be free to go. There had been no complications from the surgery. There hadn’t been any signs of infection either. Now that the swelling had begun to recede, Doctor Tourniquet had been pleased to note that Sunset would be able to leave the hospital just in time for CHS’s winter break to begin.

Which, of course, meant that Gilda was going to have to consider how everything would work once Sunset was staying with her.

Her caseworker, Sticky Note, wouldn’t give a shit. He never did. Not that he wasn’t a nice enough guy, he just didn’t have enough time to care. So long as Gilda toed the line and kept her nose clean for the most part then Note would essentially leave her to her own devices. She’d just tell him she had a girlfriend living with her now. He’d keep a slightly sharper eye on her for a month and once he confirmed things weren’t spiraling down, he’d go back to his routine of social triage.

No, what Gilda really was concerned about was the day to day stuff. The place wasn’t all that big. She could definitely move some shit around to make it a little more accessible, but that only went so far. The bathroom was the real issue. The door swung out and it was too close to the wall to be particularly friendly to someone opening from a sitting position. Gilda eyed the bathroom for several moments as her mind cranked through the approaches. The inside wasn’t too bad. There was enough room to go from wheelchair to toilet and back. The shower though…

Gilda grimaced. She had an idea, but she needed money to make it work. Not a lot but… Pulling out her phone, Gilda thumbed open her contacts and made a call.

//Yo, G, qué onda?//

“Hey, Crankshaft, you’n Gear in the shop today?” Gilda asked, tapping her fingers on the arm of her easy chair.

//Sure are, everything cool? Y’sound cranky.//

“It’s been a rough couple of days,” Gilda replied. “Anyways, if ya got time I needed to talk to you’n your brother.”

//Guess we can swing it if ya don’t mind helpin’ out with a few oil changes.//

Gilda chuckled. “Not f’free I won’t, otherwise, sure.”

//Course, a’course, a’right, seeya soon, chica.//

Gilda hung up and put her phone back in her pocket. Today was gonna be a different sort of day. Walking into the bathroom she took a quick shower and changed. It felt so much better than the ones in the hospital. Pulling on a fresh pair of jeans, a couple layers of loose and ratty shirts she didn’t mind getting dirty, and throwing on her bomber jacket, Gilda left. The walk to Ponyville Auto Repair wasn’t long, just a couple of blocks, but it was still freezing. Gilda was shivering as she pushed the door open, the off-tone bell at the corner of the door gave a tinny ring as she stepped into the shops front area.

The man sitting at the counter was a short, stocky fellow with mocha-colored skin, a full head of braided black hair and an easy-going smile on his face. Crankshaft was the more genial of the two brothers who ran the shop, so he mostly manned the counter despite being nearly as adept in the garage as his brother, Gear Shift was a petrolhead par excellence but had the social skills of a brick made of awkward silences.

“Crank, howsit hangin’?” Gilda greeted the man with a wave.

“Gilda!” Crankshaft sat up and opened his arms wide, his face split in a wide smile. “Good t’see you, chica, heard you got laid up?”

“Long story, Crank,” Gilda replied, shaking her head. “Look, I’m here ‘cause I need a favor.”

Crankshaft crooked an eyebrow up. “Si? That’d be a new one. Gilda la Grifa needs a favor? I’ll hear it, but we got some work t’do before we get to it.”

Gilda nodded and followed Crankshaft into the back, he tossed her one of their larger jumpsuits and she hung her coat from the rack and pulled the suit on. It was the one she usually used when she worked under the table for the brothers. Gilda practically built her own ride from scratch and when she showed it off to the pair, Crankshaft had told her to come by if she ever needed some extra scratch. They were always a little short-handed and there weren’t many skilled mechanics in the Ponyville area. Gilda was self-taught but had enough of a knack for it that she made most of her extra money helping out the brothers in their auto garage.

The afternoon went quickly, and if Gilda was being honest it felt good. Getting under the old beaters the brothers were usually called upon to bring back to life, getting stained with oil, just… working. It felt good. It only reinforced her decision to ask the guys for that favor. Besides, if she was gonna make this thing with Sunset work she’d need to start kicking her own ass into gear.

Pulling out from under the last car, a beat up old Mustang that had definitely seen better years, Gilda stood up and wiped her hands down on her jumpsuit before going to the large sink, grabbing a handful of the cheap soap dust that the brother’s used, and turning the water on to clean herself off. Shaking the hot water off, she walked into the back room where Gear Shift and Crankshaft were sitting, chatting away in their native language. As soon as Gilda took a seat, they stopped and Crank turned to her.

“So, Gilda,” Crank started, “what’s this favor you need, eh? You’re not really the favor-asking type.”

“Y-yeah… look, guys,” Gilda rubbed the back of her head, trying to find the place to start. “Basically, I’ve gotten in deep with this… this girl, savvy?” Gearshift raised an eyebrow, and Crankshaft grinned, but Gilda cut him off before he could crack a joke. “Not a word, look… I’m gonna be honest, I-I know we ain’t friends or anything but… I need a job. Like a legit job, and ya both know I can do this work. I know it’s askin’ a lot, but I wanna give this girl the world and… and I’m basically startin’ at nothing.”

The two brothers eyed each other for a moment, Gear Shift gave a silent shrug and Crankshaft smiled. “The hell you mean we ain’t friends, chica?” Crankshaft shot back, “dunno ‘bout you, but I think we’ve been amigos for awhile. You need a job, Grifa? You got a job. Besides, we been gettin’ behind on our bigger orders. Winter’s rough on a small place like this, ‘specially with the carcachas people drive ‘round this part’a town. Hell, I was gonna hire you on anyway once you were outta high school. Do you know how hard it is to find someone who knows their way around an old-school engine ‘round this town?”

Gilda was not gonna cry in front these guys, still, she definitely grinned widely and reached out to grip Crankshaft’s hand and gave it a firm shake. “Thanks, guys, I needed this. I got a lot of shit coming up.”

“De nada,” Crankshaft answered as he stepped away. “We got some paperwork to do then, yeah? Should be easy, let’s go get it done. We can start you f’real in a couple’a days, sound good? Til then, here’s the sixty for the work today, thanks for the assist amiga,”

“Sounds like a plan,” Gilda said as she took the money. “I gotta run though, got a lot more work to do today.”

“Sure, sure,” Crankshaft replied. “Bring your cariña around to say hi sometime, yeah? I wanna meet the girl that made an honest woman outta you.”

“I will,” Gilda promised, too excited to be embarrassed. “Thanks again, guys.”

Gilda’s mind buzzed with plans as she raced out of the auto repair shop and down the street towards the hardware store. She had a lot to do before Sunset came home.

Sunset Shimmer stared out of her window and towards the horizon. She’d been in that same room for a maddening amount of time, and it was beginning to wear on her. The nurses particularly looked down on her occasionally slipping into her wheelchair and going rollabout, but she couldn’t just sit still.

She looked over at her nightstand that held her journal. It was beautiful: a hardbound tome embossed with her cutie mark from so long ago. The divided sun. It was a mark so similar to Princess Celestia’s that everyone around her assumed she was destined for greatness. When she was taken in as the Princess’s personal student it seemed as though those assumptions had been justified.

But everything went so very wrong.

‘You couldn’t just be content, could you?’ Sunset thought glumly. ‘Couldn’t just be happy that you were the most talented unicorn in the land and sat at the right hoof of the Princess, could you? Sunset Shimmer always has to have more.’

Reaching out, she ran her hand along the familiar binding. She had been writing in it for most of the day since Gilda had left. She knew what was coming. ‘You pretty much ruin everything you touch, don’t you, Shimmer? Get your dream role as a student to Celestia? Ruined it. Make a life on another planet? Ruined that. Finally found some friends? Ruined because you were a rancid bitch for three years. Now you’ve got Gilda. Wonder how long it’ll take you to ruin that?’

Sunset pulled the journal to her chest and hugged it, trying to fight back the tears. ‘I can do this. I can be better. I can do better,’ she repeated the thoughts over and over but it hardly drowned out the noise from the part of her brain that liked seeing her miserable. The part of her brain that knew she deserved it. ‘I can be happy. I d-deserve to be happy. Gilda said I make her happy so… so…’

“Miss Shimmer?”

Snapping out of her internal recriminations, Sunset looked up at the door where Nurse Kindheart was looking in. She saw the compassion in the older woman’s eyes. Not pity, but sympathy. “Miss Shimmer, dear, you’ve got a visitor. Do you know a ‘Twilight Sparkle’?”

Quickly wiping the tears from her eyes, Sunset nodded. “Yeah, you can let her in, thank you.”

Kindheart vanished from the doorway only to quickly be replaced by the familiar sight of the young woman who had rescued her from the darkness of her own ambition. On this side of the mirror, the lavender beauty with the kind and humble smile was a simple high school student, a bit awkward but with a radiant personality. On the other side, however, she was Her Serene Highness, Princess Twilight Starla Sparkle; Princess of Friendship, Archmaga of Canterlot, and the first Alicorn Ascendant in over a thousand years.

Not a bit of that pomp and circumstance was evident in Twilight’s face as she rushed to her friend’s bedside and wrapped her arms around Sunset, pulling her into a hug.

“H-Hey Sparkle, how’s Equestria?” Sunset asked as she returned the hug, trying her best to keep the pain out of her voice.

Twilight pulled away, a sad smile on her face. “Good, we have our troubles, of course. I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you, but the more recent messages you sent… I had hoped things were improving.” Twilight’s face fell, and her features darkened. “Guess I was wrong again.”

Sunset reached out and rested her hand over Twilight’s. “You couldn’t have known. It was a freak accident that did the actual damage, y’know. No one could have predicted that.”

Sighing, Twilight sat down at the bedside and leaned back in the chair as she turned her hand to hold Sunset’s. “I know, I know. I still… feel responsible, though. I still think none of this would’ve happened if… if the girls hadn’t just left you.”

“I wouldn’t change a thing about what happened, Twilight,” Sunset said firmly, before grimacing and then amending, “I mean, y’know, other than the cripple thing. I’d definitely change that. But the rest of it? Not a chance. Not if it meant losing…”

“Gilda,” Twilight smiled warmly this time. “It’s a little hard to believe if I’m being honest. I mean, don’t get me wrong, she’s clearly different here, but in Equestria she’s… well, it doesn’t matter. I’m happy for you, I really am.”

“Thanks,” Sunset replied, a light blush on her cheeks. “And, I dunno, maybe you should give that Gilda another shot. This one was pretty rough around the edges but… I’ve never met anyone in this world as caring, honest, straightforward, and… wonderful. Who knows, maybe somepony is missing out.”

Twilight nodded. “I’ll take that into consideration, maybe you’re right. Maybe I just haven’t been approaching from the right angle. I can’t force someone to accept friendship, that’s sort of the opposite of how interpersonal bonds work.”

“So is this just a social visit? Or well-wishing?” Sunset asked, pulling her hand back and straightening her posture in bed. Her slouch was getting pretty bad after not being able to move around on her own very much. “Too bad magic is so unreliable here or I’d see if you could work a healing spell.”

“From what you told me,” Twilight said firmly. “Even if I could work a healing spell here I wouldn’t. Considering the bone fragments issue I’d say thaumaturgical healing would probably cause more damage.”

“It was a joke, Twi’,” Sunset said wryly. “I know my condition isn’t curable, by magic or science. For whatever else comes… I’m stuck like this.”

“Yeah…” Twilight trailed off, turning her gaze out to the window. “Hey Sunset? How would you like to come home?”

Sunset froze. There were a lot of things she was expecting to hear Twilight say but that was not among them. Home? Equestria? She was an exile. Not imprisoned but neither welcome back in her homeland. Her home dimension, even. Sure she probably could have fled to the Minotaur Khanate, the Griffon Aeries, or even the Zebrican Tribal Confederation. A unicorn of her skill and power would be welcome in almost any court. But Sunset could still feel it, the beautiful forests and wide, open plains of Equestria, the soft green grass under her hooves. The wind in her mane that still smelled of sweet fruits and clean, high mountains. She would never be truly happy anywhere else in that world but Equestria.

“B-But, my exile,” Sunset’s said weakly.

Twilight just shook her head, smiling. “Celestia rescinded the order the same day I informed her of your condition. She even convened a special court hearing for it. As of this morning, the unicorn known as Sunset Shimmer is no longer Excommunicatus Equestris, and is welcome to return to her homeland at her discretion and leisure.”

“I… I…” Sunset tried to form a response, to say she would but… Sunset let out a breath. No, this was easier than she was making it out to be. She knew her decision already. “Sorry Sparkle, I’d love to visit sometime but I can’t… no, I won’t leave Gilda, She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Thank you for the offer, though.” Then Sunset smiled a little wanly. “Besides, I don’t think being a crippled unicorn would be all that much better. Sure, I’d have magic back, but here I’ve got the internet, so…” Instead of laughing, Twilight looked… unsettled. “Twi’? You okay?”

“Sunset, have you read: A Treatise on Empyreal Matter by Bright Eye?” Twilight asked suddenly.

Sunset scoffed. “C’mon, Sparkle, Empyreal Matter is like, one of the cornerstones of the Conjuring discipline. I’m a pyrothurge, of course I’ve read it. I did a dissertation on it for fun.”

“You remember the Unsummoner’s Template Conjecture then, right?” Twilight pressed.

Furrowing her brow, Sunset nodded. “Yeah, the postulate stated that summoned matter doesn’t simply fade but undergoes a process called ‘unsummoning’ in which the summoned matter retains a state-based nature, remaining cogent in a template form. It’s why summoners tend to summon similar looking creatures or in my case why my fire usually has the same general cosmetic appearance. You don’t rebuild your summoning everytime you cast, you just draw it out from a prior… template…” Sunset trailed off as her mind started to connect the dots on what Twilight was getting at. “N-no way… you’re not… Twilight, please say you’re fucking with me, right?”

Twilight flinched at the curse but shook her head. “Why do you think we appear in this world in human form? Why are we not suddenly bombarded by illness and disease since our newly formed bodies should lack any of the micro-scale adaptation built up over a lifetime of exposure to the atmosphere? Why can we speak and read the local language and dialect?”

“Because…” Sunset worked her jaw for a moment as her researcher's mind caught up. “Because the Mirror is constantly updating its base Template from the school. Teenagers are a microcosm of societal and physical growth. That means… when I came here I didn’t just pass through a portal, did I?”

“No, your form as a unicorn was ‘unsummoned’,” Twilight said softly, setting her hand Sunset’s arm. “It’s been phased out and stored as a Template… for now. Eventually, the Template will be cleared once you’re too old to effectively be matched to it, of course. Then a new one would be constructed based off of your current form in this world just as your form for this world was generated off of your unicorn form. But… for now, I believe since you’re still a teen you’ll be able to reclaim your prior state, I can’t promise for how much longer, though.”

“I… I see,” Sunset said hollowly, “that’s uh… Twi’ are you sure?”

Twilight nodded. “I’ve tested my theory extensively. The matter that enters the portal is not the same as the matter that leaves the portal.”

Nodding, Sunset let out an empty chuckle. “So technically I’m… not even Sunset Shimmer?”

“I guess?” Twilight said with a shrug. “But given that cell division does the same thing multiple times over a given lifespan I wouldn’t see why it should be an issue.”

“Heh, fair enough, Sparkle,” Shimmer replied.

She felt… distant. Everything seemed so far away except for what Twilight had just told her. She could go back to how she used to be. Hooves, mane, and all. Sunset Shimmer could return to being whole and able and powerful. All it meant was… giving up her entire life here in the human world.

Giving up Gilda.

“Twilight?”

The alicorn princess-turned human cocked her head to the side. “Did you decide? There’s no immediate hurry, but I’d definitely figure it out soon just to be safe.”

“No, I know,” Sunset answered, “but… do you think it’ll last through the end of Winter Break? Just, y’know, a couple of weeks? This is a pretty big decision.”

“I can’t make any promises,” Twilight replied morosely, “you know that.”

Sunset nodded. “Still, I’ll decide at the end of the break, before I go back to CHS. Before everything picks up again. I want to… to stay here for a little while longer.”

Twilight gave her friend a thin smile. “If you’re sure, just send me a message through the Journal, whatever you decide, alright? And if it matters, Princess Celestia has missed you terribly, she never wanted this.”

Tears leaped to Sunset’s eyes and she let out a choked cry. “Neither did I, Twilight. Tell her… tell her I miss her too, and that I love her, okay?”

“I will,” Twilight replied, “but I expect you to eventually tell her that yourself one day, she deserves that, and you deserve to be able to say it.”

Sunset hung her head but gave a short nod as Twilight leaned in and hugged her friend, and Sunset returned the embrace. They remained that way for a good while, former exile and former student until eventually, Twilight pulled away. With nothing left to say, Twilight gave Sunset’s hand a friendly squeeze before standing up and bowing herself out of the room. Sunset had a lot to think about, and less time than she would like to think about it in.

If she told Gilda… what would her girlfriend say? Would she tell Sunset to go through the portal? Probably, Gilda was that type of person. She wanted to best for Sunset. Right? Except… what did that even mean? Sunset was at least relatively certain that Gilda was what was best for her. Leaning back in her bed, Sunset groaned. This was not what she had signed up for. Prodigy or no, a test with no right answer just wasn’t fair. Then again whatever was fair? Her life had thus far been a practical study in ‘unfair’.

“Why can’t things ever be easy?” Sunset muttered to herself. “Even if it just means being a cripple who’s stuck in one place all the time, at least that decision is made for me. No input required from the dumb horse.”

The night was falling quickly, it was winter and the days were shorter than ever. Soon the only lights in Sunset’s room were from the moon- and starlight streaming in through the window. Through the remainder of the day and into the night Sunset had made absolutely no progress on the conundrum Twilight had given her.

Go home? Or stay here?

Sunset stared out the window from her bed, watching the storm blow itself out, feeling the turbulence being neatly mirrored in her own mind.

“You awake, Sunshine?” a raspy voice asked from the doorway, startling Sunset into sitting up as Gilda stepped into the room. “Hey Sunflower, when I saw the lights off I thought y'might be asleep, glad ya weren't, you okay?”

“Uh, yeah,” Sunset answered a little uneasily, glancing at the clock she saw it was almost nine at night. “I’ve been going out of my mind in here, to be honest. Not that I’m complaining, but what are you doing here so late?”

Gilda smirked. “I need a reason to come visit the most beautiful girl in the world?”

‘Oh Gilda,’ Sunset felt the pang in her heart. The easy way Gilda just complimented her and moved on, the pure, bald-faced honesty was something Sunset hadn't realized she needed right then. Gilda was wearing a fitted tanktop and worn jeans, and her bomber jacket was slung over her shoulder, with her other hand gripping the strap of Sunset’s duffel bag. Despite the weather, she didn’t look cold, in fact, Gilda looked a little too warm if anything. Feeling a little better now that she was nearby, however, Sunset reached her arms up and gestured for Gilda to come closer.

“Nope, just thought you’d be asleep by now,” Sunset replied. “Now c’mere and kiss me, I missed you.” Gilda happily obliged and swept Sunset into her arms, careful to mind the position of her legs so she didn’t twist them, and kissed her softly. Pulling away, Sunset grimaced, “baby, you’re all sweaty and you smell like sawdust and oil, what the hell’ve you been doing all day?”

Giving her girlfriend an apologetic smile, Gilda laughed. “Sorry ‘bout that Sunshine, I gotta surprise for you back home. Also, I uh, mighta got a job.”

Sunset stared incredulously at Gilda for a moment before shaking herself back to reality. “Wait… what? You… a job? Is this because-”

Gilda held up a hand, forestalling Sunset’s incoming tirade. “Okay, hold it, lemme go back. Honestly, I sorta already had a job. This might be a shock but an emancipated high school orphan doesn’t have a lotta spare scratch kickin’ around. I pick up some under the table stuff at an auto shop near my place. I like workin’ on cars’n bikes and stuff. And I’m good at it. So when I asked to go legit with’em they had no problem. Turns out they were gonna give me the job once I got outta high school anyway, and I’da taken it too, now I just got it a little earlier, that’s all.”

That… made Sunset feel a little better. When Gilda put it that way it made sense, there was no way Gilda could afford anything if she didn’t have some kind of income. Sunset had just sort of… silently worried it had come from less-than-legal means. Technically she hasn't been wrong; under the table work was a legal grey area at best, but way better than Sunset’s more worrisome thoughts had been.

“Still… you got it because of me, didn’t you?” Sunset asked a bit sadly. “Because I’m…” she trailed off, clenching her eyes. A pair of warm hands came up to cradle her cheeks and she opened her eyes again to look up into Gilda’s golden orbs.

“I’da probably asked for the job early anyway, Sunshine,” Gilda said with a wry smile. “See I… I’da felt bad not bein’ able to take you on dates and stuff. I’ve never really done this sorta thing before but, uh, turns out I’m kinda old fashioned that way. So, yeah, yer gonna hafta let me take you to dinner and movies and stuff ‘cause I’m pretty sure my entire idea of dating comes from old movies.”

Sunset smiled, bringing her hand up to trace her fingers along the back of Gilda’s. “How do you do that?” she asked softly, “just… make me feel better every time I’m about to fall apart? You say exactly what I need to hear.”

“Dunno, babe,” Gilda answered, leaning in to kiss Sunset on the forehead. “Wish I had somethin’ elegant t’say but I’m pretty much just wingin’ it here.”

“Pun intended?” Sunset asked with a quirked eyebrow. Gilda blinked in confusion for a moment before catching up and slapping her palm to her face. “Guess not, but that kinda makes it better though,” Sunset said with a chuckle. “So are you staying the night here again? I’m sure the nurses won’t care.”

“Nah,” Gilda responded. “I’m here to bring you home, Sunshine. I talked to the night nurse and they said you could be discharged now if you wanted, there’s even a service to drive you over to my place.”

Sunset stared for a moment before breaking out into a wide smile. “I can get out of this place finally?!”

“Sure can, Sunny,” Gilda replied with a grin. “I got a surprise for ya when we get back to my place too. I think you’re gonna like it, Sunflower.”

“Gil, if you keep doing shit for me I’m gonna develop a complex,” Sunset complained playfully. “But… thank you, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Gilda kneeled down to kiss Sunset before dropping the duffel bag. “I left a wheelchair out in the hall, let’s getcha dressed. It’s cold as a witch’s tit out there.”

What proceeded was a little irritating for Sunset. Gilda, to her credit, had brought the easiest thing for Sunset to put on given the circumstances, a teal sundress that hung from her shoulders and trailed down a little past her knees. Given that it wasn’t particularly warm, Gilda had also brought the two spare blankets and one of her bigger, warmer winter jackets to bundle Sunset up in.

That wasn’t the irritating part.

The irritating part was the underwear. Neither of them had particularly counted on how embarrassing and difficult it would be for a girl without the ability to move her legs. Sunset ended up shooing Gilda out of the room so she could go about awkwardly dressing which involved a great deal of colorful and unusual (to Gilda) phrases. By the time Gilda got back into the room, Sunset was dressed and sitting in the wheelchair that had been brought in to transport her, and looking silently grumpy. Her mood persisted through much of being rolled through the hospital’s halls, although Gilda did have one specific question on her mind that she gave a voice to.

“So did… did you swear by our Principal’s beard?” Gilda asked in confusion.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Sunset answered evenly.

Gilda furrowed her brow. “It just seems a little-”

“I don’t want to talk about.” Sunset hissed through clenched teeth, turning her head just enough to give Gilda the evil eye.

“Okay! Okay!” Gilda held up a hand in surrender and returned to silently pushing Sunset towards the exit.

The quiet lasted up until Sunset sighed and reached her hand over her shoulder to rest it on Gilda’s wrist. “Sorry, I snapped at you,” Sunset said softly. “I’m kind of a bitch when I’m cranky, and I have a feeling I’m gonna be cranky a lot for a while so… y’know, feel free to call me on it.”

“No skin off my back, Sunshine,” Gilda replied in an easy tone but, rather than relaxing, Sunset tightened her grip on Gilda. “Sunny?”

“Gilda, I need you to call me on it,” Sunset said after a moment. “Please, otherwise every time I do it I’ll eventually realise I did it. Then, I’ll feel like a bitch, and I’ll feel like even more of a waste of time, because ‘why would you bother with someone who snaps at you all the time?’ and… and…” Sunset brought the heels of her hands up to her eyes and rubbed at them. “Shit, I’m crying again, goddammit!”

Locking the chair in place, Gilda swept around to the front and wrapped her arms around Sunset who grabbed onto her like a drowning woman. “Okay, I will, I promise,” Gilda said.

“I hate this, Gil,” Sunset sobbed, “I hate this so much. I hate that I can’t move my legs, I hate that my friends left me alone, I hate that no one at CHS ever really forgave me! Everyone just smiled to my face while they waited for me to fuck up again! I hate all of it! If it weren’t for you I don’t even know where I’d be!” Sunset pounded her fists into Gilda’s shoulders as she cried. “I hate it. If I never had a chance after the Formal then why couldn’t they have just left me in that stupid crater to die!”

Gilda’s whole body went rigid as Sunset sobbed. Slowly, Gilda pulled away from Sunset and brought her hand up to the redhead’s chin and forced their eyes to meet. There was anger in Gilda’s gaze. Real, iron fury that made Sunset cower back for a moment, stunning her out of her rant.

“Don’t,” Gilda breathed out, “ever, ever say that again, okay?” Her own tears started to run quietly down her dark cheeks. “Don’t you ever say you wish you’d died. Not t’me. Because if you had I’da missed this. All’a this. You think I regret a single goddamn thing about us? I still have nightmare’s ‘bout seein’ you under those fuckin’ stairs, Sunflower but I wouldn't even trade away those if it meant not bein’ with you. I hate what those assholes did but you’re better than that. You’re better than them, okay?”

Sunset whimpered a little but nodded. “I just… I can’t help it. I keep thinking this stuff and it clogs up my brain. All day I just sat in bed hating myself and telling myself I was worthless and I couldn’t shut my brain up!”

Gilda relaxed, her hands going to Sunset’s back and stroking her fingers up and down. “What can I do, Sunshine?” Gilda asked softly. “I wanna help but… I’m not smart, babe. I dunno what to do. I can’t… I can’t lose you, okay?” Leaning in, Gilda pressed her forehead to Sunset’s. “Maybe it’s stupid, but I’m pretty boring honestly. Like, my whole life has just been kickin’ around, stayin’ alive, and not givin’ a shit. Being with you has been pretty much the best of it so far. Before I met you my plan was basically to get the hell out school, get a job, and then smoke myself to an early grave.”

“Yeah but… you shouldn’t have to take care of me,” Sunset replied. “If I can’t do anything then what good am I?”

Rather than answer Sunset, Gilda kissed her. Not a hard, fast, passionate kiss, or a teasing, romantic kiss. It was warm, slow, and honey-sweet. Tracing fingers up her pale neck, running her thumb gently along Sunsets jaw, and repeating the motion slowly as their lips sealed softly against one another. Gilda tried to show Sunset, in all the ways she didn't have the words to tell, just how much she loved the girl.

After what felt like an hour they parted, both panting to get their breath back as Gilda grinned. “I’m gonna get to do that basically whenever I want, right?”

Sunset smiled a little shyly, flushed but looking happier, and nodded.

“Well I’m sure as fuck not complaining, then,” Gilda continued. “Besides, I wasn’t jokin’ before, you’re way fuckin’ smarter than me, Sunshine. You’ll figure out somethin’ to do, and if I can help just tell me, yeah?”

“Okay,” Sunset answered, taking a deep breath and rubbing at her eyes. “Sorry, again. I keep doing that. I guess serious trauma and almost dying really takes it out of a girl, huh?”

“Yeah, you really can’t catch a break can ya, Sunshine?” Gilda remarked blithely.

“I caught you,” Sunset replied with a cocky smile.

“Heh, yeah,” Gilda agreed, giving Sunset another, quicker, kiss. “I guess ya did.”

Getting back behind Sunset’s wheelchair, Gilda quickened their pace, getting down to the lobby before handing Sunset the thick coat to put on while Gilda threw the two sets of covers over her and tucked them in. The transport van had already lowered its ramp by the time the pair got out into the cold. Gilda pushed Sunset up and into the van, then quickly hopped in and sat on the bench beside her, belting herself in, and then reaching out to hold Sunset’s hand. The drive was slow, the snow was coming down almost as hard as it had the first night they’d spent together; binge-watching horror movies and cuddling on the couch. The night that Sunset had realised just how kind Gilda really was deep down.

They didn’t talk during the ride, Sunset was happy just to enjoy Gilda being nearby again. It had been a long day, especially considering Twilight’s offer. That was a little annoyance that was currently curled up in the back of her head. The thing was, if Twilight was going to ask her right now, at this moment, she’d say ‘no’ in a heartbeat. Right now the idea of being without Gilda, even if she did have a working body and magic, was so painful she couldn’t even consider it.

She needed time to be objective.

Besides, she wanted to enjoy her Christmas inasmuch as she could. Especially since she would be spending it with Gilda.

As the van pulled alongside the Ponyville Commons, Gilda flagged the driver to stop. “That’s close enough, boss, the parking lot’sa hot mess, you can let me’n Sunflower out right here. Thanks for the ride.”

They opened the back and lowered out the ramp, and Gilda got out behind Sunset to pull her free of the confined space. It felt good to be in the open air again even if it was freezing. Sunset had been starting to get a little panicky if she was being honest. There was very little wiggle room in the back of the van and if Gilda hadn’t been there holding her hand the whole ride she might’ve lost it.

‘Wonder if I managed to develop claustrophobia on top of all my other issues,’ Sunset considered in annoyance. ‘That would just figure, wouldn’t it? Given that I was almost crushed to death, though, I can’t say I’d be surprised.’

Gilda pushed Sunset through the parking lot which was quickly becoming a snowed-in mess. Sunset didn’t mind though, it meant they could probably spend the next day on the couch watching movies and talking again. She was badly in need of a little bit of normal. When they reached Gilda’s door, though, she stopped and came around with a wide grin.

“Okay, so, I’ve got… kind of a surprise for ya, Sunflower,” Gilda said.

Sunset smiled questioningly. “Okay? You look nervous, is everything alright, Gil?”

“Yeah…” Gilda said awkwardly, “I just… want you to know how much I love you, okay?”

“Babe,” Sunset said as she rolled her eyes and laughed. “Look where we are, look where I am,” she gestured to Gilda’s place and to her wheelchair. “Do you really think I don’t know at least by this point how much you love me?”

Gilda chuckled nervously, “Uh, yeah, no I know… but, this is… I wanted to do this for you. Since you’re gonna be livin’ here and all.”

Sunset’s eyes narrowed a little. “Do what?” Reaching down for the lever lock on her wheels, Sunset rolled herself towards Gilda’s door. “Gil, what did you do?” She pushed past Gilda, using her chair as one part battering ram to two parts transport and turned the knob of the door, pushing it open.

Grunting in annoyance as she rolled herself over the lip of the doorway, Sunset rolled in and what she saw made her jaw drop. Gilda’s place was not generally the cleanest in the world, nor the best organized. The furniture had, by general assumption, been stuck wherever was most convenient when it was brought into the flat and then left there. That was how Sunset had left the flat last time she’d been here.

Now, though, the floor had been mopped and swept enough so that it looked like even the bottommost layer of grime had been scrubbed away. A new(ish) rug had been added to the floor ensuring that most of the small living space had traction for her. The biggest change was the decor, though. The smell of sawdust pervaded the small home almost as much as the cigarette smoke did and the source was clear. The couch-style futon… wasn’t really a couch anymore. It was full in bed position but the futon mattress had been replaced with a real one. The legs had been sawed down, lowered to a height that Sunset could easily move to from her wheelchair and then back. It had also been aligned more evenly with the corners of the flat, and a metal handle had been screwed into the side of the wall near the bed for her to grip.

The t.v was still perched atop the dresser which was directly across from the bed, and Gilda’s chair was set closer to the kitchen. Sunset was so stunned at the change, she barely registered Gilda taking a hold of her wheelchair’s handles and pushing her the rest of the way in.

“So… what’dya think, Sunshine?” Gilda asked as she came around from behind the chair to stand in the middle of her reorganised flat. “I spent the morning and some’a the day doin’ some work at the autoshop, and pretty much the rest of the day until I headed over to see you doin’ all this.” She gestured around the place. “It’s not much, but I think it’ll be a lot easier for ya.”

“Y-y-you…” Sunset worked her jaw for several moments. “You completely… you… the handle and… the bed… you…”

“Uh, babe?” Gilda said a little nervously. “You, uh… you alright there?”

Sunset reached down to the small bag of her personal effects she’d had in the hospital during her stay and touched the firm binding of the journal. ‘Oh Twilight, what do I say to this? How do I… how did I ever consider leaving this beautiful, amazing…’

Wiping a few tears from her eyes, Sunset nodded. “Yeah, I’m fantastic, I just… I can’t believe you did all this. For me.”

Gilda laughed a little as she closed the door against the cold and locked it before hanging up her coat. “C’mon, Sunshine. What’s that’s supposed to mean?”

“Huh?” Sunset looked up at her in confusion.

“I mean, what’dya mean ‘you can’t believe it’?” Gilda asked as she pushed Sunset towards the bed and started dismantling the little fort of covers that made up Sunset’s lower body and throwing them over the bed. “Can’t you tell by now?”

The redhaired once-and-former exile stared around at the little flat, then back up to her beautiful girlfriend, with her smooth dark skin and moonlight hair, at that cocked grin and those entrancing golden eyes, and she smiled.

“No, you’re right,” Sunset said finally, holding out her arms so Gilda could pick her up and gently move her over to the bed. Once she was seated, though, she didn’t let go and just stared into Gilda’s eyes, grinning widely. “I was being silly, of course I can tell. It’s going to take a little while for me to really believe it, but… right now? Yeah, I can tell.”

Gilda moved in and kissed Sunset, warm and soft just like it had been in the hallways of Canterlot General. “Good, because I’m never gonna stop doin’ shit for ya Sunshine, so you’re gonna hafta get used to it.”

“I will one day,” Sunset said, her heart aching. Gilda was so damn sure that they’d be together. That nothing would drive them apart. “Bear with me until then, alright?”

“Always, Sunflower,” Gilda said, her raspy voice softening. “Now I’m gonna take a shower then we can watch part two of Halloween, Mikey get’sa way better kill count in this one.” She smirked as she peeled her shirt off and tossed it at the hamper in the corner, giving Sunset a lewd wink over her bare shoulder as she sashayed into the bathroom.

Sunset shook her head and laughed as she swung her legs up onto the bed and started to undress. “You’re a hopeless romantic, Gilda Grimfeather!” Sunset called out from where she was snuggling into the bed.

“You love me anyway, Sunshine,” Gilda called from the bathroom as the shower sputtered to life.

Fluffing one of the pillows and settling in to wait for her girlfriend to return from her shower with, most likely, some delicious popcorn, Sunset felt her grin widen as she hugged one of Gilda’s other pillows to her bare chest. “I do, Gilda,” Sunset whispered quietly, “I really, really do.”