It was a surprisingly warm day for so early in the year, Twilight noted absently as they wandered through the park, at least eight degrees warmer than the average day for this part of March. Perhaps it was because they were a little over an hour further south than Canterlot, but that was a very large discrepancy for the seventy-four mile distance. It might be fun later to look up the long term annual temperature variations for the region and compare numbers. There might even be a correlation between the temperature difference, unusual weather, and the strange energy going on in her hometown? It was something to consider...

...but not right now. Sunset had been right—she needed this day off, this weekend off, after the week she’d had. Plus, she was on a date with her gorgeous girlfriend, no parents, no Shining, no familiar faces in sight besides her cousin, and Sunset had never acted so loving and demonstrative before, not anywhere that wasn't the quiet privacy of the loft. Twilight felt her breath catch a bit when she glanced at the girl walking hand in hand with her—the sun caught Sunset’s hair just right, making it look like flowing, living flame cascading around her shoulders and brought out the warm undertones in golden skin. She looked like a goddess, her face turned up to catch the sunshine, her eyes closed and a lopsided smile on her lips. It was enough to make Twilight eager for warmer weather, when it would be too hot for the long jeans and heavy leather coat.

“Sparky?”

She jumped a little, pulled from her fantasy of Sunset in a swimsuit by the real thing nudging her. “Sorry, Sunset. I...guess I zoned out a little. What is it?”

Her girlfriend made a face at her. “Still in museum heaven, Sparky? Am I going to get you back before the day’s end?”

“Sorry, Sunset,” she apologized, feeling her face flush.

“It's okay. You like stuff like that—I don't mind. Museums are interesting and fun, after all.” The hand holding hers tugged her closer, so Sunset could draw her into a hug. “I just wanted to ask you something.”

Twilight could feel Sunset’s arms around her waist, holding her close, and she couldn't help but rest her cheek against her collar. “Mm?” she asked, savoring the feeling of safety and contentment surrounding her like this.

“Your cousin and her girlfriend are going to be busy at the tattoo place for a while—at least an hour or two, they said—so we have some time for just us,” Sunset murmured, kissing her forehead. “And there's a nice spot over there, in that group of trees that looks fairly private and cozy...I thought maybe you’d like to sit there with me?”

The group of trees did look nice. They were on a side path, deep in the park, and no one was around. The trees stood a ways off the path, surrounded by some low shrubs on all but one little break on one side. The time of year meant the center of it was still dappled with the warm sunlight, and the grass had already grown in lush and green. It would be a perfect place to sneak in some kisses with Sunset Shimmer, Twilight realized. “I like this plan,” she responded. “Lets sit.”

The two of them tripped and giggled over to the sheltered spot, neither wanting to let go of the other. In the end, Sunset had simply tightened her arms around Twilight's waist, and lifted her up off the ground so the redhead could walk them into the perfect place. Twilight got her revenge by pulling them both to the ground once her feet hit the earth again, and they ended up in a laughing, tangled heap of arms and legs, their faces close together on the grass.

It didn't take much for Sunset to close the distance between them, kissing her softly while sunlight danced across them and a gentle breeze stirred their hair. They were deep enough in the park that all Twilight could hear was the occasional bird, leaving her with the sense that they were the only two people in the world. That sense of isolation made her normal fears about getting caught lose their voice, and she found herself pressing Sunset for more, deepening the kiss and feeling those familiar, wonderful hands rubbing up and down her sides. Her own hands snuck inside dark leather, palms flat against Sunset’s back, fingers digging into her shoulder blades.

They parted for air but came together again, and Twilight reveled in how good it felt, to be kissed and held while outside, in the beautiful light of a gorgeous day instead of hiding their romance away in a dark room in fear if being judged. She felt...alive...in a way she never had before, with an energy in her veins that left her giddy and lightheaded...and when Sunset, her Sunset, broke away from her lips to leave a trail of damp fire along her jawline and breathe hotly in her ear words of possessive affection, she discarded all rational thought just to label this moment as magical.

“Sunny,” she whispered into fiery hair, inhaling the smell of Sunset’s shampoo and clean scent, touched by the green odor of the grass and the way sunshine left its mark in more than warmth. “I...” she trailed off, the words not quite formed enough to give utterance to. “I’m so glad we came today,” she finished instead.

“Me too, Sparky...I needed this. You needed this.” Lips brushed teasingly along the hollow of her throat. “It’s been so hectic...I didn't realize how much I've missed our time together until now.”

“We still see each other on...ooooh...Fridays...” She sighed in pleasure as a shiver went through her.

“It's not enough, Sparky. I miss...going out for milkshakes, or afternoons at the museums, and whole weekends with just us...” Sunset laughed. “Maybe it sounds dumb, but I can't get enough of you.” Twilight could feel Sunset’s fingers slip up under her shirt, tracing along her stomach.

She whimpered, shifting against her girlfriend’s body, rubbing their legs together, as she arched into the touch. “....it's not dumb, Sunny...Spending time with you...is amazing...” Twilight tugged Sunset’s face to hers so she could get another kiss. “…no matter what we’re doing.”

Lips pressed to hers curled into that crooked smile she adored. “…What if I had something we could do I know you’ll love?” Sunset murmured against her mouth.

Twilight pulled back, curious. “What?”

Sunset adjusted them, wriggling until they were partially propped up by a tree trunk, Twilight tucked against her snugly. Her hand dipped into one of the inner pockets of her jacket, and she pulled a battered paperback from it. “…I happen to have this. It's unabridged…” She wiggled the text temptingly in front of Twilight’s nose. “Thought maybe I could read to you this time.”

That got her girlfriend another happy kiss, and it was another five minutes before either of them remembered the book lying forgotten by Sunset’s side.

Twilight couldn't say how long they had been laying there, alternating between Sunset reading aloud and exchanging affectionate kisses while they enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air. The shadows had definitely moved since they had arrived, the sun climbing higher into the sky, but neither of them had bothered to check the time until Twilight’s phone chirped at her, interrupting Sunset from nibbling on her ear.

“That’s probably them,” Sunset said, nuzzling her before nudging her to sit up properly.

With a disappointed sigh, Twilight read the message and confirmed her girlfriend’s guess. “Yeah. They're wanting to meet us at the fountain.”

Sunset hauled her up as she stood, giving her a last tight hug to help her push past her clear reluctance to move. “C’mon. Our date isn't over yet—we haven't even done lunch yet…and I’m curious about your cousin’s new tattoo.”

There was something about the way she said the last that made Twilight pay close attention to the taller girl. She threaded her fingers through amber ones as they started to walk. “Sunny?” she asked with concern. “Are you alright?”

A crooked smile was sent her way. “I’m…I think I’m okay. Just…thinking about what we talked about this morning…and all that's going on with your cousin…”

“About your mother?”

“Yeah.” Sunset turned her face into the sunshine, chin tilted up as she regarded the bright blue sky. “Your cousin’s whole life has been completely redefined in less than twenty-four hours. She’s commemorating it with a tattoo—an open declaration of who she is and the life she wants to make for herself. She’s stepping out of the shadows cast over her by her parents and into the light…”

She scrutinized the redhead’s body language and thoughtful expression. “And you're thinking of the similarities to your own situation, particularly your attachment to your mother-figure that you are struggling with.”

Sunset chuckled softly. “You know me all too well, Sparky.” Blue-green eyes drifted shut as she tilted her head to turn her face directly at the sun that was nearly overhead. “I've been away for years, but the princess has the longest shadow I’ve ever known, and it's always been there, for as long as I can remember.” She ran her free hand through flame colored tresses, and Twilight saw a hint of moisture reflecting the sunlight at the corner of her eye. “…and here I am, acting like a frightened foal when I realize I can finally step into the sun on my own merits.”

There was less shock and more a sense of triumph in the back of her mind about the revelation that Sunset’s guardian had been not just nobility but royalty—Twilight’s guess had been right. Schooling her features and suppressing the urge to ask questions about that, the dark haired girl focused on the more important part of the conversation. “Everyone is afraid of the unknown, Sunny, of the future that they can't see and only hope for.” She released her hold on Sunset’s hand to put an arm around her in a hug. “But you don't need to be afraid—you're not stepping completely into the unknown, because your friends will be here in the sun with you…and so will I.” Twilight could feel the faint tremor in Sunset’s frame.

Taking a deep breath, Sunset returned the sideways hug. “I want to. I’m trying…I guess in some ways I’m still trying to figure out who I really am, and who I want to be…” Her free hand fell to her hip, rubbing absently at the dark denim. “…that’s always been a struggle for me.” Then she chuckled. “I’ll get there…eventually...now come on, I think that's them.”

Laughing, she let her girlfriend pull her along to where Wildsong and Glamour Shot were.

“So where did you say we were going for lunch?” Sunset asked casually, holding the hairbrush Glamour had loaned Twilight as they left the park. Twilight was in the process of fixing her ponytail, a hairband held momentarily in her teeth as she adjusted her gathered hair. Rolling around in the grass with the other girl had caused twigs and leaves to get caught up in their hair, but while Twilight had had to take hers down to brush out the debris, Sunset had simply tossed her head, shaking out anything clinging to red and gold curls.

“It's a cafe—during the day, anyway. Queer friendly place, has been for decades, all the way back to when there just weren't places for people like us to go. It used to be run by a couple of guys back when it opened, but after they passed away when I was really little, Mama Orchid inherited it.” Wildsong had a spring in her step now. “It's the best lunch date spot in town, hands down. Mama has some great recipes, and while she doesnt turn anyone away, it's almost entirely queer folks who go there, so you never feel like you stick out...especially if you're a teenager and it's your first date.”

Taking the brush back from Sunset, Twilight brushed out her ponytail and then passed the brush back to Glamour. “That’s actually fascinating. Canterlot has a few bars and clubs that cater to the non-heterosexual portion of the population, but the bulk of those are ones that serve alcohol and you have to be of legal drinking age to get in. Nothing like what you are describing.”

Sunset draped an arm around her shoulders, letting Twilight lean into her side. “Yeah, Sparky and I just usually go as ‘friends’ to restaurants and stuff. Casual places, nothing too fancy. There's this place near her school that does great milkshakes.”

“Song and I do the same thing. No one pays any real attention to a girl who gets dinner with her best friend. Especially in a college town.” Glamour had threaded her fingers through her partner’s as they walked along.

“Well today, we’re on a double date. We are, each of us, on a date with our girlfriend, not having lunch with our best friend. Remember that.” Wildsong very openly stole a kiss from Glamour, making Twilight’s cousin flush.

“Speaking of remembering...” Twilight fished her phone out and turned it so she could take a photo of Sunset and herself. “Smile, Sunny!”

Sunset grinned, and just before the flash went off, pulled Twilight into a kiss, making her nearly drop the phone in surprise. When she managed to pull back, ready to scold the taller girl, she realized she couldn't, not with how Sunset’s eyes sparkled with delight. “What was that for?” she asked, secretly enjoying the way her lips could still feel the kiss.

“Making some good memories for today, look.” Sunset turned the phone to show her the picture, which had somehow captured their lip lock without any blurring.

“Oh...” Twilight felt her heart lurch with emotion. It was the perfect photo, and she could see in it the affection and feelings between her and the girl who was both her best friend and her girlfriend. “You're right,” she said softly. “It's perfect...and only the first of many.” She frowned. “Now I wish I had taken some at the museum.”

Glamour glanced back. “Don't worry, Twi! I've got you covered! I took a whole bunch! I can send them to you when we get to the cafe!” Her grin couldn’t have gotten any bigger if she’d tried. “I even got a few of you two in the park!”

She would have normally been upset at being photographed like that, but today, all she felt was gratitude that her cousin had captured more of the day for her. “Thanks, Glamour,” she mumbled, casting a glance at Sunset and meeting her eyes. She could feel her own desires mirrored there—they both wanted to capture and remember as much of this day as possible.

“And here we are, ladies!” Wildsong called, getting their attention, releasing Glamour’s hand to spin around and face them all, doing a theatrical presentation of the building that they were now in front of.

Twilight stared at the cafe, not sure what to think or how to react. It was set back from the sidewalk and the buildings nearby, and the area in front of it was scattered with outdoor seating like one might find at any similar location. The door to the place itself had a flickering “OPEN” sign, and a list of hours, and the standard addition of extra information printed out and taped to the glass. What she could see inside showed more tables and what looked like a long bar-counter.

All of that was fairly mundane, fairly commonplace, nothing that made this eatery stand out from any of its ilk. Until she looked up and saw the name, the lights of the large logo over the front done in a bright array of color. She looked at Wildsong and in a sarcastic deadpan said, “A gay cafe and bar called ‘Rainbow Connections?’ Really? Dont you think that’s a little on the nose?”

“Kid, youre talking about the community that includes drag queens, leather bars, and the most ostentatious flag colors in history. We are not exactly the height of subtlety when we aren't in the closet.” Wildsong laughed. “Now c’mon, ladies. Allow me to introduce you to your people!” She tugged the door open and motioned them all in, bringing up the rear.

The lighting inside was dim, and one color, for which Twilight was thankful. It made up for the steady buzz of conversation and the surprisingly crowded interior. She must have tensed up, because Sunset hugged her closer, kissing her ear. “Hey,” she murmured. “You okay?”

Nodding, Twilight tried to not cringe from the sudden stares being directed their way, years of paranoia creeping up on her again when Sunset kissed her with strangers watching. “Just...nervous. Still not used to people seeing me...seeing us...like this.”

Sunset nuzzled her hair. “They're just jealous that I’m with the best girl here,” she murmured, making Twilight’s face flush.

“We don't stand on ceremony, ladies, so you just find yourselves a seat. No one here is gonna bite you,” called an older woman, her voice husky and surprisingly soothing. “I’ll have someone come get your drink orders in a hot minute, once Baby Song remembers her damned manners and comes to give Mama a hug!”

Wildsong was all smiles as she threw her arms around the heavyset woman in an exuberant hug. The woman had skin in a beautiful shade of dark blue, which paired nicely with her hair in tri-tones of silver, white, and ice blue. “I’m sorry, Mama Orchid,” she told her. “I just wanted to let the girls take it all in. It's their first time out without stressing over being outed.” Turning a grinning face back to them, she offered introductions. “This is Delicate Orchid—we all just call her Mama—and she owns the place. Mama, this...” she stepped out of the hug to tug Glamour Shot forward. “This is my girlfriend, Glamour, and that’s her cousin Twilight and Twilight’s girlfriend Sunset.”

“It's about damned time you found a decent girl. Caramel and I had just about given up hope! Well, c’mere, girl, let Mama get a good look at you.” Glamour seemed suddenly shy, hands twisting together nervously as she was given a once over by a stern faced Mama Orchid. The inspection lasted a long half minute, and seemed so tense that Twilight felt her own anxiety rising on her cousin’s behalf. Then the woman broke back out into a broad smile. “Oh, aren't you just precious?! Come here and give me a real hug—Baby Song’s girl is family, and in my family? We hug.”

“Oh! Um...” Glamour didn't seem to know how to react, and Twilight couldn't blame her. Glamour Shot herself and Twilight’s immediate family aside, most of their relatives weren’t touchy feely people, and that definitely included Glamour’s own parents. For all that Summer Breeze inserted herself into everyone’s business, she very rarely touched anyone, even her own daughter. Twilight’s brows furrowed—she’d never considered before last night how sad and lonely her cousin must have been growing up, and the parallels to the redhead who was still nuzzling her hair stood out sharply. She turned away from where Glamour was being enfolded by large blue arms to burrow her face into Sunset’s neck, hugging the taller girl tightly.

“Sparky?” came the soft question, a hand stroking along the top of her head. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, unable to really explain her emotions in any way that made sense. “…nothing. I…just wanted to hug you.”

Sunset chuckled, adjusting her hold to press them close together. “…I like your hugs,” she responded in that quiet voice for Twilight alone. “It feels good, in that way I only get with you.” There was a pause, and Sunset’s next words were directed away from Twilight. “…What?”

Lifting her head away from amber skin, Twilight looked back to realize her cousin, Wildsong, and Mama Orchid were all watching them. She hurriedly let go, straightening her shirt. “Sorry…Um…”

“Oh honey, you’ve got nothing to be ashamed of here,” the older woman assured her. “Love is always welcome here, no matter what form it takes. None of us have any room to judge you, and we don’t want to. This is our space, our haven, away from judgment and disapproval, where disappointed parents and angry churchmen have no voice, where love is celebrated and cherished, where we can all be ourselves, free and open and unfettered, instead of suffocating in whichever closet life puts you in.” She nudged them as a group towards a booth and out of the main walkway. “And we all understand what it means to hide part of yourself, so I promise, no one here will out you to anyone else. What happens here stays here, always. While you’re in Mama’s house, you can be true to yourself.”

She wasn’t sure how to feel, beyond overwhelmed. It was too much to process all at once. Her fears hadn’t been so bad in the car with her cousin—their mutual situation and bonding since New Year’s Eve meant Glamour was safe, that the secret was one they shared in keeping from their families. It had been fine in the museum, because the museum wasn’t crowded, and mostly, she’d just pulled Sunset along to look at exhibits, just like they had done before in museums in Canterlot, no romance involved. Even their intimacy in the park hadn’t agitated her anxieties, because they’d been alone and secluded, away from prying eyes and ears…but here, here in this crowded cafe, surrounded by noisy strangers, being looked at…it made all the discomfort and fear and anxious worry claw itself up. Even if it wasn’t entirely rational, it felt like they were watching her, scrutinizing her behavior, the way Sunset was touching her and holding her and everywhere she looked she expected to see disapproval and mockery in their faces. Little Twilight Sparkle, a deviation from the norm in yet another way.

And somehow, the constant reassurance and encouragement to not worry, that that wasn’t what was going on—that was making it worse. It felt the same as when someone at school was overly pushy in telling her that they were sincere in their behavior, when really it was an attempt to make her let her guard down and fall victim to whatever nasty social manipulation or harassment they had planned. The more this woman or Wildsong tried to help her feel safe, the more panicked and trapped she felt. It was hard to breathe, like the walls were closing in on her, and the crowd pressing in tight, the sound of their voices digging into her eardrums like wicked talons. Even the smells were getting to her, the various perfumes and colognes mixing with sweat and the scent of food and drinks in a noxious, cloying odor that she could taste as much as smell.

Twilight knew Sunset was worried about her—she knew it in the same way that she could always understand what Sunset was trying to communicate to her, as if the information passed between them through simple touch. The hands suddenly on her shoulders, guiding her to a seated position in the booth, squeezed, breaking through the claustrophobic haze, and she opened eyes that had clenched themselves shut to block out the stares, to find that blue-green gaze and fiery hair and dark leather filling her vision, blocking out everything else in the room. She lunged forward, needing that safe embrace more than she feared what others might think, clinging to Sunset like a lifeline that might pull her from the emotional morass sucking her down. Twilight buried her face in soft breasts, surrounding herself with the scent of Sunset and leather, while lips kissed the top of her head and murmured soothing, caring words, coaxing her to breathe, pushing back everything threatening to overwhelm her synapses.

She heard a voice talking, someone other than Sunset, and a moment later, an amber skinned hand gently turned her head so her ear was pressed to fabric, the sound of Sunset’s heart reminding her of falling asleep during their sleepovers. Something cool and damp wiped the tears away from her face—it took her some time to realize that her girlfriend had a damp napkin in one hand and was cleaning her face with it, still smiling down at her, holding her close. “It’s okay, Sparky, I promise,” she murmured. “…Just keep breathing for me, and take your time. We’ll stay right here as long as you need it.”

How long they sat there, in the corner of that booth, Twilight couldn’t say. It felt like hours before her heart no longer raced so fast it hurt, and she found herself enjoying the body heat she was soaking up from her girlfriend rather than hiding in her arms to feel safe. She sat up a little, seeing her cousin and Wildsong sitting across the table, concern on their faces. “…I’m sorry,” she apologized in a small voice.

“You’ve not got a thing to apologize for, honey.” Mama Orchid set a glass of ice water in front of her. “It happens to all of us at some point. Even ones like Baby Song, the unafraid ones who were raised around us, who seem like they’ve never been there, have times like that, that moment when they realize they can first be seen for who and what they are and they realize how nerve wracking it can be to confront that fear, even if they never realized they had it.” She smiled. “You’re in like company, dear, and you’ve got one hell of a lady to help you through it.”

Sunset leaned even closer to Twilight’s ear, whispering jokingly, “She’s saying I’m amazing.”

Twilight actually managed a giggle, turning her head to rub noses with her girlfriend. “…She’s not wrong. You are amazing.” Then she looked at the older woman. “…everyone feels like this? Like people are…staring? Like they’re going to point and laugh or give you a nasty look any second because you’re not…not like everyone else?”

“Pretty much, honey, maybe not always for the exact same reasons. I remember the first time for me, years ago. It was the most stressful thing I’d ever done…but a little advice, from an old woman who has helped blaze that trail? The worry and fear and stress of being the real you in front of others is better than living a lie forever. Even if you have to wait for a time when coming out is safe for you to do, you’ll be much happier if you tell the truth about yourself. You can't learn to love yourself if you feel ashamed of who you are inside.” Mama Orchid gave her an encouraging smile. “Now. Baby Song said you girls are here for a lunch date. So let’s get some food in you—my treat, since it's your first time with us. I’ll send Ruby over to get your orders in a few minutes, but the menus are right here.”

After the woman walked away, Twilight sighed deeply and shifted against Sunset. The redhead rubbed her arm lightly. “You feel any better?” Across the table, Glamour and Wildsong tried to look like they weren’t really listening in.

“…I…I think so,” she said quietly, her eyes finally looking beyond her girlfriend and the booth they were in. Now that she was more in control of herself, she could actually see that the other people in the room weren’t paying them much attention at all, not anymore than one might when taking stock of a room. “…Yeah. I am.” She sat up a little further, more in her own seat on the bench.

Sunset smiled at her, giving her hand a light squeeze. “Okay, but if you need another hug, or some air, say so.” Her head tilted slightly, teeth worrying at her bottom lip for a moment. “You’re having a good time today, right? Because…if it's too much, we can just be like we usually are in public. I don’t mind, Twilight, really.”

“No!” Twilight gripped the hand in hers tighter, afraid Sunset would pull away. “No,” she repeated, not quite as harsh. “…I want this. I want to be with you, even if just for today, without pretending you’re just my best friend. I want to be able to show how happy you make me, how much I love being with you, no matter what we are doing.”

There was no doubt in her mind that her answer had been exactly the right one—Sunset’s whole countenance brightened, and she brought their joined hands up to rub her cheek against Twilight’s knuckles, nuzzling the skin before leaving a few light kisses there. “You make me happy too,” she responded with a goofy grin.

They stayed like that for a while, before Sunset reached over and gathered up the damp, wadded up napkins off the table, and started to slide out of the booth. She paused, halfway out, and leaned over to kiss Twilight’s forehead. “I’ll be right back, Sparky. I’m just gonna toss these and hit the restroom.”

Twilight gave her a smile and nodded, watching as her girlfriend headed across the large space, weaving deftly between other patrons and the tables. The smile on her face grew as she found herself entertaining a daydream or two…at least until Wildsong’s voice interrupted the mental image of Sunset Shimmer in an incredibly short skirt strutting across Twilight’s mental field of vision.

“Holy shit, Sparkle, I seriously hope you plan on putting a ring on that, because…wow.”

Her head snapped around so hard she was worried she might’ve pulled something. “What?!” she squeaked, the word warbling badly in the middle.

Wildsong seemed unfazed by her reaction, sipping on her drink. “Look…when Glamour told me about you guys back in January, I honestly figured it was a high school fling. Teenage girl’s first same-sex relationship. They’re fun, but they are usually more about figuring out the details of what kind of person you’re really attracted to.” She blew a bit of striped hair from her face. “Pretty much like any high school romance, except double the amount of tits. That’s what it was like for me, for my friends, for pretty much everyone I’ve ever talked to.”

That thought didn’t sit well with Twilight, and her brows pinched together. Sunset was her best friend first, and the idea of just…using her like that to explore what she liked in a partner felt…wrong…somehow. Not to mention, as Twilight had pointed out to Sunset already, the amber-skinned girl was pretty much everything she’d ever wanted in a girlfriend. “…It’s…I wouldn’t have wanted to do that to Sunset. She’s my best friend, and that means everything to me,” she countered, a touch defensive.

“Believe me, I can tell. Like I said, I was expecting some goofy high school fling. That is not what you’ve got going on. Look at her. That girl is so in love with you that it's amazing she even realizes there’s anyone else in the room when you’re around.” She nodded her head, towards where Sunset was actually talking pleasantly with what seemed to be one of the waitresses, making a series of hand gestures. While her expression was friendly, she didn’t seem to respond to the very interested way the waitress was eyeing her curves, instead pointing back towards the table with the group.

As they watched, the waitress ducked behind the bar and started filling two drinks, and rather than enjoy the show of the girl bending over rather deliberately to fill the cups with ice, Sunset’s eyes immediately shifted back towards the table where they sat, meeting Twilight’s gaze and smiling in that way that only Twilight ever got to see.

“See what I mean? Ruby is practically begging your girl to take a peek, and Sunset couldn’t care less. All she sees is you. When you started to get a little shaky there? It was like everyone else stopped existing. Sunset only cared about making you feel better. Sparkle, you are the envy of half the women in this room, and some of the boys too, because not only is she hot as hell, she looks at you like you’re the reason for the sunrise.”

Glamour giggled. “Don’t you mean ‘the reason for the Sunset?’” she commented slyly.

Twilight felt her face heat to dangerous levels. “…I…” Words failed her. Her mind was racing too fast, seeing Sunset as if for the first time, the way others saw her. Watching how she got two drinks from the flirty waitress with a friendly smile, how other people turned their heads when she passed, checking her out, how all Sunset was looking at as she moved gracefully between obstacles was their table where Twilight sat. “…Oh…” she murmured, as it all came together in her mind, the missing pieces clicking into place.

Sunset finally returned, leaning over to slide one of the drinks to Twilight before she slid into the seat next to her. “Got your favorite, since we were busy when drinks were ordered,” she explained. “…You okay, nerd? What’d you two say to her? Please don’t tell me you broke her.”

“I’m…fine, Sunny. Just thinking about some things.” And for the first time in a long while, it was the truth.

Olay, so no lie, this chapter is something ive been giggling and sitting on for something like a year or two. Im so glad to finally post it!

Lotsa fluff here, especially in the park, but also in the cafe! I do hope the name made you all laugh as much as it did us in the writers room.

I will admit that “Mama Orchid” was hilariously fun to write, because I modeled her personality after someone I knew many years ago who was a hilarious and very blunt individual who loved participating in drag shows. So yeah. Take that knowledge and do with it what you will.

Remember how I joked that Glamour went from a throwaway joke to a plot important minor character? This date is why, especially the end of this chapter, where Wildsong makes twilight realize that Sunset loves her, is in love with her.

Itll be important going forward.

Mom’s surgery is a go for next week, so no chapter then, but ill post the following week.

(And yes, i will continue to poke fun at the trope of “Sunset shimmer is a hottie with big tits” that seems to be the internet/fandom consensus whenever I can. The fact that she doesn’t really see it because shes a horse with a different concept of attraction makes it even more entertaining.)