Pulling into the driveway, Sunset looked around in confusion at the complete lack of cars. Taking off her helmet, she twisted a little to look behind her at her girlfriend. “Where is everybody?”

Twilight sighed and fixed her glasses once she was free of her own helmet. “Mom and Dad had a meeting with the lawyers today, and both Cady and Shining are still at work. Shining and his partner have apparently been handed a pretty big case and he's pulling some very long hours because of it, so we probably won't see him much until they get a break in the case.”

Stowing the helmets and shouldering Twilight’s bag as well as her own, despite the nerdy girl’s protests, Sunset arched a brow as a thought came to her…along with a renewal of the heated buzzing under her skin that had been plaguing her since Wednesday morning. “What time will they be back?” she asked.

“Probably in time for a late dinner, why? Mom said something about picking up pizza on the way home.”

Stepping inside, Sunset rested their bags on the floor and pulled off her boots, giving Twilight time to enter and close the door entirely…before pulling her into her arms and pressing both palms to that cute rump and squeezing. “Well…I haven't seen you since Tuesday,” she teased, “and I was wondering if we had the opportunity here for a little alone time…”

The shorter girl squeaked in surprise and went up on her tiptoes to kiss Sunset, arms going around her neck. “…Oooh!” Her lips turned up in a smile that the former unicorn had started to realize spoke to arousal and interest; it was an expression that Sunset had also started to think of as sexy, something that was more than a little disorienting but so very right.

After all, if there was any hairless primate on this nearly magicless dirtball that she would want to think of as sexy, it would be the one in her arms right now that was kissing her with such interest. Flicking her tongue playfully against Twilight’s, she reluctantly pulled back to ask, “So…is that a yes?”

“It's the best kind of yes,” Twilight responded with that smile again, body pressing flush to Sunset’s, rubbing up against her like a cat. “My room?”

Sunset felt a smirk playing on her own lips and she swung the smaller form up into her arms. “If that is what you desire,” she purred, watching with satisfaction as Twilight gasped and let out a low whimper of pure carnal want.

The best part was, this…this was all herself. That stupid voice had been silent all day, and the feeling of pleasure that tickled her when her girlfriend responded so ardently to her actions came from her own self…not the toxic remnant of her past mistakes. Buoyed by that, she hopped over Spike—who gave them a doggy huff of annoyance—and took the stairs two at a time while Twilight held on for dear life, squealing out, “Sunny!”

Sunset kicked the bedroom door shut behind them with a heel, before tumbling them both onto the bed in a delightful tangle. “C’mere, nerd,” she growled, tossing jacket and shirt over her shoulder as she stripped them in one smooth motion. “I missed you,” she whispered against Twilight’s neck as lavender fingers fought to get rid of that pesky sweater-vest…thing, and then the shirt underneath. “Once you've had your last day in that pit of a school,” she promised, lips brushing lightly against Twilight’s ear, “I am going to enjoy getting you up here and tearing this uniform right off you. Forget all those stupid little buttons and consideration for that itchy wool—just grab the front of it and pull with my hands until the buttons pop right off.”

She couldn't say where the thought came from, or why even the image of destroying the hideous outfit was so viscerally satisfying, but from the way Twilight frantically managed to get out of the offending garment and throw herself into Sunset’s embrace, her girlfriend liked the thought as much as she did. Amber skinned hands slid down working to get the skirt out of her way as well—anything to end up skin to skin with Twilight as soon as possible. Sunset found herself aching for the contact.

Her wish was granted not long after, when her own jeans and underwear joined her jacket on the floor. She pressed her body to Twilight’s and hugged her tight. “Mmm…” she hummed happily, nuzzling into dark hair. One hand soon wandered southward, tracing a line down Twilight’s stomach while Sunset spent some time reacquainting herself with the other girl’s mouth. Even though they had a limited window, the former unicorn was content to take her time, brushing her fingerpads over soft skin in a series of intimate caresses that made her lover sing her pleasure to the old glow-in-the-dark stars scattered across the ceiling.

Just as she was intending to take her exploration further, starting to press kisses down Twilight’s front, her girlfriend stopped her with hands in Sunset’s mane. Blue-green eyes blinked up at the other girl. “What’s wrong, Sparky?” she murmured, resting her cheek on one breast.

“Nothing at all,” Twilight said, smiling as she brushed red and gold strands back from Sunset’s face. “I just wanted to see if you were interested in doing something a little different. As much as I like what you were about to do—and please believe me when I say I really like it—I thought it might be fun to explore what we can do together…”

Licking her lips, Sunset nuzzled against her. “Of course, Sparky…I’m okay with trying new things with you.” She let a slight smile play across her face. “What did you have in mind?”

She could feel the way Twilight’s fingers trembled as they ran over the skin of her bare shoulders and down her arms. “…I…noticed you like…taking the lead…that is…doing things to me…and it's wonderful…but I’d like the chance to find out what feels good to you? The way you have been doing for me? Like I did last week after the shower?”

Memory of those petite, slim fingers dancing between her legs until she saw stars made Sunset’s breath catch. “Oooh…” she breathed. There was no doubt in her mind that it would be fantastic to let Twilight do exactly what she was suggesting….but her fear lingered. What if the demon took advantage of her state of mind? Sunset prodded the awareness in the corner of her mind, and got no real response—the voice had been…sulking…in silence since their argument the other day.

Maybe it would be okay? She didn't want to disappoint her girlfriend, who was looking at her so eager and hopeful…and a big part of her wanted to feel Twilight’s touch like that again.

Temptation won the day. “…okay…” she murmured, shimmying up to peck Twilight’s lips with a kiss. “I’m all yours to memorize, Sparky,” came the teasing jibe, even as she rolled off her partner to sprawl comfortably on the pillows in a comical spread eagle pose.

It broke any tension that had built up from Twilight’s nervousness about asking the question. The dark haired girl giggled, before shyly leaning over to kiss Sunset. “Thank you for trusting me, Sunny…and if you don't like something I do, it's okay to stop me and let me know. I want you to feel as good as you make me feel…”

“Sparky, it's you. If there’s anyone I trust, it’s you.” She reached out and tweaked Twilight’s nose. “And I’ll speak up if something hurts or feels weird…but I’m not worried. Relax, okay? You're not going to hurt me.” To prove her point, Sunset snagged Twilight’s hand and pressed it just above her breast, close to her heart, knowing that the steady—if slightly elevated—pulse would reinforce her words. “See?”

Fingers curled slightly, tips pressing into her skin in a way that felt good. Twilight hovered over her, leaning close; her lips met Sunset’s briefly, before she moved, leaving a trail of kisses down the redhead’s jaw and throat. Her nose bumped briefly to Sunset’s collarbone, and she whispered in a voice somewhere between fascination and curiosity, “…you always smell like sunshine…”

“Do I?” Sunset wondered, amused. “What does sunshine smell like to you?” She knew what the concept meant to her, of a white stone balcony overlooking palace gardens, golden magic, and a warm alabaster coat that always smelled clean, buzzing against a filly’s senses in a way that felt right, smelled good and safe.

“Mmm…like a summer picnic under a tree,” came the response from her chest between tickling kisses. “Warm grass and summer flowers and green, growing trees, but also this smell that…just is from the sun itself somehow…” Twilight flicked her eyes up to look at her. “You're like the sun, Sunny. It’s in…every part…of you…” The kisses changed from light on her skin to more intense, mingling with the damp heat of the other girl’s tongue flitting out to draw patterns and lines on her skin, sending Sunset’s pulse skyrocketing until she couldn't hear Twilight’s murmurs over it pounding in her ears.

Sweet sunfire… Her thoughts spun dizzily, and she struggled not to pant at the surge of unfiltered desire now crawling up through her veins. A low, needy groan worked free of her throat and she clenched her fists into the comforter under her—it was either that or bury them in that midnight hair, freeing it from the rather severe bun her girlfriend wore to school.

Twilight smiled against amber skin and took that as her cue to really make Sunset’s nerves thrum with pleasure, mouth and fingers finding their way to her breasts. Coherent thought scattered utterly to the winds when her devious, adorable nerd began humming, even as she brought her teeth and tongue to bear on the nipple in her mouth. While the vibrations might not have normally done much at all, any time the teeth worried at the sensitive flesh, those vibrations were transmitted right into those sensitive nerve endings…

What would that be like somewhere even more sensitive?

…oh stars…maybe this was a bad idea…

Thankfully, Twilight didn't linger on her chest too long, and the moments where she chose to place more of those feathery, soft kisses on a lean stomach gave Sunset a chance to catch her breath and attempt to bring her thoughts back together in some semblance of order…albeit, a loose one. She could feel the ache in her core, the way her body didn't just crave but demanded more of her dark haired lover’s attention. Her magic tingled in warning, and what control she had left went to grasping her power and keeping it contained…

She really should have found a way to say no. This was a terrible idea…

“Sp-spar…ky…” Sunset started to say, the husky, throaty half moan of sound almost unrecognizable as her own voice to her ears.

And then she stopped caring about anything other than how this was the best idea Twilight had ever had, because that questing mouth had gotten between her legs without her registering it until it was too late. She bucked wildly, body arching with a startled cry of pleasure that no amount of insulation would have dampened, and the hands that had been gripping the bedding under her jerked free to dig into her girlfriend’s hair, pulling her against heated flesh and where her lips and tongue—and oh by the dark side of the moon were those her teeth?!—were sending pure pleasure right to her brain.

Traitorous hands.

Or were they the best hands?

Besides Twilight’s, of course, since those hands were touching her intimately, rubbing over her skin and squeezing her hip…

Why had she insisted on waiting so long again?

Sunset tossed her head back against the pillow, every breath a litany of desire and encouragement for what Twilight was doing to her. Fingers tugged insistently on that bun until the hair came free, tumbling down in a dark cascade over eager amber digits and bare lavender shoulders. And that was before she was able to look down the length of her body and watch what her girlfriend was doing.

Deep inside, her control had been steadily fraying in the face of a consuming hunger and rising arousal…and in that moment, seeing Twilight’s tongue flit out before she could feel it drag over her in the world’s most intimate kiss, the thin, ragged thread of control snapped like a bad rubber band.

Twilight let out a startled squeak when Sunset let out an aggressive noise and sat up. The redhead was tired of being on her back, and looking at her girlfriend, lips wet and eyes a little hazy from her own desire, she knew Twilight would enjoy what she was about to do. Hands reluctantly let go of her hair in order to push the other girl over on the bed, guiding her onto her back firmly. “We’re not stopping,” she assured her, her lips tugging into that confident, cocky smirk from the bad old days…before she swung her leg over and straddled Twilight’s head, her own palms grabbing the headboard for support as her hips rocked and rolled against her companion’s renewed efforts.

Sensation exploded behind her eyelids, making her squeal one that was more pony than human. Why had she been avoiding this? It felt amazing…and Twilight was definitely having her own brand of fun, if the sudden addition of her fingers slipping into Sunset and the other hand latched into a death grip on one amber thigh were any indication. She found herself trying to utter encouragement and praise, but it came out as a garbled mess that might have been smattered with Old Ponish, Gryphonic, and a few curses in ancient Minoan, all stumbling over each other and woven into the English and modern Ponish.

The first climax that hit her made her muscles jerk and spasm, her hands clenching hard enough against the wooden headboard that the boards creaked warningly under her fingers. She ground herself against the source of the feeling between her legs, chasing it as it rose, crested, fell, and rose again…she wanted more, she wanted it to never stop…she wanted Twilight to touch her like this forever…something her girlfriend seemed in agreement with.

With each subsequent peak, Sunset’s magic rippled under her skin, filling her as if it were part of the physical pleasure Twilight was inflicting on her body. As she cried out again, feeling the magic twining with the stew of emotions swirling in her brain, something clicked in her addled mind. The magic was responding…to her feelings for Twilight, just like it did for her friends…the magic felt stronger because her feelings were that much more powerful…

She also realized that she didn't need to fight it quite so much—it was related to the Elements and Friendship magic, surely…and Twilight couldn't see her if she Ponied-Up right now. Sunset couldn't help herself; it felt so good, and Twilight was the one she wanted to be with for as long as possible, her best friend, her girlfriend, her lover…as close as she would get to a Special Somepony in the world of humans.

Sunset shuddered, and as her body tensed for another wracking spasm of bliss…

She surrendered.

Magic burst within her and out, the Pony-Up happening so fast her ears popped painfully, and she dug her nails into the soft wood under her fingers. Her horn was a beacon of magic, red light and blazing crimson flames that made it hard for her to see, magic that finally rushed outward when Twilight’s fingers curled just right inside her body, timing it with a swipe of her tongue.

The former unicorn came apart completely. Magic flooded the room in a brilliant flash of light, the only part she perceived before all external thought and perception was driven from her mind. She opened her mouth, aware on some level that she must have screamed…but she didn't care if it was heard by anyone… Not when every part of her was melting and being reborn in an instant, at the mercy of ministrations by the only other individual in the universe that mattered right then.

When it finally ended, Sunset was boneless, her upper body slumped against the headboard her hands had locked themselves into gripping. She was covered in a sheen of sweat, muscles trembling with aftershocks and her heart pounding in her chest. The magic faded, dispersing from her and the room and leaving only the faint feeling of its presence behind. Her brain struggled through the fog of satiation, contentment, and lassitude that had enveloped it, only barely doing so when the hand on her hip tapped a bit insistently and gained her attention.

Grunting with the effort it took, Sunset attempted to lever herself off her girlfriend, only to realize her limbs felt like limp noodles and none of them were responding quite right. The nerves were still tingling and it made it hard to not have her legs go right out from under her again, even when all she was trying to do was get up on her knees. In the end, she resorted to falling to one side in a heap, mumbling something that might have been an apology. Twilight grinned dazedly at her, hair mussed and skin flushed.

Sunset lay next to her girlfriend as she recovered from the overload of both her central nervous system and her thaumic one. As she did, she grew increasingly concerned that Twilight had done little but smile and make little humming sounds in her throat. It dawned on her—now that she was back in control of herself—that in her enthusiasm, with her superior strength and greater mass, she could have actually hurt Twilight with her actions. “Sparky?” she ventured, starting to feel that sickening twist in her guts.

“Mmm-hmm?” was the response.

The older teen reached over and cupped her cheek gently, afraid she had hurt her in some fashion. “Twilight, please, are you okay? I didn't mean to lose it like that—”

A little giggle escaped and Twilight nuzzled into her hand. “…’m okay…sooo very okay…” she murmured. “…you taste good…” the dark haired girl added as an afterthought, licking her lips.

Frowning, Sunset began looking her over. “I’m serious, Twilight. Does anything hurt? Did I push down too hard?” One hand raked through sweat soaked hair. “….I shouldn't have lost control like that. I should have stopped you, or said no…”

Purple eyes blinked, their owner finally registering that something was wrong. Twilight sat up carefully, taking Sunset’s hand in both of her own. “Sunny?” she said gently, squeezing amber fingers. “Sunset, please, look at me.”

Swallowing down a lump and a bit of nausea, Sunset forced herself to meet those eyes, terrified of finding pain or distress there. She found only confused concern. “I’m sorry…” she whispered. “I could have hurt you with what I did. I wasn't thinking…”

Twilight shook her head. “Sunny, I’m not hurt. You didn't hurt me, or scare me, I promise.” She kissed Sunset’s knuckles. “In fact, I really liked what just happened.” Her eyes lit up with delight as she leaned close to breathe in Sunset’s ear, “I meant it when I said you tasted good.”

Sunset leaned into her lover’s body, curling arms around her in a tight hug. “…I could have, though. I…I don't think I could have stopped, even if I wanted to.” Whether she could have stopped if Twilight wanted her to, she didn't know, but that was something she didn't like thinking about.

—You would have, if she’d needed you to.—

Great. Now the stupid voice was done sulking and back to offering unsolicited advice, opinions, and feedback. Just what she needed.

—It seems even a tail curling orgasm wasn't enough to sweeten your disposition any.— There came the long suffering sigh Sunset was half expecting. —You need to stop worrying that every little thing is going to go bad, and stop worrying that you are some kind of unexploded bomb waiting to go off. It's about your choices, horn-head. It's all about what you want.—

“But you didn't need to stop, Sunny,” her girlfriend said, kissing her cheek. “I didn't want you to stop. I…mentioned this before; it feels good to me when you take charge like that, even if I had been initially wanting to do things to you.” She shifted until she was curled up in Sunset’s lap, cuddled close and nuzzling into amber skin. “It's not just about what makes me feel good, Sunset. It's about what you want too.”

The fact that her girlfriend echoed the voice’s words made her immediately suspicious. What did you do?! she demanded internally of the demon. I told you to stay away from her!

—Nothing, horn-head. Don't get your tail in a twist.— There was a pause as she focused her attention on it and its cage. —Look, Sparky matters—no part of you could or would hurt her. We want her safe. Is it too much to hope you might just be learning to relax a little and be a little less uptight? And that maybe that's why you reacted like you did? Suppression isn't healthy, you know; even Celestia knew that, and that mare is the most emotionally constipated being you know.—

The barb about the princess did not sting like it might have once, but it did set her mind on her magic. Had the demon done something there to coax her into releasing her magic? Or was it telling the truth this time, and had it all been her?

Either way, it was dangerous. She was lucky that it had been the Harmony-flavored power the girls granted her, and not her normal magical energy. She couldn’t guarantee that would be true if it happened again. Sunset pressed her face to Twilight’s shoulder. “What I want is for you to be safe. I don't want to hurt you, and I very much could have.”

Twilight sighed, pulling back from Sunset but not leaving her lap. “I’m not made of glass,” she pointed out, frustration and hurt leaking into her voice. “I know I’ve had a tough time this year, but I’m not fragile or helpless, Sunset.” Her hands made Sunset meet her gaze and kept her from turning away. “Do not think I have no agency, no say in what happens to my body—you know damn well that’s not true, not with everything you’ve spent the last half a year teaching me!”

—Oh…you just stirred the Fire Bee nest, horn-head. Sparky never swears.—

“I…didn't mean it like that,” Sunset tried to reassure her. “It's just—”

The younger girl sighed again, calming slightly. “I understand that you may not have, but that's not really the point. You made sure that I can never be a helpless victim again…that I can at least put up some resistance. I’m not fragile or alone anymore—I’m stronger now than I’ve ever been, and not just physically.” She brought her forehead to rest against Sunset’s own, fingers tangled in red and gold locks.

Reaching up to curl her fingers around those skinny wrists, the former unicorn tried to choose her words carefully. “I know you are, Sparky. You handled that senior all on your own, and you survive daily in that awful school.” She searched for a way to explain it, because how could she explain that there was a difference between a high school boy and her, when she had enough magic inside her to level a dozen city blocks in every direction with pure fire and rage, in less time than it took to blink? “It's…not the same though. I’m not a stranger, and I hurt others when I’m not careful.”

Purple eyes stared into hers, and Twilight tugged her hand free of Sunset’s grip to press a palm to her cheek and kiss her lips. “I understand that you are physically larger and stronger than me. You have close to four or five inches of height and probably about forty pounds on me, which puts you in a different weight class in a one on one fighting match. I also recognize that you are far more trained than I am in physical fighting arts…but those people are wrong. They’ve always been wrong.” Her thumb brushed along the skin of Sunset’s cheek. “I know you’ve been told for so long by so many people that you are this dangerous, horrible, violent monster that hurts others by existing…but that is so far from the truth. You are loving and kind and caring, and I do not believe for a single instant, that even in the height of passion or the throes of anger, that you would hurt me.”

She paused for effect, then added, “What I need you to believe is that not only are you not a danger to me, but that I would not just be a doormat in the face of your whims and urges. I’m your girlfriend, and I’m just as invested in every little thing we do, whether that’s kissing, or cuddling, or very, very enjoyable sex.”

Sunset sagged against her, unable to explain further. “But I have hurt people,” she protested.

“Yes, you have. So have I. So has every person you've ever met…what you need to understand is that that doesn't mean you are some kind of monster or unstable psychopath. It just means you're human, and you messed up in life a few times. The fact that you are so afraid of hurting me tells me you never will. I trust you, Sunny...please, trust me?”

“I do…” she whispered, voice catching. “I trust you more than anyone else in this world, Twilight.”

“Then please…trust me now,” her girlfriend pleaded. “You have never treated me like I was broken, Sunset Shimmer…please, don't start now. Everyone in my life has looked at me that way at some point or another, except you. Even when things have been at their worst, when I was an anxious mess or a victim you had to save, you have always treated me like I’m just Twilight, and I can't lose that.”

The redheaded teen could feel the distress coming off the body in her arms, and she hugged her tightly. “You're not broken, Twilight…you’ve never been broken,” she murmured, heart aching even as her stomach twisted into unpleasant shapes. “You're so strong, in ways I can’t even explain, stronger than anyone I know. Being different or having different problems than most po—people doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.” She laughed softly. “At least you’ve never lost your temper and set your classmates on fire.”

There was a sniffle against her chest, and Twilight’s muffled, disbelieving voice, “…you set your classmates on fire?”

“…it was a long time ago, and it's a rather complicated story,” Sunset confessed. “I…feel bad about it now, but…at the time I wasn't thinking of much besides how angry I was.”

Her fingers moved to run up and down Twilight’s back affectionately. “The point is…this…its not about you, or what I think of you in any way.” It really wasn't, since the problem at hand was her own magic and the monster caged inside her.

—Rude much?—

Ignoring the voice was easier this time, and she turned her mind to what she was saying…and the plan she’d been roughing out during the last week to come clean to Twilight and her family about herself and her origins. “…a few weeks ago, you called something ‘a you problem.’ This…this is a ‘me problem.’ I…need to feel like I’m in control of myself, because…loss of that self-control has always been followed by bad things happening. I’ve trained myself to remain in control as much as possible, and as wonderful and good as it felt, I can't do that again right now. I can't say that wont change, but…for right now, I have to be careful until I learn my limits with this.”

Twilight was quiet for a long time, long enough that Sunset almost broke with the need to reassure her. Anything to fill the silence that was becoming uncomfortable. However, she held off once she pulled back enough to get a good look at her girlfriend’s expression; Twilight had that look on her face that said she was analyzing something mentally. It was normally safest to let her reach a conclusion without interrupting.

It gave Sunset a chance to refine her own plans. She needed to try again to talk to Princess Twilight, because she needed the other pony’s insight as well as permission for her plans to go through. She couldn't, after all, tell Twilight and her family about being a unicorn and having magic without discussing Equestria.

Finally Twilight spoke, pulling Sunset back to the present time and place. "If I am understanding what you said, then...what you mean is that being in a situation where you feel like you have lost control over yourself causes you anxiety?” At Sunset’s nod—that was close enough to the truth to work for the time being—she took a breath and continued, “As a result, you are requesting time and opportunity to learn how far you can push yourself in an intimate situation before it triggers that anxiety. What we just did was too far over your current threshold, too quickly... and while pleasurable, the aftermath when the anxiety hit is too uncomfortable for you to want to repeat it right at this time? Is this an accurate assessment?"

“Pretty much,” Sunset agreed.

The dark haired girl kissed her. “Is it safe to assume that sexual activity as was conducted earlier this week and last weekend is still acceptable?”

“Sparky,” she responded with a laugh, “if you keep making that moaning sound when I curl my middle finger, then you can assume that it’ll never not be ‘acceptable.’”

The color Twilight turned was worth the pillow to the face that Sunset got, as well as the mad chase through the hall to the shower.

“I still can't believe you did that,” Sunset complained, using the towel to squeeze excess water from her hair. “I can still taste the soap in the back of my throat.”

Twilight laughed as she brush the tangles out of her hair so she could put it up after. “All’s fair in love and war, Sunset,” she countered. “It's your fault for tickling me while I was holding the shampoo bottle.”

Her girlfriend made a face at her, sticking her tongue out childishly. “I didn't know you were going to explode shampoo all over my face when I did it!”

“And I didn't possess foreknowledge that you were going to tickle me when I picked it up to wash my hair,” she responded back primly, before dissolving into giggles at Sunset’s expression. “The look on your face though!”

Finishing with the towel, the older girl ran her hand through clean and tousled curls, finger combing them into some sense of order in a way that Twilight never could with her own hair. “I’m so happy to have provided you with entertainment through my suffering,” was the dry response as she tossed the towel on the end of the bed and bent down to retrieve her clothes.

That’s not the only thing you’re providing me with, Sunny, Twilight thought as she paused what she was doing to openly ogle the curvaceous amber backside pointed in her direction, feeling a stab of disappointment when Sunset finished pulling her underwear up. Part of her wanted to say something flirty about it, but she wasn’t really good at that sort of thing…and she wasn't sure how Sunset would react to the somewhat blatant comment in her head—they hadn't done much flirting overall, and most of what had occurred had been accidental or at least born out of the sexual tension between them.

Chewing her lip, she weighed the options, then decided that she wouldn't know unless she gave it a try. At least Sunset would never be angry at her for it, even if it was a disaster, and the older girl had never demanded perfection of Twilight.

Twilight took a breath and then the proverbial plunge. “…wow, Sunny…do you have any idea how attractive and distracting you are when you do that?” When her girlfriend paused in pulling up her jeans to look over her shoulder with interest and curiosity, she forced herself to keep going in a rush. “It's…something about the way your muscles flex and just how smooth and perfectly your…” She blushed. “…butt…curves, when you bent over…and with just a hint of…” Her courage failed her but she gestured pointedly down to get her meaning across.

Sunset’s face lit up with a pleased smile, and she deliberately took her time in pulling her jeans up the rest of the way, looking over her shoulder at Twilight, while the dark haired girl could do nothing but stare as the denim whispered its way up those curves and hugged the body that she was enamored with. “Like what you see then?” Sunset teased, finally turning around and sauntering over to Twilight, still bare from the waist up.

Face hot, Twilight nodded. “…yes…” she squeaked.

Amber arms snaked around her, and she found herself hugged to Sunset’s front—if she tilted her head down she could happily press her face into soft breasts to hide her awkwardness…though she didn't this time. Not when Sunset was nuzzling a cheek against hers in blatant affection. “You’re allowed, Sparky…I don't mind you looking at me like that. It’s…flattering and makes me feel good when you stare, nothing like when boys at school or worse, strangers on the street do it.”

“O-oh…”

Soft lips with just a hint of teeth caught her ear in their grip, just for a moment, and then Sunset whispered in that husky voice that left her weak in the knees, “If it helps any, I am not above some longer looks at you. You’ve got a really nice backside—just the right mix of lean leg muscle and padding on your rump…you do things to me, Twilight Sparkle, like no other human being ever has.”

Leaning into the embrace and sensations of skin on skin, she let out a quiet laugh. “You're way better at this than me.”

“At what?”

“Flirting.”

Sunset gave her own laugh, kissing Twilight before she answered. “I’m not though—I was just telling you the truth. I enjoy the way you look, Sparky, with or without clothes.” Her eyes flicked downwards. “Though I should probably let go so we can get those clothes on before your parents get home. Don't want to ruin the good feelings we’ve got going here by having to explain to your parents why your pants are inside out and my shirt’s on backwards.”

She wanted to protest, to snuggle deeper into the warm embrace holding her tightly and spend the rest of the night there in Sunset’s arms.

Or the rest of forever. That would work too.

Which was why she made herself let go and step back. “…you're right.” She stole one last kiss, before sitting on the bed heavily.

“Sparky?” Sunset tilted her head, worry in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” she said, smiling up at her best friend and wonderful girlfriend. “This week was amazing, despite everything, and it's because I got to spend time with you. Intimate time alone, with just us, I mean. Being with you is indescribably wonderful.”

The redhead studied her. “Then why are you upset?”

Twilight twisted her hands together anxiously. “…because as much as I want every week like this, it's too much of a distraction. I barely got anything done on my project this week, and I can't afford to keep doing that.”

Sunset frowned, and sat on the bed next to her, pulling her into a sideways hug. “Oh,” she said, subdued. “…yeah, that makes sense.”

Leaning into the embrace and the body heat that came with it, Twilight felt Sunset nuzzle into her hair. “I want nothing more than to spend every week like this, with as much of my free time spent with you as possible, Sunny,” she whispered. “…but it has to wait. I have to finish this project, so I can leave Crystal Prep with my grades intact, and on my own terms.”

“I know,” came the quiet response. “As much as I hate it, I do understand, Twilight.” Soothing fingers rubbed at her bare shoulder. “It's okay. You're smart, and you’ll finish your project in no time, and then you can be done with that place forever. And I’ll be okay if I have to wait until Fridays to see you—I have a few projects of my own I need to work on, plus tutoring—can you believe my history grade has gone up twelve points in a month?—and the girls and I are enjoying having a band together.”

Her head tipped back with a sigh, her eyes closing in some desperate attempt to shut out the world. “…does life ever feel like some kind of joke the universe is playing? I have something…someone…that is all I’ve ever wanted and dreamed of, I’m finally happy…you're the best friend in the whole world, an amazing girlfriend, and my family adores you…and…”

“Sparky, you have no idea. I’m Sunset Shimmer. Anytime a good thing happens it usually just means I’m being set up to have further to fall.” The older girl rested her cheek to the top of Twilight’s head. “Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure that I didn't just dream the last half a year.”

She pressed closer into the hug. “…If it's a dream, Sunset, we’re both having it….and if that's the case, don't wake me up.” The unfairness of it all hit her hard, and she found herself in the unfamiliar position of wanting to both cry and hit something. “It's not fair. I just want to spend my time with you, and not have to worry about this petty, underhanded bullying and manipulation tactics,” she groused, putting all her annoyance into her words, “all from someone that I thought was better than that.”

Sunset pulled her into her lap, and hugged her close. “That’s how life is sometimes. People can be awful…but we’ll get through this, Twilight. Together.”

It was childish and silly…and maybe more than a touch needy, but she found herself wanting the reassurance. “Promise?”

“I promise. I’m here for you, Twilight, just like you have been here for me. We’ll get through this, and when you come to CHS, I will personally show you around the school on your first day and introduce you to the best quiet spots in the library.” There was teasing and light in her voice. “I even promise to show you my private study room in the library—it has a door that locks and it’s soundproofed too…”

Suddenly Twilight found herself motivated to finish her project more than ever. Sunset was right too—they would get through this. She would get through this, and the girl holding her would be cheering her on every step of the way.

*sighs, shaking head at Sunset*

I swear, its two steps forward and one back with you, Shimmer.

Anyway, here's this week's chapter, full of both drama and fluffy romantic goodness! And a little humor!

With a side helping of Stupid Little Voice trying to get things through Sunset's thick skull. Stubborn horse.

Dont have much else to say--I'm trying to finish one of the super important chapters that sets the stage for the events of the games. We're basically T-minus 2 in-story weeks from them with this chapter. Bruhahah.