Slumping into the booth, Sunset gave Rarity her best attempt at a smile. “Hey. Sorry it took so long—I had to clean up.” She took a sip of the Cakes’ ‘Hot Fudge Sundae Milkshake With All the Fixings,’ the sweet, rich taste of chocolate and sugar exploding across her tongue. Her eyes practically crossed with joy at the simple pleasure of a sweet treat—and she hadn’t even started in on the double serving of chocolate and strawberry swirl cheesecake sitting on a paper plate before her.

Sharp, discerning blue eyes flicked from her to the plate then the milkshake and back, several times. “Indulging in a little bit of ‘therapy,’ I see. Do you want to talk about it, darling?”

Sunset blinked. “Talk about what?” she asked, not sure exactly how much Rarity had picked up on. The tailor was remarkably astute at times.

“Sunset. Darling. No woman orders that much chocolate in one sitting unless something is truly bothering her.” She arched one manicured eyebrow. “…plus you mentioned a need to ‘get out of your head’ on the phone.”

Sighing, the former unicorn made a vague gesture with one hand. “Just have a lot on my mind.”

Rarity was undeterred, but waited until Mrs. Cake set down her own sundae and walked off before pointing the spoon at Sunset. “So....who is he?”

Ice cold milkshake burned in an unpleasant way as it threatened to come out of Sunset’s nose. She spluttered and choked, before wiping her face with a napkin. “What?! It’s nothing like that! Why would you even think that?!”

Blue eyes remained fixed on her, and Rarity elaborated, still studying Sunset intently. “It has to be something important, darling, to cause this much stress to you...and if it were a magical problem,” the fashion designer held her hands up near her head and mimed pony ears, “then you’d be more forthcoming.”

“Rarity, I have way more important things to do than act like a brainless, stuttering mess around some teenage boy.” The redhead crossed her arms over her chest, barely biting back the urge to add how unpleasant she found male specimens here.

“Well, Sunset, it must be something...”

She resisted the urge to bring her palm into full contact with her own face. “And your brain automatically assumes that it’s some sort of issue with my love life?”

The pale skinned girl pointed again with her spoon, first at Sunset, then at the treats. “It’s hard to argue with the evidence, Sunset Shimmer. Moody teenage girl plus an overabundance of chocolate equals romantic troubles.”

Sunset looked down at her snack, and it took all of her control for her emotions not to show on her face. Horseapples...she’s good at this.

Rarity leaned forward, a hand reaching out to pat Sunset’s arm. “You don’t have to be evasive, dear. We’re friends.”

There was a silence as the redhead wracked her brains on how to deflect Rarity from zeroing in on her relationship. Finally, she answered with as much truth as possible, schooling her features into the right mix of exasperated and dismissive. “I can promise you that it has nothing to do with me drooling over some new guy.”

A thoughtful expression crossed Rarity’s face. “Hmmm...if it’s not...well...the only person I’ve ever seen you with before is...Flash. Have you...spoken with him yet, Sunset?”

Oh for the love little pink parasprites... Sunset was beginning to understand the human idiom about beating a dead horse—except she was the equine in question. “No, Rarity. I haven’t—I’m the last person he would want to talk to, and so far our mutual avoidance is working out just fine. Why mess with success?”

“Have you considered that maybe he wants to talk to you, but he is avoiding you because he thinks that’s what you want?” The tailor’s expression was serious. “You both need to sit down and clear the air between you.”

Her earlier frustration found an outlet now. “Why are you so fixated on me and Flash?”

“Because, Sunset, the two of you seemed so good together when you were dating. It’s the only time before the Fall Formal where you looked happy in a way that didn’t scream ‘I kick puppies.’” Rarity picked at her sundae.

That took the wind out of Sunset, and she winced as guilt joined in on the emotional mess she was dealing with. “It was an act,” she reiterated. “I used him, played the part that people expected. I never cared about him.” She grimaced. “I was a horrible person, and the relationship was mostly about image and reputation.”

“Come now, darling. There must have been some sort of affection between the two of you, some spark. Whenever I saw you together, you seemed so much more...” the designer paused, searching for a word, before finishing awkwardly, “...nice.”

Sunset put her head in her hands. “You saw what I wanted you to see. It was fake.”

Again, Rarity’s eyebrow arched upward. “All of it? I find that hard to believe. I believe that the bulk of it may have been an act, but every possible moment you were in his company for almost half a year? As good an actress as you might be, Sunset, no one can be ‘on’ all the time. Surely some of your interaction was based in real emotion.”

The cheesecake in her mouth had turned sour from bitterness and guilt. “Not as much as you’re suggesting,” she confessed. “I...Flash was what I needed to boost my reputation, and he is a nice guy—not pushy about...physical things.” She kept her voice fairly level. “I suppose you could say that I respected that about him. I didn’t hate him, or find him unbearable or stupid, but that was as far as it went. Kissing him was...”

There were really no words that captured her feelings on it, especially now that she could compare it to kissing Twilight, but it must have shown plainly on her face because Rarity bit back a chuckle. “I’m sorry, Sunset,” she tittered behind one hand. “You just look like Sweetie Belle the time she tried caviar.” Sunset found herself rolling her eyes.

Once the humor had passed, Rarity was serious again. “So all of it was an act then? Every smile, every laugh, every time you two held hands or you leaned against him? Even that time you fell asleep on his shoulder at the end of the year assembly?”

The former unicorn felt her face heat. “The assembly was an accident—I’d pulled an all nighter and it was so boring I couldn’t keep my eyes open!” Then she scowled. “And I’m not sure what hand holding has to do with romance. Humans grab each others hands all the time—it's just a basic social gesture....isn’t it?”

White skinned fingers tapped the spoon against her bowl, those blue eyes scrutinizing her intently again. “You really have been ‘faking it ‘til you make it,’ haven’t you, darling?”

It would have stung if it hadn’t been the truth...but it opened up an avenue to talk about some of her actual frustrations. Sunset found herself venting to one of the few people who could grasp the idea of her being from another world. “I’ve tried to study humans as much as possible, but there’s so much that is different from how things are in Equestria. Do you have any idea how much work it takes to learn just the basic body language for another species? And I just can’t wrap my head around half of your weird cultural attitudes—so many of them are in direct conflict with each other, it’s insane!” She ran her fingers through her hair, pushing it back from her face. “You talked about how no one can be ‘on’ all the time as an actress—Rarity, I’ve been ‘on’ for years, every time I leave my house. I’m not human, and as much as I can pretend, I never will be. I’m a unicorn, no matter what body the portal put me in.”

Rarity was quiet for a long time, and Sunset could see that she was turning the information over in her mind. “Well...perhaps I can help you sort out the cultural differences? For example...can you explain to me what Equestrian courtship and romance are like?”

For perhaps the first time, Sunset actually found herself thankful for Rarity’s obsession with romance. “Sure. So...for starters, ponies care way less about what your special somepony is. Male, female, pony, griffin, kirin, it’s not typically an issue for anypony other than stuck up nobles and stuffy tribalists. The important part is that everypony involved is happy.” She took another sip of her milkshake before continuing. “We have dating, engagements, marriages, just like humans, but it’s...it’s a thing that happens. It’s not a major focus for a lot of ponies to require a partner to be happy—sure, there are some ponies who fixate on finding that special somepony and ‘living happily ever after’ but they are the exception, not the rule. Ponies tend to find happiness in their special talents, so relationships are about enrichment, not fulfillment.”

“When you talk about it like that, it all sounds so...prosaic,” Rarity commented with dismay. "Where’s the passion? The spark? Where’s the romance? What about ‘Love at first sight,’or ‘True love's first kiss,’ or the grand gestures, Sunset?"

The redhead furrowed her brows, considering the question, looking back. “Honestly, there’s fairy tales and stories about love and its magic, and Equestria does have a Princess of Love...” The last part came out with far more bitterness than Sunset would have liked, but even with knowing the human Cadence, she couldn’t quite shake the grudge against the pink alicorn. “But...love at first sight? Ponies...don't really buy into that.”

"Maybe there isn't a scientific explanation for love at first sight. But I choose to believe in such a thing. I have at least 'some' experience with it."

“It’s...not even science. It’s—“ Sunset rubbed her eyes. “Magic and emotion are connected. The strongest emotions have more of an affect on magic. If love at first sight like you are talking about happened in Equestria, ponies would expect a magical reaction. There’s little evidence of it, even in the oldest pony tales and legends, with the exception of one or two artifacts. So it’s not really a thing in Equestria.”

Rarity smiled, with a bit of smugness creeping into her expression. “Well, it's a good thing we aren't in Equestria then, isn't it darling?"

That gave Sunset pause. “Why do you say that?” she asked, trying her best to sound neutral.

"So love at first sight can exist, of course. If it wasn't Flash, darling, maybe you will find someone who does strike your fancy." The tailor leaned forward, excitement in her tone.

Rolling her eyes, the former unicorn snorted derisively. “I’ve seen how romance works, Rarity,” she pointed out. “Girls at school ‘fall in love’ and out again in a week, and the boys will say anything they need to in order to get in a girl’s pants. If that’s what humans consider love and romance, count me out.”

Rarity arched one eyebrow, smirking now. "But, Sunset...I never said you had to bring a 'boy' home."

Crossing her arms over her chest, Sunset sighed. “If this is some weird attempt to set me up on a blind date, the answer is no.”

"Nothing like that, darling, I assure you. But the reality of your situation is that you are going to be living with us humans for the foreseeable future. There is nothing wrong with enjoying your time here with all of us. We are your friends, Sunset, but friendship and love are two different but equally important things."

“...all I’ve seen from humans is the stuff at school, Rarity, short, meaningless interactions meant for either social standing, or, more commonly, to facilitate sexual encounters that mean nothing in the long term. Even if I found hairless bipedal apes attractive, I wouldn’t be interested in something that’s actually more shallow than my fake relationship with Flash.”

The pale skinned girl gave her a long and appraising stare, one of those that seemed to peer right into her soul. "Sex is something pleasurable to have, Sunset...but a romantic partner isn't only about that, trust me. It's about spending time with someone and being with someone who you care about more than a friend. Someone who you can love more than anyone else in the whole world. That, Ms. Shimmer, is what love is."

Each word was like a barbed claw in her chest, and Sunset recoiled internally from the implications. It took everything she had to not let her turmoil show on her face or in her eyes. “I barely have a handle on friendship, Rarity,” she pointed out softly, the words breaking free before she could stop them. “How am I supposed to recognize something like that? It’s not exactly like I’ve ever been loved before—here or in Equestria.”

Rarity softened considerably, taking another bite out of her sundae. "This wasn't meant as an attack. You are our friend, Sunset. My friend. I want to see you happy. You say you ‘barely have a handle on friendship,’ but I think you are making great strides, and I don't think I'm the only one who would say that. One day, I expect you will find someone you feel different about. Not because you think they are attractive, but because you want to spend time and just be with them."

Silence reigned for a time, as Sunset wrestled with her emotions, slouching in her seat. Rarity’s descriptions were hitting awfully close to home, and she needed time to think on that. “I’m not sure I’m ready for something like that,” she confessed. “I’m not sure if I ever would be...and I don’t want to be at the mercy of this stupid body and its moon-banished hormones, trying to convince me that I am!”

"Trying to convince yourself you are ready would be a mistake. But when it hits you, you’ll know. That's what being in love is like—you will be drawn to them and they to you." Rarity smiled and sighed, then took another bite of her sundae.

Sunset’s thoughts twisted back on themselves, and she echoed the designer’s sigh with one of her own. She had more to think on now than when she started, even if the conversation had helped her identify some of the differences between humans and ponies. “I’ll...keep that in mind, I guess...” Then she squinted at Rarity. “But this doesn’t mean I want you or anyone else trying to play matchmaker! I still find humans ugly and funny looking.”

Rarity smiled. "Well, that won't matter when you find the right person, Sunset. That's part of being in love too. You’ll meet them, and everything will change!”

“My life is not one of your cheesy novels, you know,” she grumbled. “I’m not going to spill hot coffee on some person on the street and become instantly enamored with them.” She wrinkled her nose, stifling a sudden laugh. “Knowing me, I’m more likely to get angry at the waste of good coffee.”

The designer laughed brightly. “Oh, Sunset....you say that, but you sound like the female lead in one of those ‘cheesy romance novels.’ You'll complain about your spilled coffee, then just when you are about to look up to apologize...you’ll notice their deep eyes, like the ocean. Oh! You could swim in those eyes! They will be startled by your beauty... then apologize first! Offer to take you for coffee! You will find you have so much in common. Then you will want to spend all of your time together!" Rarity explained, deliberately overacting the story.

Sunset rolled her eyes again, flicking her straw wrapper at Rarity’s head. The whole scenario being painted was absolutely ridiculous, on so many levels. “Never going to happen like that, Rarity, no matter how much you fantasize about me and some stranger. You can keep your coffee mishap romance to yourself.” Still, it didn’t stop her from laughing as Rarity ignored her to continue describing this imagined romance while the redhead polished off the rest of her snack.

Rarity and Romance is like a dog with a bone. She's not going to let this go, Sunset. Just accept it now.

As promised, here's the Friday chapter. Makes you wonder just how much Rarity knows, doesnt it?