A groan escaped her as she leaned back in the armchair she had claimed after polishing off what Rainbow had called a “weeds on a bun,” a statement that had offended Rarity enough that she had explained in a rather snippy tone where she had purchased those ‘weeds.’ Sunset rubbed her stomach, sinking into the chair even more. “I have no idea what ‘artisanal stone-ground sourdough’ is exactly, or what ‘full-organic, pesticide free produce’ means, but I ate way too much,” she complained lightly. “If I move too fast, I might puke—but it was soooo good....”

Rarity smiled and retrieved a flyer from her purse, passing it Sunset’s way with a little help from Fluttershy. “I grabbed a flyer for you, darling, since I thought you might appreciate the produce and fruits there. It’s a farmer’s market that runs every other weekend.”

“Granny has us run a booth there sometimes, like durin’ cider season,” Applejack added.

“Is that where you got those tomatoes? Those were delicious. I haven’t had a tomato like that since Equestria.” Blue green eyes studied the flyer, realizing that the location was actually only a few miles from the neighborhood where Twilight lived—easily within driving distance for her, and something she was seriously considering checking out.

“Not exactly—those were picked up at the market but not bought there. They’re hothouse tomatoes, bred and grown special by mah cousin’s wife. Everyone swears she’s got a magic touch with ‘em. We swap for some of the goods from the orchard.” Applejack grinned from her position on the loveseat, where Rarity leaned comfortably against her shoulder. “An’ ya aren’t alone, Sunset. Think most of us stuffed ourselves stupid.”

Dash raised one hand from where she was face down on some pillows on the floor. “I regret nothing!” Her voice was muffled, and a belch followed her declaration.

Pinkie, seemingly unaffected by her own dinner, grinned brightly. “Then the first surprise activity for Sunset’s Super Special New Years Slumber Party is Fluttershy’s idea—and I think it’s a great one!” She skipped over to a huge bag still bulging with supplies, starting to unload...arts and craft supplies?

Sunset blinked, then rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. Nothing changed—Pinkie was stacking bags of glitter, cheap plastic gems, things of little fabric flowers, stickers of all kinds, what looked like a bag of rubber stamps and a few ink pads, different kinds of paper, art foil, markers, pens and even a selection of bright paints out, along with some good sized envelopes. “Um...what’s all of this for?”

Fluttershy answered her. “It’s this thing that I did a long time ago at a day camp, and I thought it could be fun,” she offered timidly. “We each get an envelope and we put our names on it and decorate it to represent us. Then we hang them up on a cork board—” Which Pinkie had just retrieved from the bag that was way too small to have contained it, “—and we all write little notes and do little nice things for each other to put in them and let each other know how much we care about our friends.”

“What a delightful and innovative idea, Fluttershy,” Rarity gushed from the loveseat. “And a perfect one for when we are all letting our food settle!”

The soft spoken girl beamed at the praise even as she hid slightly in her hair. “...I thought it would be a good thing after all the nastiness with the Sirens. We were so mean to each other that week, and I wanted you girls to know how much I really do care about all of you.” Her eyes found Sunset’s and the redhead realized that she was being deliberately included in that statement—Fluttershy’s way of eliminating her self doubt.

“I think it’s a great idea too, Fluttershy,” she said, sending a smile to her friend in turn. She spotted a nearby TV table and snagged it with one arm, dragging it to herself. “I’ll take one of those envelopes.”

It didn't take long for them to all get set up, and Sunset found something super soothing about messing around with her mostly neglected art skills, sketching in some of her favorite flowers that were found only in Equestria around the border, and on a whim adding a rather decent likeness of Philomena around her cutie mark on the front. Then she snagged a thing of markers and colored pencils to start coloring in everything but her cutie mark. The blazing, two toned sun she decided to do in the vibrant paint that Pinkie had brought.

“Oooo! That’s an awesome looking bird!” Speaking of the pink one—Pinkie was leaning over the chair, staring at the envelope. “What kind is it!? I've never ever seen a bird like that before—is it magic?”

“Her name’s Philomena. She’s...a phoenix. She was...kind of a pet when I was a filly. And yes, phoenixes are technically magical—human legends got them mostly right, with the whole self-immolation-resurrection-from-the-ashes thing. It scared me the first time it happened, but it got to be really neat to watch.” She smiled fondly at the image, but it fell away after a moment. “I...haven’t thought of her in a long time. I was pretty awful to her the last year or two before I left Equestria, just like I was to Princess Celestia and everypony else. She was probably glad to see me go.”

Fluttershy’s eyes were wide and awestruck. “You had a pet phoenix?” She had moved closer so she could peer at Sunset’s drawing. “Oh...she’s so pretty!”

The former unicorn felt her stomach twist painfully, coupled with a flare of anxiousness that she couldn't quite explain. “Yeah...she was the most beautiful bird I’ve ever seen, and when we adopted her, she was so small she could fit in your hands.” She rubbed her nose, fighting the way her heart lurched. “She almost didn’t make it. She was so cold-sick from when I found her, and it took weeks for her to heal. I...don’t think I slept much that entire time.” Emotions gnawed at her, and her eyes flicked up from the artwork briefly. “I...I miss her.”

Fluttershy hugged her then, the embrace soft and filled with compassion. “I’m sure Philomena misses you too,” she noted. “It’s okay to miss people and things we love, Sunset. That’s part of caring. Maybe someday you can go back and see Philomena again.”

The knowledge of her sentence reared its head, her thoughts practically chanting the word as a mantra, reminding her of her banishment from her homeworld. Sunset bit down on her lip until it hurt, the sting of sharp primate teeth on her flesh creating a disorienting sensation strong enough to distract herself from the sudden lump in her throat.

"Maybe,” she managed, keeping her tone neutral to avoid arousing suspicions. She wasn’t sure she could explain it, or if she even wanted to, so hopefully the response would satisfy her friend and they could move on.

It turned out to be a vain hope, as the shy girl’s arms tightened the hug from featherlight to gentle, making a soothing sound. "Something's bothering you," Fluttershy acknowledged, a statement rather than a question. “It doesn't feel like it's something you want to talk about right now, though...and that's okay, Sunset. I just want you to know, whatever it is, we'll be here to talk about it when you are ready. That’s what friends do.”

The faintest touch of magic brushed her senses, draining the tension from Sunset’s frame, reminding her why the animal lover was a match for the Element of Kindness. When she’d first heard about Fluttershy’s talent for soothing animals, even wild ones or those in pain, she’d mocked and dismissed it—because how could a cringing doormat have any kind of strength? Now? Having been on the receiving end of her compassion and care, not only did she believe it, she wondered how she could have been so arrogant and foolish to have missed it, how her very presence spoke of trust and gentle understanding.

“Thanks, Fluttershy. It’s...just complicated...and I still need to sort out how I feel before I...will be ready to talk about it.” Sunset gave her a thin smile, grateful that the girls weren’t pushing the matter.

Her hands felt...weird. Twilight tried not to make a face, since Glamour’s “manicure” had gotten her the better part of an hour in a quieter side room, but it was hard. She had to admit, though, that the time had actually helped her nerves. Her normally loud and boisterous cousin had dimmed the lights, working with a lamp that cast a warm golden glow instead of the big, bright overhead lights, and put on some soft instrumental music on her phone. It had created a relaxing atmosphere, aided by the fact that instead of her normally endless stream of attempted conversation, Glamour had kept the chatter to a minimum, only speaking up really when it had to do with the task at hand, describing each step in detail to Twilight as opposed to her previous “grab and do” method.

To top it all off, all of the foul smelling, obnoxiously colored cosmetic products she had once associated with her cousin were gone, replaced by things that didn’t turn her stomach or make her skin crawl.

It had been surreal on so many levels, that Twilight was unsure what to make of it, and by extension, her cousin. Glamour had seemed sincere all day, and when she’d asked if she could get the name of one of the lotions that her cousin had used on her hands because she liked the way it felt on cold, winter dry skin that saw a lot of punishment in her lab, she honestly thought the older girl was going to burst from happiness. Twilight frowned, puzzling over the whole thing again before setting it aside to focus on her present concerns.

She was hiding out now to one side of the big ballroom, watching her various relatives mingle and drink, trying to avoid detection. The lights in here were even brighter than the dining room, to the point where it was starting to give her a headache, making her wish she could escape more than ever.

Several of her older relatives had already made attempts to comment on various things about her in some confusing parody of ‘small talk’ while proving simultaneously that they didn't know the first thing about her. Not one had mentioned school, for example, or any kind of academic endeavor.

Twilight sighed, feeling a sort of melancholy steal over her. Did any of them even see her as a person? Or was she just her parents’ weird and half broken kid they all felt needed to be fixed and molded into a socially acceptable someone? Fingers slipped the carefully hidden lanyard free of her shirt so they could trace the contours of the simple silver colored house key that hung there, taking comfort in the bumps and ridges of the warm metal. It was soothing, grounding her to a pleasant memory that brought a flush to her cheeks.

At some point, the eager, intense kisses had given way to the familiar territory of Sunset curling around her to snuggle on the bed. Lips still wandered along the skin of her neck, but the kisses were less heated and more soft affection. “I had another present for you, Sparky,” Sunset murmured in her ear. “Something I wanted to give you in private.”

A shiver went down her spine, her mind conjuring up all kinds of suggestions as to what her companion could mean. Letting out a shaky exhale, she traced fingers over the redheaded girl’s arm. “You do? What is it?”

In answer, Sunset pressed a small box into her palms, the wrapping job neat and meticulous. “I...it’s nothing big or showy or expensive,” she admitted. “...but I wanted to give you something special, something that...” she broke off, unable to continue, as Twilight opened the gift.

Inside the box was a house key, and purple eyes met blue-green for an explanation. Her girlfriend fumbled over her words with surprising vulnerability in her voice. “It’s...a key to my place...” Sunset hesitated, brows furrowing as she struggled to put her thoughts into words. “This room...what your family’s given me...it means more than you can ever understand, Sparky...and...I know it’s not really the same...but...it’s...my place has always been my escape. The place I can go where all the stuff in my life can’t follow me...a place where I can just...breathe.” She chewed her lip, before forging ahead with her thoughts, and Twilight could see the way they affected the other girl. “...You’ve become part of that...you said you feel safe with me...truth is, I feel...right...with you, and I wanted you to know that—”

Gripping the key in her hand tightly, Twilight pressed her lips to Sunset’s, communicating without words that she understood the gift and its meaning. The words, something told her, would come when Sunset was ready.

The key had quickly become a talisman in the days since she’d left home with her family, a source of comfort and a physical, tangible connection to one of the most important people in her life. She ran her fingers over it again, drawing strength and courage from the knowledge that Sunset liked her for who she was, never asking her to change into someone she wasn't, and supported her when her own mind threatened to overwhelm her. Even if her best friend wasn't here at her side right now, the feelings were, and that made Twilight feel like she could survive the evening.

A presence shook her out of her musings, and she hurriedly tucked the key away before her eyes lifted to find her father approaching with a pair of cups. “Dad,” she said with a tilt of her head, accepting the drink he handed her.

Night Light winked at her. “I managed to find some of your favorite juice in the kitchen. Figured you’d like that better than the underage drinking they seem to be pushing here.”

She refrained from snorting, but only just. “Alcohol dulls the senses as well as inhibiting neurological function, and I much prefer my mental capabilities intact, especially given the socially complicated and overwhelming nature of the present environment.”

His eyes shifted from amusement to concern. “How are you holding up, kiddo? I’m sorry Mom and I have to keep leaving you to your own devices.”

Twilight sighed, rubbing her eyes. “I hate this, Dad. The noise, the lights, the overabundance of perfumes and colognes...it’s too much, but I know I can't just leave, any more than you can. It’s not like it was when I was eight, or ten, or even twelve.” Her eyes looked away. “I hate that there’s no one I can really talk to.”

Her father’s familiar arm draped around her shoulders and pulled her into a sideways hug. “I’m sorry, Twilight,” he responded earnestly. “I wish I could do more to help you...”

Giving her head a shake, she leaned into the embrace, the familiarity of someone she loved and trusted making her feel confident and much more self assured. “Dad, it’s okay. While I still don't understand the point of the social posturing and the need to pretend to enjoy the company of people whose generational socio-economic status has left them completely out of touch with the reality of the world and other social groupings, I do understand that you and Mom don’t have much choice in doing so to prevent alienating relations that would make your lives and careers more difficult if they were hostile instead of fairly indifferent.”

A chuckle escaped him. “I came over to check on you, and you’re the one reassuring me. When did you get so mature?” he teased.

Twilight felt the smile creep onto her face. “Probably this afternoon, when I called Sunset out of sheer, panic induced desperation,” she admitted. “Just so I could talk to someone who wasn’t gushing about infatuated obsessions with famous individuals or the minutiae of cosmetic products to ‘enhance my good qualities.’ Sunset helped put it all into perspective.” Twilight paused, for effect. “She told me to take notes on what gets said to me tonight, so I can share it with her and we can laugh about it. Though…with the distinct lack of intellectual discourse happening, they will be very sparse notes.”

“Mmm. The collective intelligence score of all your cousins together does still seem a bit lower than Shining’s half-orc barbarian’s, doesn't it?” Night kept the straight face for a solid fifteen point seven seconds before he broke into uncontrollable laughter—laughter that Twilight echoed. Some part of her realized they probably looked ridiculous, cackling like mad fools, but she didn’t care. Laughing felt…good—it dislodged a good portion of the anxiety that had been sitting in her chest, leaving behind the small bit of confidence and good cheer. Maybe the evening wouldn’t be as bad as she feared.

The living room of the farmhouse had become a fluffy warzone, cushions and pillows and at least one futon mattress braced by furniture to create several soft, squishy safe havens where the girls hid in pairs, able to launch smaller pillows and cushions as ammunition at each other.

Sunset couldn’t believe how much sheer fun this was. She’d always disdained the mere concept of pillow fights back in Equestria, seeing cushions as something for lounging or sitting on, sometimes decorative and occasionally good for spell practice, and while she had had a few pillow-fights in the last few months with her girlfriend, it nothing like what was happening in the farmhouse had ever even occurred to her. The thought of creating some large scale ridiculous reenactment of barbaric human battle rituals was just not something she had considered...and yet...this particular six person battle reenactment was savagely satisfying, indulging her more aggressive tendencies in the same way that she had found in the video games she was most fond of.

She grinned to herself at the memory of Applejack’s surprised face when she had managed, with a little bit of cheating from years of calculating how to manipulate objects with her telekinesis, to score a direct hit on her hat and send it flying. And the follow-up, where the blonde had wailed and mourned the ‘death’ of her beloved hat, before giving a great speech about her vow of eternal revenge on ‘those who infringed on the dignity of noble hats with violence and cheap shots,’ had made her laugh so hard she couldn’t breathe. Especially when, mid-tirade, Rainbow had pegged her in the mouth with another fluffy missile...at which point War Was Declared. Even now the absolute silliness of it all threatened to send her into a fit of giggles.

Wary blue-green eyes peeked carefully over the edge of their fortress, trying to get a good sight on the enemy combatants. A squeak escaped her as a frilly pillow came within inches of hitting her head and she dropped down. “We’re getting creamed, Pinkie!” she hissed to her teammate. “We have to do something to take out Rainbow while she’s distracted in her feud with Applejack! It’s the only way we can hope to overpower Rarity and Fluttershy to win this thing!”

Pinkie giggled. “We’re just lucky Fluttershy is a bad shot!” She snaked an arm out to retrieve the pillow that had almost smacked into Sunset’s nose.

“Except that Dash more than makes up for it. Also, where in the world did Rarity learn to throw like that!?”

Cultured laughter sounded from the other side of the room. “My father, darling! Professional quarterback for over a decade!”

Sunset frowned—she thought that was a football term, but her few experiences at CHS’s football games had been, like much of her other social events, calculated attendances to increase her reputation and popularity. The most memorable parts had been how…disturbing she found the cheerleaders, and how violent the sport was. Regardless of the reason, Rarity’s aim was unerringly accurate, and needed to be taken into account with their strategy. Fluttershy wasn’t much of a threat, since her throws were soft and hesitant, and often went wide. Applejack had power, and a decent throwing arm, but she was focused mainly on trying to nail Rainbow Dash in the face.

The pink-haired girl giggled again, this time sounding a tad unhinged, before grabbing a pillow in each fist. “Get ready, Sunset!”

“Ready for what?” was all the former unicorn got out before Pinkie leapt up with a war cry, vaulting over the pillow fort and charging through a sudden hail of fluffy missiles towards where Rainbow and Fluttershy were camped out. “Pinkie! Waaait! ….Discord’s teeth!” She dove into the fray herself, a pillow in one hand as she took advantage of her teammate’s sudden chaos to charge behind the lines at Rarity and AJ. “Hyaaaaaa!” She swung wildly, battering the couple with the pillow in hand, driving them back and away from their own ammunition, laughing and yelling until her throat was sore and her arms ached.

Rarity screeched, and Applejack dove half on top of her in response to the onslaught, laughing and trying to bat away the pillow that once more sent her hat flying across the room. “Ah gotcha Rares!”

“You should be more concerned for yourself!” Sunset crowed in victory, kicking the last pillow out of their reach and giving the farmer one more good fluffy smack to the face…before collapsing into laughter next to them, overwhelmed with just how…good it felt to be so ridiculously silly and unfettered, to be able to be competitive and aggressive and not be judged for it.

On the other side of the room, she could hear Pinkie demanding Rainbow’s unconditional surrender, followed by still more laughter as the massive pillow fight devolved into six teenage girls sprawled amidst the carnage, laughing until they cried and their sides ached.

Back in the game, we are!

And of course, here's more with our girls and their New Years plans! :}

*cackles*

Not really a whole lot else to say that I didn't already note in my blog post about buffer chapters and the like, so I'm just gonna leave this post where its at, and get back to the chapter I'm trying to finish. (As an idle observation, I've realized that the chapter length in Arc 2 is on average 1000-1500 words longer than in Arc 1. Before editing. *winces* I hope I'm not turning into a windbag.)