Sunset didn't know why she was still there.
If she was being honest, she didn't even want to be there.
But the redhead just let it happen, she could very well get on her bike and leave, but her friends would curse her for three generations.
Staring boredly at the movement, while listening to voices trying to make an extremely scary melody, she just rolled her eyes.
But the bar, which had the karaoke, wasn't bad. It was the people who made it so, except for her friends.
Sometimes.
She was suddenly startled when she felt her arm being touched.
"Stop making that face, pretend you're enjoying it." Applejack said, sitting next to her, upon noticing her expression.
Sunset shrugged, leaning back in her chair.
"It's hard to pretend when your girlfriend is putting on a horror show up there on stage." Applejack gave her a calm look, chuckling softly.
"She sings well. Until she... get too excited.” Her eyes went back to the girl, who was now trying, unsuccessfully, to stop Pinkie from grabbing the microphone.
“Your girlfriend is out of this world, Applejack.” Sunset muttered, grabbing her cell phone to distract herself.
Applejack lightly slapped the back of the redhead's hand, making her almost drop the device.
“Don't talk bad about her in my presence. Only I can complain about her.” The blonde gave her a smirk.
Sunset rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smirk. Before she could respond, her attention was drawn through the microphone.
Rainbow was staring at her from the stage with a smug smile.
“Hey, redhead. If Applejack gave you a nudge, it's because you were talking bad about me. Four words for you, babe: go the fuck home.”
She winked at Sunset before dodging Pinkie, who seemed determined to snatch the microphone from her hands.
The redhead laughed and raised her hand, showing her middle finger.
Applejack shook her head, trying not to laugh at the scene, and took another sip of her beer.
"Where are Rarity and Fluttershy?" She asked, after noticing that they were missing.
"They went to get a girl, but I don't remember her name." The redhead replied, picking up the device again.
Applejack frowned, as if she was trying to remember.
“Yeah… Twi… something? I don’t remember either.”
Sunset left her cell phone on the table, sighing.
“Something like that. I just don’t understand why they went to get it now. The bar closes in forty minutes.”
Applejack checked her watch and mumbled something in agreement.
“Anyway, Pinkie will want to have a “post” at her house later. But, look, I’m too sleepy for that.” She said, crossing her arms.
The redhead let out a light laugh. Applejack gave her a bored look, as if she already imagined what she laughed at.
“Stop.” She cut the buzz, but the redhead couldn’t hold back her laughter.
“It’s funny hearing you use those urban slangs. Not that you use so many from your country either, but when you use urban ones… it’s different.”
Applejack rolled her eyes, but was about to answer when the bar exploded in screams mixed with laughter.
Rainbow left the platform and walked over to the two of them after Pinkie managed to grab the microphone.
“Please, next time, lock her in a dungeon.” She muttered, referring to the pink-haired girl, as she sat down.
Sunset stared at her, her expression mischievous.
“She did us a favor.” She teased.
Applejack chuckled softly, shaking her head, while the colorful girl slumped back in her chair with an exhausted sigh.
“Favor?” She arched an eyebrow. “The only favor she did was prove that I’m the star of this group.” She looked at her girlfriend next to her, as if she wanted her validation.
The blonde rolled her eyes, pretending she didn’t hear, she just brought her hand to her girlfriend’s thigh, leaving a caress there.
“Of course, star… of a freak show.” Sunset replied, resting her chin on her hand.
Rainbow leaned toward her, her face bored, although slightly convinced.
“Admit it, redhead, you wish you were there.”
“Yeah, sure, you dream about it.” Sunset rolled her eyes, but her tone carried a hint of amusement.
Applejack, watching the two exchange barbs, just sighed.
“You two could find something else to do besides needling each other all the time, you know?”
“Then it would lose its charm, babe.” Rainbow replied, giving a smug smile.
“Exactly.” The redhead took a sip of her drink, giving her friend another mocking look.
The bar door opened, revealing Rarity, Fluttershy, and the mysterious girl they had come to pick up. The noise of the karaoke died down a bit when they entered, Pinkie, who was responsible for the noise, stopped singing to wave at them.
“Finally.” Applejack muttered. “What took so long?”
“Traffic, of course.” Rarity replied, fixing her hair with a dramatic gesture. “But Lyra called us and we had to stop by her house, Fluttershy went to see what happened to her cat, he's sick. Besides, Twilight here needed... a little encouragement to leave the house.”
The aforementioned girl gave an awkward smile, as if she was forcing it, trying to hide her discomfort in that noisy environment.
“Hey.”
Sunset looked the woman up and down, as she always did when new people were introduced to her. But a greater curiosity intrigued her.
She didn't look like the rest of the girls there. Not even close.
Her posture was not shy, and even with the clothes she was wearing she seemed reserved and focused. I wouldn't lie if I had already judged her as a big bore.
However, she was a very pretty bore.
Despite her clothes that reminded her of an academic style, that didn't make her any less interesting. In fact, because of her more closed expression, she was even more interesting.
Her hair was long and straight with bangs that didn't seem to have a single strand out of place. She was intrigued, even more so when she noticed a pink streak hidden by the dark hair.
The girl in question looked at all the others curiously, even though she was still reluctant to have agreed to leave home.
Judging by their faces, they didn't seem to be bad.
But one red-haired girl in particular caught her attention. Her entire appearance indicated that she could be trouble. And as if that weren't enough, her closed expression and fixed gaze aroused Twilight's curiosity even more.
Rainbow leaned back in her chair, looking at Twilight curiously.
"Is that the girl?" She let out a low laugh. "She seems a little... too serious to handle this place. And our post."
She received a disapproving squeeze on her thigh from her girlfriend for her comment. She looked at her, feigning annoyance.
"Rainbow..." Fluttershy scolded, placing her hand over her forehead.
"What? I'm just saying." The colorful girl shrugged, but kept her eyes on Twilight.
“Don’t mind her, dear.” Rarity said, placing her hands on Twilight’s shoulders. “We’ll make you feel at home, even if… You still have a little party to go to today.” She finished with an awkward smile, before taking her girlfriend Fluttershy’s hand to sit down.
Twilight in question shrugged, as if it didn’t bother her. But with her terrible ability to disguise it, the colorful and the redheaded girl in particular laughed softly at her reaction.
Sunset watched everything in silence, her eyes fixed on that girl. Something about her seemed different, as if she didn’t fit in there… but in an intriguing way.
“Sit down, Twilight.” Applejack called her, pointing with her head to the empty chair next to Sunset.
She quickly looked at the person next to her, the same girl who had caught her attention. But she did it anyway, sitting down.
The two couples began to talk among themselves, leaving the two single women in a somewhat uncomfortable silence.
The redhead tilted her head slightly, studying her sideways.
Sunset didn't waste time thinking about abstract ideas, she knew Twilight wouldn't start a conversation.
So she gave a friendly smile before saying:
"So, Twilight," she finally said, breaking the silence, while running her hand through her hair. "Ready to survive the chaos?"
Twilight blinked, surprised by the direct question.
She paid attention to the tone of voice, it was friendly, contrary to what she thought.
She looked at her, her expression was also friendly, even though she was sitting with her arms crossed and her clothes indicated that she might not be easy to deal with. Her voluminous and vibrant hair was thrown to the side, the contrast of the lights was evident with her black clothes. She is stylish.
But it seemed that Twilight couldn't imagine a friendship between them. They were very different, that was clearly evident, she didn't even need to find out more by talking to her.
That night still wouldn't be interesting for her after all.
Yes, her mind made her think all of that in five seconds. Before answering, she gave her a neutral smile.
“I… think so? I don’t know what to expect.” She said normally, trying to hide her boredom.
“Great answer.” Sunset smiled.
The silence returned.
The redhead looked at the girl, and then at the table. She relaxed her posture, leaving one arm on the chair’s support.
“You… don’t know who’s who here, do you?” She asked, licking her lips.
Twilight looked at her again, noticing her licking her own lip piercing. She looked at the others, remembering.
“My friends said their names, I know the blonde is Applejack, because of her apple candy store. Her girlfriend, the idiot, is Rainbow Dash.” She laughed, joking. “The one singing, if I'm not mistaken, is Pinkie Pie and yours... I forgot. Sorry about that.” She laughed humorlessly, straightening her posture.
The redhead arched an eyebrow, a mischievous smile appearing on her face.
“Mine?” She asked, leaning slightly towards Twilight. “Did you forget my name?”
Twilight licked her lips, embarrassed by the situation.
“It wasn't on purpose, I'm terrible with names.”
“It's Sunset. Sunset Shimmer.” The redhead said, as if she was savoring each syllable. “Don't forget this time, okay?”
The girl nodded, giving a small smile.
“I'll remember.”
“Well, because if you don't, I'll make you buy me a drink next time.” She said in a serious tone, looking at the movement around her.
Twilight widened her eyes, unsure if she was joking or serious, but the redhead just laughed softly when she noticed her reaction, crossing her arms again.
“Relax, Sparkle. It's okay.”
“Oh, sure.” Twilight looked away, embarrassed, her habit of not knowing how to differentiate irony bothered her.
Especially with a girl like that talking to her.
The silence returned, but this time it seemed less uncomfortable. Even so, Twilight wouldn't be lying if she said she'd rather be at her house than talk about anything with a pretty and stylish girl.
But that wasn't really interesting.
Maybe she was judging too soon.
She sighed, looking around. Nothing was perfect, right?
The redhead in question leaned her elbow on the table, observing the other girls for a moment before turning her attention to Twilight.
She noticed that she was bored there.
“So, what brought you here?” she asked casually, unlocking her phone and pointing it at the bar’s QR code stuck to the edge of the table. “Damn, I hate digital menus.”
Twilight laughed before answering, agreeing in unison.
“They’re horrible, aren’t they? I’m also a fan of feeling the papers. Well… I moved here recently. Rarity and Fluttershy are the only people I know so far. They said it would be good for me to get out a bit… meet new people and stuff.”
Sunset nodded, understanding.
“And how’s it going so far?” she asked without looking at her.
Twilight shrugged, looking at the table.
“Weird… but interesting. You two seem really close.”
“We’re quite close.” Sunset replied, with a slight smile. “But relax. You get used to it.”
Twilight looked up, her eyes shining with a mix of curiosity and relief.
“I hope so.” She looked around. “And what brought you here today? Them?”
Sunset took her attention away from her cell phone and looked at the girl.
“Yeah… actually, I wasn't going to leave the house today either.” She laughed humorlessly.
Twilight frowned at that.
“Why not?”
“Oh… I'm not very sociable, if you want to know.” She murmured, knowing her past experiences.
Twilight raised her eyebrows, surprised by that answer. She leaned slightly towards the girl, curious.
“It doesn't seem like it.”
Sunset smiled slightly, resting her chin on her hand as she played with her cell phone on the table.
“It's because I'm good at pretending. Just kidding, I've had some personal problems with a lot of people. And well, they were the only ones who've forgiven me yet.”
Twilight raised her eyebrows, at least one thought of hers had come true. She was indeed trouble.
“Well, but you seem quite comfortable here, even with all the chaos.”
“The difference is that I've known them long enough to deal with the chaos.” Sunset glanced at the stage, where Pinkie was still giving an energetic performance. “But if it was to meet new people?” She shook her head. “Not really my thing.”
Twilight nodded slowly, crossing her arms on the table.
She identified with the same problem. Making new friends is a huge pain in the ass.
“I guess I can understand that. I only came because Rarity was very… convincing.”
“Oh, I can imagine that.” She laughed. “Once she decides something, there's no way out.”
Twilight agreed with a murmur.
“Don't even tell me. And… why did you end up coming then?”
Sunset tilted her head, thinking for a moment.
“Honestly? Because they would have my head if I stayed home.” She gave a half smile. “And, I don’t know… sometimes it’s good to get out for a while, you know? Even if it doesn’t seem like it at first. Even if you want to stay home and read your favorite book or watch your favorite series.”
Twilight raised her eyebrows and opened her mouth, completely surprised by the revelation.
Involuntarily, her body turned more towards the redhead, interested in this other common issue she had just realized she had with her.
“Do you also like to read?” she asked, surprised, a glint of curiosity in her eyes.
Sunset tilted her head, the corner of her lips pulled into a smile.
“Of course I do. Why the surprise?”
“I don’t know…” Twilight studied her again for a moment. She paid attention to her clothes and the alternative style she had. “You don’t look like someone who likes to read.”
“And what would the “face” of someone who likes to read be?” Sunset raised an eyebrow, her tone slightly provocative. “You say that girl is obsessed with Daring Do and all of E.K Earling’s books?” She pointed at Rainbow, who was laughing at something her girlfriend was saying. “Isn’t that right, Rainbow?”
The other’s attention was caught, she blinked a few times, clearly lost in the conversation.
“Huh? What are you two talking about?” she asked, leaning slightly towards the two.
“Books.” Sunset replied with a smirk. “Twilight here thinks I don’t look like someone who likes to read.”
Rainbow arched an eyebrow, looking at Sunset and then at Twilight, as if assessing the situation.
She finally looked at her girlfriend, who gave an amused smile.
“And…? Is she wrong?” Applejack intervened, eliciting a low laugh from her girlfriend.
And also from Twilight.
“Yeah, she is.” Sunset rolled her eyes, but her tone was relaxed. “Just because I don’t talk about it all the time doesn’t mean I don’t like it.”
“Well, if you want to know, Twilight, she’s a real nerd. But a nerd disguised in some cool clothes.” Rainbow interrupted. “Well, you don’t say it because you don’t want to, I’ll say it, and no one complain. Daring Do is a modern classic, you’re the one who doesn’t have good taste.” She shrugged, looking satisfied.
Twilight smiled at the compliment for the work, she also really liked the saga.
“Of course it is, you heard that, right?” Sunset replied sarcastically, looking at Twilight with a knowing smile.
“Of course.” The colorful girl confirmed, shrugging.
Twilight sat up in her chair, looking at the redhead with interest.
“Well, I didn’t mean to offend. I just didn’t imagine you were as big a fan of books as you seem to be.” She said, relaxed.
“Oh, she is.” Rainbow interrupted, pointing at Sunset with her index finger. “But her style is all “too intellectual to admit she likes best-sellers”.”
The redhead laughed, shaking her head.
“And you’re the opposite. Totally shameless about shouting to the world that you’ve read the same series three times. Seriously, she reposts any post by E.K. on social media, even if it’s not about the books.”
“Four.” Rainbow corrected, proudly, before turning back to Applejack, who was calling her. “Anyway, read Daring Do. You don’t know what you’re missing.”
When Rainbow returned to her conversation with her girlfriend, Sunset looked back at Twilight.
“See? There’s no such thing as a “bookworm.” Even Rainbow is addicted to books, even if it’s just silly adventures.”
Twilight laughed again, feeling more relaxed.
“You should read them too, her books are amazing.”
Sunset was impressed for a moment by that. She leaned back in her chair, more interested.
“I thought you liked books that make people think, but practically. Like me. Like, the ones that force you to see things in a different way. It doesn't matter if it's fiction, philosophy or even science. If it makes my head work, I'm in.” Sunset said.
Twilight blinked, visibly surprised, but this time with an excited smile.
“Really? I love that kind of book too! But I'm more into theory.”
“Really?” She asked, the smile on her face growing.
Twilight nodded, leaning forward slightly.
“Yes! Like, books by Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, or even philosophical essays... I love how they change the way you see the world.”
“Asimov, huh?” Sunset gave a small laugh, impressed. “Good taste. You really do look like someone who likes to get lost in theory.”
Twilight raised her eyebrows, crossing her arms as she continued to stare at the redhead.
“And what would the “face” of someone who likes theory be?”
“Yours.” Sunset answered simply, laughing softly. “But it's not a bad thing. It means you think before you do things. Quite the opposite of me, sometimes.”
Twilight laughed.
“I doubt you don’t think before you act. You seem to be quite strategic.”
“It depends on the situation.” The redhead said, looking up at the sky. “But actually, I like to test things out more, you know? Reading is amazing, but what’s the point of just knowing if you don’t use what you learned?”
“Okay, now it seems like you’re challenging me.” Twilight replied, giving her a curious look. “What was the last book that made you think like that?”
The redhead paused for a moment, pretending to think.
“Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand. I don’t agree with everything, but it was really interesting. It made me question a lot of things about individual responsibility and choices. What about you?”
Twilight seemed genuinely impressed.
“I read that one too, but I think I was more irritated than reflective.” She laughed. “Well, the last one that made me think was A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking. I was fascinated by the possibilities of the universe and how time works. It's almost poetic, in a mathematical way.”
“Poetic, huh?” Sunset replied, with an amused smile. “See? We're not that different after all.”
Twilight smiled back, more at ease.
“Yeah, maybe you're right.” She seemed more and more fascinated. “These books are like... windows to ideas you would never have on your own.”
Sunset smiled, shaking her head.
“Exactly. They challenge you, take you out of your comfort zone.”
“Not everyone likes that.” Twilight commented, adjusting her glasses again, a little more relaxed. “I think that, deep down, nerds like us like this kind of challenge.”
“Nerds like us?” The redhead laughed softly. “Okay, Sparkle, I accept the label.”
Twilight laughed too, feeling more comfortable with the joke.
“I think we’ll have a lot to talk about.”
“I’m sure of it.” Sunset smiled at her with genuine interest, while the chaos around them in the bar seemed to subside.
For the first time that night, the two felt like they had found an unexpected connection, something that could turn that night into something more than just a simple outing.
For the first time in a long time for both of them, it wasn’t so bad to leave the house to “put up” with people.
Sunset unlocked the cell phone again, which she had locked herself, after getting distracted by the girl. She rolled her eyes at the menu, but saw a notice in the corner of the screen, indicating that the kitchen had already closed.
She snorted at that, closing the tab and leaving the device on the table.
Everyone’s attention was drawn when Pinkie returned to the table.
“Hey? Let’s go? It’s almost closing here.”
Applejack and Rainbow were the first to get up, waiting for the curly-haired girl.
“Well, Pinkie is going with us, as always. Twilight is going in your car, right?” Applejack decided, pointing to the other couple she mentioned.
Rarity stood up, smiling as she grabbed her keys.
“Of course, she’s coming with us.”
But Fluttershy intervened.
“Yeah… Rarity, we have to stop by Lyra’s house again first.”
The other raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“Oh, that's right. We have to go over there to see how her cat is doing. It'll take a while, but you don't mind, right Twi?”
Everyone looked at the aforementioned, who shook her head calmly.
“Of course not.”
But Sunset quickly thought of an interesting possibility in light of that.
“Hey, there's my motorcycle. She can come with me. Sure, if she wants.” She said calmly, looking at the other out of the corner of her eye.
Twilight remained silent, not expecting that.
Everyone's attention turned to Sunset, the suggestion hanging in the air. Twilight blinked a few times, surprised, before answering.
“Oh, I... I don't know.”
“Relax, I don't bite.” Sunset smiled at the corner of her mouth, her tone casual, but her eyes fixed on the girl. “I just thought it might be faster than waiting for Rarity and Fluttershy to sort it out.”
Rarity, always perceptive, gave Sunset a curious look, but kept her smile.
“Well, Twilight, it’s your decision.”
Pinkie nodded before saying:
“We just want you to be comfortable.”
The girl looked at each of them before looking back at the redhead, who was watching her calmly, but with a slight expectation.
“Okay, I can go with you.” She smiled a little nervously, as she was not in her comfort zone. “I don’t think I’ve ever ridden a motorcycle before.”
“First step to everything, Sparkle.” Sunset stood up, taking the keys from her pocket. “Come on, I’ll show you how not to fall.”
Applejack chuckled at the comment, looking at her girlfriend, who was trying to hide her amusement.
“That’s a wonderful incentive, isn’t it?” Twilight laughed nervously as she stood up, grabbing her bag.
“You’re in good hands.” Pinkie lightened the mood.
Rarity gave a slight smile, almost complicit, as she picked up her coat.
“Don’t worry, Twilight. She’s responsible, unlike Rainbow Dash.” She gave her a sideways glance, which took an almost indignant look from her colorful expression.
“Hey!” She protested, crossing her arms. “I’ve always been a great driver.”
Rarity arched an eyebrow, her tone full of irony.
“Sure, darling. Because running a red light twice counts as skill, doesn’t it?”
“There were no cameras or guards and Tank needed me, it was urgent. And in the end, I was the one who won the last Cloudsdale motocross competition. So, that’s the end of the matter.”
Applejack sighed, intervening.
“Let’s not start the night off arguing, shall we?” She said with an ironic smile, pulling her girlfriend by the sleeve of her coat. “Let’s scare the new member, that is, if she’s not already scared. Which I don’t doubt.”
Rainbow winked before following Applejack.
“She gets used to it,” she replied as she left.
Rarity laughed, shaking her head, before turning to Twilight, who was still a little lost in the conversation.
“Don’t worry, dear, they’re like that all the time.” She gave a comforting smile.
Twilight smiled, thanking her for the consideration. She then looked outside, Sunset was already near the motorcycle, waiting patiently.
“I’ll meet you there, then?” Rarity asked, with a curious look as they left the bar.
“Yeah, I guess so.” Sunset answered for the other, with a relaxed smile. “Climb in, Sparkle. I promise you won’t regret it.”
“Well, okay. See you there.” Rarity said goodbye, going to her own car where Fluttershy was already waiting for her.
Twilight didn’t really know what to say, finding herself alone with the redhead. She looked at the motorcycle, getting a better understanding of it.
“Your motorcycle is… just like you.” The girl commented, noticing the orange and red details as if they were sparks of fire at the base of the all-black vehicle.
“Pretty, huh?” She said with a slight smugness, handing over the helmet.
“It’s perfect.” She corrected, barely realizing what had come out of her mouth as she put the helmet on.
Sunset was a little surprised, that disconcerted her.
From the silence, Twilight realized what she had done. And worst of all, that she had heard it.
She sighed, feigning ignorance. She tried not to pay attention to the redhead’s reaction, who had a smirk adorning her face. With difficulty, she looked at the motorcycle and took a deep breath.
She was excited, but also a little nervous.
“Let’s go.” Sunset gave a soft laugh, breaking the mood a little, noticing the girl’s apprehension. “Trust me.” She held out her hand to help Twilight onto the bike, and the girl hesitated for a moment before taking the redhead's hand and settling in behind her.
"Remember to hold on tight." Sunset warned as she put on her helmet and started the bike, the roar of the engine vibrating in the air.
Twilight nodded, tightening her grip on the redhead's waist as the bike began to move.
As Sunset sped down the street, the wind made Twilight feel a sense of freedom she had never experienced before.
Even though she was apprehensive, and with her eyes closed, she slowly opened them when she noticed the moments of deceleration.
The sound of the engine and the smooth rhythm of the road made her feel calmer, and, to her surprise, she was actually starting to enjoy the ride.
“Are you enjoying it?” Sunset shouted over the noise of the wind, looking over her shoulder to see Twilight’s cautious smile.
“Yes!” Twilight shouted back, her eyes shining with excitement. “This is… amazing!”
Sunset smiled to herself, happy to see the girl letting loose. She accelerated the bike.
“I told you you would like it.”
And, for the first time in a long time, Twilight felt that maybe getting out of her comfort zone wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Sunset stopped at the traffic light after turning a corner. She grumbled, seeing that up ahead, the street was highly congested.
“Why is there so much traffic at this hour?” She heard the girl behind her ask.
“There was a Countess Coloratura concert going on.” Apparently it's over now. Do you know?
“I don't know.” She replied, the redhead smiled, already waiting for the answer. “Why didn't you go?”
Sunset crossed her arms, felt the grip on her waist loosen a little.
“I have no idea. Rarity and Pinkie are big fans. And Rara knows Applejack.”
“Rara?”
“Yes, that's her nickname. Well, between us, don't say it around AJ's girlfriend. She's a little jealous.” She didn't hesitate to laugh.
Twilight smiled, placing importance on the warning given.
“I'll remember.”
Sunset snorted as soon as the light turned green and she didn't move from her spot. She looked ahead, trying to overtake, but she couldn't even get through the middle of the cars, they were too close together.
“This isn't going to work.” She grumbled to herself, slowing down and trying to think of a plan. She looked to the side and saw a smaller, almost deserted street.
Sunset sped to the side, swerving through the few spaces available between cars. Horns honked, and she muttered a loud curse in response.
“Hold on, Sparkle. I’m taking a shortcut.”
Twilight adjusted quickly, holding tightly to the redhead’s waist.
“Okay, but have you thought this through? Have you thought of a safe route?”
“Of course not. But I don’t want to waste any more time here.” Sunset replied confidently, leaning the bike slightly and turning onto the side street.
The girl rolled her eyes at the redhead’s way of thinking, but didn’t hide a slight smile.
The path was narrower and full of curves, but the redhead seemed completely comfortable, riding the bike skillfully. The only thing that was annoying was the dirt road.
Twilight, on the other hand, tried to keep her cool as the feeling of adventure took over.
However, as they made a slightly sharper turn, the motorcycle shook slightly, and the bag of the girl with the fringe, which was poorly positioned, fell without either of them noticing right away.
When Sunset finally stopped at an intersection further ahead, ready to decide which direction to take, the girl behind her noticed something wrong.
“My bag!” She exclaimed, looking around desperately.
Sunset frowned and looked back.
“Your bag? Where did you leave it?”
“I think it fell… on the turn we made earlier.” Twilight looked distressed. “Shit, it had my books in it.”
“Just books? Nothing more important?” Sunset asked, already turning the motorcycle around.
“Just the books, my other things are in my coat pocket. They’re important to me, but… you don’t have to go back. I’ll fix it later, that place doesn’t seem very safe, it’s better if we go to the party.”
Sunset sighed, but didn’t seem bothered.
“Of course not, let’s go back and look for it.”
“What?”
Twilight’s eyes widened.
“Wait, calm down. I don’t think it’s a good idea to go back.” She began, grabbing the redhead’s shoulder to interrupt her. “The path was dark, poorly lit, and we don’t know if the bag is still there. It could be dangerous, and the chances of us finding anything are slim.”
“Are you saying we should just let it go?” Sunset asked, clearly confused.
“That’s not it. But if we think about it, the most logical thing would be to go to the party, call someone who can help, or come back tomorrow, when it’s brighter and safer.”
Sunset frowned, processing the argument, but quickly shrugged.
“Or, we go back now, while we’re still close, and look for it. Waiting until tomorrow is a waste of time. The faster we solve it, the better. And honestly, who’s going to help you find some books that fell in the middle of the road?”
Twilight crossed her arms, taking a deep breath.
“Fixing it fast doesn’t mean solving it right, Sunset. What if we’re wasting time now by going back without any guarantees? Doing this impulsively might be less efficient than it seems.”
Sunset chuckled and looked at her, still leaning over the handlebars.
“Sparkle, you’re overcomplicating something simple. We don’t need an elaborate plan for this. Just turn around, look for about five minutes, and if we don’t find it, we move on. Done.”
Twilight hesitated. The plan seemed practical, but it contradicted her theoretical instinct to want to plan everything in advance. Finally, she sighed.
“Okay. Five minutes.” But only because you seem too determined for me to argue.
Sunset smiled victoriously, maneuvering the motorcycle.
“Trust me, Sparkle. Not every solution needs a doctoral thesis.”
Twilight just rolled her eyes, but a slight smile appeared on her lips as she held the redhead tightly around her waist.
They quickly retraced their steps, but when they reached the place where the bag should be, they found nothing.
The redhead turned off the motorcycle and decided to get off, helping Twilight search the surroundings. There was a forest around, but the only way to search was along the poorly lit dirt road.
“Do you see anything?” Sunset asked, her eyes narrowed.
“No… But I’m sure it was here.” Twilight replied anxiously, looking at every piece of the ground and bushes around her. “I can’t believe it’s gone.” She muttered, frustrated, as she looked at the road.
“Maybe it fell right in the middle of this bush, or someone took it, I don’t know.” Sunset suggested, looking at the dark grass. “Was it a very flashy bag?”
“Ugh, it was a little. It was dark blue with purple details, and it had at least three books inside. Who the hell would steal books?” She grumbled.
Sunset gave a small smile when she heard that.
“You'd be surprised at what people take, Sparkle.”
She sighed, crossing her arms.
“Well, I hope whoever took it knows how to appreciate an in-depth analysis of scientific theories and speculative fiction.”
“Wow, it sounds exciting.” Sunset commented ironically, but clearly trying to cheer the girl up.
Twilight looked at her, hesitating, before smiling.
“It's exciting to me, okay?”
The redhead laughed, shaking her head. Her turquoise eyes analyzed the girl, who even smiling, it was possible to see her annoyed expression.
“Come on, let's go to a place.”
The one with the bangs frowned, watching the redhead walk back to the bike.
“Place? What place?”
“I'm going to buy your books, staying here won't do any good. There's a place nearby, but come quickly, before it closes.”
Twilight's eyes widened at what she heard, still standing in the middle of the road.
“What?” She exclaimed, surprised, as she ran to Sunset, who was already putting on her helmet. “You don't have to do that!”
Sunset just shrugged, a carefree smile on her face.
“Relax, Sparkle. It's unfair anyway, and I'm the one who told you to come with me. Consider it a welcome gift to the city.”
“But…” Twilight hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. “It's not necessary, Sunset. I can buy it another time, and I don't want to give you any trouble.
The redhead looked at her over her shoulder, arching an eyebrow.
“You're stubborn as hell. It's just a detour, and it's close, nothing major. Besides, you seem really shaken by it.” She got on the bike and gave a slight nod. “Now get on. Helmet, Sparkle.”
Twilight stood still for a moment longer, not knowing what to say to that personality in question.
Finally, she let out a resigned sigh and got on the back of the bike again, adjusting her helmet.
“And you're insistent, you know?”
“It's part of my charm.” Sunset replied with a mischievous smile before speeding off.
After a long moment, they rode a few streets until they stopped in front of a small storefront that still had faint lights on.
It was a cozy place, with wooden shelves that could be seen through the window.
“You said it was close. Is it here?” Twilight asked, getting off the bike and looking at the storefront curiously.
“It's here.” The redhead confirmed, already walking towards the door. “Trust me, Sunburst has everything.”
“Sunset, it's closed.” The girl said, still standing in place, looking at the hanging sign. She crossed her arms.
“For us, never.” The redhead winked, knocking on the wooden door. “Hey! Sunburst! It's me, Sunset. I know you're up reading!”
Twilight raised her eyebrows, clearly intrigued by what was happening.
Intrigued by the redhead doing all this for herself.
After a few long seconds, the door creaked as it was unlocked, revealing a tall man with round glasses, a thin beard and messy red hair.
He was wearing a sweater that looked old but comfortable, and he had a sleepy look in his eyes that quickly turned into surprise when he saw who was there.
“Sunset Shimmer?” he exclaimed, opening the door wider. “You’ll never learn that I close at ten, right?”
“I know.” Sunset replied with a carefree smile. “But I needed a favor. And I know your eyes don’t rest until one in the morning.”
Sunburst sighed, but gave a slight smile.
“You always need a favor. Just go in before some random customer decides to show up.”
Sunset entered first, and Twilight followed her hesitantly, taking in the warmth and welcoming aroma of the place.
“So, who is this?” – Sunburst asked, closing the door behind them and looking curiously at Twilight.
“This is Twilight Sparkle.” Sunset said, gesturing casually. “She had a little accident with her bag, walking with me, and I promised to help replace some books.”
“Oh, I see. Another one of Sunset's victims.”
He nodded, adjusting his glasses as he looked at Twilight. The redhead rolled her eyes, while receiving a very curious look from the fringe-haired girl.
“Thanks, Sunburst…”
“Welcome to my humble bookstore. I'm Sunburst, and I promise we have the best books in town.”
"Humble" and "best"? How ambiguous…” Sunset laughed. “You have the only place that still sells limited editions here.”
“Exactly why I'm the best. But I'm still humble.” He replied with a smirk before turning back to Twilight. “So, what are you looking for?”
She hesitated for a moment before answering.
“Well… I had some books on scientific theories and speculative fiction. I don’t know if you have anything like that around here. It’s all about astrophysics.”
Sunburst smiled, clearly excited.
“Oh, I definitely do. Come with me.” He started walking down the hallway, waving for her to follow him.
Meanwhile, the redhead leaned against the counter, watching the scene with a satisfied smile.
“See? I told you he had everything.” She said, looking at the other.
The girl just gave a small smile, before getting lost in the shelves and Sunburst’s enthusiastic explanations.
As Twilight followed Sunburst, she began to loosen up more, asking questions about the books he mentioned. The excitement in her voice was evident, and the redhead watched from afar, amused by how comfortable the girl seemed in that environment. After a few minutes, Twilight appeared with a small stack of books in her arms, with a huge smile.
The redhead paid attention, and wished she had failed once more just to see that huge smile again.
“I think these will be enough,” she said, looking at Sunset and then at Sunburst. “Thank you so much for opening the store for us.”
“No problem.” Sunburst adjusted his glasses, looking genuinely happy. “I like helping people who really love books. Just don’t spread the word that I do it, okay? Don’t you want anything, Set? New books on biomechanics and mechatronic technology have arrived.”
Twilight was surprised by the suggestion. She looked at the redhead in amazement once more.
Sunset stopped being distracted and raised her eyebrows when she heard Sunburst’s suggestion and the attention fell on her.
“Biomechanics and mechatronics?” She asked, with a touch of interest. “Fuck… I didn’t know you were bringing these things now.”
“I thought you would like them.” He shrugged, already walking to a nearby shelf. “There are some rare editions and some recent studies. Do you want to take them?”
Sunset hesitated for a moment, looking at Twilight, who seemed curious, at the same time very fascinated.
“Go ahead, Sunset.” She encouraged, smiling broadly, as she adjusted the bag of books in her arms. “Who knows… we can schedule a day to read our stacks together.”
The redhead smiled at the suggestion before following her friend to the indicated shelf. He pulled out two heavy volumes and handed them to her.
“This one is about intelligent prosthetics, and this one is about AI-integrated systems. I think it’s just like you.”
“Just like me.” Sunset murmured as she leafed through one of the books, clearly fascinated.
Twilight approached, peering over the redhead’s shoulder.
“Interesting…” She said, seeing the pictures and the description of everything. “Do you like reading about it?”
“Quite a lot.” Sunset replied without taking her eyes off the page. “I was thinking about developing something in this area in my postgraduate studies, maybe even something practical for a personal project. I haven’t told you yet, but I’m studying mechanical engineering.”
Twilight raised her eyebrows, still genuinely impressed.
“That’s amazing, I’m studying astrophysics. Have you ever thought about pursuing that career you mentioned before?”
Sunset closed the book and shrugged.
“Maybe one day. For now, I just like learning. And wow, astrophysics is like… Really nerdy.”
The two laughed together.
Sunburst watched the interaction with a discreet smile.
“You’re going to take it, right?” He asked, nudging Sunset. “You’re not going to miss reading day with her.”
“Of course I’m not going to miss it.” She replied, pushing her friend’s shoulder and holding out the books to him.
While Sunburst was ringing up the purchases, Twilight looked at Sunset with a mix of curiosity and admiration.
“I think you’re more of a nerd than I imagined.”
“Now do I have a face?” Sunset replied, teasing.
Twilight laughed, shaking her head.
“Well… a little.”
Sunset smiled at the answer, looking back at the counter.
“Well… how do you want to do it? Are you going to split it?” Twilight was about to intervene, placing her wallet on the counter, but the redhead interrupted first.
“Yes.”
“No. Debit, please.” She replied, waiting for her friend to enter the price on the electronic machine.
Twilight sighed uncomfortably, looking at the redhead again.
“Sunset, I”
“Twilight, hold on for a second, I left you a discount. You're already taking a lot of stuff.” The redhead intervened, calling the other's attention.
But that didn't ease the situation, even if the intention was good.
Sunset paid without hesitation, and Twilight seemed torn between thanking her and protesting, sighing when she heard the jingle of the machine.
The redhead put her cell phone in her pocket, picking up the packed books and walked away, waiting.
“Shall we go?”
Sunburst handed the rest of the books packed in a simple bag to Twilight, who thanked her. She walked them to the door.
“It was nice meeting you, Twilight. And Sunset… try not to show up in the middle of the night next time, okay? And be careful with those books.”
“No promises.” Sunset replied with a smile before walking out the door.
As soon as they got to the motorcycle, Twilight looked at the books in the bag and then at the redhead.
“You really didn’t have to do that.”
“I know.” Sunset replied, handing her the helmet. “But I wanted to.”
Twilight was silent for a moment, looking at Sunset as if she was trying to understand something.
Involuntarily, her mouth curved into a smile.
“You’re a person—”
Before she could finish, the motorcycle’s engine made a noise that could be classified as worrying as it started up.
Sunset would have been interested in what the other would say, but her concern was stronger. She looked at the dashboard that was flashing, indicating the lack of gas.
“No, no….”
Sunset frowned, turning the engine off and on again, but the result was the same. She sighed, dropping her hands on the bike's handlebars.
"I can't believe I forgot to fill up before I left... I swore I had." She muttered to herself.
Twilight listened, arching an eyebrow, holding her helmet with one hand as she looked at the redhead, somewhat skeptically.
"Are you sure?"
"Okay, maybe I forgot." Sunset admitted, rolling her eyes. "But who rides with gas on the limit?
Twilight chuckled softly, shaking her head.
“Apparently, you.”
“Very funny, Sparkle.” She replied, but a small smile played on her lips. “Well, the nearest gas station is about fifteen minutes away on foot. I guess we’ll have to walk.”
Twilight adjusted the helmet she was still holding and shrugged.
“Wow… you really are very practical. Don’t you think theory can save us a little?”
The redhead frowned, not understanding.
“What do you mean?”
“I thought we could call one of the girls to come and help.”
Sunset considered the idea for a moment, but then shook her head.
“We could, but they’re probably already in the middle of the party, and I doubt anyone will have room in the car with all those drinks they bought. Besides, it’s not that far. Walking will be faster than waiting.”
Twilight sighed, but an amused smile escaped.
“Okay, then. Walk.” She placed the helmet on the motorcycle seat and began walking alongside Sunset.
“Besides…” Sunset continued, putting her hands in her jacket pockets as she walked “It's a good opportunity to talk more, don't you think?”
Twilight gave her a curious look.
“Are you trying to turn your planning failure into a positive point?”
“Of course I am.” Sunset replied, smiling broadly. “You realized now? I'm an optimist when it suits me.”
Twilight laughed and looked at the redhead for a moment, before asking.
“So, do you have any practical theory to ensure we return home with enough gas?”
“Yeah, I do: fill up before leaving.” Sunset replied without missing a beat, eliciting another laugh from Twilight.
But the girl didn't really know why she wasn't irritated by that, if she had been alone or with someone else, perhaps the situation would have been different.
That girl was a little problematically engaging.
“It's okay. A little exercise never hurt anyone. We're in a safe neighborhood.”
“Yeah…” She said, getting off the bike while sighing. But suddenly, her cell phone rang. She put it close to her ear. “Hi Jack, what’s up.”
Twilight waited, looking around. But her cell phone also rang in her pocket. She answered, it was Rarity.
The two frowned at the two calls at the same time, since the others would probably all be together at this time. But they explained the situation.
After a few minutes, they hung up almost at the same time.
They looked at each other, curious.
“What did she say?” They both asked at the same time.
They laughed at the situation.
Sunset put away her cell phone and started pushing her motorcycle down the sidewalk, with Twilight following along.
“Even though her girlfriend teased me about the situation for a few seconds, Applejack said she would stop by to take us to the gas station, but I told her it wasn’t necessary. And I doubt my motorcycle will fit in the truck. And Rarity?”
Twilight laughed, adjusting the strap of the bag with the books on her shoulder.
“She just said to be careful and for me to give her updates…” She thought for a moment. “Applejack is very helpful when it comes to you guys, I could tell.”
Sunset smiled, agreeing.
“Yeah, she can’t help it. Always trying to help, even when she doesn’t need to. But I thought it best if we took care of this on our own, I don’t like causing trouble. Besides, the gas station isn’t that far away.”
“I just hope nothing happens to your precious books on the way.”
“My precious books?” The redhead arched an eyebrow with a teasing smile. “I thought most of them were yours.”
Twilight laughed, shaking her head.
“Our precious books.”
The comfortable silence enveloped the room for a moment.
“It’s not exactly how I imagined the end of the night.” The one with the bangs commented, looking at the starry sky.
“Welcome to my world.” Sunset replied in a light tone. “What were you going to say again? Before we realized my stupidity?”
Twilight laughed, but looked at her, confused for a moment, before remembering.
“Oh, I was going to say that you’re an… interesting person.”
“Interesting…” The redhead arched an eyebrow, looking sideways at her. “Is that what they say when they don’t know what to think of someone?”
“No, it’s what they say when they don’t expect someone to do something so nice… like buy books for someone they just met.”
The redhead gave a small but genuine smile.
“Well… I told you that I'm full of surprises.”
Twilight just smiled, feeling that maybe that wasn't a bad thing.
As they walked, the cold breeze enveloped them. But it wasn't a bother. Nothing was, at the moment.
“That just proves that I'm a great influence.” She commented with a touch of irony.
Sunset arched an eyebrow, looking at her.
“Great influence?”
“Yes.” Twilight smiled. “I left my comfort zone to come to this party, I rode a motorcycle for the first time and now I'm walking in the middle of the night to get gas. It's been quite an experimental night, don't you think?”
The redhead couldn't help but laugh.
“And here I thought I was going to impress you with a quiet walk and some books.”
Twilight looked at her, her expression amused but also sincere.
“Maybe you impressed me more than you think.”
I impressed you, a lot. Twilight almost felt like she had won the lottery.
Sunset paused for a moment, her eyes meeting Twilight's for a few seconds longer than necessary.
Her purple eyes were almost hypnotizing.
"Well, in that case, I guess the walk wasn't so bad after all."
They continued on their way in comfortable silence, with the lightness of the moment hanging in the air.
As they walked, the conversation flowed lightly, filling the silence of the night.
"So... do you usually do this?" Twilight asked.
"Do what?" She replied, pretending not to understand as she kicked a small stone on the path.
"Sunburst said it wasn't the first time you'd shown up there in the middle of the night. Do you buy books for the nerds you're interested in?"
Sunset raised her eyebrows for a moment, enjoying the provocation.
"How do you know I'm interested?"
Twilight paused for a moment, looking at Sunset with a mixture of surprise and challenge.
“It was a theory you just confirmed. Thank you.” She said, crossing her arms, but the smile on the corner of her lips revealed that she was enjoying herself.
The redhead laughed softly, shaking her head.
“Maybe I gave in.” She admitted, still keeping her tone light. “But seriously, it's not like I go around doing this all the time.”
“Oh, then I'm special.” Twilight replied, continuing to walk.
The redhead stopped walking for a moment, pretending to think.
“Maybe.” She said with a carefree smile. “Or maybe I just wanted to prove you wrong about “nerds don't go with motorcycles”.”
The girl opened her mouth to argue, about to answer, but stopped, considering her answer for a moment.
“Okay, point for you. But I still think it was a lot of effort just to win this argument.”
“It was worth it.” She answered, going back to walking. “You had fun with me, didn't you?”
Twilight hesitated before answering, but finally gave a small smile.
“Yes. More than I expected, actually.”
“Then, mission accomplished.” She smiled with satisfaction.
A comfortable silence settled between the two for a moment as they continued walking. Then Twilight spoke again, her voice softer this time.
“And… thank you. For today. It was… different, but in a good way.”
Sunset turned her head to look at her. The girl with the bangs noticed her turquoise eyes shining under the dim light of the streetlights.
“No need to thank me. But if you want to reciprocate, you can let me take you for another ride sometime.”
Twilight smiled, looking away.
“I’ll think about it.”
The redhead just laughed, satisfied with the answer.
“Was that a compliment or a disguised insult?”
“It depends. How do you prefer to interpret it?”
They laughed, and Sunset noticed how genuine and soft the sound was, as if being away from home and going through some problems with herself wasn’t so bad.
After a few minutes of walking, the redhead suddenly stopped and pointed ahead.
“There, see? The gas station.”
Twilight followed her gaze and saw the small illuminated sign up ahead.
“I see. It didn’t take that long.”
“That’s because practicality doesn’t take long.” The redhead replied, winking.
Twilight rolled her eyes, but a silly smile was still on her face.
When they arrived, they greeted the attendant. The redhead stopped the motorcycle there in the cabin, moving away.
“Fill up with regular gas, please.” She asked, crossing her arms.
As she watched the employee pour gas into the motorcycle's tank, something in the reflection of the headlights caught her attention. She frowned and crouched down to inspect the lower part of the motorcycle.
“Damn…” she muttered, noticing that one of the exhaust screws seemed loose. She ran her hand over the wires and cables, trying to understand how that had happened.
“Is everything okay there?” Twilight asked, watching the redhead curiously.
“I think it's just a loose screw. Nothing I can't fix at home, but I'll have to ride carefully.” Sunset replied without taking her eyes off the motorcycle.
The attendant heard the conversation, interfering.
“Yeah, these little details can cause a huge problem if they aren't fixed.”
The redhead looked at the man, considering his suggestion.
“I don't have time for these things.” She snorted. “I only do it when necessary.”
Twilight watched the intersection in silence, pondering.
The redhead turned to the other, touching her arm.
“I'm going to the bathroom real quick. I'll be right back. Are you staying here?”
She nodded in confirmation.
“Of course.”
As she watched the striking figure walk away, she remained next to the motorcycle.
Looking now at the loose screw, she thought of something to help the redhead with that. She bit her lower lip, pondering.
The attendant, who had finished filling up, noticed the girl's attentive gaze.
“Is there a problem?” he asked, curious.
Twilight pointed to the exhaust.
“Sunset said it has a loose screw, but she plans to leave it like that until she gets home. Don't you think that could be dangerous?”
The man adjusted his cap, looking at the part.
“Well, it may not seem like much now, but depending on the vibrations on the way, it could cause a bigger problem. If you want, I have a tool kit here. You can tighten it in no time.”
Twilight smiled gratefully.
“That would be great, thanks.”
As the attendant walked away to get the kit, Twilight crouched down next to the bike, examining the part more closely. Soon the man returned, handing her a simple wrench.
“Here, just tighten this screw. Do you want some help?”
She shook her head confidently.
“No, I think I can do it.” Twilight got to work, tightening the screw carefully. “She may be practical, but she doesn’t care much about details like that. I just hope this keeps her out of trouble for a while.”
The attendant smiled, watching as she finished the adjustment.
“You seem to know a lot, huh?”
“Oh no, I’m not an expert on this, but I like to analyze problems in a preventive way.” she replied, standing up and returning the tool. “Better to be safe now than to deal with a major repair later.”
The attendant nodded.
“Okay. It’s a good fit. This should hold until she can check everything at home. Thanks for the help.” She said with a smile, before wiping her hands on her pants and looking back at the bike with satisfaction. “How much was the gasoline?”
The attendant looked at the display and told her the amount. Twilight paid with a few bills, making sure to do it quickly so as not to raise suspicions.
A short time later, Sunset returned.
“Ready?” the redhead asked, not noticing anything different.
lOf course. We can go.” She gave a slight smile.
“Okay, I’ll just pay and we can go.”
The redhead was about to turn around, but stopped when the other girl grabbed her hand.
“It’s already paid.”
The redhead blinked, surprised.
“What do you mean? You paid?”
“Yes. It’s nothing. I also fixed the part on your bike, you big head.” She said with a smile.
“Twilight…” The girl began, clearly surprised and a little embarrassed. “You didn’t have to do that. I’m the one who brought you here.”
“It’s the least I could do, considering everything you’ve done today.” She shrugged, a small smile appearing on her face.
For a moment, Sunset was silent, looking at her as if deciding what to say. Then, finally, she sighed and smiled.
“Okay, but next time, let me do my part, okay?”
“Next time?” Twilight arched an eyebrow, mocking the other. “You’ve already done more than your part today, it’s okay.”
The redhead was about to answer, with a playful glint in her eyes, before handing her the helmet, but she shook her head.
“Let’s go before I change my mind about accepting this.”
Twilight put on the helmet and got on the bike, holding on to the redhead once more. As Sunset started the engine, she couldn’t help but think that this gesture, however small, seemed to have meant more to the redhead than she expected.
“Yes, we have a party to enjoy.” Twilight reminded her, pleased with the night.
“And who knows, maybe I’ll finally present you with a theory and you tell me if you want to try it out in practice.”
um The redhead finally spoke, an amused yet nervous smile shaping her lips.
Twilight couldn't hide the surprise on her face mixed with excitement when she heard that. She hesitated a little, also nervous, but answered expectantly.
"Then let's go."
The redhead let out a relieved laugh, completely satisfied, before finally accelerating the motorcycle down the road.
They would have to test something later.