Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The girls first noticed something different during an after-school hangout in the library. Everyone was scattered across the study tables, working on homework, but Sunset and Twilight were huddled unusually close at one table.

Twilight was explaining a complicated math equation, her notebook between them. Sunset was sitting a little too close, her chin propped on her hand, eyes not on the paper but on Twilight.

“I think you’re over-complicating it,” Sunset murmured, reaching over to take Twilight’s pencil. Their hands brushed, and Twilight froze, her face going red.

“You okay, Twi?” Sunset teased with a smirk. “You look like you’re overheating.”

“I-I’m fine!” Twilight squeaked, pushing up her glasses.

From across the room, Pinkie whispered loudly to Rarity and Rainbow Dash. “Do you see what I see?”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Sunset looks like she’s about to write ‘I love Twi’ in that notebook.”

Rarity gasped softly. “You don’t think… they’re a couple, do you?”

“No way,” Rainbow said, shaking her head. “They’d tell us. Wouldn’t they?”

Pinkie grinned mischievously. “Only one way to find out… spying!”

Fluttershy frowned. “Maybe we should just let them tell us when they’re ready…”

But the seed of suspicion had been planted.

The next day, the girls went to the mall for some light shopping. Sunset and Twilight ended up walking ahead of the group, lost in their own little world.

“I swear they’re holding hands,” Rainbow muttered to Applejack.

“They’re not holdin’ hands,” Applejack replied, squinting. “But they sure are walkin’ awful close.”

At one point, Twilight stopped to look at a display of books in a shop window. Sunset leaned against the glass next to her, saying something that made Twilight giggle and nudge her playfully.

Pinkie snapped a picture. “For the memories!” she whispered.

“Y’all really think somethin’s goin’ on?” Applejack asked.

“They’re cute, whatever it is,” Fluttershy said with a small smile.

Rarity sighed dreamily. “If they are dating, they make a rather charming couple.”

The group decided not to confront them yet, but they agreed to keep watching for more clues.

After school, Sunset and Twilight met up in the music room. They thought they were alone, but the girls were just outside the door, spying on the two of them and also waiting for band practice to start. It was a cool, crisp Wednesday afternoon at Canterlot High.

Rarity was the one who suggested everyone meet in the music room after school to plan an upcoming event for the Fall Formal. Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle offered to bring snacks. They didn’t mention that they’d planned to meet up a little earlier to “spend time together.”

Unbeknownst to their friends, Twilight and Sunset had been dating for a few months. Despite their deep connection, they kept their relationship secret, enjoying the thrill of stolen moments.

Inside, Sunset was strumming her guitar, while Twilight sat cross-legged on the floor, tinkering with a small invention she was in the middle of making.

“Don’t you ever take a break?” Sunset teased, setting her guitar down.

Twilight looked up, pushing her glasses higher. “Not when I’m this close to finish making it!”

Sunset smirked, sitting down next to her. “You’re such a nerd.”

Twilight pouted. “I thought you liked that about me.”

“I do,” Sunset said softly, brushing a strand of Twilight’s hair behind her ear.

Outside, Pinkie pressed her ear to the door. “Oooooh, they’re flirting!”

Rarity joined her. “What are they saying?”

“I think Sunset just touched her hair,” Pinkie whispered.

Rainbow groaned. “You can’t hear that, Pinkie.”

Applejack folded her arms. “I think it’s pretty obvious at this point. They’re into each other.”

Inside, Sunset leaned closer to Twilight, her voice low. “You’ve got a little smudge on your cheek.”

Twilight blinked. “Oh, I do? Where?”

“Right here.” Sunset wiped it off with her thumb, her touch lingering just a little too long. Twilight blushed furiously, and Sunset chuckled. Sunset, who was watching her with an amused look.

Their eyes met, and for a second, the silence between them was comfortable, but the unspoken tension between the two was undeniable.

"You've been smiling a lot today," Sunset said, her voice softening. "And you're doing it again."

Twilight bit her lip, her heart racing. "Maybe I just enjoy being around you," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sunset's grin widened. She moved a little closer, "Is that so?" she said, teasing, but her eyes were sincere. "Because I think I enjoy being around you too.”

Before Twilight could respond, there was a sudden noise outside the door. A muffled giggle. Sunset froze, turning her head quickly. "Did you hear that?" she whispered, leaning closer to the door, trying to listen.

Twilight, a little flustered, nodded. "I-I think it was... maybe Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie."

Sunset pulled Twilight closer, wrapping her arms around her in a soft embrace. "No way, we came way earlier than all of them. Let's not let anyone ruin our moment," Sunset whispered.

Before Twilight could protest, Sunset kissed her gently, the touch of their lips soft but full of emotion. It wasn't a quick kiss; it lingered for just a moment, the world outside fading as they shared that intimate connection.

After a few seconds, they pulled away, both looking a little dazed but happy. Sunset smiled softly at Twilight. "We should start setting up for practice soon," she said, her voice quiet but warm.

Twilight nodded, adjusting her glasses, her face flushed. "Right. Let's go."

Outside the door, the rest of the group was huddled together, trying their best to be quiet as they watched the two girls from a distance. Pinkie Pie had pulled out her phone, sneaking pictures with a grin, while Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity tried to hold back giggles. They hadn't known about Sunset and Twilight, but now that they did, they couldn't help but be a little curious about what was going on.

"I knew something was going on!" Pinkie whispered, her eyes wide. "! totally knew it!"

Rainbow Dash smirked, "I should've guessed. Those two are way too close, like way too close."

Rarity chuckled softly, "Well, it's nice to see them happy. But I must admit, the kissing is a bit... unexpected."

Fluttershy smiled gently. "It's really sweet. They look so happy together."

Later that night, each of the friends returned to their homes, but Pinkie could hardly contain her excitement. First, Pinkie thought maybe she'd just keep the photos to herself. But no, this was too juicy.

Pinkie, being Pinkie, couldn't help herself and sent the pictures she took to their group chat. It didn’t take long before everybody started texting…

Chapter Text

Pinkie Pie: [Attachment: 3 photos] Hmm what’s going on over here…

Rainbow Dash: NO FREAKING WAY.

Applejack: What in tarnation?!

Fluttershy: Oh my goodness… they are together?

Rarity: I always knew there was things between them, darlings. Look at their chemistry!

Rainbow Dash: I mean come on, look at how close Sunset is holding her! It’s like a movie scene!

Applejack: Ah dunno if it’s cute or if we’re invading their privacy here, Pinkie.

Pinkie Pie: Pfft, privacy? They were making googly eyes at each other ON SCHOOL CAMPUS, AJ. This is a free game!

As the chat spiraled into chaos, Sunset's phone buzzed on her nightstand. She was halfway through strumming her guitar when she saw the notifications piling up.

Fluttershy: It’s just so sweet. I never thought Twilight would have the confidence to—

Rainbow Dash: GUYS, they’re not denying it yet. This is SUS behavior

Sunset Shimmer: What are you all freaking out about?

Pinkie Pie: Oh hey Sunny! [Attachment: 3 photos] I thought you might enjoy these, AGAIN.

Twilight Sparkle: …Wait. WHAT?! how? WHEN?!
Twilight Sparkle: Why do you have pictures of us?

Pinkie Pie: Because you two were being adorable, DUHHH!

Twilight was in her room, pacing as her phone buzzed nonstop. Her face burned with embarrassment. She quickly started typing Sunset a separate message.

Twilight Sparkle: What do we do?! They're onto us!

Sunset Shimmer: Relax. They don't have PROOF-proof. We'll just deny it.

Twilight Sparkle: They have photos!

Sunset Shimmer: Okay, okay. We'll say they're... staged? For drama class?

Back in the group chat, the friends weren't letting up.

Applejack: Now, ah think y’all owe us an explanation.

Rainbow Dash: Yeah, you two are a THING?!

Sunset Shimmer: Pfft. No way. Those pictures are totally taken out of context.

Twilight Sparkle: Exactly! We were just… um… rehearsing!

Rainbow Dash: Rehearsing what? How to be in love?!

Rarity: Oh please, darling. Look at those eyes. Those are NOT acting eyes. That’s pure adoration.

Fluttershy: I think it’s really sweet…

The banter continued for another ten minutes before Pinkie, clearly fed up with the lack of a confession, escalated things.

Pinkie Pie: Ugh, fine. I’ll just settle this for once and for all. FACETIME!

Within seconds, the group chat's video call request popped up. Everyone except Twilight and Sunset joined, their faces lit with anticipation.

"Okay," Rainbow Dash started, pointing dramatically into her camera. "When will they stop hiding and join this call, and they better be ready to EXPLAIN."

"Dashie, you're so intense," Fluttershy muttered, but she couldn't help the amused smile that tugged at her lips.

"Oh, they're totally flustered right now," Pinkie chimed in. "I can FEEL it! Like, their faces are probably all red, and they're texting each other in a panic like, 'What do we dooooo?'" She giggled, mimicking a high-pitched voice.

Meanwhile, in their own video call, Sunset and Twilight were, indeed, panicking.

"We're doomed," Twilight muttered into her hands.

Sunset was pacing her room, trying to come up with a strategy. "Okay, okay, hear me out: we ghost them. Delete the chat, pretend we never saw it."

Twilight groaned. "They'll just ambush us tomorrow!"

Back on the call, Rarity was busy speculating. "Do you think they'll finally admit it tomorrow? Maybe they're waiting for the perfect moment to go public."

"Oh!" Fluttershy piped up. "What if we gave them some space? It might make them feel more comfortable to-"

"Nope," Rainbow interrupted. "Pressure's the way to go."

The teasing continued, escalating to a group FaceTime call that Sunset and Twilight refused to join. Their friends pieced together the timeline, recalling moments when the two had acted suspiciously close.

“Ooh! Remember when Sunset gave Twilight her jacket that day she got caught in the rain? That’s totally girlfriend behavior.” Pinkie say as she squealed.

Rarity adding on, “YES. And Sunset refused to take it back for days. She said something about ‘it looks better on you anyway,’ didn’t she?”

“Ahaha!” Applejack chimed in. “Twilight kept blushin’ every time she wore it.”

Twilight groaned, burying her face in her hands as her phone buzzed on her desk. She was curled up in her room, trying to finish her homework, but the constant notifications were impossible to ignore.

Twilight (to Sunset): They’re not going to stop, are they?

Sunset: Not a chance.

Twilight: We should’ve just told them.

Sunset stared at her phone from her bed, debating whether to text back or call. Her face was flushed, partly from frustration and partly because the group chat wasn’t wrong. They had slipped up more times than she cared to admit.

Sunset (to Twilight): Honestly? You might be right.

The group chat buzzed again.

Applejack: So… y’all really gonna deny it after all that? Come on, we’ve got evidence.

Pinkie Pie: [Attached: Another Photo] LOOK AT THIS ONE! Sunset’s literally staring at Twi like she’s a slice of cake.

Twilight groaned audibly. She sent a quick message to the group.

Twilight: Pinkie, stop taking pictures of us!

Pinkie Pie: Not until you admit you’re datinggg :D

Chapter Text

The next morning, the girls were full with excitement as they regrouped before school. Pinkie was practically bouncing off the walls, holding her phone close to her chest.

“You think they’ll finally admit it today?” Rainbow asked, smirking as she leaned against a locker.

“They don’t have much of a choice,” Rarity said, glancing at the pictures Pinkie had collected. “We’ve gathered quite a bit of… compelling evidence.”

Fluttershy nodded. “I hope they’re not upset, though. We don’t want them to feel pressured.”

“Aw, don’t worry, Fluttershy,” Pinkie said with a wink. “They’ll thank us for it later when they can finally hold hands in public without sneaking around!”

Applejack adjusted her hat, leaning closer to the group. “Alright, but let’s not push too hard, y’all. Let ‘em fess up on their own time.”

The bell rang, and everyone scattered to their classes.

By the time lunch rolled around, the group was ready for whatever came next. They sat at their usual table, laughing and chatting while keeping an eye out for Twilight and Sunset.

“Where are they?” Rainbow muttered, tapping her fingers on the table impatiently. “They’re usually here by now.”

Pinkie grinned mischievously. “Maybe they’re too busy being all lovey-dovey to notice the time.”

Sunset had sent Twilight a quick text earlier:

Sunset: Meet me outside Chem before lunch.

Twilight, of course, had overthought it. What could Sunset possibly want? Did I do something wrong? But as soon as she rounded the corner, she saw her leaning against the wall outside the chemistry lab. The hallway was mostly empty because students were making their way to the cafeteria. Twilight caught sight of Sunset’s sly smile, all her thoughts evaporated.

“Hey, Twi,” Sunset greeted, her voice low and warm.

“Hi, Sunset,” Twilight replied, her voice a little higher than usual. She felt her cheeks heat up under Sunset’s intense gaze. “What’s up? Is something wrong?”

Sunset chuckled, shaking her head. “Not at all. I just…” She stepped closer, her hand brushing against Twilight’s as she lowered her voice. “I missed you this morning.”

Twilight’s heart stuttered in her chest. “W-we saw each other in homeroom.”

“Not the same,” Sunset murmured, tilting her head. Her fingers lightly traced Twilight’s wrist, sending shivers up her arm.

Twilight swallowed hard, the air between them suddenly thick with tension. “Sunset, we’re going to be late for lunch.”

“Let them wait,” Sunset said with a smirk.

Before Twilight could protest, Sunset leaned in, her hand brushing back a strand of hair that had fallen into Twilight’s face. The hallway felt impossibly quiet as Sunset’s lips hovered just inches from hers.

“Sunset…” Twilight whispered, her voice barely audible.

Sunset smiled softly. “Can I kiss you?”

Twilight nodded, her breath catching as Sunset closed the distance between them. The kiss was slow and tender at first, but as Sunset’s hands slid to Twilight’s waist, pulling her closer, it deepened.

Twilight’s hands found their way to Sunset’s shoulders, and for a moment, the world around them disappeared. It was just them—their shared warmth, the soft hum of electricity in the air, and the way their lips moved together like they’d been made for this.

Twilight’s lips slightly parted letting Sunset’s tongue explore around her mouth.

When they finally pulled away, Twilight’s glasses were askew, her hair a little mussed. Sunset’s lips were slightly swollen, lipgloss smeared, and her usually neat ponytail had loosened.

“Wow,” Twilight breathed, her voice shaky.

Sunset chuckled, tucking a strand of Twilight’s hair behind her ear. “You’re adorable when you’re flustered.”

Twilight trying to regain her composure, “We really should get to lunch now. They’re probably wondering where we are.”

“Let them wonder,” Sunset said with a grin, though she reluctantly stepped back.

Just then, the cafeteria doors swung open, and Twilight and Sunset strolled in—looking completely disheveled. Twilight’s hair was slightly mussed, her glasses were crooked, and her cheeks were flushed. Sunset’s jacket hung off one shoulder, her usually neat ponytail loose and messy. Both of them looked like they had been… busy.

The table fell silent for a moment before Rainbow burst out laughing.

“Holy crap,” she said, pointing at them. “What happened to you two?”

By the time they reached the cafeteria, the Mane 7 were already at their table, chatting animatedly. As soon as Sunset and Twilight walked in, all conversation stopped.

Pinkie’s eyes widened comically, and Rainbow let out a low whistle.

“Well, well,” Rarity said, her voice dripping with amusement. “Look who decided to grace us with their presence.”

Sunset and Twilight exchanged a quick glance, realizing too late that their slightly disheveled appearances weren’t exactly subtle.

The teasing continued, and no matter how much Twilight and Sunset tried to deflect, their friends weren’t letting it go.

“Nothing happened,” Twilight said quickly, replying to Rainbow. Pushing up her glasses. “We just… um… we’re studying?”

“Studying each other?” Applejack said, raising an eyebrow and chuckling.

Rarity smirked knowingly. “Darlings, you look like you’ve been… preoccupied.”

Pinkie gasped. “Wait, wait, wait! Did you sneak off to make out before lunch?!”

Twilight’s face turned beet red. “W-what?! No! That’s ridiculous!”

Sunset groaned, rubbing the back of her neck. “Can we not do this right now?”

“Why not?” Rainbow said, leaning back in her chair with a grin. “You’re making it way too easy for us.”

The group launched into a flurry of questions, teasing and giggling as Sunset and Twilight tried their best to deny everything.

“Alright, alright,” Applejack said, holding up her hands. “How about we all calm down and let ‘em eat. They’ll admit it when they’re ready.”

Pinkie leaned forward, grinning. “Oh, they’re ready. They just don’t know it yet.”

Back home, Twilight paced her room, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. She couldn’t believe how close they had come to being caught. She texted Sunset immediately.

Twilight: We need to figure out how to handle this. They’re not going to let it go.

Sunset, lying on her couch with her guitar beside her, sighed as she read the text.

Sunset Shimmer: I know. I just don’t know what to say.

Her phone buzzed again, this time with a message from Pinkie in the group chat.

Pinkie Pie: Sooooo Twi and Sunny… how was your little study sesh today?

Rainbow Dash: LMFAO they were totally making out. You can’t convince me otherwise.

Rarity: I have to agree. The evidence is overwhelming.

Twilight groaned as she read the messages, flopping onto her bed.

Twilight (to Sunset): Should we just tell them?

Sunset (to Twilight): Not yet. Let’s make them work for it.

And so, the game continued.

Chapter Text

The next day in the cafeteria, the table was chaotic and teasing-filled, Twilight and Sunset tried to keep their heads low. They’d successfully avoided further suspicion for the rest of the school day—barely. But Pinkie Pie, the social butterfly and troublemaker, had invited everyone to her house for a “post-lunch shenanigans sleepover” that evening.

“We’ll have snacks, games, and soooooo much fun!” Pinkie had promised. “Plus, it’ll give us all a chance to, you know… catch up.”

Sunset and Twilight exchanged nervous glances, knowing full well what Pinkie meant. But it was too late to back out. If they skipped the sleepover now, they’d look even guiltier. So, as reluctant as they were, they grabbed their sleeping bags and headed to Pinkie’s house that evening.

The energy at Pinkie’s was as chaotic as ever. Rainbow Dash was dominating a heated video game tournament against Applejack, Fluttershy was busy feeding Pinkie’s alligator, Gummy, and Rarity was adjusting everyone’s pillows to make the room feel more “chic.”

Twilight and Sunset stayed close to each other but kept things casual, trying not to give their friends any more reason to suspect them.

“I think we’re in the clear,” Sunset whispered to Twilight while helping her set up a board game.

Twilight nodded. “Yeah… unless Pinkie’s planning something. She’s been too quiet about this whole thing.”

Pinkie, meanwhile, was indeed plotting. She kept bouncing around the room, subtly nudging Applejack and whispering hints about keeping an eye on “those two.” Rainbow was more than eager to play detective, while Fluttershy and Rarity seemed content to simply observe.

The sleepover was winding down, and the room had fallen into a peaceful lull. After hours of games, movies, and way too many snacks, one by one, the girls began drifting off. Rainbow was the first to knock out, sprawled awkwardly across a beanbag. Rarity had fallen asleep gracefully on her perfectly arranged sleeping bag, and Fluttershy curled up with a blanket next to Gummy. Applejack was the last to give in, muttering something about “getting some shut-eye before Pinkie tries anything.”

That left Twilight and Sunset, who were still wide awake, whispering to each other in their respective sleeping bags. The room was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of Pinkie’s lava lamp.

“Hey, Twi,” Sunset said softly. “Wanna come over here? We can talk without waking anyone.”

Twilight hesitated, glancing at the other girls, but her curiosity (and affection) got the better of her. She quietly slipped out of her sleeping bag and crept over to Sunset’s, curling up beside her under the blanket.

Everyone except Sunset and Twilight, who whispered quietly under the covers of Sunset’s sleeping bag.

Pinkie Pie, known for her boundless energy, had managed to stay asleep for a solid two hours—a personal best. But at around 2 a.m., her “Pinkie Sense” activated. A distinct twitch in her ears jolted her awake. The sensation always meant one thing: something juicy was happening.

Her eyes blinked open, adjusting to the dim light. She turned her head, scanning the room. At first, everything seemed normal… until she noticed Twilight wasn’t in her sleeping bag. Narrowing her eyes, Pinkie rolled onto her side and saw two familiar figures bundled up together, whispering.

Her grin spread slowly.

Pinkie, being Pinkie, couldn’t resist investigating. She carefully slid out of her sleeping bag, tiptoeing to get a closer look. Pressing herself against a beanbag for cover, she strained to listen.

“…I still can’t believe how close we came to being caught at lunch yesterday,” Twilight was saying, her voice hushed but tinged with amusement.

“I know,” Sunset replied, chuckling softly. “Your face was priceless, though. I thought you were going to faint.”

Pinkie’s eyes widened. She quickly stifled a gasp, clutching a pillow to keep from squealing out loud. Her excitement was practically bursting at the seams, but she knew she couldn’t blow her cover—yet.

Slowly, she crept back to her sleeping bag and nudged Rarity, who was always the easiest to wake.

“Psst… Rarity!” Pinkie hissed.

Rarity stirred, rubbing her eyes. “Pinkie, what—”

“Shhh!” Pinkie clamped a hand over Rarity’s mouth, pointing toward Sunset and Twilight. Rarity’s sleepy expression melted into intrigue, and she leaned in closer to observe.

Within minutes, Pinkie had discreetly woken up the rest of the group, each girl reacting differently as they realized what was happening. Rainbow Dash gave a silent thumbs-up, Applejack rolled her eyes but grinned, and Fluttershy looked torn between curiosity and guilt.

The girls positioned themselves in their sleeping bags, pretending to be asleep but listening intently.

Twilight and Sunset kept their voices low, sharing stories and jokes as they lay side by side. The conversation grew more personal as the minutes passed, with Sunset brushing a strand of Twilight’s hair away from her face.

“You know,” Sunset murmured, “for someone who’s all about logic and rationality, you’re surprisingly adorable.”

Twilight blushed, swatting her lightly. “And for someone who’s supposed to be this ‘cool reformed bad girl,’ you’re way too cheesy.”

Sunset smirked. “Only for you.” The couple was completely lost in their own little world.

Sunset and Twilight remained blissfully unaware of their audience.

“You know,” Twilight murmured, resting herself against Sunset’s chest, “I’ve always thought sleepovers would be awkward. But this one feels… nice.”

Sunset smirked. “That’s because we’re together.” She squeezed Twilight’s hand under the blanket. “It makes everything better.”

Twilight giggled softly. “I still can’t believe we’re doing this. Hiding from everyone, sneaking around…”

“Well, it’s kind of exciting,” Sunset teased. “Keeps things interesting.”

“You mean stressful,” Twilight corrected, though her voice was warm. “But… I don’t mind. Not with you.”

The girls pretended to still be asleep as they listened in on the couple’s quiet conversation. Rainbow, naturally, was the first to whisper her thoughts.

“Yuck,” she muttered, biting her lip to contain her laugh. “Why are they so mushy? It’s gross.”

“Shush,” Rarity hissed. “Let them have their moment.”

Applejack chuckled softly. “I’ll admit, I wasn’t expectin’ this, but they’re kinda cute together.”

“Adorable,” Fluttershy whispered with a smile.

Pinkie was already taking mental notes for a surprise scrapbook, complete with glittery hearts and doodles of Sunset and Twilight’s names inside them.

Meanwhile, Sunset and Twilight continued their conversation, completely unaware they had an audience. Twilight giggled softly as Sunset traced lazy circles on her hand under the blanket.

“Remember when we first started hanging out?” Twilight asked. “I was convinced you didn’t even like me.”

Sunset laughed. “Are you kidding? I was terrified of you—well, of liking you, anyway. You’re, like, way too smart for me.”

“That’s not true!” Twilight said, swatting her arm. “You’re one of the most brilliant people I know. And you’re brave and kind and…”

She trailed off, her cheeks turning pink.

Sunset smiled. “Go on. Don’t stop now.”

Twilight rolled her eyes but leaned in, pressing a quick kiss on Sunset’s lips. “You’re amazing,” she murmured. “I love you, Sunset Shimmer.”

Pinkie let out a muffled squeal, quickly clamping her hands over her mouth to avoid being caught. Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Seriously, how long has this been going on?”

Rarity smirked. “Long enough for them to be this comfortable.”

“Bet you they’re gonna say something else juicy,” Pinkie whispered excitedly.

The group continued to listen, trying to stifle their giggles as Sunset and Twilight grew quieter, eventually drifting off in each other’s arms. Fluttershy smiled, whispering to herself, “They really care about each other.”

The smell of pancakes filled the air as Pinkie cheerfully flipped breakfast in the kitchen. The rest of the group sat at the table, chatting in hushed tones about the previous night’s discovery.

“So, what’s the plan?” Rainbow asked, leaning back in her chair. “Do we, like, call them out, or what?”

Rarity shook her head. “No, darling. Let’s not embarrass them. They’ll tell us when they’re ready.”

Applejack smirked. “But we can still mess with ‘em a little, right? Just for fun.”

Pinkie giggled. “Oh, absolutely. I’ve got a whole list of pranks ready to go.”

Just then, Sunset and Twilight entered the kitchen, looking distinctly more well-rested than the rest of the group. Sunset’s hair was a mess, her shirt off her shoulder, and Twilight’s glasses were slightly askew.

“Good morning!” Pinkie sang, her grin stretching from ear to ear. “Sleep well?”

Twilight blinked, pushing up her glasses. “Uh… yeah?” She stammered, “Why?”

“Oh, no reason.” Pinkie said quickly and innocently.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “It looked like you two were extra cozy last night.”

Sunset froze, her eyes darting to Twilight. “W-what?”

Rarity sipped her tea, feigning nonchalance. “Oh, don’t worry, darling. We’re just… observant.”

Twilight’s face turned bright red. “We… I mean, that’s not—”

“Oh, don’t even try,” Applejack cut in, smirking. “We heard everything.”

“You… what?!” Sunset exclaimed, her voice going up an octave.

Twilight groaned, burying her face in her hands. “This cannot be happening.”

Sunset groaned, running a hand down her face while Twilight practically melted into her chair, trying to disappear. Pinkie beamed, unbothered by the awkward tension, as she cheerfully set down another stack of pancakes in front of them.

“Oh, don’t worry about it!” Pinkie chirped. “We think it’s adorable! And now we can throw a ‘Congrats on Being an Adorable Couple’ party!”

Twilight groaned again, peeking through her hands to glare at Pinkie. “You can’t seriously—”

“Pinkie,” Sunset interrupted, her voice low and almost dangerous. “If you throw a party… I swear…”

“Oh, come on,” Pinkie said, unfazed by the threat. “Wouldn’t it be fun? Balloons! Streamers! Couple-themed cupcakes—oh, I could make Twilight-and-Sunset toppers!”

Rainbow leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a smug grin. “Honestly, I think the real party is the fact you two actually thought you could keep this a secret. You’re, like, the most obvious people ever.”

Twilight whipped her head toward her. “We’re not that obvious!”

Rainbow barked out a laugh. “Uh, yeah, you are. Did you miss the part where you literally ran into the cafeteria yesterday looking like you’d been—”

“RAINBOW DASH!” Twilight yelped, her face somehow growing even redder.

“Alright, alright,” Applejack cut in, though her grin was just as teasing. “Let’s not make ‘em feel worse than they already do. We ain’t mad about it, y’all. Heck, we’re happy for ya.” She shot them a wink.

Fluttershy nodded softly. “We just wish you’d told us sooner. But… we understand if you weren’t ready.”

Sunset exhaled, glancing at Twilight, who still looked mortified. “It wasn’t that we didn’t trust you,” she said carefully. “We just… wanted to figure things out for ourselves first. Make sure we were ready before we told anyone.”

“That’s fair,” Rarity said with a wave of her hand. “But darling, you do realize this means we’ll be keeping a very close eye on you two from now on, yes?”

Twilight groaned, hiding her face again. “Great. Just great.”

Rarity smiled coyly. “Don’t worry, Twilight. It’s all out of love.”

“Yeah, love,” Rainbow said, wiggling her eyebrows. “Like the kind you two were whispering about last night—ow!”

Applejack had elbowed her in the ribs. “That’s enough outta you.”

Twilight sighed, finally lifting her head to look at Sunset. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag now.”

Sunset shrugged, giving her a lopsided grin. “Could’ve been worse. At least Pinkie didn’t break out a megaphone or something.”

Pinkie gasped, eyes sparkling. “That’s a GREAT idea! I should’ve woken everyone up with an announcement!”

“No,” Sunset and Twilight said in unison, their voices overlapping.

The table erupted into laughter, and while Sunset and Twilight still felt a tinge of embarrassment, they couldn’t help but smile as they watched their friends joke around. For the first time, it felt like they didn’t have to hide—and the relief was almost as sweet as Pinkie’s pancakes.

As they finally started eating, Rarity leaned forward with a smirk. “So… you two were only cuddling, nothing more, right?”

Sunset choked on her orange juice, and Twilight nearly dropped her fork.

“Rarity!” they both exclaimed, their voices filled with equal parts shock and mortification.

But the table only laughed harder, their teasing continuing well into breakfast, until even Sunset and Twilight couldn’t help but join in. For the first time, it felt like their relationship wasn’t just theirs, it was something they could share, something they could celebrate with them. And despite the embarrassing morning, they felt a little lighter knowing they didn’t have to hide it anymore.