Chapter Text
The neon lights of Canterlot High’s Fall Formal pulsed in time with the bass thrumming through the gym floor, casting kaleidoscopic patterns over the crowd. Twilight Sparkle hovered near the punch table, clutching a cup of lemonade she hadn’t sipped, her gaze magnetized to one figure across the room.
Sunset Shimmer.
She was a wildfire in human form—crimson dress slit to the thigh, leather jacket shrugged over bare shoulders, her laugh cutting through the crowd as she leaned against the DJ booth. Twilight watched, mesmerized, as Sunset tossed her hair, the gold streaks in it catching the strobe lights like embers. Her throat went dry when Sunset bit her lip, head thrown back mid-laugh at something Vinyl Scratch said.
She’s so...
Twilight had always admired Sunset’s confidence, the effortless way she commanded a room. But tonight, under the dizzying lights and the thrum of the music, that admiration had sharpened into something hotter, something that coiled low in her stomach every time Sunset’s eyes flicked in her direction.
2 weeks ago...
Twilight fumbled with her locker combination, cheeks burning as Sunset sauntered past in the hallway, her leather boots clicking rhythmically. “Need help, Sparkle?” Sunset had purred, leaning against the adjacent locker. Twilight’s fingers froze. “I—I’ve got it!” Sunset smirked, plucking the stuck textbook free with one hand. “Sure you do.
The memory made Twilight’s pulse skip.
“Thirsty.”
Twilight startled, sloshing lemonade onto her gloves. Rainbow Dash materialized beside her, smirk razor-sharp. “Dude. You’re literally drooling.”
“I am not,” Twilight hissed, swiping her chin just in case.
Rainbow snorted, following her gaze. “Uh-huh. Let me guess—you wanna climb her like a—”
“Rainbow!” Twilight’s cheeks burned. “It’s not—we’re just—she’s my friend.”
“Right.” Rainbow stole her cup, downing the lemonade. “And I’m the Queen of England. Look, if you’re not gonna make a move, I will. She’s got that whole ‘bad girl who fixes motorcycles’ vibe going on, and honestly? Respect.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Twilight blurted, then froze.
Rainbow’s grin widened. “Ohhhh, someone’s possessive.”
“I’m not—she’s not—ugh!” Twilight buried her face in her hands, gloves muffling her groan.
“Darling, if you combust, you’ll ruin that exquisite dress,” Rarity chimed in, materializing with a swirl of sequins. She adjusted Twilight’s sapphire headband, her tone sly. “Though I must say, Sunset’s been stealing glances at you all night. That girl’s practically writing sonnets with her eyes.”
Twilight peeked through her fingers. Sunset was looking her way, her smirk softening into something unreadable as their eyes met. Twilight’s breath hitched.
“See?” Rarity nudged her. “Now go claim your Juliet before some harlot in fishnets does.”
A warm hand settled on her shoulder.
“Hey, Sparkle.”
Twilight nearly combusted. Sunset stood inches away, her perfume a dangerous mix of vanilla and motor oil. Up close, her eyeliner was sharper, her smirk softer. “You hiding from the dance floor?”
“N-no! Just... hydrating.” Twilight gestured weakly to the empty cup.
Sunset plucked it from her hand, their fingers brushing. “Lemonade’s a shitty hydrator. Come on.”
Before Twilight could protest, Sunset laced their fingers together, dragging her toward the center of the gym. The crowd parted like they’d been waiting—of course they had. Sunset Shimmer didn’t walk; she commanded.
Sunset’s hands found Twilight’s hips, anchoring her in place. “Relax,” she murmured, her breath skimming Twilight’s ear. “I don’t bite.”
Liar, Twilight thought, because Sunset’s grip was all teeth, her thumbs tracing circles just above the waistband of Twilight’s skirt.
“You’re staring again,” Sunset teased, pulling her closer until their chests brushed.
“S-sorry,” Twilight stammered, though her hands crept up to loop around Sunset’s neck, playing with the hairs at her nape.
Sunset’s breath hitched. “Don’t be.”
They swayed, the world narrowing to the press of Sunset’s thigh between hers, the hitch in her breath when Twilight’s nails grazed her scalp.
“You’re killing me, you know that?” Sunset’s voice was rough, her lips grazing Twilight’s temple.
“Me?” Twilight dared to meet her gaze. “You’re the one who... who looks like that.”
Sunset’s grin was a slow burn. “Like what?”
“Like—like you invented gravity,” Twilight breathed. “Like the whole universe orbits you.”
For once, Sunset looked speechless. Then she laughed, low and warm, her forehead resting against Twilight’s. “You’re such a dork.”
“Your dork,” Twilight whispered, boldness flaring.
Sunset’s eyes darkened. “Damn right.”
The kiss was inevitable—Sunset’s mouth claiming hers with a hunger that left them both gasping. Twilight’s gloves tangled in fiery hair, Sunset’s jacket sliding off her shoulders as the crowd whooped around them.
Rainbow Dash’s voice cut through the haze: “Called it!”
But Twilight didn’t care. Not when Sunset’s teeth tugged her lower lip, not when she whispered, “My place. Now,” against her mouth.
They stumbled out under the stars, Sunset’s lips mapping a trail from Twilight’s jaw to her collarbone. “You’ve been driving me insane all night,” Sunset growled, nipping her skin. “Those gloves? That dress? Criminal.”
Twilight giggled breathlessly. “You—ah—you started it with that jacket.”
Sunset pinned her against the parking lot wall. “And I’ll finish it too.”