"Sunset...Sunset!" Sunset's eyes opened too see Shining Armor standing over her, smiling. She sat up, and he handed her a brightly wrapped present. She carefully undid the bow, then removed the wrapping paper. It was a small box, decorated with images of her Cutie Mark. Sunset lifted the lid, and inside was a ticket to the Hearth's Warming Eve play.
"I love it, Shining!" Sunset threw her arms around his neck.
"Happy Hearth's Warming, Sunset."
"Thank you so much!!" Sunset released him, then hopped off the bed and ran into her bathroom. A few minutes later, she came out. Round, pink-framed glasses were perched on her nose, and her curled mane was done up in a high ponytail. A vanilla scarf was wrapped around her neck. "I've got a gift for you, but it'll have to wait for the play." Sunset tapped him on the nose, her eyes halfway closed. With a sashay of her hips, she sauntered out the door. Shining blushed, then walked out after her.
................
Shining and Sunset took their seats. The play was about to begin. The curtains opened. Spike stepped out, then began. "Long ago, before the peaceful rule of Celestia..."
.................
"Woo hoo!! Bravo!" Sunset cheered from her seat, clapping. Shining clapped along. Twilight stepped up, her Colver The Clever hood and cloak making her look like a peasant.
"Thank you, everypony!! I would like to give a very special thanks to the director and producer of this play: Princess Cadance!!" Twilight motioned to the pink Alicorn who was walking onstage. She came up to the mic, then began her speech.
"Thank you, Twilight. Ponies of Canterlot, this production would have never been possible without your generosity. Thank you to all the prop ponies, the actors and actresses, the makeup and costume designers, and my co-producers for a job well done!!" Cadance waved as the crowd went wild. Flowers were thrown onstage, and the applause was endless. The bells hanging in either side of the stage started to chime as the ponies sang together.
"The fire of friendship lives in our hearts, and as long as it burns, we cannot drift apart..." After the carol, the cast trotted off the stage. Cadance was surrounded by ponies applauding her on another play well done. Sunset pulled on Shining's leg, but he stood in place.
"Sunset, what're you doing?"
"C'mon, let's go congratulate Cadance! That play was amazing!!" Sunset strained herself as her attempts to move the stallion failed. Shining looked over at Cadance and her adoring fans with concern.
"I don't think tha-"
"Shining!" It was too late. He'd been spotted. Cadance trotted over and gave him a kiss.
"Um, hi, sweetie!" Shining smiled nervously.
"I'm so glad to see you! Did you like the play? I- Shining, who's she?" Cadance pointed to Sunset.
"I'm Sunset Shimmer. I absolutely loved your play!!" Sunset quickly shook Cadance's hoof, then turned to Shining Armor. "Thank you so, so much for taking me, Shining!! By the way, here's your gift!!" Sunset gave Shining an affectionate kiss, then turned back to Cadance. The pink Alicorn looked like she was gonna explode at any moment.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!!?" Cadance screamed. The ponies surrounding her quickly backed off.
"It was his Hearth's Warming gift. Why do you care?" Retorted Sunset.
"Oh, shit." Shining tool a very cautious step back. These mares were radioactive.
"Because, he's MY HUSBAND!!" Sunset shrunk back a bit, shocked.
"Oh my god. There are no words to describe how sorry I am!! I didn't know, he never told me!! If there's any way I can make it up to you-"
"There is one thing you can do. You can start by getting the fuck away from me, and my husband!!" Cadance roared. Sunset nodded, then turned and galloped down the red carpet of the auditorium.
"SLUT!!" Called Cadance, as the doors closed behind Sunset. With her gone, Cadance had to deal with Shining. "You and me. My room. NOW." Cadance strolled out of the auditorium, Shining Armor in tow.
................
Sunset galloped blindly down the streets of Canterlot, tears gushing out of her eyes. Snow fell all around, preventing her from seeing. She crashed into a pony in her blind sprint, knocking them both over.
"Oh, hi Sunset!! I didn't know you were back in Equestria!" Sunset heard a voice. That voice belonged to Twilight Sparkle. Twilight held out a hoof, and Sunset gladly took it.
"Yeah, I watched the play. You were pretty good." Sunset sniffled.
"Thank you. Hey Sunset, are you alright? You look pretty upset."
"I am."
"I know a little café on Blair Avenue. We can talk over some tea. Sound good?" Sunset nodded. Twilight draped a wing over Sunset. The pair then began to walk to Blair Avenue.
...............
"You wanna tell me exactly why you were dating Sunset Shimmer!? And why I'm still here!? Why we're not over!?"
"Cadance, just hear me out, please!"
"Fine. I'm listening." Cadance crossed her arms, a disappointed scowl on her face.
"Sunset just came back to Equestria. Princess Celestia wanted me to introduce myself. I bumped into her in the courtyard, and before I knew it, we were ice skating. After that we took a walk, we went and got muffins at a bakery. After that we came back to the Palace. This morning I gave her a box I made for her as a present, along with a play ticket. So we went to watch the play, and here I am."
"Humph. Why did you go out with her?"
"Why? Because she's smart, bubbly, and adorkable, just like Twilight! She's fun, and...and she makes me happy. And if you can't deal with that, then I don't know why I wasted my time with you."
"Wasted your time? Shining, what're you talking about?"
"And you know what?"
"What."
"All you do is order me around, ever since King Sombra's return! Sunset, unlike you, actually gives a crap about me!!" Shining removed his wedding ring, then threw it at Cadance. "We're done."
................
"Here you are. Happy Hearth's Warming, ladies." A mug of piping hot tea was presented to both Twilight and Sunset, along with a flagon of cream and a small jar of honey, as well as two teaspoons.
"Happy Hearth's Warming to you too, Mocha!" Twilight then focused on Sunset. "How do you like your tea, Sunset?" Asked Twilight, levitating her mug over.
"A splash of cream, and not too much honey." Replied Sunset, her voice flat. Twilight returned her mug, then prepared her own. Sunset just stared down at the tea, watching the cream mix in with the tea itself.
"Tell me what happened."
"Well, it started when a stallion bumped into me in the castle courtyard yesterday." Sunset took a sip of her tea.
"Ooh, a stallion!" Twilight leaned towards Sunset, her head resting on her front hooves. "And his name was..."
"Shining Armor." Twilight almost spat out her tea onto Sunset's face in shock, but managed to swallow it, eyes wide.
"Please, continue."
"He introduced himself, then we went ice skating. After that, we walked in the snow. I told him about myself, then we stopped bu a bakery to get some muffins. It was getting dark, so we headed back to the Palace. This morning he have me a beautiful box as a present. It had a ticket for the play in it. Then we went to the play, and watched it. I wanted to meet the director, Cadance. She came over to us and said hi to Shining, then asked who I was. I introduced myself, and then congratulated her on a fantastic play. I needed to thank Shining for taking me, so I gave him a kiss." A small bit of tea splurged out of Twilight's mouth and fell on the table. She fanned herself with her wings, her cheeks a rosy pink.
"It turned out Cadance was his wife. He never told me, and I just- why do I even bother? Whatever I do just fails. I'll never find love." Sunset banged her head against the table, spilling a bit of her tea in her red and yellow mane. Just then, the café door flew open, almost knocking the bell off its hook. In came Shining Armor.
"Twily!" Shining gave his sister a loving hug.
"Hey there, B.B.B.F.F. I think she needs a hug too." Twilight pointed at Sunset. Shining walked over to her, then shook her. She slowly lifted her head, then pushed her sopping mane out of her eyes. As she gazed up at the stallion before her, she wiped off her glasses to be sure this was real.
"Oh, um, I'm sorry. I didn't know she was your wife, and I-"
"Hey, it's all good. She's not my wife anymore. Now, where were we?" Shining held out a hoof. Sunset gladly took it, then continued where she left off: a passionate kiss.