>You are Shimmer Light.
>"It's so comfy!"
>And Hexferry is laying on your bed.
>Hexferry has been at your home for a few hours now, and it's time to get to bed.
>After all, this is your sleepover.
>... You're now glad you have such a big bed.
>It might be awkward if you had a small bed.
>"Your room is really nice."
>It's... quaint. The carpet is really soft, the drawers and closet are spacious to be efficient, the room is colors pretty dark...
>And your bed is comfy.
>The pillows are plush and the blankets are soft.
"Thank you."
>She reaches into the bag she put at her side of the bed.
>Right, she brought a bag of things with her. She already did whatever hygiene she needed to do, and there are already enough blankets on the bed...
>She pulls out... a cloth of some kind.
>... And starts putting it on.
>What... is that?
>Hexferry must have noticed because she's looking at you like you said something confusing.
>"What?"
"What is that?"
>"These?"
>She gestures to the cloth she's... half-wearing.
>"These are pajamas. Have you really never seen pajamas before?"
>... You shake your head.
>She blinks and continues putting them on.
>"It's basically just sleepwear. Some ponies put them on before going to bed, some don't. Though, generally, most ponies who wear pajamas to bed are just foals..."
>She looks a little embarrassed.
>You move toward the light switch and wait for her to have her... pajamas on.
>... You get a better look at them.
 
>They're a soft yellow-orange, one able to make Hexferry stand out even while almost completely covered in them.
>They remind you of honey.
>Well, with how much she loves honey, that makes sense.
>... You're getting that weird light-heart feeling from looking at her.
>She looks at you for a second then turns away.
>"S-stop looking at me like that; I know they're for foals, but I just really like wearing them. They're warm and soft and... they make me feel safe."
>Warm, soft and safe; that sounds like your ideal article of clothing.
"... That's fine."
>Her turned gaze softens and she smiles.
>"... I like how you always sound sincere. You don't say much, but what you do say sounds like what you truly feel."
>... You weren't aware.
>You just never really wasted your words saying something you didn't believe was true.
>Well, you've lied to her before, but you haven't done it recently.
"Can I turn off the light?"
>You're getting better at this "courtesy" thing.
>Hexferry nods and goes under the blankets.
>The light goes out and the room is filled with darkness.
>There are no windows; there is no light coming in.
>Your room is pure darkness.
>Hexferry squeaks.
>... She must not have been expecting it.
>Maybe you aren't getting better with courtesy.
"... Sorry."
>"No, it's fine, I just... wasn't expecting it."
>It's good to know you can still guess causes and effects.
>You easily make your way to the bed and get on.
>The darkness of your room doesn't even affect you; you've walked this exact room in darkness so many times, you can't even mess it up.
 
 
>You tuck yourself in on your side of the bed.
>... It's so calming but you still feel odd.
>This is the first time the two of you have been sleeping in the same building by choice.
>You wonder...
>"Shimmer?"
>She sounds both tired and restless.
>... She herself is tired, but her sounds restless, as though she is going to say something she's wanted to say for a while.
"What?"
>"... What do you think of me?"
>... How surreal.
>You remember her asking this before. Back then, you were different.
>Now...
"... I like you."
>... There were a few moments of silence.
>You really wish you could see her expression, this would be a lot easier.
>Did you say something wrong?
>You hear a little movement and a sniffle from Hexferry's side of the bed.
>"Th-thank you..."
>She's teary-eyed and happy.
>You're relieved.
>This is probably the best birthday you've had.
>... Even if you're the only one who knows it's that day.
>You both sleep after only a few minutes of laying down.
>...
>You were very glad you woke up before Hexferry did, because...
>Well, you woke up with your fore-legs around her.
>To your credit, you weren't the only one who moved while sleeping.
>... But that didn't stop you from gently moving away to your half of the bed.
>The rest of the sleepover was... "fun".
>Hexferry helped you cook breakfast.
>Your eggs were almost burnt while her pancakes were gooey and perfect.
>The shake you made of the pancakes was perfect.
>At the end of it, Hexferry said she loved it and would happily do it again whenever you were free.
>... You agreed to have the next one in a week at Hexferry's house.
>It was definitely the best birthday you've had.