Crystal Conundrums

Tuesday, 2:14 a.m.

Frosty lay awake, staring up into the darkness. The only sound heard was an occasional ding from her phone, but Frosty ignored them.

Twilight Sparkle is a nice girl, she thought, turning on her side. She doesn't deserve the taunts of the Shadow Five.

Frosty flipped her pillow over and fell back on it. The plush cushion felt cool under her head.

I tried to help her, Frosty reminded herself. It came out kinda... mean, though.

"I can't do anything about that now," she whispered, her voice laced with quiet regret. "It's too late."

Frosty's phone pinged again, signaling the arrival of another message. Frosty stared at the device.

I could apologize, Frosty realized. Explain myself. Twilight's a smart girl. She'll understand, right?

Yes, Frosty thought, answering her own question. Yes she will.

Frosty flopped onto her other side. Tomorrow—er, today—she'd apologize to her purple classmate and make things right.

Lunchtime, 12:45 p.m.

"Hey Taffy! Hey Ginger!" Frosty exclaimed, setting down her lunch tray.

"You're unusually perky," Taffy noted.

Ginger said nothing, as she was too busy stabbing her meatloaf with a fork.

"I can't wait to apologize to Twilight," Frosty answered Taffy. "But haven't seen Twilight all day. I'm certain I'll catch her during lunch period."

"Good game plan," Taffy agreed. "Check along the walls. After yesterday's catastrophe, she'll probably be hiding and out of sight."

"Thanks for the advice," Frosty replied, picking up her plastic fork. "I'll just force down this horrid meatloaf and then I'll go find TwiTwi."

"Have you seen the Shadow Five today?" Ginger asked suddenly.

"You mean outside of my regular classes?" Frosty swallowed a hunk of meatloaf. "Nope. No run-ins with those jerks!"

"Frosty Orange!" Someone screamed Frosty's name across the cafeteria. Frosty buried her head in her hands.

"Please tell me that's not-"

"Jack the Ripper?" Ginger asked. "It's not. Just Indigo Zap."

"Just as bad," Taffy commented, taking a bite of meatloaf.

Indigo barged over to their table.

"Frosty, how would you like to have lunch with me today?" Indigo asked.

Frosty peeked out between two of her fingers.

"Do I have a choice?" she asked weakly.

"No, you do not," Indigo answered immediately.

"And besides," she added, puffing her chest out. "Wouldn't you rather have lunch with a punk like me over these losers?"

"Watch your mouth, Indigo," Taffy growled.

"You watch your mouth, Taffeta!" Indigo snapped back. "I know all about your secret illegal hallpasses. You're lucky I support rebellious acts like that! Cross my path, though, and I might let it slip to Sunny or Sour."

Frosty didn't have to look up to know Taffy was turning paler than a ghost.

"Come on, Frosty. Let's get out of here." Indigo wrapped her hand around Frosty's wrist and yanked her out of her seat.

That's gonna leave a mark! Frosty winced as Indigo's claw-like nails dug into her skin.

"You know her name's not Taffeta, right?" Frosty asked Indigo weakly.

"Taffeta, shmafeta. Whatever she's called, she's a loser." Indigo breezily tossed the remark aside.

"Sit." Indigo released her grip on Frosty and dropped onto her chair.

"Ow!" Frosty collapsed on the chair next to Indigo and rubbed her wrist.

After a moment, she looked up. Lemon Zest, Sunny Flare, Sugarcoat, and Sour Sweet were all staring at her. Four pairs of eyes were staring straight into Frosty's very soul.

I'm screwed, Frosty thought, swallowing.

"Can I leave now?" Frosty asked, smiling nervously.

"Sit, dork. Listen." Indigo pulled headphones over her ears and began jamming out to what was presumably rock music.

"Do you know who Zephyr is?" Lemon Zest suddenly asked Frosty.

"I think someone whose name begins with Z might be in my Social Studies class," Frosty replied hesitantly, "but I don't know for sure."

"Zephyr was my partner for the Archery competition," Sour Sweet cut in.

"For the Friendship Games? The roster's up already?"

"You should know by now Principal Cinch believes in being the best," Sunny Flare commented, glaring daggers at Frosty. "The roster was up last month."

"The five of us are covering almost every event," Sugarcoat added, a smug smirk resting on her lips. "We're just too perfect."

"Wait, how do you even know what the events are?" Frosty interrupted once more. "I thought only the faculty knew."

Everyone stared at her, identical expressions of unamusement etched on each girl's face.

"Principal Cinch told us so we could get an edge up in the games," Lemon Zest explained quickly. "It's techincally not against the rules."

"I checked," Sunny added,

"Ehem." Sour Sweet coughed. "Even though Zephyr wasn't 'one of us'"—Sour Sweet raised her fingers and made air quotes—"I needed someone to be my partner in archery."

"Zephyr recently broke her ankle and Indigo Zap, after watching you play soccer yesterday, suggested you might be a good substitute," Lemon Zest summed up, before she went back to filing her nails.

"She broke her ankle, right? How does that impact archery?" Frosty asked. "You don't need your feet for archery."

Hello?" Sunny Flare leaned across the table and snapped a finger in Frosty's face. "Nothing but the best, remember?!"

"Okay, fine. Whatever." Frosty leaned back. "So you want me to participate in archery?"

"It's not like we have any other options," Sour Sweet replied, folding her hands.

"Why can't one of you-"

Sour Sweet slammed a hand down on the table.

"Are you a baby? Do we have to explain every little detail to you?" she yelled.

Frosty shrank back.

"S-sorry," she stammered.

"Chill, Sour," Sugarcoat reprimanded the other girl.

Sour Sweet rolled her eyes. "Fine." She slumped back in her seat.

"So what do you say?" Lemon Zest asked. "Will you join us?"

Twilight. Dag it, I forgot about Twilight! Frosty realized suddenly.

"Where's Twilight?" she asked.

"The girl we humiliated yesterday?" Sunny Flare asked. "I don't know. And I don't care!"

"Back to the current subject," Lemon Zest snapped. "Are you in?"

"I-I guess," Frosty replied. "If I agree, can I go now?"

"No," Sour Sweet responded. "We have to go over all the rules, and help you catch up on all the practice you missed!"

"I really have to go now," Frosty protested. "Can we talk about this tomorrow?"

"Now or never," Sour Sweet deadpanned.

Frosty looked over at Indigo. Indigo paused her music and slid the headphones to her neck.

"Take it, dweeb," Indigo advised. "Or you'll lose it."

Frosty's gazed slid to the table. She stared at the wooden surface as she thought.

I can apologize to Twilight tomorrow, she reasoned. Heck, I'll walk to her house if I have to!

But there's also all the training Sour Sweet just mentioned, she thought.

Frosty looked up at each of the Shadow Five, staring each of them right in the eye.

"Okay. I'll do it," she agreed.

"That's the spirit!" Indigo exclaimed, wrapping an arm around Frosty's neck.

"Too tight!" Frosty gasped as Indigo noogied her in the head.

"Just remember if you let us down, you're as good as dead," Indigo continued in a cheerful tone, eventually releasing Frosty.

"Frosty Orange, look at me," Lemon Zest commanded. Frosty looked over at Lemon. Her science partner continued, "for the next fifteen minutes and thirty five seconds, we will be drilling you on everything you'll need to know to participate with us. Sour Sweet, begin."

This is going to be a long lunch period, Frosty groaned inwardly as Sour Sweet began to speak.

End of School, 3:04 p.m.

"So, you haven't told us about your lunch yet," Taffy remarked.

Frosty looked over at Taffy.

"I'm in the Friendship Games now," she deadpanned.

"That sucks, girl," Taffy answered. "So no Twilight?"

"Why do you think I'm sitting outside waiting for her to leave?" Frosty asked.

Frosty watched Taffy look around in confusion.

"I didn't notice that," Taffy admitted.

"I'm sure she'll be out soon," Frosty reasoned. From her perch on the school's front steps she could see everyone leaving the school.

"Guess what?" Taffy asked, sitting down next to her. "Pumpkinlocks is having a barbecue in the park at five. Wanna come?"

"How did you get invited?" Frosty asked, prying her eyes away from the throngs of students walking past.

"You'll probably burn the whole park down!" she pointed out.

Taffy's grin stretched so wide that she resembled the Cheshire Cat.

"Maybe that's the point."

"Hey, Frosty!" Indigo Zap suddenly showed up out of nowhere.

"Indigo? What do you want?" Frosty asked, knitting her eyes in confusion.

"I happened to notice you were sitting here on the steps," Indigo explained. "And that is not a good way to train for the Friendship Games!"

"Congratulations, Frosty," Taffy muttered.

"Are you really doing this now?" Frosty asked, looking up at Indigo. "I'm waiting for someone."

"Well, loser, you can wait while standing up! Burn those calories!" Indigo grabbed Frosty's wrist and pulled her to her feet.

"I'm going to have to go to the hospital because of you!" Frosty cried, rubbing her injured wrist.

"Whatever. I just want to win!" Indigo slapped Frosty on the back. Hard.

"Meet me back at school at five. I'm gonna practice with you, since Sour Sweet doesn't want to." Indigo cackled as she walked off.

"I'm going to die," Frosty groaned, clutching her sides in hyperbolic pain. "Why did I agree to this?"

"Peer pressure?" Taffy suggested.

"Well, I guess I can't come toni- Twilight!" Frosty straightened up she noticed an indigo bun bobbing in the crowd.

"Twilight!" Frosty screamed again, taking off after her.

Twilight had already walked out of the school gates and disappeared down the street.

I can catch her! Frosty told herself, trying to weave her way through the crowd.

"Watch it!" Marco DaFoy pushed her back.

"You watch it!" Frosty retorted angrily. "I have a very important thing to do!"

Ignoring the angry protests of her peers, Frosty finally pushed her way through the crowd. Once she was out of the gates, the flow of kids was considerably more sparse.

But where was Twilight?

Frosty looked down the street to the bus stop. Twilight stood with a couple others kids, waiting for a ride.

Frosty gasped. "Twilight!"

Putting an extra spring in her step, Frosty sprinted to catch up with her target. At the same time, she spotted the bus driving up.

"Twilight!" Frosty shrieked.

Twilight finally heard her and turned. A look of recognition flitted across her face, followed by panic and disbelief.

"Go away!" Twilight shouted. "I don't want to talk to you!"

The bus doors slid open, and Twilight ran inside.

"No!" Frosty cried, running harder than ever before. "Please wait for me, Twilight!"

Evidently Twilight couldn't hear her, because the only answer Frosty received was weird looks from other students and bus-goers.

Frosty reached the end of the street just as the bus pulled away.

"Dang it!" she cursed, collapsing on a bench.

"Way to go, Frosty!"

Frosty looked up to see Indigo Zap clapping. "That was a nice run you did!"

"Can it, Indigo," Frosty groaned, staring up into the bright blue sky.

5:01 p.m.

"You're late," Indigo deadpanned as Frosty walked up.

"Technically I arrived at school at exactly five. It only took me an extra minute to find you over here," Frosty pointed out.

Indigo was sitting in the middle of the soccer field. On top of her spiky blue hair, she perfectly balanced a soccer ball. She looked perfectly tranquil and peacefully, which was a state Frosty had never assumed Indigo would be able to achieve.

"You're good, Frosty," Indigo replied. "Do you believe in zen? Karma and all that?"

"Um, yes?"

"They're fake." Indigo stood up and glared at her.

"What-"

"Ten laps around the soccer field!" Indigo screamed. "Or else!"

"What?!" Frosty's eyes widened. "That's way too much!"

"Make it fifteen!" Indigo growled, giving Frosty a shove. "Get a move on, girl!"

Frosty groaned loudly as she walked to the edge of the field. Her limbs felt heavy, anticipating the hard work ahead.

"Come on, move your muscles!" Indigo shrieked, chasing after Frosty.

"I hate you, Indigo!" Frosty screamed as she sprinted furiously to evade capture.

After Frosty completed all her laps, she collapsed into the grass.

"Get up, soldier!" Indigo barked, running over. "Next, we're doing push ups!"

"No," Frosty groaned. "I don't need to do all this for a dumb archery competition."

"You don't have a choice," Indigo sneered.

Frosty shut her eyes and thought about Twilight Sparkle.

"Do you have Twilight's number?"

"What?" Indigo asked in confusion.

Frosty opened her eyes.

"Twilight Sparkle. Do you have her number?" she repeated.

"Yeah. I think I have it," Indigo replied hesitantly. "Why do you need it?"

"I need to talk to her," Frosty explained as she slowly stood up. "It's important."

"Oh really?" Indigo stared down at Frosty. "How bad do you need it?"

"...Really bad?"

"Mmm hmm. So you wouldn't mind doing push ups in order to get her number?" Indigo asked, raising an eyebrow.

Frosty sighed in defeat.

"Um, fine. I'll do it."

5:57 p.m.

"...One hundred ninety-nine, two hundred!" Frosty collapsed once again.

"Good job, Frosty," Indigo told her. "Tomorrow, maybe I'll go easy on you."

"You're an idiot, Indigo Zap," Frosty whispered.

"No, I'm just ambitious," Indigo cackled. "See ya tomorrow."

Indigo began to walk away.

"Wait!" Frosty gasped, stumbling to her feet. "What about Twilight's number? You promised me you'd give it to me!"

Indigo stopped walking.

"Aw, man. I hoped you'd forget about that," she groaned.

"Give it to me," Frosty snapped. "Now."

"Chill, Frosty," Indigo retorted, grabbing her phone. "Let me find it, first. Probably buried with the rest of the nerd numbers.

"Ah, here it is!" Indigo gave the number to Frosty.

"Wait, do you have my number?" Frosty looked down at her phone as a message popped up on it.

"Sure." Indigo shrugged. "I have everyone's number. See ya tomorrow, girl."

Frosty watched Indigo leave. Eventually, she followed in the same direction.

11:34 p.m.

Frosty yawned as she opened up her messages. Selecting Twilight's number, she quickly typed in a message.

"Hi Twi, its Frosty Orange. I need to talk to u at school tomorrow please?"

"I hope she gets this," Frosty mumbled to herself. Switching her cellphone off, Frosty hugged her bed sheets tight around her and drifted off to sleep.