Fuzzy Blue Lights

"I don't hear any singing."

"It's meta... meterforum... it's a figure of speech."

"Eh, I guess you just hear something I don't. I wouldn't know, I don't even sing at all."

"I do. Or, I try to. I hate singing in front of other people, though."

"Why?"

"I'm not very good."

"What? Come on."

"It's true."

"I don't believe that. Come on, sing something."

"...I don't know. You'll hate it."

"No I won't, I swear. I'm not other people."

Rainbow Dash shot up, slamming her hand down on the alarm clock. Today was the day. Feeling uncharacteristically enthusiastic for a Monday morning, she hopped out of bed and skittered down the stairs. She quickly poured herself a bowl of cereal and began devouring. Rainbow Blaze thumped his way down soon after.

"Mornin', airhead." He mumbled tiredly as he ruffled Rainbow's hair.

"Mornin', jerk." Rainbow Dash stuck out her tongue after slurping down the leftover milk.

"You ready for the game tonight?" Rainbow Blaze asked as he fished out bread from the refrigerator.

"Aw, hell yeah!" Rainbow Dash grinned.

Rainbow Dash was only on the Canterlot JV football team, but Blaze had sweet-talked Spitfire into letting her sub for Varsity. Rainbow may be small, but she was fast, and she could take a hit. With Soarin down with a broken leg, it was Rainbow's time to shine!

Rainbow Dash zoomed back up the stairs as soon as she put her dishes away, then took a quick shower. By the time Rainbow Blaze had finished his toast, Rainbow Dash was prepped and ready, proudly wearing her jersey over her t-shirt.

"Jesus, save your energy for the field." He chuckled, disappearing into his room to look for clothes.

Rainbow Dash couldn't help it. She just knew today was going to be a good day.

Fluttershy had a sinking feeling that today was not going to be a good day. Why would it be good? The kids back home hated her, why would it be any different here?

According to her mother, this school district was more respectably rated, in whatever ways they rate schools. Not that Fluttershy cared. Maybe, just maybe, she could paint a positive enough picture of herself that the students here wouldn't drive her to tears.

Zephyr was nervous, naturally. Fluttershy realized with a pang that it was because of her that he had to leave Skysail and Treehugger behind.

Because that's all I'm good for, Fluttershy cursed herself. Ruining things.

She steeled herself as she opened the car door.

"You have your schedule? You remember how to get to your classes?" Mrs. Shy fretted. Fluttershy nodded. "Okay. Well, good luck, honey."

Fluttershy stepped out, ready for whatever waited for her on day 1 at Canterlot High.

"Did ya hear 'bout the new kid?" Applejack asked.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. This was a relatively small town, so new kids would be the buzz of the month.

"You meet 'em?"

"Nope," Applejack smiled, elbowing Rainbow Dash slightly. "Ah hear that she's a city slicker, like you."

"Oh, screw you," Rainbow Dash play-shoved Applejack. "How many years have I worn the Wondercolts jersey? And speaking of-"

"Ah ain't joinin' the football team." Applejack deadpanned.

"Why not?" Rainbow Dash pouted.

"Ah got farm work. Besides, y'all know Ah don't like football very much."

Rainbow Dash snorted. "What kinda cowgirl doesn't like football?"

"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie!"

Fluttershy stared in awe. The girl in front of her had on pink shoes, socks, skirt, shirt, earrings, headband, and backpack. Fluttershy instantly determined that this girl liked pink.

She had a cute, round face with dimples on her cheeks, and poofy, pink hair. Her sky blue eyes seemed to burst with joy, and they were locked directly on Fluttershy.

"Uh... hi?"

"I heard that there was a new girl going to our school, so I wanted to say hi, and I saw you were all alone and you looked so sad, so I wanted you to feel nice and welcomed so welcome to Canterlot High where everyone is nice and welcoming and I hope you make lots and lots of new friends!"

...Is that some kind of joke? Is this a pick-on-the-new-kid kind of thing?

Without warning, Pinkie Pie wrapped Fluttershy in a great big hug, earning a startled squeak.

"And I get to be your first," Pinkie Pie said, still smiling sweetly. Fluttershy froze, figuring it would be impolite to wriggle away. "Well, have fun on your first day at Canterlot, I hope I get to see you again soon!" Pinkie Pie finally released Fluttershy, then bounced happily away.

Fluttershy ogled at the pink bundle of energy. She was hoping that the students here wouldn't find a way to hate her, but she hadn’t counted on anyone wanting to be friends right out of the gate. What was even scarier was the fact that Pinkie Pie sounded completely genuine. Fluttershy just didn't know why.

"Oh, hey girls!"

Rainbow Dash looked over her shoulder to see a girl so layered in pink that she could give the boogeyman nightmares.

"Pinkamena?"

"You can just call me Pinkie Pie." She grinned. Pinkamena, or Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash supposed, looked a lot different than she did last year. She totally dropped the emo look.

"Cool. Well, what's up?"

"I just met the new girl," Pinkie Pie practically bobbed with excitement. "She seems nice. I hope we all get along!"

"What's her name?" Applejack asked.

Pinkie Pie raised a finger, then frowned. "Ugh, I didn't ask her name!" Pinkie Pie slapped her forehead. "Bad Pinkie, bad Pinkie!"

Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Whatever, we'll meet her later. It's a long-shot, but I hope she's athletic. And knows when to take one for the team."

"Y'all ain't guilt-trippin' me," Applejack chuckled. "Mah family needs me. Ain't no way around it."

Rainbow Dash blew a raspberry. "Whatever."

So far, no one seemed to view Fluttershy as a target. It didn't make sense. There had to be someone, at least one student that would have it out for Fluttershy. But they never came.

More than once, somebody would smile in her direction, nod at her, or even say hello. Fluttershy instinctively flinched at incoming hands, only to realize that they were only held up for Fluttershy to high-five or fist-bump, apparently a common form of greeting here.

It just didn't make sense! This wasn't supposed to be like playing dolls. This could not be a perfect school filled with perfect people. It's supposed to be... high school.

Rainbow Dash looked around. The cafeteria was busy as always, but not bad enough that she couldn't tell people apart. So far, she didn't see the new girl.

"Good afternoon, Rainbow Dash." Rarity greeted her primly as she sat down.

"Sup?" Rainbow Dash waved. "You meet the new girl?"

"Oh, yes," Rarity nodded. "We share the same third period, in biology. Such a timid little thing. I could barely get a word out of her."

A shy one, huh? Well, it was a long-shot. "Did you get her name?"

Rarity tapped her chin. "I did ask it, but she was so quiet, you'd think she was part mouse," Rarity contemplated for a moment. "I should definitely bring her home. Her outfit left much to be desired, and her hair, I could do so many things with that hair."

"You gonna turn her into your new little dress-up toy?" Rainbow Dash smirked.

"I need the practice," Rarity said defensively. "And she could stand to dress less conservatively than the librarian. On that matter, where in the heavens is she? I don't suppose you happened to see her enter?"

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "I guess she's off eating a packed lunch. Must not be a people person."

That's a lot of people.

Instead of having them divided up, it seemed as though all students ate lunch together. The lunchroom held close to over 300 students. Fluttershy thought better of eating today. Tomorrow, if it turned out that she wasn't being pranked, she would try to gather up enough nerve to go inside.

Tomorrow.

"Ah ain't gonna bite."

The girl in front of Fluttershy smiled. She wore jeans, a white button-up shirt, and a dusty brown cowboy hat. Her tanned face was dotted with freckles, bringing out the sharp green in her eyes.

Fluttershy hesitantly accepted her hand, getting her 17th handshake of the day. Her hand was calloused, but she took care to not squeeze Fluttershy's.

"Ah'm Applejack." She tipped her hat, which was a little too big for her.

Fluttershy wanted to escape back to her house now that school was over, but there was something comforting about Applejack. It was an openness that Fluttershy suspected she wouldn't find often.

"I-I'm Fluttershy."

"Howdy, Fluttershy," Applejack let Fluttershy's hand go. "Ah know you're new here, but Ah hope you're findin' everythin' just fine," Fluttershy nodded. "Well, that's good. Y'know, we got a football match tonight. If ya want to come, Ah can introduce ya to mah friends."

"Um, okay."

"Great! Ah'll see ya at around 7:00. Field's out behind the school."

Fluttershy stood still as Applejack walked away. She just technically agreed to go to this thing, didn't she? Fluttershy didn't particularly care for sports, but she didn’t want to make a bad impression. Okay, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. It couldn't hurt to go. Just, don't mess things up.

"11! Let's move it!"

Rainbow Dash sprinted onto the field as Spitfire shouted out her number. She promptly found her place in the huddle.

"Alright, Wondercolts," Spitfire began. "We're tied right now, but let's close it up. They're tired, so let's drive right through them. A fake 2 and 11 split down 0. On set. Ready?"

"Break!"

Rainbow Blaze slapped Rainbow on the shoulder pads. "Coming to you, make it count."

Rainbow Dash nodded, jogging to get onto the line.

"Down!"

The linemen took their stance. Rainbow Dash stared straight ahead. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the 2 and the 0. The guards tensed, ready to drive the defense in opposite directions. This was it. Let the fake in through the 2, and then Rainbow could take it straight down the 0. This was it.

"Set!"

The line collided instantly. While the Wondercolts pushed the Hornets apart, Spitfire faked the ball to Blaze. With two wasted trying to tackle him, Rainbow Dash quickly followed.

She powered past Spitfire, accepting the ball into her arms. She zig-zagged into the 0, and was practically free.

"Whoo! Get 'em good, Rainbow Dash!" Applejack hollered.

Fluttershy froze. It couldn't be.

Rainbow Dash smirked. This game was hers. She looked out into the crowd as she ran, and spotted her friends' usual spot. Pinkie was absent, as she was cheerleading. However, there was another girl in her place. Rainbow Dash frowned. It was the new girl.

But she swore she'd seen that hair before.

Holy shi-

Rainbow Dash was tackled hard to the ground shortly after the realization hit her.