3. Lead Singer & Athlete

SEPTEMBER 3RD WAS THE BEGINNING OF AUTUMN THIS year. Despite Canterlot being the tourists' pleasure, it was the season when nature prepared itself for winter. Ironically, that season was the least desired over here. It was a brief walk from their Dorm Blocks to the main building, past the reception, and across the colossal foyer. Twilight took her time to get to the cafeteria, although she managed to not notice the orange leaves scattered randomly around her path.

She didn't want to bump into any other students after Rarity, Ana and Starlight; well, not that she minded it. Her aim was to go through these four years of high school without any drama. There was definitely going to be some, no matter what she wanted, and that's why she hoped fate would grace her with as little as possible.

The cafeteria wasn't what she expected it to be like when she lifted her head from her shoes. The damn hall was massive. She entered and her sight was bombarded with the separated sections of each House.

The Emeralds had circular tables with five mint-green chairs around each of them. Sapphires had theirs against the windows with four pastel blue chairs around each table. Rubies and Amethysts had the most amount of space from her perspective; their tables were rectangle landscape and the chairs matched their house colors.

In the far end, there was a crowd consisting of different students from each house, most of them were either Emeralds or Sapphires.

She could hear the song faintly but not loud enough so it would grasp her attention. When she reached the end of the lunch line with her two containers of food, she squinted at the mobbed area of the canteen. The music was more audible... and there was a rap line?

It was a female voice; she had a pretty strong one, but it didn't amaze Twilight. The lyrics were obviously in a different language, Korean if she was correct?

Twilight was never interested in rap, from the Western part of the Earth specifically, but Eastern wasn't so bad. She couldn't remember which group she liked the rapping most from, though.

Twilight raised her brow and strolled to the Amethyst tables. She peered forward to get a closer look at the students on stage, yet, nothing. There were too many people that covered them.

One tap on her forearm led to a startled jump and she almost fell backward. The girl was taken aback by the sudden shock action, though her face changed as she chuckled it off.

"Are you curious as to what's going on over there?" She gave a cheeky smile. Twilight glanced back over there and then shrugged.

She sighed and, with a slight bit of mischievous attitude, held her hand out. "Here, I'll keep your lunch for you. You go and check it out." She smiled and grabbed the boxes. She kept them next to her and urged Twi to go. And just before she sprinted off, the girl held her arm out in her way. "Make sure you don't come back covered in drool." She winked and turned back to her Amethyst friends.

On instinct, Twilight wiped her mouth. She shook her head at the girl's teasing and carried on her way. She had a good look around the cafeteria as she ambled. Many of the seats were empty with food trays still out now. Guess the Rubies participated in the crowd as well.

What's so jaw-dropping amazing that everyone forgot food? Food of all things! This thing must be worth it then, otherwise, something's wrong with these teenagers.

She got to the entrance of the hell. If she was going to see whatever it was on the platform, she had to push past everyone. And so, she did. Maneuvering through, it didn't take her long to reach the front. When her seventh excuse me slipped out of her mouth, someone blurted out:

"Twilight?" She flipped her hair to her right shoulder and Twilight beamed. "Twilight!" Rarity wrapped her arms around her neck and tugged her into a hug. "It's so good to see you! – Again." She giggled and Twilight returned her grin.

"You too!" She faced the band, yet she didn't get a good look at them before she turned her attention to Rare. "So, what's so special about this band?"

"Oh yes, I forgot, you are new here. It's the Sapphire Band. Despite every house hating each other, everyone loves this group of four. I mean, talent is attractive," Rarity started. "If you look closely, see the raspberry-haired back there playing the drums? That's Pinkie Pie."

Twilight eyed the bubbly girl. She had this smile on that brought one to Sparkle's face already, and it was only the first person she was introduced to. Her hair was, like the vibe her name gave off, bubbly and poofy. Her cerulean eyes were focused on the blue, yellow and pink drum kit in front of her. She nodded away to another person to her right.

"To your left is Cheese Sandwich. The one that is playing the keyboard." Rarity pointed to the brown-haired boy. His chartreuse green eyes looked back at Pinkie. "It's kind of obvious that they both have a crush on each other. I mean, look at them!" She squealed.

It was true, they did give each other shy glances that symbolized their like-like for each other. Sparkle's lips twitched up into a smirk when the light-olive skinned teen blushed a red-pink.

There was this smile on her face as Pinkie Pie sang, Twi couldn't think of why.

"Oh, wait, is this Dul, Set?" Twilight looked at Rarity who nodded and grinned. "That's where I remembered the rap from! It's a BTS song!" She clapped her hands.

Her sight soon rose from Pinkie's sugar sweet smile to the other girl with red wavy hair and yellow undertones. She stood on the same level as Cheese, who tapped her feet to the beat. Was she the rapper Twi heard from the serving area?

"Who's she?"

"She's Sunset Shimmer. Pretty much one of the most popular girls in the entire Academy. I've talked to her before – being included in the popular people – and she's a decent person. She can be a bit of a... um... witch sometimes but that is only towards the lead singer/guitarist and many other popular girls who hurt her friends."

"What do you mean she acts like a bitch towards the lead singer?"

Rarity cringed at the curse. "The lead singer and she don't really get along. The only reason why he allowed her into the band is that of Miss Pie – those two are close friends, ever since sixth grade. Sunset and he are not-friendly rivals basically."

"Oh."

Wait.

The lead singer is a he?

"He? Who's the lead singer?"

"Oh my gosh, so, the LS is one of the best singers in the entire Academy, which includes Middle and University! His vocal range is exceptionally strong and wide. Specifically, in this song, you'll hear the higher side of it, but you need to hear his raspy voice after." Her shriek with delight set something in Twilight's mind. Whoever this guy was, he should be quite the must-see Or his voice should be a must-hear.

"Oh my Celestia, his part is coming! Just listen carefully." She tugged on Twilight's arm and held her hand behind her own ear. Sparkle made a face but did the same thing.

Sunset sang a line which in English meant If you believe me, one, two, three.

Cheese followed, his voice soothing yet energetic.

Pinkie mixed in, and in the background, Twi could hear a soft harmonizing voice preparing itself. "Mitneundamyeon, dul, set, say!"

Rarity gripped her arm harder for the part where the surprise singer came in and a gorgeous high note played in exactly when Twi expected it to.

Her eyes widened. He joined in with the chorus like it was no problem after that high note, the euphony in his voice worked incredibly well with the others'. Twilight's lips curved up into a smile and she hummed quietly along to the chorus, as the rest of the crowd did.

Twilight felt her sight drifting to the boy. She normally wouldn't be hypnotized by attractive looks but she had to make an exception here. This boy was stunning, just like his voice. No wonder Rarity was squealing. Strong jawline, the typical boy haircut suddenly only fit him and no one else, the smile, strong but soft blue eyes.

A few scars caught her attention, the main one was on the right side of his collarbone. His collar managed to hide it as he moved, especially with his height compared to hers; she was a stubby little thing. The other marks were around his right wrist and forearm area. They were more visible as his blazer sleeves were rolled up to the very brim of his elbow.

Chills crawled all over her; fuck, his harmonizing brings Park Jimin to justice. Of course, no one could be better than the perfect Korean vocalist but realistically, this singer came pretty close.

His hand gripped the microphone when he brought another high note out, probably his strongest one yet. The part of his right arm that grasped her was the small bracelet around that wrist. Would she even call it a bracelet? It was a dark blue gem threaded through a brown thin rope. It was simple yet added flavor to the boy.

His vivid cornflower eyes met with Twilight's for only a second before he faced the audience. It didn't take him even a half an instant for his eyes to dart back to hers, as if she had snatched his attentiveness.

All it took was a small smile from him that brightened up her day even more. No one knew how a boy's smile meant to her; all it was in her old school was boys sneering deviously, in the mind of creating a hurtful scheme. Here, it felt... genuine.

The other three brought out their mics and walked out to the front where the lead singer was. He still sang along to the chorus with the crowd, who also sounded beautifully sincere. When Twi's own lips started singing, she repeated the English meaning in her head and smiled while staring at him.

Gwaenchanha, ja hana, dul, set hamyeon ijeo. Seulpeun gieok modu jiwo, nae soneul japgo useo.

It's all right, now count one, two three and forget. Erase all sad memories, hold my hand and smile.

◇

Her foot was the first to come out of the drama-filled cafeteria. Her hands contained the two plastic containers she had for herself and Starlight Glimmer. But she was halfway out of the exit when a voice called out to her.

"H-hey!"

She rotated quarter a circle, only to get a glimpse of who it was. She completed the other quarter when she recognized him.

"Hm?—Oh."

Outside, she seemed like a normal fourteen-year-old greeting a student at her school.

But mentally, she was freaking the hell out.

There was a boy – and on top of that, the one she just watched and listened to – running towards her.

Sure, he was hot as blue flames, but he, obviously, was a boy and she had goosebumps when anyone from the opposite gender walked up to her.

Was he going to try something? If he did, what would she do? She didn't want to go through that ever again – that was the main reason as to why she agreed to transfer. He didn't give off a harmful vibe, actually, he gave completely the opposite of that. Even so, it could be a disguise, a camouflage of some sort.

"H-hi!" She faltered shyly – it was not meant to come out that way, but oh well. She gripped her containers, hoping they wouldn't clatter when she was shivering with fright.

"I saw you by the stage and didn't recognize you. You must be new if I'm not mistaken. So, I kinda wanted to introduce myself. Rarity might have dragged you along to something you had no freaking idea about so... yeah!" He rubbed the back of his neck and a wave of sweet adorableness safely splashed over him.

Aw, he's actually adorable!

"I'm Flash Sentry! If you haven't noticed already – which I'm kinda sure you have, I mean, why wouldn't you, it's the color of my tie and badge – I'm a Sapphire." The way he rambled matched the way she did. Except his awkwardness was delightful and hers was a hot mess.

He flashed another smile. Although she had practically checked him out when he was on stage, she didn't notice one small thing. He had a dimple in his right cheek when he smiled.

Gosh darn it. If he wasn't captivating enough, this skyrocketed it for her.

Hey, hey, hey. You are just meeting him for the first time! No insta-love; you hate that kind of stuff, remember?

She inwardly groaned.

"Yours?"

"Oh, Twilight Sparkle. Sorry."

"No worries. So, Twilight Sparkle," repeated Flash before approving, "that's a pretty name. Suits you well, Amethyst."

Oh, right. Her bow and badge.

If she didn't have those there, would she had been able to act like a Sapphire? Considering how low she felt of herself, she was definitely not Sapphire standard. Even if Flash felt so contrasting in his personality, cunning yet gullible, she somehow knew he was less the latter. Just look at him.

Hang on... Sentry. Oh my gosh. It had been so obvious. The hair, the eyes, the alluring aura that seemed to be embedded in his blood. He was a Sentry. One of the sons of the damn architect businessman Twi's mother was a lawyer to. Holy shit.

Twi blinked out of her trance when Flash cocked his head in the cutest way possible. She giggled, mentally cursing that she forgot to respond. "So, as far as I'm aware, you can sing. Really well, in fact. I'm impressed."

A tantalizing red blush formed upon his cheeks and he laughed lightly. "it's really nothing, just a bunch of high notes in favor of the one and only Park Jimin."

"Even then, I'm sure you can sing just as well. I've heard rumors." Twilight crossed her arms.

"Hmm." That blush refused to leave as he slightly hung his head. His face lit up a bit and he spun around and pointed to the red electric instrument attached to his back, "I also play guitar if that's interesting."

Twilight's eyes tried to catch a longer glimpse at the guitar before he turned back and gave her a smile "I haven't played guitar in a while. And it's not even an electric guitar. I'm actually trying to get back into music; it's one of my chosen subjects!"

Finally, you said something normal to a boy without stuttering.

"Awesome, I'll probably see you around! Um... say, which homeroom are you in?"

She hesitated and pulled the corner of her mouth into her cheek. "...9M, if I can remember correctly."

"Sweet, I'm in your homeroom!" He pressed his lips together as his blush finally, and unfortunately, died down. "So, I'll see you later?"

"Later? Yeah, sure!"

He clapped his hands together and set forth another smile. With a two-finger salute to her, he returned back into the dining room.

Twilight's goosebumps she had all over her body had vanished. Did talking to Flash boost her confidence around the opposite sex a bit?

She sighed. He was going to meet her in homeroom later. Hopefully, nothing happened during that meeting.

While constantly thinking about the people she had been introduced to, mainly about the one she just met, she collapsed into someone. She toppled to the ground with her containers still in her hand.

"Geez! Watch where you're going, Amethyst!" The raspy voice didn't surprise Twilight and the fact that she called her Amethyst wasn't much of a shocker either.

I knew it. There was going to be some people like that here. CMA may be different but there are some things that relate back to Crystal Prep.

"Well, you're a rude one." She didn't need to comment, yet she wanted the girl to realize what she did, even if it wasn't going to work. It was petty, she knew. It just felt somewhat better if the person knew what kind of a bitchy move that was.

Twilight pulled her tights up her legs from her ankles and tugged her skirt down. She collected her first box and didn't dare look up. As she reached for the other, someone else grabbed and passed it to her.

The hand was feminine but slightly rough. Tan as well. Twilight's eyes crept up the body to the same girl kneeling in front of her.

"You're right. That was kinda rude of me. I'm sorry," her voice was softer, the raspiness didn't disappear.

A sorry? And on top of that, a full on I'm sorry? Well now.

She handed Twilight the food and she took it, her grudge disobeying her will to leave. "Thank you."

By the way she came off at first, she did look like the stereotypical tomboy. Her hair was in a messy state and so was her uniform. Her sleeves were rolled higher her upper arm, revealing a bandage and some plasters. Her dark gray trousers seemed the most put together and then her trainers ruined the hopeful image. And the pastel red bow and badge explained it all when her eyes cascaded there.

The athletic figure, the aura of belligerent; she matched the cliché Ruby standard. Unlike Flash Sentry, who was actually a sweet guy and didn't fit the image for his House, she did for hers. Without the accessories that bluntly declared so, Twi could tell right from the get-go.

"So, I'm guessing you don't think highly of me anymore, do ya?" She muttered, a bit of sheepishness flooded through her words.

"Not really, no." Twi grumbled.

"I don't think I can excuse myself with any dark past, can I?"

"Nope. I've read many incidents in fiction where that happens and I'm particularly not a fan of it."

"Really, now? Egghead."

Twilight rolled her eyes and dragged herself up. "Not a very nice thing to call someone – especially to an Amethyst."

"I'm not a very nice person in general to people I've just met, ya know? Trust and loyalty means a lot to me," she laughed. "Rainbow Dash, that me."

"Wow, I've met like what, five people today. I feel like I'm saying the same thing over and over again." Twilight remarked with a sharp tone and bit her tongue. Did that sound too annoyed? "I'm Twilight Sparkle."

"Huh. So, you've read The Twilight Saga?"

Should've seen this coming. She shook her head disapprovingly and replied with, "Yep, read the first and instantly disliked it. I don't hate it, just felt like it was a bundle of overused tropes, and the fact I'm called Twilight makes it worse," in an irritated voice.

"Which team?"

"Someone spoiled me. If I'm honest, I preferred Jacob and thought he deserved better. Mainly neither but if I had to choose, Team Edward, because why bother, Edward and Bella are together and the series is over. I really don't care." She shrugged. "Wait, how did we get into this conversation?"

Rainbow Dash laughed. "You name, that's how!" Sparkle pulled a face. "S-sorry. So, September 9th – there is a party. You going?"

"Had no idea about it."

"New, I guess." Just before she walked away, she stated, "Flash Sentry, the guy you just talked to and probably heard his voice? It's that dork's birthday. Everyone is invited to a Sapphire's party, hosted by the party planners themselves: Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich. Hope to see you then. If not, well, see you in Magic Biology."

Twilight was about to ask if Rainbow took that class, but she had already gone.

Well, it has been a long day. Time to get this box up to Starlight Glimmer.

She sighed and threw her head back.

Author's Note

the song those four cinnamon rolls sang/played was 2! 3! by BTS. I edited out the lyrics (other than a few because I couldn't find a way around those and they were sentimental lyrics ffs XD) because I didn't want people coming at me because of this 😅 I'm new here, leave me alone!

sooo we met Flashy and Dashie! how were their introductions? i mean, i feel like i did Flash's intro spot on because he's adorable AF and well, idk it just fit!
also, y'all, don't downvote this story because it has Flash in it because Flash Hate is really 2013 and by now you're just being petty and immature. it doesn't matter if you don't like him or not, he's staying in this story and it's your choice if you want to leave or not. but it's my choice if he's in this story or not.