A cool breeze blew through the air as the sun began to set. The rainbooms all stood in front of the school statue. “We'll be back in a little bit.” Sunset said, handing her journal to Twilight. “Keep in touch with us if anything happens.” She looked to her side, Rainbow giving her a nod.

The duo took a step through the portal and in an instant vanished from their world. Twilight inhaled and exhaled, turning to the others. “Alright, while they're gone we've got to get on with our experiments. If we can learn Starlight's powers and Trixie's capabilities before they get back…we'll be ahead of the game.”

“What exactly are we supposed to get ahead of, sugarcube?” Applejack asked. “There ain't nothing dangerous on its way that we don't know about, is there?”

“We never know.” Twilight shrugged. “Gloriosa was out of nowhere, remember?”

“Most of our issues were a surprise…” Rarity agreed. “Though rushing things could lead to mistakes and those just won't do, darling.”

“You're right. One step at a time.” Twilight nodded. “Any ideas on how to have the shadowbolts hone their powers?” She asked as they all began to file away from the portal, the marble's water-like appearance having set back to its usual stone.

“Well, if we-” Rarity began as they entered the school.

Indigo stretched out, laying back on her bed. “How long do you think it'll take for them to get back?” She asked, glancing to the side. Sunny sat at the desk beside the bed, writing out something on a sheet of paper.

“No clue. Could be days?” She asked, looking over. “You're restless, I can tell.”

“You know too much.” Indigo huffed. “Man. Isn't this crazy? What does it mean to be chosen by the elements of harmony?” She asked.

“I don't know, but it does feel good, doesn't it? Knowing that we have a bond strong enough for that to even happen?”

“Or, does it mean that it was bound to happen?” She asked, turning to face away from her. “That…y'know we were supposed to get here? That regardless of our wants that one day magic would pull us together…”

“I…hadn't considered that…” She admitted. “But no matter what, I know that I'd want to be here. With you at my side.”

A soft chuckle came from the girl before she rolled back onto her back. “You're too good at those heroic quotes. Sorry, I'm still in my head, obviously.”

“Destiny didn't bring us together, Indigo. We chose this path.”

“It's hard to not think that this is just what was supposed to happen. Does that mean that I was supposed to go through all that crap? Just to end up with the people I was supposed to be friends with? That all of this was…planned?”

“I don't think it was.” Sunny said with a small smile. “We're the first group without direct ties to equestria to be chosen. If they were predetermined, why would we be chosen?” She asked. “Besides, I don't think I could have ever expected to have fallen in love with you…from the person I used to be and how I used to perceive you…” She added after a moment. “You've changed my life immensely, I can only hope I've done the same.”

“I doubt I'd still be here if not for you, Sunny.” Indigo admitted after a moment. “I mean…”

“Don't talk like that.” Sunny frowned.

“Where was I gonna end up, Sunny? Another year of that house…there's no way I'd have managed and with how beat up I was, I'd be useless as an athlete, then what? I'd be every bit the disappointment he saw me as. Couldn't imagine they'd start to care by that point.”

Sunny pushed up from her seat, climbing onto the bed beside her and wrapping her arms around the girl. “Realistically, I understand where you're coming from…but do you know how much that hurts to hear? That if I didn't talk to you on a whim that you'd…”

“I try not to bring it up.” She admitted, resting a hand on Sunny's arm. “I had nightmares of falling from the school's rooftop. Those were the times you came in and stayed with me. I never wanted to tell you about them, figured it'd just put more pressure on you and I didn't want that.”

“Well, from here on out, I'm gonna need you to tell me if you're ever in that head space. Okay?”

“Promise.” Indigo said with a tired smile.

Starlight sat in Lemon's room yet again, the two chatting about their newfound powers. She leaned back against the bed, crossing her arms in thought. “So…what should we call my power?” She asked from her spot on the floor, looking over her shoulder to the girl on the bed itself

“Well, if it works like we think it does, it's a neutralizer, but that sounds negative.” Lemon noted. “How about we think of it like…you manage the frequencies of magic and can modify them to acceptable levels.”

“That sounds way more wordy than necessary.”

“Starlight. You're an equalizer.” She giggled, pointing her thumb to her desk, a piece of equipment sitting on the top. “It's the same thing that I use in music. Plus, to think of your power as only something that takes away will trap you in one way of thinking.” She explained. “At least, that's what I think.” She shrugged.

“I get the idea.” Starlight nodded, “I admit that it does help to think of it like that, but why would you need to adjust your thinking about your magic?”

“Well, Sour has a healing power and she feels guilty for not doing more than she's capable of. So I just look at stuff differently to help her get past that.”

“Y'know, speaking of…what's the deal with you two?”

“What do you mean?” She asked, reaching over to grab a drink on her night stand.

“To be honest, I figured you two were dating for a while now.” She said simply, earning a choked cough from the musician.

“Wh-Wha?!”

“C'mon, it's not like we'd judge you two for it. Indigo and Sunny are dating. If it's a secret, I get it…but I don't understand why you'd hide it.”

“...If that were the case, it'd probably be that one of us is nervous about everyone knowing.” She answered vaguely. Intentionally so.

“Okay…so hypothetically, how long?” Starlight asked, hugging her knees as she looked over her shoulder to the blushing girl.

“...Officially? Maybe a month or so…” She admitted. “But we've been close for years…” She said, “You have to promise me not to tell anyone.”

“You want to talk about it?”

“Of course I do. I wanna shout it from the rooftops! But…she's not comfortable with everyone knowing.” She said with a sad smile. “I love her to death, and I don't wanna screw up the shot I've gotten, y'know?”

“It's safe with me, I promise. So how'd you become official?”

“Well…a little after we found out we had powers, she got into her head about how she could do so much now. She could heal Indigo, become a doctor or something. She said that it didn't matter if she got found out…that her kind of power is worth using.” She said, “while I agree it's amazing, I also know that she'd tear herself apart to do what she thinks she should do.”

“But then, how do you decide who to help and who not to…” Starlight thought aloud.

“Pretty much, yeah.” Lemon frowned. “Then she went on about how she shouldn't waste the opportunity to actually be useful. To have a purpose.” She sighed. “I don't like how little she values herself.”

“Even I can see she has some self esteem issues…how'd you get her to change her mind?” She asked.

“Well, I kinda got desperate…” She admitted. “I asked her to let me help her make those decisions…” Lemon said sheepishly. “She got all flustered that it sounded like I was implying we'd be y'know…together. So I asked her officially. I…” She took a breath. “I want to be with her…and never found the right way to ask…guess an accidental confession suits us.” She chuckled.

“That's cute, I can't imagine how much of a weight was taken off when she agreed.”

“Oh, she didn't agree right away…” Lemon chuckled. “Needed some time to think…but that was only like a day.” She said, “She almost knocked me out of my shoes the next time I saw her.” Lemon pulled her knees to her chest, hugging her legs. “She's really affectionate in private.”

“Y'know, I'd believe it.” Starlight chuckled. “But that's enough. I'll keep it a secret. Just don't get in trouble with her.”

“I'll tell her I let it slip. I can't keep secrets from Sour.” She sighed. “Just be ready for her to threaten your life.”

“Wouldn't be the first time…” Starlight laughed to herself. “You guys can trust me. Don't worry.”

“How about you? How's it going with Trixie?” She asked.

“If she's aware of anything, she's really good at playing dumb.” Starlight said with a sigh.

“Maybe she's just dense?”

“I wouldn't think so. She doesn't show it often, but she's pretty perceptive. Now, where she goes with the information after learning it…that's a different story.” She chuckled. “I may be barking up the wrong tree…but, I think I can be happy just being her friend.”

“Aww, don't give up hope yet. What do you do in your down time?” She asked.

“Well,” Starlight thought aloud. “The other day we were discussing touring after graduation. We hang out in this old RV she's been working on, it's a pretty cozy set up.” She explained. “Cept the couch is kinda small, she usually lays across my lap when we watch tv or talk about stuff. We've actually ended up crashing in the RV a few times.”

“Girl.” Lemon said flatly, giving her best unamused expression.

“What?”

“I'd have killed for that kinda thing in your position.” Lemon whined. “I mean…I get it now, but all that time we could have spent beforehand…”

“It's just because the RV is small.” She shrugged.

“Girl.” She repeated resting her palm on her forehead. “You're hopeless…”

“W-Well fine! What do you two do in your down time?”

“Well one thing we do is watch tv and talk about stuff, usually with Sour laying across my lap on the couch. It's a way to get close to you, you dummy.”

Starlight shrank back. “Seriously..?”

“Yes!” She rolled her eyes with a grin. “People aren't usually as up front with their interests as you or me. What do you usually do while she's laying there?”

“P-Play with her hair..?” She asked, poking her index fingers together.

“And she lets you?”

“Well…yeah?”

“Well, it's not a surefire sign, but it is a good one. You're not out of the game just yet, Star.” She giggled, patting her shoulder.

“Sh-Shouldn't we be more concerned with other stuff right now?”

“You wanted to talk about girl stuff. Suffer from your decisions.”

Trixie hummed to herself as she walked down the sidewalk, things were looking up. She had a great performance earlier in the week, she's got her own assistant and even found out that she now had real magic!

She stopped at the corner, waiting for a light to change, she spotted a thrift store she'd poked around before, ‘Well, it couldn't hurt to take a look…’ She thought, definitely feeling like looking for something nice. A reward for all her hard work these past few weeks.

As the light changed, she crossed the street, passing three taller girls in bomber jackets. They seemed to not even acknowledge her…though something about them seemed off. They talked amongst themselves as they walked past. Mentioning a “Gilda”, or something. Not Trixie's problem.

She quickly entered the store, glancing around. Nothing really of note. Some neat stuff she could turn into props, some background settings. Just all around bland stuff. With a sigh, she turned to leave, passing by the register and slowing to a stop at the bowl on the counter beside it. A few bits of jewelry sat in it, most looking not worth the cost…but… On the top, sat a black and red metal base with a red gem sitting in the middle. It was in the shape of a triangle…with a unicorn head and wings.

‘That looks…suspicious.’ She thought, reaching to pick it up, upon touching it a flash of red made her jump.

“Oh my, dear. Are you okay? You seem a bit jumpy.” The kindly shop owner asked, taking her place behind the register.

“O-Oh, Trixie is fine. Um, how much is this going for?” She asked, pointing to the object.

“Oh. It isn't anything special, five bucks?” She asked.

Trixie nodded, taking out the money and paying. ‘Something's definitely wrong with this thing…’ She thought, though the old woman seemed to have no issue picking it up and bagging it for her.

“Thank you, ma'am. You have a wonderful evening.” She said with a slight bow.

“Oh goodness, thank you dearie. Same to you~” She waved as Trixie exited the store.

‘Horse themed jewelry that makes me feel all weird? Yeah…not playing with this…’ She held the bag, looking down at it. ‘But Sunset is gone to equestria for a bit… Can Trixie trust the Dazzlings or the other rainbooms?’ She asked herself. “They'll think I'm just paranoid.” She sighed as she walked. “But! Trixie knows one girl who will always take her seriously!” She marched off toward her home, taking her phone out to dial Starlight's number.

A sudden pull at her arm made her glance down. The bag suddenly felt a lot more heavy. Doubt trickling into her thoughts. ‘I…can't be overthinking it, right?’ She asked. ‘The owner seemed to have no issue with it…’ She sighed, opening the bag and reaching in for it. The red flash emitted from the bag for a moment, but quickly died down.

‘Huh…guess…guess it was nothing?’ She asked, looking down and noticing the amulet hanging from her neck…though she had no memory of putting it on. Weird.

Author's Note

Just had some fun with everyone, had to step away from the dazzlings for a bit since they've gotten so much screen time lately. Maybe I should split off a fic on then while other stuff is going on in this one...

Ideas to ponder. But for now, enjoy little glimpses into the romance stuff that hasn't happened on screen,(buttotallywill,Ipromise).

Along with an interesting hook? Hmm...

Thanks so much for reading!