Broken Strings

"So this is a cupboard. Oh and this is another cupboard. Over here is some old gum stuck under a desk. I know right, gross! Now come on, let me show you were the toilets are!" Pinkie Pie said, leading the tour.

"Pinkie, I think what Lilac meant by a tour was to show her all the important classrooms. I don't think looking at gum and cupboards is all that...um, fascinating!" Rarity explained.

"Why don't we show her the music room next?" Fluttershy asked, "It's probably one of our favourite classrooms in all of CHS!"

"Sure! I'd love to see that!" Lilac giggled. They arrived in front of the music room. Lilac pushed open the doors to enter and grinned as if she had just been given a birthday present. "Wow! This is really cool!" She said, examining every detail of the large instrument filled room.

"We do most of our band practises in here," Applejack said.

"You sure do a good job of practising. I've heard your latest concert and was amazed. It was awesome!" Lilac flattered. The girls blushed in response to that but Sunset wasn't convinced. 'They're falling for it. Good job Lilac! Except for that Sunset Shimmer brat. She doesn't seem like she's buying it. I'll deal with her later, in private,' Lilac mentally noted. Her thoughts were interrupted as the end of lunch bell rang.

"Oh looks like lessons are gonna start now! Well, we better get back to class," Twilight said.

"Right, yes. Oh do you mind if I leave my guitar here?" Lilac asked, taking the guitar case of her back. Sunset scowled when Lilac had said "my guitar". Luckily, no one noticed her scowl. "My locker is currently broken and I need a place to keep my belongings temporarily," Lilac continued.

"No problem, just put it next to our instruments," Pinkie said. Lilac smiled and placed her guitar next to the Rainbooms instruments.

'Soon, I'll be in that band!' Lilac thought as she and the others left the room, getting ready for lessons.

It was science and Rainbow Dash sat in her seat, which was next to Pinkie Pie. Except this time she felt more awkward sitting next to her former friend. 'It's just not the same as it was before. I wish Lilac never joined CHS,' Rainbow thought to herself, avoiding eye contact with her bubbly pink companion.

"Hey Rainbowwww," Pinkie whispered in Rainbow Dash's ear.

"H-hi," she stuttered back, fidgeting uncomfortably. The lesson went on. Rainbow watched sleepily at the clock which ticked super slowly, making each passing second feel like a whole tiring minute. Finally, the bell rang. "Freedom!" Rainbow muttered to herself, standing up from her seat and picking up her bag.

"You wanna walk to the next lesson with me and the other girls?" Pinkie Pie asked Rainbow Dash. Rainbow was desperate to say yes and finally reunite with her bestest friends in the whole world but Lilac had blackmailed her into staying away from them.

"Thanks but I'm fine," Rainbow replied, feeling deeply hurt.

"Still not gonna tell us what's wrong, huh?" Pinkie sighed. Not knowing what to respond, Rainbow turned away. "Okay well no problem. Tell us when you feel like it," Pinkie said with a faint smile but her emotions were slightly disappointed. Rainbow watched as she left with the others and...Lilac.

"What?!" Rainbow muttered under her breath, shocked. She followed them at a safe distance just to make sure it was true. But it was. Her friends were laughing and talking with Lilac, just the seven of them. Rainbow Dash paused in her tracks. Feeling her heart sink. Her vision obscured with tears. Her whole body wanting to collapse. Her friends and Lilac walked off, towards the classroom. And Rainbow Dash felt truly replaced. She quickly ran off to the bathroom, not caring whether she was late to lessons or not. Slam! She locked the door and began to cry, alone. After 20 minutes, she stood up, wiped away her tears and went to lessons, expecting a very angry english teacher.

"Rainbow Dash! You're late! Detention after school!" Miss Marigold boomed. Lilac was sitting in the corner of the classroom, smiling wickedly. Everything for her was going to plan. Rainbow sat down next to Sunset, her usual place for English. She felt the slight tinge of awkwardness like she did with Pinkie but only this time her heart was broken. Sunset noticed Rainbow's red eyes.

"Hey, um, you alright?" Sunset whispered quietly to Rainbow Dash.

"Yeah," Rainbow replied bitterly which made Sunset move back a bit.

'Does she think we replaced her? Oh no! I knew being with Lilac was a bad idea! Why did I listen to the others? How could I be so stupid?! I'm a pathetic friend. I haven't even tried asking Rainbow again about her acting so different. Does she think I'm mean now?' Sunset continued to think about all these different questions swarming her mind, but she was oblivious to the fact that the teacher was calling her name.

"SUNSET SHIMMER!" Miss Marigold yelled, frustrated. This snapped Sunset out of her deep trail of thoughts making her nearly jump out of her chair in alarm. "I said your name ten times now! Answer the question on the board please," Miss Marigold said, harshly.

Lilac felt worried. 'What was Sunset thinking about? She seemed very deep in her thoughts. Was she suspecting something about me being the cause to Rainbow acting different? I need to do something about Sunset, fast. The others are fine with me but she isn't. I need to think of a way to get her to like me before she uncovers my secret,' Lilac thought.

It was the end of the day and Lilac was to the bus stop. "That was a good day!" She chuckled to herself whilst clutching onto her bag. "Now just one more thing to deal with." She sat down at the bus stop bench and took out her phone, opening Sunset Shimmer's contact. (Quick author's note: The writing in the red is Sunset Shimmer's texts and the purple writing is for Lilac's)

Hey Sunset!

Hello? Who is this???

This is Lilac 😘

Oh hi, how'd you get my number?

Pinkie gave it to me.

Oh okay.

What you doing now? I'm waiting for my usually late bus 😅

I'm just having dinner.

Cool. Hey you wanna hang out at the park later?

No reply. Lilac waited but Sunset hadn't read the message. "WHAT? Ugh, why did she just turn of her phone in the middle of our conversation?! That little-" The bus arrived in front of Lilac and all the student rushed in. Sighing, Lilac walked into the bus, thinking of other various ways to befriend Sunset Shimmer.

"Yeah, Rainbow never said anything. I hope I didn't make her feel like I replaced her," Sunset explained to Princess Twilight in her castle. She didn't want Lilac to know about the portal so she had lied about eating dinner whilst she talked to Princess Twilight about what was happening to Rainbow Dash.

"That is strange. But she might be feeling replaced as you started hanging out with Lilac," Twilight said.

"Yeah, I guess so. The others treat Lilac like a friends but I don't know. There's something wrong about her but I just can't get my finger on it."

"Just keep me in touch about what happens. I'll try to piece the facts together to find out what is happening with Rainbow Dash. Don't worry Sunset, I am willing to help you 100%!" Twilight reassured her friend.

"Thanks Twilight. Well, I better get back now. It's getting kind of late," Sunset laughed as she waved goodbye and jumped through the portal.