It’s a new day after cheer practice as the sun is shining. A few minutes later, Windy hears a familiar voice behind her. It’s her little sister. She smiles as she turns around and hugs her sister with her wings. “Hey Thistle,” says Windy with a smile, “did you have a good time at your Bookclub?”
“Mmhmm,” responds Thistle quietly with a nod. She snuggles up under her big sister’s wings.
“Why do you hide, sis?” Windy then inquires with concern in her voice. Soon enough, the unwanted presence makes herself known.
“Hey Windy! Hey Thistle!” Shouts the bombastic pink and blue mare across the field.
“Oh,” responds Windy with a snort and an eyeroll. “Firefly, right.”
A few moments later, the pink mare with the blue mane and tail lands before the sisters and drags them into an unwanted hug.
“Go away, Firefly,” says Windy with a groan and another snort. “We don’t like you and don’t want to be your friends. I don’t care that you’re dating my coltfriend’s brother. Doesn’t mean I want anything to do with you.”
“But you have no choice,” responds Firefly as she whips Windy under the nose with her tail. “You’re the one dating Blaze’s big brother.”
“Yeah, I know,” responds Windy. “Now please just leave already.” She’s getting more and more annoyed, more frustrated with the neon mare before her. She snaps at the pink mare’s wings trying to get her to back off.
“Fine,” huffs Firefly as she flies off once more. “Be that way. Freaking drama Queen. I swear.”
“Phew. She’s gone,” says Windy with a sigh as she sits down near the field once more, gently wrapping her wings around her sister.
“Who’s gone?” Says a voice from behind Windy. Looking up, she soon finds her coltfriend.
“Do you want me to be honest with you?” Responds Windy with a sigh as she turns to face him.
“Yes, always,” responds Bow with a nod. “Do tell me the truth, my Windchime.”
“Fine,” responds Windy with a sigh. “I can’t stand your brother’s marefriend. She’s so stuck up, so annoying, and she treats my little sister like crap. She bullies Thistle and that’s what annoys me most.”
“Yeah, I know, fair enough,” responds Bow with a sigh as he holds his marefriend close to himself. “I’ll make sure Blaze has a talk with her, promise.” He dries her tears with his wings. “Okay?”
“Okay,” responds Windy with a sniffle. “Okay. Thanks, baby.”
“Yeah, you’re welcome, my Windchime,” responds Bow as he holds Windy close to himself, “you’re welcome.” He then kisses her before flying off to his basketball practice once more.
Now just the two of them, the sisters head off to grab lunch together at last as they’re absolutely famished. As they eat, they’re joined by Windy’s other cheer friends: Surprise, Spitfire, Twirl-a-Whirl, Turnabout, and Shadow Mist.
“Hey, girls,” says Windy with a smile. “What have you girls been up to since practice ended?”
“Not much, how about you?” Inquires Twirl of Windy.
“Just hanging out with my sister and seeing my coltfriend,” responds Windy with a smile. “Same as always.”
“Yeah, fair enough,” responds Twirl with a smile, a nod, and a chuckle. “Fair enough. You are seniors, both of you, so when do you think he’s going to propose?”
“Soon, I’m sure,” responds Windy with a smile. “Hopefully before we graduate.”
“Yeah, fair enough,” responds Twirl once more, “fair enough. Then what’s eating at you so bad, Windy?”
“Firefly keeps bullying Thistle,” responds Windy with a sigh.
“The mare your Bow’s little brother is dating?” Inquires Surprise.
“Yeah, that’s the one,” responds Windy with a groan and a snort as she picks at her lunch, “that’s the one.”
“Oh geez, and you’ve told Bow?” Inquires Surprise once more.
“Yes, and he says he’s going to handle it, so I’m going to take him at his word.” She lets out a sigh. “That’s all I can do.”
Meanwhile at the ball court, Bow pulls his brother to the side into the changing rooms.
“What do you want big brother?” Blaze inquires of Bow.
“For you to tell your marefriend to lay off of my marefriend’s baby sister,” responds Bow with a sigh. “Firefly keeps picking on Thistle and Windy is over it.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to her, promise,” responds Blaze with a sigh. “I honestly had no idea, so thanks for telling me, Bow.”
“Yeah, you’re welcome,” says Bow with a smile as he pats his brother on the back with his wing. “You’re welcome.” The two then return out to the court and get back to practice with their teammates once more.
Meanwhile in the cafeteria, the cheer squad finish up their lunches and return to their second round of practice once more. Thistle, meanwhile, returns to the library and into the quiet of her books, her comfort, her safe space. As she reads, she can’t help but smile. She’s happy to be free of Firefly, even if it is only temporarily.
“Hey Thistle,” says the librarian with a smile as she walks past the table where the mare is sitting. “How are you today?”
“Good,” responds Thistle with a nod and a smile. “Thanks for asking Ms. Honeycomb.”
“Yeah, you’re welcome,” responds Ms. Honeycomb with a smile. “When are you going to get yourself a colt of your own, filly?” She then inquires sweetly of the young mare.
“I don’t plan on it,” responds Thistle with a sigh, “I’m happy as is, just me and my books.”
“Yeah, fair enough,” responds Ms. Honeycomb. “You’re a smart one. I’ll give you that.” Ms. Honeycomb then secretly slips Thistle a lollipop before heading off to check up on the other students in the library once more.
After another few hours, Thistle leaves the library at last and heads home where she is joined about two hours later by Windy. “Hey sis, where’ve you been?” Inquires Thistle curiously of her big sister.
“Spending time with Bow, you know that, silly,” responds Windy with a cute little giggle as she cracks a smile. She’s beaming ear to ear.
“Yes, but it sounds like it was more than just a hangout, so do spill, sis. Please,” begs Thistle with a chuckle.
“Fine,” responds Windy with a nod. She comes up behind her sister and hugs her with her wings. “If you must know, he said he plans to propose soon and I can’t wait!”
“Yeah, I’m sure,” responds Thistle with a smile as she hugs Windy back with her own wings. “I’m sure. I’m excited for you, sis. Really, I am.”
“Yeah, I know you are,” responds Windy with a smile as she ruffles her sister’s mane with her hooves. “I know you are.” The two then continue to talk for hours before they’re finally called to dinner by their mother at last.
