It's you...

by Pinkiemlp97

Start of the Event

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The Belle family was having dinner together in the dining room, enjoying a homemade meal prepared by Cookie.

Always concerned about her daughters' studies, Cookie looked at Rarity with a serious expression. "Rarity, how are your studies going? Are you prepared for the midterms?"

Rarity, trying to stay calm, replied, "There's still a bit of time before the exams, mother. I'm reviewing everything I need to make sure I'm prepared." Then she remembered the announcement. "You see, there's an event before the exams."

"Event...?"

Before Cookie could continue with her question, Sweetie Belle, full of excitement, interjected. "Mom, Dad! It's the welcome event. It's going to be awesome!"

Cookie, with her usual seriousness, frowned slightly. "Those events? I hope they don't interfere with your studies."

Rarity smiled, trying to ease her mother's concern. "Don't worry, mother. The welcome event is designed to help us integrate and better prepare for the semester." She paused a bit before continuing. "The event is going to last two weeks."

"Two weeks?!" her parents exclaimed.

Hondo nodded. "That sounds like a good opportunity to learn more about the university and see how you both are adapting."

"There's also something else. Many things have changed since we left, so now those from side A can go to the university building to socialize and participate in the activities," the dressmaker informed.

"Interesting," her mother commented. "What other things will there be at the event?"

"The first week focuses more on activities among students, club exhibitions to integrate more students. Then there are outdoor activities. There will also be a food festival, a theater play, among other things," Rarity explained.

The youngest, unable to contain her excitement, added, "And in the second week, families can go, so we can all be together. I'm sure it's going to be a lot of fun."

"That's good news, so we'll have to train to win," Hondo said.

"Dad, they're games like hoop shooting and sack racing," Rarity clarified with a smile.

Sweetie giggled a bit.

Then the three looked at the older woman of the house, who was silent.

Cookie sighed, but a small smile appeared on her lips. "Well... it would be an opportunity to spend time together, so we might make an exception with work."

The daughters smiled, celebrating a victory. "As long as you don't neglect your studies afterward. I trust you'll manage your time well."

"Don't worry, Mom, we'll be hands-on with the midterms," assured the youngest.

"Yes, mother," said Rarity.

"It wouldn't be bad to visit beforehand and see what the exhibitions and some activities are like," Hondo suggested.

"They didn't say anything about families not being able to go the first week," Sweetie Belle recalled.

"It's probably because, with those from side A joining us, their parents or siblings will be looking after them," Rarity deduced.

"That's most likely, so we'll go. I don't want to neglect my daughters," said Cookie with a smile.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle nodded enthusiastically, happy to have their parents' support for the event.

Sweet Apple Acres
In another part, specifically in the backyard, the eldest of the Apples, along with her sister, was informing Granny Smith and Big Mac about the welcome event while they were collecting some apples.

"Tomorrow, the preparations begin, and on Wednesday, since it will already be September, the activities start," said Applejack.

"Yeah, first are the club fairs and the theater play. Then in the afternoon is the Wonderbolts' game," added Apple Bloom.

"Get ready, family, because the following week, the family games are coming," Applejack said with a smile.

"We're going to win!" said Apple Bloom, climbing down the ladder.

"Eeyup," affirmed the elder brother.

"If Granny Smith plays, we'll do what we can," said Applejack with a chuckle.

"Then Big Mac, you need to use those muscles," said Apple Bloom cheerfully.

"Eeyup," Big Mac said again with his typical response.

"Well, then let's win," said Granny Smith, smiling. "We'll make sure this family leaves its mark on those games."

"That's what I wanted to hear, Granny!" exclaimed Applejack, lifting a basket full of apples.

"Yeah, we're going to show them what the Apples can do," added Apple Bloom, jumping excitedly.

The family continued collecting apples while discussing more details about the activities.

On Tuesday, the students were in the university's grand hall, a large, adaptable space where important dances and presentations were held. Some were scattered around bringing tables of two, others decorating what would be their stands, placing tablecloths according to the theme of their presentations, and some sticking letters on the table. The younger students were in classes, and other university students were in different parts of the campus helping out.

Fluttershy and Twilight were at the side of the stage, listening to the words of Chancellor Celestia and Principal Luna.

"This is going to be a big welcome event, so Principal Luna and I evaluated among all the students and decided..." Celestia began.

"...you two will be the ones to present each event," Luna said, completing the sentence.

"Us?!" they both exclaimed, surprised.

"Why not? You've overcome many of your fears and insecurities," the principal commented, looking at the two.

"That's right. Fluttershy, you've overcome your shyness on so many occasions," Celestia said with a smile, addressing her, and then her gaze landed on the blue-haired girl. "And Twilight, you've gained a lot of self-confidence since you arrived."

They both smiled at the words, although they knew that those traits still didn't disappear completely when it came to other situations.

"Also, according to the principal, you have this band called the Rainbooms, so you've performed in front of a lot of people more than once," Luna continued.

"Not exactly, but we have sung with Flash's band," Twilight said, still digesting the news.

"All the more reason. With that you've shown that you're capable of performing in front of a lot of people," Luna added.

"Yes, a little, I just thought you'd pick a student from side A," Fluttershy said shyly.

"We understand, but most of my students are underage and don't have as much experience performing in front of large audiences. You, on the other hand, have the maturity and experience needed for these kinds of events," explained.

Twilight sighed, trying to relax. "Well, if you think we're the right fit, we'll do our best."

Fluttershy nodded, though she seemed a little nervous. "Yes, we'll do our best."

"I trust you," the principal said with an encouraging smile. "Now, remember that it's important to stay calm and be yourself."

Luna nodded. "And don't forget to enjoy the event. This is also a chance for you to have fun."

The two looked at each other and nodded, feeling a little more confident.

Meanwhile, near the stage, Rarity and Pinkie were helping put up some decorations.

"Did you hear? Twilight and Fluttershy are going to be emcees," Pinkie commented, hanging a garland.

"Yeah, that's what I heard. I think they'll do... well," the seamstress replied, adjusting a banner.

"Definitely," Starlight added, as she put up some lights. "It'll be interesting to see how they handle it all in front of so many people."

"Yeah, I'm sure they'll do great," the party girl said, smiling.

Rarity looked at Starlight curiously. "What were they like before?" asked under her breath.

Starlight glanced at the party girl. It was obvious that the seamstress wanted to know more without it being obvious that she already knew the girls.

"Well... Twilight had some insecurities and still does, but she's gotten better at it," Starlight said, glancing at the seamstress and then at the party girl out of the corner of her eye. "Still, some things make it difficult for her."

"Yeah, and that's why she's in literature, to get it out of her system," Pinkie said. Then her eyes widened at that. "Like a lot of us who are in an extra class to get over something," she said, laughing nervously.

"Some people choose to do that because they enjoy it, since it's something they love," Starlight said.

"Although sometimes you have no choice but to take that extra class," Rarity muttered, then looked up. "But you still have to get through it, right?"

The two looked at each other strangely at the comment.

"Sure, there are difficult subjects, but you always manage to get through it," Starlight said to lighten the conversation.

"You're right," the seamstress replied, smiling slightly. "We'll do that when the tryouts come around-"

"Da da da, let's not think about the tryouts yet," Pinkie said, covering her ears.

"Okay. By the way, where's Trixie?" the seamstress asked, looking around.

"She's probably rehearsing with the theater," the party girl replied, laughing.

"The great and powerful Trixie doesn't need rehearsals," Trixie said, approaching with a box in her hands.

"But you'll be with Snips and Snails," Starlight pointed out.

"Who are they?" Rarity asked.

"They're from Side A and they're Trixie's minions," Pinkie explained, still smiling.

"They're not minions, they just have a great admiration for Trixie and seem to be very interested in her," Starlight corrected.

"So they're simps," the seamstress concluded with a smile.

"Hmm... I couldn't have called it any better," Trixie said, nodding in approval.

"Speaking of the event, tomorrow is the girls' first game," Starlight said.

"I heard something, though I'm not a big fan of sports," Rarity said, remembering the whole month of getting complaints from the teacher. "But I'll see if I'll cheer."

"It's obviously not your thing," the gray-haired girl said with a giggle.

"Obviously we're going to cheer, well, I will," Pinkie said with her hands in the air.

They laughed a bit at classic Pinkie behavior and continued working together, making sure everything was ready.

The Wondercolts team stood on the university's indoor court, listening intently to their coach Spitfire's instructions.

"Listen carefully, Wondercolts," she began, holding a stick in her hand and pointing at the board. "There will be six universities facing off. In the first round there will be two matches: us, Team A, against Team B, and on the other side, Team D against Team E. The winners will advance to the second round, where they will face Team C and Team F, respectively."

All the players nodded seriously, following the explanation on the board.

"There is one advantage and I hope we don't have to go there, because the chances of advancing are slim," Spitfire replied, turning the board over to show another diagram. "If a team loses in the first round, they will have the chance to enter the losers' bracket. That is, the losing teams will face each other, and the winner of that round will return to the competition, facing the other losers until they reach the finals. But if they lose, they are definitely eliminated."

Some players showed signs of confusion.

"Let's say Team B loses, which is unlikely, and Team E loses as well. They will face each other, and the winner will advance to face the rest of the losers," Spitfire explained.

The students showed a variety of reactions, from nervousness to determination.

"Let's continue. The winner of the third match will face the winner of the fourth match, and that one will be waiting for the winner on the other side, thus reaching the finals. Does everyone understand?"

Someone raised their hand.

"What didn't you understand?" Spitfire asked.

"It's not something I didn't understand. Which universities will be there?" the student asked.

"Yeah, and he said that Team B was unlikely to lose," Lyra added.

"The schools are: Central University, Manhattan University, Baltimare, Fillydelphia, and the obvious one, Crystal Prep."

"Ha, you'll see those Shadowbolts when we face them," Rainbow said, fist bumping her other hand.

"Those Shadowbolts are tough, but this isn't the first time we've faced a challenge. If we play like we know how, we can beat them," Applejack said.

Sunset nodded. "Applejack's right. We've trained hard for this. We just need to stay calm and play as a team."

"This is the first time we've had this important competition, and they'll be there," Coach commented with a serious expression. "And tomorrow we'll face them first."

The news hit like a bucket of cold water, generating a wave of comments.

"You've got to be kidding."

"They're Team B?"

"I thought they'd be in the second match."

"I don't think I'm ready yet."

The farmer put a hand on the shoulder of one of her teammates. "Come on, girls. We've overcome obstacles before. We just need to focus and do our best."

"Remember, we're in this together. No matter what happens, let's support each other and go out and win," said Sunset.

"That's the spirit. We're going to wipe the floor with those Shadowbolts," said Rainbow determinedly.

With the explanation finished, the athlete stood in front of the board as the captain and began to give some strategies that could work against the Shadowbolts.

Several hours had already passed since morning in the classroom. Some students had already finished their studies and others were just arriving, like the younger ones who only had the first two morning shifts.

In a corner of the classroom, the students who would be part of the play were rehearsing their lines, holding their scripts and going over them with enthusiasm.

Flash, who was checking some notes on his guitar, occasionally glanced over at the group. Timber watched his friend, while Pinkie Pie, after helping other students, walked over to where they were sitting, watching intently.

Rarity was checking some designs of the stands, like the fabrics, and found herself lost in vague memories. She shook her head and sighed. Then, her gaze went to the nearest entrance, where she saw some students entering. She assumed it was the football team, recognizing the athlete, the farm girl, and the redhead. When the latter noticed her gaze, the dressmaker averted hers and walked away from that part.

Walking a little further, she saw a small group where the party girl was, watching the rehearsal of the play with curiosity. Upon arriving, she could see several students reading a sheet that would be their line, standing out among them Feather Bangs.

The boy, noticing her presence, smiled even more widely and decided to take advantage of the opportunity.

"Ah, my dear lady," Feather said, approaching Rarity with a theatrical air. "How can such a beautiful flower be found on this humble stage?"

Rarity arched an eyebrow, but couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Are you rehearsing your lines? Uh... Feather, right?"

Feather Bangs nodded, still looking at her. "Indeed, but I fear these lines do not do justice to the beauty I have before me."

The dressmaker rolled her eyes in amusement. "I see you are taking your role very seriously."

The boy took a step closer, lowering his voice. "You know, Rarity, I think you might be the muse that inspires my acting to another level."

Rarity laughed softly, though she was flattered. "Well, if you need inspiration, I'll be here to help with whatever it takes."

"That's all I need to know," said, winking at him before turning back to her rehearsal.

The dressmaker turned and began to walk away.

"Nice try, hunk," Timber commented.

"I'd give it a point in my favor," Feather added with a half-smile.

"If you say so," Flash concluded, laughing at the end.

The party girl looked at the boy and then back to where Rarity had gone. He stood up and followed her.

"I see someone has their eye on you," Pinkie said, catching up to Rarity and walking beside her.

"I'm not sure I want to be with anyone, Pinkie Pie."

"It could be a possibility, but..." the party girl hesitated a bit.

"But what?" asked, stopping.

Pinkie also stopped to answer. "He has a reputation for being flirtatious with all the girls and not settling on one," she said with a nervous smile.

"Well... I'm not too far from being like him," Rarity said and started walking again.

"That's what all... What? What do you mean by that?" the surprised party girl said, following her.

At the entrance, Rainbow, Sunset, and Applejack were heading over to where some students were organizing clubs. Rainbow approached Fluttershy, who was intently writing something on a piece of paper.

"Hey, Fluttershy, what's all the concentration?"

Fluttershy looked up, surprised by the interruption. "Ah... erm... Twilight and I were named as the hosts of the activities," she replied, searching for words cautiously.

"Wow! And how did you take it?" Rainbow asked, curious.

"A little surprised, just like Twilight," she replied.

Rainbow nodded, pondering the news. "Well, I'm sure they're going to do a great job. Though I imagine you'd rather be more in the shadows, wouldn't you?"

Fluttershy nodded shyly. "Yeah, I'm not used to being in the spotlight."

"I understand, but I'm sure you'll adjust quickly. If you need any help getting ready or practicing, I'm here," the athlete offered, smiling kindly and putting her hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Thank you, Rainbow," Fluttershy replied, grateful for the offer of support and noticing the pink-haired girl's hand.

"Sorry," she said, pulling her hand away. "It's okay," Fluttershy replied, smiling slightly.

Some nearby students began to murmur amongst themselves, showing confusion.

"It wasn't intentional, but it was progress," Rainbow said with a half-smile as she noticed the curious glances.

"Yeah, it seems like showing that everything is going well, like Twilight said, is going to work," the pink-haired girl added.

"But this was natural, nothing acted," she added, still wearing her half-smile. "I was thinking, how about... every other day?" she said, changing the subject.

"Every other day?"

"Yeah, apparently you're going to be a little busy introducing the activities and I'll be busy with the game. I could make some time to play," Rainbow said with hidden nerves.

"Do you want to play with me in the outdoor activity?" asked again.

"If you want, of course. If you don't want to, that's fine," replied scratching her head.

Fluttershy smiled. "No, that's fine, Rainbow. I thought you'd be with AJ this time, since they didn't participate together last year."

"Well, she was focused on the woodworking club before she quit and didn't have time for me, but I don't mind," Rainbow said.

"I understand. Sometimes it's hard to find time for everything," Fluttershy said.

"Yeah. I'm sure she won't mind me participating with you," the sporty girl said. "It's important to me that we can spend time together, even if it's just a little at a time."

"I'm glad you see it that way," the pink-haired girl nodded.

"So, what do you say? Do we sign up for the sack race? Or could we try the three-legged one?" she suggested, smiling at her.

"That sounds fun. I'd like to try it," Fluttershy said, smiling back. "The sack one," clarified.

"Cool. It'll be like old times, when we competed in camp activities," Rainbow said excitedly.

"Yeah, though I hope you're not too competitive."

"Mmm..." Rainbow said thoughtfully. Her friend looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Just kidding, I promise not to be. This time, it's all about having fun."

Twilight approached them with a list in hand. "Hey, girls. How's everything going?" asked.

"Hey, Twilight. Everything's going well. Rainbow and I were just talking about signing up for the sack race," she replied.

"That sounds great! I'm sure you'll make a great team," Twilight said with a smile. "We could cover for you in that game."

"Thanks. I'll do the same if you participate in any games," Fluttershy said. "Hey, Twi, are you signing up too?" Rainbow asked.

"I'm not sure yet. I have to make sure I have all the activities set up first," Twilight said, looking at her tablet with paper.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. Classic glasses girl, even though the introduction might be a bit minimal, she'd still prepare for anything.

"I'll follow you later so we're coordinated," the pink-haired girl said.

"Perfect, see you later," Twilight said.

With a smile, the glasses girl waved goodbye to the girls and walked past them until she reached her booth, where Starlight would be.

"Looks like you finished early," Twilight said, looking at the finished stand.

"Yeah, I had help," Starlight replied.

"From Pinkie, right?" the blue-haired girl deduced, laughing at the end.

"From Rarity, too," Starlight said.

"Oh, that's... good," Twilight replied, a little surprised.

Starlight nodded with an understanding smile. "Yeah, Rarity offered to help, and it was pretty helpful."

The blue-haired girl adjusted her glasses thoughtfully. "Well, I guess it's a good thing she's actively participating."

"Yeah, definitely," commented, showing a slight support for the seamstress.

Twilight nodded, trying to keep a neutral attitude. "And she didn't say something like 'I can't help right now, my nail polish is too fresh'?"

"No, nothing like that. I know she seems like a typical diva, but I don't think she's always paying attention to her nails."

"Not just that," Twilight muttered.

"What?" Starlight asked, although she did hear her.

"Nothing," the blue-haired girl said, clearing her throat.

Starlight stared at her in silence for a moment. "You know, Twilight? Sometimes when we're in a bad mood, we tend to get carried away by first impressions without considering the positives behind them."

Twilight was struck by the comment. "Why do you say that?" asked.

"It's something you should look into," replied.

The blue-haired girl thought for a moment before nodding. "Let's hope everything stays in order during the event. We don't need any more complications."

Starlight nodded again. "I'm sure everything will go well. The girls have been working to make sure it does."

With a nod of agreement, Twilight prepared to go over some more details of the event.

Elsewhere in the room the hyperactive girl continued to insist a little more, keeping pace with the dressmaker as they walked.

"Tell me," Pinkie pressed, with her characteristic persistence.

"No."

"Please tell me," she softened her voice.

Rarity paused briefly and looked at the resigned party girl. "It's not like I have much to tell, really. I've just had a few experiences that might have given that impression," explained, choosing her words carefully.

"Experiences that might have given that impression?" the party girl muttered as she thought back to something. "But isn't that similar to before you dated...?" she asked, trying to fill in the blanks.

Rarity nodded slightly. "Yeah, sort of. It's not like I was like Feather exactly," she admitted truthfully. The party girl got the message and let out an 'ohhh'.

"I understand. Do you mind if I ask you more about it?"

The seamstress pondered for a moment before replying with a slight smile. "I don't mind, Pinkie Pie, but I'd rather not go into too much detail right now. I'm trying to focus on other things right now."

"Sure, I completely understand!" She exclaimed, her expression changing into a bright smile. “We can talk about anything else that interests you! Have you seen the new styles that are circulating online? They are amazing!”

Rarity laughed softly at Pinkie’s sudden change of topic. “Oh, yes! I’ve been following some recent trends,” replied, grateful for the change of focus.

Together, Rarity and Pinkie continued on their way, aware of the curious glances of some students around them who were simply watching the five girls.

"Yeah," the farm girl said to herself, watching the party girl across the room with the dressmaker. "I'll talk to her today."

"What are you talking about?" Caramel asked, confused, standing next to the booth.

"Oh, nothing important," Sunset said, approaching with a smile. "Tomorrow is the game and she's always there to cheer, she'll have to wear the right team colors."

"Sure, that's what I meant," the farm girl said, nodding quickly.

"Okay," the boy said, not quite sure of the answer.

"What were you going to ask me?" the blonde asked Caramel, with whom she had been talking about what the woodworking club where she used to be in the previous years would show. However, she stopped since she was in her last year and didn't want to be swamped with work.

"Oh, yeah, I was saying if we could use one of your works as an example," Caramel said.

"No problem," Applejack replied, smiling. "Which one did you have in mind?"

"I was thinking about that wooden bench you made last year. It's sturdy and well made, and I think it would be a good example of what can be achieved with dedication and skill," he explained, excited.

"Yeah, that sounds perfect to me. It's still at home, so I can bring it over early tomorrow," he assured.

"Thanks, Applejack. It'll be a great help in showing the new members what they can accomplish," Caramel said, relieved and grateful.

"You're welcome. It's always a pleasure to help the club," the farmer said, patting Caramel on the shoulder before she headed off to another group of students.

The red-haired girl waited for her to get far enough away to speak. "Did you see it?"

"Yeah," Applejack replied. "I'll talk to her and tell her what happened tomorrow."

"Okay, you tell us tomorrow, but... leave it for after the game, we don't want to get distracted," Sunset said.

Applejack nodded. "I was just thinking about that. Whether it's bad or good, I'll tell you after the game."

Sunset nodded. With the conversation over, the two of them started walking towards their friends.

Elsewhere, the younger ones were making banners for either the stands or the game. The Crusaders, Spike and Ember were doing just that.

"How about 'Go Wondercolts'?" Apple Bloom said, raising her paintbrush excitedly.

"How about 'Go Rainbow'?" Scootaloo suggested, with an enthusiastic smile.

"How about 'Go Losers'?" Diamond Tiara said, sitting idly while her friend Silver Spoon worked on her own banner.

"Do you forget that we Wondercolts are all of us and if we lose that includes you?" Ember said, looking at Diamond Tiara with a raised eyebrow.

Diamond Tiara stopped looking at them, not acknowledging her mistake and looking away.

The Crusaders laughed for a moment and then continued working on their banners.

"A dab here and a dab there," Spike said as he painted a piece of cloth with a paintbrush. "There you go. Could you tell Rarity what this is?" he asked, holding up a piece of cloth.

"So you could pick it up with a stick. That's a good idea," Sweetie Belle commented, looking at the cloth closely.

"Is something wrong?" Spike asked.

Sweetie Belle shrugged. "No, nothing. I was just... checking to see if it's small enough."

"Should I use a bigger cloth?"

"No," she said, somewhat alarmed.

A few students around her looked at her.

"Are you okay, Sweetie?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Sweetie Belle said, clearing her throat in embarrassment at drawing attention to herself. "Small is perfect," she added slyly.

Spike, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom looked at each other. They decided not to continue the conversation and continued working on their banners, each contributing their ideas and creativity.

After a half-exhausting day decorating everything for tomorrow and the rest of the week, Applejack, as on other occasions, took her cousin back to her house. Upon arriving, she stopped the truck, but first she wanted to talk to her relative about something.

"Pinkie, I let a few days go by so I could talk," began.

"About what?" Pinkie asked, pretending she didn't understand, although she knew exactly what she was going to talk to her about.

"Come on, Pinkie, about the fact that you started talking to Belle."

"Do you know she has a name?"

Applejack raised an eyebrow, a little annoyed by Pinkie's attitude. After a moment of silence, the farmer continued.

"Pinkie..."

"I'm just following my hunch."

"Hunch..." said the blonde thoughtfully. "By that, do you mean give her another chance? But..."

"But what?" Pinkie asked, interrupting her.

"It's not that easy for all of us after what happened," Applejack said.

"I know, AJ, but I think everyone deserves a second chance," the party girl said.

The farm girl was silent about that comment.

"Should I have asked before?"

"Not that you have to ask permission, but you should consider how we feel about Belle," Applejack said.

"I know you guys would feel uncomfortable, you've shown it many times by not wanting to talk, and especially you, AJ, since she was your..."

"Pinkie... no," the blonde said with a frown stopping her from finishing. "I just... you know I'm still mad, not just me, the others too, and I can't imagine..."

"You're going to be mad about that? About me getting close to Ra... to Belle?" the party girl asked, rolling her eyes at the last bit.

"I might get mad. I won't lie to you," replied.

"But you won't, right? You know why? Because we're Apples at heart, remember?" Pinkie said.

The farm girl sighed, looking at her cousin with a mix of frustration and understanding.

"Look, I'm not going to tell you who you can or can't get close to. I just... I don't want to see you hurt again."

Pinkie nodded, smiling softly. "I know, AJ. And I appreciate that you care. Just give me this chance and you'll see."

Applejack was silent for a moment before nodding slowly.

"Okay... Just be careful, okay?"

"I promise."

After that, Pinkie got out of the truck and headed to her front door.

House of the Belles
Rarity made her way to her sister's room. She entered softly, finding Sweetie Belle engrossed in some drawing on her desk.

"Are you excited about tomorrow's event?" Rarity asked, with a smile.

Sweetie Belle stopped drawing and looked at her older sister with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Yes, I'm excited. But... I was also thinking about something."

The seamstress frowned slightly, wondering what could be going through her younger sister's mind. "What were you thinking, dear?"

The younger one bit her lower lip, undecided for a moment. Then, she decided to approach the subject carefully. "Well... about the banners we made today. I thought it would be great if... if you could sew ours."

Rarity was momentarily speechless, surprised by the request. Sweetie Belle noticed her sister's reaction, she added, "But don't worry, he's small, so it will be easier for you." She stood up and went to a bag on her bed, taking out the fabric.

Looking at the fabric, Rarity noticed that she wouldn't need a sewing kit, just a needle. "It won't take much work," she said with a smile, walking over and taking the fabric.

Sweetie Belle smiled sweetly at her. "I had to suggest it discreetly."

"Thank you, Sweetie," Rarity said, grateful for her understanding. "What do you want me to do?"

"Spike had the idea to put two sticks so I could hold it up," explained.

"Do you have the sticks?" asked.

"I asked Mom and Dad to get them, they should be here soon," Sweetie Belle said.

"I'll wait for them downstairs then," the seamstress said, carefully folding the fabric and leaving her sister's room.

Sweetie Belle followed her and they both walked down the stairs to the living room. They waited a few minutes until their parents arrived, whom they greeted. Sweetie Belle asked for the sticks and Rarity set about her task.

Wednesday. Everyone was in the main hall, as the long-awaited welcome event was starting today, and no students had classes.

The atmosphere was full of excitement and anticipation. Students filled the main hall, chatting animatedly as they waited for the day's activities to begin. The main hall was decorated with colorful banners and balloons that reflected the festive spirit of the event. The stands of the different clubs were lined up along the walls, each prepared to show their best.

Celestia and Luna, who were on one side of the stage, gave a nod to the two students they chose who were on the other side of the stage. Both Twilight and Fluttershy sighed in relaxation.

"Ready?" Twilight asked.

"So-so, and you?" Fluttershy said.

"Well, we just have to be confident," Twilight said. The pink-haired girl nodded.

The two walked over and stood in the center of the stage, raising their microphones.

"Welcome everyone to the welcome event!" Twilight began, drawing the students' attention. "We're very excited to have you here and we hope you enjoy all the activities we've prepared for you."

"Yes, we hope you have a lot of fun. We have lots of exciting activities, from exhibitions and plays to games, among other things," Fluttershy continued with a shy smile.

"First we'll start with the club booths to learn about the different opportunities our university offers," Twilight continued.

"And we'll end the day with the first ever women's soccer match," Fluttershy finished.

The students began to disperse, exploring the different booths and talking to the club members.

The group of friends waited for the two girls to get off the stage.

"They didn't do too bad," Applejack said with a smile.

"In the end, my help wasn't necessary, but my support was enough," Rainbow said.

"Yeah, Twilight and I got together and helped each other out," Fluttershy said.

"I knew you had the confidence," Rainbow said with a half smile. "I'll leave you two, I promised AJ I'd go with her to see the explosions," she said, stepping forward.

"See you later, girls," the farmer said before walking away and catching up with the multicolored haired girl.

"Looks like their relationship is moving forward, did we miss something?" Sunset said, looking at the pink-haired girl.

"It's true, I noticed it yesterday but I didn't ask," Twilight said, looking at her as well.

"She surprised me at the animal shelter on Monday. I was going to stay home, but I wanted to go hang out and found her there," Fluttershy explained.

"Oh, is that what the call was about?" Sunset muttered thoughtfully.

"Did you say something?" the pink-haired girl asked.

"Nothing important. And what happened?" the red-haired girl said.

She wasn't going to reveal to her shy friend that Rainbow called her to find out if she was still part of taking care of the animals at the shelter, which surprised her since she had kind of ignored the pink-haired girl hours before.

"She had an argument with Discord and then we both talked honestly, clearing some things up," she said. "Then we took my little friends out for a walk."

"Did she meet Discord?" Twilight asked curiously.

"How did she take his humor?" Sunset asked with a laugh.

"Mmm... as expected from Dash," Fluttershy said. "She was close to throwing words at him if I hadn't intervened."

"Classic of her," Pinkie said from beside the redhead.

"Then they talked, you said," Sunset said.

"Yeah, she explained to me why he acted a little... distant."

"Did he act distant with you?" asked the party girl, a little thoughtful, remembering that that's the attitude the dressmaker is acting with to avoid much conflict with the girls.

"Yeah, but she already clarified it and also after something happened when we walked the dogs, I told her why I sat at another table the day before."

"As Applejack says, talking honestly always works," Twilight said.

"It's true," Pinkie said with a smile. "It helps a lot to understand people."

The girls were a little curious about those words.

"Are we going to see the exhibits?" asked Sunset so as not to be left silent.

"Speaking of exhibits, Starlight should be waiting for me with the rest of the members of the science club," the blue-haired girl said as she walked away.

"Well, there are three of us," Pinkie said cheerfully, looking at the two, who smiled back at her.

Up ahead, Applejack was with Rainbow exploring the clubs. Despite not having any interest in signing up for another club since they had enough with soccer, they wanted to see what new things the clubs had for new students.

"Do we really have to go through all of them?" Rainbow asked, grimacing as they passed the chess club.

"Just a couple more, Dash. I promise it won't take you long," Applejack replied.

They arrived at the Robotics club, where Micro Chips, along with his older classmates and some underage students, were exhibiting.

"Welcome to the Robotics club!" Micro Chips exclaimed excitedly. "Today we have a special exhibit that showcases the collaboration between our older and younger students. They've worked together to build these amazing robots."

Applejack and Rainbow walked over, curious. A group of younger students were showing off a simple robot that could follow lines on the ground.

"This is our first project," one of the younger students explained. "The older students helped us learn how to program and assemble it."

"That's impressive," Applejack commented, watching the robot in action. "And what are the older students showing off?"

Micro Chips pointed to a more complex robot that was being controlled remotely. "This is an advanced project the older students have been working on. It can perform tasks like picking up objects and navigating around obstacles."

The jock, though not all that interested in robotics, couldn't help but be impressed. "Well, that's pretty cool," admitted, watching the robots move with precision.

"Thanks," Micro Chips replied, smiling. "We're very proud of what we've accomplished together. And we hope more students will join us as we continue to explore the world of robotics."

The farmer nodded. "It's definitely something worth seeing. Let's move on, Dash, we still have a few clubs left to visit."

Rainbow sighed. "Okay, AJ, but just a few more."

They walked a little further, coming across the Art Club booth, where students were admiring paintings, sculptures, and drawings while the artists explained their inspirations and techniques.

Applejack recognized a sculpture and let out a laugh.

"What?" Rainbow asked.

"See that sculpture?" she said pointing. "That's the one I made with Belle."

"Did they end up doing it?" she asked with a mix of indifference and curiosity.

"Yeah, although we didn't make much progress at first because we argued."

"What a surprise," Rainbow said sarcastically.

"But we were able to finish it with certain rules," Applejack explained. Her partner nodded.

The farmer looked at the sculpture again before turning around and noticed Rarity coming out of the same group of people.

"When was she here?" she wondered, frowning slightly.

"Shall we go?" the sportswoman said, starting to walk. Applejack, still confused, followed her.

Twilight, meanwhile, was at the Science Club booth, with a table set up with laboratory equipment to demonstrate fascinating biochemistry experiments.

"Welcome to the Science Club!" the blue-haired girl said excitedly to a group of students of various ages. "Today we'll show you some interesting chemical reactions and how biochemistry can be fun."

Beside her, Starlight Glimmer, holding a neuroscience project, greeted the students. "We'll also give you a look at how we study the brain."

Twilight poured a hydrogen peroxide solution into a flask, adding liquid detergent and potassium iodide. Immediately, a thick foam formed, causing amazement among the students. "This is called 'elephant toothpaste.' It's a decomposition reaction that produces oxygen gas and creates this impressive foam."

Starlight explained how chemical reactions in the brain affect our behavior. She showed a model of the brain, pointing out areas responsible for functions like memory and emotions.

Twilight showed a three-dimensional model of DNA and explained its structure and how it relates to biochemistry. She used a microscope to show stained cells, allowing the students to see details at the molecular level.

The younger students helped explain basic concepts, while the older ones took care of the more complex demonstrations.

While the blue-haired girl was writing the names of those who were going to join on a tablet, she could see out of the corner of her eye a certain seamstress who was in the crowd. She met her gaze for a moment, but it seemed that the latter did not notice, since she had turned around to go to the next booth, where she knew the seamstress would sign up.

Rarity walked towards the next booth, but she did not expect to find the Sewing Club, which she had once been part of when she was on Side A. A group of students was admiring the creations. She hesitated for a moment and approached, but before she arrived she was interrupted by a group of younger students.

"Hello, Rarity!" her sister greeted enthusiastically, accompanied by Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Spike.

"Hello, girls! Oh, Spike, Scootaloo, how have you been?" said the seamstress, surprised to see them after so long.

"Fine," Scootaloo replied with a smile.

"What do you think, Rarity? Did I grow up a little?" Spike joked, slowly turning around.

"Yeah, everyone's had their respective developments, but are you still the Spike Wikey I knew?" She replied with a smile.

"No more Spike Wikey," he protested, crossing his arms. "I'm all grown up now."

The younger girls giggled a little, and the seamstress could barely contain a laugh. Then, her gaze shifted to Scootaloo.

"Umm... Scoot, I mean, Scootaloo, about your sister..." Rarity began a little nervously.

"Relax, Rarity. Rainbow may not be completely over it yet, but we've been able to forgive and understand," Scootaloo said with a reassuring smile.

"We have our point of view on how things happened," Apple Bloom said.

"Really?" Rarity asked, surprised. The others nodded, except for Sweetie Belle.

"So what's your take on what happened?" the seamstress asked curiously.

"Uhh... I think we'll just leave it at intrigue," the magenta-haired girl said, somewhat nervous.

"Mmm, okay. For their age, they're very understanding," Rarity commented with a giggle.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Scootaloo replied proudly.

"Are there any clubs that interest you, Rarity?" Apple Bloom asked, changing the subject.

"Some are interesting, but I don't think I'll join any," the seamstress replied.

"You're like my sister in that way," Apple Bloom chimed in. "She dropped out of carpentry this year, since it's her senior year, plus she has a lot of work at home," she explained.

"I think I understand her a little," Rarity said with a smile. "I'll leave you to continue having fun, but don't get into any mischief," he said before walking away in the opposite direction he had been heading.

After watching Rarity walk away, the four friends noticed that before they interrupted the seamstress, she had headed towards the Sewing Club booth.

"Do you think Rarity will join the club?" Spike asked, pointing towards where the club leader was signing up new members.

"I think so," Apple Bloom replied with a thoughtful smile. "She's always had a natural talent for fashion, and being in that club could be perfect for her."

Scootaloo nodded, looking over to where Rarity had disappeared into the crowd. "It's possible. Rarity loves creating and designing. I wouldn't be surprised if she decides to join."

As they discussed the possibilities, Sweetie Belle made a few comments and then discreetly broke away from the group to follow her older sister through the bustle. She wanted to make sure Rarity was okay regarding one particular issue.

The other three continued exploring the different clubs, moving from the Sewing Club to others such as the Carpentry Club, to the one for the works that would show off their talents in the future. They arrived at the last Music Club, where some talented students were playing various instruments.

Flash who was leading the presentation was almost finishing his speech when they arrived.

"Now you will hear our cellist, Octavia Melody," Flash announced.

"Thank you, Flash. Now enjoy," Octavia said, sitting down and positioning her hands to begin playing. The sound of the violin, capturing the attention of everyone present.

"Finally, you will now hear Vinyl, who will show you different sound mixes," Flash said.

Vinyl began to move her hands on the records, back and forth, following the track. The girl with headphones continued to enjoy the mix, but she became so immersed in it that she began to make other more complex mixes.

Some students were surprised by the sound, exchanging looks of amazement.

Flash and the other members smiled a little nervously and glanced at the cellist, making a hint.

"Vinyl," Octavia called to her friend in a low voice.

But the girl was still in her own world.

"Vinyl!"

Once she reacted, she surreptitiously made one last mix to finish.

"Well, that was exciting. Our DJ always surprises us," Flash said with a laugh.

The girl with headphones gave her thumbs up, smiling.

The students clapped excitedly and more information on how to join the club.

"If you want to know more, don't hesitate to come over. We're here to help you find your sound," Flash added.

"Vinyl never disappoints!" the girls listened to Pinkie with their characteristic enthusiasm.

"Pinkie..." Spike called her with a slight smile.

"Oh, Crusader or semi Crusader and Spike," Pinkie joked.

"Did you enjoy the show?" Sunset asked, addressing the group.

"Yeah, I can't wait to see what they bring us next week," Apple Bloom said excitedly.

"We'll see what she's up to again," Fluttershy added with a smile.

Sunset looked at the watch on her wrist and realized that time had flown by. "We're running late. The first game is coming up soon," she commented. "See you later," she said before leaving.

"I have to find Twilight to tell the students," Fluttershy said, a little nervous about having to get the students' attention.

Spike nodded. "I'm going to go find Sweetie Belle by the pool. See you later, girls."

"And that leaves us with three people again," Pinkie said with a smile to the two youngest.

They smiled back at her and she suggested they find the others to go to the court.

A few minutes had passed and Fluttershy and Twilight had already informed the students to head to the outside court for the match between the Wondercolts and the Shadowbolts. The teams were ready on the field, just waiting for the referee

The Wondercolts wore their simple yet elegant uniforms, consisting of a deep blue shirt with thin yellow lines on the top of the sleeves and the sides of the torso. Blue shorts with a yellow line on the side, and socks, also blue, with small yellow details. Completing the outfit, each player wore their respective soccer cleats.

The Shadowbolts wore a shirt that was a deep purple, with a black lightning bolt pattern crossing diagonally from the shoulder to the opposite edge. The shorts, completely black, and the purple socks, with black details. Completed by black soccer cleats with purple laces.

"So you are the damn Wondercolts," Sour Sweet said approaching with two other girls.

"Have you heard of us?" Sunset said.

"Enough to know that you will lose," Indigo Zap, the team captain, replied with a smug smile.

Rainbow was about to approach, but Applejack stopped her. "Dash, she's just provoking you. We'll show them who we are when the game starts," she said, putting a hand on the multicolored girl's shoulder.

"Let's see if they can score any goals against me," Sugarcoat challenged. Applejack frowned.

In the stands, several students anxiously awaited the start of the match.

"I don't understand how the Shadowbolts can participate if they're not from a university," Flash wondered with some pennants in his hands.

"Even though Crystal Prep is a college, they teach many advanced subjects that allow them to participate in the university catalog," Twilight began to explain. "They prepare students for high-level academic and athletic challenges. It's a form of comprehensive preparation that transcends the typical limits of a high school."

"Wow, that sounds interesting! It must be exciting to study in a place like that," Sweetie Belle commented alongside the Crusaders.

"Wow," Flash exclaimed.

"Who would have thought? If you hadn't changed, you might still be there," Spike joked as he unrolled the banner.

"Well, at least you can cheer from the stands now," Fluttershy said.

"Girls, pay attention, it looks like it's about to start," Pinkie said, drawing attention.

Sure enough, they watched as the referee approached the field, placing the ball in the center and letting both teams decide who would start the first pass. Once decided, the referee blew his whistle, starting the game.

Not all of the students were in the stands. Some weren't interested in football and preferred to stay inside doing other activities. In the great hall, there were still a few students at the club booths, like Rarity, who decided to stay inside. The seamstress walked around the hall, looking at what she had missed before parting ways with the younger students and letting her sister catch up with her.

As she walked, Rarity stopped near the Sewing Club booth. The booth was adorned with samples of recent work, fabrics of various colors and patterns, and a mannequin dressed in an impressive design.

"Would you like to join the club?" one of the Sewing Club members asked her, noticing her interest.

Rarity smiled, but shook her head. "Oh, I'd love to, but I'm a little busy this semester with my studies and other commitments," she explained in a soft voice. "Maybe later."

The member nodded understandingly. "I understand, we're always here if you change your mind."

"Thank you," replied with a smile, and continued walking, but as she walked away, the smile faded into a sad expression.

She continued walking until she received a call and noticed that it was her mom, so she answered.

Time had passed. The tension on the court was palpable. The Wondercolts and Shadowbolts were tied, both teams giving their all in the little time left of the match. The stands were filled with students cheering on their teams, and the noise was deafening.

"Go Rainbow!" shouted Scootaloo.

"You can do it, Applejack!" shouted Applebloom.

"You can do it!" shouted Sweetie Belle.

"Go team!" shouted Pinkie, waving her pom-poms.

On the court, Rainbow ran with the ball at her feet while dodging the Shadowbolts' defenders.

"Go Rainbow, you can do it!" shouted Sunset, supporting her in the attack.

The multicolored girl advanced quickly, approaching the goal. Just as she was about to shoot, Indigo appeared out of nowhere and snatched the ball from her with a flawless slide.

"Damn it!" Rainbow exclaimed, frustrated, as she quickly got up to chase after Indigo.

"Let's see if you can catch me," Indigo taunted.

Indigo passed the ball to Sour Sweet, who ran towards the Wonderbolts' goal. Time was running out, and both teams were at the end of their rope.

"Don't let her get through!" Applejack shouted, running to intercept her.

Sour dodged Applejack with a nimble spin. Gilda was reaching for the girl to tackle her, managing to steal the ball and quickly passing it to Lyra, who was in a favorable position to advance.

"Come on, Lyra!" Sunset shouted as she approached.

Lyra advanced with the ball, but the Shadowbolts' defenders were in her way. With a quick pass, she sent the ball to Sunset, who had advanced to midfield. Sunset wasted no time and passed the ball to Rainbow, who was in a perfect position to attack. The multicolored one shot with all her might, but the goalkeeper, Sugarcoat, made a stunning save, deflecting the ball with her fingertips.

The ball bounced and landed near Indigo, who quickly began a counterattack. The Wondercolts desperately fell back to defend their goal. Indigo passed the ball to Sour, who quickly moved towards the goal. With one last effort, Sour sent the ball to Sugarcoat, who was in a perfect position. With precision, she shot the ball hard towards the goal. The goalkeeper, Bon Bon, jumped to stop it, but the ball went right over her fingers and into the net.

The final whistle blew right after the goal, and the scoreboard showed the painful reality: Shadowbolts 2, Wondercolts 1.

The Shadowbolts players celebrated in jubilation, while the Wondercolts collapsed on the ground, exhausted and disheartened.

"No way," Scootaloo said, sitting sadly with her hands on her head.

"Just needed a little more time," Apple Bloom said.

Pinkie's hair seemed to deflate a little at the result.

"They've been training hard," Fluttershy said, worried about how Rainbow would feel.

"Looks like it wasn't enough... sorry, I didn't mean to sound that way," Twilight said.

"How about we go and cheer them up," Pinkie suggested in a sad voice.

"We're going too," Scootaloo said, coming down from the stands with the Crusaders and Spike.

Back on the court, Applejack slowly stood up, breathing heavily. She walked over to Rainbow and Sunset, who were also dejected.

"We gave it our all," Applejack said, trying to lift her team's spirits. "It wasn't... it wasn't our day, but we'll get another chance."

Sunset Shimmer nodded, though she still seemed shaken by the loss. "Yeah, we have to keep our heads up and prepare for the losers' bracket. We can still do it."

Rainbow looked at her friends and the rest of her team, nodding as she tried to hide her frustration. The Wondercolts began to walk to where the rest of the students were waiting for them.

Some students left the court and entered the school, saddened by the result, and a few stayed behind to try to cheer the girls on.

When the Wondercolts got close enough, the group of friends and their sisters approached the multicolored girl.

"Rainbow, how..." Pinkie was going to say, but the multicolored girl walked past, leaving the court in the direction of who knows where. The party girl lowered her head, saddened, heading for the stands.

"I don't think it's right," Scootaloo said, her head downcast.

The team was discouraged.

"Where did Dash go?" the coach asked.

"We don't know," Gilda said, hiding her frustration.

"How could they not know and you..." Spitfire was going to say, somewhat disappointed, but she knew that would make the team feel worse. She sighed to speak again. "You'll be lucky in recovering," she said, moving away a little to give the Wonderbolts some room.

"That's true, we will," Applejack said with a smile looking at the team. "Don't be discouraged."

"But it seems that Rainbow didn't take it well," Fluttershy said.

"I think we should leave her alone for a bit to digest it," Sunset said understandingly.

She then looked at the rest of the team, who despite the encouraging words, didn't seem to be enough to lift their spirits. She knew that if their captain wasn't okay, the players wouldn't be either, so it was necessary for Rainbow to at least process her frustration.

The Crusaders stood to the side, near the stands, looking at the team's couple, Bon Bon and Lyra.

"I couldn't catch the ball," Bon Bon said through tears.

"Hey, calm down, love, you gave it your all," Lyra said, putting her hands on her girlfriend's shoulders. "We'll have a chance to recover."

Bon Bon nodded, covering her face a little, and Lyra hugged her, caressing her back. They stayed like that for a moment until Bon Bon seemed calmer.

"Are you better now?" Lyra asked with a smile. She nodded. "How about after we change, we go to the movies?"

"I'd like that," she said with a smile, and received a few kisses on her hands. The two held hands and walked over to the others.

The Crusaders stared at the scene, specifically the youngest Apple and Belle.

"I thought you've seen enough girls to be surprised by that," Pinkie said, approaching the younger girls, trying to hide how she felt from them.

"Did you feel it too?" Apple Bloom asked, leaning slightly towards the youngest Belle, ignoring the party girl.

"Yeah, she kinda looked like that," Sweetie Belle said.

"What are you talking about?" Scootaloo asked, looking for answers.

"Don't tell me you found out something by eavesdropping," Pinkie said, knowing how gossipy the Crusaders were or are.

"Sort of," Apple Bloom said.

"It was two things... or something like that."

Three Years Ago: Spring
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were in Apple Bloom's room, chatting animatedly as they played with a puzzle they had found in the closet.

"Hey, Apple Bloom, what do you think we should do after this?" Sweetie Belle asked, placing a piece in its place.

"Mmm, I don't know. Maybe we can go out into the garden and play outside for a while?" Apple Bloom suggested, looking at the remaining puzzle pieces.

"That sounds fun! But first, can we get something to eat? My stomach is starting to growl," Sweetie Belle said with a smile.

"Haven't you been taught not to ask for things in someone's house?" Apple Bloom joked.

"Ahh..." Sweetie Belle didn't know what to say.

"Just kidding... I'm hungry too," Apple Bloom said.

They both got up from the floor, put away their materials, and left the room. They walked down the stairs with a quick step. When they got close to the kitchen, their sisters' voices echoed, with a peculiar tone that made them stop.

"What if... what if it happens again?" Rarity was heard, with a worried tone.

"Rarity, calm down... has she given you any sign?" asked Applejack, with uncertainty in her voice.

"No... but...", she answered, her voice broken by tears.

"What's going on?" asked Apple Bloom, looking at Sweetie Belle.

"I don't know, but I want to know what's wrong with my sister," said the youngest Belle, starting to walk towards the door, but Apple Bloom stopped her.

"Wait, let's keep listening," whispered Apple Bloom.

"But..."

The youngest Apple just made a sign of silence

"This is my fault... I got you into this mess," admitted Applejack.

"Applejack, this isn't your fault," Rarity tried to comfort her.

There were soft sighs between sobs.

"Anything, just tell me. But trust that if the problem persists, we'll solve it together," said Applejack, trying to keep her spirits up.

When they received no response from Rarity and noticed that the conversation wasn't continuing, they decided to go in to find out the reason for the peculiar conversation. When they both peeked through the door, they saw Applejack holding Rarity's hands and kissing them, which caused the dressmaker to giggle knowingly and also wiped away the last of her tears.

"I told you so..." Apple Bloom whispered to Sweetie Belle.

"What's that? By the way, your sister is very expressive with mine," said Sweetie Belle in a low voice.

"Come on, Sweetie Belle, it's obvious that they're together. Besides, my sister isn't like that with everyone," Apple Bloom replied, stopping her peek and looking at her friend.

"Well, that looked really suspicious, but it doesn't prove anything," Sweetie Belle muttered, looking back at her. Apple Bloom was about to say something when they heard another voice calling out to them.

"Sweetie Belle..."

"Apple Bloom..."

The two younger sisters looked up, meeting their sisters' gazes.

"What are you doing here?" Rarity asked.

"Is something wrong?" Applejack added.

"Ahhh...", the youngest Belle muttered.

"We were hungry and came down to get something," Apple Bloom replied quickly.

The four quickly headed to the kitchen. The older sisters began searching through the cupboards and the fridge, looking for something to eat.

"How about we make sandwiches?" Applejack suggested, taking out bread and some ingredients from the fridge.

"I'll go get something else to go with it," Rarity said as she searched the cupboards.

As they watched their older sisters prepare the food, Apple Bloom thought about how to show Sweetie Belle that Applejack and Rarity were together.

Once they finished making the sandwiches, the younger sisters left the kitchen, but an idea crossed Apple Bloom's mind.

"I was thinking we could watch a movie."

"A movie?" asked the farmer.

"Yeah, we haven't had a sisterly moment and I thought we could do it all four of us together," Apple Bloom explained.

"That's actually a good idea," said Rarity. "Well, if Jack... I mean, AJ is okay with it."

"Okay, let's go to the living room and pick out the movie," said Applejack.

The four of them started heading to the living room, but the younger ones walked a little slower.

"Hey, weren't we going to do something in the garden?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"It could be the perfect opportunity to show you that our sisters are together," Apple Bloom whispered in her friend's ear.

The youngest Belle thought about it for a moment. "Okay, what idea do you have in mind?"

"Look, here's the idea..." Apple Bloom began to whisper to her as they continued walking towards the living room.

The four of them settled in the living room and began to watch an animated movie they had chosen. Eventually, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, who were strategically placed on the couch, began to yawn and rub their eyes.

"I think these two are about to fall asleep," Applejack commented quietly, noticing the younger girls' sleepy signals.

The dressmaker nodded with a smile. "It seems so."

Applejack took advantage of the moment and leaned towards Rarity. "Are you feeling more relaxed now?" she whispered as she caressed the dressmaker's hand.

Rarity smiled and nodded. "Yes, much more. Thank you for being here with me."

They exchanged a few glances and leaned in for a quick kiss, believing the younger girls to be fast asleep.

However, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, pretending to sleep, had one eye half-open and watched the scene mischievously.

As the older girls separated, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shifted a bit on the couch as if they were slowly waking up, keeping their eyes half-closed. Rarity and Applejack exchanged an amused glance, neither mentioning anything about what had happened. They continued watching the movie as if nothing had happened, unaware that the girls had discovered their little secret.

"We heard the sobbing, but we ignored it because I was focused on proving the truth to a certain someone. As we mentioned, they didn't realize we were pretending," Apple Bloom said.

"And we decided to keep it a secret for the time being," Sweetie Belle added, smiling at the memory. "It was a little unexpected for me... to find out about Rarity."

"I told you my suspicions were right," Apple Bloom commented.

Sweetie Belle closed her eyes. "Yeah, you were right after all."

"You guys were always so naughty before," Pinkie said with a laugh.

"And you're always Pinkie," the youngest Apple said.

"Touché," the party girl said.

"Although I never understood why Rarity looked somewhere between scared and sad," Sweetie said. "Now that I think about it, it wasn't the only day I saw her like that."

"Maybe what it was," Pinkie said surreptitiously.

"You never knew?" Scootaloo asked curiously, looking at the party girl.

"Guys... as I recall, I was on a trip with my family for a few months, so I missed a lot of things," Pinkie explained, justifying the reason. "Maybe that's why I was sure that the thing with Rarity's family happened first, and then the other thing."

"Then it'll be an unsolved mystery," Spike concluded. The Crusaders nodded slowly. "Shall we go see if Rainbow arrived?" he proposed, waving his arm.

"Hopefully Dash feels better," Scootaloo added.

The four friends began to walk away. The party girl thought a bit about what the girls said; she knew almost everything about her family and found out later what happened.

Pinkie Pie had arrived with her family from the rock climbing excursion with her family. The Pies had the idea of going on a trip for the holidays and had heard about a new museum outside of town and wanted to take advantage of visiting the town as well as the museum, so they have been away for a month.

Once she arrived at the rented house, she saw that she had an incoming call from her cousin. She hasn't talked to her in these weeks.

The party girl answered and, with her cheerful voice, greeted: "Hey, Applejack!"

("Hello, Pinkie,") greeted the blonde on the other end, but Pinkie noticed something.

"What happened? Your voice doesn't sound cheerful," she said curiously.

("Some things have happened,") said Applejack, staying silent for a moment. ("Do you remember...")

Pinkie listened to what her cousin was saying on the other end and was surprised, remembering what they thought they left behind.

"Wow... I knew what it was like, but this is another level," the party girl said, sitting down on her couch.

("I couldn't believe it either," the blonde said, letting out a sigh. ("Now Rarity is going through this. I thought things were behind us.")

"She doesn't seem to understand," she said. "How did Rarity take this?"

("She doesn't blame me, but I didn't like seeing her like that.") she said in a voice that showed her frustration. ("She's calmer now, but I feel responsible.")

"AJ, how were you supposed to know?" the party girl said.

("Rarity said the same thing, she told me not to feel responsible.")

"Then don't keep thinking like that," Pinkie said. "I wish I could have been there for you."

("She would have needed your enthusiasm, but don't worry, I was able to comfort her and reassure her.")

"Good, you see, at least you were there for her, so you shouldn't feel that way," Pinkie said with a smile. "I don't want to throw salt in the water, but is everything settled now?"

("Yeah, we did... nothing's happened these days.") Applejack said in a calmer tone.

"I'm glad to hear that," she replied. "It's nice that you're supporting her, AJ. You know you can always count on me for whatever you need."

("Thanks, Pinkie. I really appreciate that. I get a little overwhelmed sometimes, but knowing that I have you and the Apples gives me strength.")

"That's what cousins are for! When I get back we could go to another party or host," Pinkie suggested excitedly.

She heard the farmer laugh a little at the jokes. ("That sounds great. I think we need a little distraction.")

"Perfect! And remember, anything, just call me," Pinkie said.

("I will. Thanks again, Pinkie. See you soon," Applejack said goodbye.

"Bye, AJ! Take care," she replied before hanging up the call.

Present
"From what AJ said, Rarity had a hard time for a while. Fortunately, that's in the past... like many things," Pinkie thought, coming out of that memory. "Dash?" she heard Gilda say in surprise. Pinkie went to the rest to see what was happening and if she could cheer up the rainbow-haired girl.

Upon meeting the rest, she didn't expect to see her athletic friend drenched from head to toe with her shoes in hand. Everyone, either the team or some spectators who hadn't left, formed a semicircle around the captain of the Wondercolts.

"Where did you go?" asked Twilight, worried. "And why are you soaked?"

"I just needed to cool off a bit to think," said grumpily.

"And... did it work?" asked the blue-haired girl.

"What do you think?"

Before she could respond, the athlete opened her mouth.

"I feel like a loser."

The farmer approached her partner, trying to find the right words. "Sometimes you win, sometimes you..."

"Don't come at me with your sincerity," said Rainbow.

"I'm being realistic. You don't always win, but we can win when we're in the loser's bracket," said Applejack with a smile.

"Oh, AJ," murmured Twilight. Others shook their heads at her poor choice of words.

"Seriously? The idea was for us to be the winners and not move to the losers," complained Rainbow, raising her voice.

"Just... we'll get through this round," said the farmer.

"Another good choice," said sarcastically.

"Hey, I'm just trying to cheer you up," said Applejack.

"Good job," said Rainbow, turning around.

The farmer looked at the girls. Sunset was going to approach, but someone else beat her to it.

"Rainbow."

"What!" exclaimed angrily, but apologized when she saw who spoke to her. "Uh, sorry..." she said, trying to calm down.

The pink-haired girl approached a bit. "I know you don't feel good right now, but try to look past what happened and think about how you'll feel when you get to the finals and win," she said, keeping her voice calm and comforting.

Rainbow thought for a moment about what was said. "Doesn't sound bad... we'd look like champions," she said, changing her expression as she imagined the future scene. A spark of determination began to shine in her eyes.

"Then keep that thought," said Fluttershy with an encouraging smile.

The athlete nodded several times. "We won't stay like this," she said, determined, looking at her team. "We're Wondercolts! We don't give up."

"Exactly!" exclaimed Gilda enthusiastically. "We'll beat those Shadowbolts in the final!"

"Yeah!" responded the rest of the team, feeling the resurgence of hope and determination.

"That's the spirit, Wondercolts," said the coach, and they all looked at her seriously. "Now go take a shower, you stink."

"Yeah!" they said again, leaving the field.

"That was a great idea," Twilight said to her shy friend.

"Filler her pride," Sunset said with a smile.

"Well done, Fluttershy, I don't know why that didn't occur to me," Applejack said.

"Thanks, girls," Fluttershy said.

"It takes a lot of determination to stay calm in times like this," Sunset commented, looking at the pink-haired girl.

The farm girl sighed, still feeling a little frustrated by how Rainbow had reacted to her. "I should have found better words... but I appreciate that you knew what to say."

Pinkie looked at the farm girl and gave her a friendly little push on the shoulder. "Don't worry, AJ. We all make mistakes."

"Exactly," the red-haired girl added. "Rainbow will understand."

Applejack smiled slightly.

Spike added with a smile, "Sometimes, a few words of encouragement and a nice bath are all we need."

"You should go take a shower, the teacher is right," said Sweetie Belle.

Everyone there looked at her with different expressions, some laughing at what she said, others surprised by what she said. Because it would be something her older sister would say.

"No offense," said the youngest Belle, waving her hands.

"I think you understand," said Apple Bloom, smiling.

The girls laughed softly, easing some of the built-up tension. Applejack and Sunset went to the dressing room where Rainbow left with the team.

The day came to an end, and the sky began to darken. The following days would be followed by a challenge to reach the finals.

Author's Note

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