Pinkie Pie walked with the Crusaders through the court area, heading towards the outdoor games where they would participate with their respective families. As they walked, Pinkie was lost in her thoughts, recapitulating the information she had obtained about the past relationship between her cousin and the dressmaker.

"So, once Mrs. Belle found out about Rarity with Applejack, she didn't agree. It wasn't because she didn't like her daughter dating another girl, but because she was surprised that her daughter had these tastes that she had never shown before and that it could be a phase," thought.

"They didn't talk to each other for several days. The same thing happened with Applejack and Rarity. Since Rarity didn't have her cell phone on hand, my cousin didn't hear from her girlfriend, and she didn't dare go visit her for fear of being banned, which made her feel desperate. Meanwhile, Rarity locked herself in her room, punishing herself for believing she had done something wrong."

"After talking to Mr. Hondo and Mrs. Roseluck, Rarity went to the Apples to finally meet AJ. Grandma Smith described it like a novel, where lovers meet again after a long time. I don't know how long they hadn't seen each other, but it could have been between one to almost two months... No wonder they wanted to reconnect," she thought the last thing mischievously.

"Focus, Pinkie Pie!" she said to herself, giving herself a mental slap.

"They spent a few more days doing couple things, possibly in secret, to make up for lost time. Then the mother-daughter confrontation happened, where Rarity took courage to say what she felt for Applejack and how willing she was to prove that theirs was real... Aww, what Sweetie Belle said with Rarity's words was very cute. I think she was more open to show the love she felt for my cousin, while AJ also said sweet things, but not as much as Rarity."

"And finally, according to what Sweetie Belle said now and it fits that AJ is avoiding meeting Mrs. Belle. From the times she went to look for Rarity or leave her, she was met with an uncertain look from Mrs. Belle, but more than the look I think what affected her was the silence she gave her when she didn't know if she approved or not... Did they talk at some point?" she wondered, trying to find an answer.

As she was trying to come up with some sort of answer, she realized that she was already in front of her sisters and the Crusaders were gone.

The most prominent was her grumpy sister. "Hey, you left us alone with the Belles."

"I had something to do," Pinkie replied with a smile.

"If it weren't for the fact that they were interested in knowing more and wanted to talk about our rock work, I'd be pretty upset," Limestone continued.

"We were just talking thinking you were following us and would talk," Marble added in her shy voice.

The party girl's eyes widened. "Wow, this is almost déjà vu."

"Huh?" Limestone exclaimed.

"The girls did this to me last week," she commented with a giggle.

Limestone, Marble, and Maud exchanged a glance.

"Pinkie, stay next time to tell us about the rest of the rocks," Maud suggested in her usual monotone.

"I'm sorry, girls. I promise I won't leave you alone next time," the party girl said, trying to sound serious, but not being able to help but smile.

Marble nodded slightly, while Maud simply blinked.

"It's okay, Pinkie. We know you always have a lot on your mind," the shy sister murmured under her breath.

"Yeah, but it's no excuse to abandon the family," Limestone said, crossing her arms.

"I understand, Limestone. I'm really sorry," Pinkie said, hugging her grumpy sister.

"It's okay, it's okay. Just don't do it again," Limestone said, trying to keep up her tough facade, but giving in a little to the hug.

"So, did the Belles take an interest in our mini rock work?" the intrigued party girl asked.

"They seemed mildly interested," Maud replied.

"See, rocks don't fail!" Pinkie exclaimed with a smile. "Well, let's go check out the games and see who we'll be playing or competing against," she added as she began to walk away.

The Pie sisters set out to play one of the many games.

Up ahead, Sweetie Belle met up with her family, who were now heading to one of the games.

"I was thinking of a game that wasn't as fidgety as climbing or running," Cookie commented with her arms behind her waist.

Rarity let out a laugh. "I thought the same thing last week."

"And you still only played the quiet ones?" her mom inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, but I ended up playing the three-legged one," Rarity explained.

"It's good that you're doing new things," Cookie said with a slight smile. The eldest daughter returned the gesture.

"So, Mom, would you try the running one?" Sweetie Belle asked, excited.

"We'll see if that happens," Cookie replied with almost a smile.

"So, girls, any games in mind?" asked Hondo.

"I think shooting hoops would be appropriate," Rarity suggested.

"Perfect, honey, that sounds ideal," said her mother.

The family walked towards the playground, following the signs to the hoop shooting area. Upon arriving, Sweetie Belle excitedly ran towards the hoops.

"How many tries will we have?" Cookie asked, looking at the different sizes of the hoops and the distances from which they had to shoot.

"Five tries per person," the game manager replied with a smile, pointing at the available hoops.

"Perfect. Let's see who has the best aim!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle, taking one of the hoops.

"Who wants to go first?" asked Cookie, smiling as she watched her daughters.

"Me, me!" jumped up the youngest Belle, full of excitement.

"Go ahead, sweetie," Hondo encouraged.

Sweetie Belle stepped onto the line and shot her first hoop. It hit the edge of the target and bounced out.

"You've almost made it," Rarity said, cheering her younger sister on.

The younger girl shot the next four hoops, managing to make one of them. "Yeah! I made it!" she shouted excitedly.

"Good job, Sweetie," Cookie congratulated her, patting her on the back. "Now it's your sister's turn."

Rarity took her position, focusing on the target. She took a deep breath and shot the first hoop, hitting the target on her first try. She smiled in satisfaction.

"That's my daughter!" Hondo exclaimed, clapping his hands.

The seamstress continued shooting, managing to make one more in her five tries. "Not bad," he commented, smiling as he handed the hoops to his mom.

"Come on, Mom, it's your turn!" Sweetie Belle encouraged.

Cookie took the hoop, eyeing the target with a mix of concentration and amusement. "Don't expect too much from me," she said with a slight smile before shooting.

Despite her modesty, Cookie managed to reach the target. "Well done, Mother!" Rarity exclaimed.

"Now, the grand finale: Daddy!" said the youngest Belle.

Hondo positioned himself, shooting the hoop confidently. He managed to make two out of five attempts. "Looks like Rarity and I are tied," he noted.

"Do you want to break the tie?" the attendant asked. "You might as well have another try for the points you got."

Meanwhile, the Pie sisters were deciding which game to go to after they had played the jump sack game.

"Look, there's a group at the hoop game," Pinkie commented, approaching with her sisters.

"It's the Belles," Maud observed in her characteristically calm tone.

"Why are there so many people around?" Limestone questioned.

"Everyone's interested in what the new girl's family is like," Fluttershy explained, standing off to the side, near her family.

"Fluttershy!" the party girl exclaimed. "I didn't expect you to be here," she added into the pink-haired girl's ear.

"I was just mildly curious," she replied with a shy smile. "I'm not the only one, though," she added, pointing to her side, where Sunset and Twilight were a little further away.

"Hmm... Curious," Pinkie thought, then shrugged. "Come on, Belle!"

The seamstress turned to meet her hyperactive friend. "Pinkie Pie, are you here to play?" she inquired with a smile.

"To cheer! We want to see how you're doing!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up and down in excitement.

"We're trying to get more points in the hoop toss," Cookie commented with a small smile, though she was still focused on the game.

Sweetie Belle continued to hit the target and then it was Rarity's turn to grab another hoop, focused, and toss it, hitting the target and earning points for her family.

"Nice toss," a student off to the side praised.

Fluttershy looked around a bit. "Yeii," she murmured softly.

With the last toss, the crowd cheered. Cookie gave her youngest daughter a pat on the back. "Well done," and a small squeeze on her eldest daughter's shoulder.

Hondo walked over. "We did great, team!"

"That was a lot of fun," the youngest commented, smiling widely.

"Now, how about we go explore more games?" Cookie suggested.

"Yeah, let's go!" Sweetie Belle replied.

"You know, for a very authoritative figure, he sure loves his daughters," Twilight commented to Sunset.

"Yeah," her friend nodded.

"And why wouldn't he, Twili?" Shining Armor interrupted, bowing.

The two turned around, having forgotten for a few seconds that they were with their family.

"A mother or any member of a family can be serious or show some authority, but that doesn't mean she doesn't love her family," Cadance said with her baby in her arms.

"It's like my daughter-in-law said," the blue-haired girl's mother added. "That's called family bonding."

"Maybe we didn't take that part into account," Twilight acknowledged, glancing at Sunset. "Seeing things the way they aren't again," she muttered.

Fluttershy, who had approached her friend, lowered her gaze a little.

"What's with those faces?" Applejack inquired, approaching with her family.

"Nothing, we were just watching Rarity's family participate," an orange-haired boy replied.

The farmer froze a little when she heard that and then when she saw that they were about to pass by her. "Family, you know what to do." Taking advantage of the fact that the Sparkles were very close, she hid behind them.

"Ah... what is your friend doing?" asked the blue-haired girl's father.

"Ha, ha, ha," Twilight laughed a little. "It's a little difficult to explain," she said, smiling forcibly. "I still don't understand the reason"

"Yes, it is complicated," Sunset commented, playing along.

"AJ, they're gone," Apple Bloom said with a slightly annoyed voice. "At least most of them," she muttered.

The blonde came out of her 'hiding place' only to meet the gaze of a certain dressmaker.

Rarity had stayed a little behind; she looked at her with a frown and then followed her family.

"I... have my reasons," Applejack commented, smiling at her friends' relatives who looked at her a little confused.

"You should try... at least not to attract some attention," Fluttershy commented.

"I think I should try that," the farmer replied.

"Try what?" asked Rainbow, who had just arrived.

Some looked at each other, wondering if they should tell her or not.

"You know, Dash... Uh, AJ isn't good with excuses, so... um," Pinkie began, leaning on the multicolored haired girl's shoulder.

"Excuses?" Rainbow repeated, a little confused.

"What Pinkie means," Twilight quickly interjected, "is that we were talking about trying out different games and activities to keep from getting bored."

"Yeah," Sunset added. "Applejack was just looking for something new and didn't want a bad excuse not to try it."

In the end, they decided to save their friend; It was enough of the unnecessary argument from last week for the two of them to have another one.

The sportswoman frowned slightly. "Bored? You could just say that, there's no need to make excuses for not trying the ones that look boring."

"Exactly," Pinkie said.

"That's what we were telling AJ," Fluttershy chimed in as well. "Since sometimes he doesn't know how to say no."

"Yeah, that," the blue-haired girl added. "She doesn't want to make the organizers feel bad."

The farmer just nodded at all the comments her friends were giving.

Rainbow sighed, though not as convinced. "It's okay, I guess."

Each member of the Mane Six families noticed the fact that they were hiding things from each other, but despite their doubts or curiosity, they preferred not to ask.

"Well, why don't we all go together to try another game?" the party girl suggested, trying to liven up the atmosphere. "It'll be fun!"

"Good idea, Pinkie," Twilight said, smiling. "What do you say? Shall we try another game?"

"Yeah! Let's go!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, jumping up and down in excitement.

Applejack nodded. "I'd like a challenge myself."

"I agree with you, Blondie," Rainbow said with a defiant smile.

Sunset saw some hesitation in some of her family members and friends, so she proposed something. After deciding on the games they wanted to try, each including the opinions of her family members scattered to play.

The Sparkles, the Shys, and the Pies wanted to try some relaxing games that didn't require so much strength. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie noticed how the place was getting more and more crowded with different families, all excited to participate in the games.

The Sparkles and the Shys were chatting, and the daughters separated a bit to look for a game to play.

"Let's try an exciting one," Pinkie suggested with her usual enthusiasm.

"You could have gone with Applejack and the others for something more extreme," Twilight commented, adjusting her glasses.

"Mmm, no," replied, shaking her head with a smile.

"Why?" Fluttershy asked, intrigued.

"I heard Rainbow and Applejack wanted to break the tie in the wall climbing competition, and you know how they get," she explained.

"But they're family," the pink-haired girl said, still confused.

"I think they wanted a challenge," Twilight said. "But if they don't coordinate well with their family members, it'll be hard for them to win."

"Oh, I hadn't thought of it like that," the party girl said.

After nodding, they continued looking for what game to try when someone suggested joining the egg balancing competition.

"This is going to be fun!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up and down in excitement as she cheered everyone on.

"I'll... try," Fluttershy commented with a shy smile, looking at her family with determination.

"Remember, the trick is to keep your balance and not rush it," Twilight explained, taking the spoon with an egg on it.

Her brother, Shining Armor, and her dad also got ready, while Fluttershy's father and Zephyr took up positions next to her.

"On the count of three! One, two, three!" they announced, raising an arm to give the signal.

Both teams began to carefully advance, holding the spoons with the eggs in front of them. Concentration was evident on their faces as they tried not to drop the eggs.

"Come on, come on!" the party girl shouted, jumping up and down with excitement. "You too," she encouraged her sisters.

Twilight advanced with a firm step, her expression one of concentration. Shining Armor tried to keep his balance, but his egg began to move dangerously to the side.

"Watch it, Shining!" His mother warned from the small crowd, but it was too late. Her son's egg slipped and fell to the ground with a soft crack.

"Uh oh," he muttered, embarrassed.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy was slowly moving forward, her hand shaking a little, but keeping the egg on her spoon. Her brother and father were also doing well, moving carefully.

Finally, Fluttershy, Zephyr, and Mr. Shy reached the finish line, all still with their eggs intact.

"And the Shy family is the winner!" exclaimed the organizer.

The audience cheered as the families gathered around. Fluttershy smiled shyly as she received congratulations from her family, and Twilight couldn't help but smile too, despite the small defeat.

The party girl ran up to them with a big smile, followed by her sisters. "You did amazingly well!"

"Sorry, Twilight, I dropped the egg," Shining Armor apologized.

"It can happen to anyone," the blue-haired girl said, with an understanding smile.

"Don't worry, love, you'll be lucky next time," Cadance commented, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"You did very well, Fluttershy," said Twikight.

"Thank you," replied, blushing a little.

"Do you want to try another game or do you prefer to play with Pinkie and her sisters this time?" asked the blue-haired girl, curious.

The party girl hugged her from the side. "You'll see, Fluttershy and the Shy family, we'll have a lot of fun!"

"But let it be more entertaining this time," commented Limestone.

The Sparkle family didn't know what to say to the sincerity of the party girl's sister.

"And let it not be so much work," added Zephyr, with a nervous smile.

"Zephyr, we're here to have fun," said her dad.

Twilight laughed a little. "See you later."

"We have all day to try out games together," Twilight Velvet commented, looking at her family.

"Yeah, and I haven't tried almost any of them," Spike added, excited.

The Sparkles began to walk away, leaving the Shys and the Pie sisters to wonder which game to try out.

"How about we play something that lets us build together? Something like the giant blocks game!" Maud proposed in her usual monotone.

"That sounds perfect!" Pinkie exclaimed, brightened by the idea. "We could build something great!"

"Isn't that a little... complicated?" Zephyr muttered, sounding doubtful.

"Not if you're detail-oriented with what you have in mind to build," Maud said.

At that moment, they noticed that the Belles were approaching precisely the area of the giant blocks, where Flash was also with his family.

The party girl thought for a moment and then turned to the others. "We better wait a bit. Shall we go to another game for now?"

"Mmm, why?" her grumpy sister asked.

Fluttershy looked at Pinkie and then at the Belles, who were asking about the game. She felt a mix of nostalgia and nervousness.

"There really wouldn't be any reason to wait," she commented with a smile.

This took the hyperactive girl by surprise, but her expression quickly changed to an excited smile. “Okay, let’s go!”

A few of her relatives simply shrugged their shoulders before walking over to the flatter game area.

“Are you guys thinking of joining this game?” Pinkie asked curiously.

“Yes,” Cookie replied, scanning the game site. “We were thinking of trying our hand at this game.”

“We don’t really know what it’s about yet,” Rarity said, as she looked around the area.

“The Giant Blocks game is about building,” Flash explained.

“A building competition?” she asked curiously.

“Sounds like something we could excel at,” Hondo commented.

“Yeah, we can do that and win!” Sweetie Belle added excitedly.

“Not if our building is better before,” First Base challenged, in a competitive tone.

“We don’t know if it will be as easy as previous years,” Flash said, smiling at his little brother.

Zephyr, though still a bit unsure, nodded with a nervous smile. "Well... it seems everyone is in agreement. I guess we could give it a try."

"I'm sure you'll do just fine," Fluttershy encouraged with an encouraging smile.

Rarity, hearing the pink-haired girl's voice, glanced sideways and was surprised to see the Shys who would be participating in the same game.

With the Shy, Belle, Pie, and Sentry families ready to compete, the managers, with chancellor Celestia in the middle, began to explain the rules. They were simple: each family would have a limited time to build the tallest and most stable structure they could, using the blocks of different sizes and shapes provided by the organizers.

"Let the building competition begin!" announced one of the organizers.

The Shy family threw themselves into their project with dedication. Fluttershy, with a shy but determined smile, coordinated with her brother and parents. They had decided to make a bridge.

"If we put these blocks here, the bridge will be sturdier," the pink-haired girl explained, carefully placing a large block on the base.

Zephyr, a little nervous, tried to keep up. "Uh, are you sure this will hold? I don't want it to collapse..."

"Relax, Zephyr," her father assured with a reassuring smile. "With Fluttershy in charge, everything will be fine. Just keep placing the blocks as instructed."

"We're working together, and that's what matters," her mother added softly.

Fluttershy nodded, encouraged by her family's support. "And if we need to adjust anything, we'll do it on the fly. The important thing is that we have fun!"

In the opposite corner, Rarity was overseeing the construction of a tower.

"Sweetie Belle, dear, make sure those blocks are lined up perfectly," the seamstress instructed as she adjusted one of the blocks at the base of the tower. "We want our tower to be not only tall, but also elegant and symmetrical."

"I'll do it!" her sister replied excitedly as she carefully placed a block. "How about here? Is that okay?"

"Perfect, Sweetie," Rarity approved with a smile. "Father, Mother, can you take care of the decorative blocks at the top? We need each level to have a special touch."

"Of course, sweetie!" Cookie said with a smile as she picked up one of the decorative blocks. "We're going to make this tower fit for a queen."

Hondo added, "With these decorative blocks, our tower will be the most beautiful of all. Let's show what we're made of!"

Pinkie Pie and her sisters were busy raising the towers of their castle. Maud, with her typical calm expression, was placing the blocks with precision.

"The towers need to be perfectly balanced so they don't fall over," Maud commented, placing a block with mathematical precision.

"And let's not forget the decorations!" the party girl exclaimed as she added colorful bunting to the tops of the towers. "Our castle needs to be as festive as a birthday party. Come on, Limestone, help me with the walls!"

"I'm on it," she replied in her characteristic grumpy tone as she stacked blocks to form the walls. "But if you put too many decorations on, this thing might come crashing down."

Marble, the quietest of the sisters, nodded silently as she helped place the blocks on the bases of the towers. "Mm-hmm," she murmured, focused on her task.

"Don't worry! This will be the most amazing and sturdy castle ever!" Pinkie promised as she jumped up and down in excitement. "We'll even be able to imagine dragons around!"

Meanwhile, the Sentry family was focused on their tree. Flash was arranging the metal blocks alongside his brother and parents.

"If we put the larger blocks at the base, the tree will be more stable," Flash suggested, as he carefully lined up the blocks.

"Good idea, son," his father said, helping out.

"Do you think we should add more details, or keep it simple?" First asked, looking at the structure they had created.

"A balance between both," the mother replied.

"Exactly!" Flash exclaimed, pleased with the progress. "Let's build something that will make everyone say 'wow!' when they see it."

As the constructions progressed, the families began to notice each other's progress. Pinkie was the first to break the barrier between the groups.

"Hey, this is looking amazing!" she commented as she took a look at the Shy family's bridge. "Their bridge looks so elegant! And look at that tower, it's just fabulous!"

"Thanks, Pinkie Pie," Rarity replied with a smile. "Your castle is taking shape too. It's so... colorful and cheerful."

"Thank you!" replied, cheerfully. "We're doing our best to make it as fun as possible."

At that moment, Zephyr walked over, looking at Rarity's tower. "Wow, that tower is... impressive. Although... I'm not sure how it manages to stay upright."

"With a lot of care and attention to detail," the seamstress explained with a satisfied smile. "Each block is perfectly aligned to keep it balanced."

"Maybe we should have done something simpler," he muttered, unsure. But Fluttershy reassured him.

"Don't worry. Our bridge is perfect for us," he said with a smile. "The important thing is that we're building it together." Before turning his attention back to his construction, he glanced at the seamstress and her family working.

Flash also came over to take a look at the other builds. “Everyone is doing an amazing job! This is going to be a very close competition!”

The party girl patted him on the back. “That’s the fun of it! Every build is unique, just like every family. Let’s see which one holds up the best!”

Once all the builds were complete, the judges began judging. Celestia and the other organizers walked over to each build, watching closely.

Shy Family Bridge: Judged for its stability and solid connection. The judges appreciated the bridge’s harmony and functionality, noting its elegant design and balance.

Belle Elegant Tower: Judged for its sophistication and decorative detail. The tower impressed the judges with its elegant design and attention to detail in the decorative blocks.

Pie Castle: Judged for its creativity and use of colors. The structure, with its colorful towers and walls, reflected a cheerful and festive design, standing out for its originality.

Sentry Family Tree: Judged for its sturdiness and ingenious design. The structure showed effective and creative use of blocks, standing out for its stability and style, reflecting stability and progress.

After careful deliberation, the judges announced the results. Each family received praise for their efforts and creativity, but in the end, the competition was close.

"And the winner of the building competition is... the Shy Family with their impressive bridge!" Celestia exclaimed.

"Us!?!" Zephyr exclaimed, surprised. "It was coming, but why?"

Fluttershy rolled her eyes in amusement at her brother's change in attitude, though she also expected an explanation.

"Your bridge not only shows balance, but also symbolizes the union and connection between you. In this case, it is perceived that you are a united family," she explained.

The Shys looked at each other and smiled.

"Oh, oh, oh, and in our construction, what do you see?" the party girl asked excitedly.

"You, the Pies, reflect fun and joy," Celestia replied.

Sweetie Belle giggled. "Very Pinkie."

"The Sentrys, in your tree, the strength and growth of the family is reflected," she continued.

The eldest, Flash, ruffled his brother's hair with a smile.

"Lastly, the Belle tower represents sophistication, style, and effort in creating something impressive," Celestia concluded.

The seamstress was thoughtful with the chancellor comments about the others and about her own construction.

"Fluttershy, you are the bridge in the group," Pinkie said hugging her friend.

"Thanks, Pinkie."

Rarity leaned in close enough for Pinkie to hear. "It was a perfect match," she said, then turned around and addressed her family.

Fluttershy smiled.

"Is this progress?" Pinkie wondered as she noticed her friend's smile. "Now, how about we try another competition, but this time just us and our families?"

"Sounds like a good idea. I'll tell them," she replied.

The party girl nodded and approached her sisters to share the idea.

In a corner of the game area, the Belles noticed the seamstress looking thoughtful. Hondo was about to approach to talk, but Cookie motioned for her to take over.

"What's wrong, dear? Are you upset that we didn't win?" he asked, approaching gently.

Rarity sighed before answering. "It's not that, Mother. According to Chancellor Celestia, each building had a special meaning. To the Pies, she mentioned their joy and fun, to the Sentrys, their strength and growth, and to us... she said we strived for perfection and sophistication. But she didn't mention anything about family unity. It makes me wonder... don't we look like a happy family from the outside?" she said, looking at the different families.

"Oh, honey, perfection and sophistication are parts of who we are, and there's nothing wrong with that. But you shouldn't feel like it makes us any less united," Cookie replied with an understanding smile.

"I know, Mother. I know we're refined, and that's reflected even in our clothing. But what if people think that's all we care about? That we're not a happy or close family..." commented, with a slight smile, although somewhat sad.

"Rarity, people will always have opinions, based on what they see at first glance. We too have perceived people in a way that isn't fair."

"It's true... Before, when I saw my friends or former friends from afar, I judged them partly by their appearance and the image they projected," he acknowledged with a sad tone.

"For example, Pinkie Pie always seemed to be the girl who thought a smile could solve everything and who would stick her nose into other people's business without being called on. But, when I got to know her for real, I realized that her energy wasn't just to amuse others, but to be there when support was really needed, even if you didn't ask for it. Although her clothes are still colorful now, they're more subtle, reflecting that she's matured, but without losing that cheerful essence."

"Fluttershy... I always saw her as a shy girl who needed more courage to stand up to others. I thought she should stop being such a coward, but that's something you don't learn alone; she needed someone to support her and teach her to be more confident in order to stop those who bullied her... That's why I approached her that time..." she said, remembering a little about their first meeting. "Now, her style has changed from simple skirts to more elegant dresses, which shows that she's grown, but she's still the same kind soul."

"Twilight... at first, I saw her as the typical know-it-all, someone who seemed to boast about her intelligence. But I soon discovered that she actually lacked self-confidence, and what she wanted most was to share her knowledge with others. It's funny how her style hasn't changed much; she's still practical and true to herself."

"Sunset Shimmer... I thought of her as a rebel, someone who didn't follow the rules and skipped classes. But I discovered that she was actually someone who knew how to understand others, who could put herself in other people's shoes and help them find the answers to their problems. That leather jacket she always wears is a symbol of her rebelliousness, but also of her inner strength."

"As for Rainbow Dash, looking at her, she exuded an air of being a stubborn girl who could act without thinking about the consequences. However, I learned that she is an incredibly loyal friend, someone who will always be there for you, no matter what. Her transition from a short-sleeved shirt to a jacket reflects her growth, but also her determination."

The seamstress hesitated to continue. "..."

Seeing that her daughter didn't continue, Cookie spoke up. "Rarity, we all make judgments based on what we see, but the important thing is to learn to see beyond that. The clothes we choose reflect part of who we are."

Rarity nodded sadly. "I never told them this... I just waited to get to know them better, but now they see me the way I used to see them, just on the outside. Still, I want to earn their forgiveness."

Her mother nodded. "They'll see the reality just like Pinkie Pie and that Fluttershy girl did. As for the other thing," she continued, causing her daughter to raise her head.

"We're not just a fancy facade; we're a family that supports, respects, and loves each other deeply," said, placing a hand on Rarity's shoulder.

"Maybe we focus on perfection, but that doesn't mean there isn't love behind every detail we take care of," the seamstress said with shining eyes.

"Exactly. And the truth is that we work together as a team, each of us bringing our best to the table. That's our true strength, beyond what any judge can see," Cookie concluded, smiling warmly.

"Thank you, Mother. Sometimes I get lost in the details and forget what really matters. I'm so glad to have you by my side to remind me of that," Rarity said, as she hugged her mother.

"Always, dear," Cookie replied, returning the hug.

Once they broke the hug, they headed towards the rest of the family, who were waiting for them with a smile when they saw that the dressmaker was better, and they began to walk.

"With Applejack, at first glance, I didn't see her imperfection since I let myself be carried away by what I felt at that moment... I didn't judge her by her appearance, rather, I realized our differences in tastes when I was getting to know her. She, a country girl who likes everything related to the land, and I, a girl with a taste for elegance who doesn't like to get dirty... Who would say that two opposite poles would overcome some of those differences, which were one of the reasons why we had some arguments?" Rarity thought,

As she looked up, she managed to notice in the distance a certain blonde with her classic hat. No doubt she would talk about her annoying behavior, which led her to call her in a way she asked her not to in the past. How could she not do it now?

"Family, I have to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back," Rarity said, stepping away from them.

Meanwhile, Rainbow's family, along with the Apples, were waiting for their turn in the tug-of-war game.

"Get ready, I'll beat you," challenged the sporty girl, stretching her arms out before approaching her sister and dad.

"Not this time," replied Applejack with a defiant smile. "Big Mac, get ready, and Apple Bloom, put in your best effort. Granny Smith... moral support," she added as she looked at each member.

"Yep," said Big Mac firmly.

"We're going to beat them," added Apple Bloom, with the same determination as her older sister.

"She seems sorry for losing at climbing the wall," thought Sunset amused as she observed the seriousness in the farm girl.

"Hey, Sunset. We saw you two walk by, so we came over," Twilight commented, stopping beside her.

"I thought you'd try some more relaxing games," the red-haired girl said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, Fluttershy and I competed in egg balancing, but we lost. I left her with Pinkie while my family tried another one," the bespectacled girl explained.

"I see, so they should be coming soon," Sunset said, looking around.

Twilight nodded. "Apparently, Applejack and Rainbow are going to face off in this one."

"Yeah, let's see who wins," she said, nodding for them to get a little closer to the small crowd.

Rainbow Dash was giving instructions to her team.

"Scoot, put everything on that rope. Dad, use those worn-out muscles, and Mom... uh, next time we'll compete."

"Kid, don't take me for someone who doesn't use their muscles every day," her dad said, patting her on the back.

"Next time it'll be both of us," her mom added, cupping one of her daughter's cheeks between her fingers.

"Mom, not in front of everyone," Rainbow murmured, uncomfortably noticing that some of the people watching them with amused smiles.

"Sorry, honey. I'll give you support from here," her mom replied with a smile.

The teams were getting ready for the competition. On one side, Rainbow, her father, and Scootaloo lined up, all with expressions of concentration. On the other, Applejack, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom held the rope tightly, ready to pull.

Professor Bulk Biceps approached with a whistle, ready to give the starting signal. "On your marks, get set... go!"

Both teams began to pull with all their might. The faces of the contestants' efforts were evident, and the rope was taut in the center. The audience cheered for their favorites.

"Don't give up, Scoot! Dad, pull hard!" encouraged Rainbow, pulling with all her might.

"I'm trying," panted Scootaloo, panting from the effort.

"I'm on it," said Bow, his face red from the effort.

On the other side, Applejack looked at her brother and sister. "Come on, family! We can do it!"

"Yep," replied Big Mac, sweating from the effort.

"We can do it," said Apple Bloom, her teeth clenched as she pulled with all her might.

The tension increased, and the rope held in the center, not giving way to either side.

"Come on, Apple," said Granny Smith, supporting them from the side.

Twilight watched the movements on both sides, trying to determine which way the rope leaned. "It's moving," she said, squinting.

"Towards who?" Trixie asked, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice.

"It looks like it's going towards Rainbow... or wait, it moved towards Applejack," the orange-haired boy replied. "Wait, it went back..."

"Sunburst, I swear, if this was a real competition, you'd have me nervous," Starlight said, trying to remain calm.

"Oops, sorry," the boy said, smiling sheepishly.

"I still don't know what your friend is like," Trixie commented, rolling her eyes.

"You've asked me a few times, and I always tell you the same thing. We have a lot in common. And the funny thing is that I unknowingly became friends with Sunset, who coincidentally is her sister," Starlight replied, with a smile.

"Fate," Sunburst said, letting out a giggle.

"Yeah, that's crazy sometimes," Trixie commented.

"Look, it's back in the middle," the blue haired girl pointed out, pointing at the rope that was now motionless, right in the middle.

"Come on, my loves," Rainbow's mom said, raising her hands in encouragement.

"Does anyone hear that?" Sunburst asked, curious.

"What thing?" Sunset asked, leaning towards him.

Both families pulled with all their might, until suddenly, a loud crack was heard, and before anyone could react, the rope snapped in two.

Both teams fell back, surprised by the unexpected outcome. The audience was silent for a moment, blinking a few times at what happened, but then burst into laughter and applause.

"Wow, that was a tie!" said Scootaloo, sitting down and laughing next to her dad.

"Yeah, I definitely wasn't expecting that," Apple Bloom replied, also laughing.

"What?!" Applejack exclaimed, quickly standing up.

"What do you mean, tie? I'm sure some second before it was broken, we had the lead," Rainbow insisted, with a frustrated grimace.

"We did, for sure," the farm girl added, crossing her arms.

Bulk, still laughing, walked over to the teams. "Well, I think this deserves a special award. Both teams have shown incredible strength and team spirit!"

"Ugh," the multicolored haired girl said, putting a hand on her forehead before helping her family to their feet.

The farm girl did the same. "Come on, sugar cube, get up," said, offering her hand to her sister with a tired smile.

The two teams gathered in the center, and the professor handed them special awards for their effort.

"This is definitely something to remember!" Bow said to her daughters, holding the award proudly.

"I'll win next time," Rainbow murmured from beside her, more to herself than to anyone else.

"It's not all about winning," her father said, patting her on the back.

"Give me a smile for the picture," her mother said, approaching with her phone held vertically.

Both the participating Apples and the Dash ones posed. Once the photo was taken, everyone turned to the small crowd that had been watching them.

Twilight walked up to Sunset. "That was unexpected. The chances of the rope breaking were slim," she commented, still surprised.

"And that chance had to happen right now," the redhead joked, smiling.

"Next time, we'll see if the rope is tight or suitable for pulling and won't break," Applejack said, staring at the broken rope in disbelief.

"We should have checked that before," Rainbow admitted, shaking her head.

"Although that should be checked by the organizers," Twilight added.

The farmer sighed and walked over to her family to talk to them, but just then, she saw a certain family. Her body tensed instantly.

"Family, do you want something to eat from the vending machine?" asked, a little nervous and trying to avoid eye contact.

"Sure, I'd like to..." Big Mac began, but couldn't finish when she saw that her sister was already walking away.

"I know exactly what they like," said, walking away before anyone could stop her.

"Then why...?" Apple Bloom wondered, until she saw the Belle family walk past on the other side of the field, though curiously one member was missing.

"What happened to Applejack?" Windy asked, confused.

Some of the Mane Six's family members present found the way the farm girl had trotted off comical.

Sunset frowned. "What's the point of us saving your skin if you give yourself away?" thought, frustrated by her friend's escape.

Remembering the presence of the multicolored haired girl, both Sunset and Twilight slowly turned their heads towards their friend, noticing how she was holding back from losing her temper. The athlete inhaled deeply and exhaled to calm herself down.

"I swear I'm going to end up punching that blonde one day. I don't know if it's because of our fights or something else," said, before turning to her family.

"I hope she doesn't," Sunset commented jokingly, trying to lighten the situation.

"I wouldn't want to see our friends get into a fistfight," Twilight added, with a hint of amusement.

"Me neither," the red-haired girl replied, watching as Rainbow, after passing her family, approached the Apples. "But do you think Applejack would punch her back?"

The blue-haired girl laughed a little. "Seeing how their personalities are, I'd say yes," said playfully, then changed to a more serious tone. "If that were to happen, what would be the reason?"

"I wouldn't want to think about the options..." Sunset muttered, changing into a serious expression. "I think we're thinking about it too much."

"You're right. Let's go play," Twilight suggested, starting to walk off to tell her family that they were going to another game. "By the way, I want to talk to you about something I talked about with Fluttershy this morning."

The redhead nodded, seeing her friend's seriousness again.

Applejack was walking away when she felt someone grab her clothes and pull her backwards, causing her hat to fall off. In a reflex, she quickly turned around and grabbed the wrist of who she believed to be an assailant. To her surprise, she was met with Rarity, who had a pained expression on her face. She immediately released her grip.

"Belle, what are you doing?" asked, surprised.

"What are you doing?" Rarity asked, her voice firm as she shook her now slightly red wrist a little.

"I was walking until 'someone' grabbed me from behind and now I'm here."

"I think we need to talk," the dressmaker said with a frown.

Applejack looked around and then back at the girl. "You know there are other ways or places to talk comfortably," commented, pointing to the narrow space where they were.

"I thought it would suit you, cowgirl," Rarity said in a teasing tone, pointing at her as best she could.

"Don't call me that. And why would it suit me?" said, rolling her eyes.

"Why do you keep hiding from my parents?!" exclaimed, annoyed.

The farm girl looked away, avoiding her gaze. "I'm not hiding. I just... don't want to cause trouble."

The dressmaker took a step forward. "Again with 'trouble'? Remember that mom had already let us and my dad..."

Applejack stepped even closer, placing a hand on the wall near Rarity and staring at her. This took the dressmaker by surprise who felt cornered. "The thing with us is over," interrupted seriously.

"Th-then act like it," the dressmaker muttered, trying not to sound so nervous.

The closeness between them made Rarity feel her cheeks flush, and she couldn't help but notice the slight blush on Applejack's face as well.

"I should... I just can't now," said as calmly as she could.

Seeing that the conversation wasn't going to go where she expected, she decided to take a step back. "Fine... I'll let it go this time, cowgirl," said as she put the hat on the blonde's head, covering her eyes. Then, she quickly left there.

Applejack stood still for a moment, surprised to realize that Rarity had had her hat in her hand the whole time. Normally, she didn't let just anyone touch it. Within a few seconds, she stepped out of the narrow space and outside.

Sighing, she adjusted her hat when she heard the sportswoman's voice.

"I'm glad I found you. Granny Smith..."

"What about Granny Smith?" Applejack asked, worried, but seeing that Rainbow didn't finish the sentence, she looked at her curiously.

"Did you just run here?" asked almost jokingly. Noticing the farmer's confusion, she spoke again. "You're red, and usually the heat lessens when September starts."

Applejack touched her cheek, surprised that it was true. "Why would I be red?" she wondered aloud.

"Uh, I don't know, you tell me," Rainbow replied, shrugging her shoulders.

The farmer glanced at the cramped spot where she had been with the seamstress before answering. "Maybe you're right, the heat increases in September."

"That's not what I said. What I said was that it decreases in September," corrected, raising an eyebrow.

"Is that what you said?" the farmer asked, a little disoriented. "Well... that doesn't mean that September isn't hot too." She started walking towards where the vending machine would be.

"On the other side, blondie," Rainbow said, confused by the farmer's behavior. "That's why they sent me to look for you, so you don't go to the vending machine since they want to eat lunch and so does my family."

Without saying anything, she turned around and started walking in the right direction. The multicolored haired girl, although still confused, decided not to give it too much importance and followed her.

Further ahead, Rarity was walking back to where her family was, sighing slowly and looking at the ground with her mind occupied.

"Hey, Rarity," the party girl greeted, startling the dressmaker a little.

"Oh, Pinkie Pie," said, putting a hand on her chest to calm herself.

"I didn't even appear out of nowhere," Pinkie commented with a smile. "I called you from afar."

"You called me from afar?" asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yeah," the party girl replied, "you're distracted, huh."

"Sorry, I just talked to your cousin again about her behavior," Rarity explained, still thoughtful.

"And is everything okay now? Will she let your parents find her?" Pinkie asked, curious.

"Uh, no, I let it go this time," replied, trying to sound calm.

"You let it go?" the party girl repeated, a little confused.

"Yeah, I wanted to get out of there... The conversation seemed to be going well and then something unusual happened," said with a slight frown.

"What is it?" Pinkie asked, curious.

"I don't know... I don't even understand what happened," commented, looking back slightly before coming back to the front. "What were you up to?"

Pinkie looked at her with a raised eyebrow for a moment before speaking. "I wanted to suggest that we compete with our families this time."

"Well, Dad will like to see us win," Rarity replied, confident.

The party girl gave her a gentle push. "We Pies can do anything!"

While the Apples and Dash's family were eating lunch, the rest of the Mane Six, along with their families, were getting ready to go to another game.

The Sparkles and the Shimmer family were walking around when they saw the Shy family. So Twilight and Sunset approached the pink-haired girl.

"Hey, Fluttershy. I thought Pinkie would be with you," Twilight said.

"She was honest and said she would go find Belle to play with her family," replied.

"Oh," Sunset said, processing the answer.

After a second of silence, the pink-haired girl broke it. "Do you think we should talk to Pinkie Pie about how we already know she wants to give Belle another chance?"

"I think we should, but we could save the conversation for another day," the red-haired girl suggested.

"You're right," Fluttershy nodded.

"I think it's appropriate," Twilight added.

There was another second of silence.

"And we're going to play another game?" Sunburst asked, who was with Starlight and Trixie.

"Yeah, time to test what we can do, Sunburst," Sunset said defiantly.

"Let's see one we can all participate in," the blue-haired girl said, looking around at the crowd. "Spike already wants to participate in a more energetic one."

"The great and powerful Trixie isn't going to let herself be defeated," the gray-haired girl said with her dramatic touch.

"Of course," Starlight said, nodding with a smile.

After finishing the little conversation, they headed to their families to organize everyone's participation.

Pinkie Pie had returned with Rarity to her family, ready for the treasure hunt. The Pies and Belles lined up in a cleared area, ready for the competition.

"Remember, the goal is to find the most items on the list before time runs out. Each team will receive a list and a set of clues. The family that collects the most items will be the winner," the organizer explained.

Hondo, who was standing next to his wife, spoke up, "Have fun and do your best."

Pinkie Pie was excited, almost bursting with energy. "I'm ready for the hunt! Let's make it fun!"

"Yeah, let's make this a friendly competition!" Rarity added, as she handed out the lists.

"We better focus on the harder-to-find items first," Maud suggested in her characteristically calm tone.

"And let's not forget to double-check the clues, just in case," Limestone added seriously.

Marble simply nodded, but there was a spark of determination in her eyes.

Both families received their lists and began the search. Pinkie Pie and her family moved quickly, with Pinkie leading the search and her sisters keeping pace. Meanwhile, the Belles were meticulous, following the clues with precision.

The competition was close. The Pies had an advantage with their energy and enthusiasm, while the Belles excelled with their organization and attention to detail.

Finally, time ran out, and the families gathered to compare the results. After counting and reviewing, it was clear that the Pies found more items in less time, thanks to their speed and coordination.

Cookie, though a little disappointed at losing, acknowledged her defeat with dignity. "Looks like the Pie family won this round. Good job."

Hondo approached the Pies with a smile. "Great job! It was a fun competition. There's nothing like a good family challenge."

"We won, but it was very close," commented Limestone, showing respect for his rivals.

"Yeah, I really enjoyed searching with everyone," Maud said, her usual tone, but with a hint of satisfaction.

Marble nodded again, this time with a small smile.

The party girl jumped for joy. "Thank you, Mr. Hondo! It was great competing against you."

Rarity, though a little frustrated, approached the party girl with a smile. "It was a good game, Pinkie Pie. Next time it'll be ours."

"Definitely!" replied enthusiastically.

The families moved away from the game a little.

"Look, let's take a picture," Hondo said pointing to a nearby cameraman.

"Dad, we just lost," Sweetie Belle said, a little frustrated crossing her arms.

"Don't take it as a pity photo. Take it as a moment we enjoyed as a family," her Dad replied with a smile, and Cookie nodded in agreement.

"Want to join us?" the seamstress asked, addressing the Pies.

"I think second time, since this should be a picture for the Belles," Pinkie said, looking at her sisters, who nodded.

As Rarity and her family posed for the photo, Hondo told them, "Remember, the important thing is that we had a good time together, and there's always next time."

"Exactly," Cookie added, with a warm smile. "And who knows, maybe next time we'll have a little more luck."

The eldest daughter nodded and leaned down a little to hug Sweetie Belle. "It's always better when we're together."

At that moment, Sunset, Fluttershy, and Twilight approached, looking for Pinkie Pie to invite her to join another game. However, they stopped when they saw Rarity and her family together, watching as they posed for the photo.

"Looks like we came at a special time," Fluttershy whispered, with a small smile.

Sunset nodded, keeping a neutral expression.

Twilight watched as Rarity, with a genuine smile, placed her arm around the youngest Belle, showing her affection and support. "Should we get closer?" asked, somewhat hesitantly.

"Let's wait a second," the pink-haired girl suggested.

The photographer captured the image, and Rarity, completely focused on her family, didn't notice the presence of the three girls. As the Belles relaxed after the photo, Sunset, Fluttershy, and Twilight looked at each other, as if sharing the same thought.

"She seems... different," the blue-haired girl admitted quietly.

"Now with the Pies," Sunset said, not knowing what to say.

They watched as Pinkie and her sisters approached the Belles to pose together.

The three of them lowered their gaze a little, each lost in their own thoughts. Fluttershy smiled, remembering moments with the dressmaker she knew. Twilight, thoughtful, remembered what her sister-in-law and her mother had said about the importance of family unity. And Sunset was questioning some things, without being fully aware of it.

"Girls!?" Pinkie said, surprised to see them.

The three of them looked up, not noticing when the party girl and her sisters had approached. The Belles were no longer in sight, making them think that maybe Rarity had noticed their presence and, being considerate, decided to give them space. Or maybe they had simply moved on to another game.

Pinkie looked a little nervous. "How long have you been here?" asked. Even though she had chosen Rarity last week for the three-legged race in front of her friends and had just played alongside the pink-haired girl, she still felt nervous about what her friends might think about her closeness to 'Belle', as they called her.

"Not really," Twilight replied.

"Uh, yeah, we just got here. "We were going to look for you and we stopped to think about which game to go to," Sunset said.

"Exactly," Fluttershy added, nodding.

"Oh," Pinkie said, calmer.

No doubt, at some point they would talk to their hyperactive friend, since they didn't want to see her so nervous about something that for her was the right thing to do.

"Are we going to look for AJ and Dash, or are we three going to compete with our families?" the party girl asked, changing the subject.

"Good question," Sunset said, thinking about the options.

The Apple family and the Dashes were in an area a little ways away from the games, a place designed for lunch in the middle of the event.

"Mom, I already told you that Fluttershy might eat later, that's why she's not here with us," Rainbow commented.

"Okay, okay. We haven't played with them yet. Are things okay between you two?" Windy asked, with a worried tone.

The sportswoman was a little alarmed. "Yeah... You know, I'm not her only friend, so I won't always be with her." Her mother seemed calmer. "Now that I think about it, we said we'd be there every other day. But all last week we were together... should I give her that free time now that she's with her family?"

"So, after lunch we'll hang out with them like old times," her father commented.

"It's good that they're getting back to how they were before," Applejack said, then got hit in the foot. She looked at the multicolored haired girl, who looked back at her and pointed at her mother, who had a worried expression again. "Ah, what I meant is... It's good to be back to how we always were, united friends like in the case of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy."

Rainbow's parents seemed convinced by the words. While Apple Bloom looked at Scootaloo for an answer, the magenta haired girl simply shook her head.

"It's good that you seem calmer, Applejack, not like before when, despite giving us a little grace, it was striking," Bow commented with a smile.

"Oh, yes, I've relaxed now. Sorry for my behavior just now, it's something of mine, nothing to worry about," replied calmly.

"I hope that something is not denied," Apple Bloom murmured, receiving a look from the Apples.

Those comments made Rainbow look at the farmer with annoyance. "AJ, can we talk?" asked, standing up.

"Uh, sure," agreed, standing up.

"Don't take long or the food will get cold," Granny Smith commented.

"We won't be long," the farm girl assured.

After moving far enough away, Rainbow couldn't contain herself any longer.

"Can you finally explain your behavior around the Belles?"

Applejack frowned at her, but before she could say anything, the sportswoman continued. "Before you come at me with 'now you want to listen,' just explain yourself," demanded, crossing her arms. "Besides, something tells me that was the reason for your supposed 'boredom' at the games, as an excuse the others made to save you."

The farm girl lowered her head at being discovered. "It's true."

"Obviously, that excuse could be believed by someone else, but even though I almost swallowed it, it doesn't take away the reason behind the excuse on your part."

"I know, but don't blame our friends for keeping this from you or for lying," Applejack said, raising her head.

"I don't blame the girls," Rainbow replied.

"That's nice," the blonde commented with a smile.

"I blame you."

"Sorry, why?"

"For your evasion. Aren't you the honest one?" said the athlete, waving her hands.

The farmer sighed. "You're right, I'm always honest and I don't show it with my behavior. As for Belle's parents... Her mom is more for how she looked at me back then. I may still have some things left about what happened. And her dad, from what I remember, he was okay with it, but for some reason I don't understand, he tried to avoid it," explained.

"Just because of how he looked at you?" asked, somewhat sarcastically. "And Mr. Belle, you don't even know."

Applejack frowned slightly. "You don't understand... When I was with Belle..."

"They're not together anymore! That should be a thing of the past for you. Just ignore what happened in the past and let yourself be seen," Rainbow replied, angrier, but in a lower tone.

"I'm already clear that it's in the past," said the farmer, a little angry.

"Then act like it!" she exclaimed, raising her voice.

"Same thing Belle told me. She told me not to hide and act right."

"No way... You're comparing me to Belle again," Rainbow said, putting two fingers on the bridge of her nose.

"Maybe I shouldn't have said it," admitted.

"Are you going to at least tell me what you talked about?" asked, looking at her angrily.

"Let's just say I made an agreement not to meet them... Well, that's what I understood from their words," Applejack replied.

Rainbow grimaced and nodded. "Fine, then after today stop acting like that for your parents and stick to the present."

"I will," the farm girl said, nodding. "Are we done talking about this?"

The sportswoman sighed to calm herself. "Let's go."

The two walked back to eat.

When they returned to the food court, the aroma of lunch greeted them, along with curious glances from their families.

"Everything okay, girls?" Windy asked with a smile, trying to ease any tension.

"Yeah, everything's fine," Rainbow replied with a forced smile, sitting down next to her mother.

Applejack nodded and joined her family. "Let's go eat before the food gets cold."

A few minutes passed as they ate lunch when the sound of laughter and lively footsteps caught their attention. Sunset, Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy approached, each with a friendly smile.

"Ah, girls, just in time!" the multicolored haired girl exclaimed, relieved by the distraction.

"I hope we're not interrupting," Twilight said, observing that they were still eating.

"Not at all," the farm girl said, smiling. "In fact, we were just finishing up."

Sunset smiled, looking at Applejack and Rainbow curiously, noticing the slight tension in the air. "We were thinking of joining you after spending some time with our families. They wanted to explore a little on their own, so they left us free for a while."

Fluttershy nodded softly.

"Take a seat," Bow said, pointing to some empty seats.

As the four of them settled in, the conversation began about the games they had already played and the ones yet to come.

Applejack looked at the girls. "How did you guys do in the games?"

"Good, but not as good as Pinkie and Fluttershy," Sunset commented with a smile. "Looks like you're in your prime."

"How so?" the blonde asked, intrigued.

"Fluttershy and I are almost tied for game wins! It's crazy!" Pinkie exclaimed, while Fluttershy smiled sheepishly.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow, interested in the competition. "Really? How many have you each won?"

"We played one more before we came, and Pinkie won," the red-haired girl said.

"That wouldn't be a win," Apple Bloom said, confused.

Big Mac motioned for his sister to let the girls explain.

"Fluttershy competed against us in the egg-balancing game and I lost," Twilight explained.

"Then I played two different games with Fluttershy: she won one, and I won the other," the party girl added.

"It was pure luck, but it was a lot of fun," the pink-haired girl said, dismissing it.

"Wow, it seems like you two have been busy," Applejack commented, impressed. "Have you tried all the games yet?"

"We still have a few left to do," Pinkie said, always ready for more action.

"Well, I wish you all luck! Although I think we all need a little break before we continue," Bow said, winking at the girls.

"Definitely," Fluttershy nodded. "A little break and then we'll get back to the games."

"We should do an activity together," Sunset suggested, looking at the others. "Something we can all enjoy."

"That sounds like a great idea!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, excitedly.

"We could play something as a team," Scootaloo added, always up for a challenge.

"That way it would be a tiebreaker if one of us won," Rainbow said, looking at Pinkie and Fluttershy with a competitive grin.

The families and friends nodded in agreement, as they planned what to do after they finished getting some rest.

After a short break, everyone decided to take part in the obstacle course competition. Each family lined up, ready to compete against each other. The obstacle course consisted of a series of physical and mental tests, designed to challenge both the teams' dexterity and coordination.

"Okay! Let's go all out!" Rainbow exclaimed, excitedly.

"May the best team win," her father commented, patting her on the back.

Sunset looked at her team, her brother, and her parents, who had returned just in time for the competition. "Ready? We're going to do our best."

Applejack's family, with Big Mac leading the way, nodded determinedly. "Don't worry, we'll do our best."

Fluttershy, somewhat nervous, looked at her parents, who cheered her on with warm smiles. Pinkie bounced excitedly while her sisters displayed a serene calm.

Twilight, who seemed calm, thought of some strategy next to her parents, sister-in-law, and brother Spike.

The teams positioned themselves. The Apples were first, next to the Pies, followed by Dash's family, then Sunset's, the Shys, and finally the Sparkles.

The whistle blew and the families began to make their way through the various obstacles. There were tense moments, like when Applejack and Big Mac almost got stuck in the rope maze, but they managed to get through it with the help of Apple Bloom and Granny Smith.

Pinkie and her sisters showed amazing coordination, moving quickly through the course, although sometimes with more enthusiasm than precision, which made them lose time on some obstacles.

For their part, Dash's family advanced with great speed, almost flying through the course. Rainbow's competitiveness and Scootaloo's determination drove their team forward, but the excitement caused them to make some minor mistakes, which cost them valuable seconds.

Sunset's family showed great synchronization, advancing accurately through the challenges.

Fluttershy's family, although not as outstanding in speed, showed remarkable patience and strategy helping each other through the most difficult obstacles, but their steady pace was not enough to compete against the level of speed and precision of the other teams.

Twilight, with her analytical mind, was crucial in figuring out the trickier parts of the course.

Finally, in a last-ditch effort, Applejack and Sunset led their teams to the finish line, but in the end, the farm girl's family crossed the finish line just seconds before the red-haired girl.

"And the winners are... the Apples!" the manager announced.

Rainbow's family came in third place, while Pinkie's family finished fourth, the Sparkles in fifth, and the Shys in last place.

"That was amazing!" Pinkie exclaimed, despite the result. "I can't wait for the rematch."

"Good job, family," Applejack commented, smiling proudly as her relatives celebrated the victory. "Granny Smith, not bad."

"I may be getting on in years, but the Apples put everything in for their family," Granny said tiredly.

"Yep," Big Mac nodded.

"We won," Apple Bloom said, sitting on the grass.

Sunset's family was relieved and happy with their second place finish, though her mother commented with a hint of irony. "Well, at least we didn't have to do the course again," she said, with a light laugh that helped lift her team's spirits.

Rainbow's family looked somewhat frustrated. Windy, despite doing her best, forced a smile. "We did a great job, though it wasn't enough for first place," commented in an encouraging tone, trying to soften the disappointment.

Scootaloo, though visibly discouraged, tried to keep her spirits up. "Next time we're going to win. I promise," she stated, dusting off her clothes.

The Pie sisters, almost silent, spoke at the end. "Deep down, I was glad they won," Maud said in her usual monotone voice to the Apples.

"Yeah, well, it was spot on," the grumpy sister commented.

The Sparkle family, coming in fifth place, showed acceptance. Twilight's mother, with an understanding smile, said, "It was an experience, even if we didn't get the result we wanted."

Spike, catching his breath, nodded, albeit frustrated. "We gave it our all."

"I'm proud of how everyone tried," Shining stated, holding little Flurry Heart. "Can you handle the baby?"

"Sure... just give me a second," Cadance replied, taking one last sigh before looking at her husband, who laughed a little at that.

Fluttershy's family, even though they came in last place, tried to look on the bright side. "You don't always win, but I'm proud of how hard we tried," Mrs. Shy said.

"Ugh, I feel like everything is spinning," Zephyr commented, as he sat down on the grass.

"Looks like we've got the tiebreaker," Fluttershy said, trying to catch her breath.

"It was between Rainbow and Applejack," Pinkie said, laughing.

Sunset approached Applejack with a smile. "It was a good competition."

"Thanks," she replied with a smile.

Rainbow, though a little disappointed, commented. "I'll take it as training for the match," said before walking away a bit and lying down on the grass.

"At least he didn't get mad this time," the farmer said, looking at the athlete lying on the ground and then looking at her family who were still catching their breath.

"That's good," said Twilight, who was also catching her breath with Sunset by her side, patting her on the back.

Applejack nodded and looked away, but looked back at the Belles. She almost got alarmed, but...

Rarity, seeing the blonde in that direction, looked at her family. "Family, how about we go get lunch? We haven't eaten anything since we got here."

"Yes, please, I'm starving," said Sweetie Belle, rubbing her stomach.

"I agree, I'm hungry too," Hondo commented with a tired expression.

"Let's go then," Cookie said, gesturing toward the path.

The three of them turned around, but Rarity shot a glance at the farmer, who nodded in thanks. The seamstress just shook her head, almost smiling, before following her family.

Sunset didn't miss this interaction from a distance. "An understanding through eyes?" she wondered, a little confused. "How lucky Rainbow missed that," thought, looking at the girl still lying on the ground.

After catching her breath, Fluttershy walked over to her best friend, who had her eyes closed, and sat down on the grass beside her.

"Rainbow."

The multicolored haired girl opened her eyes looking at the pink haired girl. "Sorry, I didn't feel you," she said still lying down.

"How are you handling it?"

"I will say that, even though I finished third, I'm glad to have this distraction," Rainbow said.

"Mmm?" Fluttershy said, confused.

"I had a talk," said, her tone serious.

"A talk?" her friend asked, intrigued.

"I didn't want to say it, but I know the reason for the excuse to save AJ," explained.

The pink-haired girl's eyes widened, surprised. "Oh, Rainbow, I didn't want to lie to you."

Rainbow sat up. "Wow, calm down, I don't blame them... especially you," said, trying to sound understanding. "But I do blame the blonde, I could even blame Belle."

Fluttershy looked at her a little sad, but she tried to hide it.

"I could try to separate her from acting because of the presence of Belle's parents, but it's hard for me," the athlete explained. "It's all very complicated."

"Oh... I'm sorry you feel that way and, once again, sorry for lying," said, looking down.

"Relax, Flutters," Rainbow said with a smile. "You were supporting a friend, and I appreciate it."

The pink-haired girl smiled, relieved.

"But let's not go on about this, we're here to have fun," said the multicolored haired girl, hesitating a bit before adding. "How about my family and yours play?"

"I'd like that, although we just participated," said Fluttershy, briefly pointing her thumb backwards.

"Yes, although not just the two families, like when we used to play board games at those family gatherings," said Rainbow nostalgically.

"What memories! I'm sure my family will like the idea," said, smiling.

"Perfect, let's not talk about it anymore," said the sportswoman, starting to get up and again tried to offer her hand. But her friend got up before her. Rainbow didn't get frustrated this time, she knew that everything had to be in its time.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere as families enjoyed the games. Rainbow, Fluttershy, and their families immersed themselves in friendly competition, participating in games either sharing with each other or just between families. Laughter and a spirit of camaraderie filled the air.

After lunch, the Belle family returned, once again joining in the activities. Rarity did her best to keep her parents from seeing the Apples, but they were still able to enjoy the other games.

Principal Luna and Chancellor Celestia strolled around, watching with satisfaction as the families enjoyed themselves. Every now and then, they would exchange a few words with the participants, and also acted as judges for the games.

As the sun began to set, the activities concluded and the families, exhausted but content, began to leave. The students said goodbye to each other, sharing laughs about the funniest moments of the afternoon. Finally, each family returned to their respective homes.

On the way, the Belles made their way towards the house.

"It was quite a fun day, don't you think?" the father commented with a smile, keeping his eyes on the road.

"Yeah, it was a nice respite from work," the mother added.

Sweetie Belle, from the backseat next to Rarity, nodded enthusiastically. "The games were the best!" the younger exclaimed.

Rarity, who had been looking out the window, turned to her family with a smile. "Yeah, it was fun. I'm glad we were able to participate and enjoy the games... even though we didn't win everything, except against Lyra and Trixie," commented, letting out a small laugh.

"Yeah, at least we did against them," Sweetie Belle said with a smile.

"And how did it feel to play with some of your friends?" Hondo asked curiously.

The eldest daughter shrugged slightly. "It was nice to be able to play with some of them. It reminded me of old times. But I know that even if we had played all of them, we probably wouldn't have beaten them. They all have qualities that they could show on the field."

"I'm not a big fan of losing, but I have to admit that they both outclassed us with their skills," Cookie said, smiling slightly, despite her serious tone.

"Now all I can think about is getting home and lying in bed," Sweetie Belle said, stretching out in her seat.

"I know, I think as soon as I get there, I'll take a relaxing bath," Rarity said, putting a hand on her forehead dramatically. "I'm just saying that in case I'm late getting down."

Hondo let out a laugh and looked at his wife for a moment, who shook her head with a smile.

The car continued its journey until they reached home.

In another part of the city, the Apple family had arrived at their home. Applejack turned off the engine of the truck and let out a sigh. "Well, it was a long but enjoyable day," she said as she climbed out of the vehicle, stretching her tired muscles.

"Yeah, it was," Granny Smith added as she climbed out of the backseat, smiling. "Nothing like a good family game day to strengthen the bonds."

Apple Bloom ran out the front door. "It was great!"

"We made our mark, just like Granny Smith said," Big Mac added.

The farm girl smiled as she unlocked the door with her keys.

Once inside, an exhausted Applejack made her way up the stairs to her room to rest. As she lay back on her bed, she closed her eyes for a moment, allowing the memories of the day to slowly pass through her mind.

Recalling how she enjoyed playing games with her family, the fun times competing in friendly competitions, the laughter shared with her friends, and the feeling of family unity that always comforted her.

"Games are always the best," she told herself, appreciating how much spending quality time with her loved ones meant to her.

However, her mind inevitably began to drift to the conversation she had with Rainbow Dash. The words echoed. "That should be a thing of the past for you by now..." she repeated in her mind.

She opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling. "Ugh, I was supposed to have moved on, and this hiding thing happens... Why does meeting her parents affect me?"

She thought about Rarity, how she saw her during the day and that somewhat awkward moment in the narrow space, and how, despite everything, the seamstress helped her so she didn't feel uncomfortable. "I won't deny that I've thought minimally about what Big Mac told me, but not enough to even think about giving it a chance. However, the fact that I avoided meeting the Belles was a minor thing... But Pinkie seems happy to be together like before... What will the others think? Could we...?"

She shook her head a little, trying to push those thoughts away and remember the conversation again. "Hold on to the present," echoed in her mind.

She thought over and over until she came to a conclusion. What's important is the present, not the past. "She's right... I should focus on what's in front of me. I shouldn't relate to what happens with Belle... This is my present and I'm with Rainbow."

Finally, she sighed and turned over in bed, staring out the window as she tried to relax. With that resolution, she closed her eyes and tried to let the tiredness of the day carry her off to sleep.

Author's Note

• Sorry again for the late translation, but here is chapter 17. I wanted to mention that the chapter ended up being around 60 pages long, so I had to split it up. I'll upload the next one translated tomorrow.

• I've seen several theories or rumors about some characters' relatives, so here I made it real. For example, that character that appears in an episode of the MLP universe could be Flash's brother, so I added him. And about our Sunset Shimmer, who never showed any family in the series, I read rumors that she could be related to Starlight's friend, so I made him her brother.

• We've had some minor developments, but that's how it is, so there's more to come. As for Rainbow Dash, nothing has been seen. Well, considering she was the one affected by what happened, it's going to be difficult.