It was the weekend. At the animal shelter, the rays of sunlight stream through the windows, illuminating the small cages and baskets where various animals rest. Fluttershy, with a soft smile on her face, caresses her little rabbit Angel, who is curled up on her lap.

"I always see you pampering these adorable little animals, Fluttershy. I must say, your dedication is admirable, although a little... obsessive, don't you think?" commented her partner, suddenly appearing with a cardboard box in one hand.

"Hey, Discord. It's just that I like to make sure they're happy and safe," Fluttershy replied with a calm smile.

Discord leaned against a nearby table, looking at his partner curiously. "Sure, sure... But, speaking of animals, I thought you'd come with that girl today, the one who looked like she was about to explode," he added in a mocking tone.

The pink haired girl thought for a moment, gently caressing Angel. "She's with Sunset Shimmer, she couldn't come. Midterms are coming up, so she wanted to train on her own before she couldn't make it," explained softly.

"Oh, come on! Don't tell me you've become the defender of second chances," exclaimed, feigning surprise.

Fluttershy smiled slightly, noticing her partner's sarcasm. "I appreciate your sense of humor, but this time is different, I have no doubts anymore," assured calmly.

"Why are you wasting your time on that friend of yours? Wouldn't it be easier to just... I don't know, forget everything and move on? I don't understand why you should be with someone who doesn't even appreciate you that much," questioned, frowning.

The pink haired girl sighed. "Well, Rainbow has shown appreciation in her own way, although that appreciation grew as we both grew up," commented with a smile, while looking lightly at her hands. "You know, when we were in kindergarten, she defended me from two boys who were bullying me. If it weren't for her and the support I received throughout my childhood, I wouldn't have had the confidence to go to school and then learn from my friends and strengthen it even more to get to where I am now."

She lowered her head sadly as she recalled a moment with one of her friends at school, but then shook her head to go back to the initial conversation. "What I'm getting at is that without that support, I wouldn't have enough confidence to be here... They, including Rainbow, suggested I volunteer at this shelter," said, regaining her smile.

Discord crossed his arms, pretending to think. "Hmm... Interesting. You might be right. We all need someone to support us, even if we don't always deserve it," said with a hint of thoughtfulness in her voice.

Fluttershy nodded. "We all make mistakes. But when someone really matters, you do your best to understand and forgive. Dash has been trying to make things right with me. He's made the effort and I've noticed," stated confidently.

The black-haired man looked at his companion, thinking back on the situation. "You know, Fluttershy, I may have my doubts about all of this... But if it's important to you, then I guess it has to be worth it. Just don't let it affect you too much. I still remember those times when you looked sad despite hiding it," he commented with concern.

"Thanks, Discord. It's always nice to know you have my back," said sincerely.

Discord nodded slowly and straightened up. "If she comes around anytime soon, calm that walking storm down or else I'll have to play along like last time," added with a wink.

Fluttershy laughed at that. "I know Rainbow can be a bit explosive, but deep down, she's a good person. She just needs a little patience and understanding," mentioned fondly.

Her partner rolled his eyes with a smile. "We'll see if I'll ever like her," said, trying to look nonchalant.

The animal lover laughed again, as she got up to return Angel to his usual sleeping spot. She then followed her partner to help organize some cages as they continued their chat.

The sun was high. Rainbow Dash and Sunset Shimmer walked together through the plaza, enjoying the respite after training. They decided to stop by to say hello to Pinkie Pie at her work, Sweet Snacks Café.

"Hello," a boy on skates approached.

"Hello," the two greeted.

"Pinkie Pie is home?" Rainbow asked.

"No, she's already finished her shift for the day. She left in a hurry," the boy replied, curious about his coworker's attitude.

"Did they call her at the last minute to organize a party for a toddler?" Sunset wondered.

The athlete shrugged. They both looked at the boy and added, "Thanks."

He nodded and walked away to continue working.

"Why don't we stay and relax a bit?" the red-haired girl suggested.

"A milkshake or a drink?" Rainbow asked.

"Why not?" Sunset replied.

The two walked over to some empty seats and sat down across from each other.

"I heard you wanted drinks. Any companions?" asked a boy who had approached when he saw them sitting down.

"Yes, but not cake," replied the multicolored haired girl looking at the boy. The red haired girl almost laughed at what she said.

Once they placed their orders, they began to talk.

"You remembered, right?" Rainbow commented playfully, looking ahead.

Sunset nodded. "What you had to do to get Pinkie to forgive you for not telling her your tastes in cakes."

"I know, and it was wrong, but I didn't want to hurt her feelings."

"That's why most of the time you have to be honest, but there are times when it's necessary to hide the truth," said the red haired girl.

"Yes, I realized that. It's true, sometimes it's better to hide certain things...", Rainbow whispered, losing herself in a memory. She shook her head to look at her friend. "But it's all good now."

Sunset nodded, though she found that brief second of absence strange, but she preferred not to ask.

A few minutes passed while they waited for their orders to be brought, so the athlete took out her cell phone to write something, but when she put it down she saw how her friend looked around a little, as if she was looking for someone.

"What are you looking for? Do you think Pinkie will appear out of nowhere?" Rainbow laughed at how unpredictable the party girl can be.

"I wasn't looking for Pinkie," replied, looking back to the front.

"So, who?" asked curiously. "Twilight I don't think so; it's not necessary to know that she's studying, Applejack is still helping out on the farm because of how it turned out with the rain, and Fluttershy told me that she was at the animal shelter."

Sunset looked at the multicolored haired girl, not very sure, but she was curious. "You know?" she began. "I didn't want to talk to you about this subject because I know that it affects you more."

"What thing?" asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Belle..." said, lowering her head, watching her friend's reaction out of the corner of her eye.

Rainbow made several faces. "What's that about?" was the only thing she said after a deep breath.

Sunset paused before continuing. "We've all talked about it in different ways. Well, Applejack, I don't know what she thinks, but what about you?"

The boy who served them came over to serve them glasses with the requested liquids and then went for the companion. Sunset took a sip while Rainbow crossed her arms.

"We all have our opinion, Pinkie we already know her decision, but I can hear what you think about this if you want," proposed, in a calm voice.

Rainbow sighed, her expression hardening. "I'm really angry, that's obvious, and I don't know if this will go away... I try to ignore her, stay away, say bad things about her, but... I can't imagine giving her another chance."

"She was my friend, despite how I imagined her when I first met her. I got to see a side of a girl like her that I didn't believe in," continued, looking at her glass. "But when things happened, I was filled with a frustration and anger that you can't imagine." She paused to continue. "But the problem isn't just me giving her a chance. It's that... you two get hurt again."

Sunset looked at Rainbow with a soft expression, understanding the concern.

"Yes, she disappointed us all or left us with different feelings when things happened," the redhead said, keeping a neutral tone.

The athlete nodded. "Pinkie Pie seemed closest to her and it was bad for a while. Fluttershy was the second and she got hurt. The blonde showed indifference to what happened. Twilight and you, although you showed some indifference, I know it affected you too. Now tell me, how does it not make me doubt that Belle is pretending? If she is manipulating, I can make up several ideas, but my mind doesn't get to give her the chance," said, her voice revealing the mix of anger and frustration.

Sunset sighed. "I understand that you care about us. Do you really think she's still the same person?" asked carefully.

Rainbow clenched her fists, her frustration evident. "I don't know. When the sewing room thing happened, I understood what it was like to need time alone... my mind was able to make a small spark of understanding, but then I remember everything that happened and I close up again. What if she does the same thing again? I don't want to see them hurt again."

Her friend fell silent, trying to find the right words. "It's natural for you to feel that way. You've protected us on several occasions, like that time in first year of college when you defended Pinkie from that girl who was criticizing her or when Twilight almost got bullied because me and AJ weren't there and you handled it well."

Rainbow laughed. "Saying certain words and jokes never fail."

"Though that's a little childish, I know that's your thing with Pinkie," Sunset added with a smile before returning to a serious tone. "I'm not saying you should forgive her right away, but we could see how things go from here."

The multicolored haired girl looked at her skeptically. "What if it goes wrong? I don't want to risk it."

Sunset smiled slightly. "It's a risk, yes, but you don't have to face it alone."

"And what about you? What do you think about giving her the chance?" asked, looking at her.

"I'll admit, I'm torn. I made a comparison chart of what Belle was like and what we've seen. I came up with probability, but I'm like you... then I remember what happened," admitted honestly.

"Is that what you mean by not facing it alone?" Rainbow asked, starting to understand.

Sunset nodded. "We could see how things go and see... if Belle has really changed and get to... well, you know."

Rainbow remained silent, mulling over the words. The hurts of the past still hurt. "I'm... not ready for the possibility yet... All I know is that I want to protect my friends, even if it means keeping Belle away or staying away from her."

"Maybe that explains why she was upset about Pinkie's decision," Sunset thought and then nodded understandingly. "And that's okay, Rainbow. Take your time. No one is pressuring you to make a decision now. I just wanted you to know that you don't have to carry all of this alone."

Rainbow gave her a grateful look. "Thanks, Sunset. Talking about this... it was like a release, even if I haven't fully resolved it."

Sunset lifted her glass. "That's what friends are for, right? I'll always be here if you want to talk or listen to you."

The athlete nodded. "I thought Fluttershy would be the only one I'd dare to talk to about certain topics."

The red-haired girl smiled.

"Which reminds me... thanks for confirming that time that Flutters is still at the animal shelter. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have had the chance to talk to her about some boundaries and something that happened afterward," Rainbow said, with a half-smile.

"You're welcome. Fluttershy told some of it, but not everything," said, with a look that invited the multicolored haired girl to continue.

Rainbow laughed and began to speak. "You see, that afternoon..."

Pie Family Home
Pinkie Pie had come home from work. She was sitting on her bed, turning a box over so all the physical photos fell out. She stood up and moved her desk chair to the center, near the foot of the bed, and settled her stuffed animal on the chair. She then went to get a whiteboard to get back to her information gathering.

"Okay, Gummy, let's go back to the scene of the secret," said, looking at the whiteboard where she had pasted some photos.

"Rarity Belle: a different girl just like everyone else in the group, AJ's ex and our old friend..." said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

She looked at Gummy, as if the stuffed animal had said something.

"You're right, that description is horrible," admitted, grimacing.

Pinkie stood up, looking like a detective in action. "Rarity Belle: a sophisticated girl who, at first glance, seems to be a popular person. Maybe she liked the idea of being popular in the past, but what she really wanted was to be known for her fashion designs."

She paused for a moment, looking at the pictures and connecting the dots in her mind.

"She met AJ... and indirectly me, though it took me many months," continued to relate, as if she were telling a story to her stuffed animal. "Then, spending time with AJ, she told him about her passion... and then me when they both became a couple."

She stuck another picture on the board. "Look, Gummy, this was the first picture we took as friends."

She smiled at it, remembering the moment when Rarity, Applejack and her had posed together, laughing in the afternoon sun.

She shook her head. "Let's focus. When we got together, whether it was the two of us or the three of us, we shared important things. Rarity really emphasized her designs, which she only made out of passion, but not for anyone in particular..." added, her voice soft as she analyzed those details that at the time seemed so simple, but now had a different weight.

She walked over to her bed, looking for more photos to stick on the board. She found one that made her smile nostalgically. "I love these photos from the trip. Do you remember, Gummy? Ahhh! This was the time we met again when we went to the restaurant," said, gently caressing the photograph.

Three Years Ago: Summer; days after her friends' date
The morning sun bathed the plaza in a warm light, as Pinkie Pie skipped over to meet up with Rarity and Applejack, the party girl having just returned from her family trip. Upon reaching the specific area, she spotted them.

"RARITY! APPLEJACK!" she shouted from a distance, waving at them energetically as she ran up to them with a big smile. "I brought you some candy from the fair!"

"How nice of you, Pinkie! I hope your trip was fun," Rarity said with a smile.

"It was amazing! We went to a rock museum, but we also went to a candy store. Ahh, candy! You have to try it!" exclaimed, pulling out a bag of brightly colored candy and offering it to her friends.

The two agreed and took a piece of candy.

"How about we go somewhere and I'll tell you more?" the party girl suggested excitedly.

"I say we head to the farm. We could have a family dinner. I know you love apple pies, and we could make one together," Applejack suggested in a determined tone.

"Hmm, that could be," Pinkie said, looking at the dressmaker to see what she thought.

"I know Pinkie loves pies. But I thought it would be better to take her to the new café downtown. It's a fancier and different place than usual. Plus, they have those macarons that I know she'll love," Rarity commented excitedly.

The party girl thought about that option. "Also-"

Applejack crossed her arms. "Rarity, I don't think Pinkie needs fancy or an expensive place. She's happiest when she's somewhere familiar and comfortable."

"It's not that I don't appreciate simplicity, Applejack, but sometimes it's nice to change things up a bit. Plus, the café has a lovely, calm atmosphere, where we can relax and chat," explained with a sigh.

Pinkie raised a finger to speak, but stopped when she saw how the conversation was turning.

"Calm down? Are you talking about Pinkie Pie, the girl who can't sit still for a second? Rarity, I'm not sure she'd like being in such a... refined place," said, frustrated.

"It's not just about what Pinkie likes, it's about giving her a new experience! We always do the same things. Don't you think she deserves something different?" the seamstress insisted, raising her voice a little.

The farmer shook her head. "But what if what makes her happiest is what she already knows? We don't need to change everything to show her how much we love her," replied firmly.

"It's not about changing everything, just about doing something special. Don't you trust my decisions?" Rarity questioned in a hurt tone.

Applejack sighed deeply. "It's not that. It's just that sometimes I feel like you try to make everything too perfect, and you forget what really matters," commented, moving away a little and looking at the bushes in the square.

The party girl saw how Rarity looked with tears in her eyes at the blonde, who was a little far away, with her back to her. She approached and put a hand on the seamstress's shoulder.

"Hey, Rarity," said in a comforting tone, "both of you seem like good choices to me, you didn't need to think about it too much."

The seamstress nodded, trying to regain her composure. "You're right, Pinkie. I just want it to be a good day for you and everyone."

Pinkie smiled and gently squeezed her friend's shoulder. "And I understand that. We just have to figure out which one we go to. Applejack will understand," said, nodding towards the farmer.

Rarity nodded again and slowly approached her partner, who was still facing away, and hugged her from behind, resting her forehead on her back.

"I'm sorry... I just wanted to do something special for Pinkie, something to show her how much we miss her. But it seems like sometimes our ideas don't match up," murmured softly.

Applejack let out a soft sigh. "I'm sorry too, Rarity. Sometimes our ideas clash, but I know you always try to do what's best for all of us," commented, turning around.

Rarity wiped away her tears. "And I know you only want what's best for Pinkie. I guess we both want the same thing, but sometimes our ways of seeing it are different."

"I guess so," said, giving him a smile.

The purple haired girl smiled and then put a hand on her chest. "Okay, I'll try not to think about the cafeteria and we'll go to your house," said as she placed her other hand on her forehead dramatically.

The farm girl let out a laugh and shook her head.

"How about we go somewhere else I have in mind first, then to the cafeteria, and finish up at the Apples'?" Pinkie suggested, coming closer.

The two looked at her.

"That sounds perfect. What do you think, Jackie?" said, letting go of her arms.

The farm girl smiled. "It's a great idea. We have all day, and it's okay for the farm to be at the end... as long as it pleases my maid," said, bowing as if she was being formal, knowing that it was something her partner liked and that it was a game they played from time to time.

"And I'm more than happy that next time it'll be at my noble apple's place," Rarity said with a smile, playing along.

Pinkie smiled as she saw the atmosphere had calmed down. "Shall we?"

"Let's go," the two said, then held hands and began walking alongside the party girl.

The party girl had a wide smile on her face and watched her friends as they began to talk about her.

"I guess we should have considered what Pinkie wanted, too," Rarity commented with a smile.

"Yeah, we should have thought about that, too," Applejack added, laughing.

They stopped at a corner waiting for the light to turn green. Meanwhile, Pinkie continued to tell a little about her trip, but at one point, Rarity looked around and stopped at a couple passing by, noticing something in particular: necklaces with each other's initials.

She watched the couple, noticing how the young woman leaned down to kiss her partner while playing with the initial pendant on her necklace. She glanced at Applejack, particularly at her collar, and then back at the couple, thinking of how she could show her that despite their little arguments, their love would still be intact.

The seamstress was silent for a moment, as her mind began to weave an idea. She imagined her partner wearing a necklace that had the initial 'R' or perhaps 'RB' on it.

"Are you okay, Rarity?" Applejack asked, noticing her girlfriend's sudden silence.

"Yes, Rarity, I told you a few things and you just went quiet. You worried me," Pinkie said on the other end.

"It's nothing, dear, I was just thinking..." replied, with a soft smile. "I think I have an idea for something special."

The blonde looked at her curiously, but before she could ask, Pinkie Pie interrupted them. "It's already in green!"

As the three of them headed to the first stop, Rarity kept her idea a secret, excited to surprise Applejack with a gift. Although she felt like something was missing.

Once they arrived at the restaurant, the party girl was the first to bring up a topic of conversation.

"And Rarity, what have you done again with your designs?"

"I've been busy with some things these past few months," replied, glancing at the blonde, who shook her head, getting the message of not telling her about the subject. "But I'll be back, several ideas are coming to mind."

"Cool!" Pinkie said. "You'll show them to us, right?"

"Of course," said with a half smile.

"And as always, they'll be amazing," Applejack said, putting a hand on her girlfriend.

Rarity touched the tip of the farmer's nose and they both got lost in each other's gaze.

The party girl cleared her throat, she didn't want to interrupt her moment, but she didn't want to be isolated in silence.

"Sorry," Rarity said, a little blushing.

"How about we look at the menu?" Applejack suggested, deflecting any potential awkwardness of the moment.

The three of them picked up the cardboard menus, scanning the available options. Pinkie, as was her custom, was immediately excited to see the variety of dishes, imagining how delicious they would be. With a pencil she pulled from her hair, she began to mark the ones that caught her eye.

As she raised her head to ask her friends if they had already thought of what to order, she noticed that Rarity had fixed her gaze on something around her. Suddenly, her friend let out a small squeal of excitement, "That was it!" with a wide smile lighting up her face.

"What's 'that'?" Pinkie asked, full of curiosity.

"Ah, did I say that out loud?" She blushed a little more, embarrassed by her habit of often verbalizing her thoughts without realizing it.

"Yes, Rare," the farm girl replied, laughing softly.

"Oh..." Rarity cleared her throat slightly, trying to quickly think of an answer. "I just had an idea for a design," lied quickly, trying to cover up.

"Okay," Pinkie said, convinced by her friend's explanation. However, Applejack, watching Rarity with a more perceptive gaze, suspected there was something more behind it, but decided not to press her, trusting that she had her reasons for keeping quiet.

A few minutes later, the waiter returned with their dishes. The table was filled with tempting aromas, making the party girl practically jump with excitement.

"Wow, these dishes look delicious!" exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. "Let's go for a selfie!" exclaimed, taking out her cell phone and preparing to capture the moment.

Applejack and Rarity smiled and moved closer for the photo, while preparing for the click of the sound of the hyperactive girl's colorful cell phone.

"Despite witnessing that fight, which made me feel guilty in part, they managed to solve the problem," Pinkie said with a smile, looking at Gummy, who was still motionless in the chair. "We went to the restaurant and there Rarity told the story of the first time she put aside the design, filling a bit of the gap we discovered with the Crusaders."

She placed a hand on her chin as she tried to remember. "Let's see, another design moment on Rarity's part..." murmured.

After a few seconds, her eyes lit up. "I got it! Days later we went to visit her at her house... and now it makes sense why Applejack didn't say anything when they opened the door to us," said, going to her bed to look for the photo before returning to the board.

She looked at her stuffed animal, as if it had asked her a silent question.

"I see that look on her face, Gummy, I'll tell you," she said with a mischievous smile, before becoming a little more serious. "Like I said, we went to Belle's 'mansion', as AJ called it," added, making quotation marks with his fingers to emphasize the exaggeration of the name.

Pinkie Pie and Applejack walked down the sidewalk towards the dressmaker's house. While Pinkie was jumping around excitedly, Applejack seemed a little calmer, though with some discomfort in her expression.

"Why do you think she called us this time?" the party girl asked, jumping a little as she spoke.

"She probably bought something or is going to tell us about an event, but... did it have to be at her house?" Applejack answered, trying to hide any possible awkwardness.

"AJ, it has to be something important, and it has to be at her house. At least we know it's not something bad, or else she would have asked us to bring her ice cream," added, stopping in front of the door to ring the bell with a big smile.

The door opened, revealing Mrs. Belle, with her typical seriousness, but with a slight smile.

"Oh, Pinkie Pie and..." Cookie began, stopping at the sight of the blonde. "...your cousin."

Applejack stared back at her, but firmly, though the party girl didn't notice the brief exchange.

Cookie turned her gaze to the cheerful girl. "Rarity told me about your trip."

"Yeah! A family trip is the best," exclaimed happily.

"It's nice to spend time with family," Cookie commented, her expression relaxing slightly. "Come in, Rarity's in her special room," added, stepping aside so they could pass.

Pinkie entered happily, while Applejack stared at the dressmaker's mother for a few seconds, who also stared back at her, but neither of them said anything, so the farmer quickly passed by.

Once inside the house, they asked permission to go further into the house.

Rarity, for her part, was taking a short break before continuing her work, drawing something special that had been on her mind these days. She smiled as she finished forming a heart on her notebook, only to begin erasing half of it with the eraser.

"Perfect," she thought to herself, as she muttered, "Anniversary or Christmas? Both are close to each other... But is it right? Would she like to wear a necklace? Will we... finally say the sacred word?"

Before she could answer herself, she heard the door chime and open seconds later. So she quickly closed the notebook.

"Hello, Rarity!" Pinkie greeted enthusiastically.

"Hello, Rare," Applejack greeted with a sweet smile.

"Hello, Pinkie. Hello, sweetie," she replied warmly, setting the notebook down on the table to the side.

The party girl looked around the room; it wasn't as large as Rarity would describe a professional sewing room. With her big eyes she continued to browse, noticing the closed notebook on the table. "What were you doing, Rarity? Another super secret design?"

The dressmaker giggled. "Oh, nothing peculiar... just some little sketches I've been working on," explained as she took the notebook and carefully slid it into a drawer.

"Oh, show me those prototypes later" Pinkie said excitedly.

"Sketches, Pinkie," Rarity corrected with a smile. "I'll probably show you."

Applejack approached her partner, leaving her hand on hers for a brief moment in a gesture of affection. "I'm sure it's a beautiful thing, like everything you do."

Rarity smiled at her, feeling the support in her words. "Thanks, AJ."

Noticing the farmer's hidden expression a little and taking advantage of the fact that the hyperactive girl was inspecting the room, Rarity moved a little closer to her girlfriend.

"Is something wrong, Jackie?" whispered, worried.

"This time your mom opened the door and looked at me in a way I can't describe," Applejack commented quietly. "And I had to pretend a little in front of Pinkie. I don't want to worry her after how happy she is about her trip."

"Relax, Jackie. Mom will understand later, but at least she's letting you in; it's progress. And as for Pinkie, let's not say anything," said with a reassuring smile. "Remember, you're part of my future, and I want to see you there," added, looking into her emerald eyes.

Applejack nodded, her gaze never leaving the sapphire eyes. "You are, too, and I know how to prove it," said, briefly glancing at the seamstress's neck before looking back into her eyes.

"Again with the mystery, huh?" Rarity commented, raising an eyebrow. "A date in the moonlight?"

"Mmm... You'll see," replied, with an enigmatic smile.

"Good, because I'll prove it too," Rarity said, still looking into her eyes.

The silent exchange of glances was interrupted by the party girl's enthusiastic voice.

"Oh! What's this? Can we see it?" asked excitedly, pointing to a covered mannequin.

Rarity quickly approached, taking a deep breath. "Sure, this is what I really wanted to show you," said, and with a delicate movement, she removed the fabric, revealing a lovely little dress, designed specifically for someone of smaller stature.

The dress was inspired by the simplicity and sweetness of childhood, with a delicate pattern of bows and flowers embroidered in pastel shades. The fabric was soft and light, with a subtle sheen that caught the light lovely, perfect for a young girl who wants to feel special without being too flashy.

Applejack looked at it, impressed by the dedication and love Rarity had put into the design. "Rarity... this is amazing."

"It's a dress inspired by the innocence and joy of childhood. I was thinking of Sweetie Belle wearing it to the prom," Rarity explained with a smile.

Applejack put her arm around her. "Someday, someone famous will wear something of yours and be impressed by how talented you are."

"Yeah, Rarity, just imagine, you on the news being famous," Pinkie said, waving her hands in the air as if she was imagining the scene.

Applejack nodded, smiling warmly.

"It's my greatest wish; I can see that," the seamstress confessed, with a mix of pride and hope.

"Let me take a picture of it. Imagine how it would look on your sister. But the bad thing about this is that we'll have to wait until we go through school," the party girl commented, a little dejected after taking the picture.

"It's our last year, dear. I can wait for that time," Rarity said, determinedly.

"Yeah, and then university comes next and..." Applejack tried to continue.

"Da da da! No school," Pinkie interrupted, covering her ears.

"Mmm, think positive. Even though school is starting soon, maybe you'll make more friends," Rarity suggested.

"That, perhaps, is what surprises will this year bring us? And for you, too, Rare," Applejack added, looking at the party girl and then at the seamstress. "You've always tried so hard to please those around you, whether it's with your designs or how much you care for Pinkie and me. Like when you designed those clothes to our tastes... I wouldn't be surprised if, deep down..." continued, pointing a finger at her chest where her girlfriend's heart would be. "...you also want to make more friends."

Rarity thought about it for a moment, her mind going back to those times in school when she had seen others from afar, wishing she could connect with them more. Someone in particular crossed her mind. "You're right, Jackie. You know me well. It's not just design that I'm passionate about, I also want to be able to share my life and my creations with more people."

"That... sounds... better!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up and down in excitement. "Do you think I know someone who would like my pranks?"

Applejack hesitated for a moment, thinking of her cousin's antics.

"Ehhh... He he he." Rarity let out a small laugh, sharing the same doubt. "We'll see, dear. But we're sure to find people to share our passions with, and maybe even joke around with."

Present
"It was a beautiful dress," Pinkie commented as she taped the picture to the board. "It was really cute, I wonder how it would have looked on Sweetie Belle." She looked at the chair where her stuffed animal was and sighed. "Yeah, Gummy, it's what you think... like that 'surprise' Applejack said was waiting for us. Who knew it would all go downhill," commented sadly, but then shook her head to clear those thoughts. "No, Pinkie, let's not go down that path just yet."

She searched for something more positive in that memory. "Who would also say that days later I would discover AJ drawing what would be half a heart? And that notebook that Rarity hid... it was the same thing my cousin was thinking of giving her," said with a nostalgic smile, looking at Gummy. "You know? I tried to hide it several times to keep the secret, but... I never knew if they gave each other those necklaces or not."

She shook herself again. "Let's go back. After that, we went to class and met the girls... well, me first. Then, AJ and Rarity would do it too days later, and a few weeks later we would find out about Rainbow Dash's arrival at the institute from Fluttershy, and then Rarity mentioned her dream to the others."

She stayed silent, pacing back and forth. "There were several times that Rarity commented on the designs, until December came, where everything got worse when she saw that commercial to show talent, and she got really stressed..."

"But nothing tells me that that led her to give up her passion. Her family always supported her. Also, her designs were modeled or displayed to her family, where we also entered the family group since she was with Applejack. And if they got to something more, we would be... you understand, Gummy," commented winking.

"So, if we count the support of her family and the fact that she entered that contest, which I never knew if she showed those designs she worked on, and we skip the fights with the girls, we end up with Rarity out of town."

"From what she said, she said that when resentment turned into regret, she left fashion, but between words I understood that she was indeed designing in those years out of town."

She looked at the photos she had pasted on the board. There were several of the seamstress working at her desk, with her hands moving precisely over the fabric, and her eyes focused on every detail. Her gaze moved to another photo where Applejack, Rarity and her were, smiling happily. And then, another where the seven of them appeared together, in simpler times.

"I only know that outside the city she continued with the design and returned to her adventures," looked at her stuffed animal as if it told her something in surprise. "It's not as bad as it sounds... You see, before she met AJ, Rarity dated several guys, but nothing serious. And well, after they broke up, it seems she got back to the same thing... and none of them managed to fill that heart again," explained and opened her eyes as if she had discovered something.

"Heart... Hmm, do you think a broken heart makes her give up her passion? With the girls we noticed in Rarity how bad she felt, her dark circles and red eyes, but according to Rarity, she's already gotten over it. Also Applejack... I don't remember well if the breakup affected her or maybe it did and she hid it."

"Although it could be a reason... It doesn't add up, since she said that once her resentment turned into regret, something happened."

She crossed her arms, frowning as she tried to figure out. "What is that 'something'? And why resentment towards us?"

She turned back to her stuffed animal. "Oh, Gummy, I need more information... It seems like this mission is going to be harder than filling in the gaps from those months I was away."

Pinkie jumped up, determined. "I'm going to solve this mystery, Gummy!" Ending her investigation for now, she walked over to the chair, picked up her stuffed animal and put it on the bed, then headed out the door to have dinner with her family, as the night was already beginning to make itself felt as she looked out the window.

The next day, classes began as normal after the closing of the welcome event.

Rarity left her first class, visibly nervous. She had been surprised with a test without warning.

As she walked down the hall, she felt a hug from the side that took her by surprise.

"Hello, Rarity!" Pinkie Pie greeted with her typical enthusiasm, smiling widely.

"Hello, Pinkie," replied, feeling a little calmer by the presence of her friend, although her nervousness was still present.

"Guou, and that face?" the party girl asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

"I had a test! And it's still a few weeks before October," said, a little exasperated.

"Calm down a little. Breathe in and out," Pinkie suggested with a smile, making an exaggerated deep breathing gesture to cheer Rarity up. The seamstress listened to her to calm down.

"I was given an assignment to do, too, and I was surprised by it, too," commented, pouting. "It's not fair that they surprise us like that."

Rarity sighed, crossing her arms. "So it's not just my class? That makes it a little less unfair, I guess..."

Before the party girl could respond, a boy with green hair and a friendly expression walked up and spoke.

"Hey, girls! I know you didn't ask me, but I just overheard some teachers talking about this. I think they're trying to better prepare us for midterms. Some think it's better to give us little tests and assignments beforehand, so we don't feel so stressed when it comes time for the big exams."

The seamstress looked at Sandalwood in surprise as she listened to his explanation. Although the knowledge that the surprise tests had an educational purpose calmed her down a little, she couldn't help but feel affected. The thought of more unexpected tests and assignments worried her.

"So this is just the beginning," she thought, feeling a slight pressure in her chest. "I hope it doesn't pile up too much at once. I'm not sure how much more I can handle without losing my mind."

Despite her worries, she tried to focus her mind on the present moment. "I just hope the surprises don't turn into an avalanche of stress."

"Hmm, makes sense... though I'd rather they let us know beforehand." Was all she commented.

"I totally agree," Sandalwood said with a laugh. "But you know how some teachers are, they like to keep us on our toes."

Pinkie giggled. "Well, we'll just have to be prepared for anything then! Thanks for the explanation, Sandalwood!"

"No problem, girls. Good luck with the rest of the day!" replied, giving them a wave before continuing on her way.

Rarity and Pinkie exchanged glances, and the seamstress let out a resigned smile. "I guess we have to be ready for any surprises from now on."

"Yeah! And who knows! Maybe surprises are good sometimes," Pinkie said, encouraging her friend as they continued talking, waiting for it to be time to part ways for their next class.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash walked through the halls alongside Applejack and Twilight. They had said goodbye to the rest of us before heading to their literature class.

"Home sweet home," Twilight said, looking over the outline of an assignment she had been given.

Applejack let out a laugh. "That's your thing, Twi." She then looked at her girlfriend. "What about you? Did they surprise you with any assignments?"

"Not yet. Let's see now, or else in swimming," Rainbow replied with a half smile.

"What can you do in swimming?" Applejack wondered.

"Not much, from what I've heard," Twilight said.

Rainbow shrugged, amused. "Well, it depends on the teacher. Sometimes we just swim and do exercises. But sometimes we get practical tests. Maybe we get to do some speed or endurance tests."

Applejack raised an eyebrow, interested. "Really? Could they do a timed test in the pool?"

"That would be great," the athlete replied enthusiastically. "I'd love that!"

Twilight smiled. "Sure, you'd like anything that involves competing, Dash."

"Exactly!" Rainbow snapped her fingers. "But, to be honest, I don't know how fair it would be for everyone. Not everyone is as fast as me."

The farm girl laughed. "Well, I just hope they don't ask us anything too complicated in literature."

Twilight nodded, smiling. "I'm sure we'll be fine. Besides, it's not like they're going to give us a surprise assignment of creating an improvised story... are they?"

Thethe athlete laughed. "Never say never, Twi! It seems like anything is possible here."

When they finished talking, they realized they were already near the door where some students were entering, including Starlight, Lyra, Bon Bon, Flash, and a certain wavy-haired girl.

As they entered, they sat down in their respective seats. The multi-colored haired girl looked back and saw Rarity sitting in the middle of the seats. She knew she couldn't do anything about being in the same class, but she still couldn't get used to it. Before she could think of anything else, the teacher spoke up.

"Today you will be working in groups to complete a literary analysis that will be due at the end of the week. Remember that teamwork and mutual respect are essential," said Professor Inkwell.

The group of Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight sat in a corner of the classroom, surrounded by books and notebooks. Although there was some discomfort due to the proximity of the seamstress in the classroom.

"So, how do we want to split this up? Twilight, you can handle the analysis, and I can look up the quotes," the farm girl suggested, looking at the instruction sheet.

The bespectacled girl nodded. "Yeah, sounds good. Dash, can you help proofread and provide additional examples?"

"Sure, whatever," said absently, glancing sideways at the seamstress across the room.

"Rainbow, we need you to focus on the job," Applejack said quietly.

The multicolored haired girl looked back at her group. "I know, AJ. Just... nothing, I was thinking about something, forget it, okay?"

Twilight and Applejack exchanged a glance, noticing Rainbow's distraction. They tried to stay focused on their task.

"Let's focus on the analysis, okay?" Twilight said.

"Yeah, okay," Rainbow said, nodding.

On the other side of the room, Rarity, Starlight Glimmer, and Lyra were working on their analysis. Rarity tried to stay focused on her work, though she couldn't help but feel watched.

Starlight looked at the seamstress. "Are you okay, Rarity?"

The seamstress forced a smile. "I'm fine, Starlight. Thanks for asking. I just want to make sure we do a good job."

"We can focus on the stronger themes of our reading. How about an analysis of gender roles in classic literature?" Lyra suggested.

Rarity nodded, trying to pay attention. "That sounds perfect. Let's focus on that."

As the groups worked, Rainbow couldn't help but glance in Rarity's direction, remembering old times. She muttered something loud enough for Applejack and Twilight to hear.

"It used to be like that, right?" she grimaced.

Applejack placed a hand on her partner's shoulder and briefly looked where Rainbow was looking. She met Rarity's gaze for a few seconds before looking back at her partner again. She found it curious that Rainbow was now coming with those looks and comments.

"Dash, why don't you... think of something else instead."

The multicolored haired girl looked at the blonde. "Something else..." said thoughtfully and opened her eyes, approaching her backpack and leaving it on the table. "Nobody touch it."

"I was thinking more about a memory or something in the future," Applejack said, confused.

"I'm thinking ahead... about lunch time specifically," explained halfway, sitting back down and taking a notebook and the paper. "Now let's get on with the work."

Applejack looked at Twilight, but she shrugged.

Rarity, for her part, looked at the athlete, knowing that she was acting like that because of her presence, but she wondered what made her change her attitude. A thought about something she felt in the past crossed her mind, but she shook her head and tried to stay focused on her group work.

"I can't help but think that this is going to get worse before it gets better," she muttered very quietly before looking at her group. "What did they tell me I had to do?"

Starlight saw Lyra looking at her as if to ask if she knew what was wrong with the seamstress, but she shook her head.

At the end of class, Mrs. Inkwell reminded them that the work was due at the end of the week and asked them to take advantage of the time at home to finish it.

"Remember that this group work is crucial for the midterms. Work well together and make sure to present something you can be proud of," she said as she organized her papers on the desk.

The students began to gather their materials. Rainbow and Applejack left the classroom quickly, with Twilight following close behind. Rarity, Starlight, and Lyra stayed a moment longer to organize their notes and briefly discuss the next steps for their group work.

"It's finally done," the athlete said, feigning a stretch as she held her backpack carefully.

"Are you feeling okay, Rainbow?" Twilight asked, adjusting her glasses and watching her out of the corner of her eye.

Rainbow shrugged. "Yeah, I'm fine, it's just... it's not easy... you know."

Applejack sighed and patted her on the back. "I know, Dash, but we need to put the past behind us and focus on what matters now. You can't let this get to you... it's what you say." said but in her thoughts was confusion at how the athlete acted since she was the one who told her to put the past behind her, normally she would ignore the seamstress.

Twilight nodded. "Applejack's right. Besides, we have a lot of things to focus on. The week is just beginning." said, though she wasn't quite sure of her words.

Rainbow nodded. "I know, girls, it was just this moment, nothing more." said, downplaying it. "Shall we go?"

The two of them nodded and went to meet up with the others or other acquaintances.

After literature class, the girls had their break before heading to their respective classes, except for the red-haired girl and the blue-haired girl, who had the hour off. They took advantage of it to relax or catch up on pending assignments.

After finishing their classes, they all met at the entrance of the cafeteria to 'have lunch' together. They knew that, after lunch, some like Rainbow, AJ, and Sunset would have training, while others would no longer have classes for the rest of the day.

As they walked to the cafeteria, they shared brief comments about what they had done during the morning and the surprises they had had in their classes, laughing and commenting on the unexpected assignments and tests they had been assigned. Finally, they entered the cafeteria, found their usual table, and sat down to enjoy a well-deserved break.

Between conversations, the multicolored haired girl remembered something and leaned towards her backpack. She unzipped it and pulled out a small wrapped package.

She stood up from the table and made a small turn to stand next to Fluttershy.

"Is something wrong, Rainbow?" the pink haired girl asked curiously.

"Not exactly. I went to Sweet Snacks Café yesterday, with Sunset, and I remembered one of your favorite cakes, so..." Rainbow revealed the transparent package she had hidden behind her back, "voilà! I decided to buy it for you." She smiled as she placed the package on the table in front of her friend.

"Thanks, you didn't have to," replied, smiling clearly grateful.

Sunset gave the sporty girl a thumbs up. Pinkie Pie and Twilight exchanged satisfied glances; things seemed to be getting back to normal.

Applejack stared at the cake. An old memory flashed through her mind. She closed her eyes and shook them away. Then she opened them to see her current partner.

"Dash, can we talk for a moment?"

Rainbow blinked; she knew the tone of voice the farmer was using and nodded. "Sure, AJ. Let's go that way."

They headed to a more secluded corner, near the entrance of the cafeteria, away from the gazes of their friends.

"Okay, what's wrong now? I don't think I've done anything wrong."

"It's not that you've done anything wrong, Rainbow. It's just that... I don't know, you always seem to be more attentive to Fluttershy than to me," Applejack said.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "You know that Fluttershy and I have always been close. That doesn't mean that I don't care about you."

"I know, but I can't help but think that... we almost never do those gestures."

"You know that I'm not one for romantic gestures or cheesy things. I've told you plenty of times," the athlete said.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you can't try, even a little," Applejack suggested.

Rainbow sighed, visibly frustrated. "Is this really necessary? We give each other couples gestures. Isn't that enough?"

"Rarely," the farm girl muttered. "It's not about quantity, it's about quality. About feeling appreciated. Like you always seem to do with Flutters."

"With Fluttershy again? You know what I've been trying to do to be with her like before?" Rainbow commented angrily.

"Yeah, I've seen it, and I'm glad things are better between you two. And don't get me wrong, I'm not insinuating anything between you two," the blonde clarified.

"Thank goodness, and the other thing... I'm how I am with everyone, okay? I'm different with you, with girls too, I even let them hug me on those few occasions when we take pictures," commented, gesturing with her hands.

"I know, but that's the problem too. It seems like being different with me means not making any effort. You could change a little," Applejack suggested.

Rainbow crossed her arms, frowning. "Again with that, and what gave her the idea to come up with this gesture thing now?" thought. "If you're talking about changing, what about you?"

"What do you mean?" asked, arching an eyebrow.

"You say I try to change, but you don't make that effort to give either," said the multicolored haired girl pointing at herself with her hands and then pointing at her.

"I don't know... you know I'm kind of reserved," commented Applejack, looking at the ground a little to look at her again. "But we could make a change."

"Like what?"

"Show more affection between us. Is that what we're talking about?" asked the farmer, somewhat frustrated.

"Should I change my way of being?" thought the multicolored haired girl with a frown, questioning herself a little. Then she let out a sigh. "Fine, I'll see or we'll see how we can improve."

"Fine..." replied Applejack.

They both returned to the table, trying to leave the conversation behind, while their friends looked at them curiously.

"Everything okay, girls?" asked Twilight.

"Yeah, all right," Rainbow replied, stopping at the corner of the table.

"You could say that's settled," Applejack commented, returning to her spot.

"That's nice," Sunset said with a smile, though she knew something had happened and her bespectacled friend seemed to notice it too as she glanced at her.

"So have you tried the cake yet, or were you waiting to?" the sporty girl asked, looking straight at her friend.

"I was a little worried about you guys, so I didn't want to eat the cake without being sure everything was okay," replied with an understanding smile.

"Wow, I wasn't expecting that," Rainbow commented, a little surprised. "Actually, everything is okay. Now you can try it."

"I'm glad to hear that. I'd like to share it with you, but I know how you feel about cakes," Fluttershy said, opening the plastic of the cake.

Pinkie put a hand on her chest dramatically. "It pains me that you don't like cakes," exclaimed exaggeratedly.

Rainbow laughed. "As for tastes, I'm sure the cake is delicious even without trying it."

The pink-haired girl smiled and added. "Maybe someday we can share something that's comfortable for both of us."

"I like the sound of that," Rainbow said with a smile.

As Fluttershy ate, she didn't miss Pinkie Pie's gaze, who leaned closer and closer to the cake. It made her slightly amused.

Twilight, Rainbow, and Applejack laughed as the party girl leaned closer to look at the cake.

"Do you want some, Pinkie?" asked, offering a piece.

"Ahh! Really?" exclaimed, surprised and excited.

"Sure," Fluttershy nodded, offering her a piece.

"Definitely. Little gestures like this are important," Sunset thought with a smile, taking in the scene.

Once Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy finished the cake, the pink-haired girl looked at her multi-colored friend.

"Thank you, Dash. I really appreciate the gesture. It makes me feel appreciated," said with a genuine smile.

Rainbow looked back at her. "I just wanted to do something special for you. I'm glad you like it."

"Well, good choice, Dash," Applejack said, giving her a thumbs up. "I hope you like it a lot, Flutters."

"Yeah, I did. Thanks," replied, with a smile.

"You're welcome! Now..." Rainbow was going to say.

"...Let's go to training," Sunset interrupted, checking the time on her phone and getting a few glances from her friends. "Oops, sorry for killing the moment!" apologized with a smile, realizing the change of topic.

"Don't worry," Fluttershy said, calmly gathering her things.

"Wow, the hour really flew by!" Rainbow commented, looking at her phone in surprise. "I'll drop you off at the bus stop then, if you want, since you're probably going to the animal shelter," suggested.

"You know..." the pink-haired girl began, getting up and looking at her friend. "I might stick around this time to watch training."

"Cool," Rainbow smiled.

"A distraction for what's coming up," Applejack said, grabbing her backpack.

Fluttershy nodded with a smile.

"So, everyone, onto the field!" Pinkie exclaimed, excited.

The six of them grabbed their things and headed out of the cafeteria toward the field.

After training, the girls said their goodbyes and each headed home. Upon arrival, they got down to work on their respective tasks. Some sat down at their desks, reviewing the notes and materials they needed, while others looked for a comfortable place to concentrate and make progress on their homework.

The next day, the girls, along with other students, headed to the locker room, splitting into groups of men and women to change into more athletic clothing. Once ready, they headed to the university's indoor court. The men stayed with Professor Bulk Biceps, while the women went with Professor Spitfire.

The professor stood in front of the group of girls with her arms crossed, looking at each one with a serious expression.

"Listen carefully," said in a firm voice. "I know that midterms are right around the corner and more than one of you will be stressed, especially considering that it is your last year. Therefore, this week we will focus on stretching exercises to help you relieve the tension."

The students exchanged glances, some sighing in relief and others murmuring to each other.

"At least it's not some sport," Rarity murmured.

Lyra laughed, and Bon Bon joined the conversation. “If it weren’t for Starlight helping you with volleyball, you might not have done so well.”

“Yeah, I definitely owe her one,” commented with a small smile, before turning his attention back to the teacher.

Spitfire continued, holding up a finger to emphasize his point. “But don’t be mistaken. This doesn’t mean you can relax too much. I’ll still be grading your performance, so make sure you give it your best effort. I want to see focus and precision in every move. Got it?”

A chorus of “Yes, Professor Spitfire” echoed through the gym.

“Alright,” the teacher nodded. “Today we’ll start with some basic stretches, but over the weeks we’ll increase the difficulty. Now, bring out the mats for some stretches.”

Once a few girls had brought out the mats, they began with the exercises. As expected, the dressmaker wasn’t doing too well with some of them.

“Belle, stretch hard! You can reach your feet!” The teacher ordered, turning to Rarity with a critical look.

Rarity, struggling to maintain her composure, tried to touch her feet without much success. The girls around her shared a few smiles and knowing glances.

"Will you need help?" Trixie asked with a smirk.

"Trixie..." Starlight called, raising an eyebrow.

The seamstress rolled her eyes, but smiled slightly. "I'm perfectly fine, thank you."

Nearby, close enough to hear, were the Mane Six. "I don't think that can be helped, though," Pinkie commented.

"Not everyone can be as flexible as me," Rainbow boasted arrogantly, giving a quick demonstration of her own flexibility.

"Yeah, right, Rainbow," Twilight said, adjusting her glasses. "Not all of us live to do acrobatics on the field."

"What's wrong with wanting to stand out a little?" the multi-colored haired girl asked, giving her a half-smile.

"Everyone has their strengths," Applejack added as she stretched.

Fluttershy smiled sheepishly. "Well, I guess this is better than some sport..."

"Come on, girls, we're here to relax. Let's stop comparing skills, shall we?" Sunset chimed in.

They all laughed a little at Sunset's comment, easing some of the tension as they continued with their stretching exercises.

Rarity smiled as she listened. "I definitely prefer stretching to having to run for a ball," thought, finally managing to touch her feet with a grimace of effort.

The students continued with the stretches, followed by other exercises led by Professor Spitfire, who supervised with a critical eye and corrected the postures from time to time. Finally, after several stretches and relaxation exercises, the class came to an end.

"That's all for today!" announced. "Remember to practice these stretches at home. See you next class."

The girls headed to the locker rooms, still commenting amongst themselves about the class. Some were clearly relieved that the session was over, while others seemed lively and energetic.

Back in the locker room, Rainbow Dash stretched her arms behind her head, clearly pleased with herself. "Wow, I felt pretty good today. We should do this more often."

Applejack, who was near her locker, smiled. "Yeah, I enjoyed it, though it can't compare to a good day's work on the farm."

"You talk about the farm like it's a gym," Twilight joked as she opened her bag.

"For me, it is," the farm girl said with a smile.

"Well, at least we won't be sore," Fluttershy commented as she changed. "Those stretches really help."

Rarity, for her part, was still trying to regain her composure after class, adjusting her hair in the mirror. "It was harder than I expected," muttered.

Pinkie Pie skipped next to the dressmaker with a wide grin. "Come on, Rarity! You just need to practice a little more! And maybe have a little fun while you're at it!"

"Thanks, Pinkie," Rarity replied with a grateful smile. "I appreciate the encouragement."

Starlight, who came over, nodded. "Don't forget that you can always ask for help."

The dressmaker nodded gratefully. "I will, thanks."

The conversation continued in different parts of the dressing room as everyone changed clothes, relaxing after class.

At some point, Pinkie saw Rarity walk past, but not before giving her a glance and waving goodbye. The party girl said goodbye with a smile, but that made her remember the conversation she had with the curly-haired girl and the favor she asked of her.

The friends hadn't asked about Rarity's attitude a few days ago, but Pinkie wanted to tell them about what she had said without revealing too much.

When she saw that some of them were already ready to leave, she decided to speak.

"Girls, can you stay a little longer?" asked with a serious expression uncommon for her, looking around to check that the other students had already left.

"What did you want to talk about, Pinkie?" Twilight asked, checking the time to make sure she wouldn't be late for her next class.

"I know you haven't asked, but I wanted to talk about something," she began, her tone a little calmer.

"Yeees..." Rainbow added, raising an eyebrow, waiting for Pinkie to get to the point.

"And I know that, deep down, you want to know," continued, looking at each of them.

"Pinkie Pie, can you be more clear? We don't understand," Fluttershy said softly.

"You're right, I'll get to the point so I don't go on too long," said with a smile, trying to ease the tension.

The girls nodded, waiting for the explanation.

"Rarity apologizes," Pinkie said directly.

"She's asked before," Sunset commented, waving her arm.

Rainbow frowned. "I thought she'd stopped saying sorry."

"Ow... Girls, I guess I didn't explain it well," said with a nervous giggle. "I mean what happened in the sewing room."

"Oh," Twilight replied, understanding.

The girls exchanged glances, understanding the situation a little better.

"And why didn't she come to us?" Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow, still a little skeptical.

"Would they have listened to her or even let her come closer?" Pinkie questioned, knowing what the answer would be.

"Well... you're right," Sunset admitted with a sigh.

"Yeah," the farm girl said, looking at the ground, though her tone was uncertain.

"So..." Fluttershy said, not quite sure how to phrase her question, but Pinkie got the message.

"She has a reason that I won't say because she didn't reveal much to me, but it explains some things," added, choosing her words carefully.

"You don't say much with that," Twilight said, frowning slightly.

"And does that have to do with her being in Sport too?" Sunset asked, trying to connect the dots.

"She felt a little stifled and ended up exploding, but she didn't want to yell at them," Pinkie explained, looking at her friends. "And the class thing... um... it might have something to do with it..." added, bringing a hand to her chin thoughtfully.

"She hasn't told you much, huh?" Rainbow said in a neutral tone.

"I did some research over the weekend. From things she told me, it seems she did continue with the design during those days of absence..." Pinkie revealed, not realizing that she had revealed more than she intended.

"Wait, what did you mean by that?" asked Applejack, who hadn't said much until now.

"Oops, forget that part," she blurted out, a little flustered. "Rarity apologizes for raising her voice at you, and I hope this doesn't affect what's going on any further. I... I'm leaving now," quickly finished before grabbing her bag and hurrying out of the locker room.

The girls looked at each other, a little confused, each deep in their own thoughts about what their friend had said.

It was already past break time, and Rarity was walking to her math class. As she walked through the halls, she did some light stretching, trying to ease some of the pain she was feeling. The lack of exercise was affecting her more than she'd like to admit.

As she reached the classroom, she noticed that Twilight and Sunset were already sitting in their respective seats, next to each other, near the front. Rarity's seat was at the back of the classroom, a constant reminder of her status as the 'new girl' who always got to most of her classes.

Twilight watched the seamstress sit in her usual seat, remembering a bit of what the party girl had said, and leaned over to her red-haired friend, who was pulling out her notebook. "Hey, what do you think Pinkie meant when she mentioned that she'd been designing while she was away? It seems something happened," whispered, curious.

Sunset looked at her friend a little confused by the topic of conversation, then turned back and saw the seamstress, finally understanding. "I'm not sure, but you know how Pinkie is. She always has something on her mind that we sometimes don't quite understand," said in the same tone of voice.

"Yeah, but besides Lyra, Bon Bon, and Starlight, counting Trixie a bit, the other person Belle talks to is Pinkie Pie like... well, you know how in the past. Even though we always told each other everything, something tells me that she confided certain things to Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy," Twilight said thoughtfully. "And now that Pinkie's talking to her again, it seems like... I don't know... she's a little reserved about some things."

Sunset paused before answering. "It's like when a person meets someone new, but in this case they already know each other... you have to earn their trust in order to reveal certain secrets," said, giving the seamstress one last look.

"Do you think Belle is expecting that?" Twilight asked, not taking her gaze off Rarity for a few seconds before turning back to her friend. "For us to trust her?"

"I don't know, Twilight. There are several conclusions to be drawn from what she's waiting for," replied. "She could be waiting to talk and apologize, she could also be waiting to break down the barrier we have to her approach, or maybe she's hoping we'll see that change and trust that things aren't as they seem."

"Wow, you're right, there are several options."

"But... can we not talk about this topic? Even though I told you about it last week, I'm still in the process," Sunset suggested, letting out a sigh.

"You're right, it's better to leave it... I don't know why I brought up the subject myself," muttered the last, settling into her seat. "Why did she bring up a topic related to Belle lately?" thought, then glanced at the redhead out of the corner of her eye. "It's very curious; Sunset is almost the same as Rainbow behaved yesterday."

A few seconds later, the professor entered the room, and just as it happened yesterday, depending on each student's classes, the professor gave the news of a surprise test.

"This really seems like midterms," the red-haired girl commented in a humorous tone.

"Yes," the blue-haired girl replied with a slight laugh.

The teacher was handing out each sheet of paper for the exam; Twilight could see that, when she handed it to the seamstress, she faked a smile of pleasure.

"If this isn't your thing, why choose this extra subject?" wondered.

The minutes passed and each student was returning the sheet already filled out with what would be the correct answers.

"Thank you, students. On Thursday or Friday you will be able to find out your grades," the teacher announced before allowing his students to leave the room.

Twilight and Sunset walked through the door with the other students.

"It wasn't so bad," the red-haired girl commented.

"Yes, it's because they are helping us for midterms," Twilight added. "And most likely in all the subjects that have to do with numbers they will be tests instead of a paper."

"So, let's get ready for classes that have numbers, especially you who have advanced calculus," Sunset said.

They walked down one of the aisles of lockers a bit and saw Applejack and Rainbow doing something they didn't quite understand.

Applejack put her hand around Rainbow's arm, then let go a few seconds later, and spoke to her as if to say 'you go next'. Then, it was the multicolored one who took Applejack's arm and let go a few seconds later, as if imitating the farmer.

"What are you doing?" Twilight asked, leaning towards Sunset.

"No idea, they look like they're playing," replied before walking back to her friend.

"Now what do you want to try?" Rainbow asked.

"How about..." Applejack began, trying to take her partner's hand, who seemed to notice this. But before she could, both Twilight and Sunset greeted them.

"What are you doing?" the girl with glasses wanted to know, a little confused.

"Yeah, from a distance it looks like they're playing a game of how long each of them lasts before changing positions," Sunset added.

"We were... trying something... and I was just going to try something we used to do," the farmer tried to explain.

"It's something we talked about," Rainbow added, "but it would be ideal if this was in private," muttered under her breath.

"I wanted to see if we could do it," Applejack replied, glancing at her out of the corner of her eye.

"Okay... okay," the red-haired girl said, still a little confused.

"Leaving that aside... it seems Fluttershy or Pinkie haven't arrived yet," Twilight commented.

"Pinkie must still be doing her thing with all this free time she had," Rainbow deduced, closing her locker.

"And Fluttershy would already be leaving her class and would come or..." Applejack added.

"... Maybe she went to the backyard to see the flowers she loves so much," the multicolored haired girl finished.

They remained silent for a moment. The echo of the voices of other students leaving the classrooms filled the hallway.

"Well, I guess we all have things to do," Twilight commented, trying to break the silence. "We have some free time before we go to lunch and then class," added, looking at the others. "Are you guys coming or are you going to continue what you were doing?"

Rainbow looked at the blonde. "How about we go together and play some games? And then later, we try what we were doing alone," proposed.

"Sounds good to me," agreed.

Twilight nodded. "I'm going to go find Fluttershy. How about you, Sunset?"

"I have to go to the library to check something out for next class, but I'll split up when the time comes," replied.

"I'll see you in a bit then," Rainbow said.

Twilight and Sunset nodded and said goodbye. As they walked away, they shared a look, one that spoke of unasked questions and unresolved concerns. However, they both knew there would be time to talk later.

Rarity, who had left the classroom just after them, watched her former friends from a distance. A mix of longing and sadness was reflected in her gaze. However, as on other occasions, instead of approaching, she decided to turn around to go to her locker.

The athlete lightly tapped the blonde on the shoulder. "Shall we go?" she asked before starting to walk.

Applejack nodded, but before following Rainbow, she felt a gaze on her and, when she turned, she recognized the dressmaker's hair with her back turned, walking away down the hallway.

"Did she follow them?" thought, staring at her for a few seconds and remembered yesterday's cake. Then, in a lapse, the memory deviated to another that had nothing to do with her partner, but was related to the cake. She frowned, feeling annoyed. "Why? Damn curiosity," thought angrily.

"Are you coming, AJ, or do you have other plans?" asked Rainbow, who was already a short distance away.

"Uh, yeah, I'm coming," Applejack replied, looking back at her, taking one last look back only to notice that Rarity had already disappeared into the students.

The two of them headed towards the court, walking in a silence that seemed comfortable.

And so, with each of them walking in different directions, the day continued.

The last class of the day was over, and the students were gathering their things to go home, either walking or by car. The Mane Six were heading to the parking lot, talking animatedly.

"Fluttershy, I was thinking... but I don't want to force you. It's only if you want," Rainbow began, choosing her words carefully.

Fluttershy and the others waited for her to continue so they could understand what she meant.

"I can take you this time," offered, showing her car keys.

"Oh," the pink-haired girl replied, a little surprised.

"I can take you home, or if you prefer, to the animal shelter, if you plan on going there," Rainbow added.

Fluttershy looked at Twilight, who nodded for her to accept. In the past few days, she had gone with the bespectacled girl instead of taking the bus or a taxi, like other times.

"It's okay, Rainbow," agreed with a smile.

"Perfect!" exclaimed, smiling victoriously. "We just have to wait for Scootaloo."

"No problem," Fluttershy replied.

"For now, we could just head to the car," the sporty girl suggested.

"Hey, Rainbow," Applejack intervened, taking a step forward. "Remember to get ahead on your work."

Pinkie, Sunset, Twilight, and Fluttershy looked at each other a little confused by the unexpected comment.

The multicolored haired girl turned to her partner with a confused expression, wondering what that comment was about. "Sure. Are you okay, Blondie? You seem distracted these days."

"Everything is fine, as usual," Applejack stated, with a neutral tone of voice. "Nothing I can't handle. Just some things that have me thinking."

"Ah, I see," Rainbow murmured, nodding slowly. "Well, you know how we are, but if you need anything, let me know."

"Thanks, Dash. I appreciate it," said, with a neutral expression.

Rainbow nodded again and then looked at the animal lover. "I'm going with Fluttershy now. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure, take care," Applejack replied, in the same tone of voice.

"Well, girls, I'll see you tomorrow," Fluttershy said goodbye.

"Bye, girls," Rainbow added, raising her hand before walking alongside the pink-haired girl to her blue car.

"Bye," the others said.

When they arrived, Rainbow stepped forward and opened the door for Fluttershy. "I can make an exception this time," she commented with a wink.

Fluttershy laughed, understanding the reference to the similar gesture she had made at the event, but under different circumstances.

"Ladies first," joked, bowing slightly in false formality.

"Thanks, Rainbow," said, getting into the passenger seat and settling in.

"My pleasure," replied, closing the door before heading to the driver's side.

Applejack watched from afar as Rainbow opened the car door for Fluttershy and gave a slight bow, something she used to do before. The farm girl couldn't help but compare that gesture to other memories.

"Hey, Applejack," Sunset called again, noticing her friend was lost in thought.

The farm girl blinked and shook her head before answering. "What's up, Sunset?"

"This question might be a little unusual, but is everything okay with how Fluttershy and Rainbow get along?" Sunset asked, choosing her words carefully.

Applejack frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

Twilight chimed in, concerned. "Well, yesterday we saw that something seemed to be bothering you and we thought it might have been Rainbow's gesture towards Fluttershy. Maybe it made you uncomfortable or something."

The blonde shook her head. "Why would that bother me? I don't understand."

Pinkie, always direct, sighed before speaking. "I think what Sunset and Twilight are trying to say is if you're not jealous."

"Jealous? No, I know they're close... although I saw a little before they drifted apart, so I don't know how close they were," Applejack replied.

The words trailed off for a moment as her thoughts drifted back into the past. "But that's not really what's going on... I'm comparing some old memories I shouldn't be thinking about to the interaction between the two of them," explained, letting out a sigh she hadn't realized she was holding.

The three girls exchanged glances, trying to decipher the meaning behind her words.

"But don't worry, girls, I'm fine with Rainbow being like that with Fluttershy. She's her best friend," Applejack finally said, with an honest smile.

"That's good. I wouldn't want there to be any bad vibes over a misunderstanding," Sunset said, relaxing a bit.

"Looks like this is settled," Pinkie said, wrapping an arm around Twilight and Sunset in a carefree hug.

Applejack said goodbye to the girls before heading to her truck as she waited for her sister. She watched her friends, grateful for their concern. She turned her head as Scootaloo walked past her and headed to Rainbow's car, who had gotten out of the driver's side laughing. Again her mind wandered off to something else.

She scuffed her foot in frustration. "damn, why did I have to go on Instagram?" whined, staring at the ground.

"damn?" Apple Bloom said, walking over.

The farm girl looked up at her sister. "Apple Bloom, don't say those words."

"Sorry, sis, you were the one who said it," replied with a confused grimace.

"And what wrong did the poor Instagram app do?" Pinkie asked, pretending to be sad as she walked over with an exaggerated pout.

"Nothing, Pinkie, I already explained a little about my behavior," Applejack said, crossing her arms with a slight smile.

"Okay, but it seems like something else has you like this," Pinkie said, tilting her head to the side, with a thoughtful expression. "Maybe we can help you in our own way," added with an encouraging smile. Apple Bloom, despite having just arrived and not understanding the situation, nodded.

Applejack looked at Pinkie and her sister, noticing the sincere intention to help in their eyes. "I'm feeling weird, like emptiness, or maybe it's frustration... I don't know, and it all started since I went on Instagram the other day out of... curiosity, nothing more," said with a heavy sigh, scratching the back of her neck.

"I understand you, I may not be the best example..." the party girls began, raising a hand to emphasize her point. The farmer girl looked at her, not so convinced if she would help her, but decided to listen. "One of the many novels I've seen, more than one has left me with an emptiness because in the end my favorite 'ship' didn't end up together, either because they preferred the other or because one died... and even though I know it's fictional, you manage to empathize," said, putting a hand on her chest. "Then that feeling goes away."

Applejack crossed her arms and nodded, although she still looked lost. "I guess it makes sense..."

"Once with Scootaloo we played a decision-making game. Everything was going well until I made a mistake in the last chapters and I was left with a feeling for the end since I didn't manage to save my favorite characters," Apple Bloom said, with an understanding smile, remembering the moment. "But, as Pinkie says, that feeling passes after a few days."

Applejack let out a deep sigh, scratching the back of her neck nervously. "Yeah, maybe it's just a passing feeling..."

Pinkie nodded vigorously, placing a friendly hand on the blonde's shoulder. "Exactly, I'm sure whatever you saw on Instagram left you with a similar feeling, but it will pass in a few days. You could do something you like to distract yourself," suggested with a warm smile. Applejack raised her head, feeling something inside her lighten up a bit.

The examples they gave were unusual, but they sort of helped her think about how to process what she was feeling. "Maybe working on the farm will help, or maybe the same jobs they're giving us will help this emotion fade quickly, if not within days," said. She then looked at her relatives with a smile. "Thanks. For a moment there I didn't think your examples would help me."

"Ouch," Pinkie pretended to be offended.

"That's what family is for," Apple Bloom said, smiling proudly.

"What's the phrase?" the party girl asked, excited, with a wide smile.

"Apple at heart!" they said in unison before breaking into a shared laugh.

Rainbow Dash drove while Scootaloo entertained herself in the backseat with her PSP, and Fluttershy sat in the passenger seat.

"So, where do you want to go?" asked, keeping her eyes on the road.

"It's a while before sunset, so I'm going to the animal shelter," Fluttershy replied.

"The shelter then," said, turning a corner. "Will your partner be there... the one who was giving me a hard time?"

Fluttershy giggled. "Discord, yes. As always, he'll be there. He's just another helper, although he's rarely absent."

"One more reason not to go..." Rainbow added with a smile. "Just kidding... If I ever visit you, I don't know if I'll be able to stand it."

"You two are almost alike," said, looking at her friend with a thoughtful expression.

"Him and me?" asked, somewhat incredulous.

"Yes, both of them can be unpredictable and a bit stubborn," explained, glancing at her friend a bit. "But, at the same time, they have a gentle side."

"Do you think I'm as unpredictable as Discord?" questioned, arching an eyebrow.

"In some ways," Fluttershy confirmed with a soft smile. "But that's also what makes your company so pleasant."

Rainbow laughed, smiling genuinely. "I'd like to hear that from someone every now and then."

"Really? And why?" the pink-haired girl inquired, looking at her curiously.

"Yes. Maybe some expect me to be different, to change my ways," Rainbow replied, hiding the truth, briefly glancing at Fluttershy before focusing back on the road.

"We all have flaws, and sometimes we can work on them to be a better person," Fluttershy said, leaning forward slightly. "But we are like this because it's part of us. Some things don't change, and you shouldn't force yourself to change; you should be authentic."

"That's good advice," muttered, looking somewhat frustrated. "It's just that I got to thinking that I should try to be more open about my feelings or gestures towards our friends..."

"More expressive?" Fluttershy asked thoughtfully. "Sometimes, showing that vulnerable side can also help others feel more comfortable opening up."

"It's not always easy," the multicolored haired girl said, letting out a sigh. "But I'm going to try. I realize there are things I can improve, but I also want to accept who I am."

"Even though you keep working on yourself, your authenticity is what makes you special; it's your way of being," said, leaning slightly towards her friend.

Rainbow glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. "Thank you, Fluttershy. That's good to hear," said, feeling a mix of gratitude and relief.

"You know, I can give you an example," added, giving her a mysterious look.

The animal lover looked at her curiously, not understanding what she meant, and returned to her position.

"I appreciate our friendship so much. Especially now that we're in this process," Rainbow commented. "I feel like I can be more authentic with you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

"And I appreciate yours. I'm glad to know we can talk like this," Fluttershy replied with a soft smile. "It's comforting to see how we're growing and getting back what we had."

"Yes, exactly," the sportswoman said with a smile. "Sometimes I forget how important it is to have someone like you."

Rainbow paused before continuing. "You know, you've improved as a person too. Your shy side held you back sometimes, but you've managed to move forward, like in the presentations at the event. You were able to speak in front of everyone," she said, turning her head slightly as the traffic light turned red to look at her. "It's great how you've changed, but it's not necessarily a bad trait; it's part of you."

Fluttershy was a little surprised and smiled. "Thanks, Dash. That was nice."

Fluttershy nodded, appreciating the moment and put the car back in gear as the light turned green.

As silence settled in the car, Fluttershy recalled the conversation with her partner and muttered,

"Yeah... it's different this time."

"Did you say something?" Rainbow asked, glancing at her briefly before returning her gaze to the road.

"Nothing," replied with an enigmatic smile.

As silence settled in the car, Scootaloo watched the two girls from the backseat. Her mind was occupied with the game on her PSP, but she couldn't help but listen to the conversation.

"Why do they always have to talk about such complicated things?" thought, frowning slightly as she moved her thumbs around in the game. "Sometimes, I just don't understand adult talk."

Author's Note

• Hi everyone, I hope you're doing well. Here's the updated chapter, literally, since I recently uploaded it to the Wattpad page in my native language and preferred to translate it into English right away for you.

• I wanted to dedicate this chapter more to Rainbow and Fluttershy's relationship, so we didn't have any direct interaction between Applejack and Rarity.

• I don't know if you noticed the references to the main series.

• A reminder about the point of view of the flashbacks: sometimes they will be from the perspective of a character remembering something, but everything happens with him/her seeing or describing what happens. In other cases, even if the character who remembers doesn't know what other people are talking about or what happened elsewhere, those points of view will still be shown, as seen in the two flashbacks in this chapter. This makes some things easier to understand. Also, something that isn't a point of view per se is, where you remember and return to the present, and the character keeps remembering until they come out of the present. And on rare occasions I'll use a point of view where a character remembers something and, upon leaving the memory, we change to another character. Lastly, it's the one that happens a few minutes before, but upon returning to the present it's recognizable by the typography.

• That's all. I hope you liked the chapter. See you next time!