Rainbow Dash looked at herself in the long mirror in her room, evaluating each item of clothing she tried on. Every few seconds she shook her head and discarded an item of clothing, looking for something that would really make her stand out for the party.

"Hmm... no," muttered as she took off her jacket and left it on the bed.

"What are you doing?" Scootaloo asked, walking in with a part of her mummy costume on.

"Creating a makeshift costume..." replied, turning to look at another item of clothing in the reflection. "The bad part about Pinkie announcing things at the last minute... I don't want something so childish, even if it's a speedster."

"Speedster? I thought you'd wear something scary for Halloween," her sister said, laughing as she adjusted the bandages on her costume.

"Yeah, but I changed it last minute," replied, now looking at her hair. "If I had shorter hair and some gel, I could slick it back, I'd look even faster!"

"Like the one from The Incredibles?" Scootaloo asked, remembering the movie.

"The Incredibles?" Rainbow repeated, arching an eyebrow. "That Dash kid who runs fast?"

"Crazy, he has your name on him!" the magenta-haired girl exclaimed with laughter.

"Coincidences of life... Better something else," the multicolored girl said as she searched through her closet.

"Didn't you buy some boots that you never used because you discovered they light up in the dark?" Scootaloo recalled.

"Perfect, Scoot! So I can pair them with that dark jacket and some loose pants," Rainbow replied, ruffling her sister's hair before searching for the boots.

"I still feel like something's missing..." murmured, looking closely at her reflection again.

"Makeup," her mom suggested from the doorway.

"Oh, no! Not a chance," replied with a grimace.

"I'm not talking about lipstick or anything like that," her mother clarified as she entered the room. "I mean something on the face, like lines..."

"I see, cyberpunk style," Scootaloo commented, nodding enthusiastically.

Rainbow looked back at the outfit she had chosen and observed her face in the mirror. "Actually, it doesn't sound bad... cyberpunk, huh?" said. She turned around to grab a dark jacket. "Ma, how long do you think it would take you to sew some neon on this jacket?"

"Hmmm..." her mother murmured, analyzing the garment. "First, you two go to the bathroom so I can do your makeup, while I see if I can do it later," replied with a knowing smile.

The rest of the minutes the two of them spent in the bathroom putting on makeup thanks to their mom, then making some touches to her daughter's jacket.

Once ready, Rainbow hopped in her vehicle with Scootaloo and her parents to drop them off at the area where she had met the Crusaders and Spike for trick-or-treating. Then, she headed to Fluttershy's house. Since she was the only one in the group without a vehicle, she offered to go with her. She parked in front of the house, got out of the car, and leaned against it as she texted her that she was already outside.

A few seconds later, her friend came out dressed in a white dress that looked like the style she wears in her everyday life, with some touches of makeup on her face. The multicolored girl smiled with a half smile, laughing a little, as she expected something like that from the shy girl, but that smile was erased when she saw someone else coming out.

"Hey, Dash," greeted Zephyr in a costume that was clearly a hippie.

"What?!" exclaimed surprised.

"I know, I mentioned the party and he got really excited about the idea..." said Fluttershy, a little embarrassed by the unexpected surprise.

"Rainbow Dash, you look really cool," said the pink-haired girl's brother.

"That's the only compliment I'll take well from you," Rainbow murmured through clenched teeth. "Thanks, Zephyr, you too," she forced a smile.

"Thanks, I knew you'd like it," said looking at her own clothes.

"I like your futuristic look, you look... 20% cooler, as you would say," the pink haired girl said, raising her head to look at her. Her friend now had her hair tied up, with lines on her face that resembled circuits, giving her a robotic look.

"That's what I wanted to hear..." Rainbow said, smiling sincerely. "Oh, you, uh... look... magical," added, not quite sure what to say as she looked closely at the costume.

"She's supposed to be a nymph, but she looks like a fairy," Zephyr explained.

Fluttershy lowered her head in embarrassment. "Remember when we were younger and I dressed up as a fairy?" The sporty girl nodded. "Well, these wings are from that time."

Rainbow leaned down a little to get a better look at them, noticing the medium-sized wings. She returned to her position and looked at her friend again, holding back the urge to laugh. "I'll say you look... cute..." said, blushing at the cheesy words.

"Thanks, Dash," Fluttershy said, laughing at how Rainbow seemed to explode until she took a deep breath. "Did it hurt a lot?"

"A little," replied, holding up two fingers to indicate the minimum amount.

Fluttershy laughed.

"Maybe I should have said other words," the multicolored one commented as she walked to the driver's door.

"Like what?" the pink haired girl asked as she walked to the passenger seat.

"Pretty, gorgeous, beautiful... or something like that... wait, that sounds kind of cheesy too," said, surprised by her own words. She then looked at her friend. "It's something your mom would say, right?"

Fluttershy stared at her for a moment before opening the door and getting into the car, leaving Rainbow a little confused. "Okay...?" muttered, thinking, "Did I say something wrong?" She then turned her gaze to her friend's brother. "Come on, hop in, hippie."

Zephyr nodded and walked through the back door. With everyone buckled up and ready, Rainbow started the car, heading in the direction Pinkie had told them to go.

Elsewhere in town, Windy and Grandma Smith were in Hondo's car, watching from inside as the kids talked on a corner of the plaza with Big Mac, Hondo, and Bow as their companions, while the two older girls remained in the vehicle.

"Do you think they'll take long?" asked the multi-colored girl's mom, looking at the kids.

"Youth these days..." said Grandma Smith, with a mischievous smile and a sigh. "They don't seem to be in a hurry for anything, do they? When I was young, I didn't waste time on things like that. It was all so fast!"

Windy laughed softly, shaking her head. "Yeah, well, to them it all seems like a big adventure. I'm sure they're taking longer than necessary to decide which house to start with. It's like trick-or-treating is a military strategy."

"Oh, don't tell me! In my opinion, it's just an excuse to prolong the fun," commented Grandma Smith. "When I was their age, we just went from house to house without a second thought!"

"That's true," Windy said, smiling. "Maybe we've gotten a little more impatient over the years, huh? But sometimes I like to see them enjoy these little moments so much. In my time, we did go out, yes, but not with such enthusiasm. We'd settle for a couple of candies and that was it!"

"That's what I think," Grandma Smith agreed. "I remember when we'd go trick-or-treating on Halloween and it didn't matter if we got a lot or a little, the important thing was to have a good time. It's something special to see the younger generations take advantage of it so much."

"Yeah, that's charming," Windy said, looking at the younger ones fondly. "And it's great that they're still keeping the tradition alive."

Grandma Smith smiled softly. "And if they don't hurry up, they'll end up celebrating Halloween in November."

"As long as they're happy, it's fine. You'll see how, when they start roaming the streets, they'll forget everything else."

"I just hope they don't forget to ask the neighbors for something other than candy. Some apples wouldn't hurt!"

Windy laughed as she watched the kids point out where they were going. "Now thinking about it... we'll see that the girls have a good time at the pub... I hope Rainbow doesn't get into trouble."

"I know Applejack wouldn't get into trouble unless it was necessary," Granny Smith said, nodding. "Speaking of trouble, I want to talk about something," she continued, looking serious.

"Yeah? Tell me," she said, curious to know what she meant.

Meanwhile, in the corner, Sweetie Belle was wearing a zombie costume, with makeup so detailed that it looked like she had risen from the grave. Apple Bloom was dressed as a witch, with a pointy hat and a dark cape, and Scootaloo had wrapped herself in bandages, creating a mummy costume so funny that even Spike couldn't stop laughing.

"That caught my eye the most," muttered, lowering her head in some embarrassment. "And Apple Bloom's doesn't match yours."

The girl shrugged. "That's how it should be! Everyone is unique."

"I think you would look good as a skeleton," Scootaloo said to Spike, imagining him in an even creepier costume.

"Where do we start?" Apple Bloom asked, changing the subject and eager to get started.

"I say over there," the remaining three said, pointing in different directions.

"Come to an agreement!" said the youngest Apple, raising her hands.

"First we have to make sure the place is safe," Bow said, his tone authoritative but calm.

"You read my mind," said Hondo, as he looked at Big Mac.

"Yeup," said Big Mac, arms crossed, smiling calmly but understandingly.

Once the group was in agreement, following the adults' precautions and making sure everything was in order, they began to move forward with enthusiasm. Big Mac, Hondo and Bow led the way, watching their every step, smiling and sometimes laughing every time the little ones shouted "Trick or treat!" in front of each door. The girls and Spike followed behind, excited, with empty candy bags ready to be filled at each house they visited. The night was filled with laughter and pumpkin lights illuminating the way, while the fresh Halloween air caressed their faces.

The pub where the party was taking place was the perfect place to celebrate Halloween. Orange and purple lights shone throughout the space, casting eerie shadows against walls adorned with fake spiderwebs and skulls. The smell of drinks and candy filled the air as guests arrived, laughing, dancing, and chatting in a lively atmosphere.

A dance floor took up almost the center of the pub, surrounded by tables decorated with black tablecloths and LED candles. In one corner, DJ pon 3 played vibrant music, causing the strobe lights to move to the beat.

Applejack was entering, adjusting her jacket as she looked around. Among the costumed guests, her eye caught a figure moving quickly and energetically, handing out greetings and laughter. She assumed it was Pinkie Pie, dressed as a harlequin, waving her signature enthusiasm to the newcomers. She looked around and found the girls near the bar table.

"Applejack, you're the last one here," Rainbow said with a smirk.

"You know I'm the one who lives a little far from town," replied, shrugging.

"True," Sunset added with a smile.

"Anything I missed?" asked, settling in next to the group.

"Nothing really," Fluttershy replied with a small smile.

"I was just asking Twilight where she left Frankenstein," Rainbow joked, pointing at the glasses-wearing girl.

Applejack turned to look at Twilight, who was wearing a white apron, black gloves, and slightly disheveled hair.

"You do look like Frankenstein's creator, actually," commented, letting out a light laugh.

"I'm just a scientist," the blue-haired girl said, rolling her eyes. "I used what I had in my workspace."

"That's why I told you to go shopping, we had plenty of time," the red-haired girl commented.

"What about you, Sunset? You did go and buy a costume, I think," Applejack said, looking at the black wings and horns that adorned the girl. The girl was wearing her classic leather jacket, black pants, and a touch of makeup. "Maleficent?"

"I'm a fallen angel," Sunset explained with a smirk.

"Oh, sorry."

Rainbow chuckled. "Just like Fluttershy looks like a fairy, when she's actually a nymph."

"I thought you were a fairy," Applejack said.

"I thought the same thing, too," Twilight added.

Fluttershy blushed slightly before answering. "Well, I guess that depends on how the costume looks."

"If you see her brother, he's definitely what he looks like, a hippie," the multicolored one chimed in with her arms crossed.

"Is Zephyr here?" the farmer asked, visibly surprised.

"Unfortunately," Rainbow muttered under her breath.

"When I asked for permission, Zephyr got excited about the idea and ran off to find a costume," Fluttershy explained with a small nervous laugh.

"I mean, he invited himself," Applejack said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, he should be around," said with resignation.

"Any other siblings here?" the blonde asked jokingly. "Thanks to Pinkie, Apple Bloom didn't ask to come when I mentioned him at home."

"Well, compared to Zephyr, I did invite my brother," Sunset said, pointing to the side where Sunburst was chatting with Starlight.

"Is he a wizard?" asked, looking at the outfit.

"Something like that," replied with a soft laugh.

Rainbow looked at her partner. "And what are you? Some kind of Van Helsing?" asked, looking at the dark outfit he was wearing: a long faux leather jacket, pants of the same color, black boots, a dark blouse and a striking belt, as well as his signature cowboy hat.

"I'm a dark sheriff," Applejack said, removing her hat. "Grandma Smith suggested putting black mesh on it," added, showing off her signature hat, which now looked dyed black.

"For a moment there I thought you'd bought a new hat," Sunset commented with a smile.

"No, my hat is irreplaceable," replied appreciatively as she carefully put it back on.

"I've always wondered how it doesn't fit you," Rainbow said curiously.

"That depends on when she got it," Twilight chimed in thoughtfully. "Could be since she was a little girl or a teenager."

Applejack instantly tensed, showing a serious and somewhat melancholy expression for a moment that didn't go unnoticed by the others.

"How about we go dancing a little?" Sunset suggested quickly, trying to divert the conversation.

"That's a great idea," Fluttershy agreed, who had also noticed the farmer's discomfort.

Applejack took a deep breath and nodded. "They're right, let's dance."

The girls turned their gaze to the dance floor. Although it was almost empty, they could tell that the space was limited and would probably fill up later.

"I don't think it'll be as tight as when it fills up later," Sunset commented, trying to keep the mood light.

"Come on, I'm not losing sight of you," Rainbow said, extending her hand towards the pink-haired girl with a confident smile.

Fluttershy responded with a shy smile and began to reach out to take her friend's hand, but before she could reach it, Applejack grabbed the multicolored girl by the wrist and began to drag her towards the dance floor.

"Hey!"

"Come on cyberpunk, let's see if I can beat you with a few steps," said with a challenging smile as she let go of Rainbow once they reached the dance floor.

The athlete looked at her with a mix of surprise and anger before throwing a quick glance towards Fluttershy, who was now next to Twilight. The multicolored girl let out a heavy sigh and turned her attention back to the blonde.

"What's wrong?" Applejack asked, frowning as she noticed her partner's expression.

"Nothing," replied, straightening up and preparing for the competition, though her frustration was still palpable.

Off the dance floor, Fluttershy looked at her hand for a moment, sighing as she watched Rainbow and Applejack begin their competition. Twilight, beside her, cocked her head, noticing the gesture.

"Are you okay?" asked softly.

The pink haired girl looked up and forced a smile. "Yeah, just... well, for a moment I thought I was going to dance with Dash."

Twilight looked at her with understanding and a slight smile of support. "Sometimes it's hard when things don't go the way you expect."

Fluttershy nodded, feeling a little calmer by the answer.

"What's wrong, did you two fall behind?" Sunset asked, coming back from the small crowd on the dance floor.

"I kept looking at how far apart we would be before we were cramped," the blue haired girl answered naturally.

"I was going to go, but it seems you two already had plans to dance," Fluttershy said shyly.

The girls watched the couple on the dance floor, now surrounded by a few guests watching their competition.

"You'll have to wait," Sunset joked with a laugh.

"I guess so," muttered as she let Twilight lead her towards the dance area.

With Pinkie, she watched as those who had already arrived, which to her surprise were quite a few for just the beginning of the party. Probably, the college kids had invited people who weren't from the institute. She wasn't complaining, the more the merrier.

Her gaze fell on a group of kids who were entering, so she quickly approached.

"Flash, guys!" greeted, waving her hand enthusiastically.

"Oh, Pinkie," Flash replied upon seeing her. "I almost didn't recognize you with that half-joy, half-scary makeup."

"Hey, Pinkie!" the rest of the band said, greeting her with smiles.

"I mixed joy with terror," the party girl explained, proud of her work of art. "And your costumes?" asked, tilting her head as she watched them.

"We didn't have much in mind. Besides, if I wore a mask, I don't know if I could see the guitar strings when I played," Flash explained, picking up the case where she carried her instrument. "We also had to figure out how to bring in the instruments without ruining anything."

"Oh, for one thing you're right. The place is dark enough as it is," Pinkie said, looking around at the room that was illuminated by soft lights in some areas. "And for another... there were already a couple of instruments here."

"I told you, moron," Ringo said to Flash, hitting him on the head.

"Ouch!" he complained, rubbing himself.

At that moment, the door opened again, and two figures made an exaggerated entrance. "Here comes the life of the party!" Feather exclaimed, raising her arms as she walked beside Timber.

"Hey, Pinkie," Timber greeted with a more relaxed smile.

"Hey!" replied.

"Is Rarity here yet?" Feather asked, sitting up straight with a glint in her eyes.

"Not yet, Casanova," the party girl joked, though not entirely.

"Tell me, how do I look dressed up?" The brunette asked, making a dramatic gesture as he brushed his hair back. "This werewolf is looking for his little red riding hood."

"Okay, wolf..." Pinkie looked him up and down. "She seems to be taking a while, but he'll be here soon enough."

"You heard him, champ," Timber said, giving him a friendly nudge on the shoulder.

Pinkie smiled as she watched Feather dramatically brush her hair back, clearly trying to impress someone in particular. His werewolf costume wasn't exactly scary, but it did have a charming touch with the pointy ears and a sleeveless grey leather vest with a dark red t-shirt underneath that gave him a rebellious air.

"I'm sure Rarity will be impressed," Timber commented with a smirk, crossing his arms as he looked at his friend in amusement.

"Of course she will be," Feather replied with exaggerated confidence, adjusting her collar with a theatrical gesture. "How could she not be? This werewolf not only has style, but rhythm as well."

"Well, if you want to impress her, you better not stand here talking," Pinkie said. "The dance floor is across the way, and someone needs to start warming it up!"

"Good idea," Feather said, straightening up. "Come on," added, turning to Timber, who followed him onto the dance floor.

"I'll see you later, Wolf and McFly," Pinkie called out to the two of them. "And you," said, pointing to the boys in the band, "if you don't want to play yet, you can leave your instruments on the stage."

"Sure!" Flash replied, moving with the rest of the group as they moved away from the entrance and deeper into the room.

On the dance floor, the five girls walked out together, some letting out tired laughs after the dance.

"I think I need a drink," Rainbow sighed, wiping her brow.

"I'll get something to eat," Sunset commented, craning her neck to relieve the tension.

"I'll join you," Fluttershy added with a small smile, following them to the bar table.

Behind them, Applejack walked with a grimace. "What do you mean, a tie?" muttered, looking at the bespectacled girl who had given the verdict.

"You two ran out of ideas at the end," Twilight explained, still remembering the steps she had counted precisely and how the crowd had reacted to each move. "And even the audience noticed."

"Mmm... Well, let's wait for the others," said, resigned, as she pointed to the side of the bar.

Within minutes they watched as Sunset approached with a medium-sized plate of nachos. "There! Luckily it's not as crowded as the dance floor," commented, offering them to the girls. Each one took a few as they chatted.

"What about Rainbow and Fluttershy?" Twilight asked, taking one of the nachos curiously.

"They're taking a while because Dash ordered something complicated and Fluttershy... well, you know, something non-alcoholic," the red-haired girl replied with a small laugh.

"Ah, typical," Applejack said before stuffing an entire nacho into her mouth.

"From the grimace and the way Twilight was moving her hands, I'm sure there was another competition between the two of you," Pinkie said, seeing her friends still near the entrance, but closer to the nearby tables.

At that moment, the party girl heard a clearing of the throat behind her. When she turned around, she found Rarity, who had just arrived. Pinkie was surprised to see her costume: a tight blouse that showed off her bust more, as well as having it slightly open, which made her stand out even more; a miniskirt with ripped tights, black heels and a cape.

"Hey, Pinkie," greeted with a confident smile.

"Oh, I love your costume! I see that revealing touch you were talking about," Pinkie said, giving her a slight nudge on the shoulder in complicity.

"Yeah, I decided to go a little outside of my usual style and make it a little more daring," Rarity replied, lifting her chin slightly.

"It certainly worked," the party girl commented, looking her over from head to toe. "You're one sexy vampire, and I assure you that more than one will notice as soon as you walk in."

Rarity smiled at the compliment, bringing a hand to her neck to adjust the small brooch that adorned her cape. "Not bad at all, your costume almost scared me because of the scary makeup."

"Thanks. It was going to be all for fun, but I thought since it's Halloween, it had to have something," Pinkie said, shaking her head from side to side.

"It looked lovely on you."

The party girl nodded happily. "You know, a boy came in a little while ago and asked for you."

"Ah, Feather..." Rarity said, with a light smile. "I hope he doesn't have too many expectations."

"Oh, he does!" Pinkie laughed. "I told him you'd definitely notice his costume. By the way, did you know he called himself 'the life of the party'?"

The seamstress let out a small laugh. "It seems to me that he'll need more than a costume to pull it off, but I suppose I should give him some credit for trying."

"Exactly! Attitude is everything!" exclaimed, nodding enthusiastically. She then nudged him playfully. "So? What do you plan to do first? Socialize, dance, or dramatically steal glances from the drinks bar?"

Rarity arched an eyebrow in amusement. "Do you think I should go for drama from the start?"

"It's always a good idea to start off with a theatrical twist!" Pinkie replied, making a gesture as if unfolding an imaginary rug. "Besides, I know you have that walk that would make even skeletons turn over."

"Pinkie, darling, it's impossible not to have fun with you," commented with a genuine smile. She then looked around a bit, noticing Twilight, Sunset, and Applejack. "Oh, the girls."

"Are you going to try to run away or will it motivate you to talk?" asked with a half-smile.

"I'd like to chat, especially with Sunset and Twilight, thank you."

"Are you saying that because those two helped you in the finals?" Pinkie asked with a half-smile.

"I felt a little uncomfortable. The two of them didn't say anything to me because I kept it from them that I studied with them."

"Nah, don't worry, they didn't mind."

"Better... well, let's go. I'll go see the attempt," Rarity said, starting to walk away while receiving praise and whistles. Pinkie, for her part, greeted another guest before following her.

Rainbow, who was waiting for Fluttershy's glass, looked up at the crowd on the dance floor. "Really, it was a tie?" thought, shaking her head, but something slightly hindered her gaze towards the dance floor: she saw Rarity walking nearby.

"Really, wine? She's always everywhere. It's already bad enough having her at the university. She was already passable in the square, but now here?" thought while frowning. She noticed how the seamstress seemed to get a little closer to the group, so she decided to move away from the bar table and approached her friends. A not so pleasant idea came to her mind when she saw the blonde.

Just when Applejack noticed her presence, the multicolored girl grabbed her by the jacket and kissed her.

The kiss was unexpected, enough to surprise not only Applejack, but also the rest of her friends. Twilight's eyes widened, Sunset was speechless, and Pinkie raised an eyebrow, clearly confused.

For her part, Rarity, who had gotten close enough to notice the scene, stopped dead in her tracks. She calmly turned around, though her tense posture gave her away. "That was... unexpected," said to herself, with a mix of confusion and surprise, as she walked further into the room.

Pinkie followed Rarity with her gaze as she walked away and then looked at Rainbow and Applejack. "That was unusual," thought before deciding to follow the seamstress.

As Rainbow stepped back, pulling away, she met the confused gaze of her partner, who clearly hadn't expected the gesture.

"What was that?" asked, a little taken aback.

"A kiss," replied sarcastically.

Twilight's eyes were still wide open in surprise. "You know what? We better go, so you have a little more privacy," said after reacting.

"We better leave you two in your paradise," Sunset added with a mocking smile, raising an eyebrow as she took the plate of nachos from the blue-haired girl.

"Girls..." Applejack began, looking away from them before fixing her gaze back on her partner. "I know it's a kiss, but why did you do it?"

"Are you mad about a kiss?" Rainbow asked, letting go of her in annoyance.

"What? It's not that... you caught me off guard," admitted, lowering her head a little, as if trying to calm down.

"Now I have to ask permission to kiss my girlfriend?" the multicolored one complained, her tone beginning to rise.

"Of course not!" the farmer replied, raising her voice in frustration.

"I don't understand you! You wanted signs of affection, there you go," insisted, her tone full of irritation.

"I thought you understood when we talked the other time," Applejack muttered, looking away at the ground.

"Understand what?" asked, confused but still angry.

"Nothing."

At that moment, Fluttershy appeared with two glasses in her hands, her shy eyes alternating between Applejack and Rainbow.

"Hey, Dash, I saw you turned around and left your drink," said, lowering her gaze a little. "But if you're busy, I better go," she said, turning around.

"Rainbow..." Applejack was going to say.

"Wait a bit..." said Rainbow, raising her hand almost in her face.

"Are you shutting me up?"

"Fluttershy, thanks. I didn't realize I left it," said, her tone suddenly changing to a softer one.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Fluttershy muttered unsurely, pausing for a moment.

"No, we're done here," Rainbow replied, her gaze flickering to Applejack before turning back to her friend.

The farm girl rolled her eyes. "At least this time, avoid taking too much," said in a serious, yet angry tone.

Rainbow stopped mid-stride, turning her head slightly towards her. "Are you seriously...?" she began to complain, but seeing Fluttershy's worried look, she softened her expression. "You know what, I'm not up for another fight," finally said, walking beside the pink-haired girl.

Applejack watched with a frown as her partner walked away. In an unconscious movement, she ran her wrist across her lips before heading off in another direction.

For her part, Rainbow grimaced, thinking that maybe it wasn't the best idea. "Sometimes I forget how bad he is a kisser," said, taking a sip of her drink to wash down the taste.

Fluttershy glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. "Can I ask you a question?"

The multicolored girl turned to look at her, arching an eyebrow. "Go ahead."

"Umm... why did you do what you did?" asked, a certain hesitation in her voice. "It seemed like you were marking your territory more than out of emotional need."

Rainbow was a little surprised by the observation. "Did you get to see?"

"Yeah, I saw them. I just... noticed that and I had my doubts," admitted, lowering her gaze slightly.

She let out a heavy sigh before speaking. "I saw Belle, okay? Why does she always have to be around? She's here, there, everywhere..." paused, trying to calm herself down. "I know you guys seem to act a little different around her than when she first arrived, but I don't understand how you're okay with her now."

"And she even talked to Applejack about something... she didn't even want to explain. I didn't want to confront her because maybe it's not something important. But if it's about Belle..."

Fluttershy fiddled with her glass, choosing her words carefully. "Not all of us have talked to her... me very little. The last time she spoke to me was when I tripped. But... it's not like she's getting close like she did at the beginning. She's given us our space, and... we've noticed certain changes."

Rainbow frowned. "So what? I don't see any changes."

"Maybe..." Fluttershy spoke cautiously, measuring each word. "Maybe that emotion you have is keeping you from seeing it... But that doesn't mean you should forget what happened, not completely." She looked at her with a hint of concern. "Belle, even knowing what you did, tried to make an effort... even though you hate her."

The multicolored girl took a sip of her drink. "All she says is that she doesn't know when to give up. Should I look past that?" Her tone was almost sarcastic.

Fluttershy took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "I saw past you, Rainbow... Despite your mistakes, which almost cost us our friendship... if it weren't for your attempts you wouldn't be here in front of me."

Rainbow blinked, surprised by the answer. "Uh... Well..." She didn't know what to say. "What has she done so far to show that she's changed?"

"You should try to open your eyes." The pink haired girl looked away, choosing her words carefully. "Sometimes we still see people as they were in the past, without realizing that they're not the same anymore."

The athlete clenched her jaw, not answering.

"It doesn't have to be easy," Fluttershy murmured in an understanding tone. "But... somehow, we've all noticed certain changes. Perhaps it would be worth asking you why you can't see it," she let out a sigh. "I'm going to get some air." She turned and walked away.

Rainbow stared at her. "Without company..." said, looking around a bit. "When did you help her? When she tripped... it was near the bleachers..." muttered as she walked to one of the closest seats, deep in thought.

"Hey, how was your night?" said a male voice from in front.

The multicolored girl looked up, meeting someone wearing a mask. She frowned and raised an eyebrow in a menacing manner. "Do you want a black eye?" said with a note of warning in his tone.

"Guou, Dash, calm down!" the boy quickly replied, raising his hands in a sign of peace as he removed his mask, revealing Sorian's face.

Rainbow relaxed her posture instantly, letting out a small laugh. "Sorian! I was just about to punch you."

"I believe you," Sorian replied, letting out an almost nervous laugh as he settled in front of her.

Fluttershy stepped out onto the pub's terrace, letting the night breeze clear her mind. Despite the constant murmur of conversation and the music filtering in from within, the cool air offered relief.

She walked over to find an empty table and dropped into a chair, letting out a soft sigh. She watched the reflection of the lights in the place dance in her glass as her thoughts circled around the words she had said moments before.

"Maybe I went a little overboard..." muttered to herself.

"Getting some air, too?"

She looked up, immediately recognizing the voice. A few feet away from her, sitting together, were Rarity and Pinkie Pie.

The party girl was the first to speak, with her characteristic enthusiasm. "Let me guess: argument, fight, or misunderstanding?"

Fluttershy shook her head with a small smile. "None... I think."

"Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll work out," Rarity said softly.

Pinkie looked at the two of them, as if a brilliant idea had just occurred to her. She stood up suddenly. "Rarity, do you want a drink?"

"Uh...? I'm not sure if you still..."

"Perfect! I'll be right back." Pinkie didn't wait for an answer and disappeared into the pub.

Rarity cocked her head, visibly confused, but didn't comment. They both remained silent for a moment, the noise of the pub filling the void between them. Fluttershy looked at the other guests, while the seamstress fiddled with the cape of her costume.

Finally, the pink-haired girl broke the silence. "Your costume is... a little unusual," commented softly, pointing at the outfit.

Rarity gave a slight smile. "Oh, yes. I decided to try something different this time."

"It suits you," said, looking away at her glass.

"Thanks... Yours isn't bad either. Fairy, huh?"

Fluttershy let out a small laugh. "Actually, it was a nymph."

Rarity blinked, surprised. "Oh... well, it's easy to get confused."

"I know, everyone does," replied, shrugging.

A briefer silence settled between them. The seamstress ventured to continue. "Some costumes can appear to be something they're not," commented in a casual tone.

Before Fluttershy could respond, Lyra suddenly appeared at the table in her pirate costume, wearing a playful smile. "But yours is definitely what you are: a sexy vampire."

Rarity looked up, surprised by the interruption. "Oh, Lyra, I didn't see you come. Are you alone?"

"Bon Bon went to get some drinks. But hey, look at you!" she exclaimed, pointing at Rarity before turning to Fluttershy. "Hey, Fluttershy. Let me guess: your glass doesn't have any alcohol in it, right?"

The pink haired girl lifted her glass with a slight smile. "You know me."

The curly haired girl chimed in, looking at her with a faint smile. "That's just like you."

Lyra arched an eyebrow, amused. "How do you know?"

Rarity seemed to hesitate for a moment, looking away. "Oh, it's just... kind of obvious," said nervously.

Before Lyra could insist, a girl walked by and made a comment in the air. "You're definitely still one of my kind."

Rarity blinked, surprised. "Huh? We've met?"

The girl pushed her mask aside, revealing a confident expression. "I'm Valencia, the girl from the hallway. I'm still waiting for that answer," said with a wink before walking away into the crowd.

Lyra let out a laugh. "You have admirers."

Rarity stared after her for a moment, then muttered to herself, "Not bad."

Lyra cocked her head, confused by the comment, but didn't say anything.

Just then, Pinkie appeared with a glass in her hand. "Here's your margarita!"

The vampire quickly stood up, leaning over to the party girl to murmur, "Please get me out of here before Lyra puts the puzzle together."

Pinkie nodded with a knowing smile, then wasted no time taking Rarity by the arm. "Come on! The dance floor awaits us."

"See you later," the curly-haired girl said as she hurried away with the cheerful girl.

Lyra watched them walk away, still in thought, then turned to Fluttershy. "Hey, did you notice that?"

"What thing?"

"Rarity. That girl who winked at her seemed interested in her, and... well, Rarity didn't seem to reject her. Maybe it was just a compliment, though. Don't mind me," Lyra commented, shrugging.

"Maybe," was all she said, afraid to give away the dressmaker's tastes.

Lyra thought for a moment, but her attention shifted when she saw someone approach. "Oh, there's Dash. I'll leave you before you interrupt me again. Great outfit, Dash."

The cyberpunk girl nodded and walked over to the fairy and, without saying anything, sat down next to her, leaving a space of just a few inches between them.

"Hi," Rainbow said finally.

"Hi," Fluttershy replied, glancing at her out of the corner of her eye.

The multicolored girl scratched the back of her neck, clearly uncomfortable. "Hey, I wanted to talk... about earlier."

"I've been thinking about it too," she admitted, turning slightly toward her. "Maybe I was a bit pushy."

"And I was probably too uptight," Rainbow admitted with a nervous laugh.

Fluttershy looked down at the glass she was holding. "You have reasons."

The multicolored girl let out a sigh and leaned on the table. "You know, I ran into Sorian a while ago. For a moment I thought he was some random guy who was going to flirt with me."

Fluttershy let out a small laugh. "Like my brother?"

Rainbow laughed, relaxing a bit. "Your brother wins the award for most annoying. Compared to others who have tried, he is... a challenge."

"It's his way of socializing," the pink-haired girl commented with a smile.

"Even though Sorian was talking to me, my thoughts were divided into two parts..." the athlete said, looking at her in red. "Belle and you. You left me thinking."

Fluttershy looked at her, surprised. "You don't have to give her the chance if you don't feel ready. We'll all understand."

The multicolored girl shrugged, showing a slight smile. "I'll be thinking about it, but not now." Her tone changed to a more relaxed one. "Now is our time to have fun, although I know you don't like places like this very much."

"I prefer the quiet ones."

"I might make the effort one day and visit you at the animal shelter again."

Fluttershy arched an eyebrow, surprised. "Even if there's a chance Discord is there?"

Rainbow let out a light laugh. "I've put up with Belle so much that I'm almost used to it. We'll see if I can put up with that... partner of yours a little longer."

The pink-haired girl smiled, somewhat more relaxed. "He's not so bad once you get to know him."

"Who knows? Maybe I'll end up liking petting your little friends and dodging Discord's comments."

Applejack was leaning against the wall, watching some of them playing pool in the corner with their arms crossed. Caramel had come by to suggest she play, but she declined to clear her head after her partner's unexpected action.

"Trouble in paradise?" Sunset asked, offering her a glass of beer.

Applejack accepted it. "I don't know if it would be a problem."

"Maybe you were surprised that it was in public. Normally, some couples go to a secluded place to do their thing."

The farm girl raised an eyebrow.

"Come on, Applejack, I don't mean the intense level," Sunset said, leaning against the wall next to her. "You know, kissing in a corner, in the dark, or even on the same dance floor," added, looking slightly towards the dance floor in the distance.

"True, but we're different," the blonde said, taking a sip of her beer.

"Every couple has their own way of expressing their feelings for each other," the redhead said after taking a sip of her own beer.

"Rainbow told me something similar when our relationship was progressing," Applejack commented.

"Doing it in private, I understand, that's how you would be," Sunset said. Then she frowned, remembering a little. "Although with a certain person, he didn't seem to mind being in public that much," thought.

"Yeah, sort of, and I agreed to it later," the farmer said, after another sip. She looked at her glass. "This is going to be my only glass," said, picking up the beer.

"Come on, AJ, one more won't hurt," Sunset commented, picking up and holding out her glass. "Besides, you need energy to hunt," joked.

Applejack smiled and clinked her glass with hers. "I'm a sheriff," commented with an amused smile.

"You look like a hunter too, with that hat and long jacket," Sunset replied.

"I'm mostly talking about the beer because I have to drive home. I wouldn't want to run into a cop in the middle of the street and have him see that I look a little drunk."

Sunset cocked her head for a few seconds, realizing that she was somewhat right. Although, with some control of the glasses, she might not be drunk. Applejack didn't wait for an answer and took another sip.

At that moment, Pinkie and Rarity passed by while chatting. The blonde looked up just in time to see the dressmaker, noticing her somewhat tight costume. The farmer's eyes widened at the sight, and it was so unexpected that she choked on her beer, coughing loudly.

"Quite the costume, huh?" Sunset said as she watched the two of them head near the dance floor. But as she waited for Applejack's response, all she heard was a coughing sound. She watched the blonde cough, so she patted her on the back.

"You okay? Looks like the beer almost killed the sheriff," said, half worried and half amused.

Applejack could barely nod as she tried to compose herself. "Yeah... thanks," said between coughs.

The redhead laughed. "Who knew a hunter would choke so easily?" joked, not realizing the real reason.

Finally recovering, she cast one last glance towards where Rarity had disappeared. "Definitely," muttered to herself.

"You better put down the beer. We don't want you to choke again," Sunset said, taking the glass from her friend's hand.

"Yeah, better."

"Let's go outside. So you can clear your head a bit," Sunset suggested, leading her towards the exit.

Applejack nodded and followed her, though as she passed the dance floor she couldn't help but glance in the direction of the dressmaker once more. "That's not appropriate for a party... What was she thinking when she decided that?" thought. Her face reddened slightly, and she shook her head before continuing on.

Already on the terrace, she saw Rainbow Dash on the other side of the place, chatting animatedly with Fluttershy. Sunset, noticing this, nudged her lightly.

"Aren't you going to talk to her?"

Applejack shook her head. "Later. Besides, she's with Fluttershy," she said before dropping heavily into a chair. "Now I just want to relax."

"About your drowning?" Sunset said between laughs as she sat next to her.

Glanced at her, but didn't respond, choosing to close his eyes for a moment and let the night breeze calm his thoughts.

The streets were filled with decorations and people in costume. The Crusaders, along with Spike, moved from house to house, their laughter and excitement infecting anyone who passed by.

After several blocks, everyone decided to take a short break at a nearby bench to count their treasures. Sweetie Belle looked at her bag and smiled in satisfaction. "I think I have enough for two weeks!"

Spike, looking at his own candy, looked up curiously. "I wonder if this amount of candy will last us until the field trip!"

At the word field trip, Sweetie Belle tensed a little, enough for her friends to notice.

"What's wrong, didn't they give you permission?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Or didn't you tell your parents about the field trip?" Scootaloo added, noticing her friend's worried expression.

Sweetie Belle hesitated for a moment, looking at the ground and shuffling her feet. "Well... yeah, I told them, but not everything," she admitted, her voice low.

Apple Bloom frowned, looking at her firmly. "You should be honest. Apples always tell the truth."

"Are you sure they never lie?" Spike asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Well... AJ sometimes uses excuses to avoid saying something straight, but that can backfire too," Apple Bloom admitted before turning her attention back to her friend. "The important thing is: why didn't you tell them everything?"

Sweetie Belle sighed, looking down. "It's just that my parents are going on a trip around the time," she said quietly.

"So...? That way it won't feel as much like I'm gone because they'll be busy," Scootaloo pointed out, trying to cheer her up.

"It's just that... I'm a little sad about how the house will be left alone," she murmured, her head downcast.

"The house isn't alive, Sweetie," Spike commented, laughing along with Scootaloo.

Sweetie Belle crossed her arms. "It seems like they forgot someone..."

Apple Bloom paused to think for a moment. "Are you talking about Rarity?"

The laughter stopped immediately.

The girl nodded with a serious expression. "If I go on the field trip and my parents are also away, Rarity will be home alone for a few days," she explained, biting her lip, somewhat worried.

Scootaloo put a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "I'm sure Pinkie will be with her. And, if things get better, maybe the girls will visit her. She won't be alone for Christmas."

Sweetie Belle smiled a little, comforted by the support of her friends.

At that moment, Hondo, Big Mac, and Bow approached the group. "Okay, little ones, last stop. It's getting late," Hondo said, checking the time on his wrist.

"Yes, sir!" they answered in unison.

The children stood up enthusiastically and, with bags of candy in hand, continued with the last tour of the night.

Back at the party, on the terrace, Sunset Shimmer scanned the place for something that would add more excitement to the atmosphere. Her eyes lit up as she spotted a cornhole game decorated with LED lights in one corner. The boards were designed with glowing pumpkin and ghost motifs that seemed to float in the darkness, while the toss bags had prints of eyes that seemed to stare at you.

“Hey, guys!” Sunset exclaimed, catching the attention of Applejack and the others. “Have you seen that cornhole game? With those lights it looks like something out of a Halloween movie! How about we team up and play a round?”

Applejack raised an eyebrow, intrigued, as she watched the game with a smile. “That sounds great! With those lights, it’s sure to be even more fun.”

“I’ll pass,” Rainbow murmured, crossing her arms as she stood next to Fluttershy.

"Not right now, but Zephyr could be your partner," Fluttershy replied, glancing over at her brother, who had just joined the deck to chat with Rainbow.

Zephyr flashed a confident smile. "Sure! I'm sure it won't be hard to beat you two. Dash, wish me luck," added, shooting her a look.

"Break a leg."

Sunset, trying to keep up her enthusiasm, turned to Sunburst, who was standing nearby with a drink in hand. "What do you say, Sunburst? You could be a great reinforcement for our team! Besides, it's not every day you get to play cornhole with LED lights."

Sunburst hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded. "Hmm, sounds interesting. I've never played with LED lights before... but I'm in."

With Applejack and Sunset leading the charge, the group gathered around the game. The deck was filled with laughter and excitement as the first round of friendly competition began.

Inside the pub. The guests had gathered in a corner of the room, watching Trixie, who was once again trying to impress with her magic tricks. While many were feigning interest, some couldn't help but giggle when something didn't go her way.

"What's wrong, honey?" Bon Bon asked, leaning towards Lyra as she sipped from her glass.

"Something that happened on the terrace with Rarity got me thinking," replied, distracted.

"And what was it?" asked, arching an eyebrow, curious.

Lyra lowered her voice a little, leaning towards Bon Bon as if what she was about to tell was an important secret, although the vibrant music of DJ Pon-3 filled the pub, making it almost impossible for anyone else to hear them.

"Do you think Rarity likes both boys and girls?"

Bon Bon almost spat out her drink, surprised by the unexpected question. "Wow! Now that's a question."

Starlight, who was nearby, let out a laugh, not entirely surprised. "What gave you that impression?"

Lyra looked at the two of them before explaining. "First, he wasn't indifferent to a girl's flirting. Then, she followed her with his eyes and even commented that 'she wasn't bad at all'."

Starlight raised her eyebrows, feigning surprise so as not to give away what she already knew. "That sounds interesting..."
Bon Bon nodded enthusiastically, her mischievous smile lighting up her face. "We should confirm it somehow."

"Confirm it?" Twilight's voice interrupted. She had approached the group, frowning. "I don't think they should get into that."

"Come on, Twilight," Bon Bon insisted with a mischievous smile. "Aren't you even the slightest bit curious?"

The bespectacled girl sighed, remembering old conversations with Rarity about her tastes in love. She already knew the answer, but she preferred not to share it. "I'm going to go find Fluttershy. I don't want her to be alone."

"She's on the terrace with Rainbow Dash," Lyra said with a half-smile, noticing how Twilight was dodging the topic.

Attempting to change the subject, Twilight pointed towards the stage. "Look, Flash and his band are about to play. Right now, Rarity, why don't you go ask him?" joked with the last bit before regretting it.

"Perfect, we might find answers there," Bon Bon exclaimed with a smile.

Twilight grimaced as she walked away. "Why did I suggest that?"

"I'm not going to get involved in that," Starlight said, holding her hands up in surrender.

"Okay, then you tell us if Trixie's trick works," Bon Bon joked before following Twilight onto the dance floor.

Near the track, where strobe lights created a kaleidoscope of colors, Rarity finished telling Pinkie what had happened moments before.

"And that's what happened," said, gesturing elegantly as she played with the base of her glass.

"Well, you could have been a little more subtle," Pinkie commented, stirring her drink with a straw decorated with a mini umbrella.

"It slipped out of my mouth!" Rarity said, putting a hand on her forehead. "Luckily, I was distracted by the same girl who had tried to hit on me a few days ago."

"Oops, oops, oops! she got his eye on you again, huh?" Pinkie giggled.

"Yeah. I thought it would be a one-time encounter, but I didn't even know her name until she mentioned it herself: Valencia."

"Vignette Valencia," the party girl finished casually, as if she were talking about an acquaintance. "She's two years behind. She failed several classes."

"And she still hasn't been kicked out of college?" Rarity asked, arching an eyebrow in disbelief.

Pinkie nodded. "Twilight once told me that if you pass some classes and fail others, you can technically continue studying."

The seamstress blinked a few times, surprised. "You already knew her name? Why didn't you mention it before?"

"You didn't ask," replied, shrugging with a wide grin.

At that moment, Flash and his band began to play. The energy of the music filled the place, drawing more guests to the dance floor. As Pinkie encouraged Rarity to join in, the dressmaker's gaze drifted to a young man with white hair who was dancing nonchalantly near the stage.

"He's cute," Rarity commented, watching him with interest.

"Who?" Pinkie asked, raising her eyebrows in curiosity.

"That white-haired boy," replied, discreetly pointing at him with a gloved finger.

The party girl cocked her head, studying him. "Doesn't he have almost the same hairstyle as Feather?"

Rarity was taken aback by the comparison, and didn't know what to say.

Before she could say anything else, Lyra appeared next to Twilight and Bon Bon with a mischievous grin.

"Hey, girls!" Lyra greeted cheerfully, making a wide gesture that almost knocked over her drink.

"Twilight, have you seen Applejack? I haven't been able to say hello to her," Pinkie asked, leaning toward her friend in curiosity.

Twilight quickly replied, a slight nervousness in her voice. "Maybe he's on the terrace."

Bon Bon, for her part, wasted no time and looked directly at Rarity with a mix of curiosity and mischief. "Oh, Rarity..." she began, her tone lengthening as if she were about to blurt out a compromising question.

Twilight grimaced, as if she knew what was going to happen. "What's wrong?" Pinkie asked, slight concern in her tone.

"I tried to stop them, but it slipped out," confessed, somewhat guiltily.

Before Pinkie could ask more, she heard a comment amidst the music Flash was playing.

"Streamliner ideas wouldn't be bad for an upcoming party..."

Pinkie frowned. "Excuse me, how did you hear about streamers?" asked, coming closer.

A boy responded excitedly. "Oh, someone on the dance floor was sharing some cool ideas."

Pinkie turned abruptly, her fluffy hair bouncing with the movement. "Rarity, take care of these three. Pinkie Party is going to solve this mystery!" declared determinedly, before disappearing into the crowd.

The seamstress followed her with her gaze. "Well, I guess I'll stay with you."

Bon Bon smiled even wider. "Perfect! We have several questions for you."

"I'm going with Starlight," Twilight said quickly, looking to get away before they suggested something awkward again. She walked steadily over to Trixie and Starlight who looked like they were about to join in with the music filling the place.

Pinkie pushed her way through the guests until she found a young boy with fluffy brown hair making animated comments.

"And then, bam! Balloon showers," said, accompanying his idea with an exaggerated gesture.

Pinkie watched him, frowning slightly before approaching.

"Hey! Are you having as much fun as you seem to be?" asked with her signature wide grin.

The boy turned around, surprised at first, but quickly flashed a friendly smile. "Hey! Yeah, it's an awesome party!"

"Do you happen to have any ideas about streamers?" Pinkie asked, with a smile that tried to hide her suspicion.

The boy looked serious for a moment before answering. "Ah, I see... So, you must be Pinkie Party."

Further back, Rarity, Lyra, and Bon Bon were moving to the tune. The energy of the party flowed around them, mixing with the palpable excitement in the air. In an instant, Rarity noticed the handsome young man at the other end of the floor again.

Bon Bon, with a mischievous grin, nudged her. “He’s handsome, isn’t he?” whispered excitedly, leaning towards her as she followed the beat of the music.

Rarity nodded, letting out a small smile. “Yeah, he’s quite attractive,” admitted quietly, barely a whisper blending in with the melody.

Lyra, ever the fun-loving type, gave her a light nudge with her shoulder, playfully urging her on. “Go dance with him!” suggested before adding with a knowing wink. Moving a little closer, she murmured, “Or maybe you could consider dancing with a girl this time.”

The suggestion took Rarity completely by surprise. For a moment, she was silent, her eyes blinking rapidly as she processed Lyra's words. "How... your-" she began to ask nervously.

Bon Bon simply smiled mischievously. "Ah, then we got it right," said, taking the vampire's stutter and awkwardness as confirmation.

"Look here, Rarity, I never thought you'd be the type to play both sides," Lyra commented lightly.

The seamstress hesitated for a moment, looking at her friends before speaking truthfully. "Well, I discovered that part of myself when I was in school," confessed with a shy, but serene smile.

Lyra nodded understandingly, acknowledging the bravery it took to share something so personal. "It must have been quite a process," commented empathetically, her tone warm and friendly.

Rarity nodded. "Yeah, it was."

Bon Bon, still spinning ideas in her mind, made a shocked face as she put two and two together. "Wait! So, that hunk we were talking about... was he actually a girl?"

Rarity looked down for a moment before nodding several times. "She was unlike anyone I've ever met. Always so kind, so sincere. Even when I was exhausted, she found time to make me feel special. One time, after a terrible week, she showed up with my favorite dessert just to cheer me up. It was... lovely," said, her gaze softening as she delved into the memory.

For a moment, the scene from the school cafeteria appeared in her mind. She was leaning against the table, tiredness reflected on her face, while some of her friends were watching her. Applejack appeared with something in her hand, sat down next to her and rested her face on the table, looking at her with a soft smile. Despite her exhaustion, Rarity smiled back, feeling at that moment that the weight of the day was becoming more bearable.

"Sounds like an ideal girl," Lyra commented, interrupting the memory and bringing her back to the present.

"So, what happened?" Bon Bon asked curiously.

Rarity lowered her gaze slightly. Both friends noticed that they had touched on a sensitive subject, so they decided to change the atmosphere.

"How about we make a toast to this party to relax?" Bon Bon said, raising her glass.

Lyra surrounded the dressmaker with a loving gesture and gave her a small squeeze on the shoulder.

"And then you should dance with the white-haired boy over there," assured with an amused wink.

Before they could continue, the crowd around them began to move back, leaving an empty space in the center of the dance floor.

"What's going on?" Rarity asked, intrigued as she raised an eyebrow.

They watched as Pinkie stood in the center of the circle, facing off against the fluffy-haired boy in what looked like an impromptu dance duel.

"Wow! New competition?" Lyra commented, impressed.

"Pinkie doesn't seem like the type to compete," Rarity said, watching the scene in fascination as the crowd cheered.

"Well, now she does!" Bon Bon exclaimed, laughing as the music grew louder.

From the stage, Flash finished singing and noticed Pinkie and the boy in the center of the dance floor. Sensing the tension, he looked toward his band friends with a smile.

"Remember that song?" he asked, pointing to the audience.

His friends nodded in unison, and the drummer began the countdown.

"Let's go!" Flash exclaimed.

The band picked up the energy with a lively tune as Pinkie pointed a dramatic finger at the boy. “Get ready, you fluffy copycat, because this is a dance duel!” exclaimed, his voice echoing through the cheers of the crowd.

The brunette smiled confidently, raising an eyebrow as he twirled an invisible hat. “Duel? I’d rather say it’s a dance show.”

The music set the pace and the boy started off with extravagant movements, spinning on one foot and throwing confetti into the air as if he had had it in his pockets the whole time. The crowd cheered as he added a final spin with an exaggerated pose.

Pinkie, not willing to be left behind, pulled confetti from behind her back. She spun in circles around the boy, throwing balloons into the audience that burst into a shower of candy.

The brunette didn’t give up. With an invisible guitar, he began a rock solo while performing acrobatic jumps. The dance floor lit up with flashes of color that no one knew where they came from.

From the crowd, Starlight gaped at the scene. "Wow, looks like this is a duel in Pinkie mode!"

"She's definitely got some nice moves," Twilight commented, nodding in approval.

"And where did all that stuff come from?" Trixie added, impressed.

Pinkie intensified the battle, pulling even more stuff out of nowhere just as the boy responded with equal creativity.

Finally, they both jumped at the same time in a move that left them rolling on the ground. Exhausted, but laughing out loud, Pinkie reached out a hand to the brunette.

"You're good! I didn't expect that," said between breaths.

"And you're amazing! Not everyone can do something like that!" the boy replied, accepting her hand.

The crowd erupted in cheers as Flash, from the stage, motioned for his band to take a break. Pinkie and the boy exchanged a knowing look before exiting the dance floor.

"I want to see what party plans you have in mind," the party girl said with a wide grin.

Trixie, who had been watching everything with a mix of surprise and amusement, smiled mischievously. "I want to see what Pinkie's up to."

"What? Don't start!" Starlight protested, raising an eyebrow.

"No excuses! I'm here on a mission," Trixie said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I'm going to follow Pinkie. Maybe I'll finally figure out how she does all her crazy stuff. Come on, girls."

"I've done enough just being here," Twilight muttered, but before she could escape, Trixie grabbed them both by the wrist.

"Come on! This is the perfect opportunity for Trixie to learn more tricks. Someone has to be the prying eye!"

The two shared a look of resignation, but knew there was no turning back now. Trixie led them with a satisfied smile as the two walked away from the dance floor.

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were chatting animatedly in a quiet corner of the terrace, watching their friends' game that was about to end.

"It looks like something happened inside," Rainbow Dash said, watching the hubbub coming from the dance floor.

"Yeah, from the cheers, I think there was something impressive," Fluttershy replied, smiling at the excitement of the crowd.

"Next time I'll win," said Rainbow, remembering the dance competition she had with her partner and seeing her now playing.

"Always competitive," Fluttershy commented between laughs.

"That's just how I am," replied, pointing at herself, and then cleared her throat. "I haven't shown you any good dance moves yet."

The animal lover smiled at the indirect way of inviting her to dance, but like other times, someone else interrupted them.

"Well, well, look who we have here," said an arrogant voice.

Rainbow frowned as she recognized the voice. “Linight… Dust,” said, looking in the direction the sound came from and seeing her standing next to what she assumed were her friends.

As Linight approached with a cocky grin on her face, Fluttershy forced a smile and nodded politely. “Hello, Linight,” said, trying to keep her composure despite her discomfort.

Rainbow, on the other hand, kept a neutral expression. “What are you doing here?”

The girl ignored the multicolored girl’s tone and continued as if nothing had happened. “Oh, I just came to see how the party was going. And boy, does he seem bored.”

“Still not over the loss?” Rainbow asked with a half-smile.

“I bet you couldn’t handle this game,” said in a challenging tone.

“What’s on your mind, Dust?” asked, a mix of curiosity and caution in her tone of voice.

Lightning Dust laughed mischievously, knowing she had caught the sportswoman’s attention. "I was thinking we could spice up this party a bit," suggested with a smile. "How about a little friendly competition to liven things up?"

The multicolored girl arched an eyebrow, intrigued by the proposal. "Depends on what kind of competition you're suggesting," replied, her eyes shining with interest as she considered the possibility of a challenge.

Lightning leaned forward, her gaze full of confidence. "How about a game of beer pong? You and me, team against team, do you dare?" she proposed.

Rainbow nodded, accepting the challenge with determination. "Alright, Dust. We accept the challenge," said seriously, preparing to show off her prowess at the game.

"Let's go inside, to a table," said, nodding at the door that led into the pub.

The multicolored girl followed her, followed by the pink-haired girl, who followed closely behind, but before they left, they let Pinkie in with a boy. Before they could go in again, Trixie appeared with Twilight and Starlight.

"Girls," Pinkie said with a smile. "Dust," said with a different tone to her.

"Pinkie," they answered in unison.

"And you?" Rainbow asked, watching Twilight and Starlight pass by being dragged along by the gray haired girl.

"Don't ask," Twilight said, somewhat uncomfortable.

Lightning and her friends didn't say anything, but Rainbow shrugged at Fluttershy before heading through the door. Once inside, they found an empty table and asked for cups. The pub, always well prepared for games like this, had set out glass cups for beer pong.

Lightning Dust looked around, searching for someone who might be a good teammate. Her eyes stopped on a blue-haired boy, who was chatting with some friends on the other side. With a sly smile, she approached him.

“Hey, cute boy,” she called out, attracting a boy’s attention. “Come here for a moment.”

Flash, surprised by the unexpected invitation, approached curiously. “What’s up?” asked, arching an eyebrow.

Lightning Dust gave him a challenging look. “We’re looking for a teammate for beer pong,” explained with a gesture towards the table. “And I think you’d be perfect for the job.”

Flash, intrigued by the proposal, smiled confidently. “Of course I am! I’m in,” accepted enthusiastically.

Rainbow approached the table with determination, ready to choose her teammate. Fluttershy, who was watching the scene with curiosity, decided to step in.

"Umm, Dash, I don't think I..." began, but the athlete interrupted her with a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry," said, knowing her friend's displeasure at the drink. "I've got an ace up my sleeve."

With a bold gesture, Rainbow raised her voice and shouted, "GILDA! HEY GILDA ARE YOU THERE?"

The crowd around them fell silent for a moment, and in that instant, Gilda appeared among them. She was wearing a wrestling costume, a tight-fitting wrestler's suit with shiny details in purple and gold hues, which highlighted her muscle mass and a mask that partially concealed her face.

"What's up?" asked, looking at the cyberpunk with a confident smile as she approached.

"We're putting together a team for beer pong and I needed someone," Rainbow said, pointing towards the gaming table. "Will you join me?"

Gilda nodded with a smile of anticipation. "Of course! It'll be fun to show them how it's done," replied, excited at the prospect of participating in the competition.

The dance floor was still packed with guests, and the music kept playing. Timber and Caramel were dancing with some girls, but as they looked around, they saw Feather suddenly appear, adjusting his jacket and a satisfied smile on his face.

"This wolf has finally found his Little Red Riding Hood," Feather said quietly, watching Rarity as she danced with a boy, but her eyes drifted to Lyra and Bon Bon, a spark of intrigue in her gaze.

"Good luck," Timber said with a mischievous smile, while Caramel nodded.

"We'll be filming if you fail," Caramel joked, looking at Feather as her group laughed amongst themselves.

Some girls tried to get Feather's attention, as usual, but this time he ignored them. When she got close enough to the girls, she cleared her throat lightly to get her attention.

"Feather, you finally make your entrance," Lyra said with a playful smile.

"Oops, looks like you're late," Bon Bon added, glancing at the vampire still dancing with the white-haired boy, before turning her gaze back to Feather.

"Would you do me a favor and tell Vinyl to play something a little more lively?" Feather said, moving her arms as if she were dancing at that very moment. "This wolf wins tonight."

Lyra and Bon Bon paused for a moment, watching Rarity, who seemed to enjoy dancing with her date. They looked at each other briefly, somewhat surprised, but the idea began to form in their minds.

"Well, Rarity indirectly mentioned that she wanted to..." Bon Bon said into her partner's ear.

"Okay, wolf, I'm going for Rarity," Lyra said with a mischievous grin.

"Perfect, girls, I owe her one," Feather said, positioning herself in the center of the dance floor, as the music continued to play loudly around them.

"Couldn't hold back, could you?" Rarity said, approaching with a half-smile, looking at Feather, who looked at her with a playful expression.

"Pinkie said you proclaimed yourself the life of the party."

"This life of the party needs his lady," Feather replied, extending a hand in an elegant gesture. At that very moment, DJ Pon 3's tune changed, filling the dance floor with a frenetic and infectious rhythm.

Rarity laughed, thinking about how the boy had been so insistent over the past few days. "Why not give him a chance for tonight?" thought. She decided to accept the extended hand, not missing the chance to have some fun.

"Do you think Rarity will finally fall?" Someone near them whispered, watching the scene with curiosity.

"Looks like the hunk is making it," another commented, while some began recording with their phones.

Lyra and Bon Bon met up again, watching from a distance as they commented quietly. "Wow, just by agreeing to dance with him, she became the queen of the dance floor," Lyra said, pointing at them with a smile.

The vampire and the wolf moved to the beat of the music. "Not bad, the wolf's step," Rarity said, winking at him as they continued to dance to the electronic music.

"Same here for the vampire. Although it would have been great if you were Little Red Riding Hood," Feather said, looking at her mischievously.

"Let's see what you can do," the seamstress replied, as she moved a little closer to him.

Suddenly, the music reached its peak. In a sudden turn, Feather grabbed Rarity's waist, pulling her a little closer to him. The seamstress, noticing what the boy had in mind, leaned slightly towards him. Their lips met in a fleeting, yet passionate kiss, as if the moment had been perfectly timed to the beat of the music.

From the edge of the dance floor, Lyra and Bon Bon watched the scene, smiling knowingly.

"Looks like Rarity is having a great time tonight," Lyra said.

Bon Bon nodded, her gaze fixed on the vampire and the wolf as they continued to dance. "Yeah, she looks like she's enjoying the dance. It's nice to see her relax a bit after all the stress at college."

The two parted ways with Feather smiling contentedly, while Rarity, for her part, smiled thoughtfully. It wasn't bad, but inside her mind, she was starting to wonder what would happen next with what had just happened.

The beer pong game was in full swing, with the teams competing fiercely at the table. Rainbow, with a determined expression on her face, grabbed a ball and threw it accurately towards one of the opposing team's cups. Beside her, Gilda watched with concentration, ready to respond to any challenge.

At the other end of the table, Flash was drinking a glass of beer after Rainbow and Gilda hit one of his cups. His friends did not lose hope and cheered him on enthusiastically. "Come on, Flash, you can do it!" exclaimed one of them, while others nodded and clapped in support.

Meanwhile, Applejack was approaching after finishing her own game. The farmer frowned at Rainbow with a glass in her hand. The annoyed expression on her face was evident as she crossed her arms.

"Rainbow, what are you doing?" asked firmly, pointing at the glass with a stern look.

Rainbow rolled her eyes and sighed. "Relax, AJ, it's just a game."

"How many do you have?" insisted, arching an eyebrow.

"I don't know... a few," replied nonchalantly as she finished the contents of the glass in one gulp, placing the empty container on the table with a thud.

"What's wrong, Dash? Do you need your girlfriend's permission to play?" Dust said with a smirk, looking directly at Applejack as her friends laughed.

The barnacle was about to say something, but Fluttershy, who was nearby, gently intervened. "Applejack, maybe you should calm down a bit," suggested kindly. "Rainbow's just having a good time."

Applejack snorted, clearly irritated, but looked at Fluttershy and nodded slightly.

"If you're worried about me drinking too much? Since I'm with her, I could keep an eye on her," the pink-haired girl offered in a reassuring tone.

"Thanks," replied with a resigned sigh, before throwing one last disapproving glance at her partner. Then, she turned and walked away from the table.

Rainbow watched as Applejack walked away, her lips pressed into a tense line. Meanwhile, the bustle of the party continued around them, with laughter and music filling the air.

Gilda, who had remained silent until now, gently nudged the multicolored girl. "Hey, let him get over it. In the meantime, let's keep kicking ass in this game."

Rainbow smiled, trying to put the recent scene aside, and returned her focus to beer pong.

Applejack walked away with a mix of irritation and relief, grateful to leave behind the tension that had built up during the game. When she stepped out onto the terrace for air, Feather, Caramel, and Timber passed by her, laughing amongst themselves.

"So, how was that kiss?" Timber asked mockingly.

"Guys, that was great if you were wondering if Rarity is a good kisser," Feather replied, smirking.

Applejack stopped dead in her tracks and turned around, watching the three of them walk away. Her brow furrowed further with each word. "What the hell does that mean?" thought, feeling something in her chest stir. It was an annoyance she couldn't quite put her finger on.

Turning around again, her gaze caught Rarity, who stepped out onto the terrace with impeccable composure, as if the chaos around her couldn't touch her.

"I see you decided to show up," commented, approaching with a tone that tried to be neutral.

The dressmaker turned slowly, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh, hello, Applejack. How are you? You okay? Me too, thanks for asking," replied with mild sarcasm.

"Oh, and I had no idea I was supposed to coordinate my decisions with you," said, her words measured like a precise stab. Then, she added with an elegant gesture, "Though, if it's a problem, I can always back out."

The farmer closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled loudly. "Listen, sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound like that," said sincerely.

Rarity stopped, slowly turning to her with a calmer look, though she was clearly not willing to let the comment go. "So, what did you mean?" asked, crossing her arms.

"Well... knowing how things are in the group, you still decided to come," Applejack explained, scratching the back of her neck and avoiding her gaze.

"Don't I have the right to have fun?"

"Well, yes," the farm girl admitted, acknowledging her point.

An awkward silence settled between them. The blonde broke the stillness by glancing sideways at the dressmaker's costume.

"That costume doesn't fit you," snapped, trying to sound casual.

Rarity arched an eyebrow and pretended to be offended. "Oh, no? Are you afraid this vampire will get stabbed for daring to wear something like that?"

"This huntress would stab you," Applejack replied, as if pulling an imaginary stake from her belt. With a theatrical movement, she aimed the 'weapon' at Rarity's chest, just over the heart, but not touching it. "But for another reason."

The dressmaker kept her gaze fixed on her, as if trying to read what she really meant. Finally, she smiled softly and stepped back.

"Oh, Applejack, you're so sweet when you're like that," said, almost brushing her hand against the farm girl's face before turning gracefully and walking back into the pub.

Applejack frowned, her mind struggling to process the comment. "I'm not sweet... sheriffs are tough," muttered to herself before following her inside.

Inside the pub, Rarity stopped after entering and turned to look directly at her. "Didn't you say you were a hunter?" asked, with an amused glint in her voice.

The blonde crossed her arms, her brow still furrowed. "I did say that, but I was just playing along," replied, clearly annoyed, as if she wanted to put the subject behind her.

The vampire pointed at her chest with an elegant gesture. "So, if you didn't want to be confused, you could have at least put a fake badge here," suggested, pointing a finger at her left side.

Applejack followed the finger movement, which ended right at her heart. For a moment, she didn't know what to say, caught between the game and her own discomfort.

The seamstress tilted her head slightly, keeping her smile serene. "I don't know much about badges, but I do know that they're usually something important... perhaps as a shield to protect the people you love the most: siblings, parents... partners."

Rarity's gaze briefly met Applejack's, her words echoing in the space between them. Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked gracefully towards the bar, leaving the blonde paralyzed, her jaw slightly agape.

She shook her head, cleared her throat, and hurried after her, her mind still grappling with the unexpected game they were having leading up to this.

Rarity noticed how Applejack acted distracted as she waited for the bartender to serve her beer. With a slight smile, the seamstress couldn't help but laugh softly at the situation.

The hunter, for her part, as she waited, grimaced. "What am I doing here?" thought. When she turned her gaze, she saw the seamstress return with two glasses.

"I saw you standing there so pensive and I assumed the hunter still hasn't managed to capture her vampire prey," said, handing her one of the glasses.

Applejack blinked, surprised. "I thought you'd drink both. That would be worrying if you want to get drunk."

"Please, Applejack. I only have one margarita and this glass of beer," Rarity replied, taking a sip of her own.

"Since when do you drink alcohol?" asked, her tone more serious now.

"Since when are you interested?" replied, tilting her head slightly.

The blonde snorted. "It's not interest... But you'd look like Dash drinking glass after glass."

Rarity stared at her silently, not answering, then took one more sip before speaking. "Does Rainbow Dash drink too many glasses on a daily basis?"

"No, but she always ends up falling asleep at the table from drinking too much," said, frowning as she remembered the times they'd gone out to bars or similar events before, and the multicolored girl falling unconscious.

"Rainbow Dash's just having fun. You shouldn't judge her for enjoying herself a little," Rarity said, bringing her glass to her lips.

Applejack crossed her arms. “Maybe, but if you're already a bit of a pain, I can’t imagine seeing you… drunk.”

Rarity laughed softly, taking a step closer. "If I ever hit rock bottom, I hope someone like you pulls me out," teased.

The blonde rolled her eyes. "Of course. This hunter will always have her vampire in her sights," replied sarcastically.

The purple-haired girl just smiled. "Are you going to take it, or if you want, I can just leave you here? You know... better alone than in bad company," commented, looking up and fixing her eyes on the emerald green ones.

Applejack was silent for a moment, staring into those deep sapphires that stared back at her intensely. Then she blinked and looked away slightly.

"You may seem annoying to me... but you're not bad company," said, finally taking the glass, surprising the seamstress with the comment.

Rarity blinked, slightly taken aback, and then took another sip.

"Glad to hear that," muttered before starting to walk towards a group, followed by the hunter.

"Don't take it any other way," Applejack said, bringing the glass to her lips.

"And what is that way?" The vampire asked, turning her head to look at her curiously.

Applejack didn't answer, just taking another sip of her drink while avoiding eye contact.

"Look, there's your girl," Rarity said, pointing her glass at the multicolored girl and getting ready to leave, but suddenly, she bumped into someone and spilled her drink on her shirt. "No way! How will I get this stain out?" exclaimed, frustrated.

"Just put it in the washing machine," Applejack suggested, holding back a laugh.

The seamstress glared. "It's silk, Applejack. This doesn't come clean that easily."

The farm girl finally couldn't contain herself and burst out laughing. "You always make it so complicated," commented with a smile.

"What are you laughing at? This is serious!"

"Aha, whatever you say," replied, laughing some more.

Rarity rolled her eyes, but a smile appeared on her lips. "Oh, Applejack... If only you understood."

She was about to say something else when something caught her attention. She noticed a man behaving suspiciously, putting something in Fluttershy's glass. Without hesitation, Rarity set off, followed by Applejack, intrigued by the seamstress's sudden change in attitude.

Fluttershy was about to take a sip from her glass when Rarity appeared in front of her, snatching the glass away from her with a quick gesture. The liquid spilled onto the floor, causing a stir among those present.

"Hey, what are you doing?!" Applejack exclaimed, confused by the sudden action.

"What's going on?" Rainbow asked, approaching curiously.

"I... I don't know," the pink-haired girl replied, looking at the seamstress, whose serious expression was an indication of trouble.

Rarity addressed the suspicious man with determination. "You think I didn't notice what you did?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" the stranger replied, trying to feign innocence.

"You put something in Fluttershy's glass."

"What?!" Rainbow exclaimed, surprised.

"But you don't even have proof," the stranger pretended.

Rarity knew the man was right, but noticed that after he deposited the envelope, he put it in his pocket. "Like this," said as she walked closer to the man and began searching his pockets, ignoring his complaints. She found an empty clear envelope with some dust inside. "So tell me, what is this?"

Everyone present began to murmur, as Fluttershy backed away in fear.

"Give me that!" exclaimed Rainbow, snatching the envelope from Rarity's hands. Noticing the little dust left inside, the evidence was clear; she knew perfectly well what it was, which only fueled her fury even more.

The man decided to drop the pretense upon being discovered. "Come on, this is a party, I just wanted to have some fun with my friends," said disdainfully. "Besides, you can tell this girl has a nice figure." The comment made the multicolored girl even more furious and clench her fists.

"Friends?" frowned Applejack. "How many of them are here?"

"About two, and what?" the stranger replied, mocking.

"YOU THINK SHE'S AN OBJECT?" Rainbow shouted, furious, but it was the next comment that caused the explosion.

"Why don't you just leave her, Dash? Maybe then your shy friend will finally get a guy," Lightning commented, letting out a laugh at the end.

"Someone who thinks the same as me," the man added, instantly provoking the anger of Rainbow, Applejack, and Rarity.

The seamstress was the first to react, approaching the man and giving him a hard slap that resonated in the environment. The multicolored girl clenched her fists, ready to hit him, but when her arm rose, her target suddenly changed, and the fist ended up connecting with Lightning Dust.

"Say it one more time... I want to hear you, Dust," declared, her jaw clenched, as she readied her fists again.

Lightning touched her now reddened cheek, a defiant expression crossing her face. "Damn it, Dash, you'll get this!" exclaimed before launching herself at Rainbow, punching her back and sparking a fistfight. "Time for you to learn!"

"That's it! Hit it, Dust!" shouted a close friend of Lightning from the crowd, cheering her on.

"Come here, you bitch!" the multicolored one exclaimed, continuing the fight.

"Rainbow...", Applejack said, a little worried, taking a few steps forward.

The man who had a hand on her cheek approached Rarity. "Uhh... rough, I wonder if you're this wild under the sheets," said, licking his lip suggestively.

The seamstress made a face of disgust at that comment, seriously considering punching her like she had done to the girl. However, before she could react, Applejack pushed the man to the ground, surprising Rarity.

"How dare you ask such things of someone you don't know?" exclaimed, firm in her defense. "Fuck you, you bastard! Learn to respect women, you damn bastard!" exclaimed, in a furious voice, while punching the man.

The tension in the air increased as the fight intensified. The guests did not help, motivating even more violence.

Rarity slowly backed away, startled, when she felt someone crash into her. Fluttershy, seeing the situation, also backed away and screamed when she felt someone behind them. Both girls looked at each other and then looked at those who were still fighting over them.

Meanwhile, on the terrace...

"Wow, I think this is the first time I've seen Pinkie Pie socializing with anyone else at a party, besides us," Starlight commented, amazed.

"You said it yourself," Twilight replied with her arms crossed.

"Hey, girls! What do you see?" Sunset said upon arriving, noticing the fixed stares of her friends.

"Nothing, we were just looking at how happy Pinkie seems to be talking to that boy," Starlight commented, pointing with her thumb towards the party girl, who was chatting animatedly.

"Well, it's Pinkie. She likes the idea of making everyone smile, even strangers," the red-haired girl said, putting her arms around the two's shoulders.

"But they seem to have something in common with Cheese. They haven't stopped talking since we arrived," Starlight added, curious.

"Cheese?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That's what she said her name was," Twilight replied. "Cheese Sandwich."

"Ah, I see," Sunset said, nodding.

"And the great and powerful Trixie failed her mission," Trixie chimed in, clearly frustrated.

"And what did you want to do?" asked, looking at the gray haired girl.

"I wanted to find out Pinkie's tricks," Starlight replied between giggles.

The red haired girl laughed. "With Pinkie, it's impossible to find out."

"I know. I got into the conversation, and when I tried to find out, they only talked about parties," Trixie said, bringing a hand to her forehead in surrender.

Twilight laughed. "And what were you up to, Sunset?"

"I went out for a drink after I parted ways with Applejack," replied. "I drank it in one go."

A few steps ahead, Pinkie was jumping up and down in excitement as she spoke. "So, imagine it exploding and confetti coming out."

"Yeah, haha. With a party cannon," Cheese replied between laughs.

"Oh, I'd love to have one! Are you going to be around for a few more days? Let's see if we can organize a party together sometime," the party girl asked excitedly.

"I like the idea, but unfortunately, I'm going back to my town tomorrow. I was just passing through with my friend," replied with a slight smile.

"Oww!" said Pinkie, somewhat dejected.

"But who knows, maybe we'll see each other again sometime," Cheese added, trying to cheer her up.

"You're right. Sometimes fate can bring us together," replied, regaining her enthusiasm.

However, their conversation was interrupted by a commotion that was heard from inside the pub, drawing everyone's attention.

"What's that?" asked Trixie, looking towards the door with curiosity.

The girls walked to the other side and were shocked to see some pushing each other and others hitting each other.

"What's going on?" asked Sunset.

They saw Flash being pushed by an unknown person, who hit him.

"Flash?!" exclaimed Twilight, surprised.

Everyone and Cheese saw the chaos that had formed, since even DJ Pon-3 had stopped playing music and was watching the fight.

"This is really fucking..." Pinkie was going to say, with a smile.

"Pinkie...!!" said Twilight.

"Sorry, I got excited."

"Guys... now is not the time" said Flash, straightening up and launching himself to hit the guy.

The girls were not expecting that answer. Suddenly, they heard a voice coming from under a table.

"Fluttershy, what are you doing there? And what's going on?" Sunset asked, crouching down with the others, noticing Rarity on the other side.

"It all started with the boy beating up Applejack," Fluttershy said, a little scared. "Then his friends showed up... although, at first, Gilda tried, but the two of them hit her, and that's why Flash and Timber joined in," explained as she pointed towards the chaos.

"And what does Lightning Dust have to do with it?" Starlight asked, watching as the two continued to hit each other.

"Well, she made a comment that Rainbow didn't like," replied, blushing a little.

Cheese approached the stranger holding Timber, grabbing him from behind and firmly pushing him away. “Hey! No more fighting!” said, looking at the attacker with determination.

The man, surprised by the intervention, tried to get away, but Cheese’s strength was evident.

“What are you doing?!” the stranger shouted, trying to free himself.

“You’re causing too much fuss!” replied, holding him tighter. “You should be ashamed, can’t you see what you’ve done?”

“Wow, thanks, dude!” Timber said, relieved, helping to keep the man steady as he felt the situation begin to calm down.

"Now we have the rest," Trixie said, looking around and assessing the others involved.

"And how do we do that?" Twilight asked, turning her gaze to the girls. However, her attention was diverted when she noticed two men starting to approach.

"Stop right there!" said one uniformed officer, his voice loud enough to cut through the chaos.

"Everyone stop!" said the second officer, firmly, as if his presence could stop the fight entirely.

Some were surprised by the presence of two uniformed police officers who had quickly arrived on the scene.

Pinkie, taking advantage of the moment to take control, ran up to the stage and grabbed the microphone, a big smile on her face. "Stop!" exclaimed, drawing the attention of everyone present.

Suddenly, everyone turned to her, leaving those involved in the fight as the only ones still making noise.

"Everyone! We have our beloved city vigilantes back at the last minute!" said with a humorous tone, pointing at the officers with one hand as if they were the heroes of the moment.

Rainbow released Lightning while Flash freed himself from the man who had him cornered. Applejack, with a quick movement, approached the stranger who had been hitting her, holding him firmly.

"If you're officers, you can take these two" said the farmer, pushing the man who was still trying to fight. Flash did the same with his attacker, while Timber and Cheese took care of the third.

"And the reason?" asked the officer, looking at each of those involved seriously. "Everyone is in trouble"

"Yes, now you all have to come with us" said the second officer, with a firm tone.

"They snuck in and were about to drug one of our friends" explained Applejack, her face angry and firm in the face of the situation.

"Hehe... well, my dear friends," Pinkie said, taking the microphone again. "We are indeed trapped, so..." paused, looking at everyone with a smile. The guests waited nervously, wondering what she would do next.

Cleared her throat. "... EVERYONE GET OUT AS YOU CAN!" shouted, jumping up the stage, beginning to run towards the exit.

The guests began to do as Pinkie said, hastily looking for the exit, either through the back or the front.

"What?!" Twilight exclaimed, surprised. "The law says..."

"For fuck's sake, Sparkle!" said Rainbow, grabbing her by the waist to carry her by the shoulder.

"Dash!"

"Come on, Fluttershy" said Sunset, grabbing the pink-haired girl by the wrist to hurry her along.

The officers tried to stop them, but before the three unknown men could escape, the officers managed to get them out.

Outside, the guests had scattered into the parking lot or were standing along the edges of the street, where several cars remained parked.

Rarity stood by the curb, looking around, trying to think of a way to escape. She had arrived by Uber and now had no idea how to get out without anyone noticing her. Her thoughts were intertwined with a recurring worry: “Mom’s going to kill me,” muttered, bringing a hand to her forehead.

At that moment, Sunset appeared in front of her on her motorcycle, stopping with a quick, precise movement.

“Get on if you want to live!” exclaimed, giving her a determined look.

Rarity looked at her incredulously. “Really…?”

“Belle, just get on before I change my mind!” Sunset insisted, turning her fake wings around to offer her a spot behind her. Rarity finally climbed onto the motorcycle. Sunset waited for him to settle in before steadily accelerating.

Rarity barely had time to protest, "You're not going to go very... aaaaah!" Her comment was drowned out by a small cry as the speed of the bike carried them at top speed down the street.

Up ahead, Twilight was driving a car with an expression of pure alarm.

"We escaped the law! We escaped the law! WE ESCAPED THE LAW!" repeated in a frantic voice, while maintaining a reasonable but clearly tense speed.

"We get it, calm down!" Bon Bon replied from the backseat.

"Yeah, it could have been worse..." Sunburst began to say, carefully searching for the right words.

"What do you mean?!?" Twilight exclaimed, turning slightly to look at him in panic.

"That maybe... you're driving with the cops following us," Fluttershy pointed out softly from the passenger seat. "Try to calm down."

"The dirt on Rainbow's car isn't helping to calm me down!" the blue-haired girl exclaimed, frowning as she looked at the windshield, both of them covered in dust.

"It's not even my car!" continued, inhaling and exhaling with exaggeration. "I got so nervous that I tripped, dropped my keys, and Dash said to grab his."

"Now that's crazy," Starlight commented from behind.

Sunburst pointed at the radio. "Maybe some music will calm you down," suggested, with Bon Bon nodding in agreement.

Fluttershy nodded and turned on the radio. However, the volume was so loud that everyone in the car jumped, and Twilight slammed on the brakes, causing everyone to lurch forward.

"Jeez, Dash, what the heck are you listening to?!" exclaimed, holding a hand to her forehead as she tried to catch her breath.

Sunburst laughed, adjusting his glasses. "Better not."

"Calm down, Twilight. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out," Fluttershy said in a calm tone, trying to guide her as she changed the frequency on the radio.

"You're the one who should be like this, Fluttershy. How do you know if Zephyr made it out?"

"Uh... I don't know," Fluttershy replied with a nervous laugh, feeling a little guilty. Being the oldest, she should have thought of her brother first. "I'll call him... when you calm down."

It had all happened so fast that, as they left the pub, the girls had rushed to get whoever was closest into the vehicle, not even paying attention to who was getting in with whom.

Twilight inhaled and exhaled deeply. "Okay... calm down," said, more relaxed. She adjusted her hands on the wheel and resumed driving, as the lights of the city illuminated the road in front of them.

Rainbow was speeding along in her friend's spotless car, a sideways grin on her face as the wind blew her hair.

"Now that was a mess," she laughed, her eyes shining with adrenaline as she recalled the chaos with the cops.

"A party to remember," Lyra added from the backseat, laughing as well as she looked out the window.

The multicolored girl leaned over to the dashboard and noticed the stickers with the glasses girl's rules stuck here and there. "What the hell, Twilight? 'No eating'? 'No drinking'? How boring," said with a laugh as she pointed at the labels.

"Only Twilight would be capable of something like that," Flash chimed in from the passenger seat, wincing as he adjusted his guitar, which he had managed to pull out thanks to the disturbance.

Rainbow took a quick glance at her own fresh wounds in the rearview mirror and frowned. "Yeah... ouch," muttered, lightly touching the cut on her eyebrow before focusing back on the road.

"You two should go get healed before it gets worse," Soarin commented from behind, concerned as he observed Rainbow and Flash's condition. He then looked over to his side, where Gilda, still a little dizzy from the blows, was trying to stand firm as Lyra helped her up.

The athlete simply shrugged, accelerating a little more. "Bah, I've had worse. Besides, it's not every day you get away from the law!"

"By the way, Flash, thanks for the beating on the other guy."

"You're welcome, though it was difficult," replied, touching his face, leaving a little blood on his hand.

Rainbow turned her attention back to the wheel, enjoying the roar of the engine as she passed through the lonely streets. "Twilight should definitely let me have this car more often. With a little style, Dash, it would be a lot less... boring."

"If you don't destroy it first," Soarin muttered, though he couldn't help but smile.

"Speak for yourselves. I just want to get there before my guitar becomes my pillow," Flash said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

Lyra laughed and looked at Rainbow. "Do you think Twilight will kill us if we scratch her precious car?"

"Nah, we won't scratch it. But... I might forget to fill up the tank."

Almost everyone laughed, even Flash, despite his pain. For a moment, the chaos of the night was left behind and they allowed themselves to enjoy the camaraderie they shared.

Elsewhere, near Fluttershy's house, Applejack stopped her truck as she reached a small intersection, lit only by scattered streetlights.

"Third stop," the farm girl said, looking back at Zephyr.

"Thanks for not forgetting me," Fluttershy's brother said, smiling as he got out of the vehicle.

"We never forget a friend," Pinkie replied with her characteristic energy.

Zephyr smiled as he closed the vehicle door with a slight creak.

"Tell Fluttershy to text me when she gets there," the party girl requested as she watched Zephyr begin to drive away. He nodded without saying a word.

"Wow, the time... Almost four," Applejack commented, looking at the time on the radio as she raised her eyebrows at the passage of time at the party. Then, she turned to her relative. "You better stay at the farm."

"Great, that way I can help you out with an excuse to Granny Smith for your injuries," Pinkie replied, with a smile.

"Oh, Granny," the blonde sighed, lowering her head a little. She stuck her head out the window, looking back. "Okay, gang, you're the last ones."

Flash's friends nodded, relieved to be reunited with the farm girl as everyone dispersed. With a gentle rev, Applejack put the truck in gear for the final stop of the night.

Finally, Sunset arrived in front of Rarity's house. The dim light from the streetlights illuminated her figure as she slowly braked.

"There, I told you it wasn't a big deal," said, turning off the engine.

"Thanks, Sunset Shimmer, but next time, consider bringing a car," Rarity said, a little tense from the vibration of the bike she still felt in her legs.

Sunset crossed her arms with a smile. "Sunburst's car was out of gas, so there was no other option."

"Fine, fine, fine," the seamstress said, gesturing with her hands as if trying to calm her down. "Thanks once again for the ride. I owe you one."

"You're welcome," sreplied with a knowing smile, ready to leave.

Before she pulled away, Rarity stopped her. "By the way, I wanted to thank you again for helping me with my studies."

"Okay, I needed that," replied, nodding as she began to prepare to leave. "We'll see if it's successful when the grades come in. But I'm sure you'll do fine."

The seamstress nodded. "Goodbye," said, smiling, and walked over to the door, gently opening it and entering her house, closing the door behind her. At the same time, Sunset started the bike, ready to head back home.

Each group went their own way, leaving their companions to head back to their homes. The lights of the city slowly dimmed, as if the city itself was beginning to rest, as tiredness finally won the battle.

Author's Note

• The truth is I wanted to bring the translation before but my family and I went through a difficult time that caught us out of the blue, we are still affected but we are trying to get ahead.

• I took the opportunity to use the costumes as a way to refer to the characters, albeit briefly, in case anyone got confused.

• I want to mention that the script between scenes that I used in this chapter was to separate a bit where the girls were and the point of view that changed, despite being in the same place. I did it instead of the separation that I normally use, since, when they are in college, the distance between the characters is usually much greater compared to a place like the pub. I don't know if I'll use it again in future chapters.

• Since Christmas and New Year's are almost here, I'll take December off to enjoy time with my family. I think that, in part, it's good that I didn't upload those chapters with the Christmas season. There will be chapters with more or less that theme. I won't reveal much, but what happens in between and what follows was the main axis when the idea occurred to me, and from that same thing more ideas arose until I decided to do the fanfic.

• As I mentioned, I'll take December off, but at some point in January or February I'll be back. That doesn't mean I'll stop moving forward in the chapters; besides, there's not long left for the revelations. However, I must "calculate" some details so that everything fits together.

I say greetings in advance for the holidays. We'll see you when I return! Bye. 🎄✨