Early in the morning Scootaloo walked into the living room with a big yawn, heading towards the kitchen in search of something for breakfast. However, she stopped short when she saw her sister asleep on the couch. Rainbow Dash was face down, her jacket off, but her boots still on, giving her a somewhat messy look.

"Dash?" said, curious, not expecting to find her in that position.

"What's wrong, honey?" her mother asked behind her.

She pointed at the multicolored one, still on the couch, and her mother frowned at the scene.

"Oh, lord... What time did this girl get home?" Windy said, crossing her arms, clearly worried about the condition of her oldest daughter.

Scootaloo walked over to the couch next to her mom and gently shook her sister with her hand, trying to wake her up.

"Daughter... daughter..." her mother called, shaking her lightly.

Rainbow reacted almost on alert, opening her eyes slowly and looking around, as if she was still somewhat dazed. "What... what's wrong?" said, her voice still hoarse, as she stood up a little.

"What time...?" Windy began to ask, but stopped mid-sentence, staring at the marks on her daughter's face.

The girls' mother stared at her and, noticing the wounds on her face, fell silent, surprised. The multicolored girl blinked several times, as if trying to remember what had happened.

"Ah... uh... I had a fight," replied with a nervous laugh, trying to downplay it, although inside she felt a little guilty.

"And that's to laugh at?" asked, clearly upset and worried about the situation.

"It was in defense of Fluttershy," Rainbow explained, frowning as she remembered the stranger. "Nothing serious, Mom. Just a little fight."

Windy ran her hand carefully over the wounds on her daughter's face, causing Rainbow to whimper softly.

"Mom, it hurts," said, pulling away with a grimace.

"Go to the bathroom and take off your makeup so it can heal," ordered, though her tone held more concern than reproach. "In the meantime, I'll make Scootaloo breakfast so she can get to school."

"Fine," Rainbow replied with a slight shrug, pushing herself up from the couch with effort. "Bye, Scoot. See you later," added before disappearing down the hall. Though she tried to appear calm, her face was contorted from the effects of the drinks she had the night before.

"Bye, Dash," her sister replied, walking into the kitchen, as her mother followed behind to begin preparing breakfast.

In the bathroom, Rainbow looked at herself in the mirror. The cold light of the place highlighted the marks on her face. She wet a cotton pad and began to rub it carefully, removing the remains of makeup. The stinging of the wounds made her frown, but she knew she couldn't let it go.

Suddenly, she felt her phone vibrate in her back pocket. She pulled it out and unlocked the screen. It was a message from the party girl.

“So early, Pie?” muttered with an amused smile. However, her smile faded as she read the content of the message:

[Hi everyone. When you get to university, I want to talk about what happened with those guys.]

It was barely a few seconds before the group chat began to fill up with replies. Among them, Fluttershy’s message stood out on the screen: [Okay, see you there.]

Rainbow put down her phone, closed her eyes, and let out a long sigh.

“I should have been more careful,” scolded herself quietly. She stared at her reflection for a few seconds before muttering to herself, “Okay, Rainbow, one more time. You have to go to her house and ignore Zephyr… for her.”

With renewed determination, she turned on the shower. She knew she needed to clean herself up so she wouldn't smell so much like alcohol, though she'd probably have to deal with the patches her mother would insist on putting on her after she'd healed her.

Already bathed, she stepped out of the shower wrapped in a towel, shaking her head to dry her soaked hair a bit. Standing in front of the closet, she took a moment to decide what to wear. Finally, she chose a white blouse, albeit without her favorite logo, dark jeans, and a light jacket.

As she finished lacing up her sneakers, she heard her mother's footsteps approaching.

"Ready for me to heal you, daughter?" her mother asked as she entered the bathroom with a small first aid kit in her hand.

"Yes, mom," replied with a sigh, sitting on the edge of the tub.

Rainbow's mother leaned over to her, opening the first aid kit. She pulled out some cotton and soaked it with antiseptic. "This is going to sting a little."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," said, closing her eyes as her mother began cleaning the wounds.

Feeling the sting, she gritted her teeth and muttered, "Damn, Mom, are you sure you're not scratching?"

"Stop complaining," Windy said sternly, though she couldn't hide a slight smile. "If you'd been more careful, we wouldn't be doing this right now."

Rainbow looked away, uncomfortable. "It was because of Fluttershy. I couldn't just sit back."

Her mother sighed, pausing for a moment to observe her. "I know you always do what you think is right, Rainbow. But is it worth hurting you like that?"

Rainbow shrugged. "She's my friend, Mom. I would never let anyone hurt her if I can help it."

Her mom nodded, though her expression was worried. "I understand, but remember that you have to take care of yourself too. We care about you."

The eldest daughter didn't answer, but her gaze softened upon hearing her mother's words.

"There," finally said, placing some small bandages on the wounds. "Try not to take this off, okay?"

Rainbow smiled weakly. "Sure, whatever you say."

"Good. Now, go downstairs and get some breakfast before you go. I don't want you leaving on an empty stomach," her mother ordered as she put away the first aid kit.

The multicolored one nodded, standing up and adjusting her jacket. "Thanks, mom."

With one last glance at the mirror, Rainbow left the bathroom. Her mother watched her as she walked away, worried but proud of her daughter's protective spirit, though she was saddened that that same spirit had cost her so many wounds.

Sunlight was just beginning to filter through the windows of Sweet Apple Acres' dining room, tinting the surfaces of the table and chairs a warm golden hue. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with that of crispy toast, creating a homey, peaceful atmosphere.

Applejack sat in her usual chair, leaning forward, her hat pulled low to partially cover the bruises darkening her left cheek and the arch of her eyebrow.

Pinkie Pie came in from the kitchen with a bucket full of ice, which she placed on the table with a soft thud. With a nod, Applejack dipped her hand into the ice, wincing at the scorching coldness against her sore skin.

Pinkie then plopped down into the chair next to her, stirring a spoon into her cup of hot chocolate. For someone usually so energetic, her movement had an odd slowness to it, as if she were pondering something deeply.

“Any excuse you have in mind?” the farm girl asked, her tone belying her nerves.

“I have one in mind, but it’s not very believable,” replied, twirling her spoon once more before setting it aside. “But we could sneak off to university before we run into Granny Smith and I’ll come up with a better one.”

“I don’t know if I should go without saying goodbye to Granny Smith,” the blonde said, straightening up a bit, though her hat still covered her face.

Just then, Granny Smith appeared from the back door leading to the yard, her expression calm. Though at first it seemed like she would pass them by, she paused upon noticing the presence of the two girls.

“It’s good you two are awake,” the older lady began, her voice firm but full of warmth. “Now you’ll tell me…”

Applejack immediately tensed, adjusting her hat to make sure she didn’t reveal any more than necessary.

"Why were you late last night? Or rather, why were you late?" asked Grandma Smith, crossing her arms in a gesture that denoted little patience.

"Uh, pff, you know, Grandma Smith... It was a university party, you know how we stayed up late," replied Pinkie with a nervous laugh.

"Yeah, the hours flew by," added the blonde, taking a sip of coffee with a feigned calmness that fooled no one.

"That's true," said the older lady, nodding slowly, but her gaze drifted to the ice bucket on the table.

"Why do you have your hand in the bucket?" asked, cocking her head suspiciously.

"Uhhh..." Applejack stammered, desperately searching for something to say.

"She fell out of bed."

"I hit the wall."

"Of course, young ladies. Tell me what's the truth?" Grandma insisted, arching an eyebrow, which clearly didn't convince the older woman.

"Both," the farmer replied, to which Pinkie could only put a hand to her forehead. The blonde wasn't helping.

"Grandma Smith, I just remembered that if I stay the night, Applejack has to take me home for a notebook for my class today," the party girl interrupted, suddenly standing up with a smile that was too wide.

The blonde looked at her. "Of course..." said, going along with the flow as she got up to go to the living room for her shoulder bag.

"Now, young lady, you owe me an explanation later," Granny Smith said, following her with her eyes and making it clear that she wouldn't accept evasions forever.

"You'll get one, Granny Smith. Bye!" Pinkie said, practically pushing Applejack away.

The party girl grabbed a bag containing the costume she wore last night. Luckily, since she sometimes stayed over, she had spare clothes, so she was now wearing a casual outfit.

"Bye, Granny," the farm girl said, with a relieved sigh, as they walked through the front door.

Outside, the cool morning air washed over them. Pinkie smiled as if they'd managed a masterful escape, while Applejack shook her head tiredly.

"It ended up being both," Pinkie commented with her usual enthusiasm, adjusting her jacket.

"But isn't it like we chose both? Since we're running away from trouble," Applejack said, glancing at her as she pushed her hat up. "Besides, I thought you'd help me."

"I tried, but you beat me to it," replied, shrugging.

"I got nervous," admitted, letting out a long sigh. "Good thing I haven't been spotted yet... What could go wrong now?" She laughed a little.

Before Pinkie could respond, the sound of firm footsteps on gravel caught her attention.

"Are you leaving already?" they heard Big Mac's voice, who appeared from the side of the barn with a medium-sized bag of seeds on his shoulder.

Applejack instinctively raised her head at this, revealing a part of her face she had tried to keep hidden.

"Applejack..." Big Mac said, stopping a few feet away from them. His brow furrowed as he noticed the bruises darkening his sister's skin.

"Oops!" Pinkie muttered, tilting her head as if trying to become invisible. "You should never say those words."

Big Mac set the bag down and approached with an expression that was a mix of concern and disapproval.

"What do those bruises mean..."

"Shhh! Please, bro," Applejack interrupted quickly, raising a hand as if trying to stop any other words from coming out of her lips. "When I get back, I'll explain what happened at the party."

"Oh, AJ!" the party girl said, shaking her head as she crossed her arms. She couldn't help but sigh, knowing that Applejack sometimes let a little of the truth slip in her answers. "So, how do you want me to help you with excuses?" thought, looking up at the sky as if seeking divine patience.

"Please, Big Mac," Pinkie said, clasping his hands in front of him in a theatrical gesture. "You'll get a good explanation, but for now, no more words."

Applejack looked at the girl, bewildered. "I ha..." she tried to say, but couldn't finish the sentence as she felt the party girl intentionally step on her foot, the downside of not having chosen her boots today. "What she said," finished, trying to keep her composure despite the pang of pain.

Big Mac sighed deeply, crossing his arms before bending down to pick up the bag of seeds. "I hope you get it. And I also hope the same thing doesn't happen at university."

"Relax, bro, nothing will happen," replied with a smile before turning back to the truck.

"Fine." With that, Big Mac continued on his way and headed for the orchard, leaving behind an awkward silence.

"Applejack, you're bad at this," Pinkie said with a mix of amusement and reproach as she climbed into the passenger seat.

The farm girl slid into the driver's seat, adjusting her hat and letting out another sigh. "Yeah, I know."

The cheerful girl looked at her with a sly smile. "I'm surprised that after all these years, only a few lies have turned out well and remain a secret to this day."

Applejack raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Me keeping secrets or lying?" laughing at how absurd it sounded.

"There it is! You either forgot or you're fooling yourself," she replied with a wide grin.

"Whatever you say, Pinkie..." said, without question, thinking it was one of her moments. She started the truck's engine and drove off. "Let's go get your notebook."

In another part of the city, Rainbow knocked on the door of the Shy house with determination. When Fluttershy's mother opened it, she greeted the multicolored girl with a smile.

"Rainbow, it's been a while since I've seen you around here. Come in," her friend's mother greeted, opening the door completely.

"Yes, hello ma'am," replied, with a nervous smile.

"Are you okay? And those knocks?" asked worriedly.

"Ah, I protected someone from an assault last night and I wasn't going to stand by and watch with my arms crossed," half lied, indirectly naming her friend.

"And you reported him?"

"You could say, the cops came and took him away."

"You were very brave. It's good that they took that criminal away."

"Yes, everything is under control," she smiled nervously. Apparently, Fluttershy's mother fell for the story.

"Hey, Rainbow, did you miss me after the party? What brings you here?" Zephyr asked, approaching from the kitchen, raising an eyebrow in curiosity and leaning an arm on the wall.

"Your sister," Rainbow replied bluntly, arms crossed.

"Wow, it almost seems like you're looking for her in another way," Zephyr joked, relaxing her arm.

"Just tell me, where is she?" asked, with a determined expression.

"She's upstairs," replied, pointing towards the stairs.

"Thank you, excuse me," Rainbow said, starting to climb the stairs with a quick and determined step.

"Wait, I don't think that's a good idea now," Zephyr said, following her with almost accelerated steps, if it weren't for the stairs.

"Why wouldn't it be?" asked, dismissing it, as she walked down the halls until she reached her friend's door, her fists clenched.

With a determined sigh, Rainbow gathered her courage and opened the door in one swift motion.

"Fluttershy, I'm sor-" began, but stopped abruptly as she realized the situation.

The animal lover, still drying her hair with a towel, stood in front of the closet with a t-shirt in her hand, wearing only her underwear. Both girls froze in place, their faces quickly taking on a reddish hue.

"Aaahhhh," Fluttershy exclaimed, grabbing a few pillows and clumsily throwing them at Rainbow, who instinctively dodged them, taking a step back.

"Oh, uh, I... I'm sorry!" stuttered, turning quickly as she received a pillow in the face. She was now facing the door in a desperate attempt to give her friend some privacy, her hands outstretched in apology.

"Flutters, are you okay?" Zephyr asked from outside, trying to peek in.

"Zephyr, don't come in," Rainbow quickly slammed the door shut, her shoulders tense.

"I told you it wasn't a good idea," Zephyr said, starting to walk away from the other side.

"You could have told me your sister was naked!"

Fluttershy blushed even more

Rainbow jumped, realizing the comment. "Ah... sorry Fluttershy, I didn't mean it like that!" said, her cheeks burning in embarrassment, bringing a hand to her forehead.

"It's okay, Dash. There was no way Zephir would have known I was already getting dressed, although he should have told you I was taking a shower," replied, looking for something to cover herself more adequately, her cheeks flushed.

"It was my fault I didn't want to listen to him."

"I understand."

"Are... are you there?", Rainbow asked, running a hand through her hair in a nervous gesture.

"Wait, wait!", Fluttershy exclaimed, quickly grabbing what she was going to wear when she got out of the shower.

"O-okay," the multicolored girl said, nodding. "Yeah, she has a nice figure...", thought, but then she opened her eyes suddenly when she realized her thoughts. "Don't think about it, don't think about it... Don't think about those things, Rainbow Dash!", repeated to herself to calm herself, closing her eyes briefly. "Coming from that bastard...", thought, frowning as she remembered what the stranger had said, while she clenched her fists tightly."

"There, you can turn around now," said the pink-haired girl, with a shy smile, her hands holding the clothes firmly.

"Okay," Rainbow said, calmer now, turning around with a sigh of relief. Her shoulders relaxed at the sight of her already dressed.

"I'm so sorry, Rainbow. I didn't expect you to come in like that..." Fluttershy said with a slightly shaky voice, her hands in her lap.

"It's okay, like I said, it was my fault for not listening to your brother," replied with a soft smile.

"Did you come to get me to go to school and talk to the others about the party?" asked, moving closer to the balcony to let in the sunshine.

"Yes... and no," the multicolored one replied, scratching her head a little as she approached. Fluttershy looked at her curiously and Rainbow looked down before speaking.

"I was supposed to have been more attentive, but I got carried away by my racing habit and neglected you... again," admitted in frustration.

"Rainbow... who knew someone would have bad intentions by putting that in my drink?" The pink-haired girl said, trying to comfort her.

"There was no way to know..." Rainbow murmured, her voice somewhat muffled. "But if something had happened to you, I would..." She broke off when she felt her friend's arms wrap around her in a hug.

She was surprised, but quickly reciprocated the gesture. Had Fluttershy's hugs always been this warm? She didn't remember, but it was comforting.

When they separated, Fluttershy gave her a soft smile. "I'm not going to let you blame yourself for this. And... it won't be the only time," said, referring to the gesture.

"I hope not," replied, smiling back.

The animal lover laughed. "I don't like violence, but you were there to defend me," added, noticing the bruises on her friend's face. "Does it hurt?" asked, rubbing the patch covering her cheek.

"Just a little if I touch it," replied, wincing in pain. Fluttershy quickly pulled her hand away.

"Oops, sorry!"

"One more hit or one less hit... I'd do it again for you," Rainbow said with a smile.

The pink-haired girl sighed softly. "If something similar happens, I'd like you to confront it in another way, one that doesn't involve hitting. Try not to get into fights.

Rainbow lowered her head, thoughtful. "I'll try, but you never know what could happen."

Fluttershy smiled at her. "Come on, we better not keep the others waiting."

"Yeah. I'll tell them to meet me in the music room," Rainbow said, walking towards the door.

As she walked down the stairs, Zephyr greeted her with a mocking smile. "I told you so."

The multicolored girl shook her head. "You should have told me something like 'My sister is taking a shower', at least."

"I also forgot to shout that I was done," Fluttershy commented, embarrassed.

Her friend's mom laughed. "Well, at least it didn't go too far."

"What would 'far' be?" Rainbow wondered, arching an eyebrow.

"See you later," Fluttershy said goodbye to her family.

"One day you should stay for lunch," Fluttershy's mom suggested.

"It would be a weekend, ma'am," replied with a smile.

"One day it will come," the pink-haired girl added as she walked through the door, followed by Rainbow.

Outside, Fluttershy noticed her bespectacled friend's car and asked with a smile. "How did you behave with Twilight's car?"

"Uh... I might need to put gas in it," Rainbow replied, trying not to laugh. Fluttershy giggled as they both walked towards the car.

In the university parking lot, Twilight was leaning on her friend's car door, nervously moving her foot up and down.

She trusted Rainbow, but... would she take good care of her car? Wouldn't she have added something 'in her style'? She sighed as she thought of more possibilities, but her attention was diverted when she heard an engine approaching. She had seen several vehicles pass by since she arrived, but this time it did seem to be hers. And as if the wind heard her prayers, there it was: her navy blue car, with Rainbow at the wheel and Fluttershy as co-pilot.

Twilight recomposed her posture and approached the place where she sensed she would park, keeping a safe distance to avoid any accidents.

Once parked, the animal lover was the first to get out, followed by the athlete.

"Hello, Fluttershy," greeted with a smile.

"Hey, Twi. Did you sleep well after your scare?" Fluttershy asked, approaching her pleasantly.

"What scare?" Rainbow interrupted, closing the car door and walking towards them.

"The cops... but first, how did you behave with my car?" asked, adopting a serious tone.

"Nah, calm down. I didn't do anything to it," replied nonchalantly as she gently tossed her keys to her.

"Hey!" Twilight said, catching them in mid-air and giving her a look.

Unlike Rainbow, she walked over to carefully hand her car keys into her hands.

"What about you with mine?" asked, crossing her arms.

"I did a few things to it," Twilight replied with a mysterious smile.

"What things?" Rainbow asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I cleaned the windows, they were full of dust," said, crossing her arms triumphantly.

"Pff, don't think it's always like this. I clean my car too!" protested, rolling her eyes.

Twilight crossed her arms, still analyzing every visible corner of her car as if hoping to find some trace of the multicolored girl's 'style'. Fluttershy, on the other hand, remained calm, watching the exchange with a slight smile.

Suddenly, a familiar noise caught her attention: the sound of a pickup truck approaching. It was Applejack, at the wheel of her trusty pickup truck, with Pinkie Pie as co-pilot. Country music could be heard from inside at a moderate volume.

The farmer turned off the engine, and as soon as that happened, the party girl jumped out, making her hair bounce to the beat of her energy.

"Hey, girls!" Pinkie exclaimed as she turned in place.

Applejack came down more calmly, adjusting her hat with a sigh, and cast a quick glance at Rainbow. "Did they ask you about the bruises?" asked, pointing at her own face with a discreet gesture.

The girl nodded. "Yeah... I did give a certain part of the truth about how I got them," replied, shrugging her shoulders.

"Wow, you reversed roles," Pinkie commented with an amused smile.

Twilight let out a small laugh, crossing her arms. "Let me guess: you couldn't come up with a good excuse."

"Actually, we got away," the party girl interrupted proudly, emphasizing the word as if it were an accomplishment.

"Escaped the excuse?" Fluttershy asked curiously, cocking her head.

Before anyone could answer, the roar of a motorcycle caught everyone's attention. Sunset appeared in her leather jacket and shiny black helmet. She parked precisely near the group, turned off the engine, and took off her helmet, lightly shaking her hair as she smiled.

"I got here just in time, didn't I?" greeted as she set the helmet down on the seat of the motorcycle.

"Sunset!" Pinkie exclaimed, running up to her with a handful of candy she pulled out of nowhere. "We've only just begun. We were talking about Applejack's excuse for the bruises."

Sunset accepted a candy, carefully biting it as she looked at the pair. "And was it convincing?"

The blonde leaned against her truck, visibly uncomfortable. "Well... what can I say? I was nervous."

"The excuse I gave was more or less believable," Pinkie added, spreading her arms dramatically. As the others looked on expectantly, she continued, "I said she fell out of bed and Applejack said she hit the wall. I don't exactly explain why, though."

"Wow, Blondie. What a surprise with your excuses," Rainbow commented sarcastically with her arms crossed. "But don't worry. We'll talk about that later... you know, the game."

Applejack frowned slightly. "Whatever."

The brief exchange of tense words didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the group, though none of them commented on it.

"Well, let's go inside," Sunset suggested, breaking the silence. "And let's try not to run into any teachers... at least for now, until we can talk calmly."

Twilight nodded as she adjusted her backpack. "Good idea."

With that, the group began to move forward, each in their own style: Pinkie jumping with energy, Applejack walking calmly, Rainbow and Sunset keeping a serious face, and Twilight leading meticulously. Fluttershy followed behind with calm steps, her mind clearly occupied with her own thoughts.

When they reached the music room, the girls sat on the steps while others sat on the floor, forming a circle. Twilight nervously moved one foot, while Pinkie bounced lightly on the floor, ready to speak. Sunset crossed her arms with a serious expression, and Applejack rested an arm on her knee, watching the girls.

"So, what exactly happened?" Twilight asked, taking the lead in the conversation.

Rainbow sighed, crossing her arms. "Some idiot put something in Fluttershy's drink."

Sunset leaned over to Fluttershy, putting a hand on her shoulder. "And how are you feeling? Are you feeling weird now?" asked with concern.

"I feel fine. Luckily I didn't take it in time," replied, looking at their intertwined hands.

"Phew, thank goodness," Twilight said, bringing a hand to her chest before turning her gaze to Applejack and Rainbow. "But how did you manage to stop him?"

They both looked at each other, exchanging a silent gesture. Applejack tilted her head, yielding the floor to her partner, who sighed deeply.

"Actually, neither of us stopped him," admitted, scratching the back of her neck.

"So how did it happen?" Pinkie asked, cocking her head in curiosity.

"It was because of Belle," the farm girl replied, her gaze fixed on her reddened knuckle.

"Rarity?" the party girl asked, surprised.

"Yeah," Applejack confirmed, sighing. "She walked up to the boy out of nowhere and, without warning, slapped Fluttershy's glass, knocking it to the floor."

"And how did Rarity know what was going on?" Sunset asked, frowning.

"I don't know," Rainbow replied, leaning on one knee. "But when she knocked the glass over, she pulled a nearly empty envelope out of the pocket of the guy standing nearby. That's when I understood what was going on."

"Wow, unexpected!" Pinkie exclaimed, bringing her hands to her face. "But... did it have to end in a fight?"

"What else was I supposed to do? No one touches my friends," Rainbow said in a defiant tone, her expression hardened.

"Although," the cheerful girl chimed in, pointing at her cousin, "why did you hit Lightning Dust instead of the boy? Applejack at least hit the right guy."

Applejack looked away, touching her cheek gently. "Sure, it was... because of Fluttershy," muttered. In theory, it was true, but it was also because she didn't like how he talked about the dressmaker, which led her to throw herself at the boy.

Sunset raised an eyebrow, but decided not to press further. "Well, back to Dust..." said, motioning with her hands for them to explain.

Rainbow stood up, angrily. "Oh, that idiot first started saying he was having fun and then said Fluttershy had a good fi... uh..." She stopped, gulping, and sat back down, lowering her head, as her face began to redden. The girls, not counting the animal lover, looked at her in confusion.

Applejack stepped in to finish. "Well, I don't know why Rainbow... but she talked about Fluttershy's body like it was a prize, an object. Like she had the right to say those things."

Fluttershy lowered her head, her face also turning a slight red. "Y-yeah... plus, how would she know what... I look like without clothes?" asked, briefly glancing at the multicolored one.

Rainbow glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, feeling her own blush increase at that. "That's not something I should know or say! That... that's wrong," exclaimed, her tone indignant, though her cheeks still burned.

Pinkie tilted her head, smiling slightly. "Hey, why are you both so red? Is there something we don't know?"

The pink-haired girl waved her hands in front of her, nervous. "I-it's not that! It just... makes me uncomfortable, that's all," she half-lied.

The multicolored girl tried to calm down, but couldn't help but cross her arms to hide the real reason. "It just makes me mad! Nothing more!"

Twilight leaned into Fluttershy's ear, whispering. "Did something happen?"

"I'll tell you later," was the response she got.

Meanwhile, Applejack raised an eyebrow, watching as Rainbow avoided eye contact. "Sure, Dash... Are you okay? Did the bump last night leave you like that or was it because of too much drinking?"

Her partner glared at her.

Sunset put her hands on both of their shoulders. "Girls, let's focus, then you can take care of whatever you have pending. This is serious. Why don't we continue with what happened next?"

Rainbow nodded quickly, taking advantage of the distraction. "Yeah, that's it. Well, after that guy kept talking, Dust decided to... play along, saying to let that jerk continue with the comments, since Fluttershy would finally get a partner."

"Uhh, he went too far," Sunset said, frowning. "For once, I'll say that Dust deserved those beatings."

"She deserved it," the multicolored girl reaffirmed, nodding her head.

Fluttershy intervened in a soft but firm voice. "I don't like violence, I already told Dash that before I came. But... I'm thankful that you were there to help me."

"This is horrible," Pinkie sighed, her usually cheerful energy more contained. "Guys, I'm so sorry. I think it's my fault for letting our classmates invite their friends. Parties should be fun, not dangerous!"

"Pinkie, we don't know if it was a friend of a friend and you didn't have to be watching out for it," Applejack said, patting her leg. "This was unexpected."

Twilight nodded to make the party girl feel better.

"So we have the scenario... then his friends showed up," Sunset added, counting on her fingers. "It ended in a massive fight. Flash and Timber joined in after the boy's friends knocked out Gilda, and that's when the police arrived."

"At least it looks like they took those kids," Twilight commented, adjusting her glasses precisely and frowning. "Though we can't ignore that we escaped from the law," added, emphasizing the last words, underlining the seriousness of what happened.

"Come on, Twilight, there was no other option," Applejack shrugged as she fiddled with the brim of her hat,

"Even though everyone scattered," Sunset said, crossing her arms and looking thoughtful, as if she was still processing what had happened.

"It's a good thing Zephyr went with you," Fluttershy said, looking down and nervously folding her hands in her lap. She then looked up shyly at Applejack and Pinkie, her expression showing both relief and gratitude.

"Thanks to Pinkie, Lifeguard Pie, giving the order," Pinkie said, raising both hands as if announcing something important, with a proud smile.

"It's going to be a night to remember," Rainbow said, letting out a small sigh as she crossed her legs, her gaze fixed on an indefinite point.

"Girls...!" Twilight called out, then let out a sigh. "One thing to acknowledge, like it or not, is that if it wasn't for Belle, what would have happened?"

Rainbow, Applejack, and Sunset exchanged glances before nodding slowly. Fluttershy smiled slightly.

"It was super Rarity to the rescue," Pinkie said, raising an arm excitedly.

The sportswoman blinked slowly several times, fighting her pride, but finally muttered, putting her hand over her mouth: "Yeah... it was," said, as if she didn't want to be heard.

"Well, we definitely need a new party," Pinkie said, this time in a joking tone.

The group laughed softly, although the tension still hung in the air.

Applejack, noticing that the topic had come to an end, nodded to her partner. The multicolored one let out a sigh and stood up.

"Relax, we'll just talk in the corner," the farmer said to the girls, walking to a more private place.

"Just like the other times," Rainbow muttered as she walked away.

Pinkie watched them go curiously and then leaned slightly toward the rest of the group. "Something I missed?" asked with a smile.

"I don't know what they argued about this time either," Twilight said, holding her hands up in ignorance.

Sunset shook her head. "I have no idea, I don't think it's because of the unexpected kiss Rainbow gave her."

Fluttershy, who had been silent, hesitated before speaking. "It's not that... Applejack got mad because Rainbow was taking too much in the game with Lightning Dust," said quietly.

"Another loose end as to why Dust was at the pub," Sunset commented with a slight frown.

"Yeah, he just appeared out of nowhere," the pink-haired girl added, remembering how he interrupted them when she was with Rainbow on the terrace.

"But still, what's it about Dash having fun?" Pinkie asked, cocking her head.

"Maybe Applejack is worried about his health," Twilight said, trying to figure out.

"Maybe..." Fluttershy murmured, looking at the corner where the two of them are.

For the couple's part, they were already in a corner of the music room, away from their friends.

"Did it bother you that much that I criticized you for drinking?" began, crossing her arms and looking directly at her.

The multicolored girl snorted, clearly on the defensive. "Why didn't you just keep your words to yourself? I almost made a fool of myself."

"I don't mean to make you look bad, but then stop drinking too much," Applejack said firmly. "I don't understand why you have to be like that."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Why can't she just let me be?"

"Because you know you've had too many drinks and you'll pass out," replied, with a hint of frustration. "I had to carry you to the car last time... What kind of girlfriend would I be if I left you lying there?"

"Come on, AJ. That wasn't long ago, I have more resistance to it now and I'm grateful you didn't leave me those times, but last night I was just having fun," complained.

"You could have fun with just two glasses," the farmer said, holding up two fingers. "So, next time, do that."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow, taking a step back. "Are you my mom? Or are we married?"

Applejack raised both hands in surrender. "Obviously not, and it's not something I have in mind."

The multicolored girl clicked her tongue. "Then don't boss me around, AJ. Don't control my life."

The blonde sighed, looking away for a moment. "Fine, I'll try not to continue this the next time you drink..." Then, in an attempt to lighten the mood, she added, "Besides, I already promised you a place to go. And yes, they sell beer, but we could have fun without arguments."

Rainbow looked at her, remembering that promise from when they were studying. "Oh, right... But I warn you: the outing would go wrong if you criticize me for drinking."

Applejack nodded slowly, without answering. "Are we okay?" asked cautiously, searching her partner's eyes.

The athlete grimaced before answering, as if she were assessing the situation. "Yes, we are," finally said, though her tone was distant.

"Alright. Come on, our classes are almost here," said, turning to head back.

Rainbow stood in place for a moment, crossing her arms as she watched her walk. "If this is even okay," muttered before following her, her thoughts still tangled up in the argument.

The two walked back to the group together, their expressions more relaxed than before. Rainbow had her hands in her pockets and her gaze slightly on the ground, while Applejack adjusted her hat, as if she wanted to finish the matter.

"Have you resolved your mysterious drama yet?" Pinkie asked with her usual energy.

"Enough," Applejack replied with a small smile.

Rainbow snorted. "As usual," muttered.

Twilight checked her watch and quickly adjusted her glasses. "Well, girls, it's time for class."

"Then let's get moving," Sunset said, nodding toward the exit.

The group began to walk towards the door, as they passed Applejack closed the door behind her as the group began to walk, chatting and laughing. However, they were soon interrupted by a group of students who excitedly approached, cell phones in hand.

"Look at that fist!" a boy exclaimed, drawing the girls' attention.

One of the students raised her head, smiling. "Hey, girls, I heard last night's party was a disaster... in a good way."

"Is getting into a fight a 'good way'?" Twilight asked, arching an eyebrow.

"I didn't know that," Pinkie added excitedly.

The boy beside her laughed before looking at the multicolored girl. "Look, Dash, at the edit they made of you and uploaded to UniFeed." He turned the phone towards them, showing a video where the girl appeared in the middle of a 'fight', with video game effects added.

"The only thing missing was the 'Hadouken' to be Ryu!" Rainbow joked, cracking a half-smile.

"Or Ken?" Pinkie added quickly, leaning slightly towards the screen.

"But Ken's Hadouken isn't that iconic." said the multicolored girl, crossing her arms.

The party girl frowned in determination. "Of course it is! It also throws energy balls."

"Yeah, but when you think of a Hadouken, you think of Ryu first." Rainbow waved her hand as if throwing an imaginary one.

The boy laughed and nodded. "She's right. Ryu's is like... the classic one."

Pinkie puffed out her cheeks thoughtfully. "Well, but Ken's Shoryuken is cooler because it has fire in it."

"I'll give you that." The sporty girl pointed at her friend with a half smile.

At that moment, Fluttershy cocked her head with a confused expression. "Isn't Ken from Barbie?" asked innocently.

Sunset let out a light laugh before patting him on the shoulder. "I'll explain later."

They continued down the hall until another student approached, excitedly showing off his cell phone. "Check this out, it's the highlight of the night!"

"Ah, that must be the game with Lightning Dust," the red-haired girl commented, recognizing the type of game.

The farm girl crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow in obvious disinterest, until a few words echoed behind her.

"Do you think Feather and Rarity are a couple yet?" one of the boys asked.

Applejack turned quickly, her eyes fixed on the students.

"Are you interested?" the boy's companion asked, noticing his attention.

Without answering, Applejack watched as the former played the video on his screen: the exact moment of Rarity and Feather's kiss on the dance floor.

"Wow, Rarity, she gave it her all!" Pinkie exclaimed, leaning on the blonde's shoulder with a knowing smile. "Do you think they'll be the couple of the year?" asked, addressing both the crowd and her friends, who turned around.

The surrounding crowd began to murmur with laughter, but Applejack grimaced briefly, her jaw tensing. Her voice came out firm, almost cutting: "Do you really have to record things like that? I don't think it's something that should be circulating."

The group briefly fell silent at her words. Pinkie cocked her head in confusion, while Twilight frowned slightly.

"Well, it was part of the party," one girl chimed in, shrugging. "And besides, you two look cute together."

"Right, Rarity?" one of the boys asked, noticing the dressmaker's arrival in the hallway.

"Uhh... I'd like to answer, but I don't know what you're referring to," Rarity replied elegantly, maintaining her usual demeanor.

"Oh, about the kiss you and Feather shared!" Pinkie exclaimed, looking at her with a wide smile. "We should talk about that, girl!"

Rarity felt her cheeks heat up as she looked at the crowd and a little at the girls, at one point meeting Applejack's gaze, who avoided eye contact, keeping her attention fixed on the ground as if it were of vital importance.

"Maybe we should keep moving," Sunset suggested, breaking the tension in the air. "We have classes."

The crowd began to disperse, while some stayed according to their schedule. The Mane Six continued on their way, passing by Rarity. Both Rainbow and Fluttershy exchanged fleeting glances with the seamstress; the multicolored one, a little tense, but with something more, and the pink-haired one, with an expression of gratitude. However, seeing her, the memory of what happened last night came back to her mind.

Although Applejack moved forward with them, she stayed behind for a moment, throwing a brief glance at Rarity before hurrying to join the rest.

When they reached a specific point, the girls separated to go to their subjects. Applejack walked through the halls with firm steps. Upon reaching the marketing classroom, she entered calmly, following some of her classmates. She barely took a few steps towards her seat when the teacher's voice stopped her.

"Applejack, are you okay?" the teacher asked, adjusting her glasses as she pointed at the visible bruises on her face.

The farmer girl brought a hand to her cheek with a forced smile. "Don't worry, Professor."

The teacher arched an eyebrow, observing her closely. "Seeing bruises like that on my students is reason enough to worry."

Applejack sighed, trying to sound calm. "Ah, I wasn't mugged, if that's what you think. I'm fine."

The teacher watched her for a moment longer before nodding with a sigh. "If you need medical attention, you know we have a clinic on campus."

"Thanks, but I already checked myself at home. If I need to, I'll go," Applejack replied firmly before heading to her seat. "I only ran water over myself to get the blood off, though," thought.

As she settled in and pulled out her notebook, she heard murmurs behind her. Some of her classmates were watching something on their phones, accompanied by giggles. It was obvious that videos from last night's party were already circulating around campus.

A slight frown crossed her face as she remembered certain comments from the hallway. She shook her head as she sat down and muttered to herself sarcastically, "Cute together."

She concentrated on drumming her fingers on the table, waiting for the teacher to begin. At that moment, the door opened and Rarity entered the classroom.

The seamstress seemed distracted, her lips slightly pursed and her eyes fixed somewhere on the floor. She didn't greet or make eye contact with anyone, she simply walked to her seat, mechanically.

Shortly after, the teacher started class, and Applejack tried to focus on the lesson. However, her gaze constantly strayed to Rarity. It seemed like the seamstress's mind was elsewhere.

"Thinking about her Prince Charming?" thought with some annoyance, looking away. But as the minutes passed, her attention returned to the seamstress, who was still immersed in her thoughts, now drumming her fingers on the table, something unusual for her.

Applejack frowned, remembering that that drumming usually only appeared when something worried her. "If it's not that ridiculous Feather... what's happening to him now?" thought, leaning over her notebook, scribbling in a corner.

Although she didn't want to admit it, the image of Rarity so quiet and self-absorbed was beginning to worry her more than she expected. She analyzed what it could be, thinking and thinking she came to something that was obvious and she hadn't taken into account.

"She may still care despite things," thought, looking at her out of the corner of her eye.

"Miss Smith, are you paying attention?" The teacher's voice echoed, stopping right in front of her table.

Applejack immediately sat up, leaning back in her chair. "Yes, yes, I'm attentive," replied firmly, albeit with a slight nervousness.

"I hope so. Next week they'll have a group assignment, and what was discussed today will be key to it," said, turning around to continue at the board.

The blonde nodded, though part of her mind was still elsewhere. "How did he not notice Belle's distraction?" thought, casting one last glance at Rarity before forcing herself to focus on what was left of the class.

Finally, the teacher dismissed the class. The students began to get up and gather their things. Applejack took a deep breath, determined to talk to Rarity before she left. But to her frustration, the seamstress was already walking through the door.

"The hunter chasing her prey..." muttered to herself, before getting up and following her at a safe distance. Noticing that Rarity wasn't heading for the exit, but towards another part of the university, she decided she wouldn't let her out of her sight.

"Where are you headed, vampire?" wondered, quickening her pace enough to keep her from escaping.

A few steps away, Rarity arrived at her destination. She just had to wait for the students to leave the classroom before she could enter. Once they did, she looked around, making sure no one saw her, and then crossed the threshold.

She walked over to the piano, sliding her fingers over the key cover with a smile before sitting down. Opening it, she positioned her hands and began to play.

Applejack, who had followed her, watched as the dressmaker looked around before entering the classroom. After a few seconds, a soft melody caught her attention. She crept to the door and, from there, saw Rarity concentrating on what she was doing. She hesitated for a moment, watching her play.

"I see you're still at the piano...", thought, staring at the piano before making a decision. Finally, she let out a soft sigh and entered.

"So this is where you got in," interrupted with a neutral face as she approached.

Rarity was surprised to see her there. She had made sure that no one saw her enter.

Applejack watched her for a moment. She tilted her head, remembering when she found the piano lid in the other music room open. "Could it have been her? No, it would be too much of a coincidence."

"Were you looking for me or is it just a coincidence that you passed by here?" asked the dressmaker, looking at her cautiously.

Applejack bit her lower lip, wondering where to start. "Yeah, I wanted to ask you... uh... did you pay attention in class? You see there's going to be a group assignment next time," began cautiously.

"Wh... assignment?" Rarity asked, somewhat confused.

"Yeah, your mind is definitely somewhere else," replied with a hint of sarcasm.

"Oh, I didn't hear that part in class. I must have gotten lost in my thoughts," the seamstress said, looking back and forth, trying to remember.

"I noticed. They were probably at the party," Applejack commented, putting her hands in her pants pockets.

"Yeah, and not in what you think... It all got out of hand in the end," Rarity said, remembering a bit of what happened.

The blonde nodded. Then she noticed that the curly-haired girl seemed to want to say something else, although she didn't dare. She knew perfectly well what it was.

"You know, you have a good eye for seeing in the dark," said, breaking the silence as she drummed her fingers on a part of the piano. "Even I wouldn't have noticed what that guy was about to do."

"It was just a coincidence, really," Rarity replied, looking away at the bruises on Applejack's face from the blows she received. "You didn't need to hit him. I was about to slap him again, or maybe I would have hit him too," commented, trying to defend herself.

"Hmm... I doubt it," the farmer said, not entirely convinced.

"What? The huntress doesn't believe me capable?" Rarity asked in a defiant, yet playful tone, raising an eyebrow as she stood up.

"You might dare to try, but I doubt you want to ruin your nails for not knowing how to do it right," replied, crossing her arms with a victorious smile.

"Maybe... but let me tell you, I did hit someone once," the seamstress said, nodding seriously.

"Oh, yeah?" Applejack raised an eyebrow, somewhat intrigued, while giving a half smile.

"Yeah, it was a girl who was mean to me. Maybe her motives were reasonable and I deserved it, but she still pissed me off, so I punched her... in the nose."

The farmer couldn't help but laugh. "Wow, the vampire got into action."

Rarity could have been offended, thinking that Applejack didn't believe her, but instead she laughed with her.

"Of course, I did hurt myself..." said, stopping as she noticed Applejack's knuckles. Without thinking too much, she reached out and gently took the blonde's fingers.

"You had them less pink than this," commented with a slight tinge of concern in her voice.

Applejack froze, surprised by the sudden contact. She felt the warmth of Rarity's hands on hers, and even though she wanted to pull away...

"Applejack... you should put some cream on it to help it heal," whispered as she inspected the knuckles delicately, as if she were afraid of hurting her further. Her bright sapphire eyes met the blonde's.

Applejack looked away. "Be less tactful..." said, gently pulling her hand away.

The seamstress blinked as she realized her action. "Oh, sorry, that was so sudden. I just saw your wounds," said, looking down at the ground before looking back into her eyes.

The farm girl cleared her throat and stood up straight. "Don't do that," said, returning to an almost indifferent tone as she looked away.

"I shouldn't have taken your hand like that, without asking permission," Rarity apologized once more.

"Well, yeah, but don't do that other thing either," replied, frowning.

"What thing?"

"Well, about..." Applejack stopped mid-word. "Never mind, I just came for one thing."

Rarity nodded. "To tell me off for not paying attention in class."

"Also, which you didn't do."

"I know," the dressmaker said, but her gaze turned serious. "Thank you for standing up for me, even though I didn't ask for it."

Applejack nodded silently. She seemed to be thinking about leaving to put the subject behind her. She turned around and started walking towards the exit.

As she was about to reach the door, she remembered what she really came for.

"By the way..." said, catching Rarity's attention. The blonde didn't turn around. She breathed, putting her pride aside for a moment. "If you're wondering, Fluttershy is okay. She's not scared, but she's relieved that nothing bad happened." Applejack finally said what the seamstress wanted to hear. "And... thanks for the other day in the bathroom."

She finished speaking with a slight smile that the girl didn't see and left the classroom.

Rarity smiled softly as she watched her leave. Then, she looked down at her hand, feeling a slight blush on her cheeks. Finally, she sat back down and let her fingers slide over the piano keys again.

The soft echo of Fluttershy and Twilight's footsteps echoed in the hallway as they both walked to their lockers. The blue-haired girl carried a couple of books while the shy girl nervously played with her hair, as she recounted what happened at her house.

"And it all happened because Rainbow didn't want to listen to Zephyr..." finished telling in a low voice, her cheeks taking on a slight pink hue.

Twilight pressed her lips tightly, trying not to laugh at the situation. "That explains why you two acted so weird when we talked about the party. Did you talk about what happened after?"

"A little..." answered as she played with her hair again. "But it was so unexpected. Since we were girls, we did everything together and I'm not saying that I've seen her, you know..."

Twilight nodded to encourage her to continue.

"We used to go to the pool together and wear swimsuits. But we're grown up now and it was different..." paused, looking back and forth to make sure no one was listening. Though the nearby students were distracted by their lockers or chatting, Fluttershy leaned closer to her friend and lowered her voice even further.

"That's the first time she's seen me in... underwear," murmured with a slight tremor in her voice.

Twilight blinked in surprise before smiling, holding back her laughter. "Relax, Fluttershy. It's Rainbow. I don't think she's uncomfortable about it. And it's not like it's a terrible thing."

"If you think about it, I don't think this is the first time Dash has seen someone in underwear, considering the locker rooms after sport or her workouts," continued, holding up a finger as if she were giving a lesson. "I'm sure she's seen someone else... like that, too."

"Who else could it be... Applejack," Fluttershy said shyly, looking to the side.

"It's possible. You know, they're a couple and, well, a lot of couples... do things," the blue-haired girl added matter-of-factly.

The pink-haired girl nodded slowly. "I understand... Maybe you're right. I shouldn't feel awkward."

Twilight placed a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "Besides everything else, you two did come together today, right? If I was uncomfortable, I probably would have distanced myself. But if you really have doubts... talk to her. I'm sure Rainbow will take it normally."

Fluttershy let out a relieved sigh. "You're right. Thanks, Twilight."

Just as they moved towards another lighter conversation, a lively murmur was heard up ahead. They both looked up to see Trixie and Starlight walking towards them.

"Oh, look who's here!" the mage exclaimed, in her usual dramatic tone. "The most popular party and the ones we missed from the best."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Hello, Trixie. Hello, Starlight. What are you doing here?"

Starlight smiled calmly. "Just keeping Trixie company. She seems to want to get her big moment back after the party."

The bespectacled girl crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Really? A fight and rumors don't sound like the highlight of a party to me."

"Well, there are those boys too..." Trixie said, lowering her voice. "It's said that they said mean things about Fluttershy and that's why they started fighting."

The animal lover exchanged a glance with Twilight, the other two not knowing the full context for everything ending in blows.

"And if that's true," Trixie continued with a dramatic sigh, "why didn't I get my shining moment with magic? It's unforgivable!"

Twilight barely managed to contain an amused smile as Starlight let out a laugh. "Are you really more concerned with your show than what happened?"

“The Great and Powerful Trixie must always shine!” the gray-haired girl exclaimed theatrically.

Fluttershy gave a shy smile. “Maybe you can create something innovative for your next trick. Something unique that you can show off at drama club.”

“Exactly,” Twilight added. “You could use different materials, like wood, bricks, or paint. Something that will leave an impression.”

Trixie snapped her fingers excitedly, raising a hand dramatically. “That’s perfect! I’ll see what I can come up with. Maybe something that combines magic and construction. It’ll be an unforgettable show!”

“Speaking of the party,” the blue-haired girl chimed in, looking at the girls. “Did you tell your parents what happened?”

Trixie laughed. “Oh right! How would I explain that the police showed up and we almost ended up in trouble?”

Twilight raised an eyebrow, noticing the sarcasm.

"That would have been hard to explain..." Fluttershy muttered. "Luckily, my parents were asleep and didn't find out that Zephyr and I arrived separately."

"Yeah, everyone kind of dispersed in the end," the bespectacled girl said. "How did you leave if you weren't with us in Rainbow's car?"

"Trixie left with Applejack," Starlight replied.

"Yeah, Applejack looked like an Uber dropping everyone off at home," Trixie added with a laugh, then changed her expression to one of curiosity. "In Dash's car?"

"It's kind of funny how they switched," Starlight commented, laughing along with Fluttershy.

The four of them continued to chat as they walked away down the hallway.

Rarity walked through the halls, receiving a few greetings and comments about her costume from the night before. However, she also heard a few murmurs about what happened with Feather.

"Rarity, shouldn't you be with Feather now that you're, you know... dating?" asked a student, approaching curiously.

"Lucky you, she ignored me yesterday," said another student, approaching.

"Uh... well, nothing's set yet," Rarity replied with a polite smile, although inside she felt a little uncomfortable. "I need to figure this out as soon as possible," she thought.

"Or maybe you're not together yet and you want to give me a chance?" another boy joked, winking at her.

"Ah, no, dude, I'm watching my chance," said the short-haired girl, who Rarity now recognized as Vignette.

"But Rarity doesn't like girls!" exclaimed another student.

Rarity barely had time to react before Flash appeared, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Easy, folks, the girl needs a breather," Flash said with a relaxed smile.

The students surrounding her began to disperse, leaving the seamstress with a sigh of relief.

"Thanks, Flash," said, smiling back.

"You're welcome. How are you after all this?"

"Fine, I guess... although I wish this would all blow over." Rarity grimaced slightly, changing the subject. "And your wounds? How are they?"

"Ah, nothing that won't heal with time," Flash replied in a carefree tone.

"And with a nice ointment," Pinkie interrupted, suddenly appearing and placing her hands on the wavy-haired girl's shoulders with her characteristic enthusiasm.

Flash let out a laugh. "Yeah, I think that would do me some good. Thanks."

"I hope you never get hit, Rarity! It looks like it hurts," the party girl added, dramatizing her voice as she rubbed her own arms as if feeling the pain.

"Don't even mention it," Rarity replied, laughing.

"Well, I'm taking this girl," Pinkie said, beginning to push her friend by the shoulders as Flash waved them off.

"And don't forget to suggest the ointment to Timber," Pinkie added over her shoulder.

"I'll tell him," Flash replied as they walked away.

The sun filtered through the leaves of the tree under which Fluttershy sat, her hands clasped in her lap. The distant murmur of the students and the soft whisper of the wind accompanied her thoughts. She found herself next to a semi-open walkway that led to a small pasture.

She could see three familiar figures stopping: Rainbow Dash, Sunset, and Applejack, with their bags on their shoulders.

"Hey, Fluttershy!" Rainbow greeted, smiling as she took a seat next to her.

"Hey, Dash..." Fluttershy replied in a soft tone. She raised her head and watched as her two friends walked away. "How was it being back to training?"

Rainbow let out a tired sigh and rested her elbows on her knees. "It's been an intense workout. Obviously, they asked about our bruises. AJ had a bit of a hard time with his knuckle wound, but he kept going as best he could. How about you? Everything okay?"

Fluttershy nodded slowly, watching as her friend took a sip of water. "Yeah, I was just killing time."

The multicolored girl turned slightly to look at her, her expression relaxed. "Yeah, a little longer and I can go with Scoot."

"I'd like to leave earlier, but you know I like spending time with you guys," the pinkette admitted, with a slight smile.

Rainbow smiled back.

Fluttershy laughed softly, though the nervousness was still present on her face. She took a slight breath before finally deciding. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, whatever," replied, turning fully towards her.

The shy girl lowered her gaze slightly, fiddling with the folds of her dress. "About... what happened today, when you came into my room..."

Rainbow frowned slightly. "Oh, that, yeah. Well..."

Fluttershy nodded quickly, her cheeks taking on a soft pink hue. "When... you saw me in... well, you know."

The sport girl blinked a few times before realization dawned on her face. "You know it was my fault..." said, letting out a nervous laugh. "I thought it was just the moment and you wouldn't think much of it?"

"Yeah, well..." said, her voice barely audible. "I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something weird for you... because, well, for me it was a little awkward."

Rainbow set the water bottle aside and leaned back against the tree, watching the sky. "Fluttershy, we've been friends forever. Sure, it was... unexpected, but it wasn't a big deal. It's not like I haven't seen you in a bathing suit before or anything."

"It's not like I'm the first girl you've seen half naked," the pink-haired girl laughed, half nervous and half playful.

Rainbow held her gaze for a few seconds before shrugging. "Yeah, since there are the dressing rooms, but you know some girls get embarrassed and go to the shower to change... like you."

Fluttershy looked down. "Being stared at while changing is awkward."

"I understand, but it doesn't change anything. I'm not going to let something so silly come between us. If anything, I'm glad you trust me enough to talk about this."

"Thanks, Rainbow. I was really worried about what you might think... or that you'd see me in a weird way," sighed in relief, her expression softening.

The multicolored girl smiled, giving her a light, friendly punch on the shoulder. "You're Fluttershy. I'll always think well of you."

"Not in a weird way..." thought, putting a hand on the back of her neck. "Rather different... it's true that it grew a bit, and that's not the only thing I saw that grew..." She blushed slightly before mentally slapping herself. "I'm going crazy, it's Fluttershy. I shouldn't have to analyze too much what I saw."

"I'm glad everything's okay," the pink-haired girl said with a smile.

Rainbow reacted and cleared her throat. "Of course it is, nothing to worry about."

They both remained silent for a few moments, but when two figures passed by the hallway, their thoughts took another turn. It was Rarity next to Pinkie Pie; however, the presence of the seamstress was the one that left them most thoughtful.

Fluttershy looked down, her fingers playing with a lock of her hair. She wasn't sure if she should bring up the subject or just let it go. Maybe it wasn't the time... but before she knew it, the words came out of her mouth almost instinctively.

"Do you think we should talk to her?" murmured, breaking the silence.

She felt a small knot in her stomach when she realized what she said, so she glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, trying to gauge her reaction.

Rainbow looked away to the spot where Rarity and Pinkie had disappeared, her jaw clenching slightly.

"I don't know..." replied in a more serious voice, with a hint of discomfort. "After what she did... at the party..."

Fluttershy looked up, observing her friend's face. She seemed to be struggling with something... perhaps her pride.

"You don't have to talk to her if you don't want to. I know I said you should try to push away the hatred you feel, but it doesn't have to be now," said, placing a hand on hers in a gesture of support.

Rainbow smiled slightly, but avoided answering. "And you? Have you thought about... talking to her?" asked, glancing at her out of the corner of her eye.

"I've thought about it..." the pink-haired girl admitted quietly. "After last night, even more so."

The multicolored girl let out a sigh, resting her head against the tree trunk. "You should... at least you."

Fluttershy watched her close her eyes for a moment. "Maybe..." began to say, hesitating for a moment. "Maybe you just need to take the first step."

Rainbow opened her eyes, looking at her in surprise. She opened her mouth to say something, but in the end she just shook her head and let out a snort.

Ending the conversation, the athlete stared at the sky, as if she were looking for answers in the clouds. Finally, she stood up and stretched her arms.

"I guess we've talked enough. Are you coming with me to look for Scoot?" asked, leaning slightly and offering her hand.

Fluttershy took it with a smile.

"Unless he's already gone to the parking lot..." Rainbow added with a slight shrug.

"We'll have to find out," the pink-haired girl replied as she stood up with the help of her friend.

They both walked away from the place, disappearing into the hallways.

In another courtyard, Pinkie had already sat down next to Rarity, resting her chin on her hands as she looked at her friend with a mischievous expression.

"So..." began, drawing out the word and lightly pushing the seamstress with her shoulder.

"So what?" said, glancing at her from the corner of her eye.

"You took a chance with Feather, huh?" Pinkie wiggled her eyebrows in an exaggerated manner.

Rarity rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile. "It was... spontaneous, let's say. The atmosphere of the party had a lot to do with it."

"So? Is something going to happen or was it just a moment?" insisted, leaning forward as if she couldn't contain her curiosity.

"Oh, Pinkie, you're just as gossipy as our classmates."

"You haven't answered," Pinkie said with a mischievous smile.

"I don't know... I didn't feel anything special, but I'm not saying it was wrong..." Rarity replied, playing with her fingers. "Although maybe I could give it a try."

The party girl frowned thoughtfully. "Hmm, but would you do it even if you didn't feel anything right now?"

The seamstress nodded slowly. "Sometimes, love can blossom over time."

"What if it doesn't? Would you give it a chance just out of pity if he gives you a puppy face?" asked, clasping her hands together in an exaggerated pleading expression.

Rarity let out a small laugh. "Definitely not. It wouldn't be fair to either of us."

"Exactly," Pinkie said, crossing her arms. "If you do, make sure it's because you really want it, not just because it was a party thing. That would be forcing a relationship."

The wavy-haired girl looked at her with a mix of surprise and gratitude. "Thank you, Pinkie. Your advice... while a little invasive, is helpful."

"It's my job as a friend! To be curious so you can think," the party girl said with a wide smile before turning more serious. "Whatever your decision is, I support you," added as she stood up.

Rarity stood up, smiling. "Wow, Pinkie Pie giving me love advice. Impressive."

"I'm unpredictable, sweetie," Pinkie replied, making a theatrical gesture with her hands.

"And a great friend," Rarity added as they began walking.

The hyperactive girl regained her usual enthusiasm. "Now let's get your sister! Ice cream or Halloween candy?"

Rarity laughed. "I hope she doesn't get sick before we go on the field trip from eating so much candy. I didn't even see how much she collected last night."

"So the Crusaders are going on a field trip?" Pinkie thought. Then she remembered that she had said she would help Applejack. She pulled out her cell phone and opened WhatsApp to send an audio.

"Hey, AJ, sorry, but I won't be going with you this time. And as for your excuse... I won't be able to help you, cousin, but I recommend you tell the truth. Bye!"

"And what was that?" the seamstress asked curiously.

"My help to Applejack for her bruises. We ran away in the morning avoiding telling the truth to Granny Smith."

Rarity laughed. "Applejack can make excuses, but she never lies."

"Let me tell you that she has, but we'll leave that for another day. Let's go for Mini Belle!"

The wavy-haired girl raised an eyebrow, wanting to ask more, but let it go. "Come on, so I can ask her how many candies she collected..." She was silent for a moment before adding in a murmur: "Days like today, when we get in late, I wake up alone, but when I come back I find my parents."

"We could have a sleepover soon so you don't feel lonely," Pinkie suggested cheerfully.

"I'll consider it," replied with a smile as they both headed off to find Sweetie Belle.

Applejack arrived at Sweet Apple Acres with Apple Bloom, who had been asking her what had happened all the way. The older lady avoided answering directly, diverting the conversation with a tired "I'll tell you at home."

Entering the house, Applejack left her keys on the table and walked into the living room, but when she arrived, she found a scene she hadn't expected, but at the same time she had. Her grandmother was waiting for her, rocking in her chair with a mix of concern and disapproval on her face. Big Mac, arms crossed by the fireplace, looked at her with a stern expression.

"By the apples in my orchards, what happened to your face?" asked the older lady, frowning. "I was expecting an explanation for your knuckles, but now you owe me more."

Applejack let out a nervous laugh as she scratched the back of her neck. "Well, Grandma, you see... How do I say it without getting angry?"

"First, Apple Bloom, go get the first aid kit," Big Mac intervened, pointing at the couch. "And you, sit here and think carefully about your explanation."

The younger girl nodded quickly and ran off to get the first aid kit, while Applejack obeyed and dropped onto the couch, letting out a sigh.

"For starters, this happened at the party..." said, taking off her hat and leaving it on the table.

"You already said that before you left," Big Mac reminded, crossing his arms more tightly.

"Here it is," Apple Bloom announced, returning with the first aid kit and sitting next to her older sister to begin cleaning her wounds.

"Well, what happened was..." Applejack took a deep breath before continuing. "Everything was going well at the party until someone put something in Fluttershy's glass. Something... to make her dizzy."

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow in confusion, although she remained silent. Granny Smith nodded slightly, understanding without the need for explicit details.

"And, well, that guy started talking to her inappropriately. Then Lightning Dust came along and, with his loose mouth, made comments that got us all fired up too. Rainbow ended up beating her up, and I took care of the kid for... for that very reason."

"And did more join in?" Big Mac asked, his tone not hiding his disapproval.

"Yeah. His friends got involved, but Flash and Timber helped us out when Gilda couldn't take it anymore."

"Couldn't they have solved it another way?" the older lady chimed in, while Applejack looked away with some guilt.

"Maybe, but we didn't think of it at the time."

Granny Smith raised an eyebrow. "Anything else?"

The farm girl shifted in her seat, uncomfortable. "Yeah, well... the police showed up and, well... we got out of there before things got any more complicated."

"In a chase?" Big Mac asked, visibly more upset.

"Of course not!" replied quickly, wincing as his sister applied cotton to a bruise. "We just split up and took our vehicles. We left before the police could catch up to us."

The older lady nodded slowly while Big Mac shook his head, clearly disappointed.

"Well, what you did was wrong, and you know it," his brother said firmly.

"So, you'll have the day off tomorrow to recover," Grandma added. "But on Sunday you'll be doing twice as much work on the farm."

"What?! But I told them the truth..."

"And you hid those bruises from us this morning," Grandma said, cutting off any attempt at defense.

Applejack let out a resigned snort. "Okay..."

Grandma and Big Mac left the room, giving the sisters some space. Apple Bloom continued to carefully clean the wounds and apply ointments.

"At least roosters don't bite as much as those guys," the younger one joked, drawing a small smile from her sister.

"Thanks, Bloom," replied sincerely.

"There, I'm done with your face. "Give me your hand," Apple Bloom asked, concentrating.

Applejack held it out to her, and though she tried not to complain, she winced as the alcohol touched the wounds.

When she finished bandaging it, she looked at her knuckles and then at the palm of her fingers, touching it delicately.

"Do you have another wound there?" Apple Bloom asked, noticing her expression.

"No, no, it's okay... just a weird feeling, that's all," said, briefly looking at her palm again before relaxing her hand. "I hope he doesn't do it again... it was weird," thought.

Apple Bloom gave her a curious look, but didn't press the issue. "While you're recovering, I'll show you the candy I got, though I hid some."

The older girl laughed. "You know I'll find it."

Apple Bloom brought a finger to her chin, pretending to think about it. "Mmm... nope. Trust me, sis, I have a super secret stash that you haven't discovered until today."

Applejack looked at her skeptically, though she had to admit that it could be true.

"Well, I'm going for them and also for the permit," the younger girl said before getting up and going up the stairs.

Applejack rested her head on the back of the couch, closing her eyes for a moment. The echoes of the previous night still weighed on her mind, but she knew that the only thing she could do now was face the consequences and move on.

Night had fallen over the city, and the Belle house was quiet. Only the soft hum of the television broke the silence as Hondo and Cookie settled on the couch. Hondo flipped through the channels until he stopped on the evening news.

"Always the same," Cookie muttered, though he left the channel on.

Rarity quietly came out of the kitchen, carrying a cup of tea in her hands. She wasn't her usual grace; she was stiff, and her eyes darted restlessly toward the screen, as if searching for something.

She stood behind the couch, pretending to drink her tea as she listened to the newscaster announce the... latest news of the day.

Her heart was pounding. She prayed that they wouldn't mention anything about last night's party. She knew the police had intervened, and she was afraid something would get back to her parents.

"Are you okay?" Hondo asked, turning to look at her briefly before returning his attention to the screen.

"Yes, yes, dad," answered quickly, though her nervous tone gave her away.

Cookie watched her curiously. "You seem a little tense, dear."

"It's just that..." Rarity hesitated. "Sometimes they mention things on the news that... worry me. Nothing major, I promise."

The conversation stopped when a drug-related arrest came to light on the television. Rarity held her breath. "Please, don't let it be about the party." thought, and as the faces of the arrestees came to light, she sighed in relief. They weren't who she feared.

That sigh didn't go unnoticed by her parents.

"Are you sure everything's okay?" her mother insisted.

Rarity took a sip of her tea. "Yes, mother. I'm just a little tired."

Before they could ask any further, Sweetie Belle appeared at the side of the couch, nervously playing with the folds of her pajamas.

"Sweetie? What's wrong?" Cookie asked, noticing her youngest daughter's worried expression.

Sweetie Belle hesitated a moment before speaking. "I want to talk to you about the field trip."

"Is something bad, princess?" Hondo asked, gesturing for her to come closer.

Sweetie sat in the middle, while Rarity took a seat on the couch to look at her.

"It's not bad, but... there's something I didn't tell you before."

"What thing?" Cookie asked, softening her tone.

"The field trip is going to last longer than I thought," Sweetie admitted, looking down.

"Longer?" Hondo repeated.

The youngest nodded. "Yeah... until after New Year's."

The surprise was immediate for the family members.

"After New Year's?" Cookie asked, confused.

"It's going to be a long one," Rarity commented in surprise, taking another sip of her tea.

"Yeah..." Sweetie looked at her sister with some trepidation. "And I don't like the idea of leaving you alone on Christmas."

Rarity blinked in surprise. "Leaving me alone?"

The younger girl nodded, her voice shaking a little. "You'll be away on your business trip too. If I go, you'll be left alone for the holidays... And I don't want that to happen."

Hondo and Cookie exchanged glances.

"Honey, I understand that you're worried, but this is a great opportunity for you," her mother said, stroking her hair. "Besides, Rarity can take care of herself, right?"

"Of course I can," Rarity quickly chimed in, smiling reassuringly. "Don't worry about me, Sweetie. I can't possibly make it through it alone. If you decide to go, I'll fully support you."

"Are you sure you won't be alone?" her younger sister asked, looking down.

Her father leaned forward with a sympathetic expression. "Princess, don't feel guilty. We can arrange something special before you leave, how about that?"

"Something special?" Sweetie repeated with a spark of hope.

"Sure," Cookie said, smiling. "We can have a little early Christmas. And when you get back, we'll have another one, the official one. What do you think, Rarity?"

Rarity nodded. "I think that's a wonderful idea. Consider it the official Christmas and you'll see that I won't be alone."

Sweetie Belle finally smiled, more at ease. "Thank you... so, shall we put up the tree early?"

"Sure. What would Christmas be without a decorated tree?" her dad commented excitedly.

Sweetie's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh, I can't wait to get started!"

"Tomorrow we'll do a part of it and finish it in the week," Cookie said with a smile.

"It'll be hard work, but we'll do it together. And when the season is over, the four of us will take it down," Rarity added with a nod.

"I'll think about what I'll do that Christmas Eve... Maybe I'll invite Pinkie or she'll invite me. I'll decide later, but either way, I'll say yes," thought.

When Sweetie left, Cookie looked at her eldest daughter curiously. "And you, dear, are you sure everything is okay? You were very nervous just now."

Rarity smiled, half nervous, half calm. "I'm fine, Mother. It's just been a stressful few weeks at university."

Although her parents didn't insist, Hondo eyed her with some suspicion before turning his attention back to the television. Rarity sighed internally. She had dodged a difficult question.

The weekend arrived with an air of calm and busyness for the girls, each immersed in their own tasks and personal moments.

Rarity, along with her family, decided to advance the Christmas preparations little by little, starting with the tree. She was in charge of directing every detail, making sure that the colors matched perfectly and that each ornament was in its place. Her sister Sweetie Belle, excited, helped with the small decorations while their parents worked on other details inside the house.

Pinkie, after having organized a children's party, spent the time watching videos like Rainbow, reviewing the recordings that the students uploaded to the university's exclusive app. Although at first they laughed, their expressions became more serious by the moment, while guilt appeared on their faces when they remembered what had happened. Rainbow, in particular, could not help the feeling that she should talk to Rarity, although she was not yet ready to fully admit it.

Fluttershy dedicated her time to taking care of the animals at the shelter. The soft sounds of the creatures and the tranquility of the place gave her peace, but in the silence, the memories of the party continued to accompany her.

Twilight, always disciplined, reviewed her notes despite not having any upcoming exams, while Sunset opted to do a little exercise, as she used to do occasionally with the multicolored one.

On Sunday, Applejack, true to her word, faced the punishment imposed by her grandmother. From dawn, she worked twice as hard on the farm: she collected apples, repaired fences and took care of the animals. Under the morning sun, each task was a reminder of the price of her actions.

Thus, the weekend ended, leaving each one with her thoughts and preparing for the week ahead.

Monday came with a chill in the air, and Rarity walked to school with Sweetie Belle. The large courtyard that connected the school to the university was filled with students hurrying in. The excited younger girl couldn't stop talking about the Christmas decorations they had put up over the weekend.

"Don't forget that you promised to help me with the garlands, Rarity!" said Sweetie Belle enthusiastically.

"Of course, dear," replied with a smile as she adjusted her scarf. "By the way, don't forget this..."

Rarity pulled a folded sheet of paper out of her bag and handed it to her. "Oh! How could I forget?" Sweetie exclaimed as she took the permission slip signed by her parents for the field trip.

"You were so excited over the weekend that you left it on the table," said the seamstress with a hint of amusement in her voice.

Sweetie Belle waved goodbye cheerfully and ran to the school entrance, leaving Rarity on the path to the university. She had barely taken a few steps when two familiar figures intercepted her.

"Oh, Rarity!" Lyra called as she approached her girlfriend. "Since Friday, you've been the center of attention after the party."

"Not counting, of course, the beatings Applejack and Rainbow gave each other against those boys," Bon Bon added with a somewhat knowing smile.

Rarity let out a small sigh as she stopped to listen to them. "I shouldn't care much about gossip, but... I think I should clear things up with Feather," murmured thoughtfully. She had had time to reflect over the weekend between Christmas preparations.

"And what do you plan to do?" Lyra asked with a mischievous expression. "Are you going to say no or yes to her?"

"The first thing I'll do is..." Rarity stared at them, with a slight smile. "Go to class. It's about time, don't you think?"

"Oh, Rarity..." Lyra said, feigning a disappointed tone.

"What are we going to do about it?" Bon Bon added with a giggle.

"Besides, I didn't even see him on Friday. He probably doesn't have classes that day," Rarity added, starting to walk again.

"Or he went out with another girl right after his schedule ended," Lyra commented with a shrug.

The seamstress paused for a moment and raised an eyebrow. "Don't you know that?"

"We change schedules every year, and we don't hang out with Feather much," Bon Bon replied. "We say hello when he passes by or talk to him if he's with Flash and his friends, but we don't have all the details... except what a Casanova he is."

"Whatever," Rarity said determinedly. "After class, if I find him, I'll talk to him."

She took a step further away from the two, but was instantly stopped by a comment.

"I hope you don't accept my Feather into your life," a girl said, pointing with a gesture before walking away.

"Good luck with your decision," Bon Bon said with a light laugh.

Rarity nodded, sighing deeply as she resumed her walk to her living room. Although she maintained her elegant demeanor, a slight discomfort was reflected on her face.

"If you miss something, I'll tell you later," Lyra commented to her girlfriend.

"Sure, see you later," Bon Bon replied, hugging her by the neck before kissing her goodbye. They both separated, taking different paths to their respective classes.

Timber walked out of his living room, leaving his stuff behind as he stretched slightly. He took a few steps into the hallway, but something caught his eye. He saw a boy walk by and gave him a half-smile. He then looked down another hallway and saw Flash with his gang. He walked up to him and took his arm.

"Hey, Timber, what's up?" Flash asked.

"Come on, look who's there," Timber muttered, and Flash, seeing who it was, without asking questions, followed him along with the gang out of sheer curiosity.

They soon reached the corner of a dead-end hallway. Timber looked ahead, meeting Lyra.

"What are you doing...?" Flash was about to ask, but was interrupted.

"Shh..." Lyra said, holding up a finger in a sign of silence.

"You, shh...!" Timber replied, mimicking the gesture.

"Hey, now... look, they're going to talk," Flash whispered.

The few who had approached poked their heads out, hoping to hear something, while other students joined the small group, attracted by the gossip.

The girls were walking until Pinkie noticed how a medium-sized group of students was peeking out from behind the walls.

The girls looked at each other, some shrugging their shoulders in curiosity.

"Come on," Pinkie and Applejack said.

"Go?" Sunset asked, confused, looking at the blonde.

"What? No, I mean we should go," the farm girl replied. "Maybe you're seeing something we shouldn't."

"Oh, girls, let's at least see what's going on," Pinkie insisted as she walked towards the group.

The five of them exchanged glances, but the spark of curiosity on their faces betrayed them, and they followed their friend.

"Hey, what's going on here?" the party girl asked quietly, leaning slightly towards one of the students.

"We're trying to figure out if they're already a thing or if they'll be a thing," Lyra replied, equally intrigued.

"Who?" Rainbow asked.

"Those two," Timber said, briefly pointing to a nearby corner.

The girls followed the direction of her finger and saw Rarity and Feather, in what seemed to be a serious and somewhat secluded conversation.

"Have they said anything yet?" Pinkie asked, joining the group like a gossip detective.

"There's barely any sound, so we're just left to guess," Flash commented, scratching the back of his neck.

"We should go. This doesn't concern us," Applejack said, frowning and glancing at the scene before turning to her friends.

"True, this is kind of invading their privacy," Twilight added, adjusting her glasses as she looked at the others.

"I was hoping someone would say something. I'm following," Rainbow muttered, shrugging. "I guess another time," thought.

"What about you?" Twilight asked, looking at Fluttershy and Sunset, who seemed hesitant.

Before they could respond, Pinkie gave them a surprise hug, squeezing them close.

"They stay with me! Then we follow them and tell them," said with a bright smile.

"I don't care to know," Applejack said in a tense voice as she walked away.

"I never said I didn't care," Twilight muttered, adjusting her backpack.

"You don't have to tell me," Rainbow added before following the two.

With that, the three walked away, leaving the curious group in their place. Some said nothing, focused on trying to listen, while others, like the party girl, began to deduce what they were saying.

"What do you think they're saying?" whispered, leaning slightly towards Lyra.

"I don't know, but Feather seems very... insistent," replied, her eyes narrowing.

"That guy is definitely trying to get her to be his girlfriend," Sunset said, crossing her arms as she watched intently.

Fluttershy, looking shyly from her position, muttered. "She looks... a little nervous."

"I bet he's asking her out for dinner!" Pinkie said, raising a hand dramatically.

"Shh... Pinkie," Sandalwood whispered.

"Oops, thanks," replied in a murmur, glancing sideways to make sure the two in the conversation hadn't heard her. Luckily, Rarity seemed more focused on explaining something than on what was happening around her.

Flash let out a low laugh. "In order to have her, he'd pretend to like something he didn't."

"That sounds kind of rude," a girl in the group muttered.

"Yeah, he'd be dating someone fake," another added.

"Oh, don't you dare offend Feather!" an admirer of the boy exclaimed indignantly.

"Shhh... Something seems to be going on," Pinkie said, gesturing for everyone to be silent.

"Could something have bothered him?" Fluttershy murmured, worried.

"What could have bothered him after a simple kiss?" Timber questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"From the look on his face, Timber," Sunset pointed out without taking her eyes off the scene.

From their position, the group could see Rarity crossing her arms, clearly annoyed, while Feather gestured widely with a suggestive smile.

"Wait, did he just take a step back? That doesn't look good," Lyra said, alert.

"Uh-oh! Did that smile just change to 'I was wrong' or 'that's not what I meant'?" Pinkie whispered, leaning in even closer.

The air seemed to stand still as Rarity, with a quick, determined movement, raised her hand and gave Feather a resounding slap.

"Oh, fuck!" Timber exclaimed, bringing a hand to his cheek on the side that wasn't bruised, as if he had felt the blow himself.

"That was loud," Fluttershy said, making a sympathetic face.

"What the hell just happened?" Sunset asked, stunned.

Before anyone could say anything else, Rarity turned abruptly and began walking towards them. Her expression was a mix of anger and frustration, muttering something under her breath.

"Act casual!" Pinkie whispered, dropping to the ground.

The rest of them tried to disperse awkwardly, though it was obvious they had been spying.

"I can't believe it! I thought he had a soft side... seriously, he's such a..." Rarity said as she approached, stopping when she noticed the group spread out. Oddly, there were more people on that side of the hallway than on the rest, where students came and went or stood off to the side but at a distance.

Pinkie jumped up, unable to contain herself, and broke the silence. "So... that was a 'no' to a possible dinner with Feather?"

The seamstress snorted and crossed her arms. "That man is a complete jerk!"

And with that, he walked away with his head held high, leaving everyone silent.

Before long, Feather appeared, rubbing his cheek with a bittersweet expression.

"Dude, what did you say this time?" Flash asked, shaking his head.

"Maybe I misspoke, thinking Rarity was one of those," Feather said, laughing nervously. "I'm sure she wouldn't want to see me."

"That's why some girls ignore you afterward," Lyra commented, crossing her arms. "To think Rarity was considering it..." thought.

"I'll talk to her later, but don't be mistaken," Pinkie said, pointing at him. "If you said something rude to her... you went."

"Yeah, I think I did, but at least I accomplished something," the brunette replied with a smile that indicated that, despite the seamstress's reaction, he had achieved his goal.

Sunset leaned towards Fluttershy, covering her mouth with one hand to whisper, "I think I know what he said to her."

"Me too... at least he didn't fall like the others," the girl replied quietly.

"So, Feather, can we go out?" a girl asked with interest.

"I'll consider it," the boy said with a confident smile.

"It hurt you a lot, huh?" Timber commented with a half-laugh.

"And considering how quickly he thought of dating someone else, it's better that Rarity hadn't gone out with him," Lyra said quietly to the three friends, who nodded in agreement.

Later, Rarity entered the bathroom grumbling. She looked at herself in the mirror and scrubbed her hands vigorously, as if that would remove the dirt from her encounter with Feather.

"A complete jerk," muttered to herself.

"Oh, Rarity, I hope you don't play the diva with Feather," a girl commented as she emerged from one of the stalls.

"Unless you're not interested and he gives me a chance," another added with a smile.

Rarity rolled her eyes and sighed. "Relax, honey, I'll give it to you. You have just the face of what he's looking for."

"Excuse me?" the girl said with a grimace of annoyance.

"Bye-bye, sweetie. Good luck with that jerk," replied with a sarcastic smile before turning and striding out of the bathroom, brow furrowed and lips pursed. "A jerk is an understatement... he's a fucking stupid."

Looking up, she found herself face to face with Rainbow Dash, who was about to enter the bathroom.

Rarity blinked and, in an attempt to hide her annoyance, stood up elegantly, adjusting a lock of hair.

"Geez, if you treat your crush like this, I can't imagine how you treat your friends," the multicolored girl commented with a raised eyebrow.

"Ah... eh... I have my reasons," the seamstress quickly replied before continuing on her way without looking back.

Rainbow watched her hesitantly before growling softly. It was now or never. Without thinking too much, she began to follow her at a safe distance.

As they moved forward, the empty hallways amplified the echo of Rainbow's footsteps, resonating with each step and setting the pace of her indecision. She had her hands in her pockets and her gaze fixed on the floor.

She wanted to talk to him, but every word she rehearsed in her head sounded wrong.

When Rarity finally stopped and turned around, her expression went from surprise to firmness, albeit with a hint of nervousness.

"Is something wrong? If I did something, I don't know what it was, but I'm sure there's an explanation."

Rainbow frowned, confused. "I'm not here to criticize you for anything."

The seamstress let out a sigh, though she still maintained her air of caution.

"Although, to be honest, I could still criticize you, but I think you've had enough of our stares."

"Yes, thank you, those stares were more than enough."

Rarity tilted her head slightly, assessing Rainbow. "So why are you following me?"

Rarity cleared her throat, uncomfortable. "Well... I wanted to... talk... about that night." The words came out of her mouth as if they cost more than she wanted to admit.

The curly-haired girl raised an eyebrow, understanding what she was referring to: the Halloween party. But the multicolored girl avoided looking at her directly, her discomfort evident.

"Is it because I talked to Applejack?" asked, trying to hide her nervousness.

"Seriously, Belle, are you going to think it's because of something you did?" Rainbow raised her hands in an exasperated gesture. "Although... She was with Applejack?"

Rarity rolled her eyes, frustrated. "So, it's not because of something I did?"

"Actually, it is because of something you did, but not in that way..." replied, with her hands in the pockets of her jacket, clenching her fists in frustration. "Why does this have to be so complicated?"

Before she could continue, a clang interrupted their conversation. They both quickly turned toward the adjacent hallway.

"What was that?" Rarity asked, taking a step toward the source of the sound.

"No idea," Rainbow replied, hesitant to follow her, but decided to do so.

When they arrived, they realized she was coming from the art classroom, and they both stopped dead in their tracks. The place was a complete mess: overturned paint jars, broken brushes, and torn fabrics decorated the floor as if a storm had passed through. Before they could react, they saw three figures sneaking through a window at the back.

"Hey, you guys!" the multicolored one exclaimed, running a couple of steps towards them, but the figures had already disappeared.

"Of course," Rarity muttered, looking at the mess with her hands on her waist. "This couldn't be more inopportune."

As if her words had invoked bad luck, a teacher appeared behind them.

"What did you just do?" asked, his tone accusatory as he surveyed first the girls and then the mess.

"I didn't do this," Rainbow said quickly, raising both hands in a defensive gesture. "We heard a noise and came to see."

The teacher didn't seem convinced. "That's for Chancellor Celestia to decide. Come with me."

"But we just got here!" Rarity protested as the teacher escorted them out of the room.

As they were escorted through the halls, they received curious glances from the students. However, neither of them seemed to care at the moment, more focused on trying to explain themselves.

"We already told you we didn't go... Besides, I usually have classes there," the seamstress protested. "It was those three people who ran away!"

A passing figure stopped at that, his face marked with irritation.

"Idiots..." muttered before running off in the opposite direction.

Twilight, Applejack, and Starlight walked towards the door of their literature class with the rest of their classmates, chatting casually. The hallway was filled with students coming and going.

Twilight was in the middle of a question when, turning to Starlight, she noticed that her friend was gone.

"When did he... disappear?" muttered, frowning as she stopped dead in her tracks.

Applejack, who had taken a couple steps ahead, turned around at the sound of her. "Who?"

"Starlight!" Twilight exclaimed, pointing towards the empty space where her friend had been moments before. "She was right here and, out of nowhere, boom! She's gone."

The farm girl glanced around, scanning the hallway with her eyes. "If he had walked into the classroom, I would have seen him."

The bespectacled girl crossed her arms, clearly puzzled. "That's weird... I did hear a sound, though."

"She probably forgot something. Come on, she'll probably be late," Applejack said casually before entering the classroom, convinced that it was nothing important. Twilight nodded and followed her.

The blonde settled into her seat, resting her arms on the table as the first few minutes of class passed normally.

At first she tried to pay attention, but out of the corner of her eye she glanced around the classroom. That was when she noticed.

Rarity's seat was empty.

She frowned and slid her gaze forward, scanning her row until stopping at another unoccupied seat.

Rainbow Dash's was also empty.

They separated for a moment... and didn't make it to class? Well, she wasn't really surprised by her partner, but Rarity too? Now that was strange.

Without saying anything, she tore off a small piece of paper, crumpled it quickly, and threw it accurately at Twilight.

The paper ball landed right on her friend's book, causing her friend to blink before grabbing it with two fingers and turning around with a look of mild annoyance. Applejack didn't say anything, just gave a discreet nod towards the multicolored girl's empty seat.

Twilight glanced at it and then back at her, shrugging in a clear "I have no idea." Though she found it curious too.

Applejack sighed, resting her chin on her hand.

Where could they be?

Main Building; Chancellor's Office
Celestia watched them from her desk, her expression calm but firm as she looked at the two girls sitting in front of her.

"Repeat that again, Professor."

"These two students messed up the art room," the Professor said, crossing her arms.

"That wasn't how it was," Rainbow protested, crossing her arms as she looked at the Professor with a frown.

"We were just talking and then we heard a noise," Rarity began, bringing a hand to her forehead dramatically. "It all turned into a disaster when we entered the room and saw the chaos," finished, widening her eyes as she noticed the stares of Celestia and Rainbow, the latter with an incredulous expression.

"This is no time to be dramatic," muttered under her breath, then gave the Principal a smile.

Rarity cleared her throat, straightening up. "That's what happened. Since it was dark, we didn't see who the ones who escaped were."

"Conveniently," the professor murmured behind them.

The multicolored one clenched her fists and let out a sigh, while the seamstress looked away, trying not to respond to the comment.

In an empty room, Trixie paced back and forth, waving her hands in frustration, while Starlight watched her from a chair with her arms crossed and a frown on her face.

"Can you just talk and give me a valid reason for taking me out of class? This is the first time I've ever missed class without a good excuse," Starlight said irritably.

Trixie paused for a moment, pursing her lips. "Those idiots were too brainless and Dash and Rarity are in trouble."

"What idiots? What are you talking about? Trixie, in order, please," replied, her patience clearly at its limit.

The grey-haired girl let out a theatrical sigh before speaking. "I wanted to try a magic trick with paint. Something innovative like you said, I thought about the idea again and came up with a show that mixes visual art and drama."

"And what does that have to do with your current crisis?"

"Well..." Trixie began fiddling with the sleeves of her sweatshirt, avoiding her friend's gaze. "Since Snails and Snips aren't always available, I asked the Diamond Dogs brothers to get a canvas and paint for me."

Starlight cocked her head, looking at her skeptically. "And that's a problem because...?"

"I didn't think those idiots would come into the art room and steal what I asked them for," quickly confessed, as if she wanted to get the words off of her.

Her friend blinked, processing what she had just heard. "You did what?!"

Trixie held up her hands in defense. "It wasn't me! They were too clever! I just asked for the material, I didn't tell them to steal it."

"And now Rainbow and Rarity could be punished for something they didn't do?" Starlight's voice rose a little, showing her disbelief.

Trixie looked down and rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah... and I don't know what to do. I didn't think this would get out of hand."

Her friend let out a sigh, her expression softening a little. "Trixie, I think it's pretty obvious what you have to do."

"Obvious?" Trixie looked up, nervous.

"Yes, Trixie. Go ahead and tell the truth."

The grey-haired girl took a step back, as if the words were a slap. "The truth? You want me to face the chancellor? Risk my spot in the drama club? Get suspended from future performances?"

Starlight leaned forward, crossing her arms. "Would you rather bear the weight of knowing that two innocent girls could be punished for something they didn't do? Or have someone else find out the truth and the blame fall entirely on you?"

Trixie opened her mouth to respond, but found herself at a loss for words. After a moment, her shoulders slumped in resignation. "You're right."

"I always do," replied with mild sarcasm. Then, she softened her tone. "Look, Trixie, I know you didn't mean it. But part of being responsible is facing the consequences, even when it wasn't your direct fault."

Trixie sighed deeply, as if she were preparing to step onto the real-life stage. "Okay. I'll go and tell the truth. But if I get suspended from drama club..."

"I'll be there to support you," Starlight assured with a small smile.

"Thanks, Starlight," Trixie murmured before walking toward the door, with an air of determination.

Returning to Rarity and Rainbow, the two continued to explain what had happened, their voices reflecting a mix of frustration and exhaustion.

"So they say they found the room like this, already ruined," Celestia said, lacing her fingers on her desk as she watched their expressions closely.

"Yes," the multicolored girl answered firmly, crossing her arms and sinking slightly into her seat.

"Exactly. We were just nearby, nothing more," the seamstress added, adjusting her lock of hair.

"It's an excuse anyone would make," the professor interjected with his arms crossed, his tone skeptical.

Rarity pursed her lips in annoyance, but before she could respond, Rainbow snorted and leaned forward slightly.

"And if you're implying that we were responsible, like a certain professor," said with obvious sarcasm, turning slightly to him, "that's not true. It wasn't me, it wasn't Belle... I mean, Rarity. It was those three boys or girls who escaped through the window."

Rarity nodded, surprised by Rainbow's defense, but didn't comment. Instead, she watched her with a mix of surprise and bewilderment. Despite how things were between them, she hadn't expected that.

The chancellor remained silent for a moment, her gaze analyzing each of their gestures before finally speaking.

"I believe you."

The relief lasted barely a second.

"But, chancellor..." the professor began, leaning forward with a frown.

"However," continued, ignoring him, "I'm going to need you to help me with something: I want the art room cleaned."

"What?!" they both exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing in the office.

Celestia leaned back slightly in her chair, unfazed by the reaction.

"If we don't know who it was yet, they'll have to," said calmly, as if it were the most logical solution in the world.

"But..." Rarity tried to protest, raising a hand in indignation, but was cut off when the door swung open.

Trixie appeared in the doorway, breathing heavily, leaning forward with her hands on her knees as if she'd run all the way.

"Chancellor Celestia, I admit it!" gasped.

Celestia arched an eyebrow, barely moving her head. "Miss Lulamoon, could you knock before you barge in?"

"Yes, of course, excuse me," replied, sitting up quickly and waving her hands impatiently. "But I need to talk now."

The chancellor let out a soft sigh of patience and gestured for her to continue.

Trixie cast a quick glance at Rarity and Rainbow before lowering her shoulders, as if she were letting go of the weight of her guilt all at once. Her voice trembled slightly, but she tried to keep her composure.

"I was partly responsible for what happened in the art room," confessed, avoiding the gaze of the two girls. "But it wasn't me who did it directly... it was those idiots from the Diamond Dogs."

The seamstress arched an eyebrow, surprised. "What?"

The sportswoman quickly turned to the chancellor, waiting to see if this would change anything.

Celestia, noticing that Trixie was telling the truth, let out a soft sigh before waving her hand.

"You may go," indicated, looking at the two young women sitting down.

They both didn't hesitate to stand up, but as they left, Rarity cast one last glance at Trixie. She didn't know whether to feel relieved or upset, but at least, the situation had taken an unexpected turn.

Trixie, on the other hand, stayed in the office, ready to face the consequences of her confession.

The two walked side by side in an awkward silence, as if each step was made heavier by the unspoken words. Neither seemed sure whether it was better to talk about what had happened or simply part ways.

"I think I better get my things," Rarity finally said, breaking the silence with a measured tone.

Rainbow took a deep breath, her voice coming out a little strained. "Wait..."

The seamstress paused, turning to her with a neutral expression. "Is that what you wanted to talk about?"

The multicolored one nodded slowly, avoiding her gaze. "Look, about the party... about Fluttershy... that." Her voice wavered, as if pride was holding her back.

Rarity looked down slightly, remembering the incident. "Yeah, it was unexpected," replied quietly. "Luckily, nothing happened to Fluttershy."

"Yeah... and no thanks to me," muttered, more to herself than to the sophisticated girl. She paused before continuing. "Look, I was distracted and that guy almost got away with it. Luckily, you showed up and the nightmare was over."

Rarity blinked, catching the effort it took Rainbow to admit her thanks.

"It was nothing," said softly, trying not to make her feel more uncomfortable. "Anyone would have done the same."

Rainbow shrugged, still not looking directly at her. "Maybe. But, still... you know," said, glancing sideways.

The seamstress allowed a slight smile to curve her lips. "I suppose that's a good start, Rainbow Dash."

The sportswoman rolled her eyes, but let out a light laugh. "Don't get so excited."

"Oh, that's to be expected, but okay," replied in a light tone, allowing herself a wider smile.

Rainbow turned away, shoving her hands into her pockets. "Well, that's all. By the way... it's a good thing we didn't have to clean the living room."

Rarity arched an eyebrow. "Because you didn't want to work with me?"

The multicolored one paused for a moment, staring at the ground before answering in a carefree tone. "No, because it's just not fair," said, glancing at her briefly before walking away.

Author's Note

• Hello! How are you? I hope you had a nice Christmas and a good start to the year. Here we are again. I've been working on several chapters; I wanted them to be ready together, but for now I'll leave you with the continuation. I hope you like it, I'll read your comments and if I can I'll answer.

• You could say I'm back... When we get to the important chapters that are coming up soon (although they all are, some more than others), I won't be as active as before, but I'll try to upload the caps and answer your comments.

• You know what? I didn't know what last name to give Applejack. I thought about putting "Apple" after her name, followed by "Smith", but that would be repeating her name. However, since in some fanfics they put "Smith" as her last name, I decided to stick with that one. Also, I remember reading somewhere that her real name was Jacqueline, but I think I got confused and that was actually from another fanfic. Anyway, I won't add that name.

• As you saw, I added an app for college students. I thought I made up the name, but when I looked it up, it turned out it already existed XD and it meant something else. Anyway, I prefer that a certain event that will happen later in the story happens in a university-only app instead of Instagram, since it's more public.

• Well, that would be all. I hope the wait hasn't been too long. I'll upload the chapter in a few hours, you know that my language is Spanish and I have to translate it into English and it takes me a while to do so.