The students were walking through the hallways after finishing their music class. Each student went their separate ways, either to go to another class or to their homes.

As Twilight and Sunset Shimmer walked ahead, Rainbow Dash stepped forward a bit to talk to them.

"Girls, after practice, I want to tell you something I discovered. It's not really a discovery, as Twilight would say," Rainbow said.

"About what?" Sunset asked.

"It's about Fluttershy, but since we have practice with Sunset and AJ, I can't say it clearly," the athlete explained.

"Fluttershy? What happened with Fluttershy?" asked the party girl, who had approached sensing gossip.

"She's fine, it's something else," reassured Twilight, trying to calm Pinkie's anxiety.

Seeing that Pinkie was still searching for answers, Rainbow decided to tell her: "I'll tell you..."

While Rainbow, Sunset, Twilight, and Pinkie Pie talked, Fluttershy was lost in thought behind them, which Applejack noticed, so she decided to approach her.

"Everything okay, Fluttershy?" asked the farmer. "You seem lost in thought."

"Yes, it's just..." the animal lover hesitated a bit. "I'm not sure if I should say it because it's about..."

"You don't have to force yourself to say something that makes you uncomfortable," said Applejack, showing understanding.

"It's actually more about you," Fluttershy clarified, softening her voice.

"About me?" the blonde wondered.

"It's about Rarity... I can't find the words to describe her return... if I have a feeling, but it's for something else," said Fluttershy without giving more details. "And you...? I don't know how you're taking it, you know... you two were together," Fluttershy added.

"Yeah..." the blonde lowered her gaze discreetly. "I understand, I didn't know how to feel either. That's why I stayed quiet yesterday when we were talking about it. Seeing your ex is..." the blonde sighed, "especially with what happened, I feel somewhat angry."

"I... feel somewhat sad," said Fluttershy.

"Sad?" asked Applejack, with a confused expression. She noticed that Fluttershy didn't seem to want to elaborate more on that. The farmer understood well, as she also didn't know how to feel and decided not to ask further about it. "I guess we all had different feelings seeing her again".

The animal lover nodded. "I thought you might take it badly to talk about her".

"Something tells me we'll talk about the topic more than once," said the farmer. "Apparently talking to my cousin yesterday helped at least to talk a little about this."

Fluttershy knew that talking about this topic was kind of complicated for Applejack, so she decided to change the subject of conversation.

"Is Rainbow Dash okay?" asked the animal lover, redirecting the conversation to another topic.

Applejack noticed Fluttershy's change of topic, but decided to continue with the conversation. "She's fine. Why wouldn't she be?" responded the blonde, somewhat surprised by the question.

Despite being distanced, it doesn't change the fact that she wants to know if something is wrong with the athlete.

"In class, I saw her with an upset expression, so I thought maybe something happened or you had an argument," Fluttershy said.

"We did, in the hallway, before reaching the music room. In fact, I got upset," said the blonde.

"Now, what could it have been about?" wondered Fluttershy.

"But it's over, I apologized to her and also for the date. And did you go out with her? You're her friend, so I think when she cancels our date, she should go out with you," said the farmer.

"Did you cancel your date?" asked Fluttershy.

"Yes, I wasn't feeling up to it," confessed the blonde.

"Oh, I see. About what you said, I didn't go out with Rainbow Dash," said the pink-haired girl.

"Oh, really?" said the surprised blonde. "Haven't you been out these days?" asked the farmer.

"We haven't had time," the pink-haired girl lied.

"Maybe when you have free time," suggested the farmer. "That's weird, I always thought that when she cancels or isn't interested in inviting Dash, she hangs out with Fluttershy. Now, remembering, Rainbow used to tell me when she went somewhere with Fluttershy, but now she doesn't mention her as before. It might be because we don't have dates frequently. Have they fought at some point?" thought. Then, she returned her attention to the pink-haired girl.

"Do you think Rainbow Dash felt bad because you canceled?" asked Fluttershy. "Since it's been a long time since I've talked directly with Rainbow, I don't know if she'll be bothered by canceled dates. Knowing her, I think not, since she's never been in a relationship before, but now she's with AJ, so she might get upset, I think," thought, not so sure.

"I don't know," sighed the blonde. "I don't understand her anymore. I even suggested going out again, she got upset and commented that we should invite the others."

Fluttershy didn't listen, as she was lost in her thoughts. "Do you also think that happened with the vacation thing?" she asked, remembering when they talked on the first day.

"What?" Applejack looked at the animal lover a little confused by the change of subject. "Vacation?"

"Did Rainbow Dash mention that you were working when they were going to go on vacation? Do you think she felt bad about that too?"

"I think she was more upset than feeling bad," said the blonde. "The thing is, we had plans to go out, but she canceled, so I went out with the Apples and, by coincidence, I saw her on the street with Gilda. The most curious thing is that she told me she was going to train on her own, you know, to show Spitfire that she would be the best option as captain."

"She mentioned it when we got together the first day," said Fluttershy.

Applejack nodded. "It seemed strange to me, so I told you I had training. So I approached her. She explained that after finishing her training, took the opportunity and invited her friend Gilda out, and apparently they were planning to go to the stadium to watch a game.

"Another game of the same team, like last time?" asked Fluttershy.

"Do you know about that?"

"Rainbow Dash called me saying she didn't understand why you supported the opposite team."

"I saw some details, so I thought that team would win, and she got upset about that," explained the farmer.

"What happened after she told you she was going to a game?"

"I asked her if I could go, but Dash didn't seem too keen on that," the blonde recounted.

"Isn't that almost like inviting yourself? Maybe Rainbow already had everything planned to go with Gilda," thought the animal lover.

"Somehow I convinced her by offering to lend the truck to take them. The day came, and Big Mac got sick, so I had to step in for farm chores."

"That's why you couldn't go," Fluttershy said. The blonde nodded.

"And Dash got upset because she couldn't make it to the start of the game."

"But did she go anyway?"

"It seems so. I found out later. Although it makes sense, if she already bought the tickets, she wouldn't waste them."

"You're right," said the animal lover. "And yesterday they were supposed to have a date, and you canceled, wanting to clear things up, and for some reason, Rainbow Dash got upset."

"Yeah, we cancel quite often, and, let's say, I started thinking," the blonde began to explain. "We used to go out more frequently before, but now they're infrequent, so I told myself that if I cancel a date or she does, I should change the strategy."

"Infrequent?"

Applejack nodded again. "I don't know why it just doesn't work out," commented the farmer, shrugging her shoulders. "So I invite her out when I feel the need."

"I guess she thought that since she goes out less with Rainbow now, she would hang out with me," Fluttershy thought sadly, once again lost in her thoughts.

"Yesterday I remembered a place I hadn't been to in a long time, and I told myself again, if it's important to me, I should invite Rainbow, she's my girlfriend, so I should invite her, right?" commented the blonde.

"Eh?" said Fluttershy confusedly, snapping out of her thoughts.

"What's wrong?" Applejack inquired, noticing her friend's distraction.

"Sorry, I got distracted," said Fluttershy, shaking her head.

"Don't worry, you have a lot on your mind," said the understanding farmer.

"What did you say before?"

"I mentioned a place I hadn't been to in a long time, it's like a party actually," clarified the blonde.

"And why haven't you been to that place before?" asked Fluttershy.

"They usually do it in other cities, so it's unlikely they'll do it here. Besides, the last time was three years ago," revealed the blonde.

"And are you waiting for them to do it here this year?"

"Yes," she affirmed. Applejack thought for a moment about their conversation and lowered her head.

"Do you feel bad?"

"I feel like I talk to you a lot about my issues with Rainbow, and I shouldn't," explained the farmer.

"Why do you say that? That's what friends are for."

"I know, but talking too much about it... wouldn't you feel overwhelmed by that?" the blonde posed, with a concerned expression on her face.

"I've gotten used to it," Fluttershy blurted out without thinking.

"What?"

"Nothing," said the pink-haired abruptly.

"Alright...", said the blonde, not entirely convinced.

"I don't know what it feels like when you have romance-related problems, but we can still give advice," said Fluttershy.

The two stopped.

"Have you ever been interested in someone?" asked the farmer.

"Not yet," admitted the pink-haired girl.

"Not even a crush?" the blonde insisted, with a curious expression on her face. Fluttershy shook her head. "One day your boy or girl will come... maybe in this last year of university, that person who touches your heart will come into your life," said Applejack with a smile. "Love comes when you least expect it, you'll know when it happens."

"..." Fluttershy said nothing in return, just returned the smile. "Was it like that when you met Rainbow?"

“So you think you did something to Fluttershy and you're trying to figure out what it was?" Pinkie asked, finishing listening to what the athlete had said. She nodded.

"That would be a summary of what's going on," said Twilight.

As she was about to continue speaking, they heard a small scream.

"What was that?" Twilight asked ironically.

"It's Fluttershy, silly," said Pinkie.

"Pinkie, it's obvious, we know it's Fluttershy's scream," commented Sunset. "We should see what's going on."

"Girls, this might be my chance to talk to her," Dash commented.

"You said you can barely come up with a conversation topic," said the redhead/yellow.

"Hey girls, we're talking and we still haven't turned around to see if something's wrong with Fluttershy," said Twilight.

"Right…" commented Dash. The four turned around to see what was going on, but everything seemed fine.

"Fluttershy, is everything okay?" Sunset asked.

"Is everything alright, Fluttershy? Since you scream-" Twilight was about to say.

"And it's one of the few times you do," said Pinkie.

"Everything's fine, we were just talking about something, and she got surprised," the blonde said.

"If that's what happened, I'm fine, girls," said Fluttershy.

"Are you sure it was just nothing that you screamed?" Pinkie asked insistently.

Fluttershy hesitated for a moment before responding.

"Pinkie, don't insist, she said everything's fine," Sunset intervened.

"Great, everything's fine, but I won't miss the opportunity," thought Rainbow, determined.

*Whistle sound*

Just as she was about to take some action, Professor Spitfire appeared blowing the whistle, unaware that the six of them had come near the open field court area. There were also other students there.

"Alright, Wondercolts, go change for training," ordered the teacher, raising her voice slightly.

"This has to be a damn joke," Dash muttered, with evident frustration.

"Next time will be…" said Sunset, putting her hand on the athlete's shoulder.

"See you, we have biochemistry with Fluttershy," said Twilight, taking a few steps to stand next to the animal lover. Slowly, the two began to walk away.

"See you later, girls," Fluttershy bid farewell with her characteristic soft voice.

"I'm free, so I'll be around or I'll watch the training," said Pinkie, starting to jump away from the girls.

"See you at the exit," said Applejack, saying goodbye to the three and approaching the athlete.

"See you there, or maybe sooner," said Sunset, starting to walk towards the locker rooms with the other students.

The blonde was about to put her arm around Rainbow, but she was also about to do it, so they both stood still.

"You or me?" the farmer asked, looking her.

"I'll do it," said the athlete, putting her arm around her girlfriend and they began to walk towards the locker rooms.

Side A/Yard

On side A, the students were on break. Among those students, three girls were walking suspiciously towards a part of the school's center.

"Where are we going, Crusaders?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"We're going to side B," Scootaloo replied.

"To side B!? But we're not allowed, Rarity told me about the rules. Plus, how would we even get to the other side? As far as I know, only the main entrance connects us, and it's near the administration building, and Principal Luna wouldn't approve," said Sweetie Belle.

"That's why we sneak out in the middle of recess," said Scootaloo as if it were the most obvious thing.

"There's a gate nearby that they sometimes leave unlocked, and we take advantage to get through," said Apple Bloom.

"Oh."

"Come on, I want to see Rainbow train," said Scootaloo.

"See Rainbow? But wouldn't they be on break like us?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Applejack has explained to me several times that they have different schedules, either short or longer, depending on the grade... I think they call it a period. That's why some students on side B may be in class and others not, and they stay to hang out doing other things or just leave," explained the redhead.

"Aren't you curious?" Scootaloo said.

"Before leaving, not really, since I never had any reason to go to the other side, and now Rarity is on the other side, so now I am curious to know what's over there," said Sweetie, remembering.

"Exactly," said Apple Bloom excitedly.

The Crusaders continued to sneak away, and after a few minutes, they reached a gate that led to a hallway, seeing a light at the end.

"Where are you going?" a voice asked.

The three were startled by the sudden voice, backed away a bit, turned around, and saw a boy with light violet skin and green hair.

"Oh, Spike, you almost scared us to death!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle, putting a hand on her chest.

"For a moment I thought it was a teacher," said Apple Bloom.

"Or Principal Luna, when she gets mad you don't know what she'll do," said Scootaloo.

"Sweetie Belle just arrived, and they're already going to get her into trouble," Spike commented, crossing his arms.

"Seriously, Spike, you've also gone to side B several times," said the redhead raising an eyebrow.

"Well... it's because sometimes I get bored, and the other side is more fun."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked at each other knowingly.

"Do you want to come?" Apple Bloom suggested.

"Why would I?"

"You just said you sometimes get bored, and that's why you followed us," said Scootaloo with a half-smile.

Spike didn't know what to say when caught. "Alright, you got me," admitted. "But if Twilight shows up, I'm on side A, and I never followed you."

"Deal," said Scootaloo.

"Wait, you mentioned Twilight as if you knew we were going to the other side," said Sweetie Belle confused.

"It's because our sisters know," Spike commented.

"And they allow it?"

"At first, no, as they were a bit upset when they found out we were sneaking out and skipping classes," began the redhead.

"But then they realized that sometimes our schedules don't clash, so they allowed us to go with the condition that it be few times and we didn't go anywhere else other than to watch them train, either soccer or to see the Rainbooms, who just this year formed the band," Scootaloo continued with the explanation.

"Also because it benefited them in another way," Spike continued.

"What's that?" leaving Sweetie in doubt.

"We'll show you at the end of class," commented Apple Bloom.

"Alright. So why don't you want Twilight to know we're going to side B if our sisters already know?" Sweetie asked, referring to what the green-haired boy had mentioned earlier.

"It's because last week I went to side B and, accidentally, I sat near a student who was sick, so I caught it. Today I was able to come because my fever had subsided, and I woke up feeling better," Spike explained.

"That's why you want us to cover for you if we see Twilight," Sweetie Belle deduced.

"Yes, because she scolded me for going to side B too often," Spike confessed.

"If we've explained everything, shall we go?" said Scootaloo, nodding towards the gate with her head.

The three said nothing and just approached the gate, opened it, and started walking.

Side B/Open Field
The women's soccer team was in the middle of training, dressed in their characteristic uniforms: blue jerseys, matching shorts, and the classic socks that also served to cover their shin guards. Meanwhile, the opposing team and Rainbow Dash's team were wearing sports bibs of different colors to distinguish themselves.

Rainbow Dash dribbled the ball, skillfully dodging her teammates. Seeing Lyra approaching, she passed the ball to another player and kept advancing, while Applejack passed the ball back to her anticipating Sunset's approach. She was close to the goal, but still had to overcome another obstacle to score. A girl slightly taller than her, with short white hair, tackled her again.

"Ah, shit, Gilda! Always so rough," expressed Rainbow Dash, sitting on the ground resignedly.

"Hey, Dash, I'm just following orders," replied Gilda, extending her hand to help her up.

"Remember, Rainbow Crash, that in any match, you'll face players of different heights and builds. You have to be prepared for that," shouted the coach.

Rainbow hated that nickname, but she let it slide. The coach said it when she failed in some of the training sessions or friendly matches.

"Next time I'll get past you," Rainbow promised with determination, accepting Gilda's hand to get up.

Sunset approached her. "How are you holding up?"

"That was quite a tackle you took, are you okay?" Applejack also approached.

"Yeah, I'm fine, it was nothing," replied the athlete, stretching a bit. "Let's go, this time I know I can do it. Here I come, Gilda," said with determination, getting back into action.

"I'll be waiting for you in defense," said Gilda, challenging her.

After their brief interaction, they dispersed to resume their positions.

Outside the field, from the stands, Spike and the Crusaders watched the practice.

"Ouch," said Spike when he saw Rainbow fall.

"Oof, that must have hurt," commented Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom noticed Sweetie Belle's gaze wandering around the field. "What are you looking for over there?" asked.

"I was looking for Rarity, but I guess it's obvious why she's not here," replied Sweetie Belle sadly.

"¿You mean-" Scootaloo began to ask, but Spike interrupted her.

"You mean what Rarity hid in Rainbow's locker?" Spike said quietly.

"Shhh..." the three shushed him with fingers to their lips.

"No one here knows what happened three years ago," whispered Spike. "Twilight said there were barely any people that day."

"But it's better not to mention it," added Apple Bloom.

"Okay... okay."

"I saw her looking a bit down yesterday, and Rarity would hide well if something is bothering her, unless it's something big. If I ran into you guys, she surely ran into our sisters and the others," Sweetie Belle deduced.

"I think they didn't take it very well. At first, I didn't think much of it when Applejack didn't respond when I mentioned you, but then I thought about it," Apple Bloom commented.

"The same with Rainbow," added Scootaloo.

"Do you think they'll ever talk about it?" Spike asked hopefully.

"I hope so," whispered Sweetie Belle.

After a brief silence. "Did they sneak out again?" asked a voice, with its characteristic cheerfulness and overflowing energy.

The four startled to see her. They looked back, Pinkie Pie appeared out of nowhere.

"Were you here all this time?" Spike asked.

"I just got here," replied Pinkie with a smile, offering candies she had taken from a vending machine. "Want some?"

"At what point did you come up-" Sweetie Belle was about to ask, but remembered Pinkie's unpredictable nature. "You know what, better not ask," decided, taking some candies from the envelope the partygoer had offered. The other two Crusaders and Spike did the same, following her lead.

"How's the training going?" Pinkie asked, watching the players.

"Rainbow just got tackled by Gilda," Spike reported.

"Hmm..." pondered Pinkie. "Last year she was facing taller players; now she's up against the bulkier ones."

"Let's keep watching if she makes it," proposed Apple Bloom.

"She'll make it!" affirmed Scootaloo confidently.

Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle were sitting together in their biochemistry class. Fluttershy was focused on examining some samples under the microscope, while Twilight, with her glasses and thoughtful expression, flipped through a textbook. Twilight stopped flipping through the book, wanting to subtly help Rainbow.

"Have you noticed anything about Rainbow Dash lately, Fluttershy?" Twilight asked, trying to be discreet.

Fluttershy, looking up from the microscope, with a pensive expression and a gesture of confusion. "Rainbow Dash? No, not really. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, I just noticed she's been a bit down lately, don't you think?" Twilight said, trying to sound casual.

Fluttershy frowned with concern. "Down? I hadn't noticed. Is there anything in particular that makes you think that?"

"Well, I've just noticed she hasn't been as lively as usual and thought maybe something was on her mind," Twilight said, nervously scrutinizing the textbook.

"Yeah, now that you mention it... she seemed to have an argument with AJ, maybe that's why," Fluttershy commented.

"They're just the typical problems any couple faces," said with a grimace as she was veering off-topic. "Maybe we should try to find out if something else is bothering her. You're very close to her, after all," Twilight said, trying to keep calm.

Fluttershy nodded. "Yes, we could talk to her later. We're her friends, so we should find out if everything's okay," said with a slight distraction.

"Yeah, that would be great," Twilight said, feeling frustrated that she hadn't achieved her goal.

Despite her efforts, Twilight failed to capture Fluttershy's full attention on the topic. Fluttershy seemed more concerned about her friend's well-being than Twilight's intentions, and the conversation faded as the professor began to speak. Twilight sighed and decided to wait for a more suitable opportunity to address the issue at another time.

The last few minutes passed, and class ended. As she was packing her things, Twilight waited for her friend to finish packing hers. In the midst of that, she noticed a sheet that caught her attention.

"A musical score? Could she be working on another song for the Rainbooms? Or for a future music performance?" Twilight thought.

Ready to go, Fluttershy and Twilight left the biochemistry classroom together, walking through the university hallways.

"Hey, Fluttershy, how about we go watch Sunset, Applejack, and Rainbow's practice?" Twilight suggested.

Fluttershy stopped in her tracks and looked at Twilight with interest. "That sounds great! We could see how they're doing."

The two friends continued on their way to the university's sports area.

Side B/Open Field
Sunset, Applejack, and Rainbow had been training for almost an hour, focused on perfecting their skills. Suddenly, Twilight and Fluttershy approached the field, observing the training session with interest.

Taking a quick look around, the animal lover spotted some girls they knew well in the stands. Fluttershy approached timidly, offering a friendly smile. "Hello, how are you?"

Twilight nodded, adding, "Hi, girls, what are you doing here?"

The Crusaders returned the greeting, and it was then that Fluttershy and Twilight noticed Sweetie Belle was also with them. The three friends exchanged quick glances, and Sweetie Belle felt Twilight and Fluttershy's attention focus on her.

"Oh, we were just here watching the training," Scootaloo explained enthusiastically, trying to cover the situation.

Twilight and Fluttershy shared an understanding smile between them, deciding to proceed with naturalness. "Is Spike with you today?" Twilight asked.

The Crusaders exchanged nervous glances; they had seen the girls coming in, so they warned Spike to hide. Before their friends could respond, Apple Bloom stepped forward. "No, Spike isn't here today. I think he had to stay a bit longer in class to finish an assignment."

Fluttershy noticed the tension in the air and looked around, sensing something suspicious. "Are you sure about that?" she asked gently.

Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie was feeling unsure whether to join the lie or not. With a nervous look, she wasn't sure what to do.

Before Twilight could respond, a slight movement in the stands caught her attention. She turned to see Spike hidden among the seats. "What's he doing there?" she wondered aloud.

The Crusaders looked at each other, realizing they had been found out. "Uh, yeah, sorry, Twilight," Sweetie Belle admitted. "Spike is there hiding. Sorry for lying."

Twilight smiled at the confession. "It's okay, girls. I just wanted to know." Then she headed towards the stands.

Spike emerged from his hiding spot in the stands, trying to quickly come up with an excuse to Twilight: "Oh, hi, Twilight! I was..." couldn't find an excuse.

Twilight, with a raised eyebrow, looked at her brother. "Spike, what did we agree on?"

Spike scratched the back of his head, feeling a little embarrassed. "Sorry, Twilight. I just wanted to watch a bit of the training," apologized.

Twilight nodded understandingly. "It's okay, Spike. But remember, you're still recovering," reminded him, with a gentle but firm tone.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy approached the Crusaders with a gentle expression. "Girls, shouldn't you be in class now?" asked curiously, softly.

The Crusaders nodded nervously, surprised at how quickly time had passed. "Oh, yes, Fluttershy! Time flew by!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, looking at her friends with big, surprised eyes.

Spike got up with the Crusaders from the stands to head to the entrance/exit. The Crusaders and Spike quickly said goodbye to Twilight, Fluttershy, hurrying back to their last class.

Pinkie approached Twilight and Fluttershy with a bright smile. "Doesn't it feel like today has been a day full of surprises?" she asked, her voice full of enthusiasm.

Twilight and Fluttershy nodded.

"Hey! What do you think if we organize something fun? We could throw a surprise party or something like that!" The idea seemed to lighten the mood a bit, and the three girls smiled at Pinkie's suggestion.

Rarity was standing in front of the school's main entrance. She was waiting for her sister Sweetie Belle, who was supposed to meet her to go home together.

However, time passed, and Sweetie Belle didn't show up. Rarity began to feel restless, wondering where her sister could be. Frowning slightly, she looked around, searching for any sign of her whereabouts.

That's when an unfamiliar voice interrupted her thoughts. "Rarity, right?" asked a brown-haired girl approaching her. "Are you looking for your sister?"

Rarity nodded cautiously, feeling somewhat puzzled by the question from someone she didn't know. "Yes, have you seen her?"

The girl smiled kindly. "Yes, I saw her heading towards the parking lot a few minutes ago."

Rarity's eyes widened slightly at the revelation. "Oh, wow, thank you for letting me know," she responded gratefully, feeling a slight nervousness about her sister's delay. But wondering what she would be doing in the parking lot knowing she doesn't have a car.

The girls were leaving the school, each busy packing their things to go home through the door that led to the parking lot. Each student headed to their respective cars.

"Girls..." Rainbow called out to Twilight and Sunset. When they realized they were being called, they turned around and approached the athlete, with curious expressions.

"What's up, Rainbow?" Sunset asked.

The athlete approached them and put her arms around their necks in a close and friendly gesture. "Do you remember what I mentioned in the hallway?"

"About Fluttershy," Sunset asked, with an inquisitive look.

"Yes."

"You said you discovered something," Twilight commented, with interest in her tone.

"I'll tell you, but first, did you... by any chance, manage to talk to her?" Rainbow asked hopefully, her eyes showing a hint of anxiety.

"I wanted to try when I was in class, but I didn't succeed," Twilight said, with a slightly frustrated expression on her face.

"Dash, it's not like we'd just go up to her and ask. Like, 'Hey, Fluttershy, is something up because you're ignoring Rainbow?'" Sunset said, with a touch of humor in her tone.

"Good point..." Rainbow said, nodding in agreement and showing a grimace of understanding.

"And are you going to tell us what you found out?" Sunset asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yesterday I was thinking, and I had an idea of what could have happened or when things happened," Rainbow said, with a determined gleam in her eyes.

"What did you deduce?" Twilight asked, tilting her head slightly to one side.

"I remembered the time Fluttershy suggested, one of the many times she did, that I transfer to Canterlot."

"So it all started when you transferred to Canterlot?" Sunset asked, with a mix of surprise and skepticism in her tone.

"It doesn't add up, because I remember they were still close," Twilight said, slightly furrowing her brow as she thought.

"Exactly, so something happened in between, but it's progress, right?" Rainbow said, though more to convince herself.

"Yes..." Sunset nodded, smiling encouragingly at Rainbow.

When Rainbow mentioned Fluttershy, Twilight had a memory flash, her eyes lighting up with a spark of understanding.

"Hmm... I remembered something," Twilight commented.

"What?" Sunset asked, leaning forward a bit.

"When Fluttershy talked about you transferring," Twilight said, referring to Rainbow.

"I remember, we hadn't known each other for long, and the six of us started hanging out..." explained Sunset, with a pensive expression on her face.

"What's up, Sunset?" Rainbow asked, with a touch of impatience in her tone.

"With the six of us... we counted Rarity," Sunset said, looking at Twilight.

"Oh, right... it was one of the recent outings the six of us had, so Rarity also commented on some things," Twilight said, nodding in agreement.

"Well... um..." Rainbow didn't know what to say. Despite being angry, she felt some curiosity, so she had no choice. "Okay, what happened? I never knew when you found out about my arrival, since we met on the basketball court when you and AJ started playing."

Sunset and Twilight began to talk about that day.

Three years ago

The girls had known each other for a short time, so now they were gathered in a quiet café in the city center. They sat on wooden benches, while one of the girls stayed behind to answer a call.

As the five girls began to talk, commenting on some things about the others due to their recent encounter, suddenly the animal lover appeared.

"Sorry for lagging behind, I got a call on my phone," Fluttershy said as she approached the group, with an apologetic expression for arriving late.

"Don't worry, we haven't started yet," Sunset replied, approaching the animal lover with a warm smile.

"What a relief," Fluttershy sighed, relieved to see that she hadn't missed anything important, while curiously observing Pinkie Pie and Twilight approaching. She looked confused not seeing the purple-haired and the blonde. "Where are Rarity and Applejack?" she asked, furrowing her brow slightly.

Twilight pointed to a table in the corner.

The couple seemed to be absorbed in a conversation. As they spoke, Applejack stroked the fashion designer's hand with her thumb, and although they seemed to be talking, they were more lost in each other's gaze.

"They're in their own world," Sunset joked with a playful smile.

"It seems like they won't realize you're here... well, that we're here, until they come back to reality. I've seen this before with my brother," Twilight commented with a small laugh.

"We were chatting, but when we finished talking about trivial things, they started saying sweet things to each other, so we gave them some privacy," Sunset explained.

The four girls looked back at the loving couple with a mixture of curiosity.

Rarity took out her phone and stretched her arm to take a selfie with the blonde. They changed to other poses, and in one last pose, Applejack kissed Rarity's cheek. The fashion designer seemed happy with that gesture, closing her eyes with a smile so wide she forgot to take the picture. She lowered her phone, turned around, and they looked into each other's eyes for a few seconds. Then, Rarity wrapped her arms around Applejack's neck and kissed her, initiating a kissing session.

The four stopped looking to give them some privacy, exchanging glances and giggling a bit.

"Let's let them be in their own world," Sunset suddenly said, with an expression of respect for the couple's intimacy.

"It's better if they're in their own world," Twilight agreed.

"Don't let them get too hot," Pinkie added mischievously, with a playful smile on her lips.

"Please, Pinkie!" exclaimed Sunset, putting a hand on her face with a mix of surprise and amusement.

That innuendo made Fluttershy blush, who covered her face slightly with her hands, while the other girls laughed gently at the joke.

"Isn't that... normal?" Pinkie asked, with a mischievous look in her eyes.

"Yes, but that's something private," Sunset said, blushing a bit at the idea of talking about such intimate topics in public.

"You're partly right. At 18 and 19, it's normal for our hormones to start experiencing some changes due to puberty, like physical, emotional, and... sexual aspects, such as the desire to have..." Twilight didn't want to continue the next sentence, feeling her cheeks color at the mention of such personal topics. "Oh, Pinkie, don't make me go on," said, laughing softly as she tried to steer the conversation to a more comfortable topic.

"How about we change the subject?" suggested Sunset, trying to lighten the mood and return to a more neutral topic.

"I wanted to say something, but I think it might sound bad," Fluttershy said, a little unsure about expressing her thoughts out loud.

"I don't think it'll be that bad," said Pinkie, encouraging her with a smile.

"I agree with Pinkie," added Sunset, showing her support for Fluttershy.

"Okay... umm... I didn't think Rarity would be Applejack's type, or that Rarity would be interested in someone like Applejack," Fluttershy said, with a concerned expression in case her comment sounded inappropriate.

"Don't worry, we understood perfectly," said the bespectacled girl, trying to reassure Fluttershy and make her feel comfortable.

"I was surprised too... well, a little, since we teased her a bit when they met," added Pinkie, ending with a giggle.

"You see, girls, you can have a type, but you don't choose who you fall in love with. For example, have you ever wondered why you like vanilla ice cream more? Or when you chose it as your favorite? It happens unconsciously," explained Twilight.

"Um... I never thought about it," Fluttershy murmured delicately.

"Yes, from my perspective, I also want to share something. When I saw Rarity in the hallways, I thought she was one of those selfish girls," added Sunset.

"I thought the same thing," admitted Twilight, lowering her head.

"And what did you think of us?" Pinkie asked, with excitement in her eyes.

"Well, Pinkie... you always seemed very... unique to me," said Twilight, trying to find the right words to describe her friend respectfully and affectionately.

"Fluttershy, you... you're a very sweet girl," said Sunset, with a kind smile as she sought the right words to describe her friend sincerely and affectionately.

"The same," Twilight agreed, nodding with a smile.

"Truth is, yes, I am. Is that bad?" Fluttershy asked, looking at her friends with a vulnerable expression and concern if her more reserved personality was a problem.

"I think we just need to get to know each other better and grow in personality," commented Twilight, trying to encourage Fluttershy and make her feel more confident.

"You're right, it's not about judging by appearances," said Sunset, nodding seriously as she expressed her opinion on the matter.

The three knew that with appearance they were referring to Rarity.

Remembering the couple. Twilight, feeling curious, broke the silence: "How did you two meet?" asked with interest.

Pinkie let out a playful laugh. "Someday I'll tell you that story! It's quite funny," promised.

"If you say so," responded Sunset with a smile.

Pinkie's expression changed to a more serene one. "I'm happy for my cousin. With the last one she dated... well, let's say... she was difficult," confessed.

"Has she dated someone else before?" Twilight inquired curiously.

"I think it would be better if AJ tells it, if she wants to," Pinkie suggested, somewhat unsure.

"Sorry, I asked too much," apologized Twilight, lowering her head. Sunset put a comforting hand on her shoulder, she knew Twilight well.

"It's okay, it's a somewhat complicated topic to tell," admitted Pinkie

"Not that I want to continue with the topic, but I didn't imagine Applejack as a girl who showed her feelings a lot," commented Sunset, changing the subject.

"She kind of is," Pinkie agreed. "With those closest to her, she's more open."

"That reminds me of Rainbow, she's also like that," added Fluttershy.

"Your friend?" Twilight asked.

"The one who's going to transfer?" Pinkie asked excitedly.

"Yes, and that's why I stayed behind a bit. She confirmed that everything is ready and that she'll be with us within the week. Although she's going to transfer on the condition that Scootaloo also transfers," explained Fluttershy.

"Who's Scootaloo?" Sunset asked, showing interest in meeting her friend's sister.

"Her sister," Fluttershy responded.

"So, she'll meet Apple Bloom and Spike," said Twilight.

"Also Sweetie Belle, Rarity's younger sister," added Pinkie.

"You must be happy that your best friend is in your same Institute?" Sunset asked, showing interest in the relationship between Fluttershy and Rainbow.

"Yes, it'll be less complicated to meet... not that we had complications before, but I had to leave school and take a taxi to meet her after class, and now it won't be necessary because she'll be with us and we won't have to walk that much," Fluttershy said, with an excited smile as she imagined all the advantages of having her friend closer.

"I can't wait... the group keeps getting bigger!" exclaimed Pinkie, with a joyful smile at the thought of having Rainbow as part of their circle of friends.

"Is she always this euphoric?" Twilight wondered, showing curiosity about Pinkie's energetic and cheerful personality.

"Did we miss something?" Rarity asked, joining the group with Applejack and intertwining their hands in an affectionate gesture.

"Or is it my cousin being herself?" the blonde joked, trying to make a joke.

The three girls looked at each other with a questioning expression, wondering what Applejack meant by that enigmatic comment.

"You'll understand in time," Rarity said, "Believe me, it happened to me when I met her a few months ago. I don't know if she's been like this since she was a kid, only Jackie knows," concluded with a giggle.

Applejack also laughed a bit and, after planting a kiss on Rarity's forehead, looked at the girls. "I'll just say you'll get used to it."

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm being me," said Pinkie, downplaying her cousin's comment.

The girls decided to leave it at that and see what happened over time.

"What were you talking about?" Applejack asked, showing interest in the conversation they had just had.

"Do you remember I told you about my friend Rainbow Dash? Well, she just confirmed to me that she'll be with us in a few weeks," said Fluttershy, with an excited smile as she remembered the news she had just received.

"So, more for the runway. Maybe I can try some designs with her," said Rarity, excitedly, imagining the possibilities of having Rainbow as a model for her creations.

"Designs?" Twilight asked, interested.

"Rarity is quite the design artist. She has a talent for creating different styles of clothing," explained Applejack.

The fashion designer moved away from the farmer a bit, letting her creativity flow. "Designing is my passion. I can visualize the perfect design," she said, raising her hand and tracing a sketch in the air.

At that moment, Pinkie, Sunset, Fluttershy, and Twilight approached out of sheer curiosity to see what Rarity was imagining.

"She's unique in her designs, just like she is to me," added Applejack, with a proud smile as she tenderly wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's shoulders.

"Oh, Jackie," responded Rarity, affectionate, planting a kiss on the blonde's cheek, expressing her love for her girlfriend.

"Ahem," Sunset interrupted with a smile, delicately pointing out the romantic diversion of the conversation.

"Oops, sorry," apologized the fashion designer, returning to her previous position next to the blonde and wrapping her arm around hers.

"Sorry, what were you saying?" Applejack asked, trying to pick up the thread of the conversation after the brief exchange of affection with her girlfriend.

"I'm not sure if Rainbow will like the designs. She's more into the sporty style, so I don't know if she'll be willing to try something new," Fluttershy commented, with a doubtful expression as she reflected on her friend's preferences.

"Ah, then she'll get along well with Jackie. Apparently, they have common tastes," said Rarity, with a smile, showing optimism about the possibility that Rainbow and Applejack shared similar interests.

"Same with you, Sunset," said Twilight, showing appreciation for her friend as they shared a smile.

"Do you like sports too?" Applejack asked, interested in learning more about Sunset's personality.

"Yes," Sunset replied, with a smile, sharing a common interest with her new friend.

"Great," said Applejack, showing enthusiasm.

"No need to say more, there's no doubt we'll get along," said Pinkie, with a radiant smile as she hugged the girls effusively, celebrating the connection they were forming.

Present
"Each one of us was giving our point of view on what we thought about each other, and that's when Fluttershy mentioned that your style is more similar to Applejack's when it comes to sports," Sunset concluded with a reflective tone as she looked at Rainbow.

"Even Rarity mentioned that you two would get along well because of those common interests," Twilight added, finishing her reflection with a raised eyebrow curiously. "Who would have thought that commonalities would be what brings you closer to AJ?"

"Uh-huh," Rainbow expressed, and that was all she said on the matter.

Rainbow's response seemed odd to both Sunset and Twilight. The bespectacled girl wondered if it had something to do with the fight Fluttershy mentioned in class.

"So Fluttershy was excited because we would be in the same Institute, not surprised, but... what changed?" Rainbow asked, letting out a sigh as she brushed aside the girls, her expression showing a mix of confusion.

"As we said, we'll find out in time," Sunset said, offering her support with a reassuring smile.

Rainbow nodded, thankful for her friends' support, though her expression still reflected some unease.

Just as Rainbow was about to continue talking about what Sunset had shared, the three of them stopped dead in their tracks upon seeing a girl with purple hair standing in the parking lot.

Minutes Earlier
Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Spike, and Sweetie Belle arrived at the parking lot, the afternoon sun casting long, warm shadows.

"This is the other reason we use the gate or shortcut," Spike replied with a friendly smile.

Sweetie Belle nodded, taking in the information enthusiastically. "Wow! That's great. But do you always take it after classes?"

"Not really, Sweetie," Apple Bloom interjected. "Sometimes we run into our older sisters here or in the cafeteria," she explained.

"Exactly," Scootaloo added, smiling. "Plus, it saves us time. We don't have to wander around the whole Institute looking for them."

Sweetie Belle nodded in understanding. "I see. What a great idea," she said, admiring her friends' cleverness.

"Isn't it, though," Apple Bloom agreed, with a proud smile as she looked at her friends.

After that brief conversation, the girls began chatting animatedly among themselves, enjoying the quiet afternoon in the parking lot.

Rarity had arrived at the parking lot, searching among the cars with a worried expression. Finally, she spotted Sweetie Belle, surrounded by her friends. Relieved, she approached her with a smile.

"Sweetie Belle, is everything okay? I was waiting for you at the main entrance," said with a tone of relief and concern.

Sweetie Belle turned to her sister with a surprised expression. "Rarity! I'm sorry, I lost track of time. The Crusaders showed me a shortcut, and we got caught up in conversation."

Rarity furrowed her brow slightly, intrigued by the term "shortcut," but before she could ask, she noticed the presence of the other girls around her.

Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and, in the distance, Rainbow Dash, Sunset Shimmer, and Twilight Sparkle, were watching Rarity. The tension in the air was palpable, due to the fact that all of them were together in the same place.

Applejack frowned, feeling uncomfortable with Rarity's presence at that moment, her gaze alternating between Rarity and the rest of the group.

Pinkie Pie, always sensitive to others' emotions, noticed the tension and bit her lower lip with concern. "I feel like the atmosphere is a bit... tense," said quietly, trying to break the ice. Fluttershy nodded silently.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle exchanged worried looks. They knew that the relationship between Rarity and their older sisters didn't seem to be going well, and seeing them together in the parking lot only confirmed their suspicions.

"Apple Bloom, do you think we should do something?" Sweetie Belle asked in a low voice, looking at her friend with concern.

Apple Bloom sighed, feeling equally concerned about the situation. "I don't know, Sweetie Belle."

The three friends exchanged looks, unsure of how to approach the situation. They knew they had to be careful and respectful, but they also felt the need to help their friend if something was wrong.

Meanwhile, Rarity tried to maintain her composure in front of her sister, but her evasive gaze revealed her discomfort. "Sweetie, let's go home, alright?" she said, trying to divert the girls' attention.

Sweetie Belle nodded as she said goodbye to Spike and the Crusaders, following her sister.

In the distance, Rainbow Dash frowned.

"This seems a little tense, don't you think?" Sunset commented to Twilight. She nodded

"This year is going to be very intense," added Rainbow, her voice laden with uncertainty.

Author's Note

• Sorry for the delay, I had to confirm that everything was translated correctly. Additionally, she wanted to add more expressions to the characters. Also because I had to correct the spelling mistake, but luckily I found a page that corrects me if there is one.

• As you may have noticed, we didn't have much of Rarity as a protagonist and I also wanted to leave room for the others and especially for Fluttershy, who is also important in this story.

• I'm adding little hints of what happened in the past, whether it's Rarity or Rainbow and Fluttershy's relationship.

• I was thinking about when classes start in the USA and I couldn't decide whether to leave it like in my country where they start in March, but so that the age fits with what was said I will let the girls start in August changing some things