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                        It's you...                        
                     -by Pinkiemlp97-                      
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              Let's look for the bright side               
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Let's look for the bright side
Canterlot, a city where Canterlot University is located. Boys and girls study what they will develop into and become in the future. At this university everything is calm, anyone would want to finish their studies here. This was the case for six friends who were starting their senior year.
At the entrance there was a girl with glasses talking to her friend with yellow/orange hair. They were waiting for their friends, they all agreed to meet at the entrance.
“Hello girls”
The two heard a low voice, they both turned and found a girl with pale yellow skin and aquamarine eyes.
“Oh Futtershy, hello, how are you?” Twilight said, greeting her friend with a hug.
“Hello Fluttershy, are you just here?” Sunset Shimmer asked, greeting her friend with a hug as well.
“I'm fine, thank you and no, I actually arrived a few minutes ago,” answered the pink-haired girl. “I called them about three times, but they seemed so focused on their conversation that I didn't want to bother them,” explaining.
"Oh really?" Twilight asked. “Sorry, it seems like I got really excited telling Sunset about my technological advances that she made on vacation,” she said, scratching her head, a little embarrassed for not noticing her friend.
“Only you would think of continuing studying even on vacation”
The three saw where the voice was coming from. Not so far from where they are, they saw three girls walking towards them. One girl with pink hair looking very happy, the other a blonde with her classic cowboy hat and the last one who made the comment had multicolored hair.
“How are you girls? "I missed you so much," said Pinkie, catching the three of them in a hug with a big smile.
“We miss you too Pinkie Pie,” Twilight said, barely breathing.
“Pinkie, I think they understand that you missed them,” Applejack said, trying to get the pink haired girl to let go of the others who seemed to be barely breathing.
The party girl released the hug, freeing her friends. Pinkie was very affectionate when it came to her friends or family.
The girls moved a little away from Pinkie Pie so they could breathe.
“Uff, thanks Applejack.” Twilight said relieved.
“Seriously, Twilight, vacations are for having a great time, not for studying,” said Rainbow Dash, shaking her head.
"Dash is right, I should at least give you time to yourself," the blonde said, putting an arm around Rainbow's shoulders.
“Also to cook cakes or cookies,” Pinkie said as she pulled a cookie out of her hair and ate it.
“Says the one who spent half of her vacation harvesting apples,” Rainbow said, raising a somewhat annoyed eyebrow.
“Hey, I already told you I had to help my family that day… Big mac got sick,” Applejack said, rolling his eyes and moving his arm away from his girlfriend's shoulders. “Besides, I'm not the only one who had an excuse to miss our outing, again,” the blonde continued, making quotes with her hands.
“Mine is justifiable,” said Rainbow, “I want to stay in shape to be the captain of the team, and it is obvious that they are going to choose me, I am amazing,” she pointed out to herself.
“Okay girls, we understand,” Sunset interrupted before the discussion could go any further. “I don't think it's necessary to ask them what they did on vacation,” she thought. “It's good to see you again”
“It's also a pleasure to see you Sunset and you too,” Applejack said, referring to Fluttershy and Twilight, who had remained silent. They responded with a smile.
“For your information, Rainbow, I wasn't studying all the time,” Twilight said, looking at the sporty girl.
“Really, then what did you do?” She asked, crossing his arms with a smile.
“I went on a cruise with my family and Shining Armor and Cadance were able to go with the newborn Flurry Heart,” Twilight said with joy at seeing her brother again and her sister-in-law.
Rainbow opened her eyes more “I admit, you beat me… that must have been amazing”
“Wow,” Pinkie expressed with excitement.
“Although Shining got a little dizzy, he thought he was over it,” Twilight confessed a little sadly.
“It must be horrible to feel that, is it better?” Fluttershy asked, a little worried.
Hearing the pale pink haired girl, Rainbow looked at her askance. She hoped this time to achieve her goal.
“It was only for a while after he got over it, but at least we had a good time.”
“How good… I can't imagine how she felt… ha ha ha” spoke Applejack, who had remained silent when he mentioned dizziness. But he couldn't hide. “I know very well how she feels,” thought.
“Everything okay blonde?” Rainbow asked, looking away from Fluttershy.
“Yes, everything is fine,” she replied, showing a half-fake smile.
“Of course…” she said, not so convinced.
Pinkie Pie did her best not to laugh, she knew well that Applejack also gets seasick with anything related to the sea.
“Changing the subject, are you ready for our last year?” Sunset commented.
“I'm going to miss you girls,” Pinkie said sadly.
“Pinkie Pie… we're just starting the year,” Fluttershy answered calmly, putting a hand on Pinkie's shoulder.
The girls nodded.
“Exactly, we still have the rest of the year to learn new things,” said Twilight, adjusting her glasses. “And speaking of studies, I think we should go in.” Seeing how the other students entered, leaving few outside.
“You're right, we're all here,” said Applejack.
They all started walking to the door meanwhile, Pinkie Pie jumping next to Applejack, Sunset Shimmer walking ahead and Twilithg reaching the door about to open it, until a blue haired boy opened it for her.
“Wait, let me open it for you” The boy said politely, until he saw the girl to whom he opened “hello Twilight” he said friendly looking at the girl with violet eyes. “Hello girls,” He said, looking at the others who approached. Pinkie and Applejack who were about to reach the door waved at him.
“Hello Flash,” said the girl with glasses as she entered, “thank you for letting us in.”
“How are you Flash?” Sunset commented, arriving at the door, “How's the band going?”
"Well, we hope to move forward," Flash answered as he entered, "hey, have you considered my suggestion of creating a band with your friends?" I ask.
“To tell the truth…” Sunset was going to answer, while she thought about what her friend suggested to her a couple of months ago.
Pinkie Pie and Applejack were about to enter until they noticed that two of her friends were missing.
Rainbow Dash, who was a few steps behind the others, She looked at her yellow-skinned friend and approached her. “Hello Fluttershy, how… have you been…?” asked forcing a smile
“Hello Rainbow Dash,” the pink-haired girl greeted. “Everything is fine… I guess…” she answered, looking down.
“Cool…” said Rainbow scratching her head, she was hoping to have a topic to talk about, but again an awkward silence was present.
“Girls, are you coming or what?” Pinkie Pie shouted from the door with Applejack next to her. Breaking the silence.
Fluttershy started walking, leaving Rainbow behind. The athlete looked down, sighing in defeat and walked.
Lately the two friends have had problems communicating. Before they were close since they have known each other since they were little. Rainbow Dash doesn't quite know when her friendship started to decline, but this year she's determined to find out why. Fluttershy for her part knows very well the reason for his estrangement.
On the outskirts of the city, specifically at the airport, a purple-haired girl was coming out with a wheeled suitcase in her hand, accompanied by her family.
“It's nice to be back,” said the older lady.
“You said it yourself Cookie,” her husband replied, hugging her from the side. “It's been like 2 years since we've been back” he turned his head to look at her daughters “happy to see your friends again Sweetie Belle?” Hondo asked the younger girl with a smile.
“I can't wait to see the girls,” Sweetie Belle answered with a happy expression.
The mother smiled when she saw her daughter happy. “And you, Rarity, are you happy to be back?” Her gaze went to the eldest daughter who was distracted looking around her. “Rarity…” called to her daughter once again.
"Hmm…?" Finally the eldest daughter reacted. “Sorry mother, did you say something?” Rarity asked, directing her gaze towards her mother.
“Ask if you are happy to return”
“I really don't know how to feel,” Rarity responded, looking down. “Besides, I don't have friends to socialize with.”
“Come on, honey, don't make that face, I'm sure you'll make good friends at university,” said her father, putting a hand on her shoulder showing her support.
"Yes, sister, don't be discouraged," the youngest spoke, showing a smile.
"They are right... and mother, I will not disappoint you with my studies" Rarity said with confidence.
“That's how you talk,” she responded, returning a smile to her daughter.
“Well, how about we go eat something, we still have to wait for the other things to be brought,” Hondo said to change the topic.
The family was heading inside the airport to go to the cafeteria.
Back at Canterlot Univercity. The girls were in the hallways where the lockers are. After finishing the first hours of classes.
“Mmm… too bad… I was hoping that this year we would share classes together” Pinkie Pie commented a little discouraged while she compared the time sheets of her friends.
“I don't think it's that big of a deal, let me see?” Applejack said taking the leaves comparing them.
The girls got together to see what classes they shared.
“Well, some of us have arts together,” Applejack began to say.
“Apparently Sunset and I share Calculus” Twilight continued.
“There is also pastry, but only some of us share it,” Fluttershy followed.
“But at least we have music and sports all together,” Dash finished. “Get ready girls, I'm going to kick your asses,” he commented smugly, crossing himself.
“Yessss…” Said the party girl, not so convinced of what her friend said.
“What was that Pinkie?” Rainbow asked with a raised eyebrow.
“You forget that Sunset and AJ will be there,” Twilight said.
“Ahhh right,” she let out a defeated air, “but I will do whatever it takes to keep them from taking my position as captain,” Dash said defiantly.
“I'm not interested in being one,” Sunset said with a calm face.
“Me neither,” Applejack said.
“Well, unless you and Applejack start compe-” Pinkie was interrupted by Sunset's hand before she finished saying the last word.
Sunset looked at her and Pinkie nodded her head hoping she would get her message. She slowly removed his hand from her mouth. Pinkie just smiled at her friends, the three of them sighed in relief. They knew perfectly well how Applejack and Rinbow Dash got when they started competing. On the other hand, the two girls looked at their friends a little confused, they were going to ask, but they let it go.
“Hello girls, shall we interrupt something?” They heard a voice behind them, they turned around. She was a girl with purple and teal hair accompanied by a gray-haired girl with a star-shaped brooch in her hair.
“Hello Starlight, hello Trixie,” Twilight greeted. The others also began to greet
“And regarding your question, you didn't interrupt anything, we were just talking about the difference in schedules we have,” Sunset spoke. “Pinkie Pie is a little sad about that” pointing at her
“Yes, with Trixie we also noticed that there is only one class that we do not share.” Starlight commented. Trixie nodded.
"What!?" Pinkie exclaimed, appearing behind them, surprising both girls, then she took the papers of Trixie and Starlight to compare them with the others. “It's not fair, we barely share some classes,” Pinkie said, a little sad.
“We meet Lyra and Bon Bon, they seem sad about it too” Trixie said.
“I imagine being away from your girlfriend would make you like this,” Applejack said feeling empathy.
“But it's not that they don't see each other all day, she also needs time to spend with friends, so she doesn't feel alone,” Rainbow Dash continued sympathetically. “The two of you would see each other during recess or if you have, in music or sports like us,” he finished saying, looking at the blonde with a smile. Applejack put an arm on the athlete's shoulders.
“Rainbow is right,” Pinkie said, changing her expression from sad to a smile. “Let's look for the bright side.”
“But you were just sa-“ Trixie was interrupted by a nudge from Starlight. This after looking at her she smiled at Pinkie Pie
“It's a matter of time to get used to it, you'll see, it will almost be as if we were not separated” Sunset said looking at her friends with a smile.
In another part of the city, a car was parked outside a large house that looked like a mansion. Once parked, the family got out of the vehicle.
The two daughters opened the front door.
“I didn't remember it being that big,” said the youngest girl, surprised, seeing the inside of the house.
“It's normal for you to see him like that, since you're still little,” said Rarity, smiling at her sister. “To my taste, I see it a small.”
“Come on, Rarity, I grew up a little,” said Sweetie Belle, pretending to be upset.
“Girls, less talk and more help,” said her father.
The two turned around heading to the car.
“It's going to take us forever to get all this down,” Rarity said, looking at the trunk and the moving truck.
“Rarity, don't exaggerate,” Cookie said, taking a box. “At least a few days, but counting the cleaning, perhaps in a week we would be settled. Now start helping”
“You heard her mother,” Hondo continued, taking another box. “Look for the positive side”
“This way I will take advantage of buying new clothes, the ones I have in the closet must have already gone out of style” Said the eldest daughter.
She went to the trunk to start helping unload the things, followed by her younger sister and the Belle family entered the house.
Author's Note
As I always say, I use a translator so some things don't translate well.
This is my first story I worked on, the two I uploaded were a test to see if you liked my way of writing.
I will change the labels moving forward in the story if I notice that they don't fit. I didn't understand if blasphemy is speaking rudely.
As I mentioned recently, this will be a story with chapters.
By the way, I forgot to mention that there will be some changes regarding the subjects in universities.

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            Second Chances and Revelations 1/2             
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Second Chances and Revelations 1/2
It was Sunday. Sunlight streamed through the window of a colorful room. Pinkie Pie's mind was in a turmoil as she tried to decide what to do.
"What am I going to do?" she murmured, pacing back and forth. "Maybe I should give it a chance."
A silence settled in.
"Perhaps I should try," Pinkie said. "But what if talking to Rarity makes my friends think I'm not being loyal to them?"
She stopped and turned toward the small stuffed crocodile lying on the bed.
"Oh, Gummy, what should I do? My friends don't want to know anything about Rarity, but she seems so remorseful..."
Gummy didn't respond.
"I know it's not easy, but... maybe, just maybe, if I talk to her and give her a chance, things could get better... or worse."
Pinkie sat on her bed, hugged her stuffed animal tightly. Her thoughts were tangled, but deep down, she felt she knew what she had to do.
"You're right, Gummy, maybe I should go out for a bit and clear my head. I wish I had work today at Sweet Snacks Café to distract me, but maybe having a milkshake will help me think."
Put Gummy back in his usual spot on the pillow, got up, took a coat just in case, and headed to the bedroom door to leave the house.
In another part of the city, a girl with wavy hair stepped out of her house.
"I'm going out for a while, I'll be back soon," the seamstress bid farewell to her family.
Rarity closed the door of her house with a sigh, trying to shake off the discomfort from her last encounter with the girls at the mall. She needed to clear her mind and decided that a walk in the park might help.
Sweet Snacks Café  
Starlight and Trixie were walking in to buy some takeaway cappuccinos. While they waited for their order to be ready, someone caught the attention of the gray-haired girl.
"Isn't that Pinkie?" Trixie asked, pointing at her. Starlight followed her gaze with curiosity.
Pinkie was sitting at a table in the back of the café, playing with the straw of her milkshake. She looked thoughtful and a little disheartened.
"It does seem like her," Starlight nodded.
"Here are your cappuccinos!" the barista announced with a friendly smile.
"Thank you," they both responded, taking their cardboard cups.
They exchanged a glance and headed to the table of the downcast party girl.
"What's wrong, Pinkie?" Starlight asked.
The party girl sighed and looked at her friends with sadness. "Hi, girls," she greeted with a forced smile.
The two decided to sit across from Pinkie Pie to find out what was bothering the usually cheerful girl.
"What's going on? It's not normal to see you like this," Trixie commented, puzzled. "You're always so happy, bouncing around."
"Girls, what would you do if an old friend showed up who did things in the past and therefore your friends don't want anything to do with her?"
"Hmm... I don't know," the gray-haired girl said thoughtfully.
"It depends on what she did," Starlight added. "Does it have to do with Rarity?" she asked.
"How do you know?" Pinkie asked in surprise.
"Well, lately we've noticed that every time she tries to get close to you guys, you leave her behind before giving her a chance to interact," Starlight explained carefully. "At first, I thought you didn't notice her presence, but it became more and more apparent that something was going on there."
Trixie nodded.
"I really need advice, so I'll tell you what happened," the party girl said.
"Okay, we're listening," Starlight said.
"It all started with Applejack and Rarity..." Pinkie began. Took a deep breath. "In the past, they were a couple, but their relationship ended badly. Then, Rarity did something that upset us. She left and came back to town, things got even more complicated. And now, I don't know how to act." Spoke quickly and anxiously.
"Wow, slow down, Pinkie," Starlight requested.
"Yeah, I barely understood and I think I misheard," said the confused Trixie. "Because I thought I heard you say they were a couple."
"Okay, I'll start slower," Pinkie agreed. "And you didn't mishear, Trixie... AJ and Rarity were a couple."
"They were what!?" Trixie exclaimed in disbelief.
"Rarity... and Applejack?" Starlight asked, a little incredulous.
Pinkie nodded. "Well, it all started four years ago when we went with the Apples to the beach..."
Four years ago  
The Apple and Pie families were enjoying a sunny day at the beach. The Pie parents stayed back at the rented house to rest. They preferred not to go out as much and enjoy the tranquility.
"Hey Maud, do you want to swim?" Pinkie asked.
"No, I'm going to take Roca for a walk," Maud replied in her usual monotone voice as she held a small rock.
Pinkie nodded and turned to her other sisters. "And you, Marble?"
Marble nodded shyly.
"And you, Limestone?" the party girl asked.
"I'm going to stay here and make sure everything is in order. Someone has to watch our stuff," Limestone said firmly, crossing her arms.
"Alright. Enjoy keeping watch," Pinkie said with a smile.
"What if we go for some ice cream? It's hot," Apple Bloom suggested, brushing the sand off her feet.
Pinkie, who was about to walk into the sea, stopped and considered the idea. "Ice cream! That sounds delicious! I changed my mind, let's go for ice cream." She turned around.
"Good idea, Bloom," Applejack said, getting up and shaking the sand off her legs. "Do you want to come, Big Mac?"
"No, thanks. I'm going to stay here and swim a bit," Big Mac replied.
"Okay, does anyone else want to come?" the party girl asked eagerly.
Marble shook her head timidly and pointed to herself and the ocean waves. "I'm going to stay here, Pinkie. I'd rather swim for a while."
"And you, Granny Smith?" Apple Bloom asked.
"I'm going to rest under the umbrella for a while. I'm not up for walking around much anymore," Granny Smith said, settling into her beach chair.
"Alright, then we'll go for ice cream," Applejack said, looking at her cousin and sister. "Let's go."
To accompany her cousins, Pinkie Pie wore her colorful one-piece swimsuit, light denim shorts, and a sleeveless pink shirt. On her feet, she wore pink rubber sandals.
Applejack, who never changed out of her clothes to swim, wore a casual green hoodie with the zipper pulled up, exposing part of her chest before the neck, and with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, which she paired with blue denim shorts and beach sneakers. Instead of her usual hat, she opted to leave her hair loose.
As for the youngest of the Apples, she sported a sleeveless lime green shirt with a drawing of a red apple in the center and light blue denim shorts. On her feet, she wore brown leather sandals with buckles.
"I hope they have my favorite mint with chocolate chips," Apple Bloom said.
"And I want to try one of those crazy flavors they always have at beach stalls," Pinkie added.
As they made their way to the ice cream stand, one of Apple Bloom's sandal buckles seemed to have come loose, causing her sandal to slip off.
"Are you okay?" Applejack asked with concern.
"Yeah, just my sandal slipped off," the youngest replied.
"Go ahead, I'll take care of it," Pinkie offered, squatting down to help her cousin.
"Thanks," the blonde said before heading off to the ice cream line.
Applejack headed towards a small line to buy ice cream, not too far away, so Pinkie could see her from where she was. As the blonde waited, Pinkie helped Apple Bloom fix her loose sandal.
The line moved quickly. The party girl and the youngest finished fixing the sandal and joined the farmer just in time; now there were only two people ahead of them, a girl with a little girl who were buying their ice creams.
With their ice creams in hand, Applejack started to walk, but she didn't notice that the girl who had been in front of her in line had stayed to the side for some reason.
Accidentally bumping into her, she caused the wavy-haired girl to spill her own ice cream.
"Ahhh," the girl started to scream, bringing a hand to her stained lavender blouse.
"I'm really sorry," Applejack apologized, embarrassed, as she looked at her cousin and handed her the ice cream, then took the napkins she had in her other hand.
"Do you have any idea what you've done!?" the wavy-haired girl exclaimed, her tone annoyed, slightly frowning.
Apple Bloom and Pinkie, seeing what was happening, took a few steps back, moving aside but staying close enough to hear and see the scene.
"It really was an accident," the blonde apologized again, looking at the girl from the side.
"Can't you watch where you're going?" the girl complained without looking at the blonde, busy trying to get the ice cream off her blouse.
"But you were the one standing there," Applejack responded in an annoyed voice. "Look, here, I have something for you to clean up with," she offered, extending the napkin towards the girl.
The girl lifted her gaze a little, seeing only the napkin in the blonde's hand. When she tried to take it, it slipped from her hand, but luckily there wasn't much wind to blow it away. Both bent down to grab the napkin, applying pressure to keep it from flying away.
"It wasn't necessary, I could do it," the girl said.
"Seriously, you should be more..." Applejack started to say.
"…"
Whatever she was going to say hung in the air, because when they lifted their heads, they looked into each other's eyes, emerald green meeting sapphire blue. Suddenly, it felt as if time stopped and the noise around them was replaced by a harmonious sound.
They stayed like that for a few seconds until the violet-haired girl reacted and took the napkin, then stood up. Applejack did the same.
"Uh... yes, you're right. I shouldn't have stopped in the middle," the wavy-haired girl admitted, calmer and with a soft tone.
"Yeah, and I... should have also paid attention... if someone was in front of me," Applejack added, putting her hand on her neck and lowering her head a bit, but still looking her in the eyes.
"Sis, here, I brought more napkins," the little girl said, returning with more napkins.
The wavy-haired girl blinked twice and turned her head to see the child. "Thank you, Sweetie," she said, taking the napkins and starting to clean herself.
The girl was wearing a sleeveless lavender cotton blouse with an elegant halter neck paired with a short white denim skirt with lace details on the hem. She wore flat sandals adorned with small gems. Her violet hair was tied in a high, loose, wavy ponytail.
"Is something wrong?" Sweetie Belle asked, seeing her sister's expression.
"Uh?" the girl said, somewhat distracted. "Yes, I'm fine," replied, stopping cleaning. "Let's go, Mom and Dad are probably wondering why we're taking so long." She gave one last look at the blonde, with a mix of confusion and amazement, then turned and started walking with the little one.
Applejack watched the wavy-haired girl walk away with her sister.
Pinkie and Apple Bloom, who had seen the whole scene, looked at each other and then at their relative with a knowing smile. Applejack turned to them; she still had an expression of amazement.
"What happened there?" Pinkie asked, raising and lowering her eyebrows.
"What do you mean?" Applejack said, starting to blush a little.
"It seems like my sister had her heart stolen," the youngest commented.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she tried to cover up.
"Uh-huh," Apple Bloom said, holding back laughter. "Tell us, when's the date?" she joked.
"Apple Bloom!"
"I want to be in the front row for the wedding," the party girl joked.
"Pinkie!"
"...and then, when they both bent down to pick up the napkin, they looked into each other's eyes and it was like... boom! Sparks flying everywhere!" Pinkie finished telling with enthusiasm.
"Wow, love at first sight," Trixie said, impressed.
"It's amazing how sometimes the most unexpected things can lead to something so special," Starlight commented with a smile.
"Yeah, sometimes a simple accident can change everything," Pinkie added, reminiscing about the moment.
"And to think it all started with an ice cream... who would've thought!" Trixie said.
"Of course, my cousin acted all indifferent at first, though it didn’t last long..." Pinkie paused dramatically.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie is intrigued. What happened next?" Trixie asked with curiosity.
"Well, as I said, my cousin pretended to be indifferent. When we got back to the house we had rented and told everyone what happened, it was obvious AJ wanted to know more about her. So, one day we went out and..."
Pinkie and Applejack left the beach house with the intention of going to the craft fair to see if they could find a certain girl. The blonde had a feeling, as her cousin would say, a 'Pinkie sense,' that something would happen there.
"What are we looking for, cousin?" Pinkie asked, bouncing.
"The girl from yesterday," replied.
"Ooh, is it to ask her out?" the party girl teased.
"What... I just want to apologize! I don't want any misunderstandings and give her a bad impression," Applejack tried to excuse herself.
"Bad impression, ehhh...?" Pinkie insinuated, wiggling her eyebrows playfully.
"Impression... of, um... well, you know... of..." Applejack didn't know how to excuse herself. "Let's just go, Pinkie."
Applejack tried not to seem interested and kept walking with Pinkie following her.
"Well, I don't think she left yet... since, as we saw, she has a little sister. They always indulge the youngest despite the vacation ending soon," the blonde tried to find hope in her words.
"You know, since we saw that girl, I noticed something curious," Pinkie commented, frowning.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm sure I've seen that girl before, but I don't know where," the party girl said thoughtfully. "Maybe in the city or... somewhere else."
"Do you think so?" Applejack exclaimed almost excitedly.
Pinkie gave the blonde a playful look.
Realizing what she had said, Applejack coughed, trying to downplay her excitement. "What I meant was that the city must be very small not to notice that she had always lived here."
The party girl raised an eyebrow. "AJ, you're almost always helping at the barn and don't do much else after school."
"Eh... good point," admitted.
After that, Applejack and Pinkie walked a little more until the hustle and bustle of the craft fair surrounded them. Although Applejack tried to seem carefree, she hoped to meet the mysterious wavy-haired girl again.
They had already walked along the exhibits, and Applejack was starting to lose hope of seeing the girl again. Pinkie, noticing her cousin's expression, decided to cheer her up by distracting her a bit.
"What do you think of this bracelet?" Pinkie asked, holding a bracelet decorated with bright colors.
The blonde smiled. "It's nice... we could see it for Apple Bloom."
"Hmm... let's go there," the party girl suggested, pointing to another bracelet exhibit. They walked to see what kind of bracelets they had. The party girl took one and showed it to the blonde.
"That bracelet looks great. But I think... eh," murmured, looking at a bracelet that caught her eye. She took a few steps to the other side of her cousin to see it better.
She reached out to grab it, but another hand touched hers, feeling a spark. She quickly turned her head to see who it was. Standing there beside her was the wavy-haired girl.
The girl took her hand, feeling that strange sensation and frowned slightly, confused. "I apologize, I liked that brace-" She stopped realizing who she was talking to. Remembering their previous encounter on the beach, she decided to break the ice casually.
"Hello again," she greeted with a friendly smile.
Applejack was surprised to see the wavy-haired girl again but was glad to meet her. "Hi! Uh... how are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you. You're the girl who stained my blouse at the beach, right?"
The farmer nodded, smiling somewhat shyly. "Yes, I'm really sorry about that."
"Don't worry, although I'll have to do a few things to get the stain out," she replied kindly.
"To make up for it, take the bracelet. Though honestly, I'm not sure a charming girl like you needs it."
For some reason, the girl felt something unfamiliar inside her. "Thank you, I was looking at it for my sister. It was her idea to come here," said, taking the bracelet. In a few seconds, she heard her sister's voice.
"Rarity! Did you find something?" Sweetie Belle approached and greeted the fashionista enthusiastically.
Rarity pointed at the bracelets. "I'm looking at these bracelets. What do you think of this one?" she asked, showing the bracelet in her hand.
"Oh, it's very pretty," the little girl said, looking at the bracelet. "Do you think mom and dad will let me buy it?"
"How far did you go to see and ask them to pay?" the fashionista asked.
"Not too far, I'll be right back," her sister replied before running off.
Rarity smiled and turned to the blonde.
"Rarity..." the farmer smiled, finally knowing the girl's name, thinking how well it suited her.
The fashionista was surprised to be called by her name. "Yes... my name is Rarity," she introduced herself, feeling a slight blush on her cheeks.
"I know you didn't ask me," the farm girl said, scratching her head a little, "but... my name is Applejack."
"Nice to meet you, Applejack," Rarity replied with a smile.
"Same here, Rarity," Applejack replied kindly.
The younger sister rushed back, holding some coins in her hand. "Rarity! Here you go to pay for the bracelet."
The fashionista accepted the coins and gave them to the vendor, then handed the bracelet to her sister. Sweetie Belle put the bracelet around her wrist and then looked at the blonde with curiosity.
"And who are you?"
Before Applejack could respond, Rarity intervened. "She's Applejack. We met a few days ago."
"Hi, Applejack," the little girl greeted. "Hmm... have I seen you before?"
The blonde let out a laugh, remembering that Rarity's sister was also there. "Yes, it was at the ice cream parlor."
"Oh, you were the one who stained my sister," the little girl recalled.
"But it's all sorted out, and everything's fine now," Rarity clarified, so her sister didn't extend the topic further. The farmer seemed grateful for that.
"Okay... Mom and dad said we should hurry," Sweetie Belle commented. The older sister nodded and looked at the blonde.
"Well, goodbye, Applejack. I don't know if we'll meet again someday, but see you," the fashionista said goodbye.
"Goodbye, Rarity."
After saying goodbye, the fashionista began to walk away with her sister.
Pinkie, who had watched the scene from the next exhibit, approached her cousin, seeing the girl leave again. "You're right, the world is so small. And by the way, did you flirt with her?" asked with a mischievous smile.
"Flirting? It wasn't that, I just wanted to be decent in front of her," Applejack replied.
"And who would have thought you'd like a refined girl like that Rarity?" Pinkie said.
"I don't like her that way," the farmer insisted, trying to hide her feelings, though she felt a slight warmth on her face.
"Whatever you say. I have good news for you about that girl," Pinkie said.
"What do you mean?"
"No wonder she seemed familiar, and now that I heard her name, I know why," Pinkie commented.
"So, where do you know her from?" Applejack asked, trying to sound casual.
"She goes to our school," the party girl revealed excitedly.
"What? She goes to our school? Wait, do you know her because she's in your class?" Applejack asked, surprised.
"No, she's not in my class, but since I roam the 'A side' a lot, I sometimes see her walking down the halls, and she's considered one of the prettiest girls," Pinkie explained.
"I see why she's considered the prettiest," Applejack said with a sigh.
Pinkie gave her a half-smile and nudged her gently.
"I mean because she's pretty and nothing else," the farmer added.
"It's true, she is," the party girl acknowledged. "The good thing is you'll see her again, eh..."
"Pinkie, stop," Applejack said, crossing her arms, but her gaze softened as she looked where the fashionista had gone and smiled.
"Applejack was almost losing hope, so I decided to try to cheer her up and we went to see one of the exhibits, and then it happened... they met again. It was so exciting!" Pinkie exclaimed, waving her hands enthusiastically.
"Wow, it seems like destiny keeps playing an important role in their lives," commented Trixie.
"Definitely. It's amazing how they keep bumping into each other again and again," added Starlight.
"Exactly! It sounds like something out of a movie," Pinkie added with a wide smile.
"No doubt," affirmed the gray-haired girl.
"Sometimes I think the universe conspires to bring the right people together at the right time," said Starlight.
"Totally agree! Isn't it exciting to think about all the possibilities and what would have happened if...?" the party girl continued, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"And their sisters had something to do with it," Trixie pointed out.
"Chains of events..." Starlight nodded. "If Apple Bloom hadn't wanted to get ice cream, AJ wouldn't have bumped into Rarity."
"And also with Sweetie Belle. If she hadn't decided to go to the craft fair, they wouldn't have seen each other again, or they might have met again at school," added the gray-haired girl.
"What a thing, right? And you're not wrong, Trixie, they saw each other again, but since I wasn't there that time, I'll tell you what my cousin told me," Pinkie continued.
The gray-haired girl took a sip of her cappuccino and put it back on the table, intrigued by what would come next.
"Well, the week went by and classes started. The two of them met again at school. According to what Applejack told me, it was quite an unexpected situation. AJ had to stay a bit later than usual and unexpectedly bumped into her in the hallway, and when Rarity saw her, she seemed as surprised as she was excited..."
"... My cousin told me that she saw how Rarity's eyes opened wide in recognition, as if she had seen something she didn't expect to find there. Her expression was a mix of surprise and something else..."
"... Then they started meeting during recess, and my cousin said that all along she could see a struggle on Rarity's face, as if she was discovering a part of herself that she didn't even know existed."
"Did they start dating after that?" asked the gray-haired girl, curiously.
"No, actually, they started getting to know each other," Pinkie replied.
"I thought they would already be a couple. Wasn't it love at first sight?" said Trixie, looking confused.
"Trixie, even if it was love at first sight, you need to get to know the person well. You might fall in love with the wrong person," Starlight clarified, frowning slightly.
"Hmm... I hadn't thought about that, but I guess that was part of it too," the party girl said, looking thoughtful.
"A part of it? Wait, internal struggle? ... I think I understand," Starlight thought. "And what happened next?"
"I think we'll need more milkshakes or coffee," said Pinkie, pointing to her empty glass. "Hey!" she called to an assistant and at the same time one of her coworkers.
"Hmm?!" exclaimed Trixie, looking at the party girl confused.
The boy approached the table. "Yes, Pinkie? More milkshakes?" her coworker asked with a friendly smile.
"You read my mind," Pinkie replied, winking.
Trixie and Starlight looked at each other, intrigued.
"Get ready, girls, because this is just the beginning of their story..." the party girl announced with an enigmatic smile.
The fashionista arrived at the park, feeling a bit more relieved as she saw the lively activity around her. She decided to enter, hoping to find some distraction.
She strolled along the paths, admiring the natural beauty around her and enjoying the fresh air. However, her mind kept returning to the conversation with her parents about how to handle the situation with the Mane Six.
Stopped near a bench and sighed. "Why does it have to be so complicated? I know I'm responsible... I wish I hadn't let myself get carried away," murmured to herself.
"Hi, Rarity!" Lyra greeted, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Hello, Rarity! How are you?" Bon Bon added with a smile.
Rarity turned and returned their smile. "Hello, girls."
"Exploring the city?" Bon Bon asked.
"No, I already know it. You know I'm new, but I used to live here before," she explained.
"Sorry, I thought..." Bon Bon quickly apologized.
"It's okay... I came for a walk," the seamstress responded. "And you?"
"We're on a date, and like most couples, we usually walk around here after or before our date," Lyra explained, holding Bon Bon's hand.
"I understand, I used to do the same when..." Rarity stopped, realizing what she almost said.
Lyra and Bon Bon exchanged curious looks.
"With whom did you used to do that?" Bon Bon asked, raising an eyebrow with interest.
The seamstress smiled. "Oh, just things from the past."
"One day, you'll tell us about that beau," Lyra commented with a giggle.
The seamstress looked surprised at the comment. "Uh... maybe," was all she said.
"Well, we're off," Bon Bon added.
Rarity smiled as she bid them farewell. "Goodbye, girls."
"Goodbye, Rarity!" Lyra and Bon Bon replied, continuing on their way hand in hand.
Watching them walk away holding hands and remembering what she almost revealed, Rarity had a small flashback of when she was with Applejack. She remembered meeting her at the beach, then meeting again at the craft fair, and later at the school. It was so unexpected for her to see her there, but a part of her had hoped to see her again, though she didn't understand why at the time. She was surprised to find out they had always been at the same school, just never crossing paths.
They shared lunches, helped each other with school projects despite being in different classes. She remembered how the farmer was always there for her when she needed it. Although Rarity didn't like activities related to the earth, she made an effort to accompany Applejack when she was in the barn or picking apples.
"Beau..." the seamstress chuckled humorlessly. "I don't seem like that kind of girl... I don't blame them, I thought the same too."
A memory came to mind. "Ha, I still remember that time. It was so embarrassing..."
Applejack got out of a taxi, apparently alone, and approached a large house. She checked a piece of paper where Rarity had written her address to make sure she was in the right place, as she hadn't expected to see such a big house. After confirming she was in the right place, she rang the doorbell and waited. Seconds later, a young woman with red hair opened the door.
"Ah, hello. Does Rarity Belle live here?" the blonde asked.
"You must be Applejack," the red-haired woman responded. "Hello, I'm Roseluck, Rarity and Sweetie Belle's aunt. The girls are under my care while their parents are away."
"I see," Applejack said.
The fashionista approached the door. "Auntie, I'm not that young. I am already of age," Rarity commented.
Roseluck nodded with a sympathetic smile. "I know, dear, but you'll always be the little girl I watched grow up," she added affectionately. "Besides, I can't leave my nieces alone," she said as she went back inside, leaving her niece at the door.
"Hi, Applejack," Rarity greeted with a dreamy smile.
"Hi, Rarity," Applejack responded with a similar smile. "Uh... I know you said you only invited me, but I couldn't leave my sister."
"I don't understand," the fashionista said, frowning slightly, confused.
"Apple Bloom, come on," the blonde called to her sister.
"Hi, Rarity," greeted the youngest Apple as she approached the door.
"No one was going to be home, so I had to bring her," Applejack explained, a bit embarrassed. "I hope you don't mind," said with a forced smile.
"Hello... unexpected surprise..." Rarity said, surprised, and then put a hand on her chin. "You can have fun with Sweetie Belle."
"Sweetie Belle?" asked the younger girl.
Rarity opened the door wider and stepped aside, letting the two sisters in.
"Sweetie Belle, can you come here?"
The younger sister came out of the kitchen and approached. "Yes, Rarity," responded, surprised to see someone her age.
"Sweetie Belle, this is Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom, this is my sister Sweetie Belle," Rarity introduced her sister.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle greeted each other shyly but quickly began to converse, finding common interests. Meanwhile, the older girls watched the interaction with smiles.
"I'm glad you could come," Rarity confessed, looking at the blonde with a slight blush. "I wanted to spend more time with you."
"I wanted that too...," Applejack responded, looking at her with a soft expression.
The two girls looked at each other for a moment, feeling a special connection.
"Shall we go inside? You can show me where you work your magic," Applejack suggested, breaking the silence.
"Sure, come on in. I'll show you," Rarity agreed with a smile.
The fashionista turned to close the door.
"Come. I'll show you my sewing room. It's where I spend most of my time creating," Rarity said, taking her by the hand.
"Sure," the blonde responded.
Rarity guided Applejack to her sewing room, while Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle went to another part of the house to play. Once inside the room, the fashionista realized their hands were still joined, so she slowly let go. Both seemed to blush, and Rarity tried to change the atmosphere by beginning to show Applejack her materials and designs.
"This is where all the magic happens. I love creating beautiful things from these simple fabrics," Rarity shared, pointing to a table full of fabrics and sketches.
"Wow. You're really talented. All of this is impressive," the blonde praised, looking around.
The fashionista felt flattered by the compliment and continued showing her work.
"I always knew you were amazing, but this is even more than I imagined. You have a gift," Applejack expressed with a warm smile.
Rarity stood there looking at her, feeling her heart race. Applejack's words moved her deeply, and the mix of emotions began to overwhelm her. She started to get lost in the features of the farmer: her freckles, those emerald eyes, and her smile.
The farmer was wearing a long-sleeved white shirt with green details on the edges of the sleeves, which were rolled up. In the center of the shirt was a drawing of an apple. This outfit was complemented by blue jeans and light brown cowboy boots, finishing with her characteristic hat.
"I... um... thank you. It's... it's really nice of you," the fashionista stammered.
"I really mean it. You're a wonderful person," affirmed Applejack, taking a few steps towards her.
Rarity felt a warmth in her face and began to sweat slightly. She tried to keep her composure, but the blonde's proximity and her words made her increasingly nervous.
"I... I also think that you're... wonderful. What you do in the barn is great," she responded.
"Thanks, Rarity. That means a lot to me," said Applejack, smiling even more.
The seamstress looked at the table trying to find something. "Oh, look, this... this fabric is... is silk. Yes, silk."
"It's really beautiful. You have a great eye for details," appreciated the blonde, getting closer.
"Yeah, well, thanks... um, do you want to see... see more fabrics?" Rarity said nervously.
"Of course, I'd love to," the blonde accepted. "Although I don't know much about it," she thought with amusement.
The seamstress began frantically searching for the fabrics. "Here... here it is... oh, no, this one isn't it. Um... here... Oh! Look at this, it's... it's cotton. No, wait, it's linen... no, no, yes, it's cotton. I think," she said even more nervously.
"Relax, Rarity. You don't have to get nervous," said the farmgirl, laughing softly.
"Yeah, sure, I'm not... not nervous. It's just... it's just hot in here, don't you think?" Rarity said trying to hide her nervousness.
"Yeah, it could be. Maybe we should take a break," suggested Applejack, noticing the girl's attitude. Something told her she knew the reason for her behavior.
"Yeah, yeah, that would be... great. Let's go for a drink..." said the seamstress quickly, opening the door.
"Perfect, let's go," the blonde agreed, following her.
"What's happening to me? I've never felt like this before..." she wondered.
Applejack followed Rarity as they headed to the kitchen.
"Follow me. The kitchen is just this way," Rarity indicated, trying to sound calm.
"Thanks. I didn't want to get lost in your mansion," the blonde commented, letting out a laugh.
"Oh, it's not that big. Just a little... spacious," Rarity replied.
Upon arriving in the kitchen, Rarity served the drinks while Applejack observed her, noticing the elegance with which she moved.
Both took their drinks and headed to the living room. Roseluck was nearby, watching the little ones as they played, but she observed the interaction between the two older girls with curiosity.
"So, Applejack, tell me more about your farm. Must be a lot of work, right?" Rarity asked, trying to keep the conversation light.
"As I told you before, it's more of a mini farm since we have apple trees and the barn. And yeah, it's quite a bit of work, but I enjoy it. Every day brings something new, and it's rewarding to see the results of our effort," explained Applejack.
"I admire your dedication. I... I couldn't do it; I'm not much of an outdoor worker," admitted Rarity with a slight smile.
"Well, you have your own impressive skills. I couldn't imagine myself doing what you do with fashion," commented Applejack.
"Oh, well, thank you. It's just... um, what I'm passionate about," responded Rarity, trying not to stutter.
"It's great to find something you're so passionate about," commented the farmgirl, looking at the seamstress warmly.
"Yeah, it's... it's important to follow your dreams, right?" she responded nervously, with the drink trembling slightly in her hand.
"Absolutely," said Applejack with a smile that made Rarity's heart beat faster.
Roseluck, from her nearby position, watched with a mixture of curiosity and understanding. She saw how Rarity was getting nervous and decided to intervene a bit to smooth things over.
"It looks like you two get along very well. It's nice to see my niece with such an attentive friend," commented the red-haired woman with a friendly smile.
"Yes, Applejack is... is a great friend," said Rarity, trying to calm down.
"And Rarity is a very important friend to me," added Applejack, looking at her affectionately.
The seamstress felt her cheeks grow warmer. Her heart beat strongly every time the blonde looked at her like that, and she started to stutter again.
"I... um... yeah, you're also... Applejack. It's... it's great... to be with you," said Rarity, trying to smile, but clearly nervous.
"Everything okay?" asked the farmgirl, noticing the modiste's nervousness.
"What? Oh, yeah, yeah. I'm fine, just... it got a bit hot again, didn't it?" she responded.
Meanwhile, Roseluck, with a subtle smile of complicity, moved slightly away from the scene, giving space to the two young women.
"Yeah, maybe a little. Why don't we open a window?" suggested Applejack, laughing softly.
"Yeah, yeah, that would be... that would be good," agreed Rarity.
As Rarity got up to open a window, she accidentally tripped over a table, spilling a bit more of her drink. Applejack quickly approached to help her.
"Relax, Rarity. It's okay," said the farmgirl, smiling softly.
"I... I'm so sorry," she apologized. "Why am I acting so clumsy?" Rarity thought, her face red with embarrassment.
"Don't worry, it happens to all of us," assured Applejack, helping her clean up.
Rarity opens the window and returns to her seat, trying to calm down. Applejack looks at her with a comforting smile, making Rarity feel a little calmer. They both look at each other for a moment. Roseluck watches from a distance, seeing the sincere friendship. Something tells him that she is going to have a talk with her niece.
After Rarity calmed down and got back on track, the two returned to her room, where the dressmaker showed her some sketches that she was working on, but that are not yet finished.
After a while, they moved to the living room along with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. After a moment, the doorbell rang.
"Oh, that must be my parents. Come, let me introduce you to them," said Rarity, heading to the door.
She opened the door and greeted her parents with a warm smile. The two sisters got up to greet them.
"Mom, Dad, let me introduce you to Applejack, a friend from school, and her sister, Apple Bloom," introduced the fashionista.
Rarity's parents greeted Applejack and Apple Bloom kindly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Applejack, Apple Bloom. Rarity has told us a lot about you," said Cookie.
"Yes, she's told us things, but how about we go for dinner and continue the conversation there?" suggested Hondo.
Although Applejack initially declined the idea, mentioning that they should leave before it got late, she eventually accepted the invitation. With everyone at the table, Hondo began the conversation on some topic.
"Tell us, Applejack, what do you like to do in your free time?" asked Hondo.
The blonde smiled. "Well, I love working in the barn we have at home, taking care of the animals, and spending time outdoors."
Rarity's parents nodded with interest as the conversation continued.
"That sounds like a very active and rewarding life," remarked Hondo.
"And tell me, do you have any more... sophisticated hobbies? Something not related to the farm, let's say," asked Cookie.
Applejack hesitated for a moment, surprised by the question. "Well, I'm not sure if you'd consider it sophisticated. I'm interested in construction because I enjoy working with my hands and seeing how things take shape. I'm still learning," she replied.
Cookie nodded with a serious expression.
Rarity smiled, pleased that Applejack was making a good impression despite her mother's unexpected question.
"Is there anyone special in your life?" Rarity's mother asked again.
The blonde, taken aback by the question, was about to speak, but before she could respond, they heard Rarity cough; apparently, she had choked on her tea. Roseluck rubbed her niece's back to help her get rid of the cough.
"Rarity, are you okay?" her aunt asked.
The seamstress nodded as best she could.
"Responding to your question, I don't have a partner, but there is someone very present in my daily life," said Applejack, looking at Rarity, who finally stopped coughing and blushed at those words.
"Yes, and it's..." Apple Bloom was about to reveal who it was, but Sweetie Belle gave her a slight kick. "Ouch! Hey..." exclaimed.
"Come on, Apple Bloom, what are you saying..." said Sweetie Belle with a playful smile.
"I agree, you shouldn't spill the beans prematurely," added the aunt.
"I agree with Rose. Darling, are you feeling better now?" asked Cookie.
"Yes, Mom, I just got distracted, and that happened just now," replied Rarity, trying to cover up.
"So, Applejack, have you ever thought about exploring other areas of interest besides farming and construction?" asked Hondo.
"Well, actually, yes. Lately, I've been interested in learning more about music and art. Although I don't have much free time between the farm and school, I try to dedicate a few hours each week to practicing guitar and attempting to draw," replied the farmer.
"How interesting! Music and art are wonderful forms of expression. How do you feel when you play the guitar or paint?" asked Cookie.
"When I play the guitar or try to paint, I feel completely at peace. Everything else fades away, and only the music or art remains," explained the blonde.
"It sounds like you've found a way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in your own creativity," commented Rarity.
"Exactly. It's like a refuge where I can set aside all worries and simply let myself be carried away by the creative flow," said Applejack.
"Rarity also finds refuge in music. She must have told you that she plays an instrument," added Roseluck.
"Really!?" exclaimed Applejack and Apple Bloom.
"She can play the piano excellently!" said Sweetie Belle.
"Come on, Sweetie, don't be modest. I can play, it's true, but I do tend to make mistakes in some notes," admitted Rarity.
"Just like my sister, she often makes mistakes," said Apple Bloom.
"It's normal, dear, you start slowly. Later you'll see that you'll know everything by heart and maybe you'll even play more instruments," said Cookie.
The farmer thanked them; she could see they were a very close-knit family. The conversation continued, but as Applejack shared her experiences and passions, she began to feel a slight knot in her stomach. Memories of her parents, who always encouraged her in her artistic interests, flooded her mind, causing a mild sense of nostalgia and melancholy. Although she tried to stay present in the conversation.
Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, and Sweetie Belle were waiting outside as they waited for their Uber to arrive. Applejack, spending most of her time working, wasn't familiar with modern things, so she didn't know what an Uber was.
"Are you okay, Applejack?" Rarity asked.
"Yes, why do you ask?" responded.
"I saw how you got lost in the conversation," Rarity said.
"I felt nostalgic being surrounded by your parents. It reminded me of... well, you know..." confessed the blonde.
Rarity nodded understandingly, recalling previous conversations in which Applejack had talked to her about her past.
"Sometimes, remembering those who are no longer with us can be difficult. But it's nice to think that they're always with us," commented the seamstress, searching for the right words.
"Thank you, Rarity. It's just that... sometimes, I miss my parents. I wonder how everything would be if they were still here," said Applejack, a little subdued.
"I imagine... um, I don't like to think about what would happen if..." she tried to continue.
"I understand. No one would like to think about it," added the blonde.
Applejack seemed on the verge of tears, but she struggled to stay strong. Rarity noticed this, so she placed a comforting hand on the blonde's cheek, looking at her with affection.
"You don't always have to be strong and tough. It's okay to show your emotions and allow yourself to feel. We all need support from time to time," expressed.
The farmer was moved by Rarity's words and placed her hand over hers. "You're right. Being with you makes everything better," admitted with a smile.
The seamstress felt her heart beating a little faster and blushed. She saw the charming eyes of the blonde, those emerald greens she had seen the first time she met her, and those freckles that, even though Applejack herself said she didn't like how they looked, Rarity thought looked cute.
"T-that's the least I can do, I... your... side... always. Um, what I meant is being... by... your... side... oh, sorry, I can't speak," stammered the seamstress.
Applejack smiled. She knew exactly what was happening, and she wasn't going to force her to realize it. She knew it would be complicated for her. The blonde had been through that situation before.
The two younger ones who were having fun in the front yard saw some of their sisters' interaction.
"Hey, your sister really got to mine. Applejack doesn't usually open up to just anyone," commented Apple Bloom.
"I could tell, but my sister doesn't like girls," Sweetie asserted confidently.
"Then why did you hit me at dinner?" asked Apple Bloom, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm not entirely sure what's going on with Rarity," said Sweetie, pausing a bit to sigh, "but I think it was better not to say anything to avoid causing a stir in my sister's head, who seems to have her mind all over the place," she explained.
Minutes later, the Uber arrived, but before leaving, Applejack approached and hugged Rarity tenderly.
"Thank you, Rarity. I had a nice day with you," said the farmer.
"Goodbye, Applejack," Rarity bid farewell.
"Goodbye, Rarity," said Apple Bloom.
Rarity said goodbye to the younger of the Apple sisters and watched as both of them got into the vehicle. She unconsciously smiled, feeling a mixture of emotions. She remembered Applejack's words throughout the day and how she made her feel. She widened her eyes in surprise, wondering if that's how it feels... But she immediately tried to dismiss that idea.
"I was surprised to realize that my preferences leaned that way," Rarity murmured to herself as she watched Lyra and Bon Bon disappearing into the distance, lost in their own world. She lowered her head with a slightly sad smile. "I remember trying to deny what was happening to me... trying to deceive myself."
How could it be that her sexual orientation had taken such an unexpected turn? That was the question she asked herself years ago.
She lifted her head and saw some leaves fluttering in the wind, which brought a smile to her face. "Sooner or later, I had to accept it..."
The dressmaker was sitting on the bed in her room, with her hands on her face and her elbows resting on her thighs. Roseluck entered the room and gently closed the door behind her.
"Are you okay, dear? I've noticed you've been a little quiet lately," her aunt asked.
Rarity lifted her head, sighed, and looked down, unable to find the right words to express what she was feeling.
"I don't know, aunt. I feel confused. But I think I have the answer, although at the same time I don't know what to think," she replied.
Roseluck sat next to Rarity and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Confused about what, honey? You can talk to me, I'm here to help you," her aunt said.
"It's just...lately, I've been feeling strange things towards Applejack. Things I've never felt towards a person before," she confessed.
Roseluck nodded in understanding.
"I understand. What exactly do you feel?" her aunt asked.
Rarity looked at her aunt, doubting her a little.
"At first I didn't know for sure, but the other day I confirmed it. When I'm around her, my heart beats more than usual and every time she says nice words to me... And with my actions the other day it was something embarrassing "Rarity explained.
"Yes, the other day he gave you everything. It was your way of showing your love," said Roseluck.
"But I shouldn't..." the dressmaker muttered.
"Why shouldn't you?" Roseluck asked.
"She's a girl and I shouldn't feel that way either." she began, pausing a little. "We were always taught how couples should be. But when I met Applejack, I felt like the world stopped. It was the most beautiful thing that happened to me," she said as she began to shed tears, but with a smile.
"What you are experiencing is completely natural, Rarity. Sometimes, love and attraction can manifest in unexpected ways. There is no one right way to feel," Roseluck assured.
Rarity nodded slowly, absorbing the words of her aunt, who began to wipe away her tears.
"Thank you, Auntie. I feel a little better knowing I can talk to you about this," Rarity said.
Roseluck tenderly hugged her niece, assuring her that she would always be there to support her every step of her journey.
"I will always be here for you, dear. Don't be afraid to be who you are and follow what you feel in your heart," her aunt added.
Back in the present, as she looked around her, her aunt's words echoed in her mind.
"Don't be afraid to be who you are," Rarity murmured to herself. "They already have an idea of what I'm like, if I could just show them... that I'm not that person."
Although she still wasn't sure how to approach the topic, the idea of being honest with herself and others resonated in her mind. Even with doubts, she decided to walk a little further to see if she would find more answers. Her parents had already given her advice, but she also had to think about what would happen next.
Author's Note
Hello again, I know I'm late but I felt a little bad since I went to get the vaccine and they gave me its side effects. To compensate you in the next few hours I will upload the next chapter depending on how long it takes to translate it into English.
I said that things were coming, because part of it is the story of the past relationship between Applejack and Rarity. I tried to be as cliche as possible, since I have read stories (fanfics in general) where the characters meet by circumstances and immediately say their names. And I'm like, "Dude, you just met him/her. Even though it's love at first sight and you feel a connection, why would you tell a stranger your name?" For this reason, I tried to present them in a more natural way.
Do you remember that I told you that I would change the ages of some characters? Well, that happened with Roseluck, who I turned into Sweetie and Rarity's aunt.
Question, I rarely see mlp in English so I don't know what Maun rock is called. Roca or Rock?
I hope you liked this half. I read them

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              Costume night, night of tension              
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Costume night, night of tension
Rainbow Dash looked at herself in the long mirror in her room, evaluating each item of clothing she tried on. Every few seconds she shook her head and discarded an item of clothing, looking for something that would really make her stand out for the party.
"Hmm... no," muttered as she took off her jacket and left it on the bed.
"What are you doing?" Scootaloo asked, walking in with a part of her mummy costume on.
"Creating a makeshift costume..." replied, turning to look at another item of clothing in the reflection. "The bad part about Pinkie announcing things at the last minute... I don't want something so childish, even if it's a speedster."
"Speedster? I thought you'd wear something scary for Halloween," her sister said, laughing as she adjusted the bandages on her costume.
"Yeah, but I changed it last minute," replied, now looking at her hair. "If I had shorter hair and some gel, I could slick it back, I'd look even faster!"
"Like the one from The Incredibles?" Scootaloo asked, remembering the movie.
"The Incredibles?" Rainbow repeated, arching an eyebrow. "That Dash kid who runs fast?"
"Crazy, he has your name on him!" the magenta-haired girl exclaimed with laughter.
"Coincidences of life... Better something else," the multicolored girl said as she searched through her closet.
"Didn't you buy some boots that you never used because you discovered they light up in the dark?" Scootaloo recalled.
"Perfect, Scoot! So I can pair them with that dark jacket and some loose pants," Rainbow replied, ruffling her sister's hair before searching for the boots.
"I still feel like something's missing..." murmured, looking closely at her reflection again.
"Makeup," her mom suggested from the doorway.
"Oh, no! Not a chance," replied with a grimace.
"I'm not talking about lipstick or anything like that," her mother clarified as she entered the room. "I mean something on the face, like lines..."
"I see, cyberpunk style," Scootaloo commented, nodding enthusiastically.
Rainbow looked back at the outfit she had chosen and observed her face in the mirror. "Actually, it doesn't sound bad... cyberpunk, huh?" said. She turned around to grab a dark jacket. "Ma, how long do you think it would take you to sew some neon on this jacket?"
"Hmmm..." her mother murmured, analyzing the garment. "First, you two go to the bathroom so I can do your makeup, while I see if I can do it later," replied with a knowing smile.
The rest of the minutes the two of them spent in the bathroom putting on makeup thanks to their mom, then making some touches to her daughter's jacket.
Once ready, Rainbow hopped in her vehicle with Scootaloo and her parents to drop them off at the area where she had met the Crusaders and Spike for trick-or-treating. Then, she headed to Fluttershy's house. Since she was the only one in the group without a vehicle, she offered to go with her. She parked in front of the house, got out of the car, and leaned against it as she texted her that she was already outside.
A few seconds later, her friend came out dressed in a white dress that looked like the style she wears in her everyday life, with some touches of makeup on her face. The multicolored girl smiled with a half smile, laughing a little, as she expected something like that from the shy girl, but that smile was erased when she saw someone else coming out.
"Hey, Dash," greeted Zephyr in a costume that was clearly a hippie.
"What?!" exclaimed surprised.
"I know, I mentioned the party and he got really excited about the idea..." said Fluttershy, a little embarrassed by the unexpected surprise.
"Rainbow Dash, you look really cool," said the pink-haired girl's brother.
"That's the only compliment I'll take well from you," Rainbow murmured through clenched teeth. "Thanks, Zephyr, you too," she forced a smile.
"Thanks, I knew you'd like it," said looking at her own clothes.
"I like your futuristic look, you look... 20% cooler, as you would say," the pink haired girl said, raising her head to look at her. Her friend now had her hair tied up, with lines on her face that resembled circuits, giving her a robotic look.
"That's what I wanted to hear..." Rainbow said, smiling sincerely. "Oh, you, uh... look... magical," added, not quite sure what to say as she looked closely at the costume.
"She's supposed to be a nymph, but she looks like a fairy," Zephyr explained.
Fluttershy lowered her head in embarrassment. "Remember when we were younger and I dressed up as a fairy?" The sporty girl nodded. "Well, these wings are from that time."
Rainbow leaned down a little to get a better look at them, noticing the medium-sized wings. She returned to her position and looked at her friend again, holding back the urge to laugh. "I'll say you look... cute..." said, blushing at the cheesy words.
"Thanks, Dash," Fluttershy said, laughing at how Rainbow seemed to explode until she took a deep breath. "Did it hurt a lot?"
"A little," replied, holding up two fingers to indicate the minimum amount.
Fluttershy laughed.
"Maybe I should have said other words," the multicolored one commented as she walked to the driver's door.
"Like what?" the pink haired girl asked as she walked to the passenger seat.
"Pretty, gorgeous, beautiful... or something like that... wait, that sounds kind of cheesy too," said, surprised by her own words. She then looked at her friend. "It's something your mom would say, right?"
Fluttershy stared at her for a moment before opening the door and getting into the car, leaving Rainbow a little confused. "Okay...?" muttered, thinking, "Did I say something wrong?" She then turned her gaze to her friend's brother. "Come on, hop in, hippie."
Zephyr nodded and walked through the back door. With everyone buckled up and ready, Rainbow started the car, heading in the direction Pinkie had told them to go.
Elsewhere in town, Windy and Grandma Smith were in Hondo's car, watching from inside as the kids talked on a corner of the plaza with Big Mac, Hondo, and Bow as their companions, while the two older girls remained in the vehicle.
"Do you think they'll take long?" asked the multi-colored girl's mom, looking at the kids.
"Youth these days..." said Grandma Smith, with a mischievous smile and a sigh. "They don't seem to be in a hurry for anything, do they? When I was young, I didn't waste time on things like that. It was all so fast!"
Windy laughed softly, shaking her head. "Yeah, well, to them it all seems like a big adventure. I'm sure they're taking longer than necessary to decide which house to start with. It's like trick-or-treating is a military strategy."
"Oh, don't tell me! In my opinion, it's just an excuse to prolong the fun," commented Grandma Smith. "When I was their age, we just went from house to house without a second thought!"
"That's true," Windy said, smiling. "Maybe we've gotten a little more impatient over the years, huh? But sometimes I like to see them enjoy these little moments so much. In my time, we did go out, yes, but not with such enthusiasm. We'd settle for a couple of candies and that was it!"
"That's what I think," Grandma Smith agreed. "I remember when we'd go trick-or-treating on Halloween and it didn't matter if we got a lot or a little, the important thing was to have a good time. It's something special to see the younger generations take advantage of it so much."
"Yeah, that's charming," Windy said, looking at the younger ones fondly. "And it's great that they're still keeping the tradition alive."
Grandma Smith smiled softly. "And if they don't hurry up, they'll end up celebrating Halloween in November."
"As long as they're happy, it's fine. You'll see how, when they start roaming the streets, they'll forget everything else."
"I just hope they don't forget to ask the neighbors for something other than candy. Some apples wouldn't hurt!"
Windy laughed as she watched the kids point out where they were going. "Now thinking about it... we'll see that the girls have a good time at the pub... I hope Rainbow doesn't get into trouble."
"I know Applejack wouldn't get into trouble unless it was necessary," Granny Smith said, nodding. "Speaking of trouble, I want to talk about something," she continued, looking serious.
"Yeah? Tell me," she said, curious to know what she meant.
Meanwhile, in the corner, Sweetie Belle was wearing a zombie costume, with makeup so detailed that it looked like she had risen from the grave. Apple Bloom was dressed as a witch, with a pointy hat and a dark cape, and Scootaloo had wrapped herself in bandages, creating a mummy costume so funny that even Spike couldn't stop laughing.
"That caught my eye the most," muttered, lowering her head in some embarrassment. "And Apple Bloom's doesn't match yours."
The girl shrugged. "That's how it should be! Everyone is unique."
"I think you would look good as a skeleton," Scootaloo said to Spike, imagining him in an even creepier costume.
"Where do we start?" Apple Bloom asked, changing the subject and eager to get started.
"I say over there," the remaining three said, pointing in different directions.
"Come to an agreement!" said the youngest Apple, raising her hands.
"First we have to make sure the place is safe," Bow said, his tone authoritative but calm.
"You read my mind," said Hondo, as he looked at Big Mac.
"Yeup," said Big Mac, arms crossed, smiling calmly but understandingly.
Once the group was in agreement, following the adults' precautions and making sure everything was in order, they began to move forward with enthusiasm. Big Mac, Hondo and Bow led the way, watching their every step, smiling and sometimes laughing every time the little ones shouted "Trick or treat!" in front of each door. The girls and Spike followed behind, excited, with empty candy bags ready to be filled at each house they visited. The night was filled with laughter and pumpkin lights illuminating the way, while the fresh Halloween air caressed their faces.
The pub where the party was taking place was the perfect place to celebrate Halloween. Orange and purple lights shone throughout the space, casting eerie shadows against walls adorned with fake spiderwebs and skulls. The smell of drinks and candy filled the air as guests arrived, laughing, dancing, and chatting in a lively atmosphere.
A dance floor took up almost the center of the pub, surrounded by tables decorated with black tablecloths and LED candles. In one corner, DJ pon 3 played vibrant music, causing the strobe lights to move to the beat.
Applejack was entering, adjusting her jacket as she looked around. Among the costumed guests, her eye caught a figure moving quickly and energetically, handing out greetings and laughter. She assumed it was Pinkie Pie, dressed as a harlequin, waving her signature enthusiasm to the newcomers. She looked around and found the girls near the bar table.
"Applejack, you're the last one here," Rainbow said with a smirk.
"You know I'm the one who lives a little far from town," replied, shrugging.
"True," Sunset added with a smile.
"Anything I missed?" asked, settling in next to the group.
"Nothing really," Fluttershy replied with a small smile.
"I was just asking Twilight where she left Frankenstein," Rainbow joked, pointing at the glasses-wearing girl.
Applejack turned to look at Twilight, who was wearing a white apron, black gloves, and slightly disheveled hair.
"You do look like Frankenstein's creator, actually," commented, letting out a light laugh.
"I'm just a scientist," the blue-haired girl said, rolling her eyes. "I used what I had in my workspace."
"That's why I told you to go shopping, we had plenty of time," the red-haired girl commented.
"What about you, Sunset? You did go and buy a costume, I think," Applejack said, looking at the black wings and horns that adorned the girl. The girl was wearing her classic leather jacket, black pants, and a touch of makeup. "Maleficent?"
"I'm a fallen angel," Sunset explained with a smirk.
"Oh, sorry."
Rainbow chuckled. "Just like Fluttershy looks like a fairy, when she's actually a nymph."
"I thought you were a fairy," Applejack said.
"I thought the same thing, too," Twilight added.
Fluttershy blushed slightly before answering. "Well, I guess that depends on how the costume looks."
"If you see her brother, he's definitely what he looks like, a hippie," the multicolored one chimed in with her arms crossed.
"Is Zephyr here?" the farmer asked, visibly surprised.
"Unfortunately," Rainbow muttered under her breath.
"When I asked for permission, Zephyr got excited about the idea and ran off to find a costume," Fluttershy explained with a small nervous laugh.
"I mean, he invited himself," Applejack said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, he should be around," said with resignation.
"Any other siblings here?" the blonde asked jokingly. "Thanks to Pinkie, Apple Bloom didn't ask to come when I mentioned him at home."
"Well, compared to Zephyr, I did invite my brother," Sunset said, pointing to the side where Sunburst was chatting with Starlight.
"Is he a wizard?" asked, looking at the outfit.
"Something like that," replied with a soft laugh.
Rainbow looked at her partner. "And what are you? Some kind of Van Helsing?" asked, looking at the dark outfit he was wearing: a long faux leather jacket, pants of the same color, black boots, a dark blouse and a striking belt, as well as his signature cowboy hat.
"I'm a dark sheriff," Applejack said, removing her hat. "Grandma Smith suggested putting black mesh on it," added, showing off her signature hat, which now looked dyed black.
"For a moment there I thought you'd bought a new hat," Sunset commented with a smile.
"No, my hat is irreplaceable," replied appreciatively as she carefully put it back on.
"I've always wondered how it doesn't fit you," Rainbow said curiously.
"That depends on when she got it," Twilight chimed in thoughtfully. "Could be since she was a little girl or a teenager."
Applejack instantly tensed, showing a serious and somewhat melancholy expression for a moment that didn't go unnoticed by the others.
"How about we go dancing a little?" Sunset suggested quickly, trying to divert the conversation.
"That's a great idea," Fluttershy agreed, who had also noticed the farmer's discomfort.
Applejack took a deep breath and nodded. "They're right, let's dance."
The girls turned their gaze to the dance floor. Although it was almost empty, they could tell that the space was limited and would probably fill up later.
"I don't think it'll be as tight as when it fills up later," Sunset commented, trying to keep the mood light.
"Come on, I'm not losing sight of you," Rainbow said, extending her hand towards the pink-haired girl with a confident smile.
Fluttershy responded with a shy smile and began to reach out to take her friend's hand, but before she could reach it, Applejack grabbed the multicolored girl by the wrist and began to drag her towards the dance floor.
"Hey!"
"Come on cyberpunk, let's see if I can beat you with a few steps," said with a challenging smile as she let go of Rainbow once they reached the dance floor.
The athlete looked at her with a mix of surprise and anger before throwing a quick glance towards Fluttershy, who was now next to Twilight. The multicolored girl let out a heavy sigh and turned her attention back to the blonde.
"What's wrong?" Applejack asked, frowning as she noticed her partner's expression.
"Nothing," replied, straightening up and preparing for the competition, though her frustration was still palpable.
Off the dance floor, Fluttershy looked at her hand for a moment, sighing as she watched Rainbow and Applejack begin their competition. Twilight, beside her, cocked her head, noticing the gesture.
"Are you okay?" asked softly.
The pink haired girl looked up and forced a smile. "Yeah, just... well, for a moment I thought I was going to dance with Dash."
Twilight looked at her with understanding and a slight smile of support. "Sometimes it's hard when things don't go the way you expect."
Fluttershy nodded, feeling a little calmer by the answer.
"What's wrong, did you two fall behind?" Sunset asked, coming back from the small crowd on the dance floor.
"I kept looking at how far apart we would be before we were cramped," the blue haired girl answered naturally.
"I was going to go, but it seems you two already had plans to dance," Fluttershy said shyly.
The girls watched the couple on the dance floor, now surrounded by a few guests watching their competition.
"You'll have to wait," Sunset joked with a laugh.
"I guess so," muttered as she let Twilight lead her towards the dance area.
With Pinkie, she watched as those who had already arrived, which to her surprise were quite a few for just the beginning of the party. Probably, the college kids had invited people who weren't from the institute. She wasn't complaining, the more the merrier.
Her gaze fell on a group of kids who were entering, so she quickly approached.
"Flash, guys!" greeted, waving her hand enthusiastically.
"Oh, Pinkie," Flash replied upon seeing her. "I almost didn't recognize you with that half-joy, half-scary makeup."
"Hey, Pinkie!" the rest of the band said, greeting her with smiles.
"I mixed joy with terror," the party girl explained, proud of her work of art. "And your costumes?" asked, tilting her head as she watched them.
"We didn't have much in mind. Besides, if I wore a mask, I don't know if I could see the guitar strings when I played," Flash explained, picking up the case where she carried her instrument. "We also had to figure out how to bring in the instruments without ruining anything."
"Oh, for one thing you're right. The place is dark enough as it is," Pinkie said, looking around at the room that was illuminated by soft lights in some areas. "And for another... there were already a couple of instruments here."
"I told you, moron," Ringo said to Flash, hitting him on the head.
"Ouch!" he complained, rubbing himself.
At that moment, the door opened again, and two figures made an exaggerated entrance. "Here comes the life of the party!" Feather exclaimed, raising her arms as she walked beside Timber.
"Hey, Pinkie," Timber greeted with a more relaxed smile.
"Hey!" replied.
"Is Rarity here yet?" Feather asked, sitting up straight with a glint in her eyes.
"Not yet, Casanova," the party girl joked, though not entirely.
"Tell me, how do I look dressed up?" The brunette asked, making a dramatic gesture as he brushed his hair back. "This werewolf is looking for his little red riding hood."
"Okay, wolf..." Pinkie looked him up and down. "She seems to be taking a while, but he'll be here soon enough."
"You heard him, champ," Timber said, giving him a friendly nudge on the shoulder.
Pinkie smiled as she watched Feather dramatically brush her hair back, clearly trying to impress someone in particular. His werewolf costume wasn't exactly scary, but it did have a charming touch with the pointy ears and a sleeveless grey leather vest with a dark red t-shirt underneath that gave him a rebellious air.
"I'm sure Rarity will be impressed," Timber commented with a smirk, crossing his arms as he looked at his friend in amusement.
"Of course she will be," Feather replied with exaggerated confidence, adjusting her collar with a theatrical gesture. "How could she not be? This werewolf not only has style, but rhythm as well."
"Well, if you want to impress her, you better not stand here talking," Pinkie said. "The dance floor is across the way, and someone needs to start warming it up!"
"Good idea," Feather said, straightening up. "Come on," added, turning to Timber, who followed him onto the dance floor.
"I'll see you later, Wolf and McFly," Pinkie called out to the two of them. "And you," said, pointing to the boys in the band, "if you don't want to play yet, you can leave your instruments on the stage."
"Sure!" Flash replied, moving with the rest of the group as they moved away from the entrance and deeper into the room.
On the dance floor, the five girls walked out together, some letting out tired laughs after the dance.
"I think I need a drink," Rainbow sighed, wiping her brow.
"I'll get something to eat," Sunset commented, craning her neck to relieve the tension.
"I'll join you," Fluttershy added with a small smile, following them to the bar table.
Behind them, Applejack walked with a grimace. "What do you mean, a tie?" muttered, looking at the bespectacled girl who had given the verdict.
"You two ran out of ideas at the end," Twilight explained, still remembering the steps she had counted precisely and how the crowd had reacted to each move. "And even the audience noticed."
"Mmm... Well, let's wait for the others," said, resigned, as she pointed to the side of the bar.
Within minutes they watched as Sunset approached with a medium-sized plate of nachos. "There! Luckily it's not as crowded as the dance floor," commented, offering them to the girls. Each one took a few as they chatted.
"What about Rainbow and Fluttershy?" Twilight asked, taking one of the nachos curiously.
"They're taking a while because Dash ordered something complicated and Fluttershy... well, you know, something non-alcoholic," the red-haired girl replied with a small laugh.
"Ah, typical," Applejack said before stuffing an entire nacho into her mouth.
"From the grimace and the way Twilight was moving her hands, I'm sure there was another competition between the two of you," Pinkie said, seeing her friends still near the entrance, but closer to the nearby tables.
At that moment, the party girl heard a clearing of the throat behind her. When she turned around, she found Rarity, who had just arrived. Pinkie was surprised to see her costume: a tight blouse that showed off her bust more, as well as having it slightly open, which made her stand out even more; a miniskirt with ripped tights, black heels and a cape.
"Hey, Pinkie," greeted with a confident smile.
"Oh, I love your costume! I see that revealing touch you were talking about," Pinkie said, giving her a slight nudge on the shoulder in complicity.
"Yeah, I decided to go a little outside of my usual style and make it a little more daring," Rarity replied, lifting her chin slightly.
"It certainly worked," the party girl commented, looking her over from head to toe. "You're one sexy vampire, and I assure you that more than one will notice as soon as you walk in."
Rarity smiled at the compliment, bringing a hand to her neck to adjust the small brooch that adorned her cape. "Not bad at all, your costume almost scared me because of the scary makeup."
"Thanks. It was going to be all for fun, but I thought since it's Halloween, it had to have something," Pinkie said, shaking her head from side to side.
"It looked lovely on you."
The party girl nodded happily. "You know, a boy came in a little while ago and asked for you."
"Ah, Feather..." Rarity said, with a light smile. "I hope he doesn't have too many expectations."
"Oh, he does!" Pinkie laughed. "I told him you'd definitely notice his costume. By the way, did you know he called himself 'the life of the party'?"
The seamstress let out a small laugh. "It seems to me that he'll need more than a costume to pull it off, but I suppose I should give him some credit for trying."
"Exactly! Attitude is everything!" exclaimed, nodding enthusiastically. She then nudged him playfully. "So? What do you plan to do first? Socialize, dance, or dramatically steal glances from the drinks bar?"
Rarity arched an eyebrow in amusement. "Do you think I should go for drama from the start?"
"It's always a good idea to start off with a theatrical twist!" Pinkie replied, making a gesture as if unfolding an imaginary rug. "Besides, I know you have that walk that would make even skeletons turn over."
"Pinkie, darling, it's impossible not to have fun with you," commented with a genuine smile. She then looked around a bit, noticing Twilight, Sunset, and Applejack. "Oh, the girls."
"Are you going to try to run away or will it motivate you to talk?" asked with a half-smile.
"I'd like to chat, especially with Sunset and Twilight, thank you."
"Are you saying that because those two helped you in the finals?" Pinkie asked with a half-smile.
"I felt a little uncomfortable. The two of them didn't say anything to me because I kept it from them that I studied with them."
"Nah, don't worry, they didn't mind."
"Better... well, let's go. I'll go see the attempt," Rarity said, starting to walk away while receiving praise and whistles. Pinkie, for her part, greeted another guest before following her.
Rainbow, who was waiting for Fluttershy's glass, looked up at the crowd on the dance floor. "Really, it was a tie?" thought, shaking her head, but something slightly hindered her gaze towards the dance floor: she saw Rarity walking nearby.
"Really, wine? She's always everywhere. It's already bad enough having her at the university. She was already passable in the square, but now here?" thought while frowning. She noticed how the seamstress seemed to get a little closer to the group, so she decided to move away from the bar table and approached her friends. A not so pleasant idea came to her mind when she saw the blonde.
Just when Applejack noticed her presence, the multicolored girl grabbed her by the jacket and kissed her.
The kiss was unexpected, enough to surprise not only Applejack, but also the rest of her friends. Twilight's eyes widened, Sunset was speechless, and Pinkie raised an eyebrow, clearly confused.
For her part, Rarity, who had gotten close enough to notice the scene, stopped dead in her tracks. She calmly turned around, though her tense posture gave her away. "That was... unexpected," said to herself, with a mix of confusion and surprise, as she walked further into the room.
Pinkie followed Rarity with her gaze as she walked away and then looked at Rainbow and Applejack. "That was unusual," thought before deciding to follow the seamstress.
As Rainbow stepped back, pulling away, she met the confused gaze of her partner, who clearly hadn't expected the gesture.
"What was that?" asked, a little taken aback.
"A kiss," replied sarcastically.
Twilight's eyes were still wide open in surprise. "You know what? We better go, so you have a little more privacy," said after reacting.
"We better leave you two in your paradise," Sunset added with a mocking smile, raising an eyebrow as she took the plate of nachos from the blue-haired girl.
"Girls..." Applejack began, looking away from them before fixing her gaze back on her partner. "I know it's a kiss, but why did you do it?"
"Are you mad about a kiss?" Rainbow asked, letting go of her in annoyance.
"What? It's not that... you caught me off guard," admitted, lowering her head a little, as if trying to calm down.
"Now I have to ask permission to kiss my girlfriend?" the multicolored one complained, her tone beginning to rise.
"Of course not!" the farmer replied, raising her voice in frustration.
"I don't understand you! You wanted signs of affection, there you go," insisted, her tone full of irritation.
"I thought you understood when we talked the other time," Applejack muttered, looking away at the ground.
"Understand what?" asked, confused but still angry.
"Nothing."
At that moment, Fluttershy appeared with two glasses in her hands, her shy eyes alternating between Applejack and Rainbow.
"Hey, Dash, I saw you turned around and left your drink," said, lowering her gaze a little. "But if you're busy, I better go," she said, turning around.
"Rainbow..." Applejack was going to say.
"Wait a bit..." said Rainbow, raising her hand almost in her face.
"Are you shutting me up?"
"Fluttershy, thanks. I didn't realize I left it," said, her tone suddenly changing to a softer one.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Fluttershy muttered unsurely, pausing for a moment.
"No, we're done here," Rainbow replied, her gaze flickering to Applejack before turning back to her friend.
The farm girl rolled her eyes. "At least this time, avoid taking too much," said in a serious, yet angry tone.
Rainbow stopped mid-stride, turning her head slightly towards her. "Are you seriously...?" she began to complain, but seeing Fluttershy's worried look, she softened her expression. "You know what, I'm not up for another fight," finally said, walking beside the pink-haired girl.
Applejack watched with a frown as her partner walked away. In an unconscious movement, she ran her wrist across her lips before heading off in another direction.
For her part, Rainbow grimaced, thinking that maybe it wasn't the best idea. "Sometimes I forget how bad he is a kisser," said, taking a sip of her drink to wash down the taste.
Fluttershy glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. "Can I ask you a question?"
The multicolored girl turned to look at her, arching an eyebrow. "Go ahead."
"Umm... why did you do what you did?" asked, a certain hesitation in her voice. "It seemed like you were marking your territory more than out of emotional need."
Rainbow was a little surprised by the observation. "Did you get to see?"
"Yeah, I saw them. I just... noticed that and I had my doubts," admitted, lowering her gaze slightly.
She let out a heavy sigh before speaking. "I saw Belle, okay? Why does she always have to be around? She's here, there, everywhere..." paused, trying to calm herself down. "I know you guys seem to act a little different around her than when she first arrived, but I don't understand how you're okay with her now."
"And she even talked to Applejack about something... she didn't even want to explain. I didn't want to confront her because maybe it's not something important. But if it's about Belle..."
Fluttershy fiddled with her glass, choosing her words carefully. "Not all of us have talked to her... me very little. The last time she spoke to me was when I tripped. But... it's not like she's getting close like she did at the beginning. She's given us our space, and... we've noticed certain changes."
Rainbow frowned. "So what? I don't see any changes."
"Maybe..." Fluttershy spoke cautiously, measuring each word. "Maybe that emotion you have is keeping you from seeing it... But that doesn't mean you should forget what happened, not completely." She looked at her with a hint of concern. "Belle, even knowing what you did, tried to make an effort... even though you hate her."
The multicolored girl took a sip of her drink. "All she says is that she doesn't know when to give up. Should I look past that?" Her tone was almost sarcastic.
Fluttershy took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "I saw past you, Rainbow... Despite your mistakes, which almost cost us our friendship... if it weren't for your attempts you wouldn't be here in front of me."
Rainbow blinked, surprised by the answer. "Uh... Well..." She didn't know what to say. "What has she done so far to show that she's changed?"
"You should try to open your eyes." The pink haired girl looked away, choosing her words carefully. "Sometimes we still see people as they were in the past, without realizing that they're not the same anymore."
The athlete clenched her jaw, not answering.
"It doesn't have to be easy," Fluttershy murmured in an understanding tone. "But... somehow, we've all noticed certain changes. Perhaps it would be worth asking you why you can't see it," she let out a sigh. "I'm going to get some air." She turned and walked away.
Rainbow stared at her. "Without company..." said, looking around a bit. "When did you help her? When she tripped... it was near the bleachers..." muttered as she walked to one of the closest seats, deep in thought.
"Hey, how was your night?" said a male voice from in front.
The multicolored girl looked up, meeting someone wearing a mask. She frowned and raised an eyebrow in a menacing manner. "Do you want a black eye?" said with a note of warning in his tone.
"Guou, Dash, calm down!" the boy quickly replied, raising his hands in a sign of peace as he removed his mask, revealing Sorian's face.
Rainbow relaxed her posture instantly, letting out a small laugh. "Sorian! I was just about to punch you."
"I believe you," Sorian replied, letting out an almost nervous laugh as he settled in front of her.
Fluttershy stepped out onto the pub's terrace, letting the night breeze clear her mind. Despite the constant murmur of conversation and the music filtering in from within, the cool air offered relief.
She walked over to find an empty table and dropped into a chair, letting out a soft sigh. She watched the reflection of the lights in the place dance in her glass as her thoughts circled around the words she had said moments before.
"Maybe I went a little overboard..." muttered to herself.
"Getting some air, too?"
She looked up, immediately recognizing the voice. A few feet away from her, sitting together, were Rarity and Pinkie Pie.
The party girl was the first to speak, with her characteristic enthusiasm. "Let me guess: argument, fight, or misunderstanding?"
Fluttershy shook her head with a small smile. "None... I think."
"Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll work out," Rarity said softly.
Pinkie looked at the two of them, as if a brilliant idea had just occurred to her. She stood up suddenly. "Rarity, do you want a drink?"
"Uh...? I'm not sure if you still..."
"Perfect! I'll be right back." Pinkie didn't wait for an answer and disappeared into the pub.
Rarity cocked her head, visibly confused, but didn't comment. They both remained silent for a moment, the noise of the pub filling the void between them. Fluttershy looked at the other guests, while the seamstress fiddled with the cape of her costume.
Finally, the pink-haired girl broke the silence. "Your costume is... a little unusual," commented softly, pointing at the outfit.
Rarity gave a slight smile. "Oh, yes. I decided to try something different this time."
"It suits you," said, looking away at her glass.
"Thanks... Yours isn't bad either. Fairy, huh?"
Fluttershy let out a small laugh. "Actually, it was a nymph."
Rarity blinked, surprised. "Oh... well, it's easy to get confused."
"I know, everyone does," replied, shrugging.
A briefer silence settled between them. The seamstress ventured to continue. "Some costumes can appear to be something they're not," commented in a casual tone.
Before Fluttershy could respond, Lyra suddenly appeared at the table in her pirate costume, wearing a playful smile. "But yours is definitely what you are: a sexy vampire."
Rarity looked up, surprised by the interruption. "Oh, Lyra, I didn't see you come. Are you alone?"
"Bon Bon went to get some drinks. But hey, look at you!" she exclaimed, pointing at Rarity before turning to Fluttershy. "Hey, Fluttershy. Let me guess: your glass doesn't have any alcohol in it, right?"
The pink haired girl lifted her glass with a slight smile. "You know me."
The curly haired girl chimed in, looking at her with a faint smile. "That's just like you."
Lyra arched an eyebrow, amused. "How do you know?"
Rarity seemed to hesitate for a moment, looking away. "Oh, it's just... kind of obvious," said nervously.
Before Lyra could insist, a girl walked by and made a comment in the air. "You're definitely still one of my kind."
Rarity blinked, surprised. "Huh? We've met?"
The girl pushed her mask aside, revealing a confident expression. "I'm Valencia, the girl from the hallway. I'm still waiting for that answer," said with a wink before walking away into the crowd.
Lyra let out a laugh. "You have admirers."
Rarity stared after her for a moment, then muttered to herself, "Not bad."
Lyra cocked her head, confused by the comment, but didn't say anything.
Just then, Pinkie appeared with a glass in her hand. "Here's your margarita!"
The vampire quickly stood up, leaning over to the party girl to murmur, "Please get me out of here before Lyra puts the puzzle together."
Pinkie nodded with a knowing smile, then wasted no time taking Rarity by the arm. "Come on! The dance floor awaits us."
"See you later," the curly-haired girl said as she hurried away with the cheerful girl.
Lyra watched them walk away, still in thought, then turned to Fluttershy. "Hey, did you notice that?"
"What thing?"
"Rarity. That girl who winked at her seemed interested in her, and... well, Rarity didn't seem to reject her. Maybe it was just a compliment, though. Don't mind me," Lyra commented, shrugging.
"Maybe," was all she said, afraid to give away the dressmaker's tastes.
Lyra thought for a moment, but her attention shifted when she saw someone approach. "Oh, there's Dash. I'll leave you before you interrupt me again. Great outfit, Dash."
The cyberpunk girl nodded and walked over to the fairy and, without saying anything, sat down next to her, leaving a space of just a few inches between them.
"Hi," Rainbow said finally.
"Hi," Fluttershy replied, glancing at her out of the corner of her eye.
The multicolored girl scratched the back of her neck, clearly uncomfortable. "Hey, I wanted to talk... about earlier."
"I've been thinking about it too," she admitted, turning slightly toward her. "Maybe I was a bit pushy."
"And I was probably too uptight," Rainbow admitted with a nervous laugh.
Fluttershy looked down at the glass she was holding. "You have reasons."
The multicolored girl let out a sigh and leaned on the table. "You know, I ran into Sorian a while ago. For a moment I thought he was some random guy who was going to flirt with me."
Fluttershy let out a small laugh. "Like my brother?"
Rainbow laughed, relaxing a bit. "Your brother wins the award for most annoying. Compared to others who have tried, he is... a challenge."
"It's his way of socializing," the pink-haired girl commented with a smile.
"Even though Sorian was talking to me, my thoughts were divided into two parts..." the athlete said, looking at her in red. "Belle and you. You left me thinking."
Fluttershy looked at her, surprised. "You don't have to give her the chance if you don't feel ready. We'll all understand."
The multicolored girl shrugged, showing a slight smile. "I'll be thinking about it, but not now." Her tone changed to a more relaxed one. "Now is our time to have fun, although I know you don't like places like this very much."
"I prefer the quiet ones."
"I might make the effort one day and visit you at the animal shelter again."
Fluttershy arched an eyebrow, surprised. "Even if there's a chance Discord is there?"
Rainbow let out a light laugh. "I've put up with Belle so much that I'm almost used to it. We'll see if I can put up with that... partner of yours a little longer."
The pink-haired girl smiled, somewhat more relaxed. "He's not so bad once you get to know him."
"Who knows? Maybe I'll end up liking petting your little friends and dodging Discord's comments."
Applejack was leaning against the wall, watching some of them playing pool in the corner with their arms crossed. Caramel had come by to suggest she play, but she declined to clear her head after her partner's unexpected action.
"Trouble in paradise?" Sunset asked, offering her a glass of beer.
Applejack accepted it. "I don't know if it would be a problem."
"Maybe you were surprised that it was in public. Normally, some couples go to a secluded place to do their thing."
The farm girl raised an eyebrow.
"Come on, Applejack, I don't mean the intense level," Sunset said, leaning against the wall next to her. "You know, kissing in a corner, in the dark, or even on the same dance floor," added, looking slightly towards the dance floor in the distance.
"True, but we're different," the blonde said, taking a sip of her beer.
"Every couple has their own way of expressing their feelings for each other," the redhead said after taking a sip of her own beer.
"Rainbow told me something similar when our relationship was progressing," Applejack commented.
"Doing it in private, I understand, that's how you would be," Sunset said. Then she frowned, remembering a little. "Although with a certain person, he didn't seem to mind being in public that much," thought.
"Yeah, sort of, and I agreed to it later," the farmer said, after another sip. She looked at her glass. "This is going to be my only glass," said, picking up the beer.
"Come on, AJ, one more won't hurt," Sunset commented, picking up and holding out her glass. "Besides, you need energy to hunt," joked.
Applejack smiled and clinked her glass with hers. "I'm a sheriff," commented with an amused smile.
"You look like a hunter too, with that hat and long jacket," Sunset replied.
"I'm mostly talking about the beer because I have to drive home. I wouldn't want to run into a cop in the middle of the street and have him see that I look a little drunk."
Sunset cocked her head for a few seconds, realizing that she was somewhat right. Although, with some control of the glasses, she might not be drunk. Applejack didn't wait for an answer and took another sip.
At that moment, Pinkie and Rarity passed by while chatting. The blonde looked up just in time to see the dressmaker, noticing her somewhat tight costume. The farmer's eyes widened at the sight, and it was so unexpected that she choked on her beer, coughing loudly.
"Quite the costume, huh?" Sunset said as she watched the two of them head near the dance floor. But as she waited for Applejack's response, all she heard was a coughing sound. She watched the blonde cough, so she patted her on the back.
"You okay? Looks like the beer almost killed the sheriff," said, half worried and half amused.
Applejack could barely nod as she tried to compose herself. "Yeah... thanks," said between coughs.
The redhead laughed. "Who knew a hunter would choke so easily?" joked, not realizing the real reason.
Finally recovering, she cast one last glance towards where Rarity had disappeared. "Definitely," muttered to herself.
"You better put down the beer. We don't want you to choke again," Sunset said, taking the glass from her friend's hand.
"Yeah, better."
"Let's go outside. So you can clear your head a bit," Sunset suggested, leading her towards the exit.
Applejack nodded and followed her, though as she passed the dance floor she couldn't help but glance in the direction of the dressmaker once more. "That's not appropriate for a party... What was she thinking when she decided that?" thought. Her face reddened slightly, and she shook her head before continuing on.
Already on the terrace, she saw Rainbow Dash on the other side of the place, chatting animatedly with Fluttershy. Sunset, noticing this, nudged her lightly.
"Aren't you going to talk to her?"
Applejack shook her head. "Later. Besides, she's with Fluttershy," she said before dropping heavily into a chair. "Now I just want to relax."
"About your drowning?" Sunset said between laughs as she sat next to her.
Glanced at her, but didn't respond, choosing to close his eyes for a moment and let the night breeze calm his thoughts.
The streets were filled with decorations and people in costume. The Crusaders, along with Spike, moved from house to house, their laughter and excitement infecting anyone who passed by.
After several blocks, everyone decided to take a short break at a nearby bench to count their treasures. Sweetie Belle looked at her bag and smiled in satisfaction. "I think I have enough for two weeks!"
Spike, looking at his own candy, looked up curiously. "I wonder if this amount of candy will last us until the field trip!"
At the word field trip, Sweetie Belle tensed a little, enough for her friends to notice.
"What's wrong, didn't they give you permission?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Or didn't you tell your parents about the field trip?" Scootaloo added, noticing her friend's worried expression.
Sweetie Belle hesitated for a moment, looking at the ground and shuffling her feet. "Well... yeah, I told them, but not everything," she admitted, her voice low.
Apple Bloom frowned, looking at her firmly. "You should be honest. Apples always tell the truth."
"Are you sure they never lie?" Spike asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Well... AJ sometimes uses excuses to avoid saying something straight, but that can backfire too," Apple Bloom admitted before turning her attention back to her friend. "The important thing is: why didn't you tell them everything?"
Sweetie Belle sighed, looking down. "It's just that my parents are going on a trip around the time," she said quietly.
"So...? That way it won't feel as much like I'm gone because they'll be busy," Scootaloo pointed out, trying to cheer her up.
"It's just that... I'm a little sad about how the house will be left alone," she murmured, her head downcast.
"The house isn't alive, Sweetie," Spike commented, laughing along with Scootaloo.
Sweetie Belle crossed her arms. "It seems like they forgot someone..."
Apple Bloom paused to think for a moment. "Are you talking about Rarity?"
The laughter stopped immediately.
The girl nodded with a serious expression. "If I go on the field trip and my parents are also away, Rarity will be home alone for a few days," she explained, biting her lip, somewhat worried.
Scootaloo put a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "I'm sure Pinkie will be with her. And, if things get better, maybe the girls will visit her. She won't be alone for Christmas."
Sweetie Belle smiled a little, comforted by the support of her friends.
At that moment, Hondo, Big Mac, and Bow approached the group. "Okay, little ones, last stop. It's getting late," Hondo said, checking the time on his wrist.
"Yes, sir!" they answered in unison.
The children stood up enthusiastically and, with bags of candy in hand, continued with the last tour of the night.
Back at the party, on the terrace, Sunset Shimmer scanned the place for something that would add more excitement to the atmosphere. Her eyes lit up as she spotted a cornhole game decorated with LED lights in one corner. The boards were designed with glowing pumpkin and ghost motifs that seemed to float in the darkness, while the toss bags had prints of eyes that seemed to stare at you.
“Hey, guys!” Sunset exclaimed, catching the attention of Applejack and the others. “Have you seen that cornhole game? With those lights it looks like something out of a Halloween movie! How about we team up and play a round?”
Applejack raised an eyebrow, intrigued, as she watched the game with a smile. “That sounds great! With those lights, it’s sure to be even more fun.”
“I’ll pass,” Rainbow murmured, crossing her arms as she stood next to Fluttershy.
"Not right now, but Zephyr could be your partner," Fluttershy replied, glancing over at her brother, who had just joined the deck to chat with Rainbow.
Zephyr flashed a confident smile. "Sure! I'm sure it won't be hard to beat you two. Dash, wish me luck," added, shooting her a look.
"Break a leg."
Sunset, trying to keep up her enthusiasm, turned to Sunburst, who was standing nearby with a drink in hand. "What do you say, Sunburst? You could be a great reinforcement for our team! Besides, it's not every day you get to play cornhole with LED lights."
Sunburst hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded. "Hmm, sounds interesting. I've never played with LED lights before... but I'm in."
With Applejack and Sunset leading the charge, the group gathered around the game. The deck was filled with laughter and excitement as the first round of friendly competition began.
Inside the pub. The guests had gathered in a corner of the room, watching Trixie, who was once again trying to impress with her magic tricks. While many were feigning interest, some couldn't help but giggle when something didn't go her way.
"What's wrong, honey?" Bon Bon asked, leaning towards Lyra as she sipped from her glass.
"Something that happened on the terrace with Rarity got me thinking," replied, distracted.
"And what was it?" asked, arching an eyebrow, curious.
Lyra lowered her voice a little, leaning towards Bon Bon as if what she was about to tell was an important secret, although the vibrant music of DJ Pon-3 filled the pub, making it almost impossible for anyone else to hear them.
"Do you think Rarity likes both boys and girls?"
Bon Bon almost spat out her drink, surprised by the unexpected question. "Wow! Now that's a question."
Starlight, who was nearby, let out a laugh, not entirely surprised. "What gave you that impression?"
Lyra looked at the two of them before explaining. "First, he wasn't indifferent to a girl's flirting. Then, she followed her with his eyes and even commented that 'she wasn't bad at all'."
Starlight raised her eyebrows, feigning surprise so as not to give away what she already knew. "That sounds interesting..."  
Bon Bon nodded enthusiastically, her mischievous smile lighting up her face. "We should confirm it somehow."
"Confirm it?" Twilight's voice interrupted. She had approached the group, frowning. "I don't think they should get into that."
"Come on, Twilight," Bon Bon insisted with a mischievous smile. "Aren't you even the slightest bit curious?"
The bespectacled girl sighed, remembering old conversations with Rarity about her tastes in love. She already knew the answer, but she preferred not to share it. "I'm going to go find Fluttershy. I don't want her to be alone."
"She's on the terrace with Rainbow Dash," Lyra said with a half-smile, noticing how Twilight was dodging the topic.
Attempting to change the subject, Twilight pointed towards the stage. "Look, Flash and his band are about to play. Right now, Rarity, why don't you go ask him?" joked with the last bit before regretting it.
"Perfect, we might find answers there," Bon Bon exclaimed with a smile.
Twilight grimaced as she walked away. "Why did I suggest that?"
"I'm not going to get involved in that," Starlight said, holding her hands up in surrender.
"Okay, then you tell us if Trixie's trick works," Bon Bon joked before following Twilight onto the dance floor.
Near the track, where strobe lights created a kaleidoscope of colors, Rarity finished telling Pinkie what had happened moments before.
"And that's what happened," said, gesturing elegantly as she played with the base of her glass.
"Well, you could have been a little more subtle," Pinkie commented, stirring her drink with a straw decorated with a mini umbrella.
"It slipped out of my mouth!" Rarity said, putting a hand on her forehead. "Luckily, I was distracted by the same girl who had tried to hit on me a few days ago."
"Oops, oops, oops! she got his eye on you again, huh?" Pinkie giggled.
"Yeah. I thought it would be a one-time encounter, but I didn't even know her name until she mentioned it herself: Valencia."
"Vignette Valencia," the party girl finished casually, as if she were talking about an acquaintance. "She's two years behind. She failed several classes."
"And she still hasn't been kicked out of college?" Rarity asked, arching an eyebrow in disbelief.
Pinkie nodded. "Twilight once told me that if you pass some classes and fail others, you can technically continue studying."
The seamstress blinked a few times, surprised. "You already knew her name? Why didn't you mention it before?"
"You didn't ask," replied, shrugging with a wide grin.
At that moment, Flash and his band began to play. The energy of the music filled the place, drawing more guests to the dance floor. As Pinkie encouraged Rarity to join in, the dressmaker's gaze drifted to a young man with white hair who was dancing nonchalantly near the stage.
"He's cute," Rarity commented, watching him with interest.
"Who?" Pinkie asked, raising her eyebrows in curiosity.
"That white-haired boy," replied, discreetly pointing at him with a gloved finger.
The party girl cocked her head, studying him. "Doesn't he have almost the same hairstyle as Feather?"
Rarity was taken aback by the comparison, and didn't know what to say.
Before she could say anything else, Lyra appeared next to Twilight and Bon Bon with a mischievous grin.
"Hey, girls!" Lyra greeted cheerfully, making a wide gesture that almost knocked over her drink.
"Twilight, have you seen Applejack? I haven't been able to say hello to her," Pinkie asked, leaning toward her friend in curiosity.
Twilight quickly replied, a slight nervousness in her voice. "Maybe he's on the terrace."
Bon Bon, for her part, wasted no time and looked directly at Rarity with a mix of curiosity and mischief. "Oh, Rarity..." she began, her tone lengthening as if she were about to blurt out a compromising question.
Twilight grimaced, as if she knew what was going to happen. "What's wrong?" Pinkie asked, slight concern in her tone.
"I tried to stop them, but it slipped out," confessed, somewhat guiltily.
Before Pinkie could ask more, she heard a comment amidst the music Flash was playing.
"Streamliner ideas wouldn't be bad for an upcoming party..."
Pinkie frowned. "Excuse me, how did you hear about streamers?" asked, coming closer.
A boy responded excitedly. "Oh, someone on the dance floor was sharing some cool ideas."
Pinkie turned abruptly, her fluffy hair bouncing with the movement. "Rarity, take care of these three. Pinkie Party is going to solve this mystery!" declared determinedly, before disappearing into the crowd.
The seamstress followed her with her gaze. "Well, I guess I'll stay with you."
Bon Bon smiled even wider. "Perfect! We have several questions for you."
"I'm going with Starlight," Twilight said quickly, looking to get away before they suggested something awkward again. She walked steadily over to Trixie and Starlight who looked like they were about to join in with the music filling the place.
Pinkie pushed her way through the guests until she found a young boy with fluffy brown hair making animated comments.
"And then, bam! Balloon showers," said, accompanying his idea with an exaggerated gesture.
Pinkie watched him, frowning slightly before approaching.
"Hey! Are you having as much fun as you seem to be?" asked with her signature wide grin.
The boy turned around, surprised at first, but quickly flashed a friendly smile. "Hey! Yeah, it's an awesome party!"
"Do you happen to have any ideas about streamers?" Pinkie asked, with a smile that tried to hide her suspicion.
The boy looked serious for a moment before answering. "Ah, I see... So, you must be Pinkie Party."
Further back, Rarity, Lyra, and Bon Bon were moving to the tune. The energy of the party flowed around them, mixing with the palpable excitement in the air. In an instant, Rarity noticed the handsome young man at the other end of the floor again.
Bon Bon, with a mischievous grin, nudged her. “He’s handsome, isn’t he?” whispered excitedly, leaning towards her as she followed the beat of the music.
Rarity nodded, letting out a small smile. “Yeah, he’s quite attractive,” admitted quietly, barely a whisper blending in with the melody.
Lyra, ever the fun-loving type, gave her a light nudge with her shoulder, playfully urging her on. “Go dance with him!” suggested before adding with a knowing wink. Moving a little closer, she murmured, “Or maybe you could consider dancing with a girl this time.”
The suggestion took Rarity completely by surprise. For a moment, she was silent, her eyes blinking rapidly as she processed Lyra's words. "How... your-" she began to ask nervously.
Bon Bon simply smiled mischievously. "Ah, then we got it right," said, taking the vampire's stutter and awkwardness as confirmation.
"Look here, Rarity, I never thought you'd be the type to play both sides," Lyra commented lightly.
The seamstress hesitated for a moment, looking at her friends before speaking truthfully. "Well, I discovered that part of myself when I was in school," confessed with a shy, but serene smile.
Lyra nodded understandingly, acknowledging the bravery it took to share something so personal. "It must have been quite a process," commented empathetically, her tone warm and friendly.
Rarity nodded. "Yeah, it was."
Bon Bon, still spinning ideas in her mind, made a shocked face as she put two and two together. "Wait! So, that hunk we were talking about... was he actually a girl?"
Rarity looked down for a moment before nodding several times. "She was unlike anyone I've ever met. Always so kind, so sincere. Even when I was exhausted, she found time to make me feel special. One time, after a terrible week, she showed up with my favorite dessert just to cheer me up. It was... lovely," said, her gaze softening as she delved into the memory.
For a moment, the scene from the school cafeteria appeared in her mind. She was leaning against the table, tiredness reflected on her face, while some of her friends were watching her. Applejack appeared with something in her hand, sat down next to her and rested her face on the table, looking at her with a soft smile. Despite her exhaustion, Rarity smiled back, feeling at that moment that the weight of the day was becoming more bearable.
"Sounds like an ideal girl," Lyra commented, interrupting the memory and bringing her back to the present.
"So, what happened?" Bon Bon asked curiously.
Rarity lowered her gaze slightly. Both friends noticed that they had touched on a sensitive subject, so they decided to change the atmosphere.
"How about we make a toast to this party to relax?" Bon Bon said, raising her glass.
Lyra surrounded the dressmaker with a loving gesture and gave her a small squeeze on the shoulder.
"And then you should dance with the white-haired boy over there," assured with an amused wink.
Before they could continue, the crowd around them began to move back, leaving an empty space in the center of the dance floor.
"What's going on?" Rarity asked, intrigued as she raised an eyebrow.
They watched as Pinkie stood in the center of the circle, facing off against the fluffy-haired boy in what looked like an impromptu dance duel.
"Wow! New competition?" Lyra commented, impressed.
"Pinkie doesn't seem like the type to compete," Rarity said, watching the scene in fascination as the crowd cheered.
"Well, now she does!" Bon Bon exclaimed, laughing as the music grew louder.
From the stage, Flash finished singing and noticed Pinkie and the boy in the center of the dance floor. Sensing the tension, he looked toward his band friends with a smile.
"Remember that song?" he asked, pointing to the audience.
His friends nodded in unison, and the drummer began the countdown.
"Let's go!" Flash exclaimed.
The band picked up the energy with a lively tune as Pinkie pointed a dramatic finger at the boy. “Get ready, you fluffy copycat, because this is a dance duel!” exclaimed, his voice echoing through the cheers of the crowd.
The brunette smiled confidently, raising an eyebrow as he twirled an invisible hat. “Duel? I’d rather say it’s a dance show.”
The music set the pace and the boy started off with extravagant movements, spinning on one foot and throwing confetti into the air as if he had had it in his pockets the whole time. The crowd cheered as he added a final spin with an exaggerated pose.
Pinkie, not willing to be left behind, pulled confetti from behind her back. She spun in circles around the boy, throwing balloons into the audience that burst into a shower of candy.
The brunette didn’t give up. With an invisible guitar, he began a rock solo while performing acrobatic jumps. The dance floor lit up with flashes of color that no one knew where they came from.
From the crowd, Starlight gaped at the scene. "Wow, looks like this is a duel in Pinkie mode!"
"She's definitely got some nice moves," Twilight commented, nodding in approval.
"And where did all that stuff come from?" Trixie added, impressed.
Pinkie intensified the battle, pulling even more stuff out of nowhere just as the boy responded with equal creativity.
Finally, they both jumped at the same time in a move that left them rolling on the ground. Exhausted, but laughing out loud, Pinkie reached out a hand to the brunette.
"You're good! I didn't expect that," said between breaths.
"And you're amazing! Not everyone can do something like that!" the boy replied, accepting her hand.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Flash, from the stage, motioned for his band to take a break. Pinkie and the boy exchanged a knowing look before exiting the dance floor.
"I want to see what party plans you have in mind," the party girl said with a wide grin.
Trixie, who had been watching everything with a mix of surprise and amusement, smiled mischievously. "I want to see what Pinkie's up to."
"What? Don't start!" Starlight protested, raising an eyebrow.
"No excuses! I'm here on a mission," Trixie said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I'm going to follow Pinkie. Maybe I'll finally figure out how she does all her crazy stuff. Come on, girls."
"I've done enough just being here," Twilight muttered, but before she could escape, Trixie grabbed them both by the wrist.
"Come on! This is the perfect opportunity for Trixie to learn more tricks. Someone has to be the prying eye!"
The two shared a look of resignation, but knew there was no turning back now. Trixie led them with a satisfied smile as the two walked away from the dance floor.
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were chatting animatedly in a quiet corner of the terrace, watching their friends' game that was about to end.
"It looks like something happened inside," Rainbow Dash said, watching the hubbub coming from the dance floor.
"Yeah, from the cheers, I think there was something impressive," Fluttershy replied, smiling at the excitement of the crowd.
"Next time I'll win," said Rainbow, remembering the dance competition she had with her partner and seeing her now playing.
"Always competitive," Fluttershy commented between laughs.
"That's just how I am," replied, pointing at herself, and then cleared her throat. "I haven't shown you any good dance moves yet."
The animal lover smiled at the indirect way of inviting her to dance, but like other times, someone else interrupted them.
"Well, well, look who we have here," said an arrogant voice.
Rainbow frowned as she recognized the voice. “Linight… Dust,” said, looking in the direction the sound came from and seeing her standing next to what she assumed were her friends.
As Linight approached with a cocky grin on her face, Fluttershy forced a smile and nodded politely. “Hello, Linight,” said, trying to keep her composure despite her discomfort.
Rainbow, on the other hand, kept a neutral expression. “What are you doing here?”
The girl ignored the multicolored girl’s tone and continued as if nothing had happened. “Oh, I just came to see how the party was going. And boy, does he seem bored.”
“Still not over the loss?” Rainbow asked with a half-smile.
“I bet you couldn’t handle this game,” said in a challenging tone.
“What’s on your mind, Dust?” asked, a mix of curiosity and caution in her tone of voice.
Lightning Dust laughed mischievously, knowing she had caught the sportswoman’s attention. "I was thinking we could spice up this party a bit," suggested with a smile. "How about a little friendly competition to liven things up?"
The multicolored girl arched an eyebrow, intrigued by the proposal. "Depends on what kind of competition you're suggesting," replied, her eyes shining with interest as she considered the possibility of a challenge.
Lightning leaned forward, her gaze full of confidence. "How about a game of beer pong? You and me, team against team, do you dare?" she proposed.
Rainbow nodded, accepting the challenge with determination. "Alright, Dust. We accept the challenge," said seriously, preparing to show off her prowess at the game.
"Let's go inside, to a table," said, nodding at the door that led into the pub.
The multicolored girl followed her, followed by the pink-haired girl, who followed closely behind, but before they left, they let Pinkie in with a boy. Before they could go in again, Trixie appeared with Twilight and Starlight.
"Girls," Pinkie said with a smile. "Dust," said with a different tone to her.
"Pinkie," they answered in unison.
"And you?" Rainbow asked, watching Twilight and Starlight pass by being dragged along by the gray haired girl.
"Don't ask," Twilight said, somewhat uncomfortable.
Lightning and her friends didn't say anything, but Rainbow shrugged at Fluttershy before heading through the door. Once inside, they found an empty table and asked for cups. The pub, always well prepared for games like this, had set out glass cups for beer pong.
Lightning Dust looked around, searching for someone who might be a good teammate. Her eyes stopped on a blue-haired boy, who was chatting with some friends on the other side. With a sly smile, she approached him.
“Hey, cute boy,” she called out, attracting a boy’s attention. “Come here for a moment.”
Flash, surprised by the unexpected invitation, approached curiously. “What’s up?” asked, arching an eyebrow.
Lightning Dust gave him a challenging look. “We’re looking for a teammate for beer pong,” explained with a gesture towards the table. “And I think you’d be perfect for the job.”
Flash, intrigued by the proposal, smiled confidently. “Of course I am! I’m in,” accepted enthusiastically.
Rainbow approached the table with determination, ready to choose her teammate. Fluttershy, who was watching the scene with curiosity, decided to step in.
"Umm, Dash, I don't think I..." began, but the athlete interrupted her with a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry," said, knowing her friend's displeasure at the drink. "I've got an ace up my sleeve."
With a bold gesture, Rainbow raised her voice and shouted, "GILDA! HEY GILDA ARE YOU THERE?"
The crowd around them fell silent for a moment, and in that instant, Gilda appeared among them. She was wearing a wrestling costume, a tight-fitting wrestler's suit with shiny details in purple and gold hues, which highlighted her muscle mass and a mask that partially concealed her face.
"What's up?" asked, looking at the cyberpunk with a confident smile as she approached.
"We're putting together a team for beer pong and I needed someone," Rainbow said, pointing towards the gaming table. "Will you join me?"
Gilda nodded with a smile of anticipation. "Of course! It'll be fun to show them how it's done," replied, excited at the prospect of participating in the competition.
The dance floor was still packed with guests, and the music kept playing. Timber and Caramel were dancing with some girls, but as they looked around, they saw Feather suddenly appear, adjusting his jacket and a satisfied smile on his face.
"This wolf has finally found his Little Red Riding Hood," Feather said quietly, watching Rarity as she danced with a boy, but her eyes drifted to Lyra and Bon Bon, a spark of intrigue in her gaze.
"Good luck," Timber said with a mischievous smile, while Caramel nodded.
"We'll be filming if you fail," Caramel joked, looking at Feather as her group laughed amongst themselves.
Some girls tried to get Feather's attention, as usual, but this time he ignored them. When she got close enough to the girls, she cleared her throat lightly to get her attention.
"Feather, you finally make your entrance," Lyra said with a playful smile.
"Oops, looks like you're late," Bon Bon added, glancing at the vampire still dancing with the white-haired boy, before turning her gaze back to Feather.
"Would you do me a favor and tell Vinyl to play something a little more lively?" Feather said, moving her arms as if she were dancing at that very moment. "This wolf wins tonight."
Lyra and Bon Bon paused for a moment, watching Rarity, who seemed to enjoy dancing with her date. They looked at each other briefly, somewhat surprised, but the idea began to form in their minds.
"Well, Rarity indirectly mentioned that she wanted to..." Bon Bon said into her partner's ear.
"Okay, wolf, I'm going for Rarity," Lyra said with a mischievous grin.
"Perfect, girls, I owe her one," Feather said, positioning herself in the center of the dance floor, as the music continued to play loudly around them.
"Couldn't hold back, could you?" Rarity said, approaching with a half-smile, looking at Feather, who looked at her with a playful expression.
"Pinkie said you proclaimed yourself the life of the party."
"This life of the party needs his lady," Feather replied, extending a hand in an elegant gesture. At that very moment, DJ Pon 3's tune changed, filling the dance floor with a frenetic and infectious rhythm.
Rarity laughed, thinking about how the boy had been so insistent over the past few days. "Why not give him a chance for tonight?" thought. She decided to accept the extended hand, not missing the chance to have some fun.
"Do you think Rarity will finally fall?" Someone near them whispered, watching the scene with curiosity.
"Looks like the hunk is making it," another commented, while some began recording with their phones.
Lyra and Bon Bon met up again, watching from a distance as they commented quietly. "Wow, just by agreeing to dance with him, she became the queen of the dance floor," Lyra said, pointing at them with a smile.
The vampire and the wolf moved to the beat of the music. "Not bad, the wolf's step," Rarity said, winking at him as they continued to dance to the electronic music.
"Same here for the vampire. Although it would have been great if you were Little Red Riding Hood," Feather said, looking at her mischievously.
"Let's see what you can do," the seamstress replied, as she moved a little closer to him.
Suddenly, the music reached its peak. In a sudden turn, Feather grabbed Rarity's waist, pulling her a little closer to him. The seamstress, noticing what the boy had in mind, leaned slightly towards him. Their lips met in a fleeting, yet passionate kiss, as if the moment had been perfectly timed to the beat of the music.
From the edge of the dance floor, Lyra and Bon Bon watched the scene, smiling knowingly.
"Looks like Rarity is having a great time tonight," Lyra said.
Bon Bon nodded, her gaze fixed on the vampire and the wolf as they continued to dance. "Yeah, she looks like she's enjoying the dance. It's nice to see her relax a bit after all the stress at college."
The two parted ways with Feather smiling contentedly, while Rarity, for her part, smiled thoughtfully. It wasn't bad, but inside her mind, she was starting to wonder what would happen next with what had just happened.
The beer pong game was in full swing, with the teams competing fiercely at the table. Rainbow, with a determined expression on her face, grabbed a ball and threw it accurately towards one of the opposing team's cups. Beside her, Gilda watched with concentration, ready to respond to any challenge.
At the other end of the table, Flash was drinking a glass of beer after Rainbow and Gilda hit one of his cups. His friends did not lose hope and cheered him on enthusiastically. "Come on, Flash, you can do it!" exclaimed one of them, while others nodded and clapped in support.
Meanwhile, Applejack was approaching after finishing her own game. The farmer frowned at Rainbow with a glass in her hand. The annoyed expression on her face was evident as she crossed her arms.
"Rainbow, what are you doing?" asked firmly, pointing at the glass with a stern look.
Rainbow rolled her eyes and sighed. "Relax, AJ, it's just a game."
"How many do you have?" insisted, arching an eyebrow.
"I don't know... a few," replied nonchalantly as she finished the contents of the glass in one gulp, placing the empty container on the table with a thud.
"What's wrong, Dash? Do you need your girlfriend's permission to play?" Dust said with a smirk, looking directly at Applejack as her friends laughed.
The barnacle was about to say something, but Fluttershy, who was nearby, gently intervened. "Applejack, maybe you should calm down a bit," suggested kindly. "Rainbow's just having a good time."
Applejack snorted, clearly irritated, but looked at Fluttershy and nodded slightly.
"If you're worried about me drinking too much? Since I'm with her, I could keep an eye on her," the pink-haired girl offered in a reassuring tone.
"Thanks," replied with a resigned sigh, before throwing one last disapproving glance at her partner. Then, she turned and walked away from the table.
Rainbow watched as Applejack walked away, her lips pressed into a tense line. Meanwhile, the bustle of the party continued around them, with laughter and music filling the air.
Gilda, who had remained silent until now, gently nudged the multicolored girl. "Hey, let him get over it. In the meantime, let's keep kicking ass in this game."
Rainbow smiled, trying to put the recent scene aside, and returned her focus to beer pong.
Applejack walked away with a mix of irritation and relief, grateful to leave behind the tension that had built up during the game. When she stepped out onto the terrace for air, Feather, Caramel, and Timber passed by her, laughing amongst themselves.
"So, how was that kiss?" Timber asked mockingly.
"Guys, that was great if you were wondering if Rarity is a good kisser," Feather replied, smirking.
Applejack stopped dead in her tracks and turned around, watching the three of them walk away. Her brow furrowed further with each word. "What the hell does that mean?" thought, feeling something in her chest stir. It was an annoyance she couldn't quite put her finger on.
Turning around again, her gaze caught Rarity, who stepped out onto the terrace with impeccable composure, as if the chaos around her couldn't touch her.
"I see you decided to show up," commented, approaching with a tone that tried to be neutral.
The dressmaker turned slowly, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh, hello, Applejack. How are you? You okay? Me too, thanks for asking," replied with mild sarcasm.
"Oh, and I had no idea I was supposed to coordinate my decisions with you," said, her words measured like a precise stab. Then, she added with an elegant gesture, "Though, if it's a problem, I can always back out."
The farmer closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled loudly. "Listen, sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound like that," said sincerely.
Rarity stopped, slowly turning to her with a calmer look, though she was clearly not willing to let the comment go. "So, what did you mean?" asked, crossing her arms.
"Well... knowing how things are in the group, you still decided to come," Applejack explained, scratching the back of her neck and avoiding her gaze.
"Don't I have the right to have fun?"
"Well, yes," the farm girl admitted, acknowledging her point.
An awkward silence settled between them. The blonde broke the stillness by glancing sideways at the dressmaker's costume.
"That costume doesn't fit you," snapped, trying to sound casual.
Rarity arched an eyebrow and pretended to be offended. "Oh, no? Are you afraid this vampire will get stabbed for daring to wear something like that?"
"This huntress would stab you," Applejack replied, as if pulling an imaginary stake from her belt. With a theatrical movement, she aimed the 'weapon' at Rarity's chest, just over the heart, but not touching it. "But for another reason."
The dressmaker kept her gaze fixed on her, as if trying to read what she really meant. Finally, she smiled softly and stepped back.
"Oh, Applejack, you're so sweet when you're like that," said, almost brushing her hand against the farm girl's face before turning gracefully and walking back into the pub.
Applejack frowned, her mind struggling to process the comment. "I'm not sweet... sheriffs are tough," muttered to herself before following her inside.
Inside the pub, Rarity stopped after entering and turned to look directly at her. "Didn't you say you were a hunter?" asked, with an amused glint in her voice.
The blonde crossed her arms, her brow still furrowed. "I did say that, but I was just playing along," replied, clearly annoyed, as if she wanted to put the subject behind her.
The vampire pointed at her chest with an elegant gesture. "So, if you didn't want to be confused, you could have at least put a fake badge here," suggested, pointing a finger at her left side.
Applejack followed the finger movement, which ended right at her heart. For a moment, she didn't know what to say, caught between the game and her own discomfort.
The seamstress tilted her head slightly, keeping her smile serene. "I don't know much about badges, but I do know that they're usually something important... perhaps as a shield to protect the people you love the most: siblings, parents... partners."
Rarity's gaze briefly met Applejack's, her words echoing in the space between them. Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked gracefully towards the bar, leaving the blonde paralyzed, her jaw slightly agape.
She shook her head, cleared her throat, and hurried after her, her mind still grappling with the unexpected game they were having leading up to this.
Rarity noticed how Applejack acted distracted as she waited for the bartender to serve her beer. With a slight smile, the seamstress couldn't help but laugh softly at the situation.
The hunter, for her part, as she waited, grimaced. "What am I doing here?" thought. When she turned her gaze, she saw the seamstress return with two glasses.
"I saw you standing there so pensive and I assumed the hunter still hasn't managed to capture her vampire prey," said, handing her one of the glasses.
Applejack blinked, surprised. "I thought you'd drink both. That would be worrying if you want to get drunk."
"Please, Applejack. I only have one margarita and this glass of beer," Rarity replied, taking a sip of her own.
"Since when do you drink alcohol?" asked, her tone more serious now.
"Since when are you interested?" replied, tilting her head slightly.
The blonde snorted. "It's not interest... But you'd look like Dash drinking glass after glass."
Rarity stared at her silently, not answering, then took one more sip before speaking. "Does Rainbow Dash drink too many glasses on a daily basis?"
"No, but she always ends up falling asleep at the table from drinking too much," said, frowning as she remembered the times they'd gone out to bars or similar events before, and the multicolored girl falling unconscious.
"Rainbow Dash's just having fun. You shouldn't judge her for enjoying herself a little," Rarity said, bringing her glass to her lips.
Applejack crossed her arms. “Maybe, but if you're already a bit of a pain, I can’t imagine seeing you… drunk.”
Rarity laughed softly, taking a step closer. "If I ever hit rock bottom, I hope someone like you pulls me out," teased.
The blonde rolled her eyes. "Of course. This hunter will always have her vampire in her sights," replied sarcastically.
The purple-haired girl just smiled. "Are you going to take it, or if you want, I can just leave you here? You know... better alone than in bad company," commented, looking up and fixing her eyes on the emerald green ones.
Applejack was silent for a moment, staring into those deep sapphires that stared back at her intensely. Then she blinked and looked away slightly.
"You may seem annoying to me... but you're not bad company," said, finally taking the glass, surprising the seamstress with the comment.
Rarity blinked, slightly taken aback, and then took another sip.
"Glad to hear that," muttered before starting to walk towards a group, followed by the hunter.
"Don't take it any other way," Applejack said, bringing the glass to her lips.
"And what is that way?" The vampire asked, turning her head to look at her curiously.
Applejack didn't answer, just taking another sip of her drink while avoiding eye contact.
"Look, there's your girl," Rarity said, pointing her glass at the multicolored girl and getting ready to leave, but suddenly, she bumped into someone and spilled her drink on her shirt. "No way! How will I get this stain out?" exclaimed, frustrated.
"Just put it in the washing machine," Applejack suggested, holding back a laugh.
The seamstress glared. "It's silk, Applejack. This doesn't come clean that easily."
The farm girl finally couldn't contain herself and burst out laughing. "You always make it so complicated," commented with a smile.
"What are you laughing at? This is serious!"
"Aha, whatever you say," replied, laughing some more.
Rarity rolled her eyes, but a smile appeared on her lips. "Oh, Applejack... If only you understood."
She was about to say something else when something caught her attention. She noticed a man behaving suspiciously, putting something in Fluttershy's glass. Without hesitation, Rarity set off, followed by Applejack, intrigued by the seamstress's sudden change in attitude.
Fluttershy was about to take a sip from her glass when Rarity appeared in front of her, snatching the glass away from her with a quick gesture. The liquid spilled onto the floor, causing a stir among those present.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" Applejack exclaimed, confused by the sudden action.
"What's going on?" Rainbow asked, approaching curiously.
"I... I don't know," the pink-haired girl replied, looking at the seamstress, whose serious expression was an indication of trouble.
Rarity addressed the suspicious man with determination. "You think I didn't notice what you did?"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" the stranger replied, trying to feign innocence.
"You put something in Fluttershy's glass."
"What?!" Rainbow exclaimed, surprised.
"But you don't even have proof," the stranger pretended.
Rarity knew the man was right, but noticed that after he deposited the envelope, he put it in his pocket. "Like this," said as she walked closer to the man and began searching his pockets, ignoring his complaints. She found an empty clear envelope with some dust inside. "So tell me, what is this?"
Everyone present began to murmur, as Fluttershy backed away in fear.
"Give me that!" exclaimed Rainbow, snatching the envelope from Rarity's hands. Noticing the little dust left inside, the evidence was clear; she knew perfectly well what it was, which only fueled her fury even more.
The man decided to drop the pretense upon being discovered. "Come on, this is a party, I just wanted to have some fun with my friends," said disdainfully. "Besides, you can tell this girl has a nice figure." The comment made the multicolored girl even more furious and clench her fists.
"Friends?" frowned Applejack. "How many of them are here?"
"About two, and what?" the stranger replied, mocking.
"YOU THINK SHE'S AN OBJECT?" Rainbow shouted, furious, but it was the next comment that caused the explosion.
"Why don't you just leave her, Dash? Maybe then your shy friend will finally get a guy," Lightning commented, letting out a laugh at the end.
"Someone who thinks the same as me," the man added, instantly provoking the anger of Rainbow, Applejack, and Rarity.
The seamstress was the first to react, approaching the man and giving him a hard slap that resonated in the environment. The multicolored girl clenched her fists, ready to hit him, but when her arm rose, her target suddenly changed, and the fist ended up connecting with Lightning Dust.
"Say it one more time... I want to hear you, Dust," declared, her jaw clenched, as she readied her fists again.
Lightning touched her now reddened cheek, a defiant expression crossing her face. "Damn it, Dash, you'll get this!" exclaimed before launching herself at Rainbow, punching her back and sparking a fistfight. "Time for you to learn!"
"That's it! Hit it, Dust!" shouted a close friend of Lightning from the crowd, cheering her on.
"Come here, you bitch!" the multicolored one exclaimed, continuing the fight.
"Rainbow...", Applejack said, a little worried, taking a few steps forward.
The man who had a hand on her cheek approached Rarity. "Uhh... rough, I wonder if you're this wild under the sheets," said, licking his lip suggestively.
The seamstress made a face of disgust at that comment, seriously considering punching her like she had done to the girl. However, before she could react, Applejack pushed the man to the ground, surprising Rarity.
"How dare you ask such things of someone you don't know?" exclaimed, firm in her defense. "Fuck you, you bastard! Learn to respect women, you damn bastard!" exclaimed, in a furious voice, while punching the man.
The tension in the air increased as the fight intensified. The guests did not help, motivating even more violence.
Rarity slowly backed away, startled, when she felt someone crash into her. Fluttershy, seeing the situation, also backed away and screamed when she felt someone behind them. Both girls looked at each other and then looked at those who were still fighting over them.
Meanwhile, on the terrace...
"Wow, I think this is the first time I've seen Pinkie Pie socializing with anyone else at a party, besides us," Starlight commented, amazed.
"You said it yourself," Twilight replied with her arms crossed.
"Hey, girls! What do you see?" Sunset said upon arriving, noticing the fixed stares of her friends.
"Nothing, we were just looking at how happy Pinkie seems to be talking to that boy," Starlight commented, pointing with her thumb towards the party girl, who was chatting animatedly.
"Well, it's Pinkie. She likes the idea of making everyone smile, even strangers," the red-haired girl said, putting her arms around the two's shoulders.
"But they seem to have something in common with Cheese. They haven't stopped talking since we arrived," Starlight added, curious.
"Cheese?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That's what she said her name was," Twilight replied. "Cheese Sandwich."
"Ah, I see," Sunset said, nodding.
"And the great and powerful Trixie failed her mission," Trixie chimed in, clearly frustrated.
"And what did you want to do?" asked, looking at the gray haired girl.
"I wanted to find out Pinkie's tricks," Starlight replied between giggles.
The red haired girl laughed. "With Pinkie, it's impossible to find out."
"I know. I got into the conversation, and when I tried to find out, they only talked about parties," Trixie said, bringing a hand to her forehead in surrender.
Twilight laughed. "And what were you up to, Sunset?"
"I went out for a drink after I parted ways with Applejack," replied. "I drank it in one go."
A few steps ahead, Pinkie was jumping up and down in excitement as she spoke. "So, imagine it exploding and confetti coming out."
"Yeah, haha. With a party cannon," Cheese replied between laughs.
"Oh, I'd love to have one! Are you going to be around for a few more days? Let's see if we can organize a party together sometime," the party girl asked excitedly.
"I like the idea, but unfortunately, I'm going back to my town tomorrow. I was just passing through with my friend," replied with a slight smile.
"Oww!" said Pinkie, somewhat dejected.
"But who knows, maybe we'll see each other again sometime," Cheese added, trying to cheer her up.
"You're right. Sometimes fate can bring us together," replied, regaining her enthusiasm.
However, their conversation was interrupted by a commotion that was heard from inside the pub, drawing everyone's attention.
"What's that?" asked Trixie, looking towards the door with curiosity.
The girls walked to the other side and were shocked to see some pushing each other and others hitting each other.
"What's going on?" asked Sunset.
They saw Flash being pushed by an unknown person, who hit him.
"Flash?!" exclaimed Twilight, surprised.
Everyone and Cheese saw the chaos that had formed, since even DJ Pon-3 had stopped playing music and was watching the fight.
"This is really fucking..." Pinkie was going to say, with a smile.
"Pinkie...!!" said Twilight.
"Sorry, I got excited."
"Guys... now is not the time" said Flash, straightening up and launching himself to hit the guy.
The girls were not expecting that answer. Suddenly, they heard a voice coming from under a table.
"Fluttershy, what are you doing there? And what's going on?" Sunset asked, crouching down with the others, noticing Rarity on the other side.
"It all started with the boy beating up Applejack," Fluttershy said, a little scared. "Then his friends showed up... although, at first, Gilda tried, but the two of them hit her, and that's why Flash and Timber joined in," explained as she pointed towards the chaos.
"And what does Lightning Dust have to do with it?" Starlight asked, watching as the two continued to hit each other.
"Well, she made a comment that Rainbow didn't like," replied, blushing a little.
Cheese approached the stranger holding Timber, grabbing him from behind and firmly pushing him away. “Hey! No more fighting!” said, looking at the attacker with determination.
The man, surprised by the intervention, tried to get away, but Cheese’s strength was evident.
“What are you doing?!” the stranger shouted, trying to free himself.
“You’re causing too much fuss!” replied, holding him tighter. “You should be ashamed, can’t you see what you’ve done?”
“Wow, thanks, dude!” Timber said, relieved, helping to keep the man steady as he felt the situation begin to calm down.
"Now we have the rest," Trixie said, looking around and assessing the others involved.
"And how do we do that?" Twilight asked, turning her gaze to the girls. However, her attention was diverted when she noticed two men starting to approach.
"Stop right there!" said one uniformed officer, his voice loud enough to cut through the chaos.
"Everyone stop!" said the second officer, firmly, as if his presence could stop the fight entirely.
Some were surprised by the presence of two uniformed police officers who had quickly arrived on the scene.
Pinkie, taking advantage of the moment to take control, ran up to the stage and grabbed the microphone, a big smile on her face. "Stop!" exclaimed, drawing the attention of everyone present.
Suddenly, everyone turned to her, leaving those involved in the fight as the only ones still making noise.
"Everyone! We have our beloved city vigilantes back at the last minute!" said with a humorous tone, pointing at the officers with one hand as if they were the heroes of the moment.
Rainbow released Lightning while Flash freed himself from the man who had him cornered. Applejack, with a quick movement, approached the stranger who had been hitting her, holding him firmly.
"If you're officers, you can take these two" said the farmer, pushing the man who was still trying to fight. Flash did the same with his attacker, while Timber and Cheese took care of the third.
"And the reason?" asked the officer, looking at each of those involved seriously. "Everyone is in trouble"
"Yes, now you all have to come with us" said the second officer, with a firm tone.
"They snuck in and were about to drug one of our friends" explained Applejack, her face angry and firm in the face of the situation.
"Hehe... well, my dear friends," Pinkie said, taking the microphone again. "We are indeed trapped, so..." paused, looking at everyone with a smile. The guests waited nervously, wondering what she would do next.
Cleared her throat. "... EVERYONE GET OUT AS YOU CAN!" shouted, jumping up the stage, beginning to run towards the exit.
The guests began to do as Pinkie said, hastily looking for the exit, either through the back or the front.
"What?!" Twilight exclaimed, surprised. "The law says..."
"For fuck's sake, Sparkle!" said Rainbow, grabbing her by the waist to carry her by the shoulder.
"Dash!"
"Come on, Fluttershy" said Sunset, grabbing the pink-haired girl by the wrist to hurry her along.
The officers tried to stop them, but before the three unknown men could escape, the officers managed to get them out.
Outside, the guests had scattered into the parking lot or were standing along the edges of the street, where several cars remained parked.
Rarity stood by the curb, looking around, trying to think of a way to escape. She had arrived by Uber and now had no idea how to get out without anyone noticing her. Her thoughts were intertwined with a recurring worry: “Mom’s going to kill me,” muttered, bringing a hand to her forehead.
At that moment, Sunset appeared in front of her on her motorcycle, stopping with a quick, precise movement.
“Get on if you want to live!” exclaimed, giving her a determined look.
Rarity looked at her incredulously. “Really…?”
“Belle, just get on before I change my mind!” Sunset insisted, turning her fake wings around to offer her a spot behind her. Rarity finally climbed onto the motorcycle. Sunset waited for him to settle in before steadily accelerating.
Rarity barely had time to protest, "You're not going to go very... aaaaah!" Her comment was drowned out by a small cry as the speed of the bike carried them at top speed down the street.
Up ahead, Twilight was driving a car with an expression of pure alarm.
"We escaped the law! We escaped the law! WE ESCAPED THE LAW!" repeated in a frantic voice, while maintaining a reasonable but clearly tense speed.
"We get it, calm down!" Bon Bon replied from the backseat.
"Yeah, it could have been worse..." Sunburst began to say, carefully searching for the right words.
"What do you mean?!?" Twilight exclaimed, turning slightly to look at him in panic.
"That maybe... you're driving with the cops following us," Fluttershy pointed out softly from the passenger seat. "Try to calm down."
"The dirt on Rainbow's car isn't helping to calm me down!" the blue-haired girl exclaimed, frowning as she looked at the windshield, both of them covered in dust.
"It's not even my car!" continued, inhaling and exhaling with exaggeration. "I got so nervous that I tripped, dropped my keys, and Dash said to grab his."
"Now that's crazy," Starlight commented from behind.
Sunburst pointed at the radio. "Maybe some music will calm you down," suggested, with Bon Bon nodding in agreement.
Fluttershy nodded and turned on the radio. However, the volume was so loud that everyone in the car jumped, and Twilight slammed on the brakes, causing everyone to lurch forward.
"Jeez, Dash, what the heck are you listening to?!" exclaimed, holding a hand to her forehead as she tried to catch her breath.
Sunburst laughed, adjusting his glasses. "Better not."
"Calm down, Twilight. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out," Fluttershy said in a calm tone, trying to guide her as she changed the frequency on the radio.
"You're the one who should be like this, Fluttershy. How do you know if Zephyr made it out?"
"Uh... I don't know," Fluttershy replied with a nervous laugh, feeling a little guilty. Being the oldest, she should have thought of her brother first. "I'll call him... when you calm down."
It had all happened so fast that, as they left the pub, the girls had rushed to get whoever was closest into the vehicle, not even paying attention to who was getting in with whom.
Twilight inhaled and exhaled deeply. "Okay... calm down," said, more relaxed. She adjusted her hands on the wheel and resumed driving, as the lights of the city illuminated the road in front of them.
Rainbow was speeding along in her friend's spotless car, a sideways grin on her face as the wind blew her hair.
"Now that was a mess," she laughed, her eyes shining with adrenaline as she recalled the chaos with the cops.
"A party to remember," Lyra added from the backseat, laughing as well as she looked out the window.
The multicolored girl leaned over to the dashboard and noticed the stickers with the glasses girl's rules stuck here and there. "What the hell, Twilight? 'No eating'? 'No drinking'? How boring," said with a laugh as she pointed at the labels.
"Only Twilight would be capable of something like that," Flash chimed in from the passenger seat, wincing as he adjusted his guitar, which he had managed to pull out thanks to the disturbance.
Rainbow took a quick glance at her own fresh wounds in the rearview mirror and frowned. "Yeah... ouch," muttered, lightly touching the cut on her eyebrow before focusing back on the road.
"You two should go get healed before it gets worse," Soarin commented from behind, concerned as he observed Rainbow and Flash's condition. He then looked over to his side, where Gilda, still a little dizzy from the blows, was trying to stand firm as Lyra helped her up.
The athlete simply shrugged, accelerating a little more. "Bah, I've had worse. Besides, it's not every day you get away from the law!"
"By the way, Flash, thanks for the beating on the other guy."
"You're welcome, though it was difficult," replied, touching his face, leaving a little blood on his hand.
Rainbow turned her attention back to the wheel, enjoying the roar of the engine as she passed through the lonely streets. "Twilight should definitely let me have this car more often. With a little style, Dash, it would be a lot less... boring."
"If you don't destroy it first," Soarin muttered, though he couldn't help but smile.
"Speak for yourselves. I just want to get there before my guitar becomes my pillow," Flash said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
Lyra laughed and looked at Rainbow. "Do you think Twilight will kill us if we scratch her precious car?"
"Nah, we won't scratch it. But... I might forget to fill up the tank."
Almost everyone laughed, even Flash, despite his pain. For a moment, the chaos of the night was left behind and they allowed themselves to enjoy the camaraderie they shared.
Elsewhere, near Fluttershy's house, Applejack stopped her truck as she reached a small intersection, lit only by scattered streetlights.
"Third stop," the farm girl said, looking back at Zephyr.
"Thanks for not forgetting me," Fluttershy's brother said, smiling as he got out of the vehicle.
"We never forget a friend," Pinkie replied with her characteristic energy.
Zephyr smiled as he closed the vehicle door with a slight creak.
"Tell Fluttershy to text me when she gets there," the party girl requested as she watched Zephyr begin to drive away. He nodded without saying a word.
"Wow, the time... Almost four," Applejack commented, looking at the time on the radio as she raised her eyebrows at the passage of time at the party. Then, she turned to her relative. "You better stay at the farm."
"Great, that way I can help you out with an excuse to Granny Smith for your injuries," Pinkie replied, with a smile.
"Oh, Granny," the blonde sighed, lowering her head a little. She stuck her head out the window, looking back. "Okay, gang, you're the last ones."
Flash's friends nodded, relieved to be reunited with the farm girl as everyone dispersed. With a gentle rev, Applejack put the truck in gear for the final stop of the night.
Finally, Sunset arrived in front of Rarity's house. The dim light from the streetlights illuminated her figure as she slowly braked.
"There, I told you it wasn't a big deal," said, turning off the engine.
"Thanks, Sunset Shimmer, but next time, consider bringing a car," Rarity said, a little tense from the vibration of the bike she still felt in her legs.
Sunset crossed her arms with a smile. "Sunburst's car was out of gas, so there was no other option."
"Fine, fine, fine," the seamstress said, gesturing with her hands as if trying to calm her down. "Thanks once again for the ride. I owe you one."
"You're welcome," sreplied with a knowing smile, ready to leave.
Before she pulled away, Rarity stopped her. "By the way, I wanted to thank you again for helping me with my studies."
"Okay, I needed that," replied, nodding as she began to prepare to leave. "We'll see if it's successful when the grades come in. But I'm sure you'll do fine."
The seamstress nodded. "Goodbye," said, smiling, and walked over to the door, gently opening it and entering her house, closing the door behind her. At the same time, Sunset started the bike, ready to head back home.
Each group went their own way, leaving their companions to head back to their homes. The lights of the city slowly dimmed, as if the city itself was beginning to rest, as tiredness finally won the battle.
Author's Note
The truth is I wanted to bring the translation before but my family and I went through a difficult time that caught us out of the blue, we are still affected but we are trying to get ahead.
I took the opportunity to use the costumes as a way to refer to the characters, albeit briefly, in case anyone got confused.
I want to mention that the script between scenes that I used in this chapter was to separate a bit where the girls were and the point of view that changed, despite being in the same place. I did it instead of the separation that I normally use, since, when they are in college, the distance between the characters is usually much greater compared to a place like the pub. I don't know if I'll use it again in future chapters.
Since Christmas and New Year's are almost here, I'll take December off to enjoy time with my family. I think that, in part, it's good that I didn't upload those chapters with the Christmas season. There will be chapters with more or less that theme. I won't reveal much, but what happens in between and what follows was the main axis when the idea occurred to me, and from that same thing more ideas arose until I decided to do the fanfic.
As I mentioned, I'll take December off, but at some point in January or February I'll be back. That doesn't mean I'll stop moving forward in the chapters; besides, there's not long left for the revelations. However, I must "calculate" some details so that everything fits together.
I say greetings in advance for the holidays. We'll see you when I return! Bye. 🎄✨

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                     Side A and Side B                     
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Side A and Side B
It was morning, a girl with purple hair was sleeping peacefully.
Sweetie Belle entered the room, approached the bed, moved the mask that her sister was sleeping with and began to shake her gently to wake her up "Rarity wake up, we're going to be late"
Rarity just grumbled.
"Come on, sister," she insisted once more. The youngest trembled again, she stopped when she noticed that her sister opened her eyes, but not completely.
"What happen dear?" Rarity asked sleepily.
"Remember we have class today" said Sweetie Belle.
Rarity blinked before processing the words and then widened her eyes, getting out of bed. "What? It can't be, we're going to be late!" she said, heading to the bathroom.
"That's what I just said," she commented before leaving the room.
Downstairs his parents were putting cups on the table to start breakfast. They both saw her youngest daughter appear in the dining room.
"Has Sleeping Beauty woken up yet?" Hondo asked as he took a sip of her coffee.
“Yes, she immediately went into the bathroom,” the minor said as she sat down.
Her parents looked at each other and laughed. A few minutes later they heard Rarity coming down the stairs.
"Here I am" Rarity said a little embarrassed, sitting in her place.
"You forgot to set the alarm, didn't you?" Cookie spoke.
"Yes, I'm sorry mother."
"Okay, daughter, but let it be the last time," her mother said sympathetically, "just this once I'll let them be a little late."
"But it was Rarity who fell asleep." younger one complained.
"Honey, you fell asleep too and I had to go wake you up," her father said.
"Uh...well I..." Sweetie was going to speak, but she grabbed her glass of milk and started drinking, avoiding the topic.
Rarity looked at her sister, nudged her gently, and smiled. "I promise it won't happen again."
Once the conversation was over, they prepared to continue with breakfast.
Once the family finished breakfast, the sisters went to get their things. They walked towards the door.
"Bye, mom, bye, dad," Sweetie said goodbye.
"Goodbye and good luck with her job," Rarity said goodbye to go with her sister to Institute.
While at the University of Canterlot, the students were in their respective classes. Currently, all six were in sports playing against men.
"And Gooaaalll" Pinkie Pie exclaimed happily.
"It's said points," Rainbow Dash said as she picked up a ball and then threw it.
"In soccer you say goal," said Sunset Shimmer and then dodged a ball that almost hit her.
"This is a dodgeball" Applejack said as he tossed a ball, "by the way, how many do we have left?"
"Well, they eliminated Trixie" she started counting Sunset on her fingers "they eliminated Twilight almost at the beginning" she continued counting "Fluttershy is running away out there and-" she was interrupted.
"What, like over there?" Rainbow Dash asked looking at Sunset. The yellow/reddish haired girl pointed her finger at her. Rainbow continued to look at her and saw Fluttershy running around avoiding any ball, at which point she screamed and ducked, but in doing so she eliminated Lyra. "She would normally be behind me," thought, sighed and concentrated on the game.
"Another less," Pinkie Pie said. Another scream was heard followed by the sound of the whistle "and Fluttershy too" with a smile
Sunset Shimmer, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash turned to Pinkie Pie with a "Seriously Pinkie" look.
"Come on guys, we can still win," Caramel said, cheering the others on.
"Ugh, I'm barely there," Flash said as he rested his hands on his thighs.
"Where were those Flash muscles?" Timber asked next to her.
"Okay, but-" Flash replied.
"No buts. As Rainbow would say...we're going to kick their asses," Caramel said confidently.
"Last minutes guys" the teacher shouted as he shoved the whistle into his mouth.
Both boys and girls looked at each other defiantly waiting for it to ring.
*whistle sound*
Rarity and Sweetie Belle arrive at the main admission building. They knocked on the door and then entered.
"Good morning, are you Chancellor Celestia?" Rarity asked.
"Yes, that's me," Celestia responded, looking away from the computer, "please sit down. This must be Sweetie and Rarity Belle?"
"Yeah"
"Yes, and we're sorry for the delay," Rarity apologized.
they both sat down
"Just because you're new, you can't afford to be late, but just this once I'll let it happen.
"It won't happen again," Rarity said, lowering her head slightly. "My first day and I already have my first disciplinary sanction," thought. raised her head again
"Miss Belle, I was looking at your notes..." Celestia began to speak, with a serious expression. "Despite being average, you still do what is necessary to continue studying... I am sure that now that is present she will manage to upload the notes" she finished speaking, changing her serious expression to a smile.
Rarity sighed in relief. She knew well that the career he chose was a bit difficult, but thanks to his mother he was able to pass some courses when he studied online. Although her mother helped her understand some things better, she will not always be there for her and is too old to have to help her with her studies. She will have to fend for herself, now her mother will be there to give her advice.
"As for you," Celestia said, referring to Sweetie Belle this time. "Principal Luna already spoke with a teacher to take her to side A"
"Excuse me, I don't want to interrupt, but shouldn't I talk to Principal Luna?" Rarity asked.
"Let me explain. My sister Luna is in charge of side A, which corresponds to the lower level, that is, the school, she is a little busy right now. My work is on side B, which corresponds to the upper level, that is say, the university." Celestia explained. "Any doubt can come to me, since sometimes also takes care of some things at the bottom."
"Thank you, I think I understood better"
"You're welcome. The teacher should be arriving by now" Celestia continued.
At that moment someone is heard knocking on the door.
"Go ahead," Celestia said.
"Excuse me, Chancellor Celestia, I'm here" A raspberry haired woman said.
"Gloriosa, right on time. This is Sweetie Belle, a new student or rather a former student, according to the record."
Gloriosa looked at Sweetie Belle. "I introduced myself, I'm Gloriosa Daisy and I will be in charge of guiding you either in your schedule or if you get lost where each place is, but apparently you have already studied here before so you should know the classrooms"
The minor got up from his seat. "It's a pleasure. Yes, I studied here and so did my sister," said, pointing to his sister.
Gloriosa looked at the girl, the wavy hair noticed her gaze and got up from her seat.
"Where are my manners? My name is Rarity Belle," she introduced herself.
"The pleasure is mine Miss Rarity, my name is Gloriosa Daisy" Greeting Gloriosa
After introducing herself, Gloriosa returned her attention to Sweetie Belle. "Now that we've been introduced, how about I take you to your classroom?" suggested.
"Yes" she got up from the seat and when she was going to walk she stopped. "but first" she turned to her sister and hugged her. "Have a good day on your first day."
Rarity smiled and hugged him back. "You too, Sweetie Belle."
Then he let go of his older sister and walked out the door with the teacher.
"Miss Belle, before you go I want to tell you a few things about Sweetie Belle's rules."
Rarity agreed and sat back down.
Locker Room
The girls changed after sports class even though they have recess, they were delayed further.
"I knew we would make it," Rainbow said, proud of her victory.
"Honestly, I didn't think we'd make it, but we did," Bon Bon said, high-fiving Rainbow.
"I would have liked to help," Lyra said.
"Um... I'm sorry" apologized Fluttershy, who had approached the couple.
"Don't worry Fluttershy, I'll be more attentive next time," Lyra said reassuring the pinkette.
"We were a little distracted too," Bon Bon said.
Fluttershy seemed less guilty
Before Rainbow could speak to encourage Fluttershy, the pair interrupted her.
"See you later" said Bon Bon.
"See you"
"Bye" Rainbow said goodbye to the couple. "Flut-" blinking as she realized that the pinkette was already where she had her things to change. "Next time..." she said to herself.
She watched as the pair said goodbye to the few girls left in the locker room and headed out the door.
Outside the locker room Applejack was waiting with Pinkie Pie for the others.
"Are they leaving yet?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Yes," Lyra answered.
"Do you know if Rainbow and the others are ready yet?" Applejack asked.
"Rainbow was still in her sports clothes, Fluttershy is close, as is Sunset, but Twilight was already ready so she will be out soon" Bon Bon responded this time
"OK thank you"
Bon Bon took his partner's hand. "Bye AJ, bye Pinkie, see you soon"
"See you later girls"
Lyra and Bon Bon left holding hands, Applejack looked askance at that little scene. Then he looked at his hand. "When was the las-"
"Is something wrong Applejack? Did you hurt your hand?" Twilight asked coming out of locker room
"No, calm down, I'm fine... I was looking at my hand, I thought I saw a stain"
Okay... Twilight said with a raised eyebrow. "Applejack, you really are a bad liar," thought.
"With that in mind, you can leave," the chancellor finished explaining. She then saw the clock in her office. "Right now some students must be on break and after that you can go to your second period of classes, Miss Belle"
"Thank you Chancellor Celestia," Rarity said, standing up.
Locker Room
"Is there much left, girls?" Twilight asked. "Some students are already having their break and among them we are supposed to be Sunset too."
"Sorry, but Rainbow...let's just say she brought other clothes that aren't hers" Sunset explained on the other side of the door.
"What are you talking about?" Twilight asked
"I think it was a mix-up," said Rainbow.
"What if we go ahead?" Applejack asked Pinkie and Twilight.
"I don't like being late to class," said the girl with the glasses.
"That's fine with me," Pinkie said.
"We're going to go ahead," Twilight said a the three girls
"Okay, we'll catch up with them after" Rainbow said on the other side.
Pinkie Pie, Twilight and Applejack began to walk down the hallway until they came out to the front yard. Pinkie stopped near a vending machine, making the other two stop too
"Pinkie we'll be late" said twilight
"Come on twi, I just have to put the coin in and that's it"
"Good, but fast"
Applejack looked around her, a few steps ahead was the main building. Out of simple curiosity, she began to walk when she noticed that someone opened the door and it was not Chancellor Celestia.
She saw a girl with violet wavy hair coming out. The girl turned around to close the door. Something about her appearance seemed familiar so she began to walk further, almost being in front of the main building.
But before seeing who it was, he turned his head to see how his friends . She watched as Pinkie reached her arm into the machine to remove a seemingly stuck candy. Twilight was at his side, one arm crossed and the other placing the palm of her hand on his forehead.
Applejack laughed a little at the scene. "She should be used to the things my cousin does. How long do we have? Almost three years of friendship."
She looked forward again. The wavy-haired girl turned and met the blonde's gaze. They both opened their eyes wider when they saw each other.
Applejack couldn't believe who was in front of her. Despite the years he could still recognize her well, the girl was nothing more than Rarity Belle. The girl for whom his heart once beat strongly.
Author's Note
If you are wondering what clothes the girls wear on their daily days, I chose the outfit they wear in the specials (except Applejack and Rarity) I imagine Applejack more like how she is drawn in fanart. Red plaid blouse, a black t-shirt underneath (whether buttoned or not), some jeans and shoes (it can be her classic boots or sometimes they wear it with converse). I like how Rarity is drawn with her white blouse that appears to be rolled up (but that's actually the design of the sleeves), her purple or black skirt, and shoes. I will say when the girls are wearing other clothes
And yes, I put Pinkie Pie as AJ's cousin since I like the concept of them being possible relatives
-I just realized that the "scene" when the whistle blows is very similar to chapter 2 of "the perfect guy does not exist" in my defense, I wrote this fic first and I didn't realize the similarity until now
I have a problem with the translation. In my country, those who run the university are called rector, but I looked up what they are called in the US and I came up with 3 alternatives and I don't know which one is correct: Chancellor, university president and headmistress (I'm not sure about the last one). Can you tell me in the comments which one is correct?
I wanted to make a fusion between school and university. I based it on the school I studied where they separated basic and middle school (or in their countries primary and secondary), where two parts were connected, the main entrance and a part in the center depending on whether the gate had a lock or not. Each side had its own cafeteria. Then I will show a reference image.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                         Reunions                          
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Reunions
On side A, Gloriosa was explaining Sweetie Belle where some places are like the library, cafeteria and other rooms, etc. For the pink/purple haired girl it wasn't much difficulty since she was remembering, but some things were new.
They headed to a living room. Gloriosa knocked on the door and a few seconds later a woman with moderate cherry hair and skin of the same color, but paler, opened the door.
“Teacher Cheerilee, I bring you the new student.”
“Perfect, thank you, Professor Gloriosa,” said Cheerilee, letting the new student pass.
“You're welcome... Goodbye Sweetie Belle, have a good day,” said Gloriosa.
“Goodbye and thank you,” Sweetie Belle said and then she entered.
“Okay, students, pay attention,” ordered Professor Cheilee. “Today a new student is joining,” she looked at the pink/purple haired girl. “Please come to the center and introduce yourself,” the teacher asked.
The minor listened to him. “Good morning my… my name is Sweetie Belle” she introduced herself with a little nervousness.
In the back row, two girls who were not paying attention were surprised to hear that name.
“Wait, did he say Sweetie Belle?” a red-haired girl murmured to her seatmate. They both looked ahead and saw the girl standing there. "I can not believe it! It's her, Scootaloo."
“You can sit down now, Miss Belle.”
“Thank you,” said Sweetie Belle, heading to a seat in the back row.
“Sweetie belle!?” exclaimed a girl with short magenta hair.
“Scootaloo, Apple Bloom? you are!" the pink/purple haired girl said with excitement.
"girls you will have time to talk at recess,” the teacher said, drawing attention.
“Sorry, I'm sitting down,” said Sweetie Belle then sat down.“I wonder how Rarity is?”  thought.
Side B / Outside the Locker Room  
The three girls were ready. Sunset Shimmer locked the door and they started walking.
“You see girls, I told you I would fix it” Rainbow said with a half smile.
“Yes, although… uhg. Remember not to unzip your jacket” Sunset said.
“Don't worry, everyone will think I'm wearing a short shirt,” the girl multicolored hair said confidently.
“How come you confused your shirt with Scootaloo's?” the yellow/reddish haired girl asked.
"I think I know how it happened," Rainbow began to explain. “Yesterday Scoot asked me for help with something at school and I was just packing my suitcase for today. When I entered his room I had my shirt in my hand and I left it on his bed. After that I must have taken one of his shirts, mistaking it for mine."
“Next time confirm that you have everything in your bag” Sunset suggested.
“This way you avoid getting confused again,” said Fluttershy, continuing with Sunset's suggestion.
Rainbow Dash thought this might be an opportunity. She approached the pink haired girl and spoke. “If you are right, I should consider it.” Fluttershy just nodded. Silence again
"What was that?" Sunset asked the light blue skinned girl.
“Nothing,” answered the girl multicolored hair. “I know talking about my clothes wasn't a good topic of conversation, but at least I tried,” thought.
Sunset looked a little thoughtful at the two. “This isn't the first time I've seen this between Fluttershy and Dash,” she thought. “This isn't even recent. I thought they had fixed things during the holidays, but I see that they haven't.”
She put that topic aside for the moment and they continued walking to the front yard. They looked around for the other three girls until they saw the girl with glasses and the pink-haired girl, next to a vending machine.
“Finally, I took it out” said the party girl simply, seeing the candy in her hand.
“You could have gotten stuck,” Twilight said with a little worry.
“Now what happened?” sunset asked
Twilight pointed to the vending machine and Pinkie Pie. The three of them had an idea of what could have happened.
“Where is AJ?” Fluttershy asked.
“was here a moment ago,” Twilight said, confused when she didn't see her friend.
They all looked around her. Pinkie Pie saw her in the background near the administration building. “Look, there it is,” said the party girl, pointing her finger at her. The rest looked in that direction and saw Applejack standing without moving.
“Why is standing there?” Rarinbow wondered.
“What if we go see?” Sunset suggested. The girls began to walk in the direction of the blonde.
Applejack still couldn't believe who was in front of her, but she wasn't the only one surprised. Rarity couldn't believe it either. They were both in a state of shock. So much so that the farmer girl didn't it when her girlfriend spoke to her.
"Hey what's wrong?" Rainbow asked, arriving with the others. Some didn't know why Applejack was like this, while others like Fluttershy and Sunset, when they reached the top, looked in the direction where the farm girl was staring. Opening your eyes more.
Pinkie looked at her cousin and then at Fluttershy and Sunset with curiosity so she followed her gaze. She saw a girl in front of her. “Rarity…?” said surprised
Twilight and Rainbow, upon hearing that name, turned their heads and met Rarity's gaze. Rainbow's expression changed to one of anger. The girls now understood why Applejack was like this. They never expected to meet Rarity Belle, an old friend or rather an ex-friend.
Different emotions invaded the girls. Anger, disappointment and sadness.
On the dressmaker's part it was worse, many memories invaded her mind accompanied by regret. “This can't be happening, they're all here” thought.
No one seemed to break the silence until the chanciller Celestia appeared.
“That's good, I hoped you hadn't left yet,” said chancellor, approaching Rarity. Making her come out of her trance like the others, but avoiding looking at the violet-haired girl. “I forgot to give you this… it's your class schedule.” I gave the paper to the dressmaker and she just noticed the group of her friends. “Hello girls, can I offer you anything?” asked.
“Nothing, just… we were passing by,” Applejack finally spoke, avoiding the violet-haired girl's gaze.
“Taking advantage of the fact that they are here. I present to you a new student. She is Rarity Belle, she transferred to finish her last year here,” the chanciller presented.
Rainbow Dash tensed up a little when she heard that.
“How… good it is… to see you again… Rarity” Pinkie tried to sound natural.
“Do you already know each other?” She asked with a surprised expression.
“Unfortunately,” Rainbow murmured resentfully. Rarity could hear and lowered her head.
“What did you say Rainbow Dash?” Celestia asked.
“What…”
“What he meant…” Fluttershy tried to say.
"Yes, we know her, but due to some circumstances... we didn't know about her for a long time," Twilight explained.
“Then could you guide her and take her to her second class?”
"What!?" the group of friends exclaimed in unison
The chanciller was surprised by the response "Somethi-"
The dressmaker interrupted what the chanciller was going to say. “I was thinking that I could go on my own and get to know the place better,” said Rarity. The group of friends did not question what the dressmaker said.
“But Rarity you barely know this side of the university.”
“…” the violet-haired girl didn't know what to say.
“Chanciller Celestia, I brought you the papers that she asked for,” a professor interrupted.
The girls took advantage of the teacher's arrival to leave there.
Rarity noticed her escape. I look at the girls with sadness. “How small the world is, I never imagined I would meet them again.”
"Thank you." She said receiving the papers, vacating herself and looking ahead. "As said... Where did the others go?" Celestia asked, observing that the group of friends were no longer there.
“I think her classes were about to start,” Rarity said, thinking it was the logical option.
The Mane Six walked until they reached an area, near the classrooms.
“We have to talk about what just happened, I feel like I'm going to explode” Rainbow said with a frown.
“I think the same, I'm as surprised as you,” said Sunset.
“Girls, in a few minutes my class is going to start along with Sunset and in half an hour you have your respective classes,” Twilight said.
“We have the second break to talk,” Fluttershy proposed.
“Then we'll see them,” said Sunset, then she approached Rainbow and took some keys out of her pocket. “I don't know if this is a good time, can you pass it on to Professor Spitfire?”asked, feeling the tension in the air.
Rainbow received the keys without saying anything. Then Sunset Shimmer left with Twilight to her next class.
The four of them watched them leave. Rainbow turned around looking at the farmer, “hey Apple-“ she was going to ask her girlfriend something.
“I need to get some air,” Applejack said abruptly, walking towards the door.
“mmm…” Rainbow expressed angrily. “Just his presence is enough to cause problems” said as she watched Applejack walk toward the yard. “I'm going to give the keys to Professor Spitfire,” she said, leaving the two pink-haired girls behind.
Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy looked at each other a little sad.
Rarity was arriving at her class with another teacher who helped her locate her corresponding room. After knocking on the door and her guide explaining that she is a new student, she let her in.
After introducing herself to the others, she opened her eyes wider to see two acquaintances. “This has to be a joke,” Rarity thought. Seeing Sunset Shimmer and Twilight sitting in their respective places, they were as surprised as she was. “If I keep meeting the others...what a shitty day I'm going to have,” thought, looking down, until she thought of something else more important. "Although now I can apologize for what happened three years ago, but how they acted recently will be difficult."
Rarity sat in an empty seat. Listening to the teacher's explanation. From time to time throughout class Rarity would glance at the two girls or they would also glance.
Side A / School  
After class they rang the bell for the students to leave for their break. The crusaders were already sitting on the stairs.
“Now, tell us when you came back” I speak Scootaloo
“Where to start” Sweetie Belle said putting a finger on her chin. “We moved two weeks ago, it took us a little longer than expected to move”
“That explains why you just came in,” Apple Bloom deduced.
“A part,” then Sweetie lowered her head. “Sorry for losing contact with you a year ago.”
“Don't worry, at least we were in contact for a year and a half in,” said the redhead.
Sweetie Belle raised her head at the comment. “Although... I still wouldn't tell them that I was moving and that I would be at this school,” she said with a smile.
"Because?" Scootaloo and Apple Bloom asked in unison.
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” she explained.
“And boy did you surprise us,” said Apple Bloom.
“Yes… and I doubt you went to another school,” commented the magenta-haired girl.
“That's true, that another school in Canterlot has a division and union of college and university” continued the redhead.
“Good point, but my parents considered, if Rarity hadn't started studying online,” Sweetie Belle commented.
"I see"
“Is Rarity here too?” Scootaloo asked.
"Girls, I already told you that Rari-"
“We know, calm down Sweetie Belle.” Apple Bloom tried to reassure her friend.
“It bothered us at first, but I think we understood it... in our own way. "She was asking more about our sisters," Scootaloo explained.
“But what happened in the past stayed in the past, didn't it?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“It's our point of view, we don't know what others think” Apple Bloom said, she stood up and looked at the two girls still sitting. “The important thing is that the crusaders are finally reunited,” then she put a hand forward. The two also stood up and joined hands.
Side B / University
After leaving their respective classes, the girls gathered in the music room. As soon as she entered, Rainbow Dash began to retaliate, pacing back and forth.
"What the fuck is she doing here?!" she started to speak rainbow angrily
“Studying fools”
“Pinkie, that's obvious,” said Sunset.
“just trying to calm things down.”
“This isn't the time,” Twilight said.
“Are you done?” Rainbow said, her hands on her waist. The three just nodded. the girl multicolored hair paced back and forth again. “Of the universities in Canterlot, it had to be right here?!”
“It's strange that she just started classes now,” Twilight said curiously.
“It wouldn't make any difference if she came in at the beginning of the month,” said Sunset.
“That's true,” said Fluttershy.
Rainbow stopped and looked at the blonde. “And why aren't you saying anything?”
“What would I have to say?” Applejack asked with a frown.
"I don't know. Maybe... because my damn ex-girlfriend is at the same university as me,” said Rainbow, imitating the farmer in a mocking way.
“Hey… I'm still processing seeing it again! and you don't have to imitate me like that” the girl farmer complained.
“You don't have to say it in a rude way either,” said the party girl.
“You forget that because of her I almost got expelled from school” exclaimed the girl multicolored hair
“I know,” Pinkie said, crestfallen.
“I still remember it,” Twilight commented. “I thought we were friends,” she said disappointed.
“We all thought that,” said Sunset, looking at her friends.
“Yes…” Fluttershy said with her head down, “I couldn't believe it when we found out.”
Rainbow looked at the four nodding and then fixed her gaze on the blonde. “Look, you have these options for how you should feel: disappointed, angry or frustrated. Pick one, my love,” she said angrily.
“You can stop doing that,” the girl farmer replied with a frown.
“Girl, let's try to calm down,” Sunset intervened.
Rainbow stopped looking at her girlfriend and looked at the others. “Now that she's here, maybe she has something planned.”
“Dash... do you think she is back to pay off debts?” Pinkie asked.
"Maybe"
“I think you're exaggerating,” Pinkie said.
"Pinkie, why do you defend her?" Rainbow exclaimed angrily.
“I'm not defending her, I'm just saying you're going too far in what you're saying. I don't think this is like the series I watch... this reminded me of a series I saw” said Pinkie, approaching Rainbow, looking at the blank wall and moving her hand imagining a scene.
"Oh no," said one of the girls and they shook their heads.
Pinkie began to explain with a serious tone delving into the story. “I don't remember the name, but it was about a billionaire girl who had in the palm of her hand the boy that anyone wanted to have, time passed and the boy fell in love with the protagonist, the bad girl was ruined. and alone. The protagonist felt compassion for her... giving her a second chance and they became friends with her. "The antagonist redeemed herself and accepted the protagonists' relationship," she explained, stopping looking at the wall and looking at Rainbow, who still had a disgusted face. The party girl smiled and took a step back.
"AND...?" Rainbow asked, upset.
Pinkie Pie changed her expression to a slightly frustrated one. "In the second season he returns for revenge, leaving his character development in the trash as if it never happened."
"Ha! You see-" Rainbow was going to comment but the party girl interrupted her.
“But even I know that this is real life… Rarity is not a millionaire and she had no subjects to give orders to,” finished explaining.
“Exactly, we were her friends,” Sunset said.
"But she was manipulative," Twilight said. “I don't like the comparison between reality and the series that Pinkie watches… but coming back for revenge? That’s a lot,” she said, a little incredulous.
Pinkie didn't say anything and just looked at her friends with a sad expression. “At that time I believed it too, but I came to understand… they have the wrong idea of what Rarity is like,” thought. She changed her expression to a neutral one to hide how she really felt.
"I don't think there's anyone who will hold a grudge for years to get revenge in the future," Fluttershy said.
Rainbow took a deep breath to calm herself. "She may be exaggerating a little, but I'll be watching her if she wants to do something."
The atmosphere seems to calm down a bit.
"So what do we do now that we know she's going to be here for a year?" Applejack asked.
“We'll see about it later,” Sunset said.
"We might share a class with her," Fluttershy said.
Sunset looked at Twilight. They both thought about the same thing. Things are too tense to mention that they share a class with Rarity.
“I doubt it's sport,” said the girl with multicolored hair, with a half smile.
Twilight deduces “no advanced calculations”
“Physics?” commented the blonde.
"Now that we're okay, how about we play a little?" suggested sunset.
(Short note: when I play a song, imagine that another of the mane six sings the part of Rarity)
The Mane Six took their places.
“Shake Your Tail?” Applejack suggested, as she took the bass from him.
“I don't know if it comes to the occasion, but it will lift our spirits more,” said Sunset.
“Although it could also be awesome as I wanna be” said Rainbow as she put on the guitar (the guitar strap). she looked at the others. “You know I'm joking, let's hit it with Shake Your Tail (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89fDMvKkzUA). 1 2 3”
While they were playing Applejack noticed that there was something different about Rainbow Dash's appearance, she waited until they finished the song to ask.
“Rainbow, what are you wearing?” Applejack asked.
The others look at rainbow in more detail
“Or rather, what you are not using” Pinkie said with a half smile.
“Wait dash... are you only in your bra? twilight asked
Rainbow Dah laughed “Yeah... I had to tell the boys that I was wearing a short shirt. Can you imagine if I told you that I forgot to bring my change of t-shirt and I didn't have anything underneath?
“HAHAHA, I would have liked to see her face if you told them the truth,” said the party girl, laughing.
“HAHAHA I know” the girl with multicolored hair continued laughing.
“not funny Dash,” Applejack said with a serious look. “You could have said that you didn't have another shirt and one of us lent you another one.”
“Let's see spoilsport,” Rainbow said, pulling her guitar back to cross her arms. “Who would bring two shirts to change into in case something happens to the first one?” I ask sarcastically. “The only one I can think of would be Twilight but I doubt that-”
“The truth is, I do bring another one,” Twilight confessed, with a little shame.
"Really..." said in disbelief
“I'm not surprised,” said Sunset.
“I can lend it to you and you can give it back to me tomorrow,” Twilight suggested.
“There you had the solution,” said Applejack, still with her serious expression.
“I understand blonde… thank you Twilight” she said the first thing with annoyance and her tone of voice changed when he thanked her. she took off his guitar and started unzipping his jacket.
"What are you doing!?" Twilight exclaimed, a little alarmed by what the athlete was about to do.
“Well, taking off my jacket to put on my shirt,” Rainbow responded as if it were the most obvious thing.
“I don't have it here.”
“ohhh…” was the only thing he said and he started to pull up the zipper, he turned his head looking at the rest of the men.
Pinkie Pie was trying to suppress her urge to laugh, Applejack rolled her eyes and shook her head, Fluttershy covered her eyes with the tambourine, Sunset Shimmer seemed to give the same thing, and Twilight was blushing a little at the situation.
After that situation Rainbow Dash went with Twilight to pass her the shirt and each one went to their respective class, as the hours flew by so did the day.
It was is sundown, the girls were at the entrance of the institute saying goodbye.  
Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Apple Bloom headed to the parking lot, got into the red van heading to Sweet Apple Acres.
The other four girls walked away. Sometimes they leave in vehicles, but this time they decided to walk.
“I still can't believe that bitch is back,” said Rainbow.
“Okay Rainbow, first the vocabulary, your sister is here and second we can't do anything” said Twilight
“She's not going to listen to me, she's skating.”
The four of them saw Scootaloo skating a few steps ahead, just enough distance to not lose sight of her.
"They see him"
“Maybe avoid saying rude things, if Spike were here I would immediately cover his ears with my hands” said Twilight.
"How's Spike?" Fluttershy asked.
“Is better that you no longer have a fever and in a few days you will be able to go to school.”
“excellent,” said Sunset.
“Girls, don't deviate from the topic,” commented the girl with multicolored hair
“What topic?” twilight asked
“That bitc…” she was going to say it again until she heard Twilight cough. Rainbow rolled her eyes. “from her… I just hope that I don't get a shared class”
“It was our turn,” confessed Sunset.
"Which?"
“Mathematics” Twilight commented
“Math, but did that happen to you before we talked?” Fluttershy asked.
“Yes, but we thought it wasn't the time to talk about that, it was enough to know that we are going to study with her,” said Sunset understandingly.
“Well that's true,” Rainbow commented. “What are the chances that we will have more shared classes?”
Sweetie Belle and Rarity were walking towards their house, but the silence was evident. The youngest noticed how her sister seemed lost in her thoughts and somewhat sad.
“Something tells me that she met the others,” the youngest thought. She was going to ask him how her first day was, so she decided to talk about something else. "You know, Mom and Dad could lend us the car so we don't have to walk," she suggested.
"Eh what…?" said the dressmaker, emerging from her thoughts.
“I said you could borrow Dad's car.”
“Sweetie know that they are businessmen and they should use it very frequently”
The minor thought of another option “Or…”
"Or…?"
“Maybe you could tell Mom that she'll compensate you with a car if you do well,” Sweetie Belle proposed.
“Although I would like to very much, I don't want to use that for my benefit, what I want…” Rarity stopped before saying the last words. “It doesn't matter… it's impossible now” she said the last thing almost inaudibly. Sweetie Belle overheard and got an idea of what she was referring to. "Besides, it was only my first day, the exams still have to come."
“And it will be fine for you.”
Rarity smiled at her sister's support. “I hope so, I don't want to disappoint mom.”
After that conversation the atmosphere changed to a calmer one.
The Apple family and a Pie had already arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. Now Applejack was opening the door to enter.
“You seem happy, Sugarcube,” the girl farmer said to her sister.
“If Sweetie Belle is back, isn't she great?”
Applejack's expression changed to unreadable, she didn't know what to say. Pinkie Pie realized that, she also knows what it meant to mention the youngest Belle.
“Yes, she's great.” Pinkie came forward to answer for her cousin. “How about you go up, you surely have tasks to do.”
“Ooouuhh cousin Pinkie, you had to mention the tasks” the redhead complained.
“How about I make some cupcakes?”
“mmm…” Apple Bloom thought about it. “You win, but with chocolate chips”
"Made"
Apple Bloom started to walk up the stairs. Pinkie turned her head and realized that her cousin was no longer in the living room, she wondered where she was until she heard a noise coming from the kitchen.
She headed to the kitchen and saw Applejack pulling out a vase of juice.
“Pinkie, I know you want to tell me something,” said the blonde, closing the refrigerator and looking at the party girl. “Just ask.”
At first she hesitated to ask, but she decided to do it. “Wh...what do you think about Rarity's return?
The farmer stopped the movement she had made when her cousin began to speak. She put down the glass she had taken out of her cabinet and placed it on the table. She was silent for a few seconds. “I don't know Pinkie, I don't know how to feel about her coming back.”
“How would yo-”
“Don't be like Rainbow, how I must feel” she said raising her voice, stopped when she realized how she said it. “I'm sorry, cousin, you know I don't like it when people decide for me,” Applejack apologized.
“Calm down, cousin, I understand why you get like that, you haven't seen her in almost three years.”
“Yes... it's just that the last thing I heard about her was that she had left without saying anything, or giving an explanation of what she did to her,” she said, taking the glass again and pouring herself the juice.
“I try, but... mmm even I feel bad for how I acted” Pinkie thought with her head down, but she tried to hide it as soon as her cousin looked at her again.
“After she left she left me with a…” she sighed before deciding to say what she thought. “I'm still a little upset about what she did to Dash,” I reply.
Pinkie nodded understandingly. “Do you somehow feel better?”
“I think that by letting off steam a little I feel a little better. I'm going to my room to play the guitar a little and then I'll help in the garden if they need me.”
“Don't you have a date with Dash in an hour? Pinkie asked, heading to the cabinet, sticking out a spleen.
“Yes, but she'd better leave it for another day… I'm not in the mood. I'm going to send him a message,” said the farmer, taking out her cell phone, opening the contacts looking for Dash's. While she was writing she noticed her cousin's gaze. “Pinkie, you know this isn't the first time we've canceled a date,” she said calmly.
“I know,” she said, taking the vase and pouring juice. “Although it would be ideal if you called her,” thought as she took a sip. After drinking the juice she headed to the pantry
“Ready, I sent it." She said while she put her cell phone in her pants and then looked at the pink haired girl taking some products from the pantry. “What are you doing?”
“Ah… I told your sister I would make her some cupcakes in exchange for you doing her homework.”
"Did you know…? change of mind. "I'm not going to my room, but I'll see if it's the right amount for Apple Bloom."
“Whaaat… you don't trust me.”
“Yes, but do you remember when you did more than necessary?” said the blonde, crossing her arms.
“Pff… it was just a few days in bed” Pinkie said finishing the sentence with a fake laugh. “In my defense she sneaked out.”
“That's true, but you should have done the right amount.”
“Ehhh…” The party girl didn't know how to defend herself, but an idea came to her: “What if we cook together? Let this be an Apple and Pie preparation!” she said with a smile
Applejack smiled and went to get an apron. “a family moment wouldn't be bad”
On the streets. Twilight, Sunset Shimmer, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were still walking, but they stopped at a corner.
“Hey Scoot, come here, you went too far, we have to turn!” Rainbow yelled at her sister to stop.
“Rainbow Dash, it's not necessary, my house is around the corner,” Fluttershy said. This seemed strange to Sunset and Twilight.
“Like n-” Rainbow was going to object.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?! Her sister shouted from a distance on her scooter.
“Come here!” I shout back and look at the yellow skinned girl.
“I insist, it is not necessary,” Fluttershy insisted again.
“But-” she couldn't finish as a message notification rang on her cell phone. “Wait a second” she took out her cell phone and saw who she was. Rainbow took the cell phone away from her and looked at her friend. “Is AJ, it's about our date,” explained.
“I think I should go now and you should go to your date,” said Fluttershy.
“…” Rainbow sighed defeated “Yes… if you say so.”
Fluttershy nodded with a smile. “Goodbye Rainbow Dash, goodbye to Scootaloo, goodbye girls,” she said goodbye. The girls also said goodbye. Fluttershy turned around and walked around the corner heading towards her house.
“Ready, I'm here…” said Scootaloo arriving on her scooter, “where do we have to turn?”
“It doesn't matter anymore,” said Rainbow, a little discouraged.
“Everything okay Dash?” Twilight asked.
“Yes, everything is fine,” responded, hiding his discontent.
“O…okay then, shall we go ahead so you can get to your appointment?” asked the girl with glasses
“It's not necessary, AJ canceled the departure” responded.
“Oh sorry, I guess I shouldn't have asked.”
Rainbow smiled. “Twi, calm down, it's just a way out,” said simply.
“Then let's continue” Sunset suggested a little awkwardly.
“You don't have to make life bitter,” said the girl multicolored hair, starting to walk.
The three looked at each other and walked again. Except for Scootaloo who got back on her scooter, but this time at a shorter distance.
After a few minutes in silence. Rainbow broke it she wanted to ask the girls something
“Twilight, Sunset”
“Yes Rainbow.”
"Yeah?"
“Have you noticed that Fluttershy is… I don't know… distant towards me?” I ask the girls
“Could it be that she is going through a bad time or in her days?” Twilight tried to deduce, although in a way she knew it wasn't that.
“At first I thought about it… not about her days" cleared her throat to continue. “The bad time and that bad time has dragged on for a long time,” Rainbow said, emphasizing. “We don't go out like before and the most notable thing… she no longer calls me Rainbow or simply Dash like the others do. Now it says my full name,” explained her frustration.
“Mmm… I hadn't noticed that until now, she doesn't call you names anymore and what she did just now… normally when the three of us go out, we leave her in front of her house” Twilight said thoughtfully.
“Another piece of evidence, when I offered to accompany her she refused.”
“I have also noticed these attitudes and it is not recent, it has been going on for a while,” said Sunset.
“Did you do something to upset her?” Twilight asked.
“That's the thing… I don't know exactly what I did!” Rainbow exclaimed.
“Have you tried talking to her?” Sunset asked.
Rainbow Dash stopped. Making the others do it too. “Every time I try, I stay in the middle of the conversation or I can't even find a topic to talk about or when I want to talk on messenger the same thing happens and now I don't dare to write to him”
“Is that why you tried to chat with her about your clothes? The yellow/reddish haired girl asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Of your clothes dash?” said the girl with glasses.
“I know it wasn't the best conversation she was going to have, but she had to try.”
“Well, it was an attempt…” Twilight said sympathetically. “How long have they been like this?”
“I don't even remember,” Rainbow replied, lowering her head.
“Don't worry, you'll have time to find out,” said Twilght, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder.
“Also reconcile whatever happened between you.” Sunset also put her hand on her other shoulder, giving her support.
“Thank you girls” Rainbow raised her head.
They returned with their walk and each one said goodbye when they arrived at her destination. Only Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash were left, who were already arriving at her house.
Author's Note
They thought this was the classic cliché where a new student comes to town and falls in love with the first person they meet (it's almost always the handsome and popular boy), well no. Maybe I'll put one or the other but in my own way.
As I explained, I wanted to do a combination and division between school and university so I will be putting: Side A and Side B to guide you better
I listened to my conscience and from now on I will try to lengthen the chapters more.
Chapter 4 will take longer to upload.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                    Memory or Nightmare                    
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Memory or Nightmare
At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack and Pinkie Pie had finished preparing the cupcake with the necessary quantity that the blonde had agreed upon.
on the second floor, Apple Bloom was doing her class assignments.
“mmm… how boring, I bet at the university they don't give them homework. I've hardly ever seen Applejack have to do it," she said to herself.
Seconds later she heard someone knock on her door and then open it.
“I brought you some cupcake,” Applejack said.
“Thank you, I thought cousin Pinkie would bring them?”
“Let's say I keep an eye on her... I brought you two,” the blonde said, leaving the plate with the cupcake on her desk. Her younger sister took one and started eating. "How are with?"
“I understand, but it doesn't take away the boring part,” the youngest responded.
“Anything, I'll be in my room" She looked down the hallway and saw the smallest of the apples again. “when it comes back up”
Apple Bloom laughed a little at that.
Applejack was about to go, but before doing so, he looked at the younger girl again. “What you mentioned, about the fact that we don't have tasks... It's not that they don't give us tasks, it's more jobs, it also depends on each career, designers have more manual jobs."
“Aren't all jobs manual?” “we use our hands”
“True, but there are also digital ones where you only show a work through your computer… or pendrive? You know I don't know much about that, that's more about Twilight,” Applejack said. “As I said, designers have to do manual work to demonstrate what they are capable of as future designers. For example, I have Arts and they specialize in that area and if not, they will learn it. And despite not knowing how to draw well, I have to try, but my thing is more about plans.” I finish explaining
"I think I understood"
“You'll understand when you're in college. "I'll let you continue with your homework," said Applejack, closing the door to her younger sister's room. After walking down the hall, he went down the stairs and saw his Grandma and Big Mac coming in through the front door, heading to the couch or in Grandma Smith's case, her rocking chair.
“Big Mac, are you done?” the blonde asked
“Yep,” he responded. As always, her brother answered with a simple word.
“I was going to go to the barn, but it looks like you didn't need any help.” Applejack said, sitting next to him.
“Nop.”
“Cupcake Grandma Smith?” Pinkie said, appearing in the living room. Also offering big mac
“They're delicious, right,” Pinkie asked.
“They are delicious,” commented Grandma Smith.
"Yep"
“I helped her and at the same time kept an eye on her in case she went a little too far, do you remember what happened with Apple Bloom the last time?”
"Yep"
“Where is she now?” Grandma Smith asked.
“Upstairs doing your class assignments,” replied the girl farmer.
“Apple Bloom could help more in the garden” suggested the elderly woman
“Grandma, she can barely handle schoolwork like she can handle the garden,” commented the farmer.
“Apple Bloom helps when they need an extra pair of hands, isn't that the same as working?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“Yes, although he does it when the work is almost finished and not when it has to be done from the beginning” explained Grandma Smith.
“Okay,” Pinkie said.
“The only thing it doesn't help, is when we make cider,” said Applejack.
“In my time I worked since I was a child, that's how it was with Bright Mac…” she sighed to continue. “Later when she married Pear Butter, she continued it with you,” said the elderly woman, with a smile remembering her son.
Bic Mac put his hand on his sister's shoulder, they both smiled nostalgically. “Dad and mom taught us the essentials, they were good parents”
“At first I didn't like their relationship, then I realized how special your mother was to Bright Mac and she was to him,” Grandma Smith admitted, although it wasn't the first time she had mentioned it.
“Special…” Applejack said, something about that word almost clicked in the blonde's mind. “What i remembers about Mom and Dad being very close, Grandma Smith has also told me a lot about what they were like. She thought.
Dash Family House  
Rainbow and Scootaloo were in the girl with multicolored hair's room playing Mario Kart.
“I'm beating you,” Scoot said.
"beginners luck"
“That would be you,” Scoot said, almost defiantly.
“True… you know I like them with more action” said Rainbow.
After the mini talk they returned to concentrating on the game
“Girls, dinner is about to be served,” said an older man with light gray-blue skin and rainbow hair. "They heard me?"
“Yes, dad,” they both said in unison.
The older man looked at the time on his wrist watch and then looked at the younger one. “Scoot, did you do your class assignments?”
“…” the youngest paused the game and looked at the older man. “I would do it, but I lent my notebooks to a classmate so she could catch up,” Scoot replied.
“And they didn't give you any guide?” the older man asked once again.
"No"
“Okay, but don't play for too long,” Bow said, ending that topic. “don't delay.” After saying that he left the room.
“were you saved from,” Rainbow said gracefully. He stood up, leaving the joystick aside. “Let's go.” His sister did the same and they headed to the door.
“Next we play Need For Speed” said Rainbow.
“I haven't heard about that game in a long time, I thought it was forgotten”
“It was more or less like this”
When he got to the table, his mother was finishing setting the table, after everyone sat down they started to eat.
“Any news either at school or university?” Windy asked, starting a topic of conversation.
“The Crusaders are reunited again,” said Scootaloo.
“Does that mean-” Bow was going to ask, but Scoot interrupted.
“Sweetie Belle is back, I lent her the notebooks”
"She's not the sister of-" his mother was going to ask, but this time it was Rainbow who interrupted.
“Yes, is who you think,” she said, looking at her parents. “Mom, do you remember what happened?”
"Yes doughter"
“She Now she came back, from one day to the next” Rainbow complained.
“It reminds me of you,” said his mother, thinking a little about the past.
"What...? I'm nothing like that!” protest
"I do not mean that"
“I think what your mother is referring to is that you also arrived in Canterlot from one day to the next,” Bow clarified.
Rainbow opened her eyes a little, understanding what she meant. “Now that you mention it…” she said. “It's like deja vu, but in reverse. I just didn't come from nowhere, the girls already knew about me” thought
“If you think about it, any new student arrives overnight,” Scootaloo commented.
“You're right, Scoot,” his dad said.
“Whether it is an old or new student, they arrive without prior notice, on very few occasions the teacher announces the arrival of a new student” said his Mom.
“Let's change the subject, I thought you were going out with your friends” said his dad.
“Actually, it was going to be with AJ, but I cancele and before you ask, does it bother me? No, it doesn't bother me at all.”  
Both parents looked at each other. “You took the word out of our mouths,” the older man said.
Seeing that the topic was over, they decided to continue eating.
Rainbow still seemed a little thoughtful about the topic and she remembered a time when she considered switching to Canterlot.
Three years ago  
Rainbow and Fluttershy were walking through the mall, eating some popcorn they bought at a store.
“How is everything going at your school?” Fluttershy asked.
“Boring, sometimes I don't even feel like going,” Rainbow said with annoyance.
“Canterlot, I wouldn't say it's more entertaining, but it has its good things,” said the pink-haired girl. “I still think you should go in.”
"That's it again," Rainbow said with a laugh.
Fluttershy has suggested that Rainbow Dash enter Canterlot Institute several times. When they were younger they went to the same school, but when they started growing up they both changed schools. Even so, they have not lost contact.
"I said I don't feel like going, but where I am... it's not that bad, not counting that unbearable Lightning Dust... at least I have Gilda" said the girl with multi-colored hair.
Fluttershy looked at her with a bit of concern.
“Don't worry, Fluttershy, I haven't gotten into trouble,” Rainbow said so as not to worry her friend. “At least I'm not with the Crystal Prep know-it-alls.”
The pink haired girl changed her expression to a calmer one. “I knew a girl who went there,” said Fluttershy.
"Oh really"
“Yes, her name is Twilight Sparkle.”
“Didn't you tell me that Canterlot and Crystal don't get along?” the girl with multicolored hair asked, confused.
“Differences can be put aside,” said the pink-haired girl with a smile.
"Maybe…"
“Apparently Twilight wasn't having a very good time at Crystal, the atmosphere there… it's not at all what one would imagine, so she transferred to Canterlot last year.”
“It's good that she changed…” Rainbow said, then he put another popcorn in her mouth. “About Canterlot, what other reason would I have to study there? The only thing that comes to mind is you.”
"What?" Fluttershy asked, not understanding.
“You know… I wouldn't want them to pick you up and from what I know I'm your only friend and possibly that girl Sparkle.”
“Actually, I did make more friends,” Fluttershy admitted with a slight blush, “well, I don't know if they consider me her friend, since I recently met them. This Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, she is the first friend that Twilight made when she arrived in Canterlot, and also Pinkie Pie” she revealed. “oh… also yesterday I met two others and one is Pinkie Pie's cousin.
“Wow, you've met a lot of girls, are they trustworthy? “You have to know a person well” Rainbow asked suspiciously.
“Don't worry dash… I'm sure they are trustworthy.” said the pink haired girl, sure of herself. “The most curious thing is that we were all in the same institute a long time ago, we were just in different courses, that's why we never got to know each other, not to mention Twilight who transferred last year.”
“Is the institute that small?” Rainbow asked ironically.
“You could say… you'll like them” she said, she started thinking about another reason. “Another reason you might study, besides meeting the girls. At school you could demonstrate your abilities. The other day I heard some students talking about a teacher called Spitfire who helps you prepare to be a great athlete. From what I know, she is the teacher of Side B” Fluttershy explained.
That caught the attention of the multicolored haired girl. “Wait…” she said, stopping walking. “Then next year, when I go to university, I could teach myself more things related to sports and who knows… maybe I will be a very well-known athlete” Rainbow finished, smiling sideways.
"Exact"
“You're right, I'm going to talk to my parents about being able to change.”
They walked again, eating the popcorn and talking about other topics.
Present
Rainbow sighed in frustration as she finished remembering. “It all started with Fluttershy's suggestions... How did we end up like this after transferred to Canterlot? Although at the beginning we were still like before... only something changed over time and we are no longer" thought.
The girl with multi-colored hair took her cell phone out of her pocket and opened Messenger. “Before I changed, we talked naturally…” thought, sliding around looking for Fluttershy's contact. “She was online 10 minutes ago, at least I'm glad to know that he possibly wanted to hear from me”
“Rainbow, what have we said about cell phones when we are eating?” said his mother
“Sorry, I just wanted to see something,” Rainbow apologized. She put her cell phone away and continued eating, until she remembered something.
"Mom?"
“Yes, rainbow?”
“I know it's still missing, but... is there any news about the family meeting?”
Windy looked at her husband and her youngest, she turned her gaze to her daughter. “It's like you said rainbow, we still have to think about that and we don't know if the Shy people will be able to this time”
“Is this because you were absent last time?” the older man asked
“I was late, it's not the same, plus I wanted to teach that Lightning Dust a lesson.”
Her parents looked at her a little seriously.
Rainbow let out a laugh. “It is not a good excuse and that is why I ask, since on the one hand it is because I am late”
Like Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, they have known each other since they were very young. It didn't take long for the parents to realize that both girls were going to be great friends. Time passed and, as expected, they became great friends. Sometimes Rainbow would go to the pink haired girl's house to hang out and the same thing happened with Fluttershy, so her parents decided to create a tradition in which both families would meet on a specific date to pass the time.
“When we have news we will let you know” said his dad.
“How is Fluttershy? "She hasn't come to visit us in a long time," Windy asked.
“Okay,” Rainbow replied. “When we get together with the others, I haven't seen anything happen to her, just when she's busy or if she gets sick,” thought. “We're in college, so it takes up a lot of your free time for her to come,” she lied, faking a smile.
“I understand, let's hope we see her again soon” commented her dad.
“Me too,” Rainbow murmured, barely audible.
Scootaloo didn't say anything in the middle of the conversation, as she was a little thoughtful about the conversation.
Belle Family House  
Rarity was in the kitchen, she was going to prepare a preview for dinner like she used to do when her parents took longer than usual because of her work, like on this occasion.
“Preparing dinner again?” Sweetie Belle asked from the kitchen door.
Rarity turned around to look at her sister. “Mom sent a message that they were going to be a little late,” she replied. "Can you set the table?"
“Sure, but… I was thinking we could watch a movie and have some sister time while we wait.”
“Mmm… I haven't started cooking yet so it wouldn't get cold at all” said the dressmaker, looking at the kitchen, then at her younger sister. “Okay, wait, did you make progress on any assignment they gave you in class?”
“Scoot lent me her notebooks to stay up to date”
Rarity wasn't too surprised by the mention of Rainbow Dash's younger sister. If she saw the girls on side B, it wouldn't be difficult to deduce that her sisters would be on side A.
“Have you passed cleanly?” the dressmaker asked
“Yes I did… well a little” the youngest admitted.
Rarity thought about it. “I'll let it go for now. What movie do you want to see?”
“Yes,” the youngest girl went to the couch and looked for the control to turn on the television and enter an application. “Let's see what there is”
The two sisters were already on the couch. Rarity was the first to look for a movie, but she didn't find one that caught her attention, so she handed control over to Sweetie, who opted for a classic, The Lion King. They have both seen it countless times, it is part of several people's childhoods.
“Even though I've already seen it, it's still sad to see what happens to Simba,” said Sweetie Belle, a little sad.
“I can't imagine what it's like to go through that loss,” Rarity commented with empathy. “At least the songs help pass the moment”
“Like Hakuna Matata (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0enTq1fCE9A), look, it's just about to start,” said the youngest excitedly. As soon as the song played, she began to sing. Rarity smiled.
The movie was progressing and now it was shown on the screen how Scar betrayed Simba in front of all the lionesses. Rarity felt something on her chest, the smile she was wearing was changing. Simba was apologizing for what he supposedly did, while Scar was cornering him. That scene became very familiar to Rarity and the feeling of it on her chest became more and more intense. She decided to close her eyes thinking that by not seeing the screen it would go away, but she was wrong.
Rarity was walking through the school hallways, despite looking empty, some students were still circulating.
She was dressed in a pale blue blouse, with a belt that connected to her purple skirt, and boots of the same color with a diamond decoration.
Had received a message from Twilight summoning her to a specific location. When she read the message she had a feeling.
When she arrived at the destination she could distinguish the girls, their faces seemed calm at first. But as she got closer and they became aware of her presence, the girls' expressions changed.
Sunset was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and frowning, Twilight with the same expression, but she was a little further ahead. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were on one side, looking at the dressmaker with disappointment and finally Rainbow and Applejack were standing next to the wall, Rainbow was angry and Applejack had a neutral expression. Rarity saw that these two were holding hands, seeing that made the dressmaker sad. She acted tough and tried to hide it.
Almost in front of the girls, she expected them to speak, but she went ahead.
“I received your message Twilight, is something wrong?” The dressmaker looked askance at the others, she felt a little nervous. It was clear what she was about.
“You know Rarity… something a little peculiar happened” Twilight began to speak.
"What thing?" the dressmaker pretended not to understand
“Someone broke the display case and took something out…” Sunset continued.
“Did they find out who did it?” she asked, acting again.
The six girls looked at each other and started laughing. Rarity didn't understand why she was laughing and started to back away. Abruptly the girls returned to their previous expressions.
The girls left their places and began to approach the dressmaker, this made the dressmaker back away even more.
For some reason everything around her began to darken. Rarity turned around, seeing how everything was absolute darkness, there was only one light that illuminated the place, illuminated only by Rarity.
"What's going on?" she asked herself, a little scared. She turned around again, looking in front of her to see the girls, who had stopped in a curve.
She could see their silhouettes, they were barely illuminated, the light and shadow on their faces did not help. Rarity began to get more and more nervous as she saw that they began to move, approaching one by one, passing by and starting to talk, but her voices were heard with an echo.
“We thought we were your friends…”  
"What kind of friend are you…"
“No…” Rarity muttered.
“You are just as you appear…”  
“You used us…”
"ENOUGH…!" I shout this time. The girls kept appearing and disappearing in the darkness telling them things. Rarity covered her ears so as not to listen.
"I thought you were different…"  
“You punctured the balloon of joy…”
“STOP…!” She felt salty drops coming out of her eyes. Despite covering her ears, she continued listening to them.
Another girl was approaching, she could make out that it was Applejack who had never moved and was just looking at her from the darkness. When she was close enough to her he tried to stop her by putting her hand on her blonde's shoulder. “Why haven't you told me anything?” asked through tears.
The girl blondi turned her head and looked at her indifferently. “I don't need to tell you anything…” was the only thing she said. The dressmaker's eyes widened and she shook her head. After saying that, the blonde followed her path, disappearing into the darkness.
“No… what you said is not true…” looked down at her for a few seconds, when she raised it she realized that none of the girls appeared and neither could her silhouette be seen in the darkness.
“Whe…where are they?!”looked around and then lowered his head fists and gritting her teeth. "I can handle it myself,"murmurs. released his grip on her and looked around her again. “But… I don't want to be here,” she said, squeezing her eyes shut.
Rarity opened her eyes, she was startled when she felt a hand on her shoulder, it was Sweetie Belle, apparently her younger sister woke her up.
Between gasps the dressmaker looked around, she was in the living room sitting on the sofa.
“Rarity, are you okay?” her sister asked with concern.
"What happened?" I asked agitatedly
“Looks like you fell asleep, are you okay?” the youngest asked once again
“Yes, I'm fine,” replied the dressmaker.
“Are you sure you're not having another anxiety attack?”
“Sweetie, It's been a long time since they gave me, don't worry, it was just a bad dream.” she replied with a fake smile, her breathing seemed softer. “Since I haven't seen them in a while, I remembered when they discovered me, counting the looks... It makes sense that they look at me like that, even though I did something immature... by doing so I lost their trust."  thought. I try to put those thoughts aside. “Why did you wake me up?”
Sweetie Belle knew there was something else, when she realized that her sister fell asleep, she said some things in her sleep that Sweetie didn't understand and she saw some tears coming out of her sister's eyes, so she decided to wake her up.
“The movie ended a few seconds ago and I just heard Dad's car” explained his younger sister.
"Seconds? “I thought it had been minutes.”
They hear the door opening, but not the main one but the kitchen door that leads to the patio.
“We have arrived,” her father greeted, entering with his wife.
Cookie looked at her oldest daughter and noticed that she looked like she had seen a horror movie. “Daughter, are you okay? You look a little agitated.”
“I'm fine mother, I just had a bad dream.” replied, She looked at the table and remembered dinner. “Sorry, when I fell asleep, I didn't get ahead of myself with dinner.”
“Don't worry, daughter, you don't always have to do it,” said her mother.
“Luckily we brought some pieces of cake,” her father mentioned.
“How delicious,” said the youngest.
The Belles walked to the table and sat down.
“How did my two little princesses do?” said their father.
“Dad, I'm not a little girl anymore,” Rarity said, a little embarrassed that her parents sometimes treat her like that.
“For us they always will be,” said Hondo, with affection. Cookie didn't say anything, just blinked slowly, showing a smile.
“Since I started two weeks late, I had to ask a classmate for her notebooks to catch up,” said Sweetie Belle.
“For me, not much to tell,” replied without giving more details. While she was eating a piece of cake she began to remember her dream. “When I left town, they weren't the only ones who were angry. I was too, but that anger soon turned to regret. I knew that maybe I would meet them in the city, at least some of them, but I never thought I would see them all at the university.”
The next day at the university  
As always, the girls were in their respective classes or some in the same class, in the case of Applejack she had arts with Sunset Shimmer and other acquaintances, but this time a new classmate will also share classes with them.
Applejack was entering the classroom, he stopped when he saw a certain violet-haired girl. "Brilliant" thought sarcastically. “It was obvious that some of us were going to be involved with Rarity.” she realized that where the dressmaker is sitting is right next to her seat, he saw her again and noticed some changes that he had not noticed the day before. “Now she wears a blouse with buttons, apparently she left behind the pale blue blouse that she used to wear, also her violet boots… well we are already 22 years old, it is normal that we change our style.” she put that aside and approached her seat.
Rarity was settling into her place when she saw a certain blonde in a cowgirl hat starting to put down her things. After a few seconds of silence, Rarity decided to break it.
“Hello AJ… how have you been?” Rarity asks, hoping for an answer.
Applejack does not answer, but she is not so rude to leave her with the word in her mouth. “Good…” she answered with disinterest. “…and only my friends call me AJ,” commented with her gaze on the lectern.
“You're right,” Rarity apologized, lowering her gaze, although a little saddened by Applejack's curt attitude. “How do the rest-”
Applejack was annoyed, as Rarity was babbling like it was nothing. She started taking her things to change places. The violet-haired girl realized what she was going to do.
“Wait you don't have to do that,” Rarity said waving her hands as a sign for her to stop. “I was the one who invaded your workspace… I better change,” commented, taking her things and heading to the back.
Applejack didn't say anything, but looked at her out of the corner of her eye. watched as Rarity seemed to ask Sandalwood for something from her, then she moved her hair. “Using your charms,” Applejack thought, shaking her head, stopped looking at her and waited for the teacher to speak.
The boy went to the place where the dressmaker was supposed to be. Meanwhile Rarity was arranging her tools, a girl greeted her.
“Hello,” a girl greeted.
The dressmaker looked to the side and saw a girl with purple and teal hair.
“You're Rarity, right?”
"Yes, it's me"
“My name is Starlight” she introduced herself.
"A pleasure. Mine is Rarity and apparently you already know it.”
Seconds later two girls appear. One with cyan hair and a white line. The other one with navy blue and pink hair.
“Hello,” the cyan-haired girl greeted.
“Sorry for asking. What happened to Sandalwood?" The girl with navy blue and pink hair asked.
“…” Rarity guessed that it was the green-haired boy, whom she asked to change places. “What happened is that the sun was hitting my face a lot and even though it is good for the skin, I can't let it blind me, allowing my clothes to get stained with the paint, they don't know how long it would take for the paint to come off. such a fine fabric” explain
“We haven't had to paint yet, this week we have only drawn” said the girl with navy blue and pink hair.
"Exact. Although we love that Sandalwood talks about the band he has with Flash, sometimes we get into what he says, that the teacher catches our attention," said the one with cyan hair.
“I introduce myself, my name is Bon Bon” said the girl with navy blue and pink hair.
"And my name is Lyra... and you must be Rarity" said the cyan-haired one.
“I realized that the three of you know my name, but I didn't introduce myself to you,” Rarity commented, without understanding.
“You've only been here for two days and everyone is talking about you,” said Bon Bon.
"And because? It's not that it bothers me, because I'm delighted that they talk about me."
Lyra looked knowingly at Bon Bon and pointed at her with both hands. Giving us an understanding of its appearance
"I see"
“Some people talk about the hot new girl in math class,” said Lyra, heading to her workplace with Bon Bon.
“I've barely arrived, everyone already knows about me and I still don't know anyone, not counting you three obviously,” commented the dressmaker.
“Four, if you count Applejack,” Starlight commented, pointing at her.
Rarity was a little shocked by mention of the blonde's. “Yes… I just met her” she responded with a slightly discouraged tone, hiding it well.
Bon Bon looked at Applejack and next to him was the green-haired boy. “I understand, you should sit next to him,” said, looking at the dressmaker.
“She seemed a little upset,” Starlight said, a little confused.
“It must be that I invaded her workplace,” said the dressmaker. “The previous excuse was somewhat true, I wouldn't want my clothes to get stained, but as the real reason for sitting somewhere else would say, I think it's better that they think that I just met Applejack” thought.
“Few things bother AJ… i would say, but I wouldn't want to say too many things,” said Starlight.
“I understand, I wouldn't like them to talk about my private things either.”
“There are more things that are seen in plain sight or heard,” thought Starlight.
“If you met Applejack, you will soon meet the Mane Six,” Lyra said.
“Mane Six?” Rarity asked curiously.
“That's how your group is known,” said Bon Bon.
“Also The Rainbooms,” said Starlight.
“They already have nicknames,” Rarity thought. “they seem to be popular”
"what? No." Starlight said, shaking her head. “Everyone has their own group of friends, even so, we all talk”
“Could I know more about the Mane Six?” Rarity asked.
“We could tell you the basics” Starlight said looking at the two girls, they nodded.
“The Mane Six are made up of: Pinkie Pie, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Applejack and Rainbow Dash,” Lyra began.
“Pinkie Pie is very imperative and she is almost always baking some cupcake or doing one of her crazy things,” Starlight continued.
“Sunset is very talented, she does everything, she could have been the captain of the women's soccer team, but she refused from the beginning,” Bon Bon continued.
“Twilight, there's not much to tell, she's like the genie of the room.” Said the one with cyan hair.
“Fluttershy, well she's a little shy, not so much now. She is very kind and she really likes animals and she is even studying something related to that,” commented Starlight.
“Rainbow dash is very athletic, it still surprises me that she doesn't get tired of having many   
classes related to sports.” He said bon bon
“Not everything is physical, she has some that have to do with the psychological,” Starlight clarified. “Her teacher Spitfire named her the captain of the women's soccer team.”
“We are here too,” Lyra mentioned. Referring to her and bon bon.
“Lastly, Applejack, she also likes sports, but she specializes more in what has to do with carpentry,” said Starlight.
“Apparently they continued with what they said in the past. Pinkie has hardly changed, I remember she said that she was interested in cooking. Sunset, she can do everything at once, she was luckier than me. Twilight, i see that it was the list of the group. Fluttershy apparently was able to overcome some of her insecurities. Dash… just as she said, she is specializing in the area of sports and AJ-" The dressmaker's thoughts were interrupted by bon bon.
“As far as I know, they have studied in Canterlot since they were on Side A.”
“What else can we tell you?” starlight wondered
“Applejack and Rainbow Dash have been together for almost two years” bon bon
“Weren't there three?” Lyra asked.
“As I understand it, they have been they have been together almost two years, ¿or three?” bon bon he questioned
“That's stranger, when I saw them together the first time, I understood that they were already girlfriens,” the dressmaker thought, confused.
“Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash are good friends,” said Lyra.
"They are?" ask this time bon bon
The dressmaker raised an eyebrow, it was already twice. “Why do they ask it like that? It's the same as how they knew my name or when they wondered about Applejack's relationship."
“What happens is that it is almost normal for rumors to circulate the university about what happens to each student; most of them are true and very rarely they are false.” Starlight explained
“I understand,” said Rarity. “Could it be true that they are in a bad? They were always good friends."
“So watch your movements,” Lyra said, with a serious expression.
“Ehh…”
"It's a joke. We told you that gossip is normal, but it is occasional,” Lyra said, changing her expression.
“Back to the topic of the Mane Six. In fact, they are all friends, but one always gets along better with another.” I end bon bon
"Often happens". Rarity said. "I wonder who she's been close to if she hadn't fractured our friendship, maybe it would have been with-"
“Oh, the teacher is about to speak and believe me, even though you is the new one, she is not going to let you be late,” Starlight commented, interrupting the dressmaker's thoughts.
"Good to Know"
After art, the students had their third class, and after that class, it was time for lunch.
Cafeteria/Side B  
The Mane Six were heading with their tray of food to their usual place to eat, outside the cafeteria, an open area where there were more tables. They began to eat and talk, until Dash saw someone
“Look there it is”
The girls turned their gaze to a certain girl with wavy hair, who was heading towards a completely empty table.
“Of all the seats, she had to sit there,” Rainbow complained.
“Rainbow isn't that close, she's only two rows away,” Pinkie said.
“We still see it”
“Not even if she was invisible,” said Sunset.
“Can you believe she's only been here for two days and everyone mentions her as the hot girl,” Rainbow mentioned.
“Even when she was with us on side A, she was named the cutest, along with Fluttershy,” said Pinkie.
“Emm…” Fluttershy didn't know what to say, she was blushing a little.
“You don't have to be ashamed of that Fluttershy,” Applejack said with a smile.
Rainbow didn't want to be left behind this time. “Exactly, we are all cute here, you, sunset, twilight, pinkie, Aj, there are no differences”
Twilight touched her forehead, gently with the palm of her hand.
“What they are trying to say, is that don't feel ashamed because they find you pretty, because you are and you should tell yourself and realize that you are beautiful,” said Sunset, sympathetically. The others agreed.
Fluttershy's blush faded. "Thank you... it's been a long time since they mentioned and I had forgotten when they named me the prettiest," said softly.
“That makes sense,” Pinkie Pie said. “Did any of you have any classes with Rarity, besides Sunset and Twilight having math with her?” she asked
“How did you know?” twilight asked
“I felt it”
Applejack and the others preferred not to continue asking, it was Pinkie they were talking to. “With sunset we had arts with Rarity.” I mention the blonde
“Arts, how did I not see it?” Sunset wondered.
“Since you arrived a little late, you didn't see that she went to the back row,” Applejack explained.
“No wonder I didn't see it.”
“Arts, math… what else is next, sports” Rainbow Dash joked.
"I really do n't know why I was surprised to see her in arts, it makes sense, all of that has to do with design and mathematics with measurements, that leads to-" Applejack's thoughts were interrupted by her friends, who were already getting up.
"Come on?" sunset
"Already?" the blonde asked
“It's still a little early, but we could get there sooner,” said Fluttershy.
“What if we go play a little?” suggested rainbow
“I don't think we would make it,” Twilight said.
Applejack got up and the girls went to put down their trays, then headed to the exit/entrance to go inside the cafeteria.  
Before following the rest, Pinkie looked at the table where Rarity was still eating, without noticing her. Under her gaze, she saw her once more and left after the others.
The girls were walking through the hallways heading to the music room. Sunset, Twilight, Pinkie and Fluttershy were in front, Rainbow and Applejack were in back.
“You know yesterday I had a conversation with Grandma Smith,” Applejack comments to her girlfriend.
"And now..."
Applejack omitted the tonality with which his girlfriend spoke. “As he said i talked with Grandma Smith about if…”
Rainbow initially heard what she was saying, but when she looked ahead she saw her yellow-skinned friend.
“Yesterday I remembered when she suggested the Canterlot thing to me, but she didn't question the main thing. What have I done? It would be that time when we all went to the water park, I would take her to one where if you slid you could see the fish swimming, I knew she would like it and somehow I convinced her to go to the extreme one that I wanted to try. I'll never admit that it scared me a little, but I'm sure Fluttershy ended up liking it or maybe I looked wrong... Or was she really upset when I mistakenly gave the shelter animals the wrong food? Wait is she still volunteering?" thought
Meanwhile the blonde was finishing speaking. “But I told him that Apple Bloom can barely handle his homework.” Applejack waited for his girlfriend to speak. "Rainbow?" The farmer nudged him.
“Hey…” Rainbow said, coming out of her thoughts and looking at the blonde.
They both stopped walking, remaining in the middle of the hallway.
“Did you hear anything I told you?” he asked with a frown
"About what?"
“Seriously, Dash!” Applejack looked at her angrily. “I told you yesterday I talked to Grandma Smith.”
"And…?"
“It doesn't matter anymore,” said the farmer and started walking.
“Now what did I do” she thought. She followed the blonde, towards the music room.
The rest of the girls were arriving at the music room
“Don't you think it would be easier if the class were in the other music room? That way we would avoid tuning the instruments again,” Pinkie said.
“I agree with that, but the teacher already decided that this would be the music room,” said Sunset.
“Someone else wonders why we have music if we already know how to play instruments,” Pinkie commented.
"Well Pinkie, you see, it's one thing to know how to play them and another to know the concept of music," Twilight responded.
Fluttershy looked at the door noticing that two of her friends had not yet arrived. “Has anyone seen…” but it wasn't necessary to ask since Applejack was entering the classroom and behind her was Rainbow.
“They didn't know they were left behind, is something wrong with you AJ?” Sunset asked.
“I'm fine, I'll get over it,” said the blonde, downplaying the concern of her friends. She went further into the classroom and went down the steps to sit in one of the seats.  
Pinkie, Sunset, Twilight, and Fluttershy looked at each other and then turned their gaze to the rainbow-haired girl.
“Don't look at me, I don't know what I did,” Rainbow said defensively.
Pinkie looked at her for a few seconds. “Okay,” she said with a smile, heading to the stairs, sitting in another seat. “Hello Vinyl,” Pinkie greeted a girl with a hearing aid sitting next to her. This one she just waved.
"Hmm…. The professor doesn't seem to have arrived yet," said Fluttershy, looking at the table where the professor would be.  
“So it seems,” said Sunset.
They started to talk a little until someone comes through the door, they turn around to find a surprise. Once again in front of her, the girl with wavy violet hair was in her presence.
“Ehh… hello girls” Rarity greeted, a little nervous.  
Rainbow frowned.
“I think we should sit down,” Twilight suggested almost with a difference.
“Yes, you're right, the professor must be arriving,” said Sunset. Fluttershy didn't say anything, she just followed her friends and entered the classroom.
Rarity lowered her head. “Her looks are the same as those in my dream or rather in my memories, with some differences, in that they are not as intense.”
“Oh, hello Rarity,” said Starlight, from the door.
The dressmaker stood firm again, turned around and saw Starlight, next to her was a gray-haired girl with a star-shaped brooch.
“I present to you she is-”
“Don't worry, I introduce myself… I am the great and powerful Trixie,” she introduced herself.
“…the pleasure is mine, I am Rarity” said the dressmaker, leaving aside the drama of the gray-haired girl. “Do you know if there are any free seats?” asked
“If you want, you can sit with us,” Starlight suggested. “There are no specific seats for one.”
Fluttershy was walking up the steps, gave a slightly sad look at Rarity, and left he went to a seat.
“It seems that this time the teacher arrived earlier or else he would still be-” Pinkie couldn't finish speaking as she saw Rarity leading to the other side of the classroom. “ohh…”
“Yes ohh…” Rainbow said with her arms crossed.
“I didn't think she would be here,” Twilight said.
“Would you play an instrument?” Fluttershy asked.
“If she doesn't do it, she will learn it here,” said Sunset.
“Well, I don't care to know,” said the rainbow-haired girl, heading to a seat. Feel like someone is sitting next to you.
Applejack moved to sit next to Rainbow. “Hey, dash… sorry about earlier.”
“You got angry alone, so I don't know why you acted like that,” Dash commented.
“I was talking to you, you should listen to me from time to time.”
“I was thinking about something else,” Dash said simply.
Applejack took a deep breath and let it go. “About yesterday…”
“Okay… and why are you thinking of apologizing now?” Rainbow asked
“mmm…” Applejack put a finger on her chin “I wanted to try something different, I thought about it more because yesterday Grandma Smith mentioned my parents” she started to think a little more. "You're right". Applejack said. The girl next to him nodded.
“I was searching on Instagram-”
“You using Instagram?” Dash asked in disbelief, interrupting the blonde.
“Yes, I'm using Instagram,” the blonde said, rolling her eyes. “I want to go to a place that I haven't been to in a long time... I mean, we should go, you might like it, I just haven't found confirmation yet. For the moment we could go somewhere else.”
Rainbow thought about it. "ok"
Applejack nodded. “This way I make it up to you for canceling in case you felt bad.” comment.
Rainbow frowned, she was going to speak, but the professor just arrived and started to speak.
“Music, what is music?” The teacher began to explain.
"Something happens?" Applejack asked in a low tone.
“Nothing, it's okay… let's go somewhere else and we could even go with the others” Rainbow commented.
“Lately I don't understand you” was the only thing Applejack said and then paid attention to what the teacher was saying.
“…It is also a method to better express what one feels, whether in the moment, or something in the past that they wanted to bring out now in the present,” the professor continued explaining. “For that they need a song, but something very important is needed, the lyrics. Did you know that you can write songs through a poem? But we will leave that topic for later…”
This is how the professor continues explaining to his students.
Author's Note
Ready, I finally uploaded them. Sorry for the delay, I forgot that I had to translate it and without realizing it I made the chapter longer than necessary.
I want to mention that I will do a flashback, but a little different. Getting ahead of the facts and then going back further, but I'll try not to make it feel so messy.
My head exploded when I was looking for what I think each girl would study. As you saw, I gave some indications of what they study.
I wanted to give an exact age to the girls and if it has relevance in the story

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                That's what friends are for                
//-------------------------------------------------------//
That's what friends are for
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

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                         Distance                          
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Distance
Rarity was now in class, the projector illuminated the dark room showing some numbers that the dressmaker could barely understand. She could now tell the difference between when she was studying online and now being in person.
"It's been a few weeks and I understand less and less, but at least I'm not in Sports, that day was horrible," Rarity thought, remembering. "At least the rumor didn't spread so much, at least they didn't make fun of me like I thought would happen, but I did feel ashamed of what happened that day..."
A few days ago
On the covered sports field, full of animation. The Mane Six were practicing volleyball together with other students. The boys were in the other half with their teacher Bulk doing something else, this time not participating with the girls.
The students wore a variety of sports attire, from classic shorts and T-shirts paired with sneakers to more varied styles. Reflecting the diversity of styles and preferences among the students.
Many girls tossed the ball in the air so that, when the time came, they could hit the ball to the other side of the small net with their other arm and thus make it reach the other student for her to respond. They all seemed to do it well, even some who were a little bad at that sport could barely hit it properly, but still managed to get it over the mini net.
Among those girls was one who couldn't even hit the ball properly with the palm of her other hand when it was in the air.
"There it goes!" Rarity attempted to hit the ball. It passed by her face and fell to the ground.
Dash frowned, "Really?" she said, seeing the dressmaker's failure not too far away.
"It looks like someone should have spent more time practicing instead of choosing their outfit," Sunset commented sarcastically.
Rarity blushed, visibly frustrated by her lack of ability. At that moment, Professor Spitfire approached the field with a serious expression.
"BELLE!" the teacher shouted.
The dressmaker startled at hearing her name again, turning towards the teacher. She knew what was coming.
"Yes, Professor?" she asked, with a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"I see you're still struggling to keep up with the game. Have you been practicing like I told you?"
"Well, I've tried to practice, but it doesn't seem to be working," Rarity lowered her gaze, feeling ashamed of the teacher's reprimand.
"It's not enough! You must try harder if you want to improve! Mediocrity is not acceptable on this team!" the teacher exclaimed. "SOMEONE TEACH HER HOW IT'S DONE!"
Rarity felt even more embarrassed by the extra attention she was receiving.
"Sports isn't her thing," Fluttershy commented sympathetically.
"Then what is she doing here? If it's obvious that this isn't her thing," Rainbow added, crossing her arms.
"Sports is not part of the design unless she takes additional classes," Sunset remarked.
"It doesn't make sense for her to take this additional class and it wouldn't even be part of her career," Applejack said with a furrowed brow.
Starlight approached Rarity alongside Trixie.
"I didn't know you were this bad," Trixie joked.
"Trixie!" Starlight intervened, elbowing. "At least try to get it over to the other side," she suggested.
"How do I do that? I've only managed to get it close to my face," Rarity responded, frustration in her voice.
"You take the ball and gently toss it in the air, then with the other arm you kick it to get it to the other side of the net," she explained, demonstrating the motion with her hands.
Rarity got into position to try again, determination on her face.
"Come on, Rarity, you can do it," murmured Pinkie Pie, trying to cheer her up.
"Did you say something, Pinkie Pie?" Fluttershy asked, curious.
"No, nothing," Pinkie responded with a nervous smile.
Carefully, she took the ball and gently tossed it in the air, following Starlight's instructions. Then, with a quick movement, she kicked the ball with the other arm, sending it to the other side of the net.
"See, there you go. We'll be over there," Starlight said, pointing to the other side of the court. Rarity thanked her and nodded, Starlight and Trixie began to walk away.
Rarity was so focused on throwing the ball that she didn't notice the presence of the student on the other side of the net. Suddenly, the ball came back with force, hitting her directly on the forehead. A cry of surprise escaped Rarity's lips as the impact took her by surprise.
The dressmaker brought her hands to her forehead, letting out a dramatic groan. "Oh, Heavens! I feel like a bolt of pain just struck me directly in the forehead!" she exclaimed.
"I think she forgot that they would return the ball to her," Trixie commented to Starlight with a chuckle. They had turned around upon hearing the scream.
"The Drama Queen's comeback," Rainbow commented, rolling her eyes.
They couldn't identify it, but someone around them let out a small laugh, though it wasn't a mocking laugh. The girls assumed it was one of their classmates nearby. So, they didn't pay much attention to it.
"That must have hurt. But at least it wasn't in the stomach like that time Twilight got hit by a ball," Pinkie mentioned.
"Yeah, Pinkie, it definitely wasn't a pleasant experience. I remember when the ball came straight at me. I felt like all the air was knocked out of my stomach. I couldn't breathe for a while, it was completely disastrous," Twilight said, rubbing her stomach as she remembered the sensation she felt at that moment.
On the other end of the court, beyond the volleyball net, a group of boys was doing warm-up exercises. Among them were Caramel, Timber Spruce, and Flash Sentry, among others. As they stretched, they couldn't help but notice the commotion unfolding on the other side of the court.
Timber raised an eyebrow when he heard a cry of surprise. He turned to see what was happening and saw a purple-haired girl on the ground, holding her forehead.
"Oh, looks like there's some action on the court," he commented casually.
"That's the new girl, Rarity, right? The one they say is hot," Caramel commented with interest.
"If it's her, Sandalwood told me that when she arrived on her first days, she asked to change seats in art class," Flash said, then changed his expression to a playful smile. "Looks like her charm isn't protecting her from the ball," he joked, making the other boys laugh.
Caramel chuckled softly, while Timber nodded with a smile. "I guess nobody's perfect, huh?" he remarked with a playful glance at the girl.
"Oh, wow! Looks like the new miss is having some trouble with the game. I hope she can improve soon, it would be a shame to see someone so pretty suffer like that," Feather Bangs added as he approached the other boys.
The boys continued to watch the scene with interest, exchanging occasional comments and laughing among themselves as Rarity got up from the ground.
The Mane Six hadn't noticed that the ball had rolled near them. They looked at each other, someone had to throw it back or return it in person. Applejack took the initiative, crouched down to pick up the ball, and headed towards the purple-haired girl.
Rarity was getting up from the ground and saw someone approaching. Sitting down, she began to apologize: "Teacher, I know what you're going to say...". She stopped when she realized who was standing in front of her and looked up. There was the blonde with a serious expression and the ball in her hand.
"You know, many take extra classes for sports or because it's part of their curriculum, like those who want to specialize in sports. I guess everyone has their reasons for being here. Anyway, I don't know how long you plan on staying in this," Applejack commented casually. The farmer dropped the ball next to Rarity and walked away, returning to her friends.
The dressmaker caught the ball just in time before it veered off. Rarity lowered her gaze, pondering what the blonde had said. "I don't have to tell you," muttered.
"Despite being annoyed by what she said, I wasn't going to back down. Although... she was right about what she said last time, before I left town," Rarity thought, lowering her gaze. She closed her eyes and tried to suppress that memory, pushing it aside.
The projector on the board switched to another page with numerical calculations. Rarity frowned in confusion as she tried to solve them.
The dressmaker returned to her thoughts. "After that, I changed my clothes and when I left the locker room, I ran into the girls and tried once again to find a way to apologize and...
Rarity was on the other side of the dressing room, finishing putting on her everyday clothes. She glanced at the mirror to check for any bruises or anything, as she was feeling a slight pain. Then, she headed to the door and opened it. As she walked a bit, she encountered them. The girls seemed to have noticed that someone else was present. When they turned, they found the dressmaker again, showing various expressions among the six at her presence.
Rarity wanted to say something, took a deep breath to speak. "Hey, about what happened..."
"We don't need your drama right now," Rainbow interrupted firmly, crossing her arms with a serious look.
"We really don't have time for this, we have classes," Twilight commented.
It wasn't difficult for Rarity to understand that they were avoiding her. It's been several times now, although this time they didn't leave her talking alone, they were direct with her. The dressmaker, without further ado, turned around and left the place, shoulders slumped and a resigned expression on her face.
Pinkie watched her leave and tried to hide her sadness. She looked at her friends. "Girls, have you considered the possibility that...?" Pinkie hesitated to say the last words, nervously fidgeting with her hands. "...what if Rarity wants to talk to us like she just did?" she asked, changing the last words with a feigned smile. "Talking to her was what I meant," she thought.
"She's already tried, Pinkie, and you know it, also it just happened," Twilight responded, raising an eyebrow.
"And the answer is obvious... like it just happened, say a few things so she gets the message," Rainbow said.
"Though it sounds a bit harsh, I prefer to keep our distance," Sunset declared, crossing her arms with a serious look.
Fluttershy glanced at Sunset. What she said echoed in her head and then she looked at Rainbow, with a sad expression.
"Do you have something else in mind, Pinkie?" Applejack asked, with a calm yet observant smile, showing curiosity.
"Nah, girls, hahaha," Pinkie tried to play it off, laughing nervously and twirling her hair. "As if we'd listen to someone who betrayed us," she added with a fake laugh, avoiding eye contact.
"Like you said, she betrayed our trust," Twilight affirmed, with a serious and firm gaze.
"Time goes on," Pinkie tried to play it off again, with a forced smile and showing slight tension in her posture.
"How do we know if she really changed or, rather, if she's pretending?" Sunset asked, furrowing her brow.
"it is not known" Fluttershy responded, with an expression of uncertainty and compassion.
Pinkie sighed discreetly and lowered her head at her friends' words. She wanted everything to go back to how it was before somehow.
Elsewhere, by the lockers, Rarity was at hers, looking at herself in the mirror she had placed there when she arrived on the second day of class. Starlight and Trixie, who were passing by, approached Rarity.
"How's your forehead?" Starlight asked with a compassionate tone, noticing the mark on her forehead.
"Oh, I'm fine," responded, trying to downplay the incident. Although inside, she was dying of embarrassment for what happened.
Trixie frowned as she examined the mark on Rarity's forehead. "Are you sure? It looks painful."
The dressmaker nodded. "It hurts a little, but nothing serious."
"It will probably disappear soon, but as a precaution, you should put some ice on it," Starlight suggested optimistically.
"I will when I get home."
Starlight nodded. "Well, if you need anything, we're here," she offered sincerely.
"Thank you, girls," Rarity thanked them, feeling comforted by their kindness.
Trixie stayed quiet for a moment, then gave Rarity a pat on the shoulder affectionately. "Don't worry. You'll surely recover quickly."
When classes ended, Rarity and Sweetie Belle were already at home. Just as Starlight had advised when she arrived, Rarity went to the kitchen for some ice. Minutes passed, and the other family members had already arrived.
"Darling, what happened? Are you okay?" Cookie asked, entering the dressmaker's room and seeing her with an ice pack on her forehead.
Rarity, with a gesture, placed a hand on her forehead and sighed. "Mother, you won't believe what happened."
"Tell me," said Cookie with concern.
"I was playing volleyball, and out of nowhere, I got hit in the forehead with a ball," recounted, pausing dramatically before continuing her story.
"Oh, Rarity, you nearly scared me. I thought it was something more serious," her mother expressed, with a tone of relief.
"That's what I told her," commented Sweetie from the doorway, with an amused smile.
"Just as a precaution, I put on the ice pack since I felt a bit of pain afterward and a mark appeared," explained Rarity as she held the ice pack to her forehead.
"Let me see," requested Cookie, approaching to examine the mark.
Rarity removed the ice pack, and as she did, she winced slightly. "It's red, but it might be from having the ice on my forehead for too long," opined her mother. "Does it hurt?"
"Not anymore, but my forehead feels cold," replied Rarity, slightly furrowing her brow at the sensation of cold.
"Then don't put that on again, just let it pass," advised Cookie with a reassuring smile.
Sweetie looked at her sister curiously. "Is it really painful?" asked.
Rarity nodded. "When I got hit, yes, and afterward, a little," admitted.
"Well, Rarity, I wanted to ask you, how are your classes going? Any difficulties or anything I should know about for a note?" her mother asked.
Rarity straightened up a bit at the question, but then her shoulders relaxed. "Not at the moment, you know I'm just starting, so I haven't had assignments yet," responded.
"This is your last year, Rarity, no distractions," said Cookie, raising a finger in a warning gesture.
"I know, mother, I'm determined to do well this year," Rarity affirmed with determination.
"I hope so, and try not to stress out, I don't want you to have another episode like the other day," added her mother with concern, while placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"From what I saw, it didn't seem like an episode," Sweetie interjected, who hadn't left yet.
"Exactly, it was just a nightmare," confirmed Rarity with a reassuring smile.
"Alright. I can't help but worry, you know?" sighed her mother as she crossed her arms.
"Don't worry," replied Rarity, trying to reassure her mother with a comforting smile.
Then, Cookie looked at the younger one. "Sweetie Belle, remember to do your homework," she said with a stern yet affectionate look.
"Do you think I can go play with Apple Bloom after I finish my homework, Mom?" asked Sweetie Belle, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Of course, as long as you finish everything on time, okay?" her mother replied with a smile, gently stroking her hair.
"Thank you, Mom!" exclaimed the younger one, jumping.
"You're welcome, dear," said Cookie tenderly, returning the smile.
"Well, I'll leave you to continue with your activities," said her mother, starting to walk towards the door. "We'll call you later for dinner," she added with a wave goodbye.
"Yes, Mom!" exclaimed Sweetie, returning the gesture.
"Yes, Mother," Rarity nodded, with a gentle smile.
The youngest frowned, took a few steps, but stopped, looked at her sister. "Rarity?'"
"Yes, Sweetie?"
"..." The younger one hesitated, she's always wanted to ask something, but she decided to leave it for another time. "Forget it."
"Okay," replied Rarity a bit confused, shrugging with a kind smile.
"I'll leave you, sister," said Sweetie Belle before leaving, with a last glance over her shoulder.
Present
"Fortunately, the mark has disappeared," thought. She glanced at the board, another calculation; this time, she decided to take notes. "I wonder what Sweetie Belle wanted to ask me that day." The dressmaker continued writing; luckily, she did it in time, as seconds later the lights were turned on, and the projector was turned off. Then, the teacher ended the class.
Rarity left her classroom and headed to the cafeteria.
Upon arrival, she grabbed her tray and chose her lunch before heading to her usual spot in the cafeteria, which was two rows away from the Mane Six. Although she sometimes talked to Starlight and Trixie, or to Lyra and Bon Bon, Rarity was almost getting used to being alone at lunchtime.
What she should get used to is the weight of the gazes from the Mane Six during lunchtime, which made her uncomfortable.
The Mane Six stopped looking at the fashionista and began to eat and talk about trivial things, until Pinkie Pie wanted to talk about something she had noticed in recent weeks.
"Girls, doesn't it seem strange what Rarity is studying?" Pinkie asked, causing the others to raise their eyebrows in surprise.
The girls stopped their movements. Despite being an uncomfortable topic to discuss, they decided to find out what their party-loving friend meant.
"What do you mean by that, Pinkie?" Applejack asked, curious.
"You said you got literature with Twilight and Rainbow," Pinkie continued.
"It could be like Rainbow, who took an additional class for some particular liking, like Dash with Daring Do," Applejack tried to deduce, downplaying its significance.
"That's right, Rainbow gets excited about Daring Do's adventures," Fluttershy mentioned.
"Twilight always said that literature could broaden our horizons and other things," Rainbow added, trying to disguise her discomfort.
"Not only that, you could analyze and discuss not only Daring Do books but also other literary works," explained the bespectacled girl, moving her hands to emphasize her words.
"What she said," Rainbow added, slightly tangled by her friend's explanation, furrowing her brow slightly.
"And Twilight is in literature because..." Applejack wanted to explain, but she preferred her friend to explain.
The bespectacled girl lowered her head slightly. "You know I sometimes have trouble relating to others, and I thought that reading about characters facing challenges and overcoming obstacles, perhaps similar to mine, might help me feel identified and overcome my own obstacles," she explained.
"You've made progress in that, and I'm sure literature will help you," Sunset said, supporting her friend with a understanding smile. The others nodded with a smile.
"And what about the most striking thing... Sports?" Pinkie continued, returning to the initial topic, raising her eyebrows expectantly.
"It's true, in all the shared classes I didn't expect to see her there," Rainbow commented, nodding in agreement.
"And she was really bad at volleyball; next thing you know, she'll be trying out for soccer or basketball, and we all know how bad she is at sports," Sunset added, grimacing.
Applejack recalled the other day when she was straightforward with her. She didn't regret what she said, but the purple-haired girl seemed determined when she attempted the volleyball shot, so she figured Rarity wouldn't pay any attention to what she told her.
"And the hit she took," Fluttershy mentioned, feeling empathy.
"I kinda agree with what Pinkie said; I didn't bring it up earlier. The other day, I saw her leaving a class," Twilight said, nervously fidgeting with her fingers.
"And...?" Pinkie prompted, expectantly.
"Just out of simple curiosity, I passed by to see what classes she was taking, and it was accounting," Twilight revealed, raising her eyebrows in surprise.
"Accounting?" Sunset asked, astonished. "That doesn't seem to have anything to do with fashion design."
"Exactly! I saw her leaving an accounting class," Twilight confirmed, nodding. "And I wondered the same thing. What does that have to do with fashion design?"
Applejack furrowed her brow in confusion. "It doesn't add up at all. When I saw her in marketing, I wasn't too surprised, and in art when I saw her, I was surprised since I didn't expect to share classes with her, but it made sense because of the drawings; that has a lot to do with designers," thought. "I remember we used to support her, and then..." she lowered her head, remembering, shook it to shake off that memory.
The girls exchanged confused looks as they tried to understand Rarity's class choices. But they didn't want to dwell on it because, despite not wanting to know anything about her, conversations about her always came up and made them uncomfortable.
Side B / Locker Hallways  
After lunch, some of the girls headed to their lockers to prepare for the next class. Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash stayed behind. Pinkie skipped down the halls, Applejack had something to attend to before her class, and Rainbow Dash wanted to take a stroll.
Fluttershy, Sunset Shimmer, and Twilight were discussing classes as they approached the hallway where their lockers were located. They split up once they reached them.
Minutes later, Rainbow Dash arrived and approached Twilight and Sunset as they were organizing their things in their lockers.
"Hey, Rainbow!" greeted Sunset as she packed her backpack, while Twilight did the same next to her.
"Hey, guys, what if I just apologize and be done with it?" Rainbow asked, looking directly at Fluttershy.
"Apologize? What?" Twilight asked, a bit confused.
"To Fluttershy. I was thinking of apologizing, and maybe things will be sorted out," explained, not taking her eyes off the shy girl, with a hint of hope in her eyes.
"I don't think that would be a good idea," Sunset intervened, shaking her head slightly.
"Why not?" Rainbow asked, turning her head to look at both of them.
"Well, you might end up making the situation even worse," Twilight began. "Imagine if you apologize for something you think caused her distance, but then you mention something that makes her feel misunderstood. That could just make things worse."
"Ugh... hadn't thought of it that way," Rainbow admitted, thoughtfully. "I wouldn't want her to end up avoiding me or even rejecting group outings because of me."
"Have you tried inviting her out like before?" Sunset asked.
"No, it's like talking on Messenger," Rainbow replied, shrugging with some resignation.
"You should give it a try," Sunset suggested.
"Uh... I'm not sure," she hesitated.
"Where's the determined Rainbow Dash we know?" Twilight chimed in, with an encouraging tone.
"Yeah, Rainbow, are you going to let fear of a mistake hold you back? You're stronger than that," Sunset challenged.
The girl athlete stood firm at those words. "Yeah, I could give it a shot," said determinedly, straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin with resolve.
"Remember to start with a good conversation starter," Twilight suggested.
"Come on, Twilight, who are you talking to?" Rainbow said, crossing her arms with arrogance.
Twilight signaled Rainbow to approach Fluttershy, who was taking some things out of her backpack. The girl athlete began walking forward.
"Do you think she'll make it?" Sunset asked, looking at the athlete with curiosity.
"If she chooses her words wisely, maybe," Twilight replied, watching as Rainbow headed toward Fluttershy.
Rainbow approached the animal lover with confidence, but as soon as she reached her side, she felt a knot in her stomach.
"Hey, Fluttershy," she greeted with a forced smile, leaning against a locker. "Have you seen the new murals in the gym? They're amazing!"
Twilight slapped her forehead and Sunset shook her head, fighting the urge to laugh at Rainbow's unexpected choice to start the conversation.
Fluttershy nodded. "Yes, I saw them," replied briefly before continuing to put her things away.
The athlete shifted her eyes a bit. "Did you like them? I thought the artist really captured the essence of... well, whatever they're trying to convey," commented.
Fluttershy glanced up briefly, but her gaze was distant. "Yes, they were fine," replied, returning to her task, leaving Rainbow feeling uncomfortable.
The athlete felt frustrated by her inability to maintain a meaningful conversation. "Well, is there anything more interesting that's happened lately?"
The pink-haired girl shook her head, not looking up. "Not really," responded as she now put some books in her backpack.
Fluttershy's lack of response left Rainbow feeling even more uneasy. "Ah, well... okay then," murmured, not knowing what else to say.
Rainbow glanced at Sunset and Twilight out of the corner of her eye, noticing Sunset signaling her with her hand in an attempt to bring up the other topic.
"Would you like to go to the movies this Saturday?" the athlete asked, a mix of hope and anxiety in her voice.
"The movies?" Fluttershy asked, apparently considering the idea.
"Yes! You could even pick the movie," Rainbow suggested, trying to sound enthusiastic.
The shy girl considered it for a moment. "That would be... wait, will Applejack and you be there?" asked.
"Well... she would have to be, although not necessarily," the athlete responded, trying to sound calm despite her nervousness. "It would be fun if we went out... if AJ goes, the three of us would have fun," she added, forcing a smile.
Fluttershy sighed regretfully. "I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash, I remembered I already have plans for that day. Maybe next time."
"Oh, okay. Next time then," responded resignedly.
Fluttershy closed her backpack and her locker. "I have to go, Rainbow Dash. See you later," said, turning around and walking away.
"Yeah, see you." Rainbow sighed, feeling frustrated.
After the animal lover went on her way, Sunset and Twilight approached.
"That was... um..." Sunset tried to find the right words, feeling empathy for her friend's situation.
"Your clothes and now murals," Twilight said incredulously, but with a hint of amusement in her tone.
"I just said what came to mind at the moment," Rainbow mentioned, trying to downplay it.
After the comment, Sunset frowned. "There were no murals, were there?" she asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.
"No, I made them up," Rainbow admitted.
"So, Fluttershy just played along with you," Twilight concluded with a raised eyebrow, intrigued by the revelation.
"It seems so."
Sunset frowned, surprised. "Really? That's odd," commented, thoughtfully.
Twilight nodded, reflecting on the situation. "Yes, it's a bit unusual."
"I was also surprised, but I was more focused on talking about something and then asking her why she played along," Rainbow confessed, with a tone of bewilderment in her voice.
In another hallway of lockers, Pinkie Pie was skipping along and greeting everyone as usual. Suddenly, she stopped upon seeing Rarity further ahead. She was close enough to be seen but far enough for the fashionista not to notice her presence. Pinkie thought about approaching, something she had wanted to do since Rarity returned. She lowered her head, lost in her thoughts.
Three years ago: That day
In the school hallway, the atmosphere was very tense. Pinkie Pie and the others were near a broken showcase, with Rarity standing in front of them, trying to explain.
"But listen, listen!" exclaimed Rarity, desperately trying to justify her actions. "There was a reason behind what I did. It wasn't my intention to hurt anyone."
Sunset interrupted sharply. "A reason? That doesn't justify anything, Rarity! You had no right to do what you did."
"Do you think that reason would change anything? You betrayed us. Or rather, you betrayed me. You can't just excuse yourself and expect everything to go back to how it was," said Rainbow, her voice filled with disappointment.
Remember how Fluttershy told you she considered you a friend. Those words echoed in Rarity's head. After that silence, Pinkie pulled something out of her pocket.
"Do you know what this is?" asked the party girl, with a serious tone.
"A deflated balloon?" Rarity asked.
"It's punctured, it's what you did. You punctured the balloon of joy... and friendship," said Pinkie with seriousness and a touch of sadness in her voice. "The friendship we had built together. I don't know if I can look at you the same way again..."
Remember how the fashionista had lowered her gaze and then turned it towards the blonde, who despite not saying anything, her silence spoke volumes, making Rarity feel the weight of her gaze. Within seconds, the fashionista's gaze returned to the party girl. "Pinkie, please understand... I don't know what came over me. It was a moment of weakness, a foolishness..."
"A foolishness?" Pinkie replied, her voice trembling with emotion. "Is that really an excuse, Rarity?"
The girls had nodded in agreement, showing expressions of disappointment on their faces. None found anything valid to justify the actions of the fashionista.
"We understand that people make mistakes, but what you did affected all of us. You failed us, Rarity. You failed us all," said Fluttershy, her voice full of sadness.
"Failed us? You have no idea what you're saying! I..." she began to protest, but the stern looks from her friends left her speechless.
Pinkie was surprised by what the fashionista said at that moment. She still remembers the harsh words Rainbow and Twilight said to her for that sudden attitude. Maybe before she didn't understand why Rarity showed that side. But now Pinkie has an idea of why.
"I just... I..."
"You know why you can't say anything? It's because you have no excuses," declared Twilight, crossing her arms.
Present
"Maybe if I had one..." Pinkie murmured, still with her head down. She pushed that thought aside and began to take a few steps towards the fashionista.
As she approached, she looked around, observing the lockers and the students using them. Some were open, with students rummaging through or leaving their belongings. She saw a boy who seemed downcast and felt the urge to approach and cheer him up, but then noticed another student trying to do the same. She experienced a sense of déjà vu witnessing that scene.
Three Years Ago
Pinkie Pie walked through the hallways with a somber expression. Her friends immediately noticed the change from her usual bubbly demeanor.
"Are you okay, Pinkie?" Twilight asked, concerned.
Pinkie sighed, looking down. "I don't know, girls. I've been feeling a bit down lately. I can't shake the feeling that nothing I do is good enough."
"Oh, Pinkie, that can't be true!" exclaimed Rarity, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're the spark that brightens our lives. Without you, our adventures wouldn't be half as fun."
"But I feel like I'm always trying to be funnier, more exciting, and it's never enough," murmured Pinkie.
Rainbow gave her a friendly tap on the shoulder. "Pinkie, you're the best at being yourself. Don't try to be anything else, okay?"
Applejack, Fluttershy, and Sunset Shimmer, who had just arrived, joined the group, looking at the party girl with concern.
"Pinkie, are you alright? You don't seem very lively today," the girl farmer asked.
"Do you need a hug? We're here for you," Fluttershy said.
Pinkie let out a sigh. "I just feel a little disheartened lately, like I'm struggling to fit into a mold that just isn't mine."
"Hey, Pinkie, I get how you feel," began Sunset, sympathetically. "We all have days when we question ourselves. But remember, you don't have to be perfect or meet anyone else's expectations."
"Exactly. Darling, real fun doesn't come from trying to be someone else, it comes from being yourself," Rarity said softly. "You're unique, Pinkie, and that's what makes you so special."
The other girls nodded in agreement. With the support of her friends, Pinkie Pie felt a little light return to her heart. She knew that no matter what, she could always count on them to lift her spirits.
"Thanks, girls," Pinkie said with a sincere smile. "You always know how to make me feel better! I'm grateful to have such amazing friends like you!"
With a comforted smile, she looked at her friends with gratitude in her eyes, feeling the warmth and love they radiated.
Present
Exiting that memory, Pinkie paused her steps; a small doubt invaded her. "She betrayed our trust," she remembered Twilight's words. "I'm sure we can trust her again," she murmured to herself.
The party girl struggled between being loyal to her friends' words or following her gut feeling. She looked at the fashionista again and then glanced around, undecided about what to do. She stepped back, turning around, and began to walk quickly, bumping into some students along the way.
"Careful, Pinkie," said a boy with blue hair.
"Flash, sorry, I was... um..." Pinkie began, searching for an excuse. "I'm just in a hurry... I remembered I had rehearsal with the Rainbooms," Pinkie replied, trying to get out of the awkward situation.
"Aren't some of them supposed to have classes?" Flash asked.
"Then, wrong day. See you, guys," Pinkie bid farewell, hurrying off.
"What was that?" Ringo asked, furrowing his brow slightly.
"Pinkie being Pinkie?" Sandalwood suggested with a playful smile.
"That Pinkie is always in her own world," Brawly commented, chuckling. "You never know what to expect from her."
Flash's group began to walk, leaving Pinkie behind.
"Rarity..." Flash greeted, approaching with his friends.
"Flash, guys," Rarity responded, returning the greeting. The boys walked past. Then, Rarity returned her gaze to her notebook from the previous class. "Just when Mom asked about classes, I told her everything was fine, but now that I'm going to tell her...," thought with concern.
"Hey Rarity," greeted Lyra, snapping the fashionista out of her thoughts.
"Lyra..." Rarity greeted, looking up.
"Did you notice they're not talking about you anymore?" Lyra remarked. Rarity raised an eyebrow. "It's true that maybe we left out some things from the gossip and they could take what really happened out of context." added, smiling nervously.
After a few seconds, Rarity nodded. "Yes, it seems rumors can easily spiral out of control in this place, right? Fortunately, what happened wasn't big enough to be heavily gossiped about," she replied.
"Exactly," Lyra nodded. "People forget about these things quickly," she said optimistically, though in her mind, she thought that if the gossip was potent enough, it could linger.
"Yeah, you're right," Rarity said.
Lyra looked around. "For being the new girl who catches the attention of many, I'm surprised other students aren't approaching you to be your friend or go out with you," she commented curiously, changing the subject.
Rarity lowered her gaze, feeling a knot in her stomach. "As you said, I'm new here and still getting to know people..." responded cautiously.
"Well, you'll make more friends soon. If you consider me a friend or acquaintance, I'm still here if you need anything," Lyra offered.
"Thank you, Lyra," Rarity said gratefully. "Regarding dating someone, I admit I've seen many cute guys who caught my eye, but for now, I don't have any plans to date."
"Of course, Rarity! It's important to do what makes you feel most comfortable and happy," Lyra said kindly.
After the conversation, Rarity stored her things in her locker and then began to walk with Lyra through the university halls.
Parking lot  
Once classes were over, the Mane Six gathered in the parking lot, waiting for their siblings.
Rainbow tried to force a smile as she spoke with Fluttershy. "I can't wait to see my sister. I'm sure she has something exciting to tell us," said.
Fluttershy nodded. "Yes, I'm sure she does," replied.
Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie watched her friends closely and frowned upon noticing the tension in the air. "Girls, are you okay? I can sense something in the air," commented, breaking the silence.
The other girls glanced at each other, knowing that Pinkie could tell when things were tense or when the girls were feeling down. Dash sighed. "Things have happened," she said.
"They're probably like this because exams are coming up," Twilight intervened, lying, knowing the real reason.
"Is it because of what Rainbow told us about Fluttershy? She must have tried something and failed," Pinkie thought. Always ready to lift spirits, she proposed an idea. "I have an idea! How about we have an outing on Friday? Plus, we get out earlier on Fridays. We could go see a movie or go out to dinner together," she suggested enthusiastically.
The girls nodded in agreement, looking forward to the idea of spending time together. Twilight and Sunset glanced at the animal lover and the athlete. If Rainbow couldn't invite her, at least going out together would be the next best thing.
After agreeing, the girls headed to their respective vehicles, except for Rainbow and Applejack, who were still in the same place.
The farmer let go of Rainbow's arm, and the athlete stepped back a bit. "See you later," Rainbow said, her voice neutral.
"See you," Applejack replied with a faint smile, watching Rainbow walk away before joining Pinkie, who was waiting with a bright smile.
Sunset watched the scene from her motorcycle. "Okay, that's the most normal...," muttered to herself. "Seriously, that already—" her thoughts were interrupted when he saw the pink haired girl
Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were the only ones without vehicles. There was no problem with Pinkie, as she would go with Applejack, while Fluttershy could only walk or take a taxi, unless her friends suggested giving her a ride.
"Fluttershy, do you want a ride?" suggested.
Fluttershy, with a slight expression of nervousness on her face, replied, "Speed isn't my thing, but still, thank you... I hope it doesn't bother you."
"Sure thing, don't worry," Sunset said, offering a sympathetic smile. "It's funny how in some mechanical games she likes speed."
Just then, Twilight approached. "I can give you a ride," offered kindly.
"Thank you, Twilight," Fluttershy accepted, grateful for her friend's suggestion. "Spike still hasn't arrived?"
"No, not yet," Twilight replied.
"Goodbye, Sunset, and sorry again," the pink-haired girl bid farewell, heading towards Twilight's car with a apologetic expression.
"Goodbye, and don't worry," Sunset replied with a smile, watching Fluttershy walk away.
The blonde reached her truck and stood next to the party girl, both leaning against it.
"Pinkie, are you okay?" Applejack asked, watching her cousin closely.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" Pinkie replied, trying to maintain a smile on her face.
"You suggested we go out on Friday, besides cheering up the others as you always do, is also for you, something is wrong, isn't it?" the blonde pointed out.
"Oh, well, um..." she hesitated, trying to find the right words.
"Do you want to talk about it?" the blonde asked, with a tone of understanding.
"How could I bring up Rarity's example without her noticing?" thought. She knows her cousin can recognize when someone is lying. "Could it be a no for now?" asked, with a nervous smile. It wasn't really a lie.
"Alright, but isn't it something I should be concerned about?" the blonde insisted, showing her concern.
"No, there's nothing to worry about," Pinkie assured her.
Applejack knew there was something, but she respected her wish not to talk about it for the time being, so she decided to leave it at that.
With the conversation over, they continued to wait until finally the sisters, or in Twilight's case, the brother, arrived in the parking lot and got into their respective vehicles.
Getting out at a corner from Twilight's car and bidding farewell, Fluttershy headed to her house's door. She opened the door and entered with a sigh of relief. Instantly, she was greeted by her mother, who was preparing something in the kitchen.
"Hello, dear! How was your day?" the mother asked with a warm smile.
Fluttershy returned the smile. "It was... fine, mom," she replied.
From the living room, her father's voice was heard. "Fluttershy, you're home!" he greeted happily. "I hope you had a good day."
"Yes, dad, thank you," she replied as she made her way up the stairs to her room.
Upon reaching the hallway, she encountered her younger brother, Zephyr, who was busy playing his guitar in his room.
"How's it going, Flutters?" Zephyr greeted with a carefree smile.
The pink-haired girl returned the greeting with a small smile. "Hi, Zephyr," she replied.
Unlike Fluttershy, Zephyr had chosen not to attend college and instead decided to work.
"How was work?" She asked.
"Not bad, the day flew by," her brother responded. "And how was your day?" he asked.
"Ah... the usual, nothing new to report," she replied kindly, still thinking about her conversation with Rainbow. "I'm going to my room," she said before heading to her own room.
Once inside, she closed the door behind her and flopped down on her bed with a sigh. "I almost thought it would work..."
The conversation with Rainbow had been uncomfortable, like many others lately. She had hoped that the movie invitation would be an opportunity to reconnect, but once again, things didn't go as she had hoped.
The animal lover closed her eyes, recalling every word of the conversation. Her attempts to keep the conversation light, her forced smile. But no matter how hard she tried, there was always a barrier between them, a distance.
"I knew how it was all going to end," muttered to herself, feeling the weight of disappointment on her shoulders.
She got up from the bed and walked over to her desk. There, lay a small framed photograph.
The photo showed Fluttershy alongside Rainbow Dash and her other four friends, smiling and laughing together. They had been taken at a happier time. But now, looking at the photo, she realized how much things had changed.
A pang of sadness pierced her heart as she looked at the image. How had they come to this point? How had they gone from being best friends to barely being able to hold a conversation?
With a resigned sigh, Fluttershy put the photo back in its place and sank into her chair. She couldn't help but feel nostalgic for the good times, but she also knew she had to accept the reality of the situation.
Author's Note
Regarding flashbacks, I have three varieties. The first is from a character's point of view, as happened in the previous chapter. Second, even though it's a memory of one character, I'm going to show others' points of view, even though that character doesn't know what happened. And third, whether with the previous two mentioned, the character may remember and at some point return to the present, but remember again what happened later. That ends once I put present.
I had a lot of fun doing the drama queen scenes
-When Rarity is alone eating in the cafeteria and feels the heavy gazes of her friends, I based it on my experience when she went to school. I was the one who sat alone when my colleagues I used to sit with were absent (there were only 3). I was going to eat on the side of a table, but a comparison is that I was the one who looked at other former classmates :( It's not that we were fighting, it's just that, as usually happens when we pass classes, they combined us and we separated.
Have you already joined the threads and suspect about Fluttershy?
Why do you think Rarity took those classes?
As you may have noticed, I changed Bulk Biceps' age, making him a professor, the same will happen with another recurring character.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                    Fun and Discussion                     
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Fun and Discussion
It was already Friday and, as they had agreed during the week, they all met at the entrance of the mall. After waiting for everyone to arrive, they finally decided to go in to enjoy their outing together.
"Wow, it's been so long since we came to the mall together!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed with enthusiasm, jumping up and down with joy.
"Yes, it's going to be great!" Fluttershy agreed with a smile.
Sunset looked around, observing the stores. "It's nice to go out and do something fun together."
"Totally," Twilight agreed. "It's good to take a break from our studies once in a while."
As they walked through the corridors full of stores, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were a little behind the group, chatting with each other.
"What do you think about going to that electronics store?" suggested the farmer, pointing to a store that displayed the latest technological gadgets.
Rainbow glanced at the pink-haired girl; it seemed that Pinkie was asking her to go with her. They were all together, so if she hadn't managed to invite her during the week of classes, at least she could try to strike up a conversation with her. She looked at the farmer to respond. "Fine by me."
Meanwhile, Fluttershy and Pinkie decided to venture to a candy store they had seen nearby, excited about the prospect of enjoying some sweet treats together.
"Look! They have a great variety of candies!" Pinkie exclaimed, pointing to the shelves full of sweets.
Fluttershy smiled shyly and nodded. "Yes, they look very delicious."
The party girl picked up a handful of different flavored candies and put them in a bag. "Let's try a little bit of everything!"
Twilight stopped in front of a bookstore and was mesmerized by the books adorning the shelves. "Oh, look at all these novels," she whispered in admiration.
Sunset approached her and smiled. "Do you want to go in and take a closer look?"
Twilight nodded, and together they entered the bookstore to explore the titles and immerse themselves in the stories.
Meanwhile, Applejack and Rainbow Dash continued exploring the electronics store, examining the latest models of phones and tablets with interest.
"Have you seen these new headphones?" Applejack pointed to a particular model on the shelf. "They say they have incredible sound quality."
"Uh-huh," Rainbow responded, barely paying attention.
"Is something wrong?" asked the blonde, noticing how distracted Rainbow was.
"Uh-huh," murmured again, her gaze lost in the store's horizon.
Seeing that the athlete wasn't paying attention, Applejack decided to change her approach.
"I hope you don't consider this as the group date you wanted to have," said the farmer, crossing her arms and looking at her intently.
"Uh-" Rainbow started until she processed what her girlfriend had said. "What?!" exclaimed in surprise.
"It's what you said the other time," Applejack continued in a firmer tone. "And now you're finally listening to me."
"Seriously, blondie, you're bringing this up now?"
"It's just that you seem more distracted than usual on our dates," Applejack said, showing her frustration.
"Wait, is that why you suggested coming to the electronics section? To talk about this?" Rainbow asked, frowning.
"Not exactly. You seemed distracted, and I thought, 'Hey, maybe I need to talk to my girlfriend to see if something's wrong,' and since you weren't listening, I brought up this topic," she explained, with a hint of irritation in her voice.
"Ah... you could have just asked me earlier," Rainbow said, annoyed.
"Okay, maybe I should have done it differently," the farmer admitted, still visibly upset. "Is everything okay? Does it have something to do with Fluttershy or is it something else?" she asked in the same tone.
"How do you know about that?" the athlete asked.
"It's pretty obvious," Applejack replied, with a mix of annoyance and concern in her voice.
"I'll just say, I don't know exactly what's going on," Rainbow said, frustrated.
"You don't know exactly what's going on? What kind of answer is that?" Applejack asked, her tone harder.
"It's the honest answer, I don't know what's wrong with Fluttershy," Rainbow replied, growing more upset.
Applejack took a deep breath. "Alright... any progress on that?" she asked, more calmly.
"Nothing," Rainbow replied, frustrated.
"Okay."
They stayed silent for a moment.
"So?" Applejack asked, trying to break the silence.
"So?" the athlete replied.
Applejack rolled her eyes. "Maybe we should have another outing. Last time I canceled, and I told you about that place. Plus, you haven't suggested any place."
"Alright, let me think," Rainbow responded, with a serious look.
"And don't even think about suggesting a bar," she added, with a warning tone.
Rainbow frowned, about to say something, but decided to keep it to herself. "How about going bowling?" she finally proposed.
After exploring the stores for a while, the Mane Six gathered in the center of the mall.
"Well, where do we go now?" Applejack asked, looking at her friends with a smile.
"We could go to the games and then the food court," suggested Pinkie enthusiastically.
"Or to the food court and then the games," proposed Twilight thoughtfully.
Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "I vote for the games," she affirmed with determination.
Sunset nodded. "I say we eat first," she added.
The girls looked at Fluttershy and Applejack, waiting for a tiebreaker.
"I'm fine with either option," said Fluttershy in her usual soft voice.
Applejack smiled. "I'm also okay with either option," added.
"seriously!" complained Rainbow, looking at her girlfriend.
"You asked me to decide, and I did," the farmer responded calmly.
"Why don't we play Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide? It's fair," suggested Sunset, trying to mediate.
"Yes, I love that idea! Let's play!" exclaimed Pinkie, excited.
The others nodded. After several rounds, they finally came to a decision. In the end, they decided to go to the games first and then have lunch.
What the Mane Six didn't know was that in another part of the mall, a girl with wavy violet hair was with her family.
Cookie was leading the expedition, carefully looking at each storefront, while Sweetie Belle and Rarity followed her excitedly, occasionally stopping to look at the displayed products.
"Look at this beautiful dress!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle, pointing to an elegant dress in one of the shop windows.
Cookie stopped next to her, evaluating the dress. "It's quite striking, but don't you think it's a bit too much for you, Sweetie?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Rarity joined the group, examining the dress with expertise. "I agree with Mother. Maybe you should look for something more suitable for your age," she suggested while adjusting her purse.
Hondo approached. "Well, Sweetie, how about that outfit we saw in the previous store? I think it would look great on you," he recalled with a smile.
Sweetie Belle nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I loved that outfit. Let's go find it," said excitedly.
As they continued exploring the mall, the Belles enjoyed their time together, taking advantage of this rare opportunity for a family outing since their return to the city.
As the girls entered the arcade, they found themselves immersed in a lively environment full of bright lights. Around them, they saw a variety of arcade games, from classic pinball machines to the most modern virtual reality games. The sound of coins dropping into machines and the laughter of players filled the air with joy.
"This looks awesome!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie with enthusiasm, pointing towards the various options in front of them.
Fluttershy smiled shyly as she observed the bright Air Hockey table in the corner of the arcade. "I think I'd like to try this game," she said, pointing to the table.
Twilight nodded enthusiastically. "Great! It looks fun. Let's play."
Together, they approached the table, where Twilight inserted some coins and picked up a plastic mallet. Fluttershy chose the other mallet with an eager smile. Each of them hit the puck with the mallet. The pink-haired girl moved gently, while Twilight adopted a more focused stance, calculating each move.
Meanwhile, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Sunset headed toward the basketball machine, where they could score as many shots as possible in a given time. Each one had a ball in hand, ready to have fun.
"Come on girls, let's start the fun!" exclaimed Sunset, smiling with excitement.
"Yeah, I'm ready for a good time!" added Rainbow, preparing to throw her first ball.
Applejack nodded. "This is gonna be great! Let's see who can make the most baskets!"
They started throwing the balls, enjoying the game and cheering each other on. Each one tried to make the best plays.
Applejack threw the ball hard, but it bounced off the rim and flew away. The blonde frowned as she missed.
"Almost got it! You were so close," commented Sunset.
"I know, I almost had it! Oh well," responded Applejack.
Rainbow, with determination, concentrated to throw. "You know, this could be like our training for when we start with basketball," she said almost jokingly.
"Yeah, definitely! But we still don't know what's next after volleyball. Soccer or basketball?" said Sunset. After Rainbow, Sunset took another ball and positioned herself to shoot towards the hoop.
"Hmm, good question," said Applejack, waiting her turn.
With Twilight and Fluttershy nearly finishing their game, they moved the mallet, exchanging laughs and comments as they tried to win.
Finally, after an exchange of hits, Twilight managed to score the last point, securing her victory. Fluttershy congratulated her friend on a game well played.
The two moved away from the Air Hockey table, looking for another game that was free to play.
Pinkie Pie was immersed in one of the virtual reality shooting games, moving from side to side while exclaiming, "Pow! Pow! Take that, villains!" She took a few steps back as if avoiding attacks. "I'm on a winning streak!" she said after shooting again, then jumped for joy when she hit the last enemy.
After taking off the virtual reality visor, Pinkie looked around, her eyes lighting up with joy when she spotted the Dance Dance Revolution machine. As she approached, she saw Fluttershy and Twilight.
"Hey girls, want to play?" asked Pinkie, excited, pointing to the dance machine.
"Sure," said Twilight, looking at the machine. "This is your favorite, isn't it?" she asked with a smile.
"Yes, I love it," responded Pinkie with joy.
"Who goes first?" asked the pink-haired girl.
"Why don't you go first, Fluttershy?" suggested Pinkie.
"Okay," the animal lover agreed.
Both stepped onto the platform and, after inserting the coins, began to move to the rhythm of the music in an exciting game of Dance Dance Revolution. Twilight watched.
After a few minutes of fun, Sunset thought about leaving the couple alone. "Girls, I'm going to try another game," she announced. "But you keep having fun, see you later."
"Sure," said Rainbow with a smile.
Applejack nodded. "Yeah, see you later."
As Sunset walked away, the farmer looked at the athlete. "What do you think, Rainbow? Ready to compete?" Applejack challenged with a smile, inserting more coins to start the game from scratch.
Rainbow accepted the challenge with a determined look; she would never turn down one. "Of course! Get ready to lose, Blondie."
Both began throwing the ball skillfully, competing with each other to see who could score the most points. The competition between the farmer and the athlete intensified with every passing second.
"That's another point for me! Can you feel the pressure?" the athlete teased, with an arrogant smile on her face.
Applejack frowned, focusing on her next throw and scoring. "Oh, I'm sorry, Dash, did you think I was going to let you win that easily? You're about to see what I can do."
As Sunset walked, she saw her three friends at the Dance Dance Revolution machine. Fluttershy watched with curiosity, while Twilight tried to keep up with the rhythm but couldn't match Pinkie's moves, who was dominating the game. The party girl won again and then saw her other friend.
"Hey, Sunset! Want to join us? It's one of my favorite games, and I want a challenge!" exclaimed Pinkie, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
The red-and-yellow-haired girl approached them. "Sure, why not?" she replied with a smile.
"Let's see if you can beat her," Twilight said as she stepped down from the platform, looking exhausted and leaning on her knee.
"Let's see if I can," Sunset chuckled lightly, seeing her friends tired. She stepped onto the platform and prepared for the challenge. Pinkie inserted another coin into the machine to start the game.
"It still amazes me how Pinkie doesn't get tired with all her movements," commented Twilight with a tired smile.
"I guess we shouldn't be surprised anymore, but she still manages to," said Fluttershy with a small laugh. "It's like Rainbow and sports."
"Exactly. Many wonder how she doesn't get tired. Well, she used to, but her body got used to the effort, and most people don't consider that it's not all physical; she must learn some psychological skills," Twilight continued.
"That doesn't exempt her from getting hurt by overexerting herself," expressed Fluttershy with a bit of concern.
"You know Rainbow, despite being a bit irresponsible, knows her limits. She wouldn't overexert herself unless she wanted to, but it has never happened," Twilight explained, nodding.
"You're right," Fluttershy said, relaxing a bit.
"By the way, where could she be?" Twilight wondered, frowning as she looked around.
"She might be at another game, or if Applejack isn't here, they might be together," Fluttershy deduced, shrugging.
"That's most likely," Twilight said, thoughtfully. "Hmm... Fluttershy has been with Pinkie and me, and for now, it seems they haven't spent much time together. We still have the afternoon for something to happen, and if not, another day it will be." Twilight looked back to see if she could spot Rainbow, then turned her attention back, glancing sideways at the pink-haired girl. "What could have happened? Rainbow said it all started when she arrived at Canterlot's Side A. Although they were still close, at some point something happened that made Fluttershy distance herself, and now they can barely talk. It really surprised me when I saw them talking that day. You could feel the tension and awkwardness in the air..." she thought, recalling the conversation. "Wait, Fluttershy was about to accept Dash's outing until she mentioned Applejack... Hmm, it has something to do with Applejack," she came out of her thoughts, still needing to analyze the situation to know if her blonde friend was really involved. She then turned her attention to Pinkie and Sunset's showdown.
In another part of the arcade, the shots continued, quick and precise, as both girls tried to outdo each other. However, as the score evened out, the atmosphere became more tense.
"You're cheating, Rainbow! It's obvious you're shaking the machine to favor yourself!" accused Applejack, frustrated by her lack of success.
Rainbow frowned, indignant at the accusation. "That's ridiculous, Applejack! You're making excuses because you can't keep up with me. But I'm not going to let you get away with it."
The argument intensified, with both girls exchanging insults and accusations as the competition became more aggressive.
The other four girls had reached the basketball machine. After playing, they decided to look for the two remaining girls until they found them, but not as they expected.
"Oh no, not again," said Twilight, frowning and shaking her head.
"I think we should've gone to the food court," commented Pinkie with a frustrated grimace at seeing both girls immersed in the argument.
"I guess it's my fault for leaving them alone at that game," admitted Sunset.
"Are they really going to start this again?" Fluttershy commented with a worried tone before heading towards her two friends.
The four knew well how competitive Applejack and Rainbow Dash could get when they challenged each other; sometimes it bothered them, but they were their friends, so they had to accept that competitive side of them.
"Girls, shouldn't we relax a bit?" Fluttershy timidly intervened, trying to calm them down.
But Applejack and Rainbow were too caught up in their rivalry to listen to her. They continued arguing, ignoring the rest of the group watching them.
Fluttershy looked at Sunset Shimmer, Twilight, and Pinkie Pie, hoping one of them would try to stop them. Sunset was about to take the initiative to stop the argument, but was surprised to see the party girl step forward and address the two.
"That's enough, girls!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie finally, raising her voice to be heard. "This was supposed to be a fun outing with friends, not a damn cockfight!"
Pinkie's words seemed to snap Applejack and Rainbow out of their trance. They looked at each other, taking deep breaths as they put aside their rivalry.
These are some of the few times Pinkie is seen angry, and it always surprises her friends, as she is usually the cheerful and euphoric one in the group, and doesn't seem to worry much about what happens.
"You're right, Pinkie," admitted Applejack. "We should relax and enjoy our time together."
Rainbow nodded with a smile. "Yeah, we definitely need to chill out a bit. How about we go grab something to eat as we planned?"
The others nodded in relief, grateful that the tension had dissipated. Together, they left the games behind and headed to the mall's food court, ready to enjoy a relaxed meal.
The Belle family was strolling through the clothing store, observing the different styles. Cookie, always with a critical eye, examined the garments closely, while Sweetie Belle and Rarity made comments and pointed out things that caught their attention.
"Oh, look at those shoes! They're perfect for your outfit, Rarity," suggested her younger sister, pointing to a pair of elegant heels.
Rarity smiled and nodded. "You're right, Sweetie!" She looked at the heels and then said, "But I think I have a similar pair at home, so I'll leave these for someone who really needs them."
Sweetie Belle nodded and headed to the blouse section.
The fashionista continued browsing clothes with Cookie following closely. "Look, Mother, that dress is absolutely charming!" exclaimed Rarity, stopping in front of an elegant evening gown.
Cookie, with a thoughtful smile, nodded. "Yes, dear, it's very pretty. But remember, you need something you can wear both for special occasions and day-to-day."
"I know, Mother, I'm just admiring the craftsmanship," replied Rarity.
Meanwhile, Hondo, the only man in the group, watched patiently from the side, observing with interest the women's choices.
"Are you looking for something?" asked a sales assistant nearby with a friendly smile.
Hondo nodded with a smile. "Yes, we're looking for some clothes for my daughters and my wife. It's a family shopping day," he replied.
The assistant paused and commented with curiosity, "You're the only man in the family, right?"
Hondo chuckled softly. "That's right, I'm the only man among all these women. Imagine what it's like at home!"
The assistant smiled understandingly. "I completely get it. I'm the only woman in my family, so I know how it feels."
Hondo nodded in solidarity. "It's a challenge, but at the end of the day, they mean everything to me."
The assistant nodded with a smile. "Exactly, family is the most important thing."
"Dad, look," Sweetie Belle exclaimed, holding out a shirt.
"Have a nice day, sir." The assistant smiled as she bid farewell and walked away to continue her work. Hondo nodded gratefully to the assistant as she walked away, then turned towards his younger daughter and began to walk towards her.
"What do you think?" she asked, holding a plaid shirt in front of her. "Do you think this color suits me?"
Her father looked at the shirt. "Hmm, it's not bad, but I think a lighter tone would suit you better," he suggested.
"You're right," the younger girl agreed.
Meanwhile, Rarity couldn't resist having a little fun. She picked up a black leather jacket she had been eyeing, walked over to her father, and put it on him. "What do you think, Dad? Do you think this style suits you?" she asked, barely containing her laughter.
Hondo chuckled softly. "I think these are a bit too much for me, Rarity. But they'd look great on you."
"Oh, come on, Dad! Just try it for fun," Sweetie Belle urged.
Hondo decided to join in the fun and put on the jacket, causing laughter among the women in the family. He looked at himself in the nearest mirror and, to everyone's surprise, he looked quite good. "Not bad. What do you think, Cookie?"
Cookie couldn't contain her laughter at seeing her husband in the leather jacket. "I think it's an interesting look, dear," replied with a smile.
"You're quite the gentleman, Dad," added Sweetie Belle.
Rarity took out her phone and captured the moment with a photo. "This definitely goes into my favorite memories," said with a smile.
"Rarity, can you send it to me so I can share it with Auntie?" the youngest requested.
"It would be better to keep it private for now. Maybe we can share it later," said Hondo, embarrassed by the situation.
"Yes, it's better not to involve her right now. You know how my sister is, always so... cautious," Cookie responded seriously.
After having fun trying on different clothes and taking pictures for memories, the Belle family finally decided on the items they would take home.
Rarity watched attentively with her parents as the items were being checked out at the register. The cashier indicated the total, and she was ready to pay, but suddenly, her parents exchanged worried looks.
"Don't you have the card, dear?" her mother asked, frowning as she checked her purse.
Hondo searched his pants pocket and shook his head.
"Could it be that we left it in the car?" Rarity quickly deduced, trying to stay calm.
"Possibly, we might have dropped it while checking that we had everything," said her father, putting a hand to his forehead.
"Rarity, dear, could you go fetch it?" her mother asked.
The fashionista nodded with determination. "Of course, Mother. Don't worry, I'll be back in a minute," she replied firmly, before turning and heading towards the store exit.
However, as she started walking, she was abruptly interrupted when she encountered the Mane Six, who appeared unexpectedly in her path. Her heart skipped a beat upon seeing them.
"Rarity!" exclaimed Pinkie with surprise, catching the attention of the rest of the group.
The other gazes turned towards Rarity, and she found herself caught in the center of their attention.
Rarity took a deep breath, determined to address the uncomfortable situation. "Girls, I've been wanting to talk to you..." she began, but before she could finish her sentence, the girls started walking away.
The fashionista clenched her fists. "Wait...!" exclaimed, her brow furrowed. "I really want to apologize for what happened," she said with a tone of desperation. "I'm truly sorry, but..."
Some of the girls abruptly stopped, turning to look at her with clearly visible expressions of annoyance on their faces.
"But?" Twilight asked incredulously.
"A 'but' in an apology? Seriously..." said Sunset, her voice containing a mixture of surprise and disbelief.
Rarity realized what she had said and grimaced at her mistake. "I misspoke, that's not how I wanted it to sound," she admitted.
"It's not just that, you approach us as if nothing happened, and it's not the first time," Applejack interjected, with an indifferent tone.
Fluttershy nodded sadly. "I don't know if I'm ready to listen to you."
Pinkie nodded silently, her eyes reflecting a mix of compassion and sadness. The athlete just sighed and looked at her seriously.
Twilight sighed and commented, "You know we always supported you and you..." Pinkie and the others, upon hearing those words from Twilight, looked at her.
Three years ago: that day  
Fluttershy, Pinkie, Sunset, and Twilight were walking through the school hallways. After a while of walking, they saw Rarity taking a sip of water from the cooler and noticed her popping a pill into her mouth. The four of them had the same thought and approached their friend.
"Hey, Rarity!" greeted Pinkie.
Rarity didn't respond as she was still drinking water. After swallowing, her friends continued to inquire.
"Are you okay, Rarity?" asked Fluttershy softly, noticing the tension in her friend's shoulders.
"As if you care," Rarity muttered without thinking, feeling her friends' gaze on her.
"What?" Twilight asked, raising an eyebrow.
The fashionista blinked. "Nothing... I just have a headache..." she corrected, looking at her friends.
The four of them observed the dark circles under her eyes and the tired expression on her face. They knew she had been going through a tough time with stress and also because of her breakup with Applejack.
"You should take some time to rest," suggested Sunset. "That way you won't stress out so much."
"We're here for you, Rarity. If you need anything, just let us know," commented Twilight nervously. She was worried about her friend.
Rarity felt overwhelmed by her friends' support, but at the same time, a sense of loneliness washed over her. "Thanks, girls," she said with a weak attempt at a smile.
"We care about you, Rarity," said Fluttershy, giving her a gentle pat on the shoulder, although for some reason, she felt uneasy doing so.
"I hope Pinkie's words helped her; I wish I had been there to support her," thought Twilight.
Despite feeling the support of her friends, Rarity sensed a tense atmosphere, and the others noticed it too.
Rarity discarded the cup in the trash can. "I think I should get some fresh air," she said, though her voice sounded more subdued than usual.
The girls nodded understandingly as Rarity walked away, but once she was out of earshot, they began to exchange worried glances.
"Tell me I wasn't the only one who felt that?" Twilight asked, letting out a sigh.
"That tension in the air? Something didn't seem right," said Fluttershy with concern.
Sunset nodded slowly. "Yeah, we all definitely felt it. Do you think it has something to do with her breakup with Applejack?"
"I think that's the most obvious explanation," said Pinkie, looking downcast. "The dark circles and she seemed like she had been crying recently."
"Yeah, you're right; I don't know why I asked. She's also been stressed, but I think we can put that aside," admitted Sunset.
"Yeah, that might not be related, but it's also because of Applejack and Rainbow," added Twilight. "I hope there hasn't been any tension between them."
"Maybe we should talk to her about it," suggested Fluttershy.
With that decision made, the girls set off to find Rarity and make sure she was okay. However, none of them could imagine the chain of events that would unfold in the next few hours.
The girls stopped looking at Twilight and directed their gaze at Rarity.
"That's right, you made them, and I handled it poorly," said the fashionista, acknowledging what had been said. "Mistake after mistake," she thought sadly.
"And now onto your 'but'," said the athlete seriously. "Tell me, Belle... was anyone forcing you?"
"Forcing...?" wondered the fashionista. Rainbow looked at her with a furrowed brow, and that's when Rarity realized what she meant and lowered her gaze.
After taking a breath, Rarity walked through the hallways. She stopped, took a deep breath. She knew she would encounter the others. That feeling of hearing them flooded back to her. She lowered her head, her gaze shifting to the showcase displaying an important trophy for the institution.
An idea crossed her mind. As she got closer, she felt an internal struggle. She quickly stepped away from it, shaking her head to push those thoughts away.
"What am I thinking," she muttered to herself, clenching her fists with determination, taking steps back.
Rarity moved away from the showcase, resisting the urge to give in to her darker desires. She knew that making that impulsive decision would only bring trouble.
The girls headed to the locker hallway after waiting for Rarity to take a few minutes to talk, each with a heavy heart due to the inexplicable tension they had perceived in their interaction with her.
Finally, they reached the locker hallway, where they saw Rarity picking up books from her locker with a serious expression. The girls exchanged glances before approaching their friend. They wanted to address the issue of Applejack and Rainbow subtly. Despite their own concerns, they made an effort to keep smiles on their faces.
"Hi Rarity... again," Pinkie began a bit nervously, feigning a smile.
"Hi, girls. Is there something else?" Rarity asked, glancing at them out of the corner of her eye and returning her attention to her locker.
The girls exchanged sidelong glances and nodded.
"Rarity... I know things have been a bit... difficult for you lately," Twilight began. "Sometimes, relationships can be a real challenge, but we're here for you."
It took the fashionista a few seconds to understand what they were referring to; she simply listened.
"We want you to know that we're here for you. Friends are there to support each other, right?" expressed Sunset.
Rarity opened her eyes a bit wider but returned to her previous expression, not commenting and once again just listening.
"Exactly. We know things can be a bit confusing. If you need to talk about anything, you can always count on us," said Fluttershy.
"Of course! Friends are always there to help each other, even when things are a bit complicated. So, even though we may not fully understand what you're going through, we're here for you, Rarity," Pinkie concluded.
The girls waited nervously for her response. Despite offering her support, they felt that tension again. For some reason, Rarity turned her head in the opposite direction and seconds later looked at the girls.
"I know you'll be there," the fashionista finally responded with a half-smile.
The girls' words dissipated into the air, leaving a feeling of discomfort floating around Rarity. Just then, the sound of footsteps approached.
the fashionista looked up and saw Applejack and Rainbow Dash walking hand in hand. A wave of emotions flooded her immediately.
Rarity directed her gaze towards the blonde. However, Applejack seemed unable to meet her gaze. Her eyes shifted away, avoiding any eye contact with the fashionista.
Meanwhile, the athlete, although not showing the same avoidance as the farmer, also didn't seem entirely comfortable. Still, she kept her gaze fixed on Rarity, without looking away.
Applejack tried to break the silence, asking curiously, "What are you talking about?"
Sunset quickly responded, "Rarity was telling us about her designs," trying to hide the real reason.
The farmer frowned at the mention and turned her head.
Rainbow Dash continued the conversation. "Have you finished your designs already?"
"I just have a few more, and I'm ready," Rarity replied.
A silence fell.
Pinkie tried to break the silence and the tension that seemed to be returning now that they were all together again. "And then you'll see that you'll be recognized for your designs."
"Yes, of course you will," said Fluttershy.
"I agree, but I suggest you take some time so you won't have a headache anymore," said Twilight.
"Are you still in pain? Maybe you should take some pills," Rainbow suggested. "I have some in my locker," she added, heading to her locker and entering the combination to open it.
Rarity, despite the tension, approached to tell her that she had already taken some, but she got distracted looking at the numbers of the combination. Upon opening it, Rainbow searched and pulled out some pills, turned around, and approached the fashionista to hand them to her.
"Thank you, I had already taken some, maybe I'll take them if it doesn't go away," Rarity replied.
Rainbow nodded. Applejack glanced at the fashionista for a moment and then quickly looked away, taking the athlete's hand and pulling her close. "We should do something else while we wait for the next class," the blonde suggested, for some reason, she couldn't look the fashionista in the eyes, faking a smile.
The fashionista didn't miss that attitude. "What about going to the cafeteria?" Rarity suggested.
"Huh?" Applejack expressed.
"To the cafeteria?" asked the party girl. Pinkie put a finger on her chin. "Girls! It's taco Wednesday!" she exclaimed with joy.
"Let's go then, and then we'll head straight to our class," said Twilight, accepting the suggestion.
"Maybe if we all have lunch together, the strange tension that's forming will calm down a bit," Sunset thought.
"I'm not going to miss it," said Rainbow, starting to walk.
"Rarity?" Fluttershy asked.
"I'll be right there, I'll put away the pills and follow you," Rarity said, pointing to her locker and walking towards it.
"Okay," Pinkie said, starting to walk with the others.
Once the girls were out of sight, Rarity lowered her head and thought about following them, but something else crossed her mind. "1,6,4," she murmured and glanced at the end of the hallway leading to another hallway where the showcase was. She looked back where the girls went, thought once again. She closed her eyes after a few seconds, opened them, closed her locker, and headed to the end of the hallway opposite to where the girls went.
Present  
Rarity lifted her head, looking at the girls. "No, no one forced me to hide the trophy in your locker," she acknowledged.
Sunset, Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow looked at her with a serious expression, while Pinkie and Fluttershy looked at her with a sad expression.
"That's what I was hoping to hear," Rainbow affirmed with the same expression. "We didn't expect anything less from you."
"I think there's nothing more to talk about," said Sunset. The girls didn't say anything and started walking, but Rainbow stopped.
"You know... there's something I've wanted to tell you since you did that," she added, turning around. Rarity didn't say anything, just waited for her to speak. "I bet when you were with Applejack, you were just using her as a puppet, manipulating her everywhere, that you didn't even truly love her," she expressed.
That comment left Rarity stunned, while Applejack frowned at the remark. The other girls were also a bit surprised by the comment. With that said, Rainbow began to walk with the girls, leaving Rarity behind.
Rarity was paralyzed by the words, watching as the others left, not feeling her sister.
"Sister, do you have the card already?" Sweetie Belle asked, snapping Rarity out of her thoughts.
"What...?" Rarity asked absentmindedly.
"The card-," she was going to comment again, but stopped upon noticing something. "Are you okay? Is something wrong?" she asked, concerned.
"Why do you ask?" Rarity asked.
Her sister pointed to Rarity's face. "You have a tear on your face," she said.
The fashionista moved her hand to her face, and as Sweetie Belle said, there was a tear. She wiped it away and looked at her sister, who was looking for an explanation.
"You know, when I see something, I get very excited," she tried to explain.
Her excuse was not very believable, but Sweetie Belle bought it for the moment. "Okay, do you have the card then?"
"The card... The card!" Rarity exclaimed, remembering the initial reason they left the store. She began to walk towards the escalators.
The younger sister watched her sister, a little worried about how she saw her, but decided to put it aside. "I guess that's a no," she said, turning back to the store.
The girls sat at a table in the food court of the mall, enjoying their individually chosen meals while the hustle and bustle of the place mixed with their conversations. However, there was a palpable tension in the air since they encountered Rarity.
Pinkie nervously played with her food, glancing at Rainbow and Applejack, who were sitting together at the other end of the table. She decided to address the issue.
"Dash?" Pinkie called out to her friend.
"What's up, Pinkie?" the athlete responded, looking up from her food.
"Don't you think you went a little overboard up there just now?" Pinkie said.
"What do you mean?" Rainbow asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Well... that thing you said about Rarity and my cousin. It seemed like a bit of a... harsh comment," Pinkie continued, firmly.
Applejack nodded slowly. "Yeah, Pinkie's right. That was a bit out of line... I felt a little uncomfortable with what you said," she added, furrowing her brow.
Rainbow frowned, feeling uncomfortable under her friends' gaze. "I didn't think you'd take it like that. Besides, don't tell me you don't think something similar when she showed that side of herself that time?".
"Probably in a different way, but the comment wasn't relevant," commented Sunset.
"We're upset, that's true, but that doesn't justify saying something like that," said Twilight, with an understanding gesture.
Fluttershy nodded. "It's important to be careful with what we say, especially when we're angry," she murmured.
"I wanted to tell her once, but she had just left town when I had the chance, and I mentioned it upstairs, but as they say, it wasn't relevant," said Rainbow, shrugging.
The girls nodded. With the atmosphere a little more relaxed, they continued with their meal, leaving behind the discomfort that had been present moments before.
Sweet Apple Acres  
The afternoon was falling when Applejack and Rainbow Dash returned after spending the day with the other Mane Six. As they approached the house, the farmer noticed that her brother and Granny Smith were at the entrance of the barn, looking at something with a mixture of surprise and dismay. Applejack furrowed her brow and approached, with Dash following closely behind.
"What's going on here?" the farmer asked, not understanding what was happening.
"Oh, Applejack, Rainbow Dash. Look what Apple Bloom and Scootaloo have done," Granny Smith pointed out, indicating the inside of the barn.
Rainbow stepped forward to observe the painted apples while Applejack raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
"Wow, this is... colorful," exclaimed Rainbow with a chuckle.
"What the heck have you done with the barn's apples?" asked Applejack.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom emerged from behind a pile of boxes, with a nervous smile.
"Hey, Applejack, Rainbow... What do you think of our natural art exhibition?" Scootaloo began.
"Scoot, what did you do with the barn's apples?" Rainbow questioned with a mixture of amusement and reproach.
Scootaloo shrugged. "Uh... well, we thought we could do something fun with them."
"We wanted to add a touch of creativity to the barn. You see, we thought we could do something fun with the apples and... well, here we are," explained Apple Bloom with a somewhat forced laugh.
"I'm sorry," Scootaloo apologized, lowering her head. Dash sighed and then gave her sister a light tap on the shoulder.
"Well, at least you tried to do something different. But next time, ask for permission before using the apples for artwork," said Rainbow.
"I appreciate your creativity, but now we have wasted apples and a mess to clean up," declared Granny Smith, shaking her head.
"Hey, look on the bright side," said Apple Bloom.
"What's that bright side?" asked Rainbow, raising an eyebrow.
"If Sweetie had agreed to come... it probably would have been even worse," said Scootaloo.
"I'm not sure about that," Big Mac commented with crossed arms.
"Probably not," Apple Bloom admitted.
"Was she going to come?" Applejack asked curiously.
"She was... but she had a family outing," revealed the younger Apple.
"That explains why she was at the mall," Rainbow thought with a furrowed brow.
"So, the Belles were inside the store" the farmer thought.
"Less talk, we need to clean up the mess," Granny Smith called attention, pulling the blonde and the athlete out of their thoughts.
Everyone started to help with cleaning up the mess the two younger ones had made. After the cleanup was finished, Rainbow asked her sister to clean her hands, as they were covered in paint. While waiting outside, near her car, Applejack approached to say goodbye.
"Remember we have plans for...," the farmer was going to continue.
"I know, on Sunday," Rainbow finished for her.
"Okay," Applejack nodded.
"Ready, we can leave now," Scootaloo said, approaching them.
"Did you say goodbye?" Dash asked, walking towards the driver's door.
"I did inside, goodbye Applejack," Scoot said, opening the passenger door.
"Goodbye, and to you too," she said, referring to Rainbow.
"See you," the athlete said, getting into the car.
Once inside, Dash started the car and reversed to head home, while Applejack made her way to the front door of her house.
Three years ago: that day  
The seven friends walked through the hallways, chatting animatedly after the last class of the day. Rarity remained in the shadows, trying to go unnoticed while her heart pounded in her chest as she realized which hallway they were walking down.
"Girls, I just remembered something," said Rarity, breaking the conversation.
"Okay, see you later," responded Pinkie, as the girls stopped to listen to Rarity.
The athlete stopped in front of her locker. When she opened the door, her expression changed to one of confusion and surprise.
"What the heck happened here? Who put this trophy in my locker?" exclaimed Rainbow, carefully pulling out the trophy. The group of friends approached to see what was going on.
"What's going on?" asked Sunset, furrowing her brow as she saw what her friend was holding. "Isn't that the school trophy?"
"Dash, what's that in your locker?" asked Applejack.
"I have no idea!" Rainbow was visibly bewildered and upset by the situation.
Principal Mare happened to pass by the hallway at that moment and stopped upon hearing the commotion. "What's happening here?" she asked, approaching the group.
"Principal Mare, someone put this trophy in my locker and I have no idea who could've done it," explained Rainbow, showing the trophy.
The principal examined the trophy with a serious expression. "It's the trophy that was taken when the showcase was broken."
"What?!" exclaimed the girls in unison.
"A few hours ago, someone broke the showcase and stole the trophy," said the principal. "This is serious, Rainbow Dash. Come with me to my office immediately to discuss this."
"But I didn't do anything!" Rainbow was visibly distressed by the accusation.
"Principal, you should..." Twilight tried to intervene.
"I said immediately," the principal interrupted.
"But ahhh..." Rainbow followed Principal Mare with the trophy in her hands.
The other five girls exchanged worried looks among themselves. They knew something wasn't right, but they couldn't understand how a trophy had ended up in Rainbow's locker without her knowledge.
Meanwhile, Rarity watched the scene from a distance, feeling the weight of her guilt crushing her once again. "It's done, there's no turning back," she murmured to herself, feeling the anxiety overtaking her once more. "Not again," she said, heading towards an empty spot to sit down.
She felt a sudden increase in her heart rate, accompanied by trembling hands and difficulty breathing. A feeling of tightness in her chest. She struggled to control her breathing, focusing on inhaling and exhaling slowly to calm the overwhelming anxiety that consumed her. After a few moments, she managed to regain her composure.
Present  
The dressmaker snapped out of her memory. She was sitting on her bed in her room, and she had been distracted since she returned home with her family from the mall, and she knew they noticed.
The dressmaker sighed. "That was one of my first anxiety attacks, I suppose it was a reflex from my actions," she said sadly.
Then she remembered what happened at the mall when she tried to apologize. "I was so desperate that I didn't even realize my words... I've never apologized... only to my parents."
The dressmaker got up and headed towards the stairs. On the first floor, she could hear the sound of the TV. When she walked a bit, she could see her parents were there.
She approached her parents with hesitant steps. She looked at her mother and father, who were sitting on the couch, absorbed in the television. With a nervous sigh, she broke the silence.
"Can we talk for a moment?" the dressmaker asked, trying to maintain her composure.
Cookie, always attentive to her children's affairs, sensed the tension in Rarity's voice and looked at her attentively. "Does it have something to do with university?" Cookie asked seriously.
Rarity glanced away for a moment. "Mother, for now, can we put that aside? It's something else that's bothering me," she said.
Seeing her daughter's expression, her mother decided to let it pass this time and muted the TV to listen to what her eldest daughter had to say.
"Do you remember what happened three years ago at school, right?" she asked, embarrassed.
Hondo and Cookie exchanged meaningful looks, remembering the situation that caused such a stir.
"Yes, we remember," replied Hondo seriously, while his wife nodded silently. "But you made up for your mistake in the past," he said with a smile.
"With you, yes," Rarity said, looking downcast.
"What do you mean, daughter, and what's this about?" Cookie asked.
"Well, when I went to my first day of university... I ran into the girls again," Rarity confessed.
Her parents widened their eyes in understanding. "That... sounds complicated," murmured Hondo empathetically, placing a comforting hand on his daughter's shoulder.
"It is... and I've wanted to talk to them, but..."
"They... don't want to know anything?" Cookie asked with concern, anticipating the answer.
Rarity nodded sadly, feeling the weight of loneliness on her shoulders. "I don't know what to do. How can I apologize to them?" she pleaded, seeking guidance and support from her parents.
Hondo and Cookie exchanged a look full of understanding before enveloping Rarity in a comforting hug. Together, they would devise a strategy and suggestion on how to address the situation and repair the relationships with her friends.
Author's Note
Sorry for being late. I will tell you the unexpected thing that happened to me. My mother asked me and my brother to chop firewood, and since they were very hard, my brother came up with an idea: use the ax and some kind of hammer. At first the idea worked, but in a bad position I ended up hitting my finger with the back of the ax and with more force than he was using. "Ouch", you don't know how he hurt me. I had to be on ice and I couldn't bend my finger; It hurt every time he tried.
I had my doubts about revealing what happened, but since I gave clues, I decided to hint at what happened and thus advance further in the plot.
-What Rarity did may be a bit cliché. I looked for more ideas and talked to someone on Instagram who I share ideas with sometimes. I asked him, "Hey, what do you think of this thing Rarity possibly did in the past? Do you think I should change it?" and his response surprised me.
-At first, I had planned for Rarity to be there when Rainbow opened her locker and feigned surprise, but she was going to look very hypocritical of her.
Now we need to know about Fluttershy and Rainbow, but it's not the only thing missing; You'll know what I mean.
Some of the mall scenes, like going to the arcade games and the family outing, were based a little on my life.
Get ready, in the next chapter there will be more things and maybe I will upload it sooner, since I am not only advancing in the chapter that I am about to upload each week, but I am adding more ideas to the possible chapters. But whether I upload the chapters sooner depends if I don't have family matters, and if it's something else, I'll let you know.

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            Second Chances and Revelations 2/2             
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Second Chances and Revelations 2/2
Pinkie continued her story about the relationship between her cousin and the fashionista to Trixie and Starlight.
"Then Applejack mentioned how much Rarity stammered and didn't want to force her. She thought it was cute, seeing that awkwardness from Rarity... although it didn't last long," the party girl recalled, remembering her cousin's words. "It seems she had a conflict in her mind."
"I see, that's what you meant by the other part," Starlight commented.
"Huh?" expressed Pinkie.
"You said they took time to formalize their relationship for another reason besides getting to know each other better," Starlight reminded.
"Ohhh... now I remember. Yes, that's the reason."
"Did I miss something? What are you referring to?" asked the gray-haired girl, a bit confused.
"Come on, Trixie. Discovering a part of herself she didn't even know about, internal struggle, awkwardness," Starlight explained to help her friend understand.
"Ohhh..."
"For Rarity, it was something new to realize she was attracted to a girl, and apparently, she had never been in love before," Pinkie continued.
"She must have felt out of her element," commented the gray-haired girl.
"From what I know, she also confessed to Big Mac about what was happening. She said that the more time she spent with AJ, the more she realized she had feelings, but she didn't know how to respond if the time came for AJ to confess to her or for her to confess. She didn't know what to do because she was afraid of how her parents would react," Pinkie explained.
"Big Mac!?" exclaimed the gray-haired girl, a bit incredulous. "But he hardly says anything."
"I know, but he's really good at giving advice," the party girl pointed out. "I learned a few things from him and Granny Smith when I was little."
"How old were they then? When Rarity had her self-discovery," Trixie asked.
"18 years old," Pinkie answered.
"That's just the age when one is learning about sexuality, so it makes sense that Rarity had a hard time," said Starlight.
"When my cousin realized her preferences, she didn't complicate things too much," Pinkie recalled. "Actually, she did go through something similar to Rarity, but not as much... because AJ was taught about that."
Trixie nodded. "So, from what you're saying, Applejack and Rarity were somewhat aware of their feelings?" asked, interested.
"Isn't that cute!" exclaimed Pinkie.
"And what happened next?" asked the gray-haired girl, eager to know more.
"Well, they became close, almost like Fluttershy and Rainbow," Pinkie continued. "Although now not so much, since they hardly talk," thought. "They would go to each other's houses... um... they also hung out at school events, and yes, some people were surprised that someone like Rarity would hang out with someone like Applejack."
"Yeah, someone so elegant, hanging out with someone of lower status..." commented Trixie.
Starlight looked at her friend with a raised eyebrow.
"No offense," added Trixie. "You know, it surprises me that Rarity didn't ignore AJ to maintain her popularity... No offense again."
"Don't worry... but in a way... Rarity does seem like the typical popular girl who could do that, and AJ was afraid that hanging out with her might lead to that."
"But she isn't someone who lets herself be swayed by what others say," Starlight concluded. The party girl nodded sadly. That caught her attention, but she preferred to let the girl finish the story.
"And when did they become a couple? Do you have any details?" Trixie asked.
"You'll love this... not that I was there, but..."
"Wait, you still weren't hanging out with Rarity or didn't even know her?" Starlight asked, interrupting the party girl.
"Nope," Pinkie responded, shaking her head. "My time came later, although I would have liked to introduce myself earlier. But I would have missed those jokes," said with a giggle, sipping some of her milkshake.
"Jokes?" asked the gray-haired girl.
"What were we talking about?" the party girl asked with a hand on her chin, downplaying the gray-haired girl's question. "Oh yes... the day, or rather, the night of the confession," said with a touch of drama.
Trixie seemed eager, so she took a sip of the milkshake she had ordered.
"AJ wondered where she could take Rarity, to a place she would like and that had a bit of her style, and then the moment would come. So, I suggested..."
Applejack insisted on taking Rarity to a special place for the afternoon, keeping the destination a secret. Rarity, curious but trusting her friend, agreed to follow without asking many questions. After a short Uber ride, they arrived at an enclosed location.
The fresh air hit them as they stepped out of the car, a pleasant contrast when they entered inside, as the temperature was controlled. The place was adorned with bright lights and decorations.
"Ice skating?" Rarity asked with a mix of surprise and excitement in her voice. "I haven't skated in years."
Applejack smiled, enjoying the expression on the fashionista's face. "I thought it would be fun. Besides, you're always so elegant. I bet you skate like a ballerina."
Rarity blushed slightly at the compliment but quickly regained her composure. "Well, I can't promise anything, but I'll do my best."
Pinkie Pie, who had arrived earlier and was unaware that a blonde was nearby with a fashionista, was just finishing tying her skates. Once tied, she got up and approached the entrance to the rink.
Meanwhile, Applejack was putting on her skates but stopped when she saw someone she knew well by her distinctive hair.
"Hey, Rarity? Can you wait for me a bit? I'll be right back," Applejack said, standing up from her seat.
"Oh, it's fine," Rarity responded, picking up a skate to put it on.
Pinkie was about to enter the rink when she heard a familiar voice, so she turned around.
"Pinkie?" the blonde asked. "What are you doing here?"
"Hi, Applejack!" Pinkie greeted with her usual smile. "I came to skate. This time of year is magical. Did you see they already put up decorations?"
"Yeah, I saw... but you had to come today," the farmer replied with a slightly exasperated tone.
"Hey, that sounded mean," Pinkie replied, pretending to be offended.
"Sorry, it's just that I'm a bit anxious," Applejack confessed, lowering her voice a bit.
"Anxious? Wait, are you here because of the suggestion the other day?" Pinkie asked excitedly. "Is Rarity here? I want to introduce myself—"
"No," the blonde interrupted, putting her arm in front of Pinkie to prevent her from passing. "Sorry, yes and no. She's putting on her skates," indicated, pointing to a seat.
The party girl saw the fashionista trying to put on her skates. "Come on, AJ, I already want to meet her officially," she insisted.
"Pinkie, please, I want this moment to be for the two of us," the blonde requested with a smile. "Why are you coincidentally here today?" asked thoughtfully.
"In my defense, you didn't tell me what day you were coming, so you can't complain that I'm following you," the party girl defended herself.
Applejack was going to say something but realized that when she asked her cousin for a suggestion if she knew a place with an elegant touch to spend some time with her friend, she didn't mention the day.
"You're right," the farmer admitted, sighing.
"See?" said Pinkie, spreading her arms and smiling widely.
Applejack nodded. "You can introduce yourself another day and try not to make a 'ruckus.' I want this day to be special," she murmured, lowering her gaze a bit, blushing, and biting her lower lip slightly.
"Okay, I'll leave it for another time," the party girl conceded. "And don't worry, AJ, it will be like I'm not here, and I'll just do basic maneuvers," she added, entering the rink. "Good luck," she whispered softly before starting to skate.
The blonde smiled at her words of encouragement. Pinkie took a few steps on the rink, turned her head, and watched as Applejack returned to Rarity.
"How's it going?" Applejack asked the girl trying to put on her skates.
"As best as I can," Rarity responded, somewhat embarrassed.
The farmer knelt in front of the fashionista and took a skate. "Let me help you, Cinderella," said, laughing.
Rarity smiled at the compliment and, seconds later, joined in the laughter. "Thank you, my noble prince charming," said. Both laughed again at the joke.
Once ready, they headed to the rink, with Applejack taking Rarity's hand to support her.
"Come on, don't be afraid," the farmer said, her voice full of confidence.
Rarity smiled gratefully and held onto Applejack's hand as they took their first steps on the ice. At first, their movements were clumsy, but slowly, they began to find their rhythm. The blonde, being more experienced thanks to the times she skated with her cousin, guided the fashionista with patience.
"See? It's not that hard," Applejack commented, laughing softly.
"Well, that's because I have an excellent instructor," Rarity responded, smiling back.
As they advanced, their hands remained intertwined, a simple but meaningful gesture. Both felt the connection between them, their mutual feelings resurfacing with each step.
After a while, the fashionista began to feel more confident and decided to let go of the farmer's hand to try skating on her own. She took a few tentative steps but soon found her balance.
"I did it!" she exclaimed, turning to look at Applejack, her eyes shining with excitement.
Applejack watched her with pride and something more in her eyes. "I knew you could do it."
Pinkie was skating and doing basic movements, avoiding 'the ruckus' as her cousin called her attention-grabbing skilled maneuvers. She wondered how her cousin and the fashionista were doing, so she looked around, turned halfway, and there were the two girls skating peacefully.
She caught the blonde's eye and couldn't help but give her a thumbs up from afar. The blonde shook her head but with a smile. She looked to the side to see how the fashionista was doing and noticed her difficulty, so she gave her cousin a signal that she initially didn't understand but quickly comprehended.
Rarity stumbled, and Applejack hurried, taking her hands again.
"I've got you," the blonde whispered, her heart racing from her slip-up.
"Thanks, AJ, that was close," Rarity responded, breathing a sigh of relief.
They looked into each other's eyes, the moment filled with a sweet and inexplicable tension. The feelings both harbored in their hearts, neither of them dared to break the spell of the moment.
Pinkie watched the scene with a satisfied smile. She knew this day would be special for both of them, and she felt happy to have contributed to it. Later, she would ask the blonde for details about what was going to happen.
Rarity continued walking through the park, emerging from that memory of the ice-skating rink. She had remembered it upon reaching a part of the park where many people were holding hands with their loved ones.
"If I went to the rink now, I'd be just as rusty. It's been so long since I skated," she murmured to herself.
She looked around and saw more couples. She knew the park was popular among those in relationships, but this side of the park seemed new to her. It was evident that in those three years of absence, there had been some changes in the city, but she hadn't imagined they would expand the park.
She walked a bit further, coming across a small pond. "It looks a bit like the other one, but the other was larger, more like a river, and... 'that'... happened not far from where we went skating."
Once they had skated for a good while, the girls decided to walk under the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the leaves of the trees. Applejack and Rarity were talking about how much fun they had on the ice rink. After a few minutes, they stopped, admiring the nocturnal landscape near a large pond that reflected the stars and the moon.
Rarity sighed, gazing at the sky. "It's such a beautiful night, don't you think?"
Applejack smiled. "Yes, it's incredible. But not as beautiful as you."
The fashionista blushed at the compliment, but a shadow of doubt crossed her expression. She had the feeling that the moment had come.
"Are you okay, Rarity?" asked Applejack, noticing the change in her expression.
"Yes. I just... um..." Rarity hesitated.
Applejack stepped closer gently. "Do you want to talk?" she asked, giving her a reassuring smile.
Unable to find the right words to express what she was feeling, Rarity bit her lower lip, struggling with her emotions as her heart pounded.
"It's just... there's something I want to tell you," began Rarity with a tremor in her voice.
Applejack gently took her hand. "Rarity, you can tell me anything. You know you can count on me. I also want to tell you something..."
The fashionista felt comforted by the farmer's words, a small smile forming on her face as she met the warm emerald eyes.
"Thank you," Rarity said, her voice trembling. "I- I want to tell you..."
Applejack caressed her hand gently to calm her. Rarity inhaled and exhaled.
"I think it's clear what's happening between us, and with my clumsiness the other time, it's very obvious."
The blonde laughed softly. "Yes... I thought you were adorable, and I know this is new for you, but I want you to know that I haven't felt this way in a long time, the way I feel when I'm with you."
Rarity remained silent for a moment, processing Applejack's words. Then, a tear of relief rolled down her cheek.
"Oh, Applejack... I've been afraid of what might happen."
The farmer wiped away her tear with her thumb. "You don't have to be afraid. I've been nervous too...," she took a deep breath, looking directly into the sapphire eyes, "I want us to try this together. I want us to be something more."
Rarity felt a wave of relief and happiness at those words. Her eyes shone with excitement. "I want that too, Applejack. I want to be with you."
The blonde smiled broadly. "That's all I wanted to hear," she said, her eyes reflecting the same emotion. "We have nothing to worry about. We just need to take it one step at a time, together."
"Together," repeated the fashionista with a smile.
They moved closer to each other, their lips almost touching. Rarity shyly pulled back.
"Shh... it's okay, all in due time," the blonde murmured, caressing her cheek.
"No... this is what I want," replied the fashionista with a smile, leaning in again.
They both moved slowly, closing their eyes and feeling the warmth of each other's lips in a soft and delicate kiss that sealed their love.
The kiss was brief but significant, filled with possibilities for the future of Rarity and Applejack. When they parted, they looked at each other with a new understanding and complicity, knowing they were ready to explore this new path together.
"Talking to Big Mac, as well as Aunt Roseluck, really helped me for that night," murmured the fashionista, sighing. "Who would have thought we’d end up like this?"
She remembered how Big Mac had been a silent support, listening attentively as she confessed her other fears. She also recalled the wise words of her Aunt Roseluck, who had given her the courage to accept herself. Those moments were crucial for her to take that step toward Applejack that night.
She shook her head slightly, realizing what she had been thinking about.
"I don’t know why I’m remembering this now. I came out to get some air and think about what to do with the girls." She looked down a bit and then lifted her gaze forward. "Though, in remembering, I’ve gotten some possible solutions." She glanced at the sky. "I’d better head home," she told herself and began walking back the way she had come.
Returning to the party girl
"And under the moonlight, with the stars shining, they decided to talk and it happened... they officially became girlfriends," Pinkie said, waving her hand in the air as if painting the scene.
"That very night, Applejack came to my house. My parents wondered what was going on with her because when they opened the door, she kept sighing. When she headed to my room, she greeted me with a big smile and sat on my bed..." Pinkie paused to take a sip of her milkshake.
"I asked her how it went, but her smile and sigh said it all. Still, I wanted her to tell me..." Pinkie put her glass on the table and began waving her arms, imitating Applejack's excitement. "Then she stretched out on my bed and said, 'It was as magical as I imagined it,'" mimicking the blonde with a wide smile.
"That's so sweet!" said Starlight, smiling.
"Yeah, it really is," added Trixie, her eyes shining with excitement.
"And that's how their relationship started. They did couple things, spent a lot of time together, always so happy... time passed," Pinkie said, pausing to let her friends absorb what she had just shared. "And finally, I came into the picture..."
Starlight leaned forward. "How did you get involved?"
"Well, I'm always involved in everything, right? So..."
In the kitchen, Pinkie was attentively watching Grandma Smith, who was teaching her some baking techniques. Lately, Pinkie had taken an interest in everything related to baking, and she had already learned to make some sweet mixes, although sometimes she went overboard or missed steps.
"So, you have to be careful when separating the yolk from the white," Grandma Smith said, holding a cracked egg in her hands. "Pay attention, from one side to the other."
"Got it, from one side to the other," Pinkie mimicked, trying to follow the movements.
Suddenly, they heard whispers and the front door closing. At first, they thought it was Big Mac and Apple Bloom, until they recognized Applejack's voice along with another peculiar voice, which they deduced was Rarity's.
Pinkie wanted to officially meet Rarity, but first she had to finish here, so she just listened.
"I want to prepare you a dish," Applejack said.
"I would like to try it," Rarity replied.
"Also a dessert, with apples. You'll like it," the blonde continued.
"I rarely eat apples, but it doesn't hurt to eat more," the fashionista said.
"Oh, and if you're cold, I could make a hot dish," Applejack commented.
"Let's hope it doesn't burn me," Rarity joked.
"I doubt it. I could make it at an intermediate level or warm it up enough to warm you up," the blonde said.
"Be careful, that dish of yours might heat me up more than enough," Rarity continued the banter.
"I'd like to see that," Applejack paused, "I could consider it my favorite dessert," said playfully.
"Are we still talking about food?" Rarity asked, with the same tone.
"I don't know, if you want we could go upstairs and find out," the blonde said teasingly.
"That sounds tempting. We could find out, just like we did last time," the fashionista responded.
Pinkie blinked, surprised by the tone of the conversation. She looked at Grandma Smith. Her family taught her little related to those topics, but her distant family had taught her enough to know what the two girls on the other side of the wall were talking about.
"So you can see what hormones do at this age, Pinkie Pie," Grandma Smith murmured.
"I'm noticing," Pinkie murmured, both eyebrows raised.
Seconds later, they couldn't hear anything, just some faint muah!
On the other side of the wall, Rarity and Applejack were on the couch, kissing.
"Hi, hi, hi!" Pinkie said, suddenly appearing on a chair.
"Ah, Pinkie!" Applejack exclaimed, surprised by her cousin's sudden appearance, quickly separating from her girlfriend.
"Pinkie Pie!" Rarity exclaimed, equally surprised.
"Cousin! What are you doing here?" the blonde asked, still a little dazed.
"Wait, Pinkie's your cousin?" the fashionista asked, surprised by the revelation.
"Yes... how do you know her?" she asked, looking at her girlfriend.
"In Institute, I hear about a hyperactive girl with pink hair named Pinkie Pie," Rarity explained, returning the gaze.
"That makes sense," the party girl said, still sitting on the chair.
"You haven't answered my question," the blonde insisted, looking back at her cousin.
"My parents went out, my sister Maud went with my other sisters to the rock museum, and I decided to come and ask Grandma Smith to help me with the kitchen," explained. "In fact, I just came from the kitchen."
"From the kitchen? Grandma Smith? Did you... hear... anything?" Applejack asked, nervous. The fashionista also seemed a little uncomfortable.
"Nothing important... if you call their sex-related jokes important-"
"Pinkie!" they both said simultaneously, their faces flushed.
"But setting that aside," Pinkie said, standing up with a smile. "Let me introduce myself, I'm Pinkie Pie, Applejack's cousin."
Rarity, returning to her usual tone, looked at her girlfriend. "We're distant relatives," the farmer explained.
"Oh, that makes more sense," the fashionista thought aloud. She looked back at the party girl. "The pleasure is mine... I'm Rarity Belle," she introduced herself, extending her hand. But Pinkie hugged her sideways, surprising the fashionista.
"I can see that, Rarity... we're going to be great friends," Pinkie said, raising her arm in front as if imagining a future scenario.
"hahaha, you should have seen their faces when I appeared in the middle of their moment and made that comment," Pinkie said, laughing.
Trixie dropped her straw into her glass, looking at the party girl with wide eyes and blushing. "Um... I didn't expect it to be like that," she commented.
Starlight also blushed a bit. "Yeah, it's quite unexpected. I never would have imagined that Applejack and Rarity had such... a passionate relationship."
"Interesting, isn't it? And that's what I meant by missing out on the jokes," Pinkie added, wiping a tear from laughing so much. "It was a moment I'll never forget."
Starlight and Trixie looked at each other, still processing the information.
"Well, that definitely explains why they were always so close," Starlight said, regaining her composure.
"Yeah, but still, it's a bit shocking," Trixie added, taking a sip of her milkshake to calm down.
Pinkie nodded. "Yeah, it was, but it was also nice to see them so happy together. And that's what really matters, right?"
They both nodded, sharing a smile with Pinkie.
The party girl continued with the story. "At some point, their parents found out. I don't have much context on whether they opposed or accepted their relationship, since Rarity started to be more open, to the point of posting pictures with my cousin on her social media."
"Did they find out about their preferences or that she was with AJ?" Starlight wondered.
"Somewhere in between, some things happened," the party girl continued.
"Fights?" Trixie guessed.
"Not... well, they did have their fights..."
"... Like that time Rarity told me they briefly argued about going to an outdoor place related to the earth and she wanted to go somewhere else that had nothing to do with what AJ wanted... among those there were other disagreements."
"It's normal for couples to have those kinds of fights," Starlight said.
"But what I was going to mention was something external..." the party girl remembered, regretting almost bringing it up, changing her expression. "Sorry, I guess I shouldn't have mentioned it... but that affected Rarity a lot and my cousin felt a little guilty about it."
Trixie and Starlight wanted to know more, but it was clear that Pinkie didn't want to talk about that topic. "It's okay, Pinkie, we won't ask."
"Thanks... once that problem was solved, they spent time together like couples... on cloud nine... all over the place. They went back to the classic things that lovebirds do. They also talked to me about it or doubts regarding..." the party girl didn't finish.
"Regarding...?" the two friends asked.
Pinkie smiled and began to tell them.
Pinkie was at the Apple's house as usual. She was climbing the stairs heading to Applejack's room. Upon arrival, she knocked on the door and opened it after a few seconds.
"Hey, cousin, dinner's re-"
She stopped upon seeing Applejack's nervous expression, quickly trying to hide something on her desk.
"What are you doing?"
"Just a drawing," the blonde responded, trying to sound casual as her hands attempted to cover the paper.
"What are you drawing?" Pinkie asked, approaching the desk. It was impossible to see what her cousin was doing.
"Nothing..."
"Okay, what's that?" Pinkie asked with a mischievous smile, pointing in the opposite direction.
"What thing?" Applejack turned her head confused, a moment Pinkie took advantage of to grab the sheet. "Wait..." she said quickly standing up as she realized what was happening.
Pinkie examined the sheet curiously. "Is this supposed to be a heart?"
She knew the farmer had skills in playing guitar and painting, but clearly, drawing wasn't her forte.
"Yeah... it's a heart split in half."
Pinkie put on a concerned expression. "Is something wrong with Rarity? Do you want me to talk to her?"
"What? No, not at all, we're fine. It's just..." Applejack began to blush.
"It's for Rare, I want to give her something. I know I've done it several times, I know it's still early for our first anniversary together, and I thought about having a necklace made with my initials in the middle of a heart," explained, avoiding eye contact.
"Do you think it's too much? Do you think she'll like it?" she asked with a shaky voice.
Pinkie smiled seeing the sweetness and concern in her cousin's eyes. "AJ! That's a wonderful idea! Rarity will love it."
The blonde sighed in relief. "Do you really think so?"
"Of course!" exclaimed the party girl, approaching to hug her. "She'll love it. How could she not? It's a gift full of love and meaning."
Applejack hugged Pinkie, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "Thank you, Pinkie. Sometimes, I worry too much."
"That's because you love her a lot, and that's okay," said the party girl, pulling away from the hug and winking at her. "Now, let's go have dinner. And then, we can plan more details for the necklace."
Applejack nodded and then they left the room.
"Hahaha," Pinkie couldn't stop laughing.
"Ah, Pinkie, what's so funny?" Starlight asked.
"Shouldn't it be cute?" wondered the gray-haired girl
Pinkie stopped laughing. "Sorry, girls, it's just that I'm surprised by the connection they had."
Trixie and Starlight exchanged confused looks.
"Connection?" Starlight asked.
"Yes, what do you mean?" her friend added.
"You see..."
Pinkie and Rarity were sitting on a bench in the plaza, enjoying the afternoon together.
"What have you been up to today, Rarity?" asked the party girl.
"Oh, nothing out of the ordinary. I've been working on some sketches for future designs."
"That sounds interesting! Can I see them?" Pinkie asked, curious.
The fashionista nodded, taking out a small notebook from her purse and passing it over. "Sure, but they're just preliminary sketches."
The party girl opened it and started flipping through the pages. "The sket... aren't..."
"It's called 'sketches'," Rarity gently corrected when Pinkie tried to pronounce the word.
"I don't know much about modeling, but they look nice." Pinkie moved to another page of the notebook, finding another somewhat peculiar drawing. "Half of a heart?"
"Ah, Pinkie!" the designer tried to intervene, trying to cover the drawing with her hand.
"Is it a separate design for a dress?" the party girl asked curiously. "And why a heart split in half?"
Rarity sighed and decided to confess. "Actually... I've been thinking about giving something special to AJ. I've seen couples wearing necklaces with initials or hearts, and I thought about combining both."
"Oh! That sounds adorable. But, do you think Applejack would like to wear a necklace?" the party girl asked, trying to imagine the farmer with such a delicate accessory.
"I know she doesn't like wearing bracelets or necklaces, but this would be something very special and meaningful," said Rarity, smiling.
"I don't know much about romance, but seeing how you two are, anything that comes from you she's liked. It must be the same with you with AJ's gifts."
"Um, yeah," Rarity responded, blushing. "She's given me a few things, even some roses she finds. Sometimes it's not necessary, but Jackie somehow knows I'll like it."
"Don't roses deteriorate?"
"That's why I take a photo of them. I could have them digitally, but I prefer it in physical," explained the fashionista. "I learned a bit from her," she murmured. "Now, about the necklace... I don't know if I should give it to her on our anniversary or extend it to Christmas."
"Wow, you two have a special connection, don't you," Pinkie thought, remembering when Applejack showed her drawing. "I think it should be for your anniversary," said the party girl with a smile.
"PERFECT!" Rarity shouted and then coughed as she realized her excitement. "I mean, perfect. Do you think it makes me conceited to give her something with my initial?"
"Not at all, she'll love it. And a suggestion: make it on the left side," said Pinkie.
"Left side," she nodded
"Have you thought about how you'll give it to her? You could do something special, like a picnic or a walk in a field."
Rarity smiled. "It's still early to think about it, but I have to keep in mind some places. Although your suggestions sound lovely."
"Wow, what a connection!" said Trixie, still amazed. "I can't believe neither of them knew what the other was doing."
"Right? It's incredible!" exclaimed Pinkie, laughing. "They had no idea I was helping both of them. And the funniest part is that they were both so worried about surprising each other."
Starlight smiled. "It must have been hard to keep the secret, especially knowing you."
"Oh, it was," admitted. "I had to bite my tongue more than once. And I almost let it slip several times!"
"Really?" Starlight raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How did you manage to keep it a secret?"
"I had to be very, very careful. And every time one of them mentioned something about gifts or surprises, I quickly changed the subject," Pinkie explained.
"Good strategy," said Trixie.
"After a while, some time passed. Applejack, always so direct and honest, and Rarity with her touch of drama, but always so attentive. And then we met the others."
"How did they meet?" Starlight asked.
"Well, it happened that I wanted to pull a prank, but it didn't turn out as I wanted..."
Pinkie Pie was putting the finishing touches on her latest big prank. She had tied a small water balloon to the door of the math classroom, hoping that an unsuspecting victim would push it and end up soaked. Pinkie hid behind a locker, stifling her laughter as she waited.
However, things didn't go as planned. A girl with slightly lighter pink hair than hers was passing by the hallway and noticed that the door was slightly ajar.
"Oh, this is curious," murmured to herself. She decided to approach and close the door.
Just then, a teacher appeared in the hallway. It was Professor Cranky Doodle, known for his bad mood.
"What's going on here?" he asked in his usual tone.
The girl with the light pink hair, nervous in front of authority, tried to explain. "Oh, umm, I was just trying to close the door, professor." Then she grabbed the handle.
But before she could say more, Pinkie, who had come out of her hiding spot to intervene, tripped over her own feet and accidentally pushed the girl towards the door. The water balloon burst over the head of the light pink-haired girl, soaking her completely.
"You!" exclaimed the professor, pointing at Pinkie. "What is this? Another one of your pranks?"
Pinkie, wide-eyed and feeling guilty, tried to apologize. "I'm sorry! It wasn't for her, just... oh no."
The girl with the pink hair, soaked but always kind, tried to intervene. "It was an accident, professor."
"You orchestrated this prank for me. Both of you, detention. Now," the professor interrupted. "I won't tolerate this kind of behavior."
Pinkie and the other girl looked at each other, one with guilt and the other with understanding, and walked towards the detention room.
"I'm so sorry... I didn't want this to happen to you," murmured the prankster.
The girl, wiping the water from her face, smiled faintly. "It's okay, I know you didn't mean it. Just... next time, be more careful, okay?"
Pinkie nodded. "I promise I'll be more careful. I'm Pinkie Pie, by the way."
"Pleased to meet you, Pinkie Pie. My name is Fluttershy," she introduced herself with a shy smile.
Pinkie and Fluttershy entered the detention room, looking for a place to sit. They saw two girls already present in the room, one of them engrossed in a book, while the other looked at the ceiling with a bored expression.
The prankster approached with her characteristic energy. "Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie, and this is Fluttershy. Are you also here for some mischief?"
The girl reading looked up from her book and smiled kindly. "Hello. No... I'm here because... well, apparently doing chemistry experiments in the hallways isn't allowed."
The other girl straightened up upon hearing Pinkie's animated voice. "Wait, Pinkie Pie? Aren't you the girl who's always bouncing around?"
Pinkie nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! That's me. Do you already know me?"
The girl with red and yellow hair nodded with a smile. "Yes, I've heard some things about your funny antics. And from what I see, they seem to have caused a little trouble this time."
Fluttershy, maintaining her typical shyness, sat down next to the girl with navy blue hair.
Pinkie, unable to contain her excitement, started talking rapidly. "Wow, what an interesting day. And what exactly did you all do?"
The girl with red and yellow hair, observing Pinkie with curiosity, replied with a smile. "Well..." she looked at her glasses-wearing friend. "I was in the library looking for a book on the top shelf, I lost my balance and knocked over a whole bookshelf."
"Wow, that's quite something," said Fluttershy. "I'm sorry..."
"It's okay... and my friend here was waiting for me and started mixing things in the hallway," said, pointing to the other girl.
"I wanted to advance a bit in what we learned in class while waiting for you and 'boom', it exploded since I got distracted when the teacher noticed what I was doing," explained the girl with glasses.
Fluttershy looked at Pinkie, hoping she would explain. The prankster, taking a deep breath to share her situation, explained: "I tried to pull a prank, but it went wrong and we ended up here. Professor Cranky saw us and, well, he sent us to detention."
The girl with navy blue hair nodded understandingly. "I understand. Sometimes pranks can get out of control."
"Yes, we all make mistakes," commented the girl with red and yellow hair.
"Although Fluttershy got punished because of me, and she had nothing to do with it," admitted Pinkie.
"Don't worry..." said the pink-haired girl. "You reminded me of a friend who's just as much of a prankster."
"Really?" asked the prankster.
"Fluttershy? Sorry, I didn't hear your name properly... aren't you the one who's always handing out animal pamphlets?" asked the glasses-wearing girl, looking at the pink-haired girl.
"Um... yeah, that's me," said Fluttershy timidly.
"Right, I think I've seen you a couple of times," commented the girl with red and yellow hair, looking at the pink-haired girl.
"It can't be, were we always here and didn't know about each other's existence... was it fate?" said the excited prankster.
The three of them smiled at each other.
"It's curious how we never crossed paths before, considering how close we were in high school," commented the girl with navy blue hair.
"Yes, it's strange. I guess each of us was caught up in our own world," said the girl with red and yellow hair.
"What a crazy coincidence! Who would have thought that destiny would bring us all together here in detention?" said the excited prankster. "By the way, what are your names?"
"Twilight Sparkle."
"Sunset Shimmer."
After introducing themselves, they continued chatting and discovering more things, like the courses they were taking.
Present  
"Destiny never ceases to amaze me," said Trixie.
"So you were always in the school, but you never crossed paths due to circumstances. It's a bit similar to what happened with AJ and Rarity," said Starlight.
"Not all of us, since Twilight transferred a year ago at that time. But it's incredible that we were all there and didn't even know it, we had only seen each other a couple of times and nothing else happened," she said excitedly.
"Until the four of you were punished and sent to detention," Starlight concluded for Pinkie. She nodded.
"So all that was left was for everyone to meet, including Dash," said the gray-haired one.
Pinkie raised her head and put on a slightly serious expression. "Yes... this is where we enter the final stretch of a series," she said enigmatically.
Starlight and Trixie looked at each other and then back at Pinkie.
"It seems that at some point before we all met, excluding Rainbow still, Rarity met Fluttershy, since we saw them talking when we were waiting for her. Although at some point, I was planning to introduce Rarity and AJ, but that wasn't necessary either, since I was looking for 'Rare', as she used to call her, and that's how the six of us met..."
"... And now comes when we all met Dash, in the middle of Dash and AJ's relationship, and later what Rarity did, which disappointed all of us," said Pinkie, somewhat sadly.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were in a red truck, arriving to play bowling as they had agreed on Friday.
"Ready for a fun afternoon?" Rainbow asked with a smile as they both entered the bowling alley.
"Sure am," Applejack replied. "No competition this time, remember?"
The athlete nodded with a smile, and they both headed to the counter to rent shoes and choose a lane. Once ready, the blonde headed to where the balls were.
"Who's going first?" Applejack asked.
"I don't mind," replied the athlete, sitting down.
"Well, you go first," said the blonde, but upon seeing the girl sitting, she changed her mind. "Or better yet, I'll go first."
Applejack took the ball, made the classic movements, and threw it, knocking down some pins.
"My turn," said the athlete, heading to the ball rack to take one. The blonde crossed her arms as she watched her girlfriend prepare to throw. Rainbow positioned herself and rolled the ball, hitting the center. "Got it," she said, looking at the blonde.
"I saw it," said the farmer, still with her arms crossed. She headed to the ball rack and took another one. Applejack threw the ball determinedly. "Well, finally hit some," she commented with a half-smile.
"Uh-huh," said the athlete, taking the ball and throwing it confidently, knocking down most of the pins on the lane. "Now that's what I call a shot!" she exclaimed, with a satisfied smile.
The blonde rolled her eyes. "My turn."
As the game progressed, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were neck and neck in points. The farmer couldn't help but check her phone from time to time, responding to messages from her family about farm matters.
"Hey, blonde, it's your turn."
"Okay," she said, getting up and putting her phone away.
Rainbow watched as the farmer positioned herself and decided to bring up a conversation topic. "Did you see that game last night?"
"What game?" she responded, not taking her eyes off the bowling lane.
"It seems that team you supported last time played," explained the athlete. "Dad mentioned it to me."
"Oh, no, I didn't see it," replied the blonde, throwing the ball.
"Alright," was all Rainbow said.
After a couple of games, they both started to check the scores, and it seemed they were tied.
"How about we just play one more round and then we head out?" suggested Rainbow.
"What if we leave it at that and go get some ice cream?" the blonde asked.
"Agreed."
They both returned the shoes and headed for the exit.
"Huh, interesting."
"What's that?" asked the blonde.
Dash pointed to the sky, still sunny but with some clouds approaching. "No wonder I felt like time was passing slowly."
"You're right," said the blonde, looking at the sky. "Shall we go get some ice cream?" she asked.
"Let's go," replied the athlete, and they both continued on their way to the ice cream parlor.
Pinkie finished explaining. "Well, that's what happened," leaving her third empty glass on the table and concluding the story of her cousin's relationship, her friendship with the girls, and the fight with Rarity.
"Wow, it sounds to me like that happened more out of jealousy..." Trixie commented, surprised by the information she received.
"I know... it could be a possibility," Pinkie responded, startled. "At first, I didn't realize it because I was also angry about what Rarity did," she added, looking downcast. "Well, it seems the girls didn't realize it either because they felt betrayed."
"I'm still surprised that Rarity went down that route," the grey-haired girl mentioned. "From appearances, it seems like she would be looking for someone elegant or well-educated; I would never believe she would be attracted to someone like Applejack."
"Girls..." Starlight tried to get their attention.
"Actually, it's both," clarified Pinkie. "I forgot to mention that, before they were girlfriends, Rarity went out with some guys. Nothing serious, just dates. She never had a stable relationship until she met Applejack."
"So your cousin was her first official relationship," said Trixie.
"Yes."
"Interesting," mused Starlight thoughtfully, "but let's get back to the main topic," continued to stay on track. "Let's recap what you just told us. The seven of you met before Rainbow arrived in Canterlot..."
"... You had a great friendship, and apparently Rainbow and Rarity did get along, which I thought their personalities would lead to a fight, as they are now. When AJ met Dash, there was chemistry," she added.
"Yes, it seems, from what we saw, they clicked," Pinkie agreed.
"Is it always love at first sight?" complained Trixie, rolling her eyes.
"Not necessarily. You can be friends with someone and not feel that special connection until after a while of being friends and then start to fall in love," explained Starlight.
"I wish it had been like that for them," said the grey-haired girl, leaning on her hand.
"But it was more or less like that," pointed out Pinkie.
"And what does Applejack say about Rainbow?" asked the grey-haired girl.
Pinkie smiled at the memory. "My cousin always said things like 'Oh, look at those muscles, you can tell she works out' when talking about Dash."
The two friends looked at each other curiously. "Did that happen when she first met her?" Starlight asked.
Pinkie nodded. "Yes, at the beginning, Applejack always commented on how athletic Rainbow was. It seemed like she admired her strength and energy a lot."
"And was she still with Rarity when that happened?" Trixie asked. Pinkie nodded again.
"Okay... at some point, they had a big fight, and she broke up with Rarity, and a week later AJ was already with Dash," said Starlight, raising an eyebrow.
"If you're wondering, my cousin never did anything with Rainbow while she was with Rarity. She's not the type to cheat on her partner."
"I understand... but that doesn't explain my expression. Can I say something about AJ? And I hope you don't mind," Starlight commented.
"It depends, but go ahead."
"I think AJ was a bit insensitive and hypocritical with what she did."
"... What?" Pinkie asked confusedly.
"As you told us, it was clear how much Applejack and Rarity loved each other, and just days after they broke up, she was already with Rainbow," she tried to explain, showing some annoyance.
"Yes, that's what I said."
"It seems like all that romance vanished. She went with someone else, leaving Rarity behind as if nothing. I'm not saying what Rarity did was right, but what AJ did looks bad."
"I still don't understand," said Pinkie, confused by the girl's annoyance.
"Imagine you're with someone, and that person shows you how much they love you-"
"I've never had a partner to understand," interrupted.
"Let me see, do you have someone special you care about, a family member?" Starlight asked.
"I love my friends, my family, and then there's Gummy, my stuffed animal. Sometimes I wish he were real."
Starlight looked a bit incredulous. "Okay, imagine your stuffed animal... Gummy. You love him very much, right?"
Pinkie nodded again with a smile.
"Imagine if he were alive and he was always with you, your whole life, and then, in the blink of an eye, another person appeared, and Gummy turned his back on you and went with that person."
"What!? No!" exclaimed Pinkie, imagining that scene.
"That's what I mean. Do you understand now?" Starlight asked.
Pinkie calmed down a bit and thought about the example and then about her cousin's relationship. "Ohhhh... I see what you mean. It sounds pretty bad when you put it that way." Then she remembered a bit of that moment when Rarity saw Applejack with Rainbow.
"The truth is, it looks pretty bad," Trixie affirmed, nodding.
"I'm not sure if it's entirely true that she forgot about her when she just started dating Dash. I know now, seeing that point of view, it looks bad."
"Why do you say that?" asked the gray-haired one.
"I don't know, it's something I noticed in my cousin when we found out Rarity left... maybe it's just my idea."
Trixie and Starlight looked at each other, but they preferred not to say anything and return to the initial topic.
"Then there’s the trophy incident where Rarity blamed Rainbow," Trixie continued.
"Exactly… if this were a telenovela, Rarity would be the Queen Bee who had her girl stolen and acted out of jealousy," Pinkie added.
"Yeah, it sounds like a telenovela," commented the grey-haired girl. "Do you know why they broke up?"
"Trixie, let’s not delve too deep," Starlight intervened. "Besides, we’re getting the events mixed up."
"I can give you the answer," offered the party girl. "Applejack never told me the reason, but I think it might have been a misunderstanding or some other unknown reason. All I know is that it happened during the contest."
"Contest?" both asked at the same time.
"Rarity entered a sort of contest to prove she could be a great designer. Her aunt even rented her a boutique to design in, as the one she had at home wasn't big enough," explained.
"Rarity is a designer?" asked the grey-haired girl.
"Yes… but I don’t think it was a good idea. I’m not saying she’s a bad designer," the party girl corrected herself. "It’s just that it came right during the final exams period, and we could see she couldn’t handle everything."
"Although it’s possible to do several things at once, you can’t do everything. Studying for finals and creating designs must have stressed her out," Starlight commented empathetically.
"You could tell she wasn’t doing well. She wouldn’t let us help, so we left it in Applejack’s hands," the party girl recounted. "For some reason, Applejack broke up with her and then started dating Rainbow."
Starlight nodded. "Let’s go over this again in order… They broke up in the middle of this contest. Then AJ began her current relationship. After that, Rarity saw the two of them together. Possibly out of jealousy, she broke the display case on side A, took a very important trophy, and hid it in Rainbow's locker, blaming her for something she didn't do."
Pinkie nodded again. "When Rainbow opened her locker and saw the trophy, Principal Mare took her to her office. The five of us followed and waited outside. Then we saw Dash’s mom at the school, so Twilight and Sunset realized this was getting worse. So, we decided to enter without permission. Obviously, the principal was angry. Then we explained the reasons why Rainbow couldn’t have committed the act, and, as if we were detectives, she gave us until sunset to find the culprit."
"How did you find out it was her?" asked Trixie.
"You see, when Rarity broke the display case, she waited until there weren’t many students around. After taking the trophy, she took it to Rainbow’s locker… and how do I know that part? Well, Rarity didn’t realize the janitor was wandering around. When we were looking for evidence, we ran into him and asked if he saw anything…"
"...He told us he saw a girl with wavy hair walking through the halls suspiciously. We asked for more details about the girl’s description, and when he gave them to us, everything pointed to her. Although at first, we didn’t want to believe it."
"I see," said the grey-haired girl. "Did you notice anything suspicious about Rarity before she committed the act?"
"She was acting a bit distant, and despite our support, for some reason, we felt an uncomfortable tension growing… it was very strange," the party girl recounted.
"Maybe there’s something you didn’t see at that moment that motivated her to do that. Something tells me there’s more behind it. Maybe you guys… I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but maybe you did something unintentionally."
"Actually, I do think it’s possible," Pinkie admitted.
"Now we get to the part that left me a bit..."
"Oh, I know what you mean!" said the party girl, resting her face on the table, interrupting her.
"From what you’ve told me, everyone was so angry and didn’t let Rarity fully express herself."
"Shouldn’t you at least have let her speak?" asked the grey-haired girl.
"Because of the way she acted, we didn’t. And as I said, we were angry and disappointed. Also, Rarity was very prideful," the party girl explained, still with her face on the table.
"People with strong personalities often put their pride first," Starlight commented. "Did you try to talk to her again to find out her reasons?"
"No, and for two reasons. One, we had just met her, so we thought she was actually hiding her true personality. And number two, if we were going to talk at some point, it was already too late because she left town a week later," Pinkie explained, lifting her head. "Afterward, I started realizing her possible motives and that we might not have been good friends."
"And I think you judged her a bit by her appearance," Starlight commented. "Now I understand her expression from before."
"That’s another reason I feel bad because the girls and I gave our opinions on how Rarity seemed to be," said with a sad expression.
Starlight was going to say something about not judging someone by their appearance but chose to keep it to herself upon seeing the party girl’s expression.
"At any point after she left, did you talk about the topic again?" Trixie asked.
"No, because after Rarity left town, we decided to leave the topic of Rarity aside and omit it," explained. "After a while, I tried to contact her, but it seems she changed her number."
"I see."
"And now that she’s back, the girls don’t trust her," the party girl continued, distressed. "With Fluttershy, I have some doubts, but the others don’t want to know anything."
"Has she shown any signs of wanting to do something bad in these weeks?" Starlight asked.
"No, from what I’ve noticed. In fact, she seems to be seeking our forgiveness," Pinkie answered, disheartened. "Just the day before yesterday, we coincidentally ran into her at the mall, and she tried to apologize."
"If she seems remorseful and wanting to make things right, I don’t see anything wrong with wanting to give her another chance. I know forgiveness is earned over time, and it seems that was the case for you."
"I did forgive her, but the girls don’t want to..."
"Pinkie, you choose for yourself. If you believe you can trust her again, you don’t need anyone’s permission to do so," Starlight said determinedly. "You know, that speaks well of you. You’re wanting to make peace with the past."
"Forgiving is letting go, releasing. It’s freeing yourself, not having negative things inside you. If someone has wronged you, they must have a full reason for doing such a thing."
"Thank you, that’s a lovely phrase. How do you know so much about this?" she asked with a smile, feeling better.
Starlight smiled. "Because I’m studying something related to psychology."
"That explains why you know some things about romance despite not having been in one," the party girl commented. "No offense."
"I’m not offended," she responded with a smile. "Pinkie, I think you should follow your hunch."
"Has your Pinkie sense ever been wrong?" Trixie asked with a smile.
"Not that I remember," the party girl smiled. "Thank you, girls. I think the answer was there; I just needed to be heard."
The two nodded with a smile.
The couple was in the truck, as after finishing their ice creams, they decided to leave. The farm girl was arriving at the athlete’s house to drop her off.
"Well, here we are," said Applejack.
"Yeah, thanks for the afternoon," replied Rainbow, getting out of the truck and walking towards her house's door.
Applejack got out too and approached to say goodbye.
The blonde leaned in to kiss Rainbow on the forehead while the athlete extended her arms for a hug. They stopped and looked at each other, each changing their mind. The athlete leaned forward, trying to kiss Applejack’s forehead while the blonde extended her arms for a hug. They stopped again.
"Make up your mind, Dash," said the farm girl, somewhat annoyed.
"Decide-? You know what, let’s just leave it," said Rainbow, giving up with a sigh. "See you tomorrow, AJ."
"See you," she replied, walking back to her vehicle.
She got into her truck and started it, watching the athlete as she went inside her house. When she was alone, Applejack muttered to herself, "We’re such a weird couple." With that thought, she drove off, pondering some unimportant things.
Inside the house, Rainbow closed the door behind her and headed to the couch. Sitting down, she let out a sigh.
"What’s that sigh for?" asked Scootaloo, appearing with something in her hands.
"Nothing, sometimes I just don’t understand relationships," the athlete replied tiredly.
"Okay… You got back early from your date."
"Yeah, we bowled and when the game ended, we called it a day. Apparently, it didn’t even last one hours. Then we got ice cream and decided to head home," explained.
"Better, since they predicted rain," said Scootaloo, looking out the window.
"Mmm... I think I saw it getting cloudy," Rainbow recalled. Then she looked back at the younger girl. "What were you doing?"
"I wanted to play some video games here, so I was bringing the console," she replied.
"If you want, we can play. Remember I told you I’d teach you to play Need for Speed?" the athlete said with a half-smile.
"Yeah, I’d like that," replied.
Scootaloo sat next to Rainbow on the couch and handed her the console controller. The athlete accepted the controller with a smile. After a while of playing, the younger girl had learned some tricks.
"Alright, now activate the nitro," Rainbow instructed.
"Got it," said Scootaloo, pressing the button and watching her car speed up impressively.
"That's it, you did great! Now watch what’s ahead so you don’t crash."
"Okay," the younger girl said, focusing on the screen. "You know... I’m glad you have more time to spend at home now."
Rainbow lifted her gaze from the game, surprised by the comment. "What do you mean? How do you figure I have more time now?"
"Well, lately you’ve been less busy, don’t you think?" the younger girl continued.
"I hang out with you and the others," the athlete said with a smile, though a bit doubtful about the topic.
"Yeah, but not individually since you’ve been in a relationship," said Scootaloo. "I guess now you and AJ agreed to spend more time with the others," added with a smile.
Rainbow pondered those words. "I suppose so," she responded, somewhat thoughtfully. "Could that be the reason...?"  
The younger girl tried to read her sister’s expression. "Are you okay?"
She nodded silently, letting her sister's words sink in as they continued playing. But she had something on her mind: tomorrow, she would talk to Fluttershy. Maybe she had found the possible cause of her behavior.
Starlight and Trixie were walking through the streets, using their usual shortcut to get home. Unfortunately, the path passed near a newly opened bar and it had started to rain. Taxis passed by frequently, which would be useful for Trixie to take one and get home before the rain got heavier.
"Hey, Starlight," called the grey-haired girl.
"Yes, Trixie."
"I was thinking about Applejack and Rarity’s relationship."
"Which part of the relationship?"
"Do you think they exchanged necklaces? According to what Pinkie said, both wanted to give each other that detail without knowing it, which I thought was sweet," Trixie commented with a somewhat sad tone.
"I don’t have a definite answer, but I think and hope they didn’t. On Rarity’s part, I think she did, but on Applejack’s part, I hope she didn’t," Starlight reflected.
"Why do you say that?"
"I made a mental timeline of the events," explained Starlight.
Trixie looked at her, raising an eyebrow.
"Blame Twilight for doing most of the assignments with her," said, rolling her eyes. "According to my calculations, they became a couple around Christmas, at the end of the year."
"Okay..." Trixie waited for her friend to continue.
"They met the girls halfway through the next year, and then they met Rainbow almost at their anniversary. As Pinkie said, they clicked or felt attracted. And almost at the beginning of the following year, Rarity and Applejack broke up..."
"...Why give that gift if you felt something for someone else? In cases like this, when it’s about giving something very special and significant, sweet words and promises are exchanged. If the gift exchange happened, then those were empty promises without feelings," finished explaining.
"It sounds sad, but it makes sense. Why give it if Applejack would break up with her a few months later?" said Trixie with a sad expression.
"Exactly, that’s why I hope she didn’t give it," she commented with the same expression.
Ending the conversation, Trixie said goodbye to her friend, took a taxi, and Starlight headed home, the rain falling softly around her.
Author's Note
As I said the next chapter
later since I think this chapter is the longest I've ever done, besides, as I said, I have to translate it into English.
As you may have noticed, in some paragraphs I put some separate dialogues but with the same character speaking. I did this so that the text would not be too long when put together.
I hope you enjoyed Rarijack's past story. I did enough to briefly recount some events. The idea was that it would be all in chapter 8, but I realized that it would be too long, so I divided it into two. These flashbacks won't stop here; There will be more later, I just have to find a way to accommodate them. And we'll see what happens with their relationship in the future.
I plan to do somewhat risque scenes, if you know what I mean. I just have to figure out a way to do it right.tono, if you know what I mean. I just have to figure out a way to do it right.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                     Unforeseen Things                     
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Author's Note
Hello, here again, I wanted to put the information first to clarify some things.
I don't know if I mentioned it, but at the beginning of the fanfic I couldn't decide whether to follow the academic schedule of my country or yours, but then I realized that the chronology fits better if I do it with your academic schedule. Although I had to change one thing to make it coherent, you will realize when you read the chapter what the change is and I don't know if I will make another one in the future.
In this chapter I separated many dialogues, because it is so that it does not seem too invasive when reading, but I separated it before to show how a character feels or by conversation, but here I did it for the reason I mentioned.
Unforeseen Things
Pinkie Pie was walking towards the institute. At other times, Applejack would come to pick her up, but they didn’t always go there together.
The party lover was determined: today she would talk to Rarity, she just needed to find the right moment, although she still had some slight doubts about how the others would react to her approaching the fashionista. For now, she wouldn’t think about it. However, she couldn’t help but recall one of the many times the seven friends had shared happy moments together.
Three Years Ago  
"Come on, Twilight..." said Sunset. There was a sound of the blue-haired girl bumping into something. "Wait... carefully."
"Sunset, this would be easier if I wasn't blindfolded," Twilight complained with a hint of frustration.
The door was heard opening as Sunset put a finger to her lips and guided her friend inside with her other arm, removing the blindfold.
"Surprise!" they all exclaimed in unison, surprising the girl.
The place was decorated with balloons, streamers, and a big banner that said 'Happy Birthday, Twilight!'.
"Happy birthday! This is your big day. Ready for the cake?" asked Rainbow, holding a big, colorful cake with a wide grin.
"Thank you, girls. I wasn't expecting this," Twilight expressed emotionally, wiping away a tear of joy. Sunset placed a hand on her shoulder, showing her a smile.
"Now let's sing happy birthday," said Pinkie excitedly.
Once the six sang happy birthday, Twilight prepared to blow out the candles.
"Make sure to make three wishes, darling. It's crucial for a successful birthday," advised Rarity with a smile.
"I'll think of some," replied and then blew out the candles.
After blowing out the candles, Rainbow set the cake on the table and Sunset cut slices for everyone.
""Congratulations, you have reached adulthood," commented Applejack with a smile.
"Now you can drink," added Dash, extending a small beer bottle to her.
"No thanks..." declined the drink. "You know, even though I'm of age, there's still a lot to learn, right?" said, adjusting her glasses.
"That learning stuff is a bit overrated," commented Pinkie nonchalantly.
The bespectacled girl rolled her eyes; she knew enough about the party girl to know that she wasn't very interested in learning topics. She looked around, noticing the decorations.
"The decorations are nice. They're a bit... flashy," said Twilight.
"This was a joint effort between Belle and Pie," explained Pinkie, hugging the fashionista from the side.
"Well, Pinkie had the idea and I just designed a sketch of how it would look, and she took care of the decorating," detailed Rarity with a smile as the party girl let her go.
"It's lovely, as you'd say," commented Fluttershy with a smile.
"Yes... although for Sparkle's birthday it should have been something more, or rather, less colorful, but it didn't turn out bad at all," said Rainbow, taking a sip of her beer.
"Oh, dear, it's just a matter of having a good eye for details, and Pinkie has it," responded Rarity.
"Oh!" exclaimed the party girl. "I might consider throwing parties more often," said excitedly.
The others laughed at their hyperactive friend's idea.
Rarity glanced sideways at Rainbow. "You know, details are also nice in certain... areas," commented with a sly smile.
"Oh no, no, no," the athlete began, shaking her head and raising her hands, careful not to drop her bottle.
"I haven't even said anything," said the fashionista.
"No need... I know what you meant," Rainbow responded, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, come on, Dash, it's just a couple of touch-ups," insisted Rarity.
"you won't mess with my face, Miss Elegance," said the athlete, taking a step back.
"You'll look fabulous and you'll look cool," continued the fashionista, smiling.
"If I'm going to be 20% cooler... I already am, being me," replied confidently.
"Well, that extra percent cooler would look good with makeup," insisted again.
"Hahaha," Pinkie laughed. "I'd like to see you with that makeup."
"You say that because you've already fallen to the temptation of makeup," commented, looking at the party girl.
"What do you think, Pinkie, would she look cooler with makeup?" asked the fashionista.
"I'm not as much of a perfectionist as Twi to give an answer," replied Pinkie, shrugging.
"I'm not a perfectionist," protested Twilight, crossing her arms.
"Ehh... Half and half," said Sunset, smiling.
"I think you're cool in your own way," said Fluttershy softly.
"See..." said Rainbow. "I appreciate you wanting to help me look better, but this girl feels fine, we'll see later, Miss Elegance," she finished, taking a few steps forward. "Hey, Fluttershy, will you show me what you were going to show me?" she said, winking at her friend.
"What you..." the pink-haired girl was about to ask, not understanding. A few seconds later, she realized it was an excuse to get out of that situation. "Oh, you mean that..." said. The athlete nodded. "Yes, Dash, it was over here."
Both friends walked a little away from the group.
"Mmm... that sounded like a possibility for the future," commented Rarity, with an amused smile.
"Another day it will be," the blonde laughed before kissing her forehead. It wasn't necessary for her to stand on tiptoe like the fashionista usually did since she was a bit taller than Rarity. After that, she went to talk with Twilight and Sunset.
"You'll have your moment. You've already tried it on Fluttershy and me," commented Pinkie with a knowing smile.
Rarity nodded, giving in for now. "Miss Elegance... what kind of nickname is that? I don't know if I'll get used to that name," she said, raising an eyebrow.
"It's not so bad. She already gave me one," said, laughing.
"What's yours?"
"Sugar Rush"
"I suppose it's quite fitting for you. Always so full of energy."
"Exactly! And you're Miss Elegance because you always look fabulous and you care about every little detail," said Pinkie, moving her hands exaggeratedly to emphasize her words.
"Well, I like to make sure everything is in its place and looks perfect. Although I must admit it can be a bit exhausting at times."
"That's because you're a classy perfectionist! Hey, have you ever thought about making clothes professionally apart from what you do daily?" asked curiously.
Rarity raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Actually, yes. I've always dreamed of having my own boutique someday. I love the idea of creating something beautiful and unique for each person."
"That sounds amazing! You'd definitely be the best designer in the world," said Pinkie with genuine enthusiasm.
"Thank you, Pinkie. And what about you?"
"Well... I've always wanted to do something that makes people happy. I don't know exactly what, but something that brings smiles," said the party girl.
"That doesn't surprise me at all. You have a gift for cheering others up," said Rarity with a warm smile. "You'll come up with something."
As the birthday party went on, each one was scattered, talking in small groups.
"Girls, it's time for the photo!" exclaimed Pinkie.
The fashionista approached her bag to get the camera, and when she opened it, she brought a hand to her mouth with a horrified expression. "Oh, no, this is terrible!" she said, looking at the others.
The other girls looked back at her, a little worried.
"I forgot the camera," said with her typical dramatism, putting a hand on her forehead. "This is a tragedy."
The girls looked at each other and shook their heads, some laughing about it.
"Let her be," commented Applejack with a smile. Then she approached the fashionista. "Rare, who always has a cellphone in hand for selfies?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, that's true," she said, changing her expression to a more calm one and taking out her cellphone. "Does anyone have a tripod?"
"I have one in my room," said Sunset, getting up to look for it among her things. After finding a tripod, Rarity placed the cellphone on it and set the timer.
"Alright, girls, get ready," said the fashionista. Each one struck a particular pose as the timer began counting down.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1... *Click*
Present  
"We used to have so much fun..." sighed, reminiscing. "Sugar Rush... she stopped calling me that, but it had a nice touch."
"In the end, I did find my passion... somehow it had to do with that celebration day. Who would have thought I like organizing parties? Sometimes I give my number to other people in case they want to call me to organize their events..."
"...I wonder where I left that photo and if the others... knowing how things turned out, it's possible they deleted the photo Rarity shared from their phones." Pinkie shook her head. "No, Pinkie, don't think about that. After I manage to talk to her, I'll somehow make the others change their minds."
With that determination, she kept walking.
The fashionista was arriving at the institute with her sister. Sweetie Belle noticed that her sister seemed a bit nervous, although she didn't look sad like she sometimes did when they went to institute. She knew the reason for that was that she was meeting up with the others. She assumed that their outing to the park yesterday had helped her think a bit about how to approach the matter.
Once inside, they stopped near the doors where, to one side, was the main building. This was a large area where some students from Side B often hung around. It was also the place where the younger students separated from the older ones.
"Well, Sweetie, this time don't lose track of time talking with the Crusaders and don't sneak through that 'shortcut' during class hours."
"Haha," the younger one let out a giggle.
"You're lucky Principal Luna didn't catch you," added the older one, crossing her arms.
"According to the Crusaders and Spike, they don't have problems with their sisters..." commented, seeing her sister raise an eyebrow. "As long as recesses are when their older sisters are in class and we don't skip our own classes."
"That doesn't mean you can do the same," Rarity responded firmly but with a smile on her lips. "You know I'm trying to keep you out of trouble. This place is big, and there are many rules to follow."
"I know, Rarity," replied, softening her tone. "I'm just saying that sometimes it's hard not to be tempted to go to the other side."
"I understand, dear, but the rules are there for a reason," said with a softer smile. "Now, go and have a good day. I'll see you after class."
Sweetie Belle smiled and nodded. "See you." And with that, she headed towards the side that led to Side A, while the fashionista made her way to her own destination on Side B.
The morning had passed quickly, and now Pinkie Pie was in her second hour of class, along with Sunset and Fluttershy, in the baking class. Pinkie, always full of enthusiasm, was busy decorating some cupcakes with colorful frosting, though her mind seemed to be elsewhere.
"How should I start? 'Rarity, can we talk?' or 'Hey Rarity, you know, I don't care what the others say'... although I do care about what the girls think," thought to herself.
"Pinkie," called a soft voice.
"Or maybe I should be more casual," continued, ignoring the voice while she focused on her thoughts.
"Pinkie," tried another voice to interrupt.
"I kno-"
"PINKIE!" Sunset finally exclaimed, interrupting before the party planner could continue her thought-driven distraction.
"What?!" responded, startled, accidentally dropping a tube of frosting onto the table, causing a small mess.
"Misses, is something the matter? Would you care to share with the class?" the teacher intervened, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the three friends.
"I'm sorry, professor, it was my fault," Sunset hurried to apologize while helping Pinkie clean up the frosting mess. Fluttershy nodded with a nervous smile towards the teacher.
The teacher sighed. "Try to stay focused on your projects, girls. And if you need to discuss something important, do it during recess," he advised.
Pinkie, now more centered, nodded and internally thanked her friends for the save. Once the teacher moved away to supervise other students, Sunset and Fluttershy looked at their friend with a mix of concern and understanding.
"Pinkie, are you alright? You seem a bit out of place today," asked the red-and-yellow-haired girl quietly.
"Yeah, you're usually more focused on your decorating... is something bothering you?" Fluttershy asked in the same tone.
"Oh, no, everything's fine. I was just thinking about... about... a new cupcake recipe! Yes, that's it, an incredibly cool recipe," she replied quickly.
Sunset and Fluttershy exchanged glances, clearly unconvinced by her answer.
"Are you sure there's nothing else we can help you with?" asked the pink-haired girl softly, placing a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder.
The party planner nodded with a forced smile. "Thanks, girls, I really appreciate your concern. But seriously, I was just thinking about recipes. Let's make these cupcakes the most amazing we've ever made!"
The two exchanged looks again but nodded, deciding to leave the topic for now and focus on helping Pinkie with the class assignment.
A few hours passed, and the third class hour also flew by quickly, marking the end of the school day. There were days when the girls had classes, free time, or, in the case of their three soccer team friends, practice. This time, Pinkie couldn’t make up an excuse to leave with her cousin and had to walk to meet her.
Pinkie was outside, near the statue, waiting to meet a certain curly-haired girl. She watched as some students exited through the main entrance while others headed to the parking lot to leave in their cars.
She had to wait until the end of the classes since she didn’t know the girl’s schedule and whether she would be busy or free. She could have waited for her during lunch, but today she didn't have lunch, as depending on her weekly schedule, sometimes she stayed at the school, and other times she went straight home.
She waited a few more minutes until she recognized the girl's distinctive way of speaking, which apparently hadn’t changed. She saw her walk past without noticing the party planner was there, so Pinkie detached herself from the statue and opened her mouth.
"Hello, Rarity," greeted calmly, though inside she felt nervous.
The fashionista stopped with her sister and turned around, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the party planner's smile. Rarity widened her eyes slightly at the unexpected appearance of Pinkie.
"Eh... Pin... kie?" Rarity's voice had a tone of surprise.
Pinkie approached. "How have you been?"
"Eh... ah... fine," replied, looking around with a confused expression, as if trying to understand what was happening.
"Do you want me to walk you home?"
Sweetie Belle, seeing her sister's expression and how she seemed paralyzed, answered for her. "Sure, Pinkie! We'd like you to join us."
"Perfect, I have lots to talk about," she said cheerfully.
"I'd like to hear it, right, sister?" the younger one asked with a smile.
"Yes..." Rarity responded, still surprised.
Despite seeing her sister's confusion, the younger one noticed she was happy about this. The three started walking, with Pinkie lightly skipping with each step, trying to avoid 'that topic' and starting a conversation. Rarity responded as best she could, and Sweetie Belle joined in the chat as well.
The next morning, Rarity found herself entering the cafeteria for lunch. She didn't want to sit at her usual table again, as she would once more feel the weight of the stares from her former friends, but it automatically became her table because no one else used it during lunchtime. She had thought about finding another place to eat until things were less tense between them.
As she sat down, she sensed someone else's presence and turned to see the hyperactive girl.
"Pinkie Pie?" Rarity asked, surprised to see her at her table.
"Hi, Rarity," greeted Pinkie with a smile.
"Aren't you supposed to sit with the girls?" suggested Rarity.
"I'm not obligated to be with the Mane Six all the time," replied.
"Mane Six?" Rarity asked, then recalled the conversation during the first days with the three girls in art class.
"Yeah, sometimes they call us that," Pinkie explained, settling at the table.
"I think I've heard something about that," commented Rarity. There were a few seconds of silence. "Um..."
"Is something wrong, Rarity? Are you feeling like this because the teacher scolded you again in Sports?"
"It's not that... It was unexpected for you to talk to me," admitted the fashionista.
Yesterday, when Rarity was leaving the school with her sister, Pinkie seemed to have been waiting for her and talked to her. It was strange for Rarity, but in a way, it made her happy; still, it didn't change the fact that it was unexpected.
"Ahhh... unexpected things happen, don't they?" Pinkie said.
"Yes... I suppose," Rarity said. "Why sit with me? I know we talked a little yesterday, but you didn't have to."
"I thought you might like some company," Pinkie affirmed with a smile.
"..." Rarity didn't know what to say.
Pinkie noticed that, so she tried something else to lighten the mood. "You know, I've always thought this table has a good view of the cafeteria."
"I'm not so sure about that..." Rarity responded. "Though I won't deny that I've wanted company," thought.
After another moment of silence, Rarity hesitated a bit in what she was going to say. "I don't know if you want to hear this, but... do you want to know why I did what I did?"
The party planner was surprised by the question. "Not necessarily, but on one side, I would like to know."
The fashionista let out a heavy sigh. "I don't know how to explain it. I had a lot on my mind, it was difficult for me..."
"Difficult, in what sense? In..." Pinkie stopped when she realized her own words, then saw Rarity's expression. She was looking at her with a sad expression. "I used the same words, didn't I?" murmured, looking down.
Rarity stood up and, turning her head, found herself meeting the stares of the others. She looked for a moment and then walked further into the cafeteria.
"Well done, Pinkie," said to herself, lifting her head a little.
The girls, seeing that interaction, got up, leaving their food trays on the table where they usually had lunch. Pinkie stood up, saw the girls already approaching, and out of the corner of her eye, saw the fashionista leaving.
Three Years Ago: That Day  
"I still don't believe it," Fluttershy said, frowning, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"Why would I?" Pinkie asked, confused.
"We show her our support and she pays us back?" Sunset exclaimed in disbelief.
"She better not hold back, or else..." Rainbow said, visibly upset.
"Girls, I just sent him a message," Twilight reported with a serious expression, but implying that she was affected.
The five looked at each other. Applejack approached; Although he hadn't said anything about it, his expression said it all.
The girls were in a hallway where the broken but clean display case lay. After speaking with the janitor, who provided them with details about the person who broke the display case, they hoped to hear the truth from her friend, if they could still consider her as such. Minutes passed and Sunset noticed something at the end of the hallway.
"Girls, here she comes," the red/yellow haired girl announced, nodding toward the hallway. The six of them watched as a purple-haired girl slowly approached.
"I got your message, Twilight. Is something wrong?" Rarity asked, trying to stay calm.
"You know, Rarity...something peculiar happened," Twilight continued, her tone filled with seriousness of hers.
"What?" asked.
Sunset spoke up. "Someone broke the display case and took something out..."
"What did he pull out?" she asked, trying to hide her nervousness.
"A trophy," Sunset replied, watching Rarity's nervous reaction.
"Did they find out who did it?"
Rainbow frowned, she tried to take a few steps, but was stopped by Applejack. The girls exchanged meaningful glances and turned their attention to the dressmaker.
The air was filled with silence as her friends' gazes became more intense, until finally Sunset spoke again. "Someone saw a person walking through the hallways."
"In the hallways?" asked, a hint of nervousness creeping into her voice.
"Yeah, we don't know who yet, but we have some suspicions," the red/yellow haired girl explained. "But first... Why were you late to the cafeteria?"
"Yes Rarity, where were you when all this was happening?" Twilight asked with a curious look.
"I was in the library studying for an important project and I lost track of time." She excused herself.
"That doesn't make sense! We're in the middle of testing, and I don't remember any projects," the bluenette questioned. "Also, you said you would leave the pills and go with us, and one more thing: do you know how far it is from the library to the cafeteria?"
"Oh...huh," murmured, feeling her façade of innocence crumble.
"Please, Rarity, tell the truth," Fluttershy urged.
"We know you're not telling us the whole truth. You can't keep hiding behind empty excuses," Sunset said, a serious expression on her face.
"I don't know what they're talking about, but I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for all of this. I don't know what girl they saw," Rarity said, not realizing her own words.
"I never said it was a girl," Sunset corrected.
The dressmaker's eyes widened as she realized that she had given herself away. "Did I say girl? What I meant..."
"ENOUGH, RARITY! You can't deny what you did. Stop acting," the red/yellow haired woman interrupted, her firmness echoing through the desolate hallway.
"Yes, stop pretending!" Rainbow exclaimed, unable to contain herself any longer.
The dressmaker felt cornered by the accusations and she could no longer deny it. "I was the one who broke the display case and put the trophy in Rainbow's locker," confessed, feeling the weight of truth fall on her shoulders.
Twilight looked down, sighed, and looked forward again, taking in Rarity's confession and the impact she would have on the group.
"Rarity, please... Tell us there is a logical explanation for all of this," the pinkette implored, her voice filled with anguish as she looked at her friend with pleading eyes.
"I... I thought that...! You don't understand how difficult it was for me!" the dressmaker exclaimed, getting a little carried away by her pride.
"Difficult, in what sense?" Pinkie exclaimed, her voice shaking with emotion. "Break the display case?"
"How could you do something like that? We thought we were your friends, but you used us for your own selfish purposes," Sunset reproached.
"I didn't use them!" defended herself.
"Oh no?...you suggested we go to the cafeteria saying you'd be there soon," the bluenette interjected, pointing out her manipulation.
"While you broke the display case to get the trophy out and put it in Rainbow's locker," Fluttershy added, her voice shaking with sadness and disappointment. "You made us feel like mere tools in your plans. Did you really think about how we would feel?"
"Girls, listen to me..." tried to speak.
"No, Rarity, you listen! You can't just ignore what you've done," the party girl interjected, her tone reflecting her deep disappointment.
"A friend wouldn't do what you did. What kind of friend... are you?" Twilight questioned.
"I... I thought you were different. I thought you valued our friendship more than anything," the pinkette added.
"But I do..."
"It doesn't seem like... I always considered you a trustworthy friend, but now..." Rainbow clenched her fists. "At first I thought you were selfish, but Fluttershy told me not to judge you. However, with what you did to me, you proved me right. You are just as you seem: a girl full of..." she couldn't finish.
"She considered you one of my best friends. I always thought I could trust you, but... how can I now?" Pinkie said, a tone of sadness in her voice.
Rarity looked down, trying to find the words to justify her actions, feeling guilt and regret consume her, along with frustration.
"But listen, listen!" exclaimed, desperately trying to justify her actions. "There was a reason behind what I did. I didn't mean to hurt anyone..."
Sunset interrupted her sharply. "A reason? That doesn't justify anything, Rarity! You had no right to do what you did."
"Do you think that reason would change anything? You betrayed us. Or rather, you betrayed me. You can't just excuse yourself and expect everything to go back to the way it was before," Rainbow said, her voice heavy with disappointment.
"I considered you a friend. But now... now I'm not sure what you are," Fluttershy added.
The dressmaker didn't know what to say to those words. After a silence, Pinkie took something out of her pocket.
"Do you know what this is?" the party girl asked, with a serious tone.
"A deflated balloon?" Rarity asked.
"It's punctured, that's what you did. You punctured the balloon of joy...and friendship," Pinkie said seriously with a touch of sadness in her voice. "The friendship we had built together. I don't know if I'll be able to look at you the same way again..."
Rarity looked away, feeling Applejack's silent gaze on her, and returned to the party girl's. "Pinkie, please understand... I don't know what happened to me. It was a moment of weakness, a stupid thing..."
"Nonsense?" Pinkie replied, her voice shaking with emotion. "Is that really an excuse, Rarity?"
The girls had nodded in agreement, showing disappointed expressions on their faces. None of them found anything valid to justify the dressmaker's actions.
"We understand that people make mistakes, but what you did affected all of us. You failed us, Rarity. You failed us all," Fluttershy said, her voice filled with sadness.
The dressmaker got carried away. "Fail them? You have no idea what you're saying! I…" she began to protest, but the stern looks from her friends left her speechless.
"Until you're finally showing your true colors," the athlete said, looking at her with disdain.
"I thought I knew you... but you were always like that," the bluenette added, with a look of disappointment.
Rarity's expression fell, realizing that her pride was getting the better of her, although a part of her felt angry at her friends. "Me, just me..."
The tension in the room was palpable as the dressmaker faced the accusatory looks of her friends. She tried to keep her composure, but discomfort washed over her when the bluenette spoke again.
"Do you know why you can't say anything? It's because you have no excuses," Twilight stated, crossing her arms.
Rarity fell silent again upon hearing that and looked at the pink-haired girl. "Fluttershy, please understand..."
"Understand what? Put the trophy in Rainbow's locker..." the pinkette said, her eyes full of sadness, but with a firmer tone of voice. "How could you be so insensitive? Didn't you care at all how Dash would feel when he encountered that?" Her voice shook at the end, once again showing her sadness. "I always saw you as someone so sensitive and thoughtful... It hurts me a lot to say this, but I feel very disappointed. I didn't expect this from you."
"Girls, really..." she tried one last time.
"No more!" Twilight interrupted. "You almost got Rainbow expelled. There's nothing you can say to justify what you did!" she added.
"Exactly. You acted selfishly and thought only of yourself," Rainbow said, her voice filled with anger.
A tense silence takes over the room as Rarity stares at each of her friends. After a moment, Rarity looks at Applejack with a mix of sadness and despair.
"Why haven't you told me anything?"
The blonde looked at her. "There's no need to tell you anything. Your actions speak for themselves... Apparently I wasn't wrong in what I told you the other day," said, with a hard look.
Rarity is overwhelmed by Applejack's words. "No, you didn't say that, I thought you believed in me," thought, feeling how tears began to accumulate in her eyes, but she did her best not to let them out.
"I think this got here. We know what you did and that's enough," Sunset said, her voice firm, as her friends nodded silently, confirming her words.
Another silence was present. Rarity vividly remembered what happened a few days ago. That memory filled her with anger as she faced the stern gaze of each of them. Finally, Rarity, with a mix of regret and anger, makes a decision.
She gritted her teeth and spoke. "If that's what you want," she said, as she turned around. "I can handle myself," she muttered remorsefully to herself.
With these words, Rarity withdraws from her, feeling the weight of her guilt and the loss of the friendship of her loved ones. The other friends remain silent. The girls' gazes remained fixed on Rarity as she walked away down the hallway, leaving a heavy silence in her wake. Pinkie looked at each of her friends.
First, her gaze shifted to Fluttershy. She bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with sadness and confusion. It was evident that the trust she had placed in Rarity had been deeply shaken.
Then, she saw Twilight, who was serious, with her arms crossed and a piercing gaze. Despite her disappointment, Pinkie noticed a spark of hope in her eyes, although she knew it would be difficult to maintain.
Then her gaze fell on Rainbow Dash, who was staring at the ground, her jaw clenched and her fists clenched. The expression on her face mixed anger and pain, feeling betrayed by someone she had trusted so much.
Next, she Pinkie looked at Sunset, who was looking at them seriously. Her face reflected determination, but also palpable sadness. Pinkie could see that she too felt deeply disappointed and somewhat angry at the emotional consequences this had brought to the group.
Finally, her eyes landed on Applejack. She kept a hard look and a serious expression, although Pinkie noticed a slight hesitation in her eyes. It was evident that she was trying to hide any signs of weakness.
After seeing everyone, Pinkie watched Rarity walk away from her. She held in her hands the deflated balloon that symbolized the friendship that now seemed broken. Rarity's final words echoed in her mind, filled with anger and disdain. "If that's what you want," she had said, "I can handle myself." Bitterness mixed with sadness in her voice as she muttered to herself, "I never thought it would come to this..."
The silence deepened as Rarity walked out of sight. Pinkie felt the distance between them widen, and she realized that something had irrevocably changed in her group of friends.
Present  
The party girl let out a sigh. "Could it be that she left like that the other time because we didn't let her talk?"
The girls were already in front of the dressmaker's table, where Pinkie Pie was now.
"Hey, Pinkie, what was that?" Rainbow said, frowning in surprise.
"An oversight," the party girl responded, a little sad, turning around to walk into the cafeteria.
The five of them looked at each other in confusion, exchanging glances with each other in search of answers.
"Shouldn't we tell him something?" Twilight asked, with a worried expression.
"Blonde, you should tell her something," the jock said, nudging Applejack.
"Because I?" the farmer asked, frowning a little.
"You're her cousin," Rainbow said, facing her.
"And you're one of her friends, so we should all talk," the farmer said, crossing her arms.
"But maybe Belle told her something to get her to talk to him and she doesn't mean it," raised her voice a little and frowned.
"Do you think that because I'm her relative she's going to tell me?" The blonde said, raising her voice even more.
"Mayb-"
"Not now, girls," Sunset interrupted, noticing the curious looks of other students around her, who were beginning to murmur.
"Sunset is right, I don't think here would be the right place for arguments," Twilight supported.
"We should calm down a little," Fluttershy said, his voice soft.
The two girls took a deep breath to calm themselves, closing their eyes for a moment.
"How about this?" Applejack began, "let's give it some time and see what exactly is going on," raising an eyebrow in suggestion.
"I think we should see what happens," the blue haired girl said, nodding her head in agreement.
"Good idea, let's just leave it at that," Sunset said.
"Yeah, let's go back for lunch?" Rainbow suggested, calmer.
"Come on," Sunset said.
The five returned to their table to eat.
Lunch was somewhat silent. The party girl appeared at the entrance outside the cafeteria, but within seconds she was gone again, she seemed to be looking for someone. So only the five of them had lunch this time.
After lunch, the five of them left their empty trays to leave the cafeteria and go to their only class of the afternoon. The athlete took the blue-haired girl and the red/yellow-haired girl from her shoulders, moving them a little away from the group. She gave Applejack and Fluttershy an excuse, but she assured them that they would be back soon.
"Hey girls, I need her help," said the multicolored haired girl, stopping in a semi-open hallway that led to a small pasture.
"What's happening?" the blue haired girl asked.
"Yeah, to get us away a little bit," Sunset commented.
"I think I figured out the reason why Fluttershy is acting like this towards me," Rainbow explained.
"Oh really?" the two responded in unison.
"I wanted to talk to her yesterday, but she escaped me," said the athlete, somewhat frustrated.
"How did she escape from you? Did she see you and run away?" the blue haired girl joked.
Rainbow looked at her a little seriously.
"Sorry, bad joke," Twilight apologized and cleared her throat. "Keep going".
"Well, I wanted to look for her to talk and I didn't arrive in time," the athlete explained.
"You could have run," Sunset suggested.
"Hey, I don't have as many free classes as you guys," the multicolored haired girl complained. "Do you know how long it takes me to go swimming, then shower and go pick her up?"
"Good point," Sunset admitted.
"When I went to pick her up, there were a lot of students in her classroom, so she must have left through the back door without me noticing," the athlete continued. "Plus, we had training and they know we have to prepare."
"Saying that on Mondays he leaves earlier and sometimes he usually leaves," Sunset recalled.
"Exactly, that's why I went looking for her thinking that this time she would stay," Rainbow said. "But I could have talked to her today before lunch, she just couldn't find the right time. She was surrounded by people and didn't want to make it public."
"Hmm...let's see," the blue-haired girl thought. "I know, you have three options."
"Which is it?" the athlete asked.
"Tomorrow in the second period you have free, you could go to her room and talk, but there is a but," Twilight began to explain. Rainbow waited for her friend to continue. "The break is not long enough for them to talk as much as they need to."
"Then that option is out," Sunset said.
"The other option is that in your last class before lunch you went to her classroom, but you would have to almost run to get there on time," the blue-haired girl proposed.
"Mmm...", the athlete thought a little about the option. "What's the third?"
"You'll have to wait until Thursday, in the middle of that free time we have and when we usually go to rehearse," Twilight suggested.
"What! I'm not going to wait until Thursday to talk," Rainbow protested.
"Then you'll have to run tomorrow," Sunset said, trying to sound optimistic.
Rainbow nodded, still thinking about the options. "I will. Thanks, girls."
"You're welcome. Now, let's get back to AJ and Fluttershy. We don't want them to worry," Twilight suggested, adjusting her glasses.
The three friends headed back to where Applejack and Fluttershy were waiting. Rainbow watched Fluttershy from a distance, remembering the times when her friendship was uncomplicated. "Tomorrow," she said to herself, "tomorrow I will fix everything."
The next day, as dictated by the class schedule, the girls were scattered in their corresponding classes. Applejack was in arts, her first hour of the morning. According to the teacher, today she would finish the drawing section, a task that had always represented a challenge for her. She looked around her as she prepared for class, noticing how the girls were spread out in their respective seats.
The teacher guided the class with detailed instructions on shading and composition techniques, while Applejack struggled to keep up. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Rarity's concentration on her drawing, her blue eyes shining with typical intensity as she immersed herself in her work.
"What is she up to now?" Applejack wondered, frowning slightly. "Out of nowhere he's talking to Pinkie..."
He shook his head and decided to focus on his own drawing. Turning his head, however, he met Sunset's gaze, who seemed to share her intrigue about Rarity and Pinkie's recent interaction. It was evident that at some point they would have to broach the subject with the group's party girl.
Why, out of nowhere, from one day to the next, did the hyperactive girl in the group start striking up a conversation with the sophisticated girl who was previously one of hers?
The hours passed and Pinkie headed to the playground for the second period break. She was a little thoughtful; she wanted to talk to Rarity and apologize. She sat on a bench and began to think.
"Pinkie Pie?" Rarity called in a soft voice.
The party girl raised her head and looked at her in surprise.
"Hello, Rarity," she greeted with a faint smile. "She was just going to look for you to ask for your forgiveness."
"Oh yeah?" she said, somewhat surprised, since she was looking for exactly the same thing. "I wanted to apologize for leaving like that yesterday," she began, looking Pinkie in the eyes. "I was supposed to give you an explanation and I left abruptly..." she remained silent for a few seconds before continuing. "I'm willing to take any criticism for what I did."
The party girl blinked, surprised. "Receive criticism?" asked. "Is Rarity willing to do that? Since when has this been...? well, it's been three years since we've talked and we've all changed."
"Yes," the dressmaker agreed. "What I did was wrong and my explanation may not be what you expect to hear."
"That's probably true... but at least I have to listen to her this time" thought the party girl. "Do you want to sit down?"
Rarity nodded and sat down. There was silence for a few moments before the dressmaker spoke.
"Well, I had a lot of things on my mind: the tests, the... contest... and you know, it would affect anyone if they broke up with their partner. Obviously, at that moment it affected me, although I wasn't good to her "I think it was good that it happened," Rarity began.
"Rarity, it's not like you did anything very bad to AJ, other than stealing her. You pushed her away just like you did us to fulfill your dream of being a designer," Pinkie said. "Sorry for mentioning us..."
"Okay. I accepted that... but leaving a couple out by not accepting their help, and yours when they offered it to me. AJ tried it when she was making the designs, even though she didn't believe in them, "It was bad," said the dressmaker with a sad tone.
"What do you mean?" the party girl asked, curious about what was said about her cousin.
"AJ always thought so. The other day and yesterday I remembered a little when she praised my talent, surely she just had to pretend, I guess it was to not make me feel bad," Rarity responded with a sad look.
"Wait, did Applejack tell her that her designs weren't cute or something? Maybe AJ said something similar and Rarity misunderstood, maybe it was a misunderstanding," the party girl thought with a frown.
"As for the robbery, it was worse. I was angry and I thought that by doing it... I don't know..." The dressmaker couldn't find the words. "I wanted to get AJ's attention, at least to talk to her and say goodbye to her."
"I understand that you might have gotten mad at Rainbow because she, well, because she noticed your...ex-girl," she surmised. "Rarity, there were other means to get attention. And why just say goodbye to AJ? What about us? We were there for you."
The dressmaker put a hand on her chin to remember. "Mmm..." she Then she opened her eyes, not quite sure what to say. "Well, it was because..." she trailed off before speaking. "I didn't know how to tell him... that's all... the other thing I was thinking is no longer important."
Pinkie knew there was something else she didn't want to say, that much was evident. Something was missing that she didn't even remember, for the moment she would let it go, but something the dressmaker said caught her attention.
"Wait, did you just say 'to say goodbye'? Did they already have your trip planned?"
"Yeah, in the middle of everything that happened. You know, the tests and the contest, among other things. One night, my parents took Sweetie Belle and me to a restaurant and told us we were going out of town. ... taking us to the restaurant was a way to compensate for the news," the dressmaker explained. "That happened a few days after we broke up, and Applejack was dating Rainbow."
Pinkie looked down. "Final tests, her designs, them finishing and seeing her with Rainbow, then finding out about her trip and something else she still doesn't want to tell. Yes, she was going through a lot, all the more so she was stressed, but definitely seeing AJ with Dash "After a few days, it must have made her feel betrayed and that's why she went straight to her locker," thought, putting a finger on his chin.
"You know, one day when I had already left town, I had a dream," Rarity said, snapping the party girl out of her thoughts.
"What was she about?" asked.
"It was me and Applejack." The party girl looked at her. "Don't get it wrong, it was a different kind of dream... I was talking to her about our separation and how I was now with Rainbow. I was telling her that it's okay that I'm with her and that I understood," the dressmaker explained as she played with her fingers.
"It's a nice dream," the party girl said with a smile, then her expression changed to a curious one. "You don't say it because she still feels-"
"Ah, Pinkie! That's a thing of the past," the dressmaker interrupted. "Besides, she's with Rainbow and I wouldn't get into a relationship. In the hypothetical case that something happens," clarified.
"You're right," said with a smile. "If that happened, it wouldn't be seen very well," finished, stopping thinking about that topic.
"Can I at least ask you a question?" Rarity asked. The party girl nodded. "Is he happy with her?"
Pinkie looked at her surprised. She then analyzed the question and grimaced, remembering a few things between the couple. "You can tell they have... a good time together."
The dressmaker just smiled, then her expression changed between serious and sad. "Going back to the trophy thing, I had an impulse that day, but I refused so I passed it by," continued.
"Did you have a chance not to?" Pinkie said with wide eyes.
"Yes, but everything changed when we all met in the hallway. Many emotions overwhelmed me. I felt alone, misunderstood. I felt abandoned everywhere...", Rarity closed her eyes for a moment, remembering.
"...I took the trophy as a kind of act of desperation. In my mind, it was an attempt to get someone to notice me. Putting it in Rainbow's locker was very childish and confusing, I know. Partly, I think I "I did it because she represented what I had lost... also to make her see that she is not perfect."
Pinkie looked at Rarity with eyes full of understanding. "So, actually, it wasn't about the trophy itself. It was a way to get attention, jealousy because well, AJ...and abandoned. Did you feel abandoned by my cousin?" asked, thinking about the last bit. . "Why didn't you tell us you felt that way?"
The dressmaker remained silent for a few seconds searching for the right words. "When Applejack and I broke up, I was going through a very difficult time. I felt alone and abandoned, but at the same time, I understood that we were all very busy with final exams. I didn't want to bother them with my problems while they were concentrating on their studies. I thought I could handle it alone, but I was wrong. Now I realize it was a mistake not to share how I felt with you, and I'm sorry for hiding it from you..."
"...I know that it was not desirable to hear and I apologize for what I did to them, I am truly very sorry, Pinkie. I understand that after what I told you, you do not want to approach me again," the dressmaker finished explaining.
The dressmaker expected the party girl to leave her, but she didn't expect the party girl to hug her. The dressmaker returned the hug. "Don't worry, Rarity," Pinkie said with a sad smile.
After breaking the hug, the party girl looked at the dressmaker. "Rarity, I know you made a mistake, but we all do. The important thing is that you're here, being honest with me. I really appreciate that, I really do. And I want you to know that I'll always be here for you, no matter what. We all make mistakes. mistakes, but what matters is how we face them and how we learn from them," he said, finishing with his characteristic smile.
"Thank you, Pinkie. You don't know how much I appreciate hearing that," she said with a smile. She was relieved to hear that, she felt like one less weight was lifted. Only the rest was missing, but for that she would have to wait.
"I can ask you a question, and it has to do with what you did, but I won't criticize you," Pinkie commented curiously. "It's something else we never knew with the girls."
"Which is it?"
"How come all this remained silent? How come they accepted you back despite what you did? Considering the fact that they changed directors and rectors, they must know the things that have happened throughout the year, right?" said the party girl.
"That's two questions," Rarity stated, showing two fingers. "I can answer the first one, but I'm not sure about the second."
Pinkie nodded curiously, waiting to hear the answer.
"Well, about how this was all kept quiet..." Rarity began. "Principal Mare decided to handle the matter discreetly to avoid negative publicity for the institute's reputation. My parents were present during the meeting with the principal, and they both supported her decision to keep everything quiet."
"That explains why yours never came to light," Pinkie pointed out.
"What did they say to you?"
"It was said that someone had broken the display case and caused damage, but the name was not specifically mentioned. Director Mare handled the situation so that the identity of the person responsible was not revealed publicly, but she made sure that the person had consequences." , explained the party girl.
"I understand. So you deduced that I was expelled like Rainbow would have been?" Rarity asked.
Pinkie nodded. "I think the fact that your name wasn't revealed made the girls angrier, or just Rainbow."
"I see, I understand... I think she would be angry about that too," the dressmaker mused.
"Going back to the other side, when we spoke to the principal, she was very firm with me. She clearly explained the consequences of my actions and how I had disappointed her. My parents were there to make sure I understood the seriousness of what happened; they were equally shocked for my behavior and determined that I would face appropriate consequences..."
"...I think the principal considered several factors in not expelling me. First, my parents intervened and assured the principal that they would make me face the consequences of my actions, no matter how embarrassing. Second, Principal Mare was also aware of that expelling me would have generated a scandal that could negatively affect the image of the institute..."
"...But that doesn't mean I was spared the consequences. The principal decided to suspend me, so I couldn't go to the dance or graduation and I had to do community service. Although I probably would have missed it anyway."
"Because of the trip, isn't it?" deduced the party girl. Rarity nodded. "So, the director made a strategic decision to protect the reputation of the institute and she gave you a chance to right your wrongs without expelling you, although at a significant cost to you."
"Even though I know I probably would have missed it anyway, it hurt me not to be able to attend, and my parents probably would have made me feel better in some way," she admitted a little sadly. "But it wasn't going to happen, since I had to compensate them for my mistake and apologize for letting them down," concluded.
"Wow, Rarity, you really did everything," Pinkie exclaimed, collecting all the information. "In a good way... The good thing is that things are better now and we will achieve something with the girls."
The dressmaker just smiled. "I think that's also one reason why I had no problem returning, although I still wonder why Rector Celestia didn't tell me anything and why no one recognized me."
"Possibly, when the two sisters took the position of chancellor and principal, each one was left with the affairs of her areas... That's the only thing I can think of," Pinkie suggested with a slightly nervous smile. "As for why no one recognized you... let me tell you that throughout these years I saw several new faces, therefore, for some who did not know you well, you only remained in their memories as another student and for others "You're the new girl," concluded by explaining.
"Ehhh... sorry for saying this, Pinkie, but since when are you good at making these kinds of deductions?" Rarity said, somewhat surprised.
"Mmm...Twilight and my Pinkie Sentido," replied with a smile.
The dressmaker was going to say something, but she remembered that she is talking to Pinkie Pie and never knows what to expect from her. After a silence, the party girl spoke.
"It's weird, right? The perception of time," the party girl commented, letting out a laugh.
"How so?" asked the dressmaker, confused.
"If you take into account that the final tests are at the beginning of January, and what you did was almost in the middle of the month, and as you said, you did community service for weeks and a little in February, you could say that it was two years ago" Pinkie explained. "But since we never saw you again since that day... you know, the argument, for us, was that you left three years ago."
"I hadn't thought about it like that," said the dressmaker, thoughtfully. "When we came back, it felt like it was two or three years ago," she concluded, thinking that she is not that far from reality.
After that, they started talking about other things. A few minutes later, they realized that a group of five girls were watching them. The two got up. Rarity was going to leave, but Pinkie stopped her by taking her arm and they approached the girls.
"Pinkie, what's going on?" Twilight asked.
"I'm just going on a hunch," he replied enigmatically. She knew well what the blue-haired girl meant.
"Hunch?" Applejack asked, frowning.
Rarity was going to intervene, but Rainbow interrupted her before she could say anything.
"Don't tell me, Belle. I know what you're going to do," the athlete commented with a half smile. "You're going to try again... and then Pinkie, for some reason, will insist that you sit with us at lunch."
"Yes, I had that in mind," the party girl confirmed with a playful smile.
"But I don't think that's the right thing to do," Fluttershy murmured quietly.
The dressmaker opened her mouth as if she were going to say something, but then closed it, hesitant. Finally, she opened her mouth again. "Maybe you're right...I should stay at my table and you guys at yours, like always."
"eh?" Pinkie exclaimed, confused.
"Ha, I knew-" Dash stopped abruptly at the words. "That's- that's...exactly what she wanted...to hear," she acknowledged, visibly taken aback by her response.
The other girls exchanged confused glances with each other.
"I should go now," said the dressmaker, turning around and starting to walk into an area of the university.
"That was…" Twilight began.
"Unexpected," Fluttershy completed with a surprised expression.
The athlete watched the dressmaker walk away from her and then turned to Pinkie, intrigued by the interaction they had just witnessed.
"Pinkie..." she started, but her girlfriend nudged her quickly to remind her of the conversation they had yesterday. "Forget it," she said with a forced smile.
"Okay," Pinkie replied, nodding with a smile.
"Well girls, next class is almost starting," Sunset announced.
"As soon?" she asked in surprise.
"Pinkie, we've been looking for you all break," Twilight added.
"Wow, have I been talking to Rarity that much?" Pinkie thought to herself, somewhat surprised. "Time really flies when you get into a conversation," she commented out loud.
Sunset seemed about to ask something else, but then she remembered the conversation from the previous day.
"I'm sorry for making you go all over the university to find me," the party girl apologized.
"Understandable," Sunset commented. "It seems like you got quite involved... in the conversation with... Belle." Finishing saying that, she looked at the four girls.
"Yes, she has that way of making you forget about everything else," said almost nervously.
The five of them seemed a little uncomfortable because of the naturalness with which the party girl spoke about the dressmaker.
"So, shall we go in?" Fluttershy suggested, trying to lighten the mood.
The girls nodded and began to walk towards one of the doors to enter another area.
"I'll figure out what to do," said the farmer.
Pinkie nodded cheerfully. "Great! I'm sure you'll find something interesting to do."
When they entered they said goodbye and began to separate, ready to face the next day of classes before meeting again for lunch. But before separating completely, Sunset and Twilight gave the multicolored girl a gesture of encouragement. She nodded already determined after this class she would talk to Fluttershy.
Applejack was walking through the hallways, greeting some acquaintances. At this time, he had free time, so he planned to go to the music room to play a little. As he turned a corner he bumped into someone unexpectedly.
"It had to be..." the blonde thought with annoyance when she saw who she collided with.
"I..."
The blonde was going to pass by, but she stopped and turned around. "May I know what you're doing, Belle?" she asked.
"Go to my next class?" Rarity replied, stopping and turning around a little confused.
"Don't play with me Belle." Applejack said, frowning a little. "I mean, one day you say sorry, another day you don't say anything, and then you talk to my cousin as if nothing had happened..."
The dressmaker moved a little closer. "She approached me, simple as that. If that's all..." replied, staying calm.
Rarity started to walk, but Applejack spoke again. "Is that all you're saying?" she asked in an annoyed voice.
The dressmaker stopped walking again. "There's nothing else to talk about. Aren't you the ones who don't want me to come near or talk to you?" she replied firmly.
"Well...yes, we thought so," the blonde replied, her expression serious, but hiding her astonishment.
Without saying anything else, Rarity began to walk away, leaving the farmer a little confused by the conversation. Normally, the dressmaker would try to apologize again.
As she walks to go to her third period, she lets out a sigh: "It will have to be like this..." the dressmaker murmured.
A couple of hours had already passed and Fluttershy was grabbing her things; His class had already ended. As usual, he would meet the others for lunch. When she left her classroom, she didn't expect to find one of her friends waiting for her right outside.
"Rainbow Dash? What are you doing here?"
"Hello, Fluttershy...uh...can we talk?" said the athlete, searching for the right words.
"We can talk at lunch," she replied.
"No...please, Fluttershy, I need it to be alone," Rainbow insisted.
The animal lover, seeing how tired her friend looked and how desperate she was, decided to accept. "Okay, where are we going?"
"There must be several unoccupied classrooms at this time. Let's go to one," said, motioning with her head.
They both walked in silence through the hallways until they found an empty classroom. Rainbow opened the door and walked in first, making sure she was truly unoccupied. Fluttershy followed her, closing the door behind her. The classroom was quiet, with only natural light coming in through the windows.
The animal lover left her things on a table to be more comfortable, she sat on one of them and turned her attention to the multicolored one. Rainbow walked over to another and sat down, across from her, letting out a sigh before beginning.
"What's wrong, Rainbow Dash?"
"Do you remember that trip to the zoo?" began her.
Fluttershy didn't understand why that came out of nowhere; she assumed it was another attempt to bring up a topic of conversation. "Yes, I loved seeing the animals. That llama mistook your popcorn for his food."
"We had a good time though," Rainbow said, laughing as she remembered that she had to buy new popcorn because that llama ate almost all of it.
"Yes," Fluttershy smiled nostalgically.
"Also that time when we got together with our families... although I didn't like seeing your brother," the athlete said with a sad smile.
"Yeah...it never seems to change," the pink-haired girl said with a giggle, almost heartbroken.
"Then when we went to those games," Rainbow continued, playing with her fingers. "It was a few months ago, right?"
"Actually... almost a year and a half ago," Fluttershy corrected in a sad voice.
"What?!" exclaimed the athlete. "But I remember that I invited you to another outing... it was in..."
"Yes, but it was months later and you canceled that outing because you had a date with AJ, where they were going to a game," the pink-haired girl explained, interrupting her friend, lowering her gaze a little. "Then you called me asking my opinion on who was right."
"And how about that time when I invited you for that training?" Rainbow asked.
"Yes, you invited me and Applejack, but..." Fluttershy said, looking down and not finishing the sentence.
The athlete began to reflect a little on those moments and others. Her eyes widened in realization. "No way, Scoot was right," thought. "This all started when he was already dating Applejack," said out loud.
Fluttershy just looked down; That was enough for Rainbow to confirm that what she said was true.
"But... that... I... I don't know what to say, I... I left you aside and I didn't have time for you," she said surprised. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy," she apologized, her gaze downcast. "I focused so much on my relationship with Applejack that I put our friendship aside."
Fluttershy looked up, surprised by her apology. "You don't have to apologize, Rainbow Dash. I understand that relationships can take up a lot of time and energy."
"No, it's not just that," Rainbow continued, feeling a lump in her throat. "How did I not realize that I have been ignoring you and neglecting our friendship."
Rainbow took her friend's hands like she used to before, but the pink haired girl gently moved her hands to her lap. That action surprised the multicolored girl, although she should have expected it.
The pink haired girl lowered her head a little sad. "Rainbow Dash is not just that what happened..."
"Wait there's more?" the athlete asked even more surprised.
"But if you realized this... it would be cruel of me not to mention the other part to you," the animal lover said.
Rainbow looked at her, waiting with a mix of fear and hope in her eyes. Fluttershy raised her head and, with her voice shaking, began to explain the other part of the story.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                    Memories and Guilt                     
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Memories and Guilt
The sun was beginning to set in Canterlot's parking lot. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo headed towards the car. Rainbow was unusually quiet, and Scoot noticed it right away.
"Rainbow, everything okay?" the younger one asked as she climbed into the car.
The multicolored haired girl sighed and sat in the driver's seat, starting the engine. "Yeah, Scoot. Just... thinking about some things."
After fastening her seatbelt, the younger one spoke up. "Is it about training? Or did something happen with Applejack?"
Rainbow shook her head as they pulled out of the parking lot. "No, it's not that. Well, partly. It's more complicated."
"Is it about Fluttershy?" asked.
The elder looked at her sister for a moment before turning back to the road. "How did you know?"
"The other day when I mentioned spending more time together, your expression reminded me of weeks ago when you asked about the family reunion," the younger one said.
"Huh, you never cease to impress me," the athlete replied with a forced laugh. A few seconds later, her expression changed. "Do you think... I can be a bit... selfish?"
The magenta pony frowned, surprised. "Selfish? You? I don't think so, but maybe other things."
Rainbow let out a laugh. "That's what I thought."
"What made you wonder about that?"
"I had a talk with Flutters," the athlete said, sounding down.
"Did she tell you that?"
"Not exactly... it's something we talked about," Rainbow said.
"You can do a lot of things, but selfish isn't one of them," said, trying to sound reassuring as she placed a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder.
Rainbow smiled, feeling a little better. "Sometimes it's good to hear that from someone else."
Scoot smiled in response. "I'm always here for you."
The multicolored haired girl drove in silence for a while, both lost in their thoughts. When they arrived home, each went to their own room. It was a few minutes before Scootaloo knocked on Rainbow's door.
"Yeah?" came her sister's voice from the other side.
Scootaloo opened the door and saw Rainbow lying on her bed, playing with a ball-shaped pillow, tossing it into the air each time it returned.
"Dinner's ready," reported.
The athlete stopped and sat up on the bed, looking at the younger one. "Can you tell Mom and Dad I have work to do and will eat later?"
The magenta haired girl nodded and looked at her for a moment. "You know, whatever happened with Fluttershy, you'll fix it soon. You always do."
The elder gave her a smile. "Thanks, Scoot. See you at school tomorrow."
"Goodbye, Dash. Good night," said the magenta haired girl and closed the door.
Rainbow stayed silent for a moment, her smile slowly fading. "How did I not realize what I did?" murmured to herself, feeling a knot in her stomach. She lay back on the bed again, this time not tossing the pillow.
The night grew longer as she reflected on her actions and their consequences.
The next day, the girls headed out for recess after what could be considered their first class, though it might have been the second since Thursdays and Fridays usually start a bit later.
Fluttershy and Twilight were in the locker hallway when the blue-haired animal lover noticed Fluttershy looking quieter than usual and somewhat downcast.
"Fluttershy, are you okay? You seem to have something on your mind," Twilight asked, concerned.
The pink-haired girl sighed. "Well... Yesterday I had a conversation and... everything I felt at the time came back, and I'd like to talk about it."
Twilight didn't hesitate. "Sure, Fluttershy. I was just about to head to the library, let's go and talk there," said. "The girls can wait for us a little longer."
Fluttershy simply nodded.
They walked for a few minutes until they reached the library entrance. They went inside and sat in one of the empty seats.
"You can trust me. What's going on?" Twilight asked gently.
Fluttershy looked at her for a moment. "It's about Rainbow Dash. As you've probably noticed, we've been somewhat... distant."
"Yeah, several of us have noticed," said the blue-haired girl with a small smile. "Many at the university have noticed too," she thought. "And apparently it's not so recent, you've been like this lately."
"Yeah..." Fluttershy said, nervously playing with a strand of her hair.
"As far as I know, Dash mentioned she would talk to you about it. At lunch and in music class, both of you seemed distracted. Was it something she did that was so bad?" Twilight pondered.
Fluttershy opened her mouth and began to reveal everything she had been keeping inside. "It's been tough, Twilight. Ever since Rainbow started dating Applejack, our dynamics changed. At first, I didn't mind, I'm happy they're together, but..."
Twilight nodded, encouraging her to continue. "But, what?"
Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were arriving at the music room to rehearse during their free period, a moment they all shared. Upon arrival, they found Sunset, who greeted them, and Applejack, sitting on the steps, looking down with elbows resting on her thighs.
"Whoa, what happened?" Pinkie asked.
"It's because of art class," explained Sunset.
"But what happened?" Rainbow asked, almost disinterestedly.
"Belle, that's what happened," said the blonde, lifting her head.
"Big surprise," Rainbow expressed, somewhat dejected. "What did she do?"
"It's actually not something she did," clarified Sunset. "Yesterday we finished with drawings, and today we started with crafts, but the teacher asked us to pair up in twos to create a sculpture."
"Oh, oh... let me guess, you got paired with Rari..." Pinkie stopped and changed the name. "...Belle," added.
The party girl hated that the girls had decided to refer to the fashionista as 'Belle' every time a conversation about her came up, to make it less awkward to talk about.
"I didn't have another choice," said the farmer, waving a hand.
"I had promised Starlight that in the next assignment I would work with her, so I didn't choose AJ," explained Sunset.
"The teacher could have mentioned it yesterday about the project, but had to wait until today," said Applejack, standing up and looking at the two. "Look at the irony, the theme of the assignment is... friendship."
"How ironic," commented Rainbow, crossing her arms and looking down.
Pinkie and Sunset glanced at the multicolored girl, a bit confused by her tone and disheartened behavior.
The blonde spoke, snapping the two out of their thoughts. "I have to go find her right now, because when I saw that I had to do it with her, we didn't even talk," she mentioned, approaching a large instrument that no one was using to lean on.
"She didn't say anything to you?" Sunset asked.
"I don't understand what got into her overnight," Applejack commented.
"Yesterday, I was surprised she said something brief and gave us the reason," Sunset recalled.
"It's strange that she's not apologizing like she used to. She did with me, maybe because I was kind and approached compared to the others," thought the party girl. "Maybe I'll talk to her later."
"Well, sorry, girls, maybe we won't rehearse today. Like I said, I have to find her to move forward and I hope and wish... to finish the job as soon as possible," said, walking towards the door and leaving.
"Twilight and Fluttershy are also missing," Pinkie said, looking at the door.
"Where could they be?" Sunset wondered.
The athlete let out a heavy sigh upon hearing the name.
"Rainbow, are you okay?" the redhead asked.
"I talked to Fluttershy," said with her hand on her forehead, letting out another sigh.
"Did you finally find out what happened?" Pinkie asked anxiously.
"By the sigh, it seems like it was more than you expected," Sunset said, concerned.
The athlete nodded. "It was more than just sidelining her."
"Sidelining her?" repeated Pinkie.
"It was about how I handled my relationship with AJ." Rainbow started.
"With AJ?" Sunset asked. "What does Applejack have to do with this?"
"You see, when I started dating the blonde... I mean after Belle left town, we started having our dates."
"The classic thing couples do," commented the party girl.
The athlete removed her hand from her forehead. "Exactly, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to invite her to a date with AJ and..."
Two Years Ago  
Rainbow Dash and Applejack were holding hands as they arrived at a game fair. They paused briefly, waiting for someone else.
The athlete let go of the blonde and approached the animal lover. As usual, she greeted her with a hug. Pinkie Pie had always made an exception with affectionate gestures. After breaking the hug, Fluttershy looked at the farmer.
"Hello, Applejack," she greeted with a smile.
"Hey, Fluttershy, ready to enjoy a fun day?" the farmer replied.
"We're going to have a great time, shall we?" said the athlete.
"Sure."
The three of them started walking, stopping at different game stalls to have fun.
"Look at that!" exclaimed Rainbow, pointing to a shooting gallery booth. "Let's try to win some prizes."
Fluttershy glanced nervously at the booth but followed her friends to the line.
"Come on, Flutters, this is going to be fun," encouraged the athlete. "We'll show you how it's done."
When it was their turn, the booth attendant handed them toy shotguns and explained the rules. They had to knock down a series of cans lined up on a shelf.
"Let me show you first," said Applejack, taking one of the shotguns. With a focused look, she aimed and shot, knocking down several cans with a single shot.
"Well done, AJ!" cheered the multicolored girl. She then took her shotgun and repeated the feat with impeccable precision.
Fluttershy picked up a shotgun with trembling hands. "I'm not sure about this..."
"Don't worry, Fluttershy," reassured Applejack with a smile. "Just relax and take a deep breath."
Rainbow stood behind the pink-haired girl, placing her hands over hers to help her aim. "That's right, just focus on the nearest can and breathe."
Fluttershy looked into her eyes for a moment. Rainbow nodded in encouragement, so Fluttershy took a breath to calm herself. The animal lover carefully aimed and pulled the trigger. The nearest can fell, and Fluttershy let out a small exclamation of surprise.
"You did it, Flutters!" exclaimed Rainbow, patting her on the back.
"See, it's not so hard," added Applejack with a smile, giving her a high-five.
As they continued playing, Fluttershy grew more comfortable and knocked down several more cans. Each time she succeeded, Rainbow and Applejack cheered her on. After her turn, the two followed suit, knocking down every visible can.
After several attempts, they managed to earn enough points for a prize. Rainbow looked at the prizes, thought for a moment, and made a choice.
The athlete picked up a plush toy. "Here, this is for you," said, extending her arms.
"Oh, for me?" asked Fluttershy, surprised as she looked at the plush still in her friend's hands. "Shouldn't you give it to Applejack?"
"It's okay, Fluttershy, take it," insisted the farmer.
"Besides, it's a little cheesy to give her something," joked Rainbow, shrugging. "And I wouldn't receive something so cheesy from her."
The farmer frowned slightly for a moment.
"Thank you," said Fluttershy, taking and hugging her prize. "It's really cute. Why a rabbit?"
"You always mention wanting a rabbit, so why not have a plush one for now?" Rainbow replied, smiling at her.
"A rabbit?" asked Applejack.
"Yeah, I've been thinking about it, and I think a rabbit would be ideal for me," said the pink-haired girl.
Rainbow and Applejack smiled, happy to see Fluttershy so pleased with her new plush toy. As they continued walking around the fair, enjoying the various games.
After a while, they sat on a bench to rest and enjoy some ice creams they bought from one of the stalls.
"You know, Fluttershy," said Rainbow, licking her vanilla ice cream. "I'm glad you came today."
Fluttershy smiled shyly. "It's nice to spend time together."
Applejack nodded, placing a hand on Rainbow's shoulder. "Yeah, a girls' outing is always nice."
"I promise I won't let so much time pass without having another outing like this," said the athlete.
"Today has been a wonderful day," said the pink-haired girl.
The three friends shared a laugh and continued enjoying the fair.
Rainbow Dash continued, "...it was great, we had a lot of fun, the three of us," recounted with a smile.
"Wow, Dash, I knew you were close to Fluttershy, but giving her a plush toy..." Pinkie commented with a smile.
The athlete sighed sadly. "Yeah, I've always been closer to Fluttershy, and well, with Applejack... things are different."
"I understand. Sometimes dynamics are different depending on the relationship. Nice gesture on your part to give it to her," Sunset remarked.
Pinkie, ever curious, added, "Yeah, maybe another prize choice would have been liked by AJ, don't you think?"
Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Like you said, everyone has their different dynamics. AJ and I... we have ours."
Sunset nodded. "But getting back to Fluttershy, how did this affect your relationship with her?" asked.
"Yeah, it seems like a normal outing: playing, having fun... What happened?" said the party girl.
"We kept going out. Sometimes with Fluttershy, and other times with AJ. Occasionally, the three of us together," Rainbow continued.
"That's good, that you have time for your best friend and separately with your girlfriend, and occasionally all three," said the red-haired girl, gesturing with her hands. "I don't see what's wrong... unless you invited her..."
Rainbow Dash looked at her with a somewhat nervous expression.
"Rainbow, don't tell me that..." Sunset began.
"I didn't want to push Fluttershy aside for my dates, so..."
Fluttershy arrived at the local cafeteria, a meeting point for her and her friends. She had arrived a little early to wait outside for her friend Rainbow.
Before long, Rainbow appeared, walking with determined steps and a smile upon seeing Fluttershy.
"Hi, Fluttershy," greeted.
"Hello, Dash. Ready?" Fluttershy took a few steps forward.
The athlete gently stopped her, taking her hand. "Wait, it's not all three of us yet."
"Three?" the pink-haired girl asked, turning to look at her friend.
"Look, just in time," Rainbow said, pointing towards where Applejack was approaching.
"Um... um, hi," Fluttershy said, somewhat surprised to see her.
"Hey, Fluttershy," greeted the farmer with a smile, approaching the two.
Rainbow stepped back a bit from her friend, standing in front of both to speak. "I thought about it and decided to invite my best friend and AJ to spend time together. I had mentioned to the blonde going somewhere, but I had nothing in mind. When you mentioned the Botanical Garden, I thought it would be ideal to spend the day enjoying nature and flowers together," she explained.
The pink-haired girl forced a smile. "I don't... I don't see anything wrong."
"Me neither," added Applejack with a reassuring smile.
The three started walking towards the nearest taxi or Uber stop. Applejack took Rainbow's hand.
"Dash, is something wrong?" Fluttershy asked on her left side.
"Nothing, why?"
"You made a face, did something hurt?" asked again.
"Yeah, I stepped on something hard and it hurt," replied.
"You should be careful with what you step on," said Applejack on the other side.
"I hope you don't step on a screw by accident," Fluttershy joked.
Rainbow gently laughed at both comments as they continued walking to the taxi stop.
"But rest assured, that was all," said the athlete
"I see," said Fluttershy with a playful smile. "Please be more careful, I don't want you to get hurt."
Rainbow nodded with a smile. "I'll keep that in mind."
They soon reached the taxi stand and got into one that stopped in front of them. During the ride, they chatted excitedly about what they could expect at the Botanical Garden and what plans they had for the day, although Fluttershy still felt a slight discomfort as it wasn't the girls' outing she had expected.
Fluttershy nervously played with a strand of her hair as she spoke. "I thought it would be both of us," mentioned, "but when I saw that Applejack was coming too, it surprised me a bit."
"I see. From what you're saying, it wasn't the first time the three of you went out together," Twilight commented, watching her friend closely.
"I'm not saying we didn't have a good time or that I didn't want to see her there, but I thought it would just be the two of us," Fluttershy continued, her voice soft and somewhat melancholic.
The blue-haired girl nodded understandingly. "I get it. It can be tough when dynamics change. Did Rainbow mention in the other outings that Applejack would be coming?"
"Yeah, the other times she did mention it, and I agreed. They're my friends just like you all are, and even though I was surprised that time, we still had fun," the pink-haired girl said.
"But?" Twilight prompted, sensing a pause in her story.
Fluttershy sighed. "I understand she has to cancel outings for her dates, but after a while of just the three of us going out together, something happened..."
The three friends had decided to spend the day at the park, taking advantage of the good weather.
"Why exactly did you ask me to bring drinks and some snacks?" Applejack asked, pulling a bag off her shoulder.
Fluttershy smiled, revealing another basket with some sandwiches inside. "I brought some sandwiches," said Rainbow. "Why do you think I brought my backpack?"
"A picnic?" reacted, surprised, looking around.
"Yeah, I was torn between going to the field or having a picnic, but I decided on the picnic because of Fluttershy," explained the athlete.
"Oh..." murmured the farmer, watching the pink-haired girl lay the blanket under the tree.
"What? Aren't you one for picnics?" asked Rainbow with a half-smile.
"Uh... yeah... that's it," stammered the blonde, trying to disguise it.
"I knew you were one of mine," affirmed the multicolored film, giving him five.
The blonde saw the gesture. "Sure," replied with a half smile, bumping hands with her.
"I'll swallow your excuse a little... bad liar, bad with excuses," Rainbow thought, watching as the farmer looked into the bag.
"Ready," Fluttershy announced, catching the attention of both.
They sat down and began to enjoy the food and the company.
"These apples are delicious, AJ," commented Rainbow, taking another bite.
"Thanks, Dash," Applejack replied with a smile. "They're from the farm. Big Mac and I have been working hard."
Rainbow savored the apple, thinking that, of the few times he had been to AJ's house, he had never shown him exactly where they came from.
"And the sandwiches you brought are really good, Rainbow," Fluttershy said with a shy smile.
"Thanks, Flutters," Dash replied quickly before focusing back on Applejack. "Hey, AJ, did you see the soccer game last night?"
"Of course I did! I couldn't believe what happened in the last minute," said, feeling more relaxed talking about something she was interested in.
As they talked about the game, Applejack noticed thatthe pink-haired girl was trying to participate, but she was getting lost in the excitement of the conversation.
"That sounds interesting," the pink-haired girl tried to say, "it reminds me of when the animals at the shelter compete to see who's faster. It's fun to watch them run."
"Yeah, definitely," the multicolored pony intervened without realizing it. "AJ, do you remember when we tried to train for that competition?"
The farmer laughed. "Yeah, I never thought we'd run that much."
The pink-haired girl smiled weakly, trying to find another moment to intervene. "And speaking of competitions, at the shelter we organized a little race for the rabbits. It was adorable watching them run."
Rainbow nodded absentmindedly, not taking her eyes off Applejack. "Sure, Flutters. Hey, AJ, was thinking we should sign up for the soccer team?"
As time went on, the pink-haired girl felt more and more like a spectator rather than a participant. She tried to contribute a couple more times, but her comments seemed to go unnoticed amidst the enthusiasm of the other two.
Finally, after a while, Fluttershy took a deep breath and slowly got up. "Girls, I think I'm going to take a walk around the park. I need some fresh air," commented, trying to sound casual.
The two stopped for a moment and looked at her. "Are you sure, Flutters?" asked the athlete. "We can come with you if you want."
The girl forced a smile. "No, no, it's okay. I just need a moment alone. I'll be back soon."
"Okay, take care. See you in a bit," replied Applejack.
Fluttershy nodded and started to walk away, her steps slow and measured. She felt a knot in her stomach as she headed towards the nearby lake, looking for a quiet place where she could be alone with her thoughts. Upon arrival, she sat down on a bench and let out a sigh, feeling tears starting to well up in her eyes.
She felt trapped between her desire to be part of her friends' lives and the reality that her place in that triangle had changed. The feeling of not fully belonging filled her with sadness, and she wondered if things would ever be like they used to be.
"That day..." Fluttershy lowered her gaze. "I felt a bit... ignored." She paused before continuing. "Every time I spent more time with them, it seemed like they barely noticed me."
"Oh, Fluttershy..." Twilight murmured with understanding.
Fluttershy took a deep breath before explaining further. "I could tell our outings became less frequent. Rainbow and Applejack often have plans together, and as I mentioned, Rainbow sometimes cancels our outings."
"Frequent cancellations?" Twilight asked. "That sounds frustrating."
"Yes," confirmed sadly. "And when we do get together, sometimes Rainbow and Applejack seem more focused on each other. They talk about things I don't fully understand, as if they share a separate world."
"It makes sense since they're couples, and it's common for them to kind of get into their own world," thought the blue-haired girl, then nodded empathetically. "It sounds like you felt excluded."
"Exactly," sighed Fluttershy, taking a deep breath before continuing, choosing her words carefully. "Each time that happened, I started feeling like..."
"The third wheel," Twilight finished for her. Fluttershy nodded sadly.
"But amidst that, not only did some outings get canceled and the other... but something else happened," said, looking at Twilight with regret.
"What else happened?" Twilight asked.
Side B / Music Room  
"I remember Fluttershy's slight discomfort, but I didn't think much of it at the time," Rainbow said, frowning as she recalled how she had been more focused on Applejack than her friend.
"Dash, it's normal for couples to be focused on each other, but you should have balanced it out and not invited her so often," commented Sunset.
"I know, but I didn't want to ignore her for AJ," responded the athlete.
"But you ended up achieving what you didn't want to," added Pinkie with a sad expression.
The athlete put two fingers on the bridge of her nose and shook her head. She let out a sigh and looked at both of them. "I didn't even realize I was ignoring her when I got lost in conversations with AJ."
"I know you didn't do it intentionally," said the redhead.
"No, it wasn't intentional, but I did push her away a lot..." admitted sadly.
"Rainbow, at least... you didn't do that when we all hung out together," said the party girl, trying to find a positive side.
"That's true," she said with a faint smile that quickly faded as something crossed her mind. "There's another thing that was almost normal for me with you all that I didn't take into account until our conversation."
"Normal?" asked Sunset.
"With us?" asked Pinkie.
"After that, not only did I cancel outings with Fluttershy," continued the athlete. "I used to call her..."
Rainbow sat on the edge of her bed, phone in hand, staring at the screen before dialing Fluttershy's number.
("Hello, Rainbow,") greeted the soft voice on the other end of the call.
"Hey, Fluttershy," responded, trying to conceal the frustration in her tone. "Can we talk for a moment?"
("Sure, what's going on?") Fluttershy asked.
Rainbow sighed. "It's Applejack... we had a fight today."
("Oh, I'm sorry to hear that,") responded empathetically. ("Do you want to tell me what happened?")
"It's just... our differences are starting to affect our relationship," explained, frustrated. "I don't know how to handle this."
Fluttershy listened quietly on the other end before responding cautiously. ("What was the fight about?")
"It was about how we handle our responsibilities. I get that college is important and all, but sometimes I just want to chill and do things my way." She let out a laugh. "It's almost like Twi sometimes."
("That sounds tough,") commented Fluttershy calmly. ("Differences in handling responsibilities can create a lot of tension.")
"Yeah, we're always clashing over these things," Rainbow admitted.
("Maybe you both need to find a way to communicate better and find compromises,") she suggested kindly. ("Have you talked about how you feel about this?")
"Not in a really productive way. Whenever I try to talk, she gets defensive," Rainbow expressed, sounding a bit upset.
("It might help to try talking when you're both calmer. Explaining how you feel without accusations can help her understand your perspective,") advised gently.
"Thanks, Fluttershy. You always help me see things clearly," Rainbow sincerely expressed, grateful for her friend's support.
("I'm here for you, Rainbow. You can always count on me,") Fluttershy responded understandingly.
They continued talking for a while longer.
"Well, that was one of the first calls I made to her about my fights with the blonde, and since she's my best friend, I thought of her to talk about the subject," the athlete explained.
"So you called her to advise you, like we usually do now," said Pinkie, then felt Sunset's elbow. The party girl nervously smiled.
"Calling her for that?" Sunset asked, surprised.
"Not just calls... video calls too," admitted the athlete, looking downcast.
"Rainbow!" exclaimed the redhead, incredulous.
"I know..." said, putting her hand to her forehead again.
Pinkie and Sunset looked at each other, understanding the situation more clearly.
"It's easy to fall into that habit," Sunset said. "When you trust someone so much, you can forget that they also have their own needs."
Rainbow nodded. "It's something I always did, even before my relationship with AJ was official. I called Fluttershy to talk about my problems, and she was always there to listen," she explained. "But those calls became more frequent..."
Fluttershy was in her room, working on a research paper for a university assignment. The notification of an incoming video call sounded on her notebook, interrupting her progress. The pink-haired girl looked at the screen and saw it was Rainbow Dash, so she accepted the video call.
"Hey, Dash. What's up?"
The screen showed the athlete in her room, visibly upset.
("Fluttershy, I need to talk to you! I got into another fight with Applejack and I'm so mad...") she began. ("I can't believe what happened!")
"Oh no, what happened this time?" said Fluttershy, concerned.
Rainbow sighed. ("We had planned a date, right? Well, I arrived on time and Applejack was late. It's not the first time this has happened. But when I mentioned it, she said I had made her wait too!")
"I'm so sorry," Fluttershy said sympathetically. "I understand how frustrating that must have been for you. Being late can be annoying, especially when you had already planned something."
("Exactly! And she's the one who organized it and doesn't show up on time... at least apologize when she's late,") said the multicolored girl.
"Sometimes, differences in how people manage time can cause tensions. Have you talked to Applejack about how it made you feel?" Fluttershy asked.
("I tried, but she got defensive... again,") Rainbow said, rolling her eyes. ("And she started mentioning other times when I was late.")
"Sometimes when we're really angry, it's hard to see a solution. Maybe wait until things calm down a bit," suggested Fluttershy.
("You're right, Fluttershy. Maybe I should give her some time. But I feel so bad right now...") Rainbow said.
"I'm here to listen, always. If you need to talk more or distract yourself, we can go for a walk or do something fun together," offered Fluttershy.
("Thank you, Fluttershy. I really appreciate that. Maybe a walk wouldn't be a bad idea,") said Rainbow, sounding calmer.
"Sure, whenever you're ready," replied Fluttershy softly.
("Would you like to go out now?") Rainbow suggested with a smile. ("I think that would do me good. Thanks for being so understanding.")
"Yes, I'd like that. That's what friends are for," said the pink-haired girl with a smile. "See you in a bit, Rainbow."
("See you, Fluttershy.")
The video call ended. Fluttershy prepared to go out and meet her friend.
"After certain calls, we would go out to have fun or distract her," Fluttershy said, sighing. "As I said, that happened in between everything."
"I see. But in a way, at least you were going out with her, right?" commented the blue one, smiling and trying to be somewhat optimistic.
Fluttershy nodded sadly. "At least that happened, and also when all six of us went out together."
Twilight patiently waited for her to continue.
"I don't want to sound bad, but when one of you called, I was glad because it was to talk about other things or get together," Fluttershy said, almost with a smile. "Those moments reminded me that I still belonged to the group."
"It must have been a relief," Twilight commented with a smile.
"Yes, it was," Fluttershy replied. "But those moments became rarer and rarer. Every time my phone rang, I hoped it was one of you, but most of the time it was Rainbow."
The pink one frowned, feeling the growing sadness in her friend's words.
"How did that affect you?" Twilight asked, wanting to better understand the situation.
"I became more reserved, more introspective. I didn't want to worry the others with my problems," Fluttershy admitted. "I felt like my role was the understanding friend, the one who's always there to support."
Twilight nodded. "That explains why we only just realized now that something was wrong."
Fluttershy took a deep breath. "It hurt to see Rainbow suffering, and I wanted to be there for her. But at the same time, it hurt to feel like I was only important when she had a problem."
"Wait, Rainbow was only calling you for that?" Twilight asked, surprised, though something told her she knew the answer.
Fluttershy didn't say anything for a few seconds, looking down at her hands with a thoughtful expression. Finally, she opened her mouth and spoke with a melancholic tone. "Every time I saw she was calling me, I knew what the reason was, and it saddened me..."
Fluttershy was organizing her plants on the balcony of her house when an incoming video call rang on her phone. She glanced at the screen and saw it was her best friend again. With a slight expression of frustration, she accepted the call.
"Hey, Rainbow... What happened this time?" Fluttershy asked softly, but with a hint of strain in her voice.
The phone screen showed her friend with a furrowed brow.
("Seriously, the blonde frustrates me so much. This time it was over something as silly as which movie to watch. She always wants to choose and won't let me decide," the athlete expressed with frustration.
"Wow... that sounds frustrating," replied the pink-haired girl, trying to stay calm.
("I just don't understand why she can't just compromise once in a while! It's always her way or no way. Why is it so hard for her to get that?") sighed Rainbow.
"Now it's AJ. The other time she mentioned that Applejack got angry because it was Dash who always chose. Sometimes I don't understand them." Thought the pink-haired. "Rainbow, I know this is important to you, but have you tried talking to her calmly about how you feel?" She said with a firmer tone.
("I've tried, but it seems like she never listens to me!") replied, exasperated.
"I understand. Maybe you could suggest taking turns making decisions. One day she chooses, and the next day you. That way both of you have a turn," Fluttershy suggested, forcing a smile, but feeling a little frustrated.
("Yes, you're right. But sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who gives in,") said, sighing.
"Maybe you could talk to her when you're both calmer," the pink girl suggested with a small smile.
("I will do that,")
"Is there anything else you want to ask me?" Fluttershy asked hopefully.
("No, that's all. Thank you, Fluttershy. Seriously, I appreciate you always being there for me.")
"Of course, Rainbow. Whenever you need me..." replied with a slightly forced smile.
The video call ended. Fluttershy stared at the screen for a moment, sighing deeply before returning to her activities, feeling a little disappointed that she hadn't been invited out again.
"I tried to be a good friend, but I felt exhausted," confessed Fluttershy, her voice trembling slightly. "Is it wrong to want your friend for yourself for once, outside of those problems?"
"Of course not," said Twilight, looking at her. "It's completely normal to want to spend quality time with your friends."
"I felt like I wasn't important to her anymore," continued the pink-haired girl, her gaze fixed on her hands. "It was like I was just a spectator in her life."
"That sounds very painful, Fluttershy," said Twilight softly, touching her arm in a gesture of support.
"I was just someone to turn to when she needed to vent," she said, letting out some tears she had been holding back. "It hurt so much every time I saw her name on the screen because I knew she just wanted to talk about her problems."
Twilight hugged her tightly as she saw her tears becoming more intense. "Did you ever tell her?" she asked gently.
"No... I didn't want to cause her more trouble," replied, burying her face in Twilight's shoulder. "That's why I decided to distance myself from her... was it wrong to do that?"
"You were just protecting yourself from feeling worse than you already were," said Twilight, gently stroking her back. "Sometimes, we have to take care of ourselves first."
"I had become her shoulder to cry on," Fluttershy continued with a broken voice, "even though many times when she called, she looked angry or frustrated. It was never a call to see how I was doing, just to vent."
Twilight maintained the hug, offering her unconditional support. "You didn't deserve to feel like that. You're a wonderful person and an amazing friend. You deserve to be valued and cared for too."
The pink-haired girl nodded slowly, feeling somewhat relieved to finally be able to share her feelings with someone who understood her. "Thank you, Twilight. It means a lot to me that you listen," said, releasing the hug.
"I'll always be here for you," Twilight affirmed firmly.
Feeling calmer after releasing everything she had kept inside, the pink-haired girl opened her mouth to continue. "Yesterday, I talked to her, well, she talked to me... apparently she realized the reason for my behavior."
"Did she figure it out?" asked Twilight.
"Not everything, but just a part."
Rainbow looked at her friends with an air of sadness and regret. "I think I used her as a refuge. I only called her to talk about my problems with AJ. I forgot that she also needed time with me as her friend."
"Rainbow, she must know you didn't do it with that intention," said the party girl, trying to console her.
"But still, I hurt her," Dash said, clenching her fists in frustration. "I didn't just push her away or ignore her, I made her feel like she was only useful when I had problems."
"Dash, you could have talked to us too," Sunset said, seeking a solution.
"I wish I had done that a long time ago," Rainbow replied, regretful. "I have to fix this. I can't lose my friend because of my mistakes."
"We'll support you in whatever you need," affirmed the redhead, determination in her voice.
"Yes! Friendship is the most important thing!" added the partygoer enthusiastically.
The multicolored girl took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
"So, we need to think about how you can talk to Fluttershy and show her how much you care," Sunset said.
"We can plan something special for you to show her how much she means to you! You'll see, you'll be back to how you were before," Pinkie suggested.
Rainbow smiled faintly, feeling a little more hopeful with her friends' support. "Thank you, girls. I need all the support I can get. Fluttershy is one of the most important people in my life, and I can't lose her because of my own mistakes."
The redhead nodded, something crossing her mind. "Did you agree on something when you finished talking?"
The athlete looked at both of them, eyes filled with determination and remorse. "We didn't talk much after that. But I asked her to give me another chance..."
Fluttershy and Rainbow were in an empty room after the latter had come to talk about what she believed was causing the distance between them. Now, the pink-haired girl was finishing telling the other side of the story to the multicolored one, who hadn't realized it at the time.
"Did... did I do that?" Rainbow said, almost stuttering.
Fluttershy nodded slowly, sadness evident on her face.
"How did it make you feel?" asked, fearing the answer.
The pink-haired girl took a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking. "It's not just that you sidelined me," she began with a trembling voice. "It's also how you made me feel during those moments. Every time you called me, it was to talk about your problems with Applejack. I cared about you, but I also felt... used."
The athlete frowned, feeling a pang of guilt. "Used?"
"It felt like you only reached out to me when you needed to vent," continued, tears starting to fill her eyes. "I felt like I wasn't important to you anymore, like I was just someone to turn to when you were upset or frustrated. We weren't friends sharing happy moments anymore."
The multicolored girl clenched her fists, feeling helpless. "Fluttershy, I never meant for you to feel that way. I didn't realize how much I was hurting you."
"I know," Fluttershy said softly. "And that makes it even harder. I didn't want to distance myself from you, but it was affecting me too much. I needed space... to not feel so... ignored."
Rainbow looked at her with a mix of surprise and sadness. "And when the three of us hung out? Did you feel the same way then too?"
The pink-haired girl nodded. "Yes. At first, I was glad you still wanted to spend time with me. But then, unintentionally, you would dive into conversation with Applejack, and I would feel invisible."
The athlete nodded slowly, processing her friend's words. "I understand, Fluttershy. And I'm so sorry for putting you in that position. I want to fix this. I want to be the friend you deserve, the friend I used to be."
"Rainbow Dash, it won't be easy. But I appreciate that you're willing to try."
The athlete took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll do whatever it takes to earn back your trust and our friendship. I promise."
Fluttershy smiled faintly, tears still in her eyes. "That's all I can ask for."
"Thank you for giving me a chance to make this right, Fluttershy. I won't waste it."
Present  
"She asked for a chance to fix our friendship... She wants to make it right," Fluttershy expressed, looking at Twilight with a reflective expression.
"That shows she really cares. How did you feel when she asked you?" Twilight asked, smiling warmly at her.
The pink-haired girl lowered her gaze, nervously playing with her hands. "I felt relieved and, at the same time, fearful."
"That's understandable," affirmed Twilight, placing a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "But it's also an opportunity to establish clear and healthy boundaries in your friendship."
"Yes, I suppose you're right," Fluttershy conceded, feeling a bit calmer. "But I'm still afraid that everything will go back to how it was before."
Twilight nodded understandingly. "It's normal to fear change, but if Rainbow is truly committed to improving, you can work together to strengthen your friendship."
"Thank you, Twilight."
"That's what friends are for," Twilight replied with a warm smile. "Besides, all of us will be here to support you."
Fluttershy took a deep breath, comforted by her friend's words. "I think I need to talk to Rainbow Dash. We need to clarify some things and establish those boundaries."
"Addressing it directly is a good idea. Do you want me to come with you when you talk to her?" suggested Twilight.
The pink-haired girl thought for a moment. "Thank you, but I think I should do it alone. However, I really appreciate your support."
"I'm here for whatever you need," assured Twilight with a warm smile. "And remember, there's no rush. Take all the time you need to feel ready."
Fluttershy nodded. "I'll talk to Rainbow Dash tomorrow. I hope we can find a way forward together."
Twilight looked at her confidently. "I'm sure you will figure it out. But for now, would you like to relax and go to the cafeteria?"
"I'd love to, Twilight. Thank you," Fluttershy said, rising from her chair.
Together, they left the library on their way to the cafeteria.
Author's Note
I haven't read much fanfic because I've focused on advancing mine, but I've very rarely read Appledash. I don't know if anyone has done anything different, like making Fluttershy feel like the third wheel instead of being in the love triangle.
The reason for Fluttershy's estrangement was finally revealed! Do any of you guess? I gave enough hints of this. I wanted to do something different and avoid the typical cliché.
-Initially I thought Fluttershy would remember what happened at her house, but in the end I decided to have her tell Twilight.. This also establishes Twilight as someone Fluttershy can trust in the development of the story.

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                      Failed attempts                      
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Failed attempts
Applejack was wandering the halls, searching for a certain girl with wavy hair to discuss their project. She was getting frustrated by not finding her, having literally searched for one or two hours throughout Building B: the library, the courts, the classrooms.
Not finding her, she decided to head to the cafeteria since it was lunchtime. Upon reaching the door, she saw Twilight and Fluttershy entering. She didn't say anything to them, knowing she'd find them anyway when they were serving lunch or sitting at the table.
As she was about to enter, she heard the sound of heels clicking. Turning her head, there was the girl she couldn't find anywhere. Meeting Rarity's gaze, the farm girl made a gesture with her hands and a look of incredulity on her face.
"If you speak, I'd understand you better," Rarity said.
Applejack narrowed her eyes. "I've been looking for you everywhere."
"Is that so?" asked with curiosity.
"Don't get it twisted, it's about the project," the blonde clarified. "We haven't talked at all since I had no choice but to pick you."
"Always so honest..." Rarity said with a touch of sarcasm.
The farm girl frowned.
"I was in class, that's why you couldn't find me," she said, trying to calm the atmosphere. The blonde said nothing, waiting for her to talk about the project.
"Alright. We need to make progress on this project. How about after classes?" the fashionista suggested.
Applejack nodded seriously, accepting the proposal. "Better than nothing."
They both headed towards the cafeteria entrance. Upon entering, each walked towards their usual table: Rarity, as she had been doing since her return, sat alone at her quiet table, while Applejack made her way to where the others would be.
But before Applejack reached her table, she took out her cell phone and called her sister. "Hey, Apple Bloom. I need you to stay and come to Building B after classes. I have to work on an important project with... someone, and we need to concentrate. Can you do that?"
From her table, Rarity was doing the same with her younger sister. "Sweetie Belle, dear, could you stay nearby after classes for a couple of hours? Applejack and I are in the middle of an important project."
With confirmations from their younger sisters, both hung up.
Side A / Cafeteria
On the other side of the school, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were in the cafeteria with Scootaloo and Spike. Upon receiving the calls from their sisters, they exchanged knowing smiles.
"Looks like we got the same information," commented Apple Bloom.
"What's up?" asked Scootaloo, curious.
"Our sisters are going to work together on a project after classes," explained Sweetie Belle. "So we have to stay a bit longer."
"Together? Applejack and Rarity?" asked Spike, raising an eyebrow. "That sounds... interesting."
"Yeah, I know. But they have to do it for the project," said the younger Belle.
"Do you think anything good will come of this?" asked the magenta-haired girl. "We saw the other day how things are between our sisters and Rarity... with the girls in general."
"Well... Pinkie talked to my sister, and even though Rarity acts tough, you can tell she misses the company," Sweetie Belle said with a smile.
"Our sisters are very proud," affirmed Scootaloo, resting her head in her hands.
"You can say that again," added Apple Bloom. "AJ keeps everything to herself when she's sad. Pinkie always says she cries on the inside. We often notice what's going on with her, but it can go unnoticed by others... unless she makes up bad excuses, which as you know, she's terrible at."
"Rainbow... mmm... it would be the same, although sometimes she talks to me," said the magenta-haired girl.
"Twilight isn't like that, she would show if something's wrong," said Spike.
The group fell silent for a few seconds.
"So, they'll stay after classes. We have that class after lunch, but then..." the green-haired boy said, thinking aloud.
"We'll soon have permission to go to the other side without sneaking around," said Apple Bloom, with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
"I bet they'll announce it tomorrow," said Spike, smiling.
"I bet next week," added Scootaloo, with a competitive tone.
Sweetie Belle frowned, a bit confused. "I'd like to follow the conversation, but I don't understand what you're talking about. How can we go to the other side?"
"You'll get it," said the green-haired boy, winking at her.
The other two nodded in agreement.
"Oh, come on, the suspense is killing me," said Sweetie Belle.
"Alright, how about this? If they don't announce it tomorrow, we'll tell you," proposed Apple Bloom, with a smile.
"Mmm... deal."
As the four friends continued eating, they chatted animatedly about what they would do after classes and how they could spend time while their older sisters worked on their project.
Side B / Cafeteria
Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Sunset Shimmer were heading outside the cafeteria with their trays. They saw Applejack and Twilight eating in their usual spot, but curiously, Fluttershy was sitting at another table.
"Why is Fluttershy at a different table?" asked the athlete, frowning.
"We're just as curious as you are, Rainbow," replied Sunset, looking in the same direction. "Let's go get some answers."
"I'll join you in a bit... I need to talk to someone first," said Pinkie, heading towards the solitary girl with wavy hair.
The five of them, from their places, watched the party girl approaching the fashionista. Many questions were on their minds, but they had decided to wait a bit before talking to the cheerful girl and continued with their own business.
"Hey, Rarity," said Pinkie, sitting next to the fashionista.
"Eh..." she didn't know what to say.
"You know you can talk normally," encouraged the party girl, with a smile.
"You're right..." murmured Rarity, picking up her fork and putting some noodles in her mouth, a bold move to avoid conversation.
It had only been three days since the party girl approached her to talk, but Rarity found it difficult to talk as before with the cheerful girl, who seemed to have an easier time speaking to her.
"Anything new? Anything that happened today?" asked Pinkie, noticing that the fashionista was hesitant to speak and decided to find a topic of conversation.
After swallowing the food, the fashionista thought. "No, actually... wait, yes there is something," she said, remembering the morning. "I have to do a project with Applejack."
The party girl nodded, smiling.
"You already knew?" asked Rarity, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, AJ mentioned it to us during our free time," explained Pinkie. "She told us she was going to look for you for the project."
"Since she doesn't know my schedule, it was obvious she wasn't going to find me," she said, putting the fork with noodles back in her mouth.
"Let me guess... mmm... she was looking for you and couldn't find you because you were probably in class," the party girl guessed animatedly. The fashionista nodded.
"We agreed to meet after classes, so I asked Sweetie Belle to stay on this side after classes," explained Rarity.
"AJ probably called Apple Bloom for the same reason, so I'll likely stay to keep an eye on her. If you want, I can do the same with your sister," offered Pinkie.
"That could work, although..." She couldn't finish speaking upon hearing the sound of a tray hitting the floor.
Both looked around to see what was happening. Turning back, they saw Rainbow on the floor, with the tray a distance from her hands and food on top of a girl's head.
A few seconds back   
Pinkie Pie was moving away from Sunset and Rainbow. Once the questions passed through their minds, the athlete turned her gaze to the animal lover.
"I'm going to help her, Sunset," said Rainbow with determination. "I'm going to bring her the tray of food to show her that I'm here for her."
"Don't rush, Dash," warned Sunset, concerned.
"Sunset, I'm taking the opportunity," Rainbow insisted, determined.
"Alright, but... be careful," said Sunset.
Rainbow nodded. She took a deep breath and approached Fluttershy, who was engrossed in her biology book.
"Hey, Fluttershy! Let me help you with this," said the athlete with a nervous smile.
The pink-haired girl looked up, surprised by the gesture. "Oh, Rainbow Dash, it's not necessary..."
"I insist," Rainbow replied, trying to sound confident.
However, as she got closer, her foot stumbled over a misplaced chair. In a desperate attempt to maintain her balance, the tray tilted, and its contents spilled over her friend.
The food fell directly onto Fluttershy's head and clothes. She remained still, her eyes wide open, as the spaghetti and tomato sauce slid down her hair and clothing. The juice soaked her biology notes, turning the situation into an absolute mess.
The athlete stood up and observed the mess she had caused. "Oh no, Fluttershy! I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, her face full of panic and regret.
Fluttershy took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment to calm herself. "It's... it's okay, Rainbow Dash," said, though her voice trembled a bit. "I know you didn't do it on purpose."
The rest of the girls, who had seen everything from their tables, hurried to help clean up the mess.
"Are you okay?" asked Applejack.
"Flutters, are you okay?" asked Twilight, taking the girl by the arm to lift her from her seat.
"Yes, I'm fine, girls," Fluttershy replied.
"Are you sure?" asked Pinkie.
"You should go to the bathroom to clean up better," suggested the blonde.
"Good idea, AJ. Let's get you cleaned up," said Sunset, taking her other arm. "Twilight, come with me."
The girls went inside the cafeteria on their way to the bathroom to help clean up Fluttershy.
"Oops! That was unfortunate, Dash!" said Pinkie with a sympathetic smile, putting an arm around Rainbow's shoulder. "You'll get another chance."
Rainbow still didn't move, frustrated and guilty. "I just wanted to help... why do I always mess things up?" she murmured to herself.
Applejack approached her girlfriend. "Dash, what was...?"
"Not now, blondie," said Rainbow, heading towards the entrance.
"What was that all about?" asked the farmer.
"I think it was an attempt to get closer to Fluttershy," said Pinkie, shrugging.
"Failing in the process... I'd better leave her to handle her frustration," said Applejack. "I'm going to take the trays from the others," she added, heading to her table. The party girl nodded and went back to where she was before.
The fashionista, on her part, had seen the whole scene from afar. She wanted to help, but she knew it would be a risky move with everything going on with the girls, so she stayed put.
"I feel somewhat powerless," murmured Rarity, gritting her teeth slightly.
"Don't worry. You know you could have approached," said Pinkie with a nervous smile. "Rarity, I'm not saying you should have taken advantage of this incident, but it could have been an opportunity."
"All in due time, Pinkie Pie," said the fashionista, looking at her sideways.
"What?" asked the party girl, confused. She was going to ask, but the girl spoke first.
"I don't recall seeing Rainbow act like that before," commented Rarity, curious. "Is she alright?"
"Yeah, it's just that something's going on within the group... that, well, it's..." Pinkie said, not quite sure about revealing the distant relationship between her two friends.
"It's okay, Pinkie Pie... I know I'm very curious and would like to know, but I understand if you don't tell me important things happening in the group," said Rarity. But the conversation she had in arts with the girls crossed her mind.
Pinkie, on her part, found the fashionista's attitude curious. Before, she would have taken any opportunity to get closer, but she didn't this time. However, if she thought about it, the others probably wouldn't have let her get close to Fluttershy either.
Twilight and Sunset were in the bathroom, helping Fluttershy wash the noodles and tomato sauce out of her hair and clothes.
Twilight grabbed some paper towels, dipped them in water, and started cleaning Fluttershy's hair. Sunset took care of the stains on her clothes.
"I don't understand what Rainbow was thinking," the blue-haired girl muttered, focused on cleaning. "I know it wasn't intentional."
The animal lover sighed. "I know. It's not Rainbow Dash's fault. It was just… unexpected."
"Rainbow just wants to make things right with you," Sunset pointed out, handing Twilight another wet towel.
"Do you know that too?" Twilight asked, looking up curiously.
"Dash talked to us about it," the redhead explained.
"I see," the pink haired girl said in a thoughtful tone.
"She said she would take another chance, but I told her not to rush into it. But...you know how impulsive she is," Sunset continued. "She just wanted to show you that she cares."
"She makes me a little happy, but she's looking like she did when she tried to get close to him and failed in many of her attempts," said, a little crestfallen.
"Are you afraid it will happen again, but this time with her attempts to fix things?" Sunset asked, looking at her friend sympathetically.
"Yes, and one more thing," said, looking at Twilight's reflection with concern. The latter she knew what she was referring to. "Do you think things will go back to the way they were before?"
"Yes, I'm sure she'll find a way to do it," the blue-haired girl replied confidently, finishing cleaning Fluttershy's hair.
Fluttershy nodded slowly. "Thank you, girls. I really appreciate her help."
"We're always here for you, Fluttershy. We've all been through tough times, but we always have each other's backs," the redhead said, smiling at her.
"Exactly. And we're here for Rainbow, too," Twilight added, offering an encouraging smile.
Fluttershy smiled slightly, feeling a little calmer with the support of her friends. After the conversation, they continued helping her friend clean up. A few minutes later, Sunset and Twilight finished cleaning Fluttershy and the three of them left the bathroom.
After classes ended, all underage students walked towards the exit to meet their parents or siblings. This was the case for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, who, after saying goodbye to Scootaloo and Spike, headed towards the main entrance connecting the college and the university.
They received a last-minute message from their sisters advising them to take the main entrance instead of their famous 'shortcut'. As they were passing through, they heard an older female voice.
"May I ask where you're going?"
The two were a bit startled and turned to look at the woman.
"Oh... we were just... going through to the other side," said Sweetie Belle.
Apple Bloom lightly slapped her forehead at her friend's comment.
"And whose permission are you going with?" asked the older woman with a serious expression.
"Haha... our sisters'?" Apple Bloom replied, showing a nervous smile.
"Your sisters'?" repeated the woman, walking around them.
Celestia, who had been watching the scene, approached with a serene smile.
"Luna, don't scare your students," said the chancellor.
"I'm following academic rules," said principal Luna, looking at her sister and stopping beside her in front of the younger girls.
Celestia smiled and turned to the girls. "Don't worry, girls. I know your sisters are waiting for you. Applejack and Rarity, right?"
"Yes, Ms. Celestia," Sweetie Belle replied, feeling somewhat relieved.
"Very well, then you may pass. But next time, make sure to have a pass or something similar, alright?" the chancellor said kindly.
"Yes, of course!" they both replied in unison.
"Alright, carry on. And Luna, don't be too hard on them. They're learning," Celestia added with a smile as she watched the two girls pass through the entrance.
Luna sighed and nodded slightly, allowing the minors to continue on their way.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle walked quickly towards the university building, exchanging relieved glances.
"That was close," murmured the younger Belle.
"Yeah, but now we know we have to be more careful. I don't want to face Director Luna like that again," Apple Bloom said.
"Well, let's go find our sisters before they start worrying," said Sweetie Belle as they quickened their pace.
They arrived at the university building and saw Applejack and Rarity waiting for them in the lobby. Their neutral expressions changed upon seeing their sisters smiling and approaching.
"There they are! Everything alright?" asked Applejack.
"Yes, all good. We just had a little run-in with Director Luna," Apple Bloom replied with a nervous smile.
"Really?" Rarity said, embracing Sweetie Belle.
"Yes, but now we know we can't use the shortcut anymore," said Sweetie Belle, laughing softly.
"If Director Luna doesn't find out," Apple Bloom added with a chuckle.
Applejack and Rarity smiled and nodded, leading the younger ones inside. They walked a bit and warned them not to wander off or enter other classrooms where other students might be.
Once briefed, the older ones headed to the art room while the younger ones decided what to do next.
"Hey, mischief-makers, want to hang out or do something?" Pinkie asked, appearing beside them with her characteristic energy.
Both exchanged glances, feeling relieved by the arrival of the cheerful girl, who always knew how to lighten the mood.
"Hi, Pinkie!" greeted Sweetie Belle enthusiastically. "We were thinking about what to do after that little scare with Director Luna."
"Oh don't worry! Luna can seem a bit serious sometimes, but she's very understanding," Pinkie said with a reassuring smile. "How about we go to the cafeteria and share some delicious cupcakes I made in class? I have some new flavors that are super tasty!"
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exchanged a look, knowing that a sweet treat would be a great way to relax after their little adventure with Luna.
"That sounds great, Cousin Pinkie. Let's go to the cafeteria!" exclaimed Apple Bloom, following her.
On the way, the party girl told them about her day and the latest campus news. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle gradually relaxed.
Upon arriving at the cafeteria, Pinkie led them straight to a table, where they could enjoy a peaceful view of the campus while sharing cupcakes and laughter.
Rarity and Applejack stood in the art room, surrounded by scattered clay blocks and tools. Rarity was flipping through the paper with the project instructions, focused on the task at hand.
"Friendship is a unique bond between individuals based on mutual trust, unconditional support and respect..." read aloud.
"Trust and respect! Look at that." she interrupted the blonde with a note of sarcasm in her voice.
The dressmaker looked up, noticing the tone in which she said it. She decided not to respond immediately, knowing that any discussion could make things worse. "Applejack, I understand..."
"No, you don't understand…" she interrupted her again. "That's the problem, you don't really understand what friendship is about."
Rarity took a deep breath, feeling the frustration building in the room. "Maybe you are right..."
"Maybe? Really?"
The dressmaker closed her mouth, trying to control her emotions before continuing. "I'm sorry for having the bad friendship experience." She added with a hint of sarcasm. Applejack looked at her angrily.
"If you're done complaining, we can do this. We have to do this together, Applejack." The dressmaker insisted.
"I don't know if I can do that." She answered.
There was an awkward silence.
"Look, I know we have our differences, but we have to get over this. The teacher expects a joint effort and we cannot fail." Rarity declared. "Let's focus on what a perfect sculpture would look like."
The farmer snorted, visibly frustrated. "You're always talking about perfection and appearances. Friendship is not something you can sculpt and make it look pretty for others."
"And what do you propose then?" she asked, trying to remain calm. “What can we do that is authentic and meaningful?”
"Maybe we could start by being honest about what we feel. We can sculpt something that represents our true emotions, not just an abstract idea of friendship." She suggested the blonde after taking a breath.
"That might work. But we need to find a way to do it together." she said, nodding slowly.
"That's the hard part, isn't it?" the farmer said, looking at the block of clay at her as if she expected it to give her an answer.
Rarity moved a little closer to the girl. "Look, I know it hasn't been easy. But if we work together, we can do something amazing. I just need you to trust me a little."
Applejack looked at her. "Trust you?"
"..." Rarity fell silent, realizing that she once again used the wrong words. "Okay, bad choice. So let's trust what we can do. At least we can take the first step."
They both began to work on their clay blocks, the atmosphere still tense. A few minutes passed and the blonde stopped instantly.
"What are you doing?" Applejack asked, looking askance at the dressmaker seeing that she was not moving forward rather she seemed to be drawing something.
"Making a draft. It's better to have an idea of what it would look like." She explained.
"The idea is to do it based on our imagination," said the blonde, pointing a finger at her head.
The dressmaker took a deep breath, she was already getting annoyed by the blonde's attitude. "How about we change the subject and show the bad side of friendship. It doesn't always end well and sometimes there are reasons why that happens."
"Are you kidding me? Do you think the teacher is going to want that for exposition?" she said with a frown. "Only one thing you are right: friendship is not always pretty, but if you are there for them and don't stab them..." she added looking at her. "And as for those reasons, I don't think they are justified."
Rarity didn't say anything for a moment. "So, do we continue with the idea or change it?" she asked with a frown.
"Here's my two cents," Applejack said, taking the things from her and heading towards the door. Rarity, who was on the opposite side of the door, only heard the door slam shut.
"Nice contribution..." murmured.
Pinkie was walking through the hallways, opening each empty room. A few minutes ago she was walking through the halls with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, but in the blink of an eye, the two mischievous girls ran away.
She walked a little further until she ran into a familiar face.
"Rarity, have you finished the job?" the party girl asked, with a friendly smile.
"Of course, that job..." the dressmaker responded with a touch of sarcasm. "I would have moved on if your cousin could put things aside for a moment," she added with a sigh, clearly exasperated.
"What happened?" Pinkie asked, curious and concerned.
"We were just starting work until I started reading the prompt and Applejack started with his comments about friendship... Long story short, he indirectly mentioned what happened with the girls," Rarity explained, visibly frustrated.
"Oops, looks like she took it personally," Pinkie commented, grimacing.
Rarity frowned, her voice filled with frustration. "I understand that we are bad, but I could at least, just for work, put the conflict aside. It's not that I'm asking that we be friends again, just that we can finish this project."
Pinkie nodded, understanding the difficulty of the situation. "I know it's hard, Rarity. Maybe they just need a little more time to let go of the past."
"I'm just on that," Rarity said, sighing. "But in the meantime, we have to find a way to work together without everything turning into an argument about what happened."
Pinkie frowned a little at the first thing the dressmaker said, she was just going to ask, but she beat her to it again.
"What were you doing here? It's not like I'm kicking you out," Rarity said, a little nervously.
"Don't worry, Rarity. I'm not going to think anything bad," Pinkie responded with a smile.
"You're right..." she murmured. "So what were you doing?"
"Oh, I was with Sweetie and Apple Bloom..." Pinkie explained.
"Well, I think it would be ideal to call them before we leave," Rarity suggested.
"Oh...Haha," she laughed nervously. "They were with me, but at some point they were no longer with me, although I saw where they went."
"Ah, that girl is already 14 years old to be doing her mischief," commented the dressmaker.
"Tell me, how old were you when you were running out there?" Pinkie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Ehhh..." she said, not knowing what to answer.
"Come on, I'm sure they're both over there," Pinkie said. "Applejack must also be looking for Apple Bloom," she said, starting to take a few steps.
"Oh, Applejack," the dressmaker said, stopping and putting a hand to her forehead.
"What else happened?" Pinkie asked.
"I stayed a little longer since I thought he would take a breath to calm down and try to get back to work," Rarity said.
"You know how stubborn she is," the party girl said.
"Yes...she reminded me of the time she got upset over one of the final tests," Rarity said.
The party girl raised an eyebrow, confused.
"The final tests before moving on to the last year and the rest happening," the dressmaker clarified.
Three Years Ago: Winter  
Applejack was sitting at one of the tables in the school library, surrounded by books and notes. She was frowning as she tried to concentrate on her studies, clearly stressed by the academic load. Rarity, sitting next to her, was flipping through a fashion magazine, enjoying a moment of quiet.
Applejack slammed the table in frustration. "I can't do this, Rarity! It's too much!"
Rarity looked up from her magazine, surprised by the blonde's outburst. "Applejack, honey, what's wrong?"
"The thing is, this is impossible!" exclaimed, her voice echoing in the silent library. "I don't understand any of this and I need to pass this exam!"
Rarity closed her magazine and stood up. "Sorry, I did not want to bother you." she said and started walking away leaving the library.
Applejack watched her walk away from her, immediately feeling the weight of her own guilt. He knew she had gone too far, that he shouldn't have yelled at Rarity.
The dressmaker walked through the hallways thinking about what she could do to relax her girlfriend, and an idea crossed her mind, so she almost jogged towards the stairs to go to her destination. .
A few minutes later, the farmer was still deep in thought, when she heard footsteps approaching. He looked up and saw Rarity standing in front of her, holding a small package.
The dressmaker smiled shyly. "I know you like apple pies, but the cafeteria only had pear ones."
Applejack blinked in surprise and stood up. "Rarity... I... I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I'm really stressed and... that's no excuse." said, looking down.
Rarity leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "It's okay, honey. I understand you're going through a hard time. I just want to help you."
Applejack took the cupcake. "Thank you, Rarity. You're amazing. I don't know what I would do without you. You know, it doesn't matter that it's apple..." she looked around her a little. "Don't tell Grandma Smith this, but I recently tried a pear dessert and I liked it." she confessed in a whisper.
Rarity laughed at that. "Then it will be our secret." said with the same tone of voice.
Then they both sat down again, this time closer to her, and Rarity took her hand. "Come on, I know you're going to be able to handle this. Would you like to study together? I can help you with whatever you need."
The farmer nodded, feeling comforted by Rarity's presence. "Yes, I would love to. Thank you for being here for me."
They both began to study together, the tension fading as they shared laughter and sweet moments, like when Rarity touched a part of the cake cream with her finger and then smeared the tip of Applejack's nose, and they both laughed about it.
Rarity sighed with her arms crossed. "And that was what happened..."
Pinkie, with her hands clasped near her cheek, smiled sweetly. "I knew you guys were cute, but that was so sweet!"
The dressmaker cleared her throat to change the subject. "Sorry..." the party girl began, "I meant it was a good way to calm you down."
"Thank you," Rarity said looking at her nails.
"So...were you thinking of bringing her something to calm her down?" Pinkie asked with a giggle.
"Pinkie Pie!" Rarity exclaimed, "don't say those things. Besides, she left and... I was left waiting for her to come back." She then raised a finger to clarify, "Don't misunderstand, it was just a mistake to think that."
"Okay," Pinkie agreed.
The wavy-haired one wondered aloud, "I wonder if Grandma Smith finally found out about her taste for pears."
The party girl laughed a little. "Let's just say she had no choice," she replied with a knowing smile.
The dressmaker looked at Pinkie somewhat confused, but she decided not to ask.
"If only I knew that Aunt Buttercup had a pear farm in the end, and that we all found out about it after that. Grandma Smith let us do anything related to pears. Looks like blood ties will never separate us," Pinkie thought grimly. a little grace
"Did you say she saw Sweetie around here?" Rarity asked, pointing to a part of the hallway.
Pinkie nodded with a smile as she followed Rarity through the halls of Side B in search of Sweetie Belle. The afternoon sun illuminated the central courtyard, where they met Applejack, who seemed to be looking for someone.
"What a coincidence meeting here!" the party girl exclaimed, trying to break the ice before any tension between Rarity and Applejack could arise.
Applejack, with surprise on her expression, barely nodded in response. His gaze shifted to the side, as if she were evaluating whether she should continue searching or retreat.
At that moment, a sudden "Boooo" echoed from behind them, followed by a high-pitched scream from Rarity. The two little sisters, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, emerged laughing, enjoying the success of their prank.
"You almost scared me to death, Sweetie Belle!" she exclaimed, trying to catch her breath as she hugged her chest.
Applejack, with a slight smile, but still evident reservation, approached the girls. "Apple Bloom was looking for you... you know? It's not time to scare anyone," he said with a slightly scolding tone.
"We just wanted to play a prank on you," Apple Bloom said, high-fiving Sweetie.
"Sweetie Belle..." the dressmaker began to speak, followed by responses from the minors and the blonde.
Pinkie watched the interaction carefully, remembering something similar to this, but at the same time not.
Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie walked together through the hallways of Side A, sharing an animated conversation. Rarity and Applejack were holding hands like they usually did.
"Do you think we'll have a dance?" the party girl asked excitedly.
"Ah, that would be a dream! But first I have to find something new to wear, I can't go with just anything," Rarity commented, stopping her in her tracks.
"Rare, whatever you wear you'll look beautiful as always," Applejack stated tenderly.
"Jackie, always with those words that make my heart beat," said the dressmaker, wrapping her arms around Applejack's neck, while the farmer hugged her waist.
"I hope I'm the only one," Applejack added.
"Jackie and Rare?" Pinkie asked with a smile.
The two, still in that position, looked at the party girl. "Well...yeah," the blonde admitted, blushing a little. "The other day we went on a date and it came out of the blue, and we both liked each other's nickname."
"Sounds nice," the party girl commented with a smile.
"Yes..." they both sighed in unison.
They stayed like that for a few more seconds, until Rarity noticed something alarming and quickly took Applejack towards the janitor's room to hide.
Pinkie watched the scene curiously. She found it strange that Rarity and Applejack were suddenly hiding. At that moment, she saw Sweetie Belle and Applebloom running down the hallway.
"Hello Pinkie!" Sweetie Belle greeted as they walked past her.
"Hey girls! Are you looking for your sisters?"
"Yeah!" Apple Bloom responded enthusiastically. "We need to talk to them about something."
"Oh, I see," Pinkie said with a giggle. "They're... uh... busy." For some reason her 'Pinkie sense' told her not to tell on her two friends. "Applejack is in the woodworking club and Rarity is in the sewing club. I'll bring your message to them when I find them."
The two little girls nodded gratefully and continued on their way quickly.
Pinkie waited a few seconds to make sure they were out of sight, then she opened the door to the janitor's room where Rarity and Applejack were kissing.
The party girl coughed to get attention. "Everything okay, girls?" she asked with a raised eyebrow, flashing an amused smile. The two laughed when they saw Pinkie. "They calm me down, lest something else happen," she added, raising her eyebrows up and down.
"Pinkie!" the two exclaimed, then leaving there.
The dressmaker cleared her throat to speak. "Thank you, Pinkie. I knew I could count on you."
"I will always be here for you!" she replied briskly, closing the door behind them. "But why did you hide with AJ?"
"Oh, I told Applejack inside..." Rarity explained.
"Yes," the farmer confirmed with a nod.
Pinkie made an expression waiting for a response.
"Oh, sorry...it's just that Sweetie still doesn't know about me and AJ," she explained.
"Okay...for a moment I thought you were embarrassed to be seen with my cousin," the party girl commented.
"Never that," Rarity said, hugging the farmer's arm. Applejack kissed her forehead. Pinkie smiled when she saw that.
The three friends continued walking, sharing a new conversation through the school hallways as if nothing had happened.
Present
Coming back to reality, remembering what the atmosphere was like before, there was now a palpable tension between Rarity and Applejack, a distancing that did not go unnoticed. Not only with each other but also with the other girls.
"Girls, what are you doing here?" Pinkie asked, trying to steer the conversation toward something lighter. "They were with me and plop!... they disappeared."
"Ah, we just wanted to get to know this place a little more," Sweetie Belle said, trying to sound casual.
"Sweetie Belle convinced me," added Apple Bloom.
"They could have gotten lost, this side is big," said the dressmaker, worried.
"According to Apple Bloom we're going to have per-," the youngest Belle was going to say, until she felt her friend's elbow. "Nothing."
"What were you about to say?" Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms.
"No need to pressure them," Applejack interjected, looking at the dressmaker. "You shouldn't force your sister to say something she doesn't want to."
Rarity looked back at him. "Are you going to give me lessons on how to treat my sister?"
The courtyard fell silent, only the bustle of the few students coming and going. The looks of the minors and the party girl alternated between the farmer and the dressmaker, who held serious looks, one more than the other.
"Well, girls, maybe we should calm down a little! We don't want the atmosphere to get any more tense than it already is, right?" The party girl tried to intervene with a nervous smile.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at each other, looking for a way to ease the situation. "Hey, Rarity, we were thinking we could take a tour of campus together sometime," Sweetie Belle suggested. "So we won't get lost next time."
"Yeah, that would be great," Apple Bloom added, trying to sound enthusiastic. "And so we could spend more time with you."
The dressmaker took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "That sounds like a good idea, Sweetie. We could do that one of these days."
"Yes, we could plan something like that. But right now... no." said the farmer
The group was silent for a few seconds.
"I think we should go home now," Apple Bloom said, breaking the silence, trying to ease the tension.
The girls nodded, recognizing the need to end the conversation. With one last exchange of glances, they began to gather their things and prepared to leave the school with their sisters.
Applejack and Rarity began walking towards the corresponding exit, going their separate ways without saying another word, each heading towards their respective houses.
Author's Note
I know, a tense chapter for Applejack and Rarity, but it's part of the development. Same for Rainbow and Fluttershy...
As you noticed, I put a flashback that happens in January, which are the final tests. Why in January? Well, it is to complement RariJack's past history until they get to where they meet the rest of the Mane Six almost halfway through the year. Then another part of the past story will follow, which is evident which couple it is, and will explain many things about why they are like that in the present.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
               Between appearances and space               
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Between appearances and space
Rarity was in her room, engrossed at her desk facing the door, reviewing her progress on her art work. The entrance of her father brought her out of her thoughts.
"Hello, princess," Hondo greeted.
"Dad," Rarity replied, looking up from her notebook.
Hondo watched his daughter carefully. "Everything okay? You seemed a little upset at dinner."
Rarity sighed. "Some things have happened at the university."
"And that bothered you?" Hondo asked.
"No. I felt a little helpless for not reaching out to my old friends because of something that happened during lunch. Plus, right now I have to do a team project with one of them and the trailer didn't end well," Rarity said, fiddling with his pencil.
"I see. Remember, honey, everything is in due time. Let things calm down and everything will be resolved," Hondo advised with a reassuring smile.
The dressmaker stood up and hugged her father. "Thank you, Dad. I don't know what she would do without your support." Hondo reciprocated the hug warmly. "Although following advice is a little difficult sometimes," she admitted with a laugh.
"Life always presents us with challenges, but we must learn to face them," Hondo responded calmly.
"In fact, surprisingly one of them approached me... wanted to listen to me. It was... unexpected," Rarity revealed, releasing the hug.
"That shows that knowing how to wait for the moment and being willing to listen. Many things can change from one day to the next," she commented, smiling proudly at her daughter.
Rarity nodded, feeling comforted by her father's words. "Thank you, Dad. You always know what to say at times like these."
Hondo smiled and put a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "We are here for you, daughter. Always."
Rarity smiled back and looked towards her desk. "I think I should keep working on this. See you tomorrow."
"Sure, honey. Good night," Hondo said with a warm smile.
The dressmaker returned to her drawing thinking what the sculpture would be like, tomorrow she would undoubtedly talk to the farmer and make her see reason about her work.
It was already daylight and the clock next to Fluttershy's bed was ringing. She turned off the alarm and got up to clean up, but before that, she looked down at the dress she had worn the day before, reminding her of the incident with the meal. Sighing, she decided that she would have to wear another similar dress. The others she used to wear should be drying outside of her, so she looked for one that she almost never wears.
After a quick shower, the pink haired girl headed to her closet and she put on a pale pink dress. It was comfortable and gave a delicate touch to her style.
Before going to the bathroom, she took her cell phone and played a background track without lyrics. As she untangled her hair, he paid attention to the instrumental that sounded good to her, although she felt something else was missing.
Her mind returned to what had happened. It was embarrassing having food spilled on her and the stares of the students. She knew Rainbow felt guilty, as he could tell from the message he received from her. Fluttershy knew she had to reassure him that everything was okay.
But were things really good between them? They finally talked about what she had kept to herself, but she knew it would take time for things to go back to normal. The jock could be impulsive at times, and Fluttershy hoped her friend wouldn't give in to that side again.
In addition, she had the support of her friends, who would help her in some way in this process.
The pink haired girl came out of her thoughts, although she still had doubts and fears about what could happen to the multicolored haired girl. One side of her hoped that everything would go back to the way it was before.
She went downstairs and met her mother in the kitchen, who was preparing breakfast.
"Good morning darling!" her mother greeted with a smile.
"Good morning, Mom," responded with a soft sigh.
"How did you sleep?" asked, placing a cup of tea in front of her.
"Not very well," Fluttershy admitted, stirring her tea carefully. "I was thinking a lot about yesterday."
Her mother looked at her with concern. "Is everything okay with your friends?"
The pink haired girl nodded. "Yeah, just... there was a small incident at the university. Nothing major."
"If you need to talk about it, I'm here," her mother offered lovingly.
"Thank you, Mom," she replied sincerely. "And dad? And Zephyr?"
"Your dad already left for work early, and Zephyr is still sleeping," explained.
"Isn't he supposed to be working today?" the pink haired girl asked.
"He apparently swapped shifts with a coworker. You know how your brother is, he looks for an opportunity to get away from his work," her mother said with an amused laugh.
The animal lover just let out a laugh.
"Do you have plans for today?"
Fluttershy took a sip of her tea before answering. "No...unless the girls want to do something, but they haven't said anything."
"Well, maybe we can do something today," her mother said.
Fluttershy smiled slightly. "That would be a good idea."
"Maybe go to a coffee shop to have some cappuccinos and eat cake," her mother suggested.
"I would like to."
With that exchange, Fluttershy finished her breakfast and prepared to leave.
"I'm leaving, mom. Say goodbye to Zephyr," the pink-haired girl said, opening the front door.
"Good bye daughter."
After saying goodbye to her, the animal lover left the house to go to the stop for a taxi or bus.
Rainbow was getting out of her car, this time without her sister, since she was getting in a little late today. As she put the keys into her backpack, she noticed some students looking at her and murmuring. She frowned for a moment, put on her backpack, and walked toward the entrance.
"Could she really do it on purpose?" said one student to another. Rainbow managed to hear that, but she decided to ignore them and continued walking.
At the entrance, a slightly muscular white-haired girl greeted her.
"Hey, Dash," the girl greeted.
"Gilda, are you ready for today's training?" Rainbow asked.
"We'll see if you can handle my sweep this time," the sturdy girl said.
"Ha, we'll see," Rainbow responded with a confident smile.
The two entered the building and continued talking as they passed by several students.
"Did you hear? It seems like he wanted to finally end their relationship," another student commented.
Rainbow heard another student. "They've already started..." she said, clenching her fists.
"Everyone saw what you did yesterday, and you know what they are like..." Gilda commented.
"And apparently they took me out of context..." she said, letting out a sigh.
"It seems that the tension was so strong that she wanted to make it clear to him that she didn't want her in the group," one student murmured.
"Hey you, come here," Rainbow said, approaching a student.
Meanwhile, Twilight was in the library with Sunset, returning a book before joining the other girls. While she was waiting to be attended to by the person in charge of her, a student who was in front of her and Sunset spoke to them.
"I'm so sorry Fluttershy has to leave the group," the student said.
"That?" Twilight exclaimed, surprised.
"You know, some people said they heard Dash yell at her friend before throwing the noodles at her and that you guys had to step in to comfort Fluttershy," the student explained.
"Great, the rumors have started," Sunset said, shaking her head.
"That's not what happened," the blue haired girl said firmly. "Rainbow didn't yell at Fluttershy, it was an accident."
The student shrugged. "I'm just saying what I heard," said and then left.
Twilight exchanged a worried look with her friend. "We need to clear this up before she gets out of control."
Sunset nodded. "Let's meet the girls in the music room and talk about this."
Once the book was delivered, they left the library.
Twilight sighed. "These rumors can cause a lot of damage. I don't want Fluttershy or Rainbow to suffer any more misunderstandings."
"I know," Sunset replied. "It's been a long time since they took rumors out of context. Not to mention Belle."
Applejack walked through the halls, aware of the rumors that were circulating. She received Sunset's message in the messenger group to meet in the music room. She advanced a little and saw the athlete with Gilda arguing with a boy. As she approached, he heard that Rainbow seemed to be trying to clear things up.
"Now do you understand how things went?" said the athlete calmly.
"I think so," the boy replied.
"Perfect, now go," Rainbow said, patting her shoulder. The boy obeyed and walked away from her.
"It seems like you handled the situation well," Applejack commented as she arrived in front of them.
"For a moment I thought you were going to hit him," Gilda said with a laugh.
"I'm not just punches," said the athlete with a half smile.
"Well..." Gilda shrugged her shoulders. "See you both at training," she said goodbye.
"Bye, Gilda," the blonde responded as he began walking with his girlfriend. "How are you doing with what they say?" she asked.
"I didn't think yesterday's incident led to this, I almost forgot about these rumors," Rainbow said.
"Hey, Rainbow, rumors aside, what was yesterday?" she asked, trying to understand the situation.
The two stopped.
The multicolored haired girl was silent for a moment. "Have you noticed that since we started dating, I always invited Fluttershy?"
"Yeah, that's what you did," Applejack replied, remembering.
"Did you ever see her feel uncomfortable?" Rainbow asked, her tone serious.
The farmer put a hand on her chin, trying to remember. "I think so, I remember a couple of times she seemed to want to say something, but she didn't."
"AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING?!" Rainbow shouted, pushing her with her arms.
"Excuse me? What should she say?" the blonde asked, not understanding.
"You could have told me she was ignoring Flutters for you!" she said, raising her voice.
"Are you blaming me for your fight with Fluttershy? And how would I know that?!" Applejack exclaimed, her voice rising and visibly angry, pushing him back.
"Looks like it's a love triangle," one student commented, murmuring to another.
"So it seems," the other student responded.
The two girls heard that and looked at each other, but Rainbow glared at her partner.
"Look what you caused!" the athlete said, pushing her again.
"That's what you get for screaming at the top of your lungs!" Applejack replied, trying to stay calm, but still annoyed.
"Girls, please stop," interjected Sunset, who had arrived just in time to see the argument. "We don't need more rumors."
"She started it," Rainbow said, pointing at her partner.
"That's not true and you know it," Applejack crossed her arms.
"Both of you, stop it," Twilight said, coming up behind Sunset. "This is not the time or place to argue."
Rainbow gritted her teeth and finally, forcing the words out of her, said, "I'm sorry, AJ. I shouldn't have exploded like that."
Applejack nodded, but his lips remained tight. "Yeah, well, I'm sorry too. Let's just try not to make any more noise, okay?"
Sunset and Twilight exchanged a look. "We have to clear things up. Let's go to the music room," said the blue haired girl.
Rainbow and Applejack nodded and the four of them headed towards the music room.
Upon arriving, they found Pinkie Pie sitting on the drum stool, clearly upset, playing random notes without her usual enthusiasm.
"Did you hear what they're saying?" asked as soon as she saw the four of them.
"Yes, and we need to stop it," Sunset replied as they took their seats. "Where's Fluttershy?"
"I don't know, after yesterday, I'm not sure how he feels," Pinkie said.
"We need to talk," Twilight said. "It's important that we clear this up before the rumors get out of control."
Rainbow nodded. "I didn't know what to say to him after yesterday."
"And we must also confront those who are spreading those rumors," Sunset added. "This cannot continue."
Just then, Fluttershy walked timidly into the music room, clearly flustered by all the stares on her. Seeing her friends, she quickly approached. "Hello," she said quietly.
"Hello, Fluttershy," the blue-haired girl said with a reassuring smile.
"It seems you've already heard the rumors," the party girl said.
Fluttershy nodded slowly. "There are many perspectives..."
The five looked at each other worried.
"I don't know if you read the message, but I'm really sorry about yesterday. It was an accident and I never meant to hurt you," Rainbow said, approaching with her head down.
"I know, Rainbow Dash. I know you didn't mean to and it's okay," the pink haired girl responded, with a small smile.
"Now, we need to get this all straight," Applejack said. "Let's talk to everyone who is spreading these rumors and put an end to them."
"I agree," Pinkie said, finally getting some of her energy back. "We can't let this affect us anymore."
The group agreed and went out to try to convince the others about what really happened. They spent a few minutes talking to some students to clarify things, but although they managed to convince some, others still stuck to their points of view. After a while, they dispersed to go to their classes.
Rarity was in marketing class, trying to concentrate on the professor's words. However, her gaze repeatedly drifted to Applejack, who was sitting a few seats away. They needed to move forward with the art project, or ideally, finish it. This time, she would make sure the farmer heard her.
With midterms quickly approaching, she couldn't afford any delays. She didn't want to face her mother's lectures, even though she hadn't had any so far.
When class finally came to an end, Rarity picked up her things with a mix of determination and nervousness. She kept her books in her backpack, an elegant and personalized design that she always highlighted for her good taste. Just as she was about to approach Applejack to talk to her, she realized that the farm girl was no longer in her living room.
She left the classroom and looked around her for someone who could help her. Seeing a blue-haired boy she knew, she decided to approach him.
"Hey, Flash. Do you know if Applejack has any classes now?" Rarity asked with a smile.
"Hello, Rarity. No, he doesn't have class right now, but he does have training," Flash responded with a friendly smile.
"Training?"
"Yeah, she and the other girls have soccer practice. Sometimes they don't, but I'd bet she does today."
"Thank you, Flash, I owe you one," Rarity said gratefully.
"You're welcome," he replied with a smile and continued on her way.
Rarity headed towards the outside court. As she walked, she tried to organize her thoughts, preparing to face Applejack and make sure that this time they could both work together without personal conflicts.
When she arrived, she saw some girls running after the ball on the court, throwing passes and scoring. She recognized Lyra and Bon Bon among the students. The ones that stood out the most were Rainbow Dash, who seemed to have a challenge ahead of her when she came to the defense, and Sunset Shimmer, who was on the opposing team in the forward position. Finally, she saw Applejack, the girl she was looking for, who was on the same team as the multicolored girl and was in the defense position.
"I don't understand much of this, but they do play well," the dressmaker said to herself. "I've been at this institute for a month now and it's the first time I've come here."
She always thought that the girls would be on a basketball team, since that was what they played the most when the seven of them were together. But times change, and now football was what the three of them were passionate about.
Many thoughts ran through her mind, wondering what would have happened if... But there was no use in regretting the past that couldn't be changed.
Her thoughts were interrupted by some murmurs next to her; two students were watching the training and were murmuring to each other.
"Fluttershy isn't here, I'm sure she left the group like they say," a student said.
"You think?" answered the other.
Rarity did not live in another world, she was aware of the rumors that were floating around today due to yesterday's incident. But they were rumors taken out of context, that's all. Once, they had already said things about her, and although in a way they were not wrong, what she did not like was that her criticism of the girl who received the ball was unfair. Even though she lasted almost two weeks, she didn't like that the other girl had a bit of a hard time.
Rumors can be both real and false, but what limits would these criticisms reach?
The dressmaker shook her head to stop thinking about it; She didn't even want to imagine what would happen. She better focus on her studies than on what others said.
Since he didn't have classes now, he decided to stay and watch the training, like he used to do before when the three of them played basketball.
A few hours passed and she saw how the girls in blue suits left the court and headed to the dressing rooms. Rarity let out a sigh; She would have to wait a little longer. She walked to the nearby vending machine and bought some candy.
She waited a few minutes and headed towards the locker room. She saw someone leave; She wasn't sure what to do when she saw Sunset Shimmer standing there. She was going to say something, but Rarity stood her ground and turned to leave, leaving the redhead a little taken aback.
Once she sensed that Sunset was gone, she returned to the locker room and watched Lyra leave. She had no choice but to ask him if Applejack was still inside her.
"I'm sorry to tell you that you were a few seconds late," Lyra said.
"What are you talking about?" Rarity said.
"He just left with Sunset and Rainbow," Lyra replied, gesturing with her hand.
"It must be a bloody joke," the dressmaker said, putting a hand to her forehead and shaking her head. She must have left when she turned away from Sunset, she deduced. "Cowgirl is really going to give me a headache," she muttered.
"Is something wrong, Rarity?" Lyra asked.
"Nothing, honey. Could you answer another question for me?" Rarity said.
Lyra nodded and listened to the dressmaker's next question.
The jock of the group, once separated from Sunset and Applejack, headed to the backyard where she knew she would find the animal lover tending to some plants. When she arrived, she saw Fluttershy crouching down.
"Hey, Flutters. Can I talk to you?" said cautiously.
"Hey, Rainbow Dash. Sure, tell me," replied, looking at her with a small smile.
Rainbow took a breath before continuing. "I know yesterday was a disaster, but I really want you to know how much I care about you. Would you like to go out for coffee after school?"
"Umm...Thank you, but I already have plans," Fluttershy said hesitantly.
"So, how about tomorrow? Or we can go for a walk right now," she insisted.
"Rainbow Dash, I really appreciate you trying, but I need some space."
"But, Flutters, I just want to fix things. I don't want there to be any misunderstandings between us," Rainbow said, frustrated.
"I know, but sometimes forcing things doesn't help," she whispered.
"But if we don't do anything, it will never be solved!" Dash raised his voice.
"Another argument?" a nearby student murmured.
"It seems like it doesn't end here," added another student.
Fluttershy, noticing the murmurs, felt even more uncomfortable and decided to move away from her. "I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash, but I need to go," she said softly.
Rainbow watched as Fluttershy walked away from her, feeling frustrated. "Don't you guys have better things to do?" said angrily to the students who were murmuring.
The pink-haired girl walked away from her, not knowing if she could put up with the rumors and the multicolor-haired girl's insistence any longer. She walked a little further to another part of the patio and sat on a bench, remaining silent until a country voice broke the silence.
"Hey Fluttershy, are you okay?"
"Yes, it's just...rumors," she replied regretfully.
Applejack nodded and sat down next to her. "Can I talk to you about something?" asked her with a serious expression.
"Sure, Applejack. What's up?" replied, looking up.
"I wanted to talk to you about something Rainbow and I discussed recently," Applejack began.
"Another fight?" the pink haired girl guessed.
"Sort of. It's something she mentioned."
"What did she say?" Fluttershy asked, curious.
"About the rift between you and Rainbow. I noticed that when we first started dating, we sometimes left you aside. It wasn't intentional, but now I see that it must have affected you a lot," she explained, looking at Fluttershy seriously.
Fluttershy looked down, fiddling with a leaf. "Yes, I felt a little lonely sometimes. But I didn't want to say anything because I knew they were happy together."
The farmer sighed, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy. I should have been more aware and made sure you felt included."
The pink haired girl nodded slowly. "It's not your fault, Applejack. Maybe I should have said something too," she said a little crestfallen.
"Don't blame yourself. You're a good friend, Fluttershy," Applejack said with a sad smile. "It hurts me to know that I made you feel left out. I want you to know that I care a lot about our friendship, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make you feel valued and loved."
Fluttershy smiled slightly. "Thank you, Applejack."
"If you ever need to talk or if you feel uncomfortable with something, please tell me. I want to make sure it doesn't happen again," the blonde said sincerely.
"I will. Thank you for understanding," replied, appreciating her friend's words.
"Well, I won't take up any more of your time. I just wanted you to know how sorry I am and how much I value you," Applejack said, standing up.
"Thank you, Applejack. I really value your friendship too," Fluttershy responded, standing up as well.
They hugged briefly. Fluttershy and Applejack left together until they separated to go to their respective lockers. Fluttershy walked over to her locker, mulling over the conversation as she put her things away.
On the other hand, Rarity was walking through the locker aisles to talk to the blonde girl about work. Walking a little further, she saw her, but she was not alone; With her were Rainbow Dash, who seemed somewhat crestfallen, and Pinkie Pie, with her usual classic smile. Applejack was going through his things in the locker. The party girl, upon noticing her presence, greeted her with a smile.
"Hello, Rarity!"
Rainbow frowned at Rarity's name and turned around. "Belle, if you're here to talk... I'm not in the mood."
"No, I'm not here for that, Rainbow Dash," replied.
The athlete raised an eyebrow in confusion. "So what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to talk to your girlfriend about our project," Rarity explained, directing her gaze to the farmer.
Applejack slammed her locker shut. "Do you want to continue like yesterday?" asked.
"I'd rather not," said the dressmaker. "I don't know if I know you well yet, but I don't think you want to fail this class."
The blonde grimaced and opened her mouth. "You're right. But you don't know much about what friendship is about so we can move forward."
"Then enlighten me," Rarity said, opening her arms.
Pinkie and Rainbow watched the conversation with curiosity.
"Friendship is about being there for that person, being honest and supporting them whenever they need it," Applejack said.
"You're right, but there's also another part of friendship that's important." Rarity began to approach the blonde. "Also try to listen, understand and give space when they need it."
Rainbow analyzed the words of both girls realizing something. "Belle, for the first time since you came back you've said something useful," said, closing her locker, taking her things and walking down the hallway thoughtfully.
The dressmaker raised an eyebrow, she didn't know if she should feel offended or flattered with that comment. She put it aside and looked at the green-eyed girl again, but neither of them said anything.
Pinkie, seeing the awkward silence, tried to break it. "So are you going to continue your project?" asked with a nervous smile.
"It's up to Applejack."
"Okay, let's go," she said.
The two walked towards the living room, leaving Pinkie behind, a little confused by the scene.
"That was weird. In both cases..." muttered, watching where her multicolored friend and the two girls went.
Side A / Cafeteria  
On the other hand, for the minors it was their lunch time. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom stood next to Spike and Scootaloo. The atmosphere between them was relaxed.
"And how was it yesterday?" Spike asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.
"How do we have fun?" Apple Bloom asked.
"They already said that at recess," Scootaloo said, rolling her eyes.
"We mean his sisters," the green-haired boy said, crossing his arms.
"Rarity and Applejack were working on their project together in the art classroom," Sweetie Belle began to explain. "Well, it happened that we ran away from Pinkie and by coincidence we saw through the window where our sisters were"
"Apparently they were going well at first," Apple Bloom interjected, frowning. "But we could hear them starting to argue. It seemed pretty tense."
Spike frowned. "It was a little expected," he said, shrugging.
"Yes, since from what we heard I think we understood that they were talking about what happened with the girls," the youngest Belle continued, looking around her to make sure no one else heard them. "We listened to my sister saying that they should show the bad side of friendship and Applejack complaining about that choice. Then that led to other comments and left my sister alone."
Scootaloo nodded thoughtfully. "I guess working together wasn't going to be that easy," commented.
"I hope they can figure it out soon," Apple Bloom sighed, fiddling with his sandwich. "The atmosphere between them yesterday was not the best."
"Me too," Sweetie Belle agreed, resting his chin on her hand. "I hope the day comes when everything smoothes out between them... well, not only them but also with the girls."
Spike looked at his friends with a comforting smile. "I'm sure they will. Sometimes they just need a little more time and patience," he said, patting Sweetie on the shoulder.
"Yes, I miss when the six of us spent time together," the magenta-haired girl said, with a melancholic sigh.
"Yeah, and when we discovered things we didn't fully understand," Spike added, laughing softly.
There was a melancholy silence, until the youngest of the Belles broke it.
"Hey, we're almost getting to our last classes and nothing's happened," said, frowning.
"It's true," the green-haired boy said, nodding his head.
"Ha, I beat you. They're going to wait until Monday," Scootaloo said, laughing and nudging Spike. This defeated sigh.
"Then they will tell me what it is about. They promised me that if nothing happened today they would tell me," insisted, crossing her arms.
"We promised," Apple Bloom said, looking at her seriously and then at the two who nodded. "Well, you see, when we arrived around this time..." she began.
Sweetie Belle listened and little by little a smile formed, waiting for her to arrive that day, so she decided not to tell her sister yet. She knew she would like it too.
Side B/University  
Rarity and Applejack met again in the art room. They chose to collaborate on a single sculpture, joining their talents in a collaborative way.
Rarity organized the tools and materials while Applejack reviewed the project guidelines. Once the dressmaker organized the materials, she took out her notebook to draw. The farmer saw that and sighed lightly.
"I hope you don't start drawing your dress sketches and pay attention to the work," said, trying to joke.
Rarity bit her lip upon hearing that. "I wish I could go back to those days..." murmured barely audible.
"Eh...?" she expressed the blonde, raising an eyebrow.
The dressmaker remained silent for a few seconds. "I think we should set some rules this time," suggested cautiously.
Applejack nodded, noticing her comment, but determined to focus on work. "Okay. Rule number one: keep the conversation focused on the project."
"Exactly," she replied seriously, resting her pencil on the notebook. "And rule number two: respect the opinions and suggestions of others without judging."
"Got it," the blonde nodded.
"I think we should work on something that really challenges us and allows us to combine our strengths," Rarity suggested, looking at the drawing she had made the night before. Next, she chose a block of clay and began sculpting the initial outlines.
"The theme of honesty remains central," the blonde said, taking another part of the material and beginning to sculpt more precise details.
After hours of concentrated work, they finally finished the sculpture. When they saw the final result, they both felt great satisfaction.
Rarity broke the silence with a smile: "I think we did a good job today."
"We did," Applejack replied with a slight smile. "Now let's hope the teacher approves it and maybe we can display it at the event."
"Event?" the dressmaker asked herself then she looked down, noticing her hands covered in clay. "I think we should go clean our hands before we leave," she suggested, pointing to her hands.
"Good idea," Applejack agreed, carefully picking up the sculpture and carrying it to a table where the other works were.
They both headed to the bathroom to clean their hands, in silence without any talk involved, but from time to time Rarity glanced at the blonde. Afterwards, they returned to collect their things.
Rarity adjusted her backpack while Applejack made sure she had everything in her light brown canvas crossbody bag. "See you...see you. I guess," the dressmaker murmured quietly.
"Of course..." the farmer responded with a neutral expression.
Since neither of them said anything, they separated again, each one going her own way. Rarity made time to wait for her younger sister and then headed towards where she used to meet Sweetie Belle. She noticed immediately that her younger sister looked remarkably happy.
"Sweetie," she called as she approached. "What's got you so happy today?"
Sweetie Belle looked up with a mischievous smile. "Oh, nothing you can know, big sister," she replied enigmatically.
The dressmaker frowned, intrigued by the answer. "A secret, huh?"
"It's a secret for now," the youngest said.
"It's okay, I'll find out eventually."
Sweetie Belle nodded with a wide smile. "Thank you, Rarity. So... how did it go with Applejack today?"
Rarity was quiet for a second at the question. "It went well, actually. We worked together on our project and managed to finish it without any major setbacks."
"That's great!" the youngest exclaimed. "I'm happy things are getting better between you."
"I wouldn't say that exactly," Rarity thought as she grimaced subtly. "Yeah, we're definitely making progress," she said, faking a smile. "Come on?"
Her younger sister nodded and they began walking home together.
It was already Saturday and the girls were busy with their usual activities. Sunset and Pinkie, who worked part-time on weekends, were at their respective jobs. Applejack was helping out on the family 'farm', Rainbow was doing her personal training despite her practice with the team, and Fluttershy had just returned from the animal shelter. On the other hand, the girl with glasses used to spend most of her free time studying.
Therefore, the animal lover was not surprised to receive a video call from Twilight and she accepted it immediately.
("Hello, Fluttershy! How are you?") Twilight greeted through the screen.
"Well, it's just... I was expecting another call, I don't want to sound bad," Fluttershy replied.
("Oh, don't worry. You were expecting Rainbow, right?") she asked with a sympathetic smile.
"Uh, yeah... she got a little pushy yesterday, and in some ways it's not like she expected me to call to insist again, but maybe to talk about some topic other than..." she hesitated.
("About some other Applejack fight")
"Emm...yeah, but at the same time I feel like it's better that we don't communicate yet," she admitted.
("I understand. It gives you a little room for things to flow," Twilight agreed.
"Yeah, it's weird though, isn't it? When the thing that left me out was happening, I wanted her attention, but now that I appreciate her trying to show it, I want my space too," Fluttershy mused.
("This is how our defense system works. Sometimes we want something, but we act exactly the opposite to protect ourselves and then achieve our goal," she said.
"I don't want to talk too much about myself. Were you doing something important?" the pink haired girl asked, changing the subject.
("You could say it's important, but it's not academic, although at the same time it is," she responded thoughtfully. ("I was thinking a little about rumors and how to convince others")
Fluttershy frowned slightly. "Any ideas?"
("Still nothing")
The pink haired girl looked down. "There have been many rumors, some strong and some not so strong, and they can be both false and real, so we had to rule out the false ones."
("Mmm...Fluttershy, you're a genius,") she said with a smile. ("I might start there to get an idea.")
The pink haired girl raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Whatever you came up with. I hope it works."
("I just have to tie the threads together a bit,") Twilight assured with determination. ("Now, how was your day at the animal shelter? Was there anything special?")
Fluttershy smiled and started chatting with her friend about how she did at the animal shelter.
Sunday passed and it was already Monday. The girls were on their 'lunch break' and they all decided to sit together, even though some of them had free time and weren't planning on having lunch. They wanted to prove that there was nothing wrong with the group and discuss the rumors that continued to circulate.
"Girls, I was thinking a little over the weekend about the rumors," Twilight commented.
"Any way to get other people to stop saying things?" Fluttershy asked.
"Or better that there is something to make them forget about this?" Rainbow added.
"I've been looking at the chances of success in getting them to stop talking," she explained. "And I came to the conclusion that the rumor is of an intermediate level. It is neither that powerful nor that light."
The girls looked at each other confused, and Sunset lifted her shoulders.
"I didn't want to use this example, but let's take Belle's," the blue-haired girl suggested with a nervous giggle.
"Ugh, really, Twilight," the athlete replied.
"Just listen...the ball she received plus her drama only led to people saying things like 'the spoiled girl who can't handle a ball' or 'the dramatic girl who only cares about appearance,'" she explained. .
"They weren't that wrong about that," Rainbow commented sarcastically.
"She is always attentive to her appearance. Has she been like this before or did she just take up the habit when she already had an interest in impressing others?" Sunset wondered.
Applejack made an annoyed face and looked at Pinkie. The two of them had already dealt with that side of the dressmaker before meeting the rest of the girls. Then they saw the girl with glasses again.
"Well, when we saw her we already had an idea of what she was like, but what does this have to do with it?" Fluttershy inquired.
"Remember that another point of view also came out, which was that the girl who threw the ball at him did it on purpose because she couldn't stand seeing someone more attractive," Twilight mentioned.
"I still don't understand," said the farmer.
"The girl was criticized, yes, but she didn't last long since the students put the rumor aside. Therefore, the same thing will happen to you two too," the blue-haired girl stated, looking at Fluttershy and Rainbow.
"Ah, I understand," said the athlete.
"That's why it's good that what happened wasn't so big that it took too much out of context. Now we just have to show that there are no bad vibes in the group," Sunset added with a nod.
"Exactly," Twilight agreed.
"I don't want to imagine what a big scandal would be like," Fluttershy said, a little nervously.
"When was the last time there was a big one?" Applejack wondered, trying to remember.
"Well, there was that time when... when they believed about Wallflower..." the redhead hesitated, avoiding going into specific details.
"What happened to Wallflower?" the pink haired girl asked with interest.
"Ah, nothing serious really, just rumors," Twilight interjected, trying to divert the attention.
"Yeah, it was more of a misunderstanding that went a little overboard," Rainbow added, trying to lighten the mood.
"I'm sure it was so big I blocked it out of my mind," Fluttershy commented.
They all stayed silent for a moment just listening to the bustle of the other students.
"I was thinking of making a joke with Pinkie so they would stop talking," the athlete mentioned, breaking the silence and abruptly changing the subject.
"Would have been fun!" exclaimed the party girl, encouraged by the idea.
"And I would have stayed away if they did," Applejack commented with her arms crossed, remembering the previous pranks that had been played on her, especially by the multicolored girl.
"Come on, last time it was just a little joke," Rainbow said, downplaying what happened.
Once she gave the blonde girl a chocolate that had a liquid inside that painted her mouth blue and that took a while to get out.
"Better avoid those jokes," Twilight suggested.
"Yes. Better to show that everything is fine and skip the jokes," Sunset added.
"It's calmer that way," Fluttershy agreed.
"Okay, although it would have been fun," Pinkie admitted, a little exhausted at the moment. "The good thing is that what happened is mild," she commented, returning to the topic.
"You're right, this could be said to be mid-level and Belle's was a lower scale," Rainbow acknowledged. "Something good Belle did," she murmured.
The party girl heard him. She looked in front of where the dressmaker would be and then spoke to her, but she realized that she was not at her table and, apparently, at no other table. When she surreptitiously glanced at the other tables, she wondered if she was inside, but, if she weren't there, where would she be? She would surely have gone to her house by now.
After talking, each one felt calmer, so they began to talk about typical trivial things, such as things that happened in their respective classes.
Once they finished, they separated since some of them had free time, but in the case of the three girls in the group who were on the soccer team, they went to get their things. A certain blonde girl had the need to go to the bathroom. After leaving it, she went down another hallway that would also lead to her locker.
Walking for a few minutes, she saw the wavy-haired girl at her locker, looking in her mirror as she touched up her makeup and ran her hand through her hair.
"You're still the same," the farmer murmured, shaking her head.
Three Years Ago: Ending Winter   
b]Applejack arrived at the imposing mansion, as she called it, impressed once again by how large and spacious the Belle house was.
She wore a dark brown leather jacket open over a white lace sleeveless blouse. Instead of her usual jeans and boots, she opted for sleek, tight black pants and black sneakers that combined style and comfort. She had left out her beloved hat for the occasion.
Upon ringing her doorbell, she expected to be greeted by the always welcoming Roseluck, but she was surprised to see Rarity's mother answer the door.
"Hello, Mrs. Belle. How is she?" Applejack greeted.
"Oh, hello, Applejack. I'm fine," Cookie replied, letting the blonde pass. "I heard they're going to a party."
"Yeah, Rarity was a little sad about not having the New Year's Eve dance," the blonde commented.
"Yes, she seemed a little discouraged. So your cousin Pinkie Pie suggested that the three of you go to that party together," the lady added.
"Yes, she's waiting for us," Applejack smiled.
Cookie, as always with her serious expression, nodded. "And that rose?" asked, pointing to the bouquet the farmer was carrying in her right hand.
Applejack got a little nervous. "Oh, uh... It's... for you. A gentle lady like you deserves a gift," said, extending her arm with a nervous smile.
"Thank you, Applejack. You didn't have to," Cookie replied, carrying the rose to a vase.
"Rare... I mean, is Rarity ready?" asked to avoid an awkward silence.
"I'm not sure. She's upstairs, if you want to go see her," Cookie said.
"Excuse me," she said before moving towards the stairs.
She went up, passing through the youngest Belle's room and heading towards the last door. She knocked and after hearing a "come in" from inside her, she opened the door and closed it behind her.
Inside it, she saw Rarity, but she frowned as she realized that she wasn't ready yet.
"Rare, aren't you ready yet?" asked.
"Jackie..." Rarity said happily, walking over and kissing her on the lips. "No, I'm not ready yet," replied.
"But we're already getting late and you're still... what exactly are you doing?" asked impatiently.
"I still haven't decided what dress to wear," Rarity replied.
"Just pick anything. I told you that you look beautiful in anything," Applejack said.
"But dear, I can't just wear anything. I must present myself properly for where we are going."
"Rarity, it's just a nightclub. We'll be in the dark," Applejack frowned.
"Oh, it can't be. You're right... I won't be able to look good in the dark," said the dressmaker.
The farmer sighed calmly and approached. "What do you have in mind to wear?"
"Look, what do you think of this light blue dress? There's also this purple one, or this red one that would also make me look good," she said, posing with each one.
The blonde thought a little before speaking. "Put on the light blue. Even though purple looks good on you, the light blue stands out on you," she suggested, trying to remain patient.
"Perfect. I'll be right back, honey," Rarity said, heading to her personal bathroom.
A few minutes passed and Applejack was waiting outside, but Rarity wouldn't come out. Finally, she knocked on the door to find out the reason.
"You can come in, Applejack. I'm ready," the dressmaker said on the other side.
"So what were you doing?" asked as she opened the door and entered the bathroom. She sighed in frustration as she saw that Rarity was putting on her makeup in front of the mirror. "Rarity, we're going to be late."
"A good makeup and we're ready, honey," Rarity replied.
Suddenly, the dressmaker's cell phone rang with a message. She was going to see him, but Applejack stopped her.
"Leave it, Rare. Put your makeup on quickly and let's go," she said urgently.
Rarity nodded and continued with her makeup in detail.
The blonde rolled her eyes at her. This was a side she didn't really like about her girlfriend, the fact that she took so much interest in her appearance.
Present
The farmer sighed and took advantage of the fact that Rarity was focused on her locker to walk past her and avoid starting a conversation. Knowing the dressmaker's attitude, she probably wouldn't have wanted to talk anyway.
Pinkie, who was a few steps behind, approached Rarity's locker. Before speaking to her, she could notice in the distance the hat and dark brown flannel that her cousin was wearing that day, but she lost sight of it when more students passed by her.
"Hello, Rarity!"
"Hello, Pinkie Pie."
"You never stop being elegant," commented, eyeing the lipstick the dressmaker had in her hand.
"I was eating a piece of cake, but when I wiped it with the napkin, I got too much of my lipstick and the color looked a little uneven, so I didn't think it was appropriate to leave it like that," explained.
"Oh..." Pinkie murmured.
"What's happening?"
"Nothing," Pinkie replied.
There was a brief silence before the party girl spoke again.
"For a moment I thought you were gone," said, curious.
"For some reason, Sweetie Belle asked me to stay a little longer," Rarity replied.
"Oh yeah?" said the party girl.
"She told me she would understand," the dressmaker said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Mmm..." murmured thoughtfully. "Oh, I get it, it was probably Apple Bloom."
Rarity frowned in confusion.
"You'll understand in a few minutes, something tells me," Pinkie said enigmatically. "So, were you in the cafeteria? I didn't see you."
"Actually, I went somewhere else... to be honest, I didn't want to meet the girls' gazes while I was waiting," admitted.
"I see, it must be awkward," Pinkie nodded.
Rarity nodded as well.
"You know, Rarity, you're acting different. I don't know if it's good or bad, but I can tell," the party girl said, trying to be honest but careful with her words. "You haven't apologized like before and now you seem a little... distant."
"I'm just trying to do the right thing this time," Rarity said with a more serious tone.
Pinkie raised an eyebrow, still not fully understanding.
"You see, the last time I apologized to them, you saw how it ended," the dressmaker said, referring to the incident at the mall. Pinkie nodded, remembering. "That day I was very distracted and I wanted your forgiveness, so I went to talk to my parents to ask them for advice," she began to explain.
"And what advice did they give you?" she asked, eager to know more.
"Wait"
"Wait?" Pinkie repeated, intrigued.
Rarity gestured to let her continue speaking. "Wait for the right moment. Give them space to manage the emotions you have with my presence after so long," she explained.
"I get it, you're waiting for things to calm down," Pinkie said.
"I've been thinking about what to do after things calm down, how to show them that I'm not what they imagine me to be," she said.
"We'll work on that," the party girl said, nodding. The dressmaker smiled.
"Hello, Pinkie, hello, Rarity," Bon Bon greeted as she approached with lyra.
"Hello," they both responded.
"I see you're getting to know Pinkie," Lyra commented.
Pinkie looked a little confused at Rarity and she then looked down.
"You know, any new student is a new target for making friends," Pinkie joked. "And you guys, how did you meet Rarity?"
"In art class," Bon Bon replied.
"Yes, although we already knew her name, you know how some students are, always talking," Lyra added.
Both Pinkie and Rarity understood what they meant and agreed that it was exactly what was happening with the athlete and the animal lover.
The sound of the speakers caught everyone's attention, recognizing the chancellor voice. Pinkie grabbed Rarity's shoulders shaking her.
"It's happening, Rarity!" said excitedly.
"Ah... what?"
("Good morning everyone! I am pleased to announce that this year's homecoming event is about to begin. There will be a variety of activities for everyone, from club fairs, festivals and sports competitions. It will be a fantastic opportunity to get to know each other better and enjoy of our community between the school and the university. We will give more details of the activities in the next few minutes. I hope to see everyone participate with energy and enthusiasm!")
Side A / Yard  
On Principal Luna's side, she gave the same information to the minors, who seemed excited to hear the words.
("...I inform you that you will be allowed to participate in joint activities with the university," Luna announced seriously. ("I hope you take advantage of this opportunity to learn and enjoy yourself, but I also remind you that you must behave with the utmost respect and follow all established rules. I will not tolerate any inappropriate behavior.")
The Crusaders gave each other a high five and together with Spike they observed the varied expressions of their companions. Snips and Snails looked excited.
"Let's go see Trixie! Let's go see Trixie!" exclaimed Snips and Snails excitedly.
Diamond Tiara, among other students, was showing off a bit. The Crusaders exchanged glances with each other, shaking their heads.
"See that? Diamond Tiara is in 'look here she's the winner' mode," Scootaloo commented sarcastically.
"That's typical of her," Spike replied with a wry smile.
"It seems like everyone is pretty excited about this event," said Sweetie Belle. "I managed to keep it a secret," she added, proud of herself.
The Crusaders and Spike continued to watch as the excitement spread among their classmates.
Side B/Hallway  
Everyone had finished listening to Rector Celestia report on the start of the year event.
"Wow, that sounds super exciting!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping excitedly. "There's always so much fun and cool things to do!"
Lyra nodded excitedly. "Yes, it's the best time to meet new people and make friends!"
Bon Bon smiled, but noticed that Rarity looked a little hesitant. "Aren't you excited, Rarity?"
Rarity frowned slightly. "Well, will it be really interesting? I've never attended these events before..."
"Ahhh..." the three of them sighed dramatically.
"What?! You've never been to one of these events at the beginning of the year?" Lyra asked incredulously.
Rarity sighed softly. "Well, I studied online for the last few years, so... I don't have many memories of what it feels like to be at those events."
"Didn't you have any fun this whole time?" Pinkie said, putting a hand on her chest.
"So, do we agree on that issue?" Twilight asked the girl next to her.
"Yes," she replied, but she stopped when she saw the somewhat peculiar expressions on the four girls. "What's wrong with them?"
The party girl approached her. "Starlight, can you believe Rarity hasn't had events like this in recent years?"
Twilight, curious, approached. "How is that?"
"Apparently, our refined girl has not participated in welcome events because she has been studying online," Bon Bon explained.
"That explains how she is in her last year without having been present in the previous beginnings," thought the blue-haired girl. "Well, this year... you will... experience an event." She tried to sound natural.
"So it seems," the dressmaker responded somewhat doubtfully.
"Rarity, you're missing out on so much," Starlight said, avoiding any awkward silence as she was aware of the situation between the dressmaker and the other girls.
Pinkie put a hand on her shoulder sympathetically. "But don't worry, I promise you'll love it. We're going to make this the best kickoff event you've ever experienced!"
"Exactly," Lyra commented.
"Oh... uh, thanks girls," Rarity said looking at the three, slightly avoiding the gaze of the girl with glasses.
Twilight observed the gesture of her hyperactive friend and frowned, beginning to sense what was going through the party girl's mind these days.
Elsewhere on the b-side, some students looked happy, like Flash with his band, thinking about the possibility of being able to perform, and others were talking about what their exhibitions would be like and what kind of games there would be.
Rainbow crossed her arms with a half smile. "Get ready, Crystal Prep, we're going to beat you."
"There's still no talking ahead of time," Sunset said with a smile.
"We've trained hard," said the multicolored haired girl. "I literally ended up on the ground by Gilda and we clashed."
"You're right," Sunset agreed. Then she looked next to her and saw a certain shy friend. "Hey, Fluttershy."
Fluttershy turned to the two, smiling shyly. "Hello, girls."
"Are you excited for the homecoming event?" Rainbow asked.
This she nodded gently. "Yeah, although she's going to make me a little nervous about all the attention."
"Don't worry, we'll be together," Sunset said with a reassuring smile.
Fluttershy smiled, grateful for the support. "Thank you." She then looked at the multicolored girl, but neither of them seemed to say anything.
"You know, I'm going to ask the coach if she needs anything," the athlete said before walking away, leaving both girls.
"That was weird," the redhead commented, watching Rainbow leave. "I thought I'd ask you out or something."
"It's the strangest thing, I was hoping that this weekend he would call me or send me a message, but nothing," said Fluttershy, playing with her fingers. "And today she hasn't done it either."
"Oh really?" Sunset asked thoughtfully. "It looks a bit... like..." she stopped before finishing the sentence. "It doesn't matter." She then put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I'm sure Dash has his reasons, but that doesn't mean he doesn't value your friendship."
Fluttershy nodded, grateful for the words.
Some time later, while some students were taking advantage of their free time and others were still in class, the voice of Rector Celestia echoed through the loudspeakers giving more details about the welcome event. Gradually, the students began to gather their things and say goodbye, ending the school day.
Fluttershy went home thinking a little about her situation with Rainbow. She was there for a while, but then she made up her mind and walked towards the animal shelter, a place that filled her with peace and where she could take care of her furry friends. When she entered, she did not expect to find anyone she knew, so she was surprised to see the athlete talking to one of her caregivers.
"Tell me again who you are looking for," the man said.
"I just told you like three times. Her name is Fluttershy, she has yellow skin and aquamarine eyes," Rainbow said with annoyance.
"Fluttershy? I'm sure I've heard that name somewhere," the black and gray haired man said.
"F-L-U-T-T-E-R-S-H-Y," she spelled.
"Interesting name. What university is she from?"
The already fed up athlete opened her mouth. "Listen, mother fu-"
"Hello, Rainbow Dash. What are you doing here?" Fluttershy came forward before her friend finished her sentence.
"Hello, Fluttershy. I thought I could find you here. I wanted to talk to you, but this man isn't listening to me," she said, pointing to him.
"Fluttershy, I thought you wouldn't come today," the man said, somewhat surprised.
"I wasn't going to, but I thought I'd come hang out," Fluttershy said.
"As for this stranger?" the man asked.
"I'll take care of it," said the pink-haired girl, approaching.
"Okay, whatever, I'll be here," the man said, walking away.
"You see you do know her!" Rainbow exclaimed, annoyed with the man. "You know, I was asking about you, but this guy ignored me," explained.
"He's not against you, he's like that, he likes to bother visitors a little," Fluttershy commented.
"But he treats his visitors well," the athlete said sarcastically.
"But Discord has his kind side," the pink-haired girl added.
"I hope to get to know that side of your friend Discord," replied, crossing her arms.
"What brings you here?" Fluttershy asked.
The multicolored one became more serious. "Ah... I wanted to apologize for being so pushy lately. I just want you to know that I really care about our friendship and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make things right."
Fluttershy stayed quiet, waiting for Rainbow to continue.
"I focused on doing favors for you that I didn't even think about... I didn't think about what you wanted to do," Rainbow continued.
The pink haired girl nodded with a smile. "It's okay, Rainbow Dash. All in her own time." Rainbow nodded as well.
"I'd still like to talk about some boundaries," said.
"Limits," the athlete repeated, feeling that she didn't like that word very much.
"But we can leave it for another day," Fluttershy said.
A silence was present. Rainbow didn't know if she should say something else or try to start some other conversation. Fluttershy seemed to notice it too and she got an idea.
"Do you want to go with me to walk some of my friends?" Fluttershy suggested.
Rainbow smiled and nodded.
"I'll be back, there are only a few of them and I would like to introduce you to someone," she said, heading to an area where the animals were. A few seconds later, she appeared with some puppies, but something small in size jumping around caught Rainbow's attention.
She approached the small creature and caught it just in time as it jumped towards her. "And this little one?" she asked.
"His name is Angel. I adopted him a year ago," Fluttershy said with a smile.
"In the end you did adopt a rabbit like you wanted," she commented. "I missed that moment," she thought with some sadness.
"Yes, I treasure it very much," said the pink haired girl.
After that, they both took some leashes and took several of the furry friends for a walk. As they walked through the nearby park, they continued talking.
"Fluttershy... About the rumors... I want you to know that I don't care what they say. We can move on," Rainbow said determinedly.
"It'll be hard, but we have to prove them wrong... At some point everything will go back to the way it was," Fluttershy said.
"Even between us?" asked.
"That will take time too," the pink haired girl replied.
"I promise I'll keep trying, but I'll also respect your space. I don't want you to feel overwhelmed. That's why I didn't text you over the weekend... I thought I should give you space even with that," explained.
"Thank you. That means a lot," Fluttershy said with a smile. "You could send me messages... In due time," she added.
The afternoon passed quickly as they walked the animals. Carelessly, Angel jumped out of Fluttershy's arms and came dangerously close to the road where the cars were passing. The traffic light was green for cars and the rabbit was already on the road.
"Angel!" exclaimed Fluttershy, who froze.
She looked next to her and saw Rainbow running towards the animal.
"Rainbow Dash!"
A car was approaching quickly and Fluttershy closed her eyes in fear. She heard a sudden brake, but she didn't dare open her eyes. She felt footsteps approaching and recognized her voice.
"I got it," she said tiredly, reaching out with the rabbit in her hands.
"Rainbow Dash...don't do that again," Fluttershy began, expressing how scared she felt.
Rainbow changed her hand to the rabbit when she saw that her friend was approaching and began to gently hit the athlete's chest. She felt her blows, but it was not painful at all. As she hit her, Fluttershy started to cry and moved away from her a little.
"I... I'm sorry. I didn't want to scare you, but I know it would hurt you to lose Angel," she said a little crestfallen.
"I wouldn't want anything to happen to you either," the pink-haired girl responded between sobs.
"Fluttershy..."
The girl continued crying. "Still...thank you, Rainbow," Fluttershy said, bringing her hands to her face.
Rainbow opened her eyes upon hearing her words. She felt the need to hug her, but she knew she should wait. Instead, she placed a comforting hand on Fluttershy's shoulder.
Author's Note
A lot of things happened and I wanted to take advantage of the rumors issue that I mentioned at the beginning of the story. Speaking of the center of the rumor, we had a breakthrough in Rainbow and Fluttershy's relationship. If you didn't understand why Rainbow opened her eyes when she heard Fluttershy, it's because she called her by her name instead of her full name. Since they became estranged, Fluttershy always called her by her full name... Possibly some would have preferred a hug, but I thought that would be too hasty, so I changed it to her name.
I was planning to go immediately to 'midterms', since there will be development, but it would be very hasty. Then, while researching, I discovered what events there were, so I introduced them to improve the development of the characters.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                    Start of the Event                     
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Start of the Event
The Belle family was having dinner together in the dining room, enjoying a homemade meal prepared by Cookie.
Always concerned about her daughters' studies, Cookie looked at Rarity with a serious expression. "Rarity, how are your studies going? Are you prepared for the midterms?"
Rarity, trying to stay calm, replied, "There's still a bit of time before the exams, mother. I'm reviewing everything I need to make sure I'm prepared." Then she remembered the announcement. "You see, there's an event before the exams."
"Event...?"
Before Cookie could continue with her question, Sweetie Belle, full of excitement, interjected. "Mom, Dad! It's the welcome event. It's going to be awesome!"
Cookie, with her usual seriousness, frowned slightly. "Those events? I hope they don't interfere with your studies."
Rarity smiled, trying to ease her mother's concern. "Don't worry, mother. The welcome event is designed to help us integrate and better prepare for the semester." She paused a bit before continuing. "The event is going to last two weeks."
"Two weeks?!" her parents exclaimed.
Hondo nodded. "That sounds like a good opportunity to learn more about the university and see how you both are adapting."
"There's also something else. Many things have changed since we left, so now those from side A can go to the university building to socialize and participate in the activities," the dressmaker informed.
"Interesting," her mother commented. "What other things will there be at the event?"
"The first week focuses more on activities among students, club exhibitions to integrate more students. Then there are outdoor activities. There will also be a food festival, a theater play, among other things," Rarity explained.
The youngest, unable to contain her excitement, added, "And in the second week, families can go, so we can all be together. I'm sure it's going to be a lot of fun."
"That's good news, so we'll have to train to win," Hondo said.
"Dad, they're games like hoop shooting and sack racing," Rarity clarified with a smile.
Sweetie giggled a bit.
Then the three looked at the older woman of the house, who was silent.
Cookie sighed, but a small smile appeared on her lips. "Well... it would be an opportunity to spend time together, so we might make an exception with work."
The daughters smiled, celebrating a victory. "As long as you don't neglect your studies afterward. I trust you'll manage your time well."
"Don't worry, Mom, we'll be hands-on with the midterms," assured the youngest.
"Yes, mother," said Rarity.
"It wouldn't be bad to visit beforehand and see what the exhibitions and some activities are like," Hondo suggested.
"They didn't say anything about families not being able to go the first week," Sweetie Belle recalled.
"It's probably because, with those from side A joining us, their parents or siblings will be looking after them," Rarity deduced.
"That's most likely, so we'll go. I don't want to neglect my daughters," said Cookie with a smile.
Rarity and Sweetie Belle nodded enthusiastically, happy to have their parents' support for the event.
Sweet Apple Acres  
In another part, specifically in the backyard, the eldest of the Apples, along with her sister, was informing Granny Smith and Big Mac about the welcome event while they were collecting some apples.
"Tomorrow, the preparations begin, and on Wednesday, since it will already be September, the activities start," said Applejack.
"Yeah, first are the club fairs and the theater play. Then in the afternoon is the Wonderbolts' game," added Apple Bloom.
"Get ready, family, because the following week, the family games are coming," Applejack said with a smile.
"We're going to win!" said Apple Bloom, climbing down the ladder.
"Eeyup," affirmed the elder brother.
"If Granny Smith plays, we'll do what we can," said Applejack with a chuckle.
"Then Big Mac, you need to use those muscles," said Apple Bloom cheerfully.
"Eeyup," Big Mac said again with his typical response.
"Well, then let's win," said Granny Smith, smiling. "We'll make sure this family leaves its mark on those games."
"That's what I wanted to hear, Granny!" exclaimed Applejack, lifting a basket full of apples.
"Yeah, we're going to show them what the Apples can do," added Apple Bloom, jumping excitedly.
The family continued collecting apples while discussing more details about the activities.
On Tuesday, the students were in the university's grand hall, a large, adaptable space where important dances and presentations were held. Some were scattered around bringing tables of two, others decorating what would be their stands, placing tablecloths according to the theme of their presentations, and some sticking letters on the table. The younger students were in classes, and other university students were in different parts of the campus helping out.
Fluttershy and Twilight were at the side of the stage, listening to the words of Chancellor Celestia and Principal Luna.
"This is going to be a big welcome event, so Principal Luna and I evaluated among all the students and decided..." Celestia began.
"...you two will be the ones to present each event," Luna said, completing the sentence.
"Us?!" they both exclaimed, surprised.
"Why not? You've overcome many of your fears and insecurities," the principal commented, looking at the two.
"That's right. Fluttershy, you've overcome your shyness on so many occasions," Celestia said with a smile, addressing her, and then her gaze landed on the blue-haired girl. "And Twilight, you've gained a lot of self-confidence since you arrived."
They both smiled at the words, although they knew that those traits still didn't disappear completely when it came to other situations.
"Also, according to the principal, you have this band called the Rainbooms, so you've performed in front of a lot of people more than once," Luna continued.
"Not exactly, but we have sung with Flash's band," Twilight said, still digesting the news.
"All the more reason. With that you've shown that you're capable of performing in front of a lot of people," Luna added.
"Yes, a little, I just thought you'd pick a student from side A," Fluttershy said shyly.
"We understand, but most of my students are underage and don't have as much experience performing in front of large audiences. You, on the other hand, have the maturity and experience needed for these kinds of events," explained.
Twilight sighed, trying to relax. "Well, if you think we're the right fit, we'll do our best."
Fluttershy nodded, though she seemed a little nervous. "Yes, we'll do our best."
"I trust you," the principal said with an encouraging smile. "Now, remember that it's important to stay calm and be yourself."
Luna nodded. "And don't forget to enjoy the event. This is also a chance for you to have fun."
The two looked at each other and nodded, feeling a little more confident.
Meanwhile, near the stage, Rarity and Pinkie were helping put up some decorations.
"Did you hear? Twilight and Fluttershy are going to be emcees," Pinkie commented, hanging a garland.
"Yeah, that's what I heard. I think they'll do... well," the seamstress replied, adjusting a banner.
"Definitely," Starlight added, as she put up some lights. "It'll be interesting to see how they handle it all in front of so many people."
"Yeah, I'm sure they'll do great," the party girl said, smiling.
Rarity looked at Starlight curiously. "What were they like before?" asked under her breath.
Starlight glanced at the party girl. It was obvious that the seamstress wanted to know more without it being obvious that she already knew the girls.
"Well... Twilight had some insecurities and still does, but she's gotten better at it," Starlight said, glancing at the seamstress and then at the party girl out of the corner of her eye. "Still, some things make it difficult for her."
"Yeah, and that's why she's in literature, to get it out of her system," Pinkie said. Then her eyes widened at that. "Like a lot of us who are in an extra class to get over something," she said, laughing nervously.
"Some people choose to do that because they enjoy it, since it's something they love," Starlight said.
"Although sometimes you have no choice but to take that extra class," Rarity muttered, then looked up. "But you still have to get through it, right?"
The two looked at each other strangely at the comment.
"Sure, there are difficult subjects, but you always manage to get through it," Starlight said to lighten the conversation.
"You're right," the seamstress replied, smiling slightly. "We'll do that when the tryouts come around-"
"Da da da, let's not think about the tryouts yet," Pinkie said, covering her ears.
"Okay. By the way, where's Trixie?" the seamstress asked, looking around.
"She's probably rehearsing with the theater," the party girl replied, laughing.
"The great and powerful Trixie doesn't need rehearsals," Trixie said, approaching with a box in her hands.
"But you'll be with Snips and Snails," Starlight pointed out.
"Who are they?" Rarity asked.
"They're from Side A and they're Trixie's minions," Pinkie explained, still smiling.
"They're not minions, they just have a great admiration for Trixie and seem to be very interested in her," Starlight corrected.
"So they're simps," the seamstress concluded with a smile.
"Hmm... I couldn't have called it any better," Trixie said, nodding in approval.
"Speaking of the event, tomorrow is the girls' first game," Starlight said.
"I heard something, though I'm not a big fan of sports," Rarity said, remembering the whole month of getting complaints from the teacher. "But I'll see if I'll cheer."
"It's obviously not your thing," the gray-haired girl said with a giggle.
"Obviously we're going to cheer, well, I will," Pinkie said with her hands in the air.
They laughed a bit at classic Pinkie behavior and continued working together, making sure everything was ready.
The Wondercolts team stood on the university's indoor court, listening intently to their coach Spitfire's instructions.
"Listen carefully, Wondercolts," she began, holding a stick in her hand and pointing at the board. "There will be six universities facing off. In the first round there will be two matches: us, Team A, against Team B, and on the other side, Team D against Team E. The winners will advance to the second round, where they will face Team C and Team F, respectively."
All the players nodded seriously, following the explanation on the board.
"There is one advantage and I hope we don't have to go there, because the chances of advancing are slim," Spitfire replied, turning the board over to show another diagram. "If a team loses in the first round, they will have the chance to enter the losers' bracket. That is, the losing teams will face each other, and the winner of that round will return to the competition, facing the other losers until they reach the finals. But if they lose, they are definitely eliminated."
Some players showed signs of confusion.
"Let's say Team B loses, which is unlikely, and Team E loses as well. They will face each other, and the winner will advance to face the rest of the losers," Spitfire explained.
The students showed a variety of reactions, from nervousness to determination.
"Let's continue. The winner of the third match will face the winner of the fourth match, and that one will be waiting for the winner on the other side, thus reaching the finals. Does everyone understand?"
Someone raised their hand.
"What didn't you understand?" Spitfire asked.
"It's not something I didn't understand. Which universities will be there?" the student asked.
"Yeah, and he said that Team B was unlikely to lose," Lyra added.
"The schools are: Central University, Manhattan University, Baltimare, Fillydelphia, and the obvious one, Crystal Prep."
"Ha, you'll see those Shadowbolts when we face them," Rainbow said, fist bumping her other hand.
"Those Shadowbolts are tough, but this isn't the first time we've faced a challenge. If we play like we know how, we can beat them," Applejack said.
Sunset nodded. "Applejack's right. We've trained hard for this. We just need to stay calm and play as a team."
"This is the first time we've had this important competition, and they'll be there," Coach commented with a serious expression. "And tomorrow we'll face them first."
The news hit like a bucket of cold water, generating a wave of comments.
"You've got to be kidding."
"They're Team B?"
"I thought they'd be in the second match."
"I don't think I'm ready yet."
The farmer put a hand on the shoulder of one of her teammates. "Come on, girls. We've overcome obstacles before. We just need to focus and do our best."
"Remember, we're in this together. No matter what happens, let's support each other and go out and win," said Sunset.
"That's the spirit. We're going to wipe the floor with those Shadowbolts," said Rainbow determinedly.
With the explanation finished, the athlete stood in front of the board as the captain and began to give some strategies that could work against the Shadowbolts.
Several hours had already passed since morning in the classroom. Some students had already finished their studies and others were just arriving, like the younger ones who only had the first two morning shifts.
In a corner of the classroom, the students who would be part of the play were rehearsing their lines, holding their scripts and going over them with enthusiasm.
Flash, who was checking some notes on his guitar, occasionally glanced over at the group. Timber watched his friend, while Pinkie Pie, after helping other students, walked over to where they were sitting, watching intently.
Rarity was checking some designs of the stands, like the fabrics, and found herself lost in vague memories. She shook her head and sighed. Then, her gaze went to the nearest entrance, where she saw some students entering. She assumed it was the football team, recognizing the athlete, the farm girl, and the redhead. When the latter noticed her gaze, the dressmaker averted hers and walked away from that part.
Walking a little further, she saw a small group where the party girl was, watching the rehearsal of the play with curiosity. Upon arriving, she could see several students reading a sheet that would be their line, standing out among them Feather Bangs.
The boy, noticing her presence, smiled even more widely and decided to take advantage of the opportunity.
"Ah, my dear lady," Feather said, approaching Rarity with a theatrical air. "How can such a beautiful flower be found on this humble stage?"
Rarity arched an eyebrow, but couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Are you rehearsing your lines? Uh... Feather, right?"
Feather Bangs nodded, still looking at her. "Indeed, but I fear these lines do not do justice to the beauty I have before me."
The dressmaker rolled her eyes in amusement. "I see you are taking your role very seriously."
The boy took a step closer, lowering his voice. "You know, Rarity, I think you might be the muse that inspires my acting to another level."
Rarity laughed softly, though she was flattered. "Well, if you need inspiration, I'll be here to help with whatever it takes."
"That's all I need to know," said, winking at him before turning back to her rehearsal.
The dressmaker turned and began to walk away.
"Nice try, hunk," Timber commented.
"I'd give it a point in my favor," Feather added with a half-smile.
"If you say so," Flash concluded, laughing at the end.
The party girl looked at the boy and then back to where Rarity had gone. He stood up and followed her.
"I see someone has their eye on you," Pinkie said, catching up to Rarity and walking beside her.
"I'm not sure I want to be with anyone, Pinkie Pie."
"It could be a possibility, but..." the party girl hesitated a bit.
"But what?" asked, stopping.
Pinkie also stopped to answer. "He has a reputation for being flirtatious with all the girls and not settling on one," she said with a nervous smile.
"Well... I'm not too far from being like him," Rarity said and started walking again.
"That's what all... What? What do you mean by that?" the surprised party girl said, following her.
At the entrance, Rainbow, Sunset, and Applejack were heading over to where some students were organizing clubs. Rainbow approached Fluttershy, who was intently writing something on a piece of paper.
"Hey, Fluttershy, what's all the concentration?"
Fluttershy looked up, surprised by the interruption. "Ah... erm... Twilight and I were named as the hosts of the activities," she replied, searching for words cautiously.
"Wow! And how did you take it?" Rainbow asked, curious.
"A little surprised, just like Twilight," she replied.
Rainbow nodded, pondering the news. "Well, I'm sure they're going to do a great job. Though I imagine you'd rather be more in the shadows, wouldn't you?"
Fluttershy nodded shyly. "Yeah, I'm not used to being in the spotlight."
"I understand, but I'm sure you'll adjust quickly. If you need any help getting ready or practicing, I'm here," the athlete offered, smiling kindly and putting her hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Thank you, Rainbow," Fluttershy replied, grateful for the offer of support and noticing the pink-haired girl's hand.
"Sorry," she said, pulling her hand away. "It's okay," Fluttershy replied, smiling slightly.
Some nearby students began to murmur amongst themselves, showing confusion.
"It wasn't intentional, but it was progress," Rainbow said with a half-smile as she noticed the curious glances.
"Yeah, it seems like showing that everything is going well, like Twilight said, is going to work," the pink-haired girl added.
"But this was natural, nothing acted," she added, still wearing her half-smile. "I was thinking, how about... every other day?" she said, changing the subject.
"Every other day?"
"Yeah, apparently you're going to be a little busy introducing the activities and I'll be busy with the game. I could make some time to play," Rainbow said with hidden nerves.
"Do you want to play with me in the outdoor activity?" asked again.
"If you want, of course. If you don't want to, that's fine," replied scratching her head.
Fluttershy smiled. "No, that's fine, Rainbow. I thought you'd be with AJ this time, since they didn't participate together last year."
"Well, she was focused on the woodworking club before she quit and didn't have time for me, but I don't mind," Rainbow said.
"I understand. Sometimes it's hard to find time for everything," Fluttershy said.
"Yeah. I'm sure she won't mind me participating with you," the sporty girl said. "It's important to me that we can spend time together, even if it's just a little at a time."
"I'm glad you see it that way," the pink-haired girl nodded.
"So, what do you say? Do we sign up for the sack race? Or could we try the three-legged one?" she suggested, smiling at her.
"That sounds fun. I'd like to try it," Fluttershy said, smiling back. "The sack one," clarified.
"Cool. It'll be like old times, when we competed in camp activities," Rainbow said excitedly.
"Yeah, though I hope you're not too competitive."
"Mmm..." Rainbow said thoughtfully. Her friend looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Just kidding, I promise not to be. This time, it's all about having fun."
Twilight approached them with a list in hand. "Hey, girls. How's everything going?" asked.
"Hey, Twilight. Everything's going well. Rainbow and I were just talking about signing up for the sack race," she replied.
"That sounds great! I'm sure you'll make a great team," Twilight said with a smile. "We could cover for you in that game."
"Thanks. I'll do the same if you participate in any games," Fluttershy said. "Hey, Twi, are you signing up too?" Rainbow asked.
"I'm not sure yet. I have to make sure I have all the activities set up first," Twilight said, looking at her tablet with paper.
Rainbow rolled her eyes. Classic glasses girl, even though the introduction might be a bit minimal, she'd still prepare for anything.
"I'll follow you later so we're coordinated," the pink-haired girl said.
"Perfect, see you later," Twilight said.
With a smile, the glasses girl waved goodbye to the girls and walked past them until she reached her booth, where Starlight would be.
"Looks like you finished early," Twilight said, looking at the finished stand.
"Yeah, I had help," Starlight replied.
"From Pinkie, right?" the blue-haired girl deduced, laughing at the end.
"From Rarity, too," Starlight said.
"Oh, that's... good," Twilight replied, a little surprised.
Starlight nodded with an understanding smile. "Yeah, Rarity offered to help, and it was pretty helpful."
The blue-haired girl adjusted her glasses thoughtfully. "Well, I guess it's a good thing she's actively participating."
"Yeah, definitely," commented, showing a slight support for the seamstress.
Twilight nodded, trying to keep a neutral attitude. "And she didn't say something like 'I can't help right now, my nail polish is too fresh'?"
"No, nothing like that. I know she seems like a typical diva, but I don't think she's always paying attention to her nails."
"Not just that," Twilight muttered.
"What?" Starlight asked, although she did hear her.
"Nothing," the blue-haired girl said, clearing her throat.
Starlight stared at her in silence for a moment. "You know, Twilight? Sometimes when we're in a bad mood, we tend to get carried away by first impressions without considering the positives behind them."
Twilight was struck by the comment. "Why do you say that?" asked.
"It's something you should look into," replied.
The blue-haired girl thought for a moment before nodding. "Let's hope everything stays in order during the event. We don't need any more complications."
Starlight nodded again. "I'm sure everything will go well. The girls have been working to make sure it does."
With a nod of agreement, Twilight prepared to go over some more details of the event.
Elsewhere in the room the hyperactive girl continued to insist a little more, keeping pace with the dressmaker as they walked.
"Tell me," Pinkie pressed, with her characteristic persistence.
"No."
"Please tell me," she softened her voice.
Rarity paused briefly and looked at the resigned party girl. "It's not like I have much to tell, really. I've just had a few experiences that might have given that impression," explained, choosing her words carefully.
"Experiences that might have given that impression?" the party girl muttered as she thought back to something. "But isn't that similar to before you dated...?" she asked, trying to fill in the blanks.
Rarity nodded slightly. "Yeah, sort of. It's not like I was like Feather exactly," she admitted truthfully. The party girl got the message and let out an 'ohhh'.
"I understand. Do you mind if I ask you more about it?"
The seamstress pondered for a moment before replying with a slight smile. "I don't mind, Pinkie Pie, but I'd rather not go into too much detail right now. I'm trying to focus on other things right now."
"Sure, I completely understand!" She exclaimed, her expression changing into a bright smile. “We can talk about anything else that interests you! Have you seen the new styles that are circulating online? They are amazing!”
Rarity laughed softly at Pinkie’s sudden change of topic. “Oh, yes! I’ve been following some recent trends,” replied, grateful for the change of focus.
Together, Rarity and Pinkie continued on their way, aware of the curious glances of some students around them who were simply watching the five girls.
"Yeah," the farm girl said to herself, watching the party girl across the room with the dressmaker. "I'll talk to her today."
"What are you talking about?" Caramel asked, confused, standing next to the booth.
"Oh, nothing important," Sunset said, approaching with a smile. "Tomorrow is the game and she's always there to cheer, she'll have to wear the right team colors."
"Sure, that's what I meant," the farm girl said, nodding quickly.
"Okay," the boy said, not quite sure of the answer.
"What were you going to ask me?" the blonde asked Caramel, with whom she had been talking about what the woodworking club where she used to be in the previous years would show. However, she stopped since she was in her last year and didn't want to be swamped with work.
"Oh, yeah, I was saying if we could use one of your works as an example," Caramel said.
"No problem," Applejack replied, smiling. "Which one did you have in mind?"
"I was thinking about that wooden bench you made last year. It's sturdy and well made, and I think it would be a good example of what can be achieved with dedication and skill," he explained, excited.
"Yeah, that sounds perfect to me. It's still at home, so I can bring it over early tomorrow," he assured.
"Thanks, Applejack. It'll be a great help in showing the new members what they can accomplish," Caramel said, relieved and grateful.
"You're welcome. It's always a pleasure to help the club," the farmer said, patting Caramel on the shoulder before she headed off to another group of students.
The red-haired girl waited for her to get far enough away to speak. "Did you see it?"
"Yeah," Applejack replied. "I'll talk to her and tell her what happened tomorrow."
"Okay, you tell us tomorrow, but... leave it for after the game, we don't want to get distracted," Sunset said.
Applejack nodded. "I was just thinking about that. Whether it's bad or good, I'll tell you after the game."
Sunset nodded. With the conversation over, the two of them started walking towards their friends.
Elsewhere, the younger ones were making banners for either the stands or the game. The Crusaders, Spike and Ember were doing just that.
"How about 'Go Wondercolts'?" Apple Bloom said, raising her paintbrush excitedly.
"How about 'Go Rainbow'?" Scootaloo suggested, with an enthusiastic smile.
"How about 'Go Losers'?" Diamond Tiara said, sitting idly while her friend Silver Spoon worked on her own banner.
"Do you forget that we Wondercolts are all of us and if we lose that includes you?" Ember said, looking at Diamond Tiara with a raised eyebrow.
Diamond Tiara stopped looking at them, not acknowledging her mistake and looking away.
The Crusaders laughed for a moment and then continued working on their banners.
"A dab here and a dab there," Spike said as he painted a piece of cloth with a paintbrush. "There you go. Could you tell Rarity what this is?" he asked, holding up a piece of cloth.
"So you could pick it up with a stick. That's a good idea," Sweetie Belle commented, looking at the cloth closely.
"Is something wrong?" Spike asked.
Sweetie Belle shrugged. "No, nothing. I was just... checking to see if it's small enough."
"Should I use a bigger cloth?"
"No," she said, somewhat alarmed.
A few students around her looked at her.
"Are you okay, Sweetie?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Sweetie Belle said, clearing her throat in embarrassment at drawing attention to herself. "Small is perfect," she added slyly.
Spike, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom looked at each other. They decided not to continue the conversation and continued working on their banners, each contributing their ideas and creativity.
After a half-exhausting day decorating everything for tomorrow and the rest of the week, Applejack, as on other occasions, took her cousin back to her house. Upon arriving, she stopped the truck, but first she wanted to talk to her relative about something.
"Pinkie, I let a few days go by so I could talk," began.
"About what?" Pinkie asked, pretending she didn't understand, although she knew exactly what she was going to talk to her about.
"Come on, Pinkie, about the fact that you started talking to Belle."
"Do you know she has a name?"
Applejack raised an eyebrow, a little annoyed by Pinkie's attitude. After a moment of silence, the farmer continued.
"Pinkie..."
"I'm just following my hunch."
"Hunch..." said the blonde thoughtfully. "By that, do you mean give her another chance? But..."
"But what?" Pinkie asked, interrupting her.
"It's not that easy for all of us after what happened," Applejack said.
"I know, AJ, but I think everyone deserves a second chance," the party girl said.
The farm girl was silent about that comment.
"Should I have asked before?"
"Not that you have to ask permission, but you should consider how we feel about Belle," Applejack said.
"I know you guys would feel uncomfortable, you've shown it many times by not wanting to talk, and especially you, AJ, since she was your..."
"Pinkie... no," the blonde said with a frown stopping her from finishing. "I just... you know I'm still mad, not just me, the others too, and I can't imagine..."
"You're going to be mad about that? About me getting close to Ra... to Belle?" the party girl asked, rolling her eyes at the last bit.
"I might get mad. I won't lie to you," replied.
"But you won't, right? You know why? Because we're Apples at heart, remember?" Pinkie said.
The farm girl sighed, looking at her cousin with a mix of frustration and understanding.
"Look, I'm not going to tell you who you can or can't get close to. I just... I don't want to see you hurt again."
Pinkie nodded, smiling softly. "I know, AJ. And I appreciate that you care. Just give me this chance and you'll see."
Applejack was silent for a moment before nodding slowly.
"Okay... Just be careful, okay?"
"I promise."
After that, Pinkie got out of the truck and headed to her front door.
House of the Belles  
Rarity made her way to her sister's room. She entered softly, finding Sweetie Belle engrossed in some drawing on her desk.
"Are you excited about tomorrow's event?" Rarity asked, with a smile.
Sweetie Belle stopped drawing and looked at her older sister with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Yes, I'm excited. But... I was also thinking about something."
The seamstress frowned slightly, wondering what could be going through her younger sister's mind. "What were you thinking, dear?"
The younger one bit her lower lip, undecided for a moment. Then, she decided to approach the subject carefully. "Well... about the banners we made today. I thought it would be great if... if you could sew ours."
Rarity was momentarily speechless, surprised by the request. Sweetie Belle noticed her sister's reaction, she added, "But don't worry, he's small, so it will be easier for you." She stood up and went to a bag on her bed, taking out the fabric.
Looking at the fabric, Rarity noticed that she wouldn't need a sewing kit, just a needle. "It won't take much work," she said with a smile, walking over and taking the fabric.
Sweetie Belle smiled sweetly at her. "I had to suggest it discreetly."
"Thank you, Sweetie," Rarity said, grateful for her understanding. "What do you want me to do?"
"Spike had the idea to put two sticks so I could hold it up," explained.
"Do you have the sticks?" asked.
"I asked Mom and Dad to get them, they should be here soon," Sweetie Belle said.
"I'll wait for them downstairs then," the seamstress said, carefully folding the fabric and leaving her sister's room.
Sweetie Belle followed her and they both walked down the stairs to the living room. They waited a few minutes until their parents arrived, whom they greeted. Sweetie Belle asked for the sticks and Rarity set about her task.
Wednesday. Everyone was in the main hall, as the long-awaited welcome event was starting today, and no students had classes.
The atmosphere was full of excitement and anticipation. Students filled the main hall, chatting animatedly as they waited for the day's activities to begin. The main hall was decorated with colorful banners and balloons that reflected the festive spirit of the event. The stands of the different clubs were lined up along the walls, each prepared to show their best.
Celestia and Luna, who were on one side of the stage, gave a nod to the two students they chose who were on the other side of the stage. Both Twilight and Fluttershy sighed in relaxation.
"Ready?" Twilight asked.
"So-so, and you?" Fluttershy said.
"Well, we just have to be confident," Twilight said. The pink-haired girl nodded.
The two walked over and stood in the center of the stage, raising their microphones.
"Welcome everyone to the welcome event!" Twilight began, drawing the students' attention. "We're very excited to have you here and we hope you enjoy all the activities we've prepared for you."
"Yes, we hope you have a lot of fun. We have lots of exciting activities, from exhibitions and plays to games, among other things," Fluttershy continued with a shy smile.
"First we'll start with the club booths to learn about the different opportunities our university offers," Twilight continued.
"And we'll end the day with the first ever women's soccer match," Fluttershy finished.
The students began to disperse, exploring the different booths and talking to the club members.
The group of friends waited for the two girls to get off the stage.
"They didn't do too bad," Applejack said with a smile.
"In the end, my help wasn't necessary, but my support was enough," Rainbow said.
"Yeah, Twilight and I got together and helped each other out," Fluttershy said.
"I knew you had the confidence," Rainbow said with a half smile. "I'll leave you two, I promised AJ I'd go with her to see the explosions," she said, stepping forward.
"See you later, girls," the farmer said before walking away and catching up with the multicolored haired girl.
"Looks like their relationship is moving forward, did we miss something?" Sunset said, looking at the pink-haired girl.
"It's true, I noticed it yesterday but I didn't ask," Twilight said, looking at her as well.
"She surprised me at the animal shelter on Monday. I was going to stay home, but I wanted to go hang out and found her there," Fluttershy explained.
"Oh, is that what the call was about?" Sunset muttered thoughtfully.
"Did you say something?" the pink-haired girl asked.
"Nothing important. And what happened?" the red-haired girl said.
She wasn't going to reveal to her shy friend that Rainbow called her to find out if she was still part of taking care of the animals at the shelter, which surprised her since she had kind of ignored the pink-haired girl hours before.
"She had an argument with Discord and then we both talked honestly, clearing some things up," she said. "Then we took my little friends out for a walk."
"Did she meet Discord?" Twilight asked curiously.
"How did she take his humor?" Sunset asked with a laugh.
"Mmm... as expected from Dash," Fluttershy said. "She was close to throwing words at him if I hadn't intervened."
"Classic of her," Pinkie said from beside the redhead.
"Then they talked, you said," Sunset said.
"Yeah, she explained to me why he acted a little... distant."
"Did he act distant with you?" asked the party girl, a little thoughtful, remembering that that's the attitude the dressmaker is acting with to avoid much conflict with the girls.
"Yeah, but she already clarified it and also after something happened when we walked the dogs, I told her why I sat at another table the day before."
"As Applejack says, talking honestly always works," Twilight said.
"It's true," Pinkie said with a smile. "It helps a lot to understand people."
The girls were a little curious about those words.
"Are we going to see the exhibits?" asked Sunset so as not to be left silent.
"Speaking of exhibits, Starlight should be waiting for me with the rest of the members of the science club," the blue-haired girl said as she walked away.
"Well, there are three of us," Pinkie said cheerfully, looking at the two, who smiled back at her.
Up ahead, Applejack was with Rainbow exploring the clubs. Despite not having any interest in signing up for another club since they had enough with soccer, they wanted to see what new things the clubs had for new students.
"Do we really have to go through all of them?" Rainbow asked, grimacing as they passed the chess club.
"Just a couple more, Dash. I promise it won't take you long," Applejack replied.
They arrived at the Robotics club, where Micro Chips, along with his older classmates and some underage students, were exhibiting.
"Welcome to the Robotics club!" Micro Chips exclaimed excitedly. "Today we have a special exhibit that showcases the collaboration between our older and younger students. They've worked together to build these amazing robots."
Applejack and Rainbow walked over, curious. A group of younger students were showing off a simple robot that could follow lines on the ground.
"This is our first project," one of the younger students explained. "The older students helped us learn how to program and assemble it."
"That's impressive," Applejack commented, watching the robot in action. "And what are the older students showing off?"
Micro Chips pointed to a more complex robot that was being controlled remotely. "This is an advanced project the older students have been working on. It can perform tasks like picking up objects and navigating around obstacles."
The jock, though not all that interested in robotics, couldn't help but be impressed. "Well, that's pretty cool," admitted, watching the robots move with precision.
"Thanks," Micro Chips replied, smiling. "We're very proud of what we've accomplished together. And we hope more students will join us as we continue to explore the world of robotics."
The farmer nodded. "It's definitely something worth seeing. Let's move on, Dash, we still have a few clubs left to visit."
Rainbow sighed. "Okay, AJ, but just a few more."
They walked a little further, coming across the Art Club booth, where students were admiring paintings, sculptures, and drawings while the artists explained their inspirations and techniques.
Applejack recognized a sculpture and let out a laugh.
"What?" Rainbow asked.
"See that sculpture?" she said pointing. "That's the one I made with Belle."
"Did they end up doing it?" she asked with a mix of indifference and curiosity.
"Yeah, although we didn't make much progress at first because we argued."
"What a surprise," Rainbow said sarcastically.
"But we were able to finish it with certain rules," Applejack explained. Her partner nodded.
The farmer looked at the sculpture again before turning around and noticed Rarity coming out of the same group of people.
"When was she here?" she wondered, frowning slightly.
"Shall we go?" the sportswoman said, starting to walk. Applejack, still confused, followed her.
Twilight, meanwhile, was at the Science Club booth, with a table set up with laboratory equipment to demonstrate fascinating biochemistry experiments.
"Welcome to the Science Club!" the blue-haired girl said excitedly to a group of students of various ages. "Today we'll show you some interesting chemical reactions and how biochemistry can be fun."
Beside her, Starlight Glimmer, holding a neuroscience project, greeted the students. "We'll also give you a look at how we study the brain."
Twilight poured a hydrogen peroxide solution into a flask, adding liquid detergent and potassium iodide. Immediately, a thick foam formed, causing amazement among the students. "This is called 'elephant toothpaste.' It's a decomposition reaction that produces oxygen gas and creates this impressive foam."
Starlight explained how chemical reactions in the brain affect our behavior. She showed a model of the brain, pointing out areas responsible for functions like memory and emotions.
Twilight showed a three-dimensional model of DNA and explained its structure and how it relates to biochemistry. She used a microscope to show stained cells, allowing the students to see details at the molecular level.
The younger students helped explain basic concepts, while the older ones took care of the more complex demonstrations.
While the blue-haired girl was writing the names of those who were going to join on a tablet, she could see out of the corner of her eye a certain seamstress who was in the crowd. She met her gaze for a moment, but it seemed that the latter did not notice, since she had turned around to go to the next booth, where she knew the seamstress would sign up.
Rarity walked towards the next booth, but she did not expect to find the Sewing Club, which she had once been part of when she was on Side A. A group of students was admiring the creations. She hesitated for a moment and approached, but before she arrived she was interrupted by a group of younger students.
"Hello, Rarity!" her sister greeted enthusiastically, accompanied by Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Spike.
"Hello, girls! Oh, Spike, Scootaloo, how have you been?" said the seamstress, surprised to see them after so long.
"Fine," Scootaloo replied with a smile.
"What do you think, Rarity? Did I grow up a little?" Spike joked, slowly turning around.
"Yeah, everyone's had their respective developments, but are you still the Spike Wikey I knew?" She replied with a smile.
"No more Spike Wikey," he protested, crossing his arms. "I'm all grown up now."
The younger girls giggled a little, and the seamstress could barely contain a laugh. Then, her gaze shifted to Scootaloo.
"Umm... Scoot, I mean, Scootaloo, about your sister..." Rarity began a little nervously.
"Relax, Rarity. Rainbow may not be completely over it yet, but we've been able to forgive and understand," Scootaloo said with a reassuring smile.
"We have our point of view on how things happened," Apple Bloom said.
"Really?" Rarity asked, surprised. The others nodded, except for Sweetie Belle.
"So what's your take on what happened?" the seamstress asked curiously.
"Uhh... I think we'll just leave it at intrigue," the magenta-haired girl said, somewhat nervous.
"Mmm, okay. For their age, they're very understanding," Rarity commented with a giggle.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Scootaloo replied proudly.
"Are there any clubs that interest you, Rarity?" Apple Bloom asked, changing the subject.
"Some are interesting, but I don't think I'll join any," the seamstress replied.
"You're like my sister in that way," Apple Bloom chimed in. "She dropped out of carpentry this year, since it's her senior year, plus she has a lot of work at home," she explained.
"I think I understand her a little," Rarity said with a smile. "I'll leave you to continue having fun, but don't get into any mischief," he said before walking away in the opposite direction he had been heading.
After watching Rarity walk away, the four friends noticed that before they interrupted the seamstress, she had headed towards the Sewing Club booth.
"Do you think Rarity will join the club?" Spike asked, pointing towards where the club leader was signing up new members.
"I think so," Apple Bloom replied with a thoughtful smile. "She's always had a natural talent for fashion, and being in that club could be perfect for her."
Scootaloo nodded, looking over to where Rarity had disappeared into the crowd. "It's possible. Rarity loves creating and designing. I wouldn't be surprised if she decides to join."
As they discussed the possibilities, Sweetie Belle made a few comments and then discreetly broke away from the group to follow her older sister through the bustle. She wanted to make sure Rarity was okay regarding one particular issue.
The other three continued exploring the different clubs, moving from the Sewing Club to others such as the Carpentry Club, to the one for the works that would show off their talents in the future. They arrived at the last Music Club, where some talented students were playing various instruments.
Flash who was leading the presentation was almost finishing his speech when they arrived.
"Now you will hear our cellist, Octavia Melody," Flash announced.
"Thank you, Flash. Now enjoy," Octavia said, sitting down and positioning her hands to begin playing. The sound of the violin, capturing the attention of everyone present.
"Finally, you will now hear Vinyl, who will show you different sound mixes," Flash said.
Vinyl began to move her hands on the records, back and forth, following the track. The girl with headphones continued to enjoy the mix, but she became so immersed in it that she began to make other more complex mixes.
Some students were surprised by the sound, exchanging looks of amazement.
Flash and the other members smiled a little nervously and glanced at the cellist, making a hint.
"Vinyl," Octavia called to her friend in a low voice.
But the girl was still in her own world.
"Vinyl!"
Once she reacted, she surreptitiously made one last mix to finish.
"Well, that was exciting. Our DJ always surprises us," Flash said with a laugh.
The girl with headphones gave her thumbs up, smiling.
The students clapped excitedly and more information on how to join the club.
"If you want to know more, don't hesitate to come over. We're here to help you find your sound," Flash added.
"Vinyl never disappoints!" the girls listened to Pinkie with their characteristic enthusiasm.
"Pinkie..." Spike called her with a slight smile.
"Oh, Crusader or semi Crusader and Spike," Pinkie joked.
"Did you enjoy the show?" Sunset asked, addressing the group.
"Yeah, I can't wait to see what they bring us next week," Apple Bloom said excitedly.
"We'll see what she's up to again," Fluttershy added with a smile.
Sunset looked at the watch on her wrist and realized that time had flown by. "We're running late. The first game is coming up soon," she commented. "See you later," she said before leaving.
"I have to find Twilight to tell the students," Fluttershy said, a little nervous about having to get the students' attention.
Spike nodded. "I'm going to go find Sweetie Belle by the pool. See you later, girls."
"And that leaves us with three people again," Pinkie said with a smile to the two youngest.
They smiled back at her and she suggested they find the others to go to the court.
A few minutes had passed and Fluttershy and Twilight had already informed the students to head to the outside court for the match between the Wondercolts and the Shadowbolts. The teams were ready on the field, just waiting for the referee
The Wondercolts wore their simple yet elegant uniforms, consisting of a deep blue shirt with thin yellow lines on the top of the sleeves and the sides of the torso. Blue shorts with a yellow line on the side, and socks, also blue, with small yellow details. Completing the outfit, each player wore their respective soccer cleats.
The Shadowbolts wore a shirt that was a deep purple, with a black lightning bolt pattern crossing diagonally from the shoulder to the opposite edge. The shorts, completely black, and the purple socks, with black details. Completed by black soccer cleats with purple laces.
"So you are the damn Wondercolts," Sour Sweet said approaching with two other girls.
"Have you heard of us?" Sunset said.
"Enough to know that you will lose," Indigo Zap, the team captain, replied with a smug smile.
Rainbow was about to approach, but Applejack stopped her. "Dash, she's just provoking you. We'll show them who we are when the game starts," she said, putting a hand on the multicolored girl's shoulder.
"Let's see if they can score any goals against me," Sugarcoat challenged. Applejack frowned.
In the stands, several students anxiously awaited the start of the match.
"I don't understand how the Shadowbolts can participate if they're not from a university," Flash wondered with some pennants in his hands.
"Even though Crystal Prep is a college, they teach many advanced subjects that allow them to participate in the university catalog," Twilight began to explain. "They prepare students for high-level academic and athletic challenges. It's a form of comprehensive preparation that transcends the typical limits of a high school."
"Wow, that sounds interesting! It must be exciting to study in a place like that," Sweetie Belle commented alongside the Crusaders.
"Wow," Flash exclaimed.
"Who would have thought? If you hadn't changed, you might still be there," Spike joked as he unrolled the banner.
"Well, at least you can cheer from the stands now," Fluttershy said.
"Girls, pay attention, it looks like it's about to start," Pinkie said, drawing attention.
Sure enough, they watched as the referee approached the field, placing the ball in the center and letting both teams decide who would start the first pass. Once decided, the referee blew his whistle, starting the game.
Not all of the students were in the stands. Some weren't interested in football and preferred to stay inside doing other activities. In the great hall, there were still a few students at the club booths, like Rarity, who decided to stay inside. The seamstress walked around the hall, looking at what she had missed before parting ways with the younger students and letting her sister catch up with her.
As she walked, Rarity stopped near the Sewing Club booth. The booth was adorned with samples of recent work, fabrics of various colors and patterns, and a mannequin dressed in an impressive design.
"Would you like to join the club?" one of the Sewing Club members asked her, noticing her interest.
Rarity smiled, but shook her head. "Oh, I'd love to, but I'm a little busy this semester with my studies and other commitments," she explained in a soft voice. "Maybe later."
The member nodded understandingly. "I understand, we're always here if you change your mind."
"Thank you," replied with a smile, and continued walking, but as she walked away, the smile faded into a sad expression.
She continued walking until she received a call and noticed that it was her mom, so she answered.
Time had passed. The tension on the court was palpable. The Wondercolts and Shadowbolts were tied, both teams giving their all in the little time left of the match. The stands were filled with students cheering on their teams, and the noise was deafening.
"Go Rainbow!" shouted Scootaloo.
"You can do it, Applejack!" shouted Applebloom.
"You can do it!" shouted Sweetie Belle.
"Go team!" shouted Pinkie, waving her pom-poms.
On the court, Rainbow ran with the ball at her feet while dodging the Shadowbolts' defenders.
"Go Rainbow, you can do it!" shouted Sunset, supporting her in the attack.
The multicolored girl advanced quickly, approaching the goal. Just as she was about to shoot, Indigo appeared out of nowhere and snatched the ball from her with a flawless slide.
"Damn it!" Rainbow exclaimed, frustrated, as she quickly got up to chase after Indigo.
"Let's see if you can catch me," Indigo taunted.
Indigo passed the ball to Sour Sweet, who ran towards the Wonderbolts' goal. Time was running out, and both teams were at the end of their rope.
"Don't let her get through!" Applejack shouted, running to intercept her.
Sour dodged Applejack with a nimble spin. Gilda was reaching for the girl to tackle her, managing to steal the ball and quickly passing it to Lyra, who was in a favorable position to advance.
"Come on, Lyra!" Sunset shouted as she approached.
Lyra advanced with the ball, but the Shadowbolts' defenders were in her way. With a quick pass, she sent the ball to Sunset, who had advanced to midfield. Sunset wasted no time and passed the ball to Rainbow, who was in a perfect position to attack. The multicolored one shot with all her might, but the goalkeeper, Sugarcoat, made a stunning save, deflecting the ball with her fingertips.
The ball bounced and landed near Indigo, who quickly began a counterattack. The Wondercolts desperately fell back to defend their goal. Indigo passed the ball to Sour, who quickly moved towards the goal. With one last effort, Sour sent the ball to Sugarcoat, who was in a perfect position. With precision, she shot the ball hard towards the goal. The goalkeeper, Bon Bon, jumped to stop it, but the ball went right over her fingers and into the net.
The final whistle blew right after the goal, and the scoreboard showed the painful reality: Shadowbolts 2, Wondercolts 1.
The Shadowbolts players celebrated in jubilation, while the Wondercolts collapsed on the ground, exhausted and disheartened.
"No way," Scootaloo said, sitting sadly with her hands on her head.
"Just needed a little more time," Apple Bloom said.
Pinkie's hair seemed to deflate a little at the result.
"They've been training hard," Fluttershy said, worried about how Rainbow would feel.
"Looks like it wasn't enough... sorry, I didn't mean to sound that way," Twilight said.
"How about we go and cheer them up," Pinkie suggested in a sad voice.
"We're going too," Scootaloo said, coming down from the stands with the Crusaders and Spike.
Back on the court, Applejack slowly stood up, breathing heavily. She walked over to Rainbow and Sunset, who were also dejected.
"We gave it our all," Applejack said, trying to lift her team's spirits. "It wasn't... it wasn't our day, but we'll get another chance."
Sunset Shimmer nodded, though she still seemed shaken by the loss. "Yeah, we have to keep our heads up and prepare for the losers' bracket. We can still do it."
Rainbow looked at her friends and the rest of her team, nodding as she tried to hide her frustration. The Wondercolts began to walk to where the rest of the students were waiting for them.
Some students left the court and entered the school, saddened by the result, and a few stayed behind to try to cheer the girls on.
When the Wondercolts got close enough, the group of friends and their sisters approached the multicolored girl.
"Rainbow, how..." Pinkie was going to say, but the multicolored girl walked past, leaving the court in the direction of who knows where. The party girl lowered her head, saddened, heading for the stands.
"I don't think it's right," Scootaloo said, her head downcast.
The team was discouraged.
"Where did Dash go?" the coach asked.
"We don't know," Gilda said, hiding her frustration.
"How could they not know and you..." Spitfire was going to say, somewhat disappointed, but she knew that would make the team feel worse. She sighed to speak again. "You'll be lucky in recovering," she said, moving away a little to give the Wonderbolts some room.
"That's true, we will," Applejack said with a smile looking at the team. "Don't be discouraged."
"But it seems that Rainbow didn't take it well," Fluttershy said.
"I think we should leave her alone for a bit to digest it," Sunset said understandingly.
She then looked at the rest of the team, who despite the encouraging words, didn't seem to be enough to lift their spirits. She knew that if their captain wasn't okay, the players wouldn't be either, so it was necessary for Rainbow to at least process her frustration.
The Crusaders stood to the side, near the stands, looking at the team's couple, Bon Bon and Lyra.
"I couldn't catch the ball," Bon Bon said through tears.
"Hey, calm down, love, you gave it your all," Lyra said, putting her hands on her girlfriend's shoulders. "We'll have a chance to recover."
Bon Bon nodded, covering her face a little, and Lyra hugged her, caressing her back. They stayed like that for a moment until Bon Bon seemed calmer.
"Are you better now?" Lyra asked with a smile. She nodded. "How about after we change, we go to the movies?"
"I'd like that," she said with a smile, and received a few kisses on her hands. The two held hands and walked over to the others.
The Crusaders stared at the scene, specifically the youngest Apple and Belle.
"I thought you've seen enough girls to be surprised by that," Pinkie said, approaching the younger girls, trying to hide how she felt from them.
"Did you feel it too?" Apple Bloom asked, leaning slightly towards the youngest Belle, ignoring the party girl.
"Yeah, she kinda looked like that," Sweetie Belle said.
"What are you talking about?" Scootaloo asked, looking for answers.
"Don't tell me you found out something by eavesdropping," Pinkie said, knowing how gossipy the Crusaders were or are.
"Sort of," Apple Bloom said.
"It was two things... or something like that."
Three Years Ago: Spring  
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were in Apple Bloom's room, chatting animatedly as they played with a puzzle they had found in the closet.
"Hey, Apple Bloom, what do you think we should do after this?" Sweetie Belle asked, placing a piece in its place.
"Mmm, I don't know. Maybe we can go out into the garden and play outside for a while?" Apple Bloom suggested, looking at the remaining puzzle pieces.
"That sounds fun! But first, can we get something to eat? My stomach is starting to growl," Sweetie Belle said with a smile.
"Haven't you been taught not to ask for things in someone's house?" Apple Bloom joked.
"Ahh..." Sweetie Belle didn't know what to say.
"Just kidding... I'm hungry too," Apple Bloom said.
They both got up from the floor, put away their materials, and left the room. They walked down the stairs with a quick step. When they got close to the kitchen, their sisters' voices echoed, with a peculiar tone that made them stop.
"What if... what if it happens again?" Rarity was heard, with a worried tone.
"Rarity, calm down... has she given you any sign?" asked Applejack, with uncertainty in her voice.
"No... but...", she answered, her voice broken by tears.
"What's going on?" asked Apple Bloom, looking at Sweetie Belle.
"I don't know, but I want to know what's wrong with my sister," said the youngest Belle, starting to walk towards the door, but Apple Bloom stopped her.
"Wait, let's keep listening," whispered Apple Bloom.
"But..."
The youngest Apple just made a sign of silence
"This is my fault... I got you into this mess," admitted Applejack.
"Applejack, this isn't your fault," Rarity tried to comfort her.
There were soft sighs between sobs.
"Anything, just tell me. But trust that if the problem persists, we'll solve it together," said Applejack, trying to keep her spirits up.
When they received no response from Rarity and noticed that the conversation wasn't continuing, they decided to go in to find out the reason for the peculiar conversation. When they both peeked through the door, they saw Applejack holding Rarity's hands and kissing them, which caused the dressmaker to giggle knowingly and also wiped away the last of her tears.
"I told you so..." Apple Bloom whispered to Sweetie Belle.
"What's that? By the way, your sister is very expressive with mine," said Sweetie Belle in a low voice.
"Come on, Sweetie Belle, it's obvious that they're together. Besides, my sister isn't like that with everyone," Apple Bloom replied, stopping her peek and looking at her friend.
"Well, that looked really suspicious, but it doesn't prove anything," Sweetie Belle muttered, looking back at her. Apple Bloom was about to say something when they heard another voice calling out to them.
"Sweetie Belle..."
"Apple Bloom..."
The two younger sisters looked up, meeting their sisters' gazes.
"What are you doing here?" Rarity asked.
"Is something wrong?" Applejack added.
"Ahhh...", the youngest Belle muttered.
"We were hungry and came down to get something," Apple Bloom replied quickly.
The four quickly headed to the kitchen. The older sisters began searching through the cupboards and the fridge, looking for something to eat.
"How about we make sandwiches?" Applejack suggested, taking out bread and some ingredients from the fridge.
"I'll go get something else to go with it," Rarity said as she searched the cupboards.
As they watched their older sisters prepare the food, Apple Bloom thought about how to show Sweetie Belle that Applejack and Rarity were together.
Once they finished making the sandwiches, the younger sisters left the kitchen, but an idea crossed Apple Bloom's mind.
"I was thinking we could watch a movie."
"A movie?" asked the farmer.
"Yeah, we haven't had a sisterly moment and I thought we could do it all four of us together," Apple Bloom explained.
"That's actually a good idea," said Rarity. "Well, if Jack... I mean, AJ is okay with it."
"Okay, let's go to the living room and pick out the movie," said Applejack.
The four of them started heading to the living room, but the younger ones walked a little slower.
"Hey, weren't we going to do something in the garden?" asked Sweetie Belle.
"It could be the perfect opportunity to show you that our sisters are together," Apple Bloom whispered in her friend's ear.
The youngest Belle thought about it for a moment. "Okay, what idea do you have in mind?"
"Look, here's the idea..." Apple Bloom began to whisper to her as they continued walking towards the living room.
The four of them settled in the living room and began to watch an animated movie they had chosen. Eventually, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, who were strategically placed on the couch, began to yawn and rub their eyes.
"I think these two are about to fall asleep," Applejack commented quietly, noticing the younger girls' sleepy signals.
The dressmaker nodded with a smile. "It seems so."
Applejack took advantage of the moment and leaned towards Rarity. "Are you feeling more relaxed now?" she whispered as she caressed the dressmaker's hand.
Rarity smiled and nodded. "Yes, much more. Thank you for being here with me."
They exchanged a few glances and leaned in for a quick kiss, believing the younger girls to be fast asleep.
However, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, pretending to sleep, had one eye half-open and watched the scene mischievously.
As the older girls separated, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shifted a bit on the couch as if they were slowly waking up, keeping their eyes half-closed. Rarity and Applejack exchanged an amused glance, neither mentioning anything about what had happened. They continued watching the movie as if nothing had happened, unaware that the girls had discovered their little secret.
"We heard the sobbing, but we ignored it because I was focused on proving the truth to a certain someone. As we mentioned, they didn't realize we were pretending," Apple Bloom said.
"And we decided to keep it a secret for the time being," Sweetie Belle added, smiling at the memory. "It was a little unexpected for me... to find out about Rarity."
"I told you my suspicions were right," Apple Bloom commented.
Sweetie Belle closed her eyes. "Yeah, you were right after all."
"You guys were always so naughty before," Pinkie said with a laugh.
"And you're always Pinkie," the youngest Apple said.
"Touché," the party girl said.
"Although I never understood why Rarity looked somewhere between scared and sad," Sweetie said. "Now that I think about it, it wasn't the only day I saw her like that."
"Maybe what it was," Pinkie said surreptitiously.
"You never knew?" Scootaloo asked curiously, looking at the party girl.
"Guys... as I recall, I was on a trip with my family for a few months, so I missed a lot of things," Pinkie explained, justifying the reason. "Maybe that's why I was sure that the thing with Rarity's family happened first, and then the other thing."
"Then it'll be an unsolved mystery," Spike concluded. The Crusaders nodded slowly. "Shall we go see if Rainbow arrived?" he proposed, waving his arm.
"Hopefully Dash feels better," Scootaloo added.
The four friends began to walk away. The party girl thought a bit about what the girls said; she knew almost everything about her family and found out later what happened.
Pinkie Pie had arrived with her family from the rock climbing excursion with her family. The Pies had the idea of going on a trip for the holidays and had heard about a new museum outside of town and wanted to take advantage of visiting the town as well as the museum, so they have been away for a month.
Once she arrived at the rented house, she saw that she had an incoming call from her cousin. She hasn't talked to her in these weeks.
The party girl answered and, with her cheerful voice, greeted: "Hey, Applejack!"
("Hello, Pinkie,") greeted the blonde on the other end, but Pinkie noticed something.
"What happened? Your voice doesn't sound cheerful," she said curiously.
("Some things have happened,") said Applejack, staying silent for a moment. ("Do you remember...")
Pinkie listened to what her cousin was saying on the other end and was surprised, remembering what they thought they left behind.
"Wow... I knew what it was like, but this is another level," the party girl said, sitting down on her couch.
("I couldn't believe it either," the blonde said, letting out a sigh. ("Now Rarity is going through this. I thought things were behind us.")
"She doesn't seem to understand," she said. "How did Rarity take this?"
("She doesn't blame me, but I didn't like seeing her like that.") she said in a voice that showed her frustration. ("She's calmer now, but I feel responsible.")
"AJ, how were you supposed to know?" the party girl said.
("Rarity said the same thing, she told me not to feel responsible.")
"Then don't keep thinking like that," Pinkie said. "I wish I could have been there for you."
("She would have needed your enthusiasm, but don't worry, I was able to comfort her and reassure her.")
"Good, you see, at least you were there for her, so you shouldn't feel that way," Pinkie said with a smile. "I don't want to throw salt in the water, but is everything settled now?"
("Yeah, we did... nothing's happened these days.") Applejack said in a calmer tone.
"I'm glad to hear that," she replied. "It's nice that you're supporting her, AJ. You know you can always count on me for whatever you need."
("Thanks, Pinkie. I really appreciate that. I get a little overwhelmed sometimes, but knowing that I have you and the Apples gives me strength.")
"That's what cousins are for! When I get back we could go to another party or host," Pinkie suggested excitedly.
She heard the farmer laugh a little at the jokes. ("That sounds great. I think we need a little distraction.")
"Perfect! And remember, anything, just call me," Pinkie said.
("I will. Thanks again, Pinkie. See you soon," Applejack said goodbye.
"Bye, AJ! Take care," she replied before hanging up the call.
Present  
"From what AJ said, Rarity had a hard time for a while. Fortunately, that's in the past... like many things," Pinkie thought, coming out of that memory. "Dash?" she heard Gilda say in surprise. Pinkie went to the rest to see what was happening and if she could cheer up the rainbow-haired girl.
Upon meeting the rest, she didn't expect to see her athletic friend drenched from head to toe with her shoes in hand. Everyone, either the team or some spectators who hadn't left, formed a semicircle around the captain of the Wondercolts.
"Where did you go?" asked Twilight, worried. "And why are you soaked?"
"I just needed to cool off a bit to think," said grumpily.
"And... did it work?" asked the blue-haired girl.
"What do you think?"
Before she could respond, the athlete opened her mouth.
"I feel like a loser."
The farmer approached her partner, trying to find the right words. "Sometimes you win, sometimes you..."
"Don't come at me with your sincerity," said Rainbow.
"I'm being realistic. You don't always win, but we can win when we're in the loser's bracket," said Applejack with a smile.
"Oh, AJ," murmured Twilight. Others shook their heads at her poor choice of words.
"Seriously? The idea was for us to be the winners and not move to the losers," complained Rainbow, raising her voice.
"Just... we'll get through this round," said the farmer.
"Another good choice," said sarcastically.
"Hey, I'm just trying to cheer you up," said Applejack.
"Good job," said Rainbow, turning around.
The farmer looked at the girls. Sunset was going to approach, but someone else beat her to it.
"Rainbow."
"What!" exclaimed angrily, but apologized when she saw who spoke to her. "Uh, sorry..." she said, trying to calm down.
The pink-haired girl approached a bit. "I know you don't feel good right now, but try to look past what happened and think about how you'll feel when you get to the finals and win," she said, keeping her voice calm and comforting.
Rainbow thought for a moment about what was said. "Doesn't sound bad... we'd look like champions," she said, changing her expression as she imagined the future scene. A spark of determination began to shine in her eyes.
"Then keep that thought," said Fluttershy with an encouraging smile.
The athlete nodded several times. "We won't stay like this," she said, determined, looking at her team. "We're Wondercolts! We don't give up."
"Exactly!" exclaimed Gilda enthusiastically. "We'll beat those Shadowbolts in the final!"
"Yeah!" responded the rest of the team, feeling the resurgence of hope and determination.
"That's the spirit, Wondercolts," said the coach, and they all looked at her seriously. "Now go take a shower, you stink."
"Yeah!" they said again, leaving the field.
"That was a great idea," Twilight said to her shy friend.
"Filler her pride," Sunset said with a smile.
"Well done, Fluttershy, I don't know why that didn't occur to me," Applejack said.
"Thanks, girls," Fluttershy said.
"It takes a lot of determination to stay calm in times like this," Sunset commented, looking at the pink-haired girl.
The farm girl sighed, still feeling a little frustrated by how Rainbow had reacted to her. "I should have found better words... but I appreciate that you knew what to say."
Pinkie looked at the farm girl and gave her a friendly little push on the shoulder. "Don't worry, AJ. We all make mistakes."
"Exactly," the red-haired girl added. "Rainbow will understand."
Applejack smiled slightly.
Spike added with a smile, "Sometimes, a few words of encouragement and a nice bath are all we need."
"You should go take a shower, the teacher is right," said Sweetie Belle.
Everyone there looked at her with different expressions, some laughing at what she said, others surprised by what she said. Because it would be something her older sister would say.
"No offense," said the youngest Belle, waving her hands.
"I think you understand," said Apple Bloom, smiling.
The girls laughed softly, easing some of the built-up tension. Applejack and Sunset went to the dressing room where Rainbow left with the team.
The day came to an end, and the sky began to darken. The following days would be followed by a challenge to reach the finals.
Author's Note
Although it may seem calm, the chapter is 'packed' with information.
I know this will sound a bit silly, but I always thought that science was just combining liquid things and that's it. But when I looked it up, I was surprised that there was more behind it.
It can't be that they lost? Actually, I was thinking that they would win, but then I decided that they would lose. I hope you understood the explanation of how the teams advance. Another thing to mention is that it is possibly the only time I describe the rival's uniform.
Speaking of the rival, I said that Crystal is a school, but I looked for a justification of how they could play XD
Tomorrow I will upload the next one and the day after tomorrow chapter 16 (only up to that point have I finished the chapters)

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                    Games and Memories                     
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Games and Memories
Applejack and Apple Bloom were already at home, telling their family about the game.
"I'm sorry you couldn't win the game, but like you said, you'll have to go through the losers' bracket," Granny Smith said, smiling from her rocking chair.
"And you've been training hard," Apple Bloom added, her head down.
"You don't always win," Applejack said, putting her hand on her sister's shoulder. "Well... yeah, I'm frustrated, I admit, but we'll get through it," she added with a smile.
Apple Bloom smiled and Big Mac nodded.
The farm girl moved her hand to her pants pocket, pulled out her cell phone and checked it, frowning when she didn't see any new messages.
"What's wrong, sis?" Apple Bloom asked, noticing the concern on the blonde's face.
"I'm waiting for a text from Rainbow," Applejack replied, looking at her phone impatiently. "You saw that I tried to cheer her up after the game, but I was too honest and you know how that ended."
"You can be too honest sometimes," Apple Bloom said almost quietly.
"Yep," Big Mac agreed.
"True," Granny Smith added.
"Maybe," Farm Girl said with a shrug. "I'm waiting for Dash to text me so we can talk."
"Why don't you call her?" Apple Bloom suggested, frowning. "Maybe she's expecting the same from you."
Applejack hesitated, looking at her phone. "I don't know, Bloom. Maybe it's better to wait until tomorrow when we meet in person. I don't want to make things worse."
The younger girl sighed. "Sometimes waiting just makes things worse, AJ. Maybe you should try."
Farm Girl nodded slowly. "Maybe you're right, but... I think I'll wait until tomorrow."
The three of them looked at each other surreptitiously.
"You know, I was thinking we should make cider for the first win of the make-up game," Applejack suggested cheerfully.
"That's a great idea," said the old lady. "We'll work on that tomorrow, it's too late now."
"Yep," Big Mac nodded.
"Great, I'll help," said Apple Bloom with a smile.
"Whoa, hold on there, young lady," said Applejack waving a hand. "I still think you're too young to do that part of the job."
"Oh come on, I could just squash the apples," she said reproachfully.
"You're right," said Granny Smith. "The more pies, the more we'll have for the team."
"Yep," added Big Mac.
"Okay, but that's all," the blonde agreed with a smile.
"Echo," replied Apple Bloom, also smiling.
Applejack put her phone away, trying not to think about the lack of a message. The family continued to chat about plans for making cider and other everyday topics.
"Okay, Apple Bloom, you should get to bed now," Applejack said, getting up from the couch.
"Bye, family," the farm girl said. "See you in the morning."
"Get a good night's sleep, Apple Bloom," Granny Smith said.
"Ugh, but it's still early," the younger sister protested. "Besides, they know we don't have school."
"That's true, but we're still going to wake up early," the older sister said, putting her hands on her sister's shoulders and leading her upstairs.
Once she dropped her younger sister off in her room, Applejack headed to her own. She looked at her phone once again, but this time she decided to log on to Instagram and saw a post from Pinkie Pie. At that moment, she remembered the conversation she had yesterday.
"I didn't tell the girls about Pinkie and Belle, you know," she said, sitting down in her desk chair. "Belle..." mumbled and started scrolling, still in the app.
An idea crossed her mind as she entered the search bar, but then she realized what she was going to do and shook her head. "Why do you come back out of nowhere and bring these ideas to my mind?" asked herself.
She shook her head and thought back to the conversation with her cousin. "I'm not convinced, but I still have to make sure they don't get mad at Pinkie for her idea of giving Belle another chance."
She stood up, heading over to where she had her guitar. Sitting on the bed, she started playing a little to distract herself.
Rainbow Dash was opening the door, letting Scootaloo in first. As she entered, she greeted her parents with a smile, albeit a tired one.
"Hey, family!" Rainbow greeted.
"Hey!" Scootaloo greeted.
Her mom appeared in the living room. "Hey, honey! How did the game go?"
"We lost, but I'm determined to win in the finals," Rainbow said, showing her fist up.
"That's the attitude, Dash. We know you can do it!" her dad said.
Rainbow nodded determinedly. She said goodbye to them and headed to her room, with Scootaloo following close behind.
"You were great today, Rainbow. I know you'll win next time."
"Thanks, Scoots. We're going to give it our all in the finals!"
After saying goodbye to Scootaloo, Rainbow closed her bedroom door and plopped down on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts returned to Fluttershy and how she had motivated her after the defeat. She sat down and grabbed her phone, hesitating if she should text or call her.
She went into Messenger, but before that she saw that the farmer was online. She knew what it meant, but she didn't think twice and went to the pink haired girl's contact.
She started to write, {Hey Flutters, thanks for today...} She stopped halfway through the message, hesitating and deleted it. "What if I don't know what to say after that?"
"Well, yesterday and today we almost talked like before," she wrote another message again.
She spent a few minutes looking at her phone, writing and deleting messages without sending them. Finally, she sighed and put the phone aside.
"Ahh... why is this so hard?" said, letting herself fall on the bed. She closed her eyes and sighed. "One step at a time, Dash. We'll get there."
She got up to put on her pajamas and got ready for bed, feeling a mix of frustration and hope.
It was already Thursday and each student was arriving at the time that suited them, but our six girls arrived early in the morning, heading to the great hall. Once her sisters had scattered, Pinkie was the one who spoke first.
"Shall we go see who the new members were before we play?" Pinkie asked excitedly.
"Yeah," Fluttershy replied.
"Sure," Twilight nodded.
"Uh yeah, but first I want to talk to Dash and Sunset about the team," Applejack commented, putting her hands on one of her shoulders.
"Ok, let's go girls," Pinkie encouraged the blue and pink haired girl.
Before Fluttershy and Twilight followed Pinkie, Applejack grabbed both of their wrists to stop them.
"AJ, is something wrong?" the blue haired girl asked, confused by the action.
"Are you okay?" the pink haired girl asked, equally confused.
"I'm fine," Applejack assured, letting go of them.
"So why are you stopping them if we were going to talk about the team?" Rainbow questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"The five of us should talk," the farmer stated.
It didn't take long for Sunset to notice. "You talked to Pinkie, didn't you?"
"It was actually the organization day, but since yesterday happened, I forgot. Come on, I'll tell you," explained, nodding her head.
"But what about Pinkie?" Fluttershy asked, watching as the party girl was talking to herself.
"Remember how she is, she won't notice that we're not here from all the talking," Rainbow commented with a laugh.
"Good point," Twilight nodded.
"Let's go to the locker room, no one will hear us there," Sunset suggested, nodding.
The five of them, without saying anything, walked to the side of the stage to go to the locker room.
"So, what did you want to talk about, and what about Pinkie?" the pink-haired girl said, curious.
"What did she do out of nowhere that surprised us?" Applejack asked, giving a clue.
"Belle," Rainbow frowned.
"About Belle?" Twilight exclaimed, surprised.
"Yeah, when I dropped Apple Bloom off at home and took Pinkie to hers, I took advantage of the moment. We started talking about it, although she kept trying to divert the topic by using..."
"Blondie, don't get all tied up and get straight to the point," Rainbow interrupted, desperate.
"Okay," Applejack replied. "She wants to give Belle a second chance."
"What!?" the girls exclaimed.
"She's crazy," the athlete said quickly. "After everything that happened?"
"I'm almost the same. I told her how that would make us feel and she said she knows how uncomfortable we get about it and when she comes near us," the farmer explained.
"Although we don't have her around anymore," Fluttershy commented, remembering the dressmaker's behavior.
"It's true, the other day she walked away when I found her outside the dressing room," Sunset added, with a finger on her chin.
"Outside the dressing room?" the farmer asked, curiously.
"Yes, it was the day the rumors started," the red-haired girl said.
"I understand... maybe she was looking for me for work," the blonde thought, frowning slightly. "It's similar to when I was looking for her everywhere."
"From one day to the next, Belle doesn't come around anymore, but at the same time I'm glad," Rainbow commented, crossing her arms with a half smile.
"It's true and that calms us down a bit, since we can focus on our business," Twilight added.
"Exactly... it seems that she got the message to leave us alone," Rainbow said, still with a half smile.
"Do you think Pinkie has something to do with it?" Fluttershy asked thoughtfully, looking at the girls. "The same day that she started talking to him was when she started to pull away."
"It could be," the athlete speculated.
"Girls, I don't think so," the blue-haired girl said, remembering days ago.
"Why do you think that?" Applejack asked.
"Remember that Pinkie looked as surprised as we were," Twilight remembered.
"True," Rainbow said.
"A decision of her own?" the farmer girl wondered, somewhat surprised.
"Leaving that subject aside and returning to Pinkie, what do we do?" said the multicolored haired girl, waving her hands.
"We can't force Pinkie to forbid her from doing something she wants," Sunset commented. "I'm not saying that I agree," she clarified.
"That's what I told her, that we can't tell her who she should or shouldn't hang out with, but I did tell her to be careful," Applejack added.
"So we're just going to accept it? Just because Pinkie says so?" Rainbow whined.
"Maybe we should try to understand why Pinkie wants to give her another chance. There might be something we don't know," Fluttershy suggested timidly.
"Listen, I'm not saying we should forgive her right away. But if Pinkie thinks Belle deserves a second chance, maybe we should respect that," the blonde proposed.
No one said anything for a moment.
"Well... I'm not defending her, but Starlight told me she was helping decorate the stands," Twilight commented with a shrug.
"Really?" the pink-haired girl asked.
Twilight nodded.
"Are... are you defending for some reason for..." Rainbow commented.
"I told you I'm not defending her," the blue-haired girl interrupted.
"Then why are you looking for something like you want to prove something?" The athlete questioned.
"It's nothing, just..." Twilight said, remembering what her science partner said, but she shook her head a little and took a deep breath to speak. "Let's just see how her actions speak for her."
"You're right. We're just going to watch and see how things play out," Sunset concluded.
"I don't like this, but I'm not going to fight with Pinkie over Belle," Rainbow said, arms crossed and grimacing.
"It's understandable. Still, we can still be cautious," Fluttershy said with a smile at the multicolored haired girl.
"Thanks girls, I knew we'd come up with something," Applejack said with a smile, happy that they didn't get mad at her familiar.
"But if something doesn't seem right, we'll talk about it right away," the athlete warned, pointing to the living room.
They all nodded, ending the conversation and heading for the door.
The group split up to look for the party girl, agreeing to meet up after finding her for the outdoor games. However, three people stayed close by.
The sportswoman walked towards the pink-haired girl, a little nervous, but hiding it. The animal lover noticed that; she knew her since she was little and knew when something was bothering her.
"Hey, Flutt-"
"Rainbow, can we...?" Applejack asked from behind the athlete, who turned around at the interruption and looked back at the pink-haired girl.
"Go ahead, I can wait," Fluttershy conceded.
"Thanks," the farmer replied.
The two of them walked away a bit to talk, so Fluttershy took a look around. Even though there was no longer a club expo, she could see some new faces chatting with some members, probably new members or others who didn't make it the day before.
She turned her gaze to her athlete friend, who seemed to be having a slightly tense conversation with the blonde; both were frowning and waving their hands until Rainbow put a hand in front of both of them in a 'stop' sign, indicating the end of the conversation.
Applejack shook her head and walked away on her own while Rainbow started walking towards Fluttershy.
"Ready. Sorry about earlier," said, pointing her thumb back.
"Okay... did something happen? The conversation seemed tense," commented with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Nothing important. AJ just wanted to know about a message, but it's not relevant. Besides, didn't we agree not to talk about certain topics?" said the athlete, trying to downplay it.
The animal lover nodded with a smile.
After what happened with Angel, Fluttershy told her friend the reason why she sat in another seat the day of the incident at lunch; she needed space to think about what would happen in their relationship. Rainbow, on the other hand, told her that to avoid overwhelming her with certain problems, they would not talk about the fights she had with the farmer.
"What did you want to talk about?" asked, starting to walk next to the multicolored haired girl.
"I wanted to thank you for motivating me yesterday when I felt like a loser. I know Pinkie tried, Twilight tried something, and then AJ went overboard, but none of it worked," said Rainbow with a serious expression and then changed to a smile. "But you were the one who helped me not feel the worst. Thank you, Fluttershy, for being there despite how we are."
"You're welcome, Rainbow. I knew you needed that push, and it doesn't matter that we're still in progress; we can support each other," said the girl smiling back.
The athlete was going to tell her that she tried to write to her last night, but she preferred to keep it from her.
"Shall we go with the others?" suggested the multicolored haired girl.
Fluttershy nodded. The two continued walking to meet up with the others.
While Pinkie stood in the center of the room talking to the red-haired girl, the girl with glasses, and her familiar, the party girl turned to the others with a frown.
"Hey, you left me talking alone until Lyra and Bon Bon answered me because I was apparently having my Pinkie moment."
The girls looked at each other before heading over to the couple who greeted them, returning the greeting in a friendly manner.
"Ah, haha, we were following you, but we..." Applejack said, trying to come up with an excuse. "We got sidetracked by a booth."
"Yeah, you know how Twilight is; she wanted to know the number of registrants, even though that wasn't in the presenter catalog," Sunset chimed in.
"Exactly, you know how perfectionist she is," the farmer added with a nervous smile.
Pinkie frowned, not completely convinced. "Mmm... okay," she said, though she still seemed somewhat annoyed.
"What did we miss?" Rainbow asked as she arrived with her friend.
"They found Pinkie," Fluttershy replied with a friendly smile.
"Yeah, since we lost sight of each other by staying at a booth," Sunset said with a wink. The two got the message and played along.
"Sure, once we figured that out..." the sporty girl said.
"... We split up to look for you," the pink haired girl added, as if she had actually cared.
Lyra and Bon Bon watched the scene and held back their laughter at the lame excuse. They then approached the group.
"Girls, how about we go outside for the games?" Lyra suggested, breaking the moment of conversation.
"Ah, I can't wait!" Pinkie exclaimed excitedly.
"We should tell Rarity too, remember we wanted to make sure she enjoys her first event," Bon Bon added with a smile.
"First event?" Sunset asked, confused.
"Correction, first event in a long time," Lyra clarified.
"Yeah, looks like Rarity hasn't had much time to have fun since she started college," the jock continued with a dramatic flair.
"Has she been so busy with design?" Rainbow teased with a laugh.
"Design?" Bon Bon asked, raising an eyebrow.
Applejack lightly punched her in the side for talking too much and a few of her friends gave her a look with the message to keep the information to herself.
"Ah, it's just an impression," the sporty girl said, making a nonchalant gesture. "Look..." The girls looked where she pointed. Rarity was walking next to Starlight. "... You can see she has an interest in fashion."
"Mmm... look at that blouse and those heels," Bon Bon commented.
"Sometimes I'm struck by her curly locks," Lyra said, looking at the seamstress's hair.
"Plus, she sometimes walks away without first brushing her hair back," her partner said, mimicking Rarity.
Rainbow rolled her eyes at the exaggerated description. The rest of the friends looked at Rarity, noticing some changes in her appearance. They had been staring at her so much to have her back in their lives that they hadn't noticed certain changes: her hair, which had always been wavy, was now wavier and longer. Had the girl grown? Yes, but she was still on par with the rest of the group, except for Rainbow and Applejack, who were the tallest.
Once the group stopped analyzing Rarity, they noticed her and Starlight heading towards the exit.
"Looks like Starlight is explaining the details of the games," Lyra commented.
"I'm sure Rarity will love the dress-up game," Bon Bon said with a smile.
None of the girls looked like they would pursue the topic.
"I'm sure a lot of them will participate," Pinkie said to avoid an awkward silence. "Let's go."
The girls nodded and went with Lyra and Bon Bon outside. They walked for a few minutes until they came close to the soccer field. On the side of it, various tracks or fairs had been set up, depending on the game. The air was filled with laughter and excited voices as the students gathered around the various games set up on the field. There were a variety of games set up: sack races, ring toss, and target shooting, among others.
"Look at all this!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up and down with excitement. "It's like a carnival! Where do we start?"
Rainbow looked around and saw the sack race. "Let's go there first," she pointed. "I told Fluttershy we'd be playing in the sack race."
The pink haired girl smiled. "I'm not very good at racing, but I'll try my best."
"Don't worry, it'll be fun. And you don't have to win," the multicolored haired girl added, giving her a smile.
The group headed towards the sack race area.
"Will you do it, Twi?" Sunset asked, shaking her head at the track.
"But who's going to do the hosting for us?" Twilight asked.
"Don't worry, Twilight. We don't necessarily have to host everything," Celestia commented from beside Cheerilee.
"I'm the one in charge of this activity, so I'll say when the race starts," the teacher explained with a smile.
"How about we do it?" Applejack suggested to the blue haired girl.
"If the chancellor says it's okay," Twilight nodded.
"We'll beat them," Scootaloo proclaimed, appearing with the Crusaders.
"Ha, get ready Scoot," Rainbow replied with a half-smile.
"Not if I beat them first," the farm girl said competitively.
The companions looked at each other a bit, noticing how their friends' competitive side was making itself felt.
"But first..." the sportswoman took off her jacket to leave her shirt only and passed it to Sunset. "I'll need to be as comfortable as possible for this race."
"If you insist," Applejack said, taking off her shirt and passing it to the party girl, leaving her in her black shirt.
"Ahh..." some students, both male and female, expressed in surprise at that action.
"You think I have them without that," one student commented.
"Men..." Lyra sighed, rolling her eyes, leaning on her partner.
"What's wrong?" Rarity asked, walking over to the group with Starlight.
"Nothing, the usual guy thing for seeing almost naked girls," Trixie commented.
"Almost naked?" Rarity repeated, blushing slightly.
"Look, both Rainbow and AJ took off their clothes to be in their t-shirts," Bon Bon pointed out, indicating the starting line. Rarity followed with her gaze.
"Some people wonder if they'll have abs without their shirts, too," Trixie added, arms crossed.
"Ohh..." the seamstress muttered, covering her face slightly in a blush.
"That shouldn't be any of your business," Starlight stated.
The wavy-haired girl lowered her head a little; she knew that Applejack was in full exercise when they were together, so she could see some signs of muscle development. She wouldn't be surprised if she already had six-pack abs. She shook her head to clear her thoughts.
"That's true, it's a personal thing."
The girls nodded, not noticing the blush that had invaded the seamstress, and paid attention to the game that was about to begin.
"Come on, girls!" Pinkie exclaimed, encouraging her friends.
The contestants lined up at the starting line, each with a sack in their hands.
Rainbow looked at Fluttershy and winked. "Ready?" The pink-haired girl nodded, trying to calm her nerves.
"On the count of three! One, two, three... GO!" Cheerilee shouted, and the girls began to jump inside the sacks.
"Come on, Scoot!" Spike exclaimed.
"You can do it, Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle encouraged.
"Jump faster, AJ!"
"Twilight, you can do it!"
The contestants jumped in a hurry to reach the finish line, leaving their companions a little behind.
Applejack, almost there, tried to put aside her competitiveness and decided to wait for Twilight a bit, and they continued jumping together. Meanwhile, Scootaloo left Apple Bloom behind. Snips and Snails were behind the two, competing to be in the next game with Trixie.
Finally, Rainbow and Fluttershy were left behind. The athlete tried to catch up with the others. But suddenly, the pink-haired girl tripped and fell to the ground, letting out a small cry of surprise. Rainbow stopped when she heard the soft cry.
"She's sure going to leave her."
"He won't mind leaving her behind."
"Fluttershy is no longer in the Mane Six group."
The athlete looked at the finish line and then at her friend on the ground. Her mind was racing, but she knew what she had to do.
Ignoring the murmurs, Rainbow turned around and approached her friend, helping her up. "Are you okay, Flutters?" She nodded, her cheeks flushed from the fall and the murmurs.
"Yeah, thanks, Rainbow."
"Come on, let's finish together," the athlete suggested with a smile, before offering her hand to help her. The pink-haired girl made the effort to get up.
The two continued the race together, jumping in unison. The murmurs around them changed tone, some surprised and others in admiration for Rainbow's gesture.
"I thought I would leave her."
Rarity, tired of the comments, approached the students. "You know it's not nice to think things that aren't true about others when the reality is different. What would you think if they talked about you?"
The murmuring students fell silent. Sunset heard what was said, it caught her attention and she stared at her for a bit, not expecting that from the seamstress.
Finally, Rainbow and Fluttershy crossed the finish line together, receiving applause and cheers from their friends.
"That was amazing!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping for joy. "Long live friendship!" added, approaching her friends.
Rainbow smiled and looked at Fluttershy. "I gave my word."
"Even though that competitive side almost got the better of you, I knew you'd do the right thing," the pink haired girl replied with a smile.
Meanwhile, Apple Bloom approached the magenta haired girl with an annoyed expression. "Scootaloo, you left me behind!"
Scootaloo laughed. "I'm sorry, Apple Bloom. I got too excited. I promise I won't leave you next time."
Apple Bloom frowned, but then smiled. "You better, Scoot. We're a team."
"Girls, that was great even though we finished second," Sweetie Belle said as she approached her two friends.
Twilight, for her part, approached Applejack, still breathing heavily, but with a grateful expression. "Thanks for waiting for me, Applejack."
The farm girl patted her on the back. "No problem, Twi. It's always better to compete together than separately."
"Way to go, girls!" Sunset said, smiling at the camaraderie between them all.
Meanwhile, Rarity watched her friends from a safe distance, feeling a little nostalgic. She remembered the times when they were all inseparable.
At that moment, Cheerilee walked over with a smile. "Good job, everyone! This is what team spirit is all about."
Several students who were there scattered to participate in other games, including some close to the Mane Six.
Pinkie, still full of energy, pointed towards the climbing wall area. "Look, they have a climbing wall! Let's give it a try!"
"Now I'm really going to need my friends," Rainbow commented, flexing her muscles as she looked at the structure with interest. "Who's up?"
"I want to try," Applejack stated, stretching out her arms. "I haven't been climbing in a while."
The group headed towards the climbing wall. Some students were already at it: some were climbing with agility, while others struggled with the first few holds. Flash and Timber, who were climbing, came down to greet the girls.
"All yours, ladies," Flash said politely.
"Thanks, Flash," Sunset replied with a smile.
The Belle sisters stood a little further back, watching the girls get ready for the climbing game.
"We could try another one in the meantime," Sweetie Belle suggested, looking at her sister.
"Not so much action," commented, walking away with her sister.
The organizers of the activity gave them instructions and helped them put on their safety harnesses.
"Bon Bon, do you want to participate?" the girl said, arriving with her partner.
"Sure, aren't you coming with me?" Bon Bon asked.
"The other one," she replied with a wink before approaching the spectators.
"Do you want to go up with me?" Sunset asked with a smile.
"Aren't all four of you going up together?" Bon Bon questioned.
"You know how AJ and Rainbow are when it comes to confrontations," Sunset said, rolling her eyes in amusement.
"Hahaha, yeah!" she laughed, remembering how competitive the two girls are. "So we go up together," added, showing a fist on the side and bumping it with Sunset's.
Meanwhile, Fluttershy saw the cyan-haired girl approaching, "Aren't you going up?"
Lyra, standing beside her, smiled at her. "I wanted to, but I'm trying to cheer Bon Bon up. Even though we're all determined to make it to the finals, she still feels a little guilty about not saving the goal," explained.
"I understand, girls are the same. But you know they tend to hide their feelings," Twilight commented, joining in.
"I'm ready to conquer this wall!" Pinkie exclaimed, adjusting her harness excitedly.
"Come on, come on, don't keep me waiting!" Rainbow challenged, taking a starting position. "I'm not going to let anyone outdo me!"
Applejack, always up for a challenge, adjusted her harness and got ready alongside the sporty and party girl. "I haven't been climbing in a while, so I hope I don't make a fool of myself," she said with a competitive grin.
Bon Bon and Sunset also prepared to climb. "Good luck, everyone," the red-haired girl said, looking at the others with a smile.
The competitors headed to their sections of the climbing wall, and the organizer announced the countdown.
"On the count of three! One, two, three... let's go climbing!"
The girls began to climb the wall with determination. Rainbow and Applejack moved quickly, using their strength to move forward. Pinkie, with her characteristic energy, moved nimbly, laughing as she climbed.
Lyra looked at Fluttershy and Twilight. "Who do you think will get there first?" she asked.
The two watched as their friends made their way up the wall.
"I have faith in my girl, but she's not at her best. I might get there with Sunset in second place," the cyan-haired girl said.
"Mmm... Rainbow," Fluttershy opined.
"According to my calculations of the times Rainbow has won and lost against AJ, they sometimes end up in a tie," Twilight said thoughtfully.
"So, do you think they'll end up in a tie?" Lyra asked.
"Yeah, unless Pinkie goes all out and beats them," the blue-haired girl said, knowing the party girl's unpredictable style.
Meanwhile, Rainbow and Applejack were near the top of the wall, their hands gripping tightly onto the handholds. "Come on, AJ, you're going to see me win!" the multicolored-haired girl shouted.
"You'll see when I beat you!" the farm girl shouted, putting all her effort into reaching the top.
With one last push, they both reached the top at the same time, and the watching crowd cheered enthusiastically. Bon Bon and Sunset were near the top, cheering each other on and overcoming the last obstacles.
Pinkie Pie, although a little further behind, also reached the top shortly after, laughing and celebrating.
Finally, all the competitors climbed down from the wall, receiving congratulations and applause from their friends and classmates who were watching.
"You did well!" Fluttershy commented, approaching with the others, taking the opportunity to hand over the jacket to her friend that Sunset had given her to participate.
"Thanks, Fluttershy," she said with a smile, receiving the jacket. "I almost had it," added, looking at the farmer.
"Ha, I told you I would get there!" exclaimed Applejack.
"I told them they would get there in a tie," Twilight commented as she handed the shirt back to the blonde.
"Did they bet on us?" asked the farmer, taking the shirt to put it back on.
"Yeah, who else got it right, or was it just AJ and Rainbow?" Bon Bon asked with a smile.
"I knew you would get there with Sunset," Lyra acknowledged with a smile, "but, in second place," added a little nervously.
Bon Bon smiled and hugged Lyra. "It doesn't matter where we end up, as long as we're together."
"Aww," Pinkie said with her hands clasped near her cheeks, "it's nice to see couples like this."
Applejack grimaced and glanced at Rainbow.
"Yeah, even though we're not in one, it's nice to see happy couples," Fluttershy commented with a smile.
"Well, everyone has different ways of showing it," the sporty girl said with her arms crossed.
"How about we go to another game?" Sunset suggested.
Twilight coughed a little, drawing the attention of the couple who seemed to still be in their world. "I don't know if you want to, but will you come with us?"
"Sure," Bon Bon nodded as Lyra hugged her arm.
The eight of them started walking, looking at the other options they hadn't tried until they stopped at the three-legged race, where they saw Starlight, Trixie, Spike, and the Crusaders.
"Ahhh... Girls, it's my time!" Pinkie exclaimed, pointing excitedly at the track.
"Pinkie, if you want to be my partner it'll be in another round," Twilight commented as Spike approached her.
"I could, but I could barely balance myself in the sack race," Fluttershy admitted, a little embarrassed.
"I'll definitely participate, but... Scoot, are you ready?" Rainbow asked, stretching out her arms.
"Sure!" replied, excitedly standing beside her.
"Apple Bloom, do you mind if I'm with your sister this time?" Sunset asked.
"Oh, nevermind. Starlight, do you want to be my partner?" Apple Bloom proposed excitedly.
"Sure, I haven't participated in much. Besides, Snails asked Trixie to be his partner," she replied.
"Don't worry girls, I already know who I'll be with," the party girl said, showing that everything was fine.
The girls seemed happy not to discourage their cheerful friend, but were surprised by what she said next.
"Rarity, you up for it?" Pinkie asked with a smile as she watched the seamstress arrive with her sister.
"Belle!?" some of her girls exclaimed.
"Me?" Rarity replied, surprised. "I don't know, Pinkie Pie..."
The sporty girl thought about what the answer would be. "Here goes," murmured.
"Come on, sis," Sweetie Belle encouraged.
"It's not that I don't want to," the seamstress explained, then pointed at her shoes. "How am I supposed to run in heels? I'd fall halfway or before," explained.
"Good point..." Pinkie observed, looking at the seamstress' shoes.
"That makes sense," Sunset murmured, analyzing the odds of the seamstress falling. The rest hadn't thought of that either, figuring it would give an excuse.
After Pinkie thought of options to solve the problem, she said with her eyes lit up, "Got it! Tell me, how big are you?"
"What?" Rarity replied, confused.
"Standing," she clarified.
"Ah... I don't know exactly why, but I wear size **," the seamstress replied.
"Okay, any girls who have that size?" the party girl asked, looking around at the others.
"I can lend you my sneakers," a student offered.
"Okay, though I wouldn't want to wear something used for hygiene reasons," Rarity muttered under her breath.
"Perfect, problem solved!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"Hey, Sweetie, do you want to be my partner?" Lyra proposed to the younger girl.
"Sure, let's see if I can beat my sister," replied, excited.
"Looks like our students are already participating together," Chancellor Celestia observed, watching as they teamed up with the younger ones.
"Yeah, even though studying comes first, you can still have your fun time," Principal Luna commented from beside her sister.
Once everyone was lined up at the finish line, there were variations of teams like older ones with their same age and the same ones with the younger ones, but there were also mixed ones.
"I forgot how affectionate you are Pinkie Pie," Rarity said as she felt the party girl hug her tightly.
"Why do you say that?" asked, confused.
"You squeeze too hard," explained, wincing in pain.
"Oops," Pinkie said, moving her arm to another position.
Some of her friends who were in line laughed a little, knowing what the party girl's hugs felt like.
"Ready, set, go!" the organizer exclaimed, giving the starting signal.
The teams began to move in a haphazard fashion. Rarity and Pinkie, bound by their legs, tried to coordinate. Despite wearing sneakers, the dressmaker still struggled to keep up with the party girl's enthusiasm. They stumbled several times, almost falling to the ground.
"Left, Rarity, left!" Pinkie shouted.
"I'm trying," she replied, doing her best to keep her balance.
Rainbow and Scootaloo moved forward quickly, demonstrating excellent coordination. Beside them, Apple Bloom and Starlight weren't as lucky, staggering and giggling as they tried to stay on their feet.
"Come on, Scoot! We can win this!" Rainbow cheered, looking ahead.
"Yeah!" she shouted, full of determination.
Twilight and Spike, though a little slower, managed to keep a steady pace. Sweetie Belle and Lyra, on the other hand, stumbled frequently, giggling nervously every time they almost fell.
"Watch it, Sweetie Belle!" Lyra said, trying to avoid another stumble.
"Sorry," the youngest Belle replied, trying to keep her balance.
Meanwhile, Pinkie and Rarity were in the middle of the group, moving forward slowly, but not giving up.
"We're doing it, Rarity!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"I don't know what you call 'doing it,' but we're still standing," the seamstress replied, focused on her steps.
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo crossed the finish line, celebrating their victory with enthusiasm.
"We won!" shouted the magenta-haired girl, raising her arms in triumph.
"Good job, Scoot!" Rainbow congratulated her, patting her on the back.
Twilight and Spike came second, closely followed by Apple Bloom and Starlight, who ended up laughing out loud as did Lyra and Sweetie Belle.
Rarity and Pinkie, although they didn't win, crossed the finish line without falling, which for them was already a triumph.
"We did it, Rarity!" she exclaimed, hugging her friend excitedly.
"Yes, we did," Rarity replied, laughing despite herself.
Pinkie was happy that Rarity was having a good time, as she had told her days ago. Her friends watched the scene with curiosity; it was as if the party girl and the dressmaker almost felt like they did when they enjoyed outings all together.
"Okay, students, I see you're having fun, but for the style lovers, who wants to participate in the Creative Fashion Show game?" Gloriosa announced.
Rarity's eyes lit up with excitement, but something crossed her mind. Sweetie Belle, noticing that, took her by the arm and led her to the group. Each interested student followed the teacher to an area where not many students circulated for what was to come. Once they arrived, Gloriosa continued:
"The teams must dress a volunteer with clothes and accessories provided by the drama club. Older and younger people can participate as well, in mixed teams."
The sisters in charge of the event watched as the older sisters formed groups with the younger sisters. They noticed that the Mane Six group was just watching.
"You're not participating?" Principal Luna asked.
"Fashion isn't my thing, and we decided with Apple Bloom that we would participate together with the family next week," Applejack commented.
"I don't have that passion," Rainbow added.
"I'm catching my breath," Twilight explained, breathing heavily.
Before Luna or Celestia could ask the remaining three, Pinkie Pie spoke up:
"But I'm participating!" she exclaimed, approaching the crowd that was gathering to form the groups, leaving the girls with wide eyes.
"Pinkie, let's be together," Sweetie Belle proposed upon seeing her approach.
"I thought you would be with Rarity," Pinkie replied confused.
"This time I want her to be inspired," the younger said.
Pinkie didn't quite understand what she meant, but brushed it off and continued looking for more members, like Lyra and Timber as a model.
"We'll be rivals this time, love," Lyra declared, walking away from Bon Bon.
"Let's see how my group turns out, my love," Bon Bon joked with a laugh.
"You two are so cute," Rarity commented, walking over to the changing room where Spike was, who had joined the group.
"Thank you. You know when you have someone you love, they're your everything," Bon Bon said.
Rarity smiled, but before she could say anything, Gloriosa spoke again.
"You have 30 minutes to dress your model according to a specific theme that is randomly assigned to you."
A boy approached the dressmaker's group. "Rarity, don't talk anymore, your model has arrived," he announced with a half smile. "And who knows... maybe the person who has sailed through a sea of stars and found his girl," added with a theatrical air.
Rarity smiled amusedly. Although it was already obvious that the boy had his eyes on her, she was not going to be rude, so she agreed to let him be her model.
"Okay, Feather, try this on."
"As you command," he replied, taking the garment and beginning to put it on.
"How about this one?" Spike asked, holding up a tie.
Rarity saw Feather studying it a bit. "It has to be something that matches his hair and... his... eyes..." finished saying when she noticed that the boy had green eyes.
"I'm going to look for another one," Spike said, not realizing that the seamstress was lost in her thoughts.
Bon Bon walked over as she saw that Rarity was still looking at the boy. "Yeah, a lot of girls are attracted to Feather's eyes," she commented as she looked at the makeup. "It's like her charm."
Rarity was still looking at the boy.
"Rarity?" Bon Bon called.
"Ah, yes, ehh, it's nothing... he just reminded me of someone with similar eyes," said, snapping out of her daze.
"Your beau, huh?" Bon Bon said with a playful smile.
"Kind of... He had green eyes too," commented, glancing sideways at a certain blonde who was talking to the girls.
"It's interesting how you mention your ex," Bon Bon said, still eyeing Feather's choice of foundation. "It seems like he was someone important to you. Maybe things didn't turn out the way you expected."
"Let's focus on making Feather look good," Rarity suggested, diverting the conversation. "The other stuff is in the past."
"Okay... now, let's get to work," Bon Bon said determinedly.
As time ran out, Rarity and her team had created a stylish and original outfit. Feather, dressed in a suit inspired by 1920s fashion, looked stunning.
When time was up, Gloriosa, along with Celestia and Luna, reviewed each model in their specific style.
Rarity confidently introduced her model. "Our theme is Vintage Glamour," she explained, as Feather walked as if she were on a catwalk. "We've created an outfit that combines classic with contemporary, highlighting timeless grace and sophistication."
Lyra's team presented a futuristic ensemble that was bright and full of neon colors. Pinkie Pie had added eye-catching accessories, and Sweetie Belle had created spectacular makeup that complemented the theme.
Octavia's team showed a casual chic look, with modern and elegant clothing. Snails had selected subtle accessories that complemented the outfit, and Apple Bloom had done an excellent job with Flash's makeup and hair.
"What lovely designs!" Celestia exclaimed. "You've really shown your talent."
The audience applauded, impressed by the creativity and skill of the team.
The girls looked at each team's looks and were impressed. Although they wouldn't admit it yet, they were surprised to notice the seamstress' touch in choosing the outfits.
"As we knew you were going to put in the effort and show your talent, even though for some this isn't your strong suit..." Luna continued, starting with a serious expression but changing to a smile.
"We decided that there are no winners," Gloriosa said.
The teams were surprised, but soon burst into applause and laughter, celebrating together the effort and fun they had shared.
"The important thing is that everyone had fun and learned something new," Celestia added with a smile.
Rarity approached her sister, still smiling. "You did well, darling."
"I learned from the best. You still have it."
The dressmaker let out a laugh. "Thank you, Sweetie Belle."
Pinkie jumped for joy near the sisters. "This college welcome is going amazing!"
She started walking, but stopped halfway between going to her friends or continuing with Rarity. She saw the dressmaker and was motioned that it was okay for her to go with the others. With a smile, she turned to her friends.
"I still have energy for more. What's next?"
With laughter and lively chatter, the girls headed off together to the next game.
After a while of participating in the games, the girls returned to the great hall, where a large crowd of students had already gathered to watch the drama club's performance. The stage was adorned with elaborate sets depicting a small town with medieval-style houses.
The president of the drama club took the microphone and announced the play:
"Welcome everyone! Today we present our version of 'The Oath of the Heart'. We hope you enjoy the show!"
The lights dimmed and the curtain rose, revealing the actors in their medieval costumes. The story began with two neighboring kingdoms, separated by an ancient rivalry. In one of the kingdoms lived Lady Seraphina, played by Trixie, a brave and fair young woman who lived up to the expectations of her family.
In the other kingdom, a noble knight, Sir Tristan, played by Feather Bangs, was known for his bravery and honor. Despite their different social classes, a chance encounter in the woods led to Seraphina and Tristan meeting and falling in love.
In the audience, the dressmaker was surprised to see the magician there. "Trixie? I thought she was coming next week for her magic show."
"Yeah, she dropped out last minute," Starlight explained from beside her. "The girl who was going to play Seraphina felt sick, so Trixie was asked to take her place, which is why she wasn't in the rest of the games."
"I imagine she didn't like it at all," Rarity deduced, sensing the answer. Starlight nodded.
Back on stage, the play showed the struggles Seraphina and Tristan faced as they tried to overcome the brewing war. There were moments of great emotion, such as when Sir Tristan gives a moving speech before the war.
"In these times of darkness, there is a light that shines beyond the stars. A light that has guided my heart through the darkest of nights and given me the strength to face any challenge. That light is your love, Seraphina. I promise, in front of everyone present, that my heart will always be yours, no matter what happens on the battlefield."
Feather approached the audience in the middle of his speech, looking out at the crowd, he stopped at the wavy-haired young girl and winked at her. He then returned to his character and continued with the line. "May everyone here present bear witness to my oath. May my love for you be my shield and my sword, and may this love transcend time and distance."
Rarity blinked, blushing a little. Sweetie Belle giggled. "It seems someone caught the humble knight's eye."
Starlight and Lyra exchanged glances, knowing the boy's fame and wondering if the dressmaker knew about it.
Elsewhere in the crowd, the group of friends were watching the play and didn't miss the wink.
"Who do you think he winked at this time?" Sunset asked, curious.
"Looks like someone new made it onto his list," Applejack said, waving her hand a little. "Do you think that girl will fall into his arms?"
"Let's hope not, you know how Feather is with the ladies," Fluttershy said.
The girls nodded. Pinkie was a little quiet about that, she knew the boy had set his sights on the dressmaker.
The play continued, with Feather and the rest of the cast delivering a stellar performance.
As the act came to a close, the audience erupted in applause. The girls joined in the enthusiasm, enjoying the show.
"It wasn't bad for a play," Rainbow said.
"Yeah, it really was," Twilight agreed. "The cast did a fantastic job."
With that, the activities of the second day of the event ended and everyone headed to their vehicles or walked home, waiting for the next day.
On the way home, Sweetie Belle and Rarity were talking about how much fun they had on the second day of the event.
"The games were great," Sweetie Belle said excitedly.
"Yeah, I had a lot of fun, even though some of them weren't my style," Rarity replied with a smile.
"I think the Wondercolts deserved a distraction," Sweetie Belle said.
"Why do you say that?" Rarity asked, confused.
"They lost yesterday and were pretty bummed until Rainbow gave them some words of encouragement, but..."
"Do they still have the feeling of what could have been?" Rarity finished for her sister.
"Luckily they'll have the make-up round tomorrow," Sweetie Belle said with a smile.
"Can they come back to the competition?" the seamstress asked, surprised.
The younger girl nodded.
"It's good that they had their fun day," Rarity said with a smile.
"Yes! And I can't wait for Mom and Dad to join us next week," her sister said excitedly.
"Speaking of them..."
A slow-moving vehicle pulled up to the side of the road.
"Shall we take them?" Hondo asked from the car.
"Mom? Dad?" Cookie exclaimed, surprised.
"We left early today," Cookie explained with a smile upon seeing her daughters.
The girls headed to the car and, once inside, Hondo began to drive.
"We have good news for you," Hondo announced happily.
"Have you guys gotten permission yet?" asked the youngest excitedly.
"We're going to ask for it tomorrow," her mother replied, looking at them through the rearview mirror. "But I asked for permission to hang out tomorrow, even if it's just for a little while," she added with a smile.
"That's great news!" Rarity exclaimed.
"And Dad?" asked Sweetie Belle.
"I won't be able to, but as your mother said, we'll ask for permission tomorrow," she said with a happy expression.
"Then we'll make mother spend some quality time with us," the seamstress said with a smile.
As Hondo continued to drive, they chatted animatedly about what they would do tomorrow and next week.
On Friday, Applejack got out of her truck with Apple Bloom and another companion. They took the cider rations they had prepared the day before after returning home from the backseat and, to go unnoticed, they stored them in a cooler.
"I wish Grandma Smith had come," said Apple Bloom.
"She'll be here next week," said Applejack with a smile. "Right, Big Mac?"
"Yep," she replied as she walked, dragging the other cooler with wheels.
The three began to walk into the university building. Once inside the great hall, they saw some students dismantling some stands, since now it was time for the food exhibitions where Pinkie would be one of the participants.
Applejack, Big Mac and Apple Bloom approached where the two sisters in charge were.
"Good morning, Chancellor Celestia and Principal Luna," greeted Applejack.
"Good morning," greeted Celestia with a smile.
"Good morning, students," Luna greeted, somewhat seriously.
"Big Mac, long time no see," the chancellor said with a smile.
"Yep."
"Looks like you're still the same," Celestia said. The boy nodded. "What can I get you?" she asked.
"We brought something to celebrate the game win," Applejack said, a little nervously.
"It's a brilliant idea, and it'll boost the Wondercolts' enthusiasm," the chancellor said.
"They haven't said what it is yet," Luna said, raising an eyebrow.
"It's cider for the team," Applejack said, waiting for the positive answer.
"Hmm... Fine, but as long as you keep it out of the reach of minors," Luna said, eyeing the wheeled cooler the three of them were carrying.
"You can leave it in the cafeteria kitchen and say the chancellor authorized it," Celestia said, a little seriously.
"Thank you, Principal Celestia and Principal Luna," Applejack said with a smile.
The three of them left the Great Hall to drop off the rations in the cafeteria.
Near the Great Hall, Rarity and Sweetie Belle were leading and showing their mother around the new university building.
"This area seems to be very spacious," Cookie commented, looking around with a slight smile.
"Yeah, I'm still not used to it all," Rarity replied, remembering when she got lost a couple of times. "And the welcome event has been a huge success so far."
"Yeah! There are so many fun games and activities!" Sweetie Belle added, excited.
Cookie nodded, her expression softening a bit.
As they walked down the hall, several students greeted Rarity and Sweetie Belle, noticing their mother's presence. Cookie responded with a brief nod, maintaining her composure.
After walking a bit, they arrived at the Great Hall and could see the principal and headmistress, who upon noticing the presence of one of the mothers approached.
"Nice to meet you. You must be Rarity and Sweetie Belle's mother," Celestia said.
"Yes, I am," Cookie said, nodding. "It's a pleasure to meet you in person, Mrs. Celestia and Mrs. Luna."
"Nice to meet you," Luna said, her expression almost as serious as Cookie's but not quite as serious.
"I hope my daughters haven't made a bad impression," Cookie said, looking from her daughters to her sisters. "Has there been any problems that I don't know about?"
Celestia shook her head. "Everything's been going pretty well."
"No problems," Luna replied.
The youngest Belle let out a soft sigh; she almost thought her headmistress would say something about her escapades to the B-side.
"If you're talking about grades, the teachers have given few assignments so they must have done well," the chancellor said, thinking optimistically.
"Yes, but after the events there will be midterms, so the students will have a lot of studying to do if they don't want to fail, either on the A or B side," said the headmistress.
Rarity gulped, as in some subjects she noticed that she was having a hard time understanding the new subjects that were being taught.
"I think you're right, you can't neglect your studies," said Cookie.
They both nodded.
"We won't take up any more of your time. I hope you enjoy your visit," said Celestia.
The Belles said goodbye to the two sisters and went further into the classroom.
At the other entrance, Applejack was returning and told Big Mac that if he wanted, he could tour part of the institution where his brother used to study before or hang out in the classroom, but the older one opted to just walk around the place. As for the younger one, she went to hang out with her friends.
While the farmer waited for the exhibits to be set up, she went to see the last of the booths, specifically the carpentry booth.
"How was your exhibit, Caramel?" asked Applejack as she arrived at the booth.
"Not bad," said Caramel. "Some were interested, some weren't."
"You'll be lucky..."
"But we did get some sign-ups," said the boy, taking a piece of paper from the side of the table, extending his arm.
"Mission successful then," said the farmer, taking the sheets and seeing some new members.
"I'm sorry you didn't win yesterday."
"Relax, we'll have a chance to come back if we win today's game," said the blonde with a confident smile.
"I'm sure they'll win," Caramel said.
"I have a feeling, as Pinkie would say," Applejack said with a half-smile.
"That Pinkie Pie never loses her grace," she said, laughing.
"Have you seen her and the others?"
"Yeah, I saw Pinkie Pie off to the side, putting a tablecloth on the table," Caramel said.
"I'm sure she's already getting ready with the rest of her classmates," Applejack said, then handed him the paper she still had in her hand. "I'll leave you to go see her and meet up with the others."
"See you later, AJ," the boy said goodbye.
As he began to walk a little, he could notice the presence of a woman in the distance. She was a little surprised, so she tried to go unnoticed and approached the nearest booth.
"Hey, AJ," a student greeted.
"Hey," he smiled nervously. "What do you have here?" Applejack asked surreptitiously.
As Pinkie Pie began setting up her snacks for the display, she heard the seamstress's voice and looked up.
"Hey, Pinkie Pie, what do you have?"
"Oh, hello, Rarity. Look at my darling cupcakes," the party girl replied, showing her table full of different sweet concoctions. "I learned them last year."
"So this was what was on display yesterday?"
"No, Mother, the club-related stuff over there was the day before yesterday."
"Today is the food display," Pinkie commented cheerfully. She then recognized the lady in front of her. "Oh, Mrs. Belle, it's been a long time."
"Mmm..." Mrs. Belle said, studying the cheerful girl.
"Mom, do you remember? It's Pinkie Pie," Sweetie Belle said.
"Oh, right, sorry my memory," Cookie recognized. "Pinkie Pie, the one who was always so cheerful?"
"That's right," the party girl said.
"Still the same," the younger girl added with a giggle.
"It's good that some people don't change," Cookie commented.
"Thank you... So what brings you here, if you don't mind my asking?" Pinkie asked with a smile.
"Oh, it's not a bother at all, dear. From what my daughters told me, both sides can now coexist at these events, and I thought I should take care of my girls."
"Mother..." the seamstress murmured with a smile.
"Dad couldn't make it, but he'll be coming next week," Sweetie Belle said cheerfully.
"Besides, I'll only be gone a few hours and then I'll be back," Cookie said with her typical serious expression.
"I see," the party girl said and then took one of the trays of cookies. "Would you like to try one of my samples?"
"Sure, why not?" Cookie said, taking one and taking a bite. "Not bad," she acknowledged. "What do you specialize in cooking?"
"Yes, ma'am, one of my passions has always been cooking, so I decided to study something related to it," explained.
"It's good that you can pursue something you're passionate about," Cookie said.
Rarity's smile faded at those words, which didn't go unnoticed by her sister and mother.
"Is something wrong, Rarity?" Pinkie asked, noticing the dressmaker's change in expression.
"No, nothing," she replied, trying to hide her feelings.
"Child, why don't you show me more of these clubs out there?" her mother suggested, starting to walk.
"Sure, mother, there are many that are interesting," the dressmaker replied, following her.
Mother and daughter began to walk.
"Since when is Rarity so formal with her mom?" the party girl asked jokingly, laughing a little.
"I'd like to know why," the younger Belle said, a little discouraged.
Pinkie stopped laughing when she realized that the youngest Belle was serious.
"I've always wanted to ask her why she calls Mom 'mother', as she used to call her before," Sweetie Belle said.
"That's funny," commented, remembering the times she went to Rarity's house in the past and used to call her in a different affectionate way.
"In these three years things happened and, boom! Rarity became more formal with Mom," the younger Belle said, gesturing with her hands.
"Rarity hasn't told me much about what's happened in those years. All I know is that she studied online and something she mentioned about going out," the party girl commented.
"I think that's something else you'll have to figure out over time, and I won't tell you much about it. I could tell you other things, but regarding what happened, I'd rather leave it to my sister," Sweetie Belle said, watching her sister walk away with her mother.
"You're right, Rarity barely opens up to me. First comes giving her space and then trust."
"You said it, Pinkie," Sweetie said.
"Hey, Pinkie, if you want to look for more things, I'll take care of this," her partner said.
"Thanks, I'm going to see my friends and then I'll go get the rest."
The two then began to walk.
Further up, Rarity was with her mother explaining about some clubs and Cookie was nodding and saying a few comments. When they were about to reach the next booth, the seamstress made them stop.
"Mother, why don't we go that way?" she said, pointing to the other row of booths left.
"Okay," Cookie agreed, but noticed what her daughter was trying to avoid. At some point, she would have to talk about it. They continued down the path the seamstress had requested.
"Child, about what I said about studying something I'm passionate about," she said, her expression softening.
"I'm still going to study what I'm in," Rarity said firmly. "I'll follow this path and I'll pass it."
"I know you'll make it," her mother said with a smile.
Rarity smiled and her gaze drifted to where they were going. She could see a blonde who seemed nervous and somewhat evasive with her gaze. At first she thought she was avoiding her gaze, but then she noticed where her attention was directed, and the seamstress put on an incredulous expression.
"Really, Applejack?" thought, shaking her head.
Applejack was near the last booths after moving around for a few minutes, but she saw Cookie approaching. Her first instinct was to hide, so she quickly ducked down and ducked under a nearby table, trying to remain unnoticed.
After waiting a bit, she heard the sound of footsteps passing by, so she stepped out, meeting Rarity's gaze, who had a raised eyebrow.
"What are you doing down there?"
The farm girl slowly stood up. "Oh, Belle, you over here." She began indifferently. "Nothing, just... checking something out."
Rarity narrowed her eyes, knowing she was lying. "Checking something out under a table? Sure, it's very believable."
"Believe what you want. I don't know why I'm giving you explanations for something you don't know," Applejack replied.
"Because it's obvious what you're doing," said, leaning slightly towards the blonde.
"And what do you think I'm doing?" the farm girl asked, frowning slightly.
"You're hiding from my mother."
"About your mom? I don't know what you're talking about," Applejack commented, trying not to let her nervousness show. "Like I said, I saw something fall."
"Uh-huh, weren't you supposed to be checking something?" Rarity said, crossing her arms.
"Uh-huh..." She said, then made a face. Excuses weren't her thing.
"You don't have to hide from her. You know things are... different," she hinted indirectly. "There's no reason for you to hide from her, cowgirl."
"How do I...? Nevermind." She sighed to calm herself down. "I don't want to... cause trouble," admitted, trying to calm herself down.
Rarity smiled at her a little. "I understand it's still awkward. Just... don't hide. She's not going to eat you or anything." said, starting to take a few steps.
The blonde stared at her, a little surprised by her understanding.
"Bye, cowgirl," said goodbye as she walked further away.
Her expression changed at that and she narrowed her eyes. "Cowgirl..." muttered.
"I don't want to agree with her. But why did you hide?" Rainbow asked, appearing with the others.
"It didn't go unnoticed by anyone," Twilight said, raising an eyebrow.
"What about 'cowgirl'?" Sunset asked curiously.
"It's just a nickname she gave me once," the farm girl explained, crossing her arms. The others looked at each other, waiting for her to continue. "I don't like that nickname and I asked her not to call me that at the time, but now she just pulled it out of nowhere."
"I think she was a little upset that you did something unnecessary," Fluttershy commented in a soft voice.
"Funny, isn't it? We call her 'Belle' and she'll probably call you 'cowgirl' now whenever you make her mad," Pinkie added in an amused voice.
"I mean, always," Rainbow joked.
"Rainbow, not now," Sunset chimed in, giving her a look.
The sportswoman rolled her eyes and looked back at the farm girl. "'Cowgirl,'" said, laughing a little. "I prefer 'blonde', something simple."
"Yeah, maybe because it came to you at a good time," Applejack replied sarcastically.
The multicolored haired girl frowned. "You pushed me out of your house and it came out naturally," recalled somewhat angrily.
The girls looked at each other and the party girl stepped forward in case things got tense between the couple.
"How about I take my cousin for a ride,"suggested taking her by the shoulder and they both started walking.
"Don't take so long," Sunset said raising her voice a little.
And the four of them started walking in the other direction.
"Hey, Dash, what happened that time when AJ kicked you out of his house?" asked Twilight.
"Do you remember when AJ was bad?" asked Rainbow.
"Yeah, you told us to let Applejack take some time alone to process what she was going through," commented Sunset.
"It was about your parents, right?" Fluttershy asked.
"How do you kno...?" Rainbow didn't finish. "I... I called you about that too," said, somewhat downcast, knowing the answer.
She remembered that that time, despite understanding the situation, she was still a little upset by the farmer's behavior that ended up calling the pink-haired girl.
Fluttershy nodded slowly and the two remained silent. Twilight regretted asking and looked at Sunset.
"You know what, how about we go get some air?" Sunset suggested to lighten the mood.
They didn't say anything, but they headed towards one of the entrances.
Elsewhere, in the locker room, Pinkie brought the farm girl over to talk about her peculiar attitude in the great hall.
"Come on, cousin, tell us why you're acting like that," Pinkie asked.
"Act how?" Applejack asked, pretending she didn't know what she was talking about.
"Why are you hiding from Mrs. Belle? I remember everything was fine when we went to Rarity's house before everything," she commented confused. "Yeah, despite being a bit of a serious lady, you could tell she liked you."
"Yeah, she liked me... I think," the blonde replied, bringing her hand to the back of her neck.
"So, what happened?"
The farm girl sighed. "It's because of when... you know." She mentioned, waving her hands. Pinkie waited anxiously. "I didn't tell you this since, let's say, we were past that stage..."
As expected, the blonde rambled on before getting to the point. "AJ, stop beating around the bush," Pinkie insisted.
"Okay..." Applejack said, sitting down and looking for a place to start. "I just happened to be at the Belles'..."
Three Years Ago: Spring  
Applejack was at Rarity's house like every other time she went to her house. This time they were in the studio where the Belles had different instruments, but the biggest one was exactly the one she was playing. Actually, the curly-haired girl was playing slowly, showing it to the blonde.
"Do, Re, Mi, Do," the seamstress said as she played. "Mi, Fa, Sol."
The blonde put her hands on the keys and tried to keep up.
"You played Mi instead of C," Rarity corrected.
"Was that Mi?" said the farmer, looking at the keys. "I still don't know how to tell these keys apart."
"It's the same way I think about guitar strings or frets as you mentioned," Rarity said, remembering when the blonde tried to teach her how to play.
"There's a trick to that," Applejack said with a laugh.
The dressmaker laughed a little. "You were listening when I explained the keys on that side."
"I'll be honest," the farmer said, giving her a smile, "at first, yes, but you look cute when you have that expression of concentration that I ended up missing."
The dressmaker blushed slightly and looked away with a shy smile.
"Well, I guess it'll take me a little longer to learn how to play this."
Rarity let out a small laugh. "Don't worry, sweetie. The important thing is that you're trying, and besides, we have all the time in the world to practice."
Applejack nodded. "Can we try one more time? I promise to pay attention this time."
"Of course," she replied, placing her hands back on the keys. "Remember, it starts with C."
The farmer concentrated and followed Rarity's movements, trying to memorize the position of each key. Slowly, she began to play the notes correctly.
"You did it right this time!" the seamstress exclaimed.
"Thanks, Rare," she said with a satisfied smile. "It must be your good teaching."
Rarity smiled and looked at Applejack. "No, AJ, you're putting in the effort. I'm impressed."
Applejack nodded, grateful. "Thanks for always supporting me, Rare."
"Always," Rarity replied with a smile.
Cookie was walking through the front door of the house after a long day at work. She greeted her family in the living room: her daughter Sweetie and her sister Roseluck.
"Hello, everyone."
"Hello, Mom."
"Hello. Where's my brother-in-law?" Roseluck asked.
"Hondo had to stay a little longer," Cookie replied.
"We'll see him at dinner then," the red-haired girl said.
"Where's Rarity? Is she out with her friend again?" Cookie asked.
"Rarity's in the study," the younger girl replied.
"Ah, I see. Thank you, dear."
Cookie began to walk down the hallway that led near the stairs. When she arrived, she opened it without knocking. What she saw took her breath away: Rarity was kissing Applejack. Surprise and dismay were reflected on her face.
"Rarity! What... what's going on here?" Cookie exclaimed.
Rarity and Applejack quickly separated, embarrassed at being discovered.
"Mom... uh... I..."
"I don't want to hear it! What do you think you're doing?" Cookie said with a frown. "I can't believe you kept this from me."
Tears began to form in Rarity's eyes as she watched her mother walk away. Applejack placed a hand on her girlfriend's shoulder in a comforting gesture. Then, she gathered her courage and followed the mother of the family and tried to speak.
"Mrs. Cookie, we..."
"I don't want to hear any excuses. This is... a lot to process," she said, trying to understand.
Roseluck walked into the hallway and put a hand on her sister's shoulder. "Cookie, maybe you should sit down and listen to them."
Cookie looked at her youngest daughter who was quiet watching the scene. "Sweetie Belle, go up to your room."
"Ma.." she was going to say, until she met her aunt's gaze telling her to listen.
Cookie looked at Roseluck after Sweetie Belle went up to her room. A tense silence filled the air as she searched for answers on her sister's face.
"Did you know?" she asked.
Since Roseluck was the first person and family member Rarity told about her doubts, she was also the only one she told about her relationship with the farm girl. No one else knew, which was why they kept their relationship a secret until now.
Since her sister didn't speak, she understood from her silence what that meant. She then looked at the two young women with a mix of confusion and surprise. Rarity was clinging to Applejack, afraid of losing her.
"Mama, we didn't want to hide it, but we didn't know how to tell you," she said, releasing the hug.
Cookie sighed, looking at the farm girl and then at the dressmaker. "This is... hard to accept. Applejack, I need you to leave this house while I think about all of this."
Applejack looked at Cookie, dismayed by the firmness of her words. She turned to Rarity, seeking support, but the distraught expression on her partner's face told her there was no other option. With a lump in her throat, she nodded and headed for the door.
"I'm sorry, Rarity. I didn't mean to cause trouble," the blonde said in a sad tone before heading to the door, opening it, and leaving.
Rarity stood frozen, unable to do anything as she watched Applejack leave. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she struggled to hold back her sobs. Roseluck walked over to her and held her tenderly, sharing her pain.
The seamstress clung to her aunt, seeking comfort amidst the devastation. Cookie saw her daughter in her sister's arms, who stared back at her. "Cookie, remember that a mother's love also means acceptance and understanding."
"...Her mom found us in a compromising situation and kicked me out of the house, and from that moment on I never knew how to decipher the look she gave me," the farmer finished telling.
"Wow, don't tell me they lived a Romeo and Juliet 2.0," Pinkie exclaimed, almost excited.
"Pinkie, we're alive and you know that the Apples supported that relationship," replied Applejack with her arms crossed.
"It was just a reference," Pinkie commented. "So they broke up for a while and then got back together?"
"I'm not going to talk about it, it's already something in the past," Applejack pointed out, making a sign with her hands for her to stop.
"You can't leave me in suspense," she insisted, leaning a little.
"That's in the past, so it doesn't affect me and now everything is fine in my present," Applejack stated, getting up. "Look at the time, I have to go now," she said, taking out her cell phone.
"Come on AJ, don't make an excuse to escape from your past."
"It's not a lie, look, your presentation is almost here," she replied showing her cell phone, then she put it away and started to head for the door, but before that she wanted to comment on something. "And... I'm not escaping from the past, which I'm not attached to," opened the door and went out.
"But you were escaping from your mom," the party girl murmured with a raised eyebrow. "How is that not staying in the past?"
"Okay," she said getting up and determined. "I'm not going to stay with the intrigue, I'll find out somehow what happened," she added taking a magnifying glass out of her hair. "This is a mission for Pinkie Detective Pie!"
"...And the Crusaders!" said the three minors coming out of their hiding place.
"Excuse me? You three naughty girls, when did you follow us?" asked looking at them.
The three of them laughed a little.
"After I saw you take my sister," Apple Bloom explained with a giggle.
"Plus, it was weird seeing her hide under the table," Scootaloo added.
"So we followed them and since Applejack let the door close on its own, we took the opportunity to go inside," Sweetie Belle finished explaining.
"Uh-huh," Pinkie nodded. "Spike isn't hiding?"
"No, he stayed talking to Ember," the youngest Apple answered.
"Can we be part of your investigation?" Scootaloo asked.
"And for what reason would he let them in?" she questioned in detective mode.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom began to look for an excuse.
"I can tell you what happened next," the youngest Belle said with a smile, knowing she had an ace up her sleeve.
"Mmm, okay mini Belle, what happened after that?" Pinkie asked with the magnifying glass in her eye.
Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow at the nickname, but put it aside to begin telling what had happened.
Rarity stood in the kitchen, trying to avoid her mother. She didn't want to face the difficult conversation she knew would come sooner or later. As she was making herself something to eat, she heard a noise behind her and was startled. She quickly turned to find Roseluck, her aunt, looking at her with concern.
"My dear, how are you feeling?" Roseluck asked softly, placing a hand on her niece's shoulder.
The seamstress sighed, looking down for a moment before answering. "Scared, Aunt. I'm worried about how Mom will react now that she knows about Applejack and me. I'm afraid she'll forbid us from seeing each other."
Roseluck squeezed Rarity's shoulder tenderly. "Your mom is going through a process. It's understandable that she's shocked, but that doesn't mean she doesn't love you or want the best for you."
The seamstress nodded, grateful for her aunt's comforting words. Before they could talk any further, Sweetie Belle entered the kitchen. The seamstress tensed at the sight of her younger sister.
"Sweetie Belle, about what you heard the other day... uh, about Applejack and me."
"Rarity, I already knew about you," she revealed, looking at her older sister seriously.
Rarity was speechless for a moment, shocked. "How... how do you know?"
The younger sighed and approached her sister, placing a hand on her arm. "Don't be mad, but I found out that time we watched the movie at the Apple's."
"But... but that night I thought you were asleep."
Sweetie Belle lowered her head. "We pretended to be asleep because Apple Bloom suspected something between you two, and I wanted to find out if it was true."
The seamstress was overwhelmed by her sister's revelation. She hadn't expected her sister to find out before she herself had a chance to speak.
Roseluck looked between the two sisters, worried by the tension in the air. "Sweetie Belle, honey, have you talked to Cookie about this?" she asked softly.
The younger girl shook her head. "No, I've never mentioned anything."
"Rarity, I know my sister can be harsh about these things and it will be hard for her to accept it. She needs to hear you too."
Rarity, with tears in her eyes, said, "I still don't dare to face Mom after she found out about my tastes," then covered her face with her hands. "But I think I have the answer since she took my cell phone away from me."
"I'm sure Mom will understand, if not early, late, but she will," her sister said.
The younger girl and her aunt looked at each other sadly, then approached the seamstress hugging her silently, comforting her.
Present  
"I can tell you what's next, but I think I'd skip a lot to get to that moment," Sweetie Belle commented after finishing telling.
"Wow, they really went through a lot," Scootaloo said in surprise.
"Hmm, so they didn't break up, they just passed another challenge," Pinkie said, pacing thoughtfully.
"Rarity was really sad about not hearing from Applejack. She locked herself in her room because when Mom took her cell phone away, she thought she didn't accept the relationship," the youngest Belle explained.
"It was before school started. And before they met the girls, right?" Apple Bloom said, trying to remember the moment.
"Yeah, it was a few months before they started school," Sweetie Belle confirmed.
"I thought you'd know that," Scootaloo commented, confused.
"I almost mixed up the dates of the two times Applejack was in a state of depression," the youngest Apple said with a giggle.
"Interesting," Pinkie said, trying to sort out the information. "We'll find out what happened."
"So we're in?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Certainly, my dears, and something tells me that Granny Smith must know something," the party girl said.
"I think we should start with my dad," Sweetie Belle suggested.
"Why?" Pinkie asked, curious.
"I know he talked to Mom. I don't know what about, but it was before Rarity talked to her," explained.
"It could be a timeline of events. First Mr. Belle, then Granny Smith, and we'd end with Sweetie Belle. Or, unless Rarity or Applejack dare to tell the ending," Scootaloo suggested.
"I doubt they'll tell us what happened, since according to my sister, she's put the past behind her," Apple Bloom said, rolling her eyes.
"True, and Rarity has only said things that remind her of what happened in the present, but I don't think she'll say anything very profound," the party girl said thoughtfully.
"Then we'll have to wait until next week," Scootaloo said.
Sweetie Belle nodded.
"Okay, Mission Romeo and Juliet 2.0 is in action," Pinkie said, stretching out an arm.
The three of them smiled and, one by one, stretched out an arm and then raised it upward.
"But now let's get back to the great hall. The banquet is about to begin," the party girl said cheerfully.
The four of them headed for the door.
Fluttershy, Sunset, Twilight, and Rainbow walked around the courtyard in complete silence.
Twilight moved a little closer to her pink-haired friend. "Hey, Fluttershy," called quietly.
"Yeah, Twilight?" replied in the same tone of voice.
"Sorry for bringing up that earlier," the blue-haired girl said, feeling a little guilty for making Rainbow look downcast.
"Don't worry, Twi. How were you supposed to guess that topic would come up and that I would talk about the reason why Applejack was depressed that time?" Fluttershy said.
"You're right," Twilight said, calmer.
"But I'm fine with talking about things I already know, as long as it's not about new fights."
"Do you already know all the conflicts they have?" the blue-haired girl asked.
"I kind of know some of the things Rainbow doesn't like about her relationship with Applejack, but AJ's about Rainbow, I'm just deducing, but I'm not sure," Fluttershy said, remembering a bit.
"Wow, I know we had the conversation about the llamas and whatnot, but I didn't think you knew more," Twilight said, surprised.
"Yeah, but like I said, I'm fine as long as I don't get comments about her fights," said with a smile. "We agreed on that with Rainbow."
"Yeah, but she seems to feel guilty about linking that to the calls," Twilight said, looking at the jock, who was walking with her head down.
"Yeah, I noticed. Can I have a moment with her to clear it up?" Fluttershy said.
Twilight nodded and quietly called out to Sunset, who was trying to talk to Rainbow. Once she picked up the call, they both walked away and indicated inside, implying that they would meet in the great hall.
The pink haired girl stopped the athlete by putting her hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Fluttershy, about..."
"Shall we sit down?"
The two of them walked over to a bench and sat down.
"Rainbow, it's okay that you know some things and that I bring them up in conversations," Fluttershy said, trying to convey understanding.
"I feel like you only know about it because of my carelessness in calling you to vent, rather than anything that was discussed with the others."
"I understand, and I'm sorry if that made you feel bad. It's not your fault that things turned out this way," the pink haired girl answered sincerely. "What matters is that you're here now and you're trying to make things right."
Rainbow nodded, relieved by her friend's words, but still a little guilty. Fluttershy, noticing the tension in her friend, brought her hand closer to Dash's, gently interlacing their fingers.
This surprised the athlete, who looked at their joined hands.
"I thought I still..."
"I can make an exception for this time," Fluttershy said with a smile, squeezing her friend's hand slightly. Rainbow smiled and returned the grip, closing her eyes slightly.
"One step at a time," the athlete thought.
Author's Note
The original dialogues when Rarity's mom found out about her sounded very homophobic, so I decided to change them so they weren't so strong and Cookie wouldn't take it that way for that reason.
As for some things that happened, I won't specify what, I'll just say... subtle details (you tell me what you think I'm referring to)
When I wanted to integrate the character of Feather Bangs into the story, I hadn't noticed her eye color, so Rarity's reaction when she noticed it would be like mine, only in Rarity's case it was 'exaggerated' (I can't find the right word) to fit better with the plot. Another thing: the Bieber Pony was actually going to be a cameo, but I ended up integrating it with the role of Casanova.
Another thing, it will take me a while to translate the next one, because I had forgotten that tomorrow I'm going on a trip alone for the weekend so when I get back you'll have chapter

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                      Open your Eyer                       
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Open your Eyer
The great hall was filled with students and visitors, with the aroma of a variety of foods filling the air as the welcoming event continued. Tables were adorned with colorful tablecloths and filled with tempting dishes.
Rarity walked with her mother, who watched with interest. Cookie, with her elegant demeanor and critical gaze, seemed to be assessing every detail.
"Mother, look, there are more booths already. Shall we go?" the seamstress asked with a smile.
"Sure, that Pinkie Pie girl's booth wasn't bad, but that doesn't mean the rest are the same," she replied.
"Hey, Mom, sorry for leaving for a moment," Sweetie Belle said, approaching.
"Oh, dear, where did you go? We came back with Rarity and you were gone," Cookie said with a serious but concerned look.
"I ran into the Crusaders after walking with Pinkie," the younger explained.
"Okay, but next time at least send a message," her mother said.
The younger girl nodded.
"Since we're all three, let's check out the other stalls," Rarity suggested.
Elsewhere, but close enough to the food stalls, Sunset Shimmer and Twilight saw the lady accompanying the dressmaker and the younger girl.
"You know, I know we avoid talking about the subject related to Belle, but I can't help but see her mom," Twilight commented.
"Me too," Sunset added without taking her eyes off her. "From the few times we saw her in the past, I had forgotten quite..."
"...impressive she looks," the blue-haired girl finished, with a curious expression. "She seems to be observing everything with a critical eye."
Sunset nodded.
"Hey, girls, what are you doing?" Applejack asked, approaching.
"Hey, AJ," Twilight greeted.
"Are you... better now?" Sunset tried to find the right words.
"Yeah, sort of," she replied, leaning against the wall and looking at the two beside her with a slight smile.
"As for your question..." the blue-haired girl said unsurely, pointing with her hand at the woman walking with her daughters.
"Oh... Mrs. Belle," Applejack commented, somewhat nervously, crossing her arms.
"Not that we want to get into it, but just looking at her... she does have an air of authority," Sunset observed.
"Do you think that has an impact on Belle?" Twilight asked thoughtfully, adjusting her glasses.
"What do you mean?" the blonde questioned.
"Sometimes, family expectations can be pretty high," continued, moving her hands to emphasize her point.
Applejack looked at her a little confused, scratching her head.
"I think what Twilight is trying to say is if Belle has some sort of expectations to live up to in the family. Maybe because she's the oldest," Sunset explained.
Twilight nodded, her expression serious.
"Ah... I see," said the farmer, turning to look at the dressmaker's mother. "Belle was never required to meet the expectations of her family, or rather, Mrs. Belle... she is a bit strict, though."
Sunset and Twilight nodded, but were surprised that, despite the time, she still remembered some things related to the dressmaker.
"Uh..." Applejack said, and the two looked at her confused when they saw that she was facing the wall.
"What are you doing?" asked Rainbow, approaching with Fluttershy, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing," replied the farmer without taking her eyes off the wall.
The girls looked at each other still confused until Twilight happened to look ahead. She saw that Rarity's mother was a little closer, looking at the table with food facing them, but the lady was more interested in analyzing what was on the plates than in seeing who was watching her. However, a certain seamstress did not miss the girls' gaze, especially the farmer's behavior. Rarity shook her head and, after tasting the dish, the three women walked away.
"Tell me, is she gone already?" the farmer asked in a nervous voice.
Rainbow, who had her arms crossed, answered, but not before rolling her eyes. "If you mean Belle or her mother, they didn't even notice you."
"Fine," the farmer said relieved, turning around and meeting the gazes of her friends. "Nothing's wrong, girls."
"Are you sure?" Fluttershy asked a little worried, frowning.
"I thought you were feeling better now, but I thought it was something else," Twilight commented, glancing sideways at the multicolored haired girl who was looking at the angry blonde.
"Why are you acting like that? She's just Belle's mom," Rainbow said in a slightly annoyed voice.
"I already said it's nothing," insisted.
The sportswoman let out a sigh. "If you say so."
Applejack looked at her with a frown. "And you're just going to stick with that?"
"You're telling me everything's fine, what are you expecting?" Rainbow replied.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe a 'hey, I can tell you're not okay, do you want to talk about it'?" said sarcastically.
"Oh, make up your mind, woman," exclaimed impatiently, raising his hands.
"Girls!"
"I'm just asking," Applejack insisted, waving a hand.
"Girls!"
Rainbow was going to say something else until she felt someone tug on her hand to make her look to her side. Fluttershy took it to draw attention to her, who looked at her with a slight frown. The sportswoman sighed a little. "Let's leave this topic here," she suggested a little more calmly. The pink-haired girl gave her a smile and gently squeezed her hand before letting go.
Sunset and Twilight sighed in relief that it didn't go any further. Applejack, for her part, shook her head.
"I just remembered what we came for," the multicolored haired girl remembered, looking at the girls seriously.
"Did something happen?" Twilight asked, somewhat worried.
"Yeah... the Shadowbolts made it to the next round," she informed, looking at them seriously. "We're facing Central University."
Applejack and Sunset looked at each other.
"Okay, that's to be expected," Applejack commented, trying to stay calm, putting her hands in her pockets. "We'll win today and be one step away from getting there."
The red-haired girl seemed a bit nervous, but she tried to hide it. "Yeah, we'll just face others who couldn't beat the first team they faced, everything will be fine," said, adjusting her jacket.
Twilight, noticing her friend's behavior, thought of some idea to ease the tension.
"We can do it," Rainbow stated with determination. "They're just losers," added, with a half smile.
"I got it," the girl with glasses suddenly exclaimed. "We're in the middle of a food display, and that should definitely calm some nerves."
"Ha, nerves," the athlete said, crossing her arms again and smiling half-smiling. "Come on, Twilight, who are we?"
"We should go, remember that Pinkie is around here, so it wouldn't be right if we didn't try one of her samples," Fluttershy suggested.
"That's true," Applejack nodded.
"Okay, let's go," Sunset said, starting to walk away. Some looked at each other in confusion, but followed her.
The five of them began to try different delicacies. Pinkie was at one of the food tables, accompanied by a group of students, both younger and older, who were there to help serve.
"Mmm, these tacos are amazing!" exclaimed Rainbow, tasting a Mexican-style beef taco. "Where did you get them, Pinkie?"
"Oh, those were brought by the students from the cooking club! The younger ones came up with the idea of serving international food."
"What a great idea they had!" Applejack commented, looking at one of the students who responded with a shy smile.
"Look at these dumplings," Twilight said, holding up a small Chinese bite.
"There are a variety of foods from different countries!" Fluttershy was trying some fresh salad. "This salad is delicious and light. Do you know if they have anything with local ingredients?"
"Sure!" Pinkie replied excitedly. "That table over there has food prepared by the local cooking club. They have some traditional recipes that are amazing."
Meanwhile, some of the younger students were running around the tables, enjoying the event. Apple Bloom was trying to persuade a group of students to give her a second bite of apple pie.
"Come on, please! Just one more," Apple Bloom begged with a smile. "It's for my sister, you know? She deserves it."
"You're trying to get pie for yourself, aren't you?" Spike joked as he took a bite of chocolate cake. "Because I saw you devour the first one completely."
"Well, I can't help but like it a lot!" she said with a mischievous laugh.
"You missed this by insisting," Scootaloo commented, taking a bite.
Sweetie Belle arrived with her mother and Rarity after walking.
"Oh! Hi, girls!"
"Hey, Sweetie Belle! Enjoying the event?" the green-haired boy greeted.
"Yeah! There's so much delicious food!" she replied with a bright smile. "And we've already tried a lot of yummy things. My mom even approved of some of them."
Spike smiled. "That's great. What about you, Rarity? Have you tried anything interesting?"
The seamstress, who was with her mother in a conversation about the dishes they had tried, looked at the boy and girls. "Yes, Spike, we've tried some wonderful things. It's a lovely event."
"I'm glad to hear it!" he exclaimed. "Have you seen Pinkie yet? She's over there with the others."
Rarity looked in the direction Spike was pointing and saw the party girl chatting with the group. Although she felt a little nervous, she decided to approach.
"Mother, do you mind if I go check on Pinkie for a moment?" asked.
Cookie, who was looking at something on her phone, raised her head and nodded. "Go ahead, dear. Just don't take too long."
Rarity approached the party girl, though she was still a little nervous at the sight of the others. "Hey, Pinkie Pie, it looks like you have more samples," said with a smile, though she felt the stares of the others.
"Yeah. Wanna try something savory?" she offered, waving her hands toward the plates.
The girls looked at her with some curiosity.
"Everything okay, Rarity?" Pinkie asked.
"Yeah, everything okay," she said, trying to sound convincing. "Just..." said, nodding and indirectly pointing at the girls.
Pinkie glanced at her friends and then back at the dressmaker. "Relax, just ignore them... you'll see that everything will be back to normal soon," she encouraged optimistically.
Rarity smiled, feeling the optimism of the party rub off on her. "Yeah, I'm hopeful."
The girls couldn't hear the conversation because of the noise. "Hey, how about we try another table?" Fluttershy suggested, feeling the need to give the dressmaker and her friend some space.
The hours passed and it was time for the Wonderbolts' game.
Cookie looked at the time on her watch, frowning as she realized she was late. "Sorry, girls, but it's time for me to go."
"Okay, mother," Rarity said with a smile.
"Yes, and next week we'll be able to enjoy the activities for a longer time," the youngest Belle commented.
"That's right," Cookie nodded. "When I get back to work, we'll convince my boss to give us the whole day to come," she said with a smile.
"See you next week, Mrs. Belle," Pinkie said in her enthusiastic voice.
"Bye," Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said goodbye, waving goodbye.
"Bye, little ones and Pinkie Pie," Cookie said before turning around, walking towards the exit.
"Girls, I see you, we're going to drop her off," the seamstress said, starting to walk with Sweetie Belle behind her mother.
"Don't run away," Pinkie warned, feigning seriousness.
"I'll try not to," she replied with a laugh.
On the stage, Fluttershy and Twilight were ready to make an announcement. The pink-haired girl took the microphone with a shy smile, pursing her lips before speaking.
"Hello, everyone," she said quietly, but loud enough to be heard. "I hope you're enjoying the third day of the welcome event."
Twilight, at her side, added, "We're glad to see so much participation and energy. Now, it's time for everyone to head to the court for the Wonderbolts' long-awaited make-up match."
The pink-haired girl nodded. "That's right. Please follow the volunteers' directions to get to the court in an orderly fashion."
"Thank you and enjoy the game," the blue-haired girl concluded, lowering the microphone.
The students began to move towards the court, guided by the volunteers. Pinkie, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom hurried to join the crowd, eager to watch the game.
Rarity walked with her mother and sister to the car in the parking lot.
"See you at home, darlings," Cookie said with a slight smile.
"Bye, Mother," Rarity waved.
"Bye, Mom. I hope you had fun," the younger girl said with a smile.
The woman let out a snicker. "I wouldn't say it was fun, but I did like what you guys presented and spending time with you."
"Yeah, you did enjoy it," the seamstress said with a smile.
It wasn't sarcasm; despite Cookie's serious expression, her daughters notice when their mom likes or dislikes something, and on this occasion, they noticed that she did have a good time.
After another goodbye, Cookie got into her vehicle, started it, and left for work.
The Belle sisters headed to the back entrance of the school. Sweetie Belle heard that she received a notification. "Look, it seems the recreational game has already been announced," she said excitedly.
"Mmm..." the seamstress said, without much interest.
"Come on, Pinkie said not to run away," said her sister.
"Fine, but first I'm going to make a stop and go to the field," said Rarity.
The conversation over, they headed to the field, though only the younger one, since the seamstress went somewhere else.
As Twilight walked Sunset to the bathroom.
"How are you?" the blue haired girl asked.
"I'm doing fine," Sunset said smiling nervously as she splashed water on her face.
A few seconds later Fluttershy walked through the door. "Hey, girls, I didn't know I'd find you here," she then noticed the red haired girl's unusual expression. "Sunset, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine... Okay, no."
"She got nervous about the game," Twilight explained.
"Oh, Rainbow was just heading to the locker room," said not realizing the effect it would have.
"Ahh..." the red haired girl said turning on the water and splashing more water on her face.
"But don't worry, Sunset, I'm sure everything will be okay," Fluttershy said trying to reassure her.
"I'm not usually like this," Sunset admitted, raising her eyebrows.
"Sometimes our emotions get the better of us no matter how strong your attitude is," Twilight said. "Just breathe, you'll feel better."
"You're right, everything will be fine. We'll just face others who lost, who may not be as strong," she said, inhaling and exhaling.
At that moment, the door opened, revealing a girl with wavy hair. It felt strange to be so close, seeing that they usually see each other from afar and the seamstress tries to avoid the girls.
Rarity turned on the faucet to wash her hands. While she did that, Fluttershy and Sunset exchanged a glance, and Twilight moved away from the wall, looking at her out of the corner of her eye. No one said anything, only the sound of the water could be heard. The seamstress was only focused on washing herself, but she felt somewhat uncomfortable with that silence. After finishing, she went to the towel dispenser.
As she headed for the door, she stopped. She didn't know whether to look at them or not, so she just opened her mouth.
"I heard about the game."
The girls looked up.
"I hope they manage to win. They've proven themselves," Rarity said, giving them a look and then walking out the door.
"That... That was..." Fluttershy was trying to find the words.
"Short but encouraging?" Twilight said.
"I don't know if that was the word I was looking for," the pink-haired girl said, looking at the blue-haired girl and then back at the red-haired girl. "It could be considered moral support."
"Maybe..." Sunset said, remaining silent. "But it was something," she added, almost forming a smile.
The sun was already high. The crowd of students and spectators filled the stands, creating a buzz of excitement and anticipation. In the locker room, the Wondercolts were getting ready for the match.
Rainbow made sure the entire team was ready. "Come on, girls, it's time to win!"
Applejack, beside her, spoke up. "That's right! No moping around, we're going to get through this phase and win!"
Sunset entered the locker room, calmer. "I'm ready," she said with a determined smile. "We're going to win this match."
"Yeaah..."
The team walked out onto the field, receiving a standing ovation from the audience. The rest of the students were in the stands.
"They'll do it this time," Spike commented from beside the blue-haired girl.
"The great and powerful Trixie predicts that they'll win," she said from beside Starlight, on a step above.
Twilight, who was downstairs, gasped. "The probability of success, based on the teams that lost, is approximately..."
"Less statistics and more cheers," Pinkie interrupted, putting on her pom-poms.
On the court, each player was taking their places. The multicolored haired girl waited up front for the referee.
"Look, it's Rainbow Crash," a girl commented.
The athlete looked where the voice came from. "Lightning Dust. I should have guessed you'd be on Central's team," she said with a half-smile.
"I'm not surprised to see you. I already knew you were a loser," Dust replied.
"Ha, and you're here for a reason," Rainbow said with a smirk.
Lightning frowned. "You'll see, Rainbow Crash," said before walking off to her position.
The referee walked up to the center and blew the whistle, starting the game.
"Let's go, Wondercolts!" the party girl cheered, waving her pom-poms and pacing back and forth.
Fluttershy and Twilight laughed a little, and when they looked back at the party girl, she was gone.
The game continued, with both teams fighting. But the Wondercolts managed to maintain an advantage, thanks to coordination and teamwork. Rainbow made an impressive play, dodging Dust and two defenders, and shooting hard towards the goal, scoring a goal that made the stands erupt in joy.
Rarity was at the other end, next to her sister and the Crusaders, who for some reason wanted to sit with her in the stands. She saw the party girl approach this part, starting to cheer, and the others did too.
"Come on, AJ!" exclaimed Apple Bloom.
"Get ahead of that Dust!" shouted Scootaloo.
"That!" cheered Sweetie Belle.
"Come on, Rarity, your turn," said Pinkie.
Her sister looked at her with a smile, waiting for her to say something encouraging. The seamstress tried to find some kind of support. "Up..." said unsure.
"Come on, Rarity, you can do better," the party girl said with a smile.
"You can do it, sister!" said the youngest Belle.
"Yes, Rarity," Apple Bloom nodded. The magenta-haired girl nodded as well.
"Come over to me," the party girl said. Rarity stepped down from her step and approached, and Pinkie hugged her from the side.
"1... 2... 3... You can do it!"
The cheerful girl looked at her so they could try it at the same time. The seamstress wasn't sure, but then nodded.
"You can do it!" they shouted.
The Crusaders nodded and followed the shout.
Time was running out and the scoreboard showed a clear advantage for the Wondercolts. The final whistle rang around the court, signaling their victory. The girls hugged each other and celebrated.
"We did it, girls. We're the best!" said Rainbow, looking at her friends with a smile from ear to ear.
"Yeah, and this is just the beginning," replied Sunset, feeling proud and part of the team.
Applejack nodded. "That's right, we have a lot more ahead of us! But for now, let's enjoy this victory."
And so, the Wondercolts approached their friends and the students who had been cheering them on.
Big Mac and other students helped bring the coolers with the cider back to the court to hand out the bottles to the older students. Rarity watched as they celebrated. Some drank, some didn't.
She walked a little and saw the farmer's brother. "Big Mac?"
"Yep," the eldest Apple said, looking at who was calling him and looking a little surprised.
"It's been... a while," said a little nervously.
Big Mac nodded. "Nice to see you."
Rarity was relieved to see that he didn't seem tense about the past. "Nice to see you again, too," said with a smile.
Pinkie, beside him, gave him a thumbs up and then took a sip from her bottle.
"Do you think we'll ever get to enjoy that stuff you two drink?" Scootaloo asked curiously, looking at the others. "Dash likes it a lot."
"The Apples won't let me try it," Apple Bloom said, crossing her arms.
"My family won't let me either," Sweetie Belle said, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm curious to know what it tastes like."
The party girl smirked and handed him her bottle.
"Really?" Sweetie Belle said, brightly.
"Pinkie," Rarity said, a little serious and frowning.
"A sip won't hurt them, and besides, they might as well try it here," Pinkie said, winking. The seamstress raised an eyebrow, letting it pass.
Sweetie Belle took a sip and immediately made a face of disgust. "Ugh! How can they drink this? I think I'm going to wash my mouth out."
At the sight of their friend, the two younger girls gave up the idea of trying it and followed the youngest Belle into the bathroom.
"I told you so," said, laughing at the end.
"Good, that'll stop her from being curious," Rarity said with a smile.
"Yep," Big Mac said.
"I'll give her a candy to take the taste away," Pinkie said, following the three.
The seamstress looked at the eldest Apple. "Hey, Big Mac, I know this is really late, but I wanted to thank you for all the support in the past. It really meant a lot to me."
He smiled. "We'll always be there to help, Rarity. It's what we Apples do."
As they toasted with cider, with the exception of two, Applejack noticed that the seamstress was talking to her brother, Big Mac. Although the conversation seemed friendly, Rarity's attitude made her seem a little nervous. Soon, she walked away and sat alone on one of the bleachers.
The girls noticed that the older brother was heading their way. Rainbow nudged Applejack to talk to him.
"Big Mac," she began, moving closer to her brother.
"Yep," replied, looking at the girls and then at her sister.
"I saw you talked to... Well, you know," she continued, a little uncomfortable.
"Yep," confirmed, understanding who she was referring to.
"Did something happen?" Applejack asked, trying to understand the situation.
Big Mac raised an eyebrow, confused. "Something like what?"
"Like I'm trying to manipulate you or ask for something in return," the sportswoman commented.
"She looked nervous," Twilight added.
"Yeah, she did. Did she talk about anything in particular?" Fluttershy asked curiously.
Big Mac was starting to frown, analyzing his sister and her friends' behavior a bit. "Nope."
"No?" they asked.
"So I was..."
"Girls, after we talked, I offered her a bottle of cider, but she declined, saying she didn't feel comfortable drinking something she knew you wouldn't approve of," he explained, a little annoyed.
"Is that what she said?" the farm girl asked, surprised.
"That's unexpected," Sunset said, with a surprised expression.
"Care about our comfort?" Twilight wondered.
"Well, maybe..."
Big Mac interrupted Dash in the middle of the conversation, understanding the topic of conversation. "Girls, I'll say something and I hope you understand..." he said, with a serious expression.
The girls nodded at the older man's serious expression.
"Applejack told me about the rumors and misinterpretations that some take as the truth... And you're acting just like them, as if everything Rarity did was related to what happened in the past. Maybe you're interpreting things in a way that doesn't reflect reality."
The girls looked at each other, confused. Big Mac continued, "You should open your eyes and realize that things aren't always as they seem."
With that said, he walked away, leaving the girls in thought. They began to exchange glances full of doubt.
"About what he said," Fluttershy began, still somewhat doubtful.
Rainbow frowned and showed an angry expression. "You know what my answer is," she said, walking away from the group and heading to another part of the stands.
"I don't know what to think," Applejack said, equally confused, and walked off in another direction.
Only Twilight, Sunset, and Fluttershy were left, who looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
"Starlight told me something, but... with what happened before... I don't know," Twilight said confused, and walked away in search of clarity.
"Yesterday was unexpected and the bathroom thing was something, but it's still hard to open my eyes," Sunset said, walking away as well.
Fluttershy watched the two walk away and, not understanding what they meant by some of the things they mentioned, sighed a little. "I..." she was going to say something, but was interrupted by Trixie's voice.
"What happened to the others?" she asked, watching the girls disperse.
"Big Mac told us something that left us thinking," explained.
"It must have been something important if he left them like that," said Starlight, who was next to her gray-haired friend.
"Y-yeah..." said Fluttershy, somewhat downcast, she could see the dressmaker sitting alone in the distance.
"Want to come?" Trixie suggested, pointing to the part of the bleachers where the dressmaker is.
"I felt like going to the bathroom," the pink haired girl made up, heading towards the exit.
"Hmm... What did Big Mac say?" the grey haired girl wondered, leaning towards her friend.
"I get the idea," Starlight said.
Rarity was sitting alone on a step of the bleachers, watching the crowd celebrate the recent victory. She felt someone sit down next to her and turned to see Lyra and Bon Bon, with Trixie and Starlight standing in front of her.
"Why so alone?" Starlight asked.
"I'm not much of a talker," replied, trying to sound casual.
Actually, she was waiting for the party girl, after her she wouldn't have anyone else to talk to, not counting the four girls around her.
"You know, you don't seem like the type to like solitude," Bon Bon commented, leaning towards her a little.
"You can't believe something about someone and it's actually what you don't expect," the seamstress said, forcing a smile.
"So you like being alone?" Trixie asked, raising an eyebrow.
Rarity just nodded, even though she knew she was lying. Her biggest fear had always been being alone. She thought of the dark days after she distanced herself from her friends, when she only had her family for support.
"So you don't go to parties or drink either?" Lyra asked, offering her a half-full bottle.
The seamstress hesitated a bit and looked around surreptitiously before accepting the bottle. "Actually, I do drink from time to time. When I was out of town, I went to pubs, danced, and did everything else."
"At least you had fun while studying online," Bon Bon said, smiling.
"You weren't that Twilight," Trixie joked, getting a nudge from her friend.
"I had some free time after catching up on university," Rarity said, taking a sip of cider. "Wow, it's good!"
"Yeah, the Apples have their thing," Starlight commented, smiling.
The seamstress smiled, remembering the times she saw the Apple family at work. "Something tells me they do it with a lot of love."
The four of them nodded. Rarity allowed herself to relax a bit, enjoying the company.
Elsewhere, Applejack was returning to the stands after trying to clear her thoughts, though without coming to any conclusion. She saw Apple Bloom with Big Mac, both of them looking at the coolers in confusion.
"What's wrong?"
"The thing is, Big Mac was going to give the remaining ration to other students, but it's not there," Apple Bloom explained.
"What do you mean it's not there? That's weird," she said, raising an eyebrow.
"Someone most likely took it out," Big Mac said.
Applejack frowned, knowing full well who could have done it. "Dash," muttered angrily, walking over to find the jock.
In another area of the stands, Rainbow was with Gilda and another student, toasting.
"It's just that we girls are amazing... Not 20% cooler than me, but..."
"We'll beat the other losers," Gilda said.
"You read my mind," said, taking another sip from the bottle.
"Dash!" Applejack called to the athlete in an angry voice.
"Is something wrong?" asked Rainbow, looking at her from her position.
"You took out another cider ration again!" accused the blonde.
"What are you talking about?" asked the multicolored haired girl, looking at the bottle and then at the farmer.
"Don't act like it, I know you and you've taken rations from me many times," said, pointing at her with her finger.
"I know I haven't asked you for permission before, but this time..." she tried to say.
"You did it again like always!" said Applejack, interrupting her.
"Can you even listen?" Rainbow complained.
"No need..."
Gilda rolled her eyes at the scene and spoke up. "Hey farm girl, it wasn't Dash who took that ration from you."
"So what was it?" she said still in an annoyed voice.
"It was us," the other girl said.
"We saw Rainbow looking lost in her thoughts and thought that drinking a little more and talking would help," Gilda said.
"You see," Rainbow said, looking at the blonde a little annoyed. "I already thought it was weird that she had enough to be able to drink two bottles," she said looking at her friends.
The farm girl made a face. "Fine, but next time ask permission," said looking at the two girls and left that part of the stands.
The athlete frowned when she didn't receive at least a 'I was wrong, okay' from the blonde before leaving.
After the celebration on the court, some students helped clean up. When everything was ready, they said goodbye and headed home.
The weekend passed with an air of reflection. Big Mac's words echoed in the girls' minds. Some were a little hesitant as their emotions were conflicted, while another felt nostalgic for moments shared in the past since their return, but they didn't dare to follow in Pinkie Pie's footsteps. One in particular still held resentment for what the dressmaker did and refused to give her the chance.
Monday arrived, bringing with it the start of the second week of the welcome event. Fluttershy was riding in the car with her family, somewhat distracted, but listening to what they were saying.
"We're sure going to have an amazing time," her mom said, smiling as she looked out the window.
"I hope we don't have to work," her brother added.
Fluttershy just smiled and nodded, looking out the window as she nervously played with her fingers.
Once they arrived and parked the car, they headed to the great hall.
"Mom, Dad, and Zephyr, I have some information to give and then I'll meet you again," she said, pointing towards the stage.
"We'll wait for you," her dad replied, patting her on the shoulder affectionately.
"See you later, Flutters," her brother said.
After saying goodbye, she walked around the side to enter the stage from the back. As she walked up, she saw her bespectacled friend, who seemed lost in thought, her gaze fixed on the ground.
"Hello, Twilight," she said softly, touching her arm.
The girl seemed to come back to reality at the sound of her voice. "Fluttershy, hello," she greeted, raising her head and smiling weakly.
Fluttershy sat down next to her.
"How was your weekend?" Twilight asked with her head down.
The pink-haired girl understood what she meant. "I've been thinking a lot about what she said to us..." she admitted.
"Yes," Twilight said in an uncertain tone, nodding slowly.
Fluttershy thought about it for a bit before speaking. "Have you ever felt like talking to her like Pinkie did?"
"I don't have a concrete answer to that," Twilight said, looking at her.
"She's given us our space and she doesn't push us like she used to and Friday was a nice gesture," the pink-haired girl said with a smile.
The blue-haired girl nodded. "Open your eyes..."
"Open your eyes?"
"It's ironic, isn't it?" Twilight said, laughing humorlessly. "Us trying to convince the others of the misconception of what happened that day at lunch..."
"...And us possibly doing the same to Belle," the pink haired girl said.
Twilight nodded, staying silent for a few seconds. "What will the others... and you too think about giving her another chance?" she wondered.
"I don't know if it's okay, but we could keep our opinions about giving her a chance private for now," Fluttershy suggested.
"That... could be an option," the bespectacled girl said, straightening up a bit. "It would avoid conflicts in the group for the time being."
"Though with Rainbow it's obvious what she thinks," the pink haired girl said, a little sadly.
"Yes. She was the one on the receiving end of Belle's act, so it makes sense that she's still resentful," the blue haired girl said. "If things really aren't as they seem, Dash would be the hardest to convince."
The pink haired girl nodded. "Do you think that if in the future we go back to how we were before... Applejack and Belle... they could become friends?" asked with a mix of curiosity and hope.
"Uff... I haven't heard of a person and their ex becoming friends," replied thoughtfully.
"Only the future will tell, and with us too," Fluttershy said with a slight smile.
Twilight nodded, smiling back.
With the conversation over, they both stood up to take the microphones and start today's day.
"Good morning, everyone!" Twilight began with a smile. "We hope you had a great weekend."
"Today we have several family activities prepared for you to enjoy and spend some quality time together," Fluttershy continued with her soft and kind tone. "First, we'll let the families mingle a bit."
"And in a few minutes, please head over to the court area," the blue-haired girl added. "There you can participate in games."
"We hope you enjoy the day and have lots of fun!" the animal lover concluded.
With that, the families began to move around and prepare for the day's activities.
In the audience area, a lady was watching the two girls on stage, scrutinizing them a bit.
"Rarity?"
"Yes, mother," replied.
"Aren't those some of the girls you used to hang out with?" the lady asked, pointing towards the two girls.
Rarity watched as the two girls walked out of sight. "They are," she said, a little sadly.
"I see. You're making an effort to get their friendship back with them," her dad said, placing a hand on his daughter's shoulder.
"Some of them," the dressmaker said with a sad smile.
"You know, sister, sooner or later things will be like they were," Sweetie Belle said with an encouraging smile.
"All in good time, daughter," her dad added, giving her a warm smile. Rarity felt happy for her family's support.
From a distance, Applejack was watching the Belle family, a little nervously.
"Family, could you do me a favor?" she said with a tight smile. "First, Big Mac, I'm still thinking about what you told us."
Her brother smiled.
"The Belles are here, and well, you know the story. We could try to... uh... avoid them, at least for now," said, showing a forced smile.
Apple Bloom put a hand to her forehead. "Are you serious, Applejack?"
"By the Belles, do you mean that Rarity girl?" Granny Smith asked. The blonde nodded. "I didn't know she was back."
"But she was, Granny," the younger one said.
The older lady nodded. "And as for what you said, I thought you were over that, young lady."
"I'm over it. Who says I wasn't?" Applejack replied, shaking her head and smiling nervously.
"Your attitude says so!" Apple Bloom pointed out.
Big Mac nodded with his arms crossed.
"So, is it a no or a yes?" the farm girl asked, trying to change the subject.
The three Apples sighed, shaking their heads a little, but ended up agreeing to the request.
A cheerful voice was heard behind them. "Hello, Apple family!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, approaching with a big smile, followed by her sisters.
Applejack turned and smiled. "Pinkie, Maud, Marble, and Limestone."
Maud, with her characteristic expression, greeted with a simple "Hello."
Marble hid a little behind Maud, mumbling a shy "Mmm hmm."
Limestone, with her arms crossed and a slightly grumpy expression, said, "Pinkie insisted that we come, so here we are."
"Since Mom and Dad couldn't make it, I brought my sisters," she explained.
Granny Smith approached with a smile. "It's good to see you all. It's been a while since we've had the Pies around here!"
Big Mac nodded, greeting each of the Pie sisters with a nod. "Yep."
"So nice to see you all together!" Apple Bloom said, hugging Maud excitedly.
"Can you imagine the Pies and the Apples teaming up to compete?" the party girl said with a smile.
The Apples laughed a little. Pinkie noticed something in the blonde's expression. "Hey, AJ! Everything okay? You seem a little tense."
Applejack sighed, trying not to worry too much. "Yeah, everything okay, Pinkie. Just things on my mind..."
"Don't worry, cousin! We're here to help you relax and enjoy the event," Pinkie said, patting her on the back.
"Thanks, Pinkie."
Although something told her that wasn't what had her so tense. "Psss," the party girl heard. She looked over and saw that it was Apple Bloom.
Apple Bloom discreetly pointed in a direction. Pinkie followed her gaze and saw the Belles. She put the threads together and deduced that that was what really had the farmer like that.
"So, family, how about we hang out with the others a bit?" suggested.
"Where do you want to go?" Granny Smith asked.
"I was thinking of starting over there," she said, pointing in the direction where Rarity's family was.
"How about Dash's family, or the Shys, or I know, Twilight's family? There are a lot of them," Applejack said, giving a push.
The Pie sisters didn't ask, so they started walking. Pinkie stayed behind and saw that she wasn't the only one, as the youngest Apple stayed behind as well. Once they were a little far away, the youngest saw the party girl.
"She asked us to avoid the Belles," she revealed, raising an eyebrow.
"Hmm, and you agreed?" Pinkie asked.
"Yes."
"I see," she said, somewhat thoughtfully.
"Shall we begin the mission?" Apple Bloom said, cheerfully.
"Can't we just go and say hello and ask what happened after Mrs. Belle found out about AJ and Rarity," Pinkie said quietly.
"So how do we get the information out?" Apple Bloom asked.
"We'll talk first, and then after a talk, we'll wait for the right moment," said, determined. "Now! Let's go say hello to the other families."
The two of them began to walk, following their family.
The Shy family walked around the hall, enjoying the festive atmosphere. Suddenly, Fluttershy's mother noticed a familiar family.
"Look, Fluttershy! It's Rainbow's family!" exclaimed, pointing towards them.
The family approached, and the pink-haired girl's mother stepped forward to say hello.
"Rainbow Dash!" said excitedly, gently squeezing Rainbow's cheeks. "Look how much you've changed! I like your new look."
Rainbow smiled, though slightly awkwardly, as she replied, "Thank you, Mrs. Shy," trying to break free.
"Hello, Windy," Fluttershy's mother said.
"Hello, we haven't seen each other for almost a year," Rainbow's mother said.
"Yeah, it seems our daughters have been so busy with college, we weren't lucky enough to see each other last time at the family outing," Mr. Shy commented.
"I hope we can get together next time," Bow added.
The parents of both families continued to chat.
Zephyr, with his usual confidence, approached Rainbow with a smile. "Hey, Dash. Have you noticed how good I look? What do you say…"
"Zephyr… Not going to happen." interrupted.
Zephyr wasn't discouraged and continued, "Come on, Dash. I know you have feelings for me deep down."
Scootaloo laughed.
Rainbow rolled her eyes and turned to Fluttershy. "How was your weekend?"
The pink haired girl smiled shyly. "It's been quiet. Though thinking a little about what you already know…"
The athlete made a face before she could say anything, and heard the farmer's voice.
"Hey girls," she greeted.
"I thought you were coming with Pinkie," Fluttershy said.
"Yeah, after talking to Sunset's family, she got separated from us," the farmer explained.
"Apple Bloom, how about we go find Sweetie Belle?" the magenta haired girl suggested.
"Can I go?" Apple Bloom asked her family.
"Don't get into any mischief," said Grandma Smith.
Meanwhile, Pinkie was arriving with her sisters to greet the dressmaker's family.
"Hello, Belle family," greeted Maud in her signature tone, not showing much emotion.
Marble nodded shyly, hiding behind Maud a bit.
"There was no other way," said Limestone, crossing her arms.
Cookie nodded. "It's nice to see you," said, tilting her head slightly.
Rarity, somewhat surprised, smiled at the sight of the party girl's sisters. "Maud, Marble, Limestone... It's been so long!" She extended a hand to Maud, who shook it firmly but without changing her expression.
Pinkie jumped up and down excitedly. "Yes! Too long! We have so much catching up to do!" She jumped in place, her curls bouncing with each movement.
Maud, in her monotone, added, "It's good to see you, Rarity," as she placed a hand on her sister Marble's shoulder to encourage her to say hello.
"Hello," Sweetie Belle greeted, smiling widely.
Limestone watched the seamstress and her sister with a mix of curiosity and seriousness, raising an eyebrow.
Hondo leaned forward a little. "How has my daughter been at university?" he asked with interest.
Pinkie, in her usual cheerful tone, replied, "Rarity is full of surprises and her elegance turns many heads."
The seamstress shook her head slightly, smiling.
Mrs. Belle, keeping her serious tone, turned to Pinkie and her sisters. "Why don't we go for a walk and you tell us what's become of you?" she suggested, gesturing toward the road.
"That sounds wonderful! What do you girls think?" asked, looking at her sisters.
Maud nodded. "Okay."
Marble nodded shyly.
Limestone, still with her arms crossed, said, "I suppose we could say a few things."
Rarity added, "It'll be a good chance to catch up and enjoy the event."
"Great!" Pinkie exclaimed, clearly excited, as they began walking together.
Two younger girls approached the family.
"Apple Bloom, Scootaloo," Sweetie Belle said, and the three began to chat animatedly.
Hondo smiled as he saw his daughters, especially Rarity, who seemed to be making progress with reconciliation. He looked around a little and met the gaze of another girl in the distance, managing to recognize her.
"Daughter?" he called with a slight frown.
"Yes, daddy?" Rarity replied, stopping.
"Isn't that girl...?"
Rarity followed his gaze and saw the blonde who quickly looked away. "Yeah, that's the same AJ you know," he said with narrowed eyes.
Hondo's eyes widened. "Wow, I didn't think I'd see her again. And what's the reason for that behavior?"
"She's been acting like that ever since she saw Mother last week," she explained as he crossed his arms. "I told her everything was okay but apparently she's still stubborn."
"But your Mother isn't like that anymore... She supports you, just like the other stuff," her Dad said.
Rarity stood firm. "Dad, no," she said shaking her head.
"Rarity, you need to give yourself a chance," Hondo said with a sad look. "Everyone thinks that."
"I don't," she replied with a serious look. "I don't want to do that anymore... I don't want to disappoint Mother with my studies."
Her Dad looked at her with an understanding look. "I understand. I know you'll live up to her expectations," he said with a smile, giving him a light squeeze on the shoulder.
The seamstress smiled and continued walking.
"You noticed, didn't you?" Pinkie said beside her in detective mode.
"Yes," he answered in a sad tone.
"My cousin acted like that and told me a part I didn't know about their relationship,"said quietly.
"And we want to know what happened," Sweetie Belle added, looking at her father curiously.
"Ah, that's what they mean," Hondo said seeing that they weren't on the same page. "What part of their relationship are they referring to?"
"We know that's something in the past, but we're still curious," Pinkie said, lowering her voice.
"What happened after Mrs. Cookie found out?" Apple Bloom whispered.
"I could tell you, but tell you while everyone else is around?" Hondo said watching as students and family members walked by. "Besides, I don't want to leave my family alone."
Pinkie was thinking of an idea for how to tell it. "Got it! How about telling it in a subtle way, like in code?"
"In code?" Hondo asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Using code names to replace names. For example..." she began, lowering his voice. "My cousin would be Peasant, Rarity can call her Diamondhead, and if you count Mrs. Cookie, um... Senior Diamond."
"That's a great idea," Sweetie Belle said brightly. "Although we might not understand anything," added with a smile. The other two nodded.
"Relax, Crusader, if they don't understand, I'll tell them the encrypted message," the party girl said, dismissing it with a wink.
"Well, after my is... I mean, Senior Diamond..."
Pinkie nodded.
Hondo smiled and continued in code as best he could. "When Senior Diamond found out about Diamondhead..."
Three years ago: Ending Spring :Spring; Days Later  
Hondo was in the kitchen making himself and his wife a coffee, who was waiting for him on the couch, as it was her turn to use the television. Once ready, he took the cups and walked to the living room.
As he sat back down, he noticed Cookie's worried and distracted expression.
"What's wrong, honey? You've been acting more serious than usual this week," Hondo said, concerned.
Cookie looked at Hondo seriously before taking a breath and speaking. "Hondo, I need to talk to you about something I saw."
Her husband sat down next to her, noticing the seriousness in her tone.
"Sure, what's wrong?" Hondo asked, waiting.
Cookie sighed before continuing, choosing her words carefully. "I saw Rarity making out with Applejack."
Hondo was speechless for a moment, shocked by the revelation. After a brief silence, his expression softened. "Rarity and Applejack? That's... a surprise."
"Yes, it is. And I can't say that I approve of that relationship."
Hondo nodded, showing understanding towards his wife's feelings. However, he also felt the need to be honest about his own feelings.
"I understand your concerns, sweetheart. But we must remember that Rarity is our daughter, and the most important thing is that she is happy and safe."
Cookie looked at her husband, surprised by his response. "What if... what if this isn't the right thing for her? I know my daughter, she's never been interested in girls."
"Honey, love doesn't always go the way we expect it to."
Cookie was silent for a moment. "I'm still not sure."
"Did you do something?" he asked, concerned.
"I wanted to give her time to reflect. I didn't want her to go through with something that could just be a phase or an impulse," Cookie said, frowning. "That's why I asked for her cell phone."
Hondo looked down for a moment before looking back up. "I hope you didn't lock her up."
"Oh, Hondo, I'm not the evil stepmother," Cookie said, looking at him. "She's upstairs. She doesn't dare come out if I'm around." She let out a sigh. "I've heard her cell phone ringing with calls from Applejack non-stop."
"She might not dare face you to talk about her feelings," Hondo deduced.
"It's possible."
"You have to understand that if this is what makes Rarity happy, we need to be there to support her, no matter what," Hondo said, comforting his wife.
Cookie mused silently and didn't respond right away. Her husband walked over to her and hugged her. She hugged him back.
"And then that night I talked to Diamante," Hondo continued, looking at Pinkie and the others. "At first, she didn't dare look me in the face."
"What did you tell her, Dad?" Sweetie Belle asked, leaning forward.
Hondo remembered the conversation clearly. "I told her that I was fine with her liking a girl. That there was nothing wrong with that and that her happiness was the most important thing to me. I explained that her mother just needed time to process it."
Pinkie nodded understandingly. "That must have been a relief to her."
"Yeah," she continued and let out a laugh. "Then, with a smile, she showed me something she always used to hide when we entered her room. It was a picture of her and a country girl in a green frame that she put on her bedroom dresser."
"She had one too?!" Pinkie exclaimed with a smile. "A certain blonde had one too, but it was white."
"I remember seeing her a couple of times," Apple Bloom said with a smile that changed to a sad one. "I also remember when... let's focus."
Her friends and the party girl looked at her wanting to know more, but decided to continue listening to Hondo.
"Do you know if the two of you, I mean mother and daughter, talked before coming to an agreement?" Pinkie asked.
"Yes and no... days later, when we had lunch or dinner, Diamondhead avoided looking at her, but sometimes she tried to talk, but fear won over her," Hondo continued.
"But why didn't she go out to see her if she was on vacation?" Scootaloo asked curiously.
"Diamond, when she thinks she did something wrong, she tends to punish herself," Hondo said sadly.
Sweetie Belle lowered her head sadly; that happened to her sister too in the three years.
"But at some point they saw each other, right?" said Scootaloo.
Hondo nodded. "With Rose, we talked to Diamondhead making her see that she wasn't wrong and not to punish herself by locking herself away, so one day she left home in desperation."
Pinkie snapped her fingers. "Grandma Smith!" she said at the same time as Apple Bloom.
"Thank you, Mr. Hondo, I think we have enough information to continue with the events," said the party girl, thanking her.
"You're welcome and thank you for being there for my daughter," said Hondo with a smile.
Pinkie smiled at him and then began walking with the Crusaders.
"I'll see you later, dad. It's time to continue with the mission," said Sweetie Belle before following her friends and the party girl.
As they walked, Pinkie had a question.
"Hey, Sweetie Belle, I was wondering, what happened to your aunt?"
"Afterwards, Rarity was allowed to take care of the house, so Aunt Roseluck only came often, but now it would be difficult for her to come," answered.
"Why?" asked Scootaloo.
"She also left town some time after we left. She got married, has a family already, and is working, so if she comes it would be difficult," explained.
"I understand, getting permission from work, plus the plane ticket and lodging," Pinkie said.
Sweetie Belle nodded.
They continued walking, heading towards the area where some families were gathered. Pinkie waved her hand.
"Grandma Smith!" she exclaimed, pointing to an older woman who was chatting with the Shys and Dash's family.
Apple Bloom nodded. "Yeah, there she is!"
They approached the group and met Granny Smith.
"Hello again, Granny Smith!" Pinkie greeted enthusiastically. "Can we talk for a moment?"
Granny Smith, with a kind expression, replied. "Sure! What's going on?"
"We're on a mission to find out the loopholes in AJ's past relationship with you-know-who," Apple Bloom said.
"As far as we know, Peasant and Diamondhead were estranged for a while since Diamondhead's mom found out about their relationship," Pinkie explained.
"Peasant and Diamondhead?" Granny Smith asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Granny, those are the code names for Rarity and my sister," Apple Bloom said quietly.
"We want to know more about how Peasant Girl lived through those days," Scootaloo explained. "Could you tell us a little bit?"
"I thought this was in the past, but seeing AJ's behavior..." Granny Smith said.
"That's a yes," Scootaloo said, shaking a fist in celebration.
"Wait, don't forget to use code names. Some people here might hear things, and we've already covered what happens when someone overhears," Pinkie said, looking around.
Granny Smith nodded, looking at the girls curiously. "Well, when she didn't hear anything when she tried to contact them, she was down and worried."
"Appl... Country Girl was afraid that if the lady... found out she was trying to see Diamondhead, she might ban her from entering," she continued. "She didn't want to cause any more trouble for you-know-who, so she just kept waiting and trying to contact her without success."
"That explains it!" said the party girl. "So, while Diamondhead was isolating herself, Country Girl was in a state of uncertainty."
Granny Smith nodded. "Exactly. Country Girl was very worried, but she didn't know how to get close without causing more trouble."
"As far as we know, Diamondhead went looking for Country Girl after she was 'locked in,'" Scootaloo said.
Granny Smith nodded. "Yeah, she did."
Sweetie Belle leaned in a little. "What happened when Diamondhead tried to meet Country Girl?"
"It was nice, but..."
At the farm, Applejack was working picking apples. Her sad expression reflected her concern, as she hadn't heard from Rarity in days and her calls hadn't been answered.
At that moment, she had her cell phone in her hand with the incoming call hoping that the seamstress would pick up, but again she got no answer.
"How are you doing, Applejack?" Granny Smith asked as she stepped out into the yard.
The farmer put the cell phone in her pants pocket. "I'll be back, Granny Smith. I was just... trying... something," said in a dejected voice.
Granny Smith, trying to cheer up her granddaughter, walked over. "Applejack, you'll hear from her soon," she said, trying to be positive.
The blonde sighed, looking at the ground. "I want to know how she is, Grandma. What if she listened to her mom?"
Before Granny Smith could answer, there was a knock on the door. The elderly woman headed into the house to open it, as they were in the backyard.
Opening the door, she was met by Rarity, who looked tired and agitated.
"Hello, Rarity. We finally hear from you," she said, surprised to see her. "Things seem to have happened."
"Hello, Granny Smith. Tell me Applejack is home," Rarity asked, trying to catch her breath.
"Yeah, she's in the backyard picking apples."
When they reached the yard, the old lady called out to her granddaughter. "Applejack, you have company."
From the stairs, she answered in a dejected voice. "I don't want to see anyone."
"Jackie..."
The farm girl's eyes widened at the voice. She turned around carefully and saw her. Without a second thought, she jumped off the stairs and ran to Rarity. When they met, they hugged each other as if they hadn't seen each other in years.
"Rarity... you're here," said, still hugging her.
The seamstress, with tears in her eyes, replied, "I missed you so much. I came to talk about my mom."
The two of them moved away a little, but without breaking the hug. The farmer lowered her gaze, expecting the worst.
"I don't care if my mother tries to stop us from being together. I'll never leave you, Applejack."
The farmer's eyes lit up and she smiled at what she had said, feeling immense relief at having Rarity in her arms. "For a moment I thought you would leave me."
"Never."
They both slowly approached until they reached each other's lips.
Granny Smith, watching the scene, smiled tenderly. "It seems that love always finds a way."
After a few seconds, they separated.
"Yeah... I couldn't leave my little apple," said Rarity, touching the blonde's nose with her own.
"And I couldn't let them take my marshmallow away from me," said the farmer.
Granny Smith raised an eyebrow at how the mood was getting too lovey-dovey.
"You know, if you're going to get naughty, I'll just go take a stroll around the block," said as she entered the house.
The two blushed a little as they watched the older lady leave. They heard the front door close.
"Uhh... hahaha... Looks like we have the house to ourselves," Rarity joked. She then looked at the blonde, who had a half smile on her face.
"Are you considering it?" asked with a bit of surprise.
"Why not? We have Granny Smith's blessing," Applejack said in a playful tone of voice. "Only if my sweet maid wants it."
"Mmm... I don't know," Rarity said, wrapping her arms around the farm girl's neck. "I could check again to see if your mattress is softer than mine."
"Let me tell you, yours isn't bad, but mine beats it," said, raising an eyebrow and giving a mischievous half-smile.
"Is there anyone else home?" asked, still in a flirtatious tone.
"No, just us."
"We should take a tour to check if there's no one upstairs," the seamstress said, releasing the farm girl.
"That's a great idea. Let's start the tour, which ends in my room," said, ending with a giggle. She took Rarity by the hand and the two of them entered the house and went up to the second floor.
"They hugged each other like they hadn't seen each other in a while. Then they got all lovey-dovey, so I left, but I don't know if those two naughty girls did it," Granny Smith finished.
Pinkie laughed a little, covering her mouth. "Knowing how they were, I'd bet it did."
"What do you mean naughty?" Sweetie Belle asked, intrigued, frowning.
"Did they break something?" Apple Bloom asked, curious, tilting her head to the side.
"Or did they hear things?" Scootaloo asked, raising an eyebrow.
Granny Smith and Pinkie looked at each other a little, searching for a way to respond without being too explicit.
"Uhh..." the party girl began, searching for the right word.
"Let's just say they heard something," Granny Smith commented, waving her hand to downplay the importance.
"Intense stuff," the party girl joked, laughing again and winking.
The Crusaders looked at each other a little confused, trying to figure out the meaning of Pinkie and Granny Smith's words.
The party girl, noticing the confusion, decided to change the subject. "Well, the important thing is that they found each other," said, patting Sweetie Belle on the back. "Now we know more about what happened."
"Do you know anything else?" Scootaloo asked, raising a hand.
"From what I remember, they wanted to make up for lost time and one of them went to Diamondhead's house," Granny Smith recalled, nodding her head.
"Now comes the part I said!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed excitedly, raising her hands in the air.
She saw some people around her looking at her for raising her voice, so she blushed slightly.
"Oops... But this time we should go somewhere else since I might miss the code names," suggested, lowering her voice and looking at her friends.
"Great idea," Scootaloo said.
"Okay! Let's go to the lair," Pinkie said, pointing to no specific place, with a wide smile.
The Crusaders and Granny Smith looked at her somewhat confused.
"To the locker room, I thought you'd understand me?" the party girl clarified, lowering her shoulders with a sigh.
"Okay, Crusader to the lair," Apple Bloom ordered, putting her hands on her hips with determination.
"Come back in a few minutes, it's almost time for the activities to start," Granny reminded, raising a hand in farewell.
"Yes, Granny, and thanks for filling in the story," the youngest Apple thanked, before starting to walk with the others, waving at them.
"Now what is Apple Bloom up to with her friends?" Applejack wondered, walking over with Rainbow and Fluttershy as she watched them walk away.
"You could say she's solving a case," Granny Smith replied, smiling.
"Those girls still have quite the imagination," Rainbow commented, watching them walk away.
"They're still young to be playing detective," Fluttershy added, in her typical soft voice, smiling slightly.
"I don't know what Pinkie's doing playing detective, though," the recorder said, but waved it off. "Shall we go outside?" she suggested, looking at her familiar and the two girls.
In the locker room, the Crusaders and the party girl had already arrived, so they settled into the chairs provided, Pinkie sitting cross-legged with a smile.
"Okay, time to end the story," Apple Bloom said, resting her hands on her knees and looking at her friend.
"Let me remember," the youngest Belle murmured, with a finger on her chin and looking up thoughtfully. "I got it, I went out with Mom and Dad without Rarity."
"Without Rarity?" Scootaloo asked, leaning forward.
"Sometimes we have another outing that's just with me," explained, shrugging.
"Like sister outings? Only this time it would be parents and just the youngest," Pinkie said, leaning in a little and smiling.
"I guess that would be the description," Sweetie Belle nodded.
"So, how does that challenge you had continue or end?" Scootaloo asked, eagerly.
"Like I said, I went out with my parents and apparently Mom and Dad had another talk with Mom regarding Rarity..."
A couple of days later, Rarity and Applejack were at the Belle's house, enjoying the tranquility of the backyard. There were a couple of comfortable sun loungers, where they were both lying down, talking and laughing, trying to make up for lost time. Aunt watched them with a smile, happy to see her niece happy again.
Meanwhile, at the entrance, Cookie, Hondo, and Sweetie Belle arrived at the house after spending the day outside. Upon entering, they saw Roseluck entering through the backyard.
"Hello, Rose," Hondo greeted.
She tensed up upon seeing them. "Hello. I thought you'd be a little later," said, trying to hide her nervousness.
Hondo gave Cookie a sympathetic look, who sighed before nodding.
"Is Rarity in her room?" she asked.
"No, she's in the yard."
"We need to talk to Rarity," the mother of the house said in a serious tone, starting to walk towards the yard.
Roseluck put a hand on her sister's shoulder and whispered, "Wait... first promise you won't make a scene."
Cookie looked at her sister, confused. "Is she here?"
The red-haired one didn't say anything, so Cookie assumed the blonde was with her daughter. Without further ado, she opened the door and stepped out into the yard. Sweetie Belle, curious not to miss anything, followed her parents.
Rarity was now sitting with Applejack on the lounge chair, both playing with their fingers almost intertwined.
"Rarity."
The dressmaker stood up upon hearing and seeing her mother. The farm girl, noticing Cookie's firm gaze, slowly stood up, preparing to leave.
"Applejack, I need..." Cookie began.
"No, mom," the dressmaker interrupted determinedly. "I won't let you talk without hearing me out first."
The rest of the Belles were shocked to see Rarity take such a firm stance. Cookie's eyes widened, impressed.
"I don't care what you think about my relationship with Applejack. I'm not going to leave her, no matter if you accept her or not."
Cookie saw the determination in her daughter's eyes.
"Rarity, I need you to understand that this doesn't just affect you," said, trying to remain calm.
"I don't need you to understand everything right away, Mom," she replied. "What I need is for you to accept me as I am and also that Applejack is part of my life and that I'm not going to separate from her. She's the most beautiful thing that's ever happened to me."
The blonde, moved by her girlfriend's words, approached and took her hand, intertwining them tenderly and smiling at her.
Roseluck, observing the scene, approached her sister. "Cookie, I think we should listen to Rarity. She's sure of her feelings."
Applejack looked up. "Mrs. Cookie, I know this isn't easy for you, but I want you to know that I care deeply about your daughter. I'm here to make her happy and take care of her."
Cookie looked at the farmer with surprise and seriousness, then looked back at her daughter, but before speaking she sighed. "Rarity, although I can't promise that I'll understand this right away, I want you to know that you're my daughter and, although I still think this may be a phase, I hope that you're sure of your decision."
Rarity, firmly and with tears in her eyes, nodded. "I am... She's worth it," she said, looking at the blonde who looked back at her and smiled at her.
Cookie sighed with a serious expression, took out the cell phone she had taken from her and handed it to her with a resigned gesture. "I hope you're right."
Hondo smiled, seeing that despite the resistance, his wife was willing to accept their daughter's relationship. Sweetie Belle and Roseluck exchanged smiles, happy to see Rarity stand up to her mother for love.
Present  
"Wow! It was like when Rainbow once stood up to Professor Spitfire and everyone was shocked since she's just as strict," Scootaloo said.
"It was..." Apple Bloom started, but the party girl beat her to it.
"It was like something out of a novel!" she exclaimed.
Apple Bloom looked at her a little incredulously. "What I was going to say is that she was brave to stand up to her mother, someone who always seems to have a lot of authority in the house. No offense, of course."
The three of them found it curious that Sweetie Belle didn't say anything. They looked at her and noticed that she had a sad expression.
"What's wrong, Sweetie Belle?" the magenta-haired girl asked.
"Yeah, it's like what you told us was sad," Pinkie said confused.
"And it's not?" she said, still with the same expression.
"What are you talking about?" Apple Bloom asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I admired at the time how Rarity stood up to Mom, but..." Sweetie Belle sighed before continuing. "What good did it do? I don't want to sound mean," she said, looking at the red-haired and magenta-haired girls. "Applejack is now with Rainbow... My sister stood up to Mom because of her love for AJ, but looking back on things now... it seems like it was all for nothing."
The three looked at each other in understanding.
"I understand," Pinkie said, remembering when the former couple was together.
"Don't think about it like that..." Apple Bloom said, searching for her words. "If it weren't for my sister, Rarity might never have discovered her tastes."
"That's true, she wouldn't have stood up to be accepted either," Scootaloo added with a smile.
"It's possible that without my cousin, Rarity would still be hiding her tastes today in fear of how Mrs. Cookie would respond," Pinkie said.
Sweetie Belle nodded, a slight smile on her face. "I guess they're right. Even though things didn't turn out the way we expected, at least my sister had the courage to be honest with herself and Mom."
Pinkie stood up from her chair, walked over, and gave her a hug. "And that's something you should always remember." The Crusaders joined in the hug, giving her support.
Well, girls, it's time to get back. Activities are about to start," the party girl spoke again, breaking the hug.
The four of them headed for the door.
"Mom's probably wondering where I got myself into," Sweetie Belle said.
"And I'm in for a lecture from Limestone for leaving them alone," she commented.
"I'm a bit of a rebel, so I don't get anything," Scootaloo said.
They all laughed at that. Pinkie opened the door and they went out to meet their respective families and start the activities.
Author's Note
I said I would upload it after I got there, but I wasn't in much of a mood. Plus I have a bit of a cold.
I think it's obvious what happened in the second flashback (half-smile emoji). I'm seeing if I can make and upload a racy scene (if you know what I mean).
Let's see if the girls manage to see the reality of things. Do you think it will be sooner or later?

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                       Family Union                        
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Family Union
Pinkie Pie walked with the Crusaders through the court area, heading towards the outdoor games where they would participate with their respective families. As they walked, Pinkie was lost in her thoughts, recapitulating the information she had obtained about the past relationship between her cousin and the dressmaker.
"So, once Mrs. Belle found out about Rarity with Applejack, she didn't agree. It wasn't because she didn't like her daughter dating another girl, but because she was surprised that her daughter had these tastes that she had never shown before and that it could be a phase,"  thought.
"They didn't talk to each other for several days. The same thing happened with Applejack and Rarity. Since Rarity didn't have her cell phone on hand, my cousin didn't hear from her girlfriend, and she didn't dare go visit her for fear of being banned, which made her feel desperate. Meanwhile, Rarity locked herself in her room, punishing herself for believing she had done something wrong."
"After talking to Mr. Hondo and Mrs. Roseluck, Rarity went to the Apples to finally meet AJ. Grandma Smith described it like a novel, where lovers meet again after a long time. I don't know how long they hadn't seen each other, but it could have been between one to almost two months... No wonder they wanted to reconnect," she thought the last thing mischievously.
"Focus, Pinkie Pie!" she said to herself, giving herself a mental slap.
"They spent a few more days doing couple things, possibly in secret, to make up for lost time. Then the mother-daughter confrontation happened, where Rarity took courage to say what she felt for Applejack and how willing she was to prove that theirs was real... Aww, what Sweetie Belle said with Rarity's words was very cute. I think she was more open to show the love she felt for my cousin, while AJ also said sweet things, but not as much as Rarity."
"And finally, according to what Sweetie Belle said now and it fits that AJ is avoiding meeting Mrs. Belle. From the times she went to look for Rarity or leave her, she was met with an uncertain look from Mrs. Belle, but more than the look I think what affected her was the silence she gave her when she didn't know if she approved or not... Did they talk at some point?" she wondered, trying to find an answer.
As she was trying to come up with some sort of answer, she realized that she was already in front of her sisters and the Crusaders were gone.
The most prominent was her grumpy sister. "Hey, you left us alone with the Belles."
"I had something to do," Pinkie replied with a smile.
"If it weren't for the fact that they were interested in knowing more and wanted to talk about our rock work, I'd be pretty upset," Limestone continued.
"We were just talking thinking you were following us and would talk," Marble added in her shy voice.
The party girl's eyes widened. "Wow, this is almost déjà vu."
"Huh?" Limestone exclaimed.
"The girls did this to me last week," she commented with a giggle.
Limestone, Marble, and Maud exchanged a glance.
"Pinkie, stay next time to tell us about the rest of the rocks," Maud suggested in her usual monotone.
"I'm sorry, girls. I promise I won't leave you alone next time," the party girl said, trying to sound serious, but not being able to help but smile.
Marble nodded slightly, while Maud simply blinked.
"It's okay, Pinkie. We know you always have a lot on your mind," the shy sister murmured under her breath.
"Yeah, but it's no excuse to abandon the family," Limestone said, crossing her arms.
"I understand, Limestone. I'm really sorry," Pinkie said, hugging her grumpy sister.
"It's okay, it's okay. Just don't do it again," Limestone said, trying to keep up her tough facade, but giving in a little to the hug.
"So, did the Belles take an interest in our mini rock work?" the intrigued party girl asked.
"They seemed mildly interested," Maud replied.
"See, rocks don't fail!" Pinkie exclaimed with a smile. "Well, let's go check out the games and see who we'll be playing or competing against," she added as she began to walk away.
The Pie sisters set out to play one of the many games.
Up ahead, Sweetie Belle met up with her family, who were now heading to one of the games.
"I was thinking of a game that wasn't as fidgety as climbing or running," Cookie commented with her arms behind her waist.
Rarity let out a laugh. "I thought the same thing last week."
"And you still only played the quiet ones?" her mom inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, but I ended up playing the three-legged one," Rarity explained.
"It's good that you're doing new things," Cookie said with a slight smile. The eldest daughter returned the gesture.
"So, Mom, would you try the running one?" Sweetie Belle asked, excited.
"We'll see if that happens," Cookie replied with almost a smile.
"So, girls, any games in mind?" asked Hondo.
"I think shooting hoops would be appropriate," Rarity suggested.
"Perfect, honey, that sounds ideal," said her mother.
The family walked towards the playground, following the signs to the hoop shooting area. Upon arriving, Sweetie Belle excitedly ran towards the hoops.
"How many tries will we have?" Cookie asked, looking at the different sizes of the hoops and the distances from which they had to shoot.
"Five tries per person," the game manager replied with a smile, pointing at the available hoops.
"Perfect. Let's see who has the best aim!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle, taking one of the hoops.
"Who wants to go first?" asked Cookie, smiling as she watched her daughters.
"Me, me!" jumped up the youngest Belle, full of excitement.
"Go ahead, sweetie," Hondo encouraged.
Sweetie Belle stepped onto the line and shot her first hoop. It hit the edge of the target and bounced out.
"You've almost made it," Rarity said, cheering her younger sister on.
The younger girl shot the next four hoops, managing to make one of them. "Yeah! I made it!" she shouted excitedly.
"Good job, Sweetie," Cookie congratulated her, patting her on the back. "Now it's your sister's turn."
Rarity took her position, focusing on the target. She took a deep breath and shot the first hoop, hitting the target on her first try. She smiled in satisfaction.
"That's my daughter!" Hondo exclaimed, clapping his hands.
The seamstress continued shooting, managing to make one more in her five tries. "Not bad," he commented, smiling as he handed the hoops to his mom.
"Come on, Mom, it's your turn!" Sweetie Belle encouraged.
Cookie took the hoop, eyeing the target with a mix of concentration and amusement. "Don't expect too much from me," she said with a slight smile before shooting.
Despite her modesty, Cookie managed to reach the target. "Well done, Mother!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Now, the grand finale: Daddy!" said the youngest Belle.
Hondo positioned himself, shooting the hoop confidently. He managed to make two out of five attempts. "Looks like Rarity and I are tied," he noted.
"Do you want to break the tie?" the attendant asked. "You might as well have another try for the points you got."
Meanwhile, the Pie sisters were deciding which game to go to after they had played the jump sack game.
"Look, there's a group at the hoop game," Pinkie commented, approaching with her sisters.
"It's the Belles," Maud observed in her characteristically calm tone.
"Why are there so many people around?" Limestone questioned.
"Everyone's interested in what the new girl's family is like," Fluttershy explained, standing off to the side, near her family.
"Fluttershy!" the party girl exclaimed. "I didn't expect you to be here," she added into the pink-haired girl's ear.
"I was just mildly curious," she replied with a shy smile. "I'm not the only one, though," she added, pointing to her side, where Sunset and Twilight were a little further away.
"Hmm... Curious," Pinkie thought, then shrugged. "Come on, Belle!"
The seamstress turned to meet her hyperactive friend. "Pinkie Pie, are you here to play?" she inquired with a smile.
"To cheer! We want to see how you're doing!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up and down in excitement.
"We're trying to get more points in the hoop toss," Cookie commented with a small smile, though she was still focused on the game.
Sweetie Belle continued to hit the target and then it was Rarity's turn to grab another hoop, focused, and toss it, hitting the target and earning points for her family.
"Nice toss," a student off to the side praised.
Fluttershy looked around a bit. "Yeii," she murmured softly.
With the last toss, the crowd cheered. Cookie gave her youngest daughter a pat on the back. "Well done," and a small squeeze on her eldest daughter's shoulder.
Hondo walked over. "We did great, team!"
"That was a lot of fun," the youngest commented, smiling widely.
"Now, how about we go explore more games?" Cookie suggested.
"Yeah, let's go!" Sweetie Belle replied.
"You know, for a very authoritative figure, he sure loves his daughters," Twilight commented to Sunset.
"Yeah," her friend nodded.
"And why wouldn't he, Twili?" Shining Armor interrupted, bowing.
The two turned around, having forgotten for a few seconds that they were with their family.
"A mother or any member of a family can be serious or show some authority, but that doesn't mean she doesn't love her family," Cadance said with her baby in her arms.
"It's like my daughter-in-law said," the blue-haired girl's mother added. "That's called family bonding."
"Maybe we didn't take that part into account," Twilight acknowledged, glancing at Sunset. "Seeing things the way they aren't again," she muttered.
Fluttershy, who had approached her friend, lowered her gaze a little.
"What's with those faces?" Applejack inquired, approaching with her family.
"Nothing, we were just watching Rarity's family participate," an orange-haired boy replied.
The farmer froze a little when she heard that and then when she saw that they were about to pass by her. "Family, you know what to do." Taking advantage of the fact that the Sparkles were very close, she hid behind them.
"Ah... what is your friend doing?" asked the blue-haired girl's father.
"Ha, ha, ha," Twilight laughed a little. "It's a little difficult to explain," she said, smiling forcibly. "I still don't understand the reason"
"Yes, it is complicated," Sunset commented, playing along.
"AJ, they're gone," Apple Bloom said with a slightly annoyed voice. "At least most of them," she muttered.
The blonde came out of her 'hiding place' only to meet the gaze of a certain dressmaker.
Rarity had stayed a little behind; she looked at her with a frown and then followed her family.
"I... have my reasons," Applejack commented, smiling at her friends' relatives who looked at her a little confused.
"You should try... at least not to attract some attention," Fluttershy commented.
"I think I should try that," the farmer replied.
"Try what?" asked Rainbow, who had just arrived.
Some looked at each other, wondering if they should tell her or not.
"You know, Dash... Uh, AJ isn't good with excuses, so... um," Pinkie began, leaning on the multicolored haired girl's shoulder.
"Excuses?" Rainbow repeated, a little confused.
"What Pinkie means," Twilight quickly interjected, "is that we were talking about trying out different games and activities to keep from getting bored."
"Yeah," Sunset added. "Applejack was just looking for something new and didn't want a bad excuse not to try it."
In the end, they decided to save their friend; It was enough of the unnecessary argument from last week for the two of them to have another one.
The sportswoman frowned slightly. "Bored? You could just say that, there's no need to make excuses for not trying the ones that look boring."
"Exactly," Pinkie said.
"That's what we were telling AJ," Fluttershy chimed in as well. "Since sometimes he doesn't know how to say no."
"Yeah, that," the blue-haired girl added. "She doesn't want to make the organizers feel bad."
The farmer just nodded at all the comments her friends were giving.
Rainbow sighed, though not as convinced. "It's okay, I guess."
Each member of the Mane Six families noticed the fact that they were hiding things from each other, but despite their doubts or curiosity, they preferred not to ask.
"Well, why don't we all go together to try another game?" the party girl suggested, trying to liven up the atmosphere. "It'll be fun!"
"Good idea, Pinkie," Twilight said, smiling. "What do you say? Shall we try another game?"
"Yeah! Let's go!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, jumping up and down in excitement.
Applejack nodded. "I'd like a challenge myself."
"I agree with you, Blondie," Rainbow said with a defiant smile.
Sunset saw some hesitation in some of her family members and friends, so she proposed something. After deciding on the games they wanted to try, each including the opinions of her family members scattered to play.
The Sparkles, the Shys, and the Pies wanted to try some relaxing games that didn't require so much strength. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie noticed how the place was getting more and more crowded with different families, all excited to participate in the games.
The Sparkles and the Shys were chatting, and the daughters separated a bit to look for a game to play.
"Let's try an exciting one," Pinkie suggested with her usual enthusiasm.
"You could have gone with Applejack and the others for something more extreme," Twilight commented, adjusting her glasses.
"Mmm, no," replied, shaking her head with a smile.
"Why?" Fluttershy asked, intrigued.
"I heard Rainbow and Applejack wanted to break the tie in the wall climbing competition, and you know how they get," she explained.
"But they're family," the pink-haired girl said, still confused.
"I think they wanted a challenge," Twilight said. "But if they don't coordinate well with their family members, it'll be hard for them to win."
"Oh, I hadn't thought of it like that," the party girl said.
After nodding, they continued looking for what game to try when someone suggested joining the egg balancing competition.
"This is going to be fun!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up and down in excitement as she cheered everyone on.
"I'll... try," Fluttershy commented with a shy smile, looking at her family with determination.
"Remember, the trick is to keep your balance and not rush it," Twilight explained, taking the spoon with an egg on it.
Her brother, Shining Armor, and her dad also got ready, while Fluttershy's father and Zephyr took up positions next to her.
"On the count of three! One, two, three!" they announced, raising an arm to give the signal.
Both teams began to carefully advance, holding the spoons with the eggs in front of them. Concentration was evident on their faces as they tried not to drop the eggs.
"Come on, come on!" the party girl shouted, jumping up and down with excitement. "You too," she encouraged her sisters.
Twilight advanced with a firm step, her expression one of concentration. Shining Armor tried to keep his balance, but his egg began to move dangerously to the side.
"Watch it, Shining!" His mother warned from the small crowd, but it was too late. Her son's egg slipped and fell to the ground with a soft crack.
"Uh oh," he muttered, embarrassed.
Meanwhile, Fluttershy was slowly moving forward, her hand shaking a little, but keeping the egg on her spoon. Her brother and father were also doing well, moving carefully.
Finally, Fluttershy, Zephyr, and Mr. Shy reached the finish line, all still with their eggs intact.
"And the Shy family is the winner!" exclaimed the organizer.
The audience cheered as the families gathered around. Fluttershy smiled shyly as she received congratulations from her family, and Twilight couldn't help but smile too, despite the small defeat.
The party girl ran up to them with a big smile, followed by her sisters. "You did amazingly well!"
"Sorry, Twilight, I dropped the egg," Shining Armor apologized.
"It can happen to anyone," the blue-haired girl said, with an understanding smile.
"Don't worry, love, you'll be lucky next time," Cadance commented, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"You did very well, Fluttershy," said Twikight.
"Thank you," replied, blushing a little.
"Do you want to try another game or do you prefer to play with Pinkie and her sisters this time?" asked the blue-haired girl, curious.
The party girl hugged her from the side. "You'll see, Fluttershy and the Shy family, we'll have a lot of fun!"
"But let it be more entertaining this time," commented Limestone.
The Sparkle family didn't know what to say to the sincerity of the party girl's sister.
"And let it not be so much work," added Zephyr, with a nervous smile.
"Zephyr, we're here to have fun," said her dad.
Twilight laughed a little. "See you later."
"We have all day to try out games together," Twilight Velvet commented, looking at her family.
"Yeah, and I haven't tried almost any of them," Spike added, excited.
The Sparkles began to walk away, leaving the Shys and the Pie sisters to wonder which game to try out.
"How about we play something that lets us build together? Something like the giant blocks game!" Maud proposed in her usual monotone.
"That sounds perfect!" Pinkie exclaimed, brightened by the idea. "We could build something great!"
"Isn't that a little... complicated?" Zephyr muttered, sounding doubtful.
"Not if you're detail-oriented with what you have in mind to build," Maud said.
At that moment, they noticed that the Belles were approaching precisely the area of the giant blocks, where Flash was also with his family.
The party girl thought for a moment and then turned to the others. "We better wait a bit. Shall we go to another game for now?"
"Mmm, why?" her grumpy sister asked.
Fluttershy looked at Pinkie and then at the Belles, who were asking about the game. She felt a mix of nostalgia and nervousness.
"There really wouldn't be any reason to wait," she commented with a smile.
This took the hyperactive girl by surprise, but her expression quickly changed to an excited smile. “Okay, let’s go!”
A few of her relatives simply shrugged their shoulders before walking over to the flatter game area.
“Are you guys thinking of joining this game?” Pinkie asked curiously.
“Yes,” Cookie replied, scanning the game site. “We were thinking of trying our hand at this game.”
“We don’t really know what it’s about yet,” Rarity said, as she looked around the area.
“The Giant Blocks game is about building,” Flash explained.
“A building competition?” she asked curiously.
“Sounds like something we could excel at,” Hondo commented.
“Yeah, we can do that and win!” Sweetie Belle added excitedly.
“Not if our building is better before,” First Base challenged, in a competitive tone.
“We don’t know if it will be as easy as previous years,” Flash said, smiling at his little brother.
Zephyr, though still a bit unsure, nodded with a nervous smile. "Well... it seems everyone is in agreement. I guess we could give it a try."
"I'm sure you'll do just fine," Fluttershy encouraged with an encouraging smile.
Rarity, hearing the pink-haired girl's voice, glanced sideways and was surprised to see the Shys who would be participating in the same game.
With the Shy, Belle, Pie, and Sentry families ready to compete, the managers, with chancellor Celestia in the middle, began to explain the rules. They were simple: each family would have a limited time to build the tallest and most stable structure they could, using the blocks of different sizes and shapes provided by the organizers.
"Let the building competition begin!" announced one of the organizers.
The Shy family threw themselves into their project with dedication. Fluttershy, with a shy but determined smile, coordinated with her brother and parents. They had decided to make a bridge.
"If we put these blocks here, the bridge will be sturdier," the pink-haired girl explained, carefully placing a large block on the base.
Zephyr, a little nervous, tried to keep up. "Uh, are you sure this will hold? I don't want it to collapse..."
"Relax, Zephyr," her father assured with a reassuring smile. "With Fluttershy in charge, everything will be fine. Just keep placing the blocks as instructed."
"We're working together, and that's what matters," her mother added softly.
Fluttershy nodded, encouraged by her family's support. "And if we need to adjust anything, we'll do it on the fly. The important thing is that we have fun!"
In the opposite corner, Rarity was overseeing the construction of a tower.
"Sweetie Belle, dear, make sure those blocks are lined up perfectly," the seamstress instructed as she adjusted one of the blocks at the base of the tower. "We want our tower to be not only tall, but also elegant and symmetrical."
"I'll do it!" her sister replied excitedly as she carefully placed a block. "How about here? Is that okay?"
"Perfect, Sweetie," Rarity approved with a smile. "Father, Mother, can you take care of the decorative blocks at the top? We need each level to have a special touch."
"Of course, sweetie!" Cookie said with a smile as she picked up one of the decorative blocks. "We're going to make this tower fit for a queen."
Hondo added, "With these decorative blocks, our tower will be the most beautiful of all. Let's show what we're made of!"
Pinkie Pie and her sisters were busy raising the towers of their castle. Maud, with her typical calm expression, was placing the blocks with precision.
"The towers need to be perfectly balanced so they don't fall over," Maud commented, placing a block with mathematical precision.
"And let's not forget the decorations!" the party girl exclaimed as she added colorful bunting to the tops of the towers. "Our castle needs to be as festive as a birthday party. Come on, Limestone, help me with the walls!"
"I'm on it," she replied in her characteristic grumpy tone as she stacked blocks to form the walls. "But if you put too many decorations on, this thing might come crashing down."
Marble, the quietest of the sisters, nodded silently as she helped place the blocks on the bases of the towers. "Mm-hmm," she murmured, focused on her task.
"Don't worry! This will be the most amazing and sturdy castle ever!" Pinkie promised as she jumped up and down in excitement. "We'll even be able to imagine dragons around!"
Meanwhile, the Sentry family was focused on their tree. Flash was arranging the metal blocks alongside his brother and parents.
"If we put the larger blocks at the base, the tree will be more stable," Flash suggested, as he carefully lined up the blocks.
"Good idea, son," his father said, helping out.
"Do you think we should add more details, or keep it simple?" First asked, looking at the structure they had created.
"A balance between both," the mother replied.
"Exactly!" Flash exclaimed, pleased with the progress. "Let's build something that will make everyone say 'wow!' when they see it."
As the constructions progressed, the families began to notice each other's progress. Pinkie was the first to break the barrier between the groups.
"Hey, this is looking amazing!" she commented as she took a look at the Shy family's bridge. "Their bridge looks so elegant! And look at that tower, it's just fabulous!"
"Thanks, Pinkie Pie," Rarity replied with a smile. "Your castle is taking shape too. It's so... colorful and cheerful."
"Thank you!" replied, cheerfully. "We're doing our best to make it as fun as possible."
At that moment, Zephyr walked over, looking at Rarity's tower. "Wow, that tower is... impressive. Although... I'm not sure how it manages to stay upright."
"With a lot of care and attention to detail," the seamstress explained with a satisfied smile. "Each block is perfectly aligned to keep it balanced."
"Maybe we should have done something simpler," he muttered, unsure. But Fluttershy reassured him.
"Don't worry. Our bridge is perfect for us," he said with a smile. "The important thing is that we're building it together." Before turning his attention back to his construction, he glanced at the seamstress and her family working.
Flash also came over to take a look at the other builds. “Everyone is doing an amazing job! This is going to be a very close competition!”
The party girl patted him on the back. “That’s the fun of it! Every build is unique, just like every family. Let’s see which one holds up the best!”
Once all the builds were complete, the judges began judging. Celestia and the other organizers walked over to each build, watching closely.
Shy Family Bridge: Judged for its stability and solid connection. The judges appreciated the bridge’s harmony and functionality, noting its elegant design and balance.
Belle Elegant Tower: Judged for its sophistication and decorative detail. The tower impressed the judges with its elegant design and attention to detail in the decorative blocks.
Pie Castle: Judged for its creativity and use of colors. The structure, with its colorful towers and walls, reflected a cheerful and festive design, standing out for its originality.
Sentry Family Tree: Judged for its sturdiness and ingenious design. The structure showed effective and creative use of blocks, standing out for its stability and style, reflecting stability and progress.
After careful deliberation, the judges announced the results. Each family received praise for their efforts and creativity, but in the end, the competition was close.
"And the winner of the building competition is... the Shy Family with their impressive bridge!" Celestia exclaimed.
"Us!?!" Zephyr exclaimed, surprised. "It was coming, but why?"
Fluttershy rolled her eyes in amusement at her brother's change in attitude, though she also expected an explanation.
"Your bridge not only shows balance, but also symbolizes the union and connection between you. In this case, it is perceived that you are a united family," she explained.
The Shys looked at each other and smiled.
"Oh, oh, oh, and in our construction, what do you see?" the party girl asked excitedly.
"You, the Pies, reflect fun and joy," Celestia replied.
Sweetie Belle giggled. "Very Pinkie."
"The Sentrys, in your tree, the strength and growth of the family is reflected," she continued.
The eldest, Flash, ruffled his brother's hair with a smile.
"Lastly, the Belle tower represents sophistication, style, and effort in creating something impressive," Celestia concluded.
The seamstress was thoughtful with the chancellor comments about the others and about her own construction.
"Fluttershy, you are the bridge in the group," Pinkie said hugging her friend.
"Thanks, Pinkie."
Rarity leaned in close enough for Pinkie to hear. "It was a perfect match," she said, then turned around and addressed her family.
Fluttershy smiled.
"Is this progress?" Pinkie wondered as she noticed her friend's smile. "Now, how about we try another competition, but this time just us and our families?"
"Sounds like a good idea. I'll tell them," she replied.
The party girl nodded and approached her sisters to share the idea.
In a corner of the game area, the Belles noticed the seamstress looking thoughtful. Hondo was about to approach to talk, but Cookie motioned for her to take over.
"What's wrong, dear? Are you upset that we didn't win?" he asked, approaching gently.
Rarity sighed before answering. "It's not that, Mother. According to Chancellor Celestia, each building had a special meaning. To the Pies, she mentioned their joy and fun, to the Sentrys, their strength and growth, and to us... she said we strived for perfection and sophistication. But she didn't mention anything about family unity. It makes me wonder... don't we look like a happy family from the outside?" she said, looking at the different families.
"Oh, honey, perfection and sophistication are parts of who we are, and there's nothing wrong with that. But you shouldn't feel like it makes us any less united," Cookie replied with an understanding smile.
"I know, Mother. I know we're refined, and that's reflected even in our clothing. But what if people think that's all we care about? That we're not a happy or close family..." commented, with a slight smile, although somewhat sad.
"Rarity, people will always have opinions, based on what they see at first glance. We too have perceived people in a way that isn't fair."
"It's true... Before, when I saw my friends or former friends from afar, I judged them partly by their appearance and the image they projected," he acknowledged with a sad tone.
"For example, Pinkie Pie always seemed to be the girl who thought a smile could solve everything and who would stick her nose into other people's business without being called on. But, when I got to know her for real, I realized that her energy wasn't just to amuse others, but to be there when support was really needed, even if you didn't ask for it. Although her clothes are still colorful now, they're more subtle, reflecting that she's matured, but without losing that cheerful essence."
"Fluttershy... I always saw her as a shy girl who needed more courage to stand up to others. I thought she should stop being such a coward, but that's something you don't learn alone; she needed someone to support her and teach her to be more confident in order to stop those who bullied her... That's why I approached her that time..." she said, remembering a little about their first meeting. "Now, her style has changed from simple skirts to more elegant dresses, which shows that she's grown, but she's still the same kind soul."
"Twilight... at first, I saw her as the typical know-it-all, someone who seemed to boast about her intelligence. But I soon discovered that she actually lacked self-confidence, and what she wanted most was to share her knowledge with others. It's funny how her style hasn't changed much; she's still practical and true to herself."
"Sunset Shimmer... I thought of her as a rebel, someone who didn't follow the rules and skipped classes. But I discovered that she was actually someone who knew how to understand others, who could put herself in other people's shoes and help them find the answers to their problems. That leather jacket she always wears is a symbol of her rebelliousness, but also of her inner strength."
"As for Rainbow Dash, looking at her, she exuded an air of being a stubborn girl who could act without thinking about the consequences. However, I learned that she is an incredibly loyal friend, someone who will always be there for you, no matter what. Her transition from a short-sleeved shirt to a jacket reflects her growth, but also her determination."
The seamstress hesitated to continue. "..."
Seeing that her daughter didn't continue, Cookie spoke up. "Rarity, we all make judgments based on what we see, but the important thing is to learn to see beyond that. The clothes we choose reflect part of who we are."
Rarity nodded sadly. "I never told them this... I just waited to get to know them better, but now they see me the way I used to see them, just on the outside. Still, I want to earn their forgiveness."
Her mother nodded. "They'll see the reality just like Pinkie Pie and that Fluttershy girl did. As for the other thing," she continued, causing her daughter to raise her head.
"We're not just a fancy facade; we're a family that supports, respects, and loves each other deeply," said, placing a hand on Rarity's shoulder.
"Maybe we focus on perfection, but that doesn't mean there isn't love behind every detail we take care of," the seamstress said with shining eyes.
"Exactly. And the truth is that we work together as a team, each of us bringing our best to the table. That's our true strength, beyond what any judge can see," Cookie concluded, smiling warmly.
"Thank you, Mother. Sometimes I get lost in the details and forget what really matters. I'm so glad to have you by my side to remind me of that," Rarity said, as she hugged her mother.
"Always, dear," Cookie replied, returning the hug.
Once they broke the hug, they headed towards the rest of the family, who were waiting for them with a smile when they saw that the dressmaker was better, and they began to walk.
"With Applejack, at first glance, I didn't see her imperfection since I let myself be carried away by what I felt at that moment... I didn't judge her by her appearance, rather, I realized our differences in tastes when I was getting to know her. She, a country girl who likes everything related to the land, and I, a girl with a taste for elegance who doesn't like to get dirty... Who would say that two opposite poles would overcome some of those differences, which were one of the reasons why we had some arguments?" Rarity thought,
As she looked up, she managed to notice in the distance a certain blonde with her classic hat. No doubt she would talk about her annoying behavior, which led her to call her in a way she asked her not to in the past. How could she not do it now?
"Family, I have to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back," Rarity said, stepping away from them.
Meanwhile, Rainbow's family, along with the Apples, were waiting for their turn in the tug-of-war game.
"Get ready, I'll beat you," challenged the sporty girl, stretching her arms out before approaching her sister and dad.
"Not this time," replied Applejack with a defiant smile. "Big Mac, get ready, and Apple Bloom, put in your best effort. Granny Smith... moral support," she added as she looked at each member.
"Yep," said Big Mac firmly.
"We're going to beat them," added Apple Bloom, with the same determination as her older sister.
"She seems sorry for losing at climbing the wall," thought Sunset amused as she observed the seriousness in the farm girl.
"Hey, Sunset. We saw you two walk by, so we came over," Twilight commented, stopping beside her.
"I thought you'd try some more relaxing games," the red-haired girl said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, Fluttershy and I competed in egg balancing, but we lost. I left her with Pinkie while my family tried another one," the bespectacled girl explained.
"I see, so they should be coming soon," Sunset said, looking around.
Twilight nodded. "Apparently, Applejack and Rainbow are going to face off in this one."
"Yeah, let's see who wins," she said, nodding for them to get a little closer to the small crowd.
Rainbow Dash was giving instructions to her team.
"Scoot, put everything on that rope. Dad, use those worn-out muscles, and Mom... uh, next time we'll compete."
"Kid, don't take me for someone who doesn't use their muscles every day," her dad said, patting her on the back.
"Next time it'll be both of us," her mom added, cupping one of her daughter's cheeks between her fingers.
"Mom, not in front of everyone," Rainbow murmured, uncomfortably noticing that some of the people watching them with amused smiles.
"Sorry, honey. I'll give you support from here," her mom replied with a smile.
The teams were getting ready for the competition. On one side, Rainbow, her father, and Scootaloo lined up, all with expressions of concentration. On the other, Applejack, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom held the rope tightly, ready to pull.
Professor Bulk Biceps approached with a whistle, ready to give the starting signal. "On your marks, get set... go!"
Both teams began to pull with all their might. The faces of the contestants' efforts were evident, and the rope was taut in the center. The audience cheered for their favorites.
"Don't give up, Scoot! Dad, pull hard!" encouraged Rainbow, pulling with all her might.
"I'm trying," panted Scootaloo, panting from the effort.
"I'm on it," said Bow, his face red from the effort.
On the other side, Applejack looked at her brother and sister. "Come on, family! We can do it!"
"Yep," replied Big Mac, sweating from the effort.
"We can do it," said Apple Bloom, her teeth clenched as she pulled with all her might.
The tension increased, and the rope held in the center, not giving way to either side.
"Come on, Apple," said Granny Smith, supporting them from the side.
Twilight watched the movements on both sides, trying to determine which way the rope leaned. "It's moving," she said, squinting.
"Towards who?" Trixie asked, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice.
"It looks like it's going towards Rainbow... or wait, it moved towards Applejack," the orange-haired boy replied. "Wait, it went back..."
"Sunburst, I swear, if this was a real competition, you'd have me nervous," Starlight said, trying to remain calm.
"Oops, sorry," the boy said, smiling sheepishly.
"I still don't know what your friend is like," Trixie commented, rolling her eyes.
"You've asked me a few times, and I always tell you the same thing. We have a lot in common. And the funny thing is that I unknowingly became friends with Sunset, who coincidentally is her sister," Starlight replied, with a smile.
"Fate," Sunburst said, letting out a giggle.
"Yeah, that's crazy sometimes," Trixie commented.
"Look, it's back in the middle," the blue haired girl pointed out, pointing at the rope that was now motionless, right in the middle.
"Come on, my loves," Rainbow's mom said, raising her hands in encouragement.
"Does anyone hear that?" Sunburst asked, curious.
"What thing?" Sunset asked, leaning towards him.
Both families pulled with all their might, until suddenly, a loud crack was heard, and before anyone could react, the rope snapped in two.
Both teams fell back, surprised by the unexpected outcome. The audience was silent for a moment, blinking a few times at what happened, but then burst into laughter and applause.
"Wow, that was a tie!" said Scootaloo, sitting down and laughing next to her dad.
"Yeah, I definitely wasn't expecting that," Apple Bloom replied, also laughing.
"What?!" Applejack exclaimed, quickly standing up.
"What do you mean, tie? I'm sure some second before it was broken, we had the lead," Rainbow insisted, with a frustrated grimace.
"We did, for sure," the farm girl added, crossing her arms.
Bulk, still laughing, walked over to the teams. "Well, I think this deserves a special award. Both teams have shown incredible strength and team spirit!"
"Ugh," the multicolored haired girl said, putting a hand on her forehead before helping her family to their feet.
The farm girl did the same. "Come on, sugar cube, get up," said, offering her hand to her sister with a tired smile.
The two teams gathered in the center, and the professor handed them special awards for their effort.
"This is definitely something to remember!" Bow said to her daughters, holding the award proudly.
"I'll win next time," Rainbow murmured from beside her, more to herself than to anyone else.
"It's not all about winning," her father said, patting her on the back.
"Give me a smile for the picture," her mother said, approaching with her phone held vertically.
Both the participating Apples and the Dash ones posed. Once the photo was taken, everyone turned to the small crowd that had been watching them.
Twilight walked up to Sunset. "That was unexpected. The chances of the rope breaking were slim," she commented, still surprised.
"And that chance had to happen right now," the redhead joked, smiling.
"Next time, we'll see if the rope is tight or suitable for pulling and won't break," Applejack said, staring at the broken rope in disbelief.
"We should have checked that before," Rainbow admitted, shaking her head.
"Although that should be checked by the organizers," Twilight added.
The farmer sighed and walked over to her family to talk to them, but just then, she saw a certain family. Her body tensed instantly.
"Family, do you want something to eat from the vending machine?" asked, a little nervous and trying to avoid eye contact.
"Sure, I'd like to..." Big Mac began, but couldn't finish when she saw that her sister was already walking away.
"I know exactly what they like," said, walking away before anyone could stop her.
"Then why...?" Apple Bloom wondered, until she saw the Belle family walk past on the other side of the field, though curiously one member was missing.
"What happened to Applejack?" Windy asked, confused.
Some of the Mane Six's family members present found the way the farm girl had trotted off comical.
Sunset frowned. "What's the point of us saving your skin if you give yourself away?" thought, frustrated by her friend's escape.
Remembering the presence of the multicolored haired girl, both Sunset and Twilight slowly turned their heads towards their friend, noticing how she was holding back from losing her temper. The athlete inhaled deeply and exhaled to calm herself down.
"I swear I'm going to end up punching that blonde one day. I don't know if it's because of our fights or something else," said, before turning to her family.
"I hope she doesn't," Sunset commented jokingly, trying to lighten the situation.
"I wouldn't want to see our friends get into a fistfight," Twilight added, with a hint of amusement.
"Me neither," the red-haired girl replied, watching as Rainbow, after passing her family, approached the Apples. "But do you think Applejack would punch her back?"
The blue-haired girl laughed a little. "Seeing how their personalities are, I'd say yes," said playfully, then changed to a more serious tone. "If that were to happen, what would be the reason?"
"I wouldn't want to think about the options..." Sunset muttered, changing into a serious expression. "I think we're thinking about it too much."
"You're right. Let's go play," Twilight suggested, starting to walk off to tell her family that they were going to another game. "By the way, I want to talk to you about something I talked about with Fluttershy this morning."
The redhead nodded, seeing her friend's seriousness again.
Applejack was walking away when she felt someone grab her clothes and pull her backwards, causing her hat to fall off. In a reflex, she quickly turned around and grabbed the wrist of who she believed to be an assailant. To her surprise, she was met with Rarity, who had a pained expression on her face. She immediately released her grip.
"Belle, what are you doing?" asked, surprised.
"What are you doing?" Rarity asked, her voice firm as she shook her now slightly red wrist a little.
"I was walking until 'someone' grabbed me from behind and now I'm here."
"I think we need to talk," the dressmaker said with a frown.
Applejack looked around and then back at the girl. "You know there are other ways or places to talk comfortably," commented, pointing to the narrow space where they were.
"I thought it would suit you, cowgirl," Rarity said in a teasing tone, pointing at her as best she could.
"Don't call me that. And why would it suit me?" said, rolling her eyes.
"Why do you keep hiding from my parents?!" exclaimed, annoyed.
The farm girl looked away, avoiding her gaze. "I'm not hiding. I just... don't want to cause trouble."
The dressmaker took a step forward. "Again with 'trouble'? Remember that mom had already let us and my dad..."
Applejack stepped even closer, placing a hand on the wall near Rarity and staring at her. This took the dressmaker by surprise who felt cornered. "The thing with us is over," interrupted seriously.
"Th-then act like it," the dressmaker muttered, trying not to sound so nervous.
The closeness between them made Rarity feel her cheeks flush, and she couldn't help but notice the slight blush on Applejack's face as well.
"I should... I just can't now," said as calmly as she could.
Seeing that the conversation wasn't going to go where she expected, she decided to take a step back. "Fine... I'll let it go this time, cowgirl," said as she put the hat on the blonde's head, covering her eyes. Then, she quickly left there.
Applejack stood still for a moment, surprised to realize that Rarity had had her hat in her hand the whole time. Normally, she didn't let just anyone touch it. Within a few seconds, she stepped out of the narrow space and outside.
Sighing, she adjusted her hat when she heard the sportswoman's voice.
"I'm glad I found you. Granny Smith..."
"What about Granny Smith?" Applejack asked, worried, but seeing that Rainbow didn't finish the sentence, she looked at her curiously.
"Did you just run here?" asked almost jokingly. Noticing the farmer's confusion, she spoke again. "You're red, and usually the heat lessens when September starts."
Applejack touched her cheek, surprised that it was true. "Why would I be red?" she wondered aloud.
"Uh, I don't know, you tell me," Rainbow replied, shrugging her shoulders.
The farmer glanced at the cramped spot where she had been with the seamstress before answering. "Maybe you're right, the heat increases in September."
"That's not what I said. What I said was that it decreases in September," corrected, raising an eyebrow.
"Is that what you said?" the farmer asked, a little disoriented. "Well... that doesn't mean that September isn't hot too." She started walking towards where the vending machine would be.
"On the other side, blondie," Rainbow said, confused by the farmer's behavior. "That's why they sent me to look for you, so you don't go to the vending machine since they want to eat lunch and so does my family."
Without saying anything, she turned around and started walking in the right direction. The multicolored haired girl, although still confused, decided not to give it too much importance and followed her.
Further ahead, Rarity was walking back to where her family was, sighing slowly and looking at the ground with her mind occupied.
"Hey, Rarity," the party girl greeted, startling the dressmaker a little.
"Oh, Pinkie Pie," said, putting a hand on her chest to calm herself.
"I didn't even appear out of nowhere," Pinkie commented with a smile. "I called you from afar."
"You called me from afar?" asked, somewhat surprised.
"Yeah," the party girl replied, "you're distracted, huh."
"Sorry, I just talked to your cousin again about her behavior," Rarity explained, still thoughtful.
"And is everything okay now? Will she let your parents find her?" Pinkie asked, curious.
"Uh, no, I let it go this time," replied, trying to sound calm.
"You let it go?" the party girl repeated, a little confused.
"Yeah, I wanted to get out of there... The conversation seemed to be going well and then something unusual happened," said with a slight frown.
"What is it?" Pinkie asked, curious.
"I don't know... I don't even understand what happened," commented, looking back slightly before coming back to the front. "What were you up to?"
Pinkie looked at her with a raised eyebrow for a moment before speaking. "I wanted to suggest that we compete with our families this time."
"Well, Dad will like to see us win," Rarity replied, confident.
The party girl gave her a gentle push. "We Pies can do anything!"
While the Apples and Dash's family were eating lunch, the rest of the Mane Six, along with their families, were getting ready to go to another game.
The Sparkles and the Shimmer family were walking around when they saw the Shy family. So Twilight and Sunset approached the pink-haired girl.
"Hey, Fluttershy. I thought Pinkie would be with you," Twilight said.
"She was honest and said she would go find Belle to play with her family," replied.
"Oh," Sunset said, processing the answer.
After a second of silence, the pink-haired girl broke it. "Do you think we should talk to Pinkie Pie about how we already know she wants to give Belle another chance?"
"I think we should, but we could save the conversation for another day," the red-haired girl suggested.
"You're right," Fluttershy nodded.
"I think it's appropriate," Twilight added.
There was another second of silence.
"And we're going to play another game?" Sunburst asked, who was with Starlight and Trixie.
"Yeah, time to test what we can do, Sunburst," Sunset said defiantly.
"Let's see one we can all participate in," the blue-haired girl said, looking around at the crowd. "Spike already wants to participate in a more energetic one."
"The great and powerful Trixie isn't going to let herself be defeated," the gray-haired girl said with her dramatic touch.
"Of course," Starlight said, nodding with a smile.
After finishing the little conversation, they headed to their families to organize everyone's participation.
Pinkie Pie had returned with Rarity to her family, ready for the treasure hunt. The Pies and Belles lined up in a cleared area, ready for the competition.
"Remember, the goal is to find the most items on the list before time runs out. Each team will receive a list and a set of clues. The family that collects the most items will be the winner," the organizer explained.
Hondo, who was standing next to his wife, spoke up, "Have fun and do your best."
Pinkie Pie was excited, almost bursting with energy. "I'm ready for the hunt! Let's make it fun!"
"Yeah, let's make this a friendly competition!" Rarity added, as she handed out the lists.
"We better focus on the harder-to-find items first," Maud suggested in her characteristically calm tone.
"And let's not forget to double-check the clues, just in case," Limestone added seriously.
Marble simply nodded, but there was a spark of determination in her eyes.
Both families received their lists and began the search. Pinkie Pie and her family moved quickly, with Pinkie leading the search and her sisters keeping pace. Meanwhile, the Belles were meticulous, following the clues with precision.
The competition was close. The Pies had an advantage with their energy and enthusiasm, while the Belles excelled with their organization and attention to detail.
Finally, time ran out, and the families gathered to compare the results. After counting and reviewing, it was clear that the Pies found more items in less time, thanks to their speed and coordination.
Cookie, though a little disappointed at losing, acknowledged her defeat with dignity. "Looks like the Pie family won this round. Good job."
Hondo approached the Pies with a smile. "Great job! It was a fun competition. There's nothing like a good family challenge."
"We won, but it was very close," commented Limestone, showing respect for his rivals.
"Yeah, I really enjoyed searching with everyone," Maud said, her usual tone, but with a hint of satisfaction.
Marble nodded again, this time with a small smile.
The party girl jumped for joy. "Thank you, Mr. Hondo! It was great competing against you."
Rarity, though a little frustrated, approached the party girl with a smile. "It was a good game, Pinkie Pie. Next time it'll be ours."
"Definitely!" replied enthusiastically.
The families moved away from the game a little.
"Look, let's take a picture," Hondo said pointing to a nearby cameraman.
"Dad, we just lost," Sweetie Belle said, a little frustrated crossing her arms.
"Don't take it as a pity photo. Take it as a moment we enjoyed as a family," her Dad replied with a smile, and Cookie nodded in agreement.
"Want to join us?" the seamstress asked, addressing the Pies.
"I think second time, since this should be a picture for the Belles," Pinkie said, looking at her sisters, who nodded.
As Rarity and her family posed for the photo, Hondo told them, "Remember, the important thing is that we had a good time together, and there's always next time."
"Exactly," Cookie added, with a warm smile. "And who knows, maybe next time we'll have a little more luck."
The eldest daughter nodded and leaned down a little to hug Sweetie Belle. "It's always better when we're together."
At that moment, Sunset, Fluttershy, and Twilight approached, looking for Pinkie Pie to invite her to join another game. However, they stopped when they saw Rarity and her family together, watching as they posed for the photo.
"Looks like we came at a special time," Fluttershy whispered, with a small smile.
Sunset nodded, keeping a neutral expression.
Twilight watched as Rarity, with a genuine smile, placed her arm around the youngest Belle, showing her affection and support. "Should we get closer?" asked, somewhat hesitantly.
"Let's wait a second," the pink-haired girl suggested.
The photographer captured the image, and Rarity, completely focused on her family, didn't notice the presence of the three girls. As the Belles relaxed after the photo, Sunset, Fluttershy, and Twilight looked at each other, as if sharing the same thought.
"She seems... different," the blue-haired girl admitted quietly.
"Now with the Pies," Sunset said, not knowing what to say.
They watched as Pinkie and her sisters approached the Belles to pose together.
The three of them lowered their gaze a little, each lost in their own thoughts. Fluttershy smiled, remembering moments with the dressmaker she knew. Twilight, thoughtful, remembered what her sister-in-law and her mother had said about the importance of family unity. And Sunset was questioning some things, without being fully aware of it.
"Girls!?" Pinkie said, surprised to see them.
The three of them looked up, not noticing when the party girl and her sisters had approached. The Belles were no longer in sight, making them think that maybe Rarity had noticed their presence and, being considerate, decided to give them space. Or maybe they had simply moved on to another game.
Pinkie looked a little nervous. "How long have you been here?" asked. Even though she had chosen Rarity last week for the three-legged race in front of her friends and had just played alongside the pink-haired girl, she still felt nervous about what her friends might think about her closeness to 'Belle', as they called her.
"Not really," Twilight replied.
"Uh, yeah, we just got here. "We were going to look for you and we stopped to think about which game to go to," Sunset said.
"Exactly," Fluttershy added, nodding.
"Oh," Pinkie said, calmer.
No doubt, at some point they would talk to their hyperactive friend, since they didn't want to see her so nervous about something that for her was the right thing to do.
"Are we going to look for AJ and Dash, or are we three going to compete with our families?" the party girl asked, changing the subject.
"Good question," Sunset said, thinking about the options.
The Apple family and the Dashes were in an area a little ways away from the games, a place designed for lunch in the middle of the event.
"Mom, I already told you that Fluttershy might eat later, that's why she's not here with us," Rainbow commented.
"Okay, okay. We haven't played with them yet. Are things okay between you two?" Windy asked, with a worried tone.
The sportswoman was a little alarmed. "Yeah... You know, I'm not her only friend, so I won't always be with her." Her mother seemed calmer. "Now that I think about it, we said we'd be there every other day. But all last week we were together... should I give her that free time now that she's with her family?"  
"So, after lunch we'll hang out with them like old times," her father commented.
"It's good that they're getting back to how they were before," Applejack said, then got hit in the foot. She looked at the multicolored haired girl, who looked back at her and pointed at her mother, who had a worried expression again. "Ah, what I meant is... It's good to be back to how we always were, united friends like in the case of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy."
Rainbow's parents seemed convinced by the words. While Apple Bloom looked at Scootaloo for an answer, the magenta haired girl simply shook her head.
"It's good that you seem calmer, Applejack, not like before when, despite giving us a little grace, it was striking," Bow commented with a smile.
"Oh, yes, I've relaxed now. Sorry for my behavior just now, it's something of mine, nothing to worry about," replied calmly.
"I hope that something is not denied," Apple Bloom murmured, receiving a look from the Apples.
Those comments made Rainbow look at the farmer with annoyance. "AJ, can we talk?" asked, standing up.
"Uh, sure," agreed, standing up.
"Don't take long or the food will get cold," Granny Smith commented.
"We won't be long," the farm girl assured.
After moving far enough away, Rainbow couldn't contain herself any longer.
"Can you finally explain your behavior around the Belles?"
Applejack frowned at her, but before she could say anything, the sportswoman continued. "Before you come at me with 'now you want to listen,' just explain yourself," demanded, crossing her arms. "Besides, something tells me that was the reason for your supposed 'boredom' at the games, as an excuse the others made to save you."
The farm girl lowered her head at being discovered. "It's true."
"Obviously, that excuse could be believed by someone else, but even though I almost swallowed it, it doesn't take away the reason behind the excuse on your part."
"I know, but don't blame our friends for keeping this from you or for lying," Applejack said, raising her head.
"I don't blame the girls," Rainbow replied.
"That's nice," the blonde commented with a smile.
"I blame you."
"Sorry, why?"
"For your evasion. Aren't you the honest one?" said the athlete, waving her hands.
The farmer sighed. "You're right, I'm always honest and I don't show it with my behavior. As for Belle's parents... Her mom is more for how she looked at me back then. I may still have some things left about what happened. And her dad, from what I remember, he was okay with it, but for some reason I don't understand, he tried to avoid it," explained.
"Just because of how he looked at you?" asked, somewhat sarcastically. "And Mr. Belle, you don't even know."
Applejack frowned slightly. "You don't understand... When I was with Belle..."
"They're not together anymore! That should be a thing of the past for you. Just ignore what happened in the past and let yourself be seen," Rainbow replied, angrier, but in a lower tone.
"I'm already clear that it's in the past," said the farmer, a little angry.
"Then act like it!" she exclaimed, raising her voice.
"Same thing Belle told me. She told me not to hide and act right."
"No way... You're comparing me to Belle again," Rainbow said, putting two fingers on the bridge of her nose.
"Maybe I shouldn't have said it," admitted.
"Are you going to at least tell me what you talked about?" asked, looking at her angrily.
"Let's just say I made an agreement not to meet them... Well, that's what I understood from their words," Applejack replied.
Rainbow grimaced and nodded. "Fine, then after today stop acting like that for your parents and stick to the present."
"I will," the farm girl said, nodding. "Are we done talking about this?"
The sportswoman sighed to calm herself. "Let's go."
The two walked back to eat.
When they returned to the food court, the aroma of lunch greeted them, along with curious glances from their families.
"Everything okay, girls?" Windy asked with a smile, trying to ease any tension.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Rainbow replied with a forced smile, sitting down next to her mother.
Applejack nodded and joined her family. "Let's go eat before the food gets cold."
A few minutes passed as they ate lunch when the sound of laughter and lively footsteps caught their attention. Sunset, Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy approached, each with a friendly smile.
"Ah, girls, just in time!" the multicolored haired girl exclaimed, relieved by the distraction.
"I hope we're not interrupting," Twilight said, observing that they were still eating.
"Not at all," the farm girl said, smiling. "In fact, we were just finishing up."
Sunset smiled, looking at Applejack and Rainbow curiously, noticing the slight tension in the air. "We were thinking of joining you after spending some time with our families. They wanted to explore a little on their own, so they left us free for a while."
Fluttershy nodded softly.
"Take a seat," Bow said, pointing to some empty seats.
As the four of them settled in, the conversation began about the games they had already played and the ones yet to come.
Applejack looked at the girls. "How did you guys do in the games?"
"Good, but not as good as Pinkie and Fluttershy," Sunset commented with a smile. "Looks like you're in your prime."
"How so?" the blonde asked, intrigued.
"Fluttershy and I are almost tied for game wins! It's crazy!" Pinkie exclaimed, while Fluttershy smiled sheepishly.
Rainbow raised an eyebrow, interested in the competition. "Really? How many have you each won?"
"We played one more before we came, and Pinkie won," the red-haired girl said.
"That wouldn't be a win," Apple Bloom said, confused.
Big Mac motioned for his sister to let the girls explain.
"Fluttershy competed against us in the egg-balancing game and I lost," Twilight explained.
"Then I played two different games with Fluttershy: she won one, and I won the other," the party girl added.
"It was pure luck, but it was a lot of fun," the pink-haired girl said, dismissing it.
"Wow, it seems like you two have been busy," Applejack commented, impressed. "Have you tried all the games yet?"
"We still have a few left to do," Pinkie said, always ready for more action.
"Well, I wish you all luck! Although I think we all need a little break before we continue," Bow said, winking at the girls.
"Definitely," Fluttershy nodded. "A little break and then we'll get back to the games."
"We should do an activity together," Sunset suggested, looking at the others. "Something we can all enjoy."
"That sounds like a great idea!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, excitedly.
"We could play something as a team," Scootaloo added, always up for a challenge.
"That way it would be a tiebreaker if one of us won," Rainbow said, looking at Pinkie and Fluttershy with a competitive grin.
The families and friends nodded in agreement, as they planned what to do after they finished getting some rest.
After a short break, everyone decided to take part in the obstacle course competition. Each family lined up, ready to compete against each other. The obstacle course consisted of a series of physical and mental tests, designed to challenge both the teams' dexterity and coordination.
"Okay! Let's go all out!" Rainbow exclaimed, excitedly.
"May the best team win," her father commented, patting her on the back.
Sunset looked at her team, her brother, and her parents, who had returned just in time for the competition. "Ready? We're going to do our best."
Applejack's family, with Big Mac leading the way, nodded determinedly. "Don't worry, we'll do our best."
Fluttershy, somewhat nervous, looked at her parents, who cheered her on with warm smiles. Pinkie bounced excitedly while her sisters displayed a serene calm.
Twilight, who seemed calm, thought of some strategy next to her parents, sister-in-law, and brother Spike.
The teams positioned themselves. The Apples were first, next to the Pies, followed by Dash's family, then Sunset's, the Shys, and finally the Sparkles.
The whistle blew and the families began to make their way through the various obstacles. There were tense moments, like when Applejack and Big Mac almost got stuck in the rope maze, but they managed to get through it with the help of Apple Bloom and Granny Smith.
Pinkie and her sisters showed amazing coordination, moving quickly through the course, although sometimes with more enthusiasm than precision, which made them lose time on some obstacles.
For their part, Dash's family advanced with great speed, almost flying through the course. Rainbow's competitiveness and Scootaloo's determination drove their team forward, but the excitement caused them to make some minor mistakes, which cost them valuable seconds.
Sunset's family showed great synchronization, advancing accurately through the challenges.
Fluttershy's family, although not as outstanding in speed, showed remarkable patience and strategy helping each other through the most difficult obstacles, but their steady pace was not enough to compete against the level of speed and precision of the other teams.
Twilight, with her analytical mind, was crucial in figuring out the trickier parts of the course.
Finally, in a last-ditch effort, Applejack and Sunset led their teams to the finish line, but in the end, the farm girl's family crossed the finish line just seconds before the red-haired girl.
"And the winners are... the Apples!" the manager announced.
Rainbow's family came in third place, while Pinkie's family finished fourth, the Sparkles in fifth, and the Shys in last place.
"That was amazing!" Pinkie exclaimed, despite the result. "I can't wait for the rematch."
"Good job, family," Applejack commented, smiling proudly as her relatives celebrated the victory. "Granny Smith, not bad."
"I may be getting on in years, but the Apples put everything in for their family," Granny said tiredly.
"Yep," Big Mac nodded.
"We won," Apple Bloom said, sitting on the grass.
Sunset's family was relieved and happy with their second place finish, though her mother commented with a hint of irony. "Well, at least we didn't have to do the course again," she said, with a light laugh that helped lift her team's spirits.
Rainbow's family looked somewhat frustrated. Windy, despite doing her best, forced a smile. "We did a great job, though it wasn't enough for first place," commented in an encouraging tone, trying to soften the disappointment.
Scootaloo, though visibly discouraged, tried to keep her spirits up. "Next time we're going to win. I promise," she stated, dusting off her clothes.
The Pie sisters, almost silent, spoke at the end. "Deep down, I was glad they won," Maud said in her usual monotone voice to the Apples.
"Yeah, well, it was spot on," the grumpy sister commented.
The Sparkle family, coming in fifth place, showed acceptance. Twilight's mother, with an understanding smile, said, "It was an experience, even if we didn't get the result we wanted."
Spike, catching his breath, nodded, albeit frustrated. "We gave it our all."
"I'm proud of how everyone tried," Shining stated, holding little Flurry Heart. "Can you handle the baby?"
"Sure... just give me a second," Cadance replied, taking one last sigh before looking at her husband, who laughed a little at that.
Fluttershy's family, even though they came in last place, tried to look on the bright side. "You don't always win, but I'm proud of how hard we tried," Mrs. Shy said.
"Ugh, I feel like everything is spinning," Zephyr commented, as he sat down on the grass.
"Looks like we've got the tiebreaker," Fluttershy said, trying to catch her breath.
"It was between Rainbow and Applejack," Pinkie said, laughing.
Sunset approached Applejack with a smile. "It was a good competition."
"Thanks," she replied with a smile.
Rainbow, though a little disappointed, commented. "I'll take it as training for the match," said before walking away a bit and lying down on the grass.
"At least he didn't get mad this time," the farmer said, looking at the athlete lying on the ground and then looking at her family who were still catching their breath.
"That's good," said Twilight, who was also catching her breath with Sunset by her side, patting her on the back.
Applejack nodded and looked away, but looked back at the Belles. She almost got alarmed, but...
Rarity, seeing the blonde in that direction, looked at her family. "Family, how about we go get lunch? We haven't eaten anything since we got here."
"Yes, please, I'm starving," said Sweetie Belle, rubbing her stomach.
"I agree, I'm hungry too," Hondo commented with a tired expression.
"Let's go then," Cookie said, gesturing toward the path.
The three of them turned around, but Rarity shot a glance at the farmer, who nodded in thanks. The seamstress just shook her head, almost smiling, before following her family.
Sunset didn't miss this interaction from a distance. "An understanding through eyes?" she wondered, a little confused. "How lucky Rainbow missed that," thought, looking at the girl still lying on the ground.
After catching her breath, Fluttershy walked over to her best friend, who had her eyes closed, and sat down on the grass beside her.
"Rainbow."
The multicolored haired girl opened her eyes looking at the pink haired girl. "Sorry, I didn't feel you," she said still lying down.
"How are you handling it?"
"I will say that, even though I finished third, I'm glad to have this distraction," Rainbow said.
"Mmm?" Fluttershy said, confused.
"I had a talk," said, her tone serious.
"A talk?" her friend asked, intrigued.
"I didn't want to say it, but I know the reason for the excuse to save AJ," explained.
The pink-haired girl's eyes widened, surprised. "Oh, Rainbow, I didn't want to lie to you."
Rainbow sat up. "Wow, calm down, I don't blame them... especially you," said, trying to sound understanding. "But I do blame the blonde, I could even blame Belle."
Fluttershy looked at her a little sad, but she tried to hide it.
"I could try to separate her from acting because of the presence of Belle's parents, but it's hard for me," the athlete explained. "It's all very complicated."
"Oh... I'm sorry you feel that way and, once again, sorry for lying," said, looking down.
"Relax, Flutters," Rainbow said with a smile. "You were supporting a friend, and I appreciate it."
The pink-haired girl smiled, relieved.
"But let's not go on about this, we're here to have fun," said the multicolored haired girl, hesitating a bit before adding. "How about my family and yours play?"
"I'd like that, although we just participated," said Fluttershy, briefly pointing her thumb backwards.
"Yes, although not just the two families, like when we used to play board games at those family gatherings," said Rainbow nostalgically.
"What memories! I'm sure my family will like the idea," said, smiling.
"Perfect, let's not talk about it anymore," said the sportswoman, starting to get up and again tried to offer her hand. But her friend got up before her. Rainbow didn't get frustrated this time, she knew that everything had to be in its time.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere as families enjoyed the games. Rainbow, Fluttershy, and their families immersed themselves in friendly competition, participating in games either sharing with each other or just between families. Laughter and a spirit of camaraderie filled the air.
After lunch, the Belle family returned, once again joining in the activities. Rarity did her best to keep her parents from seeing the Apples, but they were still able to enjoy the other games.
Principal Luna and Chancellor Celestia strolled around, watching with satisfaction as the families enjoyed themselves. Every now and then, they would exchange a few words with the participants, and also acted as judges for the games.
As the sun began to set, the activities concluded and the families, exhausted but content, began to leave. The students said goodbye to each other, sharing laughs about the funniest moments of the afternoon. Finally, each family returned to their respective homes.
On the way, the Belles made their way towards the house.
"It was quite a fun day, don't you think?" the father commented with a smile, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Yeah, it was a nice respite from work," the mother added.
Sweetie Belle, from the backseat next to Rarity, nodded enthusiastically. "The games were the best!" the younger exclaimed.
Rarity, who had been looking out the window, turned to her family with a smile. "Yeah, it was fun. I'm glad we were able to participate and enjoy the games... even though we didn't win everything, except against Lyra and Trixie," commented, letting out a small laugh.
"Yeah, at least we did against them," Sweetie Belle said with a smile.
"And how did it feel to play with some of your friends?" Hondo asked curiously.
The eldest daughter shrugged slightly. "It was nice to be able to play with some of them. It reminded me of old times. But I know that even if we had played all of them, we probably wouldn't have beaten them. They all have qualities that they could show on the field."
"I'm not a big fan of losing, but I have to admit that they both outclassed us with their skills," Cookie said, smiling slightly, despite her serious tone.
"Now all I can think about is getting home and lying in bed," Sweetie Belle said, stretching out in her seat.
"I know, I think as soon as I get there, I'll take a relaxing bath," Rarity said, putting a hand on her forehead dramatically. "I'm just saying that in case I'm late getting down."
Hondo let out a laugh and looked at his wife for a moment, who shook her head with a smile.
The car continued its journey until they reached home.
In another part of the city, the Apple family had arrived at their home. Applejack turned off the engine of the truck and let out a sigh. "Well, it was a long but enjoyable day," she said as she climbed out of the vehicle, stretching her tired muscles.
"Yeah, it was," Granny Smith added as she climbed out of the backseat, smiling. "Nothing like a good family game day to strengthen the bonds."
Apple Bloom ran out the front door. "It was great!"
"We made our mark, just like Granny Smith said," Big Mac added.
The farm girl smiled as she unlocked the door with her keys.
Once inside, an exhausted Applejack made her way up the stairs to her room to rest. As she lay back on her bed, she closed her eyes for a moment, allowing the memories of the day to slowly pass through her mind.
Recalling how she enjoyed playing games with her family, the fun times competing in friendly competitions, the laughter shared with her friends, and the feeling of family unity that always comforted her.
"Games are always the best," she told herself, appreciating how much spending quality time with her loved ones meant to her.
However, her mind inevitably began to drift to the conversation she had with Rainbow Dash. The words echoed. "That should be a thing of the past for you by now..." she repeated in her mind.
She opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling. "Ugh, I was supposed to have moved on, and this hiding thing happens... Why does meeting her parents affect me?"
She thought about Rarity, how she saw her during the day and that somewhat awkward moment in the narrow space, and how, despite everything, the seamstress helped her so she didn't feel uncomfortable. "I won't deny that I've thought minimally about what Big Mac told me, but not enough to even think about giving it a chance. However, the fact that I avoided meeting the Belles was a minor thing... But Pinkie seems happy to be together like before... What will the others think? Could we...?"
She shook her head a little, trying to push those thoughts away and remember the conversation again. "Hold on to the present," echoed in her mind.
She thought over and over until she came to a conclusion. What's important is the present, not the past. "She's right... I should focus on what's in front of me. I shouldn't relate to what happens with Belle... This is my present and I'm with Rainbow."
Finally, she sighed and turned over in bed, staring out the window as she tried to relax. With that resolution, she closed her eyes and tried to let the tiredness of the day carry her off to sleep.
Author's Note
Sorry again for the late translation, but here is chapter 17. I wanted to mention that the chapter ended up being around 60 pages long, so I had to split it up. I'll upload the next one translated tomorrow.
I've seen several theories or rumors about some characters' relatives, so here I made it real. For example, that character that appears in an episode of the MLP universe could be Flash's brother, so I added him. And about our Sunset Shimmer, who never showed any family in the series, I read rumors that she could be related to Starlight's friend, so I made him her brother.
We've had some minor developments, but that's how it is, so there's more to come. As for Rainbow Dash, nothing has been seen. Well, considering she was the one affected by what happened, it's going to be difficult.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
        Closing the Event and Half-Unknown Secrets         
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Closing the Event and Half-Unknown Secrets
Tuesday's activities continued with a series of cultural events that kept all the students engaged. The day began with folk and modern dance performances, where various groups showed off their talents and creativity in the central part of the large hall, using the space to accommodate the number of people dancing. With each performance, the energy of the audience grew, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.
During the afternoon, Flash Sentry and his band took the stage to show off more of the music club's talent. In a highlight, Flash invited the Mane Six to join them on stage to sing. The girls, always surprised by the blue-haired guitarist's invitation, enthusiastically accepted and together they delivered a memorable performance.
In the midst of the activities, the girls took the opportunity to have some conversations about what had happened and what they would do in the next few hours. At one point, five of them had a conversation regarding the party girl and the dressmaker. Meanwhile, Rainbow and Fluttershy got together to try to reconnect as before. Meanwhile, Applejack tried to act normal and avoid Rarity as she had decided, but that attitude did not go unnoticed by the seamstress.
To end the day, the Wondercolts' second match in the losers' round took place, while the Shadowbolts won the third match and awaited the finals. The team led by Rainbow Dash took the field determined to keep their winning streak going. It was an intense match, full of fast and exciting plays that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Finally, the Wondercolts managed another victory and were preparing for the last match before the finals.
The next day, the second performance of the play began. Despite having been performed last week, the drama club had the opportunity to show a different play this time. The great hall was filled with students eager to see the performance. The lights dimmed and the curtain rose, revealing a decorated stage. The club students, now more confident and comfortable than in the first performance, put on a great show.
After the performance, Trixie, who had been eagerly awaiting her moment, prepared to perform her trick. This time, she was accompanied by her followers, Snips and Snails. Instead of making someone disappear, they decided to perform a classic but always impressive trick: the 'sword box' trick. Trixie placed Snails in a box which she then closed and secured. With great theatricality, she began inserting long swords through the box.
When she finally opened the box again, Snails emerged unharmed, prompting enthusiastic applause from the audience. Although it was a classic trick, the magician's skill and charisma made the performance leave everyone in awe.
A few hours passed, and the girls dispersed. Fluttershy, in particular, was sitting alone in the courtyard, taking a moment to relax despite the partly cloudy sky. She watched as a bird flew from tree to tree, which made her remember the animal shelter.
"Hey, Fluttershy," Rainbow greeted, approaching with a bag slung over her shoulder.
The pink-haired girl turned around and noticed her friend's hair was wet. "Hey, Rainbow," replied with a smile.
"Are you cooling off?" she asked, sitting down next to her.
"Yeah, being in the Great Hall can be a little stuffy, so I came here to get some air," Fluttershy explained.
Rainbow nodded, understanding. "Me too."
"I hope your way of cooling off this time wasn't like last time," Fluttershy commented, pointing at her friend's wet hair and part of her white shirt.
"No, I only got my head wet this time. If it had been like last time, I would have been soaked from head to toe," she replied with a smile.
"I still don't understand how you got so wet in your uniform," Fluttershy said, thinking back to when the multi-colored haired girl returned to the field soaked.
"Anyone would think I went to the showers, but I actually went somewhere else to cool off and calm down a bit," she commented, with an air of mystery.
"I thought about showers, but you already gave me the answer," the pink haired girl said, cracking a smile at her friend's gesture. "Didn't the teacher scold you for getting your uniform wet? Maybe getting that kind of clothing wet could ruin it."
"Actually, they're made to withstand quite a bit of wear and tear," Rainbow explained with a shrug. "Which reminds me..." she began to open her sports bag with difficulty. "Wait a minute," said as she used her strength to unzip the zipper.
"Now look. I know you've already seen it, but I wanted to show you the closest thing to what a real soccer player's jersey would be like," said, handing her the blue and yellow shirt.
The animal lover took it curiously. "You're already a real player, though," commented with a warm smile.
"Thanks, ha... I think only my parents have told me that," Rainbow said, returning the smile.
Fluttershy looked closely at the shirt, feeling the softness of the texture. Her gaze shifted to the side. "You said they're made for anything?"
"Yeah, why the question?" replied, arching an eyebrow.
"The clouds are getting grayer," said, looking at the sky. The sportswoman also looked up, following her gaze.
"Nah, a little rain on my clothes won't hurt, it'll relax me," said nonchalantly, with a light laugh.
The pink haired girl nodded, trusting the multicolored haired girl's words, and looked at the sports shirt again. "Oh, oh," exclaimed upon noticing something, with a surprised expression.
"What's wrong now?" asked, not so worried, thinking it was something minor.
"I think you used too much force when opening your bag," said, handing the shirt back to her and pointing to a specific spot with a worried grimace.
Rainbow noticed that a part of it was coming unstitched. "you must be fucking kidding me," said with frustration.
"What's wrong?" Applejack asked, arriving with Sunset and Twilight.
The multicolored haired girl showed them the shirt, pointing at the rip with a dejected expression. "Oh," Twilight said, surprised.
"Now what do I do? The game is just a few minutes away," Rainbow said, concern evident on her face.
"What about your other shirt?" Sunset asked, searching for a solution as she crossed her arms.
"I wore it yesterday and it's already dirty," replied, frowning.
The girls tried to think of a solution, looking around for ideas.
"What did I miss?" Pinkie asked, coming over with a curious expression as she noticed the girls' concern.
"Dash's shirt came undone for the game," the farmer explained, a tone of concern in her voice.
"And I can't think of anything," Rainbow said, feeling frustrated as she leaned back.
"Ahhh..." the party girl exclaimed, excited. They all looked at her, intrigued by her enthusiastic expression. "Who do we know that knows how to sew?"
"Oh no, I'm not going with her," the multicolored haired girl said, taking the hint.
"Are you going to wear your dirty clothes?" Twilight asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I could make the effort," said with a forced smile.
"We should think of another option," Applejack suggested, wanting to avoid anything involving the seamstress. The multicolored haired girl nodded in agreement.
"I don't want this to come to an argument, but I don't see any other options," Fluttershy said in a soft voice, trying to mediate the situation.
"Ugh, okay. But let's all go," Rainbow said, resigned.
"Does anyone know where she was last?" the pink haired girl asked, as she stood up.
"I'm sure she's still in the great hall," Pinkie said, pointing the way to the door.
The six of them walked through the school until they found the dressmaker. When they arrived, they found Rarity talking to Starlight and Trixie.
"Rarity, we need your help," the party girl commented, trying to contain her excitement as she jumped a little.
"We need?" asked, turning around and seeing the others behind her.
"Hello and goodbye," Starlight said, as did Trixie, both quickly waving goodbye.
"With what exactly?" the dressmaker asked, intrigued.
The sporty girl, reluctantly, showed her her torn shirt.
"I see."
"You help us?" the party girl asked with a hopeful smile.
"Okay, that's easy," said, calmly. "Do you know where the sewing room is?"
"How do you not know?" Sunset questioned, somewhat incredulous.
"Aren't you in a club?" Twilight added, somewhat confused.
"I'm still new and I don't know where it is," replied with a slight smile.
After walking around and making a couple of stops, they headed to the sewing room. As they entered, one of the girls turned on the light, and Rarity looked around longingly.
Rainbow Dash cleared her throat.
The seamstress reacted quickly. "I already do, I just have to make sure the thread color is the same as the shirt," she said, beginning to search through the threads.
The girls watched her curiously, noticing that she was somewhat disoriented, moving from side to side as she searched for the right thread.
Finally, Rarity found the right colored thread. She threaded the needle and began sewing, concentrating on the task. The girls looked at her without saying anything.
"So, are you going to join the club?" Fluttershy asked, breaking the silence.
Her friends looked at her for a moment and the animal lover just shrugged.
Twilight hesitated a bit before speaking. "Maybe you were surprised by what they showed at the event," said, trying to keep up the conversation.
The hyperactive girl was surprised by the attempt to converse, while Rarity was surprised by her desire to converse.
"Actually, I don't think I'll sign up. Besides, I was with Sweetie Belle that time they exhibited the clubs."
"Oh, why not?" the party girl asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
Rarity was silent for a few seconds, her hands stopping at her needlework. "Well... I've lost interest in sewing," said, trying to sound disinterested.
The others adopted confused expressions. Rainbow, who was sipping a drink, nearly choked upon hearing that. "Don't go with that, Belle," said with a frown after wiping her mouth on the sleeve of her jacket.
Applejack looked at her a bit incredulously. "Weren't you the one who helped with the costumes for the theater?"
"It wouldn't make a difference if I had participated," muttered in an almost sad voice, but she was starting to lose patience when the girls started a flurry of comments.
"That doesn't make sense, you'd obviously be involved," Sunset insisted, frowning as she crossed her arms.
"It's your thing," Pinkie continued.
"That's what always defines you," Fluttershy added, her voice soft but firm.
"Exactly, and why wouldn't you be? You're..." Twilight tried to say, but was interrupted.
"I don't want to start from scratch!" Rarity exclaimed, raising her voice in desperation and anger.
Then, she walked over handing the shirt to the nearest girl, who was Applejack. For a few seconds, they exchanged glances; the seamstress with an angry look and the farmer with a surprised look. It was as if the roles had been reversed.
She walked out the door, leaving the others a little surprised by what had happened.
"What was that?" the pink haired girl asked, breaking the silence.
"She must have lied," the sporty girl commented, still confused.
"No, she wasn't lying," the farm girl said, her eyes narrowing as she thought about what had just happened. "Some of it was true," thought.
"How do you know?" Fluttershy asked.
"You know I can tell when people hide things or don't tell the truth," replied, looking at her friend and then towards the door. "But Belle, in a way, didn't lie."
"She's good at noticing that, but not Rarity's sincerity in her regret?" Pinkie thought in disbelief.
"Still, it was weird. Normally it would be us who would leave or be angry," the multicolored haired girl said.
For a few minutes no one said anything and the cheerful girl was about to leave the room when a voice stopped her.
"Pinkie," Twilight called softly.
"If it's because of how things are with Rarity and yes, I did say her name here in the conversation. And if it's because I started getting closer to her..." said, preparing to defend herself.
"We know you're giving her a chance," Fluttershy said, calmly.
"And... you know... it's your life," Rainbow added, trying hard to sound natural, while crossing her arms.
"I'm glad about that, girls, but why are you stopping me?" asked, somewhat confused.
"It seems that this made her angry," the shy girl said, referring to the recent incident.
"I think you should give her some space to get over it," Sunset suggested.
"Exactly, she might be fine with you, but right now Belle needs some time alone," Twilight added, nodding her head.
"S- sometimes... you need to breathe," said the multicolored haired girl looking at the floor
The party girl sighed. "I understand, I just want to make sure she's okay," she replied, looking down.
"She will be, just give her time," the redhead said.
"Yeah, Pinkie. Sometimes, we all need a little space," Fluttershy added, giving her a comforting smile.
Pinkie nodded, though her expression showed she was still worried. "Okay, I'll wait a bit before I go get her."
Appeljack didn't say anything during the conversation, thinking internally as he looked at the sewn part of the shirt. Once he snapped out of his thoughts, he pulled out his cell phone and noticed the time. "Girls, the game is about to start," said, walking over to Rainbow to hand her the shirt.
Sunset, Applejack, and Rainbow all adjusted the sports bags they were carrying. Without saying anything else, the six of them left the room.
As the girls headed towards the field for the game, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash found themselves walking together, with the others a little further ahead.
"Fluttershy"
"Yes, Rainbow, is something wrong?"
"It's not bad per se. Just when you said about giving space... it made me think of us," she explained.
Fluttershy looked at her thoughtfully. "The space I mentioned."
"Well, I noticed something funny," Rainbow said with a smirk. "We said we were going to hang out every other day to have fun and not invade your space, but if you notice, we talk almost every day. Not a lot, but we don't skip days."
"I didn't realize," admitted in surprise, remembering days ago. "It's true, we've been talking a lot."
Rainbow doubtfully commented on what was on her mind. "I'll admit that I was about to not participate with you in family games thinking about giving you your space, but in the end I decided to play with you and your family."
"I'm glad you changed your mind," said with a smile.
"And I'm glad we're moving forward," added. "All that's left is the texting and one other thing," she added quietly.
The pink-haired girl nodded. "In due time, but you can try a text."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"I'll do it now," said, taking out her phone and searching for the contact. Fluttershy, seeing her friend's intention, took out her phone as well.
The athlete began to type the message, hesitated a bit, looked at her friend, who nodded. "Okay," muttered to herself, finally sending the message with a sigh. "Wow, really, that was hard for me?!"
Fluttershy laughed as she replied. The message was simple: [Hey Flutters, how are you feeling?] and the reply was: [Happy that you wrote to me.]
Rainbow smiled as she finished reading. "I'll try to be more expressive next time," commented as she shook her phone.
"And I'll reply to you for anything," added, with a knowing look.
The two friends continued walking, feeling more connected.
A little further back, Sunset and Twilight walked behind Applejack and Pinkie, who was excitedly talking about something with her familiar.
"I was doing a little research on the conversation with Belle," Sunset began.
"Yeah, the last thing that happened was unexpected," Twilight agreed. "Like Rainbow said, normally we'd be the ones to storm out of the place... Which sounds bad at the same time."
The red-haired girl nodded. "Did you notice that maybe we were a little pushy about the sewing thing?"
The glasses-wearing girl nodded, thinking about the start of the conversation. "Maybe I kept going because I didn't want to leave Fluttershy hanging," she thought. "I think that made her upset, and the funny thing is that it was something she normally likes to talk about."
"But she doesn't like it anymore? It still doesn't make sense," Sunset commented.
"It's true, we know Belle has a passion for design, but the intense reaction she had leaves a lot to think about."
"Applejack said she wasn't lying; she knew Belle better," the red-haired girl said. "Which leads me to believe that... we don't know what she's like now."
"What happened in those years away from the city," the blue-haired girl said without waiting for an answer.
Sunset fell into thought.
"It seems like the words are resonating with us," Twilight commented, observing her friend's thoughtful expression.
"What?" she asked confused, raising an eyebrow.
"That we're all considering what AJ's brother told us about seeing clearly, and normally we would avoid the subject of Belle, but here we're talking about what happened," she explained.
"Am I considering this without realizing it?" Sunset thought in surprise. "But... Sunset, think things through," she said to herself.
She looked at her friend, who seemed equally thoughtful.
"It's like Fluttershy said. Maybe we should keep our opinions to ourselves about what we think," the red-haired girl said.
"You're right... For the moment, let's keep it that way," Twilight agreed, nodding slightly.
Once they realized the conversation had come to an end, they continued walking with their friends towards the court
The match was progressing with intensity. The students did not lose their enthusiasm for the rain, which was light. However, the drops began to fall harder, soaking the players and spectators alike.
From the stands, some students began to murmur, looking at the sky that was getting darker and darker. Among them, Principal Celestia and Principal Luna watched the weather development closely.
"This doesn't look good," Luna commented, crossing her arms as she felt the raindrops hit her face. "If it keeps up like this, we could have a problem for the last match on Friday."
Celestia nodded, keeping her gaze fixed on the field. "You're right. If the forecast holds true, the weather could get worse just in time for the big match."
At that moment, Professor Spitfire approached the two sisters. "Chancellor, Principal," she greeted with a quick gesture, shaking her soaked cap. "The rain is starting to affect the visibility of the players. There have already been a few slips."
Celestia frowned. “We don’t want to risk the students’ safety. Professor Spitfire, what is your recommendation?”
“Considering that the welcome event closes with the last match, we could move the final match up to tomorrow,” she suggested, looking at the field where the players continued to fight. “It will be a necessary precaution if we want to prevent the conditions from getting even worse.”
Luna nodded, considering the suggestion. “That will give us time to adjust for any unforeseen events and make sure everything is in order.”
Celestia looked at Spitfire and then at Luna, before making a decision. “Alright. We’ll move the match up to tomorrow. I’ll call Crystal Prep to see if they can. We’ll make the announcement at the end of this game. We’ll make sure everyone is informed and prepared.”
“Understood,” Spitfire replied, before turning and heading to the edge of the court to watch the match end. Seeing how they had won the previous two matches, she was confident that the Wondercolts would win against Baltimare.
As the raindrops continued to fall, the sisters exchanged a glance. They knew that even though the weather was unpredictable, they were doing their best to protect their students and ensure the success of the event.
The minutes passed, and as expected, the Wondercolts took the victory. All the students, including both teams, were called to the great hall to receive the announcement.
In the great hall, the students gathered after the exciting match. On the stage, Twilight and Fluttershy prepared to make the announcement, exchanging glances of nervousness and determination. They knew that the students could take what they were about to report well or badly.
Twilight spoke first, her clear voice echoing through the hall.
"Good afternoon, everyone. We know that you have been enjoying the welcome activities, and we want to thank you for your participation and enthusiasm over these two weeks," said with a smile, looking out at the crowd of students that filled the place.
Fluttershy sighed before continuing.
"However, due to the weather conditions we've been experiencing, we've had to make some adjustments to the schedule," she explained, her calm tone helping to keep the audience's attention.
The blue-haired girl nodded and added, "To ensure that everyone can safely enjoy the closing event, we've decided to move up the last day. Now, please receive our principal, who will give you more details about this change."
Attention turned to Principal Celestia, who stepped onto the stage in her usual calm manner.
"Thank you, Twilight and Fluttershy," she began, a smile directed at both of them. She then addressed the students in a firm but reassuring tone. "As you mentioned, we've decided to move up the last day of the event, which includes the final match that would have been on Friday, but we're moving it up to tomorrow, Thursday, due to the possibility of the weather worsening. Our priority is the safety of all of you, and we believe this is the best decision to ensure that you can enjoy the match and the closing of the event without worry."
Celestia paused to allow the information to sink in. The students wore different expressions and murmured amongst themselves as they processed the news.
"We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. See you tomorrow for an exciting close to our welcome event!"
With that, the students began preparing to gather their things and head back to their homes, some commenting amongst themselves about the unexpected change in plans.
The girls bundled up against the still-falling rain as they walked to the parking lot. Rainbow Dash was the first to break the silence.
"What a change of plans! Moving the game up is crazy, but I guess it's better than playing in a storm," she commented, shaking the water out of her soaked hair.
Applejack nodded, adjusting her hat to protect herself from the falling drops. "I'm not thrilled with the idea of changing the date, but it makes sense. With this rain, the field would be a mess on Friday."
"This makes everything more exciting! A surprise game!" Pinkie Pie said, with her usual enthusiasm.
Fluttershy, who always preferred calm, looked a little worried. "I hope everyone is okay with the change. I know some of you were looking forward to Friday's game, and this might be a little disappointing for you."
"I understand your concern, but I think everyone will understand. In the end, it's better to be safe and enjoy the game without worrying about bad weather," Sunset said to ease the situation.
"And it also gives us more time to mentally prepare. I think Celestia and Luna made the right decision, even if we have to adjust quickly," Twilight added.
The athlete huffed, crossing her arms. "Well, I just hope it's not too boring tomorrow. I want action! No drizzle to ruin our game!"
Applejack put her arm around Rainbow's shoulders. "Don't worry, Dash. I'm sure tomorrow will be just as exciting."
As the girls pulled into the parking lot, the conversation changed tone, with a slight air of anticipation in the air.
"Just make sure you're well rested and ready for tomorrow," Sunset concluded, heading toward her bike. "I think I'll ask Sunburst for permission to borrow his car or I'll ask my parents."
"That's a good idea; I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you," Fluttershy said worriedly.
"Text me when you get home," Twilight suggested.
"I will," she replied, climbing onto the bike and putting on her helmet.
"Be careful, Sunset. See you tomorrow," Applejack said.
"Bye, and remember the text," Pinkie added.
"You're more careful than me. See you tomorrow," Rainbow said.
With that farewell, Sunset started her bike and headed home as the girls scattered to their vehicles. Fluttershy climbed into Twilight's car alongside Spike; Rainbow Dash left with her sister Scootaloo; and Pinkie climbed into the Apples' truck.
"Is something wrong, cousin Pinkie?" Apple Bloom asked from the backseat, noticing the uncharacteristic silence of the lively girl.
"Everything's fine, just..." she hesitated a moment, looking out the window.
Applejack cast a quick glance at her cousin, waiting for her to continue.
"When I went to get my things, I wanted to check on Rarity," Pinkie admitted.
"Is she okay?" Apple Bloom asked, curious. "When I said goodbye to Sweetie Belle, she seemed fine, if a little pensive."
The farm girl fell silent, clearly thinking about the situation.
"That's what I mean," continued. "We had a conversation with the girls where Rarity was present, and it didn't end well."
"Did she go somewhere at the university afterward?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Yes, but from what I understand, she was at the game and then at the announcement. I wanted to check on her, but Sweetie Belle told me she was fine, just a little reserved. I was afraid to get any closer and decided to come join you," she explained.
"But was the conversation so bad that she got like that?" Apple Bloom insisted.
"Not exactly... she just mentioned something that got us thinking, but it's none of our business," Applejack interjected, her tone firm.
Pinkie frowned, clearly frustrated. "Applejack, you could be a little more empathetic, despite how things are."
"I'm empathetic, Pinkie, but it's something that concerns her, not us," replied, her voice reflecting an attempt to remain neutral.
"Aren't you just a little curious about what Rarity went through outside of town to make her say she's no longer interested in design?" the party girl persisted.
"She's no longer interested?" Apple Bloom asked, surprised.
"That's what she told us," Pinkie confirmed, before turning her gaze back to the blonde.
Applejack fell silent, processing. "Rarity is part of my past. I need to focus on my present, but... I won't deny that I was surprised by what she said."
Pinkie sighed, frustrated.
"I'm sure she's just going through a phase of denial. And you don't need to distance yourself from her because of that." the farmer said.
"I don't think it's a phase," Pinkie replied seriously.
Applejack didn't answer, but started the truck, which the party girl took as a sign to continue.
"Remember at the beginning of the year when we used to watch her from afar?" she asked, with a meaningful glance at her cousin.
"It's still the beginning of the academic year," Apple Bloom chimed in.
"True. What I mean is, remember how funny it was to see her in sports, and find out she has other classes that have nothing to do with design?" the party girl continued.
Applejack glanced at her sideways before turning her attention back to the road.
"What if Rarity wasn't studying something she was really passionate about?" Pinkie said.
"Rarity studying something that didn't have to do with design?" Apple Bloom asked, incredulous. "That sounds impossible. What reason would she have to study anything else?"
"Exactly," said, leaving the question hanging in the air.
The farmer, although she didn't say anything, was left with the seed of doubt about the possible reasons why the seamstress could have decided not to follow her dream.
Belle Family House
Rarity and Sweetie Belle had already arrived home, and minutes later, their parents did the same. However, Hondo wanted to do some shopping, so Sweetie Belle decided to accompany him while Cookie and Rarity stayed home waiting.
Cookie came out of her room on the first floor. As she walked around the house a bit, she saw her daughter looking at the door of another room with a sad look. Seeing her, she decided to approach her.
Cookie walked up to her daughter and touched her shoulder. "Are you finally going to come in?"
"Not yet."
"You should try it sometime," suggested softly, looking at the door.
"If I did, the first thing I'd have to do would be to clean the dust. The other day I took out a needle and thread and saw the dirt, but I left right away before I changed my mind."
"Sometimes we need to take some distance, but that doesn't mean we can't go back to the way things were. It's your thing." her mother commented.
"A lot of people tell me that... And others don't understand what I want," Rarity murmured, her head down.
"What is it, daughter?"
"Have you ever been told that you have to be 'this' because it's obviously your thing?" Rarity asked, taking one last look at the door.
Cookie put her arm around her daughter and led her into the living room. "Ha," she blurted out unintentionally. "Sorry... It's kind of like what I thought of you and your tastes, but over the years, you three made me see things differently."
The two of them arrived and sat down on the couch.
"I know I was very negative about your tastes in girls and thought that it was just a phase that would pass, and I was wrong. It's your decision, and I'll be happy seeing you with the right guy or girl," Cookie said with a smile.
"Thanks..." replied. "It's weird that your own mom 'ships' you with someone," thought playfully.
"I remember that girl... What was her name?" Cookie asked thoughtfully.
"Aurelia? Suri? M-"
"I'm not talking about your passing relationships," interrupted and clarified. "That blonde girl you fought to be with."
"Ah... Her name is Applejack," Rarity said, trying to hide her discomfort.
Since her mother didn't specify at first who she was referring to, the seamstress thought she was talking about girls she had dated without anything serious, as well as some men.
"That girl is the one I'm referring to," Cookie stated. "Maybe I was too hard on her, and I realize that she loved you very much. And you loved her, despite how things ended."
"I know that our relationship didn't work out the way I wanted, but that's how things turned out," Rarity replied with a shrug. "And now she..."
"Wherever she is, she must be doing her thing, like each one of us," Cookie said.
"What I had to do to keep Mom from seeing that cowgirl," thought with annoyance. "Yeah, maybe she's already living her life."
"That's why you should too, and not just in your romantic life..." Cookie added, looking at her daughter. "If you don't want to pursue design anymore, that's fine. You need to move on, and that's why I expect the best from you in your studies," she added with a smile.
Rarity gave her a sad smile.
"Also remember that no one decides for you what you want to be; it's your life," she said, taking her daughter's hands and looking at her. This time, Rarity smiled, but not sadly.
Before either of them could say anything else, the kitchen door could be heard. Sweetie Belle and Hondo appeared, and Hondo was the first to speak.
"We got here and..."
"I got the candy this time," said the younger girl.
"What did you get, dear?" Cookie asked with a smile.
"Chocolate cupcakes and apple pie!" exclaimed excitedly.
"Sounds delicious!" commented Rarity, trying to cheer herself up a bit.
Hondo set the bags down on the table and joined in the conversation. "We thought we could have a little family night. What do you think?"
"Sounds like an excellent idea," agreed Cookie. "It'll be a nice way to spend time together on this rainy day."
The seamstress nodded. "Yeah, I think we could use it."
"So, let's get to work!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle, running into the kitchen to start unpacking the candy.
"Rarity," said Cookie, approaching her eldest daughter while Sweetie Belle and Hondo were busy in the kitchen. "Remember, we'll always be here for you, no matter what."
Rarity smiled and hugged her mother. "I know, Mother. Thank you for understanding me and for being by my side."
Cookie returned the hug warmly. "You are a talented person. Don't let anything or anyone make you doubt that."
Sunset's Family House
In the quiet of her room, Sunset watched the rain fall softly against the window. The drops slid down the glass. The conversation she had with Twilight came back to her mind, especially Big Mac's words about seeing things clearly.
With a sigh, Sunset turned away from the window and walked over to her desk. She pulled out a worn notebook, one she used for some ideas that were always on her mind over the years. She sat down in the chair and, after a moment of hesitation, began to write:
[Rarity Belle's Strengths]
The words flowed from her pencil as she remembered what Rarity had been like when she first met her.
[She was kind and totally different from what I imagined. I was surprised to see her with Fluttershy when we were waiting for her. After the seven of us met, she was the first to suggest having a meeting so we could get to know each other better.]
Sunset wrote about Rarity's passion for design, how she was always full of ideas, and how her creativity seemed to have no limits. She recalled the times when Rarity had helped her friends, especially Fluttershy, to become more confident.
"But then..."
She paused, biting her lip as she thought about the last time they saw the seamstress, which caused the gap that had formed between Rarity and the rest of the girls. It hadn't just been a misunderstanding, but on purpose. She wrote about that day, starting with that tension on the seamstress's part. Something happened that made her seem distant, and the fact that AJ was with Rainbow Dash was a choice, but why was she showing that tension with everyone else?
"What really happened for her to do that?"
Sunset wrote about how, when confronted after finding out what she did, the dressmaker refused to tell the truth, until she gave herself away in an oversight, followed by disillusionment and disappointment on the part of the girls. This led to everyone thinking that, in reality, the person they had met was nothing more than a facade, and that the real Rarity was someone selfish and manipulative, interested only in her appearance.
"Which leads to the present..."
She decided to divide the notebook into two columns: one for the Rarity she had known and one for the current one.
[Creative, elegant, determined, generous, dramatic, proud, vain.] plus what she showed last time. [selfishness and manipulation] Versus the present. [insistent, bipolar, vain...]
As she wrote, she realized that her own perception of Rarity was influenced by the past. Recognizing this, she began to fill in the two columns, comparing aspects of the dressmaker's personality in the past with recent behaviors, without being influenced by what happened in the past.
Sunset also added how Rarity had shown regret, and the fact of giving them space, something she appreciated a little when she didn't insist again. She also added the dressmaker's willingness to defend someone who was once her friend and the moral support she gave her in the bathroom. That understanding she had with Applejack through her gaze, it was as if they had communicated without saying anything, an action that avoided another moment in which the farmer would have hidden and caused an argument. This led her to the dressmaker's family. Some may think it is a facade behind an image, but in reality they are a united family.
She also added those flawed aspects of the dressmaker such as drama and vanity for having to look perfect. As she went on, she realized that while some things had changed, others remained the same. However, those similarities were few.
Finally, Sunset put the pencil aside and leaned back in her chair, observing the columns she had created. Her thoughts revolved around a conclusion she didn't want to accept: perhaps she was misjudging the seamstress, and what happened today led her to wonder if she really knew the Rarity of now.
She thought about the seamstress's words, the first attempt at conversation where she said something unexpected, something that had been a fundamental part of her identity. Those words had surprised everyone.
Is Rarity struggling with something deeper? Or has her tastes simply changed?
What happened in those years of absence?
Could she consider giving her another chance, like Pinkie Pie is doing?
She closed the notebook and put it away on her desk, feeling a mix of confusion and curiosity. She knew that, in order to forgive, she would first have to try to let go of the resentment she felt a little and observe the seamstress's current behavior, seeing the change she had had.
She looked out the window from the chair. The rain was still as strong as when she was in high school. Luckily, the road wasn't too slippery and he was able to get home safely, sending a message to the girls as soon as he arrived.
He looked at the closed notebook again. He would have to see how things would go from here; the future would tell whether the situation would improve or not.
With one last look at the window, he set about preparing everything for tomorrow and let the night pass for the dawn to come.
Thursday arrived, and the rain continued to fall gently on the university, creating small puddles on the paths. Although it was not strong enough to cancel the event, Chancellor Celestia decided to wait until it subsided. She announced to the gathered students that in the meantime, they could help rearrange some things in the great hall, where there was still a mess from the previous days' activities.
They were all helping out, scattered around the hall. Applejack was putting some decorations away in a box, but as she did so, out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone walk by. She turned her head and found the dressmaker. She remembered a little of the conversation with the party girl.
Rarity was standing next to Bon Bon, helping her stack some chairs in a corner. As they worked, Bon Bon was quietly telling her something, which caused the dressmaker to smile slightly. However, at one point, the dressmaker felt someone's gaze, and as she looked up, she met the green eyes of the farm girl across the hall.
Applejack tried to look away so she wouldn't think about what happened the day before, but she froze, caught in the silent exchange with Rarity. Her eyes reflected a mix of incomprehension and doubt, while the seamstress, surprised at first, frowned slightly, maintaining eye contact. Bon Bon continued talking, oblivious to the tension that had arisen between the two.
Finally, the seamstress looked away, returning to what she was doing, while the farmer decided to leave the room to get some air in some way that didn't involve going out into the rain.
After a while, Rainbow Dash, who couldn't stand being inactive for too long, approached some of her friends who were nearby with a proposal in mind.
"Girls, how about we go to the music room and practice a little, so we can kill time while we wait for the rain to pass?" she suggested, grinning from ear to ear. "It'll be better than being here doing nothing."
Pinkie Pie immediately jumped up, excited by the idea. "Yeah! A little rehearsal will lift everyone's spirits!"
Sunset and Twilight agreed, but first they had to find Fluttershy and Applejack, who were probably in the Great Hall or somewhere else in the college.
"You guys go ahead, we're going to find Fluttershy," Twilight said.
"Okay, let's go Pinkie," Rainbow said before turning around to head to the music room with the party girl following her.
Sunset and Twilight, after taking a walk around the Great Hall, deduced that Fluttershy wasn't there, so Twilight texted her that they were going to the music room to play and that if she saw Applejack, she should tell her the same.
Elsewhere, in the locker aisles, Applejack was approaching her locker, pulling out an apple. Eating an apple always helped her relax her mind.
As she continued to eat, she saw a few students pulling things out of their locker or just walking around. A few minutes later she heard the voice of her red-haired friend
"Applejack," said, walking over to Twilight.
"Hey, girls, what are you doing here?" asked after swallowing the last piece of apple.
"Dash thought we could play a little while we pass the time," Twilight explained.
"It's a great idea," Applejack replied. "I'll follow right after."
"Okay, see you later," Sunset said, starting to walk with the glasses-wearing girl.
"What were you saying earlier?" Applejack heard Twilight ask the red-haired girl as they walked away.
"Don't kill me, but I thought a little about yesterday," Sunset replied.
She couldn't hear the rest of the conversation, as the voices became increasingly fainter and something told her that it was a certain girl with wavy hair.
"Haven't you been curious about what happened outside the city?..." she remembered what Pinkie told her.
She would deny that she was curious. Again a thought crossed her mind. She took out her cell phone and, once again, went to Instagram. She sighed and went to the search bar, looking for Rarity. When she followed her before, she didn't block her, she just unfollowed her.
Finding what would be her profile, she began to scroll down little by little. She wanted to look for any trace of her designing a dress.
She scrolled down and down. There were only photos with her family, others of her and others next to clothes she would buy, but none where anything designed was seen. She thought that maybe she would publish that somewhere else.
She continued scrolling down, remembering some photos and noticing the order. "Hmm... there would be some pictures here," said thoughtfully.
She swiped again, noticing that some of the pictures were gone. "She must have deleted them or archived them. Of course she would, I did too."
The farmer paused at a specific part, remembering that that part would be...
Three Years Ago: Summer
Days after Rarity's confrontation with her mother, Applejack was nervous. They had agreed to meet at the park, but she still had doubts about whether Rarity would show up. She was a little afraid that she wouldn't come. She arrived at the agreed place and sat on a bench, looking around. She felt like the minutes were passing very slowly, and that made her a little desperate. Finally, she saw her girlfriend walking towards her.
"Rarity, you did come! I knew you would, but I'm glad to see you," Applejack said, sighing in relief.
The seamstress smiled and approached the blonde, and a little on tiptoe, gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Of course I would, I'm here," said to reassure her.
The farmer smiled and nodded more relaxed.
"Shall we settle in?" asked the seamstress.
"Shall we settle in?" repeated, not understanding.
"Yeah, look," Rarity commented, holding up a basket.
Applejack smirked. "So a picnic..."
"I thought it would be ideal to relax after what we've been through," the seamstress explained.
"I like the idea."
They spread a blanket on the grass and took some things out of the basket.
"How do you feel after... you know, your mom thing?"
"It's been hard, even I was surprised to talk to her like that, but I feel like I did the right thing," Rarity admitted, looking at the horizon.
"You were brave to face your mom. You surprise me more and more, your bravery, the fact that you never give up, even with me, those are some things I like about you," Applejack said, looking at her.
The seamstress lowered her head a little, blushing slightly as she looked at her a little. "But if she objected, we'd still see each other... we'd be like Romeo and Juliet," commented, laughing a little. The farmer also laughed a little.
The seamstress put on an almost serious expression. "I've told you several times... that I used to go out with boys on casual dates."
"Are you trying to make me jealous?" Applejack joked, giving her a push.
"You don't save yourself when I see some guys or girls giving you the eye either," said, raising an amused eyebrow.
"It's natural talent," she joked again. "But I don't have anyone else in mind to think about other than you."
Rarity smiled at her words and continued talking. "I always kept my heart closed to everyone, maybe I was afraid to open it; maybe that's why I went out with boys. Besides, I'd never fallen in love with anyone until I met you," confessed, looking into her eyes. "You were always the one I was waiting for, with you I'm not afraid to open my heart..."
Applejack looked at her with a sparkle in her eyes.
"...Applejack, you're my other half," said, making a shape with her left hand. The blonde, with her right hand, formed the same figure and then brought her hands together, forming a heart.
"I'm not usually one to talk about my feelings. I admit that I don't show how I feel sometimes, either when I break down over something sad or in other situations, keeping my heart closed. But with you... sometimes it's different. I don't know how you do it, but you manage to make my heart open, even if it's just a little bit," Applejack commented without taking her eyes off her.
The two slowly approached each other to give each other a sweet kiss without breaking the heart shape. Once separated and looking into each other's eyes for a moment longer, they decided to start the picnic.
While the curly-haired girl took something else out of the basket, Applejack stared at the hand still with half the heart. She moved it a little until it stopped on the dressmaker's chest. "A nice necklace to wear," murmured.
"Did you say something?" asked curiously.
"Nothing..." the farmer answered with a half smile. "I think I had an idea and I'm sure you'll like it."
Rarity raised an eyebrow. "You're not thinking about going home after our date, are you?" said in a playful tone.
Applejack let out a laugh. "Seriously, sometimes I wonder who of us has the hotter mind."
"That's up for debate, sweetie," said, blushing.
"As Granny Smith says, hormones at this age really do affect us," Applejack commented.
"She's so right," agreed, returning to her natural tone. "So, that's not what you were thinking."
"No," she said, shaking her head. "I won't tell you yet, just wait."
"Okay, maybe you'll tell me and I won't realize you already told me," Rarity said, opening the basket again.
"I hope you think that," the blonde thought. "Now I need to see what the heart would look like, but what else could I add to it?"
She looked at her again and noticed the seamstress taking something else out of the basket.
"I went to a fair with Sweetie Belle the other day and we won, so she picked out a bear and I picked out this target that reminded me of you," Rarity said, holding out her arm.
"Me?" Applejack asked, taking the stuffed animal. "Why?"
"You're kind of like a cowgirl when I see you on horses or those mechanical bulls," Rarity said.
The farmer frowned slightly. "Mmm... no, I don't really like the sound of it."
"Why not? It's a term of endearment," the seamstress said, raising an eyebrow.
"It just makes me feel like a cliché. I don't want to be seen as the 'cowgirl' just because I'm wearing a hat and boots, even though I'm not wearing them now."
Rarity gently took Applejack's hand. "I didn't know you were bothered by that stuff. From now on, you'll just be Jackie or Little Apple."
"Thanks, Rare," said, smiling back. "It's nice to talk about these things."
"Our dislikes? Like the fact that I don't like going on field trips or when you end up completely muddy from it or from your job," Rarity mentioned.
"Not your style, young lady," the blonde sneered a little.
"Funny," said, looking at her clothes. "You know how long it takes me to find something that's fashionable and doesn't have any flaws. Imagine if it got dirty... it would be a disgrace."
The farm girl rolled her eyes a little. "Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen it."
"I noticed the sarcasm there, farm girl."
"You know I don't like that side of you," Applejack commented, getting a little serious.
"Sometimes, your thoughtlessness bothers me too," Rarity said, narrowing her eyes.
"Rarity..."
"Are we going to fight over our differences again?" the dressmaker asked, raising an eyebrow, a little serious.
"I hope not," replied, somewhat worried.
Rarity changed her expression to a smile. "That's nice," said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
Applejack sighed. "Still, you have to admit that you've enjoyed some of those outings. Otherwise, you wouldn't have mentioned when I get on the horses."
"Mmm... I won't admit it out loud," Rarity said without thinking.
"You already did," said, laughing at the girl's carelessness.
"I'll just say that there were a few that weren't bad," commented, then looked at the stuffed animal in the farmer's hands. "Though I must say, the stuffed animal looks good on you."
"If you say so."
The seamstress looked at her closely. "You're right, you don't look like a cowgirl. All you're missing is a rope and a blouse."
Applejack laughed. "Yeah, I think the shirt I'm wearing gives me that change."
"I like it, it's similar to the one you wore before, which was long sleeved," the seamstress said.
"As the heat is getting stronger, I looked for a shirt that would go with me, and I found this one, which is similar to the last one," explained Applejack.
"It makes you look good," said Rarity. "And that calls for a picture."
"You know I'm not much of a photo guy."
"It's not just that, Jackie. Now that my family knows about us, there's no reason to keep it from others," said Rarity, standing behind the blonde and extending her arms around her neck.
"Do you want a picture to post?" asked, somewhat surprised.
"Yes, it will be the first of many," said the seamstress as she looked for a good position. "Perfect," thought.
"This isn't the first," commented, remembering other occasions when they took pictures.
"I'm not going to post old pictures I have in the galleries. Those are in memories," Rarity clarified. "Now, get ready, sweetie."
"Okay, I'm going to put my best face forward," commented, making different faces. The seamstress laughed.
"You don't have to force a smile. You can be casual."
Applejack nodded and, after Rarity found a better pose, she took the selfie.
The seamstress was going through her Instagram profile thinking about what to describe in the post.
"What did you put?"
"Open it and see," she replied, pointing at the blonde's phone. Applejack took it out when she heard a notification, which was a mention in the app. When she opened it, she saw the photo and the description: [#SideBySide. Always in my heart.]
She smiled as she finished reading. "I think it could be with my initial on the necklace, so you'll always have me in your heart," thought as she looked at her.
"Did you like it?"
"Yes, very much," replied the farmer, blushing a little.
"I think we can start eating now," said Rarity. "I won't hide you from my parents anymore."
"Parents?" Applejack murmured.
The conversation over, they continued with the picnic. Once they had eaten and shared more conversations, they put away their things, walked around the park for a bit, and at one point, Applejack pulled a rose from the bush and gave it to Rarity, who accepted it like the previous times. As they walked, the farmer remembered the picnic a little and asked her girlfriend to follow her.
"Where are we going?" she asked, curious.
"I felt the need to come and have you accompany me," Applejack explained, leading her with her intertwined hands to a quiet and somewhat sad place.
Once inside, they stopped in front of some tombstones with the names Bright Mac and Pear Blutter on them.
"They're your... Sorry, AJ, it's obvious if I asked," said with a sad expression.
"It's okay, Rarity. Yes, they are. When you mentioned your parents, I thought of them," said, looking at the tombstones.
Rarity bent down to take something out of the basket. "They're the ones I put at the picnic, but they're plastic," said, taking out a rose and placing it down.
"It doesn't matter, they'll last longer this way," said, lowering her head, not quite sure if she should ask the next question. "Do you... do you have anyone here?"
The seamstress looked at the other tombstones a bit. "I'm not sure if there's anyone here that I really know. I think they might be my grandparents, although I've never met them in person. But I've seen them in Mom's photo album when they were holding me as a baby," said, a little sadly. "It's strange, because even though I don't have direct memories of them, in some ways it's better not to have those memories, but not of the other, since you can't remember lived moments."
"Yeah... Sometimes it seems like it would be easier not to remember to avoid the constant pain. But where are those happy moments?" Applejack said in a nostalgic tone.
Rarity hugged her partner. "It's nice to remember those moments despite the pain. You know I'll always be here to listen to you when you talk about your parents."
Applejack hugged her partner back. "Thanks, Rare. I think they would have liked you a lot and would have gladly accepted you as my partner."
The two held hands. With a last sigh, Applejack looked at the tombstone and then at the seamstress. Together they left the cemetery.
Present  
"Parents... I should go visit you one of these days; I haven't done so in two months," Applejack said to herself, remembering when she left the cemetery. "All things nice aside, Belle was understanding... After that, I dropped her off at her house; luckily, this time it was Mr. Hondo who opened the door, always kind and thanking me for protecting his daughter, and me replying that I would never let her be hurt..." Applejack opened her eyes a little. "Is that why I was hiding from him? Somehow, when we broke up, I hurt her by breaking my word," sighed a little. "The subconscious is annoying."
She shook her head and looked at the screen again. "What else do you have?"
"Hey, Applejack," a voice startled her.
"I wasn't watching anything!" exclaimed, blocking the phone, and saw who was in front of her. "Fluttershy, ah, what are you doing here?" The pink haired girl put on a confused expression at the recent words, but then changed it to answer.
"I saw Twilight's message saying that we could play while waiting for the rain to calm down," commented with a smile.
"Oh..." murmured, trying not to show her nervousness.
"Were you watching some video? You seemed very focused," Fluttershy said curiously.
"Uhh, yeah, well... I was..." said, looking for some excuse, looking at her phone and then at her friend.
"Is everything okay?"
The farmer sighed and unlocked the phone. "Don't tell Rainbow," asked, passing her phone to her. Fluttershy put on a confused expression until she saw the screen.
"Is that Belle?"
"Yeah, I didn't believe what she said about losing interest in sewing. It was her dream to be recognized," explained.
"Yeah, it was unexpected yesterday," the pink haired girl said, sliding the screen to see the photos. "There are a lot of photos with her family."
"She's always been very close to her family," Applejack said, remembering.
"And she still is. You could see it in the games," added with a smile.
"Yeah," Applejack said.
"Hmm..." the pink-haired girl said.
"What's wrong?" the farmer asked.
"These are out of town, I don't recognize any places," commented, showing some photos, and Applejack looked at them.
"What's up with that? She's been away for a while."
"Yeah, I thought she'd meet more people as friends or a partner and upload it," Fluttershy said curiously.
The farmer raised an eyebrow and looked back at the screen.
"Looks like she didn't make any friends," the pink-haired girl commented with a sad look.
"Was she alone without hanging out with anyone?" Applejack thought, lowering her gaze a little and remembering the times the dressmaker told her about her fears, including loneliness.
"Maybe she didn't want to upload them," Fluttershy said, thinking of a positive possibility.
The farmer nodded. "It would be better to think about that possibility."
"And that's why you thought of looking for her now?"
"Eh?"
"You said you looked for her to confirm what she said about the designs," said the pink-haired girl.
Applejack hesitated a bit before answering. "To tell you the truth... I had the urge to look her up the other day," admitted. "Don't tell Dash that either," requested.
Fluttershy nodded, though not quite sure she would hide this from her best friend. "Okay, maybe you think she might get jealous over this."
"Jealous? No, Rainbow has never shown jealousy and neither have I. I was more saying that because I already had an argument about me still clinging to the past... It might be a possibility, but I think it's just because of how things ended and nothing more. Also, if I tell her this, she might think I'm giving Belle a second chance and I should be on her side," she explained.
"Applejack, I'm not saying that siding with your partner is right or wrong, but you should also consider your own decisions despite not agreeing with someone you care about," she advised. "I care about Rainbow too and I don't know what she'd think if I told her what I think about Belle."
"This is complicated. I decided not to get involved with Belle, but Fluttershy is right; in a way... I have to take into account what I think. But... I don't know exactly what I think of Belle. But if something were to happen in the future, and I doubt it will, I could come to an agreement with Belle, an agreement that things won't be tense between us... but I can't force things to be one way," thought. "We'll see what happens," was all he said.
Fluttershy smiled at him and they headed to the music room.
Once there, they began to prepare their instruments, settling into their usual positions.
"So, ready to go, girls?" asked Rainbow, tuning her guitar. "Let's make this day not so gray after all."
With a nod, the girls began to play together, letting the music flow freely.
Between songs, the girls began to chat. Twilight and Sunset were discussing possible strategies for the upcoming test.
"I think if we go over chapter five again, we'll be more than prepared," Twilight commented, adjusting her glasses.
"I agree, but we should also go over the theory from chapter seven; you never know what he might ask," Sunset replied.
Pinkie, on the other hand, was excitedly talking about a new recipe she wanted to try out.
"And if we added marshmallows inside, they might explode with flavor when you bite into them!" she said excitedly, waving her hands in the air as if she was creating the recipe in her mind.
"That sounds delicious, Pinkie. We should try it out for the next trials!" Fluttershy replied, smiling softly.
"I ask that we not think about the trials just yet," Pinkie said with a hint of dramatic sadness.
"Oops," the pink-haired girl muttered, smiling at Pinkie's reaction.
As they talked, Rainbow Dash began to play some random notes on her guitar, letting her fingers move aimlessly over the strings. Suddenly, a melody emerged from the notes she played, catching Fluttershy's attention.
"Wait, Rainbow..." said, stopping the conversation with the party girl. "Those notes you just played, can you repeat them?"
The multi-colored haired girl looked at her curiously, but without question, she repeated the notes she had played. The soft, melodic sound echoed through the room.
"That sounds... nice," Fluttershy said with a shy smile. "Could you try playing some variations?"
Rainbow, willing to please her friend, nodded.
"Sure, whatever you want, Flutters."
As she explored different variations of the melody, Fluttershy watched her with a growing smile. There was something about that melody that made her feel calm.
The music filled the room again.
The other girls watched the interaction between Rainbow and Fluttershy, noticing the difference in the atmosphere. Pinkie leaned over to Twilight and whispered.
"I think things are looking up, Twi."
The bespectacled girl smiled at her friends.
"Yeah, and that's not the only thing... If you notice, there's no talk at all about what happened with the food."
"You're right, no one seems to say anything anymore," Applejack said, still wearing her bass.
"Your strategy worked," Sunset said with a satisfied smile.
Without stopping the tune, Rainbow looked at Fluttershy and, with a mischievous smile, changed the tempo of the song.
"How about we add a little more energy to it?"
The animal lover laughed softly and nodded.
"Sounds good to me."
The four of them listened attentively, enjoying the musical moment.
"That sounds great!" Pinkie exclaimed. "What will it sound like if we add a synthesizer?" asked, excited by the idea.
"Let's try it out," Sunset said, as she walked over to the synthesizer on the side of the room. Together with Applejack, they pulled it over. Thanks to the wide variety of instruments available at the university, they had access to them.
"Rainbow, play it again," Applejack asked, remembering the melody her partner had created earlier. The idea was to use the synthesizer to mimic guitar notes and experiment with different combinations and sounds.
Rainbow played the notes again. Fluttershy, along with Pinkie, approached and the animal lover asked the party girl to try out some new note combinations on the synthesizer. Thanks to her advanced music classes at the university and Sunset, Pinkie was familiar with the setup of the equipment, although they sometimes got a little tangled up.
The girls also began to enter some notes with their respective instruments, and the room filled with the music of the impromptu session. However, the door swung open and a blue-haired boy appeared with a serious expression.
"Girls, sorry to interrupt. First, you're sounding better and better. Second, I have news about the match," Flash said, drawing everyone's attention. "I'm not sure if the news is good or bad, but the Shadowbolts are here."
The girls looked at each other with determination, especially Rainbow, Applejack, and Sunset.
"They're here, huh?" Rainbow said, forming a fist and resting it on her open hand.
"We've won these matches considering it training, so we have a chance of beating them," Applejack added confidently.
"Is there anything else?" Twilight asked, with a worried tone.
"What about the rain?" Fluttershy asked.
"Chancellor Celestia is going to make an important announcement about the match regarding that," Flash replied. "We should go to the great hall immediately."
Without hesitation, the girls left their instruments and quickly headed towards the great hall, following Flash.
Already in the great hall, Rainbow, Applejack, and Sunset were preparing to go to the locker room, as well as other students like Bon Bon and Lyra. The rest of the team that approached were about to leave when their trainer, Spitfire, appeared, who seemed to have fallen, as her pants were stained with wet dirt.
"Stop right there, Wondercolts!" she exclaimed with her characteristic firm tone.
"Professor, are you okay?" Fluttershy asked, worried.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for asking. As for you Wondercolts, you'll need to pay attention to what the principal has to say," she replied, shaking some dirt off her knees.
"We were told that the Shadowbolts are already here," Sunset commented, looking at her trainer.
"That's true," Spitfire confirmed, nodding to the side of the hall.
They all looked in the direction the trainer was pointing. There stood the Shadowbolts, in their dark tracksuits, staring back with cocky, mocking grins.
The Wondercolts glared at them with defiant eyes, but could not continue their staring match as the sound of the microphone drew their attention.
Chancellor Celestia adjusted the microphone and looked around at everyone in the great hall, her expression calm but serious.
"Good afternoon, students. I'm sorry to interrupt, but there is an important announcement to make regarding today's match," she began. "As you know, the rain has stopped, but after reviewing the field conditions, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold the match."
A murmur of disappointment ran through the room, especially among the Wondercolts.
"Why can't we play? The rain has stopped!" the athlete exclaimed, crossing her arms.
Coach Spitfire shook her head.
"That's what I was hoping for too, Dash, but I just got back from the field and I can tell you that it's too slippery to play safely. And that, girls, is why my knees are covered in dirt," She said, pointing at his dirty pants.
"But what about waiting for the field to dry out?" the redhead asked, trying to come up with a solution.
Spitfire sighed and shook her head again. "I checked the weather, and there's more rain forecast for later, and that will last until tomorrow, so they wouldn't be able to play tomorrow either. We can't risk the field getting any worse."
Chancellor Celestia spoke again.
"According to Crystal Prep's rules and schedules, if the game can't be played today or tomorrow due to the weather, we'll have to wait until January for the final," she announced, causing a surprised reaction in the room. "I know this is frustrating for many of you, but I want you to look on the bright side: you'll have more time to train and better prepare for the game."
There was a silence as the students digested the news, and although some murmured in disagreement, most understood the situation among those with the multicolored hair who considered what she said about training.
"I'm sorry to hear the news, but as you can see we've had a great welcome event these past two weeks, it was an unforgettable moment," Celestia continued with a smile. "I'll see you next week, as the streets will probably be too wet for you to come and I don't want to risk you. Thank you for your understanding."
With those words, the chancellor left the microphone, ending the announcement.
"If the final match is called off because the Shadowbolts are here?" asked Applejack, who hadn't said anything until that point.
"They weren't sure the field would be like this, so they weren't expecting this either," replied Spitfire.
At that moment, three of the Shadowbolts approached.
"Train all you want, you won't beat us," said Captain Indigo, with a cocky smile.
"You won't have much luck like in the losers' round," added Sour Sweet, with her typical sarcastic tone.
"They went through a rough patch, since they were just losers," concluded Sugarcoat with brutal honesty.
Both the Wondercolts and the students standing nearby frowned.
"See you in January, Dash," said the captain before turning around with the two. "I can't wait to see your defeated faces again."
Once they were gone, the Wondercolts began to exchange glances.
"He who lets his guard down..." said Lyra with a smile.
"...will eventually be caught off guard," Bon Bon finished.
Rainbow smirked. "Listen..." she began. "They can say whatever they want, but they're not Wondercolts. We're going to train and we're going to shut those words up," she continued with determination.
"We're going to kick their asses," Gilda said, motivating the team.
"Yes!" the Wondercolts responded energetically.
"But we won't push ourselves too hard. We've already been through that stage, but we'll train enough to make them regret it," the multi-colored haired girl said with renewed confidence.
Her friends smiled at the athlete's words. For a moment, they thought she would be discouraged by the announcement, but her competitive spirit was still intact.
"That's what I wanted to hear. We'll have a tough training session, but I won't let you overexert yourselves. So, starting next week, we'll start training," the coach said with a serious expression. "There will only be exceptions during midterms, but we'll move on from there."
The team nodded in encouragement for training to come and prove the Shadowbolts wrong.
Slowly, the students were leaving the great hall, and the rest of the girls began to walk down the halls.
"Dash, that was impressive," Sunset began, smiling in admiration. "Not just how you handled the headmistress's announcement, but how you motivated the team. We really needed to hear that."
"Yeah, when the Shadowbolts started talking, I thought you were going to let yourself get carried away in frustration, but you kept your cool," Twilight added with a smile. "That's not easy."
Rainbow smiled, but it was noticeable that she was still a little tense about the situation. "Thanks, girls. Honestly, it wasn't easy. The Shadowbolts know how to get on our nerves, but we can't let that get to us. We have to stay strong and focused."
Applejack nodded and put her arms around Rainbow's shoulders. "That's what I like about you, Dash. You know how to keep the team together and focused. And while I don't always agree with all of your decisions, I know that you always have the best interest of the team in mind."
Pinkie nodded enthusiastically. "I'm sure you'll succeed."
"When January comes, they'll be so surprised at what we can do, they won't even know what hit them," the athlete said.
Fluttershy, who had been silent, looked up at her best friend. "It's good that you didn't get carried away. But... are you okay? I know it's frustrating, but you have to take care of your mental health too."
Rainbow stopped in front of her friend and put her hands on the pink-haired girl's shoulders. "I admit, this affects me and I'm frustrated, but I'd rather not put my emotions on display. But trust that I'll be okay," said with a wink.
The animal lover smiled. "Sometimes hiding how bad you feel doesn't do any good, but I'm glad you recognize that you're not. That's one way to let out frustration."
The farmer thought for a bit about the fact that the multicolored haired girl might not be feeling well.
"Yeah, maybe," Rainbow said, letting out a sigh as she thought about what she said. She then saw the blonde approach her. "I know what you're going to say, and it's okay... I'm going for the outing."
Applejack was a little surprised. "I didn't really have any outings in mind, except the one I told you about at the beginning of the year."
"So what were you going to tell me?" asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That we could all go out to liven things up, but now that you mention going out, it's okay," replied. "We could go..."
"My turn," Rainbow said.
"What do you mean, your turn?" asked, sighing.
"Remember, last weekend we went out and you chose."
"But... ugh, I don't want to get into an argument. How about this?" Applejack suggested, holding up a hand. "Rock, paper, scissors."
"Rock, paper, scissors?"
"Yeah," confirmed, bracing herself. "So we'll see where we go depending on who wins," she said with a confident smile.
"Fine," Rainbow agreed, positioning her hand.
The girls watched the interaction, and thankfully, there was no tension this time. Pinkie saw out of the corner of her eye a certain curly-haired girl walk past her sister in the opposite direction from where they were.
"Can you girls go without me this time?" asked the three, as Applejack and Rainbow were still playing the game.
"Okay," Sunset said.
"Fine, but is there a specific reason?" Fluttershy asked. "The streets are too wet to walk."
"Don't worry, I'll take an Uber," Pinkie said nonchalantly. "I just want to see how things are in the city, and what better way than taking an Uber."
The three weren't convinced by those words, but they preferred not to insist, thinking she had her reasons.
"Okay, but be careful if you don't take an Uber," Twilight said.
"I'll be careful. And tell Applejack why I won't go with her," she said with a smile. "And say goodbye to Rainbow. Bye, girls," he said before turning around and walking off in the opposite direction.
Rarity and Sweetie Belle were already near the front door, about to leave, when they heard a cheerful voice they immediately recognized.
"Hey, Rarity, Sweetie Belle!"
Rarity stopped, surprised, and turned to see the party girl approaching with her usual energy. "Pinkie Pie? What are you doing here? I thought you'd already left."
"I wanted to talk to you for a bit," replied with a smile.
Rarity understood what she meant and put on an almost neutral expression. Sweetie Belle, noticing this, decided to step back a bit. "I'm going to check out those prizes that have caught my attention so much," said, giving them space.
"Sorry for my behavior earlier," Rarity said, her voice softer. "I felt a little stifled by your comments."
"I wanted to apologize too," Pinkie admitted. "Maybe we went a little too far in invading something so personal of yours. I just thought that's something you like, so I didn't think you'd be upset when we brought it up."
"It's okay, Pinkie Pie, but I wouldn't like to go any further into the subject."
"Okay, I won't," the party girl said, though deep down she wanted to know more to verify if her suspicions were true.
"Thank you. Then... we should say goodbye now. Come on, Sweetie Belle," said to her sister.
"Actually, I could walk you and Sweetie Belle," said with a smile. "I want to make sure you get home safely."
Rarity smiled softly. "I appreciate the company, Pinkie Pie, but you don't have to worry so much. We're fine."
"I know, but I like to worry about my friends," said with a bright smile. "Besides, I already ordered an Uber on the way over, so we can go together."
The seamstress glanced at her sister, who nodded slightly, indicating that she had no problem with Pinkie tagging along. "It's okay, if it makes you feel better," she replied, her voice soft and grateful.
The three of them headed out the door, and thankfully, the rain that had been forecast hadn't started yet.
The Uber arrived shortly after, and the three of them climbed into the car. Pinkie sat in the front seat, while Rarity and Sweetie Belle settled in the back. As the car moved forward, Sweetie Belle watched the streets go by, and the party girl took the opportunity to glance at the fashionista through the rearview mirror.
"Rarity, is everything okay? You've been a little pensive."
Rarity looked away at the window for a moment before answering. "I'm fine. It's just... been a rough few days, and it doesn't help that your cousin looks at me in a way that makes me uncomfortable."
"Did Applejack give you a look?" asked, curious.
"Yeah, and the funny thing is that these past two days she's been acting almost like she used to when she saw my parents," Rarity said, crossing her arms. "And now she comes with that look..."
Sweetie Belle didn't say anything because she knew the possible reason for the farmer's actions because of her parents, but with Rarity it might be because of the tension in the group.
"I thought the reason was because of... you know, the girls, but avoiding me in such an unsubtle way?"
"AJ can sometimes act one way and then another. But don't worry, it's just a matter of time, just like with the others," Pinkie said, trying not to go into details about her familiar.
She remembered how the day before she had told her that the dressmaker was part of her past and that she should focus on the present. But, the mention of the look got her thinking. Maybe Applejack was starting to worry about the dressmaker, or was it something else?
"You're right," Rarity said with a smile, thinking about the future. "I have to let things flow."
Sweetie Belle and Pinkie smiled. The rest of the walk was silent, but it wasn't awkward.
The Uber finally arrived at the first destination, the Belle sisters' house. The car stopped in front of the house, and the two of them got out. Pinkie got out as well, asking the driver to wait a few minutes.
"Bye, Pinkie," Sweetie Belle said goodbye before walking through the door, leaving Rarity outside. The seamstress watched her out of the corner of her eye and had a feeling that the party girl wanted to talk about what she had mentioned earlier.
"Pinkie Pie, you want to try to talk about what I said, don't you?"
"It's just... what you said was so unexpected," replied, somewhat anxiously. "You love design, how is it possible that you don't like it anymore?"
Rarity sighed. "It's not that I don't like it anymore, but..." She looked at the palm of her hand before closing it into a fist. "Did I mention that when I left I was angry? Well, in those years of absence... something happened to me when I regretted what I did."
Pinkie watched Rarity's wistful look and gesture, waiting for her to continue.
"I couldn't keep up with the design, and that's when Mom suggested something to study."
"Hmm, I was right," Pinkie thought. "Wait, 'Mom'?"
"What's up with that?"
"I noticed how formal you are with your mom last time compared to the past, and now you've called her properly."
"That... also has to do with my decision to study what she does. I only call her that when she's not in front of me, though I seem to be getting used to it," Rarity explained, her tone somewhat sad.
"No," Pinkie said, frowning.
"No?"
"You can't get used to it if you're actually doing it for a specific reason. She's your mom, so you might want to consider going back to calling her like you used to. You can't call her that for life," the party girl said.
"Relax, I have a deadline to call her back like before."
"Mmm, okay. I don't know what that led to, but it's okay that you don't want to say more about why you quit designing," Pinkie agreed.
"Actually, I didn't quit. I just do some minimal things, that's all, nothing big or..." she added without finishing, again looking at the palm of her hand.
The party girl noticed the same gesture on the seamstress, she remained curious.
"That's the only thing I'll say on the subject."
"I'll settle with that for the moment," Pinkie said. "I think the Uber has waited for me long enough."
"Wait..." Rarity said, searching for something in her bag. She pulled out her wallet and some bills. "I should pay my share of the Uber."
"Relax, Rarity, I can cover it for you," offered with a smile.
The seamstress wasn't completely convinced, but ended up 'giving in'. "You're a great friend, Pinkie," said as she hugged the party girl, who was always willing to receive a hug from a friend. "You can tell the girls that I'm sorry for raising my voice to them," she whispered in her ear.
"I'll tell them, and don't worry. If they ask why, I'll think of something," Pinkie said before breaking the hug. "Bye, Rarity."
"Thanks... Although I doubt they'll ask," quietly muttered the last part. "Bye, Pinkie," she said goodbye before entering the house.
The party girl returned to the Uber, which quickly began to move. As she thought about what they had talked about, she had in mind to make another summary of the facts. She had just confirmed her suspicions about Rarity and her choice of studies. The specific reason would be discovered in time, but for now, she would focus on supporting the seamstress and making the others see that they could trust her.
When the Uber arrived at their destination, Pinkie began to reach into her coat pocket to pull out her wallet and pay, but she felt something else. It was a pair of bills that she remembered not putting there. It didn't take long for her to realize who had put them there and she shook her head. "Always so thoughtful," commented with a smile.
Author's Note
Hey, my dear readers. I know I said I'd upload this sooner, but wait, you're right. ;) Keep in mind that this was meant for chapter 17, but I split it up so it wouldn't be as long as I usually do lately. Now, I hope you like it.
As I mentioned before you started the chapter, this was part of chapter 17. At first, I wanted the welcome event chapters to last three chapters, but then I extended them to four to show certain developments and flashbacks. However, when I was about to finish the event, I checked the pages I used, so I decided to split them up.
You know, I almost got disoriented with the seasons, but luckily I realized it in time. There's only one modification, which is when Rarity's dad tells what happened; I changed it in late spring. It's just a slight modification of the memory, nothing more.
From here I'm looking at how to arrange the following flashbacks, since we're close to some important events.
Clarification: Parentheses ( ) are used for calls, while brackets [ ] indicate when a character writes something, whether in a notebook, cell phone, etc.
I don't know if you noticed, but I mentioned Applejack and Rarity's song. Although it has another name, I know it better as 'Side by Side'

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                   Classes and Surprises                   
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Classes and Surprises
It was the weekend. At the animal shelter, the rays of sunlight stream through the windows, illuminating the small cages and baskets where various animals rest. Fluttershy, with a soft smile on her face, caresses her little rabbit Angel, who is curled up on her lap.
"I always see you pampering these adorable little animals, Fluttershy. I must say, your dedication is admirable, although a little... obsessive, don't you think?" commented her partner, suddenly appearing with a cardboard box in one hand.
"Hey, Discord. It's just that I like to make sure they're happy and safe," Fluttershy replied with a calm smile.
Discord leaned against a nearby table, looking at his partner curiously. "Sure, sure... But, speaking of animals, I thought you'd come with that girl today, the one who looked like she was about to explode," he added in a mocking tone.
The pink haired girl thought for a moment, gently caressing Angel. "She's with Sunset Shimmer, she couldn't come. Midterms are coming up, so she wanted to train on her own before she couldn't make it," explained softly.
"Oh, come on! Don't tell me you've become the defender of second chances," exclaimed, feigning surprise.
Fluttershy smiled slightly, noticing her partner's sarcasm. "I appreciate your sense of humor, but this time is different, I have no doubts anymore," assured calmly.
"Why are you wasting your time on that friend of yours? Wouldn't it be easier to just... I don't know, forget everything and move on? I don't understand why you should be with someone who doesn't even appreciate you that much," questioned, frowning.
The pink haired girl sighed. "Well, Rainbow has shown appreciation in her own way, although that appreciation grew as we both grew up," commented with a smile, while looking lightly at her hands. "You know, when we were in kindergarten, she defended me from two boys who were bullying me. If it weren't for her and the support I received throughout my childhood, I wouldn't have had the confidence to go to school and then learn from my friends and strengthen it even more to get to where I am now."
She lowered her head sadly as she recalled a moment with one of her friends at school, but then shook her head to go back to the initial conversation. "What I'm getting at is that without that support, I wouldn't have enough confidence to be here... They, including Rainbow, suggested I volunteer at this shelter," said, regaining her smile.
Discord crossed his arms, pretending to think. "Hmm... Interesting. You might be right. We all need someone to support us, even if we don't always deserve it," said with a hint of thoughtfulness in her voice.
Fluttershy nodded. "We all make mistakes. But when someone really matters, you do your best to understand and forgive. Dash has been trying to make things right with me. He's made the effort and I've noticed," stated confidently.
The black-haired man looked at his companion, thinking back on the situation. "You know, Fluttershy, I may have my doubts about all of this... But if it's important to you, then I guess it has to be worth it. Just don't let it affect you too much. I still remember those times when you looked sad despite hiding it," he commented with concern.
"Thanks, Discord. It's always nice to know you have my back," said sincerely.
Discord nodded slowly and straightened up. "If she comes around anytime soon, calm that walking storm down or else I'll have to play along like last time," added with a wink.
Fluttershy laughed at that. "I know Rainbow can be a bit explosive, but deep down, she's a good person. She just needs a little patience and understanding," mentioned fondly.
Her partner rolled his eyes with a smile. "We'll see if I'll ever like her," said, trying to look nonchalant.
The animal lover laughed again, as she got up to return Angel to his usual sleeping spot. She then followed her partner to help organize some cages as they continued their chat.
The sun was high. Rainbow Dash and Sunset Shimmer walked together through the plaza, enjoying the respite after training. They decided to stop by to say hello to Pinkie Pie at her work, Sweet Snacks Café.
"Hello," a boy on skates approached.
"Hello," the two greeted.
"Pinkie Pie is home?" Rainbow asked.
"No, she's already finished her shift for the day. She left in a hurry," the boy replied, curious about his coworker's attitude.
"Did they call her at the last minute to organize a party for a toddler?" Sunset wondered.
The athlete shrugged. They both looked at the boy and added, "Thanks."
He nodded and walked away to continue working.
"Why don't we stay and relax a bit?" the red-haired girl suggested.
"A milkshake or a drink?" Rainbow asked.
"Why not?" Sunset replied.
The two walked over to some empty seats and sat down across from each other.
"I heard you wanted drinks. Any companions?" asked a boy who had approached when he saw them sitting down.
"Yes, but not cake," replied the multicolored haired girl looking at the boy. The red haired girl almost laughed at what she said.
Once they placed their orders, they began to talk.
"You remembered, right?" Rainbow commented playfully, looking ahead.
Sunset nodded. "What you had to do to get Pinkie to forgive you for not telling her your tastes in cakes."
"I know, and it was wrong, but I didn't want to hurt her feelings."
"That's why most of the time you have to be honest, but there are times when it's necessary to hide the truth," said the red haired girl.
"Yes, I realized that. It's true, sometimes it's better to hide certain things...", Rainbow whispered, losing herself in a memory. She shook her head to look at her friend. "But it's all good now."
Sunset nodded, though she found that brief second of absence strange, but she preferred not to ask.
A few minutes passed while they waited for their orders to be brought, so the athlete took out her cell phone to write something, but when she put it down she saw how her friend looked around a little, as if she was looking for someone.
"What are you looking for? Do you think Pinkie will appear out of nowhere?" Rainbow laughed at how unpredictable the party girl can be.
"I wasn't looking for Pinkie," replied, looking back to the front.
"So, who?" asked curiously. "Twilight I don't think so; it's not necessary to know that she's studying, Applejack is still helping out on the farm because of how it turned out with the rain, and Fluttershy told me that she was at the animal shelter."
Sunset looked at the multicolored haired girl, not very sure, but she was curious. "You know?" she began. "I didn't want to talk to you about this subject because I know that it affects you more."
"What thing?" asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Belle..." said, lowering her head, watching her friend's reaction out of the corner of her eye.
Rainbow made several faces. "What's that about?" was the only thing she said after a deep breath.
Sunset paused before continuing. "We've all talked about it in different ways. Well, Applejack, I don't know what she thinks, but what about you?"
The boy who served them came over to serve them glasses with the requested liquids and then went for the companion. Sunset took a sip while Rainbow crossed her arms.
"We all have our opinion, Pinkie we already know her decision, but I can hear what you think about this if you want," proposed, in a calm voice.
Rainbow sighed, her expression hardening. "I'm really angry, that's obvious, and I don't know if this will go away... I try to ignore her, stay away, say bad things about her, but... I can't imagine giving her another chance."
"She was my friend, despite how I imagined her when I first met her. I got to see a side of a girl like her that I didn't believe in," continued, looking at her glass. "But when things happened, I was filled with a frustration and anger that you can't imagine." She paused to continue. "But the problem isn't just me giving her a chance. It's that... you two get hurt again."
Sunset looked at Rainbow with a soft expression, understanding the concern.
"Yes, she disappointed us all or left us with different feelings when things happened," the redhead said, keeping a neutral tone.
The athlete nodded. "Pinkie Pie seemed closest to her and it was bad for a while. Fluttershy was the second and she got hurt. The blonde showed indifference to what happened. Twilight and you, although you showed some indifference, I know it affected you too. Now tell me, how does it not make me doubt that Belle is pretending? If she is manipulating, I can make up several ideas, but my mind doesn't get to give her the chance," said, her voice revealing the mix of anger and frustration.
Sunset sighed. "I understand that you care about us. Do you really think she's still the same person?" asked carefully.
Rainbow clenched her fists, her frustration evident. "I don't know. When the sewing room thing happened, I understood what it was like to need time alone... my mind was able to make a small spark of understanding, but then I remember everything that happened and I close up again. What if she does the same thing again? I don't want to see them hurt again."
Her friend fell silent, trying to find the right words. "It's natural for you to feel that way. You've protected us on several occasions, like that time in first year of college when you defended Pinkie from that girl who was criticizing her or when Twilight almost got bullied because me and AJ weren't there and you handled it well."
Rainbow laughed. "Saying certain words and jokes never fail."
"Though that's a little childish, I know that's your thing with Pinkie," Sunset added with a smile before returning to a serious tone. "I'm not saying you should forgive her right away, but we could see how things go from here."
The multicolored haired girl looked at her skeptically. "What if it goes wrong? I don't want to risk it."
Sunset smiled slightly. "It's a risk, yes, but you don't have to face it alone."
"And what about you? What do you think about giving her the chance?" asked, looking at her.
"I'll admit, I'm torn. I made a comparison chart of what Belle was like and what we've seen. I came up with probability, but I'm like you... then I remember what happened," admitted honestly.
"Is that what you mean by not facing it alone?" Rainbow asked, starting to understand.
Sunset nodded. "We could see how things go and see... if Belle has really changed and get to... well, you know."
Rainbow remained silent, mulling over the words. The hurts of the past still hurt. "I'm... not ready for the possibility yet... All I know is that I want to protect my friends, even if it means keeping Belle away or staying away from her."
"Maybe that explains why she was upset about Pinkie's decision," Sunset thought and then nodded understandingly. "And that's okay, Rainbow. Take your time. No one is pressuring you to make a decision now. I just wanted you to know that you don't have to carry all of this alone."
Rainbow gave her a grateful look. "Thanks, Sunset. Talking about this... it was like a release, even if I haven't fully resolved it."
Sunset lifted her glass. "That's what friends are for, right? I'll always be here if you want to talk or listen to you."
The athlete nodded. "I thought Fluttershy would be the only one I'd dare to talk to about certain topics."
The red-haired girl smiled.
"Which reminds me... thanks for confirming that time that Flutters is still at the animal shelter. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have had the chance to talk to her about some boundaries and something that happened afterward," Rainbow said, with a half-smile.
"You're welcome. Fluttershy told some of it, but not everything," said, with a look that invited the multicolored haired girl to continue.
Rainbow laughed and began to speak. "You see, that afternoon..."
Pie Family Home  
Pinkie Pie had come home from work. She was sitting on her bed, turning a box over so all the physical photos fell out. She stood up and moved her desk chair to the center, near the foot of the bed, and settled her stuffed animal on the chair. She then went to get a whiteboard to get back to her information gathering.
"Okay, Gummy, let's go back to the scene of the secret," said, looking at the whiteboard where she had pasted some photos.
"Rarity Belle: a different girl just like everyone else in the group, AJ's ex and our old friend..." said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
She looked at Gummy, as if the stuffed animal had said something.
"You're right, that description is horrible," admitted, grimacing.
Pinkie stood up, looking like a detective in action. "Rarity Belle: a sophisticated girl who, at first glance, seems to be a popular person. Maybe she liked the idea of being popular in the past, but what she really wanted was to be known for her fashion designs."
She paused for a moment, looking at the pictures and connecting the dots in her mind.
"She met AJ... and indirectly me, though it took me many months," continued to relate, as if she were telling a story to her stuffed animal. "Then, spending time with AJ, she told him about her passion... and then me when they both became a couple."
She stuck another picture on the board. "Look, Gummy, this was the first picture we took as friends."
She smiled at it, remembering the moment when Rarity, Applejack and her had posed together, laughing in the afternoon sun.
She shook her head. "Let's focus. When we got together, whether it was the two of us or the three of us, we shared important things. Rarity really emphasized her designs, which she only made out of passion, but not for anyone in particular..." added, her voice soft as she analyzed those details that at the time seemed so simple, but now had a different weight.
She walked over to her bed, looking for more photos to stick on the board. She found one that made her smile nostalgically. "I love these photos from the trip. Do you remember, Gummy? Ahhh! This was the time we met again when we went to the restaurant," said, gently caressing the photograph.
Three Years Ago: Summer; days after her friends' date  
The morning sun bathed the plaza in a warm light, as Pinkie Pie skipped over to meet up with Rarity and Applejack, the party girl having just returned from her family trip. Upon reaching the specific area, she spotted them.
"RARITY! APPLEJACK!" she shouted from a distance, waving at them energetically as she ran up to them with a big smile. "I brought you some candy from the fair!"
"How nice of you, Pinkie! I hope your trip was fun," Rarity said with a smile.
"It was amazing! We went to a rock museum, but we also went to a candy store. Ahh, candy! You have to try it!" exclaimed, pulling out a bag of brightly colored candy and offering it to her friends.
The two agreed and took a piece of candy.
"How about we go somewhere and I'll tell you more?" the party girl suggested excitedly.
"I say we head to the farm. We could have a family dinner. I know you love apple pies, and we could make one together," Applejack suggested in a determined tone.
"Hmm, that could be," Pinkie said, looking at the dressmaker to see what she thought.
"I know Pinkie loves pies. But I thought it would be better to take her to the new café downtown. It's a fancier and different place than usual. Plus, they have those macarons that I know she'll love," Rarity commented excitedly.
The party girl thought about that option. "Also-"
Applejack crossed her arms. "Rarity, I don't think Pinkie needs fancy or an expensive place. She's happiest when she's somewhere familiar and comfortable."
"It's not that I don't appreciate simplicity, Applejack, but sometimes it's nice to change things up a bit. Plus, the café has a lovely, calm atmosphere, where we can relax and chat," explained with a sigh.
Pinkie raised a finger to speak, but stopped when she saw how the conversation was turning.
"Calm down? Are you talking about Pinkie Pie, the girl who can't sit still for a second? Rarity, I'm not sure she'd like being in such a... refined place," said, frustrated.
"It's not just about what Pinkie likes, it's about giving her a new experience! We always do the same things. Don't you think she deserves something different?" the seamstress insisted, raising her voice a little.
The farmer shook her head. "But what if what makes her happiest is what she already knows? We don't need to change everything to show her how much we love her," replied firmly.
"It's not about changing everything, just about doing something special. Don't you trust my decisions?" Rarity questioned in a hurt tone.
Applejack sighed deeply. "It's not that. It's just that sometimes I feel like you try to make everything too perfect, and you forget what really matters," commented, moving away a little and looking at the bushes in the square.
The party girl saw how Rarity looked with tears in her eyes at the blonde, who was a little far away, with her back to her. She approached and put a hand on the seamstress's shoulder.
"Hey, Rarity," said in a comforting tone, "both of you seem like good choices to me, you didn't need to think about it too much."
The seamstress nodded, trying to regain her composure. "You're right, Pinkie. I just want it to be a good day for you and everyone."
Pinkie smiled and gently squeezed her friend's shoulder. "And I understand that. We just have to figure out which one we go to. Applejack will understand," said, nodding towards the farmer.
Rarity nodded again and slowly approached her partner, who was still facing away, and hugged her from behind, resting her forehead on her back.
"I'm sorry... I just wanted to do something special for Pinkie, something to show her how much we miss her. But it seems like sometimes our ideas don't match up," murmured softly.
Applejack let out a soft sigh. "I'm sorry too, Rarity. Sometimes our ideas clash, but I know you always try to do what's best for all of us," commented, turning around.
Rarity wiped away her tears. "And I know you only want what's best for Pinkie. I guess we both want the same thing, but sometimes our ways of seeing it are different."
"I guess so," said, giving him a smile.
The purple haired girl smiled and then put a hand on her chest. "Okay, I'll try not to think about the cafeteria and we'll go to your house," said as she placed her other hand on her forehead dramatically.
The farm girl let out a laugh and shook her head.
"How about we go somewhere else I have in mind first, then to the cafeteria, and finish up at the Apples'?" Pinkie suggested, coming closer.
The two looked at her.
"That sounds perfect. What do you think, Jackie?" said, letting go of her arms.
The farm girl smiled. "It's a great idea. We have all day, and it's okay for the farm to be at the end... as long as it pleases my maid," said, bowing as if she was being formal, knowing that it was something her partner liked and that it was a game they played from time to time.
"And I'm more than happy that next time it'll be at my noble apple's place," Rarity said with a smile, playing along.
Pinkie smiled as she saw the atmosphere had calmed down. "Shall we?"
"Let's go," the two said, then held hands and began walking alongside the party girl.
The party girl had a wide smile on her face and watched her friends as they began to talk about her.
"I guess we should have considered what Pinkie wanted, too," Rarity commented with a smile.
"Yeah, we should have thought about that, too," Applejack added, laughing.
They stopped at a corner waiting for the light to turn green. Meanwhile, Pinkie continued to tell a little about her trip, but at one point, Rarity looked around and stopped at a couple passing by, noticing something in particular: necklaces with each other's initials.
She watched the couple, noticing how the young woman leaned down to kiss her partner while playing with the initial pendant on her necklace. She glanced at Applejack, particularly at her collar, and then back at the couple, thinking of how she could show her that despite their little arguments, their love would still be intact.
The seamstress was silent for a moment, as her mind began to weave an idea. She imagined her partner wearing a necklace that had the initial 'R' or perhaps 'RB' on it.
"Are you okay, Rarity?" Applejack asked, noticing her girlfriend's sudden silence.
"Yes, Rarity, I told you a few things and you just went quiet. You worried me," Pinkie said on the other end.
"It's nothing, dear, I was just thinking..." replied, with a soft smile. "I think I have an idea for something special."
The blonde looked at her curiously, but before she could ask, Pinkie Pie interrupted them. "It's already in green!"
As the three of them headed to the first stop, Rarity kept her idea a secret, excited to surprise Applejack with a gift. Although she felt like something was missing.
Once they arrived at the restaurant, the party girl was the first to bring up a topic of conversation.
"And Rarity, what have you done again with your designs?"
"I've been busy with some things these past few months," replied, glancing at the blonde, who shook her head, getting the message of not telling her about the subject. "But I'll be back, several ideas are coming to mind."
"Cool!" Pinkie said. "You'll show them to us, right?"
"Of course," said with a half smile.
"And as always, they'll be amazing," Applejack said, putting a hand on her girlfriend.
Rarity touched the tip of the farmer's nose and they both got lost in each other's gaze.
The party girl cleared her throat, she didn't want to interrupt her moment, but she didn't want to be isolated in silence.
"Sorry," Rarity said, a little blushing.
"How about we look at the menu?" Applejack suggested, deflecting any potential awkwardness of the moment.
The three of them picked up the cardboard menus, scanning the available options. Pinkie, as was her custom, was immediately excited to see the variety of dishes, imagining how delicious they would be. With a pencil she pulled from her hair, she began to mark the ones that caught her eye.
As she raised her head to ask her friends if they had already thought of what to order, she noticed that Rarity had fixed her gaze on something around her. Suddenly, her friend let out a small squeal of excitement, "That was it!" with a wide smile lighting up her face.
"What's 'that'?" Pinkie asked, full of curiosity.
"Ah, did I say that out loud?" She blushed a little more, embarrassed by her habit of often verbalizing her thoughts without realizing it.
"Yes, Rare," the farm girl replied, laughing softly.
"Oh..." Rarity cleared her throat slightly, trying to quickly think of an answer. "I just had an idea for a design," lied quickly, trying to cover up.
"Okay," Pinkie said, convinced by her friend's explanation. However, Applejack, watching Rarity with a more perceptive gaze, suspected there was something more behind it, but decided not to press her, trusting that she had her reasons for keeping quiet.
A few minutes later, the waiter returned with their dishes. The table was filled with tempting aromas, making the party girl practically jump with excitement.
"Wow, these dishes look delicious!" exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. "Let's go for a selfie!" exclaimed, taking out her cell phone and preparing to capture the moment.
Applejack and Rarity smiled and moved closer for the photo, while preparing for the click of the sound of the hyperactive girl's colorful cell phone.
"Despite witnessing that fight, which made me feel guilty in part, they managed to solve the problem," Pinkie said with a smile, looking at Gummy, who was still motionless in the chair. "We went to the restaurant and there Rarity told the story of the first time she put aside the design, filling a bit of the gap we discovered with the Crusaders."
She placed a hand on her chin as she tried to remember. "Let's see, another design moment on Rarity's part..." murmured.
After a few seconds, her eyes lit up. "I got it! Days later we went to visit her at her house... and now it makes sense why Applejack didn't say anything when they opened the door to us," said, going to her bed to look for the photo before returning to the board.
She looked at her stuffed animal, as if it had asked her a silent question.
"I see that look on her face, Gummy, I'll tell you," she said with a mischievous smile, before becoming a little more serious. "Like I said, we went to Belle's 'mansion', as AJ called it," added, making quotation marks with his fingers to emphasize the exaggeration of the name.
Pinkie Pie and Applejack walked down the sidewalk towards the dressmaker's house. While Pinkie was jumping around excitedly, Applejack seemed a little calmer, though with some discomfort in her expression.
"Why do you think she called us this time?" the party girl asked, jumping a little as she spoke.
"She probably bought something or is going to tell us about an event, but... did it have to be at her house?" Applejack answered, trying to hide any possible awkwardness.
"AJ, it has to be something important, and it has to be at her house. At least we know it's not something bad, or else she would have asked us to bring her ice cream," added, stopping in front of the door to ring the bell with a big smile.
The door opened, revealing Mrs. Belle, with her typical seriousness, but with a slight smile.
"Oh, Pinkie Pie and..." Cookie began, stopping at the sight of the blonde. "...your cousin."
Applejack stared back at her, but firmly, though the party girl didn't notice the brief exchange.
Cookie turned her gaze to the cheerful girl. "Rarity told me about your trip."
"Yeah! A family trip is the best," exclaimed happily.
"It's nice to spend time with family," Cookie commented, her expression relaxing slightly. "Come in, Rarity's in her special room," added, stepping aside so they could pass.
Pinkie entered happily, while Applejack stared at the dressmaker's mother for a few seconds, who also stared back at her, but neither of them said anything, so the farmer quickly passed by.
Once inside the house, they asked permission to go further into the house.
Rarity, for her part, was taking a short break before continuing her work, drawing something special that had been on her mind these days. She smiled as she finished forming a heart on her notebook, only to begin erasing half of it with the eraser.
"Perfect," she thought to herself, as she muttered, "Anniversary or Christmas? Both are close to each other... But is it right? Would she like to wear a necklace? Will we... finally say the sacred word?"
Before she could answer herself, she heard the door chime and open seconds later. So she quickly closed the notebook.
"Hello, Rarity!" Pinkie greeted enthusiastically.
"Hello, Rare," Applejack greeted with a sweet smile.
"Hello, Pinkie. Hello, sweetie," she replied warmly, setting the notebook down on the table to the side.
The party girl looked around the room; it wasn't as large as Rarity would describe a professional sewing room. With her big eyes she continued to browse, noticing the closed notebook on the table. "What were you doing, Rarity? Another super secret design?"
The dressmaker giggled. "Oh, nothing peculiar... just some little sketches I've been working on," explained as she took the notebook and carefully slid it into a drawer.
"Oh, show me those prototypes later" Pinkie said excitedly.
"Sketches, Pinkie," Rarity corrected with a smile. "I'll probably show you."
Applejack approached her partner, leaving her hand on hers for a brief moment in a gesture of affection. "I'm sure it's a beautiful thing, like everything you do."
Rarity smiled at her, feeling the support in her words. "Thanks, AJ."
Noticing the farmer's hidden expression a little and taking advantage of the fact that the hyperactive girl was inspecting the room, Rarity moved a little closer to her girlfriend.
"Is something wrong, Jackie?" whispered, worried.
"This time your mom opened the door and looked at me in a way I can't describe," Applejack commented quietly. "And I had to pretend a little in front of Pinkie. I don't want to worry her after how happy she is about her trip."
"Relax, Jackie. Mom will understand later, but at least she's letting you in; it's progress. And as for Pinkie, let's not say anything," said with a reassuring smile. "Remember, you're part of my future, and I want to see you there," added, looking into her emerald eyes.
Applejack nodded, her gaze never leaving the sapphire eyes. "You are, too, and I know how to prove it," said, briefly glancing at the seamstress's neck before looking back into her eyes.
"Again with the mystery, huh?" Rarity commented, raising an eyebrow. "A date in the moonlight?"
"Mmm... You'll see," replied, with an enigmatic smile.
"Good, because I'll prove it too," Rarity said, still looking into her eyes.
The silent exchange of glances was interrupted by the party girl's enthusiastic voice.
"Oh! What's this? Can we see it?" asked excitedly, pointing to a covered mannequin.
Rarity quickly approached, taking a deep breath. "Sure, this is what I really wanted to show you," said, and with a delicate movement, she removed the fabric, revealing a lovely little dress, designed specifically for someone of smaller stature.
The dress was inspired by the simplicity and sweetness of childhood, with a delicate pattern of bows and flowers embroidered in pastel shades. The fabric was soft and light, with a subtle sheen that caught the light lovely, perfect for a young girl who wants to feel special without being too flashy.
Applejack looked at it, impressed by the dedication and love Rarity had put into the design. "Rarity... this is amazing."
"It's a dress inspired by the innocence and joy of childhood. I was thinking of Sweetie Belle wearing it to the prom," Rarity explained with a smile.
Applejack put her arm around her. "Someday, someone famous will wear something of yours and be impressed by how talented you are."
"Yeah, Rarity, just imagine, you on the news being famous," Pinkie said, waving her hands in the air as if she was imagining the scene.
Applejack nodded, smiling warmly.
"It's my greatest wish; I can see that," the seamstress confessed, with a mix of pride and hope.
"Let me take a picture of it. Imagine how it would look on your sister. But the bad thing about this is that we'll have to wait until we go through school," the party girl commented, a little dejected after taking the picture.
"It's our last year, dear. I can wait for that time," Rarity said, determinedly.
"Yeah, and then university comes next and..." Applejack tried to continue.
"Da da da! No school," Pinkie interrupted, covering her ears.
"Mmm, think positive. Even though school is starting soon, maybe you'll make more friends," Rarity suggested.
"That, perhaps, is what surprises will this year bring us? And for you, too, Rare," Applejack added, looking at the party girl and then at the seamstress. "You've always tried so hard to please those around you, whether it's with your designs or how much you care for Pinkie and me. Like when you designed those clothes to our tastes... I wouldn't be surprised if, deep down..." continued, pointing a finger at her chest where her girlfriend's heart would be. "...you also want to make more friends."
Rarity thought about it for a moment, her mind going back to those times in school when she had seen others from afar, wishing she could connect with them more. Someone in particular crossed her mind. "You're right, Jackie. You know me well. It's not just design that I'm passionate about, I also want to be able to share my life and my creations with more people."
"That... sounds... better!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up and down in excitement. "Do you think I know someone who would like my pranks?"
Applejack hesitated for a moment, thinking of her cousin's antics.
"Ehhh... He he he." Rarity let out a small laugh, sharing the same doubt. "We'll see, dear. But we're sure to find people to share our passions with, and maybe even joke around with."
Present  
"It was a beautiful dress," Pinkie commented as she taped the picture to the board. "It was really cute, I wonder how it would have looked on Sweetie Belle." She looked at the chair where her stuffed animal was and sighed. "Yeah, Gummy, it's what you think... like that 'surprise' Applejack said was waiting for us. Who knew it would all go downhill," commented sadly, but then shook her head to clear those thoughts. "No, Pinkie, let's not go down that path just yet."
She searched for something more positive in that memory. "Who would also say that days later I would discover AJ drawing what would be half a heart? And that notebook that Rarity hid... it was the same thing my cousin was thinking of giving her," said with a nostalgic smile, looking at Gummy. "You know? I tried to hide it several times to keep the secret, but... I never knew if they gave each other those necklaces or not."
She shook herself again. "Let's go back. After that, we went to class and met the girls... well, me first. Then, AJ and Rarity would do it too days later, and a few weeks later we would find out about Rainbow Dash's arrival at the institute from Fluttershy, and then Rarity mentioned her dream to the others."
She stayed silent, pacing back and forth. "There were several times that Rarity commented on the designs, until December came, where everything got worse when she saw that commercial to show talent, and she got really stressed..."
"But nothing tells me that that led her to give up her passion. Her family always supported her. Also, her designs were modeled or displayed to her family, where we also entered the family group since she was with Applejack. And if they got to something more, we would be... you understand, Gummy," commented winking.
"So, if we count the support of her family and the fact that she entered that contest, which I never knew if she showed those designs she worked on, and we skip the fights with the girls, we end up with Rarity out of town."
"From what she said, she said that when resentment turned into regret, she left fashion, but between words I understood that she was indeed designing in those years out of town."
She looked at the photos she had pasted on the board. There were several of the seamstress working at her desk, with her hands moving precisely over the fabric, and her eyes focused on every detail. Her gaze moved to another photo where Applejack, Rarity and her were, smiling happily. And then, another where the seven of them appeared together, in simpler times.
"I only know that outside the city she continued with the design and returned to her adventures," looked at her stuffed animal as if it told her something in surprise. "It's not as bad as it sounds... You see, before she met AJ, Rarity dated several guys, but nothing serious. And well, after they broke up, it seems she got back to the same thing... and none of them managed to fill that heart again," explained and opened her eyes as if she had discovered something.
"Heart... Hmm, do you think a broken heart makes her give up her passion? With the girls we noticed in Rarity how bad she felt, her dark circles and red eyes, but according to Rarity, she's already gotten over it. Also Applejack... I don't remember well if the breakup affected her or maybe it did and she hid it."
"Although it could be a reason... It doesn't add up, since she said that once her resentment turned into regret, something happened."
She crossed her arms, frowning as she tried to figure out. "What is that 'something'? And why resentment towards us?"
She turned back to her stuffed animal. "Oh, Gummy, I need more information... It seems like this mission is going to be harder than filling in the gaps from those months I was away."
Pinkie jumped up, determined. "I'm going to solve this mystery, Gummy!" Ending her investigation for now, she walked over to the chair, picked up her stuffed animal and put it on the bed, then headed out the door to have dinner with her family, as the night was already beginning to make itself felt as she looked out the window.
The next day, classes began as normal after the closing of the welcome event.
Rarity left her first class, visibly nervous. She had been surprised with a test without warning.
As she walked down the hall, she felt a hug from the side that took her by surprise.
"Hello, Rarity!" Pinkie Pie greeted with her typical enthusiasm, smiling widely.
"Hello, Pinkie," replied, feeling a little calmer by the presence of her friend, although her nervousness was still present.
"Guou, and that face?" the party girl asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
"I had a test! And it's still a few weeks before October," said, a little exasperated.
"Calm down a little. Breathe in and out," Pinkie suggested with a smile, making an exaggerated deep breathing gesture to cheer Rarity up. The seamstress listened to her to calm down.
"I was given an assignment to do, too, and I was surprised by it, too," commented, pouting. "It's not fair that they surprise us like that."
Rarity sighed, crossing her arms. "So it's not just my class? That makes it a little less unfair, I guess..."
Before the party girl could respond, a boy with green hair and a friendly expression walked up and spoke.
"Hey, girls! I know you didn't ask me, but I just overheard some teachers talking about this. I think they're trying to better prepare us for midterms. Some think it's better to give us little tests and assignments beforehand, so we don't feel so stressed when it comes time for the big exams."
The seamstress looked at Sandalwood in surprise as she listened to his explanation. Although the knowledge that the surprise tests had an educational purpose calmed her down a little, she couldn't help but feel affected. The thought of more unexpected tests and assignments worried her.
"So this is just the beginning," she thought, feeling a slight pressure in her chest. "I hope it doesn't pile up too much at once. I'm not sure how much more I can handle without losing my mind."
Despite her worries, she tried to focus her mind on the present moment. "I just hope the surprises don't turn into an avalanche of stress."
"Hmm, makes sense... though I'd rather they let us know beforehand." Was all she commented.
"I totally agree," Sandalwood said with a laugh. "But you know how some teachers are, they like to keep us on our toes."
Pinkie giggled. "Well, we'll just have to be prepared for anything then! Thanks for the explanation, Sandalwood!"
"No problem, girls. Good luck with the rest of the day!" replied, giving them a wave before continuing on her way.
Rarity and Pinkie exchanged glances, and the seamstress let out a resigned smile. "I guess we have to be ready for any surprises from now on."
"Yeah! And who knows! Maybe surprises are good sometimes," Pinkie said, encouraging her friend as they continued talking, waiting for it to be time to part ways for their next class.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash walked through the halls alongside Applejack and Twilight. They had said goodbye to the rest of us before heading to their literature class.
"Home sweet home," Twilight said, looking over the outline of an assignment she had been given.
Applejack let out a laugh. "That's your thing, Twi." She then looked at her girlfriend. "What about you? Did they surprise you with any assignments?"
"Not yet. Let's see now, or else in swimming," Rainbow replied with a half smile.
"What can you do in swimming?" Applejack wondered.
"Not much, from what I've heard," Twilight said.
Rainbow shrugged, amused. "Well, it depends on the teacher. Sometimes we just swim and do exercises. But sometimes we get practical tests. Maybe we get to do some speed or endurance tests."
Applejack raised an eyebrow, interested. "Really? Could they do a timed test in the pool?"
"That would be great," the athlete replied enthusiastically. "I'd love that!"
Twilight smiled. "Sure, you'd like anything that involves competing, Dash."
"Exactly!" Rainbow snapped her fingers. "But, to be honest, I don't know how fair it would be for everyone. Not everyone is as fast as me."
The farm girl laughed. "Well, I just hope they don't ask us anything too complicated in literature."
Twilight nodded, smiling. "I'm sure we'll be fine. Besides, it's not like they're going to give us a surprise assignment of creating an improvised story... are they?"
Thethe athlete laughed. "Never say never, Twi! It seems like anything is possible here."
When they finished talking, they realized they were already near the door where some students were entering, including Starlight, Lyra, Bon Bon, Flash, and a certain wavy-haired girl.
As they entered, they sat down in their respective seats. The multi-colored haired girl looked back and saw Rarity sitting in the middle of the seats. She knew she couldn't do anything about being in the same class, but she still couldn't get used to it. Before she could think of anything else, the teacher spoke up.
"Today you will be working in groups to complete a literary analysis that will be due at the end of the week. Remember that teamwork and mutual respect are essential," said Professor Inkwell.
The group of Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight sat in a corner of the classroom, surrounded by books and notebooks. Although there was some discomfort due to the proximity of the seamstress in the classroom.
"So, how do we want to split this up? Twilight, you can handle the analysis, and I can look up the quotes," the farm girl suggested, looking at the instruction sheet.
The bespectacled girl nodded. "Yeah, sounds good. Dash, can you help proofread and provide additional examples?"
"Sure, whatever," said absently, glancing sideways at the seamstress across the room.
"Rainbow, we need you to focus on the job," Applejack said quietly.
The multicolored haired girl looked back at her group. "I know, AJ. Just... nothing, I was thinking about something, forget it, okay?"
Twilight and Applejack exchanged a glance, noticing Rainbow's distraction. They tried to stay focused on their task.
"Let's focus on the analysis, okay?" Twilight said.
"Yeah, okay," Rainbow said, nodding.
On the other side of the room, Rarity, Starlight Glimmer, and Lyra were working on their analysis. Rarity tried to stay focused on her work, though she couldn't help but feel watched.
Starlight looked at the seamstress. "Are you okay, Rarity?"
The seamstress forced a smile. "I'm fine, Starlight. Thanks for asking. I just want to make sure we do a good job."
"We can focus on the stronger themes of our reading. How about an analysis of gender roles in classic literature?" Lyra suggested.
Rarity nodded, trying to pay attention. "That sounds perfect. Let's focus on that."
As the groups worked, Rainbow couldn't help but glance in Rarity's direction, remembering old times. She muttered something loud enough for Applejack and Twilight to hear.
"It used to be like that, right?" she grimaced.
Applejack placed a hand on her partner's shoulder and briefly looked where Rainbow was looking. She met Rarity's gaze for a few seconds before looking back at her partner again. She found it curious that Rainbow was now coming with those looks and comments.
"Dash, why don't you... think of something else instead."
The multicolored haired girl looked at the blonde. "Something else..." said thoughtfully and opened her eyes, approaching her backpack and leaving it on the table. "Nobody touch it."
"I was thinking more about a memory or something in the future," Applejack said, confused.
"I'm thinking ahead... about lunch time specifically," explained halfway, sitting back down and taking a notebook and the paper. "Now let's get on with the work."
Applejack looked at Twilight, but she shrugged.
Rarity, for her part, looked at the athlete, knowing that she was acting like that because of her presence, but she wondered what made her change her attitude. A thought about something she felt in the past crossed her mind, but she shook her head and tried to stay focused on her group work.
"I can't help but think that this is going to get worse before it gets better," she muttered very quietly before looking at her group. "What did they tell me I had to do?"
Starlight saw Lyra looking at her as if to ask if she knew what was wrong with the seamstress, but she shook her head.
At the end of class, Mrs. Inkwell reminded them that the work was due at the end of the week and asked them to take advantage of the time at home to finish it.
"Remember that this group work is crucial for the midterms. Work well together and make sure to present something you can be proud of," she said as she organized her papers on the desk.
The students began to gather their materials. Rainbow and Applejack left the classroom quickly, with Twilight following close behind. Rarity, Starlight, and Lyra stayed a moment longer to organize their notes and briefly discuss the next steps for their group work.
"It's finally done," the athlete said, feigning a stretch as she held her backpack carefully.
"Are you feeling okay, Rainbow?" Twilight asked, adjusting her glasses and watching her out of the corner of her eye.
Rainbow shrugged. "Yeah, I'm fine, it's just... it's not easy... you know."
Applejack sighed and patted her on the back. "I know, Dash, but we need to put the past behind us and focus on what matters now. You can't let this get to you... it's what you say." said but in her thoughts was confusion at how the athlete acted since she was the one who told her to put the past behind her, normally she would ignore the seamstress.
Twilight nodded. "Applejack's right. Besides, we have a lot of things to focus on. The week is just beginning." said, though she wasn't quite sure of her words.
Rainbow nodded. "I know, girls, it was just this moment, nothing more." said, downplaying it. "Shall we go?"
The two of them nodded and went to meet up with the others or other acquaintances.
After literature class, the girls had their break before heading to their respective classes, except for the red-haired girl and the blue-haired girl, who had the hour off. They took advantage of it to relax or catch up on pending assignments.
After finishing their classes, they all met at the entrance of the cafeteria to 'have lunch' together. They knew that, after lunch, some like Rainbow, AJ, and Sunset would have training, while others would no longer have classes for the rest of the day.
As they walked to the cafeteria, they shared brief comments about what they had done during the morning and the surprises they had had in their classes, laughing and commenting on the unexpected assignments and tests they had been assigned. Finally, they entered the cafeteria, found their usual table, and sat down to enjoy a well-deserved break.
Between conversations, the multicolored haired girl remembered something and leaned towards her backpack. She unzipped it and pulled out a small wrapped package.
She stood up from the table and made a small turn to stand next to Fluttershy.
"Is something wrong, Rainbow?" the pink haired girl asked curiously.
"Not exactly. I went to Sweet Snacks Café yesterday, with Sunset, and I remembered one of your favorite cakes, so..." Rainbow revealed the transparent package she had hidden behind her back, "voilà! I decided to buy it for you." She smiled as she placed the package on the table in front of her friend.
"Thanks, you didn't have to," replied, smiling clearly grateful.
Sunset gave the sporty girl a thumbs up. Pinkie Pie and Twilight exchanged satisfied glances; things seemed to be getting back to normal.
Applejack stared at the cake. An old memory flashed through her mind. She closed her eyes and shook them away. Then she opened them to see her current partner.
"Dash, can we talk for a moment?"
Rainbow blinked; she knew the tone of voice the farmer was using and nodded. "Sure, AJ. Let's go that way."
They headed to a more secluded corner, near the entrance of the cafeteria, away from the gazes of their friends.
"Okay, what's wrong now? I don't think I've done anything wrong."
"It's not that you've done anything wrong, Rainbow. It's just that... I don't know, you always seem to be more attentive to Fluttershy than to me," Applejack said.
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "You know that Fluttershy and I have always been close. That doesn't mean that I don't care about you."
"I know, but I can't help but think that... we almost never do those gestures."
"You know that I'm not one for romantic gestures or cheesy things. I've told you plenty of times," the athlete said.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you can't try, even a little," Applejack suggested.
Rainbow sighed, visibly frustrated. "Is this really necessary? We give each other couples gestures. Isn't that enough?"
"Rarely," the farm girl muttered. "It's not about quantity, it's about quality. About feeling appreciated. Like you always seem to do with Flutters."
"With Fluttershy again? You know what I've been trying to do to be with her like before?" Rainbow commented angrily.
"Yeah, I've seen it, and I'm glad things are better between you two. And don't get me wrong, I'm not insinuating anything between you two," the blonde clarified.
"Thank goodness, and the other thing... I'm how I am with everyone, okay? I'm different with you, with girls too, I even let them hug me on those few occasions when we take pictures," commented, gesturing with her hands.
"I know, but that's the problem too. It seems like being different with me means not making any effort. You could change a little," Applejack suggested.
Rainbow crossed her arms, frowning. "Again with that, and what gave her the idea to come up with this gesture thing now?" thought. "If you're talking about changing, what about you?"
"What do you mean?" asked, arching an eyebrow.
"You say I try to change, but you don't make that effort to give either," said the multicolored haired girl pointing at herself with her hands and then pointing at her.
"I don't know... you know I'm kind of reserved," commented Applejack, looking at the ground a little to look at her again. "But we could make a change."
"Like what?"
"Show more affection between us. Is that what we're talking about?" asked the farmer, somewhat frustrated.
"Should I change my way of being?" thought the multicolored haired girl with a frown, questioning herself a little. Then she let out a sigh. "Fine, I'll see or we'll see how we can improve."
"Fine..." replied Applejack.
They both returned to the table, trying to leave the conversation behind, while their friends looked at them curiously.
"Everything okay, girls?" asked Twilight.
"Yeah, all right," Rainbow replied, stopping at the corner of the table.
"You could say that's settled," Applejack commented, returning to her spot.
"That's nice," Sunset said with a smile, though she knew something had happened and her bespectacled friend seemed to notice it too as she glanced at her.
"So have you tried the cake yet, or were you waiting to?" the sporty girl asked, looking straight at her friend.
"I was a little worried about you guys, so I didn't want to eat the cake without being sure everything was okay," replied with an understanding smile.
"Wow, I wasn't expecting that," Rainbow commented, a little surprised. "Actually, everything is okay. Now you can try it."
"I'm glad to hear that. I'd like to share it with you, but I know how you feel about cakes," Fluttershy said, opening the plastic of the cake.
Pinkie put a hand on her chest dramatically. "It pains me that you don't like cakes," exclaimed exaggeratedly.
Rainbow laughed. "As for tastes, I'm sure the cake is delicious even without trying it."
The pink-haired girl smiled and added. "Maybe someday we can share something that's comfortable for both of us."
"I like the sound of that," Rainbow said with a smile.
As Fluttershy ate, she didn't miss Pinkie Pie's gaze, who leaned closer and closer to the cake. It made her slightly amused.
Twilight, Rainbow, and Applejack laughed as the party girl leaned closer to look at the cake.
"Do you want some, Pinkie?" asked, offering a piece.
"Ahh! Really?" exclaimed, surprised and excited.
"Sure," Fluttershy nodded, offering her a piece.
"Definitely. Little gestures like this are important," Sunset thought with a smile, taking in the scene.
Once Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy finished the cake, the pink-haired girl looked at her multi-colored friend.
"Thank you, Dash. I really appreciate the gesture. It makes me feel appreciated," said with a genuine smile.
Rainbow looked back at her. "I just wanted to do something special for you. I'm glad you like it."
"Well, good choice, Dash," Applejack said, giving her a thumbs up. "I hope you like it a lot, Flutters."
"Yeah, I did. Thanks," replied, with a smile.
"You're welcome! Now..." Rainbow was going to say.
"...Let's go to training," Sunset interrupted, checking the time on her phone and getting a few glances from her friends. "Oops, sorry for killing the moment!" apologized with a smile, realizing the change of topic.
"Don't worry," Fluttershy said, calmly gathering her things.
"Wow, the hour really flew by!" Rainbow commented, looking at her phone in surprise. "I'll drop you off at the bus stop then, if you want, since you're probably going to the animal shelter," suggested.
"You know..." the pink-haired girl began, getting up and looking at her friend. "I might stick around this time to watch training."
"Cool," Rainbow smiled.
"A distraction for what's coming up," Applejack said, grabbing her backpack.
Fluttershy nodded with a smile.
"So, everyone, onto the field!" Pinkie exclaimed, excited.
The six of them grabbed their things and headed out of the cafeteria toward the field.
After training, the girls said their goodbyes and each headed home. Upon arrival, they got down to work on their respective tasks. Some sat down at their desks, reviewing the notes and materials they needed, while others looked for a comfortable place to concentrate and make progress on their homework.
The next day, the girls, along with other students, headed to the locker room, splitting into groups of men and women to change into more athletic clothing. Once ready, they headed to the university's indoor court. The men stayed with Professor Bulk Biceps, while the women went with Professor Spitfire.
The professor stood in front of the group of girls with her arms crossed, looking at each one with a serious expression.
"Listen carefully," said in a firm voice. "I know that midterms are right around the corner and more than one of you will be stressed, especially considering that it is your last year. Therefore, this week we will focus on stretching exercises to help you relieve the tension."
The students exchanged glances, some sighing in relief and others murmuring to each other.
"At least it's not some sport," Rarity murmured.
Lyra laughed, and Bon Bon joined the conversation. “If it weren’t for Starlight helping you with volleyball, you might not have done so well.”
“Yeah, I definitely owe her one,” commented with a small smile, before turning his attention back to the teacher.
Spitfire continued, holding up a finger to emphasize his point. “But don’t be mistaken. This doesn’t mean you can relax too much. I’ll still be grading your performance, so make sure you give it your best effort. I want to see focus and precision in every move. Got it?”
A chorus of “Yes, Professor Spitfire” echoed through the gym.
“Alright,” the teacher nodded. “Today we’ll start with some basic stretches, but over the weeks we’ll increase the difficulty. Now, bring out the mats for some stretches.”
Once a few girls had brought out the mats, they began with the exercises. As expected, the dressmaker wasn’t doing too well with some of them.
“Belle, stretch hard! You can reach your feet!” The teacher ordered, turning to Rarity with a critical look.
Rarity, struggling to maintain her composure, tried to touch her feet without much success. The girls around her shared a few smiles and knowing glances.
"Will you need help?" Trixie asked with a smirk.
"Trixie..." Starlight called, raising an eyebrow.
The seamstress rolled her eyes, but smiled slightly. "I'm perfectly fine, thank you."
Nearby, close enough to hear, were the Mane Six. "I don't think that can be helped, though," Pinkie commented.
"Not everyone can be as flexible as me," Rainbow boasted arrogantly, giving a quick demonstration of her own flexibility.
"Yeah, right, Rainbow," Twilight said, adjusting her glasses. "Not all of us live to do acrobatics on the field."
"What's wrong with wanting to stand out a little?" the multi-colored haired girl asked, giving her a half-smile.
"Everyone has their strengths," Applejack added as she stretched.
Fluttershy smiled sheepishly. "Well, I guess this is better than some sport..."
"Come on, girls, we're here to relax. Let's stop comparing skills, shall we?" Sunset chimed in.
They all laughed a little at Sunset's comment, easing some of the tension as they continued with their stretching exercises.
Rarity smiled as she listened. "I definitely prefer stretching to having to run for a ball," thought, finally managing to touch her feet with a grimace of effort.
The students continued with the stretches, followed by other exercises led by Professor Spitfire, who supervised with a critical eye and corrected the postures from time to time. Finally, after several stretches and relaxation exercises, the class came to an end.
"That's all for today!" announced. "Remember to practice these stretches at home. See you next class."
The girls headed to the locker rooms, still commenting amongst themselves about the class. Some were clearly relieved that the session was over, while others seemed lively and energetic.
Back in the locker room, Rainbow Dash stretched her arms behind her head, clearly pleased with herself. "Wow, I felt pretty good today. We should do this more often."
Applejack, who was near her locker, smiled. "Yeah, I enjoyed it, though it can't compare to a good day's work on the farm."
"You talk about the farm like it's a gym," Twilight joked as she opened her bag.
"For me, it is," the farm girl said with a smile.
"Well, at least we won't be sore," Fluttershy commented as she changed. "Those stretches really help."
Rarity, for her part, was still trying to regain her composure after class, adjusting her hair in the mirror. "It was harder than I expected," muttered.
Pinkie Pie skipped next to the dressmaker with a wide grin. "Come on, Rarity! You just need to practice a little more! And maybe have a little fun while you're at it!"
"Thanks, Pinkie," Rarity replied with a grateful smile. "I appreciate the encouragement."
Starlight, who came over, nodded. "Don't forget that you can always ask for help."
The dressmaker nodded gratefully. "I will, thanks."
The conversation continued in different parts of the dressing room as everyone changed clothes, relaxing after class.
At some point, Pinkie saw Rarity walk past, but not before giving her a glance and waving goodbye. The party girl said goodbye with a smile, but that made her remember the conversation she had with the curly-haired girl and the favor she asked of her.
The friends hadn't asked about Rarity's attitude a few days ago, but Pinkie wanted to tell them about what she had said without revealing too much.
When she saw that some of them were already ready to leave, she decided to speak.
"Girls, can you stay a little longer?" asked with a serious expression uncommon for her, looking around to check that the other students had already left.
"What did you want to talk about, Pinkie?" Twilight asked, checking the time to make sure she wouldn't be late for her next class.
"I know you haven't asked, but I wanted to talk about something," she began, her tone a little calmer.
"Yeees..." Rainbow added, raising an eyebrow, waiting for Pinkie to get to the point.
"And I know that, deep down, you want to know," continued, looking at each of them.
"Pinkie Pie, can you be more clear? We don't understand," Fluttershy said softly.
"You're right, I'll get to the point so I don't go on too long," said with a smile, trying to ease the tension.
The girls nodded, waiting for the explanation.
"Rarity apologizes," Pinkie said directly.
"She's asked before," Sunset commented, waving her arm.
Rainbow frowned. "I thought she'd stopped saying sorry."
"Ow... Girls, I guess I didn't explain it well," said with a nervous giggle. "I mean what happened in the sewing room."
"Oh," Twilight replied, understanding.
The girls exchanged glances, understanding the situation a little better.
"And why didn't she come to us?" Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow, still a little skeptical.
"Would they have listened to her or even let her come closer?" Pinkie questioned, knowing what the answer would be.
"Well... you're right," Sunset admitted with a sigh.
"Yeah," the farm girl said, looking at the ground, though her tone was uncertain.
"So..." Fluttershy said, not quite sure how to phrase her question, but Pinkie got the message.
"She has a reason that I won't say because she didn't reveal much to me, but it explains some things," added, choosing her words carefully.
"You don't say much with that," Twilight said, frowning slightly.
"And does that have to do with her being in Sport too?" Sunset asked, trying to connect the dots.
"She felt a little stifled and ended up exploding, but she didn't want to yell at them," Pinkie explained, looking at her friends. "And the class thing... um... it might have something to do with it..." added, bringing a hand to her chin thoughtfully.
"She hasn't told you much, huh?" Rainbow said in a neutral tone.
"I did some research over the weekend. From things she told me, it seems she did continue with the design during those days of absence..." Pinkie revealed, not realizing that she had revealed more than she intended.
"Wait, what did you mean by that?" asked Applejack, who hadn't said much until now.
"Oops, forget that part," she blurted out, a little flustered. "Rarity apologizes for raising her voice at you, and I hope this doesn't affect what's going on any further. I... I'm leaving now," quickly finished before grabbing her bag and hurrying out of the locker room.
The girls looked at each other, a little confused, each deep in their own thoughts about what their friend had said.
It was already past break time, and Rarity was walking to her math class. As she walked through the halls, she did some light stretching, trying to ease some of the pain she was feeling. The lack of exercise was affecting her more than she'd like to admit.
As she reached the classroom, she noticed that Twilight and Sunset were already sitting in their respective seats, next to each other, near the front. Rarity's seat was at the back of the classroom, a constant reminder of her status as the 'new girl' who always got to most of her classes.
Twilight watched the seamstress sit in her usual seat, remembering a bit of what the party girl had said, and leaned over to her red-haired friend, who was pulling out her notebook. "Hey, what do you think Pinkie meant when she mentioned that she'd been designing while she was away? It seems something happened," whispered, curious.
Sunset looked at her friend a little confused by the topic of conversation, then turned back and saw the seamstress, finally understanding. "I'm not sure, but you know how Pinkie is. She always has something on her mind that we sometimes don't quite understand," said in the same tone of voice.
"Yeah, but besides Lyra, Bon Bon, and Starlight, counting Trixie a bit, the other person Belle talks to is Pinkie Pie like... well, you know how in the past. Even though we always told each other everything, something tells me that she confided certain things to Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy," Twilight said thoughtfully. "And now that Pinkie's talking to her again, it seems like... I don't know... she's a little reserved about some things."
Sunset paused before answering. "It's like when a person meets someone new, but in this case they already know each other... you have to earn their trust in order to reveal certain secrets," said, giving the seamstress one last look.
"Do you think Belle is expecting that?" Twilight asked, not taking her gaze off Rarity for a few seconds before turning back to her friend. "For us to trust her?"
"I don't know, Twilight. There are several conclusions to be drawn from what she's waiting for," replied. "She could be waiting to talk and apologize, she could also be waiting to break down the barrier we have to her approach, or maybe she's hoping we'll see that change and trust that things aren't as they seem."
"Wow, you're right, there are several options."
"But... can we not talk about this topic? Even though I told you about it last week, I'm still in the process," Sunset suggested, letting out a sigh.
"You're right, it's better to leave it... I don't know why I brought up the subject myself," muttered the last, settling into her seat. "Why did she bring up a topic related to Belle lately?" thought, then glanced at the redhead out of the corner of her eye. "It's very curious; Sunset is almost the same as Rainbow behaved yesterday."
A few seconds later, the professor entered the room, and just as it happened yesterday, depending on each student's classes, the professor gave the news of a surprise test.
"This really seems like midterms," the red-haired girl commented in a humorous tone.
"Yes," the blue-haired girl replied with a slight laugh.
The teacher was handing out each sheet of paper for the exam; Twilight could see that, when she handed it to the seamstress, she faked a smile of pleasure.
"If this isn't your thing, why choose this extra subject?" wondered.
The minutes passed and each student was returning the sheet already filled out with what would be the correct answers.
"Thank you, students. On Thursday or Friday you will be able to find out your grades," the teacher announced before allowing his students to leave the room.
Twilight and Sunset walked through the door with the other students.
"It wasn't so bad," the red-haired girl commented.
"Yes, it's because they are helping us for midterms," Twilight added. "And most likely in all the subjects that have to do with numbers they will be tests instead of a paper."
"So, let's get ready for classes that have numbers, especially you who have advanced calculus," Sunset said.
They walked down one of the aisles of lockers a bit and saw Applejack and Rainbow doing something they didn't quite understand.
Applejack put her hand around Rainbow's arm, then let go a few seconds later, and spoke to her as if to say 'you go next'. Then, it was the multicolored one who took Applejack's arm and let go a few seconds later, as if imitating the farmer.
"What are you doing?" Twilight asked, leaning towards Sunset.
"No idea, they look like they're playing," replied before walking back to her friend.
"Now what do you want to try?" Rainbow asked.
"How about..." Applejack began, trying to take her partner's hand, who seemed to notice this. But before she could, both Twilight and Sunset greeted them.
"What are you doing?" the girl with glasses wanted to know, a little confused.
"Yeah, from a distance it looks like they're playing a game of how long each of them lasts before changing positions," Sunset added.
"We were... trying something... and I was just going to try something we used to do," the farmer tried to explain.
"It's something we talked about," Rainbow added, "but it would be ideal if this was in private," muttered under her breath.
"I wanted to see if we could do it," Applejack replied, glancing at her out of the corner of her eye.
"Okay... okay," the red-haired girl said, still a little confused.
"Leaving that aside... it seems Fluttershy or Pinkie haven't arrived yet," Twilight commented.
"Pinkie must still be doing her thing with all this free time she had," Rainbow deduced, closing her locker.
"And Fluttershy would already be leaving her class and would come or..." Applejack added.
"... Maybe she went to the backyard to see the flowers she loves so much," the multicolored haired girl finished.
They remained silent for a moment. The echo of the voices of other students leaving the classrooms filled the hallway.
"Well, I guess we all have things to do," Twilight commented, trying to break the silence. "We have some free time before we go to lunch and then class," added, looking at the others. "Are you guys coming or are you going to continue what you were doing?"
Rainbow looked at the blonde. "How about we go together and play some games? And then later, we try what we were doing alone," proposed.
"Sounds good to me," agreed.
Twilight nodded. "I'm going to go find Fluttershy. How about you, Sunset?"
"I have to go to the library to check something out for next class, but I'll split up when the time comes," replied.
"I'll see you in a bit then," Rainbow said.
Twilight and Sunset nodded and said goodbye. As they walked away, they shared a look, one that spoke of unasked questions and unresolved concerns. However, they both knew there would be time to talk later.
Rarity, who had left the classroom just after them, watched her former friends from a distance. A mix of longing and sadness was reflected in her gaze. However, as on other occasions, instead of approaching, she decided to turn around to go to her locker.
The athlete lightly tapped the blonde on the shoulder. "Shall we go?" she asked before starting to walk.
Applejack nodded, but before following Rainbow, she felt a gaze on her and, when she turned, she recognized the dressmaker's hair with her back turned, walking away down the hallway.
"Did she follow them?" thought, staring at her for a few seconds and remembered yesterday's cake. Then, in a lapse, the memory deviated to another that had nothing to do with her partner, but was related to the cake. She frowned, feeling annoyed. "Why? Damn curiosity," thought angrily.
"Are you coming, AJ, or do you have other plans?" asked Rainbow, who was already a short distance away.
"Uh, yeah, I'm coming," Applejack replied, looking back at her, taking one last look back only to notice that Rarity had already disappeared into the students.
The two of them headed towards the court, walking in a silence that seemed comfortable.
And so, with each of them walking in different directions, the day continued.
The last class of the day was over, and the students were gathering their things to go home, either walking or by car. The Mane Six were heading to the parking lot, talking animatedly.
"Fluttershy, I was thinking... but I don't want to force you. It's only if you want," Rainbow began, choosing her words carefully.
Fluttershy and the others waited for her to continue so they could understand what she meant.
"I can take you this time," offered, showing her car keys.
"Oh," the pink-haired girl replied, a little surprised.
"I can take you home, or if you prefer, to the animal shelter, if you plan on going there," Rainbow added.
Fluttershy looked at Twilight, who nodded for her to accept. In the past few days, she had gone with the bespectacled girl instead of taking the bus or a taxi, like other times.
"It's okay, Rainbow," agreed with a smile.
"Perfect!" exclaimed, smiling victoriously. "We just have to wait for Scootaloo."
"No problem," Fluttershy replied.
"For now, we could just head to the car," the sporty girl suggested.
"Hey, Rainbow," Applejack intervened, taking a step forward. "Remember to get ahead on your work."
Pinkie, Sunset, Twilight, and Fluttershy looked at each other a little confused by the unexpected comment.
The multicolored haired girl turned to her partner with a confused expression, wondering what that comment was about. "Sure. Are you okay, Blondie? You seem distracted these days."
"Everything is fine, as usual," Applejack stated, with a neutral tone of voice. "Nothing I can't handle. Just some things that have me thinking."
"Ah, I see," Rainbow murmured, nodding slowly. "Well, you know how we are, but if you need anything, let me know."
"Thanks, Dash. I appreciate it," said, with a neutral expression.
Rainbow nodded again and then looked at the animal lover. "I'm going with Fluttershy now. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Sure, take care," Applejack replied, in the same tone of voice.
"Well, girls, I'll see you tomorrow," Fluttershy said goodbye.
"Bye, girls," Rainbow added, raising her hand before walking alongside the pink-haired girl to her blue car.
"Bye," the others said.
When they arrived, Rainbow stepped forward and opened the door for Fluttershy. "I can make an exception this time," she commented with a wink.
Fluttershy laughed, understanding the reference to the similar gesture she had made at the event, but under different circumstances.
"Ladies first," joked, bowing slightly in false formality.
"Thanks, Rainbow," said, getting into the passenger seat and settling in.
"My pleasure," replied, closing the door before heading to the driver's side.
Applejack watched from afar as Rainbow opened the car door for Fluttershy and gave a slight bow, something she used to do before. The farm girl couldn't help but compare that gesture to other memories.
"Hey, Applejack," Sunset called again, noticing her friend was lost in thought.
The farm girl blinked and shook her head before answering. "What's up, Sunset?"
"This question might be a little unusual, but is everything okay with how Fluttershy and Rainbow get along?" Sunset asked, choosing her words carefully.
Applejack frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
Twilight chimed in, concerned. "Well, yesterday we saw that something seemed to be bothering you and we thought it might have been Rainbow's gesture towards Fluttershy. Maybe it made you uncomfortable or something."
The blonde shook her head. "Why would that bother me? I don't understand."
Pinkie, always direct, sighed before speaking. "I think what Sunset and Twilight are trying to say is if you're not jealous."
"Jealous? No, I know they're close... although I saw a little before they drifted apart, so I don't know how close they were," Applejack replied.
The words trailed off for a moment as her thoughts drifted back into the past. "But that's not really what's going on... I'm comparing some old memories I shouldn't be thinking about to the interaction between the two of them," explained, letting out a sigh she hadn't realized she was holding.
The three girls exchanged glances, trying to decipher the meaning behind her words.
"But don't worry, girls, I'm fine with Rainbow being like that with Fluttershy. She's her best friend," Applejack finally said, with an honest smile.
"That's good. I wouldn't want there to be any bad vibes over a misunderstanding," Sunset said, relaxing a bit.
"Looks like this is settled," Pinkie said, wrapping an arm around Twilight and Sunset in a carefree hug.
Applejack said goodbye to the girls before heading to her truck as she waited for her sister. She watched her friends, grateful for their concern. She turned her head as Scootaloo walked past her and headed to Rainbow's car, who had gotten out of the driver's side laughing. Again her mind wandered off to something else.
She scuffed her foot in frustration. "damn, why did I have to go on Instagram?" whined, staring at the ground.
"damn?" Apple Bloom said, walking over.
The farm girl looked up at her sister. "Apple Bloom, don't say those words."
"Sorry, sis, you were the one who said it," replied with a confused grimace.
"And what wrong did the poor Instagram app do?" Pinkie asked, pretending to be sad as she walked over with an exaggerated pout.
"Nothing, Pinkie, I already explained a little about my behavior," Applejack said, crossing her arms with a slight smile.
"Okay, but it seems like something else has you like this," Pinkie said, tilting her head to the side, with a thoughtful expression. "Maybe we can help you in our own way," added with an encouraging smile. Apple Bloom, despite having just arrived and not understanding the situation, nodded.
Applejack looked at Pinkie and her sister, noticing the sincere intention to help in their eyes. "I'm feeling weird, like emptiness, or maybe it's frustration... I don't know, and it all started since I went on Instagram the other day out of... curiosity, nothing more," said with a heavy sigh, scratching the back of her neck.
"I understand you, I may not be the best example..." the party girls began, raising a hand to emphasize her point. The farmer girl looked at her, not so convinced if she would help her, but decided to listen. "One of the many novels I've seen, more than one has left me with an emptiness because in the end my favorite 'ship' didn't end up together, either because they preferred the other or because one died... and even though I know it's fictional, you manage to empathize," said, putting a hand on her chest. "Then that feeling goes away."
Applejack crossed her arms and nodded, although she still looked lost. "I guess it makes sense..."
"Once with Scootaloo we played a decision-making game. Everything was going well until I made a mistake in the last chapters and I was left with a feeling for the end since I didn't manage to save my favorite characters," Apple Bloom said, with an understanding smile, remembering the moment. "But, as Pinkie says, that feeling passes after a few days."
Applejack let out a deep sigh, scratching the back of her neck nervously. "Yeah, maybe it's just a passing feeling..."
Pinkie nodded vigorously, placing a friendly hand on the blonde's shoulder. "Exactly, I'm sure whatever you saw on Instagram left you with a similar feeling, but it will pass in a few days. You could do something you like to distract yourself," suggested with a warm smile. Applejack raised her head, feeling something inside her lighten up a bit.
The examples they gave were unusual, but they sort of helped her think about how to process what she was feeling. "Maybe working on the farm will help, or maybe the same jobs they're giving us will help this emotion fade quickly, if not within days," said. She then looked at her relatives with a smile. "Thanks. For a moment there I didn't think your examples would help me."
"Ouch," Pinkie pretended to be offended.
"That's what family is for," Apple Bloom said, smiling proudly.
"What's the phrase?" the party girl asked, excited, with a wide smile.
"Apple at heart!" they said in unison before breaking into a shared laugh.
Rainbow Dash drove while Scootaloo entertained herself in the backseat with her PSP, and Fluttershy sat in the passenger seat.
"So, where do you want to go?" asked, keeping her eyes on the road.
"It's a while before sunset, so I'm going to the animal shelter," Fluttershy replied.
"The shelter then," said, turning a corner. "Will your partner be there... the one who was giving me a hard time?"
Fluttershy giggled. "Discord, yes. As always, he'll be there. He's just another helper, although he's rarely absent."
"One more reason not to go..." Rainbow added with a smile. "Just kidding... If I ever visit you, I don't know if I'll be able to stand it."
"You two are almost alike," said, looking at her friend with a thoughtful expression.
"Him and me?" asked, somewhat incredulous.
"Yes, both of them can be unpredictable and a bit stubborn," explained, glancing at her friend a bit. "But, at the same time, they have a gentle side."
"Do you think I'm as unpredictable as Discord?" questioned, arching an eyebrow.
"In some ways," Fluttershy confirmed with a soft smile. "But that's also what makes your company so pleasant."
Rainbow laughed, smiling genuinely. "I'd like to hear that from someone every now and then."
"Really? And why?" the pink-haired girl inquired, looking at her curiously.
"Yes. Maybe some expect me to be different, to change my ways," Rainbow replied, hiding the truth, briefly glancing at Fluttershy before focusing back on the road.
"We all have flaws, and sometimes we can work on them to be a better person," Fluttershy said, leaning forward slightly. "But we are like this because it's part of us. Some things don't change, and you shouldn't force yourself to change; you should be authentic."
"That's good advice," muttered, looking somewhat frustrated. "It's just that I got to thinking that I should try to be more open about my feelings or gestures towards our friends..."
"More expressive?" Fluttershy asked thoughtfully. "Sometimes, showing that vulnerable side can also help others feel more comfortable opening up."
"It's not always easy," the multicolored haired girl said, letting out a sigh. "But I'm going to try. I realize there are things I can improve, but I also want to accept who I am."
"Even though you keep working on yourself, your authenticity is what makes you special; it's your way of being," said, leaning slightly towards her friend.
Rainbow glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. "Thank you, Fluttershy. That's good to hear," said, feeling a mix of gratitude and relief.
"You know, I can give you an example," added, giving her a mysterious look.
The animal lover looked at her curiously, not understanding what she meant, and returned to her position.
"I appreciate our friendship so much. Especially now that we're in this process," Rainbow commented. "I feel like I can be more authentic with you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
"And I appreciate yours. I'm glad to know we can talk like this," Fluttershy replied with a soft smile. "It's comforting to see how we're growing and getting back what we had."
"Yes, exactly," the sportswoman said with a smile. "Sometimes I forget how important it is to have someone like you."
Rainbow paused before continuing. "You know, you've improved as a person too. Your shy side held you back sometimes, but you've managed to move forward, like in the presentations at the event. You were able to speak in front of everyone," she said, turning her head slightly as the traffic light turned red to look at her. "It's great how you've changed, but it's not necessarily a bad trait; it's part of you."
Fluttershy was a little surprised and smiled. "Thanks, Dash. That was nice."
Fluttershy nodded, appreciating the moment and put the car back in gear as the light turned green.
As silence settled in the car, Fluttershy recalled the conversation with her partner and muttered,
"Yeah... it's different this time."
"Did you say something?" Rainbow asked, glancing at her briefly before returning her gaze to the road.
"Nothing," replied with an enigmatic smile.
As silence settled in the car, Scootaloo watched the two girls from the backseat. Her mind was occupied with the game on her PSP, but she couldn't help but listen to the conversation.
"Why do they always have to talk about such complicated things?" thought, frowning slightly as she moved her thumbs around in the game. "Sometimes, I just don't understand adult talk."
Author's Note
Hi everyone, I hope you're doing well. Here's the updated chapter, literally, since I recently uploaded it to the Wattpad page in my native language and preferred to translate it into English right away for you.
I wanted to dedicate this chapter more to Rainbow and Fluttershy's relationship, so we didn't have any direct interaction between Applejack and Rarity.
I don't know if you noticed the references to the main series.
A reminder about the point of view of the flashbacks: sometimes they will be from the perspective of a character remembering something, but everything happens with him/her seeing or describing what happens. In other cases, even if the character who remembers doesn't know what other people are talking about or what happened elsewhere, those points of view will still be shown, as seen in the two flashbacks in this chapter. This makes some things easier to understand. Also, something that isn't a point of view per se is, where you remember and return to the present, and the character keeps remembering until they come out of the present. And on rare occasions I'll use a point of view where a character remembers something and, upon leaving the memory, we change to another character. Lastly, it's the one that happens a few minutes before, but upon returning to the present it's recognizable by the typography.
That's all. I hope you liked the chapter. See you next time!

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                 Days Full of Frustration                  
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Days Full of Frustration
The car's engine roared softly as Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo made their way down the road towards school. The morning was cool, with the sky clear and the sun just starting to shine through the clouds. Rainbow, with one hand on the wheel and the other adjusting the music, leaned slightly towards her sister.
"So, Scoot, ready for another day at school?" she asked with a carefree smile, turning up the music a little.
Scootaloo looked out the window, where the landscape sped by, and then turned her head towards the jock. "Yeah... well, sort of. I'm not that excited about it, but I think today will be more relaxed."
Rainbow let out a small laugh. "Relaxed, huh? Enjoy it while you can. There's not much of that in college, trust me. The girls and I have had some crazy days with pop quizzes and papers due at the end of the week and we're only in the first week."
"Ugh, sounds terrible!" replied, grimacing. "At least we don't have that stuff at school... yet."
"Exactly. That's why I'm telling you," Rainbow added, lightly punching her shoulder. "But hey, don't let that get to you. I was never much of a homework person and look where I am. You don't need to be a brainiac to get ahead, you just need to be quick, literally and figuratively."
Scootaloo gave her a sidelong glance, somewhat amused. "That sounds like a recipe for trouble."
"Trouble? Trouble is there to be avoided with style," she replied, making an exaggerated gesture with her hand as if she were doing a flip in the air. "Besides, as long as you don't leave everything to the last second, everything's fine, right?"
"So you don't leave things to the last second?" asked with a raised eyebrow, knowing the answer already.
Rainbow shrugged. "Well... sometimes. But I always work it out, you know, I'm good at winging it. It's a key skill. I assure you, if you follow my advice, you'll do great."
Scootaloo smiled, a little more relaxed, although she knew that Rainbow wasn't the best example in terms of organization. "I guess I can try it my way... although I doubt winging it will get me out of trouble with the teachers."
The athlete laughed and nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Not everyone is as cool as me. But don't worry, Scoot, the important thing is that you enjoy what you do. Don't let the boring stuff get you down."
Finally, they arrived and Rainbow parked the car. "Well, time to face the world! Remember, one day at a time. And don't let homework get you down!"
They both got out of the car. Scootaloo, with her backpack on her back, gave a quick goodbye to the multicolored one before heading towards the entrance.
Rainbow, meanwhile, walked slowly, looking for some of the girls until she saw Applejack's red truck pulling up.
The farmer took her time to properly arrange the vehicle, glancing sideways at her younger sister, Apple Bloom, who was in the passenger seat. She didn't love Apple Bloom taking that seat when Pinkie wasn't with them, but she let it go.
Applejack turned off the engine and looked at her sister with a slight smile. "Well, Sugarcube, you know the rule: no mischief, pay attention in class, and don't come near us when you have class."
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes, smiling. "I haven't done anything yet, and I haven't gotten too far from you either... but thanks for reminding me," replied in an amused tone as she grabbed her backpack.
The blonde frowned slightly. "Apple Bloom..." said in an almost serious tone.
The younger girl laughed softly. "Just kidding! Relax, AJ. Hey, are you feeling a little better now?"
Applejack blinked, somewhat taken aback. "Better? What do you mean?"
Apple Bloom adjusted the strap of her backpack, her expression a little more serious. "About yesterday... You seemed kind of down, you said you were frustrated."
The farmer was silent for a moment, searching for the right words to avoid a deep conversation so early in the morning. "I'm... working on it," replied somewhat wearily.
Apple Bloom didn't give up, staying curious. "I saw you working picking apples yesterday. I thought maybe you'd been distracted enough, like Pinkie and her novels. Is it easier to deal with that when you're an adult?"
Applejack let out a soft laugh. "I'm not sure. I'm just entering adulthood, and to be honest... being distracted helps, but it doesn't fix everything."
"Yeah, like when you went through that thing two years ago..." The younger girl lowered her voice as she remembered.
The blonde felt the smile fade from her face. "Apple Bloom... that was... you know what it was," replied with a slight strain in her voice.
"Yeah, you were upset because..." Apple Bloom hesitated for a moment, looking down. "...our parents."
Applejack nodded, looking at her sister with a serious expression. "Exactly. That's why," muttered, as if trying to convince herself. "Sorry for how I acted, but you know that was the only reason."
Apple Bloom looked at Rainbow, who was nearby, talking to another student, and sighed then turned her gaze to her sister. "But hey, you're over it now, right? And I'm sure whatever's bothering you now, you'll figure it out too," said with a smile.
The farm girl gave her a small smile back, appreciating her sister's support. "I guess so. I'll see how the day goes. For now, I'll keep my mind busy, that's the best I can do."
The younger girl nodded, smiling. "Just don't forget that you can always talk to the family if you need to."
Applejack laughed and gave her a small pat on the head. "Thanks, Sugarcube. Now, go and pay attention in class."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll do it," replied, smiling again before getting out of the truck and heading to the entrance, watching as her older sister stayed behind, busy with her own thoughts.
It didn't take long for her to notice Scootaloo already walking away at a good pace towards the school entrance. "She's going to get away!"
"Hey, Scoot!" called, as she began to walk faster, almost running to catch up to her.
Scootaloo, hearing her name, stopped and turned her head. "Apple Bloom," she replied with a smile as she waited for her friend to catch up. "How's it going? I thought you were stuck with AJ."
Apple Bloom arrived panting slightly, but smiling. "Nah, just a quick big sister lecture. You know how it is."
Scootaloo laughed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, big sisters are experts at that. Rainbow was just telling me about how 'crazy' college is."
"Really?" the youngest Apple asked, interested. "Applejack almost never complains about that."
"Anyway. Sweetie Belle is missing... Is she here?"
Apple Bloom shrugged. "She should be here soon."
Just then, they saw Sweetie Belle entering through the front door, accompanied by Rarity. The two sisters chatted quietly as they walked, stopping halfway down the partition. The seamstress leaned slightly towards her little sister, adjusting a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Remember what we talked about, Sweetie," said with a soft smile. "If you need help with anything, just ask me, okay?"
Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes with a smile, accustomed to her sister's concern. "Yeah, I know, Rarity. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
The seamstress nodded. "Well, take care of yourself, and let me know if anything happens, okay?"
Sweetie Belle sighed with a smile. "Yeah, yeah. I'll see you later."
Turning around, she saw her friends and walked over to join them, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo already waiting for her with a smile.
"Wow, you're finally here!" Scootaloo said, crossing her arms. "I thought Rarity was giving you design lessons or something."
Sweetie Belle giggled lightly. "No, just... well, you know what she's like."
"Fashion tips?" Apple Bloom asked with a mischievous smile.
"More like tips on surviving teachers," replied, shrugging her shoulders. "Although, yes, she did mention something about not letting my outfit get 'messy'."
The three friends laughed and began walking together towards side A, leaving Rarity to watch them for a few moments before turning to join her.
"I almost look like Mom," thought, letting out a laugh. "Thank goodness Mom is there for Sweetie when she needs it," thought one last time as she continued on her way.
Meanwhile the three of them were walking through the halls looking for their classroom. Once they saw the teacher approaching they sat together in the back of the Math classroom. The teacher, Mr. Vector, a tall, thin man with round glasses, greeted them and began writing equations on the board, speaking in a monotone that made the class seem like it was going to go by slowly.
"Okay, guys. Today we're going to go over basic linear equations. Make sure you pay attention, as you'll have an exercise at the end of class," said as he underlined a couple of numbers with chalk.
Apple Bloom tried to concentrate, her pencil tapping softly against her notebook. She knew that if she strayed, Applejack would surely lecture her about the importance of getting good grades. Although she understood what the teacher was saying, she couldn't help but let her mind wander from time to time, wondering what her sister was doing at the moment in college remembering that she has an arts degree.
On the other hand, Scootaloo was staring at the board with a raised eyebrow, her notebook half empty, with only a couple of scribbles on it. She wasn't a math fanatic, by any means. She leaned over to Apple Bloom and murmured,
"You do realize that all of this is going to be gone from my head when we get out of here?"
Apple Bloom suppressed a smile, whispering back, "You better not, or else we'll have to put in overtime studying... and I don't want Applejack to tell me 'I told you so'."
Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle seemed to be concentrating on her notebook, meticulously writing down the equations that Mr. Vector was explaining. Although she also had her moments of lack of concentration, the youngest Belle knew that she had to put in the effort. She didn't want her sister or her mom to think that she was wasting her time at school. Still, she would let out a sigh from time to time.
"Okay, class. Now that we've gone over the basics, I want you to solve this pair of equations in your notebooks. It's pretty simple, so you can start whenever you want," Mr. Vector said, as he wrote two equations on the board.
"It's easy, just remember to solve the unknown," added, walking around the room to make sure everyone started working.
Apple Bloom started writing in her notebook, trying to solve the equations in earnest. But halfway through the first one, she stopped for a moment and looked at Scootaloo, who had the calculator in her hand and looked completely lost.
"How are you doing on the first one, Scoot?" she whispered to him.
"Uh... Well... not so good. I just don't know why there are so many letters in this. Isn't this a numbers class?" she asked, frowning as she looked at the equation.
Sweetie Belle, who had already finished the first equation, looked up with a small smile. "You just move the three to the other side and then divide the result by two."
Scootaloo looked at her with a mix of frustration and gratitude. "Okay... But I don't promise I'll like it."
The three of them continued to work in silence for a moment, although every now and then the brunette would throw exasperated glances at her friends. Apple Bloom also focused more, and after a couple of minutes, the three of them managed to finish the exercises before Mr. Vector asked for the results.
Minutes passed and the bell rang, announcing the long-awaited recess. Sweetie Belle, with a satisfied expression after finishing her math exercises, carefully put her notebook back into her backpack, while the remaining two stood up faster, glad to escape from class.
"Finally," Scootaloo sighed, stretching. "I don't know how you manage to make it so easy, Sweetie."
"It's just a matter of practice," she replied with a modest smile. "And some concentration, I guess."
"Well, I think I need more than that," Apple Bloom added with a grimace, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. "I'm glad there's a recess, I need to clear my head."
The three of them walked out onto the patio, where students were grouped in circles, chatting and laughing. As they walked, Sweetie Belle looked up and noticed a familiar figure running towards them.
"Spike!" exclaimed, waving a hand.
The boy, carrying his backpack on one shoulder, arrived quickly, breathing somewhat heavily, but with a smile on his face. "Hey, girls!" he greeted, stopping in front of them. "How's school going?"
"Terrible," Scootaloo complained, crossing her arms. "Calculations... I don't even know how Sweetie manages to understand them."
"Don't even tell me," Apple Bloom added, nodding. "I'm not a math fan, but at least we survived."
Sweetie Belle smiled modestly, while Spike let out a small laugh. "Well, I don't know if I would do it any better. We're watching history and it's not exactly exciting."
"History sounds boring, but at least it's not calculus," the magenta-haired girl joked.
Apple Bloom nodded. "Are you staying with us for lunch?"
"Sure," Spike replied, smiling widely. "I brought something extra in my backpack. What do you guys have?"
"The usual," Sweetie Belle replied, pulling out a sandwich. "Nothing too exciting, but enough to get you through the rest of the day."
The girls and Spike made their way to an empty table on the patio, ready to share the break while chatting about classes and their after-school plans.
As they sat down at one of the patio tables, they opened their lunch boxes and began to eat. Spike, always curious, broke the silence.
"Any gossip you guys have?" he asked, leaning his elbows on the table with an intrigued smile.
The three girls exchanged thoughtful glances. Finally, Sweetie Belle was the first to speak.
"Rarity doesn't seem to have anything new to say," began, as she took a sip of her drink. "The closest thing to 'new' is that Pinkie and I seem to be doing better now. The rest is the same, I don't know if there's been any progress with the girls."
"Ha," Scootaloo let out a small laugh, rolling her eyes. "Dash, even though I don't know what problem she had with Fluttershy, things seem to be better. I had to sit through a conversation yesterday about 'being yourself' and all that." raised his eyebrows, as if that had been a challenge.
Spike smiled and looked at Apple Bloom, waiting for her part of the story. The younger Apple hesitated a moment before answering.
"Well, Applejack... seems to be going through something that's frustrating her. I reminded her of something," said cautiously. "She doesn't like to talk about it and I gave her the example of the game."
"What game?" Spike asked, curious.
"Remember, Scoot? That one about decisions," said, looking at his friend.
"Oh, yeah, I remember," nodded. "We were doing so well, we managed to get all the characters to survive, but..." she stared at Apple Bloom.
"In the last chapter, which is really long, I took another path thinking it was the right one. In the end, only a few survived," said with a bitter smile.
"Too bad!" Sweetie Belle commented, raising her eyebrows.
"Yeah, I was really sorry and sad for a few days until we tried again and succeeded," Apple Bloom said, remembering the experience.
"Great, although it would be better if it worked out right the first time," Spike said with a small laugh.
"That's why!" Scootaloo added, remembering with frustration. "I got upset and Apple Bloom got discouraged."
"Yeah, that's why I gave Applejack that example. She seems frustrated, or something," continued, thoughtfully.
"Rainbow?" Spike tried to deduce.
"I don't think so," the magenta-haired girl intervened.
"I don't know, but she keeps it to herself, like when she was wrong the other time," Apple Bloom said, not realizing she had said too much.
"The other time?" Spike asked, intrigued, as did Scootaloo, who now looked at her curiously trying to remember as they remembered a situation her sisters told her about.
Sweetie Belle simply watched, somewhat confused, trying to understand.
"Ah, about your parents," the green-haired boy remembered, snapping his fingers. "Sorry... about their... well, you know." He spoke with more respect.
Apple Bloom nodded slowly, remembering. "One of the lies we told the girls," thought.
"I think Rarity once mentioned that she went to see them," Sweetie Belle intervened in a doubtful tone. "Isn't that it?" asked, thinking they were on the same page.
"No, it was when you guys had already left... wait, she went to see you?" Apple Bloom was surprised. "Applejack used to tell significant moments with Rarity when they were together. I guess it must have been something nostalgic for her not to mention it."
"Rainbow doesn't say much about her outings either," Scootaloo added. "You know how she is. She only talked about playing or some moments with the girls."
"Hmm, did she go too?" Spike wondered out loud, looking at the younger Apple and Belle. "Girls aside, do you know why things broke up?"
"Broke up?" Apple Bloom repeated, not sure what she meant.
"You mean my sister and Apple Bloom breaking up?" asked, frowning slightly.
Spike nodded.
"I don't know," Sweetie Belle said. "I just remember my aunt not finding her at the design studio. We were worried, since she wasn't answering her cell phone, until she came home with bags of ice cream."
"Ice cream?" Scootaloo asked, arching an eyebrow.
"It's her way of feeling better, I guess, when she's sad," explained, shrugging her shoulders. "She didn't say anything, she just waved, ignoring Mom's stern look, and went upstairs. My aunt thought she had heard about the trip, but Mom would later dismiss it, because I didn't even know yet. Then Mom went upstairs, followed by my aunt, and all I could hear from the stairs was Rarity crying, telling Mom that she was right."
"Reason for what?" Spike asked, growing more and more intrigued.
"Spike, don't be a gossip," Apple Bloom said, tapping him on the arm.
"Sorry," apologized quickly, but with a mischievous smile. "But I know you've all wanted to know why they broke up, too."
"It's true. I'd like to know what happened someday," Apple Bloom admitted. "I'm sure it's the same day. Applejack came home with a look on her face that I don't know how to describe, and as she usually does, she pretended to be fine, but her look said it all."
Scootaloo raised her hands in innocence at the look on Spike's face. "I don't know the reason, other than what happened with the girls."
"But, from what you told me," Sweetie Belle intervened, "Applejack started a relationship with Rainbow. Could that be a reason?"
"It could be," the magenta-haired girl murmured. "But I remember Rainbow wasn't convinced."
"Of what?" Apple Bloom asked. "Being with my sister?"
"I don't think so, or else I wouldn't be with her until now," Scootaloo said, shrugging her shoulders. "I think it was more for Rarity," added thoughtfully. "But I don't know exactly what she meant."
"Although...?"
"Although...?" they asked in unison.
"I remember hearing some words from Dash one day when the three of us went to school. Let me remember well," said, putting her index fingers on her temple as if that would help her remember. "I got it!" exclaimed, and the three of them leaned in, intrigued.
"It was something like, 'I still think we shouldn't go like this, with Rarity around.'"
"And you know what she meant?" Spike asked.
"I don't know, I got to the end, so I don't have much context," said. "And I just walked out like I didn't hear anything, and they were just there, holding hands."
"And do you remember if my sister said anything?" Apple Bloom asked.
"I think she said... um... 'She'll understand.'"
"Understand what...? 'What did you change for me?'" Spike chimed in, trying to imitate the seamstress with a mix of curiosity and confusion.
"Spike!" the three exclaimed.
"Hey, that sounded bad," Sweetie Belle commented.
"Well, sorry, but it's... remember, it's something close to our deduction," Spike commented in his defense.
"Yeah, but it sounds really bad," Scootaloo criticized.
"Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean for it to sound like that," apologized.
"Do you think that's how it is?" Apple Bloom asked, thoughtfully and doubtfully.
"Apple Bloom... obviously not," the youngest Belle assured, trying to reassure her. "She's your sister, obviously she would consider my sister's feelings."
"You're right," said with a smile. "It's Applejack, I'd think about how she'd feel."
"Exactly," Scootaloo agreed.
"Okay, all right," Spike said, trying to ease any possible tension. "This doesn't say much about why you two broke up."
"I hope this doesn't turn into a mission to find out," Sweetie Belle commented, pulling out her phone and plugging in her headphones. "I didn't like hearing my sister cry from my room."
"It's been years, shouldn't it not affect you anymore?" the green haired boy questioned, waving his hand.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom shrugged.
"Although, I won't deny that I would like to know," Sweetie Belle admitted, putting her headphones on. "But if I ever find out, I'll think twice before saying it."
"Maybe you're right," Apple Bloom added, thinking about it. "If I find out from Applejack, I'll think twice before I say anything, too."
Side B / Music Room  
Applejack was in the music room, pacing slowly back and forth. She was already on her third day and had free time at that hour, but the problem wasn't just her boredom, but the frustration that bothered her.
She walked over to one of the many guitars that were in the room. She took the acoustic one and began to play some chords calmly for a few minutes, but soon she played more roughly. Her mind was filled with thoughts that made her angry.
She stood up, put the guitar back in its place and left the room, walking for a few minutes until she felt someone bump into her. She frowned when she realized who it was.
"It had to be... But of course, it's not enough, it wasn't enough to be in the memories," said angrily, gesturing as she walked away, leaving the seamstress at first surprised.
"Memories? It was just another crash," Rarity replied with a frown. "What upset her?" wondered. "Can't you just go to the bathroom without running into someone standing near the door?" thought.
"Did I do something to upset her? We haven't even had a normal conversation," thought, now a little more annoyed, as Applejack's words sounded like it was something personal.
She looked at her for a moment longer, watching as the farm girl continued to gesture with her hands, wondering what was wrong. Finally, she lost sight of her among the students and decided to leave the subject aside to return to the classes she had left before lunch.
Side A / College  
The Crusaders were in the classroom, listening to their teacher explain the assignment they were to complete.
"For this week, I want you to read chapter three and prepare a summary of the most important points. It's a simple assignment, but don't underestimate its importance," Cheerilee said with a smile. "Remember that midterms are closer than you think, so make sure you're up to date with all the material. Don't relax too much, okay?"
Apple Bloom nodded as she wrote down the assignment in her notebook. "This seems easy," whispered to her friends.
"Yeah, but we can't get complacent," Scootaloo replied, putting her notes away in her backpack.
Sweetie Belle, who was organizing her books, added, "I'm sure we'll do fine. We just have to be attentive."
"At least we're not in college yet," the magenta-haired girl commented, grimacing. "Rainbow told me she's been caught with pop quizzes and assignments due as soon as possible."
"Oops, I think Applejack mentioned something," Apple Bloom recalled.
"Strange, Rarity doesn't talk about it much... or rather, she hasn't mentioned it when the four of us are having dinner, when we usually talk about what we did," Sweetie Belle said thoughtfully. "Whether it's our parents telling us about work, or us from school, or in Rarity's case, university."
"Maybe she doesn't want to worry. Although, on second thought, why would that be a concern?" Apple Bloom mused. "It's probably something else."
The youngest Belle thought about what she said and began to form an idea of why her sister hadn't mentioned anything.
The bell rang seconds later, signaling the end of class. The girls stood up, quickly gathering their things.
They left the classroom and headed to the cafeteria, talking about homework. The line for lunch was long, but the three of them were used to waiting.
As they waited, Sweetie Belle pulled out her headphones and plugged them into her phone, putting one in each ear. She began to softly hum a tune, bobbing her head to the beat.
Apple Bloom looked at her curiously. "What are you listening to?"
Sweetie took out an earpiece and handed it to her friend. "Listen and ten cents if you recognize her."
Apple Bloom put it on and, after a few seconds, nodded with a smile. "It's great! I love the beat."
Scootaloo, who was standing next to her, raised an eyebrow. "Who is it? And what genre? If it's classical, it's not my thing. And if it's country, it's not my thing either."
"It seems you haven't kept up with the singers who are at their peak," joked with a laugh. "I kept urging Rarity to give it a chance last year."
"Hmm... you've got me intrigued. Who is it?" asked, curious.
Sweetie Belle smiled, but before she could answer, the line moved forward and just as Spike approached Ember.
"I'll tell you at the table."
Side B / Cafeteria  
The girls were having lunch. The atmosphere was lively, with scattered conversations and laughter at various tables. Pinkie Pie, as usual, radiated positive energy as she watched her friends. Seeing them happy always gave her a feeling of calm, but something about Applejack seemed out of place.
While she chewed on a piece of chicken, she glanced at the farmer, who seemed to be concentrating on her food more than usual. Applejack was not as involved in the general conversation, and that worried her. She remembered the brief conversation they had the day before, and especially after seeing something on Instagram.
"What did she see?" thought as she made a mental list of possibilities. "A series? No... Applejack doesn't watch many series. Maybe a movie... or something cancelled, some plan she had that got frustrated?"
"No, it has to be something else..." whispered to herself.
In the end, none of those theories convinced her. The blonde, at first glance, seemed to be fine. However, Pinkie knew all too well the little signs her cousin showed when something wasn't right: the barely perceptible frown on her brow, the way she moved the food around on her plate without really concentrating on eating. Applejack had always been good at hiding how she felt; although she rarely opened up to girls, that didn't take away from how stubborn she was when it came to keeping things to herself.
"Just like Rainbow," thought as she watched the multicolored girl talk animatedly to Sunset Shimmer. Although the athlete always projected confidence, she also had a habit of not showing too much when something affected her. The redhead, on the other hand, was the one who usually took the reins of the group when necessary, and that's why she maintained an image of strength.
However, there was someone else who shared that same pride in not showing her emotions too much, although lately it had changed a bit: Rarity.
Pinkie looked at the table where the dressmaker usually sat, expecting to see her elegant wavy hair, but found an empty chair. She wasn't in her usual place in the cafeteria. A small look of confusion crossed the party girl's face.
"Pinkie," they called her, but she was lost in thought.
"Could she have missed it?" wondered, as she took another spoonful. But she quickly dismissed that thought. She had seen her at breaks, greeting each other from afar as they walked through the courtyard. So why wasn't she there today?
The situation with Rarity and the rest of the girls was still delicate. Even though they had said it was okay for the party girl to continue hanging out with the dressmaker, Pinkie knew that sometimes she felt in an awkward position, trying to balance her time between the usual group and the dressmaker.
"Pinkie!" they kept calling her, but she still didn't notice.
"Where is she?" thought, completely unaware that they were calling her. "This is the first time I haven't seen her at her table." A shadow of worry crossed her mind. "No, wait... now that I think about it, before the welcome event started, she wasn't there either."
"Even though there's no lunch on Mondays, she usually just hangs around killing time waiting for her sister."
Suddenly, she felt a slight pressure on her arm and realized Twilight was calling her.
"Pinkie!" said with a mix of surprise and amusement. "You're in the clouds again."
"Oh, sorry," replied, returning to the conversation with a smile that hid her concerns. However, she couldn't help but let her gaze wander back to the empty chair. "I was just thinking..." she added quickly, turning her attention to the table. Then, her eyes traveled to Applejack, who was still focused on her plate, barely participating in the conversation.
"What were you thinking about?" Sunset asked, noticing the cheerful girl's distraction.
"About... about music," lied.
"Music?" Rainbow repeated, somewhat skeptical.
"Yeah, I was wondering if they'd give us a difficult assignment. I don't want it to be anything complicated," Pinkie replied with a giggle.
"Hopefully it won't be a dissertation," Fluttershy said quietly.
"Come on, Flutters, I know you'd do great," the athlete encouraged with a smile.
The pink-haired girl nodded shyly.
"Most likely they'll have us compose a song, improvise a new melody, or turn a poem into music," the blue-haired girl said, ticking off on her fingers. "It could also be..."
"To cut a long story short, it could be anything," Sunset interrupted with a smile.
"That's what I mean. There are many possibilities," Pinkie said, nodding enthusiastically.
"You're right," Rainbow added. "What do you think, Blondie?" asked, tapping Applejack on the arm.
"What?" asked, snapping out of her thoughts, a little disoriented by the question.
"What do you think?" repeated, still smiling as the farm girl came back to reality. "About getting a job in music."
"Oh, I don't know, whatever we get, I'll do it," Applejack replied, shrugging.
"As long as it's not a singing duet, I'm fine," Rainbow added with a laugh, glancing sideways at Fluttershy, who smiled sheepishly.
"Can you imagine? A live show in the middle of class!" the party girl joked, gesturing exaggeratedly.
Sunset laughed, as Twilight looked at her watch.
"Girls, we're running out of time. Next class starts in five minutes," she said, gathering her things. The redhead nodded as she finished her drink.
"Yeah, it's almost time for music," Sunset replied. "Ready?"
Applejack nodded, though with a slight sigh that didn't go unnoticed by Pinkie, who frowned slightly. Rainbow, who had been fiddling with her tray until that moment, also seemed to notice the tension in her partner.
"Well, let's go," the party girl said with her characteristic energy, although inside she was still thinking about everything she had observed. While the others stood up, Pinkie glanced sideways at Rarity's empty table once more. The fact that the seamstress wasn't there was still on her mind. "Maybe she just got caught up in something... or maybe she wanted to avoid running into us," thought.
Once outside the cafeteria, the atmosphere changed a bit. The hallways were filled with students hurrying to their classrooms. The sound of their footsteps and conversations mixed with the echo they left as they walked down the long corridors. Twilight, Sunset, and Fluttershy walked in front, while Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack stayed a bit behind, with Pinkie sneaking glances at the farm girl, who walked silently with her eyes fixed on the ground.
The party girl decided to intervene with her usual carefree tone.
"Uh, as your distant family, I have a duty to know if you're okay," said with a playful smile, trying to keep things light, but at the same time worried.
Applejack gave her a look, clearly uncomfortable with the question, but not wanting to worry her relative.
"Pinkie, I'm fine," replied. "I'm using homework and the farm to distract myself," she half lied.
Before Pinkie could say anything else or notice the lie, she caught Rarity's eye across the hall. The dressmaker's wavy hair and graceful walk caught her attention.
"Perfect! I'm sure you'll find music more distracting," quickly replied, pointing to the classroom doors.
"Maybe. Thanks for asking," Applejack said, faking a smile. She couldn't help but feel uncomfortable seeing Rarity in the distance.
Almost immediately after, Rainbow, who was walking beside her, couldn't help but chime in as well, albeit in a more direct tone.
"Hey, Blondie, I know you've been acting weird these past couple of days, but you know you can talk to me if you need to," said in a more direct and carefree tone, but one that also hid concern.
Applejack pursed her lips, visibly upset, and responded with a heavy sigh.
"Dash, what's wrong..." said, trying to find the words.
"Unless it's because of something I did... is it because I didn't write to you last night?" asked, grimacing. "I was talking to Gilda and then I went to write to Fluttershy, okay?"
The farm girl frowned. "Just forget it," added in an annoyed tone.
She walked forward, shaking her head, while Rainbow stayed behind, watching her partner's reaction with an annoyed sigh.
"Great," muttered to herself, annoyed by her attitude.
Once they arrived, the group dispersed a bit, each sitting in their respective places in the classroom, some together and others apart. The atmosphere was somewhat tense, especially between Applejack and Rainbow, but neither said anything else about it.
The teacher entered shortly after, starting the class while giving his lesson. Many glances were exchanged in the room, particularly between Applejack and Rarity. Although both tried to ignore each other, anger was present.
After a few minutes, the teacher gave instructions for a job.
"Before midterms come around, I want you to write a report on a famous composer of your choice. Analyze their life, their music, and their influence," the professor informed. "This time you'll have until next Friday to turn it in. You'll find more details in the prompt I'll give you when you come to my desk before you leave."
Some students already had ideas on who to choose, while others hadn't made up their minds yet. When class ended, one by one they approached the professor's desk to pick up the prompt before leaving the classroom.
The Mane Six gathered outside and walked down the hallway together.
"Who do you have in mind?" Pinkie asked, full of curiosity.
"I have Beethoven in mind," Twilight said determinedly.
The girls weren't surprised by their choice of classical music. Meanwhile, Rarity, who was walking a little further ahead, smiled discreetly upon hearing the glasses girl's comment.
"And you, AJ?" The blue-haired girl asked, turning to the farmer.
"He didn't mention anything about groups so I'm thinking about a solo artist," she replied thoughtfully.
"Actually, he didn't specify if it should be a group or a solo artist," Sunset said.
"Hmm, that's true. What about you, Dash?" she asked, turning to Rainbow.
"Like Sunset said, he didn't specify, so I already have my group," she said with a confident smile. "Who's the champion?" she added, putting her hands on her waist.
The girls looked at each other, somewhat confused.
"Come on, girls, I'm talking about Queen!" she exclaimed, spreading her arms.
"Ahhh..." some of them answered, finally recognizing the reference.
"Have you heard Chicken Little's version of 'We Are The Champions'? I can imitate everything and even the ending!" Pinkie assured, clearing her throat. "I am the champion, my friend..." began to sing, enthusiastically.
The girls looked at each other with a smile.
Pinkie continued singing.
"Here comes the end, girls," Fluttershy whispered, anticipating what was next.
The party girl took a breath for the last part. "on—"
Before she could finish, Rainbow clapped her hand over her mouth, interrupting her exact imitation of the song. The girls let out a sigh.
"Thanks, Pinkie, but I prefer the original version," commented with a smile.
"Okay," said, once she let go.
The multicolored one wrapped her arms around Sunset and Applejack. "Like the song says, we are champions!"
Meanwhile, Pinkie noticed Rarity, who was slowly walking a few steps ahead, as if she wanted to hear more about what they were talking about.
"Hey, Rarity! What was your choice?" asked cheerfully as she approached.
"Hey, Pinkie... I'm still thinking, but there's an artist that Sweetie Belle has been convincing me to listen to," replied with a light laugh.
"And who is this artist that she recommends so much to you?" asked curiously.
"Taylor Swift," revealed with a smile. "Sweetie keeps playing her songs whenever she's home, and although I wasn't convinced at first, I have to admit that some of the few songs I've heard have pretty deep lyrics."
The rest of the girls, who were walking close enough, reacted in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Taylor Swift... makes sense." Twilight thought. "She's known for her emotional and detailed lyrics, which reflect personal experiences. That definitely sounds like something Belle would appreciate."  
"Interesting choice," Sunset thought. "Taylor is modern and trendy, and her songwriting style is definitely unique."
"I like some of her songs. They're so soft and soulful. I think she made a good choice," Fluttershy thought.
"Swift, huh? She's not exactly my kind of music, but I'll admit she's talented," Rainbow thought.
Finally, Applejack looked at her a bit with a slight frown. "Well, from what I know, she's always had a unique way of telling stories through her music."
The party girl jumped up and down excitedly. "Oh, I love some of the songs! They're so catchy and fun to sing along to."
"Yeah, I think it might be interesting to look at how her musical style has evolved over the years," the seamstress continued. "It's fascinating to see how an artist can constantly reinvent themselves and still remain relevant."
"It's a great choice, Rarity. I'm sure you'll find a lot of interesting material about her," Pinkie said.
"Thanks," she said, feeling his arm wrap around her as they began to walk forward and continue talking.
"Have you heard 'You Belong With Me'?" they heard Pinkie ask.
"Yeah, though the music video sounds like a Disney movie," they heard Rarity reply.
The girls stopped looking at them and exchanged glances as if waiting for someone to speak.
"Not a bad choice," Fluttershy commented breaking the silence.
"Not my style, but it's something for her," Rainbow said disinterestedly.
Before Sunset and Twilight could respond, Applejack abruptly intervened.
"Come on, we have training," said, starting to walk. The athlete shrugged it off and followed her.
"Ok... okay," the redhead said raising an eyebrow and starting to follow her.
"Is she upset about something?" the pink haired girl wondered.
"Come on, Fluttershy," Twilight said waiting for her friend who was falling behind.
"I'm coming."
Once they reached the classroom, they sat down waiting for their teacher, so Twilight began to look at some samples through the microscope.
"Hmm, I think these cells are pretty well defined. Though I wonder, do you think cells can be significantly altered by certain external factors? Like changes in the environment or chemicals?"
"It's possible. Cell biology is so complex..." Fluttershy commented, opening her notebook to the last notes. "A change in the environment, like temperature or pH, can affect the shape and function of cells."
The blue-haired girl nodded as she continued to adjust the microscope. "Exactly. I was reading about how certain compounds can induce mutations or alter cell behavior. It's fascinating how something so small can have such a big impact."
Fluttershy nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, it's amazing. It speaks to how delicate everything in nature can be. But, speaking of alterations and changes, I was wondering something..."
"What thing? Does it have something to do with Dash?" asked, looking up from the microscope.
"It's about Applejack. Yesterday, and she just seemed distracted. Although I've tried not to ask too much to avoid trouble like before. But, since she's my friend, I'm worried," the pink haired girl explained.
Twilight took off her glasses and cleaned them a little, with a thoughtful expression. "We've noticed it too. In fact, after you left with Dash, we had a little talk with Applejack."
"Anything I should know? Or maybe Rainbow, being her partner, should know," said Fluttershy worried.
The blue haired girl looked at her for a few seconds before answering. "Mmm... well, it has something to do with Rainbow and the group in general, but there's nothing to worry about. Applejack made it clear that everything is fine and that she hasn't misinterpreted anything."
"Misinterpret? Wait..." muttered trying to deduce. "Did some behavior with Dash make her doubt?"
"He he he, apparently. But she assured that it's okay that you and Dash are close," Twilight commented a little nervously.
The pink haired girl looked relieved. "Oh, thank goodness. I was already getting scared... although, Dash and I aren't as close as we seem yet."
"Really? I thought that with that cake she gave you, the nod and the wink, we'd be a little closer."
Fluttershy was surprised, blushing. "Umm... put like that... I understand how someone could misinterpret it. I'm glad Applejack didn't," replied, returning to her natural color.
Twilight smiled. "Yeah, and about Applejack. Pinkie Pie told me that she talked to her and it seems like she's found a way to get over this. But if she's still upset, as her friends, we can support her."
The shy girl nodded.
At that moment, they both saw the teacher come in, and quickly turned their attention to the class.
Class was over, so Applejack was driving the truck back home, with Apple Bloom sitting beside her. The silence between the two sisters was unusual, but Applejack was so immersed in her own thoughts that she didn't notice. She gripped the steering wheel tightly.
"You okay, AJ?" Apple Bloom asked, looking at her older sister with concern, it was obvious how her day went.
Applejack sighed and relaxed her grip a little.
"Yeah, just... busy day."
Apple Bloom didn't insist.
When they arrived, the porch lights were already on, and the silhouettes of Granny Smith and Big Mac were waiting for them at the entrance.
"Look who's here!" Granny Smith exclaimed with a warm smile as Applejack turned off the truck's engine and both sisters got out.
"How did it go?" Big Mac asked, arms crossed but with a kind expression.
"All right, bro," the younger girl replied cheerfully, but the older girl merely nodded, walking toward the porch with her hands in her pockets.
"Is there anything to do?" the farm girl asked, without stopping, hoping for something to distract herself with.
Big Mac and Granny Smith exchanged a glance.
"We've already worked on everything, AJ," her brother replied. "We finished the work early today. There's more to do tomorrow."
Applejack let out a soft sigh of exhaustion, clearly trying to keep herself under control.
"Okay. I'll make dinner early then," said quietly, heading toward the kitchen.
Granny Smith watched her intently, but let her go on her way. She knew something was bothering her, but she also knew her granddaughter would need time to talk about it, if she ever did.
Dinner was simple and quick. The farmer didn't have much of an appetite, so she prepared something light for the rest of the family and retired early to her room, hoping to rest, although her mind was still full of thoughts. As she lay down, she felt the weight of everything that had happened recently, but eventually physical exhaustion overcame her, plunging her into a deep sleep.
The next morning.
The sound of a rooster echoed, but it wasn't enough to wake her. Usually, she was the first to wake up, but that morning, her body simply didn't respond. It wasn't until the sun shone on her face that Applejack finally opened her eyes. She looked at the clock with a start: it was already 9 in the morning, and she had to be at the university by 10.
"Damn!" growled, getting out of bed hastily.
She dressed hastily, without the usual energy that characterized her. The hours of sleep hadn't been enough to relieve her frustration or her accumulated tiredness. In the kitchen, she made herself a quick breakfast: just some bread and coffee, just enough to get her through the morning.
She grabbed her truck keys and left the house, briefly saying goodbye to Big Mac and Grandma Smith, who were already working in the garden.
The cool morning air did nothing to clear her mind; each step made her feel heavier. As she drove to institute, the feeling wouldn't leave her, and she knew classes wouldn't do much to distract her.
Back at institute, Applejack entered her first class of the day; arts, but she could barely concentrate. The minutes seemed to pass like hours, and the teacher's words became a distant echo in her mind.
Applejack leaned on her hand, looking out the window. Her mind was somewhere else, far from the teachings. All she wanted was for this day to end soon, but she knew that the real fight was in her head, and no matter how hard she tried to avoid it.
When lunch time came, she remained silent, which made her friends worry and think about the need to talk to her to find out if everything was okay.
They finished lunch and got up from their usual table, taking their things and empty trays, to leave them inside the cafeteria. Meanwhile, the seamstress entered through the main door with her empty tray, heading towards the place where she had to leave it.
Applejack, distracted, did not notice Rarity approaching. In the blink of an eye, both of their trays fell to the floor.
"Watch where you're going! Why are you appearing out of nowhere?" the farmer exclaimed, trying to calmly pick up her tray.
"Excuse me? You were the one who bumped into me. If you weren't distracted, maybe you could see what's going on around you," replied, as she began to pick up her own tray, casting a sidelong glance at the blonde, who frowned and shook her head.
Some nearby students watched the interaction with interest. The tension was palpable, and the usual murmur of the cafeteria died down as more people turned to see the scene.
"I'm not distracted, I just... I don't need you to keep coming closer like you always do," said, avoiding the dressmaker's gaze, clearly uncomfortable at the gazes on them.
"Come closer? All I've tried is... I don't even know why I bother trying," Rarity said, letting out a sigh.
The five friends watched the scene from where they were; behind the farmer. Pinkie, worried, looked at both of them with a frown, while Fluttershy hid behind her friend with glasses. Rainbow, on the other hand, looked confused, not knowing what to do.
"What the hell is going on?" whispered the athlete, looking at the girls.
"I don't know, but it seems like an argument fueled by Applejack," replied Sunset.
"This doesn't look good at all..." the party girl murmured, worried.
"See, there you go, making a drama scene. It's not all about you," said Applejack, trying to remain indifferent.
Some nearby students began to murmur, exchanging glances. Some seemed to enjoy the show, while others looked on with some discomfort.
"The drama between the e-" Trixie tried to say, being interrupted by an elbow from Starlight, followed by an "ouch" from the gray haired girl.
Her friend looked at the students at her table before speaking to her in a low voice. "Trixie, don't talk too much, we promised to keep it a secret."
"Sorry, but times like this are interesting, and you know I can't hold back my comments sometimes," replied quietly, rubbing her arm.
"That's why I nudged you; I knew what you were going to say," Starlight said.
"Drama? You know I've tried to be patient," Rarity said, indirectly, looking at the girls behind the blonde. "But it seems like everything I do only pisses you off more," added, turning her attention back to the blonde.
"I'm not upset, it's just... We always seem to end up butting heads in one way or another," Applejack replied, with a small grimace, trying not to raise her voice, but unable to help her tone.
"Well, it's not like I do it on purpose," replied, softening her response, but watching the farm girl with a mix of confusion and concern.
"I know you don't do it on purpose, but... sometimes it seems like you're always in my way," the blonde said, as she looked at the tray.
"In your way?" Rarity repeated, realizing that Applejack wasn't just talking about the crash, but about something else.
"I'm not trying to make this an issue. I just... feel like we still can't find a way to be okay," explained, finally looking Rarity in the eyes, her expression tired.
The seamstress took a deep breath, taking in the words, lowering her gaze a little. "I guess you're right... But it seems like your anger is coming from somewhere else. I f-" she stopped, noticing that several students were still staring at them. "I can tell you're frustrated, but you should find the cause of why you feel this way and not take it out on it," said in a calmer tone, but her expression showed a mix of worry and sadness.
Rarity left the tray on a nearby table and turned to leave. Applejack stood there doing nothing, knowing that he was partly right.
"I'm going to talk to AJ," Pinkie said, worried, setting down her tray.
"Do you think that's for the best?" Fluttershy asked in a low tone. "She seemed to have gotten over whatever was bothering her, but apparently not. We should all talk together."
"You're right... I'll talk to Rarity," replied, following her. "They'll tell me what's up with AJ later."
"Now that was unexpected..." Twilight commented, unsure of what to do as she watched the party girl try to get to the dressmaker, who was just reaching the door.
"Let's go somewhere else. Maybe AJ will finally tell us what's wrong," Sunset suggested, and the others nodded, setting down their trays.
"I'll take her," Rainbow said, starting to walk with the others. As she approached, she took the tray that Applejack still had in her hands and passed it to Fluttershy, who was coming behind her and upon receiving it saw the tray that Rarity left on a table, so she decided to return them.
The tension in the atmosphere decreased a little, but the students around exchanged curious glances, wondering what they had been talking about, since it seemed that the two girls were communicating with words that were not entirely understood.
"Hey, blondie," called, patting Applejack on the back, making her react. "I don't know what led you to this. Maybe it's what we already know... the past," whispered. "But I'm not going to leave you with those looks," added, pointing with her thumb at the curious looks. "Let's go somewhere else."
The farmer smiled a little and walked to stand beside her. "Thanks, Dash. I think I needed those words," said, putting an arm around her. "I knew you would be on my way."
Rainbow raised an eyebrow, confused. "They were just words," thought, wondering what she meant by the last bit.
Outside the cafeteria the party girl hurried to catch up with the curly-haired girl. "Wait, Rarity!" exclaimed, stopping her before she disappeared into some hallway.
Rarity stopped, turning slowly with a tired and frustrated expression. "What do you want, Pinkie?" asked, her tone tired, but a little softer as she saw the concern in her friend's eyes.
The party girl walked over and took a deep breath before speaking. "I'm sorry about what happened back there. I didn't think Applejack would be like that."
The seamstress forced a small smile. "Don't worry. It's not your fault. I know her, and I know something's wrong with her... but that doesn't mean she has to say things like that to me!"
Pinkie looked at her, her expression reflecting concern. "I know. I talked to her the other day, and she seemed to take into account what we told her with Apple Bloom."
Rarity tried to put on a firm expression as she processed what the party girl said. "You know what you could do if something happens to her," continued, but the girl gently interrupted her.
"Let her do something to distract herself," finished with a smile.
"Yeah, but I think she'd need an outing with friends to clear that head of hers," Rarity said, waving her hand towards the cafeteria door.
"That's a good idea," Pinkie agreed as she watched the girls leave. "Besides her chores and the farm, hanging out with her friends would help her feel better."
"Then go with the girls so they can talk to her."
Pinkie walked a little way, but stopped and looked at her. "And you? How are you? I'm supposed to come to talk to you about what happened, and we ended up talking about how to make AJ feel better."
"I'm fine... Just processing some things she said, but I think I'll be fine," replied, staring at the floor for a few seconds.
The party girl smiled warmly. "You do it again!"
"Do what?"
"That thing about caring about others. You've always had that trait, you proved it with the bill you put in my pocket the other day," Pinkie said, remembering the moment.
Rarity laughed. "I wasn't going to let you pay for it alone. And if you insist on giving me back the bill, I'll just give it back to you again."
"I had a feeling you'd say that," said, giggling a little. "Well, I'm going with the girls, but you're not getting rid of me."
The seamstress shook her head, smiling. "If you want, you can find me after the class. We can go together."
"Obviously I wouldn't refuse!" exclaimed excitedly, coming over to hug her goodbye before heading off with the others, who were already walking away down a hallway.
"Bye, Rarity. I'll pick you up later... Where exactly?" asked from a distance.
"At my locker," she replied before turning around. "Bye, Pinkie."
"Okay, bye, Rarity!" Pinkie shouted, running off to catch up with the others, knowing where they were headed.
The wavy-haired girl, seeing the party girl walk away, changed her expression to a mix of sadness and anger, the words had undoubtedly affected her in different ways.
Pinkie Pie walked briskly through the halls, her steps light but hurried, following the echo of her friends' voices coming from the music room.
Reaching the door, she paused for a few seconds before entering, taking a breath. The music room was partially illuminated by the sun coming through the windows, and the girls were already inside, standing in a curve looking at Applejack, who sat on the step with her head down.
"Girls!" exclaimed with a smile as she walked through the door, although something in her tone suggested a hint of concern.
Fluttershy looked up. "Hey, Pinkie. Everything okay?"
The party girl nodded quickly, but without her typical energy. "I talked to Rarity... but I'm not here to talk about that. How's AJ?" asked as she approached.
"We're on it," Twilight said.
"We told him that, despite the stuff with Belle, she shouldn't take it out like that," Sunset added.
"Yeah, like Rainbow who went too far last time with those things she said to Rarity," Pinkie mentioned.
The multicolored girl raised her head, looking at the party girl. "Which of all my comments?"
Pinkie let out a nervous giggle. "Hehe, uh, one of the things you said... But we're here to figure out what's wrong with AJ, right?"
"I'm not mad," the farm girl said, raising her head and looking at her friends.
"So, what's wrong with you? We thought it was due to..." Twilight said, gesturing surreptitiously to her side, where Fluttershy and Rainbow were. The blonde got the message
"I'm not sure, but I'm telling you that I'm okay with what happened," insisted, throwing the message back.
Sunset, Twilight, and Pinkie got the hint, with the exception of the other two, who didn't seem to get it at all.
"I thought what we suggested with Apple Bloom would be enough to take some of the edge off," the party girl said worriedly.
"I made some progress on assignments and the farm on Tuesday. And yesterday, remember, is our longest day of class, so I couldn't do much and there was nothing to do at home," explained, letting out a sigh.
Rainbow frowned, crossing her arms. "So, is that what's got you like this? You're under pressure. Between the farm and your studies, you barely have time for anything."
"No, Dash, it's not that. I made some progress on both on Tuesday to clear my head, but I couldn't yesterday because..." replied.
"The long day we have," finished, nodding.
"Not everything is solved in two days by doing things halfway," Twilight said.
Fluttershy nodded softly. "Maybe your frustration is due to something deeper. Maybe distracting yourself a little will help. You don't want those emotions to build up."
"Exactly, AJ, and it's okay to let out what you feel. Whether it's with us or alone. You've done it before," Sunset said with understanding.
The girls nodded with a sad smile, while Applejack watched them for a moment before lowering her head again.
That moment reminded her of a previous time, when the farmer had felt distracted, distant and something else, but it had taken her a while to return to normal. The girls hoped that the same wouldn't happen this time.
"They're right," Applejack said, raising her head. "Today I'll focus on my classwork and tomorrow on the farm. I'll extend my distraction time more and, well, if I do explode, at least I know it will be at the right time," showed a small smile.
"And do you know where we can start, blondie?" Rainbow asked with a half smile, as she walked over to an instrument, showing it to the farmer.
The girls smiled and Applejack took her bass before standing up.
"It's time for a song!" Pinkie exclaimed. "How about Smile?"
"It's a solo," Twilight said, frowning slightly.
"But it has choruses," Fluttershy added, finding the silver lining.
"And AJ needs a smile," the party girl insisted, cheerful.
"Sounds good to me," Sunset said, picking up her guitar.
"I still find it weird that you had that dream where you were inspired to write the song," Rainbow commented somewhat incredulously, as she plugged in her guitar.
"Guys, it was just a pony world," Pinkie said as if it were the most normal thing, as she walked over to the drums.
The girls smiled, shaking their heads.
"You know, I was thinking we could go somewhere tomorrow or this weekend," said, drumsticks already in hand. "Some time with friends would sure help clear that head of yours," added, repeating almost the same words Rarity had told her.
Fluttershy smiled. "Sounds like a good idea to me."
"Count me in," Rainbow said with a half smile. "We could run around a bit. I'm sure you'd blow off some steam."
"Me too. You don't have to carry everything by yourself, AJ," Twilight added.
"It doesn't matter if it's the weekend, I can ask for time off or change my shift at work," Sunset said.
They all looked at Applejack, waiting for her response. "Thanks, girls. Sounds good,"said, looking at everyone with a weak smile. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
The girls smiled back.
Pinkie jumped up, regaining some of her usual glow. "Perfect! So, we're deciding if we're going tomorrow or the weekend," she said, smiling widely, glad that the plan was in motion.
"Now, what were we up to?" the farm girl asked, twirling the bass.
"1, 2, 3, 4..." the party girl counted as she clacked her drumsticks, marking the rhythm to start the song.
So the instruments played as Pinkie sang her solo and the others provided the chorus. The room filled with energy as the cheerful girl, with a big smile, threw herself into the song. Her lively movements on the drums, along with her vibrant and cheerful voice, infected everyone.
As the song progressed, Applejack couldn't help but smile at the energy of the party girl.
The girls in the choir, instruments in hand, swayed to the song, exchanging knowing glances as they watched Applejack crack a smile. And every time Pinkie accented a high note with a thump on her drums, the girls in the choir lit up with genuine smiles.
After Applejack played the last few chords on her bass, the girls all came closer, smiling. There was a sense of relief in the air, as if, for a brief moment, worries had vanished.
"See? A smile fixes everything!" Pinkie exclaimed, still fluttering from the song's excitement.
The farm girl smiled, though more at the support of her friends than the music. "Thanks, girls. I really needed it."
They all nodded, showing their support with small words of encouragement or just a squeeze on Applejack's shoulder.
"We know you have a lot on your mind, but we're here for you," Sunset added softly.
Fluttershy came over to give her a quick hug. "You can always count on us, AJ."
The farm girl, still holding the bass in her hands, looked at each of her friends, feeling an unexpected warmth.
Just then, Twilight, who was always keeping an eye on the clock, let out a small gasp. "Girls, we're already past our time! We're going to be late for class."
Immediately, the group began to move quickly, gathering their belongings and putting away their instruments.
"See you at the exit!" Rainbow exclaimed, running towards the exit with Sunset.
Twilight and Fluttershy followed suit, while Applejack waved goodbye before leaving as well.
The party girl stayed a few more seconds in the room, remembering that she had promised something important: to look for Rarity after class.
The hour passed, marking the end of classes, and the sound of the bell echoed through the halls. Pinkie quickly left her classroom, dodging the students who filled the hallways. She headed straight for the dressmaker's locker.
But before she got there, Rarity was in the teacher's office, collecting the last test of the week. Upon seeing the grade, her expression immediately changed.
"Shit," muttered in frustration as she looked over the paper.
"Miss Belle, that vocabulary," the teacher commented with a stern look.
Rarity sighed, biting her lip. "Sorry, teacher, I thought I said it in my head."
The teacher gave her a look, albeit one with a hint of understanding. "I advise you to think more about how to improve these grades before the midterms."
The dressmaker nodded, resigned, and put the paper away in her notebook with a dejected air. She gave a small nod and left, heading towards the lockers, where Pinkie was waiting with her usual smile.
"Rarity! How's everything going?" asked with her usual energy.
"So-so," replied, letting out a sigh. "Will you come with me to the library?"
"The library?" she was a little surprised, though not losing her enthusiasm. "Sure!"
The two walked to the library in silence, with Rarity clearly deep in thought. Upon arriving, the seamstress began selecting some books from the shelves.
"I think I'll need this one... and this one," said, handing two thick books to Pinkie, who held them at arm's length.
"Wow, Rarity! Are you really going to take these heavy books with you? I know midterms are a few weeks away, but I'm surprised you want to prepare so soon!"
The seamstress smiled weakly. "I'm determined. I don't want to fail. If I don't improve, I might get in trouble, and I can't afford that."
The party girl watched her friend, noticing the pressure she put on herself. Though her cheerful nature wanted to downplay it, she knew Rarity took it seriously. "Well, if anyone can handle this, it's you. And if you need a break, you know who to call!"
Rarity let out a small laugh at the hyperactive girl's contagious energy. "Thanks, Pinkie. It's good to know I have you around."
Just as they were in line to ask for the books, they saw the bespectacled girl, selecting some texts. Rarity turned around and quietly commented, "I know Twilight is already naturally smart, but... does she still need help studying?"
"I don't know, but it's Twilight. We're never surprised to see her in the library with more books," Pinkie said.
Before they could continue their conversation, they heard a voice behind them. "It's not that I study that much, but there's always something new to learn."
Rarity blushed, feeling caught out. "Ah... you're right. Sorry about that," replied, turning around.
Twilight nodded. "Sometimes, the thickest books don't always contain what one needs," commented, pointing at the thin book in her hands.
"I'm not a book person, so I don't know whether to consider your advice," Rarity said with a forced smile, trying to maintain a confident facade. "But you're the one who... knows the most," added nervously.
"Everyone has their own way of learning," said, trying to maintain a serious facade.
Pinkie, watching the interaction, just nodded.
As the last student cleared the line, Rarity asked for the books and put them in her considerably heavy backpack. As she walked away, she took a quick glance at the blue-haired girl.
"See you tomorrow, Twilight," Pinkie said with her usual enthusiasm.
The bespectacled girl smiled softly back at them and said goodbye before asking for her own books.
As they left the library, Rarity walked with her head down, and the party girl, thinking her friend was sad, searched for some encouraging words.
"Goodbye to my possible progress," she muttered. "If there ever was one."
"Come on, Rarity! It wasn't that bad. It could have been worse, but it wasn't!" exclaimed optimistically.
"Worse..." the seamstress said, exaggerating with a dramatic touch. "I offended her intelligence."
"Can intelligence be offended?" Pinkie wondered, shaking her head and then placing a hand on the seamstress's shoulder. "Rarity, remember: let things flow, and you'll see how everything gets better!"
The curly-haired girl smiled weakly. "You're right."
"And to calm you down, I have news!" Pinkie exclaimed, excited.
Rarity waited for him to continue.
"We talked to Applejack, and I think your idea of going out together this weekend is perfect."
The seamstress nodded, a little thoughtful, trying to deflect the words the blonde said to her. "I hope that helps. AJ tends to keep everything to herself."
"Yeah, but that's why we're here. So she doesn't have to carry everything alone."
Rarity nodded again. "Tell me later how it went."
"Speaking of letting me know, I realized I don't have your number yet," Pinkie said, pulling out her phone.
"True. How rude, after talking," replied, pulling her phone out of her backpack as best she could.
"Oh, you reminded me: I posted a photo on Instagram from the event and, since you have your public profile, you should have seen that I tagged you," the cheerful party girl commented.
Rarity laughed. "Yeah, I saw it. I'm surprised by the likes you have," admitted as she unlocked her phone.
"I'm followed by almost the entire university and a few acquaintances who aren't there," Pinkie explained.
"Wow," Rarity said, then shook her head. "Ok, my number is 66*****."
The party girl was writing down the number in the contact. "Perfect, now I'll talk to you non-stop." she joked.
"Why do I feel like this doesn't seem like a joke?" the seamstress thought, almost worried. "Well, ready to go?"
Pinkie nodded vigorously as she put the phone away. "Yeah! What do you want to do first? Get a drink or walk?"
"We can walk first, but first we have to find my sister."
"So, first stop: Mini Belle!" exclaimed with a sign in the air.
The two began walking towards the stairs, heading for the front door.
After meeting up with the youngest Belle, the three of them strolled around for a while, walking while chatting and eating ice cream. After a few minutes, Pinkie, Sweetie Belle, and Rarity decided it was time to head back home. The sky was beginning to turn shades of orange and pink, marking the end of the day.
The party girl, with a smile, waved goodbye, stretching a little as they walked to the corner where they would part ways. And the Belle sisters waved back, and with that, they walked back home, enjoying the moment of calm.
Friday had started out as a long day for Applejack, with classes shorter but packed with homework that left her feeling exhausted. Time seemed to drag on, and her frustration persisted throughout the day. However, her friends' invitation to hang out after school was a relief she hadn't expected. At first, she wasn't sure if she felt like socializing, but once she was with them, the tension began to fade away little by little.
Saturday came almost without realizing it. When she woke up, Applejack felt a little calmer than the previous days. Although she knew she still had work to do on the farm, but as she said it would help her distract herself.
Now she was in the barn, sweeping the floor while humming a tune. She felt that yesterday's day with the girls had really helped her. The race she had with Rainbow Dash around the square, which was packed with activities and events, helped distract her. She did her best to control herself, in case they got into an argument about who cheated, as if the multicolored one had wings to beat her.
She let out a laugh as she imagined her with wings. "Only Pinkie would be able to imagine something so crazy," thought as she continued sweeping.
She went back to her memories of the outing. She was sure that Dash had let her win, although, at first, she didn't realize it because she was enjoying the moment. Then Pinkie Pie came, always cheerful, and took them all to some inflatable games that, although they seemed designed for children, were worth it. Between laughs and pushes, they ended up climbing and jumping, regardless of age.
Sunset Shimmet convinced Twilight to join, even though the girl was hesitant at first, arguing that inflatables weren't her style. With a little insistence, Sunset managed to get Twilight to finally climb on, and the smile she gave after a couple of jumps showed that she didn't regret it.
"Keep on goin' just like you should. Call me crazy, misunderstood..." she sang as she continued sweeping and remembering more of the outing.
For Fluttershy's part, she had been watching from afar with Rainbow Dash. But the pink-haired girl when she noticed an inflatable animal-themed game was amazed, but she didn't want to leave her friends. The athlete, seeing the girl's intention, acted strong so as not to show discomfort by getting on something that was for children and convinced her to get on together wanting to please her best friend.
"If only it could be like that with me..." She suddenly interrupted and shook her head. "You're doing it again, Applejack, stop torturing yourself."
She sighed deeply as she continued sweeping. The memories of the outing kept appearing in her mind; in the end, they all had fun as if they were children again.
Without a doubt, the outing helped her to clear her mind. She couldn't solve all of her problems in one day, but being with her friends had given her the respite she needed.
Once she finished sweeping the entire barn, she thought back to her outing with the girls and laughed. A thought crossed her mind, but it wasn't one of those frequent memories, it was something she had already decided on. She left the barn and went into the house to shower and look a little more decent for where she was going.
She left the house, saying goodbye to her family before heading to the truck.
Belle Family House  
Rarity sat at her desk, surrounded by papers, notebooks, and books she had borrowed from the library. The silence of her room was only broken by the faint sound of pages turning and the occasional frustrated sigh. Among the piles of academic material, one notebook in particular stood out, where she kept her grades. It was her little secret, an attempt to keep those notes away from the eyes of others. Despite her always impeccable and confident appearance, the reality was that things weren't going as well as she wanted.
With a sigh, Rarity picked up the notebook where she usually hid the notes she preferred to keep secret. She knew she had to face reality, but she couldn't help but feel a knot in her stomach every time she saw those numbers. She opened the page and looked at the note once more, the same one she had tried to ignore all day. She frowned, frustrated with herself.
"How is it possible that this is costing me so much?" she muttered, before letting out another long sigh.
Just as she was deep in thought, the door to her room opened.
"Hey, princess, how are your studies going?" her father asked in his characteristic warm tone.
Rarity jumped slightly in her chair, startled. She quickly hid the paper under the pile of books on her desk.
"Dad! You scared me..." she exclaimed with a nervous smile, trying to hide her concern.
"Sorry, honey. I didn't mean to bother you," she replied with a small laugh. "I just wanted to know how you were doing."
Although Rarity usually had deep conversations with her mother, she had always felt a special connection with her dad. However, at that moment she wasn't sure if she wanted to be completely honest with him.
"Dad..." she began, but paused for a moment, hesitating. She knew he would understand, but she wasn't ready to share everything.
"Yes, princess."
"Is mom downstairs or is she out with Sweetie Belle?"
"Yeah, they're watching TV. It's our night to relax a little, you know, while you and Sweetie have to study and work," she said with a smile. "Though I think your mother is taking that detective show a little too seriously."
Rarity let out a small laugh, thankful for the momentary relief from the tension she was feeling. Her father always knew how to make her feel better, even in the most difficult times.
"Do you want to talk to her? Something college-related, I guess?"
"No, yeah, well..." she replied, sneaking a glance at where she had hidden her grades. "... I'm not sure," she said as she let out a sigh. "I have several assignments to do, and I don't even know where to start."
"It's always better to start with the easiest ones." her father suggested, with that casual tone that sometimes made things seem less complicated than they really were.
"I've heard that it's better to start with the hardest," Rarity commented, still hesitant.
"That's true too." Hondo nodded. "If you finish the hard stuff first, the easy assignments will feel like a cakewalk."
"I guess you're right. Thanks, Dad." she said with a slight smile. Despite everything, her advice was always practical.
"Well, I'm off. Your mother and I are going to see what happens in the next chapter. I'll let you know if anything interesting happens," she added with a small laugh before leaving the room.
As the door closed, Rarity let out a deeper sigh. She looked at the stack of thick books she had borrowed from the library and then at the notebook that was related to the music assignment. Deep inside, she knew she should start with math, but something was urging her to work on the music project first. Maybe because she felt like it was something she could take refuge in, something that didn't make her feel so pressured.
Rarity took a cue from work, pulled out her laptop, and began typing into the search engine: [Taylor Swift biography] Several pages popped up, and she began to open the most relevant ones.
As she read, she began to take notes: [Natural blonde... songwriter since young...]
It all seemed pretty standard. But some things she read made her relate to a certain blonde. Applejack's words during the argument still lingered in her head. It wasn't just that she had taken it out on her, it was the mix of sadness and... anger that she couldn't shake.
"Country... Obviously it started with that," muttered, rolling her eyes as she scrolled down the page.
The more she read, the more she noticed the similarities between what she saw in the singer's biography and some details that reminded her of Applejack: the blonde hair, the connection to country music... It was impossible not to make that comparison. Rarity let out an exasperated sigh.
"What else is missing? Freckles too? Emerald eyes instead of blue?" she complained, feeling every little detail hit her like an involuntary reminder.
Frustrated, she momentarily closed her laptop and leaned back in her chair, taking a deep breath. She knew she should relax, but the repressed emotions and the farmer's words kept running through her mind.
"Okay, Rarity, just relax. Don't let it get to you..." she told herself quietly, trying to calm the growing anger.
She knew she would eventually have to face what she was feeling, but for now, she preferred to keep up the facade, hide her true feelings behind a mask of indifference and continue with her work.
Elsewhere, Applejack drove her truck down a quiet road, the roar of the engine echoing softly in her ears. The landscape around her blurred into a blur of colors.
Finally, she arrived at her destination. She parked the truck and sat for a moment, taking a deep breath before getting out. A soft breeze caressed her face as she closed the truck door and made her way to the entrance of the quiet, peaceful place. Applejack took a deep breath, feeling a lump in her throat as she asked permission to enter.
Once inside, she slowly walked down the path that led her to the corresponding area. Each step seemed to weigh more than the last. Upon arriving, she stopped in front of the tombstones, looking at them with a mixture of sadness and longing. She lowered her head, closed her eyes for a moment, and then opened them, giving a wistful smile.
"Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad," murmured softly, her voice shaking a little. "Forgive me for not coming sooner. University and other things haven't allowed me to come here as often." She sat down on a nearby step, her hands resting on her knees.
"May I?" asked, asking permission before sitting up fully, looking at her parents' headstones with obvious fondness.
"You know... there's been a lot going on at university lately," began, her voice lowering a bit as if she was afraid to interrupt the silence around her. She was quiet for a moment, as if she was listening to an answer only she could hear.
"No, it's not Dash again... although, for one, it does have to do with her," Applejack continued, her tone full of resignation. Again, silence. "Do you remember my second partner? Or rather, ex. The one I was telling you about who came here a few times, Belle... or as you knew her, Rarity."
She bit her lower lip, fighting back her emotions. "Well, she's back. And while I'm acting harshly towards her... for obvious reasons, it's justified. I know how I acted the other day was wrong, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Well, something about Belle is affecting my relationship with Dash."
The wind blew softly, stirring some fallen leaves near her. Applejack took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the words she had yet to say. "I know things with Dash are complicated, you know that. But now, with Belle back and after seeing her parents, and the stupid mistake of going on her Instagram, I find myself acting in a way that's affecting my current relationship."
She looked at the tombstones briefly and laughed humorlessly. "I know, I don't mean much by that."
"We had what could have been our first normal conversation with Belle... well, Rarity to you all, and she said something that left more than one of us with our mouths open... I agreed with Dash to focus on the present. But then Pinkie drew some conclusions leaving me with doubts... So I went and went to Belle's Instagram to look for some clues and... I remembered something, and that led me to a memory that just ended here, visiting them, and her putting..."
She fell silent when she saw that the plastic rose the dressmaker had left was still there. "I had forgotten that she was the one who left it there," whispered, lowering her head for a few seconds.
"Then it came to my subconscious the possible reason why I was hiding from Mr. Hondo... Belle's father. I always told him that I would never hurt his daughter, but in the end, things didn't work out the way we expected and we both got hurt. Who doesn't get hurt after a breakup?" said, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm not insensitive, obviously it affected me."
She fell silent as if she had been answered.
"Dad, I'm not talking about that time... I just felt bad for... for you guys, that's all..." said, clenching her fist a little. "It was just when we broke up... plus I was starting things with Dash."
Applejack closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm down. "Now I got sidetracked... What was I on?"
"The memory... Thank you, Mom." The farmer smiled a little, as if she could hear her mother reminding her softly. "Fluttershy discovered me, we talked a little about the photos we saw leaving me a little thoughtful and more with what she advised me."
"Everything seemed to be going well, even when I had the date with Dash last Friday even though it was average. But you could say I had a good time. Monday comes and Rainbow goes into surprise mode and gives Fluttershy a cake... It was a nice gesture, but it reminded me of the time Belle gave me a pear pie..."
She paused imagining as if her mother said something. "Yes... She was one of the first people I told that I liked pears before I found out you were one of them," said with a smile.
Her expression changed, remembering the initial conversation again. "I don't know why, Dad... I don't know why that exact moment I remembered it, and I go and complain to Rainbow for being more expressive with Fluttershy!"
"I know, Mom... we had already come to an agreement with Dash about that."
"And that's not the only thing that happened..." She let out a sigh. "When Dash offered Fluttershy a ride in his car, he made some gestures that I used to make when... when you know."
"I don't understand why my mind goes to those moments. It's so frustrating," said, lowering her head. "Tell me, Mom... Tell me what it means."
She paused as if waiting for an answer.
Applejack looked at her hand and made a shape as if she were holding a glass. "I'm not much of a drinker, but I could use a beer or cider right now," said, raising her hand as if she were holding an imaginary glass of cider. "It's ironic, isn't it, Dad? We usually make cider, but I hate those times when Dash drinks too much... I just let him go sometimes," said, then brought her hand closer, pretending to drink.
"I took out my frustration on Belle the other day. I know I'm indifferent to her, but I admit I went a little overboard in getting angry just for crashing into me because my mind was somewhere else. Pinkie and Apple Bloom say this feeling will pass... Their examples were unusual," she mentioned with a smile at the end. "But I think they've helped me since I went out with the girls yesterday and I was able to relax a little and I don't feel so bad... I'll just have to do more things and see how I behave from now on."
"I should focus on the present, like Dash says, but then there's what Fluttershy said about considering what I think... Although I still don't have a clear thought."
She looked at the plastic rose and stretched out her hand, hesitating to remove it or not. "Would it be rude to remove a rose for the deceased?" asked herself without doing anything and returning her arm to its position.
Applejack sighed, looking at the tombstones with a lost look. "Should I act soft with Belle or should I continue to act tough with her? What reasons are there... I've already told you what happened," said, making some gestures with her hand. "But not overdoing it."
She fell silent thinking for a bit. "I don't think anything else with her will affect my relationship with Dash... What's the worst that could happen?" letting out a laugh.
She fell silent again with her eyes closed for a few seconds and finally, Applejack stood up and looked at the tombstones. "Thanks for listening to me, mom, dad... it seems I needed to be a little honest," she concluded with a firm voice. "I know I'll find the answer to some of my problems, one way or another."
Before leaving, she leaned down and placed a hand on the ground, feeling the cold marble under her fingers. "I promise I'll be back soon," said in a whisper before getting up and walking back to her truck.
As she walked away, the wind blew softly again, a quiet sigh through the trees, and for a moment, Applejack could almost imagine her parents were there, smiling and reassuring her that everything would be okay.
Author's Note
I wasn't sure about leaving any clues about the breakup (even though I didn't give much of anything away) but considering that the following flashbacks, despite being nice moments, also include not so nice moments, I decided to add it through the Crusaders.
As you saw, I put the singer Taylor Swift. When I go through bad times and what happens now between Applejack and Rarity, I hear sad songs and I realized that some of them, in some way, are close to what happened, so I came up with the idea of introducing it and it will help reveal certain things about the relationship.
I hope you're enjoying how the plot is going so far.
It's possible that I'll be late with the next chapter, because in my country (Chile) something called the national holidays or better known as the 18th is coming up. Although, considering that I discarded some scenes by moving them to the next chapter, it's possible that it'll be sooner. That's all until next time.

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                     Broken Illusions                      
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Broken Illusions
Monday had arrived with its usual frenetic pace. The students were returning to their respective classrooms after a weekend that, for some, had been more relaxing than for others. The campus was full of energy, with the sound of conversations mixing with the echo of hurried footsteps through the hallways.
Applejack, as usual, had arrived early for her morning classes. Her friends were also busy in their major classrooms: Twilight in the lab, Sunset with her art projects, Rainbow Dash perfecting her sports techniques, Pinkie Pie somewhere in the baking classroom or another related one, and finally, Fluttershy in some subject related to animal care.
After two intense classes, the farmer was now in her third period: Physics.
The teacher, Dr. Quantum, was standing in front of the blackboard, explaining how heat and energy influence the properties of construction materials.
"As they build more complex structures, they must consider how temperature changes and heat transfer will affect the materials. Thermal expansions, for example, are crucial to prevent cracks or failures in the structure over time. A material may seem strong at room temperature, but under the heat of summer or the extreme cold of winter, its properties change."
Applejack nodded as she took notes, remembering how, on the farm, they always made sure to take the weather into account when building anything additional. She knew this knowledge would be vital for her future projects, both in the field and off.
"Well-designed structures need to be able to adapt to these conditions. That's why understanding thermal conductivity and thermal expansion is key," the professor continued to explain. "It's not just about choosing a good material, but knowing how it will behave under different circumstances. Applied physics will allow them to make these calculations and ensure the durability of their constructions."
Despite being somewhat exhausted, she paid attention and continued taking notes.
The class progressed and the blonde tried to concentrate, but she couldn't stop her mind from wandering from time to time. The feeling still persisted, although it was less than last week. There was something about this class, about this teaching, that made her feel like she could start handling things better.
The minutes passed and the teacher ended the class, so Applejack headed to the cafeteria to meet her friends. She found them in line, and although they didn't have a full lunch on Mondays, that didn't mean they couldn't eat something light. As she walked to the short line to get something before training, her gaze was lost for a moment in the bustle of the cafeteria.
Just then, a certain girl was approaching the line, but suddenly stopped some distance away.
The seven girls exchanged glances. Some didn't know how to react to the situation, while Pinkie raised a hand and waved effusively. Rarity returned the greeting with a slight smile.
The dressmaker looked undecided, as if she didn't know if she should join the line behind them or wait to the side until it cleared. The dilemma kept her motionless for a few seconds.
The line moved forward, and it was the girls' turn. That was when Applejack made a decision. She glanced at Rarity out of the corner of her eye, noticing her indecision.
With an almost imperceptible sigh, the farmer took a small step to the side and, without looking at her directly, nodded towards the counter, making it clear that she could go before her.
The curly-haired girl, surprised by the gesture, as well as the five girls behind Applejack, hesitated for a moment. Her eyes briefly met the farmer's, but none of them said a word. Finally, Rarity bowed her head slightly in gratitude and moved towards the counter.
"Thank you..."
The farmer didn't answer, while the dressmaker helped herself to a cupcake.
As they left the line, Rarity couldn't help but think that, although small, Applejack's gesture was a sign that, perhaps, things could improve between them despite the words that didn't help her concentrate over the weekend.
The girls found that interaction curious, if it could be called that, and met the blonde's gaze. Before they could speak, the farmer opened her mouth:
"I didn't want another meeting that ended in an argument over the buildup of my emotions," she explained in a neutral tone.
"At least you acknowledge that you were wrong the other day," Pinkie commented with a smile, as she watched Rarity walk away with her cupcake. "Wait... is she going to her table?" thought intrigued. "I know she doesn't have lunch... But she wasn't here last week. Hmmm..."  
"Maybe I went too far," admitted, not realizing that the party girl was distracted by her own thoughts.
"Well, at least they didn't take you out of context, since some people didn't even understand what really happened," Rainbow said thoughtfully.
"At the very least, they're saying that you don't like the new girl or that you two don't get along," Twilight added.
Applejack crossed her arms, frowning slightly. "Finally, they're saying something real."
Fluttershy, in her soft tone, cautiously intervened: "Is this just about Rainbow, or is it about something else?"
"What do you mean?" Sunset asked before the farmer did.
"It just seems like this isn't just about what happened," she timidly hinted. "Part of your frustration has to do with Belle?"
The farmer frowned, her expression hardening. Unintentionally, she scared Fluttershy a little, who hid behind Twilight.
"Okay, it's possible..." Rainbow intervened, putting a hand on the blonde's shoulder and pointing with the other at the pink-haired girl. "...but don't look at her like that."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," she apologized.
Sunset changed the subject to ease the tension. "Well, the important thing is that you look better now. Eating something and training will surely help you relax more."
Once they had eaten something, especially the three girls on the team, they headed to the locker room to change, followed by Twilight and Fluttershy, who again decided to stay.
The afternoon sun was still high, bathing the soccer field in a warm golden light. The cones were already scattered in a line in front of them, ready to be dodged. The atmosphere was relaxed, although competition was always present when Rainbow Dash and Applejack got involved.
"Come on, girls! I want to see speed!" the multicolored girl shouted, with a defiant smile as she adjusted the elastic band on her forehead. "Let's see if you can keep up with me."
The red-haired girl, used to her friends' rivalries, smiled as she prepared herself at the starting line. Sometimes these competitions could be intense, but today the mood was more relaxed.
"It's not a race, Dash," reminded him as she adjusted her sneakers.
Applejack, finishing tying her hair into a high ponytail, cast a determined look at her partner. "Of course it isn't... but if it was, you know who would win."
Rainbow laughed. "Whatever you say, Blondie. Let's see what you're made of."
At Spitfire's signal, the team charged toward the cones. The athlete, with her natural speed, was the first to dodge them, sliding between the obstacles as if they were part of her body. The granger, on the other hand, opted for a stronger and more controlled approach, relying on her balance and power to keep up without losing stability.
Sunset, true to her meticulous style, advanced with calculated steps, although sometimes her feet slipped slightly on the grass. Lyra, Gilda, and the rest of the team followed close behind, encouraged by the competition.
"Watch your feet, Sunset!" Lyra yelled from behind as she saw the redhead almost trip over a cone.
"Got it," she replied, regaining her balance and accelerating to keep up.
Rainbow, always looking out for her friends, smiled smugly at how close she was to the finish line. But Applejack wasn't about to let her partner overtake her so easily. With one last effort, the farm girl accelerated, getting dangerously close to her.
"Not so fast, Dash!" she made a quick movement with her foot, moving ahead of her at the last cone.
The athlete frowned, determined not to be left behind. She accelerated to the maximum, turning quickly at the last obstacle, but the blonde had already taken the lead.
"That's cheating!" exclaimed Rainbow between laughs, knowing full well that everything had been fair.
"It's just using my strength," Applejack said with a triumphant grin, crossing the finish line just seconds before Rainbow.
Sunset arrived shortly after, panting but smiling. "Phew... you two don't know when to give up."
The multicolored girl, though defeated by seconds, let out a laugh as she crouched down to catch her breath. "Well... maybe AJ has her moments."
Applejack shrugged. "It was just a little luck... and a little skill," added, satisfied with her victory.
The coach blew her whistle, drawing the team's attention. "Okay, girls! Now we're going to work on ball control and passing. I want accuracy. Remember, whoever controls the ball, controls the game."
The athlete jumped up, quickly regaining her energy. "That's a piece of cake!"
Sunset, still breathing hard, rolled her eyes with a smile. "Always so confident."
Applejack nodded, remembering the last game. "This is going to help us against the Shadowbolts. They're not going to take the ball away from us this time."
"Exactly," Spitfire added in a firm tone. "Now, each of you with a ball. I want you to practice those shots until Bon Bon can't stop any of them!"
The entire team responded with energy. "Yes, Coach!"
Pinkie Pie, with her usual enthusiasm, was on her way to meet up with the rest of her friends and watch them practice. She was walking down the aisles, skipping with energy, when she noticed her curly friend, who seemed distracted, flipping through some papers as she headed down another aisle.
"Rarity!" exclaimed, stopping in front of her with a grin from ear to ear.
The seamstress looked up, somewhat surprised to see her friend. "Oh, hello, Pinkie. What brings you here with so much energy?"
"I'm going to watch the Wondercolts practice! You know, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Sunset are there! I thought I'd invite you to come with me," said with sparkling eyes, bouncing slightly on her feet.
Rarity frowned slightly, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. "I don't think that's a good idea..."
"Oh, come on, Rarity!" insisted, giving her a light push on the arm. "You don't have to talk to anyone if you don't want to, we're just going to watch the practice! Besides, it's always more fun when we're together."
The seamstress hesitated, looking in the direction that led to the court. She wasn't sure if it would be the wisest thing to do, but Pinkie's enthusiasm was hard to resist.
"Okay... but just for a little while," finally agreed, though her voice sounded a little resigned.
"Great! Let's go!" The party girl took her by the arm and led her to the court with an infectious energy.
As she arrived at the court, she saw that some students were already sitting in the stands. From a distance, Rarity spotted Twilight and Fluttershy, who were also there, calmly watching the practice even though the pink-haired girl seemed to be reading her book at first.
Pinkie, noticing her friend's discomfort, shook her head quickly. "You're not leaving! We'll sit a little apart."
"Fine..." sighed, though she still felt a little unsure.
The two of them settled into the stands, both far away from and close to their two friends. The dressmaker sat rather stiffly, while the party girl, as always, was relaxed and cheerful.
Twilight and Fluttershy, though focused on training, couldn't help but notice the arrival of Pinkie and Rarity. They exchanged curious glances. Neither of them commented.
"See? This isn't so bad," whispered, leaning toward the wavy-haired one with a knowing smile.
Rarity let out a small laugh, relaxing a little more. "I guess not."
The Wondercolts' training continued, filling the air with the sound of plays and cheers of encouragement.
"According to what the headmistress said, the game will be postponed to January, right?" Rarity commented thoughtfully.
"Yeah, that's what she said," the party girl replied blankly.
"Don't you think it wouldn't be fair? They're facing the Shadowbolts and the final tests are waiting for them the next day," she added, sounding worried.
"Uh..." Pinkie tried to come up with an answer.
Fluttershy closed her book, feeling the need to speak. "They might move it to February," said, looking up a couple of steps.
Rarity looked back at her. "Ah, that makes sense."
Twilight looked at the pink-haired girl curiously, taking a deep breath before speaking. "It happened last year for another reason," commented, not taking her eyes off the field.
The seamstress's eyes widened slightly, surprised by the unexpected answer. "Funny... they didn't move it for me."
"It's possible that since you studied online, they decided it would be normal for you," the bespectacled girl replied, this time giving her a brief glance.
Rarity just nodded.
After that slight interaction, the three of them returned to their training. Pinkie smiled, considering that little chat as another step forward.
At the end of the training, the students began to come down from the stands.
Fluttershy and Twilight took a few steps, but the blue-haired girl suddenly stopped. "Look, Applejack and Sunset are coming..." She couldn't finish the sentence when she heard a boom.
The pink-haired girl had tripped over her friend's foot and fell to the ground, her book flying a few meters away.
The two friends who were coming, seeing what had happened, quickly approached.
"Fluttershy!" the blue-haired girl exclaimed, worried.
The animal lover raised her head and, to her surprise, saw Rarity right in front of her. For an instant, she imagined two students between the dressmaker, remembering past moments.
Three Years Ago: Summer; weeks after the start of classes  
Fluttershy walked down the hallway on side A, hugging her books. She was going to meet the three girls she met a few days ago: the genius girl, the cheerful girl, and the redhead. She walked with her head down, trying to go unnoticed, but two students behind her intentionally pushed her.
The pink-haired girl tripped, and her books fell to the floor with a loud crash. The students laughed amongst themselves, as she felt her face flush with embarrassment and humiliation.
"What's wrong, girl? You should watch where you walk," one of them said disdainfully.
"Yeah, do you think that because you're the pretty girl the books will obey you?" the other added with a mocking smile.
None of the few students passing by did anything, which made the girl feel bad. How she wished her multi-colored friend was at her school and defended her like she has done other times.
"So chivalrous," said a female voice that stopped in front of them.
The three of them looked up. But the two boys were taken aback by the beauty of the girl who had just arrived.
"Oh, hello," one of them said, a flirtatious hint in his voice.
"What brings you here, beauty?" asked the other.
"They're blocking my way," the girl replied, glancing at the two before turning her attention to the pink-haired girl.
"Don't pay attention to that useless girl," one of the boys said, noticing the elegant girl staring at the pink-haired girl.
"You're right," the wavy-haired girl replied.
That comment made Fluttershy feel a little bad, lowering her gaze even further.
"But, if you don't mind, I'd like to come in. Unless, of course, you'd prefer your names to reach certain ears," continued, with a fake smile. "So, why don't you two get lost over there?"
The students exchanged nervous glances before quickly walking away, not saying another word.
Fluttershy looked up, surprised. She had heard about the sophisticated girl, but she hadn't expected her to do that.
With a slight smirk, the girl looked down at the ground, bent down to pick up one of the books, and offered her a hand. Though hesitant, the pink-haired girl ended up accepting the hand to get up.
"Th-thank you," murmured.
The wavy-haired girl nodded. "You shouldn't let them treat you like that, dear," she said in a soft but firm voice, looking into her eyes as she handed her the book.
Fluttershy, still shocked, took the book and murmured, "I don't know if I could."
"You could trick them into thinking they'll fall for your trick, then 'touché' them in the end," suggested.
"It seems complicated... That's what you just did, right? For a moment I thought you were going to leave me on the floor."
"I could have done it, but... where is fair?"
The pink haired girl's eyes widened. "Thank you... You're Rarity, aren't you?"
"That's right, nice to meet you, Fluttershy."
"You know me?" she asked, surprised.
"We've shared a few classes," Rarity replied.
"I know, but I thought you wouldn't know my name because... because... Nevermind," Fluttershy said shyly.
"Honey, let's work on it," she said with a confident smile.
"On what?"
"Nevermind, you'll see in time," the seamstress said. "Shall we?" added, pointing down the hallway.
"Sure, though I was going to meet up with some girls," Fluttershy said.
"Hmm, are they trustworthy?" the seamstress thought. "It's nice to meet new people, I'd like to meet them."
"Okay," replied without much question.
The two began walking as Rarity began to chat.
Elsewhere, Applejack was walking around the courtyard, looking at her phone. She had agreed to meet her partner, but a few minutes had passed, so she decided to look for her in the hallway or at the entrance. Finally, she decided to go to the entrance.
"Have you considered using some words of encouragement for yourself?" the seamstress asked as they approached the entrance.
"For myself?" the pink-haired girl asked, still surprised to have her by her side.
"Yeah, like..." replied, thinking of some phrase. "I know I can handle this test, she won't beat me."
"Hmm, I have a friend outside of school who does the same thing," Fluttershy commented.
Before she could continue speaking, a voice the seamstress knew interrupted her.
"Rarity, there you were."
Fluttershy opened her eyes when she saw the farmer, since she had seen her a couple of times in the hallways.
"Jack— AJ, sorry for keeping you waiting," apologized, looking at her.
"Okay," Applejack replied with an understanding smile, then turned her gaze to the pink-haired girl. "And you, uh... partner or maybe friend?" asked curiously.
Rarity smiled. "I don't know if I should call her that... yet. Her name is Fluttershy."
"Hello," she greeted shyly.
"Hello, my name is Applejack," the farmer introduced herself, and turned her gaze to the curly-haired girl. "I knew you would, but I wasn't expecting your choice."
Rarity had been drawn to the pink-haired girl. She had seen her from afar when she was being bullied and noticed that no one did anything about it, even she herself was about to follow like everyone else, but she understood that one does not change on one's own.
"Yeah, well... I was walking through the halls and I saw that they were bullying her," commented, looking at the farmer and then at the animal lover.
"Yeah, and thanks again for that," said.
Applejack smiled at the seamstress. "You make me prouder and prouder," said, giving her a kiss on the temple, and her partner laughed at the tender gesture.
This surprised Fluttershy a little.
"Sorry about that," the farmer said when she saw the look on the pink-haired girl's face.
"Don't worry... erm... you... umm," the shy girl said, not very sure, but she made a sign with her fingers. The two understood.
"Yes, she's my girlfriend," Rarity affirmed, hugging the farmer's arm. The blonde smiled.
Near the main door of the institute, Sunset and Twilight nodded at everything Pinkie Pie said, despite not understanding much due to her energetic way of speaking.
"And that's how the house was scattered because of one more ingredient," finished telling.
"Wow, so you were trying to make a cake for the first time and it exploded," Sunset commented, a little incredulous.
"Yeah, it was so exciting."
"Uh-huh," Twilight nodded slowly, equally incredulous. "Fluttershy's kind of taking a while," added, checking the time.
"That's true," the red-haired girl said.
"She's sure to be here soon," the party girl said.
The girls looked around until they noticed three figures at a close distance, recognizing one that stood out.
"Isn't that Rarity Belle?" Twilight asked, surprised to see her with the pink-haired girl.
"That's right, it's Rarity. I've seen her a couple of times," Sunset said, equally surprised.
Pinkie jumped up and down excitedly, as she had in mind to introduce the dressmaker and the blonde, and knowing that they already knew them somehow gave her an advantage. "Uhh, let's see what happens," said, starting to walk, and the other two followed her.
"Hey girls, hello, Fluttershy!" the party girl greeted, already close to the three girls.
"Pinkie Pie," Fluttershy said.
"Pinkie!?" the other two exclaimed.
"I'm not surprised you know Pinkie Pie," the red-haired girl commented with a smile.
"Still... it's funny," the girl with glasses added.
"Ha ha, she's actually my cousin," Applejack replied, a little nervously.
"Your cousin?" the three asked in unison.
"Distant relatives," Rarity clarified.
"Ah, that makes more sense," Twilight said.
"I said the same thing too," the seamstress added, smiling. "I'm Rarity Belle, by the way, though you can just call me Rarity."
"Sunset Shimmer," the red-haired girl introduced herself.
The blue-haired girl stared curiously at the seamstress, receiving a slight nudge from her friend. "Ah, uh... Twilight Sparkle."
"Nice to meet you," Rarity said, waving her hand. "And this young lady here..." she looked at the blonde.
"Sorry, I'm Applejack," the farmer introduced herself.
"Hello," the two greeted.
"AJ, you were almost left halfway," the curly-haired girl murmured, almost pouting.
"Sorry, I was surprised by such an unexpected... meeting?" Applejack said, looking at the girls.
Sunset, Twilight, and Fluttershy looked at the seamstress. Their perception of her was totally different from how she was interacting now.
"The world is so small," Pinkie exclaimed with a smile. "Who would have thought that the six of us would be here together?"
They all looked at each other with a smile, while Fluttershy thought about her absent friend, wondering if they would get along with the others.
Applejack smiled especially at her partner. She seemed to be happy about what was happening to her. Fluttershy saw how she took her hand, giving it a squeeze, they seemed to say something to each other through their gaze.
This day was unexpected for the pink-haired girl, as she didn't expect to meet other people. With the idea of her multi-colored friend being present, she imagined that the seven of them would have a great friendship.
Fluttershy blinked a few times, dazed, as she watched the seamstress kneeling in front of her, offering her a hand. Although her gesture was kind, she couldn't help but notice a small hesitation in Rarity's eyes, as if she herself was unsure of her own action.
"You should watch where you put your foot or you might hurt yourself," said, as she helped the pink-haired girl to her feet.
Fluttershy nodded slowly, still a little dazed.
The seamstress then turned around, meeting the gazes of Applejack and Sunset, who had already arrived. She couldn't read whether those gazes were of approval, which only increased her discomfort. Without saying anything else, she began to walk.
"Are you okay, Flutters? You didn't hit your head, did you?" Pinkie asked, worriedly as she examined her from head to toe.
"I'm so sorry, Fluttershy. I shouldn't have stopped like that," Twilight said, her voice full of concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine," murmured absentmindedly, but her attention was still on the figure of the dressmaker already walking away. A part of her felt a strange sense of nostalgia.
Rainbow walked over, briefly passing by Rarity where they exchanged glances before approaching her friend. "Hey, Fluttershy, what happened?" asked, quickly bending down to pick up the book that still lay on the floor.
Fluttershy took the book, but was barely able to look at her friend. Her mind was still fixed on Rarity, who was now lost.
Once they explained what happened and calmed down, the three members of the team went to change to continue the conversation before saying goodbye for the next day.
The walk back home was quiet. Upon arriving, she greeted her family, smiling as she passed through the kitchen. Once she went upstairs and greeted her brother, she entered her room, closing the door behind her.
She dropped onto her bed with a long sigh, her backpack still on the floor. She was exhausted, but not from classes or studying, but from the weight of memories that were beginning to flood over her. She closed her eyes for a moment, but the image of Rarity, kneeling in front of her, offering her hand, did not fade.
The stumble that day brought back the memory of when she thought the seven of them would still be together, an illusion of that moment, and now things were different. Although Rarity was best known for her style and elegance, the dressmaker had a unique way of offering her advice.
"My dear, confidence is not just about how you look, but about how you feel about yourself," she remembered Rarity telling her after one of their many talks about how difficult it was to fit in or speak confidently.
Fluttershy looked up at the ceiling of her room, her thoughts spinning back to the memory of when she first met her and what happened today. The Rarity she had seen looked like a different version of the one she remembered. Although she still maintained that characteristic elegance, there was something about the way she acted that was different.
She fondly remembered how the seamstress would sometimes help her with advice on how to feel more confident, encouraging her to be more open and not let her shyness hold her back. Her five friends had also supported her in that, but Rarity also contributed to it.
Now, however, everything seemed so distant. "Will it be possible for things to go back to the way they were?" she wondered. "I would like to talk to her, but what will the girls say? Especially Dash."
She didn't know what to do, maybe the answers would come with time. Or maybe she would just have to accept that some things change forever.
The next day, the girls were in class, following the teacher's instructions as they did various stretches. Spitfire had now asked each student to perform the assisted handstand, an exercise that required the support of peers.
Applejack and Trixie held their classmates' feet as, one by one, they crossed to the other side after several attempts, successful or failed.
Twilight was next, almost losing her balance when her glasses fell off while she was upside down. Fortunately, both Applejack and Trixie helped her land softly on the mat.
Next was Fluttershy, who, although nervous, managed to successfully cross to the other side. Then it was Rainbow Dash's turn, who with a sign made them move aside.
"Watch," said confidently.
She took a step back, raised her arms, and with a strong push, landed upside down in a perfect handstand. She held the position for a few seconds before lowering herself with control, leaning on the mat and landing on her feet. Some of her classmates praised her, while others rolled their eyes.
"This is how it's done," commented with a half-smile.
Professor Spitfire came over with her paper tablet, taking notes. "As always, well done," said with a smile.
The multi-colored girl smiled proudly.
"But remember that this is a team exercise," the teacher added.
"Oh, come on," Rainbow said, a little frustrated.
"Just because you did well I won't deduct points from you this time," Spitfire said, before walking away to take a good look at the rest. "Next!"
"I still won," muttered, as she walked over to where her friends were.
The party girl came over with a little skip. "Are you going to want support or do you want to show off?" Trixie asked with her arms crossed.
"Nah, it's not my thing, but I think I could do it," replied with a wide grin. "Besides, like the teacher said, this is work..."
"As a team," Applejack finished, getting into position to catch Pinkie's feet, along with Trixie.
The party girl raised her arms and pushed off, and her feet were caught by the girls. Pinkie held the position for a few seconds and with help, landed softly on the mat, lying down.
"Okay, next," the teacher indicated.
Now it was Rarity's turn, who was not exactly known for her physical abilities. The seamstress approached, giving Applejack a brief glance. Despite the tensions between them, she knew she could trust her. She raised her arms, pushed off, and stood in the handstand position, while her classmates held her up.
With a focused face, Rarity struggled to keep her balance.
"Looks like she's doing it," Pinkie commented excitedly, as she watched.
Fluttershy nodded and looked at Twilight, with whom she was talking.
Suddenly, as the seamstress adjusted her balance, her shirt slid down slightly, revealing her torso a bit.
"Oh, the girl sure has them," she heard a student mutter.
"I think she's one of mine," another classmate said.
"Ahg!" Rarity exclaimed, irritated by some of her classmates' comments, though she was glad that they were mostly girls and that the boys were on the other side of the court.
Applejack and Trixie, listening around, looked down to understand the reason, but were a bit surprised by what was happening to the seamstress.
"Could you please...?" Before she could finish her sentence, her left foot was released.
"What are you doing!?" the gray-haired girl exclaimed, trying to help the seamstress land safely, drawing more attention from several of her classmates.
Rarity, now lying on the mattress, frowned when she saw that it was Applejack who had let go of her. She noticed that the farm girl was staring at the wall with her head down, avoiding eye contact.
She stood up, brushing her hands off in irritation, and walked over to her. "What the hell is wrong with you?" asked, with a mix of confusion and irritation.
Applejack turned slightly before looking back at the wall, frowning. "Nothing's wrong with me."
Rarity crossed her arms, exasperated. "Then why did you let go of me? Nothing's wrong with you."
The farm girl took a deep breath and finally looked at her, placing her hands on her hips. "I just... got distracted."
The dressmaker narrowed her eyes. "Distracted by what? Did you think I could hold myself up by hand?"
"Of course you wouldn't," mocked, laughing.
"Yeah, because I don't have your muscles," Rarity grumbled, annoyed.
"Don't go with that," said with an indifferent look. "My mind is somewhere else, that's all."
"I thought the exit made it better," the seamstress thought, a little worried. "Then you should put that aside and focus on not letting me down with your strong muscles."
Applejack frowned, noticing the sarcasm and opened her mouth to respond.
"What did this muscle thing lead to?" Sunset wondered, raising an eyebrow.
"No idea," Twilight commented, shrugging her shoulders.
Fluttershy didn't say anything at first, unsure if she had seen correctly, as the farmer's reaction, even though she only saw her in profile, was curious to her. She shook her head slightly before opening her mouth, having heard what her friends said.
"I don't want to sound mean, but... luckily it didn't happen to me," commented quietly, fidgeting nervously with her hands.
"It seems Rarity wasn't too bothered by it, just what AJ did," Pinkie said, cocking her head.
"Or what she didn't do," Rainbow added, looking at Fluttershy. "And don't worry, if it had happened to you, I would have covered you up." Her friend smiled. "Though, worst case scenario, if it had happened, I would have complimented you on your figure."
"Oh, Rainbow," the blue-haired girl exclaimed, gently hitting her forehead at the comment.
The multicolored girl's eyes widened as she realized her own words, blushing along with the pink-haired girl. "What I mean is that it would have made the comments not sound offensive," she quickly clarified. "It's not like I've ever seen her with nothing on," thought, blushing even more as she tried to explain further.
As the dressmaker and the farmer continued to argue, the teacher approached.
"Enough. Applejack, you need to be more focused. This is a team exercise. Apologize to your partner and then get in line."
The blonde nodded, trying to keep her expression as neutral as possible. "I'm sorry... Rarity. It won't happen again."
Rarity, with her arms crossed, looked at her for a moment before sighing. "Okay... But seriously, stay focused or else I'll ask for another partner." said a little calmer.
Applejack nodded again. "That's the best idea you could ever come up with."
"Oh, seriously, I don't understand you... One day you act nice and the next you don't," the girl reproached, adopting an annoyed tone again.
"Don't confuse things, the other day was nothing," replied indifferently.
Rarity looked at her, feeling a knot in her stomach that saddened her, but she tried to hide it behind her serious and angry facade. "You're the worst."
"I have almost the same thought," said the farmer, sketching a half smile.
The seamstress lowered her gaze. "I wonder what I saw..." muttered without finishing when she realized what she was going to say.
"You saw what?" asked without much interest.
"Nothing," Rarity answered before turning around and walking away to where Lyra and Bon Bon were.
Applejack, when she saw her leave, put on a slightly relaxed expression, letting out a sigh that she had been holding back, and went to her friends.
When she got close enough, she saw Rainbow explaining something to Fluttershy, although she didn't know the exact reason.
"It's okay, Rainbow, I understand, don't worry," said the pink-haired girl, slowly returning to her natural tone.
"Whew, great. I didn't mean to sound like that," said, raising her head.
When the girls noticed the farm girl's presence, they looked at her.
"I was wrong, wasn't I?" asked, grimacing.
"Hey... if any of us had been in that position, we could have fallen off the mattress and gotten hurt... That's all I'll say," Rainbow commented.
"Long story short, you were wrong," Twilight added.
"What happened to you?" Sunset asked.
"Nothing, I just got distracted," Applejack replied, putting a hand on her neck.
Fluttershy looked at her for a few seconds. "Are you sure it was just that?"
The blonde looked at her with a confused expression. "I still have a lot on my mind. What else would it be?"
"You're right," said, not quite sure.
"Fine, but next time be careful around Rarity," Pinkie warned, narrowing her eyes before smiling again.
"Uh, yeah, sure," Applejack replied, faking a smile. "I'm supposed to feel a little better, but I let go for some reason,"  thought, frowning.
She looked at Fluttershy and Rainbow, wanting to see if something in their interaction made her have certain memories, but they weren't doing anything. The pink-haired girl was looking at her thoughtfully, though, as if something was going through her mind.
She turned her gaze to Rarity, who was talking to Lyra and Bon Bon. More than talking, they seemed to be listening to the seamstress, who looked annoyed by what she was saying. "I went too far again," thought in frustration.
The animal lover looked at Applejack from behind and looked away at Rainbow. No doubt, what she saw reminded her of something she had decided not to say, leaving her thoughtful at the memory.
The class continued with the stretches until it ended, and the students headed to the dressing rooms to change.
Rarity walked out the backstage door with her bag over her shoulder, the echo of her footsteps resonating in the nearly empty hallway. As she turned the corner, she found a brown-haired boy leaning against the wall, staring at the floor with a thoughtful expression. When he looked up and saw her, he straightened up with a smile.
"Freather? What are you doing here?" asked in surprise, her voice tinged with a tiredness she barely managed to conceal.
"Hello, Rarity. I heard what happened," he replied, approaching her with an air of concern mixed with drama. "If I had been there, I would have definitely done something," added, waving his hands as if he were rehearsing a speech.
The seamstress raised an eyebrow, giving a small, wry smile. "Oh, yeah? And what exactly would you have done?"
Freather smiled confidently. "Oh, you know... I would have given a glare or maybe a speech about respect and decency," said, raising a hand in a theatrical gesture.
Rarity let out a soft laugh, almost a whisper. "I imagine that would have been... quite effective."
"But now that I think about it, maybe you could use a coffee to take your mind off all this. What do you say we sneak out for a while? There's a coffee shop downtown," the boy proposed with a half-smile, suggesting an escape from the heavy atmosphere of the place.
The curly-haired boy hid a smile, looking towards the group of girls approaching. "Mmm, sounds tempting. But, Freather, how will you deal with your admirers?" asked, nodding towards the approaching girls.
"Freather, is our date still pending?" one of them asked, with a determined look.
"Uh..." tried to say, raising a finger.
"Didn't you say we were going out today?" another girl added, looking at the brunette with a mix of reproach and hope.
Freather turned his gaze towards Rarity with a nervous expression and then towards the girls. "Girls... Sure, come on, come on. I promise we'll work it out," he said, winking at Rarity before starting to walk with the girls.
The seamstress observed the scene with a mix of amusement and resignation. "I told you so," Pinkie commented, appearing behind the seamstress with a giggle. "He has so many and he can't decide."
"Yeah, I noticed. I was just seeing how far it would go," replied, starting to walk alongside her friend.
"So, how do you feel after what happened in class?" asked curiously.
Rarity grimaced, adjusting the strap of her bag. "You mean the time I was flashed or when your cousin decided to let go of my foot?" asked, a hint of bitterness in her voice.
"Heh heh, well, Applejack... I don't know what happened to her, but I'm sure it won't happen again," the party girl said, trying to justify herself. "And I meant that we saw a bit of your torso... although from where we were, we only managed to see your back."
"I thought it was better," Rarity said, stopping and looking at the party girl.
"Well, what we've seen so far seems to be improving. But letting go of you was unexpected," said, stopping as well.
"I don't want to repeat myself, but it seems like this has nothing to do with what happened with the girls, it's something else, something that has to do with me... Every time she makes me see her in a different way," said the seamstress, crestfallen, crossing her arms. "She once said something to me... about letting go," said, looking away at the ground.
"Seeing her in a different way? About letting go?" asked, intrigued and looking at her intently.
"Nothing..." Rarity said, letting out a sigh. "I just trusted her and she let me go," added, starting to walk again. "Like she did in the past..." murmured, hoping her friend wouldn't hear.
Despite her efforts, Pinkie managed to listen. "Will she talk about the day they broke up?" thought, getting a little lost in her thoughts as they walked.
"And about what you said," she said, bringing the party girl out of her thoughts.
"What thing?" asked, with a confused expression.
"About how I felt," replied.
"Ah, right... that was my question," the cheerful girl said, regaining focus.
"It was a little embarrassing, but at least I'm glad there were only girls around," Rarity said, fixing her hair with an automatic gesture. "The comments weren't that inappropriate."
"Er... a silver lining," Pinkie commented, with a doubtful grimace. "But... they might start with..."
"Gossip?" the curly-haired girl quickly deduced.
The party girl nodded. "I don't know what's going on this year, rumors just pop up about anything. They used to be occasional," said, surprised.
"Lyra mentioned it to me too, but I guess since we're adults now, we make more mistakes than we can take advantage of," Rarity commented.
"And what do you think they'll say this time? Will they comment on your figure or go further?" Pinkie asked, with a worried expression.
"I'm fine with them talking about my looks and not anything more... suggestive," replied, with a resigned grimace.
"If you put it that way, it sounds better," said, trying to be optimistic.
Suddenly, a girl near the lockers approached with a mischievous smile. "You don't look half bad, though!"
"Let me guess, have you gotten the rumors yet?" Pinkie asked with her signature smirk.
"No, I'm in their class, but they're already saying some things," the girl admitted, smirking.
"So fast?!" Rarity exclaimed, frowning slightly. She moved closer, looking at the pink and white haired girl. "Were you the one who mentioned 'you're one of my kinds' or maybe...?"
"You have a good ear," she interrupted and winked at her. "And yes, you are, although it doesn't seem like you're going that way."
"Why does everyone think that?" the seamstress thought, somewhat annoyed. "Well, everyone has their tastes," replied politely, not revealing much about her preferences.
"Let me know if you ever change your flag," the girl said, lifting Rarity's chin with a finger before walking away with a playful smile.
"Wow!" Pinkie exclaimed, watching the girl walk away before looking back at her friend. "I think this is the first time I've seen a girl flirt with you."
Rarity cleared her throat a little before answering. "When I was hanging out with girls outside of town, I had to be the flirtatious one," said before walking back to the party girl's side.
"When you were with... you know who, you both said things to each other the same way. But why were you the one doing it more outside of town?" asked, before processing what the purple haired girl had just said. "Wait, did you say girls?"
"Well, I don't seem to, but yeah, when things ended, I went back to my old ways, it was more girls than boys," commented with a smile.
"Wow, so you went that route, huh?" Pinkie said, giving her a friendly nudge.
"Yeah, though I'd let one or three dates go by before I told them I didn't want anything more," Rarity said. "That's why I compare myself to Freather. Whether it was guys or girls, I made it clear to them about going out."
"I see."
"Obviously, I've always been careful with other people's feelings, so I try to be gentle when telling them what I think," she explained. "If Freather ever considered girls' feelings, I might take it seriously. But I've already decided I won't be dating anyone this year."
"Considering Freather a bit?" Pinkie asked, with a flirtatious smile. "And no dates this year?!"
"Pinkie, we're in our senior year and we've been given job after job, and midterms haven't even started yet," Rarity replied, raising her eyebrows.
"You're right, but... I'm just saying, if something happens and someone catches your eye, would you break that rule you set for yourself?"
The seamstress thought about it for a moment. "Anything can happen."
The two stopped talking and continued walking in silence, but the party girl was a little thoughtful.
Pinkie lowered her head a little, hesitant. "Hey, Rarity..." she began, receiving a curious look, waiting for her to continue. "As your friend, and from the little you've told me, I've come to some conclusions about the things you did outside of town and I took one, but I was hoping you'd confirm it."
The seamstress raised an eyebrow. "You seem to be getting a little off track, unless it's because of..."
"No, don't worry, it's not about your passion, I'm already clear that you won't tell me unless you want to," replied, moving her hands in a reassuring gesture. "It's something more... personal."
"So..." Rarity said, intrigued, noticing the seriousness in the cheerful girl's voice. "What do you want to know?"
Pinkie took a deep breath before speaking. She knew what she was going to ask was delicate. "After you left town and obviously ended the relationship... On some of your short-term outings, was there ever a time when you tried something serious again?"
Rarity paused, thoughtful. Her gaze drifted to the floor as she reminisced. "Well, there were a couple of times that were... interesting," said, choosing her words carefully. "But none of them ever quite turned out to be... the right person. It's not that I haven't met some lovely people, but I just didn't feel a genuine connection."
The party girl smiled sympathetically, her expression softening. "I understand. Sometimes, finding someone we really fit with can take time. I'm sure that when the time comes, the right person will show up," she said, giving her arm a gentle squeeze.
"Thank you, Pinkie," Rarity replied with a genuine smile, feeling a comforting warmth in her friend's gesture. "And if someone does show up for you, I'm sure you'll know they're the one, too."
With the conversation over, they both picked up their stride.
After the first day, the students moved between classes, each focused on their own subjects. Despite not always sharing classes, the girls always found time to meet during breaks or lunch. However, something unusual was noticeable in the atmosphere: Fluttershy seemed quieter than usual.
During the first break, Twilight crossed the halls and noticed that Fluttershy, instead of chatting or reviewing her notes as usual, was sitting alone on a bench near the central courtyard, staring into space. The worried girl with glasses decided not to say anything at that moment, but the image of her friend lost in her thoughts accompanied her throughout the morning.
When lunch time finally came, the girls gathered in the cafeteria as usual, sitting around the usual table. Rainbow Dash talked animatedly about the team, while Pinkie Pie joked and gesticulated exaggeratedly to tell some crazy story. But the pink-haired girl remained silent, barely moving her food on the tray and occasionally glancing at Applejack. It was obvious that something was bothering her.
Twilight couldn't ignore it any longer. She set her glass aside and leaned over to Fluttershy, her tone full of concern. "Are you okay, Fluttershy? You've been so quiet since sport"
The shy girl, surprised by the direct question, looked up with a weak smile. "Yeah... I'm fine," murmured, though her voice didn't convince anyone.
Twilight exchanged a glance with the girls. Rainbow, who had noticed Fluttershy's behavior during the second recess and the free time they had, was also worried, but hadn't said anything.
"Wait, wait, wait! This isn't normal!" Pinkie exclaimed, her tone exaggerated but sincere. "Fluttershy hasn't laughed all day, and that's not common, not with my jokes! Something's wrong with you."
The animal lover looked down, clenching her fork in her hand. What happened on the first day had left her with an uncomfortable feeling and awakened a memory she had buried. She knew she couldn't keep it hidden anymore, but she didn't want to make the others uncomfortable. Before she could respond, Twilight stood up from her seat and extended her hand towards her.
"We can talk alone if you prefer," offered softly.
Fluttershy nodded, grateful for the chance to talk privately. She stood up and followed the bespectacled girl, leaving her friends behind.
Rainbow tried to follow them, but Sunset stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. "Let them talk," said calmly.
The athlete, visibly frustrated, asked, "Why did you stop me? I could have listened to her, helped her, whatever she's going through."
The red-haired girl sighed. "We know they're better, but they're still in the process of trusting each other. Still, I think Twilight will make her open up more easily."
Rainbow snorted, crossing her arms. "You're right... we're not quite there yet for her to tell me her concerns, despite some talks we've had."
The party girl watched curiously as her two friends left, looked away to another table, and back to her friends.
Applejack walked over to her partner and tried to reassure her. "Hey, Dash, why don't we try...?"
"Blondie, if you want that whole gesture thing, I don't think it's appropriate right now."
The farm girl frowned. "I know, I just think we could..."
"Do you want to or don't you want to?" Rainbow interrupted, clearly annoyed.
"Could you just let me finish! Now you're the one who won't let me finish," Applejack exclaimed, starting to lose her patience.
Sunset, seeing the tension rising, quickly intervened. "Girls, not here. The looks on everyone else's faces say it all," nodded and gently pressed both of their shoulders. "Right, Pinkie?" added, but when she turned around, she noticed that she was no longer there.
Applejack and Rainbow looked around, but saw no trace of their friend. "She must have followed the girls," the farmer deduced.
Twilight and Fluttershy walked away until they reached a small green area, where the noise did not reach. They sat on the grass, feeling the soft breeze and the silence of the place made the pink-haired girl feel a little more comfortable. However, when her friend turned to her, worry was still heavy in the air.
"Fluttershy, I know something is wrong," said, crossing her arms as she looked at her with serious but understanding eyes. "You can tell me whatever is bothering you."
Before she could answer, they heard a noise behind a nearby column. Twilight immediately turned around, knowing very well who was there.
"Pinkie, please get out of there," said, sighing as she rolled her eyes.
The party girl emerged from her hiding spot with a big smile, without any shame at having been discovered. "I couldn't let you two have a secret conversation without me! Besides, I'm a good listener," said as she sat down on the grass in front of them.
Fluttershy let out a small laugh, though she was still nervous, Pinkie's playful presence relaxed her a bit. Twilight, though resigned, couldn't help but smile at her friend's endless energy.
"It's okay," the blue-haired girl said, turning her attention back to her friend. "Whatever you're thinking, we're here to listen."
Pinkie nodded vigorously as she sat down. "Yes! We're here for you!"
Fluttershy took a deep breath. After a long silence, she finally looked up at her friends, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "Didn't you notice how Applejack acted in class?" asked shyly.
Her friends exchanged confused glances.
"Uh... I wasn't expecting that," Pinkie commented, intrigued.
Twilight, more serious, added, "Well, AJ's been distracted lately. Maybe that's it."
Fluttershy nodded thoughtfully. "Something about her behavior reminded me of an event long ago... something I never mentioned," confessed, her voice shaky, but determined to continue.
Twilight and Pinkie fell silent, allowing their friend to continue.
"Do you remember the meeting we had three years ago at Belle's house?"
"Oh, how could I forget?" the party girl replied with a nostalgic smile. "It was when we were all finally together."
"Yes, and we had met Dash recently, then Belle suggested that meeting," Twilight added.
Fluttershy nodded slowly. "Yeah... but what happened in class reminded me of something to do with her, Applejack, and Rainbow..."
The girls arrived at Rarity's house, and were immediately shocked at the size of the property. It had been a few weeks since the six girls had met each other, and Rainbow Dash only recently. A few days ago, when they were at the mall, Rarity had suggested a get-together at her house, insisting that they wear swimsuits, despite it being early fall. And that they also invite the younger ones to join.
The fall air was cool, with a light breeze lifting a few leaves from the ground. The sky was partly cloudy, but the sun managed to filter through the clouds.
"Wow! This is impressive," Sunset said, looking the house up and down in awe.
"You should see one of Pinkie's beach houses," Apple Bloom chimed in excitedly.
"Ha, ha, ha, yeah," the party girl laughed, wiping away a tear. "Applejack calls this a mansion, but if you compare it to my parents' beach house, it's almost like a cottage."
"From what you see on the outside it's big, but it could be totally different on the inside, maybe it's just spacious," Twilight added with her usual logic.
"Rarity tells me this a lot, but I call it 'mansion' or 'little castle'," Applejack said with a smile.
"So you call Miss Elegance 'princess'?" Rainbow teased, laughing.
"No, I don't call her that," replied.
"I knew you were one of those," the rainbow commented, leaning in a little and giving her a playful smile.
Applejack forced a smile, noticing something. "Her dad calls her that."
"That's to be expected," the rainbow said, wiping the smile off her face.
"But it's a place anyone would want to live in," Spike interrupted, admiring the house.
"You don't even have to say it," Scootaloo added, nodding.
Applejack walked over to the door and rang the bell, hoping someone would open it.
The dressmaker's father appeared at the door with a warm smile. "Girls, welcome! Rarity's finishing getting ready. You can come in and make yourself at home while she comes down."
The girls entered the living room, where they were met with subtle yet refined decor, combining cream tones, reflecting impeccable tastes. Soft lace curtains hung from the large windows, letting natural light illuminate the space, and a fireplace in one corner suggested the cozy warmth of cold days.
"Oh, you must be Rarity's friends," Cookie said, appearing from a hallway with a smile that, despite its seriousness, was friendly.
Some of the girls stood a little straight at the air of superiority emanating from their mother.
"Hey, it's a pleasure, Mrs. Belle," Sunset greeted, taking the first step.
"It's a pleasure to have you girls here. Make yourselves at home," Cookie said politely.
"Thank you, ma'am," Twilight said, as everyone nodded gratefully.
"Well, we'll leave you," Hondo said with a smile.
They both left them waiting for their daughters to come down, so the girls took the opportunity to explore the place, taking a look at the details.
"Wow," Scootaloo said, more relaxed.
"I felt that too," Spike said, crossing his arms.
"Ah, she's not so bad once you get to know her," Apple Bloom said, trying to ease the tension.
The rest listened and nodded slowly.
"Hey, Flutters, I know you said not to judge, but this..." Rainbow pointed to the place with a broad gesture.
Fluttershy, at her side, looked at her with a slight frown. "It's like you said, it's just what it looks like. I'm sure it's more than just that."
The athlete rolled her eyes and smiled slightly. "I know, I know. It's just a first impression."
The group continued exploring.
"I wonder what her room is like," Scootaloo commented, her curiosity evident.
"It's not really as big as you're imagining," Applejack said. "It does have a queen-size bed, though."
The group of older girls turned to look at her, surprised.
"Cool," the magenta-haired girl said.
"I've never been in her room, only Sweetie Belle's," Apple Bloom commented.
The three younger girls looked up, seeing the older girls' odd behavior.
Applejack immediately blushed as she noticed all the eyes on her.
"Hey, don't take it that way... when I'm in there, she shows me things... that's all," she tried to clarify. "Okay, that sounded worse than I meant it to."
The older girls made more surprised expressions.
Pinkie stepped in, helping her familiar out of the awkward moment. "Oh, I've been in her room, but I've been in her sewing room more often."
"Is something wrong?" Scootaloo asked, not understanding.
"It's not weird, is it? She's her mate, so it would be normal to go into her room," Apple Bloom said naturally. "Even Applejack has a bed like Rarity's."
The older girls nodded, calmer.
"E-even Rarity usually sleeps with her," added with all the innocence in the world.
Applejack lowered her head in complete silence, wishing the topic would change quickly. That last comment made Sunset, Twilight, and Fluttershy's eyes widen, while the pink-haired girl blushed deeply, hiding her face in the multicolored girl's shoulder. Rainbow Dash struggled to contain her laughter. Pinkie Pie, as always, didn't seem affected, seeming normal for the couple.
"Is there something we missed?" Scootaloo asked quietly to Apple Bloom and Spike.
"I don't know, I don't understand either," the green-haired girl muttered.
After a few seconds, footsteps were finally heard on the stairs, and Rarity appeared next to her sister, dressed in something lighter for the occasion.
"Girls, I'm so glad you're here!" greeted the seamstress while Sweetie Belle did the same with a smile.
"Hello," greeted the younger ones.
"Hello, Rarity," the older ones began to say, trying to cover up the previous topic.
"Let's go to the backyard," said Rarity, pointing the way.
"Let's not get lost in a possible maze," joked Rainbow. Fluttershy laughed softly and took her friend's arm.
They all began to walk towards the exit of the yard.
"I don't know if you were thinking about anything else, but this is the yard," explained the seamstress, pointing to several areas. "There's the grill; over there you can leave your things; and over there, there's an area to sunbathe when you get out of the pool."
Pointing to a side door a little out of the way, she added, "But don't go through there."
Rainbow raised an eyebrow with a smile. "What do you have, a wild dog?"
Rarity giggled. "No, that's the exit to the street. I'm more talking about his sisters or brother," said, looking at Spike, who was watching her.
"Thanks for the heads up," Twilight said, then turned to her brother. "Did you hear, Spike?"
"Spike," repeated, trying to get his attention, but he was still staring at the seamstress.
Applejack, who was nearby, approached Rarity with a smile. "Looks like I have competition," joked, placing a hand on the seamstress's shoulder. The purple-haired girl laughed softly and, in a loving gesture, placed a kiss on her partner's cheek before turning her attention back to her guests.
The farmer's smile widened as she watched her partner, but she soon discreetly walked away so as not to steal the attention.
"The door you can open is the middle one," pointed to another doorway. "That one leads to the kitchen," added. The girls nodded.
"You can put your stuff down now. We need to go get the coal," Rarity continued.
"I'll get it," Applejack said in her characteristically confident tone. "I know the house better. Anyone want to come with me?"
"I'll come with you," Sunset offered, approaching the blonde.
"Perfect," the seamstress replied with a smile.
"Okay, Spike, just get your act together," Scootaloo said, shaking him.
"Yeah, and stop looking at my sister like that," Sweetie Belle added, rolling her eyes.
"You know she's older, right?" Apple Bloom said, crossing her arms as she looked at the boy with a raised eyebrow.
Spike looked away, trying not to look too embarrassed. "I know, but she's cute," he replied.
"That sounds better than saying you like someone older," Scootaloo said.
"I didn't imply that I liked her," the green-haired boy defended himself, shrugging.
"Okay, let's go to the pool," the youngest Apple suggested.
Once the girls dropped off their stuff, they began to spread out across the yard.
"You know, I could take care of the grill," Rainbow suggested, approaching Rarity with a confident smile.
"Thanks. I was going to ask AJ."
"Nah, this girl can handle anything," the multicolored girl said, gesturing with her hands.
"Okay, I'll help you open it," Rarity said as she walked with Rainbow over to the grill.
"Wow, it's modern," she commented in surprise.
"It's not heavy, but there's a trick. You have to push something to get the lid off. If it was heavy I wouldn't be able to, but you can tell you work out, like AJ," the seamstress mentioned, as she mentioned the farmer, she couldn't help but feel a slight heat invade her face, but quickly focused on the athlete.
Rainbow raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the reference to Applejack's physical routine, but didn't say anything.
Falling behind, Fluttershy sat down at the table a little isolated.
"Here too?" Twilight asked as she sat down next to her.
The pink haired girl nodded, fidgeting with her hands. "Yeah... you know, I'm not very sociable at large gatherings."
"I understand," said with an understanding smile. "Sometimes I prefer to watch more than talk."
Fluttershy smiled at her, they began to chat and notice some slight similarities.
Near the pool, the Crusaders and Spike looked at the water with curiosity.
"It's not that deep, is it?" the boy asked.
"I was going to ask the same thing," Scootaloo said.
"Relax, half of it will reach our shoulders, but the other half is already deeper," Sweetie Belle explained, pointing to the sides.
"Good!" exclaimed the magenta haired girl.
"Who gets in first, or do we all do it together?" asked Apple Bloom, full of energy.
Meanwhile, Applejack was heading out the door to get the coal.
"Come on, I'll show you the way," she said, smiling.
"Thanks," Sunset said, hesitantly wanting to start a conversation. "So, not to gossip, but the other day when Fluttershy announced Rainbow Dash's transfer, the girls and I started talking about you and Rarity."
"Did you guys talk about how long I've been with her or how I'm dating someone of her 'status'?" Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow with a slight smile.
"It was pretty much those two, and I'm not trying to sound too nosy," Sunset replied, laughing a little.
"Relax, Rarity isn't a billionaire like she appears to be from the house she lives in," the farmer began, pointing at the property. "Her parents are businessmen and make enough money to have a house like that."
"Oh, that explains the house, and considering that she mentioned that she designs clothes, she..." was going to ask.
"...She makes some of her own clothes, but she also goes shopping," Applejack finished, then laughed. "You don't know how excited she gets when she sees a sale."
Sunset laughed. "She must be driving you around."
"Yeah, and as for your other question, we've been together for months, almost a year," explained with a smile.
"Really? Wow, that's quite a bit!" the redhead exclaimed, surprised. "They must have been through some things. They can tell they're very opposite."
"Yeah, we learn from each other. She shows me her fashion world, and I show her mine on the farm," Applejack said, proud of their relationship.
"Oh, you have a farm?" Sunset asked surprised.
"It's like a mini farm, actually, but you could call it that," said as they reached the shed where the coal was kept. "I even brought some apples that we harvested with the Apples."
"It'll be interesting to try a freshly picked apple," said, stopping.
"Yeah, and with this gathering, I can't wait to hang out with everyone and have them try it," Applejack said excitedly.
Sunset nodded. "Yeah, sometimes a good gathering and some fresh fruit is just what you need to relax."
With the conversation over they turned their attention to what they were coming to.
"Here's the coal. Let's load it up and head back before anything unexpected happens," Applejack said with a smile, picking up the box.
They both picked up the boxes of coal and started walking back to the yard, continuing their conversation.
Meanwhile, Rarity approached with a tray of drinks. "Hello, girls. How's the conversation going?" she asked in a warm tone.
"Hello, Rarity," Twilight replied. "We're just chatting for a bit."
Fluttershy nodded. "Yeah."
The seamstress smiled and offered two glasses. "I'm glad to hear that. Here, I can tell you're not the type to drink and prefer drinks."
"Thank you," the bespectacled girl said, taking one glass.
"We appreciate your hospitality," Fluttershy added, taking the other glass. "So..." she tried to say.
"Remember what I told you," Rarity said, leaning slightly toward her with a smile.
"Yeah," she said, inhaling and exhaling. "So you like designing?"
The curly-haired girl nodded. "Yeah, though I've never made anything for anyone in particular."
"So it's like a hobby?" Twilight asked.
"You could say. What about you two?" Rarity asked, interested.
"It's not exactly a hobby, but sometimes when I see an animal on the street, I tend to feed them," Fluttershy said timidly.
"You should go down that path..." the seamstress said thoughtfully.
"Yeah, something like... mmm..." the blue-haired girl tried to find the word, putting a hand on her chin.
"Walking dogs," Rarity suggested.
"Something in the animal field," the bespectacled girl also suggested.
The animal lover smiled at the suggestions.
"Or working at the zoo," a cheerful voice added out of nowhere.
The three of them looked across to where the party girl suddenly appeared.
"Pinkie Pie!" Fluttershy and Twilight exclaimed in surprise.
"When?" the bespectacled girl asked, still stunned.
"Don't look for logic, Twilight," Rarity said playfully.
"Is this what you meant by unpredictability?" the pink-haired girl asked.
The seamstress nodded with a smile.
"Where have you been all this time?" Rarity asked.
"I've been here and everywhere," Pinkie said dramatically and mysteriously.
"Okeeeeyyy... so," Twilight said a little incredulously.
"Cookies?" asked, standing in front of them and offering a plate. "I brought it from home. I hope you like it!"
"Thanks, Pinkie!" said the blue-haired girl, taking a cookie.
"Yes, thanks," added Fluttershy, taking one as well.
Rarity laughed softly. "Pinkie always knows how to add a special touch."
"Always!" she said, taking a cookie for herself. "And now, let's talk about fun things. What have you been up to lately?"
The four of them began to chat.
The Crusaders and Spike were already in the pool, floating in the water with a mix of excitement and calmness. The initial splashes had calmed down, and now they were simply enjoying the moment.
"So, have you two been in school since your sisters came in as kids?" Scootaloo asked, looking at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.
"Yeah," the two of them answered in unison.
"It's kind of weird that you two never talked to each other before," the magenta-haired girl commented, swimming close to them and Spike.
Apple Bloom nodded, resting her arms on the edge of the pool. "Yeah, I know. But I think it's because we're in different grades. We never saw each other."
Sweetie Belle, who was floating on her back, looked up at the sky as she thought. "True. Plus, I used to hang out with my sister a lot after school, so I didn't socialize with other kids that much."
Spike chimed in. "I've been in school for a year, so has Twilight, but I'm usually around her and Sunset a lot. Plus, I'm in a different grade, too. I never got a chance to talk to you guys much, but I always saw you guys on the playground."
"It probably wouldn't make much sense if they were in the same grade and never talked to each other," Scootaloo said, laughing.
"Tell that to our sisters! Even though some of them were in the same grade, they never talked to each other," Apple Bloom commented, laughing lightly.
"Good example," said the green haired girl.
"And now we're all together, and even more so you... uh..." said Sweetie Belle, looking at the new girl.
"Scootaloo," replied the magenta haired girl.
"And I'm Spike, in case you forgot my name," added the boy, with a small smile.
"It's not that I forgot it, I only heard it once. Besides, I'm in Apple Bloom's grade, how do you expect me to memorize it after hearing it once?" said the youngest Belle with an innocent gesture.
"That's a good point too," admitted Spike, nodding.
"So let's start over: My name is Scootaloo," the magenta-haired girl said, floating.
"Apple Bloom," the youngest Apple added, raising a hand.
"Sweetie Belle, and I hope we get together more often," the other girl added with a smile.
Spike leaned back against the edge of the pool, laughing. "Well, it's never too late to start."
"That's true," Apple Bloom added. "Besides, adventures are always better with more people."
"Exactly," Sweetie Belle said, splashing a little further out. "And now that we're getting to know each other, we can plan something big for when school ends."
"I like the sound of that!" Scootaloo exclaimed excitedly. "We could be the best adventure team this school has ever seen."
Spike stood up, smiling.
Laughter filled the air again as the four continued swimming.
Rarity approached the multicolored one, who was growing the fire.
"Is it too early to bring the meat?" asked, looking at the small flames.
"It's just started, it's still a ways off," replied as she blew on the fire.
"I can already imagine the taste," said Pinkie, approaching next to Fluttershy.
"Dash has a good hand for these things," commented the pink-haired girl, smiling shyly.
"Sometimes, when I get together with Fluttershy's family, my dad and her dad take care of the grill, so I learned from them," explained with a small smile.
"Oh, they've been doing it for a few years?" asked Rarity, interested.
"If you mean getting together with her family, quite a while. But if you're talking about the grill, they taught me a few years ago, more or less. Now I know when to turn the meat," answered Rainbow confidently.
"Have you known each other for a long time?" asked Pinkie, moving excitedly.
"Yeah, well... we've known each other since- since kindergarten," Fluttershy replied stuttering.
"Easy, Fluttershy. Take it easy," Rarity suggested in a relaxed tone, making a supportive gesture to make her friend feel more comfortable.
The pink-haired girl nodded, feeling the encouragement of the dressmaker beside her.
Rainbow was surprised to see the scene. "Is she giving him self-confidence advice?" She smiled at the thought. "It seems you're not shallow like I imagined," thought, admiring the way Rarity supported her friend.
"You said it, Miss Elegance," said, with a half smile. "I like that you're not just beauty." Fluttershy smiled noticing that her friend was seeing more than just looks.
"Elegance?" the dressmaker murmured, raising an eyebrow, a little confused by the nickname and not knowing if she should take the other as a compliment.
"Hey, girls!" Sunset interrupted as she silently approached.
"Is something wrong, Shimmer? That sneaking around doesn't help in the daylight," Rainbow said.
"I wasn't... alone... nevermind," replied, making a face of resignation.
"Is something wrong, Sunset?" Rarity asked.
"I see everything is fine and Twilight is having fun. I'm so glad, she needed something like this. She needed this kind of environment," Sunset said with a relieved expression.
"Are you talking about Crystal Prep?" Fluttershy asked, a little nervously, peeking out from behind Rainbow.
Sunset nodded slowly.
"Did I miss something?" the seamstress asked, curious.
"Oh, it's something Sunset once said," Pinkie explained, shrugging.
"That's not the important thing now," the red-haired girl continued. "It's just that next month is October, and Twilight's birthday. I'd like to..."
"Throw a surprise party!" Pinkie exclaimed, excited and almost raising her voice.
"Shhh... Pinkie, not so loud," Rarity suggested, her tone calm.
"Yes, we must keep it a secret," Rainbow added, looking at the party girl with a smile.
"Secrecy is paramount," the seamstress said, looking at Pinkie with a light warning.
"And seeing any presents," Fluttershy said.
"Present? I didn't mention anything about a present," the party girl said alarmed, looking back and forth. "I don't know anything about do... I'm leaving!"
"Did I say something that upset her?" the pink-haired girl asked, a little bewildered.
"Is that normal for her?" Rainbow asked, looking at the others.
"Sort of, and you've only seen a little of her," Rarity said with a smile as she watched Pinkie sit next to Twilight and Applejack, who were talking on the other side.
"You're not going to tell her, are you?" The sportswoman asked, worried.
"I hope not," Sunset replied, sighing. "I haven't told the details yet, like the place, the cake, or the age."
"We'll tell her later," Rarity said. "She's acting like this because I asked her for something," she explained.
"As for Twilight, the age is ours, right?" Fluttershy asked, leaning in a little.
"She's still underage. She's turning 18," Sunset clarified.
"So Sparkle's the youngest?" Rainbow commented, raising an eyebrow.
The redhead nodded.
"Well, we'll see that it's a splendid birthday," Rarity said, with a slight smile.
Sunset was going to say something, but Rarity interrupted her, lowering her head slightly blushing. "And if you're wondering, I don't think it's bad to anticipate something... I'm also waiting for a moment for something special."
"I was going to say something else, but I hope yours works out," replied, noticing the change in tone from the dressmaker and following her gaze to the farmer.
"I don't know what it is about, but it seems like you're hoping that day will come," Fluttershy said, with a small smile, trying to understand.
The others looked to where Rarity was watching, staying silent for a moment.
"You have no idea," she whispered, returning to her usual color.
"Those couple problems..." Rainbow commented, rolling her eyes with a grimace.
"You'll know the feeling when you get interested in someone," Rarity said, focusing back on the girls, especially the multicolored one.
"I don't know. That stuff like giving things away, holding hands, hugging, and well, that stuff like..." Rainbow paused, a little awkwardly.
"Kissing?" Sunset said with a mischievous grin.
"Yeah, that," she replied with a grimace. "I do such things with Fluttershy."
"What?!" the redhead exclaimed
"Are you two...?" the seamstress asked, surprised.
"What?! No...", Rainbow said quickly. Fluttershy blushed visibly at that. "What I meant was that some gestures like hugging or offering my arm, is something I normally do with Fluttershy. Nothing more," clarified.
"Ahhh," Sunset and Rarity said in unison, finally understanding.
"Yeah, just that," Fluttershy murmured, still somewhat embarrassed. "Rainbow's never been with anyone."
"And I don't need to be with someone to be okay with my life," said, lifting her chin. "I can have fun... with you, if you want."
Fluttershy smiled at her friend's suggestion.
"You're right. You don't need to be in a relationship to take pictures or do fun things," Sunset commented.
"Pictures..." Rarity repeated suddenly. "That's right, pictures. I'll be right back!" said, hurrying away.
"If you're asking if that's normal, I don't know," the red-haired girl said, shrugging.
"Me neither," Fluttershy added.
"Okay," Rainbow muttered, looking at the grill feeling the heat.
"Do you think it's time yet?" Sunset asked.
"Go get it, I think it's almost time," she replied.
The two nodded and walked away to the kitchen to bring the meat and chicken.
A few minutes passed as Rainbow started grilling and because of the heat she took off the coat she was wearing, leaving only a sleeveless shirt.
And the girls continued to chat, each one in a different part of the yard.
Applejack, who was walking, came to the side and watched the athlete for a moment. Her gaze was vaguely distracted, and without realizing it, her jaw hardened slightly. Fluttershy, who was walking towards Rainbow with a bottle in her hand, noticed the farmer's gaze and her slight blush.
Curious, the animal lover thought about what she had just seen, on the part of the blonde she was interrupted by the energetic intervention of Pinkie, who approached her with a radiant smile.
"Everything okay, Flutters?" Rainbow asked, paying attention to her friend's arrival.
"Oh, yeah, everything okay," replied, though her gaze drifted to Applejack, who was now heading into the house through the patio door. At that moment, Rarity came out of the kitchen, moving gracefully toward them. "I just brought you this," said, holding out a bottle of beer. "I saw you were hot."
"Thanks," replied, opening the bottle with the edge of the grill table, the sound of the cap clanking through the air.
"Sorry I'm late. I was looking for something and I also brought some glasses and sunscreen," Rarity explained, already in front of the two.
"You're the whitest of all; it's only natural that you can get sunburned," Rainbow joked, taking a sip from the bottle.
"Oh, dear... I have to take care of my skin. I wouldn't want to get sunburned and be like this in front of everyone else," said, putting an envelope into the pocket of her thin coat as she carefully applied the cream.
"Ha," the sportswoman let out a laugh. "I knew you had something, but it's okay," said, turning the meat on the grill again.
"Fluttershy, dear, are you okay?" asked, noticing him looking at her with a thoughtful expression.
"Yes, Fluttershy, I know what you're like, but you're not usually this quiet," Rainbow added after another sip.
"Uh, yeah, I was just thinking about something," replied, her gaze fixed on Rarity with an air of doubt.
Before the seamstress could ask, the arrival of the minors interrupted the conversation.
"Do you think we can try something yet?" Scootaloo asked, her voice full of excitement.
"Yes, I'd like to eat something," Sweetie Belle added, looking longingly at the grill.
"If you try anything, don't burn yourself, Sweetie," Rarity warned, before turning away as she saw Applejack approaching the table.
Fluttershy watched as the seamstress walked over to the other side. She pulled the blonde closer, feeling a mix of curiosity and concern at the look the farm girl had given her friend.
"Hello, honey," Rarity said with a smile.
"Rarity, is something wrong?" Applejack asked, turning to look at her.
"Do you remember the pictures from our last outing?" asked, trying to sound mysterious.
"Of course," the farm girl replied, intrigued. "What do you have now, another stuffed animal?"
Rarity laughed softly and pulled out an envelope. "Not exactly," said, handing the envelope over.
The blonde took it, confused, and when she opened it, a warm smile appeared on her face.
"I've shown you the photos of the roses you gave me when I sent them to be printed physically, like the frame we each have in our room..." said the seamstress, pausing. The farmer gave her a smile. "I thought it would be nice to have some of our outings or everyday moments printed, but physically just the way you like them," said, blushing slightly.
Applejack looked at the photos one by one, with an expression of tenderness and admiration. "Rare, they're beautiful," said, looking at her with a sparkle in her eyes. "I like that you did this."
Before Rarity could say anything, the excited farmer put the photo in the envelope and put it aside, took her partner by the waist and lifted her up, spinning her around while Rarity laughed and asked her to stop. But Applejack didn't stop until they both ended up jumping into the pool.
"YEI! EVERYONE IN THE POOL!" shouted Pinkie, immediately jumping after them.
Sunset and Twilight shrugged before joining in the dip. The younger ones jumped in as well, and soon, everyone was laughing, except for Rainbow, who had stayed near the grill.
"I would have joined in, but the meat would have burned," said, smiling as Fluttershy approached with something in her hands.
"I might have joined in too, if I hadn't been distracted," commented, briefly looking at Applejack and Rarity.
Rainbow laughed. "Next time," said, giving the pink-haired girl a smile as she returned to the grill and Fluttershy approached the table.
The pink-haired girl opened the envelope, seeing the photos the blonde had dropped, and briefly saw the couple who were still laughing in the pool. "Hmm, you can see the love they have for each other, but what did that look mean?" thought, leaving the envelope on the table with something heavy on top so it wouldn't fall again.
Soon after, the barbecue was ready, and everyone sat around the table. Rarity stood in one corner and Applejack on the side facing her. While everyone ate, Applejack and Rarity held hands under the table and leaned in a little.
"I think it could be half and half," the farmer suggested with a smile.
"I like the sound of it, though it's not all of them," the seamstress replied, smiling back.
"I could print out the others and we could do the swap," Applejack suggested.
"That's a great idea," Rarity said.
She then turned her attention to the table and stood up with a glass in toast mode. "I hope you enjoyed this day and that we have more outings like this, or get-togethers in this case," said, looking at each one.
"Yeah, and we could keep Rainbow on the grill," Pinkie said, her energy inexhaustible.
"Don't overdo it," replied, shooting a glance at the party girl.
"It was a great day," Sunset stated, smiling in satisfaction.
"And the meat is good," Twilight added, enjoying a bite.
"Yeah, Dash has his thing," Fluttershy commented, nodding with a smile.
"Here's to more moments like this, then," Applejack said, raising her glass with warmth in her voice.
The girls and their siblings raised their glasses in unanimous "Cheers!", the echo of their laughter filling the air, sealing a memory that would stay with them for a long time.
Present  
Pinkie and Twilight stood in silence for a moment processing a bit of the other part of the story they didn't know, their eyes a little wider.
"Wow... we knew there was something when they met, but the fact that Applejack sneaked in on her at Belle's changes everything," the bespectacled girl commented, breaking the silence.
"I know. I wasn't sure how to interpret that look at first," said softly, her fingers fiddling nervously. "And then there's that subtle flirtation Rainbow gave AJ at the entrance."
Twilight frowned slightly, as if reliving the moment in her head. "Yeah, maybe we didn't realize it at first, but... it makes you think," muttered, crossing her arms as she looked at Pinkie.
The party girl had a much more serious expression now than she usually showed. "And why didn't you say anything? Maybe if Rarity had noticed those changes in feelings sooner, things would have changed," asked curiously, her eyes searching for an explanation.
“Well... I saw the same thing you all did. That connection was still there, so I kept quiet and chalked it up to a little slip-up from Applejack,” she explained.
“Makes sense. Sometimes, even if you're in a relationship, it doesn’t mean you can’t notice someone attractive in a particular moment,” Twilight added, reflecting.
“That’s true. If we set that slip-up aside, what really mattered was how happy they seemed before everything changed,” Pinkie added.
The animal lover nodded, remembering.
"That's why I didn't say anything. And I don't think things would have been any different if I had," said, letting out a sigh.
"Probably not," the blue-haired girl agreed. "Seeing how everything turned out."
Pinkie looked down, thoughtful. "Hmm... that kinda bums me out," muttered. "Now I don't know if they gave each other that."
Twilight and Fluttershy exchanged looks, confused. The bespectacled girl just shrugged.
"Well, that's behind us. As we've said a few times, you don't choose who you like or fall in love with, and Rainbow set her sights on Applejack," he said. "Even if I had prepared it," thought.
The hyperactive girl raised her finger, as if to say something, her expression changing for a second, but then she paused, biting her lip. Her eyes shifted to the side, hesitating.
"Everything okay, Pinkie? If you have to say something, you can say it," Twilight said, leaning towards her with a small but reassuring smile.
"Only if you want to," Fluttershy added in an almost whispery tone, watching her friend with a mix of empathy and curiosity.
Pinkie looked back and forth, as if weighing her words. "Maybe another time, I think it would sound wrong."
Fluttershy nodded, but couldn't help but feel a small weight on her heart. "Sometimes, not saying anything can be the best thing, but it also hurts to think about what could have been."
Twilight thought for a moment, a glint of understanding in her eyes. "Sometimes, the best thing we can do is learn from these experiences and support each other along the way."
"Are you feeling better now that you're free?" the party girl asked.
"Yeah, I think so, though I have something on my mind, but time will tell," the pink-haired girl said.
Again, Pinkie and Twilight looked at each other confused, but decided not to insist.
"The important thing is that you feel better now that you got this out, that for some reason it came back to you," the bespectacled girl said, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder.
Fluttershy smiled at her friends for listening to her, even though the thought of approaching the seamstress was on her mind. She also remembered something else that she regretted, but as she released what she told the two, she felt the weight ease a bit, even though the other thing still weighed on her.
After sharing their thoughts, the girls got up from the grass and began walking down the hallway.
As they walked forward, they ran into Rainbow Dash, Sunset, and Applejack.
"Hey, girls!" the multicolored girl exclaimed, approaching with a smile, although Fluttershy could hear a slight nervousness in her voice. "Everything okay?"
"Everything okay," Twilight replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "Fluttershy was a little overwhelmed, but she's better now."
Rainbow frowned, looking at the pink-haired girl with concern. "Are you okay? If there's anything you need, I'm here to listen, you know."
Fluttershy felt a knot in her stomach. "Thanks, Rainbow. I've just... been thinking about some things."
Applejack, noticing the awkwardness, stepped in. "We all go through hard things. You know I still have things on my mind," said with a little grace, "and the outing the other day, which by the way, Pinkie, was a great idea," said looking at the party girl.
The cheerful girl nodded, although she would have liked to reveal that it was Rarity's idea.
"What I'm getting at is that you can count on us," Applejack said, turning her gaze to the shy girl.
Fluttershy nodded.
The sporty girl smiled, but there was a glint of seriousness in her gaze. "Sometimes, it's easier said than done, isn't it? I wish we could all talk more openly about what we feel. It would make us stronger."
The pink-haired girl nodded again. "Yeah, I think... sometimes we have to face what's bothering us in order to move forward."
Pinkie smiled, satisfied with the conversation, and Twilight added, "No matter what happens, we can always find a way together. Communication is key."
"Yeah, and don't forget..." The hyperactive girl was going to say, but was distracted when she saw the dressmaker who had disappeared again at lunch.
"What?" exclaimed. "I'm going to...!"
The girls were surprised by what they heard from the mouth of their cheerful friend, who was now walking away chasing the curly-haired girl.
"Hey, Rarity!" they heard, as the party girl wanted to ask her the question that had been on her mind during those days at lunchtime.
The girls exchanged confused glances.
"Uh, what just happened?" Sunset asked a little bewildered.
"No idea," said Applejack
"No matter how long we've known Pinkie Pie, she always ends up being very unpredictable," Twilight said laughing.
Fluttershy laughed. "She never loses her style."
Rainbow smiled; at least the animal lover seemed better, although she still didn't quite understand the reasons.
"How about we go to our last class? We'll see her at the exit," the farmer suggested.
They all nodded, starting to walk to their respective classes.
With the last class over, Rarity and Sweetie Belle had arrived home. As she put some things away to move forward with her work, she remembered how Pinkie had followed her, waiting for an answer. The girl looked surprised and somewhat angry, although more surprised than anything else, but Rarity had to give her an answer.
Although one of the reasons she wasn't at lunch was what was spreading around the university, at least they weren't going through the rumors and they only talked about her figure, although there was always someone who went too far; she slapped one of them when she asked him the size of her breasts, since they would be to his liking.
When the minutes passed, she had to almost run to her last class, since she had to hand in her work. Some were due last week, while a few others were due in the middle of this week or even earlier, according to the last notice from the teachers. So now, she wanted to add a few last things to her report in case the teacher decided to change the due date. Luckily, she was already well into the biography, despite the annoying comparison she made to the farmer, which had made her angry over the weekend and over these past two days, though it had also made her feel something else.
She was now in the dining room plugging in her laptop charger when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw her little sister come out of the kitchen. An idea formed in her mind. She was sure she would like to help, considering she was one of her most listened to artists.
"Sweetie, can you come?"
"What are you doing, Rarity?" asked curiously as she approached.
"I'm going over the work I have to do. It's a report," Rarity replied, looking at her sister with a slight smile. "We have to choose a songwriter, and I've decided to choose Taylor Swift. You mention her so much that I thought it would be a good idea. Would you help me with it?"
Sweetie Belle instantly brightened up, clearly excited. "Really!? I knew you'd love it!" exclaimed, pulling out her phone and searching for Spotify. "Taylor has so many amazing songs. I can tell you everything you need to know."
"You know I've heard only a few, and I know some of her songs have a deeper meaning than they seem. I could use some explanations," Rarity commented, leaning towards her little sister.
The younger girl sat down, ready to begin. "Well, for example, 'Clean'. That song talks about how, after a really hard time, you realize you can finally breathe again. It's like when you've been through a storm, and even though it still hurts, you realize you've come out the other side stronger," explained in a tone of understanding.
Rarity listened intently, feeling the words resonate within her. The thought of coming out of an emotional storm struck her. "Hmm... that sounds... familiar," murmured, thinking about everything she'd been through, especially with her former friends.
"Yes! And then there's 'All Too Well,' which is about remembering a relationship that was important, but ended badly. It's like the memories are so strong that you can't escape them, even when you try to move on," Sweetie Belle added, moved by the song's emotions.
"It seems to have a very precise way of capturing those feelings. I think it'll be an interesting choice for my work." The eldest commented.
"There's also one that has always resonated a lot with fans," said excitedly, though her tone changed to doubt.
"What's wrong?" Rarity asked, noticing the change in her sister, feeling curious.
"I don't know if you'll like it since you weren't that age when things happened, but maybe you'll still relate," she replied, somewhat hesitantly.
"Nevermind, I still don't think it'll reach me if it has to do with age," the seamstress stated confidently.
"It's this one." Sweetie Belle said, playing the song. "It's called 'Fifteen.'
Rarity listened to the song in silence, letting the soft melodies fill the room. When it finished, she lowered her gaze slightly. "Wow, you were right... Just that, even though it was my first love, and I admit it was... some things that the song says, it wasn't that accurate, like the mention of the football team and other things," added, with a touch of grace.
"Although I would have liked to have a friend to cry with," whispered, remembering the lyrics: 'we both cried.'
The younger girl, unable to hear that whisper, suggested something else. "Shall we go with one of their debut songs?" commented while searching on her phone. "Oh this one, it has a good beat. Mom won't explain to me what it's about."
"Did you show it to Mom?" Rarity asked, surprised and with a raised eyebrow, as if she couldn't imagine her mother dealing with the singer's lyrics.
"Yeah, but she didn't catch the Taylor Swift 'infection', despite showing her a few songs. She still explains some of the lyrics to me, since she uses metaphors and I can't understand them and in others I interpret them my way. But with this song and others, she didn't want to go into much depth," her little sister commented, shrugging.
"Why wouldn't I want to tell you?" she wondered, feeling slightly curious.
Sweetie shrugged again.
"Play it and I could explain it to you," Rarity suggested with a smile as she sat down and rested her elbow on the side of the table.
"Great, listen!" exclaimed, as she pressed the 'play' button with enthusiasm.
As the melody began to play, Sweetie bobbed her head to the rhythm of the song, letting the vibrant energy fill the space. The seamstress, for her part, paid attention to every detail of the lyrics. When the song ended, Rarity had a doubtful expression on her face.
"Wait a minute," asked, opening her computer.
"What's wrong? Did you notice something?" the younger girl asked, excited.
"I want to read the lyrics carefully. I'm not sure, but I think I understand what it's about," Rarity commented as she opened the search engine. "What did you say it was called?"
"I never told you. It's called 'Should've Said No'," replied.
The seamstress wrote it on the bar and went to a page. "There, play it again."
As the song played again, Rarity followed the lyrics, making different gestures, understanding the true meaning of the song. When the melody ended, Sweetie exclaimed:
"It's very catchy, isn't it?"
"It is... and I confirmed my suspicion," mentioned, taking her eyes off the screen, before turning to her little sister. "But first, what do you think the song is about?"
"From what I understand, the boy made a mistake and asks his partner for another chance to fix things, but she says no, because he should have thought twice before making the mistake," explained, her voice full of confidence in her answer.
Rarity nodded slowly, thinking about how innocent her sister still was. The song clearly spoke of betrayal, but she couldn't just tell her that. So she chose her words carefully. "Do you know what 'cheat' means?"
Sweetie answered quickly, "Lying, hiding something... am I right?" Rarity nodded again. "But what does that have to do with the song?"
The older girl made a sound with her lips. "Later I'll explain to you properly what it means and how it relates to the lyrics."
"Oh, come on, Rarity!" complained, crossing her arms with a pout.
"It's more... complicated than you think, and I'd rather you figure it out yourself in time," the seamstress said, smiling tenderly.
"Okay," Sweetie agreed, a little annoyed, but deep down she knew her sister was right.
"I don't want to ruin her innocent mind just yet and tell her the song is about infidelity," thought. The seamstress went back in time for a few seconds. "At least AJ didn't cheat on me physically..." She shook her head to not go too deep into the matter and looked at her little sister. "Another song you have in mind?"
The younger girl turned her attention to her cell phone, her finger sliding the screen. "Have you heard 'Teardrops On My Guitar'?"
"Yes." she nodded. "Many might feel represented by an unrequited love and wish the other person to make it happy," commented with an almost sad smile. "I wished it to him from a distance."
Sweetie Belle looked up, surprised by the confession.
"Don't mind me," Rarity added, trying to downplay it. "Even though my feelings were reciprocated at one point, I had to move on and wish Rainbow to make her happy," thought.
"I wish she would have told me her feelings... so I wouldn't get my hopes up," blurted out in an unintentional low voice.
The younger girl looked up again, not quite understanding what she meant, since she knew what her sister's relationship with the farmer had been like. Not fully understanding, she turned her attention back to her phone. "Let's skip a few eras."
"Okay," said, though she thought, somewhat confused, "Eras?"
"Oh, this is one of her sadder songs... sort of," Sweetie Belle commented, with some indecision in her tone.
Rarity raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her sister's hesitation.
"A part of the song says something that comes through," the younger girl continued, placing a hand on her chest. "It says something like that person gave you all their love, and the other just said goodbye."
"Metaphorically, I suppose?" the eldest tried to deduce. "Meaning that you... gave everything... so that..." she sighed a little, not finishing the sentence. The younger stared at her.
"Sometimes you can give a lot... but something doesn't quite fit, and you find yourself saying goodbye before you know it," Rarity finished, her voice soft.
Sweetie Belle hesitated, noticing that she had struck a chord with her sister and opted not to play the song. "Long story short, 'Back to December' is about regret. It's the first time Taylor has ever apologized for letting go of someone who was worth it."
"At least, part of it is close," the seamstress thought, letting out a soft laugh.
"Let's go with another one," the younger girl suggested, trying to change the tone of the conversation.
"Is there one that doesn't talk about romance? Something more focused on oneself," Rarity asked, looking for a break.
Sweetie Belle put a finger to her chin, thinking out loud until a song came to mind. "The Archer."
"Interesting title," commented, raising an eyebrow, intrigued.
The younger girl searched for the song to play and once they heard the song, Sweetie was going to ask her what she thought, but Rarity repeated part of the lyrics quietly.
"Who could stay... Who could stay..."
"Rarity, are you okay?" asked, worried.
"Sorry... The lyrics are very... introspective," replied, her tone thoughtful.
"Yeah, it's like..." Sweetie began.
"It's like I'm looking in the mirror and seeing my flaws," interrupted, her gaze lost.
"Actually, a lot of people imagine that, and when I looked up the explanation for the lyrics, it said to imagine yourself in front of a mirror," explained.
"This part is interesting..." Rarity said, looking for the lyrics, making Sweetie move so she could read the lyrics. "This..." said, pointing her finger at the screen. [All of my enemies started out friends.]
"Do you think they see me as the enemy? Someone who was once their friend," she wondered, a mix of doubt and sadness in her voice.
"I don't think so, Rarity," replied softly. "I know things are bad between you two, but..."
"But I'm the reason things are the way they are," interrupted. "Maybe, with Applejack too."
Sweetie whispered her name, "Rarity..."
The seamstress lowered her gaze before slowly raising it to continue. "Some things have happened, and Applejack seems to be acting out with me by telling me some things that make me sad... but also disappointed. And it's making me see something and wonder..."
The younger girl looked at her with concern. "And what made you wonder?"
"What did I see in her," replied, looking at the floor as if searching for answers there.
Sweetie Belle looked at her, surprised by her sister's confession. "What did you see in her? What do you mean?"
"She seems upset about something, but she makes me believe it's because of me and how things ended. Right now it makes me think that maybe I'm the one to blame for the breakup... and what's affecting her now," Rarity said with a lost look.
The younger girl didn't know what to say. "Uh... Apple Bloom said that she's frustrated about something. She said that maybe it will go away with the days, and surely what she said to you wasn't meant."
Rarity sighed deeply. "Even if she didn't mean it, those words stay with you. I wonder if, by coming back, I'm overshadowing her life... If I was the one who caused all this, who pushed her to feel this way." Her fingers tightened gently on her knees. "Maybe... I was to blame. I behaved badly. That day, when she came into the design studio to ask me out, I turned her down," said sadly, trying not to show too much in her expression. "And as the song says... 'who could stay?' ...after what I did later."
Sweetie Belle was still surprised. "Wow, I didn't expect you to talk about it now... but maybe you two should talk and maybe..."
The seamstress looked up. "It would ease her frustration... I wouldn't like to see her like that. It's not good for her."
"I don't know, I was going to say that maybe things between you two would get better," the younger girl said with a hopeful smile.
Rarity laughed softly. "Maybe. Maybe I'll talk to her in a different way, she obviously doesn't want to listen." She looked at her little sister with a smile. "Thanks, Sweetie."
"You're welcome, I'm glad to help... but what about you?" asked, worried about her sister. "Are you okay?"
"Sweetie Belle, the people you care about are always important," said with a smile. The younger girl nodded, not entirely convinced.
"Let's get back to the topic," Rarity said. "What other songs does she have?"
Sweetie looked at her sister, wondering if it was actually a good thing to care so much about others and not yourself. "How about something more upbeat?" suggested, turning her attention back to the screen. "Check this one out: 'Shake It Off.' It's about ignoring what others think and just being yourself. I think you'd like that too," she said, smiling as she tried to cheer her sister up.
They continued to listen to a couple of songs so Rarity could add to her report, immersing herself in the music as Sweetie's words echoed through the air.
The next day, Rarity and her little sister arrived early to school, as they should. After saying goodbye, Rarity went to the art classroom and watched as the farm girl entered, heading to her usual spot. A thought fluttered through the seamstress's mind: she needed to talk to Applejack.
As class began, the teacher was explaining something while many relaxed, relieved that art classes seemed like a respite compared to the work of other subjects.
As the class progressed, Rarity couldn't help but glance at the farm girl. Although she was sitting further back, she noticed her movements. She knew the blonde well, she knew how she acted when she was stressed, and even if she wasn't now, something in her body language told her what was wrong with her.
Rarity looked away, trying to concentrate on the class.
When class ended, everyone began to gather their things. Applejack, lost in her thoughts, was one of the last to leave the art classroom. Lost in her world, she began to walk through the half-empty hallways, passing by the lockers without noticing someone waiting for her.
"Hey, cowgirl."
She stopped dead in her tracks when she heard that nickname, knowing who it was. Turning around, she saw Rarity leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. Applejack looked at her with a serious expression.
"Belle, not now."
Rarity took a few steps towards her, placing herself in front of the farm girl. "I'll be brief," began, her voice firm but calm. "At first, I was angry at how you treated me at the cafeteria and then at what happened yesterday."
Applejack tried to open her mouth to interrupt her, but the seamstress held up a hand, gesturing for her to continue.
"I've been thinking a lot and it's obvious that something is affecting you," commented softly. "I don't know if it's the farm, the jobs, or something else." The seamstress kept her gaze fixed on Applejack, who rolled her eyes, thinking that this was all going to be another one of those apologies.
"I know I can't change the past. And if this is all about 'getting in your way', I want you to know that I didn't mean to cause you any discomfort," continued, placing a hand on her chest. "Like that day..." added, lowering her gaze.
Applejack looked at her, surprised, but hid it with her serious expression. She grimaced, hesitating, but decided to speak. "I've... I've been trying to move on... after what happened," confessed, pausing as she looked down. "And not just about what happened, but in general." She knew the seamstress would understand what she meant. "But something's blocking me... now."
Rarity nodded slowly, processing what Applejack had mentioned. Her eyes reflected understanding. "I guess we're both going through something similar... and it's holding us back." The seamstress could see how the blonde tensed, as if she wanted to stop the conversation. "Don't worry, I won't go into it."
Applejack pursed her lips, feeling a bit of relief. A part of her that didn't want to talk about the subject was grateful for the discretion.
"We just... need to go our separate ways so we don't get stuck. We don't have to interact or get along to do that," the curly-haired girl suggested.
The farmer remained silent. Rarity sighed imperceptibly, remembering that the blonde had also remained silent during some parts of the discussion that day, taking her silence as a 'yes'. Now she didn't know if that silence meant that the farmer agreed.
For her part, the blonde, deep down, wished she could talk about what had happened, but her current emotions didn't allow her to see what had happened that day and what happened afterwards, so she chose to remain silent, as she usually did.
The seamstress was annoyed by it, but at the same time it made her sad, so she continued to hide it behind a facade of seriousness. "We can continue as we have been since I returned," suggested, her voice soft. "You, with the girls... and I by my side. That way we each have our space, and we can move on with our lives."
Applejack looked away. "That could be an option," murmured.
Rarity nodded again, though this time more to herself than to the blonde. "You know that whenever you need to talk..." The farm girl grimaced, it was obvious to her that she would try. "...You have the girls to listen to you. They've always been like that... they've always been there for each other." Even though she said this with conviction, she couldn't help but remember some moments in the past, when she hadn't felt supported.
Applejack raised her head, her eyes reflecting surprise, though her face quickly returned to seriousness. "I'll keep that in mind," replied in a more neutral tone, trying not to show too much.
The wavy-haired girl nodded one last time, turning to walk away. "Take that break," said as she began to walk.
The blonde watched out of the corner of her eye as she passed by. "Hey," called out, staying in the same spot. The seamstress stopped and turned to look at her, still with the same serious expression.
"You know this doesn't change the other matter," said, her tone lower, but firm.
Rarity didn't change her expression. "I know..." muttered quietly, turning around to walk away completely. "See you later, cowgirl," added, her tone neutral trying to hide any emotion.
Applejack shook her head as she watched her walk away. "How I hate that nickname," whispered, though for some reason, something inside her felt a little lighter.
As Rarity walked away, her brows relaxed and she let out a sigh she had been holding in. Though she was still shaken by everything that had happened, there was a small hope that this conversation would help her as well. More than anything, though, she hoped that the farm girl would somehow feel a little better. She continued walking, knowing that only time would decide how things would go between them.
Author's Note
Wow, we had a flashback that could be considered cute, but at the same time disappointing (referring to what happened). The truth is, I was just going to put in the flashback of when Fluttershy met Rarity; Then I remembered that I mentioned in the first chapters what happened next and I wanted to extend it by showing when the six met. Then the second one came to mind when I was doing the closing scene of the welcome event, and it happened, and I think it's the longest flashback.
I'll tell you something: as I was progressing through the part about how Fluttershy talks to Twilight and Pinkie about what happened, I came up with an idea for a subplot.
-If you're wondering why I didn't show when they met Rainbow, it would reveal a little about why Applejack and Rainbow's relationship is like that in the present, although I gave some clues in the memory.
Let's say that Applejack and Rarity took the 'steps' about breaking up, but don't worry, it won't stay here; It will go deeper soon. For this reason, I had to modify the part where Sweetie and Rarity progress at work, since it would be too early for emotions to overflow.
-What do you think of what I have shown so far?
That's all. I'll try not to keep you waiting with the next chapter. Bye bye!

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                         Nostalgia                         
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Nostalgia
The morning continued, and break time was gone in the blink of an eye. Now, everyone was in their respective classes for the second day, except for Rainbow Dash, who had a free period.
Rainbow was wandering around the halls, looking for something to do to kill time. She had already spent a while playing the guitar, so now she was walking down the stairs with a bored expression.
"God, why is it so boring at this hour?" muttered, frustrated by the lack of activity.
She looked around, wishing that at least one of her friends was free so she could have some fun. As she walked, she stopped in front of a display case that displayed various awards and recognitions, both from her team and other students.
"Soon, it'll be right here," she said with a half-smile, looking at the trophies and certificates. "Captain Rainbow Dash, worthy of the MVP Award..." continued, mimicking an awards ceremony as she walked back and forth. "Winner of the award for best forward. And the audience idolizes her! Yei!"
She moved closer to the display case, pointing at some of the awards. "Look at that. Here's the trophy for being the fastest. I can't believe it's still here!"
Rainbow leaned down to examine more closely a recognition plaque she had won at a talent show. "And this one, for best talent on stage! Sometimes I'm surprised at what I can accomplish when I really put my mind to it."
She straightened up and sighed, thinking how great it would be to share these moments with someone. "If only someone was free, we could do something fun."
Suddenly, an idea occurred to her. She checked the time on her phone, seeing that she still had time.
"I already surprised her with a cake... I'm sure picking her up after school would be nice... I'm still wondering what had her so stressed out yesterday."
With that, she started walking for a few minutes until she stopped when she saw a vending machine and then looked at the stairs. For some reason, it made her remember her partner and how he had been these days. She then looked back at the stairs.
She looked down at the ground and sighed. "Why are relationships so complicated?" asked herself, frustrated.
She looked up and saw one of her friends sitting up ahead, looking at his cell phone. Rainbow knew him from some classes they shared and they used to talk from time to time. She decided it would be a good idea to ask him for an opinion.
"Hey, Sorian, how are you?" said, tapping him on the shoulder.
"Dash, what's up? All good, just hanging out here," replied with a smile.
The multicolored girl sat down next to her and, after a brief silence, decided to get to the point.
"Hey, I need your opinion on something. If you had someone who was frustrated, how would you handle it? I mean, they're stressed out about something and... well, you don't know what to do to help. Any advice?" asked, trying to sound casual.
Sorian looked at her, a little surprised by the question, but thought about it for a moment.
"Frustrated? Hmm... Well, it depends. Have you tried talking to that person directly? Sometimes, they just need someone to listen to them," replied, shrugging.
Rainbow nodded, but remained thoughtful. "They've calmed down a bit these days, but something happened in class yesterday and we argued a bit later. Although... it wasn't a big deal."
The boy laughed. "Yeah, frustration doesn't go away overnight. Maybe you could try doing something they like or that helps them relax. Something simple, like a distraction, can help a lot," suggested.
Rainbow nodded again. "Yeah, you're right. Maybe I should do something to remind her that I'm here for her, though sometimes I don't know if that's enough."
"Well there you go," Sorian said with a smile. "Let her know you're there, even with small gestures."
The sportswoman looked at the vending machine. "Something sweet? Maybe that's why I stopped when I saw it," she thought before standing up. "I think I'll do that. Thanks, Sor."
"You're welcome, Dash. See you later!"
Rainbow waved goodbye and walked over to the vending machine. Although her friend was still on her mind, she thought she should first see if everything was okay with Applejack. She could try her luck tomorrow with the animal lover.
As she was deciding what to pick from the machine, an idea suddenly occurred to her. She smiled and snapped her fingers. "That... why didn't I think of that before?" She turned her attention back to the machine, still thinking about choosing something that might make her partner's day a little bit better.
When it was time for the second break, everyone left their classrooms. Applejack walked through the halls, although she wasn't present; she was thinking about the conversation with the seamstress, which had been unexpected.
When she got to her locker, she saw that Rainbow was there, although it wasn't a big surprise, since hers was right next to it. She walked over to put her things down.
"Hey, Dash, how was the hour?"
The multicolored girl turned her gaze. "A little boring, but I had some things to entertain myself with."
The farmer noticed how the athlete moved her hand in the pocket of her jacket, as if looking for something or checking if there was something there and made a face, but downplayed it when she remembered the conversation.
A few minutes later, the others appeared with their backpacks or notebooks in their hands, greeting and noticing the farmer's distraction.
"AJ, are you okay?" Fluttershy asked in her usual soft and concerned tone.
Applejack paused for a second, closing her locker. "I'm fine, it's just..." she began to say, but her voice trailed off, as if she didn't know how to continue.
"You're still somewhere else," Rainbow added, nodding in understanding.
"Yeah, you seem... I don't know, different, though," Sunset commented, squinting, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Wait a minute," Pinkie chimed in, forming a rectangle with her fingers and moving them up and down, as if she were analyzing the farmer. "Yeah, you seem distracted, but not in a bad way!" She then looked at Sunset and added, "That's what you meant, right?"
The red-haired girl nodded, laughing lightly at the party girl's quip.
Applejack couldn't help but smile. "And how would you take a loss of reality in a good way?" asked, clearly intrigued by the theories they were throwing around.
"For thinking of something that blew your mind with excitement," Pinkie explained, waving her hands energetically.
"Any cute, happy, or unusual moments that took you out of your element," Twilight suggested in her most analytical tone.
Applejack chuckled. "Well, I did have a rather unusual conversation... with someone, and I didn't expect it to turn out the way it did," she admitted, choosing her words carefully.
"With a teacher?" Fluttershy asked, her voice full of curiosity.
"With a classmate?" Sunset tried to deduce, moving a little closer.
"A friend?" Pinkie added, leaning forward, eagerly awaiting the answer.
The blonde paused, knowing that if she didn't answer convincingly, her friends would just keep asking. "With a classmate," finally said, and tried to smile, even though she felt like she hadn't told the whole truth.
"And what did you two talk about?" the redhead asked with interest, noting that Applejack didn't usually share that kind of thing for no reason.
"About things that happened a while ago, you know, things I didn't think we'd talk about," she explained, keeping the conversation vague, but open enough to not arouse too much suspicion.
"And how do you feel now?" Twilight asked, always seeking to understand the situation from a rational standpoint.
Applejack let out a sigh. "Confused, I guess. I don't know if the talk changed anything, but... it was a step I had to take."
Pinkie nodded enthusiastically. "Sometimes those unexpected conversations are just what you need to feel better! Like when you find out there's a surprise cake after dinner!"
The farm girl let out a small laugh, grateful for her friends' support. "Yeah, maybe."
Rainbow patted her on the back. "Sometimes, those steps are what lead you to something great."
The farm girl nodded, feeling a warmth in her chest. It was comforting to know that her friends supported her. "I appreciate that they care."
Suddenly, a few of the girls' cell phones' alarms went off, signaling that the other class was about to start.
"Wow, seriously, sometimes the minutes fly by," Sunset commented, turning off the alarm.
"Since we went to drop off our stuff, we walked over here, and the conversation eats up minutes of recess, the minutes seem like seconds," Twilight clarified, holding up a finger.
"Whatever you say, Twilight," Rainbow replied, closing her locker and putting on her backpack.
"Well, it's time to get back to class," the blue-haired girl said, adjusting her glasses. "If you want, we can talk more about it later."
"Yeah, that'd be great," Applejack said, smiling again. "See you at lunch."
"See you later," Pinkie commented, walking away.
"Bye," the others said, starting to walk away.
Rainbow glanced briefly at the farm girl, then at the party girl before following her. "Hey, Pinkie, I want you to remind me of something," said, putting an arm around her.
"Sure, what?"
"It's about a sweet."
Pinkie seemed to light up. "Sweets?! What do you want me to remember about sweets? The first time I got a cake, a cupcake, or maybe a cookie?"
"None of them," Rainbow replied, thinking about how not to reveal too much; she didn't like to admit when she needed advice.
Just like she did with Sorian, she searched for the right words so as not to give too much away to the party girl before parting ways to go to her classes.
Side B / Cafeteria  
The third period had already passed, and students were coming and going towards the cafeteria. Rarity, arriving at her usual table, noticed the girls in the back, a few tables away from hers. Her gaze stopped at Applejack, who always sat facing the front.
She remembered the talk they had hours ago and wondered if the farm girl had taken the initiative to broach the topic of breaking up at some point or if it was meant to be her, the seamstress, who approached. However, she decided there was no point in tormenting herself with it; they had already had that conversation, and she would see what would happen. The possibility that they could be friends was something she deeply doubted, based on what they talked about.
Just as Rarity was coming out of her thoughts, a familiar voice broke the silence of her solitude.
"Rarity!" Pinkie appeared beside her with a bright smile. "You're not going to the basement this time."
Rarity blinked, surprised to see her friend. "Oh... hello, Pinkie." Her voice was soft, almost hesitant. "And no, I was just thinking. The correct word is rooftop, not basement."
"I know, I just wanted to add a little drama to the story," commented, winking at her. "Besides, I haven't sat with you at lunch since our talk, so this time, so I don't feel alone in the glare, I'll be with you."
Rarity smiled. "Thanks."
"Shall we sit?" asked, heading for the chair opposite.
The dressmaker sat down in her usual spot, which now faced the party girl. "So, you weren't going to your lair?" Pinkie asked, as she took a spoonful of the day's menu.
"No, I just got lost in my thoughts. And it's not always open up there," she explained, pointing with her fork towards the rooftop.
The party girl nodded as she chewed her food. "Yesterday you told me about the reason you were sneaking in there. The first day when I talked to you, you... well, you ended up leaving, and took another route. So you found some stairs that lead to the roof near the cafeteria?"
Rarity nodded as she swallowed her food. "I took it as my special place, or 'lair', as you called it."
"Someday you'll show me where it is," Pinkie said, almost demanding.
"I most likely will," replied with a slight smile.
"Changing the subject, apparently the rumors about you didn't go on the awkward side of innuendo," the cheerful girl said, leaning forward.
"That's good. Although there are some I have heard say things about my..." she searched for the right word. "... attributes. Yesterday I ended up slapping one of them for the comment."
"Wow, that really went too far!" the party girl exclaimed, laughing.
Rarity sighed, remembering the situation. "Did they ever talk about you?"
"Hmm..." Pinkie thought, recalling moments from the past two years. "I once heard some guys saying that my parties were so cool that they should be an official college event. But no, they never said anything mean to me. In fact, I think they like me. But, of course, it's not the same as what they're saying to you."
"Parties?" she wondered. "Well, that's a relief. I don't want them to see me as just the 'attributes girl' or 'the hot girl'. I want them to see me for who I am, not how I look."
"Rarity, you're more than that," Pinkie stated, seriously. "You're talented, funny, and an amazing friend. Sometimes people only focus on the superficial. But don't let that get to you."
The seamstress smiled at her friend's words. "Thank you, Pinkie. Sometimes I have a hard time remembering that, especially now."
The party girl looked at her with empathy. "I'm here to remind you. And remember, you can always count on me for anything, even if you just want to talk or eat cupcakes on the rooftop."
Rarity laughed. "I'll have to take you up on that offer, especially if those cupcakes are like the ones you made at the event."
"Of course! I'll make the best cupcakes next time," she promised, smiling excitedly.
There was a moment of silence as they ate until the seamstress broke it.
"Pinkie?" she called out with a curious expression.
"Did anything else happen?"
"No, well, I don't know, it's about what happened on training day," reminded the party girl. "How's Fluttershy?"
"About the fall she took?" Pinkie asked. The seamstress nodded. "It looked rough, but luckily she's wearing tights under her dress because of the cold, so she didn't hurt herself."
"Oh, that's nice. I didn't know what to say when I helped her up and I even hesitated to help her," Rarity said, turning her head to where the group was sitting; she could only see the back of the animal lover as she sat facing the wall.
"Rarity, don't hesitate. Take any opportunity and see how the girls will see that side of you," she said with a hint of mystery.
The seamstress looked back at the party girl. "I won't be looking around all the time in case something happens," she laughed at the suggestion. "The training thing came naturally, I didn't expect it to happen."
"Okay, don't force it, but if something does happen, you'll know if it's the right time to intervene and you'll see how the girls will be surprised by every detail," Pinkie said.
Rarity smiled.
"Let it all flow," they said in unison and then laughed at the thought.
Then they continued their talk; Rarity felt a little lighter, as if the clouds of her sadness were beginning to clear.
Minutes passed and the day continued with music, and to the relief of Rarity and some students, the report would be due the next day. This meant that she could enjoy a little rest when she got home, especially since her sister had been a great help finishing the report the day before.
As Rarity followed the dressmaking teacher's learning, she felt someone watching her. For a moment, she thought it might be Applejack or Rainbow Dash, but to her surprise, they were both completely focused on what the teacher was saying. Intrigued, she wondered who the person watching her could be this time. But she decided to ignore the gaze and pay attention.
Fluttershy raised her head and saw the dressmaker again. She looked around stopping at each of her friends and lowered her head.
With her mind distracted, she began to draw in the corner of her notebook, creating a small origami toad. She opened her eyes sadly when she saw the drawing, the scene changed in her mind.
Three Years Ago: Fall; week after the meeting  
The girls were heading to the library, not exactly to study, but to help the multicolored one. Since she had arrived late to the start of the semester, she had to catch up on some subjects and learning.
Rarity approached Fluttershy, noticing that she seemed distracted; her gaze was lost somewhere on the floor.
"Are you okay, darlight?" whispered.
Fluttershy blinked, coming back to reality. "Oh, yes... I'm just... thinking about Rainbow."
The seamstress watched her closely. "About Rainbow? What's wrong?"
The pink-haired girl bit her lip. "Ever since I suggested that she transfer to Canterlot, she seems to have had a hard time keeping up. I'm worried that she's feeling overwhelmed. What if it's my fault?"
Rarity frowned, understanding her friend's concern. "You can't blame yourself for her decisions. She chose to transfer. But I understand why you feel that way."
Fluttershy nodded, but still dejected.
Once the seven sat down at a table of their choosing, Twilight was the first to speak. "Which one would you rather start with?" asked, adjusting her glasses. "Biology, Chemistry, Physics?"
"Social Science?" Sunset asked.
"Math?" Applejack suggested.
"History?" Rarity suggested.
"This is crazy," Rainbow muttered, crossing her arms. "How do they expect me to remember everything?" Fluttershy lowered her head.
The curly-haired girl, beside the multicolored one, was flipping through the notebook with a much more relaxed air. "Come on, Rainbow Dash, it won't be that complicated."
"It'll be a piece of cake!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"You just need to see history as a grand series of events that influenced the culture and fashion of its time," said with a smile.
Rainbow looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Fashion? Really, Rarity?"
"Of course, drarlight!" The seamstress exclaimed enthusiastically. "For example, during the French Revolution, did you know that clothing styles changed radically because the aristocracy and their luxurious outfits were rejected by the people? Women began to dress more simply to reflect a change in social values."
The athlete listened to her, although not entirely convinced. "And how does that help me?"
Applejack held back her urge to laugh, since her partner used fashion as an example.
Rarity let out a small laugh. "Well, if you think of it as a series of causes and consequences, it's easier to remember. Don't memorize dates without context. Understand the why of things and I promise you that everything will start to make more sense."
The multicolored girl sighed, but nodded, seeing that the wavy-haired girl was serious. "Okay... but I don't promise that I'll be as interested in it as you are."
Rarity gave her a small pat on the arm affectionately. "Don't worry. You don't need to be a passionate historian, just be prepared enough for when classes and future exams come."
With a deeper sigh, Rainbow picked up her pencil and began to write down what Rarity explained, surprised at how much clearer everything sounded when Rarity broke it down.
Just as the sporty girl was starting to make sense of it all, the seamstress noticed Fluttershy, who still looked downcast. That caused her attention to stray slightly, though she continued to help Rainbow.
Rarity smiled as an idea occurred to her, and without another word, she grabbed a piece of paper from the table and, deftly and quickly, began to fold it. When she was done, she had an origami toad figure. She placed it in front of the animal lover, tapping the back of the figure to make it gently hop towards her.
Fluttershy was startled, but then smiled at the sight of the paper toad. She picked up the figurine and noticed that there was a small note inside:
[It looks like Rainbow is strong and will find a way to get through this.]
Smiling, the pink-haired girl took out a pencil and wrote a reply, folding the toad again before making it bounce back to the curly-haired girl.
Rarity unfolded it with a smile as she read: [Yeah, I just feel a little guilty. What if she doesn't do so well?]
She gave Fluttershy a sympathetic look. She folded the paper again and sent it back with another note: [Letting her know that you support her might help her. Maybe you should talk to her.]
The pink-haired girl, with a calmer expression, returned the paper toad with the last reply:  
[You're right, after we're done, I'll talk to her. [Thank you, Rarity.]
The seamstress nodded at her.
Applejack watched the silent interaction between the two and smiled, so she wanted to do something similar, even though she wasn't very good at that style of crafts. Once she wrote down the question in her notebook, she told Sunset to quietly call Rarity.
The seamstress looked up and the farmer turned her notebook over, covering it slightly so that not everyone could read it: [Movie outing on the way out? My fair lady.]
Rarity raised an eyebrow, a playful smile lighting up her face. She shook her head slightly, but not in rejection. She liked the way Applejack flirted, with that sincere charm that always made her feel special.
Without missing a beat, she picked up her pencil, thinking of how to respond in an equally flirtatious manner. She then turned her notebook over, leaving a blank piece of paper in plain view, and wrote:
[Nice to meet you, but only if you promise not to eat all the popcorn this time.]
The giggles of the girls at the table caught Applejack's attention, and upon seeing Rarity's response, she couldn't help but smile.
The blonde turned the page over and wrote before showing her notebook: [Hey, that was just once! I promise, I'll be more generous this time.]
The curly-haired girl laughed softly, enjoying the slight provocation, and turned the page over to write: [I just hope you don't get the movies mixed up this time. I don't want to get lost along the way.]
Applejack leaned back in her chair, feeling a mix of pride and warmth as she wrote down and showed it: [Deal. But could my Cinderella remember to bring an extra coat this time instead of her glass slipper? I don't want him to be cold at the movies.]
Rarity felt warm inside with worry. She turned the page again and wrote: [Deal, my prince charming. I'll see the coat on the way out and the movie choice on the way.] She smiled when she saw that she had read it.
Applejack winked at her in agreement, ending their exchange.
Fluttershy, Twilight and Sunset, who had been watching the interaction, smiled as they watched the two of them drop hints of affection on each other. "Lovebird couples," they thought.
"I think I've got it," Rainbow said, breaking the silence.
"From how I saw her notes going, I think she's going in the right direction," Twilight said, looking at the seamstress.
"Let's see?" Rarity said, looking at the multicolored notebook.
Once she confirmed that she seemed to understand what they had learned, Twilight, a little nervous, continued with the chemistry lesson, making sure to explain every detail with her characteristic way of explaining things.
"Speakle could you say it one more time?" asked Rainbow, scratching herself with her pencil.
"What don't you understand, Rainbow Dash?" asked Twilight with a slight frown.
"I don't think that's the problem," said Sunset, knowing well the reason why the multicolored girl didn't understand.
"Twilight, dear, I think you should say it... mmm..." said Rarity, searching for the right word so as not to insult.
"In Spanish and less logical," said Pinkie with her characteristic enthusiasm, stopping drawing.
"Pinkie!" exclaimed Applejack in a slightly stern tone.
The party girl looked at the blonde "What? That's what Rainbow Dash was going to say, right?" said now looking at the multicolored girl.
"You said it, I didn't," said, reaching out and showing her his palm, and Pinkie gave him a high five.
Twilight rolled her eyes; she could already see that those two were going to get along, but she didn't get mad at her for asking her not to say it so methodically. Sunset laughed, since she sometimes asked her that too when her friend talked like that.
"Okay, let me put it another way," the blue-haired girl continued, figuring out how to explain it.
The rest of the girls then took turns helping Rainbow. They were finally done for the day and decided to keep helping out to make sure she was up to date. With the mood more relaxed, even Fluttershy felt more cheerful.
"Well, we're off," Sunset said, with a smile. "Remember, don't hesitate to ask if you need help with anything else."
"Thanks, Twilight, Sunset, and bye," Rainbow replied, smiling as she put her notes away.
The two of them approached Rarity, and Twilight gave her thumbs up as the red-haired girl said, "Enjoy the movie!" The seamstress laughed as she realized they had witnessed the silent interaction, and with a smile, said "thanks."
Pinkie looked at her in confusion, having missed the moment. "What happened? Tell me the gossip later!" exclaimed, before following the two.
Rarity let out a laugh.
"Bye, girls," Applejack told them with a smile, but then her voice became more serious. "Rainbow Dash, I hope you've been paying attention. See you tomorrow."
The sportswoman looked at her with a serious expression. "I thought you were more fun."
"Aj has his fun side," Rarity said, meeting her partner's gaze.
"I hope to see it soon," Rainbow replied, crossing her arms.
"Not that I'm not, it's just the sense of responsibility to learn," she explained, looking back at the multicolored one. "As you saw the other day, I like basketball. When you catch up, we could play together or together with Sunset."
"I like that idea," Rarity said, turning her attention back to her backpack. "Bye, Applejack."
The farm girl just nodded, walked past her partner, and put a hand on the seamstress' shoulder, who looked at her. The blonde, with a smile, nodded that she would wait for her at the door, so she started walking.
"Bye, Rainbow," Rarity said with a smile.
"Bye, Rarity, and thank you," replied, glancing at her briefly.
The seamstress walked over to Fluttershy, who was standing waiting for her friend. "Don't worry, I don't think she'll blame you for something like this. She might just be frustrated with the subjects," she said with a smile, putting a hand on the pink-haired girl's shoulder.
"You're... you're right. We've just... erm, well... we've never had a fight... just disagreements," stammered, looking at Rarity hopefully.
"Let her know you'll be there for her," reminded her. "It might not even be a fight. Trust your instincts."
Fluttershy nodded, feeling a little more confident. "But if you're not sure, remember the words of encouragement," Rarity said, as she searched for something in her backpack.
"It'll be okay," Fluttershy replied, feeling determined.
The curly-haired girl extended her arm slightly. "Here for good luck," said, handing her the origami toad.
The pink-haired girl smiled as she took the paper. "Thanks, Rarity. Good luck at the movies."
"You're welcome. I hope it's not a horror movie," joked with a laugh.
"Oh no. I once acted tough with Rainbow and finished the entire movie cuddling up to her, asking her if it was over," confessed, blushing a little in embarrassment.
Rarity giggled. "Yeah, that's something one of our protectors would do," said, briefly glancing at Applejack, who was standing in the doorway.
"Protectors?" Fluttershy asked, interested.
"The girls, I know they'll support us, but the ones we're closest to..." the seamstress explained, pointing at Rainbow and Applejack. "They'll always be there for us, whether indirectly or directly, when we're in trouble. Despite the relationship they're in," she added, referring to her current status with her special someone.
"You're right. Dash is always there, even if I don't need him, and he never breaks his word," Fluttershy said, feeling comforted.
"He's very loyal," Rarity murmured to herself, briefly glancing at the multicolored one. "There you have an example of how he'll always be there for you, even if things are bad."
The pink-haired girl nodded.
The seamstress began to take steps back. "Don't be discouraged. Goodbye, Fluttershy."
"Bye," she replied, watching as she walked away with her arm around Applejack.
When she finished packing her things, Rainbow looked at her friend, who was standing there waiting for her.
"Fluttershy, are we going?" she began, as she put on her backpack.
"Oh, sure."
The two began to walk until the pink-haired girl opened her mouth. "Rainbow?"
"Yes?" the multicolored girl asked, noticing the tone of her voice.
"How are you coping with all these accumulated subjects?" Fluttershy asked slowly.
"Ugh, the information was about to explode in my head, but thanks to you I was able to understand a little more," Rainbow admitted, with a tone of gratitude.
"And don't you feel angry for encountering this obstacle when transferring?" asked, feeling a little guilty.
Rainbow tilted her head, showing curiosity. "What worries you?"
Fluttershy took a deep breath. "I feel a little guilty that, when you transferred, this accumulation came to you."
The multicolored girl shook her head, smiling. "How would you think that? Come on, Flutters, you know me. You know I would never get angry with you for something like that."
"You're right, but I can't help but think that we might come to some conflict someday," confessed, with a tone of concern.
"Listen," Rainbow said, nudging her as they began to walk. "It's true that I get frustrated having to review all these subjects, but still, I'd pass at my other school when the tests came around. It's the same feeling as midterms, only here I get to touch on it in advance," explained with a smile.
"Maybe you're right. Sorry for thinking that," Fluttershy said, feeling relieved, looking at the origami in her hand remembering what the seamstress said.
"If we were to come to a conflict between us, we'd come out on top. You know I'd never give up," Rainbow said confidently, making a fighting gesture.
"That's true."
"But something big would always be a challenge."
Fluttershy laughed at the competitive spirit her friend was displaying. "I know you wouldn't give up," said with a smile. "Surely it would be something simple to solve."
"How about some ice cream to take that worry away?" The multicolored girl proposed, raising an eyebrow playfully.
"I'd like to," she replied, feeling happier. "You know, even if you don't need me, I'll be there for you."
"Thanks," Rainbow said with a smile. "I know I can count on you for everything, and you can count on me for whatever you need."
The two of them, already out of the library, headed to the school exit for ice cream, waiting for the next day and the lessons of their friends.
Fluttershy came back to the present upon seeing the drawing. "I wonder where it went," thought sadly. She looked at her multi-colored friend. "What an omen the conversation we had, although it wasn't a fight we had... just distancing."
She looked one last time at the seamstress. "If she had stayed, would she have noticed my behavior before the others? Or maybe I would have closed myself off to her like I did to the girls."
With a final sigh, she turned her attention back to the teacher. Perhaps she had missed part of the class while reminiscing, but the feeling of sadness didn't fade; the old times made her nostalgic.
As the minutes passed, the students began to leave their classrooms, heading to their next class, some to their training or to their homes.
Elsewhere, the Crusaders were sneaking through the shortcut; it had been a long time since they had done so, and this time their sisters hadn't allowed it. That's why they were trying not to make any noise as they approached the field, where the Wondercolts team was training.
Giggles and the sound of sneakers hitting the ground echoed in the air. Scootaloo led the way, with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle following close behind.
"Come on, this is our chance to see them train before school starts," the magenta-haired girl whispered excitedly, stopping behind some bushes near the field.
"There's Rainbow Dash!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, looking into the distance, where the multicolored girl was leading a series of exercises with the team.
Apple Bloom leaned forward, looking out at the field. "And Applejack! Watch her run!"
As the girls settled in to watch unseen, Sweetie Belle noticed a head of fluffy pink hair bobbing excitedly in the stands across the field.
"Pinkie Pie's here too!"
"Not the first time, she has this hour off," Apple Bloom murmured.
Sweetie Belle watched the cheerful girl for a few seconds, remembering the conversation she'd had with her sister. Worry about Rarity weighed on her mind. Maybe the party girl had some answers. Determined, she sat up and whispered, "Girls, I'm going to talk to Pinkie. I'll be right back."
"Be careful not to be seen!" Scootaloo warned, not taking her eyes off the training.
The youngest Belle nodded and, with cautious steps, approached the stands. She climbed the steps and sat next to the party girl, who was nibbling on a lollipop with a huge smile.
"Hey, mini Belle!" Pinkie greeted cheerfully. "Did you come to watch the training too?"
The younger girl smiled shyly. "Yeah, kind of... but I actually wanted to talk to you about something." Her gaze dropped, unsure of how to start. "It's about Rarity..."
Pinkie stopped nibbling on her lollipop and looked at her curiously. "Oh? What's up with her?"
Sweetie Belle sighed and settled back in her seat. "I'm not sure... I helped her with a music report yesterday and... well, we talked about some things. She told me something about Applejack. Apple Bloom mentioned that she was upset, or frustrated about something."
"Yeah, Applejack got frustrated for some reason," confirmed. "She was distracted and short-tempered... with... well..." she looked at the younger girl.
"Rarity?" guessed.
"Exactly. They had an argument. Applejack was more frustrated and took her anger out on Rarity. Afterwards, your sister left the cafeteria and I followed her to make sure she was okay."
"And was she really bad?" asked worriedly.
The party girl leaned a little closer to her, thoughtful. "Well, she partly understood that Applejack was just frustrated, but she also seemed upset that she would take it out on her like that. After that, Rarity suggested that we could do something to make Applejack feel better, go out with the girls."
"So it wasn't just yesterday," the younger girl thought. "She always thinks of others before herself," she murmured.
"Yeah, Rarity has always been like that. Her generosity is what defines her," Pinkie said with a smile.
"But what about her?" the younger girl insisted. "What about Rarity's feelings?"
The party girl shrugged, thoughtful. "I don't think Rarity has any romantic feelings for Applejack, but it's funny how she still cares so much about her well-being."
"I didn't mean... nevermind," she said, frustrated, shaking her head softly. "You're right, even though there's no longer a relationship, it seems Rarity still cares about her."
At that moment, a loud whistle rang out across the field, and Rainbow Dash called out, "Come on, team, give me one more lap before we're done!"
"Looks like practice is almost over," the party girl said cheerfully. "I better get ready for some cheering!"
Sweetie Belle smiled, looking at her friends still hiding in the bushes. "Yeah, I better get back to the girls. Thanks for talking to me, Pinkie!"
"You're welcome, mini Belle! See you later!" she exclaimed, raising a hand in farewell.
With one last wave, the younger girl ran down the bleachers and ran back to where Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were waiting for her. She felt bad for not achieving her goal; the party girl sometimes gets the messages, but sometimes she's not on the same page, and this was one of those times.
As Sweetie Belle walked back to her friends, Scootaloo couldn't contain her excitement and whispered, "I saw everything! Rainbow Dash is the best."
Apple Bloom nodded, but looked at the youngest Belle curiously. "Everything okay, Sweetie? You seem a little... distracted."
Sweetie Belle forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, everything okay... I was just thinking."
The youngest Apple raised an eyebrow, but didn't insist. "Well, we better hurry up. We have the last class soon, and if we're late, the teacher is going to scold us!"
The three of them ran down the shortcut back to school, Sweetie Belle was quieter than usual, she couldn't contain herself any longer and looked at her friends.
"Hey, girls, have you ever felt... worried about what your sisters look like?" asked, slowing down her pace.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked at her strangely.
"What do you mean?" Apple Bloom asked, adjusting the bow in her hair. "Are you worried about Rarity?"
Sweetie Belle sighed, looking down at the path. "It's just that... sometimes I feel like Rarity always puts others first. And I'm not sure she's okay herself."
Scootaloo frowned, thinking about the question. "Well, Rainbow Dash is always busy with the team and working out on her own. Sometimes I wonder if she ever gets tired of being the best at everything... but she never shows it."
Apple Bloom crossed her arms as she walked. "I understand what you're saying. Applejack always wants to take charge of everything. Sometimes I think she puts too much pressure on herself to be the strongest and most responsible."
The youngest Belle paused for a moment and looked at the two. "Do you never worry that that way of being will end up hurting you? That, in the end, you won't be able to take it anymore."
Apple Bloom nodded slowly. "Yeah, I've thought about that. I mean, Applejack is amazing, but... she's not a machine. Even she needs to rest, and she doesn't always."
"Rainbow Dash is the same way," the magenta-haired girl added. "It's like she can't accept that she needs help sometimes. I think that's part of what makes her so... well, Rainbow, but it also worries me that she doesn't know when to stop."
Sweetie Belle was relieved to hear that her friends understood her concern. "I just... I don't know. I wonder if we should tell them something, or if we should just trust that they know what they're doing."
The youngest Apple smiled slightly. "I guess part of being their sisters is being there for them, right?"
Scootaloo nodded with a confident smile. "Exactly! Besides, when the time comes, we'll know what to do!"
Sweetie Belle smiled, feeling a little more relief. "Yeah, you're right."
Apple Bloom walked over and patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Sweetie. The three of us have our sisters under control."
The three of them laughed together as they continued on their way to school, feeling like the conversation had eased some of the worry in the air.
Applejack drove silently, with Apple Bloom at her side, as the truck's engine hummed on the quiet dirt road back home. The last rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, tinting the landscape in warm hues. Even as Apple Bloom talked about her day, the older girl barely listened.
When they arrived, Applejack turned off the engine and let out a sigh. Before Apple Bloom could jump out of the seat, she gently stopped her, placing a hand on her arm.
"Hey, Apple Bloom, go ahead. I'll stay outside for a moment." Her voice sounded calm.
Apple Bloom looked at her curiously, but didn't ask any questions. "You sure, Applejack?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just... go home and tell Grandma I'm here, okay?" she replied, flashing a smile at her younger sister to let her know she was okay. Apple Bloom hesitated for a second, but eventually nodded.
"Well... if you need anything, I'll be in the kitchen, I'm starving." she said with a smile before opening the door and jumping out of the truck, walking towards the house.
As Apple Bloom disappeared behind the door, Applejack rested her head on the steering wheel, letting the silence envelop her.
Her thoughts returned to the conversation with Rarity. It was strange that they had talked about their breakup, but even stranger was what she had felt when they ended the conversation. Talking about it hadn't been as awkward as she thought... and that feeling of relief surprised her.
"Why now...?" she muttered to herself, remembering. Although they had put the subject behind them, Applejack wondered, "Would I have felt this way if she hadn't come back?" As she put a hand on her chest.
It was as if they had both opened a door that had been closed for years for a few minutes.
She looked out the window at the sky, which was already turning from orange to blue.
"Will things really work out if we ignore each other for the rest of the year?" thought, feeling a slight pang of doubt creeping in.
She sat up straighter in her seat, shaking her head as if trying to clear those thoughts. "I need to stop thinking about it." She told herself, though she knew it would be harder than it looked.
She recognized that the conversation had been necessary to release the frustration she felt. She had undoubtedly held on to the past too much, and that conversation had opened a door to the possibility of closing that blockage.
Finally, she took a breath and got out of the truck, closing the door softly as she walked toward the house.
Shy's family home  
Fluttershy had already arrived home and was now carefully climbing up to the attic, avoiding making too much noise as the ladder creaked under her weight. She knew her parents were busy downstairs, but still, she always felt bad if she interrupted the silence. The attic smelled of dust and old wood, a comforting mix of past memories and things that were once important. It was a place she hadn't visited in two years.
She crouched down next to a cardboard box marked 'School' and began rummaging through textbooks, worn notebooks, objects, and photos. As she picked up a half-wrinkled notebook, an object gently fell from between the pages. As she took it in her hands, her eyes instantly opened, as if fate wanted to bring back those old memories.
An origami, its edges slightly wrinkled by the passage of time. A sad smile spread across her face as she sat on the floor of the attic, watching the figure. Despite being a little wrinkled, the letters were still legible.
Fluttershy ran her fingers along the folds of the toad, thinking about how things had changed. This little memento seemed eternal.
"Flutters, what are you doing up here?" Zephyr asked, climbing up the stairs.
"Nothing... I just felt a little nostalgic for school," she half lied, hiding the real reason for his thoughts.
Her brother sat down next to her, looking at the open box. He took out a clear bag that showed old photos and began to go through them one by one, while Fluttershy watched him in silence.
"Wow! I had forgotten that Dash wore that outfit," Zephyr commented, pointing to a photo where the multi-colored one was.
"Yeah, he liked to show off what little muscle he was building when he worked out or played basketball with Sunset and Applejack," replied, his voice tinged with memories.
"It's not his best style, to be honest," his brother acknowledged with an amused smile.
In the photo, the multicolored girl was wearing an open light blue short-sleeved blouse, with a white t-shirt underneath, loose pants, and sneakers. When the cold weather came, she wore something similar, but long-sleeved or with a simple coat on top. A youthful image that contrasted with her current style.
"I like her look better now. I'm sure she knew I didn't like the old one and changed it," Zephyr said with her classic interest in her sister's best friend, throwing a knowing look.
Fluttershy rolled her eyes, amused by her brother's comment.
The brother flipped to another photo that was from Twilight's surprise birthday, although what he remembered was not that day, but when they were carefully organizing the surprise.
The mall was bustling with life, with people going back and forth, carrying bags and chatting animatedly. The girls had decided to spend the day together, taking advantage of the opportunity to do some shopping and prepare the details for Twilight's birthday, trying not to raise suspicions from the blue-haired girl. However, at some point they separated.
Rarity and Fluttershy walked together through the aisles, talking about the preparations for the party as they passed several stores.
"Do you think Twilight would like a personalized cake? Maybe with her favorite colors..." Fluttershy asked, observing a cake shop in the distance.
"Oh, darlinght, I'm sure she'd love it! Nothing better than a personalized touch to make her feel special," Rarity replied, smiling enthusiastically.
"Hey, girls!" said Twilight, approaching unexpectedly. "I went to the bathroom and saw you, so I decided to catch up with you. What are you doing?"
The pink-haired girl hesitated, looking for a quick excuse. "Uhh..."
The dressmaker glanced around furtively. "We were just window shopping," she pointed out, trying to divert the conversation. "Look, there's that game store, then that candy store, where Pinkie Pie must have gotten distracted."
Twilight let out a small laugh. "I wouldn't be surprised."
Rarity was about to point out another store when something in a window caught her full attention. "Look at that dress! It's absolutely divine." She walked over to the window of a fancy clothing store, looking at a sequined dress that sparkled under the lights. Her eyes filled with admiration, clearly imagining herself wearing it on some special occasion.
The girls followed her, curious.
"It's... very sparkly," Fluttershy commented shyly, though with a knowing smile.
"I know, it's just perfect for a gala occasion. Maybe I should try it on..." Rarity said, lost in thought.
"For a fancy occasion, definitely," Twilight commented, smiling.
While they were deep in conversation, a group of boys walked by. Noticing the three, they began to make comments.
"Wow, that skirt looks pretty long on you," one of them said, referring to the bespectacled girl, causing the seamstress to immediately frown.
Twilight looked down, embarrassed and annoyed. "Why did she want it short?"
"And the one next to her doesn't even know how to get attention," another added, shooting a glance at the quiet girl, who took a step back, visibly uncomfortable.
"Getting rid of those who were bothering Fluttershy seemed simpler, and now there are these ones who expect something more provocative," Rarity thought, so she lifted her chin with her usual grace in an attempt to get them to go away. "Please, we don't have time for such disrespect," said, trying to maintain her composure, although clearly irritated.
One of the boys noticed the wavy-haired girl and said in a provocative tone, "You should wear something tighter, if you know what I mean."
Before Rarity could answer, a certain athlete, who had seen them from a distance to ask them about the surprise, was approaching, but she had not expected to see those boys and hear those kinds of comments. Without hesitation, she stood in front of the boys, her gaze defiant.
"Are you in trouble?" asked, her tone firm, making it clear that she wasn't going to allow any more disrespect.
The boys laughed nervously, backing away a little. One tried to be brave. "We were just... talking, don't be like that."
Rainbow took a step closer, her glare withering. "If 'talking' means being jerks, then yes, I'll be like that. If you have nothing better to do than bother my friends, I suggest you get out before you really have a problem."
The boys, exchanging awkward glances, walked away murmuring amongst themselves. The jock watched them until they disappeared into the crowd. Only then did she relax her stance, turning to her friends with a smile.
"Are you okay?" asked, looking first at Fluttershy, who nodded shyly. Then at Rarity, who smiled in relief, and finally at Twilight, who let out a sigh.
"Oh, Rainbow, darling, you're our heroine!" the purple-haired girl exclaimed, clearly grateful. "Those jerks were absolutely insufferable."
The pink-haired girl smiled softly. "Thank you, Rainbow. I wouldn't know what to say to them."
The jock shrugged. "Come on, it's nothing. No one messes with my friends as long as I'm around."
Twilight smiled. "The chances of us being able to drive them off on our own were about 50/50," said thoughtfully.
Rainbow looked at her confused. "What?"
"Rarity probably would have said something to make them give up, but they still might have kept going. Then you would have come," continued explaining with a grateful smile. "So... thank you."
"And thank you for adding me to that chance," the seamstress added, adjusting her hair elegantly.
The multicolored girl laughed, now looking at the wavy-haired girl. "Tell me, Rarity, would you have hit them if things got ugly?"
Rarity looked worriedly at her knuckles and then patted her shoulder. "Honey, you're the one who stands firm here."
Twilight and Fluttershy laughed along with Rainbow.
"Well, if I ended up being their bodyguard today, the least they could do is buy me something to eat," she joked with a mischievous grin.
"I think we should meet up with the others," Fluttershy suggested shyly. "That way we avoid another encounter."
"I can stay their bodyguard all day!" said, smiling proudly.
"And you get a burger in return?" Twilight joked, arms crossed.
The multicolored girl pretended to think about it. "Could be... nah, just kidding. Miss Elegance already has hers and Sparkle would be Sunset, or maybe Pinkie Pie would scare everyone with her pranks."
Rarity rolled her eyes. At some point she would have to ask him about the nickname.
"I'd rather you two keep the pranks at bay," the bespectacled girl said, giggling nervously.
A few days ago the two of them discovered their common tastes and were playing pranks on the others, which the group didn't quite like.
"Yeah, maybe another time," Fluttershy added with a smile.
Rainbow shrugged. "Well, we'll let it go for a few days."
The girls laughed as they walked away from the awkward moment, walking together to the others to continue their day.
After the birthday, Rarity thought it would be ideal for each of them to have a physical photo, and Applejack obviously agreed, since she wasn't much of a cell phone or digital person. The pink-haired girl assumed that she had gotten into the habit of having physical photos, even though it was obvious that the seamstress loved taking selfies with her phone and uploading them.
Fluttershy smiled sadly as she looked at the photo. "Twilight never suspected the surprise."
"They hid it well so she wouldn't notice," Zephyr said with a smile.
"Yeah, although Pinkie was trying to control herself so she wouldn't reveal the secret," replied, laughing as she remembered how she looked like she was going to explode from holding back.
Her brother looked more closely at the photo, noticing the seamstress in it. "You know, I don't understand why you still have a hard time getting close to Rarity," he said, pointing at the image. "At the event, when we were building, you seemed to be having fun, despite having her right next to you."
"It's a bit complicated, it's not just going up and talking," she said, pausing. "You have to think about how it would affect others."
"I guess you're right," Zephyr replied, pulling back the picture to look at the next ones, while her sister smiled as she remembered the old days.
Like when Rarity first did her makeup, something her sporty friend didn't understand or find useful. There was also another picture of when they went to the spa once, and on one occasion the dressmaker showed some vulnerability, making it obvious that she wasn't as shallow as they thought.
Suddenly, her brother paused on a picture, causing Fluttershy to quickly take it. "Another good moment," he commented, looking at his sister.
"Yeah, it was," she said, faking a smile. "Only part of it though," thought sadly and guiltily.
The picture showed her and Rarity at a coffee shop. That day, the seamstress was a little sad, and Fluttershy had said a few things to calm her down, suggesting they go get some coffee afterwards. Thinking back to that moment, she now felt bad for lying to the seamstress.
Zephyr noticed her change in expression and quickly handed her another picture, trying to cheer her up without knowing the exact reason for her sadness.
"Oh, this one is cute," said, a little more cheerfully, deviating from that memory. "That day she showed us one of her designs, which she had been working on for Halloween."
Fluttershy returned the picture that had made her feel bad, placing it at the back of the pile, while her brother continued to go through the other pictures. After going through a few more, they put everything away and went down to dinner, but the animal lover took the toad origami with her.
Belle Family Family  
The Belle family was gathered around the table, enjoying a quiet dinner. Rarity, finishing her plate, gently set her silverware down on the table.
"Thank you for dinner. It was delicious," said with a smile. "I'm going up to see if I have any assignments."
"Don't overwork yourself, princess," Hondo replied in a loving tone.
"How long until midterms?" Cookie asked, looking up.
"Two weeks," Rarity confirmed nervously.
"Two weeks," Cookie repeated. "I hope you studied ahead of time."
The eldest daughter nodded, forcing a smile. "That's why I asked for some books so I can understand better and do well."
"Sounds perfect," her mother said with a slight smile.
The dressmaker nodded again. She got up from the table and went upstairs, leaving her parents. "See you tomorrow," they heard from the second floor.
Sweetie Belle followed her with her eyes, somewhat worried. Although she had already talked to her friends about the subject, she needed to consult with her parents.
"Dad, Mom..." began, taking a pause.
"Yes, honey?" her mom asked, turning around to look at her.
"Can you give me some advice?" asked, somewhat unsure, not quite knowing how to express what she wanted to say.
"Let's see, princess, what's going on in that little head of yours?" her dad said with a smile, willing to listen to her.
The youngest daughter remained silent for a few seconds, trying to formulate her words well. "Do you think it's okay to worry a lot about others?"
Hondo raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question. "Well, caring about others is a good quality... But why do you ask?"
The youngest quickly looked for a way to not mention Rarity directly. "It's just that... a friend, Scoot... Scootaloo is always helping others, but she seems to forget about herself."
The parents exchanged a quick glance. Hondo was the first to respond, though with a slight suspicion in his tone. "Well, sweetie, it's admirable to care about others, but it's also important not to neglect yourself."
"Yeah, but... what happens when she worries so much that she ends up keeping everything she feels to herself?" asked, lacing his fingers together nervously. "Sometimes I'm afraid she'll feel overwhelmed."
"If Scootaloo is keeping her feelings to herself and not sharing them, that can be exhausting," Cookie said, her tone thoughtful. "It's important for her to take care of herself, too, not just others."
"Exactly, sweetie," Hondo added. "Helping others is fine, but if you forget about yourself, it's like filling a glass without enough water."
Sweetie Belle nodded slowly, understanding her parents' advice. "That's what worries me... I don't want, well, we don't want Scootaloo to feel bad for keeping so much to herself."
"It's only natural for you to worry about your friend," her mom said with a warm smile. "Maybe you should talk to her and suggest that she take time for herself too. Sometimes, saying what you feel can be a lot of relief."
"Yeah, maybe... maybe I should," Sweetie replied, though her mind was still thinking about her sister.
"It's always good to find a balance," her dad said, though his gaze held a slight doubt, as if he suspected, but didn't want to ask. "And don't hesitate to do something that makes her feel better, like you always do."
"That's it. Maybe I'll make her a playlist so she can relax a little," Sweetie Belle said with a smile.
"That sounds like a great idea," Cookie said with a slight smile, though she found her daughter's idea curious. "Letting go helps get those pent-up feelings out."
"Yeah... venting is good, right?" the younger girl asked.
"Of course, dear. If not, at some point she can explode, either with someone or out of exhaustion," her mom said.
Sweetie Belle smiled, already having an idea in mind. She knew her sister was holding back a lot, and at some point, she would have to let loose. "Thanks, I'll stick with it."
Her parents smiled at her.
"How about we do something together, the three of us? Like before, when we all went out," the daughter suddenly suggested.
Hondo and Cookie looked at each other in surprise and warmth, remembering those family outings.
"A movie?" Hondo asked with a smile. "I don't think that's a bad idea. What do you say, Cookie?"
"Hmm, okay, just this once," replied, nodding. "It's been a while since we've done something like this, just the three of us. We could pick a movie and make some popcorn."
Sweetie Belle brightened up at the positive response. "Maybe something funny or a comedy. Something that makes us laugh and forget about school and everything else for a while."
"Perfect," Hondo said, leaning his elbows on the table with a relaxed smile. "After all, we deserve a little break, too, don't we?"
Cookie let out a small laugh. "This week has been busy for everyone, so a quiet night with the family sounds perfect. But first, we need to clear the table."
The three of them stood up and picked up what was on the table. Once done, they settled down on the couch, turned on the TV, and began browsing the platform to choose the movie.
"What's the feature tonight?" her dad asked.
"Last time I watched 'The Lion King' with Rarity," Sweetie Belle said, pressing the button on the remote. "So this time it could be..." She browsed through the platform's catalog until she stopped on a movie that caught her attention. "What do you think of 'The Chronicles of Narnia'?"
"A great choice," Hondo said enthusiastically. "I remember when we all watched it together for the first time."
Cookie nodded, smiling as she looked at her daughter. "It's a story full of adventure, magic, and many lessons, a good choice for relaxing."
The youngest daughter, pleased with her parents' approval, pressed the play button. The family settled on the couch, popcorn already ready on the table.
As the movie progressed, Sweetie Belle immersed herself in the magic of the story, laughing with her parents at the funny moments and sighing when the tension grew. She was happy to be enjoying this family time, just like old times.
But, as the adventures of the Pevensie siblings continued, she began to feel the tiredness of the day take hold of her. Slowly, her eyes drifted shut, and before the movie reached its thrilling conclusion, she fell fast asleep.
Hondo, noticing that his daughter was no longer awake, carefully turned off the television and stood up. Cookie smiled at him as she picked up the empty bowl of popcorn.
"I guess our little warrior couldn't make it to the end," Cookie commented quietly.
The man of the house leaned down and gently picked Sweetie Belle up, carrying her in his arms. "Looks like not," replied in a whisper as he rocked her. "Come on, princess, time for bed."
With quiet steps, Hondo climbed the stairs, making sure not to wake her. Arriving in her room, he carefully placed her on the bed and tucked her under the covers, a tender expression on his face. The younger girl stirred slightly, but didn't wake up, merely murmuring something in her sleep.
"Good night, my little one," he whispered, turning off the nightstand light and gently closing the door as he climbed back down.
Cookie waited for him on the couch, and together they shared a knowing look. "I think we need to do this more often"
Hondo nodded. "Yeah, we definitely need more nights like this."
The parents left for their room, and the Belle house fell silent.
Sweet Apple Acres  
The clock chimed, and Applejack turned it off. She uncovered herself, yawned, and stood up. As she made her way to the curtains, she stretched. As she opened them, she smiled at the light of day. She had definitely rested better than she had on other days.
She went to the bathroom to take a shower, and once she came out, she chose a reddish plaid blouse, jeans, and her classic boots, although sometimes she preferred to wear Converse.
Now dressed, she grabbed her things and went downstairs, leaving them on the couch before heading to the kitchen for breakfast. Minutes later, she saw her grandmother come in.
"Hello, Grandma Smith. Has Big Mac dropped off Apple Bloom yet?"
"Yeah, he got in an hour ago. He went for a walk and is now picking apples," the old lady replied.
Applejack nodded as she took a sip of her coffee and bit into her bread.
"Looks like you slept well," her grandmother commented with a smile.
"Yeah, I slept like a log today," the farm girl replied, smiling.
"Good, you look good," her grandmother said, looking at her approvingly.
"Well, as serious as I may seem, I don't always look the same," said, almost defensively, but with a hint of humor in her voice.
After finishing her breakfast, the farm girl got up, left the dishes in the dishwasher, and left the kitchen, followed by her grandmother. She put her handbag across her body and, of course, took her beloved hat.
"Good luck in class," the old lady said, approaching the door with her.
"Luckily, the first period is art," replied, adjusting her hat. "See you at Apple Bloom around the corner. Bye!" said, opening the door and leaving. "Say goodbye to Big Mac."
"I will," said the grandmother as she watched her granddaughter open the door of her truck.
Applejack started the engine and headed to school. When she arrived, she briefly greeted some of her friends and they said goodbye to each other to go to their respective classes. The blonde and the redhead went together to the art classroom.
The classroom was lit by natural light coming in through the large windows. The teacher arrived announcing an assignment that, for everyone, was calm and easy, wondering if the midterms would be difficult, considering this to be the calm before the storm, or if it would also be simple.
At the tables, students were focused on their collages, cutting and gluing materials. The atmosphere was relaxed and creative, with the soft murmur of conversations and the occasional sound of paper and scissors.
Rarity was sitting at a table, surrounded by colored papers, ribbons, and magazine clippings. With a calm expression, she took her time organizing the materials and creating her collage with precision. She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the process.
"A relief that this is relaxing!" said the seamstress with a smile, opening her eyes.
Applejack was working on a farm-themed collage. Although she was focused on her task, she couldn't help but cast a quick glance at the seamstress, but quickly turned back to her own work, trying to stay focused.
"If I actually consider the possibility of not running into each other or ignoring each other all year, hearing her in class makes it difficult," thought, but laughed as she imagined future classes. "That would be a challenge," said with a giggle, feeling lighter as she continued with her work.
Sunset turned her head to look at the farmer. "She's better now, it's a relief. I wouldn't want to see her like this any longer," thought with a smile. "What could have made her laugh?"
She turned her attention back to her table, which had a variety of materials in front of it. She was creating a collage that reflected her college life and what they had experienced so far.
Starlight was working on her own collage, exploring themes of self-expression and personal discovery. She watched Rarity with a mix of sympathy and curiosity. "It's definitely a nice change. Sometimes a craft can be just what we need to relax."
The seamstress replied with a smile.
The teacher stood in the middle of the room, watching his students' progress. "Remember that you can experiment with different materials and techniques. Creativity has no limits."
The students continued with the work until the hour was up.
Sunset and Applejack were walking out the door to the front yard to join the others, enjoying the cool breeze blowing.
"You look better," the redhead said, smiling at her friend's relaxed air.
"Yeah, and I even relax when I sleep," replied, feeling relieved that the tension was dissipating.
"That's good. Sometimes when we're in an intense situation, sleeping doesn't restore any energy," Sunset commented.
"It happened to me," the farmer nodded, remembering days ago how she slept soundly, but her body felt like it hadn't rested. "Luckily I didn't vent to any of you, although I need to talk to Rainbow," confessed, her tone a little more serious as she thought of her.
"Not venting to us is true, but you did vent to a certain person," her friend said raising an eyebrow.
"I know, I was wrong," admitted, feeling a pang of guilt as she remembered her outburst of frustration.
"Just like the other day. I hope you don't let go of her this time and you're more aware," Sunset said, sounding worried, but laughing at the end.
The farmer's eyes widened slightly at the memory. "You know how distracted I was... I'll be more alert," said, laughing almost forcibly and shaking her head. "Now you're defending her, huh?"
Now Sunset's eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't even notice," she thought.
They continued walking until they reached the courtyard, where the party girl, the girl with glasses and the pink haired girl were. The only thing missing was the athlete to arrive.
"Hey, hey! How was your class?" Pinkie greeted.
"More relaxed than the others," Applejack said.
"That's nice," Fluttershy said, noticing the farmer's improved mood.
At that, the multicolored girl approached with her hands in her pockets, craning her neck. The girls greeted her.
"Dash, can we talk? It'll be short," the blonde asked.
The four exchanged slightly worried glances.
The athlete stopped dead at the proposal; at first she wanted to resist another chat, since she had just arrived, but then she remembered yesterday. "Okay, where are we going?"
"Actually, close by," Applejack said, pointing to a quiet corner of the courtyard.
"Fine," Rainbow replied.
As the two walked away to the quiet corner of the courtyard, the girls exchanged glances briefly, but neither said anything.
Twilight watched the scene in silence, adjusting her glasses as she usually did when analyzing something. "I hope that, whatever happened, they speak clearly," thought, keeping her gaze on them for just a second longer before turning her attention back to Pinkie.
Fluttershy, for her part, cast a quick glance at Rainbow, but quickly lowered her eyes. She knew something was out of place, but she wasn't one to ask directly. "I hope they speak calmly..." thought to herself, choosing not to say anything out loud. She just crossed her arms softly.
Pinkie, being who she was, broke the silence with a bright smile. "I'm sure everything will work out! They always do," commented with carefree energy, shaking her head and pulling a small bag of candy out of her bag. "Candy for everyone!" she offered cheerfully, as if nothing was out of the ordinary. However, the others noticed the slight hesitation in her voice before she returned to her usual tone.
Sunset, with a relaxed expression, joined the conversation. "Girls, I don't think anything happened, sometimes it's good to talk things over alone and there doesn't necessarily have to be an argument. Trust me," added with a smile. The girls looked at her and nodded, hoping she was right.
On the couple's side. "First I wanted to say that I'm feeling better now... that weight I was feeling is gone," Applejack began, making some gestures with her hands.
"Good, then the distraction helped you well," Rainbow said, nodding.
"Yeah. And the other thing... I know we don't normally talk about this and let it go, but this time I wanted to apologize for my attitude," the farmer continued.
"It's okay, blondie. Many can say things that we normally don't think when we're in a bad mood," said, downplaying it.
Applejack nodded as well. "Should I tell him about the gestures? ... I think he understood what I meant. We have our method of... affection, I guess?" thought, while looking at the ground. "I was thinking," continued, trying to sound casual, now looking at her, "that since we're days away from being in full swing with university, we could go out next week."
Rainbow glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. "You said it yourself, AJ... we're going to be in full swing with school, so we won't be able to go out next week," replied, nodding slowly.
The farmer let out a laugh. "Uh... yeah. I think I contradicted myself," muttered, almost without any intention of continuing the conversation.
"Although remember that there's a date coming up," the multicolored one said, waving a hand.
The blonde nodded. "Let's go with the girls," she said, taking a few steps, until her partner stopped her by speaking.
"Wait, first," said, taking a candy out of her jacket pocket. "Here, maybe then you'll be 100%. I remembered your taste and bought it a little while ago."
Applejack raised an eyebrow at seeing a chocolate bar. "A bar? Could he put in some effort? And what are you lying to me about?" thought, then relaxed her expression and held out her hand to receive the chocolate. "Thanks, Dash," said, forcing a smile.
"You're welcome, now we can go with the girls," replied Rainbow, followed by the farmer, but her mind was already somewhere else.
When they were close to their friends, the blonde spoke.
"There, I said I'd be brief," said as she opened the chocolate bar.
"Looks like nothing happened," Twilight thought.
"I knew it was nothing," Sunset thought, relieved.
Seeing that the atmosphere was not tense, the party girl decided to bring up the topic of conversation that everyone had, at some point, thought about.
"Hey, girls, let's see where we're going. Twilight, any place in mind?" said eagerly, looking at her friend.
All of them, except the blue-haired girl, looked at each other with a smile.
"It's true, we have to plan our studies. We're just a few days away from study week," Twilight said thoughtfully, with her mind on the midterms.
"Oh, Twi," Pinkie said, letting out a sigh.
"What?" the girl with glasses asked, confused.
Sunset held back her laughter and the others shook their heads, which confused the girl with glasses even more.
Elsewhere, after leaving school, Rarity headed to the library, shaking her head a little. She was a little nervous; it was already the last week, and the weeks were going by quickly. Soon she would be in the dreaded 'crash study week'.
So, once again, she set out to ask for more books to better understand the concepts. As always, she chose a thick one, until some voices distracted her, recognizing them so she kept it on the shelf.
"Seriously, girls, you've been talking to me for..." she heard Twilight say, who paused. From the way the conversation was going, Rarity bet she was checking the time. She was right when she heard the answer: "Almost an hour just to convince me to take the day off!"
"Yeah, especially you," heard Rainbow say.
She heard Sunset laugh. "I can't believe you forgot yourself."
Rarity lowered her head, remembering that the girl was about to have a birthday. "You're no longer the youngest of the group," murmured.
The streets were quiet in the morning as Rarity, Twilight, and Sunset walked together, laughing softly at something the red-haired girl had just mentioned.
"So, what exactly are we going to do with those pictures?" the blue-haired girl asked, adjusting her glasses and glancing sideways at the seamstress.
"Oh, darlinght, I just thought it would be nice to have some of our first pictures printed out. You know, something to remember," she replied with a charming smile.
Twilight smiled slightly, remembering that surprise the girls had prepared for her. "I can't believe they kept it a secret for so long."
"Well, keeping secrets isn't always easy," Sunset commented, crossing her arms behind her head as they walked. "Especially with Pinkie, who almost exploded trying not to reveal it."
"Definitely," Rarity added with a small laugh. "But we managed it." said pausing before speaking at an idea. "I thought the three of us could go out... do you like the spa?"
"Spa?" Sunset repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, I went with Fluttershy a few days ago, but I think it would be ideal for her to spend more time with Rainbow. Time with her best friend."
"You're right, even though there are seven of us, it doesn't mean we always have to go out together. Sometimes it's good to spend time little by little, enjoying other things," the red-haired girl said, nodding.
"True, but the spa... I don't know if it would be ideal," Twilight said, doubtfully.
"You're right, we'll think of another place," Rarity said, as they stopped in front of the photography shop, whose walls were decorated with black and white images showing moments captured in the city.
When they arrived at the store, they found the others, who were somewhat scattered. The curly-haired girl approached her partner, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, she seemed somewhat distracted, looking at something in particular that she didn't pay attention to.
"AJ..." Rarity said softly, but Applejack was still lost.
"Jackie," repeated, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Huh? What?" the farmer said reacting, blinking a few times before focusing her attention on the seamstress.
"What happened? You're out of it," Rarity said with a smile, her eyes shining.
"Oh, sorry," Applejack said, scratching her head with a smile as she noticed her partner's presence. "Did you fall asleep, Sleeping Beauty?" joked, receiving a kiss from the seamstress.
"Ha, ha, maybe, but I just missed the kiss to wake up," said, blushing a little.
"Well, it's never too late," the blonde said, coming closer to kiss her again.
"Ahem," Rainbow interrupted, approaching with Fluttershy who were on the other side. "There are a lot of people to see that show," joked.
"Maybe we'll save that for later," Rarity said, giggling nervously.
"So, you say you want the physical picture?" Pinkie asked excitedly.
"I like that idea," the farmer said, putting her arm around Rarity's shoulders.
"Hat, shirt with an apple on it, and boots..." the multicolored one said as if she were analyzing, observing Applejack with curiosity and something else. "Yeah, you're obviously not a fan of technology."
"Is that a compliment?" asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know, take it as you will," Rainbow said with a half-smile, looking at her a little longer before entering the store.
The girls, except the couple, exchanged glances and then followed them.
"And how many copies do you want?" the man in charge asked, his deep, kind voice echoing through the small shop.
"Twice as many as us?" Applejack suggested, looking at the girls.
"Not too many, I'd say seven is enough, right?" Rarity said.
"Sure, no need to have more," Sunset added.
With the amount ordered, they waited for the man to print out the photos, while Rarity looked at the images on her phone.
"Oh, look at this one," said, pointing to a photo on her phone. "Here we all are while Pinkie and I were decorating and the others were putting up the tablecloths, right before the party."
"Wow," Twilight said with a smile. "I didn't suspect a thing."
"We were so nervous you'd find out," Fluttershy said, laughing.
"No wonder," Rarity added, nodding. "It was quite a challenge to keep it a secret."
"Luckily a certain young lady made it," Sunset said, as everyone looked at the party girl.
"I bit my tongue to resist temptation!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"And I hope she continues to do so with other things," Applejack said, winking at him. The party girl nodded discreetly, understanding what he meant as she briefly glanced at the seamstress.
When the man showed the first photocopy, Rainbow took it to look at it.
"Look, Sparkle, if you look at it from another perspective, it seems like you're literally the youngest," joked, showing the picture.
"Oh, Twilight, you're not the youngest of the group anymore," Rarity said, bringing a hand to her chest in a dramatic tone, causing laughter from her friends to echo throughout the store.
Pinkie laughed out loud and the bespectacled girl narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms in a gesture of mock annoyance.
"Are you really still going with that whole 'youngest of the group' thing?" replied, feigning annoyance, but clearly amused.
"Well, it's a fact, Twi," Rainbow added with a smirk. "Even in the pictures you can tell."
The blue-haired girl sighed, but smiled sideways. "Okay, okay, I guess I'm used to being 'the little one' in some ways."
"But that makes you special!" Pinkie exclaimed, still giggling. "Speaking of doing special things... We should do something like that again," she suggested, looking at her friends. "It'll be fun."
"Do you have something in mind, Sugar Rush?" the sporty girl asked with her arms crossed.
"Yeah!" said, skipping. "Halloween is coming up!"
"I think I know where this is going," Applejack said, giggling.
A lot of ideas ran through the girl's mind about what crazy things the party girl might have in mind for Halloween.
Present
Rarity smiled as she emerged from the memory. "Those were the days," thought, letting the melancholy wash over her for a moment. Her friends' voices continued to echo through the library, so she remained in her 'hiding spot'.
Hearing nothing for a while, she assumed the girls had already left the library. With a determined sigh, she stepped out from behind the shelf to head to the counter and ask for the books. But as she took a step, she suddenly met Fluttershy's gaze, who stopped dead in her tracks.
The animal lover watched her for a moment, and Rarity noticed how the shy girl looked hesitant for a moment and swore she saw that she was about to open her mouth to speak. But before they could exchange words, someone else caught the pink-haired girl's attention and quickly left the library, leaving her alone once again.
"Wow, before it was regret and sadness at seeing them from afar... now it's... nostalgia," said to herself, a slight smile appearing on her lips as she recalled the moments they shared. As she approached the counter.
As she reached the counter, the librarian greeted her with a smile. "How can I help you today?"
Rarity opened her mouth.
Hours had passed, and Rainbow Dash was walking through the halls towards the teachers' lounge. She had a report due today, and with a confident smile on her face, she felt ready for the challenge.
When she arrived, she knocked on the door and was let in. She approached her teacher, who was looking through some papers.
"Hello, teacher!" greeted. "Here's the report on a legend."
"With what legend?" he asked, glancing at the document.
"Yeah, I watched the movie again yesterday, and it's a gem!" Rainbow exclaimed, spreading her hands.
"It definitely has a lot of interesting and noteworthy things," her teacher commented, nodding in approval.
"Yeah, that guy who was manipulating Freddie is mother-" began to say, but her teacher cleared his throat when he realized what she was about to say.
"He's a detestable person," Rainbow corrected, laughing a little.
"That sounds better, Miss Dash," her teacher replied, smiling at her spontaneity.
The conversation over, she left the staff room. She stretched a little, enjoying the satisfaction of having completed her task.
As she walked down the hall, thinking, she heard a soft voice behind her. "Rainbow!"
She turned around and saw Fluttershy approaching. "Hey, Fluttershy! How was your last class?" asked.
"Good... a little intense, I don't want to think about last week," Fluttershy replied, waving her hands nervously.
"Wow, don't think about that yet. It's time to go home! Would you like to go together?" Rainbow proposed with a smile.
Fluttershy nodded softly. "Sure, I was thinking of walking though."
The multicolored girl let out a small laugh. "I was just going to tell you to walk."
"Walking? And your car?" asked raising an eyebrow.
Rainbow smiled, shrugging. "I convinced Scoot to walk today. She was excited to ride her scooter. Like the first few days."
After a pause, she added, "Plus, I get to spend more time... with you."
Fluttershy smiled warmly, grateful for the gesture. "Thanks, Rainbow. Let's go to the entrance, then."
As they walked to the main entrance, they both noticed Scootaloo waving goodbye to Sweetie Belle and Rarity, who were walking away through the door. The sportswoman let out a barely audible sigh, her hands briefly clenching in her pockets. Fluttershy supposed it was her way of showing frustration at having to see the seamstress every day.
Despite this, she was glad that Rainbow didn't speak ill of her like before. Although the seamstress occupied her thoughts, what weighed most heavily on the pink-haired girl's mind were the memories of when they were all closer, something that made her a little sad.
"Hey, girls! Ready?" Scootaloo asked, noticing their presence.
Rainbow looked at her with a more relaxed smile. "Yeah, we're ready. Just be careful not to bump into each other, okay?"
The magenta-haired girl laughed carefree. "I've never crashed."
The three of them walked out the door, following the path home. The sound of the scooter's wheels mixed with the silence of the afternoon.
"Hey," Rainbow began, her tone more serious as they walked, "I don't want to insist, but... is everything okay with the other day?"
Fluttershy looked down, playing with the edge of her backpack as she thought. "Yeah, I'm fine, but... I wouldn't like to talk about it, if you don't mind."
The multicolored girl nodded in understanding, though her slight frown indicated that she'd like her friend to confide in her. "It's okay. I understand that you don't want to reveal the conversation you had with Twilight."
"I just hope it's not something serious, right?"
The pink-haired girl sighed, her gaze lost on the ground as she tried to find the right words. "I wouldn't call it serious, but... it's something I remembered and I can't stop thinking about it."
Rainbow tilted her head, trying to read her friend's emotions. "Is that why you've been so distracted? It seems like you have something else on your mind."
Fluttershy sighed deeply, looking up at the sky for a moment before speaking. "Have you ever felt nostalgia? Like you remember moments that won't come back."
The multicolored one frowned, pondering for a moment before answering. "Nostalgia, huh... Yeah, sometimes. Like when I think about how we used to be." Her tone was softer, referring to her close friendship with the animal lover.
"Why do you bring it up? Are you worried about something in particular?"
Fluttershy fell silent, her fingers interlacing nervously as she thought about how to hide the real reason. "I don't know... These days I've remembered things, moments with the group. I wonder if we'll ever be able to live them again."
Scootaloo stopped, taking a spin on her scooter before looking back at them. "What is nostalgia? Is it like when you miss something you liked but you don't have it anymore?"
The shy one smiled slightly at her. "Yeah, something like that. Sometimes I think about how we used to be, and I wish some things had never changed."
Rainbow stopped as well, looking at her seriously. "Those memories are important, but it's also okay to move on, you know? We can always make new moments, even if they're not exactly like the ones before."
Fluttershy smiled back, though it was evident that she still had some sadness in her eyes. "You're right. I'm grateful to have you and the girls in my life."
The multicolored girl, noticing her friend's tone of voice, wanted to cheer her up more. "Although, if you want to relive something, we can always try. Like when we went to those water games. We could go again with the girls sometime in the future. It won't be the same, but I bet it would be just as fun."
The younger one chimed in enthusiastically. "Yes! And there will always be new adventures! Like this walk, let's make it fun!"
Fluttershy opened her eyes with a more relaxed expression. Maybe, things wouldn't be the same with Rarity again, but if fate allowed it, they could create new memories together.
"Thank you, Rainbow," said, her tone genuine as she smiled. "You've made me feel better. I'm still a little homesick, but I think I know how to handle it."
Rainbow gave him a relaxed smile. "I'm glad I could help. You know you can always count on me."
"I know, Dash."
The three continued walking, the atmosphere filled with laughter and light conversation, while Rainbow made sure Fluttershy knew she would always be there for her.
When they arrived, the sportswoman saw her friend's house. It had been a long time since she had been there. This would be the first time in a long time that she would see her again.
"And we got home," announced, smiling.
"Thanks, Dash. Seriously, your comment helped me... I know you'll be there, regardless of whether I need it or not," Fluttershy said with a warm smile, reminiscing a bit.
"Wow, I didn't expect to hear so much praise... You're welcome, Flutter," replied, smiling back.
The pink-haired girl was going to walk towards the door, and the multicolored girl was going to follow her to leave her there, but she remembered a certain relative of her friend. "Wait, is your brother there?"
"Most likely," Fluttershy said, briefly looking at the house and realizing. "Oh..." said, looking at her friend.
Rainbow shook her head. "Do you ever think he'll stop being like this with me? Zephyr doesn't seem to understand what rejection is."
"Maybe, she'll get over it someday," her friend said doubtfully.
"On an alternate line, maybe," the jock said, taking a few steps back.
"On an alternate line, everything would be the other way around," Fluttershy added.
"How different would it be?" the multicolored girl wondered. "I don't want to dive into something that's out of logic."
"You look like Twilight," the pink-haired girl commented with a small laugh.
Rainbow opened her eyes. "I hope not."
Fluttershy laughed at her friend's expression. "Thanks for bringing me," said, approaching the door without taking her eyes off her.
"You're welcome, whenever you want, we can walk," offered, gesturing with her fingers to her head.
"I'd like to," Fluttershy replied, taking out her keys and looking up to open the door. "See you tomorrow, Rainbow." With that, she walked in and closed the door behind her.
"See you tomorrow," she said, turning around and walking over to her sister, who was standing to the side waiting, but with her attention fixed on her phone. "Ready, Scoot!" called.
"Oh?" said, taking off her headphones.
"You know, you have to be careful when skating and wear headphones when you're on the street," Rainbow warned, frowning slightly.
"I know, I know," replied with an innocent smile. "But I was listening to my favorite playlist."
The rainbow sighed, but couldn't help but smile at her sister's carefree attitude. "Let's go home. Let's play a little, shall we?"
"Great!" Scootaloo exclaimed excitedly.
Rainbow took one last look back. "I knew it was a good idea," thought with a smile, and the two began to walk back, leaving Fluttershy's house behind.
The last day came just like the previous one. The girls arrived a little late because of their schedule, and now Applejack was in her marketing class, sharing space with some acquaintances, including the seamstress.
She paid attention to what the teacher was explaining, who asked them to open the book on a specific page and the corresponding item. The teacher's words echoed in the classroom, accompanied by the soft turning of pages and the occasional murmur of the students. Outside, the sun, filling the room with a warm light that made it harder to concentrate.
As she tried to follow the explanation, she heard a slight murmur nearby. At first she ignored it, but it soon began to distract her. Applejack frowned, looking for where that sound was coming from. She turned her head and realized it was Rarity, lost in her thoughts, turning the pages without paying attention.
The farmer shook her head slightly, wondering what she was thinking to be so absent. It was not annoyance that she felt, but rather a strange mix of restlessness and curiosity. How could someone so meticulous get so distracted? She remembered the talk they had recently had.
The teacher kept explaining, but her eyes kept going back to the seamstress. She sighed, making a decision.
"Psss..." muttered, careful not to let the teacher hear her. She checked again to see if the teacher was still explaining and then turned back to Rarity, who still didn't notice the sign.
"Pss..." insisted, a little louder. This time the seamstress raised her head, looking for where the voice was coming from. After another 'pss', she finally looked at her, confused.
Applejack discreetly picked up her book and with her fingers pointed to the page and item they were working on. Rarity was surprised by the gesture, but quickly looked for the right page. Once she found it, she raised her head briefly only to see that the blonde had already returned to concentrating on the explanation.
The curly-haired girl looked down at her book, and a small smile formed on her lips. She didn't know if this was another one of those moments that would make her think there was a chance for her to be disappointed in the end, but she felt a slight relief.
Applejack, for her part, let out a low sigh, not wanting to think too much about what she had just done. It had been a simple act of courtesy, right? Nothing more.
Minutes later, they marked the end of class. Applejack closed her book and put it in her backpack, while the other students began to leave. She stood up and, without hurrying, went to the locker to leave her things before training.
The hallway was full of students, but the farmer was focused on her own thing. When she reached her locker, she quickly opened it, put away the marketing book and took out her equipment for training. She closed the locker with a soft slam and adjusted her hat before walking to the gym.
She took a deep breath as she crossed the halls. A new training awaited her, and in her mind, she left class and everything that had happened behind. Fresh air awaited her in the countryside.
As usual on Fridays, the day passed quickly due to the short hours of classes. Hours later, our girls were already in their respective homes.
The blonde, as always, wanted to help on the farm, so, after leaving her things in her room, she went down to the backyard to pick some apples.
The sun was lowering on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold, while a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees around the farm. Applejack was now sitting on a high branch of one of the oak trees, her hat tilted slightly back, watching the changing colors in the sky. The heat of the day was slowly disappearing, replaced by a cooler air.
Big Mac walked out into the backyard, noticing his sister's silhouette against the orange sky. He frowned, knowing something had been bothering her.
"Applejack, everything okay?" he asked in his low, calm tone.
The blonde looked down at him, with a half smile.
"Yeah, everything seems better now," replied, shifting her feet gently from her position on the branch. "I'm just watching the sunset. Come on, climb up and see."
With her usual calm, she began to climb the tree, but didn't sit down. Instead, she stood, holding herself up on a lower branch, her hands resting on the rough bark.
"So, you feeling better?" he asked, not taking his eyes off her.
Applejack nodded. "Yeah... I guess I needed that conversation with Belle," muttered, as if speaking more to herself than to her brother.
Big Mac frowned, confused. "Belle?"
"Rarity," quickly corrected.
A barely visible smile spread across his brother's face.
"I hope you didn't yell at him to let off steam."
The farm girl narrowed her eyes. "How do you know...?" she paused before letting out a resigned sigh. "Pinkie."
Big Mac let out a small, almost inaudible laugh. "At least he says the things you'd rather hide," commented, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Applejack raised her eyebrows, feigning surprise, but immediately relaxed, knowing she couldn't hide much from her older brother. "Sure," replied in a wry tone.
He looked at her intently, and after a brief silence, he asked more seriously, "And what do you mean you needed that conversation?"
She hesitated for a moment, biting the inside of her cheek, but she knew her brother was always a good source of advice, no matter how reserved it was. Finally, she sighed.
"With him coming back... and something I did... I got stuck on our past relationship," said. The words came out easier than she expected.
Her brother just nodded, giving her the space to continue.
"And, well, I was feeling frustrated... I didn't understand why I was acting like this. I started comparing certain things... things I shouldn't be comparing. I piled it all up until... well, you know... I ended up yelling at Belle."
Big Mac watched her, his face calm but firm.
"I know, it was wrong," Applejack continued, lowering her gaze. "She waited for me in the hallways the other day, and somehow, we indirectly talked about our thing. We didn't go very deep, but it's something, isn't it?" He gave a weak smile, seeking his brother's approval. "And I think that helped me... I don't feel this frustration anymore."
He nodded slowly. "It's good to realize that some things from the past can still affect us, even when we think we're over them."
Applejack nodded with a small, but sincere smile.
Big Mac looked at her with the same calmness as usual, but this time his gaze was more penetrating, as if he were trying to find something his sister wasn't saying. "And how did things turn out?" he asked in a soft tone.
"We decided to move on. She on her side, I on mine... just like it's been since she came back," she answered, as if he were repeating something he had already decided. "And I told her after what we talked about..." she paused, so his brother would understand that he was referring to the relationship. "...doesn't change what's going on with the girls."
Big Mac shook his head, smiling to himself. "Stubborn as always..." he thought and simply replied, "Sometimes, it's just a matter of seeing things more clearly."
Applejack looked at him curiously. She remembered a bit about class. "Today was just a favor... I guess, right?" thought.
"I know what you said about seeing things, but still... I have to focus on the present. Maybe, if there's any chance... I'll be able to make up with Belle, like Pinkie did."
His brother nodded again.
The sky, which had been a warm orange before, was now turning a dark blue, indicating that the sunset was coming to an end.
"Come on, the wind's going to start blowing hard," said, carefully turning around to climb down from the tree, but stopped. "AJ?"
"Yeah?"
Big Mac grimaced, as if he was debating whether or not to answer. Finally, she decided to speak up. "Have you considered that there's something else that's... not right on my personal front?"
Applejack looked at him, clearly confused. "What could be wrong with my personal life?" asked, bewildered. "I have great friends and a somewhat complicated partner, but everything seems to be fine."
Her brother paused before speaking.
"You're right, but... I hope... I mean, I just hope you realize what I mean," he said, before jumping down and onto the ground with the same confidence as always.
The farmer sat on the branch, looking at her brother with a bewildered expression, wondering what exactly he meant. As the wind began to blow harder, she turned her gaze to the sky, now a deep blue.
The days seemed to slip by quickly, leaving behind fleeting moments that barely managed to be appreciated. The laughter and excitement soon faded, giving way to a denser atmosphere. As October came, the pressure became evident; classes became more intense and the teachers, with their ever-higher demands, echoed in the minds of each student.
Luckily, the students had brief moments of relaxation that offered respite. However, for Rarity, those moments seemed insufficient. The elegance and control that had always characterized her were challenged by the overwhelming pressure she felt.
Thus, the second week of October began, and the dressmaker's internal struggle intensified, while the echo of expectations continued to resonate in her mind. That afternoon after class, everyone was at home, facing the pressure of studying. Rarity was in the kitchen, taking something out of the refrigerator to eat before continuing with her studies.
As she walked up the stairs to her room, she saw some photos on Instagram that made her smile. "Looks like not everyone feels this pressure," thought.
Reaching the second floor, she paused as she heard soft music coming from her younger sister's room. The door was ajar, so Rarity pushed it open slightly.
"Hey, Sweetie. What are you doing?" asked with a smile.
Sweetie Belle looked up from her desk, surrounded by books and papers. "I'm just finishing up some math homework. You?"
"I just came to relax a bit before I get down to studying," said, sighing. "Midterms are a week away..."
"I'll be like this in a few days," Sweetie commented with a grimace.
"Relax while you can," said with a giggle. She said goodbye and walked to her room.
Opening the door, he froze at the sight of his mother, sitting on the edge of the bed with some papers in her hands. Rarity's notebooks and papers were scattered across the desk.
"Mother! What are you doing here?" asked, with a mix of surprise and nervousness.
Cookie looked up, visibly serious, but trying to remain calm. "I wanted to see how your studies were going, now that there are only a few days left... and I saw that you left your notebooks open on the desk. I got a little worried and wanted to take a look at your notes."
The seamstress felt a knot in her stomach when she saw the folded sheets her mother was holding. They were the notes she had hidden. She tensed a little and tried to keep her composure.
"Mother, I... I didn't want you to worry."
The woman sighed, her voice becoming more serious. "I understand that you don't want to worry me, but you can't hide these things from me. I'm worried about how you're handling your studies. You know that I've always wanted the best for you."
Rarity looked down, feeling the pressure and guilt increase. Her mother's words were like a weight on her chest. "I know, Mother. It's just that... I thought I could manage on my own and I didn't want to disappoint you."
"Rarity, this isn't about disappointing me. This is about your future. I just want you to be well prepared for whatever comes next. I need to know that you're doing your best," her mother said in a firm tone.
The seamstress felt tears building up in her eyes, but she tried her best not to shed them. "But I'm doing my best! I'm trying to live up to your expectations, but it seems like nothing is enough. I don't want to disappoint you... I don't want to fail this time..." said desperately.
Cookie subtly raised an eyebrow, but returned to her seriousness. "I hope you'll do your best," said as she stood up.
Rarity nodded, and her mother left the room. Future scenes of failure were playing in the seamstress's mind, and she didn't want to feel that. The feeling of not having done enough, the pressure and fear of not meeting her mother's expectations overwhelmed her, making her heart race. It all happened in the blink of an eye.
Meanwhile, in a distant room, Sweetie Belle winced as she overheard a bit of the argument. She heard the door open and saw her mother peeking in.
"Hello, dear, how are you?"
"Uh... Good," said with a fake smile, trying to cover it up.
"You managed to hear, didn't you?"
Sweetie Belle relaxed her twisted expression. "A little, yes, but I'm sure I understand what I was taught. And Rarity will too."
"I know, dear, I know it's hard for Rarity, but I'm sure she'll get it," Cookie said with a smile.
Sweetie Belle smiled back.
"I'll leave you, but come down soon, I want to show you something... a surprise," her mother said.
"I'll be right there, Mom," replied.
"Okay..." said, moving away from the door to go to the stairs.
The younger girl got up from her chair and left the room, but she looked at her sister's door and then at the stairs. She thought about saying some encouraging words to Rarity, so she headed to her room first.
When she arrived, she knocked on the door. Hearing nothing, she opened it and found her sister sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall.
"Rarity!" exclaimed, quickly entering and kneeling beside her. "Are you okay? Did you get...?"
"Yes..." replied weakly.
"But it's been a long time since you got one," Sweetie Belle said worriedly. "I don't think Mom would let you get one..."
"It was my fault; several thoughts went through my mind, making me more nervous and giving me a fit," Rarity explained, looking at her with a weak expression.
"We have to tell Mom and Dad!" said the younger, worried, trying to get up, but was stopped by her sister's hand.
"Wait... I don't want to worry them," said, calmer.
"But Rarity, it's been a long time since you had one, and now, after all this time, you had a fit again," Sweetie Belle insisted.
"I know, but you have enough, especially Mom, to worry you about this. Please, Sweetie Belle, let this be a sisterly secret," asked.
The youngest Belle was not convinced, but ended up agreeing. "On one condition."
The seamstress gave a weak laugh. "I just had an anxiety attack, and you ask me for one condition."
Sweetie Belle laughed. "It's nothing big."
Rarity settled herself more comfortably. "Okay, what's the condition?"
The younger sister gave her a half-smile and asked for her cell phone, partly explaining why she needed it.
"Now that I've passed it on to you and this is a secret, I need you to go down to our parents' room," said, settling into her bed after getting up with her sister's help.
"I need my medication." Rarity's voice sounded firmer than she felt inside, but the pressure in her muscles was still palpable, reminding her how exhausted she was.
Sweetie Belle stopped paying attention to her phone and looked at her seriously. "Didn't you say to keep it between us?"
"Yeah, that's why I want you to do it quietly, almost like you're a spy," said, with a small laugh that didn't manage to hide her nervousness.
"Oh... I was just going downstairs because Mom asked me to," Sweetie Belle replied, with a hand on her chin, thinking. "I'll see how I do it." She stood up and left the room with a determined expression.
She carefully made her way downstairs, checking to see if her mother was distracted before entering her parents' room. Luckily, her mom was in the kitchen, busy. Following the hallway that led to her parents' room, Sweetie made sure to walk briskly.
Inside the room, she began to search for the medicines. Every now and then, she glanced at the door and walked on tiptoe. "A spy," thought, remembering Rarity's words.
She checked her mom's dresser, but found nothing. She tried her dad's, also with no luck. Just a few. She picked a random drawer, and, after a brief moment of searching, she finally found them.
Feeling triumphant, she quickly stood up and hid the medicines in the waistband of her skirt. "It wasn't that hard to be a spy," said with a victorious smile.
Just then, her dad came out of the bathroom.
"Spy?" asked, with a raised eyebrow.
"Ah... uh, well..." Sweetie Belle began to stutter, nervous.
"Has your mom not shown you the surprise yet?" her dad asked, without giving it much importance.
The younger girl took the opportunity. "Yeah! That... Mom mentioned it, and I thought you'd hide it like you did before," said, finding the perfect excuse.
"Not this time, honey. It's in the kitchen." Hondo smiled and waved an arm toward the door, motioning for her to head there.
Sweetie Belle hurried out of the room, followed by her dad. As they reached the kitchen, he commented, "Looks like the little princess thought the surprise was in the bedroom."
Cookie let out a small laugh as she turned around. "Honey, looks like you were wrong this time," said, looking at her daughter.
The younger girl hid it with a smile. "You know I can't help myself sometimes when I suspect a surprise or gift," said, still trying to calm herself down.
Cookie and Hondo shared a knowing look before her mom pulled a box off the counter, covered in a cloth. She slowly lifted it, revealing a tray of raspberry macarons, the little girl's favorite.
"Taran!" Cookie announced with a wide smile.
"We know how much you like these, so we made a special stop to buy them at the bakery," Hondo added, winking at her.
Sweetie Belle's eyes lit up at the sight of her favorite sweets. Although she was still on a secret mission to help Rarity, she couldn't help but smile at her parents' thoughtfulness.
"Thanks, Mom, Dad!" said, hiding her excitement as she made sure the medicines were well hidden.
"We considered Rarity too, but one at a time," Cookie said with a slight smile.
"It's only fair," the younger girl replied with a smile. "Next time you could bring Rarity's when she finishes her tests."
"I was thinking about that," her mother added.
Sweetie Belle glanced surreptitiously at the ceiling and then at the macarons. "Can I take three up to my room while I finish my homework?"
"Sure, but only three since dinner will be ready soon," Hondo said as he grabbed a plate and placed three down.
"Oh, and a glass of water so I don't choke," asked, being cautious.
Cookie pulled out a glass and filled it halfway with water from the jug.
Sweetie, already holding the plate and glass, tried not to drop the box of medicine she was hiding as she walked slowly. "Thanks, I love you."
"We love you too," her parents replied in unison.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Rarity waited nervously, hoping her little sister wouldn't be discovered. She sat on her bed, leaning against the wall, her body feeling like it was made of lead. Every tense muscle in her arms made her wince in pain. She had forgotten what it felt like after an attack; sometimes it was muscle aches, other times it was fatigue, and sometimes it was disorientation.
She didn't know whether to consider it a relief that she wasn't disoriented this time, but on the other hand, the tiredness in her body wasn't a comfort either. So she just took a deep breath, just as she had been suggested in the past. However, now she had to think about how to hide that pain during dinner if the medicines didn't work after a year.
She raised her head at the sound of the door handle. She hoped it wasn't one of her parents. To her relief, she saw that it was her sister, who closed the door behind her.
She handed the medicine and water to Rarity, who took them immediately.
"Thanks..." muttered, settling back down on the bed after gulping down the water.
"It was nothing," Sweetie Belle replied with a smile, trying to keep the mood light. "Although I almost got caught being a spy... but I used my stealth skills."
Rarity laughed. "You were an amazing spy."
"Get some rest, okay?" Sweetie said, making sure Rarity grabbed a macaron to regain some energy. "I don't know if you're fatigued, but I took advantage of the surprise to bring two extra. You can eat all three if you want."
Rarity took one, and although she didn't feel fatigued, she thought maybe it would make her feel better. Sweetie Belle watched her with a calm gaze, satisfied that she had accomplished her mission.
Later, dinner time came around and the two of them went downstairs. Although it was a bit difficult for Rarity, she didn't feel as heavy as before, so she was able to hide it. Dinner was somewhat silent due to the recent argument between Cookie and Rarity. Hondo noticed the slight tension, but decided to ask his wife about it later.
Back in their room, Hondo and Cookie were getting ready for bed. Hondo was brushing his teeth, watching as his wife seemed deep in thought.
"Is something wrong, honey?" Hondo asked with the toothbrush in his mouth.
"It's just that I got into an argument with Rarity about keeping her grades from me... and you know how I am with our daughters' studies," replied, staring into space.
Hondo tried to say something with the toothbrush in his mouth, but the words came out incomprehensible.
"Oh, Hondo, rinse well," Cookie told him, with a soft smile.
The husband rinsed and spat out the toothpaste. "I noticed it during dinner, but I don't think it's just because of the grades, right?" asked as he walked back into the room.
"You're right. It's not just that," replied with a sigh.
"What is it, then?"
Cookie paused for a moment, as if searching for the right words. "Do you think Rarity expects anything more from me than not disappointing me?" said quietly, almost to herself.
"Well, she probably expects you to support her and be proud of her, to live up to your expectations," Hondo replied, waving his hand, as if he were listing.
Cookie's eyes widened, surprised by the idea. "Is that what she thinks?" asked, more to herself than to him.
"I don't understand..." said, confused.
"Rarity thinks she has to live up to my expectations... but I don't expect my daughters to be perfect. All I want is for them to do well in school, regardless of the profession they choose, to be happy," Cookie replied, with an expression of realization.
Her husband looked at her in surprise. "I thought you expected Rarity to be exactly like you in school... but you say that's not the case."
"I may have misinterpreted my words," Cookie mused. "I should make it clear to her, I don't want her to feel pressured unnecessarily."
"Definitely. Tell her your way," Hondo replied with a playful smile.
Cookie let out a small laugh. "You're right. I don't want her to get stressed to the point of an anxiety attack. I'll go see if she's still awake," said as he stood up.
He carefully climbed the stairs, checking to see if Sweetie Belle was already asleep. Then, he knocked softly on Rarity's door, but there was no answer. He tried again, and just as she was about to leave, she decided to enter.
The sight startled her: The eldest daughter was fast asleep on her notebooks on the desk. She approached with a tender smile.
"Looks like the warrior couldn't beat her studies for today," thought fondly.
Carefully, she opened Rarity's bed and tried to gently lift her up. The dressmaker barely opened her eyes, dazed, between sleep and wakefulness. Cookie gently guided her to the bed, helping her walk the few steps that separated them. Once she had her lying down, she covered her with the blankets, laughing to herself as she realized how big her daughter had grown.
"I definitely can't carry her like I did when she was little anymore," thought with a nostalgic smile.
She turned off the light and walked to the door. As she turned to look at her one last time, the moonlight illuminated Rarity's peaceful face.
"Good night, daughter," Cookie whispered before softly closing the door.
Author's Note
I know, it seems like there's not much revealed in this chapter, but I tried to fill in the gaps in the flashbacks to get to the missing revelations sooner, there's not much left.
What do you think Fluttershy's lie to Rarity in the past was?
I put in more subtle clues about Applejack and Rainbow, did anyone notice anything?
I wasn't sure at first about adding any interaction in this chapter between Applejack and Rarity after their conversation, but the scenes they have aren't exactly in words, so technically they didn't talk.
I've mentioned that I have advanced chapters, but that doesn't mean they're complete. I had some progress, but I just got blocked for a few days. Also, I signed up for a course that lasts all of October, so I couldn't move forward. A few days ago the light bulb went off and I was able to continue with this chapter.
I've also been thinking about changing the cover of the story. I found the current one to be very simple. Later when I upload the next chapter I'll change it or tomorrow if possible I'll translate it for tomorrow.
Well, I hope you liked the chapter. Until next time!

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                    Studies and doubts                     
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Studies and doubts
Rarity slowly opened her eyes before her alarm went off. The dim sunlight illuminated her face. She remembered one of the reasons she always wore her sleep mask, as the light curtains didn't block out the light completely.
She turned off the alarm and blinked a few times before getting up. She looked at her clothes and frowned when she saw that she was still dressed.
"How come I didn't change last night?" muttered to herself as she made her way to the closet. She picked out a black skirt and a white long-sleeved shirt for the cold, as well as a matching blouse.
Just as she was about to open the bathroom door, someone knocked.
"Yes?" asked.
The door opened, revealing Sweetie Belle in her pajamas. "Hello. How did you wake up?" asked with a yawn at the end.
Rarity smiled slightly. "Good. I don't feel the weight I had yesterday anymore," said, though her expression then turned thoughtful. "The bad thing is that today I have to work out... I don't know how my body is going to react after last night."
"Shouldn't you tell the teacher?" her younger sister suggested, leaning against the door frame.
The seamstress shook her head softly. "I don't think it's necessary... I may not be an athlete, but I'll be fine. And if not..." she walked over to her dresser, pulling out two boxes of pills, "...I have this for muscle pain," added, showing them to her. "I used it the first few days, when the exercise left me with some pain. Although I'll also take the ones I took last night."
Sweetie Belle nodded, calmer. "Well, that's better," said with a smile. "I'm going to put the water on to boil. Mom and Dad are gone."
"Thanks, Sweetie. I'm supposed to be looking out for you, not the other way around," Rarity said with a small laugh before entering the bathroom. Her younger sister also laughed as she walked out the door.
She walked down the stairs calmly, still in her pajamas. Upon reaching the kitchen, she walked over to the kettle and filled it with water. While she waited, her gaze fell on a small box on the table. She smiled as she remembered her parents' surprise from the night before: macarons.
She couldn't resist and grabbed some macarons, biting into a small piece with a satisfied smile.
"Mmm... this is what I need to start the day off right," murmured with her mouth full, enjoying every bite.
As the water boiled, she poured herself a glass of juice and allowed herself to enjoy another macaron, a hint of guilt in her expression.
"Rarity sure won't blame me if I eat a few more..." She chuckled, knowing that her older sister always scolded her for snacking between meals, just like her mom.
When the kettle finished heating the water, Sweetie Belle turned it off and headed over to the cabinet in search of a cup. She then grabbed four loaves of bread and put them in the toaster.
With the kitchen quiet and a little time to herself, Rarity settled into a chair, savoring the last macaron. A few minutes later, Rarity came downstairs, finding Sweetie Belle sitting at the table, eating macarons. The older girl cleared her throat slightly, drawing her younger sister's attention.
"Eh... heh heh... I was waiting for you," said, putting on an innocent expression as she tried to hide the macaron in her hand.
"You're going to get a sugar rush if you eat too much of that. At least you're not eating it at night, or you wouldn't be able to sleep," Rarity commented, looking at her with a raised eyebrow, though a playful smile was on her face.
"You said it," replied with a mischievous laugh. "This will keep me from falling asleep in class."
Before the seamstress could say anything else, she caught a peculiar scent in the air. "What's that smell?" asked, frowning.
"I think it's the bread," Sweetie Belle said, looking in the direction of the toaster.
"Again!" exclaimed, walking over to tend to the mess.
"Oops..." the younger girl said, watching as her sister rushed to save the bread. Although she still lacked practice in the most basic of cooking, she wasn't giving up.
Once they had 'sorted out' the bread issue, the two of them were sitting in the dining room, enjoying breakfast. Rarity was calmly drinking her tea while Sweetie Belle seemed excited about something.
"I want to tell you something we heard with the girls," said, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Did they catch your Taylor Swift fever?" the seamstress tried to guess, taking a sip of her tea.
"No! Well... almost... Apple Bloom is about to drop, but Scootaloo is a little more expensive," replied, with an amused smile.
"So what is it?" Rarity asked, now genuinely intrigued.
"I was going to tell it last night, but you know what happened," Sweetie Belle said, pausing for a moment before continuing. "You see, with the Crusaders we heard Diamond Tiara complaining that she didn't want to go anywhere with the class after midterms."
"So?" Rarity still didn't get the point of the story.
The younger girl raised an eyebrow, as if the curly-haired girl was overlooking something obvious. "Come on, Rarity... you know that Diamond Tiara's parents have influence at school, so they always find out about some things before everyone else. Apparently, after midterms, the class is going to have an outing... for fun!"
"Or something educational?" the seamstress suggested, arching an eyebrow as she bit into a piece of bread.
"Ow, Rarity..." sighed, a little put off by the comment.
"Sorry, but that could be it and they should behave. I remember one class that didn't have a walk for bad behavior," said, remembering a few years back.
"When did you meet the girls?" Sweetie Belle asked curiously, leaning forward.
"No, I hadn't officially met them yet," replied, eating another piece of bread, her mind briefly wandering back to those times.
The youngest Belle, curious, rested her chin on her hands and looked at her sister with interest. "So, if you didn't know them, what were those days like for you?"
Rarity sighed, staring at her teacup for a moment, lost in thought. "It was a bit of a lonely time, really. I didn't have many close friends. I was always focused on my studies and my di-" She didn't finish the last sentence and just continued, "But everything changed when I met the girls..."
Sweetie Belle just nodded, not wanting to go deeper into the subject her sister didn't want to talk about. "The Mane Six, right?"
"You know about that nickname?" asked, more to herself than to her sister.
"Apple Bloom told me about it once."
Rarity nodded in understanding. "About the other thing," said, returning to the subject, forming a soft smile. "With them, I learned what it meant to have true friends. And although right now we're not as good as we used to be... I'll always remember our times."
The dining room fell silent for a moment, both sisters deep in thought. Then, the younger one broke the silence with a lighter tone.
"Well, at least you have someone to complain to when my bread burns," joked, causing Rarity to let out a small laugh.
"Yeah, I can always count on you for those little cooking failures," said, with an amused smile.
The dressmaker stood up and began to clear away the breakfast dishes. As she did, she glanced out the window. The sky was clear, but the cool October wind blew through the window. "It looks like it's going to be a quiet day, but you should still wear a jacket. I don't want you to catch a cold."
"Yes, Mom," Sweetie Belle replied, rolling her eyes playfully.
Rarity laughed lightly. "I could never take Mom's place. Now go get dressed."
The younger girl headed upstairs to get dressed while the older girl paced around the living room a bit, looking around the empty space. "It feels so desolate without Mom and Dad..."
"Mom," repeated quietly, and closed her eyes as she remembered the argument. "I have to find a way to get my head around what it's going to take for me next week," he muttered as he walked up the stairs to get his things, thinking about how to deal with what awaits him.
Pinkie Pie was leaving her house, raising her arms in an enthusiastic wave as she saw the red, somewhat old but well-kept truck and quickly getting in.
"Hey, AJ and Apple Bloom!" greeted with a beaming smile.
"Hey," they replied in unison.
Once she had buckled up, Applejack began driving. The sound of the engine roared softly, as the wind blew through the window, mixing with Pinkie's laughter.
"Did you see the picture I posted?!" the excited party girl asked, waving her hands as if she were catching the pictures in the air.
"I haven't seen them yet. How many did you post?" the farmer asked, glancing over before focusing on the road.
"I wish I could have gone!" Apple Bloom interrupted, frowning a little annoyed.
"You went last year, and how did things turn out?" Applejack said, raising an eyebrow that was reflected in the rearview mirror, a slight smile on her lips.
Apple Bloom just bared her teeth, followed by a giggle. "Come on, it wasn't that bad. It was just a little cake fight."
"A fight we had to clean up after!" said, sounding amused.
"Well, that side wasn't very pleasant," Apple Bloom said, grimacing.
"Another reason we didn't take you is because there was booze," Applejack added, winking.
"Twilight didn't drink much of anything!" Pinkie said, laughing.
Apple Bloom grimaced at the mention of booze, remembering Sweetie Belle's expression when she tried the cider. "They taste better if I hadn't gone."
"And that change?"
Pinkie laughed. "You see, at the event, Sweetie Belle tried the closest thing to a drink, and the rest of the Crusaders were left with that answer out of curiosity."
The farm girl let out a laugh.
"How do you stand the taste?" the younger sister asked, arching an eyebrow.
"It's part of growing up, sugarcube. You might like it someday, or you might not. It'll depend on whether you're the type that likes alcohol when you're older," Applejack said with a sympathetic smile.
"And you haven't even tried the mixed ones yet. That'll make you grimace worse," the party girl said, looking back knowingly.
"Ugh!" Apple Bloom said, shaking her head with a horrified expression.
"Someday we'll go to another event where there's no alcohol or anything like that," the older sister said, trying to sound serious.
"Really!?" the youngest Apple exclaimed, lighting up with excitement. "We're all Crusaders this time!"
Applejack looked at her in the mirror, a playful smile playing on her lips. "Only if you prove you can behave."
"Me? Behave? But I'm an angel!" Apple Bloom said, rolling her eyes, though a smile spread across her face.
"Sure, an angel up to her own mischief," Farm Girl said, giggling as she shifted gears.
"I love that idea," Pinkie said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "We can put tracks all over the place and have everyone participate. We could even have a dance competition at the end!"
"There are so many possibilities. We have October, with Halloween; then November, which is not happening at the moment; and December, with Christmas and New Year's, which will obviously be family time," Applejack said with a smile.
"I want a party already!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, daydreaming about the idea.
"There's also the prom. I hope this year is better," Pinkie added.
The blonde shook her head. "If the second one wasn't as good... I don't know if I'll go to this one."
Her younger sister shrugged. "I hope she gets better."
"I hope Rarity goes this year," Pinkie commented suddenly.
Applejack wasn't sure how to answer, but she finally did. "Why do you say that?"
"Don't you remember? Junior year wasn't there, then senior year came, and after what happened, Rarity..." she said, trailing off.
"She left town," Apple Bloom finished.
"Actually, she did community service, and even if nothing had happened, she still couldn't have gone," explained.
"Community service?" Applejack thought, frowning slightly. "So she didn't get expelled like we thought, she had to do community service instead."
"Because of the trip?" the younger asked, continuing the conversation.
"Exactly."
"I hope they don't leave and can enjoy themselves," Apple Bloom said.
"Yeah, what do you think, AJ?" Pinkie asked.
"When she told you this, didn't she ask you not to reveal too much?" Applejack asked, snapping out of her thoughts.
The party girl crossed her arms, noticing that she was avoiding the question. "She didn't say anything. We just talked honestly."
The farm girl glanced at her out of the corner of her eye and nodded slowly as she stopped at the traffic light.
"And what do you think?" Pinkie insisted.
"I think about what?"
"About Sweetie Belle and Rarity enjoying the last dance," Apple Bloom replied with a smile.
"Well... if everything goes well, they will," said, trying to answer naturally, focusing on the traffic light.
Pinkie left the conversation, noticing that Applejack wouldn't continue, and they went on their way.
Side B / University  
Fluttershy was walking through the front door, passing through the hallway to get to her locker. On the way, she waved at a few people who waved at her. She wasn't like the others, or especially not like Pinkie Pie, who greeted everyone who passed by with great enthusiasm. Therefore, she only waved at a few.
As she walked, she ran into Twilight and Sunset, who were at their lockers.
"Hey, girls."
"Hey, Fluttershy," the two of them replied.
"Rainbow didn't come with you this time?" Sunset asked.
"No, she wanted to come by car this time. Plus, sometimes when she gives me a ride, she avoids meeting my brother," Fluttershy commented, letting out a small laugh at the end.
The two of them let out a laugh.
"I can already imagine her running away if she sees him, but we know what Rainbow is like, so she would 'face' him," Twilight said, making quotation marks with her fingers.
"He should understand by now that he's unavailable with Applejack," the redhead added, curious.
"Zephyr says there's no one on his level or anyone Rainbow should be with," explained, rolling her eyes amusedly. "You know, the classic words from him to deny that Dash isn't available."
"Your brother and his logic," the bespectacled girl commented, smiling.
"So, let's go?" Sunset suggested, showing her sports bag.
"Wait a bit," Fluttershy said, heading to her locker, entering the combination and leaving only the backpack inside, keeping the bag. "There you go."
The women, already on the court, after separating from the men, heard their teacher ask them to jog before stretching.
The echo of sneakers hitting the ground and the laughter of the others filled the space, but Rarity's mind was elsewhere. As she ran at a slightly slower pace, her thoughts kept going around and around.
"Rarity," a familiar voice said. Pinkie quickly stepped forward, standing beside her with her usual energy. "You've got things on your mind," said, noticing the serious expression on her friend's face.
Rarity gave a weak smile, aware that her usual confident mask was cracking. "Yeah, I know you don't like talking about school, but that's what's on my mind," confessed, letting out a sigh as she glanced sideways at the party girl.
"It's a shame for me to have to endure school," Pinkie joked, lowering her head for a second in dramatic gesture before brightening again. "But I know it'll all work out!"
"I can't afford to fail," the seamstress thought, feeling the pressure rise from her stomach to her chest. Her worry consumed her to the point that she didn't notice the cheerful girl still talking, trying to cheer her up with her usual spark.
She looked around, noticing how the students, while also dealing with the pressure, seemed to be much calmer than her.
Her eyes met Twilight's, who was running focused a few meters ahead. The girl with glasses always seemed to be in control, never letting stress get the better of her.
"Twilight has always been good at everything academically," Rarity thought, envying that part of her a little. Then her eyes widened at an idea. "If anyone can explain this to me, it's her... she spends all her time in the library and knows which books provide the most information."
But the idea of asking her for help was... risky. Even though nothing had happened, the tension was still present. She bit her lower lip as she ran, her thoughts spinning faster than her steps.
"Would she really help me?" she wondered as she tried to keep up with the group. "We're not friends like we used to be, and I don't want her to think I'm using her."
"Knock knock," Pinkie said, drawing her attention as she noticed Rarity was lost in thought.
"Ah, sorry... I got lost... what were you saying?" replied, forcing a small smile.
"Never mind, we'll leave it for later. But it seems an idea crossed your mind," commented with a knowing smile.
The seamstress nodded, her gaze once again wandering back to the group of girls still jogging. "Yes, though it is a bit risky," she said, her tone reflecting the uncertainty she felt.
The teacher's whistle cut through the air, signaling the end of the race. The girls stopped, waiting for instructions.
"Too risky? Risky is always exciting," Pinkie murmured, not losing her characteristic enthusiasm.
Rarity glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, a little bit infected by her carefree spirit. "Maybe I should try it," she whispered, biting her lower lip. "I don't lose anything by asking, do I?"
The party girl nodded vigorously.
"Although I should also have a plan B," thought, looking into the distance at another girl.
Spitfire stood firm as she approached the center of the group with a grading board in her hand.
"Okay, team! Pay attention, I'm going to explain how the evaluations will be."
The conversations that were still echoing quickly ceased. All the girls focused their attention on Spitfire, knowing that when she spoke, there was no room for distraction.
"Listen carefully, because this is important," she began, her voice authoritative and confident. "The evaluations will be in two parts. The first is a physical evaluation, where you will have to demonstrate your flexibility, endurance, and technique in the exercises we have practiced so far."
She paused, her eyes assessing each of the students, who remained silent. Some, like Rainbow Dash, seemed excited by the challenge, while others, like Rarity, frowned in concern.
"But don't worry," added, softening her tone slightly, "I'm not here to make you suffer. Each of you will be evaluated based on your personal progress, not just in comparison to the others. What matters most is your effort and improvement."
Fluttershy sighed discreetly in relief. Applejack, from her spot, crossed her arms and nodded. This sounded fair to her.
"The second part of the evaluation will be mental," continued, which caused some curious glances. "You're going to be tested on your ability to handle stress and how you apply the breathing and relaxation techniques we've seen. It's not just about muscles, girls, I also want to see how you handle pressure."
Twilight nodded in interest, while the multicolored girl rolled her eyes, unenthusiastic about that part of the assessment. However, Rarity seemed frustrated to hear this as she noticed how this wasn't helping her.
Spitfire let the information settle for a few seconds before continuing.
"In short, I want to see how you've improved physically, but I also want to see if you've managed to stay calm and in control in stressful situations. That's what we'll be testing in the coming weeks. So work hard and don't stop practicing!"
The girls nodded silently. Some exchanged glances, knowing that the tests wouldn't be easy, but also recognizing that Spitfire wasn't a teacher who asked for the impossible without providing them with the tools to achieve it.
The teacher took a step back and crossed her arms. "Okay, now that you know what the assessments will be like, let's stretch! Today we'll work on lower body flexibility."
She began leading the stretches, moving around the group to correct postures and give practical advice to each student.
"Applejack, keep your knees straight. Don't rush it," she instructed when he saw her bending over too quickly.
The farm girl groaned, but corrected her posture. Meanwhile, Rainbow was performing her stretches with a smile.
"That's it, Dash! Good control, but I want you to go down a little more," said, leaning beside her and giving her a light tap on the leg to guide her.
At the other end of the line, Fluttershy was doing her best to maintain a correct posture. "Don't worry, Fluttershy," Spitfire told her in a softer tone, "you're getting better. Just focus on your breathing."
Rarity, for her part, was struggling to keep her balance as she attempted a stretching pose. "Belle, don't push yourself too hard. Remember, it's about progress, not perfection," she told her as she helped her find a more comfortable position.
The seamstress nodded, letting out a sigh.
"Remember that stretching is not only to prevent injuries, but also to improve your flexibility and relax. Practice it at home," Spitfire said, walking between them and the other girls, watching each movement with her critical but fair eye.
After several minutes of supervised stretching, the teacher finally said, "Okay, that's it for today, girls! See you in the next class!"
With that, the stretching session came to an end. The students began to head towards the locker room to change. As they changed in the locker room, the conversations around them mixed with the sound of showers and lockers opening and closing.
Rarity shifted a little, looking at her body; there was no sign that today's exercise had affected it from what happened the night before. However, she thought about taking a pill. She looked at the two boxes: one for muscle pain and another to feel better after an attack. After thinking twice, she took out a pill, the same one she had taken the night before.
She approached the water tap, she always disliked the taste a little, but she knew she had to do what was necessary for the sake of her health. As she took a sip and swallowed the pill, she looked at herself in the reflection in the mirror. There were the Mane Six, and in particular, her gaze stopped at the girl with glasses. That made the idea she had in mind come back strongly. She knew that asking Twilight for help would not be easy, but... it was her best option.
The blue-haired girl, for her part, was focused on changing, although she felt someone looking at her. But she didn't want to pay attention to it.
When everyone was finally done changing, they began to disperse around the campus. Rarity headed to her locker. She opened the door, put her bag away, and pulled out a notebook, which she carefully opened. The blank sheet looked defiant, as if it expected her to write something meaningful. With a shaking hand, she jotted down a few words.
[Hey, Twi...] "No, not that..." said to herself, quickly crossing it out. That sounded too close to how things were now, and she didn't want to give that impression.
[Twilight, can you help me?] she wrote again, but the thought that that line might sound desperate made her shake her head, crossing out the sentence halfway.
As she continued to try to find the right words, her mind wandered. She thought of all the moments they had shared before, the laughs, the long talks about fashion, and the problems of life.
Finally, after several failed attempts, she dropped the pencil on the locker table and took a deep breath. "I can't go on like this," muttered to herself. "If I'm going to ask for help, I have to be honest."
She looked at the time on her phone and opened her eyes in surprise. Even though there were 'no classes,' she could still make the most of the moment if she could talk to the girl with glasses. Without wasting any more time, she grabbed her backpack, slammed her locker shut, and almost ran to the classroom.
Inside the classroom, the students were organized into small groups, reviewing for their midterms. Some were exchanging notes, while others were solving problems in silence. The professor was at his desk, attending to those who approached with questions.
As the minutes passed, Rarity couldn't help but sneak glances at Twilight. The girl with glasses was immersed in her notes, writing and nodding from time to time when she understood something. While the others whispered among themselves, Twilight remained focused, solving the exercises with agility alongside Sunset. The seamstress noticed how the girl with glasses easily understood concepts that were confusing to her.
At the end of class, the professor gave the signal for them to leave. The curly-haired girl took her backpack and headed for the door. She saw Twilight saying goodbye to Sunset, giving a slight smile.
When she veered off the usual path, Rarity's heart skipped a beat. She knew that if she was going to ask for help, it would have to be now or never. Without thinking too much, she decided to follow her.
She watched the blue-haired girl climb the stairs, but she didn't expect her to stop between the stairs on the third floor and turn around.
"I'm not usually so direct, but... why are you staring at me so much?" said with a frown.
Rarity froze for a second at the unexpected reaction. "I wanted to talk to you about something, and it's not about... that matter," replied indirectly.
"And you had to stare at me for hours? You know how uncomfortable it is to feel someone staring at you," Twilight said with a sigh.
The seamstress raised an eyebrow, tilting her head, looking directly at her, who quickly understood.
"Fine, skip that part," the bespectacled girl murmured. "What do you need?"
The curly-haired girl was silent for a few seconds, searching for the right words before looking at her with a mix of determination and vulnerability. "Twilight, I need your help for the tests," said in a somewhat tense voice.
The blue-haired girl showed an expression between surprise and confusion. "My help?" asked in an incredulous tone.
Rarity nodded firmly. "Yes, I need to understand some concepts that I'm having a hard time with," continued, noticing how Twilight avoided her gaze.
"Belle, I don't know if..."
"I know we're not on good terms, but this is important to me and... I can't fail," insisted, determination in her voice. "I want to prove something to someone."
The girl with glasses observed the seriousness on Rarity's face, but she was still unsure. She remembered Starlight's words that she hadn't taken into account until now.
"Please, I'm asking you, could you put aside our differences for a moment?" insisted.
Twilight stared at her in silence for a moment, her thoughts revolving around the implications of that request. It wasn't just an academic question; it was a personal opening. She still remembered how things had been left, and while she wasn't ready to reopen old wounds, she also couldn't ignore the genuine desperation in the seamstress's eyes.
"I'll think about it," finally said, looking up. "I'll give you an answer later or tomorrow."
Rarity nodded, surprised but relieved that it hadn't been an immediate refusal. "Thank you," murmured before heading down the stairs.
"What decision should I make?" the blue-haired girl wondered, blinking several times as she processed the conversation.
For her part, Rarity, who had already gone downstairs, looked around for someone else. If Twilight didn't agree to help her, she needed a plan B.
After a few seconds, she managed to find the person she was looking for. She quickly approached until she was finally behind her.
"Sunset Shimmer"
The red-haired girl turned around, showing a slightly confused expression.
Fluttershy was sitting on one of the campus benches, carefully reviewing her notes. Even though she had just arrived, she wanted to make sure she had everything clear. As she reviewed, she heard three familiar voices and looked up. The party girl, the jock, and the farm girl were approaching, chatting amongst themselves.
"You know what's great about study week?" Rainbow asked, sitting next to the pink-haired girl with a knowing smile.
"There's no class?" Fluttershy guessed, looking at her friend curiously.
"Exactly," replied, raising her hands in a triumphant gesture. "But..." added with a gesture of annoyance.
"We have to study," Pinkie finished, flopping down on the grass with a dramatic sigh.
"You said it," Rainbow said, with a resigned expression.
"At least all we have is gym class," Applejack added, sitting on the other side of Fluttershy, with a calm smile.
"Hey girls," Sunset greeted, sitting next to the party girl, though her face showed an expression of mild disbelief.
"What's wrong with you?" the multicolored girl asked, arching an eyebrow at the red-haired girl's expression.
"Have you ever received an unexpected request?" asked them, crossing her arms and looking at the group.
"Yeah," they all answered in unison, causing a slight laugh among them.
"Well, now mix it with the feeling of doubt," continued, with a thoughtful expression.
"Wow, you're not the only one in that situation," Applejack said, nodding toward the approaching glasses-wearing girl.
They all turned their heads to look at Twilight, who walked with slow steps and her head slightly tilted, as if she were trapped in her thoughts, searching for the solution to an equation without an answer.
"Everything okay, Twi?" Fluttershy asked, her voice soft and worried.
The girl seemed to momentarily snap out of her reverie, looking up at her friends. "Yeah, I just had an unexpected... end to class," she said, still somewhat distracted.
"So there's two of us," the red-haired girl said.
The two exchanged a brief glance before Twilight looked away to the ground, still pondering Rarity. She decided not to mention anything for the moment, and Sunset, who seemed to be on the same page, didn't elaborate either.
"Well, at least this week isn't too bad," Pinkie commented as she played with a flower she plucked from the grass. "We can study outside, relax, and still have a good time!"
"If you don't mind failing," Rainbow added with a laugh, leaning her back against the bench as she stretched out her arms. "I prefer to do everything at the last minute."
"Dash, that's just what you shouldn't do," Applejack said, looking at her partner disapprovingly. "Then you end up complaining the day before tests because you don't know anything."
"What Applejack means," Fluttershy interjected softly, "is that you should use this week to really study."
"You know me! I always manage to get by," said with a shrug. "But... it wouldn't hurt to do some review first. Just in case."
"Good idea," Sunset said, getting up from the grass and stretching. "I was actually going to the library in a bit to go over some stuff. Anyone wanna join in?"
"Now?" the rainbow-colored girl asked, grimacing. "I thought we were free."
"It's study week, Dash," the farm girl replied with a small smile. "It's not exactly the same as having free time."
"Yeah, I guess," Rainbow sighed as she sat up. "I guess it wouldn't hurt."
Sunset smiled. "How about this, you two?" asked, looking at Rainbow and Applejack. "Tomorrow, second period, you have nothing, just like now, but with study time. We could relax a little by playing a game during that time."
The sporty girl smiled. "You got me. Okay, let's go to the library, and tomorrow we'll relax a little before we get to full speed."
"There you go," Applejack said, standing up.
"That helps me out too... I need some help with sports psychology," Rainbow added with a grimace.
"You could have said it earlier," Sunset commented as she picked up her backpack.
"Word is word. Tomorrow relaxation, today library and I don't want to start with that," the athlete concluded, following her.
Fluttershy stood up laughing a little. "Twilight, are you coming too?" asked curiously, seeing that the blue haired girl had been strangely quiet since she arrived.
Twilight, still distracted, looked up and nodded quickly. "Yeah, sure, I'll be there in a bit. I just... need to gather my thoughts first."
The girls didn't give it much thought, thinking Twilight was solving a mental calculation.
"See you at the library then," the red haired girl said with a smile, before walking with the others.
Twilight watched her walk away, feeling the weight of the decision she would soon have to make about the request. She also thought about how Sunset, judging by her expression, was probably in a similar situation. What was the difference between them, though?
The party girl, for her part, didn't say anything about the redhead's suggestion at any point and decided to detour before following the girls.
She headed in the direction of the cafeteria, but taking another route that led her to some stairs. She quickly climbed up and, upon reaching the door, verified that it wasn't locked. She smiled at the confirmation, opened the door and there she was.
"I lost sight of you when you left the dressing rooms," said softly, looking at the lonely figure standing near the railing, observing the view of the city.
Just as she had mentioned a week ago, Rarity finally showed her the rooftop where she usually isolates herself to relax and, sometimes, have lunch. So now, Pinkie knew the way perfectly.
"I wasn't sure if they would go to the cafeteria... and after the request, I preferred to avoid the glances on me," answered, her gaze still fixed on the horizon.
"Request?" repeated, approaching her friend with slow steps.
"Yeah, I thought you'd be with the girls."
"I was, but they went to the library to study. Though Twilight seems to be doing mental calculations... as usual," the party girl explained, letting out a light laugh as she settled herself close to Rarity, resting her arms on the railing. The wind on the rooftop played with their hair, and for a moment, they both stayed silent, enjoying the cool breeze.
"Did she stop to think?" the seamstress muttered to herself, her eyes lost in the landscape.
"Did I miss something?" Pinkie asked, cocking her head, trying to connect the pieces of the puzzle.
"Apparently, they didn't mention it," said, slowly turning to look at the cheerful girl. "I had an argument with Mom last night, because she found out about my notes... which I'd been hiding from her," explained in a tone that denoted embarrassment and frustration. "And it gave me..." she paused, hesitating to continue, but then decided to move on without mentioning her anxiety. "It made me sad to see your disappointed expression, so I thought I'd ask Twilight for help."
"What?!" Pinkie exclaimed, her surprise clearly written on her face, her eyes wide.
"And in case it didn't work out, Sunset too," continued, keeping her tone calm.
"WHAT?!" she cried, even more flabbergasted, throwing her hands up in the air in an exaggerated reaction.
"Are you done?" Rarity asked, crossing her arms and arching an eyebrow, keeping a serious expression.
"Yeah, sorry, I just wasn't expecting that," Pinkie said, with a nervous smile, trying to regain her composure. "And what happened? Did they refuse or did they agree?"
"Both," replied, her voice soft but laced with slight frustration, as she looked back at the scenery.
"What do you mean, both?" asked, now more intrigued than ever, moving a little closer.
"It wasn't a yes or a no," Rarity explained, turning her head slightly towards Pinkie. Noticing her confusion, she added, "They told me they'd think about it."
"Ah..." the party girl said, nodding slowly. "At least they're going to consider it, and they didn't say no to you right away. That's a good thing!"
"Yeah, I was relieved that they didn't reject me right to my face," admitted, sighing as she lowered her head for a moment. She knew things weren't right, but this was at least a small ray of hope.
Neither of them said anything for a few seconds, only the soft sound of the wind and the distant bustle of the university could be heard around them. From the height of the rooftop, the campus seemed small, and Rarity felt that, from there, her problems seemed less heavy as well.
"And then are you going home to study, or are you going to stay here... well, not here here, but at class?" Pinkie asked, breaking the silence with her usual energy, though softened by the seriousness of the moment.
"I'll go to the library," Rarity replied in a determined tone.
"We can study together, see if you know more about management than I do," the party girl suggested with an enthusiastic smile, trying to appear nonchalant.
"Management?" Rarity asked, surprised to remember Pinkie's major.
"Yeah, I have a subject called business management in my major," the party girl said, lowering her head slightly, visibly frustrated. "It's not as fun as cooking."
"I had that subject last year," the seamstress commented, looking at her friend with an understanding smile. "I could help you with that."
Pinkie's reaction was immediate. She jumped up excitedly, turning around on the spot. "Great! That would save me a lot!" she exclaimed, her energy returning to its usual intensity. Rarity couldn't help but smile, following closely behind as the two of them headed towards the rooftop door, with the party girl jumping for joy and the dressmaker holding back a yawn.
Side B / Library
In the library, the five girls were already reviewing their notes and studying together, helping each other despite being in different majors.
"Are you sure you don't want to review sports psychology today and leave it for tomorrow?" Fluttershy asked softly.
"Or Sports Nutrition?" asked Applejack who was in front.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Rainbow answered, before quickly looking away. "And you, how are you doing?" asked, looking in the opposite direction.
"Understanding math is easy, but... helping Twilight with advanced calculations?" Sunset commented, nodding at the blue-haired girl, who seemed to be lost in thought despite her gaze fixed on her notebook.
"Don't even mention it..." the multicolored girl muttered before turning back to the farmer. "And you, blonde, something I can help you with?"
"Do you know algebra?" asked Applejack, tilting her head with a half-smile.
"Uh..." Rainbow said doubtfully before wrapping an arm around Sunset. "Well, we have our favorite redhead who knows almost everything."
"Sure, but... could you let me go? You almost look like Pinkie already," replied, half-joking.
"By the way, does anyone know where she's gone?" Twilight asked, coming back from her thoughts.
"When Sunset suggested coming to the library, Pinkie didn't say anything," Fluttershy reminded her.
"Let's hope we don't have to look for her if she has her phone on vibrate," Applejack added with a laugh.
Right at the entrance, Pinkie and Rarity were entering. The party girl was looking for an unoccupied table.
"That one's unoccupied!" exclaimed, pointing at a table. "And besides, it's right next to the hallway where everyone passes by... what a coincidence, huh?!" said with a bright smile, looking at the seamstress, who was covering a yawn with her hand.
"I'm sorry, Pinkie. It's not because of you, it's just that..." Rarity searched for a quick excuse. "Studying, you know."
"I know! It's really boring, but like Twilight and the teachers say, it'll help us in the future," she replied in a more practical tone than usual.
"Exactly..." Rarity muttered as she let out another yawn. "Damn, I guess it wasn't a good idea to take that pill after class. It affected me faster yesterday because of how tired my body was. Now I understand how I ended up sleeping with my clothes on, although I'm sure I wasn't in bed before I fell," thought as she tried to shake off her drowsiness.
"Let's go to the table!" she said, trying to divert Pinkie's attention, who continued to watch her yawns with curiosity.
Once seated at the table, the party-goer had pulled out a series of somewhat disorganized and colorful notes, along with a couple of neon markers. The seamstress, for her part, was organizing her materials meticulously, although she struggled to keep her eyes open.
"So how do we figure out the cost of ingredients if I don't know how many cupcakes I'm going to sell?" Pinkie asked, drawing circles around random numbers.
Rarity, with a tired but determined smile, sighed and tried to explain. "Well, the first thing you need to do is figure out the total cost of ingredients, regardless of how many cupcakes you plan to sell. Then, you divide that cost by the number of units you expect to produce..."
The cheerful girl looked at her with wide eyes, nodding quickly. "Oh, sure, sure! It's like figuring out how many balloons I need at a party depending on how many people are coming! Only with cupcakes and without balloons! Easy, easy."
The seamstress gave a small smile at her friend's explanation, but tiredness made her slow to process everything. Every time she tried to concentrate, she felt her mind wander.
Pinkie continued to talk about her ideas on prices, quality of ingredients, and decorations, but her voice became more like an echo in Rarity's head. As her eyelids began to feel heavier and heavier, she leaned forward a little, trying to focus on the papers in front of her.
A moment later, the party girl paused in her talk, feeling a small sound that was not usual in her study routine: a soft sigh. As she put down her notebook, she was met with the most adorable and funny scene.
Rarity had fallen completely asleep, her head resting on the pile of books and notes. Her curls fell in soft waves on the desk.
Pinkie blinked a few times, surprised, and then smiled tenderly. "Awww, poor Rarity," whispered. "So much studying has left her fried!" Looking around, seeing some students passing by and others at some tables focused on their books or notes. She decided it was best not to disturb her, so she began stacking a few empty books to give her friend a little support as an improvised pillow.
In the same place, but a little apart, the four girls were putting away their things.
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," said Rainbow, after having reviewed one of the subjects thanks to her friends' insistence.
"And algebra too, Sunset," said Applejack, grateful for her friend's help, even though the redhead seemed to be in another world, just like Twilight.
"You're welcome," replied as she put her backpack on her shoulder.
"We'll continue tomorrow," added Fluttershy with a smile. "Twilight," she called to her friend, who was still distracted.
"Uh, yeah," the girl with glasses reacted quickly, closing her backpack and putting it on.
The girls walked through the library, they saw Pinkie, who was sitting at a table. But they soon stopped when they saw the dressmaker, her curly hair covering part of her face as she was asleep on the books.
"Umm, Pinkie, what happened here?" the pink-haired girl asked, discreetly pointing at Rarity.
"Can you believe it? Looks like she studied so hard that her brain was fried," whispered, so as not to wake her up.
"Wow..." Twilight murmured, remembering what she had asked her hours before.
"It looks... ehhh..." Sunset whispered, searching for the right word.
"Is someone going to...?" Rainbow began to say in her normal voice, but was interrupted by Pinkie.
"Shhh!" the party girl exclaimed, putting a finger to her lips.
Applejack, for her part, didn't say anything.
She stared at the seamstress's relaxed face. Seeing her sleeping there, she couldn't help but remember several similar moments. Like that quiet afternoon at her house, when they were sitting together on the old couch in the living room. Concentrating on some plans she was trying to decipher, she had become frustrated at not fully understanding how to put together a more advanced structure than others she had been able to decipher. It had taken several minutes and she finally understood the design and sighed in relief. When she was going to share her small victory with Rarity, she noticed that the latter had fallen asleep, leaning on the arm of the sofa.
She had carefully approached, watching as the dressmaker's hair fell over her face. Gently, she pushed the loose strands aside, revealing her soft, serene skin. She looked as if she was about to wake up. Just as her eyes seemed to begin to open, ready to show her those sapphires...
Applejack felt a hand on her shoulder.
"AJ, it seems you were lost in your thoughts," Sunset said with a soft laugh, moving her hand on the blonde's shoulder.
"You look just like Twilight," Rainbow added, briefly pointing at the glasses-wearing girl, who also seemed a little lost in her own world.
The farm girl blinked a few times, looking at the girls and then around, until she stopped at the table where Pinkie and... Rarity were, still sleeping on the books.
"Sorry, I think I remembered something..." replied, scratching her head.
The party girl covered her mouth to keep from laughing. "Like when Dash and I drew mustaches on them while they were sleeping?" whispered, remembering that joke.
Twilight and Sunset raised an eyebrow, remembering that moment. Applejack crossed her arms, remembering that the only one who was saved that time was Fluttershy, who now let out a small laugh.
Rainbow showed a half smile as she took something out of her backpack. "Wait, you're not thinking about...?" asked the red-haired girl, almost standing in the middle.
"I only considered it since AJ and Pinkie remembered it," answered, with the marker in her hand.
"Well... I didn't... although we got really upset that time," Applejack said, waving her arms.
"At least we didn't use permanent ink," Pinkie joked, still in a low voice, although she wasn't sure about letting her friend draw on the sleeping girl's face.
"Yeah, and now here's my masterpiece," the multicolored girl said, approaching the table, while uncovering the marker.
"Shhhh..." Fluttershy interrupted, trying to stop the athlete. Startling the girls who gave her glances. "Sorry... it seems like she's fast asleep," added quietly. But that didn't stop the athlete, who turned her attention to the seamstress.
Pinkie, seeing the pink-haired girl's intention, quickly thought of something to stop her friend. "Did you forget what she looked like? It wasn't fun afterwards, was it?" asked, taking the perfect opportunity to stop Rainbow without admitting she was wrong.
The athlete thought about it for a moment. "Well... there are better victims," said, covering the down and putting it back in her backpack.
Sunset didn't say anything, but she seemed grateful that the multicolored one hadn't pulled off her prank. For their part, Twilight and Fluttershy let out an almost imperceptible sigh. Applejack, however, wasn't sure if she felt relieved or uncomfortable that her partner hadn't pulled the prank on Rarity.
"So... are you going to wake her up?" the farmer asked, changing the subject, lowering her head with her hands in her pockets. When she raised her head, she was met with the curious gazes of her friends. "Sooner or later she has to wake up, right?" she said in an almost neutral tone.
"That's true," the red-haired girl admitted.
"True," Rainbow said, shrugging her shoulders.
The party girl looked at the corner of the table where Rarity was still asleep, her head resting uncomfortably on her arms. She picked up a pencil, turning it so that the eraser gently touched the seamstress's cheek.
"We better get going," the multicolored one said, noticing the attempt to wake her up. "If you follow us later, we'll be in the cafeteria."
"Yeah..." Fluttershy added, giving the sleeping girl one last look before turning around.
"I'll follow you," Applejack said, walking behind.
Pinkie didn't take her eyes off Rarity as she continued to play with the pencil. With the eraser end, she traced soft circles on her friend's skin.
"Will you two stay to see his reaction when he realizes she fell asleep?" asked, turning to Sunset and Twilight, who hadn't moved yet.
The two exchanged a glance, then looked back at the others, who were already walking away. Then, her eyes returned to the party girl, who was waiting curiously for her answer.
"I don't think that's a good idea," the red-haired girl said, crossing her arms.
"You're right," the blue-haired girl agreed, adjusting her glasses.
The party girl smiled, continuing to move the pencil over Rarity's skin.
"Well, I'll tell you what happened later," commented, as if she were telling a funny anecdote for later.
Sunset and Twilight, without saying anything else, turned around to catch up with the others.
Pinkie continued to move the pencil, watching as the seamstress made small faces.
"Hey, sleepyhead," she murmured.
"What's wrong, Sweetie?" Rarity replied in a sleepy murmur, not fully opening her eyes.
The cheerful girl let out a small laugh, deducing that Sweetie Belle must be the one usually in charge of waking her sister when she fell asleep.
"Yes, I am Mini Belle," replied, trying not to laugh harder. "And I would like a lollipop when you wake up."
Rarity paused, blinking slowly as she tried to understand the situation.
"But we already agreed on your condition..." muttered, feeling the discomfort of having fallen asleep in that position. Still, she didn't seem completely aware of her surroundings.
The party girl couldn't help but continue to joke, amused by how sleepy the seamstress was.
"Well, I still want a lollipop, while we're at it," said, holding back the urge to laugh as she watched Rarity begin to fully wake up.
As Pinkie continued to trace soft circles on her cheek, the seamstress began to shift slightly. Her face showed a confused grimace, as if she were awakening from a deep, disoriented sleep.
"Mmhh... What...?" muttered, slowly raising her head, her eyes half-closed and blinking to adjust to the dim light of the library. She saw the party girl smiling beside her.
"You woke up!" exclaimed in an exaggerated whisper. "You fell asleep on the books, so I thought maybe you needed a little... improvised pillow."
Rarity blinked a few times, clearly confused, then rubbed her eyes with her hand. "Oh... did I fall asleep? I'm so sorry, Pinkie. I didn't mean to."
"Don't worry, you look adorable when you sleep!" Pinkie leaned forward. "Although you almost fell for a prank... but I thought maybe you've had enough."
The curly-haired girl smiled weakly, still recovering. "I'm glad it didn't happen... I'm not sure I could handle the prank you were going to pull."
The party girl let out a soft laugh, but then her gaze shifted to the group of girls who were arriving at the door. "Actually... Dash was tempted to do it, but I managed to stop her."
Rarity followed her gaze, watching the silhouettes of the girls walking away down the hallway. "Ah, I understand, but you forgot to mention that they were all here."
"A detail I overlooked," replied, laughing as she gathered her things.
The seamstress nodded. "Yeah, it'll be the last time I take that pill after class. I might as well have picked the other one."
Pinkie, being Pinkie, suddenly had an idea. "Well, since we're done for today, maybe we could do something fun tomorrow after studying! Maybe a mini cupcake party... or a relaxing spa party!"
Rarity smiled a more genuine smile this time. "Since when does she think about parties so much?" wondered. "Sounds... interesting, though I'd prefer something a little quieter. We could save the party for when the tests are over," said jokingly.
However, the cheerful girl, excited by the idea, didn't realize it was a joke and made a mental note of it. "Decided! Tomorrow I'll bring... I'll see what."
"Okay."
When the two finally left the library, the fresh air of the day gave Rarity a little respite, though not enough to free her from the thoughts still lingering in her mind.
Side A/Patio  
The Crusaders, with their usual curiosity, had gathered behind a wall, where they could observe Diamond Tiara without being seen. They were crouched down, carefully peeking out to spy without raising suspicion.
"Are you sure this is an exit?" asked Spike, who had joined them, cowering to stay out of sight.
"Shh! Spike, keep it down," Apple Bloom whispered, casting a quick glance at Diamond before hiding behind the wall again.
"Sorry..." said in a whisper.
"Look, she looks upset again," Scootaloo commented quietly, pointing out how the girl was pacing back and forth, clearly angry.
"But why does it have to be on rocky terrain?" they heard Diamond complain as she talked on her cell phone, waving her arms in frustration.
Sweetie Belle frowned. "Rocky terrain... that doesn't sound like a fun exit."
The three Crusaders were silent for a moment, as they continued to listen intently, trying to catch any clearer clues about what the girl was discussing.
But, a shadow loomed over them. "And what are you guys doing?" Silver Spoon asked, crossing her arms. She had seen them from afar and silently approached.
The Crusaders jumped, almost falling to the ground, and Spike jumped back a little.
"Nothing!" the three of them answered in unison, as the green-haired boy tried to hide his shock.
"Nothing?" Silver raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the moment. "Because it seems like they were spying on Diamond."
"We weren't spying!" Sweetie Belle said quickly, though her nervous tone gave her away.
"We were just... making sure everything was okay," Apple Bloom added, trying to sound convincing.
Silver let out a sarcastic laugh. "Do you really think I don't notice? Diamond would be furious if she knew you were sticking your nose into her life. How about I tell her instead?"
"No, no, no!" Scootaloo exclaimed quickly. "No need. We don't want any trouble."
"Of course not," Silver said, grinning. "But you owe me for this."
The Crusaders exchanged glances, as Silver turned around triumphantly, knowing she had the situation under control. As she walked away, the small band of spies breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness, I wouldn't want to share punishment with Cozy Glow," Spike said, adjusting his backpack on his shoulder.
"Hey, don't be so mean, she's just a kid," Sweetie Belle replied, frowning.
"We're kids too, but she's a little... weird," the green-haired boy commented, grimacing as he remembered some of Cozy's pranks.
"Well, we'll just stop the spying here, since..." Apple Bloom said, her smile turning into a frustrated expression. "...We've got to study."
"Ugh, that's great..." Scootaloo said dejectedly, letting out a sigh as she looked up at the blue sky that was barely peeking through the clouds.
"I'm going to be stuck with Twilight and her books these weeks... how fun," Spike said sarcastically.
With that, they headed off to their last class of the day, their footsteps echoing in the hallway as they prepared for the next round of lessons.
A while later, the Mane Six were heading to the parking lot. The laughter and chatter of other students echoed around them. The sun was still a little high, although it was already beginning to set.
"Well, remember to bring more of your notes tomorrow," Twilight said, her voice a mix of the authority of a diligent student and the concern of a friend. She adjusted her glasses as she mentally reviewed the topics she still needed to study.
"Ugh, fine, but don't forget the deal," Rainbow replied.
"Yeah, Dash, we won't break that," Sunset assured, with a knowing smile.
"But cheer up," Applejack added, smiling and nudging her partner lightly, trying to infuse her with some energy.
"Yeah, yeah," said, with a half-hearted gesture that showed her resistance to the idea of studying.
"Girls, I had an idea to lift your spirits!" Pinkie exclaimed excitedly, her voice so loud it seemed to echo throughout the parking lot.
"And what's that?" Fluttershy asked, curious, putting her notes aside to pay attention to the cheerful girl.
"A party!" exclaimed, jumping in place with energy.
"Pinkie, it's study week," Twilight said, raising an eyebrow.
"I like the idea, but Twi's right; even though I don't like studying," Rainbow admitted, a slight smile curving her lips.
"It's not for now... it'll be soon. I thought saying it would motivate you, especially you, Dash," the party girl said, with a mischievous smile.
Before anyone could respond, they were interrupted.
"There we go!" announced Apple Bloom, accompanied by Scootaloo and Spike, who walked behind her.
"Perfect, I'm feeling lively, so let's go home; I want to make a pie," Applejack said, her voice calm.
"A pie!?" The party girl exclaimed excitedly, her hands on her cheeks.
"Yeah, if there's any left, I'll bring it back tomorrow," the farm girl replied, walking away and waving goodbye.
"Bye, girls; I'll let you know if there's any left," Pinkie said, waving goodbye as she walked away with the Apples, still jumping for joy.
"Do you think there's any left?" Sunset asked, almost sensing the outcome.
"With Pinkie, it's unpredictable," Rainbow laughed, looking back with a mocking smile.
"Sometimes she leaves it or eats it," Fluttershy said with a smile.
Twilight nodded. "Shall we go?" asked, shaking her head.
"Sure," Fluttershy replied, taking a few steps and looking back with a friendly gesture. "Bye, Sunset. Bye, Rainbow. Bye, Scootaloo."
"Bye!" the two of them replied, along with the youngest, as the group began to disperse.
The three of them headed to Twilight's car, getting in and buckling up. Once ready, the bespectacled girl started the engine and drove off.
Pulling out of the parking lot and down the road, Twilight suddenly slammed on the brakes as she tried to turn, causing the passengers to lean forward slightly from the momentum, though the seatbelts held them in place.
"Twilight, are you okay?" the pink-haired girl asked from the backseat, somewhat worried.
"Sorry," apologized, looking at her brother and then back at her friend. "I think I changed gears," lied so as not to worry them about what she had seen.
She turned her attention back to the steering wheel when she heard the sound of horns. She turned quickly, although she couldn't help but take another look at the seamstress walking next to her sister. Seeing her, she remembered what had happened hours ago. "I have to get to something."
As the car moved forward, Twilight seemed less distracted. She looked at the passenger side, where Spike was sitting, wanting to know more about his day.
"Did you study something?" asked, with a curious tone.
"Are you going to punish me if I didn't?" he replied, a little tense.
"First, studying will help you in the future, and that is essential in life," said firmly. "And second, Mom or Dad would ground you, but I can give you a good challenge," added with a smile.
"Motivation is what's missing," Spike said, crossing his arms. "The Crusaders are the same."
"The girls too... well, more so Rainbow, but I'm not so sure about Pinkie. Though Applejack might bring something to motivate us," Twilight said.
"If Pinkie leaves something," Fluttershy commented, laughing softly.
"If it was something Dash liked, maybe... but we know he's not much for sweets," the blue-haired girl commented, as she stopped at a traffic light.
The animal lover looked out the window, and suddenly an idea came to her mind. "Maybe I need some salty motivation," she said softly. "Could you stop at that corner and wait a minute?"
"What do you have in mind?" asked curiously.
"I'm going to go get something," replied, with a small smile.
"Okay, but don't take too long," Twilight said, as she stopped the car at the corner.
Fluttershy unbuckled her seatbelt and walked out the door. "I'll be right back," said before closing it and driving away. The bespectacled girl turned her head to Spike, who was staring out the window.
"..."
The silence in the car caught the boy's attention, who turned to look at his sister. "Are you solving another mental calculation? I get lost with you sometimes," he teased.
Twilight shrugged and sighed before speaking. "It's not that... Belle came up to me today and said something I wasn't expecting. And it's got me thinking."
"Did she apologize again?" asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I said something I wasn't expecting," replied, emphasizing his point.
"Yeah, I know," Spike said, shrugging. "But since she hasn't apologized again, that would be unexpected too."
The older girl opened her mouth to respond, but closed it, analyzing her brother's logic. It seemed that part of her had rubbed off on her. "Good point, but it wasn't that... she asked me for help with her studies."
"Wow, that's unexpected," commented, surprised. "Are you going to help her? Maybe you could..." suggested, though he finished the sentence in his mind. "It could be a step."
"I don't know," Twilight said, hesitantly lowering her head.
"I say you should," said, with a small smile.
"Starlight once told me that when we're in a bad mood, we tend to go with first impressions without considering the positive behind them," recalled, raising her head.
"And what does that have to do with it?"
"One can interpret words in several ways," explained, looking at him again. "Maybe it's not just about the positive thing someone did, but what they're trying to prove with their actions. Maybe Belle wants to prove something to someone in particular."
The younger boy looked at her thoughtfully. "Hmm, interpreting something in a different way... I think you just answered yourself."
Twilight looked at him with a mix of confusion and doubt at Spike's deduction.
At that moment, Fluttershy returned with a small bag in her hand, smiling. "I'm done!" said, closing the door.
"What did you buy?" the green-haired boy asked, curious.
"Mmm... surprise. I hope it gives him some energy!" the pink-haired girl exclaimed, excitedly, as she settled into her seat.
"Ow," Spike said, regretting not knowing what it was.
"I'm sure," Twilight commented, happy for her friend. "Now, I'll drop you off," said, starting the car again as they headed to drop off Fluttershy and then continue on to her house.
Belle Family House  
Within minutes of arriving at the house, Rarity found herself in her room, focused on her studies.
She was reading a book, but instead of the thick tomes she usually asked for, she tried a thinner one, like the ones she always saw the blue-haired girl ask for, despite how illogical it seemed to her. However, some things turned out to be interesting, especially for the plan she had in mind in case her other options failed.
A soft knock resounded on the door, interrupting her concentration.
"Come in," said without taking her eyes off the book, her tone almost automatic.
The door slowly opened, revealing her mother. Cookie entered with a slight smile that seemed to contain something else, a concern hidden behind her usual composure.
"Mother, is everything okay?" Rarity asked, tensing her shoulders slightly. "I'm studying and I think I've got it."
"I'm glad to hear that," replied, her voice calm but laden with a deeper intention. "But I wanted to talk about what happened yesterday... I didn't mean for it to end in an argument. I just want you to know that you don't have to hide things. You can talk to me."
The seamstress set the book aside, her breathing a little heavier. She knew this conversation was inevitable. She stood up slowly, feeling the weight of the moment. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have hidden my grades... I just thought you'd be disappointed if you knew I wasn't doing so well."
Cookie walked in, sitting on the edge of the bed. "It's not disappointment I felt. Maybe a part of me was worried, but if you need help, you can always ask me." Her tone, though firm, showed a vulnerability uncommon to her.
Rarity lowered her head for a few seconds, struggling with guilt. "I don't like being seen as weak. I know I can do it somehow. I'm trying to find a solution."
Her mother nodded slowly, remembering years of teachings and advice she believed to be infallible. "I understand. I've taught you not to give up in the face of challenges, right?"
"Yes, Mother," replied, a slight tremor in her voice, feeling like her comment may have come off as colder than she intended. "And I don't want you to think I'm vulnerable... I want to live up to your expectations."
Her daughter's words resonated in Cookie like a bitter echo. "How bad can a mother use the wrong words and cause her children to develop a personality she never imagined?" thought, a pang of guilt growing in her chest. She knew she had inadvertently put too much weight on her daughter's shoulders.
"Rarity, you don't have to try so hard to prove how amazing you are. You've already proven it, even more than you think." Cookie reached out a hand to her daughter, gently squeezing her shoulder. "I've seen you grow in these two years."
The dressmaker forced a smile, her emotions running high. "Thank you, Mother, but... I've done it with your help."
"Still, it was you who made the decision to keep going," he replied, still looking at her tenderly. For a moment, silence filled the room. "You can fail and still get up. It's part of the process," Cookie continued, trying to make her daughter understand. "I don't want you to feel like you always have to be perfect."
Rarity felt a lump in her throat, trying to keep any traitorous tears from escaping. "Thank you, ma..." She wanted to say 'mom', but stopped, feeling unsure. "Mother."
Cookie noticed the change. She looked down, hiding the small pang of pain she felt, then returned to her warm expression. Even though her daughter hadn't called her 'Mom' in a while, something in her heart still hoped to hear that word.
"You're welcome," replied softly. "But please don't push yourself so hard. I wouldn't want something to get to you, like a seizure or something." Her voice held genuine concern.
Rarity tensed for a moment, remembering the seizure she'd had. She was thankful that Sweetie Belle hadn't told her mother. "I can't help but feel stressed about school... sometimes it seems like everything just boils over."
"There are always ways to handle stress," Cookie suggested. "Writing, relaxing somewhere quiet... even listening to music."
The seamstress blinked at the mention. "I remember the music teacher telling us that music can be a great way to release tension, whether it's listening to it or playing an instrument."
"How long has it been since you played the piano?" asked with a wistful smile. "I think you gave it up when we left town."
"Yeah, I barely played while we were gone," Rarity admitted. "But... maybe I could take it up again."
Cookie nodded. "You have a piano here at home. And surely there's one at the university. You could play in your spare time."
The curly-haired girl nodded, a feeling of relief beginning to form in her chest. "Thank you, Mother. I'll consider it... though I don't know if my fingers remember how to play."
Her mother gently stood up, smiling fondly. "I trust you still have the touch. And remember, child, don't overexert yourself. You'll do fine in your own way."
She watched as her mother headed for the door, waving goodbye with a soft wave.
"And don't fall asleep at your desk again," Cookie said with a soft laugh, reaching the door.
The dressmaker's eyes widened, now understanding how she got to bed. "Thank you, Mother."
After those last words, Cookie closed the door behind her. Rarity sighed, looking back down at her books. "I'm not going to overexert myself... but I have to do it," she told herself. "If I can get through this and show her how capable I am, I'll make her prouder."
In the Apples' cozy kitchen, the delicious aroma of freshly baked pie wafted through the air. Applejack was placing the pie on the counter to cool, pleased with the result. "We'll let it sit there for a while," muttered to herself, wiping her hands on her apron.
Meanwhile, from the living room, Pinkie and Apple Bloom's laughter drifted into the kitchen. Curious to know what was going on, she peeked in to see what it was about.
"This picture!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, still giggling as she held Pinkie's phone. To make it funnier, the party girl had put a funny filter over the picture, complete with a black eye and a fake mustache.
"She looks so funny with this filter!" Pinkie said, holding back her laughter, as she switched to another one.
Applejack, who had entered the living room, walked over to them and looked at the photo over her younger sister's shoulder. The photo showed the dressmaker asleep hours ago in the library. The party girl had taken it before meeting the girls.
"And Belle knows you took that picture of her?" asked, showing a serious expression.
Pinkie and Apple Bloom looked at each other, still smiling. "No, she doesn't. I was thinking of showing it to her later," the cheerful girl replied.
The farm girl nodded, keeping her tone neutral. "Uh-huh... what if you posted it? Do you think she'd like to see that on social media?"
The two of them laughed. "Of course not, you know how she is!" Apple Bloom said between guffaws. "She'd be pretty mad, for sure."
"Yeah, and more than that," added, raising an eyebrow and looking at Pinkie. "From what I understand, you and Dash are in the same process."
The cheerful girl looked at her confused for a moment.
"Trust," explained before falling silent for a moment, adding in a softer tone, "Maybe it's best if you don't upload it... but you could show her the picture in person, don't you think?"
"Or delete it!" Granny Smith chimed in from her chair, having been listening.
Pinkie nodded, understanding, as she put her phone away. "Good idea!" she said with her usual energy. "You're right. I've noticed that Rarity sometimes seems to hold back from telling me the truth... I wouldn't want to lose that trust."
Applejack shrugged and went back into the kitchen. "Well, I'll let you know when the pie's finished resting."
Once she was gone, Pinkie leaned over to Apple Bloom and whispered, "Did you notice that?"
"What thing?" asked, confused.
"The way she talks about Rarity," the party girl said with a smile.
"Disinterested," Apple Bloom replied, shrugging.
"I see her almost the same, although with some resistance," added Granny Smith from her seat.
"Still..." Pinkie left the sentence hanging, her eyes narrowing. "There's something different, I know it," thought.
After a while they sat at the table to enjoy the freshly baked pie, between chatter and laughter, the afternoon quickly advancing showing the orange sky. Applejack got up from the table, stretching. "Well, it's getting dark now. I guess it's time to take you home."
Pinkie nodded with a smile, still savoring the sweet. "Thanks for the pie, AJ! It was delicious, as always." She stood up, wrapping up a few pieces. "Bye, family," said goodbye to the three Apples.
Apple Bloom said goodbye as she went up to her room, and Big Mac and Granny Smith waved.
Applejack walked Pinkie out to the truck. The ride back was a quiet one. The lights of the city twinkled in the distance as they made their way down the road to the girl's house.
Once at the entrance, Pinkie stepped out of the vehicle with her usual energy. "See you tomorrow, AJ! And don't worry, I'll either delete or show the photo to Rarity!" said with a light laugh.
"Why would Belle's photo reassure me?" asked, raising an eyebrow, somewhat confused.
"When are you going to tell her again, Rarity?" asked back, tilting her head.
"I don't have an answer for that," Applejack said, keeping her voice neutral.
"So why are you defending her?" asked with a half-smile.
"My comments are because I respect the privacy of others... in this case, Belle's," the farm girl clarified, leaning in slightly.
"Uh-huh, whatever you say," said almost wryly as she walked toward her front door. "Good night."
Applejack rolled her eyes at the comment. "Get some rest, Pinkie," said with a smile.
And so, with a farewell, he stood for a moment watching the party girl enter her house, before turning around and heading back to his own.
The next day, the soft aroma of coffee and toast still wafted through the Sparkle family kitchen as Twilight stood up from the table, picking up her empty plate. Spike finished his cereal, taking the last spoonful before pushing his bowl aside.
“That was quick,” commented, wiping his hands on a napkin. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah, give me a sec,” Spike replied, getting down from his chair and heading towards the door.
Twilight walked over to the closet by the entryway and pulled out an umbrella. “I’ll take this, it’s already started raining,” he said as he inspected it, making sure it worked fine.
The green-haired boy, already putting on his jacket, raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think you need that. It’s just an October drizzle, you know how they are. It barely lasts a couple hours and then it clears up.”
The bespectacled girl looked at him, hesitating a bit as she held the umbrella in her hand. "What if it gets worse? I don't want to get soaked if it surprises us."
Her brother let out a small laugh. "Twilight, we've been through this every year. Those October showers are more of a quick hello than a storm. By the time we get to school, it'll have stopped raining."
Twilight smiled, agreeing with Spike's logic, though still clutching the umbrella. "Well, I'd rather be prepared," said, but then set it aside. "Okay, I'll leave it here... for today."
They both peeked down the hallway and said goodbye to their parents before leaving the house. The older girl closed the door behind them and headed to the car, feeling the first drops of rain.
Spike smiled confidently as he climbed into the passenger seat. "In a few hours, the sun will be shining."
The blue-haired girl shook her head, amused, as she started the car. "We'll see."
After a drive, Twilight slid smoothly into the school parking lot. As she parked, she turned off the engine and turned to see her brother, who was already looking out the window, looking for his friends.
"I see Scootaloo," Spike said, opening the door. "I'll go with her for now, okay?"
The older girl smiled. "Okay, but don't forget your stuff."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," replied, already out of the car with her backpack on her shoulder. She raised her hand to wave to Scootaloo who was standing waiting.
As Twilight watched her brother reunite with the magenta-haired girl, she noticed another vehicle approaching. It was Applejack's truck, which parked right in front of her. The farm girl got out of the vehicle with her younger sister.
"Twilight! Good morning!" the blonde greeted, smiling as she closed the door of her truck.
Apple Bloom, adjusting her backpack, stepped forward to join Scootaloo and Spike.
She got out of her car, feeling the raindrops still falling. She grabbed her backpack, locked the car, and walked over to the blonde.
"They're here," Rainbow commented with a smile, walking over with her arms relaxed behind her head.
"Ready, we're leaving," Apple Bloom said, her tone cheerful.
The three eldest shared a look laden with warning, one that needed no words, but said it all.
"Pay attention," Applejack said, her voice firm, as she adjusted her hat, which barely protected her from the lingering drops.
"And don't stray," Twilight added, her tone softer, but just as serious.
"We know, we're just taking a detour to meet Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo replied with a mischievous grin.
"Okay, see you at the exit or before," Rainbow said, waving her hand before turning her back to them.
The three boys turned and began walking towards the building, their animated voices fading with each step, as Twilight watched them disappear through the door. The mention of the youngest Belle left her deep in thought, reminding her of Rarity's request of her, a decision she hadn't made yet.
"Ready for another day of studying?" the blonde asked, breaking the silence.
"I have no choice, but I'm ready," the multicolored girl replied with a forced smile, stretching. "Though I would have preferred to sleep a little longer."
Suddenly, the familiar roar of a motorcycle echoed through the parking lot. Sunset appeared, parking her motorcycle next to the farmer's truck. "Good morning!" greeted, waving a hand as she put her helmet away in the compartment.
"Looks like we all arrived at the same time today," Twilight said, forcing herself out of her thoughts, smiling at the sight of her friend.
The four of them adjusted their backpacks before heading towards the entrance of the building. The rain, though light, fell at a steady pace, creating small puddles along the way. They stopped in the hallway.
"I have to meet up with Starlight. We're going to study together," the bespectacled girl said, picking up a book she'd pulled out of her backpack.
Applejack nodded. "See you later. Don't kill yourself studying too much," teased, though there was a gentle sincerity in her tone.
Twilight nodded, waving goodbye to the others with a smile before heading off to her classroom.
"Well, I'm going to the soccer field," Rainbow said, rolling her eyes. "I'm going to... study my way," added with a mischievous grin. "See you in an hour, you know."
The farm girl chuckled. "Okay, Dash, but put more effort into it," said, raising her fist in support.
"Maybe playing later will motivate you," Sunset commented, patting her on the back as she offered her a smile.
"Uh-huh, see you later with the others," said, starting to walk off in the direction of the field.
The two watched her walk away before continuing on their own path. "Will you join me? I'm going to the library. I want to borrow some books so I don't have to come back after playing with Dash," the redhead said as she checked her backpack to make sure she had everything.
"Sure, that way we kill more time. You know, the minutes fly by," the farm girl replied, taking out her phone to check the time before putting it in her pants pocket.
Sunset nodded, and the two began walking together towards the stairs, the soft sound of their footsteps echoing in the school that was just beginning to fill up with students.
Minutes had passed and Twilight was already studying alongside Starlight, though the glasses-wearing girl didn't seem to be completely focused.
"So, the theory says that when the neurotransmitter binds to the receptor..." Starlight stopped as she saw her friend lost, her gaze fixed on an indefinite point.
"Twilight," called softly, trying to get her attention.
"Yeah? Where did we leave off?" replied, looking at her notes, as if trying to remember.
"The question is more like, where did you leave off?" said with a sympathetic smile. "Do you want to talk about what got you like this?"
Twilight hesitated, looking at the graphs of synapses and neurotransmitters in her notes. "Um... I don't know, it's just kind of personal and well..." her voice trailed off, unsure of how to continue.
"Okay, no pressure, unless you want to talk about it," Starlight said, lowering a hand and counting down on her fingers with a knowing smile.
The blue-haired girl looked down at her notes again. "The theory says..." she was going to continue, but her eyes wandered around the classroom, watching other groups working together. She looked back at her friend, knowing how good she was at giving advice, and finally decided to speak.
"Okay, I'll put it another way," said, her voice holding a hint of determination, though still hesitant.
Starlight, who had already reached zero with her countdown, raised her hand arching an eyebrow in interest. "I'm listening," said, leaning on the table.
"Yes... Person X did something that affected her group of friends years ago, something that created a rift. She left for a while, but now she's back... here, not exactly here," said, waving her hands as if trying to encompass everything around her.
Starlight nodded, feigning surprise, although she knew perfectly well who she was referring to.
"Well, that person has been around the group for a few months," continued, unable to hide a slight tone of frustration. "The truth is, it's almost usual to see her hanging around the university. And... now she asks me for help studying. What would you do in my place?"
Her friend looked at her thoughtfully. "Would it bother you to help her?" asked softly. "I understand that it's difficult, but as you say, it's already usual to see her around, but being around her in an academic situation, is it the same?"
"I guess," Twilight admitted, blinking a few times, while nervously playing with her pencil. "But the memories... the memories are still there. I'm in doubt whether I should help her or not. But... honestly, she seems to need it, and I feel like there's something behind all of this."
Starlight tilted her head, thinking. "Look, we're studying psychopharmacology, right? We just talked about how certain substances can influence emotions and how medications can stabilize an imbalance. Maybe you can apply that idea to your situation: if you manage to establish a sort of 'emotional barrier' and focus on academics, you could do it without the personal interfering."
Twilight watched her, thinking about the metaphor. "I mean, treat it like just another job... like there's no story behind it."
The girl smiled softly. "Exactly. And set your boundaries from the start. If you feel like it's just an academic thing, maybe you can handle it without the emotional burden."
The girl with glasses dropped the pencil and smiled, feeling a little more relief. "You're right, if I approach it as something academic, I could move on."
"You know I'll always be there to remind you if you need it," Starlight said with a warm smile.
"Thank you, Starlight," Twilight said, more relaxed now that she had a clearer perspective. "I think I'll talk to X person later."
"Perfect. Now let's continue," replied, returning to her notebook to resume studying.
Rarity was in the library, where she had been since she arrived. She found herself surrounded by books and sheets of paper. Her hands were shaking slightly from nerves as the days went by and the next week approached.
"Come on, Rarity, calm down, you don't need another attack," muttered to herself.
As she tried to balance a pile of papers and a couple of books, she lost control and everything fell to the floor.
"Oh!" exclaimed quietly, quickly bending down to pick up her things, feeling panic rising in her chest.
Just then, a girl passing by the library hallway noticed her struggling to pick up her papers. After a moment, she sighed and approached.
Without saying a word, she bent down and began picking up the sheets scattered on the floor. Rarity, surprised by the action, watched her for a moment.
"Thanks... Applejack..."
Applejack, still focused on picking up the papers, answered without looking her directly in the eyes. "I just saw that someone needed help, that's all."
Once they finished packing up, the farmer handed her the papers and looked up briefly, meeting her eyes for a second before looking away.
The blonde stood up, remembering what happened days ago. Hesitating a bit, she sighed and decided to speak. "Hey... I know it's late, but I'm sorry about the cafeteria and about letting you go," said without waiting for a response.
The seamstress's smile formed a small smile. This was the second time she had helped her, and now she was apologizing for what had happened. Maybe this wouldn't end in future disappointment.
As Applejack took a few steps to leave, Rarity stood up still with a smile, remembering the brevity of the moment and what had happened in class a week ago.
"Kind and thoughtful... I've always admired that part of you..."
The farmer stopped short, not sure if she had heard correctly. She glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, as if evaluating if she had really said it. However, before she decided whether or not to answer, she was interrupted when Sunset appeared.
"Ready, AJ. Shall we go?" said, holding up some books.
"Uh, yeah, sure," replied, walking away with the redhead as they left the library.
The seamstress looked at her hand and noticed that it was no longer shaking. "Looks like I won't have another attack," thought, calmer.
As they walked, Sunset noticed Applejack looking a little thoughtful.
"Everything okay?" asked.
"I don't know... I just think Belle said something to me, but I don't know how to take it," replied, a little bewildered.
The redhead briefly glanced back, watching them walk away from the library doors. "I still haven't given her an answer,"  thought, turning her attention back to the blonde.
"Was it something bad or good?"
"It was... something good about me," Applejack said, looking a little confused.
"So... you should take it as a compliment," Sunset said, thinking about everything that's happened since Rarity came back.
"Yeah, I just don't know if I heard right... but it sounded like a compliment," said with a slight smile as she scratched her head.
"That's good," the redhead said with a smile, to which the farmer nodded.
At that moment, they saw Twilight apparently heading towards them.
"Twilight!"
"Are you here for another book or are you just going to come with us to relax?" Sunset asked. "Rainbow should be at the court already, I just came for something, then I can study."
Twilight laughed, but her laugh seemed a little nervous. "I'm going to get a book, maybe I'll see you later... if the books don't get the better of me first," joked.
Applejack laughed. "Okay," said, as she continued walking alongside Sunset.
The girl with glasses watched them go and then looked towards the library. She knew the seamstress was there; she had seen her hanging around there lately. She took a deep breath and started walking inside.
Once inside, she looked around for a head of elegant hair. She looked from side to side, and there she was, at a table with books.
Twilight approached Rarity, and just seeing someone standing next to her, the seamstress stopped paying attention and raised her head.
"I've thought about your request," said, breaking the silence and looking away for a few seconds.
The curly-haired girl, with her expectant expression, just nodded and put her things aside.
"I'll help you," said, her tone serious. "But let's not mix up the personal. This is just academic, okay?"
Rarity nodded in understanding. "Of course, I understand," said sincerely. "Thank you. It means a lot to me."
Twilight nodded briefly. "What exactly do you need help with?"
"Accounting, statistics, and math," replied, counting on her fingers.
"Statistics!?" exclaimed, her eyes widening. "And the rest... it's all about numbers. Belle, that has nothing to do with design, what are you really studying?"
"That's personal," replied, looking away.
"You're right," Twilight admitted. "I was the first to break the agreement," thought, remembering the rule she imposed.
"But yes, I'm not studying anything related to design," Rarity confessed, looking away. "I don't want to disappoint the one who gave me this opportunity."
The blue-haired girl sighed. "She must have her reasons for wanting someone's approval." thought. She took a deep breath, pushing her thoughts away and focusing on academics. "Okay, let's start with statistics," said as she sat down across from her.
"What subject have you made progress on?"
Rarity searched through the notebooks on her table until she found the one she needed and opened it, turning it over so Twilight could review the seamstress's notes.
"It's pretty simple when you break it down into smaller steps. What part don't you understand?"
"Actually, it's this section on distributions," said, pointing at some equations. "I've tried to figure it out, but I can't seem to make the numbers add up."
She stared at the page for a moment, then picked up a pencil and began writing. "This is where you apply the formula, but it seems like you're leaving out a part of the process. Look, you have to first..."
As Twilight explained precisely, Rarity watched her silently, trying to concentrate, but her mind kept wandering over everything that had happened between them and the other girls. She wanted to say something more, but she knew it wasn't the time.
"So, if you follow these steps, I assure you that everything will start to make more sense," concluded, pushing the notebook towards the seamstress. "Try doing this exercise and tell me if it works."
Rarity took the pencil, but her hands were shaking slightly. She did the exercise carefully, but her thoughts betrayed her. "I can't fail," thought as she traced the numbers. "Not again."
Twilight watched her from beside her, curious. Even though they had put a wall between them, she could see the wavy-haired girl's internal struggle.
Indoor Court
Rainbow Dash was lying on the floor of the court near the basketball hoop, staring at the ceiling as she waited for her friends. She had sent them a message that the place to meet and play had changed.
Fluttershy was the first to arrive, walking with her light and timid steps. She watched her from the doorway for a second before approaching gently. "Are you okay, Rainbow?" asked with her usual gentleness.
The multicolored girl let out a soft sigh, not looking away from the ceiling. "It's the rain..."
The animal lover looked at the floor of the court and then at Rainbow, hesitating for a moment. She carefully placed her backpack on the bleachers and, after another second of hesitation, decided to sit near her, stretching her legs forward. She didn't lie down; she simply made herself comfortable to accompany her in a more comfortable way.
"The rain has stopped. That's the good thing about October... it only lasts a couple of hours," commented, trying to lighten the mood with her soft tone.
"I know... It's just that lately I feel like it doesn't relax me anymore," Rainbow replied, frowning. "I went to the soccer field and slipped a few times. It reminded me of the game that was suspended."
Before Fluttershy could say anything else, they heard someone's footsteps approaching the field, accompanied by small jumps. Both girls didn't need to look towards the door to recognize who it was.
“Oh, is this a friend circle? I want in!” Pinkie exclaimed with excitement and, without a second thought, flopped down on the floor, arms and legs spread out like a star.
Rainbow rolled her eyes but couldn’t help a smile, while Fluttershy let out a small, nervous laugh.
“Come on, Fluttershy, you too! Now it’s an official friend huddle!” Pinkie said with the same enthusiasm, encouraging the pink-haired girl to lie down with them.
Fluttershy looked down at the floor, hesitant about dirt. She glanced at Rainbow, who gave her a relaxed shrug and smile, as if giving her permission or just supporting the idea. Finally, with a shy smile, she let herself be convinced and lay down next to her friends, though she kept a little distance.
Rainbow sighed more comfortably. “I guess lying on the floor doesn’t sound so bad now,” joked.
Pinkie grinned widely. “Of course not! Here we can all talk about what’s on our minds, like a friend circle! So, who’s going first?”
“Dash seems upset about the rain,” Fluttershy began softly.
"It's not that bad... It's just that the wet grass makes it hard for me to move easily and makes me slip," Rainbow complained, crossing her arms.
"But it'll dry soon, it was only a few hours of rain," the party girl said with a smile.
"That's what I told her," Fluttershy added with a nod.
"I just hope it doesn't rain again on game day or I'll end up hating and considering rain as bad luck," muttered, raising a fist before letting it fall back to the ground.
"Ah, but there is a good side to it... dancing in the rain, playing in the puddles that form..." Pinkie said, waving her hands as if imitating someone splashing. "And the romantic things that happen in the rain..."
"What's so romantic about it?" the multicolored one asked, looking at Pinkie with a curious expression.
"You mean romantic scenes in the rain, right?" Fluttershy chimed in, giving the girl a quick glance, who nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah, yeah, that's it!" replied cheerfully.
"I still don't understand," Rainbow admitted, frowning with a confused look.
"Ah, right... Dash, you're not one of the romantic ones," the girl said cheerfully, waving her hand as if dismissing the idea.
"I'll take that as a compliment," said, grimacing slightly. "But what's romantic about the rain?"
Fluttershy looked at Rainbow, and for a moment, her lips curved into a small smile. "It's... the kiss," murmured, her cheeks blushing slightly.
"That's right!" Pinkie exclaimed with a big smile.
"A kiss?" repeated, clearly incredulous.
"From your comment I gather you've never done the rain thing with AJ," the party girl commented directly, turning as best she could towards the multicolored one.
Rainbow was silent for a second, staring at the ceiling. "Uh, no..."
"That would be nice, don't you think?" Fluttershy commented, her voice barely a whisper. Then, feeling the gazes of the two, she blushed even more. "I-it's not like I'm looking for... something like that..."
"I don't know if I explained myself well," added quickly, covering her face a little with her hands.
"Do you want to have your first kiss yet?" Pinkie asked directly, looking as she turned around to look at her friend.
"Pinkie..." Rainbow scolded, glaring at her.
The comment seemed to make Fluttershy blush even more. She tried to say something, but only stammered in response.
"What?" asked, looking at the jock innocently.
"U-um... I...," the pink-haired girl tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come out.
"Relax, Fluttershy. It'll happen sometime and it'll be uh... special and unexpected," Rainbow said searching for the words and trying to reach her friend's shoulder to give her a small touch of comfort.
"O-okay..." she whispered, still blushing. "Can we just drop the subject, please?"
"Yeah, sure, and your time will come and it'll be nice," Pinkie added with a mischievous smile, laying back down. "Any other worries?"
Before they could continue with their worries, Applejack and Sunset came over with Lyra and Bon Bon, looking at the scene in surprise.
"What are you doing?" The red haired girl asked, looking at the three girls on the ground.
"A friend circle!" the party girl exclaimed excitedly.
The farm girl raised an eyebrow at the sight of the girls lying on the ground and then crossed her arms. "A friend circle? On the ground of a court?"
"Yeah! It's an official activity now," Pinkie replied, waving her hands up from her position on the ground.
"Well, I guess that doesn't surprise me coming from you," Applejack commented with a light smile as she approached the group, followed by Sunset, Lyra, and Bon Bon.
"Are you guys going to join in, or do you want to keep standing like you're referees?" Rainbow asked, raising her head slightly to look at them with a half smile.
The red haired girl laughed softly. "I'll pass. I'd rather keep myself a little clean before we start playing."
The blonde crouched down to be closer to the group, though she remained standing, resting her hands on her knees. "What were you two talking about?"
"About the rain and how Rainbow doesn't understand romance," Pinkie replied with the same energy as always.
Applejack raised an eyebrow and looked at her partner. "I'm not surprised."
Rainbow looked back at her with a serious expression and then shrugged. "Not everyone is obsessed with that stuff."
"Maybe it's because you've never tried," replied, frowning slightly before relaxing. "But I know you, and I know you won't even try."
The multicolored girl snorted and crossed her arms. "Exactly. And thank you for accepting."
Fluttershy, who had been watching silently, kept a small smile, though her attention briefly drifted to the door, as if she was waiting for someone else to arrive.
"Uhm, maybe we should focus on the game... if you want," finally said softly.
"Yeah! I wanna join!" Pinkie added, jumping to her feet and carefully grabbing her backpack. "We've got enough people already. We can make two teams!"
"I knew we wouldn't be able to get four," Sunset said with a smile, walking over to the field with the ball. "That's why we went looking for Lyra and Bon Bon."
"Perfect," Rainbow said as she stood up, stretching her arms out with a more relaxed expression.
Fluttershy stood up and looked around a bit. "Hey, where's Twilight?" asked as she brushed off her dress.
Applejack looked at the door and then at the redhead. "Wow, I thought she'd be here by now. I think we know what happened, though," said with a laugh at the end.
Sunset replied as she noticed the confused looks from the others. "We found her going to the library, so the books won out."
"That Twi needs a break. Luckily we were able to get her out for her birthday," the sporty girl said, smiling.
The party girl looked at Lyra and Bon Bon, who had curious looks on their faces. "Relax, girls, I'll consider the party I have in mind as another celebration and they'll be there."
"Hey, thanks, Pinkie," Bon Bon said with a smile.
"But we don't feel bad, we were just a little surprised that Twilight let herself relax," Lyra said with a laugh.
"We had to prod her a lot," Fluttershy added, gently reminding, which made the two girls laugh.
"So, girls, ready to play or are you just here to talk about books?" Applejack asked in a challenging tone, but with a friendly smile.
"Let's play!" Pinkie shouted as they began to form teams.
Rainbow, now standing, couldn't help but smile as the party girl began to encourage everyone to organize the teams. She felt her competitive spirit awaken, and a spark of excitement lit up her eyes. "I hope you're ready, because I don't plan on going easy on anyone."
Fluttershy listened, her mind briefly going back to what she and Pinkie had mentioned earlier about romance. She didn't think much about it, but sometimes she wondered, what it would be like to share something like that with someone, but she quickly shook her head, focusing on the present.
Back in the library, Twilight was still helping Rarity, who, after several minutes of teaching her, gave her some exercises to solve.
"I did it," said in a whisper, breaking the silence. She looked up at the blue-haired girl with a slight smile, almost incredulous at seeing the notebook.
Twilight nodded with a slight smile of approval, but with a serious look. "See, it's not that complicated once you understand it."
The silence settled between them again, but this time, although uncomfortable, it seemed less cold than before. The seamstress felt that, perhaps, just perhaps, something had changed, as if a small crack had formed in the wall that separated them.
"Thank you, Twilight," murmured, looking down at her notes, feeling vulnerable for a moment. "I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome," replied, putting her things away. "We'll leave it here. Tomorrow or the day after we'll continue." She stood up, but before she left, she was interrupted.
"Twilight." Rarity's voice was soft but firm.
The bespectacled girl looked at her, watching as the seamstress held the books in her hand with a slight smile. "You might not expect this from me, but it's never too late," said, her voice shaking slightly.
Twilight continued to wait in silence, feeling a mix of anxiety and curiosity.
"Happy birthday... I hope you enjoyed it with the girls," said, with a sincerity that surprised the blue-haired girl.
Twilight gaped, unable to articulate an immediate response. "Did you see Pinkie's Instagram?" asked, somewhat suspicious of how she had known.
"I saw it later. But I never forget a date," Rarity said, a smile appearing that brightened her face a little. "See you." said goodbye before walking away.
She watched as the seamstress walked away to return the books. Blinking a few times before reacting and seeing her disappear around the corner of a bookshelf. A warm feeling washed over Twilight, as a knot formed in her stomach. That simple gesture, an acknowledgement of her birthday, meant more than she expected.
Author's Note
In the slight flashback, I tried to make it more of a description, but it seemed more like a separate scene, without the bars I usually put in memories or the black letters. I hope they didn't get tangled up.
I'm going to try to reduce the subtitles that indicate where some characters are, since with the description it's easy to understand.
Each chapter that comes out brings us closer to the revelations.
Has it ever happened to you now or at some point that your parents tell you that you should change your ways? Well, I'm not blaming my dad, but he always told me as a child to never show weakness in front of others. And as a child who didn't fully understand, I interpreted his words differently. When I grew up and started going to school, they always asked me if I was angry, because, following what my dad told me, I always showed seriousness, although inside I was a shy and sensitive girl. Now, at present, I'm not that shy, but my parents and my brother tell me all the time to change my expression, but one has already grown up like that. I identify a lot with the scene of Cookie and Rarity; it's something I would like my dad to recognize, but he never admits his mistakes. Sorry to tell you this if it bothers you, I got sentimental.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                      Second Glances                       
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Second Glances
Sitting on one of the nearby benches, Fluttershy wasn't participating in the game, but she watched her friends with a slight smile. She appreciated the sense of calm that it brought her to see them enjoying such a carefree moment.
At that very moment, she felt a presence at her side. Turning her head, she saw Twilight approaching with her backpack slung over one shoulder, her expression relaxed, though she still maintained that air of concentration that always accompanied her.
"Hey Fluttershy," she greeted with a small smile as she settled on the bench, letting out a sigh of relief as she sat down. "I was in the library. Did I miss anything interesting?" asked, with a soft laugh, her gaze following the movements of the group running from one side of the court to the other.
Fluttershy shook her head gently, returning the smile.
"Nothing too exciting... except that Rainbow has made some impressive baskets."
The bespectacled girl nodded and made herself more comfortable, pulling a book out of her backpack. Although she was physically present, it was clear that part of her mind was still caught up in her studies and recent review sessions with Rarity.
"What about you? Anything interesting in any of the library books?" asked, noticing his pensive expression.
Twilight tensed a little; she wasn't sure whether to tell him that she had been studying with Rarity. Things seemed to be less tense, but she was afraid that any comment might bring misunderstandings or reignite conflicts.
"The usual, books with interesting information," lied with a slightly awkward smile.
"The books beat you," Fluttershy joked, laughing softly as her eyes returned to the game.
They both fell silent, watching as the girls from Rainbow's opposing team tried to snatch the ball from her, only for her, with her agility, to dodge them.
"Why didn't you join?" the blue-haired girl asked, glancing at her friend and then at the game. "Besides, they're with fair players."
Fluttershy glanced at the court before looking back. "You know I'm not very good at sports... I prefer to watch," said, shrugging slightly.
"Like we always have since we met," Twilight laughed, recalling memories of their friendship.
The pink-haired girl smiled, lost in the nostalgia that accompanied those words. "Just like old times."
"Yeah, though the only thing missing is Bell-" Twilight paused as she realized what she had said. Her mention also surprised her friend, who froze for a moment.
"Uh... I don't know why I mentioned her," said, clearly confused.
"Yeah, it was unexpected," the pink-haired girl replied, equally confused. "But we don't always have to leave her out of conversations," added in a tone of understanding, her gaze drifting a little into the past.
Twilight thought about it for a moment.
"You're right. Sometimes she can get carried away, like I did now," said, taking another look at the game. "I just wish she was still with AJ and yelling his name when she played against Rainbow," joked.
Fluttershy frowned slightly, watching the multicolored girl share a team with the blonde.
"It kind of made me laugh that she didn't even notice what was around her," Twilight commented, with an amused smile, remembering how the fashion designer used to get lost in the game, focusing on the farmer without noticing much else.
"Noticing..." Fluttershy murmured, watching the game, her gaze fixed on Rainbow and Applejack as a feeling rose in her chest.
"When you're in love, it's typical to act a little erratically," the bespectacled girl commented, in a casual, if slightly analytical tone. "According to some studies, strong feelings can cause you to behave impulsively or distractedly..."
Twilight continued to explain the behavior, not noticing Fluttershy lost in her thoughts, listening to the sound of the ball bouncing on the ground, then the basket...
Three years ago: Mid-Autumn  
The sun was beginning to set, tinting the sky in shades of orange and purple as the girls finished a friendly basketball game on a street court. The cool breeze blew gently, giving them momentary relief from the heat of the game. There was only one last basket left to break the tie.
With a leap, Applejack scored, sealing the victory. Rarity, who was on the sidelines, couldn't contain her excitement.
"That's my girl!" exclaimed with a proud smile.
Fluttershy clapped shyly, but her smile faded when she noticed something unexpected: an exchange of glances between the farmer and the athlete. Rainbow, still panting from the effort, cast a quick glance at Applejack. When their eyes met, the multicolored girl looked away, but the other girl kept her gaze for a few seconds longer.
"Did Rarity notice?" thought worriedly, glancing at her curly friend, but the girl had moved at some point, looking for a towel for her partner, not noticing the tension on the court.
With a knot in her stomach, Fluttershy couldn't help but wonder if it was just her imagination. No one in the group talked about anything happening between the two, partly because Applejack was with Rarity, and everyone seemed to assume that was the only reality.
The seamstress smiled as she approached the blonde, handing her a towel.
"Here, you better dry yourself off or I might get you wet with water... so you're not so... sweaty," commented with a slight grimace of disgust.
"Thanks," said, taking the towel with a warm smile and beginning to dry herself off. "Is something wrong?" asked, seeing a worried expression on her partner.
Rarity looked at her phone, her attention distracted. "Ah, it's just a text from my dad. He tells me not to be late," explained before passing another towel to the multicolored girl. "Here, Dash."
"Thanks, but... are you sure everything's okay?" Rainbow asked in a worried tone, noticing her friend's uneasiness.
"Yeah, yeah. It's just that," replied, her expression relaxing. "But don't worry, everything's fine."
"I'll drop you off then," Applejack said with a smile as she finished drying herself off and grabbed her bag. "It's my duty to take care of the princess of the house." Rarity smiled back with a tender expression.
Rainbow rolled her eyes at the cheesiness, but didn't say anything.
"See you tomorrow in class," the farmer added as she took her partner's hand.
The girls said goodbye, and Applejack and Rarity walked away hand in hand. Fluttershy watched them as they left and then turned to the multicolored girl, who was now pouring water over her head from her bottle.
"Uhm, Rainbow..." she began in her soft tone, approaching carefully. "Can I talk to you?"
Rainbow, who was drying herself off, raised an eyebrow, somewhat confused. "Huh? Sure. I am the only one here, after all," she joked, letting out a light laugh.
"Yeah, you're right," she replied with a nervous smile, looking at the empty benches. As the athlete bounced the ball against the wall, Fluttershy searched for the right words.
"Is something wrong? Let it go," she insisted, throwing the ball once more against the wall, waiting for an answer.
The pink-haired girl bit her lip, looking at her friend in profile. "It's just that... well, I've noticed something... actually I've noticed it a few times... something between you and Applejack," said hesitantly. "Maybe I'm just imagining it, but..." Her words trailed off, not knowing how to continue.
Rainbow caught the ball, looking at her seriously. "Me and Applejack? Pfft, don't make me laugh. You know AJ is with Rarity and she's my friend... I wouldn't want to ruin things. There's nothing between us."
Fluttershy sighed in relief for a moment, but was surprised when her friend continued talking.
"But... I don't know. Something's wrong with me," she said with a sigh, looking at the ground. "You know I don't know about that romantic stuff. So... I have no idea what I feel."
"Do you think you might feel something?" asked carefully, surprised by the confession.
"Flutters..." Rainbow looked up, letting out a sigh. "I've never been with anyone. So I don't even know if this is what they call... liking or crushing."
"You're right, but it could be... though I don't know enough about it to confirm it either," said, laughing nervously. "I guess we're even."
"Two misfits," the multicolored girl joked with a forced smile. "Let's drop this conversation," said, looking up at the sky, where the orange color was already beginning to fade.
Fluttershy looked at the sky. "Yeah, it's getting late. You should wrap up warm, the wind is starting to get cold."
Rainbow put on a light jacket and, with her ball and bag in hand, they walked away from the court together.
As they walked under the darkened sky, the pink-haired girl kept turning the conversation over in her mind. Should she tell Rarity something? They had gotten closer and told each other almost everything... but would it be the right thing to do?
For now, she decided to keep quiet and wait. Maybe, at some point, she would tell her. The truth would come out at some point.
Present
"... That's what the studies say too," Twilight continued to explain the behavior of feelings.
Fluttershy blinked several times, slowly coming out of her memory and returning to the conversation, listening to the sigh of her bespectacled friend.
"I don't know what's going on... I mean when Belle got so euphoric, I don't know if that bothers you."
"Huh?" reacted, returning completely to the present.
"I talked about Belle," answered, looking at her with a slight smile.
Fluttershy blinked a few more times, somewhat disoriented, trying to remember what Twilight had been talking about. Finally, the only thing she could think of was to reply, "As I mentioned, we can't always avoid talking about her," though she had missed much of the conversation in the memory. Apparently, her friend didn't notice her brief mental absence.
"I should forget that part of the past," thought sadly, remembering the feelings the multicolored girl once confessed to her.
Twilight watched her with a thoughtful expression, but said nothing and just nodded, deciding to change the subject. "I've been reading up on study techniques we could use for tests. There are some we could apply in our group sessions."
Before Fluttershy could reply, a loud shout of victory echoed from the court. Rainbow had just scored the last basket, winning the game. Applejack patted her on the back with a smile, while Lyra and Bon Bon celebrated with laughter despite their defeat.
The girls slowly approached where Fluttershy and Twilight were sitting. The athlete, with the ball under her arm, was grinning from ear to ear, still breathing heavily. "Wow, Twilight! I thought we wouldn't see you until after school," joked, setting the ball aside and stretching her arms above her head.
The bespectacled girl closed her book with a smile and looked at the girls. "I was stuck in the library. You guys sure know how to enjoy free time."
"That's because we know how to balance life!" Pinkie exclaimed, suddenly appearing next to Twilight, which startled her a little.
Lyra and Bon Bon exchanged a glance and, noticing the time, decided to leave. "We're leaving now," Bon Bon said as they gathered their backpacks and water bottles. "Let's go study."
"Ah, studies," Rainbow said, sighing.
Lyra smiled as she adjusted her backpack. "That was a fun game. See you tomorrow!" she added with a smile as they both said goodbye, waving as they walked away towards the exit.
"And speaking of studies... who wants some of the delicious pie Applejack made yesterday? That'll cheer us up for studying!" Pinkie exclaimed, pulling out a jar and opening it.
The farmer laughed, raising an eyebrow. "I also brought some extra pieces in case we didn't have enough," said, opening a bag where pieces of her signature apple pie peeked out.
"You did leave something for us this time, Pinkie," Twilight commented, already intrigued and hungry. But before she could say more, Rainbow made a face.
"Ugh, I'm not a fan of sweets," commented, making an amused expression as she shook her head. "Nothing personal, AJ. Your pie sure is delicious, but it's not my thing."
Fluttershy, with a smile, pulled a small bag out of her backpack. "Well, I brought this, a salty touch for your study mood," said softly, handing the bag to the multicolored one.
She looked at her curiously, taking the bag. "What is this?" She asked, opening the package and smiling at what was inside. "Oh, salty pretzels! You didn't have to... but you do know me."
Fluttershy gave her a small, happy smile. "I knew you'd like it."
The sportswoman sat down next to her and nudged her gently. "Definitely," said, grateful, and began to eat with enthusiasm. While in response the pink-haired girl only lowered her gaze for a moment. She couldn't help but feel a little proud of knowing her tastes so well.
Applejack took the carefully wrapped apple pie out of her bag. "Well, for those who do enjoy sweets, here's the pie," said, offering it to the rest. Thus, everyone who didn't get to try Pinkie's pieces could take a piece, although there was still one left over.
While they were enjoying the moment, the party girl noticed the last piece and smiled as an idea occurred to her.
"AJ, can I have that leftover piece?" asked after swallowing.
"Sure. Are you saving it for later?" replied with a smile.
"Actually... there's someone who hasn't tried your pie yet," said, taking the piece to put back in the jar.
Applejack's smile faded a little, turning almost serious as she realized who she was referring to. "It's for her, isn't it?" said with a sigh. The others had no trouble understanding, showing different expressions.
"Come on, AJ, don't make that face. You know Rarity still likes your cooking skills," Pinkie joked, winking at her encouragingly.
The farm girl cocked her head, confused, as she didn't remember making anything recently for the group. "What are you talking about, Pinkie? I haven't done anything else..." The others thought for a moment.
"Yes you did," Twilight chimed in, thinking out loud.
"When?" asked, still confused.
"The cider," Rainbow replied with a sigh. "Remember you made enough for the team and some who weren't part of it?"
"I thought my brother said she didn't drink it when he offered it to her," the farmer answered, remembering the occasion.
Sunset lowered her head, remembering how everyone scattered after what Big Mac said on that occasion. She knew she would soon have to give Rarity an answer about the request she made; she would talk to her later, some things made her think, already having an answer.
"Yeah, that's right..." Pinkie opened her eyes, surprised. "How do they know if they didn't even have her around?"
"It's not... uh... not on topic," Fluttershy answered, somewhat nervously.
"Exactly, what matters is the cider AJ made with her family," Twilight intervened, wanting to calm the situation.
"Okay," said the party girl, narrowing her eyes as if trying to solve a mystery. "I later found out that Rarity talked to Starlight and the others who she gets along with, and ended up accepting the cider. Although she was hesitant at first, she liked it in the end."
Applejack just nodded and the others didn't say anything.
At that moment, Chancellor Celestia's voice was heard on the megaphones, asking some senior students to go to the music room and then head to their respective classrooms to find out what to study in the other subjects that they still didn't know what was in it.
"Let's see what we have for the exam," Rainbow said, putting her backpack on one shoulder.
"I'd rather it be another report," Fluttershy commented with a sigh.
"We'll see," Twilight said, wanting to reassure her.
"I'll take the opportunity to give Rarity a pass and tell her it was made by you, AJ," Pinkie said, winking as she stood up.
"Just don't go overboard with what you say," Applejack commented, making a 'stop' gesture with her hands.
The party girl just smiled widely.
Once their backpacks were ready, they headed towards the music room. Upon arriving, they saw that there were already several students inside, so they entered and joined the small crowd. In front, the teacher waited patiently for everyone to explain to them.
The teacher began to explain what the exam would consist of, and the students took notes in their notebooks, which some quickly took out of their backpacks. Once the teacher finished explaining, the students began to leave the classroom.
Twilight noticed the dressmaker a few meters away and remembered minutes ago the learning and the unexpected birthday greeting she had given her, smiling slightly at that.
She then approached her friends to talk about the exam, as did the other students, who were dispersing down the hall. Some quickly left, as they also needed to find out about their other subjects.
Sunset, for her part, looked around to make sure her friends were distracted before walking away a bit. Taking advantage of the fact that Pinkie was still busy chatting, she approached Rarity, who looked at her in surprise upon noticing her presence.
"Can we talk over there, in the corner? It's about your request," said, nodding towards a more discreet hallway.
"Sure, let's go," the seamstress replied, casting a quick glance back to make sure no one was watching them as she followed the red-haired girl.
As she walked, Rarity thought about her next decision. Twilight had already agreed to help her, so should Sunset refuse her request? Or would she get angry if she did?
Her friends, for their part, continued to talk about the music exam. The conversation quickly changed to what the exams in other subjects might be like, a topic that was already causing concern for some of them.
"I'd say cooking class will be a piece of cake," Pinkie commented, smiling with her characteristic optimism.
"Yeah... I'm sure it'll be easy," Fluttershy agreed, nodding with a slight smile.
"I hope we've studied enough," Rainbow added, frowning as she remembered how little she reviewed yesterday.
"That's why today we'll focus on the key topics and I'll give you some pointers for studying at home," Twilight said thoughtfully, mentally reviewing the most important points.
"Now we just need to know what's in the other subjects," Applejack commented, with her practical and confident tone.
"Why don't we go find out now?" the blue-haired girl suggested, excited at the idea of confirming that everything was in order.
Pinkie looked around and frowned slightly. "What about Sunset? I don't see her..."
Rainbow also looked towards where the red-haired girl was a moment ago. "I was here a while ago..."
"Were you looking for me?" Sunset appeared again, approaching them with a carefree smile.
"We looked for a second and you were gone, and now you appear out of nowhere!" the party girl exclaimed, laughing and making exaggerated faces.
"Relax, I was just talking to someone. What were you talking about?" asked curiously.
"I was saying that we should go to the classrooms and ask about the subject that we don't know if it's in yet," Twilight explained, showing her usual organizedness.
"Good idea," Sunset nodded. "So we don't get confused with the subjects," she replied with a smile. "Imagine art," she joked, nudging Applejack.
"Art?" the farm girl muttered, her eyes widening. "Oh no, if they make us draw something... I'm lost," thought worriedly, remembering her attempts at drawing.
"On the way we decide which of our classrooms we go to first," Rainbow proposed, taking the lead.
The girls nodded, though Applejack did so with a hint of unease in her expression.
"Fine, you guys go first. I'm going with Rarity; besides, we'd still get separated," Pinkie said, walking backwards as she waved goodbye to the girls.
"Fine, but we'll meet up later in the cafeteria or the library for some serious studying," Twilight replied, waving her hand. "And remember to go to your teachers to find out about the other subjects."
"I know, I know," said excitedly, turning to look for the seamstress, who, seeing her leaning against the wall, looked somewhat pensive. "Rarity, are we going to the lair?" he asked, his enthusiasm enough to bring her out of her thoughts.
"Huh? Well, why not?" replied, nodding at what Pinkie had just said. "We could study..."
"Yes and no," the party girl interrupted quickly.
Rarity raised an eyebrow, somewhat confused by the answer.
"I have something for you," said, shaking her backpack mysteriously, "and an invitation."
"But, Pinkie, it has to be—"
"No, no, no. We talk first, then study," insisted, putting an arm around her and leading her down the halls and to the staircase that led to the roof. Rarity gave in and let her friend lead her away from the bustle of students and girls.
Once up, they settled in the center, next to a cement wall surrounding a raised planter. The place was quiet, and the cool wind welcomed them, bringing with it the scent of the flowers that were beginning to bloom in the small garden.
"I was thinking last night," Pinkie began in a detective-like tone as she opened her backpack, "about one of the reasons you fell asleep."
The seamstress's eyes widened with a hint of alarm. "Huh?"
"You overdid it with your studying, more than Twilight did!" she exclaimed, relaxing her tone and pulling a potion out of her backpack. The seamstress let out a sigh. "Here, it's a pie," added, showing her one last piece she had saved.
"Thanks, Pinkie," Rarity said, taking the pie and savoring it slowly.
"And so much studying that your brain got fried," continued, touching her forehead with a finger as if checking her temperature. "That's why I thought we should leave early tomorrow, so you can relax a bit."
Rarity stopped eating for a moment, surprised by the proposal. "Skip class?"
"It's not much of a getaway when you consider that there's only study time. No regular classes," explained with a mischievous grin.
The seamstress was about to protest, but she had to admit that, in a way, Pinkie was right.
"Besides, today would be our longest day," the party girl added, holding up a finger to make her point. "But anyone could leave early and nothing would happen."
Rarity looked at her for a moment, her thoughts wandering between the possibility of adventure and the responsibility of studies, before she went back to taking a bite of her pie. "I want to stay and study, but... if we left tomorrow, I wouldn't leave my sister alone."
"Relax, obviously Mini Belle would come with us!" Pinkie said, letting out a laugh.
"Mmm... I'll think about it," Rarity replied, somewhat more convinced but still hesitant. "I don't know if my parents would approve of me going out just to have fun."
"Just leave that information out," the carefree party girl replied. "They don't need to know, it would be a white lie."
The curly-haired girl grimaced, not entirely comfortable with the idea of lying to her parents. "I'll think about it."
"Think about that fried brain," Pinkie said, looking at her face closely. "It seems you didn't fall asleep today," she commented, crossing her arms.
Rarity let out a short laugh. "Maybe a simple outing wouldn't hurt. Plus, this way Pinkie will still think I fell asleep just from studying and not from the side effects of a pill," thought as she took another bite and smiled at the taste.
"Looks like you liked it," the cheerful girl commented upon seeing her friend's smile.
"Yeah, it was delicious," replied, enjoying the last bite.
Pinkie laughed. "Actually, it was the Apples' doing... more specifically, Applejack."
Rarity nearly choked at the revelation, coughing a little and looking at her with wide eyes. "Did Applejack do it?" asked, surprised.
"Yes. I asked for the last remaining piece in your name," said, smiling mischievously.
"Did you literally tell her?" asked, still trying to assimilate the information.
"More or less," replied, shrugging.
"And she accepted?" asked, even more intrigued, leaning in slightly before stepping back.
"Uh-huh," Pinkie nodded, not giving it much thought.
Rarity thought for a moment; she knew the dedication Applejack put into cooking, which made her smile slightly.
The party girl didn't understand the reason for the seamstress's smile, but she smiled as always.
After enjoying a few minutes in silence, contemplating the wind and the calm of the rooftop, they decided to go down. As they walked, now down a hallway, Pinkie glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. "Well, Rarity, unfortunately for me, we'll have to part ways. I'm going to study with the girls at..." she paused to check her phone and smiled. "At the cafeteria, apparently... more motivation!"
"Motivation?" the seamstress repeated, confused, wondering what could possibly make Pinkie consider a cafeteria a place of work.
"Full belly, happy heart," replied with a big smile, leaving Rarity somewhat perplexed. Without further ado, she gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder. "So, you're going to think about it, right?"
The wavy-haired girl relaxed her expression, accepting that sometimes the party girl's ideas escaped her understanding. "Yeah, I guess I can consider it. Sometimes, a little escapade doesn't hurt."
"That's the spirit!" Pinkie exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. "Well, I'm off with the girls. See you later!"
"See you later, Pinkie." Rarity watched her walk away with her characteristic energy.
She walked down one of the hallways where there were a few students. Most were probably in the library, others in some random classroom, while a few more were scattered around other parts of the campus, studying or not.
By pure coincidence she stopped in front of the music room, where she had been a few minutes ago, and remembered the conversation with her mother. Through the glass, she observed the piano in the center of the room, covered by a cloth, as if almost no one used it. It was as if it had been waiting, just like her, for someone to play it again.
She looked at her own hands and remembered how they moved gracefully over the keys, creating melodies that seemed to give voice to her emotions, although now she didn't know if her fingers would remember. She felt a knot in her stomach as she remembered that, since she walked away from her old life, she had put that passion aside.
She looked around a little to make sure she was alone; She had already left behind the students who were hanging around the hallway. Then, she took a breath, gently pushed the door open and entered the room, feeling that, perhaps, it was time to reconnect with that part of herself.
Cafetería  
After almost two hours, both Rainbow and Pinkie blinked at the information they were receiving, either from Sunset or Twilight, who helped them a little in their respective subjects.
"Wow! I don't know if my brain is in a processing state or if it will go away from my head when we leave the cafeteria," the party girl said with wide eyes.
"I hope it's the first option, and the same for you, Dash," Twilight replied, crossing her arms.
"Don't worry, I'm sure I'm processing everything too," Rainbow said, her mouth half open.
Applejack, after closing her notebook with a light slam, looked at her partner. "If you manage to get a high grade, I promise that on our next outing we will go to a bar."
"Oops, weak point," commented, tilting her head slowly to look at her, as if she was considering the proposal.
"You can do it!" Fluttershy said softly, her eyes shining with positive encouragement.
"I will, I don't plan on missing that cup," Rainbow stated, determined, making a fist gesture as if she had already won.
"Another motivation," thought Sunset with a smile as she stood up.
"I'll free you," Twilight joked, putting her things away.
"Thanks for the help," said the multicolored girl closing her notebook.
"I don't think it's necessary to stay as if it were a normal class, right?" Applejack wondered, looking at the time on her phone and noticing that they would now be in their first period after lunch.
"Exactly!" Pinkie exclaimed, suddenly standing up, scaring her friends who were sitting a little. "I knew you would think like me."
"Sure," replied the farmer, not fully understanding the cheerful girl's enthusiasm.
"That's true, I would hold you back to study more if it weren't for free time," said the blue-haired girl, putting on her backpack. "But you guys do your homework, right?"
"We'll do that, right?" Fluttershy asked, looking to her left and right side.
"Obviously," the party girl said, forcing a smile. Even though she didn't like studying, she knew she was right.
"So... let's go get our brother or sister," Twilight said, looking at Rainbow and Applejack, who nodded.
The girls walked out of the cafeteria, the murmur of the students fading once they stepped through the door.
"By the way, Pinkie, did you go to your teachers to find out what your exam subjects were?" the girl with glasses asked.
The mention of the teacher made Applejack a little nervous, who remembered arts. She couldn't find her teacher to ask and she was afraid that the exam was something related to drawings.
While the party girl thought of some excuse, she decided to be honest. "Heh... after talking to Rarity, I went straight to the cafeteria."
"Oh, Pinkie!" said, shaking her head.
"You can still ask tomorrow," Fluttershy suggested, her voice soft and encouraging.
"Yeah, I'll ask tomorrow," Pinkie said with a smile.
Twilight began to think about finding some solution. "Got it! You have almost the entire university in your contacts, right?"
"Yeah," said, nodding vigorously.
"Text or call someone in your same major and have them tell you what's in the other subjects," the blue-haired girl suggested, putting her hands on Pinkie's shoulders.
"That's a good idea," Sunset commented, stretching.
"It's better than waiting until tomorrow," Fluttershy added, nodding firmly.
"Thanks, Twi, you saved me," Pinkie said, relieved by the suggestion.
"You always have to find a solution," Twilight said, letting go of her friend's shoulders.
"Except to relax," Rainbow joked, coughing in the middle of the conversation, receiving a few glances. "You know I'm joking," she added, raising her hands in a sign of peace. Changing her expression to a more serious one. "Girls, I'm going to give it my all on these tests. I promise I won't give up!"
"That's what I wanted to hear," Applejack said, wrapping her partner's shoulder around her with a supportive smile.
"And if you need any extra help, I'm up for being your personal tutor!" the party girl joked.
"Don't promise parties, because if you don't deliver, I'll get mad," Sunset continued the joke, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous grin.
Pinkie started to laugh; she couldn't promise not to throw a party, it was her thing.
As the laughter faded, Twilight looked around and remembered that time was short. "Girls, we should get going. There's a lot of studying to do at home and not much time."
The girls started walking, but the multicolored girl made the farmer, who still had her by the shoulders, stop near Fluttershy, who raised her head.
"Thanks again for the pretzels; they were a great motivation," said as she put a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"You're welcome. You could consider it as a return for the cake," replied, blushing a little. "I could buy you another one if you want."
"Damn, Fluttershy! If you keep spoiling me like that, I'm going to end up spoiled," joked, giving her a wink that made the pink-haired girl laugh shyly.
"I wish you had a sweet tooth," Applejack said with a smile, breaking the silence that had formed.
"As you please, a taste is as you please," Rainbow commented, letting go of Fluttershy's shoulder and now looking at the farmer.
With a few last exchanges of encouragement and jokes, they headed for the exit. After meeting up with their relatives, each one went to their homes.
The hours passed, night came, and then the first rays of the sun began to peek out as students slowly arrived at the school. Rarity arrived early, and the first thing she did was leave some things in her locker, taking only what was necessary to meet Twilight. Knowing how punctual she was, she walked over to her locker, making sure the others weren't present.
"Hey, I know you said tomorrow," the seamstress said, waving and emphasizing 'now.' "Or the day after, but we could go over it. If you have commitments with the girls, I can wait."
Twilight thought about it for a moment, remembering that she didn't set a time when she would study with the others. Luckily for Rarity, she agreed to continue today. They were now on their way to the library.
The soft rustle of pages turning and the distant tapping of students on their laptops created an ideal atmosphere for study. The girl with glasses patiently reviewed a couple of accounting exercises, while the seamstress tried hard to concentrate.
"Remember what I told you about accounting entries," Twilight commented, pointing to one of the mistakes in Rarity's notebook. "It's simpler than it looks once you follow the steps."
"I know," Rarity sighed, her wavy haired face sighing. "It's just... it's not something that comes naturally to me. But I'm glad you're here to guide me."
Twilight nodded briefly, her gaze dropping to the notebook before murmuring, "Well, at least you're getting better. I told you, it's all about practice."
A brief silence fell between the two of them. It seemed like the tension was slowly easing, though neither of them dared to mention the obvious.
"Thanks again for taking the time," Rarity said quietly, avoiding eye contact for a moment.
The blue-haired girl, without taking her eyes off the papers, answered almost automatically, "You're welcome. Just... it's important that you get this right."
Suddenly, at the entrance of the library, a familiar figure appeared, entering with soft steps and her eyes widened slightly when she saw Twilight and Rarity sitting together. She moved a little closer to them; she didn't say anything at first, but her surprised expression was enough to catch both of their attention.
The bespectacled girl sat up straight in her chair, as if she hadn't expected anyone to see them. "Fluttershy," said with a nervous smile, trying to remain calm. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I just came to return a book..." muttered, still looking at Rarity and then back at Twilight. It was obvious that the situation had taken her by surprise, but she didn't want to seem nosy.
"Oh, right," replied, trying to sound natural. "We're... studying."
Rarity decided to stay silent, with a slight polite smile towards Fluttershy, although there was a slight awkwardness in the air.
Fluttershy didn't comment any further, but curiosity sparkled in her eyes as she grabbed a couple of books from a nearby shelf. Twilight, sensing the tension, decided to clear things up before it was misunderstood.
She stood up, approaching her friend and moving away from the table a little so she could explain. "She asked me for my help a few days ago... and I accepted. We're just studying for the tests, nothing more," said quietly, once Fluttershy returned with her book. "I haven't told the girls that I'm helping her."
The pink-haired girl nodded slowly. "I understand. It's good that you're helping each other... I won't say anything," she added with a soft smile, although her voice carried a hint of sadness that didn't go unnoticed. "See you later."
Twilight watched her leave before sighing in relief, returning to the table. "Well, let's get back to this," said in a matter-of-fact tone, although the little interaction with Fluttershy had left a different air in the room.
Rarity, grateful for not having caused a scene, simply nodded and returned her attention to her notebook. There was much more to be resolved, both in their studies and between them, but for now, the important thing was to move forward.
Fluttershy peeked through the door, watching as her friend spoke to the seamstress and the seamstress responded. She felt a little downcast; she knew this was something academic, but a hint of envy enveloped her. Even though Twilight could approach Rarity and speak to her, she wished she had that same courage.
She shook her head to clear those thoughts and began to walk away from the library, looking for a quieter place.
Inside, the seamstress continued to concentrate on the numbers in her notebook, which lasted for several minutes.
Twilight took the notebook, noticing the blots, the hesitations in the answers, and suggesting the one she thought was correct. She couldn't help but watch as she struggled to understand each concept. "Wow," said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Your dedication is impressive."
Rarity looked up, surprised by the compliment. "Really? I thought I was making a mess of this," replied, a flash of insecurity crossing her gaze.
"You're doing very well," she insisted with a slight smile. "I know how much you like to have your effort recognized. It's admirable to see you so focused."
The girl's words made the seamstress smile slightly. "I appreciate you saying that. But right now, I'm not thinking about it. But there is... someone else from whom I hope to receive some similar, but not exact, words," she added, keeping her voice low and evasive.
Twilight frowned, intrigued. "Anyone else? It must be that person you want to prove something to," thought.
"Maybe I used to enjoy certain praise... from someone," Rarity said, forcing a smile as she reminisced a bit about the past. "But that person... said something to me I didn't expect... and... and... I don't know if he'll ever say anything nice about it again." Her tone revealed a vulnerability that the girl in front of her hadn't anticipated.
A part of her thought that comment was due to a love interest she had outside of town. "I understand, but it's always nice to receive praise, right? You shouldn't dwell on that memory," Twilight said, interest growing.
Rarity felt a knot in her stomach. "Maybe I should just let it go... but right now, all I want is to learn and pass these tests. I don't have time to be distracted by that."
"Okay. Let's focus on the present instead," the blue-haired girl said, sensing the tension in the air. It was evident that there was something deeper behind the seamstress's words. "You know, sometimes you should make peace with that past..." The last sentence left her thinking; it was something she should consider as well.
The purple-haired girl noticed that, but she preferred not to say anything and just point at the notebook. "Let's continue."
Something about the way Rarity mentioned the compliments she liked caught Twilight's attention. Even though it seemed like she still liked receiving recognition, it was evident that she wasn't receiving it as much from others, and that could be related to what happened during her time out of town. And she couldn't help but notice this change in the seamstress.
The girls walked through the halls, appearing one after another until Twilight reached the end, with Pinkie noticeably absent.
"Twilight, I thought you were late. That would be something totally new for you," Rainbow commented, arching an eyebrow playfully.
"Not at all, I went straight to the library to study," replied, adjusting her glasses as a slight smile appeared on her lips.
"Studying alone?" Sunset asked, looking at her with interest.
Twilight hesitated for a moment, feeling trapped. Fluttershy, who noticed her discomfort, intervened gently.
"Sometimes, studying alone isn't bad... just the books and yourself," said with a smile, as if trying to downplay it.
Sunset and Rainbow exchanged glances and nodded, understanding the idea. The blue-haired girl, relieved, mouthed a voiceless "thank you" in the direction of the shy girl, who nodded with a smile.
Applejack, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the conversation. She had a notebook in one hand and a pencil in the other, scribbling something down.
Upon reaching the green courtyard, the girls scattered: some sat on the wooden bench, while others preferred to settle down on the fresh grass. The farmer continued writing in her notebook, oblivious to the rest, until a ray of sunlight hit her eyes, forcing her to frown and find a more comfortable position.
"How much do you concentrate?" Rainbow asked at her side curiously.
Applejack grimaced at her. "I'm trying to draw. I don't know what the midterm art test is, but if it's drawing, I want to be prepared."
"AJ, it could be other subjects we've passed... We don't know yet," Sunset said, but inside she felt a little guilty remembering that the little joke about the test could have added pressure on her unintentionally.
The farmer sighed and looked down at the grass, letting the pencil dangle between her fingers. "It'll be easy for you... drawing is for the most skilled," murmured, admitting her insecurity.
"Here, give me that," the multicolored one said, gently pulling the notebook until Applejack handed it over to her completely.
"What are you going to do?" asked, raising an eyebrow as Rainbow flipped to another page.
"I almost never draw," replied, her voice low, as if it were a well-kept secret. "Let's see if it's true that it's not easy." Frowning, she focused intently on the page.
After a few minutes, she lifted the notebook and showed a drawing that, although done at top speed, was a depiction of herself scoring a goal. "What do they say?" asked, looking for sincerity.
Sunset looked at the drawing, stroking her chin with a smile. "It's not bad, you just need to polish up a few things," commented.
"You made some parts very thin," Fluttershy added, lowering her head at the stares of her friends.
"Hey, be honest!" Rainbow exclaimed, noticing the discomfort of the stares on the pink-haired girl.
"That's true, you missed filling in," Twilight commented, cocking her head.
"But you still did it," Applejack said, looking down and acknowledging her defeat to her partner, even though it wasn't a competition.
The bespectacled girl raised her hand, asking for a chance. "Let me try," said, holding out her arm. After receiving the notebook and turning the page, she thought of an idea and began to draw. "There," said, turning the notebook over. It was a perfect square shape, though without much detail.
"Very straight," the sportswoman opined, with a mocking smile.
Fluttershy looked at the drawing and frowned, trying to figure out what it was. "Is it... a die or something?" asked, a little unsure.
"I'm not sure, all I draw in class are squares and rectangles... you get the idea," said, holding the notebook out to the group.
"I can try," the pink-haired girl asked, her voice soft.
"Sure, Fluttershy," Applejack encouraged, pointing at the notebook with her hand.
Once she took the notebook, she began to draw and then turned it over. "What do they say?" asked nervously.
Rainbow looked at her, mouth agape. "What an impressive bird!"
"Now that's artistic talent," Sunset commented in surprise, regretting it when she heard a groan from the farmer.
They all looked at her, who covered her face. "I'm a disaster as an artist."
"Not even close, AJ," the multicolored one said, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "Not everyone can be an artistic genius like Fluttershy. But that doesn't mean you're bad at everything; no one takes care of the farm like you!"
"And how does that help me?" asked, dejectedly.
Sunset patted her arm. "What Rainbow meant was that not all of us are good at everything. And you know how to do amazing things that none of us could."
"I see," Applejack nodded in understanding.
"How about instead of trying to draw something, you try to copy a drawing?" the red-haired girl suggested, taking out her own notebook and showing a page. "Try making something like this."
Meanwhile, Pinkie was running through the halls at full speed, with a mixture of concern and drama in her voice that made several students look at her curiously. When she went out to the courtyard, she saw her friends gathered together, some standing and others sitting on the bench.
She immediately approached, receiving greetings from them. However, the party girl ignored them for the moment and, without thinking twice, began to shake Fluttershy, who looked at her in alarm.
"I can't find her!" exclaimed, her eyes wide.
"Who??" Fluttershy asked as best she could between shakes.
"Rarity's gone! We were supposed to get together and she didn't show up!" repeated, shaking the pink-haired girl harder.
Fluttershy tried to calm her down, whispering softly, "P-Pinkie, I'm sure she's okay... Maybe she went to the library."
"I already went and she wasn't there. What if the library swallowed her?" sighed dramatically, putting her hands on her head. Twilight watched the scene, amused, and finally put a hand on her shoulder.
"Pinkie, I think we can rule out the people-eating library," said humorously. Although, she remembered that the last time she had seen Rarity was in the library. "She's probably somewhere quiet... you know, sometimes one needs some fresh air."
The party girl shook her head. "No, I already went and nothing."
"The cafeteria?" Sunset suggested. "Or maybe in some classro-"
"Neither, I searched inside and outside," interrupted, dramatizing each word.
Rainbow sighed, somewhat uncomfortable hearing so much about the seamstress, but she wasn't going to leave her friend so 'scared' either. "Some other courtyard, perhaps?" suggested, trying to sketch a small smile.
"I spent minutes looking for her in all of them," Pinkie complained, bringing her hands to her head.
Just then, Rainbow noticed someone among the small crowd coming and going near the entrance. "Look, there's the 'missing one'," said, pointing at Rarity, who was absentmindedly staring at her fingers with a small smile.
"OH, RARITY!" Pinkie cried upon seeing her, almost jumping for joy.
The seamstress, hearing the party-goer's cry, turned her head towards the group. Seeing them gathered together, she hesitated for a moment, but finally sighed and approached, although her expression denoted a little nervousness.
When she got close enough, Pinkie grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her, just like she had done with Fluttershy before.
"Where have you been? I looked for you up, down, over there, and over here!" said, finishing shaking her.
Rarity put a hand to her head, trying not to get dizzy. "I was just in a classroom," explained in a soft voice.
"See?" Sunset said with a reassuring smile. The party girl nodded, finally calmer, and fell silent as the group watched.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by an exasperated "Ahg!" from Applejack, who held up her notebook showing a crooked drawing. "It came out awful," said, frowning in frustration.
"Uhh..." they all said, not knowing what to say. However, a small laugh escaped Rarity's lips before she could stop it.
"Sorry," she muttered as she saw everyone staring at her, trying to hide their discomfort.
The redhead noticed how she seemed to shrink under her friends' attention. "Applejack is a little worried that the art test is drawing," clarified, trying to lighten the mood.
"But they haven't said it yet," Rarity said, glancing at the farm girl.
Applejack sighed, avoiding her gaze. "I just want to... prepare and it's not... working out," admitted, looking away.
"At least you're trying. I think you draw better than before," the seamstress said with a small smile.
The farm girl was silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on the notebook. She wasn't used to receiving that kind of support from her at present.
Rarity worried that perhaps the comment was too close to how distant they were so she thought better of leaving at the sight of any negative comments.
"I guess... you're right," the blonde muttered, looking up.
The dressmaker sighed in relief and looked back at her with a small smile at Applejack's comment, surprised that she hadn't been upset.
"Well, girls, since the missing girl is back, I wanted to take the opportunity to say goodbye as well," Pinkie said, wrapping an arm around the dressmaker.
"Say goodbye?" Fluttershy asked in confusion.
"Yeah, since there's no set departure time this week, I'm going with Rarity," said, looking at the blue-haired girl. "And don't worry, Twilight, I studied before... as Dash would say, 'my way'," added, seeing Twilight raise a finger, already anticipating the priority of studying. "And I'll study at home too," said, rolling her eyes.
"That makes me feel better," said, relaxing her expression.
The party girl gave her a thumbs up. "Shall we go?"
"Let's go," Rarity replied, throwing one last glance at the girls.
"Bye," Pinkie said cheerfully.
"Bye," the seamstress said, then ran a hand over her forehead, sighing as she walked away with Pinkie. "Oops..." said, having said something without thinking about it again.
The girls didn't know what to say to that and just said goodbye.
"Is anyone going to say something?" Fluttershy asked, seeing that no one said anything.
Rainbow suddenly stood up. "Girls, I'll be right back," said, heading for the door. She wanted to take the opportunity to say something to the party girl.
"I didn't mean that," the pink-haired girl said. Twilight and Sunset laughed at the comment.
Applejack looked at her notebook with a slight frown, as if analyzing every detail. Then she looked back to where they had gone, with a more relaxed expression. "Girls, do you think my drawings aren't as bad as before?"
The three of them looked at each other and then looked at the farmer to give her an answer.
Inside, Rainbow managed to catch up with Pinkie, who was walking away with a vibrant energy.
"Pinkie, I was thinking that since you're going somewhere in the city, you could take Scootaloo," suggested, with a slight feeling of foreboding.
"Scoot?" asked, tilting her head in curiosity and a hint of confusion.
"Yeah, I'm sure he'll want to see a costume for Halloween. Plus, I have to get power with this," Rainbow added, bumping her fist into the palm of her other hand, preparing for the rest of the study challenge.
"You're in luck, we're just going to the mall, I want to see costumes for what I'm planning," Pinkie replied with a mischievous grin lighting up her face.
"Perfect!" exclaimed, feeling everything fit together like a puzzle.
"Wait, what about Apple Bloom? She'd be left alone," the party girl asked, frowning.
"Hmm... you're her relative, so you must have some say in her, right?" Rainbow commented thoughtfully.
"Yeah, we've been out together sometimes," said, a hand on her chin. "I'll take her."
"Wait..." the multicolored girl muttered, frowning as she thought about the situation.
"What? I can take care of her," Pinkie said, brightening up a bit at the idea.
"I know, but I don't know what Applejack thinks," Rainbow said, crossing her arms. "Better just take Scoot," suggested, as if that would avoid any trouble.
"Uhhh, good idea. She might get mad if I take her without permission," the party girl said thoughtfully, then smiled at her. "I'm glad you trust us both to take care of your sister," added, looking at Rarity, who was a little far away, waiting for them to finish talking.
"Not yet," the sportswoman said, glancing sideways at the seamstress. "But I trust you."
"Soon you will!" Pinkie exclaimed with a smile lighting up her face.
"Don't make me laugh," replied with a look of disbelief. "I'm going back to the others." She turned to go back to the group, feeling like everything was clicking.
"Okay," replied, waving goodbye. She watched the multicolored one walk out the door and then turned around to approach Rarity, who looked more uncomfortable.
"Uh... already?" Rarity asked, a little tense.
"Yeah, and we're taking Scootaloo," replied with a wide smile, full of excitement.
"Oh, at least it won't be as chaotic," commented, relieved that there were only two of them.
"Why?" Pinkie asked, her face full of pure confusion.
"Remember how mischievous the Crusaders are together," Rarity reminded her, a warning tone in her voice, remembering some of the pranks they had gotten up to in the past.
"Good point," the party girl said, finally picking up on the concern. "Two will be enough," added with a nervous laugh as they began to walk.
As they reached the entrance, especially the part that connected side A and B, they saw Principal Luna, who frowned upon seeing them.
"Pinkie Pie and Rarity Belle, anything you need on this side?" asked, now standing in front of them in her signature serious voice that always commanded respect.
"I've come for my sister," Rarity said firmly.
"And Scootaloo," Pinkie added, excitedly.
"Scootaloo?" the headmistress asked, crossing her arms behind her back, clearly skeptical. "I'd understand about little Miss Belle," said, looking at the dressmaker and then at the party girl, "but Rainbow Dash's sister?"
"Rainbow gave me permission to take her out," said, confidently, as if that would convince the headmistress.
Luna raised an eyebrow.
"Come on, Principal Luna, don't be so upset," the party girl said, smiling charmingly and trying to ease the tense atmosphere.
The headmistress cocked her head, making a thoughtful face. "Where exactly are you planning to take her?" asked, softening her tone a bit. "I don't think it's appropriate for you two to go out in the middle of study week."
"We just thought we'd take Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle somewhere to relax after their hard studies," Rarity explained, trying to sound convincing. "It's a little reward for the effort she's been putting into her studies."
"Yes, and we promise she'll come home safe and sound," Pinkie added, putting on her best puppy face.
Luna looked at them suspiciously, but something in her words seemed to soften her stance. "Okay, but you have to make sure Scootaloo comes home early so she can continue studying."
"Thank you, Principal!" they exclaimed in unison, feeling a mix of relief and excitement.
Within a few minutes, the two younger girls appeared at the entrance, looking a little confused. Once they were in a taxi, Pinkie and Rarity would explain the plans to them.
Moments later, they arrived at the mall. The hyperactive girl stopped in front of the seamstress, her eyes narrowing dramatically. "First, before we go in," began in a serious tone, "forget what happened the last time we were here... I don't want to see you looking downcast, understand?"
Rarity gave her a grateful smile. "Ah, I might have remembered, but I'll try."
The younger sister nodded vigorously, looking at her sister. "I wouldn't like to see you sad either!" Meanwhile, Scootaloo just nodded, not quite understanding what they were referring to.
The seamstress took a deep breath, moving her hands as if she were getting rid of negative thoughts. "Okay, girls. I'll try not to think about it... but, yes, let this be our only way out. I don't want to get too distracted from my studies."
Without wasting a second, the three of them stood behind Rarity and began gently pushing her towards the entrance. "Rarity, forget it just for today!" Pinkie insisted with a wide smile.
With a resigned sigh, the curly-haired girl walked inside, letting the excitement spread to her. She noticed that Halloween decorations already adorned the aisles with spiderwebs, glowing pumpkins, and skeletons on every corner, creating a festive atmosphere.
As they walked through the mall, Pinkie excitedly pointed to a store filled with Halloween costumes and accessories. "Look at the costumes!"
Inside the store, Rarity kept an eye on the girls, not paying much attention to the costumes. The party girl, always with a playful touch, put on a bright green wig and a clown mask. Turning with her arms outstretched, she said in a mocking tone, "Boo!", causing Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle to burst out laughing.
Removing her mask, Pinkie looked at her friend with a smile. "Have you seen anything you like yet?" asked.
Rarity shook her head, briefly looking at the costumes. "I haven't seen anything that catches my eye."
"What are we dressing up as for Halloween?" Sweetie Belle asked, full of curiosity and her eyes shining with excitement.
"How about a skeleton... or a zombie?" Scootaloo suggested, waving her hands as if imitating a creepy creature.
"Zombie sounds scary!" Sweetie said with a mischievous grin and then looked at her older sister. "What about you, Rarity? What matching costume are you wearing?"
"I'm a little old for that," replied, shrugging.
"True, but think of some fun costume," Pinkie suggested with a hint of mystery.
"What are you up to, Pinkie?" asked, raising an eyebrow in intrigue.
"It's a surprise," replied, winking.
"Oh, I want to know," Scootaloo exclaimed, her eyes wide.
"Maybe I shouldn't have said it in front of them," Pinkie muttered with a nervous smile.
"Huh...?" Sweetie Belle said, raising an eyebrow.
"Ha ha! Never mind, they'll be distracted by the candy tonight," the party girl said with a mischievous grin hoping to divert attention.
The younger girls looked at each other in confusion, wondering what surprises awaited them on Halloween.
Pinkie pointed to a mannequin in a full suit and cape. "Look! That vampire costume would look good on you."
Rarity examined the fabric, touching it delicately. "Oh, the cape is lovely, but that embroidery on the suit... could be better quality," she commented, frowning slightly.
The party girl raised an eyebrow and gave her a little push on the shoulder, smiling. "Come on, Rarity! At least take the cape. You can put your own spin on it. You won't regret it," she assured, waving her hand in the air as if imagining a dramatic scene.
The seamstress put a hand on her chin thoughtfully and looked at the cape again with interest. She looked away at Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, who were moving around, trying on accessories and giggling with each choice. Finally, she looked back at the cape.
Back at school, after Pinkie left, the girls headed to the library to continue studying in depth. However, they noticed that the farmer looked worried and decided to clarify what the exam included, hoping to calm her down.
Now Applejack left the art classroom accompanied by Sunset, while the rest of the girls waited for them outside. Seeing the blonde's more relaxed expression, they assumed that everything had gone well.
"So it's not drawing at all?" asked Rainbow with a half smile.
"No, that calms me down more," replied, looking at the ceiling with her eyes closed and a smile.
"That's good," said Fluttershy softly.
"We should go. We've studied a lot for today. We could go to the square," suggested the multicolored girl stretching out an arm.
"Wrong, Dash, we haven't studied enough," said Twilight, raising a finger.
"Come on," insisted Rainbow with a smile. "Let's just refresh our minds."
The blue-haired girl raised an eyebrow, somewhat skeptical. "And what would you suggest? Take a break from studying to go out and play in the park?"
"Exactly," the sportswoman said, gently tapping Twilight's shoulder. "Just a little while to clear your mind. Sometimes, the best way to learn is to allow yourself a break."
"But... there's so much to review," argued, biting her lip.
"One side agrees, the other doesn't," Applejack intervened with a smile.
"Besides, if we stay locked in class, I'm going to suffocate!" Fluttershy added in a friendly tone.
"And we don't want that to happen," Sunset added with a wink. "Besides, you can always take your notes to the park and review a little while you rest."
Twilight sighed, but a small smile began to appear on her face. "Okay, we can review in between."
"Deal!" Rainbow exclaimed, making a triumphant gesture. "Let's refresh our minds."
"Perfect, just go find our sisters," the farm girl said, starting to walk away.
"Don't worry so much about them."
Applejack stopped and looked at her partner, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
"Yeah, what do you mean?" asked Twilight, raising an eyebrow.
"Relax, Twi. I don't mean Spike," said Rainbow, looking first at the glasses girl and then at the farm girl. "I almost asked Pinkie to take your sister, but she only took Scootaloo."
"What...?!" exclaimed, starting to pace back and forth.
The other girls looked at each other in amusement. "What do you have?" asked her partner playfully.
The farm girl stopped and took a deep breath. "For a moment, I almost heard you say that she took her."
Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Really?" She asked without waiting for an answer, in disbelief, then looked at the girls who were holding back their laughter. "Now that we've got that out of the way, let's go."
Applejack raised her arms in surrender. "I can misinterpret things."
Sunset walked past her, patting her arm. "More confidence, AJ, more confidence," said with a laugh before walking away with the others.
"Uh... okay," said, sighing in defeat as she followed them.
The girls started walking towards the parking lot after going to find Apple Bloom and Spike.
"How are we going to get there?" the farm girl asked thoughtfully.
"By car," Spike answered, as if it were obvious.
"That goes without saying, Spike," said, bringing her hand to her chin.
"So why the question?" Rainbow said, coming up beside her.
Applejack pointed at the parked vehicles.
The others had a hard time understanding what she meant. "Oh, I get it," her partner finally said.
Each of the girls, except Fluttershy, looked at their respective vehicles, thinking of a solution.
Back at the mall, they found a store that specialized in Halloween costumes. Not only did they have a wide variety of costumes, but also an express makeup area, where artists applied quick touch-ups to complete the customers' look.
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo couldn't resist, so they asked for some makeup to complement their costumes. Once done, they ran off to the fitting rooms and surprised the older girls.
The two older girls stood by the fitting rooms, exchanging amused glances as they waited patiently for the girls to come out. From inside the changing rooms, giggles and murmurs could be heard, mixed with sounds of rustling fabric and the zippers of costumes.
Pinkie, impatient as ever, swayed from foot to foot, with a smile of anticipation. "Do you think Sweetie Belle chose the skeleton costume or the colorful unicorn one?" she whispered, leaning towards the dressmaker with a conspiratorial expression.
Rarity, with a soft smile, crossed her arms. "Knowing my little sister, I'd bet she went for something colorful and sparkly. She sure got carried away with the unicorn costume!" she replied in an affectionate tone, remembering how much her little sister adored colors and sparkle.
The party girl nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I bet Scootaloo went straight for something spooky! Maybe a monster or a zombie?" said, holding back a laugh.
Just then, one of the changing room doors opened, revealing the magenta-haired girl in a full mummy costume. Her body was wrapped in bandages that hung haphazardly, and her face was painted white with dark accents around her eyes, giving her a ghostly appearance.
"Woohoo!" Scootaloo raised her arms, pretending to be a mummy looking for victims. "Come here, mortals!" exclaimed in a deep, scary voice, as she tried to approach the two with slow, shuffling steps.
Pinkie brought her hands to her face, feigning horror. "Ahhh! It's a real mummy!" she cried in a theatrical tone, before bursting into laughter.
Rarity giggled. "Very convincing, Scootaloo. Although I think some of the bandages are a little loose," commented as she adjusted one of the bandages to make the costume look neater.
"How do I look? Am I scary?" asked, trying not to smile as she posed dramatically.
"Definitely, darlinght," she replied approvingly.
The door to another fitting room opened, and Sweetie Belle stepped out in a completely unexpected costume - she wasn't wearing the sparkly fairy costume they were expecting.
Instead, she was wearing a zombie costume: pale skin, fake 'blood' stains on her clothes, and dark circles under her eyes that gave her an eerie expression. She walked slowly, her arms outstretched, and made a low, chilling 'growl' sound.
Rarity put a hand to her chest and gave a small cry of surprise. "Sweetie Belle! Now that's unexpected!"
Pinkie burst out laughing, clapping her hands enthusiastically. "Oh, yes! That costume is perfect! You're the cutest zombie I've ever seen!"
Sweetie Belle smiled behind her zombie makeup, pleased with the impact. "I wanted to try something different," she confessed, trying to hold back a giggle.
The older sister, recovering from her initial shock, leaned over to adjust the costume a bit. "Well, I must admit, it fits you... creepily well," she said with a smile. "Though I never would have expected you to choose something so scary."
The younger sister shrugged, amused. "Sometimes it's fun to do unexpected things. I can't wait to show our parents."
Rarity pretended to agree, remembering the escape they had. "Then I'll ask her to hide it for a few days."
Scootaloo looked at her friend. "Now we really are the perfect Halloween team!"
Sweetie Belle nodded, though she remembered that only Apple Bloom was missing. She hoped she would find a matching costume, just like Spike if he decided to join.
In the plaza, the girls were sitting. Twilight decided to take out her notebook while the others continued enjoying their ice cream.
"Does anyone feel cold from eating ice cream at the wrong season yet?" Fluttershy asked, rubbing her arm.
"Not me," Spike said with a smile, shrugging his shoulders.
"Say it for yourself, at least you have a jacket!" Apple Bloom replied, shivering a little as Applejack wrapped her jacket around her.
"That's why I asked for a small one," Twilight said, showing off her almost finished ice cream cone.
"You're not like us," Rainbow commented, wrapping her arms around her partner and Sunset's necks. "Our blood burns through our veins."
"Well said, Dash. That's kind of like when we work out and get hot," the blue-haired girl said, opening her notebook.
"Oh, Twi, you're going to make me say 'Sperkle' again," the multicolored girl said, releasing the two girls.
"She had her touch, too," Sunset said, taking a bite of her ice cream.
"So, Rainbow, why is good nutrition important before warming up?" Twilight asked, touching on the key points of a subject the athlete was studying.
Twilight raised an eyebrow, opened her mouth to respond, but was interrupted.
"No more studying," Apple Bloom dramatized, covering her ears. "Why don't I just take cousin Pinkie?"
Rainbow waved her arm to get her attention. "I told the first one to take you, but then I changed my mind because of AJ," she said, showing her hands.
"Thank goodness. I would have been mad if you left without my permission," Applejack commented, finishing her ice cream.
"But I've dated Pinkie before," Apple Bloom complained.
"Even though Pinkie may be your familiar, you have to have AJ's permission," Sunset said, looking at her.
"Same with you, Spike," Twilight added, looking at her brother. "If you'd left without my permission, I would have been angry and worried."
"How old were you when you started going out on your own?" her brother asked, almost challenging her.
"17," he replied with a triumphant grin.
"Ow," he muttered, crossing his arms.
"Just two more years," Apple Bloom muttered to herself.
Some of the girls held back their urge to laugh.
"What?" Spike asked, blushing slightly in embarrassment. "At least then we would have seen costumes with the others."
Fluttershy laughed softly. "Do you have any ideas for Halloween?"
The boy smiled excitedly. "Maybe a superhero. Something with a cape and cool powers!"
Applejack, listening, looked at her sister. "What about you, sugarcube? Do you have something in mind yet?"
Apple Bloom thought for a moment, fiddling with the cone. "Something simple, perhaps... but if I go with Spike, we could do something together."
Rainbow crossed her arms and smiled, thinking out loud. "I hope Scoot picked something scary," said, faking a scared voice.
"Speaking of her, you should take advantage of the fact that we're downtown and call Pinkie to bring her over," Twilight suggested, leaning in a little.
"I'm sure they're still at the mall," the multicolored girl said to herself, looking at the large building in the distance. The others turned their gazes in the same direction.
"So they went there," Applejack commented, still looking at the building.
Rainbow nodded as she pulled out her cell phone and dialed the number. From the expression on the athlete's face as she pulled the phone away from her ear, everyone assumed Pinkie answered instantly in her energizing voice.
"We could go now," Apple Bloom suggested, looking at her sister.
Applejack shook her head. "What we'll do is get home and have lunch and then study."
"It's still early for lunch," Twilight commented, checking the time on her phone.
"Then we'll get there, study, and then have lunch," corrected herself, looking at her younger sister.
"Come on, sis," Apple Bloom insisted, pouting.
"I promise we'll see costumes over the weekend," the farm girl said with a smile. "And if Twilight's okay with it, we can go see them with Spike."
"Yeah!" the younger girl exclaimed, excited.
"We're going, right, Twilight?" Spike asked, giving her a puppy-like look.
"Okay," replied, smiling as she shook her head.
Before any of the girls could say anything else, Rainbow ended her call. "Ok, see you here," said, hanging up and standing up and looking at the girls. "Okay, they'll be here in a few minutes. Let's wait for them at the corner where we have the cars."
The girls nodded, gathering their things and finishing their ice creams. They walked together, laughing and joking about the costume ideas they came up with in the meantime.
Once at the corner, barely a few minutes passed when the energetic figure, Pinkie came skipping along, as always, and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo ran behind her, while Rarity followed a little further behind, dusting off her coat with a tired expression.
"There you are!" Rainbow exclaimed, waving at them.
"Girls!" Pinkie greeted with a big smile.
"And how did it go?" Twilight asked.
"It was so much fun! Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle found some amazing costumes," Pinkie said excitedly, handing her the shopping bag that held the magenta movie costume.
"Yeah, Rainbow, wait until you see the costume I picked out for Halloween," Scootaloo said, looking at her sister with a proud smile.
Rainbow smiled back and patted her on the back. "I'm sure it'll be great, Scoot," said, avoiding the temptation to look inside the bag.
"I wish we'd picked together, but AJ already said it'll be this weekend," Apple Bloom commented, walking over to her friends.
"Oh, oh, you don't know, I surprised Rarity with my unexpected costume!" Sweetie Belle added, amused.
"I want to see it now," Apple Bloom said, trying to look at the bag her friend was holding.
"You scared her more than surprised her," Pinkie commented, bringing her hand to her lips as if telling the girls a secret.
The older girls looked at the dressmaker, who looked away a little when she saw the trees. She tried to look ahead again, but she looked back at the trees, as did the others. A feeling invaded them as they looked around a little, staying silent as they looked ahead. If this was the first time they met after the last time...
...in the same square, where they all waited for the arrival of Applejack and Rainbow. Rarity, who looked discouraged, was acting strong. On that occasion, the two arrived hand in hand, with Applejack trying to look confident, while Rainbow felt a little uncomfortable. The girls' gazes were at first on the two, followed by comments that changed direction, barely concealed, while Rarity observed her expression...
"Girls!" the younger girls exclaimed, snapping them out of their memories.
"What happened to you? You went to another world!" Apple Bloom said with a laugh.
"You went to Pinkie's world," Sweetie Belle said, continuing the game.
"If it's not Pinkie who's leaving, it's all of us," Spike continued with a laugh.
"Sorry, it seems like we all started thinking at the same time," Fluttershy commented softly, hiding her sad voice.
"We were in sync," Pinkie said, laughing, but inside she couldn't shake the memory for a long time.
"Yeah..." Applejack muttered, briefly looking at the ground before shaking the thought out of her head.
The seamstress grimaced and tried not to feel bad about remembering the encounter at the mall with the girls months ago. It worked, but she didn't expect this vague memory here in the plaza, so she shook her head, as did the blonde, to isolate it.
Twilight and Sunset looked a little thoughtful at the memory.
"Sure... What do you say, Scoot, we're going?" Rainbow asked, not going into more detail about what she remembered. "You're probably starving, aren't you?"
"Actually..." Scootaloo replied, pointing at Rarity, as if wanting to say something else.
The sportswoman gave her a serious look for an answer, while the seamstress stood firm. "They were both hungry, so after looking at costumes we went to the food court for lunch," she explained.
Her sister nodded with a smile while rubbing her tummy.
Rarity sighed, amused, looking at the younger one. "At least there wasn't that much of a mess. They behaved."
Some laughed remembering one of the many pranks they had witnessed from the younger ones, whether from the past with the three of them or just the two of them.
"If you had gone, who knows how things would have turned out," Applejack joked, putting a hand on her sister's head.
"Funny," Apple Bloom said.
The farm girl let go of her sister. "Shall we go now?" asked, taking out her keys.
"Oh, we can take Rarity!" Pinkie exclaimed, spreading her arms.
"What?" Applejack and Rarity said at the same time, while the others looked at them surprised by the request.
"Pinkie, it's not necessary," the seamstress replied, taking Sweetie Belle's hand. "I'll take a taxi, it's okay, it's daytime."
"Are you sure?"
"She can take care of herself, like she said it's daytime," the blonde said, trying to sound neutral.
Pinkie, despite wanting to insist, stopped pushing. At least she was glad that Rarity was distracted from her studies.
Rainbow started walking next to Scootaloo, passing behind the curly-haired girl. "I trust Pinkie more... but Scoot is Scoot and... I like to see that she had fun," murmured, before walking away with her sister. "See you tomorrow, girls!" she said, raising her arms, receiving farewells from the others.
The seamstress stood for a moment, thinking about what she said, and then shook her head, taking that as an implied "thank you."
Each one began to say goodbye to head to their vehicles, and in the end, only the Apples and the Pies remained with the Belles.
"We're leaving too." Rarity walked with Sweetie Belle toward the bus or taxi stand, but stopped for a moment as she passed Applejack, standing next to her, but both looking in opposite directions.
She remembered how the farmer looked the last time she saw her. She sighed and, in a low voice, said to her: "I really think you've improved... you shouldn't worry." she sketched a slight smile that the blonde didn't see, but could sense.
Then, Rarity continued walking, leaving Applejack, who waited a few seconds and looked back. For a moment, the seamstress's words left her speechless.
"Shall we go?" said Pinkie, clapping her hands to break the silence.
"Yes, I'm already hungry, and we just finished the ice cream," commented Apple Bloom.
"Ice cream doesn't fill you up," replied the farmer, looking ahead and trying to distract herself.
"Then let's try another of the Apple's delicacies!" The party girl exclaimed, walking with exaggerated steps as if she were marching.
The three of them climbed into the red truck and, with one last look at the square, Applejack started the engine and headed towards Sweet Apple Acres.
Upon arriving, the farmer went up to her room and looked at some edges until she remembered. She stood on her toes to reach a box on top of the closet where there were old notebooks, but the one she was looking for was a drawing one. She was looking for a particular drawing to compare it with the one she had been doing hours ago. The girls had already told her that she had improved a little, but, since they did not remember exactly what her previous drawings were like, they could not be sure.
Seeing both notebooks, Applejack smiled sideways. "Maybe there was a change," said, this time with a smile, unconsciously thinking of the words of a certain person.
The days passed quickly, punctuated by the frantic routine of studying, in which libraries and corners of the campus were filled with students immersed in books and notes. Finally, the midterm tests arrived, and with them, the first evaluation.
Rarity was on the rooftop, sitting in the center next to one of the Mane Six.
"How am I doing?" asked, passing her the notebook.
"You're doing well... although you still stumble in some parts," replied with a slight grimace. "But if you've almost mastered it, why did you ask me for help?"
The seamstress looked away, somewhat uncomfortable. "I hope you don't mind... I'm studying with someone else, but I wanted to make sure I'm doing it perfectly. I just want to be sure I won't make any mistakes."
Sunset was silent for a moment, reflecting before answering. "I guess that makes sense..." said, pausing. "Maybe it would have bothered me before," thought. "I'd double check too, just to make sure everything's okay."
Rarity nodded, feeling relieved.
"I appreciate that you preferred somewhere far away. That way I don't have to worry about misunderstandings with the others." The red-haired girl glanced around. "It's an interesting place to study, by the way."
"Yeah, I thought you'd like to be somewhere quiet," replied, turning back to her notebook. "Let's just say it's my place to think."
Rarity focused back on her exercises, trying not to get distracted. Sunset, for her part, watched her for a few more moments before carefully reviewing her notebook. The silence was broken only by the sound of pencils sliding across paper and the slight breeze.
The curly-haired girl glanced at the red-haired girl after reviewing the exercises, hesitant to talk about anything else besides studying. "So... how did your first test go?" asked, trying to break the ice as she jotted something down in her notebook.
Sunset looked up from her notebook. "It wasn't as bad as I expected. Although, honestly, there's always something that makes me doubt," commented briefly, but without sounding sharp.
Rarity nodded understandingly. "You mean those answers you write down and then doubt if they were correct?" deduced, and Sunset nodded.
"Yeah, I feel the same way. It's frustrating when you think you have everything under control and then you start to think that maybe that wasn't the answer."
The red-haired girl looked at her briefly, avoiding her gaze a little. "Exactly. But well, you just have to trust that we did the right thing."
The purple-haired girl sighed, resting her head on one hand as she looked at her notebook. "Yeah, just that, despite finishing an exam and feeling relief, then you remember that there's more and the pressure rises again."
Sunset nodded as she reviewed the exercises. "But at least you seem well prepared. That's already a plus."
Rarity smiled shyly. "Thanks, I hope so. Though I must admit I still feel a little nervous."
"That's normal," said, closing her notebook for a moment. "Sometimes it's best not to think about it too much. Just focus on one test at a time and do your best. Besides, you're taking it seriously. Studying with more than one person isn't bad; on the contrary, it's smart to make sure you understand it well."
Rarity let out a small laugh. "I do it for pure survival. But yes, it helps a lot to have different perspectives."
Sunset smiled slightly and nodded. "Definitely. Just try not to put too much pressure on yourself."
"I'll try not to put too much pressure on myself, though I'm getting headaches already," said with a sigh. "I really appreciate your help," she added sincerely, feeling more relieved that she had kept the conversation going.
They both focused on their notebooks again, letting the tranquility of the rooftop and the cool breeze give them a break from the tension of the midterm exams.
Rainbow took a deep breath every now and then as she walked down the halls towards the cafeteria, thinking about how her first assessment would have gone. Despite her thoughts, she didn't show it on the outside, maintaining a confident facade. With a final sigh, she opened the cafeteria door.
Walking in, she saw the girls with their trays already ready for lunch. Reluctantly, she made her way to the line to wait her turn. As she walked, she was greeted by different students who were already seated or were just leaving.
Waiting in line, she caught a glimpse of the dressmaker and ignored her without thinking much of her. Across the way, she saw Sunset, who was approaching.
"Looks like there's two of us," said, laughing.
"Yeah..." Rainbow looked away towards the door. "Or three," added, pointing at the animal lover, who waved shyly. "Join the club," said once Fluttershy stopped beside her.
"Breathing back?" Sunset asked, referring to the backyard.
"Yeah, I wonder if it'll be okay," replied, referring to the test.
"It must happen to all of us," the redhead commented, glancing at Rainbow. "In different ways."
Fluttershy nodded in understanding.
With their trays full of food, they headed out to their usual table, greeting the others. Some were sitting, while others preferred to stand, enjoying the fresh air. The conversation revolved around midterms and studies.
Twilight, playing with her spoon, thought a little about the dressmaker after the short study sessions. "I wonder how she's been doing," murmured.
"Who are you referring to?" the multicolored girl asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
Fluttershy looked nervously at the bespectacled girl and then at Rainbow, fearing the reaction that might be triggered. Twilight paused before answering, preferring to be honest. "Belle asked me for help studying... I thought about it a lot before accepting, but I finally did so on the condition that we wouldn't mix up the personal."
Rainbow, Applejack, and Sunset's gazes widened in surprise. "What?!" they said in unison.
The redhead took a step forward, thoughtful. "So you're the one she's been studying with."
Twilight looked at her strangely. "Did you know?"
Sunset shook her head slowly. "No, I didn't. She just told me that she'd been studying with someone else."
All eyes now turned to the redhead, searching for more answers. "She asked me for help too, and... I accepted on the condition that I don't confuse things by helping her," she explained.
"You too?" Applejack asked, clearly surprised.
"So... she accepted the help from both of us," Pinkie chimed in, with her characteristic energy.
"You knew?" Fluttershy asked, her eyes wide.
"Of course! Rarity told me first," replied with a big smile, looking over to where the dressmaker usually sat.
Applejack frowned slightly. "Asking the girls for help despite everything... is a risky move," thought, but inside a small smile almost formed on her face. "But she did it."
The girls turned their gazes to the empty chair where Rarity usually sat. But she wasn't there.
"Despite there being no school, I don't think she'll miss her lunch," Twilight said, looking over to the others. "She must be hungry."
"I saw her earlier with her tray," Fluttershy said softly.
"Nah, relax," Pinkie commented with a wave of her hand. "She's probably in her den."
Sunset cocked her head, remembering when she'd taken her up to the rooftop and told her it was her place to think. She assumed that was what the party girl meant by 'den'. "You mean upstairs?" asked, pointing her finger up at the roof of a part of the building.
"Yeah, how do you know?" asked, intrigued.
"I was studying up there with her, in case any of you saw us," explained.
"Did you know she was going up there all along, too?" Fluttershy asked, looking at Pinkie.
"No, I only found out a couple weeks ago," replied with a carefree smile.
"So Belle asked you two for help, and you agreed," Rainbow said, taking in the information with both hands resting on the table. The girls looked at each other, somewhat nervous, waiting for her reaction.
"I must admit... that was clever of you," finally said, crossing her arms. "Even though it pisses me off that you're around us... you could have just said it before, without worry. After all, I don't control your lives." The girls let out a sigh of relief.
"Right, Blondie?" commented, looking at Applejack.
It was then that they all noticed that the farm girl was still staring blankly in the direction of the empty table, clearly distracted.
"Where do you think she left off?" Sunset wondered playfully.
"Applejack," Fluttershy said, trying to get her attention.
Rainbow looked at the table, and a mischievous thought crossed her mind. "Pss, Pinkie," murmured with a half-smile, pointing to one of the glasses on the table. The party girl, catching on instantly, smiled mischievously, took the glass, and walked over to Applejack.
"Girls, I don't think it's a good idea to make a joke now," Twilight said, holding up a hand as if to stop them.
But Pinkie shook her head. She took the blonde's hat off. "AJ, she just needs some..." She paused, pouring the contents of the glass over the farmer's head. "...soda!" said cheerfully.
Applejack, who had been completely immersed in her thoughts, suddenly felt the liquid sliding down her hair and face. "What the...?!" exclaimed, quickly standing up.
"Until you reacted!" Rainbow exclaimed, high-fiving Pinkie as they both laughed.
"You two, again!" complained, visibly angry. "You could have shaken me or clapped! But you had to throw juice on me!"
"Exac-" the party girl was going to answer, until she processed what Applejack had said.
"What do you mean, juice?" The athlete asked, frowning and looking at the glasses on the table. "No one ordered water?" asked, looking at the group.
"There was orange juice," Fluttershy said, remembering her order.
"I was going to order water, but I changed it to juice last minute," Twilight explained, with a small laugh.
"You know I always order juice unless there's none," Sunset said.
"Whoops!" Pinkie exclaimed, realizing her mistake.
They all looked at Applejack, whose expression showed that she was on the verge of exploding. "I'm going to get this!" said, running off to the bathroom to clean up.
As soon as the farm girl left, the three turned to the two pranksters with disapproving expressions.
"That wasn't necessary!" said the redhead, crossing her arms. "You know AJ hates it when people play pranks like that on her."
"I thought Dash pointed out a glass of water," Pinkie defended herself, shrugging.
"And I thought it was water," commented the multicolored one, crossing her arms.
"What if you had hurt her? I don't know, something else and it got into her eye," Twilight added, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, it was too much," said Fluttershy, with her soft but firm tone.
The two pranksters looked at each other and, for a moment, it seemed like they were going to protest, but they finally lowered their gaze, regretful.
"We're sorry... We didn't think AJ would react so badly," said the sportswoman, with a small grimace.
"Yeah, we just wanted her to react!" The party girl said, looking at the group with wide eyes. "It was supposed to be a little joke."
Sunset sighed. "We understand your penchant for pranks, but you could really see that the joke is the right one. Don't you think?"
Rainbow and Pinkie nodded, clearly getting the point. "Okay, we'll try to calm things down when I get back," said, scratching the back of her neck.
Rarity had finished lunch on the roof, as she usually did lately. She knew that at some point, Sunset or Twilight would tell the group that they were helping her with her studies. More so now that she revealed to the red-haired girl that she was studying with someone else and it wouldn't take long for her to find out. Girls always ended up sharing everything.
As she walked through the hallways near the front door, she saw Applejack run out. It was clear that something had happened. Her face reflected a mix of frustration and anger, and... her hair was wet?
She frowned, remembering how much the farmer bothered feeling disheveled in public. The blonde preferred to avoid anything that would draw unnecessary attention. Curious and somewhat worried, the seamstress decided to follow her at a safe distance and watched as she hurriedly entered the nearest bathroom.
When she reached the bathroom door, she heard the water running and the girl's frustrated murmurs. Rarity hesitated for a moment. She knew Applejack was probably not in the mood to talk, much less to her.
Inside, the farm girl was leaning over the sink, trying to rinse the sticky juice out of her hair. Water alone wasn't enough. At that moment the door opened, it was the dressmaker wearing a neutral expression.
Their gazes met briefly. Applejack looked at her with confusion and obvious annoyance. "Belle, not now..." muttered, irritated, as she tried to clean her hair. Rarity didn't respond; she simply stepped forward and turned on the sink, apparently busying herself with washing her hands. Applejack, more focused on getting the sticky juice off of her, didn't say anything else.
"Those two..." muttered irritably, clearly referring to the pranksters in the group.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the dressmaker, who was still there silently. When their gazes were about to meet, without words, Rarity turned around and left the bathroom.
Applejack, relieved to be alone again, looked over to the sink to see if she could use something other than water. To her surprise, she found a bottle that hadn't been there before. Shampoo. She recognized the brand, and there was no mistaking who had left it.
"Thanks... Belle," muttered to herself, a mix of surprise and gratitude.
The dressmaker could have ignored all of this, gone about her day as if nothing had happened. But she didn't. Without further ado, the farm girl opened the bottle and began to wash her hair, the unexpected gesture lingering in her mind.
A few minutes later, Applejack returned from the bathroom and joined the girls at the entrance to the cafeteria. Her hair was still somewhat damp and messy, and her expression reflected anger.
"So that was the only thing you two could come up with because you were distracted?" asked, crossing her arms.
"We're sorry," Pinkie said quickly, waving her hands in an exaggerated manner. "We didn't mean for it to be so... juicy."
"Okay, okay," Rainbow chimed in, holding her hands up in surrender. "We promise to think things through better."
"You know what? I'm going to try to hold back," said, trying hard to keep a neutral tone. "I just hope next time you'll think of something less... sticky."
The girls looked at each other. Sunset, who had always been good at mediating tense situations, smiled. "Maybe we should have a talk about pranks from now on."
"Definitely," Fluttershy agreed, looking at the pranksters with an air of seriousness that made them nod. "Not all pranks are good, especially when they involve juice."
"Yeah!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up and down. "A cake would be perfect! I promise I'll make one to make up for it," said, touching the blonde's hair. "Hmm...? I thought it would be a little sticky?"
Applejack gently pushed the party girl's hand away. "I was able to fix that," said, putting her other hand in her back pocket and feeling the small jar.
"Didn't you use soap?" Twilight asked a little worriedly, taking a step towards her.
"No, I didn't," replied, her expression relaxing. "And, Pinkie... I don't know if a cake is the solution, though I'm clean now, save for the memory of feeling sticky."
"The past is the past," Pinkie said, flashing a big smile.
"Let's just leave the conversation and go play," the farm girl said, taking a deep breath as she began to walk away.
"Good idea," Rainbow agreed, patting her shoulder. Receiving an unpleasant look from Applejack, she giggled and stepped away, quickly approaching the rest of the girls.
"She'll get over it," Fluttershy whispered.
"I know... I better stay away for now," murmured back.
"Yeah, good idea," Sunset added, trying to lighten the mood. "Let's just relax a little."
As they continued walking, Applejack surreptitiously pulled out the empty jar. She didn't know the exact amount she should have put in, so she had thrown it all in. "I'll throw it in the next trashcan," thought, putting it back.
The six of them headed to the music room, where they had their instruments ready to play before starting another day of group study.
After a few minutes, Rarity was waiting for her sister at the entrance, pacing back and forth for three reasons: the uncertainty of the result of the first test, whose grade she still didn't know when she would receive; the next test tomorrow, and her concern for Applejack, wondering if she was better and if she had used the shampoo she left for her or, on the contrary, if she had ignored it and thrown it away.
"Rarity?" asked her sister.
The seamstress stopped when she heard her voice, somewhat embarrassed. "Sweetie, you're here..." replied. Seeing her sister's confused expression, she added: "It's just that the first test has me like this."
"I would be the same, but for some reason I'm glad to have that test out of the way," said Sweetie Belle, skipping as she walked out the door.
Rarity followed her, letting out a small laugh. "I wish I could be that carefree, but it's my last year."
"It's not the final exam either," Sweetie Belle said, now walking beside her and stopping jumping around.
The seamstress just nodded, letting out a sigh.
The younger sister looked at her with a mix of curiosity and sympathy as they walked. "Still, you can't spend the whole year worrying," said with an encouraging smile.
"You're right, dear. Sometimes I drown in a glass of water."
After a few seconds of silence, Sweetie Belle glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, noticing that Rarity still seemed distracted. "And are you okay with the assessment, or is there something else that's bothering you?"
Rarity hesitated for a moment before answering. She wasn't sure if she should tell her sister about her concerns with Applejack. "Well... let's just say I left something for someone, hoping that... it would help." She searched for words, trying to sound casual. "But I'm not sure she's accepted it."
The younger sister nodded, picking up on her sister's tone. "Is it someone special?" asked with a mischievous smile, causing Rarity to giggle.
"Sweetie... don't always think it's someone special," she replied, avoiding her little sister's gaze. "I just... want her to be okay."
"Why don't you just ask her directly?" suggested casually. "If you really care, I think it's worth it."
The seamstress smiled at her younger sister's advice. "For the moment, I'll just watch," replied, trying to convince herself.
The two of them continued on their way while Rarity pondered the idea. The conversation with Sweetie Belle had given her something to think about, and she felt a little more relieved.
Pie Family House  
Pinkie, upon arriving, immediately headed to the kitchen, sleeves rolled up and a focused smile on her face. She checked each shelf, pulling out the ingredients she needed one by one.
"What's said is said," muttered to herself, pouring flour into a large bowl and adding the eggs. "This time it'll be a perfect apple pie for Applejack!"
Just then, her phone rang and she saw Rarity's name on the screen. Still whisking, she turned on speakerphone and answered. "Rarity! Hello, hello, hello, what's up?"
("Hello, are you busy?") asked curiously.
"Yes! I'm on a baking mission," replied, turning up the mixer's speed a little. "I'm making a pie for Applejack... I hope this will forgive me for the juice joke."
Rarity laughed softly on the other end of the line. ("Oh, I see. So you had something to do with that...")
"Of course you did!" Pinkie said confidently. "I think the whole university saw her running to the bathroom."
("I saw her too, and she looked pretty upset...") the seamstress said, sighing lightly. ("I must say, you may have gone a bit overboard with the joke.")
The party girl grimaced, even though she knew Rarity couldn't see it. "Well, maybe so... but in my head it was so funny! It's just... we got confused and thought it was water." She sighed, shrugging as she continued to whisk. "Still, I think a cake will forgive me."
"Applejack loves apples. And besides, cakes are like... the secret key to fixing any problem," added, more confidently.
("I hope so.") Rarity said pleasantly. ("Besides, it's sure to be delicious. Still adding your special touch?")
Pinkie smiled widely, adding the final dash of cinnamon. "Of course! A dash of love, lots and lots of cinnamon... and a little vanilla, because it always works."
A sigh was heard on the other end of the line. ("That sounds perfect. Pinkie, you really are good at making others feel better.")
The cheerful girl smiled, although again, the seamstress couldn't see her. "Thanks! And don't worry! I bet after one bite, Applejack will forget all about the juice. The most important thing is that we remain friends, right?"
("That's right.") Rarity said, although she couldn't see her, she knew that on the other end she was smiling. ("Well, I won't interrupt you anymore, good luck with the cake! I'm sure she'll love it.")
"Oh, and I have something to talk to you about tomorrow!" she said with a half smile. "I discovered something with the girls."
("Something you discovered...?") asked curiously.
"I think you sense it," Pinkie said in a mysterious tone.
The seamstress was silent on the other end for a few seconds. ("I think so... I'll explain tomorrow.") she replied with a sigh. ("Well, I'll leave you. See you tomorrow!")
"Bye, Rarity!" she said goodbye, returning to her enthusiastic tone. With a smile, she hung up the phone and continued whipping, focused on making the best apple pie.
The next day, in the bathroom of her house, Fluttershy was getting ready, her hair falling softly over her shoulders as she chose a brush to comb her hair. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled shyly as she heard the track that began to play on her cell phone. She felt so comfortable that, after adjusting the volume, she used the brush as if it were a microphone and began to sing the melody quietly.
"There's so much more in me..."
The music filled the air, and she let herself go, completely forgetting that she was alone. She walked out of the bathroom moving to the rhythm of the song, singing with her eyes closed, as if she were in front of an imaginary audience. Without realizing it, she began to walk towards her room, still holding the brush in her hand as if it were her personal microphone.
"Look out now, i'm in the zone, Yeah! Can you feel it?"
As she opened her eyes and turned excitedly towards her bed, she froze, her voice fading away suddenly. There, leaning against the door frame, was her friend, watching her with a half smile. Fluttershy was speechless, her face reddening as her friend looked at her amused.
"Since... since when are you there?" asked, still holding the brush, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Rainbow shrugged, crossing her arms with a mischievous smile. "Just a little while ago. I didn't want to interrupt my private concert." She then winked at her, amused. "Didn't I know you wrote a song?"
The pinkette looked at the brush in her hand, quickly lowering it and putting it aside as she apologized with a nervous laugh. "It wasn't a concert. I just... wrote it over the months."
The multicolored girl stepped away from the door and entered the room, smiling in a relaxed manner. "Hey, I thought it was cool. You have a really nice voice."
Fluttershy's embarrassment slowly dissipated with her friend's words. "Thanks. I just... I wasn't expecting you to show up."
Rainbow put a hand on his shoulder and smiled sincerely at him. "I guess it's lucky I did. Hey, you should show it to the girls, we all have our solos already."
The animal lover leans closer, still feeling a bit of heat on her cheeks. "Maybe... You inspired me in some way."
The athlete raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Oh yeah? Who knew I'd be a muse?"
"Not in that sense... you know... the other time, when they were doing mixes," clarified, waving his hands.
"Ohhh..." Rainbow said, nodding in memory.
"I'm surprised you came in, I thought you wouldn't because of Zephyr," Fluttershy said, nudging him lightly.
"Yeah, well... I wasn't sure she wouldn't be there, but I took a chance and wanted to go in together. I took the opportunity to say hello to your parents," explained, scratching her hair. "I haven't seen them since the event."
The pink-haired girl rings her bell, lowering her head for a few seconds. "Is there anything else you need before we can go?" Rainbow asked, briefly pointing to the door. "I'm going to try to ease things up with AJ."
Fluttershy headed to the bathroom to grab her phone and to her desk, where she had her backpack, to grab it. "Were you able to clean her shirt?"
"I didn't... but I had to ask mom to do it in case she mixed the dark with the light... something like that, right?" Rainbow asked, making a face of confusion. "I never said anything about my mom," added, somewhat embarrassed.
The pink-haired girl laughed. "I didn't hear anything... and yes, it is something like that," replied, leaving the room.
They went down the stairs and met Fluttershy's mom.
"Bye, mom."
"Bye, sweetie," her mom said, giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Bye, Rainbow, I hope you visit us soon."
"I'll make room sometime," the multicolored one said, waving goodbye once her friend opened the door.
Once outside, the pink-haired girl saw the car where Scootaloo was in the back, apparently studying, but she could see something lit up, so she was probably playing with her cell phone.
When Pinkie arrived at school, she went to find Rarity to talk about what she had told her the day before on her cell phone. She preferred to talk now so that the seamstress wouldn't feel so nervous during the fitting. Besides, she would take the opportunity to give the farmer the big piece of cake she had made for her.
They both walked together down the hallway of lockers. Rarity, despite having gotten used to seeing girls, still avoided situations where Applejack and Rainbow Dash were together.
"I'm not really sure..." muttered, somewhat nervous. She knew that the couple's lockers were right in that direction.
"Come on, Rarity, it'll just be a moment. You can wait to the side so you don't have to talk to them," Pinkie gave her a slight push, encouraging her.
Later, Rainbow, once she arrived with Fluttershy and Scootaloo, separated from them, meeting Applejack, who was about to open her locker. She approached silently, although the students who greeted her were not helping. Already at her side, she caught her attention before she could open the locker.
"Are you still mad?" asked, while showing her the flannel that the farmer had worn the day before, now clean.
Yesterday, after group study, to make up for the joke, she asked her for the flannel she was wearing to wash it at home, even though Applejack refused at first, she ended up accepting.
Applejack took it and put it in her bag. "Not so much anymore," replied, with a calmer voice than yesterday. "And thanks, although I told you it wasn't necessary," said, opening her locker and starting to organize it.
"Thank goodness," Rainbow said, relieved by the answer as she opened her locker. "But I had to... I owed you."
The blonde nodded, continuing with her things, until suddenly, she came across the bottle of shampoo. She held it in her hand, looking at it without saying anything.
"You know I do sometimes, but that's just in my nature," the multicolored girl said as she pulled out some notebooks.
Applejack just muttered an "Uh-huh," still staring at the bottle, lost in her thoughts. Although she didn't fully understand why she had kept it, if she was supposed to throw it in the first trash can she found.
Rainbow continued talking, not noticing her partner's concentration. "Well, about Pinkie and me... but let's go find another victim. Maybe we'll try not to make such big jokes like the other day."
"Uh-huh," she repeated, distracted, her fingers running over the bottle. Finally, looking up, she saw Pinkie approaching down the hallway, and behind her, Rarity. Upon seeing her, their eyes met briefly, and the seamstress immediately noticed the bottle in Applejack's hand. The farmer's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Almost automatically, she put the bottle away and slammed her locker shut, harder than she intended, making Rainbow and Pinkie jump, as well as other students nearby.
"Jeez, AJ, what was that?!" the multicolored one exclaimed, putting a hand on her chest.
"Oh, Applejack, you scared us!" exclaimed the party girl, who was already right next to her, looking at her in surprise.
She stayed silent for a second, looking at both of them without knowing what to say and at other students who looked at her almost with a frown. "Sorry... I don't know why I did it," finally said, feeling a little exposed.
Rarity walked past, continuing on her way. She already had the answer, and she sketched a slight smile at it. Applejack couldn't help but follow her with her eyes, surreptitiously.
Pinkie noticed the seamstress walking away. "Hey, Rarity! I'm not done talking yet!" exclaimed, raising her voice a little. "I'll make it quick," muttered as she pulled a large jar out of her backpack. "It was a promise," added, opening it to reveal a large piece of apple pie.
"Thanks, Pinkie," Applejack said, taking it. "There was no need, since I'm not that upset."
"I think I would have anyway," Rainbow said, bowing slightly.
"Yeah," the party girl replied, glancing sideways to see if the seamstress was still walking. Luckily, she stopped a little in the distance. "Sorry for the joke, next time I'll make sure it's water."
The farmer raised an eyebrow.
"Just kidding," Pinkie said, holding up a hand, palm up.
"We'll look for other victims," the multicolored one said, giving her a high five.
"Exactly," said with a smile.
"You guys and your pranks," Applejack said, turning around to open her locker.
"See you later," Pinkie said, taking quick steps so as not to keep Rarity waiting.
"Shall we go with the others to review for the test?" Rainbow suggested, demonstrating how she gently closed her locker.
"I won't do it again," said, rolling her eyes at her partner's intentional action.
The athlete giggled a bit before speaking. "Did you get any messages from the Apples?" she tried to guess.
"No, nothing like that... we're just going with the others, this was a reflex," said, gently closing her locker.
"Okay," Rainbow said, starting to walk away, and Applejack followed close behind her.
Pinkie and Rarity sat on a bench in the courtyard. At first they thought about going to the dressmaker's 'den', but as on other occasions, it was closed, so they decided to stay and go to the courtyard.
"Now, will you tell me how you managed to get both Sunset and Twilight to study with you at the same time?" asked the party girl, leaning a little towards her.
"Twilight was the one who agreed first, with the condition of not mixing personal with academic," explained, while Pinkie nodded several times. "That same day we had our first session, and later, after the chancellor called us to go to the music classroom, Sunset spoke to me to discuss my request..."
"And what happened?" insisted the party girl, curious.
"Well, I didn't know what to answer when Sunset told me, with a sigh, that she had thought about it and that she agreed to help me, but that I shouldn't confuse this gesture with an interest in... in resuming... you know," explained, pausing. Seeing her tilt her head, Pinkie understood.
"Yeah... they both mentioned something about the condition they put on you," Pinkie said, nodding. "Don't tell me, they haven't talked outside of academics."
Rarity raised her head. "Sunset and I had a steady conversation about the midterms... it wasn't as awkward as I expected," replied with a slight smile. "And with Twilight... it was, um..."
"It was what?" insisted again, eager for more details.
"I don't know... she complimented me and somehow touched on a topic I'd rather not go into."
"The design?" Pinkie asked curiously.
"Not directly, but by mentioning certain compliments, it made me remember a few things..." Rarity said, shaking her head. "I don't like to go into that, although she was right..." The last part was said quietly.
"Reason?" the party girl thought, narrowing her eyes. "It's okay, Rarity..."
The seamstress smiled, relieved that she didn't have to go into the subject further.
"But if you notice, thanks to those interactions it seems like things are looking up," Pinkie said with a smile.
"You're right... I just had to wait," the seamstress replied with a smile. "Now tell me... how did Applejack end up with juice on her head?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
The party girl let out a nervous laugh and began to explain the "miscalculation," as Twilight would say, and how the farm girl ended up in the bathroom. Rarity got a little lost in the bathroom part without hearing the rest, remembering how she had seen that the farm girl did use the bottle of shampoo in the end.
Author's Note
Hello, how are you? I know, I'm late translating the chapter again... I'll bring the two missing ones in the next few days
At the beginning, the chapter was going to be mostly filler, with a little preview of the girls' conversations with Rarity, although they were everyday. In the end, I decided to go deeper into some of those interactions, and even though I already revealed (and it's obvious) who Rarity is talking about regarding the unexpected comment. I also added a flashback and the slight one in the square.
We're moving forward in the relationships; I'm trying to make them feel as natural as possible. Is there one you liked more or do you hope that one improves?
You may be wondering why I didn't include the conversation between Rarity and Sunset when the latter accepted your request. I wanted to leave you with the suspense about the answer and the reason for that "yes." Things are less tense.
That would be all, I'll see you in the next chapter. Bye!

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                 What the silence reveals                  
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What the silence reveals
The next tests came together nerve-wrackingly as the days went by. They still didn't know their grades and weren't sure if they would receive them after the last day of exams or until the following week. Finally, the last week of the month arrived.
The girls were in the music room. They were playing together to relax; it was a way to relieve the accumulated stress and forget for a moment the tension of the exams. They had just finished a song, with Fluttershy as the vocalist this time.
"Wow, Fluttershy, not bad," Sunset commented, impressed, as she gently put her guitar aside.
"Thanks," replied in a soft voice.
"See? I told you they would like it," Rainbow added, giving her friend a small pat on the shoulder with a proud smile.
"We should play it sometime, if we ever get to perform in public," Twilight suggested, adjusting her glasses and looking at the pink-haired girl. "If you want... It's yours, after all."
"I'd like to, but I don't know if I could sing something so personal in front of a crowd," Fluttershy admitted quietly, nervously playing with her tambourine.
"Almost all of us have a solo now!" Pinkie exclaimed excitedly, glancing at each one, with her signature smile.
"It could be considered a song, though the theme is... a little different," Rainbow commented, raising an eyebrow in an amused tone as she placed the guitar on its stand.
"Each one has its own style," Sunset chimed in, crossing her arms and nodding with a smile.
"At least mine came from a slightly more realistic dream," the multicolored one said, crossing her arms with a half-smile.
"Being a superhero like Flash?" Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow with a mocking smile.
"Having powers is realistic?" Fluttershy asked, with a curious expression.
"I mean it wasn't a pony world, like Pinkie's dream," replied, glancing sideways at the party girl.
Despite the comment, Pinkie wasn't offended. "I don't see the weirdness in it," said with a shrug and a cheerful smile.
"It makes sense; everyone finds their normal dreams in their own way," Twilight added thoughtfully as she picked up some sheet music.
"Being super fast like Flash is way better than being a pony," Rainbow joked with a half-smile.
"A pony too. Can you imagine them flying?" said the party girl, her eyes bright and excited.
"Okay, I think that's enough fiction for today," said the farm girl, shaking her head with a smile as she took off her bass.
"Okay," said her partner as she placed her backpack on her shoulder.
The girls began to put their instruments away when Applejack, placing the bass on the stand, noticed something unusual.
"Looks like someone else was here," commented, pointing to the keyboard, whose lid was open and revealed some worn keys.
"Maybe, since the other music room is used more, some of them come here to play," Sunset guessed, looking at the keyboard and then at the other instruments.
"Maybe Flash and his band," Rainbow said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Could be. Remember that Ringo and Sandalwood also play the piano," Twilight added, looking thoughtfully at the piano.
The blonde closed the keyboard lid, staying silent for a few seconds.
"Lyra and Bon Bon can play too, though I'm not sure if they still practice," Pinkie commented, putting on her backpack.
"It's hard to tell, since they're not in our music classes," Fluttershy said softly, looking around the room before giving her friends one last look.
With the topic now finished, Twilight steered the conversation back to what was important. "Let's go to the library; I need to borrow a book. If you'd rather, just one of you can join me, I won't be long."
"I'm going to borrow a book too," Applejack said, looking at the blue-haired girl.
"I'll go get one," the sporty girl added.
Fluttershy smiled softly. "I'm just going to tag along."
"I want to see more recipes!" the party girl exclaimed.
"Well then, let's go." Sunset led the way to the door.
Once in the library, each of them looked for the books they needed for the last tests. While Twilight and Rainbow approached an area, Applejack decided to do her search in the construction sections. Meanwhile, at the back of one of the shelves, they observed a familiar figure: Rarity was leafing through books, in what seemed to be an intense and precise search.
The other girls, already with their books in hand, approached the librarian's desk to ask for theirs.
The farmer leaned on the counter and took advantage of the distraction of the others to look at the seamstress, remembering how she had felt a little exposed when she saw her with the bottle and also when she left it in the bathroom. Was it kind of her? Yes, maybe she would only admit it to herself. Should she thank her or just pretend that she didn't see her with it? It's only been a few days. How important was that bottle that made her think so much?
"Next!" said the librarian.
"AJ..." Rainbow called.
"AJ..." Sunset repeated, punching her arm.
Applejack turned to the girls. "Yeah? What's up?"
"It's your turn," the librarian said.
"Oh, right," replied, turning to face the librarian and casting one last glance back, surprised to notice the seamstress was gone.
Shrugging off her absence, she looked at the lady and handed her the book. With the book in hand, the girls waited for their cheerful friend, who was the last one missing. They stood to one side of the librarian's counter.
Twilight took the opportunity to remind them about studying. "Girls, this is our last week of exams, so each of you must put your best effort into your homes."
"I know, 'Mama' Twi," Rainbow joked.
The bespectacled girl just rolled her eyes in amusement, while Applejack let out a laugh.
Finally, Pinkie came skipping over with a book in hand. "This should give me more baking ideas!" said, standing next to her friends.
Sunset cast a curious glance at the blonde. "More clear-headed?"
The girl raised an eyebrow, confused. "What?"
Fluttershy, with a slight smile. "Because of that earlier. You got 'stuck'," said, watching her curiously.
"Ah, I was just thinking, that's all," replied, shrugging.
"You know... a 'thank you' is enough if you don't know what to say," a voice interrupted behind her. Applejack tensed in surprise and turned around, as her friends peeked in.
"About what?" asked, trying to look nonchalant. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Rarity giggled lightly and gave her a small smile. "Okay... but could you say something or make a gesture, instead of just staring?" she said, almost laughing.
The farm girl blinked. "Was I too obvious?" thought.
"Thank you? Thank you for what?" Twilight asked, arching an eyebrow, curious.
"Did we miss something?" Pinkie added, amused.
Applejack stood firm, looking at the others and trying to avoid the subject. "Ah... it's nothing, just..." looked at the odist. "You being in a way... that, um... you know..."
"Uhh, Applejack..." Sunset muttered, shaking her head, remembering how bad her friend is at making excuses sometimes.
"And what am I supposed to be?" Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow, amused.
Applejack frowned at her and looked away. "Nothing specific."
The purple-haired girl just turned around. "Good luck tomorrow," said softly, while the blonde raised her gaze slightly. "And you're welcome, if that's what you wanted to hear," added in a playful tone.
Applejack crossed her arms and, out of the corner of her eye, saw Rarity walking away. While the girls looked on, confused.
"Did something happen?" Fluttershy asked, wary. The gazes now turned to the farmer as if they were waiting for answers.
Applejack relaxed her arms and looked at them. "Pfff, you know... just Rarity being..."
"Belle..." Rainbow corrected in a serious tone.
"Yeah, Belle... that's what I said," said laughing almost uncomfortably. "Belle being Belle."
Pinkie, intrigued, smiled. "Did she give you a Drama Queen scene?"
"Or did she talk to you about fashion?" Her partner added, a little annoyed.
Twilight looked at her thoughtfully. "Did she talk to you in depth?"
"Depth?" said Fluttershy, looking at the blue haired girl curiously.
"Nothing, just that in one session I got the impression that I touched a part of her."
"Did she ask you how your studies were going?" asked Sunset.
Applejack cleared her throat and began to walk slowly. "No, no, uh... I don't know what to say about what Twilight said and what she just did," said answering each question. "Let's take it as something..."
"Do you want to interpret her words as good luck?" asked Rainbow, raising an eyebrow.
The farmer turned around. "I never said that... Let's go, we already have what we came for," said showing the book she had asked for. Without further ado, she began to walk towards the exit. Her friends looked at each other, some shrugging, and then began to follow her.
As they left, they split up to go to their lockers to gather their things and then meet up in the parking lot. However, the party girl decided to make one last stop. She wanted to talk to a certain girl about the curious interaction from just now. She went to get her things first and, once she was ready, she headed to the dressmaker's locker.
As she turned the corner, Pinkie noticed a familiar figure in front of Rarity's locker. It was Feather, leaning against the locker, wearing a flirtatious smile, trying to catch the girl's attention, who seemed a little amused by her attempts.
"So, Rarity... I don't know if you know, but I'm good at teaching some subjects," said, smiling at her. "I thought maybe I could teach you something."
Rarity smiled politely. "Oh, that sounds... interesting. Tell me, am I the first one at this?" asked as she closed her locker, looking at it with a half-smile.
"Okay, I got that... and I'm being honest. Yes, I've taught a few girls and boys..." paused, holding up a finger. "Don't misinterpret that last bit."
"I wouldn't," replied.
"And what do you say?" asked, resting a hand on a closed locker and leaning towards the dressmaker.
Just then, Pinkie stepped forward and, without a second thought, jumped in between them with her characteristic enthusiasm. "Rarity! What a coincidence to find you here!" exclaimed, as if she hadn't noticed the boy, giving him a quick hug.
"Oh, Pinkie," said, returning the hug. "I was just finishing packing my stuff."
Feather raised an eyebrow, somewhat annoyed by the interruption, but tried to keep her smile. "Uh... hello, Pinkie. I didn't know you were here too."
"I always show up at the perfect time!" said with a big smile. She then looked at the boy and blinked a few times, as if she was just noticing him. "Oh? Feather, what are you doing here so late? I thought you had another appointment."
Feather froze a little. "Uh... yeah, I almost forgot, I was just about to go."
"Good thing I reminded you," Pinkie said, winking at her friend.
Rarity smiled in amusement. "Don't keep the girls waiting... you don't know how we get."
The boy sighed. "Well, but consider my request," he said, winking at the seamstress. "See you later, Rarity. And... bye, Pinkie."
When Feather finally walked away, the party girl turned to her friend with a mischievous grin. "That boy sure is persistent, isn't he?!"
The seamstress sighed. "He's a nice boy, but... I don't know... he might..."
Pinkie nudged him gently, smiling knowingly. "Rarity thinking of giving him a chance?"
"It's a possibility... I never said anything, you did," said, holding up her hands. "He must have a sentimental side... everyone does."
"Yeah, sure, more so than AJ, right?" Pinkie said, starting to walk with Rarity.
"Huh...?"
"Because of the library," said, causing more confusion in the seamstress. "I'm not good at noticing certain things, but I am with others."
The girl still didn't understand.
"I was surprised that you acted that way with Applejack."
Rarity chuckled. "Yeah, I thought I'd tease her a little. I didn't want things to be so tense. Plus, I think she wanted to talk, and I wanted to do it for her."
"Ah, I'm glad it was just that," the party girl said, as if wiping away a drop of sweat.
"I still don't understand what Applejack and Feather have to do with" said the seamstress, searching for answers.
"Rainbow is my friend and, well... in that little game... I thought I saw some flirting," Pinkie said, with a worried tone.
"Pinkie... they're a couple and you know how bad it would look to get me into a relationship like that," said, showing a little nervousness at the idea. "Even though Rainbow hates me, I wouldn't do something like that... we're just moving forward... I think and that's it."
"Do you think I went a little overboard with how I teased Applejack?" asked, looking at her with a somewhat worried expression.
"I don't know, I just got a little worried," said, shrugging.
"Relax, Pinkie... I'd better change my tactics and not be so playful," said, calming down.
"It could be... and if you need another escape from Feather, Pinkie Pie will come to the rescue!" said, mentioning the boy again, as if it were nothing.
Rarity laughed. "You're a sweetheart, Pinkie."
They both walked away from the lockers, chatting animatedly as they walked towards the exit.
In the parking lot, Applejack was inside her truck, fiddling with her fingers on the steering wheel as her mind wandered back to the conversation she had with Rarity.
"Why, out of the blue, do you decide to play with me like that?" she muttered to herself, a little annoyed. "It's not like I really care... it was just a favor she did me. I didn't even ask her to do it."
Applejack leaned back in the seat, staring at the roof of the truck as she crossed her arms.
"And just because she saw me with the flask, she gets all playful," said, brushing a lock of hair out of her face. "Belle, don't make me laugh."
"If I were to approach her, she wouldn't hesitate to act like she always did and it wouldn't be a joke." She let out a wry laugh. "As if I would actually approach her."
"What reason would there be?" she muttered with a slight purse of her lips. "I better not even think about it."
However, doubt assailed her again. "But... why did she suddenly become so generous?" whispered, before reminding herself, "although... she was always like that..."
She shook her head, trying to dismiss the thoughts. She was so absorbed that she didn't hear the doors open.
"Here we are!" Pinkie said cheerfully, interrupting her thoughts as she settled into the front seat.
"There are fewer and fewer tests left!" Apple Bloom exclaimed from the backseat, closing the door with a soft slam.
Applejack blinked, sitting up straighter in her seat and focusing on them. "Oh, sure. How did the test go?"
"I think so," replied somewhat doubtfully, "but I can't wait for Thursday to come so I can relax with candy," said with a pout.
The blonde chuckled. "There's not much left, sugarcube," said with a smile as she turned the keys to start the engine. "But I'll count every candy you eat."
"Give me a break, sis," replied, pouting exaggeratedly.
Pinkie glanced back, giving the younger girl a knowing grin. "Relax, with what I've got planned you'll be able to hide those candy where no one will find it."
Apple Bloom flashed a mischievous grin. "I'll find the best hiding spot."
Pinkie looked back and gave the younger girl a knowing smile. "Relax, with what I have planned you'll be able to hide those sweets where no one will find them."
Apple Bloom gave a mischievous grin. "I'll find the best hiding spot."
"Funny," Applejack said, shaking her head as she set off. "I'm going to check every nook and cranny."
"Do you have your costume ready yet?" Pinkie asked the younger girl.
Apple Bloom smiled excitedly. "Yeah, but the others haven't told me what costume they picked yet."
"As Pinkie would say, surprises are better," said, looking at her through the rearview mirror.
"And who's going with me this time? You or Big Mac?" Apple Bloom asked, curious.
"Sugarcube, I don't know if..."
The party girl leaned forward, even more excited. "It'll be with Big Mac."
"Really?" The two Apples asked in unison.
"Yeah, Applejack's going to be busy," Pinkie said, placing a hand on the blonde's shoulder.
Applejack glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, a little confused. "I know I said surprises are better, but... this one really surprises me. I don't know if it's good or bad."
"Don't worry, it's good. I'm sure you'll like it, and you'll be there, no matter what," she assured with a confident smile.
"You know what I think about them deciding for me without telling me?" commented, tightening her grip on the steering wheel a little.
"I know, but I also know you'll accept... and it's okay if you don't," Pinkie replied, letting out a nervous laugh.
Apple Bloom crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat. "Are you having a party?"
The party girl let out a snicker. "Who said party?"
"Pinkie, is it a party?" Applejack asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Okay, yes, it is a party," admitted, her expression changing to a serious one. "But when I announce it, I want you to pretend it's the first time you've heard about it. And Apple Bloom, not a word to the Crusaders... at some point, there will be another party, and you're more than welcome."
Apple Bloom smiled, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Done... my lips are sealed!"
"It's a Pinkie promise," Pinkie said, showing her pinky finger, which Apple Bloom joined with hers in a solemn gesture.
Applejack laughed as she continued driving, feeling complicit in this little conspiracy, promising that she would keep the party's secret as well.
Rarity arrived home with Sweetie Belle and, as soon as they entered, she plopped down on the couch with a deep sigh.
"Just three more days and my worries are over," said, closing her eyes and stretching with a tired expression.
Sweetie Belle sat down next to her and smiled at her. "You say that like you've been working out non-stop these days."
"I think I'm taking it that way," replied, letting out a small laugh. "I have the gym test tomorrow. I'm already exhausted just thinking about it."
"It's not that bad. I know it's not your thing, but at least you seem to be getting used to it," the younger girl said, laughing as she stood up. "And luckily no weird things have happened to you in that class... right?"
Rarity opened her eyes and sat up a little, looking at her sister suspiciously. "Did Pinkie tell you about my embarrassing moment?"
Sweetie Belle just gave her a mischievous smile before heading for the stairs.
"Oh, Pinkie...! But at least you know, right? Nothing to the Crusaders?"
"Relax, I'm sure he only told me," the younger girl replied from the stairs.
With a resigned sigh, Rarity stood up. "I hope so..." muttered. "Well, I'm going to pack my bag to go over the last of what I have left," she said, stretching.
She then looked towards the kitchen. "But first, I'm going to freshen up a bit."
As she poured herself some juice, she laughed softly as she remembered how she had joked with the blonde. She couldn't help but think that she wasn't going to waste that opportunity, although she still had her doubts about how the farm girl would have taken it. She liked seeing her reaction, but her smile faded as she remembered Pinkie's words.
She wasn't flirting with her, was she?
She made a face as she thought about it, but soon shook her head, deciding that it was best not to misinterpret things. Maybe she should try another approach to talking to Applejack when another opportunity arises, she mused as she took a sip of juice.
Leaving the kitchen, she walked slowly, stopping near the stairs. Her gaze fell on a door, and she decided to go in there for a few minutes before getting down to studying. After all, she had already played in the music room.
Hours later, they both heard the sound of the front door.
"Mom, Dad, they're here!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, quickly walking down the stairs with Rarity following close behind.
"Yeah, it's been a long day," Hondo said, letting out a sigh.
"That makes two of us," the eldest daughter said, smiling as she hugged her dad and then her mom. "I only have three more assessments left."
"I know you'll do well, I've seen how hard you're trying," Cookie replied with a warm smile.
"Well, let's get dinner ready. We have something to tell you," Hondo added, leading his daughters into the kitchen with a hand on Rarity's back.
"Is this a family outing? Or a Halloween surprise? Uh-oh! Are we going to the mall or the movies?" Sweetie Belle asked excitedly, blurting out her random thoughts.
"It's an outing, yes, but not along the lines of what you're thinking," Cookie said, laughing.
"Besides, you already went with Rarity over the weekend to buy the costume," Hondo added with a smile.
Rarity smiled nervously, remembering the little lie she used as an excuse for her sister's already purchased costume without her parents suspecting.
Side B / Indoor Court  
The next morning arrived. The students were slowly arriving, some with serious faces, others with expressions of exhaustion. The atmosphere was filled with murmurs as they dispersed to change or mentally review what they had practiced. The men, as always, headed to the other side of the court, leaving the girls with their usual space.
Applejack adjusted her sneakers with a firm gesture, while next to her Rainbow Dash did little jumps.
"I hope this evaluation is really challenging," said the multicolored girl with a confident smile, stretching her arms upward.
"You better not exhaust yourself before time," replied the farm girl, raising an eyebrow as she began to roll her shoulders to warm up.
Not far away, Rarity watched the court with a mixture of anxiety and concentration. She tried to remember the breathing techniques she had practiced to keep herself calm. She knew that physical exercise was not her strong point, but she was determined to give it a try.
"How are you doing?" Pinkie asked with a wide grin as she trotted in place.
"I'm going to fail," said with a dramatic sigh.
"Come on, don't be so pessimistic!" exclaimed energetically.
Rarity couldn't help but giggle lightly. "Where do you get so much energy?"
"Ah, that's easy. Chocolate and coffee! The perfect combination for a morning like this!" Pinkie pointed at herself proudly.
"That explains quite a bit..." the seamstress murmured with a small smile.
Spitfire appeared with her characteristically firm bearing, wearing a stopwatch around her neck. She clapped her hands a couple of times to get attention, and the murmur quickly faded away.
"Alright, girls! Today's the day. I hope you've practiced, because this won't be easy. The evaluation will be divided into two phases, as I explained to you. First, we'll do a series of physical exercises to measure your endurance, flexibility, and body control," she announced in her clear, determined voice.
"After the physical part," Spitfire continued, "we'll do the psychological evaluation. Once you complete the physical exam, along with one I have in mind, each of you will come talk to me and tell me if it really was helpful."
The girls exchanged glances. Fluttershy gulped, clearly nervous, as Twilight gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
"Trust yourself, Flutter. This isn't about competing, just relaxing and showing off what we've learned," the blue-haired girl whispered reassuringly.
The pink-haired girl nodded slowly. "I guess so."
Spitfire stepped forward and held up her stopwatch. "We'll start with a ten-minute warm-up. I want you to focus and do your best in every exercise. Come on, show me what you're made of!"
The girls obeyed. Rainbow led the group as she trotted steadily, casting competitive glances at Applejack, who, needless to say, rose to the challenge by increasing her pace slightly. On the other hand, Fluttershy struggled to keep up, though she let out a tired sigh.
Rarity, stumbling slightly on a couple of occasions. "I just have to get through this without making a fool of myself... that's all," she repeated to herself mentally.
Pinkie, true to form, did exaggerated arm spins as she trotted, causing the girls around her to giggle. Even the dressmaker let out a small laugh at the sight of her: "I think the coffee really did its thing for you, Pinkie."
"I told you! I'm unstoppable!" she replied with a big smile.
When they finished warming up, the teacher took the next step: “Okay, now gather around. I’ll call each of you. You’ll do the exercises and, depending on the stretch, you can have support from another classmate if needed,” she announced in her firm but motivating tone.
The first to be called stepped forward with determination, executing a side stretch with purposeful movements. Spitfire, holding her paper tablet in one hand and her pencil in the other, noted every detail: from the alignment of the shoulders to the depth of the stretch and the rhythm of the breathing. With a brief nod, she quickly jotted something down before calling on the next.
As the students passed by, the differences between them became apparent. Some moved with a natural grace and fluidity, while others showed slight hesitations or tension in their postures. Spitfire remained, focused on analyzing each movement with a critical eye, but also seeking to recognize effort rather than just perfection.
One student impressed by holding a complicated posture with apparent ease, moving with elegance. The teacher made a note: “Excellent control and flexibility.” On the other hand, another moved forward visibly nervous, struggling to keep her balance. The coach kept watching her closely and wrote: “Unsure, but showing genuine effort.”
As some girls waited for their turn, murmurs among them were inevitable. Words of encouragement and light jokes eased the tension, while others mentally repeated their movements.
When the first ones finished, they sat down on the nearby bleachers. Some sighed in relief, moving their arms and legs to relieve muscle tension. The closeness between the companions became evident; they rested their heads on another's shoulder or exchanged small comments to relax.
"I thought I couldn't take it," Fluttershy whispered as she leaned lightly on the bespectacled girl, who nodded slightly, also showing tiredness.
"It's because we're doing different exercises in such a short time," Twilight replied, trying to adjust her glasses.
"But you know how it is: the pain is felt now, but later you won't even remember it," Sunset added from a row above, stretching her legs to avoid cramps.
Applejack nodded, sitting next to the red-haired girl. She watched as another classmate completed her turn, although they all seemed to be present, Rainbow still didn't show off her movements, focused on what the others were doing. It was then that she noticed that the party girl wasn't with them. Looking back, a few steps up, she discovered her lying on Rarity's lap.
"I think I used up all my energy," she heard from Pinkie's lips, who seemed half tired.
The farmer couldn't help but laugh lightly at the role reversal. The cheerful girl, usually full of energy, was now relying on the dressmaker to support her. It was then that she heard it:
"Darlinght, try to get some rest," Rarity said in a soft tone, her signature catchphrase.
"It's been a while since I've heard you say that," Pinkie commented in surprise. The dressmaker let out a light laugh.
Applejack felt a strange sensation upon hearing that word. 'Darlinght.' How long had it been since she last heard him say it? Without knowing why, a small smile appeared on her lips. Deep inside, she remembered how that simple word always felt... sweet to her.
However, her thoughts came to a screeching halt when she looked back again. Her eyes met Rarity's for a brief moment before the farm girl quickly looked away.
"What the hell am I thinking?" she wondered as she clenched her hands lightly, trying to ignore the unexpected heat.
Spitfire looked at the girls with a mischievous grin after they finished with the last student. "Alright, take a breather before we move on to the next assessment, but... there will be a little surprise physical assessment," announced, causing a number of curious and some nervous glances.
At that instant, Professor Bulk Biceps, along with his students and the girls' classmates, walked over to the center of the court, drawing everyone's attention.
The girls looked up in surprise, and the teacher continued, "You're going to choose a partner to do a series of partner stretches. I'll give you a few minutes to adjust."
The students were coming down from the stands looking for who to choose among the men.
Rainbow let out a fruity sigh. "Ahg, if Sorian was here, he would have already picked him," commented, looking around to decide who to choose.
Applejack nodded and soon spotted Caramel among the students. She gave her partner a nudge. "I'm going with Caramel," said, walking over to him as he raised a hand in greeting.
Sunset, already a little further ahead, indicated with a nod that she would go with Flash. "See you later," commented as she turned to her partner.
Twilight, looking around, sighed and followed the redhead. "I'll stick with Timber then," decided, with a small smile as she approached him.
Rainbow and Fluttershy stayed a little behind, exchanging glances. The multicolored one raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, "Anybody in mind?"
The pink haired girl let out a small laugh. "Ah, well, if I were Sandalwood, he would be my choice," admitted shyly, "but no one would choose me willingly... unless it's the last option."
The sportswoman stood in front of her, giving her a half-smile. "Look, if I were a boy, I wouldn't hesitate: I'd choose you without thinking twice," joked, winking at him.
Fluttershy blushed slightly and opened her mouth slightly, not quite sure how to respond. "It's... nice of you. I'm glad to know someone would choose me," replied with a shy smile.
Rainbow extended her hand. "Let's search together, I won't leave you behind." Fluttershy, regaining her color, smiled. She looked at the hand hesitantly for a bit, but finally decided to reach out to take it.
"Does Dash want to be with me?" a boy's voice suddenly asked.
The animal lover lowered her hand and so did the sportswoman, sighing in frustration. She then looked at the boy.
"I'll go get..." Fluttershy said, about to turn around, but Rainbow's hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"Wait," the rainbow said. She looked at the pink-haired girl and then at the boy. "Hey, tough guy, do you have any friends who are free?" asked.
"Uh... yeah, there's Curly Winds. He hasn't decided yet," the boy said.
"Perfect. Come on, Fluttershy," Rainbow commented, taking a few steps forward as her friend followed her.
On the other hand, Rarity and Pinkie were looking for partners, but neither seemed to be able to decide. The seamstress cast an appraising glance around and muttered, "Some of these boys are too cute for me to focus on. They'd be a distraction."
The party girl laughed, bringing a hand to her chin. "I don't know, I can't decide," commented, looking around with equal indecision.
At that moment, a brown-haired boy with a half-smile walked over and cleared his throat. "Does that include me as a distraction?" asked, clearly amused.
Rarity looked at him. Of course the boy wouldn't miss the opportunity. She assessed him for a few seconds before shrugging. "Cute, but not so cute that he'd distract me," thought with a slight smile. She sighed and added, "Okay, Feather. Let's see what you've got."
Feather raised her fist in victory as Pinkie, smiling, walked away in search of another partner. Before beginning the stretch, the boy leaned in a little, making sure to maintain eye contact.
The curly-haired girl smiled back. "But if you let go of me... goodbye to your pretty face."
"I didn't know you were so rude," said, a little surprised.
"Sorry, I'm just... not at my best," commented with a tired sigh.
Feather directed his gaze a little further down the girl's torso. "Ah... I see," said with a nod, causing Rarity to blush and make a gesture of covering herself.
"Oh my god, Feather! I don't mean that," said, still blushing, trying to calm herself down. "I'm talking about being emotionally drained... from exams."
"Ohhh," the boy said, laughing. "Sorry, I thought... 'girl, bad days'... you know..."
"Well you're wrong, pretty boy," said, crossing her arms and looking away, a little annoyed.
Feather smiled, giving him a playful nudge. "So, this 'pretty boy' does distract you, huh?" she asked, extending her hand.
Rarity sighed, half amused and half exasperated, as she took his hand to begin stretching.
Meanwhile, Rainbow watched the scene and let out a mocking giggle. "How I hate her... it was funny though. She sounded like she was 'on her period'," commented quietly, wiping away a tear of laughter, as her partner got ready beside her.
"Yeah, sometimes her words can be misinterpreted" the boy muttered with a smile, while Fluttershy let out a soft laugh.
Applejack, who was next to him, watched the scene in silence. "Since when does Feather talk to him...?" she muttered, her gaze fixed on them for a moment.
Caramel, her partner, let out a giggle. "Feather likes Rarity" she commented in an amused tone.
Pinkie, who had managed to listen, approached and, pointing at her eyes with her index fingers, added in a mysterious tone: "He has his eye on her."
"So... do they flirt?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"It seems so" said the party girl in a carefree tone as she turned around to return to her partner.
Rainbow shrugged and looked away, almost indifferent. "Ah, well, if that interests her..."
"But does she know the rumors?" Fluttershy wondered, but the multicolored girl shrugged again.
Applejack looked away from Rarity and Feather to pay attention to Caramel, though she glanced at them out of the corner of her eye. "Does she even know what he looks like? It's none of my business anyway," thought, shaking her head slightly to focus on the class.
Caramel extended his hand towards her, ready for the stretch. "Ready, AJ?"
"Sure," said, taking her hand firmly as she tried to concentrate.
The couples began to perform the exercises in pairs under Spitfire's supervision. The court was filled with murmurs and laughter between the partners, as some struggled to maintain balance during the more complicated stretches.
Rarity leaned to the side, Feather holding her arm to keep her from losing her balance. Though her expression was focused, she occasionally cast a slightly annoyed glance at the boy, who seemed to be enjoying the moment a little too much.
"Feather, focus."
"I am, I am," replied, smiling mischievously. "But I can't help it, you're pretty impressive when you put your mind to it."
Rarity rolled her eyes, though a slight curve formed on her lips. "You're impossible," muttered, continuing with the exercise.
Spitfire blew her whistle loudly to get everyone's attention.
"I hope you've settled in well by now," Bulk Biceps said in a firm voice as he glanced at the stopwatch in his hand.
The judging began with Spitfire setting the pace, making it clear that there would be no exceptions for anyone. Each worked on the assigned exercises: flexibility, balance, and coordination.
At first, progress was uneven. Some teams, like Sunset and Flash, seemed to coordinate smoothly, moving naturally as if they were used to working together. Others, like Fluttershy and Curly Winds, moved at a slower pace but with calm, effective communication that allowed them to stay consistent.
Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, seemed more interested in proving her own skill than working with her partner. Although this caused some initial friction, their competitive attitude ended up motivating the other to try harder. Meanwhile, in another corner of the gym, Applejack and Caramel worked with the practical efficiency characteristic of the farmer.
For their part, Rarity and Feather stood out... but not in the way they expected. Between the boy's jokes and the exasperated look of the dressmaker, their dynamic caught the attention of some, but not always for positive reasons. Still, they managed to complete the exercises without any major complications, although the contrast in their styles was evident.
Overall, the couples managed to advance with varying levels of success. Spitfire and Bulk Biceps walked between them, evaluating with critical eyes and making specific comments: "Good job on the coordination" or "You need more synchronization." The atmosphere was a mix of effort and frustration, but little by little everyone began to adapt.
When it was time for the last exercise. This was where team dynamics were really put to the test. Some faced small mishaps, such as stumbling or disagreements. In the end, the evaluation served not only to measure the physical abilities of each couple, but also to highlight their strengths and weaknesses as a team.
"Alright, students, we're ready!" The teacher announced as she wrote something down on her paper tablet. She then glanced at Professor Bulk Biceps, who nodded in approval.
"Come on, guys! It's time for your last assessment," the teacher added, gesturing for them to follow.
The boys said goodbye to their classmates with words of encouragement or a simple "thank you" for their cooperation before leaving.
Once they were separated from their classmates again, the teacher regained the group's attention, announcing the final stage of the assessment: an individual discussion. One by one, the students made their way to a designated area, where Spitfire was waiting for them with a notebook and a receptive attitude.
Most agreed that the stretches had been a relief. Twilight, for example, said that they had allowed her to clear her mind between long study sessions. "At first I thought it would be a waste of time, but it really helped me relax," admitted.
Sunset Shimmer acknowledged that the activity had helped. "I guess it was good to clear my head," said, though she quickly added, "But tests are still a nightmare."
Rainbow Dash commented, with her usual confidence, "I wasn't interested in this mental stuff, but it was a necessary respite," and added with a smile, "Though, honestly, stress never stops me."
For Rarity, the experience of stretching hadn't been much help, causing her to look at the teacher with some nervousness. "The stretches helped me get my body used to the exercises, but as for whether they helped me manage stress..." She paused before parting her lips.
Meanwhile, back in the dressing rooms, every time the girls finished their conversation with Spitfire, the teacher gave them permission to change.
"Not bad," Lyra commented as she put away her sports clothes.
"I'm not complaining, it was just like those routine exercises I already do," Rainbow said, already in her usual clothes, tying her sneakers.
"The great and powerful Trixie has a feeling that everything went as she anticipated," added, exaggerating the movements of her arms.
"Hey! Feelings are my specialty," Pinkie replied, entering with a smile.
"But Trixie is a mag-" the gray-haired girl was going to say, until Starlight interrupted her.
"Trixie, haven't you changed yet?" her friend asked, arching an eyebrow.
"I know, I know," replied, opening her bag calmly.
"Pinkie, should we wait for you here or outside?" Sunset asked as she hung her backpack.
"I won't be long, so I'll be with you in a few seconds," replied with a half smile.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Applejack commented, taking her bag. "As long as you don't get distracted by talking to someone or eating some candy."
"Nah! Not this time. Besides, I'll wait for Rarity outside," Pinkie said, winking as she pulled out a chocolate bar.
"Sounds good," Rainbow added quickly, heading for the door.
"We'll wait for you outside," Fluttershy said softly.
"We'll hurry her along if she gets distracted," Bon Bon added, waving goodbye.
"Thanks," Rainbow replied, giggling.
Near the exit of the dressing rooms, the girls began to chat while they waited for the party girl.
"Do you think we're finally out of stretching?" Fluttershy asked.
"I don't know, but I'm 100% sure we'll be doing some kind of sport next," Rainbow replied as she rubbed her palms together excitedly. "The teacher gave a hint... rebounding."
"Finally, it's basketball time," Sunset said, crossing her arms.
Applejack listened and nodded, but her attention was diverted when she saw a boy in the distance that she recognized. As usual, he was with a different girl. Without realizing it, she began to walk after him, frowning.
"Ready! I told you I wouldn't be long," Pinkie said, popping the last piece of chocolate into her mouth. "And since Applejack's gone, what do we do? Like I said, I'll wait here for Rarity. What about you?"
The girls looked around, noticing that the farm girl was gone.
"When?" Twilight asked, confused.
"She had a Pinkie moment," Rainbow joked, crossing her arms.
"It runs in the family!" The party girl continued to joke. "She left right when I walked up."
"We didn't even notice," Sunset commented, cocking her head as she looked at the spot where the blonde was.
Up ahead, Applejack followed Feather Bangs, watching as she moved from flirtatiously talking to one girl to another. She shook her head and muttered, "Seriously, Belle is interested in this jerk?"
She stopped, realizing her own words and that she had strayed too far from her friends. "Ugh... Why would I be interested?" said to herself as she walked back.
When she returned to the meeting point, she looked around and sighed. "Great, all because I was distracted," muttered, shaking her head.
A few steps away, Pinkie walked alongside Rarity. After saying goodbye to the others, she decided to wait for the wavy-haired girl. When the seamstress came out of the dressing room, she told her how Spitfire had shaken her head after hearing her honest answer about stretching, confessing that it hadn't been very useful.
Frustration was already evident on her friend's face, reflected in her slightly furrowed brow and the tension of her lips. The party girl, seeing her like this, tried to cheer her up as best she could, searching for the right words to ease her discomfort.
Pinkie watched her closely as Rarity approached a water dispenser. Seeing her take a pill and swallow it with a sip of water, she stopped, feeling an unsettling familiarity.
The seamstress noticed her presence and looked curiously at her friend's thoughtful expression. "Is something wrong, darlinght?" asked, surprised to see her like this.
"Are you taking a pill? Do you have a headache or are you stressed?" asked, with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Rarity sighed. "Yes, although it's mild. I took it yesterday too."
From the corner of a nearby hallway, someone watched and then shook his head before walking away, thinking, "Pills so often? I shouldn't rely so much on them if it's just something minor."
The seamstress raised an eyebrow, noticing that the party girl was still looking at her with concern. "Why are you so nervous?"
Pinkie shrugged, somewhat uneasy. "I didn't want to mention it, but... this scene is just like that time. Taking a pill next to a dispenser, then you dropped the cup... and then you went to get some air and... 'that' happened."
Rarity looked at the disposable cup, then at the strip of pills, and finally nodded, remembering. "You're right. But don't worry, you know I have no reason for something like that now..."
The cheerful girl nodded, trying to calm down. "It's true, I guess."
The curly-haired girl showed her the strip of pills. "Besides, like I told you, it's just a slight pain. I'm trying my best not to stress myself out."
Pinkie relaxed her shoulders a little, although her eyes still showed concern. "That's good..."
Remembering something, Rarity said, "And thank goodness I didn't mix up the pills this time... like that time I decided to take the ones for my seizures..." She trailed off, realizing she'd talked too much.
The party girl leaned in, intrigued. "Seizures?" asked, with a curious smile.
Rarity sighed, seeing that she had no way out. "Okay... I'll tell you, but don't say anything... and I mean it."
"Wow, that sounds important!" said excitedly.
The seamstress laughed, knowing that her friend rarely took anything seriously until she understood the importance. They began to walk, and Pinkie listened with unusual attention.
"Well, those days before what I did... you know, I had a lot of stuff piled up," explained, as they began to walk.
"You were up to your neck in stuff."
Rarity nodded. "Exactly. All that stress started to take its toll on me, and I had an episode..."
"Episode?" she asked, still not understanding.
"Like a seizure," the seamstress said, trying to get her to understand. "It was anxiety from the stress."
"Ohhh..." Pinkie said, nodding slowly. "Is that something I should be worried about? Do I have to be careful?"
"Not that much, unless you see me really anxious," said, remembering her family. "Plus, my parents are pretty overprotective and keep an eye out for me if I've had an attack."
The party girl laughed. "That's how parents are, and even siblings are. For example, Maud always keeps an eye on me, and I keep an eye on her, just like the rest of my family."
Rarity thought, looking at her. "I know that under all that joy there's a girl who can be serious and care a lot about her loved ones."
"And did you have an episode these days?" Pinkie asked, seeing that her friend was still deep in thought.
"I got nervous thinking about the future. It was so fast that I barely processed it. I don't want to tell you the feeling you get in the middle of an attack, but what happens after is terrible" she said, grimacing. "It can be muscle exhaustion, fatigue, or sometimes disorientation."
"Wow... all of that together must be... I don't want to even think about it" said the party girl with wide eyes.
"It's not always all together, sometimes just one or two of those symptoms. That's why I take some medicine after an attack, to relieve muscle tension" continued Rarity. "Do you remember that day when we studied together?"
"Yeah, your brain was fried!" said, making an exaggerated gesture.
The purple-haired girl shook her head, smiling. "I played along, I admit... That day I took the medicine for a previous attack, but I forgot that it has side effects and makes me sleepy. That's why I fell asleep in the library."
"So it's like a dose of sleeping pill?" asked, tilting her head.
"You could say so. That 'dose of sleeping pill' knocked me out."
Pinkie paused, suddenly remembering something. "Sleep! That's right, sleep!" said as she pulled out her phone.
Rarity blinked, confused. "Pinkie...?"
"Don't be upset," said, smiling nervously.
The seamstress raised an eyebrow. "Why would I be upset?"
After a moment's hesitation, she showed her a photo in her gallery: it was Rarity, fast asleep, with some comic filters applied: one with swirls on her cheeks and another with a mustache and a black eye drawn on.
Rarity looked at the photos in surprise. "You didn't upload them... did you?" asked, looking serious.
Pinkie shook her head, laughing. "Of course not! I just used the filters to see what you'd look like. Plus, I stopped Rainbow from drawing you. I was curious about... what you'd look like, though."
The seamstress looked at her, her expression somewhere between annoyed and amused. "Thanks for that. I'm glad you didn't."
The party girl laughed. "Yeah, Applejack told me it would upset you, that you'd probably lose trust in me."
Rarity looked up, surprised. "Applejack?"
Pinkie nodded. "She said you'd probably get worse and it might affect your confidence," added with a small smile. "I guess she was right."
The curly-haired girl was silent for a second, surprised. "Applejack said that...?" asked incredulously.
The cheerful girl looked at her, tilting her head. "You don't believe it?"
The seamstress walked back. "I'll believe it when I see it from her."
Pinkie shrugged and followed her. "Should I delete the photo or let me keep it as..." said taking Rarity's shoulder and making a theatrical gesture in the air, "funny moments of my friends."
"You already have a collection, right?" she asked, anticipating the answer.
Pinkie nodded enthusiastically.
Rarity giggled. "Okay, keep it, but just the regular one, not the others."
"Oww" said, though agreeing to the condition. "So, how was it having Feather as a partner?" asked, flirtatious.
"He's a little annoying, but charming in his own way."
"So you're interested..." Pinkie said playfully. Then, seeing two girls, she waved happily and put her arms around them. "You guys, what do you think? Rarity and Feather... would you make a cute couple?"
"Feather?" Lyra asked, looking at the sophisticated girl curiously.
"Hmm, I don't know. Do you like him?" Bon Bon chimed in, eyeing the seamstress with a raised eyebrow.
"I never said that... I just mentioned to Pinkie that she might consider..." Rarity replied, somewhat unsure.
"I knew this girl would change her mind about her love life," Lyra said, stepping away from the party girl to approach the curly-haired girl. "But do you know what he's like?"
"My mind can change," Rarity replied firmly. "And yes, Pinkie told me what he's like with girls."
"That's right, girls!" the cheerful girl exclaimed, nodding quickly.
Bon Bon put a hand to her chin, thoughtful. "He flirted with me once, and honestly it made me feel uncomfortable."
"..." Rarity thought for a moment, trying to justify it based on Bon Bon's tastes.
"Me too. I ended up slapping him," Lyra added matter-of-factly.
"Wow..." the seamstress muttered, surprised.
"Well, let's see if you have any luck with him," Bon Bon commented with a half-smile.
Rarity let out a sigh, already anticipating that she would have to endure a lecture about the flirtatious college boy. And she wouldn't be wrong.
Fluttershy and Sunset were sitting on one of the patio chairs, watching some of their classmates having fun doing various activities, such as dancing or playing games.
At that moment, Rainbow and Twilight approached with a coffee in each hand. Upon arriving, the multicolored girl noticed Applejack appearing around a corner.
"You're here? Where did you go?" asked, offering the coffee to Fluttershy. Twilight did the same, handing hers to Sunset.
"I was going to talk to someone, but I was busy," Applejack said as she sat down. "Did I miss something?" asked, settling into her seat.
"Nothing, just that the cold ones wanted something hot for the cold," Rainbow joked.
"Not all of them. I just asked for it so I wouldn't leave you two drinking alone," the red-haired girl clarified with a smile.
"I asked for one to get more active," the athlete commented, taking a sip.
"Yeah, it's getting colder," Applejack commented, adjusting her black coat over her flannel.
"Do you want one too?" Fluttershy asked after taking a sip.
"No, I'm fine," replied, shaking her head. "And how was the psych evaluation?" asked with interest.
"I said I didn't notice a change..." the pink haired girl mentioned, causing the girls to tilt their heads in confusion.
"I mean, despite the stretches, it's not that they didn't help, but I never really felt stressed enough for the stretches to give noticeable results," Fluttershy explained, frowning slightly. "You got me, right?"
"Kind of," Rainbow said, taking a sip of her bitter coffee.
"Maybe it did work, but you didn't notice. That's why you didn't feel stressed or pressured by your studies," Sunset commented.
"It's possible... since I did get nervous after every test. Going to the animal shelter also helps."
"Possibly. Are we going to miss tomorrow? We don't have anything, and the last two exams are after that," Rainbow commented.
"Depends on the subject," Sunset said.
"Let's just say I'm kind of lucky with the two on Thursday," she replied with a victorious grin.
"Are they muscular?" Twilight asked, arching an eyebrow.  
"Yep!"
"Lucky for you. We're lacking in numerical stuff," the redhead said, pointing at herself and Twilight.
"It's not exactly math, but it's kind of there," Applejack commented.
"Medicine," Fluttershy said.
"Uhh... I don't know what to say to that," Rainbow said, shrugging.
"I'd say don't miss and practice a little," Twilight suggested.
"Okay, meet me tomorrow at the campus pool. I'll be there first thing," the multicolored one said, crossing her arms behind her head.
"Wow, it's already getting colder, and you're going to get into the freezing water?" asked the pink-haired girl, worried.
"I'm really hot," said pointing at herself, then clarifying, clearing her throat: "Hot veins! What Twilight said last week... Oh, girls, you understand."
"No, we do understand, but you got yourself into a tangle," the farm girl commented, amused.
Rainbow grimaced, looking at each of her friends for support, but they all nodded with a smile.
"Okay," was all she could say, resigned.
Applejack crossed her arms, settling herself better in her chair as she watched the wind blow some dry leaves around the courtyard. "And what are you going to do after here?" asked, breaking the brief silence.
"Well... studying, I guess," Twilight replied, shrugging. "I want to study before the last tests."
"Same here," Sunset said, looking at the bespectacled girl. "Though in this cold, I don't know if I'll be able to concentrate. I might end up wrapped in a blanket."
Fluttershy nodded shyly. "I was thinking about going to the shelter afterward."
"What about you, Dash? Are you really going to the pool this early?" Sunset asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Of course!" exclaimed confidently. "I have to keep up my routine, you know? Even though it's cold, the water gets me going."
Applejack laughed softly. "And you just want to show off that you can swim in ice-cold water?"
Rainbow looked at her with a defiant expression. "Are you saying you couldn't?"
The farm girl raised her hands in surrender. "No. I prefer the warmth of a nice fireplace."
"I can almost picture you by the fire, wearing your hat and carrying a book," Sunset commented with a smile.
"My fault for being so predictable," admitted, amused.
"What if we all go?" Twilight suggested suddenly. "We could join Rainbow in the pool, if only to support her from the sidelines."
"Or to watch her freeze!" the red-haired girl added, laughing.
"You're so cruel," Rainbow replied with a smile of false indignation. "But I accept the challenge. Go on, and I'll show you how to swim like a champion."
Fluttershy looked at Rainbow with concern. "What if you catch a cold?"
"Impossible," assured, gently hitting her chest. "I'm indestructible."
"Indestructible... until the first sneeze makes you reach for a blanket," Applejack muttered, causing the group to laugh.
"Okay, okay," Rainbow said, pretending to give up. "I'll prove it tomorrow. But I don't want any excuses, I want them there!"
"Count me in," Twilight said, smiling.
"Me too," Sunset added, though her expression denoted amusement rather than commitment.
"Perfect. Now you have a date with me at the pool," the multicolored girl concluded with a triumphant smile.
The group continued to chat with laughter, enjoying the brief morning break before returning to their respective plans.
The conversation continued between jokes and occasional comments. When the clock struck almost noon, each decided to continue with their respective plans after leaving the university.
With the sun setting, they all returned home, mentally preparing themselves for the final tests. Despite the hustle and bustle, the group had in mind the improvised plan of accompanying Rainbow to the pool.
The next day...
The cool morning air grew more intense as the days passed, but once inside the pool area, an enclosed space that barely felt cold.
"I told you that you wouldn't regret it!" exclaimed Rainbow as she adjusted her swimming cap by the edge of the pool.
"You sure about that?" asked Sunset, raising an eyebrow.
"That's because you don't have the attitude of a champion," said, giving them a challenging look.
Fluttershy watched with concern. "Rainbow, are you really sure? The water must be freezing..."
"More than sure!" replied, ready to dive in. "Watch and learn!"
Twilight adjusted her glasses. "If we regret it, at least we'll have time to warm up, before continuing with our studies."
The multicolored girl, ignoring the comments, dove into the pool with an almost rehearsed grace, splashing water towards the group. The girls screamed, instantly backing away.
"Rainbow Dash!" some exclaimed in unison, shaking water droplets off their jackets.
"You're going to regret that!" Applejack said in annoyance.
"It was refreshing," Pinkie replied nonchalantly, wiping a drop of water from her face.
Fluttershy touched the water on her face, checking if it was cold or not.
Rainbow emerged with a triumphant smile. "What did I tell you? Indestructible!" proclaimed, challenging them with a glare as steam rose from the pool.
The others looked at each other, resigned, as they leaned on the railing.
The athlete continued swimming, showing off her skills, while Twilight noticed how Fluttershy observed the place with curiosity.
"Is something wrong?" asked, turning to her.
"Do you remember when Dash came after the Wondercolts lost?" Fluttershy asked back.
"Yeah, she was all wet."
"I think she came here," said, pointing to the pool.
"Hmm... She was late getting back... from here to the court? That would make sense," Twilight commented thoughtfully. "But why here?"
"This is probably her place to think, besides the court," Fluttershy thought. "Maybe it was her best option at the moment."
"Jumping into the pool?" asked, a little incredulous.
"Your place is the science room and the library," the pink-haired girl said calmly.
Twilight opened her mouth to answer, but closed it after a few seconds. "You're right," admitted.
"And yours is the shelter..." Pinkie added, suddenly appearing between the two, which startled them a little. "Has Rainbow already seen it? I'm sure it would seem magical to her in your own way."
"Just the entrance, but I'd like to show it to him. I just hope it's at a time when Discord isn't around," Fluttershy replied, watching as Rainbow swam back. "Dash doesn't like me."
"Discord! I like that guy," the party girl said, smirking.
"Do you notice how sarcastic he is?" Twilight asked Pinkie, raising an eyebrow.
"Rainbow's a joker, too," Fluttershy defended.
"Touché," the bespectacled girl said, accepting her defeat. Pinkie let out a light laugh at that.
A while passed and Twilight, looking at the time, opened her eyes in surprise as she remembered something important: Rarity had asked her for the last session.
"Guys, I just remembered something! I have to go," announced, beginning to hurry away.
"Okay, see you later," Applejack said calmly.
"The library?" Pinkie asked cheerfully.
"Who said the library?" Twilight replied as she walked further and further away until she got outside.
Sunset raised an eyebrow, suspecting that she knew exactly where her friend was going.
Twilight walked quickly down the hall towards the library, trying to keep her head down to avoid curious glances. As she turned a corner, she collided almost head-on with Sunset, who looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked in a curious tone.
"Uh... weren't you with the others?" Twilight asked, surprised to see her.
"I left seconds later, since I have something to do too," Sunset replied with her hands on her hips and a half smile. "So... what are you doing here?"
"I have some things to do in the library. Nothing important!" replied, looking away and quickening her pace.
Sunset narrowed her eyes and began to follow her. "Let me guess, you're going to help someone in math, right? Someone whose name rhymes with 'vanity'?"
Twilight stopped and sighed. "Okay... yeah, I'm going to help her," admitted, somewhat uncomfortable. "But why so interested?"
The redhead crossed her arms, amused. "Because I was going to find her to help her too." Twilight widened her eyes, surprised. "Why are you hiding it if everyone already knows?" asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't know how I didn't figure out before that you were the one helping her."
"I didn't know you were doing it either..." the blue-haired girl said, a little evasive.
"Now I understand why you disappeared," she commented, standing next to her.
"I didn't know how they would take it," Twilight said.
"Same here," Sunset admitted, shrugging. "And now you were sneaking around like before to help her even though we already know about it?"
"I'd gotten into the habit of 'sneaking around'," she replied, making quotation marks with her fingers.
"Really?" The redhead let out a small laugh. "It seems she asked us both for help today. Why don't we both go?"
Twilight hesitated. "Are you sure?"
"I don't see why not... This would be her last session before the final test, and two minds at once will help," said, nodding.
"Okay, let's go together."
They both arrived at the library and spotted Rarity at a table, with her back turned, reviewing some notes. When Twilight greeted her with a "I'm here, ready for your last session?", the seamstress turned around and dropped the books she was holding when she saw Sunset as well, who waved at her in amusement.
"Sunset Shimmer... and Twilight? You... both... here?" she stammered, hastily gathering her books as she looked at them in surprise.
Sunset shrugged. "It seems I discovered your first tutor."
"Uh... I knew that at some point... but I didn't expect..." Rarity said, her mouth half open.
Twilight sat down, trying to downplay it. "We both decided it would be easier."
The seamstress, still somewhat perplexed, left the books on the table and smiled nervously. "Well... that will be... interesting, no doubt."
"Let's get to it," the red-haired girl said as she sat down.
The two of them raised their heads, waiting for the dressmaker to sit down.
"Right, sorry," said, sitting down across from them. "Where do we start?"
"Where we left off last time," Twilight said.
Rarity flipped to the page in her notebook, stealing a glance at the two of them. "This is going to be a little awkward,"thought.
"Well, it's easy, like I said," Twilight repeated confidently, adjusting her pencil on the notebook.
"Once I get it," Rarity muttered, letting out a nervous laugh as she tried to focus on the explanation.
"Let's get to the part where you always stumble," Sunset commented, peering closely at the dressmaker's messy notes.
Rarity sighed and nodded, feeling the pressure of having both girls helping her. Though grateful, she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable at the unexpected attention.
Twilight and Sunset began to explain a section of the calculations, but the seamstress could barely concentrate. Her thoughts wandered, and the words seemed to get lost in the air.
"Shall we do it like we taught Pinkie?" Twilight asked, her characteristic analytical tone.
"Yeah, I think it'll be easier for her," Sunset replied, pulling out a marker.
Rarity lowered her head, lost in thought again. When she came back into focus, she noticed both of them looking at her.
"Did you understand the example now?" the red-haired girl asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Uh... sorry?" The wavy-haired girl blinked, realizing she hadn't heard anything.
Sunset exhaled patiently. "Come on again."
Rarity wanted to speak, but her words were left half-said: "Aren't you going to...?"
The two girls looked at each other, noticing the distraction.
"Two are better than one. Let's continue," Sunset commented in a neutral tone that made Rarity wonder if there was something else behind her words.
"Twilight, explain it from another angle."
"Sure." Twilight leaned forward. "Imagine this problem as a dress you're working on. What would you do first?"
Rarity raised an eyebrow. "A dress in progress? Couldn't that be another example?"
"Belle, come on..." Sunset commented with a hint of impatience.
"Okay," the bespectacled girl interrupted, easing the tension. "Let's find another example."
Her friend looked at her in confusion. For Twilight's part, she remembered how the seamstress seemed uncomfortable that time they talked about design.
"Let's see..." muttered, bringing a hand to her chin. "I got it! Fashion."
"Fashion," Rarity repeated, incredulous.
"What would you do if you saw black shoes paired with something more colorful?" asked with a sly grin.
"Oh no!" she exclaimed, making a face of horror. "That would be a disaster. I'd immediately go for something that matches better."
"It wasn't that big of a deal..." Sunset muttered, holding back her laughter.
Rarity cleared her throat to compose herself. "Darli... I mean... Sunset Shimmer, please."
Twilight tried not to laugh and resumed the topic. "So, back to the problem, think of the main terms as the key pieces of a design: the color and the fabric. Once you identify them, everything else falls into place."
"I understand..." said, finally grasping the concept.
She remembered when she helped the party girl. "Is this what Pinkie Pie was taught? Because when I helped her, she gave examples..."
"Yeah, it seems you didn't listen when we mentioned it," Twilight replied with a small smile.
"Okay, back to the example," Sunset chimed in, resuming the lesson.
After several more minutes of explanation, they finally got Rarity to understand the equation.
"Wow... I think I get it," she said, looking up at the two of them. "Thanks for... well, patience."
"It's nothing," Twilight replied, putting away her notes.
"Yeah, just make sure you review it before the test," Sunset added with a slight smile.
The seamstress stood up, gathered her things, and headed for the exit. However, just before she walked away, she turned around.
"About studying..." began, her tone hesitant.
The two of them looked at her, waiting.
"Never mind," said finally. "Thanks, and... I'm off now."
Rarity walked while taking a deep breath. The study hadn't gone badly, but the fact that they didn't say anything about why she had hidden that she had studied with the two of them had made her nervous. She headed towards a hallway to get a drink of water.
"I thought it would be more awkward," Twilight commented as she walked out with Sunset, adjusting her backpack.
"Yeah, looks like she's ready for the final assessment," Sunset added, crossing her arms.
"We all are," Rainbow said, walking over with the others.
"Yeah, but I was talking about a certain sophisticated girl," the redhead replied with a lopsided smile, glancing at Twilight out of the corner of her eye.
"What's that about?" Applejack asked, crossing her arms with a slight frown.
The multicolored girl let out a sigh, guessing. "Study session?" The two nodded in agreement.
"And who helped her this time?" Fluttershy asked softly.
"Actually, we both helped her," Twilight explained, adjusting her glasses.
"Both of us?" the surprised farmer repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"I can just imagine her face," Pinkie said, letting out a giggle that echoed through the hallway.
"Yeah, looks like she couldn't quite concentrate," the bespectacled girl commented.
"I didn't think it would affect her that much," Sunset added with a slight shrug.
"Considering she told Sunset that someone else was helping her and then they found out the truth..." Fluttershy added cautiously.
"...only to end up running into both of them and being speechless," Pinkie finished, bringing a hand to her mouth to stifle another giggle.
"I'd say she probably expected us to talk about it, but she didn't imagine the two of us would team up to study together, wondering if you weren't upset," Fluttershy said, frowning slightly.
"And did she feel bad?" Applejack asked, her tone curious.
"In our own way, we told her it was okay," Sunset explained, uncrossing her arms and placing a hand on her hip.
"Exactly, though I don't think she noticed," Twilight added, letting out a sigh. "She left looking a little nervous," said, nodding toward a nearby hallway.
Applejack caught a glimpse of Rarity walking away, her perfectly styled hair bobbing with each hurried step. She glanced at her friends for a moment, then back toward the hallway. "I'm going to get some cookies," said suddenly, taking a step in that direction.
"Cookies?" Rainbow asked, puzzled as she arched an eyebrow.
"Yeah, yeah... from the vending machine," she quickly replied, briefly glancing at her friends before looking back at the hallway with some urgency.
"I was going to say that our lockers are in the other direction."
"Get me some of those colorful ones," Pinkie said, jumping up.
"I will," Applejack replied with a slight smile before walking away toward the hallway, taking one last look toward the corner where the dressmaker had disappeared.
"You know, I'm happy for the test to come," the party girl commented excitedly.
"Pinkie happy for a test?" Rainbow asked, raising both eyebrows in a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
"More for what happens next," she said with a smile full of excitement.
Applejack laughed at what she heard from the party girl. However, the sounds grew more distant as she walked away, passing by some students in the hallway. When she got to the corner, she didn't see Rarity, so she decided to go down another hallway. There she found her, drinking water from the water dispenser.
"Is she going to take another pill? Doesn't she get any rest?" thought as she watched the seamstress pull a small box out of her backpack. With slow steps, she approached.
"Are you lost or are you following me?" Rarity asked, noticing the farmer's reflection on the wall as she wiped her lip after drinking water.
"Of course not..." Applejack replied, as she placed one hand on the locker and left the other in her pocket.
"So?" insisted, turning her head to look at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Just... the vending machine," said with disinterest. "You know there are better ways to relieve headaches," added, gesturing with her finger towards the pill.
"Enlighten me," Rarity replied, as if challenging her.
"Stretches, like we did in class," replied, as she stretched out an arm to demonstrate.
"You know how bad I am at that... I think I can guess my grade," the seamstress commented. "I'm sure you can guess it too."
The farm girl raised her head slightly. "Yeah, I should have thought that through."
"Not all pain is relieved by stretching, not when it's severe," Rarity said, leaning towards her a little.
"But mild pain is," Applejack replied, taking a step and lightly tapping the seamstress's arm, who was surprised by the gesture. "Fresh air."
Rarity looked at her, a little taken aback. "Is she trying to make me feel better?" thought, her eyes widening in surprise.
The blonde turned around. "What?" asked nonchalantly.
"I didn't expect that from you... but thanks."
Applejack frowned slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about," muttered, looking away.
"Okay, I'll do as you say," Rarity replied, pocketing the pill and starting to walk away. "I have another method for relaxing."
"Thanks for the concern," said without turning around, as she continued walking. "It was true, after all," thought, letting a small smile form on her lips.
"I didn't..." Applejack muttered, grimacing and looking down. She shook her head as she watched her walk away. "Belle, Belle, Belle..." said quietly, letting out a sigh.
She headed over to the nearest vending machine and bought a package of cookies, making good on her excuse. Though she had no intention of admitting it, she couldn't just go back to the girls empty-handed, especially after Pinkie had specifically asked for those colorful cookies.
Side A / School Yard  
The Crusaders were spread out on a bench under the shade of a tree, their notebooks and books open in front of them. The initial enthusiasm for studying had faded, leaving only sighs and bored looks. Spike sat next to them, a history book in front of him that he was barely skimming through.
"This is a pain," Apple Bloom muttered, resting her head on her hand. "Who needs to know so many dates if it's all forgotten after the test?"
"This is the first time I agree with you," Scootaloo added, twirling her pencil between her fingers. "I don't know if history or math is worse."
"I think biology is worse," Sweetie Belle said, sighing as she looked over her notes. "Why do we have to learn about plants if we don't even use them?"
Spike looked up from his book and gave them a sympathetic look. "Hey, it's not that bad. It could be worse. Imagine having to study all this at home while Twilight corrects every word you say."
"That sounds... terrible," the magenta-haired girl said, shuddering.
"And speaking of terrible things," the youngest Belle interrupted, dropping her notebook on the bench, "have you heard from Diamond Tiara? I thought she'd be making a big fuss about the trip... that hasn't been announced yet."
Spike shook his head, putting his book aside. "Nothing. It's weird. Usually she'd be complaining on the calls she gets."
"Do you think they've cancelled it?" Apple Bloom asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Let's hope not, it'll be like our break," Scootaloo replied, with a half-smile at the end.
"We still have tomorrow, because the last tests are," Sweetie Belle commented, playing with her pencil.
Spike sighed and leaned back on the bench. "Maybe they'll say it before or after the last test."
The youngest Apple pulled another notebook out of her backpack. "Well, there better be a trip. If not, I'll be studying so hard my brain is going to melt."
"I hope it's somewhere with a pool," the magenta haired girl said with a dreamy smile. "Something to make up for this boredom."
Sweetie Belle nodded. "And no homework. Definitely no homework."
Spike nodded with a smile. "Although from what we heard, part of the place... but maybe that land I mentioned would be enjoyable."
"And in the meantime, what do we do?" Sweetie Belle asked, yawning.
"Keep studying," Spike replied with a dramatic gesture, earning more laughter from the group as they tried to focus again.
Time passed slowly as the group continued to struggle to study. Between yawns and complaints, they managed to review enough to feel moderately satisfied.
"I think if I see one more formula, my brain will explode," Scootaloo said, closing her book.
Sweetie Belle checked her watch on her phone and stood up from the bench with a sigh of relief. "Well, it's time to go. Our sisters should be waiting for us."
"Finally," Apple Bloom added as she gathered her things. "I hope Applejack brought an apple to cheer me up after this ordeal."
Spike put his book back in his backpack and smiled. "Ready to take on the world again?"
"As long as I don't have to see any more equations, I'm ready for anything," Scootaloo replied.
The group headed toward the main entrance. As they walked, the sun began to set, bathing the sky in shades of orange and pink.
"There's my sister," Sweetie Belle noted as she saw Rarity standing there, checking something on her phone.
When she arrived, she hugged her. "I'm exhausted! Please tell me we're going home to rest."
Rarity smiled, stroking her hair. "Sure, dear. Though first, maybe we'll stop by for something sweet to cheer you up."
"That sounds perfect!" replied, then looked at her friends. "Well, we'll part ways here. See you tomorrow."
"Bye!" the three said in unison.
"Umm... Apple Bloom?" Rarity called out before they left.
"Yes, Rarity?" replied, turning around curiously.
"Text your sister for me," said with a half smile and a wink. "Tell her I'm out for some fresh air. She'll understand."
"Okay..." Apple Bloom replied, a little confused by the message. Looking at her friends, they both shrugged.
"Bye, Sweetie and Rarity!" the three said before running off to the parking lot.
"Bye," the sisters replied.
With hurried steps, the three of them arrived at the parking lot, where their older sisters were already waiting for them. Twilight, who was further away, was passed by by Spike after briefly saying goodbye to the girls.
Apple Bloom turned to Applejack and dropped her backpack with a dramatic sigh. "Please tell me you brought an extra apple."
Her sister laughed, pulling a red apple out of her bag and handing it to her. "I always think of everything, sis. How was studying?"
"Tiring," replied between bites.
Scootaloo came up to Rainbow Dash, who shot her a wink. "How's it going, Scoot? Much brain melt?"
"More than I imagined," she replied, dropping her backpack. "Can we go do something fun now?"
"That depends on how much you've studied," Rainbow said, crossing her arms.
"Enough," replied quickly.
Applejack and Rainbow exchanged amused glances as the girls finished settling in.
"By the way, Rarity texted you," Apple Bloom said suddenly, raising her head.
The multicolored girl raised an eyebrow as the farm girl turned around, surprised. "A message? I don't have her in my contacts," Applejack said, confused.
"It wasn't in writing," the younger Apple explained. "She told me to tell you that she got some fresh air."
Applejack opened her eyes, while Rainbow watched her with a raised eyebrow. "And what does that mean?" the sporty girl asked.
"It sounded weird when I heard it," Scootaloo added.
"She said you would understand," Apple Bloom insisted, shrugging her shoulders. "Did you understand?"
Applejack seemed to hesitate, opening her mouth to respond but deciding not to say anything. She looked away, muttering something under her breath. "Belle..." thought, letting out a sigh.
"Is there something you want to tell me, blondie?" Rainbow asked, crossing her arms as she looked at her suspiciously.
"Pff... ehh... I talked to her about something and I just suggested getting some fresh air. That's all," replied quickly, trying to sound casual.
"Sure..." the multicolored one said, drawing out the word as she looked at her with narrowed eyes. Before she could ask more, Applejack took the initiative.
"I think it's time to go home," said hurriedly, gathering her things and moving towards her vehicle.
Rainbow sighed and decided not to insist. "Maybe I'll ask him tomorrow," thought as they separated.
With the two younger girls staying behind "Is there something we don't know?" asked Apple Bloom, looking at Scootaloo.
"It seems so... At some point we'll go into detective mode and find out," replied with a mischievous smile.
"Maybe it's nothing like they always say," Apple Bloom said, starting to walk. "Hey, remember to tell your parents, so we can meet up tomorrow to trick or treat."
"Oh, sure. I'll get twice as much as last year!" exclaimed the magenta-haired girl excitedly.
"We'll see," her friend replied. Ending the conversation, they both headed towards their sisters' vehicle.
Early the next day, all the students, both on Side A and Side B, were ready. Today was the day of the long-awaited end to the torment of testing, at least for a few months.
The first day began with the first test. The classrooms were filled with a tense silence, mixed with concentration and nervousness. After a brief pause to rest in the courtyard, the students returned to their respective rooms to face, now yes, the final test.
Once everyone was finished, Professor Cheerilee called the attention of the class on Side A. The murmurs ceased, and the students looked at her expectantly. She smiled, infected by the general excitement, although maintaining a serious tone.
"I want to inform you of something we've been planning," announced, completely capturing the students' interest.
Apple Bloom nudged Scootaloo. "I think they're going to confirm it."
"The outing for fun," Sweetie Belle murmured, trying to hide her excitement.
"We're going on a field trip with the other classes in our grade," the teacher began. The Crusaders, like the rest of the students, leaned forward eagerly.
"But I can tell you in advance that this trip won't just be about hanging out," continued, beginning to walk slowly. "It's an educational field trip where you'll learn about history, nature, and science."
There was a mix of gasps and murmurs of surprise in the classroom.
"Oww!" the youngest Belle said with a hint of disappointment.
"At least she said it'll be fun," Scootaloo commented, trying to cheer her up.
Apple Bloom, more enthusiastically, murmured, "You're right, it will be an outing to learn new things."
"Well, at least we'll get to enjoy nature," Sweetie Belle added, trying to convince herself.
The teacher smiled at the reactions. "We're going to explore historic ruins, learn about local ecosystems, and participate in hands-on conservation activities. I hope you'll come prepared to take notes and absorb all this place has to teach you."
The excitement in the class was palpable, though tinged with curiosity.
"The place we're going is..."
The students leaned forward again. However, their expressions mixed between surprise and annoyance when the teacher finally revealed the destination and duration.
Sweetie Belle, on the other hand, looked down with a bit of sadness.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the students were relaxing in their own way after the nerves of the last test. However, one girl full of energy was hurriedly running through the halls, looking for a girl with wavy hair. She had something important to tell her about the plans she had been preparing. Luckily, she managed to find her in time.
"For a moment, I thought you were going to be on the roof until I saw you here," Pinkie said, slowing down her steps.
"Actually, I was heading there," Rarity replied, stopping. "What were you looking for me for?"
"I was thinking that, since we all just got out of tests, we could have a party!" Pinkie said, jumping up and down in excitement.
"And when would that be?" asked calmly.
"Tonight," replied with a big smile.
"Tonight?!" Rarity exclaimed. "Pinkie, do you have any idea how long it's going to take you to organize everything?"
"That's no problem for me," replied, dismissing it with a wave of her hand. "I've got everything planned out."
"Are you sure...? You've already thought about the place?" the seamstress asked, still surprised.
"I thought about my house, but I don't think my parents would let me... so..." Pinkie left the sentence hanging, increasing the intrigue.
"What about snacks and drinks?" Rarity asked.
"The place I booked has everything, but I asked for their DJ not to be there," the party girl said, unconcerned.
"Did you fire the DJ? So there won't be any music?" the seamstress asked, her eyes widening even more.
"That's what our DJ is for," replied, smiling.
"Their DJ?" Rarity asked, confused.
"Our friend Vinyl, or better known as DJ Pon-3."
"Is that girl who always wears headphones?"
"Exactly!" Pinkie said, nodding excitedly. "Now all that's missing is the guests."
Rarity put a hand to her forehead. "Oh, Pinkie, how are you going to spread the word about the party in such a short time?" She lowered her hand to look at her friend... but she was gone. "Pinkie?"
A few minutes after wondering where she had gone, the sounds of megaphones could be heard throughout the university.
("Greetings to all my friends, this is your faithful friend Pinkie Pie!") announced a cheerful and enthusiastic voice.
Rarity laughed softly, shaking her head. How had that possibility of an announcement from Pinkie not occurred to her? It was so typical of her, her ability to surprise everyone.
The megaphone echoed throughout the campus, bringing several students out of their conversations and studies.
("Since we all got our tests done... and tonight is Halloween, it's a perfect night for a spooky and fun party!")
Some students began to laugh while others looked at each other in surprise, turning their heads towards the sound.
("You're all invited to Pinkie Pie's Halloween Party!") announced the party girl excitedly. ("There will be a live show... yes, Flash, I'm talking to you.")
Flash and his group laughed before bumping fists in complicity.
("Snacks of your choice, drinks... if you know what I mean. Come dressed up and ready to have a blast!" Pinkie continued. ("The location is already confirmed: ***uptown, 11pm. And of course, we'll have our favorite DJ to bring the party to life!")
Vinyl smiled and raised his hand in a rock sign, while his friend Victoria gently shook her head, although she couldn't hide an amused smile.
A murmur began to spread throughout the campus. A couple of students were already taking out their phones to notify their friends, and others, surprised, began to comment on what costume they would wear.
("Remember, friends! Don't miss it! It's going to be a night... of death!") concluded, laughing in an exaggerated manner.
A wave of excitement ran through the campus. Some students cheered, while others, excited, began to plan their costumes.
Applejack smirked as she remembered how the party girl had asked her to feign surprise upon hearing the announcement, though it didn't seem to have been all that necessary.
"Well, who's in? You know Pinkie's going to rock this party," said in a cheerful tone.
"I'm sure! A Halloween party with DJ Pon-3... this is going to be epic," Rainbow said with a half-smile. She then looked at the farm girl. "And you, AJ? You're not going to pucker up, are you?"
"Of course I'm going, Dash," replied with a calm smile. "Although I'm going to watch how much you drink," thought.
Twilight lowered her head from the megaphone. "Way to announce it. Actually... even though I hadn't thought about going out tonight because I was going to go trick-or-treating with Spike, I might go. It sounds like fun."
"It's Halloween, we just finished midterms. Sometimes you just need a break," Sunset said, gently patting her shoulder. "Plus, I'm sure you'll find a last-minute costume."
"Well, I guess I'll go too... just not until too late, okay?" Fluttershy murmured, looking at everyone with a certain shyness. "I don't like very scary costumes..."
Rainbow stood beside her and gave her a gentle push with her shoulder. "The party will fly by; you won't even notice what time it is," said, winking at her in amusement.
"Maybe... now I have to think about what to wear," replied with a soft smile.
Applejack sighed. "That's true, I'll have to improvise something."
"Me too," the multicolored one added with a grimace. "I'm between something scary or something different."
"Whatever I have at home," Twilight said a little thoughtfully.
Sunset looked at the time on her phone. "It's still early. You could go downtown to look for costumes or just improvise as they say."
"While we think, let's go get Pinkie. That announcement deserves a round of applause," Rainbow said, starting to walk excitedly towards where her friend could be.
Inside the briefing room, Pinkie removed her finger from the megaphone switch with a satisfied smile. "All set." But a noise behind her caught her by surprise.
"Ahem," someone cleared their throat.
The party girl quickly turned around and found Chancellor Celestia, who was standing over her with her arms crossed.
"Chancellor!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up and flashing her signature wide grin. "I hope you didn't mind me using the megaphone."
Celestia looked at her with a serious expression, though there was a glint of humor in her eyes. "Miss Pie, you know very well that the PA system is reserved for official and urgent announcements, don't you?"
The party girl nodded vigorously. "Of course, Chancellor! But... what's more urgent than a Halloween party? It's an important occasion to release stress after the tests." She gave her a big smile, as if the logic of her argument was indisputable.
The older woman sighed, crossing her arms with a hint of resignation. "I know, Pinkie... and I can understand the need to relax after exams, but next time, consider that there are less... invasive ways to extend an invitation."
Pinkie smiled enthusiastically, not giving up. "Understood, Headmaster! Plus, it sounds like you wouldn't mind the idea of a party..."
Celestia arched an eyebrow and gave her a half-smile. "I'm not saying the party isn't a good idea... as long as everyone behaves and it doesn't get out of hand."
The party girl giggled and held up two fingers as if she were making an oath. "Party planner's word! It'll be a safe and super fun party."
The Headmaster let out a final sigh, with a slight smirk, and waved her out of the classroom. "Go on, Pinkie Pie. Enjoy yourself and be careful, some parties can get out of hand these days."
She nodded happily and said goodbye with a cheerful "Thank you, Principal Celestia! I promise it will be an unforgettable night... in a good way!"
As Pinkie left the classroom, Celestia was silent for a moment, shaking her head as a slight smile curved her lips. "I hope this party is as 'quiet' as it promises..." muttered before returning to her tasks.
A few steps ahead, the party girl walked through the halls, receiving enthusiastic confirmations and praise from the students she passed.
"Pinkie, I'll definitely be there!"  
"You never cease to amaze us."  
"That's the Pie way."
Pinkie responded with her signature smile and a slight wave of her hand as she moved forward, radiating her usual energy. As she turned a corner, she met the dressmaker, who still seemed a little surprised by the magnitude of the announcement.
"Guests, check," said with a big smile of triumph.
"I see," Rarity replied, calmer now. "From the location and time, I have to assume it's something like a pub, right?"
"Exactly!" Pinkie said, crossing her arms proudly. "I have my contacts."
"You've been mentioning parties in almost every conversation we've had. I have to assume you're very excited about them," the dressmaker commented with a hint of curiosity.
"I love them!" replied with a sparkle in her eyes. "And while this one will have drinks, I also organize parties for little kids. All kinds, really."
"Ah, it's not just that you like them, but that you organize them," Rarity said, visibly surprised.
"Yeah, over the years I've realized that it's my true passion," Pinkie said with a warm smile.
"I'm glad you found it," replied sincerely.
"Thanks. And speaking of interesting things... what mix are you going to make with your vampire costume?" the party girl asked, leaning towards her curiously.
"Vampire?" Rarity repeated, arching an eyebrow.
"Of course! I suggested you at least buy the cape for a reason. You said something about the costume not being flattering on you... or something."
"Hmm..." Rarity smirked, revealing an air of mystery.
"Oh, tell me," she begged, intrigued.
"It'll be my personal touch, but... more revealing. I just remembered that Mom was going to get rid of a blouse that would look perfect."
"Wow, sounds interesting! What else are you going to add to it?" Pinkie asked excitedly.
"You'll have to wait until tonight," Rarity replied with a mischievous smile. "But I'll have to ask my parents for permission first."
"I can't wait to see it! You're sure to be the most elegant vampire at the party," Pinkie concluded, as they both continued walking.
As they continued to walk down the halls, the praise for the party girl did not stop.
"You're a party genius, Pinkie!"  
"You always know how to liven up the party atmosphere."  
"I can't wait for the night to come!"
Pinkie continued to respond with a bright smile, raising her hand in a friendly gesture whenever someone called her. As she walked a little further, both she and Rarity came across the other girls, who were chatting away.
"Ah, there they are!" the multicolored one exclaimed, raising a hand in greeting. "We were wondering where you were."
"Getting everything ready! What did you think of the announcement?" the party girl asked, her hands on her hips and a smile radiating confidence.
"You rocked it, as usual," Rainbow replied, giving her a high five.
"And it seems like everyone on campus is already talking about the party," Sunset added, pointing to a group of students who seemed to be excitedly discussing their costumes.
"I know, I know. It's Pinkie power," Pinkie said, bringing a hand to her chest dramatically.
"Well, I've already decided to go," Twilight said, adjusting her glasses. "I won't be staying late, though, of course."
"I'm going too," Fluttershy said with a shy smile. "Although I'm still thinking about what costume to wear... something not too scary, I hope."
"I'm sure you'll find something you like," Applejack commented, giving her a sympathetic look.
"So, we're all in, right?" Sunset asked, looking at the group.
"Yeah, and also..." Pinkie turned to her side, but her expression froze at the empty space. "Huh...?"
"What's wrong?" Farm Girl asked, noticing her bewilderment.
"It's just that Rarity was here with me..." replied, frowning slightly.
The girls looked around, searching for the dressmaker, until they finally saw her walking away down the hall with calm steps.
"Maybe I got too excited talking to the girls and she felt left out," Pinkie thought with a small sigh.
"I thought she'd stay to talk for a bit," Twilight thought, watching her walk away.
"I wonder if she understood the assessment she got without a problem," Sunset thought, crossing her arms.
"Is she going too?" Rainbow thought, frowning slightly as she looked at her.  
"Will there ever be a chance to talk?" Fluttershy thought, a slight hint of nostalgia in her gaze.
Applejack remained silent, keeping her thoughts about the dressmaker well-guarded.
For her part, Rarity continued walking, lost in her own thoughts. She thought about the party, about the girls' comments, and how, despite them confirming that they would attend, the distance between them was still present.
"Maybe at the party I'll thank Twilight and Sunset one last time," thought with a small smile. "And if the chance comes, we can talk."
After hours had passed, at the Belle house, Rarity was having dinner with her family while occasionally looking away at the clock on the wall.
"Anything to tell, girls?" Cookie asked curiously.
"Uh... I have a field trip," Sweetie Belle said, somewhere between happy and somewhat sad.
"And why that face?" asked Hondo, arching an eyebrow.
"Is it the fun trip you mentioned?" Rarity chimed in, interested.
"Yes, but in the end it won't be as fun as we thought with the Crusaders," replied, lowering her gaze a little.
"Will it be something educational? Well, that's good too; that way they don't stray too far from their studies," her mother commented in a practical tone.
"Ah, I see... is that why you're a little discouraged?" her father asked empathetically.
"A little, yes..." Sweetie Belle murmured, looking at her plate. "It's just that the trip..."
"Worried that we won't give you any presents?" Cookie joked, trying to cheer her up.
"It's more because you're going on a trip too," the younger said, casting a quick glance at her sister.
"Do you have a date for your business trip yet?" Rarity asked, interested in the topic.
"We don't know for sure yet, but it'll probably be in November, returning in December," Hondo replied.
"We'll probably arrive by the second week of December," Cookie added, resting her chin on her hands. "It's not confirmed yet, though."
"We'll have the decorations ready by the time you arrive," the eldest promised, giving a smile to Sweetie Belle, who responded with a forced smile.
"Yeah..." the younger murmured, still somewhat dejected.
Rarity looked at the time again.
"Anything to tell, Rarity? You've been looking at the clock," her mother commented, with a hint of suspicion. "Unless the tests are posted today."
"Huh? No, I don't know when they'll be posted yet. Maybe next week," replied, trying hard to sound casual.
"Is it to go trick-or-treating with your sister?" asked Hondo, looking at her curiously.
"Go out, yes, but... not with Sweetie," Rarity murmured, searching for the words.
"Ah, I see," Sweetie Belle said, with a hint of sadness. "You're not old enough for that anymore."
"Well... maybe a little," she admitted, looking away.
"Honey, just say it," Cookie insisted with a smile.
Rarity sighed. "I was invited to a Halloween party."
"Oh! Can I go?" the younger girl asked excitedly.
"I don't think you can..." her sister replied.
"Why not?" insisted, with a mix of hope and frustration.
"It's for college students," explained calmly.
Cookie nodded. "It's not a place for you, Sweetie Belle."
"But why not?" Sweetie Belle protested, crossing her arms.
"It's for adults, Sweetie."
Cookie sighed and turned to her eldest daughter. "Well, since you've finished your exams, I see no problem with you enjoying a different night."
"Thank you, mother," said, surprised and relieved.
The youngest Belle grimaced. "And who am I going out with? The Crusaders and Spike?"
"And who do you think we are, princess?" her father replied humorously. "Get ready, we're leaving at 9."
Sweetie Belle smiled, her eyes lighting up.
Rarity looked at the clock again. "My party starts at about 11."
"So late!" Cookie commented. "I guess you'll be late."
"Possibly."
Her mother stared at her. "I hope you control yourself this time."
"Mother, I always behave."
"And that girl's nose at the last party?" Hondo asked, arching an eyebrow.
"That girl criticized my outfit, then threw liquor at me and called me a slut!" Rarity exclaimed, remembering. "But how was I supposed to know she was that guy's girlfriend if they weren't even together?" asked, raising her hands in defense.
Sweetie Belle raised her head. "S...?"
"Oh! Look how delicious these cookies are!" Rarity exclaimed quickly, popping one into her sister's mouth before she could finish the word.
Her parents cleared their throats.
"Sorry... I just let it slip," she said, somewhat embarrassed. Then she thought back a bit more. "And Rainbow said I couldn't defend myself like that... but it hurt pretty bad. I guess it hurt her too."
"Be more careful," her father said, pointing at the younger girl, who was chewing on the cookie. "But I see your point. Just try to behave."
Rarity laughed, trying to look relaxed. "I will."
"Well, let's get ready," her mother said, standing up.
"Mother, do you still have that silk blouse you said you were going to throw away and the one you showed me once?"
"Yes, I think so. Do you want to wear it?" Cookie asked, somewhat surprised.
"But child, won't it be a little small for you?" Hondo added.
Rarity smiled mischievously. "I think it's perfect."
"No, no, you're not going to go like I think I think," her father said, crossing his arms.
"It's just a costume with some adjustments," the seamstress said with a half-smile.
"I would protest, but our daughter is old enough to choose what she wears," Cookie said. "Besides, it's not like she wears it every day, right?"
"Exactly. It's just a personal touch for today."
"Is it so bad to wear a costume of your own style?" Sweetie Belle asked, cocking her head.
"Child, you wouldn't understand now," Hondo said, shaking his head disapprovingly. "Fine, but watch out for boys."
"Yes, Dad," replied amused.
"Come on, princess, the minutes fly by when you're distracted," Hondo said to Sweetie Belle, as Rarity followed her mother to inspect the old blouse.
Author's Note
Hello everyone, how are you? As I said, here is the second translated chapter, now all that's missing is the next one, which I'll bring in the next few days.
I don't want to go into too much detail about the days of the midterms.
Without realizing it, I made an interesting parallel: before, Applejack used the vending machine as an excuse to avoid seeing Rarity's family (and Rarity, although she wasn't there at the time). Now, she uses the vending machine as an excuse to get closer.

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                    What the Night Left                    
//-------------------------------------------------------//
What the Night Left
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.

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                   Beyond the clumsiness                   
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Beyond the clumsiness
The girls stood in the front yard, near the division between the younger and older classes at the school. Some raised their hands in confused gestures as they debated Rainbow Dash's absence.
"She didn't even show up for class," Twilight said, adjusting her backpack.
"And do you know if she went to swimming?" Sunset asked, frowning.
"How would we know? We're all in class," Fluttershy replied in a soft but curious tone.
"That's hard to figure out," Twilight added.
Before they could continue speculating, a familiar voice interrupted them.
"Hey, girls! What's wrong?" Rainbow greeted, coming over as she shook her hands, splashing some water.
"What do you mean, what's wrong?" Applejack asked, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, you skipped literature," the blue-haired girl remarked in a tone somewhere between curious and reproachful.
"I had a misunderstanding with Chancellor Celestia," replied, shrugging.
"And what did you do?" the blonde asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I repeat: a misunderstanding," replied emphatically.
"Uh-oh. You got in trouble but it wasn't even for something you did?" Pinkie said, squinting at Rainbow.
"Something like that. I almost ended up cleaning the art room because of it," replied with a smile.
"But you had to do it anyway?" Fluttershy asked, worried.
"No, luckily Trixie worked up the courage and said it was her... partly," said, leaving Rarity out of all this.
"Thank goodness!" Pinkie exclaimed, relieved as if wiping away sweat.
"Trixie?" Twilight repeated, arching her eyebrows.
"Yeah, long story," Rainbow replied, brushing it off.
Sunset glanced at the clock on her phone and changed the subject. "Well, are we going to training?"
"With the pain in my soul, I won't be able to go see you," the party girl said, dramatizing her answer.
"I don't think it's because of studies," the multicolored one commented, amused.
"No, I have a part-time job," Pinkie explained, starting to walk backwards towards the entrance.
"Did you take an extra shift?" Twilight asked, adjusting her glasses.
"Sort of. I'll leave you girls. See you tomorrow."
The others said goodbye with a "goodbye" and a wave as Pinkie walked away.
At the entrance, she saw Rarity turning the corner with her sister, which made her quicken her pace.
"Hello!" greeted cheerfully.
"Pinkie!" they both answered, almost in unison.
"Did you ask the girls to come or was it of their own free will?" Rarity asked curiously.
"None. But I take advantage of the fact that they are here to walk with you before going to my job," Pinkie said, shrugging.
"Do you have a job?" Sweetie Belle asked, surprised.
"Yeah, that's how I get money."
"Good point... Back in the day, Rarity used to work when we were out of town," the younger said.
"Really?!"
"Yeah, I was from..." Before she finished, the younger saw her sister.
"Sweetie... No," Rarity said in a murmur, indicating her neck as a sign for her not to speak any more.
"I forgot," said with a nervous smile.
"Okay," replied with her typical smile.
"But if you're wondering how I buy some stuff, I get an old-fashioned allowance... or my aunt gives us money from time to time," the seamstress said in a casual tone.
"That makes sense," Pinkie replied with a giggle.
"But working on a Monday?" Rarity asked, a little confused.
"Yeah. Since I took the weekend off to plan some parties, I took Monday off to make up for that day," she explained. "But who knows, maybe I'll take more Mondays."
"Without getting caught up in work, I find that's okay," the seamstress said, understanding what it's like to be piled up with stuff.
Pinkie nodded. The three of them started walking until the cheerful girl brought up the subject.
"Hey, girl, you haven't told me why you hit Feather. What did she say to you?"
"Did you hit a boy?" The younger one asked, looking at her sister.
"He deserved it," Rarity said, indignant, pushing her hair back. "But let's not bring Feather into the party. Tell me about yourself... That dance battle with that boy was on another level."
"Oh, yeah. I think this is the first time someone has challenged me and we're on par," Pinkie said.
"Someone on the same level as Pinkie Pie?" Sweetie said, almost incredulous.
"Yeah, Cheese has his moves... I'm going to see how I can get in touch with him again."
"How so?" the younger one asked.
"Well, after the distu..." Pinkie was going to say what happened, but Rarity nudged her slightly.
"I mean, after different things that happened, like he wasn't from here and he was just passing through. With so many people at the party, going here and there, I lost him."
"Oh, maybe at some point you'll find him," Sweetie said.
"And you didn't save her number at some point?" Rarity asked.
"No, we were just talking animatedly about how she likes to make others laugh, which I didn't think of."
"Well... You know how fate is, you never imagine you can meet people you know again," the seamstress said with a smile.
Pinkie nodded cheerfully and they continued walking for a while longer.
"Well, I've reached my stop. See you tomorrow!" said with a wide smile before waving goodbye to the sisters.
"Take care, Pinkie," Rarity replied as she watched her walk away with her characteristic enthusiasm.
Sweetie Belle felt her stomach growl. "I think it's time to go home too."
"Yeah, let's go," said, taking her sister by the arm and starting to walk towards her house.
The rest of the day passed without any major events for the girls. After returning with Scootaloo from her training, Rainbow entered her room and closed the door with a soft slam.
She took out her cell phone and quickly recorded an audio for Fluttershy.
"Yes, I just got here. Now I'll clean up so I can rest, because tomorrow we have more exercise," said before sending it.
She threw her backpack on the bed and left the cell phone on the desk, her gaze stopping for a moment on the screen. Among the open contacts was her partner's. She let out a sigh before writing:
[I'm here, blonde.]
The message went out without an immediate response. She put the phone aside and sat down, staring at the table.
She still had to clean up the notes she had missed. Missing literature and swimming hadn't been her fault, it was all because of that misunderstanding.
At least she got out of that jam... as did the dressmaker. Unintentionally, her thoughts drifted to the conversation she'd had with Rarity.
"It's not like I gave her a chance. I just thanked her... in my own way, that's all," muttered, more to herself than to convince anyone.
Unintentionally, a light laugh escaped her lips as she recalled the talk with Rarity.
"Me mulling over giving Belle a chance? How funny..."
Silence filled the room, but it didn't last long. She frowned and slammed her palm on the table.
"Ugh! This is ridiculous. I can't just get on with my life."
She stood up abruptly and began pacing back and forth.
"But she does this act and it leaves me thinking..."
Her eyes met an old track and field trophy in the corner. She took it in her hands, turning it slowly as her thoughts ran their course.
"The others do it because... because they want to. I can't handle it, but... what do I do?"
She let out a long sigh, carefully placing the trophy back in its place.
"It's just a matter of observing, nothing more. Although I already saw... something," muttered the last part under her breath, as if admitting it was a secret she didn't even want to acknowledge.
"I guess I'll see what happens."
Finally, she headed for her backpack. She pulled out two notebooks and forced herself to concentrate on making a clean copy of her notes, using Twilight's notebook as a guide. Only after she was done did she change and fall into bed, ready to sleep, though her mind was still restless.
The sound of the alarm clock marked the beginning of a new day. The morning light filtered through the curtains, softly illuminating each of the girls' rooms, announcing that it was time to get going.
At university, the usual bustle was already underway. Groups of students chatted animatedly in the hallways, some going over last-minute assignments while others exchanged laughs and comments about the previous day's training or the rumors circulating between classes.
As per Tuesday routine, the girls headed to the dressing rooms as soon as the first bell rang. The metal doors resonated with the echo of the padlocks being opened, while the atmosphere was filled with the typical back and forth of conversations and carefree laughter.
The grey clouds reflected off the gym windows, softly lighting the room as the students finished their warm-up.
The students watched as the boys were already gathered. Among them, Applejack frowned slightly as she noticed the brunette who was surrounded by Flash, Caramel, and Timber, who all seemed especially engrossed with something.
"Hahaha, but what happened to you there?" Caramel mocked, pointing at a small bruise on Feather's cheek.
"Rarity... that happened," growled, narrowing his eyes in annoyance and crossing his arms.
"Oops, buddy, you really messed up this time," Flash commented, as Caramel looked between them both.
"What happened? What did I miss? Rarity punched you?" asked in obvious disbelief.
"It was a slap," Timber corrected, shrugging. "Though, to give her that, she must have hit hard."
"They hurt your face, poor thing!" Caramel said, mockingly. "And all with a simple slap?"
"Ha, ha," Feather replied sarcastically. "If you notice, Rarity loves to wear accessories, including a ring."
"You deserved it. That's what you get for not knowing how to use your words," Timber said, resting his elbow on Flash's shoulder.
"Bah, who knows. Maybe after a while he'll give me a second chance," Feather muttered with a confident smile.
The other three boys shook their heads in unison, clearly unconvinced.
From a safe distance, Applejack watched the scene with her arms crossed, her eyebrow arched.
"So she got a slap?" Twilight muttered, surprised, from her spot next to the farmer.
"Wow, we missed something interesting yesterday," Rainbow commented with a half-smile.
Applejack didn't say anything.
"Yeah, and we couldn't figure out why," Pinkie added, jumping slightly.
"You could tell she did it hard. Feather's expression after the slap said it all," Fluttershy said, grimacing slightly in remembrance.
"What we suspect is that she said something inappropriate to him," Sunset commented, her eyes narrowing.
Applejack looked away, trying not to intervene in the conversation. Although the sound of two whistles caught the students' attention, making everything they were talking about on the court come to an end.
"Guys over here," said the teacher leading his students to the other side of the court.
"Okay, students, I hope you enjoyed your stretching, as we're back to sports today," said the teacher, then moved to the front. She held up a basketball in one hand. "Grab a ball from the cart and practice dribbling. We'll organize a game later."
The students excitedly moved toward the car. Soon, the rhythmic sound of balls hitting the ground filled the field.
Applejack bounced the ball with strength and precision, focused. Rainbow Dash was confidently practicing tricks. Sunset kept a steady pace, while Fluttershy tried timidly. Twilight was trying hard to learn the basics, and Pinkie Pie, as always, bounced her ball with unbridled enthusiasm.
On the other end, Rarity watched her ball warily. She took a deep breath and, determinedly, tried to bounce the ball, but her hand was not able to reach the ball in time when it came back.
Spitfire shook her head at the girl's mistake.
"Bounce in a circle!" she shouted.
The seamstress continued with her attempts, something that did not go unnoticed by the group of girls.
"Wow, looks like Belle has a long way to go," Twilight commented, taking her ball.
Rainbow raised an eyebrow at her. "Is she playing or inventing a new dance move?" asked, watching as the seamstress let herself be dominated by the ball.
Fluttershy muttered under her breath, "Her laces..."
"Laces?" Sunset asked, looking at the pink-haired girl for the comment.
"Ah, I see, she has them undone. She could fall..." Pinkie pointed out just as a loud bam! interrupted her words.
The echo of Rarity's fall resounded, followed by a collective murmur. "Uhhh."
"That had to hurt," Rainbow said, wincing. "My condolences... but someone do something. It's too much cringe for me," added, covering her eyes with her forearm on Sunset's shoulder.
Twilight raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. Fluttershy looked at Rarity with some pity, wanting to do something she didn't dare to.
Applejack kept her eyes fixed on the seamstress. Should she leave her like that with everyone else's gaze on her or should she do something? Why enroll in this subject? She kept wondering, but the girl seemed to make an effort despite how badly she always did. After thinking, she finally broke the silence.
"Do you really think that?" asked, looking at her partner seriously who had already straightened up.
The multicolored girl blinked, somewhat confused. "Wanting to help her?"
Applejack nodded, not looking away. The girls looked at her for the answer. Was she considering the possibility of...?
"Maybe..." Rainbow shrugged. "But you know how things are... I don't get it."
The rest nodded, understanding.
Pinkie raised a finger, as if to comment on something, but Applejack interrupted her. "So you'd let me do it?"
The group was a little shocked, surprised by the question they had thought the blonde was going to say. Twilight adjusted her glasses, while Fluttershy tilted her head, intrigued, and Sunset opened her mouth slightly. Pinkie, for her part, blinked several times.
Rainbow frowned, trying to hide her discomfort. "Why are you asking me?"
"Because it has to do with Belle. And you... I don't know how you would take it."
The athlete was silent for a moment before sighing. "You want to teach her basketball? What's next, teach the next one handball?"
The party girl put a hand on her chin, thinking that might happen.
Rainbow shook her head, leaving the joke behind. "Do what you want, AJ. But I don't know if you'll get anywhere with Miss Disaster."
Applejack took a deep breath, relieved by the answer, though she picked up on the couple's resigned tone. She glanced at Rarity, who was still on the ground, her ball rolling away.
The other girls watched in silence as their friend walked over to the curly-haired one. Twilight exchanged a glance with Fluttershy.
"Maybe this will be good for both of us..." the blue-haired girl thought.
"I could have offered. If Rainbow didn't find it bothersome at all, it seems like everyone has had some interaction with Rarity... except me," the pink-haired girl thought in frustration.
"Hey, Fluttershy, wanna bounce with me?" Rainbow asked, holding up her ball.
Fluttershy blinked and looked at the multicolored girl. "Sure, but she probably can't keep up with you."
As they arrived, Applejack looked down with two balls in hand. Rarity looked up at her, discreetly dusting her hands.
"I was so confused about you again with the teacher," commented, remembering the beginning of the year. "If this were déjà vu, you would be indirectly telling me that I should drop this extra class."
The farmer let out a slight smile. "And although I never heard your answer... I already know what it would be." Rarity raised an eyebrow, assessing her. "However, I don't understand why you chose this additional class."
"My reason is personal, and I'm not going to give up," stated, her tone firm as determination shone in her eyes.
Applejack hid her surprise at noticing that look. "And yet you're on the ground again," said, amused.
"You're so observant!" Rarity said, crossing her arms. "I'm fine, thanks for asking. What's the reason for your visit to my training area?" asked somewhat haughtily, raising her chin slightly.
"I just wanted to make sure you got up before someone trips over you and they can't continue their exercise," the blonde said neutrally. "Bouncing a ball isn't that complicated. Here," added, taking her own ball and demonstrating the motion. "Do it like this. The key is to keep your hand loose and keep up with the bounce."
The seamstress looked up, frowning slightly. "I don't need your pity."
"Can't you just leave your pride behind? Because I already left it behind when I came here," said, turning around.
Rarity took a deep breath. "Maybe I went too far," muttered.
Applejack formed a half-smile. "I like it that way."
She crouched down to be at her level, placing the balls on the floor between the two of them. "Are you just going to stand there and dirty your cute, designer sportswear, or are you going to try?" asked, still wearing a half-smile.
The curly-haired girl looked away, biting the inside of her cheek lightly before muttering, "Sure, I'll try."
Applejack let out a light laugh. Rarity crossed her arms as if trying to protect herself.
A whistle blew loudly near them. "You two, stop talking and start dribbling the ball in pairs if you're so close!" shouted, pointing firmly at them.
The two exchanged a quick glance and, without saying anything, stood up. As they jogged around the perimeter together, Applejack bounced the ball with ease. "I told you, the key is to keep your hand loose and keep up," insisted, keeping a steady pace alongside Rarity. The seamstress pursed her lips before taking the ball in her hands, as if assessing her next move.
Minutes later, Spitfire, with his authoritative tone and his inseparable whistle, gave a clear order: "Form teams! We are going to play a match. Divide into two groups and assign positions."
The students began to move. The multicolored one stood in the center of her team confidently, while the party girl jumped excitedly on the other side. Fluttershy, a little more timid, stood near Rainbow, clearly nervous about what was to come next to Twilight, who lay calmer than her friend.
"Belle, on defense of the other team," the teacher ordered, pointing at Rarity while checking the timer on her wrist.
"What?" asked, freezing in place. She glanced sideways to the other side, where others looked confident on the multicolored one's team.
Spitfire arched an eyebrow. "Do you want me to repeat it louder? You're a defensive base. Go to your position."
"But who else is going to be there besides Pinkie?"
"Girl, you forget about me," Lyra said, pointing at herself.
"Or me, I wasn't going to waste my chance with you," Vignette said, winking at her. Rarity gave the girl a small, forced smile so as not to be so rude.
"Trixie is staying here, plus she owes you one," Starlight said, letting go of her shoulders before going to the other team.
"But wouldn't it be kind of unfair if the more athletic ones were on the other side?" asked the teacher once more.
"Ouch, that hurt," Lyra said, pretending to feel offended.
Someone came over bouncing the ball. "It's only fair, I'll be on this side." Rarity was surprised to see that it was Sunset Shimmer.
With more teammates joining in, the seamstress walked to her position, her movements somewhat stiff. Applejack, who was on the same team as Rainbow, crossed her arms as she watched Rarity take her place.
"This will be interesting," muttered to herself.
The whistle blew, and the court came alive with the echo of running sneakers and bouncing balls. Rainbow took control from the start, scoring points with ease. Pinkie tried to keep up with her on the opposing team alongside the others.
When the ball was thrown towards Rarity, she jumped slightly to catch it, but the impact of the ball on her hands nearly destabilized her. Before she could think of what to do, Twilight approached her.
Rarity pressed her lips together, trying to ignore the cold sweat on her palms. She twisted awkwardly in an attempt to protect the ball.
Taking a deep breath, she attempted a pass towards the party girl, but the ball went wide. Bon Bon intercepted the ball effortlessly, running towards the basket.
"I'll take it," Sunset said, running towards Bon Bon to catch up with her, preventing her from scoring. She passed the ball to another girl on her team, thus continuing the game.
In a moment, Fluttershy caught the ball with a small cry of surprise, her eyes widening. Before she could do anything, Rarity appeared in front of her.
For a moment, the two stood frozen, both unsure of how to act. The moment lasted long enough for Applejack, from a distance, to lean over to Rainbow and comment, "Do you think either of them will do anything?"
The multicolored girl smiled in amusement. "I doubt they'll make a move before the game is over."
Finally, Fluttershy took a deep breath and tried to turn to the side to pass the ball, but Rarity, with clumsy movements, tried to get in her way. The two collided slightly, and the ball fell to the ground, bouncing between them.
They both crouched down at the same time, bumping heads in the process. "Ow!" they exclaimed in unison, rubbing their foreheads.
The teammates on each team held back their urge to laugh at the scene, but the teacher was not in the mood for games. "Pick it up!" exclaimed, crossing her arms as she took in the scene.
"Sorry," Fluttershy muttered, as Rarity awkwardly picked up the ball and held it up.
"It's not like I'm shining here," the seamstress replied, meeting Applejack's gaze, who continued to watch her from a distance with an amused smile, nodding several times.
Rarity narrowed her eyes; it was obvious she was mocking.
When she tried to pass the ball once more, the throw was weak and straight at Rainbow, who caught the ball with ease. “Thanks for the gift, Belle,” said before running to the basket and scoring.
The laughter from the opposing team made Rarity blush in frustration. Fluttershy looked at her silently, as if to say “Don’t give up.”
Pinkie walked over and gave her an encouraging smile. “You did well, Rarity… I think it’s just a matter of practice.”
Rarity nodded with a sigh, returning to her position, determined not to let the rest of the class be a complete mess. However, her movements were still clumsy, and the ball seemed more like an enemy than an ally.
Towards the end of the game, when all seemed lost for her team, Rarity managed to intercept an unexpected pass. Although her return was slow and inaccurate, Lyra managed to score, drawing a brief round of applause from the team.
After Spitfire announced the end of class with a loud whistle, the girls began collecting their balls. Applejack approached Rarity, leaning slightly toward her.
"It wasn't so bad, see? Maybe you'll even become a decent player," commented in a tone that combined sarcasm and kindness.
Rarity, regaining some of her dignity, lifted her chin. "Huh, watch me and see," said, tossing her hair back before turning and following the girls to the locker room. Applejack gave her a half-smile as she watched her go, pleased to have the situation under her control.
Fluttershy gave her a sympathetic look as she wondered if she could talk to her now that she was changed.
"Next time we'll have better luck," Bon Bon said as she passed Rarity.
"I was the target again," muttered, trying to straighten her hair despite it being tied up.
"A little training and you're good to go," Lyra added with a smile.
"And if you want, we can help you, like in volleyball," Starlight suggested.
"I'd like to, but the great and powerful Trixie has to clean up the art room," Trixie replied theatrically.
"Shouldn't you have done it yesterday?" Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Heh... I convinced Celestia to leave it for today," confessed, somewhat nervously, as she hid slightly behind Starlight.
"Uh-huh," the seamstress said, passing by.
"Do you think she's upset that I almost made her clean up my mess?" Trixie whispered to her friend.
"I don't think Rarity holds a grudge," Starlight replied in the same tone.
"Don't worry," Pinkie chimed in, appearing out of nowhere and hugging them both, scaring them for a moment. "Rarity doesn't hold grudges..." She thought back a bit, recalling some words the seamstress had said when confronted. "I think..."
"But that was in the moment, so... would that count as resentment?" she wondered. "Then there's that bad energy we felt before, though I'm sure I've felt that before... But what was it that we did? And then there's what Rarity told me, that she left town angry... Does that count as grudges too?" thought curiously.
"Well, if Rarity is a little bit bitter, Rainbow will be more so... She's still bitter for a reason," Trixie said.
"Trixie..." Starlight murmured warningly.
"She's not wrong," Pinkie commented quietly. "It's just that Rainbow needs more time to let go of the past."
"Yes, there are people who have a harder time letting go," Starlight added. "But if Rainbow doesn't get over it now, she will at some point."
"Well, there is still a long way to go before finish university degree," the party girl commented optimistically, leaning towards her friends. "And remember... Shhh! We don't know Rarity."
"Don't worry, we've kept it a secret," Starlight assured with a smile. "Although sometimes someone almost goes along with the gossip," said, looking at the gray-haired girl.
"But I'll keep my lips sealed," Trixie added, crossing her arms dramatically.
"That's the way to talk!" Pinkie exclaimed with a smile.
As the students moved forward, the party girl watched Rainbow and Fluttershy walking together, closely followed by Applejack. Seeing Rarity behind, an idea lit up her mind.
"Wait..." thought, pausing for a moment. "What if it wasn't something we did? It was something we didn't do!" She then looked at the two girls she was talking to. "Hmm... Starlight opened my eyes... should I discuss it with some of the girls?"
There would come a time to talk about the subject, but for now she would put it aside and continue walking with her companions.
Inside the locker room, conversation and laughter filled the air. Pinkie joked with Fluttershy about her "dodging the ball" strategy, while Rainbow bragged about how she had saved several plays. Rarity, on the other hand, remained silent, changing with slow, calculated movements, as if trying to keep her dignity intact.
Applejack, for her part, began to reflect on their brief interaction on the court. Had it been enough?
Once ready, the girls began to file out. Rarity, being one of the last, fixed her hair before heading through the door. As she stepped out, she stopped short at the sight of the farm girl leaning against the wall.
"You? What are you doing here?" asked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously.
The girl straightened up. "Looks like you made more of a fool of yourself at the game than I suggested."
Rarity narrowed her eyes. "Do you want me to call you 'cowgirl' again?"
The blonde grimaced in annoyance. "Maybe I didn't choose my words well."
"Maybe, since it was such a compliment," replied sarcastically.
"I know you don't want to be the 'target' on the court again," Applejack continued, resting a hand on the wall.
Rarity looked away as if the idea bothered her. "Don't even mention it to me."
The farmer smiled. "You just need a little practice. Nothing too complicated."
The curly-haired girl looked at her curiously. Was she implying what she thought?
"The hunter wants to give the vampire lessons?" asked with a smile.
Applejack threw her head back slightly. There it was again. The seamstress somehow managed to make her uncomfortable, but not in a bad way. Still, she wasn't going to let her get ahead of herself.
She sighed and let out a soft laugh. "If you want, let's change the rules: this hunter will train you before she catches you," said with a smile at the end.
It's been a few days now. Will the hunter and vampire ever stop this banter?
Rarity raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you think I would accept?" asked, still with a half-smile. "Maybe I could advance on my own... Besides, you didn't stand out at all in the match. Are you still the same?"
Was he provoking her?
Applejack took a step forward. "Sure I could, this is my thing, I don't miss a beat."
"Well, let's see how you keep up," Rarity said, accepting the help and taking a few steps. "When does practice start?"
"We have the first period off on Thursday or at the end of class," Applejack replied, considering both options. "Either one and the vampire would evaporate."
"This vampire prefers after class, since it would be less cold," Rarity said, raising her chin with a dignified air.
The blonde nodded. "Done."
Before the seamstress left, she paused for a moment. "Why would you do this? What reason would you have?"
Applejack lowered her gaze for a moment, as if considering her answer. "Let's just say I don't like seeing you humiliate yourself alone. And you... just need someone to guide you."
Rarity was a little surprised, but hid it with a haughty smile. "I won't regret this, will I?"
Applejack smiled, adjusting a hat. "Get ready, Belle. I don't know if I'll make it easy on you."
With one last look, she began to walk away, and this time it was Rarity who stayed behind, watching her go and wondering what was behind all this.
After making up an excuse and changing in the dressing room, Fluttershy headed to one of the locker aisles. As she walked, she thought about what had happened at the Halloween party and how Rarity had stepped in to help. She felt a mix of gratitude and nervousness at the same time.
When she arrived, she saw that she was not yet at her locker. What had taken her so long? Her hair or her outfit? Choosing a more elegant and detailed blouse than the other? As she waited, she got nervous. What would she say to her to start? At the party they had a chat, and just at the game another, but very short, and those two were by chance. She had not expected a voluntary meeting and now... now Rarity was reaching her locker and, with her back turned, putting her bag away.
A knot formed in Fluttershy's stomach. If she had been nervous before, now she was even more so. "How should I start the conversation?" wondered internally. "Maybe a simple 'thank you'... No, that's too short. What if I tell her how important it was to me?" She paused, unsure of how to begin.
With a sigh, she took a step forward, but as soon as she did, her doubts invaded her again. She looked at the floor and stopped again. "What if she thinks I'm being strange? What if my words aren't enough?" Anguish made her turn to a locker, searching for clarity in her mind.
For a moment, she was lost in her thoughts. Meanwhile, Rarity was still packing her things, not noticing that the animal lover was standing nearby, undecided. Fluttershy, seeing that she didn't dare to approach, thought about finding another opportunity, but her subconscious prevented her from doing so.
"No! It's now or never!" thought, determined. She took another step forward, but when she was about to get closer, the seamstress had already closed her locker and disappeared into the crowd in the hallway. Her heart sank, and without thinking, Fluttershy gently bumped her forehead against the locker in front of her.
"Why didn't I?" said to herself. "Why am I still so... shy? I'm such a fool!" Her voice was barely a whisper, but frustration was evident in her tone. "Shy Fluttershy is back, stopping me from getting close, once again."
At that moment, she heard a voice. "What's wrong, Flutters?" Lifting her head, she saw Rainbow Dash, who had a curious look on her face as she noticed the frustrated expression on her friend's face.
Fluttershy looked down, blushing. "Nothing... I just... feel stupid." leaned back against the locker. "Dash, do you think I'm still the same shy Fluttershy from before, like when we were in school?"
The multicolored girl looked at her for a moment, surprised by the question, but then smiled comfortingly. "Shy? Nah, maybe a little, but we all change, Flutters. You're not the same as before, and you know it."
Fluttershy gave her a small smile, although she still felt bad for wasting the opportunity. "Do you really think I've changed?"
"Of course I have," answered without hesitation. "People can be a little shy, but that doesn't mean they can't do great things. And you've done a lot, you just don't realize it sometimes."
The pinkette straightened up and nodded, still thoughtful, but at least she felt a little better for the conversation. She knew she had to be brave and capable.
Rainbow looked at her with a raised eyebrow and offered her arm casually. Fluttershy slid it gently, and the two began walking down the hall.
"And why do you ask?"
Fluttershy gulped, feeling the weight of what she wanted to say. Rarity's name was still a trigger for her friend, even after she'd said she'd think things through. But what if they'd talked about her before? Could they still talk about it?
She finally took a breath and gathered her courage. "It's because of... Rari... Belle," said in a small voice, hesitating at the mention of the name.
Rainbow tensed immediately. She didn't turn her head toward Fluttershy, but the change in her posture was evident. "Yeah?" replied, drawing out the word as if she wasn't sure she wanted to continue listening. She didn't interrupt her, though.
"Well," continued cautiously, "I wanted to talk to her to thank her... but cowardice got the better of me." She looked at the ground, watching the shuffling of feet, feeling a little embarrassed. "Why does it seem so difficult?"
The multicolored girl let out a short laugh, causing Fluttershy to look at her in confusion. "Sorry," said quickly upon noticing her friend's expression. "It's just that... well, I talked to her too." Her tone was casual, but she avoided looking at her directly.
The shy girl widened her eyes in surprise. "Did you talk to her too?"
"Yeah... she was involved in that misunderstanding too, but I'll tell you about that later. The point is that we talked... though I don't know if it counts as progress," said, making no effort to hide her discomfort. "Actually, I don't know if I should call it that."
She paused and let out a sigh, as if she was choosing her words carefully. "I didn't know how to talk to her, so I did it... my way."
"Your way?" repeated, intrigued.
Rainbow nodded slowly, still avoiding eye contact. "Yeah, you know... how I am," said with a slight shrug, trying to downplay it.
Fluttershy blinked, mulling over what she'd said. "Maybe if I can't do it the way I want, I can do it another way," murmured.
The multicolored girl gave a small smile as she saw her friend understood the point. "There you go," said, gently nudging her with her elbow.
"Thanks, Dash," replied, smiling more confidently and tightening her grip on Rainbow's arm.
"You're welcome," replied, regaining her carefree attitude. However, something in her gaze still betrayed a slight discomfort.
Fluttershy took a couple more steps before stopping, somewhat cautious. "So... what you two talked about wasn't a big deal either?" asked, measuring her words.
Rainbow seemed to hesitate for a moment. "Uh... yes and no," finally answered, a note of discomfort in her voice. "But I would say yes, because it has to do with you."
"With me?" asked, blinking in surprise.
The athlete nodded, finally looking at her friend. "Yeah, about those guys and... well, the fact that I didn't realize what was going on," said, looking away again feeling guilty about what had happened.
"Oh, Dash, you didn't have to," Fluttershy said, feeling a mix of gratitude and compassion.
Rainbow frowned. "In a way, I did have to," admitted, though her tone was lower, almost murmuring. "But I also felt the need to... for you, you know."
Fluttershy didn't answer, watching Dash with a mix of surprise and empathy. She knew her friend rarely expressed her emotions so openly, let alone in front of others. That little moment said a lot more than Rainbow wanted to admit.
With the topic closed, they walked again until they saw their redheaded friend, who watched them. However, as they got closer, Sunset frowned.
"Ahem, ahem," said, bringing her fist close to her mouth.
"What's wrong?" Fluttershy asked.
"The walls have eyes," replied surreptitiously, pointing to some nearby students who were watching them curiously.
Rainbow let go of her friend and stepped forward, looking at those spying on them. "What? Can't you just have a gesture with a friend?" raised her voice a little.
"It's just what you see," a nearby student commented.
"But the reality is different," Fluttershy intervened shyly.
"Besides, everyone knows I have a partner, so no more of those googly eyes," Rainbow added, pointing at some of the people present.
"Fine, fine," one murmured.
"Perfect," the multicolored one added before returning to Fluttershy.
"You handled it well," Sunset commented, crossing her arms with a slight smile.
"Yes, that's right," replied confidently.
Fluttershy looked down and murmured, "Why can't some people have friends without them thinking there's something more?"
"Ugh, seriously, anything can be misinterpreted," Sunset said with a sigh, gesturing for them to continue walking.
"By the way, what was that about facing each other this time?" Rainbow asked intrigued.
The redhead, without turning around, replied in a carefree tone, "Oh, I wanted to try something different." Then, with a slight smile, she added, "Besides, it's been a while since we've faced each other in a basketball game."
Fluttershy cocked her head, suspecting something, but she wasn't sure. Rainbow simply nodded, and the three of them headed out to the courtyard.
The room was filled with bustling students, animated chatter, and scattered laughter. The trio stopped when they saw Applejack and Twilight, who had their gazes fixed on their phones.
"Haven't you noticed that they're standing next to each other and talking on Messenger?" the sport girl joked with a lopsided grin.
The two girls raised their heads almost at the same time.
"Oh, nothing like that," Applejack said, holding her phone in one hand.
"We were just looking at the grades," Twilight explained, pushing her glasses up with a finger.
"Grades?" Sunset repeated, crossing her arms in curiosity.
"Yeah, some of them have already gone up," the blonde added, turning her phone to show her.
"Have they gone up yet?" the pink-haired girl asked, pulling out her own phone.
"Yeah, I won't say much though... some grades don't surprise me," Twilight commented with a sigh, absentmindedly ruffling her hair.
"Since you're here, I wanted to tell you something about Belle," Applejack said, leaning against the bench.
"You don't have to repeat that you're going to help her. We already know that," Rainbow replied, crossing her arms. "Why would I mention something that already happened?" thought.
"That's nothing new," Sunset added, with a smile.
"Yeah, but I also suggested it outside of school hours," mentioned, scratching the back of her neck in some discomfort.
"Unexpected things always come up," Fluttershy murmured with a shy smile, playing with a lock of her hair.
Rainbow opened her mouth to say something, but kept it to herself, frowning. Sunset and Fluttershy focused their attention on the farm girl, waiting for something more.
Twilight looked between the two girls, not quite sure if they were going to argue, so she pretended to check the time on her phone and quickly stood up. "Oh! You saw the time! Sunset, it's math time," said with a nervous smile, taking the redhead by the wrist.
"Right, right. Bye!" replied, taking one last look at the girls.
"I... uh," Fluttershy muttered, holding up a finger, but then fell silent. "I'm going to my class," added, walking away slowly.
The pair watched their friends leave with some confusion before looking at each other.
"Did you think we were going to fight?" the blonde asked, arching an eyebrow.
"It seems so," the multicolored one replied, plopping down on the bench beside her. "It's normal for couples to do that, so I don't see it as a big deal."
"Neither am I... but you're not upset, are you?" Applejack glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, observing her expression carefully.
"I thought when you said help, you meant just classes... it seems everyone here has in mind helping Belle pass her classes," said, letting out a sigh at the end, crossing her arms in resignation.
"Now Fluttershy needs to do it, and then you," Applejack joked with a lopsided smile.
"Don't even think about it, I almost had a similar situation," Rainbow growled, frowning.
"How so?" the farmer asked, leaning slightly towards her.
"Never mind," replied with a wave of her hand, but then looked directly at her. "But you still ask me for permission," said with narrowed eyes.
Applejack looked back at her, a flash of tension in her eyes. "You're my partner, I have to do this," replied with a slight nod.
"It's like those times when I have to text you as soon as I get home so you know I'm home," the sport girl commented, raising an eyebrow in an annoyed frown.
"It's not just because you're my girlfriend, I want to know you got home okay," the farm girl said firmly, her voice softer but firm.
"Argh, let's leave it here," Rainbow huffed, standing up and adjusting her backpack. "I just hope Miss Disaster's tricks don't rub off on you," added as she began to take a few steps. "I'm going to class, see you later."
"Running away from your problems," Applejack muttered before standing up and heading to her class.
Hours passed between classes, homework, and the usual hallway murmurs. The day seemed to move quickly, and before they knew it, it was already lunchtime.
Pinkie and Rarity were at the dressmaker's usual table. After several insistences from the party girl, the dressmaker finally told her what Feather had said to her before receiving the slap.
"Wow, he was too forward," commented after swallowing a spoonful of her lunch.
Rarity pursed her lips briefly. "And thanks to my ring, he got a little bruise," said, showing her hand with a satisfied smile.
"Yeah, I've seen it. The cutie goes around getting stares for it," Pinkie replied with a giggle. "I won't say 'I told you so', but well... I also kind of encouraged you to give him a chance."
The dressmaker arched an eyebrow. "Maybe I was too naive to think he had a soft side."
The party girl watched her for a moment before speaking. "So, you were really going to give her a chance? But hey, don't close yourself off to possibilities. You've got this girl, Valencia, behind you."
Rarity let out a small laugh. "I don't know... I'll admit she's attractive."
"If something happens between you two, I'll be the first to know," Pinkie said, briefly pointing her fork at her.
"And will you give me your blessing?" the curly-haired girl teased with a smile.
"Possibly..." replied, winking at her, which got another laugh from the seamstress.
Pinkie rested her elbows on the table and clasped her hands together, thoughtful. "Should I ask her why I think she got angry?" thought, watching as Rarity took another spoonful of her lunch.
"Oh, I don't know! I wouldn't even know how to start with the subject," said to herself, letting go of her hands and focusing back on her food. "Maybe I should focus on my next mission: getting Rarity to sit at our table."
It was time for the next class. They exchanged a smile before saying goodbye, each heading to their respective classrooms. And so the last hour of the day passed.
Fluttershy arrived at the animal shelter, enjoying the calm atmosphere that always comforted her. As she entered, she saw a couple near the adoption area, filling out some forms while a volunteer held a small kitten in her arms.
"Congratulations! He'll be part of your family in a few hours," the volunteer said with a smile, handing them a pamphlet on basic care.
The animal lover smiled at the scene and continued on her way.
"Oh, Fluttershy!" called one of her companions, a young adult in uniform who had just finished cleaning a cage.
"Hello, Discord," greeted kindly. "Did you give our friends any food?"
"For lunch time, yes. Now it's their third serving," replied, stretching a little.
"Perfect, then I'll give it to them now," Fluttershy said, taking the bucket of food once she put her backpack away.
As she walked deeper into the shelter, she gently scattered the food around as she watched her adorable friends flutter around her. The quietness of the place always helped her think clearly, and today, her mind kept wandering back to the night of the party.
Rarity had been very brave. Fluttershy had yet to find a way to 'talk' to her.
"Mmm..." muttered to herself, taking her rabbit Angel into her arms and petting him. "Another way, but... how?"
"How?" A familiar voice echoed behind her.
Fluttershy jumped slightly; Discord had a habit of appearing out of nowhere, just like her hyperactive friend.
"Oh, Discord. You scared me," whispered, placing a hand on his chest.
"It's my specialty!" replied with a shrug, moving closer to observe the animals surrounding her. "But tell me, what's on the mind of adorable little Fluttershy?"
She hesitated for a moment, gently stroking Angel's ears. "I was thinking about Rarity... how to thank her."
"Rarity?" repeated, arching an eyebrow. "And who is this Rarity?"
"Oh, she's a friend... well, an old friend from school. She left one day without saying goodbye..." began to explain, but her voice trailed off as she remembered that moment.
That day, her mind was more occupied with the betrayal of weeks ago, which made the news of Rarity's departure not affect her as much... Thinking back on it now, she felt that she had been unsympathetic, but she couldn't deny that there were small moments when she missed her, especially when they did things together with the girls.
She took a deep breath, turning back to look at her coworker.
"She came back this year... it's her last year of uiversity," finished, deliberately leaving out the complicated details.
"An old friend..." Discord repeated thoughtfully. "So you're making up for lost time, huh? You went to a party and now you want to thank her for something she did?"
"Sort of..." Fluttershy set her rabbit down. "But yeah, for the party, kind of. And I don't know how to thank her."
Discord rolled his eyes and waved a hand as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
"You could just tell her, you know. Look her in the eyes and say, 'Thank you, Rarity, you saved my life!'" said dramatically, spreading his arms.
The animal lover let out a soft laugh, but shook her head. Even though her coworker meant it in jest, her words were almost literal.
"I already tried that... but I failed. So I'll try something more... discreet. I don't want to make her uncomfortable..."
Discord arched an eyebrow and leaned slightly towards her. "Let me guess... you want something simple, pretty, and that no one would notice." sighed. "How predictable."
Fluttershy smiled slightly. "Maybe... a letter," whispered, looking up at the sky. "That! A letter. I could write her something nice. That way I wouldn't have to face her directly."
The black and grey haired man looked at her in silence for a moment before cracking a sly smile.
"Always so subtle... but well, I guess it makes sense with you. Although you could write something more daring, like: 'Dear Rarity, thank you for being so... erm... divine?'"
He trailed off, clearly clueless about the personality of Fluttershy's old friend.
She shook her head with an amused sigh. "Just... 'thank you for being kind' will do, and then some," murmured as her mind already imagined the words she would put into the letter.
Discord, following her with his hands in his pockets, shook his head with a smile.
"I don't understand how you survive on such sweetness, Fluttershy... but I guess some people like simple charm."
She just smiled silently, knowing that her words, no matter how small, could still have a big impact.
The night was quiet in the Belle household, with only the soft murmur of the wind and the distant sound of crickets to be heard. Rarity, wearing a light satin robe over her pajamas, stepped out into the backyard to get some fresh air. Looking over at the garden table, she noticed the silhouette of her mother sitting there, a glass in her hand and a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Mother?" called softly, approaching curiously.
Cookie looked up and gave her a smile. "Hello, honey. I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd enjoy a drink out here."
Rarity arched an eyebrow at the bottle on the table. "Is that white wine?"
"Whiskey," her mother corrected with a mischievous smile, moving the glass back and forth slightly. "Sometimes it takes some thought."
The dressmaker sat down beside her, crossing her legs elegantly. "Well, I don't drink much, so I don't know which one is the strongest yet."
Cookie took a sip before offering the glass to her daughter. "Try it and tell me what you think."
Rarity took the glass delicately. She took a small sip and felt the liquid burn her throat, causing her to wince instantly.
"Oh, my!" exclaimed, quickly handing the glass back as she fanned herself with her hand. "Is this the strongest one?"
Her mother laughed softly. "Not for everyone, dear. There are others that are stronger."
She calmly stood up and walked over to a cabinet where she usually kept her bottles, out of Sweetie Belle's reach. She pulled one out, set it on the table, and poured some into two glasses.
"What do you think of this one?" asked, barely filling the glass for her daughter by a finger.
Rarity took a sip and immediately made a face that was more pronounced than before. "My goodness, mother!"
Cookie let out another laugh, her signature expression returning a bit. "That's right, imagine when I was your age and went to parties... The hangover the next day was the worst. Then you grow up and you'll realize there are more important things than the party."
The seamstress looked down at her half-empty glass. That comment, although said naturally, made her feel as if her mother expected her to have already reached that maturity.
"The drink you choose always depends on the occasion because of how strong they can be," she continued, moving the glass in her hands. "That's why we have medium bottles of some. If you drink more, it's another story..."
She glanced at her daughter, a little serious. "I hope I don't see you buying bottles just to drown your sorrows. Knowing you, I know you would never do that."
There was a brief silence, only broken by the sound of ice cubes in Cookie's glass.
"So... have you gotten your grades yet?" finally asked, with that motherly look that always expected the best from her daughters in academics.
Rarity fiddled with the sleeve of her robe. "I only know of a few, not so bad and not... so good."
Her mother tilted her head. "What does that mean?"
"It means I passed," sighed, "but in one in particular I was already expecting that grade, although it's not as low as I imagined... but I feel like I could have done better."
"And the most important ones?" asked with interest.
"They haven't given them to me yet."
Cookie ran a hand over her shoulder lovingly. "I understand... I know the exercise is hard for you, but you can do it. Not everything will always turn out perfect."
"I know, mother, but sometimes I feel like I'm running after everything, and I never quite catch up."
"It's normal to feel that way," her mother said in an understanding tone. "Even though you don't have all your grades yet, I'm sure you've done well."
The daughter nodded with a smile before letting out a sigh, which didn't go unnoticed by the eldest.
"And something... more outside of academics?"
Rarity bit her lip before speaking. "Well... if you're talking about my romantic life, there's a boy at the university who's been trying to win me over, so to speak. Something happened at the party, but when we talked about it... he disappointed me."
Cookie frowned, imagining what the boy could have done to disappoint her daughter.
"Then... there's a girl who's been giving me glances. I find her attractive, but I don't know... I barely know her name anymore."
The eldest raised an eyebrow. "You just got back and you've already won hearts," joked, raising her glass.
The seamstress laughed softly. "Some people joke that I'm the 'hot girl' at college."
Cookie shook her head, amused. "I don't believe that, despite not having anything serious with Feather, I was a disappointment in love." Rarity sighed and looked down. "It seems I have bad luck in love..."
"It will come, daughter. Sometimes the heart takes a while to find its owner... or maybe it already has one, but you haven't realized it yet."
"Maybe..." the seamstress whispered thoughtfully.
Cookie gently stood up, taking the bottle and locking it away again. "Time to sleep. You have classes and I work."
Rarity stood up, following her mother into the house. She watched as she put the key under the plastic wrap of the kitchen utensils, a hiding place she already knew all too well.
They both left the glasses in the sink and, after a "good night", they went to their respective rooms.
As she laid down, she thought about what they had just talked about. Not specifically about a topic, but it felt good to talk about things outside of academics. Maybe soon they could be like they were before. Besides the talks they've had, there was something that still kept them apart. She thought a little about what Pinkie had said. Maybe she was right.
And speaking of the party girl, she saw that she had a couple of messages. She answered some, while others, from guys at college who weren't of much importance, she ignored. Finally, she allowed herself to close her eyes and let sleep wash over her.
Wednesday passed in the blink of an eye. Classes seemed to drag on forever, with endless notes and assignments that required even more concentration. Between running back and forth through the crowded hallways, there was barely a moment to breathe.
By the time the last classes ended and the sun began to set, everyone was exhausted. Backpacks weighed more, and conversations were reduced to sighs of relief as everyone headed to their respective destinations.
So, Thursday arrived.
Rarity was back in the art room, sitting in her usual seat. The tables were still in place, but the teacher asked everyone to bring only their chairs to the center of the classroom, arranging them in a semi-circle to facilitate the explanation. As usual, she began with a deep reflection on art and its connection to human emotions and experiences.
"Art is not limited to just brushes and pencils," the teacher said as he walked around the center, looking at each of the students. "True art comes from life itself, from our experiences, our thoughts, the emotions that surround us... It's a whole process, and sometimes, just observing the world inspires us more than we imagine."
The classroom was silent, everyone listening attentively.
"Today I want you to explore what inspires you through photography. Take three photographs that speak to you, that make you feel something, and bring them to the next class."
"I want each of you to find something that inspires you in the world around you, something that speaks directly to your heart or the emotion you wish to convey. It's not just about a pretty picture, but something that provokes an emotion, a reaction in you. For next class, I want each of you to take at least three photos that reflect those inspirations and put them on display."
The students looked at each other, surprised by the nature of the assignment. Lyra and Bon Bon exchanged knowing glances.
Lyra, ever curious, leaned towards Bon Bon. "This is going to be fun. I'm sure I can find some interesting photos around town," whispered with a smile.
Bon Bon nodded, though with a slight expression of concern. "I'm not sure I'm that good at this... but we'll see what comes of it. I do have a place in mind, though," said, giving her a sweet smile, causing Lyra to lean in and rest on her shoulder.
Applejack, on the other hand, crossed her arms. "Photos, huh? I'm not much of a fan of that, but I'm sure I can find something that speaks to me."
She wasn't much for looking for inspiration outside of practical things. She thought maybe she could find something farm-related, something genuine that captured the essence of her everyday life.
Sunset smiled excitedly, already accustomed to the idea of finding inspiration in the most unusual things. "This could be interesting. Sometimes a picture can say so much more than any words," she told the farmer, who nodded.
"I'm hoping to find something that makes me click instantly," Applejack said, gesturing with her finger as if she had a camera.
Starlight looked thoughtful, as if she was already searching her mind for something she could capture. "I'm going to make sure I find images that express exactly what I want to convey."
"Somewhere you'll find... I have a place in mind, but I'm not sure," Rarity said. She thought she might find something visual that spoke to what she was feeling now, something that reflected the complexity of her emotions.
Class continued, but the task of finding an inspiring photo seemed to have left a sense of intrigue in the air. What would each of them find? What aspects of their lives would be reflected in the images they selected?
Minutes later, the teacher ended the class, giving some advice on composition and how to observe the world with a more attentive eye. "Remember, art is everywhere. Don't limit yourself to the obvious. Look for what moves you."
Rarity left the classroom, waving goodbye to the girls. Turning her head in the opposite direction, she found Applejack leaning against the wall.
"Are you always going to be waiting for me like this, or did you find your inspiration?" joked with a smile.
"Of course you would be my inspiration," replied sarcastically, pushing away from the wall. "I'm not going to remind you, but just being here already gives you today's reminder... if you dare."
With that, she turned around and disappeared into the crowd that filled the halls.
"You have so many things to say..." Rarity muttered to herself before pulling out her phone. "I hope he's not in class..." whispered as she quickly typed a text to her sister.
Once it was sent, she nodded in satisfaction. "There. So he'll come after school and be free with Apple Bloom... if he came at all."
With that in mind, she put her phone away and headed off to drop off her things before her next class.
The hallway was filled with students after the last hour before lunch. Fluttershy walked along with the group, listening to Twilight talk about an assignment. However, as she passed by another hallway, she spotted Rarity, who was talking with Lyra and Bon Bon. Her pace slowed instinctively, and her mind returned to the letter in her backpack. She didn't notice the bluenette walking past, thinking that the pinkette would follow her along with some of her friends.
Nerves suddenly took over her. Without thinking much and with a sudden movement, she pushed who she believed to be Twilight towards the nearest door: the girls' bathroom.
"Hey, what—!" a voice from her friends protested, but before she could finish the sentence, they both stumbled inside.
The group stopped, noticing the sudden absence of two of their members.
"Wow, first Starlight and now Fluttershy," Twilight commented curiously, remembering that, days ago, while she was talking to Starlight, she disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"And Dash? Where could they have gone?" asked Applejack, looking back.
"Should we look for them?" suggested Sunset.
"But where?" the farmer questioned.
"The bathroom, perhaps," Pinkie suggested naturally, noticing how the door moved slightly, as if someone had entered.
"Pinkie, this place is a coming and going; anyone could have entered without us noticing," said Twilight with an analytical look.
"You're right... we better wait for them at lunch," replied the party girl, walking with the others.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, the impact wasn't strong, but it was enough to destabilize them. Rainbow stumbled forward slightly, managing to steady herself by leaning on the sink with her hand. However, as she leaned back to regain her balance, she ended up sitting on the edge, with Fluttershy right in front of her.
The two were silent for a moment. The multicolored girl blinked, her gaze meeting the nervous eyes of her friend, who was too close.
"Uh... Fluttershy?" muttered, with a mix of surprise and confusion.
"Sorry, sorry! I thought you were Twilight!" said quickly, moving away slightly, though still blocking the space.
Rainbow arched an eyebrow. "So... you wanted to end it with Twilight like this?" teased, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous smile.
"Of course not! And... I didn't think we'd end up like this," Fluttershy replied, blushing.
"And why did you need her so badly that you had to drag her to the bathroom... like this?" asked curiously, pointing at the position they were in.
The pinkette hesitated for a moment. "Uh... um... Do you remember what we talked about doing it my way?"
"Let me guess," said, relaxing a bit. "You're still stuck with Belle."
Fluttershy nodded shyly.
Rainbow sighed. Holding back a bit, but she was making an effort to be able to talk to her friend. Fluttershy began to tell her about the letter.
"So... you wrote her a thank you letter and you don't know how to deliver it, right?"
The shy girl nodded again.
"Put it through the locker slot," Rainbow suggested with a confident smile.
"Through the crack?" repeated, processing the thought. A small smile appeared on her face. "That's... thanks, Dash. Would you join me?"
The multicolored girl let out a laugh. "Wow, you sure are nervous, huh?"
"It took me a whole day to decide if I had put the right words," Fluttershy confessed, feeling the weight of her indecision.
Rainbow laughed, but a clearing of the throat interrupted the moment. They both turned their heads towards the entrance, where two familiar girls were looking at them with amused smiles.
"Wow, girls... if you needed privacy, you could wait after class," Lyra commented, stifling a laugh.
"Good thing we found you... if anyone else saw you, who knows what they'd think," Bon Bon added, winking.
The two friends looked at each other, noticing their position and realizing how compromising it was. Rainbow was still sitting at the sink, while Fluttershy had practically cornered her.
They both quickly separated, taking a step back and blushing completely.
"In any case, it's not what it seems," the sportswoman said, lowering her head.
"We were just talking," the pink-haired girl added with a shaky voice.
"If I didn't know you well, I'd think otherwise. But I know you're friends... unless you broke up with Applejack and started something with—" Lyra said in a mischievous tone.
"No, no, no...!" Fluttershy exclaimed, waving her hands in desperation. "They're together, I wouldn't want them to be separated by a misunderstanding."
Rainbow cleared her throat. "If this is over, we're leaving."
Without wasting any more time, they both hurriedly left the bathroom, stumbling a bit in the process. The animal lover covered her face, feeling the heat reaching her ears.
As they walked back, the multicolored girl muttered, "Ugh... it's a good thing it was them and not some other girls. They'd think we were doing weird things in the bathroom."
"I didn't mean to..." whispered, embarrassed.
Rainbow sighed, crossing her arms. "Relax, it's okay. Just, next time, pull my arm and I'll know you want to talk about something."
She cleared her throat, however, feeling that her blush hadn't completely disappeared yet.
They headed into the cafeteria, where a bustle filled the air as soon as they opened the door. As they made their way through the tables, they made their way to where their friends were already standing, chatting as they waited with their trays ready.
Seeing them arrive, Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Where did you guys go?" asked curiously.
"We were in the bathroom," Fluttershy replied softly as she sat down.
Pinkie, smirking, pointed at her bespectacled friend excitedly. "I told you so!" exclaimed, as if she had just won a bet.
Twilight sighed, rolling her eyes. "The chances of it actually being them were one in a million," muttered more to herself than to the others.
Sunset chuckled and crossed her arms before looking at the newcomers. "Did something happen for them to disappear like that?"
Rainbow shrugged as she set her tray down on the table and took a seat. "Fluttershy needed some advice," replied simply, as if that explained everything.
The girls exchanged glances, but Fluttershy, instead of adding anything, just nodded discreetly.
"I hope that put you at ease," Applejack commented before beginning to eat, followed by the rest of the group.
The hours passed, marking the end of another day of school. The athlete walked behind Fluttershy, who dragged her with evident nervousness through the halls. In her hands, the shy girl held a carefully folded letter, holding it as if it could fall apart at any moment.
"You know you could have done it after lunch," the multicolored girl said, trying not to sound impatient.
The pink-haired girl nodded shyly. "I didn't think about it at the time... but we're here now, I just want her to read it. Nothing has to happen after..." Although, in her thoughts, the idea that maybe something else could happen was passing by. Maybe chat, although not necessarily about the letter.
They reached a row of lockers, luckily this part was half empty, Fluttershy began to advance slowly, inspecting each one cautiously.
"Which is your locker? Which is your locker?!" She suddenly exclaimed, shaking Rainbow, though not as intensely as Pinkie would.
"Calm down, Fluttershy!" Rainbow took her by the shoulders firmly, trying to calm her down. "Just breathe. Just leave the letter and that's it."
The girl nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay... so, which one is it?"
The athlete rolled her eyes and scanned the lockers until one caught her attention. With a half smile, she pointed to a locker adorned with three sparkling diamonds.
"Who else at university loves being the center of attention enough to personalize their locker?" asked, crossing her arms.
Fluttershy blinked and blushed slightly. "Oh..." muttered, embarrassed for not having noticed it before.
"Come on, put the letter in and let's go," the multicolored girl urged, nodding her head.
The pinkette slid the envelope through the locker's slot carefully. "Ready..." She then gently pulled her friend. "Now we hide and confirm that she received it."
"What?"
Before Rainbow could protest, footsteps were heard approaching. They both hurriedly hid behind a nearby pillar. They saw a shadow approaching. They hoped it was the seamstress, but...
Rarity headed to her locker. She knew the party was still being talked about; luckily, her bad school days ago didn't spread through rumors. What happened at the party was still the main topic of conversation, especially for those who missed the Halloween celebration.
Rumors were just that, rumors. She knew the truth, but still, sometimes it was exhausting to be asked the same thing over and over again and always having to repeat the same words.
Reaching her locker, she sighed as she saw Feather waiting for her. The bruise on her cheek was visible proof of their last conversation. She didn't need to guess why he was there; he would surely try to insist on fixing things, but the answer wouldn't change.
"Rarity, I know you were upset by what I said," the brunette began in a tone that tried to sound sincere.
"Upsetting me is an understatement," she said, crossing her arms.
The two friends exchanged glances. "Sunset and I think she said something out of line," Fluttershy whispered.
"For her to have gotten that slap she mentioned... I'll bet she did," Rainbow murmured.
The seamstress cocked her head. "So what are you doing here? Are you going to criticize me for hurting your pretty little face?"
Feather pointed at her bruise. "Look how you left me. Do you know how they look at me now?"
The multicolored one arched an eyebrow. "How vain... he reminds me of someone," whispered, crossing her arms.
Rarity sighed with a slight wry smile. "My goodness, Feather... It's like looking in the mirror years ago."
Rainbow looked at the ceiling as if remembering. "Vain is an understatement... obsessive is lacking..." whispered.
"Dash, I think she learned from that obsession," Fluttershy whispered.
Feather snorted. "Do you have any idea what a mark it'll leave on me? And you only think about yourself."
The seamstress softened her tone. "Believe me, I thought the same as you or worse... I looked in the mirror all the time... Well, I still do, it's part of my charm," said, adjusting her hair elegantly.
The animal lover let out a small laugh, while the multicolored one just rolled her eyes. But something about what Rarity had said made her frown.
"If you keep thinking of yourself like that..." Rarity continued, looking at him seriously, "you'll end up alone, with no one to count on."
Fluttershy looked down at those words. Then, she turned her gaze to Rainbow, who seemed more focused than expected.
The boy slumped his shoulders, ignoring the seamstress's words. "I guess that's a no... I hope that one day we can be something more."
With that, he walked away, and Rarity sighed.
"How insensitive... How can there be people who don't know how to listen?" muttered to herself before opening her locker.
As she did, a letter fell to the floor. Fluttershy tensed, lightly clinging to Rainbow's arm, who just watched with a frown.
Rarity crouched down and picked it up curiously, looking around as if hoping to find some clue about the sender.
The multicolored girl turned to her friend urgently. "Tell me you put your name on it."
"Umm... not on the envelope," whispered.
"What? Fluttershy!" Rainbow almost despaired, but Fluttershy quickly interrupted her.
"I put it on the letter... at the end."
The sportswoman sighed. "Well, then... mission somewhat accomplished."
"Somewhat?" Fluttershy asked.
"Now you have to wait for me to read it," replied, turning her gaze to Rarity, who was still staring at the envelope with a slight frown.
The pink-haired girl sighed. "Just wait..."
Seeing Rainbow's expression, who now seemed immersed in her thoughts, she gently tugged on her arm to walk away.
"Thanks for accompanying me," murmured with a smile.
Rainbow didn't respond immediately. The seamstress's words echoed in her mind.
"You'll end up alone, with no one to count on."
She frowned as she shoved her hands into her pockets. "No one to count on..." repeated in her mind, as if she couldn't get them out of her head.
It's not like she cared what Rarity thought, but... did she really have no one else? When she left town, didn't she make any new friends? Was there no one, outside of her family, to turn to?
If so, what did that mean? Had everything she'd done in the past left her alone?
She clenched her fists, frustrated. She didn't want to feel sorry for her. Not after everything that happened. But... if she thought about it, the others no longer treated her with the same rejection as before... and her friend at her side was a clear example, as was Pinkie Pie.
How much had she held on to resentment to not see like the others?
She didn't want to think about it too much. But Rarity's words kept echoing in her head, leaving a strangely heavy feeling in her chest.
She nodded to her friend and the two of them finally walked away from the place.
For her part, Rarity put the envelope in her backpack and, with what she needed, closed it, ready to leave. But just as she closed the metal door and turned around, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her.
She instinctively stepped back, bumping into her own locker in surprise.
"Vignette! Oh my God!" exclaimed, bringing a hand to her chest.
The girl smiled charmingly, with that flirtatious tone that seemed part of her nature.
"Oh, Rarity..." said in a playful tone. "We lost in basketball, but that's not the only thing you lost at."
Vignette moved a little closer, with that carefree but calculated attitude that characterized her.
"So... beating up Feather for a bad comment, huh?"
Rarity stood her ground, although she couldn't help the discomfort that the girl's presence caused her. "It wasn't what I expected," replied calmly, not losing her attitude.
Vignette smiled, leaning slightly towards her. "Look at that... now all that's left is for you to fall and see if something comes up."
The seamstress didn't flinch at her flirtatious comments. Although her attractiveness did little to help, she didn't feel anything for her.
"I'm sorry, but... I don't have time for this," said softly, but firmly.
Vignette arched an eyebrow, and although her smile remained, her eyes revealed that she had noticed the tension.
"I understand... sooner or later, something will happen and I'll be there, you'll see," whispered, playing with a lock of Rarity's hair between her fingers.
The wavy-haired girl felt the slight blush rise to her cheeks, but she wasn't willing to give in to something superficial.
"I doubt anything will happen that would make me turn to you," said with a sly smile.
She didn't expect Vignette to be so insistent... she looked too much like Feather, and that wasn't exactly a good thing.
The short-haired girl pretended to be offended, bringing a hand to her chest dramatically. "That almost hurt," said before straightening up and walking away. "Take care of yourself, Rarity."
As Vignette disappeared into the crowd, Rarity stood silent for a few seconds. She knew some students had been watching the interaction, but she paid them no mind.
She sighed, adjusting her bag on her shoulder and backpack in one hand as she walked.
"If Feather managed to be a disappointment to me... would Vignette be one too? Or could it be different?"
For now, he had no intention of finding out. So he headed for the locker room near the infield.
When she arrived she saw Applejack leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. Does this girl really not know any other poses?
"Wow, you didn't chicken out," said, lifting her head.
"Funny," Rarity said, narrowing her eyes. "I thought you'd be ready by now."
"Yeah, but if you didn't come I wouldn't be changed for something that wouldn't happen."
"Of course that was it," the dressmaker thought, shaking her head. "Okay, cowgirl, let's get changed."
This time it was Applejack who narrowed her eyes, watching as she entered the dressing room. And, although there were only two of them, each one went to a different side, where there was a wall that didn't reach the ceiling.
The court was silent, save for the echo of the two's footsteps as they walked. The farmer girl had a calm smile on her face. Rarity, on the other hand, looked a little nervous, adjusting her ponytail to keep her hair out of her face.
"Where do we start?"
"Make sure you lace up your sneakers properly first," the blonde said, glancing at Rarity's laces.
"My sneakers?" repeated, arching an eyebrow.
"Yeah. You don't want to trip like the other day and wave at the ground or slip and accidentally get slapped when you're about to throw the ball to your opponent," Applejack commented with her arms crossed.
"Are you talking about that day or... you had an experience I missed," Rarity said, almost mockingly.
Applejack played it cool. "I never said it happened to me," muttered, looking away.
"Okay," the seamstress replied with amusement, bending down to adjust her laces.
The farm girl didn't continue the conversation and simply waited in silence.
"Done," said as she stood up.
"First, the basics," Applejack said, easily pulling the cart over and pulling out a ball. In one smooth motion, she tossed it to her. "Let's work on your ball handling."
Rarity caught the ball with both hands, somewhat clumsily. "Go ahead," sighed, already feeling out of her element.
Applejack smiled slightly and began to demonstrate some basic moves. "Look, you just have to avoid the cones by going one way or the other," explained as she expertly bounced the ball.
The seamstress took position and tried to imitate her, zig-zagging as best she could. However, every time the ball bounced out of control, she frowned in frustration.
They did some other exercises and after several failed attempts, Applejack let out a soft laugh. "Not bad, but I think we need a break before you fall apart," commented as she noticed the seamstress looking somewhat tired.
Rarity nodded gratefully and plopped down on the bench. She fanned herself with her hand, breathing heavily from exhaustion. Meanwhile, Applejack stood to the side, leaning on the ball, but leaned over a little, checking to see if the girl had brought water, which was necessary for any exercise.
"Don't tell me you didn't bring water," said mockingly.
Rarity forced a small smile, though she couldn't help but grimace slightly. "Of course I did, I just... I just..." replied, trying to keep her composure.
Applejack let out a small laugh and shook her head. "Stay here, I'll get some water."
Without waiting for an answer, she left the court and headed to the area where there was a water container. As she grabbed two glasses to fill them, her attention was caught by a group of girls who were chatting animatedly a few meters away.
"Did you see Feather's face?"  
"We don't even know what happened to make Rarity react like that."  
"Well, it's not like he's a saint, there's surely a reason."
Applejack frowned slightly. Although she didn't pay attention to the entire conversation, a few words were enough to remind her of what happened. It's not that she had forgotten what they were saying, but until now she hadn't stopped to think about it too much.
She finished filling the glasses and walked back to Rarity, who was still resting. Without saying anything, she handed her one. Then, she took a sip of her own and held up the ball she had left on the bench.
"Thanks," said, taking a sip immediately.
For a moment, the silence between them was comfortable, until Applejack decided to break the calm.
"Can I ask you a question?" asked cautiously, not taking her eyes off the ball.
Rarity looked up. "Of course."
The farm girl looked down at the ball in her hands, slowly turning it between her fingers, as if she were preparing for something important. "Why did you do the party thing?"
The dressmaker cocked her head, confused, a little surprised by the question. "Could you be more specific?"
Applejack hesitated before speaking, tapping the ball with her thumbs as if she were searching for the right words. "Feather..."
"Feather?" repeated, frowning. "You think I'm with him like some people think?"
"Not exactly that," said, moving the ball in her hands, nervously seeking eye contact. "I mean, knowing that rumors circulate at the university, you go and make out with Feather."
The curly-haired girl blinked. "First, how was I supposed to know that rumors also arise outside of class time? And second, I was just having fun. It wasn't serious," said, crossing her arms firmly, as if she were defending her position.
"Having fun?" repeated incredulously, arching an eyebrow. "Is making out with someone and not being serious fun?"
"I don't understand what bothers you. I've done it several times when I've been out of town," the seamstress revealed, raising an eyebrow and looking at Applejack with a challenging smile.
"You what!?" exclaimed, clearly upset, taking a step towards her, her face flushed with fury. "You're dating different guys again?"
Rarity stood up. "What? Did you think I was going to sit back and not move on after what we did?" asked with a frown.
The blonde gritted her teeth, slamming the ball against the ground, as if she was holding back her anger. "You have the right to move on, but why...?"
"Why what?" the seamstress asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's wrong with making out with that idiot Feather?"
"On top of that, you treat him badly. Do you just have fun making out with someone without thinking about their feelings?" Applejack said, her voice full of frustration.
"There's a reason to call it that. Haven't you heard of people who kiss and nothing serious happens?" asked, gesturing with her hands as if to downplay the matter.
"Besides, I already cleared things up with that idiot," she added, remembering the boy with disdain, staring at the blonde.
Applejack raised an eyebrow, challenging her. "If it's nothing serious, tell the rumors."
"I don't care what they say, because I know the truth," Rarity said, facing her firmly.
"Yeah, right, because you've always known how to handle other people's feelings well," the farmer said sarcastically, crossing her arms.
The curly-haired girl narrowed her eyes at the tone of her voice. "Believe me, it was the first thing I thought. Then I talked to him. And you know why I call him an idiot?" said, staring into her eyes, not looking away. "I told him not to think the wrong things. Although, in my mind, I did consider being with him, look at my disappointment when he asks me if I want to 'move to the next stage and go to bed'..."
Applejack relaxed her expression a little, processing Rarity's words. She ran a hand over the back of her neck, feeling the awkwardness of the situation.
"That idiot," said, shaking her head and looking down at the floor. "Sorry... I'd forgotten what a womanizer he was and how he tends to notice the prettiest girls. You're one of those girls," she admitted, somewhat embarrassed, avoiding looking at her.
The seamstress blinked, clearly surprised, and looked away as she felt heat on her cheeks, touching her hair nervously. "Yeah, that's why I ignored him at first. Then I gave him a chance and realized what he was really interested in."
Applejack curved a slight smile, feeling relief. "Better late than never."
"Is that a compliment?"asked, looking back at her, a slight smile on his face.
"What would be the compliment?" replied, leaning slightly towards her, with a half smile. "You can take it as one, though."
Rarity ran a hand over her mouth, hiding a smile before changing the subject. "Let's get back to practice, shall we?"
The blonde nodded and nodded toward the court.
Back on the court, Applejack had her repeat the same drills. The farm girl could see some progress until it was time to shoot a basket.
"Show me what you got," said, passing her a ball.
Rarity held the ball as she thought she should and threw it up, but missed miserably.
"Looks like we're going to need more balls," Applejack commented with a smile, walking over to the cart and bringing the balls back with ease.
Rarity tried a few more times under the blonde's guidance, following her instructions to the letter.
Applejack watched her closely and had an idea. "May I?"
"What exactly?" asked, picking up another ball from the ground.
"To teach you how to position your hands to shoot properly," explained, moving closer.
Rarity nodded with some hesitation. "Sure..."
Applejack stood behind her, placing her firm hands on Rarity's to guide her movement. The seamstress immediately tensed, feeling the warmth of the farmer's hands.
"What... what are you doing?" asked nervously.
"Relax," replied matter-of-factly. "Just follow my lead. Bend your elbows a little..."
Rarity felt a hot blush rise to her ears as her mind clouded from the closeness. "Uhh... I think I can try it myself."
Applejack took a step back, watching her curiously. "Everything okay?"
"Of course," replied quickly, trying to compose herself. "I just... trust that I can do it."
Applejack cocked her head, somewhat intrigued, but didn't press the issue. As Rarity tried to concentrate on shooting the basket, the blonde couldn't help but notice her strange behavior.
"What's wrong with her?" thought.
She showed her a new set of throws to help her improve, though the seamstress seemed more interested in avoiding physical contact than perfecting her technique.
The curly-haired one, keeping a safe distance, picked up the loose balls and placed them in the storage basket.
When she ran out of balls on the floor, Applejack pointed to the basket. "We're going to need more."
But before she could move, Rarity quickly stepped forward. "No, no, I'll go instead," said with hurried enthusiasm, trying to hide her nervousness.
Applejack crossed her arms with a confident smile. "Don't make me laugh, it's too heavy for you." Though a thought crossed her mind as she approached. "Maybe she needs to improve her strength to move forward."
Rarity frowned, determined to prove otherwise. "Please, of course I can."
She leaned down to push the cart closer, but underestimated its weight. She barely moved it a few inches before losing her balance as she tripped over her own foot.
"...!" She felt her body lean dangerously forward.
Before she could fall, a pair of strong arms held her firmly by the waist. The warm presence behind her was unmistakable. The blonde had caught her just in time, and now they were both too close to ignore.
Rarity stood still, her heart beating wildly. Applejack, sensing the closeness, perceived the sweet, enveloping scent of the girl filling her senses. Her face was dangerously close to her neck, and as she raised her head, she briefly met the seamstress's gaze. She immediately looked away as Rarity straightened her feet.
"You know... we better call it a day," the farmer said, holding her breath.
"I-I agree... Will you let me go?" asked, still feeling the warmth of her arms.
"Yeah, yeah, sure." Applejack released her immediately, looking away at the ground and placing her hands on her waist.
"Another day we'll continue," Rarity said before hurrying off the court.
She watched her out of the corner of her eye as the dressmaker disappeared through the door. She let out a heavy sigh and muttered under her breath,
"Lavender... Has it always smelled like lavender? I've never been close enough to notice it... Well, not counting the event, but I don't remember it smelling... or I've just never noticed."
She let out another sigh.
"Damn. Even with the sweat and everything... it still smells like lavender."
After changing, Applejack found herself outside waiting for Rarity for some reason. There was something she still couldn't get out of her mind.
When the girl appeared, breathing a little heavily from the effort of the practice, the blonde intercepted her with a slight smile.
"How are those muscles growing? I can see you with them," joked with a half smile.
Rarity smiled with a somewhat tired but satisfied look. "If they're going to grow with the little I do, I should be worried."
They both began to walk together, immersed in a silence that, far from being uncomfortable, was almost relaxing. Applejack glanced at the seamstress and decided to break it.
"You're getting better. Who knows, at this rate you could even beat me in a one-on-one."
Rarity let out a soft laugh. "I doubt that will happen... although never underestimate my power."
"Which one? The one of elegance?"
The wavy-haired girl shook her head, smiling before taking the opportunity to thank her.
"Thanks for your help and for not leaving me there lying there... in general, not just because of what happened last time," said, clearing her throat. "I thought I could never be good at this, but... I guess it's progress."
Applejack smiled slightly at her words and lightly punched her shoulder with a playful touch.
"It's nothing. I see you in the top ten already."
The contact caught her off guard, and unintentionally, Rarity felt a small tickle that made her look away for a moment. The farmer, for her part, felt a slight heat in her cheeks, but she didn't give it much importance. Although, now that she thought about it, it was the second time she had done something similar.
The seamstress, composing herself, smiled softly. "As a reward, I could stop joking with you..."
Applejack raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Uhh, would you really?"
"Maybe just... without the vampire and hunter jokes," Rarity said with a half smile.
"I like that," replied.
They both continued walking, enjoying the cool evening breeze as they stepped outside. The wavy-haired girl let out a sigh before speaking again.
"I hope the next one isn't the target."
The blonde gestured with her fingers, showing a small space between them. "You have your ups and downs, but I saw some progress."
"You can fall sometimes, but never give up," Rarity said with a small smile.
Applejack glanced at her out of the corner of her eye and nodded. There was that determined look again. She hesitated a little but decided to turn her head a little more and, for a second, their eyes met. There was something about that moment, something that even they couldn't quite define.
"Applejack! Rarity!" Apple Bloom called from the doorway, approaching with Sweetie Belle behind her.
Applejack turned towards the sound and saw her sister with a smile.
"Rarity, why did you leave this side? I looked almost everywhere for you, until Apple Bloom suggested coming here," her sister said with a slightly reproachful expression.
Rarity blinked, looked around in surprise, and then laughed softly. "Wow, it seems I got carried away and didn't even realize you were here," said as she noticed they were in the parking lot instead of the front door.
"If you want to save yourself the trip, you could take the bus. You can go through the car exit, take it as a shortcut," the youngest Apple suggested with a smile.
"Thanks, Apple Bloom," the seamstress said as she began to say goodbye. "See you tomorrow... Applejack," added, adjusting her hair a bit before walking away with her sister, who waved goodbye.
That gesture with her hair made the farmer blink, who faintly remembered the incident on the field. She just nodded in farewell while her sister also waved before going to the truck.
The Belle sisters walked together to the bus stop. The youngest talked animatedly about her day, while Rarity listened with a slight smile, although her mind wandered.
Applejack, still in the unlit truck, watched them in silence. She leaned against the door, absentmindedly rubbing the back of her neck as she watched the girl walk away. A sigh escaped her lips without realizing it.
"Applejack?"
Apple Bloom's voice brought her out of her thoughts. Her younger sister watched her from the backseat with a curious expression.
Without thinking too much, Applejack blurted out, "Do you think Sweetie Belle knows what perfume her sister uses?"
The younger girl blinked, confused. "What?"
The blonde blinked rapidly and shook her head. "Nothing, nothing, forget it. Let's go," said hastily and then started the engine, looking ahead.
Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow, but didn't insist. "If you say so..."
As they were crossing the exit, Applejack couldn't help but take one last look at the pair of sisters before leaving the parking lot.
Rarity and Sweetie Belle entered the house after the tiring day. The younger one hurriedly took off her shoes and headed to the kitchen in search of something to eat, while the older one dropped down on the couch with a long sigh.
She was going to take her cell phone out of her backpack, but she came across the envelope she had found in her locker. It had no return address or name in sight, which piqued her curiosity. She looked at it for a moment, her fingers playing with the flap before gently opening it.
Inside was a carefully folded sheet of paper. When she unfolded it, the first thing the letter said was: [Dear Rarity.] She made a face with her lips and thought it could be from Feather in an attempt to apologize for what she considered throwing it away.
Although before assuming it, she remembered that if she thought the boy had a sensitive side that he never showed, then the letter must be from someone else. She decided to continue reading.
"Dear Rarity,  
I don't know how to start this, or how to say it in person. My hands still shake writing it, but I need to thank you. Thank you for what you did that night. I can't stop thinking about what could have happened if you hadn't been there.
You were quick, brave... You always have been. I... I was so naive, I didn't even realize what was happening. I don't know if anyone else would have noticed, but you did. And that scares me as much as it relieves me.
I want you to know that no matter what happened between us in the past, I will always be grateful to you. I don't know if I can say it to your face, but I hope you can feel it with this letter.
Lovingly,  
Fluttershy."
Rarity was shocked by what she had just read. She went over the words again and again, as if she wanted to make sure her eyes weren't deceiving her and she was really reading the right thing.
That night... the image of the glass falling to the floor, the liquid spilling, Fluttershy's shocked expression, and the firmness in her own voice as she pointed out the man who tried to take advantage of her friend... if she could even consider her that anymore. It all came back to her mind.
She closed her eyes, pressing the letter to her chest, feeling a small tear slide down her cheek. She had reacted on instinct at the time, without thinking, without hesitation. But now, seeing Fluttershy's words written with such feeling, she realized how deep it had been for her.
"Rarity?"
Sweetie Belle peeked her head out from the kitchen with a cookie in her hand. "Are you okay?" asked, as she heard a sigh.
The seamstress dabbed her eyes elegantly and gave her a calm smile. "Yes, dear, I'm fine... just remembering something."
The younger girl tilted her head, but eventually shrugged and went back into the kitchen.
Rarity looked at the letter one more time before carefully folding it. She wasn't sure what she should do next, but something inside her made her feel hopeful... hope that things would work out with the girls was growing ever stronger.
She set the letter down on the table and sank into the couch, allowing a shaky sigh to escape her lips.
"You're welcome and thank you, Fluttershy..." whispered to herself.
The night passed in the blink of an eye, and before she knew it, the next day had arrived. Rarity, after a brief conversation with her parents the night before, still felt the weight of the letter in her hands as she walked through the halls of the university.
The envelope, now slightly wrinkled from holding it for so long, bore witness to everything she had felt upon reading it. She didn't plan on talking to the girls or getting too close, she just wanted to make sure Fluttershy knew she had received her message.
She took a hallway she knew the six of them usually walked down upon arriving from the parking lot. Her footsteps echoed softly against the ground, and although she kept her gaze straight ahead, she could feel the gazes falling on her. For an instant, time seemed to slow down, as if the universe was holding its breath.
She slightly lifted the letter in her hand, just enough for Fluttershy to notice it. The pink-haired girl looked up and was met with a subtle nod from the seamstress. Nothing more needed to be said.
The slight smile that appeared on Rarity's lips was all the animal lover needed to understand. She had accomplished her goal.
The others, not knowing exactly who the smile was directed at, reacted in different ways. Pinkie Pie waved her hand vigorously in greeting; Applejack looked away, not out of indifference, but for another reason. Sunset and Twilight, upon receiving Rarity's gaze, showed no discomfort.
Fluttershy, for her part, smiled back, soft but genuine, feeling relief in her chest. Rainbow Dash looked at the seamstress and then at her friend, noticing the happiness on her face. Unable to help herself, she smiled too.
As if the speed had simply returned to normal, Rarity continued on her way, disappearing among the students who filled the hallway.
The group remained silent, watching the seamstress's figure walk away. No one said anything, but Fluttershy felt that something, however small, had changed.
Maybe... just maybe, things could start to change for the better.
Author's Note
Hello everyone again... I actually uploaded the previous chapter officially last week but I just uploaded the current one yesterday so I translated it within the deadline. I hope you like the chapter!
I know I didn't mention it in the previous one, but yes, the course or the complete degree of the Crusaders are going away for a while.
For those who are waiting for answers... it's almost over, it's almost over.
That would be all. The next chapter is almost finished, I just need a few more things and I hope to bring it sooner. See you next time!