Talking To My Friends.

Princess Twilight followed Rainbow Dash to the CHS (Canterlot High School) parking lot where most of Mrs. Harshwinny's first period class was hanging out.

Lyra Heartstrings and Sweetdrops were cuddling on the hood of their black convertible and watching the clouds go by.

Bulk Biceps was arm wrestling Flash Sentry and Curly Winds at the same time. He yelled, "Yeaaahh!" as he pinned both opponents.

Vinyl Scratch, Water Melody, Micro Chips and Muffins danced around a boom box in Mrs. Harshwinny's empty parking space.

A trendy looking girl sat on the hood of a blue pickup truck. One of her long fingers was wrapped tightly in her long purple hair. She had a captive audience as she gave tips on what to wear to the fall formal. She was taller than Twilight but still short for her age. Her cheeks were a bit chubby, but it made her look more regal as if she was too busy for a healthy life style. She smiled at Rainbow Dash with perfect white teeth.

Rainbow Dash smiled back. "Hey Rarity."

"Hello," yelled Rarity. "I am so glad you decided to come hangout with us. I was worried you were going to spend all of first period in that small room all alone."

Rainbow blushed lightly. "This is-"

"Don't interrupt me," interrupted Rarity. "I enjoy the arts as much as anyone, some would say more, but even I think you need to take a break from playing guitar and talk to other people."

Princess Twilight took the pause to say, "Hello my name-"

"I am not done yet. The other day I was talking to some of my friends, at a party, about you. I was not talking about you specifically. I was talking about the people I know who are not as socially gifted as I am. I said, to a room full of people who were hanging on my every word, I told them 'People need to make an effort to be social. To do what comes to me so naturally takes hard work for others.' In conclusion I am glad you are making an effort. I mean you can't spend your whole life alone. My me time is precious, sacred even, but I could never become a recluse. Do you want to become a recluse? Rainbow I asked you a question!"

Rainbow had her arms crossed tightly over her chest and she was scowling. "Are you done?"

Rarity frowned. "Yes I am done."

"This is Twilight." Rainbow Dash motioned toward Princess Twilight with her head so she did not have to uncross her arms. "The one from Sunset's stories about the pony world."

"I know who she is. Half the school is talking about her. Not that you would know."

"How could anyone possibly know she is the Twilight?"

Rarity rolled her eyes. "You don't need to know things to gossip. You pretend to know things and hope you are right."

"It is nice to meet you," said Twilight quietly.

"It is a pleasure to... make new friends." Rarity flashed a fake smile before turning her attention back on Rainbow.

Twilight tried not to take the dismissal personally. "I assume Sunset never had nice things to say about me."

"Sunset never has nice things to say about anyone."

"That is not true," Rainbow interjected. "Twilight already has a negative opinion of Sunset and your exaggerating is going to make it worse."

"I don't have a negative opinion of Sunset. I never met her. And you don't have a negative opinion of me because we never met. Right?"

Rarity smiled sweetly. "Wrong."

"This is exactly why Applejack stopped hanging out with us," Rainbow spat.

"So it is all my fault then? Your moping about and 'I am a shadow of a person with no personality' routine didn't drive anyone away? Fluttershy didn't leave because she got tired of constantly reassuring you. She left because I... of what exactly are you accusing me?"

"You alienate everyone! You are not even giving Twilight a chance. She barely said six words and you are ready to dismiss her completely."

Rarity rolled her eyes. "As I was saying, the fall formal is a dance party so be sure you wear comfortable shoes. Nothing is less fashionable than being a party pooper."

Rainbow groaned. "Let's go! Rarity is not gong to be any help at all!"

"Hang on. I want to hear more about the dance," lied Twilight.

"Are you here to run for princess of the fall formal?" Rarity shot Twilight a furious look. "Do you want to take that crown away from Sunset too!"

"What? No. My crown was not given to me by Celestia. My crown was a gift from the tree of harmony. If Sunset was a princess she would have a completely different crown."

"It is what the crown represents."

"My crown represents the magic of friendship."

"She didn't mean your crown," said Rainbow.

"What does Sunset's crown represent?"

Rarity looked away completely. "The dance is in four days."

"Twilight does not care about the dance!"

"She asked about the dance!"

Rainbow clenched her fists. She tapped her foot against the ground every second to let Twilight and Rarity know she wanted to leave.

"The dance is called the fall formal, but everyone is going to dress semiformal," explained Rarity. "I am going to dress to the nines. Obviously. What kinds of semiformal wear do you have?"

"From the pony world!" Rainbow Dash snapped.

"Right," Rarity sighed. "I can't have you showing up the the dance in tennis shoes. I will put something together for you."

"Have you listened to a word I said!"

"I try to not."

"From the pony world! The portal will close before the dance."

"That is a shame. I am sure Sunset would have liked for you to see her crowned princess of the fall formal."

"How do you know Sunset is-" Twilight tried to ask.

"She wins every year."

"Why do you elect Sunset queen of the fall formal every year?" asked Twilight.

Rarity looked Twilight in the eyes. Her voice was soft as she said, "Because it is important to her and we love her. We hope one of these days she will see how much."

There was a long calm silence.

Rarity smiled and yelled, "Trixie, how is Sunset doing today?"

Trixie marched past Princess Twilight without giving her a second glance. She was average height and her silver hair nearly reached her knees. She quickly spun a wand with a large silver star on one end between her unusually long fingers. "She is less angry than usual. Apparently she stole a crown from some uptight princess."

Rarity smiled as she motioned toward Princess Twilight with a grand flourish. "This is Twilight. The uptight Princess from whom Sunset stole the crown."

Trixie glanced toward Twilight. "What are you doing here?"

Twilight smiled nervously. She had met dragons less intimidating than Rarity. "I came to get my crown back."

Trixie rolled her eyes. "What are you doing in the high school parking lot?"

"T-talking to Rarity," Twilight mumbled.

Trixie scoffed. "Are you going to keep stating the obvious?"

Twilight shrank back. "Sorry. I am trying to learn about Sunset so I can get my crown back before the portal closes."

Trixie snorted. "No wonder Sunset hates you. She asks for so little and when she finally finds one thing that makes her happy you come here from another reality to steal it away."

"I am not stealing my crown back!" Twilight was so mad she forgot to be self-conscious. "I am going to convince her to give it back of her own accord."

"Do you often say things like that?" asked Rarity.

Twilight confidently declared, "Yes."

Rarity frowned. "No wonder Sunset hates you."

Princess Twilight wanted to cry. They had no reason to be so mean.

Bored with the conversation, Rainbow asked, "Will you help Princess Twilight get her crown back from Sunset?"

"No," Declared Rarity. "I am Sunset's friend and I refuse to betray her like so many others. Are you going to help Twilight?"

"I will if I can. This is not about friendship. This is about right and wrong. What Sunset did is wrong. Regardless of how I feel about Sunset, I have to stay loyal to what I know is right."

Rarity scoffed. "Do you have to be so ham fisted?"

Rainbow Dash started marching away.

In a final effort to learn anything from the two girls, Twilight quickly asked, "What does Sunset's crown represent?"

Rarity said, "Love."

Rainbow spun on her heals. As if to challenge Rarity she declared, "Equality."

Rarity retorted, "Acceptance."

Rainbow yelled, "Family."

Rarity nodded. "Family."

Rainbow Dash let out a heavy sigh. "I am sorry. I don't want to fight with you. You just irritate me so much."

"The feeling is mutual."

Rarity and Rainbow broke into laughter.

Rarity reluctantly smiled at Princess Twilight. She held up a finger to let everyone know she was not going to repeat herself. "Sunset is not an obstacle you can overcome. She can not be reasoned with, or bargained with or 'fixed'. She has made her decisions and she is happy with them. Well she isn't happy, but she is going to stand by her choices. This is not Meghan McCarthy's movie or G.M Berrow's book. You can not beat Sunset."

Pinkie Pie popped out from under the truck. "Are you breaking the forth wall without me?" She looked disappointed. "It's fine if you were. You don't need to include me if you don't want to."

Rarity sighed. "Hello Pinkamina."

Pinkie jumped and looked around frantically. "Where!" She smiled brightly. "I am joking. I know you were talking to me."

"As I was saying," continued Rarity. "Sunset is not your enemy. You will make far more progress helping her than you will opposing her."

"How can I help her?"

"If I knew that we would not need you."

Pinkie Pie looped her arms around one of Princess Twilight's. She pulled Twilight into the school.

Rainbow Dash sat on the hood of the truck with Rarity and Trixie.