Recently i came across two stories The Diamond in the Rough and Catchin Up which explore the consept of Twilight actually having one friend other that Spike and Cadance in Crystal prep.

These are really good consepts and i don't mind that the friendship evolved into romance but the stories felt kinda rushed. I myself would have wondered if more interactions between the two and chapters before the friendship would have helped more and maybe taking place in the alt. ending were Twilight stays in crystal prep and the students there actually start to change thanks to what happend at the friendship games