“A Friday the thirteenth in October? Now, that's just asking for trouble.”
“You can't honestly believe tha hooey!”
“I never really thought of you as the superstitious type...”
“I'm not!” Sunset got defensive, “but that doesn't mean I'm not cautious. Really, girls,” she eyed Applejack and Twilight Sparkle closely, “you know my history—my magical history? If there is any truth to what they say of Friday the thirteenth or the supposed evil spirits that wander the world at the end of the month, I would rather be prepared than end up as a hapless teen in a horror movie.”
“Okay,” Applejack scratched the back of her head, “maybe ya got somethin' there.”
Twilight let out a low growl. “You can't be agreeing with her! It's unscientific!”
“Hold on a moment, Sugarcube” Applejack held her hands up, “There's no denyin' Sunset comes from some mystical land where magic and science seem to either co-exist—or be one and the same—and there has been said magic leakin' in from tha world. Maybe, she is on-ta somethin'.
“I can agree with the logic, not the conclusion, but the logic seems sound.”
“Thank-you!” smiled Sunset, “Besides,” she leaned in and flashed a devilish grin at Twilight, “you're one to talk about stuff being 'unscientific'. What have you been doing all year?”
Twilight blushed and turned away. “Doesn't mean I don't try...” She sucked on her juice box to avoid any further conversation. Though, her drink had clearly been finished a while ago.
“So,” Applejack said, “jus' outta curiosity: how would ya protect yerself from somethin' like tha'?”
“I dunno” Sunset fiddled her food with her fork, “Honestly, I never actually thought about it till you brought it up just now.”
“Technically, Rainbow brought it up” Twilight interjected, “Have you ever seen those movies before?”
Sunset shook her head.
“I think I've have only seen one. Some good eighties' cheese.” replied Applejack, taking a bite of her sandwich, “If it's slasher ya want, I can give ya a few other choices.”
“Notice how she says that while taking a bite of a ham sandwich” Sunset whispered to Twilight, just loud enough that she was sure the farm girl would hear.
“What?” Applejack shrugged.
“Well, anyway,” Sunset pulled out her phone, “Should I text Rainbow back and tell her that we're going?”
“I'm in” nodded Applejack.
“Me too!” smiled Twilight, though there was a twinge of uncertainty in her voice. Applejack picked up on it and gave the studious girl a comforting smile.
“Don't ya worry” she winked, “Scary movies are a ton o' fun as lon' as you remember they're not really real. An' Friday the Thirteenth ain't all that scary. Yu'll find yerself laughin' more than cowerin'.”
“If you say so...”
Sunset let out a light chuckle. “Looks like we may have found Fluttershy's scaredy-buddy.”
“That's not funny, Sunset!” Twilight yelled.
The fiery-haired girl crossed her arms and gave a smug look. “Yes, it is.” There was a buzz as a phone vibrated on the table.
“Looks like Rainbow texted ya back” Applejack observed.
Sunset picked up her phone and checked the notification. “Nope, just Rarity answering the group chat. Guess her class group meeting is adjourned.” She thumbed the screen and opened the messages. “She's wondering what costumes we want to wear.”
The farm girl rolled her eyes. “Really?”
“Hold on,” Sunset scrolled up, “that was just the last part of her text. She's in and wants to work on our Halloween costumes while we're there. Then, she asks what costumes we want to wear.”
Twilight adjusted her glasses “That makes a bit more sense.”
Sunset's phone buzzed again. This time, Fluttershy posted. Sunset read aloud: “Oh, I don't know...I haven't really thought about costumes...or Halloween...or scary things...”
Sunset quickly set to typing a response: “You're gonna come to Dash's house tomorrow night, right?”
There was a bit of a lag before a response. “I donno...”
“Come on,” Sunset typed back. She spoke what she wrote to keep the other girls in the conversation. “It'll be fun. Twilight's scared of horror movies too, so you'll be in good company.”
“Don't say that!” cried Twilight.
“Too late,” Sunset said, waving her phone, “already hit send.”
Twilight quickly pulled out her phone and opened the group chat. She was about to type a long rebuttal when Fluttershy responded: “Oh, that makes me feel so much better :) As long as I have someone to be terrified with!” and her heart sank. Suddenly, trying to play brave was no longer an objective. She stared at the text message and she couldn't bring herself to ruin the feeling.
Another text came in. This time, it was Pinkie Pie: “:D !!!! XD !!! 8D !!!”
Sunset stared blankly at the message. “I'm not even gonna try to read that out lout.” She turned the phone so Applejack could see. “But, I can only assume that she's in as well.”
“That's how I'd translate it” concurred Applejack. She took a thoughtful sip of her water. “You know, I haven't thought much about my Halloween costume, either.”
“Hmm...” Sunset replied, “Neither have I. I've been so busy with school and planning for the Fall Formal.”
“I've never been much for dressing up, or trick-or-treating” admitted Twilight, “We may want to get this figured out before tomorrow.”
Sunset quickly began typing away on her phone. “Girls, Twilight, Applejack and I have no ideas for our costumes yet. Wanna head over to Halloween City before starting the movies? Not like we would be starting them before dark, anyway.”
“Sounds good to me!” Applejack gave a thumbs up and took a bite of her sandwich. Twilight nodded as the phones buzzed.
“Good idea, darling” replied Rarity, “It will give me an opportunity to grab some more makeup and props.”
A small message popped up reading: “Pinkie Pie is typing...” Buzz! “And for us to pick up snacks!”
The small message reappeared: “Fluttershy is typing...” Buzz! “I'll ask my dad if I can borrow the van”
“Sounds good” replied Sunset, “We'll talk about it more later with Rainbow.”
“Well,” she said, aloud pocketing her phone and took a bite of her now cold lunch, “I think we've got our plans all figured out.”
----
Rainbow stepped off the field and collapsed onto the bleachers. She uncapped her water bottle and began guzzling the cool, refreshing liquid. Why her coach decided to do an impromptu hundred laps around the field training session during lunch was beyond her. She checked the clock on the wall. Ten minutes. Just enough for a quick shower, or, at least a quick wash and reapplication of deodorant—if only for the sake of her classmates.
A buzz came from her backpack. Rainbow bent down and pulled her phone from one of the front pockets. “Awe man,” she whined, checking the notifications, “thirteen new texts?”