//------------------------------// // And The Beat Goes On... // Story: The Truth About Girls (Vol. 3) // by TheMareWhoSaysNi //------------------------------// Everybody told her she deserved to be where she was. And deep inside, Twilight knew they were right. She had worked really hard to get there, and not only this year, or any of her High School years, but indeed since her very first day at Primary School. As far as she could remember, she had always been ambitious. Her parents were only employees at Canterlot’s Administrative Office. Conversely to some of her friends, no one in her family had a huge capital at their disposal. They were simple people with simple tastes, who had tried their best to give their children a will to learn. As Shining Armor had, very early in his life, showed a desire to be a part of law and order, fascinated by the investigation procedures and fond of human relationships, Twilight had spread herself too thin. Everything enthralled her. Literature, science, mathematics, history, even art and music… She was happy as long as she could learn something. And she had learned a lot. She had read everything she had been in touch with, had taken a glimpse at each possible field. It had been a long road before she found what enthralled her the most. It probably was when her parents bought her a telescope that her interest for astrophysics had eventually started to supplant everything else. Ever since, she had found the path which she wanted to take and had given everything she had to achieve her goal. However, in the plans she had envisioned for her future, some things she hadn’t planned at all had happened, and had changed her vision of the world. Loneliness had never been an issue for her. Conversely, she liked being on her own, in order to focus entirely on what she regarded as absolutely necessary. The others seemed to be just many obstacles trying to slow down her success. They were too noisy, not ambitious enough, with their birthday afternoon teas and their games during playtime. Before Middle School, she would never had thought about having her group of friends, especially as big as hers. Even when her parents thought she spent too much time locked up in her room to read and forced her to go out at the park or to the zoo, so she could meet other children, she couldn’t understand why they insisted on trying to make her socialize. The others wouldn’t teach her anything! Now, after all these years being with these six girls she loved more than words could say, she realized how stupid she had been to think this way. If she was here today, it also was because they had always supported her and because their friendship had taught her many wonderful things, that she would never had found in books. Maybe it was over-the-top to say she owed them everything, but she owed them a lot. On the dais in front of her, Principale Celestia was saying the last words of her graduation ceremony speech. Soon, it was going to be Twilight’s turn to climb on this dais… As valedictorian, it was incumbent upon her to speak in the name of every student. It felt so strange to tell herself that she would never go back to Canterlot High School again. She would never have another chance to speak with the girls in the corridors, to eat at the cafeteria where there always was a moment when one of them was being noticed for something. They would never again wait behind the bleachers for Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Sunset Shimmer to finish their afterschool clubs. CHS had been more than just a school. It had been a second home. Emotion was palpable among the crowd of students sitting in front of the dais. She could feel none of them would ever forget these years in High School. It had created both happiness and distress, and would mark each of them with a particular print. A leaf was turned over, of course, but Twilight was convinced that many other wonderful things were in store for them. The already present nostalgia shouldn’t serve as an excuse not to move on. Principale Celestia invited her to climb on the stage for her speech, under the general applause of the crowd. Her knees a bit cottony, and her mouth dry, Twilight got up from her chair, and walked as if she was dreaming. Despite it all, it was a bit complicated to take into account what this speech, and the piece of paper they would get after it, implied. A focused silence fell back on the crowd of familiar faces in front of her. Twilight swallowed, cleared her throat and put her cards in front of her. They all were expecting her to represent their experience, their connection with CHS, thanks to the right and truest words. A glance at each of her friends had har doubting. They were silently encouraging her, each in their own way, and it made her think what she had prepared was too impersonal, and didn’t do the justice to all these extraordinary people. Quite unexpectedly, she decided to put her cards back into her uniform jacket’s pocket and to improvise. “Some things are unalterable… To resolve a very complex mathematical problem remains something easy for me and every student from the Guiding Class. For them, just like for me, reading classical literature, learning new chemical formulas, recounting the periodic table of elements is in no way a labor. For others, it’s being good at any types of sports, for some others, it’s music, drawing, baking pastries, or even rodeos. Yet, as sure as this would never change, other things have to evolve, to transform. I was a solitary with contempt only about friendship. I could learn, yes… But too prosaic, I couldn’t love and feel connected with the others. I was blind, mute and deaf to the others. Then, one day, six extraordinary girls stepped into my life, and helped my heart to bloom. I’ve learned that you could also learn to love. Horizon had opened in front of me, my field of vision had widened. I’ve tried to get back to my solitary bubble, but the harm was done. I’ve already recovered my eyesight, hearing and speaking and I could try my best to block my ears, shut my eyes and seal my lips, the “others” had already burst the bubble. Since then, nothing had been the same anymore, all while not being that different. Is it thanks to CHS this magic had operated? One could think the answer is no since it had already started before I’ve arrived here. Yet I’m convinced this school, unlike any other school, had made me who I am today. And I’m also convinced it goes the same way for each of the faces in front of me. It’s in CHS that Fluttershy landed, one sunny morning. It’s in CHS that Sunset Shimmer has discovered that being feared wouldn’t make her happy, it’s in CHS all my dearest friends have decided to go. Principale Celestia doesn’t work anywhere else, same thing with her sister, Vice-Principale Luna. I think I’m not saying something wrong by saying that today, we all are very proud we had been Wondercolts and deep inside our hearts, no matter what time would put on our ways, we’ll always be Wondercolts. The greatest lessons of life are to be found here: never trust appeareances, give your trust, try your best to atone for your past mistakes, get out of your chrysalis and become the person you are deep inside. Learn something each time you fall. Being tested only makes you stronger. We’re stronger now.” As soon as she had said the last words, Twilight realized, dumbfounded, that not only did students applaud her but they had all got up to do so, as well as both Celestia and Luna, and parents, and even the teachers. Of course, she had expected to be applauded, just like after any official speeches, but she had never thought what she would say would be welcome this way. It was a reward that was better than any words of congratulation. Realizing what she had just said from the bottom of her heart had moved all those these words were destined for. In her eyes, it was the ultimate proof that they all shared her feelings for this school which had made them all grow up. Because their friendship hadn’t been the only thing blooming in CHS. The school had also marked the existence of many of them, with its flaws and its many qualities. What they had lived there was a fantastic human advanture, and she was more than convinced that there was no place in the world like this one. Because there never was a place like home sweet home. -------------------------------------------- Twilight's mother had proposed to the girls to get them in town. A party in the honor of High School graduates was organized at Sugarcube Corner and no one would want to miss it. It's been days Pinkie Pie was getting it prepared, on Cheese Sandwich's telephone advice. Of course, since it was a day party, under the adults' surveillance, what she's planned was nothing like the nights with alcohol peppered with a great deal of flirts they all were used to. Yet they just couldn't wait to be there. Because the pink-haired teenage girl had forgotten to buy com-pul-sory purple streamers, the gang had to go shopping a bit before going to the cafe. Their problem was that now they no longer were in a vehicle, they had to go on foot. And they were slowed down. By the only person who, usually, was always begging of them to walker faster than a bunch of snails on a dry road. "Please, have sympathy for the crippled ones! That's totally unawesome to walk with these", Rainbow Dash complained while shaking one of her crutches. "It's been a week now and Ah thought ya'd know how to race with 'em already!" "This isn't the case, get it?" "She can't learn, AJ, since you're her transportation", Pinkie Pie pointed out, always bouncing ahead. "Tell me about it. She's always tryin' to play with mah radio." "Come on, hurry up or we'll miss the beginning." Once more, it was Sunset Shimmer who had been able to put an end to the debate which, without her intervention, would have been endless. There was no doubt about what she brought to this bunch. When it was Twilight trying to calm down things this way, sometimes the result was the opposite what her expectations. Everybody acted as if her departure for Fillydelphia wouldn't transform their gang's dynamics. Yet, deep inside, they could sense it would take some time before they would get used to her sporadical presence. Not because they didn't want to think about it, but because they wanted to make the most of the presence as much as they could, without a care about the future. On the sunny Grand Rue, walkers were passing by without a care about their surroundings. Did this heterogeneous crowd know about what this day meant for thousands of teenagers? The end of High School was also the end of an era. Of course, many other important things would be on their paths, however how this short period of time impacted on their future was a mystery for no one. This was why, when she saw Big Macintosh and Zephyr busy taking pictures of a bunch of friends for Canterlot Street Style, the way they always did at this time of the day, Rainbow Dash had the idea to keep an unerasable trace of this very special moments. Seeing them coming their way, Zephyr's eyes brightened up. The fact he had gave up on Rainbow Dash didn't mean he had learned from his mistakes. Now his heart was set on Sunset Shimmer, he was doing exactly the same things than what he did with her friend, and neither her relationship with Twilight, neither her coming departure could stop him. He was convinced he was able to make her stay, for "his love". Well, he had to confess before she could... And so, when Rainbow Dash asked his coworker whther he could take a picture of them, though they were all dressed in their CHS uniform, he obviously answered that it would be a pleasure, not even checking with Big Macintosh. In his mind, it would finally get Sunset Shimmer to notice him. He hadn't planned that some self-proclaimed bodyguards would stick their noses into his business. "Hep, you token crippled! Do you think we don't know what you're trying to do?" Lily started. "Yeah, you already have a hot boyfriend, so let the other good-looking guys to the single girls", Rose went on. "I already told you a hundred times I don't care about your... Breezie. I only want one last memory of my days as a High School student." "That's what you want us to believe but we do know the truth", outbid Daisy. "You want to steal our Big Mac! Yes, because during the on-going year, the very famous Flower Trio had changed their target. In reality, it was really new, dating back to Rainbow Dash's birthday party where, despite their dislike of the young woman, they got themselves invited anyway. All three had realized Applejack's brother had a softer and more demure character, was full of sweet attentions for her little sister's friends, and had proved to be obliging. And, conversely to Zephyr, he had something mysterious and broad shoulders which had convinced them eventually. The fact he wasn't much of a speaker could make their fantasies about him take whatever paths they wanted. Because they had a secret web of informers, they knew Rainbow Dash had settled at the Apples for some time - especially because she could stay at an annex of the house where there were no stairs - and were sure she'd done all this just to be closer to Big Macintosh. "Just because you're his sister's best friend and you're living in their house does it mean you've got all the rights." "What? Are you off your heads?! As you've said, I already have a boyfriend and he's hot." "Yeah but you're really sleazy, you demi-I-don't-know-what-now..." This speech was so stupid most of the girls were in the background, simply waiting for the storm to be over. Among them, there wasn't Pinkie Pie, always ready to intervene and defend Rainbow Dash's honor, as if she could do it on her own. "It's demisexual and if you guys have done some researches, you'll know it's the opposite of being sleazy." "What's it got to do with you? It's between us and the hot guys stealer." "I told you I only want a picture!" "Yes, Dashie doesn't give a damn, she has Soarin and with it... She already has slept with Big Mac!" Her friends and Soarin were the only ones who knew what had happened between Rainbow Dash and Big Macintosh and they all knew it would never happen again. Not that the young woman was ashamed of it, but it was something extremely private, and she didn't like to talk about it in front of... well, everyone judging by the sudden silence weighing on the Grand Rue since Pinkie Pie had said the words. Shocked, Rainbow Dash turned red from shame, while after an additional wavering second, the Flower Trio fell on their knees in front of Big Macintosh, pretending they were crying like cartoons characters. "No! It can't be true!" "Not with her!" "How could you? She doesn't even have real boobs!" "Hey, I'm right beside you, you know!" Red from embarrassment as well, Big Macintosh tried the best he could to get rid of the three young girls, especially as the passersby didn't miss a thing and were staring at this funny show with eyes full of surprise and curiosity. Applejack was looking at the same with a funny smile tinted with nostalgia. At first sight, of course, she had been ashamed as well, but once thought through, she had realized this kind of commotions also was a part of the many memories High School years had given them. CHS would probably had its loads of eccentric and popular personalities, yet she liked to think that, more than ever, there was no bunch of friends like her bunch of friends, one of the kind, like there was only one Flower Trio, or Trixie or Muffin or Sunset Shimmer's former three friends. Now it was Canterlot University's turn to deal with all these colorful characters. In all honesty, she wasn't sure the campus was ready for such a madness, but what was sure was that Equestrian institutions would probably be shaken by this strength in the years to come. THE END... OR IS IT REALLY?