“Well, yeah, I guess she is, but I’d never say that to Rarity’s face,” Applejack said to the other three girls.
"You just did," an unusually calm and poised female voice said, coming from the gymnasium doors. The four girls and the puppy turned toward the voice and cringed when they saw who was standing there.
Standing at the gymnasium doors were the other three members of their friendship circle, Fluttershy, Sunset Shimmer, and Rarity. Fluttershy was gaping at them, her wide cerulean eyes blinking repeatedly in confusion. Rarity had her arms crossed in front of her, and her mouth was pressed into a thin, expressionless line, but the glare she was giving them betrayed her annoyance. Meanwhile, Sunset Shimmer had both her hands clamped over her mouth, and everyone could barely make out the sound of the snickers that were threatening to escape.
Rainbow Dash laughed nervously as she placed her left hand behind her head. "So, how much of that did you hear?"
Fluttershy and Rarity looked like they were about to answer, but before they could, Sunset Shimmer burst out laughing, doubled over onto the floor, and roll on to her back. When she finally stopped laughing, she got up, wiped her eyes, and said, "Okay, I know the four of you have had some pretty bad experiences with cats but an entire song and dance number? Really?"
"That was pretty weird, wasn't it?" Twilight pointed out, turning to look at her fellow cat-haters.
"Hey, don't look at me," her dog replied. "I was just putting in my two cents."
"Really, Applejack?" the purple-haired fashionista said to the farm girl. "Was looking after Opal for half a day that terrible? I know she can be a bit," she paused and cleared her throat, "testy, but isn't calling her a demon a bit far?"
"I'll let you know when Big Mac and I are done fixing our furniture and our good quilts," Applejack answered sarcastically.
"For what it's worth, Dashie," Fluttershy added, "the cats in the shelter don't like you very much either. Something about you displeasing them and being unworthy." The soft-spoken girl arched her eyebrow and rubbed her chin as she tried to recall that particular conversation that she had with the shelter cats. Rainbow Dash could only shudder in response.
"Gee, you girls aren't mad at us for hating cats, aren't you?" the pink-haired party girl asked with a gasp. "I mean, I don't mean to hate cats. I did try liking them, but I had such a really, really, really hard time because their just so MEH. I mean, this isn't just about the fact that they destroyed the Spirit Day decorations. This one time, I stopped to pet a stray cat, and it just sat there tolerating me, and it DIDN'T LOVE ME BACK! Why?! Why didn't it love me back?!"
Everybody else just stood and stared at her, unsure how to respond to her breathy and rapid tirade. "Uh."
"No, of course, we're not mad," Sunset finally answered. "I mean, we get it. Cats aren't for everyone. Not everybody can handle how moody they can get."
At that, everybody except Rarity let out a laugh.
"Well, I suppose I do owe you for the damage that Opal-wopal did to your home," Rarity begrudgingly conceded, addressing Applejack specifically. "Why don't I help you with those quilts today after school?"
"Sounds like a plan," Applejack agreed.