The weekend had come and gone, and Sunset Shimmer enjoyed every minute of it. Nobody pestering her, nobody trying to get her attention but her friends. It was peaceful. Now it was Monday, and she took a deep breath and sighed before entering Canterlot High. How does Rainbow put up with this if she's so popular, she thought. She opened the front door, and before she could blink she was crowded by a majority of the student body, clamoring for her attention.
Sunset sighed heavily, ignoring the throng of students as best she could as she made her way to the locker. "Wow," Pinkie said as she walked up to her. "I think you're more popular than Rainbow Dash!"
"I heard that," Rainbow shouted in the distance as she made her way through the crowd. She pushed and shoved, then fell flat on the hallway floor when she managed to break free. Sunset extended a hand to her, which she gratefully accepted. She dusted off her skirt, then cracked her neck. "I'm still as popular as I ever was, I just convinced people to back off. Even I get sick of attention sometimes."
Sunset smiled and rolled her eyes, then her mind caught up with Rainbow's implication. Her eyes widened. "How'd you do that," she asked excitedly, grabbing hold of Rainbow's hands. "The students here have been driving me crazy! It's like having hundreds of stalkers!"
Rainbow laughed sheepishly. "I talked to Principal Celestia," she said.
"Well, it's a start," Sunset said as she let go of Rainbow's hands. "Thanks for the tip!"
"No problem," Rainbow said with a smile. She leaned into Sunset and whispered. "Hey, have you seen Wallflower lately?"
Sunset shook her head. "Not since Friday, no," she said. "She was pretty pissed off."
"Maybe she cooled off over the weekend," Pinkie said. The friends turned a corner and saw Wallflower smiling. "See," Pinkie said. "She's smiling!"
Sunset frowned. "Uhh, Pinkie," she said. "That's more of a smug smile."
Pinkie tilted her head. "It is?"
"I see that look on Rainbow Dash almost every day," Sunset said.
"Ooh," Pinkie squealed. "Are you going to tell us-"
"Shut the hell up, you annoying pink sugar junkie," Wallflower said as anger quickly took hold of her. "I don't have time for your bullshit." Sunset's and Rainbow's eyes narrowed, and they began to walk over to her, only to be blocked by Applejack.
"Hey, now," Applejack said as she kept her two friends from going any further. "Let's not start anything here." She turned around and folded her arms, giving Wallflower a stern look. "Want do you want, Wallflower," she asked impatiently.
Wallflower's smile returned. "I just want Sunset to know that her days of popularity here are numbered."
"Is that all you've got to say," Rainbow Dash asked. "I've heard better threats from bad guys in bad movies!"
Applejack turned her stern look to Rainbow Dash. "Don't make the situation worse," she said. Rainbow simply shrugged.
Wallflower scoffed. "Is one of Canterlot High's strongest students afraid to tussle," she asked with a quirked eyebrow. Applejack felt heat rise to her face and turned towards Wallflower, only to be blocked by Rarity and Fluttershy.
"Outta the way, you two," Applejack growled. "This bitch ain't gonna call me yellow an' get away with it!"
"Now see here, Applejack," Rarity said as she put her hands on her hips. "Think about what you're doing. Are you really going to stoop to her level?" Applejack looked over Rarity's shoulder to glare at Wallflower, then closed her eyes and sighed.
"Sorry, Rares," Applejack said as she took off her hat and pressed it to her chest. "Got a little carried away with my pride there."
Rarity smiled. "It's all right, darling. It happens to the best of us." She turned to Wallflower. "Is that all you came here to say," she asked.
"No," Wallflower said. "Over the weekend, I came to a realization. I can't just target Sunset Shimmer," she said, then pointed at Rarity. "You'd just come to her aid. So I'm going to take you all on." Rainbow Dash burst into laughter, earning a death glare from her.
"You," Rainbow said as she finished laughing. She wiped off a tear, then pointed at Wallflower. "Against us? You wouldn't stand a chance! Have you even seen what we're capable of when we work together?"
Fluttershy walked up to Wallflower. "Um, why are you even doing this," she asked. "You seem like such a nice person."
Wallflower snarled. "You know damned well why I'm doing this," she snapped. "Niceness went out the window a long time ago." She turned her gaze to Sunset. "One way or another, Sunset Shimmer...I'll make you pay. And if that means that I have to go through your friends," she said, then narrowed her eyes. "Then so be it," she said coldly. She turned around, then walked off.
Sunset sighed heavily. "I'm sorry I got you guys involved in this," she said as she looked away and grabbed hold of her arm.
"Sunset," Rainbow Dash said. "Look at me." Sunset turned to look her in the eyes. "You didn't get us involved in this," she said, poking her in the chest. "She did," she said, gesturing to the spot Wallflower once stood in.
"Oh, my," Fluttershy said. "We aren't going to fight her, are we?"
"Of course not, darling," Rarity said. "Right, everyone," she said sternly.
"Okay, fine," Rainbow said in defeat. "We'll watch each other's backs. But if push comes to shove..." Rainbow trailed off, then slammed her fist into her palm.
"Let's try to avoid fightin' if we can help it," Applejack said.
"Hippo," Rainbow muttered under her breath as she rolled her eyes.
Sunset leaned into Rainbow and whispered. "I think the word you're looking for is 'hypocrite'."
"To-may-to, to-mah-toe," Rainbow said. Before Sunset could say anything else, the warning bell for the first period of the day rang. "See you all at lunch?" Everyone nodded, then went to their respective classes.