The weekend passed, and Monday came. The week of the Friendship Games had arrived. While they wouldn't be starting today, it was going to be a welcoming party for all of the Crystal Prep students. Everyone was gathering their belongings and were starting to head their way to the buses. Some had already gotten on, while others waited. Mostly to check in with teachers and or other friends.
Twilight Sparkle was still reluctant to take part in the Friendship Games, but she couldn't find any way to get out of participating or joining either way. No way anyone would buy any excuse or lie she could have whipped up. But there was one more thing she wanted to do before she headed off.
Looking down on the table, she picked up the pieces of a small pendent, circular and small in shape, but metallic in feel. It was nearly complete, she just needed to make one final adjustment. With a screwdriver, she screwed in the final bolts, and closed the hatch. For once, a proud smile was on her face as the device began to hum and glow, purple lights radiating, hinting it's energy. She carefully held the device and strung it around her neck like a necklace. Now she had what she needed.
Outside where the buses were parked, an impatient Sour Sweet tapped her foot. Where was she? But very soon she found her friend running over to her, joining her with the rest of the students in line.
"Sorry I'm late, hit a little traffic," Sunny apologized. "Did the others make it on already?"
"Well, yeah," Sour replied with some snark. "But I don't know, the teacher's counting us, making sure we'll all fit. Even though there's plenty of us to squeeze in that giant bus!"
"Be patient, I'm sure we'll be on in no time."
"Yeah, maybe if we just--oh no, look away, look away!"
"What, what?"
"Twilight..." Sour whispered with some nervousness.
Both Sunny and Sour turned their bodies away to face the small line of students behind them who were eager to get on the bus. They didn't want to be face to face with her.
The bespectacled girl turned her head at them with an unamused face, but looked back up. Just as she was getting up the first few steps--
"ARE WE GONNA WIN!?"
She nearly fell back by the indigo-haired athlete who came charging right up in her face. Trying her best not to reply with snark, she shrugged.
"I... I don't know."
Indigo frowned but she gave another confident grin back at her. "Nope! Wrong answer, try again! Are. We gonna. Win!?"
Twilight looked at her with a deadpan expression. "I don't know, and I don't care." She just brushed past her and walked towards the back of the bus, looking for an empty seat. Eventually she just parked herself in the middle of the row, parked in between Sugarcoat and an empty seat beside Lemon Zest.
Sugarcoat who had seen the entire display looked at Twilight with a raised brow. "Don't be too mad. Indigo has been like that with everyone who came on the bus. She grows on you."
Twilight looked at Sugarcoat, but only for a second. She didn't even care to respond. She just laid herself back against the seat, keeping her bag close by, dismissing Sugarcoat's attempt to be polite. But she could visibly hear the sounds of rock and roll bleeding from a pair of headsets that could barely contain the sound.
Lemon Zest rocked her head as she listened to the sounds of heavy metal, grinning and raising her fingers up like a punk.
"Rock on! WHOO!!!" Lemon cheered. She lifted an earphone up with a happy grin on her face. "Twilight, dude! You gotta hear this!"
Without warning, Twilight's ears were filled with the loud sound of rock and roll.
All the time
Running in and out of time
Hear the ticking on the countdown clocks tonight
Her face tightened up hearing the sound, and immediately she yanked them off her head. She looked at Lemon Zest with a scowl and plopped her headset back on her lap. Already she wanted to get off this bus and get out of here so the day would be over.
Lemon Zest blushed a bit, chuckling nervously as she put her headset back on her head. "Not a fan of music, I guess?"
No response. Other than Twilight getting up and just moving two seats in front of Lemon, taking the empty one she found. Sour and Sunny could see Twilight moving away as they finally got on the bus, both receiving looks from the rest of their classmates on the bus.
The two girls took their seats behind Indigo Zap, carefully putting their belongings down.
"So..." Sour began. "Indigo, did you try that cheer of encouragement?"
"Yeah, I don't think it worked," Indigo sank in her chair.
There was an awkward pause between them.
"Well this is going to be a fun trip," Sour chuckled nervously. "She is going to murder us before the games even start!"
Meanwhile at Canterlot High, some of the students were in the auditorium finalizing the decorations and preparations for Crystal Prep's arrival. A big banner hung from the ceiling which was labeled 'Welcome Crystal Prep'. Some students were instantly recognized; Flash Sentry, Micro Chips, Sandalwood, just to name a few. Even Derpy (who preferred to be dubbed Muffins) was there as well.
Some of the Rainbooms were there as well, although mostly everyone was trying to avoid them at all costs. The Rainbooms could feel the hateful stench the minute they walked in.
"This is so humiliating," Fluttershy muttered with some disgust.
"Look, lets just get everything set up, and then you can stay outside away from everyone else? Fair enough?" Applejack huffed.
"Whatever..." Fluttershy rolled her eyes.
Pinkie Pie gave a hopeful smile, trying again to inject some cheer into her. "Aw, come on, Fluttershy. We'll never get better if we don't try!"
Fluttershy just rolled her eyes and hissed at this. But she did stop complaining for now.
The pre-party setup continued, and while the Rainbooms did do some stuff towards aiding with the get-together, the five girls still tended to remain gathered in their own little group by one of the tables. Besides the aforementioned tension in regard to the other students there was also a strong sense of awkwardness here. Finally, of all the girls in the Rainbooms, Rarity was the one to speak up.
"Girls, I can't believe I'm the one to be saying this... but we can't just stand here forever. We tried out for the Games because we were going to prove that we were going to PROVE that we're not Sunset's thugs anymore--"
"--And because Rainbow can't turn down a challenge..." Fluttershy said under hear breath, still audibly heard.
"AHEM. As I was saying - we need to be proactive. We can't just wait for acceptance to come to us." She paused. "And so, I'm going to try and reach out to some of our classmates. I - I can only hope that some of you will be willing to try, as well."
Silence. Applejack, and Rainbow, both exchange dubious looks. Pinkie Pie spoke up though.
"Rarity's right! Vice-Principal Celestia said we had to try, and darn it, I'm gonna try!" She paused before eyeing her target. "Dibs on talking to Flash!" And then vanished leaving a trail of smoke behind her.
Rarity was going to say something but drooped in disappointment. "...I wanted to talk to Flash..."
Applejack tentatively patted her on the shoulder. "Ah'm sure that there'll be other people willin' to talk nice... somewhere."
And so, the Rainbooms eventually, cautiously split up - Rainbow accompanying Rarity to try and talk to some other girls. Applejack wanderd around the fringe of the tables, looking around at some of the other students. Pinkie Pie was talking to Flash Sentry, and Flash for his part was talking to her politely. Fluttershy, though, was staying put... though by herself, she did genuinely look a lot less "mean" and actually a bit vulnerable...
"Excuse me!"
AJ halted, seeing that she's standing by the gym door, and Trixie is on the other side, her arms laded with a couple cases of soda. Applejack quickly opens the door, and the grateful geeky girl half-stumbled through.
"Thank you!!"
"You, uh, want a hand?"
Trixie rights herself, perhaps for the first time realizing she's talking to one of the Rainbooms. A look of concern did cross her face, but...
"Please?"
Applejack promptly took half of Trixie's load, much to the nerdy girl's relief. They take the cases over to the table.
"So, who went and stuck you with the heavy liftin'?"
Trixie flushed slightly. Realizing the putdown, AJ did try to rectify it. "Wait, wait... just makin' small talk. I meant nothin' by it, I swear."
Trixie gulped. "Um, right... well, Lyra was supposed to help me carry these, but I guess she was running late."
"Ah."
A bit of an awkward silence between them, as they unload the cases of their drinks, setting them out to serve for the guests and rest of the students who would eventually show up.
"So, uh, Trixie. How've ya been?" Applejack asked, smiling awkwardly.
Trixie stares at her, and, just as awkwardly asked, "Why?"
"...Just asking..." Applejack sighed. "Never mind."
Silence again. Then, Trixie, making up her mind--
"I'm doing pretty good, thanks for asking."
"Huh?"
"I said I'm doing pretty good."
Pause. Then, AJ smiled at her, gratefully. "Yeah?"
Trixie nodded. "Mm-hm. But I do miss Adagio."
AJ was confused, until it clicked in her head. "Oh yeah... Adagio. You two, you're datin' now, right?"
Trixie blushed. Hard. "Yeah..."
Applejack whistled. "Whoo-wee! Well now, you sure got a fine catch!"
Trixie couldn't help but stare awkwardly at Applejack for that statement.
Applejack tilted her head. "What? Look, I mighta been a bully an' she and her sisters took us down, but I can still appreciate a fine-lookin' gal and all."
Trixie blushed deeply at that statement - and, to her AND Applejack's surprise, a little giggle broke out of her mouth.
AJ was a little surprised. "What?"
Trixie, trying not to titter too much, said, "J-just... just try not to steal her from me!"
Applejack blinks, but she couldn't help but chuckle with Trixie at that. Although it's a wee bit wistful on AJ's part.
"Yeah..."
"Thanks for that, Applejack," Trixie sincerely replied.
Applejack blinks a little at the "thanks" but she relaxed. "Thank you... sugarcube…"
She and Trixie smiled at each other, the ice starting to melt away, until--
Lyra came dashing through the doors. "Trixie! Ohmygosh, I am SO sorry, I left you to carry all those cases by yourself!! I--" She stared to see her friend so close to a Rainboom. "...Huh."
However, any further inquiry from the ninja girl was interrupted, as an announcement came on over the loudspeaker.
"Attention everyone! The students from Crystal Prep have just arrived! Let's all give them a warm welcome, and make the beginning of this Friendship Games a good one!"
Outside the main entrance of CHS, Principal Luna and Vice-Principal Celestia stood, awaiting the arrival of the Crystal Prep buses. The first person they were greeted to when they arrived was none other than Principal Cinch herself.
"Principal Luna, Vice-Principal Celestia, it's so good to see you both again," Cinch greeted, shaking both of their hands.
"It's good to see you again, Principal Cinch. How have things been?" Principal Luna asked.
"Very good, thank you. Though nothing has really changed," the principal replied, rubbing her chin and pondering. "But what about you? I hope things here at Canterlot High have been successful?"
Principal Luna chuckled. "In more ways than one. Although we have had quite a few surprises these past couple of weeks..."
Principal Cinch looked up, almost flabbergasted at the construction zone equipment in front of the school.
"I assume that was one of them? What even happened here?"
"Oh, this?" Luna gestured. "Oh, this is a long and very complicated story. I think I tried to explain it you would think I'm crazy."
"We have an entire week ahead of us, I think that should give enough to question whether or not you truly have gone insane," Principal Cinch chuckled.
Twilight was one of the last few students to get off her bus, waiting for the crowded people to finally clear out. When she saw her chance to finally get off--
"Comin' through!" Indigo warned before bumping past Twilight. Actually, 'bumping' was a loose term. Indigo flat out shoved her aside, not even recognizing who it was she shoved. Twilight was shoved hard enough to push against Sunny Flare and fell on her back.
"Seriously?" Twilight scowled. She could hear the nervous chuckle from Sunny Flare.
"It's okay Twilight, Indigo never does it to be mean. I'll talk to her, maybe I can..." Twilight had already walked away from her. "... get her to... apologize..." Her hand fell back down, until she saw Sour offering her a helping hand.
"Don't feel too bad. I offered her to help with a project, and she just pretended I didn't exist. Rude," Sour replied.
Twilight kept herself near the group, but she didn't look or talk to anyone. Her eyes were glued to her pendent, looking at is continued to hum with energy. She turned her head towards the Wondercolt statue, remembering almost being caught by some students the last time she came there. She held up the tracker, watching as it beeped a few times, detecting the residual energy from the concrete.
"Hmm... same as the last time I came here," Twilight said to herself. "But what is it?"