//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: Apology Brownies // Story: The Tournament Of Friendship // by FourShadow //------------------------------// With the declared victory for CPA, all of Crystal Prep's students were slowly starting to go home for the day. Everyone else at CHS remained of course, but this meant that they could start going home for the day, or go hang out still so they oculd try and get any remaining work they needed done. Flash Sentry, while still feeling a little down that he lost for CHS, did feel a little better being surrounded by some of his friends who gave him nothing but compliments and hopeful remarks. "Don't beat yourself up, Flash. You did fine," Cherry Crash said. "You got us closer to winning than anyone else at Canterlot High's ever been," Teddy Touchdown nodded. "Well, thanks guys," Flash said, a little bashful. "Dude, you gotta chillax, man. Just go with the flow, bro. You made it, that's a great thing," Sandalwood said with lots of relaxation in his voice. The hippie was always looking for the most positive angle of any situation he was in; always looking for peace, not war. As if his dreadlocks and beanie needed any more indication that he was a hippie. "I guess so, yeah. Still though, sorry none of you guys made it in. Sandalwood, Micro Chips." "It wasn't your fault," Micro Chips answered. "Sandalwood and I failed to do the proper measurements and calculations required to make a proper birdhouse." "I admit, I wasn't on my best," Sandalwood said. "Those two Crystal Prep girls really made a cool house." "Oh yeah..." Everyone said, remembering the end result. Indigo and Sugarcoat's final house was a two-story birdhouse, painted in dark blue and purple, and varnished with fiery patterns on the doorways. "But at least the Rainbooms did well," Flash said. All everyone responded with was awkward silence. "... I said--" "--We know what you said, Flash," Sweet Leaf interrupted, putting her hand up. "Sorry, it's just... still kinda awkward though." "But come on, you can't deny their success. They actually did pretty good in some of those rounds. Did you see Pinkie Pie's cake?" Flash emphasized. "I don't even know how she got the Mona Lisa in that cake, but I'm not going to question it!" "You can't really question Pinkie Pie anyway," Sweet Leaf shrugged. "Still though, she won for us in that round, you gotta give her that." As much as they didn't want to admit it, they knew it was true. Pinkie Pie did pull through for them on that challenge. And even then, the Rainbooms had succeeded the most in all of the events that they were doing today. Even more so than their efforts. But their conversation was cut short when suddenly a bubbly and cheerful voice interrupted. "Hi Flashie!" The group turned their heads looking at a attempting-to-be-positive Pinkie Pie. "You know what, I've gotta bounce, just call me later," Cherry said, ignoring the pink girl and walking to her locker to leave. "Um, hi, Pinkie. What'cha doing?" Sandalwood asked, curiously. "Well, uh, I made a liiiiittttle somethin' that I thought you boys might like!" She extended her arms out, revealing a set of freshly baked brownies. "I know you and everyone else don't trust me, but I wanted to give you guys something. Also my way of saying, 'I'm sorry'." Hesitantly Sandalwood reached out and picked up a brownie. Looked perfectly normal, didn't seem too out of the ordinary. He took a bite into it, munching on the sweet chocolately goodness. And to a complete surprise; it actually wasn't that bad! It was... good! "This is... pretty good. ... It's crunchy, very chocolatey... love the chocolate chips, those are soooo good..." "You like it?" Pinkie perked up. "I love it! Dudes, come on, you gotta try this!" Shrugging, Flash and Micro Chips took a brownie as well, giving them a try. Even Sweet Leaf and Teddy reached to try one. They too shared the same reactions as Sandalwood. "Dang, these are good!" Teddy said, munching down on them. Pinkie's heart started to melt, hearing those words. And hearing those remarks coming from her classmates was making her feel happy as well. "You... you really like em?" "Pinkie, these are delicious! Did you make these?" "Yep!" Pinkie nodded. "Not to brag or anything, but I am ze Queen when it comes to baking!" "Seriously these are amazing!" Flash smiled. "You thinking about making some of these for tomorrow?" "Well, I don't know... I mean, aren't we going to be participating in the games tomorrow?" "Aww, come on, please? At least a little something?" "Weeelllll... okay!" Pinkie grinned. "I'd be happy to!" This made the rest of the group really happy. "Thanks Pinkie!" Sweet Leaf smiled. And just as the group was gonna go on and mind their own business-- "Uh, wait, guys?" They stopped. "Yeah, Pinkie?" Pinkie waited for a moment, a little unsure of how she should respond. "Thank you. I know I'm still trying to earn all of your trust but... thanks for trying my brownies. And, giving me a chance." Flash just smiled. Nodding back at the party animal, he turned around still keeping that happy smile on his face, walking with his friends. Pinkie really did try there. Maybe there was a chance that they were going to get better. But as they walked out, Cherry Crash leaned against a locker door, watching them leave. A scowl hit her face, knowing who they were just talking to. She had the audacity to try and talk to her friends after all the crud she pulled on her and them? Oh no, there was something that needed to be done, and it needed to be done now! After a long day of games and fun, the time to go home had come. Lyra and Bon Bon still struggled to walk down the halls after their encounters, but still were able to walk. "Lyra, how did you even vanish like that?" Bon Bon said, provided with a helping hand by her friend. "I don't know. I just walked down into the hall where Rainbow Dash was, and then suddenly I vanished. I don't even know how," Lyra said, trying her best not to drop Bon Bon. "Next thing I know, I'm trying to walk back to school all the way from the city. Well, at least until I tried to take a shortcut down some dark alleyway, and then the next thing I know, I'm back here at school again!" Bon Bon moaned. "We really need to figure out what's going on here." "Agreed. Don't worry, lets just get the girls and we'll go home." She opened up the door to the music room, the practice room where their group of friends were hanging out. "Okay Trixie, do you wanna head home tooooo... uhhhhhh..." Lyra droned, looking at what was in front of her. Bon Bon held her head, but even with the headache and drowsiness, her eyes bulged to see the image in front of her. Trixie was looking towards her friends with a deadpan expression, very unamused. Behind her was several mariachi players playing fiesta music, created by the light coming from inside the window. A few sparks were fizzing from the light fixtures in the ceiling underneath poor Vinyl who looked very embarrassed. A stereo used for playing music was now in pieces, next to an upset Amethyst who had her arms folded up in disappointment. "Um--" "Don't. Ask," Trixie deadpanned. "So it looks like all of us have superpowers then, huh?" Vinyl frowned, laying against a wall. "Yep." "Seems like it." "Octavia threw her head back, rubbing at her eyes. "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm ready to call it quits for the day and head on home. Anyone want to hang out at my place?" "Sure, yeah," Trixie nodded. "I'd love to," Bon Bon said. "As long as I can sit still..." she said, holding her head. "That's fine," Octavia said, sitting up. "Look, just wait, I'm going to go to my locker and get my things, I'll be right back," Octavia said, starting to walk out of the music room. But little did she know that just like before, something metallic was starting to become attracted to her. "Oh, um, Octavia, one of the cymbals, is uh..." Too late. The cymbal came zipping out of it's place and flew through the air like a flaming arrow and slammed against Octavia as she got out into the hallway. "OW!" They heard her body fall to the floor with a thud, accompanied by more groaning. "I hate superpowers..."