//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Odd Welcomes and Awkward Partings // Story: Resort Island Adventure // by JustNewHere //------------------------------// The plane landed with a soft rumble before its engines died down until the flying contraption made it on the private lot. Once it finally stopped and the passengers were given the go ahead, the newly reunited Rainbooms stood to the side as they waited for their things. A guide was ushering the rowdy groups of teenagers to their intended destination while the families lagged behind to take in the sights. And what a lovely sight indeed. With the sun smiling down on the new arrivals, it gave a breathtaking view of the beach. The soft sways of the tree leaves and rustling sounds were therapeutic, like the cool breeze itself caressed the awed people in its welcoming rays. The teenagers managed to settle down, promptly running towards the hotel to dump their stuff so they can enjoy the waves. The waters by the side crashed against the shore, roaring with an invitation for the more daring of the vacationers. Rarity fell onto Applejack as a burst of speed swept passed her, frowning as she let out a scolding “Rainbow Dash!” that did not reach the other’s ears. Fluttershy apologized in her stead before demurely following her companion. A pink blur popped up beside the married couple. “Oh yeah, beach day!” Pinkie exclaimed as she took out her sunscreen out of her cleavage and then began pouring the protection on herself, to Rarity’s horror. “What?” the woman asked as she eyed the bewildered faces. “I couldn’t put stuff in my hair anymore because of the hairnet so I settled for the next best thing.” Pinkie then took out a pair of shades next before she casually strutted down the wooden path. Shaking her head, Rarity turned to her wife and saw a small pleased grin on her freckled features. Following the other’s gaze, Rarity couldn’t help but smile as well when she saw the last two going down the airplane. She honestly thought she never would have seen it again, the gentle way Twilight assisted Sunset and the redhead’s embarrassed shrugging. Once the last two made it towards the married couple, they proceeded to act like nothing happened, awkwardly coughing and shuffling one foot and another. “So, anyway thanks for waiting,” Sunset said as she tried to change the topic, choosing to ignore the exchange of looks from the married couple, and waved a hand. “Shall we?” Groups of all ages had smiles on their faces as they exited two more planes in the lot, ushering another batch of vacationers. The four members of the Rainbooms had continued after the entourage but oddly enough, they found their friends held back by a man with curly green hair. “What’s going on?” Applejack asked as she was the first to reach the three. She was looking at Fluttershy when she asked this, but the man let out a tittered laugh before gazing at the farmer with a look of awe that made her uncomfortable. “Oh, the hard-working owner of Apple Imports and Exports, my what a pleasure.” He then gave a bow before he caught sight of the rest, letting out a squeal of delight. “Oh goodness you all are really here!” “Yes?” Twilight found herself saying with a raised brow before moving back a bit as her hand was snatched in reverence. “What are you- Bill Million looked up at bewildered amethyst orbs with such sparkling eyes that it momentarily cut the scientist off mid question. The man dipped down and kissed the hand before he bellowed, “The great Professor Sparkle! I can’t believe it, I have followed your success ever since I was in college. I even attended one of your seminars about robotics. Such an honor!” Then he spun before Twilight could get a word in as he turned to Rarity. “And the elegant Rarity Belle, best fashion designer in all of Manehatten and if I may be so bold, I would say in the whole country even.” Rarity let out a pleased smile, waving her hand as she uttered a “Oh flattery will get you anywhere with me, young man.” He let out a charming smile at her words. “Bill Million, please.” He then glanced at the last of the Rainbooms with a hint of confusion. “Is this Sunset Shimmer? You…happened to have not aged a day!” Sunset froze, not prepared to be recognized so soon. Before she could get a word in Pinkie Pie stepped in with a side hug. “Oh, this one? I’d be happy to tell Sunset that. She’ll be glad to know her daughter takes after her.” The previously surprised man stared for a moment before his grin widened. “This is her daughter then?” Rainbow jumped in, ruffling the annoyed teen’s hair. “Yep, little Sunshine Shimmer. Ole Sunset got sick and couldn’t make it, so she texted us to watch over her kid in her stead.” The athlete grinned conspiratorially. “Strong genes, am I right?” Bill Million nodded enthusiastically. “Indeed. The resemblance is uncanny.” “I get that a lot,” the redhead managed to say before she pointed a finger at him. “And just how come you know so much about the Rainbooms?” “Um, actually he’s a fan. Wait, I mean ‘super fan’ according to him,” Fluttershy added, with Bill nodding enthusiastically as he scrutinized each woman. “He’s heard of the Rainbooms as a kid and had been a supporter ever since.” The prismatic haired woman turned to the rich aristocrat, not minding how he now devoted his attention on her with a zealous, “Yes Ms. Dash?” She asked, “So you a super fan huh? What was your favorite song then?” Bill Million opened his mouth but Rainbow held out a hand, “Wait don’t tell me,” and then the athlete crossed her arms with a self-assured smile. “It’s ‘Awesome as I Wanna be’ isn’t it?” Applejack rolled her eyes at that as she set her luggage down. They might be here for a while now that that can of worms has been opened. Or mouth to be specific. “Honestly all your songs were fantastic,” Bill started in reply to the older woman’s boasting before he gazed at the redhead, “but I do find myself fixated on your mother’s tune.” The male’s admittance earnestly shocked the athlete yet before she could speak up in her pride’s defense a strong working hand clasped itself on Rainbow’s shoulder. As the athlete toppled over, Bill, nonplussed, continued. “Her song, ‘My Past is not Today’ had garnered my eardrums. I have replayed that song nonstop for the past 400 600 times if I can recall correctly.” Sunset slightly backed away as his eyes seemed to glitter with unshed tears. “The raw emotion of regret and guilt intertwined with a defiant stand of a new path. The past is in the past oh how true is that indeed and it shouldn’t define anyone. Sigh, such enlightenment.” Then Bill Million seemed to have recovered and realized the odd stares aimed his way. He smiled goofily as he blushed. “My apologies, I never got to talk about my passions like this before and I may have harbored a tiny desire to see you all in the flesh, but I never got the chance to attend one of your performances.” Then he produced back stage passes as he sheepishly asked, “So uh, that is…if you all do not mind playing again?” A beat passed with no one saying a word until the farmer seemed to be the first to recover. “Let me get this straight,” Applejack raised a brow, finally letting it sink in as she pointed, “you were the one who sent out our tickets?” Bill had the foresight to look guilty just as Twilight pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance. Seeing this, the rich man knelt without thinking and clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture. “Oh, please don’t be mad Professor! I only wanted the chance to hear you all play but when I asked if it was possible to book a slot, I belatedly heard you’ve disbanded your services!” He set a hand against his forehead. “You could imagine the devastation I felt at that moment.” Pinkie Pie shuffled closer to the fashion designer, discretely whispering a “He’s even more dramatic than you on a good day.” Rarity absentmindedly agreed. “So you stalked u- my mom and the rest of them?” Sunset asked with a raised brow. “Well technically I hired someone to do so- Sunset glared at him. -but it appears it doesn’t change anything and may I just say that you have a scary glare that it feels like I’ve disappointed not just my ancestors but my unborn descendants too so I’ll just cower and cry now,” Bill ended his statement by doing what he said and curled into a ball. Six pairs of eyes stared at Sunset. “What?” the only teen raised her hands in defense, “I just glared! I didn’t mean to make him bawl his eyes out!” Fluttershy slowly walked up to the teen, placing a hand on the other’s shoulder. “Remember how we joked about you still having the ‘Queen Bee’ glare set on default?” She whispered before adding, “the one that even drove students to shove themselves inside lockers?” “Yeah?” Sunset whispered back, earnestly not following. The rest of the Rainbooms opted to comfort the bawling aristocrat in the meantime. “Well, we were half joking. You still have it on…and you just did it to this poor soul.” “Oh…” A light-yellow hand patted Sunset on the back. “It’s okay. Like I did with ‘The Stare’ you’ll learn to avoid using it on accident.” They stared at the curled form of Bill. “Our friends recovered from it after a year so I’m sure the effects will wear off in a week or two.” Sunset paced for the eighth time inside the available space of the hallway. The rest of the Rainbooms opted to let the teen pace around. Occasionally they would find their friend bringing a mirror up at eye level and glare at the reflection before cursing under her breath. “Am I the only one who didn’t know Shame Comas exist?” Pinkie started, the first one to break the silence. As Sunset buried her face in her hands, Twilight adjusted her glasses with a terse, “They don’t.” Rainbow, with a duct tape plastered across her mouth due to proving that age did little to change her unhelpful side comments, chose that moment to take it off. After inwardly screaming through the pain she stated with a grin, “Not until Sunset came along.” When the teen groaned into her hand, Fluttershy shook her head before returning the duct tape to its rightful place, purposefully ignoring the muffled “Oh come on!” “I don’t blame Sunset one bit to be honest,” Applejack spoke up from her seat on the metal bench. “Something about that guy just rubbed me the wrong way.” “Well be that as it may,” Rarity stated from beside her wife, “that doesn’t mean it right to traumatize the poor thing.” Rainbow Dash pulled the duct tape off again. “You’re just saying that coz he paid for our trip.” Rarity answered with pursed lips before looking away with a muttered, “and that.” “Excuse me?” A voice interrupted, drawing the attention of the group of women (and teen) as they stared at a fit tangelo haired woman wearing an employee’s uniform. When she had their attention, she offered a friendly smile as she asked, “Are you the ‘Rainbooms’ by any chance?” Pinkie popped up in front, waving with an energetic “Yeppy roo!” Then she pulled out a cake with a ‘Sorry for putting your boss in a Shame Coma!’ and held it out to the other person. The woman surprisingly took it without question and handed it to the teen employee without so much as blinking at the unexpected offering. The woman continued, “Ok good. Well I’m Autumn Blaze. I work for Bill- “Is he okay?!” Sunset blurted out. When all eyes were on her, the fiery haired girl looked down with a blush from her outburst. “Sorry, I just couldn’t wait any longer,” she muttered. Autumn Blaze stared at the teen for a while before chuckling and moved to ruffle the red and gold locks. “Well aren’t you sweet. How about you take my younger friend out for a smoothie to relax while we adults talk? Call Todd of the Fruit Stand and mention me, my treat.” Sunset furrowed her brows, not expecting to be dismissed so soon and by a stranger no less! She was about to retort with some strong words before a purple hand clasped itself on her shoulder. Sunset looked back just as Twilight spoke with a nod of agreement aimed at the woman. “I think that’s a great idea. Sunshine, why don’t you go ahead? We’ll just catch up at the hotel.” The rational part of Sunset wanted to believe that the statement was just to keep her cover, something that she even asked her friends to do prior to boarding the plane even, but it didn’t lessen the sting of being set aside just like that. Still, as she observed the urging stares and nods from the other women, Sunset merely offered a stiff nod of her own before excusing herself and following the teen employee out. Autumn Blaze watched the two teens leave before turning back to the assembled women with a wider smile, with the grin more aimed at the scientist. “You are a natural parent. I have no kids, but it’s never been an easy feat trying to tell the younger ones what to do.” “She’s not mine,” Twilight tersely replied. She had long since given up explaining further how she wasn’t Sunset’s mother. She tried avoiding looking over her shoulder in order to glare at the prismatic haired woman who snickered at the employee’s statement. The tangelo haired woman, unfazed by the short response, remained grinning before nodding as she addressed the rest of the Rainbooms. “Well anyway, I just want to tell you all that Bill’s fine. Just took a great hit at the self- esteem department and inhaled a lot of dramatic particles,” she explained off handedly. “So, everything’s fine?” Rarity asked, just to be sure. Autumn nodded as she waved dismissively. “I’ve spent too much time with the bozo since childhood that I know all his quirks. Trust me, he’s fine. Props to the kid though for making him faint like that. Haven’t seen a great hit like that since prom night,” she ended with a laugh. Fluttershy furrowed her brows. “So, if that’s all you have to say then why did you let her leave?” The other raised an appeasing hand. “I mean no offense. I think it’s just not something we should encourage, right?” She answered the veterinarian’s question, but she aimed a wink at the stoned face scientist. The Rainbooms, sans Twilight, shared a glance. Adjusting her glasses with a slightly nervous hand, Twilight offered a curt nod before stating, “I see. Well if that’s all then we shouldn’t keep you.” Autumn smiled wider once again. “Trying yet failing to dismiss me aside, I was actually sent here to formally show you around. Plus, to give you these.” She produced seven backstage passes. “I hope you wouldn’t actually mind playing again,” Autumn stated as she distributed the passes. “I mean, I’m not that kind of person but it seems fair to at least fulfill the wish of a dramatic idiot who got put into a Shame Coma,” the tangelo haired woman lingered a bit longer with giving Twilight her and the teen’s passes, “right?” When the scientist seemed to be at loss for words, Rarity stepped in with a diplomatic, “I think that’s fair enough indeed.” She turned to the rest, “Wouldn’t you say so dears?” Rainbow Dash let out a grin. “Heck yeah we are! I haven’t heard myself play in years!” She aptly threw the now useless gag away. “I bet I’m at least at 20% awesome.” “Really?” Applejack commented, exasperatedly looking at the proud athlete with a nostalgic deadpanned expression. The farmer turned to her wife. “We’re really playing again?” Before she could hear wife’s response, the freckled woman nearly toppled forward as Pinkie enthusiastically jumped on her back from behind. “I’m good as any too!” the energetic woman exclaimed before pulling out a map of the island resort. “Just as long as I still have time to visit the Snack Hall!” The chef licked her lips as her eyes glazed over, “so much snacks.” “Shoot, fine then.” Fluttershy, in contrast to the animated proclamation, simply offered a tiny nod beside the eccentric pinkette. Before long, all eyes waited for Twilight who was the only one left who had not given an answer. Adjusting her spectacles once again, the scientist huffed before narrowing her eyes at the grinning woman. “Just so we’re clear, one concert and we’ll never do this again?” At the amused head nodding, the purple scientist sighed before finally offering her agreement. “Great!” Autumn stated as she clapped her hands together. Her smile dropped when she saw the two passes on the scientist’s hand. “Oh right. You’re down with one member, right?” “Negative,” Twilight responded. “Sunshine can fill in her mother’s place in the band.” “Uh, didn’t I already tell you Miss Twilight?” Said teen’s voice spoke up, surprising the adults. ‘Sunshine’ paid no mind as she slurped her smoothie, walking towards the group with the teen employee beside her. Taking an obnoxious long slurp, she smacked her lips in satisfaction before adding, “I can’t play to save my life.” Pinkie blinked. “What?” The rest of the adult Rainbooms seemed to follow. “Thanks for the vote of confidence but I know you’re just acting like I can play to spare my feelings or my mom’s.” Sunset added with a roll of her eyes, further cementing the exasperated teen act. “I have ears you know?” “Darling, are you sure?” Rarity asked, stepping forward to place a hand on the teen’s shoulder. “Is this part of your cover?” The silent message conveyed. Sunset clasped the hand of the person who she first apologized to post Fall Formal. Unconscious memories of the one she begrudgingly asked to repair her favorite leather jacket began to resurface but the next memory stirred up old feelings of missed warmth. While few rarely pointed out, the fashion designer almost effortlessly exuberated an aura of maternal care, regardless of Rarity being aware of it or not, and it was something a tired old rebellious teen needed at that time…. which was why Sunset allowed herself to risk the facade just to assure the other. The fiery haired girl squeezed the hand. “Yeah yeah. I’m sure.” “Trust me.” Applejack seemed satisfied enough in her end as she watched the exchange with subtle curiosity. “Okay then, just stay in the audience where we can see ya.” Pinkie giggled as Sunset rolled her eyes once again. Fluttershy offered a tiny smile before she looked at the athlete who seemed to be still processing. When it clicked, Rainbow let out an ‘o’ before chuckling. “If you say so kiddo.” Cyan eyes found amethysts next, with the latter pair intensely gazing at the teen like trying to solve a puzzle. A frustratingly stubborn puzzle. Huffing, Twilight addressed Autumn, “I stand corrected then.” The employee giggled. “I can see that. No worries, I’ll just get in contact with a backup and I’ll just update you guys if I got one all set up.” “Awesome,” Rainbow commented before putting her arms behind her head. “So, when’s the gig?” Smiling, Autumn held out her hand, to which the teen employee dutifully placed a clipboard, before flipping through the pages. “All I got here was a written ‘midnight’, ‘rainbooms’, and an ‘oh my stars’ which I think could only mean that you’re booked to play at midnight in order to have a lot of stars.” The adults, sans an unamused Twilight, snickered at the joke while the two teens unconsciously rolled their eyes. “And our instruments?” The scientist asked with crossed arms while simultaneously wondering if the woman was just committed to her job as a smiling employee or decided that all her smiles should be directed only at Twilight… not that she counted or anything. “I’ll handle it. I’m pretty much in charge with all the performances out here what with my being a performer myself.” “Really?” Sunset asked, to which this earned another fond ruffle of her hair. “You betcha. Fire dancer to be specific.” The fit woman couldn’t help puffing herself out proudly. “The Niriks, my family, have been living in this island for ages. We got to work for the Million family after Bill’s great grandmother helped us out with a problem a while back and we’re trying to return the favor ever since.” Autumn lightly deflated when all Twilight offered was a noncommittal, “Interesting.” Trying to momentarily shrug off her lapse, the fire dancer continued, “So yeah, you guys have nothing to worry about. That said,” Autumn directed them towards the exit, “why don’t we get you all to the hotel so you can rest first. Welcome to Resort Island by the way and we hope you enjoy your stay.” “I’ve been liking it since we got here,” Rainbow complimented as she followed their newly obtained tour guide. “So, when can we practice?” Autumn dutifully answered, “For practice, it’s entirely up to you. You guys are booked to play at midnight but…” She tried to get the pretty scientist to at least stare at her as she looked over her shoulder to say, “I hate to have you guys spend the day practicing instead of enjoying the sun.” Rarity and Applejack walked beside Autumn, unintentionally (or not) covering Twilight and the red-haired teen as the farmer stated, “That’s mighty kind of you but don’t worry about none. We’ve kinda know the songs by heart already so we’ll just need a bit of relearning how to play as a band again.” The fashion designer nodded in agreement. Pinkie then began rapid firing question after question to which Autumn generated a surprising capability to keep up and even provide statements that left Pinkie speechless. The rest of the Rainbooms tipped their hats off in silent respect to their tour guide at that. With the other Rainbooms choosing to distract Twilight’s (at least in Rarity’s head) admirer, Twilight and Sunset lagged at the rear of the group. There was a contemplative look in Sunset’s eye to which did not escape the older woman’s notice which made Twilight choose to walk slowly alongside the teen. Shuffling a bit closer, Twilight whispered a, “Why did you lie about not knowing how to play?” Sunset told herself she didn’t jump in surprise to the other’s appearance. She chose to eye the tour guide instead before she hesitatingly admitted, “Something about all of this bothers me, but I can’t say why. I just thought it might be best if not all of us will be on stage.” The young adult fully expected the older one to shoot down her suspicions, but she was gladly surprised when the scientist seemed to be mulling the idea over. A small pang in Sunset jumped excitedly at the thought. They were almost having a civil conversation! Maybe this was her chance to fix things between them? “I mean, a fanboy orchestrated this all just to have us play for his resort. Something about all that felt really off,” Sunset added, trying to get the hope out of her tone. Choosing to have something else to do, she took out her phone before grumbling at the weak signal. Running a hand through her tresses, Sunset stated, “I think I’ll investigate for a bit, just for my peace of mind.” A beat passed before cyan eyes then dropped to the ground as they unsurely glanced at amethyst ones. “Come on Sunset, this is your chance! A chance for- what did Shadowbutt call it? Ah, closure!” “You’re welcome to join me as…. thanks for the thing you did back at the plane. You didn’t have to do it but you did.” Then Sunset looked to the side as she tried to hide a blush at how high school that sounded, oblivious how her statement made Twilight, who was caught off guard as well, stare. Recovering, the purple woman cleared her throat as she forced her gaze forward. All appearances of ease slowly washing away as she replied, “I-I appreciate the invite, but…” Twilight sighed as she stopped. The teen followed suit with a curious tilt of her head. “What’s wrong?” “Dang it Sunset, we were so close!” “Us,” Twilight promptly answered. At the other’s expression, the scientist tried to elaborate. “We…can’t act like nothing happened between us. We both know that, don’t we?” “Yeah,” Sunset started out slowly while she mentally forced her heart to stop beating erratically. “I mean, it still stings but I think I can find it in me to forgive you.” And it was the truth. Sunset fought to believe her statement if only if the awkwardness and cold air between them could stop. She just wanted her friend back. “But I can’t,” Twilight stared at Sunset, “both myself and you.” Cyan eyes narrowed. The erratic beating stopped as a rising old numbing sensation replaced it. “I thought I was supposed to act like the immature one.” A purple hand squeezed the metal dog bone bracelet while amethyst eyes glared. “Really? Figures that’s a very hypocritical thing you would say.” “We’re not having this conversation in a hospital hallway.” “We’re not,” Twilight corrected through a clenched jaw. “What we’re having is a conversation about how we are not going to be acting like nothing happened.” “So, what, you want us to ignore each other?” Sunset asked incredulously. “No. What I want is for you to stop trying to fix us.” “’Trying to fix’- I’m not trying to fix us,” Sunset shot back as she glared at the other. A lie. “I was being civil.” Another lie. Twilight snorted. “You? Civil?” “Yeah,” Sunset found herself saying. She sure as heck wasn’t one to take the diplomatic route when something went wrong but she changed now and before her eyes Twilight did as well, but not for good. “I’m being civil which you’re completely the opposite of right now apparently.” Twilight exhaled for a long minute, shutting her eyes as she pushed a hand to massage her head and muttering, “stubborn as ever.” Sunset, hearing the words, couldn’t help but jab a finger at the other as she seethed, “You’re the one being stubborn. I was fine talking to you, regardless of how you’ve hurt me, and going through with this stupid vacation regardless of your being here or how you much of your excessive badgering about something that’s completely a secret annoys me.” The teen huffed, drawing in a long breath before letting it all out as she briefly glanced at the slight reddening of her right hand. Huffing once more, Sunset shook her head and turned on her heel. “Forget it. Do whatever you want, hate me for all I care, or resent me for my secrets. Whatever. I’m staying on this trip because I missed my friends. If you can’t handle me being here, then you should just leave. Isn’t that what you wanted anyway?” At the silence, Sunset scoffed before going on the other direction. “Whatever. I’m going to scout the island and be on time to watch the concert. Tell them don’t worry if you give a damn about your friends…” Sunset looked over her shoulder to glare at the scientist, “like you have been doing for the rest of the years I bet?” The jab given and received, Sunset shook her head and bolted out of there. Twilight stared at the teenager’s back as she disappeared out the hallway. A soft pang in her heart urged her to say something but no other words came out but a simple unheard, “Okay.” The group of women arrived at the hotel. The friendly staff members immediately hurried to pick up the luggage. Autumn Blaze politely excused herself before leaving them in the capable hands of the employees dressed in the company’s uniform polo shirt and slacks for the mean time. The few porters who began to pile up the baggage on the luggage cart staggered under the weight of the bags from Rarity’s side, much to Applejack’s exasperation. “I’ve told you to pack light!” The farmer scolded. Rarity simply smiled and batted her eyes at her lover before letting out a small pout when her charms were promptly deflected. Rainbow fake gagged at this exchange before whirling around when she did not find her gagger-in-crime. She turned to address the egghead. “Hey, where’s the kid?” Pinkie comically popped up behind her with a look of stricken horror, crying out, “We lost the child! We’re irresponsible adults!” Twilight rolled her eyes at the pink one’s antics, choosing not to correct or say anything about the use of ‘child’ in the chef’s statement. Responding to the athlete’s question as the employees took her things, Twilight replied with a sharp, “She went ahead to scout the area.” The scientist crossed her arms as she walked up to the group, before looking down in thought of the conversation she had with said ‘child.’ Rainbow Dash scratched at her head as she mouthed a confused “Scout?” but a split second later she nodded in recognition. It was something they had to get used to Sunset doing ever since college, the athlete managed to recall. None of her other friends seemed worried at that time though, maybe except the doting girlfriend at that time of course, and Rainbow was confident enough that the fiery haired teen would come to them if she needed help. “Oh,” Pinkie started before looking relieved. A minute in and then she reflated her grin into Cheshire levels as she said, “So, what do you guys wanna do now as our first ‘Rainbooms Reunion’ activity?” She did a backflip and changed into diving clothes. “Underwater adventure?” She zipped towards the married couple wearing a coconut bra and long grass skirt as she swung her hips. “Hula dancing?” Before finally ending up hiding behind Fluttershy donned in an explorer outfit, pointing her flashlight at Twilight. “Mystery solving?” Amethyst eyes blinked, unimpressed, at her friend. She mumbled her thanks to the employee who walked up to her to give her room key before she replied, “I’m planning to spend the day inside my room, working on my cell jammer.” “What!” Pinkie exclaimed, transforming back into her regular clothes. Rainbow Dash rubbed her head as she apologetically told the eccentric woman, “Yeah me and Shy were planning to check out the waves, do some surfing alongside some R n R.” “What!” Rarity eyed Applejack before she received a nod. She turned to the disgruntled Pinkie. “Well Applejack and I were planning to hit the spa after checking our rooms as well, then we’ll attend the bingo game later. You’re welcome to join us then.” The pink haired woman lightly pouted, eyes shifting into eerily spot on impressions of dog eyes. She suddenly straightened up however when she caught sight of what was written on a passing whiteboard being wheeled by the employees. “Wait, there’s a dessert hall here?!” Everyone coughed by the pinkie shaped dust that slowly faded. There was no sign of the eccentric chef anymore in their sights. “Well,” Rarity began as she fanned the last of the dust away. Some things never changed it seemed. A beat passed with no one saying anything. Not knowing how to part ways from here, Applejack coughed out a strained, “So…” Rainbow Dash nervously chuckled, trying to shrug off the random bout of awkwardness. Had Pinkie been the one keeping the uneasiness away? Fluttershy lightly toed the tiled lobby floor, moving from side to side as she lightly smiled at the other women. Twilight simply did not meet anyone’s gaze, choosing instead to fiddle with her carry-on. As the awkward silence continued to befall upon them, Rarity coughed once more before saying, “So…shall we meet up again by, say, dinner time before a brief practice run then?” When everyone else gave immediate affirmative nods, they went their separate ways…almost leaving cloud dusts in their wake as well.