Sour Sweet took a seat on the bus next to a window, followed shortly by Lemon Zest, who seemed down.
Sour smiled, hoping to brighten Lemon's mood only to realize that something was off... "Where's Twilight?"
Lemon sighed, then looked away. "Back at Canterlot High."
"What?! How could you just leave her-"
"She told me she was going to transfer there, Sour..."
"What?!"
Sour's eyes widened in shock. "Oh my god, Lemon... are you going to be okay?"
"Can you sit down already, the bus is about to move!"
"The nerve of some people!"
Sour rolled her eyes and gave the student who spoke the middle finger. She looked back at Lemon and softened her expression. "Here, take the window seat." She shuffled forward as Lemon sat down.
"Thanks, Sour."
"Don't mention it."
"Wow... I can't believe Twilight did that."
After everything we did to her, is it really any surprise?
Lemon shuddered suddenly, then put a hand to her forehead. "Dammit..."
Should I... should I comfort her?
"You're asking me?"
Sour rolled her eyes. No, I'm asking the other other voice in my head. Yes, I'm asking you!
"I... guess you should," Sour Side said unconvincingly.
Lemon shrugged, then within moments began bobbing her head to a beat only she could hear.
Well she seems just fine now.
"So... what are we going to do about this?"
What, the magic?
"Yeah."
What can we do? It's not like everybody was meant to wield it!
"Maybe not everybody, but a select few. You saw how those five Canterlot High students glowed just before their apparent leader transformed!"
What about the rumor about those three strange girls that sang?
"It's probably just a rumor, and even if it wasn't, I'd rather not risk getting caught up in danger."
Sweet folded her arms with a sigh. I guess you've got a point. I think I've had more than enough danger lately anyway.
Sour's seat began to rock around, snapping her back to reality. Lemon was really into whatever song was playing, bobbing her head and nearly flailing her arms.
"Man, I wish we had that much fun regularly."
You said it.
Sour watched Lemon dance with mild interest until she slowly stopped.
Lemon cupped her chin in thought, then her eyes widened.
"I wonder what she's thinking..."
Without warning, Lemon shot up from her seat. "Holy fucking shit!!"
Sour jumped, then stared at Lemon as she blushed, then slowly sat back down. "Are you okay, Lemon," she asked sweetly. "You scared the shit out of me!"
Lemon simply stared at the back of the seat in front of her as she held up a finger, signalling she needed a moment.
"Are you as worried as I am?"
A little.
"Sour," Lemon said after finally collecting her thoughts. "Do you think friendship is magic?"
Sour raised an eyebrow. "What kind of question is th-"
"Just answer me," Lemon exclaimed, then sighed. She took Sour by the hands and clasped them together. "Answer me... please."
"Yikes, she's really shook up about this!"
Can you blame her? I mean, that was some seriously fucked up shit that happened back there!
"So what do you think? Is friendship magic?"
"...Yes," Sour said, responding to both Lemon and Side. "Especially given what we all saw today."
Lemon made a sputtering noise and slouched in her chair. "Okay, Sour. If friendship really is magic, why did Twilight decide to stay at Canterlot High instead of coming back with me?"
Sour raised an eyebrow. "Did you both part on bad terms?"
Lemon shook her head.
Sour put a supportive hand on Lemon's shoulder. "Then it probably means she felt she had to move on."
"Oh, yeah... Twilight did say she thought she'd learned everything there a couple of days ago."
"Huh. News to me."
I'm not all that surprised. She'd always ace any test she was given.
Sour smiled. "Well there you go then."
"Thanks, Sour. I needed to hear that."
"You're welcome."
Sour smiled as she ran a hand through her hair. That felt pretty good, cheering her up.
"Yeah..." Side trailed off.
Is something wrong?
"I don't know... I guess I'm not used to this whole 'nice' thing."
Sour snorted. You and me both.
"It does feel right though."
Sour nodded, then heaved a sigh as her smile disappeared. But if it feels right, then why aren't my landlords doing it?
"Some people are either irredeemable or too far gone."
Sour scoffed. That sounds a little cynical, don't you think?
"Wanna say that to your landlords' faces?"
...Touche.
"I mean, they might've had countless chances to change. They could've treated you better. The countless tears you've cried in front of them could've convinced them to have a change of heart. But they didn't."
I'm so goddamn sick of crying...
"I know, Sweet. I know."
Sour sighed again. The thought of heading back home filled her with dread. Even with Sour Side, she felt lonely being in that damned house. All the holes she had punched in the walls were reminders of her constant sadness and solitude... but what choice did she have? It would take a while to build a case against her landlords, but she didn't know how much longer she could grin and bear it!
"Keep it together, Sour Sweet! Just imagine the looks on their faces when you finally free yourself of them!"
"...Or the looks on their faces if this all falls apart," Sour whispered as dread crept through her.
"Don't think like that! That's how they retain their power over you!"
I can't help it sometimes. They lorded themselves over me for years now...
"Don't you dare give up on this, Sour Sweet, or so help me!"
Sour put a hand to her forehead. Don't worry, I won't... I was just having a moment of weakness.
"Let's hope those are few and far in between from now on."
"...Yeah."
Lemon Zest bolted up from her seat again. "...what the fuck?"
The bus arrived at Crystal Prep and came to a complete stop.