"You can't just call anything destiny and act like that solves anything!"
Starlight huffed. A little over a week had passed since the party, and she was attending the first group discussion for the cutie mark seminars. Despite Professor Wind's best efforts, however, Inky and Starlight were the only attendees.
Inky was incensed. "It's not anything! I'm saying that if some circumstances are necessary for a pony to get their cutie mark, then whatever those circumstances are, they're part of that pony's destiny."
"So, what? Nopony is responsible for what they do?" Starlight clapped her cheeks between her hooves, feigning indignation. "Oh, you can't blame me! It was always meant to be this way!"
"Of course ponies are responsible for what they do. I'm not saying nopony can make any choices, but you don't choose what you choose. Who you are chooses that, and who you are is part of your destiny."
"Ladies!" The mares snapped their gazes toward Professor Wind. "The topic of today's seminar was Cuteceñeras Across Equestria. Please. Please try to stay on topic."
"We are on topic!"
"Totally on topic."
Prof. Wind slapped his forehead. "And, of course, that's the first time I've ever heard you agree on anything."
Inky Quill sighed loudly. "Fine." She thought for a moment. "Well, I could talk about my cuteceñera."
"A fine topic."
"Back in Wisteria Hills, the elementary schools throw the parties once a moon. All the foals who get their marks in that mooh get to celebrate together."
Starlight tapped her chin with a hoof. "What if you don't get your mark in elementary school?"
Inky shrugged. "The middle schools don't do the parties. It's not like it's super common for a pony to get their marks that late."
"... I got mine that late."
Inky winced. "I didn't mean anything by that."
"Doesn't that kind of suck, though? You don't get to celebrate with your friends just because you didn't get your mark in time?"
"I mean, you could still have a party."
"Sure, but then you have to set it up, and if Wisteria Hills is anything like Sire's Hollow, you're already getting teased for not having your mark."
"It's not that bad. I'm sure your cuteceñera was plenty of fun."
Starlight cringed. "About that…" She chuckled nervously. "I didn't exactly have a lot of friends when I got my mark."
"Well, I'm sure you still had fun with them, right?"
Starlight rubbed the back of her neck, but said nothing.
Inky groaned.
Professor Wind spoke. "Perhaps you should tell us about your cuteceñera, Starlight."
"Well, I was in the hospital…"
"I'm shocked." Inky couldn't hide the sarcasm in her voice.
"And that's it. Dad had a piece of cake for me when I got out."
Professor Wind coughed awkwardly. "Well. I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"S'fine."
Inky glanced at the clock. The room was dead silent, save for the sound of the ticking second hand.
"Maybe we should call it a day."
Bridle Wind left Inky and Starlight to return to his office. Starlight looked out the windows in the corridor onto the courtyard below, as Inky looked everywhere she could except at Starlight.
"If you have something to say, you might as well say it." Starlight's voice was low and tired.
"You, uh… you alright?"
Starlight glared at her, her eyes burning, but she reeled herself back in just as quickly. She stared at the floor while she walked. "I'm… fine. I've just got something on my mind."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No."
"Okay." The two continued in silence as they descended the steps near the front of the building. "How'd the whole party thing go?"
"Went fine."
"Whip them into a frenzy?"
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you care?" Starlight's voice grew an edge.
Inky furrowed her brow. "Because you're clearly feeling off and I'm not a big enough jerk to kick you while you're down."
Starlight cocked an eyebrow. "You're really blunt, you know that?"
"I try."
"Uh-huh." Starlight and Inky walked out into the busy courtyard; it was midday, and students were moving back and forth between classes. "Well, like I said, the party went fine. We're meeting again next semester." Starlight puffed her chest out proudly.
"Ooh, fancy. How drunk did you have to get them?"
"They weren't drunk! Probably!"
Inky said nothing.
"... I'm pretty sure some of them were kind of sober."
"Sure, sure. What about you?"
"I was there on business."
"And…"
"So no drinking."
Inky giggled. "I guess I can't be too shocked."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"You don't exactly strike me as the hardcore partier type."
"Why does everypony say that?!"
Inky burst into full-on laughter. "Have you met you?"
Starlight groaned.
"Sorry, I promise I'm not trying to be annoying." Inky took a few deep breaths, stifling her laughter. "If you don't want to talk, I'm not going to force you. But you should at least talk to your friends."
Starlight opened her mouth to protest, but gave only a noncommittal grumble in reply.
After Inky split off, Starlight made for the dorms. Inky's words echoed in her head as she knocked on Sugar Belle's door. The door opened to reveal Sugar Belle, Night Glider, and, to Starlight's surprise, Midnight.
"H-hey! Starlight! What's up?" Sugar Belle looked just as surprised as Starlight.
Night Glider lay on a beanbag chair, her wings and tail neatly folded in. "Hey, Starlight."
"Star!" Midnight stood up, her eyes wide.
"Hey!" Starlight chuckled nervously. "You're all here."
"Yeah, just hanging out, haha. Ha."
"Well… I... came to talk to Night Glider!"
Night Glider looked confused. "You came to Sugar Belle's room to talk to me?"
"Yes! Well, I mean, obviously I went to your room first, and you weren't there, and now I'm here, and you're here!"
"Uh–"
"So come on! I just need to talk to you real quick."
Night Glider grumbled as she took off from the beanbag. "Alright, fine."
The two walked down the hallway until Night Glider whipped around to face Starlight.
She was grumpy, though no more so than usual. "Ok, they probably can't hear us. Is there something you actually wanted to talk about?"
"What? What makes you say that, haha… ha."
"You're a horrible liar."
"I'm not lying!"
"If it makes you feel any better, Midnight is just as terrible at lying."
"Why would you bring that up?" Starlight wore a huge, toothy forced grin.
Night Glider cocked an eyebrow.
"Alright, fine. But I do actually have something to talk to you about."
"We're meeting with the protestors next semester?"
"Yes, how did you–"
"Midnight told us."
"Oh, uh…"
"She also mentioned that you've been avoiding her for the last week."
"I haven't been avoiding her!"
"So, you've been sneaking into the room around midnight to not avoid Midnight."
Starlight cringed. "She noticed?"
"Did… you think she wouldn't?"
"I was kinda hoping she wouldn't?" Starlight's voice shrank to a squeak.
"She's been worried sick thinking you don't want to be her friend anymore." Night Glider slapped her forehead. "And you're sneaking around like… is it that big a deal she didn't mention she liked mares?"
"That's not it…"
"If you're not upset about that, then wha–oh, you gotta be kidding me. You're into her, aren't you?"
Starlight nodded.
"This is so stupid." Night Glider shook Starlight by her shoulders. "Just talk to her already!"
"But… I don't…"
"I'm not saying to propose to her or anything, just fucking let her know you're not upset with her." Night Glider let Starlight go.
Starlight took a few deep breaths before sighing. "You're right. Thanks."
"Now, those protesters. We're gonna do something with them?"
"Yeah. Hopefully, we can whip them into shape and make some real changes."
"I've been meaning to ask: what exactly are we trying to accomplish?"
Starlight opened her mouth to respond, but closed it soon after. She thought for a moment. "Uh… I hadn't really thought that far." Looking back to Night Glider, she added, "Equality?"
"Equality, huh?" Night Glider sighed. "I already said I'd join in, so I'll be there, but I don't think we're going to get very far if we don't have an actual goal."
"Yeah, that's fair."
They returned to Sugar Belle's room. Midnight was pacing. Sugar Belle's eyes followed the dark blue mare around the room. She waved to Night Glider and Starlight as they returned. "She's been like this ever since Starlight showed up."
Midnight stiffened. "Hey, Star."
"Hey." Starlight coughed into her hoof. "So… wanna go for a walk?"
"Yeah."
Starlight and Midnight walked out of Solar Hall; the awkward silence between them lasted until they made it to the end of the courtyard.
"I… uh… are we ok?" Midnight's voice was filled with trepidation. "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to hide–"
"I-it's ok, Middy." Starlight took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, too. I should have just talked to you from the beginning."
"Is that a no?"
"What? No way. Yes, I was surprised, but… you're my best friend, and–oof!" Starlight was interrupted by Midnight, who tackled her with a hug.
Midnight was crying. "Me, too. I mean, you, too. I mean–"
Starlight returned the hug, fighting back tears of her own. "I get it."
Midnight stepped back, wiping tears from her eyes. "Looks like I've got my study buddy back in time for finals."
Starlight giggled. "Yep. Come on, let's go home. It'll be nice not having to sneak in anymore.”