It's lunchtime at the Crystal Prep.
Most students gather in the cafeteria and choose a table to sit down to eat.
So did the young girl with purple hair and large black glasses, Twilight Sparkle. She lies sitting alone at one of the tables in the cafeteria, away from the other students.
Her countenance is calm, although somewhat subdued as she takes small portions of her lunch.
"Here it is, my favorite little bookworm!"
Announcing a jubilant voice, Twilight looks up to meet the girl with red and yellow hair, Sunset Shimmer, who looks at her and greets her with a smile.
"Sunset, hi." Says with a little smile the girl with glasses.
The new girl leaves her tray with her lunch right next to the violet-haired girl and immediately drops down sitting next to her. "Hey Twily! How are you?"
"Um, fine, I suppose ... and you? How about your classes?"
"Wonderful!" Announces the fiery hair girl. "I am catching up with the classes and when the teachers ask me something they think I don't know, I shut their mouths answering each question. Ha ha!"
The young woman in glasses laughs a little. "That makes me happy."
"And all thanks to my little Twily." As she says this, Sunset puts her arm around the girl's shoulders and draws her close to her cheeks, which makes the other girl laugh.
"I didn't do anything ... anything really important." Twilight says. "You really managed to learn very fast yourself. You are smart."
"Yes I am." Sunset says with some conceit. "But without you I couldn't keep up with all the issues."
Twilight is silent for a few seconds, smiling slightly. "... I admit, it's fun to study with someone ... I've always studied alone ..."
Sunset snaps her fingers a few times. "Hey, no sad faces. We'll have to work on that downright attitude. But first, lunch. Here comes the train~ chu chu~"
She says mockingly taking a spoonful of her food and bringing it to her partner's mouth. Twilight laughs but pushes her lightly.
"ha ha leave that! I can eat alone."
"That's better." The dimensional girl says and takes the bite herself.
There is a pause as they both take a few bites, until Sunset takes the floor again.
"Mh, you know Twily, I've been thinking. Since we've covered almost all of my study problems, maybe we should stop studying so much."
The girl with glasses hears her, and stops eating, immediately her smile falls and her gaze also. "oh ... sure ... I understand ..."
The expression of the girl in glasses turns gloomy, full of sadness.
Sunset doesn't notice this and continues talking. "So I thought, we could go shopping tomorrow!"
Immediately the sadness on the purple girl's face is replaced by surprise.
"Huh? Sh- ... shopping?
"Sure! It's Friday and I have some extra money. Let's go to the mall!"
The fire-haired woman smiles looking at her companion, who shows herself, extremely surprised.
"Y-you ... want ... to shop, wi-th me ...?"
"Well yeah!" She responds with a slightly mocking tone, as if the answer was obvious. "We are friends, friends go shopping aaaaaall the time."
Twilight seems incredulous, looking at Sunset in shock. Sunset because of her silence, erases her smile and seems to decay as she touches her food with a spoon.
"Of course ... if you don't want to go out with me ..."
This alarms the girl with the glasses and hurries to respond. "NO! No! I-Lo-ove it! Really ... yes! It's just... nobody before had ... invited me to go shopping..."
"no one?"
Twilight doubts how to respond. "... only Cadence, and my mother ..."
Sunset seems to think about this and then hugs the girl with one arm. "Well then, I'll be the first."
Leaving the hug Sunset takes a hand of Twilight between her own and looks at her with a flirtatious smile.
"Twilight Sparkle, would you do me the honor of shopping with me this Friday?"
Twilight remains static, and silent, but soon she blushes and separates from Sunset giving him a slight push.
"Don't act silly!"
Sunset starts to laugh. "Oh Twily, don't be mad! But, you want to go with me?"
Twilight tries to be annoyed, but can't help but smile as she gently nods.
"Perfect! It's a date!" exclaims the fire girl and then continue her lunch.
Twilight stands there for a moment. "da- ... date ...?"
There is no answer because Sunset only resumes her lunch, quite lively. Twilight looks at her puzzled, but then she just smiles and also returns to hers.
~ Crystal Girls ~
The next day, when the last bell rang.
The young girl in glasses comes out the front door, with some books against her chest, on her face it shows her deep in thought.
This changes when her hot-haired acquaintance jogs past her down the stairs.
"Hey Twily! See you at the mall in an hour, ok?"
"Ah, yes ... um, ok ...!" She answers, she seems insecure.
Sunset smiles and hurries to run off the campus grounds. Twilight remains motionless, looking at the place where the girl disappeared.
After a minute the girl takes a deep breath and sighs.
"Calm down, Twilight. It's just a way out, with the only girl who calls you her friend ... but, you can do this."
~ Crystal Girls ~
"I CAN'T DO THIS!"
The young scientist starts to mess up her entire room, throwing books, papers and clothes everywhere.
"What should I wear?!"
She screams as she grabs two blouses, one purple and one light blue, and exchanges them, placing them on top of herself, trying to imagine herself dressed in these.
"What should I say?! What are friends talking about when they go out?!"
She questions looking in books, and teen magazines.
"I didn't have time to make a schedule or a list of possible activities!"
She looks on the floor at several crumpled papers and some crossed out, which have written lists.
"SUNSET WILL HATE ME!"
With that scream the girl throws herself to her bed and makes a roll of the blankets while she is heard moaning and wailing.
It doesn't take a minute for the bedroom door to open, and Cadence comes into the room, is slightly surprised by the mess, and then looks worriedly at the roll of blankets on the bed.
"Twily, what's wrong with you?"
"She is going to hate me..." The girl answers from her cocoon of blankets.
"Sunset?"
"mh hm..."
Cadence sighs and sits down on the edge of the bed, gently grasping the big bun with both hands and picking it up.
"Twilight, you must calm down. Sunset will not hate you."
As she speaks to her, she pulls back the covers enough to reveal the girl's head, and her face with small tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm sure you two will have fun shopping."
Twilight looks up to see Cadence sadly. "... but I don't know what to do... I have never go out with anyone... everyone always..." She doesn't finish the sentence.
"And that's why you should go." Cadence says confidently. "Sunset came to you, and offered to be her friend. Do you want her to think that you don't want to be her friend?"
Twilight looks up to see the woman, and shakes her head.
Cadence smiles. "You don't need a schedule or a plan, just go and have fun with it."
Twilight still hesitates. "But... what if I do something to upset her... What if she doesn't have fun with me?"
"Well, she definitely won't if she sees you wrapped in blankets and with that face."
Although she criticizes her, Cadence smiles kindly at her and wipes the tears from her eyes. Then she takes off the blankets and helps her to stand up.
They spend the next few minutes searching through the clothes, those that had been thrown around the place and those that are still stored in the closet, something to wear.
Finally, a pale pink blouse, white pants, and semi-open shoes are the chosen ones.
"You look so cute!" Announces the woman with a delighted smile. "Twily, I remember your mother and I bought this for you months ago, but it looks new, have you never worn it?"
Twilight turns her head away, blushing and looking down. "I've never had a chance to wear anything other than a school uniform ..."
Cadence worries a little. "Ow Twily ... well it doesn't matter!" Forget your concern and smile. "I know! Let's do something with your hair."
"my hair?"
Before she could object or ask more, Cadence sat her down in front of her dresser and unmade the bun she always carries. Her purple hair fell down her shoulders and back, and immediately Cadence began brushing her.
"Well Twily, tell me, what do you think of Sunset?" The woman asks as she brushes her purple hair.
Twilight looks down and wonders what to answer. "um... I've only known her for a few days..."
"Buuuuuuut ..."
Cadence spreads the word waiting for the girl to complete the sentence.
It takes Twilight a second to follow. "But... she is, nice. She makes me laugh and... unlike everyone else, she is sweet to me. ... It's the first time that I feel that someone likes me..."
Cadence continues to brush Twilight's hair while looking at her with a hurt look, but smiling. With one hand he takes a pink ribbon.
Twilights continues talking after a pause. "... I thought that... she just wanted me to help her study but... now... she invited me to go shopping, I... I don't even know... how to feel..."
Cadence finishes, tying Twilight's hair in a ponytail that she ties with that ribbon.
"Well, maybe you'll find out this afternoon. Come on, Sunset sure won't like it if you're late."
With that and a small nod from Twilight, they both leave the messy room.
~ Crystal Girls ~
Cadence parks her car in front of the entrance to the Mall, and with Twilight they enter the place, both looking for some fire hair.
And they find her, sitting on a bench a few meters away.
Sunset is focused on something on her phone, until she hears Twilight's voice.
"Sunset!"
In a hurry the named saves her phone, as if she was afraid of being seen. She looks up at her glasses friend approaching.
"Twily! I was waiting for you."
Sunset gets up, and Twilight sees that she's wearing a knee-length, loose-skirt dress with short sleeves, high white socks, and black shoes. Over the dress she wears a light, open sleeveless shawl in dark gray.
"I'm sorry, I was late?" The scientist asks a little worried.
"Nah! Hey, I like what you did to your hair." Sunset says with a smile.
Twilight smiles and looks away a little flushed.
"You should leave your hair like this." Sunset says. "Now come on, let's start the fun."
The fiery hair begins to walk and the girl with glasses follows her, but before she gives a glance back and a farewell to the Dean. Sunset notices that, they are surprised to see Cadence, but the woman just smiles at her and greets her, Sunset can only answer the greeting.
With that Cadence retires, and Sunset looks curiously at her partner. "Don't tell me the Dean brought you here."
"Um, yes. When I told her we were going out today, she was very excited and insisted on bringing me. Um... is that wrong...?" Twilight worries a little.
Sunset takes a second to speak, but responds cheerfully. "No! Not at all!"
She smiles and keeps walking staying ahead of Twilight.
Sunset thinks to herself while smiling maliciously. "It seems like Cadence's last defenses are falling. This is turning out to be easier than I thought."
After that thought he puts on a friendly smile and looks at his partner.
"Anyway! We have a fun day ahead!"
Twiight just smiles and nods.
~ Crystal Girls ~
Both girls walk without haste, and they don't seem to have any destination in mind.
After a few minutes without speaking, and to break her nervousness, Twilight asks. "Um, so ... what did we come to buy, exactly...?"
Sunset just shrugs. "Meh some of this some of that. I think I'll buy some new clothes. And what do you want?"
"Um, I ... I don't know ... I, well I just came to accompany you." Says the scientist girl as she shrinks on herself with a blush of embarrassment.
Sunset laughs. "Well, you will find something nice to take home."
Twilight hesitates for a moment. "I just... I didn't bring a lot of money either... I mean, Cadence gave me a little but..."
"If you lack money, don't worry, I can lend you something." Sunset assures.
As she says that, the fiery-haired girl notices how a woman sets her purse on a nearby bench table while looking at shop windows.
"I couldn't ask you that." Twilight says somewhat upset.
"nah, don't worry!"
Sunset approaches Twilight and stays by her side. So Twilight does not notice the moment when Sunset takes that woman's bag, holds it behind her back while reaching in and taking out a handbag.
"I've been saving some extra money for a while."
Sunset drops that bag on the floor, and takes the money out of her wallet, before stuffing both into opposite pockets of her shawl.
"So let me know if you need anything."
Twilight is embarrassed, but smiles. "Thanks, but I don't think I will find anything I need."
Both continue walking and strolling around. At one point Sunset tosses the wallet into a trash can, careful not to be seen by her partner.
A couple of steps later Sunset speeds up when seeing a clothing store, Twilight when seeing her does the same to reach her.
"Hey! Let's stop here for a moment, I want to see something."
She doesn't wait for an answer and enters the premises, Twilight follows her somewhat confused.
The fiery hair walks without regard between the corridors of the store, she seems to know where to go, her companion follows her still confused.
"Sunset, what are you looking for?"
Sunset continues to swing without delay. "A few weeks ago I saw something here that I liked. I want to see if they still have it."
The answer is there, but Sunset speeds up until she reaches the end of a hallway, where leather clothing is exposed.
The red and blonde hair looks around and smiles. "Yes, there it is!"
She rushes in and grabs a hanging leather jacket, it's black with little pointed spikes on the neck folded out. Sunset smiles and puts it on.
"Hey Twily! How do I look?"
Twilight is still confused, but looks closely at her partner, and notices how the leather garment exceeds the size of the fiery girl's teenage body.
"Um ... I think, it's not your size ..." She answers uncertainly.
"ha ha, yeah it's true. But that's for the best." Sunset says still animated. "I will grow inside it."
The girl from another dimension takes off her jacket and leaves it hanging on her arm.
"is that what you wanted to buy?" Asks the resident girl curiously.
"Yes, I saw her a few, two weeks ago, and decided that she must be mine." Sunset explains confidently. "So I was saving to raise the money."
"I see…"
It is the only answer because Twilight does not seem to know what to say about it.
Sunset realizes this, frowns and rolls her eyes, sooner again smiles amiably and grabs the girl by the shoulders.
"Come on! While we're here, let's find something for you!"
She doesn't even give her friend time to respond, and pulls her down the corridors between her clothes.
~ Crystal Girls ~
Twilight stares at some clothes while Sunset encourages her to buy something, in the end, and by pressure, she ends up buying some socks. Sunset frowns, but shrugs.
Thus the afternoon passes. While both look in stores, they see some scenery of the place, there is not much talk while they walk but both seem comfortable with the walk.
They arrive at a book store where they both look with interest at the shelves.
However Twilight is concerned. "um… sorry, I know buying books is no fun…"
Sunset just smiles as she looks at the bookshelves. "Nah! I like books, my problem is that I can't afford many. The most interesting books are quite expensive. And I rarely have time to go to the library and read something."
Twilight is surprised to hear this, she looks with surprise and interest at her partner, who when noticing his gaze, looks at her confused.
"What?"
"Ah? Ah! No... It's... nothing..." With a blush of embarrassment the girl with glasses lowers her eyes to the books and pretends to look at them. "It's just that… I had never met someone who liked books like me…"
Sunset rolls her eyes but smiles. She doesn't say anything else and just looks on the shelves. Every time a book catches her attention, she picks it up, but when she sees its price, she just sighs and refreshes it to her place.
Twilight notices that, she says nothing, but is thoughtful.
~ Crystal Girls ~
As they both leave the store, Sunset carries a shopping bag in one hand, while in the other she holds a book wrapped in sealed protective plastic, a newly purchased book.
The red-haired blonde girl looks at the violet-haired girl. Who carries his own little bag hanging from his shoulder.
"You didn't have to buy this." She says in a somewhat dry voice.
"Well… you said you would like to read it." She responds shyly without daring to cross her gaze with that of the other.
Sunset looks away and seems a little upset. "Yes but… it wasn't… necessary for you to buy it for me… you didn't even buy one for yourself."
Although still shy, Twilight smiles a very kind smile at the other girl. "I have a lot of books at home, and I can always borrow more from the library. Actually, if you ever want I can borrow you one of mine. Just ask for it."
Sunset is silent, her face shows no reaction, she just turns to look at the book, and then leaves it in the bag, next to her also recently bought jacket.
Sunset turns slightly, turning her back on the other girl, her expression turning awkward.
"Thanks."
She says dryly, but Twilight just smiles.
There is silence for a while, although it is not uncomfortable.
Sunset breaks the silence. "I'm hungry. Let's go get something to eat."
With that said she starts walking, with Twilight following her.
~ Crystal Girls ~
They both sit at a small food stand, a salad and fries for Sunset, and a grilled cheese and ham sandwich, also with potatoes, for Twilight. They both have a small bottle of fruit juice, with sorbet.
"Are you sure you're okay with that?" Sunset asks when she sees Twilight's food.
Twilight watches her food and responds. "Mh, I don't like greasy food. Will you just ask for salad?"
"I'm a vegetarian. I don't eat meat." Explains the fire-haired girl.
Twilight is surprised and seems to care. "oh! oh... ah... I..."
Sunset takes a potato and as she eats it she sees the girl looking at her sandwich, it takes her a moment to understand her discomfort.
"It doesn't matter" says unset. "It doesn't bother me that people eat meat, it's up to me, don't worry."
That seems to calm Twilight enough to take a bite out of her sandwich.
There is silence as they both take a couple of bites.
Sunset looks to the side, thoughtful, after a gulp of her juice, looks at her partner and speaks.
"Hey Twily."
The named, who had a bite in her mouth, stops chewing, and returns her gaze.
"I'm curious. Is there someone at school who... um... what can you tell me about other students?"
After looking at her curiously for a moment, Twilight swallows her bite and looks at her thoughtfully. "um... others, students?"
"yes! do you know someone interesting?" Sunset asks with genuine interest.
Twilight is doubtful. "um... I don't know, what do you mean, interesting..."
Sunset tries to explain herself. "Well, do you know anyone besides me?"
"Well, I guess ..." The scientist girl thinks for a moment. "Um, there, Sugarcoat."
"Sugarcoat? Who is she?" The new girl asks in a hurry.
"She is… Principal's Cinch daughter."
"WOW wow time out!" Sunset exclaims too shocked. "'Daughter'? Are you telling me that SOMEBODY fucked that thing?"
Twilight is alarmed and even blushes. "Su-Sunset!"
"What?!"
Twilight looks around worriedly and lowers her voice. "... that's rude ..."
"tell me if it's not true?" She questions nonchalantly. "Whatever, Cinch has a daughter? And how is she?"
Twilight manages to blush her blush and keeps talking. "Um, Sugarcoat is a silver haired girl, she always does her hair with a really big bun. She is, very smart, although she is very serious. I met her last year when she entered high school and... well, I had heard that she liked studying, I thought we could study together or... something, but... I think he didn't like hanging out with me... "
As she recounts this, Twilight becomes depressed. Sunset notices this and throws a potato in her face making her jump in surprise.
"No long faces. what else can you tell me?" The girl orders and asks quickly.
Twilight recovers from her surprise and continues speaking thoughtfully. "Um, well… she's the principal's daughter but, she doesn't seem to care about that, she's… focused on her studies."
Sunset seems to think about that for a moment. "Mh, alright. Someone else you can tell me about?"
Now Twilight is the one who thinks for a moment "um… Indigo Zap?"
"And she is?"
"Well, she is a student who came last year too, she is… very dedicated to sports. I have gymnastics with her and, I don't understand how she can run and jump and do so many things without getting tired.… Whenever I see her she is practicing some sport, or running the race track or ... whatever. "
"So an aspiring Olympic athlete, heh, interesting."
Sunset is very interested in what she hears, and is seen thinking everything.
Twilight, for her part, looks at her and seems intrigued. "... Why your interest in other students ...?"
Sunset comes out of her thoughts. "Mh? Oh it's nothing! I'm the new one at school, I'm curious to know who in school is worth it."
"I see…"
Twilight seems concerned, but Sunset doesn't notice this, instead asks. "What about older students? Do you know anyone?"
"Um, just my brother ..." Twilight responds, still somewhat subdued.
"Your brother? Who is he?" Sunset is more interested.
"Shining Armor. He's in his final year at Crystal prep. He's actually the best student in school. Top grades, best in sports, he's ... very popular with everyone." Twilight explains thinking of her older brother.
"Heh, are you sure he is your brother?" Sunset asks with some grace. "Because he doesn't sound anything like you."
Sunset jokes and laughs as she eats her salad. But the joke has a depressing effect on the girl, and when Sunset realizes it, she is quick to speak.
"Hey, I'm just kidding, don't be like that."
"It's okay ... I know I'm not good." Twilight says somewhat depressed. "... my brother was always the star of the family. It doesn't bother me, I love my brother very much. And I know... I know I'm not like him..."
Sunset rolls her eyes and brings a couple of potatoes to her mouth before speaking again.
"You know, we'll have to do something with that very repressed attitude. But for now, is there someone else you can tell me about?"
Sunset just smiles, and Twilight seems to let go of her regret, and they keep talking.
~ Crystal Girls ~
The sun begins to set on the horizon when both girls leave the mall.
There were no more purchases from them so they both carry only the bags they already had.
The sound of a car horn makes them both look into the parking lot, Cadence greets them from the window.
There is a soft farewell between the girls, while they smile, and then the one with glasses rushes to arrive with the woman.
They say goodbye once more, Twi from the rear window, and Sunset from the entrance of the building.
Then Cadence honks his horn and starts his vehicle.
When they are out of sight, Sunset erases her smile, gets serious, and takes out her phone.
"So, Sugarcoat, and Indigo Zap. In addition to Shining Armor, but, he will be leaving at the end of the year, I don't think it matters." Says Sunset to herself. "On the other hand, this Sunny Flare, hum..."
While she is thinking, two people approach her from behind. Sunset seems to feel this, as she keeps her phone, and calmly, but in a hurry, she turns and sees two familiar faces, the two boys she had already seen in Crystal Prep, the one with blue hair and the one with red hair.
"Well if they are dump and dumper. I wasn't expecting you two." Comments the fire girl with mockery.
The two of them say nothing, just look at the girl, very upset.
"owww are you mad?" She asks wryly. "What are you looking for?"
~ Crystal Girls ~
In a remote alley, the young man with red hair is fallen to the ground, and the one with blue hair suddenly falls crashing against the wall, sitting down. Both are somewhat bruised.
"ha ha ha! oh guys. Don't feel bad, I've had to fight much bigger and stronger subjects than you." Sunset says as she looks at both boys, placing a hand on her waist. "You two never had a chance."
While the redhead can only growl lying on the floor, the blue haired man raises his head, extremely annoyed, he can only open one eye to see the girl in anger.
Sunset gets serious, and steps forward, approaching both of them. "Well, I hope it's clear to you now who's in charge here." The girl speaks with a severe gesture. "Listen, you two, I am preparing changes, big changes for the school. And I am looking for someone to help me achieve this. I think you now realize how this will end for you, so, can you help me, or… stay on the ground, you choose."
The two boys look extremely upset, furious, but neither says anything, and Sunset keeps looking at them with a superior smile.
~ Crystal Girls ~
Monday comes, and Twilight shows up at school, her hair combed into a ponytail, replacing the signature bun she always wears.
She looks relaxed, a small smile on her face as she walks around the hallways, enlarging her smile at the sight of burning hair in the lockers.
"Sunset!" Say hello as you approach the place.
"Hey Twily!" Greets Sunset, without turning around, focused on looking for her books and notebooks. "how are you?"
"Very well. Did you read, the book that… well the book that I gave you?" Asks the girl with glasses somewhat distressed.
"Sure!" The other girl responds cheerfully. "I had a lot of fun, though I question the ending." Taking her things, she turns to see the girl with glasses and smiles. "Hey! You left your hairstyle. Good."
Twilight just smiles.
Sunset closes her locker, and it is then that Twilight realizes the presence of the two boys, the one with red hair, and the one with blue hair, the latter carrying several books in his hands. Both boys are standing next to the newest student.
The moment she sees them, Twilight steps back and looks scared. "Su-Sunset ...!"
"Relax Twi, everything is fine." Sunset puts the book she just pulled out of her locker into the blue-haired boy's stack, and then puts a hand on everyone's shoulder, giving a confident smile. "I ran into them on Friday after we left the mall. And we had a little chat. And I think we came to an agreement."
Twilight looks very confused, but her fear gradually seems to fade away, to be replaced by bewilderment.
"They are not bad," says Sunset. "They're just stupid." The comment makes both of them angry, but neither says anything.
"So we agreed, that it would help them, if they helped me." At her friend's puzzled look, Sunset says. "Look at this, hey Red, take the Twi books."
Without saying anything, the redhead approaches the girl with glasses, she is scared, but he only takes the books that she had in his hands and holds them.
"I already told you that my name is-"
"SHUT UP RED!"
Shouts Sunset interrupting him and making him jump and shut up, and also the boy in blue, and Twilight.
Sooner Sunset wraps the latter around the shoulders and draws her towards her, smiling at her. "Don't worry Twily, everything will be fine now that I'm with you. These boys are going to help us, and I'm sure that together we can achieve great things in this school."
Twilight looks puzzled. "um... like what...?"
"To start, we must improve your attitude, don't take it wrong, you're super adorable." To emphasize that point she takes the other girl's cheek with her free hand and squeezes it a bit, much to her chagrin. "But we need to give you more character. Don't worry, I'm here." After saying this Sunset speaks to the two boys. "Walking boys, we have a lot to do, and very little time."
As she walks, she takes her purple-haired friend, and the two boys follow close behind without saying anything.
"We are going to do great things at this school. Truly great."
Emphasize this with a haunting look and smile.