"That's only twenty," Scootaloo said as Sunset pushed herself up off of the floor.
"I know," Sunset said as she tried to catch her breath, "I don't understand how Rainbow can do fifty of these before going to school each morning."
"She's an athlete," Scootaloo answered, "you on the other hand are an intellectual."
"Only you and Rainbow are able to make being an intellectual sound like an insult."
"Sorry," Scootaloo quickly answered, "I didn't mean it that way."
"I know sis," Sunset answered, "how many more do I need to do?" Scootaloo thumbed through the work-out schedule that Rainbow Dash had put together for Sunset.
"How many more you need to do today," Scootaloo answered nervously, "or by the time the Friendship Games start?"
"Just today," Sunset said, "I'd likely pass out if you told me the total number."
"Then you are in luck," Scootaloo said cheerily, "eighty more and then you can call it quits."
That was the moment when Sunset's arms turned to jelly and she collapsed on the floor. It was also at that moment when the door bell rang.
"Sis are you ok," Scootaloo said as she jumped up to help her older sister.
"No, I'm dead," Sunset answered, "Go answer the door, I'll be alright."
Sunset couldn't hear what was happening at the front door as she peeled herself off of the living room floor. By the time she did she saw her younger sister carrying the largest bouquet flowers that she had ever seen.
"Who are those for," Sunset asked.
"Mom," Scootaloo answered.
"Who are they from," Sunset asked, "is there a card?"
Sunset was able to spot the card before Scootaloo even had a chance to put the flowers on the kitchen counter, and she had plucked it from the bouquet before her sister had turned around.
Sunset began to read the card aloud, "To the fairest princess in all the land, how I love thee
---Love; the All-powerful Q"
"That's not romantic," Scootaloo said, "and I'm the one saying that."
"Yeah," Sunset replied, "and who besides love sick teenagers signs a note with only their initial?"
"Q isn't his initial," the two girls heard their mother say and they both slowly turned around and looked at the foyer, "it's actually his nickname, as for the 'All-powerful' part, it's an inside joke between us."
The two teenagers looked at each other. Celestia could tell that they were having an unspoken conversation between them, much like Celestia and her sister Luna did.
"So tell us about him," Sunset said.
"I really don't know where to begin," Celestia replied. She was starting to get flustered and didn't know how to answer her daughters questions. Oh Q, why did you have to send flowers this early before St. Valentine's Day?
"Oh no mom," Scootaloo said, "you're not getting out of this one."
"Let's just say that he is my opposite in every way," Celestia answered, "and that's all I am going to say on the matter. Now don't you two have homework to do?"
"We finished that before you got home," Sunset replied.
I should be proud that both of my girls are smart, Celestia thought, Sunset is one of the smartest if not the smartest student at CHS, and Scootaloo is on the JV basketball team and needs to keep her grades up to remain eligible.
"Ok, both of you go play video games," Celestia said in defeat, "I'll get dinner ready, and maybe, just maybe I'll tell you about Q."
*****
Adagio was covered from head to toe in sweat, even after moving in with Ms. Luna, she had maintained her daily jogging routine, the only differences now were the location of the route she took and that when she returned home she not only had access to a shower, but also air conditioning.
"Things are moving on up," she said to herself as she entered the house. She wasn't surprised to see Aria sprawled out on the couch holding her phone up to her ear talking to her boyfriend Flash Sentry. Sonata on the other hand was sitting on the living room floor and had a big bowl of popcorn in her lap as she and her girlfriend Pinkie Pie were watching a comedy on Netflix.
When did we become normal teenagers, Adagio thought as she looked at the scene.
"Any word from Rarity when our secret project will be ready," Adagio asked. Aria ignored her, she was to busy talking to Flash. Sonata hesitated, glancing at Pinkie before answering.
"Yeah," Sonata said, "our outfits and Scoot's are completed, but she is having trouble with the material for Aria's. She also said that she won't let us have them until she can see the whole ensemble."
"And Sunset is still in the dark," Adagio asked next.
"I haven't said anything," Sonata said, "but I don't have any classes with her this semester."
"What special project," Pinkie chirped, "and why are we keeping Sunset in the dark?"
"We can't tell you Pinkie," Sonata said, and before Pinkie could object, Sonata placed her lips on the pink haired party planner's.
"Uhg," Aria said looking up from her phone, "get a room you two."
"You know mom's rule," Sonata said, "if our boyfriends or girlfriends are over we are to stay in the living room or the kitchen."
"And I'm relieved to see that you are following it," Luna said as she and Raven Inkwell entered the house. Both of them were carrying bags that smelled like Chinese food.
"Need any help with that Mom," Adagio asked.
"We got this," Luna replied, "Miss Pie, are you staying for dinner,"
"Only if there's enough," Pinkie replied, "I don't want to take food off of my girl's plate."
"Trust me," Raven said, "there is more than enough."
"Why did you buy so much food," Adagio asked.
"My Agent, Printing Press, called and asked me if Raven and I were available for dinner tonight with him and his wife, I talked him into having dinner here, so that he could meet the three of you," Luna answered, "unfortunately he called saying that he had to cancel after Raven and I had picked up this feast."