//------------------------------//
// Sunset, Magic, and other Hurdles 
// Story: Canterlot High Magic Club 
// by Luminous Comet 
//------------------------------//

"Yeah, Pinkie invited me to a... Get-To-Know-You Party?" Rarity couldn't quite read Sunset's expression. 'Unsure' was the best way she could describe it, which wasn't uncalled for given she hadn't really experienced Pinkie's enthusiasm much yet.

"Oh, well you have fun, then, Darling. Thanks for dropping this off. I promise you will get it back in unchanged condition."

"Thanks. I'll see you at school."

They waved each other goodbye and Rarity closed the door with a somewhat concerned hum. If Sunset was to spend more time with everyone, Pinkie was definitely a tricky one to start with. She was either the best or worst choice, in one way or another. Especially with how unsure Rarity still was about Sunset in general.

But worrying about that now wouldn't solve anything. And her curiosity was piqued by something a lot less mundane. On the way upstairs, she cracked open the notebook, flipping through a few of the hand-written pages, though the details blurred slightly before her eyes.

She smoothly dodged Sweetie who came rushing down the hallway, pushed open the door to her room, and in one fluid motion slipped inside before closing it. Halfway to her desk, she had to double back and open the door a tad again, at Opalescence's indignant scratching. The cat mewed with self-satisfaction and went straight back to where she had been napping.

Rarity moved aside a few sketches on her desk to have room and put on her work glasses before starting to read. In short, it was a mess. Clearly this had never been intended as a learning tool to begin with and had only been used as personal notes and reminders, leaving it utterly confusing for anyone else, especially someone not familiar with the subject matter.

But somehow, Sunset had taken these jumbled notes and learned a little bit of actual magic. And Rarity was not the kind of person who backed down from a challenge easily and even less so from such an opportunity. She flipped open a spiral notebook of her own and started drawing up an association chart to hopefully unravel some of the intertwined trains of thought.


=====***=====


"...and sure, all that's pretty cool, but that doesn't change who we're talking about, you know?"

Applejack huffed and pushed another stack of wood onto the back of her truck. "Rainbow, ya think if ya come here to complain, ya might consider helpin' out?"

Rainbow grabbed a few pieces and moved them onto the truck, but continued regardless. "I'm just saying, maybe we shouldn't get so friendly with Sunset Shimmer of all people, just because she can do cool magic now."

"Everyone deserves a second chance, Rainbow. And she apologised. Now that doesn't mean we should just forget, but if she really wants to be better, someone needs to give her a chance." She took what Rainbow was carrying and added it to her own stack. "Besides, I don't think the old Sunset would've helped ya'll like she did."

Rainbow Dash buried her hands in her pockets and kicked a loose branch, looking out over the farm. "Okay, if you say so. Doesn't mean I have to like it. ... So, what kind of awesome magic do you think she can teach us!?"

"Uh-huh. There it is." Applejack leaned on the bed of the truck once she had stowed the last bit of wood. "Sounded to me like learnin' that involved some studyin'. Ya sure you're up for that?"

"Hey, I can learn if I really want to! Do you think it could make me fly!? Or shoot lightning!?"

AJ chuckled to herself and walked around to the driver's side. "If I'm bein' honest, I'm kinda tryin' not to think about it. It's a bit too much to wrap my head around. Now hop in, you're helpin' me drop these off."


=====***=====


Rarity prided herself in quite a few things. Grace, humility, a sharp fashion sense, natural beauty, and also on that list were precision and focus. Admittedly, she wasn't always the best student. When a subject eluded her, she often fell to frustration. But when she did push through, once she had grasped the basic concept, the application of it was no problem.

Too bad the same didn't apply to magic.

"This is impossible!" She tossed her pen onto her desk. Carefully. She wanted to express indignation, not break an expensive work implement. "What do they even mean by 'inner focus'!? Is it so much to ask to get some basic definitions!?"

She sighed deeply and threw herself onto her bed. She had spent her whole day reading, writing, and puzzling out connections. And what she had come up with seemed right, as far as she could logically tell. It had internal consistency, at least. But some basic elements just didn't make any sense to her. And without those, there was no way to put her theories into practice.

She should have asked Sunset to tutor her from the beginning, but she'd been too uncertain about how to approach her. It was true that she had saved her - or at least helped to do so - but that didn't clear away the perception she had had of her previously. Maybe she did deserve more of a chance, though, like Pinkie seemed ready to give her.

As if on command, Rarity's phone played a short jingle, indicating a text message. It was followed by the same jingle two more times. She stood up and fished her phone out of her purse. The messages had appeared in a group chat she shared with her friends.

"Party Success!!!" the first one read, flanked by a small assortment of emojis. Before she had started texting with Pinkie regularly, Rarity had never known there were so many different balloon emojis. She still wasn't sure where she got all of them.

The second message was a picture, before the third finished with "💗 u all, have a super-amazing weekend!!!"

The picture was a selfie, showing Pinkie beaming and sticking out her tongue, her cheek pushed close to Sunset's, who was smiling, hesitant but genuine. Her eyes were slightly red, but she had her arms lightly around Pinkie's shoulders.

"Right." Rarity straightened herself and held a clutched fist against her chest. "This is no time for me to be wallowing in defeat. If I can't do this on my own, there's no shame to ask for help!" On Monday, though. After a well-earned spa day.


=====***=====


Fluttershy sat by her bed, listening to the squeaking and chittering of her two companions. She finally shook her head, waiting for her bunny to take the gesture as a cue to let her respond. "Oh, I know I was in a bad condition after that. But doesn't everyone deserve another try?"

He started squeaking more excitedly than before. Fluttershy picked him up and sat him on her lap. "I know you're upset, Angel. And I'm grateful that you want to defend me, but I really think I should try and get along with her. She has really been trying this week."

A soft chittering followed with the little parakeet she was watching for her brother landing on her shoulder. "Oh, of course it's difficult for me, Miss Chicory. But I think she hasn't had any friends this whole time. I never see her talking to anyone else and she always sits alone at lunch. I feel so sorry for her."

Angel protested again, but Fluttershy once again shook her head. "She already apologised. That is all I can ask of her. If she wants to be a better person, then I want to help her. After all, that would be better for her and everyone else too. I think."

Chicory chimed in again. "Oh, no. Of course I want to help everyone find out what is going on. But I don't think I could ever learn any kind of magic. That sounds way too complicated. And... a little scary."

Angel squeaked loudly and indicated himself wildly. Fluttershy giggled softly. "Oh, don't be silly, Angel Bunny. I couldn't ever ask you to do something so dangerous. But I am so happy that you would even offer. Now, it is time for all of us to go to bed. We're going to Flitter and Cloudchaser's party tomorrow and-- eek!"

She flinched at the sound of her phone. Quickly realising what it was, she reached over and looked at the messages in the group chat. "Aww, now does this really look like a bully to you?"

Angel stuck up his nose. Fluttershy giggled again as she picked him up. "Come on. I know how excited you are to see Bunzilla tomorrow. You should get plenty of sleep so you're all ready to spend tomorrow with your little crush."