If one were to describe Rainbow Dash in three words or less, those three words would be: Stubborn, Egocentric, Selfish. And Rainbow Dash while Rainbow Dash would argue if anyone said that to her, she admitted to herself and to only herself that there was a bit of truth to it. But only a dash, at least that's what she believed. What she would admit out loud was that she had messed up. Not just with the contributing of Scootaloo's isolation from the people she called friends, but also with Sunset. She didn't like Sunset Shimmer, not one bit however she felt disloyal to Twilight Sparkle by ignoring her wishes in helping the friendless girl. Sure they had only known each other for a few days, but Rainbow Dash could honestly say she considered Twilight Sparkle to be a best friend, and she had gone to great lengths to help her and the girls with repairing their relationship. So grudgingly and guiltily, Rainbow had agreed to meet up with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie at Sugar Cube Corner to discuss how to help Sunset Shimmer and fix the problem with Scootaloo.
Applejack and Rarity were absent, one too stubborn and the other to blinded by her hatred after years of abuse and bullying. Having gotten out of school early due to the fire, the girls found themselves at the bakery in the midst of the deflating lunch rush. Upon entering the shop, Rainbow Dash was greeted by the familiar scent the bakery had of cinnamon, sugar and chocolate. Mr. Cake, one of the two owners of Sugarcube Corner, the other being his wife, gave the girls a smile as they entered as he recognized Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy as old regulars but Pinkie Pie his employee and surrogate daughter.
The three girls found themselves a small, unoccupied table in the back of the bakery and sat down. Uncharacteristically, Pinkie Pie was twirling a strand of her hair nervously and biting her lip. To acquaintances it would be weird as the girl was always bouncing but to close friends and family, it meant she was thinking. Deeper then usual that is. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy sat awkwardly, waiting for the girl to speak. After a moment she did, still twirling her hair as she did.
"We need to do something about Sunset Shimmer." she stated. Rainbow rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Well no shit, isn't that why we're here?" she exclaimed, crossing her arms. Pinkie Pie could be stupid when she wanted to, like a right now or so Rainbow thought.
"No, what I mean is we need an actual plan. We just can't do this willy-nilly silly!" said Pinkie Pie, her playful and funny nature showing. Fluttershy nodded and then quietly spoke up.
"Well....um...I think we should start with trying to spend time with Sunset and introducing her to friendship. I know it might be easier if we had Rarity and Applejack on our side but until they agree to help there is nothing we can do."
"Ugh, spend time with Shitter? I can't say I'm excited for that."
"Dashie! I know she's been mean to us but that's no reason to be rude. Beside, if you don't want to help then why are you here?" asked Pinkie Pie, who stopped her hair twirling to stare at Rainbow Dash with a dark look. Rainbow Dash sighed and slouched in her chair.
"Because I know it's the right thing to do and I also know that by helping Sunset we can probably help Scoots'."
"Hmm. Well then, I guess we just have to figure out how to become friends with Sunset Shimmer. "
--
Roseluck was not the strongest or most confident person. In fact she was quite timid and shy, much like her cousins Daisy and Lily, though she could honestly say she was more forward then they are. Still, she was the type to keep a grudge. Even if she was too afraid to speak up and say something when someone walked over her, the moment someone double crossed her, regardless of her relationship with that person, it was near impossible for her to forgive that person.
When Sunset Shimmer had been dethroned by Twilight Sparkle and her friends, something had awoken inside of Roseluck. The teenager came to realize she was tired of holding back. She wanted revenge. Against everyone who had ever hurt her and Roseluck believed that Sunset Shimmer was the perfect target given the fact she was weak and vulnerable. Thinking of the girl brought back every memory of torment since Roseluck had entered High School. The times Sunset Shimmer had stolen her wallet, pushed her in the hallway, stole her iPod. Her blood boiled as she recalled.
Which was probably why she was now at the Kentucky Taco Hut near the school, sitting in a booth and waiting; Waiting for Trixie Lulamoon, an obnoxious, self-centered girl who Roseluck disliked. Disliked because she was always speaking in third person for no reason and the fact that she had stolen Roses cookies in Kindergarten. Normally, she would have never have agreed to meet up with the other teen but what Trixie had said when she pulled her aside in P.E was enough to get her curious. Trixie wanted to put Sunset Shimmer in her place, much like Rose and needed help. It wasn't a surprise that Trixie knew about her distaste for the orange haired girl, having complained about her constantly since the dance. In fact, everyone by now had probably heard her bad mouth Shimmer and mention vague threats.
Half past two, thirty minutes after Roseluck had arrived at the establishment, Trixie walked through the doors, one hand on her hip, the other clutching a laptop against her waist. She strutted up to Rose, a cocky grin on her face as she plopped down next to her, a little too close for comfort.
"Seriously? You told me to meet here and yet you're the one who is late?"
"Hush! Trixie had prior engagements!"
"Then maybe.....look, what do you want?"
"Like Trixie said in P.E, I want revenge on Shimmer! But Trixie need helps and she's heard that you have quite the problem with Shimmer as well."
"You said that already, you haven't stated what sort of help."
"Trixie is a brilliant person, with brilliant ideas but she needs help with....smoothing out the details of her brilliant plan and someone to help her enact it."
"You have no plan." guessed Roseluck, crossing her arms and shaking her head. Trixie huffed and slammed her fist on the table. Nearby customers and the staff of Kentucky Taco Hut looked over, some with concern and others with worry. Roseluck blushed in embarrassment and faked a smile towards those that looked towards them, trying to feign that nothing was going on.
"Trixie does too have a plan!" the blue girl said, raising her voice slightly.
"Look, whether you do or don't have a plan, what makes you think I will help you?"
"You're here aren't you? Speaking to Trixie? Besides, you know you want this almost as much as Trixie does. Revenge on Shimmer. Now, this is Trixie's genius plan....."
Applebloom was not a happy person. Not one bit. Applejack wasn't either but she was more annoyed then angry unlike her younger sister. The two stood in the threshold of their worn farm house, both with their hands on their hips and an temper on the verge of exploding.
"It ain't fair!" stated Applebloom, stomping her foot on the ground.
"I don't care if yah' think it's wrong or not, it's still no!" Applejack was quickly loosing her temper. For the past hour, the younger sibling had been demanding to leave to see her friend and had not stopped pestering for even a moment. She could feel a headache beginning to form and the need to crawl in to bed was intense.
"But why, I didn't do anything wrong and neither did Scootaloo! I don't understand why I can't hang out with her!"
"Because she's a bad influence!"
"That's stupid! You never cared before but now that she's Sunset's sister?" Applebloom could feel tears beginning to build up. The last week of school had been horrid without her second friend in her life. She missed Scootaloo's companionship and longed to have both of her friends with her instead of one. The fact that Applejack had went and banned her from seeing her friend or even interacting with her at school enraged her. Even worse, their older brother agreed and her other friend Sweetie Belle was going through a similar thing with her sister and parents. For the most part she had complied due to fear of punishment, but now that fear was gone and anger was in it's place.
"This has nothing to do with Sunset Shimmer!" exclaimed Applejack.
"It is...you know what, I don't care! I'm going to go to Scootaloo's house!"
"No you're not Sugarcube!" Applejack moved in front of the door that lead to their porch, blocking the exit. The friction between the two was nearly at a breaking point. Applebloom clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.
"You're not my mother or even my legal guardian! You can't tell me what to do, Granny didn't say I couldn't see Scootaloo at all!"
"Hell I can! I don't care what Granny says, I'm protecting you!" retorted the elder teenager.
For a moment, Apple Bloom stood there as if analyzing the situation. Then, she quietly turned on her heel and walked out of the threshold. Applejack was surprised, not expecting her sister to just let a situation go. However, what she didn't expect was Apple Bloom to turn around a few meters away and take a running leap at her.