//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 - A girl´s conversation. // Story: The normal life of Nitpick Bittersweet // by Ryusun //------------------------------// Another day of education came to an end and I was still in awe with the mixed feeling that I was experiencing in the past few days. Never before I had enjoyed coming to a school like this and that made me feel sad and happy. I felt sadness for the reason that I never appreciated as much the company of people around me in classes before; their random reactions, their thirst for knowledge and even their lack of interest of it was fascinating, fresh and new to me! An experience that I couldn't believe I was missing and never being able to achieve in all those years in Crystal Prep's Middle and High School. And I feel happiness because- “SUGARCUBE!! OVER HERE!!” “I'm coming, Applejack!” Of my new friends. Even if we only have spent less than a week and half of getting to know each other, I have never experienced the warm of bonding with people outside my family and Dean Cadence. It’s something that I truly regreted in the past. It made me walk a path of self-destruction and I nearly destroyed the delicate space-time border that separated two worlds. But then, they came to save me. She came to save me. I even had a chance to talk with my alternate timeline self and that was the strangest but most fascinating thing that ever happened to me. My faithful dog gaining the ability of sentient intelligence was a nice plus given all the disasters I created. But that’s just in the past and what’s done and it’s done. The best ways to make amends is to slowly learn from my mistakes and start to embrace everyone around me if I want to build real friendship with the girls that have taken me under their wings. Today I'll experience the wonders of a place called Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie works there as a part-time worker and today they had a special promo of three for two in any purchase you made. This was going to be great. Since they didn’t restrict pets in the fields, I took out Spike from my backpack. I told him to follow us and not talk until we were in a safe place and he obediently agreed with it. “Well, sugarcube, once the girls finish their sports class, we can go and help Rarity in cleaning her boutique and from there we'll go our way to Sugarcube Corner, yo!” “I am still thankful to you for helping me out with my house cleaning, Sweetie Belle made a mess with the girls in my workshop when they were working in the new design of their club capes! Those children could at least have cleaned up their mess! I didn’t gave them authorization for using my equipment for starters!” “Rarity! Let them be kids while they still can. Besides, I am gonna bet that you are overreacting for nothing again!” “Just like the time you overreacted when Applebloom teared apart your favorite farming cloths by accident last month and you came straight to me to fix them?” “Ah… point taken.” She made an embarrassed expression while smiling and holding her hat in her chest. “It will take more than a triviality for me to be mad at you, dear. We have passed for so much together. And now, as a new member of the team, Twilight, you are going to be part of all our activities starting today!” “Thank you so much for what have you done for me! I'll be the best friend possible!” “Baby steps, sugarcube. Friendship is a slow process. For now, let’s see how Rainbow Dash is fairing as the second in command in the soccer team!” “Agreed! Since this is Spitfire's last year in CHS, she retook the mantle of captain of the soccer team to play for the last time with the Wondercolts in the Inter College Tournament. Rainbow Dash must be feeling the pressure to win this time.” “Then let’s go and cheer them up, Yo!” We went to the stands of the school fields. The P.E. class and the soccer team were playing against each other with great enthusiasm. The players who weren’t playing had been put to run around the field. Hard to imagine that last week this place was a motocross rally. I wonder from where my new school got the sponsorship to build and clean that overkill event? "Oh! Look!" Sitting on one of the benches, a beautiful figure was seeing the game. “There you are, Sunset! We wondered where did you go after we lost track of you!” “Oh? Oh, hi, I came straight here to wait for the rest of you!” “Darling, are you ok? You have been gloomy since the welcoming party. Did the new guy say something bad to you that day? You chased him after he suddenly left after all!” “Nitpick? No! He didn’t do me wrong… it's just that I ran with someone who still hates me, she still thinks that I am the same girl during my time as a power hungry maniac and that I held this past welcoming events for ulterior purposes!” “I still find hard to believe that part of your past to be true.” “Don’t worry, that Sunset is gone, Twilight. It's just that the damage my past-self did still lingers with a few students. I just wish I knew how to reach them and prove them that they have nothing to fear of me anymore!” “I believe you have done more than enough, sugarcube! You have been beating a dead horse for a while now. Something that I have learned during mah life is that there are people who'll never listen reason and are too stubborn to see the change in things. Let go and focus in the future. You have us to raise you up if you feel down, you know?” “And you can expect the same for me. Thank you, Applejack!” That kind of trust is what I wanted to achieve and being able to reciprocate with them. We waited for practice to end and once the rest of the girls were finish with their last class of the day, we went straight to Rarity's place. With the seven of us working together, we were going to clean her place in no time. We entered the boutique and… “I spoke too soon.” “What in the world, Rarity? “What happened here?” This place was a complete disaster! The last time I was here a few days ago, I could see the floor in the room! Every single piece of cloth was arranged in acceptable order. How did the Cutie Crusaders worked here, exactly? “As I told you, our respective sisters happened.” “I am going to scold Applebloom for this. You should do the same thing with Scootaloo, Rainbow. She looks upon you as a role model. No doubt she is learning the bad things from you, y'all!” “Hey! That’s a lie! She is learning only cool stuff from me!” “Being irresponsible isn't something cool, gal!” “Never mind girls, lets clean this place and go to Pinkie's!” We distributed the work in sections, Rainbow and Applejack gathered the heavy equipment and materials while Rarity pointed out where to place them. The coordination was disastrous but we managed. The rest of us swept the floor and once it was cleaned of dirt we proceeded to mop it up. The girls were so creative that they managed to make a game of who could clean the fastest and we ended up having fun at it. Pinkie Pie won by a hair, literally. This is the kind of teamwork I always wished to be part of, I never had someone who I could work comfortable with. Wait, there was… “The cleaning services were fulfilled at the appointed hour. I hope you are pleased with the results, Rarity!” “That I am, Rainbow Dash! Thank you for your continuous support.” “Rarity, we can't go to Sugarcube Corner like this” Fluttershy had a point. We were sweaty and dirty from all that cleaning, we needed a shower. “Don’t worry, I knew this would happen and I reserved a visit to the spa! We can go to Sugarcube Corner from there. I have spare cloths right here in the bag for all of you so no need to worry!” “I have never been on a spa before.” “You are going to love it, Twilight! What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Only Fluttershy seemed to be excited by the idea, Sunset and the rest of us were just following the mood. We arrived at the spa after a short walk, the place was so feminine and a sweet, relaxing aroma was perceivable in the air. I could feel my worries going away from my mind, but my thoughts snapped me back to reality when two beautiful women wearing ancient styled chitons came before us. “Twilight, meet Lotus Blossom and Aloe. They will show you the marvels of a good massage. Also, we can ask them to fix your hair so it matches with your new look.” “No thanks, I love the way my hair is. The ponytail is more than enough for me.” “But darling, your front hair is messy!” “I like it the way it is.” “But-“ “Rarity!” Applejack rose her frown like she was about to lecture her. “Alright, but if you ever change your mind, we can come back anytime. Ladies, please do your magic on us!” “Come this way, you already know the drill, Rarity. Take the shower first and meet us at the Jacuzzi.” We followed Rarity to the showers. It didn’t take long for us to do the mandatory hygiene and once we were ready, we went to the Jacuzzis room. Towels, fruit and fresh water were prepared for use at out discretion. My friend also prepared custom swimsuits to use while there, so wrapping into a bath towel was unnecessary. I got inside the bath and- “This feels so nice!” My sore body for all the cleaning we did slowly started to dissapear. The water was at the point I liked; neither too cold for me to catch a flu nor too hot that could hurt my skin. “I told you that you would like it.” “This was a nice idea, Rarity. I can feel the stress getting out of me. Yesterday the small critters at the shelter gave me so much trouble because the noise from the sewer maintenance on the suburbs! Those inconsiderate people don’t know how much the small ones suffers with such loud noise!” “They are doing their job so you can have water to shower your pets in the shelter. Bear with it for a little while longer, y'all.” “I guess you are right, Applejack.” She closed her eyes and made a weak sigh, it must be hard work to be a veterinarian assistant. The rest of the girls were relaxing as well and Spike was sleeping in the corner. He still is a puppy so he needs his rest. “Do you have everything you need?” It was Miss Aloe. Miss Blossom was beside her holding an ornate plate with what appeared to be a variety of shampoos. “Yes Ladies, everything is in order. Once again you are making us have a delightful time.” “Oh, flattery is not needed with us but thank you.” Miss Blossom humbly said but both Misses were blushing with appreciation. “So tell us who is going to receive the special treatment?” “She!” Rarity pointed at me. “Uh, me?” “Of course. Once you receive the special hair treatment, your hair will feel spectacular!” “But I told you I don’t want to change my hair!” “Don’t worry, Twilight. It's a special hair shower, and believe me when I say that you are going to love it. Rarity and I come here every month to take one.” Fluttershy gave me a tender look. “If just say so, then I'll take it.” Both ladies kneeled behind me and one of them started massaging my head. “Don’t worry, Miss Twilight, you will feel like a new, fresh girl after we finish with you!” Your massage is already making me feel refreshed, Miss Blossom. “Maybe a boy can fall for you and want to ask your phone number with your new feminity! If you are shy, they can start with text messagin! Hehehe!” So femininity equals to steal boys' attention. Boys equals to text messaging, and text messaging equals to Flash's stubbornness and that means that- “AAAAHH!!!” “What's wrong, Twilight!?” “Sorry! Oh I am sorry! But I'm okay, I am okay!" “You were startled when they mentioned texting from boys; don’t tell me that someone is harassing you already?” “Oh no! By no means... but...!” Miss Blossom tenderly pulled back my head to a comfortable position and resumed her massaging. “Perhaps you can share with us what is your problem. We can help and give you good advice if you wish.” “You don’t have to worry about sharing secrets with them, Twilight! There is a reason that even celebrities come here after all! What you say here is safe with us!” Rarity said this with such security that I had no reason to mistrust her. “Well, there is a guy I met during the first day of the games. It seems he confused me with our special friend. You know, the one I am pretty similar with.” “Let me guess, the guy is Flash Sentry.” “Do you know him, Sunset?” “Yeah, he is a nice guy, Twilight.” “Maybe he is but he talks about the silliest of things! I was being texted during school hours by him five times, FIVE TIMES! URGH! Only thinking about it makes me feel tired!” Miss Blossom made swifter moves with her hands, her temple massage technique was better than mine; I thanked her for returning my inner peace. “I believe someone has a crush on you, Miss Twilight.” “Uh, a crush?” “It means that someone likes you for the idea of dating you in the future, darling!” “I have understanding of the idiom but, why he would like a stranger that he only met in one day? That’s crazy!” “Have you never fallen in love with someone at first sight?” “No, Dean Cadence always says that loves is built by the mutual understanding and effort of both parties with the pace of time and she is right. I have come to believe that someone who develops an infatuation with someone at first sight instead of knowing him first is destined to have the greatest disappointment of her life! It applies to the opposite sex too!” All of the girls but Rarity started laughing. “I think that Twi described someone we know perfectly. Am I right, Rarity? Blueblood was his name, wasn't it?” “I thought we agreed never to speak of him again...” “Miss Cadence sounds like someone who has experienced a lot of relationships!” “Yes, she is, Miss Aloe. I may have no right to judge how people fall in love, I am new in the friendship ways after all. But love is a more delicate subject for me. Dean Cadence shared with me many points of view from her experiences, saying that all her search for real love finally paid off when she started dating my brother a few years back! That is why I believe she is right. Love is not destined, it's built by our very own hands.” Miss Aloe started to use the mix of special shampoos in my hair, combined with her soft fingertips passing through my head and the seducing aroma of exotic fruits was relaxing in a whole new level. “So the idea of this young man named Flash falling for you this quickly doesn’t make you happy?” “Not in the least.” “Then you should clip his wings as soon as you can so he doesn’t soar in the sky too high! A mindful rejection is what you need. The hit to the ground could be too painful for him if you delay this!” “But how can I do this? Could you help me in choosing the right words?” “Of course we can, Twilight! And by all that is pure and honest, we will!” They started to share the ways they would kindly use to turn down a boy. Applejack, Rainbow and Pinkie's rejection were too extreme for my liking. I must ask Dean Cadence about it this too; no doubt she could give me valuable insight as well. Sunset didn’t talk too much about it; she seemed melancholic and distant. Perhaps I was just imagining things. We didn’t go to Sugarcube Corner in the end but nobody minded, the time we spent together was lovely.