It had been a few days since the battle of the bands, the school break was in full swing and the girls decided to meet up Rarity's place to discuss the fashionista's designs for the upcoming charity event.
Applejack stood in the centre of a room that had rolls of cloth stacked near a far wall and a board covered in potential designs near a small sewing station across from it. Applejack patiently looked out the window that was partially obscured by a clothibg rack while she waited for her friend.
"Sorry about the wait darling," Rarity apologised as she walked in carrying a folder, some ribbon and a tape measure. "As much as I would like to have more space to work on my craft, my parents simply couldn't afford anything other than this simple place for Sweetie Belle and I while they work overseas."
"Rarity," Applejack deadpanned. "This is a two story, three bedroom house in the most well off part of town, I think you're parents couldn't have gotten anything better even if they wanted to."
"I suppose you're right, now I have a few ideas for your outfit, let me just make sure my measurements are up to date and we can go the designs." Rarity replied.
"You only updated them last week," Applejack countered. "Measuring all six of us will take all day!"
"Do you want everything to fit properly or not?" the designer stated curtly.
Applejack stopped herself from turning the conversation into yet another argument, sighed and gave her friend a smile.
"Rarity, the stuff you make fits better and sure lasts a heck of a lot longer than some the clothes the girls and I buy from the mall," she stated. "Are you really that worried about messing up that you to take our measurements every darn time?"
Rarity flinched. "I had hoped to pass that little quirk off as part of the process but it appears I wasn't as subtle as I thought."
"Why? Everyone knows making clothes is your passion," Applejack said calmly. "You got nothing to worry about."
"If it were just my passion you would be correct," Rarity explained. "But this is my dream Applejack! To work in the fashion industry, to bring the art of the tailor back from the brink of death itself! How can I not be worried when my future career is at stake?"
"That's easy, trust in yourself," Applejack replied. "If things don't go right, find out where you went wrong and learn from it, I know I did after Princess Twilight brought us all back together."
"But it wasn't your fault darling, that was all a misunderstanding-" Rarity stated.
"A misunderstanding I should've looked into when our cell phones started going missing, only to turn up days before that mess started," Applejack interjected. "I can't believe I trusted a darn text message instead of looking for the truth of the matter, if just one of us questioned each other 'bout it all, none of it woulda happened."
"It's all behind us now, why you don't you help me choose a design before the others get here?" Rarity suggested.
"I suppose you're right," Applejack finally admitted. "So what do you have in mind?"
After a few hours spent choosing, altering and finishing the final designs for the costumes, fliers and food for the event, Rainbow dragged the group out to a small burger joint for lunch.
"Why here? I thought you didn't like fast food?" Sunset asked and paused to eat a french fry. "Oh hey, these fries aren't half bad."
"I do like stuff like this, I just can't have it very often, gotta stay in top shape if I'm the captain of the sports team," Dash replied. "Fluttershy showed me this place a while ago, I figured it was time we went here as a group, you know?"
"They have wonderful veggie burgers here and they source their food locally." Fluttershy added.
"That and they have the students discount here, so beats paying an extra five bucks at Hay Burger." Rainbow stated.
"Are you all excited for next week, I know I am!" Pinkie said.
"I just hope everything goes well," Fluttershy replied worriedly. "I know the concert isn't until next week but so many things could still go wrong and all those animals are counting on us."
"We'll be fine 'Shy, don't worry so much," Rainbow said. "I'll grab my bike and deliver those fliers as soon as their hot off the printer, Rarity's got the costumes sorted and Applejack and Pinkie are working on the food. With you and Sunset keeping things organised, what could go wrong?"
"You just had to say it didn't you?" Sunset flatly stated.
"What? I never leave my friends hanging and... Well, you know..." Rainbow trailed off sheepishly.
"Is something wrong?" Fluttershy asked.
Rainbow stayed silent and avoided everyone's questioning gaze for a moment. Eventually she sighed and looked at the curious group.
"Fluttershy and I were childhood friends, we went to kindergarten together...After we all stopped being friends I got caught up in a bad crowd and sort of ignored her because she wasn't 'cool', I did some really dumb stuff back then." Rainbow admitted.
"I remember that," Fluttershy added. "I saw a lot of the awful things those bullies did and I knew you weren't nearly as bad, you even tried to help people behind their backs."
"I still haven't made it up to you for just pushing you aside like that, or to Applejack for all the mean stuff I-"
"Now hold on there sugar cube," Applejack interrupted Rainbow's rambling. "You're not the only one still worked up over all that, so if you can forgive me for my part in it, then I'd call us even, what do you say?"
"Really, it's that easy?" Dash asked.
"Eeyup." Applejack replied and made an effort to ignore Rarity, who was looking her way with an 'I told you so' expression on her face.
"Heh, cool." Rainbow looked relieved as she and AJ shook hands.
Fluttershy smiled and pulled Rainbow into a hug. "I forgave you along time ago Dash. You're one of my best friends. How could I not?"
The confident sports star let out an embarrassed squeak.