Push Up Your Glasses

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The parents smiled as their family piled into the new home. Night Light hugged his wife and kissed her on the cheek as she giggled. Shining Armor stuck his tongue out and pointed at it in disgust, Twilight chuckled slightly at this, causing him to laugh as well.

Twilight Velvet had beautiful purple-white skin, her smile and blue eyes added to her beauty. Her bangs and curls of purple and white slid together perfectly and fell onto her dark blue blouse and light purple skirt. Her black heels fell off of her feet as she plopped down on the couch and sighed in relief at the freedom of her feet.

Her husband on the other hand was as dashing as she was beautiful. Night Light had blue skin with dark blue hair, his yellow eyes popped. He wore an olive-brown vest over a beige button up. His dark brown pants complimented it nicely.

The kids got their parents looks. Shining Armor was dashing and extremely handsome, Twilight was beautiful. Sadly, their personalities didn't match their parents.

While Twilight had her messy ponytail, and her big black glasses, and her hot pink and light blue shirt with the brown waist belt, and the hot pink bow, she had a certain charm that didn't match either of her parents. Her purple skirt with a star pattern and a huge magenta star on the side slid down her purple skin to her light blue knee socks that fled into her purple-brown shoes.

Her charm had almost nothing to do with her parents, leaving the two confused when she ended up with it. Her mother was ladylike, a worry wart, and a nit-picker. While she did good in school, she struggled to keep her grades at a high B at the most. She was lucky to get an A.

Night Light was charming, a gentle man, and overall just a nice guy. He was surprised when his son ended up a total premature kid and his daughter ended up an annoying bookworm. He didn't do that hot in school either, yet Twilight had an undying love for books and knowledge.

Twilight Velvet looked around at the only furnished house and smiled. "You know, I know I saw it yesterday, but... it almost feels nicer with the whole family here." Night Light almost fell in love with her all over again at her blissful smile and her messy hair from nights on nights of nit-picking packing.

He smirked at her, "Well, it'll feel even better with all your pictures and wall décor up, won't it?" She smiled up at him, he swore he felt like a teenager all over again. She smiled and nodded.

"Ugh!" She chuckled and glared down at her heels. "The neighbors are just going have to deal with a no-shoed lady for a day!" She picked herself up off the couch and started out the door. Her husband followed.

He chuckled, "I told you to take them off on the way here! You wouldn't listen!" He followed her out. Shining Armor and Twilight stared at each other. They raced up the stairs, revealing a hallway with four doors. Three rooms, one bathroom.

Twilight smirked at her brother. One room other than the master room had a bathroom along with it. Meaning whoever got that room, didn't get the up-in-the-middle-of-the-night bathroom break.

Thankfully for Twilight, she got to see the house before hand, he was too lazy to get out of the car to see it. She jetted towards the end of the hallway, her brother quickly following her, expecting the last door to be the room she was after.

She smirked as he speed past her. She turned into a room and stopped in victory. She looked at the right of the room, a extra door with a bathroom inside. Shining Armor groaned and poked his head into the room. Twilight smirked back at him.

"C'mon, we should get our furniture up here, I think it's in the kitchen," she said proudly, eager to get back to her phone. He rolled his eyes and started down the hallway, silently agreeing.

As they piled bed frames and mattresses up the stairs, their parents brought in box after box. Night Light and Shining Armor carried up heavy dressers while the women carried up shelves and drawers to said dressers.

At around six, all the furniture was in the second floor rooms in their respective places. The four sat in the kitchen, taking a what was said to be a small break. They've been their for thirty minutes.

At seven, they broke off to unpack boxes. Twilight carried up boxes that were marked with her name and Shining Armor did the same. While their parents unpacked the bottom floors boxes, the two carried up the boxes that went to the bathrooms and their parents room.

As soon as Twilight shut her door, she raced over to her bed and pulled out her phone from under the one pillow that laid on the sheet and cover-less bed. She saw the multiple missed messages she had and groaned. She opened up the group chat that led to her old friends.

Messages like 'How is it?', and 'Miss us yet?' were plastered in different colors. Sunny Flare's texts were in a pastel purple, Sour Sweet's were in a bright yellow. Sugar coats were an icy blue, while Indigo Zaps was a dark blue, and Lemon Zests was a hot peach color.

Twilight scrolled up to skim over them. Seeing Sugarcoats icy blue reply to Sour Sweet and Sunny Flares constant questioning with a 'You know, that really is unnecessary with how far you're pushing it. You almost seem like you like her.'

Twilight snorted at the on-going conspiracy theory that Sunny Flare and Sour Sweet didn't like her. Even if it was always combated with the idea that Sugarcoat didn't like her, it still made her laugh.

'It's fine, and I miss all of you,' she typed and sent. She put down her phone to start unpacking and instantly heard ding!. She rolled her eyes with an eager smile and she pounced back to her phone to see the sad replies.

'Wow, surprising,' Sugarcoat replied. Twilight could almost hear the sarcasm as she read it.

'I miss you too! But it sucks that it isn't better,' Sour Sweet typed. Again, the change in tone could be heard through an internal monologue of reading.

'It's gonna suck without you! Now we have to put up with SourSunny so much more!' Lemon Zest typed, earning hateful comments from Sour Sweet and Sunny Flare.

'Yeah! Poor, poor us. We're gonna suffocate with how much SourSunny we're gonna be exposed to!' Indigo Zap played along.

'Whatever,' Sunny Flare replied with. Twilight tensed as she feared that was meant towards her. She sighed in relief as she read the next text. 'I have no idea how I'll survive without my homework buddy around.'

'With Sour Sweet!' Indigo Zap and Lemon Zest replied with almost instantly. Twilight laughed and sighed in relief as she typed.

'Sorry girls, I'll text more later, but I really got to unpack all this stuff,' she typed and dropped her phone. She ignored the upcoming dings! of goodbye as she started opening a box.

Twilight laid in bed as she continued texting her last friend awake, Sugarcoat. Her hair was in a wet bun, as she laid on her stomach with her pillow under her chin.

Her room had most of it's things unpacked. Her shelves were filled with books and picture frames of her and her friends. One of all six of them laid on her nightstand, next to a glass of water.

Her room was dimly being lit by a magenta lava lamp gifted to her by Sunny Flare one year on her birthday. She had her ear buds in, listening to a music playlist Lemon Zest recommended for studying. She usually hated Lemon Zest's taste in music, but she liked these songs, which was evident as her feet and head bounced to the song.

'I have to tell Lemon Zest how good this music is,' she typed.

The middle of her body laid under a purple blanket with a big magenta star on it. Her room was roasting, even with the fan on. Which, again, was evident through her dark purple shorts and light blue tank top.

Her vanity had a few nail polish and makeup kits on the shelves next to it, all gifted to her by Sour Sweet, who constantly loved to do her makeup. Her dresser that her vanity sat on had lightning bolts running down the side, courtesy of Indigo Zap who thought it needed some 'jazzing up'.

'You know, that's really not necessary to mention, saying as she'll read through all this and see that. You could've just said you liked her music,' Sugarcoat replied. Twilight always felt inferior when talking to Sugarcoat, but she loved Sugarcoat almost for that reason. Though, Twilight really missed hearing her voice.

She was surprised when the ding! rang through her ear buds as she replayed a song. She saw what Sugarcoat typed and was almost sent to tears. 'You know, I really do miss you. So do the others. We all love you, I can't wait to see you Christmas break.'

Twilight smiled as her fingers hit the letters, 'I know. Same for me. I miss and love each of you, thanks, Sugarcoat.'

'Whatever, well, head to sleep. You got a new school and everything to go to,' the icy blue box appeared. Twilight expected it, Sugarcoat always left right after something emotional happened, even if she said it and meant it to be sarcastic.

Twilight smiled as she put down her phone and removed her ear buds. She placed them on the nightstand, along with her glasses as she burrowed her head into her weak pillow. She ran her legs across part of the bed, feeling the cold silk of her purple sheets made her feel a little better about the heat.

Without the distraction of her music, or her friend, her stomach churned with worry for the upcoming day in just a few hours. Of course, she had everything set out a perfect, and she had already met the principle a week earlier, but the idea still terrified her.

Her sick stomach led her to only three hours of sleep once she got up to her phone alarm. She groaned as she picked it up and revealed a six A.M. alarm. She shut it off and dropped it to her side, still holding onto it to prove she would get up.

Her brother smirked and slammed open the door, scaring her out of her comfortable early morning half-stretch. He laughed as she stared at the door. She rolled her eyes and stood up, slamming it back shut and leaning her back against it to hold her sleepy legs up.

She groaned as she walked over to her vanity, seeing her sleepy hair straight down in a mess of knots and tangles. One, she hated her hair down, and two, she hated tangles. She grabbed the brush and walked over to her bed, throwing her hair over and yanking through the knots.

After five minutes of damaging her scalp, she got up and put on her clothes. She pulled her hair up into a high pony tail and put a pink headband with a bow behind her bangs. On top of a light purple shirt with a dark purple moon sat a baby blue jacket with white sleeves. A deep purple skirt sat on top of black capris-leggings with magenta stars on the side. She wore purple sneakers with baby blue socks that had white stripes on them.

She smiled in the mirror, finally feeling awake. She grabbed her book bag and slung it over her shoulder, skipping down the hall, forgetting her fear.

As she walked into the kitchen for an apple, she saw her brother was just as gussied up as her. She smiled again and grabbed an apple.

"Shining! If you two don't hurry, you'll be late!" Their mother called from the living room. The twos happy expressions shot to fear as they glanced at the clock, it was seven exact. They raced past each other outside and into a white car. The car sped out of the driveway and they raced to the new school, getting somewhat lost on the way.

Short story short, they were late.

The two arrived just as the bell rung, which Shining assumed was fine, since they had to get a tour anyways. On the other hand, Twilight's grip on her back pack straps tightened as her knees buckled together. She was a total worry wart, and anxiety-fueled her every move in a new place. Of course she would freak.

Just the idea of walking into a class during a session terrified her. Her brother rolled his eyes and grabbed her wrist, pulling her along as her feet stood stuck to the ground and her eyes stood stuck to the school.

They passed the strange horse statue and walked into the school, not surprised to see no one there. Suddenly, a blue skinned lady walked up to them, the two recognized her as Vice Principle Luna. She smiled gingerly at the two.

"Class started a few minutes ago, and since the school is rather large, the tour should be over by the time class ends," the lady smiled. She winked at the obviously nervous Twilight, "So don't worry."

The two remained silent, even with the usual playful attitudes of the two, they stared attentively at her. She smiled, "There are two students who will show you around. I picked one from each of your grade levels, even if the school is rather... conjoined when it comes to classes, some students still don't know which classes most only seniors and juniors take."

She looked down a hallway and smiled, then she turned to the two, "I hope you enjoy your time here at CHS." She turned away, and two girls turned the corner of the hallway she looked down. The two smiled at Shining and his sister.

"Hi!" A girl extended her hand to the two with a bright smile. She had gorgeous pink skin with a beautiful set of purple, magenta, and yellow in her hair that was pulled into a high pony tail with a blue crystal heart.

She wore a white tank top that was cut off by a pink ribbon that wrapped around her waist. She had a long blue skirt with pink and white boots. She smiled at the two, "I'm Cadenza!" She looked at Shining Armor, "I'm assuming you'll be the one in my classes?"

He involuntarily nodded, only for her to smile brighter. He was speechless, she was so gorgeous, and she was obviously the senior of the two. He was going to have classes? With her? He might as well kill himself now, he wouldn't survive without embarrassing himself in front of her.

She giggled, and Twilight could tell she was the senior too. She looked to the other girl who smiled just as brightly.

"Hello darling," the girl purred happily and took a look at Twilight's clothes with a smile. "Very weekend like, I like!"

Twilight was confused as to what the girl meant but didn't bother with it. She was more or so infatuated with the girls choice of clothes and her looks in general.

Milky white skin, bright blue eyes, deep purple locks and curls, a white sweater cut off by a high waisted, purple skirt, black tights, and deep purple boots? Any boy would want her in just a second! And her class made her all the more lovable.

Twilight knew she was pretty, but the girl made her feel so insecure about her looks, even she after was just complimented. Twilight waved half-heartedly, even so, the girl smiled.

"Ooooh! We're going to be the bestest of friends! You know, you're hair would be so lovely to play with! And would be doing your makeup! Your skin is such a pretty color, and it matches your eyes!" The girl ranted happily. Then, she brought her hand to her mouth and giggled. "Oh, how silly of me! I'm Rarity, so nice to meet you!"

Twilight extended her hand and shook Rarity's, even if she was worried her hands were sweaty. Though, the girl seemed as if she was the purest of the pure. Too pure to comment on sweaty hands.

Cadenza smiled at the two, "Well, one, thank for getting me out of class, and two, lets get going. I don't want to miss second." She giggled and started walking down the hallway from where she came. Rarity, Shining Armor, and Twilight followed.

Cadenza showed around the senior and junior halls, while Rarity explained the freshmen and sophomore classes. They didn't need two to show around, they really didn't. Classes didn't seem separated by grade level.

Twilight assumed it was so the two had a friend going into the new school. So, she smiled at the thought that she at least knew somebody. Even if they didn't become friends, well, the girl seemed set on being friends.

"And this is the class we're supposed to be in right now," Cadenza explained happily to Shining Armor. She waited, holding her finger up with a proud smile. The two stared, utterly confused. Until, the bell struck, she sighed in relief and looked to Shining Armor.

"C'mon, you have my next class," she grabbed his wrist and the two ran off down the hall.

Twilight turned to Rarity nervously as the classes started letting out. Rarity smiled, "Darling, please! I wouldn't leave you on your own! It'll take a bit to learn the school!"

She smiled sweetly, "I think you have my next class, is it English?" Twilight took a look at her schedule and nodded, only for Rarity to smile and lead her on their merry way.

Kick Your Feet Up When The Teacer Tells You No

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They got to English on time, almost early, as they got a head start to fight through the halls. The two smiled, nervously and proudly at the teacher as she smiled.

"So, you're Twilight Sparkle? I hear you got good grades at your old school, I expect nothing else!" The teacher, Mrs. Cheerilee smiled happily. Twilight smiled nervously back, recognizing she wasn't going to be in one of the easiest classes.

"I'm Mrs. Cheerilee, and I teach English full time, but I can tutor you for history as well. The history teacher is kind of mean, so I understand if you want my help," she giggled as students piled in. Twilight got glimpses of confused and excited faces.

She was nervous when she saw the classroom, desks were pushed together in groups of four, meaning she'd have to work with people. She was happy to see that boys were with boys and girls were with girls. She was too nervous to even think around a boy.

She saw a table had five desks with three girls that looked nice enough. One had mint skin with almost white hair, her hair had a streak of purple, and a lighter purple. She was heavy on studded bracelets and studs in general. A studded choker and belt laid over her magenta-purple leather jacket.

Out of the other two, there was one with milky white skin like Rarity. But she had blue hair with lighter blue streaks in it. The other had brown-grey skin with long, brown hair. The two seemed like polar opposites. One was jamming to her headphones and the other sat with class and good posture.

Twilight decided that sitting there wouldn't kill her. She turned back to the teacher, listening to her for sure this time as other students filed in.

"I think there's an empty seat next to Pinkie Pie, you'll know her when you see her," Mrs. Cheerilee smiled. Rarity gave Twilight a reassuring rub on her arms and went to sit down next to the heavy studded girl.

Twilight watched nervously as students piled in, one empty seat seemed fit at almost every table, just because people were up and talking. She assumed she'd be to next to a girl, but the girls seemed so... talkative... and unfriendly. Ugh! She missed her friends!

She wanted to laugh with Sugarcoat and Indigo Zap at how lucky they were to sit near each other, while Sour Sweet and Sunny Flare sat across the class room from the other.

The girls at Crystal Prep had their own friend groups, but they were open to adding a new member to them. Here, the friend groups seemed finalized, even Rarity's!

She watched as girls fled into the room as the bell was close to ringing, who was this Pinkie Pie? Suddenly, a girl bounced in happily with a nervous girl standing behind her.

The pink girl bounced with curly, big, hot pink hair. She wore a candy-pink shirt with poofy sleeves, dark pink suspenders came up from her poofy magenta shorts. She had pink converse with blue and pink socks that ended close to the bottom of her shorts.

"Oh," Twilight muttered, knowing that this girl was Pinkie Pie. Then, she noticed the timid girl who sat in the seat across from her.

The girl had beautiful yellow skin, with long, pastel pink hair. She wore a flower crown, and has a big yellow sweater that hung off one of her shoulders. She wore white leggings with yellow converse.

Twilight sighed and started over to Pinkie Pie, taking a seat next to the bouncy girl. These two seemed like the rest, eager to not be friendly. She could almost imagine Sour Sweet in the timid girls place, and Sunny Flare next to her, gagging at Lemon Zest's terrible taste in ear-ruining music.

Surprisingly, Pinkie Pie gasped loudly and stared, appalled at this new girl. Twilight stared in confusion at this reaction as the bell rung. The girl covered her mouth with her hands, her smile seemed evident, even with the hand covering. The two turned to Mrs. Cheerilee with the rest of the class.

"Alright students, today we'll have a competition!" Mrs. Cheerilee said happily, much to the classes happiness as well.

Twilight watched as students exchanged cocky glances, and happy expressions. She missed having class competitions at Crystal Prep. She'd exchange that cocky glance with Sour Sweet and Indigo Zap.

Mrs. Cheerilee started walking around, dropping a sheet of paper at every table. "Okay, so the rules are simple. Try to figure out the code by following the directions and seeing how many verbal's are in a sentence.

"If you think you have the code, bring the sheet to me and I'll check it," she passed out all the papers and headed back to the front of the class. "Whoever can get the code correct first, gets the prize." She pulled out a black, locked chest. More cocky glances were exchanged.

The teacher smiled brightly at the competitive spirits. "Alright! Write all names on the paper and turn it in at the end of class." She gave the class a few seconds of anticipation for the go to start. She smirked. "And g-!"

The door slammed open, Mrs. Cheerilee stared, clearly annoyed at the three late girls. She raised and eye brow and crossed her arms. "Mind explaining to me why you three are late?" She asked, her usual nice attitude fell to rude and strict.

Twilight was scared, there were two empty desks at the groups of girls around her table. But one was at hers! She'd have a complete jerk at her table.

"Sorry, Cheers," one of the girls rough voices said. It was most definitely feminine, the high pitch gave it that. Though, the annoyance and pride that sat behind it gave it so much power.

Mrs. Cheerilee didn't lighten up. "Detention, this afternoon. Now, take your seats." She sat her hands on her hips as two of the three groaned. The feminine power didn't, instead, she sat down at her seat in front of Twilight.

The girl had rainbow colored, spiked hair that laid over her cyan blue skin. She wore a white baseball tee with the letters 'MIS' on one side of the buttons, and 'BHV' on the other side. She wore black converse and dark blue jean shorts. She threw her black book bag next to her chair as she took a seat.

The timid girl cowered as the brute took to her seat roughly and without care, pushing it closer to the timid girl with her weight.

"And start!" Mrs. Cheerilee yelled, allowing conversation to out break. Pinkie Pie grabbed the paper and started writing on it.

"Piiiinkiiie Piiie," she sounded out as she wrote her own name on the pink sheet. She giggled, "hehe, this sheet is pink!" The timid girl giggled at the silly statement. The brute rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, looking to one of the other girls who followed her in.

"Fluuuutttteeerrshhhyy," she sounded out after she pointed her pencil at the nervous girl. She pointed to the brute, whom snatched the paper and the pencil, writing her own name and sliding it back to Pinkie Pie. The studs on her studded bracelet shone in the rising sun outside.

Pinkie smirked and erased it, earning a groan from the brute. "Raaaaiiinnnbbooww Crrraaashh," she sounded out with glee.

She pointed her pencil and turned to Twilight, expecting to get a name to write, as she forgot who was there. Once she saw Twilight, she gasped loudly, only for Twilight to cower at the new found attention from the other two at the table.

"You're new!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed happily.

"Pft, duh!" Rainbow Crash said rudely and looked towards the girls who followed her in again. Pinkie puffed out her cheeks and pouted at the insult.

"Meanie," Pinkie Pie muttered rudely and looked to Twilight with a smile. "Hiya! Name's Pinkie Pie!"

Twilight smiled, maybe she was wrong. Maybe they were willing to open up friend groups for her. "Twilight Sparkle." For some reason, the brute's head turned to her, and the brute's eyes never seemed to leave her.

Pinkie Pie smiled and turned back to the paper, "Twiiiiiliiiighttt Spaaaarrrkllle." She went back and made all the dots in the i's hearts, like she did with her own name.

"Twilight Sparkle," the brute muttered and looked back at her friends. She seemed content after saying it, well... she seemed bored... maybe relaxed even. Before, it was as if she was pent up on anger. Her shoulders scrunched up and the grip on her own arms hardened and loosened.

Now, her shoulders relaxed and her grip didn't change. Though, the only non-content thing about her were the constant glances she threw towards Twilight while the book worm wasn't looking.

Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were nice, even if they didn't win the competition, it was still fun. The two forced Twilight to sit with them at lunch, even Fluttershy demanded it. Which made Twilight happy, she usually wasn't wanted, and was worried people only asked to be around her for the sake of being nice. But demands didn't mean nice.

Demands meant wants. And Twilight felt wanted after that, it only made her happier, especially after losing her friends.

So Twilight sat at lunch with the girls. She was happy to see Rarity sat with her clique right next to them. The fashionista clearly wanted to be Twilight's friend, and still wanted to be affiliated with her friends. So, she joined in on the conversation every now and then, much to Pinkie and Fluttershy's happiness.

"So! What was Crystal Prep like? We haven't seen them yet, we would've last year, but grades were too low to compete against them in The Friendship Games," Pinkie Pie explained. Rarity laughed.

"We got rained out darling, by the time the rain let up, end-of-the-year-tests were only a month away," Rarity explained. Pinkie Pie giggled at her own mistake and hit herself on the head, only for Fluttershy and the studded girl -whose name was Coloratura- to laugh at her. Twilight smiled at the silliness.

"Well, it was nice, inviting, challenging, fun... especially with my friends," Twilight said happily as she stared down at the table. Sorrow and happy memories flooded her once content mind.

She remembered worrying over if she was spending too little or too much time with a certain person, once it was revealed, they all laughed at her and assured her that it didn't matter how much time they spent with her. They liked being around her, just in general.

Just being in the same room as her made them happy, and it felt like they had spent hours together when they just took a test next to the other. Twilight smiled sadly at the table.

Rarity and Pinkie felt the sad tension as Coloratura, Vinyl, -whose name Twilight learned belonged to the punk look-alike to Rarity- and Octavia -who Twilight learned the name belonged to the classy Victorian beauty- went back to talking.

The two were surprised when Fluttershy was the one to console her, "Maybe you should tell us about them. Maybe it'll make you feel better."

Twilight smiled at her. Rarity rolled her eyes, "Oh please, that just gives Pinkie leeway to compare us to people we don't even know."

Twilight shook her head, already happy to be around these girls. "I don't think they would remind any of you of yourselves. They aren't like any of you at all."

Pinkie slammed down her now empty milk carton on the table, revealing a milk mustache. Fluttershy giggled and pointed at it, only for Pinkie to keep her determined stare at Twilight as she licked it off.

Rarity, Twilight, and Fluttershy burst into laughter, Pinkie soon followed. Twilight was so happy, yet something was off. And she knew exactly what it was.

There wasn't the silent judgment and the spoken sarcasm with every word that sat at the end of the table. There wasn't the competitive spirit that had food eating contests with Sour Sweet.

There wasn't the head banging person next to her with her music playing so loud she could hear it. There wasn't the chill observer who struck up conversation with her. And there most certainly wasn't the personality switch every two seconds.

But the laughter soon ended as a hand slammed down on the table. The girls eyes shot open as their eyes followed the cyan hand up to the brute Rainbow Crash. Rarity and Pinkie Pie instantly made faces of disgust, while Fluttershy and Twilight seemed scared.

Twilight noticed the two standing behind the girl, the same two that followed her into class earlier in the day.

One had orange-yellow skin with fiery red and gold hair. The girl wore a red and black flannel, the sleeves cut off cleanly. Underneath the flannel designed tank top was the black skirt that looked like the same texture as a rain coat.

Twilight could remember seeing the girls red heels from earlier, but she barley noticed the black, leather jacket that hung around her waist.

The other girl had orange skin with golden hair, shaved off on one side and pulled into a ponytail near the end on the other. Her face was littered with freckles, as were her arms. She had a flannel type shirt like the other girl, sleeves cut off. Her shirt was orange, with lines of red, green, and white. A black tank top was obvious underneath it.

She had a studded belt, and a studded bracelet on both wrists, her ear had gauge earrings and she wore blue jeans with brown boots. Her eyes lingered on Rarity before moving back to Rainbow Dash.

Suddenly, the brute looked at Twilight and spoke, "Hey egghead, come with us." Pinkie Pie and Rarity instantly stood to defend her, Fluttershy followed short after, nervous about being so close to the three, as she sat at the edge.

The three brutes looked at the three with suspicion, wondering why their order was questioned. Rarity crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, "There is no way we would let her go with you ruffians!"

"Yeah!" Pinkie fought, hands balling up into fists. Her cheeks puffed out in anger, "Especially after making fun of her!"

"I-I agree with them," Fluttershy shuffled nervously. Now Twilight saw it, she saw her friends in these girls.

She saw Sugarcoat in Rarity, arms crossed and eyebrow raised in suspicion. Her whole posture and stance matched the confident Sugarcoat who always had the right answer, no matter if she was wrong.

She saw Sour Sweet in Pinkie Pie. The anger fueling, the happy voice switching in and out of anger and glee, the frustration causing her to lose track of things she made sure she never lost, causing her to stay on mad-mode.

She saw Lemon Zest in Fluttershy, not because Lemon Zest was nervous, and definitely not because Lemon Zest was quiet. No, she saw the girl who usually never got involved in these type of things, unless it was for her friends.

She smiled up at them. She didn't want to leave her friends from Crystal Prep, but at least she got the next best thing when it came to them. She couldn't wait to read or hear about the protest to her opinions.

"I don't really think it's your place to decide," the fiery haired girl stated, smirking at the three, especially Fluttershy who cowered under the attention.

"Yeah, let the dor-" she saw the hateful stare from Rarity and sighed, "-let the girl make the decision." The freckled girl stated. Now Twilight was curious.

So curious, that she didn't realize the six staring at her. She finally looked at Rainbow Crash, that pink stare cutting into her. The questions running as to why the brute wanted to see her.

"So?" Rainbow Crash asked, impatience taking over her calm state. She pushed herself from the table and crossed her arms. Twilight could see curiosity etched into those pink-red eyes. She felt as if her eyes mirrored it as she stared at her.

"I- uh," she stammered nervously and looked away, feeling as if she could speak without matching the girls stare. "I think I'll stay here.... with my friends." She glanced up and saw three faces staring at her with smiles. Two of the brutes looked annoyed, and one seemed almost furious.

Of course, the furious one was Rainbow Crash. "Fine, egghead." Her anger deflated into calm as she held up her hands, as if caught by the police.

The fiery one and Rainbow walked off, while the freckled one stayed and watched Rarity take her seat. Pinkie and Fluttershy followed suit.

"Hey, Rare..." she said nervously and rubbed the back of her neck. Her thick, southern accent was quiet evident as she spoke the nickname. Rarity seemed repulsed by the idea that Freckles was calling her by that.

"My name is Rarity, my friends call me 'Rare'," she said rudely and looked away from Freckles. The punk blushed and looked away too.

"Uh, yeah, sorry," she said. "Ah was just wonderin' if-"

"Go follow Rainbow Crash now, darling," Rarity's gaze narrowed on her with hate. "I'm afraid we've heard that brutes ruin appetites."

Freckles seemed so offended, so shocked. But she didn't lose her cool like Twilight expected. She simply nodded hesitantly and took off with a half raised hand, meant to symbol a wave goodbye.

Rarity scoffed at it and growled, turning to Coloratura and Octavia. Now, Twilight's curiosity was at it's peak, if she didn't get any answers soon, she'd explode!

"Who are they?" She asked, happy to get the lunch subject off of her. She looked at Rarity, "And what did one have to do with Rarity?" She looked to Pinkie Pie for answers, who smiled with icing from a doughnut on her face.

"Those're Rainbow Dash -though she goes by Rainbow Crash-, Sunset Shimmer, and Applejack! The school's punk rock back, the Rainbooms!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "They're a pretty good band, if they weren't jerks and total dirtbags," she laughed.

Rarity rolled her eyes, "The cowgirl is Applejack, the fiery-haired-one is Sunset. They're total rebels and brutes. They're jerks, and they think they're worth so much just because they can kick their feet up after the teacher tells them not to." She stuck out her tongue and pointed at it.

"Hey, Applejack isn't so bad," Coloratura said defensively, her cheeks turning crimson. Pinkie Pie just laughed at her, though Rarity was too confident in her own belief to recognize her friends obvious crush.

"Yes, well, 'isn't so bad' doesn't make a person nice, does it?" Rarity asked harshly. Coloratura growled and stood up, she walked away and to a different table with some other girls. Rarity huffed.

"Well..." Twilight started, trying to lighten the tension. "What do they want from me? I mean... I shouldn't really matter... should I?" She fidgeted with her hands in her lap. She sounded so conceited and arrogant! She didn't want her friends to think of her that way.

Pinkie's smile and Rarity's calm one only made her feel better about it. Even if she still felt conceited and arrogant. "Maybe they just want to teach you not to mess with them, that's my best bet." Rarity decided, taking a sip from her juice.

"Maybe they wanted to force you to do their homework," Fluttershy hugged herself nervously. Her eyes widened as she kept her mind running, "and if you don't, then they'll beat you up like they did Snips and Snails when they cheered for Crystal Prep's soccer team and not CHS's!"

Pinkie Pie giggled at the nervous girl as she ranted things. The more her mind ran and worked with her mouth, the more unbelievable the theories became. Twilight smiled at the girl. Maybe Rarity was right.

"Or maybe!" Pinkie started, signaling Fluttershy to stop. Fluttershy flushed pink as she listened. "Rainbow Crash has a super big crush on the new nerd and wanted her to join the Rainbooms!" Pinkie smiled brightly.

Rarity and Fluttershy burst into howls of laughter after hearing it. Rarity covered her mouth and Fluttershy hid her face behind her yellow sleeves. Pinkie seemed utterly confused, as did Twilight.

"Ooohohoho, please darling!" Rarity laughed as she wiped tears from her eyes. "Don't make such jokes! My stomach hurts!" She whined, then burst into laughter again.

"That was pretty funny," Fluttershy laughed.

Pinkie and Twilight stared at the two, confusion masking their faces. "Is it really that unbelievable?" Twilight asked. Rarity nodded.

"Rainbow Crash is the jerk of the school, like she would settle for -no offense- but... a girl like yourself," Rarity smiled. Twilight's confusion was masked with frustration, her expression and crossed arms made Rarity explain further.

"What I mean is darling, is that she would probably want some body adventurous, and I doubt she would like a seemingly goody two shoes to try and change her ways," Rarity explained. She stood up with her tray as the bell rang. Pinkie and Fluttershy followed suit.

"Yeah, and Rainbow's only been with guys before, and they weren't very nice either," Fluttershy added, the three started away as Twilight stood with her tray.

She was so confused, offended, and angry. She wasn't a 'goody two shoes', she could be a rebel, she just got good grades.

She wanted to cry as she stared down at her tray. Was she really that nerdy?

Be A Jerk Because It's Better Than Saying Your First Awkward Hello

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The back of the school was a nice place for skipping class, especially fourth period. Teachers were practically done with class clowns, trouble makers, grading papers, and failing students, so they didn't care to ask if students were there earlier in the day and decided to skip their class.

Rainbow Crash loved it. The bricks against her back, the pavement that made lovely noises when she randomly ran across it, the cold breeze. The anxiety of getting caught, the sneaking around hall monitors, the avoiding other kids on a smoke break.

She loved it. One, because she hated her fourth period, getting her a C in the class. Two, it gave her the free space of mind she needed out of a day, it gave her time to think, or it gave her time to at least be alone and without more worry than usual.

Though, she preferred it alone. Not with a Applejack and a Sunset Shimmer playing poker poorly. The two table talked so much you practically knew their cards! And they laughed too much! Rainbow wanted to gag them with a spoon. They were friends, she, however, was not their friend.

Other than the annoying extra baggage, something was off. Was it because her mind was either too clouded or too empty? No, she was usually like that. Was it because she wasn't smoking? Wasn't listening to music to drown out her surroundings? Only one way to find out.

She pulled out a cigarette from her pocket and turned to Sunset Shimmer to lend her a lighter. Surprisingly, Sunset already had a lighter extended to her, though she wasn't looking at her and was more focused on Applejack. Rainbow was annoyed, but grabbed the lighter anyways and lit the cigarette.

Something was still off. She sighed and slunk down the wall until she hit the ground. She pulled out her phone and ear buds, ready to be free of the off-feeling she was having.

She turned on her favorite song, 20 Percent Cooler. She usually only liked songs heavy on sex, drugs, or had a total underlying depression to it. So, her favorite was, of course, the lighter of the three. She was so bothered by something, and she didn't know what it was! So she had to turn on the upbeat song with sexual topics.

She wanted something easy, and underlying depression wasn't easy. And she didn't feel like hearing a song where people were in love with harmful drugs and acted as if they were too high and mighty to be affected by them.

She groaned, something was still off. Fourth period was supposed to be her favorite! So why was it so... awful? She tried to think of more reasons as the music blasted into her ears.

She started bobbing her head involuntarily to the music. Though, something took her out of her musical trance that was so close to getting rid of that off-feeling. The lyrics 'Twilight, Sparkle, up in the party' played in her ears and her head stopped moving.

Her mind replayed the images of Twilight, and let the film reel of memory play the events at lunch. She sulked more, already feeling the embarrassment of the situation. How was she supposed to get to know the girl if she was mean to her? And how could she be nice to the girl without ruining her tough-guy reputation.

She sighed and admitted defeat. Her reputation didn't matter for a girl, a random girl didn't deserve to be spared her awesome insults. She smirked, getting her confidence back.

She was awesome, wasn't she? How could she possibly let a girl defy her? Oh whatever, at least now she didn't have to put up with the brat. She smiled in content. Someone as boring and eggheadish as Twilight didn't deserve to be in the presence of Rainbow, much less talk to her. Rainbow was too awesome for that.

"Truth or dare," Sunset Shimmer prompted, grabbing five dollars from Applejack as the latter started collecting cards with a sigh. Sunset smiled, "Whoever wins a round gets to ask the other truth or dare. And no backing out."

Applejack raised an eyebrow as she started shuffling cards. "Fine," she spat rudely, still annoyed she lost some of her allowance to Sunset. "Dare."

Sunset seemed to think for a moment, even if the thought wasn't real. That was obvious from her smirk and the outdrawn 'hm'. She smirked. "I dare you to kiss Crash."

Applejack crossed her arms. She noticed Rainbow staring at them, curious if she would. She shook her head. "This is our game, don't bring Crash inta this." Rainbow smirked and stood up. She walked over to the two and sat next to Applejack with a flirtatious smirk.

"C'mon," Crash purred sweetly. Then, her sweetness fell to cocky, "Unless you're too chicken to do it." Applejack crossed her arms and stared at her, annoyance fueled her look.

"Ya know," Crash relaxed with a smirk. "It would make sense. I mean, I am super awesome, I'd understand if you'd be intimidated. And you being chicken and all makes sense, I mean, you do work on a far-" She cut herself off when Applejack roughly grabbed hold of her collar. Rainbow smirked.

Applejack didn't make a move, she got that far and froze. Her hand shook as her face flooded with crimson. She tried to ignore the laughing Sunset in the background. She sighed and pushed Rainbow away from her, leading to Sunset holding her stomach and crying tears of laughter as howls escaped her mouth.

"Ah ain't gonna do it, seems wrong," Applejack held her arms nervously. She took a glance at Rainbow and saw the shocked stare. She looked away. "Games like that are stupid."

Sunset smiled, coming down from her laughter high. "You know you would kiss Rarity in a second if someone dared you too!" She smirked.

Applejack growled, "Yeah! Cause ah like her! Ah ain't gonna kiss nobody ah ain't like!" Her hands curled into fists as her cheeks puffed out in anger. Rainbow felt bad for her, she wanted to tell Sunset to leave her alone about Rarity, but she didn't see a point to.

It would be better if she left it alone, the last time she intervened in Applejack's personal life, she ended up with a massive bruise on her jaw. And even if it would make her look cooler, she couldn't stand the pain that would come with it.

So, she did the next best thing. Encouragement. "I think you two look cute together," she mumbled, though it was still heard by the other two. Sunset seemed confused, while Applejack was shocked.

"Really?" Applejack asked, it was obvious she didn't trust Rainbow. The cautious pose gave that away. She looked as if she was stepping on uncommon ground with shaky rocks. Rainbow nodded anyways.

"Yeah," she started and grabbed a soda from Sunset's lunch box. She popped it open and took a sip. "It would be cute to see a total drama queen with one of the bad girls. Like a romance cliché, but cooler."

Applejack smiled, then sighed. Her shoulders fell in defeat as her stare laid on the ground. "If only she could at least talk to me. Maybe then ah'd have a chance," she sighed. Her shoulders drew up and her cheeks puffed out in anger, she crossed her arms. "'We've heard brutes ruin appetites,' she's so dramatic! She was being snarky while lookin' nice to her friends! Pisses me off."

Sunset smirked. "Then why do ya like her? I mean, why like someone who makes you so mad?" Though she tried to sound mean, and she tried to make fun of Applejack, it didn't come out that way. And she didn't mind.

Applejack sighed. "Ah guess... ah like it when she makes me mad... ah don't know... it's stupid." Her cheeks turned red and she cuddled up to herself, clearly thinking about Rarity. Sunset smiled cheekily at Rainbow expecting her to help make fun of Applejack. She was shocked to see Rainbow give her advice.

"I heard a lot of guys have been going after her, ya know, since the dance is coming up in two months," Rainbow started. Applejack raised an eyebrow.

"So?" She asked.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "So? Defend her! Maybe then she'll at least think you aren't too jerkish to talk to!" Her determined smile just drove it home. Applejack smiled as she thought over the idea.

"Yeah..." she muttered to herself. Her head peaked up with a bright smile. "Yeah! That could work!" She seemed so happy, even if it failed, she seemed at least happy to get somewhere new with Rarity.

Sunset smiled half-heartedly. "Well, good for you. But the bell is gonna ring soon, and I'd rather get out of here before Mrs. Cheerilee comes looking for me. So, see ya." She got up and started towards the parking lot. Rainbow chased after her.

"Ya know," Rainbow purred cheekily, causing Sunset to turn to her with fear and hesitation. Rainbow snorted at the sight. This was her lackey and she was scared? Hah!

"You could always get with Flash before he chooses Ditzy. He'd love a bad girl as cool as you," Rainbow smirked. She had no idea where all these good ideas or compliments were coming from. Well, she usual was pretty compliment-y when she felt good about herself.

And having another good fourth period made her feel good about herself. Sunset turned red and looked away. Then, she nodded and Rainbow and as she started thinking about it, the smirk spread across her face with glee.

"I always did want to throw him for a loop..." she thought cockily. She smirked and shot Rainbow a thumbs up before racing off to the parking lot. Rainbow turned to talk to Applejack and saw the girl racing towards the parking lot as well. She groaned as she had no one to talk to.

She decided to let it go and to just listen to some music. She pulled out her phone and played her second favorite song, a metal song that she didn't understand any of the lyrics to. She walked over to the parking lot, leaning against her motorcycle, since she didn't want to go home yet.

She recognized the white car next to her motorcycle. It was pretty popular and more than a fifth of the seniors had the car. Though, the more she glanced inside it, the more she didn't relate it to anyone's she had seen.

Not many had the car in white, but she knew most of the seniors and juniors that did. Yet, this one wasn't familiar. So, she decided to wait until she saw who it belonged to. She took pride in knowing all of the juniors and seniors who had the car.

The bell rung and students started piling into the parking lot and out onto the buses. She soon saw cars start out of the parking lot, including the rustic orange truck that belonged to Big Mac and Applejack.

She soon saw the purple egghead from lunch start over to her. She fumbled to look relaxed against her motorcycle and to act as if she didn't notice the egghead. Too bad she looked so stiff and fake that it made Twilight conscious of her own self. So, Twilight followed suit in acting as if she didn't see Rainbow standing there.

She started worrying that she'd be sitting in the passenger seat, and Rainbow would involuntarily being staring at her as she looked down at her phone. Her racing mind and attempt to make it seem as if she didn't notice Rainbow Crash caused her not to notice the car pulling out of a parking spot.

The honk! made her jump and startled her. She laughed nervously as she turned to her and Shining's car. "Sorry," she muttered to herself.

"Bahahahaha!" Rainbow Crash started laughing. Twilight's cheeks went pink from embarrassment. She bit her lip and rubbed her arm. Rainbow didn't notice and kept smiling.

"Better watch out egghead!" She laughed happily, not noticing how uncomfortable she was making Twilight. "You might fall off the wall and break like Humpty Dumpty! ... Bahahahaha!" She continued her laughter.

Twilight stared at the ground nervously, her hand gripping on arm tightly and digging into her skin. Suddenly, she was tired of being laughed at. "Alright! Fine! I wasn't paying attention!" She yelled, which immediately caused Rainbow to stop laughing. Twilight's cheeks puffed with anger. "Stop laughing!"

Rainbow was so shocked, and Twilight was even more embarrassed by her outbreak. Her hands flew to her mouth and she stared at Rainbow's shocked expression. She looked at the ground again. "S-s-s-sorry."

She glanced up and saw Rainbow shaking her head. "Nah, it's fine. I tend to go overboard sometimes with that type of thing." The two stood in awkward silence for a bit.

Rainbow was so nervous, her stomach had butterflies swarming as her mind raced with what to do. "Sooo," she started, noticing she caught Twilight's attention. She shoved her hands into her pockets and kicked her foot. "You're Twilight, right?"

Twilight was cautious, but nodded anyways. She had no idea why the brute was talking to her. But she decided to play along and not make her mad. "Yeah, and... you're Rainbow."

Rainbow earned back her confidence at hearing her name. She puffed out her chest and smirked. "Yep! Rainbow Dash-" her chest fell, as did her confidence. She shook her head. "Uh, Crash!... Rainbow Crash."

Awkward silence ensued. Rainbow was mentally slapping herself while Twilight's mind ran with reasons why the confident girl would make a mistake at her own name.

"So. You have a senior as a sibling?" Rainbow asked, she cursed herself for keeping the conversation going. But she'd rather have gotten good things and her mistake in there than just her mistake. Twilight was hesitant once again, but nodded anyways, again.

"Y-yeah," she said nervously. "How'd you know?"

Rainbow rolled her eyes, "You're a sophomore, and only juniors and seniors can drive. I doubt your parents were crazy enough to have kids not even a grade level apart... I'm surprised they were crazy enough to have only a whole grade level apart."

Twilight giggled. "You must be an only child," she smiled. Rainbow could've sold her soul to the devil right then and there to have that smile last forever. This nerd... smiling at her?... After experiencing how mean she could be? And Rainbow had a slight-unexplainable-interest in her? This was a dream come true!

She nodded and rubbed the back of her neck, "Yeah. Kind of easy though, till they kinda want some one new and don't get one." Twilight giggled again.

"My parents must've gotten tired of my brother pretty quick then," Twilight giggled happily. She forgot she was talking to the brute, she only saw the awkward confidence of the girl by the motorcycle. The fact that she had made fun of her, called her an egghead, and was rumored to be one of the worst kids in school by her new friends went out the window.

Rainbow started laughing as well. "Well, I could see why they didn't get tired of you," she said without thinking. Her eyes instantly turned to Twilight to see the reaction. Her heart shattered and rebuilt again. She got the most cliché reaction ever. And it was perfect.

She got a nervous smile and a set of crimson cheeks. Not shock, not disgust, just... a schoolgirls face when she gets news her crush likes her.

Twilight played it off as nothing, she didn't see the romantic factor behind it. "I think they just wanted a girl to match my mother." She giggled. Rainbow was almost mad. The girl was oblivious too! How cliché could this get? And where was her stupid brother?

She growled, she might as well stop trying here. Besides, the purple egghead would get on her nerves sooner or later. "Yeah, whatever," Rainbow scoffed. She kicked up the stand on her motorcycle and climbed onto it. She took one look at Twilight and instantly looked away.

The fallen shoulders, the slouch, the hurt eyes, the parted lips. Everything Twilight did at that moment explained hurt. She shook it off as nothing. She started up her bike. She was too awesome to even like the company of an egghead anyways.

"Uh," Twilight started as Rainbow started up the bike. Before Rainbow could leave, she yelled, "Bye!"

Five in the afternoon is a nice time to be texting and not doing your homework. Well, it's a good time for Twilight to be texting since she already did her homework.

She was listening to some music Lemon Zest sent everyone, if she didn't listen to it then Lemon Zest would spam the link until she did.

She smiled. Her friends were complaining about it, well she assumed at least Indigo Zap and Sunny Flare were telling the truth. Sugarcoat and Sour Sweet were probably lying and saying they didn't like it since they wouldn't even if they listened to it.

'How was it?' Sour Sweet asked. 'You better not have better friends than us.' Twilight sighed in relief, seeing the switching personalities made her feel somewhat at home. Of course she was failing to keep memories and happy wishes and sorrowful comments under the surface.

She smiled sadly, then started giggling to herself. 'Nothing is better than you guys, and it was interesting. I got a few friends,' she typed and smiled as a song she liked played.

'Hey Twi, like the songs? They're awesome, right?' Lemon's peach box appeared. Twilight smiled and nodded as if Lemon Zest was there. She shook her head and replied with a yes.

'How are your new friends? You know, they're probably better than Sunny and Sour,' Icy blue appeared. Twilight laughed. She really missed her friends.

And the vague feeling of not living near them made it feel as if they didn't exist. She sat up and pulled her pillow to her chest. Memories of her childhood imaginary friend played in her mind. Ever since she lost that imaginary friend, things got so vague if they weren't around. She hated it.

And sadly, she had no one to go to talk about it. No one but her knew of this familiar feeling. She almost wanted that friend back, just so she didn't have to feel like that anymore. She tried to combat this vague feeling of memories with something, the only something that appeared was sadness.

She wouldn't be feeling so vague and so off if she didn't leave her friends. She sighed and started typing, 'They're nice, they kind of remind me of you guys.'

She knew she couldn't talk to them about it. They weren't the nicest, and they weren't the most understanding. Indigo Zap and Lemon Zest would literally send her voice messages of laughter.

'Ooooh! Me first! Me first! Who do I remind you of?' Sour Sweet typed. Twilight waited for the personality switch. Once she didn't get it, she assumed Sour Sweet was too excited to think.

'Pinkie Pie, she's really funny and sweet. Don't worry, she can be intimidating in her own way,' Twilight typed happily, not really thinking as the music played in her ears.

'Yay!' Sour Sweet typed. 'Don't think she's better than me though? 'Kay?'

'Got a new homework buddy?' Sunny Flare prompted next. Twilight smiled.

'Nope, haven't met anyone like you,' her fingers zipped across the keys and hit sent.

'Hey! No one's as cool as me, no one even compares!' Indigo Zap boasted. 'So, who you think can beat me at something? Maybe I'll agree, Twi.'

Twilight smiled and without thinking, she typed the name. 'Rainbow Crash.' She instantly regretted it. She didn't even know Rainbow Crash, and from what she knew, the girl was a jerk. How could she compare Indigo to such a jerk?

She sighed. There were reasons Indigo Zap reminded her of Rainbow Crash. After learning Rainbow was captain of the soccer team, that was kind of obvious. But, what really made it clear was the stupid conversation she had with the brute.

That rude start sliding into awkward conversation that fell into actual conversation and a brewing friendship. It reminded her of when she first met Indigo Zap.

Twilight was reading one of her books near the doors, waiting for her parents to come and pick her up. She watched kids leave the courtyard until she was one of five left.

She was so worried her parents had forgotten her. Of course, she tried reasonable ideas to calm her down. Like, how could her parents forget her first day of fourth grade? They wouldn't shut up about it the night before. So, of course they would be there.

So, she concluded they got stuck picking Shining Armor up from his middle school. But as more kids left, her reasonable thinking dissipated into panic and fear. So of course, being the little fourth grader she was, she did the only thing she knew how to do. She cried.

She didn't make a scene or anything, but she did silently cry as she read her book. She soon shut the book, she couldn't read with blurry eyes.

She was a lonely kid, so she was surprised when someone talked to her. "Hey! Dork!" A girl yelled. Being the only kid who had glasses and read books, she considered herself the dork.

She looked up and saw a girl with light beige-peach skin and blue hair. Her hair was shades of blue and her orange eyes popped. She smiled and ran over to Twilight. She plopped down next to her.

"What'cha doing here, nerd? Aren't your parents super rich?" The girl asked. Twilight noticed the gold necklace with a lightning bolt charm on it hidden underneath the goggles hanging around her neck.

Twilight shook her head. "Uh, I'm waiting for my parents, but they're not rich." The girl laughed at her. She sounded so happy, Twilight was jealous and furious that the girl was laughing at her. "Quit it!"

Her hands flew to her mouth. She never usually got mad enough to do anything, but she always regretted it when she did. The girl blushed and looked away.

"S-sorry, it's just," the girl started. Twilight was surprised she was apologizing. The girl rubbed the back of her neck. "Everyone who goes to Crystal Elementary has rich parents, otherwise you'd have to drive across town to that Canterlot school."

Twilight shook her head. "S-sorry, I guess you're right, though." Awkward silence ensued over the two girls. Suddenly, the girl stood up and extended her hand with a smile.

"Hey! You know how to help people, right? I mean, like, when they get a scratch or something." She smiled. Twilight was confused, but she took the girls hand and stood up.

"Yeah, doesn't everyone?" Twilight asked. The girl laughed again and nodded.

"Yeah, everyone on the team does. I'm just trying to get an excuse for ya to come with me over to the soccer field while you wait for your parents," the girl smiled. Twilight was so touched and happy. She giggled and nodded. The girl smiled and led her over to the soccer field.

"I'm the captain, Indigo Zap!" The girl smiled proudly once they got there.

Twilight smiled back. "Twilight Sparkle."

Indigo Zap snorted. "Your name's even dorky." She was happy to see Twilight laugh at it with her. Twilight was too happy to find offense to it like she would've before.

'Hey, Indigo Zap,' Twilight typed. She was so overwhelmed with emotions of the memory, she started crying. And being the weird-o she is, crying made her really tired.

'What's up Twi?' Indigo Zap's blue appeared. Twilight smiled.

'Is Twi dorky too?' She sent and put down her phone, keeping her music playing. She didn't wait for the replies, she didn't care for the questions as to what it meant.

She knew Indigo Zap had no idea what she was talking about. How could she? She didn't have the memory-replay-flashback like Twilight. Still, somehow Twilight knew she knew what it meant.

And for some reason, she heard Rainbows laughter as she imagined telling Indigo Zap in person. They were a lot alike, weren't they?

Put in Your Ear Buds and Listen to the Trashy Song You Got From Your Friend

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The next few days were nice, and they had a nice routine to them. She'd get up, read the conversation she'd miss from going to sleep so early, go to school, have fun at lunch, go home, do her homework, then text her friends. Simple as that. Rainbow Crash didn't even look at her anymore. Which she didn't mind, it wasn't like losing a close friend. But, she'd never have anyone talk to her and then never talk to her again. And being the paranoid girl she is, she's been doing everything to try to fix what Crash could've seen wrong with her.

She'd ask Sour Sweet for makeup tips, she asked the five if something was wrong with her. The one response was: 'Well, you are kinda nerdy, but it's cute for you.'

And still being the paranoid girl she is, she tried changing the biggest part of her character. She decided to stop paying so much attention in class -she still got a 95 on her test, to her dislike. Mrs. Cheerilee was so proud, she made a scene about it at her table.

And since Rainbow was watching, she couldn't possibly admit she did everything to study for it. So she just said Crystal Prep was a challenging school, and that she had a brief understanding of the material before she left. Which was an utter lie, and Pinkie made it obvious she was a terrible liar.

Then, she started worrying if Crash could tell she was lying, and that she was a bigger bookworm for hiding it. One day at lunch, she was so caught up in her thoughts, she wasn't focusing on the conversation at hand, and she wasn't participating in it.

"Yo! Twilight!" Pinkie yelled in her ear, causing her to jump. She fixed her glasses and smiled to hide her embarrassment. Pinkie was even more confused, "What's up with you?" She gasped and she looked so worried. "Is something wrong with you? Are you not liking the school?" She gasped again. "Are you missing your old friends so bad you're planning to get rid of us so there's room for them at Canterlot High?!"

Everyone looked confused, even the girls in Rarity's clique that learned not to pay attention to them. Rarity rolled her eyes, "Darling, please! Stop with the obnoxiously unbelievable ideas!"

"But it's so fun!" Pinkie beamed happily.

As usual, Fluttershy offered the help and advice while Rarity and Pinkie argued. Even if she didn't talk to Twilight a lot, but she seemed to care about her. "You have been off recently. Are you sure you're okay?"

Twilight smiled sadly, "Yeah. It's just... am I too nerdy?" Her question brought Rarity and Pinkie out of their arguing. They looked to Twilight as if she said something in a different language. Their silence only scared her further. She hung her head and sadness morphed her expression into a frown. "I am... aren't I?"

Fluttershy shook her head, before Rarity could agree with Twilight. "I don't think you are. If that's the case, I'm just as nerdy." Twilight stared at her, she giggled. "I spend hours studying for a test, I got a 90 on the test in Cheerilee's, she's just used to high grades from me."

Twilight hung her head again, "Yeah, but you're so shy, no one notices."

Fluttershy shook her head. "Everyone has a charm about them. A charm is something nice, just because you're 'nerdy' doesn't mean it isn't charming."

Twilight looked up at her, interested in what she was saying. And, she actually believed it would take her out of her spiraling change of character that has been going on for a week out of the three she's been there.

Fluttershy smiled. "You're Twilight, and I like Twilight because she's so nerdy, because she's so smart. It almost feels like I don't have to have the answers around you." Her smile was so comforting, her voice was so gentle and motherly.

Twilight smiled. "I get why you help animals." Fluttershy giggled in delight. Twilight just felt like she knew Fluttershy better, but she could tell there was a secret to her. There had to be a reason for why she was so nice... and why she said everyone had a charm.

Even Pinkie had to have a reason for being so cheerful. And Rarity had to have a reason for being so dramatic. Twilight told herself every part of a person had a reason, something personal wasn't genetics. It was something, even it the person them themselves didn't know the reason. There was one.

"Twilight! You back to normal and you're not going to murder us in cold blood for -" Pinkie looked at her hand and read from it "- Sunny Flare, Sour Sweet, Sugarcoat, Indigo Zap, and Lemon Zest?" She smiled brightly. She blinked twice as she waited, fast and with barley any time in between each other. Like she was fluttering her eyes and was cut off.

Her blue eyes against her pink skin were so pretty and she was an unexplained beauty. Twilight shook her head to stop romanticizing her friends eyes. Once Pinkie saw this, she gasped. "You're not?"

Twilight brought herself back to reality and shook her head again. Pinkie was even more confused. "No you're not, or no you are?"

Twilight rolled her eyes and smiled at her friend's silliness. "No, I'm not going to murder you for my old friends," she smiled. "Wait, how'd you know their names?"

Pinkie giggled. "You always walk out of school and get on your phone, I just bounced behind you and saw who you were texting!"

"Oh," Twilight said, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Hey, do you girls have any friends... you know... outside of Canterlot High?" Her question pulled Rarity from her conversation with Octavia. She smiled giddily.

"Oooh!" She made herself noticed. A smile plastered on her face. "Of course! Her name's Coco Pommel." She scrolled through her phone and showed a picture to the three girls.

The picture was of a girl with cream skin. She had a blue bob with a flower headband. She wore a cream colored dress with purple ribbons that slid down to white socks. The girl was being hugged by Rarity and another girl with pink skin and purple curly hair up in a bun.

Twilight gasped. "Isn't that Suri?" She pointed to the girl with pink skin. Rarity nodded and put her phone away.

"We all went to the same elementary school, of course we met up last summer and that's when I took the photo," Rarity continued. "Suri went to Crystal Middle while Coco moved to Manehatten for art school two years ago."

She almost looked mad. But Rarity's mad look was simple annoyance and a frown. She huffed. "Though I do wish Suri would stop using Coco and stop leading her on." This confused everyone, but they decided not to question it. Well, that was until Pinkie questioned it.

"They're dating? They seem so cute together!" She gushed. Rarity rolled her eyes as she drank her sugar-free juice.

"Oh please, darling! They're a cute picture, if Suri didn't lead her on and cheat on her," Rarity snarled. Pinkie was about to ask for more, until Rarity continued to shut her up.

"I do have another friend, Sally Saddles, I don't have any pictures of her since I see her all the time. She's always visiting from Vanhoover, she's in college working on fashion!" Rarity gushed happily. She clapped her hands, "She said she'll help me when I get there!"

"That's amazing, Rarity," Fluttershy smiled. Pinkie crossed her arms and laid back, expecting the back of a chair to catch her. Once she realized there wasn't one, she was already falling out of her seat and laughing. The rest of them started laughing too.

Once Twilight learned there was a soccer game against Crystal Prep, she immediately texted her brother that she'd catch a ride home with someone else. She knew Pinkie would be going, so she was set.

Her and Pinkie bounced up onto the bleachers, well, Pinkie bounced. Twilight walked and they took a seat next to Vinyl and Rarity.

"Where's Fluttershy?" Pinkie asked Rarity who had the shy girl for fourth. Rarity leaned back against the bleachers behind her, taking the drink Vinyl had.

"Oh please, do you really think Fluttershy would partake in viewing a soccer game? She's terrified of the soccer players!" Rarity exclaimed. She smiled slyly as Vinyl grabbed her drink back. Twilight noticed this and took a seat next to Rarity, Pinkie plopping down just to jump up and run off.

"Hey Rarity," Twilight started, watching as Pinkie ran off and more questions flooded her mind. She turned back to Rarity. She noticed Rarity was drinking from a drink of her own. "Are you jealous of Suri?"

She got the cliché reaction she expected. Rarity shot up from her relaxed expression and spit out her drink. She covered her mouth as she coughed. Her red face turned to Twilight with hate. "What type of question is that? And couldn't you see I was drinking?"

Vinyl started snickering in the background. But Twilight felt too bad to notice. She rubbed the back of her neck, "I-I-I just..." She was cowering under Rarity's harsh stare. "Uh... what I mean is..."

"What's happening!" Pinkie bounced in to save the day. Rarity smiled to hide her annoyance while Twilight smiled just the same to hide her shame. She looked at Twilight, "Hey Twi, isn't one of your friends a soccer player?"

Twilight nodded happily. "I can't wait for the game to be over! I could introduce you guys to my friends! I hope they're here!"

Rarity's hatred deflated to confusion. "Why wouldn't they be here, darling?" She asked. Twilight smiled and smiled brighter when an announcer started talking. She acted as if she didn't hear Rarity. She still had no idea how to tell her new friends that her old friends weren't the nicest.

She looked over to the Crystal Prep bleachers. She tried to see if she could find Sugarcoat's big, pastel hair or Sour Sweet's bright skin. She couldn't so far, so, she pulled out her phone to ask if they were going to be there.

She sighed at the response. 'No, we have to help plan for the school dance. Ugh, it's so stupid,' Sour Sweet typed. Twilight started panicking.

'But Indigo Zap is still playing, right? She's the captain, she has to be here,' She typed. She could feel Pinkie Pie peering over her shoulder, and she could hear Rarity talking away with Vinyl as the Wondercolts made their way on the field.

"Oh! Look at the cheerleaders!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, pointing down at the field. Twilight noticed Sunset Shimmer was one of them. She smiled, "I would've been one, but I could only do the dance and yearbook or be a cheerleader. So I picked dance and yearbook!"

Rarity smiled, "I'm so happy that Shimmer used my design. She didn't look so happy when I offered them." She rolled her eyes and flipped her hair, putting one of her legs over the other. She smiled at Vinyl and continued their conversation.

Twilight noticed the cheerleaders yelling 'Won-der-col-ts for the win!'. And she also noticed how determined the soccer team was. Each of the girls looked mean and glared daggers at the Shadowbolts arriving on the other side of the field.

Their arms were crossed and their aggressive looks had their hint of cocky. Same went for the Shadowbolts.

She looked down at her phone and tapped her fingers on the top of it anxiously as she bit her lip. She hadn't seen Indigo Zap yet. She looked down at the black screen of her phone as her leg bounced involuntarily.

Suddenly, a question brought her out of it, she looked to Pinkie. "I thought soccer was spring and summer... and into November. Why are they playing now? And isn't this their first game of the season?"

She didn't understand any sport, she barley knew what a 'season' was. She had Indigo Zap explain it to her once, but she couldn't remember. The most she knew of a sport were the rules of soccer.

Pinkie smiled. "Since Canterlot High doesn't have a football team, they let the soccer players play whenever other schools can play." She pulled a box of popcorn from behind her back. "Popcorn?"

Twilight had no idea where she got it, but she took it anyways with a smile. Suddenly, her phone vibrated and she shoved the popcorn back to Pinkie, fumbling to see the new message.

At about the same time, she heard the announcers say the names of the captains. "Captain of the Wonderbolts soccer team... Rainbow Dash!" She jumped at hearing the name.

Rainbow Crash? Captain of the soccer team? But doesn't she have a failing grade in history? I mean, she should, she doesn't attend class. Twilight thought. She might get the homework and do it at home, she does have the internet.

Now, she was worrying if she was being insensitive. What if Rainbow didn't have everything she had? And that was why she was so mean all the time?

"The captain of the Shadowbolts soccer team..." the announcer boomed. She brought herself out of her insecurity and stared intently at the field. She noticed Rainbow standing in front of her team, but she didn't care. "Indigo Zap!"

She jumped to her feet and clasped her hands together. She stared happily at the Shadowbolts, waiting to see her friend run to the front lines of them. So she saw it. She saw her old friend in a vicinity near her where she could see her friend. She was so happy to see her.

She ignored the vibrating of her phone in her pocket, she ignored the intense pulling on her skirt by Pinkie and Rarity. She ignored everything, she had felt so far away from everything. All she saw was Indigo Zap, her oldest friend.

What she didn't see was Rainbow Crash staring at her. Rainbow was furious to see Twilight there. Why would a egghead brat be at my soccer game? Shouldn't she be studying? Rainbow thought rudely.

Then she noticed that Twilight was staring... almost blissfully at something. She almost thought it was her until she noticed the other teams captain flash Twilight as smile. Of course! She fumed. Crystal Prep brat's friends with another Crystal Prep brat.

Her blood boiled at the sight. So, she smirked. She had a real reason to beat Crystal Prep this time, she wanted to see Twilight's depressed little face when her friend got beaten.

She looked at Indigo Zap with a smirk. Indigo returned the smirk and said, "I'll beat you, ya know?"

She snorted. "Yeah right, there is no way I'll let you win."

"Why's that?" Indigo asked with interest. This girl almost seemed to have vengeance to pull against her.

Rainbow smirked as she turned back to her team. "I wanna see Twilight cry when you lose." She stuck out her tongue and ran off. Indigo was completely appalled. Twilight compared her to this girl? A girl who seemed to hate Twilight?

She shook it off and ran back to her team. She'd complain about it to Twilight later. But now she had a reason to beat Canterlot High. Nobody is gonna think they even want to make Twilight cry. I might as well aim to hurt her leg in the process. Indigo huffed. I already know we're that good.

Pinkie cheered loudly with the rest of Canterlot High for the Wonderbolts. Twilight, on the other hand, cheered with every goal Crystal Prep made. Of course, people stared at her with hate and she'd cower and stop. But that didn't stop her from doing it again and again.

When Pinkie Pie left to go get some snacks, and Rarity was too caught up in drama with Vinyl, she sat up in the corner of the bleachers just a row above her. She disliked heights, but saying as so many people were on the bleachers, she felt more safe than scared. Besides, if she fell, the rest fell.

She pulled out her phone and ear buds, she started listening to some songs Lemon Zest sent everyone. She texted Sunny Flare and Sugarcoat about the game, having calmed down from her hype of it all.

She smiled as she nodded along to the awful song that was playing in her ears. She could never stop listening to Lemon Zest's blaring music, despite how much she disliked it. She almost played it to keep her focused.

She was used to watching the games with her friends. They'd get all giddy and hug each other whenever Indigo Zap made a goal. But she had no one to do that with, so she got pretty bored. And of course, the silence of anticipation slid into the roaring crowd of pride and cheers. So she'd stay awake, gladly.

The game was almost over, thankfully. But she was really surprised when they were tied, 2 to 2. Based on how the game was already going, she declared that whoever had the next point would win. Throughout most of the game, the two seemed to have a huge grudge against the other, so they stood at a tall stalemate.

With only five minutes left, she was starting to get excited again. She couldn't wait to see her friend, even if they talked most days. And even if she had only been away from her old school for three weeks.

But, it was so... weird for her. Growing up next to someone, then to never see them again. That vague feeling just amplified more and more as time went on. It was as if she never grew up with her friends. She couldn't take it.

She was so happy to see her friend again. That vague feeling had completely disappeared at the sight of her. To talk to her would be a dream.

Suddenly, a pink fluffball plopped down next to her with a ear-to-ear smile. Glee became her aura, you couldn't help but be happy around her. Both girls were on edge with anticipation as they saw the ball pass back and forth.

If it was heading to Canterlot's goal, Twilight would push herself further on her seat. If it was heading to Crystal Prep's, Pinkie sled to the edge of hers.

The ball had been passed back and forth so much, the two girls fell off of their seats. They sat in the in-between when they heard the roaring crowds. The two gasped at the other and jumped up to see who made the goal.

The timer went off to signal the end of the game. Crystal Prep's students jumped up from their seats in cheers and claps. Pinkie yelled, "Yay!" and hugged Twilight as tight as she could. Twilight saw the defeat and fatigue that masked the faces of Canterlot High.

What she did see was Rainbow staring directly at her. The captains chest fell and rose with heavy breaths as she stared at Twilight. Even when she was aware Twilight noticed her, she didn't look away. The girl's fists curled into balls, her teeth gritted, and her eyes stared daggers before she turned away with a huff.

She felt so confused. But once she saw students depart from the Crystal Prep bleachers and hug the team members or give them a high five, she ignored it completely and pried Pinkie off of her and ran down the stairs beside the bleachers down to the edge of the field.

She shoved her phone in her pocket in the process, taking out her ear buds. She ran as fast as she could without tripping over the stairs and without tripping over the people eager to leave the boring game. She smiled as she heard Pinkie Pie bounce behind her and Rarity's apologies for running into people.

Indigo Zap waited by the edge of the field with a sad smile. Twilight jumped off of the stairs and into Indigo's arms. They hugged happily.

Once they pulled apart, Indigo was the first to say something. "Yeah, Twi is just as dorky, nerd." She smiled weakly. Twilight laughed as Pinkie Pie and Rarity ran behind her, catching their breath. Indigo took a close look at them and smirked. "Yeah, you definitely replaced us."

Twilight laughed. "No way! Congrats on winning! You were awesome!" She clasped her hands together and smiled ear-to-ear. Indigo laughed at her enthusiasm and puffed her chest out.

"Of course we would win! I got the best team ever!" She smirked. Suddenly, her expression hardened to seriousness. "What and who is that Rainbow chick? She's a jerk and you compared me to her."

Twilight cowered under her friends harshness. She knew Indigo Zap took pride in herself, so of course comparing her to a brute like Crash would insult her. Why didn't she think of that? It would've happened eventually.

"And I'm awesome, how could you possibly compare to me?" A voice shot rudely. The four turned to the approaching Rainbow Crash with balled fists and a ticked expression. Indigo crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

"You? Awesome?" Indigo asked and pointed at her. Just to give a small laugh. "I beat you, remember? Or are you too stubborn to admit it?"

Rainbow's expression only got more and more intimidating. She snarled. "Oh hush it. Go drown in Crystal Prep's bullshit." Rarity cowered behind Pinkie Pie and covered her ears. Indigo rolled her eyes.

"Curse words, real mature, Dash," Indigo shot with a smirk.

Twilight rolled her eyes, for some reason, the fear that Crash should've created died down at the bickering of two people who were so alike. "Her name's Rainbow Crash," she started, much to both of their surprises. She sighed, "And you curse just as much."

Indigo growled. "Whose side are you on? A jerks -" she pointed at Crash, then at herself "-or mine? Your childhood best friend?" Rainbow smirked.

"Hah!" She spat. "Looks like time only makes wounds." Her smirk matched the one Indigo wore just a minute ago. They crossed their arms and simply stared at the other, silently agreeing to a staring contest.

Twilight groaned. "Stubborn," she started, catching the attention of the two. "Cursing, competitive, hate school work, cocky." She raised an eyebrow. "Should I continue?"

The two didn't speak. She expected the shameful-hating reaction from Indigo Zap, but from Rainbow? She had no idea why the girl was... well listening to her. But that didn't stop her from defusing the fight further.

"Just because one's my friend and one's a jerk doesn't mean you two don't share similar traits," she continued. "You just don't want to admit it...." she started thinking. "And I don't know why!" The anger in the two ignited again.

"Because she hates you!" Indigo explained and defended herself. "I don't want to be compared to a person who hates my friend."

Rainbow rolled her eyes, not caring to continue this. She growled at Twilight, "You don't know a thing about me, Sparkle." She turned away and walked off without another word, though she seemed cooled off. As if she had anger she took out on Indigo Zap just because it made sense.

Twilight was almost worried, the girl looked so defeated, and the way she walked mirrored that. But she turned back to Indigo, knowing her bus would have to leave soon. She smiled.

Then, she smirked. "So, you were... defending me?" Indigo chuckled at her and punched her playfully on the shoulder, only for her to laugh back.

"Sure thing, Twi," Indigo winked. "You can count on me!" She puffed out her small chest and put her hands on her hips proudly. She looked at Pinkie.

"Pinkie Pie," she pointed at the correct girl. She pointed at Rarity, "...Fluttershy?" Twilight, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie burst into laughter. She started laughing too.

"Indigo! The bus is leaving soon!" They heard a person yell. Twilight and Indigo's faces instantly fell to sadness. But Indigo was the first to flash a sad smile.

"Hey," she started. "It was nice to see you. And I'm sure Cinch'll schedule more games with Canterlot High, they are kind of our rival." She chuckled sadly. Once she noticed her attempt didn't lighten up Twilight's mood, she hugged her again.

"It's just... it's so weird without you around," Twilight hugged her tighter. Indigo Zap sighed.

She smirked at an idea,"Well, don't go getting feelings, Twi." She laughed at Twilight's red face. "I've liked you for way too long for you to only like me now."

Twilight was so shocked to hear this. Indigo... liked her? She'd expect Sunny Flare, but not Indigo. But she smiled anyways. "Don't worry, I have memories to get me over your imagination," she laughed. Indigo laughed too.

"Kinda just thought I should've told ya before I decided to get over ya. Kind of nice to hear you never liked me," she looked up wishfully at the sky. She looked back to Twilight, "Now I know all those years didn't build up to some cliché."

"INDIGO!" They heard a voice yell. Indigo laughed nervously and hugged Twilight again. Just before she left, she pecked Twilight on the cheek and ran off.

"Oooo!" Rarity and Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "That was adorable!"

Grab The Closest Nerd Because You're A Jerk

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Rarity was so giddy that she skipped her way back to the bleachers. "That was so sweet darling! Please tell me you'll convince your parents to take you back to Crystal Prep so you two can go to the dance? Or please tell me you'll come to our dance with her?!"

Twilight smiled and pushed up her glasses. "Sorry to disappoint you Rarity, but I don't like her... like that anyways." She rubbed her arm as her mind ran with reasons to like-like Indigo Zap. She had never felt a romantic attraction towards any of her friends... maybe once or twice, but never enough to want to date them.

She was so confused, she always thought Indigo Zap was an awful actor. Maybe Indigo was and she was just too oblivious and worrying to notice. Even if she ever thought about it, she knew she'd apply an inferiority complex to the situation and dismiss it as nothing.

She sighed as she waited by the bleachers for Rarity and Pinkie Pie to get their things. Rarity needed to get her drink and Pinkie Pie was going to get the many, many snacks she had bought and take them home.

Suddenly, a hand wrapped around her wrist and pulled her underneath the bleachers. She screamed, but a hand covered her mouth.

"Shut up, it's just me, loser," She heard the rough, high pitched voice and her eyes peaked open. She saw the annoyed expression of Rainbow Crash and sighed in relief. Rainbow pulled her hand away from Twilight's mouth, but still had a hold on her wrist.

Suddenly, panic set in to Twilight. She did hear that Rainbow had beat up kids for cheering for Crystal Prep, and that's all she did! She was terrified and her legs started shaking.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Look, nerd, don't come to another one of my games again," she demanded. Now, Twilight's fear started draining away to have place for the confusion.

"Huh? Why?" She asked and readjusted her glasses. "I only came to cheer for my friend."

Rainbow rolled her eyes again and snarled. "It's your damn fault Canterlot High lost. So stop coming, and we can play straight."

Before Twilight could ask, she continued. "I don't give a shit that your little girlfriend is playing, don't come to another one of my games."

She seemed so serious and her grip was getting harder and harder on Twilight's wrist. But now confusion completely masked the fear. So, she started her questions that would lead to more as vague answers were given.

"Why would I affect how your team plays?" She asked.

Suddenly, Rainbows anger set in and went off without control or thought. "If Pinkie wasn't so close to you, I would have seen the ball! Idiot."

Twilight's question wasn't answered, and she was too annoyed with unanswered questions with this girl, so she continued. "That doesn't answer anything... and how would that have made you miss the ball?"

Rainbow Crash rolled her eyes and started off. She froze once Twilight grabbed her wrist to stop her from leaving. "Rainbow?" For some reason, her voice sounded so hurt. As if she was best friends with this girl and they just had the biggest argument of their relationship and she wanted to know if they would still be friends in the morning.

"What?" Rainbow's voice was harsh and her eyes and expression wasn't any nicer. The frown, the furrowed eyebrows, the narrowed stare. Twilight cowered under her stare. Rainbow ignored her and pulled her hand out of Twilight's grasp.

"Just don't come to another one of my games, dork. I don't really allow kids as nerdy as you around someone as awesome as me," she gloated, expecting to be on top of the situation.

"Then why'd you talk to me in private?" Twilight asked, knocking down the building blocks of Rainbow's confidence. Rainbow went red.

"Uh," she rubbed the back of her neck, looking at the ground. As if she was looking for words on it. Twilight was so interested in this brute. It was obvious her emotional state wasn't at it's greatest, but it was way too obvious. As if she didn't know it was.

But if it was so obvious, why didn't anyone help her?

"Gotta go," Crash said so fast that Twilight didn't have time to react. The girl ran so fast, as if her life depended on getting away from Twilight. Twilight felt so bad, she guess she knew why no one helped her.

She never let them.

But Twilight was still interested. She knew Rainbow never let anyone help since she either scared them off, or she was too proud to let them. It was so utterly cliché.

She didn't see Crash much more, the girl even started skipping second period. Twilight felt so guilty. She just had to go and meddle in something that kept a girl away from her. Now, it was going to be her fault her grades were too low to play soccer.

Since Pinkie Pie had yearbook, Fluttershy had gardening, and Rarity had art, they all wanted to do something after school together. Leaving Twilight to wonder the halls, get her homework done, text her friends who were busy with their own things, and barge in on her friends work.

Since Pinkie Pie didn't let anyone not on the yearbook see their progress, the door was slammed in Twilight's face. She sighed, turning to the front door of the school. She stopped, letting her mind contemplate things.

Did she really want to go outside with her stuff? And did she want to go outside in general? She didn't dislike mud, or dirt, or anything with the outside. She just didn't know Fluttershy that well, so wouldn't it be weird to barge in on her friends gardening? A friend she barley knew?

She sighed, letting her anxiety and awkwardness take over. Sure, she knew Fluttershy would accept her no matter what. But, she didn't want to feel like a bother, then an outcast, then just have to go back inside after three minutes of being outside. She turned away towards the school foyer.

She liked the school more than Crystal Prep. The halls weren't as... blue or purple. A good aura usually filled the air. Not everything was worrying if you bumped into people. And the halls were so much wider.

She smiled as she walked her way to the art room. She'd assumed she'd be pushed out, but at least she counted Rarity as a good friend.

She passed a lot of rooms. The music room had Coloratura, Octavia, and Vinyl playing their instruments with some other people. She passed a theater room, seeing Trixie -an annoying girl- on stage with Starlight Glimmer -a cool girl- standing behind her with a smile.

She passed a computer lab, seeing Snips and Snails -two annoying kids- playing games on a huge monitor which Moondancer -an adorable prototype of Twilight- obviously built, saying as she was leaning against it with pride. She passed a research room. Seeing Bon Bon, Lyra, and Maud Pie all doing their own thing in the study hall.

She passed by the cheerleaders, they all seemed happy, except for Sunset Shimmer. She noticed Ditzy smiling at the center of a crowd, boasting about something. Twilight ignored it, in high school clichés, cheerleaders were bad news. So, better safe than sorry.

She passed an open classroom. She watched for a bit, it was apparently, from what she could tell, a literature club. There were four girls, each had peach skin, each with a different tone. One had long, purple hair. Another had short, pink hair. One had a long, ginger ponytail. The last one had pink short hair, but a lighter hue than the other girls.

She was almost interested to join, until the ginger smirked at her and flashed her emerald green eyes. She got a huge chill, as if she'd be selling her soul the second she took a step in the room. And, the chill was always there. Even stranger, they all wore Japanese school girl uniforms.

So, she raced off. Heading to the art room happily. She knew Fluttershy would be waiting by the school soon, and if the gardening students were almost done, then so would Rarity. And the sooner they were finished, the sooner she'd feel more comfortable waiting.

Once she got to the art room, they gladly let her in to watch. She was surprised most were doing their own thing. A few girls were huddled up around a painting. A few others were drawing at the desks in the classroom, but there was an amount of small chatter that spread over the whole room.

She was surprised to see Rarity in a corner with a mannequin and a sketchbook. She walked over to the fashionista, interested in what she was doing. The mannequin had a basic yellow colored dress with a white ribbon tied around the waist.

Twilight thought it was gorgeous, though she assumed it was a work in progress to something even prettier. Rarity looked over her sketchbook while Twilight admired the dress. Both seemingly lost knowledge the other was there, well, Rarity never knew Twilight was there from the start.

"Rarity," Twilight started, worried she would startle the girl. Once Rarity jumped a little, she assumed it was safe to speak again. "The dress is turning out beautifully."

Rarity instantly started giggling. She smiled as she flipped through pages in her sketchbook. She shoved the sketch of a lovely magenta dress with yellow accents. There was a whole piece of fabric around the waist that hung over the dress marked 'sequins' in an astounding cursive handwriting.

Twilight was in awe at the simple sketch. "Rarity! This would be gorgeous!" She grabbed the book and started looking through it, seeing the scraps, seeing the outfits she'd seen Rarity wear before. She loved every idea, no matter how silly or bombastic.

Rarity giggled, "I know! It's going to be lovely!" She clasped her hands together and looked up at the work in progress in awe. Twilight assumed her eyes were creating the dress in just the simple stare, so she smiled and started flipping further through the book.

She turned to a page marked 'Fluttershy' at the top. It was a person wearing a yellow party dress with white gloves. The heels were yellow and Rarity even wrote down all the makeup. Hair up, black eyeshadow, red lips. Twilight smiled, the shy girl would look lovely as a party-20's girl.

"What's this? Are you going to make it for her?" Twilight asked, clearly being distracted by the drawing. She heard Rarity giggle, but she was too busy reading the page.

She had the idea that Rarity nodded since she just started talking without an answer. "I hope to make it for her for prom! I know most girls are going to be wearing... well... more revealing things." She smiled nervously at that.

She continued, "So! I decided to make something for Fluttershy that had relatively a lot of fabric. She'll look like a classic 20's beauty with feeling comfortable!" She smiled happily and took the book from Twilight, flipping to the page she was on before.

Twilight got to thinking and prompted a question. "Isn't there like... a fashion club? Why are you working on a dress in an art room?" Suddenly, all the other girls in the room silenced to whispers. Rarity turned red and giggled nervously. She turned away nervously as Twilight awaited an answer.

Twilight felt so guilty. Of course this was because of what she asked, there is no way this was a coincidence. The whole situation told her that. "S-sorry," she mumbled once the conversation started back up. Rarity glowered at her. She cowered and nodded, turning away and leaving the room.

Why did she always get into bad situations with Rarity? Why did she always have to offend her or make her feel bad? She knew Rarity was dramatic, but she started getting some ideas as to why.

Maybe she grew up in one of the nicest homes, so something mean made her over react to it. Maybe she grew up in an unfair household where all she got was criticism, so whenever something bad happened to her, she'd over react. She turned a corner with a sigh.

Now, she started thinking about what happened in the room. The girls there clearly didn't like Rarity. That was for certain. But why?

She passed an empty music room.

But why would they hate her? Maybe they were annoyed she wasn't making what they'd call art? Artists were kind of meaningful about what was 'art' and what was not.

She passed the gym, seeing the volleyball team practice beside the cheerleaders. An argument started brewing.

Maybe they were jealous of her. She was really good at dress making. But if they didn't like her, then why did she work there? That leads her to the idea that her parents were more criticizing than kind.

She walked by the music room with Octavia and Vinyl playing the beat while Coloratura sang. She stopped and listened for a second.

She continued walking to the other wing of the school. She passed by teachers grading papers, tutoring, or simply taking a break. She was shocked to see some teachers playing stupid games on their computers, saying as most teachers despised it when students did it.

She heard some chatter and inched closer to the door it was coming from. About a foot from the door, she froze. "What?! You can't kick me off the team!" There it was. Rainbow Crash's voice yelling to a teacher. Twilight looked to the name on the door and saw it was Mrs. Cheerilee's.

"Alright, Dash," She heard the gruff voice of a male. She assumed it was the coach, saying as Cheerilee would have no jurisdiction over the soccer team. "Tests are next Friday, in every one of your classes. So, if you get an eighty-five or higher, I'll keep you, but otherwise, get ready to pack your stuff."

The male walked out of the classroom angrily, she could see where the soccer team got it from. Then, she heard Crash's pleas. "Please Cheers! I pay attention! It's just, none of the stuff sticks with me! If I can't pass that test, I'll be kicked off, you have to help me!"

She heard a sigh. "Rainbow, I recommend getting a tutor, and if you want to be so secretive about it, just tell your tutor," Mrs. Cheerilee's voice stated. She heard a high pitched, rough groan. "Dash! You can't expect to pass my test if you don't put in the effort."

"But your lessons stick with every student but me! Why should I have to put in extra effort and they don't? Because I have a dream I want to fulfill? I can't get tutoring and do soccer practice!" Rainbow's voice cut and sent chills down Twilight's spine. The whimper behind it, the cutting edge in front of it. She could only imagine the stabbing, piercing red eyes.

"I'm sure you can. One, you're the captain, the top player! And two, your coach wants a package, not bronze," Cheerilee stated. Twilight could only guess she balanced herself on one leg and crossed her arms. "Just find a tutor, Dash. Your coach would certainly appreciate you more for this, and you will appreciate yourself more."

She wanted to go in there and offer to help her, she'd be returned with a nod and a smile and getting to work right away. She'd teach Crash about flashcards and all her favorite study methods. The two would become best friends, and Rainbow Crash would come up to her after her games and thank her.

She sighed in bliss and leaned against the wall, hugging the one book she had with her. A smile formed its way on her face. The bliss would've lasted, as long as Crash didn't crash into her.

"Hey!" The voice shot rudely. She peaked open her eyes and her body froze. The rudest, meanest girl in school was talking to her... again! And she'd already made the girl mad so many times before! She was so screwed. She smiled nervously as Crash was already glowering.

Cheerilee poked her head out of the door of the classroom and smiled. "Oh yes! Twilight would be perfect to tutor you!" She smiled brightly and walked over to help the two girls up. She extended a hand to both and pulled them up, smiling at the appalled faces.

Rainbow Crash's confusion and horror turned to disgust. Twilight's confusion turned to worry and shame as she looked away and readjusted her glasses, a red of shame covered her face.

Rainbow crossed her arms and huffed, "Uh, sure." Twilight's heart jumped and the red on her face was now for a different reason. She glanced over and saw the boredom on Rainbow's face, she glanced at Cheerilee and saw the excitement on her face. "Yeah, no way." Twilight's heart dropped and the red turned back to shame.

Cheerilee placed her hands on her hips, her face morphed into what seemed to be ready for a scolding. "Why not? Twilight's one of the perfect candidates! She isn't mean, she's nice, and the top in mine and Cranky's classes, your worst classes."

"I don't care! It's kinda personal as to why I ... dislike her," Rainbow Crash said. Now, Twilight's shame was turned to curiosity, as usual. Why was is so hard for Rainbow to say she disliked her? Well, it was less hard and more... strange? As if she thought it was so strange coming off her tongue.

"Fine," Cheerilee sighed and shook her head in disappointment. Twilight saw the slight slouch from Rainbow at the sight, but she still stood tall with disobedience. "But get a tutor, I want you to be successful as much as your coach does," she put a hand on Rainbow's shoulder.

Rainbow's eyes cut into her. She deadpanned, "I already am successful." She shoved Cheerilee's hand off of her. Cheerilee sighed and walked back to her classroom. Rainbow didn't leave, and Twilight was too scared to. So, Twilight spoke.

"Y-you know.." she got the attention of Crash and cowered under the gaze. "Um, you - I mean... uh..." She glanced at Rainbow and saw the harsh stare, she assumed she was already fed up with things, she didn't need a stuttering nerd on top of it. "I'll always tutor you if you want me to!" She finished fast and anything but sweet.

Silence ensued, then laughter struck. She whirled to Crash to see the girl basically in tears of laughter. Her face turned so red and she was so angry. But, before she could tell her to stop, Rainbow spoke, "You'll still tutor me now? Bahahahaha!"

Twilight sighed, she kept her word with everything else, so of course she would now. She nodded hesitantly, "But it's obvious you don't want my help, so I'll just leave." She huffed and turned to leave.

"Don't expect seeing me at your doorstep asking for a math problem, egghead! Bahahahahah!" Crash laughed. So, Twilight stomped off rudely and fueled on anger.

Rainbow Crash was still chuckling about getting tutoring from the egghead Twilight. And it only got worse as she thought of all the stupid expressions the nerd made. Scared, happy, nervous, and the one Crash learned to laugh the most at, was the frustrated one. Mostly because she knew she was the reason for it.

So, as she walked to practice, she fell into pits of laughter or simply kept giggling to herself as she walked down the halls. And of course, she passed Applejack, the cowgirl was too busy to study, so the teachers asked for her to stay after too.

Applejack chuckled at the sight of Rainbow Crash. The girl had never looked happier, meaning someone got hurt in the process. And the girl held her stomach as if it hurt. This should be good. "Gosh, Rainbow, what's got ya so riled up?"

Rainbow kept laughing as she heard Applejack. Once she cooled down, she spoke, "One, don't say 'riled up'." Applejack immediately went a light red as she crossed her arms, already irritated. "And two, just a little egghead. She's hilarious to mess with!"

Applejack rolled her eyes, "Well, what'd ya do? Trip her? Make her cry?" Rainbow shook her head, confusing Applejack further. "Huh? Then what'd ya do?"

"Well, it's kinda a long story, I'll tell ya later," Rainbow said with a smirk. Applejack was honestly surprised, the girl had really never looked happier. Well, at least now she had a way to cheer Rainbow up.

She sighed with a smirk. "'Kay then, well, where're ya headin'? Soccer practice?" Rainbow nodded. She smiled, "Hey, don't y'all need tutorin' or somethin'? Will the coach really let ya play?"

Rainbow rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Pft, of course he would! I'm his top player! He wouldn't throw me out for some grades!"

"Really?" Applejack's arms dropped to her side and she raised an eyebrow. "Cause, Grandpa Pear says that he got kicked off the football team when he had a sixty nine in a class, and he was the captain." Rainbow just started laughing and Applejack really wanted to strangle her. "Look! Stop being stupid and just get a damn tutor! Besides, maybe you could get some more laughs from that dork if you let her do it."

Rainbow's laughter stopped abruptly. "What? Really?! I'm laughing because she tried to tutor me!" Rainbow said loudly. "There's no way she could tutor me! She's too... eggheadish, boring, and she's probably in love with math and science! She's gonna make me sick."

"Well," Applejack started. "It may be your only chance at a tutor, she's the only one that'd help ya willingly and make sure she's teachin' ya the right stuff."

Rainbow started off. "Yeah whatever. Pfffft, that egghead? Teaching me? Honestly the best joke ever!" She laughed as she walked off. Applejack sighed and started her way out of the school.

Rainbow started in and out of her laughing fits as she made her way to the football field. She always said they should just make it a soccer field, but the school never wanted to waste the money. Not even a measly fundraiser that'd waste more than it would gain. So sad.

But, she made her way onto the soccer field. She saw the coach yelling at the girls in discouragement as they ran across the field in practice. "Alright! Good job! Have a break! Back on the field in five!" The coach yelled and turned to face Rainbow, he sighed.

"You planning on bringing your grades up?" He asked, knowing she would give him an honest answer when she would to no other teacher. She rolled her eyes.

"Why should I? You wouldn't kick me off!" She gloated, already feeling the eyes on her to boost her ego. "I'm the best player you got! The only one that is even close to my skills are Lightning Dust and Spitfire and I'm better than them combined!" Now, as she looked at the faces, she saw disgust. But she did see the respect of the only three that liked her.

The coach sighed. "Look, I'm helping these girls do something with their lives here and now. You aren't going to have the 'nice-guy' coach in college. But guess what," he stated. His gaze narrowed on her, expecting her to cower. She didn't. In fact, she looked even more empowered.

He rolled his eyes, "You aren't going to get to college if you fail high school." As expected, her confidence deflated and she fell to a slouch. Her pink eyes stared up at him with confusion and hurt. Sadly. it was something he saw right next to her determination.

"Look, Dash," he started. But, as the girl she was, she shoved past him. He sighed and let her walk off. He hated doing this, to be honest, he didn't even want her off the team at all. Not even a risk of it. But it needed to be a threat if he wanted her to end up something. And that's all he wanted for his whole team.

Rainbow growled as she approached the three who actually respected her. Fleetfoot, Spitfire, and Lightning Dust. She saw the cheeky smirk on Lightning Dusts face, and the worried expressions on Fleetfoots and Spitfires.

"Wow, the captain who skips class can get kicked off!" Lightning Dust exclaimed sarcastically. "Who would've guessed." She yelped as Spitfire jabbed her with an elbow. That didn't take the edge off of Rainbow's anger.

"Fuck what I said," Rainbow spat rudely. "Fleetfoot's a better player than you. Cause she doesn't want me off the damn team," she fought. Lightning Dust smirked cheekily. Rainbow almost felt happy at the shocked, hopeful expression on Fleetfoot's face.

"Wow!" Lightning Dust said happily and sarcastically. "Captain's picking favorites! Totally not stereotypical!" Lightning Dust and her touched foreheads with anger as they let the tension build up. Fleetfoot and Spitfire watched with their respective expressions, annoyance and worry.

"Quit it!" Spitfire shouted, causing the two to disgruntledly separate and turn their attention to her. "Leave Crash alone about this, besides, she's captain and you aren't. She earned her place."

Lightning Dust rolled her eyes and huffed while Rainbow only got a tiny bit less mad. "Look, Crash. Coach seems serious about this, is trying to get your grades up that bad of an idea?"

Now, Rainbow's anger reignited. "Like I'm going to get a tutor, I have a reputation to uphold, remember?" She asked rudely. The second Lightning Dust started the laugh, she kicked the girl in the shin.

Fleetfoot sighed, "You know, it shouldn't matter that much if we're the only ones who know." Rainbow Crash's mood didn't lighten. So, Fleetfoot continued, "What matters more anyways? A reputation, or at least college?"

Spitfire stepped in, "I agree with her. We won't tell anyways."

Finally, Lightning Dust sighed and agreed. "I won't tell anyone if that's what you're worried about." She looked Crash in the eyes, "You taught me how to get over myself and work as a team. So get over yourself for your team."

Rainbow Crash looked at each of them and finally sighed. The idea of working with Twilight disgusted her, but Applejack was right. She's the only one who seemed to not care about how mean she was. She should just man up and do it.

She knew the three had no idea who Twilight was, or why Rainbow was so determined not to work with her. But it was fine, just because she would get tutoring, doesn't mean it'd be with Twilight, right? She could just bully a kid into it.

So, she sighed and said, "Yeah, fine."

Say You Hate Because You Assume Things About Others

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Sunset Shimmer was the head cheerleader. Which meant, she was one of the prettiest girls in school by default. And it was true, boys and girls alike adored her. She practically drowned in the fame with a smirk that said anything but modesty.

And as in every cheerleader trope, she was the insensitive one with a lot of money. Which was true. And also as in every cheerleader trope, she had a girl much uglier than her trying to prove her wrong and point out her evil ways. By Sunset's belief, that was Ditzy Doo.

Ditzy wasn't ugly. She was actually as adorable as Sunset was gorgeous. Of course, making her another school favorite. And her dumb girl attitude added to it. Sunset didn't care, she despised the girl because Flash Sentry, her crush, had the feels for the girl.

Of course, Sunset wasn't going to let that happen. She couldn't give up the boy of her entire future for someone so much lower than her. At least she'd graduate college and get a job to help support their loving family.

She growled as she walked towards the gymnasium. Ditzy wouldn't shut up about the love note she found in her locker. Well, that was how Sunset interpreted it. She really tried to keep it hidden, but some other girl discovered it and started the chatter.

Sunset gritted her teeth and balled her fists as they talked. "Oh Ditzy! Who do you think it is?" A girl exclaimed. Ditzy was obviously nervous, but all Sunset saw was pride and power.

"Yeah Ditzy! It's gotta be obvious which guy's got a huge crush on you!" Another squealed. Sunset's short heels dug into the floor with every step.

Ditzy smiled weakly and tapped her fingers together. "W-well, I-I don't know who'd want to be with me..." the girl spoke in-between questions. Sunset rolled her eyes. She thought that Ditzy knew too well which boy gave her the note. Of course, Ditzy was too self-conscious to think anyone would do it for real.

The second they got to the doors to the gymnasium, Sunset turned to the girls and they all shut up at the sight of her. She eyed the note in Ditzy's hands and put on a bored expression. Ditzy smiled, "You wanna read it? Sorry I didn't ask you before..." She extended the note. Sunset just looked confused.

"Why? Don't you want to keep it personal or something like that?" Sunset asked, pointing at the note with the other hand on the hip. Ditzy shook her head and smiled.

Her smile shone bright with purity and innocence. Sunset saw malice as she attempted to take the letter as nicely as possible. Ditzy spoke as she read, "I don't think it's real." Gasps of the girls around her shot at once. Sunset's hands tore into the paper as her eyes burned holes.

'Dear Ditzy, you're so gorgeous and nice. I'd love to take you to the dance, if you figure out who I am. But, it doesn't matter, I'll ask you the night before the dance anyways. So be prepared. For some reason, I just like you, I know you won't really believe it, but just try to. I think you're smile would be a lot prettier if it was just confident and happy,' the note read.

Sunset's mind ran with things to do. It was obviously Flash who gave her this, but why? Why not Sunset? Sunset was so much prettier, and what guy didn't like a powerful girl? Did Flash really want a teddy bear over passion? If he did, Sunset might question her attraction. Actually, never mind. She tends to end up a teddy bear around guys anyways.

"Ditzy," Sunset tried to talk in the calmest and sweetest tone she could manage. Though, it didn't exactly work on her face, and it was even more obvious as the letter was starting to tear at the impact of her nails. She saw Ditzy's worried expression towards it and hesitantly softened her grip.

"Yeah Sunset?" Ditzy asked happily. She wanted to hear what Sunset thought on the matter. Sunset had definitely dealt with boys before, right? She would know what was a joke and what was the truth. She couldn't wait to hear the encouragement from the brute.

Sunset's eyes shot fear to each of the girls. The green pierced each of them and most backed away from Ditzy. All the while, Ditzy was even more terrified than them. Her legs started to shake as her hands folded behind her back. A nervous smile pulled on her face.

Sunset didn't speak for a long time. She often looked down at the letter and back up. Suddenly, she crumpled the letter. And finally, she spoke at the sight of Ditzy's horror, "I think you should forget about boys, darling. I mean, you're going to be next head cheerleader after this year. Can't have boys distracting you, can we?"

Shock spread across the girls. Every girl knew Sunset was giving up being a cheerleader after sophomore year, but she never said who she thought would fit best as next head cheerleader. And now that she announced it was Ditzy, the girls were so shocked and ashamed they thought her mean.

"I mean," she continued abruptly, pulling the attention back to her. She flashed her green eyes, "Unless you would rather have a boy over leading the cheer team." Sunset played the innocent role, as she suspected from herself.

She put a reassuring hand on Ditzy's shoulder. "Just know, I support you in whatever you pick. But I'd rather see the girls I've led in cheer stay just as strong with you. I don't want you to lose this one-time opportunity, especially when a million boys'll show their faces to you."

Ditzy looked at the ground. Worry and indecisiveness spread across her face. Her face turned red as she wanted to cry. She balled up her fists, "B-b-but... if it's the boy I think it is... then I don't want another one." A spread of 'awww's shot lovingly from the crowd behind them. Sunset sighed.

"You don't have to make the decision now, you have until the end of the year to secure your place as next head cheerleader anyways," Sunset said comfortingly. Ditzy smiled at her weakly. For some reason, the pure ones could never see the malice behind the smirks or the glistening eyes. They never saw the flame that was fueled in the witches heart through their demise.

And somehow, she was lucky. Sunset always thought she was really stupid. But they did say bliss was happiness. Until that bliss screws you over, which is exactly what Sunset was going to do, high-school-girl-trope-style.

The group walked into the gym and started heading to the locker room made specifically for them. Sunset smirked and blew a kiss to the captain of the volley ball team. So, Ditzy walked up to her to ask her something, having a feeling they were friends.

"Uh, hey, Sunset... are you... uh," Ditzy tried to get it out without sounding offensive. Of course, Sunset got the hint.

She rolled her eyes, "Ew, no. It's repulsive." Ditzy was more than shocked.

"But," Ditzy fidgeted. "Isn't Applejack... you know... why are you friends with her if you don't like that?" Sunset wanted to sock the girl then and there and eliminate her as a rival.

She swallowed a groan. "Applejack's lesbian tendencies, " -she just had to smirk at that- "don't affect why she's my friend. I like her person, just not that part of her. Besides, I don't necessarily like the idea of me being gay, I don't really give a shit if others are."

Ditzy cowered at the curse word. Sunset itched to yell and bully her. But as in every high school trope, you either befriend them to use them, or hate them entirely. And since Ditzy had her future husband, the only path was to befriend to use.

And befriend to use she would. Now that Ditzy's mentioned it, she wondered what Applejack was doing.

Applejack was bored as all hell. She was sat on the bleachers as the soccer team practiced. She was waiting for Crash, the two were going to waste all their money on cheap arcade games because they want the high score and they're too stubborn. Then, they were going to follow Sunset around as she shopped.

The two lackeys were confused when Crash prompted the idea earlier in the day. She had always been the recluse one while Sunset and Applejack did their own thing as friends. But, neither questioned it.

Applejack expected Sunset to just go with the flow on this one. Besides, following Crash meant she was automatically one of the girls with respect in the school. No one was allowed to mess with her if she followed Crash around. Applejack was sure Sunset had no care for the athlete.

But Applejack always felt bad for the girl. She had no friends, just obvious lackeys. She had power over everyone in school, but what did that matter to the greater scheme of life? Power in high school gets you no where, at least with friends you have arms to fall back on if you trip.

So, Applejack gladly agreed when the question presented itself. It was as if Crash wanted to be friends with them, she was really happy to see it. Of course, she made Sunset agree. Even if Sunset didn't like Crash now, she certainly would in the future.

Applejack had no idea why she liked the idea of being friends with Rainbow Crash so much. She knew it wasn't because she liked her. Applejack's type was clearly girly girls. Something Crash definitely was not.

And she knew it wasn't because they had a childhood friendship and grew apart. The most she knew about Crash's childhood was that she grew up with Fluttershy in Cloudsdale. But whenever she asked, Crash gave her a cold stare and she shut up.

She watched as Crash played perfectly, even if it was just practice. She knew the coach was mad at her before, but now he just wore a proud smile. It reminded her of her dad, or her Grandpa Pear. She didn't really remember her dad. She remembered her mom though. But her dad wasn't around that much. She assumed he just worked hard, he did have a stay-at-home wife and two kids to support. It was understandable.

And she didn't worry about it too much. She loved her Granny Smith, and she loved her independence. But, she always remembered questioning why she was the one that it happened too. But then she'd look at Crash and remember she didn't have it the worse.

She knew kids liked talking about their parents. Even Sunset did and she hates revealing her personal life. But Sunset adored her mother and used her father for cash. She would spend whole lunch periods just talking about how much fun her mom is.

And Applejack always loved reminiscing about her parents. And everyone she had talked to more than once brought up their parents every now and then. But Crash never did, she never said one word about her parents. So, Applejack expected something was going on, even if she had no proof.

The practice was still going on and she groaned. She wanted to at least be awake for the trip to the mall! She groaned again and got up, starting off of the bleachers to go see what Sunset Shimmer was doing.

She simply walked, she didn't feel like rushing anything. And she really didn't feel like seeing the cheerleaders preform. And she utterly despised Sunset in a cheer outfit. Though Sunset looked so much happier as a cheerleader, yet it was obviously forced. The few times it wasn't forced, Applejack didn't see.

So, she finally got to one of the side doors to the school and pushed it open. She was surprised it wasn't locked, saying as no one would use it, but she didn't question it.

She started down the teachers wing of classrooms. She wasn't surprised to not see them there so far in the afternoon on a Friday. She peeked into Mrs. Cheerilee's classroom to see what the teacher was doing. For some reason, the teacher didn't leave until afterschool activities were over. No one questioned her.

She saw the teacher groan as her fingers dug into her hair and her brow furrowed. Applejack almost felt guilty, so, she took a step forwards and knocked on the doorframe. Mrs. Cheerilee's head shot up and her eyes stood fixed on Applejack.

"Applejack? Don't you always go home with your brother?" Mrs. Cheerilee asked. Suddenly, her eyes sparkled with glee, "Wait! Did you join an club? Or the girls volleyball team?" The teacher looked so happy. Applejack felt even more guilty as she shook her head. The teacher hung hers as she looked at the papers on her desk.

"As much as ah would love doin' all that," she started. The teachers head perked up with a smile again. Applejack sighed. "Ah got so many chores to do on the farm. I had to do even more when Apple Bloom joined the gardening club at her middle school."

Mrs. Cheerilee smiled and then chuckled. "I'm sorry, Applejack. I guess I forgot you live on a farm." The teacher smiled motherly and clasped her hands together. "So, what can I do for you?"

Applejack looked at the room in the lowering sun outside. It was still high and sunny outside, but it was different then getting in the class before noon. "Ah well... ah saw you looked kinda frustrated and thought you might need some help."

Mrs. Cheerilee's eyes sparkled as confusion etched into her face. "Huh? Oh! It's fine, just go along and do what you need," the teacher made a shooing motion with her hand.

"Well, what're ya doin? Gradin' papers?" Applejack asked, wrapping her hand around the other arm. She shifted her balance to a different leg. Mrs. Cheerilee smiled sadly.

"Say, Applejack... are you going to get a tutor? I know your teachers recommended it to help your grades," Mrs. Cheerilee asked happily. Applejack already saw where this was heading. She nodded anyways.

"Yeah... well... ah was more just gonna get Granny ta help me more than anythin' else," she said. She was almost scared Mrs. Cheerilee would make her get a real tutor and not some old historian of the apple family. But the smile melted it away.

Mrs. Cheerilee smiled, "That's nice, though I'm always here if she suddenly becomes unavailable." Applejack smiled, until the question was prompted. "Do you know if Rainbow Dash will get one?" She cringed at the use of Rainbow's real name. Though, she expected it from adults. Rainbow lost her privilege to a nickname the second her disobedience was noticed by the teachers.

Applejack sighed without Cheerilee's notice. "Ah don't think she is, but she might change her mind. She ain't that stupid," Applejack stated. Mrs. Cheerilee stared at the girl, expecting her to continue into some meaningful thing about her friend. So, Applejack did what the teacher didn't want. She leaned on one foot, put her hands in her pockets and deadpanned, "Actually... ah don't know."

She really didn't. She didn't know how far Crash's stubbornness would go before admitting defeat. And saying as if everything was as stereotypical as they could get, then Crash already gave up a while ago. She'll hide behind a strong face and let out her sorrow to herself and only herself. As Applejack thought about it, Crash did fit the edgy type.

Mrs. Cheerilee ignored the obvious attempt to annoy her. She smiled and made another shooing motion with her hand. "Well, go on. I'm sure there's something more interesting than talking to a teacher," the teacher smiled.

Applejack took a step forward to object. But, she moved back to her place and turned, taking her way out of the classroom.

She walked through the halls, starting to head to the other side of the school towards the gymnasium. Or what she thought was the gym. She had gym her first year and honestly forgot where it was. She skipped pep rallies and had no reason to go to the gym. So of course, she was heading to the wrong destination.

She walked past the foyer of the school, taking in the school she was honestly indifferent about. She didn't hate it and she didn't love it. But after a familiar voice rang from the front steps of the school, she froze.

"Honestly darling! You should really become better friends with Twilight! She's a doll!" She heard the familiar feminine voice that clashed with deep class. She turned to the front steps of the school and saw the back on two bodies.

She recognized the dark purple locks as Rarity. But she had no idea who the white haired girl with the purple streak was. And the girl was covered in so many studded items it made her sick. But the feeling faded away as she heard Rarity laugh at a joke she herself didn't hear.

She so badly wanted Rarity to laugh at her jokes and her mishaps. She balled her fists as she declared war on the brat next to Rarity. Of course, her jealousy and anger set in, as it usually did around Rarity. She knew she should've left so she could cool down. It wasn't doing her any good if she got used to handling situations through her anger.

And if a little laugh triggered it, she was going down hill soon! She should've put up more of a resistance. How could a little laugh make her so jealous? How could she be so stupid? Why was she so stupid? She could never get with Rarity, the girl screamed straight anyways.

Not even her depressive thoughts could cool Applejack down. So, she took an angry few steps towards the two. She cleared her throat, making the two look at her. The mystery girl looked at Applejack in awe while Rarity rolled her eyes.

"Yes, what is it darling? We were having a nice conversation," Rarity said rudely. She crushed Applejack's anger once again. The rude tone coming from such a nice mouth. She couldn't imagine hate sliding through those pale lips of hers. So, she stood her ground. No matter how crushed she felt.

Before she could say anything the other girl spoke. "Hey! That's not very nice, she didn't ruin anything." Applejack and Rarity were both appalled at what the girl had said. Applejack's horror turned to shame.

Rarity rolled her eyes and sighed. "She's friends with that horrid Crash! How do we know she isn't playing a trick on us?" Rarity huffed and glared at Applejack who was now crushed under the largest diamond. How could such a nice person say such things? Especially about a person who adores her?

"Just because she follows Crash around doesn't make her a jerk! When has Applejack ever done anything mean?" The mystery girl spoke. Applejack wished their places were switched. She wished Rarity was the one defending her, and she felt so guilty for it. So much for personality matters, huh?

Rarity huffed again. "When has she done anything nice!? If someone wants to follow that brute around, it's guilty until proven innocent. Like a suspicious individual. That's all!" Rarity seemed so determined. Applejack just wished she wasn't the source of Rarity's hatred.

"She is innocent!" The mystery girl shot to her feet. Applejack was appalled to see tears in the girls eyes. "How can you be so hateful to the things that just want to know you!? You did the same exact thing to me! Why is everything guilty until proven innocent to you!?" The girl yelled to the now mortified Rarity. The girl sniffled and turned away.

Applejack didn't move. She stayed put, but she watched the girl leave. Before the girl entered a room she didn't know, she looked back at Applejack. Blush covered her face as she turned away and raced in. Applejack was just confused, but she felt bad. How could she lead this girl on? She liked Rarity, not this mystery girl.

"Aren't you going to thank her?" Rarity asked as she sulked in her arms. Her body curled up onto a single step. Applejack wanted to hug the skin and bones as she sulked. She wondered why Rarity was so skinny, but she noticed the girl was just in really good shape like herself.

"Uh," Applejack started and stepped out onto the steps. She looked back to the random door before she did and turned back, taking a seat on the same step Rarity was on. "I think she got her thanks already," she stated and glanced over at Rarity.

Her face exploded into blush as she saw Rarity puff out her cheeks and pout. "I don't know how she could possibly defend you," Rarity said sadly. She buried her hands in her arms. Suddenly, she growled and whirled to Applejack.

"You're tearing my friendship apart! She's one of my best friends!" Rarity yelled. She growled again. "Is this one of your plans?" She put on a face of disgust. "Destroy every relationship I have!?"

Applejack didn't even think. Her blood boiled as it usually did when she thought about Rarity. She couldn't even stop herself from yelling at the girl. "Ah ain't got no plans against y'all! Why would ah?! It ain't like you're a threat or anything!"

She didn't even let Rarity get a word in. "You're a high school girl! And the biggest problem we have with you is how many guys like you over Shimmer! That's it! Nothing else! You don't matter!" She was taken aback by her own words. And by Rarity's face of sorrow.

"I-I...? I don't matter?" Rarity asked sadly. She was so confused and sorrowful.

"Ah didn't mea-" Applejack couldn't even finish what she was going to say. She couldn't fix this.

Rarity shot to her feet and huffed. "Guess I have evidence for whenever Coloratura defends you! I'll keep her away from you, don't expect a follower anymore you ruffian!" Rarity growled as she stomped off. Applejack felt so defeated.

She was so hurt. Why didn't she just listen to Crash? Why didn't she go and thank Coloratura? Why couldn't she like the one girl who defended her?

She buried her head in her arms. "Why do ah like you so much?"

Don't Open Up, Even If They Try Their Hardest

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The day at the mall was surprisingly fun for each of the participants. Sunset snorted as Rainbow and Applejack only got higher and higher high scores to beat the other. The two decided to put their money together so they'd get equal tries. Sunset ended up using the last of it to get a big slushie for the three to share.

Rainbow Crash growled and took it, only leaving Applejack and Sunset to laugh. Soon, she was chuckling too. So, since their part was over, they were forced to follow Sunset around for the remainder of the time. Only then did they realize how loaded she actually was.

Applejack knew the girl lived in a big house, had a nice car, a chef, and maybe two maids. But she had no idea how rich the girl really was. Even if Sunset's parents both worked, she still didn't think the girl was that rich. Or well, she wasn't that rich, her family was.

Rainbow just begged her for more arcade money. Sunset always said 'no' with a cheap smirk that said she had something planned. Soon, they were in a store looking at clothes. Sunset kept offering the two clothes, but the two denied them.

"Please! For me?" Sunset begged. Applejack didn't over think it, but Crash did. She was surprised when Applejack didn't. But she didn't question that part.

So, she rolled her eyes. Her arms crossed, "Okay. But pick out something twenty percent cooler than anything you just picked." Sunset seemed ecstatic to dress up the brute. She jumped and ran back to the clothes with a huge smile.

"Hey, Jackie," Crash prompted. Applejack groaned at the nickname, she had always hated nicknames anyways. She walked over to Rainbow and waited to hear the rest of what she wanted. "You think you would ever like Sunset?"

The cowgirls cheeks flared red at the question. She stomped her foot, then, she took a deep breath and sighed. She actually thought over the question and took a look at the girl as she desperately looked for clothes Crash would like. Applejack sighed again. "Nah, ah mean... sure she's girly and pretty... but she's also annoyin'."

Crash smirked smugly. "Oh really? I thought annoying, pretty, and girly was your thing, AJ," Crash shoved her hands in her pockets. Her smirk only grew at the sight of Applejack glowering at her.

"Rarity ain't annoyin', she's irritatin'. Besides..." she started strong and ended weak. She sighed and looked to the ground, remembering the events from earlier. "Ah don't feel this guilty when ah make Sunset sad." She didn't want anything like a sweet reaction or a sorrowful hug. She just wanted it to be there. That awkward silence that would break sooner or later.

"Don't worry, my plan'll work," Crash too another sip of the slushie. Applejack raised an eyebrow.

"X'cuse me, partner? Rarity ain't never gonna like me, she hates me and she'd rather have a knight in shining armor," Applejack fought. She took another look at Sunset, trying to find some attraction to anyone but Rarity. She sighed and looked away. Not even a taking-friendship-up-a-knotch feel.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Exactly! Sweetheart in a punk clothing," Rainbow cooed sweetly. Then, she went smug again. "Please! No girl could resist a bad guy, they love 'em!"

Applejack ignored it. It was the most logical way of stopping it indifferently and assumed hurt. But she'd have that over figuring it out logically. That just meant talking to a teenage fuck up. No way was she going to let her secrets or feelings out just yet.

But it seemed she didn't have to. Sunset showed Crash a pretty adorable outfit if anything. It was a black tank top with ripped, black jeans. The smile Crash had on her face told Sunset she liked it. So, Sunset went smug.

"Ya like? I don't know if you can wear it at school without a jacket, but," Sunset started with a smirk. Crash wasn't thinking and simply nodded. So, Sunset lunged the outfit forward. "Try it on, I'm not going to let you have it unless."

Crash was shocked as she grabbed it from Sunset's forceful hands. "Wait, I thought you just wanted me to put something on." Sunset stared at her for a bit before laughing, which on its own pissed Crash off.

Sunset smiled, "Of course not! You and AJ need cute outfits for when we go to the movies!" She clasped her hands together and smiled. She took a look at Applejack and nodded with determination, she raced back to the racks. Now Applejack stood confused right next to Crash.

"Movies?" Crash asked.

"Y'all making me wear somethin' too?" Applejack asked.

Sunset simply giggled at the two. "After this, I thought we could get dinner and watch some awesome action movie. And you two are not going to be seen in those when you're walking with me." Crash gave her an annoyed look while Applejack was still confused.

"We ain't even that good of friends, why we seein' a movie together?... And gettin' dinner?" Applejack asked. Sunset walked over to Applejack with an outfit in hand. She smiled as Applejack went red.

The outfit consisted of a look alike to Sunset's shirt and some short jean shorts. Applejack shook her head. "Uh-uh! Ah ain't wearin' that!" She exclaimed.

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Fine, but it's just a little skin. You're keeping the shirt, I'll just get longer shorts," she walked off after leaving the shirt with Applejack. Once Applejack realized Crash was gone, she continued to fret over the circumstance.

"I thought y'all didn't like Crash," Applejack said and walked over to Sunset Shimmer who was looking over a shelf. Sunset rolled her eyes.

"One, Crash offered the day. I just made it a night. Two, I've spent a year and a quarter with her. Might as well spend as much time as possible with her," Sunset deadpanned, looking through shorts. She finally pulled a pair of capris-like shorts and held the waist-band up to Applejack's hips.

Applejack went red and backed away as fast as she could. Sunset just laughed at her and smirked, "Perfect. Plus, you're really gay, AJ." Suddenly, a light bulb went off in her head as she smiled brightly. She started laughing, "Gay... AJ! It rhymes!" She continued to laugh while Applejack rolled her eyes.

Suddenly, Crash walked up with a huge smirk. Sunset practically screamed her girlish squeal at the sight of Crash wearing the outfit. She clapped her hands. "You look so good! And badass too... love it!" she spun happily.

Crash smirked. "I do look pretty awesome in it," she gloated.

Sunset turned to Applejack. "Alright. Take that off so I can pay for it and make Applejack put that on," she pointed to the clothes in Applejack's arms. Rainbow smirked.

"Playing as twins?" Crash asked with a smirk as she tilted her head to stare at them. Sunset started laughing, but never answered the question. Rainbow grabbed Applejack's wrist and led her to the changing rooms.

Applejack sighed as she was pushed into one. She hated changing rooms anyways. She always felt like someone would burst in or that someone was watching her. But, she ignored it and started undressing.

The second she walked out she heard a squeal. Sunset and Rainbow stood right there with their respective smile and smirk. "You look so cute!" Sunset gushed happily. She was such a brat. But then again, brats liked dressing up Barbie dolls.

Applejack looked down at the outfit. It was one she could work in, well she could work in the capris. Not the shirt. But she was almost happy to see Sunset so happy. Sunset clapped her hands, "And you could wear a cowgirl hat and boots with it! You'd look so cute!"

Rainbow smirked at her. "How could Rarity resist you now?" she asked smugly. While her and Sunset laughed, Applejack turned back to the dressing room. She had no want to talk about Rarity. She didn't even want to hear the name much less think about the girl.

But all she could think about was Rarity. And she hated it. She had always thought about Rarity until she got distracted. The girl boiled her blood, irritated her to no end, made her so jealous she'd explode! So why couldn't Applejack stop thinking about her? It was obvious she had hateful feelings towards her... so why did her mind only show her the sweetness and desire?

Her mind played images of the two talking over a fancy dinner. While Applejack questioned the class, Rarity would be infuriated with the cowgirls manners. Then the two would ride home in the blissful silence of a nice night.

Applejack groaned as she mentally made an 'x' on the picture multiple times until it faded away. She sighed and started taking off the stupid outfit, putting her other one on to replace it. She would never get used to showing skin like Rainbow or Sunset. The only reason she wore a tank top so much was because she worked on a farm. And most of the time she'd slip a jacket over it anyways!

But Rainbows favorite things were tank tops, and Sunsets were mini skirts. She sighed and walked out, handing the outfit to Sunset who was going to willingly buy it along with the rest of her stuff. Sunset smiled as she walked up to the cashier and dropped her clothing load in front of him. She gave a wink and flirtacios talk and got an once-a-day discount.

She smiled as she dropped bag after bag on the two strong girls. Even so, both had weak arms compared to the fabric they held up. They weren't even out the door and the two were struggling to keep going. Sunset rolled her eyes and took a bit off of the two reluctantly. The two smiled in relief and started to walk normally.

They soon made a bet of who could get to Sunset's car and Rainbow Crash's motorcycle the quickest. They were almost hit by a car and forgot about it.

They decided against dinner. Applejack thought it was too personal, Rainbow said they'd get enough popcorn to make up for it, and Sunset thought the waiting and eating at a restaurant would take up too much time. Rainbow and Applejack were excited at the idea at fast food, but Sunset firmly told them no.

So, just as the sun set, they walked into the movie theater. They saw what was playing a decided a highly reviewed horror movie. The movie was good to say the least. Of course, Sunset clutched Crash with all her might as the monster jumped to the front of the screen, which simply led the girls to laugh and pick at her.

So she started simply hiding behind her hands. Which still didn't help her from getting picked on. Her reaction was to, of course, yell at them and be a jerk. Which she did. It didn't do anything but fuel the laughter of the two more.

Once they left, it was only eight. Applejack and Sunset took the latters car home while Rainbow took her motorcycle. She said bye to the two and dashed off. She loved riding her bike, so of course she would take the chance to ride it as fast as possible.

She loved the adrenaline, the wind in her hair, the blurred surroundings. It felt as if she was going too fast for the world to catch up. She adored the feeling, especially at night with the dark sky beaming down and falling victim to the lights of todays buildings, signs, vehicles, and street lights.

But Canterlot was one of the safest places in the whole country. She despised it. She could almost imagine racing past an alleyway and seeing some thugs. She itched to hear police sirens ring all night, she savored any time any crime happened.

It only made her rides that much more safe. When she didn't want them to be safe. She wanted to feel dangerous and fear mixed with adrenaline. She would've loved to get stuck in a serious street fight and defend herself all on her own. Then, she'd walk out with bruises and cuts covering her, barely able to walk. She'd look up and see a face she adored, a worried expression that was so mixed with relief, fear, and anger.

But, of course, that only happened in movies. If she was caught in a situation like that, she'd be too terrified to make any effective movements. She might've get a punch in and a broken nose, but nothing more. She'd be the one laying in at alleyway after a dangerous encounter. She'd also be alone when her body decided to function.

And once she went home, she'd be too cowardly to ask for help. So, she'd cry in her room and live with her awful condition, expecting to get up the next morning with no one at all. That's why it was so nice to imagine things, you didn't have the hard truth to hold you back. Too bad no one can run away from something that's fact.

She turned into the nice, nice neighborhood that was hers. Well, more the one she lived in. She didn't own it. She chuckled to herself as she thought something similar, thinking she was stupid for playing specifics and corrections. She slowed down near a house close to the entrance and drove into the driveway.

Her house was nice, it wasn't run down or not taken care of. The yard was cut, there was the picket fence, there was the red minivan in the garage. She sighed as she dismounted from her bike as it was placed leaning against the side of the house.

She really didn't feel like talking to her parents (parent? She didn't know who was home, so she stopped caring), so she went to the back of the house and saw the lovely back porch set up like it was ready for a family barbecue. She saw the usual black beach chair in the corner. A black blanket covered the entirety, but a blue one sat in an ugly pile at the end.

She smiled in relief at it. It was her seat. Where no one could mess with her or talk to her. No one would bother her if she sat there, she could be free of constant annoyance if she just sat down. So, she did. She sat down on the chair and pulled the blue blanket out of its tangled ball and cuddled up into it.

The night was nice, a slight breeze was overall countered by the nice heat of the night. The blanket was freezing, as it usually was, so it was perfect to counter the heat. She was so happy to just relax and to end up falling asleep outside. She doubted the night was going to get that much colder.

She fell asleep. But it was one of the best sleeps of her life, with the worst nightmare she had ever had.

While she had good sleeps all weekend, it didn't help with what she knew she had to do. And she could've gotten away with not doing it if it wasn't for Spitfire and Lightning Dust coming up to her and reminding her. Sure, she was forgetful, but they knew she couldn't forget this.

She groaned and stomped her way to first period. All she did was try to pay attention, but she was too pissed off to focus. After that class, she realized she didn't learn anything and just got depressed. It only set in the feeling more. And seeing the egghead didn't help.

The girl seemed like she barely needed to pay attention, as if she already knew it all. Even Fluttershy seemed like she knew it all, but she still took notes. And Pinkie Pie smiled as she answered all the questions correctly. All the while Rainbow was confused the whole time. Which was probably because she hadn't been to the class in a few days and didn't pay attention even when she was there.

Rainbow hated the sight of it. Everyone around her was so much smarter than her. And it came so easy to them, it was like she just got the bad end of life. And she couldn't focus for anything since she was trying to come up with a way to even ask the egghead in a way to where she would say yes. She doubted the girl would say yes, but it was worth a shot.

If she got a good sleep, she could at least do this for herself. So, she sighed as her stomach churned during lunch. She couldn't possibly ask Twilight then in front of all her friends. Her best option was at the end of the day, but that led to so many things that could screw it up.

She could leave early, she could be riding home with someone else, and she could be staying after and Crash had no idea. There were so many things that could screw her over. And she couldn't wait until the end of the day! Her stomach couldn't take it. And she did awful under pressure. How could she focus in class when she was like this? She couldn't, which was just another day of missing work.

It was weird to walk into fourth period. The teacher gave her a weird look as she took her seat, she was surprised she remembered it, and that it hadn't changed. She ignored the weird stares and faces that looked on the verge of laughing. Of course, she'd shoot them a glower and make them stop, but that didn't stop them from starting.

She was actually able to focus in that class. She understood some of the stuff, and she wrote down what she didn't understand so she could try and figure it out herself if things went south with Twilight. Even the teacher was surprised when he called on her and she gave the right answer. Of course, he had to give a smart comment. She usually would've glowered at him or give him the finger. But she felt proud, proud that she could surprise Mr. Cranky, the worse teacher in school. She snorted happily and looked out the window.

Of course, with the last ten minutes of class, her stomach churned and her palms got sweaty. But she soon calmed herself, the nerd should be graced with her presence, the nerd might as well had needed her. She smirked, feeling empowered like usual when she got cocky.

The bell rung and she stood up and raced out of the classroom, eager to get to her motorcycle so she was there before Twilight. She smiled as she slammed her locker shut and slung her backpack over her shoulder. She almost skipped blissfully to the front doors.

As she approached the doors, she wished she had a skateboard and she could just glide through the halls and skate off of the railings onto the ground. Though it was really middle-schoolish, she still thought it was a cool idea. She jumped through the doors and looked back cockily.

Fear struck her down again, she saw Twilight walking through the doors. Alone, with a book in hand while her purple backpack was put over both shoulders. She smiled as she looked around blissfully, she pushed one of her bangs behind her ear and Rainbow was speechless. The sun on the girl as she walked through the doors made her almost... pretty? No, she couldn't think that. It was an egghead.

She took a deep breath and puffed out her chest. This was her chance, she could just get it over with now and be fine. She breathed out and walked towards Twilight.

Twilight wasn't looking, she was too busy looking at the pretty fall. The leaves were starting to go orange and fall to the ground. She loved fall, it was the only time leaves changed, then again, she loved it for a lot of things. Like the fact that school started in fall and that leaves changing color is science.

So, her face imploded into red once a cyan hand was place above her chest. She squeaked and jumped away, holding her book up in front of her face. She instantly heard that annoying laughter and grimaced behind the book, but her face only seemed to get redder, and it wasn't from embarrassment.

"Bahahaha! You should've seen your face!" The voice called. Twilight groaned as she dropped the book from her face and could look at the brute. Such a carefree soul, she was so lucky.

Twilight rolled her eyes, "Well, most people don't just touch others chests with no good reason!" Twilight grimaced further at the small chuckle that emitted from Rainbow.

"Alright, first off," Rainbow started. "I had a reason, and two, it's not like I touched your tit." She laughed again as Twilight's face turned red once again. Twilight easily let the shock off for it to boil into anger.

"Well?" she said loudly to cut off the laughter. "What do you want?" Rainbow became noticeably nervous again. Her hand reached to the back of her neck, her gaze adverted, her other hand shoved into her pocket, she kicked the ground near her. Twilight simply waited.

Rainbow sighed and finally looked up at Twilight, only to look away again. "Uh..." she started and looked up again. She held the gaze a bit longer before letting her cowardice show. She finally took a deep breath again and spoke. "Your, uh, offer still... up?"

Twilight stared in confusion for a second, then realization hit her fast as she stared at the nervous brute. She was almost touched, the brute dropping a proud façade to let way for her true fear through a person like her. Of course, that wasn't it, but Twilight thought it was. She smiled, then decided she actually had to contemplate this.

If she did it, she'd get a few hours out of her week. She'd get a few hours away from her old friends and her new friends. Could she really do that for a brute? But she did say she would, could she really break her word? She looked at Rainbow and saw the forced smirk on her face as she rubbed her hands together through the sweaty palms.

So, she smiled and spoke. "Sure," she said happily. Rainbow let out a sigh of relief and turned away with a cocky smirk. Twilight rolled her eyes and pushed up her glasses. She held her book to her chest and tapped Rainbow on the shoulder before the brute could leave. Crash turned to her with confusion, even if it was met with a kind smile.

"Uh, want to start now? I mean... your deadline is Friday..." Twilight said, finally understanding how awkward this really was. Rainbow went red and nodded sheepishly. She smirked up nervously at Twilight's nervous smile. Twilight looked around and saw no one around. She turned back to Rainbow, "Wanna work here? I mean, no ones around."

Rainbow seemed indecisive, but nodded anyways. Twilight smiled giddily as she took a seat, putting her book down next to her and slinging her book bag over her shoulders to look through it. Rainbow took a seat next to her and peered over Twilight's shoulder to get a better look at what she was looking for. "So, what's your lowest grade?" Twilight asked happily as she continued to look.

Rainbow stood quiet as she tried to remember. It should've been in Cranky's class, but she could understand that easier than she could any other class. "Uh, Cheerilee's," she responded short and harsh. Which was obviously taken badly by Twilight since she seemed to tense up and look through her stuff a lot faster. Rainbow got bored and reached behind her to find the book on the other side of Twilight. She found it with a cheeky smirk and grabbed, careful not to let it hit Twilight's back.

Her cheeky smirk grew as she turned to see the cover. Her smirk faded at the sight of the cover, wonder and astonishment covered her face. Suddenly, the book was snatched from her with a growl. "Hey! You could at least be considerate!" Twilight shouted.

Rainbow was too shocked to respond. Twilight pouted as her cheeks went red, she clutched the book to her chest tighter. "Go ahead, laugh. I know it's a stupid book series."

Rainbow shook her head and coughed. "Uh, yeah, stupid book series."

Twilight found immediate offense. "Hey! Do you even know it!?" She scoffed, "Of course not, I'd be surprised if you'd found any book appealing."

Twilight whirled to Rainbow, her anger at it's peak. "Just so you know, it's an amazing book series! The characters have so much life and the adventures are so fun and realistic! It's so descriptive and leaves the reader with such an inquiry for more!" Now she was just complimenting it.

She continued. "Each one has a twist, a cool ending line, a cliff-hanger which leaves the reader begging for the next one!" Rainbow covered the girls mouth with annoyance.

"Cool, sounds great," Rainbow said, annoyance covered her face. She flinched as she felt her hand get hotter and took it away from Twilight. She almost seemed nervous, and she kept glancing at the book in Twilight's arms. And all her answers since she found it seemed half-hearted, as if she didn't mean it. Twilight smiled brightly in wonder as she put two and two together

Twilight smiled in astonishment, "Wait. You like Daring Do? Unbelievable!" She seemed so giddy about it. Rainbow went red and shook her head.

"No way! Books are for eggheads!" Rainbow asked, annoyance still covered everything she did while fake-anger and offense sat over her shoulder. But even her annoyance didn't cool Twilight off, the nerd was so damn happy.

"I've never met anyone who liked Daring Do!" Twilight smiled and looked down at the book lovingly. She saw the face of denial on Rainbow, but her smile didn't shift. "C'mon! It's not bad to like a book! It is one of the cooler ones anyways." Rainbow leaned forward and scooted closer to Twilight so that their shoulders touched. Twilight tensed and went red while Rainbow looked angrily at the book. "I don't like any stupid book made for eggheads," she said coldly. Suddenly, Twilight went sorrowful.

"You know you won't be judged for liking it around me... so why hide the fact that you like it?" Twilight asked sadly. Once she didn't get an answer, she continued. "I won't think any less of you."

Rainbow's stare cut into Twilight, "I didn't ask to be buddies, I asked for you to help me."

"And letting you open up from your high and mighty shell isn't helping?" Twilight asked angrily, already feeling like she was in a high school romance drama. She seemed so infuriated by Rainbow, and she looked like she was going to cry. But Rainbow didn't care, she was still going to be a jerk.

"This isn't some intricate high-school drama story, nerd," Rainbow flicked Twilight's forehead. "I'm not hiding anything and I don't need help 'opening up' because of everyone else who hurt me in the goddamn past. Now, you gonna help me or not?" She seemed just as mad as Twilight. Though she smirked slightly at the look on Twilight's face when she flicked her.

Twilight growled, "No! I'm not gonna help a jerk!" She stood to her feet and fumed. She grabbed her stuff and her book. She huffed, "And I'm definitely not going to help someone who calls me names!" She stomped down a few steps.

Rainbow's eyes widened as she was physically losing her chance. She mentally slapped herself for being a jerk and fumbled for something to do. She sighed and reached forward for Twilight's wrist, she grabbed it and felt it tense up under her hand. She almost liked it. And hated it.

Twilight looked back at her and she seemed so hurt. Rainbow suddenly sighed and spoke, "Please? ... Twilight." Even if she seemed pissed at herself for doing it, she still did it. Twilight smiled happily and clutched her book to her chest tightly as Rainbow let go of her hand.

"Sure!" She smiled and plopped down next to Rainbow. Crash stared at the girl in awe as she looked happily through her stuff again. She suddenly pulled a big binder out of her bag and flipped through some of the contents. "So, today in class... did you understand any of it?"

Rainbow was so confused. How did she act as if they didn't have a moment there? Oh whatever, it didn't matter to her, and it obviously didn't to Twilight. "Uh, not really."

"I expected that," Twilight said happily as she pulled out some papers covered in notes and blank pieces. "You weren't there when we started learning it. You're lucky we only have a test over this stuff and not a comprehensive one like usual."

Of course the egghead's words confused her. "Huh? Comprehensive?" She took it upon herself to take a look through some of the notes so she could have a brief understanding. She maybe got five percent of hundred.

Twilight turned to Rainbow and started organizing her stuff. "Yeah, it means everything we've learned over the year. That's why she gives them once every month." Now Rainbow was freaking out, but she didn't let it show. She'd just get everything else over the year for herself, she wouldn't need the egghead for the rest of the year.

"So! I'll give you a sort of pretest like thing. Then we can get through half of the material today, half tomorrow, and work on your other classes the rest of the week!" Twilight said happily.

Rainbow was stunned, "Wait, wait, wait.... you want me to do this every day?" Twilight nodded.

"You have three more days until you have three tests. I doubt your coach will let you play if you get anything below a B." Twilight explained as if there was nothing wrong with it. Once she saw Rainbow's shock, she softened up and smiled motherly. "You'll catch on pretty quickly, it isn't that hard."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow in annoyance. "Says the egghead that gets everything easy," she rolled her eyes. Twilight laughed and smiled.

"Trust me, I know what's difficult for others to understand and what's not. I mean, if Pinkie can understand it, you can too," Twilight said soothingly. "An hour after school every day isn't going to hurt, right?"

Rainbow sighed and looked over some of the notes again, determination covering her face. "Uh, yeah... gets me home later anyways." Before Twilight could even guess, she stopped her with a somewhat nice smirk. "I just like riding at night, 'kay? I don't have the worse parents or anything."

Before she knew it, a melodious tone filled her ears as Twilight laughed in bliss. Her cheeks turned red as she looked over the notes again, trying to focus on something else. Why was this egghead so pretty? Was she pretty? No, no she wasn't. It just reminded her of Sunset, and she didn't find Sunset pretty at all.

But how could a nerd who has a heart and a sweet smile remind her of a heartless cheerleader?

Always Have Your Sympathy Ready

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The dreaded hour after school for both parties became one of the wanted hours of the day. Of course, Twilight loved tutoring a willing student and she loved explaining test-studying methods. She seemed so ecstatic when she taught things. And she loved how it gave her a definite A on the test in her classes.

It took Rainbow a second to get used to it. By a second, I mean four days. She was always awkward and cautious to get things wrong. Though she tried her hardest to learn it, it didn't come as easily to her as Twilight had made it sound. But it came easy enough for her to be okay with it.

While Twilight flipped through flashcards at lightning speed, Rainbow Crash answered them at an even faster speed. Of course she was cautious about getting caught, and she assumed Twilight could guess that. So, they never said a word to the other during the day, and they only sat on the steps to study once everyone had already left.

While Rainbow read over notes- she was not going to take her own -, Twilight would complete her own homework. Twilight abruptly giggled and erased a false answer. Rainbow's heart skipped a beat as she froze, her face imploded into red. Why was she so... blushy around this egghead?

And why wasn't she a total jerk? After the first day, she could've gotten everything else on her own. She didn't need Twilight's help after that. So, why did she keep seeing the egghead? And why did she keep being nice and attentive? She should've been a total class clown making jokes and not paying attention to get on Twilight's nerves. But she didn't... and she had no idea why.

And she had no idea why she struck up a conversation. "You find it funny when you get a problem wrong?" Rainbow asked with a mix of confusion and disgust that sounded nice and curious. Twilight giggled.

"Kind of... well," she smiled sweetly, as if this was normal. "The problem was really easy, so it was kind of funny I got it wrong." She seemed content as she stared down at the paper. Rainbow rolled her eyes and put the notes down at her side. She laid back comfortably and put her hands behind her head. She smirked as her shut eyes flinched at the sound of Twilight's voice.

"What are you doing?" Twilight asked. Crash could almost imagine the girl readjusting her glasses or pushing a bang behind her ear. Which seemed more and more like typical Twilight.

"Relaxing! I can't do nine hours of work straight without a break," Crash said cockily.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "It's called lunch."

Crash shot up, ready to debate. "Lunch is for food, not a break."

Twilight smirked, ready for a debate back. "It's a break in-between all the classes! If it was for food, they'd just let kids have food out in classes." The two involuntarily got closer as they fought.

"Like teachers want food in their classes," Crash fought. Their shoulders touched now, but the two were too heated to care. Crash was determined to be right.

"Janitors! They have jobs!" Twilight said as if Crash was stupid for thinking against it. Though the two didn't care about what the other thought, they were right.

"Janitors already have to clean the rest of the school five times a day!" Crash said angrily. "They don't want to have to clean the classes as well!"

Once the two realized how close they actually were, each had their own reaction. Twilight was disgusted by Crash's mint covered cigarette breath. Crash's cheeks flooded red at Twilight's minty one. Twilight tensed up and turned away abruptly, while Crash seemed to move even further, as if waiting for the kiss.

Suddenly, Crash shook the thought away and went back to herself. She was almost sad when she saw Twilight's tensed body, the girl seemed scared. She had to make it up, she had to! But how?

An idea struck her and she groaned mentally. She looked at Twilight again and saw the scared expression on her face, like she just experienced a near-death moment. She sighed and spoke, "What's your favorite Daring Do book?"

"Huh?" Twilight turned to her and readjusted her glasses. Crash almost wanted to shove contacts in her eyes so she'd stop. Twilight spent a second to reassess herself and she seemed amazed. "Wait! I thought you didn't like Daring Do!"

Crash rolled her eyes, "Just answer the question, nerd."

Twilight usually would've found offense to that, but her happiness didn't falter. "Um," she thought it over. "Daring Do: Riddle of the Sphinx!" She announced proudly. She was surprised when she was met with laughter.

"Oh, please!" Crash laughed. "Sapphire Stone is the best! Always has been!"

Twilight grimaced. "How stereotypical. Everyone loves The Sapphire Stone. That's why the others are so much better! They aren't fan favorites with too many fan-fics to count!" Crash's smile was surprisingly not fake.

"Ever wrote any?" Crash asked with intrigue and an adorable confidence to her. Twilight went red, though Crash thought it was because of the question, she had no idea it was her that made Twilight blush.

Twilight answered nervously, "O-Of course n-not!" She smiled just as nervously. Though she was only met with a laugh.

"You so have!" Crash laughed again. She totally ignored Twilight's embarrassment and kept laughing. For some reason, once she stopped, she almost looked ashamed. "Uh, it's not weird or anything! A lot of people do! I'm sure it's cool anyways!"

Now it was Twilight's turn to laugh. She was so enlightened by Crash's attempt to soften the hard blow. She smiled, "Don't worry. It totally sucked." Crash was giggling too.

"Wanna know the best Daring Do fanfic?" Crash asked with a cheeky smirk. Twilight readjusted her glasses and returned the smirk.

"What is it?" Twilight asked, bored and confident.

"Daring Do and Rosetta in the Jungle of Perils!" Crash admitted proudly. Twilight smiled brightly in response, which only made Crash's confidence waver and fall at the sight of such cuteness.

"Oh I know!" Twilight said giddily. Her feet tapped like a melody against the step beneath her as her hands clapped like a child. Crash found her so adorable. "Rosetta is so adorable while Daring Do is as snarky as always!"

Crash smirked cheekily, remembering their close encounter earlier. Talking about a nerdy Rosetta and a bad ass Daring Do didn't help her situation as the two almost kissed and got closer as these sessions continued. A little leading on couldn't hurt, right?

They'd never talk again after today, so why not? Why not play with the little nerds heart? It was tempting, but for once, she thought of the consequences and decided against it. Sure, she'd feel like a total badass as she was the cold-hearted one towards the one crying, but she didn't want to deal with it. The egghead was already an annoyance.

Twilight went back to her explanations as Crash thought about things, so she wasn't listening. She was brought out of her trance once Twilight spoke about something other than language arts. "Hey, since you won't need anymore tutoring after today... why don't we meet here tomorrow and you tell me what you got?" Her smile seemed so innocent and pure. She was too pure and stupid to be around Crash.

"Uh, sure," Crash stated simply. Twilight smiled happily as she went back to explaining things or doing her homework. Eventually, the two sat in silence with the other. Twilight did her work, briefly explaining things every now and then while Crash relaxed.

Rainbow Crash felt as comfortable as she usually did in her black beach chair. And she wondered why. It was probably because she at least knew the information that would be on her tests, she'd be able to go up to her coach and get a hearty laugh of approval.

Sure, she would love proving him wrong. That hearty laugh would be of pride in her, but she knew the defeat that would sit behind it. She couldn't wait to hear it, she couldn't wait to be on top again.

But that was expected. And she wouldn't be comfortable, she'd be cocky and anticipating. And she already had that, so what the hell was making her feel so... normal? She took a look over at Twilight and saw the concentrated look on the girls face.

Her bangs hung around her face, her glasses were already sliding off her nose, the eraser of her pencil sat between her teeth as her brows furrowed. Suddenly, her body shot up with glee as she swung her hand down to answer the question. The idea that this was their last study session almost upset Crash.

So, without noticing it, she thought of ways to continue them casually. She could always get the tests right and fail the next ones. Her coach would never get rid of her without a warning, so he'd tell her to physically make up her grades. And that could be where Twilight came in!

She could even tell the little nerd that she got bad grades when she aced things. But of course, her coach could simply kick her off the team, and it would be obnoxious acting like she didn't know things she already knew. But it would be worth it to hear Twilight's nerd voice rant over social studies, right?

Suddenly, she shook her head and mentally slapped herself many times. She didn't like this egghead, not even as a friend. She just wanted to mess with the brat. Yeah, that was it. She couldn't wait to get a good grade and never talk to the nerd again! Thirty more minutes to go with the egghead! With the annoying, stupid, and uncool egghead!

Although, she wasn't ready for thirty minutes to become two. They weren't even half into their session when the two walked up.

Pinkie bounced over to the two while Rarity walked with class. The two recognized Twilight, but they had no idea who could possibly be having a study-date with her. The two were so eager to figure out. But as they got closer, confusion sat into Pinkie while disgust sat into Rarity.

Twilight was too busy to notice the two approach, but Crash saw them just fine. She fumbled to do something, her mind swam, begging for an idea to change how the situation looked. She glanced at the two and saw them getting closer. So, she did what she didn't want to do.

She sighed and looked at Twilight, expecting to get one last sorrowful look noticed before she had to do what she knew she had to do. Twilight didn't look up and starting humming in concentration. She sighed again and stood up, finally catching Twilight's attention.

Twilight looked up with confusion. She noticed Rarity and Pinkie Pie as they approached the two. Though she understood, she still felt too hurt to understand. She looked up at Crash, as if begging for her not to do it. She got a bored expression that drove home her hurt into confusion.

"Hello Twilight," Rarity said. Her tone had underlying disgust as she looked at Crash. She cleared her throat, "Well, I never expected... this..." Twilight's face went red, but before she could explain herself, Crash spoke.

Crash looked over her shoulder and grimaced at Rarity. "Expected what? If you really think I would have anything to do with this egghead, you're wrong."

She only got confusion as a response. "Huh? But you were sitting next to her!" Pinkie Pie bounced, she seemed amazed. Crash spat.

"Reminiscing in the hilarity of a stupid egghead, almost feels relaxing being around others so much less cooler than me!" Crash turned to them with a smirk, her hands behind her head. Rarity and Pinkie seemed so offended. They didn't see the betrayed Twilight in the shadow of their hate.

"Hey! Twilight's is so much more cooler than you!" Pinkie fumed angrily. She puffed out her cheeks as her fists curled.

Rarity huffed and crossed her arms. "I agree! Besides, she's much smarter than you!" She seemed so much more infuriated than Pinkie Pie. "You don't have to be a jerk about everything you do! How does it please you to see others in dismay from everything you do!?"

Crash's expression didn't waver. Twilight was terrified her niceness was all an act, and of course, she was starting to believe it. "Gives me a sense of power over others," she said flatly. Suddenly, her blood boiled at the thought of Rarity and everything she did to Applejack. She growled, "You should know all 'bout it, princess."

"Huh?" Rarity asked, offense covered her stance. Pinkie bounced in front of her.

"I think you should leave, now," she said rudely. Crash shrugged and started off, her hands shoving in her pockets. She never looked back, she didn't even look tempted to.

Twilight watched in disbelief as she walked off. She wanted Crash to race back and ask her if she wanted a ride home, setting shock into Rarity and Pinkie. Twilight would accept and she'd feel the wind blow through her hair as she screamed into Crash's back. She almost wanted to cry. She felt so betrayed. And she had no idea why. It's not like she knew Crash personally.

Rarity and Pinkie Pie plopped down next to her, hugging her with all their might. Her gaze didn't shift. "Mmmm, I'm so sorry, darling!" Rarity said and she shoved her cheek onto Twilight's shoulder.

"Yeah!" Pinkie said happily. "She's just a meanie, don't worry about her!" She continued, explaining how Twilight was cool and not a nerd. Rarity's head nodded in agreement.

She tensed and froze as Rainbow looked back at her. The girl fumbled to turn away and seemed so nervous. She obviously let out a sigh as she continued on. Twilight smiled sadly.

"Don't worry," Twilight said sadly as Rainbow perched on her bike. It raced off, "I know." She spent the rest of the hour with Rarity and Pinkie Pie, doing their homework and joking around. It wasn't as fun as making fun of Daring Do fan-fictions, but it was fun.

Afterwards, they got slushies and Pinkie Pie dropped them off at their respective houses. Twilight smiled in content as she walked into her house and pulled out her phone, seeing the many missed messages from her friends.

The next day, she waited by the front of the steps at the end of the day. She didn't see Crash return to class after she left once she finished her test. She mentally slapped Crash for it, saying as they had a lesson after the test she'd need to teach Crash all over again.

She waited for a bit and was confused when Crash never showed. But she was determined to not leave until their usual hour was up. Of course it was a long time, but she could always text her friends or listen to music as she waited. Or she could re-read Daring Do and the Ring of Destiny as she waited.

After about forty five minutes of switching between listening to music, reading, and texting, she started to think Crash wasn't going to show. She sighed as she shut her book to continue listening to music for the remainder of the fifteen minutes.

What she didn't expect was to get a tap on the knee in the middle of her relaxed, dozing off state. She jumped at the idea that it was Crash. Once it wasn't she was visibly disappointed, but still happy to see the girl there.

Fluttershy stood over her with a nervous smile that asked, 'Am I intruding?'. The girl seemed so innocent and friendly. Twilight was almost baffled at the idea that she knew Fluttershy the least. She smiled up at the girl and took out her ear buds.

"Why are you still here? Even the cheer squad practice is over," Fluttershy asked. She almost seemed sympathetic. Suddenly, a cute smile appeared on her face. "Don't tell me you like school that much... I mean! It's fine if you do... but... uh..."

She was cut off by Twilight's laughter. "It's fine, Fluttershy. I know what you mean." She smiled further at the abashed smile on Fluttershy's face. "But I was just waiting for someone, looks like they weren't showing."

"Oh! I'm sorry," Fluttershy stated timidly as she shifted her balance. She stared nervously at the ground, obviously feeling the awkward non-familiarity between the two.

"You know, I didn't always go to Canterlot's local school," she said timidly and abruptly. Her balance shifted once again as she obviously felt nervous. Twilight smiled at her attempt.

"What school did you go to before?" She smiled up at the nervous girl. She almost liked running into Fluttershy over Crash now, well Crash had completely left her mind at this point.

Fluttershy smiled back as she took a seat next to Twilight. "It wasn't around here. Cloudsdale, I went there for my whole elementary year and sixth grade," she explained.

Twilight felt so much closer to Fluttershy and so much more relaxed. As if this was a casual talk between two best friends. "What was it like?" she asked with interest. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Fluttershy looking up at the sky with a smile.

"It was nice. There were bullies, but it was nice. I just wished I left my childhood best friend behind," Fluttershy stated without thought. Twilight tensed again. Things were moving too fast, she was supposed to get cover ups, not hardships on the first encounter!

"W-who-" she finally understood the context of the situation and whirled to Fluttershy "-Why!?" She practically yelled. Fluttershy giggled into the sleeve of her sweater. Twilight was still very confused. "Doesn't everyone always miss their childhood best friend?"

"Yeah, they do," the situation took a turn for sorrow as Fluttershy stated that sadly. Twilight tensed up again, letting sympathy ready itself. "But I'd rather see her in ten years and reminisce over elementary then see her now."

Twilight didn't even need to speak for a continuation. "Would you rather not see them? Or have the feeling they're only doing what's bad for them...?" Fluttershy asked. It was as if she was looking for guidance in the situation.

Twilight actually took time to think about the answer. Soon, she came to the same conclusion as Fluttershy. "I'd rather not see them... but who are you talking about?" Twilight asked desperately. Well, it sounded more desperate in her head.

Fluttershy didn't speak for a bit. Her knees bounced as her hands fumbled amongst themselves. Leaves rolled by as breezes hit, Twilight could almost see the sun set with every passing inch. Suddenly and abruptly, Fluttershy sighed and answered sorrowfully. "Rainbow Crash... though I knew her as Dashie or Rainbow Dash."

Twilight was too stunned to think or even react properly. This sweet teddy bear of her friend was friends with the brutish Rainbow Crash that betrayed Twilight. Betray was definitely not the word needed, but it was the word Twilight used. Her best thought out reaction was, "Huh?"

Fluttershy chuckled. "I know, right? Weird... she used to defend me against all the kids who made fun of me... now she'd be the one making fun of me..." she seemed so sad and depressed about it. And the abrupt conversation topic of it told Twilight it had been eating at the girl for days.

Fluttershy's shoulders rose and fell as if she was holding back a sob. "I just have this sense she's going through something awful... and I just want to repay her and help her so badly..." Fluttershy spoke so softly and cautiously Twilight barely heard it. But she did, and she felt awful.

"Why don't you?" Twilight asked. She knew that if Fluttershy tried hard enough, Crash would break. So why didn't she?

Fluttershy smiled. "I don't think she'd want me too... I think she'd want someone else too..." Twilight's cheeks flared red at the idea that this was just a relaying of a message. That this wasn't a venting moment and it was just a master plan to get her and Crash together. Why was the world putting the two together so much?

"Why don't you think she'd want you to?" Twilight asked. She kept up the act that she was the therapist, though she was still calculating many things. Mostly as to why Fluttershy trusted her with this information.

Fluttershy smiled sadly and wiped growing tears from her eyes. "Well, it usually ends with the two dating in the end... right? I don't think she'd want to be with her childhood friend."

Twilight smiled just as sadly when she thought of something to lighten the mood. "Yeah, neither would I." Fluttershy responded with a sweet laugh that signaled the end of the therapy session.

The two relaxed against the steps and talked until sundown. The two never noticed the Crash in the background who held a piece of paper with an eighty seven circled in red. She sighed and walked off after Fluttershy stopped her moment. She felt guilty and awful. But she couldn't fix it.

With either of them.

School was a heaven and hell for younger Twilight. She loved learning and doing projects, and everything smart and intelligent! What she hated, was the jerks who pushed her around and didn't say sorry. What she hated were the people who scowled at her for their bad day, dragging her under their bus of a bad mood.

She sighed as she sat on the steps of the school, waiting for her dad or mom to come pick her up. She sighed as she glanced over at the soccer field, seeing it empty. Soccer practice got cancelled, meaning Lightning Dust had to take bus and not drag Twilight over to soccer practice to 'fix up' players with Band-Aids.

She watched as kids on top of kids left into cars. She was always the last one off the steps, off the school grounds. She sighed. She actually calculated that she would get home after the last kid got off the bus. On Lightning Dust's bus anyways.

She sighed again, as if waiting for someone to appear. Suddenly, someone plopped down next to her with a bored expression as her feet kicked. Her arms held her up from behind, her hand almost sat on top of Twilights. Twilight was disgusted. How could people not even know basic manners? Why did they always invade her personal space?

She rolled her eyes in hate. She was caught off-guard when the random girl started talking suddenly. "Hey, you know how all the kids in this school suck cause they're all too rich to get out of their own butts?"

Twilight was so cautious her body seemed to reflect away from this random girl. And her less-than-decent speech pushed her further. "Uh, sure?" Twilight questioned.

The girl threw her hands up and fell back in a pout. "They all suck! They're so mean and they're always such bullies! Yet, they pull their favorites on their bus of a bad day with 'em." The girl pulled herself up and slouched over her knees, her arms wrapped around them. "It sucks, man... I mean... why do they always have to pick on everyone else?"

She seemed on the verge of crying as her body shivered from a cold breeze. Twilight ignored her less-than-decent speech and felt sorrow a bit too late. "Hey! You okay? I mean... I'm here to listen if you want to talk about it..." Twilight said nervously. The girls eyes cut into her.

"Really? You'll just leave soon, and then who'll I have to talk to?" The girl asked and sighed loudly. She even peaked open her eyes, as if looking for a fairy god mother to come make it better. Twilight looked around for something.

She started looking through her stuff and grabbed a pair of head phones out of her bag. She slipped them on the girls head and smiled. "There! Now you don't have to listen to all the jerks!"

The girl looked confused. "Huh?" She held a cupped hand up to her ear. Twilight laughed and pulled the head phones off of her head and rested them on her neck.

"I said, 'There! Now you don't have to listen to all the jerks!'" She smiled happily. The girl nodded and slipped them on. Her eyes widened as if she was pulled into the world of wicked computers and dub step without the music. She whirled to Twilight with a smirk.

"Cool!" She said loudly. "Hey! I'm Lemon Zest! Who're you!?" Twilight chuckled as she pulled the head phones off of Lemon Zest once again. Once she pulled away, her smile grew as her motherly instinct kicked in.

"You talk a lot louder when you wear them," Twilight pointed at them with a chuckle. Lemon Zest stared down at them and chuckled. "Oh, and I'm Twilight Sparkle."

"Cool name!" Lemon Zest said loudly, but not as loud as before. "Hey, don't you need these back?"

Twilight shook her head. "Nah, keep them. I never use them." Her smile was so comforting, but Lemon Zest still had obvious distrust.

"But won't your parents get mad?" Lemon Zest asked as she messed with them, removing them from her neck and looked over the design. Basic black head phone with a white star on either ear? She definitely needed a pair of her own.

"Nope!" Twilight said happily and stood up. "My mom won't notice the one gone out of the fifteen I have!" Lemon Zest seemed so depressed to see her go as a black car drove up. But the hand that extended to her told her it wouldn't be the last time she saw Twilight Sparkle.

"See ya later, Lemon Zest." She smiled.

Lemon Zest smiled back with comfort as she shook the girls hand professionally and painfully boringly. "See ya laters, Sparkles."

Open Up Because You're So Gosh Darn Lonely And You Really Want To Hear Her Laugh Again

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It became like a tradition for the four girls to talk at lunch. They'd always sit at the same table, the same end, and in the same seats. Which seemed to happen for all friend groups. It was the same with Twilight's old friends as well.

While Twilight still felt a little hurt over the whole Crash incident, she stopped caring, as expected. Crash wasn't a close friend, so it didn't exactly matter to her. She was more focused on the growing best-friendship with Fluttershy. The two had started doing a lot together.

They'd talk to the other more than they would Pinkie Pie or Rarity, they'd work together on assignments, they just seemed to have more fun with the other than with their other friends. Though, Twilight noticed Fluttershy's attempt to talk to Pinkie just as equally, so she'd usually step off. Which, to her fault, only seemed to make Fluttershy like her more.

The two sat together at lunch, which was by sheer coincidence from when they first met. While Pinkie sat across from Fluttershy, Rarity sat across from Twilight. The smile on Rarity's face was huge, which was surprising, saying as it was a Monday. On Monday's, she was usually groaning and stuffing her face through her sleepiness.

"Oh! I can't wait to see you all!" Rarity gushed, though it was meant for each of them, it was mainly directed to Twilight. Her eyes sparkled blue, her smile lit up the whole room. She even hugged Pinkie back when Pinkie hugged her, not something she did often.

Fluttershy chuckled. "The dance isn't until three more weeks, Rarity. Why are you so excited?" She had a comforting, motherly, and curious look on her face. She seemed more and more motherly with every passing day. Most would see it as adorable and independence, but Twilight could only see the sadness behind it. She felt like her friend was growing up too fast. And by the sound of it, another thought so too.

Twilight had brought it up one day in class. Fluttershy just tensed and responded quickly, as if she had the answer ready. And she seemed dazed at the same time, as if experiencing some sort of déjà vu. Twilight's thoughts were cut off by Rarity's response.

"I know! But I can't wait to see all my friends in beautiful dresses! I love it!" She gushed happily. You could hear her shoes tapping against the floor.

Suddenly, Octavia joined in the conversation. "Rarity usually either makes the dresses or goes shopping for eight hours," she deadpanned. Then, a smile, "Be prepared. She isn't going to shut up about the dance."

Rarity's smile widened. "Exactly! So, we need to start planning everything!" She said dramatically. Fluttershy chuckled at the girl. Pinkie Pie gasped loudly and shot up from her seat, only to plop down on it again.

"I love planning parties!" Pinkie Pie said quickly. She gushed just as much as Rarity and squealed just as much as Rarity during their conversation.

Twilight stopped paying attention really. Rarity and Pinkie discussed plans, not having much of a need for her. She'd step in when it came to what they were physically doing, but since Pinkie was apart of the party planning committee, Rarity was just piling in ideas.

Fluttershy didn't talk that much either. She seemed more invested in her own thoughts than party talking. The girl was a wallflower anyways, you couldn't expect her to be that excited for a loud party. Twilight usually stared at her or glanced at her.

Seeing that motherly, heavenly look of her friend was somewhat soothing to her. Fluttershy's personality was motherly on its own, but after knowing her, Twilight saw the motherly in her looks as well. Mothers don't show off their skin for the world to see, and all Fluttershy wore were sweaters or turtle necks that were too big for her.

But the girl also looked like heavens strongest angel. She wore that bright smile and those sparkling teal eyes. Her hair flowed over her shoulders and down her back as if she was a doll. And her pale, pastel skin didn't help that. Twilight could almost imagine huge wings bursting from her small frame, through her big sweater and out to the open.

Twilight sighed dreamily before she noticed Fluttershy looking at her strangely. She fumbled to look like she was doing something else and failed miserably. Suddenly, she heard a giggle and turned to Fluttershy. The way her pink hair fell over her face didn't help Twilight's unfathomable comfort around her. Twilight started questioning things slightly. Was this feeling attraction?

Fluttershy giggled, "Don't worry! I know you were spacing out." Her smile showed itself from behind her yellow sweater sleeves. Her sparkling eyes opened up to make her face express such cheer and love. Twilight blushed and went along with it, nervously laughing.

For some reason, when she looked at Fluttershy, she imagined that horrid Crash. Mostly subconsciously, so she didn't realize it. But she could see that smile turn to a twisted smirk, those eyes express dominance and power instead of love and care.

Of course, she was too breath-taken by Fluttershy to notice. Even if she did, she wouldn't care. What did Crash matter to her? Nothing but a story-cliché-buildup. And what did that matter when she had a new best friend? Absolutely nothing!

And of course, Crash couldn't keep her eyes off of the egghead all lunch period. Guilt mixed with hate wasn't something she felt often, but that's all she felt when she looked at the egghead. And Fluttershy, but right now, she wanted to tear Fluttershy's throat out for ruining her shot.

Sunset's sharp voice cut an insult that seemed to prove rude for both her 'friends'. "I swear to you, Derpy's a dyke. She's just trying to prove herself wrong by taking my man!" Crash glared at her while Applejack whirled to her.

Applejack tried to stay as calm as possible, "Sunset, partner, try and not be rude, got it?" Sunset just rolled her eyes, not taking it seriously. Crash and Applejack both knew the girl didn't like lesbians, but she didn't have to say it bluntly when Applejack was around at least.

Sunset rolled her eyes again. She sighed, "Alright, Apple-pussy, I'll try and not discriminate against something you are because I love you so much!"

Crash smirked to herself, finding a new way to mess with her. "You're gonna end up with the biggest butch... ever!" Crash joked with a cheeky smirk. Neither of the two found the joke even remotely funny.

Sunset rolled her eyes again, "Sure Crash. I'll end up with Applejack." This, however, made all three at least chuckle.

"Whoo-wee partner, surprised you made such a joke," Applejack complimented with a proud smile after a hearty chuckle. Sunset smirked proudly and glared at Rainbow, visually saying she was better.

Crash growled and turned away, not wanting to one-up her for the remainder of lunch. Her eyes found themselves locked on the egghead again. Crash's mind filled in the sound for Twilight inaudible laughter. It like her mind prepared to fill in what wasn't there of Twilight.

Of course, it was a childish notion, but it almost made her feel better about it. Letting herself believe fate played the cards and she truly didn't care for Twilight enough to miss her. Of course, she sighed and let herself believe she really did miss expecting to see that nerd.

And of course, she'd make up excuses for why she missed the egghead. Ones like that it was just a routine or a habit that was hard to break. Others said she felt like she had a debt, others told her that Twilight would blackmail her. And that was the last straw. There was no way the egghead was capable of a master plan that involved the blackmail of a high school brute.

Even after declaring the idea stupid, she found herself lost in it with a smirk. The persona of an egghead just to cover up the evil batman villain reality with a master plan. For all she knew, the girl was always smart because she had a master plan to take over Canterlot.

She'd turn the safe city into a torn down one ran by the mafia of Twilight Sparkle, the innocent egghead. Crash's smirk grew as her eyes locked on Twilight, more in a spacing out type way than intentional. She was so lost in the thought of Twilight the master super villain.

And Crash would be the badass super hero with the dashing wife who was shielded from it all. She'd be a millionaire by day, a complete super-villain-fighting badass by night. Her name would be... Mare Do Well!

She had all the ladies and guys after her during the day. She'd have a huge mansion with her elderly butler. She'd be the best at karate and making cool gadgets. She'd save the day and everyone would cheer her name! She'd be the most popular and cool thing around!

Meanwhile, Twilight -... uh... Professor Nightshade!- would be the old, creepy bad guy who relied solely on gadgets on not actual strength. She'd have her constant spiel over how smarts is over bronze. Too bad for her, the courageous Mare Do Well had bronze and brains!

Of course, Mare Do Well would have all the best comebacks while Professor Nightshade got the flirtatious remarks! It'd be awesome dialogue!

She'd utterly annihilate the villain and throw them in the slammer behind her mask! It was the best idea and needed to be a comic. A comic all about how cool she was!

Sunset had to shake her out of her batman-comic-daydream. She stared at the annoyed expression on Sunset's face and was suddenly annoyed herself. Pulling her out of her awesome comic book story was so not cool! Especially since the basic story was established, she could already start planning out awesome encounters.

And of course, the cheeky, flirtatious comments would be fought back with the best comebacks! Even if she'd almost want the flirtatious remarks herself. They were the coolest parts of the villains after all! But, she needed to give her character some boundaries, couldn't have Mare Do Well be the most powerful, could you?

"The bell rung, lets get outside," Sunset stated through gritted teeth, pulling Crash back to reality, once again. She sighed and stood up, visibly agreeing. Then, she thought of all the development for her comic she could get through by not paying attention in class! She'd so go to class.

She smirked. "Hey Sunny, think I'll go to class, don't wanna get kicked off the team, amirite?" Sunset rolled her eyes and flipped the brute off before going to the back of the school with Applejack.

Crash walked happily to fourth period. Though she wasn't going to pay attention and she'd have to listen to Cranky all the time, she'd get to think about an awesome story! And that was definitely better than listening to Sunset and Applejack argue!

Crash didn't think about the comic whatsoever. She was surprised and rather angry when she realized Cranky wouldn't shut up long enough for her to think. And he kept calling on her to answer questions! Sure, she got all them correct, and sure, it did more good than harm, but she was still pissed about it.

But something pissed her off to no end. The fact that she got the chance to stare at Twilight all class period and feel guilty again. Which is exactly what happened for a majority of the class.

Sometimes, she'd forget what happened Friday and couldn't wait to talk to Twilight! She could almost imagine getting a lecture on paying attention when that was all she did! And she knew how to do the work! She couldn't wait to see the shocked expression on the egghead's face.

Then, she'd always remember what happened Friday and sigh. For some reason, knowing she wouldn't get to see the egghead made her so depressed. And she had no idea! It wasn't like she had a tight bond with the girl from that week. It wasn't like the two clicked after the first meeting!

At first, she hated Twilight's company! She utterly despised it! She couldn't wait for it to be over. But now, she just wanted to at least sit next to her. She would give up her black beach chair for just an afternoon to sit in that peaceful silence next to Twilight.

That was -once again- the last straw. There was so way some girl made her feel more comfortable than her chair. But for some reason, she felt like Twilight did make her more comfortable than her chair of solitude.

There was this caring, arrogant air around Twilight. She had an obvious heart, but you had to look a bit deeper to see the arrogant intelligence behind her caring façade. That was on of Crash's favorite things about her. Twilight was arrogant, just like her.

Crash was arrogant, powerful, dominating, and -of course- awesome! But it was expected of a girl who plays the bad girl in the classroom. Twilight's arrogance seemed subconscious, as if she didn't mean it, but didn't mind it when she noticed it. Hell, she'd even defend it!

Twilight's arrogance wasn't expected from her. People would expect constant worry and doubt, but Twilight was confident in her abilities, she'd fret because she didn't understand something. People didn't expect Twilight to have a feeling of 'I'm-better-than-you'. They expected the 'I'm probably wrong' every time she declared something.

Crash didn't know what was better. The adorable and obnoxious inferiority complex, or the secret bitch. Of course, the adorable one would probably have Crash drooling over her, but the secret was so much cooler! She'd have to debate with herself later, and remind herself to ask why she was worried over it.

Now was a much bigger problem. Much, much bigger problem. A problem that didn't need the question of Twilight's secret life over her adorable self-doubt. Especially since the problem was Twilight herself.

Of course, Crash wasn't stuck in a situation where she needed an excuse or a quick thought statement. But she was going to lose her chance at more Twilight if she didn't think fast. So, fast, but not that fast.

Twilight was already walking towards her brothers car, walking away with her eyes glued to a book. If Crash didn't hurry up, she'd have a-whole-nother day thinking of Twilight! There was no way she'd feel guilty for another day! No way!

But what was she to do? Just go up and say 'hey, sorry I'm a bitch, let's be best buddies'? There's no way she could! But what could she do?

Crash took a deep breath. She'd have to just improvise, best plan of action for a short period of time that lessened the amount of anxiety felt at the beginning. Side effect: Anxiety later and a whole night groaning in embarrassment into a pillow.

But it was a side effect she'd have to risk so her mind didn't clusterfuck with worry over the stupid egghead. After recollecting herself, she smiled and looked around for the girl. Once she saw Twilight was so close to their usual parking spots, she dashed after the girl.

She barely made it there before the girl got in her car. Her hand slamming on the hood of it and the constant pants of being out of breath froze Twilight after a slight jump and a squeak.

Crash would've laughed at her, but she was too busy dealing with her ringing mind of worry to do so. She glanced at Twilight and saw the hesitant, fearful, and confusion on the girls face. She loved it. The girl almost looked like a little rabbit, standing as prey before the big bad wolf.

Too bad for the rabbit, it's frozen with fear and can't move. It can only shiver with fear as the wolf approaches. Too bad the wolf gives it a hungry look and a sweet little kiss instead of tearing it apart. Crash shook the thought from her head, why the hell did she kiss Twilight in her predator-prey day dream?

Suddenly, she was brought back to reality. "What do you want, Rainbow?" Twilight's voice rang in her head, sending her to heaven and pulling her back.

Crash whirled to Twilight, seeing the annoyed expression plastered across her face. The book was held in her hand in disgust as her eyebrows furrowed. Her eyes cut in Crash with a disciplinary look. Crash almost laughed at that itself! The girl looked like a librarian!

But instead of bursting out with laughter, she cleared her throat and smiled nervously. "H-hey, Twi," she laughed nervously. She shut up completely when the cutting gaze didn't lighten up. She rubbed the back of her neck, as usual when she was nervous.

She felt so hurt when she heard Twilight sigh. "What do you want?" Her voice was just as cutting as her glare. She was almost worried. When was Twilight this ticked?

"Uh, you okay?" Crash asked. This seemed to bring Twilight out of her disciplinary power as blush hit her face and her shoulders pushed up with tense. That nervous smile topped off how much it affected her. Now, Crash had the upper power. Big bad wolf again!

Twilight nodded, "Uh, I'm fine." She momentarily went back to her teacher-mode, but it wasn't nearly as harsh after her recent display of emotion. "I'm just curious as to why you're here. I mean, you get all high and mighty on your pedestal and ditch me because you have such a reputation that I would ruin."

She took a step closer with every breath, her anger skyrocketing. But all Crash could think about was a cute way to end it. Twilight continued, "Why would being with me ruin your reputation? Whatever, the thing that itched me even further was when you left me there for an hour after you promised!"

She was so close to Crash that their noses almost touched. Her eyes shook as breaths left her body. Her fists shook with even more anger, tempted to hit Crash over the head with the book. The red on her face from the anger and the hurt in her voice gave away that it didn't do nothing to Twilight.

But all Crash could wonder is why Twilight cared so much. Crash smiled softly, "Hey, I would've done it with anyone. You aren't that special." Twilight backed away at the sound of her voice. Well, she took a step back and slightly slouched. Crash smirked, "Besides, I was busy gloating to my coach and my teammates! I was gonna show, but you had company."

Twilight's anger deflated to defeat at the powerful stare of Crash. The girl had a proud smirk with her crossed arms. Suddenly, she sighed and looked up at Crash, her face trying to express no emotion and working. "Still, what do you want?"

Crash was taken aback by how non-caring the girl was. Twilight was supposed to laugh about it and suggest tutoring for feeling so guilty! Crash wasn't supposed to ask! But it seemed she'd have to, so, she sighed and sucked up her pride. "Look, wanna... uh... wanna keep tutoring me? I mean... it doesn't come as easily to me as it does you.." Crash muttered.

"Really? If you had to gloat to your coach, then don't you have it handled? We're learning pretty easy stuff," Twilight said simply. Crash couldn't see the smirk behind the flat line of a mouth. And she definitely didn't see the mastermind she dreamed of behind the high school girl.

Crash was so shocked, but she wasn't going to lose now. "Then... why don't we just... hang out?" She fidgeted with her hands and looked to the ground. How could she do something so stupid?! Twilight wasn't supposed to know she wanted to be friends with her!

While Crash was mentally cussing herself out, Twilight stared in amazement. Why was she the root of this jerk acting so... out of character? Crash's original personality was bitchy, rude, mean, and snarky. The girl spoke confidence with every step and she had an aura of power over everyone.

So why did Twilight make her so different? Around Twilight, the girl seemed comfortable, pissed, nice, and nervous. She also seemed aware of every move she made, something many brash people like her did. As usual, everything with Fluttershy earlier went out the window.

"Really?" Twilight seemed much more astonished than she wanted to. She expected the astonishment to go to Crash's head, as it would with every other brash and rude person. She guessed correctly, Crash's worry instantly changed into a confident stance.

"Yep!" Crash's voice rang loudly and full of pride as she stuck out her chest and put her fists to her hips. Her eyes beamed confidence, as did her grin.

Twilight rolled her eyes with a sweetly annoyed smile. She readjusted her glasses and stood up straight. "Sure then, Rainbow," Twilight smiled again. She giggled slightly as saying 'Rainbow' threw the girl off, but decided not to capitalize on it. Crash didn't capitalize on her mishaps earlier, surprisingly. So she'd just repay the favor.

Crash grabbed Twilight's wrist and started heading towards the soccer field with a smirk. "Hey! Shouldn't I tell my brother where I am?" Twilight said loudly and forced herself out of Crash's grip. She saw the instant annoyance on Crash's face because of her defiance, but it wore off quickly.

"Don't you have a phone?" Crash asked as she crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

Twilight shook her head. "Nope! Left it at home!" She said with a smirk that she was right. Crash rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Fine! Just meet me at the soccer bleachers, dork," Crash said rudely and started walking off. Twilight smiled and went on her own merry way.

Crash checked back constantly to see if Twilight was out of sight. Once the nerd was, she put on the happiest face she had ever had and jumped into the air, as if doing an upper cut. She cheered happily. She had no idea why she was so happy and giddy, but she didn't care! It was a great feeling!

She felt as if she could run for hours on end before getting tired. Consequently, she ran to the bleachers as if someone was racing after her. She raced up the steps and over bleachers, just to slide on the top row with a giddy smile. Her shoes tapped happily against the indent below her.

She was so thankful Twilight had to go so she could let out at least a bit of her glee now so it wasn't pent up. She really needed to look into why she was acting this way, but ignored it.

Twilight soon returned to the bleachers, a worried mess. Crash guessed what was wrong and smiled as Twilight ranted over things. "I have no idea what to do. None of my friends are staying after and Shining Armor isn't gonna come back and get me. I guess I'll just call a taxi or something with the school phone."

Crash started laughing at her now, which only made her more upset. But before she could complain, Crash spoke. "Just shut it and let me drive you home."

"What?" Twilight stared at her like she was a mad man. "On.... on a motorcycle?... You want me.... to ride a motorcycle?" Twilight's voice was full of disbelief and barely comforted worry. Crash smirked.

"Of course! It'll be better than paying eight bucks for a taxi!" Crash said confidently. Though there was a worrying voice in the back of her mind, she didn't let it bother her.

Twilight was still shocked. Suddenly, the shock broke to horror. "What! Are you crazy!? I can't ride a motorcycle! I'll die!" Twilight practically shrieked. She was shut up by Crash putting her hand over the banshee's mouth with a comforting smile.

"Well... it's either that or eight bucks in an old, smelly taxi," Crash stated. Twilight sighed in relief at an option, though her panic rose as Crash spoke again. "Though it doesn't matter, really. You're riding my bike anyways."

"I can't! We'll die!" Twilight screamed. Crash just chuckled at her mental break down.

"What, you don't trust me?" Crash asked.

"Not really, but it's others I don't trust the most!"

Crash was disappointed to hear Twilight didn't trust her, but knew that would change soon enough. Now, she felt bad for pushing the worry further. "Hey, hey... if you really just want a taxi... then get a stupid taxi. But I'd go slow if you rode with me, as much as I hate driving slow."

Twilight felt even worse at the sight of Crash's disappointment. So, she smiled slightly and sighed. "Only if you go slow," Twilight stated. Crash's annoyed expression with a smirk and her sparkling red eyes showed her excitement.

If her bouncing leg and tense stance didn't give it away first.

Ride the Motorbike too Fast 'Cause Your High on Happiness and Anticipation

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Crash and Twilight talked for a while. Their usual hour was spent with bland banter over things the other surprisingly knew. As much as it looked as if Twilight had fun, Crash always suspected it was a joke. She didn't push the thought, but she didn't shut it up.

While Crash was dealing with trust issues, Twilight was over analyzing and worrying. She was worried she was being too nice, seeming too excited, wondering if she should push on Crash's obvious life problems.

Though, both could agree they liked the other in some way. Even if they suspected the other didn't like them.

Twilight finally decided to stand up over her worries, "Why did you even want to talk to me? Don't you have friends?" She tried to keep her face from morphing into worry, but it didn't exactly work.

Crash didn't answer for a few seconds. Though this made Twilight worry, she got a reasonable explanation for why. Crash shrugged, "Never met anyone who likes Daring Do. Besides, you're fun to talk to."

Crash didn't think much of it, though Twilight did. She was so relieved Crash actually didn't hate her or dislike her. She jumped at the sudden voice. "Alright, you're turn," Crash smirked.

"Huh?" Twilight asked.

"Why'd you agree?"

The same seconds of silence repeated, though it was suspected. The biggest difference was that the two stared at each other. Twilight often forgot the question while she analyzed Crash's features. No matter what expression Crash had, Twilight always had her mind set on the angst behind it.

Suddenly she turned away and answered, "Well, it'd be kind of rude to turn you down, right?" She couldn't bring herself to see the disappointed expression. Abruptly, she said what she had wanted to say the whole time out of guilt. "But I've had fun. Maybe we could do it again tomorrow?"

She winced as she mentally face palmed. How stupid was she? She made it sound like a date! Especially when she knew Crash would probably make fun of her for it. And she knew how stupid it was, it was just a friendly get together and she made it sound like a date!

"Sure." She turned to the voice and saw the smile on Crash's face. She couldn't help but smile slightly to herself and blush as she readjusted her glasses.

She followed Crash with her eyes as the girl stood up, a smirk on her face and phone in hand. The phone displayed the time, stating that their usual hour was up.

Twilight's worry shot through the roof as she visibly swallowed. "C-can't I just call my brother? You like riding fast anyways. Why would you let me bother that?" She knew her pleas would mean nothing as the smirk didn't fade. A cyan hand was extended to her and she sighed as she took it.

"Would be kind of rude to make him drive all the way back here, right?" Crash smirked. Twilight just groaned at the girls harsh truth. Her smirk turned to a playful smile as she started down the bleachers, taking the seats instead of the steps.

Twilight attempted to sigh away her worry as she walked over to the steps and walked down those. She knew the worry that shook her legs would make her terrified to take another step down the seats.

Once she was at the bottom, Crash smiled to her. She had to push it, her worry started consuming her now. "Really. My brother would be fine with it."

"C'mon, are you that scared of a motorbike?" Crash asked, stuffing her hands in her pockets.

"Yes! A car is a lot safer with balance and actual safety! At least a car has walls!" Twilight's worry was visible as her mind raced with reassuring science. Of course, cars are more likely to hit other cars, and the town was relatively safe. But she remembered riding a motorcycle with her dad when she was little and she hated it.

Crash rolled her eyes and reached in her pocket. She tried to make her face morph into boredom instead of annoyance, it didn't really work. "Fine, if you really don't want to, call him." She extended her phone to Twilight.

The guilt rose up in Twilight's throat as she stared at the phone. The anxiety of using another persons phone and the anxiety of annoying her brother was eating at her stomach. She glanced up at Crash and saw the annoyance.

She sighed and pushed the phone back towards Crash. "It's fine, I trust you. If you can drive well with going fast, you'll be even safer going slower."

Twilight noticed the smile show up on Crash's face. Her shoulders bounced up and she stopped slouching. Her smile turned to a cocky smirk as she shoved her phone back in her pocket and started walking towards the parking lot.

As they walked, Twilight couldn't help but attempt at more security. "How long have you rode a motorcycle?"

"Since I was fourteen," Crash answered nonchalantly.

"You need to be sixteen to have a permit!"

"I got held back a year, I'm sixteen."

"How long on the road?" Twilight asked nervously.

"A year, but it's fine. I got more experience than your brother so it's fine," Crash smirked. Twilight smiled slightly and rolled her eyes.

Soon, Crash was on the bike, extending the helmet to Twilight. Twilight nervously took it and latched it on. She awkwardly got on the bike. Though she was embarrassed about it, she wrapped her arms lightly around Crash's waist. She winced more once she felt the girl tense underneath her, a blush covered her face.

Though she couldn't see the smile on Crash's face. Sure, Crash was already attached to the little nerd, but having this much contact from a person she had a bit of attraction to was great! Her smile didn't fade like usual as she raced out of the parking lot.

She went fast at first, out of habit and out of happiness that she had Twilight's arms around her. She noticed and immediately slowed down, noticing Twilight's grip got much tighter. She muttered, "Sorry," even if she knew Twilight couldn't hear it.

Soon enough, she felt the helmet pick up off her back and look around. And just as fast as it got up off of her back, it laid back down. She could tell Twilight was relaxing by the way her arms stopped getting so tight.

Of course, Crash was a jerk and smirked as she stopped at a red light. She saw the light go green and raced off. She heard the high pitched scream and felt her stomach shrink with Twilight's grip. A laugh quickly left her mouth.

"Sorry!" She yelled over the sound around them, hoping Twilight could hear her.

About a minute before she turned into the neighborhood, Twilight relaxed again, though her guard wasn't down. She felt Twilight's arm lift off her waist and looked to where it pointed. Crash rolled her eyes, Twilight's new house was the biggest in the neighborhood.

She was even more disgusted with the girls wealth as she saw two high-end cars in the garage. The bike cut off and the contact at her waist disappeared. She looked over to her left and saw the annoyed face of Twilight removing the helmet.

Instantly, a hand hit her arm. Quickly followed by, "Don't do that!"

"Bahahahaha!" She laughed. "Sorry! I couldn't resist!" A hand hit her arm playfully again.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Just don't do that again." She instantly shut up, unfortunately letting the idea that they'd do that again set in.

"You'd really ride with me again?" Crash asked almost too eagerly, but she stopped caring. Twilight wouldn't pick at her like she would her. She heard the groan followed by a nod.

"It wasn't awful," Twilight stated and gave Crash the helmet. "Besides, it's easier than getting my brother out there every time we hang out."

Crash's excitement went through the roof. But she actually contained it this time, her anticipation sky rocketed, knowing she'd be too happy to go slow. "Well, see ya tomorrow, Twi."

Twilight blushed at the nickname but readjusted her glasses anyways. "See you tomorrow, Rainbow."

"Crash."

"I like Rainbow better," Twilight said as she walked over to her door. Crash smiled as she raced out of the driveway. "Be safe!" Twilight yelled, scared at the speed the girl left with.

The second she stepped in the door, she was smothered by her parents in a hug. "Oh! It's okay Twily!" Her mother said as her grip got tighter. They soon let go of her and she readjusted her glasses.

"Huh?" Twilight asked.

"We're so proud of you!" Her father smiled happily.

Her mother clasped her hands together, "And just so you know, we don't judge you for a thing." Their smiles were radiant as their words seemed as proud as when she got top in her class at Crystal Elementary.

She suddenly understood what was going on. The motorbike, the drive home, the coming home later than normal. She groaned as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Mom, dad. I'm not dating her."

Their radiance disappeared. "Huh?" Her father asked, her mother seemed so hurt.

"We're just friends!" Twilight said, staring at both of them. "She drove me home because we hung out at the school. I didn't feel like calling Shining to come pick me up so I had her drive me. She just happens to own a motorcycle!"

"Oh," her mother said. Her hurt expression accompanied by the slouched shoulders made her seem so regretful. But a smile plastered itself on her face. "Oh! We're so sorry sweetie!"

"Huh," her father said bluntly. He was so sure his daughter was off dating some motorbike chick in the movies who the father always hated. He was ready to meet this mystery, cyan girl and seem protective of his little girl. He was more than disappointed.

Twilight Velvet smiled nervously and started to walk off, "Well, dinner'll be ready in a bit."

Night Light followed with a nervous laughter. "Yes, um, I'll just go help your mother." The two raced into the kitchen, leaving Twilight annoyed at them and herself. She sighed and walked up to her room, debating the recent situation.

How could she blame them? She'll probably think the same thing with her child. Besides, how could she get so mad at them for the idea? Was the idea that putrid?

She sighed, she didn't know. And she definently didn't want to debate her attraction to Crash. Sure, the girl was friendly, had a silly appeal to her, and interested Twilight to the high heavens, but could Twilight ever really like Crash?

She shook her head and mentally finalized it. She wouldn't think about. If she thought about it, she'd end up believing she liked Crash and would make it obvious she did when she really didn't and she would attempt to get closer to Crash. She'd also over-analyze every movement Crash made around her. She did not want to deal with that, so she forced herself to forget it.

It worked pretty easily.

The next two weeks were some of the most fun for Twilight. She got her new best friend Fluttershy during school hours, and her friend Crash after school hours.

Of course, she felt bad wanting to see Fluttershy over Crash, but she didn't question it much. And she only felt worse when she'd only want to hang around Pinkie, Rarity, and Fluttershy over Crash.

But every time she thought that, she'd follow Crash to some super secret school hiding spot and have the best time. She concluded that her want for her nice friends was simple anxiety over talking to Crash.

But of course, then she'd question her rising appeal for Crash. She always felt stupid for it, especially since her feelings for Fluttershy took a turn for platonic. She never felt platonic around Crash.

The hiding places reminded her of dates, the two of them alone reminded her of dates, and the getting lost in conversation reminded her of dates!

She always tried to make it disappear with thinking of Fluttershy. She'd feel much better if she liked Fluttershy over Crash. At least then she'd have a visible no chance. Of course, she had no chance with Crash, but every second with the girl alone kept her mind pinned on the idea. She hated it.

She kept trying to get lost in Fluttershy's looks or her conversation. It never lasted more than a minute. But she had bigger problems than figuring through her sudden Crash-appeal at the moment. The fact that her friends were starting to notice.

"You alright, darling?" Rarity asked her before taking a sip of apple juice. Meanwhile, Pinkie chugged down a whole can of soda from the high-priced vending machine.

Twilight was brought out of her trance with a sudden and nervous nod. It was the most unconvincing thing the girls could have seen.

"Are you sure?" Fluttershy jumped in, worry getting the better of her. "You've been spacing out a lot lately." She gasped. "Did something bad happen?"

Twilight smiled at her, "No, nothing happened. I'm fine guys, don't worry." Her smile and words were reassuring, but she knew the two wouldn't believe her. They'd simply ignore their worries until it got serious.

"Alright then," Rarity beamed. "So, since it's so close to the dance. I think we need to discuss some things." She placed her chin on her hands which were held up by her elbows. A smug look sat on her face.

Pinkie raised her hand. "Oooh, oooooh! I got all the things you requested for!" She said loudly and happily. She quickly got out a notepad and flipped through the pages. She stopped on one and squinted, bringing the notepad to her nose as she looked through it. She pulled away, pointing at a certain spot. "Except for the super-cool-local-celebrity DJ. We didn't have the budget, so we're paying Vinyl twenty bucks to do it."

A smile plastered on her face. It didn't change with Rarity's obvious disappointment. A sigh escaped her mouth, "It'll have to do. Thank you for everything else, Pinkie Pie."

"You're welcome!" Pinkie saluted.

Rarity smiled at her adorably silly nature. "Well, since that's settled, and the dresses are as well. The only thing left is dates."

Twilight and Fluttershy froze, knowing the other two would have dates and they wouldn't. Rarity was extremely judgemental, she'd practically force them to go with a total stranger for looks.

"I got one!" Pinkie smiled happily. The three were shocked and simply stared at her, waiting for her to reveal who.

After the moments of silence, they knew they weren't getting an answer that way. Rarity rolled her eyes, "Who is it darling?"

"Weeeeeeell!" Pinkie started bombastically. She pulled away from her seat and back with the word. "It all started over the weekend."

"Here we go," Twilight smiled to Fluttershy, who smiled back. Twilight cursed herself, she didn't even notice how pretty Fluttershy was anymore! Why was everything she thought so platonic?

"I was going to the bakery ran by Ditzy's parents, that's when I saw Cheese!" Pinkie brought the attention back to her. Once everyone -even Octavia, Vinyl, and Coloratura- was paying attention, she continued. "He seemed off, so I asked him and he made up some obvious excuse and raced out.

"I was like 'whaaaaaat?'. I moped all the way to the Cakes place since I felt like my best friend was hiding something!" Her hair dropped to flat and she slouched, crossing her arms and puffing out her cheeks angrily. Rarity simply giggled while Octavia took a picture of the adorable expression.

Suddenly, her hair poofed back to life, along with her. "Then! Once I walked into the Cakes' place! There was this huge banner! There were tables filled with cupcakes and sweets!" She put her hand next to her mouth and whispered, "There was even some alcohol! Don't tell the cakes I told you!" Fluttershy giggled.

Pinkie backed away, continuing her story. "Confetti shot everywhere! Streamers were thrown around, it was like my tenth b-day all over again!" Her smile was so radiant, her eyes were the dreamiest they had ever been as she remembered the moment.

She sighed dreamily, "Then! That's when Cheese Sandwich himself walked out of the kitchen with a rose! I finally read the banner and understood what was happening... It was a prom-posal!"

"And of course you said yes," Rarity smiled happily. Pinkie Pie nodded, her smile even brighter than Rarity's.

Fluttershy clapped quietly and smiled. "Oh Pinkie! I'm so happy for you! Did you tell Cheese what you wanted?" Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, as did her posture.

Pinkie shook her head with a smile. "He guessed my perfect proposal! He's amazing! So now, we get to spend a whole night together! Partying too! It's wonderful!"

"But wasn't Cheese already you're boyfriend?" Twilight asked. Pinkie giggled nervously and rubbed the back of her neck.

"Not exactly," she said nervously.

The three girls attention was shot as they yelled "What!?" Pinkie Pie had never stopped mentioning Cheese Sandwich, even when he was around she stated how much she loved his company. They always thought the two were together.

"But you two are always together!" Fluttershy said loudly, which wasn't very loud.

"And you never shut up about him, you seem in love darling," Rarity stated, confusion morphed into her face as her eyebrows furrowed.

"And you two are best friends," Twilight mentioned, confusion morphing her face as well. Pinkie giggled. "What's so funny?" Twilight asked, even more confused.

"If best friends make a couple, than you and Fluttershy would be dating, silly," Pinkie Pie smiled. Fluttershy and Twilight's faces exploded into blush.

"We're definently not together!" Twilight shouted, worry consuming her face. She hated how disgusted she seemed to be with the idea, but she wanted to make it clear.

Rarity chuckled, "No one said you were darling. But by that reaction, I'd call it a crush." Fluttershy hid her face behind her sleeves and her hair. Twilight and Pinkie Pie felt awful.

"Well, I definitely don't have a crush on her."

"You sure, darling?"

"I'm sure!" Twilight crossed her arms.

"Alright," Rarity chuckled again. She turned her attention to the pink fluff ball next to her. "But back to you Pinkie. Why weren't you and Cheese dating?"

Pinkie shook her head, snapping her attention from Fluttershy. "Oh yeah!" She smiled. "We told each other we liked each other, but we didn't feel like dating. We didn't see each other a lot, so we wanted to wait until we liked each other more!"

"Aww!" Fluttershy came out of her shy, embarrassed state. She smiled so sweetly. "That's adorable, Pinkie! But you two are dating now, right?"

Pinkie shrugged. Then she sighed and placed her chin to the table. "I sure hope so, we see each other every day! But I want him to ask."

"Good for you, but I have no doubt in my mind that he'll ask you the night of the dance," Rarity smiled. Then, her mind hit another topic so she could ramble. "I really don't understand why we're having a dance in the fall. Fall Formal is a cute name, but the occasion really means nothing."

"Oh, the school wanted to give the students as much as possible," Twilight said bluntly. Once everyone stared at her, she knew they wanted her to explain. "Crystal Prep gets two field trips a year while this one gets two for all four years. They wanted to make up for it."

"How do you know?" Rarity asked.

Twilight shrugged, "Guess. A logical one though."

A memory flashed through Rarity's mind and she winced as it ended. Suddenly, she sighed, deciding it best to tell her friends. She looked up at the three and saw their faces of worry. She didn't even give them the chance to ask. "A boy tried to ask me to prom today."

Twilight focused on the 'tried', but before she could question it, Pinkie Pie started to congratulate her. "That's awesome Rare! Who is it?" Pinkie shouted. Fluttershy and Twilight saw the hesitance on her face.

She rolled her eyes, "Blueblood." Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy's faces morphed into disgust, while Twilight was just confused.

"Who's Blueblood?" She asked, guessing the three thought she knew who that was.

"A jerk," Fluttershy said bluntly. Twilight was shocked, the girl never usually addressed anyone in such a rude manner. Well, it was rude for her vocabulary.

Pinkie stepped in to help. "He's a big old self-centered meanie! He's so rich he should be going to Crystal Prep, but he went to Canterlot High to gloat and get the highest scores."

"He also thinks he's so entitled that he can get any girl he wants without lifting a finger, he isn't even nice," Rarity pouted. Twilight nodded, even if her mind was running with a girl that would fit in a super-cute situation. Blueblood would be nice to no other girl but her, but Twilight couldn't pick a girl that would fit.

"Please tell me you didn't say yes," Fluttershy pleaded.

"Oh heavens no!" Rarity replied. Pinkie and Fluttershy instantly let out a sigh of relief. "But, he was very... pushy. He wouldn't let me go to class if I didn't say yes."

"Creep!" Fluttershy said behind her sleeve. Twilight was the only one who could hear, but she focused back on Rarity.

"What happened?" Pinkie Pie bounced.

Rarity sighed again. "Well, someone... helped me get rid of him. They told him to leave me alone and that a lady as nice as myself didn't deserve the likes of him." Each of the three were astonished. They assumed this must've been the boy who she allowed to take her to the dance.

"Who! Who! Who!" Pinkie begged.

Rarity sighed. "Did he ask you to the dance?" Pinkie pushed her questions further. Rarity shook her head.

The girl's blue eyes stuck to her lap as the name rolled off her tongue. "It was Applejack." Twilight noticed that her eyes briefly looked over at Coloratura. Once she saw that the girl didn't overhear, she sighed in relief.

Rarity grabbed her applejuice like it was her savior, drinking from it, even when there was nothing left. "You mean that punk-rock chick that's always flirting with you?" Pinkie Pie asked. Rarity spat out the straw and stared at her.

"She does not flirt with me! She's just picking on me for that putrid Crash!" Rarity said rudely. Her arms crossed as she held her head high.

"But she's always so nice to you," Fluttershy mentioned. "And she defended you. Maybe she does like you."

Rarity laughed. "Please darling! It's all an act to make me think of her as my knight in shining armor and ask her to the dance! Then, she'll laugh in my face."

"How do you know?"

"If she liked me, she'd simply ask me."

Coloratura joined the conversation as she walked by, carrying her tray as the first bell rang, signaling the end of their lunch. "Maybe she won't ask you since she knows you'd just laugh in her face."

Silence sat over the four. Then, they slowly left. Pinkie and Rarity didn't say a word, Fluttershy and Twilight decided to ignore it and discuss their plans for the dance as they walked back to class.

"Have a date?" Fluttershy asked, throwing the left over food from her tray in the trash and putting her tray up. She kept the carrots for her pet though.

Twilight shook her head. "You?"

Fluttershy's face exploded into red as she quickly shook her head. Suddenly, she sighed and said, "Not to the dance I don't."

Twilight smiled, knowing what it meant. "Congratulations, and don't worry, I won't tell Rarity." Fluttershy looked up at her and smiled sweetly.

"Maybe we should go together?" Fluttershy asked, an innocent smile plastered on her face. Abruptly, she understood how Twilight misinterpreted it and covered her mouth with her sleeves.

"Not like that!" Fluttershy shouted from underneath her sleeves. "Just as friends!"

Twilight laughed. "I know, I'm just messing with you." A kind smile sat on her face. As she looked at Fluttershy's face of relief, she only saw a friend. She wasn't even disappointed Fluttershy meant just as friends. Well, only a little.

Back to her skipping fourth period ways, Crash was busy playing blackjack with Sunset and Applejack. The three talked a lot more, and Crash was much more involved with them than she was before. But other things clouded her judgment from knowing to stand at sixteen and not hit.

She threw her cards to the ground, "Bust." She sat with her legs crossed, Applejack mimicked her as Sunset laid on her stomach.

Sunset glared at her as she collected the cards and started shuffling. "Wow, you're bad at this game. Sure hope you're better at poker." She dealt two cards to each of them, first herself, then Applejack, then Crash. After turning over the bottom card of the two she dealt herself, she lit a cigarette and started smoking it as she played dealer.

"What's been up with ya, partner? You used to beat Sunset easy, hell, you counted cards," Applejack asked. She tapped her cards at the ground, Sunset threw her another card.

Crash shrugged. "Don't worry 'bout it," she stared at her cards, though her mind could barely add up the two. Eventually, she came to fifteen and hit her cards against the ground. Sunset threw her a card and she landed with a fat twenty.

"Stand," Applejack said. Crash threw down her cards, revealing her place as well. Applejack followed suit, revealing a nineteen. Sunset turned over the other of her cards, revealing a six to the ten she had. She dealt herself another card and hit twenty two, busting.

"Fuck," Sunset said, kicking her feet to the ground as she propped her elbows up on her jacket.

"Hah!" Crash gloated, smirking and crossing her arms confidently. A quick thought passed her mind as Sunset collected the cards. She instantly tried to get rid of it. Suprisingly enough, Sunset brought the idea back.

"Maybe we could play strip poker and make AJ uncomfortable," Sunset smirked, glaring up at Applejack.

"Y'all ain't that pretty, sugar," Applejack responded rudely, picking up the cards dealt to her. Sunset simply laughed at her, kicking her feet in joy. Suddenly, her eyes seemed clouded with realization as she stared at the two with confusion. The two were too busy looking at their cards to care.

She ignored it, starting to pay attention again. "Hit me," Applejack told her. Sunset threw her a card and took a puff of smoke, she turned her attention to Crash.

"Stand," Crash said bluntly, focusing on her cards. Sunset assumed she was counting cards, even if she had no idea how it was done.

Sunset started small talk, attempting to ignore the game. She always found it boring when they played without betting. "Hey, any news about the dance?"

"Plans, nothing final," Crash answered quickly, putting her cards down. Both turned their attention to Applejack, once she recognized the spotlight, she sighed and put her cards down.

Suddenly, a smirk appeared on her face. "Well, ah just happened to get somewhere with Rarity." Sunset pushed herself up from her position in speechless curiousity.

"You mean you got somewhere with drama queen?" Sunset asked, analyzing every part of Applejack's expression. The girl nodded confidently, but Sunset didn't believe her.

"What happened?" Crash asked as if she was on the edge of her seat with anticipation. A huge smile, slight smirk, was plastered on her face.

"Well, that creep Blueblood was botherin' her 'bout goin' to the dance, so, ah just stepped in and told him to back off. And of course, ah couldn't resist not complimentin' her in the process," Applejack smiled confidently. Sunset started laughing while Crash clapped.

"Congrats, though, you have a week before the dance, you really think you'll be able to take her?" Crash asked. Sunset stopped her giggling, expecting to make fun of Applejack for her far-fetched dreams.

"Hell no," Applejack said bluntly. "That ain't possible if all ah got in one school year is whinin' and yellin'. Besides, ah still get to see her in a dress, I don't mind."

Sunset groaned and rolled her eyes, she put her forearm to her forehead, acting dramatic. She put her head in Applejack's lap, attempting to make it seem as if she fell. Then, she put on her girliest voice, "Oh AJ! I'll go to the dance with you! The straightest girl in school will go with the poor farm girl!"

During the midst of her snickering, Sunset was pushed off of Applejack. "Oh c'mon, AJ! We're like best friends, it's fine." She didn't realize what she said until silence hung over them. "Uh-."

"Y'all actually saying ya like my company?" A smile sat on Applejack's face. She slapped her knee, "Well ain't that a hoot!"

Crash started snickering. "Hey, miss evil Sunny, am I your best friend too?" Her snickering turned into full-fledged laughter.

Sunset rolled her eyes, "Oh shut up! And yes, you two are my only friends so live with it!"

Applejack draped her arm over Sunset's shoulder. "Well if that's the case. Y'all are my best friends too."

"That goes without saying, loser."

"Shut it."

Crash remembered the certain someone that Sunset wanted to go with. She assumed Sunset had forgotten, but she decided to ask anyways. "Hey Sunset, what happened with Flash?"

A wave of rage and annoyance sat over Sunset. Hunching over with her arms crossed, her face twisted into disgust as her mouth curled up at one side and her eyebrows furrowed. "I'd rather not talk about dyke-lover."

She glanced at Applejack, expecting an elbow to the side. Once she didn't get one, she muttered, "Sorry."

"He still ain't asked you?" Applejack asked, taking her arm off the girl. Sunset rolled her eyes again and shook her head.

"I have no idea how he can like that stupid spaz over me! I'm pretty and super nice! He hasn't even talked to me and I'm way prettier that that clutz!" She yelled, getting up and starting to pace. Crash and Applejack leaned against the wall, ready to get their heads fill with the annoyed, high-pitched voice of Sunset Shimmer.

"I mean, I at least have all his classes! She has one of his classes, one! At least he could spend time with me! At least he could actually get something from me!" She shouted, her fists curling to white as she paced. Her eyes were sealed shut with hate.

She turned. "Oh, like, I don't know, populatirty! Respect! Like, c'mon! You're supposed to be my worthless jock, not hers!" She turned to them, her face red with anger as she finally let out a breath of relief and sat down. She sighed, "But, I guess it doesn't matter if I can just go with you two and spill punch on the dyk-... spaz's dress." Applejack flashed her a smile.

Crash wasn't paying attention. She was more or so thinking about how good Twilight Sparkle would look in a purple, sparkly dress with her hair up.

Get Ready to Dance the Night Away

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Canterlot High was full of pretty girls with lots of different personalities. Shy, bombastic, talented, rude, and intelligent. The school didn't hold too many posh students. Rarity and her side group of friends were really the only ones that had the class that belonged in Crystal Prep. That was obvious.

So who wouldn't love to taint the little beauties? With either games of truth or dare, long nights spent talking, or simple kisses. Everything that wasn't expected, was expected with a side of resistance. Especially when it came to the dirt-hating Rarity.

Rarity has her reasons for being the high class queen of the grade. Well, she first had one of the most pale complexions, giving room for dirt or guck to show up easier. Her love of cosmetics and fashion didn't help her prestigious attitude.

Rarity sighed as she walked through the halls. She was all alone, staring down at her books in her arms. Well, she was staring at what was on top of the books. A brochure for Crystal Prep.

She was doing what she'd never done before: skip class. She needed time to think and she needed it now, she couldn't handle having this in the back of her head.

She opened one of the side doors to the building, landing on the left side that led to the football field. It was the perfect spot. No one went outside or inside during gym, no matter where they were.

She sat down near the door, knowing the school didn't care too much about skipping students. She looked at the brochure again and sighed, hugging it to her chest. She pulled it away and stared down at it.

Flipping it open just gave her way to see how classy the school was. Crystal halls, not tile. Everything matched! This school was a cluster of colors that made no sense! Of course, Twilight always seemed hesitant about telling her friends what Crystal Prep was like, what if she wouldn't get any friends?

And all for class! She wasn't considering it for the better schooling, well, other than the fashion club Siri was in. She was considering it for the chance to belong.

Sure, at Canterlot High she was on top of the ranks for the sophomore years when it came to beauty. But being on top wasn't what she wanted. She wanted to belong. She wanted to have a fashion club, she didn't want to camp out in the corner of the art room.

She wanted to be able to have friends that could shop at higher end stores or appreciate high end drinks. She wanted everything that mattered to her to matter to everyone else!

She sighed and looked down at the brochure. But is all that really worth my best friends? She thought. Another sigh. I mean, Twilight is one of my best friends, along with Octavia, Vinyl, Pinkie, and Fluttershy... and Coloratura. Now another problem entered her head.

How did things go so wrong with Coloratura? She was so nice! They were best friends! How could a stupid farm girl get in her way?

She shook her head and sighed again, curling up to herself. Her mind was rattled with thoughts and regrets, how could she have done this to herself? She'd get so many wrinkles from all the stress!

"Uh, Rarity?" A voice asked. Blush consumed her face as she recognized it as Trenderhoof. She looked up, hoping her makeup would cover how red her face was. A nervous smile instantly covered her face. A confused look sat on Trenderhoof's face. "You alright?"

She nervously fumbled to her feet, dusting off her skirt. She looked at him and smiled nervously again, nodding. He smiled and tilted his head to the side, "Really? I never knew you would be one to skip class."

She fidgeted with her hands. "I- uh... just needed somewhere to think. I have an A in that class anyways," She smiled nervously again. Her heart picked up in speed as he flashed her a witty smile. She had no idea if her face could get any hotter.

He chuckled, "I wouldn't doubt that. You are one of Canterlot High's top students after all." Her heart exploded. Getting a compliment from her crush was the last thing she wanted, but one of the first things she needed.

"T-thank you," she said nervously, staring at her feet. Once silence ensued, she swallowed and forced herself to keep the conversation going. "Are you going to the dance?"

She fumbled to correct herself. "I just mean... going to the dance to have fun. I k-know you're on the yearbook committee and one of my friends told me anyone on yearbook would be too busy taking pictures." She mentally slapped herself so many times, even with his smile staring back at her.

"I wish, but yeah, pictures for me. But at least I get to see the amazing dress you make yourself." His smile was embedded into her mind as his compliment rang in it. Her feet were shaking as she fumbled with her hands.

She was going to thank him again, but he continued. "But I don't mind. I wouldn't have the guts to ask a girl anyways. So, you have a date?"

She shook her head, finally feeling somewhat normal. "Sadly, I don't. But I have my friends if I don't get one by the dance."

"How? I'd expect all the guys to be asking you," shock filled his being. This only made Rarity feel more flattered. "I've overheard so many conversations of guys wanting to ask you."

She laughed nervously. "W-well, only a few have asked, b-but... they aren't exactly my type." The two overheard the bell rang.

"Well, I sure wish I wasn't on yearbook, then maybe I could've taken you," his smile seemed so innocent and platonic, but Rarity didn't see that. Her heart leapt out of her chest as her mind ran. As soon as she saw him walk into the school, she chased after him.

"Are you sure you have to take those pictures? I'm sure the others will get enough," she said loudly. Once he turned back to her, she reserved herself, ready for the 'no'. Her heart raced as her mind cursed her for sounding too desperate.

She didn't see his smile. "Alright. I'm still getting my picture of you, though," he started off, leaving Rarity a mess. She leapt for joy once he turned a corner, screamed into her hands as a smile plastered on her face.

Once everyone came in from outside, she walked out to get her books, bumping into a certain someone. Her face fell, "Oh," left her lips.

Her eyes flooded with the orange complexion and blonde hair. She sighed at the stupid smile on the girls face. "Saw you talkin' to Trender. He your date?" Applejack asked.

Her eyes shot open. Out of disgust of the thick accent and the guess. She didn't even get a chance to reply. "Who am ah kiddin', 'course he is! Fancy likes fancy, huh? Well, congrats."

Rarity stared, totally confused. "Why are you being so nice?" Then, her mind shot with realization. Her face morphed to disgust as she became incredibly annoyed. She put up her hand. "Don't even answer. I should've known. You're trying to make me think you sent Trender after me so I could get a date.

"Then I'd tell him he couldn't take me to the dance because I'm paranoid you did something and I end up with nobody!" Rarity said rudely. Her posture was straight as her arms held her books. Her eyes held hate and annoyance for the girl in front of her. "Honestly, I'm not that stup-!"

"Rarity, why am ah so god darned evil to you?" Applejack's voice cut through the classiness of Rarity's. "All ah've done is try to be nice to you and all you do is make me out to be rude."

She took a step forward, pinning Rarity's back to the wall. "Since all you do is judge books by covers, ah guess ah'll do the same. Y'all are just a rich brat who don't give two fucks 'bout nobody but herself!" Her anger seemed to all be pointed at Rarity, but some of it was pointed at herself.

She rolled her eyes and scowled, stomping into the school, slamming the door open as the bell for class rang. Rarity raced inside, seeing Applejack head to class. She sighed as she followed, her dislike for Applejack rising.

But, she sighed in relief. At least Applejack would try to get on her good side and give her an excuse in class.

Once she stepped into class with Applejack, she didn't get an excuse. She was shocked, her dislike rising as it was Applejack's fault they were late. She scowled as she sat down.

She gasped in disgust once she saw Applejack glancing at Coloratura.

It was expected to see some of the four nicest girls at Canterlot High in one of the priciest stores at the mall. Everyone knew Rarity and Twilight were rich, but everyone knew Rarity was more willing to spend.

So of course she'd offer them the priciest store and plea to pay. And of course, her friends would gladly agree after some fight. And it was even more expected that Rarity would drag them from their afternoon activities for it.

So, as Pinkie bounced out of the dressing room, Rarity clapped. The dress fit perfectly on her. The girl bounced and swayed her purple skirt, the transparent black sleeves and leggings looked itchy, but she didn't bother with them. Her black vest was met with purple poofy shoulders trimmed with pink. Black fishnet covered her legs.

Rarity squealed as she jumped up, racing to the other side of the store and back. She returned with a dark purple feather and a purple choker. She put the two on Pinkie and stepped away, clapping happily at the masterpiece.

Twilight and Fluttershy both questioned dress code and embarrassment of wearing the dress once they saw it. The two looked over Pinkie Pie and smiled, not wanting to let her know how concerned they were over the dress. Pinkie Pie bounced over to a mirror, a smile instantly hit her face.

"Cheese would love it!" She clapped her hands. Fluttershy's face morphed into confusion. Why would Cheese like such a party dress over a ten year old birthday party dress?

She couldn't help but ask. "Uh, Pinkie... why wouldn't Cheese like any of the other dresses you tried?" She felt awful when she saw the blank look on Pinkie's face. She cowered in her seat.

"Oh," Pinkie turned back to the mirror, attempting to hold her hair up in a high ponytail while styling it. "I just... I don't think he wants to see me in a pink, poofy, kiddy dress. Besides, I look better in this one."

"That you do!" Rarity smiled, already looking through racks with green or blue dresses. Fluttershy looked to Pinkie, seeing the look on her face made her question if Pinkie was happy with the dress or not.

But after a while, she smiled to herself. Pinkie was just growing up in a sense, she wasn't disappointed, she was stunned. Fluttershy smiled, "You look great." She stood next to Pinkie Pie with a hand on her shoulder.

"It's not too showy, is it?" Pinkie Pie asked worriedly. Fluttershy followed her eyes to the mirror. She shook her head.

"I don't think so. I think it's just right," Fluttershy smiled happily. Pinkie Pie smiled too, taking in how grown up she looked. She finally felt like she was with her friends, she wasn't the entertainment. She was being entertained by herself. And who knew all she needed to realize that was a little dress?

Rarity rushed over with a solid black, long, and skin tight dress. Fluttershy smiled in relief, knowing Rarity would dress Twilight up in it. She didn't expect it when Rarity lunged the dress at her. Her immediate response was, "Huh?"

The smile on Rarity's face had her answer. "I want you to try it on! You'd look amazing in it! Besides, it's long."

Fluttershy grabbed the dress and held it up in front of her. She followed it all the way down to the floor. It was long. But the back was lower than what she would have liked. And the slit up to her thigh terrified her. But before she had room to disagree, Rarity already shoved her into a dressing room.

She watched the walls, hating dressing rooms. She swallowed and sighed, putting the dress down and starting to take her shoes off.

Twilight was worried about Fluttershy, taking her annoyance out on Rarity. "She's not going to like it. The back's too low and the slit probably goes against dress code!"

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Relax, besides, she doesn't have to like it. There's plenty of other dresses here for her to choose from." She turned her attention to Twilight. "She doesn't even have to pick a dress today."

Twilight wanted to groan, but resisted the urge to. "Just don't put all of us in skimpy dresses. You already put Pinkie on the borderline." She winced, hoping Pinkie didn't hear her. Once she realized Pinkie was too infatuated with her dress, she sighed in relief. "Still, you should know Fluttershy wouldn't like it."

"I like it," a voice rang. Three heads whirled to the source, their breaths taken. Seeing the most innocent of the four with a close to backless dress and dress code defying slit made the three speechless.

Twilight imagined being at her doorstep, pushing her hair behind her ear and sticking a black rose to hold it in place. She was surprised when she wanted it, it was one of the first non-platonic feelings she had for Fluttershy recently. Every heart race increase and nervousness she had around Crash disappeared at the sight of her pink hair falling over one eye in embarrassment.

Fluttershy stared at her feet, biting her lip and picking up her foot, laying it on the toes, twisting it around. Her arms latched behind her back, "Is it too much?"

Once no voices were heard, she slammed her hands to her eyes to keep herself from crying. Twilight forced herself to step in. She stood up from the seat she was in. "No, no," she said, walking towards Fluttershy. She moved the girls hands from her eyes, taking in the red face and the scared eyes.

She smiled in bliss, "You look... amazing. I'm sorry, we were just too speechless." Fluttershy hugged her out of her panic reducing to it's normal levels. Twilight hugged her back. "We're sorry, but you really look great." Twilight peaked over Fluttershy's head, seeing how backless the dress was.

It wasn't as bad as she expected, and it certainly was fine by dress code. But she expected it to be a bit much for Fluttershy. She smirked to herself, knowing the girl would wear her hair down or a jacket to accommodate for it.

Rarity followed Twilight's suit. "Yes darling! You look magnificent! I've never seen you look so gorgeous!" She clapped her hands together joyfully. "And you'll look even better with dramatic makeup! Eee!" Rarity almost jumped with excitement.

Fluttershy looked up nervously from her safety of Twilight to see Pinkie Pie bounce next to her. "Yeah! You look suuuuuuuuper good! So many guys'll regret not asking you!" Her bubbly personality shone through and almost demolished Fluttershy's panic.

Twilight smiled down at her, starting to become jealous of whoever Fluttershy was with. "We'll have a great night, I just hope you won't mind being stared at... if you do go in that."

Fluttershy smiled back. She turned to Rarity. "I want this one... if you don't mind getting it," she suddenly felt too greedy and embarrassed over it. She should be more considerate of her friend spending money on her, she didn't even know how much the dress cost!

Rarity chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll gladly get it for you." She smiled at her, once she realized Fluttershy still felt bad, she smiled wider. "Don't any of you worry! The materials for my dress cost more than whatever I'm getting each of you."

She was happy when Fluttershy smiled up at her in relief. She clapped her hands, excited to find a dress for Twilight.

She had been waiting for this moment since Twilight walked through the doors of her school. The purple complexion, eyes, and dark hair with that pop of magenta was the perfect match to a blue color she was dying to see the girl in!

Even if she knew magenta was Twilight's favorite color, she didn't care. A lighter blue than her hair would work perfectly with her purple being. But as she looked through outfits, she was considering the magenta to match the streak in Twilight's hair.

But suddenly, she found the perfect dress. As she held it in front of her, she could see the small details it needed, but loved it as a starter. She started her way over to the three happily discussing the dance. She started blushing as she imagined Twilight in the dress, then, she shook her head.

You mustn't think of Twilight that way! Besides... she's going with Fluttershy and not you! She thought, disappointment filling her thoughts. Suddenly, she got jealous. How come Fluttershy became her best friend and not me? I was there for her since the beginning... what does Fluttershy have that I don't?

The more she thought, the further her light blue nails dug into the dress in her hands. She lightened her grip once she stood in front of her friends. She was happy to see Fluttershy hadn't taken off the dress just yet.

She held the dress in front of her with a smile. Twilight's eyes widened with admiration at the royal blue.

The dress was strapless, which was against dress code, but Rarity could fix that. The dress had a sparkley, black belt around the waist, two layers of royal blue fabric ruffling out from it.

Rarity smiled. "Blue or black heels could work. And I was thinking of adding light blue stars to the bottom of the dress, but if you don't like the idea I won't." She handed over the dress to Twilight, already seeing the worry of the non-existent straps on her face.

She smiled, "Don't worry, darling. I'll sew some straps onto it." Once she saw Twilight's worry of Rarity making them spaghetti straps, she said, "I'll make them somewhat thick. Now go try it on."

She shoved a confused Twilight into the dressing room, leaving Twilight to figure out the mechanics behind a strapless dress. Twilight soon figured out that it needed to hug your figure and started slipping it on.

Of course, her mind ran to the one place it always ran to. Rainbow Crash. Her eyes opened numbly as she made it fit. She stared back at herself in the mirror. She could imagine the speechless expression on Crash's face.

That expression would be met with laughter that would make her correct herself. A clearing of the throat and the extending of the rose would be matched with a determined and serious face. Twilight would smile and thank her, admiring Crash in her own tomboyish dress.

She would say goodbye to her parents, Crash already jumping on the motorcycle. The door would slam shut on her face, after the viewing of thumbs up and holding back tears. Crash would extend the helmet and she'd refuse. Crash would shrug her shoulders as she started putting it on herself.

Twilight would get on and enjoy the ride as she watched the sun set. The more nice she felt around Crash, the tighter her grip would get. Her heart rate would stay content for once. She would finally be on a date with Rainbow Crash. She wouldn't be scared anymore.

As Twilight went over her dream night, Rarity admired her friends. Of course, Twilight had her favorite colors, but picking a more 20s outfit for Pinkie and a classy, sleek black one for Fluttershy made her happy as well. Her two friends looked lovely, she was almost worried Trenderhoof would stare at them instead of her.

She sighed dreamily and fell onto a chair. The idea of Trenderhoof taking her to the dance made her fall in love with him even more. Her freshman year crush asked her to the dance! How lucky could she be?

Once Twilight walked out of the dressing room, she couldn't even think. Seeing a masterpiece and the idea of Trenderhoof left her mind a mess.

Thankfully, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie took her spot. Jumping up from their seats, smiling at the girl and complimenting her. Rarity smiled motherly at Twilight, finally getting up from her seat and clapping.

The three girls turned back to her, confusion on their faces directed towards the slow clap. Rarity smiled, "We all look lovely. We'll be the bells of the ball!"

Pinkie giggled happily, looking down at her dress. She grabbed the hem and swayed it back and forth. "I just hope Cheese likes it. I love it!"

Fluttershy giggled. "Cheese'll love it Pinkie! You look great."

Twilight turned to Rarity. "Thank you for taking us here, Rarity. And for buying, also, I think the dress looks better without stars." Rarity smiled back.

"Alright, I'll give it to you tomorrow, with straps," she smiled happily.

"Is your dress finished?" Fluttershy asked curiously. A smile plastered on her face. Rarity nodded.

"I finished it a week ago!"

Pinkie Pie smiled, bouncing away to the dressing rooms. "Well, I guess we need to get these off. Oooh! I can't wait to show the Cakes! Oh! And Maud!" She bounced inside one, listing random people she knew around town.

Fluttershy and Twilight giggled at her as they walked towards the rooms. Once they were inside, Rarity was alone. She was smiling. She didn't mind being the one that treated the girls, she loved the idea. She was generous after all.

Coloratura peaked into the art room, expecting to find Rarity. Once she didn't, she stared in confusion at the corner. The girls bag wasn't even there. She looked to one of the girls in the room, "Hey, have you seen Rarity today?"

The girl deadpanned at her, her face void of any emotion and her body void of any expression. She blinked, then spoke in a dull voice. "No, haven't seen her." She turned back to her painting robotically. Coloratura stared in confusion at the girl, getting a look at the detailed painting of a tombstone on the canvas.

Even with the dull personality, Coloratura had to compliment her. "Wow! That looks amazing!"

The girl smiled slightly. "Thank you, I've worked very hard on it."

"What's the meaning behind it?"

"There is no meaning, I just wanted to paint a tombstone to try out a darker atmosphere," the girl deadpanned.

"Oh," Coloratura stated. "Well, you're really good at it! I love all the little cracks and you did the moon shine perfectly." Once the girl stared at her blankly, she backed up in her appreciation. "Uh, nevermind... I.. uh... don't know anything about art soooo."

The girl smiled slightly again. "Thank you again. Besides, you're a pretty good critique." The girl stared at the painting. "Any problems you see?"

Coloratura stared at the painting as well. Her eyes scanned over everything, hoping to be of some assistance. Suddenly, she got an idea and smiled slightly. "To give it more of a darker atmosphere you could've backed up the image and added a crow on the tombstone."

Once the girl stared at her, she continued. "It'd give room for the moon to be in there for a better contrast. Plus it'd give way to more skills of light source, composition, contrast, and skill sets." She felt so elated once the girl smiled back at her. "But, it's nice the way it is."

"Thank you. How do you know so much about art?" The girl asked, emotion finally slipping into her voice.

Coloratura smiled. "Rarity taught me a lot about composition and color theory. So I sort of got into art. I never drew anything, but I wanted to understand it."

The girl's smile was slight, but Coloratura could tell she made the girls day. "I'll try redoing the painting. Would you come by later this week to see it?"

Coloratura smiled and nodded. "I'd love to! Well, see you later! It's been fun!"

The girls smile grew. "Thank you again. It means a lot."

"Well, I'll come by again Friday if that's cool."

"Sure," the girl nodded. Coloratura smiled in happiness and pride as she exited the class. But suddenly remembered why she entered the room in the first place. She sighed, wondering why Rarity wasn't around.

"Pretty nice thing y'all did there," a voice rang. Her head exploded with disbelief as the accent repeated itself in her head. She turned to the kind smile and those emerald eyes. She swallowed.

She hugged her books to her chest. "I-It was nothing! Besides, she deserved the compliment, it was a c-cool draw- painting!" Her face exploded into blush as Applejack took a step closer to her, her hands shoving into her pockets. A kind smirk sat on her face.

Suddenly, she sighed, realizing the girl was looking for Rarity. She smiled at Applejack, "Sorry, I couldn't find Rarity today. I guess she didn't stay after like usual." Applejack took one step closer, putting about two feet between the two.

"Actually, ah was lookin' for ya," Applejack smiled. Coloratura froze.

Coloratura laughed nervously. "M-me? W-w-why?" Her nervous smile spread as her mind ran with disbelief and rational embarrassment.

Applejack chuckled at her, which only made her cower in her own hate further. "I wanted to talk to ya. And, well, thank you for defending me all those times 'gainst Rare."

Now Coloratura rolled her eyes at the name associated with Applejack. "Pft, don't worry. You needed it."

"But y'all are always there for me, think it deserves an upfront thanks," Applejack smiled sweetly at the girl. Coloratura couldn't believe what she was hearing. 'Always there'? Why was she getting this now?

"Is that all?" Coloratura asked, anxious to get away and scream her mind out of it's excitement and stress flood.

"Nah, I was wonderin' somethin'," Applejack asked cheekily, a little smirk sat on her face.

Coloratura rolled her eyes with a smirk, loving the adorable way Applejack avoided the point. "Alrighty then, what's that?"

"Got a date to the dance?"

Coloratura's head rang with alarm. Her legs paralyzed with fear as her hands started shaking. She swallowed. Her head shook, "N-no."

"Well then," Applejack's smile stayed kind and confident. It was everything Coloratura could've wanted from the girl. Just a casual surprise out of no where. She was already on the verge of tears as the smile stayed. "Will ya allow me to take ya?"

Her hands flew to her mouth, her books falling to the ground. Her eyes widened at the sudden bang. She zoomed to pick them up, her mouth threatening to open and her eyes threatening to cry. Applejack bent down to help her.

Once the two were up and standing again, Coloratura nodded. "Yeah... yeah, I'd love to go with you."

Applejack's smile was triumphant over the measly one Coloratura held. "Great.... fantastic," the girl's smile seemed so dreamy and fulfilled.

Coloratura sat there for a bit, confusion over taking her. "Hey... why'd you ask me now?"

Applejack sighed. "I knew y'all would ask that." She kicked her foot. "I just kinda got over somebody else, I realized y'all was the girl there for me." Applejack's eyes filled with worry once she saw the girls disappointed expression.

"Hey! Y'all ain't my recoil or something." She put her hands on the girl's shoulders, emotions racing to her mind as she saw the teary eyes look up at her. "Ya just the one I needed to like since the start. Sorry it took me so long."

Coloratura nodded, wiping her eyes off on her pink jacket. "So, you actually like me?"

Applejack smiled, taking in the girl's entire being. That lovely, luscious white hair, her pink jacket, her whole glam-rock style was gorgeous. And the nervous girl definitely set her to be her type. "Yep."

"So, see you at the dance?" Coloratura asked, looking up at Applejack with desperation and fear in her eyes. Applejack nodded.

"And ah'd better see y'all in a cute dress," Applejack smirked. Coloratura giggled and nodded. As soon as Coloratura left, Applejack felt so much better.

She was going to the dance with someone she liked! She didn't have to put up with Sunset now! She had her very own adorable date!

She smiled, trying to fool herself. Trying to tell herself she didn't want Rarity. She sighed. Of course she couldn't fool herself, she was always the honest one.

Take My Heart, But Not My Studded Bracelets

by Xutiepops

Push Up Your Glasses

Kick Your Feet Up When The Teacer Tells You No

Be A Jerk Because It's Better Than Saying Your First Awkward Hello

Put in Your Ear Buds and Listen to the Trashy Song You Got From Your Friend

Grab The Closest Nerd Because You're A Jerk

Say You Hate Because You Assume Things About Others

Don't Open Up, Even If They Try Their Hardest

Always Have Your Sympathy Ready

Open Up Because You're So Gosh Darn Lonely And You Really Want To Hear Her Laugh Again

Ride the Motorbike too Fast 'Cause Your High on Happiness and Anticipation

Get Ready to Dance the Night Away