“So, know anything about the transfer student?”

Twilight Sparkle shook her head, “No, I haven’t heard anything. What’s she like?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged, looking toward Fluttershy as the girl in question bent over to pick up a pencil, “No idea…”

“Hmm, I guess we’ll see if she’s in any of our classes,” Twilight remarked.

“One of the girls was saying she saw her coming up the front step this morning,” Pinkie chirped up, “Said she was creepy. Like, really tall and quiet.”

“Really now?” Twilight said, “Well, maybe she’s just soft-spoken, or an introvert.”

“Girls!” their teacher snapped, “What did I tell you about gossiping in class?”

The three shut up, saying nothing further.

“Now, assuming those of you at the back can keep your lips together long enough, I’d like to introduce you all to our new-”

The teacher was cut off by what sounded like a raised voice outside.

“What do you mean I can’t go into class until the teacher calls my name? What idiot thought that was a good idea?! Oh, new girl! Let’s parade the fucker around all day. As if I’ve got enough problems trying to find my way around this place-No I will not calm down! You won’t let me go to class, which is why I’m here!”

The entire class was silent, eyes glued to the door. Already some soft whispers sounded from a couple of students.

“Holy shit, the new girl has balls!” Rainbow remarked in a low whisper, whistling.

“Can’t say I blame her,” Twilight murmured, “I remember when I first transferred here…”

“Yeah, I got the same thing too,” Pinkie remarked, “Why do they do that? Why do they put us on the spot like that on our first day?”

Pinkie’s question wasn’t answered as the door burst open and a furious girl stormed in. Walking past everyone, she threw herself into the empty desk in the far back corner of the room.

All eyes were on her then, staring at the new girl with curiosity.

“Wow. She’s… actually kinda pretty,” Rainbow whispered.

Twilight glanced toward her, also curious. But the minute the girl looked toward her, she snapped her gaze away, “...Yeah, she is.”

“E-everyone,” the teacher said, clearly caught off guard by the girl’s outburst, “This is our new student, Ascentia Kortai. Ascentia, why don’t you come up and tell us a bit about yourself?”

Ascentia slowly raised her gaze up to the teacher, “Last time I checked, this was History, not Facebook,” she said bitterly.

A few students cowered in fear, followed by nervous whispers. Twilight, however, gave a smile. As curious as she was, she had to admit that that the new girl, now known as Ascentia, had a point.

“O-okay…” the teacher shrugged and turned back to the board, “All of you open your books to page 394…”

As the day went on, it was clear that despite the “New Girl” freshness Ascentia had, it wasn’t long before everyone pretty much steered clear of her. Any approach made was met with fiery scorn, any sort of greeting was met with a bark. It wasn’t long before she was now an imposing, intimidating figure no one dared approach unless they had a death wish.

During lunchtime, she sat by herself in the far corner of a table. An empty table. No one dared approach it, even at the very end.

Twilight noticed this as she ate lunch with her friends. She just couldn’t get the new girl out of her mind, try as she may.

“Look at her… all by herself. Maybe she doesn’t want friends, but… doesn’t mean someone should be completely lonely,” she murmured.

“I think she brings it on herself,” Rainbow shrugged, “People tend to steer clear of you when you snap at them all the time.”

“Rainbow has a point, darling,” Rarity nodded, “That sort of attitude does not win friends or influence people.”

Fluttershy gave a nod of agreement, clearly looking a bit shaken up, “...She… dropped a pencil… I… I picked it up and gave it to her… she told me to get lost and stop pretending to be nice…”

“But you are nice!” Pinkie pouted, “That’s soooo mean!”

“Well, guess her experience might be different,” Applejack remarked, “Ah guess there’s nothin’ we can do about it.”

“I mean, if you wanna go over there, be my guest Twilight,” Rainbow shrugged, “Your funeral.”

Twilight sighed, shaking her head, “It’d be nice… But what would it do. As much as I’d love to sit down and talk with her about things, I doubt she’d receive that well.”

A commotion started up three tables down as two guys started roughing up a younger kid, smacking him around the head while their friends laughed. Rainbow made to get up, when a whistling sound came from the corner of the room and an apple smacked one of the guys in the back of the head, making him whip around looking for who threw it.

Everyone’s eyes followed where it had come from to Ascentia, who was on her feet and glaring at the both of them. They shrank back a little, as standing up straight Ascentia was over six feet tall. They dropped the kid and he ran from the cafeteria as Ascentia sat back down and resumed eating her lunch.

“...Did she just help that kid?” Applejack wondered.

“Looks like it,” Twilight said with astonishment.

“Great, now I’m confused,” Pinkie frowned, “Does that girl hate people or like people?”

Her friends all shrugged, unsure what to think.

“Um… it was still nice of her to help that poor kid, at least…” Fluttershy offered.

“You goin’ over now?” Rainbow asked, nudging Twilight, “Or is it still a bad idea?”

Twilight snorted, “I said I wasn’t going to, you know.”

“That’s a shame, because she’s lookin’ at you,” Rainbow remarked.

“...What? How do you know that?” Twilight asked with a confused frown.

“Turn your head around, see if she looks away,” Rainbow smirked.

Scoffing, Twilight did so. Sure enough, Ascentia’s gaze had been pointed straight at her, at least before she looked away.

“...What the heck? Why is she staring at me?” Twilight wondered. “I’m not exactly that pretty or interesting.”

“I don’t think any of us will know unless we ask, dear,” Rarity replied, “We’re not exactly mind readers.”

“...Whatever, it must be my hair or something,” Twilight brushed it off.

The bell rang loudly overhead and the girls watched as Ascentia seemed to leap to her feet and stride as quickly as she could out of the cafeteria, shoving past several people on her way.

“Oh boy…” Twilight mumbled, getting up with her friends.

Much to her own surprise, Twilight found that her locker was actually a few feet away from where Ascentia’s was. The same row, no less. As she tried to busy herself to gather her belongings, Twilight found herself unable to look away from the ever-fascinating girl. Whatever it was about her, she was ever more curious. Ascentia caught her stares and gave her a flat look.

“Yes?” she asked.

“...Hi,” was all Twilight could say. ‘Hi? That’s it? That’s the best you can do? Oh, nice going! Why not ask her about the weather, next?’

“Hi,” Ascentia said flatly, though her expression seemed irritated as she continued digging through her locker.

Twilight fidgeted a bit, figuring it was a good time not to tempt fate. Still, it occurred to her that she was at least responding. “...How are you?” She asked, lamely.

“Fine,” she said as she shoved something into her bag.

“Um, great! That’s good to hear!” Twilight smiled sheepishly, “So, uh… Okay, time out. Just give me a second.”

She grinned, widely, forcibly, and turned the corner to go drink from the fountain. Ascentia looked at the place where she disappeared and shut her locker, leaning against it and checking her watch.

“I have to be to class in five minutes,” she called out.

Twilight came tittering back, “Okay! See? I’m back!”

“Was there something you wanted?” Ascentia asked with a huff.

“Uh...” Twilight shifted her weight from one foot to the other, “...I really… like your hair?”

“Thanks?” Ascentia said, bewildered and cocking an eyebrow, “Are you going somewhere with this?”

“I’m glad you asked! I… well, I think you’re pretty! I think… you’re cool! It’s… uh… nice to meet you! I’m Sparkle Twilight! Erm! I mean, Twinkle Light! I mean… urgh! I’m Twilight Sparkle and it’s nice to acquaintance your pleased make!”

Ascentia had to resist the urge to laugh, but otherwise gave her a more bewildered look, “Did you smoke something just a few minutes ago? You’re tripping over your words worse than that kid in the cafeteria.”

‘What’s the matter with me?! I have a much more extensive vocabulary than this!’ Twilight thought, keeping her sheepish grin, “Nope! I don’t smoke! Not at all! I’m just uh… you know! Making friendly! You know how it is! You come to a new school, you don’t know anyone, you feel like you’ll never fit in, like you’re an outcast, and then you get the three A’s! You know, Awkwardness, Attention, and Abandonment!”

“Yeah… I’m not really worried about any of that,” Ascentia shrugged, “Things will fall into place over time.”

“Well, gosh! You’re uh… taking it better than I did! When I first got here nearly two years ago, I was scared stiff! I was home-schooled by Pri-er, you know, a private tutor! So I wasn’t used to it, or even the idea of making friends!” Twilight shifted her weight again, looking down.

“I transferred willingly,” Ascentia remarked, “My last school wasn’t exactly… tolerant of me.”

Twilight blinked, realizing she was entering ‘No no’ territory, “I see! Well, uh, here’s hoping you’ll do fine here! Somehow!”

“You seem to be doing fine here, and everyone’s already terrified of me, so I think it’ll work out a lot better,” Ascentia shrugged.

“Well, yeah! It’s pretty nice here! Kind of silly and crazy, but it’s nice!” Twilight bobbed a little on her feet, “So, uh… what’s your next class? You know, just curious! Maybe I can help you if you’re having trouble finding it!”

“Physics,” Ascentia said flatly, “I know where it is.”

“Really?! Wow, I have Physics next, too! Oh, I love that class! It’s so much fun!” Twilight said excitedly.

“I don’t,” Ascentia snipped, “I’m taking it because it’s a prerequisite. I’m just supposed to be in class, I don’t plan on going.”

Crestfallen, Twilight faltered, “Okay then… Well, uh, I guess I’ll see you around… Have a… good rest of the day…” She turned away, heading down the hall.

“Hold up a second,” Ascentia called, following her.

Twilight frowned in confusion, “...Why?”

Ascentia caught up with her and looked down at her for a minute, as if pondering something. Then, without warning, she tilted her chin up and brought her lips to her’s. Twilight froze for a minute, but Ascentia was already pulling away.

“Nah, never mind,” she shrugged, “Cya.”

She turned around and strode off, leaving Twilight looking wide-eyed at her as she left.

“The fuck just happened?” she said quietly.

“Ooooh! She likes you!” Pinkie hopped into view, grinning at her, “That was soooo cute!”

“Cute? How?” Twilight asked.

“Hello? Big, tough, strong, mysterious new girl and an adorkable nerd! Especially like this!” Pinkie giggled, “It’s awesome!”

“I don’t think she likes me, Pinkie,” Twilight grimaced, “She said ‘never mind.’”

“But then why did she even kiss you?” Pinkie poked her nose.

“I… I don’t know!” Twilight said in a huff.

Pinkie grinned widely, “She totally likes you! She probably has no idea how to admit it! Or even realize it! Oh, she never felt this way to anyone before… It’s all foreign to her little mind! You go about life not looking for love, thinking it could never happen! You’re content, it’s all good, right? But then the next thing you know, you’re head over heels for someone in a flash! Love just walks in, closes the door, and sits there! It doesn’t move or leave! She’ll be questioning it, but can’t escape it!”

“Pinkie, I think you need to cut back on the asian cartoons,” Twilight said flatly as the two of them headed to class, “She didn’t shy away from me and smile. She walked up, kissed me, said ‘never mind’ and walked away.”

Pinkie frowned a bit, “Something isn’t adding up, Twi-Twi.”

“Whatever. Just don’t tell the others about this.”

“I can’t believe you told the others about that,” Twilight glared daggers into Pinkie as the girls were all looking astonished on the bus home.

“You didn’t make me promise, Twi-Twi!” Pinkie said, nudging her.

“Shit, Twi!” Rainbow gaped, “You and the new girl were making out in the hall?!”

“Uh, no. It was a kiss that lasted… a few seconds,” Twilight corrected.

“Wow, though… that’s something…” Fluttershy remarked.

“So you go from not wanting to go near her to swapping spit in a matter of hours?” Rainbow laughed, “How the hell did you pull that off?”

“I didn’t do anything! I just… talked to her. And messed up because she clearly doesn’t like me. I didn’t exactly look like a scholar when I did. I felt like an idiot…” Twilight grumbled, “I am never doing that again!”

“Well if she doesn’t like you, then why’d she kiss you in the first place?” Rainbow asked, smirking as if Twilight was out of her mind.

“Apparently she felt it was cool to do, but then kissed me and changed her mind! Lovely! Gee, thanks for jerking me around, jerk! I was TRYING to be nice!” Twilight griped, “But no! Screw off, then! I don’t care!”

“If ya don’t care… why are ya upset?” Applejack asked.

“Yeah, Twilight,” Fluttershy said quietly, “Why’d this bothering you so much?”

“Did you like her?” Pinkie asked with a smile.

Twilight pouted and crossed her arms, “No! I don’t even know her!”

“But did you want to?” Rainbow asked, “You were giving her looks all throughout History class. And you were the one who wanted to approach her.”

“I did at first, but now she blew it! ‘Oooh, look at me, I’m Ascentia! Rar! Get away from me, you all suck! Oh look, it’s Twilight Sparkle! I’m gonna mess with her head! Hahahaha! Victory is mine!’ Blegh…” Twilight gagged.

“Well that’s a shame, Twi-Twi,” Pinkie grinned, looking toward the back of the bus, “Because she’s looking at you again.”

“Nope! Not falling for it!” Twilight crossed her arms and pouted, “She can stare at me until she burns lasers into my head for all I care!”

“What if she gets up and comes this way?” Pinkie suggested.

Twilight yawned, “Uh-huh. Don’t care.”

“Well if you don’t want it back, then I guess I’ll just keep it,” came an accented voice from behind her, “But I was never one to hang onto things others drop.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Twilight faced around the back, “You kiss me in the hall and then you’re acting like it never happened! Gee, thanks! I had no idea kisses were taken so lightly where you come from!”

Ascentia cocked an eyebrow and held up a tiny purple star pendant, “Is this yours? It looks like the star on your skirt.”

“Wha-? That…!” Twilight muttered and grabbed it, “Thanks,” she turned away again.

Ascentia shrugged and turned to go back to her seat when Rainbow grabbed her sleeve.

“Hang on, this is really eating her up,” Rainbow said briskly, “Why’d you kiss her?”

Ascentia shrugged, “I’m gay, she was being cute, sue me.”

She shook her sleeve out of Rainbow’s grip and returned to her seat.

“Then why’d you tell her to never mind?” Rainbow called across the bus.

“She has really bad breath!” Ascentia called back.

Twilight breathed heavily, getting increasingly irritated, “THAT is your excuse?! Then why didn’t you say so?! Huh?! Why did you play with my head?! You thought it was funny?! Huh?! Well, it wasn’t! I wasn’t laughing! Oh, but I bet you were! I bet you don’t even care how I feel! Well, fine! I don’t care! Just get away from me! If you don’t care, just leave me alone! Because I’m getting sick of your attitude! I try to be nice, actually nice, and you’re just...urgh! Just go away! I hate you!”

Ascentia turned back around, looking bewildered again, and returning to the front of the bus, “Twilight, aren’t you straight?”

“No,” Fluttershy replied before Twilight could respond, “She’s the only one at the school who’s openly gay.”

“Oh…” Ascentia said, realizing what she’d done, “I’m sorry, Twilight. I wasn’t trying to mess with you. I’m tough, I’m not cruel.”

“GAH! Just… just stop it! Stop it!” Twilight blushed, “Did I, at ANY point, indicate I was bothered by a girl kissing me?! No! I didn’t! Even so, you don’t just do that and act all like it doesn’t matter! If you’re going to do that, MEAN IT! Be straight with me or just get out of my face! If you wanted to talk to me, you should have! But no! You blew it! I wanted to talk to you! I wanted to get to know you, but you blew it! BLEW IT! Now get out of my face! I don’t want to hear another word out of your stupid mouth! Just-stop looking at me! You’re making me crazy! GAH! You… You… urgh! You smell!”

Grabbing her bag, Twilight rushed past her and got off the bus. Despite it being four stops from where she usually got off. Ascentia have a small nod of the head to Twilight’s friends.

“I won’t bother you girls again,” she said calmly, returning to her seat.

“Wow,” Rainbow said quietly, “One kiss and Twilight’s driven right up the wall and screaming at people. What do you think would have happened if they started dating? She’d kick the shit out of her?”

“Oh please, Rainbow,” Applejack scoffed, “Twilight’s half her size.”

“That was simply terrifying! I haven’t seen her this angry!” Rarity murmured, wide-eyed, “Surely there are the types who bring out the worst in you, isn’t there…”

“A first for me, the day I fall in love!” Pinkie sang out dramatically.

“Great, Pinkie’s shipping people again,” Rainbow sighed.

“Oh, dear…” Fluttershy shook her head, “That could have gone better.”

“So…” Rainbow said slowly, “You guys wanna follow her and bug her about it?”

“Me! Me! Me me me me ME!” Pinkie waved her hand excitedly.

“Okay, Pinkie’s down, anyone else?” Rainbow asked.

Rarity spoke up, “Exactly what are we planning to accomplish, dear?”

“Bug Twilight into admitting she’s got it bad for the new girl,” Rainbow smirked, “What else do we do?”

Pinkie giggled knowingly, “Hello, Pot… calling the Kettle, are we?”

“What does that mean?” Rainbow asked.

Rarity and Applejack exchanged confused glances, Fluttershy blinked and tilted her head cutely, while Pinkie just smiled knowingly.

“Oh, nothing, Dashie. So then, let’s form our posse and go find Twi-twi!”

Rainbow pulled the cord and brought the bus to a halt and the two girls jumped off and ran back in the direction they’d come after Twilight.

“Twilight!” Rainbow called as she spotted her, “Wait up!”

Twilight turned around, “Girls, what are you doing? You all live in different parts of the neighbourhood!”

“Rainbow Dash had the idea to follow you and bug you until you go back and talk to really-weird-sounding-name and I said YAY! And then Rarity said BOO! So we jumped off the bus and came and found you and then you asked what we were doing and I said that Rainbow Dash had the idea to follow you and bug you until-”

Rainbow Dash put a hand over Pinkie Pie’s mouth, “The first bit of what she said.”

“...Why? Why?!” Twilight asked, bewildered, “I want nothing to do with her!”

“Oh c’mon, Twi,” Rainbow laughed, “This girl’s gotten you all worked up so easily. If you really want nothing to do with her, why is this bugging you so much?”

“Because you just don’t do that!” Twilight griped, turning around and walking away, “I don’t care! I just want her to leave me alone! I don’t like people messing with my head!”

“Well that’s a little harsh,” Rainbow said, following her, “She’s probably… what, the first person to ever kiss you and… oh now I see what’s bugging you so much.”

“What?” Pinkie asked blankly.

“Twilight, that was your first kiss, wasn’t it?” Rainbow asked.

Sighing, Twilight nodded, “Yes. Yes it was. But regardless of that, you don’t just kiss someone out of nowhere! And play off like she did! That was just…! Who does that?! No consideration, no asking, no follow up… nothing! Girls, just take off your rose-coloured glasses and drop it! I don’t care! She can kiss my butt for all I care!”

“Oh take the stick out of your ass, Twilight,” Rainbow laughed, “First of all, who the hell asks to kiss someone? That just sounds cheesy as all hell. Second, I know you’re someone who just likes to read through the entire library, but people make out with each other randomly all the time. It’s more common than breathing.”

“Will you just stop?! I want nothing to do with her! And you girls are not making me regret my decision!”

“Well, dear, she was sorry… I’m sure she just had no possible clue how to even approach you,” Rarity reasoned, “She did seem a little sad when you left. Come now, give her a chance.”

“Yeah Twi-Twi,” Pinkie chirped, “It’d be soooooo cute!”

“I’m with Pinkie, it sounds cute,” Rainbow said to the stares from the other two, “Oh what?”

“I… um, agree with Rainbow, too…” Fluttershy said softly.

“Yeah Twi. I don’t think it’s really all that nice to just freak out like that,” Applejack added, “At least go talk to her about it without jumpin’ to conclusions.”

“No…” Twilight shook her head, “I can’t! I just… I feel things when she’s near and she just makes me… urgh! Angry! Crazy! I don’t like it!”

“Oh my god, just go fucking do it!” All five of them shouted.

“Cut the angsty crap and just go talk to her,” Rainbow said in exasperation.

“And if I don’t?”

Rainbow smirked, “We’ll unleash Pinkie Pie on you for hours.”

“Uh-huh,” Twilight rolled her eyes, “You forget that I’ve gone on vacation with her a couple times. I can handle her.”

“We’ll give her coffee,” Rainbow threatened.

The girls all gasped.

“... I swear to Celestia, I am going to get you for this, Rainbow Dash… all of you…” Twilight snarled. “FINE! I’ll go hear her out! Then that’s it!”

“YAY!” Pinkie squealed as the girls all smiled in satisfaction.

Next Chapter: Thing About Collateral Damage Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 11 Minutes