“A sleepover?”

“Yeah!” piped Sweetie Belle. “It’ll be fun.”

You come to a halt on your swing and turn to Scootaloo who is jumping with excitement.

“We’ll play games, tell ghost stories…”

“...and do each other’s manes, and have makeovers!” Sweetie Belle interrupts. Both you and Scootaloo look at the filly with crooked stares. She turns away with a somber expression, muttering about how “it was fun to her”. Your attention quickly shifts back to Scootaloo.

“Who’s going to be there?”

“Well,” she begins, obviously trying to hide a grin. “Me, uh, Sweetie Belle… and Apple Bloom.”

Your heart jumps for a second. The way she tailed off that sentence makes this invite feel weird, but you shrug it off.

“All right. Count me in.”

Both fillies turn their heads in unison, sharing mischievous smiles.

“Okay, we’ll see you there!”

“Wait!” you blurt. The fillies come to halt and turn back to you, their exuberant faces now stone cold and annoyed.

“Yeah?” Scootaloo almost chides.

“Where is this sleepover?”

“Apple Bloom’s house, of course.”

Your bowels churn.

“Apple Bloom’s house?” you parrot. “Like where Big Mac lives?”

The two exchange deadpan stares, like they expected this.

“Well, of course,” Sweetie Belle explains. “There’s no way I could get my sister to do it without at least two month’s notice.”

“And my house is way too small to hold three fillies and a human,” Scootaloo adds. “Besides, Big Mac will be out of town for the weekend to make a delivery to Appleloosa, so you don’t have to be a scaredy cat.”

“I’d watch who you call ‘scared’,” you advise. Scootaloo’s cheeks turn red for a moment, possibly due a dare that she wouldn’t jump off the school roof with you. Sure, she was right that it was dangerous, and, sure, it resulted in a broken leg, detention for two weeks, and a scolding from Flitter and Cloudchaser, but it worth it the hype.

“Well, are you coming or not?” she snaps. It takes you a moment. Big Mac wasn’t going to be there, but what if he showed up unexpectedly like with the glue incident? It was probably a safe bet, though.

“I guess. I’ll have to talk to Flitter and Cloudchaser first.”

The fillies jump for joy once more and quickly gallop away from the swing set to the back of the school. A sudden burst of the usual “Cutie Mark Crusaders!” explodes out into the air, grabbing the playground’s attention. You can’t help but giggle. It was always funny when they came up with zany ideas for to find their cutie marks.

“Well, well, well, I guess the losers are going to have a sleepover together, huh?”

The hairs on the back of your neck raise for a moment as you turn to find none other than Diamond Tiara and her lackie Silver Spoon looming nearby.

“What do you want?” you grunt. You aren’t planning on dealing with them today, but something tells you you don’t have a choice in the matter.

The two snicker among each other as you get up from your and start walking away.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Diamond asks. If there was anything you’ve learned recently was playing this little game with her: If she started problems with you, the only way to win was not to play.

“I’m talking to you!”

You continue to walk off as she pursues you around the playground. Eyes start to linger, watching this scene of cat and mouse. Ponies begin to snicker as you ignore the filly and simply walk around the schoolyard.

And it’s clearly getting to Diamond.

“Would you stop for one second and listen to me?! I’m just trying to talk to you.”

“Well, I don’t want to talk to you of all ponies.”

She withdrawals for a moment, a hurt look on her face. Before she can react, the school bell rings, signalling the end of lunch. You quickly turn on your heel and fast walk back to the door as Silver tries to console her.

Cheerilee stands at the door, greeting each of her students as they file back to their seats, murmurs and whispers still cycling through the class.

“Alright everypony. Settle down.” The children quickly grow quiet as their attention turns to the teacher. “I’m assigning you each into a group for the rest of the day to do an assignment.”

The class grows uneasy for a moment. You can almost feel the dread. Last time you were stuck with Twist and Truffles. Handing in a paper covered with spit and crumbs didn’t warrant much success with Cheerilee.

“Scootaloo, you’ll be working with Featherweight and Dinky.” Scoots hangs her head in disappointment for not being paired with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, but seems content with being with Featherweight.

“Anon…” Your heart sinks for a moment.

Please don’t be Twist. Please don’t be Truffles.

“...you’ll be paired with Apple Bloom…”

“Oh, sweet Celestia,” you think to yourself. You quickly turn to Apple Bloom who beams at you.

“...and Diamond Tiara.”

And the smile’s gone. Both you and Apple Bloom turn the filly who’s just as struck as you are. Cheerilee shoots you a glare before you can raise your hand.

“This isn’t up for debate.”

Defeated, you sink into your seat. Being stuck with Twist and Truffles didn’t seem like such a bad idea now.

As Cheerilee continues down the list of groups, your classmate begin arranging their desks to bring their groups together. You and Apple Bloom bring yours side by side and Diamond Tiara drags her desk from across the room.

“Lousy service from both of you as usual. No help at all.”

“We’re not your slaves, Diamond,” Apple Bloom retorts.

“Now class, your assignment is to find something nice about the people in your group.”

You snicker to yourself, just loud enough that Diamond Tiara hears you but not Cheerilee.

The teacher continues. “We will be having Princess Twilight over this Monday to read some nice experiences you have had with your partners.” Her eyes gaze into the children’s souls. “I want you to take this seriously. Princess Twilight will be giving you a lesson on friendship and I want you all to be on your best behavior.”

Her eyes snap to your group almost instantaneously, searching deep into your wretched soul. You and your compadres can’t help but feel uncomfortable. Even the ice princess, Diamond Tiara, shifts in her seat. Cheerilee returns to the rest of the class.

“Now, let’s get out some paper and a pencil!”

“This should be easy for you guys,” Diamond gloats. You and Apple Bloom exchange uneasy looks.

“So,” Apple Bloom coos, “what’re you gonna put about me?”

You roll your eyes. “I did a report on you before. I’m just gonna copy it, duh.”

“And me?”

You turn back to Diamond. Your heart feels heavy now as you look at her sullen expression, desperate for some sort of positive feedback. You turn back to Apple Bloom in hopes of some help, your eyes screaming in desperation. Apple Bloom shrugs, unable to come up with something on the spot.

“Well, there’s a few I have in mind,” you lie. A moment passes before you write something down for Apple Bloom and then stare at the paper. The realization hits you.

She’s never done anything nice for you.

There had to be something. Picked up a pencil, threw something out for you, said you didn’t smell like crap that day. But no; nothing comes to mind whatsoever.

Soon enough, Cheerilee begins trotting among the students, collecting their sheets. One thing. Just one.

You grab the other two’s papers and place yours on the bottom of the stack as your teacher approaches your table. Without looking her in the eyes, you hand them over.

“Alright class. For the remainder of the day, you can all converse with one another.”

For the rest of the period, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle discuss your upcoming arrangement.

“You guys like apple pie? Oh! What about baked apples?”

“Don’t you have anything not apple related?”

“Don’t even joke like that Sweetie Belle.”

“I can bring some cupcakes!”

“Oh, what about some cider?”

“Donuts?

“What about games?”

“Truth or dare, definitely.”

“And Simon says!”

“Who’s Simon?”

“No, that the name of the game Scootaloo.”

“Why do we have to listen to him talk?”

Meanwhile, you’re just sitting blankly staring into the group. No words leaving your lips. You can’t help it; you feel bad for not writing anything.

But nothing came up. There was never a time Diamond Tiara was nice to you. And it wasn’t your fault.

Or maybe it was.

The only times you can remember ever even holding a conversation with her were through fighting. Also picking on one another, nagging on each other, showing each other up in the playground. There was never a time where you and her had a simple conversation.

“...Anon?”

You quickly snap up to see Apple Bloom’s worried face. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle seem to be arguing about Simon still.

“Yeah?”

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, why?”

“You’re awfully quiet. Do you not want to come to my sleepover?”

You shake your head.

“No, it’s nothing like that. I’m just zoning out, you know?”

“Alright. If something’s bothering you, you know you can always talk to me.”

“I know.”

With that, the final bell rings. The rest of the class jump down from their seats and rush for the door. Cheerilee looks up from her stack of papers.

“Have a good weekend, children.” Her voice goes blunt. “Anon, please stay behind.”

Expected. You didn’t even pick up your bag because you knew this was coming.

“I’ll see you and the other crusaders later tonight,” Apple Bloom whispers. “Don’t forget, seven o’clock sharp.”

And with that, the fillies gallops away. Cheerilee beckons you to her desk and pulls up a chair. You take a seat beside the bubblegum horse and wait patiently as she shuffles through the stack of papers. She pulls yours out.

“I can work with the fact that you reused your important memory with Apple Bloom for this project, but I have one question.”

Here it goes.

“Why did you leave Diamond Tiara’s section blank?”

“I don’t know, Miss.”

“I know you two don’t like each other very much, but that’s not only irresponsible, but really hurtful to Diamond Tiara.”

Silence courses your lips.

“I expect everypony in this class to get along, but I know not all of them can do so. There’s going to be differences amongst them. But they should work together to overcome those differences. And so far, neither you nor Diamond Tiara have even made an effort to do so.”

As you lay silent, twiddling your thumbs, Cheerilee clears her throat.

“Being mean to her isn’t going to help. Humiliating her in front of the princess isn’t going to resolve anything. And I will not have you doin—”

“She’s never been nice to me.”

“Excuse me?” Cheerilee seems taken aback.

“Every time we talk, we fight. She hasn’t so much as said thank you for handing her a tissue after sneezing.” You look up from your hands, straight into her eyes. “I have never had a nice moment with Diamond Tiara.”

Cheerilee leans back in her seat, shrouded in thought. She takes a moment to look up at the ceiling and let out an exasperated sigh.

“I’m giving you a separate assignment for the weekend. Consider it extra credit.”

Your ears perk up. If there was anything you needed, it was extra credit to pass.

“I want you spend some time with Diamond Tiara. I know you two fight a lot,” she mentions before you interject. “I just want you to try your best to have a good moment with her. A memory to look back to when you’re having your next fight that’ll possibly make you think, ‘Maybe it isn’t worth it,’ and stop what you’re doing. Can you do that for me?”

You nod. It’s just something you do out of habit at this point.

“Alright, go on and make some memories.”

As you sling your backpack over your shoulder, you stop for a moment.

“Ms. Cheerilee?”

“Yes?”

“Did… Did Diamond Tiara write anything about me?”

The teach continues to go through her paper before coming to a halt.

“Yes, she did. And it was nice memory of you.”

“Thank you, Ms. Cheerilee. I’ll try my best to make a nice memory.”

“You girls ready?” Apple Bloom asks.

The three fillies bring it in and place their hooves upon one another.

“You know it!” declares Scootaloo. “What could possibly go wrong?”

“Operation ‘Get AB the Guy’ is a go.” Sweetie Belle wear a smirk widely.

The three throw their hooves into the air.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders, Matchmakers!”

Scootaloo pulls out an old bottle from her saddlebag.

“We’ve got everything ready for when Anon get here.”

With a quick spin, the bottle stops right at the bag. Scootaloo pulls out a small metallic object and gives it to Apple Bloom.

“With this magnetic rim, the bottle will alway land on you. Then you can easily get Anon to do anything you ask!”

“Here.” Sweetie Belle lends a few note cards over to Apple Bloom. “I asked my sister to come up with some well thought out truths and the final dare. With these, we’ll lure him in, and get you a kiss by the end of the night!”

Apple Bloom blushes.

“You guys really want this to happen, huh?”

“You two were meant for each other!”

“Yeah! We wouldn’t set you up with just any old colt, now would we?”

Suddenly, a knock echoes throughout the house. The three fillies look up at the clock to see it’s a quarter past seven.

“He’s late!” says Scootaloo.

AJ’s voice booms throughout the entire house.

“Kids! Your friends are here for your sleepover!”

“Friends?” Sweetie Belle repeats.

“Like more than one?” Apple Bloom continues.

All three rush downstairs to find you standing in the doorway with another.

Diamond Tiara.

Author's Notes:

A bit of a short chapter just made to get the next one ready. I'm sorry I've been dead. I'll try not to do that again, but I won't promise anything.

I need sleep.