There was no question about it, Twilight was very unhappy right now. Sunset watched from the doorway of the music room to her friend, concern plastered all over her face. The young scientist was within, sitting quietly beside the window on the far side of the room, looking down at one of the books she'd checked out from the library. But even though it would appear as though she was studying, Sunset knew better. Gone was the fire and passion that was always there in her eyes when she was truly focused on her studies. Instead, her face was one of discomfort and worry, made all the more evident when she moved the pages of her book far slower than how most would. Sighing, Sunset eventually walked inside, closing the door behind her. Twilight knew she was approaching, but even so, she said nothing, even when her friend took hold of an unfolding chair and sat beside her.

"You okay?" the Equestrian asked.

Twilight did not respond, only stopping her readings when she had to adjust her glasses slightly. Sunset, with her face becoming more and more worried, let out another sigh.

"That girl, Moondancer. Do you have any idea why she might not have wanted to speak to you?"

Here, Twilight did respond, but it was only by way of looking away from her friend. Even so, it was something, and Sunset seized on this by continuing her questions.

"You two were classmates back at Crystal Prep, right? Were you friends?"

At long last, Twilight began to speak, closing her book and finally looking Sunset in the eye.

"I never really had friends back at Crystal Prep, aside from Spike. Mostly I just...kept to myself."

Curiosity crossed Sunset's face.

"You seemed to know Moondancer okay."

Twilight nodded.

"Yeah. She was one of the only ones there that didn't treat me...well...I'm sure you remember."

Sunset nodded back, remembering full well how often Twilight had been either neglected or looked down upon by her peers at the time. But, in spite of that, Sunset remained silent as Twilight continued.

"I was glad to see her again at the library because...it was always a nice change of pace, having her be nearby instead of some of the others at that school."

A look of thoughtfulness came to her as she carried on.

"In times whenever we had to go into pairs for some big project, she was the only one who'd volunteer to be my partner. If I ever forgot a book or needed a pencil, there she was, ready to help. Happy to help, in fact."

Sunset nodded.

"Sounds like she wanted to be your friend."

Twilight looked down.

"I know that. I just...didn't know at the time just how much."

Putting her book aside, Twilight got up from her chair, walked a few steps to the side and started staring out of the window.

"My lack of a social life back then wasn't just that other students there weren't nice to me. It's that...I don't know...it was like I went out of my way to isolate myself. That being around others just wasn't something I felt comfortable with. I don't know if it was just ne, or perhaps simply being in that environment...but that was how it was. And Moondancer..."

Shame grew on her face.

"...I never opened up to her. Whenever she expressed some interest to try and spend time with me, I always found some excuse, some reason not to be around her, even in the face of her having treated me so much better than everyone else."

Raising one hand, she covered her eyes.

"I was terrible to her! I understand that now...even if I couldn't back then."

Slowly, she turned back to face Sunset.

"And all those things I said? About having made new friends? I can't even imagine how she must have felt when I said those things."

Twilight frowned.

"I sounded so proud of myself too! So proud of being so good at making friends, when one of the few who ever offered friendship to me in those days was rewarded with me rejecting it!"

Sunset's expression was a soft one as she finally replied.

"Twilight...I'm sure you never meant to hurt her feelings. You're not the same person you once were. You're open to friendship now. Which means that things between you and Moondancer might get better."

But Twilight shook her head.

"No, Sunset! You saw her! She can't stand to even look at me right now! And why should she? I haven't even thought about her until you and I saw her yesterday!"

Shame took centre-stage in her expression.

"If this was just a case of me not noticing her, or maybe not realising she wanted to spend time with me because I was busy with something else, that would be one thing."

She shook her head.

"But that wasn't what happened! What happened was me actively trying to not have her in my life! I may as well have been like all those other students!"

A grimace crossed her face.

"Some friend I turned out to be! I have no right to even try to speak to her right now."

Taking that in, Sunset nodded solemnly.

"I know it seems that way, but trust me...speaking to her is something you need to do."

Twilight looked to her, confused, which prompted Sunset to continue.

"Years ago, back when I was Princess Celestia's student, I also had a lot of others students near me who wanted to be my friend. And like you...I pushed them away."

Regret grew in her expression.

"They never mattered to me, and because of that...I shut myself off from them. Even now...I wish I could go back and undo the things I said, the things I did."

Gradually, she got herself out of those memories, putting her full attention onto Twilight once more.

"But you? You can still reach out to the one you shut yourself from. It might not be easy, in fact, I can guarantee that it won't be easy. But..."

She got up from her chair, took a step towards Twilight, then gently placed a hand upon her shoulder, smiling sweetly to her.

"...I think this is something that you can put right."

Twilight seemed hesitant, so Sunset continued.

"Find her. Go to her. Talk to her. Because frankly..."

Her smile grew.

"...I think having you reach out to her is something I suspect she's waited a long time to see happen."

Twilight stayed quiet, taking in everything her Equestrian friend had said to her, even though she seemed almost fearful to do it. But, over time, her look of discomfort changed, becoming calmer, to the point where she gave a long sigh and slowly nodded. Sunset smiled to this, and watched as Twilight looked away from her for a time.

"So...any thoughts on how I can find her again?"

Sunset nodded, reaching into her pocket, pulling out her phone and starting to press some of the buttons. Twilight watched, seeing her go through a list of pre-existing phone numbers it had, until, at last, it stopped at the name "Sunny".

"I think I might know someone who could help."