To say that Twilight looked nervous right now would have been a great understatement. She was fidgeting immensely with her hands, occasionally adjusting her glasses, and even the quiet and calm of her surroundings did little to make her feel better. It was a bright and sunny day right now, and the massive park was as green and verdant as it always was. Families and friends went about their day, smiling and having fun with each other. But, amongst all those happy faces, there was one with no smile, and it was this person that Twilight now focused on. Moondancer was here, right across from Twilight, though the former had not noticed her. She was sitting on a park bench, completely by herself, reading a book that lay upon her lap. For the longest time, Twilight simply stared at her, as if it was all she could do. But, in time, she let out a long sigh, then took in a deep breath.

"Well...I guess this is it."

She started to walk forward, taking slow step after slow step, still very much afraid to do what it was she was planning on doing. But onwards she went all the same, and while there was much in the way of activity around her from all the other people in the park, it just blurred together, being blocked out in her mind as she focused more and more on the one she drew nearer to. And speaking of whom, Moondancer herself was largely oblivious to Twilight as she walked to her. That is, until the latter finally reached the bench, taking a moment to get her thoughts together before, finally, bringing her fist to her mouth and deliberately cleared her throat. The effect was immediate, as Moondancer looked up from her book, gaining an instant look of surprise when she saw who it was that stood before her. Twilight, for her part, was at a loss on what to say, and so simply said the only thing she felt capable of saying right now.

"Um...hi?"

Silence fell between the two girls for a long time, with Twilight being incredibly nervous and Moondancer seeming rather taken aback to this unexpected turn her day had apparently taken. But, after this uncomfortable moment had come and gone, Moondancer broke out of her blank stare, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"...How did you know I'd be here?"

Raising one hand, Twilight scratched the back of her head, averting her gaze from the other girl as she responded.

"I might have...um...asked around?"

Moondancer did not enquire further on that matter. In fact, from the look on her face, it was clear that she didn't want to speak to Twilight at all right now, instead electing to turn her attention back to her book. But, unlike before, she did not do so with a sense of calm, but rather a deep frown, making it obvious to anyone what kind of mood she was in right now. Twilight, seeing this, hesitated for a time, before speaking up again.

"Can...can I sit there?"

She gestured to a spot on the bench next to Moondancer, which was currently vacant. Moondancer herself did not answer, merely shrugging her shoulders. It was something at least, and Twilight, who was also keeping quiet, slowly moved over to the bench, sitting herself down and gently placing her hands upon her knees. Several minutes passed, and neither girl looked to the other or said a word. But, such circumstances did not last forever, and Twilight let out a long sigh, turning her whole body to face Moondancer.

"Moondancer...I came to say...I'm sorry."

Here, Moondancer did look to her, her expression hard to read, save for a raised eyebrow. Nevertheless, Twilight carried on.

"I mean it! When we met at the library the other day, I...I wasn't thinking right. I said all those things and...it never occurred to me how you might have felt."

To that, Moondancer's frown returned, and she once more looked down to her book.

"You never thought about my feelings before, so why should I have expected that to change now?"

That remark cut deep, as evidenced by the wince Twilight displayed in her expression. But, it also served to make her tone more of a pleading one as she kept on speaking.

"You're right. I didn't think of you back in those days! I was never comfortable being around others, or opening myself up to them. But you..."

She looked away, clearly ashamed right now.

"...you tried all the same. You wanted to be my friend, even in spite of me...never really being worthy of your friendship."

Moondancer glanced up to her, though only for a moment, before looking back to her book. Twilight, not noticing this, continued.

"But I want you to know...I'm not that same person anymore. Having friends, having people near me who want to be a part of me and my life? That's something that matters to me now. It's something I want to have more of in my life."

She briefly paused.

"And when I think back to you, to all those moment you wanted to be my friend, only to be met with me...well...I don't need to remind you."

"No, you don't," Moondancer replied stoically.

Twilight nodded.

"I know. Which is why I'm here now. You didn't deserve to be ignored like you were, Moondancer. You deserved to have somebody who would accept what you were offering them. I don't know what it was that made you want to be my friend, but I didn't give you a chance, and for that..."

She hung her head low.

"...I'm sorry."

As before, there was silence between them, during which, Moondancer slowly looked up from her book at last. She looked straight at Twilight, to the expression she wore, and realised that she'd meant every word of it. There was no hint of half-heartedness or deception here, it was a genuine attempt to make amends. As such, hesitancy flickered in the girl's eyes for a time, causing her to, on more than one occasion, look away from Twilight. In the end, she closed her book, letting out a long sigh and just staring at the cover as she, to Twilight's surprise, started speaking.

"Back when we were at school together...I always looked up to you. As good as I was in our classes, you were always better."

Twilight watched her carefully, letting her say everything she needed to.

"There was nothing academic that school threw at you that you couldn't handle. It was as if science and all those other fields were as natural to you as breathing."

She turned to look her straight in the eye.

"I admired that. I respected that. In time...that respect made me want to be closer to you. To maybe...be your friend."

Hesitation came to her for a time before she went on with her words.

"But there came a time when it became clear to me that you weren't interested in being my friend. That you were fine on your own. I..."

She turned away.

"...I accepted that, even if it did make me...unhappy."

Again, shame crossed Twilight's face, but all the same, she listened to what her old classmate had to say.

"Hearing you talk about having made friends over at CHS...seeing you so happy from having what I spent so long trying to give you...I won't deny...it hurt."

A pang of guilt coursed through Twilight, but it was not long before her former colleague looked her right in the eye. She let out another sigh, then, to Twilight's shock, started to smile.

"But...I know you didn't mean to upset me, Twilight. You never meant to make me feel what I felt. And if you're truly sorry, if you truly want to try again..."

Her smile grew a little bit.

"...then...I want to try again too."

Hearing that, Twilight's face lit up, to the point where she almost started to form tears in her eyes over how happy she was right now. Instead, she nodded, speaking up in a genuinely joyful tone.

"I...thank you. Being able to start things over between us would mean a lot to me."

Moondancer nodded.

"It means a lot to me too."

The two girls giggled a little bit, and when it was over, Twilight let out a sigh of her own.

"I guess...we should start from the beginning then."

Moondancer nodded a second time.

"Yeah, that...that would be good."

Silence passed between them, as though neither one of them knew what to say or do right now. Apologies had been given and honesty had been spoken, but even so, now that it actually came to the things that were to go on afterwards, neither girl seemed to have any inkling on how to go about it. As one would expect, this was a little awkward for them, with Twilight nervously scratching the back of her head.

"I'll admit...I kinda didn't expect to actually have you accept my apology. I'm...not really sure what to do."

Hearing that, Moondancer gained a small smirk and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Twilight, the great learner of friendship, doesn't know what to do here?"

The two laughed together at that remark, relieving much of the tension and bad feeling of what had come before. But, like had happened so often today, they couldn't find the words to say to one another. That is, until an idea came to Twilight.

"So...what were you going to do with that book we were both reaching for at the library?"

Moondancer gained some confusion in her expression as she answered.

"Me? Well...we've got a test coming up at Crystal Prep in a week's time and I needed to get some extra studying in."

Twilight's smile returned.

"We've got a test coming up too! So..."

She nervously poked the ends of her fingers together.

"...would you...um...like to study...together?"

Moondancer took that in, considering the offer that had been made, before breaking out into a smile, much to Twilight's delight.

"Yes, Twilight...I would like that."