April gave way to May. Summer vacation grew closer and everyone at CHS was growing restless (including the teachers). But as with most things you are waiting for, the closer you get to obtaining what you want, the slower time seems to go. Even as hearts and minds turned toward beaches, pools, hanging out, parties, and for some, summer jobs; the rituals of class still called out to be met. Homework was to be given, test taken, and lectures to be sat (and slept) through.

Rarity was almost a nervous wreck waiting for her birthday. The idea of getting a car (even though she couldn't drive it until she got her license), had her practically vibrating with excitement. She sometimes wondered if this is how Pinkie felt all the time. She was also busy designing and making a dress for Fluttershy. She had always felt a special bond with her, but since moving in, Rarity had really bonded with Fluttershy. The whole family had. Even Sweetie Belle referred to her as her other big sister. So she wanted to do something really special for her. Keeping it a secret was getting harder, though. I mean, they did live together.

AJ already had her learners permit. Big Mac had taken to teaching her how to drive on the farm. Sometimes they even went on the roads. Mostly those trips ended up at Maud and Pinkie's house. It was the strangest relationship she had ever seen. In fact it made Pinkie and Sonata's relationship seem downright pedestrian by comparison. Big Mac and Maud hardly ever talked; and when they did, it was usually to someone other than each other. They didn't hold hands, kiss, or anything even remotely "couplly". They would exchange a few words and then just sit in the living room. But AJ and the others would often end up in Pinkie's old room and play video games, so what they did while they were away was anyone's guess.

Pinkie had taken to teaching Sonata how to play drums. At the beginning and end of each practice she would go over different things with her. Sonata, for her part, was teaching Pinkie Old English, French, and some of the other languages she picked up during her time her on Earth. Sometimes they would just start talking to each other in one of them and leave the others completely lost.

Fluttershy had talked to Rainbow about trying out for the tract team next year. This was another step in Fluttershy's evolution. Before she would have never had the confidence to try out for a sports team, any team. But now she was feeling like she could and should do anything. Rainbow thought it was a good idea and worked on training her. After a couple weeks (and a lot of string pulling <being the captain of every sports team does have it's advantages>), she got an early try out for Fluttershy. Even though she had the low time, she was still just fast enough to make the team. Rainbow made Fluttershy to promise to keep practicing while she was away and Fluttershy did.

Sunset had begun looking into possible summertime jobs for her and Twilight. She found a position at a Barnes & Noble for Twilight and she found one working at Target. They were to start the day after school let out. She was happy that they both would have money coming in; but there was a part of her becoming depressed. She was feeling lonely and disconnected. She didn't know if it was because she was missing home and wanted to return or if it was something else. She saw how everyone else seemed to have a purpose. Twilight had Flash, Pinkie and Sonata had each other, AJ had the farm, Rarity her clothing, Rainbow had her sports, and Fluttershy had her transformation. What did she have? Maybe this new job would help, maybe she might even find- a boyfriend? Is that what she really wanted? Maybe it was. But if she found one, what would that mean? would she really go back home if she found love here? All serious questions she had to answer for her self.

Twilight was just fine. She had a band, Rarity was teaching her piano, she had wonderful friends (although there were times at night where she missed her old ones), she was excelling at her studies here in this world as well, and she had an amazing boyfriend. For her, life was great. She wrote to Spike just to keep up with what was going on back home. The one thing she never told him, never told anyone, was that she really didn't want to go back anymore. Being stripped of her princess ship gave her little reason to go back and, frankly, she loved it here now. She even loved her new body (although she wished she could how she and everyone else really looked).

Flash started working out more. He felt it was his duty to look as good for Twilight as possible. His father was becoming concerned about his son and decided to talk to him. Flash was down in the basement, working out, when his father came down.

"Hey son, mind if we talk?" the elder Sentry asked.

Flashed racked the weight he was lifting and said, "Sh . . sure dad. Uh. What's up?"

"I just want to talk to you about that lady of yours." Mr. Sentry tried to sound nonchalant, but still came off as sounding concerned.

"Twilight? What about her?" Flash was now concerned. What was his dad going to say? That he was getting too serious? That he should stop seeing her?

"Not much. I can tell she means a lot to you. And that's fine. I'd like to meet her though, sometime. It's been about a month now. But that's not it. I just want too make sure you, you're thinking alright. Know what I mean?"

Flash blushed. "Um dad, we already had this talk when I was thirteen, remember? I know what can go wrong and we haven't done anything. I mean that. We've been good."

Flash's dad blushed now. "No, I don't mean in that way. But I'm glad to hear it. No, I mean, sometimes when two people become so, entwined with one an another, they let other things slide. They get distracted. Grades fall, friendships get neglected; I just want to make sure you . . ., uh, have balance. That's all."

Flash nodded. "Well, my grades are still really good. My report card will prove that. I still practice with my band. Twilight's grades are off the chart good. She's a genius. Seriously. She has her own band, her own friends, and she's getting a job this summer. AND I still want to work for you this summer as well.

"I, I lover her dad. I can't explain why; but from the first moment I met her, I was drawn to her. And every time I'm with her, I feel whole, complete. I know it might just be 'young love' and hormones, but that's how I feel. Once she graduates, I plan on asking her to marry me. But with all that, I still also know it could all go south and fall apart. I'm not stupid dad. You raised me better than that."

Mr. Sentry smiled. "Well, you were a great boy to begin with. Alright. You at least know all the right things to say and I think you're also doing them as well. Just keep it up. Oh, and please invite her over sometime? We never got to meet your last girlfriend; I don't want the same thing to happen this time."

"Grandpa's coming over this Sunday right? I'll invite her to come over then."

"Is she white?" Mr. Sentry hating asking that question, but given the fact his dad never really forgave him for marrying a white woman, it was a valid question.

"No. She's Asian." At least in this dimension; but, actually, she's a purple, winged, unicorn princess , he thought to himself.

His dad nodded and left. Flash went over to the table where his shirt and phone were. "Time to call Twilight," he said to himself.

Author's Notes:

Just me moving the story along. Part 2 will be about what the Sirens have been up to. I was going to wait until the third act to say anything about them, but I have a good idea about a scene involving them, so I want to try it out. If it flops, I'll delete it and just edit the title of this chapter and drop the "Part 1". And, frankly, I've been missing my Adagio. Till next time.