Canterlot High had, over the last few years, gained something of a reputation. To those “in the know” it was a place of hectic and wild activities, and that was if you didn't count the occasional magical goings on. However, there was at least one place on the entire campus that was far from the usual hustle and bustle of school life here, and that was the CHS library. This place, which was the embodiment of calm and peaceful at the school, was where the really serious studiers came to for their work. If you needed to get on with your academics, this was the place to come to. And so it was that Sunset Shimmer now found herself here, working through a particularly difficult-looking algebra equation. Page after page of math textbooks she poured over, and yet, given the kind of student she was, rarely did she ever seem to struggle with it. But then, that was Sunset, always the best there was at this school when it came to that kind of thing.

However, she did not stay there for long, because, as anyone who knew her could have guessed, it took her very little time to actually finish her work on such a thing, and so, with a satisfied smile upon her face, she closed her book, making sure to do so quietly, lest the library’s keeper, Cheerilee, be disturbed by the sound of books slamming shut. Although, as Sunset got up from her desk, she stopped when she heard the distinct sound of the library’s door opening up. Turning, a look of surprise crossed her face when she saw that there, entering the library in earnest, was none other than Sugarcoat, one of Crystal Prep’s most noted students. Still clad in the uniform of that school, the girl earned herself more than a few glances from the CHS students. However, they paid her no mind, given that their schools had come to something of a truce recently. And yet, it was Sunset who finally spoke to her when she began to pass her general area.

“Sugarcoat?”

At that, the girl stopped, turning to see Sunset at last. After looking her over for a moment, the Crystal Prep girl adjusted her glasses a little before finally speaking up.

“Good to see you Sunset. Busy with homework, I assume?”

Sunset nodded before gesturing to the now-closed book on her desk.

“Just finished it actually. What about you?”

Sugarcoat regarded her for a moment before raising a hand and pointing to the rest of the library.

“Since our schools are getting closer nowadays, I thought it might do to really look around the place. See what it has to offer.”

Sunset considered that, before putting on a small smile and nodding.

“Well…I know I certainly like the school…though I doubt it really compares to a place like Crystal Prep if you wanted serious education.”

Sugarcoat nodded.

“Indeed. Our school has been around since the founding of the city. This one, by contrast is much younger…so I’m not surprised if it lacks some of the…refinement that Crystal Prep has to offer.”

Although Sunset would have wanted to instinctively defend her school, she realised that Sugarcoat had a point, and so sighed and nodded in response. Turning to her, Sugarcoat considered their conversation so far, before, rather hesitantly, speaking up again.

“Although…I will say that this place has it’s…charms. For one thing, you all seem far friendlier with one another than our school is.”

Sunset looked to her and let out a brief chuckle, gesturing to her desk, specifically to an empty seat that was on the opposite side from where she’d been sitting. Sugarcoat looked at it for a while before nodding to her, understanding her silent message. After watching Sugarcoat get seated, Sunset took her own seat again and leaned closer to her before finally starting to talk again.

“Believe me, everyone being all chummy with each other is a fairly recent thing.”

Sugarcoat raised an eyebrow at that.

“Am I to understand that you had something to do with that state of affairs?”

Sunset exhaled deeply, looking away with some slight shame upon her face.

“Guilty as charged. I was a mess back then. Kept wanting to keep people apart. I never understood or saw the value in the relationships people had with one another. So to keep control…I just ruined a whole lot of stuff.”

Sugarcoat listened to every word of that, looking intently at Sunset for a long while.

“Curious. To see you as you are now…one would never think you were anything else.”

Sunset nodded, a warm smile creeping onto her face.

“Believe me…it was a hard road. But…it was worth it.”

Nodding, Sugarcoat turned to the rest of the place.

“I must confess…despite the apparent damage you did to the various friendships here…you’d never assume that was the case. Everyone here is so much closer than the students at my school.”

Sunset looked to her, sensing a slight degree of envy in her voice, which naturally prompted her to speak up about it.

“Aren’t…aren’t there friendships over at your school?”

Sugarcoat turned to her and nodded.

“Of course. But, given the expectations placed on us, we often find that we have…other priorities.”

Sunset nodded at that, though her expression wasn’t a happy one.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

However, Sugarcoat raised a hand, stopping her.

“I appreciate your words, Sunset, but they’re unnecessary. It’s just something we’ve all grown used to. Most of us would not trade our lives there for anything, despite the obvious difficulties.”

Looking away, Sugarcoat looked deep in thought for a moment, gazing at all of the various girls and boys in the library, and the way they spoke and interacted with each other. Her eyes flickered for a moment as her thoughts set in for her, and before long, she turned back to Sunset.

“However…I am pleased to report that…well…things are becoming a bit more…social, back at the school.”

Sunset raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? How so?”

Sugarcoat considered that for a moment before giving an answer.

“It seems that our most recent competition against you has had quite an impact. Seeing the way you’re all friends with each other…I think it’s safe to say that it’s rubbed off on us.”

A smile crept onto Sunset’s face after hearing that.

“That’s…that’s good! You and the other Shadowbolts are making friends more?”

Sugarcoat nodded.

“Indeed. Aside from our recent interactions with you and the others, we’ve also taken to spending more time with one another. Before the Games, we very rarely spoke. We were just…classmates. Now…I think it’s safe to say that things are growing beyond that.”

Hearing that, Sunset gave a nod.

“Well…I’m happy to hear that. I know there was once a time when I would have been the last person to be any real authority on the matter, but…”

A silence feel for a few moments as Sunset considered her words, leading to her putting on a wider smile than before.

“…but I promise you…having friends in your life is something you will learn to cherish. And a day will come when you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.”

Sugarcoat considered that, before giving a short nod.

“You are a most intelligent girl, Sunset. It’s a shame you elected to go here instead of Crystal Prep. You’d have done well there.”

A chuckle escaped Sunset after hearing that.

“I appreciate the offer, Sugarcoat. But I…well…the old me…all I cared about back then was being better than everyone else. Being a big fish in a small pond suited me pretty well, as terrible as that might be to say.”

Sugarcoat nodded at that.

“Not terrible in the slightest. If what you were looking for was a sense of superiority, then your choice was a wise one. May I ask if that’s how you still feel?”

Hearing that, Sunset shook her head.

“No. At least…not the way it was before. Before…it was all about me. Now…now I stay because, well…this place is home to me. The school, the friends I’ve made here…it’s just home.”

Sugarcoat sat there in silence, looking deep in thought.

“Good. It’s…it’s good that you feel that way about your school.”

There was something in her voice, hesitation perhaps, that Sunset picked up on immediately. And while a voice in her head warned against probing too deeply, she nevertheless felt the need to.

“Haven’t you ever felt that way about your school?”

To that, Sugarcoat merely shook her head.

“No. Not really.”

Sunset thought long and hard about that, thinking how best to respond, until, at last, she said the only thing she knew she could.

“Well…if things really are getting better there, like you said…maybe you will feel that way about it…one day.”

Sugarcoat looked to her, and for a brief moment, Sunset could have sworn she was about to smile. However, this was not the case, and yet, when she spoke, her voice now had what could only be described as a happier tint to it.

“…One can only hope.”