"This is a bad idea"

"Rainbow Dash, don´t say that. This is my first official act as a Princess, I´ll like a little support," Twilight said.

"Bringing all the jerks and villians on Equestria for a party at the castle? Sure, that sounds like a good idea. What was I thinking?" Rainbow mocked her.

"Rainbow, one of the most important lessons in friendship I learned is that everybody, and I mean everybody, deserves a second chance."

"A-ha. And how come you didn´t invite King Sombra or the Changeling Queen?"

"Because one exploded in pieces and the other is literally an embodiment of evil. All those that I invited have show signs of actually wanting to be better, just look at Trixie and Lightning Dust, it seems they have become friends," and Twilight pointed at the magician and the former Wonderbolt who were friendly chatting in a corner.

"Sure. Friends," Rainbow said, noticing how the two mares were actually flirting with each other.

"Come on Rainbow, this is important. Also, it´s important for Princess Luna, I think she still feels guilty  her past actions," Twilight said, looking at the Night Princess who was talking with Discord. The draconequus offered her a trade of sandwiches that promptly come to life and start dancing a russian dance.

"....okay." Rainbow conceded.

But Rainbow´s concerns were not so much about having the likes of Discord around, but more about a former friend that was about to burst. Gilda was at the table, trying to get something to drink, while Pinkie Pie kept bouncing around her and chatting about how happy she was to see her again and how she was no longer a meanie-grumpy-panties-betty and how she likes strawberries but likes blueberries more and...

"LEAVE ME ALONE!!" Gilda shouted and flew off the party.

"Oh that Gilda! I thought she had learned her lesson last time. Well, she won´t escape this time," Twilight said, ready to take off but Rainbow grabbed her tail.

"Wait. Leave her alone, Twi."

"Didn´t you saw what she just did? She needs to be lectured!"

Rainbow sighed "Let me explain you something about Gilda, Twi. When she likes somebody, I mean really liked her, she gets so frustrated she doesn´t know what to do so she just yells and flies off."

"What? You are saying she actually...likes Pinkie?"

Rainbow nodded.

"But I don´t get it. Why is she mean to her?"

"Like I said, is a thing Gilda does. She can´t admit she likes Pinkie so she just acts like she is mad but she really isn´t."

"Like you do with Applejack?"

"What? NO! It´s not like that! Shut up!"

****

Meanwhile, in the middle of the garden, Gilda was quietly weeping atop a large tree.

"I know you are there, come out now dweeb," she suddenly said.

Fluttershy then took her leaf hat and pop out from under some bushes. "Sorry. I wasn´t spying on your or anything."

"I don´t care," Gilda said, wiping her tears.

Fluttershy flew up next to Gilda and said "I heard you screaming. It was because of Pinkie, right?"

Gilda didn´t answered.

"Rainbow Dash told me about how you really feel about her."

Gilda said nothing but blushed a little.

"And I remembered that you used to act like that with me back in flight camp, remember that? How you used to yell at me and stuff?"

Gilda was now completely red.

"Back then, I was really scared of you. But after Rainbow explained things well...it was nice knowing that you thought I was pretty. You know, Pinkie is really popular, lots of ponies ask her out but she never gets they´re asking for a romantic date, she always thinks is a party date and does a lot of embarrassing things like showing up dressed like a clown."

This made Gilda chuckled.

"So if you never tell her how you really feel she may never realize."

"Even if I tell her she will still turn me down," Gilda said.

"I don´t think Pinkie will do that. She is really nice."

"You really think so? You really think she will go out with me after I was so rude to her?"

"Oh I bet she will. She isn´t really mad at you, Gilda. Pinkie knows that even the biggest of meanies has a soft spot," and Fluttershy waved at Discord on the party hall, and he waved back.

"Heh, you´re so corny..." Gilda complained but she was still blushing a little.

The party continued all night and to close it, Trixie and Ligtning did a fireworks spectacle. Gilda didn´t gathered the courage to ask Pinkie out but when the fireworks started, Pinkie finally went quiet and Gilda was able to stand next to her. Just that, standing next to her sya anything.

It was little but to Gilda it was more than enough.