Fluttershy already missed Rainbow. She had managed nearly two hours of studying before her brain demanded a short break. That “short break” turned into her dozing in and out of consciousness in her living room.

She lay on the couch sideways, listlessly watching the television at low volume. It was playing re-runs of an old sitcom she used to like as a child. It was about a talking horse named Ed. She had Tank hugged to her chest. Angel, meanwhile, nestled into the gentle bend of her neck. It was his favorite place when they napped together. She liked feeling his soft warm fur against her tender skin.

Sleepily, Fluttershy thought of the previous night, when she’d made love to Rainbow. Her girlfriend had been so gentle and sweet. As she pumped her fingers into Shy’s aching wet sex, she’d whispered heatedly how much she loved her. Fluttershy had to kiss Rainbow hard on the mouth just to muffle her orgasmic cry.

They’d both fallen asleep without trouble, and for a moment Fluttershy believed that maybe Rainbow was going to be all right. Then she awoke to find Rainbow had returned from the gym…off. Oh, her exuberant entrance and the tight hug had certainly been lovely, but as Rainbow settled down on the couch, Fluttershy could see the air of fatigue and frustration that lingered about her girlfriend. After some gentle prodding, Rainbow revealed the cause. Her father had revoked her gym membership. Dashie did a valiant job of putting on a brave face, but Fluttershy wasn’t fooled. She knew her girlfriend was in pain.

It’s why she’d recommended contacting Twilight. If Fluttershy could take away at least one of the things stressing her lover out, she wanted to do it. Desperately.

She heard a little snort. Fluttershy blinked her eyes open, unaware she’d even closed them again. Shifting only a little, she looked down to see Tank poking his head out of his shell to peer at her with his dark eyes. Rainbow had been very diligent with the eye drop treatment. His vision looked practically restored. This made him a lot more active than when they had first brought him back from the shelter. She was so delighted to see his patient curiosity unleashed once more.

Fluttershy smiled at Tank. “Hullo. How are you feeling?”

The tortoise tilted his head just a little. I’m fine, he seemed to say. How are you?

“I’m doing all right,” she said with a sleepy grin. Her brow wrinkled a little. “Just worrying about Rainbow.”

Tank snorted softly. Me too.

“She likes you a lot, you know,” Fluttershy cooed earnestly, her grin widening into a strong smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her dote on something like she has with you.”

The reptile dropped his head a little. She is nice. But I know I am too slow for her. She will tire of me.

Fluttershy shook her head, her eyes wide. Had the poor dear been thinking this all this time? “No, Tank. I don’t think that’s true. She really does care for you!”

Tank blinked at her, his smile widening. It is okay. I am happy. You are all nice. I will remember this no matter where I go.

Fluttershy’s eyes stung with sudden tears. She opened her mouth to say something, but Angel Bunny thumped her neck with his hind legs, making her wince. She felt him nuzzle his nose into her ear, chittering irritably. Pipe down! I’m trying to sleep.

Sighing, Fluttershy picked Angel up by the scruff of his neck and set him on top of Tank’s shell. She eyed him reproachfully as she propped her head up on her hand. “Angel, you could be a little more sensitive!”

He crossed his arms and growled at her. Spare me!

Tank tilted his head back to blink slowly up at him. I am sorry we woke you.

Angel squeaked at him sharply, his little paws going to his hips. Forget it. What’re you mopin’ about anyway?

“Tank thinks that Rainbow won’t want him around anymore,” Fluttershy said with a downcast look. “This isn’t true! I think she would be very sorry to see you go.”

Tank actually squinted one eye at her. Did you ask?

Fluttershy blushed and fidgeted. “Er… no.”

The tortoise sighed and retreated into his shell. Good. Please do not. I know what she will say.

Angel shook his head at her with hooded eyes. Nice going.

Fluttershy sat up, gingerly displacing the critters. “Oh, Tank…” She looked at him with worry. She tried to think of something to dissuade him, but before she could try to voice any of her half-formed protests, her cell phone rang on the coffee table. Fluttershy sat forward to see what the caller ID displayed on her screen. It was Twilight.

Looking down at Tank with a worried frown, Fluttershy spoke as she reached for her phone. “Tank, I’d like to discuss this later, if that’s all right. I’m afraid I have to answer this.”

Picking up her device and tapping the green call symbol, she pressed it to her ear. “Hello, Twilight?”

“Hi, Fluttershy,” Twilight said. She sounded exhausted. “Sorry, I just saw your text. Would you still like some help with Rainbow’s project?”

Fluttershy nodded eagerly, then she blushed upon realizing her friend couldn’t see this. “Oh, yes we’d very much like your help!”

“O-kaaay,” Twilight yawned, a tired creak underlying her otherwise pleasant voice. “Of course, I’d be happy to help! I would have offered sooner, but Rainbow didn’t seem interested.” Her voice took on a wry edge that made Fluttershy smile nervously. “Honestly, I’m surprised she’s letting me. The second the word ‘study’ ever leaves my mouth, she practically teleports out of the room.”

“Rainbow isn’t fond of studying, that’s true,” Fluttershy said with some apology evident in her voice. “But she’s struggling. The methods that usually work for me don’t seem to work as well for her.”

“I understand, Fluttershy. I’m actually looking forward to seeing what Rainbow’s learning style is like. Once we figure that out, we’ll nail down an approach you guys can use. Sound good?”

“Oh my goodness, yes! That sounds perfect, Twilight!”

Twilight yawned again, louder this time. “Phew! Gosh, sorry. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

Fluttershy frowned. “Good heavens, it certainly sounds that way. Were you studying late?”

“Sorta.” Fluttershy could hear a small clatter over the line, then Spike’s voice cut in.

“Hey, hey! Is that Flutters?? Will you tell her I said hi? Please?”

“Spike!” Twilight yelped. There was a loud bump.

The next second, Spike’s voice came in louder over the speaker. “Fluttershy! Hi! It’s Spike! Can you hear me?”

Fluttershy giggled. “Hello, Spike!”

“Can I come with–?!”

“All right, that’s enough, buster,” Twilight griped in the background. Another small clatter. Spike whined and barked. Then Twilight came back on the line, “Knock it off, Spike! I’ll only take you if you’re good, and right now you’re freaking out super bad!” Her voice became muffled for a moment as she spoke to her dog. “Seriously, we talked about this…”

“I don’t mind if Spike comes!” Fluttershy said, sitting up straight. Her heart sped up a little. Would she finally be able to see him? She hadn’t seen Spike in months! “I’ve missed him ever so much!”

Twilight hesitated a moment before answering her. “Are you sure? He’s been a little more pent up lately.” She sighed hard, distorting the line. “It’s totally my fault. I’ve been so busy with work we haven’t gone on as many walks.”

Fluttershy’s forehead wrinkled with worry for them both. “You poor dears! Twilight, if you needed someone to watch Spike for a few days, I would be more than happy to help!”

“Didn’t Star Weld ban you from sheltering pets?” Twilight asked hesitantly.

“Spike is different. He’s a friend!” Fluttershy said earnestly. “I can watch him! That way you can finish whatever you’re working on.” She blinked, her brow creasing. “Er…speaking of which…so sorry, but may I ask what has you so busy?”

“Oh,” Twilight chuckled. “Uh, well… lots of things! My project with Sunset, for one. I’ve also been following up on possible solutions for Sunset’s money problems, and I think I may be close to an answer!” She faltered. “And, y’know. Other stuff. It’s kinda awkward to talk about over the phone. M-Maybe we can chat more about that later? If there’s time.”

Fluttershy bit her lip. She knew a dodge when she heard one. “All right, Twilight,” she said gently.

Twilight sounded much more alert now. The sounds in the background shifted once more, like she was moving through different rooms. Fluttershy heard a sink running and Twilight’s mother’s voice say something indistinct. “Hi Mom. Can I have a gimbap, please?” Another sigh, “Yes, I’ll take the trash out. Salanghaeyo.” Twilight meeped. “Fluttershy, my mom is throwing rice at me! This is child abuse!”

Fluttershy touched a hand to her smiling lips. Her eyes clouded a little with tears and she tried to keep the lump from forming in her throat. She had missed hearing this. So very much. Just about all of their friends were either parentless or had moved out by now. Twilight was the last one still at her parent’s house full-time. Partly because of how close she lived to campus, but also because Twilight had an unpleasant experience during her attempt at residing in the freshman dorms. When asked what she’d disliked so much about it, she had simply said, “It was cramped, noisy, and people partied too much.”

Fluttershy sympathized a great deal, though admittedly, she stayed with Star Weld not only because it was easier, it was more cost-effective too. Plus, she could take care of Star this way. Her big brother would no doubt live off of junk food if she didn't.

Twilight was much happier living back home for the remainder of her college career. And it gave Fluttershy the rare chance at hearing what a complete family sounded like. Her eyes flitted up to the pictures of her parents framed on the wall. She hummed, feeling warmth in her chest. “Now, Twilight, I’m sure your mother means well.”

“She hates when I say, ‘I love you,’” Twilight laughed. When she spoke again, her mouth sounded full, like she’d taken a bite of the aforementioned gimbap. Fluttershy pouted with muted envy. Twilight’s mom made some of the best. “Not because she hates it, but just because she gets super embarassed. Apparently that wasn’t a big thing with her mom’s generation so when she married my dad, this goofy white American who hugs just to say hello–” she laughed in lieu of finishing. After swallowing her food, she spoke in a quieter tone. “I know Korean culture frowned on overt displays of affection, but holy moly, it’s crazy seeing her try to work through a hug, Shy. Crazy! She gets so flustered, but you can tell she’s happy, it’s super duper cute.”

Fluttershy leaned back into her couch. “Mrs. Twilight certainly deserves an, ‘I love you’. How do you say it in Korean again?”

“Salanghaeyo.”

“Sa-lang-hay–o?” Fluttershy giggled bashfully, her cheeks warming up. “Gosh, that didn’t sound right at all.”

She heard Twilight laugh. “It’s fine. My Korean isn’t very good. I barely get by talking to relatives. I’d really love to sit down one of these summers and just work on it, but well…”

Fluttershy’s eyes tensed with sympathy. “But we always seem to be solving a new magic problem instead?”

“Yeah…” Twilight said with a little sigh. “I guess if it isn’t us, then who, right?”

Fluttershy leaned on her couch’s armrest. “Um, right.” Was she imagining things, or did Twilight sound weary just now?

“So listen, about meeting up–is it all right if I meet you guys early this evening?” Twilight asked. “Right now I was going to go over to the Delta Alpha Kappa sorority to meet with Pinkie Pie and Rarity. From there we were going to head to their venue for the 80s party. I’m coding a light show for the event and I wanted to demonstrate what I had in mind.”

Fluttershy’s eyebrows rose high. “That sounds very interesting!”

“It might not be as exciting as you think. But you’re free to come with me if you’d like! I’m sure they won’t mind.”

Fluttershy beamed, standing up from the couch. “Twilight, I’d love to! I’ll get ready and meet you there. Are you leaving very soon?”

“Yep, pretty shortly here. Just need to take a shower and stuff.” There was barking in the background. “Yes, Spike, you’re coming too,” Twilight said with a little laugh.

Fluttershy looked at Angel and Tank on the couch. Her bunny had curled up on Tank’s hard back to resume his nap. Tank meanwhile was peeking at her curiously from the safety of his shell. “I’ll bring Angel and Tank with me,” she said with a grin. “That way they can all play together!”

“Oooh, good idea. Sounds like a plan, Flutters! See ya in a bit.”

“I look forward to seeing you, Twilight!” Fluttershy ended the call and looked at the two critters with a massive smile. “It appears we’re meeting with friends this afternoon! Isn’t that lovely?”

---

Sassaflash heaved a sigh of relief as she dropped her paper into her class’s assigned submission tray. The trays were stackable and labled with other class codes for all the courses her professor taught. Starlock Sleuth was a pretty easygoing teacher, but he had little sympathy for those who failed to meet his rather forgiving deadlines. Sass could imagine an anime sweat drop roll down the side of her face as she waved at Professor Sleuth, who was seated at his desk on the other side of the room, grading papers. He returned the wave with an amused grin.

“Cutting it close this time, Sass,” he said with a small chuckle.

Sassaflash giggled with a small wince, “Yeah, I was pretty bad this week. Sorry, professor!”

His golden eyes tensed with mirth. “Nice job for getting that done. I’ll see you next week. Good luck on your game!”

She flashed him a thumbs up as she headed for the door. “Thanks! Have a great weekend.”

Outside, Rainbow and Spitfire were leaning on the wall by the door.

“All good?” Rainbow asked, straightening.

Sass beamed at her. “Yep!”

“Cool.” Spitfire patted her stomach. “Let’s get some grub. I’m starving.”

Sassaflash looked at Rainbow, her features pinching with apprehension. “Woah, wait. Where are we going, though? Are you comfortable spending money on a meal, right now, Dashie? My parents took my credit card along with my car for the party fiasco, but I still have cash if you need.”

Rainbow shook her head, her brow tensing a little. “Don’t worry about it. I figure one meal won’t hurt. If the tips are as good at that restaurant as coach says, then I’ll be fine come Friday.”

“We can always eat on campus if you want,” Sass offered, her own brow tensing. “They have pretty good salads near the sophmore dorms.”

“I don’t mind,” Spitfire said with a shrug.

“Guys, I said it’s fine,” Rainbow said grumpily cutting sharp looks at them both.

They began to walk toward the stairwell. Sassaflash pulled ahead and turned to talk to her friends whilst walking backward. “Dashie, it’s not a big deal. It’s good to be practical every once in a while!”

She wasn’t stupid. She’d seen the bruises on Rainbow’s arm the other day. Escaping Blaze’s influence must’ve been horrible. The worst part was that a part of Rainbow probably wanted to go back to the bastard. That was her damn dad. But he was a horrible person. Sassaflash didn’t want that to happen. Desperately didn’t. She was so tired of seeing her friend getting bullied and chewed out by that creep. One way abusers controlled victims? Money.

Rainbow was outright glaring at her now. “Sassaflash, I don’t want to eat on campus. I had family I wanted to visit, remember?”

Sassaflash’s jaw clenched just a little. Rainbow was being stubborn, even for her. What for?

“What other family do you have, cap?” Spitfire asked, peering at Rainbow over her sunglasses. “The way you talked, I got the impression it was just you and your old man.”

Sassaflash was pretty curious as well. There was quite a bit about Rainbow that she didn’t know, which she always found strange considering how much time they spent together. Oh, she’d certainly tried to squeeze out details from her brash friend.

She had fragments of knowledge here and there. She knew Rainbow’s mom left her at the age of nine. She knew she had six friends that she’d known for years and apparently gone through quite a bit of trials with. What were those trials? Heck if she knew. Every time she asked Rainbow would stammer and change the subject. The most she got for details was that Rainbow and her friends had formed a band called the Sonic Rainbooms.

What was a sonic rainboom? Heck if she knew.

She watched intently as Rainbow looked up at the ceiling, apparently furious in thought. Sassaflash’s eyes narrowed. “Wait, is this a bad thing?” She put her hands on her hips, still backpedaling toward the stairs. “Are you dragging us into mischief?”

Rainbow rubbed at her neck, her face flushing. “Kinda?” she said, looking at them guiltily.

Sass arched an eyebrow. “Is it good mischief or bad mischief?”

“Well–”

“You have a preference?” Spitfire interjected, looking at Sassaflash critically.

Sass pouted. “Believe it or not, I have standards!” Sometimes.

Spitfire smirked. “So good mischief is putting a bluetooth speaker in the ceiling and using it to make our Juvenile Justice professor think she’s being haunted?”

Sassaflash grinned wickedly. “It isn’t my fault if Professor Seabrass is superstitious!”

“How’d you pull that off?” Rainbow asked.

She was just trying to change the subject again. But like her friend, Sass couldn’t resist a chance to brag. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see someone carrying a bunch of papers hurrying towards them.

Giggling, Sassaflash pointed up. “Our Juvenile Justice course is held on one of those satellite campuses, and the buildings aren’t as fancy. Y’know, one of those modular classrooms that look like some fatter version of a trailer home?” She mimed pushing up. “All I had to do was stand on a chair and push up on one of the–”

But she didn’t get to finish. Something collided into her.

She believed in fate. It wasn’t something she could articulate confidently aloud, but after reading enough about history, she knew that uncanny things just happened all of the time and it was wild.

Wild, like how someone barreled into her, hard. Her vision careened. She was an athlete, so she reacted quickly, arms wheeling through the air while she tried to catch her balance, but falling toward stairs didn’t have too many alternative outcomes. Still, she tried. As she twisted around, her eyes caught sight of the railing and her hand shot out for it. Her hand connected with it just as she felt someone grab her roughly by the collar of her t-shirt.

Fate was funny. Really, really, really funny.

Her dreams were filled with scarab beetles. They symbolize the Egyptian belief of Kheperu—a complex concept encompassing destiny, transformation, and individuality. She even had a scarab beetle medallion on her keychain. She’d bought it on a lark four years ago. She liked Egyptian stuff, right? Big deal. But Ancient Egyptians believed such amulets could provide protection against misfortune and evil. The beetles in her dreams always glowed a brilliant gold, and they usually crawled over random objects.

Once she dreamed they swarmed over an ornate hand mirror. Another time, a smartphone with a distinct purple phone case displaying a grimacing face on the back of it. Yet another time, a freaking watering can of all things.

She’d dreamt of other things the beetles swarmed in recent years. None she could recall easily, they seemed that mundane.

Last night she’d had another such dream, though it was markedly different. This time the object the beetles crawled over was anything but mundane. It was a crazy-looking bronze knife with a dark jewel on the end of the pommel. The scarab beetles swarmed the item till it was out of sight, their bodies glowing.

These dreams had started a few years ago, when she was still a junior in high school. Why did she regularly have weird dreams about beetles? Heck if she knew. The phenomena had long expired past being an intriguing mystery and these days were more just an occasional annoyance not even worth bringing up. Despite the uniqueness of last night’s dream, Sass readily dismissed it as another nothing in a long series of nothings.

In the present, Sassaflash stared, panting, into a pair of rose-red eyes set behind a pair of crimson glasses on a smooth olive-toned face.

But the owner of these eyes and this face and this hand was not as steady as they thought, because Sass could feel herself still careening backward. She grabbed onto the stranger’s arm. The mysterious identity of the person was becoming less mysterious with each passing millisecond. However, even this latest effort to stop their fall seemed destined to fail. Sassaflash could feel the person–an older woman–careening with her. They were both going to eat it on the stairs. It would be a real pain buffet.

Oh, crap–

She didn’t know what else to do. If she fell on these steps, she could be in the same boat as Rainbow Dash and maybe get benched from that weekend’s game. The other person probably would get seriously hurt too.

She didn’t have time to think about any of this, actually. Exactly zero time. These realizations struck sharp and deep and wordless, all the same. Sassaflash moved on instinct.

She shoved the woman (a professor?!) backward, bent her legs, and jumped, using her grip on the stair railing to push off. She kicked her feet around to create momentum to make her body turn mid-air, just like she’d learned in gymnastics. As she felt herself whipping through the air in a dramatic twist, she registered Rainbow’s shocked yell and saw out of the corner of her vision her friends' hands shoot out as if they could catch her. Their reach was knocked astray by the older woman’s flailing arms as she fell to the floor, papers erupting into the air. Spitfire’s sunglasses were knocked off her face in the flurry of chaos.

Sassaflash’s eyes were huge as her stomach heaved inside her. The air swept over her and chilled the fresh sweat on her skin. She looked, desperately trying to see where she was going to land. Would she clear the stairs??

Yes.

Sucking in air, she allowed her body to complete its one-eighty turn. She tucked her feet in and held out her hands at either side of her.

When Sassaflash hit the staircase landing, she almost managed to stay on her feet. No such luck. The momentum proved more than she could handle and she rolled gracelessly onto her back and let herself sprawl out there.

Her heart was performing a drum solo in her chest. She stared up at the high ceiling, blinking as she watched papers flying through the air. There was a full beat of silence before–

“That was AWESOME!” Rainbow whooped loudly.

Sassaflash could hear sneakers rapidly squeaking on the steps. In the next instant, Spitfire’s tense face appeared over her. She didn’t have her glasses on. That wasn’t right. Sass stared at her.

“Your sunglasses,” she said with a thick blink of her eyes.

“You all right, Sassy?” Spitfire asked. She sounded breathless.

Sassaflash frowned as she considered this seriously. Her feet stung, and her tailbone was a little sore from when she’d tumbled backward, but otherwise she felt fine. “I’m cool, bestie,” she eventually answered. She spun a finger near her head. “A little dizzy, I think. But I’m totes cool.”

Spitfire let out a breath of relief and crouched next to her. Sassaflash winced as she tried to prop herself up on her elbows. Spots danced in her eyes. She looked at Spitfire sidelong. “Spitfire, seriously, your sunglasses. Where are they?”

Her friend scowled at her. “Don’t worry about them.”

Sassaflash felt her body tense up. “But where are they?”

Spitfire grimaced and thumbed up the stairs. Sass turned her head. Near the top of the steps, she could see Spitfire’s sunglasses on the floor, but…

“One of the lenses popped out!” Sassaflash looked at her roommate with alarm. “Did it–?”

“Yeah, it cracked,” Spitfire said. Sassaflash could see her friend’s jaw muscles clench as the color drained from her face.

Spitfire had served six years in the United States Army. From what she’d told Sassaflash, most of her time had been in the Military Police Corps. For a while, it seemed as though she’d have a fairly mundane military service. Then she was sent overseas. She saw things. Horrible things.

During her deployment, Spitfire's military unit was tasked with maintaining security in a conflict zone with a high level of insurgent activity. One fateful day, while on a routine patrol in a crowded market area, her unit came under sudden and intense attack by insurgents. The firefight that ensued was chaotic and intense, leading to casualties among her fellow soldiers.

Spitfire found herself amid the chaos, taking cover and returning fire while witnessing her comrades and innocent civilians wounded. In the heat of battle, she had to make split-second decisions that weighed heavily on her conscience, and she felt a deep sense of responsibility for the safety and well-being of her fellow soldiers and the civilians that were hurt.

“How do you cope?” Sass had asked. She couldn’t imagine having all of that weighing on her mind. The most she ever had to worry about was turning in assignments on time.

Spitfire had tapped her sunglasses in answer. The older girl only ever felt okay when she had on the accessory. “My therapist says I’m not crazy,” she’d said wryly. “But these things are like… a shield I guess. I can do without them for short periods, but…” She shook her head, her thumbs hooking into the pockets of her jeans. “Look, all I know is they make me feel better. That’s all anyone needs to know.”

And now they were broken.

“I think I have a pair back at the dorm,” Sassaflash said quickly. She stood swaying to her feet.

Spitfire rose with her and held out steadying hands. They were shaking. “Slow down, jackass!”

Sass didn’t listen. She’d seen Spitfire freak out when her glasses just went missing. This was so much worse. “I’m fine! Come on, let’s go grab them–”

She stilled as she looked up and saw the woman who’d run into her staring at her irately from further up the stairs. Her blood froze.

Shiiiiii-take mushrooms.

The hardest way to stop cursing, by far, was in her head. She barely caught herself most of the time. It was really inconvenient getting pied in the face out of nowhere.

“Professor Yearling,” Sassaflash said. She almost added an apology at the end, but while she had a habit of beginning to speak before having a full idea of what she was even going to say, she also had a quick enough brain to correct herself before she finished puking up the wrong words with, give or take, a ninety-percent success rate. In this case, she remembered pretty quickly that this was (for once) not her fault.

“I suppose I should be thanking you,” Professor Yearling said with a sour look. She stooped down to scoop up a set of papers from the step she stood on, then straightened to resume glowering at Sassaflash. “But considering that stupid stunt you and your friend pulled last week with the masks, I’ll just say we’re even.”

Sassaflash crossed her arms, feeling her blood rush to her head. Behind Yearling, Rainbow Dash was also collecting papers, her eyes trained carefully on the scene unfolding below her. “You ran into me,” Sass pointed out with barely contained irritation. “I could have gotten hurt! Doesn’t that warrant an apology?”

Yearling cut another searing look at her as she picked up some more papers. Actually, she looked a bit in a rush. “But you’re not hurt. And I would, except you were loitering unsafely near a set of stairs. ‘There but for the grace of God’ and all that,” she said with a little sneer. She snatched up some more papers. Not just that, but she looked at them carefully.

She was looking for something.

Even as these observations registered, Sassaflash’s nostrils flared and her breathing quickened. “‘There but for the grace of God’, huh?”

Yearling rolled her eyes at her. “Look, if the shoe fits, kid. Are you going to help me gather up these papers you made me drop, or what?”

Sass clenched her fists and looked at Spitfire. Her roommate met her eyes but didn’t hold them. She was already looking fairly out of sorts without her sunglasses. But she knew Spitfire would hate to be fussed over. It also felt weird walking away from such a huge mess, even if it wasn’t her fault.

Never mind that Yearling was a tenured professor. Piss one of those off badly enough and you could get screwed over royally.

Grinding her teeth, Sassaflash stomped over and began to help gather papers as well. “You could ask nicely at least,” Sass muttered at Yearling.

The professor glanced at her. “For a miscreant like you? That’ll be the day.”

“Look, we’re helping you, all right?” Rainbow snapped at the top of the stairs.

“What do you want a medal?” Professor Yearling shot back. “Listen, if you see a paper with a picture of a fancy knife on it, give it to me.”

Sassaflash's jaw clenched as she picked up more papers, her fingers deftly sorting through the chaotic mess. She shuffled through the disarray, and before she knew it, she found the paper the professor was searching for. Partly out of spite, partly out of curiosity, she refrained from saying anything just yet, instead opting to look it over. The printout had a medium-sized picture of an ornate Egyptian ritual knife. In big bold letters at the top, she read, BITE OF HEKA. The knife itself was a weathered bronze blade whose hilt was adorned with intricate hieroglyphics, ancient gemstones, and a large, dark crystal on its pommel.

Sassaflash hesitated for a moment, glancing again at the peculiar knife depicted on the paper. Something about it tugged at the edges of her memory, a faint whisper at the back of her mind. Then her eyes stretched wide. This was the same knife she’d dreamed of! The realization sent a shiver down her spine.

"Professor Yearling," she began tentatively, "that knife... it, uh, looks sorta familiar. Is it famous or something?"

Yearling shot her an irritated glance, her impatience palpable. “Did you find the paper?” She thrust her hand out. “Spare me the dumb questions and just give it, please.”

Sassaflash stared at her, stunned. How could anyone be so damn rude? Never mind that she was a tenured professor. Never mind that Yearling was in a hurry. The sheer depth of Yearling’s boorish behavior was beyond the pale.

When Sass failed to hand over the paper sooner, Yearling advanced on her. Her expression wasn’t just angry, she was stressed. Maybe even afraid? “I said give it here!” the woman snarled through clenched teeth.

Sassaflash held the paper away from her, her expression openly defiant as she turned her back to quickly scan over the document again. The professor didn’t wanna share? Too bad, she didn’t have to. Everything Sass needed to know was in her hand. Her eyebrows lifted with disdain as she read.

Before she could get further, Yearling snatched the paper from her hands, crinkling it a little in her tight grip. Sassaflash gazed coolly as the professor raised a trembling finger in her face. Up close, she could see the older woman was sweating, her pupils drawn. “You’re pushing your luck, kid,” Yearling hissed.

"Professor," Sass said, her voice dripping with mockery. "There's a mistake in your notes."

Yearling's eyes fluttered. This clearly hadn’t been the response she’d been expecting.

She rolled her shoulders, like she were shrugging off her surprise, and said, "Oh, really? Enlighten me, mouth-breather.” Sassaflash had to give her some credit. She recovered quick. The woman put a hand on her hip, shifted her weight to one foot, and looked at Sass like she was about to do something profoundly stupid. “What’s a back-flipping circus act like you know about archaeology?" she said.

Sassaflash smirked, feeling a sense of victory burn her from the inside out. Like Rainbow, she enjoyed knocking a bully down a peg or two. "You have the hieroglyph for 'ankh' translated as 'life,' but in this context, it signifies 'eternal life' or 'immortality.'” She flashed a false smile before she allowed the pure expression of contempt to take over her features. “It's a subtle but critical distinction,” she said in her best mean girl voice.

The professor sneered but looked at the paper. Slowly her gaze grew in size and Sassaflash could see the blood rushing into her cheeks in real time.

Behind Yearling, Rainbow Dash’s eyes became huge circles and she actually had to slap a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing aloud. Spitfire, meanwhile, just went to lean heavily on the stair railing, her face pale.

Professor Yearling looked at Sass sideways. "Lucky catch,” she bit out grudgingly. She crossed her arms, the paper clenched tightly in her hand, her head tilting to the side. “Now I know where I’ve seen you before. You were in my Ancient Cultures course last year." Her lip curled. “You quit to play soccer.”

That statement was laced with such a profoundly condescending tone that Sassaflash just couldn't bear to let it slide. Apparently, neither could Rainbow Dash. Sass could see her captain rear up, anger writ plain across her face.

Sassaflash spoke quickly before her friend could stick her foot in her mouth. Rainbow was in enough hot water over her psych class, she didn’t need to have another professor on her butt. "Well, Professor, maybe I found my true calling in soccer because your history lectures were lacking,” Sassaflash added a hair flip. “Especially that one on Akhenaten and his impact on Egypt. I seem to recall you glossed over the controversy around his monotheistic beliefs." She tutted, looking at Yearling like she was a child who had peed on herself. “I was so embarrassed for you.”

Yearling raised an eyebrow but the blood that had been so hotly boiling in her tense features drained away, leaving her looking wan. That comment had struck a nerve. Sass continued, her voice thick with defiance, "History is a story where details matter. I knew you’d be the kind of crappy storyteller that’d gloss over facts, so I quit.” She giggled, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger as she feigned an airhead voice. “I've always preferred insight over ignorance. Like, gag me with a spoon, y’know? Turns out soccer tactics have more depth than one of your braindead lectures!" She even threw in a false laugh just for good measure, the sound rich with saccharine sarcasm.

She saw Rainbow and Spitfire exchange glances, awe plain on their faces.

Gritting her teeth, Yearling stepped away to stoop down and gather the rest of her papers, her hands trembling. Now that she had the document she most wanted, her movements lacked the urgency and decisiveness of before. That or the professor was still trying to recover from Sass’s words.

Sassaflash smiled coldly. She could let it slide if people thought she was just another thickheaded athlete, but to have someone call her passion for History into question… Well, there were smaller hills to die on, she supposed.

Sass bent over to grab some more papers herself. They worked in silence for a few minutes.

It was a surprise when Yearling began to speak out of the blue. "You're right about the 'ankh',” she muttered to Sassaflash with a sullen frown. “I…” she sighed and it sounded like a growl was trying to claw its way out of her throat. “I… appreciate the help."

Sassaflash stilled. She hadn’t expected that. In her experience, bullies seldom cried mea culpa so quickly, if at all. Suspicion colored her tone as she answered. "Do you really? Even from a dumb jock like me?”

“Shut up,” Yearling snapped at her, glaring outright again. She blew her hair out of her face and adjusted her glasses as she stepped down to rejoin Sassaflash on the landing. “We both know you’re not dumb. If you’re fishing for an apology about the soccer dig… Well…” She shrugged, her mouth skewing to the side. “Fat chance. I don’t care about sports.” She pointed at Sassaflash with tensed eyes, “But I don’t think I’m wrong when I say you’re wasting your talents there. What dummy major did you switch to, anyway?”

Sassaflash looked at Spitfire as if to confirm that this conversation was actually happening. Spitfire lifted her eyebrows. Her roommate was looking like she was sweating bullets. Sass winced a little. If Rainbow wore her heart on her sleeve, Spitfire was the kind of person who kept her heart under lock and key. Whatever you saw, she let you see. But this? This was different. Her composure was cracking, and she looked like she was on the verge of fleeing or fighting.

Gotta get her outta here.

“Criminology,” Sassaflash said, looking over at Rainbow Dash. She seemed concerned for Spitfire, too. Sass’s eyes finally settled on the professor next to her. “Look this has been pretty fascinating and all, but we have to go."

Yearling's eyes met Sassaflash's, and for a moment, the professor seemed to contemplate her own behavior. Then she sighed. "I’m sorry, alright? I should have been more civil. But before you go, I have to ask… What's your name, again? Started with an S, right?"

Sassaflash hesitated, still smarting from the earlier exchange, but she finally replied, "It's Sassaflash."

Yearling nodded slowly, her forehead wrinkling as she seemed to regard Sass. Really regard her. "Thank you, Sassaflash.” She looked over her shoulder at Rainbow and Spitfire. “And your friends, too. I appreciate all of your assistance."

Sassaflash spared her a pinched smile before taking Spitfire by the arm and leading her away. She heard Rainbow Dash hurry to join them.

They made it down a flight of stairs before Rainbow clutched at Sassaflash’s arm, "Holy crap!” She wheezed. “That flip you did down the stairs was awesome, Sass!"

Sassaflash blushed a little, shifting her focus to Spitfire. "Thanks, Dash. But we gotta get a pair of sunglasses for Spitfire, stat. She looks like she’s going to melt if we don’t."

Spitfire cracked a small smile. It looked weak and shaky. "Thanks for lookin’ out, Sassy."

Sassaflash thumped Spitfire on the back. Not because she was adverse to hugs, but because she knew her roommate wasn’t so much on the touchy-feely stuff. “Sure thing, Spitty!”

Spitfire grimaced. “I told you not to call me that.”

Sass pouted. “But your name is hard to make a nickname out of…”

Rainbow snapped her fingers. “What about Shades?”

Sassaflash’s hands flew to the sides of her face as her jaw dropped wide. “That’s a perfect nickname, Dashie!”

Spitfire was looking at them like she would be more than happy if the ground turned into quicksand and swallowed them both. “No.”

Sassaflash gave her best puppy dog look. “Please??”

“No.” Her roommate glared at her, but her lips were quirking up like she was trying not to smile. Sweat gleamed on her skin, and her neck and shoulders looked visibly tight, but she was holding on. For now.

Sassaflash sighed dramatically. “Ugh! You’re such a stick in the mud!”

They exited the building. Rainbow and Spitfire began to talk across her, and Sassaflash smiled, nodding along with their conversation. But as they drew further away from the building, Sass couldn’t help but sneak a glance back. She hated to admit it, but she’d hoped to see Professor Yearling hurrying to wherever it was she was trying to get to.

Sassaflash bit her lip and looked forward again.

What was the deal with the professor? What was the deal with that freaky looking knife?

And what was up with that weird document? She didn’t have photographic memory or anything, but a few key words seared hot and biting into her brain.

BLOOD ACTIVATED

REGENERATION

SUDDEN DEATH

That paper hadn’t been a gag. At least she was pretty sure. It wasn’t like she was able to fully read the whole thing. From the little she saw though, it looked like a real research document made by a real academic. Only… it couldn’t be real, right? The paper had almost suggested magic existed. Which was just… wild! Except if it was fake, then why was Professor Yearling so serious about it?

And why had Sassaflash dreamed about a knife just like it?

She sighed a little, forcing herself to tune back into the banter between her friends.

Heck if she knew.

---

When Fluttershy arrived at the sorority house, it was only a few minutes before Twilight Sparkle arrived with her mother and Spike. Twilight had on a large backpack, a dark violet cardigan and long pleated dark khaki pants with her usual penny loafers. After paying her fare, Fluttershy adjusted her oversized purse on her shoulder and turned just in time to see Velvet wave goodbye to her daughter before driving away in her green sedan. She waved to Fluttershy as she passed, and Shy beamed as she waved back. Twilight started to approach her, but Spike beat her to it, barking excitedly as he raced into Fluttershy’s arms.

He struck her chest so hard, Fluttershy actually took a few steps back to keep from falling, but giggled happily as the dog lavished her with loving doggy kisses. “Spike, oh my goodness! It’s good to see you!”

Twilight appeared near them, her arms crossed as she smiled bemusedly at the pair. “Spike, give the girl a chance to breathe, why dont’cha?”

Spike finally ceased his wet kisses, but his tail wouldn’t stop its frantic wagging, and with each word he spoke an eager whine crept in. “I haven’t seen you in months! Months!” the dog panted to Fluttershy.

She had to hug him close, and he rested his head on her bosom as she spoke lovingly to him. “Oh poor Spikey-Wikey, you are pent up. I’ve missed you so!” Fluttershy nuzzled his nose, and Spike’s tongue lolled happily, making her chest wet. Today she was wearing a low-cut pastel green blouse with a long soft yellow skirt.

“Dang, Spike, at this rate Flutters is going to need a towel!” Twilight chuckled wryly, her expression cringing as she eyed how damp the other girl’s cleavage had become.

Fluttershy smiled at her as she knelt down and set Spike on the sidewalk. “Please don’t trouble yourselves. I don’t mind at all.” She smiled at her spectacled friend. “Hello, by the way. So good to see you again!” She shrugged off her purse where Angel was already peeking his head out of the opening. “Look, Spike! I brought Angel Bunny and our new friend, Tank.”

“Tank?” Spike said with an adorable blink of his big green eyes as Angel hopped out of the bag and went to nuzzle him. The dog grinned and rubbed a paw on Angel’s head, his tail doing friendly flops on the sidewalk.

Rather than explaining, Fluttershy pulled the tortoise out of her purse and set him down. She’d needed the larger purse today so that both he and Angel could fit comfortably. Tank poked his head out of his shell, his little black eyes blinking. Upon seeing Spike, he smiled slowly.

Spike, with perked ears, went to the tortoise, sniffing eagerly. He went around the reptile once, then sat down in front of him. “Nice to meet you! I’m Spike,” he said with a jovial loll of his tongue.

Tank gazed at him quietly. Spike stared back. The dog’s eyes slid over to Fluttershy. “Am I waiting for something, or–?”

Fluttershy giggled and held up a hand. “Just give him a moment.”

Twilight crouched down as well, handing Fluttershy a large napkin as she gazed intently at the tortoise. “Huh? Do you mean…?”

Fluttershy nodded eagerly her eyes wide and sparkling with excitement. She wiped her chest and shirt distractedly. “He’s special like the others.”

All eyes were on the tortoise as Tank took a sluggish step forward, then lifting his head, he grunted. Hi, he said.

Spike barked with surprise, making Tank retreat a little in his shell.

“Oh! You mean he’s like Angel!” the dog panted excitedly, rising to all four paws. His tail was wagging at light speed again. “Man, this is awesome!”

Angel Bunny hopped onto Tank’s shell and chittered rapidly at him, one paw pointing at Twilight. Spike is Twilight’s dog, he told his reptilian friend.

Tank craned his head back to blink at him. He exhaled. Oh. He looked over at Twilight, his smile widening. Oh yes. I remember her. She was nice. Very smart.

Spike grinned, his chest puffing a little. “Yeah, Twilight is the smartest person I know!”

Angel crossed his arms and tapped a foot, making Tank’s head bob with every footfall. Yeah. Her. Not you!

Spike growled a little, his ears pinning back. “I can be proud of my owner, y’know.”

Angel hopped off Tank’s shell and eyed Spike critically. Forget her! Are you a dog or a pig?! You any faster since the last I saw you, or have you been eating too many doggy treats again? He looked Spike over with his paws on his hips and squeaked arrogantly, Sure looks that way.

Spike shoved his face into Angel’s. “That was last year. This year, I’ve been keeping it lean!”

The bunny smiled, showing off his large front teeth. Wanna bet? The bunny hopped in place. A race! Tank judges! Winner gets belly rubs from Fluttershy!

Tank retreated back into his shell with a low rumble. Do I have to?

Fluttershy pouted as she poked Angel’s back, making him jump and regard her sharply, his fur floofed to the maximum. “Angel, please do be nice. You haven’t seen Spike in a rather long time!” she scolded with a stern look. “And my belly rubs are free for everyone!”

Twilight glanced between her and the pets, her eyes wide. “Man, what’s it like being able to understand everything the critters are saying?”

Spike and Fluttershy looked at her and spoke at the same time.

“Tiring.”

“Lovely!”

Twilight peered at them both, her cheeks tinging pink as she covered her mouth and laughed.

Spike shook his head, his tongue lolling again. “Nah, it’s okay, Flutters. Angel won’t be so smug when I beat him at a race this time!”

Twilight wagged a finger at her dog. “Spike, you better not get carried away like before! We’re supposed to be helping Pinkie and Rarity, not making a mess!”

Fluttershy picked up Tank, her gaze casting down the street. “Speaking of… I believe I see them coming toward us now.”

Twilight stood and turned just as Fluttershy finished gathering Angel in her arms.

Pinkie and Rarity waved as they neared. Pinkie was in an oversized pink sweater and corduroy pants rolled up high water over her old sneakers. Rarity, on the other hand was dressed in a dark navy skirt and heeled indigo shoes with a white ruffled blouse. Both looked exhausted.

“Hiya girls,” Pinkie said with a sleepy smile.

“It’s lovely to see you both,” Rarity said languidly.

Fluttershy blinked at them, then turned her eyes on Twilight. Why were her friends all so exhausted today? She had a few ideas of what may have kept Pinkie and Rarity awake. But Twilight? Fluttershy smiled as they all exchanged hugs, even as she gazed worriedly over their shoulders.

Talk to them first. Don’t fret needlessly! You won’t be of any help if you become a nervous wreck.

“Aw, were we having a pet day?” Pinkie asked with a tiny pout as she eyed the critters. “I wish Gummy could be here.”

“Mmm, yes, I’m sure Opalescence wouldn’t mind some time out of the house as well,” Rarity mused, her hands on her throat as her expression adopted a far away look.

“We should plan a pet play date!” Fluttershy said with an excited little hop, hugging Angel and Tank tightly to her chest.

Angel shook a paw at her, his eyes huge. Ease up, will ya? he squeaked.

Twilight picked up Spike and scratched him under the chin. “That sounds like a great idea, Fluttershy,” she said with a warm smile. She looked at Pinkie Pie. “For now, though, I think we were going to head to the venue, right?”

Pinkie Pie pulled out the keys to her van and spun them on her finger. “Yep, yep, yep! You guys ready to roll out?”

“I believe so,” Fluttershy said grinning. How nice that she got to spend time with her friends like this…

---

The Retro Rendezvous Hall was a budget-friendly event venue that exuded a nostalgic charm perfect for themed parties. It was located on the outskirts of town to the northeast of the city where the industrial factories and junk yards loomed just a few blocks beyond. The venue offered a spacious and versatile hall with a large dance floor, adorned with neon lights and retro decor reminiscent of the 80s and 70s. The walls were covered in bold geometric patterns and splashes of vibrant colors. Fluttershy felt transported back to her childhood when her parents tried to get her to try skating at a roller rink. It hadn’t gone over well, she’d been too scared to try, but the atmosphere of the rink wasn’t unlike this colorful place. She liked it quite a bit, despite the sobering memory.

As far as she was concerned, anything that made her recall her parents was a good thing.

She listened quietly as Pinkie and Rarity gave a tour. The venue provided a stage equipped with an old-school disco ball, adding a touch of glamour to the dance area. There was a dedicated space for a DJ or live band to set the mood. Neon signs, retro arcade games, and vintage posters lined the hall, creating an immersive experience for partygoers.

Fluttershy turned on the spot when their tour was done, taking it all in. “What a wonderful place!” She looked at Pinkie Pie. “However did you find it?” she asked with awe. “It’s simply perfect!”

Pinkie flashed her a massive smile, some of her typical alacrity returning. “Isn’t it the bees knees? I heard about it waaaay back when we were talking about putting on this event! It was perfect because there isn’t as much competition for scheduling.”

Twilight blew dust off a PACMAN machine and looked at her with a wry smile. “Noooo. Really?” she teased.

“It’s a niche location for those who don’t mind a retro vibe,” Rarity said with a tiny titter behind a delicate hand. “We’ll have to dust and clean a bit. The owners were willing to give us a discount if we cleaned the venue ourselves.” She looked around with a vague sense of worry. “They also mentioned they didn’t have any staff we could hire.” She looked at Pinkie, her brow wrinkling just a touch. “Darling, are you certain we’ll be able to manage to run this effectively?”

Pinkie gave her an exuberant thumbs up, her blue eyes sparkling. “No worries, Rares! Our sorority sisters oughta be able to handle ticket sales and food. Plus, I even asked Bulk Biceps and his weight lifting team to help us with security!”

Twilight whistled as she set her backpack down onto the stage. “You got the weight lifting team on board?”

Pinkie chuckled as she put her hands on her hips and tilted her chin with pride. “All it took was five hundred bucks and a batch of my famous Power Protein Cupcakes!”

Rarity smirked. “And free food and drinks on their break.”

Pinkie didn’t even move. “And that!”

Fluttershy’s eyes grew large. She knew that in their late capitalist society five hundred wasn’t all that much, but goodness, it certainly was to her! As she eyed their surroundings once more, she lifted a timid finger. “Rarity? Pinkie? May I ask how much this venue cost to rent?”

Rarity and Pinkie both regarded her warmly.

The fashionista spoke first as she sat gracefully on the edge of the stage near Twilight, the latter of which had removed a laptop from her backpack and was typing something quickly on the keyboard. “Around two-thousand, I’m afraid,” she answered with softly lifted eyebrows. “Though that is only a part of our expenses.”

“Applejack mentioned she could do catering at a discount,” Pinkie Pie chirped as she hopped eagerly onto the stage.

Fluttershy approached Rarity and Twilight, watching as Pinkie Pie went over to the DJ area. “My goodness, how does the sorority come up with the money?” she asked with amazement. She looked over her shoulder and smiled gently at the sight of Spike and Angel racing across the dance floor and bounding over Tank, who watched them go intently with a little grin.

“Fundraising, mostly,” Rarity said with a light toss of her curly hair. “Though sometimes an alumni of the sorority might sponsor the event.”

“Couldn’t nab one this time, though,” Pinkie Pie said with a heavy sigh as she leaned on the DJ table. Her breath stirred the dust, and her face screwed up before she let out a big full-body sneeze.

Rarity turned over her hands with a helpless little smile. “Alas! But we at least had a decent amount leftover from Junebug’s spring flower garden event.”

Twilight picked up her laptop and hopped up onto the stage. “Pinkie, you said the rental package included light equipment, right?”

Pinkie perked up and gestured her over. “Yep!” she said, sounding congested. She sneezed a little again as Twilight neared. Pinkie pointed at some fixtures at the back, wiping her nose wetly on her sleeve. “Thesh are da Chavez FXBS I menshioned…” she said around the impending arrival of another sneeze. “Achoo!”

Fluttershy watched them go, her eyes bright with curiosity. Twilight Sparkle was a good vocalist, and she did an amazing job as both a lead and backup singer in the Rainbooms. Her real talent, however, was in producing their band’s special FX, electronic mixes, and recording production. Before “human” Twilight, they had been just another indie band with decent practice. Her technological touches elevated the band to a real full-fledged act.

Sitting carefully next to Rarity, Fluttershy leaned onto her friend, gently taking her hand. “How are you doing, Rarity?” she asked with a soft murmur. “You and Pinkie looked rather tired when we met you!”

Rarity leaned into her as well, sighing as she tilted her head over till it rested softly against Fluttershy’s. “Ah yes… We must seem a knackered pair, don’t we?” Rarity patted Fluttershy’s wrist with her other hand, the silver bracelets on her arm jingling as she she did so. “Never fear, my dear. We did sleep, though not as much as we would have liked.”

“Did anything happen?” Fluttershy asked, her brow tensing as she watched Angel hug Tank around the neck while Spike licked the tortoise’s face.

“No,” Rarity said with a tiny shake of her head. “We just… talked. Talked about what we were going through. That seemed quite enough on its own.”

“I can only imagine,” Fluttershy said with a sorry look. She really did have it easy compared to her friends. She felt quite useless for them. Hadn’t she said she’d help with the party? And yet she still had no idea how to do that. Here she was, just tagging along while they were getting actual work done. “I wish I could do more for you,” she said, her eyes tearing up with her frustration.

“Now, now,” Rarity tutted, enveloping her in a warm hug. “That’s enough of that, love. We are doing much better now that all the dreary secrets are out in the open.”

“I still haven’t thought of what I could do for the party, though,” Fluttershy said with a sad sigh.

Rarity hummed in thought. Then said, “I believe Pinkie mentioned that she, Rainbow, and Sunset were planning on getting together for a mini-reunion of the band? Perhaps you can assist with that?”

Fluttershy bit her lip. That did sound nice, and she was certain Rainbow wouldn’t mind it in the slightest if she joined her contribution. But Fluttershy wanted to do something that was just from her. Maybe she could write a new song? Her brow furrowed deeper. Ah, but that would be a tall order to come up with a new song and have it finished in time to give the group plenty of rehearsals before the event. Though… There was the song she had come up with Rainbow. It was more or less complete now, lacking only a few extra finishing touches. Could their friends help to fill in the missing pieces?

That was all well and good, but even as Fluttershy thought all this, she huffed with dissatisfaction.

Still. Still she wanted to do something that came from her heart! What on earth could she do?

“My dear Flutters, it appears you're having an entire conversation in your head again,” Rarity teased gently.

Fluttershy blushed and pulled back to look apologetically at her friend. “I’m sorry,” she breathed. “I was just trying to think of something I could do on my own. Even if I helped Rainbow and the others with their performance, I’d like to do something special!”

Rarity regarded her carefully, her azure eyes sharp but somehow gentle in their examination of her shy friend. Finally, she spoke, “Well, darling. Let us think. We know that animals are your passion. Is there perhaps something you can do that would involve your furry friends?”

Fluttershy bit her lip, trying to think. “I suppose there’s the animals at the shelter?” She looked at Rarity with tensed eyes. “I’d like very much to help them get adopted! But how does that have anything to do with the party?”

Rarity puckered her lips and turned to say loudly over their shoulders. “Pinkie Pie, dearest, does this venue not also include a modest patio area for guests to sit outside?”

“Sure does, Rares!” Pinkie called back chirpily from wherever she was with Twilight.

Rarity looked at Fluttershy with a radiant smile. “It appears we have an outdoor area that your animal friends might be able to play in! Is there any way that you could collaborate with the animal shelter to bring some of them here?”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened and she grasped Rarity’s hands with an eager smile. “Rarity! Oh, what a wonderful idea!” Her eyes cast up to the dark ceiling, the rigging ladened with various lights and cords criss crossing her vision. “Why, this could be such a wonderful opportunity to do a joint adoption drive! We could bring the kitties and the puppies and maybe even the ponies their sheltering at the moment!”

Rarity clapped girlishly, a happy laugh escaping her. “Bravo! Now that is a splendid idea, Fluttershy!” Her eyes brightened. “Do you think they’d allow me to craft special 80s outfits for the little darlings? That would be to die for!”

“I can’t imagine why not!”

“How exciting!”

Fluttershy hugged her, hard. “Oh thank you, Rarity!” She hopped off the stage. “You’ll have to excuse me! I simply must call the shelter right away! This will take quite a bit of planning!”

Her friend waved her off with a gracious smile. “Off with you! We’ll manage without your angelic kindness for a short while, at least.”

Fluttershy giggled at that, her cheeks coloring with warmth as she pulled out her cell phone.

This was fantastic! Now she could help! Now she could really help!

---

“These glasses work all right for you?” Sassaflash asked Spitfire. They were back at their dorm room. She held up a pair of round shaded specs.

Spitfire took the glasses with downturned lips and tensed eyes. “This is all you have?” her voice sounded thick, like she might cry.

Rainbow exchanged an alarmed look with Sassaflash. The normally stoic midfielder was unraveling at a shocking rate. Rainbow knew that Spitfire was adamant about wearing her sunglasses at all times, to the extent that both she and the coach had obtained approval from league officials for her to wear a pair of special sports goggles on the field. However, Rainbow had never witnessed her friend freak out about it. Mind you, as far as freakouts went, this was relatively low-key. Yet, as Rainbow watched Spitfire shakily place Sass’s round specs on her face, she felt she now perfectly understood the phrase 'screaming on the inside.'

“Sorry, I know they don’t really cover that part of your face great,” Sassaflash said, her face pulling long into a hangdog look. “Are you sure you don’t have an extra pair around?” She started to look around the room before she even got a reply.

Over the sound of Sassaflash shuffling papers and moving books, Spitfire answered her, though it sounded hard to move words past the fist that had apparently formed in her throat. “No. What broke was my backup pair. I ordered some more online the other day but they aren’t… they aren’t here yet.” Her voice hitched a little at the end, but Spitfire drew her shoulders back and pushed her lower jaw forward. Even behind the round shades, Rainbow could see her blinking rapidly.

“Look, I was thinking about going to a sandwich place just past Sweetwater Mall,” Rainbow said with an awkward shuffle of her feet. “We can stop by any of the stores up there and grab you something better.” She patted Spitfire’s shoulder. “Sound good?”

Spitfire looked at her with a frown. “I don’t want to be a bother, cap,” she said. A tear slipped down her face, and she cursed under breath as she wiped it away. “I know you wanna see your family,” she said next. Her voice was a little rougher.

Rainbow shoved her hands into her pockets, her shoulders hunching up. “This isn’t a planned visit or anything. They have no idea I’m coming. Actually it’s… uh…” She scratched the back of her head. “I’m trying to see my mom.”

She heard Sassaflash’s rustling stop. Spitfire lifted the sunglasses to blink at her. Her eyes looked moist.

“Your mom?” they said, almost in unison.

Rainbow could feel her cheeks burn as she looked between her two friends. “Yeah. My mom.” She dug out the note from her pocket and held it up. “My dad gave me this after he disowned me. Says she’s living out past the mall.”

“This is the same mom that abandoned you, right?” Sassaflash asked, standing next to Spitfire. Her amber eyes were wide. “You sure you wanna do this right now, Dashie? That could be pretty heavy to just waltz into without a plan.”

Rainbow made a face. “A plan? I dunno if I even wanna talk to her!”

Sassaflash crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “You just wanna sit and stare at her house?”

“I mean… maybe?”

“Dashie!”

Rainbow threw her hands up. “All right!” she said with a raised voice. “Maybe I did wanna talk to her, okay?” She looked between her friends. They were both gazing at her skeptically. “I’m going with or without you guys.” She looked down as she stubbed a sneaker tip into the carpet. “I’d… rather not do it by myself, though. If that’s cool.”

“I’ll go with, cap,” Spitfire said, punching Rainbow lightly in the shoulder. She gestured at her own face. “I need new shades, anyway. These are too small and they aren’t dark enough to hide scans with.”

Rainbow’s eyebrows lifted. “You scan…? Like what, look around for exits?”

Spitfire nodded. “Exits, threats…” she grinned a little, “Man ass.”

Sassaflash and Rainbow laughed a little.

Spitfire started for the door. “Let’s go. We’re taking your car, right, cap?”

Rainbow nodded, pulling out her car keys.

“I call backseat,” Spitfire said as she opened the door. “I wanna lay down and cover my face with my jacket. That can help too, sometimes.”

They made it to Rainbow’s car and left campus. The drive took longer than expected thanks to rush hour traffic. All the while, Spitfire lay on the backseat with her head covered. She didn’t move or speak the entire time. Rainbow thumbed at her and asked Sass quietly, “PTSD?”

Sassaflash nodded, her expression grim.

Rainbow’s lips pursed. If things hadn’t panned out with her sports scholarship, she could’ve easily seen herself enlisting. She supposed she still could, sometime later down the road. If she did, she hoped she could bear that kind of burden with the same fortitude and perseverance Spitfire clearly did. Rainbow’s respect for her friend grew to the point that she could now readily say that she looked up to her.

Finally out of the tangle of traffic, Rainbow made a beeline for the first store that looked like they had sunglasses. She waited in the car while Sass and Spitfire went in. Just a few short minutes later they emerged, and Spitfire was wearing a new pair of dark aviator squares. She looked visibly better, no longer tense and shaky. She even appeared happy.

When the pair slipped back into the car, Spitfire reached forward and clapped Rainbow on the shoulder. “Thanks, cap. I’m good now.”

“Sweet,” Rainbow said, shifting into reverse. “Let’s eat.”

The sandwich shop, The Grateful Bread, was a small independent shop. Rainbow always felt it was nice enough to go out of the way to drive to without costing too much. Sass and Spitfire seemed to like it. Personally, Rainbow didn’t really care about the food that day. She left her vegetarian sub mostly untouched.

“Nervous?” Sass asked, looking at her knowingly as she wiped at her mouth with a napkin.

Rainbow slouched in her chair and bounced her knees. “A little.” There was no use denying it. If she was such an open book to her friends, they’d figure it out just by the pinched expression on her face anyway.

“I’m gonna ask just one more time,” Sass said seriously. She leaned toward Rainbow and frowned at her. “Are you sure you wanna do this?”

Rainbow met her gaze steadily. “Yes. I do.”

“Then it’s settled,” Spitfire said, setting down her drink cup. She pushed her new glasses further up on the bridge of her nose and stood.

Sassaflash sighed and crumpled up her empty sandwich wrapper. “Let’s go see mommy dearest, then,” she said, still frowning.

The drive to the address on the note was less than ten minutes away. Upscale middle-class homes dotted the hills – small front lawns, big backyards. Rainbow drove slowly, taking in the careful landscaping, large trucks, boats, and clean streets.

She and her father lived in what had once been an upscale middle-class neighborhood. Time and gentrification had lowered its status. Developments and rising crime transformed the suburb, turning their once-enviable home into a tired ranch house.

Parking across 1984 Paradise Estate Blvd., Rainbow felt bitterness rise. The well-maintained lawn, trimmed bushes, and a pristine two-story European-style home showcased a life untouched by financial worries.

“Is this the place?” Sassaflash asked.

“Yeah,” Rainbow replied, her voice scratchier than usual.

They sat for a few minutes in silence.

“You want us to go with you to the front door, cap?” Spitfire asked quietly.

Rainbow glanced at her, but her gaze fixed back on the house. “No. I’ll go on my own. You guys just wait here.” She took a deep breath. Placed her hand on the door handle. Stopped.

“Cap?” Spitfire murmured.

Rainbow could feel the sweat collecting on her skin. A dew of it trickled down from her hairline and she hastily wiped this away. “Just need a sec.”

“Take your time, Dashie,” Sassaflash said gently.

Rainbow licked her lips and looked around. For no particular reason, she also checked her car’s mirrors. That’s when she saw it.

“That’s my mom’s car,” She said hoarsely, her eyes swiftly stinging with tears. She couldn’t believe the woman was still driving the same vehicle after ten years, but it was unmistakable.

A small faded light blue compact car drove down the street at a slow speed. As it neared where they were parked, the blinker came on and it pulled into the driveway for the house they were watching. Rainbow twisted in her seat, her heart in her throat as she watched the driver exit the vehicle. Her heartbeat stuttered upon seeing her mother’s familiar scarlet orange hair. She’d cut it short in a pixie cut. She was wearing a white blazer jacket, a striped blouse, jean capris, and white sneakers. Dangling from her neck was a white badge on a lanyard.

Windy was holding a large expensive camera. This she pulled over her neck as she started for the house. Rainbow could feel tears filling her eyes. So her mom was still into photography. She always liked to take pictures of Rainbow. She was the one who did all their family portraits. Had she found a way to turn her hobby into a career?

Rainbow couldn’t wait anymore. She wrenched her door open and hastily exited her car.

Before she could say something, the front door of the house opened and a little girl ran out. She had light blue hair and a pastel pink shirt with two blue lightning bolts on it. “Mom!” she laughed, holding her arms out.

“Hey, honey!” Windy hugged her cheerfully.

Rainbow’s sneakers slowed to a stop on the street as the sweat on her skin chilled. In the open doorway, she could see a man emerge. He wore a steel-colored polo shirt and dark khaki pants. He had the same rainbow hair as she.

“Uncle… Hothoof?” she whispered.

She stared openly as he went to his mom and kissed her. “Hello, sweetheart,” she just managed to hear him murmur.

How could this be? Blaze had never mentioned–

Rainbow felt her legs grow weak. Of course. Why would Blaze admit that his wife had left him for his brother? It was enough to tell Rainbow that Bow Hothoof, her uncle, was a deadbeat who wasn’t worth helping. So much easier to lie to a nine-year-old girl that way.

The little girl noticed her first. She went to the fence while her parents conversed quietly, still oblivious to Rainbow’s presence.

Rainbow’s hair stood on end. Her feet started to move on their own till she was up on the sidewalk and staring down at the girl on the other side of the fence.

“Hi,” the girl said, looking up at her. She looked no older than ten. Up close, Rainbow could see her eyes were a rich purple.

“Hi,” Rainbow answered, her voice cracking a little. They stared at each other for a moment.

The girl’s eyes suddenly went wide as recognition brightened her face. “Wait! You’re the girl from mom’s pictures!”

Rainbow felt the breath leave her lungs. Her mom had photos of her in their fancy house…?

The girl turned her head and pointed at Rainbow Dash. The tomboy held her hands up and tried to tell the girl not to say anything, but it was too late. “Mom,” the girl called excitedly, “Mom, look! It’s the girl who looks like daddy!”

Rainbow Dash thought she’d puke. She could feel more sweat trickling down the sides of her face as Windy Whistles and Uncle Hothoof looked her way. Judging by their stretched expressions of shock, they hadn’t expected to see her. Why would they?

Rainbow could feel a ghost of anger rise up through her shock, and her fists slowly clenched.

Why would they expect her to intrude on their perfect little existence?

Windy visibly paled, making her light freckles stand out even more. She took one step toward the fence, then another. She looked back at Hothoof, her mouth working like she was trying to say something but nothing came out. She looked back at Rainbow Dash, her head moving almost mechanically. “Dashie?”

Rainbow’s chin crumpled and her fists gripped tighter. She lifted her chin. “It’s Rainbow Dash.” Her voice sounded thick. She tried to blink away the tears before they could gather and roll down her flushed face. She gestured at the girl in front her. “Who is this?” Her tone was accusatory.

Windy’s eyes were filling with tears. “Dashie–”

“It’s Rainbow Dash,” Rainbow snapped at her. “Only my friends call me Dashie. Only my family.”

Windy flinched, her spine curling a little as she hugged the camera to her chest.

Ah. There it was. The bending, mewling, whipped mother she was so familiar with. Rainbow glared at her, feeling her lip curl. This was the weakness her father had tried to train away. The cowering useless heap of insecurity he worked hard to sweat out of her.

She felt so glad he had.

Uncle Hothoof hurried to Windy’s side. He slipped a protective arm over her as he looked hard at Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow, why don’t you come inside? Let’s talk.”

“I asked who this is,” Rainbow said tersely. She looked down at the girl. That nose, those cheeks, that chin… Rainbow clenched her jaw. “Is she my half-sister or my cousin?”

Hothoof reached forward, pulling the girl toward him. He hugged her like he was trying to keep her away from a wild animal. His amber eyes were wide as he watched her carefully. “Rainbow, this is Firefly. She’s our daughter.” He jerked his head toward the house. “Let’s get inside. Have a drink. Talk.”

“Why would I want to talk to a loser like you?” She snapped. “All this time and you were the one who broke up my home?”

Hothoof’s face reddened and she could see the muscles in his neck tensing. He and Blaze looked very similar when upset.

“It’s more complicated than that, Rainbow.” Hothoof’s brow tightened.

“You still haven’t answered my question.” Rainbow leaned on the fence. “How am I related to Firefly?” She looked sharply at her mother, who flinched under her attention. “Did you get knocked up while you were still pretending to be a mom to me? Huh?”

“That’s enough,” Hothoof bit out. He leaned down and said more gently to Firefly, “Hurry back into the house, honey.”

Firefly, who had been watching everything unfold with wide eyes, looked at him uncertainly, “But daddy–”

He pulled her with him. “Let’s go.”

“She came after I left, Rainbow,” Windy said to her tearfully. She sidled closer to the fence. Behind her, Hothoof took Firefly into the house.

Rainbow nodded, pressing her lips together so hard her chin wrinkled. “You know what I’ve wondered all this time?”

Windy wiped at her face. She was just a few feet away now. “What is that?”

Rainbow shrugged and held up her hands. “Why didn’t you take me with you?” Her throat closed up on the last word and a tear slipped down her cheek. Then another. She tried to wipe these away, but they just kept coming. “Why didn’t you take me with you?” she repeated, rougher.

Windy sobbed, covering her mouth. She held her hands out and tried to move toward Rainbow like she was going to hug her, but Rainbow stepped away from the fence when she did, glaring at her through her tears.

The wind picked up, pulling at their clothes. The strong breeze nipped. Rainbow looked up and could see clouds gathering overhead. Hadn’t the sky been clear before? But she supposed she hadn’t been looking up much since arriving here.

She couldn’t bring herself to care too much.

Windy leaned heavily on the fence, her face wet and her nose running. “Rainbow I wanted to take you with me, but Blaze he–”

“Don’t pin this on him,” Rainbow snarled at her. Thunder rolled overhead, booming through them. She could feel it in her teeth. “Whatever he did, you didn’t have to abandon me. You didn’t have to disappear from my life!”

Windy looked at her pained. “He never gave them to you, did he?” For the first time, Rainbow could see something resembling strength enter into her voice. Her eyes burned with bitter outrage.

Rainbow narrowed her eyes at her. “What are you talking about?” The area around them grew darker as the sun was blocked out.

“My letters,” Windy said with a sniffle. She wiped at her face, and with effort, she straightened her posture. Rainbow had the unpleasant realization that the action reminded her of Fluttershy trying to work up her courage. “I wrote to you every week for years. It wasn’t until you made it to high school that I took the lack of response as an indication that you didn’t want to have anything to do with me.” She smiled bitterly. “I should have known Blaze was behind it.”

Rainbow stared. Her lips, fingertips, and toes tingled like they were going numb. Windy had written to her?

Her fists clenched harder. That didn’t matter. Why would Windy trust Blaze to give Rainbow those letters? What kind of moron was she? And to just throw her hands into the air and just give up like that?!

“You still could’ve seen me,” Rainbow hissed. “You didn’t try hard enough because you didn’t care.”

Windy shook her head adamantly. “No, Rainbow that isn’t true! I’ve been going to all of your games!” She hefted up her camera. When she did so, Rainbow was finally able to read the badge she wore underneath it. It said PRESS.

“Then why haven’t I seen you?” Rainbow snapped.

Windy held her hands up. “Why else? Blaze! If he ever saw me, he threatened me with legal action.” Her eyes, a deeper shade of cerise than Rainbow’s, wrinkled with despair. “But even after he did that, I’ve still taken chances and went in disguise. Rainbow, all I ever hoped for was a moment to talk to you alone, but it never seemed like the right moment. I got close so many times… I… I just–” she sighed and hung her head. She looked so haggard.

Rainbow shook her head at her, disgust writ plain on her face. Just more excuses.

“Who is Firefly, Windy?” she asked quietly. Cold raindrops began to fall.

Windy buried her face in her hands.

Rainbow clicked her tongue and turned away with a sneer. The wind kicked up again, whipping her hair into a frenzy. “Fine. Catch you never, I guess.”

Let the rain fall. Let it flood their stupid perfect house–!

Rainbow yelled wordlessly, her hands curled like claws. She was so damn angry! But she knew it was bad. Windy wouldn’t be the only one affected if she let a storm pour over this neighborhood. There were other families here. And wouldn’t it be so strange to the meteorologists that a storm just materialized out of nowhere? That wasn’t really keeping her magic hidden. No, it was shooting a freaking firework into the sky.

With a glare, she looked up at the clouds and told them to piss off.

They didn’t really.

But the rain eased, at least.

She resumed stalking back to the car. Spitfire and Sassaflash were practically pressed up against the windows, watching. They hastily returned to their seats as she neared, trying and failing to look innocent and disinterested.

Rainbow heard the fence gate open behind her with a loud squeak. She slowed and looked over her shoulder. Windy Whistles was standing on the sidewalk, her fists balled at her sides.

“Blaze can’t have kids!” Windy said loudly over the wind. Her voice shook but it was tight with a perseverance that took Rainbow aback.

Rainbow came to a gradual halt. She was just a few feet from her car, the keys already in her hands. Her ears were ringing and she swayed on her feet. “He… what?” She turned slowly on the spot and stared at her mother. “What did you just say?” The rain surged again, soaking her clothes, her hair...

Windy was drawing herself up again in that brave little way, and Rainbow was angry that it made her think of Fluttershy again. Her girlfriend was sweet and courageous in her own special way. Windy Whistles was just a scumbag who ran from whatever was hard. Rainbow didn’t want to see parallels between them.

Windy gestured back at the house as she dared to venture closer, squinting against the rain. “Firefly is your sister, Rainbow Dash.” Her voice was wrought with anguish. She clumsily, hastily dug into her pocket and pulled out a business card. This she held out to Rainbow. Her hand shook terribly. “When you want to have a civil discussion about it, please… call us.”

Rainbow took the card limply, her gaze large. Firefly was her… sister? Not her cousin. Not even her half-sister.

She was her sister.

The implications fell into place slowly, but when they did, she knew she needed to sit down. Quickly.

She stumbled backward, tears still slipping silently down her face. The rain masked this, but the pain was evident on her face, like an open wound. Her clothes clung heavy to her trembling body, the simmer of rain all around them. Windy looked like she tried to smile, but the expression only expressed the years of hurt and shame she felt. She turned and hastily retreated back to her home. Back to the life that she built without Rainbow.

Rainbow stared after her. It wasn’t until she heard Sassaflash roll down the passenger window and call her name that she fumbled for the car door, her grip slipping on the wet metal handle. Sassaflash hastily exited the car and put her hand on Rainbow’s taut shoulder.

Sass raised her voice over the rain. “Dashie, no. Lemme drive. You look like you’re in a bad way.”

Rainbow stared at her car door where her hand still rested on the handle. She looked slowly at Sassaflash. “My uncle is my real dad.” She let go of the car door and looked up at the dark sky just as she caught lightning flashing overhead. “My parents weren’t just trash. My whole damn life was a lie.” The delayed rumble of thunder hurt her ears a little, it was so loud.

Her friend firmly guided her into the backseat. Rainbow sat limply, her head bobbing from Sassaflash slamming the doors shut. She stared ahead at nothing.

Her life was a lie. Uncle Hothoof was her dad. Firefly was her sister.

Rainbow hugged her stomach as it gurgled and cramped unhappily. That’s when she saw it on the floor.

The black feather.

“Where do you want to go, Dashie? Back to campus?” Sassaflash asked from the front seat. Her pale blonde hair was plastered slick to the sides of her face, and her amber eyes tensed with concern.

Rainbow grimaced as she leaned forward and plucked the feather from the floor. She sat back, her face stretching long as she turned the feather in her fingers. As the feather caught a flash of lightning, Rainbow saw the blaze of blue shimmer over the glossy vane. She let the feather fall. Watched it flutter chaotically back down to the car floor.

Just a small piece of the monster she’d nearly become.

“Dashie?” Sassaflash’s voice.

Right. Where did she want to go?

She wanted to go to Mars. To the bottom of the ocean. To heck. Anywhere to get away from this rollercoaster life she was suddenly living.

But she couldn’t just run away. No.

She could try and forget though.

“You guys got plans tonight?” She asked, some strength returning to her voice as she pulled out her cell phone. She focused on her breathing, conjuring Fluttershy’s beautiful face.

In…

Those loving blue eyes.

Two… Three…

Those pretty pink lips.

Out…

The gentle way she said Rainbow’s name.

Two… Three… Four…

The wind died down outside as the rain audibly lessened like someone turned the knob on a faucet to nearly closed. Nearly, but not quite.

“I think I’m full up on adventure today, cap,” Spitfire answered with an apologetic purse of her lips.

Sassaflash’s eyes ticked back and forth as she sat ramrod straight and looked around. “Is it just me or is the weather super weird right now?”

“What’ll it be, Sass?” Rainbow said, grabbing her friend’s attention once again. Her voice held a dare as she tilted an eyebrow. “Wanna go on an adventure?”

Her vice captain held a fist to her mouth as she leaned heavily on the steering wheel and stared at her. Her amber eyes searched Rainbow’s face, like she was trying to find a clue as to what Rainbow was thinking. Finally, she held up her hands. “I’m here for you, Dashie.” She smiled gently. It was kind, but also… resigned. Like she knew this would be trouble. That’s what Rainbow loved about Sass. She was ride or die, all the way. “What are you thinking?” her vice-captain asked lightly.

“Cool. You got a fake ID, right?” Rainbow asked with relief. If she was going out, she wanted at least one person who knew what the heck she’d just gone through to be there. She opened up her contacts list and scrolled till she found Pinkie Pie. She hit the green call symbol and pressed the device to her ear. “Cuz I wanna have some fun tonight.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 37 Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 3 Minutes