>R: Morning!

>F: Rainbow… It’s just after 6 am…

>R: Oh crap. Did I wake u? :(

>F: Lol, it’s ok. I’m usually up early

>R: Cool. How ya doin?

>F: Fine. Did u sleep better last nite?

>R: Like a BABY. :D Just got outta the gym

>F: What did u work on 2day?

>R: My core. I got abs of steel >:)

>F: Lol, I believe u…

>R: Hey, so u free again for another project session 2nite?

>F: Yes! I don’t have class or work 2day.

>R: Sweet!

>F: can u do me a favor?

>R: Sure!

>F: Plz take a picture of the sunrise 4 me?

>R: No prob! Can’t see it that gr8 from ur house, huh?

>F: Oh, I can see it just fine. I’m just going back 2 sleep. ;)

>R: LOL! Ok, get some rest sleepy head

---

Fluttershy awoke to her phone buzzing next to her head. She’d left it there after her short exchange with Rainbow, though hadn’t been asleep long since.

Her eyes felt scratchy. Her body protested being prematurely woken a second time. She lifted her head to check the clock. It was half past six.

Feeling groggy, she grabbed her phone and unlocked it. There was a new message from Rainbow. The screen icon indicated it had an attachment. Her eyes widened, and she sat up as she brought up the text conversation.

That’s right! She’d asked for a picture of the sunrise.

Fluttershy opened the attachment.

Her breath caught.

Rainbow Dash had indeed taken a picture of the rising sun, but she had gotten creative in doing so. It was a very kinetic shot. No doubt with the aid of a selfie stick, the unabashed show-off had ponied up and flown high over the Canterlot Mountains to take her own picture.

Her face was dim from the rear lighting, but the sun had risen just high enough that her features were discernible. Most clear of all was her broad grin as she threw up a peace sign.

Fluttershy covered her smiling mouth as her eyes drank in the majestic spread of her friend’s blue wings; the way the sunlight flared into the lens just past the curve of her exposed neck. The wild dance of her colorful hair as she wheeled through the air.

Shivering, Fluttershy typed out a reply on her phone.

>F: Amazing! I love it!! <3<3<3

Then she hugged the phone to her chest and flopped backward with a happy giggle.

---

Rainbow Dash was strutting. Not just walking. Strutting.

Ever since her text conversation with Fluttershy that morning, she had felt effervescent and jovial.

She had nailed it with that selfie. Taking the risk of ponying up had been more than worth it in her opinion.

It delighted her to imagine what Fluttershy’s face had looked like when she first saw the picture.

Did she blush? Did she laugh? Did her eyes widen in that adorable way whenever something stunned her?

She was glad her friend had sent her a positive reply. And all those heart emojis! It gave Rainbow a bigger rush than she wanted to admit.

The truth was, she’d been half-afraid that Fluttershy would be alarmed at the fact that she’d risked exposing their powers.

While it was true that their magic was at one time a well-known secret at Canterlot High, that didn’t mean the rest of the world could ever find out about them. The students and faculty at their old high school owed their lives to their group. Government scientists, however, would be loyal to only one thing—the pursuit of answers.

That was why if Rainbow ever took to the sky, it was usually when it was overcast, or when most people were asleep.

With this in mind, she had tried to offset the risk of sprouting wings that morning by flying over the Everfree Forest, to the far mountains. Fewer people, if any, to look up.

Though, even with the risk...if given the choice on whether or not she’d do it again?

I totally would! Rainbow drew her shoulders back as she puffed her chest. Fluttershy said it herself. It was amazing. Man, I’m good!

That day, she had a team meeting. She was heading to the quad to meet with Sassaflash for lunch before going. But when Rainbow got to their usual meeting spot at the maple tree, she couldn’t see her vice-captain anywhere. She took out her cell phone and sent a text.

>R: Sass where r u?

A response came a second later.

>S: Look up.

Blinking, Rainbow Dash did just that.

Sassaflash was up in the thick branches of the maple tree. She had her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail and was waving frantically for Rainbow Dash to join her.

“What the…” But Rainbow just shrugged and grabbed the lowest branch she could reach. With little difficulty, she ascended to join her friend.

“Thanks,” Sassaflash said with a sigh of relief as Rainbow settled down.

Rainbow gestured at the branch they sat on. “Sass, what the heck are we doing up here?”

The vice-captain flashed a wicked grin and pulled her backpack from further up the branch. From it, she produced two horrible masks. She handed one to a startled Rainbow Dash.

It was an angry demonic clown monkey. Sassaflash’s was an undead gorilla clown.

“We’re going to give someone a few gray hairs!” the blonde said with diabolical eagerness.

A slow grin spread across Rainbow’s face.

A prank? Oh, heck yeah!

They moved to crouch on individual branches, with Sassaflash keeping a lookout for prime scare subjects.

“So how ya doing, anyhow?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“All right. Why?”

“I meant to ask at practice, but—”

“You were distracted?” Sassaflash interjected with a smirk.

Rainbow tried to lance her with a stern look. Her friend failed to wither as she so wished. “I was gonna ask about Caramel,” she said.

Sass inhaled deeply, her eyes turning upward. “Oh boy…”

“Have you talked to him?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

A quick shrug. “And we had angry hate sex last night.”

Rainbow Dash pretended to gag.

Sassaflash grinned. “I know! Breeders, right? We’re so gross!”

“But why!?” Rainbow exclaimed.

A giggle. “Why are breeders gross? Dashie, I thought that was obvious!”

“No, no, I mean—why would you—?”

“Sleep with my boyfriend to get over a fight we had?”

Rainbow Dash grimaced. “Yes. That!”

Sassaflash shrugged. “Heck if I know. I like to think of it as give and take.”

“And how’s that?”

Sass shot her a devious look. “As in he gives it, and I take it!”

Rainbow stared, visibly disturbed. “Right,” she said slowly. “Now that I’ve sailed straight past grossed out…I’m gonna put that whole conversation in a box, and bury it.”

Sassaflash wagged a finger. “Watch! Someday you’re gonna have angry hate sex too, and then you’ll understand!”

“Moving on!” Rainbow said, pointedly looking away. “I’ve got a new set I wanted to float at the next team meeting.”

“Yeah? What kind?”

“A free kick attacking run.”

Sassaflash’s eyes became hooded with dispassion. Flatly, she asked, “Don’t we already have three of those?”

Rainbow’s brow tensed at her friend’s lack of enthusiasm. “Yeah, but it’s like you said before. We have to change things up or the other teams will get wise.”

“Oh is that what you took away from our conversation on Monday,” Sassaflash muttered with an eye roll.

Rainbow sighed. “Sass—”

“So what’s going on with that ‘emergency’ of yours?” her friend interjected.

Rainbow Dash stiffened, unprepared for the sudden change in topic. “I’m working on it,” she said eventually.

“Rumor is, you’re on your way to being removed from a class.” Sass glanced at her, concern visibly tensing in her eyes. “If you were, you’d lose your scholarship, wouldn’t you?”

“Where’d you hear that?” Was Rainbow’s irritated reply.

“A secretary in the dean’s office told a little birdie, who told another, and another… Look, don’t get so sore about it.” Sass reached over and squeezed Rainbow’s shoulder, a kind smile on her lips. “No one thinks less of you. All everyone cares about is you being able to stay on the team!”

“It’s still none of their business,” Rainbow Dash griped. “And anyway, I’m not going to get kicked out of my class.”

Sassaflash frowned. “So the rumors are true.”

Rainbow grimaced, knowing she’d been caught. “Sass, are you looking for people to scare, or are you trying to interrogate me? The least you could do is pull this somewhere with a door I can storm out of. It’s not as cool to jump out of a tree like a monkey.”

“A demon clown monkey,” Sassaflash corrected innocently as she pointed at Rainbow’s mask.

Rainbow sucked at her teeth. “Whatever.”

“Hey, I’m not trying to make you feel judged, Dashie. I mean,” Sassaflash arched an eyebrow. “Would it have been cool if you’d told me this to begin with? Yeah. But I just want you to know that if you need help, then I’m here. I mean, I’m not a brainiac or anything, but I can do some stuff.”

Sass smiled gently. “Besides, if the team loses you, who else is going to keep me on my toes at practices?”

Rainbow smirked, feeling a little better. “You could just play in high heels and a skirt.”

Sassaflash gave her a cheeky wink. “I guess that’d be one way to get you to keep showing up.”

Without missing a beat, Rainbow said huskily, “Hey baby. I won’t give you a yellow card if you take off your shirt.” She wiggled her eyebrows for added effect.

They shared a quiet laugh.

“Rainbow Dash, you’re such a keeper,” Sassaflash giggled. Her smile turned mischievous. “Does Fluttershy like it when you talk to her like that?”

Rainbow blushed, her eyes shifting nervously from the walkway below, to her friend, and back. “I don’t talk to her like that.”

“Why not?”

“Because when we do it, we’re just fooling around. If I did that to Fluttershy, she’d probably run the other way!”

“Ah.” Sassaflash nodded sagely. “So she plays hard to get.”

Rainbow could feel her blush deepen. “Will you knock it off? I already told you, we’re just friends! Half the reason we’re even spending time together again is because she’s helping me deal with my problem.”

Sassaflash whistled. “That’s nice of her!”

Rainbow couldn’t help but smile. “That’s pretty much Shy in a nutshell.”

“Next time, you should introduce us. I know you were in a hurry last night, but she sounds like someone I’d get along with.”

Rainbow’s smile turned crooked. “At least you two could relate on being grass-eaters.”

Sassaflash gasped, her face lighting up. “She’s a vegetarian?”

“Yep.”

Rainbow Dash could then only stare as her vice-captain squealed and clapped her hands softly in excitement.

“Now I have to meet her!” Sass exclaimed. “We could trade recipes!”

“Oh yeah,” Rainbow muttered sarcastically. For some reason, she felt annoyed at the thought of the two girls getting along. “You could even cook together. Wouldn’t that be lovely?”

Sassaflash covered her mouth with both hands, her amber eyes becoming wide like saucers. When she removed her hands, she squeaked, “That…would be so…awesome!”

Rainbow wrinkled her nose, feeling her annoyance peak. “Who are you, and what have you done with Sassaflash?”

The other girl tutted, her peach lips curving upwards… though not quite so high as to reveal those sincere dimples. “You think I can’t cook?”

Rainbow threw up a hand in frustration. “I didn’t say that! You just… never mentioned that you did!”

“You never asked.”

“Geez, gimme a break! I’m not psychic!” Rainbow huffed and gestured at Sassaflash irately. “Look, cooking just didn’t fit my picture of who you are, okay?”

Sassaflash chuckled. She toyed with her mask, poking her fingers through the small eye holes. “I already told you, Dashie. You don’t know me nearly as well as you think.”

Rainbow retorted with a gesture between them. “But we talk all the time!”

Sassaflash’s smile shrank to the point of being barely there anymore. “Sure we do.” She leaned over onto her hand and asked, “Do you remember what I used to major in before I joined the team last year?”

Rainbow batted her eyes. “Huh? Weren’t you always a criminal justice major?”

Sassaflash pursed her lips and shook her head.

Rainbow glared, irritated that she’d gotten it wrong. When had Sass mentioned majoring in something else?

“Look, I’m sorry, okay?” she bit out. “I have a lot of things on my mind, like, all the time. We still talk about loads of other stuff. Real talk.”

Sassaflash nodded slowly. Her smile was now entirely gone.

“Real talk. Sure. Sometimes. That is, when you actually feel like you can open up to me.” She held up a hand. “Relationships are give and take, Dashie. So I can ‘totally’ see why you would feel betrayed at not knowing every single thing about me.”

Rainbow Dash flinched. Was Sass really that perceptive? Did she actually pick up on how Rainbow left out details about high school and her other close friends? About her past girlfriends? About her father?

“Dude, that’s not cool,” she said quietly. “You’re not just a distraction for me. You’re my friend.”

I just can’t tell you everything...

“I know that, Rainbow Dash. But I think you’re content to maintain the status quo.” Sassaflash’s head tilted to the side as her eyebrow lifted. “Y’know. Like with Fluttershy.”

Rainbow felt her cheeks grow hot. “Now just wait a minute—!”

Sassaflash shushed her, a finger shooting up as something caught her eye down below. Rainbow ground her teeth, but fell quiet. Her friend started to wave a frantic hand.

“Ooh, ooh! Derpy’s coming. Get ready!” Sassaflash whispered hastily.

“Don’t think this conversation is over, Sass!” Rainbow hissed back.

“Shhh!”

Rainbow muttered irritably under her breath as she jammed the mask on her head. Through the eye holes, she could barely see Sass hold up three fingers.

1…2…3!

They dropped down, and upon landing, Rainbow cackled evilly and waved her arms all over the place. She danced around like a lunatic...

Or a demon clown monkey.

Whatever.

Sass was lucky she was still in the mood to help with the prank at all!

“Aaaaah!” a woman screamed.

Rainbow halted, her heart squeezing with alarm.

Uh oh. That didn’t sound like Derpy!

Rainbow Dash ripped the mask off. Derpy was further up the path, nowhere near them. Apparently, she’d paused to tie her shoe. She stared at them with her one straight eye, a muffin in her mouth, and shock somehow still visible.

When Rainbow Dash looked at the individual that they had actually surprised, she felt her stomach bottom out.

Sassaflash, unaware, just doubled over, laughing hysterically. She was still wearing her mask.

“Sassaflash,” Rainbow croaked. When her friend didn’t heed her, she snatched the mask off her friend’s head. “Sass!”

Her vice captain frowned at her, but her grin remained. “What? What is it?”

Rainbow Dash swallowed and pointed, the sweat forming on her brow.

Sassaflash finally looked. Her face paled as she went ramrod straight.

“P-Professor Yearling?” she managed to squeak.

The bookish archaeology professor had her hand on her heaving chest, her navy necktie askew, while her other hand pulled back her brown blazer to grip what looked like a whip.

Rainbow had heard the rumors, of course, but somehow seeing the coiled weapon was far less sexy than she’d imagined.

She looks like she could hang me with that thing!

When the professor gathered herself, she pushed up her thick red glasses and growled, “Clowns… Why did you have to use clowns!?” Her look was practically murderous.

Rainbow threw an arm around Sassaflash’s shoulders and blurted in a rush: “We’re so sorry, it’ll never happen again! You’re all right, right? Right! Great, so we’ll just be on our way then, m’kay? Bye!” Then to Sass, she rasped out of the corner of her mouth, “Run!”

Her vice-captain didn’t need telling twice. Together, the two soccer players took off at a sprint, practically leaving a dust cloud behind them.

---

Fluttershy had every intention to stay in her pajamas all day and study, but when Rarity had awoken her with a tearful, incoherent call, all thoughts of such things had been doomed.

She leaped out of bed, her cell phone pressed to her ear as she turned on her shower, then hurried to her closet to pick out clothes.

Fluttershy tried to speak to her friend. She really did. But... “Rarity. R-Rarity, I can’t— Please, slow down. Or, or maybe…use words?”

She made a vain effort to understand what her friend was sobbing about. For a moment she thought she caught something about coffee in there, so she assured the fashionista that she was coming with refreshments. After calling for a cab, she showered, dressed, and hurried out to her waiting ride.

“The coffee shop on fifth and eighth, please!” she told the driver breathlessly.

At the shop, she bought three coffees (an extra in case Pinkie Pie was there) and bagels with extra strawberry cream cheese.

The drive to the Delta Alpha Kappa house was relatively quick—it was located in the same region of town as Fluttershy’s home. There was a bit of a chill in the air, as the sun had only just risen over the hills. She wondered, anxiously, just what new disaster may have struck. The only real way to tell was to get Rarity to calm down enough to be intelligible.

We’ll see what it is this time… Fluttershy thought with a sigh as the cab arrived outside of the sorority house. She paid the driver and exited the car, hurrying up the cement pathway to the Victorian house’s paned double doors.

She didn’t even get a chance to ring the doorbell. Before she knew it, the doors flew open and Fluttershy was dragged inside with a squeak.

Rarity was already hanging on to her, sobbing uncontrollably. Her arms hugged around Fluttershy’s torso, and the animal lover struggled to keep from spilling the coffee from the cup tray.

Rarity’s normally beautiful hair was mussed and dull. Covering her was a purple nightgown and a silk grey bathrobe. Past the foyer, just to the right of the staircase, a girl with thick, curly, two-toned hair the colors of orange and warm yellow poked her head through the entryway that led into the kitchen.

“Oh thank goodness!” she groaned.

Fluttershy smiled at her nervously. “Um, hello Junebug.”

Junebug’s lime green eyes narrowed as she pointed at Rarity. “That has been going on since midnight. If you can get her to stop, there’s a luxury bouquet in it for you!”

Rarity slipped down to the floor, now just a crying heap at Fluttershy’s feet.

Fluttershy asked with a hint of panic. “Is Pinkie Pie here?” Please, oh pretty please, tell me she is!

Junebug shook her head before retreating back into the kitchen. “Nope!” she called back. “Haven’t seen her in two days. I think she’s with her new boyfriend.”

Fluttershy frowned with surprise. Pinkie Pie is seeing someone? She let out a little sigh as she knelt by Rarity. Something to think about later. My hands are a bit full.

“Rarity…” she murmured, brushing her friend’s hair back from her tear-stained face. She pointed meekly at the coffee and bag of bagels on the cup tray. “Look! I brought you some breakfast!”

Rarity wiped at her eyes and pouted her lip. With great effort, she managed to whimper out between hiccuping sobs, “Did—Did you bring…bagels?”

Fluttershy nodded.

“A-And did you get…extra…extra—”

“Extra strawberry cream cheese? Yes, I did.”

Fluttershy squeaked again as Rarity hugged her around the neck. Hard.

“Oh Fluttershy, you are simply the best friend a woman could ask for!” Rarity wailed.

Fluttershy’s response was to tap her on the arm frantically.

“Best…friend…can’t…breathe!” she wheezed.

---

Rarity would not be moved from the floor of the foyer until she’d devoured exactly one and a half bagels, and guzzled down both of the remaining coffees. After that, she rose from the floor, raised her quivering chin, and announced that she needed a moment to freshen up in the bathroom.

Fluttershy waited in Rarity and Pinkie Pie’s room. The space was an even split of two personalities. One side was almost entirely pink, and filled with various novelties and party supplies. The other side was a neat, organized, and sophisticated array of white and indigo with just one small island of fashion-fueled chaos at a work desk.

Fluttershy could have sworn only two minutes had gone by when Rarity was suddenly bustling into the room, her hair combed back into something resembling her usual style, and her eyes done up with makeup.

She’s always so fast! Fluttershy noted with wonder.

Rarity sat down next to her with a dramatic groan. “Thank you so much for coming on such short notice, Fluttershy!” she said with a grateful, but exhausted smile. Even with her makeup, Fluttershy could see how missing a night’s worth of sleep had taken its toll.

“Rarity, what’s got you so upset?” Fluttershy asked. She fished a bagel from the bag she’d brought and tore off a small piece to eat.

The fashionista put her wrist to her brow and fell backward onto the mattress. Tears started to mist her red, swollen eyes.

“I don’t know what I’m doing, Fluttershy,” she said, her voice choking with emotion. “Yesterday, one of my teachers told me that I’d never make it as a fashion designer!”

Fluttershy gasped. “You poor thing!”

“Oh I know! He told me that my work was gaudy and juvenile. Can you believe that!?” Rarity clutched at her bed covers and bared her teeth. “Just because I don’t subscribe to that dreary, minimalist, gothic nonsense that everyone else at the design college is so keen on! I mean what is the point of expressing yourself if all you ever use are blacks and grays?”

Rarity gesticulated a sharp hand angrily through the air. “We can’t all be Mauds, can we?”

Fluttershy shook her head emphatically. “Goodness, no!”

“And that isn’t even the worst of it!” Rarity continued with a trembling lip. “I’ve been struggling with the decorations for the 80s party, and yet Pinkie Pie has gone AWOL for the past few days! The day after the dinner, she said she had a doctor’s appointment, but she never came back to the sorority house, and no one seems able to reach her on her cell!”

Rarity held her arms out to the ceiling as if asking it, What am I to do?! “We’re supposed to start ordering our supplies by tomorrow so that we’ll have everything to begin preparing the following week, but that hasn’t happened!”

The fashionista’s wrist returned to her dismayed brow. “My sorority sisters keep asking questions about what we’ll need to do, and I have no idea what to tell them! My job was the decorations! Pinkie Pie was supposed to be handling the logistics!”

Rarity pinched her nightgown closer to her body as she whimpered, “I don’t know how to organize anything bigger than a private tea party!”

Despite her frustration Rarity turned her face away. “Oh, but then I feel horrible, because what if Pinkie is actually in trouble? Here I am just worried about this party—” She looked at Fluttershy, suddenly frantic. “Which, by the way, I haven’t had a chance to work on my outfit for!”

She looked away again, her head rolling along the bed as dramatically as a movie starlet in a black-and-white film. “To make matters even worse, Blueblood and his fraternity are going to be there—” Her eyes squeezed shut and she covered her face. “And yet every time I look at my work table to start on, well, anything, I just think of that dreadful teacher’s words, and, and—”

Fluttershy touched her friend’s knee before she could start going further down her slippery slope.

“Rarity?” she prompted gently.

Rarity peeked at her from between her fingers.

“First, I think you need to practice those breathing exercises I mentioned to you the last time we met.”

“Fluttershy, I don’t think I can—”

“In through your nose.” Fluttershy paused to take a breath, and the fashionista followed suit. “And out through your mouth,” They both exhaled together. Fluttershy smiled. “Good!”

She set aside her bagel and laid on the bed next to Rarity with her body turned on its side and her head propped up on her hand. With a caring but stern look, she said, “Now you simply must get some rest.”

“But Fluttershy—!”

Fluttershy frowned, her infamous Stare igniting in her eyes.

Rarity fell silent and pouted at her.

Gently, Fluttershy said, “Rarity, you’re caught in a loop! You need to disconnect for a moment. Don’t try to solve anything until you’ve gotten some sleep. Once you wake up, you can try and meditate on everything going on. All right?”

Rarity nodded like a child, seeing little room to argue.

Fluttershy smiled warmly. “Good.” Her expression turned stern again. “Now as for that teacher… Don’t listen to him! He sounds like a big,” she inhaled and forced out next, “meanie! Meanies aren’t worth losing sleep over… Okay?”

She hated using the ‘m’ word, and she really hated for her words to be at odds with anyone (even if they weren’t even in the room) but sometimes, she reasoned, you couldn’t avoid it.

She’d been in enough magical fights with her friends to understand that adversity could come from anywhere, and you couldn’t always treat it with a soft or relenting approach.

Rarity managed a weak smile. “Yes. You’re right, of course.”

“And about Pinkie Pie—” Fluttershy bit her lip and thought about her next words carefully.

When she spoke again, it was very slow and gentle. “Don’t worry about her. I’m sure that wherever she is, she’s safe and doing what she does best. She’s in touch with her family nearly every day, the way she tells it. They would know if something was amiss.”

Rarity nodded and took a deep breath. On her exhale, she sat up, and Fluttershy sat up with her.

The fashionista smiled warmly, some of the gleam restored in her eyes. “Thank you, Fluttershy. You’re so good to me.” She took hold of her friend’s hand and squeezed.

Fluttershy returned the smile and put her hand over Rarity’s. “I care about you, Rarity. I’ll always be here when you need me!”

They sat in companionable silence for a time.

Then Rarity cocked her head to the side and asked, “Well, now that I’ve had my hissy fit, we should talk about you for a bit! How are you doing, dear? Those dinners we have every month are pleasant enough, but it seems you always fade into the background. Is everything all right?”

Fluttershy blushed and looked away. “Well, to be perfectly honest, I was feeling quite unhappy, but then…”

When she didn’t continue, Rarity leaned over to better peer up into her face. “Fluttershy?”

Should I tell her? Fluttershy wondered anxiously.

Rainbow Dash didn’t say her psychology project was a secret per se, but I can’t imagine she’d want people to know about her situation.

Her brow furrowed.

Then again, do I even need to mention the project at all? We’re in the same class, after all. I could just say we’re studying together. Then I’d have someone to talk about—

Her eyes widened and she bowed her head, letting her hair hide her face.

Wait, what am I thinking? I can’t talk to Rarity about my plan! She’ll think I’m so conniving!

Fluttershy flinched when Rarity brushed back her curtain of hair, her brow wrinkled with concern.

“My goodness!” Rarity exclaimed. “It appears you are having quite the inner debate!”

Rarity sat closer and hugged Fluttershy around the shoulders. “Darling, if you really feel unable to speak to me, then I understand. But you should really know that I am here for you, whatever the case may be!”

The hug felt warm. Safe.

Fluttershy’s spine straightened as the affection blossomed in her chest. “Oh Rarity, I don’t even know where to begin!”

The other girl’s lips quirked into an encouraging smile as she ended her hug. “Why not start with what you feel is simplest to explain?”

Fluttershy’s lower lip pushed up and her brow creased as she gave this serious thought. Her expression gradually cleared.

“I suppose that’d be school, then,” she admitted with a flutter of her lashes.

Rarity’s brows rose. “Oh? Are you having trouble with your classes?”

“Not really. But…” Fluttershy bit her lip. Her chin tucked as she murmured, “Remember that new job I was starting as part of my work-study?”

Rarity nodded. “Yes! Are you not enjoying it?”

Fluttershy sighed miserably. “I hate it!”

Rarity pressed a hand to her heart, a look of dismay pulling her features down. “Really? But I thought—!”

“I’m working with animals, so I must love it, right?” Fluttershy asked with a pout. “That’s what you were going to say, weren’t you?”

Fluttershy sighed at her friend’s guilty look. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple! The hospital is nothing like the animal shelter!”

She covered her eyes with one hand. “They can be so cold! The people running it seem more concerned with money than the well-being of their patients.”

When her hand fell from her eyes, it revealed the mist that had collected in her gaze. “I don’t fit in. They all think I’m strange and sentimental.”

“What cads!” Rarity said fiercely.

She struck her knee with her fist daintily. “Why, I ought to go over there and give them a piece of my mind! How could anyone discredit you, Fluttershy? You’re a wonder with animals!”

Her eyes narrowed. “I have half a mind to bring Opal in under some pretense. I’d like to see them try to attend to her needs as finely as you do!”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “R-Rarity, I don’t think that would help.”

Rarity sighed, her posture relaxing. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. I can’t afford to pay for someone else’s emergency room bills this year. How fortunate for them that I am such a lady!”

She flipped her hair back, then paused and added reluctantly, “And also short on funds.”

“Yeah, my work's been difficult. Although…” Fluttershy smiled. “I’ve had something new to look forward to that might make it bearable!”

Rarity gazed at her curiously. “And whatever would that be, darling?”

“Rainbow Dash and I are studying psychology together...” Fluttershy blushed a little and added in a small squeak, “In private.”

Rarity’s eyes grew very wide. Out of their group, she had been the only one Fluttershy had confided in about her hidden feelings.

“My goodness!” the fashionista eventually exclaimed with a large smile. She sounded breathless. “That is something to look forward to!”

She leaned in, her smile curling. “And how has that been going?”

Fluttershy’s blush intensified as she leaned away a little. “It’s not as interesting as you think.”

Rarity hummed wickedly. “Surely you must be enjoying yourself, though?”

Fluttershy looked at her lap, unable to hold her friend’s gossip-hungry stare. “Y-Yes!”

Rarity giggled at her friend’s demure reaction and gently bumped shoulders with her. “How wonderful! You must be delighted to have Rainbow Dash all to yourself.”

“I am, very much so!” Fluttershy began to twirl a lock of hair around her finger. “I’ve even found the courage to try and…well…”

Rarity gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. “My goodness! Fluttershy, do you mean to tell me that you intend to—” she leaned in and stage whispered, “Seduce her?”

Fluttershy’s smile was wiped from her face as she shrank back. “N-no, that’s not quite the word I would use—”

Rarity leapt to her feet, her hands clapping excitedly as she squealed. “Fluttershy, this is fabulous! I am so excited for you! When do you see her again?”

“Er, tonight, actually.”

Rarity froze, her eyes going up and down her companion.

Fluttershy paled. She knew that look.

Rarity put her hands on her hips as her gaze took on an edge. “You don’t intend to woo her in clothes like that, do you?”

Fluttershy could feel the sweat forming on her skin. She squirmed as a fat drop of it rolled between her flush breasts. “Um, well—”

“Fluttershy, I’m disappointed in you! When was the last time you’ve been shopping?”

Fluttershy held her hands up helplessly. “Rarity, I don’t have time to—”

Rarity shifted her weight to one foot as she waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, pish posh! Of course you have time. As I recall, your Wednesdays are free, are they not?”

Fluttershy wrung her hands. “I mean, they are, but—”

Rarity grabbed her wrists and hauled Fluttershy to her feet. “Then we are going shopping. Tout de suite!”

Fluttershy shook her head in panic. “B-but Rarity you need to rest!”

The fashionista zipped over to her closet and began energetically rifling through its contents. “I cannot possibly sleep knowing you are having a fashion emergency. No, certainly not!”

Fluttershy pointed at the closet. “Then can’t you just give me something from out of your wardrobe?”

Rarity halted.

Turned her head slowly.

Fluttershy had the good sense to look apologetic under that pure look of reproach.

“Fluttershy.” Rarity said the name as if she were holding herself back from letting out a disgusted, AUGH! Have I taught you nothing?!

She closed her eyes. Took a deep breath.

“Darling,” she said upon opening her eyes again. “Do not be silly! You have a completely different palette from me.”

With a prim flip of her hair, she resumed rifling through the closet.

Fluttershy started pacing, her eyes scanning for something, anything, to dissuade her friend. Her eyes fell on her fashion work desk.

“Make me something, then!” she blurted.

Fluttershy wheeled her hands through the air. “Why go to the bother of going from store to store, getting undressed in cold dressing rooms, trying not to let people see what size pants you’re looking at…”

Her eyes went distant as a haunted look overcame her features.

Rarity slowed again, her hands stilling on the hangars.

After another long pause, one that felt markedly different from the one before, she said with just the smallest turn of her head, “I’m...low on fabric.”

She slid a coat over on the closet bar, but the enthusiasm felt contrived. “Also, It’s been almost two years since I’ve measured you.”

“But—”

Rarity spoke with stiff, cheery energy, “To make matters worse, my sewing machine is on the fritz, I can’t find my fabric scissors, and oh heavens, don’t even get me started on my stock of thread.”

The fashionista flashed a fixed smile. “Besides, coming up with something by tonight is a tall order for even me, don’t you think?”

“Rarity I don’t have any money to spend on clothes!” Fluttershy whined. She could feel her hope for escape pulling away from her.

“Don’t you worry about that, darling. I shall take care of everything.”

“But you just said you don’t have much money!”

Rarity shot her a look. “Fluttershy, credit cards exist for a reason! And nothing brings me more happiness than giving to my friends.”

She went to Fluttershy, with hands clasped, her lower lip pouting. “You wouldn’t deny a lady one of her few comforts in this world during her time of need…would you?”

Fluttershy’s shoulders hunched around her ears.

And I worried she would find ME too conniving?

---

After her team meeting was through, Rainbow Dash returned to her dorm room to find Sunset Shimmer sitting on her bed.

She was leaning on her knee with her head in her hand, her red and yellow hair clipped back and looking more frizzy than usual. Her other hand pressed her cell phone to her ear. She didn’t look up as Rainbow crossed the room and sat down on her bed.

“Sir, I understand that, but—” Sunset bared her teeth as a voice squeaked something over the line. “Well, can’t you stop the transaction? I didn’t authorize it!”

A short reply over the speaker.

“But I already paid that bill!” Sunset snapped, causing Rainbow to briefly jump.

She pinched her brow and growled as the other person responded to this.

“Fine. I suppose I’ll just call the company then. Thank you for your help.”

Sunset straightened and ended the call. She looked at Rainbow Dash, but the glaze of her eyes suggested she was still wrestling with her latest dilemma. “Hello, Rainbow.”

“Hey, Sunset.” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow as she started to unlace her shoes. “Everything cool?”

“No,” her roommate answered. “But I’m dealing with it.” She stood, stretched, then dropped back down onto her bed. “Ugh! I don’t think I can study right now. I feel too tense.”

“I know how you feel,” Rainbow said with a nod. She pulled her shoes off and laid back on her bed. “I really do.”

She drummed her fingers on her stomach as she gazed up at the ceiling. “Hey, Sunset Shimmer?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you… Do you miss Equestria?”

Even without turning her head, Rainbow could sense the stillness of her friend.

“All the time,” was the quiet reply.

“So, why don’t you go back?”

“Because.”

Unsatisfied, Rainbow Dash turned her head. “Because what?”

Sunset’s eyes held her roommate’s with focused intensity. “Because I have a responsibility to this world. I brought magic here when there was none. You guys have it. But there’s no telling where else it may have gone.”

“Is that why you major in quantum physics?”

Sunset swallowed audibly and gave one stiff nod. “I want to understand this world. Find its limits.”

Rainbow frowned a little at the still-vague answer. “What for?”

“Because the magic will find those limits and change them. Change like that can be devastating if it's not understood in time.”

Sunset leaned on her knees, her expression one of burden. “I need to know what those changes are so they won't cause this world harm.”

Rainbow Dash whistled. “Sunset Shimmer, the real hero.”

Her roommate smirked. “Heroine.”

“Whatever.” Rainbow returned her gaze to the ceiling. “So that’s what has Sci-Twi playing mad scientist these days.”

“Don’t call her that. You know she hates that nickname. It hurts her feelings.”

“Well, it gets confusing when the princess visits! What do you want me to call her instead? Four eyes?” Rainbow frowned across the room.

Sunset tongued her cheek, her eyes penetrating.

The athlete groaned and covered her face with her hands. Into her palms, she said, “Okay, okay, fine! That wasn’t cool to say.”

She sat up and stared straight. Why did every move she make have to be wrong these days? Geez!

“Rainbow, can I ask you something?”

Rainbow Dash didn’t turn her head. “Shoot,” she murmured.

“Why did you tell me about your plan with Fluttershy?”

“Because it slipped out,” was the flat response, which obviously was enough.

“Not really. You could have tried to bluff your way out of it, couldn’t you?”

“I dunno, Sunset. I thought you said I wasn’t exactly a master at mind games?” Rainbow shot her friend a look.

She was satisfied to see Sunset wince. “I shouldn’t have said that. I wasn’t trying to suggest you’re dumb, Rainbow.”

Rainbow shrugged one shoulder. “Yeah, well…”

“Look, what I was trying to get at is—” Sunset broke off with a rough exhale.

Rainbow looked at her sidelong.

Sunset unclipped her hair, letting her thick wavy locks free to frame her brown face. With a weary expression, she pointed at her nightstand, where next to her alarm clock, rested her magical book. The sun symbol on the cover seemed unusually bright in the late afternoon light.

“I took that book with me when I betrayed my teacher and guardian. It was my last link with her,” Sunset said quietly. Her eyes gained a faraway look.

“Even when I was consumed by anger and greed, I couldn’t bring myself to leave it because I knew...” Her eyes squeezed shut. “I knew what I was doing was wrong, and I’d need a way to call back home.”

She opened her eyes again and looked at Rainbow earnestly. “I think you told me what was really going on because you wanted someone to understand, Rainbow—”

“And do you?” Rainbow asked sharply. She threw her feet over the side of her bed and leaned onto her knees, her neck and shoulders tense.

“Do you have any idea what it feels like knowing I have to choose between one of my best friends and my father? Between ruining a friendship or shaming my family?”

“But it doesn’t have to be that way—!”

“Oh yeah? Well in the fifty-five hours I rack up between school and soccer, you tell me when the heck I’m supposed to type up a fifteen-page report, then still be prepared enough to give a psychology presentation at the end of the month!” Rainbow snarled.

She slapped the back of one hand into the other. “Oh! And get this—the end of the month is also when the regional championships are supposed to be happening.”

Rainbow jabbed a finger at her roommate, then herself. “So you tell me when I’m supposed to pull this miracle out of my butt!”

Sunset pursed her lips, her gaze averting.

Rainbow cocked an ear. “I’m sorry. What was that? Nothing? No one-liners about the power of friendship or any of that?”

She snapped her fingers when Sunset again failed to retort. “Shucks, that’s right! Our friends only see each other once a month now.”

Rainbow snorted and flopped huffily back onto the bed. “It’s too bad. It’d be really awesome to take the friendship beam to Dr. Axon’s stupid face.”

There was a long pause. Sunset, sounding resigned, muttered, “Actually, I’d think your dad would benefit from it more.”

Rainbow thought about that seriously for a moment. Then she shook her head.

“Nah. I’m pretty sure it’d just return him to his natural state.”

“And what would that be?”

Rainbow grinned a little. “A velociraptor.”

That managed to earn a snicker. “Your dad’s a dinosaur? He struck me as a wolverine.”

“Well he’s old, and he’s fast, and he’s mean, so…”

Some of the tension dissipated as the two girls chuckled weakly.

When they quieted, Sunset went and grabbed her riding jacket and motorcycle helmet from the chair and desk at the foot of her bed. “I’m going to go for dinner. You want anything?”

Rainbow shook her head.

Sunset paused at the door and looked back. “I won’t bring any of that stuff up anymore, okay? But…if you want to talk to me—”

“Sure.” Rainbow lifted her head and gave a thumbs up. “Thanks, Sunset.”

Her roommate nodded her head and left the room.

When the door shut behind her, Rainbow Dash pulled out her cell phone and sent a text to Fluttershy.

It felt so natural, to reach out to her. Now that she felt like she could talk to Flutters again, she kinda wanted to make up for the lost time. It was just nice having fun with her old friend again. What was the big deal? She only said no to Sunset because she wasn’t hungry. Her wanting to see more of Shy didn’t mean anything. Nothing at all.

Not a damn thing.

>R: I’m bored. Wanna hang out?

The response took a long time. Almost twenty minutes. The sky turned warm outside as sunset approached. Rainbow had been drifting off listening to music when her phone buzzed her back from the brink of sleep.

>F: I’m with Rarity. She says u can meet us, but…

Rainbow grimaced, having an idea of what was going on, and texted back:

>R: U guys r shopping, aren’t u

>F: Yes. She keeps making me try things on :(

The athlete groaned and let her phone drop on her chest with a thud. She wiggled a foot as she thought, making the bed mattress squeak.

Should I go? But it’ll be boring watching them shop.

Rainbow jumped when her phone buzzed. She picked it up and unlocked it. Fluttershy had sent her a text with an attachment. Curious, she opened it…and gaped.

The animal lover was wearing a small dress with a white laced top and a light blue floral skirt. She had taken a high-angled selfie so that Rainbow could see down much of the length of her body.

Rainbow noted with a healthy blush that wasn’t the only thing she could see down.

The dress had a scoop neckline, exposing quite a bit of flesh in the process.

Like it had its own gravitational force, the girl found her eyes going to the warm shadow of Fluttershy’s cleavage. Just at the place where the valley of her breasts met her shirt’s neckline, something else could be seen, shadowed, but visible.

Apparently, the pink-haired girl had chosen to wear a light green bra today.

Fluttershy was biting her lip, her brow wrinkled like she wasn’t sure the picture would even come out right. Rainbow noted absently that Rarity could be seen smirking with arms crossed on a chair behind her in what had to be a cramped dressing room.

A short message was under the picture:

>F: Rarity insisted I share. I look silly, don’t I? I keep telling her this is a waste of time!

Rainbow tried to type out a reply, but she only got as far as—

>R: U look super gr8

—before she feverishly deleted it all. When she tried to think of something cooler to say, her thoughts kept trailing off.

They’re in the dressing room together? If I go, will they let me…?

Rainbow slapped a hand to her forehead. “Get a grip, Dash!” she hissed.

Her phone buzzed again. She picked it up.

>F: R u still there? Rarity just went into the lingerie department! Plz help??

In one fluid movement, Rainbow Dash sat up, grabbed her shoes, hit the call button, and pressed her phone to her ear.

It only rang once.

“Rainbow, thank goodness!” Fluttershy whispered hurriedly. Her voice was tight with panic. “I know you hate shopping, but please—”

“Where are you guys?” Rainbow asked as she quickly jammed a foot into a sneaker.

Next Chapter: Chapter 9 (2023 3rd Draft Edit) Estimated time remaining: 13 Hours, 25 Minutes