The evening had gone smoothly after dinner. After a day spent with friends and family, it was nice to simply sit and not worry about schoolwork or anything. Sweetie Belle was sprawled out in the living room floor, doing nothing but laying there. Silver was talking to Rarity about some new fashion thing that Sweetie didn't care for.

She tried wrapping her mind around everything that had happened. Life had been so simple just day before. Not that it was truly complicated now, but it was the most complication she'd ever had. Everypony kept mentioning something weird about Karat, Glimpse wouldn't stop bugging her, Silver might just be using her. It was almost a comforting thought to know Diamond Tiara still hated her.

They would be going back to Canterlot at noon. So little time to spend in Ponyville. Sweetie remembered dreaming of leaving the small town where everypony knew everypony's business, but she missed it in Canterlot. She didn't really know anypony. Sure, she had Karat and Silver and she was okay with not having a huge circle of friends, but not at least recognizing every pony she passed was odd.

"I'm not going back to school," she announced loudly, so that Rarity and Silver would hear her in the kitchen.

She heard Rarity snort and the scrape of chairs as the two mares came to where she was. "And why not?" Rarity raised one eyebrow in the way she did, which Sweetie tried and failed to copy.

"It's too complicated. I like Ponyville where everything is relatively simple. No homework, no trying to figure stuff out. I'll go to work at a shop or something." Sweetie nodded. It was the perfect plan.

"I'm stay here to, then," Silver said. She sat on a couch before looking around wide eyed. "I didn't mean here literally. I meant here like Ponyville, you know. I couldn't just stay here at the Boutique, I know. I'd get a job and an apartment-"

Silver's explanation was cut off by laugher from the two sisters. "You know, we have to go back. No need to explain it. We knew what you meant." Sweetie got up and sat beside Silver. "I knew you'd be good to keep around."

"Yes, well," Silver said. "I…umm…" she shrugged and mumbled something indistinguishable.

Sweetie leaned in closer. "What was that?"

"I'm glad to be around," she said, shifting awkwardly in her seat. "I mean, I'm sorry I had to intrude, but I am happy you let me stay."

With a small smile on her mouth, Sweetie sighed and said, "Just wait until you get the bill. Room and board isn't cheap."

"Bill?" Silver looked between the two sisters before Sweetie giggled.

"You are too easy, Silver."

Silver scowled. "Yes, well, I still need to pack a few last minute items."

Sweetie stopped giggling and sat up, a serious look on her face. "Pack, right." The younger unicorn stood and went to her room, the grey mare trailing behind her. "I should probably do that. We do leave in like two hours."

"You haven't even started?" Silver looked amazed. "I packed after dinner last night.

Silver shook her head. "Na. I mean, I can get it done now." Sweetie started packing her things into the suitcase she had brought. Silver offered to help, but Sweetie turned her down, saying it wouldn't take her long. And it didn't. The unicorn had everything packed away within fifteen minutes.

"I wish I had a horn," Silver said as she looked around the room in amazement. "I wouldn't have to spend nearly half the time I spend doing things."

Sweetie simply smiled. "Being an earth pony is cool too though. I mean, there was this one time I thought AJ would make a better sister than Rarity, so I spent some time with her and 'Bloom. It was a little hard to keep up with them."

Rarity chose that moment to walk in. "All packed? I believe the girls are suppose to meet us at the train station."

On the way to the train station, Sweetie looked around her home town. She hadn't realized how much she really missed it until she had came back. The smiling familiar faces, the loving hugs from her sister and friends, and just everything about Ponyville.

They made it to the train station quickly. Everypony wasn't there, like with the welcome. Only Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were there to see her off this time. Her saddlebags felt heavier as she looked at her two best friends and her sister. She suddenly wrapped her hooves around Rarity, burying her face in her sisters coat. "I'm going miss you," she said. "I love you."

The elder unicorn pulled back and looked at Sweetie Belle. "You'll see me in a few weeks darling." Rarity placed a small kiss on Sweetie's forehead. "And remember, I'm just a letter away." Sweetie nodded and hugged Rarity once more. "I'll see you soon, Sweetie."

Then Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were hugging her and saying their goodbyes. It was just the three of them at first, but then Apple Bloom pulled Silver Spoon into the group hug. "Ah'm gonna miss you guys. Promise you'll come back soon."

The three college students noded. "I swear, I'll write more too," Scootaloo said. "I hadn't realized just how much I had missed you." She smiled. "I should probably go finish packing my things and say goodbye to mom and dad."

Rarity rejoined the group after Scootaloo left. The four mares sit in silence for a moment before soft hoofsteps sound through the station. Everypony turns toward the sound.

Sweetie is surprised to see a fuchsia mare walk into the station. Diamond stopped and looked at the group, who looked back at her.  Then she is running toward them and, to Sweetie's surprise, Silver is running toward Diamond. The two embrace tightly while Sweetie looked over at Apple Bloom, who shrugged.

"I'm sorry," Diamond Tiara said, her voice low. "I just don't understand why you abandoned me for them."

A small frown graced Silver Spoon's face. "I didn't abandon you. Yes, I was hanging out with them, but they are my friends now too. That's just something you're going to have to accept." The grey mare sighed. "Look, DT, I love you, okay? You'll always be my best friend, but I have other friends now, and I don't know what I would have done without Sweetie this semester."

Sweetie looked at her own best friend with a guilty look. It is obvious this conversation between the old friends isn't meant for her to hear. Still, her ears perked up when Diamond started talking. "It was just me and you before college. Just weeks ago, Silver. Me and you against them. What did they do to you?"

Silver shook her head. "I guess we all grew up." That sounded harsh, even to Sweetie. "I mean, what was that, just yelling my problems for all the world to hear the other day, huh?" This Sweetie didn't want to hear. She looked around and locked eyes with Rarity.

"Well, girls," Rarity said loudly, "I really must be going. So many new dresses to make…" she trailed off, giving Sweetie another long hug. "I will miss you, little sister." She turned and asked Apple Bloom if she would like to walk with her, and Sweetie watched the two of them walk out of the station.

There wasn't much time left before the train pulled anyway. Diamond and Silver seemed to notice just how loud things had gotten and were now furiously whispering to one another. Diamond stomped her hoof as a scowl formed on her face. Silver looked stunned and shakes her head. Seconds later Diamond's expression changed to shame and she reached out a hoof to Silver as the earth pony walks way. Silver's eyes were looking straight ahead as she boarded the train and sat in a compartment, pointedly looking away from the window.

Sweetie looked over at Diamond. The mare's shoulders were slumped, her head hanging to the ground. Whatever she had said must have been bad. Sweetie picked up her bags as the final boarding call is made. Just before she steped onto the train, she could have sworn she heard a heartbroken sob.

She turned look at Diamond Tiara, but the fuchsia mare is no longer there.

Next Chapter: XII: Changes Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 5 Minutes