After class Sweetie was waiting on Karat outside the room while the Pegasus talked to the professor. Of course, Glimpse noticed her standing alone. The stallion walked up to her, his smirk back on his face. "So, I know this is your last class, what do you say we go get a hayburger?"

Sweetie blinked for a moment, caught off guard by his request. "Like, a date?"

Glimpse chuckled. "Yeah. You seem like a cool mare." Sweetie blushed. She had thought he was just being pushy, but maybe he really did like her. After all, she had witnessed worse ways to impress someone you like. Apple Bloom and Pipsqueak had been horrible at it. "And besides, you're a total hottie."

The smile that had crept onto Sweetie Belle's face disappeared. "No, I think I'll pass. I have to watch the grass grow."

"Oh come on," Glimpse said. "Just a burger."

Thankfully, Karat walked out then. "Ready?" she asked, looking between the two ponies.

"Yeah. Bye Glimpse," Sweetie said as she walked away. She felt guilty for leaving him like that, but she couldn't stand how arrogant he acted.  "See you next week."

She heard him sigh before turning the corner and sighing herself. She was feeling much too much guilt lately. First about Karat, and now Glimpse. Sweetie thought about asking Karat to Ponyville, but again decided against it. After they both made it to their separate dorms, Sweetie sighed. Maybe she should have said yes to Glimpse. What would it have hurt? And what would it hurt to invite Karat to Ponyville?

"Are you ready for the weekend?" Silver asked as the white unicorn fell onto her bed.

The no she replied with was muffled by the bed. She turned her head, so her next words were clearer. "I was so happy. I get to go to Ponyville. And now everypony has me feeling guilty over something." She paused and looked at Silver. "Do you think I should invite Karat?"

"You could," Silver stated. "I wouldn't though. Are you packed?"

"Uh…" Sweetie pulled her empty suitcase out from under her bed. "No."

Silver snorted and rolled her eyes. "Of course not. Come on, let's get that fixed. We have to be ready to catch that six o'clock train."

"So," Sweetie said as Silver helped her get what few things she would need for the weekend, "what did your dad say when you told him you were visiting Ponyville this weekend?"

"I haven't told him," Silver said.

"So you're going to surprise him? Rarity would kill me if I didn't let her know." Sweetie noticed the slight frown on Silver's face, but knew better than to question it. She would find out what was bothering Silver when the gray mare was ready to talk about it.

"Do you know if Diamond is going to be there?" Sweetie asked, mostly because she knew Silver still considered the pink pony to be her best friend.

Silver grinned."I didn't tell you? Yeah, she is. I just got the letter yesterday, but it's a nice surprise. I haven't been able to talk to her in ages. I hope she's done okay."

"I'm sure she's doing just as good as we are," Sweetie said with a smile. "Hey, I have an idea. I know Diamond probably still doesn't like us, but if the two of you and Bloom and myself all hung out some, it would be great."

"Yeah," Silver nodded. "That would be nice."

Not long after, the two mares turned in. They had a long day ahead of them.

Sweetie tried to best to destroy whatever it was making that horrid beeping sound, but her hoof only contacted with air as she swung it around. She didn't want to open her eyes or move too much, least she wake up more. She relaxed once the sound stopped.

Of course, once Silver turned the light on, all hope of sleep was lost. She groaned and rolled out of bed, her brain sluggishly remembering the reason for waking so early. She blindly walked into the bathroom and began her morning ritual. She could hear Silver humming in the dorm and smiled. At least one of them was happy.

It didn't take long for them to gather what few things still needed packed and make it to the train station with five minutes to spare. It was only a thirty minute train ride, and Sweetie was positive someone was going to be cooking breakfast.

"Silver?"

"Hmm?" Silver looked up from the book she was reading.

"How can you tell if a guy actually wants to go out with you?" Sweetie asked, blushing.

Silver put her book to the side and smiled. "Oh, who is it? Do I know him? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Whoa there, cowpony. This guy in my history class, his name is Glimpse. He asked me out, but then he acts like it's a joke too and…" Sweetie trailed off and shrugged.

"I don't know. You can never tell until you actually go on a date, you know. He may be the nicest colt you've ever dated." Silver sighed. "Honestly, Sweetie, I've never had a coltfriend. I guess all the colts in Ponyville thought I was…well, you know."

"You were the most popular pony in school, besides Diamond Tiara. How could you not have had a coltfriend?" The grey earth pony looked down and shrugged. Sweetie moved next to her. "I mean, I know plenty of colts who liked you. Featherweight had a huge crush on you for ages."

"But he never asked." She looked up at Sweetie. "No pony did."

An idea settled into Sweeties mind. "Tell you what, when we get back to Canterlot, I'll accept a date with Glimpse and we'll get you one with a rugged colt, and we'll double. Yeah?"

Silver giggled and wrapped her hooves around Sweetie. "Yeah, that sounds great. You really are a great friend."

"Yeah, well."

Soon, the train pulled into Ponyville, the two students the only passengers departing before the train pulled off, heading for the next town.

Sweetie suppressed a groan. She knew Rarity loved her and she knew Rarity had a flair for the dramatic, but did she really need to have Pinkie Pie have so many banners and streamers and confetti? Silver paused beside Sweetie, and the white unicorn looked back. "Something wrong?"

Silver shook her head and began walking, though she was still looking at the display Sweetie felt like groaning at. "They put my name on it too," she said finally.

Sweetie looked up. WELCOME HOME SWEETIE BELLE AND SILVER SPOON! "That's classic Pinkie for you." There were eight mares standing under the banner. Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie, Apple Bloom, and Rarity were all standing and grinning. Apple Bloom ran forward and wrapped Sweetie in a bone-crushing hug. Then she gave Silver one as well.

The three young mares walked over to the rest of the group, Silver moving away slightly to greet the other mare who had been waiting under the banner. Diamond Tiara smiled warmly at her friend before they embraced, though not nearly as tightly as Apple Bloom had encased.

After being thoroughly welcomed by everyone and Rarity talking about how much more mature Sweetie looked, Sweetie looked over at her old enemies. Diamond kept looking their way and shaking her head. Finally Silver shook her head and grabbed the pink pony's hoof, dragging her over to the larger group.

"Oh yeah," Sweetie said, turning to Apple Bloom as Diamond watched. "Silver and I had an idea. What if the four of us got together sometime this weekend and just hung out?"

"You mean, the five of us?"  Everypony turned at that voice as Scootaloo floated to the ground. She wore a cheeky smile as she said, "Miss me?'

Next Chapter: IX: A Diamond... Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 22 Minutes