As I entered the school, for once I recalled that the Friendship games are getting closer and closer. In that time, I haven't really done much to prepare and to be honest I am fine with that. I guess I will just wing it and whatever happens, well happens. As I continued walking, I began to nervously look around the hallway for Pinkie, just in case she decided to tackle me again.

"Marky!"

Speak of the devil. I turned around and was greeted by the sight of Pinkie walking right up to me with a grin on her face.

"Pinkie."

"Do you have any plans for today, Marky?" Pinkie asked.

"No, why do you ask?"

"Well, since you and Sunset have to compete against each other to decide who will take part in the friendship games, why not practice together at my place? You can practice your baking skills. The girls and I will even be there to judge you two. What do you say?" She blurted out quickly and excitedly.

"Uh, sure. That will be fine I guess."

"Oh goody," She exclaimed happily before embracing me, "Come by my place after school and we will help both you and Sunset out."

I left the school and was on my way to Pinkie's house, when I was suddenly in a tight embrace.

"Ready to go Marky?" Pinkie asked as she began to lead me.

"I was already on my way. You don't have to..."

"But I want to!" She exclaimed, interrupting me in an excited tone of voice.

I sighed and decided to just let her drag me without arguing. She is really becoming more and more clingy by the day. In relatively no time at all, we arrived at her house. She led me inside and the rest of the girls minus Sunset were in the living room. Pinkie finally let go of me and I followed her to them. Rarity was surprisingly the first to walk right up to me.

"Hello, Marcus darling," She greeted me before giving me a kiss on each cheek, making me blush.

I noticed Pinkie frowned, but thankfully she didn't make a scene.

"First Pinkie and now Rarity. Wow, dude aren't you a chick magnet?" Rainbow commented with a chuckle.

"And I suppose since you're jealous you're next," I responded.

"I'm not jealous," She denied blushing in embarrassment, while I and the rest of the girls laughed.

"Oh, calm down Rainbow. It's not like we are actually dating or anything," Rarity added with a smirk, "Go right ahead. It would be your first-time showing interest in a boy and I'm happy for you."

Rainbow only groaned in annoyance with a darker blush on her face. Before anyone could say anything else, there was a knock on the door.

"Oh. It must be Sunset," Pinkie said before going to the door, "Now, we can get started."

"You really seem to be affectionate with him lately, Rarity," Applejack pointed out.

"What can I say Applejack?" Rarity began before embracing me and gently rubbing my face with hers, "He is actually quite a catch after all. Cute, smart, talented and such a nice guy. Though like I said, we aren't dating," Then she whispered, "Least... yet...but.... will."

"What was the last part?" Applejack asked.

"Nothing."

Should I be annoyed that they were talking like I wasn't even in the room? Whatever, I'm more concerned with having two girls being into me. Look, as a teenage male, I like many others have our fantasies about these kinds of things, but that's what they are, fantasies. As much as I may dream about it, I know I would have trouble with it in real life. Both girls are incredibly attractive, but who to choose, if I decide to choose one. Hopefully, more won't follow suit. I was interrupted by my thoughts, when Pinkie came back with Sunset.

"Hello girls and guy. What did I miss?" Sunset greeted us.

"Nothing much. Just some banter with friends," Rainbow answered, "Now can we get started? I want to eat some treats."

Sunset and I were with Pinkie in the kitchen, which contained a bunch of ingredients needed to cook any dessert item, known to man.

"Ok. You two will cook any three desserts you want. You will have three hours so good luck," Pinkie announced before leaving to join the other girls in the living room.

As I was getting all the ingredients needed to bake a cake, Sunset spoke up.

"Isn't this crazy? Us being the students with the highest GPA."

"Yeah, kind of surprising actually." I responded before getting a large bowl.

"Wait?" She asked, stunned while getting her own ingredients, "Are you telling me you were unaware of your grades?"

"Yeah, I mean I always studied and did my best and all. I just never really paid attention to them. I never had them on my mind," I answered carefully, cracking a couple eggs and placing the yoke into the bowl.

"Huh. I have always been at the top of my teachings. I don't know if Pinkie told you, but I was the personal student of the Princess. Well, one of them. Anyway, even after coming here, I managed to stay at the top grades wise, which only required a few adjustments and learning a few things that are common knowledge here."

"I see."

"Yeah, I remember the first few years clearly. On the surface I showed myself as a smart and nice student, who managed to quickly make my way to the top, when on the inside I had a demon inside me that eventually showed itself. That's when I became a vicious bully, who kept my position and ruled with an iron fist. Despite this, I knew everyone stopped liking me, but were too scared to really do anything about it. The worst part was that I was smart enough to keep the appearance of a perfect little angel to the teachers and staff and no one was brave enough to expose me for the wolf in sheep's clothing I really was." Sunset continued while she placed her own ingredients into a bowl.

"That's...."

"During those dark times I was actually very lonely, but I tried to hide it, by getting more power. My former lackeys Snips and Snails were my only real companionships," She continued, cringing on the word lackeys, before sighing, "I don't know if you are aware, or if you listened to the rumors about me, before the whole Dazzlings fiasco, but I used to date Flash Sentry. Do you know him?"

"Not personally, but I think I've seen him," I answered, mixing my ingredients.

"Well, I didn't really like him in that way and only dated him to help me become more popular by proxy. Our relationship was, well I was smart enough to treat him well, to keep him around as long as possible. Sadly, I couldn't keep my toxic behavior from him and well that's history. Looking back, I like to think I wasn't faking as much as I thought and enjoyed it. Though, I guess that's just me looking back with my new mindset on things and enjoying the memories in a new healthier way."

"Wow, you really have a lot on your mind." I couldn't help but comment.

She sighed before sheepishly rubbing the back of her head, "Yeah, I don't know. I just started briefly answering about my academic past and it turned to me venting a bit of my cruel history as a bully. I don't know. It just felt good to get it all out."

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, Can I tell you something?" She asked me seriously.

"Uh... Sure."

"It's just that even though everyone else seemed to have forgiven me for everything, I am still having trouble getting over it. It just seems too easy, you know. I get that I helped save the day, but I would have been fine if at least some of the school still hasn't forgiven me. Don't get me wrong, it's nice not facing hate anymore, but..." She paused to collect herself.

"You feel you still have much work to do to make up for everything. That there are at least some people you hurt personally and must make it up to them in turn, instead of simply doing one huge thing and earning it all in one swoop." I answered.

"Yeah," She answered bitterly, "Despite this, I'm still glad Twilight helped me realize the error of my ways. Better for me to feel bitter about the way I used to be and try to make up for it, than to continue doing so and being delusional about how to be truly happy. I still have a long way to go, but I know true happiness will be worth it, when I finally make it there," She finished with a small smile.

Her mentioning Twilight reminded me of that encounter the other day, from her human counterpart.

"Speaking of Twilight, it probably isn't that big of a deal, but I should mention it."

"What?" She asked curiously.

"Well, I might have encountered our world's Twilight."

"You what?" She asked, her eyes widening, and she walked right up to me, "There's a human Twilight?" She questioned before lightly smacking herself on the head, "Oh. Of course, there would be. I should have figured it out. That's good to know." Her eyes then widened again, and she gasped, "Then that means there's another Sunset in this world. Oh, what if we end up meeting each other?" She panicked a little, "What would I do? What if I'm messing up her life just by being here? What?"

"Calm down!" I told her gently, shaking her, "Look, human Sunset doesn't know about you, and we don't even know if she lives here in this city. I doubt your presence is messing with anything in her life, as of now."

"How are you sure about that?"

"Look, you two having the same name might cause some potential issues, with credit payments and such, but that has an easy solution."

"What if we end up meeting face to face?"

"I guess tell her and reveal the truth. It's up to you, but I feel she would deserve that. I know if I was her, I would want to know what's going on."

"Alright. I guess we just cross that bridge, if and when we get to it," She answered before taking a relaxing breath, "Anyway, thanks for listening while I went on and on. It was probably boring for you."

"Not at all. I'm glad I could give you a little therapy session. Though, you might want to start baking," I responded while continuing to stir my ingredient mix.

She blinked for a few seconds before looking at me, mixing and her unmixed bowl, before a light blush formed and she chuckled nervously.

"Yeah, I should."

"No sweat. We still have plenty of time."

I placed my finished cake, doughnuts, and cookies onto the kitchen table. The other girls excitedly walked up to them, as Sunset placed her own cake, cookies, and doughnuts on the table.

"You managed to both finish with minutes to spare,' Pinkie told us with a big smile, "The food smells so good. I can't wait."

"Calm down Pinkie," Applejack told the excited party girl, "How should we do this?"

"Let's try out all of the food for one first then move on to the other, so we don't get confused on which is which." Rarity suggested.

We all nodded at the suggestion.

"Alright Marky. Let's do yours first," Pinkie suggested before grabbing a knife and slicing my cake into seven pieces and handing one to all of us.

"Pinkie, why are you giving a piece to Sunset and Marcus. They aren't judging."

"We baked the goods, Dashie. We have every right to enjoy them too," I answered.

"He's right," Pinkie agreed, "It wouldn't be fair to leave them out."

We all ate our cake slices and the cake ended up quite well, if I could say. I don't know if it's better than Sunset's, but I know I at least did a decent job. When we tried my doughnuts, they were ok I guess, but my cookies were much better.

"What do you girls think?" Pinkie asked.

"He did a fine job, and I wouldn't mind him cooking for me," Applejack answered.

"A man that's also a pretty good cook is a fine catch, I must say," Rarity answered with a wink, that made me blush, "He would make a fine husband, that can keep the kids satisfied with good meals with the wife gone."

"Um. I agree with Applejack and somewhat with Rarity," Fluttershy answered nervously with a light blush.

"Yeah, he can make decent sweets," Was all Rainbow said.

"Well," Pinkie began before embracing me, "With me he will only get better and better and together we will bake the best sweets in the world," She continued giving Rarity a dirty look, who returned it, "Despite it being his first time, it was a great effort," Pinkie sliced Sunset's cake into seven equal pieces and handed one to us all.

After finishing my share of Sunset's sweets, I have to conclude that I actually found them a little better than mine.

"Girls, what do you think?" Pinkie asked.

"It was close, but I have to give it to Marcus. They both are beginners, but they still managed to make sweets that are actually enjoyable." Applejack answered.

"Like Applejack said it was a great effort for both and it was so close, but I find Marcus's sweets to be better," Rarity answered before giving me another flirty wink, "Good job darling. Your future wife will be a lucky one."

I blushed in embarrassment at her words, while Pinkie gave her a glare.

"Um... I 'm sorry to say, but I found Sunset's slightly more enjoyable. Please don't be mad," Fluttershy answered.

"It's fine, shy," I assured her.

"Oh. good," She responded relieved.

"I have to agree with shy," Rainbow began, "Sunset's was just more enjoyable overall."

"Looks like I'm the tie breaker," Pinkie giggled before grabbing some leftovers and putting them all in her mouth, "Quell da quinner qs," Pinkie answered incoherently.

"Dang it, Pinkie swallow," Applejack scolded.

I only chuckled in response, "Figures, Pinkie would pull this to be more dramatic."

Pinkie swallowed the food and gave me a smile, "See? He gets me. Anyway, the winner is Marcus. It was so close, and every treat was so good, but in the end, his was slightly more enjoyable." Pinkie finally answered, "Anyway, hope this gives you two enough practice and whoever ends up being picked helps us finally get a victory."

When I left Pinkie's house it was sunset and before I could get far, Sunset walked right up to me.

"That was a good match," she told me holding out her hand.

"Yeah, it was," I answered, shaking it.

"Thank you again for letting me ramble back there," She began with a smile, "I feel a lot better now I got it off my chest."

"No problem."

"I really hope I'm able to finally get over my past and embrace a better future." She told me before sighing.

"Look at the sky. What do you see?" I asked her.

"A beautiful sunset," she answered confusedly.

"That's the beauty about a sunset. It not only marks the end of something, but it also marks the start of something new. Sorry if that sounds cheesy, but here you are a mark of the end of your past as a horrible person and also the mark of the start of your future as a better person."

"It does a little," She chuckled, "But it sounds really fitting. I just have to keep moving forwards and enjoy the night sky, or in my case my future as a better person. Thank you. You've really helped clear some things and given me something to think about again." She told me before giving me a hug.

"Oh. No problem." I answered nervously and awkwardly.

I managed to make it back home before night and quickly made my way to my room. You know ever since my fallout with Big Mac, I have only been associating with girls, not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just worth noting. They all seem to have taken a liking to me. Some more than others. It's just surreal. I have never been social and yet here I am surrounded by girls, who for some reason enjoy spending time with me. Well, at any rate it will help me become more social. I am just going to continue enjoying it.

A simple cooking practice run turned amateur therapy session, as Sunset shares some things with Marcus.

Next chapter: Friendship games arrives. I'm not yet sure how I will handle it. I might have it be one huge chapter or maybe split it up. Which ever ends up being better paced for me.