********

The bell rang, signaling the end of another class. CJ stood up, stretching, as Pinkie Pie bounced over to her with a wide grin. The bustling students made their way to their next destinations, but CJ remained in place for a moment. Something about her conversation with Pinkie felt... important.

"Hey, CJ! You wanted to talk, right?" Pinkie said with that characteristic bubbly enthusiasm.

CJ hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. "Yeah, I've been wondering something. You and the others... How did you get your geodes?"

Pinkie's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Ooooh, that's a fun question! Okay, sit tight, I'm about to tell you one of my favorite stories!" She bounced on the spot, clearly thrilled to be the one to share it.

CJ raised an eyebrow, but she found herself curious. She'd heard snippets of the magic around these friends, but she never got the full story. Pinkie took a deep breath before launching into her tale.

"Well, it all started with Twilight—Princess Twilight, actually," Pinkie began, her voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. "Sunset Shimmer had been kind of a...well, a big problem for all of us. She was being mean and stealing Princess Twilight's crown to use its magic for evil. That was a big deal."

CJ leaned forward slightly, intrigued.

"Anyway," Pinkie continued, "Twilight—who turned human—came into our world to find her crown and stop Sunset. The first time we met her, she didn't really know us, and we were actually kinda fighting at that time... But then, when Sunset tried to use the crown for evil, we all teamed up to stop her. It was a HUGE deal, you know? Like, magic was poof right there in the middle of Canterlot High, and we fought Sunset until she realized the magic was too much for her. She was defeated, but it wasn't just the crown's magic that did it, there was also the magic of friendship!"

CJ nodded slowly, processing the information. Magic entering their world through a crown? That was how everything started?

Pinkie paused for a dramatic effect before continuing. "But, that wasn't all! After Sunset realized the error of her ways and got a little redemption, we all became friends. We were happy! And guess what happened next?" She leaned in as if telling a secret. "That's when we found out that we had magic inside of us ever since what happened, fun right?!"

CJ blinked, trying to wrap her mind around the idea of magic-infused geodes. She was still trying to process the magic Pinkie was describing when Pinkie continued her story, picking up the pace.

"Then came the Friendship Games. That's when we met the other Twilight. You know, the human Twilight! She was a little... different from our Twilight, but she was amazing! And we helped her out during the games, even though things got a little out of control." Pinkie bounced, her hands gesturing wildly. "Magic went everywhere, and everything went boosh-but it was all part of us learning how to control it and use our powers together."

CJ was starting to understand. The magic had spread through the human world from that first encounter with Twilight and the crown, and the geodes were a result of that. But it didn't end there.

"And then," Pinkie went on, her voice growing more mysterious, "we all went to Camp Everfree, and that's when we found out even more about the magic. You see, we went on a camping trip, and it turned out the forest near the camp had these geodes hidden in a cave. The magic had been there all along, waiting to be discovered. And we found our geodes in that cave. That's where I got mine!"

CJ listened intently. This was a lot of information to process in such a short time. But Pinkie wasn't finished. "The magic's been around for a while now," Pinkie added thoughtfully, "but we didn't know about it until those crazy adventures. The geodes, the magic... it all came from the friendship we shared with Princess Twilight and how it connected us to Equestria."

CJ nodded slowly. So much of what Pinkie said was starting to fit together, but there was still one thing she didn't understand. She had to know more, but Pinkie had already started bouncing off in her usual direction.

"Well, anyway, it's a super cool story, right?" Pinkie asked brightly, looking at CJ with wide eyes. "I gotta go, CJ! Have fun thinking about all that magic stuff! Bye-bye now!" And just like that, Pinkie was off, skipping toward the school doors, humming a tune as she disappeared into the crowd.

CJ stood there, processing everything. Magic from Equestria, geodes with powers, adventures at Camp Everfree -she could hardly keep up with it all. But there was one thing she was sure of: something about the geodes connected her to all of this, and it was time to figure out how.

*******"

After her conversation with Pinkie, CJ found herself drifting, her thoughts swirling with everything Pinkie had shared. She wasn't sure why, but her feet led her toward the sports arena. It was strangely quiet, with only the soft sound of wind rustling through the trees nearby. The bleachers were empty, save for a few scattered students in the distance.

She sat down on the top row, letting the silence fill her mind. The open space gave her the opportunity to reflect. Magic. Geodes. The adventures. It all seemed so... big. Too big for someone like her to handle alone. The mystery of it all tugged at her, but she was still unsure about what to do with the information she had.

As she sat there, lost in thought, a ball came sailing through the air from the field below, heading straight toward her. With reflexes honed by years of instinct, CJ snatched the ball out of the air without even thinking.

"Whoa, nice catch!" a voice called from below.

CJ blinked and turned to look down at the girl who had just spoken. She was wearing a Wondercolts jersey, blue shorts, and had rainbow-colored hair that screamed "I’m awesome and I know it." The girl jogged over to her, a wide, borderline obnoxious grin on her face, like she was about to announce that she'd just won the lottery.

She stopped in front of CJ, catching her breath with the kind of exaggerated effort you'd expect from someone who thought they were starring in an action movie.

"I didn’t think anyone else was out here. I’m Rainbow Dash," she said, extending her hand like it was the most casual thing in the world.

CJ stared at the hand for a moment. "CJ Sapphire," she said, shaking it slowly, still processing the fact that she was talking to someone who apparently thought jogging was the pinnacle of human achievement.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, giving her a once-over like she was sizing up a new piece of equipment. "Hey, you're the girl who asked me for directions to the library, right? A few weeks ago?"

CJ’s face lit up as recognition finally kicked in. "Oh yeah, that's you. I remember now." She smiled, but then something tugged at her brain—a feeling that wouldn’t let go. She stared at Rainbow Dash for a beat longer, and an odd sense of déjà vu hit her, like this moment had already happened, but not exactly like this. "Huh. That's... weird. Feels like I knew you before that."

Rainbow Dash just blinked, seemingly unaffected by the strange atmosphere. "Yeah, I’m not one to really remember things, but I guess that’s the life of a busy person. Too many cool things going on, you know?" She grinned, clearly proud of herself.

CJ narrowed her eyes, biting back a sarcastic comment. "Yeah, must be really hard to remember things when you're constantly winning everything." She half-smiled, not sure if she was joking or just saying it because it was the first thing that came to mind.

Rainbow Dash laughed, completely missing the sarcasm. "Hey, you’re catching on fast. I like that."

CJ tilted her head, watching Rainbow Dash with a skeptical look. "Wait, haven’t we met before, though? I don’t know, it’s like... I’ve seen you somewhere else. Like a different version of this," she said, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

Rainbow Dash thought for a moment, her face scrunching up as she struggled to remember. "Huh, I don’t really remember. But hey, it’s been one of those weeks, y’know?" She shrugged it off with a smile as if it was no big deal.

CJ felt a small shiver run down her spine, but she covered it up by rolling her eyes. "Yeah, sure. Maybe I’m just imagining things. Wouldn’t be the first time." She mentally told herself to stop overthinking it.

Rainbow Dash grinned even wider, seeming totally oblivious to CJ's sarcasm. "Well, either way, looks like we’re officially meeting for the second time. That’s gotta count for something, right? You seem pretty chill, I gotta admit."

CJ forced a tight-lipped smile, though it felt more like a grimace. "Yeah, guess so. I mean, I am pretty great company," she said, completely deadpan.

Rainbow Dash didn’t pick up on the sarcasm. Instead, she bounced the ball once on the ground, her eyes glinting with that ever-present spark of competitiveness. "So, you wanna join me for a game? I’m practicing my passes—gotta keep the competition on their toes."

CJ eyed the ball warily. She hadn’t played football in years, and the thought of getting into a game with Rainbow Dash of all people made her stomach twist a little. "I dunno. I haven’t really played football in a while. Not sure I’m ready to get schooled."

Rainbow Dash’s grin turned wicked as she smirked at CJ, her competitive edge fully on display. "What, you chicken? Come on, I thought you were the chill, awesome type. Are you backing out already?" She gave CJ a playful nudge, clearly relishing the challenge.

At the word "chicken," something inside CJ snapped. She didn't know why, but that word hit a nerve, like a switch had been flipped. She could practically feel the competitive fire rise up inside her, fueled by that ridiculous challenge.

CJ shot her a look, her smirk turning into a full-on grin. "You wanna call me chicken? Fine, but don’t be surprised if I leave you eating my dust," she shot back, her voice laced with sarcasm and challenge.

Rainbow Dash threw her the ball with a grin that could rival a Cheshire cat. "Alright, let’s see what you’ve got. If you can keep up with me, I’ll be very impressed."

CJ caught the ball in one smooth motion, her fingers closing around it with a confidence she hadn’t expected to feel. As she stood to face Rainbow Dash, the challenge felt like a spark—a chance to prove herself in a way that wasn’t about running or hiding from her past.

Rainbow Dash was ready for anything. But so was CJ. And for the first time in a long time, that felt good.

********

The game was intense. CJ and Rainbow Dash were practically in sync, moving with a precision that made it clear they both had something to prove. Their competitive spirits lit up the field, the football flying between them like it had a mind of its own. CJ wasn’t giving Rainbow Dash an inch. She intercepted a well-timed throw, and Rainbow Dash dodged every attempt CJ made to block her, making it look almost effortless.

Rainbow Dash was fast, there was no denying that. Her reflexes were sharp, and it seemed like she was always one step ahead. But CJ wasn't far behind. She managed to catch a couple of passes that had Rainbow Dash grinning in surprise, her usual cocky demeanor flickering for just a moment.

CJ could see the competitive edge in Rainbow Dash’s eyes, the kind of challenge that made it all the more fun. But despite her best efforts, CJ knew she couldn’t quite keep up with the relentless pace of Rainbow Dash. Her opponent seemed to predict every move, cutting through the air with ease. Yet, CJ wasn't giving up. She fought for each score, and when she got close to a touchdown, she felt a spark of pride, as though her determination could push her through any obstacle.

At one point, Rainbow Dash launched the ball in a high, arching throw. CJ stretched out, just a fraction of a second too late. She watched in slow motion as the ball sailed past her fingertips. It would’ve been a spectacular catch, too. CJ let out a frustrated sigh, but she quickly brushed it off. There was no time for second-guessing, especially when Rainbow Dash was already streaking down the field again.

But then, the unthinkable happened. In the middle of one of her signature high-speed moves, Rainbow Dash planted her foot a little too forcefully while dodging a pass. There was a slight misstep—one that no amount of speed could fix—and she tripped. Her foot slipped out from under her, and she went down hard with a loud thud.

CJ blinked, her eyes widening in surprise as Rainbow Dash stayed down for a moment. She wasn’t laughing or brushing it off right away, which was odd for someone as competitive as Rainbow Dash. For a second, she just groaned lightly, clearly caught off guard, before she quickly scrambled to get back up. A small graze on her knee was visible, and CJ noticed how she winced as she straightened up.

Despite the slip-up, Rainbow Dash shook it off like it was nothing. She didn’t even slow down.

CJ couldn’t help herself. The thought of Rainbow Dash pulling off moves like that and then acting like everything was fine just didn’t sit right. She jogged over, her usual cool demeanor cracking a little as she made her way to Rainbow Dash.

“Hey, hold up,” CJ said, her voice firmer than she expected. She wasn’t angry, just… concerned, which was a feeling she wasn’t used to.

Rainbow Dash slowed down, giving her a puzzled look. “What’s up?” she asked, slightly out of breath but still trying to maintain that competitive edge.

CJ pointed at Rainbow Dash’s knee with a raised eyebrow, her expression softening a bit. “That doesn’t look like just a scratch. You need to sit down for a minute. I know you’re all about pushing yourself, but let’s be real here. If you keep running around like that, you’re gonna make it worse.”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, but then she seemed to weigh CJ's words for a second before exhaling heavily, clearly not thrilled about being told what to do. “Ugh, fine. It’s just a little scrape,” she muttered, but she finally relented, giving in to the serious look on CJ’s face.

CJ gestured toward the bleachers, starting to walk without waiting for an argument. “Come on. Just for a minute. It’s not like the game’s going anywhere.”

Reluctantly, Rainbow Dash followed her. When they reached the top of the bleachers, Rainbow Dash sat down with a slight grunt of discomfort. CJ quickly surveyed the area and, spotting a first aid kit nearby, walked over to grab it without missing a beat.

“What are you, a nurse now?” Rainbow Dash teased, but her tone was more neutral than mocking. She seemed genuinely surprised at how quickly CJ was jumping into action.

CJ didn’t even glance at her as she opened the kit. “I’m just the type who doesn’t want to deal with an injury getting worse. You know, because I care about people other than myself. It’s a wild concept.”

Rainbow Dash stared at her for a second, an amused glint in her eyes. “I didn’t think you were that nice. You know, with all the sarcasm and the whole ‘don’t mess with me’ vibe you’ve got going.”

CJ shrugged, her focus still on cleaning the scrape. “What can I say? I’m full of surprises. Plus, someone’s gotta look out for you when you’re busy trying to break records and the laws of physics at the same time.”

Rainbow Dash’s usual bravado softened as she watched CJ work. The silence between them was comfortable, and CJ could almost see the walls that Rainbow Dash kept up starting to lower just a little. “Thanks,” she said quietly, her voice a little more subdued than usual. “Didn’t expect you to actually care.”

CJ finished bandaging the scrape and stood up, brushing her hands off like she had just completed a simple task. “You’d be surprised,” she said with a smirk. “Now, you’re all set. You can go back to showing off... just maybe take it easy on the whole ‘flying through the air’ thing for a minute, alright?”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes but grinned. “Yeah, yeah. You’re lucky I like you, Sapphire.”

CJ chuckled. “I don’t know, I think I might be rubbing off on you. Look at you—admitting I’m right and everything.”

Rainbow Dash stood, stretching her arms above her head. “Guess so. And I’ll make sure I don’t take any more nose-dives. At least, not until I’m done kicking butt.”

The two of them shared a brief laugh, and for a moment, it almost felt like there wasn’t a mystery to solve or a geode to figure out. Just two people trying to figure each other out in their own strange way.

Rainbow Dash glanced back down at the field, her grin widening as she turned back to CJ. “Oh, and by the way,” she said, her voice light with mischief, “we’ve got a game later this afternoon. You should come watch. You know, so you can see how it’s really done.”

CJ hesitated. The mystery of the geode was still lingering in the back of her mind, like an itch she couldn’t scratch. Should she focus on that? Or was this the kind of distraction she needed? She didn’t want to be rude, but... maybe just for today, she could step back from the mystery.

After a few seconds of consideration, CJ smiled lightly. “Sure. I’ll be there. I think I could use a front-row seat to see how you 'really' do it.”

Rainbow Dash’s grin spread even wider, and she gave CJ an enthusiastic thumbs-up. “Awesome! See you there then!”

With that, Rainbow Dash bounded back to the field, her energy infectious as she resumed her practice. CJ watched her for a moment, feeling a little lighter than she had in a while. Maybe it was good to step away from the weight of everything for a bit. Sometimes, it was okay to have fun.

But just as she turned her attention back to the field, the mysterious geode in her locker seemed to whisper to her thoughts.

Hopefully, it could wait for just a little while longer.