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The day was steadily winding down, and CJ felt her thoughts flickering between her impending plans for the afternoon and the lingering mystery that seemed to follow her everywhere. She walked through the hallways of Canterlot High with purpose, heading for her locker. As she passed by the student bulletin board, she noticed a small group gathered around it, murmuring excitedly.

Curiosity piqued, she slowed her pace. The students were talking about the upcoming talent show—an event she hadn’t given much thought to before. The idea of a talent show was intriguing, sure, but CJ wasn’t sure she had a talent to show off. She felt a twinge of uncertainty. She'd never been the type to put herself on display.

"What could I even do?" she mused quietly, brushing the thought away. There was no use thinking about it; she wasn’t the "talent show" kind of person.

With that, she turned and continued on her way toward her locker, shaking her head slightly as if to clear the thought. She had more pressing things to focus on—like the strange occurrence with the gemstone.

As she arrived at her locker, she automatically reached for the lock, but her eyes landed on something unexpected. There, nestled in the corner of her locker, was the small green gemstone she had found earlier.

It was glowing again.

CJ’s heart skipped a beat. "Wait… it’s glowing again?" she muttered under her breath, bending closer to inspect it.

Her mind immediately started racing, retracing the series of events in her head. Rainbow Dash’s geode. She’d seen it, and it had the same kind of glow, the same mysterious energy. CJ paused, running her fingers along the cool surface of the gemstone. She couldn’t deny it any longer—there had to be some connection.

“How many friends does Sunset have, anyway?” she thought to herself, chuckling lightly. The realization that so many people in her orbit had some kind of magic or special abilities made her feel a little overwhelmed, but at the same time, there was a spark of something else, something she couldn’t quite identify. It was as though she was standing on the edge of something bigger, something she couldn’t ignore.

She thought about the events with Pinkie and how her world seemed to keep colliding with strange, magical occurrences. But right now, in this moment, CJ needed to put it out of her mind. She wasn’t here to focus on gemstones or magic. She was here to see the game.

“No,” she whispered to herself, “I’ll think about it later.”

She closed her locker with a firm click, leaving the glowing gemstone inside. For now, it was better left untouched. She could feel the weight of it in her chest, but CJ was determined not to let the mysteries overwhelm her.

Turning away from her locker, she walked off toward her next class, the noise of students filling the halls.

An hour later, the atmosphere was completely different as CJ made her way toward the sports field. The air was warm with excitement, and the stands were filled with students eagerly awaiting the game. The bleachers were already crowded, and the sound of chatter and anticipation buzzed around her.

CJ climbed the bleachers slowly, feeling a sense of anticipation building in her chest. She could see Rainbow Dash on the field, tossing the football effortlessly between her hands, preparing for the game ahead. CJ could see the determination in Rainbow Dash’s posture, the way her eyes never left the ball as she practiced her throws, her every movement full of confidence.

As CJ settled into a spot in the stands, she couldn’t help but watch Rainbow Dash, impressed by how easily she handled the ball. Rainbow Dash’s natural talent was undeniable, and it made CJ feel a strange mix of awe and admiration. The game was about to start, and she was eager to see how the rest of the team would perform.

The field was alive with energy, the players stretching and warming up, the excitement palpable. CJ sat back, waiting for the action to begin, her thoughts drifting back to the glowing gemstone, but she quickly brushed them away again. She’d come to the game to enjoy herself, not to get bogged down in mysteries.

As the teams took their positions, CJ took one last glance at Rainbow Dash. She could feel the rising energy around her, and though she had questions, for now, she was content to watch the game unfold.

********

The game had reached its thrilling conclusion. The Wondercolts were tied with the Crystal Prep football team, and the atmosphere was electric. Then, in a breathtaking moment of skill, Rainbow Dash zipped across the field, scoring the final, game-winning touchdown in a blur of motion. The stadium erupted into wild applause, the sound almost deafening.

CJ stood, her hands instinctively clapping along with the crowd, caught up in the excitement. She hadn’t expected to feel so invested in the game, but watching Rainbow Dash’s incredible play, the sheer energy of the moment-it was hard not to feel a surge of excitement herself. As the crowd cheered, Rainbow Dash raced around the field, using her super speed to high-five her teammates, zooming in and out with infectious energy. It was clear to CJ that super speed fit her so naturally-it was almost as if it was a part of her.

CJ watched, a mix of awe and disbelief filling her. She couldn’t help but feel proud, even though she barely knew the girl. The Wondercolts had done it. They were victorious.

And then, something unexpected caught her eye. From the edge of the bleachers, she saw them. All of them—Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity—they were all there. Her eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected to see them all together, celebrating on the field, their smiles wide and genuine. Each of them had come down to congratulate Rainbow Dash, the group of friends sharing the joy of the win as if it were something much bigger than just a game.

Applejack, giving Rainbow Dash a playful slap on the back, said, “That was some mighty fine playin’, Dash!”

Rainbow Dash grinned, clearly basking in the win. “You bet, AJ! Couldn’t have done it without my awesome team!”

Then, she turned to Twilight, teasing her in her usual way. “You know, I don’t think anyone could’ve predicted that last play, especially not Miss ‘I’ve got everything figured out’ over here,” she said, smirking.

Twilight laughed, adjusting her glasses with a sheepish smile. “Well, my calculations were almost right…” she said, sounding almost proud, though a little flustered. “It was just a bit more... unpredictable than I anticipated.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, a teasing grin playing on her lips. “You’re such an egghead, Twilight,” she said, laughing.

Sunset Shimmer was next, pulling Rainbow Dash into a hug. “You were amazing out there, Dash. You really pulled through when it counted,” she said warmly.

Pinkie Pie, always the bundle of excitement, bounced around, her words almost tumbling over each other. “We should throw a party! A big one! With cupcakes, and streamers, and probably even confetti cannons!” she squealed, her grin practically glowing.

Fluttershy, though more reserved, smiled gently and offered her congratulations. “You did so well, Rainbow Dash. I’m so proud of you,” she said, her voice soft but full of warmth.

And Rarity, ever the stylish one, gave Rainbow Dash a playful once-over. “You were absolutely fabulous out there, darling. Your skills on the field were almost as impressive as your flair for fashion!” she said, a wink accompanying her words.

CJ couldn’t tear her eyes away. There they all were, laughing, congratulating, and sharing in the triumph of the moment. She had met each of them at different times, but seeing them all together, so close and connected, was something else entirely. It was strange, seeing people she had encountered before all gathered in one place. It made her feel like an outsider.

She watched as they joked and laughed, all of them so natural, so in sync with each other. How do I fit into all of this? CJ wondered. She wasn’t sure where she belonged, how she fit into their dynamic. It was clear they had a bond, something deep between them, something that came so naturally. It made CJ long for something she didn’t quite understand—this sense of belonging, of being part of something bigger than herself.

As the thought swirled in her mind, she paused, shaking it aside. Maybe one day, I’ll fit in with them, she thought. Maybe. But the thought didn’t stick. She knew it wasn’t that simple, that she couldn’t just wish her way into their circle.

With a deep breath, she pushed the feelings down, turning her attention back to the field. The game was over, and people were starting to file out of the arena. The loud cheer of the crowd was fading as the excitement of the game died down.

CJ lingered for a moment, watching the group of friends still celebrating. They were all so open, so comfortable with each other. And yet, she felt like she was still on the outside looking in.

But, as the last few people filtered out of the stands, she gathered her courage. Slowly, she began making her way down from the bleachers, her heart beating a little faster with each step. She wasn’t sure how this encounter would go, or even what to expect. All she knew was that she was going to approach them. This wasn’t something she could avoid forever.

With a final deep breath, CJ took a step forward. Her mind was filled with uncertainty, but there was something else—something warm and inviting, too." Maybe this will be the start of something different", she thought. "Something that might just be the piece I've been missing."

And with this new resolve, CJ walking toward the group, unsure of what exactly she was walking into, but ready to face inevitable.

✦☆✦☆✦☆✦☆✦

Finally getting somewhere with this 🫠🫠
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The again, is there really a point in sharing...lol