by Perdita Finn
The group stopped chattering and stared at her.
“I think they’d enjoy it,” explained Twilight Sparkle. “I think they could use a little friendship magic.” She glanced over at their table again.
“They could certainly use some polishing,” muttered Rainbow Dash.
“That’s right nice of you,” said Applejack. “Thank you for thinking of them. Shall we call them over?”
“Yes,” said Rarity. She looked a little nervous but determined. She got up and walked over to the table with the Crystal Prep girls.
“I’ll bring some cider to the party,” volunteered Applejack.
“Count me in for flashlights,” said Rainbow Dash.
“I can bring ingredients for special face creams,” Fluttershy offered.
“And I’ll bring a craft project,” exclaimed Twilight Sparkle. “Glitter and beads and thread. Everything we need for friendship bracelets.”
“That’s a fabulous idea!” Pinkie Pie clapped her hands.
“They want to join us!” Rarity seemed surprised. She waved to the Crystal Prep girls, and they waved back.
“What a great idea,” Sunset Shimmer whispered to Twilight Sparkle. “You have a gift for friendship. You’re a natural, just like the princess.”
“I just hope those girls know how to behave,” Rainbow Dash muttered under her breath.
But Applejack heard her and nodded in agreement.
Hey!” barked a small voice from beside their booth. “What about me?”
It was Spike! In the excitement after the game, Twilight Sparkle had forgotten to go home and take him for his walk. But he had found her anyway. He nuzzled up against her leg.
“You can bring Spike to the spa sleepover,” Rarity told her.
Twilight Sparkled picked him up. “I’m sorry, Spike,” she whispered to him. “You forgive me?”
“Always,” he said softly. “That’s what friends are for.”
Pamper Your Pals
Rarity bustled around her bedroom, turning it into a spa for her friends. She decorated with hanging ferns, pretty throw pillows, and scented candles. She hung gauzy scarves from the ceiling and floated slices of lemon in bowls of warm water. She found a CD of the ocean, with the sounds of waves coming in and going out over pebbles. It was all very calming.
She arranged a circle of low beach chairs around a small table fountain and put a rolled-up towel on each one. Soon the girls would arrive, and she was ready.
On one table, she had laid out barrettes, pins, headbands, clips, curlers, and ribbons. That was her hairstyle station. On the other table, she had a pumice stone, clippers, emery boards, bottles of polish, and pony decals that they could put on their nails when they were done.
The doorbell rang! The guests were arriving!
When Rarity opened the door, Rainbow Dash was standing there, her arms filled with flashlights. “Hey,” she said. “I wanted to get the Flashlight Tag game all set up before everyone arrives. Moon’s going to be out tonight, so it will be extra fun in your backyard. I am ready to run!”
The Crystal Prep girls arrived at the same time. Sunny Flare stared at the flashlights, an unhappy expression on her face. This was not what she had imagined for a spa sleepover. She wanted a relaxing night. “I don’t want to play Flashlight Tag,” she said bluntly.
Rainbow Dash’s face fell. She was disappointed.
Sour Sweet seemed a little embarrassed. “Maybe we can use them as if we have a fashion show. We can light one another up as we strut on the runway. We can light up whoever looks prettiest,” she explained.
“That’s going to be me,” said Sunny Flare with a toss of her head.
“Okay,” said Rainbow Dash, alarmed. She exchanged a worried glance with Rarity as they led the Crystal Prep girls up to the bedroom.
Sunny Flare handed Rarity a foil-covered plate. “I made my extra-special chocolate-covered strawberries for tonight,” she said.
Rainbow Dash lifted up the tinfoil. She picked out a strawberry and took a big bite out of it. “Delish!” she said
“Those are for later!” Sunny Flare scolded her.
“Oh!” Rainbow Dash was startled. She put it back on the plate.
“Don’t do that. That’s gross!” said Sugarcoat.
Sunny Flare glared at her. “Don’t be mean, Sugarcoat.”
“I wasn’t any meaner than you were.”
“Yes, you were.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
Fluttershy peeked into the room. She was a little nervous because she’d heard the girls fighting. “I’m not late, am I?”
“It’s not fashionable to be late anymore,” snapped Sunny Flare.
Sour Sweet and Sugarcoat nodded in agreement, but they looked more uncomfortable than ever. They were sitting in beach chairs. Every now and then they whispered something to each other.
“Don’t eat the strawberries,” Rainbow Dash warned Fluttershy. “They’re for later.”
Why had Twilight Sparkle suggested they have a sleepover with these Crystal Prep girls anyway? She couldn’t imagine. But if it was what Twilight Sparkle wanted, she would try to be a good sport. After all, Twilight was always a good sport about whatever she suggested.
Fluttershy sat down on the edge of the bed. She smiled at the girls. “Have you ever been to a spa sleepover?” she asked politely.
“Of course I have,” responded Sunny Flare.
“No, you haven’t,” Sugarcoat contradicted. “We talked about it, remember? But we never did it.”
“Maybe I didn’t invite you the time I had one,” said Sunny Flare.
Sugarcoat’s face crinkled up as if she was going to cry.
“You didn’t invite me, either?” asked Sour Sweet. “I didn’t know you had any other friends.”
Sunny Flare glared at her.
Fluttershy had no idea what to say. When her pets were in cranky moods, she didn’t fuss with them. She realized how hard it was hanging out with girls you didn’t really know. How brave Twilight Sparkle had been to come to Canterlot High. How easily she had made friends with them. If Twilight could do it, she could do it. She’d be brave like Twilight.
She began chatting about the new litter of puppies at the shelter.
Sugarcoat perked up. “Do you have any photos of them?”
“I do!” said Fluttershy. She pulled out her phone and opened her photo album.
“Aww!” cooed Sugarcoat.
Sunny Flare glared at her. “I didn’t know you liked puppies.”
“Everyone likes puppies,” said Fluttershy.
Applejack, Sunset Shimmer, and Pinkie Pie arrived, talking and giggling.
“Girl, you have outdone yourself on the decorations,” said Applejack, coming into the bedroom.
“Fountains! Ferns! Candles!” gushed Pinkie Pie. “Hooray, this is going to be the best spa party ever!”
“Whoa,” said Sunny Flare. “Someone’s got a lot of energy.”
Sunset Shimmer’s eyes narrowed. “Someone knows how to have fun.”
Sour Sweet clapped.
“Don’t eat the strawberries!” said Rainbow Dash, noticing Applejack’s hand headed toward the plate.
“She can eat them if she wants to,” decided Sunny Flare.
“But you didn’t want me to eat them.” Rainbow Dash was surprised.
“But now everyone’s here,” said Sunny Flare, rolling her eyes.
“No. They’re not!” the Canterlot High girls shouted together.
“Twilight Sparkle still hasn’t arrived,” said Fluttershy.
“Oh, our bad,” apologized Sugarcoat.
“That’s right,” added Sour Sweet, nodding her head.
“I wonder why she’s late.” Sunny Flare pursed her lips, thinking. “Has she turned into Midnight Sparkle again?”
No one said anything.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The only sound was the music of the ocean over the mini loudspeaker.
“Why would she?” asked Rarity at l
ast.
“We all make mistakes,” Sunset Shimmer explained.
Sunny Flare looked concerned. “I don’t know. It’s just that once someone’s turned into a monster… well, you know. You can’t help but wonder if it might not happen again. It’s so… you know, brave of you to invite her to spend the night.”
“Just because someone’s turned into a monster once doesn’t mean they are going to do it again,” Sunset Shimmer protested. “I should know.”
“That’s right,” chimed in Applejack.
The doorbell rang. It rang again. A dog barked.
“Hello,” called a voice. “Anybody there?”
It was Twilight Sparkle.
A Cranky Crew
“Hey, everyone,” exclaimed Twilight, coming into the room with Spike. “I’ve got beads and gems and stickers and charms for friendship bracelets. They are going to look so great! So, what’s the plan for tonight? What are we doing first?”
She looked around the room. She noticed the glum expressions on everyone’s faces. What was the matter?
Fluttershy broke the silence. “I brought the ingredients for oatmeal masks.…”
“Oatmeal masks?” Sunny Flare wrinkled her nose. “What are those?”
“You grind up oatmeal and dampen it with a little water and put it on your face to dry. It makes your skin all smooth and soft… when you wash it off… I guess.… I give the puppies oatmeal baths sometimes.…” Her voice trailed off. She noticed the alarmed expressions on the faces of the Crystal Prep girls. “It was just an idea. We don’t have to do it.”
Spike sniffed at Sugarcoat, and she patted him on the head. He wagged his tail.
“How about we play Flashlight Tag instead?” Rainbow Dash suggested. “I brought the flashlight.
“We are not playing Flashlight Tag!” Sunny Flare stomped her foot. “I came to a spa party. I thought we would have a fashion show.”
“What will we wear?” Pinkie Pie wondered out loud. “I didn’t bring my designer pjs.” She giggled.
Sunny Flare snorted and glared at her.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Applejack. “Don’t make fun of Pinkie Pie.”
“I didn’t say anything,” Sunny Flare protested, raising an eyebrow. She tried to catch the eye of Sour Sweet or Sugarcoat but they wouldn’t look at her.
“You were being mean!” Sugarcoat said under her breath. “I could tell.”
“I wasn’t!” hissed Sunny Flare.
“Stop bickering!” Sour Sweet ordered.
“Can you stop them from fighting?” Fluttershy whispered to Sunset Shimmer. “After all, you stopped the Sirens when they were out of control, and Midnight Sparkle when she took over Twilight.”
“I think these girls are worse,” Sunset Shimmer whispered back to Fluttershy.
“My stomach doesn’t feel right,” admitted Applejack.
“My head hurts,” said Rainbow Dash.
“I’m dizzy,” explained Pinkie Pie.
Spike was growling.
Rarity just looked upset. After all the work she’d done decorating and everything.
Sugarcoat sighed. “This party needs some help.”
“Right?” agreed Sour Sweet, glaring at Sunny Flare as if it were her fault.
Twilight felt terrible. She’d suggested inviting these girls. What could she do? Maybe if they all got busy, they would stop arguing. Without a word, Twilight began spreading out the craft materials she’d brought. There were all different colors of yarn, embroidery thread, and plastic twine. There were charms and beads and spangles.
“Ooh!” cooed Rarity. “Everything is so pretty!”
Sour Sweet couldn’t believe it. “You bought all of this for us to use?”
Twilight nodded. “Let’s make friendship bracelets for one another! I’ll make one for you first. What’s your favorite color?”
“Green,” she said. “Can I make one for you?”
“Absolutely!” Twilight smiled.
The girls dove in and began creating their bracelets—except for Sugarcoat. “I don’t know which colors to choose,” she admitted shyly
“The colors that you like best! Don’t overthink it, just have fun,” advised Pinkie Pie helpfully.
Sugarcoat looked at her wide-eyed. For a moment, she hesitated, and then she grabbed a mix of green and orange threads. “They are my favorite.”
Applejack laughed. “And they’re pretty, too!”
Suddenly, everyone was getting along, laughing and talking. No one was complaining of having a stomachache anymore. Somehow Twilight was able to change everything. She’d known just what to do to break the ice.
The only one who still seemed to be unhappy was Sunny Flare. The more relaxed and chatty Sugarcoat and Sour Sweet were, the angrier she got. She put a few beads on a piece of plastic twine and handed it to Sugarcoat.
“Here,” she said, scowling. “Because we’re best friends, right?”
Sugarcoat gulped. “Thanks. But can’t we all be friends?”
“Absolutely!” chimed in Twilight. “It’s great to have a lot of friends. We can have friends who like to study or bake or play sports or go on picnics or… you get the idea!”
“Really?” Sunny Flare wasn’t so sure.
“Maybe there’s a friendship game we could play,” Sugarcoat suggested.
“Oh, but there is!” said Sunny Flare.
“What?” said all the girls at once.
“What is it?”
“What are you thinking about?”
“Maybe it’s not such a good idea…” Sunny Flare teased them.
“Just tell us!” Rainbow Dash was exasperated.
“There’s one way to find out if everyone really is friends,” explained Sunny Flare.
“C’mon,” urged Applejack.
Sunny Flare took a deep breath. “I think it’s time for us to play… Truth or Dare.”
Truth Trouble
There was a hushed silence in the room. It wasn’t one of the games the Canterlot High girls ever played together. They’d never needed to. They told one another everything. Didn’t they?
They weren’t even sure if they knew the rules.
“I think you are supposed to make cards.…” began Rainbow Dash.
“I’ve heard,” Rarity announced, “that you can ask anybody any question you want.”
“Anything?” asked Fluttershy.
“You’ve never played?” The Crystal Prep girls were amazed.
The rest of the girls shook their heads.
Sunset Shimmer pulled out her phone. “Let me do a little research on the rules,” she said.
Sunny Flare rolled her eyes.
“Oh, we know how to play,” Sugarcoat said. “We always play.”
“Sunny Flare makes us,” added Sour Sweet.
Sunny Flare glared at her. “There are a lot of different ways to play,” she announced. “But the way we always play is that each person creates two cards. A truth card and a dare card.”
“I knew you needed cards!” Rainbow Dash was pleased.
“On one we write a dare…” continued Sunny Flare.
“Like what?” asked Fluttershy in a small voice.
“I don’t know,” said Sunset Shimmer. “Something silly, right?”
“But not too silly, right?” Fluttershy looked worried.
“Absolutely not,” agreed the girls from Canterlot High.
“It has to be scary enough that you might take a truth card,” added Sunny Flare.
“One time,” Sugarcoat blurted out, “I had to drink a spoonful of this yucky mix of ketchup and mayonnaise and pepper and soy sauce and orange juice… I never want to do that again. I’ll pick a truth card every time.”
“There are truth cards?” asked Applejack. “We don’t just ask any ol’ questions we want?”
“No,” said Sunny Flare, irritated. “Two piles of cards, and each person can choose either a truth or dare.”
Sunny Flare went to her ov
ernight bag and got pens. She tore out some paper from a notebook. “All right, everybody. Let’s get creative. This is the chance to get the truth out there, to find out what you’ve always secretly wanted to know about one another.”
“How is this a friendship game?” Rarity whispered to Pinkie Pie.
Twilight Sparkle was very upset. She didn’t know what to do. It had seemed like the right thing to invite the girls from Crystal Prep—but what if they were mean to her new friends? Had she just ruined everything? She didn’t think investigating magic would cause any trouble—and it nearly destroyed the world. Was she about to destroy her new friendships?
With pursed lips and sidelong glances, the girls slowly wrote out their cards. They placed them face down in two different piles.
“So,” said Sunny Flare when everyone was done, “now someone has to volunteer to go first.”
But no one did. The room was silent.
“We need to do eenie, meenie, miney, mo or something. Or roll dice. Or something,” said Pinkie Pie.
“That’s not a bad idea,” agreed Sugarcoat. “You got any dice, Rarity?”
Rarity reached under her bed for an old board game box, rummaged inside, and found a set. “You roll first,” she said to Sunset Shimmer.
Sunset Shimmer shook the dice in her hand and let them go. Twelve. Phew! She would go last, but Rainbow Dash got a two. She was going first.
“How hard can this be?” Rainbow Dash said, her hand poised over the cards.
“Truth? Or dare?” Sunny Flare whispered.
“Truth for me,” announced Rainbow Dash boldly. “I’ve got nothing to hide.” But she still hadn’t chosen a card.
“You’ve got to pick it up, read aloud the question, and answer it,” said Sour Sweet.
Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. She grabbed a card, read it over quickly to herself, and gulped. “Can I change my mind? Can I do a dare instead?”
“No!” said all the Crystal Prep girls. “Read your question out loud.”
She sighed. “My question is: Name the one person in this room you would least like to be stuck with on a desert island.”
