The rest of the day passed quickly enough for all involved. During the last period of the day Talia was walking through the halls looking for that girl she talked to at lunch, Susan or something like that. Mentally she kept listing how many times someone nearly called her Twilight Sparkle, and a fully separate but somehow larger list of people that just called her Twilight Sparkle. Looking around and not seeing her in the main hall, she decided to find those two freshmen that took the videos.

Walking outside she saw the two boys trying to make it home without attracting any attention. They were hilariously failing by the way, the both of them had tripped into the bike stands and were arguing on who was at fault. Shaking her head, Talia made her way over, when the freshmen saw her coming they scrambled to get up and make a run for it when Talia shouted, "Hold it!"

Nervous the shorter of the two cowered, "W-w-we a-al-already told you. Suns-Susan made us take those videos." turning to his lanky friend and nudging her in the ribs, "T-t-tell her Steve."

"Yeah! It was all Sunset Shimmer's fault!" he nodded, "Please don't hurt us Twilight!" covering his head with his arms.

'123' mentally ticked Talia, 'Sunset Shimmer? I thought her name was Susan?' Getting the two idiots to calm down from their groveling, "Just tell me where I can find Susan or Sunset or whatever her name is."

Jumping up, the short one scratched her chin, "I think she said something about going to the Cake's Bakery." Then his face became more nervous at Talia's questioning stare, "But that's all I know, sorrygottagobye!" he then sprung into a full on sprint leaving his friend in the dust. By the time he figured out what had happened he nervously waved at Talia before going after his friend, screaming "Wait up Stan!"

Talia had managed to get a thank you out before they ran off, but when she saw them halfway down the block she remembered what Steve had called her and screamed after them, "And my name is TALIA!"

She asked around the school yard for directions to the Cake's Bakery, it seemed to be a popular hang out for students. The girl she asked even offered to "humbly and graciously guide you to the Cake's herself!" Talia politely declined the offer saying, that she couldn't possibly keep up with her energy. As it was Talia was confident that she could find her way from here.

For the past ten minutes Talia walked down 8th St, looking for Cake's when she wasn't looking ahead of her and ran into someone going into the opposite direction. Talia fell back with a grunt, she looked up, and saw a blue haired boy offering his hand to her and asked, "You okay?" helping Talia up.

"Uh yeah and thanks," said Talia after dusting herself off, and offered her hand in return, "My name is Talia, and you are?"

For a briefest moment he seemed surprised, but did shake her hand, "Felix, Felix Sharp, are you looking for anywhere in particular? You seem a bit lost."

Grateful for having run into someone normal for once, Talia nodded, "I'm looking for the Cake's Bakery, I'm supposed to be meeting someone there."

Smiling Felix just walked past Talia, "You missed the turn a half a block ago, why don't I walk you the rest of the way? I'm meeting some friends there anyway."

Just returning a small smile in turn Talia moved to catch up to Felix, after a minute something clicked in Talia's head, "Have I seen you somewhere before?"

Felix's eyes rose in surprise and turned to Talia with a nervous grin, "What do you mean? We've only just met."

After another minute of looking a sort of devious look came onto Talia who snapped her finger, "Oh yeah! Your that guy dancing with my clone in the video."

Shocked Felix nearly stumbled, "Videos? I wasn't in those videos."

Pulling out her smartphone and quickly searching through youtube she quipped, "Oh no? Then what do you call this?"

Felix stared in a expression that lay somewhere between surprise, embarrassed and horrified what he saw on the phone screen.* Speechless, he missed Talia pulling back her phone, and admiring the video herself. "I have to say I'm impressed though, how did you make those wings look so real?"

Chuckling and somewhat blushing Felix just rubbed the back of his neck, "Let's just say its a long story. Oh hey look we're here!" he pointed out with some relief. He gestured for Talia to go in before him, but was interrupted by the sound of her phone going off. Gesturing for him to go in first while she took the call.

Walking over to the table Susan was sitting at he offered a comforting smile, "Are you gonna be okay doing this by yourself? If not we can move it over to the booth with the rest of them." He offered pointing to a corner where the "sailor scouts" sans Paulie were gesturing encouragingly.

Shaking her head Susan smiled in return, "No, its alright, this is something I have to do on my own."

Felix didn't look all that convinced, but any protest died when Talia walked inside and came over, "Sorry about that," she apologized, "it was my brother was just checking up on me." turning to Felix she asked, "Will you be joining us?"

Shaking his head, Felix gestured to the empty seat, "She's all yours." then turning to Susan he whispered a quick "Take care." before joining the rest of them a reasonable distance to observe and step in if necessary.

Looking around Felix then asked, "Where's Paulie?"

Rowellina pointed over to the counter where she was talking animatedly with Mr. Cake, "Still making plans for Talia and Susan's party, but never mind that, when did you run into the new girl?"

"On the way here, she was a little lost, and I thought I'd give her a hand." Felix answered as they watched as Mrs. Cake brought over a couple of milkshakes, Susan and Talia had ordered after they sat down. Silently the five of them watched as the two began to talk things out. Susan was make an impassioned case for forgiveness, but because of the way they were seated, with Talia facing away from them, it was hard to see if it was having any effect.

They were distracted when Paulina came over with a worried look on her face, "Um guys, we have a problem!" pointing over to the door where three boys, two of them wearing football jackets, and the third a blond clearly full of himself, walked into the shop.

"Crap!" swore Roxy, "What are they doing here?"

Rowellina agreed, "Those ruffians make it hard enough for Susan as it is."

Trembling Faith whispered, "W-w-what d-d-do we do?"

Amelia tried to be optimistic and calm everyone down, "Maybe they won't even notice her."

Narrowing his eyes, "Too late." he whispered when the three purposfully went over to Susan's and Talia's table.

"Well, well" drawled the blond, standing over Susan and Talia's table, "if it isn't demon girl, I'd stay away from this one Twilight. Never know when you might get burned."

Susan flinched at 'demon girl', a detail that did not go unnoticed by Talia, and glared at the blond, "What do you want Brian?"

"Oh nothing," shrugged Brian, snaking a arm around Talia's shoulders, which also clearly made her uncomfortable, "Just warning the new girl, wouldn't want you to go all fire and brimstone on her." Brian then laughed, the one where you think you said something clever, but really didn't. The 'sailor scouts' and Felix moved to intervene, but stopped when Talia spoke.

"How dare you speak to her like that." she whispered her bangs covering her eyes. Surprise showed on both Susan and Faith's faces, who remember who else had also said those words.

"Huh," wondered Brian looking at Talia, "what did you say Twilight?"

"I said, How. Dare. You. Speak. To. Her. Like. THAT!" punctuated Talia as if talking to a five year old, which wouldn't exactly be wrong. She then stood up, throwing off Brian's arm, grabbing her milkshake, and in one swift motion, kneed him in the gut and then poured her milkshake when he doubled over. "And my name" she spat, "is Talia."

Even in pain Brian managed to choke out, a "Bitch" before being brought to his feet by his jock lackeys. "you think you could take us all on? By yourself?"

"Maybe not alone, but she's not alone is she?" declared Rowellina as she, Felix and the rest of the girls gathered around Talia and Susan. Looking around Brian noticed that most if not the entire shop was on its feet glaring at him. Admitting defeat, Brian dusted himself off and ran off, trying to preserve what microscopic shreds of dignity, followed by his two goons. The entire shop broke out in applause over Talia's actions before resuming what they were doing before.

After things had calmed down Susan, prompted by Felix and Rowellina, invited Talia to sit with them. "That was a really noble thing you did for Susan, Talia considering." congratulated Amelia, "couldn't have done it better myself."

"Hell yeah!" exclaimed Roxy nearly jumping out of her seat, "What you did to that jerk was so AWESOME!"

Smiling Talia just waved it all off, "It was nothing, no one deserves to be talked to like that. No matter what they did. And Susan" She said turning to Susan, offering a comforting hand. "For what its worth, I forgive you about those videos." The look on Susan's face held utmost relief and thankfulness at Talia's acceptance. "But, I still want a full explanation on why you did it," before Susan's could become dejected, Talia continued, "until then, I hope we could become good friends." Susan's face at those words were the biggest any had seen in a long time.

"Me too." Smiling Talia pulled Susan into a tight hug as the girls all cooed and Felix just smile softly, a look that did not go unnoticed by those at the table. Checking the time Talia began to make her goodbyes as she had to go home, "Um Talia," Susan called after her before she reached the door "Paulie here, was thinking about holding a party," she began looking nervous and slightly flushed, "to fully welcome you to Canterlot High on Friday." biting her lip Susan asked, "Do you think you can make it?"

Talia looked surprised at the invitation, but just smiled, "Sure, why not? And call me Tali." Nodding to each of the girls Talia then left and made her way home from the Cake's.

After Talia left, Felix visibly relaxed in his seat and said, "Well that went better than expected." after receiving odd looks from the rest of the table he asked, "What?"

Snickering Amelia whispered to the rest of them, "Looks like someone has a crush on the new girl." Seeing the teasing smiles and nods he sputtered.

"What no I don't" crossing his arms across chest and straightening up.

Rowellina looked closely at his face before beaming, "Oh, but I think you do, you absolutely do!"

Huffing, Felix leaned forward, "Don't be ridiculous. I. do. not. have. a crush. on. TALIA. SPARKS."

Paulie lean over the rest of them and whispered in a sing-song voice, "Someones in denial!"

Susan smiled at the flabbergasted expression on Felix's face. She didn't know when, but she started to giggle, and honestly, it made her feel better than she had in a long time.

Author's note.

* The Link to the video is in my profile.