Chapter 10: Edging Close To The Clue

Just as another day was closing to it's gradual end, all the other girls were enjoying an evening at the Xtreme roller rink. A few other students were also in the rink as the main goup were, admitatly enjoying their first few days back at the academy. Lola was sat with Smurfette, Fluttershy and Sticks at a table, observing the whole rink from a distance. They could spot Pinkie and Rainbow and Applejack challenging themselves to a dance-off. They could see Twilight and Rarity skating together and discussing the upcoming events at Canterlot Academy. They could see Vexy, Vanellope and Sunset closer to the DJ booth rocking hard to the sweet tune of Van Halem's 'Jump'. The 4 girls drank their smoothies and discussed the power outage a little more.

"I cannot believe a humanoid lion cub was responsible for the power cut back at Canterlot Academy". Smurfette started, taking a sip from her strawberry smoothie.

"Lion cub?". Sticks turned her head to the smurf. "What are you saying, Smurfette?".

"Principal Celestia took matters into her own hands and fixed the problem. The same student avoided detention, I guess".

"Because Celestia?". The bunny guessed.

"Precisely my word, Lola".

"I was going to update my animal log on MyStable at the time". Fluttershy explained. "I had some ideas for the future purpose of the sanctuary".

"I know...say, Smurfette, what did this character look like? What was he donning and why did he take his body into the janitor's closet?". Lola gave her question.

"He had black spiky hair and light blue arms. Other than that, I don't know what he looked like from the front".

"Strange...". Lola caught the attention of Sticks, who had other things to say.

"Strange indeed...". The badger lifted one arm from the table. "This character, out of all 500 students from the academy, I can only generated up to a few answers, who this person might be".

"Only a few students sport black hair". Lola added. "That's including Vanellope, but I know for sure she never does something like this".

"Aye! I need to think who this might be...". Sticks picked up her orange smoothie and drank from it. "As acinine as this may be, we have to tread through this like a dirty swamp in the southern states".

"If only this student could step up...". Fluttershy slanted back on her seat, adjacent to the wall so she could not be disturbed by passer by's the world over. Twilight and Rarity came back from skating around the oval-shaped rink and took a chair next to Smurfette and Sticks respectively.

"What's happening?". Lola asked the two girls, whom had something on their minds also.

"We talked about this, about the guest speaker coming in to demonstrate a few things, something for Vexy to take notes on because this guest is Construction based matierial". The studious explained.

"It could really benefit for Leigh Lemondrop and her classess". Rarity added. "Just imagine the tons of new features implimented!".

"I'm going to tell this to sis after we had our fair share of fun at this place". Smurfette replied.

"Black hair...blue arms...". Sticks was trying to decipher the answer in her head, Fluttershy and Twilight noticing and stepping up.

"It's not Vanellope because she has peach skin like normal humans in the normal world". The studious unknowningly broke the fourth wall.

"We already know it's not Van". The badger placed her drink down and tilted her head slightly vertical and thought.

"This thing is slowly getting to your head, Sticksy". Fluttershy softly spoke.

"No it's not, Fluttershy. Just give me a moment".

"Can you excuse me?". Lola squeezed past Smurfette to escape the table. "Excuse my pardoms, Smurfette".

"What are you doing?". The blonde-haired smurf wanted to ask.

"I need to go pee. I'll be right back!". The bunny walked away from the group and spotted the girls' bathroom a few moments away. It was a lot less crowded in the rink as it was not a weekend. Lola opened the door and a fellow student from Canterlot Academy popped out. Lola accidently bumped into her and kept her balance. This student had grey coated skin and white hair that also acted up as a scarf covering her neck. She donned a darker grey vest and black bike shorts.

"Sorry...". Lola apologized.

"No need to be apologetic". The student answered without hesitation. "I got to get back to the academy right now".

"Oh...ok". The bunny watched her leave, only enterting once the student she bumped was out of her sights.

"Guess who I bumped into...". Lola came back from the bathroom a few minutes later, the 5 girls all eying her.

"Another student we haven't faced all threats from before...to me that description sounds alot like Sally Bollywood and her goons". Sticks guessed.

"No. A fellow student that looked like she was from Canterlot Academy. To me she was the appearance of a timid girl that acted like Fluttershy, but only donned sporty clothing like Rainbow Dash".

"Sounds like a fusion of our own members, to be honest". Smurfette responded.

"Only you would use the word fusion in a time and place like this, Smurfette. Can you...". Lola signified the hand gesture that Smurfette shoud kindly let her enter the seats.

"Here you go!". The smurf stood up and let her move across.

"Thanks". Lola answered as she entered the table again.

"We should head back soon". Twilight proclaimed. "Our classes start as early as 9AM sharp".

"The other girls should be finished soon". Fluttershy remembered that half of the group wasn't at the table. "We really need to make sure they don't get left behind".

"I left Sunset in charge should that ever happen, Fluttershy".

"Don't you ever feel like everyone of your friends is at a certain place but you're the one being busy to even attend?". Sticks churned out before she remembered what happened last year. "On second thought, scratch that".

"So, Twilight. Any news on the NRG programme?". Rarity gave her a reminder of what was going down.

"Not that I know of". The studious answered. "The programme is doing well enough, I guess I can say that".

By then the other people in the roller rink started to gradually disperse. Rainbow, Pinkie, Applejack, Sunset, Vexy and Vanellope could be seen clearly from the other half of the group. Lola peeked over the wall started spereated the table from the rink. She hid and faced the girls.

"They are starting to leave, but it's slow progress".

"We should start to leave". Twilight stood up and placed the chair back where it belonged. "Someone give the other six some more time to buy if they wish".

"I'll do it!". The bunny esxcused herself from Smurfette once more and made her way over to Sunset, the co-leader. The red and yellow-streaked haired girl noticed the bunny behind her and turned 180 degrees.

"Hey Lola...is it time already?".

"You could say that, if you wish to buy more time in the rink, it's totally optional by all means". Lola explained.

"I don't mind. Besides, I know the way around Canterlot City as a fugitive from Equestria. I can gaurantee myself to return to Canterlot Academy with the rest of the girls".

"Understood!". Lola turned back to Twilight and the group. The look on her face told the studious that Sunset was okay with this. "Sunset said it was okay".

"I understand. I'm tired as it is".

The studious, plus Rarity, Sticks, Smurfette, Lola and Fluttershy exited the rink thereafter, unware that Pinkie, Rainbow and Applejack doesn't know because they were having so much fun challenging each other to a dance-off. Sunset would direct them once they were done.

That's the end of this chapter. The girls enjoying a relaxing evening in the Xtreme roller rink, Lola unknowingly bumping into a fellow CA student and excusing herself. What will happen next? Read on to find out. Please review.