The first month of Friendship School went smoothly, even though Luster had to silence Star Skies and his attempts to get engaged to her. The more she knew him, the more he made her uncomfortable, she didn't want to have anything to do with him.

It was now October, and Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo organized a trip to the delightful Crystal Empire.

The various classes boarded the crystal train and each took their seats.

Luster and her friends sat around a small table, excited about that journey different from the usual.

Stardrop took out some snacks, while Gallop pulled out a plastic bag containing a sandwich expertly assembled by his mother.

Griselda began to read while Gold Cloud chatted intensely with Luster. On the seat next to them was Silky Heart with little Lucky.

Although it was already autumn, the air was pleasantly crisp and not too cold, with the morning Sun painting the environment in pink, orange and golden yellow. Luster Dawn was captivated by the view beyond the window.

Once in the Crystal Empire, Luster opened her mouth in surprise: she had never been there, she had traveled little as a filly due to her health problems, and that splendid tower that surmounted the main square and served as a stronghold for the royals of the Empire filled her eyes with wonder.

"Have you seen? The crystals reflect the sunlight, it's like being surrounded by many tiny diamonds!" Gold exclaimed, also enthusiastic.

"Yeah!"

Friends gathered around Luster and animatedly commented on the beauty of that place.

"Guys, now we will take the elevator and visit the Castle. We will go up in groups of eight at a time."

Slowly, the thirty students of the School mustered in the large main hall of that mammoth building.

"Welcome!"

Luster recognized that voice: it was her mentor's brother, Prince Shining Armor.

The sovereign had a barely hinted beard and mustache, which gave him a wise and friendly air.

Next to him, his wife, Princess Cadance.

She had her hair collected in a rich hairstyle, picked up by a beaded headband that ended with a graceful short veil.

She wore a dress with a white bodice and gold-embellished straps, which opened in a triumph of pink and violet tulle.

"We are very pleased for you to be here." Cadance continued, with a gentle voice, "Rock Candy will guide you to discover our castle".

A young adult earth mare appeared in front of the group, with long, well-groomed plum-colored hair streaked with pink, water-colored fur and amber eyes.

"Hello everyone! I am the housekeeper of the Crystal Castle. Please, come this way."

The crystal pony took the lead of the large group and led them along a corridor covered entirely by a red carpet.

With a raised hoof she pointed to her doors to her right:

"These are the servants' quarters."

Most of the students took pictures and notes on paper pads, while Star Skies snorted impatiently.

At the end of the corridor, the group turned right and walked along a high staircase that led to the upper floor. From there, the view of the main hall, so bright and blue, made it look like an enchanting underwater picture.

Rock stopped in front of a gigantic door decorated with an imposing stem of peach-colored Amarine.

"This is Princess Flurry Heart's private room. At this moment she is still resting, yesterday she came back late from a meeting with other heads of State. Please, come this way." the housekeeper urged them, and they all started walking again.

Everyone, except Luster.

She had been bewitched by that closed door, by that unusual flower, by the one who was hidden inside it.

She almost wanted to try knocking, however rude that was.

"You do not come?"

The blood of the sun-haired unicorn cooled suddenly.

Him again, and again.

"I'm coming. Go ahead."

But Star had no intention of listening to her; his golden eyes landed on Luster's slightly messy hair, with the green, old and loose elastic of the tail, which let locks fall here and there cascading.

"Why don't you keep your hair down? You would be much better."

"I'm fine with that, thanks."

The girl's dry reply made a grimace of disappointment bloom on Star's lips, but this remained undeterred and insisted:

"You've been talking to me in monosyllables for a month and you don't consider me. What have I done to you, can I know? Is it a crime to want to become your coltfriend?"

"I already told you I don't care, leave me alone."

Luster kept her gaze fixed on the floor, she didn't want to meet Star's eyes.

"I'm sure we would be fine together. I could give you advice on fashion, art, school."

"A nice way to tell me you'd like to change me." jumped the unicorn, taken by anger.

"It is not so. I want you to show up at your best."

The eighteen-year-old couldn't believe her ears; she looked up and finally focused on her peer: she thought he was an Adonis, the best of the best, with that unkempt, hedgehog-like albino hair and the sympathy of a shovel on her face. How did he dare to impose his tastes on her like that? Not even her friends did that.

"I create my best myself, thanks. You think about yours."

The sudden hardening of the girl's voice triggered something in Star, tired of being rejected:

"Is there another one?"

Once again, Luster rolled her eyes.

"Is there another one?" growled Star Skies, who had grabbed her by the shoulders and was shaking her.

"You are crazy. I don't have to tell you my business, you are nopony to me!"

She was tired of always being cordial and composed with him, tired of endure his advances every day, of looking under her desk at school and discovering notes with third rate poems and little flowers already withered. She had really had enough, that was the last straw.

Furiously, the stallion pushed her against the wall; Luster moaned of surprise, pain and fear.

"Now I will kiss you and you will become my marefriend."

The boy's voice was like a burning coal that roasts everything to blackness. Insane, out of reality.

The unicorn activated her magic and a reddish flash exploded in the corridor. She had thrown Star away from her, and then took advantage of his bewilderment to try to open the door, which miraculously was not closed from the inside.

Luster had thus found herself inside Flurry Heart's private room, and once there she had collapsed on the rug and burst into tears.

"Mhmh... What's going on?"

Luster jerked her head up.

From the elevated position of her bed, the graceful figure of the princess watched her, with tousled hair and a sleepy look.

"Oh... Princess... Excuse me, I..."

The door opened again and Star Skies peeped into the room.

Flurry's crystalline gaze narrowed to a slit and in an imperious voice she retorted:

"Who are you?"

The earth stallion seemed to falter, but did not lose his nerve:

"Princess Flurry Heart, I didn't mean to bother you and-"

"Are you the cause of this girl's tears?"

The deep pink pony looked at the princess and felt hope warming her chest.

"No, Your Highness, you see, these are trifles between lovers, nothing special..."

"You don't seem in love with her, and she doesn't seem happy with you." picked up Flurry, who had gotten out of bed and was wearing a peony-decorated robe that made her look absolutely solemn.

"Come on, Your Highness, don't make a tragedy of it..."

"Don't address me as if I were your sister."

At that point, Star was silent and annoyed, and he went out of the door that Flurry Heart had opened without too many compliments.

"Thank you." Luster whispered, soon after.

"Don't mention it."

Flurry had suddenly lost all the imperious look of just before. Now she appeared what she was, a lively twenty-three year old mare.