Spike awoke to the sun shining in his eyes. He stretched and looked around, noticing Twilight had moved over to a desk and was writing furiously. He trotted over and leaped up onto the table. “Already at work, huh? We haven't even had breakfast.”
“In a minute.” Twilight finished up her sentence. “There! You were sleeping, so I didn't want to wake you. I've been making a list of talking points so I can make a good impression on the students here. I'll have to talk to Rarity and Fluttershy for tips on who to talk to, but once that's done, we should be okay. I couldn't find anything on methods of harnessing magic here, though.”
“I thought you'd be freaking out about this.”
“I did at first, but then I realized that this is just like when I went to Ponyville for the first time. I just have to apply the knowledge I've learned since then here, and I shouldn't have too much trouble.” Twilight started to pack up her things.
“What about Trixie?”
“I'm not sure. It's not like I can challenge her to a magic duel. I'll have to think about it some more over breakfast. I saw some signs in the cafeteria about breakfast being served around now.”
The two left the library and headed for the cafeteria. As they walked, students either pointed at her and laughed or hid their snickers behind their hands. Others averted their eyes completely. Twilight looked around quizzically.
“What's going on out there?” Spike asked from the backpack.
“Everyone's looking at me funny. Shush, before it gets worse,” Twilight muttered back, ducking into the cafeteria. She spotted Sunset sitting at a table, writing in a well-worn notebook. An empty plate sat near her, crumbs dotting its surface, another plate held an untouched bagel with cream cheese. Twilight noticed others were looking at her again and doing the same thing as they did in the hall, and sat next to Sunset quickly.
Sunset turned to look at Twilight immediately. “May I help you?”
“I was just looking for breakfast. And someone who wouldn't stare at me like I'm a clown.” Twilight glanced at Sunset's notebook and saw it filled with drawings of some variants of mythical creature, with a lengthy description of the creature below it. They looked oddly artificial to Twilight, compared to the ones she had seen.
Sunset regarded Twilight quizzically and closed her notebook, then pushed the second bagel to Twilight. “You haven't seen the video?”
“Video?” Twilight took the bagel and began to eat.
Sunset removed her phone from her pocket and played the video for Twilight. It showed Twilight's most embarrassing moments since arriving, from her arrival and exploration of her new body to her pounding on a keyboard with her fists. The color drained from her face. “Oh no...”
“Yes, this is not a good picture of you.” Sunset put away her phone. “And information around here spreads rapidly. In the few hours it's been up, the entire school has seen it.”
“The... whole... school...” Twilight felt her plans crash down around her. It would take a lot of explaining to justify the things in this video. She put her head in her hands.
“Being new, no one knows what to make of you just yet, and for many, this video will be their introduction. It might be wise to stay down for now, and wait for the students to forget.”
The idea sounded logical, but Twilight shook off her shock. “I can't do that. This is too important to just let Trixie win.”
Sunset shrugged. “If you say so. Although it seems like this means a lot more to you than it does to others. Most of them are doing it for some fleeting impression of power or fame.”
“It does.” Twilight thought about telling her the truth, but decided against it. “It's... destiny, I guess.”
“Destiny,” Sunset spat. “Destiny is what we choose, not what something else determines. You think it's your destiny to be a princess? Some pretty little thing to hang on a man's arm?”
Twilight recoiled. “That's not what I mean! It's more that I was destined to meet the friends I did, and together, we did great things. We saved the... mayor's sister from darkness, we managed to convince a dangerous trickster to be, uh, less actively dangerous, we helped save my brother's wedding from someone who was trying to impersonate the bride, and we even managed to help that same couple save another city from a hostile takeover. My friends and I have been through so much, I guess it might seem natural for others to think I should be a princess. That's why I was made one.”
Sunset cocked an eyebrow. “And your friends didn't join your ascension?”
“No. I don't really know why, as they had just as much to do with our success as I did.”
“Sounds to me like someone thought you were a leader. Do you think it's your destiny?”
“I wasn't ready for it, and I still don't think I am. But with the help of my friends, I'm ready to give it my best shot.” Twilight looked at Sunset. “Why do you want it?”
Sunset leaned back. “It's more of a formality, really. My own parents had a specific vision in mind for me: look pretty, marry into wealth, and spend the rest of my days as a glorified maid and baby factory, the fate of the 'princess' as they understood it. Such a life would be a complete waste of my talents. When I came here, I saw a school that lacked purpose and was rife with corruption. I changed that. These elections for petty titles were merely publicity, a way to unite the school.”
“Behind you.”
“Behind me, yes.” Sunset saw Twilight's reaction to that. “It's not for my own ego. These people needed a leader, an inspiration, and I was exactly what they needed. I think this whole world needs such an inspirational figure, don't you?”
“It is nice to have heroes, but the way you're describing it, it sounds like you want to take over the world.”
“Not at all. If everyone tried their hardest, and I mean really tried, this world could achieve great things. I just want to help spur them on to such heights, and the best way to lead is by example. I want people to face a challenge and say to themselves, 'If Sunset can do it, so can I!' With your deeds, I'm sure many think the same for you.”
Twilight thought about Trixie, both hers and this world's. “What about those who don't follow your example? What do you do about them?”
“They get left behind. I can't help those who don't want help.”
“Like Trixie?”
“I've tried to help her, I really have. But she insists on digging her own grave here.”
Twilight thought of Discord. “Trixie really isn't that bad.”
Sunset chuckled. “Maybe you should be a princess. You have a bit of a naive mindset, but that's easy to fix. The path can be set, and you can show the way, but it's up to the individual to follow.” A large student with a blond flat top and earring approached. “Take Bulk here, for instance. He's very fitness-minded, but his performance in his studies has been lacking. So he came to me for help.”
“Aced my last math test, Sunny!” Bulk exclaimed as he sat down.
Sunset smiled. “See? I knew you could do it.” She turned her attention to Twilight. “If you'll excuse us.”
Twilight took her cue to leave. Bulk's gaze followed her out. “Is she the one from that video going around?”
“The very same,” Sunset replied.
“She doesn't seem that weird.”
“I think there are some things she's not telling us.”
“So much for the plan.” Twilight groused. Suddenly, she was grabbed and pulled into an empty classroom. She spun to see who grabbed her and saw Rarity fussing about in a bag.
“No, no, no, no, no, but cute-” Rarity said as she tossed clothes aside.
“Rarity? What are you doing?”
Rarity spun to face Twilight. “I'm trying to find some things to make a disguise for you, of course! Haven't you seen the video of you?”
“I did. Sunset just showed me. She also said I should drop out of the election.”
“A very sensible idea. You've just started, so your reputation is at its most fragile.”
“And like I told her, I can't do that. I can deal with whatever Trixie throws at me.”
Rarity stared at Twilight. “You are a glutton for punishment, aren't you?”
“I've dealt with worse than a school bully.”
Rarity sighed as Fluttershy stepped inside, closing the door quietly. “Um, am I interrupting anything?”
“Not at all, just Twilight being masochistic. She's still going to run for Princess.”
“Well, if it makes any difference, I'll vote for you. After the way you helped me yesterday, it's the least I could do.”
“Thanks, Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy blushed, then pulled something out of her pocket. “I, um, also told Rainbow Dash what you did, and she told me to give this to you if I saw you first.”
Twilight took the letter and read it. “She wants to meet me after school at the soccer field.”
“Well, that's something. If she wants to meet you, she could definitely help reverse the damage the video has done to your reputation. A lot of the sporty-types look up to her,” Rarity said.
“Well, that's a start. But Trixie isn't going to let up. Is there a way I can get her to leave me alone?”
Rarity sat and thought for a moment. “Well, there was a talent show in freshman year. Both Sunset and Trixie competed, along with many others. Sunset won, of course, absolutely crushing Trixie. That was about when Trixie started leaving Sunset alone, but there's no talent shows in the next few days. There is one in the spring, though.”
“I can't wait that long.”
“I think you should just be yourself,” Fluttershy said.
“That's what got her into this in the first place,” Rarity replied.
“No, I mean if Twilight just shows the students how nice a person she really is, I'm sure they'll come around.”
Twilight smiled. “I don't know why I didn't think of that sooner. There were lots of witnesses around when I helped Fluttershy yesterday, so if Trixie's video spread that quickly, that must have spread too. So if I just keep doing good deeds, maybe that'll overcome whatever Trixie does to stop me, and people won't listen to her! You're a genius, Fluttershy!”
Fluttershy blushed as Rarity shrugged. “Well, if you're going that route, Pinkie Pie could probably use help setting up for the dance itself. I'm sure she'll find something for you to do, if you can stand to be around her for more than a few minutes.”
“You get used to her.” Twilight noticed the other two looking at her oddly. “I knew someone like her back home.”
The bell rang. “Well, we should get to class, then. I'll start talking to others and see if I can't clear some of this up, and then I have to work on my dress designs for the dance. If you stop by my house tomorrow, Twilight, I can get you fitted for one.”
“I'll be there,” Twilight said.
Rarity nodded and left, Fluttershy not far behind. Twilight left as well, headed for the gym with a quick stop at the cafeteria for breakfast.
When she arrived at the gym, it was empty, save for two people bringing in crates. One was a female with long blond hair in a loose ponytail with orange-tinted skin and green eyes, wearing a flannel shirt and jeans. The other, a man, wore similar attire with his shirt open to show a white t-shirt underneath. He had a reddish tone, short sandy hair, and green eyes. Both had a muscular figure, evidence of a lot of hard labor. Twilight figured she knew who they were, put her backpack on a table, and went over to the two. “Need a hand?”
The girl looked at her and smiled. “Sure. Truck's outside.”
Twilight followed the girl outside. “I'm Twilight Sparkle, by the way.”
“Applejack. That's my brother over there, Big Mac.” She turned and shook Twilight's hand. “You new here?”
“I started yesterday.” Twilight saw a number of crates in the back of the truck. “That's a lot of cider.”
“Yep. All of it comes from my farm. Dances like this are good for business.” Applejack grabbed a crate and started walking back.
Twilight picked one up and immediately regretted it. It felt like she had lifted the entire city of Canterlot, her arms trembling as she attempted to hold the crate close to her.
Applejack turned to look at Twilight. “You got that?”
“Yup!” Twilight grunted, her voice straining with the effort of holding the crate up. She rapidly walked back into the gym, her face reddening as she did so. As soon as she saw open space, she practically dropped the crate in place, bottles clinking.
Applejack placed her crate on top of Twilight's, a smile on her face. “You ain't used to this, are ya?”
“Not.. as much... as I thought.” Twilight straightened.
“C'mon, we'll team lift the rest. Don't need you gettin' a hernia.”
“Thanks.” The pair walked out and grabbed another crate. It now only felt like she was lifting a bowling ball, a substantial improvement over a city. “Do you know where Pinkie Pie is? I was hoping to help her set up for the dance.”
“If she ain't here now, she will be, and she'll sample the cider. And the juice, and the soda, and anything else we bring.”
Twilight chuckled. “That sounds like her.”
“Ah, so you two've already met.”
“Yeah, when I signed up for the Princess of the Fall Formal.”
Applejack paused. “You do know-”
“Sunset always wins, I know. Everyone's told me already. I'm not going to let that stop me.”
“Well shoot, you just about got my vote already.” Applejack and Twilight resumed their task.
“Already?”
“Trixie's a bully and I never liked Sunset.”
“Trixie I get, but why not Sunset? She's been relatively nice so far.”
“I get the feelin' she ain't bein' truthful with us. She's got somethin' up her sleeve, mark my words.”
“You think she's planning something?” Twilight asked.
“Oh, she is. Everyone knows she's got somethin' cookin' for the dance. I just can't shake the feelin' that we won't like it.”
“Well, she had to have gotten it past the principal in order to do it, I'm sure. It can't be bad if that's the case.”
Applejack sighed. “I guess. I just think we're going to regret trustin' her soon. I hope I'm wrong.”
“Hey girls! Ooooh, that's a lot of cider!” Pinkie Pie bounded into the gym and eyeballed the stacks of crates. She grabbed a bottle out of a crate and popped it open, then chugged half the bottle. “Ah, delicious as always!”
Applejack looked at Twilight. “Told ya. Mac and I'll grab the last two crates.”
Twilight nodded. “So, anything I can do to help, Pinkie?”
“Well, the disco ball should've shown up by now, so you can help me put that up. Ooh! And there's lots more decorations, and all that food has to be sampled ad put away. A few other students are coming to help too, so it'll be like a meet and greet! Except with work.”
Pinkie chugged the remainder of the cider bottle and let out a loud belch, then directed Twilight on what to do. Twilight was in the process of putting up another set of balloons when the lunch bell rang. She heard Pinkie announcing her surprise at the foot of her ladder as she climbed down. The other students were already on their way out. “Well, they do say time flies when you're having fun.”
“I know, right? It always does that. I wish it would go super slow so I could feel like I had more fun!” She turned to admire the group's handiwork. “Perfect! Except... Hm.”
“What?”
“Maybe we should have the snack tables on the other side. No, wait, the DJ booth is going there. What if-”
“How about you think about it over lunch?”
“Ooh, great idea! I hope they have the cupcakes with extra frosting today! Did I ever tell you how much I love frosting?”