//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Conversations Through a Mirror // Story: The Perfectly Normal Life of Megan Williams // by drunkenpandaren //------------------------------// Communicating with the other world was always touch and go, and always initiated by the Celestia across the mirror. Not today. Today, Principal Celestia Moringstar was planning to have a little chat with her other self. It had begun innocently, when she had inherited the running of the school from the previous principal, Discord. An innocent gesture to mend fences, and a little administrative work was never worrisome for her. But that's when he began to tell her about the history of this school, and the secrets that lay within. Touching her fingertips to the large mirror hanging from her wall, she intoned, "Celestia... get the hell over here!" The mirror shimmered for a moment before an image appeared within. A majestic mare with a similar rainbow mane tilted her head in bemusement. "Language dear self," she chuckled softly. "Language is best reserved for those who have patience," said Celestia crossly. "What do you make of this?" Pressing the photocopy of Diary of an Alicorn against the surface, it rippled and slid through, only to be taken up by the mare on the other side. She doffed reading glasses and not for once in her life, Celestia realized she was due for a eye exam. "This looks like Sunset Shimmers' handwriting." "It is. She documented the history of Equestria in the margins of a book," said Celestia, "and two of my students have discovered it." "Which ones?" asked Celestia curiously, the white mare continuing to read through the information. "Pinkie Pie and Megan Williams," said Celestia, causing the alicorn to look up in surprise. "Yes, I was surprised as much as you when they were paired together. Knowing Megan's history in other worlds." "Truth to be told, she has never set foot on our world yet," said Celestia softly. "We have naught the history of other worlds that are connected to the woman named Megan, but we have stories brought from other worlds by myself and Star Swirl." Principal Celestia blew a lock of hair away from her face. "Sunset seems to be preparing to go through the normal portal. She is still unaware of my own smaller portal here in the office." "And it would make infiltration of Equestria easier if she were to take an equine form," surmised the Princess. "Did you take the proper precautions?" "As much as I can. I've "suggested" for Shining Armor not to patrol the grounds that evening it opens. You know you could stop this, and talk to her." "I couldn't, she would not listen to me," said Celestia softly. "It is too much, I couldn't bear chasing her away again." "I'm not doing well here, either. Even if I go out of my way to allow her to live in my school," said Principal Celestia, folding her arms. "It is a miracle none of the students have noticed thus far." The pair stood in silence, as Principal Celestia let her other self stew for a long moment. And then, the white mare looked up. "Please continue to watch over her. I know it has been difficult for your students--" "Almost impossible," put in Celestia. "But there is a reason for everything I do, to make up past mistakes." finished the Princess. "So please, just for a few more days." "Two and a half years, Celestia. I hope this student of yours is more than capable of fixing all of this." said Celestia. "I know she is," said the princess. "It's why I place all my faith in her all the time." "Right. I'll send some more messages later. Right now, I need to set up for the next day. Have a good evening, Celestia. Luna also wants you to send those chocolate mangos too." "She'll get fat," chided the white mare. To this Celestia chuckled. "You're putting on pounds too you know, ever since you got into some of our local cakes." The princess huffed dismissively, but then she smiled before closing the communications, but not before a bag of food dropped through the mirror. Immediately, the door to Celestia's room opened up as Luna stuck her head in. "I heard a thunk of chocolate mangos!" Exclaimed her often silly little sister before pouncing. ===== "I just don't know what went wrong," lamented Muffins as she rubbed her head in embarrassment. Cloudchaser sighed a little as she patted her on the shoulder. "It's okay, it's not your fault. It's Sunset again. As usual." Tensions were running high once more in Canterlot High as Sunset Shimmer was systematically 'discouraging' all of the students who even thought for a moment they could run against her. The Fall Formal, one of the bigger events before the new year break was coming up soon, and Sunset seemed to be determined to win it again four years in a row. She was a senior now and practically owned the school, a fact that drove most of the populace crazy. Megan sighed as she shut her locker and jumped a moment as Flitter stood there. "Geez, you scared me," she said, thudding her chest. "Did you need something Flitter?" "Well I was just wondering, aren't you going to sign up for the Princess of the Fall Formal this year? You did it two years ago." said Flitter curiously. "Not this year," said Megan with a shake of her head. "I've got no desire to get in between that crown and Shimmer again." "Oh, well I was thinking of doing it this year." In the same third year as Megan, Flitter was a quieter girl with her head in the clouds, a fair comparison to her twin Cloudchaser who was helping Muffins Doo pick up a batch of muffins from the floor where Sunset Shimmer had knocked the box out of her hands. "I dunno, it could be bad this year. Sunset is really fired up, and already calling it 'her coronation'." Megan smiled and patted Flitter on the shoulder. "But that shouldn't stop you if you can help it." "Okay then!" The bell rang. "Oh I need to get to class. Talk to you later!" "All right." Watching her go, Megan paused at the sight of Muffins trying to figure out if she was missing muffins and she went over, kneeling down to pick up a couple shattered pastries. "There you go," said Megan, loading it into the box. "Thanks," said Muffins gratefully. "Sunset was just so mean today, I didn't want to get this box broken either. I made these muffins just for today too." "Today?" Repeated Megan, surprised. "What's special about today?" "Well..." said Muffins as a tall man in a blue pinstripe suit walked into view. "Oh, Doctor!" "Hello Muffins," greeted the Doctor. Not really a Doctor, he was the students History teacher and he was an odd duck, always rambling about things his class didn't get. "You're late for Professor Discord's Math Class you two." "Um, well Sunset Shimmer came along and knocked down the box..." Said Muffins. The Doctor's expression softened as he smiled and popped open the top. Taking a broken muffin he bit into it. "Wait that was on the floor!" "I know! Floor muffins are my favorite," laughed the Doctor as he finished the food. "Come along Megan, have one." "Why not, floor muffins it is." The two ate in silence, smiling as Muffins smiled, blushed and ate one herself. "See? Good." "I'll write you a hall pass you two," said the Doctor, finishing his second floor muffin and uncapping that odd pen he carried in his breast pocket. Scribbling it down, he handed the pair of passes to them. "Now hurry along." "Thank you Doctor," said Megan. "Right, Muffins?" "Yes, thank you! And happy birthday, Doctor!" The Doctor smiled and waved. "Get to class you two!" ===== "X is the variable for this equation, and if you substitute--Muffins Doo and Megan Williams, for example, into the equation of take your seats, then we get the following result: I hope the Doctor wrote you two hall passes." The pair cringed simultaneously as they handed over the hall passes and the whiskered elderly man with the mismatched outfit examined it for a moment before tossing it into the bin labelled "Doctor." "Take your seats. We are on integers right now and such lovely imaginary numbers." "How does he do that?" muttered the students in unison as the pair took the seats for the "late students" to Professor Discord's Mathematics Class. The classroom was, of course, decorated in the usual fashion; bright garish colors and a giant picture of Einstein with all caps of "SCIENCE!" in the middle of the back of the room looming down on them. Professor Discord himself was an elderly man with a goat-beard and a wily smile. But his elderly appearance housed one of the sharpest minds and wits. Some said he was even smarter than the geniuses of two generations, and Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna had long history with him. "Now, then, as I was saying before we had late students trod in, we have quite the interesting few weeks coming up." Discord put on a pair of glasses, before pulling out a scroll, of all things, and unfurling it as if he was a herald speaking to the crowd. "It seems, that elementary chaos theory, as you all are very well aware is the field I study in, dictates something fantastic is about to happen within two-to-three weeks before and during the Fall Formal. Of course, this is barely conjecture; the math shows that we are due for quite a shakeup!" Snapping the scroll shut with a twist of his wrists, Discord cleared his throat. "Keep in mind that math dictates several different twists and turns. The most interesting of people are due to arrive. Till then, class adjourned and we will see you all back on Monday. I've got things to prepare for." In short order, the incredibly shortened class had been ejected into the halls early, and Megan rolled her eyes. "He is SO Random. A lot like Pinkie Pie." "Someone say my name?" exclaimed Pinkie, bursting out from behind a corner. "GAH!" Megan thudded her chest as Muffins looked on sympathetically. "Don't DO THAT!" "Do what?" asked Pinkie innocently before tilting her head. "In any case, did you get the first part of the assignment done?" "Yeah I did, I outlined what we should look over. Here you go." Passing over the papers, Pinkie read through them slowly for once, before nodding. "Seems like it's all coming together now," said Megan with relief. "No kidding. I also gotta start planning for the Fall Formal too, so time is short. I got Applejack and Big Mac getting the rest of the stuff ready, but I do need a little help decorating..." She frowned. "Rarity said she was way too busy." "That's the third time she's flaked out," said Megan sadly. "You'd think she'd be up for it. I guess she's taking care of Sweetie Belle since she sprained her ankle." "I dunno, I saw her in the classroom next to mine and she was talking to Caramel like nothing happened," said Pinkie, scowling for a moment before brightening up. "Okay, I'll get the next part of the assignment worked out. Sound good?" "All right, see you then, Pinkie." Watching the girl skip away, Megan shook her head before turning around and bumping into a body, falling over. "Whoa!" "Careful!" A hand shot down and grasped her own, keeping her from falling over. "Sorry, Megan, I wasn't looking where I stepped." The hand in question, belonged to Flash Sentry, the young man helping her to her feet. "You okay? I didn't hurt you or anything?" "No, it's fine," said Megan, brushing her hair back into place with a sweep of her fingers. "Thanks for the save, Flash. I thought you were in class today." "The Doctor cancelled it, mumbled something about clocks and left it at that," said Flash. "Are you headed to class too, or are you done for the day?" "I'm done for the day, why?" asked Megan. Flash rubbed his neck thoughtfully before replying, "I just needed to talk to someone who wasn't, y'know, one of my bandmates s'all. And I thought we could go outside and chat for a bit." "Eh, why not." Megan grinned as she shouldered her book bag. "Let's go." Once outside in the still-warm fall air, Megan stretched as she stopped next to the horse statue. It was said the school was built around the statue, as it was a national landmark despite having no dedication plaque. It had been here for nearly two hundred years, from what she had been told. "It's pretty nice out today," said Flash suddenly, cutting into her thoughts. "Flash Drive got a new gig; it's a small one though." "That's pretty good. I came to see your previous show, after all," said Megan as Flash leaned against the statue base. "I'm glad you guys are getting more popular." "Believe me, I'm really glad for it too. It's been an uphill climb, and frustratingly it was hampered a little by Sunset." He sighed deeply. "She and I parted yesterday." "What?" Clearly, by his expression, that Sunset had dumped him. "That jerk, she was probably using you too." "Yeah. I mean, sometimes we actually had fun, but she was always fixated on bringing the school down around its ears. It doesn't help that she wanted just more popularity, and having the lead guitarist on call was an easy method of doing that." Flash shook his head. "I don't hold a grudge or anything but it just feels kind of sad, y'know? I never got many dates before Sunset." "That's a first. Didn't you go out with Golden Harvest a while ago?" asked Megan, to which Flash grinned embarrassedly. "Yeah, but it turns out she really has a thing for Applejack, despite her denying it. You know how it is. Don't let her know I told you that," said Flash with a grin. "She would wreck me, or worse, pour carrot juice all over me." "My lips are sealed," said Megan with a grin. "You know, there's going to be a full moon on the night of the Fall Formal. I was wondering, do you have any plans for it?" "Nothing concrete," said Flash, shaking his head. "I was tapped to play there obviously, but I think you're the first girl who actually isn't afraid of Sunset's wrath and is talking to me since the breakup yesterday. It was kind of public." "Oh, well, call me fearless of Sunset then," said Megan, smirking. "Want to go together as friends if anything happens?" "I don't see why not," laughed Flash. "All right, if nothing comes up, then we'll go and raid the punchbowl." Megan grinned as the bell rang, and students began flooding out the door. "That's my cue. I gotta go grab Molly. Danny's already at track practice. I think he's trying to outdo Rainbow Dash again. See you, Flash." "No problem, later Megan." As Megan left, Flash grinned a little. "Well, it's not a total loss. At least girls are still talking to me..." ===== "Spike? Spike!" Running around Golden Oaks in a world far from Earth, a alicorn pony in violet fur was trying to get everything ready. "Did you prepare the books?" "Check," said her dragon companion, making a check mark on the scroll which had grown to several inches in thickness from adding on items. "Twilight, we've been over this! We don't need all this stuff!" And by stuff, he indicated the piled up luggage around them. "Besides, the Princess Summit isn't for another two weeks. Do you really want to overprepare for this?" "Overprepare? Overprepare?! Spike, this is my first Princess duty! We need to be prepared for everything that Princess Celestia has for us!" Twilight exclaimed, a bit of a manic expression on her face. "Besides, this isn't over-preparing, this is just preparing enough." "I dunno..." Spike looked at the mountain of luggage and added, "I think Rarity packs less than you do at this point." "It doesn't matter. Even if Princess Celestia said I'm technically not there for a lesson, I just want to be prepared for anything. You know that she loves to throw a lesson into everything!" And there went the hyperventilating, as Spike facepalmed. "Twilight, relax! You're not going to be tested, graded or anything. Just go there, put on a smile and a crown, and make sure not to forget anything of the court etiquette we've been taught." Spike folded his arms, shaking his head. "Trust me, nothing can go wrong with this day. Which is two weeks away." "Right, right, two weeks away," said Twilight, exhaling. "Two weeks, and we'll be all right. Nothing can go wrong with this plan!" "That's the spirit!" "But just in case, lets go over the checklist one more time!" proclaimed Twilight. To which, Spike facepalmed once more.