Ever since the events at Camp Everfree, the students at Canterlot High had been more abuzz than ever. Even with magic slowly being interlaced with the rest of the world, they quickly resumed their everyday lives as high-school students. As once in a lifetime it was, they all came to the agreement that magic would not overtake all their other thoughts and dreams.
Posters were being hung up all around the school by Sunset Shimmer and her friends, advertising the Fall Formal once again. Over a year had passed since the fateful day since Twilight Sparkle first came to the human world and dueled with her for the crown and everyone still couldn't shake off the events of the past. Even saying the words didn't feel satisfying anymore for them.
"You know, I don't get why we're having the Fall Formal again." Rainbow Dash stapled a poster to the walls and looked over at the rest of her friends. "I mean, everyone's already forgiven Sunset, but none of them seem as excited as they were last year."
"It's quite obvious why they're all upset, Rainbow." Applejack wiped the sweat off of her brow. "Wherever we go, magic just seems to follow us. They're all worried that something like Midnight Sparkle or Gaia Everfree's gonna happen all over again and disrupt the Fall Formal like it did last year."
"Don't worry, girls." Sunset Shimmer walked up to Rainbow Dash and Applejack. "If magic shows up at the Fall Formal again, we'll be right there to contain or stop it."
"Yeah! I mean, we've fought against Crystal Prep Academy, three evil sirens, and three evil demon girls!" Pinkie Pie popped up and blurted out. "I think we've got this whole magic stuff under control by now."
"I just hope so." Fluttershy finished putting up another Fall Formal poster and joined the girls. "I don't want to have to deal with just magic for the rest of the year."
"Don't worry about a thing, Fluttershy." Rarity added some lace to the border of her poster. "I'm sure that no matter what comes our way, we'll face it head-on and win against it. We've done so before, haven't we?"
"And besides, this year's Fall Formal is going to be entirely magic-free." Sunset nodded. "I've had a talk with Celestia and Luna about it and we've all agreed that we can contain and control our own magic, as well as any that might try and ruin the evening. Just consider us magical security guards for the night."
"Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Do we get to wear little uniforms?" Pinkie pulled a curtain out of her locker and rapidly dressed herself in a black tuxedo with an earpiece and black-tinted sunglasses. "Sorry, magic. You're not comin' in." She crossed her arms and spoke in a gruff accent.
"Not exactly, Pinkie Pie." Sunset held onto Pinkie's hand. "Just dress up like you would for the formal and be on the lookout. Other than that, have a good time there." She turned to the others. "Same goes for the rest of you. You can be as flashy and extravagant as you want, but just make sure that you don't let magic slip under your watchful eyes."
"I'm sure we can do this." Pinkie Pie changed back into her original clothes just as quickly as before, slipping the bouncer clothes she had back into the locker. "Magic's not gonna ruin the night. Not ours, not theirs, not anyone's."
"Let's just get back to putting them there posters up." Applejack took the rest of the posters that she had been assigned to and walked down the corridor. "I'll see ya'll at lunch."
"Yeah. See ya." Rainbow Dash took her remaining posters and walked down another corridor.
The remaining girls all dispersed to get on with their work, waving each other off as they departed.
Later, the bell rang, signalling the end of another period at CHS. Students poured out of their classrooms, chatting with their friends or looking up websites and images on their phones. They all had smiles on their faces as they walked towards the cafeteria for their lunch break.
Among them, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were looking at their latest video on the internet and looking at all of the comments and constructive criticisms that they had collected. There were two earbuds that the three of them were sharing between each other, taking turns one who listened to what their songs and what the people had to say about them.
"Hey, girls. Check this out." Sweetie Belle looked over at one of the posters and tapped on the shoulders of Applebloom and Scootaloo, attracting their attention immediately. They stopped what they were doing and read what was on the poster aloud.
Canterlot High Fall Formal
Buffet, friends, music from both the charts and from the students at Canterlot High will be provided on the night. Dress however you want to, but make sure that you're classy and well-groomed.
Plus, we're once more giving you the chance to become the Princess or Prince of the Fall Formal. Win over the crowd and get their votes through a series of events and you could be crowned on the big night.
The Fall Formal is on the last Friday of the month from 7PM to 9:30PM. Have fun!
"Hmm. What do you think, Crusaders?" Scootaloo asked her friends. "Do you think we've got a chance of winning the crown?"
"I dunno." Applebloom shrugged and looked away. "The Fall Formal isn't really exciting anymore after what happened last year. Plus, given what happened at the Battle of the Bands, Friendship Games, and even at Camp Everfree, I'm worried that magic's just gonna ruin it all over again."
"Applebloom, you worry too much sometimes." Sweetie Belle looked back at the poster. "Anyway, going back to the formal, I think we'd look great in the crown, don't you think?"
"It says a series of challenges." Scootaloo tapped the part of the poster she was referring too. "What does that mean? Home Ec? Fashion show? I don't really know."
"I'm sure there's something about that somewhere on here." Sweetie Belle put her eyes to the poster and looked around at the edges for something that she had missed. She picked up Rarity's lace border and noticed some miniscule writing with a little star next to it. "Ahah! Here we go."
There will also be a cosplay section that will count in the voting process.
"So all we gotta do is dress up? Doesn't sound hard." Applebloom nodded. "I'm sure that Applejack can hook me up with something nice for the night."
"Applebloom, she'll probably pick our Granny Smith's old wedding dress or something." Scootaloo put her hand on Applebloom's shoulders. "What we need is something special. Something flashy and chic. Something that the school wouldn't expect for us to wear."
"Not to mention that there's a cosplay section as well." Sweetie Belle pointed out the tiny writing once again. "Everyone's going to be on board if there's cosplay involved."
"Yeah, yeah. You're right." Applebloom scratched her chin and slowly paced away from the others. "What could we possibly cosplay as for the Fall Formal?"
"Witches?" Scootaloo raised her finger.
"Nah. Too close to Halloween." Applebloom shook her head. "That's not until the end of next month at least."
"Magical girl?" Sweetie Belle slowly stepped forward and tipped her hand.
"Too anime. And Applejack hates that for some odd reason." Applebloom lightly tapped Sweetie's hand, causing it to flop back down to her sides.
"Why not schoolgirl cosplays?" Sweetie Belle showed a picture of some girls dressed up in uniform, working at desks. "Everyone loves schoolgirl cosplays."
"Again, that's far too anime. Plus, Crystal Prep'll have already done that to death." Applebloom paced once again. "Something new. Something new. Something new..."
The other Crusaders were deep in thought about what they would dress up as for the Fall Formal. When they thought they had an idea, they then shook their heads when they envisioned the scenario of each outfit. Either their friends would laugh at them or they would look plain ridiculous.
After a long silence, Scootaloo finally gasped and shot her hand up into the sky. "I'VE GOT IT!"
"Huh? What is it, Scootaloo?" Applebloom ran over to her.
"Cosplay is all about dressing up as your favourite celebrity, game or movie character, or someone from your own imagination, right?" Scootaloo brought the other girls into a huddle. "So why not dress up as someone who really won the hearts of everyone?"
"Who exactly are you talking about, Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle raised a brow.
"Well, cosplayers play as all these different characters, so why don't we cosplay as the Dazzlings?" Scootaloo showed off a picture of the sirens that had come to Canterlot High in the past.
"No way, Scootaloo." Applebloom broke off from the huddle and waved her hands in front of her face. "The Dazzlings divided us all over again. Plus, Sunset Shimmer and her friends would kill us for it!"
"I don't think they'd kill us, but they would be pretty disappointed with us for your choice, Scootaloo." Sweetie Belle shook her head but couldn't look away from the photos. "That being said, though, they do have good looks. And in the Fall Formal, image is everything."
"Sweetie Belle! They're the Dazzlings!" Applebloom threw her hand towards the picture. "They played dirty and caused us all to fight against each other for their own personal gains! Applejack told me that they were the worst 'social paths' that she'd ever seen."
"I think you mean sociopaths, Applebloom." Sweetie Belle put her hands by her sides.
"What are you, a dictionary?" Scootaloo raised a brow and put the phone away. "But anyway, that's not what we're talking about here. If we cut out that social-whatever nonsense, I think we'd be a shoo-in for the cosplay vote. Maybe even the rest of the Fall Formal if we work hard enough on the outfits."
"And besides, you can't knock something up until you try it, Applebloom." Sweetie Belle stepped next to Scootaloo. "Who knows? Maybe this idea to cosplay as the Dazzlings will win us the Princess of the Fall Formal title and the crown that comes with it."
"Have you two lost your minds?! They're THE Dazzlings!" Applebloom threw her arms downward with her jaw agape and her eyes bulging wide. "Need I remind you that they single-handedly brainwashed everyone at Canterlot High—us included—and made us fight against each other over a silly musical competition?!"
"But we're not going to make each other fight, Applebloom." Scootaloo shook her head. "Besides, we're not freaky siren seahorse ladies from another world. We're just three teenage girls with a website channel and lots of videos. There's no way that we could brainwash anyone with our voices."
"But we'd still be ostricized by the entire school for acting and dressing up like them." Applebloom made a mental image of what would happen at the Fall Formal. "Sure, we'd look good, but no-one else would appreciate us. We'd be hated and get run off-stage, like the actual Dazzlings were."
"Sweetie Belle was right, Applebloom. You worry too much." Scootaloo brought the phone back up and zoomed in on the images of the Dazzlings' clothes. "Sweetie Belle? Do you think Rarity could sew us some clothes like this?"
"Sure!" Sweetie Belle chirped and walked down the corridors with her. "But she'd have to make some certain changes here and there so that we're not just trying to rip off their styles."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Scootaloo nodded and wrapped her arm around Sweetie's back. "Hey. I've got a great idea. Why don't we get a hairstylist to re-model our hairs so that they're the same as the Dazzlings' actual hairstyles?"
"Ooh! Yes! That'd work great!" Sweetie Belle nodded vigorously. "Accuracy is key when cosplaying nowadays. The closer it is to the real deal, the better the feedback from the audience. At least, that's how I see it in conventions nowadays."
"Hey, Applebloom, you comin' or what?" Scootaloo called back to Applebloom, who was still just standing there with her jaw wide open.
"Uhh..." Applebloom choked on trying to get her words out. "Yeah. I'm coming." She slowly chased after the girls and followed them towards the cafeteria. Why in tarnation are they going to cosplay as the Dazzlings?! she thought to herself. This is not going to work...
This is pretty cool. I like Applebloom being the voice of reason. Saying that it's a bad idea to cosplay as 3 evil Sirens. I can't wait to see more of this.
I was wondering when fanfics of this picture were going to show up. This is going to be fun to read. Let's just hope the Dazzlings don't find out. Actually, let's hope they do. It'll be more fun!
Those colors work way too well on these three.
I like this idea.
Well this is gonna be fun.
I can see this going horribly wrong in many different ways.
As do I, only with more horrendous outcomes.
Very promising start, after a few more chapters I might consider adding this to my Favorites.
Chapter 2: Somewhere in a suburban mansion, three songless sirens are working on a plan to win back the hearts and minds of Canterlot High School. They know the fall formal's coming up, and the cosplay event offers the perfect opportunity to reinvent their image. All they need now is a set of three people to dress up as, three people who all the students will recognise, who have a reputation for being good-intentioned, hard-working, friendly and adorable. Maybe even people related to the Rainbooms, for an added chance to charm their way into forgiveness from their former enemies...
I don't know why, but I find it funny that it shifts from Sunset and her friends immediately to the CMCs! Oh sh*t, this Fall Formal is about to get interesting! Maybe Sweetie Dusk wants cake instead of tacos?
You have my curiosity Shadowmane. Let's see if you get my attention.
So the CMC will cosplay as the Sexy Sirens?
They can dress the dress and walk the walk but can they talk the talk?
7730986 Given their performance in "The Show Stoppers", no way.
That song still gives me headaches.
Faved as soon as I saw the description.
That pic just sells it. Love Uotapo's art.
Wait, Applejack HATES anime? Is that a joke or reference, cause I don't get it.
And once again, Uotapo has inspired a fanfic with his amazing artwork.
They never actually LEFT FiMF popularity...
OK, before I get into specifics, I'm going to point out two major logic fails with your premise:
1. You don't cosplay at a FORMAL DANCE. The Fall Formal is a formal dance, which means you wear formal attire. That "formal attire" in the EG world includes bizarre outfits like Rainbow's dress in the first movie doesn't mean cosplaying as the Dazzlings would be even remotely appropriate for a formal dance. They'd be turned away at the door by the chaperones.
2. There's ONE Fall Formal Princess. Three girls can't go in together to win the crown. That isn't how school dances work.
Now, some more specific nitpicks:
These two thoughts are logically dissonant and should not be connected the way you've attempted to connect them. Especially not when the paragraph ends with:
That's a completely different fanfic.
Uhh, why WOULDN'T they? It's an annual formal dance. Just because Sunset Shimmer happened doesn't mean they'd stop having it, any more than they'd stop having the Spring Fling. Also, I think you're grossly overstating the level of apathy/anxiety the CHS student body have about magic disrupting the Fall Formal again. I mean, yeah, it's normal they'd be wary after four separate incidents of weirdness, but they also know the Rainbooms have it covered, so they wouldn't be completely dreading a major school event.
Funny as this bit is, nitpick: Security/Secret Service types don't wear tuxedos. They wear plain black suits.
Any reason Sunset's suddenly talking like a Silver Age comic book character?
y'all
I'll admit it's been a long time since I was a high school student and we didn't even have cellphones back then, but don't high school kids mostly use their phones for texting and tweeting at school? Minor nitpick, but the devil is in the details, and this stuck out to me.
...
....
.....umm...
...What?!
Did you...did you even watch the first movie?
Do you...do you even know how popularity contests like a homecoming dance work?
Because the Fall Formal is set up to basically work like an American high school Homecoming Dance, where the selection of Prince/King and Princess/Queen are entirely a popularity contest. And this "series of events" thing you have going on here is nonsensical. No such thing happened at the Fall Formal in the first movie (FOR GOOD REASON, it's a DANCE), so there's NO logical reason it would be a part of THIS one.
I...I can't.
I just can't.
I'm going to have to stop here.
I wanted to read a story about the CMC cosplaying as the Dazzlings and getting into mischief. Really, I did.
But here's the thing...
You screwed it up by coming up with a completely ridiculous premise.
If you had, instead, made it a Halloween dance, or some random cosplay contest? It would've worked!
But awkwardly shoehorning the Fall Formal into this, showing a complete lack of understanding about how formal dances at high schools work, and then shoving all this "series of challenges" and "cosplay contest judging" thing into what is basically a homecoming dance...
I'm sorry, but this story is 100% fail because it doesn't make one bit of sense as presented.
If this was a Nightmare Night party, like 90% of the critism you have received would not have come. I enjoy the story, but you might want to change it to a Nightmare Night/Halloween party...
7748265 stop nitpicking. those are minor things that *some* people dont care about. if its a good story, i dont mind a few logic problems.
Apple Bloom, Sugercube, knowing something is a bad idea and only calling it out doesn't make you smarter than the others. This is just like Sweetie Belle in Appaloosa's Most Wanted...
Either that was intentional, and I applaud you, or it was accidental, and you should keep it for the lulz.
~Crystalline Electrostatic~
20:20_12/18/2016
So, I can’t say I’m impressed so far. There are some logical quandaries that I could maybe overlook, but there’s too many of them and there’s not enough of an actual hook to keep me invested. I just read the chapter and I’m already having trouble remembering anything of significance.
It’s okay. It’s not bad or anything, but it’s also doing nothing to convince me to keep reading. I think I’m going to bow out of this one.
8215069
Sounds like your basic CMC episode to me.