Not to be dramatic, but if anyone ever asks me to write an essay on Renaissance-era political alliances again, I’m gonna drown myself. Just gonna hook a cinder block to my leg and jump into the public pool. Like how Queen Luscious VII drowned her husband in a public bath to assume the role of absolute monarch and begin the Fifth Ruby Peninsula War.
…And if I ever make a comparison like that again, someone needs to hit me with their car.
I refrain from saying this to Mr. Lacuna’s face as I hand him my final exam, give a quick “Thank you!” and powerwalk out of the classroom.
As soon as the door closes, I laugh and throw a few punches in the air. Thank the Goddess for carrying me through the hell that is finals — and for not making any of my tests too hard.
When it comes to stressing out over grades, I’m generally a “C’s Get Degrees” kind of girl. But my college of choice — the Manehattan Institute of Science — is probably expecting a bit more than the bare minimum.
College. The thought still makes me stumble.
A year ago, I was certain that I’d be ruler of Equestria by now. I had my mind set on another universe, not university. No friends, no bandmates. I couldn’t walk down this hallway without stopping to make someone’s life hell. I spent more time talking to myself than anyone else.
But the sky shines brighter now. The air tastes sweeter. I sing, laugh, smile without struggle. Fantasies made real.
A lot can happen in a year. No one knows that better than me. And 365 days from now, who knows where I’ll be?
Hopefully not at the bottom of the public pool.
For the last time this school year, I shut my locker. I’ve pulled out all the forgotten study sheets, taken down the photos and flyers and half-assed scribbles of my friends and I fighting monsters. After giving it one last glance — I’ve become so damn sentimental these days — I walk away.
Mr. Lacuna’s exam was the last one on my calendar, and the very last exam of the entire CHS school year. My third-period classmates and I should be the only students left in the building.
That’s why my eyes light up when I step outside and see Twilight standing next to the Wondercolts statue. She’s wearing a cute summer skirt that shows off her legs and her hair is untied, spilling over her shoulders and down her back. The school year’s over, but she’s still reading a textbook. It’s thick enough that she has to hold it with both hands, and she’s totally engrossed.
No one else could look this good with their face shoved into a physics textbook. But as pretty as she is, she’s still just Twilight Sparkle. Still a total dork.
Just like me.
“Is that...?” From the entrance staircase, I squint my eyes tight, turn my hands into binoculars. “Is that the Twilight Sparkle? Lead singer of the Rainbooms? Smartest girl in town?”
Twilight looks up, a bit startled — but then smiles. She starts squinting too and adjusts her glasses. “Is that Sunset Shimmer? Best guitarist in the country? Gamer Queen?”
I laugh and jog over to her. “That’s a new one! And what does it make you? Gamer Princess?”
“I like to think of myself as more of a Gamer Secretary of Education,” she says with a quick curtsy. “How’d the test go? Did you remember Archduke Stormhill’s Thirteen Decrees?”
“At least ten of them. But what about you?” I say, nudging her. “Didn’t you finish your Spanish exam, like, three hours ago? What’re you still doing here?” I eye her textbook. “And what’s with the Physics book? You don’t even take Physics.”
“I will next year! Never too early to brush up on the fundamentals.” She holds her textbook tight against her stomach, rocking on her heels. “And I was waiting for you.”
I blink. “Why?”
Very gracious, me.
“I mean, it’s sweet as hell!” I sputter. “But you didn’t have to stand out in the sun for three hours just for me.”
“Don’t worry, I’m wearing sunscreen. And besides, after that exam” — she reaches into her backpack and pulls out some green plastic — “I figured you’d be hungry.”
She hands me a granola bar. It’s oats-and-honey flavor.
I gape for a second before taking it and thanking her — right on cue, my stomach grumbles. “I swear, you know me better than I know myself.”
“Final exams burn a lot of calories!” she says. But then she looks away. “Also.”
“Also?”
“Also,” she says, digging her toe into the concrete, “you’re still the only person I know who has a copy of Tirek’s Revenge. Can I come over and try the campaign?”
I grin. “Sí!”
Okay, I am seriously wondering if those historical figures and events you’re referencing are real or what. Seriously, are they”? I’m always interested in this stuff.
Although if you’re changing country names on the human side of the mirror...wouldn’t you need to change the word “Spanish”? Curious thought.
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I have conflicting opinions on how much "real world" stuff to include in EqG fics. When it comes to pop culture and historical events, everything is original. And Canterlot still exists, so there has to be some horse punnery about. But in Legend of Everfree, Twilight mentions Latin — and I think they say English at some point in the series too? So I try to strike a balance where I can.
Goddess above do I know your pain, Sunset. I still remember my final exam essay question for US History 1 because it was only one question and it still took me 2 hours to do. Also, Twilight is being incredibly adorable here.
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Ah, I see. My method is this:
1. The human world is roughly the same as the real world, plus history. Exceptions would be where you get into specific character counterparts.
2. The geography of the human world vs Equestria’s planet (which I call Terra), while similar, is not entirely 1 to 1. The nation of Equestria sits roughly where North America would be, but is not identical geographically to the human world’s North America.
3. Place names in the human world are the real world ones, Manhattan, France, etc, because equine or other pun names would be too weird.
4. Sunset and company still live in Canterlot (one of, if not the sole exception to the previous point), although I call it “Canterlot City” to distinguish it from the Equestria version (and that might be the name in canon? Not sure). Specifically, they live in a part of Canterlot City that is the human equivalent of Ponyville, but that’s a long story.
5. Character names remain the same, and all new characters follow the same pun-based naming patterns shown in Equestria. So Human Suri is still “Suri Polomare”, while the human world’s version of, say, President Abraham Lincoln would be...President Lincoln Log.
6. Certain exceptions can be made to the previous, like Gilda or Norman, which humans see as “unusual” as far as names go (Compare to instances in real life where kids have been given names like “Apple”).
7. Certain mythical names may also be exceptions, like, say, Merlin, or Hercules, or Robin Hood (which could also be seen as a pun anyway, as a “robbing hoodlum”).
8. Starswirl was the equivalent of Da Vinci, which I totally and happily borrow from The Sunlight Theory. Because that’s genius.
Adorkable.
Love these short interactions that are sweet on the surface, but even sweeter when you can read between the lines. Another excellent entry
Oh, this is delightful. These two are so cute together, even if they don't yet recognize how deep it goes.
(And yeah, balancing horse and human influences on this world is an interesting challenge. I'd say you did a very good job here.)
Twiggles has ulterior motives. Ones that involve controllers.
A lot sure can change in a year when you least expect it.
Now there is something I wish we saw her do more often in eqg. Have her hair down. I mean, I know they did it to not use get confused with her counterpart, but tbt I prefer Sci Twi with her hair down over a ponytail. Please don't judge me.
Some things never change.