//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12- And the Victory Goes To... 
// Story: Friendship Games: Friendship Makes Magic 
// by ImNoPony 
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Calm. Relaxed. Sleeping soundly in the evening while resting on the cold pavement. Abacus Cinch floats endlessly in an empty black void as she slowly recover from a traumatic event. And while she was on the edge of consciousness, Cinch could help to have a... certain feeling. It was like a feeling that she haven't felt in a long time but she couldn't put her finger on it. But whatever it is, it was a good feeling that she just want to enjoy. But as she sink deeper in a restful slumber, a soft voice brings her into the light.

"Abacus!? Abacus!? Wake Up! Wake up Abacus! You Have to Wake Up! Abacus!"

Breaking through the endless darkness, Cinch slowly open up her eye lids and let the light of day shine into them. There, the first person that she sees was Dean Cadence. She was close too. As if she was holding onto her while she rest to the ground.

"Cadence?" Cinch softly asks.

Cadence replies: "Yes", glad that she wasn't... dead.

"Hey, is she ok?"

"Shush! Not too loud! She might still be mad at us."

"But... You were louder?"

It took Cinch a sec to notice them but she soon spot other people behind Dean Cadence. Specifically, it was Twilight, Moondancer and all of their friends (who were still in their Super-Equestria forms). But while they were somewhat afraid and cautious of her, Cinch seem joyfully surprised to see them.

"Oh my! Sour Sweet! Moondancer! Sunset Shimmer! Twilight Sparkle is here too! What are you all doing here?"

Everyone was surprised and taken aback. Cinch didn't seem the bit angry towards any of them and was actually smiling. Even taking out the nightmare parasite that was controlling her, they were fiercely mobbing her and being mad right in her face.

Confused, Cadence asks her: "Principal Cinch, what do you remember?"

Cinch paused and was deep in thought. "Well let's see? It was the Friendship Games and we want to Canterlot High... The contestants went into the school... then came back out... Oh! Did somebody win!?" She asked that in the most sincere and intrigued way.

One by one, they all begin to see that Cinch had suffered a bit of memory lost. Maybe for the last 10 minutes, around when they said that they quit participating in the games. But knowing that, they all wasn't sure how to handle it. Do they tell her the truth and say that she became a rampaging monster? Or do they say something else and lie to her. And seeing Cinch's excited expression, she would believe anything that they tell her. But without debating about it, Twilight thought that she need to know the truth.

"Well you see..."

But before Twilight could finish, the Sunset from Crystal Prep interrupts her and tells Cinch: "Canterlot Won!"

"What!" Twilight shouted.

"WHAT!" shouted the members from Canterlot.

"WHAT! shouted the members from Crystal Prep.

"Really!" Cinch responded oddly intriguingly 

Crystal Sunset then reiterates: "Yep! CHS sure did beat us." She then turn to her teammates and says to them: "Isn't that right guys?"

There was a short pause to figure out what was going on. Everyone could clearly see (except for Cinch) that the human-world Sunset was lying and trying to give Canterlot High the win. But while Twilight and the others felt somewhat against this lie, the C.P students thought of this in a different way.

"Hey yeah" Indigo Zap responded. "They really did beat us."

Rainbow became even more surprised, tilt her head and says: "What!"

Nonchalantly, Sour Sweet adds: "Yeah, it was a close match but they got ahead of us in the end."

Even Lemon Zest adds: "And hey, this means CHS finally won the games for once."

Applejack, not liking the dishonesty, try to interjects. "Now hang on a minute!"

But Sugarcoat quickly cover her mouth and says: "Oh you don't have to be so modest. We both played fair and squire and you guys won. End of story."

All the Crystal Prep girls began speaking and try to convince Cinch that they lost. Twilight, and in turn her friends, was at a lost for words. They always remember Crystal Prep as a really competitive school that would do anything to win. But now, they want to say that they lost? Maybe this is their way to make amends for everything that they done (during this and past Friendship Games).

Moondancer turn to Twilight and ask her: "Isn't that right Twilight?" She then secretly wink towards her, implying that they should play along.

Twilight was confused and wasn't sure how to reply. But after seeing all the wanting eyes from her former C.P schoolmates and confused shrugs from her Canterlot friends, she nervously replies: "Well... if you guys aren't too upset about it, then yeah. We won." And with that, the rest of the Canterlot team had no choice to play along with the charade.

But with that said and done, they were half expecting Cinch to get mad and begin to act cold towards them. However, Cinch exclaims: "Well then" and then slap her knees and gets up. When she was up on her feet, she tell Twilight and her friends: "Congratulation in your victory. You finally got one on us for a change. Good for you!" She also said it in the most sincere and nicest way possible.

Surprised, Twilight couldn't help but say: "Um... What!?"

"Well we can't win all the time" Cinch joyfully remarked. "But I must say; when you transferred to your new school Ms. Sparkle, you must have brought some of our luck with you."

Everybody was getting scared and confused by Cinch's odd behavior. Normally she would be angry or frustrated for losing. She probably would have accepted her loss with dignity and suppress all the raging emotions that she would be having. But here? She sounds like that she's glad for CHS for winning and didn't care that she lost.

Cinch then clap her hands and says: "Well there's no point in sulking over spilled milk. Let's head back to school and think up a game plan for next year."

"Um... Ok?" Cadence responded, thinking that it would be the most suitable response to make.

Twilight and the others make quick and silent glances with one another. It would seem like as well as a bit of memory lost, Cinch also had a sudden change of personality. They couldn't help but feel that their last attack at her (a rainstorm of light arrows) is the cause of all these infliction and was wondering if this might have some negative consequences.

But then, when Cinch made a few steps away from the girls...

"OOoHHooHoo!"

Everyone turn towards Cinch as she made that shivering sound. Worried, Cadence ask her: "Are you alright Principal Cinch?"

After finding the proper words, Cinch replies: "I don't know? I just feel like... like a heavy weight had just been lifted from my shoulders and I feel like as young and spry as my teenage years!"

Everyone widen their eyes. It seem like all of Cinch's negative emotions had evaporated and they were left with a kind grown woman. Even though there might still be some issues in the future, they couldn't help but think that this might be the best outcome that they could have. Feeling glad that she's better, Cadence just softly smiles and says: "Well that's good." After a smile back from Cinch, both principals from Crystal Prep began walking toward everybody by the main school. They probably gunna discuss things with Celestia and Luna and what's going to happen next. 

But as Twilight, Moondancer, the Sunsets and the rest of their friends stood by each other, they felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. Not only did the Friendship Game ended in a way that everybody could by satisfied about, but they also help mend the strained bond between the schools, became friends with one another and perform magical feats that none of them had ever done before. When they saw a smile on all of their faces, they all wave their hands in the air and make one single cry in unison.

"YEAH!"




A few moments later, there was a sort of a "After Games Festival" going on as everybody was cheerfully interacting and celebrating. Students from both Crystal Prep and Canterlot High were patting the other's back and complimenting them for their effort in the epic battle. So were still weary of Principal Cinch... but once they learn about her memory lost and change in personality, they all agreed that they mustn't let her remember the bad memories or let her regress to her bitter persona. Things were looking good for the two schools as they hope to expect a brighter future ahead of them.

But while the cheery festivities was going on, off in the corner by the side, Adagio, Aria and Sonata were all admiring their current transformed forms. They could still feel their enhanced magical bodies and lingering power that still reside within them. It was filling. It was great. This was the strength and power that they have so long for and they feel so good to have them. But while Sonata and Aria were already satisfied to just have them, Adagio had much more sinister intentions on her mind.

"Hey guys, do you know what this mean?" Adagio asked to Aria and Sonata

Both Aria and Sonata look at Adagio with eager eyes. While they may not have much motivation to do evil deeds, they are more then willing to follow whatever scheme that Adagio may have. And by the look on her face, she looks like that she has one.
However, as soon as Adagio opened her mouth, they suddenly began reverting back to their average human forms. Their pony ears popped away, their wings disappear into dust and they could feel their magic leaving their bodies. But while the Dazzlings was shocked by this, they soon notice that everybody else was losing their magical white auras. It seems the magic that Twilight and the others gave to everyone was only temporary and only now they are leaving them. Adagio, Aria and Sonata was understandably shocked by this

Aria asks: "What was you about to say Adagio?"

And Adagio depressingly reply: "Nothing. Nothing at all."

But while all three girls was bummed out from losing re-gained powers (again), Discord the bus driver walk by then and offhandedly remarks: "Oh quite complaining you three. At least you got magic powers in the short time that you got them.

The Dazzlings got understandably angry and Sonata angrily yells back to him: "Well That Because We Weren't Hiding in The Bus Discord!"

But meanwhile, at another part of the schoolyard, Flash was busy talking chatting with a group of girls. Flash wasn't particularly "chatting it up" with them as it is that the girls were showing their affection as they thought Flash was heroic during the fight. But while the girls were pretty and cute, Flash was trying to (politely) push them away as he is trying to be loyal to Twilight.

But then, a person tapped Flash from behind and a male voice calls out to him: "Hey Flash. Can I speak to you for a minute?"

When her turn around, Flash saw that it was Shinning Armor. Surprised, he replied: "Oh um... Yeah, sure man. Give me a sec'." Flash then tries to politely dismiss the girls that he was talking to. But while the girls were a little bit annoyed that he has finished talking to them, they notice how handsome Shining Armor was and was content to watching them from a distance. With his attention now on Shinning, Flash says to him: "So what do you want to talk about?"

"Well um... You see..."

Shinning began to stammer. He found it really weird and awkward to say the words that he wants to say and was having a bit of difficulty making them leave his mouth. It's just that his big brother instincts was trying to prevent him from being nice to flash, even though he already acknowledged him. Even Flash could see that Shining was having difficulty saying the words that he want and waited patiently for him to say them.

However, after a few seconds, Shining Armor finally work up his nerves and finally be the responsible person that he wants to be.

"Look Flash, I know you got a thing for my sister and... well..."

This time, nerves was welling up in Flash as he was thinking that Shining is going to be against him dating Twilight. However, he became surprised when Shining continued by saying:

"But I've seen everything that you've done and I'm really impressed. You seem like a nice guy and you really helped me out back there in the fight."

"Wow! You really mean it!?"

"Yeah, totally! So um... If you really want to go out... with Twilight... then I guess..."

Shining being to lock-up again right on the final words. However, Flash feels sort of sorry for him for forcing himself to do this and want to help him. And so, before he could suffer any longer, Flash softly fist bump Shining's shoulder and say to him: "Don't worry Shining. I get it."

Amazed with his kind gesture, Shining Armor smiled and replied to him: "Thanks Flash."

And with that, the hatchet was finally buried over their bitter relationship. Both Shining and Flash can finally respect each other as men and be friendly to one another. But then Shining wrap his arm around Flash and ask him: "By the way; Do you know a game called "Ogres & Oubliettes"?"

"You mean that board game were you meant to role-play?"

"Yes?" Shining replied cautiously.

Flash shrugs and reply: "Sure. I sometimes play it with my friend Micro Chip where he got nobody else to play against."

Shining Armor smiled and says: "I think you and I can get along very well together." Flash was still a little bit nervous but was looking forward to interacting with Twilight's older brother.

And speaking about Twilight, she had been watching the exchange between Flash and her brother from a distance and she had mix opinions. On one hand, she was really proud of Flash for getting Shining Armor to accept him. On the other hand though, this would mean that Flash would pressure Twilight even more about dating him and she still nervous about it. However, seeing his bright and smiling face, Twilight couldn't help but think that he looks a bit cute when he's happy.

,,, Still wouldn't admit it to anybody though.

But then, when Twilight turn around from Flash and her brother, she notice Sunset (her Sunset) was staring at the damaged at the school statue. In particular... at the shattered mirror. The shattered mirror... that was also the gateway to Sunset's home... and it's gone now.
Even from behind, Twilight could sense the immense sadness emanating from Sunset. But while she feel sympathy for her, Twilight couldn't begin to relate to her. She can't relate to being stranded in a parallel world, being separated from her friends and family and have your only way back be destroyed. It must be devastating. But while she can't relate to Sunset, Twilight still want to comfort her.

But when Twilight began to move closer towards Sunset, she notice that her friends were approaching her too. AJ, Rainbow, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Rarity. And not just them. Their friends from Crystal Prep were converging on Sunset too. Indigo, Sour Sweet, Sugarcoat, Sunny, Indigo, Moondancer and Sunset's human-world counterpart. It seem that all of them had sensed Sunset's sadness and want to come and support her.

When they all came behind her, Twilight softly asks: "Are you ok Sunset?"

Sunset jumped when she heard a voice behind her. She was even more surprised when she saw all of her friends (new/old) were standing over her shoulder.

"Oh! Um... yeah guys, I'm fine" Sunset replied. However, while she try to put up a happy face, she couldn't hide the sadness in her voice.

But while her friends from CHS understand the reason for her sorrow, the girls from Crystal Prep are not informed of that reason. This cause Indigo Zap to ask: "I don't understand? Why are you getting upset over a broken mirror?"

Upon saying that out loud, Rainbow whisper to Indigo and the other C.P student: "Hey! That was Sunset's only ticket to get back to her home dimension."

Then the Sunset from Crystal Prep adds: "Yeah, because she's apparently me from another world."

With them given the full explanation, that other C.P girls finally understand the full ramifications of the situation. Indigo even felt ashamed for being so insensitive. "Oh hey man, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

However, Sunset interrupt her and tells everyone: "That's ok, really. It's not like I was going anywhere anytime soon."

But Rarity then enquire: "But... you were thinking about returning in the future, weren't you?"

Sunset didn't respond... or she didn't how to respond. She does feel like that she has to return someday but she didn't want to say her friends aren't worth staying for. Except for Twilight, Moondancer and her human-world self, nobody else know this insecurity.

However, as Sunset was feeling down, no other than Moondancer made the unexpected advice of: "Don't worry Sunset. If there's one lesson that was hammered into me during these games; it's that a friend will try to support you no matter what."

When Moondancer said that, Pinkie felt compelled: "Hey yeah Sunny'! And you got 6 friends right here who want to help!"

And soon one-by-one, her other friends voice their union.

"Yeah! We got your back Sunset!" stated Rainbow Dash.

"Were right here if you need it" AJ added.

At that moment, Sunset already felt touched by her friend's support. But then the Sunset from Crystal Prep wrapped her arm around her other-dimensional self and adds: "Hey! Don't forget that you can rely on yourself too." And then the other Crystal Prep also show their willingness to support.

"Hey yeah! We can help you too if you want us to" Indigo Zap exclaimed.

Sour Sweet disclaims: "Well I'm not sure how much we can help, but we will still try nevertheless."

Lemon Zest then adds: "I can give you some uplifting beats if you need it."

When she saw that even the Crystal Prep was were concerned about her, Sunset couldn't help but chuckle a little bit. "Ok, you can stop now. You all are about to make me cry."

However Crystal Sunset then jokingly responds: "Hey Don't Cry! I don't want be known as a crybaby!"

After that, everybody burst out laughing. It then seemed like that the atmosphere was becoming a bit more hopeful and uplifting. But while everybody was enjoying their laughter, Sugarcoat felt compelled to interrupt them.

"AHEM!" she sounded, grabbing their attention. When they all look at her, Sugarcoat ask: "Are guys sure it's impossible for the mirror to be fixed?"

Everyone were... remarkably speechless. They haven't really thought about the possibility of repairing the mirror and just assumed the inevitable. They watch quietly as Sugarcoat grab something in her pocket and pullout some reflective shards of the shattered mirror. The same shards that opened the portals that the monsters came from.

Sugarcoat explains: "Apparently these things still work as portals and can't fix together like glue."

And true to her word, when she have the two shards put close together, they became attractive like magnets. They came together and marge as one larger chunk. It then suddenly jump out of Sugarcoat's hand and flew to the slab of stone that once housed the portal mirror, sticking to it. Everyone were left amazed and speechified.

Lemon Zest turn to Sugarcoat and ask: "Wow Sugarcoat! How did you know that it would do that?"

But Sugarcoat deadpan explains: "I didn't. I just notice them being attractive to one another and saw that they were glowing."

Meanwhile, everybody else was busy examining the partially restored mirror that is stuck to the statue's base. Sunset tried to stick her finger through and see if the portal power still work. And remarkably; her finger phase right through it. With the fire of hope being ignited in front of them, everyone lighten up with joy.

"Hey Look Sunset! It looks like you can come home after all!" Rainbow Dash happily says.

However Sunset responds: "Steady now Rainbow Dash, don't get too hasty. It still nowhere near fixed enough for me to step through."

Everyone hate to admit it but she's right. They only have enough shards to stick a finger through, not for an entire person to step through. But then, as they were about to ponder, a voice suddenly called out from behind them.

"Oh Girls!"

When they all look behind, they saw Discord... fiddling with a mirror fragment.

"I'm not if these are worth anything, but I saw a bunch of them being scattered around town and I might know were they ended up."

With that tidbit of information, all the girls got a glimmer in their eyes. And even though it might be a hassle to find them all, they weren't concerned about that. As long they can do it together, they have nothing to worry about.

"So what do you think Sunset? Do you want to start looking for them now?" Twilight asked.

After thinking about it for a second, Sunset replied: "Why not? It's not like I'm going anywhere soon!"

But then Sour Sweet loudly remarks: "Well you Canterlot folk got nothing to worry about. We can roundup all the shards and fix that magic mirror in no time."

"Is that a challenge?" asked Rainbow as she gave the suspicious-eye.

"Not unless you want it to" Sour Sweet replied

Rarity then exclaims: "Oh you girls and your competitions."

Sunny Flare then adds: "Yeah, we just had one. Can't we just slow down and take this slowly."

However, the gauntlet was already thrown down and they weren't listening. At least this time it will be a much friendlier competition. With everyone now set for a long scavenger-hunt, Twilight think out loud: "Well I guess if everybody's ready, I guess we all should go?"

And with one unified cry, they all loudly cry...

"YEAH!"





Shortly there afterwards, the 14 young and energized teenagers went off on their own adventures. Rainbow Dash and Indigo Zap were fiercely searching for the mirror fragments in every nook and cranny around town. Twilight and Moondancer invented a radar to help scan for the fragments for them... with mix results. Applejack found a mirror shard from a couple of pawnbrokers, and with some persuasion from Sugarcoat, manage to buy it off them with a discount.

However, not everyone were looking eagerly looking for the fragments and was just spending some time together with their new friend. The two Sunsets was just off talking trading their life stories to each other. Pinkie Pie and Lemon Zest started an overnight party that everybody is invited to. Rarity and Sunny Flare did a collab' together and made the perfect birdhouse. And Fluttershy took Sour Sweet to her home and show her all the different animals that she's looking after.

But no matter what they did, all of them gathered at the end of the day and show-off the fruits of their labor. It soon came time for them to part as Crystal Prep has to get back to their side of town. But even though they said goodbye to each other, they aren't too upset about. Because even though they are separated to for now, they can still treasure the happy memories that they made...

and look forward to see them in the future.