When Monday arrived again, Silver Rose found herself getting out of the car and walking through Crystal Prep Academy’s front doors, heading for her homeroom class. Just in case, she had kept a paper mask in her backpack and breathed through her mouth when she passed by groups of students. She didn’t want to make a fool out of herself and wet her panties again.
Just keep calm, Silver. The pictures are gone… Maybe they forgot all about you already?
Some students looked at her, but soon got back to their conversations like she wasn’t all that important. Silver Rose didn’t mind. She prefered it if the attention wasn’t focused on herself.
Soon, Silver found herself in homeroom, managing to get there without incident. Only when she had sat down in her seat did she allow herself to relax and breathe in. No one had talked to her before the bell rang, finally signifying the start of class. For once, Silver wanted class to start.
“Settle down, settle down…” Ms. Script said as she stood up and cleared her throat as the sound of the bell died down. “We have more poetry today, class. I hope you’ve improved. Canterlot High has been on the rise this school year. You’re not going to show them your poetry skills are lacking, are you?”
“We’ll get this right, Ms. Script, don’t you worry…” Sour Sweet smiled sweetly. “Canterlot High isn’t going to ever beat us at anything!”
“That’s right.” Fleur leaned back and folded her arms. “We haven’t lost ever. We’re not losing this time.”
The rest of the class voiced their agreement, except Silver, who simply watched from her seat. There was a lot of ambition and pride in the air and it wasn’t the best of tastes. The only other student besides herself that wasn’t giving out this air was Twilight Sparkle behind her. Silver could smell a bit of fear coming from her.
“What’s the matter, Twilight Sparkle?” Silver slightly turned her head and whispered. “You don’t seem too happy about this.”
“Nothing’s wrong.” The lavender girl shook her head. “It’s just that… all this doesn’t really concern me.”
“Oh. You’re not excited to win, like the rest of your classmates?” Silver looked at her. She was different. She could even smell the difference.
“No, I’m not really interested in that…” Twilight looked back at her textbook.
Interesting specimen, this one… Silver turned back to the front of class as Ms. Script began another unfathomable lecture of poetry.
Sunny Flare tapped her fingers against her arm anxiously as she waited outside Principal Cinch’s office with the other Shadowbolts and a few other students. Just last period, they had been called up to the principal’s office for unknown reasons, so here they were.
“What do you think she wants to see us for?” Lemon Zest turned down her headphone volume, just for a little while. “We’re not in trouble are we?”
“Maybe we’re here because our grades haven’t been all that good?” Suri Polomare checked her nails and shrugged. “I doubt that. Mine are great.”
“Maybe we really are in trouble then…” Trenderhoof had a slight blush on his face. Sunny looked at him and frowned. She still hadn’t forgotten what he had done to her that day. The nerve he had...
“Yeah, I don’t think so.” Indigo shook her head. “If anyone’s in trouble, it’s Sunny.”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?!” Sunny turned on the athlete.
“Exactly what it says,” Indigo replied. “You’ve been causing trouble for Silver Rose since the first week. We told you to stop, but did you listen? No, you refused.”
“Maybe it would’ve been different if you had stood by me against her!” Sunny folded her arms and looked away. “Well, I didn’t need you then and I certainly don’t need you now!”
“Can you two please stop yelling?” Sugarcoat sighed and pushed them apart. “You two haven’t been talking all week and once you meet up, this happens. I think I prefer it when you both don’t say anything.”
Just then, the principal’s office door opened, revealing Dean Cadance, who flashed the students a stern look.
“Girls, we can hear you from inside,” she told Sunny and Indigo. “You two are friends, aren’t you? You shouldn’t be fighting. And what’s all this about causing trouble for Silver Rose? Was it you, Sunny? Were you the one who put up her… questionable pictures on the school’s newspaper website?”
“Errm…” Sunny scratched at the side of her head.
“It was her, Dean Cadance.” Sugarcoat pushed up her glasses.
“Sugarcoat!” Sunny’s face turned red.
“What are you yelling at me for?” The white haired girl folded her arms. “You should be yelling at yourself.”
Dean Cadance looked between them, then sighed. “Sunny, we’ll talk about this later, but for now, Principal Cinch wants to see you all. Please, go right in.”
The inner sanctum of the principal of Crystal Prep was dark and dimly lit, as usual. The students who had been called slowly entered the office. As was the custom, Cinch’s chair had its back facing them. All eleven students huddled together in a group, waiting for the inevitable moment when Cinch’s chair would rotate and face them.
They didn’t have to wait for very long.
With an audible creak, Crystal Prep’s principal turned her chair around, her fingers steepled in front of her face.
“Ah, good. You’re here. I’ve been expecting you.”
“Didn’t you hear us shouting outside?” Sour Sweet made a funny face, then quickly looked apologetic. “I’m sorry we made such a ruckus, Principal Cinch.”
“So what are we here for, Principal Cinch?” Upper Crust held on to one of Jet Set’s arms.
“W-We’re not in trouble… are we?” Trenderhoof stammered. Sunny gazed at him intently. She hoped he was in trouble.
“No, Mr. Trenderhoof, you are not. Rather the opposite, in fact.”
There were a series of quizzical looks from the students.
“Hah?” Indigo Zap said.
“The reason I’ve called you here today is to discuss the upcoming Friendship Games. As you might know, Crystal Prep always chooses its best and its brightest for the Games and I am pleased to say, you students have been chosen to participate in the Friendship Games, though, it shouldn’t be a surprise to you Shadowbolts, yes?”
“Of course not!” Indigo suddenly looked proud. “We’re the best this school has to offer. Not one second did we doubt you would pick us.”
“So I take it that there are no objections?” Cinch said, her smile growing wider. “You are all willing to participate? That is good.”
“Anything to prove that we are superior to Canterlot High, Principal Cinch.” Jet Set polished his glasses and held his head high. “Right, Upper Crust?”
“You’re looking to get back at that baseball boy from middle school, huh?” She nodded her head. “But yes, we won’t let Crystal Prep down, Principal Cinch.”
“Yeah, no way we’re losing to that school!” Lemon Zest cheered.
“Hmm…” The principal steepled her fingers together. “Exactly what I want to hear, my loyal students. We must uphold my legacy of this school. We’ve won every single competition against Canterlot High School and any other school, really, so we must keep up our tradition. I’m glad to see all of you agree with me on this. Looks like I have nothing to worry about from you. That is all, you may leave.”
Sunny Flare nodded and quickly rushed out, exiting the office first. She briskly walked down the hall, hoping Dean Cadance had forgotten about the talk she wanted to have with her. Sunny wasn’t sorry. Silver Rose deserved every little thing that happened to her.
“You think we’ll win this, Sunny?” Sour Sweet caught up with her and asked. “Because Canterlot High is going down!”
“Of course we will.” Sunny slammed a fist into her palm. “We’ve got a reputation to uphold.”
“Well, we’re not going to win if you keep things up, Sunny, just saying.”
Sunny angrily turned around to Indigo Zap and Lemon Zest. “Oh yeah? Well I didn’t need your help for Silver Rose and I certainly won’t need your help for winning the Friendship Games!”
“Technically speaking, you do,” Sugarcoat deadpanned. “It’s a team effort. That’s why Cinch picked out the eleven of us.”
“Isn’t the team number twelve?” Lemon Zest looked at them, puzzled. “We’re one short.”
“Huh? Hey, you’re right!” Indigo said, doing a quick headcount. “Do you think they’ll ask Silver Rose?”
“They better not!” Sunny flared up. “If they add that bitc-”
“Hey, hey! Watch it!” Indigo stepped towards her. “Seriously, what is your problem with her? She’s done nothing to you since the first day. You retaliated first! You deserved getting kissed by Trenderhoof on the butt. Why can’t you just be friends?”
“What, friends with her like how you are friends with me?” Sunny folded her arms. “That doesn’t seem too hard. I just need to betray her like you lot betrayed me, right?”
“That’s not fair, Sunny,” Lemon Zest grumbled.
“Your ability to debate this point seems to be impaired by your current feelings toward Silver Rose,” Sugarcoat said. “Maybe you should calm down, think about this more rationally.”
“No, I’m not going to listen to anything you say, Sugarcoat.” Sunny prodded a finger in the girl’s chest. “If you want to side with Silver, then why don’t you go do that? I don’t need any of you. Only Sour Sweet’s still loyal to the Shadowbolt name. Only she still deserves to be my friend!”
Even Sour Sweet looked uneasy at this claim, suddenly becoming interested in the tops of her shoes.
“M-Maybe we should tone it down a bit…” Sour Sweet mumbled. “I mean, haven’t we already done enough?”
“No, no, no, no, no. Don’t you turn on me too, Sour Sweet.” Sunny looked at her. “Not now. Until Silver Rose learns her place below us, we’re not done.”
“See?” Lemon pointed at the pink haired Shadowbolt. “Sour Sweet thinks so too! You’re going too far with this… obsession, Sunny. You’ve got to stop this.”
“No, she doesn’t. Do you, Sour Sweet?” Sunny waited for her answer.
“Well, I was just thinking maybe we should tone it down a notch. I mean, that last prank we pulled bordered on sexual harassment. Wouldn’t want to go to jail or anything, right?”
“Well, whatever it takes, I want to see her suffer. I want to see her break! I can’t stand it that she seems to get away with everything. We need something bigger, Sour Sweet.”
“Just leave her alone, Sunny! Gosh!” Indigo threw her hands up. “She’s not bad, you know? Just talk to her. She’s nice.”
“Just shut up!” Sunny wanted to slap her, but she stopped herself. “Sour Sweet, what do you think? Are you with me or are you with them?”
“I don’t want to deal in absolutes here…” Sour said. “Maybe we should kick it down a bit, you know? I mean, we have the Friendship Games to get ready for, right?”
Sunny Flare was still recovering from her sprained ankle, so she still couldn’t participate in PE or basketball, but right now, she was just furious. Had all her friends just turned against her to side with the new kid who thought she was better than all of them? Sunny wasn’t going to admit defeat. That would only give Silver Rose something to rub in her face.
“I can’t believe you…” Sunny muttered, then she pushed past the other Shadowbolts and stomped off. “If you’re not with me, then I’ll do this myself! I don’t need any of you!”
The other Shadowbolts watched her go.
“Think we should go after her?” Indigo asked.
Lemon Zest shrugged and placed her headphones back around her ears. “Nah. She’ll get over it.”
“Will she?” Sugarcoat looked at the fleeting Sunny Flare with a sigh. “I don’t think it’s that simple.”
“There’s nothing else we can do now…” Indigo stretched her arms back. “We’ve got the Friendship Games to get ready for. I suggest we leave Sunny to do what she wants while we get our game on.”
The girls nodded in agreement and set off back toward their classes, the prospect of the Friendship Games weighing on their minds.
During lunch, Silver Rose had gotten her lunch and made her way to her usual table, where Canvas Splash was already waiting. No one else ever seemed to want to sit with her except for the pink haired painter. Silver had other friends too, she knew that much, but she guessed they had other friends to sit with during lunch. She didn’t blame them. She was new, after all.
“This mashed potato is good,” Canvas said happily after swallowing. “Usually it's a little tough. They must’ve done something with the recipe.”
“I hear adding milk to the potatoes before mashing them helps with the consistency,” Silver said. A few days ago, Sonata had showed her a video of a Northern cook who had used a mace to mash his potatoes, adding milk and salt to it.
“Milk, huh?” Canvas looked at the mash. She had begun drawing a face into it using the back of her spoon. “Well, whatever it is, someone must’ve told the cook or something, because you know, it was almost as hard as a brick before. Exaggerating, of course.”
“It sure was, Canvas.” Silver rested her head on a hand, watching her friend create a work of art with her food. Life outside home really was enjoyable. She breathed in the wafting smell of happiness from the painter, but then stopped first and looked around, just in case there was any lust in the air. She didn’t want a repeat of what happened on Thursday.
“Something wrong, Silver?” Canvas asked without looking up from her food.
“No, no, nothing’s wrong.” Silver shook her head.
“It’s not Sunny again, is it?” Canvas looked up and homed her sights in on Sunny Flare, who was seated at a table on the far end, but surprisingly, by herself. “She just doesn’t give you a break, huh?”
“It’s no big deal,” Silver said, taking a bite of her meal. “I mean, how much damage can one person do?” The hypocrisy of this statement did not evade Silver, as she thought back to all the stories her mother had told her about the early days. One person, or changeling, could do a metric ton of damage in the right place at the right time.
“No big deal? I’m pretty sure she was the one to post the pictures of you on the newspaper’s website. That could’ve been pretty bad if the school didn’t take it down. What if Sunny took a more… private picture of you? That would definitely be really bad. I don’t know, Silver. I really don’t know what she has against you. You haven’t done anything odd or wrong, right? Like, I know she enjoys messing with me because I talk to myself and such, but you? I don’t know.”
“According to Sour Sweet, I’m being targeted because I’m ‘trying to be better than the Shadowbolts’,” Silver rolled her eyes. “Isn’t the whole point of this school to show off what we can do? I mean, that’s the smell- er, vibe that I’m getting from being enrolled here.”
“That is true…” Canvas tapped her spoon against her chin. She forgot that the tip was now covered in mashed potatoes, nor did she seem to notice when she left a clod of it on her chin. “But I guess being the best of the best, they want to be at the top. I mean, look at me, for example. I like painting, but when someone else does better than me, I feel I have to put in more effort, you know?”
“Is that how everyone here thinks?” Silver finished up her lunch and put her utensils down. “Kinda seems that way to me. Everyone wants to be the best, no matter what.”
“Well, that no matter part only applies to some people… I think.” Canvas scooped up more of her mashed potato. “For me, I don’t like stepping on other people’s feet, so I kinda stick to myself and work quietly. I work to be the best in my own space.”
“That’s good of you, Canvas.” Silver patted the artist’s shoulder.
“I think so too, Silver,” Canvas said and chewed on more of her lunch.
Silver was about to say more, but she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She turned around and saw that it belonged to Dean Cadance.
“Hi, Dean Cadance,” Silver greeted. “What can I do for you? Is there something you need from me?”
“Hey, Silver Rose. Principal Cinch wants to see you in her office. Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble. She just wants a word with you. Take your time. You can go when you’re done with your lunch,” the nicer school head told her.
“Oh, okay.” Silver looked at Canvas. “I’m pretty much done, so I guess I can go see her now. I’ll see you later, Canvas.”
“Oh, sure, Silver, go ahead.” The painter waved as Silver left with Dean Cadance.
When they were out of the canteen, Dean Cadance decided to ask, “How are things in school so far, Silver Rose? Not too bad, I hope? I know of some of the things that happened recently and I apologize if your first few weeks here haven’t been too pleasant.”
“It’s been alright,” Silver said amicably. “I’ve made a few friends, and the pictures got taken down, so there’s no need for mother to sue the school.”
“Oh,” Dean Cadance said nervously. “Well, that’s… good.”
When they arrived outside the principal’s office, Dean Cadance knocked on the door, then pushed it open and held it open for Silver.
“Go on in, Silver,” the dean said.
Silver Rose looked on into the darkness, then walked in, keeping her eyes on the dim light bulb above Principal Cinch’s desk. As soon as the door closed, Silver’s eyes began to water. Cinch’s office really did smell and taste awful, and it was strong enough that she could sense it without concentrating. There was just too much slow-cooked ambition and pride in here, far more than from any one of the students.
Looking on the tiny sliver of the bright side, at least her office didn’t smell like lust. She didn’t know what she was going to explain to Principal Cinch if she had an accident here.
“Umm… Principal Cinch?” Silver asked, close enough that she could touch the wooden desk. “You asked to see me…?”
The chair swiveled around, and Silver barely restrained herself an eye roll. Why the principal decided to always face her back to the door was something Silver didn’t understand. Did she have a second desk behind her back where she worked, or did she simply do it for the sake of a dramatic reveal? And why couldn’t her office be better lit? Even with her advanced vision, the whole space looked murky, reminding her of a swamp. It certainly smelled bad enough to be one.
“Why, yes. Miss Rose, I have called you here to speak of a great opportunity for you.”
“Great opportunity?” Silver looked up, trying to guess what this opportunity might be. In the end, she had but one idea, seeing as it was coming up sometime soon.
“Why to participate in the Friendship Games, young lady. I’ve already chosen the first eleven students who will be participating, and I want to pick you as our twelfth and final student.”
“Y-You want me? To be in the Friendship Games?” Silver pointed at herself apprehensively.
“That is correct,” Cinch replied, steepling her fingers. Silver noticed she did that a lot. “After looking through your academic records, I think that you would be a fine addition to the Crystal Prep team.”
“Umm…” Silver scratched at her pink and grey hair. She didn’t know what kind of records Cinch was looking for, seeing as she hadn’t even been here for two months yet. “Do-do I get a say in this, Principal Cinch?”
“Certainly you do. What event would you prefer to take part in? I have a comprehensive list of every event that is to be announced at the Games.”
“No, I mean, do I get a choice in whether I take part or not?”
Now it was Cinch’s turn to look puzzled. “Well, yes, but why would you not want to? It is a prestigious position of the highest degree.”
“Well…” Silver decided to stick with the truth. “I’m… I don’t think I’m cut out to represent the school. I have-I have a little bit of stage fright, Principal Cinch.”
“Nonsense. Why, you won’t even be in the spotlight. There are eleven other students to blend in with.”
“Besides, you’ve seen my grades,” Silver pointed out. “My grades in home ec and math aren’t very good. Aren’t those the kind of events that the Friendship Games entail?”
“Not all our students excel at everything, Silver,” Cinch went on. “Don’t worry about those two subjects. Your strengths lie elsewhere. Take your physical ability, for example. Your skills clearly outclass our best. I heard about your jump over the Shadowbolts. Simply amazing. So what do you say? Will you participate?”
Cinch looked incredibly desperate to get Silver on the Friendship Games team, but Silver still wasn’t convinced. She didn’t want to participate.
“I still don’t think I’m qualified,” Silver Rose said determinedly, looking for a way out of this foul-tasting conversation. “Why don’t you pick someone like…” Silver racked her brains for a more suitable candidate. “...Twilight Sparkle? Her grades are far superior to my own.”
Cinch brought a hand to her chin. “I was hoping to enlist your help, Silver Rose. It is unfortunate I could not convince you.”
Silver held her breath as a wafting stream of disappointment erupted around her principal. It tasted really bitter and it began to make her eyes tear up.
Silver desperately wanted to turn tail and run to the nearest bathroom to retch, but her good upbringing prevented that. So there she sat, breathing in the horrible smell, waiting for Cinch to make a move.
Principal Cinch stood up and crossed over to where Silver was seated, her arms behind her back. “I cannot ask you to reconsider, can I? My sources say it will be a hard fight this year.”
“Thanks, but no thanks, Principal Cinch. Well, I wish you the best of luck in finding someone to complete the team,” Silver said, edging out of her seat.
“Hmm…” Cinch lifted her glasses. “How unfortunate. Perhaps I was wrong in thinking you wanted to strive for the best. I shall hope to find someone as skilled as you, Silver Rose. Let’s hope it won’t be end of our reputation. I’d certainly hate to see a loss on our record.”
I couldn’t give less of a hoot about your reputation, Silver thought as the unpleasant flavor of Cinch hit her tongue. Just let me out of here so I can throw up in peace.
“I suppose that concludes our meeting, Cinch said, turning her chair back around. “Good day, Miss Rose.”
Needing no more encouragement, Silver Rose sprinted from the office and to the nearest bathroom.
Dean Cadance watched the girl leave Cinch’s office, slamming the door behind her. The dean glanced over to her superior, who had her back facing her. The principal seemed to be deep in thought.
“Dean Cadance?” Cinch asked after a long moment of silence.
“Yes, Principal Cinch?”
“Do you know of any way we can get Silver Rose to participate in the Friendship Games?” The blue-skinned woman turned around and looked at Cadance. “Surely with her on the team, we won’t have to worry about anything Canterlot High decides to throw at us this year.”
“She did already say she didn’t want to participate…” Dean Cadance reasoned. “Why not leave it at that?”
“Because… you’ve seen what she can do, Cadance. Or at least, you’ve heard what she can do. She leapt right over the Shadowbolts. Right over. Don’t you think that’s a fine skill? Imagine what she could accomplish for us if she were participating.”
“Yes, but you can’t force a student to participate. They have to comply by themselves,” Cadance reminded. “There are rules to be followed, Principal Cinch.”
“Yes, yes, I know. Rules.” Cinch returned to her seat and leaned back. “But imagine her potential! She could very well win the Games for us single handedly.”
“But as long as she doesn’t want to take part, we should leave her be. It’s her choice whether she wants to be in the Friendship Games or not.”
“Unfortunately, that is the case, yes.” Cinch folded her arms. “It seems I will have to look elsewhere for our twelfth student. Though, I might already have a idea who…”