Jimmy and Silverstream had stayed at the human dimension after the music event at Canterlot High School. Spending time with the human versions of their equestrian friends was a cool experience for them.
And finally, the day had arrived: the students from both CHS and Crystal Prep Academy would be together for an event Jimmy had heard about: the long-awaited Friendship Games.
Everyone were inside CHS, standing here and there as the twelve selected students from each school were getting ready for the event.
"What do you think about it, Silverstream?" Jimmy asked her girlfriend.
"Well, I don't know much about human traditions, but those games sound cool!" Silverstream answered.
"Indeed they do! And we're about to watch the students compete!" Jimmy said.
"Wait... Is it only the main students? What about the others?" Silverstream asked.
"I think the other students were not the ones chosen for the games. Also, the principals and teachers normally are there for judging how the participants make their progress. The rest of people simply get to watch," Jimmy explained.
"Oooooh! Ok, I get it! Thanks for the info!" Silverstream replied, making Jimmy giggle.
The Bat girl looked at the CPA students, "So, Cadence is the principal at your academy?"
"Yeah. She's been performing that role since Cinch left a long time ago. I have to admit it: Cadence is even better," a student called Fleur answered.
"Heh, it's good to hear that!" Jimmy said, just as Principal Celestia started to speak.
"It's been some time since Abacus Cinch retired from her job and, as the majority of you know, Cadence is the new principal at Crystal Prep Academy," she explained.
"I must say it's such a big difference. The last principal was a lot angrier..." Vice Principal Luna added, making everyone laugh.
"Indeed! But anyways, the time for the Friendship Games is finally upon us. I'm sure everyone know what they are about, right?" Celestia asked, smiling as the students nodded, "Very well. In that case, I ask for the selected students to come with us. The Academic Decathlon is waiting for your skills."
And with that, those students followed Celestia, Luna and Cadence into the corridors as the others scattered around, talking to each other.
"Oh, ummm... Principal Celestia!" Jimmy exclaimed, walking as Celestia turned to look at her, "This will probably sound absurd, but I was wondering if we could go there and see what they do."
"Oh, I'm really sorry to tell you but, aside from the three of us and the selected students, nobody else can be inside during the first trial. However, they can tell you what happens once they're done," Celestia explained.
"Heh, no problem then. Thank you anyways," Jimmy said, as Celestia nodded before they finally left.
Jimmy went back beside Silverstream, who was smiling, "Were you trying to get in like you actually were a student from here?"
Jimmy giggled, "That would have been a fun thing to see!"
"Yep! So, we just wait until they finish, right?" Silverstream asked.
"Of course. And don't worry about that, because the cooler challenges come next!" Jimmy replied.
"Great!"
Some time later, the ACADECA, like some students liked to call it, ended as the contestants went back outside. As always, the elimination system had done its job there, cause the teams were now formed by six, and they were about to proceed to the next round.
"How did it go?" Jimmy asked the Wondercolts.
"Almost like last time, but a bit different," Applejack said.
"Different? What do you mean?"
"Well, the Shadowbolts have won, like every single time they come here for the games, but that's not it. The thing is that, when we got to bake cakes, not any of them tasted good! Not even mine! And I always do the best cakes!" Pinkie exclaimed, confused about everything.
"I don't think she made any mistakes. I mean, Pinkie always makes sure about the ingredients before preparing the cake," Rarity said.
"Did anyone mess with the cakes? Maybe there was a sabotage or something, right?" Silverstream asked.
The others thought about it, until the principals called everyone to go outside of the building. The next round was in front of them.
Jimmy and Silverstream felt surprised as they stared at the field where the next challenge would happen: the Tri-Cross Relay.
The participants had to be separated in pairs so each pair completed one of the trials at the field: archery, speed skating and motocross.
As people went to sit around, Jimmy noticed the human Twilight being on the Shadowbolts team, despite she having said earlier that she wasn't studying at the academy anymore.
"Huh... Shouldn't Twilight be with the CHS students?" she asked.
"She is! But she mentioned something about evening the odds... Or was it odding the eves? You know, the same number of people on each team!" Derpy answered, as her eyes moved in different directions.
"Oh, that makes things clear!" Jimmy said happily.
Just as Derpy offered Jimmy a muffin, Principal Cadence spoke through the microphone to tell everyone the second round was about to start. Every student cheered and applauded as the Wondercolts and the Shadowbolts got ready, each pair at each of the sections.
"Is everyone ready? If so, good luck to all of the participants! The Tri-Cross Relay starts in three... two... one... GO!!" Cadence exclaimed.
That time, almost everything happened like the last time the Friendship Games were celebrated, but there was no way the carnivorous plants would appear again, as Twilight's device no longer existed.
Sour was a bit more caring towards Twilight (in her own way), but Applejack made sure the CPA girl helped her teammate with the rope above the mud pool.
Besides that, the speed skating and the motocross race went fine. Well, fine except for a moment when Sugarcoat's bike got out of control, leaving her unable to do anything until she finally fell off, rolling across the ground. The Wondercolts won the round, but they ignored their victory for some time while checking how Sugarcoat was.
"Oh, my... Are you ok?" Fluttershy asked, visibly scared.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just fell on the floor and broke my hand," Sugarcoat answered.
"How can you say it's nothing!?" Sour asked, astonished.
"Because it's just a hand. It will get cured. But you still have a chance to win. That is, of course, if nothing happens like last time..." Sugarcoat said, looking at Twilight, who felt nervous after remembering it.
Meanwhile, Jimmy and Silverstream were staring at the competitors as the rest of students spoke between themselves.
"Well... It could have been worse, right?" Silverstream asked.
"Yeah! Uh, I mean... I'm glad to see she's fine..." Jimmy replied, her eyes focused on Sugarcoat, whose face didn't change during the whole time.
Later, everyone gathered at the front gardens for the last round: Capture The Flag.
Before explaining the rules, Vice Principal Luna told the students Sugarcoat got taken to the school's infirmary so Nurse Redheart could take care of her. After seeing relief on their faces, Luna finally mentioned what the last game was about.
However, some stormy clouds were gathering on the sky, and that wasn't a good sign.
"Awwww! I can't believe it's gonna rain when we were just about to look for the flag!" Pinkie lamented.
"I don't think those are rain clouds, sugarcube..." Applejack said, feeling suspicious about something.
"I don't need to be a weather expert to confirm that. It's not going to rain!" Rainbow added.
"Oh, golly! I finally found you!"
"Oh... No... Not her, please..." Jimmy thought, as they turned to see who said that: a pink-skinned little girl with curly blue hair. Her eyes were red and, on her neck, there were two pendants which Jimmy recognized. One of them was shaped as a tower. As for the other one...
"How did she manage to follow us into this world, Jimmy!?" Silverstream asked.
"And that's not the worst thing..." Jimmy replied.
"What is it then!?"
"She's wearing... the Alicorn Amulet..."
Everyone stood there, feeling scared as Cozy Glow laughed malevolently, while an energy ball formed on her hand...