//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - This Isn't Normal // Story: Ghosting // by Lucy_Marigold //------------------------------// ~Chapter 2 - This Isn’t Normal.~ 12:01 PM, September 5th, 2 C.E. ???. A veil of pale purple hair interfered with some of her vision but the first thing Twilight realized was different was her hooves. Dark grey claws. She tensed as she glanced down at them before someone crashed into her from behind. “By Vendallia!” Chrysalis’s voice echoed in her ears, a tumble of limbs obstructing her view. “Chrysalis! Get off me!” Twilight grumbled. “Oh no. This is horrible! I hate having claws!” Chrissy grumbled, crossing her forehooves together. Shakily they rose to their backhooves, grabbing onto the marble statue that was seemingly there. “What are we?!” “I have no idea. But better yet, where are we?” The duo glanced around the area, eyes darting as they absorbed the new information. It seemed like a school, although a lot less wonderful or neat as Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. A pair of eyes spotted them from across the courtyard they found themselves in.  “Hi! Are you guys the new students!?” A chirpy voice questioned, a pink blur darting over to them. “Welcome to Canterlot High! I’m Pinkie Pie! Nice to meet you!”  It was obviously Pinkie Pie, her springy pink hair littered with sprinkles. She held a fleshy pink claw out in offering. Hesitantly, Twilight grasped it, nodding along. “What’s your names? Where are you from?”  “Uh… my name is Twilight, this is Chrysalis.” She awkwardly squeaked out. “We’re-” “-From out of town!” Chrysalis finished. “Oh! That’s so cool! Let me give you a tour!” 01:01 PM, September 5th, 2 C.E. Canterlot High. “And that concludes our tour! I’ll drop you off here so you can find your lockers!” Pinkie Pie halted at the end of the hallway, waving goodbye before leaving the two changelings alone. “Oh thank Vendalia. I thought she’d never shut up.” Chrysalis grumbled, sighing. “That’s Pinkie for you,” Twilight smirked. “It seems they exist in this universe as well. Perhaps that’s why Celestia didn’t want the others to come. Anyway, we should find Sunset Shimmer and get my crown back.” “I thoroughly agree. I can’t stand being here for much longer.” The green-haired one complained, crossing her forehooves before they began to walk down a hallway. “You really are one of the smartest Queens.” “Pfft. You’re just saying that because I convinced Pinkie to leave us alone.” “Oh no! The blasphemy! How dare I compliment you.” She dramatically threw back her forehooves, close her eyes before bursting out into laughter. “Stop it.” Twilight playfully nudge her in the side, smirking. “Oh, I'm really sorry. I-I just found it, and-and I thought I should give it to her. I didn't know you had dropped it.” A meek voice squeaked. The duo turned to corner to see a girl holding her forehoof above another. “Well, I did! And I was about to get it before you swooped in and ruined everything! You shouldn't pick up things that don't belong to you.” The larger one snapped. “It... doesn't really belong to you, either.” The other one whispered. “Excuse me?!” “N-n-nothing…” Another whimper. “That's what I thought. It's as good as mine, and you know it. You really are pathetic. It's no wonder your best friends are all stray animals.” The girl sneered, withdrawing a book from an open locker. “How dare you speak to her that way!” Twilight said, walking forward. “What did you say?” The girl seemed peeved, almost pissed off. She radiated anger. It was almost sickening. “I said, ’How dare you speak to her that way!’” “You must be new here. I can speak to anyone any way I want.” She leered closer, her muzzle awfully close. She slapped the locker door shut, storming off. “I can't believe you did that!” The girl with the pale pink hair stared at her with awe, a faint smile on her face. “I know, it was incredibly stupid of you.” Chrysalis playfully chided. “Well, I couldn't just stand there.” “Well, it's just that nobody ever stands up to Sunset Shimmer.” She gasped out. “Sunset Shimmer!? You’ve got to be kidding me.” Twilight pushed the centre of her claws against her face, sighing. “Ugh. Now we’ll never find it.” She started to pace back and forth, nibbling on the tip of one of her claws. “You've heard of her? I don't think I've seen you around before. Did you just transfer to Canterlot High from another school?” The girl questioned. “Yes. Yes, we are. My name is Chrysalis and this wreck is Twilight.” Chrissy indicated. “I'm... Fluttershy.” “Of course you are.” Twilight sighed, rubbing a claw along her face. “Uh, Sunset Shimmer said you picked something up. Something that belonged to her. It wasn't a crown, was it?” “How did you know? “Uh.” Chrysalis raised an eyebrow at that. “Lucky guess? Do you still have it? “Mm-mm.” Fluttershy shook her head. “But you know what happened to it?” Twilight pressed. “Mm-hmm. This morning, I was passing out flyers for the animal shelter like I do every Wednesday.” She fiddled a little with her hair, nibbling on her lip. “I have no idea how it got there. But I didn't want anything to happen to it, so I decided to give it to Principal Celestia.” “Principal Celestia? She's the ruler here?” Chrissy hissed. “You could say that. Technically, I guess she and Vice Principal Luna do make the rules.” The meek girl squeaked out. “Where is she now?” “Probably in her office. Third door on your left.” She pointed down the corridor. “Thank you!” Twilight shouted as she grasped Chrysalis’s claw and bolted down the hallway. ???. “The spike. It happened again, Mother.” A grey finger pointed towards the spiking chart, mechanical beeps echoing around the room. A room dimly lit with purple and green lights. “Right at Canterlot High.” “This doesn’t make sense. The results from the first one says it’s our magic. Not some otherworldly magic, starlight.” The elder one said, shifting the stacks of paper off of a nearby swivel seat. She crossed her legs neatly as she palmed through the documents.  “What kind of magic specifically?” The other questioned, adjusting her glasses. “Queen magic.” “Queen Magic? But the others, they died a long time ago.” The young one spluttered. “That’s impossible. Utterly and completely impossible.” “Not everything is impossible, starlight. Do you still have them stationed in Canterlot High?” “Yes. I’ll let them know about it.”