At Crystal Prep, the students were in the hallway to get their things for the next class, while some were talking to each other before the bell rang. One of those students was Silver as he walked past the students and saying hello to some of the students, some ignoring him and others waving back. When Silver made it through, he began to feel somewhat anxious.
(“Man meeting new faces is going to be way tougher than I thought it would be...”) Silver thought as he began walking without him paying attention to what’s in front of him. He then bumped into someone, which he quickly apologized for.
“Sorry for bumping into you, I wasn’t paying attention!”
“That’s okay Silver, just pay more attention next time.” The student told which was his friend Blaze. “Since you’re here, Twilight wanted both of us to meet her in her personal lab.” Blaze takes Silver’s hand as they head off to find Twilight.
Meanwhile at Twilight lab, Twilight is shown to be working on something as her pet dog Spike, get excited about the invention Twilight’s working on. As she was working, Blaze and Silver shortly arrived, which made Sparkle jump up.
“Geez, you two made it here awfully quick!” Twilight stated.
“I didn’t want us to be late.” Blaze answered, then asks, “So what is it that you want to show?
“Well after some time, I was finally able to get my device to work,” Twilight replied while showing Blaze, Silver, and Spike the invention she made which looked like a stopwatch. “This baby will allow us to track down the weird energy that has been happening at Canterlot High!” The name “Canterlot High” made Spike growl and grit his teeth.
“I know us going made you upset Spike, but after the crazy events that happened months ago is too difficult to forget.” Blaze explained to Spike as she gave him head pats to calm him down.
“I’m super excited for the Friendship Games!” Silver said. “We can get to make more friends with our rival school!” Twilight and Blaze however weren’t excited about the Friendship Games. Twilight is more focused on learning more about CHS’s bizarre happenings and Blaze just couldn’t care about the Friendship Games. An adult then opened the door, which turned out to be Dean Cadence.
“Twilight, don’t you remember we’re not allowed to have pets at Crystal Prep.” Cadence reminded.
“He’s not a pet, Mrs. Cadence. He’s just a buddy.” Twilight clarified.
“Well if you so Twilight?” Dean Cadence said as she removed Spike’s fur off of Twilight and then added, “You and Blaze should clear your clothes, Principal Cinch would like to the two of you.” Twilight, Blaze, and Silver looked quite confused to hear the two being called by Cinch.
“Why?” Silver asked. “Is it sometimes really bad!”
Cadence crouched down to Silver and said, “It’s nothing too bad as you think Silver, you should head outside the entrance with the other students.” Silver nodded and quickly walked away.
“Ooh! Maybe she has news about my application to Everton!” Twilight hoped.
“About that Twilight, are you really sure you want to attend to the program?” Cadence asked
“Sure thing I do! A program that allows me to focus all my attention on my own advanced math and science projects? What a dream come true!” Twilight answered.
“It just that unlike your friend Silver, both you and Blaze haven’t even talked to another other student here. You don’t have to isolate yourself from the world.” Cadence told, making Twilight a little anxious.
“You’re right Dean Cadence.” Blaze said as Cadence shut the door behind her. “I don’t know why she so concerned about us making friends?” Blaze added.
“I pretty much learned everything at Crystal Prep.” Twilight also said.
In the hallways, Blaze and Twilight were making their way to Cinch’s office. Twilight was thinking about what’s more is to be found while looking at the many trophies the school won throughout the years, which would cause her to almost bump into some of the students passing by. When they made it to the entrance (where Silver and the other students were), Twilight acted pretty awkward that the students gave her a raised eyebrow. Blaze walked up to the second floor with Twilight quickly catching up with her.
Up on the second floor, Twilight saw her feline friend staring out the window looked at bit unhappy. Twilight walks up to her to asks a question.
“Are you alright Blaze? You don’t seem to be happy.”
“I’m quite alright, just more focused on something that’s all.” Blaze answer, but then added, “Did you remember how I telling you a story about the set of gems I called Sol Emeralds?” Twilight nodded as she was closely paying attention to what Blaze has more to say.
“I’m the guardian of those emeralds and I had no such luck finding them. They possess fantastic abilities like increased light-speed and improved strength from what was told about them, but not everyone is fair though. Some would manipulate the emeralds power for greed and destruction, it gotten out of hand that one would now be put in charge of protecting the Sol Emeralds and if someone dares to steal them will have a death wish!” Blaze explained as she saw Twilight eyes shrink from hearing that last part.
“That’s sounds quite extreme don’t you think?” Twilight asked with a nervous chuckle.
Blaze smiles and says, “That should keep thieves from dare stealing them.” Blaze walked upstairs while Twilight was now scared to not get on Blaze’s bad side. “Hurry Twilight, Principal Cinch isn’t going to be pleased if we keep her waiting.” Blaze told as Twilight quickly followed.
Twilight and Blaze soon made it to Principal Cinch’s office. The two opened the door and walked inside the dark office where they saw trophies and medals and a single chair, placed near the desk. Twilight sat down on the seat while Blaze standing beside her. Suddenly the door closed behind them which got them to look back to see Dean Cadence and Twilight’s older brother, Shining Armor.
“Big Brother?! What are you doing here?” Twilight asked.
“As a alumni, Principal Cinch thought he could give some ‘unique’ perspective.” Dean Cadance answered.
“What kind of perspective?” Blaze asked.
“Why the Friendship Games of cour-whoa!” Principal Cinch called out as she was spinning because of failing to turn correctly. Once she got the spinning to stop, she continued as if nothing. “You competed in the games, did you not, Shining Armor?” Cinch asks Shining Armor, catch him off guard.
Shining cleared his throat and says, “I did.”
“And you happen to recall who won?” Cinch asks again.
“Ha ha, Crystal Prep did. We always win.” Shining Armor bragged as Cinch smiled.
“Why did you ask to see us?” Twilight asked.
“Twilight, I'll be honest. It doesn't matter whether or not Crystal Prep wins or loses.” Principal Cinch began, but almost dropped the trophy she had in hand. “The important thing is we are expected to win because Crystal Prep has a reputation. And it is that reputation... my reputation that is responsible for everything we have here. For everything you've done here. And you've done quite a lot, haven't you?” she finished explaining, but Blaze and Twilight were still confused if what Cinch was building up is bad news or nothing at all.
“That nice and all but I-I...” Twilight tries to explain before being shushed by Cinch.
“Oh, don't be modest. You and Blaze are one of the best students this school has ever seen. What I can't understand is why my best students wouldn't want to compete?” The Principal question.
“You mean the Friendship Games?” Blaze asks.
“I know that you two don’t care about the Friendship Games, but representing the school is a big deal. Plus with both you two and Silver can really help the team out.” Shining Armor told.
“From what I’ve seen, it seems like Canterlot High has gotten some major improvements since quite some time: Overall grades has been hitting A-B honors, athletics has skyrocketed, and their teamwork and cooperation has reached a level that no school has ever seen before. They’re trying to break out of their losing streak, which cannot stand!” Principal Cinch explained
“Principal Cinch, I can't possibly participate in the games. My work here is very—“ Twilight tried again to explain, but was interrupted by Cinch again.
“Ah, yes. Your work. Cadance, could you and Shining Armor find my contact sheet for the Everton Independent Study program?” Principal Cinch asked, which the two did as they left the room. Cinch then looks at Blaze and asks her to step outside her door so she can to Twilight privately, which Blaze did.
“So am I going to get approved for Everton?” Twilight asked with a smile on her face, but was going a different answer instead of what she thought.
“I understand you've applied. You see, one of the advantages of having a reputation is a certain amount of influence in such things. So, let me offer you a deal. In return for contributing your agile mind to these games, I will use my influence to guarantee your application is approved. Though, I suppose I could also have it... denied. What do you think I should do?” Cinch proposed to Twilight, giving Twilight a difficult decision to make before choosing to participate.
Twilight walked out the office to get ready and it was Blaze’s turn to talk to Principal Cinch.
“Ah Blaze, since you’re such a fantastic student, I would like to show you what that prizes are for the Friendship Games.” Cinch told as she took out a case and accidentally dropping it, revealing to be 7 different colored gems, which made Blaze’s eyes shrink and made her furious.
“Mrs. Cinch, those Sol Emeralds are not a reward for some competition! They’re really important they should not fall into the wrong hands!” Blaze told as she picks them up, which gave Cinch a good opportunity to get the princess to participate.
“I understand that these gems are really important to you and I’m willing to give them to you, if you play well in the Friendship Games of course.” Cinch offered as Blaze had no choice but play.
Back at Twilight’s lab, Twilight and Spike were in a struggle as Spike refused to let Twilight got to Canterlot High, but Blaze was getting frustrated about the Sol Emeralds as she tries to keep calm with playing around with her flame ability.
“Knock it off Spike! If you don’t want me to leave, then hop in my backpack then.” Twilight groaned, which made Spike stop and he immediately jumped inside the backpack and got excited.
“Well looks like he’s also joining along the games too.” Blaze stated, making Twilight giggled, then Silver showed up to the room.
“Are you two joining the Friendship Games too?” Silver asks, which the two answered “yes”, making Silver more to hear.
“Hopefully I can get more data while I’m competing for the Friendship Games.” Twilight said as she picked up the device she made and wore it like a necklace.
“Let’s get going you two.” Blaze said as the three hurried to the buses.
Outside Crystal Prep, Twilight, Blaze, and Silver headed over to Dean Cadence and other students in a line. Twilight tries to ask Cadence for help, but was busy and asked her to wait, which they did, but a student named Sour-Sweet thought they were cutting in line.
“You three should know not to skip the line.” Sour-Sweet bitterly told.
“Sorry for skipping the line, we’re just waiting waiting for Dean Cadence to come back.” Silver apologize.
“My mistake too sweetie, I should’ve asked before lashing out at you and your friends.” Sour-Sweet also apologized while pulling Silver’s cheeks, making him blush a bit while Blaze and the students behind Sour-Sweet named Sunny Flare roll their eyes.
“Look SS, you don’t have to kill the poor kid with happiness-overload.” Sunny teased, making Sour-Sweet give her a harsh glare. Dean Cadence returned to asks Twilight what she going to say before.
“Is this the right bus?” Twilight asks which Cadence nodded to.
Twilight, Blaze, Silver, Sour-Sweet, Sunny Flare and the rest of the students got on the bus, but were loudly greeted to another student named Indigo Zap.
“Are we gonna win?!” Indigo shouted, but wasn’t given an answer. “I said, are we gonna win?!” She repeated.
“Yes we’re going to win again, but Canterlot High are better than before, so I wouldn’t get to over my head like someone already.” Blaze said, taking a playful jab at Indigo, which took her a moment to realize.
Twilight, Blaze, and Silver sat in the very back of the bus where they meet two other students, one student named Sugarcoat and the other Lemon Zest who was listening to music on her headphones.
“H-hi Sugarcoat.” Twilight greeted.
“You seem to be really nervous about something, just take deep breaths and clear you mind.” Sugarcoat told Twilight in a monotone voice.
“Or just to some songs!” Lemon Zest told as she placed her headphone on Twilight’s head, but the music Lemon listened to wasn’t her style as she felt unease.
“Um...Lemon Zest, what kind of music was that you were listening to before?” Silver asked worriedly.
“It was...hard bass.” Lemon answered, before realizing that Twilight was looking uncomfortable. “Sorry for that girl, I didn’t know that song wasn’t your favorite.”
“You don’t have to apologize, we make mistakes from time to time.” Twilight told.
“You’re less socially awkward than I thought you were compared to Lemon.” Sugarcoat said to Twilight with a small smile while messing with Lemon.
“Come on now, I don’t want anyone else outside this friend group about my dark age!” Lemon hushed to Sugarcoat while Twilight, Blaze, and Silver giggled.