“Doesn’t everyone look just fabulous?” Rarity smiled as the other students walked by, wearing their Wondercolt ears and tails.
“It was a great idea, Rarity!” Twilight complimented.
“Thank you, darling,” Rarity blushed.
“Hmm,” Applejack narrowed her eyes at something behind them, and they turned to see Stormy CloudSwirl walking down the hall with a massive smirk on her face. “Don’t know what she’s smilin’ about. Twilight’s the one that’s gonna be Princess of the Fall Formal.”
They watched as Stormy walked up to VP Luna’s office and knocked. They manage to catch what Stormy was saying. “Vice Principal Luna! Something terrible has happened!”
The girls quietly followed behind to two, ending up at the auditorium. They had to stop each other from making a sound when they saw the mess that was once a well put together party. They continued to listen to the conversation between Luna and Stormy.
“Isn’t this just awful?” Stormy said, giving Luna her best innocent look. “And after Pinkie Pie worked so hard to make things so perfect! Why would Twilight Sparkle do something like this?”
“Why would you think Twilight was responsible for something like this?” Luna raised an eyebrow at the girl.
“Because I have proof,” Stormy said, giving Luna a folder.
“I see,” Luna said, taking the folder and looking at the obviously cut and pasted photos inside, but decided to play along. “Thank you. I will have to double check the cameras, to confirm this proof of yours.”
“Cameras?” Stormy asked, suddenly feeling very nervous. “What cameras?”
“Those cameras,” Luna answered, pointing at some black round half ball like things in two corners of the auditorium.
“Oh, that wouldn’t be necessary. My proof should be enough,” Stormy tried to convince her.
Before the girls could listen any further, they looked up to see Flash walking towards them. As he passed to walk into the auditorium, he winked at them and mouth ‘Don’t worry’.
“Vice Principal Luna,” He got the two women’s attention. He handed Luna some cut up photos as Stormy glared at him. “I found these in a trash can in the library. Thought you should see them. Someone obviously combined these photos to make it look like Twilight was the one who trashed the gym.”
“I appreciate you bringing these to my attention, Flash,” Luna smiled at him. “Though I am afraid enough damage has been done to the gym that we will have to postpone the dance until tomorrow night. If you will excuse me, I need to let my sister know about this latest development.” She purposely ignored the girls behind the doors as she headed to Celestia’s office.
Stormy saw them as she walked out. Her eyes widen, realising they had heard everything. She then glared at them and growled. “This isn’t over. I will win that crown.” She stomped off, thinking up a new plan.
“Thanks for that, Flash,” Twilight smiled at him, blushing.
“No problem,” Flash too blushed, ignoring the giggling from the other girls. “So, uh, I was wondering. If you aren’t already going with somebody, wanna go to the Fall Formal with me tomorrow night?”
“That would be…” Twilight then realised what he said and started freaking out, Spike watching in concern. “Tomorrow night!? No! No-no-no-no-no! I can’t! The portal! That’ll be too late!” She ran past everyone, leaving them confused and concerned.
“One ‘no’ would have been fine!” Flash shouted after her. Sunset and Fluttershy patted him on the back.
“Don’t worry, Flashy,” Pinkie said. “I’m sure she meant to say, ‘yes’ but obviously something is on her mind, making her a little crazy right now.” Flash looked doubtful as he watched them follow Twilight.
They followed her to the costume room in the drama department. They found her hiding in one of the dressing rooms.
Rarity walked over to the curtain and asked, “Everything okay in there?”
“Yes!” They heard the muffled voice behind the curtain. They waited as they could hear a whispered conversation between Twilight and some male voice. Finally, Twilight and Spike came out, looking nervous.
“You okay, sugarcube?” Applejack asked.
“Sort of,” Twilight answered, fidgeting. “You all heard the whole Fall Formal being cancelled, right?”
“We did,” Pinkie nodded, her hair looking a little deflated. “It’s a major bummer in the summer.” Pinkie’s hair went back to it usual curliness and she had a smile on her face. “But don’t you worry, Twilight. We’ll have the party back up and running for tomorrow night.”
“But the Fall Formal has to happen tonight,” Twilight insisted.
“Why?” Sunset asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Well, you see,” Twilight went to explain but was interrupted by Pinkie.
“You’re from an alternate world and you’re a pony princess there and the crown actually has a magical element embedded in it that helps power up other magical elements, and without it, they don’t work anymore, and you need them to help protect your magical world, and if you don’t get the crown tonight, you’ll be stuck in this world and you won’t be able to get back for, like, a really, really long time!” Pinkie gave them all a massive grin, looking proud of herself.
“Seriously?” Rainbow asked doubtfully.
“Yep,” Spike said, shocking the girls. “She’s pretty much spot-on.”
“He can talk?!” The human girls exclaimed.
“Oh, yeah! And back where I come from, I’m not even a dog!” Spike bragged, standing on his hind legs. “I’m a ferocious, fire-breathing dragon!”
“Wait, Pinkie,” Twilight got the conversation on track. “How did you know all that?”
“Just a hunch,” Pinkie shrugged. “And maybe because of some of the pieces from Sunset’s memories.”
“Wait, but I thought you couldn’t remember anything,” Twilight turned to Sunset.
“I can’t, mostly,” Sunset explained. “I just get snippets. One thing I noticed was the word ‘everypony’ being used a lot.”
“Not to mention,” Applejack got Twilight’s attention. “It’s hard not to ignore video footage of people coming out of the base of the Wondercolt Statue.”
“So, you already knew about the crown?” Spike asked.
“Well, we knew it belonged to someone,” Rarity answered. “We just didn’t know who.”
“I see,” Twilight was shocked by this information. “Well, along with getting my crown back, I was also sent to look for you Sunset.”
“Me?” Sunset asked, pointing at herself.
“Yes,” Twilight smiled at her. “You see, my mentor used to be yours. She asked me to find you and maybe bring you home to Equestria.”
“But this is my home,” Sunset gestured to her friends.
“I’m sure my mentor will understand if you choose this world,” Twilight said, smiling sadly. “But you’ll always be a pony of Equestria.”
“No, seriously, this is Sunset’s home” Rainbow insisted. “Sunset was born in this world, but spent her childhood in, Equestria was it?”
“What?!” Twilight was now confused.
The girls took turns explaining Sunset’s past, including the few memories she could remember, although they left the human magic parts out. As Celestia pointed out, the other world was not ready to find out about this world’s magic just yet.
Twilight listened as they explained Sunset’s mother’s death, her family not wanting her and throwing her through the portal, which was caught on camera. Then they went on to explain Sunset coming back through the portal, the accident that took her memories and DNA testing revealing her origins.
“Wow,” was all Twilight could get out after the girls finished explaining, her and Spike looking at Sunset shocked.
“Yea, so,” Sunset scratch the back of her head. “I may have spent my younger years as a pony, but I’m a human through and through. Just wish I could remember everything about those years.”
“Oh,” Spike got their attention. “Twilight and I were thinking of helping you with that, after we get the crown back.”
“Oh, that would be great, thanks,” Sunset kneeled to get him a scratch behind the ears, which sent his tail wagging.
“Okay, we need to head back to the auditorium to assess the damage,” Pinkie said, already writing on a clipboard which she then passed to Sunset. “We have a party to save and a crown to win!”
“Yea!” they all shout before heading out. They walked to the auditorium and looked around at the ruined decorations.
“I simply cannot believe Stormy CloudSwirl did all this!” Rarity gestured to the mess.
“If I only had some kind of…” Pinkie thought for a second. “…party cannon that could decorate everything super-duper fast!”
“I know it seems impossible,” Twilight said, smiling at them. “But maybe if we all work together?”
“Now that’s the kinda can-do spirit we’re lookin’ for in a Fall Formal Princess!” Applejack commented. “Let’s do it, y’all!”
“Hey, guys,” Sunset got their attention, she gestured to her phone. “I just finished texting Zuko. He and Flash are going to round up some more help.”
“Awesome!” Rainbow fist pumped. “With more hands, we’re bound to fix this all up in no time.” There was a round of agreement as they moved to get started cleaning up.
“Twilight Sparkle:
It’s time for us to come together
It’s the only way that things will get better
It’s time for us to take a stand
So come one and lend a helping hand”
Soon, Zuko and Flash walked in followed by a lot of other students, all willing to help fix the formal up. They all split up into groups some helping with streamers, and other decorations, while others helped with picking up and setting up tables.
“All:
Fix it up
Yeah, it’s all right
We’ll get it ready by tonight
Mix it up
Yeah, help a friend
We’ll come together in the end
Pinkie, Fluttershy and Rainbow:
It’s time to show that we’ve got school spirit
Raise your voice and let everyone hear it
Rarity, Sunset and Applejack:
It’s time to show that we’re strong
So come one, everybody, sing along
All:
(Look…) Look how we’ve all come together
(Things…) Things are only just starting to get better
(Look…) Look how we’ve all come together
(Things…) Things are only just starting to get better, better, better, better!
(We… will…) Fix it up, yeah, it’s all right
(Come… tonight, tonight…) We’ll get it ready by tonight
(We… will…) Mix it up, yeah, help a friend
(Come… together, together…) We’ll come together in the end
(We… will…) Fix it up, yeah, it’s all right
(Come… tonight, tonight…) We’ll get it ready by tonight
(We… will…) Mix it up, yeah, help a friend
(Come… together, together…) We’ll come together, together now!”
The Rainbooms and Twilight looked around at the newly decorated auditorium and smiled. Everything was now set for the Fall Formal.
“This… looks… soooo… GOOD!” Pinkie exclaimed.
Everyone turned when they heard clapping. They saw Principal Celestia standing in the doorway with Vice Principal Luna carrying the ballot box.
“All right, everyone!” Celestia announced. “The Fall Formal is back on for this evening!” This caused all the students to cheer in excitement. “So, you’d better get out of here and start getting ready. Oh, and don’t forget to cast your ballots for the Fall Formal Princess on your way out!” She gestured towards the ballot box. The students started to file out, some calling towards Twilight.
“You got my vote, Twilight!”
“Mine, too!”
“Mine, too!”
“Mine, too!”
“Well, girls,” Rarity got her friends attention. “I do believe we should also get going. I’ve already called ahead and booked half an hour of pampering at the spa. Then afterwards, we’ll go next door to my mother’s boutique to get ready for the Formal.” The others followed her out, placing their ballots in the box as they went.
“Have fun girls,” Celestia smiled at them, having heard their plans.
“We will mum,” Sunset gave her a quick hug. “See ya later tonight.”
Unbeknown to everyone, Stormy CloudSwirl was hiding in the nearby sport equipment storage room, having seen everything. “Those girls have foiled my plans again,” She growled. “No matter. Soon, I’ll have that crown and all of Equestria will bow before their new Princess.” Her eyes widen then an evil smirk grew on her face. “No, their new Queen.” She laughed (evilly) as new plans began to form in her head.