“Ugh… ouch…” It wasn’t exactly a comfortable landing when Twilight cracked her eyes open. She found herself lying on a concrete street-like area, which reminded her greatly of Canterlot High, where her old friend Sunset Shimmer had been for a good long while. And she was reminded even more of Canterlot High when she saw that her forehooves had transformed into human hands. But something was remarkably different about them now; they were a bright tan instead of their usual lavender. The only really lavender attributes on her body were her clothes; a white polo shirt, a lavender sweater-vest with her Cutie Mark stitched into her lapel, a dark purple skirt, and lavender socks inside black Mary-Janes.
“What the…?” She was reasonably confused, especially when she found her body felt somewhat smaller compared to when she was at Canterlot High. She looked around and saw the other girls, all transformed in much the same way as she had been. It was fairly easy to pick out who was who from their hair and the main colors of their clothes.
Rarity was wearing a white blouse with a black knee-length skirt held by a belt with a gold buckle, and gold anklets above black heels, along with diamond earrings shaped like her Cutie Mark.
Applejack still had her old Stetson but was now also wearing an orange flannel shirt, blue jeans and brown cowgirl boots with her Cutie Mark embroidered on the sides.
Pinkie was wearing a bright pink sweater with her Cutie Mark emblazoned on the back, a bright blue skirt, pink leggings, and darker pink sneakers.
Fluttershy was dressed fairly conservatively, as almost expected for someone of her personality, with a pale yellow sweater a fair bit heavier than Pinkie’s, and an ankle-length brown skirt with her Cutie Mark on the lower edge and simple brown shoes.
Rainbow was dressed fairly predictably for an athletic girl like her with a pale blue shirt and shorts, along with short athletic socks and blue sneakers.
Still, Twilight knew it would be jarring when they woke up as she looked around. “Spike? Spike!”
“Ugh. Here I am.” Spike groaned as he clomped out toward her… in the same dog-form as he was in at Canterlot High. When his eyes locked onto Twilight, he was fairly surprised. “Whoa. What happened? Did that book send us to Canterlot High again?”
Twilight looked around and while she did see a large school-like building, it most definitely was not Canterlot High. “I don’t think so.” It was just then that the girls started stirring. “Oh boy, this is gonna be a scene.”
“What do you mean?” asked Spike.
“I mean this is their first time transforming into humans like this. It’s bound to be fairly jarring.” Twilight returned. Quickly the two of them moved to their friends’ sides as they each slowly woke up.
“Hoo-wee. Boy, Ah feel like I just rolled down the West Orchard hill in a barrel.” Applejack groaned as she put a fist to her head.
“Ugh. You and me both, AJ.” Rainbow nodded as she shook her head.
“Take it easy, girls; it’ll take a little getting used to,” Twilight assured.
“What are you talking about, darling? What will?” Rarity asked as she sat up. It was at that exact moment that she saw her hand and her eyes went wide. “What in Celestia’s name-?!”
“Whoa! Okay, what happened?” Rainbow asked seriously as she looked around.
“I’m not totally sure,” Twilight noted. “My best guess is that the magic in that book turned us into these forms.”
“Wh- Why?” asked Fluttershy.
“Probably to make us blend in easier.” Twilight shrugged. “Now let’s see… where are we?”
Applejack glanced off to the side and saw a large stone sign near the building. “Yancy Academy. Must be some sort of school.”
“Oh great. We had to end up at a school.” Rainbow groaned.
“If the book sent us here, it was for a reason,” Twilight reassured. “Maybe we’ll find that thief here.”
“Yeah, but how will we know who it is? What did they even steal; lightning?” Rainbow asked seriously, remembering the apparent title of this story.
“We’ll figure that out later. Right now, I suggest we try and find a way into this school without arousing suspicion.” Twilight suggested.
“Works for me.” Rainbow shrugged as she jumped… only to land flat on her face. “OW! Hey, what gives?”
“Uh yeah, you don’t have your wings in this form,” Twilight noted.
“WHAT?!” Rainbow yelled in fear as she looked at her back and saw a lack of wings. “Ah man, this is Discord all over again!”
“Let’s just get inside,” Twilight ordered. “Looks like a storm’s coming.” She was right; a large storm-front was forming over the horizon closing toward the building.
“Works for me.” Spike shrugged as he climbed into Twilight’s backpack before they ran into the building. Inside, they saw that the building appeared to be a rather empty but large prep school.
“Great. Now where are we supposed to go?” asked Rainbow.
“Perhaps back to your dorms.” The girls were surprised by that voice but quickly looked to see an older man in a motorized wheelchair behind them. “You are aware it’s well past lights out.”
“Uh yes, yes; I am terribly sorry, sir,” Twilight assured. “We were just uh… out for an evening walk, that’s all. Yes, sorry.”
“Oh, it’s no bother; just get back to your rooms fairly quickly, would you?” the old man asked.
“Right.” Twilight nodded as they quickly moved away toward what they guessed was the girls’ dorms. “Whew. That was almost too close.”
“Yeah. Who was that guy?” asked Rainbow.
“I saw a nametag on his chair; his name is Mr. Brunner.” Applejack noted. “He’s the Latin teacher.”
“Great. So now we’re shanghaied into being students here?” Rainbow shrugged.
“Eh, could be worse.” Pinkie shrugged. “Could be-” A loud thunderclap was heard outside before a torrential downpour was heard outside, shutting Pinkie up.
“I’m sorry; were you- were you about to say ‘raining’?” Rainbow asked seriously.
“Nno.”
"No?"
"No."
“You sure?”
"Absolutely.”
"Alright."
"I- I revised that whole thing."
"Yeah..."
“Girls, focus. We have to find some way of figuring out where the story goes.” Twilight reminded.
Applejack’s eyes locked onto someone down the hall; a boy who looked roughly 12 with jet-black hair and sea-green eyes wearing pretty simple clothes. “Well, we might as well start with him.”
Twilight shrugged. “Uh, excuse me! Excuse me.” The boy looked over at them and was surprised.
“If you’re here to annoy me, could you at least wait until morning? I just got outta detention and I’m really tired.” he groaned.
“I’m sorry; it’s just… my friends and I are new here and we were wondering if you knew where the girls’ dorms are.” Twilight excused quickly.
The boy was surprised, as if he wasn’t totally convinced by this but rolled his eyes and pointed down the hall. “It’s up that way; third door on the left.”
“Thanks.” Twilight nodded as she led the girls down the hall. “Uh, what’s your name?”
The boy glanced back at them before he made his way up the stairs. “Jackson. Percy Jackson.” Whether the girls knew it or not, Percy would end up defining their time in this world.