Another year, another Fall Formal. I was beginning to really hate this time of year and it was all thanks to one person, Sunset Bloody Shimmer.
The frustrating part of this whole thing, is I know she is better than this, but no matter how many times I try, I can't get through to her to find out what has got her so angry that she has to tear apart the school and do whatever it takes for some cheap plastic crown and fake adoration from out classmates.
Not to mention the near destruction of my friendship with Applejack, which was only saved during a spring storm when my mom and I went to help them cleanup their property and make repairs since we had gotten off lightly during the storm. I was able to show her that whatever she thought I did was a falsehood. Took her a few days to come around again, but at least outside of school, we were friends again.
But yeah, two years at CHS and once again the Fall Formal is upon us. I honestly think that Principal Celestia has way too much faith in the student body to think that this year will be any different.
Of course, much like Vice Principal Luna, I know that Sunset is behind the division in this school, but also like her, I can't bloody prove it. Sunset is just too damn good at covering her tracks. And for someone who has had to deal with the likes of my Aunt Sara, that is saying something. Girl is a prankster like no other, but she is damn good at covering her tracks so the navy brass don't come down on her.
How she does that while being an idol, I have no idea, and honestly, I gave up trying when the contents of my bedroom wound up on the ceiling and I know for a fact she was performing a show when it happened.
I will eventually have my revenge for that one.
So, when Pinkie Pie grabbed me and dragged me to the crafting club room, I was pleasantly surprised and bemused to see all of Applejack's old friends talking to another girl our age I had never seen before.
"So, who is this AJ?" I asked once I was able to get a word in edgewise.
"When did you get here Niamh?" Applejack asked.
I simply pointed at Pinkie and shrugged.
"Ah, say no more. Anyway this here is Twilight Sparkle and she is going up against Sunset for the Fall Formal Princess." Applejack replied.
I blinked and asked the first thing that came to my mind.
"Do you even go to this school? Because if you did, even if you were a recent transfer, you would know that this is a Bad Idea." I said. "Trust me, I know Bad Ideas when I see them. My Aunts Dakota and Caroline are prime examples of what happens when geniuses with massive budgets and only a semblance of sanity get 'creative'. So when I say this is a Bad Idea, you can take that to the bank."
"Well, no. I don't go here, but I have to enter this competition to get my crown back and stop Sunset's evil plan!" Twilight said.
"Uh huh. So, Sunset went to wherever you are from…" I started before Twilight interrupted me.
"Actually, from Equestria, where we are both from. She came through the portal and stole my crown for some reason."
"Right, she went to Equestria, wherever that is, through a portal, broke into your castle, and stole your crown." I said. "Did I get all that right?"
"Well, technically it was my sister in law's castle, but yeah." Twilight replied.
"She's telling the truth Niamh." Applejack said seriously.
I blinked. Applejack was probably the only person I had met that my 'if you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with bullshit' doesn't work on. I have lied through my teeth to a four star admiral and butter wouldn't have melted in my mouth. But this girl can catch me out on my best day.
I sighed. "Okay then. So, where is your crown now?" I inquired.
"Vice Principal Luna's office. It got knocked through the portal when I tackled her." Twilight said.
"I found it outside and turned it in." Fluttershy said in her standard tone. "I didn't realize it was a real magic crown."
I looked at her and despite my inner snark wanted to ask her how she confused cheap plastic with what was probably real gold or mithril or whatever crazy magic metal it was supposed to be made from, but I just couldn't bring myself to actually say it. I sure as hell wasn't about to make her cry.
"Okay then. Has anyone thought of maybe explaining to the VP the situation? If you have the original crown that should have been locked in her office, it should be easy enough." I said.
Nervous laughter greeted me in response.
"Great. Okay, so this will take some planning so her Highness here doesn't get sabotaged. First, she needs an outfit." I said.
"I can handle that Darling. In fact, I can make something for all of us." Rarity said.
I raised an eyebrow. "You can make six outfits by tomorrow night?" I inquired.
"I may have a few designs that I made with them in mind." Rarity said, gesturing to the other CHS girls. "Putting together an outfit for Twilight won't take me too long if I start designing now."
I nodded. If she wanted to do a rush order, that was on Rarity.
"How do we get her on the ballot and how do we actually get people to vote for her?" I asked.
"Leave that to us." Pinkie said as she wrapped an arm around Rainbow Dash.
"Yeah we got this." Dash replied, cocky smile in place.
I reached into my hoodie and pulled out my fidget cube and started rolling it around in my hand.
"So, what else do we need?" I asked, not at all confident in this plan.
Thirty minutes later, I was standing in the cafeteria, absolutely dumbfounded.
Somehow, and I really am trying hard not to think about the particulars of it, these six girls did a song and dance number that wouldn't be out of place in a Walt Disney movie. We even had birds flying around singing along. What even was that?
But apparently this somehow ignited the school spirit and even a last ditch attempt by Sunset getting remarkably sloppy, at least in my eyes, things were moving along at a nice pace and the dance was set to go off tomorrow night.
Joy, I guess this means I need to go see my Aunt Louis. She said something about having made me a party dress.