Sunset arrives at Canterlot High to meet up with everyone about an emergency Rainbow had. “I got your text, Rainbow Dash!” she said, catching her breath. “Did something come through the portal? Is Equestrian magic on the loose? Did Twilight come back with a problem that only we can solve?!”
“Has a giant cake monster covered all the cakes in the world in cake?!” Pinkie added. Sunset looked at her with a concerned look.
“Um, not exactly!” Rainbow said as she stood up to turn around to reveal her guitar with a broken string.
“Uh, I don’t understand,” Sunset said, confused.
“As am I,” Peter said as he arrived as well.
“Well, Sunset, I was just telling Rainbow Dash here that a broken guitar string doesn't really qualify as an emergency,” Applejack explained.
“Figures.”
“It totally does!” Rainbow said.
“Really, Rainbow Dash?” Rarity said. “I was in the middle of sewing a very complex applique on my latest frock.”
“And I was just about to tuck everyone in for the night at the shelter,” Fluttershy added as she held her bunny. “Now we'll have to start stories all over again.”
“Let’s not forget that I was doing my homework for school,” Peter added.
“Why would you send all of us an emergency text for a guitar string?” Sunset asked.
“Well, I was going to pony up and show our fans some awesome guitar licks, but I kinda need all six strings to do it,” Rainbow explained as Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo sat on the steps waving. “Got any extra?” Everyone, but Rainbow groaned as Sunset looked through her bag. She then took out a piece of guitar string Rainbow needed.
“Here.” Rainbow took the string and installed it on the guitar without saying thank you. “But everyone finished practicing for the day. I'm pretty sure all the music rooms are locked.”
“No problem. The acoustics in the hallway are perfect for power chords.” Rainbow played a tune with the guitar. “Come on! Let’s go!” The girls except Sunset stepped inside the school while Peter just hung outside for a bit.
“You two coming?” Applejack asked.
“We’ll catch up in a bit,” Sunset replied as she sat on the steps and took out her book to write a message to Twilight. As she wrote, Peter leaned against a wall as he didn’t notice a bus pull up in front of the school and a teenage girl in a hoodie stepped out. Peter’s spider sense began to tingle and noticed the girl examining the statue with a strange device. She appeared to be interested in the portal to Equestria somehow and he decided to investigate.
“Excuse me, miss?” Peter asked as he took a photo with his camera. The girl noticed him and backed away. “Should I know you?” Sunset looked up from her book to see what was going on.
“Hey!” Sunset called. Peter turned to look at her. “What are you doing?!” The teenage girl made a run for it. “Stop her!” He nodded as he chased her down with Sunset. The mysterious teenage girl crossed the street as a car zoomed by to stop the pursuers. The teenage girl then quickly got onto another bus and escaped. Sunset and Peter arrive too late as they watch the bus drive away. “Who was that?”
“I don’t know,” Peter said. “But I did manage to get a photo of the stranger.” Sunset then looked at the photo Peter took with his camera.
The teenager sat in the back of the bus and lowered her hood to reveal Twilight Sparkle herself.
At the library after a prep rally for the Friendship Games, Sunset was doing research on Equestrian magic in the world she is in. She then got frustrated and then looked at her journal. She then wrote another message to Twilight informing her what has been developed about how Rainbow somehow ponied up during a rally. She finished writing as she then took out the same newspaper article about the Green Goblin attack that happened after the defeat of the Dazzlings. “Who is he?” she asked herself. “And why would he do this?”
Twilight was dressed in her academy outfit in her research room packing some stuff for going on a bus ride to Canterlot High to participate in the Friendship Games. She grabbed an injector containing something in it for someone and put it away in her bag. Spike growled as he tugged on a sweatshirt she was about to pack. “Come on, Spike,” Twilight said as she got the sweater back. “I was always gonna go to Canterlot High for the Friendship Games. The only difference now is that I have to compete. Besides, it's not like Principal Cinch gave me much of a choice.” Spike whimpers before Twilight pets him to reassure him. “I know, Spike. I don't like it either. I probably won't be able to collect anywhere near as much data as I thought. But maybe I can still get some.” The two then heard some evil laughter echoing in the room. “Is somebody there?” Spike hid inside Twilight’s backpack as he whimpered.
“Somebody,” the voice replied. Twilight gasped as the response surprised her.
“Who’s there?”
“Stop being innocent around me.” Twilight looked around the room to find the source of the voice. “You’ve known, haven’t you?”
“Where are you?”
“Follow the cold shiver running down your spine.” Twilight then looked at some photos on the wall confused. “How stupid are you? I’m over here!” Twilight quickly turned to see a familiar face to her. A boy was leaning against a wall gazing at her. It was Charming Thunder. She was surprised to see him after all those months.
“Charming Thunder?” Charming Thunder stood up straight and walked towards Twilight slowly.
“Did you think it was by luck? So many good things are happening for both of us soon, Twilight Sparkle.”
“What do you want with me?” Charming Thunder quietly chuckled before responding.
“To say what you won’t. To do what you can’t. And even to remove those in your way.” Charming Thunder tossed a rolled up newspaper towards Twilight. She caught it and opened it to read the article titled ‘Spider-Man saves Canterlot High!’. She then looked at the picture of Spider-Man fighting the Green Goblin.
“You saying--” Charming Thunder zoomed towards Twilight to meet each other in the eyes when she lowered the paper over her face.
“That I am the Green Goblin?”
“Well, yes. But that tech--”
“Don’t you remember? That little accident in that laboratory you were in?” Twilight thought for a moment and her eyes then widened in realization.
“Radiant’s performance enhancers....”
“Bingo! Me! His mother’s greatest creation. Bringing you what you always wanted. Power beyond your wildest dreams. And it's only the beginning.” Charming Thunder then took a few steps back from Twilight and sighed. “There are those that can interfere with your ‘research’. Perhaps with my help, it can go by faster.” He then grinned evilly and then laughed as Twilight had no choice, but to accept his help.
Arriving on the bus from Crystal Prep to Canterlot High, Twilight disembarked with the rest of the students. While she may not fit in with the other students, she decided to go to the meeting location in secret to where Charming Thunder asked her to meet as soon as she arrived.
Charming Thunder carefully hid his glider with a giant piece of cloth and some big pieces of carboard as he waited for Twilight to arrive. He suddenly heard a hallucination of his voice as it said, “Coward! Working with someone who used you for research.” He turned around to look at his goblin mask on the ground and picked it up. “She will betray you in the end.”
“Leave me alone,” Charming Thunder said. “Please.”
“You should’ve stayed away from Twilight. Remained hidden from who you truly are.” Charming Thunder gritted his teeth in anger.
“You are wrong!” Charming Thunder then heard footsteps as he looked back and then back at his mask.
“You can’t escape yourself!” Charming Thunder then quickly puts his mask in his bag along with his flight suit that was stored inside and threw it on top of the glider as he collapsed onto his knees in desperation. He then felt Twilight’s hand touching his shoulder as his eyes widened to the feeling.
Twilight then knelt down to his level and asked, “Having trouble, old friend?”
“Just talking to myself,” Charming Thunder reassured. “Nothing to worry about.”
“Probably your dark half who spoke for you earlier.” Charming Thunder sighed as he turned to face Twilight.
“I feel lost right now, Twilight. I don’t know what to do.” Twilight then hugged Charming Thunder tight to comfort him.
“Shh. It’s okay, Charming. You came to me to aid me just like old times. I won’t go anywhere far. Just need to continue my research in secret.” Twilight then got up to head back to the front of the school.
“You should watch yourself around Miss Cinch. I don’t trust her.” Twilight nodded as she continued to walk away. He then sat down on the ground with a sigh.
As Twilight explored the halls of Canterlot High, her device went off as magic that came from the music room got absorbed into the device. She opened the door to enter as she encountered Sunset and her friends. Rarity was down on the ground as everyone including her noticed Twilight. “Twilight?” everyone except Peter said as the seven walked up to her.
“Uh, yes?” Twilight replied.
“Well, I’ll be,” Applejack said. “You shoulda told us you were coming.”
“Darling, those glasses,” Rarity said. “What are you wearing? It's so....severe.” Peter facepalmed as everyone failed to realize that she is not the Twilight they know.
“My uniform?” Twilight said.
“Your uniform for what?”
“Crystal Prep Academy,” Peter answered for Twilight as he stepped up towards her. “I had a feeling about you, Twilight. But I did not picture it like this.” Spike pops out of Twilight’s bag with a bark.
“Spike!” Rarity and Fluttershy said in unison. Twilight gasped.
“You know my dog’s name too?”
“What business is that of yours?” Peter asked.
“Calm down, Peter,” Sunset reassured. “It was just a simple question.” Celestia arrived at the music room with Cinch.
“And our music program has especially taken off,” Celestia said before she gasped at seeing Twilight. “Twilight?”
“This is getting ridiculous!” Twilight said.
“I must apologize for the curiosity of my prized student,” Cinch reassured.
“Your student?” Celestia asked.
“The smart ones are always curious. I'll return her to check in with the rest of her classmates.” Cinch walked Twilight out of the music room.
“I didn't know Twilight had a twin sister.”
“She doesn’t!” Pinkie said. “That Twilight is obviously the Twilight from this world since it couldn't possibly be the Twilight from the pony world since the Twilight from the pony world doesn't go to Crystal Prep or wear glasses.”
“Nevermind.” Peter shook his head as he could’ve written all what Pinkie said down.