The snickering followed Twilight for the rest of the day, and occasionally a student would call her a nasty name. She tried to speak to some of the ones she had identified as leaders of a club or social group, but only a handful were interested in what she had to say. It felt like an eternity before the final bell rang. She started towards the library before she remembered she needed to be out at the soccer field.
When she arrived, no one was there. She placed her backpack on the bleachers and Spike hopped out and stretched. “Ugh, finally! It's really cramped in there.”
“Sorry, but it's either that, or wait outside somewhere all day,” Twilight replied, taking a seat on the bleachers.
“So, this must be the soccer field.” Spike looked around. “What's 'soccer?'”
“It's a sport the humans play. I came across a number of them in my readings. If I remember this one correctly, the objective is to kick the ball into the other player's goal, and not let them do the same to you.”
“Sort of like hoofball.”
“Sort of, yes.” Twilight heard talking, and saw Rarity and Fluttershy walking towards her and talking.
“-and you should definitely consider a career in modeling. You have the perfect figure for it. I even have a few designs I think would look fabulous on you,” Rarity explained.
Fluttershy simply continued looking at the ground. “If you say so.”
“I do say so! Hello, Twilight!” Rarity sat next to Twilight. “Rainbow Dash never arrived?”
“Not yet. It's only been a few minutes, though.”
“Well, I hope it doesn't take long. I have a number of adjustments to make on our dresses for the dance. Speaking of which, stand up.”
Twilight did so, and Rarity pulled out measuring tape and a notepad, then set to taking Twilight's measurements. “I still need to win.”
“I know, and I put in a good word for you with some people. It was hard to address the video, but I think I won you some fans. Trixie's spreading other rumors, though, which I know are false.”
“Thanks.”
Twilight heard more talking from one very distinct voice. She turned her head to look for a moment before Rarity turned it back to get a measurement.
“-and then I said, 'Look! It's a Pinkie Bank!' They didn't think it was that funny, but I thought it was hilarious,” Pinkie said to an Applejack who looked like she had stopped listening hours ago. “Hey Twilight!”
Twilight waved back as Rarity finished up. “That should do. We should stop by my house so I can adjust properly, though.”
“So, Twi, you think you can handle Dash in whatever she's got cookin'?” Applejack asked, taking a seat on the bleachers.
“I'll do my best, but I'm not really athletic,” Twilight replied.
“Well, we'll find out soon. Here she comes.”
A teal-skinned girl wearing navy blue track pants and matching windbreaker walked up to the group, twirling a soccer ball on her finger. She smiled as her magenta eyes scanned the group. “All right, which one of you is Twilight Sparkle?”
“I am.” Twilight stepped forward. “You wanted to talk to me about something?”
Dash dropped the soccer ball and pinned it with her foot. “I heard about what you did for Fluttershy. Me and her go way back. Nobody in this school really stands up for her but me, and ever since our schedules got mixed up to where we hardly see each other, that got real hard., real fast. I wanted to meet you and see who you really were after all the stuff I've been hearing around the school. That, and I got a text message out of nowhere making fun of me that said it was from you.”
“I wouldn't do that! I don't think I even have a phone.”
“I figured it was Trixie. I don't know how she got my number, but it was even more reason to do this.”
“Trixie's a bully, and the more people that stand up to her, the less power she has. And Fluttershy is one of the nicest people I know.”
Rainbow Dash nodded. “I also heard you're going for Princess of the Fall Formal. Gutsy to do that at all anymore, but even though Sunset's done a lot for me and this school, I can't say she's my friend. Someone genuinely kind wouldn't let Trixie keep bullying people.”
“That's what I've been sayin'!” Applejack called out.
“So, Twilight, what do you say to a quick game? First to five goals wins.”
“Done.” Twilight had a feeling she knew what this was really about.
The two walked out to the middle of the field. Dash placed the ball between them and shot a cocky look at Twilight. “There's a reason the jocks idolize me.”
Twilight said nothing. Fluttershy pulled out a whistle and blew it, signaling the beginning of the game. Twilight managed to get the ball away from Rainbow initially, but was in the other girl's feet before long. From there, it was all downhill. Every time Rainbow scored a goal, they returned the ball to the middle, and every time Fluttershy blew the whistle, Rainbow got the ball and scored inside a minute. In the last round, Twilight managed to get the ball despite the screaming protestations of her legs. She took a shot at Rainbow's goal and allowed herself the brief hope that it might actually go in before Rainbow intercepted it and darted back towards Twilight's goal. Rainbow shot, scored, and did a victory dance as Twilight dropped to her knees on the grass.
Rainbow walked over to Twilight and held her hand out. “For a nerd, you're not bad.”
Twilight took her hand and Rainbow hauled her to her feet. “I lost, though.”
“Yeah, but you gave it your all the whole way through. I like that. Consider yourself voted for.”
Twilight smiled. “Thanks.” She looked around and realized she had all of her Equestria friends assembled. “But after today, I have no idea if I'll win the crown with just the six of us, though.”
“I'll go clear up what I can with the guys I know. If all of us work together, I think we can make it happen.”
“Well, if all of you are going to the dance, I'll need to start on your dresses right now. Let me get all of your measurements, and I'll have something ready by tomorrow,” Rarity said, the others behind her. “Does anyone have any requests?”
“Whatever you make for me will be fine, Rarity. I trust you,” Twilight replied, remembering what happened the last time her Rarity did something like this.
Rainbow shrugged. “I'm not really a 'fashion' person, so just whatever looks cool.”
“Well, we can talk about it on the way to my house. It's not far, so we can walk there,” Rarity spoke up.
~
Twilight sat in the library once more, this time at a computer. She had dedicated her afternoon, after spending some time with the girls and speaking to other students about her candidacy for the election, to learning how to operate it without looking like a fool, and it was worth it. She managed to figure it out in a few minutes, and was amazed by what she found within: full access to the sum of all human knowledge, found through a portal called “Internet Adventurer.” It came as shock when the announcement of the closure of the library was announced, as she was in the middle of taking notes on something called the “Witch Trials.” She finished her sentence and walked upstairs, where Spike had already pulled down some books for the bed.
“This would be a lot easier if I had hands,” Spike said, dropping another book into place.
Twilight placed her note paper into a box they had found, along with all of her other notes. “That computer is amazing! It's hard to believe such a small box could hold more information than this entire library. Maybe there's a way to stabilize the portal so we can come and go, and just keep getting information,” Twilight mused as she helped Spike with the books. “It would be such a shame to leave all this behind. We could jump Equestria's technology forward hundreds of years with just a few of the discoveries the humans have made! It's a shame they abandoned their magical studies, though.”
“Magic still exists here, then?”
Twilight nodded. “Only a few could use it, but those who could do amazing things. I didn't find a lot of what I would have wanted to know, but magic definitely exists. If I could spend enough time here, I bet I could find a way to harness it again.”
“Nothing on doing that now?”
“Nothing that worked. I guess all the secrets to doing so were lost with all the magic users.”
“What happened to everyone who could?”
“From what I've read, the humans who couldn't do magic became afraid of those who could, and turned against them. Anyone who they even thought could do magic was captured, tried, and put to death. Those who weren't captured hid, and it looks like they hid really well, though I read a legend about six sorcerers who wielded great powers using magic artifacts, but I didn't find anything to corroborate it.”
Spike shook his head. “And you want to spend more time here.”
“Given enough time, I might be able to show them that magic isn't so bad, that with proper study, any of them could do it.” Twilight sighed. “Oh well. I've taken enough notes these past few days that we can write a dozen or more books on the human world.” Twilight looked through the box of her notes and closed it up. “Spike, can you take this back through the portal? I don't think I'm going to have more time for note taking, and I don't want anything happening to the ones we have. And I think the Princesses will want an update.”
“Got it.” Spike went to push the box when he bumped into something. He looked up to see Flash standing there, mouth agape. “Uhh, Twilight?”
Twilight turned to look at Spike and saw the same. She blushed and stood quickly, fumbling for explanations that might make sense before looking at the floor. “How... how much did you hear?”
“Enough to wonder if I'm dreaming.” Flash pinched himself. “Nope.” He took a breath. “So, what are you? Or better yet, who are you really?”
Twilight took a breath of her own. No hiding now. “My name really is Twilight Sparkle, but you're right, I'm not from this world. I'm, uh, actually from another world. In that one, I'm a unicorn- well, an alicorn now, I guess, and a princess. I came here because my crown, a powerful magical artifact, was stolen, and the thief jumped through a portal that led here.” She looked at Flash. “That's why I'm running for Princess of the Fall Formal. The crown you're using for that is the crown the thief stole. The portal I came through is unstable, so I don't know how long I'm going to have before it closes, and if I don't get the crown by then, then my world is going to be left extremely vulnerable to any number of threats.”
Flash only stood for a moment, processing all of this. “So, you're really a magical pony princess who's looking for a magic crown to save your magic world.” He started laughing, and Twilight smiled nervously. “You know, I wouldn't believe a word of this if I didn't hear your dog talking a minute ago.”
“In our world, I'm not even a dog, I'm really a ferocious dragon!” Spike tried to roar and only barked.
Twilight relaxed. “Can you help me, then? I'll need all the support I can get to win.”
“Help save the world? My inner five year old is going crazy right now, so sure. But, uh,” Flash looked around, “I wouldn't let it out that you sleep in the library, though. If Trixie finds out about that, you're done. I could set you up at my place. My parents are away for the week, so it'll just be us.”
Twilight blushed harder.
The smile left Flash's face. “I- I don't mean it like that! I'm just offering a warm bed for the night! I mean, I'll be sleeping on the couch, and you can have my bed, if you want. I promise I won't do anything inappropriate.”
“I wasn't- It's just, I've never been approached by a boy like this, let alone invited to his house.” Spike tugged at Twilight's pants and nodded. “Sure. It'd be nice to have a chance to clean up.” She picked up the box. “We just have to drop something off first.”
Flash nodded, and the trio headed out to Flash's car, a sporty-looking car with a running horse on the front grill. Twilight helped Spike push the box through the portal and him soon after, then sat with Flash in his car. He noticed her admiring the car. “You like it?”
“We don't have anything like this in Equestria. I remember reading about these in the library. It's some sort of horseless carriage, right?”
Flash nodded. “Once these came around, we stopped using horses for that. Now, we ride them for sport or use them for labor.” Flash's eyes widened a bit and he looked at Twilight. “Wait, was that offensive?”
Twilight shook her head. “No, ponies pull our carriages too, it's just that we pay them.”
Flash drummed on the wheel awkwardly. Spike trotted up a moment later and hopped in the window and onto Twilight's lap. At that, the two were off.
~
“Any intrusions?” Flash Sentry asked of his guard, standing to the left of the portal.
“None, sir. It's been quiet since Princess Twilight entered.”
“I see. Carry on. Your relief should be here in an hour.” Flash turned to leave when the portal crackled and flashed. The guards immediately brandished their spears, pointed at the portal. Flash readied his blade, a device attached to his front leg that functioned as a retractable sword. He shouted, and another four guards were inside and ready in seconds.
The portal finally deposited a box, and Spike shortly after. He rose to face the points of half a dozen spears and Flash's sword. “I didn't do it, I swear!”
“Spike?” Flash motioned to dismiss his guards. He retracted his sword. “What happened? Where's Princess Twilight?”
Spike relaxed as the guards left. “She's still on the other side.” He briefly explained what was happening. “So, what's with the guards?”
“After the last intrusion, I had the area locked down. Nopony gets in or out of where without either my or the Princesses approval.”
“Wow.”
“If you're going back through, tell the Princess that whatever she needs to do, she needs to do it fast. The few eggheads I've let in here tell me the portal isn't going to last much longer. Two days at best.”
“Two days? That's plenty of time. We should be back before then.”
“You've been gone a week.”
“Oh.”
“Should I get her friends and send them through with you?”
“No, I think we've got this. I'll let Twilight know.” Spike turned and reentered the portal.
“Good luck,” Flash said, and left.
~
“So I'm right, time does flow differently here than it does in Equestria.” Twilight did some math in her head. “That means the portal will close tomorrow night, give or take a few hours.”
“There's... one of me over there?” Flash asked.
Twilight nodded. “It seems like that, for every pony I know in Equestria, there's a human counterpart here. For instance, Principal Celestia is this world's counterpart for our Princess Celestia.”
Flash shook his head. “This is so weird.”
“The only one here I can't think of a counterpart for is Sunset, but I may not have met her in my world. I don't know everyone in Equestria.”
“Maybe it's a sign.”
“You think she's the thief?”
“Well, I have no evidence to prove it, and it certainly doesn't seem like something she'd do. She keeps her hands clean.” Flash decided to change the subject. “So, if you're a unicorn, that means you can do magic, right? Are all of you like that?”
“Oh no! Some of us are unicorns, yes, but there's three other types of pony.” Twilight began to explain the differences between the races of pony in great detail as Flash tried very hard to listen. Spike reached up and tugged on Twilight's shirt. “Hm? Oh, sorry. I guess I got a little too in-depth.” She smiled awkwardly.
Flash chuckled. “And the me on the other side? What's he like?”
Twilight blushed. “I, uh, never really got a chance to talk to him much. He's the Captain of the Royal Guard, and he seems like he takes his job very seriously.”
“Now that sounds great. You know, when you're not being attacked by bug monsters or cloaked thieves.” Flash turned the car into a driveway. “We're here, by the way.”
It was a ranch-style house, single floor with blue aluminum siding and a handful of windows. A brick walkway led to the front porch, lined by a small garden with a variety of flowers and some bushes closer to the house. Flash walked Twilight to the front door, a wooden door with an oval window in the middle. Flash held the door open for Twilight. “After you, Princess.”
“You don't have to call me that.” Twilight stepped inside, Spike bounding ahead.
“Just making a joke,” Flash replied with a smile.
“Oh! I knew that.”
“There's a bathroom down this hall with a shower, if you want to use that. I can wash your clothes while you're in the shower, and dig up something for Spike,” Flash said, gesturing down a carpeted hallway.
Twilight blushed and fidgeted. “This is really nice of you. I was really just expecting someplace to sleep.”
“It's nothing, really. There's no point in offering for you to stay in my house if I'm not going to let you use it.”
“Well, thanks.” With that, Twilight headed for the shower.
Flash looked down at Spike. “So, you're really a dragon.”
“Yup.”
“Should I get a cow, or-”
“Usually I eat gemstones.”
“I have some cold cuts in the fridge.”
“That works.”
~
Twilight emerged from the bathroom wearing a pair of sweatpants and a T shirt. An unfamiliar smell greeted her, which she followed to find Flash putting some large, flat boxes on the white tiled counter. “What are those?”
“Yeah, dinner had a problem, so I ordered pizza. I got a vegetarian one. I hope it's okay. If not, I'll try again.” Flash opened the boxes, steam coming off the pizzas.
“I've never had pizza before.” Twilight grabbed a slice and slid it onto a plate, Flash taking two.
“A delicacy from the human world, very popular among people my age,” Flash said as the two sat down. His television was playing a documentary on an old war. Flash reached for the remote. “Do you want to watch something else?”
Twilight was already watching the documentary with great interest. “Oh no, this is great! There's so much here I haven't learned about yet, and I don't think I ever will. I want to learn all I can before I go back.”
“Fair enough, I guess.” Flash put the remote down. “You're all about learning, aren't you?”
“As much as I can. I've wanted to read and learn since I was little. I did it so much that I never really worried about having friends until Princess Celestia told me to, and at first, I only did it because she said to.”
“And now?”
“I can't believe I didn't do it sooner. I've learned so much from them that no book could have shown me, and we've been together for so long and done so much, I can't imagine where I'd be without them.”
“Ever had any room for boys?”
Twilight blushed. “I never really thought about it much. I've read books and everything, but...”
Flash chuckled nervously. “It's no big deal. It really depends on they guy you find. If you get a guy who's a complete jerk, it can be horrible. Other people find the right person on their first try. The rest of us fall into the middle, and just have to keep looking before we find that special someone.”
“Do you think you'll ever find yours?”
It was Flash's turn to blush. “I hope so.”
Suddenly, Twilight leaned over and kissed Flash on the cheek. He turned to look at her, eyes widened in surprise.
“Sorry. It just felt... right.”
“I wasn't complaining.” Flash smiled. He put his arm around Twilight. She rested her head on his shoulder as they returned their attention to the documentary.