//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: On Short Notice // Story: Equestria Girls 3: The Friendship Games // by EmeraldSkies //------------------------------// Dear Twilight I don't really have much time to write today because school starts soon, so I'll make this quick. I'm wondering if you have any time on your hooves to come and visit here soon. This time just to hang out with the girls, instead of fighting an evil that seems to be here every time you come. Of course since you're a princess now, I understand if you wouldn't be able to. But be sure to write me back if you can. Looking forward to possibly seeing you soon, Sunset Shimmer Sunset Shimmer put away the book and walked over to where her friends seemed to be discussing something. It was early in the morning, and they only had about a few minutes before school started for the day. "Hey girls," Sunset said as she approached the group. "Oh, finally you're back. So is Twilight coming? Is she? Is she?" Pinkie Pie said excitedly, getting a little too close to Sunset. "Whoa nelly, calm down," said Applejack as she pulled Pinkie away, giving Sunset a little space. "I don't think she was able to reply that fast, she is the Princess Of Friendship now after all." "Thanks, Applejack. Though I do hope that she's able to come, I miss her." "Darling, I think we all do. Though it's only been a few weeks" Said Rarity, picking up her stuff so they could start heading towards the school. "Anyway, since Sunset interrupted me, I was about to tell you guys that I saw Fluttershy here doing archery yesterday. She was actually pretty good at it" Said Rainbow, making Fluttershy blush a little in embarrassment. "Well I -" Fluttershy was cut off by Rainbow Dash "Well, you were awesome! You should have seen her, she was like-" Then Rainbow started demonstrating random moves, that made her look pretty ridiculous to anyone that might have been watching her. "I definitely wasn't-" "You should like enter a competition or something! You'd smoke everyone else" "I.." "You could even rival Katniss Evergreen, you know, from The Hunger Lames," Rainbow said, oblivious to the fact that Fluttershy was starting to retreat into a corner. "Ooh! Yeah, Dashie, we could throw her a huge 'Yay, you beat Katniss Evergreen' party! Oh, I can just see it now" Said Pinkie, starting to stare off into space imagining a grand party. Fluttershy was now completely scared off into a corner, and the shy girl was hiding behind her hair. "Call me crazy for saying this, but don't you think this you're um, scaring her a bit?" Sunset said, trying to get Fluttershy to come out of the corner. "Oh oops! Sorry about that Fluttershy, I just get so caught up in parties!" Pinkie said, also helping Fluttershy out. "Yeah, we might have gotten a little carried away," said Rainbow Dash, scratching the back of her head. "But still, you're pretty good at it" "Um thanks, Rainbow. But I'm not sure that I'm near ready to compete in anything" Fluttershy said, just before the bell rang for the start of school. - - - - - The students were all told that they had an assembly for the first period of classes, so when the school bell rang, they all headed to the school's auditorium. Though they were never told what the assembly was for. "Don't you think it's at least a little annoying that they simply couldn't bother to tell us what this was for?" Sunset asked, sitting down beside the girls at the rest of the students found their seats. "Pfft, I don't care what this is for as long as we get to skip class. Math is a bore." Rainbow Dash said casually, putting her feet up on the chair in front of her. Rarity gasped. "Rainbow Dash dear! Please put your feet down, were you raised in a barn?!" Rarity asked, before realizing Applejack was there and had grown up in a barn. "Ah heard that" Applejack smirked. "I mean uhh... Just get your feet off the chair, please." "Nice save there Rares" Said Rainbow Dash, putting her feet down as Rarity had asked. Trying to stop an awkward moment, Fluttershy stepped in and changed the subject back. "Well, I think as long as Principal Celestia has an assembly, then we must know that it's important" Just then, Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna stepped onto the stage. They were barely noticed by half the students, who were still chatting loudly with their friends. "Hi Celestia, hi Luna!" Pinkie Pie was waving her arms wildly to try to get the Principals' attention. Luna gave a small wave, then tapped the microphone, which got most of the school to quiet down. Even managing to get Vinyl Scratch to take off her headphones, which she only did rarely. Celestia began speaking. "As you know, we've gathered you all here for a short announcement of a very exciting event. Now what that event is, I assume most of you are wondering." There was a small murmur in agreement in the audience before Celestia started speaking again. "As you may or may not remember, Cantlerlot High is going to be partaking in an event with another school. A sports event, where we will be competing in various different activities against Crystal Prep." Students looked around to each other, trying to remember what the event was. They could feel it on the back of their minds, but just couldn't put their finger on it. "So, does anyone remember The Friendship Games?" The students were so silent for a moment, that you could almost hear a pin drop. Then, the noise started. Some kids groaned, other kids cursed the event, while some even just downright yelled out. It was a pretty obvious fact that most of the schools' populous was not too happy about it. Luna had to tap the microphone a few times again to get everyone to calm down. "Yes, it is clear that we may not have won the last nine times. But my sister and I believe that this year we will be able to work as a team and take a shot at winning. We do believe that you will be able to do this with a bit of teamwork and determination." Luna then passed the mic back to Celestia as she had an announcement. "We've also selected a few special student leaders to help guide the school for this event. These girls should be able to make sure that Canterlot High has a clear path to winning this year. May Sunset Shimmer, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Rainbow Dash please come on stage?" The six girls were quite shocked by the news of them being the leaders, as this was never mentioned before. But still, they regained their composure and walked up onto the stage with a small round of applause. "The games will consist of multiple sporting events such as Hockey, Motocross, Soccer, Archery, Rollerskating and many other sports. It is not required, but highly encouraged that you sign up for an activity to represent the school." "Sign up sheets will be posted outside the gym in the next few periods, so make sure you take a look and sign up for an event because we're counting on you!" "The opening ceremony for the games will begin on Monday, so you have today and the weekend to begin preparing for your events. We wish you all luck!" With that, the assembly was over, and the students started filing out of the auditorium. Though most of them were still not too happy about the whole event, as they never won, and the odds were that it would stay the same. Everyone was going back to their normal period one class except the six girls on stage, which were asked to stay back and talk with the Principals. Breaking the silence, Celestia spoke. "Now I know that this is very short notice, but Luna and I really think that you girls are the right pick to represent the Wondercolts and bring everyone together, as you've demonstrated before." "I'm delighted and all but like, you couldn't have told us earlier?" Rainbow asked, receiving a nudge in the arm by Applejack. "We'd be happy to, right Rainbow Dash?" Applejack said, covering up for Rainbow Dash's rude comment. Though they would of all rather known about this before, that was no reason to be rude. She sighed. "Yes, Right." "So when would you like us to start?" "As soon as you can, but I am quite confident that you girls will all know what to do," Celestia said, handing over some sign-up sheets to the girls. "In the meantime, we will need you to all sign up for an activity too. We've figured since most of the school looks up to you, if you all signed up then they would feel more prompted to do so as well" Luna smiled, as her and Celestia started leaving the auditorium. "We'll let you miss the first period to plan, just this once." She said, before leaving the six girls alone to do their planning.