Stuck in a dark corner of the School, Twilight Sparkle was cornered and confronted by Sunset Shimmer, a girl which she never even met before and only just heard about. Twilight thought that she could be a simple transfer student that no one would know about and someone who you wouldn't have a grudge against. But ever since she found the crown this morning, her day became a whirlwind of confusion and mystery. Not only did she got visions that she wished she could forget, but Twilight was now trapped with her dog Spike and she could see Sunset's eyes was burning with cruelty and ill-intent.
However, all of Twilight's fear and intimidation went away when Sunset speaks to her.
"Well-well-well... looks like someone decided to follow me through the mirror. How adorably naïve for an alicorn princess."
Twilight was taken aback by that comment. "Alicorn princess", "Going through a mirror" and somehow she was following her? Twilight looked at her equally confused dog and whisper to him: "What is she talking about Spike?"
Spike just shrugs and Twilight imagine him saying: "I don't know?"
As Twilight was left baffled, Sunset began to walk around Twilight, thinking it could feel a bit more intimidating.
“You thought you could get your crown back all by yourself. But when you came to this world, I bet that you discover that it’s nothing like how you imagined.”
However, as Sunset was trying to be intimidating and “getting all up” to Twilight’s face, Twilight was not impressed nor frightened. Twilight pushed her back he and told her:
“Look, I don’t know the heck you’re talking about? I’m just the new transfer student here.”
However, Sunset gets upset to Twilight’s claimed ignorance. “You can’t fool me” she said. “No way any-pony would let the Element of Magic to get stolen like that and wouldn’t try to get it back. But I won’t let you to get your crown back because I won’t let anybody ruin my plans now.”
Despite trying to be cold and frightening, Twilight tried her best to not be afraid or intimidated. However, as she was trying to be brave and stair down Sunset, Twilight was suddenly reminded of her bullies from Crystal Prep. Girls who were so deteremined about their plans, they didn't care about those around them. There were even some students who flaunt their reputation and try to push her down. Sunset reminded Twilight of those people. And within that moment of remembering, Twilight was slowly being intimidated.
But then, Spike detected Twilight's spirit was begining waver and falter. Worried that his master was in danger, Spike jump out of Twilight's bag, catching both girls by suprised. Tapping into his beastly instincts, Spike growled: “HEY! Don’t You Dare Hurt Twilight!”
However, when Sunset looks down and sees the little puppy trying to be a dog, she just burst out into laughter. “Ha Ha Ha! Oh look, is the little baby dragon trying to protect his master?” She then knells down and says to him: “Well tough luck pooch, I’M NOT AFRAID OF DOGS!”
But then, as Twilight saw Sunset Shimmer yelling at her dog, something in Twilight's head tells her to let loose her anger. She picks Spike up; protect him with her arms and yells to Sunset: "HEY! I don't know what is your beef with me is, but don't you dare Harm My Dog!"
Sunset wasn't scared by Twilight's words, but her angry glare and ready for a fight stance made her back off. While still trying to maintain her fearlessness appearance, she chuckle and slowly began to leave.
"Well whatever" she said. "You can do whatever you like her. But if you act like that around me again, trust me, I'll make you pay".
Twilight and Spike didn't move an inch until they see that Sunset Shimmer had left them. When she was finally gone, Twilight relaxed from her posture as it was beginning to give her a cramp. She looks at Spike as she was left with even more questions. She didn't know what's going on with the crown she found or the visions it gave her. She didn't know what Sunset Shimmer was talking about or why she has a grudge against her. But when looks back up, Twilight Sparkle declared: "Ok then, Now It's Personal!"
_ _ _ _ _
After Twilight left the dead end hallway, she was still feeling very upset and round up as she was walking down the school. "Who was she and why is she out to get me?" she thought to herself. She couldn't wrap around Sunset's actions or understand what she said. Combined with the weird crown that she handed in, Twilight wasn't having the relaxing school experence that she wanted.
However, as she was walking down the hall, Twilight suddenly began feeling kind of hungry. She checked a nearby clock and notice that it was actually lunch time. Figuring that she can feel better after having some lunch, Twilight decide to head to the cafeteria to get some food.
It didn't take Twilight long to find the cafeteria as she had to follow the stream of hungry teenagers. When she actually went in, she saw the room was backed full with the different cliques. Each table belongs to one of the students groups and they seem to have a good time chatting among themselves.
Twilight was taken back by the view and how well everybody was getting along... until she realized that she was blocking people's path to the lunch room. Feeling embarrassed, Twilight quickly went and join the student line for the food. When she finally reached the food, Twilight was stucked between choosing a salad bowl or having cheese burger for her meal. Fortunately, there was nice veggie burger there that no one had picked. After grabbing her burger as well as a drink to have afterwards, she went to pay for her meal. When the nice lunch lady offered Twilight an apple, she just shrugs and accepts the apple.
When Twilight got her food and look out to the filled cafeteria, she began to wonder where she is going to sit. Since she barely knew anybody, she felt too shy to seat at a table with a large crowd. She hoped to find an empty table, but they were all gone. She could go to a crowded table, but all of the tables were owned by clicks and were talking about stuff which she has no clue towards.
But as Twilight was standing in the middle of the room looking for a table, she unexpectedly heard a voice calling out to her.
"Hey Twilight Sparkle! Over Here!" the voice cried out.
Twilight did not recognize the voice and was hesitant to go looking for it, especially after the last girl who seemed to "recognize" her. But as she was looking around, she spotted a table in between the jocks and the eco-kids with two girls waving towards her. However, imagine Twilight's surprise when she saw Fluttershy as one of the girls who were calling her. The other girl had rainbow hair along with a tomboyish appearance but Twilight was surprised when she saw the other girl was Fluttershy. Feeling more comfortable to sit next to someone she knows, Twilight head towards Fluttershy and her friend with the rainbow hair.
As Twilight was coming up close, the girl with the rainbow hair says to Twilight:
"Hi, so you're Twilight Sparkle?"
"Yeah, that's me..." Twilight sheepishly replied.
Fluttershy moved up the table and gave Twilight her seat and then introduces her to the rainbow girl.
"Hi Twilight, We were just talking about you. This is Rainbow Dash and she is like one of the best athletes at Canterlot High. ."
"Yo" said Rainbow
"Hi" replied Twilight.
As Twilight sat comfortably on her seat and took a bit out of her meal, Spike popped out Twilight's backpack. When Fluttershy spotted Spike, she became thrilled to see him and put him in between her and Twilight. Before he could respond, Fluttershy began offering him dog biscuits and began chewing down on them.
As Twilight was eating, Rainbow Dash decided to ask her some questions. "Hey Twilight, one of the girls’ soccer team players called in and said that she can't make it to the next soccer match next month. Are you interested?"
"What!? Oh no-no-no, I'm not very good at soccer. My brother tried to teach me how to play one time, but I... end up breaking every window in the house" Twilight replied.
"Ok then" Rainbow replied. "But what about volleyball then? I can see you making a couple of good shots."
"Sorry, but no. I'm not into sports."
"Oh... ok then" Rainbow replied, feeling disappointed.
"Sorry" Twilight apologizes.
However, Rainbow told her: "Nah, that's ok. I can't force you to play sports. Everyone have their own interests and I respect that." As she sees how understanding Rainbow was, Twilight made a little smile.
However, when the warm moment was over, Twilight told the both of them: "Anyway, I don't want to get that popular. I ran into one girl who says she knows me and was flipping crazy."
"Let me guess, it was Pinkie Pie" asked Fluttershy in deadpan tone.
Rainbow Dash interjects. "No-no-no, it was Trixie, wasn't it?"
"No, it was Sunset Shimmer" she replied.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy sat back in surprise and raised their eyebrows.
Twilight explains to them. "She was talking nonsense. She was talking about going through mirrors and alicorn princesses. She even said that Spike was a dragon for some reason?"
"A Dragon!" Fluttershy yelled out, sound a bit frightened. When she looks down at Spike and he saw her watching him, Spike then began to act like Godzilla and pretend to breathe fire. "Don't be silly" Fluttershy told everyone. "Everyone knows that dragons don't exist."
Twilight looks at Fluttershy with confusion. Rainbow Dash then whispered to her ear: "Fluttershy has a slight fear of lizards after a time where a snake bit her."
"RAINBOW!" shouted Fluttershy. Rainbow returned to her seat and feigned innocence.
Rainbow Dash commented: "Huh? I wonder why she did that?"
Twilight told her: "I think she was telling me to stay away from the crown?"
"The crown? You mean the one we found this morning?" asked Fluttershy
"I think so" she replied.
"Maybe she just doesn’t want you to be Fall Formal princess" says Rainbow as she thought out loud. But then, as all three girls were pondering, something clicked inside Rainbow's head that made her to stand up and snap her fingers. "Hey! Maybe you should do it!?" she says and she then point towards Twilight.
"What!?" Twilight responded.
"Run for Fall Formal Princess" she told her. Twilight was shocked by Rainbow Dash's suggestion. Before she could said anything, Rainbow Dash turn to Fluttershy and ask her: "What do you think Fluttershy?"
After being surprised from being suddenly asked, Fluttershy replied: "Well um... After what did for me this morning, I would definitely vote for you Twilight. I think you would make a wonderful princess."
Twilight blushed after hearing Fluttershy's compliment. When she took a hold of herself, she tried to calmly explain: "I... just want to inspect the crown again. I don't want to be princess unless I really have to."
When she says that, Twilight saw Rainbow Dash becoming disappointed and begins to mope. It looked like that she really wanted to her to do something protective. As she was feeling bad for herself, Twilight still wonder why she cares so much for since they just met.
Hoping it might distract her from moping, Twilight asks Rainbow Dash: "Well do you at least know who I need to speak to get a closer look at the crown."
Rainbow replied: "I don't know. But I guess Pinkie Pie since she's in charge of planning the Fall Formal event."
"Oh great" Fluttershy muttered. Both Fluttershy's and Twilight's eagerness slowly dissipates when they heard Pinkie's name. After hearing everybody's descriptions of Pinkie, Twilight got a painted impression of her which she wouldn't like to meet. Fluttershy gave a warning to Twilight.
"Be careful Twilight. No matter how much she says that she wants to be your friend, Pinkie is just a wild party animal who doesn't know how to behave herself."
However, before Twilight could reply, Rainbow Dash cut her off from speaking. "Now wait one moment..." Rainbow interjected. "Pinkie may get carry away sometimes, but she doesn't want to see people upset."
"Really, does "don't want to upset people" also means not apologizing when she made a mistake" Fluttershy argued back.
"She says that she gave you the party just like you wanted. At least she isn't like Applejack."
"Don't Bring Applejack Into This!"
As both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash looked like that they were about to have an argument, Twilight was left confused. Twilight was a bit surprised that someone tried to defend Pinkie, especially after everything she heard about her. She didn't know if it's Rainbow Dash being a bit naïve or there something about Pinkie that she haven't heard about. She was also wondering about the person called Applejack that Rainbow mentioned.
When she spotted Twilight looking a bit puzzled, Rainbow told her: "Look Twilight, Pinkie Pie might get a bit crazy sometimes and be over-the-top, but her heart is in the right place. It's a cow girl by the name of Applejack that you shouldn't listen to."
"Who is Applejack and why shouldn't I listen to her?" Twilight asked.
Rainbow explains: "Applejack is an ex-friend of ours who lies to ya. One time, she asked me to bring the softball team to one of her bake sales. But when we went there, nobody was around. The guys were so mad; I had to be their towel gal for a month just to make it up to them. And want to know something; Pinkie Pie helped me when I had to wash those sticking towels."
As Twilight was processing that, Fluttershy interjected.
"Yeah, but Applejack helped me when I had a room full of traumatized pets. Where was Pinkie Pie for that?"
"She was busy setting up the apology party that you refused to go to."
"WHAT! She Never Made An Apology Party For Me!?"
As the two girls argue, Twilight felt left out and was too afraid to but in. She got Spike and quietly walks away from the argument with her half-finished lunch.
_ _ _ _ _
After finishing what was left of her lunch, Twilight heads towards the gymnasium where she believe that's where she find the party planning committee. Along the way, Twilight was dreading the idea that she would have to run for princess. However, she easily came up with an alternative.
"Who says that I have to be Fall Formal Princess" she thought aloud. "All I have to do is to join the party committee and just get a sneak peak at the crown. And maybe then I'll find out what's is wrong with it."
Twilight felt confident in her plan. But as she was heading towards the gym, she begin imagining what Pinkie would be like. Would be Pinkie be a hyperactive sugar monkey or the type of person who would say "Dude" a lot? Would she be nothing but a party animal or someone who just want to make you happy? Whatever she may be, Twilight was prepared for the worst.
When she found the gym, she discovered that it was well decorated. The gym was covered with party balloons and streamers with uplifting and cheerful colours. Perfectly placed pumpkins that remind you of the season and a spot with a backdrop and a wooden archway for where you can take your photos. Disco ball, DJ booth, tables with the food already set out, everything looks so prepared, they could have the dance tonight.
Spike detected that Twilight was being swept way by the joyful decorations and colourful scenery and growled by her ear. "Hey, isn't there something that you wanted to do here?" Spike sarcastically thought.
"Oh, thanks Spike" thanked Twilight once she snapped out of it.
Twilight looked around the hall to see if anybody was still setting up. Very quickly, she spotted a guy and a girl setting apple sider across the tables. What make them so eye catching for Twilight though is that they looked very wild-western, especially the girl as she was wearing a cowboy hat.
As Twilight walk up close to them, the two students felt the presence coming behind them. When they turn around, the two were surprise to see a student they didn't recognize (although the boy's face is more subdued).
"Well, I don't reckon we've seen you before" says the girl who tips her hat upwards.
"That because you haven't" Twilight replied. She says: "Hi, my name is Twilight Sparkle and I just transferred" and extend her head for a shake.
"Well it's nice meeting you Twilight" the girl replied as she shook Twilight's hand. "The name's Applejack and this here is my brother Big Mac'."
"Howdy" greeted Big Mac'.
"Oh, so she's Applejack" Twilight thought in her head, trying her best not to say it or even whisper it. And while everyone was exchanging greetings, Spike secretly escapes from Twilight's bag and wonder of to play with some confetti.
While Big Mac' was finishing setting out the drinks, Applejack was busy talking to Twilight. "So why would the new girl come over to this neck of the woods? Did ya come to take part in the Fall Formal or something" she asked curiously.
"Sort of" Twilight nervously replied. "I... can see that you got a big event coming up and I thought I would help out... He-he."
As can clearly see Twilight's nervous expression, Applejack began to eye her up. In her head, Twilight was yelling in her head to she would except her. But before the moment becomes any more tense, Applejack says to her: "Great! We sure can use an extra pair of hands around here." Before she could respond, AJ wrapped an arm around Twilight and began yelling towards the Stage:
“HEY PINKIE! SOMEONE’S HERE WHO WANTS TO LEND A HAND!”
“I’VE HEARD!” the voice yells back from behind the curtains.
Before Twilight could respond to anything, someone pulled her aside and gives her a tight hug that lifts her off the ground. “Wow! Put Me Down!” she says to her unknown assailant. After she was quickly put down, Twilight wanted to know who hugged her. But when she turns around, she saw… a very pink girl.
“Hi, my name’s Pinkie Pie and I heard you want to help?” she says as she was being too close.
“I am” Twilight as her step away from Pinkie. She then says: “Wait, I thought I head you by the stage?”
“I was by the stage” Pinkie cheerfully replied. “I was busy painting the back drop for when the Fall Formal princess is crowned.” Pinkie then rushes to the stage and pullback the curtains, revealing an impressive heart shaped mural.
Twilight was impressed by the mural as she saw a very excited Pinkie Pie and spotted painted splattered across her clothes. She could tell that Pinkie must have worked hard on it.
“Do like it?” Pinkie asked
“Hmm… Yeah, I like it” Twilight politely replies.
“Really!” she yelled excitedly as she invades Twilight’s personal space again. “Did it make you feel happy? Excited?! EXHILARATED!? ALL OF THE ABOVE!!”
“WHOA Pinkie!” cried Applejack as she separated Pinkie from Twilight.
Once she realizes how excited she was, Pinkie calmed down and apologize. “Oopsy daisy. Sorry, sometimes I don’t realize how close I am to people. I just want to see you smile.”
Twilight, who was slightly shaken-up, asks: “Why do you want to see me smile?”
“Because that how I know that you’re happy” she replied.
“Ok… But why do want me to be happy then?”
“What! Do I need a reason to make people feel happy?”
As Twilight was about to answer that, she realize that she doesn’t really have an answer. As she thinks about it, she can’t come up with anything other than she’s kind. When she looks at Pinkie’s innocent and cheerful face, Twilight doesn’t detect any secret intentions. “I guess not” she finally replied hesitantly.
And then almost abruptly, Pinkie then asks Twilight: “Hey Twilight, do you want to know what I can do with a balloon?”
Twilight gave nothing other than a confused and concerned look. When she looks at Applejack, she could tell that she is use to Pinkie’s behaviour a she is taking everything in stride. As she watched Pinkie sucking in the air from a balloon (one that she grabbed away from Spike), Twilight tries to tell her: “Look, you don’t have to do this just to make me smile. I know that it’s full of helium and it make you sound…”
“Like Big’ Mac?” Pinkie responded with an expectedly deep voice. Everyone was caught off guard as Pinkie sounds exactly like Big Mac'.
AJ muttered "Ya sound just like my..."
"Eeyup"
Pinkie Pie then grabs another balloon and took the air out of that too. But when she was done, she sounds disturbingly and yet humorously like Principal Celestia: "Well girls, what do you think of my voice trick?" AJ was clearly laughing while Twilight was trying her best not to and was blocking her mouth. But then, Pinkie sucked the air from another balloon and sound just like Fluttershy. And we she says: "Please, don't make fun of my voice", Twilight feel onto her back with laughter.
However, when Twilight started laughing, Applejack slowly stops. "Ok Pinkie, you can stop there" she says.
"Oh please stop, I think I'm about to cry."
"Pinkie, Stop!"
Fortunately, Applejack’s yelling quickly got through to Pinkie and she stopped. Although, Pinkie was very sour at Applejack as she gave her a cold stair. After grabbing one more balloon, she told her: “Party Pooper” in her normal voice.
However, both of them heard Twilight still laughing and rolling around on the floor. When she finally ran out of laughter, she soon spotted AJ and Pinkie Pi towering over her. Blushing, Twilight got herself off the floor and brushes the dirt off her skirt. AJ and Pinkie couldn’t help but snicker.
After feeling embarrassed, Twilight asks them: “Anyway, is there a form that I need to sign or something?”
“I guess so” Pinkie replied. Pinkie began checking her hair and other parts of her body until she found a clip board and pen. “You just need to sign your name on this and you would be an official member of the party planning committee.”
Pinkie hands the clip bird and pen to Twilight. Twilight, who was thinking that this was her first step to solve the mystery of the crown, was eager to put her name down. However, as soon the pen touches the paper, a loud voice cried out in frustration.
“This Looks Terrible!”
When Twilight, Applejack and Pinkie Pie look towards the doorway, they saw Sunset Shimmer and right behind her were two unimpressive lackeys.
“There should be more a lot more streamers towards the stage and fewer balloons!” Sunset complained as she popped a balloon with a finger.
"Hey!" Pinkie moaned.
"Yeah, more streamers!" yelled the small and pudgy lackey with a pair of scissors on his shirt.
"And fewer balloons" the tall and scrawny minion added as he tries and fails to burst a balloon.
And then, Sunset spotted what's by the stage. "And what the heck is that!" she asked as she points towards the heart mural.
Pinkie popped right next to her and says: "Oh that? It's just something that I painted. I think that everybody will..."
But before she could finish, Sunset yell to her that: "It Looks Stupid! This isn't some little girl's birthday party, It's My CORINATION!" As Sunset's cold and cruel words shatters Pinkie's heart, she then gave her a paint brush and says: “Wipe it down and do it again! But this time, do a gorgeous image of me.”
As she sees Sunset insulting Pinkie’s hard work, Applejack’s anger was lit and something ignited within Twilight. Both of them cry out at once: “HEY!” and got Sunset’s attention. Twilight yells “You can’t barge your way in here and demand whatever you want!” Applejack added: “Yeah! Who died and made you queen?”
Sunset, unimpressed by their loud stance, only took notice of Twilight. “And can someone tell my why she is here?” Sunset asked as she looks away at another direction.
Even more infuriated then before, Twilight yells: “Hey! You Got No Right To Boss Them Around Like That!”
“Oh yes I do” Sunset smugly replied as she turn back around. “You see, I’m running unopposed.”
“What!”
And unexpectedly, Pinkie Pie says to both of them: “She’s right you guys.” Pinkie then depressingly got out another clip board and explains: “No one else has signed up and Sunset is the only girl on the ballot. And since she’s going to be crowned princess, we got to do what she says."
"No way" Twilight claimed as she has a closer look at the sign up board. But like what Pinkie and Sunset said; Sunset is the only name on the list. "But... It's not a real title. It's just a stupid school contest sort-a-thing."
"Who cares" Sunset stated. "Since there is no contest, they have to do everything that they can to make the night special for me for when I get my crown." Sunset then gave Twilight an devilishly evil grin, telling her that she can't do anything about it.
Twilight was shocked and utterly confused. Assuming that they're right, then if she joins the party committee; she would have to take orders from Sunset Shimmer. But that isn’t what’s bugging Twilight. She could just ignore or tolerate Sunset orders and she still has an opportunity to examine the crown.
The thing that’s truly upsetting Twilight was Sunset bullying Applejack and Pinkie Pie; insulting their hard work and demanding obedience. But for some strange reason, it isn’t because that no one was stopping her. It because Twilight she couldn’t stand seeing Pinkie or Applejack were the ones being bullied.
Meanwhile, in all of this madness, Twilight notices Spike under one of the tables who was trying to stay unnoticed from two lackeys. When he realizes that Twilight was looking at him, he stares back with a face that says:
“Well Twilight… what are you gunna do?
After taking a long and deep breath, Twilight says to Pinkie: "Pinkie... pass me that clip board."
Snapping out of her depression, Pinkie asks her: "Which one?" as she reveals that she has two clip boards in either hand.
Twilight didn't like it, but she knows that it would help protect them from Sunset's brutality... at least for now. She clenches her eyes and grinds her teeth and says: "...... The Princess Ballot!"
Everyone in the room gave a great big shocking gasp. As Twilight grabs the ballot and pen from Pinkie, AJ tells hey: "Hey now Twilight, let's not do anything rash before thinking it through first.
"You should listen to your friend. You Do Not want to do this!" Sunset threatened.
But despite everyone's warnings, Twilight clenched the pen and put her name down on the ballot. Twilight Sparkle is now a candidate for Canterlot High's Fall Formal Princess.