The first bell rang and Twilight never came to class. The second bell rang and she was nowhere to be seen. No one has even spotted Twilight since school started, even her loyal dog Spike was at a lost and having trouble finding her. He was running up and down the school, frantically searching for his heart broken master. He tried finding and following Twilight's scent, but in the many skills that he's smart enough of doing, scent tracking was unfortunately wasn't one of them.
"Man! Why wasn't I born with a better nose?" Spike moaned in frustration. "Ok Spike, calm yourself. You know Twilight better than anyone else so you should be able to find her. What would be the place that Twilight would go after a lot of stress?"
After mere moments after he asked himself that question that Spike had already gotten an idea on and heads to where she might be. He ran down corridors, shifting around corners and hoping that he remembers the place from yesterday. But fortunately, he did remember as he arrived to Twilight's favourite place in the world... a library.
As he walks through the open doors, even Spike knows that she might not be here. Even though this is might be her favourite place, Twilight might not want to come back to the spot that was the setting for her humiliation. Spike knows that it's a longshot, but he would try looking here first before seeing if she ran back home.
Immediately by the entrance, Spike could see (or couldn't see) that Twilight wasn't at the computers. He checked by several book shelves on the ground floor and couldn't see Twilight anywhere. Spike thought that this was a fruitless search, until he starts hearing faint sounds of someone weeping. Using his highly tuned ears, Spike followed the weeping which led him to the second floor of the library. When he was right behind the corner from the source, Spike prepared himself for if it wasn't going to be Twilight or if it is Twilight and would really need him. When he did turn the corner, he was somewhat happy to discover that it was actually Twilight.
Twilight was sitting down into a corner, crying tears of sorrow right onto her skirt. Several of her posters were scattered by her feet and several looked like that they were torn up by her. The second Spike started to walk towards, Twilight head shot up in surprise. "Spike..." she cried, somewhat relived to see him.
"Hi Twilight" weep poor Spike as he becomes for sad his master.
When Spike got close to her, Twilight pulled him in closer and cuddles him for comfort. He didn't know anything else that he can do but to let Twilight to hug him tightly and let her to cry out her worries. With the memory of Sunset still fresh in her head, telling that she isn’t welcomed anymore, Twilight whispered softly to herself.
"Maybe it's not too late to go back to Crystal Prep?"
And with those words uttered, Twilight finally feels that she has been defeated. The whole reason that she transferred to Canterlot in the first place was so she could escape to a different more colourful environment. But with that gone however, she felt that she has accomplished nothing. As Twilight retreats into herself, she began to recall her reason transferring to a different school.
It was like any other day at Crystal Prep; being challenged with a ton of work and everyone else is more concerned with their own achievements than worrying about other people. She remembering carrying a heavy load of books down the hall way and no one wasn’t even given her a 1st glance, let alone a 2nd. Twilight always felt that she only has herself to rely on, with Spike only giving her moral support. It was like any other day at Crystal Prep, but that day had something different.
As Twilight was about to reach her locker, she accidently bumped into someone and dropped all of her books. As Twilight was registering what has happened, she realized that she bumped into someone who wasn’t from her school. It was Principal Celestia who was visiting to see Dean Cadence… who was right behind her as it so happens.
Recognizing who she had just bumped into, Twilight quickly falls into a panic. “I am so-so, so-so sorry! I promise it won’t happen again” she quickly apologizes.
But as Twilight was picking up her books, she saw Principal Celestia leaning down and helping her. “That’s ok” she told her. “I just want to know if you are ok?”
“Um... yes?” she replied, taken back by the kind gesture.
As Celestia handing over the books that she collected back over to Twilight, she realizes how many books that she was carrying. “Oh my… that is a lot of books that you’re carrying. You don’t know anyone here who will help you?”
“No, that’s ok. I mostly do everything by myself. I don’t really need anybody’s help.” Twilight replied, before whispering to herself: "It isn't like anybody is offering or anything."
"Well that's a shame" Celestia remarks. "Back at my CHS, a bright girl like yourself would most definitely be able to find some friends who would be happy to help." Upon realizing what she had just said, Celestia look back at Cadence behind her and told her: "I don't mean anything against your school, Dean Cadence."
"That's ok Celestia, I know what your meant" she replied, knowing there wasn't any ill will behind it.
With that incident avoided, Celestia turn back around to Twilight and told her: "Well anyway, if there are any issues that are bothering you, be sure to tell your teachers."
As the two principals left Twilight, she slowly began to become curious about this "CHS". She knows that Crystal Prep is a well-known school that brings out the best and brightest students, but that so far isn't making her want to stay. She was also was impressed with Principal Celestia and wonders what her school is like with her being in charge. And after that day, Twilight researched about Canterlot High. for herself and slowly become interested on transferring there.
However, Twilight now know that that curiosity had resulted in disaster and humiliation. She was made a fool on her second day by a cruel bully and if she returns to Crystal Prep now, she would still look like a fool for leaving there in the first place. And right now, the only thing that she has is her dog Spike and her own self-pity.
But as Twilight was wallowing in said pity, she began hearing voices that slowly brings her out from her depression.
"Hey! Are you ok?"
"I don't know about this Apple Bloom. Maybe we should just call a teacher?"
"Hey! Are you sleepin' or are you..."
"Hey! I think she's waking up!"
As Twilight rips away the dry tears from her eyes, she was slowly returning back to today. When she finally opens them, she discovered and was surprised to see three freshmen girls looking over her. The freshman who was closes to Twilight had a bright ribbon tied to her hair and was wearing clothes that looks suitable for working outdoors. The second one looks a bit cuter and kinda fashionable, with brighter colours to her outfit and hair. The last one looks a bit tomboy-ish, having a dark hoodie, pants and purple hair. However, they all have seemed to resemble other people that Twilight knows but couldn't put her finger on it yet.
"Are you alright?" ask the girl with the bright ribbon.
"Yeah, I'm fine" Twilight replies. Spike then jumps off of her so she could get up and stretch.
After taking notice of her dog, the girl with the hoodie came to a realization and says out load: "Hey, I Know You!"
"You do!" Twilight responded, sounding surprised.
"Yeah! You're Twilight Sparkle, the girl that everybody is talking about."
After the other two girls took a moment to stare at Twilight they both came to the same conclusion. The girl with the brighter colours of the even said out load: "Oh yeah!"
Seeing these girls recognizing her had caused Twilight to fall back down to a glum attitude. After picking Spike up back into her bag, Twilight then told the girl: "Well that's great, but you better run along before someone sees you with me and get laughed at."
"What! You mean because of that video that was made about you?" asked by the cute freshmen, stopping Twilight as she was about to leave.
Twilight told her: "Yes, that video."
After the freshmen gave a hesitant look at each other, the girl with the ribbon, now spotting the "county-ism" in her voice, told Twilight that: "Yeah... we not all that bothered by that, especially after all the videos that we've made." When Twilight looked disbelieving to what she said, she then asks her: "Do want to see it?" Curious, Twilight went with the freshmen so she can see their video.
Twilight followed the girls to the computers, at which point they bring up the video for her to watch. As Twilight was about to play it, Spike gave her some headphones so she can listen quietly. As soon as the video started, she discovered that it was some sort of a music video. But as she was watching it, Twilight slowly become perplexed. They were doing weird dancing while wearing some weird costumes and was singing a song that didn't what to say about it. It's something that she won't easily forget, but she is having a hard time putting down what she is seeing into words. When it was done, Twilight didn't know what she had just watched.
Twilight quickly snapped out of it when the freshmen took away her headphones. The tomboy admits: "Yeah... we know that isn't one of our best works." Twilight didn't have a counterargument.
But then, the freshmen with the cute outfit got in front of the computer and told Twilight: "But the thing about posting stuff on the internet Twilight is that not everyone is going to have the same opinion." As she was showing Twilight the comments of their video, she explain to her: "I mean yeah, we often get comments saying that this is the funniest thing they have ever seen. But sometimes we get comments saying how we can improve ourselves and make a better performance."
The girl with the ribbon then asks Twilight: "Did you check the comment's section on your video?"
"No I haven't" Twilight replied, somewhat amazed that she haven't thought of that.
Out of intrigue, Twilight brought up her video on the computer screen. She was afraid to what she might find, but she was also hoping that she might find something that might lighten her mood. And what she did find was something fascinating.
Diamond Dogs- Ha Ha! This is helarious
Sweetie Drops- Do you think this is funny, being bullied by Sunset Shimmer?
Diamond Dogs- What would you expect to happen after standing against Sunset?
Sweetie Drops- Well you still shouldn't be making fun of her"
Heartstrings- You Tell Them Bon-Bon!
Grizelda- Man, this Twilight Snarkle is such a lame-o
DJ PON3- This vid' is uncool
Melody- I concur
Muffins- Wow, This is so inspirational. I'll vote for Twilight Sparkle
Sweetie Drops- Derpy, this is an attack ad
Timber Wolfs- This had me in stitches
Snowflake- This is only the 2nd most funniest video I've seen. SO YEAH!!!
She could still find some hurtful comments, but the rest was overflowing with kindness and sympathy that it blew Twilight away. Not only did she discover that she still has a chance of winning, but she also realizes that it isn't the end of the world for her.
As Twilight was scrawling down to the page, she saw a group of comments who says that they want to help her. But there were two odd things about them though. One, the seemed a bit unease about them all working together. Second, something about the commenter usernames: "Pinkamena", "Rainboom", "AJ". Twilight has a hunch on who they might be, but wasn't completely sure yet to say for curtain.
But then, the freshmen with the cute outfit got in front of Twilight and point to one of the comments. "Hey! I think this is Rarity's" she said out load
Surprised, Twilight push herself back and ask out load: "Wait, how you know who Rarity is?"
"Well she's my sister. Didn't I told you that?" she replied. With a shocked expression, Twilight just silently nodded: "No."
"Whoops" muttered the girl with the ribbon. Seeing that they forgot to do it, the freshmen decided to finally introduce themselves. "Well my names Apple Bloom and Applejack is my big sis'."
"And I'm Sweetie Belle and I'm Rarity's younger sister."
The last girl to introduce herself was the tomboy who says: "I'm Scootaloo, and while Rainbow Dash isn't actually my sister, she is like my idol."
Apple Bloom then admitted: "In fact, we learn about you by our sisters before we saw ya video."
Upon learning who Apple Bloom's, Sweetie Belle's and Scootaloo's sisters were, Twilight became chuffed and says: "Wow, you are so not like your sisters."
"Yeah" Sweetie replied, sounding regretful as she says it. "It's a shame, they were really good friends to each other. It's sad to see them fighting like this."
"Yeah... it is sad" Twilight agreed, feeling sympathetic towards them.
And then Scootaloo admitted: "Yeah, we were really hoping that you would somehow bring them all back together."
"What! Why me?" Twilight asked.
Scootaloo explains: "Are you kidding? They were saying great things about you. They all haven't agreed on anything before you came around."
"Really! But I... said such horrible things to them" Twilight whispered to herself, remembering the last things she said to them. Thinking back, she realized how horrible and selfish she was. Even though they haven't forgiven each other, those five girls at least tried to put their issues aside just so they can help her. Twilight feels ashamed of herself for not being the friend that they deserve. With one shared look at Spike, she knows what she has to do to make it up for them.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were left in confusion while Twilight was thinking. They were then caught off guard however when Twilight asked them: "Can I ask you girls a favour?" They weren’t sure what she had come up with, but they all happily nodded when they can tell that it was something good.
- - - - -
She always believes that fashion is one of the best ways to show people what is in your heart, but Rarity doesn't want to see anyone what is inside hers at the moment. All she wanted to do was to protect Twilight, but ended up bickering with her old friends instead. And after the hearing the words Twilight said to them, Rarity felt worse than ever before. While everyone else was heading for launch, Rarity was alone by her locker, feeling grieving after everything that has happened.
But as she was about to open her locker, Rarity was caught by surprise when she heard her sister calling and running towards her.
"Rarity!" Sweetie Belle cried out when she spotter her.
Not wanting her sister to see her in a depressed state, Rarity quickly organize herself and push back all of her sad emotions for the time being. When Sweetie Belle came up to her, Rarity put on a fake smile and greeted her.
"Hi Sweetie Belle! Is there something to matter?"
"Sort of" she replied. "I really need you to follow me to the soccer field outside."
Wasn't expecting that sort of answer, Rarity asked Sweetie Belle: "Whatever for?"
However, Sweetie explains (or not explains) that: "I can't tell you just yet, but I really need you to follow me."
Rarity was about to tell her that she won't follow her unless she gave a reason for it. However, when she sees the urgencies in Sweetie Belle's eyes, she can tell that it's something important. Reluctantly, Rarity replies: "Ok fine."
"That's Great!" Sweetie yells cheerfully.
As Sweetie tugs on her arm, Rarity cried out: "Careful!"
As they were walking, Rarity was left to wonder to what her sister is up to. She knew about Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, but she couldn't see them anywhere along the way. If it's something that Sweetie Belle would need help with, she feels that she would just tell her and not be so cryptic. Rarity was left praying that her sister hadn't got herself into anything.
Eventually, Rarity and Sweetie reached the soccer field from of the side entrances. Upon arriving, Rarity asked out load: "Ok Sweetie Belle, were here. So what is so important that you brought me her for..." But as she looked around the pitched, she had found the answer by herself: Twilight. She spotted Twilight waiting patiently by the bleachers.
As Rarity was left too surprised to say anything, she soon heard other people coming. By the other entrance to the building, she saw Applejack and Pinkie Pie being led out by Apple Bloom. On her other side, she saw Scootaloo bringing Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Once they saw who was there, everyone was just as confused and surprised as Rarity.
Seeing that Twilight had brought them there, all of them gone up to her to see the reason why. Once they got up close, Applejack ask Twilight: "Why did you brought us here?"
Twilight replied: "I brought you all here so I can apologize to all of you." Everyone was token back by that response and Twilight couldn't blame them. After taking a deep breath, she explains: "I'm sorry for everything that I said to you. When first I came to Canterlot, I wasn't really planning on making friends. I came from a very prestige school where if you don't do everything by yourself, then everyone else would look down on you for needing help. I thought I don't need friends. But I now realize that I do need friends... need all of you."
As everyone was soaking in her words, Twilight got out a year book from her bag and flip to the pages that had them in it. Not only the one where they first met, but also another group photo which they taken later. Taken after an important soccer game, everyone was wearing horse ears and tails, except for Rainbow Dash who had a soccer kit on.
"Despite all of your differences, that didn't stop you from becoming such good friends. Despite all of your issuers with each other, you were willing to put everything aside just to help me! I may not know a lot about friendship, but I want to believe it can bring people together... brink people back-together. I know said such awful things, but can all of you... be... my... friends?"
They tried really hard, but they couldn't stop the tears from flooding their eyes. The only ones who weren't tearing up was Applejack and Rainbow Dash, even thought they were probably crying on the inside. Feeling so moved by Twilight's word, they bombard her with a group hug so great, they were pretty much crushing her. But Twilight didn't mind because she was finally feeling the comforting warmth of friendship. Meanwhile, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo was finally glad to see their sister are back together again, although the scene was a bit too sweet for Scootaloo's tastes.
Once they were done hugging, Applejack put her arm out in the middle of all them and cried out: "Alright yall; let’s say we put our heads together and make Twilight our Fall Formal Princess!"
However, as everyone else was about to slam their hands together and was about to say "I", Twilight jumped in the middle of all of them and yells: "WAIT!!!" Everyone was shocked by her sudden outburst as they assumed that this is what she want. Once she sees they all had stopped, Twilight explains to them: "I'm all for love & friendship now, but I still think we should still talk about our problem and not pushing it to the side. If we don't sort out all of our issues now, it will just come back later and haunt us"
Everyone took a moment to think about before they all sort of agree that Twilight was right. "Yeah, I guess that's true" Applejack admitted. As everyone stood around Twilight, Pinkie yells: "Let's Do This!"
"All right, let’s start with Rainbow and Applejack since their problem seems the most contradictory" Twilight told them as she point her fingers towards Rainbow.
Despite not knowing what contradictory means, Rainbow Dash replies: "Alright I guess? Shoot."
Twilight started by laying down the facts. "Ok... Applejack says that you never arrived to her bake sale with the softball team, but you said that you did arrived with the team and couldn't find anyone?" Upon everyone hearing it out load, everyone quickly picked up the contradiction. They all looked at Applejack and Rainbow Dash and none of them thinks either of them were lying. Twilight asks Rainbow: "Were you sure you went to the right place?"
"No, I was sure I went to the right place" Rainbow replied. "It was at the park on the 6th, right?"
"Yeah, that's... Wait... the 6th!?" AJ responded, sounding surprised. "My bake sale was on the 5th. Didn't I told you that?"
Rainbow replied: "You did... but then I got a text from you saying that you have move it to the 6th."
"What!"
"Yeah, I thought it was a little weird, but I decided to follow it."
But then, just as Applejack was about to say something, Pinkie Pie butted in. "Strange... that sounds like something that happened to me." Grabbing everyone attention, she explains: "When I got my text from Fluttershy, I thought it was a bit strange for her to ask for a big party. But I just thought she wanted to get people excited to adopt animals."
Fluttershy cried out in confusion: "What!"
Pinkie then got out her phone and says: "Yeah, it's right next to the text that says that you never ever, ever, ever, Ever want to come to my apology party."
However, Fluttershy told Pinkie: "But... I never sent any texts?"
"Same here" AJ added.
Both Pinkie and Rainbow Dash collectively yells: "WHAT!" and was left utterly shocked. Fluttershy even added: "I never even heard about your apology party until yesterday."
"Hang on a minute" Rarity cried out. "Pinkie; did you send me any emails saying you don't need my help decorating any of your parties?"
"Oh course not" Pinkie replied. "You know how to make things seems shiny and fancy."
As they were uncovering a dreadful pattern, everyone began looking at each other with worry. She didn't like to say it, but Applejack suggest to everyone: "Wait... are we saying that someone was sending us fake texts and messages to us... just to cause us to fight?..." Everyone was left too speckles to even mutter any sounds when they heard the suggestion. Even Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo became so worried that they were checking their own phones to see if they have got any fake texts. "Just... Who would do such a thing like" AJ asked out load to everyone.
While everyone else was left too baffled by the discovery, Twilight began remembering what Sunset said to her. "... But if friendship can be torn apart so easily, I don't see the point in making friends to begin with."
"Torn apart, not Fall apart" says Twilight as she mumbled to herself.
"Did you say something Twilight?" asked Applejack as she overheard her.
All eyes was on Twilight as they all can tell that she thought of someone. With much hesitation, Twilight says to all of them: "Maybe it was Sunset Shimmer?"
Everyone looked conflicted. None of them looked like they agree with Twilight, but none of them looked ready to disagree with her either. Rarity rest one hand on Twilight's shoulder and told her: "Listen dearie; I know we all like to blame Sunset for every little mishap, but we can't say that's what actually happened."
"Really? None of you have done anything that got you on her bad side?" Twilight replied back.
Twilight has caused everyone to think a lot harder than before. They could see Sunset do something like this and it isn't hard to get on her bad side. Rarity turns to Pinkie and ask her: "Pinkie, I don't suppose you remember when we broke up exactly? Considering you might have the best memory out of all of us."
When Rarity ask her that question, Pinkie's was forced to recall one of the hardest moments of her life and her hair spontaneously falls down flat. She replied very depressingly: "Yeah... sure. We broke up around the end of spring." But as soon as she was done talking, her joyful expression returns and her hair became lively again.
With that reminder, Rarity thought out load to everyone: "Well; the only thing that I recall all of us doing that time was trying to win..." However, Rarity cut herself off when she let out a frightening gasp as she remembers something important.
"What were you doing!?" Twilight asked worryingly.
Rarity told them all: "... When we were trying to win the Spring Fling!"
Everyone became shocked as all of the pieces were falling into place. They all remember Rarity competing against Sunset for the title of princess and they remember they all chipping in and helping her out. However, they all began fighting with each other because of the fake texts and their falling apart gave her the win by default. With a motive and correlating evidence, they were all certain that Sunset Shimmer was responsible.
Infuriated, Rainbow Dash yells out in anger: "I Can't Believe It! Sabotaging our friendship just to win a stupid contest!? Its one thing if she'd cheated, but this... This Is..."
"UNFORGIVABLE!!!" screamed Pinkie as she finishes of Rainbow's sentence.
Everyone was getting mad and Twilight was slowly getting a bit intimidated. Very calmly, she tried to say to them: "Well... it's good to see that sorted out. Now let’s go somewhere else and..."
However, Applejack cut her off as she told everyone: "Now We Have To Win This Time! Not Only Because Twilight Is Our Friend, But Also To Get Back At Sunset Shimmer!"
AJ then put her hand out in the centre again and everyone else quickly slam their hand down on top of her and voicing their agreements. As Twilight was the last one to put her hand out, they all began waiting for her. She was little bit shy, especially since they're so riled up, but she had decided to trust. "Ok, let's do this... as friends" she says before she send arm out. When their hands became connected, they all shoot their arms high to the sky and shout:
"YEAH!"