//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9- Finding A New World 
// Story: Equestria Girls: Friendship Makes Magic 
// by ImNoPony 
//------------------------------//

"Did you want to speak to me Principal..." Sunset greeted as she walked into the office. However, as soon as she stepped into the room, she saw both principal Luna and Celestia were inside.

Luna was sitting down on Celestia's desk while Celestia was standing by the window and both looked serious and disappointed. "Have a seat Sunset" Vice Principal Lune asked and she points to the free chair.

Sunset nervously sat down by the desk. There is no doubt in her mind that she is going to get punished, it just a matter of how well she can soften it.

"We have recently discovered that the photos that you handed to me earlier were fakes" Luna states as she show Sunset both the fakes and the cut outs.

Seeing if she can claim ignorance, Sunset pretends to be shocked and says to them: "REALL! I didn't know... When I found them, I just thought..."

"Enough!" Luna loudly cried and interrupts Sunset. "You knowing the photos were fake is irrelevant at the moment." Sunset was surprised because she thought the fake photos were everything that they're going to talk about.

In a regretful and woeful tone, Celestia says to Sunset: "Me and Lune have been hearing reports about you that deeply troubles us."

Luna explains: "We discover your attack ad online and saw how you tried to humiliate Twilight Sparkle." Sunset became genuine shocked and afraid this time. She never imagined them finding out about the video. Luna says to Sunset: "And with you trying to implicate her of a crime and you insulted the party committee's decorations..."

"Hang on; how did you know that I insulted the decorations?" Sunset asked as she interrupts Luna.

"We read it on Pinkie's blog" Celestia explains and she brought out her phone. When Sunset looked into the screen, she saw a saddened image of Pinkie Pie with a speech bobble that says how Sunset belittles her hard work (and how Twilight saved her). She nervously chuckle when she saw the message.

Finishing her statement, Luna says to her: "Bottom line Sunset, these are not the qualities that make a Fall Formal Princess."

Crossing her arms and stepping closer, Celestia ask Sunset: "Well... Do have anything to say?"

Sunset began searching her mind for the appropriate response. She could claim that it wasn't her video or say that Pinkie was exaggerating. However, she believes the principals wouldn't accept anything she could say to them. Eventually, she replied to them: "....... What can I say?"

"What!?" Luna and Celestia responded.

Acting unusually calmly, Sunset says to them: "I mean; you can obviously hear my voice in the video. How can I say that wasn't me? I'm ready to accept any punishment you decide to give me."

Both principals were at a loss for words. They didn't expect Sunset to be this submissive and willing. Still very confused, Luna says to Sunset: "Well... I say 2-3 weeks’ worth of detention and community service should be punishing enough?"

"Ok then" Sunset cheerfully reply. She then got off her chair and asks them: "Should the first part of my community service be cleaning up the gym."

"I guess you can, but why?" Celestia answered, confused by her unexpected eagerness.

Sunset told them: "So I can make sure the dance is still on for tonight. I mean, some people was really looking forward tonight"


_ _ _ _ _


Meanwhile in the gym, Snips & Snails was introducing themselves to Twilight. "Howdy!" Snips greeted. "My name is Snips and this and this is Snails"

"And I'm Snails" says Snails.

"We got a text from Sunset Shimmer that says you’re our boss now and we'll do whatever you say."

Twilight didn't know what to say to them. They tried to present themselves as professionals, but she knows that they can never come up to professional standards. However, seeing how eager they were, Twilight decided to play a little joke on them. "Actually boys..." she replied as she takes off her backpack. Twilight then show Spike to the both of them and told them: "I'm appointing Spike as your boss."

As she rest Spike on the ground, Snips & Snails stared down at the little puppy at their utter confusion before they burst out laughing. While catching their breath, Snips commented: "Seriously he-he... this dog?..."

But then, after getting a confirmation look from Twilight, Spike began barking fiercely at Snips & Snails. Despite their proclamations of not being afraid of him, they both jumped into each other arms and ran off. Twilight began laughing at their cowardness. When they were done, Spike look at Twilight with an expression that says: "Don't worry Twilight, I'll make sure these two are in line."

Twilight cheerfully smiles as she sees Spike chase after Snips & Snails. However, when they ran off, she was left alone with an enormous mess that she would have to clean herself. Some of the clutter on the floor looked a bit difficult for one person to move alone and there was still streamers hanging up and too high for Twilight to reach. She can still clean all of it, but she is disbelieving that she can clean it all by tonight. However, she still decides to give it her best effort just so she can have the answer that she wants.

A few moments later, Twilight was trying to drag out one of the spare tables from the storage closet and was finding very difficult to pull. But meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was jogging down the hallway in search for Twilight. As she was running past the gym, she stopped when she spotted her. Overjoyed, Rainbow cried out to Twilight: "There You Are Twilight! We Have Been Looking All Over For You!"

Startled, Twilight dropped the table. When Rainbow Dash entered the gym, Applejack and the others soon follow her in. While R.D, AJ and Fluttershy were defiantly startled when they see the current state of the gym, none was more surprised than Rarity and Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie Pie!... Look What They Did To Your Pretty Decorations!" Rarity shrieked before fainting on top of Fluttershy. While Flutter' just managed to catch Rarity, Pinkie yelled: "Oh My Gosh! They Completely Ruined Everything!" and then faint on Fluttershy as well.

Left surprised upon seeing her friends, Twilight yells to them: "Rainbow! Guys! What are you doing here?"

Applejack explains to her: "We here so we can give ya the good news."

"What is it?" Twilight asked curiously.

As AJ was about to tell her, Rainbow interrupts her and yells out loud: "You've Won! You're The Fall Formal Princess!"

"What!"

Rainbow Dash explains to her: "Yeah, Sunset is finally getting what she deserves and the principals disqualified her."

"Really!" Twilight responded.

"Yeah, isn't that great news or what?"

"Yeah... I guess it is."

As Rainbow gave Twilight a hug as well as a pat on the back, Fluttershy (after getting Pinkie and Rarity to stand for themselves) curiously ask Twilight: "What are you doing here?"

Too nervous to tell them the real reason, Twilight told them: "Oh you know... trying to fix Pinkie's decorations."

While everyone else was sceptical, Pinkie believed her and was touched. "Aww" she said.

But then, Applejack asks Twilight while pointing towards Snips & Snails: "Ok, but why are you doing it with those two varmints?" 

Twilight became tongue-tied and was hesitant to tell them the truth. The longer she remained silent; the worry of her friends grew stronger. She knows that her friends wouldn't believe her, but she doesn't want to keep lying to them. However, at the point of her confliction, Applejack said something.

"You know, if something's bothering ya, you know you can tell us right?"

As Twilight was taken back by that advice, her friends stood around her with calming and even motivating expressions. It was like they were silently saying that no matter what the problem that is troubling her, they would still help her no matter. Soon, Twilight realized that she was being foolish for not letting her friends in on her troubles. Even though she was still doubtful, she decided to reveal the truth to them. "Ok" she replied. "I'm not expecting you to believe me, but you have to promise not to laugh."

Her friends silently nodded and were waiting patiently for her to tell them. After taking a deep breath, Twilight explains to them: "Well... When I first arrived at this school, I found this crown and Fluttershy told me that it was for the Fall Formal."

"Yeah, I think I remember. It was when you first met me, wasn't it?" says Fluttershy, temporally interrupting Twilight.

"Yes" Twilight agreed. "When I was taking it to Principal Celestia, I decided to put it on as a laugh. But when I did, weird visions began popping into my head."

Everyone's eyebrows were raised. They wasn't quite sure what she mean by that, but they could also tell that Twilight was as confused as they are. The only person who wasn't at all confused was Pinkie who was actually taking it in stride. Jumping up close to Twilight, she asks her: "Oh, did you happen to see yourself from a parallel universe? Or did you see a great evil coming for us in the future? OR-OR-OR!...	did you see a vision of us from the past!?"

Once someone pulled Pinkie away from her, Twilight hesitantly replied: "I think... that might be true?" With a hand press against her temple, she told them: "I remember seeing myself and saw someone who looked like Sunset Shimmer. And if I think really hard... I think I also saw all of you!" But while she got her friends all captivated, Twilight then told them: "But you want to know the weird part? For some reason, everyone that I saw... were ponies?"

"What!?" Rainbow Dash responded as she became surprised as everybody else. True to Twilight's fears, her friends all looked disbelieving to what she told them. However, they know that Twilight wouldn't make something like this up for no reason and trying to see where she is coming from.

Rarity asks her: "Are sure you didn't just made it all up?"

Twilight replied: "I thought I did... that is until I run into Sunset." Making her friends even more confused and intrigued, she explains to them: "She acted like she knew me from somewhere and she was also interested in the crown. Not because of the Fall Formal or anything. It was almost like the crown have some great power or something and she is really eager to get her hands on it."

Rainbow asks her: "But wait; if the crown is really that important, why didn't she just steal it?"

However Pinkie then answered: "No can do Dashie. Ever since the crown was returned, the teachers made extra sure that I won't get stolen again. Even I can't see it without permission."

"And that isn't just it" Twilight added. "I don't know the reason why, by Sunset also doesn't want the dance to be tomorrow. Before Sunset went and see the principals, she got me to make a deal with her to not only to hand over the crown to her, but to also make sure the dance is tonight. That's why I'm here cleaning this mess."

Slowly but surely, the girls are slowly realizing the seriousness of the situation. As noise can be heard from the background by Spike and Sunset's minions, everything was deep in thought as they try to figure out what was going on.

But then, after a long session of thinking, Pinkie Pie thought out loud: "Hang on a minute: didn't the crown get stolen in the first place?"

"That's what Principal Celestia thought" Twilight replied as she shrugs.

"Well, how did you find it then?"

Slowly realizing that she might be onto something, Twilight replied: "Well I found it in the court yard... by the horse statue."

"Where are you going with this Pinkie?" Applejack asked.

Pinkie Pie explains to her: "Well if we searched where Twili' found the crown, we might find a clue on where it came from."

Everyone had quick glances at each other as they were slightly astonished by Pinkie suggestion. Rainbow shrugs to everyone and says: "I guess it wouldn't hurt."

But then, as everyone was about to leave the gym, Twilight yell out to everyone: "WAIT!" Once she got them to stop, she explains to them: "I still haven't clean up the gym yet. And even if we all work together, we might not have enough time."

However, before any of them could get very worried, Rarity says Twilight: "Oh you have nothing to worry about it darling." She then got out her phone and told her: "I'll get everything sorted here while you all do what you have to do."

Even though she didn't know what Rarity could do or what she was in store, but it was reassuring for Twilight to seeing her help. She then left with the rest of her friends without any worry.


_ _ _ _ _


Twilight and the rest of the girls quickly made their way to the front lawn and arrived in front of the horse statue. Twilight didn't know how well this is going to work out, but with her friends by her side, she hopes that they might find something that she missed. 

"So Twilight, how exactly did you find the crown" Applejack ask.

Twilight answered: "Well... I didn't exactly found the crown. It was more like it hit the back of my head and I picked it up"

Surprised, Pinkie Pie yelled: "What! You Mean Someone Chucked Their Stuff At You!"

However, Twilight explains to all of them: "But that's the thing, we never saw who threw it."

When everyone else's eyes were widened, Fluttershy reaffirmed the truth. "It’s true. Even I couldn't see where it came from and I was stood facing Twilight."

Soon the girls had reached to another crux to this weird mystery. As everyone was thinking how it happened, AJ suggested: "Maybe if you retraced your steps, maybe well find where the crown came from?"

"That sound like and excellent Idea Applejack" Twilight compliment. After Applejack had a moment to blush and says "Oh shucks", the girls set about to re-enact the scene.

"Fluttershy; I think you were standing right here" Twilight stated as she moved Fluttershy into place. Once she got herself into position and facing Fluttershy, Twilight thought out loud: "Ok, I think I was standing here. So if I turn around, I should see..."

However, when she turn around, Twilight saw herself. To be more precise, she saw a reflection of herself from the stature's mirror. Twilight was surprised by this. She remembers that she was standing right up against the statue. But if that was the case, the crown shouldn't be able to hit her. The statue would have been in the way.

They took their time, but her friends soon realize the problem. "So... did someone through it from on top of the statue?" Rainbow Dash thought out load in confusion.

Fluttershy suggested: "Or maybe they through it from the other side?"

However, Twilight had to disappoint the both of them and says: "No! I defiantly remember it hitting the back of my head."

Everyone became stumped. They all want to say that Twilight was mistaken, even herself, but they all were reluctant to say it. But then, as everyone was running out of ideas, something suddenly popped inside Twilight's head. She recall that Sunset said something about "going through a mirror" when they first met each other. She wouldn't think anything of it. But as Twilight was staring at her own reflection, she was having a sinking feeling that there might be a space on the other side. She would think that this would be crazy, but her mind temporally goes blank as she instinctively reaches out her arm and towards the mirror. 

After running out of ideas, Applejack says to everyone: "I don't know yall. Maybe we should head back and..."

However, with a trembling voice, Twilight interrupts AJ and says to them: "Um... Guys!" Grabbing her friend’s attention and worry, they all looked towards Twilight to see what's wrong. But when she faced them with a scared expression, she reveals to them that one of her arms had sunken into the mirror.

Everyone couldn't believe their eyes as they were seeing her arm was disappearing into the mirror. AJ and Rainbow Dash was speechless while Fluttershy looked like she was going to faint. The only person who didn't find this terrifying was Pinkie Pie as she was looking at Twilight in awe.

"Oh My Gosh Twilight! How Are You Doing That!?" Pinkie screamed in amazement.

"I Don't Know!" she yelled back as she begins to panic.

"Can Ya Pull Yourself Out!?" AJ asked.

Twilight hesitantly replies: "I... I try." Her friend’s eyes were glued on her and were preparing themselves to pull her. Twilight takes a deep breath and she braced herself for a struggle as well. However, when she slowly retracted her, it was coming out of the mirror with no problem. Again: everyone couldn't believe what they were seeing. When she got her arm out, Twilight curiously put it back in and began waving it about. With the mirror surface vibrating when she went in, it was like she was sticking her hand into water and moving about with ease. When she had enough, Twilight swiftly pulled her arm out and step back to the safe surroundings of her friends.

"This... This is impossible" Twilight muttered. "This totally shattered every form of science that I have ever known."

"Any yet..." Rainbow muttered back as she gets close to the statue. She then extends her finger and sees if the portal would work for her. When it did and she poke her finger through, Rainbow Dash proclaims: "It still awesome."

However, Applejack ruined Rainbow's fun and pulls her way from the statue. When she looks at it, she asked out loud: "Just what the heck is it?" Pinkie was about to do the same thing as Rainbow did, but AJ stopped her to.

Hesitantly. Twilight replied: "I think... it's the portal that Sunset mentioned."

Fluttershy asked: "What do you mean?"

Twilight explains: "Whenever I run into Sunset Shimmer, she kept saying stuff about portals and different worlds. I didn't get what she was saying, but now it all make sense." As everyone stare intensely towards the statue, Twilight muttered to them: "I think she said the place was Equestria?"

Everyone took a moment to let it all sink in as they looked at a gateway to another world. They didn't know what was on the other side nor how it got there. But as this discovery shattered their understanding of their realities, fascination soon envelop Twilight and begin wonder how this is even possible.

"We-We have to study this" she said out loud. "We need to know how this works and why it's doing here. We need lab equipment, tests and a lot of notes." While her friends found Twilight's unexpected enthusiasm as creepy, they couldn't help but admit that it suits her personality. As she heads back into the building, Twilight calls out: "Come along Spike. We need to make a really long check checklist on the things we need."

However, it took Twilight a couple of steps for her to notice the un-replied silence. When she turn back around, she notice that Spike was nowhere to be seen and everyone looked confused. She soon remembered that she left him in the gym.


_ _ _ _ _


In a hurry, Twilight was briskly walking down the halls as she heads back to the gym. She couldn't be believe that she left Spike in the hall while she was somewhere else. The only time that she feels safe with leaving him alone was if he's at home, not in a school where he could be easily taken. Despite how bright and brave Spike is, she knows that he is still a puppy and she would never forgive herself if something happen to him. Becoming increasingly worried, Twilight picked up her pace with her friends not too far behind.

When she finally arrived to the gym, Twilight slam open the doors and cried out: "SPIKE!" as loud as she could.

However, as soon as she looked around, she was breath taken when she saw what was in the gym. Not only was the room squeaky clean and shows no sign of the previous rampage, the decorations was also redone. Instead of having just one predominant colour, the room was divers with colours. If you looked all around the room, you see different spots of colour that made them their own thing. While there was still some pink confetti scattered about, there was also yellow, brown and blue streamer hanging all around the room. The tables clothes was pure white and the stage had more of Twilight's colours with her star symbol replacing Pinkie's heart. It was like looking at a rainbow if you spin around the room.

But it wasn't just that: the room was also chocked full with students who helping out. The fashion and drama group was putting up streamers. The eco-kids was setting out the food and drinks and the teckies and the rockers was getting the stage ready for the event. Despite hardly interacting much in the past, the different cliques of the student body had coming together just so they can do this one thing for Twilight. It was heart-warming to see.

"Amazing, isn't it?" asked a feminine voice that was so close to Twilight that it made her jumped. When she looks towards her sides, she saw Rarity who was checking things off on a clipboards. "I know it isn't much, but I do hope that you like it Twilight."

Still very star struck, Twilight asked Rarity: "H-How... How did you manage to get everybody to work together?"

Rarity explains: "Well, I originally called my friends from the drama and fashion clubs. But when a word got out that you tried to clean this place, more students decided to chip in and help." She then added: "I thought we could do some remodelling, since it became your corination Twilight. But with so little time, we had to use anything that the students could bring."

Twilight took one more moment to look around the room and take in the sight that she's seeing. However, she soon remembers what she came her for and became serious again. "Rarity, have you seen Spike?" she asked firmly towards.

"Spike!" Rarity responded. "Wasn't he not with you?"

"No. I accidently left him here."

"Oh dear." Both girls then scan the room in search for the little purple dog. Despite there was still students walking about and was still decorating, there was still enough space for them to spot a dog in the crowd and yet they couldn't see him. Growing even more worried, Rarity cried to a girl who was coming down from a ladder and ask her: "Hey Bon-Bon! You haven't seen a cute little puppy running around have you?"

Unfortunately, Bon-Bon replied to them: "Sorry, I haven't"

But then, just as both Rarity's and Twilight's was falling even deeper into a panic, Lyra appeared and asked them: "I don't suppose you've seen Snips & Snails? I can't find them anywhere."

Bon-Bon answered: "Actually, I think I have seen them carry a box somewhere." As she grabbed everyone's attentions, she then says: "I don't know what was in it though? They were having trouble holding it steady."

For anybody else, they might not find the relevancy of this fact. However, for Twilight and Rarity, this paints a very grim image in their heads. Twilight left Spike with Sunset's minions and now he is missing when Snips & Snails took a suspicious box away. They wish it was only a coincidence, but they know it's. When Rarity peaked towards Twilight, she was shaking at the scene. Sunset has Spike and she probably won't give him back until Twilight gives her the crown.