It was a sunny Saturday morning in the city of Canterlot, people both young and old scurrying around the town for different reasons.
Including two certain principals and vice-principal, who were having breakfast at the Queen's Way Diner.
Now, upon seeing this scene, if you knew anything about these three individuals, you'd know that one was Principal Cinch from Crystal Prep Academy, and the other two were Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna from Canterlot High School.
Why bring this up?
Well, these two schools have been, what you would call, rivals for quite some time.
But, after the Friendship Games, Principal Celestia felt that in order to end, or at least, dumb down the feelings of rivalry between her and Principal Cinch, they would need to have a decent principal-to-principal discussion.
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Principal Celestia took a bite of her omelet, then wiped her face with a napkin. "Thank you for agreeing to this, Abacus. We were unsure if you would accept our invitation."
Principal Cinch looked at Celestia with a quirked eyebrow. She took her glasses off and cleaned them with her shirt, "Principal Cinch, if you will, as this is not meant to be a casual get-together." She placed her glasses back on her face, "But, I must admit, this was a...touching gesture. But, do not take that as saying I am willing to go along with your ulterior motive of this little rendezvous."
Vice-Principal Luna placed her hands on the table, "Well, that is our reason for being here. Our schools have been rivals for far too long."
"Indeed, sister. You see, Principal Cinch, these past Friendship Games taught us something. It doesn't matter who wins the shiny trophy. If you tried your hardest, everyone's a winner."
Principal Cinch crossed her arms, "That is an interesting philosophy you propose, Principal Celestia. However, you will find, I'm not so easy to convert. You see, there is the quite obvious factor that your students used magic to win those games."
Luna shook her head, "They did not use it to win the games. They simply used it for their benefit."
The stern principal leaned back in her seat, "Now, that leaves me curious, just how did your school get infested with magic? This was obviously not the first time, seeing as how they did not seem all that concerned."
The two sisters looked at each other, unsure if they should disclose the information.
Principal Celestia sighed, "Very well. But, whatever is said between us stays between us."
Principal Cinch placed a hand over her heart, "You have my word."
"All right. Well, you remember Sunset Shimmer right?"
The principal of Crystal Prep nodded, "I find it hard not to remember a girl like her."
"Well, there was a time where she used to be - what's the word I'm looking for?"
"Intimidating?"
Celestia smiled, patting Luna on the back, "Yes, thank you, Luna. Yes, Sunset used to be a rather intimidating figure at CHS. For three straight years, she had won Princess of the Fall Formal."
Luna crossed her arms, "Yes, and I'm sure she would've tried for four if it hadn't been for our visitor."
"Visitor, you say?"
Celestia nodded, "Indeed. Now, you remember the statue in front of the school?"
Principal Cinch adjusted her glasses, "The one that got demolished by that monster?"
Luna furrowed her eyebrows, "Yes, but it was destroyed by Twilight. Not a monster. Twilight was no monster. The amount of magic that had consumed her would've corrupted anyone. She may have done some unpleasant things, but it is not our place to call her a monster. Only an unfortunate soul who caught a glimpse of what power could accomplish without the proper care."
Principal Cinch blinked at Luna's lecture. She cleared her throat, "Yes, well, forgive me for my ignorance, Vice-Principal Luna. But, I believe we are drifting off topic. Please continue, Principal Celestia."
Celestia took a sip of her water and placed her hands on the table. "Right. Where was I? Oh, yes. Well, that statue is more than what it appears to be. It is actually a portal that connects our world with an alternate one."
The stern principal raised an eyebrow, "And alternate world?" She looked to the side, narrowing her eyes in thought.
She sighed, "Well, considering what we witnessed during the Friendship Games, there really is no reason for me to question if that is fact or not."
Celestia chuckled tiredly, "Yes, I find myself believing in almost anything that sounds fantastical now. Anyway, a few days before the Fall Formal, the portal brought a stranger to Canterlot High."
Luna smiled, leaning against the table ever so slightly, "Her name was Twilight Sparkle."
Principal Cinch's eyes widened slightly. She placed a finger to her chin, "Well, I guess that would explain why the students at your school recognized Twilight and yet she did not. So, an alternate Twilight?"
Celestia nodded, glancing at Luna. "Yes. Now, this next part I am not completely certain of, but from what I gathered, this Twilight came over from a world of magic."
"This Twilight Sparkle is a princess in this alternate world. In fact, Sunset Shimmer is originally from the same dimension as this Twilight. Sunset Shimmer had stolen Princess Twilight's crown, which turned out to be a magical artifact that was used to protect her world from evil."
Principal Cinch took a sip of her coffee. She pushed the cup to the side, propping her elbows on the table and placing her head atop her hands.
"If I were anyone else, I'd declare you both insane. You sound as if you were relaying a childhood fairy tale."
Celestia crossed her arms, "It may sound made-up. But, every word of it is true."
"If the events of the Friendship Games had not taken place, I would most assuredly believe you were telling me a fairy tale, So, this crown? I am going to take a guess that this is the source of the magic your school possesses."
Luna nodded, taking a sip of her tea. She wiped her lips with a napkin.
"You would be correct, Principal Cinch. However, when Princess Twilight returned to her world, the magic that she had brought here remained. But, the only ones that seem to possess magic are the friends of Twilight Sparkle. You know, the girls who went on to the athletic competition?"
Celestia chuckled, "And, the ones that helped bring back Twilight."
Principal Cinch rested her head atop her hand, "I see. Well, would you consider this the reason of Canterlot High's recent renaissance?"
The two sisters looked at each other.
Luna narrowed her eyes, "Magic had nothing to do with that."
Celestia laid a hand atop the table, "I am especially proud of the students for working the way they have been. But, as Luna said, magic was not a factor for their success. Hard work and dedication were, though. "
Principal Cinch crossed her arms, "Very well. I'll give you that one. But while magic may not have been used to help improve your students' abilities, it certainly did help them win the Friendship Games."
Principal Celestia sighed, "Principal Cinch, we have already discussed this. We all saw what happened, and as far as I can remember, none of the girls cheated."
The stern principal shook her head, "That's not what I remember. That rainbow-haired girl sprouted wings."
Luna raised an eyebrow, "Rainbow Dash sprouted wings, yes. But, she wasn't the one that crossed the finish line. Sunset Shimmer did."
Celestia folded her hands on the table, "Rainbow Dash was keeping the monstrous vine at bay to ensure that the race would end fairly and without injury."
Principal Cinch brought a finger to her chin, "Well, I...suppose you have a point there."
Celestia looked at Principal Cinch for a few seconds and sighed. She leaned slightly over the table. "Abacus, we don't want any more hard feelings between our schools. We've been enemies for far too long, and why? The Friendship Games were not meant to be about competition. They were originally meant to bring our schools together."
Principal Cinch's eyes softened as Celestia spoke, but she remained silent.
Luna nodded, "And, these past Games have taught us that, if we look past the competition and the rivalry, our two schools could get along splendidly. But, if your main focus is about winning, then theirs will be as well."
"If you only care about being the best, then that's what the students will care about. You are their principal. They have to look up to you for guidance." Celestia placed her hand atop of Principal Cinch's.
Principal Cinch looked down. She looked back up at Celestia and Luna.
Luna placed her hand atop Celestia's, "Please, Principal Cinch. We are tired of the rivalry. Let us just be friends."
She stared at them for a few minutes.
Finally, Principal Cinch stood up, taking her hand away from the pile. She smoothed out her skirt and turned to the two sisters.
"Thank you both for the breakfast. I appreciate it. And, I will...consider your proposition." She turned around and walked out of the diner.
Celestia and Luna looked at each other with uncertainty.
"Do you think we got through to her?"
Celestia sighed, "I don't know, Luna. We can only hope.."
Meanwhile, a little ways away , four people were seated at a booth, their menus blocking their faces.
They watched as the principal and vice-principal left the diner.
They all set their menus down, sighing.
"Do you think they were able to lighten her up?" Lemon Zest lowered her headphones.
Sunset Shimmer chuckled, lowering her eyelids, "Oh, I'm sure they managed to convict her of something."
Indigo Zap scoffed, "Yeah, right. Principal Cinch is hard-core. It'd take a lot of sweet talking and begging to get to even consider it."
Twilight looked over to where they were sitting, "I don't know. I mean, didn't you see the look on her face? She seemed to be taking it all in."
"And, she did say she'd consider it." Sunset held out a hand.
Lemon Zest raised an eyebrow, "She did? I didn't hear it."
Indigo Zap looked to the side, mumbling, "I wonder why."
Twilight looked at Sunset and then back at the two Shadowbolts. "Well, no one is incapable of changing. We're going to have to give her the benefit of the doubt."
Indigo let out a puff of air, sending a strand of her hair flying, "I seriously doubt I'm gonna be able to do that, but hey - I'll do anything for less homework."
Lemon Zest elbowed her, "You got that right."
The four girls laughed.