Day: Thursday
Weather: Sunny
Time: 10:00amI learned the hard way about trying to figure out how Equestrian magic worked in this world. Originally, I was only going to rely on my own magic and any magical residue that hadn't faded away. However, I concluded that those two factors were inconclusive; I couldn't trust my own findings. To figure out the solution, I had to experiment on my friends by using a sophisticated device that analyzed magic. I had built it for that purpose, but things didn't go the way I had hoped they would. My friends experienced magical surges during each test, and I was the unfortunate victim every time. Rainbow Dash was the worse test. Her magic destroyed my device, but perhaps that was for the best; it had been built using spare parts and was somewhat unstable. I now felt annoyed that I still didn't understand why magic worked like it did. What could I be missing? I didn't have time to find an answer. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie had come back from visiting Crystal Prep, saying they were spying on them. But, why!?
The Other Journal
By Ganondorf8
February 20, 2016
Chapter 56: Spying.
" I know that Crystal Prep had always beaten CHS every time the Friendship Games came along, but I didn't think it would hurt student morale." Twilight said.
" Because you were more interested in your studies, and I was kept in the dark regarding the competition, neither of us really took it to heart. Our friends would educate me on the nuances of the games, yet I was shocked at how everyone else aside from them weren't excited about it. Rainbow Dash in particular was the one who really wanted the students to get pumped up, and that involved using a very convincing pep rally. I'll go into that later, though." I said.
" That's two now."
" Of what?"
" You saying that you'll tell me about something later on. First was Princess Twilight, and the other was the pep rally you just mentioned. I find it amusing that you jump around when it comes to specific details you wrote down in your journal. It's always a good idea to remain consistent so as to not get confused by your own thoughts. I've been there plenty of times." Twilight answered. Did she just give me a lecture? I knew exactly what I was doing! This was my past I was talking about, after all. But, I suppose there was truth in her words. I shouldn't have mentioned the pep rally so soon. That didn't happen at CHS until the day before the games, and we were just now getting into the tryouts that happened about a couple of weeks beforehand. Was I really making this more confusing than it needed to be?
" Yeah, maybe I should be more consistent." I said.
" What did you learn about the Friendship Games and CHS?"
" I learned that students no longer really cared about the Games at our school. One time, they used to be so thrilled about representing CHS, but that energy slowly diminished over the years, thanks in large part to Crystal Prep. Principal Celestia chose the best students she thought would be enough to overcome Principal Cinch's elite team based on tryout results and enthusiasm, but the differences between the two teams at each games were obvious." I answered.
" Was it that bad?"
" The Wondercolts were beaten so badly by the Shadowbolts, it was more akin to a slaughter than a competition. I saw the photos in the yearbooks, Twilight, and they didn't paint a pretty picture." I answered. My words did sound horrible, but they were the truth. Crystal Prep took the games more seriously than CHS. For Principal Cinch, winning meant everything, and anything less than that was unacceptable in her eyes. Her students went through rigorous training to prove themselves worthy to become Shadowbolts, the team representing Crystal Prep. Their success in the games reflected on the reputation Principal Cinch was infamous for. She had built herself an empire where only the best were selected to go and become perfection. CHS never took reputation seriously and simply went about its own business, aiming to be a school for everyone.
The Wonderbolts were a team built on friendship and understanding. The Shadowbolts were a team built on punishing your opponents by showing your dominance, and any weakness wasn't tolerated. Our respective schools were supposed to get along in Canterlot, but Cinch never could accept CHS as equal to Crystal Prep. To compete with the likes of the Shadowbolts, a team would have to tap into their competitive drive. While it meant being on equal footing with them, it came at a terrible price: the loss of their true identities.
I remember hearing the Crystal Prep students brag about how their school wins every Friendship Games during that welcoming party. Their arrogance was unbearable, yet they had a valid reason for being that cocky. Their team backed up the bravado with talent. CHS students, on the other hand, were showing doubts that our team could stand a chance, as we lacked that competitive spirit. We had talent, but if it wasn't channeled towards winning, it meant nothing. To think that I didn't care much about the Games until our friends told me of its significance.
" Maybe CHS should've stopped competing in the Games, given their losing streak." Twilight suggested.
" That was an option many students considered, but Principal Celestia wouldn't have any of it. She believed CHS was just as good as Crystal Prep. Only she looked forward to the Friendship Games every time they came around. I'm not sure if Vice Principal Luna showed any enthusiasm, though." I said.
" I think she might have."
" Given how competitive the Games can get, you'd think we were playing in the Olympics or the Equestria Games."
" The what?"
" Equestria Games. It's the equivalent of this world's Olympics. The teams consisted of athletes from different cities across Equestria who were chosen to represent their nation by qualifying for specific events. Athletes were only allowed to compete in one event, the one they were best suited for. The last time I saw the Games, it had been hosted by the city of Cloudsdale, an impressive sight, given that it exists in the clouds. We all required special magic to be used on us so that non-Pegasi could move about on the clouds without falling through them." I answered.
" It sounds like a lot of fun." Twilight said.
" There is competitiveness to be found, but nothing that goes to any extreme." I said.
" But, why only the one event for athletes to compete in?"
" I never did understand that."
" That's not the answer I was expecting."
" Sorry, Twilight. It's been a long time since I last saw the Equestria Games."
" Do you wish you competed?"
" At the time, I was studying to be the best unicorn. Competing in the Equestria Games was far down on my list of priorities. Anyway, we should get back to what we're supposed to be talking about. Vice Principal Luna held tryouts for anyone wanting to become part of the Wondercolts team. She made an announcement and expected dozens to come out and see if they were what the team needed. She barely got the twelve-student requirement." I answered.
" Like you said, student morale was low."
" When you lose to the same school over and over again, your heart just loses all interest. Rainbow Dash was different from most students. She believed that we could finally win against Crystal Prep because we had the power of friendship on our side." I said. Friendship was a truly remarkable thing. Many would never view it as being powerful, especially when you show dominion over something, yet it was a strong force when utilized properly. Crystal Prep may have possessed power, experience, intellect, and more, but they lacked any compassion. They only cared about winning. CHS used its friendship to further improve student morale long before the games. Princess Twilight had truly left her mark when she fixed the mess that I had made. I couldn't even begin to imagine what the school would be like had she never followed me here to get her crown back.
" That leads into the pep rally, right?" Twilight asked.
" Yes, but I'll be getting to that eventually. First, I want to share with you what Princess Twilight and I discussed when I sent her a message. It was about two weeks before the Friendship Games took place. Before you ask, yes, she did visit this world briefly, but it involved dealing with my personal issues regarding the magic problem and the Games. My message was before the latter had ever entered my mind.
Why was the magic problem giving me so much trouble? I thought it was something I could easily handle, given my experiences with Equestrian magic. Was I just fooling myself into thinking I could solve it? My friends went through my tests to determine how their magic comes forth whenever they play their instruments. Despite my best efforts to come up with a definitive answer, all I received was one magical surge in my face after another. It was good that I was magical as well; those surges might have done something more serious had my body not possessed magical energies. Such a thought was too scary for me to even think about.
My device, which I used to analyze their magic, was destroyed--blown up--when Rainbow Dash unleashed her magic. I was angry at first that something I worked hard on building was reduced to scrap, but then, I didn't have much of an attachment to it. It had been built using spare parts taken from other devices. If anything, it was a miracle that it even functioned at all. If the school budget had been better, I could've used more refined parts to truly make it a spectacular invention. Because of the shoddy work, I couldn't trust any possible results had it survived Rainbow's magic. My anger was replaced with confusion over why I couldn't figure out how the magic worked in this world. It should have been simple enough to figure out. My mind was wracked with stress over being mad that I almost ripped out my own hair. Gah! What was I missing? In Equestria, magic always worked in a specific manner that made it easy to understand. Here, that same magic constantly changed into something else.
For the next month, I continued trying to come up with an answer. It was to no avail. I felt crestfallen. I was supposed to be a prodigy, according to Princess Celestia, and I couldn't even figure out a simple thing like understanding how magic worked in a world foreign to its native origin. If this had been my final exam at the School for Gifted Unicorns, my failure was assured. The magical residue leftover from the Battle of the Bands had since dissipated, so that left nothing but the magic inside of my friends and me to rely on. In addition, my own magic had changed when I suddenly developed those phoenix-like wings a while ago. If my magic was capable of changing, was the same true of the others? I had to find an answer soon before this got far beyond my ability to control.
While I was working on figuring out the magic problem, everyone else at CHS were getting themselves ready for the upcoming Friendship Games. Of course, by "getting ready", I mean "hoping it got cancelled or some other event was happening". Principal Celestia remained enthusiastic about it and hoped a team would be formed, but the students weren't thrilled about taking part.
I still had no idea what the Friendship Games were about, but I couldn't let that distract me. The magic problem was too big an issue to simply be ignored, and it was only a matter of time before someone innocent got hurt. I took full responsibility for the safety of those at CHS and beyond. I brought magic into this world when I brought the crown belonging to Princess Twilight here. So, I was dedicated towards finding a solution.
About two weeks before the start of the Friendship Games, I made a fateful decision. I had reached the point where I just couldn't come up with anything. I had to make contact with Her Highness and seek out her guidance. Her knowledge in the magic arts was vastly superior to my own.
That day was a particularly sunny one, the kind of day anyone could go out and enjoy without a care in the world. I wanted to go outside to get my mind off of what gave me so much stress. Leaving the school with my backpack, I walked around the front lawn to find a good tree to sit under. Every tree looked good, but I wanted one that spoke out to me. I eventually found it behind a fence next to the parking lot. Luckily, none of the teachers were going anywhere, so it was a quiet, secluded spot that allowed me to concentrate on writing a message to Princess Twilight. Sitting down under the tree, I looked up to see a cascade of apples growing on the branches. CHS was very serious regarding the condition of any plants growing on school grounds. This apple tree was especially vibrant with energy. The fruit looked luscious and full of life. It could compete with what Sweet Apple Acres had grown for generations.
I then took out the magic journal from my backpack, opened it up to the most recent entry, and took out a pen from my jacket pocket. It took a few moments to come up with a good message to send to Her Highness.
Dear Princess Twilight,
Hope I didn't catch you at a bad time. I'm not sending this to you as a friendly greeting but rather as a serious situation that has proven too much for me. I've been trying to figure out a certain "problem" that's been bothering me for several months now. Despite my best efforts, nothing's working, and now I find myself doubting my own abilities. I know it sounds like I'm desperate, but I really need some advice on how to deal with this issue.
It's the magic problem I told you about. In order to understand how magic works in this world, I experimented on our friends by testing their magic under various conditions. The surges blew up in my face several times, yet through it all, I didn't make progress. You have more knowledge than I do regarding magic, so I hope you can help me find an answer, or come here and solve the problem like you always do.
Your friend,
Sunset Shimmer
At first, I hesitated towards telling Her Highness what the problem was. She expected me to carry on the legacy she left behind when she returned to Equestria, and already, I was failing to live up to her expectations. She was one of the greatest things to ever come to this world, while I, unfortunately, was one of the worst. Despite having finally earned the trust of everyone even after almost losing it during the holidays, I still suffered from an inferiority complex. Compared to Her Highness, I was small and insignificant. I knew I had plenty of potential inside of me, but I had trouble proving that to myself given the stress over the magic problem. While I did eventually reveal my true intentions, could Princess Twilight even help me? She had her royal duties to attend to as a princess. Would she respond at all?
My answer came a few moments later. The magic journal started glowing and the words of Princess Twilight began appearing.
Dear Sunset Shimmer,
You tested our friends for their magic? When you said that you experimented on them, the first thing that popped into my mind was a mad scientist. Glad to hear that it didn't go quite as far as I thought. I know what it feels like to be frustrated when trying to solve a problem. I've had plenty of experiences where my mind just couldn't find an answer, and it bothered me, too. Just because things aren't going the way you expect doesn't mean you should give up. The world you call home is different from Equestria. What works in our world may not work the same way in that one. I'm not able to come pay you a visit at this time; I've been practicing for an important gathering of unicorns at the School for Gifted Unicorns. I'm to give a speech about cutie marks and how they can change the destiny of a pony.
I'd ask you to come--you are a unicorn, after all--but I won't force the issue. I know you still have doubts regarding your freedom should you return. I can offer you some advice, though, that should make things better. To understand how magic works, try to view things from the perspective of magic. What is it capable of? Why do we ponies use it? Is it a simple incantation, or a very complicated spell? You know, questions of that nature. There are other examples, but that's what came to mind. I know things look difficult, but you can accomplish this task, Sunset. Nothing is beyond your scope so long as you don't admit defeat.
Your friend,
Princess Twilight Sparkle
P.S. I would refrain from being blasted by magical surges. Those can really mess you up if you are exposed to them too often.
That last part would come back to haunt me later on.
Her Highness didn't give me the answer I was hoping for. I was also disappointed over her not being able to pay me a visit. I knew she couldn't, as her duties as a princess came before personal pleasure, but I hoped she could slip on through the portal for just a few minutes. However, she didn't just decide to leave me to figure things out. She gave me some food for thought that could provide some clues as to how magic worked here. Perhaps I should see things from the perspective of magic. It sounded rather farfetched, but I wasn't going to question Princess Twilight.
Closing the journal and putting it back into my backpack, I stared up at the apples growing on the tree again. After everything I had been through in those past few months, I wanted to relax and not worry about anything. The magic problem was still an issue, but it was something my friends and I could deal with. Aside from that, things had gotten pretty peaceful in Canterlot. There were no threats coming from Equestria, no one wanted to take over this world, everyone accepted me as one of the gang, and it was getting close to summer break. My friends mentioned something about a camping trip a week ago, but I thought of it as just one of several possibilities they considered. For the first time in my life, I would experience what it was like spending summer break with friends. I wondered if Princess Twilight wanted to join us. She needed some time away from her princess duties.
" We've been lookin' for you, Sunset!"
The familiar voice of Applejack greeted my ears. Looking forward, I smiled as my friends were approaching me, yet why were Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash exhausted? They looked like they had run a marathon within the last ten minutes. Also, was Pinkie wearing a bush around her waist? Something didn't seem quite right here. The rest of my friends looked embarrassed about how Rainbow and Pinkie appeared, so it was a serious matter.
" Um, what happened to you two?" I asked.
" Well, Sunset, I reckon what they did was pretty stupid." Applejack answered.
" I'm sure it was, Applejack, but I think I should hear what they have to say instead. After all, they were there doing whatever it was they were doing." I said.
" Pinkie and I decided to hop on a bus and head over to Crystal Prep Academy." Rainbow Dash announced. That name... It was the name of the school Principal Celestia visited a couple of months ago. Her experience there wasn't very pleasant because of what the principal of that school did, so why did those two want to go there? I didn't want to ask in case the answer was ridiculous, but Rainbow Dash was insistent on telling us the story. " We thought it'd be a good idea to see what was going on."
" We went spying!" Pinkie Pie announced.
" But only one of us knew what you have to do to be a good spy!"
" I think I did a pretty good job, Rainbow. Besides, weren't you the one who cut our trip short when you decided to shout?"
" That... That was your fault!"
" Nope! I hid when you shouted, and the students noticed you hiding. Although, maybe I should've stayed hidden instead of running away with this bush with me. Hey! Maybe this will become a new fashion sensation among spies one day!" Pinkie Pie said.
" Wait! You two did what!?" I asked.
" Spying!" Pinkie Pie answered.
Unbelievable! What compelled them to do something like that? Granted, I understood why Rainbow Dash wanted to go. She always loved danger, and going to a different school without permission definitely fit that description. I didn't know why Pinkie wanted to go, however. Why go to another school to spy on them? It made no sense whatsoever! Applejack was right! What they did was pretty stupid, not to mention crazy. What started out as a carefree day had just transformed into something potentially dangerous--or nothing more than sheer nonsense designed to give me stress.
Pinkie suddenly pulled a briefcase out of nowhere and dropped it on the ground. It opened up upon impact. Inside were several disguises--including a bunny suit and a tree suit? A tree? How could anyone disguise themselves as a tree!? I then remembered that this was Pinkie Pie I was talking about. She was capable of doing anything.
She took those disguises out along with the rest of her gear before placing the bush inside and piling the rest on top. I also saw a grappling hook, a metal pole with a microphone attached to the end of it, and several items I couldn't put my finger on sticking out of Pinkie's briefcase as she closed it up again.
I wanted to inform my friends about Princess Twilight's response to my message about the magic problem, but I had to put that on hold to deal with the current crisis. I was appalled at how Rainbow and Pinkie snuck around another school to spy on them. If they had done something really stupid, Crystal Prep could've issued a complaint to Principal Celesitia over the conduct of her students. Our actions reflected upon her ability to guide us along on the right path.
" And what, exactly, were you hoping to get information about?" I asked.
" The Friendship Games!" Pinkie answered.
" Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie spied on Crystal Prep?" Twilight asked.
" You didn't know about it?" I asked.
" No one ever mentioned anything about students from another school sneaking into Crystal Prep uninvited. Now that I think about, one of the coaches did mention something about two random girls hiding in the bushes and being a distraction during lunch period. While he and his students simply downplayed it as a confusing situation that went nowhere, Principal Cinch took it differently. She assumed someone was trying to uncover a secret about how the academy trains its athletes and declared her intention of informing the school board. The coach convinced her that nothing bad happened, so she chose not to go any further." Twilight answered.
" Their aim was to learn about the competition competing in the Friendship Games."
" Was CHS that desperate to win?"
" Only Rainbow Dash had that mentality. She had gotten sick and tired of our school always losing to Crystal Prep, so she came up with a plan to learn as much about their skill as possible. Unfortunately, her plan was doomed to fail from the start. Rainbow didn't know that the students she and Pinkie spied on were in the middle of gym class. They weren't competing in the Friendship Games at all." I answered.
" Principal Cinch always selects the top twelve students to represent the Shadowbolts whenever they had a serious competition. Even if those students weren't exactly the most well-fit of athletes, she forced them to train rigorously until they perfect whatever sport was the focus." Twilight said. CHS always chose its competitors based on a combination of factors that included skill, speed, strength, friendship, and teamwork, among others. Crystal Prep's mentality involved everyone working as a mindless cohesive unit who were guaranteed to give the best results in order to please Cinch. If they failed, then they would be scorned by their peers and their education at the academy being brought to an unfortunate end. That was what made Cinch infamous throughout the school district. Her ruthless approach wasn't popular among other principals, yet it granted her victory after victory, so she had to be doing something right.
I've often wondered why Principal Cinch acts the way she does. Did she have to endure such a harsh regimen when she was in school? Maybe she had military-like parents who only noticed her if she was living up to their expectations? Maybe it was something else entirely? Much about her remains a mystery. Cinch was described in a number of magazines as being a private woman whose sole purpose was to ensure her students went beyond their limits regarding their education. In some sense, her way of thinking was a reversal of mine. I wanted to be the best unicorn and student no matter the cost. She wanted her students to be the best. Had I chosen to go to Crystal Prep instead of CHS, I would have been molded by Cinch into becoming the best. Then again, given my attitude at the time, I'd have tried to overthrow her within the first few months.
" How did you get picked anyway?" I asked.
" I never mentioned it?"
" No."
" I wanted to apply to the Everton Independent Study Program, a program designed for students who wanted to apply their own advanced math and science skills by taking courses where they would study on their own. I... I didn't have any friends at the time, aside from Spike." Twilight said. She and I were a lot more alike than we both would like to admit. I had no friends when I first came here, yet we had our reasons. I wanted power, which meant manipulating everyone around me. Twilight wanted to focus on her studies and couldn't let friendship serve as a distraction. Even Princess Twilight herself started out with no friends. She was dedicated to her studies and believed friends were nothing but crazy ponies who didn't know the first thing about privacy. " Principal Cinch blackmailed me into competing in the Friendship Games by using my application as bait. If I participated, she would use her reputation to guarantee my application would be approved." Twilight said.
" And if you refused?" I asked.
" She would have it denied and my dreams would be snuffed out. Even my own brother wanted me to join the team in order to represent the school. My work was far too important to be wasted on some silly games, but it was what Principal Cinch had counted on. She had my future hanging by a loose thread, and I couldn't let it slip away from me. So, I had no other choice but to become the twelfth member of the Shadowbolts team for the Games. What I lacked in physical prowess, I made up with my vast intellect. There are times where I've cursed myself for having such a brilliant mind. If I had been dumber, I wouldn't have been dragged into that mess." Twilight answered.
" But, you wouldn't have made friends and transfered to CHS."
" That's true."
" So really, everything worked out for the best."
" Aside from the emotional trauma."
" What Principal Cinch did was wrong. I'm surprised that the school board never bothered to look into such a deplorable act as blackmail." I said. Any teacher, no matter what their position was, was forbidden to use bribery to make their students do something that goes against their beliefs. If they were caught, the punishment handed down by the board involved arrest, their removal from the educational system, and imprisonment. I learned this shortly after the Games concluded, when I asked Principal Celestia about why Cinch was so adamant about her plan to expose CHS's magic situation to the board. She told me that Dean Cadance, who had been filled in by Twilight, had told her what was really going on regarding Twilight's sudden inclusion into the games. Celestia thought it best to save face and not expose Cinch for the monster she was. She would spend the rest of her days as a principal knowing that her twisted mannerisms were now known to everyone.
" What did Rainbow Dash tell you about this little spy game she and Pinkie Pie did?" Twilight asked.
" If I could describe it in a single word, it would be 'absurdity'."
There was that name mentioned again: Friendship Games. Everyone in school had been talking about it, but their choice of words were anything but positive. I heard they weren't looking forward to seeing the Wondercolts beaten once again in a lopsided affair. Apparently, this had been going on for many years, CHS never once prevailing over Crystal Prep. Every four years, the two schools would gather together with the best students from either side competing to see which school walked away with the victory and the bragging rights. The most recent games took place at Crystal Prep, so this time, it was CHS who was hosting. Many students said they had no plans on trying out because it was pointless. This is what I had heard from students, but I couldn't confirm if they had told me the truth. I wasn't doubting their claims, but I wanted to have further proof, and that meant asking my friends about it.
On the subject of Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie going all the way to Crystal Prep to spy on the supposed competition, I was shocked that they did something so stupid. What did they hope to gain from their misadventure? I wanted to cover my ears so that I couldn't listen to such absurdity, but my efforts proved to be in vain. Rainbow insisted that we listened because it meant the very morale of CHS was hanging in the balance.
" I wanted to check out the Crystal Prep students to see what kind of skills they had. I figured we could come up with some strategies to shut down their maneuvers to give us an edge and a chance at beating them." Rainbow Dash said.
" What made you think the students you spied on were even competin'?" Applejack asked.
" We have no idea who'll be on their team, so why not spy on as the most likely ones. I was planning on going myself, but I decided I needed a wingman to help me spy on the competition. I didn't go with you, Applejack, because you would've been against it, Rarity would just be worried about getting dirty, Fluttershy would've been too scared, and Sunset doesn't know her way around Canterlot; she only knows this area. That left Pinkie Pie, and believe me, I wished someone else had gone." Rainbow Dash answered.
" So you wouldn't feel like a dork?" I asked.
" Something like that." Rainbow Dash answered. She prided herself on being awesome, and that meant having a certain degree of flare. Going to another school on her own would make her appear uncool in the eyes of her peers. Despite having mellowed out since the Battle of the Bands, Rainbow still possessed a small amount of ego, but not to the point that it became an issue for everyone.
I turned my attention towards Pinkie, who was still fiddling about with that briefcase filled with disguises and other spy gear. I understood why Rainbow wanted someone other than her to go to Crystal Prep. Someone with the innate ability to defy reality was just begging to be seen. Pinkie meant no harm in wanting to prove worthy of being by Rainbow's side, but the latter didn't reciprocate those feelings. It's nothing new; we tend to argue over even petty things. I was curious about the disguises Pinkie had, though. I wasn't going to ask if I could borrow them or anything. I just wanted to know more about what she did.
" What else do you have in that briefcase?" I asked.
" I already mentioned the tree and bunny suit disguises, so what else do I have?" Pinkie Pie asked herself. She raised a finger upon recalling what she brought with her to spy on Crystal Prep. " I have a cat burglar outfit, a dog burglar outfit--which is the same as the other one, but I wear a Spike facemask--and a pink camouflage suit. I don't remember when I got any of that stuff, but I think it proves that I'm serious when it comes to spying." Did she say a Spike mask? That sounded way too weird for my own liking. Then again, it sounded pretty normal for Pinkie. " I always carry a set of balloons in case we need to get a better view of the situation. Finally, I have a microphone complete with headset to overhear anyone in case they're speaking softly. I'm always prepared to go on a spy adventure." Pinkie Pie said.
" That sounds a little unrealistic to me." I said.
" No, she really does have all that stuff." Rainbow Dash said.
" You saw it?"
" I had to put up with it while we were there!"
" Good point."
" The rumours of Crystal Prep being serious turned out to be true. They've always prided themselves as the best school in the city, and the list of achievements they've won is pretty sweet. I know CHS can achieve the same greatness, but everyone else has given up on that dream." Rainbow Dash said.
" Losing so much will do that to 'em." Applejack said.
" We just need to have the right amount of inspiration!"
" I know y'all really want to believe we have a chance this time, but face the truth, Rainbow Dash. Our school is lacking compared to Crystal Prep. We're pretty lax and not worried about bein' the best, while that's all they care about over there." Applejack said.
" That isn't going to make me change my mind on the tryouts."
" They're still havin' those?"
" Vice Principal Luna will be choosing twelve students to represent CHS. She's gonna be holding tryouts to see who's the best. I'm definitely gonna be part of that; I know we can win this time if everything goes according to plan. I was hoping that you guys would back me up by taking part in the tryouts. C'mon! Our school needs the boost in confidence, and we did have that fundraiser last year to get new uniforms to show off during the Games." Rainbow Dash answered.
In a rare instance for her, she began pouting to convince us to take these Games seriously. While I couldn't speak for everyone, I still had no idea what the premise behind these games were. All I had to go on was random bits of information that might not be accurate. The others looked away from Rainbow Dash, glum expressions on their faces. They didn't want to go through with competing in these games. I couldn't sympathize with them until I knew every last detail.
" Oh yeah!" Pinkie Pie began. " I forgot to mention that none of the Crystal Prep students we saw are competing."
" What!?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
" They were just regular students who were having their gym class. They weren't taking things seriously if they were really competing in the games, so we ended up wasting our time when she should have gone inside the building to see other athletes." Pinkie Pie said. She followed up with her trademark goofy grin and we all knew that she just had one of those "moments" where she immediately figures out something without ever explaining how. It was one of her more unique characteristics.
" Well, there goes that plan!" Rainbow Dash moaned while slapping her forehead.
" We can go back tomorrow and try again." Pinkie Pie suggested.
" No, I think I'll focus on the tryouts and making the team. I'm sure there'll be plenty of students lined up itching to play in the Games." Rainbow Dash said. I didn't want to tell her the horrible truth and rain on her parade, but even she knew that students just didn't have the enthusiasm she had. She was just doing her best to deny that no one cared about representing school pride. She and Principal Celestia were perhaps the only two people who believed that the Friendship Games still held significance. I had to know just what these games were all about. Only Rainbow Dash could tell me!
" What are these games exactly?" I asked.
" You seriously don't know?" Rainbow Dash asked.
" I've never heard of them before you first mentioned it when we had the fundraiser. In-between trying to figure out the magic problem, I've been pondering over just what these Friendship Games are supposed to be about. Some of our fellow students told me some things, but I'm not sure if they were being honest with me. They didn't feel at all energetic over it." I answered.
" That's 'cause we can't beat Crystal Prep." Applejack said.
" And why's that?" I asked.
" We can beat them! Just because they have the best resources that money can buy doesn't mean they're invincible." Rainbow Dash answered.
" Kinda hard to get that message across to the others." Applejack said.
" It sounds like Crystal Prep has been dominating CHS for a very long time." I said. I had no idea that I was right on the mark with that statement. Rainbow confirmed what others had told me about the Friendship Games and its significance to school pride. Why it was held every four years made no sense at all, but it was a tradition the two schools had relied on for far longer than most even knew. Only Principal Celestia and this Principal Cinch knew the reason why. Not only did pride play a factor, it was also about reputation. Crystal Prep had a reputation for having athletes who were beyond exceptional, according to what students told me. If they were that good, going up against them was a foolish ambition.
" And they're likely to keep going, at this rate." Applejack added.
" So, what kind of events do they have at these games?" I asked.
" No one knows until the Games begin. I never understood why they just don't mention anything ahead of time. It'd be really handy knowing what we'll be competing in." Rainbow Dash answered. I rolled my eyes. I knew why it was all kept secret from athletes: It was to prevent anyone from cheating. The idea was to give everyone an equal opportunity to show their talents, yet this only applied to Crystal Prep students. CHS students lacked a competitive spirit, so they lost faith in themselves once it got to the point where victory was impossible. " Anyway, there are three events, and the winning school must win two of the three. Events revolve around different aspects of each school's curriculum, so there's some familiarity, yet mostly, it's all unknown." Rainbow Dash said.
" The games never go to the third event; Crystal Prep sweeps the first two without any problems." Applejack said.
" It sounds pretty challenging." I said.
" CHS just needs the right attitude to compete with." Rainbow Dash said.
" Not to mention skill." Applejack added.
" Look! Just trust me on this, guys! I say we go and try out for the games. I know we can really make a difference since we saved our school from two magical problems that almost destroyed the world. The six of us have enough experience to carry us straight to the top and finally end Crystal Prep's reign. What have we got to lose just by trying out?" Rainbow Dash asked.
" Our dignity, for starters." Applejack answered.
" I say we go for it." I announced.
" You sure about that, Sunset?"
" These games, while still confusing to me in places, mean an awful lot to Rainbow Dash. I also think there are some students who believe they can finally end this losing streak CHS has had for many years. Not everyone must be going through doom and gloom over these upcoming games. If Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna can come up with a cohesive team that has many strengths and covers its weaknesses, we might just stand a chance." I answered.
Aside from Rainbow Dash, the rest of my friends weren't thrilled about the idea of trying out for the Wondercolts team. The odds of defeating Crystal Prep were heavily stacked against us, but we had to try, even if it meant failing at the final hurdle. I didn't know exactly what happened during previous Friendship Games, so it was something else I had to research to get a proper understanding. I knew there had to be students who wanted to try out to compete. They just needed a proper incentive, not allowing negativity to cloud their judgment. We had the opportunity to show everyone that CHS was just as good as the best school in the city.
There was one problem I didn't take into consideration when I insisted we try out. My friends and I possessed Equestrian magic, and that had the possibility of giving us an unfair advantage. The Crystal Prep team would compete with their natural abilities, while half of CHS's team would use powers that came from another world. We couldn't allow ourselves to use magic under any circumstances, as it had to be kept a secret from the outside world. I suspected some students at CHS recorded footage from both the Fall Formal and the Battle of the Bands and uploaded it online to expose the magic. Whether or not viewers believed it remained to be seen. If they did believe magic existed here, it meant our school being used like guinea pigs by government agents. Also, my ability to solve the magic problem would become more difficult. Even barring all of that, we'd be accused of cheating, which wouldn't look good on CHS at all.
Maybe it wasn't a good idea to try out after all.
" Did you guys use magic during the Games?" Twilight asked.
" No. We were told to keep it as far away as possible to avoid being accused of cheating. However, only Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash had their magic when the games began. If you recall, Twilight, your device stole my magic, along with Rarity's and Pinkie's. As the Games continued onward, the thought of CHS cheating diminished, as we didn't have the means inside of us." I answered.
" I'm glad that you didn't resort to cheating."
" What would that have accomplished? We wanted to prove that we could beat Crystal Prep by going beyond the limits of endurance and match them head-on. Resorting to underhanded tactics to achieve victory would have proven nothing and would have left a bad taste in our mouths. Not only that, Principal Celestia's image as a kind, loving principal would've been tarnished. Like I said to you before, our actions were reflected on her." I said.
" You mentioned that you were worried about the outside world learning of Equestrian magic."
" It had to be kept secret."
" Was it because you feared its misuse?"
" Humans--with a few exceptions, I'm sure--cannot comprehend the true force of Equestrian magic. If one of your kind attempted to control such magic, it would give them great power enabling them to perform feats that defy this world's natural order. At the same time, however, it can corrupt their minds and turn them into power-hungry maniacs." I answered. Twilight then turned away from me, and I knew why she did. The thought of her actions when she became a demon torments her even now, yet she wasn't the only one who felt the taste of power. I was corrupted long before becoming a demon myself, but my transformation only furthered my twisted mind. For Twilight, what happened was an eternal nightmare that can never be faced. She controlled the Equestrian magic she absorbed from her device, but she couldn't fathom the consequences behind her actions.
I would still help her to overcome her inner demons, just like how our friends helped me to overcome mine. I looked up at a ceiling fixture above and thought back to the conversation Vice Principal Luna had with us. She didn't want to see any surprises, but the incidents involving the plants and Twilight's transformation were beyond our control. If I had been more observant and knowledgeable, I could've prevented the disaster from happening. I'm this world's magical expert, yet I couldn't see the answer that had been right under my nose. I should've taken Twilight's device away from her after the relay race instead of going off on her in my rage. Fluttershy told me what it did, but I ignored it, thinking that Princess Twilight knew of a better answer. There were plenty of what-if scenarios that could've happened, and the worst became our reality.
Then there was the threat Equestria could have gotten if a corrupted human went through the portal. Different people have different goals in life, so there was no telling what kind of threat would be facing my fellow ponies. If they conquered Equestria, I'd be blamed for it because I stole Princess Twilight's crown to begin with. The more I thought about it, the more I cursed myself for being so stubborn and not accepting things at a natural progression.
" I'm a living example of that." Twilight said.
" It could've happened to anyone."
" Why did your magic corrupt me?"
" My only answer for you, is that you were in close proximity every time your device absorbed our magic. It sensed that you were someone who was struggling to deal with so many issues at once. Equestrian magic might not look like it, but what it can do is reflected upon the person. You wanted to understand as much magic as possible, so you had the ability to open up so many portals connecting this world to Equestria. Think of my world's magic as a sentient being that's an extension of yourself." I answered.
" It's a living, breathing entity?"
" Magic isn't alive, but it does sense the thoughts of the user."
" So, I transformed based on a desire to understand magic, and it wanted to see my wishes fulfilled."
" Yes."
" Not sure I can believe that."
" Do you have an explanation, then, that doesn't relate to science?"
" No."
" Then there you go." I said. The signs were there that someone was absorbing all of the collected magic when her device was opened. I actually thought that someone like Principal Cinch would've gone and absorbed it all instead of Twilight. She had a reason for wanting power, as she wanted to maintain dominance over the school district. She cared about her own success while ignoring those of her students who failed to live up to her expectations. Instead, it was Twilight who absorbed the magic, albeit unintentionally, as she was an innocent child who got caught up in something she shouldn't have trifled with. What would Cinch have been like as a demon? I shivered just thinking about it. I don't think anyone wanted to witness that!
" How many went to the tryouts?" Twilight asked.
" We were actually expecting none."
" But?"
" Twelve decided to go for it."
" Isn't that the exact number both teams needed?"
" Yes."
" I understand why you and our friends wanted to try out, but what about the others on your team?"