Chapter 29

“Friendship Games Part 1”

“Crystal Preppies”

The front of Canterlot High School was usually deserted after classes had stopped for the day. This didn’t stop seven people from rushing to the front doors like they had to stop the end of the world.

“Later, darling, emergency now,” Rarity tutted, getting Twilight back on track.

“Love bugs gone evil?” Private added, then got a glare from Pinkie of all people. “Oh...sorry…”

“No guys! It’s even worse!” Rainbow bemoaned and then….held up her guitar. “My guitar string broke.” This statement was greeted by a rapid-fire series of smacks as the other girls, and guy, facepalmed.

“Rainbow Dash, a broken guitar string doesn’t t’zactly qualify as an emergency,” Applejack said with a glare.

Sunset groaned, “Rainbow, we set up the emergency text code in case real emergencies ever came about, not broken guitar strings.”

“Aww come on guys!” Rainbow said, and gestured to Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo behind her. “I kinda sorta promised that the Rainbooms would perform.”

“Possibly for one of their MareTube videos I suppose,” Rarity said with a sigh.

“Jus’ tryin’ ta promote y’all to a bigger audience, is all,” Applebloom said with a sheepish grin.

“You gonna tell us one day how you did those awesome special effects?!” Scootaloo asked excitedly.

“Uh, right…” Rainbow said, chuckling nervously. “Maybe some other time, squirt…”

“Here,” Sunset said reaching into her backpack and pulling out a spare string she had in there. “Try to be more careful, next time. I’m sure everybody’s done practicing for the day, though...”

“Oh my gosh you are best assist guitar ever!” Rainbow said, taking the string and going to fix her guitar.

“It shouldn’t be too hard for us to do a little performance anyways.” Fluttershy said.

“Well, you guys go ahead and do that performance,” Private said, heading towards the statue in the center of the sidewalk leading up to the school entrance. “I got my job to do…”

“Wondered what all the cleaning supplies was for.” Rainbow said, pointing to said supplies.

“My kinda sorta punishment for messing around with the uh...you know what.” Private said, careful to avoid speaking directly whilst the younglings were listening. “Trust me when I say I’m getting off easy here. You girls have fun, I’ll try and make this statue more presentable…”

Twilight stood there, looking torn, then sighed, and went to Private. “You guys go ahead… I’m going to help Private…”

“Twi, really it’s okay, go and sing your heart out, this won’t take me very long,” Private insisted.

“C’mon Twilight! We need you on vocals anyways!” Rainbow said, grabbing her arm and dragging Twilight back into the building, the others began to follow.

“But… Private… Statue… Ugh… fine…” Twilight uttered as she was dragged away.

Private looked on the statue, and wiped his brow. “C’mon a little honest work never hurt anybody, that’s what Aj always said...then again Aj’s built like a truck…” Private casually tried to lean against the statue, only to feel..repelled somehow.

“Huh?” Private looked at the statue, and then put his hand along it’s side, a light glowed faintly around his hand, and something solid was keeping him from touching it…

Private shook his head, and saw he was now just touching the stone of the statue. “Weird, maybe Twilight knows something about it.” Private then went over to the buckets and sighed. “Great...probably should fill these up. I think I saw a hose over a little ways.” He said, picking up the bucket and heading towards the hose.

As he did though, a figure in a black hoodie came up towards the statue. He looked back at Private, seeing he was occupied with filling the buckets. The figure then reached into the backpack he was wearing, and pulled out a strange tome, adorned in runes, with a black and silver cover. He looked at the book, then at the statue..he put his hand on the book, and his hand glowed faintly acid green. He then lifted his hand..and was about to touch the statue…

“Gosh, Dangit, stupid slippery handles!” Private yelped, in an effort to pick up the now spilled bucket, he saw the figure...and the tome, and the green energy. “HEY!” Private yelled, startling the figure.

The figure’s hand stopped glowing, he picked up the book and started to run across the street.

“Hey! Get back here!” Private yelled as he chased after him, “What the hell were you-”

He never got to finish his sentence nor his chase as a big bus came between them. Private stopped for a moment, but when the bus pulled away after briefly stopping, the figure was gone.

“What the hell? Who would want to spy on a statue?” Private said to himself. He then saw the sign on the bus. He squinted to read the destination.

Onboard the bus, the figure sighed, he barely managed to get away. He hoped he wouldn’t be charged with trespassing or anything. He then slowly removed the hood, letting down somewhat messy black hair, and opened his green eyes to look back at CHS. He then looked down at the tome.

Spera Imperictus relaxed against the bus seat the whole ride home, removing the hoodie to reveal his uniform…

His Crystal Prep uniform.
_________________________________________________________

The next day, the girls met up with Private in the library to discuss what had happened the day before. They had gathered at an empty table hidden by the stacks where they had some semblance of privacy in order to talk freely about what had happened without worry of blowing their cover.

“He then just took off, got himself on a bus and that’s the last I saw of him.” Private said after telling all of them what happened. “He seemed really interested in the statute for some reason…”

“And you said his hand was glowing? And that it was glowing green?” Twilight asked, tilting her head.

“There’s no mistaking it, either that kid was messing around with leftover special effects from a Green Lantern movie.” He got blank stares from about half of the group. “Nevermind, better for your health anyways if none of you go looking for the movie. Anyways, he had to have been using Dark Magic. I don’t know if he knows he’s doing it though...he seemed to be almost, testing it, like how you test the temperature in a pool before jumping in.”

“So he didn’t have the, EEEVIILL eye thingy?” Pinkie asked, her eyes temporarily adopting the trademarked eyes before returning to normal.

“Nah, at least from what I could see. He also had this weird book. I think that’s probably how he’s learning it,” Private theorized.

“Well maybe he’s a guardian like us, jus’ doesn’t know it yet,” Aj suggested.

“I don’t think so,” Twilight said shaking her head. “Professor Celestia would know about him, and have had him training with us… Also, Pinkie? How did you DO that?!”

“Well guardian or not,” Fluttershy said, “if he is messing with dark magic, we should inform him it’s very dangerous.”

“Any idea where this guy came from at all?” Rainbow asked. “Maybe we can call him up, say ‘Hey turns out your messing with stuff that could turn you very very much evil’ or something?”

“I did catch a glimpse of his bus’ destination,” Private said, “It said it was going to Crystal City.”

“The city to the north of us?” Sunset asked, as suddenly Aj, Rarity, Rainbow, Fluttershy and Pinkie all grew tense.

“Well judging by his height and build, he couldn’t be that much older than a teenager…” Private said.

“So if he’s a teenager...in Crystal City…” Rarity said, suddenly clenching her fists.

“It means the dude is from that school filled with stuck up, stuffy, jerkishly evil jerks!” Rainbow said, getting up. “That guy has to be from Crystal Prep!”

“Uhm… Crystal Prep is a private school. There’s no guarantee that he’s going there, and not, say, to the public school the city is bound to have,” Twilight pointed out.

“Yeah, but nobody but a Crystal Prepper would have a reason to come down here and mess with our Wondercolt Statue,” Rainbow retorted. “Crystal Prep has been our biggest rival since, like, forever!”

“You mean the whole ‘Friendship Games’ thing?” Sunset asked, raising an eyebrow. “It didn’t seem like much of a rivalry to me…”

“Only because you were uh...a little busy focusing on...you know…” Fluttershy said, trying to put it politely. “Being...old Sunset Shimmer.”

“So what is this about a rivalry?” Twilight asked. “I mean, I read about Crystal Prep in the papers but I didn’t figure we of all schools would have a rivalry with them.”

“That’s because you don’t know about the absolute humiliation that is the Friendship Games…” Rarity grumbled.

“See we got this event that happens every four years. A bunch of students from both schools come together for three days for this big competition in the hopes of gettin’ our schools to cooperate,” Aj explained. “Only problem is them Crystal Brats beat us every year, rubbing it in our faces like they're some kinda fancy group of snots.”

Rainbow plopped a book onto the table and stated, “Behold good people, the years of sabotage on our statue.” She opened the book and revealed several pictures of the statue getting painted, toilet-papered, or otherwise defaced. “This has been going on for years.”

“I didn’t figure it was that bad,” Private said, looking down at the pictures. “Some of my friends at Manehatten High told me the stories but, to see all these pictures.”

“And this is supposed to be about cooperation between our schools?” Twilight asked with a sigh. “Looks more like they come here to prove their superiority to the ‘public school peasants’.”

“From what I heard, it’s a total jungle in there,” Sunset said. “Graduating from Crystal Prep is pretty much a guarantee of getting into college. Their standards are so high that a kid got expelled for having a B minus. The only thing keeping them from going bankrupt is because the rich and elite send their kids there, paying the monster sized tuition required. Anybody else who wants in has to pass an entrance exam that would make even college professors think about other prospects. Once you’re in though, there’s no guarantee you’ll stay in. I’ve heard of students sabotaging each other, open fights between rivals, and all sorts of horror stories.”

“Sounds like Old Shimmer would’ve strolled right in…” Aj said thoughtfully.

“Please,” Sunset said, rolling her eyes. “Glory didn’t have me try to get into Crystal Prep because it was easier to lord me over the, as Twilight said, ‘Public School Peasants’.”

“And this kid is supposed to be from there huh?” Private said, “Well then, finding him should be easy. He has to come here for the games after all.”

“I’m pretty sure finding the one kid with the creepy demonic tome should be a piece of cake.” Pinkie said...pulling said cake out of her hair and eating it.

“Have you found my probes, yet, Pinkie?” Twilight asked, looking slightly disturbed at Pinkie’s display.

“All students, please report to the gymnasium for this year’s Pre-Friendship Games pep rally!” Celestia’s voice rang out, clearly trying to sound excited but slightly failing…

It was as if a collective moan was sounded from every student at the school. Including those present at the table, minus Private, Twilight and Sunset.

“Well, here we go, may as well start sewing white flags now Rares…” Aj said, getting up.

It was very few students that bothered to show up for the rally. They all sat in the bleachers, looking less-than-enthused, looking toward Celestia who stood in the middle of the stage. Sunset took a seat, along with Twilight. Private, of course, sat next to Twilight, while the rest took seats nearby. Twilight and Private actually looked curious, while the rest of the girls looked about as enthused as the rest of the student body.

The atmosphere in the place was particularly defeatist. But Celestia tapped the mike and tried to put on a smile for the students. “Students of Canterlot High, as you all know, my grandfather Solataris helped found this school in the hopes of fostering a community of knowledge for all. Our sister school, Crystal Prep Academy was made at the same time. Together, we forged the Friendship Games as a means to continue to foster relations between the two schools, to this very day.”

“By relations you mean they slaughter us every year!” One student cried out from the crowd.

Celestia sighed, pinching the bridge of her brow as the students talked about all the previous failures against Crystal Prep.

“Wasn’t always like thi,s Ah heard.” Aj said, “Granny went here when she was a youngin and said that in the old days the games were right cordial.”

“Yeah, Crystal Prep is run by this mean old lady who would give Professor Umbridge a run for her money,” Pinkie added.

“So she’s convinced of her, and her school’s superiority, and encourages her students to be cut-throat. Probably under the guise of preparing them for the ‘real world’... Wonder who inspired who, Sunset?” Twilight said turning to her adopted sister.

Celestia tapped the mike again to regain control of the crowd. “Now, I am very well aware of Crystal Prep’s...winning streak...but I want you all to remember why we do this. These games are meant to bring not just us as a school together, but us as students and educators. To foster growth by interacting with one another. Now, Rainbow Dash told me earlier she had a few words to say.”

Rainbow soon took the stage, taking the mike from Celestia, “Thanks, Princepal,” She then turned to the crowd as Celestia took a seat with Luna on the stage. Rainbow looked out at the crowd and casually said, “C’mon guys, we can drop the pretense now. For the last twenty years they’ve been nothing but an excuse for the Shadowbolts to get a free vacation while they slaughter any resistance we can provide.”

“Oh dear. I hope this isn’t supposed to be inspirational,” Rarity observed, wincing at Rainbow’s lack of tact.

“Wow… An’ I thought Sour could be brutally honest,” Applejack said making a face.

“Course...there were a bunch of things that are different about this year it seems.” Rainbow said, “I mean, look around at all of us. At the start of the year we’d all be sitting in different cliques, and Sunset would practically have a throne to herself. Now, though, I see a bunch of students all sitting together. I don’t think the Shadowbolts have ever faced an onslaught of united students like this…” She then grinned and, music could be heard…

“Crystal Prep students are super athletic, super smart and super motivated!" Rainbow said, walking around the stage...and grinning. "But there's one thing they aren't, they aren't, WONDERCOLTS!"

"We've fought fear and adversity ," Rainbow sang as the curtains opened, revealing members of the marching band. "And come out on top. There's other schools but none can make those claims!”

“Huh, seems Pinkie isn’t the only one who can create spontaneous musical numbers…” Twilight commented.

“Silly Twili there’s only one of me...unlesss…” Pinkie said thoughtfully.

“Together we are Canterlot. Come and cheer our name! This'll be our year to win these games!" Rainbow sang, hopping off the stage and marching along with the band members behind her. "We'll always be, Wondercolts forever! And now our time has finally arrived! Because we believe in the power of friendship!"

Vinyl grinned, then slid out of her seat to grab a wire from her pocket to hook up the sound system, as the song grew in strength. Octavia stared for a moment, then simply chuckled, Vinyl’s mixing board kicked in, adding mad beats to the song.

That cheer got quite a few smiles going among the crowd. Suddenly everybody was feeling better about their chances...the fact that there was a chance only helped.

"Don't know who wrote this song, but I starting to feel better about our chances," Sunset said, tapping her foot to the beat.

"I know... I think we found one of Rainbow's hidden talents," Twilight observed. “Unless she got Fluttershy to write it… Did you?”

Soon Rainbow was standing with a Wondercolt Marching band hat in front of some students holding boards showing the Canterlot High Symbol."We aren't the school we were before!" "BEFORE!" "Yeah we're different now!" "Hey Hey!" "We’ve made friends of our enemies!" "We overcame the obstacles we faced!" The board students flipped the boards over revealing pictures of demon Sunset and the Sirens. Then they held up new boards showcasing happier, friendlier variations the real Sunset and Adagio. Victories that brought the school together, and friends to everyone's hearts.

“Well… At least they’re showing that I’ve become a better person,” Sunset observed. “Huh… Speaking of… Where is Adagio, and the others?” She spied Aria keeping her grouchy face in the crowd, despite tapping her foot. She also spotted Sonata cheering...but no sign of Adagio at all.

“And we’ll never booow!!” Rainbow then grabbed the marching band hat she was wearing. “So get ready to see us in First Place!”

“We’ll always be, Wondercolts forever!!” The crowd sang as the marching band tossed the trademark ears and tails to all the students. “And our time has finally arrived!”

Rainbow and Marching Band leader Drummy Major sang together as the song hit it’s greatest climax, as all the students stood as one.

“Cause you know, at the end, of the day. It is we who will survive!!” They stood together, smiling as the whole student body was into it. “Cause you know, at the end, of the day. It is we who will survive!!”

The students fell into a rhythm of na-nas and claps, Even Celestia and Luna were getting into it. The students sang as Rainbow marched with the band, passing like a true triumph.

Rainbow climbed on the stage and looked on her handiwork. Some part of this seemed...just right...she felt such a wonderful power flow from seeing everybody united together. Inspiring such loyalty to the school made her want to...She stopped herself, and noticed for a brief moment she glowed bright blue, she shook her head and got back into the song just as it was on the home stretch.

“And you’ll know, at the end, of the day, it is we who will survive! And you know, at the end, of the day, it is we who will survive!”

The song ended with Drummy tossing her baton in the air only for Rainbow to leap and snatch it in the air, twirling it stylishly, and then sticking the landing.

The crowd went wild, standing, applauding, and cheering. Everybody felt that they actually had a chance, this year. As the crowd cheered on however, the guardians all looked at one another, nodded, then gestured for Rainbow to head backstage. Rainbow nodded and snuck away while the crowd was too busy celebrating the biggest moral boost in over two decades.

“Okay, Rainbow, spill. What was that brief glow we saw you give off?” Twilight asked, looking at the chroma-haired girl sternly. “I’m glad you managed to cut it off, but…”

“I have no idea!” Rainbow said frantically. “I just got so into it! All those people, all cheering and inspired I just...if I didn’t stop myself I swear I would’ve flew.”

“Let’s just hope we can keep these outbursts handled…” Rarity said nervously.

“Indeed.” Everybody turned to see Luna standing before them. “Especially so with the games coming around.”

“It’s alright, I’m not going to put you in detention. Everybody played it up as part of the show, thank heavens. But I don’t think I need to tell you what would happen if the Headmistress of Crystal Prep caught wind of magic being used.”

“She’d think we’re all crazy and have the government lock us up?” Sunset suggested.

“Oh, right after getting you all expelled for cheating and disqualifying the games,” Luna said, sighing. “At least that’s what Tia told me. Just make sure you all have it handled. We want these games to go as smoothly as possible.” She turned and began walking away.

“I...I just started wondering, are there more guardians out there? Like us?” Private said.

Luna got quiet for a moment, noticing that everybody else got a touch nervous about this. Luna finally nodded. “Dozens, you didn’t think you were the only ones protecting the Earth were you? Many have yet to discover their own potential...carry that knowledge carefully.” She then walked away.

Private sighed “Okay, I know it was risky, guys,” Private said turning. “but at least we know there are plenty of other guardians out there. So Mr. Mystery is probably just one we need to find and tell what’s going on.”

“I still would have thought that Professor Celestia would have known about him, he being so nearby, and all,” Twilight observed. “But it could be that Crystal Prep was keeping his potential in check? There’s just too many variables to make an accurate statement…”

“We find him, tell him he’s messing with powers that could possibly kill him, and make sure he turns over that book of his to Principal Celestia for safekeeping,” Sunset said determinedly.

“That’s cause it probably is that easy, and our favorite egghead is overcomplicating things, like she tends to do,” Rainbow stated with a shrug and a smirk.

“Still, ya gotta wonder what kinda guy messes around with weird tomes he just happened to find lying around,” Pinkie said. “Let’s just hope he’s not some kinda creepy weirdo with a scar and bloodshot eyes or something…”

“... I regret showing you TVTropes.org, now…” Twilight observed with a facepalm.

In Crystal City, the stately, and overly shiny, building of Crystal Prep stood proudly in the center of the district. Its crystal supports, and multifaceted windows gleamed in the sunlight with a brilliance that is said to be only matched by the minds of its students. It is said that graduating from here was a guarantee for success in life. However, you had to actually make it to graduation.

Inside, students walked from class to class, warily eyeing one another. Trust was not something that’s encouraged, here, nor was friendship. They had been taught that the world was dog-eat-dog, and every student there sought to be the biggest dog with the sharpest teeth. Some friendships formed, despite the atmosphere of intense competitiveness, but they were kept on the down low, to make sure that they couldn’t be exploited. That, or they didn’t last, because they were only getting close to steal one’s work, or stab one in the back. It was that kind of school.

Walking from his Latin class was young Spera Imperictus, seeing the untrusting looks from all his classmates and sighing. He wanted nothing more than to fit in better at this school. Only problem was, most students who got in on scholarship tended to be a touch hostile to those who got in thanks to money. Spera’s father….well...stepfather paid tuition but…

“But it’s not like I’m working any less hard.” Spera mused to himself, “After all, I have something to live fo-”

Spera dodged out of the way, causing the girl to slam into the wall, getting a touch dazed. Spera sighed, “Indigo, you gotta learn I can dodge your super tackles now.”

The girl with a mane of dark blue hair with light and medium blue highlights shook her head to clear the fog, adjusting her goggles, before turning her gold eyes to Spera again. She was dressed in one of Crystal Prep’s uniforms consisting of a mauve plaid skirt, a mauve suit jacket emblazoned with the Crystal Prep crest, and light blue blouse worn under the jacket. “Spera! Oh my gosh I’m sooo glad I found you!”

“So I may have kinda sorta, skipped actually doing my trigonometry homework in order to practice for the games…” Indigo admitted.
Spera shook his head, “I know Motorcross is important to you Indigo, but you need to learn to balance things with schoolwork.”

“Sorry if all of us can’t be geniuses like you and Sunny,” Indigo said, rolling her eyes. She then folded her hands and begged before Spera. “Oh please oh wonderfully smartypants Spera! Please help me do it so I will be able to live with myself.”

“Alright alright, sheeze,” Spera said, waving his hands to calm her down. “I’ll help you through it tonight, but just promise me you’ll try harder next time?”

“Well…” Indigo said, suddenly getting a touch nervous. “See...thing is if I do super duper well, you won’t have to tutor me anymore…”

“Forget it!” Indigo said suddenly. “Just forget everything I just said! You’re the best Spera but I gotta go BYE!” She then took off just as quickly as she came.

Spera chuckled. “That girl, I don’t think she’s ever heard of the words ‘slow down’...like at all.”

Spera then walked towards his locker, hoping to put his books away for the day. He then stopped as he heard breathing on the other side. He sighed and opened the locker. Folded into the locker was yet another Crystal Prep student. She had long tri-colored lemon-lime green hair, and headphones covering her ears. Her eyes were currently closed, as she slept. Apparently this girl had the sleeping ability of a cat. Could sleep anywhere, as long as she could get somewhat comfortable.

Spera just shook his head and tapped the girl’s shoulder. “Lemon? Lemon c’mon it’s time to wake up.”

“Hnnh?” The girl uttered, opening sleepy yellow eyes to notice Spera. “Oh, hey, Spera. You need in here?”

“Kinda since it’s my locker, Lemon this is the third time this week.” Spera said, helping the girl out of the locker. “Keep this up and one of the prefects will find you and not me.”

Lemon just casually stood beside him, “What’s the point anyway? Maybe this’ll finally get one of them to come…”

Spera looked on sympathetically at the green haired girl. “Lemon, I’m sorry, I’m sure they’ll come around eventually...have they finalized it?”

“No but they may as well have,” Lemon said, shaking her head. “Both of them are too busy one upping each other. Trying to pull me to either side. Can you believe last week Mom kept listing off all these expensive gifts, constantly saying how better they were than dad’s...when really I just wanted some new headphones.”

Spera then looked thoughtful, then reached into his pocket, pulling out a cd. “Well, it’s a little late but how about I toss you a present...like Countess Coloratura's latest Album ‘Razzle Dazzle’?”

Lemon squee’d. “Really? You’d really get that for me? You’re the best, Spera!” Lemon said giving him a brief hug. “You really are!”

“Just promise that you’ll find a better place to nap.” He said, giving Lemon the cd.

“Aw, but I like your locker. It’s comfy, and comes with a friend who actually cares about me,” Lemon said with a smile, as she took the CD, and hugging it to her heart. “Thanks, Spera.”

Spera smiled as she ran off, glad to see the girl in her natural state, happy and in love with music. Which was soon evaporated when he was suddenly slammed into the locker. He looked on his attacker, kicking himself for thinking that things were looking up.

“Cinch wants to see you!” came the rather abrasive voice of Sour Sweet in “sour” mode. “Oh… I’m so sorry about that. It’s just that I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” she added, flipping rapidly to “sweet” mode, but the switch was all too brief. “Why can’t you just stay STILL for a moment to let me catch up with you?!” Spera turned to see yet another of his female classmates. This one a grumpy looking girl with pink hair with a light blue streak done up in a top-knot style ponytail, a cherry scrunchie holding it in place. Her freckled face was frowning, and her purple eyes were currently glaring at him for making himself hard to find.

“Hello to you too Soursweet…” Spera said, trying not to let his fear show. “I see you’re as...interesting as usual.”

“Can it, Spera,” Soursweet groused. Her face then softened and she looked at him again with a less grumpy expression. “It’s just Principal Cinch wanted to see you, like, five minutes ago, and I really needed to find you in a hurry.” Her face turned back to grumpy again. “Because you’re going to make me late for my next class, and I freaking hate algebra!”She then punched the locker next to his, making a dent and then stormed off...only to stop and marvel at a flower on another student’s locker.

“Geez, that girl’s mood is like watching a professional ping pong match…” Spera said, breathing a sigh of relief after she was out of earshot. He then walked a little ways, until he rounded a corner, and spotted a sight that made him smile a little.

Sunny Flare was at her locker, organizing it as she was wont. This girl had light lavender hair with pink streaks, and lavender eyes. In her hair she wore a fancy filigreed decoration that depicted a sun, and on her wrists she wore the latest in personal computing/smartphones. Being the daughter of the CEO of one of the biggest tech firms in the country apparently had its perks.

Their similar backgrounds led Spera to like Sunny quite a bit, and it was mutual...but lately she seemed a little, off.

Sunny meanwhile was looking at on of her portfolio’s entitled, ‘Spera Proposal’. She sighed, “One of these days…”

“GAH! Spera! I… Well.. I had… thoughts… but… I need to put them together! But… Where…?!” Sunny uttered panicked, shoving the portfolio into her locker and slamming it.

“Sunny I’ve been meaning to ask, but are you okay? Lately you’ve seem a little on edge every time we talk.” Spera asked. “You’re like Indigo during a Trig Exam.”

“I… I’m okay… I just… I’d like… I… Uh… I’ve kind of been under some pressure, lately, with the games and everything,” Sunny said nervously, unable to spit out what she truly wanted to say.

She sighed. “Yeah, somedays it sucks to be the niece of the Headmistress. I’m supposed to be this shining example to everyone, but some days it feels like everybody except you and Sugarcoat are gunning for me.”

“Just promise me you won’t push yourself too hard okay? I’d hate to see you get drowned in all the work and pressure.” Spera said, kindly.

“O-okay. I’ll try, Spera,” Sunny said, before she headed off to her next class. She couldn’t help but internally squee at his comment, though. “He likes me! He really likes me! I just wish I could just TALK to him…”

Spera smiled after her. “Really wish I could figure out what’s bothering her though…”

“She’s got the hots for you, and can’t tell you, because she gets really nervous about talking to you about the future, which includes marriage, and children,” came a familiar monotone voice.

“Good to see you too Sugarcoat.” Spera said, looking over to the owner of said voice.

Sugarcoat was yet another young woman of Spera’s acquaintance going to Crystal Prep. She had silvery white hair she wore in a trio of ponytails. One on top of her head, and two on either side of her head, and all were secured with purple scrunchies. The pink barrettes she wore were apparently just for decoration. The last notable feature of this young woman was her pink horn-rimmed glasses that just seemed to emphasise whenever she was less than pleased. Her expression was usually one of bland disinterest, and her demeanor was one of brutal honesty. Rather ironic, considering her name.

“I’m, sorry what?” Spera said, blinking. “Nah, that’s crazy, Sunny is a good friend.”

“I see you still haven’t quite figured out your namesake.” Spera snarked back. “But uh, try doing what you can to cheer her up, she’s been under a lot of stress lately.”

“I know. Her parents want her to win all the events in the Friendship Games single-handedly, Cinch wants her to be the prime aggressor towards the Canterlotters when we get there, and Sunny still hasn’t been able to talk to you about the future where you have five kids, names already picked,” Sugarcoat stated with a roll of her eyes. “Also I’m really horrible at cheering people up.”

“I’m starting to see your point. Anyways I gotta get to Cinch’s office, here’s hoping it’s a simple matter that can be resolved. I got research to do anyways.”

“It won’t be. I saw an older man in a suit in Cinch’s evil villain lair,” Sugarcoat said, heading to her own class. “I’d tell you ‘good luck’, but I don’t think it’ll do any good.”

Spera sighed. “Damnit...well time to face the music I guess.” He said, then walked towards Headmistress Cinch’s office.

Spera had thought that Sugarcoat was exaggerating when she had described Cinch’s office as an “evil villain lair”, but it did seem to give off that vibe. Why a Headmistress’ office had to be so dimly lit was beyond Spera’s understanding. It had some light, of course, but it only seemed to emphasize how dark the rest of the office was. On either side of the office were these big, imposing shelving cabinets. The one on the left held the staunch history of the school in yearbook form. The one on the right held all the awards and trophies that the school had won over the years. At the back, with a light emphasising its presence was the imposing desk of Principal Cinch herself. Ornate, with golden wood highlighting the expensive mahogany and crystal insets. The matching chair currently was facing away from the door. Cinch, apparently had a flair for the dramatic.

Then the chair turned around, dramatically, revealing Principal Cinch herself. She was a stern-looking older woman, dressed in very formal, even old-fashioned-looking clothing, with half-moon glasses, almond shaped eyes of a washed-out lavender, and her tri-shaded purple hair done up in a very severe bun. Her buttoned up suit jacket was a royal blue, her blouse was a lighter blue, and she wore a red jeweled brooch centered on the nape of her neck.

“Ah, young Mister Imperictus. So glad you could make it,” Cinch said as she looked at the young man who nervously sat himself down in the chair in front of her desk.

Spera then looked off to the man standing next to her, the man who married his mother after the fire. Kalos Imperictus, head of Imperictus Arms, one of the biggest weapons development companies in the world. He was tall, lanky, with well kept red hair, and reddish eyes that only added to his rather, intimidating look. He wore the suit he always wore and looked down at Spera as if he was looking through the poor boy.

Spera cleared his throat. “You needed me for something Headmistress?” He said, not looking directly at his stepfather.

“Why yes. You see you have done a lot, here, at Crystal Prep. Many great things have been bestowed upon our school, because of the research projects you have spearheaded. However, I can’t help but wonder why one of my most brilliant students isn’t competing in the Friendship Games?” She said, raising an eyebrow while peering into Spera’s soul.

“Well, see I’ve actually been really busy on a ton of new projects,” Spera explained. “Things that could really change the world, and I need as much time as I can to work on it. I think something as simple as the Friendship games would just be a distrac-”

“A distraction? The games are not a distraction, Spera Imperictus. They are the single most important event of this year, and this school needs you to compete. Of course we would win. We always win, because we are obviously superior. However, I always want to hammer home how superior our way of doing things is over Canterlot High’s emphasis upon friendship and ‘getting along’. So, naturally, we need you,” Cinch said, strolling over to the trophies, and shining one of them. “Crystal Prep must not merely win. Crystal Prep must annihilate the competition. Utterly.”

“But we’ve never had problems with Canterlot High before…” Spera said, and then thought.

Something must’ve gotten her spooked if she’s this desperate to have me on board.

“Besides, Sunny Flare is just as smart as I am, I’m sure she can handle things…” Spera suggested. “I mean I understand the importance of the games to the school’s reputation. Victory at all cost right? But we’ve had landslide victories every other year...unless something’s changed…”

“Yes. Some things have changed. You see Canterlot High is experiencing something of a renaissance. Test scores are up, grades have gotten higher, and even athletics have shown quite a lot of improvement. Never mind their most brilliant student, Sunset Shimmer, may no longer be abstaining from the games like she used to. Then there was the most recent transfer into Canterlot High. We tried to garner her parents’ interest in Crystal Prep, and even would have given her a scholarship, but… Instead, Canterlot High got the most brilliant girl in Maretropolis to go to their school. Between Twilight Sparkle, and Sunset Shimmer, Canterlot High… may have a decent chance of actually… winning. This. Can not! Happen!”

“He will attend Abacus,” Kalos said for the first time since this all started. “I will smooth things over with him.”

“Let’s talk outside about this, Spera.” Kalos said, casually ignoring Spera’s protest, heading to walk into the hallway. Spera followed reluctantly.

Spera looked up at his stepfather when they were out of earshot. “But, sir I really-”

“I understand your reluctance to step away from your pet projects Spera.” Kalos said, once again ignoring Spera. “But I’m afraid that as an Alumni of Crystal Prep and head of Imperictus Arms, I simply cannot allow you to miss your chance of providing victory for this wonderful school.”

“That’s the thing though, there are plenty of geniuses and athletes here. I just think my time would be better spent on my work…” Spera tried to say.

Kalos stopped, turned and glared down at Spera. “It seems your father’s aptitude for not listening to his betters prevails in you….”
Spera gulped, and looked down at the floor.

“It has been, what, 12 years now?” Kalos said, coldly. “Since I took you and your mother from the stinking poor house you were living in? Since your father died in that fire without leaving anything for you and your mother. I would think you’d be a touch grateful.”

“It would be a shame if you and your mother were back out there again, scraping by. Of course her new...habit doesn’t help matters.” Kalos said, once again talking over Spera.

“And then of course there’s Scarlet, a shame she turned broken and useless.” Kalos said callously. “Barely there despite all of my attempts to make her into a proper young lady. I mean it would be a shame if she were suddenly left on the streets a-”

“I’LL DO IT!” Spera pleaded. “I’ll do it I swear! Just please don’t do anything to Scarlet!”

Kalos, smiled, “Now that’s better, you’d better head off to your dorm to begin packing. Don’t disappoint me..”

Equestria Guardians

by Jacoboby1

Chapter 29 "Friendship Games Part 1"