//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: I Just Wanted to Say, I'm Confused // by sonicfan05 //------------------------------// It’s been a half-hour since the craziness of the second round and all the students from both schools were glaring at each other, not saying a word while Harshwhinny and Cranky Doodle surveyed the CHS gymnasium like hawks. Earlier, they were at each others throats; the students from the Crystal Prep accused CHS for cheating with their strange magic and the students of CHS accused Crystal Prep for being hypocrites and not being respectful to them and to their own teammates, especially to Twilight Sparkle. Ms. Harshwhinny had to step in and divided the group to two different sides of the gym before things get out of control. There was nothing but tense and awkward silence within the gymnasium. Flash, who was standing from the back of the CHS group, huffed in frustration. After those strange plant creatures came out of nowhere, he wanted to see Twilight right away, only to be forced to come here by Ms. Harshwhinny. It wasn’t fair that he couldn’t see her, especially when she was standing right there in front of him. She and the rest of the girls who were competing were not here in this gym. Worse of all, they were told that the final round will began in the next half hour. Why would they continue after an event like this was beyond him, but he betted that Principal Cinch has something to do with this. Whatever the reason, he won’t be able to leave this room, not as long as Ms. Harshwhinny and Mr. Cranky stood in front of the doors. “Hey Flash,” someone whispered from behind him. Flash turned just in time to see Lyra and Bon Bon walking towards him. “Everything okay Flash?” Bon Bon asked in her hushed tone. Flash sighed. “Not really, this whole competition has been a big mess!” “Yeah, tell me about it,” Lyra scoffed. “First small portals popping out at random places, then Sunset’s group grew wings and ears and now plant creatures came out of nowhere and attacked us. What’s next, someone end up turn into a monster and our world hangs into balance?” “Lyra!” Bob Bon snapped quietly. “What? It’s not like it's gonna happen!” Lyra said defensively. “Anyway,” Flash trailed off, getting back on topic. “After those plant creatures showed up, I wanted to go and check up on Twilight, but Ms. Harshwhinny stopped me!” Lyra smirked. “Figures. Our lover boy here is worrying for his girl-” She was interrupted by a sudden jab in the rib by Bon Bon who was glaring at her. Once she knew for sure that her friend wouldn’t make another remark, Bon Bon turned to Flash. “Flash, I know you’re worried about Twilight, and so do we, but there’s nothing we can do about it until after the final round of the Friendship Games.” “But if I wait any longer, I won’t have a chance to talk to her!” Flash argued. Lyra shook her head. “Look dude, you worry too much! The buses show up at three, which is a half hour after the end of Friendship Games. Twilight won’t go anywhere, so you still got time!” Flash held his chin in thought. On one hand, Lyra had a point. He may still have some time to catch up to Twilight and talk to her before she returned to Crystal Pep. On the other hand, half hour is only a small amount of time to catch up to Twilight. This could be a gamble, but if he is fast enough to get to her as soon as the games ended, then he may have a chance. Just then, the doors near Harshwhinny opened. Principal Celestia, Vice Principal Luna, Dean Cadence and Principal Cinch entered the gym. All eyes were on them as soon as Principal Celestia made her announcement. “All right everyone, I know the event of the previous round was…unusual, we are still investigating this as we speak.” Flash heard mumbles from the Crystal Prep students about how CHS is now covering themselves, much to his annoyance. He could’ve sworn he saw Principal Cinch narrowed her eyes at Principal Celestia in suspicion. “In the meantime, we have everything prepared for the final round to break the tie,” said Dean Cadence. “Please follow us outside at the front of the school.” As everyone led out of the gym in the orderly fashion, Flash followed along with his determined look. Please wait for me Twilight. As soon as the Games are over, we really need to talk. It was dark and cloudy at the front of Canterlot High. All the students were already on their seats for the upcoming final round of the Friendship Games. As usual, the Canterlot students took the bleachers on one side of the field while Crystal Prep students used the bleachers on the other side. Each side was cheering for their own teams as they waited for the final round to begin. As Vice Principal Luna and Dean Cadence explained the rules through their megaphones, Flash Sentry just sat on the bleacher in deep thought while Lyra and Bon Bon sat next to him. “This is really tense,” said Lyra, surveying the scene from her seat. “The final round haven’t even started yet and I’m already at the edge of my seat!” “Well let’s just hope nothing bad going to happen like what happened at the previous round,” Bon Bon said with her worried frown. Lyra turned to her friend with her confident smirk. “No need to worry Bon Bon, nothing’s gonna happen, except our team kicking the Crystal Prep butts!” Bon Bon frowned. “How can you be so sure? What if those strange magical portals and creatures came out of nowhere like last time?” Lyra waved off Bon Bon’s concerns. “Then our girls down there will use their ‘pony powers’ or something and protect us like before. What can go wrong? Flash blinked. Magic? Pony? Suddenly, his memory from the night of the Fall Formal came flooding back into him. With a sigh, Twilight opened her eyes and looked directly at Flash. "You see…I'm actually an Alicorn princess…well…I was originally a unicorn and then recently turned into an alicorn, from an alternate world of ponies which is Equestria and…I came to this world because Sunset came into mine, which is also hers, and stole my crown which is actually has a magical element within it, which powers up the other elements and I won't be able to protect my world without it and my crown somehow ended up as a prize for the Fall Formal event and I need to win it back so it doesn't fall into the wrong hands and I need to get it before the end of tonight, otherwise I'll be trapped in this world for another thirty moons!" Flash blinked a few times with a blank look on his face, making Twilight nervous. After a minute of awkward silence, he finally spoke. "Twilight...did you drank some of Pinkie's punch?" Twilight was taken back. "What? No! I- Look, I know it all sounds crazy but-" Suddenly, they heard Principal Celestia over the loudspeakers. "Up next for our music performance, give it up for Flash Drive!" "Hold that thought Twilight,” Flash said quickly. “We’re needed on stage. We'll talk after we're done okay?" As he walked away towards the stage, leaving a distraught Twilight behind, he scratched his chin in thought. Twilight? As a pony princess? Okay, she either drank too much of Pinkie's punch and was pulling my leg or...maybe she really is a- Flash shook his head out of his thoughts when he finally arrived on the stage, grabbed his guitar and started playing the dance music with his band. No way… Flash just sat there in shock. He was too busy focusing on trying to meet with Twilight, he had completely forgotten about the magic that’s been going on in school since the Fall Formal, including where it’s from. He nearly slapped himself in stupidity for not realizing this before, especially with all this happened in front of his face. But then this raises his ultimate question. This whole time, the Twilight I was chasing after turned out to be-? “Hey, what are those Crystal Prep girls doing to Twilight?” Bon Bon asked out loud, snapping out of Flash’s thoughts. He watched as the Shadow Bolts were circling around Twilight, berating her about something while Cinch was standing there with her arms crossed, leering down at her. Lyra’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what they’re saying to her, but it looks like they’re putting a LOT of pressure into her.” Flash frowned further as Cinch leaned over to Twilight’s ear and whispered something to her. Judging by Twilight’s expression, it doesn’t look anything good. Cinch then slowly lead Twilight towards the center of the field and shoved her away. Flash scowled. I hate that woman more by the minute! I don’t know what she said to Twilight, but she better not make Twilight do anything drastic! Flash continued to watch Twilight as she was slowly walking towards the middle of the field while removing her strange locket from her neck. Flash was starting to feel nervous when her locket began to glow bright purple as Twilight slowly opened it. Before he or anyone had the chance to stop Twilight, a glowing white ball from within Twilight’s locket exploded, temporarily blinded everyone in the area. After a minute of blindness, Flash regained his vision, only to gasp when he saw Twilight floating up in the air helplessly with the energy ball in front of her. The ball slowly grew bigger and consuming Twilight into it. Twilight tried to struggle herself away from the ball but she couldn’t move at all, save for her head. In her last despite attempt, she pulled her left arm out and reached out to her classmates. “H-HELP M-MEEEEEE!” Twilight cries snapped out of Flash and was abruptly stood up from his set and make his way down from the bleachers. By the time he made it to the ground, he was already too late when Twilight was completely consumed by the ball of light and then it exploded, blinding everyone. After Flash recovered his eyesight, he looked up in horror to see that the sweet, kindhearted bookworm he grown to love was now turned into a dark winged monster. Bon Bon turned and glared at her friend which made Lyra raised both her hands up defensively. "Hey don't blame me! I was kidding when I said that!" The purple she-demon cackled as she was hovering over the school. “You were right!" She said maniacally as she was looking at Sunset Shimmer. "I didn’t understand magic before…BUT I DO NOW!” Twilight summoned her magic from her hands and then blast a magic beam at the school's statue, destroying it. In its place, a portal grew out from the statue's remains, reveling a section from the pony's world. As the portal increased its size, cracks from underneath the portal grew bigger and longer on the ground. Almost everyone started running away from danger but Flash just stood there both in shock and fear as Twilight continued to bring out more portals from the other world. He never been in a scary situation since the Fall Formal, only it was Sunset who transformed instead of Twilight. He couldn't remember what happened during the event of Sunset's rampage, what he did remember was what happen afterwards. Flash slowly opened his eyes in a daze like he woken up from a long nap. "W-where am I?" Flash mumbled. His vision was blurry at first as he surveying his surroundings. When his sight became clearer, his eyes widen when he sees the front entrance destroyed and a huge crater appeared in the middle of the school grounds. "Whoa, what happen here?" he exclaimed loudly. One of the student with a stunned look, pointed towards a section away from the crater. Flash turned his head towards the student's direction and he was shocked of what he saw. There were six teenaged girls lying on the ground, including the purple girl with a pink dress at the center of the group. "Is that...Twilight?" he thought. Flash was about to run up to her to see if she's okay, when something else caught his attention. "Where did she get those wings... and her pony ears from!? Is she wearing a costume?" He was snapped out of his thoughts when he witnessed Twilight and five other girls stood up and headed towards the crater. Curious, he followed them and looked down into the crater. There, kneeling on the ground was his old girlfriend and bully of the school, Sunset Shimmer. Sunset was known to be heartless and never felt bad for the things she had done, hurting others just to get what she wants. Even after breaking up with her, not once she ever felt remorseful for using him just to get herself popular. But when he saw her quivering and crying for her actions, he was stunned. Despite many emotions he felt towards the bacon-haired girl, he couldn't help but to feel sorry for her. What surprised him further was when Twilight reached out to Sunset and offered her to start over and make friends with the other students, despite all the bad things Sunset had done to her. No one would ever give a reason to help Sunet (including himself) after all of this, but Twilight was willing to forgive her and help her lead her to a better path. This only made him admired Twilight more. Twilight... This is an ultimate déjà vu. Twilight continued to terrorizing the school by shooting beams and releasing more portals all around the area. Flash felt himself trembling. He was scared both from her and for her. He wanted to run away, but at the same time he couldn't bring himself to. He wanted to do something to snap out of Twilight and save her, but he doesn't know how. He was suddenly shook out of his fear when he heard someone shouting. "Hey, where you going?" He turned to see one of the Shadowbolts calling out to Principal Cinch. "Anywhere to avoid that...monster! And I suggest you do the same! she said before she ran off. Flash gritted his teeth. That no good coward! Flash then heard another voice calling out to Twilight. "Twilight, you can't do this!" Sunset pleaded. "Why not?" Twilight said with her maniacal grin. "There's a whole nother world out there, and it's just filled with magic!" Twilight summoned her magic again and then blast her beam at the school entranc, creating another portal in its place. "But your destroying this world to get it!" Sunset cried. "So what?" said Twilight. "There's more magic there, AND I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT ALL!" Twilight summoned more of her magic and then released her biggest beam in the middle of the schoolyard. The ground instantly turned purple with cracks in it before it shattered, reveling another world from above. Most of the students managed to back away before the hole appeared, however some students were caught off guard and tried to hang on for their life. "SOMEBODY HELP ME!" Flash quickly turned to the source to see his friend Bon Bon desperately hanging on to the ledge of the hole while Lyra tried to help her. "Hang on Bon Bon, I'm coming!" Flash cried as he ran towards them. Lyra continued to struggle to keep her friend from falling. "Geeze Bonnie, how the heck are you so heavy!? Just how many sweets did you eat?" "Lyra, now's not the time for jokes!" Bon Bon cried out frantically. "But jokes is what keeps me calm!" Flash made it to his friends and helped Lyra pulled Bon Bon up to safety. With some struggle, they both successfully got Bon Bon out of the hole. "Whew, that was close!" Lyra exclaimed. "You alright Bon Bon?" Flash asked with concern. "I think so," Bon Bon answered, but winced painfully. "But I think I twisted my leg in the process from my falling." "This isn't good!" said Flash. "We need to take you to safety!" He turned to Lyra. "Lyra..." "On it!" said Lyra as she was helping Bon Bon stand up and hold her from the right side. "Like you had to ask!" "Thank you two much," Bon Bon said gratefully. As Lyra help guide Bon Bon away from the area. Flash turned when he heard Sunset's voice. "This isn't the way!" Sunset called out to Twilight again. "I know you feel powerful right now, like you can have everything what you want! I've been where you are! I've made the same mistake your making! I've put on the crown and just like you I was overwhelmed by the magic it contained! I thought it could get me what I wanted!" Twilight seemed to be listening at first before she broke out her huge grin with a chuckle. "Oh you are wrong. Unlike you I CAN HAVE EVERYTHING WHAT I WANTED!" "No you can't!" Sunset argued gently. "Even with all that magic and power, you still be alone!" Sunset then raised her arm with Twilight’s amulet that she somehow possessed it. "True magic comes from Honesty," Applejack suddenly began to glow and her hair floated into the air. "Loyalty," Like Applejack, Rainbow Dash also glowed and her hair rises up. "Laughter, Generosity, Kindness!" Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy were also glowing with their own hairs raised to the sky. The glowing lights from each girls were linked to the amulet that Sunset was holding. Sunset slowly floated into the air as she continues to speak to Twilight. "I understand you Twilight and I want to show you the most important magic of all!" After she gathered enough magic, she snapped the amulet shut and then threw it to the ground beneath her. Then a white glowing ball appeared and consumed Sunset like it did to Twilight, but the only difference is unlike Twilight’s, Flash could sense...warmth and hope. When the bright light died down, Flash eyes widen when he sees Sunset in her pink and white dress that goes down to her legs, flaming sun symbols on her elbows, feet and neck, golden boots a red eyeliner that only covered around her eyes, flaming wings and a glowing horn that appeared on her forehead. Her overall appearance is a mixure of a princess and a goddess. "The magic...of friendship!" Sunset concluded. Flash as well as everyone else smiled from Sunset's speech as Sunset used her magic to remove all the portals Twilight created until there are none left. Twilight, angered that her portals are gone, charged towards Sunset with her one fist glowing with magic. Sunset also flew straight towards Twilight with her fist full of magic in front of her until her and Twilight collided with a huge magical light exploded in the background. The two girls recalled from each other as the light died down and Twilight summoned her magic from both of her hands before combining them together to release her huge magical beam straight towards Sunset. Seeing her opponent's attack, Sunset quickly summoned her own magic and blast it towards Twilight’s beam. Both girls were now having a beam tug-of-war between the two of them as the students watched on from the sidelines. Flash could hardly breathe as he watched on. He was hoping for Sunset to help Twilight whatever means necessary, but he also did not Sunset to harm Twilight, even if she transformed and lost her mind. He was both relieved and nervous when Twilight’s beam pushed Sunset's back away from her. Just when Twilight has the upper hand, she heard someone calling her from below. She looked down to see her faithful companion giving her his pleading eyes. For a moment, Flash thought he heard her say his name in her low voice. This gave Sunset the opportunity to use up all her power on her beam and plows right through towards Twilight. Flash heart stopped when the beams hits and consumes Twilight as she screamed out in agony. The whole sky engulfed in bright white light but he hardly paid attention to it as he slowly sank onto his knees. "Twlight...no," he whispered as he felt tears coming into his eyes. Flash then slammed his fist on the ground. She can't be dead! Sunset...why? I thought you're going to save her! As much as Flash wanted to blame Sunset for her demise, but he knew it wouldn't be fair to do that to her since she was trying to help Twilight. Truth was that he blamed himself for being useless while everyone else helped her out. He blamed himself for not trying harder to get close to her so he could protect her from this. He blamed himself for failing his own promise to not see Twilight get hurt again. Even if she turned out to be her doppelganger. As he continued to beat himself up, he heard someone yelled, "Look, up in the sky!" Flash slowly looked up and he let out a soft gasp. There, he saw two silhouettes slowly descending to the ground. He slowly stood up as he continued to watch the figures getting closer to the ground. When they finally landed and the lights are clear, he nearly cried out in joy as not only Sunset reappeared back to her original attire, but Twilight is also back to normal; alive and well! Oh thank Faust! he sighed in relief. He watched as Twilight stepped back from Sunset with tears began to leak from her eyes. "I am so sorry," Twilight said tearfully. "I didn't mean for this to happen." Seeing Twilight crying in front of him really broke his heart. He knew she didn't do it on purpose. She was corrupted by the magic she gathered from her amulet. He then heard Sunset spoke up. "I know," Sunset said softly before giving Twilight her warm smile. "And going by my own experience, they'll forgive you." Flash nodded in agreement. Heck, he thought there's no need for forgiveness for something she can't control over. Granted, she was pretty scary after she transformed, but he knew deep down that the good Twilight is still there just waiting to be rescued. Just like how she (or was it the other Twilight?) rescued Sunset. How ironic. As he watched a touching display of Sunset and Spike cheering her up. He heard an unpleasant voice from the sidelines. “Principal Celestia,” Principal Cinch called out as she was approaching towards Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna. Flash frowned, eyes narrowing. Oh great, what does she want now? “On behalf of Crystal Prep, I demand that you forfeit the Friendship Games!” Is this woman for real? Flash exclaimed in his mind in disbelief. We were all in danger, and our world were nearly destroyed and the first thing she cares about is to get us disqualified!? What's wrong with this woman?! “Clearly, CHS has had unfair advantage for quite some time,” Cinch continued. “And it’s certainly obvious that your students have been using magic for their own benefit.” “I’d like to think saving the world benefits us all,” Celestia replied with her coy smirk. “At least they didn’t manipulate Twilight into unleashing the stolen magic, turning into a power-crazed magical creature that tried to rip the world apart just to win a game,” said the girl from Crystal Prep at the same speed as Pinkie Pie. There was silence for a moment as everyone glared at Cinch who was crossing her arms with her indifferent expression. “Wow...that’s a lot to take in when you say it all at once,” said Pinkie. “That’s ridiculous!” Cinch denied with a glare. “Nope,” said Spike from Twilight’s arms. “That’s pretty much what happened.” Flash was fuming. So she’s the one who caused Twilight to release the magic and transformed into a monster just so they can win!? THAT B- Suddenly, something clicked in his mind. Wait a minute…Twilight's dog can talk? Flash turned to the dog in question who was still in Twilight’s arms. But that’s impossible! I thought the Spike I know is with- “Obviously, my students have been infected with your magic,” Cinch snarled, interrupting Flash’s thoughts. “But I plan on taking this all up with the school board!” Principal Celestia smirked. “Good. I’m sure they’d be very interested in hearing all about the magical students with wings.” “Oh, and the portals to different dimensions,” Luna added with her amusing smirk. “And don’t forget to tell them about the talking dog,” said Cadence with a chuckle despite trying to act professional. “Because that would never ruin your reputation,” Spike said with a grin, while Twilight and Sunset smirked at Cinch in unison. As Cinch looked around her, she noticed all the students including her own from Crystal Prep were either smirking or giving her firm looks. Flash however gave her the nastiest glare that would even made Fluttershy's stare run for its money. Flash saw her began to shake, like she was ready to explode, but then she quickly calmed down and tryed to act professional again. With no other words to say, she calmly turned and walked away from the school. Flash smirked at Cinch’s retreating figure. Not so high and mighty when things don’t go your way, eh Cinch? “Well I know these Friendship Games haven’t been what any of us expected," Celestia began. Ya think? Flash deadpanned in his mind. "But given what we all just been through, I think it’s fair to declare us ALL winners!” Everyone including the Crystal Prep students, cheered at the announcement. For the first time in history, both the CHS and Crystal Prep tied at the Friendship Games and there are no bitterness from either schools. Flash smiled at the display and turned towards Twilight, who were a few feet away from him. Now that all the craziness is over, he can finally go and talk to Twilight. Just as he was stepping towards her, he felt a slap on his back. He turned to see Lyra with a huge grin on her face. "That was something eh Flash?" Lyra said excitedly. "This is without a doubt the best Friendship Games ever! I mean how many games we have that has girls with pony powers, plant creatures and a student who was turned into a monster that nearly destroyed our world? None, that's what!" Flash blinked. "Um, I'm not sure how our world nearly destroyed would make this the best-" "And did you see a glimpse from another world?" said Lyra, cutting Flash off. "There are actually ponies! Ponies who are civilized! If I wasn't so scared, I would've jumped in to meet them. Oh, are their any counterparts of us? Do they talk like us? Do they sit on benches the way us humans do?" "Listen Lyra," Flash interjected. "I hate to interrupt your...excitement, but shouldn't you be helping Bon Bon?" Lyra’s eyes widen. "Oh crap, I forgot! I gotta take her to the nurse's office! Flash do you mind helping me take her to there?" Flash took a glimpse at Twilight for a moment who was with the other girls. As much as he wanted to check up on her and to see if she was okay, those girls are already did the job for him. He was sure he had time to meet her later. Besides, he wouldn't want to keep his friend hanging especially if she was asking for help. He turned back to Lyra with a smile. "Sure thing Lyra."