Even in an alternate timeline, some things never change. When Twilight's crown is stolen, she has to get it back from an unknown world in three days. Fortunately, she won't have to complete here journey alone.
While not quite yet the third anniversary of Equestria Girls, a third year is still a third year.
With the Pony Sunset Shimmer still living in Equestria in the New Timeline, you wouldn't think that magic would wind up into the Human World in the New Timeline right?
Not according to Discord and Screwball. Forming a new antagonist for their sake, Roma Candle as they call her accidentally wound up in the Crystal Empire. Knowing the potential of magic in this world, she steals the crown, sending it to an unknown world.
Twilight has three days to recover her missing headpiece. But even when she finds friends there, can our fabled princess accomplish her mission this Timeline as she has done in the Old Timeline? Or will she be doomed to wait another thirty moons?
It was a few months after the announcement at Canterlot, and the inhabitants of Ponyville gathered around the train station. Ever since Twilight has been ascended into the title as Princess, Ponyville has gained quite an interest as it added this monumental event to its grand history. Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy lined up at the train station as Mayor Mare walked forward.
“Princess Twilight, as Mayor of Ponyville, I wish you the best of luck in the Princess Summit.”
“Please, Mayor, call me Twilight.” She answered back “But thank you for your blessing.”
“All aboard for the Crystal Empire!!” Announced the conductor.
The citizens cheered as the Elements boarded the train. With a few strained thrusts from the train pistons, the locomotive began its journey north towards the subarctic regions of Equestria.
Meanwhile, the view of the world is seen through a looking glass in what appears to be another dimension. Compared to Equestria, this dimension is much more nonsense. Gravity is almost nonexistent, soft objects are hard, water is as thin as air, sweet things become sour. This dimension could only be home for a being of chaos… or two…
In an ordinary house, the only thing natural in an otherwise chaotic world, Discord sat on a table watching the train continue its journey through the looking glass. With a slow chuckle, he turned back to his daughter, who was sitting across from him.
“This is all too familiar, isn't it, Daddy?” Asked Screwball before shifting her swirly eyes to her father.
“Indeed,” With a snap of his bird talon, the Draconequus turned the table top into a chess board “and now we can play it once again.”
Another snap of his fingers revealed their chess pieces, the tops of each had a resemblance to a particular Pony. Screwball was missing one important piece: her King.
Discord looked to find that his King piece resembled that of Sunset Shimmer.
“Looks like we are missing a piece.” he said before looking underneath the table.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make one of my own.” In her brain, miniature versions of Screwball were hard at work at designing her own chess piece.Hair designers came up with a simple orange hairpiece, working with the body designers to come up with a red violet robe with orange sleeves wrapping around a red-brown body. Looking at the design, one duplicate wearing a visor and glasses bit down on her left hoof, blowing on it as she raised the other before a thumb sprouted from her hand. Inputting the designs with the project name “Roma Candle” in a 3D printer deep in her ear canal, the machine then was hard at work as judging from Screwball’s strained expression until a light bulb popped out of her head and shined. Taking a cotton swab she dug deep into her ear, pushing out a rather small piece of wax from the other side. She sets it on the chessboard, transforming it into an ivory black.
The Draconequus soon took out a cup full of straws.
“Shortest straw makes a free move.” he says before pinching a yellow straw. His daughter pinched the green one before they both pulled it out. Discord’s straw was much shorter than his daughter’s.
“Game twister, you get the first free move.”
“Thanks, Daddy.” Screwball thanked with pleading eyes “Our story starts in the evening, just before your King piece arrives.”
The chess board soon materializes into a more urbanized location. There wasn’t much wilderness, though the mountain range nearby was quite a sight to see. At what appears to be a schoolyard, a young woman, around her late teens walking to a horse statue. She stops and sits down, her back right at one of the reflective surfaces at the base.
“No one will ever appreciate me. I had one shot over the summer, and now it’s ruined.” Roma looks up at the moon as it slowly rises in the sky “Oh, send me a sign…”
Just as she laid her back on the statue, the moon, strange enough, glistened before the mirror apparently sucked her whole as if it were a sponge. The only evidence, a loud yelp, quickly died out.
72 Hours Remaining
The train finally reached its destination in the Crystal Empire. It was a half hour before the Mane Six and Spike walked off the train and reached just near the Crystal Palace.
“Hoo-wee! Your very first princess summit.” Said Applejack as she walked beside Twilight - “You must be over the moon, Twilight.”
"Oh, I am excited." Twilight replied before giving an uncertain look "But, to be honest, I'm a little nervous, too."
“You're 'nervicited'!” Shrieked Pinkie, much to her audience’ confusion, before bouncing up and down “It's like you wanna jump up and down and yell ‘YAY ME!!’” - she then curled up into a ball and rocked back and forth “But you also wanna curl up in a teeny-tiny ball and hide at the same time!” with a set of mechanical noises, and robotic motion to match, Pinke returned to her former form before zipping to Twilight and giving her a noogie “We've all been there!”
“I'm there almost every day.” Added Fluttershy
“You've got no reason to fret, Twi.” Applejack reassured before she raised a hoof “Everything's gonna be just–”
“TWILIGHT!” Rarity interrupted before holding Twilight’s head “Oh, sorry, darling, but I just realized you're not wearing your crown.” - She brings her face to her own “You haven't forgotten it back in Ponyville, have you?”
Twilight then motioned Rarity to look at her right.
“It's in my bag.” - She answered with Spike giving the bag a soft tap - “Just feel a little self-conscious about wearing it.” Twilight spread her new pair of appendages with an uncertain look on her face - “Haven't really gotten accustomed to these yet, either.”
Flapping her wings, Twilight ascended into the air for a couple seconds at most before flopping on the ground. A testament that she would need a lot of practice before mastering flight, and the freedom it’s worth.
Rarity still felt positive about Twilight’s next step in life. “You are a princess now, Twilight. Embrace it! I'm telling you, if I had a crown like that, I would never take it off. Why I'd sleep in the thing.”
After a playful roll of her eyes, Twilight and company walked towards the entrance to the Crystal Palace.
Roma Candle opened her eyes to being in a dark room, her vision fuzzy for while before becoming clear. She rose up for a moment before losing her balance and falling into a pile of knick knacks.
“Oh…” She groaned while rubbing her head “What happened? First I was at the statue, then…”
Lowering her hand, Roma found that it was just a circular object of nail and hair. Looking at her body showed much more hooves as well as a lack of clothes. She approached the mirror, revealing that she was an equine being.
“Halt!” Roma turned around to find Shining Armor illuminating the room “What is your business here?” - Roma flicked her eyes around, trying to find an excuse as the horned stallion approached her - “I’ve asked you a question.”
“Housekeeping!” She piped up, picking up a small broom and dustpan “I was just checking to see if this needed cleaning.”
That only received a more scrutinized look from him.
“No one is allowed in this room.” He added before leading her out into the crystal halls of the Castle.
“Where are we?” She asked as Roma looked around the amazing architecture.
“The Crystal Castle in the northern reaches of Equestria.” Shining answered before stepping forward “Are you okay?”
Roma kept looking around before noticing six mares and a young dragon walking down the hall.
“Ma'am?”
“Oh, I'm okay. I'll get back to work.” Grabbing her broom and dustpan, Roma galloped off.
Shining, still uncertain of this stranger, shook his head. “What a strange Pony?” He remarks before returning to his guard duty.
Twilight and her friends entered Cadance’s throne room before two columns of Crystal Earth Ponies announcing their presence with fanfare. Being a Princess, Twilight walked forward on the red carpet, looking around as she felt both excited and nervous about the summit beginning. Her attention changed when she bumped into Flash Sentry once again.
Princess Cadance chuckled before walking to her sister in law. “Twilight! I haven't seen you since the coronation!”
“We have so much to discuss. But it can wait until later today.” - Princess Celestia added before motioning her hoof - “Now, to your chambers, all of you.”
With that said, the posse turned around and walked towards their living quarters for the summit.
Roma Candle looked around this unusual world ruled by sentient Ponies, occasionally disguising herself by sweeping in front of the guards. “This is incredible!” She remarked as she looked at the great architecture before her eyes spy a clock, with the hour now on seven
“Shoot! School is going to start. I'll have to come back later. ” She stops and begins to ponder “But what if that portal is just a one off kind of deal? I need to bring a-”
The stranger suddenly collided with Twilight, both falling back on the floor. Roma recovered first, getting first eye contact with the new Princess. As Twilight rubbed her head, the stranger thought of an idea when Applejack stepped forward.
“Hey, y’all okay?”
“I’m fine, Applejack, I-” Suddenly Twilight was hugged by the strange Pony.
“Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there!” Roma then walked towards the bag “Here let me help you with that.”
Roma tried to grab the handle of the bag, but with only large finger among four to use, it was easier said than done. Noticing Fluttershy holding her bag with her teeth, the stranger then resorted to craning her head down, biting on the handle, straining her neck muscles to lift it back up. The other guests gave each other looks before Twilight continued onward down the hall.
Upon arriving at her room, Twilight turned around.
“It shouldn’t be long, girls.” she says before entering her room and closing the door.
“Did that pony act strange to you?” Asked Rainbow Dash, receiving her answer in nods and raised eyebrows, especially from Applejack.
Twilight walked up to a mirror in a corner of her room while her small companion set up his cat bed. Roma Candle placed the bag down before looking at the Princess.
“You wouldn't mind if I placed your clothes into the dresser?” She asked, turning the Alicorns attention away for a moment.
“Uhm, sure, though there isn't much to put away.” Twilight answered before looking at the mirror once more and sighed.
Noticing his sister’s worry, Spike stopped assembling his bed and walked over to Twilight. “What's wrong, Twilight?”
“I don't know, Spike. I'm just... worried, I guess.” Twilight turned around to face her companion - “Princess Cadance was given the Crystal Empire to rule over. What if, now that I'm a princess, Celestia expects me to lead a kingdom of my own?”
“That would be awesome!” Spike answered, balancing on his tail with arms and legs stretched.
“No, it would not! Just because I have this crown” - Again she referred once more to her wings “and these wings, it doesn't mean I'll be a good leader!”
Unaware, Roma Candle made a second trip to the bag, her eye catching a twinkle from a jewel.
“Aw, sure ya will, Twilight.” - Spike reassured her - “You’ve lead us through thick and thin, magic from the Elements or not. You would make a terrific leader-”
As Spike continued his talk with Twilight, Roma Candle opened the bag a little wider, revealing the Crown and the Element of Magic for the first time in her eyes. Having heard what this relic has done at earshot gave her an idea by the time Spike was finished and given a hug from Twilight.
“All your clothing has been packed away, your Highness.” She said in a straight tone.
“Thank you.” Twilight said before dismissing her.
Roma bowed before walking backward out of the chamber. Spike raised an eyebrow before turning back to his sister. “Did she act a little suspicious to you?”
Indeed, after closing the door, Roma turned around and reached around her neck. She actually balanced the Crown behind her neck. She brought the jewel to her view.
“This will make them believe me!” She said before getting up. Holding the piece with her teeth, she looked back to see if anyone was following her.
“Hey!” Roma turned to find Applejack right in front of her “Whatcha doin’ with that Crown?”
Roma applied her weight on her right leg so she could hold the Crown with the other. “I was returning it to Princess Twilight.” She said.
The apple farmer leaned her neck forward. “Who is in the door right behind ya…”
“Oh, right I forgot to give this a polish. I’ll just-” The stranger’s advances were blocked by Applejack as she stared at her. Roma’s eyes fluttered a little as the farmer's scowl became intense, not noticing Roma’s hoof wrapping the Crown even tighter.
Back in her chambers, Twilight heard a clang followed by a loud thump from outside. She peeks out of the door, spotting a collapsed Applejack, with Roma Candle holding the Crown with her teeth.
“My crown!” Roma darted off with Twilight taking chase, alerting the others out of their rooms “She's got my crown!”
Roma dared not look back, as she did not want to be subject to whatever punishments they would give should she be caught.
“Stop! Thief!” Shouted Twilight as both her and the Pony she was pursuing turned a corner. Soon she was joined by the others, including Applejack, who now had a bruise on her head.
Shining Armor was just finished inspecting the strange chamber when he found Roma rushing towards him with his sister's Crown.
“Stop!” he ordered as he lit up his horn. Roma reflexively sledded on the Crystal floor when the male Unicorn shot out a blast, just missing Fluttershy.
Just sliding underneath him, Roma just barged passed the door to the chamber of the mirror, at a home stretch when a lasso wrapped around her tail. With a quick yank and a yelp, she flung the Crown across the room and into the mirror.
After being pulled back into the hall, Roma was met with the angered faces of the natives. Twilight took notice of the absence of her crown from her teeth. “What did you do with my crown?” She asked
Roma’s eyes flicked around before focusing on the young dragon. With a quick reflex, the thief grabbed Spike, holding one hoof on his head and the other on his neck.
“Stay back!” Roma orders “I don’t want to do this!”
As she shuffled back into the room of the mirror, the others stepped forward, Shining Armor, in particular, held a hoof up.
“Okay, just calm down, Miss.” He said in a desperate attempt to save Spike from certain death “We won’t hurt you.”
“Yeah, just pin you to the ground until you tell us where the crown is!” Said Rainbow Dash
“Rainbow!” Berated Applejack.
Roma was now one back roll away from entering the mirror.
“Please, just give the dragon to us…” - Shining Armor asked again - “and we won’t hurt you.”
Even with the calming tone, Roma wasn’t at all convinced, and with one last push from her back legs, she made contact with the mirror.
“Twilight!” Spike screamed as both he and her kidnapper were somehow absorbed into the looking glass.
“Spike!!!!” They all screamed.
As the echo died down, Twilight began to tear up when her brother embraced her.
“We have to report this to Princess Celestia.”
And indeed they have, for a good ten minutes they were in the middle of a conversation in the throne room, with Celestia sitting on the throne.
“Then she jumped back and took Spike with her.” Said Rainbow Dash
“It was so crazy,” - Pinkie added before showing the Princess’ a crude crayon drawing of Roma Candle warping into the portal with Spike - “I’ve even made a picture just before we came to talk to you.”
Princess Luna looked at her sister, “Could it be that one of them has returned?”
“By the description, I’m glad it isn’t.” Celestia answered before rising off the throne and walking towards the door “But that still leaves what this visitor has done.”
As she walked by the Elements of Harmony, Twilight took a glance at her friends before joining up with her mentor. “I don't understand. Where did she go? Why did she take the crown?”
“You'll soon know more about this place than even I do.” Celestia answered as they exited the room and walked down the hall, soon arriving in the room of the Crystal Mirror.
“As fancy as this mirror is,” Rarity asked, admiring her reflection “What’s so special about it?”
“This is no ordinary mirror.” Luna answered “It is a gateway to another world. A gateway that opens once every thirty moons.”
Pinkie placed a hoof on the surface, causing it to ripple and shine, “Sparkly!”
Slightly bemused, Luna levitated the pink hoof away, dragging Pinkie back towards the others.
“After Star Swirl first used it, we had it sent here to be watched over.” Celestia adds, “After the Empire was liberated from Sombra, I had feared one of these days, something would enter this world, and I was right.”
“Twilight,”- Cadence walked over to her sister in law - “you must use the mirror to go into this other world and retrieve your crown. Without it, the other Elements of Harmony have no power and Equestria is left without one of its most important means of defense.”
“Your crown does not belong in the place the thief calls home.” - Celestia added again - “She may not know how to use it, but when she does, your Element of Harmony will no doubt be used to bring harm to the inhabitants of this other realm. They will not have the power to defend themselves.”
Twilight stepped close enough to the mirror to see her reflection, not paying attention when she felt something on her back. Looking bag, she found her saddlebag was now on her back, containing the items needed for her adventure, money being chief among them.
“You understand the importance of your task? Celestia asked once more.
“Of course.” Twilight answered
“Good. Then you must go at once.”
Taking a deep breath, Twilight stepped towards the mirror when Rainbow Dash landed in front of her, surprising everyone.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Rainbow Dash was joined by her friends, ready for another adventure “She's going, we're going with her. Right, girls?”
“Oooh! I'm so 'nervicited'!” Said Pinky as she tried to contain her joy.
“You do realize that's not a real word, right?” Applejack addressed, though that didn’t even make her pink friend draw her attention to her.
Twilight was just in the middle of smiling when her mentor stepped forward.
“I'm afraid I can't let you go.”
“What?! Why not?! Spike did!” Rainbow lashed out
“Spike was sent there on accident. But sending all of you could upset the balance of this alternate world, creating havoc that would make it impossible for Twilight to get the crown back. This is something Princess Twilight must do alone.”
“Time is of the essence.” Luna addressed before showing an image of a rising moon “On the third day, when the moon reaches its peak in the night sky, the gateway will close. And once it does, it will be another thirty moons before you will be able to use it to return.”
Twilight became scared at the thought. Three days could go by fast before she’d know it and she and Spike could be trapped in there for quite a while.
“Go get ‘em, Twilight!” Rainbow cheered.
“Oh yes, we have the utmost confidence in you!” Added Rarity
As they cheered, Twilight walked towards the mirror, just a nose hair away from entering. Looking back, Celestia nodded, confident that her student would be able to achieve victory. Halfway to the portal, Twilight saw a large tunnel with a bright light at the end. Suddenly the forces of the portal distorted her body before pulling her in. Twilight screamed as she spun around, faster and faster before closing her eyes as she reached the blinding light.
Then there was darkness and silence.
“And so the game begins…” A familiar voice chuckled...
Twilight awoke, seeing a ladybug crawling around the gray pavement, her vision at first blurry before becoming clear enough that she is in fact in a different world. There were small buildings that happen to have a solid roof rather than soft hay across rivers of dried asphalt that mechanical chariots drive by without horsepower.
“Uh, Twilight?”
Twilight turned to a familiar sound.
“Huh? Spike! I'm so glad you're– Spike? Are you a... dog?”
Indeed, the small, purple canine circled around before answering, “I... think so. But I have no idea what you are!”
Twilight was about to address him when she noticed something was way off. Instead of a solid hoof, she had a hand with five long slender fingers. She wiggled them before waving her hand then waved both of her arms. Looking down, Twilight found she was wearing some form of skirt with her cutie mark before she unfurled her hind leg, which also donned clothing, in this case, a thick boot. This was too much to take in for her and screamed her heart out.
Spike scratched his ears with his hind leg before walking up to his sister as she panted hysterically.
“Twilight, you have to get it together!”
Using a deep breath maneuver taught by Cadence, Twilight calmed herself before returning to all fours, applying weight to her knuckles.
“What... does the rest of me look like?”
“Um, like you.” The dragon dog placed a paw on his chin “Only not you. Your muzzle's really small.”
“My muzzle?!” Twilight poked her face, realizing that her nose and mouth are much more separate from each other. Twilight shook, ready to scream again when the little mutt placed both paws at her mouth.
“Are you gonna scream again?” Spike received an answer with a shake of her head before releasing her.
“Where is your kidnapper?” asked Twilight as she looked around again.
“Don't know. After we went through the mirror, she just kinda left me here. Any way we can go back?”
Twilight turned around to a horse statue before place her hand on the glass surface, seeping through the material as if it were water.
“That serves as the gateway back to Equestria. But we need to find my crown as soon as possible and get back there.” Twilight turned around to find herself at the entrance of a massive building, much more elaborate from the ones behind her “I suggest we start searching the castle first.”
“Works for me.”
Hopping onto her back, Twilight hobbled on all fours as she approached the building. Spike looked to his left before tapping her shoulder. Twilight stopped galloping as she turned her attention to another individual similar to her form, but much more masculine, walking a dachshund.
“Yeah, I don't think that's how the new you is supposed to–”
Before Spike could speak any further, Twilight sprang onto her hind legs, giving an embarrassed smile at the stranger as she wiped the dirt of her skirt. The dachshund looked to his master, happily wagging his tail before being told to walk forward.
As soon as they were in the clear, Twilight's legs started to give as she made a few large, awkward steps before being able to support herself on the stair rail.
“C'mon, Spike.” Twilight heaved herself up the stairs while her companion effortlessly hopped the staircase. “I do not wanna be like this for longer than I have to.”
“Well, look on the bright side. You don't have those pesky wings to worry about anymore.” Spike's complement was meet with a glare.
After rising back to her full height, Twilight approached the glass and metal doors, swung her upper body before slamming herself at the entrance. She looked at the translucent entry before attempting to use her magic to open the door. But that only worked in grinding her teeth before realizing,
“My magic! It isn't working!”
“Makes sense.” Spike added as he patted his head “You don't exactly have your horn.”
“What?!” Twilight almost began to panic, realizing the next thing of her former existence being missing.
“We really need to find you a mirror.” Spike shuffled over and pushed the door open.
Inside, the building was empty, with the silence to match save for a few echoes coming from Twilight's heavy boots as she tip toed to the center of the commons. Looking around, the interior was very spacious, two floors connected by stairs as to the left and right of the commons were hallways of grass green lockers, illuminated by electric torches attached to the ceiling. At each corner of the commons were award display cases, but Twilight thought otherwise as she approached one to her right.
“What do ya think, Spike?” Twilight scanned the case “Other artifacts she's stolen from Equestria?”
Twilight continued to look at the case, unaware of the danger around her.
“Quite a display, isn't it?”
Twilight immediately gasped before falling flat on the floor. Holding herself with both arms on the floor, she made contact with a set of red and yellow shoes before looking up his brown striped khakis and violet shirt before coming in contact with his face, so unusual, yet easy to distinguish by his hair style, emerald green eyes, and stripey facial hair along the lower jaw.
“Need a hand?”
Stretching out said appendage, Twilight could not help to notice that unlike her hand, or everyone else's so far, most of his fingers were bound by skin and muscle, resulting in a set of claws. The Alicorn turned human placed a fist on the hand, spread her fingers, felt the contours of the palm, then grasped the hand before being pulled up the floor.
“Hey, Cosgrove.” The three individuals turned to find a young woman wearing a sky blue sleeveless shirt, jeans, and charcoal black boots with orange chevrons. She held a similarly black jacket with chevrons over her shoulder - “Who is this?” She asked before putting on the additional clothing.
“Haven't asked her yet.” Cosgrove answered before turning back to Twilight.
“Cosgrove?” Twilight’s mind began to click as she looked at the other girl her age, recognizing her red and yellow hair “Sunset Shimmer?”
The two gave each other a look before Sunset replied, “Yes that is our names, what's your name?”
Twilight still felt uneasy asking the duplicates of two of her friends, but better not to be rude to the natives. “I'm Twilight Sparkle.” She answered
“Twilight Sparkle?” Cosgrove cocked his head, taking in a couple deep breaths through his nostrils “Haven't seen you around here.”
“Did you transfer recently?” Sunset asked, adding more to Twilight's worry as she came up with a reasonable answer.
“Why yes.. another… School.” She answers, getting a wink from Spike “Say, you two haven't seen a crown have you?”
“What crown?” Cosgrove waved his arms around “We get a lot of crowns at this time.”
“The one that has a jewel on top” Twilight poked at the large pink star at her skirt “like this?” After looking at the skirt for a while, the two teenagers rose to their full height.
“I did just eyeball Fluttershy carrying an object like that.” Sunset pointed to the hall on the other side of the commons “Just down there and to your left.”
“Oh, great, thanks!” Twilight began walking across the commons.
Cosgrove leaned over to Sunset, his eyes keeping sight on the visitor. “Did she smell… odd to you?”
But just as soon as Twilight was in the middle of the room, the school bell rang at the same time herds of the bipedal individuals stormed the school, quickly crowding the school and making it all the more difficult for her to get to the other side. At one point, a duplicate similar to Diamond Tiara accidentally knocked her over. Twilight crawled as quickly as she could to not get crushed by their shoes. Soon she was at the other side of the room, quickly colliding with the leg of a blue haired man. Like Sunset, he also wore a black jacket, but with a red and white stripe pattern along the sleeves and backside.
“Whoa.” The young man stretched out his hand, this time with five digits “You okay?”
Twilight took the person's hand before being pulled up off the floor. Wiping the dust from her skirt, she turned to find him joining the masses. Looking at the locker, she found her own reflection being so different from what she was used to for a lifetime.
“What am I?” She asked herself before walking down the hall.
As she continued her search for Fluttershy, she took a few passing glances at some of the more unusual clothing certain students wore.
“Hey!”
Twilight cocked her head at the outburst, realizing just now that she also had much smaller ears.
“Oh, excuse me, I'm really sorry.” whispered a familiar voice from around the corner. Taking a look, Twilight found a young, cream colored girl with pink hair being picked on by another her age wearing a tan jacket.
“I’m walking here!” She berated the girl as she stepped forward.
The shy girl slowly backed to a locker, “Oh, um, I'm sorry. I-I-I was just trying to…”
“I'm sorry, I'm sorry.” Gilda said in a mocking voice before looking back at her in fury “Why don't you just watch where you're going, doofus?”
Twilight furrowed her brow before looking down to see Spike having the same idea as he growled at the aggressor from afar.
“B-b-b-but I... I…” defeated, the pink haired girl slunk down to the floor.
Soon, two purple boots stamped forward.
“How dare you speak to her that way!” Shouted Twilight Sparkle, getting the aggressor’s attention.
“What did you say?”
Norman, one of the students, shimmied along the lockers as Twilight and the bully walked to each other.
“I said, ‘How dare you speak to her that way!’”
Both of them stared long and hard at each other until Gilda rose to her full height.
“Ugh,” She flicked Twilight's nose “please, all these lame guys are driving me buggy.”
Gilda walked down the hall before stopping and give Norman a look, scaring him to lock himself inside his own locker. Twilight still had an angered look as she turned a corner.
“I can't believe you did that!” Said Fluttershy as she rose up to her full height.
“I couldn't just stand there.”
“Well, it's just that very few ever stand up to Gilda.”
Twilight looked behind her again, “That was Gilda?”
“You've heard of her?”
“Sort of…”
“I don't think I've seen you around before.” Fluttershy cocked her head “Did you just transfer to Canterlot High from another school?”
“Yes! Another school!” Twilight then did a flailing motion with her arms “My name's Twilight.”
“I'm... Fluttershy.” She said in an almost inaudible tone.
Twilight placed a hand to her ear, “Sorry, what was that?”
“It's Fluttershy!” She squeaked as her eye picked up Spike sitting on the floor.
“It sounds like you're saying Fluttershy, but how can that...?”
“Oh, my goodness!” Immediately she pushed Twilight aside to be at the pup’s level “Who's this sweet little guy?”
“Oh, he's so cute!” Fluttershy reached into her backpack and took out a dog biscuit “Go on, eat up, little pup!”
Because he ate mostly gemstones in his world, Spike was uncertain of the dog treat until he took a nibble before happily crunching it into a pulp.
“Oh, wouldn't ya just give anything to know what they're really thinking?” Fluttershy asked as she scratched the pup's ears.
“He usually just tells me.” Twilight said flat out.
Spike kept waving his paw across his neck as Fluttershy rose to her full height, “Oh, w-what do you mean?”
Spike quickly made a series of barks.
“Oh, uh, nothing!” Twilight chuckled, scratching the back of her head “Never mind. Sunset Shimmer said you picked something up. It wasn't a crown, was it?
“How did you know?” Asked Fluttershy
“Uh, lucky guess? Do you still have it?” -Fluttershy shook her head - “But you know what happened to it.” The animal lover nodded before answering, “This morning, I was passing out flyers for the animal shelter like I do every Wednesday.”
One hour ago, Fluttershy was standing next to the statue, holding a stack of fliers on one arm, holding a copy with the other as her classmates walked by.
“Canterlot's animal shelter needs more volunteers. Won't you help an animal that can't help itself?” Fluttershy wobbled the paper to one student, who immediately turned it down, pushing it at her face. Admitting defeat, she let loose the stack of fliers, curled up by the statue and began to cry just when the crown flew out of the portal and whacked her in the head.
“I have no idea how it got there.” Fluttershy spoke in the present while rubbing Spike on the head “But I didn't want anything to happen to it, so I decided to give it to Principal Celestia.”
“‘Principal Celestia?’” Twilight, having mastered manipulating her fingers added a parenthesis “She's the ruler here?” Fluttershy eyed the other way, trying to find a good answer, “You could say that. Technically, I guess she and Vice Principal Luna do make the rules.”
“Where is she now?”
“Probably in her office.” Twilight ran away from Fluttershy a good distance before screeching to a halt and jogging back “Third door on your left.”
“Thank you!”
“Oh, wait!” Fluttershy beckoned, stopping Twilight again “You're not really supposed to have pets on school grounds. Might wanna tuck him into your backpack.” She turned around while keeping an eye on her friend “That's what I do.”
With the bag slightly ajar, a kitten, a rabbit, and a parakeet pop out, making a series of cute noises.
“They just get so lonely when I'm in school all day.”
“Oh, okay!” Twilight waved her goodbye “Thank you!”
The five-minute bell rang, putting the caretaker on edge.
“Oh, no! I'm going to be late for class!” Zipping up the backpack, Fluttershy quickly made a mad dash down the halls to her class.
Following Fluttershy’s direction, Twilight entered the door labeled, “Alumni Office.” In front of her was another door with the labels, “Principal Celestia,” acting accordingly with a series of knocks.
“Come in.” - On command, Twilight pushed the door open with her head, entering so she appears lower than that of her mentor - “How may I help you?”
Twilight looked up to see the Principal apparently ignoring her as she looked at a student file. Placing her backpack on the floor, she approaches the desk.
“Um, uh... Whew.” - Celestia lowered the file, staring at Twilight before making a “Well?” gesture, snapping Twilight back to focus - “My name's Twilight Sparkle. I-I'm new here, and... Well, I understand that Fluttershy found a crown this morning and gave it to you.”
“Yes.” Celestia answered before standing up, closing the file before approaching the cabinet “I've had Vice Principal Luna put it somewhere for safekeeping. No idea how it ended up on the front lawn. Were you interested in running for Princess of the Fall Formal this year?”
“Uh, no. Not exactly.” - Twilight tried to come up with telling the truth, but in a different world, different beliefs may call her crazed - “The truth is... Well, the truth is I... You see, the crown is actually…” Twilight stopped to recall what the Principal just said “Princess of the Fall Formal?”
Principal Celestia marks a day from her calendar, “It's Canterlot High's big Fall dance.”
“Like the Grand Galloping Gala.”
“Uh,” Celestia turned around, raising a brow “Grand Galloping Gala?”
“Oh, uh, it was a” - Twilight noticed Spike peeking out of her bag before shoving his head back in - “big deal at my old school.”
“And was there a princess?” Celestia asked as she returned to the calendar.
“Yes, but she wasn't exactly a student.” Twilight looked to find a series of portraits of past winners, many Twilight did not recognize, though she could easily recognize Applejack (Fall Formal 2012), Sunset Shimmer (Spring Fling 2013), Rainbow Dash (Fall Formal 2013), and Rarity (Spring Fling 2014).
“Here at Canterlot High, the students from various grades select at least one of their peers to represent them. If a majority votes for one, she receives a crown.
Twilight wrapped her index finger around her chin, “You asked me if I was interested in running for Princess. Can anyone run?”
“Yes.” Celestia answered before walking back to her seat “You just need to let the head of the Fall Formal planning committee know you'd like to be on the ballot.” - Upon sitting down, she looked up at the new student, appearing exhausted - “Was there anything else?”
“Um, nope! That was it!” Twilight grabbed her backpack and walked out of the door before grasping the knob.
“Well, if you do need anything else, my door is always open.”
Not knowing the strength of her new body, Twilight slammed the door shut.
“Sorry!” she apologized before exiting the office.
Spike wriggled out of the backpack, “Twilight, why didn't ya just tell her the crown was yours and ask for it back?”
“Oh, I was going to, but imagine if one of them showed up in Equestria saying they came from a place filled with tall, fleshy, two-legged creatures with these?” - Micro Chips was passing by when he spotted Twilight flailing her arms and legs like mad before slowly backing away - “We'd think they were crazy!”
“You make a good point.” Spike confirmed while watching the startled student.
“Looks like if I want my crown back, I'll have to become Princess of the Canterlot High Fall Formal.” Twilight crouched down before swinging her body the other direction, raising her arms high in the air “So that's what I'm gonna do!”
Aside from the faint echo, there was no applause. Spike looked around the empty hall before asking, “And how exactly do you plan on doing that?”
“I have no idea!”
Just as Twilight’s stomach began to rumble, the school bell rang. This time, Twilight hugged the wall as dozens of students traversed the commons.
Twilight leaned back to the glass doors across from the entrance. Turning around, she found several students grouped together eating a variety of foods. Upon entering, her nostrils takes in various scents, many of which she hasn't even smelt before. Twilight walked inside, many students she could recognize as her kind’s duplicates. At one point, she spots Sunset and Cosgrove sitting at a table with three others before approaching them, breaking their conversation.
“I know we've just met, but you wouldn't mind me sitting with you?”
Sunset and Cosgrove looked at each other before they looked at Chesley, Zipper, and Diver, who each gave a nod.
The Hipparion’s duplicate stretched a palm, “Be our guest.”
Twilight sat next to Chelsey and Diver. She looked at each of their features. Chelsey, whose Equestrian counterpart is a Horse, had the same proportions as Twilight and Sunset despite being a freshman. Zipper, despite being a Sleipnir in her world, did not have additional limbs but made up for that with having twelve fingers total. While just about eat a hotdog, Diver couldn't help but notice Twilight look at her physique.
“Got a problem with the way I look?” She hissed.
Immediately, Twilight looked forward. “No, not at all. It's just… What is that you're eating?”
“What?” Chelsey lifted up another hotdog to Twilight “Never had a hotdog?”
Spike was attracted to the smell of the cylindrical food, taking a whiff so deep that it got lodged in his nose.
“Is it good?” Twilight pulled it out of the dragon dog's snout, giving them an embarrassed smile.
“If it wasn't, we wouldn't be eating them.” Said Diver as she crammed a hot dog into her mouth.
“We're training in case the Friendship Games has a hotdog eating contest.” Added Chelsey as she took in another hotdog.
“Which is moot.” The group turned their attention to Sunset “Only Seniors can enter the games and by the time you four become such, the games won't premiere.”
Diver immediately stopped chewing, beginning to growl as she took in the information.
Cosgrove raised his hand, “Three, two, one.”
“What the hell was the point of eating these hot dogs then?!” Diver roared, spitting out the half-chewed meal in her rage. Twilight watched as girl supported her head with one arm, looking furious before turning her head to Chelsey “How many did we eat?”
“Lost count.” Chelsey turned to Zipper “How many have we had so far today, Zip?”
“Twohundredfiftyandthatswitheverything.”
Twilight's tummy began to rumble again as she looked forward, seeing Cosgrove gnawing at a flat, red piece.
“Is that… wood?”
Cosgrove uttered a few indistinguishable words before manipulating his lips so that he could see what he ate in front of him.
“This is beef jerky.” He answered while smacking the spice from his lips “It's hard like wood, but very-”
“What’s beef?” Twilight cocked her head.
The group looked at each other, wondering what this person has been.
“Cow meat…” Sunset answered in an uncertain tone.
That made Twilight's eyes shrink. There are indeed duplicates of her friends here, carnivorous ones at that. Her fear was shaken again when her stomach growled. Sunset took out an apple and handed it to Twilight. Reassured that their diet isn’t consistent of meat, she calmed down.
“You know, speaking of competitions, I've decided to run for Princess of the Fall Formal.” The group was somewhat taken aback by this “Why wouldn't I?”
“Trixie is running for princess also.” Sunset leaned forward “And let me tell you, signing up right now would really make her cranky.”
“The Great and Powerful Trixie demands more French fries!!!” The magician roared, getting everyone's attention. Immediately Snips and Snails got up and ran off, returning with a new tray of the diced potatoes. Taking a bite of one of them, she immediately spat it out “The crunchy kind, none of this soggy junk!”
“I have to try!” Twilight rebuked.
“Good luck with that.” Cosgrove rose to his full height “You'd have to convince everyone here to vote for you instead of her: the athletes, the fashionistas, the dramas, the eco-kids, the techies, the rockers…”
“Why is everypony–” Spike smacked Twilight in the head before curling into his backpack “Uh, everybody separated this way?”
Chelsey leans right to address Twilight, “Maybe it was different at your old school, but at C.H.S., everybody sticks to their own kind.”
The Pony in apes clothing looked at each designated group of students before asking them, “Which group do you belong to?”
They took a look at each other before Zipper flat out said, “Noone.”
“Well not if I can help it!” In one quick motion, Twilight bit down on the apple, happily chewing on it when she opened her eyes to the now disgusted group before she held the apple with her hand “So, uh, where would I find the head of the party planning committee?”
The following hour, Twilight followed her lunchmates instructions to the gymnasium. The room appeared to be set up for the occasion, with the bleachers pulled back, and the area littered with balloons, confetti, and resting tables. But no one around to find.
“They said she'd probably be in here.”
“Incoming!” The only warning Twilight was given before streamers fell to the floor, quickly wrapping her and Spike like a mummy. She stood up to see a pink haired individual pulling a loose balloon and began to blow on it.
“Hi, my name's Twilight Sparkle and…” Twilight ducked as the person turned around with a balloon still in her mouth, recognizing her features - “Pinkie Pie?”
Startled, Pinkie releases the balloon, releasing the air she had so laboriously spent before sliding to Twilight's left and clutched her shirt.
“Are you psychic?!” Pinkie gasped as she got her face very close to Twilights.
“Uh, no. I don't think so.” While still in an uncomfortable position, she eyed away from her pink assailant “Unless, of course, that's something you can do here.”
Pinkie relaxed before releasing Twilight “Not usually.”
“Sunset Shimmer said this is where I'd find the head of the Fall Formal planning committee.”
“Sunset Shimmer, huh?” Pinkie asked in an upset tone “Don't let her Maximal pack appease you. They can be real meanies.”
“Maximals?” Twilight was just about to place a finger on her chin before gasping “They aren't friends with you?”
Pinkie Pie shuffled backward with her body bent back.
“Waited a bit to get your name on the ballot, huh? Dance is day after tomorrow.”
“I'm brand new here.”
“Oooh!” The Party Planner leaned forward “I thought you didn't look familiar. Though, now that I'm really lookin' at you…” She then examined the stranger high and low before stepping back “Do you have a twin sister who lives in the city, has a pet dog named Spike that looks just like that one?”
“Uh, maybe?”
“Thought so.” Pinkie reached into her hair before pulling out a clipboard “Anyhoo, just need to fill this out and you are officially up for the coveted Princess of the Fall Formal crown.”
Twilight was very uncertain about this. In her world, she would use her magic to levitate an ink quill or have Spike write for her. And now just having learned how to move her hands did not imply mastery of writing with them. But she grasped the pen with a full hand and scribbled her name on the board before taking it off.
“Wow! You have really bad handwriting.” Pinkie lowered the clipboard “It's like you've never held a pen before.”
Twilight gave a nervous chuckle, “Is it?”
Suddenly, the doors slammed open, revealing a girl wearing a denim skirt, a white shirt with green shoulder tops and a Stetson carrying a case of cider.
“Somebody order a dozen cases of fizzy apple cider?”
“Oh! Oh! Me, me-me-me, me, yeah, ha-ha, me!” Pinkie happily cheered as she bounded towards Applejack.
Wiping the sweat from her brow, AJ took a bottle, popped the top off, and began to drink.
“Can you bring in the rest, Mac?”
On cue, Big Mac’s human counterpart brought over three cases of apple cider.
“Eeyup.”
Applejack downed half of the bottle when she noticed the strange face, “Hey, I know you.”
Twilight gulped, “You do?”
“Sure. You're the new girl who gave Gilda the what for today.” Applejack took her time drinking the rest of the bottle. Pinkie Pie waved the clipboard while bouncing a balloon twice her size “Twilight Sparkle here is gonna run against Trixie for Princess of the Fall Formal.”
That sentence ringing in her ear, Applejack choked on some of the fluid, taking a while for her throat to gain some traction.
“Ah'd think twice about that. Oh, sure, she'll probably approach you all friendly like…” Applejack raised both her hands, posing them as if they were puppets “Trixie sure am lookin' forward to some friendly competition.” She said in a voice like that of Trixie’s “That's so good to hear.” She said in a voice like that of Twilight before balling up one of her hands “But then, here comes the backstabbin'.”
“Wow.” Feeling uneasy after hearing what Applejack described, Twilight rubbed her neck “Trixie has been tenacious.”
“Nonsense!” Rebuked a voice from the entrance. The three girls turned to find Roma Candle at the door, posed dramatically before stepping lively towards them.
Applejack curled a fist, clutching part of the table cover, “What business do ya have here, Roma?”
“Just my ears picking up the usual banter, two young adult girls fighting over for just a piece of jewelry.” She turned over to Twilight “And my ears have heard that she is running against Trixie.”
Twilight sighed, “Guess you are going to say that my chances are slim as well, right?”
“Oh no dear friend, I believe you completely.” - Roma walked Twilight away from Applejack and Pinkie Pie - “I know how blunt the honest ones can be”- Still in earshot, Applejack scowled at her as Roma releases Twilight before going into a dramatic pose - “that's why I had to leave them you know, they simply had no vision!”
Pinkie’s hair deflated a little, “We didn’t mean that…”
“Grand!” Roma turned around “Then we all agree that the only way for her to be Fall Formal Princess is, as they say, convince-”
“She wasn’t serious!” Applejack interrupted as she pulled Twilight away “She was thinking out loud, besides it's about time she went to her next class.”
“Well,” They turned to find a light tan girl with dirt blonde hair approaching them with a devious grin on her face “we wouldn’t want them to worry, would we?”
“Oh no, no” Whispered another violet-pink girl with black hair “They’d think something awful would happen to you!”
Applejack and Twilight backed away as the second new interloper cackled before given a back fist on the mouth.
“Who are they?” Asked Twilight
“Lorraine and Sierra, never mind them.” Roma looked behind her, trying to contain her anger “They just finished first quarter exams and not thinking clearly!”
Applejack crossed her arms as Big Mac joined her after loading the last of the crates, “Still, Ah suggest you leave.”
“Eeyup.” Agreed Big Mac.
Roma took in a deep breath, “As you wish.” - recollecting herself, she and her associates walked out of the gym before the former turned to address Twilight “Oh and if you change your mind about running for Princess, I’ll be happy to help!”
After the three left the gym, Pinkie’s hair shook on its own, then her back tinged and her hands flopped on their own.
“Even since Freshman Year, Roma and her amigas give me the hebbee majeebies.”
Applejack snorted, “Still, about the only girl in this school you can trust less than Roma Candle is Rainbow Dash.”
“Rainbow Dash?” Twilight turned away from the exit.
“She's the captain of, like,” Pinkie raised her arms up high “every team at Canterlot High.”
“She's also the captain of sayin' she's gonna do somethin' for ya, and then turnin' around and not even botherin' to show up.”
“Applejack, Pinkie, this is something I really need to do.” Twilight addressed one more time, trying to appease them.
Applejack calmed down before placing her hand on Twilight’s shoulder
“Suit yourself.” Suddenly, her eyes widened before placing a hand on her chin “Hey, how'd you know my name is Applejack?”
Now she was in for it; if this Applejack can tell the truth as easily as Twilight’s Applejack.
“Didn't you say?”
“Nnnope.”
“Well, it sure was nice meeting you both.” Twilight slowly backed away “I'm sure I'll be seeing you around.”
As soon as she went out the other exit from the gymnasium, Pinkie entered her skeptic mode.
“That one's tryin' to hide a secret, but I am totally on to her.” She leaned towards Applejack before whispering, “She's psychic!”
“Uh-huh.” Applejack raised an eyebrow “If you say so.”
Suddenly Pinkie’s ears started to bend back and forth then her eyes fluttered and her knees twitched before the door slammed open. The three occupants of the gym turned to find Trixie along with Snips and Snails.
“This looks terrible!” She berated before running inside and picking up a streamer “There should be more streamers near the stage and fewer balloons.” The magician popped a balloon with her nail before walking towards the tables.
“Yeah, streamers!” Added Snips as he pulled one to the point of breaking.
“And fewer balloons!” Snails tried to crush a balloon before falling to the ground.
Trixie picked up a bottle of apple cider, narrowing her eyes as she read the paper slapped on it.
“Fizzy apple cider? Ugh! This is Trixie’s coronation, not a hoedown.”
Applejack and Big Mac scowled at Trixie before the latter stepped forward. “Well, now, it ain't necessarily gonna be your coronation this time around.”
“Oh, is that so?” Trixie stepped towards the tall former student “You country folk really aren't that bright.” - She grabbed AJ’s hat and covered her face with it - “Must be why the other students say such awful things about you.”
Applejack barely contains her anger as her face flushed red.
“Obviously it's gonna be her coronation.” Trixie placed a hand on her chest “She’s running unopposed.”
“Not this time.” Pinkie Pie took out the clipboard once again - “The new girl, Twilight, just signed up!”
“What?!” Trixie snatched the clipboard away before scanning the gibberish under her name. Now with a new competitor, she stared straight ahead, looking furious.
“I know. Her handwriting is really bad.”
“Where is this Twilight Sparkle?” She said to herself as she drew a nasty sneer from her lips. Taking in a breath through her nostrils, she turned to Applejack, Pinkie, and Big Mac “Trixie looks forward to meeting the competition!”
She places the clipboard on the table before leaving.
Pinkie turned to Applejack with a “called it” look on her face.
As Trixie entered the hall, Roma was watching from the corner of a hallway notable for having a bad ceiling light before looking at her friends.
Lorraine was just finishing stuffing a cavity in her jaw with tissue paper. “Ooh, you busted my last baby tooth.”
“Then next time, keep your mouth shut!” Roma lashed out
“Why should we?” Said Sierra as she leaned on the locker “She didn’t fall for your little act. I say we go and get that magic - crown - thingy on our own.”
“I repeat Sierra, we don't know where the crown is.”
“Then why not simply make her tell us where it is?” Lorraine made a cutting motion across her neck “Or else.”
Roma immediately smacked her on the cheek, bruising it.
“Lorraine. If we threaten her, we'll put the others on alert.” Roma stamped towards her pink friend “They will watch our move and our cause will be lost! Now is that what you want?”
“N - n - no - er, of course not!” Lorraine pleaded before her back collided with an exit, falling over.
“Therefore, we must be calm and patient.” She turned around, cupping her hands into her cavernous sleeves “We will help Trixie win the title, And when she does... the power of the crown will be mine!”
It's near two PM when Twilight stumbled upon an unusual machine. Square in shape with a concave hole spanning two-thirds its height and length covered by a sheet of durable plastic. But it’s what is inside that is enticing her. From top to bottom are a variety of small snacks from bagged chips spiced with cheese powder to pretzel sticks. Twilight’s tummy rumbled once again, one apple wasn’t enough to satisfy her hunger. She approached the machine, her dark violet eyes scanning the food behind the glass. She noticed there is a small slit above the rows of lettered buttons. Spike shuffled out of her backpack, holding an Equestrian bit in his mouth. Twilight positioned her fingers just to hold the coin. She positions it straight at the slit and tried to push it in, but compared to Human coins, Equestrian coins are just slightly bigger than that of dollar coins.
Her tummy continued to rumble. She needed more food. Taking a pointer from her world's Applejack, Twilight got on all fours, turned around, aimed her hind leg, and kicked the machine hard against her boot.
Nothing happened.
Twilight grunted in frustration as she aimed her leg once again before turning her head to find a pair of blue sneakers. Looking up, she saw Trixie looking down with an amused smirk on her face.
“Excuse me.” - She says before walking past Twilight - “The Great and Powerful Trixie!” - One glance at the contents before spinning her hand around, revealing two-quarters pinched between her fingers - “Needs some peanut butter crackers.”
Inserting the coins into the slot and pressing A6 down below, the corkscrew spun clockwise, guiding a small package containing crackers and a dip until fell down the chamber. Pushing through a flap, Trixie pulled out with her prize.
“Voilà!” - Trixie walked away before turning her head around - “May the best girl win.” - She chuckled before peeling off the cover and enjoying her snack.
“They're right.” - Twilight walked down the hall - “If I need to win votes, we need to do some research.”
“Research…” - Spike whispered, looking around to see if anyone is around - “in a place such as this?”
As soon as Twilight turned to the hall on the left, Trixie drew a sly glare before snapping her fingers. On command, Snips and Snails ran to her side.
“Trixie commands you to follow her. Bring her something she can use against Twilight.”
The two boys saluted.
“You got it, Oh Great and Powerful Trixie.” Snips replied before they ran down the hall.
“This is a school.” - She turned to find a pair of brown doors - “I have to believe it's got a…” - Twilight opened them, revealing a well-illuminated treasure trove of literature - “Library!”
Just as Twilight was near the center of the library, Snips and Snails poked their heads behind the doors.
“Got your phone?” Asked Snips
Snails took out his phone, already set to record footage, “Got yours?”
Snips took out his phone before they both snickered. With his relatively bulky body, Snips rolled on the carpet to a new hiding place while Snails, true to his name, crawled like an inchworm to a new hiding place as well.
Twilight, for the first time, set her eyes on a desktop computer already turned on with the background displaying the insignia for the Canterlot Wondercolts. It's not to say that there aren't computers of similar form in Equestria proper, it's just that Twilight found them to be a distraction from her usual studies. And now with foreign appendages, it may be all the more difficult.
She looked around before spotting this world’s Ms. Cheerilee taking books from the cart and placing them on the shelves by decimal by Dewey decimal.
“So I just push the letters here, and then the words and moving pictures will come up here?”
Cheerilee turned to see Twilight fidgeting with the computer, even lifting up the desktop before pushing the student’s arm back on the table.
“That's right.”
“Maybe this place does have magic.”
Cheerilee rolled her eyes before pushing the cart, almost blowing Trixie's mooks as they scarper off to new hiding spots.
Suddenly, the normal quietness of the library was disturbed by music blaring across the room, drawing the occupants attention to this world's Cutie Mark Crusaders happily dancing to the rock tune. The video was immediately put on pause, drawing the trio of freshman girls to Cheerilee.
“Uh, girls, what are you doing?”
“We're just seeing how many hits our new music video has gotten.” Said Sweetie Belle before resuming the video before being paused again.
“No, just…” - Cheerilee was interrupted when the video played again before she pulled the speaker out - “No! The school computers are for research purposes only.” - She walks away with the speaker.
“It's just as well, y'all.” - Apple Bloom scrolled down the screen - “Some of the comments about our song were really awful. "'Epic fail... Funniest thing I've ever seen'?!”
Sweetie Belle thought of the opposite way, “Funniest thing they've ever seen, huh?”
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo got the idea before they closed the window and began to run.
“Uh, I don't know that that's what you should take from…” The Crusaders were already long gone before Twilight could finish. Now alone, she fidgeted with the desktop again, even pounding her knuckles on the keyboard. Hiding behind a table not far from the computer desk, Snips and Snails chuckled as they recorded her dilemma.
Moving away from the tech, Twilight instead browsed along the bookshelves, collecting human history, science texts, and even religious commentary until she had more than she could physically carry and soon tripped onto the floor. With the occupants once again distracted, Cheerilee walked up and warned Twilight with a good shushing. Snips is able to capture Twilight holding a cover of one of the books with her mouth before Spike pointed her to stop.
Twilight lifted the whole tower of books over again to the counter, where Cheerilee sat, looking at the newbie with half closed eyes.
“Find everything you needed?”
“Yes,” - Twilight panted heavily as she flopped her arms on the strained her - “all that I need to know about this world-” - Cheerilee tilted her neck so she could see Twilight behind the tower, raising an eyebrow - “for an upcoming exam…” she finished sheepishly.
“May I see your library card?” Cheerilee asked.
Twilight shuffled through her pockets, then dug inside her backpack, trying to find slip before finding nothing.
“I’m brand new here… so…”
Cheerilee sighed, another little trouble from the clumsy newcomer, but curled up a smile before handing out a small slip of paper. “Would you like to apply?”
Twilight drew a large grin on her face before grabbing the pen and scribbling on the name, birthdate, address, phone number, email, and hobbies, Cheerilee had her mouth slightly agape at the virtually indistinguishable writing, looking ahead to the applicant slowly shifting her grin from an ecstatic to an uneasy one. Cheerilee took a deep breath before placing it on a scanner.
“Please stand over there.” She asked, pointing to a small camera rig plugged into the computer. Twilight took a few steps to her left until her face was directly at the camera.
“Behind the blue line.” Cheerilee added as she held the button.
Twilight shuffled back with her hands held together below her waist, waiting for her picture to be taken. After a while from waiting, Twilight relaxes.
“Smile!” Without a good moment's warning, Cheerilee pressed the button, exposing Twilight’s pupils to the sudden burst of light. She staggered back before bumping against a table, almost knocking Flash Sentry as she rolled over and flopped on the floor. She rubbed her head before her dilated eyes spotted three Flashes.
“Are any of you… going to help me?” She asked while still dazed before the real Flash took her hand and pulled her up.
Hiding behind the bookshelves, Snips and Snails giggled even more before they stopped recording and showed their mistress the fruits of their labor. Trixie peeked from the bookshelf, watching Twilight recover before she lifted up the books and staggered out of the door.
From behind the shadows, two familiar hands dressed in long, cavernous sleeves reached out and gently held the magician’s shoulders.
“You got her right where you want her.” Whispered Roma, adding more to Trixie’s delight as she drew her smile even more.
Twilight didn't walk far from the library when her arms started to give. Spike attempted to grab one of the books on top of the tower, but his lack of thumbs kept him from lifting one completely. If there was magic in this world, she could carry them effortlessly. But this was not the case and she soon stood still as sweat dripped from her brow.
“You know that carrying all these books at once isn’t safe.”
Twilight shifted her eyeballs to the left before slowly turning her head to find Sunset Shimmer leaning on the locker just when Cosgrove, Chelsey, Zipper, and Diver grabbed an equal part of the tower, greatly reducing Twilight’s burden to just one book.
“The school will be closing in five minutes.” Buzzed the PA system.
Twilight was about to thank them before she gasped, “I hadn't even thought about where we- er I was gonna sleep tonight!”
“You don’t even have an apartment?” Diver asked as she shuffled the weight of the books.
“I… uh...” - Twilight tried to think of another reason to the natives, eying her companion for suggestions, but the dragon dog merely raised his shoulders - “My landlord hasn’t gotten the apartment ready.”
The group of freshman looked at each other before Sunset walked to her side.
“You can stay at my home.” - She eyeballs Spike before scratching his chin and walking forward - “Let’s go.”
They began their journey to the parking lot, reaching a red Portia. With Zipper just applying for a learners permit, Sunset is the only one of age to drive it. And since a typical car can carry four people only, a bike rig was attached to the bunk of the car in case of guest riders.
“Zipper, it's your turn.” Said Chelsey.
Unhooking the bike, Zipper put on a helmet, mounted the vehicle and peddled towards their destination before Sunset entered the driver's seat, Twilight taking the passenger seat, Cosgrove sitting in the back sandwiched between Chelsey and Diver. An uncomfortable ride, but still generous for the guest. The flame-haired girl turned the ignition key, but before she placed the vehicle in drive, she noticed something on the dash board.
Sunset turned her head to the right, “You're still unbuckled.”
“Huh?” Twilight turned to the driver, seeing a tan band wrapped around her chest and waist before turning around to see the others buckled up. Spike turned to find a silver latch. Climbing up Twilight, the dog grabbed the latch with his teeth before pulling the belt down and clicking it on the other end.
Placing the car in drive, and a few turns later, and they were out of school grounds. Twilight looked out the window as the scenery changed from an area of suburban houses to a more crowded, but spectacular setting. There were shopping malls, tall apartments, museums, and food centers, one of which Twilight easily recognized as Sugarcube Corner. She hasn't been to Manehattan in her world, but this could be close. Soon they caught up with Zipper.
“It's so amazing!” Twilight turned her head back and forth “All these buildings, so many choices.”
Sunset shifts her head a little, flipping her eyes for a split second before focusing on the road. “I guess it is amazing to an out-of-towner.”
Twilight lowered her excitement before asking, “Pinkie Pie mentioned that you had a group called the…”
“Maximals!” Spike barked in rhythm to the syllables of the word.
“Maximals.” - Twilight got their attention as Cosgrove, Chelsey, and Diver leaned towards their guest - “I thought you said that you didn't belong to a group?”
“But our own.” - Cosgrove added - “You see, we were close friends over the past twelve years, and some of those years were the toughest in our lives, Garble and his gang, the Diamond Dogs, all because…” - the teenaged boy stretched out his hand, leading Twilight to look behind at the others.
Twilight turned back to Sunset, “What would they call you?”
Sunset shifted her eyes before answering, “Coral snake.”
With Sunset’s hair color, Twilight knew what she meant, “Red behind black you're okay, Jack. Red on yellow, you're a dead fellow.”
“And in time,” - Sunset fidgeted her shirt, pulling out a necklace with a small charm of an abstract Pony head, though at first glance it looked pretty feline - “we formed the Maximals, so that no one would be hurt.”
“But it looks like they fear you, why?”
Twilight's question was met with silence before Cosgrove shuffled around.
“There is some truth to this. My parents are among the best cops in the city.” - The Hipparion's duplicate lowered his head - “But my dad… tends to be a little ruthless.”
Twilight became saddened by this fact as Sunset turned the car at a right corner, leading them to another suburban area, albeit with much more trees that easily blotted out the bright circle once it began to reach to mountains.
“But not everyone is that cold.” - Added Chelsey - “The Apples like us and Dapplewood does volunteer at the animal shelter with Fluttershy on some weekends.”
“Rarity still thinks of us as brutes.” Diver crossed her arms, looking out the window. Spike raised his head upon hearing Rarity’s name, wagging his tail as he hoped to see her.
“Dapplewood?” - Twilight twisted her body as much as her buckled body could - “Who is Dapplewood?”
Sunset pulled over in front of a blue house, shifting the knob to set the car in park before pulling up the parking brake. Zipper caught up to them as the other four Maximals exited the vehicle. Twilight opens the door, shifting her upper body before the seatbelt snapped her back to place. She looked down at the buckle before fidgeting with it as the Alicorn tried to get out. Her finger pressed the red button, releasing her as she flopped on the dried asphalt. She rubs the dust off her skirt and watches the group grab her books and hook the bike before turning to a boy, around nine years old, sitting in the shade by the front door as he bit off chunk after chunk of a Nutella covered celery stick.
Cosgrove walked up to the boy, “You're home pretty early, bro.”
“‘Bro?’” Twilight had known of her Cosgrove since he arrived in Ponyville, yet she did not know he had a brother. Maybe he still resides in the Circus. She watched as the boy waved his arms around, illustrating a fuzzy wall.
“Mould, huh?” Chelsey asked, which the boy answered with a nod before lifting his new wave sunglasses, exposing his gray-purple eyes to Twilight.
Sunset looked at Twilight as the boy walked to the stranger. “Dapplewood, this is Twilight Sparkle.”
“Hi!” Twilight stretched her hand, receiving a handshake from him. Dapplewood’s eyes widened before looking down to see Spike pawing at his jeans before backing away as if afraid.
“Spike is in good health, right?” - Diver asked, pointing at the dog - “No dander, rabies, loose hair?”
Spike huffed in frustration before Twilight lifted up the small dog. “Not that I know of.”
“You see, being born without a larynx, Dapplewood has difficulty breathing through his mouth.” - Sunset addressed - “We want to make sure any mammalian pets have been clean.”
Twilight had an uneasy look before Spike nodded, “Spike is as clean as clean can be.”
Twilight placed the dog back on the ground. Assured, Dapplewood stepped forward before scratching Spike on the ears, adding to his pleasure as he thumped his leg on the grass.
“So,” - Sunset turned to Twilight - “were you able to sign up for being Princess?”
“Yeah, Applejack, Pinkie and Roma Candle-”
“Waitwait” - Zipper shuffled around - “youmetwithRomaCandle?”
Having been with his Sleipnir counterpart whenever he would visit for some time, Twilight understood what he said.
“Yes, and she was with two others. But, now that I think about them…” She hissed through her teeth “Is it a bad thing to not like them?”
“You have good instincts for a newcomer.” - Chelsey placed a hand on her hip - “Did she tell you why?”
“Well, she said that you guys had no vision.” Twilight answered, squinting her eyes as she was confused by what she said.
Cosgrove curled his upper lip before pounding the backside of the car, “That bitch! Sounds like she is up to her old tricks again.”
“What old tricks?”
“Let's just say” - Diver leaned on Chelsey - “if we weren't quick enough, one of us would have been killed the past summer.”
Twilights eyes shrank as Spike whimpered, “That's… awful!”
“It was…” - Cosgrove placed his hands on his brother's shoulders - “Someday, we'll tell you.”
They carried the books inside the house. In one room, there was one corner dedicated to technology; an all in one desktop computer attached to a desktop hard drive and a Dell Inspiron plugged to the wall. This layout reminded Twilight of her Sunset's laboratory under the Ponyville Library.
“In the meantime,” - Sunset took off her jacket and hung it using a closet clothes rack - “Roma would say that she knows everything when really she knows nothing.”
“So be careful, will you?” Cosgrove asked as he stood by the doorway about to leave.
“Okay, I will.”
Waving Sunset goodbye, Cosgrove joined the others as they walked back to their family homes.
Twilight took the first book she saw: the State History of Colorado and began to read. Even on this particular subject, the book told a lot about the history of this world, and how much bigger it is. From the Declaration of Independence, the Louisiana Purchase, Westward Expansion, the Bone Wars between Othniel Marsh and Edward Cope, the Great Depression and both World Wars all filled Twilight's mind with questions.
A couple hours seemed like four minutes when Sunset just finished her homework and got off her bed.
“Hope you like veggie orecchiette,” - Sunset stretched her legs - “because that's tonight's dinner.”
Twilight smiled, happy that there is no meat eating tonight. Sunset left the room, keeping the door open.
Twilight closed the book and looked around the room. Her eyes did spot a yearbook before pulling it out. Skimming through the pages, she then spotted a group photo with Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity. Another flip of the page showed Sunset, Flash Sentry and Crescendo.
While on ground level, Spike’s eyes shrank before backing away slowly with his tail between his legs, “...Twilight…?” He whispered.
After closing the year book, her eyes spotted something most odd. It was a family portrait containing a much younger Sunset along with two middle-aged adults and a younger woman near her thirties. Taking a closer look at the picture, the Unicorn could tell that the elders are Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop.
“But this doesn't make-” Suddenly, Twilight felt something on her feet.
Sunset placed a mixture of lettuce, broccoli and crushed nuts on a frying pan with a boiling pot of water next to her when she heard Twilight’s scream. Turning off the burners, Sunset jogged to her room to find Twilight standing on her bed, Spike behind her legs.
“You own a Komodo dragon!?” Shouted Twilight as she pointed to the floor. A massive red lizard with red stripes was looking up at her, flipping his tongue as he detected Twilight's more intense body temperature.
“Nile monitor actually.” - donning a pair of work gloves, Sunset picks up the reptile so it would be at Twilight's height - “I had Cosgrove lend Schnookums until he eats the mice.”
Schnookums’ tongue flicked once more before Sunset took him out of the room and patted him away.
“Dinner should be ready soon.” Sunset walked back into the kitchen, filling the house with steam as she quickly finished the recipe. Opening a window, the steam left the house as the fire-haired girl placed a plate of the recipe in front of Twilight before setting her plate on her designated spot.
But dexterity was still an issue as Twilight fiddled her fingers on the fork. She lifted the fork and moved it over the plate before dropping it on the table. Twilight tried again, holding the utensil tighter as she stabbed the vegetable-pasta mixture.
“Ha, ha!” Twilight chuckled victoriously before biting down on the piece of aluminum, raking off the food before swallowing it. She looked ahead to find a similar family portrait. “Does Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop live with you?”
Sunset stopped chewing for a moment before swallowing. “Mmhm. They’ve adopted me after…”
Twilight noticed her host tightening her grip on her fork before looking at the portrait again. For the first time, Pony or Human, in any way, Twilight had a visual sighting of Night Dancer herself.
“I am so sorry.” - Twilight lowered her fork - “She must have really loved you.”
“She was…” - Sunset sniffled - “a very caring mother. Much better than Hydia.”
Twilight rose her head up, remembering the dangerous Hecate in her world, “Hydia was your mother?”
Sunset looked away, unintentionally showing part of a scar on her left clavicle. “Another reason why we formed the Maximals, I promised them, for all the time they helped me, that I would make it up to them.”
A long moment of silence before the front door opened and closed. Walking up the stairs, this world's Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop appeared before them.
“Oh,”- Loopty Hoop gasped - “I didn't know we were expecting guests.”
Sunset took a deep breath as Twilight stood up.
“Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle.” The Alicorn grabs Lion Tamer’s hand and shook it rapidly before shaking his wife’s hand.
“She will be staying until her apartment arrangements are made.” Sunset added, trying to hide her sadness.
The masters of the house looked at their guest, uncertain of this last minute guest before they smiled.
“Well, Ms. Sparkle, you are most welcome in our home.”
Having eaten their fill, the elders went to bed. A half hour later, the two girls went to bed as well. Sunset offered Twilight and Spike her bed while she snuggled into a sleeping bag. Schnookums crawled over to his borrower, lying on top of her as she got comfy.
An hour into the night, Twilight woke up and turned to her companion.
“It's interesting because they look like they are friends.”
“They do look like our friends.” Spike scratched his ears “But I thought we'd figured that out already.”
“No, I mean…” Twilight reached down and grabbed the yearbook “they look like they are friends with each other. But it doesn't seem like they're friends now. Pinkie and Rarity with the Maximals…”
Spike looked up, “Not so much.”
“I just can't help but get the feeling that someone else is involved. Trixie or Roma Candle had something to do with it.”
As Twilight and Spike continued their conversation, Sunset fluttered her eyes open.
“I wouldn't put it past them. But maybe they want your crown 'cause they're planning on doing something even worse! If you're gonna stop them, you have to focus on making friends here. Can't worry about why they-”
“Twilight?” The Alicorn woman and dragon dog looked to find Sunset sitting up, her eyes just peeking above the mattress “Who are you talking to?”
Twilight looked to her pal before answering, “Myself” - she deepened her voice before adding - “I can do a deep boy voice very well.”
Sunset stared at the two for a while before curling into her sleeping bag.
“This has been one weird day.” She muttered to herself before drifting into sleep.
Spike walked in a little circle before lying down. “Even if they” - he paused to yawn - “do remind you of your Ponyville friends.”
Spike fell asleep on Twilight’s lap, given a rub on his head by her. She lied back down, resting her head on a pillow. If she closes her eyes now, time would fly fast and she must act accordingly.
“You're right, Spike.” - Twilight's vision started to blur - “Eyes on... the... prize…” and with that, she fell asleep, her first night in this world.
Back at Discord's dimension, the playing field had some favor to Discord, some of his pieces have moved along with some of Screwball's. No piece has been taken out yet.
As the sun rose over the east coast, the lights of the town nightscape turned off one by one. The school parking lot soon became crowded with cars and vans. It was just seven o’clock when Twilight and the Maximals arrived, Zipper once again taking the bike. With Great Valley Drive closed for mold removal, Dapplewood was brought to school, sitting on Chelsey’s lap as they arrived.
“Good morning, students, and happy Thursday.” Principal Celestia buzzed through the PA system “Just a reminder to pick up your ballots for the Princess of the Fall Formal today. They are due at the time the dance starts tomorrow night, so don't forget to turn them in and make your voice heard.”
“So, what's your plan to win the Crown?” asked Sunset.
“Well, since I have to convince everyone, I've compiled a list of talking points.” Spike gave Twilight a roll of toilet paper, which she then unfurled, showing a list so long it reached the statue all the way from the parking lot.
“All this” Diver fingered the toilette “this morning, on toilet paper?”
Zipper laughed a while, getting a weird look from the others.
“Uh…” Zipper cleared his throat “Please... Continue.”
They continued their walk towards the front doors.
“I'll start introducing myself, sprinkle in some things I learned into the conversation, show them how I fit in here!” Now at the front doors, Twilight let out a sigh “Okay, guys. Time to make a good first impression on our fellow students. The whole world sorta depends on it.”
With a mighty kick, Twilight entered the school with pride. With one group of students by her side already, it’s one step in the right direction. Nolan was walking with a few others before noticing Twilight,
“Hey, look.” He whispered before snickering.
Twilight was the last to open her eyes as the student body giggled around them.
“Why is everybody looking at me funny?”
“Well, you have been quite a celebrity last night.” Diver answered
Confused, Twilight turns around.
“What do you mean by-Whoa!” The Alicorn was suddenly pulled into an empty classroom, quickly being changed faster than she could react
“What're you...? Why did you...?” - The one moment of free space, Twilight got a good look at her captor, the pale skin, and raven violet hair being easily recognizable - “Rarity?”
This world’s Rarity inspected and measured Twilight. After a long while of thought, her eyes widened with excitement before, in one quick motion, dressed Twilight in a blue dress with a yellow wig.
“Perfect! Oh, yes. This is good! No one will recognize you!”
“Why wouldn't I wanna be–”
“And we'll need a disguise for your dog, which is too bad.” The fashionista scratched Spike's chin, much to his delight as his eyes became heart shapes “He really is so adorable! Y'know, with a little work, I think I could make him look like a rabbit instead.”
After being lovestruck, Spike snapped out of the trance at the thought of being a rabbit.
“Twilight is fine on her own.” Cosgrove stepped around “Though she does look good in a blonde wig.”
“So much for the disguise.” Rarity groaned as Chelsey chuckled.
“Well you know,” Chelsey leaned up to Rarity, not much to her comfort “you could get some makeup and remove the blotches of my skin.”
“Chelsey!” - Rarity lashed out, pushing the similar sized freshman away - “There are boundaries a lady must respect.” - She then points to the ground - “This is my personal bubble.”
“Oh, a bubble…” - Chelsey looked away for a moment - “You mean like this!?”
Using her weight, Chelsey toppled the designer over, rolling around until Rarity had her back to the floor. Suddenly a heavy boot slammed on the tile flooring.
“Chels!” - Applejack yelled - “Get out of Rarity’s bubble.”
Rarity looked at the giant with a victorious grin before the piebald teen made a quick jerk at her collar as she let her go.
Applejack looked over to Twilight, “I've been lookin' all over for ya, Twilight!”
“Me too.” Whispered Fluttershy from behind AJ’s shoulder.
“Me three!” - Pinkie Pie revealed herself by hanging upside down on the ceiling. Gravity went to work as usual and the party planner soon fell on the floor, but quickly got back up to examine Trixie’s opponent - “I like your new look!”
“I do have an eye for these sorts of things.” Rarity turned to the others “Not that you seem to care.”
“What?!” Pinkie gasped
“Why do you think she doesn't care?” She saw Fluttershy had her hand on her mouth and AJ making a “can it” motion as Pinkie’s poofy hair beginning to form a volcano. Twilight raised her hand and shook it before pulling off the wig “No, never mind. Why were you all looking for me? What's going on?”
“Oh,” - Fluttershy leaned to Applejack - “she hasn't seen it yet.”
“Seen what?” Asked Sunset as Pinkie took out a laptop from her hair.
“Oh, it's really not that bad.” Pinkie laughed nervously before looking around her YouTube account, clicking on a thumbnail of Twilight in inverse coloration.
The video starts off with a logo of Trixie’s cutie mark before a series of After Effects animations faze the image to a wanted image of Twilight Sparkle.
“Twilight Sparkle wants to be your Fall Formal Princess.”
The video switches over to Twilight punching the keyboard with her knuckles.
“Wait, I rem-”
It quickly turned over to when Twilight picked up a book with her mouth, though her upper lip and eyes have been masked and manipulated in a way to make her look goofy.
“What does it say about our school if we give someone like this... such an important honor?”
“Wha... I…”
“If you seek salvation from this unintelligible mongrel” - the video goes into a dark room with a white circle before a series of blue and violet streaks dance around before mixing together, igniting sparks before exploding, revealing Trixie Lulamoon in a deep navy blue dress with a cape and hat - “then look no further than the Great and Powerful Trixie!!!”
With one quick swoop of her cape, the video became a violet slide before displaying the words, “Trixie for Fall Formal Princess.”
The others, now also joined by Crusaders, slowly turned their eyes to Twilight, who had a very uneasy feeling on her face.
“Crimanently.” Applejack muttered before shutting the lid.
“I take that back.” - Pinkie looked the other way - “It's pretty bad!”
“But this all happened yesterday! At the library! Has everyone in the school seen this?” - Twilight sought refuge by hiding behind the chair rest - “Is that why they were all looking at me that way?”
Everyone looked away from her as they, well most, gave out a long drawn out “Mmm…”
Trixie now has a great advantage with the use of social media, a foreign concept for the Equestrian as shown by a panicked face Spike hasn’t seen since she worried about missing a deadline.
“What am I gonna do? No one is gonna vote for me after seeing this!”
“Not that it'll make any difference,” - Fluttershy walked over and knelt to Twilight’s level - “but I'll still vote for you.”
Still embarrassed, Twilight lost control of her neck, slamming her cranium on the desk with a loud thump.
“You were so nice to stand up for me when Gilda was picking on me yesterday.”
Twilight raised her eyes, looking up at Fluttershy’s thankful smile.
“If ya still wanna run,” Twilight turned her attention to Pinkie Pie “maybe there's something I can do to help!”
Fluttershy leaned to Twilight’s level again before whispering, “Word of advice? Don't accept her help. She doesn't take anything seriously!”
“Ugh!” - Pinkie stamped her blue boot on the floor - “Why do you have to be so awful to me?”
“Oh! Pff. Kch. Ts!” - Rarity walks around before turning around - “Don't play innocent, Pinkie Pie! You are no better than she is!” Rarity agreed while pointing a finger at Fluttershy.
Pinkie grabbed the fashionista before roaring, “And what is that supposed to mean?!”
Rarity cleaned up her hair before walking away, “I am happy to offer up my assistance as well.” - She turned around again - “To someone who would appreciate what I have to offer!”
Turning around, Rarity found the Maximals already taking Twilight away. Just when Diver was about to open the door her hand was smacked by the fashionista.
“What do you think you’re doing?!” Rarity yelled before being given a smack from the overweight freshman.
“She came to us first,” - Diver answered while rubbing her hand - “besides we already have a plan.”
“Yeah,” - Scootaloo leaned to her two compadres - “like how last summer you almost left Cogsworth to die.”
Cosgrove perked up his head before making a sharp turn, “What did you say?!”
The arguing got worse between Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, the Crusaders, and the Maximals with Twilight and Spike in the middle as they shrugged off the argument before the latter sought refuge in Twilight’s bag. A short distance away, the argument can still be heard as Roma Candle turned a mischievous eye, chuckling as she continued her walk down the hall.
Applejack rubbed her temples before standing straight up and slamming her boot on the floor, silencing the argument. “Listen to y'all carryin' on! Get over it and move on!”
Rarity narrowed her eyes before walking towards the farmer, “You mean like how you've gotten over what happened with Rainbow Dash?”
“She said she'd get the softball team to make an appearance at my bake sale. Ah tell everybody they're comin', and then not one of 'em shows up! She made a liar outta me!” - Applejack crossed her arms before looking away - “That's different!”
“Is not!” They, or most of them, all rebuked
“Is too!” Applejack lashed out.
The argument continued once more as each one individual screamed louder as he or she tried to drown out him or her.
“STOP!” - Twilight yelled as high as her lungs could, silencing them once more - “All of you! You were friends, loving each other like family! But something happened. I think that something was Trixie or Roma Candle.”
“Well, it's a nice theory, darling,” - Rarity complimented - “but both had nothing to do with it.”
“She's right.” Fluttershy added “They weren’t the ones who ruined my silent auction for the animal shelter by bringing fireworks and noisemakers! It was supposed to be a serious event, and Pinkie Pie ruined it!”
“What are you talking about?” Pinkie pulled out her cell phone “I got a text from you saying that you didn't want a silent auction. You wanted a big party!”
Fluttershy was taken aback, “I never sent you a text!”
“You didn't?”
“You don't think she's the one who's been sending me those e-mails, do you?” Rarity took out her cell phone “Every time I volunteer to help with the decorations at a school function, I get an e-mail from Pinkie Pie saying she has plenty of volunteers! And then I find out she's done everything herself.”
“I never sent you any e-mails!” Pinkie Pie looked at Twilight as she began to deduce the problem.
“Maybe she's the reason Rainbow Dash didn't show up for my bake sale!” Applejack added.
“Didn't you ever ask Rainbow Dash why she didn't show up?” Twilight asked.
Applejack took hold her hat, realizing who was the bigger fool. “Heh, Ah guess Ah kinda stopped talkin' to her at all after that.”
Feeling bad for her, Twilight Sparkle walked over and placed has hand on Applejack
“Maybe now would be a good time to start.”
With just half an hour before class starts, the entire mixed aged herd of students walked over to the soccer field. There, several soccer balls were lined up, facing the goal. One by one, they were kicked by this world’s Rainbow Dash, each force much stronger from the last, and with a somewhat good reason as well. Rainbow ran back, ready to aim her strike. After catching her breath, she wiped the sweat from her brow before making her running start. Her eyes were focused on the ball when-
“Hi, Rainbow Dash!”
Out of focus, Rainbow skidded to a halt so sudden that the morning dew caused her to slip, her sneakers just touching a pair of blue boots.
“Pinkie…” Rainbow Dash huffed before getting up “What are you doing here?”
The Party Planner pointed behind the Sports Captain, prompting her to turn around to Applejack standing ahead of everyone else. Rainbow narrowed her eyes as she clenched her fist, “Got a lot of nerve comin’ over here.”
“Rainbow, Ah need to talk to you…” The farmer turned to the others “Alone.”
On cue, they began to walk over to the bleachers, Twilight being the last to do so before Spike tugged at her hair. Being far from the two, the conversation was all but unheard. At one point, Rainbow appeared calm, and somewhat embarrassed, starting to talk much more casual.
“They're actually talking!” Rarity turned to the others “That's a good sign!”
Soon, Rainbow Dash was scratching the back of her head as Applejack placed a hand on her shoulder before they embraced each other.
“Hugs!” Pinkie squeed “Ooh, hugs are always good!”
Amends made, Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked up to the bleachers, the latter holding a soccer ball.
“Somebody and Ah think we can all guess who told Rainbow Dash that my bake sale had been moved to a different day.” Applejack shook Rainbow a little “Dash showed up with all the softball team and thought Ah'd canceled on her!”
“So you're lookin' to dethrone Trixie and become Princess of the Fall Formal, huh?” Seeing Twilight nod, Rainbow got the ball in the air before she started bopping it with her knees “Gotta say, I'd really love to see that happen. I'll totally help you out! All you gotta do is beat me in a game of one-on-one.”
Twilight was taken off guard, “What?”
“Even better, pick a few more players, all-on-one. First to five goals wins.” - With a high kick, Rainbow launched the ball all the way to the goal - “One-zip!”
Having not played this game before, the Alicorn shrank back. If she loses this game, she would not have Rainbow Dash’ help. But, with her team composed of Applejack, Sunset, Cosgrove, Zipper, Chelsey, Scootaloo, and Diver as the goalie, perhaps her chances would be much higher.
As is the rules, Twilight’s team is the first to kick off. Applejack made the first kick before the whole team charged. Keeping up with the ball, AJ punted the ball over to Scootaloo. The deep orange freshman tapped the ball with her toes as Rainbow Dash ran towards her, waiting at the last opportunity before punting the ball over to Cosgrove. Just as he was at the goalie, Rainbow managed to keep up, stealing the ball from him. Diver bounced to her left and right, watching Sunset and Zipper raced to catch up with Rainbow and steal the ball back. Rainbow steered the ball to the left before giving it a hard kick to the right, bringing the Maximal off guard as it hit the netting.
2-0 as Dapplewood flipped the number
Twilight’s team changed formation, with the nimble Twilight as the goalie (no offense to Diver). Zipper had the ball in the lead before punting it over to Chelsey. The giant freshman kicked the ball her hardest, spiraling the ball towards the net. Rainbow just made it to the goat, her fingers having just enough force to keep the ball from hitting the net. The Captain kicked the ball high in the air before racing through the opposing team. Twilight had her knees shaking as Rainbow runs quickly towards her with the ball on her toes. The Alicorn was quick to react as the ball raced to her face, ducking down and letting the ball hit the net. Twilight looked up to see some of her team giving her the look.
3-0 as Pinkie flipped the number.
Twilight slunked her shoulders, feeling down after letting the ball hit the net. Sunset took the ball and placed it before Twilight’s thick boots. The Alicorn narrowed her eyes before giving the ball a good kick, but not enough force to get it in the air. Before Scootaloo could catch the ball, Rainbow swiped it with her toes before kicking it with her heels, spiraling it back to the goal. This time Twilight gained the courage to grab the ball and toss it over to Applejack. The crowd at the bleachers cheered on as the farmer was halfway across the goal before Rainbow caught up and scooped the ball away from her. Zipper raced up to Rainbow and stole the ball from her, but even being the fastest of the Maximals, speed meant nothing if you aren’t good at making sharp turns. Rainbow used the timing of his turn radius before stealing the ball and kicking it back to the goal.
4-0 as Angel Bunny strained to flip the number board.
Rainbow was tapping her foot while Twilight’s team huddled up, trying to discuss an attack plan.
“At… one point… did we lose control?” Cosgrove huffed.
“You can’t beat Rainbow,” Scootaloo sucked in some air “even with a team.”
“Even so, sugar cube.” Applejack tilted her head forward “Rainbow does have a tendency to-”
The conversation was beginning to get on Rainbow’s bad end before she walked to the group, poking her head between Sunset and Chelsey.
“C’mon! Let’s play al-” Rainbow noticed someone was missing from the group. Pulling her head out, she found the bleacher bums cheering on as Twilight was now three-fourths across the field, kicking the ball in short but rapid steps.
Duped, Rainbow made up for lost time and ran her fastest, just making it to the goal, legs spread, body bent, ready to defend. Twilight noticed Rainbow’s exhaustion before kicking the ball harder, increasing the length between putting. But still inexperienced, Twilight took too long to kick the ball while it was in motion, sending herself flying in the air and landing on the hard ground. The fast moving ball was caught under Rainbow’s foot before the sports master kicked it high, landing just in front of Diver and rolls between her legs to the netting.
5-0
Rainbow Dash jumped victorious while Twilight laid on the floor, gasping for breath like a fish out of water as the others loomed over her.
“That's game!” Rainbow Dash popped up close before noticing Twilight still breathing rapidly.
“I…” - Rarity swung her arm - “really thought you were gonna... pull it off there in the end!”
The others, especially the team that helped her, turned a glare at the Fashionista as she gave a nervous chuckle.
Rainbow Dash lifted Twilight up to her feet as lead her to the bleachers. “So what's the plan? How can I help you be princess instead of Trixie?”
Twilight was still catching her breath, “But... We... lost!”
“Of course you lost.” - Rainbow lifted her thumb, pointing at herself - “I'm awesome! But I'm not gonna help just anybody try and beat Trixie. The Fall Formal Princess should be someone with heart and determination. With a team or not, you've proved that you've got 'em both! That’s why Roma Candle didn’t run for Princess this year.”
“And is helping Trixie instead.” Fluttershy whispered
The five-minute bell rang, bringing them on edge as Rainbow Dash ran for the door.
“Last ones to class gets a demerit!” She yelled as she was halfway down when the others join in.
After the first period, brunch hour is served to those who haven’t had breakfast or needed to finish their homework at the last hour. Usually, in light of school occasions such as the Formal, Sugarcube Corner usually guests hosts their treats, with Mrs. Cake often delivering the treats with help from the Apples. On this day, many gathered in line, with Twilight next in line after Bulk Biceps as he collected one of their special Lemon Muffin Surprise.
“I love Lemon Muffin Surprise, YEAHHHH!!!!!” He thanked before walking away.
Picking her ears after that little outburst, Twilight stepped forward.
“What can I get you?” Asked Mrs. Cake.
Twilight looked up the menu, noticing how delicious the food items at this hour before asking,
“Can I have a cup of peppermint chocolate milk.” Mrs. Cake nodded before grabbing a twin shaded pink mug, pouring in the chocolate milk before taking out a can of peppermint whip cream and spraying it on top “And... can I get mine with extra oats?”
Mrs. Cake was just finished sprinkling crushed peppermint when she turned around, “Oats?”
“Uh, scratch that.” Twilight staggered back, blushing as she rocked back and forth “However you normally make it is fine.”
Skeptical, Mrs. Cake passed the cup to Twilight. She had her eyes set on the treat as she walked over to her table. Licking her lips, Twilight just made contact with the bicolored froth when she collided with a much taller person, falling on the floor as the treat spilled all over her head and hair. She looked up to find that it was Flash Sentry who bumped into her.
“Oh! We've got to stop bumping into each other like this.”
Twilight raised a brow, that phrase sounded very familiar to her a long while back. Wrapping a finger around the cup handle, Twilight then grasped his hand before being pulled up off the floor.
“You know me!” Twilight pulled the sides of her hair, squeezing out the chocolate recipe, “Always trying to make a big splash around here. 'Cause my drink kinda splashed... on the ground!” She noticed Flash slowly curling a smile before raising his shoulders.
A distance away, Sunset watched the whole thing before slowly looking away, getting the attention of Rarity.
“Are you still mad after…?”
“Hm?” Sunset turned her attention to Rarity before eyeballing Flash and Twilight. “Me and Flash, we’re good. Though I have been talking with Hooflock more often.”
Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy looked at each other. Hooflock is already in college, training to become a police officer.
“He’s quite happy.” Sunset added before taking in a scoop of parfait
Confused, the Crusaders turned to Chelsey as she ate a tuna sandwich.
“Ain’t yer sister in college as well?” Asked Applebloom, stopping the giant from finishing her meal.
“Janey is one year older than Hoof,” - The piebald girl caught Principals Celestia and Luna walking to the counter before placing an index finger over the former - “and much taller.”
Twilight sat between Rarity and Fluttershy, her cheeks still pink as she twirled her hair.
“Alright, everybody.” Applejack got everyone’s attention as she stood up “Dance is tomorrow night, and we still don't know how we're gonna get Twilight the votes she needs to be named princess. Right now, folks only know the Twilight from the videos Trixie and her posse posted online. We need to help 'em see her differently.”
Everyone agreed with a nod before trying to decide what to do.
“I'VE GOT IT!” Rarity shrieked, getting everyone’s attention, including the Principals, as they jolted out of their usual routine. Embarrassed, Rarity sat back down.
“Ahem. I mean, um, perhaps I have a solution.” She reached to and grabbed a duffel bag.
“Now this may be an absolutely preposterous idea,” - Rarity pulled out a pony ear headband and a blue and yellow tail clip on with a bow for girls - “but what if we all wore these as a sign of unity?” Freshman year, they were very, very popular.”
The fashionista put them on, getting more looks from the others, “A way for everybody to show their school spirit! You know?” - She bounced up and down - “‘Go, Canterlot Wondercolts!’ Ahem. I haven't sold any in ages.”
She took out more of them “I mean, Maximal, Rocker, Eco Kid, the like of us are obviously very different, but deep down, we're all Canterlot Wondercolts! Trixie is the one who divided us, Twilight Sparkle is the one who united us. And we're gonna let everyone know it!” She finished as she placed the last pair of ears on Twilight - “What do you think?”
Everyone looked at each other before giving a smile, some raising a thumbs up. Spike, being moved by her speech, swooned over Rarity.
“Okay” - Twilight motioned everyone to huddle over - “this is what we’ll do.”
Twilight’s posse had their heads out of sight as they discussed their plan. At the other side of the cafeteria, Trixie gave a suspicious glare, a feeling rising across her spine. Roma gave a similar look. They may have a chance at winning after all.
Rainbow Dash was the first to rise out of the huddle, “Let’s do it!” she yelled.
Soon after, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, and Zipper were back on the soccer field, talking to the Athletes. Zipper was talking in his usual speed, drawing out confusion from the group as he tried to get the point down. Scootaloo tugged at his mullet, getting him to stop. Rainbow got down to the point that Twilight has a lot more heart and determination than Trixie would ever have. Soarin and Spitfire looked at each other before the entire team cheered, though the first did give a condition: as long as she makes a good pie.
Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and Diver were in cahoots with the Fashionistas. Most being in their junior year, it was easy to convince them when Rarity showed them the ponytails and ears, sparking their nostalgia before they were lead to the design room to refurbish and reproduce them.
Pinkie Pie easily convinced the Dramas once she mentioned that Roma Candle was with them. They all moaned in anguish before one of them raised a human skull.
“Et tu, Roma?” remarked Watermelody before tossing the skull aside.
The plastic object soon rolled over to a boot belonging to Sierra. Watching from afar, she placed the boot on the skull, drawing a sneer as she crushed it under her weight.
Twilight and Chelsey talked with the Techies. Shrugging off the weirdness of this newcomer, Micro Chips immediately went to work on creating an online banner to promote Twilight, others in the lab from programmers, mathematicians, and even digital animators participated in creating the promotion. Getting approval by the moderator, the video was shown in television sets attached throughout the commons and cafeteria.
Applejack, Fluttershy, Apple Bloom and Dapplewood talked over with the Eco Kids, the second mentioning how Twilight saved her from certain injury by Gilda. Kindness rang throughout the clique, touching their hearts as Twilight was covered finger to finger in songbirds and squirrels placed a headband of flowers on her head.
Sunset and Cosgrove, in all their tough feats, had the toughest group to convince: the Rockers. It has been over two years since Sunset, Flash, Crescendo, and Hooflock had a falling out. Talking with the fourth was easy for her since he had been just been used like a gun, offering nothing in return. With a deep breath, she walks forward and sat next to Flash.
“Hi.”
“Hey.” Flash returned as he tuned his guitar, keeping a guilty face.
“I saw you with Twilight just recently…”
“Yeah, for a ditz, she is kinda cute.” - Flash added before picking on the guitar strings before turning his head around, raising a blue brow - “Jealous already?”
“WE’RE NOT-!” - Sunset took another deep breath, her hands shaking as she kept her anger in check - “If you really like her, don’t fail her....” Sunset stood up and walked passed Cosgrove, “Let's go.”
Giving the group one last look, Cosgrove joined her as they walked out of the music room. Flash took his attention away from his guitar, watching the two people he had known since Elementary School as they walked off.
“For her…” He muttered to himself before picking five notes from his guitar.
By the time lunch started, the lockers were covered in posters labeled, “Support Twilight!”, the televisions displaying the video the Techies have produced. Everyone still minded their own business, being in their own cliques as they enjoyed their meals. Though the difference being that Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy wore the Wondercolt sweaters as they sat down to each of their groups. Rarity was the first to signal her support group by putting on the ears. Rainbow Dash , then Pinkie, then every one of the support put on the ears.
Cosgrove nodded before Dapplewood grabbed a spoon and started tapping it between two glasses in rhythm. His brother began to tap his nails on the floor while Chelsey, Zipper, and Diver made a series of indistinguishable noises. Adding more to this, Pinkie slapped her tray on her table, followed by a series of stomps from their boots and slaps on the tables.
Trixie looked around her as everyone danced to the song. Even Snips and Snails wore the headband and ponytail as they bumped their rears. “Take those off!” Trixie ordered, which they immediately obeyed
At the doors to the cafeteria, Roma Candle watched as the writing became clear on the wall. In just one day, Twilight had recovered from being demonized through social media to being Miss America. Sierra stormed off once more, leaving Roma and Lorraine behind.
A few hours after the big dance, the school bell rang, ending school for the day. A majority of the student body roamed around, wearing the Wondercolt ears and tail as they reached their lockers. At the empty music room, Rarity looked out the doors, admiring the designs she and the other fashionista’s have worked on throughout the day.
“Doesn't everyone look just fabulous?” Rarity sighed, her eyes moving left and right as she tracked everyone passing through before turning around.
“It was a great idea, Rarity!” Twilight added, “I can’t thank everyone enough for your help!”
The others gave a smile before Pinkie Pie bounced forward, quickly embracing Twilight in a tight hug. “Don’t leave me hanging! Group hug!” On cue, one by one the others stepped around, trying to find room as they joined in the hug. Much as Twilight loved it, Spike couldn’t help but struggle as the grip became vice like.
The moment was ruined once again when the doors slammed open, revealing Trixie, Snips, and Snails, the first having narrowed eyes and bared teeth. The magician stamped forward dispersing the hug before pushing Twilight towards the window sill.
“You may have been brought back from the filth of humility, but Trixie had stood on top for the past summer and her coronation will not be ruined by some newb!”
“Big words for a deer in a den of wolves.” Warned Applejack, justifying her point when everyone gave the trio the look.
“Whatever.” Trixie walked away, her two compatriots slamming the door on their way out.
Sunset leaned over to the youngest of the group, “Fifteen feet minimal distance, do not engage.”
With a hiss from his teeth, Dapplewood stepped out of the door, looked both ways before looking walking to his left.
“Are you sure it is wise to send a boy when one of you could spy on them?” Asked Rainbow Dash.
Sunset turned around, “Dapplewood was the most proactive when we took self-defense classes. It’s safe to assume he will be just as fine as long as he knows what he is doing.”
“We shall see who wins at the end of tomorrow, we shall see who ends up grieving.” Trixie, Snips, and Snails walked down the hall, unaware of the young boy walking about the herds of much older individuals as he followed their trail.
Twilight sat down on one of the benches - “There is something I must ask.”- The Alicorn woman took off the ears - “Why do you not like Roma Candle?”
Many of them lowered their heads, Sunset being the last to look at her second in command. Cosgrove looked at her before nodding, dragging a chair to Twilight, sitting down in front of her, supporting his jaw on his claws and took a deep breath.
“Like we said, it happened the past summer.”
In a Transformers Prime style flashback, Cosgrove faded out into their world’s Cogsworth unbuckling his seat belt and planting both feet on the dirt, exposing himself to an area much more wild from that of Great Valley Drive.
“Every summer, enrolled students and a guest of their choosing are welcome to come to Camp Friendship for the month of July. Then, as now, we made our decisions as a group, no one’s opinion outweighing the other.”
About a day later, some of the occupants were walking over to Roma Candle standing on a tree stump, Lorraine and Sierra at her side.
“But Roma did not want to be part of the group, she wanted to be in charge of it.”
From behind, then the Mane Five, the Maximals, and the Crusaders looked ahead, uncertain of what Roma was planning
“For some reason, she believed she knew a lot more than the rest of us. Some of them believed in her.”
Later, the campers walked along the trail, many holding beach toys as they migrated towards the starting point of a float trip. Roma thought otherwise and lead her group the other way, Cogsworth being among them.
“Soon, she lead them away from the rest of us.”
Later on, Roma’s group came across a rock pass, many shrinking back as they heard a few small rocks falling off the bluff, but if this meant they would reach the starting point for the float trip, then they carried on.
“They were sure that they were safe” - At the top of the bluff, a mouse was feasting on a sunflower seed, not aware that a hawk was eyeing the rodent - “They were sure they wouldn’t be lead astray” - the force of the hawk pouncing the mouse caused a rock to fall down, colliding with a larger rock, then another, and another, becoming much more noticeable to the campers as a massive rock fell in front of them.
They all looked to Roma as the rocks approached them. Their leader and her two best associates ran the opposite direction, their followers running as well. Most of them were able to make it out safely. Dinky tripped on a rock, making her way behind the others. Cogsworth was just at the lip of the pass before turning around, grabbed Dinky by her sweater, and flung her out onto Pipsqueak’s arms. The mechanic ran as fast as he could before he tripps, his upper body just at the lip of the pass. A boulder as large as he is was the last thing he saw before the view became black, Cogsworth screaming in pain.
“They were wrong…”
The following evening, the camp managers walked around, waiting for additional news on the lost ones. Soon, the moonlit campsite was illuminated again by car lights, stirring up quite a few of the sleepy occupants. Ranger jeeps parked over near the cabins, giving all the passengers the clear to return.
All except one, as Cogsworth, battered up and bruised, was lifted to a medical cart before being taken to an ambulance. Derpy reunited with her sister, who began to weep in her arms.
“They never told us how it happened, but we knew it was Roma’s fault.” - we now return to the present - “From that day on, Cogsworth won’t be able to walk again, and to help pay off the medical insurance, his parents transferred him over to Crystal Prep.”
Twilight placed a hand on his shoulder, “How could it be her fault if she didn’t know the rocks would fall?”
“Nonetheless, darling, it is her fault for leading them into such danger.” Answered Rarity.
“Rule of leader number one, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash raised a finger “Everything good or bad that happens is your fault.”
“But not Roma, oh no.” Applejack added, placing a hand on her hip “She kept changing her story and lying, and scheming and-” Chelsey elbowed the farmer’s shoulder before she could continue.
“Have you talked to him recently?” Twilight asked.
The Hipparion’s duplicate took a deep breath, “Barely…”
Trixie kicked the front door and stamped down the stairway, turning to her right towards the parking lot.
“Sierra!” Trixie picked up Roma’s voice just around the corner “Settle down, will you!”
“Why should I?” - Sierra lashed out, pushing her boss “Anyway, what are we waiting for? During their flash mob, we could have grabbed the crown and be halfway to town by now!”
“Yess!” Roma pointed back to the school “With at least the Maximals right on our tails!”
Lorraine, sitting on the grass, cocked her head “Why would they come after us?”
“Because Twilight told them that they have seen me. If we leave in a hurry, they might think that we are up to no good."
“But we are up to no good.” Lorraine was quickly grabbed by the collar, staring eye to eye with her friend.
“Noo-oo! I work for the greater good. My purpose is noble! They have never understood. But soon I will prove I am right!” - Roma turned to the portal - “Until then, we must be careful. We will take action once either Trixie or Twilight win the crown.”
Sierra growled as she crossed her arms, looking back to find Trixie standing right behind them, looking furious.
“You dare use the Great and Powerful Trixie?!” the magician stepped forward, Snips and Snails walking with her, still unaware of Dapplewood hugging the wall as he peaked one grey-purple eye at the conversation before turning over to his cell phone.
“On the bright side,” Fluttershy added while they were still in conversation “we have the school’s approval-”
Suddenly a loud, digitized roar was heard, scaring Fluttershy enough to jump onto another bench. The roar stopped for a split second before sounding off again. Cosgrove pulled out his phone, which had a picture of a Pachycephalosaurus.
“Dapplewood’s got something.” Said Diver as Cosgrove placed the phone on the table in speaker mode.
“- plan to use Trixie for your own agenda then steal her rightful possession!” Trixie’s voice was heard on the other side with a slight robotic filter
“Ah ha!” - Pinkie Pie pointed at the phone - “The master was in fact the puppet all along!”
“Shh!” Twilight ordered
“Ugh! Let got of Trixie!”
“Yeah let her go!” Snips’ voice was heard as they all got up.
“Let’s move!” Sunset as the first to run out of the room, rushing down the halls to the front door.
Lorraine managed to grab the two mooks and slammed their heads together, knocking them out. The crazed girl chuckled before being smacked on the cheek again.
“If there's one thing I will not tolerate, it's violence!” Roma scolded
“Then why are you hitting me?”
“Right, make that two things.” - Roma raised a fist before counting off - “Violence and stupid questions!” before smacking Lorraine again.
Trixie struggled in Sierra’s grip when they heard the others reveal themselves to their opponents.
“Y'all release Trixie, now!” Applejack demanded as she tilted her hat forward.
Roma felt uneasy when she noticed Sierra shuffling Trixie’s pockets, sneaking out a few smoke bombs. “Well, uh, that forces me to make a little adjustment to our plan!”
Rainbow Dash and Diver charged towards the three. Sierra threw the bombs on the ground, immediately masking their presence in smoke. Diver was still in the smoke once it cleared away, revealing that they have left the parking lot.
“Where’d she go?”
Soon, a violet car drove passed them, swiftly moving out of the parking lot.
“She’s gotten too far, this time!” Rarity exclaims “I knew she was low, but not that low!”
Dapplewood tapped a few buttons on his phone and scrolling back on the touchpad, playing the phrase, “If there’s one thing I will not tolerate, it’s violence!”
Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow, “Sure sounded like she wasn’t making up her mind.”
“Cosgrove,” - Twilight asked - “you said that your parents are policemen, maybe you can get them to help us.”
“Uh huh…” - Cosgrove chuckled nervously - “I could get grounded for leading my parents on a wild goose chase when they are at work with more lethal criminals.”
“It’s true…” Added Applejack.
Rainbow Dash looked to the street in the general direction, “Well, whatever they do, they probably won’t come to their homes.”
Zipper raised one of his many fingers before saying, “Thentheywouldhavetogotoanisolatedareawherenoonewouldprobablysuspecttofindthem.”
A majority of them gave the multiple fingered teenager a look before Twilight broke the silence, “It’s a treasure hunt, that’s what he’s saying.”
“More like finding a needle in a haystack,” Applejack added, stretches her arms “There are lots of isolated areas ‘round here.”
“I know!” Pinkie bounced up again before pointing to Spike “We can have Spike” - She runs to the tire marks on the street - “sniff this then he could point out where they could be hiding!”
Spike made a confused whimper; he’s obviously a dog but in no ways a bloodhound. He looked at the one being he would call a sister.
“Well, whatever.” Scootaloo broke the silence “Trixie was tenacious before Twilight showed up, why should we bother to help her out?”
Twilight recalled how often that was said in her world, and all more often than not, they were answered wrong when her world’s Princess Luna, Sunset Shimmer, Trixie, Cogsworth, and Discord were reformed with a little effort.
“Because friendship… is based on forgiveness.” - Twilight turned to Cosgrove again - “What about Cogsworth?”
Later on, their cars stand on a street away from Cogsworth's residency. Cosgrove himself walked over to the front door and gave it a few taps. A jiggle of the handle later, the door opens, revealing this world's Pin Wheel holding a half full spool roll.
“Oh, Cosgrove! I haven't heard from you in a while!”
The mistress of the house led him upstairs to a closed door. Cosgrove entered the door, revealing their Cogsworth, now true to their world, working on his homework, before looking up.
“Hi, Cogsworth.” Cosgrove greeted.
Cogsworth pivoted his wheelchair to face his body to the window. “Hi, Cosgrove. How’s school going?”
“Well, it's a little intense, a book report, a math test. Crystal Prep?”
The mechanic pursed his lips as he took in a deep breath. “It’s expectations… are a little high… Why are you here?”
“I… we need your help. Roma Candle’s got Trixie.”
Cogsworth narrowed his eyes at that name “Why don't you get your Maximals to help you out?”
“We need you-”
“Cosgrove, how can I be of help?!” Cogsworth twisted his chair towards him, looking furious “I'm paralyzed from that waist down, I can't walk to the bathroom, I have to always work hard as hell to gain respect, and I can't even go to the dance!”
Cosgrove was taken aback as Cogsworth huffed and puffed.
“Okay. You're right. I’m sorry I didn’t stop you. You may not be able to walk, stand, or even dance. But even then, you are one of the best genius’ I have ever seen. At least you can have fun with us at the Fall Formal.” Cosgrove took out a scratched Maximal charm from his pocket and placed it on his hand.
Cogsworth tightened his grip on it… “Only… to get back at Roma…” A few Scoots back to his computer and Cogsworth immediately went to work on tracking their phones. Soon, the tracking program eventually revealed a red dot at a district familiar to them.
Soon, they were at this world's Sweet Apple Acres. But Roma wouldn't be that stupid as to hide in the barn, as Winona could have easily snuffed them out and had Big Mac send them off. They'd have to go on foot from here. The Mane Six split off from the Maximals to cover more ground. The first group searches the northern part of the farm. Fortunately, with Applejack by their side, the search should be easier. Their search leads them to a clearing where a herd of sheep grazed along with a few prairie hens here and there. The group hid behind a rock formation, ready for a standoff as their eyes scanned the horizon.
“I don't see any of the Ruffians anywhere.” Rarity whispered.
“They’re out there.” Applejack continued to crawl on the grass, eventually using the herd as a cover as she rose to a crouch.
“Trixie will soon be rescued, her faithful fans will come to her aid and-”
“Pipe down or I'll-.” Sierra was about to backhand the magician before-
“Sierra! For once, show a little self-control, will you?” Roma ordered
“Self-control my tailbone!” Sierra lashed out startling a few sheep “I've been putting up with that bitch since we took off! Trrrrixie this! Trrrrixie that! It's driving me nuts!”
The two growled at each other when Lorraine bridged between them.
“Look, no-one's coming after us. Maybe we could leave her here and be on our way - yes?”
Trixie cocked her head when she noticed a certain someone among the wooly mammals.
“Oh, Trixie would not do that if i were you.”
Lorraine cocked her head before jabbing a finger, “Leave you behind?”
“No,” -Lorraine's eyes widen before looking back at Applejack towering a little over her - “Hiding among my sheep.”
Immediately, the farmer punched the crazed girl before Sierra pounces her.
“Not so tough now, are you?!” Sierra was about to raise a fist when Roma clutched it.
“Sierra-!” Roma was punched by Rainbow Dash.
Sierra looked back before being flipped aside by Applejack.
“Thanks, Rainbow.” Applejack got up just eyeballing Sierra before she got kicked in the head by Rarity.
“While I am not one for violence like the Maximals” - The gracious teen immediately donned a battle stance - “I am not above fighting for my friends!”
Sierra growled at Rarity before attacking. with Applejack cornering Roma, the latter moaned, having come into a fist fight with the farmer. All the while, Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy snuck around and reached Trixie. Spike poked his head out of his backpack when he saw Sierra pinning Rarity on the grass, wrapping her fingers around her throat.
Spike would not have any of this, he jumped out of the backpack, ignored Twilight beckoning his name, ran to the attacker and bit her on the leg. Sierra yowled before kicking the dog aside.
“Spikey Wikey!” Enraged, the fashionista stabbed her nails on Sierra’s wounded legs and pulled, quickly releasing her from the hold. Noticing the blood oozing from the wound, Rarity looked at her nails, now having a blood stain on them “So uncivilized! I just polished them this morning!”
“I'm gonna enjoy tearing you apart!” Sierra hissed before charging at the fashionista, leaping up at her when Big Mac grabbed the bully and in one quick arc, flung her a great distance away from the flock.
Roma and Lorraine, now outgunned, ran away from the flock and to the forest where they parked their car and drove off.
“And don't come back, or Ah’ll call the police!” Yells Applejack.
The Mane Six turned back to the rescued Trixie as she got up and wiped the dirt from her skirt.
“Are you alright, Trixie?” Twilight was about to place a hand on her shoulder when Trixie batted it aside.
“Trixie thanks you, but you are still her opponent for the Crown!”
As she stormed off, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie couldn't help but chuckle at the grass stains that cover her backside.
“Must have been quite a struggle.” Fluttershy added out of earshot.
They arrive back on the farm, meeting up with the Maximals.
“I take it Trixie stomped her way passed you?” Rarity asked
Most of the Maximals nodded their heads, muttering a few indistinguishable words.
The sun began to set over the horizon, prompting many of them to leave.
“Oooohhh!” Pinkie squeak as she jumped up and down out of the ranch “I can't wait until tomorrow!”
“Yeah! We'll show those creeps how awesome we are at the Fall Formal, right Twi-”
Rainbow Dash had noticed that the person they were representing had walked to her right on one of the fences. Twilight leaned on a fence post looking out of the horizon, slowly being joined as the sun touched the horizon of apple trees.
Ahead, a small herd of horses galloped back and forth around the field. One of them notices that their owners were watching and ran away from the herd to meet up with them. Twilight shrank back as the animal got closer and closer, revealing its size to them?
“Quite a majestic creature, ain't it.” Applejack patted the beast on the muzzle “Big Boy is one of the finest rodeo horses we ever have.”
“Hello, Big Boy!” Twilight stretched her hand “I’m Twilight Sparkle.”
The animal merely inched his snout closer, rubbing her hand, sniffing it before giving it a lick. Twilight grimaced at her soaked had before the horse brayed and ran away to his herd.
“Wait, don’t go!”
Applejack noticed Twilight’s sad look, turning to see one of her pets moving further away before looking back at her. “Twilight…?”
“It’s… Alright, Applejack.” Twilight regained her focus before joining most of the others “I’ll see you all tomorrow then?
Applejack acknowledged that with a tip of her hat before the farmer returned to her home with her siblings, Rarity and Sweetie Belle, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo waved Twilight goodbye as she joined the Maximals. This time, it was Chelsey’s turn to ride the bike back home.
Discord and Screwball watched the live feed from behind a void once again. Discord appeared to have the upper hand; several of his daughter’s pieces were gone.
“It appears Twilight has this all settled out.” Discord chuckled, stroking the chess piece resembling Twilight.
Screwball narrowed her spiraled eyes before looking at the void, noticing Roma Candle taking her anger out on her associates. Containing her anger, Screwball curled a massive smile.
“I still have a few moves.”
Lorraine flopped over to the floor, her teeth bloodied, eyes blackened, and her body bruised, looking up as Roma stared down at her.
“Now, let me make this perfectly clear.” Roma rubbed her knuckles “I make the orders, you follow, understood?” - The two mooks shook their heads, Sierra in particular scowling at her before being snatched on the collar “You want to make me happy, then I have something I need you to do.” She looked at the horizon, giving a very deep glare.
24 hours remaining
Now back at the school, every student watch Twilight and the gang, sans Dapplewood this time, walk down the hallways. The Fall Formal Dance is tonight, and almost everyone at her side, Twilight's victory is assured. There are still quite a few Trixie supporters, as shown by the magician herself strutting down the halls with Snips, Snails, Fuschia Blush, and Lavender Lace. Snips eyeballed Twilight and her supporters, pointing to both of his eyes before pointing at them.
“Don't know what she's smilin' about.” Applejack remarks as they continued down the hall.
Twilight once again wasn’t paying attention to what was in front of her when she bumped into Flash once again, almost falling back when the Rocker wrapped one arm around her. From her backpack, Spike was just a nose hair from being crushed when the Alicorn was lifted back on her feet. Twilight blushed a little as her hands made contact with Flash’s jacket before quickly pushing him aside.
“Third time’s the charm!” Twilight chuckled as she twirled her hair.
Flash also chuckled a little before clearing his throat.
“Twilight, there is something I want to ask you.” - Twilight slowly relaxed her mouth while Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity had their eyes widened with excitement - “If you aren’t going with somebody, would you-”
The normal soundscape of the school hallways is disturbed by a very loud scream. Running down to the source, what they found was a blow to an otherwise good cause. The gym was a bit of a mess, but not in a bad mess. The tables were smashed, the streamers torn apart, popped balloons littering the floors, and worst of all, a forty inch wide disco ball, available since the school’s first dance night, was on the floor, split in two.
Trixie was on her knees, holding one of the torn streamers.
“Trixie’s ideal coronation spot… RUINED!!!!” She screamed before curling up on the floor, crying. Her supporters walked up to comfort her.
Pinkie Pie, after spending sleepless days preparing the gym for the big night, began to shake, starting with her toes, slowly ascending up to her head as steam seeped out of her ears.
“WHAT THE HE-!?” Pinkie’s screech was interrupted by Applejack placing a hand over her mouth, though her muffled swearing can still be heard.
Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna scooted the others aside as they looked at the damaged room.
“I simply cannot believe someone did all this!” Rarity added behind the authorities.
“But who did it?” Fluttershy asked
“And you think there should be a security camera.” Rainbow Dash added when Vice Principal Luna walked over to a corner of the gym.
“There is…” - Luna squints at the posted recording device before pushing a button. The tall stack of brown rectangles slowly moved forward, pushing aside the garbage on top of it. Climbing up the bleachers, she fingered the other side of the camera before coming back down holding a small rare earth magnet - “Someone sabotaged the camera’s.”
Celestia picked the magnet away, squinting at how such a small object can ruin any electronics.
“An offense punishable by law, isn’t that right, Cosgrove?”
Being raised by law officers does rub quite a few facts about the law. Cosgrove agreed to that with a nod.
“Regardless of who done it,” - Luna added - “I am afraid enough damage has been done to the gym that we will have to postpone the dance until tomorrow night.”
Twilight shook her head.
“Tomorrow night?” Twilight muttered in a worried tone.
“If you will excuse us,” - Celestia and Luna walked out of the doors - “we need to let the police know about this latest development.”
Flash rubbed his hair before turning his head around, “So, uh, about the dance.”
When Flash turned his head, Twilight was already gone, running down the halls “No, no-no-no-no-no, no no no no no! Nonononono! I can't! The portal! That'll be too late!”
Once Twilight was out of sight, the Rocker called out, “One ‘no’ would have been fine!”
Rainbow Dash walked up to him, “Don’t worry, tough guy, we’ll talk to her.”
Twilight runs outside, stopping right in front of the Wondercolt statue, just about to touch the surface when Spike tugged at her hair.
“Twilight!” the dragon dog hopped out of her backpack “You can’t leave right now!”
“I know Spike! But if I don't get my crown tonight, I won't be able to go back to Equestria for another thirty moons! But if I leave now, Trixie would get the crown and..” Twilight trembled at the worst possible scenario before plopping on the floor, covering her face “Oh, what are we gonna do?”
“Hmm...” Spike shuffled around, pacing back and forth on his paws before answering, “We tell them the truth.” - Twilight rose her head, eyes widened as she looks at her companion - “Let them know what's really at stake if you don't get the crown tonight. They'll help us figure somethin' out.”
“But what if they won't?” Twilight looked at the mirror “What if when they find out how different I really am...?”
Her question was justified when her reflection took on her true self.
“Twilight,” Spike crawled onto her lap “these people rallied around you 'cause they saw what was in your heart. They aren't gonna feel any differently about you when they find out you're a pony princess in Equestria.”
The reflection becoming human once again, Twilight slowly rotated to the being she often considered to be a younger brother before embracing him.
“I'm glad you followed me here, Spike.”
“Me too.” - Spike eyeballed the blue sky - “Unless, of course, we get stuck here for another thirty moons.”
Twilight noticed a few shadows over her before looking up to see her Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity standing in front of her.
“You okay?” Asked Applejack
“Yes, but the Fall Formal has to happen tonight.” Twilight got up.
“But the gym was demolished.” Fluttershy turned back to the school “Reeka and Draggle are already working on it as fast as they can.”
“We could make it happen tonight,” Pinkie placed a finger on her chin “If I only had some kind of... party cannon that could decorate everything super fast!”
“It’s just delayed by another day, darling.” Rarity stretched her hands “Why must you worry?”
Twilight sighed, looked at Spike, who then nodded at her, looked back at her friends, ready to answer with the most ridiculous answer she could speak.
“You see…”
Suddenly Pinkie zoomed in front of her, “You're from an alternate world and you're a pony princess there and the crown actually has a magical element embedded in it that helps power up other magical elements, and without it, they don't work anymore, and you need them all to help protect your magical world, and if you don't get the crown tonight, you'll be stuck in this world and you won't be able to get back for, like, a really, really long time!”
The other four stared at Pinkie giving a very goofy grin. Twilight and Spike had their mouth agape, completely dumbfounded on how dead accurate the Party Planner is.
Rainbow Dash blinked a few times, “Yeah, I'm pretty sure that isn't the reason.”
“Nope, she's pretty much spot-on.”
The other girls looked down to find that a dog actually talked before Rarity clutched her hair.
“He can talk!?” She screeched
“Oh, yeah!” Spike walked forward “And back where I come from, I'm not even a dog!” Spike rose up on his hind legs, using his tail as a third “I'm a ferocious, fire-breathing dragon!”
Fluttershy’s face beamed with excitement before pushing Rarity and Pinkie aside.
“This is so amazing!” - Fluttershy got on her hands and knees crawling forward - “Tell me, what are you thinking right now?”
Spike drew his ears back as the caretaker inched closer, adding more to her plea with puppy dog eyes. The dragon dog walked around Fluttershy, stepping towards Rarity.
“Sure would love a scratch behind the old ears!” - Rarity, still creeped out that a dog would say that, had her mouth agape with a, prompting him to step away, blushing as he did - “Uh, maybe later.”
Twilight shook her head, getting herself back to reality. “How did you know all that?”
“Just a hunch.” Pinkie squeaked.
“Wait a minute!” Applejack rubbed her temples “Lemme get this straight. You're a pony?”
“You're a princess?” Rarity added
“You're from another world?” questioned Fluttershy as she rose off her hands.
Twilight gulped, rubbing the back of her head, looking back as she blushed at the most likely answer, “Mm-hmm.”
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “That... is…” - before she stretched her arms out - “awesome!”
Immediately the girls crowded around Twilight, chattering around that they not only helped a classmate but a being from another realm.
Spike raised a paw, “See? Told ya.”
At the front doors, the Maximals, having eavesdropped on the conversation, were also completely dumbfounded.
“Knew she smelt funny.” Said Cosgrove, not even turning his attention away.
After eating a quick lunch, the Mane Six returned to the gym. True to Fluttershy’s word, Reeka and Draggle have partially swept up the floor, but it would take quite a while for them to get the floor cleaned and move on to installing new equipment.
Draggle turned to the six girls, “Oh, you don’t have to worry, we’ll be fine.”
“Yeah.” Reeka rubbed her nose “We can get this done for your big dance, no problem.”
“I know you are,” Twilight stepped forward “but, maybe if we all work together?”
The two janitors looked at each other before Draggle pointed to her left. “There are many more sweeps in the closet.”
Twilight turned around, “Well, what do you say?”
“Now that's the kinda can-do spirit I'm lookin' for in a Fall Formal Princess!” Answered Applejack before stretching her hand “Let's do it, y'all!”
Rarity placed her hand on Applejack’s, “Absolutely!”
Rainbow Dash placed her hand next, “Rock on!”
Pinkie wiggled her fingers before placing it on the pile, “Yes, indeedily!”
Fluttershy slowly placed her hand before whispering, “Yaaay!”
The Mane Five looked at Twilight, waiting for her to join in. Twilight raised the appendage she had for almost three days now before placing it on the pile. Pushing it down, the group raised their hands, cheering as they got ready to work. Twilight ran into the storage closet, grabbed as many brooms as she could before tossing them one by one to her friends. Rainbow Dash spun her’s like a bo staff before she went to work. Applejack held her’s like a guitar before going to work. Rarity, getting the dirtiest of the pile, held the other end with the tips of her fingers, not wanting to scuff her finger paint. Pinkie jumped up and caught hers. Fluttershy, not used to catching objects, ended up getting smacked on the back of her head, making a nervous giggle.
They finished sweeping up the litter when the Maximals and Big Mac arrived with a few rolls of heavy duty trash bags. Sixteen were used in total as they were tossed into the garbage dump.
Twilight attempted to lift up one of the broken tables to no avail. A Rocker and an Athlete passed by when they saw the struggling Twilight. Running up to her, they picked up both ends of the table and picked it up. Applejack, holding a table on her own with ease, shook her head, chuckling at how two young men were needed to carry one chair.
Other passing students saw their progress and decided to pitch in. Setting up new tables, arranging the snacks for the party, tying balloons to the chairs, throwing streamers on the railings, setting up the photo booth, and placing the sound equipment. Pipsqueak was on a ladder placing the stage lights, almost falling over when Button Mash applied his weight to support the ladder. With the help of Micro Chips, Flash’s school band were able to tune in their instruments correctly.
Twilight looked at the fruits of her effort: Every student, from Drama to Crusader to Maximal to Techie, all together getting the gym prepared for the big dance.
Reeka and Draggle lean by a corner, their arms crossed.
“Remember when we were that messy?” Asked Reeka
“You mean when you were that messy?” Draggle asked.
“Yeah, but I’m glad we’re not!” the two janitors looked at each other before giving a bellied laugh as Reeka slapped her sister to the ground.
The Mane Six looked from on top of the stage as the final bits and pieces of the gym were put back together.
“This... looks... sooooo… GOOD!” Shouted Pinkie Pie among the talking crowd of students.
Their conversation slowly faded away as they turned around to find Celestia and Luna clapping their hands.
“All right, everyone! Thanks to your hard work, the Fall Formal is back on for this evening.”
A long silence followed the news, adding confusion to the Principals.
“Go Canterlot Wondercolts!” Shouted Scootaloo
“GO CANTERLOT WONDERCOLTS!!!!” The cheer immediately echoed throughout the interior of the school, with Bulk Biceps adding a loud “YEAH!!!!!”
“So you'd better get out of here and start getting ready.” Luna took out a ballot bin “Oh, and don't forget to cast your ballots for the Fall Formal Princess on your way out!”
“You got my vote, Twilight.” Shouted Scott as he took out a sheet of paper, wrote her name on it and slipped it in the container as he walked out.
“Mine, too!” Shouted Cloud Kicker
“Mine too!” Shouted Derpy
“Mine too!” Shouted Soarin
Victorious once again, The Mane Six watched their classmates leave the gym and out of the school to get ready. Unaware that the back door leading to the soccer field creaked open, revealing Roma Candle glaring at them when Lorraine shuffled her head underneath her left side.
“Di-did you see that?! They all repaired the gym!” Lorraine suddenly flinched back as Roma raised her hand, ready to strike.
“At least we're lucky we were able to pull this off.” - Sierra hissed - “Imagine what Celestia would do when she calls in Clamp Jaw.”
“What’s the plan now?” asked Lorraine
“The plan continues:” Roma turned backed to the gym “we need this Formal to go on tonight just as much as she does.”
“Hee-hee And then we will get the crown, yes?”
“Yes! And I shall take my rightful place.”
The two chuckled as Roma and Lorraine took the back door out of the closet. Sierra stayed behind for a while before turning around.
“Then maybe there can be a few changes in the pecking order.” She whispered before closing the storage closet.
Twilight’s party was the last group to leave the gym. In any case of which student voted, all thirteen of her present company voted for her. They still cheered on as they walked down the hall.
“I still can't believe we pulled that off!” Said Fluttershy when Rainbow Dash wrapped an arm around her.
“I can! We're awesome!”
“Enough chatter, everyone.” Rarity took Twilight’s arm and raced her out of the door “We need to get ready, and we need to look fabulous!”
Flash and his brother First Base were about to get into the car when the former saw Rarity taking Twilight to her car.
“Twilight!” The fourth Alicorn noticed Flash quickly running towards her, freeing her arm from the fashionista “Look, I know you said "no" about going to the Fall Formal with me, but would you reconsider and at least have one dance?”
“I didn't say "no"! I mean, I did, but…” - The rest of Twilight’s party walked out of the front door, taking notice of Flash popping up the question - “I didn't mean no, to you. I was... Well, what I mean is..." - Twilight placed her hands together and nodded - "yes. I'd love to dance with you!”
“Awwwwww….” Cooed Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle
“Blech!” Gagged Scootaloo.
Twilight and Flash turned to find them giving them smug grins, Pinkie and Fluttershy giggling at the two. First Base nudged his brother.
“Totally… Worth it!” He said before sitting in passenger’s seat.
“So…” - Flash turned back to Twilight - “Six O’Clock?”
“Six O’Clock.” Twilight answered before Rarity took her hand again and ran her to the car.
The Maximals reached their car when they noticed Cosgrove walking away.
“Are you not coming with us?” asked Chelsey
“I have a promise to keep.” He answers before turning around “If I’m not back, meet me back here.”
“You sure?” Diver asked, receiving a nod in return.
“Enjoy it while it lasts.” Sunset chuckled “We still have Dapplewood to pick and then taking Cosgrove back home after the dance.”
Taking her to this world’s Carousel Boutique deep in town, Rarity had a head start in working on Twilight’s dress. After five minutes of waiting, the rest of the Mane Six arrived.
Fluttershy at first tried a predominantly green dress with an orange trim, but Rarity insisted she look for something else. In the meantime, Angel Bunny helped her decorate her hair.
Pinkie Pie looked at the mirror before quickly switching dresses from a feathery blue one to a deep violet gown, to a very puffy candy corn color dress. She did try several hairstyles: a wavy hairdo (with a wooden boat on top), a sculpted swan, a wet hairdo, but ultimately decided that she looks just as fine settling into her own hair style.
Rainbow Dash was quickly fitted with a dress best suited for little kids; not even her arms could move out of a T-pose. Glaring at Rarity, the fashionista giggled as she led her away to another dress.
Applejack tried a very long, grass green, gown. Thinking that such dresses would be a problem if they are going to wear heavy boots the whole day, lifted up the skirt all the way to the farmer’s knees and began stitching.
Spike was experimenting with all types of fake mustaches, but ultimately he was fitted with a small bow tie and bowler hat.
Rarity was just finishing up her nail polish before carrying a chest containing necklaces, earrings, and hair clips. Yet from all that, each one of them chose jewelry that best suited them: balloons for Pinkie, apples for Applejack, and so on.
Out of each dressing room, the Mane Six showed the dresses they would be going for. Rarity chose a sky blue dress, white boots with pink rose heels and a gem hairclip.
Fluttershy’s dress had a blue blouse covering a daffodil yellow skirt that is comparingly longer from the others, up to her shins, alongside similar colored boots.
Pinkie Pie wore a blue chest piece, a violet blouse wrapped around her waist like a bow, a pink skirt and violet boots with a baby chicken trim, and a tiny blue bowler hat nestled in her hair.
Applejack’s dress was predominantly blue, but it had a few red marking at the bottom and top, her boots had grass green heels. She wore a different stetson with a red rose tied around the center.
Rainbow Dash, fitting her name, had several colors on the tank top region of her dress, ending with a navy blue with a red-pink rose trim. She also wore deep violet sleeves and her boots were also a pink color with miniature wings at the laces.
They all turned around to see Twilight come out, wearing pink boots with violet heels and a ruffled dress that was also pink with white and violet ribbons wrapped around her waist.
Around 5:30 PM, Applejack dropped Twilight back to Great Valley Drive.
“See ya tonight, Twilight!” Applejack called out.
“Yeah! You too!” Twilight responded before the farmer drove off.
“You look good in that dress.” - Twilight turned around to see Sunset leaning at the door, wearing a red-violet tank top separate from an orange skirt with a lighter yellow and violet stripe sweeping from the right, as well as much heavier built charcoal black boots with a faded purple fire on the front on each - “Are you excited?”
“Yeah…” -nTwilight looked back at her - “You guys aren’t freaked out by the fact that I’m a pony princess from another dimension?”
“That has to be the weirdest thing we have heard in a long while.” Sunset picked up a violet masquerade ball mask. Originally hers truly, but has since been refurbished with sky blue trimmings and the sun for the centerpiece “In your world… Is Night Dancer…?”
Twilight, having heard of the unfortunate accident nearly three years ago, looked away.
“I’m sorry…” Twilight noticed Sunset relaxing her shoulders when the sound of a car engine echoed the neighborhood.
It was Flash Sentry, now wearing a typical tuxedo and black pants. He got out of the car just as the other Maximals were walking over to the Tamer residence. Chelsey’s dress composed of a light violet blouse with a white skirt. Diver’s dress was a flowy aqua blue gown just wide enough to flow over her massive build. Zipper wore bright blue tuxedo: though the duplicates’ body color are a few tints lighter than their pony forms, a typical black tuxedo would have blended in with his grey-black skin, and his mullet was also trimmed way down. Dapplewood wore a red tuxedo with green shoulders pads. Before the hair gel dried up, the boy manipulated it to resemble a mohawk.
“Nice hairdo.” Flash complemented, to which Dapplewood replied with a snort before tapping his sunglasses onto the bridge of his nose. He turns over to Twilight, stretching his hand. “Shall we?”
Twilight blushed a little before taking his hand and walked over to the passenger side of the car. The Maximals got in their car just when Flash drove ahead of them. Chelsey sat in the passenger seat, noticing Sunset looking at the dashboard.
“You alright, boss?”
“Hmm?” Sunset turned her attention to the others “Yeah… yeah… I'm okay.” She turned the ignition key, backing up the car and began their journey over to the school.
Twilight and Flash were the third ones to arrive after Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Just three minutes after the Maximals arrived, Applejack arrived with Apple Bloom, who wore a simple pink dress, Scootaloo, wearing a similar dress, and Big Mac, who wore his casual clothing. Rainbow Dash parked her motorcycle afterward.
“Rarity and Sweetie Belle should arrive shortly.” Said Applejack.
“Oh good.” The group turned around to see Cosgrove, wearing a white tuxedo with a red scarf tucked into the collar, pushing Cogsworth's wheelchair “I thought we would be the last.”
Many of the group curled a smile at the sight of someone they haven't seen since last summer’s Camp Friendship.
“Hey, guys.” Cogsworth greeted through his breath “Still have room for one more?”
Sunset walked up to the paraplegic Crystal Prep student. “We’d be honored for you to join us.”
“First time a Crystal Prepper came to Canterlot.” Muttered Rainbow Dash when Applejack elbowed her ribs.
Soon, they spotted a fancy limousine pull up in front of the front lawn. The driver got out and opened the passenger door, revealing Rarity and Sweetie Belle.
“Thank you, good sir.” Rarity thanked as she gave the driver a tip.
The driver bowed, “You are most welcome, Madame.”
Rarity joined the others, opening her eyes to see Cogsworth. “Cogsworth! What a pleasure seeing you again in months.”
“Same.”
Chelsey lifted him out of the chair and carried him up the stairs, Big Mac carrying the wheelchair as well. When they entered the school, they placed him back on the chair. The rest soon followed, Twilight and Flash with their arms wrapped around each other. But with only one of the doors opened, the two lovebirds collided with the door trims, giggled a little as they recovered before entering.
Granted, they weren’t the first ones there. Already, a third of the total amount of students coming to the dance were already swinging about, Vinyl Scratch already on the stand jerking a record back and forth before adding a few beats to a famous tune.
“Let’s get this party started!” Shouted Rainbow Dash, prompting the people in the gymnasium to dance.
As the upbeat music continued, Twilight looked around at how the bipedal mammals danced. Many raised their arms and circled around slowly, others gathered enough space around them to either flop on the floor, spin around on their heads, or crouch down and remotely move their flanks. Flash watched as his date’s uncertainty came to him.
“Afraid to dance?” He asked.
“Well, no, all I can say is,” Twilight curled back before announcing “the people in this school are so crazy when they dance!”
Spike nudged Twilight’s heel, motioning her to at least try.
“You never danced at your school?”
“Promise you won’t laugh?” Flash nodded before Twilight got on all fours, moving her left arm/right leg, drew them back and moved her right arm/left leg. What Twilight considered normal in her world would make the human raise both eyebrows. Noticing this, Twilight immediately got back on her hind legs, chuckling as she rubbed the back of her head. Flush shrugged before getting on all fours and repeating the same dance before the two danced in unison. Many of those around them looked at them with raised eyebrows, some dropping their cups, spilling punch over the floor. Then, of course, Flash’s eyes widened when he felt pants beginning to tear.
“Well, well.” - The two awkward dancers looked up to see Trixie, now wearing a deep blue dress and boots with a light violet cape - “Very unorthodox dancing for a Princess. Well, you may have the moves, but The Great and Powerful Trixie will top you off in song!”
Vinyl immediately turned down the music when two of the spotlights shined on the two competitors.
“Hey, hey, hey Canterlot High!” Vinyl sounded off through a microphone “Do I hear a sing off?”
“I did!” Shouted Pinkie Pie among the silent crowd.
“PINKIE!!!!” berated Twilight’s supporters
“It’s time for a Royal Battle Royale! Twilight Sparkle VERSUS The Great and Powerful Trixie!”
Most of the audience cheered on as Trixie put on a violet witch hat with blue and yellow stars, curling a smirk as she and her posse walked up to the stage. After a while of silence, Snips and Snails began to scat, providing the percussions while Fuscia and Lavender played on small electronic keyboards before Trixie plucked a few chords from a rock guitar.
While Trixie sang her song, some of the audience couldn’t help but snap their fingers. Cogsworth was tapping his limp knees while Big Mac tapped his foot. After the song was over, Trixie threw a few smoke bombs on the stage, immediately swallowing the entire band.
“Yeah!” - Vinyl cheered - “Give it up for the Trix-ster!”
On cue, the guests immediately cheered, echoing the gymnasium. The Mane Six looked around, Fluttershy made one quick look to find Trixie right at her face, scaring her.
“Top that one.” She scoffed before walking away.
“All right, now for T-White!” The light shined on Twilight. The Alicorn woman cowered a little when Applejack laid her hand on her shoulder, followed by Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy. They walked up to the stage, got their instruments set up. Rarity attuned her electric keyboard to have it sound like an actual piano.
When the final chorus began, the crowd cheered. Even after competing for three days straight, Trixie had to admit that Twilight does have a good singing voice.
As the Mane Six stepped off the stage, Vinyl moved the microphone towards her. “Aw yeah! Seems like we got two very talented groups. But we will know for certain who will be top dog! Hope you voted for the right gal!”
Just as Twilight joined up with Flash, he noticed some of his friends signaling him to come up to the stage. Grabbing their musical equipment, they then began to play.
By that time, a majority of the school have arrived, enjoying the celebrities. But with a crowded gymnasium comes limited dances moves. A majority resorted to the electric boogaloo, the swim, and the high knee. But in all this excitement, there is still one thing on Twilight’s mind.
“Anybody see Roma Candle?”
“Maybe she was too embarrassed to show!” Said Rainbow Dash as she had her hands in the air “She's gotta know you won by a landslide!”
Twilight looked the other way, “Maybe…” she thought to herself.
Once flash’s band finished their song, Principal Celestia walked up the stadium, silencing the cheering crowd with a few taps of the microphone.
“First off, I wanna say how wonderful everything looks tonight. You all did a magnificent job pulling things together after the unfortunate events of earlier.” She signaled her sister to walk up the stage with a small chest and an envelope “And now, without further ado, I'd like to announce the winner of this year's Fall Formal crown.”
Trixie, the Maximals, Crusaders and Flash leaned forward.
“The Princess of this year's Fall Formal is…”
Twilight’s friends huddled around her, the anticipation getting very high. Celestia tore the top of the envelope, removed the notecard and skimmed the name on the card.
“Twilight Sparkle!”
Immediately everyone cheered. After given a deep hug, Twilight walked up to the stage, ready to receive her possession. Trixie, on another hand, glared at her victorious rival.
“Trixie demands some time alone…” She asked of her posse before walking out of the gym.
Principal Celestia lifted the crown out of the satin cushion, “Congratulations, Twilight. Even being new in Canterlot High, you have accomplished so much in so little time.” She places the crown on Twilight’s head, the gem shining as it acknowledged its original owner.
Just when Twilight stepped down from the building, her friends immediately hugged her before the more stronger members lifted her up, manipulating their fingers to bring her to the rest of the audience. The Alicorn Princess laughed at the sensation of being crowd surfed from one direction of the gymnasium before surfing to another.
Spike looked at the clock: 10:00 PM.
“Twilight!” Spike barked.
Twilight looked at the same clock, turning her joy upside down. “Oh right!” Twilight looked down “Take me to the door!”
“Okee Dokey!” Shouted Derpy as she and the audience crowd surfed Twilight over to the door. Upon landing on her two feet, Twilight immediately began running down the halls.
“C’mon!” shouted Applejack before the Mane Five ran out to the halls
Back in said hall, Trixie inserted a quarter into the snack food machine, reaching her hand inside to collect her favorite snack when her violet eyes picked up Twilight moving fast by her. She got up just before quickly hugging the machine to avoid being knocked over by the other five as they ran by her as well.
Twilight reached the front foyer, placing her hand on the door when
“TWILIGHT!” Twilight turned around to see her friends running towards her.
“Why the rush, darling?” Rarity said between breaths
“If I don’t leave by midnight,” Twilight looked at the clock, now at 10:10 PM “the portal will close for another thirty moons.”
“What do you mean by thirty moons? How long is that?” Rainbow Dash asked
“Two and a half years.” whispered Fluttershy.
Being away from the loud gymnasium, the others heard Fluttershy’s answer.
“We didn’t expect you to leave this soon.” Applejack said to Twilight.
Pinkie’s hair deflated a little more than usual, “Without even saying goodbye.” She whimpered.
Twilight looked back to the clock, now 10:12 PM. She pressed a hand to her chest, took in a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, waving her hand forward in sync.
“You’re right. I’m sorry I’ve rushed things a little.” - Twilight walked towards the group - “I promise I would visit, even if it takes another thirty moons.”
After a while, Fluttershy walked up to Twilight and hugged her, “We can wait that long.” Said Fluttershy.
From the floor, Spike watched as Twilight felt the warm embrace of her friends. A notable habit in his world, but seeing it again in this world, maybe there is hope yet for them.
The dog was caught in the moment as the glass door slowly opened. It was only when Spike saw a small shadow over him did he shout: “Twilight!”
Twilight immediately turned to the sound of her distressed companion, noticing the doors immediately close.
“Spike!” The Princess immediately ran out, immediately spotting Spike's kidnapper. Or to say, kidnappers.
Roma Candle was standing five feet in front of the statue. Lorraine standing to the right molding, having Spike in a headlock in one arm with her free hand gently clutching the top of his head. Sierra stood to the left molding, wielding a sledgehammer.
Seeing this, Twilight clenched her fists. Magic or not, her friends could tell she was ready to dish some very serious damage. “Don't you dare hurt him…”
“Oh, I wouldn't dream of it. But because of you and your posse, you had forced me to use lethal measures.” Roma crossed her arms.
“Like what you monsters have done before with Trixie?!” Rarity hissed.
“Monster?” Roma points to herself. “I'm the monster?” - She chuckled - “That word has been said around the world to others who have been tossed aside like garbage. Like I said, you all had no vision!”
“And getting the crown will solve it?” Applejack fiddled the piece a little “Just some rudimentary object will give you magical powers?”
“Yes! With the power of the crown, I will restore my rightful place in the world!”
“But you already have a place.” Pinkie furrowed her brow “We already have a place here too!” She places her hands on her hips “And we like it just the way it is!”
The other five agreed by scowling at their foes.
“No, you’ll see. You’ll all see! I was born to lead the school! It is my right and my duty!” - Roma’s rebuttle made Sierra roll her eyes as she held the hammer upright - “But for you, Ms. Sparkle. You don't belong here, so I’ll make you an offer: Give me the crown, and you can go back to Equestria tonight with your pet. Or keep it” - Twilight eyed Lorraine tightening her grip on Spike, causing him to whimper - “and both of you will never go home.”
Twilight slowly looked at each of the three, taking special attention to every possible scenario and outcome if she surrenders or fights back. She took off her crown, looking at her reflection at the top.
Roma raised an arm and looked at her watch, now at 10:30 PM.
“Tick-tock, Twilight. We haven't got all night.” - Twilight was looking at Spike as he squirmed in his captor’s arms, trying to break free - “Here, I’ll make this easier. One…”
Twilight looked up, noticing Roma having her arms crossed, but exposing the fingers of her left hand. Her index finger was already raised before the middle finger was raised up.
“Two…” - Rainbow Dash fidgeted a little before her eye caught Sierra making a bobbing motion with the sledgehammer. Roma’s ring finger was now raised - “Three.”
Fluttershy was in the direct line of view with Lorraine. An idea fluttered in her head, but she never did this with a classmate before.
“Four…” Said Roma with her
Lorraine noticed the caretaker shut her eyes before the latter looked at her. The deranged classmate had heard the rumors, now she is witnessing this first hand as Spike noticed her fidgeting.
“Okay, because you tested my patience already.” - Roma placed her thumb with her middle finger, not noticing Lorraine still fidgeting - “Five-Six” - Trixie walked towards the doors, seeing the negotiation - “Seven-Eight” - Now entranced by The Stare, Lorraine was loose enough for Spike to move his neck - “Nine-”
Roma stopped when Lorraine reeled back in pain, flopping on the floor before inspecting a small bite mark. Twilight knelt down as the dragon immediately ran and hopped onto her arms. Hearing his sniffles, Twilight immediately glared at Roma.
“No.”
“What!?” Sierra yelled before pointing to the portal “Your life! Your home! Lost to you forever! Don't you see what I'm about to do?!
“Yes,” - Twilight put Spike back on the ground before rising to her full height - “but I've also seen and read what your people have been able to do here without magic. Equestria will find a way to survive without my Element of Harmony. This place might not, if I allow it to fall into your hands. So go ahead. Destroy the portal.” - Twilight drew the crown back “- You are not” - Twilight raised the item above her head - “getting this crown!”
Twilight placed the crown on her head, ending her speech as she stood fully erect. The Mane Five glared at them, Spike baring his teeth with a slow growl.
Sierra began to shake, holding the handle of the sledgehammer tighter, before looking at the portal.
“Can’t win, don’t let the winners get the spoils!”
Roma turned to see her friend arc back then swung as hard as she could.
The portal immediately swallowed it up.
Back in Equestria, with the hour approaching, that world’s Elements of Harmony, Princess’, and Shining Armor stood by, hopefully waiting for Twilight to return. Applejack spotted a ripple on the surface.
“Here she comes!” She says before the sledgehammer came flying out, almost hitting the ponies before it collided with the wall, chipping out a piece of crystal. Still keeping Celestia’s word in mind, they could only guess what was going on at the other side.
At the other world, Roma shook her hand covered head at the dumbass maneuver Sierra had done. Spike jumped onto Twilight’s arms, wrapping his paws around her face.
“Should’ve expected it to be a bluff.” Said Applejack “It wasn’t even midnight when this shenanigan started.”
Hearing this, Rarity stomped towards AJ and rose on the toes of her boots, “If you knew that, then why didn’t you do something!?”
Applejack pointed to Lorraine, “Because Lorraine would’ve killed Spike.”
“Still,” - Rainbow turned to Twilight - “I can’t believe you would risk losing your home for us! You... are…” - The Athlete pressed her hands on her cheeks, making a fishy face - “so awesome!”
“It's no wonder you're a real live princess!” Fluttershy squeaked.
In Discord’s dimension, Screwball now had only her King and two Rooks. Discord still had all of his chess pieces scattered about as they have taken down piece after piece. The chaos pony looked up at her father looking at her with sympathy before raising his lion paw, pressing his thumb onto his middle finger before nodding. Screwball grinned before clopping her hooves.
Back in the human world, Roma began to twitch, pulling apart strand after strand of hair, twitching her lip as she watched the compliments continue.
“Oh, yes, she's so-very-special!” She yelled before pouncing on Twilight, dropping Spike and the crown behind them. Twilight looked up to see the human snorting through her nostrils as she pulled out a knife - “Let’s see how special you look after I’ve carved off your face!”
Rainbow Dash immediately ran to Twilight's aid when Sierra punched her in the face. Twilight shifted her neck aside as Roma stabbed the concrete, denting the knife. Before the crazed human could make another strike, Rarity and Pinkie Pie grabbed her hand, slowly tilting her upper body bag. But through this madness, she did spot the crown. Wrenching free, Roma bounded for the crown when Twilight grabbed the heel of her boot.
“At last!” - Roma strained herself, her fingers just itching to reach the rim of the crown - “More power than I could ever imagine!”
That was proven wrong when Spike jumped on Roma’s head and snatched the crown with his teeth.
“GET HIM YOU-” Roma saw that Applejack and Rainbow Dash had already subdued her two mooks, the farmer wrapping them together. Roma kicked Twilight’s face before chasing after the dog, the Mane Six following her.
Spike saw Trixie at the other side of the glass, pawing and whimpering to get inside as a shadow loomed over him. Roma stared him down, drawing a toothy grin as she reached her hands for the small mammal.
Back at Discord’s Dimension, the draconequus snapped his fingers.
Back in the human world, Trixie pushed open the door, shoving Spike out of the way and smacking Roma on the side of her face.
“That is for using Trixie!” - Before Roma could recover, the magician punched her straight in the teeth, knocking the wind out of her as she staggered and fell back on the concrete - “That is for kidnapping her!”
The others were dead silent as they looked at Trixie; Applejack even in the middle of tightening the lasso was looking.
“Whoa…” Pinkie broke the silence “That must have really hurt after that last punch.”
Trixie raised her hand high in the air, “Pain is an Illusion to Trixie!” - Her audience noticed her knuckles flushing red - “An illusion that” - the magician jerked back, holding the damaged appendage - “really, really, hurts!” She finished before groaning.
Still holding the crown, Spike trotted past the unconscious Roma, scraping a few concrete crumbs into her hair before trotting over.
Trixie raised an eyebrow as the Maximals walked out of the school. Sunset and Cosgrove stared at the hag, noticing how low she has gotten in the past three days.
“Trixie has paid her debts,” Trixie raised her pointer finger at the winner “but do not think we are finished. Trixie will return and when she does, she will succeed!”
Spike placed the crown down before turning around, “Yeah, you do that.”
Trixie raised an eyebrow; a dog that can talk, if only she could have her parakeets sing a quartet. With a huff, the magician flipped her cape as she turned around and entered the school.
Soon after, Cosgrove grabbed Roma by the collar and walked forward, dragging her along the concrete before laying her down on her goons.
“Now. Did you sabotage the cameras in the gymnasium and destroyed Pinkie’s decorations?”
Sierra and Lorraine looked up, seeing a majority of the Mane Six and the Maximals scowling at her. The two looked at each other before noticing Sunset pulling out her phone. Lorraine fidgeted at the thought of the cops showing up.
“It was the blockhead’s fault!” Lorraine shouted to the unconscious Roma “She threatened to call the cops on us, she even beat us to a pulp for what we’ve done at the farm!”
“Yeah, where’s your magic powers now!” Sierra added, swinging her head to hit Roma’s shoulder.
The two teenage crooks looked up with pleading eyes, still looking at the scowls of them. Roma fluttered her eyes open, noticing Twilight picked up Spike still holding the crown.
“It will take quite a while for-” Twilight suddenly lost balance. Roma delivered a sharp kick to her legs while she wasn’t looking.
Once again, both dog and relic were sent flying. Applejack was able to catch Spike before he landed one paw on the surface of the portal. The crown descended at a different angle when a hand wrapped in a massive sleeve grabbed the rim.
Roma stood up, breathing in and out slowly as she raised the crown over her head.
“Twilight.” - Rarity leaned over to the princess - “What happens if one of us uses your relics?”
With one quick motion, Roma placed the crown on her head. She took in a deep breath as she drew a grin. The others saw her open her eyes, appearing renewed.
But it was a long, awkward silence.
“Huh,” - Pinkie once again broke the silence - “what a rip.”
Suddenly, the jewel of the crown began to bubble before making a quick flash, surrounding Roma’s body in blue rings, ascending up and down, faster and faster before a small alchemy circle shined below her feet, engulfing her in a stream of blue fire. It was so bright that even Dapplewood couldn’t see clearly through the sunglasses. And it gained attention from the students and alumni inside the building as they shielded their eyes from the bright light.
Roma slowly opened her eyes, flicking them around as she appeared to be viewing much more of the Centennial State. She looked down to find her friends and enemies below her, as well as not even touching the ground.
“See me now as-!” Just when she flung her hand forward, she noticed something way off. Rather than her usual red-orange, her arm was a sharp blue with four-fingered claws. She quickly descended to the ground taking a good look at herself through the mirror. Her body was the exact same blue with a few browns on what remained of her clothing. One remarkable addition is the appearance of wings jutting from her back. The whites of her eyes were gone, leaving only her dry blue eyes in a deep voice in her skull.
“Just like the Trixie in my world…” Said Twilight.
“What?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“In my world, magic isn’t just used as a tool, it can be an influence of a persona.” - Twilight turned around to see Roma sniffling - “If the person had bad intentions, to begin with, then the magic is reflected upon as well.” - She places her hand on Roma’s shoulder - “I promise to stay as long as I can to -”
“Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh,” - Twilight began to step back as Roma rose on her feet, her chuckle slowly becoming faster before turning into a full out cackle - “With this much power, looks mean nothing!”
“Well,” - Rainbow Dash placed her fist in her hand, cracking a few knuckles as she squeezed - “guess you won’t mind if I make a few additions to your ugly mug!”
Roma notices the palms of her claws glowing before looking at Lorraine and Sierra.
“Make it an appointment for three!” She replied before shooting out streams of dark magic directly at her two crones, engulfing them in flame. But rather than destroy, the two screamed in pain.
Lorraine’s colors were changed from her usual pink-violet to a series of browns, with a few shades of navy blue from three spiny dorsal fins and a few stripes covering parts of her scaly belly, barely touching the spikes jutting out from the center of her body. Her eyes have become one, lidless, red shell situated just above a toothy beak. Her forearms and her feet were just meat hooks with a pair of dewclaws on the sides.
Sierra’s body color is a more deep blue, with a violent stripe across the chest, and is the bulkiest of the three. Much of that was with an orange speckled shell on her back. Like Lorraine, her forearms were also replaced with weapons, here a pair of drills. Her face isn’t even remotely human anymore, just a head with four large eyes, fangs, and a massive horn.
For Discord’s chess pieces, numbers be not the issue… If the three weren’t twice their height as Lorraine and Sierra broke out of their binding.
“Heh, heh.” - Pinkie Pie shrank back as she lifted a shaky pointer finger - “And it’s not even Halloween.”
Sierra made a series of clicking sounds through her fangs before replying, “All this and you still have room for jokes.”
Without a second warning, the massive bug charged forward, lifted Applejack and Rainbow Dash, and slammed them on the floor. Lorraine, on the other hand, drew a hook back before jumping a few meters forward, splitting the ground as she hit the concrete.
Pinning their arms to the floor, Rainbow and AJ could only watch as Sierra inched her spinning drills towards their heads. “Cutting up frogs are overrated.”
“Well allow me to share my opinion!” Sierra looked up to see Chelsey punch her straight in the mandibles.
The Maximal turned around to pull the farmer and the Athlete when they saw two massive drills behind her. Immediately, they pulled her forward and charged at the mutant human, pushing her forward a few feet. Sierra thwacked Rainbow Dash aside before Chelsey took her place. Dapplewood watched the battle from afar before his brother and Diver place their hands on his shoulders. With a flick of his glasses, his two comrades tossed him up the base, giving him the height advantage needed to jump on Sierra’s shoulders. Even with part of the lasso torn apart, Applejack salvaged as much of the rope to make another lasso, this time with a size judged by Sierra’s now comparatively small head.
“Dapplewood!” She shouted, getting his attention before tossing the loop. Dapplewood then inched as high as he could to get the loop around the horn, trying to keep his balance as Sierra swung back and forth. Applejack pulled hard on the rope, tilting the beast back. Diver tied the other end of the rope to her waist before falling flat on her back. Rainbow Dash held her head as she watched the effort. Rising onto her boots, the Athlete charged forward, delivering a flying kick to Sierra’s chest, the one thing needed to topple the bug over.
Flash moved through the watching crowd, seeing that already one the demons have been toppled, before looking at the other. Despite having similar weapons as Sierra, wielding them with accuracy was a problem. Sunset, Cosgrove, and Zipper especially were able to dodge the wide swings of Lorraine’s hook hands before delivering a series of quick blows. Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy watched as Sunset gave a sweeping kick to Lorraine, toppling the one-eyed giant.
“Fluttershy, you must use your stare again!” Said Rarity.
“No, i-i-i couldn’t.” - Fluttershy quaked. True she did it once already, but while Lorraine was not three times as scary.
“You may not get another chance.” Pinkie added as Cosgrove and Zipper applied all their weight, holding the monster’s blade limbs behind her back.
Fluttershy gulped before stepping forward. Lorraine tilted her head up, seeing the timid girl approach her.
“You do know” Her red optic glowed bright green “it is impolite to stare!”
Fluttershy ducked as Lorraine fired a beam straight ahead, taking a slice out of the high school. Cosgrove and Zipper felt Lorraine’s body vibrate as dirt shot out of the ground, falling off as the monster spun upward onto her feet. She looked as the spikes on her body stopped spinning, giving off a toothy grin.
“IT HAS A BUZZSAW!” screamed Rarity.
“Nuh-uh! Belly saw!” Pinkie chuckled, receiving a glare from the fashionista.
Lorraine laughed at this new feature before pointing a claw at them. Hearing Cosgrove and Zipper running at her, Lorraine turned around and launched out the dewclaws, wrapping their bodies in a metal chain before swinging them over, slamming their backs hard on the ground. Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy began to cower as Lorraine pointed her claws right at them. Flash immediately ran back inside, running down the halls towards the parking lot doors. Sunset got in their way when another set of chains wrapped around her jacket sleeves. The Maximal leader pulled back.
“Run!” - another set of chains wrapped around her free arm - “Get out of here!”
Sunset strained herself as Lorraine twirled her arms one by one, drawing her closer to the circular saw.
Twilight looked up, growling at the sight of Roma Candle laughing at how her mooks are actually doing something right for once. Noticing Sunset soon being drawn closer to Lorraine, the Alicorn’s priority was saving her friends.
“Not so fast!” Roma shouted before firing a stream of fire, dividing Twilight between the two fighting groups.
Sunset was now halfway to being cut up into ribbons as Lorraine laughed.
“Say hi to Night Dancer for me, Minimal!” Lorraine cackled before her eye reflected the headlights from an oncoming vehicle.
Before going any further, Flash jumped out, rolling a while on the grass. The vehicle collided with the monster, tearing the hooks off Sunset’s jacks as the Lorraine was carried all the way to the school’s right wing, cracking the bricks.
Roma Candle snarled as she saw Twilight run up to Flash and got him up to his feet, spotting Rarity and Fluttershy getting Cosgrove and Zipper back on their feet.
“Urrrgghh…” - Cosgrove groaned - “Feel’s like Fido hit me with a sledgehammer…”
Zipper noticed the tears on the undersides of Sunset’s sleeves before bending back, popping his lumbar vertebrae. “You… Okayboss?”
“Yeah…” - Sunset panted as she fingered the tears - “Thank you… Flash.”
“Hey, couldn’t be a Wondercolt if I didn’t.” Flash chuckled before wincing in pain as he placed a hand on his left side.
But their victory was short-lived as Lorraine sawed her way through Flash’ car, pushing the car pieces aside as she approached her enemies. Sierra had also one advantage, she stretched over before igniting a pulse, blasting away the pile of humans, standing up before tearing the rope off her neck.
Roma continued to cackle as the glass doors opened, revealing the witnessing guests, “It’s so amazing, even in numbers, a gun’s a gun.”
“Then I suspect you aren’t bulletproof.”
Roma turned around to see Cogsworth in front of the school scowling at her.
“You!” - Roma landed on the ground before levitating the boy out of his chair - “Ever since your little accident, I've had to jump through so many hoops just to get my hands on this crown, and earn everyone’s respect.” - the she-demon immediately flung him aside, Chelsey wrapping him around her arms as Sierra and Lorraine surrounded them. The school gasped at the possibility that the people they supported would get killed, getting Roma’s attention - “But let's let bygones be bygones. I am your princess now, and you will be loyal…” - She raised a hand, surrounded the front foyer in an aura - “to me!”
Closing her hand, she crushed the foyer, driving the students into a panic, Wilhelm and Howie being the loudest among them.
“Oh, that’s not any way to treat your princess…” - She places her hands on her head before closing her cavernous eyes -“Let’s see if we could be… Calmed...”
Her eyes shot open into spirals as they fired a series of rings onto each student, making them turn around, their eyes a listless green as they stood there moaning.
“Oh, this is just too perfect!” - Roma turned around - “I really should thank whoever of your kind made that portal. Perhaps I should make a visit someday!”
“I won’t let you do that!” - Yelled Twilight - “The portal will close soon!”
“Oh really? Do you think that’s going to stop me?” - Roma pointed to herself “Sierra, Lorraine and I have magic, and you have nothing! We may have to wait a while, but when we do, we would have control of this world! First the police, then the National Guard, then the United States military, then all of the world! Why do you still hope for the better?"
Rainbow Dash stood up, “Because she has us!” she answered before Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and even Fluttershy stood next to Twilight.
Such a moment had Roma sprout a tear, “Bravado in the face of death... Very well, I’ll see to it that all of your deaths be swift!” She clapped her hands together, slowly pulling them apart as a fireball becomes ever larger. Behind the Mane 6, Flash, Cogsworth and the Maximals looked up as Sierra and Lorraine raised their weapons, ready to deal the final blow.
Above the Human World, Discord and Screwball could only watch the outcome.
“My favorite event of them all:” Screwball chuckles as Roma’s fireball was as big as her body and bright enough to be seen on her enemies eyes. The chaos pony happy face became a chilling one - “Sudden death…”
Screwball’s King piece fire the projectile at the Mane Six, covering them in flame.
“Twilight!!!” Flash screamed
Roma laughed at her victory before turning her attention to the Maximals, “And now to finish- What!?” When the smoke cleared, the beast found that the Mane Six were still alive, surrounded by a light violet aura.
“But-!?”
“The crown isn’t just a reliquary, but also my Element.” - Twilight pointed to the jewel on top of the crown as it glowed white - “And the magic contained in my Element was able to save those that help it: The Elements of Magic!”
The jewel immediately shot out a purple stream at the Mane 6, engulfing them in a bright light. When the light faded, friend and foe alike saw the transformed people. At the least, their ears became much larger and their hair extended to a ponytail. Rarity also sprouted a horn on her forehead, while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy sprouted wings. Twilight, being an Alicorn, had all three traits. Nonetheless, they all floated in the air.
“Honesty! Kindness! Laughter! Generosity! Loyalty! Magic! Together, they create a power beyond anything you could imagine, but it is a power you don't have the ability to control! The crown may be upon your head, Roma Candle, but you cannot wield it because you do not possess the most powerful magic of all: the magic of friendship!”
Holding their hands, the Elements of Harmony united into a heart shape, their outline glowing white before firing a rainbow spiral into the air and trailing down, wrapping the demon in a tornado of color. Sierra was the next one to be sucked in. Lorraine dug her hooks into the ground, but only became vain when she too got sucked in. In the midst of that, the eyes of the school populace returned to normal before they winced at the bright light once again.
Once the light faded once again, the school populace saw the Mane Six descending on the ground, amazed at the new features on their bodies. Rainbow Dash, as is in her pony counterpart, still hovered in the air.
“Here and in Equestria, it is the only magic that can truly unite us all!” Twilight finished before Spike walked up and hugged her.
“Uh, Twilight?” Fluttershy pointed forward.
The school populace was gathering around a huge hole in the ground, left no doubt by the rainbow attack. The Elements, Maximals, Flash and Cogsworth gathered over, finding virtually nothing in there but smoke seeping off the Element of Harmony.
Rarity looked at Twilight with an uneasy look, “Did we…?”
“No, the Elements aren’t made to destroy. Only change.” - Twilight placed a hand on her chin - “Then again, this hasn’t been done on humans.”
“But we have stopped them, right?” Asked Rainbow Dash as she hovered around Twilight.
“Yes. They shouldn’t disturb you any longer.” - Waving a hand in sync to her horn glowing, Twilight lifted the crown to her head - “Any power they have is gone.”
There was a long silence before Derpy clapped her hands, then Flash Sentry, then Sunset, then the Maximals, and more and more until it echoed the neighborhood of the school.
“Those are my girls!” - Spike cheered, standing on his hind legs to cheer - “Woo-hoo!”
Silence once again as they saw a talking dog.
“Did that dog just talk?” asked Brawley Beats
“Weird.” Said Sweetie Belle
Hearing this in his ears, Spike slapped his muzzle, “Seriously? The talking dog is a weird thing about all this?”
Spike was suddenly picked up from behind, turned around to see Rarity. “I, for one, think you're adorable.”
As she scratched his ears, the dragon couldn’t help but : Oh, yeah.
“To quote the various rulers that once lived in our world,” - the student body parted to allow Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna to approach the Princess - “A wise capable ruler must be guided by circumstances, conjectures, and conjunctions, and would never keep faith when by doing so would be against his/her interests. The past three days, we have all seen that you are capable of just that.” - Celestia places a hand on Twilight - “I hope you see it too, Princess Twilight.”
“I do.” Twilight answers before hugging the schoolmaster. Once in every while that this happened, Celestia relaxed her shoulders before joining the embrace. After letting go, Twilight’s ears shot up before turning around “What time is it?”
“11:10.” The entire school answered, holding up their cellphones to her face.
Twilight folded her wings before turning to her friends, lifting up her hand in Flash Sentry’s general direction.
As soon as Flash grabbed her hand, Twilight immediately pulled him towards the foyer. Soon, everyone was back in the gym dancing for the next forty minutes. Going out of her usual boundaries, Twilight square danced with the Apples, river danced with the Maximals, failed miserably at breakdancing, but did very well at the slow dance. Rainbow Dash wasted no time to fly around, snatching Scootaloo off the floor at one point. Cogsworth shifted his weight around, rising up on the back wheels of his wheelchair before hopping around.
“YOU!” - The Elements of Harmony turned around to find Photo Finish holding a camera - “I must capture the Magics!”
Without having her ask twice, they all joined in the group photo. Photo also took other shots of the class such as the Maximals (with a special request from Photo that Sunset wear the mask) and Crusaders.
It was now ten till midnight, and everyone watched as Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie hugged this year’s Fall Formal Princess. Still holding her backpack, Twilight pulled out her journal and gave it to the others.
“You’re givin’ us your journal?” Asked Applejack.
“If I am correct, you can always write to me. Just wait until I’m back home.” - As she handed them her journal, she asked one more question - “You'll look out for each other, won't you?”
“Of course we will.” Answered Rarity
Spike looked up, seeing just a sliver of the light side of the moon, “We better get going.”
Twilight looked at the rest of the students as they slowly waved their hands, “I know we've only been friends for a short time, but I'm gonna miss all of you so much.”
With a sigh, Twilight turned around and walked towards the statue, Spike trotting next to her.
“That crown really does suit you, Princess Twilight.” Said Spike with a wink.
“You know what, Spike?” The Princess looked up at her head ornament “I am starting to feel a little more comfortable wearing it.”
“And the wings?”
The Alicorn stopped right at the portal before answering, “I've been walking on two legs and picking things up with these! Wings? I'm thrilled that's all I'll be dealing with back in Equestria!”
And with that, Twilight and Spike walked forward, easily swallowed up by the glass. A short while after, the dark side of the moon took over. At once, the ears, horns, wings and tails the Mane Five possessed are now gone. Rainbow Dash, being in the air at the time, landed rear end on the ground. Pinkie Pie tried rushing towards the base of the Wondercolt statue, only to slam her body on the solid glass and falling on the ground.
“Oh,” - Pinkie’s hair deflated a little as the others joined up with her - “bummer!”
Back at the Pony World, with the hour now upon them, they could only wait a few more moments to tell whether their friend has returned or not. Rainbow Dash paced around the room, while some laid on the floor. They turned their attention once again when the surface of the mirror glowed. Having seen a sledgehammer soar through the mirror, they parted away, should another heavy object go through the room.
An object did enter the room, but she didn’t fly. Rather, she wobbled on her hind legs before catching herself on her forelegs.
“Twilight!” They all greeted before walking up to her before Spike appeared as well, walking on all fours.
“Spikey-Wikey!” Rarity ran up and hugged the dragon
“You've got your crown!” Said Rainbow Dash
“I knew you could do it!” Said Pinkie Pie as she squeezed Twilight in a big bear hug.
Applejack teared up, “Oh, we were so worried.”
“The world you went to,” - Celestia walked towards her student - “is it alright?”
Twilight looked behind, touching the glass as she looked at her reflection. “I think they’ll be fine. I left them in good hands. Rainbow Dash and Rarity looked at each other.
“What are hands?” Asked the rainbow maned Pegasus.
Twilight and Spike giggled before they walked out of the room and towards their room. Her friends, brother, and in-law joined them as they began to ask questions related to her adventure.
“Where did you stay?” asked Fluttershy.
“What did they wear?” asked Rarity.
“Did ya have fun?” asked Pinkie
“What'd ya eat?” asked Applejack, though Twilight was a little hesitant to answer.
“Would ya say she's just as awesome as me?” Asked Rainbow Dash as she spun in the air.
Twilight hung her head, the sleep getting the best of her. “I wanna tell you all everything, I do, but I'm just so exhausted from all the dancing.”
“Dancing?!” They all exclaimed.
Once again, Twilight wasn’t paying attention when she bumped into somepony. Looking up, Twilight saw the same familiar Pegasus stallion from when she arrived at the Crystal Empire three days ago.
He grabbed her hoof and pulled her up.
“We've really got to stop bumping into each other like this.”
Hearing that once again, the Princess of Friendship blushed as she watched the guard resume his patrol, not even noticing the others, including his commanding officer, see him walk down the hall.
“Who was that?” Twilight asked.
“I believe that’s Flash Sentry.” - Answered Shining Armor - “If I recall, he did help you guys save Canterlot during the Changeling Invasion. He's a new member of the castle guard for the moment.”
“Why?” - Cadence eyed Twilight in a sly manner - “Do you know him?”
Twilight turned around slightly, enough to show a seductive look in her eyes, “Not exactly.”
Applejack easily figured this out before she cooed, “Somepony's got a crush on the new guy!”
“No. No, I don't.” Twilight rebuked in a shaky tone, getting more attention from Rarity.
“She does! She absolutely does!”
Twilight shuffled her legs faster, moving ahead of the fashion designer. “Don't be ridiculous. I don't even know him. He just…”
“Totally reminds you of a guy you met in the other world who played guitar in a band, formed a resistance group in elementary school, was a good friend to a few duplicates to one of our own, and helped you run for princess of the big dance, and then asked you to dance at that dance, then used a mechanical object to save former good friend from being ribbons, and then you asked him to dance with you again?!” - With such a big answer comes an equal intake of air, inflating her diaphragm like a balloon before answering - “Right?”
Twilight and Spike looked at each other, as her duplicate made a similar dead right assumption.
Spike raised a claw, “How did you know that?”
“Just a hunch!” She answered before hopping away to her room.
The others merely chuckled at Pinkie’s answer while Twilight wrapped a hoof around Spike, looking upward beyond the crystal ceilings, wondering what the other world would be like without her short presence.
Back at the Human World, the Fall Formal was all over. A majority of students and their guests, plumb tuckered out, began walking to their cars. But the night was still one to talk about, with the demons and technicolored deathray. To their parents, it would be hard to believe; evidence such as a destroyed foyer, a cracked wall, and most of all a crater caused by three humans turned demons will be hard to explain to the Board of Education, let alone the police.
Flash and First Base could only watch as a tow truck lifted their torn car onto the platform, using a chain to keep it whole. The Mane Five, Maximals and Cogsworth watched the ordeal as well before Pinkie Pie hopped over to the Athlete.
“Don’t worry Flashy, you can ride with us.”
Rainbow Dash looked at the damage foyer and crater in the front, wondering, “This is gonna take a long while to repair isn’t it?”
“Well, for the crater, that can be filled up with concrete,” - Applejack pointed to the cracked bricks on the right wing - “the wall would be the quickest to fix. The foyer is what would take the longest.”
“Maybe with the construction crew alone, but with a little help from all of us, anything is possible.” Rarity added.
A majority of them stepped foot on the asphalt of the parking lot. First Base noticed his brother taking one last look at the statue.
“Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with us.”
“What secret” Flash looked down.
“C’mon, Flash.” - First Base nudged his brother’s shoulder - “You love Twilight, we all know that. Even if she is, in fact, a magical horse, you can’t stop that feeling. How you want to press her soft lips on yours. Come on, admit it! It’s gonna be the-”
With one motion, Flash stuffed First Base in the trunk of Pinkie’s smart car, slamming the tailgate. That still didn’t stop the Freshman from unlatching the window and said, “It… was… Worth it!”
The others couldn’t help but laugh even more as Flash tensed his shoulders a little before entering the car.
Back at Discord’s Dimension, Discord was on top of the chessboard dancing the electric shuffle, laughing at his victory. His daughter supporting her disconnected head on one hoof.
“Oh don’t be so sore, Screwball! Besides, you had your King and rooks as OC’s, and as we all know, OC’s are naturally terribly written and are doomed to destruction.” - Discord looked behind him, or to be exact, us - “Only a few survive to be memorable. Overall, I enjoyed our little game, I hope we get to play it again sometime.”
With a snap of his fingers, the draconequus dressed in a nightgown, holding a Fluttershy Pillow Pet on the lion arm, using his bird arm to stretch his goat horn over his scalp before making it floppy.
“Good night…” He said with a yawn as he walked upstairs.
Screwball placed her head on her shoulders, looking down at the chessboard once again, seeing the winning team go to their cars.
"You know, since we have super powers now," - the human Rainbow Dash sat on her motorcycle - "we need a new name for my band."
"You mean our band right?" asked Rarity.
"Yeah, our band." Putting on her helmet, Rainbow drove off towards her home, shortly being joined on the road by the others.
As they left, the chaos pony watched as Cogsworth approached his mother’s car before lifting a fully formed hand over the board.
“No grudges…” She chuckled before opening her hand, releasing a small gem.
Just as Cogsworth was a few meters away from the car, he felt something land hard on his crotch. Looking down he saw a black amulet with a red gem at the center. The upper sculpting appeared to be three demon-like creatures roaring to the left, right, and towards him. The mechanic lifted it up, noticing a little stream of smoke coming out of the center beast.
“Cogsworth?”
With one breath, he dowsed out the smoke and placed the amulet in his pocket. “Coming, Mom.”
Thirty-three miles southwest, another Formal was ending. But unlike what happened in Estes Park, the one on Longmont was much more sour. True the occasion was held at a mansion, but looks don’t cover inner beauty. Each guest leaving the mansion was bickering and cursing at each other, from relationships to even opinions that didn’t matter much before. Such banter has left them a trail slowly resonating back to the mansion, up the stairs and to the main loft. Watching from behind the window was a woman with yellow-orange hair reaching down beyond her waist. Holding a glass of champagne, she merely watched the bickering crowds leave as the smoke seeped into a red jewel wrapped around her neck. Behind her, servants were hard at work at clean up, while also shying away from their managers.
One servant was about to take away a plate with three gourmet tacos.
“Hey” - whined a voice, startling the servant to turn around to an ocean blue girl with deeper aqua colored hair frowning at her - “I was about to finish those.”
“Y-yes, Mistress Sonata.” The servant quivered, stepping back before colliding with another of the house mistresses, a violet pink woman with deep violet hair with green blue streaks. This one merely glared at her - “I’m sorry Mistress Aria.” she whimpers before running as fast as she could.
“At least the food was good.” - Said Sonata as she took a bite of gourmet taco before Aria smacked the plate aside - “Hey! That was good food!”
“That is fast food barely worth the effort. I'm sick of fast food.” - Aria looked at her pendant - “I need a meal. Ugh! I wish we'd never been banished to this awful place!”
“We’ve been over this, Aria.” - The mistress at the window turned around, showing half closed eyes - “The energy in this world isn't the same as in Equestria. We can only gain so much power here.”
“Come on, Adagio!” - Aria inched up to her sister, looking furious - “Even you have to admit that you hate it here.”
“Really?” - Adagio took a sip from her glass, sarcastically adding - “I love it here!”
“For realsies?” - Adagio’s eyes shifted to her ditzy sister pointing her thumb at the servants - “Because I think this place is the worst.”
Aria slapped both hands on the table, “I think you're the worst, Sonata.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, I think you're-!”
“Ergh!” - Adagio groans before turning around, trying to ignore her sister’s own banter - “I'll say one thing,” - She applied more pressure to the glass, slowly cracking it between her fingers - “being stuck here with them isn't making this world any more bearable.”
Finishing that Adagio clenched her fist, lodging several pieces of glass into her flesh. The lead butler approached her with a medical kit. Taking out the forceps, he pried out a piece from her palm. He prepares the gauze when he and his mistress noticed something off. The wound isn’t oozing, in fact, it appeared that it wasn’t there.
Adagio heard a slight hum, looking down at her pendant to see that is glowing on its own. She gasped before turning around to her sisters, who also had their pendants glowing.
She began to feel something that she had not felt in ages, “Do you feel that?! Do you know what that is?!”
Sonata and Aria looked at each other, they can feel the same thing, but merely answered with, “I 'unno.”
Flustered, Adagio grabbed them by the collars of their dresses. “It's Equestrian magic!”
“But this world doesn't have Equestrian magic.” Aria rebuttled before she and Sonata were tossed aside.
“Doesn’t it?” Asked Sonata
Adagio walked towards the window once again, chuckling as she drew a toothy grin. She opened her eyes once again, time her pupils were slits.
