My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Friendship Games: Alumni Edition
"Great work today, Midnight Dweller. I look forward to seeing you again next Monday."
"Thank you, Mrs. Shimmer." Midnight Dweller replied, hugging the kind, intelligent adult. He turned and started running out the room playfully. "Have a good weekend!"
"You too, Midnight!" The lovely adult responded back.
She watched onward as the hyper boy left her office for his next class. She was content at the moment and remembered when she herself was at that stage where she was eager to learn new and exciting things. Coupled with a few bumps along the road, she'll never forget the path that was taken in order to get here. She brushed back her long, flowing red-and-yellow hair and gazed out the clear windows and into the hallway, smiling brightly. The hallway was filled with hundreds of students, going back and forth, trying to get to their next class on time. This was her off period, so she waited until the hallway was clear before she started moving out into it.
Canterlot High School has remained the same to her, Mrs. Shimmer, since she left eight years ago. She was excited to graduate with her good friends, but often times wondered what they did now. They hadn't really stayed greatly in touch after graduating from college and she wondered what they did now, where they worked, and how they were all doing. She remembered back to when she was a senior in this school and how much of a good time she had with her friends then. Then college came and, slowly but surely, the gap between each of them was starting to form.
She herself went to the local college in the city, driving to and from it every week. As for her friends, most of them stayed locally, except for Ms. Dash, the athletic coordinator for CHS. Ms. Dash went away for college, going to a private, prestigious university on an athletic scholarship. Her playing career was about to take off, but when a tragic event happened to her while she was on the playing field, she never went back to it like she once did. It took a lot out of her - her father passing away and her not being able to get back in time to say goodbye - and she vowed that she'll never go professional if it meant that her friends and family couldn't travel with her.
Mrs. Shimmer was going to meet Ms. Dash in the faculty lounge for their lunch. This was something that they always did together. They always loved eating lunch together and always remembered all the good times they both had with the rest of the gang while walking down the same hallways years before these students did. They remembered events like defeating the sirens together, the Friendship Games, and what brought them all together in the first place.
Mrs. Shimmer entered the faculty lounge and made her way towards the refrigerator and opened it up. Inside the refrigerator was a salad, a strawberry lemonade, a wrapped up sandwich, and some yogurt with a plastic spoon. Mrs. Shimmer took the salad and strawberry lemonade, both of which were hers, and sat down at the table in the middle of the room. Ms. Cheerilee was sitting down at the same table on the opposite end to Mrs. Shimmer and smiled and waved at her. Mrs. Shimmer waved back and politely started a conversation with Ms. Cheerilee, one of her former teachers.
"How's everything going today, Cheerilee?" Mrs. Shimmer asked, taking a sip of her strawberry lemonade.
"It was a rough start," answered Ms. Cheerilee, "but it picked back up after third period."
"What happened this morning?"
"Grading happened, Sunset." Ms. Cheerliee chuckled.
"I see," smiled Mrs. Shimmer.
Ms. Cheerilee rose from her seat and started to head out of the lounge. She told Mrs. Shimmer that she had to get back to the grading and was going to need all the time she could get. Mrs. Shimmer understood and playfully wished Ms. Cheerliee good luck in her grading. After thanking her, Ms. Cheerliee then left the lounge and left Mrs. Shimmer alone, but only for a brief period of time.
Ms. Dash, Mrs. Shimmer's long-time friend, had entered into the lounge and greeted Mrs. Shimmer with a smile and a hug. She then went to the refrigerator and grabbed the wrapped sandwich, which was hers, and sat down next to Mrs. Shimmer. She started to tell her about her day and how she feels that CHS's athletic teams might be a threat this year.
"Are they all that good?" Mrs. Shimmer asked.
"They're better than good, Sunset," Ms. Dash replied, "they're awesome!"
Mrs. Shimmer laughed lightly. "Of course they are, Dash. Hehe."
Ms. Dash smirked in response, then proceeded to change the subject. She switched it to the upcoming Friendship Games against their longtime rivals, Crystal Prep Academy. When Mrs. Shimmer and Ms. Dash last participated in the games, the result was a tie, but in an unconventional way. They both knew what happened - Twilight Sparkle, playing in the games for Crystal Prep, wreaked havoc on the playing field after falling to magic that she released herself - but they wanted to look to having their students beat the prestigious academy students this time around.
Ever since Mrs. Shimmer and Ms. Dash played the games, Crystal Prep's reputation has somewhat taken a hit and started disappearing. Principal Cinch, the principal for Crystal Prep, was seen as an insane lunatic after claiming that Canterlot High School had students with wings, attack plants, and, most of all, a talking dog in the center courtyard and, because of those claims, Crystal Prep was seen as a school where the results weren't as always as they thought, even though they technically were, especially with their Top 12 students.
The Friendship Games were set to begin on Friday and the students around CHS knew very well as well. Students were set up, chanting "Wondercolts, Wondercolts" all around the school, and were getting their school pride up in the process. Mrs. Shimmer and Ms. Dash were excited for the Friendship Games as well and were excited to see what Principal Celestia had to say about the games in the faculty meeting after school today.
Mrs. Shimmer and Ms. Dash talked more about the Friendship Games and remembered some more memories before switching the topic yet again. This time, they talked about memories with their old friends and all that they did as teenagers. They remembered what they did for their graduation, what they did on prom night, and even what they did when they all started college. They remembered the last day they saw Ms. Dash before she left for college away on the other side of the country. It was definitely a tough moment for all seven of them, but it was done only because Ms. Dash chose to do that. After reliving those memories for some time, both Mrs. Shimmer and Ms. Dash sat together in silence for the remainder of the period.
That afternoon, Mrs. Shimmer made her way toward the faculty lounge for the faculty meeting. The day had concluded for about twenty minutes at this time and most students were gone for the day. The only students that remained on campus were those that were in the band, practicing for the Friendship Games, the athletes, and members of certain clubs that were asked to help prepare the school for the games again. When Mrs. Shimmer arrived at the faculty lounge, she noticed that it was nearly a full room. Only a few teachers and faculty members were missing from the room mainly because either they were helping prepare the school or because they were advisors for the groups they were in now. Mrs. Shimmer noticed that Ms. Dash was absent from the room and assumed that she was out on the field running practice for the archery team.
Principal Celestia called for everyone's attention and got it within a few seconds. She thanked everyone for coming and quickly got down to business: the Friendship Games.
"As you're all well aware of," she began, "the Friendship Games will be taking place this coming Friday here at CHS. Myself as well as Vice Principal Luna are more than excited to welcome our friends once again from Crystal Prep Academy in a day which will breed excellence, devotion, skillful endeavors, unity, and friendship. I know we as a school have yet to win the games against Crystal Prep, but that does not matter. The important part is that we have come close these last couple games and have turned it into an actual competition."
"Precisely," Vice Principal Luna agreed, "and as we draw closer to these games, this time...this time, the scoring will be altered in a slight way."
"Slight how?" asked Mrs. Shimmer.
"I'm glad you asked, Sunset Shimmer." Vice Principal Luna answered.
"The Friendship Games this time around," continued Principal Celestia, "will be a special edition of them."
"Special how?" Ms. Cheerilee asked.
"In accordance with Principal Cinch and Dean Cadance from Crystal Prep Academy," Principal Celestia said, "this year's version of the Friendship Games will be the alumni edition!"
Mrs. Shimmer gasped. "Alumni edition?"
Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna both nodded.
"Anyone who is an alumni of CHS is eligible to play," Vice Principal Luna stated.
"However," added Principal Celestia, "because it is of short notice, we shall only allow alumnis that have stayed near the area to participate and the best twelve alumnis solely based on final GPA when graduating."
Mrs. Shimmer was still in shock. She raised her hand like she did when she was back in school and Principal Celestia called on her.
"So, what you're saying is..." Mrs. Shimmer drifted off for a split second before picking back up. "We're going to play in the games again?"
"That's exactly what we're saying, Sunset," smiled Principal Celestia. She turned to the rest of the faculty. "And, if this goes as well as hoped, Principal Cinch and myself have agreed to make a set of games specifically for the alumni of our schools."
"Note that this only happens if these games goes as well as expected," advised Vice Principal Luna, "if they do not, which is not expected, then the next Alumni Friendship Games will be held in two years."
"Do you know who the candidates for the competition are yet?" Mrs. Shimmer eagerly asked.
"They're right here on this paper that I'm holding, Sunset." Principal Celestia said. She rose the paper, then started reading out the names and their final GPA upon graduation. "These are the twelve alumni who have been asked, and accepted, to participate in this Friday's Friendship Games: Sunset Shimmer, with a 99.6 average at graduation, Twilight Sparkle, with a 99.6 average at graduation, Flash Sentry, with a 98.9 average at graduation, Rainbow Dash, with a 98.6 average at graduation, Rarity, with a 98.6 average at graduation, Cheerilee, with a 98.5 average at graduation, Fluttershy, with a 98.4 average at graduation, Applejack, with a 98.1 average at graduation, Lyra Heartstrings, with a 98.0 average at graduation, Big Macintosh, with a 97.6 average at graduation, Sweetie Belle, with a 97.4 average at graduation, and finally, Cranky Doodle, with a 96.7 average at graduation. These twelve alumni have all accepted to playing in the games and will be welcomed back into CHS with open arms. Let us congratulate these prestigious alumnis for all of their hard work and let us also wish them luck in the games."
Principal Celestia started clapping, as did Vice Principal Luna. Eventually, the room was filled with applause and cheers, proud that the all-time best twelve students will represent their school in the coveted Friendship Games. Sunset Shimmer, though, was baffled since she did not get asked to, nor did she accept into participating in these games. When the faculty meeting cleared out, she spoke with Principal Celestia.
"A penny for your thoughts, Sunset Shimmer?" asked Principal Celestia.
"You said you asked and everyone accepted into playing in the games on Friday," she said.
"That is correct."
"But I wasn't asked." Sunset Shimmer alerted.
Principal Celestia rested her hand on Sunset Shimmer's shoulder, smiling softly at her. "I didn't ask you because I knew you would say yes."
"You knew?"
"I did," answered Principal Celestia, "and when we ran through the numbers, picking our best students, when your friends all fell into place, we knew it would make your choice even more solidified. I apologize for not asking you, but I also thank you for participating as well."
"I should be thanking you, Celestia," Sunset Shimmer smiled.
"Why's that?"
"Because you have brought us all back together," Sunset Shimmer replied, "and that's the only thing I've wanted these last couple of years."
"I see..."
"And now, we can finally beat Crystal Prep for real this time," Sunset Shimmer spoke with determination, "and we'll do it together!"