Chapter 2

~.~

"Oh, they're that kind of off!" Pinkie Pie says.

The girls soon leave the cafeteria, deciding to talk to Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna.

"Those three are definitely in possession of some kind of dark magic. How else could you explain what happened back there?" Sunset asks as the seven girls walk down the hallway.

"Magic? Really?" Becky asks, skeptical.

"You've really got a lot to learn about CHS." Rainbow Dash says.

"Don't worry, y'all. We'll let Principal Celestia know about all this and those girls will be kicked to the curb in no time. Last thing she needs is another CHS event almost ruined by some power-crazed lunatic. Er, no offense." Applejack says, directing that last sentence at Sunset.

"None taken." Sunset says before turning to Becky.

"We'll tell you everything you need to know after we're done talking to the principal. You can come in if you want." Sunset says as the group approaches the door to the Principal's Office.

"Nah. I'll just stay out here."

"Suit yourself, sugar cube." Applejack says, following the other girls into the office.

Becky leans against the wall, waiting for her new friends to be done.

"Well, if it isn't the new girl. Pity you had to stay out here while your friends went in to the Principal." Adagio says, approaching Becky with Sonata and Aria.

"For your information, I chose to stay out here." Becky says.

"So, I'm guessing you were told about how Sunset Shimmer tried to take over the school with Equestrian magic."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. But I trust Sunset."

"Oh, do you?"

"From what I've seen of her, she seems like a different person from whom you described."

"I'm sure her true self will come to light. Have a nice day." Adagio, Sonata and Aria walk away.

~.~

The girls come out of the principal's office.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Becky." Sunset says.

"What's this about you trying to take over the school with Equestrian magic...whatever that is?"

"Becky...I was a different person then...I was mean. Very mean. But I regret every single mean thing that I did...I...I didn't know about friendship back then."

"Wow. That's surprising...that you didn't know about friendship back then. You've changed quite a bit, I bet. It's nice I got know the new you before I heard about the old you...but the old you is in the past. The new you is all I'm worried about." Becky says.

"Wow. That's so...nice of you. Thank you, Becky." Sunset says.

"You're welcome, Sunset."

"Come on, y'all. Let's go talk things through and explain to our new friend here what Equestrian magic is." Applejack says.

The seven girls go out to the statue in front of the school and explain Equestrian magic to Becky.

"I can't believe they got to Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna, too." Fluttershy says, letting a ladybug crawl on her finger.

"They've gotten to everybody." Rainbow Dash says, tossing around a soccer ball.

"Not everybody!" Pinkie Pie says enthusiastically.

"Pinkie Pie's right. We were there when the Dazzlings were singin' and we weren't affected. It was like we were protected somehow. Even Becky was protected." Applejack says.

"So let's take them down! It's not like we haven't tangled with dark magic before and totally whooped its sorry butt! Uh, no offense." Rainbow Dash says.

"None taken. Again." Sunset says.

"But that was when Twilight was here. There may be some kind of magic inside us, but it only comes out when we play music. I sure don't know how to use it to…whoop anybody's butt." Fluttershy says.

"If only we could get a message to Twilight. Maybe she could tell us how to break the spell the Dazzlings have cast on our friends." Rarity says.

"Well, that's not gonna happen. The portal's closed." Rainbow Dash says, throwing her soccer ball and causing Rarity to spill her nail polish.

"And I get the feeling they don't exactly have cell phones where she's from." Rainbow Dash says.

Sunset gets an idea.

"I may have an idea how we can get in touch with Princess Twilight!" Sunset says.

The girls follow Sunset to her locker.

"When I was Princess Celestia's student back in Equestria, she gave me this." Sunset pulls out a journal with her cutie mark on it.

"Even after I abandoned my studies, I held onto it. Deep down, I guess I knew I was making a big mistake, and I wanted to still have a way to reach out to her. Maybe it still works."

"That's a book, darling. What do you mean, 'maybe still works'?" Rarity asks.

"It used to be that if I wrote something here, it would appear in the pages of a book back in Princess Celestia's library. I get a message to her, then she can get a message to Princess Twilight." Sunset explains.

"So what are you waiting for? Get to writing!" Rainbow Dash says, handing Sunset a pen.

"Been a long time since I've written these words. 'Dear Princess Celestia…'"

~.~

The girls head back to the statue to wait for Twilight.

"I'm starting to think she's not coming." Rainbow Dash says.

"Yeah, I'm starting to think that, too, Rainbow." Becky remarks.

Suddenly, Twilight (and Spike) come out of the statue and the girls, minus Becky, crowd around them.

"Twilight!"

"I'm back. And I've got some bad news about those new girls."

It's then Twilight notices Becky, leaning against the non-portal part of the statue.

"Hi! I'm Twilight Sparkle. Are you new here?"

"I am. Sunset invited me to her and her friends' lunch table, so I've just been tagging along."

"They're a great group of friends, so I'm sure you'll fit right in with them."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The eight girls – and Spike – head to a coffee shop after school.

Becky sticks near Sunset, so the two are chatting while the other girls are talking.

"So you grew up in the southeast, only to move here for your dad's job?"

"Yeah. I didn't really have any friends at my old school, so this is a good change, meeting you and your friends, well, I guess our friends would be more like it, since they're my friends now, too."

"Well, we're happy to welcome you into our group."

"Thank you, Sunset."

Sunset and Becky rejoin the others' conversation.

"Perhaps you would give us just the slightest bit of gossip from your world?" Rarity asks.

"She's got an official title now. The Princess of Friendship!"

"Is that dog talking?" Becky whispers to Sunset.

"You'll get used to it." Sunset whispers back.

"Wow, Twilight, that's really impressive. Guess you really were Princess Celestia's prized pupil." Sunset says.

"She's even got her own castle!" Spike says.

"A castle?! You have your own castle?! Eh…ooh, uh, lovely." Rarity says after accidentally spilling Twilight's drink on her and cleaning it up with napkins.

Soon, the girls decide to crash the party that all the bands – including the Dazzlings – will be at at the school.