Twilight Sparkle kissed her puppy's furry purple head.
"I'll only be gone for a little while," she told him reassuringly. Spike barked in reply. Twilight giggled. He could always make her laugh!
"I knew you'd understand," she told him before turning to pick up her equipment. Twilight's equipment consisted of several video cameras, audio recorders, seismographs, and several other pieces of "science junk" she had bought off E-Neigh. What did she need all this stuff for? Simple: Research.
Twilight carried her stuff outside and carefully placed it all in the back of her mother's car. It was a white convertible, and it had just enough space for all her technology. After double-checking to make sure it was all secure, Twilight climbed into the front seat and adjusted her favorite white lab coat before strapping her seatbelt down.
Twilight turned the key and started the car. She could see Spike watching her from the garage as she pulled out of her driveway. Twilight sent a little wave his way. Spike barked happily, as he watched her leave. Twilight wasn't worried he would chase after the car like other people might worry; Spike was good, loyal, and well-trained. She knew he would stay out and behave.
It's almost like he's a sapient creature, Twilight thought as she silently drove the convertible. The only reason she had a driver's license was because it allowed her the freedom to conduct experiments around town. And lately, Twilight had been driving in one direction: Canterlot High School.
Twilight had first become aware of the school last fall. Well, she had known of its existence since 8th grade, but she hadn't bothered herself to learn more about it. Last fall, however, had been the first time when her thaumometer, a machine which detected magical auroras, has spiked. Twilight had been able to pinpoint the location on Canterlot High.
After months of relative silence, it had spiked again last week. After some investigation, (which may or may not have involved Twilight hacking into the school's database) Twilight had concluded that six girls were involved with these magical spikes.
Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, and Sunset Shimmer. Twilight listed the names off in her head. They all had a connection with these magic spikes, Twilight was aware of that, but why?
Why was the question Twilight was determined to answer.
Twilight knew the route to Canterlot High very well. It wasn't too far from her own house just inside the city. Not wanting to be spotted by curious students, Twilight parked half a mile away from the school.
First, the cameras, Twilight thought, jumping out and grabbing several video cameras. She had specially modified them so they transmitted a live, HD video feed directly to her lab. Twilight was quite proud of herself for that; the modifications had took her several days.
Twilight also pulled out a light blue wig from the glove compartment. She fit it snuggly on her head so no one would recognize her, if anybody saw her at all. Although she didn't care about it, there had been a really nasty video about her made by one of the girls, Sunset Shimmer, last fall. Twilight wasn't sure who had been in it or how they knew her, but she didn't want to take the chance of being spotted.
Disguised and ready, Twilight walked through the bushes to the side of the school. There were no students out, thankfully, so Twilight didn't have to worry too much.
Twilight set up one camera right outside the entrance. The entrance was always an important place to have a camera. And apparently, only Twilight had thought of this; the school had no cameras outside it. Twilight shook her head in disgust.
The school was also lacking in locks. Twilight easily pushed the door open and walked straight inside. She checked her watch. 10:04. Classes had just started. She'd be alone for a while.
Twilight hurried through the hallways, which were lined with green lockers. She had the Sunset Shimmer girl's locker combination on a slip of paper in her pocket. She had a special mini-camera that was almost undetectable if you weren't aware of its existence. Perfect for sticking into someone's locker.
Twilight found Sunset's locker. Working quickly, she opened it up. A pile of books lay on the bottom and a black leather jacket hung on a hook, but it was otherwise empty. Twilight rolled her eyes.
Punk fashionista. Typical. Twilight took the special camera out of her pocket and stuck it in a crevice between two pieces of green metal.
"Hey, you." Twilight froze. Slowly, she turned around. A tan-skinned girl with spiky green hair was standing in the middle of the hall, watching her. Another punk?
"Yes?" She asked, trying to appear calm under pressure. This wasn't Sunset Shimmer; she knew that much.
The girl narrowed her eyes.
"What are you doing in Sunset's locker?" She asked suspiciously. An alibi quickly flashed into Twilight's mind.
"I'm doing a science experiment!" She told the girl. "I'd explain more, but I'm in such a hurry to get this thing done! But please, don't tell Sunset, it'll ruin the experiment!" Before the girl could respond, Twilight was off down the hall as fast as her legs could carry her.
"That was a close one," Twilight whispered to herself she turned the bend. Now, I think a visit to the cafeteria would be in order.
Twilight walked through the green corridors until she passed by an open door. Twilight paused, peering inside. It see be to be a gymnasium, with a stage set up with instruments at the back.
Might as well set up while I'm here, Twilight decided. She walked up to the stage, where there was a ladder behind the instruments. Twilight set most of her cameras down, leaving only one in her hand. She climbed the ladder carefully, so she wouldn't get hurt.
However, when she reached the top, Twilight was in a predicament. One hand was occupied with the camera, and she couldn't reach the ceiling. If she couldn't reach the ceiling, Twilight couldn't hang up the camera. And this seemed like a likely spot for students to gossip about magical occurrences.
"Dang it," Twilight muttered, reaching out as far as she could with her long lavender fingers. Even stretch ing as far as she could, Twilight barely brushed the ceiling.
Suddenly, the ladder began to quiver. Twilight's legs wobbled.
Oh no. The ladder was unbalanced!
"Woah!" Twilight cried in panic as she nibbled back and forth. The ladder would topple any minute. It was probably better to jump than be crushed, right?
Right. Twilight jumped off the ladder and onto the hard wood stage. The ladder fell right next to her, nearly taking off her right arm. Twilight groaned.
"I think I bruised my rib," she muttered, rubbing said hip to ease the pain.
Suddenly, a school bell began to blare into the gymnasium.
It's not time for school to let out! Twilight thought, scrambling to stand up again. She ran to the doors of the gym and peeked into the hallways. Students of all kinds were emptying out into the hallway. Twilight noticed the majority of them walked in a neat line.
Probably a fire drill, Twilight reasoned. Might as well try to escape now. Without another hesitation, Twilight ducked into the throngs of students.
Twilight, unfortunately, had picked exactly the wrong spot to get in line.
"Dear, have I seen you before? You seem terribly familiar," the pale skinned girl with the fancy purple hair and dark blue eyes. Twilight recognized the girl as Rarity, one of the girls she was observing.
"Uh, no, you've never seen me before in your life," Twilight responded hastily. It was the truth, after all.
"Your voice sounds familiar, too," Rarity mused as they walked. "Are you absolutely sure we've never met before?"
"Absolutely sure. Look, I have to, uh, go so something in this fire drill." Twilight rushed forward before Rarity could interrogate her further. Unfortunately, that move irritated some other students.
"Watch it!" A boy with a red mohawk grumbled as she squeezed past.
"You'll pay for insulting Trixie like this!" Growled a girl in a magician's outfit after Twilight accidentally rammed her into the wall.
"It was an accident!" Twilight protested, though she truthfully didn't care about this girl in the slightest. "Trixie", as she appeared to have referred to herself in the third person, was not threatening in the least.
At last, the lines filtered out of the school. Twilight ducked out as soon as she could. While the rest of the kids around her lined up and faced the school, Twilight was sneaking away. She still held her video camera in her hand when-
Splat! Twilight tripped and fell face first into a puddle of mud. Mud oozed down her glasses. It drenched her coat. And Twilight's hip hurt again.
"Everyone! Come look!" Twilight recognized Trixie's arrogant voice as she wiped the mud of her face.
"This girl, who disgraced Trixie and you all by cutting in line, has fallen into a puddle of mud!" Trixie boasted. Twilight rolled her eyes. High schoolers weren't senseless; they'd obviously see this was some sort of popularity gimic.
As Twilight stood up, however, she heard a few giggles. Twilight stopped moving as the giggles grew. Soon, a mud-streaked Twilight Sparkle stood in front of hundreds of laughing students- laughing at her.
Twilight had been homeschooled for most of her life. She was always on her own, and she was fine with that. Twilight knew better than to let these strangers get to her. Strangers- they didn't know her at all, and yet they were laughing at her. The sound of laughter seeped into Twilight's brain. This situation was embarrassing.
"Alright, students." a light skinned woman wearing a yellow jacket walked up to the crowd. "Please return to your orderly lines. This is a fire drill after all, not free time."
As the students followed her directions and filed back inside, Twilight's ears burned red with embarrassment. That woman, probably the principal, hadn't bothered to help her at all! Hadn't told her to go inside and get cleaned up, hadn't asked if she was alright, hadn't reprimanded Trixie- nothing!
This is why I was homeschooled, Twilight thought, trying to fight back the shameful tears threatening to flow. Scientists didn't cry. They took every setback with dignity.
Twilight brushed some mud off her video camera. Time to go back home.
"Hold on a minute." Twilight stopped walking when she heard a voice behind her. She turned around to see a girl with pale lavender skin stand there. Her long black hair was also streaked with green, and her pale purple gaze met Twilight's evenly.
"What? You here to make fun of me too?" Twilight flicked a fleck of mud off her coat sleeve as she spoke. The girl shook her head, smiling.
"No, but I can take you back to my house to get cleaned up," she offered. Twilight feed her arms.
"I think I can take care of myself," she responded.
"No, really, my house is only the next street over," the girl insisted. "It would be no trouble." Twilight stared at her silently. Moments ticked by.
"I guess it would be alright," Twilight agreed finally. The girl clapped her hands, obviously delighted Twilight had accepted.
"Great!" She exclaimed. "Follow me.
"I'm Zile, by the way," she added.
"I'm, uh, I'm... Sparkle," Twilight supplied the second part of her name so it wasn't a complete lie. She followed Zile up the sidewalk.
"We cross here," Zile told Twilight at the first crossing stop they came across. Twilight said nothing, she only followed Zile's lead.
The walk down the following street was silent. Twilight had nothing to say, and Zile apparently realized that Twilight wouldn't appreciate conversation.
"We're here!" Zile announced, pointing to a large house beside them. Some parts of the pale pink paint on the side of the house looked fresher than the rest to Twilight. The grass outside was uneven and unkempt.
"Sorry about the mess," Zile apologized as they walked up the path to the stone porch. "My papi is redoing the walls, and he hasn't had time to mow the lawn."
"Shouldn't you be in class?" Twilight suddenly blurted out, realizing the fact for the first time.
Zile turned the house key in the doorknob. "My class is taught by Miss Cheerilee. She's so busy with a group of girls, the Cutie Crusaders, treading on her toes that she barely has time for the rest of us. Nobody really minds, though. We often sneak out during her class."
"That's wrong." Twilight folded her arms. Zile turned around to look at her.
"It may seem that way, but it's not. Everyone and anyone who leaves to take care of stuff knows they have work to do later. Nobody ever skips just to get out of learning.
"Now," Zile continued, "here we are!" She pushed her door open. Zile stepped in first, followed by Twilight.
Even a braniac like Twilight had to admit Zile had a fantastic and stylish house. It wasn't perfectly neat, but there wasn't toys and dirty laundry scattered about. The carpet beneath Twilight's feet was made of red velvet, and added elegance to the scene. The walls were painted a pale cream that complemented the wooden furniture.
"The laundry room's this way!" Zile exclaimed, gesturing for Twilight to follow her.
"Your house... it's so elegant!" For some reason, Twilight struggled to get the compliment out of her throat. Zile laughed.
"Thanks! It doesn't completely suit my tastes, but then again, it's my parents' house, not mine!" Zile descended a short set of stairs to a small room. Two identical washing machines stood at the end of the room. Beside them were racks of freshly cleaned clothes.
"Twilight, take off your labcoat," Zile instructed, holding her hands out for said labcoat. Twilight, however, was hesitant.
"This means a lot to me. Are you sure you'll take good care of it?" She asked.
"Promise," Zile responded. Twilight could hear the sincerity in her voice.
"Okay," Twilight agreed, handing her lab coat over.
"Thanks." Zile smiled. She carried Twilight's coat over to one of the washing machines. Twilight watched as she lay the lab coat inside one and pressed the 'Wash' button. The washing machine started humming softly. It felt like a lullaby to Twilight.
"So what do I do while we wait?" Twilight asked, tapping her foot.
"Did you get any mud on your shirt?" Zile asked, blowing a strand of green hair out of her face. Twilight looked down at herself.
"No, I'm good," Twilight answered.
"Good. I'll make some hot chocolate," Zile volunteered. "Then you'll get your lab coat back and I'll get back to school."
"Sounds good," Twilight agreed, leaning against a wall.
"Be right back!" Zile exclaimed, dashing away to the kitchen. At least, Twilight assumed she had gone to the kitchen.
Twilight was left alone for a short time, the hum of the washing machine the only thing keeping her company. After about five minutes, Zile returned, a mug of hot chocolate in either hand.
"Here you go!" Zile exclaimed cheerfully, handing Twilight a magenta mug.
"Thanks," Twilight responded. Carefully taking the cup, Twilight raised it to her lips and took a sip. It tasted good. The warm liquid in her mouth reminded Twilight of playing in the snow with her older brother, back when she was a small child.
Zile and Twilight stopped their drinks silently. Twilight usually felt awkward when conversation died away, but not with Zile. With Zile, Twilight felt fine.
Twilight had just finished her mug when her hostess announced, "Your jacket should be done now!"
"That was fast," Twilight remarked as Zile zipped across the room to get the lab coat.
"I know!" Zile agreed. "When we first got these, I was freaked out because they were so fast! My ma loves them, though.
"Does it look alright?" She held up the lab coat for Twilight to see. It looked as clean as fresh snow, barely a blemish on it.
"I don't think I've ever seen it this clean," Twilight said as she gently took her lab coat and tried it on. It felt as soft as a baby's blanket, and Twilight knew those were really soft. "Thank you!"
"Don't mention it," Zile replied, smiling. "Well, we'd better get back. I mean, I should get back. You don't go to Canterlot High, do you?" Twilight shook her head.
"I'm homeschooled," she elaborated.
"Cool." Zile beckoned to Twilight, and they walked through Zile's house to the front door.
"I can get home from here," Twilight told Zile.
"Are you sure?" Zile asked. Twilight nodded again.
"Alright." Zile stuck her hand out. "It was nice meeting you, Twilight."
"You too," Twilight responded. She took Zile's hand and shook it. When they finished, Twilight gave Zile a half-smile before turning and walking in the direction of her car.
I probably better go back to my house and check on the cameras I have running so far, Twilight thought.