More curious than evil

Sunset didn't immediately notice, but Twilight wasn't wearing her glasses. Upon quick questioning, the former crystal prep student was wearing contacts, which was weird, because last week, when Rainbow Dash suggested the newbie to try on contacts, it had resulted Twilight falling into an one hour explanation as to why contacts are a bad idea.

But that was only one thing that stood out to Sunset. Twilight for example wasn't actively working in class, she wasn't taking any notes, although the girl definitely didn't need and finally, she looked almost restless. As if the girl couldn't wait for class to end.

When it did end, the only thing keeping her back was Sunset taking her time. The former Shadowbolt was tapping her foot impatiently, as she waited for her friend to pack her stuff.

"You're really on edge today, aren't you?" Sunset asked her.

Twilight shrugged. "I just want to get out of here. The scent of chemicals is really making me dizzy today."

"Oh, alright."

Strapping her bag on, Sunset followed Twilight outside into the hallways. As before, there were whispers going around about Twilight's new attire. The normally very shy girl didn't seem to mind the attention at all. She was giving the audience some "suggestive" looks.

The fiery haired girl frowned, but waited, until they turned around a corner, before speaking up.

"I already told you, you can talk with us, if anything is bothering you."

Twilight laughed a little. "What's up with you today? I'm fine. Actually, I'm feeling better than I did in a long time." she explained.

"Yeah...but still. I mean..." Sunset let out a sigh. "You're behaving completely different, than the past few weeks." the fiery haired girl pointed out.

"Wasn't it you who was saying, I shouldn't be afraid to be a little bit more outgoing?" the purple skinned girl asked with a grin.

"You know exactly what I mean." Sunset retorted, a little annoyed by the fact that Twilight was very obviously avoiding the subject at hand.

They walked around the corner, only to witness their friend Fluttershy bumping into another student. Both the girl and the boy landed on their butts and Fluttershy also lost everything she had been carrying, books and papers and such. It all was laying scattered on the ground.

“HEY! Watch it, girlie!” The blonde guy shouted, getting up and hovering above the shy girl.

“Eeep! I’m sorry!” she said in her meek voice.

“Speak up, when I’m talking to you!”

“Hey, leave her alone!” Sunset shouted, her conversation with Twilight temporarily forgotten.

Both girls quickly walked towards their friend, with Sunset helping Fluttershy up. Twilight in the meantime blinked at the person in front of them.

“Blueblood?” she asked, her face slowly showing a sly smile.

“Sparkle?! What are you doing here?!” Blublood shouted surprised.

“That’s what I wanted to ask you, but then I remembered.” her smile grew. “Your parents must be really proud of you.”

“Shut up!” Blueblood shouted, his face completely red.

“You know this guy, Twilight?” Sunset asked, both she and Fluttershy looking curiously at their new friend. It was at this very moment that Fluttershy noticed what Twilight was wearing, causing her eyes to widen.

“He was once at Crystal Prep, like me.” she explained. “He got expelled about a month ago. Not even his parents could save him this time. And they’re senators.” Twilight explained with a satisfying smile.

“What are you doing here Sparkle? Finally blew up your precious lab?” he asked with a sneer.

“None of your petty business.” Twilight replied with a wave of her hand.

“What did you just say?” the boy came dangerously close to Twilight, however the girl didn’t react in any way.

“Hey! Get away from her!” Sunset wanted to step in, but was stopped by Twilight raising an arm.

“Leave him be. After what he pulled off at Crystal Prep, he can’t allow himself to get into trouble again. Isn’t that right, bluey?” the girl asked in a sweet innocent voice, making Blueblood’s blood boil.

Who does this girl think she is? Acting so high and mighty, just because she got some new clothes, which made her look more like a slut anyway. A really sexy slut-

Blueblood mentally shook his head. Not wanting to deal with this anymore, he shoved Twilight away and went down the hall, only for him to stumble over something and fall flat on his nose. He looked behind, but couldn’t find the thing he just fell over. Angry and slightly embarrassed he quickened his pace and was soon gone.

As soon as he was out of sight, Twilight walked up to Fluttershy.

“Are you alright?” she asked genuinely worried, knowing how sensitive her friend was. In return Fluttershy nodded meekly, still taken aback by her friend’s new appeal.

“Don’t let him bother you, okay? He’s just a jerk, who’s full of himself, because his parents hold important positions in our government. Oh right. Let me help you with these.”

Twilight proceeded to pick up the things that were laying on the floor. Sunset proceeded to help, but kept a close eye on the lavender skinned girl. Said girl of course noticed the constant looks both of her friends were giving her.

Guess I need to tell them after school. And somehow convince them not to take everything away from me.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.” Fluttershy whispered, taking her stuff from her friends. She quickly sorted everything out, glancing every now and then to Twilight, who was smiling kindly in her direction.

Sunset was more confused than ever, but at the same time was sure of one thing. Something was up with Twilight and she would not let herself being shrugged off anymore.

Sunset waited to confront Twilight until lunch period, when the Rainbooms would all be gathered together on the table. At least that was the plan, but to the unicorn’s surprise it was Twilight who took the advantage. The two were just standing in line, when the newest Wondercolt spoke up.

“I know you have questions.” Twilight whispered, causing Sunset to turn around. The fiery haired girl didn’t expect to see the former crystal prep student frowning.
“Can you and the others come over to my place after school? I promise I’ll explain everything there. It’s...” she looked down. “It’s complicated.”

Sunset took in a deep breath and then smiled. “Okay. Thanks for trusting us. Though, I don’t know if the others can come today.”

Speaking of the others, Rainbow Dash almost spit out her cider, yet managed to swallow it.

“Holy shit, Twi! What the hell are you wearing?”

“You like it?” Twilight smiled. “I found them at Rarity’s place.”

“Really now?” Applejack asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Don’t worry. She didn’t force me to wear it or anything. And yes, I know. It’s completely different from what I usually wear.” she said with a mock roll of her eyes.

“Ah say. No offense Twi’, but ya look straight up laike...how do ah put this?” the farm girl felt very uncomfortable saying what she had on her mind.

“Anyway” Rarity stopped AJ before her friend potentially said something she would regret saying. “personally, I think it quite fits her. Even if I would have chosen something a bit more elegant.”

“What are you talking about? I think she looks super, duper!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed in her usual cheerful manner.

“Still sugar. Why the sudden change of outfits?” Applejack asked.

“If I’m 100% honest, I just want to burn this stupid uniform.” Twilight informed the rest.

“Why’s that?” the farmer asked the question, everyone was silently asking inside their heads.

“Yeah, it didn’t even look bad.” Pinkie Pie nodded.

“It’s not really about the looks, more like...screw it, I just want to forget my entire time at Crystal Prep.” the new girl admitted, frowning at her food.

Her friends gave each other a look. Sunset had the feeling they might just have gotten a hint on Twilight’s change of behavior.

“I know it wasn’t the best time you ever had, but I’m pretty sure the Shadowbolts felt sorry for everything, after...well you know, seeing you letting it “all out”. No offense.”

“None taken.” Twilight waved off. “And I wasn’t really letting it all out.” she explained, causing everyone to snap their heads into her direction. So far the friendship games had been a very delicate subject, at least when Twilight was around. But from the looks of things, she was actually going to speak openly about her experience.

“I wasn’t...really in control you know. It was like my deepest desires, namely learning everything about magic and possibly gaining even more power, had surfaced and taken over my mind. If I would have been in control…” Twilight made a long pause. “I’m sure I would have freaked for maybe a split second, like when I called for help. But simply feeling the magic going through me.” She took in a deep breath. “I’m sure I would have used it in some way to finally get my payback on everyone, before going off to Equestria.”

Again her friends looked uncomfortable at each other, not sure what to say or if they should say anything at all at the moment.

“At the same time, I wouldn’t have tried to destroy this world. There are a few people I really care about, you know? Spike, my brother, Dean Cadance, my parents...and you guys.” she added with a smile, to which everyone else smiled back.

“Sorry, but can we talk about something else? This is really depressing and I really just want to forget everything about Crystal Prep.”

“Reminds me, didn’t you want to invite us over to your place, today?” Sunset asked.

“Oh, are we going to have a sleepover?” Pinkie asked, leaning over the table.

Twilight in return laughed. “Sorry, but I don’t think my parents would allow it on such a short notice. No, there’s something I want to show you girls. If you have the time, today.”

“Sure thing. Don’t have anything better to do, today.” Rainbow shrugged.

“Yeah, me too. It’s Big Mac’s turn ta take care of th’ animals.” Applejack agreed.

“Totally fine with me!” Pinkie Pie held up her fork, before digging in, causing little splashes of food to splatter everywhere.

“Pinkie Pie!” Rarity shouted. “Please be more careful. In any event, my schedule is free for today. What about you, Fluttershy?”

“Oh....um...I think so. Yes.” the animal lover whispered, avoiding her to look directly at Twilight.

“I already gave you my okay.” Sunset nodded.

I wonder what caused this sudden change of behavior. It’s almost like she is possessed, but that can’t be it, right? She’s still all friendly towards us. Is this maybe a part of her personality she suppressed because of the bullying? And now she’s letting it finally out? But why now and not earlier? No, that theory just doesn’t add up. It must be something else.

For the rest of the day, Twilight had classes with each of the girls on different periods. Rainbow Dash tried to tease the girl during PE, about how she was trying to grab herself a guy, but Twilight just shrugged it off.

“You’re just jealous, your outfit is not as awesome as mine.”

Rainbow replied by throwing a dodgeball at the girl.

After school was finally over, everyone gathered outside, waiting for the bus to come. Spike used the time to stretch himself, as he didn’t get to walk around a lot that day.

“Twilight, you need a bigger bag. Every single bone in my body hurts.”

“Sorry Spike.” Twilight patted him on the head. “I don’t have my own lab here at this school. Guess you’ll have to stay at home from now on.”

“Aww.” Spike dropped his head on Twilight’s lap, to which the girl gave her best friend a nice, slow massage on his back.

“Um...I have a spare bag.” Fluttershy spoke carefully. “It’s big enough and you can separate him from your books.”

“Really? You would lend me it? Aw, thank you, Fluttershy.”

“Y-you’re welcome.” Fluttershy meeped, as the lavender skinned girl threw her arms around the butter colored one. She was freed from her friend, when the bus arrived and everyone stepped inside.

Around 20 minutes later…

“My parents won’t be home, until this evening.” Twilight explained, as she opened the door. “Please take off your shoes. My mom gets a fit, when the floor gets dirty. The living room is just up ahead. Do any of you want something to drink maybe?”

By the declination from all of her friends, Twilight shrugged and told the girls to make themselves comfortable, as she wanted to get Spike something to eat before anything else.

The living room was really spacious. It had multiple couches, a flat screen TV, a huge potted plant in the corner, purple and blue curtains in front of very long windows, a garden was outside and finally there was a cabinet filled with pictures of various family members.

“Man, Twilight’s living really good.” Rainbow commented.

“Hmm, I don’t know. I think this room just begs to be decorated.” Rarity looked around, already getting some ideas.

“Wonder if every room is as big as this one.” Sunset commented looking at a picture, which showed the entire Sparkle family and Dean Cadance sitting outside an ice café. There was a book lying on the table in front of Twilight. Spike was still puppy, by the time the picture was taken.

Twilight walked into the living room, holding a glass of water in her hand. She placed it on the small cabinet the TV was standing on, before speaking up.

“Okay. I’m sure you all find my behavior today...rather odd.”

Yeah, odd. Sunset thought to herself.

“Now, I want to reassure you, I’m feeling perfectly fine both mentally and physically.”

“You’re starting to worry me darling.” Rarity said, frowning.

“Yeah, stop beating around the bush and tell us what’s up.” Rainbow proclaimed.

“Alright, alright. First off, do you girls by any chance know a trio of girls, who claim to be sirens?”

The atmosphere darkened immediately. In a matter of moments, Twilight found herself surrounded by her friends, who each looked at her with a mixture of worry and anger.

“What did they do to you?” Rainbow asked in a dangerously low tone.

“Please stand back.”

The girls looked at each other, before taking a few steps back. They initially assumed, they made the girl in the middle somehow uncomfortable. However, these thoughts quickly left their minds, as Twilight was suddenly flown into the air. Soon enough she was surrounded by a dark purple glow. Sparks of purple energy flew towards her, until a shockwave was released from where the girl was flying. Suddenly hovering above them was no longer their friend Twilight Sparkle, but Midnight Sparkle complete with wings, horn and the “glasses”.

Midnight gracefully landed on the ground, folding her wings behind her back. She looked to each of her friends, noting their reactions. Fluttershy was hiding her face behind her hair, and looked like she wanted to hide behind the couch. Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked at her in utter disbelief. Their bodies were bend over, possibly ready to attack and subdue her. Rarity was looking aghast, but held her ground. Pinkie Pie looked worried at Midnight, not smiling anymore, but looking determined. And as for Sunset, at first glance she appeared calm, but you could see her eyes frantically moving, her brain analyzing the situation, deciding whether to run and regroup or face Midnight now.

“They knocked me out, when I went stargazing last night and brought me to their home. They performed some kind of ritual and transferred the last remaining magic they had into me.” Midnight chuckled.

“It turned out, they thought I was Princess Twilight. The plan was to corrupt her and accept her as their new master, until they would find an opportunity to get their powers back. I cleared up everything and made them run for their dear lives, before heading home.”

“These bitches don’t know when to call quits.” Rainbow growled, her eyes never leaving Midnight.

“Oh darling, I’m so sorry.” Rarity told her friend.

“Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault and I’m actually feeling really good.” Midnight explained, smiling. “Of course, you’re already thinking of a way to “purge” me of the dark magic, aren’t you Sunset?” Midnight asked, approaching the girl she had spoken to, until their faces were only inches away.

Sunset for her part managed to hold the gaze, but didn’t say anything.

“What else do you expect us to do? Just to sit here and let you do whatever you have planned?” Rainbow Dash asked, motioning for AJ to take position behind Midnight.

“Oh, but the only thing I have “planned” is to ask Sunset to be my teacher.” Midnight said, causing everyone to halt in their motions.

“What? You’re joking, right?” Sunset asked.

“Of course not.” Midnight said as a matter of factly. She took a few steps back, resulting in Rainbow’s plan to tackle the girl from behind to get busted, since Midnight now had the athlete girl in her view.

“You see, I have all these powers, but the only thing I can do is act on instinct and mostly let the magic happen. Quite literally. I don’t understand any of it and it’s really bothering me.” she let out a frustrated sigh.

“What did you expect? Me trying to take over the world?”

“Kinda.” Pinkie Pie said confused.

The winged girl in the middle looked towards the party girl and shook her head. “No, that would be just unnecessary distraction.”

“Unnecessary distraction?” AJ repeated in a deadpan. “Ya mean it, don’t ya?”

Midnight nodded. “I know you have very little reason to trust me at the moment, since last time I lost control over myself, when I was overwhelmed with magic. But consider this, if my plan really was to take over this world or Equestria, wouldn’t it be easier for me to put you all under my control, make you my personal slaves and use you to drain you regularly of your magic?”

The other girls couldn’t help, but consider this. There wasn’t really any reason for Midnight to reveal herself to all of them and then not do anything to prevent them from stopping her again?

“Let’s say, I agree.” Sunset said carefully. “What do you plan on using this knowledge for?”

“Satisfying my curiosity of course. This is really the only reason. No taking over the world, no secret cult, slavery and no making you my personal magic supplies. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. GAH!”

Suddenly Midnight found herself hugged from behind by Pinkie Pie, who was almost literally pressing the air out of the dark being.

“Oh goodie, goodie! I was worried there for a moment you turned evil, again, and we would have to zap you with our rainbow light, again, but before that we might have had to fight our way through an army of teenage zombies, again, and then-mmhmhmhmm mhmm mhm mhm, MHM, mhmhmhmm mhm mhm mhmmmhmm, MHM-”

Pinkie Pie’s mouth had already been sealed shut by Midnight’s magic, but somehow the party girl didn’t seem to realize that and went on and on and on, until she was finally finished. Everyone was looking at the scene, expecting to wake up from a weird dream. Carefully the winged girl released Pinkie’s mouth from the magic, ready to seal it shut again.

“Uh...thanks for believing me?”

“Well, DUH! You pinkie promised, silly.” The pink haired girl brought her face so close to Midnight’s, their noses were pressing against each other. “And nobody breaks a Pinkie Promise.” she added in all seriousness.

“Oooh! Can I touch your feathers? Can I, can I?”

Before Midnight could say something or one of the others take Pinkie Pie away, the girl touched one of the feathers, causing the dark magic infused girl to shriek.

“AHH!”

“Ohohohoho, is someone ticklish?” Pinkie Pie asked with a devilish grin.

“Wait, no, no! AHHH! Ahahahahahahah, stop it! Hahahaha!”

Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash walked up to Sunset, their eyes never leaving the scene of Pinkie Pie and Midnight Sparkle lying on the ground, while the latter was being tortured by tickle attacks from the party planner.

“Am ah dreaming this?” Applejack asked carefully.

“I don’t think so. Unless we have the same dream.” Rarity put in her two cents.

“What do we do now?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“She doesn’t look...you know...evil.” Fluttershy whispered.

“Honestly?” Sunset tried to ignore the upcoming headache. “I am not even sure what to do at this point. Did one of you spike one of my drinks?”