Chapters "Twilight!" Spike jumped through the portal following Twilight. The mirror in Equestria was part of the wormhole connecting the alternate world and the pony world. They both landed at the end of the portal. Twilight first and Spike following. They both landed on a lawn, right next to a pedestal with a horse on top. It seemed like that was the other end of the portal.
"OUCH!" Twilight winced and rubbed her head. Looking over, she saw Spike, but Spike wasn't Spike the dragon, he was Spike the DOG ! "What happen-"
Suddenly, Twilight heard a voice from above.
"Look who's here." Both dog and human looked up. Their eyes met a face framed with yellow and red striped hair. It looked like Sunset Shimmer, but the hair was shorter and the features more masculine....
"Sunset Shimmer? "
"For your information, Dusk Shine, it's Sunset Glare," said Sunset.
"Who?" asked Twil- Dusk Shine
"Don't you get it? The portal transported you here to the human
"Is that a threat?" asked "Spike".
We interrupt your regularly scheduled program with a message from your author:
Spike? I dunno. You know what I mean, so roll with it. The answer is coming soon. And a change of pronouns.
"No, of course it isn't," said Sunset in a slight mocking tone.
"Spike" growled.
Sunset bent down to "Spike's" eye level. " But I'd be quiet if I were you."
With that, Sunset Glare turned away and walked to the large building, slamming the door on the way in.
"Spike, what do I look like? I need you to tell me..."
"Well, you look like you. Same purple hair with the 2 stripes, but shorter. You look like you, but at the same time you don't. I think what Sunset said was true.. Is that a problem?"
"Yes, it's a problem, because Princess Celestia said that this alternate world wasn't going to be so different from Equestria. Now how are we going to get my crown..." He pulled his legs under him and looked over to Spike.
"Spike, Spike, SPIKE! " The dog looked up at Dusk.
"Sorry, I was thinking about what Sunset said, about the portal's magic. Do you think it worked on me?"
"Well, let's look at your name tag." Dusk looked over the license, and at where the name would be, it said 'Barbara'
"Your tag says 'Barbara', so the magic must have worked. So now that that's out of the way, what should we do now?"asked Dusk.
Barbara answered, " Let's head inside CHS."
"What?"
"That's what it says on the banner." Pointing to the sign that said, "CHS Autumn Dance, Friday 10th'' "I'm guessing that's the name of the school. Wait, wasn't Sunset talking about being Autumn Dance prince. That dance is in 3 days, from what it says on the banner. So, what now?"
"Well, Barbara, it looks like the only way to get the crown is to become Autumn Dance prince. First, we got to find out where to sign up, and I remember reading in a book that the head of schools are the principals, and they usually have an office. We should go inside and find out where this office is."
Dusk remembered Sunset saying that Barbara would be taken away if she wasn't hidden, so before walking in the school, Dusk told Barbara to stay inside his backpack.
CHS looked pretty quiet to Dusk, but that was before he heard the bell...
BRING!!!
Kids started to rush in, heading to their next class. Unfortunately for Dusk, the kids made him trip and stumble. Trying to pull his leg from a huddle of jocks, he accidentally went flying into someone. This someone helped him up by pulling his hand. Dusk looked at the face whoever helped him. The girl had blue eyes and short, blue, windblown hair. This mysterious stanger asked, "Are you okay? That was quite a stumble you took..." Dusk nodded and kept walking down the hallway, stopping when he soon saw something.
Barbara (who was still inside Dusk's backpack) saw it first. "Look!" Barbara pointed to a door labeled "Principal Solaris OFFICE ".
"Good job, Barbara. I'll knock, you stay hidden in my backpack." Dusk knocked 3 times and paused. Inside, a voice (probably Principal Solaris) answered, " Come in..." Dusk walked in and saw the principal inside filing papers.
"Principal Solaris, I came to ask if you know where I could sign up for Autumn Dance prince."
Principal Solaris answered without looking up. " Yes, you would need to sign up with Bubble Berry, the head of the Party Planning Committee. The committee is setting up in the Gym."
"Thank you." Dusk headed to the Gym with Barbara in his backpack.
"Hello?" Dusk called out from the Gym's entrance. Facing foward, he was face to face with a boy who had blue eyes,a light pink complexion, and PINK hair.
Strange, thought Dusk. He looks like Pinkie. But that isn't possible. He was wearing a pink and white shirt with a circle on it and pink pants. 3 balloons were on the front pocket.
Dusk said again,"Hello? Do you know where Bubble Berry is?"
"No silly, I'M
"Well, umm, Dusk Shine?" replied Dusk. "This is my dog, Barbara." Barbara peeked out of Dusk's backpack. "I'm here to sign up to run for Autumn Dance prince.... so where can I sign up?"
"You really took your time. The dance is day after tomorrow. So, you're new?"
"Um, yes?"
"I thought so, because I pretty much know everyone here in CHS."
"Okay."
"Hmm, now that I'm looking at you," Bubble tapped his chin. "Do you have a twin brother who lives in the city with a dog named Barbara just like yours?"
"Possibly?"
"Okay, then. So, you sign up with me on this form. Here..." Bubble pulled a clipboard with paper on it out of nowhere. He handed it to Dusk to sign; Dusk gingerly took the pen he was handed with his ...well... hand. He shakily signed the paper and handed the clipboard to Bubble. Bubble Berry took it and looked it over. A look of shock covered his face.
"WOOWZA, and I thought MY handwriting was horrible!"
Someone started knocking on the Gym door, saying,"Apple Family cider deliver for Bubble Berry!"
"YAY, THE CIDER'S HERE!!! I'm think they're going to need a lot to help unload. I think I ordered-"
"3x too many wagons of cider." A boy was coming through the doors, helping unload apple cider from 1, 2, no 6 large, overfilled wagons. A light brown cowboy hat was on his head. He had green eyes, freckles around his nose, a tan complexion , and light blond hair tied at the back of his head in a loose ponytail. He wore a white shirt with green sleeves, and blue pants with apples embroidered on the bottom hem. He uncapped a bottle and started drinking from it. When he finished, he introduced himself to Dusk.
"Name's Apple Jack, A. J. for short. I'll need help unloa-"
"No, silly-billy, Dusk is here to run for Autumn Dan-" Now it was Bubble's turn to be cut off.
"AUTUMN DANCE PRINCE!!! Did Bubble hit you with falling party decorations, or are you crazy?!?! No one, and ah' mean, no one, runs against Sunset Glare for Autumn Dance prince. Last pers'n who did that, ah' reck'n he moved schools beause he was severly humiliated." Apple Jack pulled down 2 balloons down that were floating around. He took a marker and drew 2 faces on them, Dusk's and Sunset's. He impersonated them both.
" 'I am really looking foward to being good friends through this competition...' 'Oh, that's great' An' here comes the backstabbin' "
He turned Sunset's balloon around, showing a needle taped on the back. A. J. popped "Dusk" "You better watch you back... what's you're name again?"
"Twi-" he felt a jab in his back and finished, correcting himself. "Dusk Shine."
Dusk felt that is backpack was lighter, and he turned around. He saw Barbara start to run outside. He followed, running and calling, " Barbara!" He caught up with his dog, and saw Barbara jump behind a bush.
A boy with light pink hair was kneeling down and petting Barbara. In a soft voice, he started to talk to Barbara.
"Nice doggy.." He fed Barbara treats until Dusk interrupted them.
"Excuse me." The boy looked up with a frightened look on his face. "Oh, I'm so so sorry. I didn't think that this anyone's dog. I thought he was a stray. I'm REALLY sorry. It's just th-"
"You're really sorry? My name's Dusk. What's your name? " asked Dusk. The boy was nervously pulling his pink hair over his face. He was desperately trying to hide his face.
"Butterscotch... "
"I'm sorry. I didn't get that."
"Butterscotch.."
TO BE CONTINUED....
"Well then, I will be just going..." Dusk started to walk away.
About an hour later, it was lunchtime, so Dusk headed to the lunchroom. He saw Butterscotch in the lunch line, so he headed there.
"Hey, Butterscotch." Butterscotch seemed okay with talking to Dusk right now.
"Hi, Dusk..."
"Soo, Butterscotch, I was planning to run for Prince of the Autumn Dan-"
"Oh, NO NO NO... sorry..." The boy accidentally spilled his drink on Dusk and was furiously grabbing napkins to clean up.
"It's OK, it's not THAT bad... let's head to a table..."
Both boys sat down at an empty table. Now that they sat down, Dusk saw that Butterscotch has a cream pink shirt and green pants with 3 butterflies embroidered on the pocket. Like something Fluttershy would probably wear.
"So, Butterscotch, why shouldn't I run for Autumn Dance prince?" inquired Dusk. "No, wait, Apple Jack told me already tha-"
"The last person to run against Sunset Glare for Autumn Dance prince was really humiliated that they moved schools? Everyone's heard about Hoop Shot and how he ran against Sunset. It was REALLY bad.. And the only way to come close to winning, you've got to win over everyone. And that's going to be hard, because everyone is separate..."
"What do you mean 'separate'?"
"They're all grouped up. You see the Drama kids, Artist group, Athletes, etc..."
"It's been like this for a while?"
"I think it has."
"Well, thanks for telling me. So, Butterscotch, does CHS have a library?"
Butterscotch nodded and said," It's pretty big. It's in the west wing. You can't miss it."
"Thanks.."
Heading to the library inside the school, he knew the library must have SOME
Dusk looked at students in the library, and saw what they did. Some were on the computers, others were reading books. Dusk read the spines of books until he found something that caught his eye. The spine said 'YEARBOOK FRESHMAN YEAR
A few hours later, and announcement went through the intercom.
Dusk was just BARELY at the end of the hallway when he was pulled into an empty classroom by someone. He was taking Dusk's measurements, and then he pulled out an outfit. He pulled it over Dusk's head and then said,"Perfect, no one will ever recognize you. Also, when was the last time you even looked at your wardrobe?"
"Wait, why wouldn't I want to be recognized by anyone?" said Dusk.
"There you are, Dusk. Where did you go afte' chasin' that dog o' yours?"
"I've been looking for since you left for the library and didn't come back for a while."
"HIYAH DUSK, WHERE YOU BEEN?"
A. J., Butterscotch, and Bubble Berry all came in through the door.
"Well, so much for the disguise... we'll need a new way to hide you. Any ideas?" The boy looked at Dusk. Dusk finally could see how he looked like. He had light colored skin, blue eyes, purple hair that was curled just like Rarity's, only shorter. He wore an ivory turtleneck and purple pants with 3 diamonds sewn onto the hip pocket.
"ELUSIVE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" shouted all 3 newcomers.
"Your name is Elusive? " asked Dusk.
"Yes, darling, and you 3, I was disguising Dusk from people who saw it."
"Saw what?"
Butterscotch said,"Oh no, he hasn't seen it yet. We can't show him."
"C'mon, Butterscotch. Y'all know we have to show 'em." said A.J.
"What do you want to show me?" said Dusk.
"This..." Bubble Berry said. Then he somehow pulled a laptop out of nowhere. It was pink with balloons on it. Bubble opened it, pushed a few buttons, and a video popped up. Sunset was doing the voice over, and badmouthing Dusk.
"It's not that bad, right? RIGHT ?!?!" asked Bubble Berry.
"OW!!! BUBBLE BERRY?!"yelled Elusive.
"Oops! Hehe..."
"Wait, this never happened. This is all fake,"said Dusk. "How many people saw this?"
"Well, everyone, mostly." said Butterscotch.
"How am I going to become Autumn Dance prince now?"
"Well, I can still help-" Bubble Berry was cut short.
"Don't take his help. He can't take anything serious," said Butterscotch.
Bubble Berry was getting angry. "Well, you don't have to be so mean about."
"You're not any better!-"
It became an all out argue between the 3 of them.
A.J. then said, " Get over it! It's not that big-"
"Get over it?! Just like you got what happened between you and Blitz?!"
"He said he would bring the soccer and track team to ma' bake sale. And after setting the whole mornin', not one of 'em shows up. Not even Blitz shows up. After I told everyone they'll be comin', they don't show up. He made me into a liar, when I'm supposed to be always tellin' the truth. That's different. "
Elusive, Bubble Berry, and Butterscotch all then screamed at A. J. ,"IS NOT!"
"STOP, ALL 4 OF YOU. Why are you fighting when you were once friends? " Dusk pulled out the yearbook and opened to the photo he first found in the library. It showed the human 5 in a photo.
"The Freshman Year Carnival!"
"Something happened to the five of ypu. I think that something is something was Sunset Glare,"Dusk said.
"That can't be so. Because it wasn't Sunset who kept sending me emails that the Party Planning committee is already full of volunteers. It was Bubble Berry." said Elusive.
Bubble then spoke up. "I never sent you those emails. But I got an email from Butterscotch that said that he wanted a BIG PARTY to get new volunteers for the shelter."
"I never sent anyone anything," stated Butterscotch.
"So, I'm guessing that that's out of the way? A.J., did you ever ask why Blitz didn't show up at your bake sale?" asked Dusk.
Apple Jack then nervously said,"Well, I kinda stopped talkin' to him after that."
"I feel that now is a good time to start over."
A. J. nodded and said,"C'mon. I'm sure he's at the soccer field practicin' for his next game."
The five of them headed to the field, with Apple Jack in front.
"Here we are. Ah'll be right back," He pointed at the bleachers. "Wait over there." A. J. headed onto the grass, where a rainbow-haired boy was lining up soccer balls to start kicking them to the goal. A.J. tapped the boy on the shoulder, earning him a sock to the stomach.
"Oh NO! They're fighting," said Butterscotch. There was a frightened look on his face.
"They're talking!" exclaimed Elusive.
"HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" yelled Bubble, but he yelled into Dusk's ear.
"Bubble Berry, I thought you were going to keep it down?!" Dusk told Bubble. "So at least consider it."
"Look! They're walking back!"
Elusive was right. A.J. was walking back, the rainbow-haired boy right behind, bouncing a soccer ball on his knee. They soon reached them at the bleachers.
"Hey. Name's Blitz. Rainbow Blitz. Apple Jack tells me you want to knock down Sunset Glare from his throne. I would love for the guy to step down, but no one dares to. I'll help you," Dusk started to smile. "After you can beat me one-on-on. Bring your A game, cause I am not losing to a newcomer."
"Uh oh..." Worry started to cross Dusk's face.
"First one to 3 goals wins," Blitz bounced the ball on his knee before kicking it over his head, scoring an impossible goal.
"One to none."
"That...was..."
"Hard?"
"Tiring?"
"Umm..hard?"
"WHAT ARE WE SAYING? RANDOM STUFF? OK, THEN!! CHIM CHERRY!!! CHERRY CHANGA!!!"
Dusk was flat on the field, beat from losing against Blitz, and out of breath.
"It...was...both..."
"You okay?" Dusk saw Blitz's face appear among the other 4. "Sorry, but I don't do easy on anyone. Here.." He extended his hand to Dusk, pulling him to his feet. "So, any ideas to knock Sunset off his pedastal?"
"I..lost..to...you...by...all...three....points..."
"Well...duh!" He looked at the others with an expression that said what's with this guy "You stood no chance. But I'll help because you've got the the can-do spirit to do it. You played against me, even when you knew it was a lost cause. So, yeah, I'll help."
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Dusk hugged Blitz before being pushed away.
"Jeez, and I thought Scoot was my biggest fan."
These words reached Sunset, who was behind the bleachers.
"Look!" He was handed a phone. There were some recent photos being shown. "Snips and Shears, you've proven yourself useful, " said Sunset to twins standing next to him. "Dusk won't be expecting this!" A smile crept on to his face.
The human 5 and Dusk headed to Sugar Cube Corner. Bubble said that he lived in the bedroom above the shop. He also said that he could convince the Cakes, or the owners, to let them have a round of free drinks.
Mrs. Cake walked up to the table they were all sitting at and asked for their orders.
"Sweet tea."
"Apple Cider."
"CHERRY CHANGA!!!"
"Protien shake."
"Blueberry smoothie."
"Yogurt shake."
"Thank you. I'll call you when they're ready." Mrs. Cake went back to the counter.
"BUBBLE BERRY, WHY IS MY DRINK ALMOST EMPTY!" Blitz looked at Bubble angrily.
"Magic?"
"FESS UP, YOU DRANK IT!!!"
"Blitz, darling, just order another drink."
"Fine. Bubble Berry, you're buying."
"Why?"
"You drank it, 'member?"
"Oh, right! Be right back."
"YOGURT SHAKE!"
"Bubble, want me to place the order while I get my shake?"
"Ok! Here.." Bubble placed a 5 dollar bill into Dusk's hand.
Dusk stood up from the chair he was sitting in and headed to the counter.
"Thank you, Mrs. Cake. Could I also place an order for a protein shake?"
"Yes, that'll be $2.50"
He handed the bill to her, and collected the change. He picked his own drink up, and headed back to his table.
CRASH!
Dusk quickly bent down to pick up the cup his drink was in, not bothering to look who he bumped into until they both bent over to pick it up. Dusk looked up and saw it was the girl from before. They both quickly stood up.
"We gotta stop crashing into each other," said the girl. She starting to wipe the shake from her shirt. "Too bad this stain won't get out.."
"Sorry. I'll be over there. Bye!" He ran away from the spill-site and headed to his table. He sat down in his chair, blushing and looking at his cup.
"Don't even think about it, darling. If you try to get Sunset Glare's ex-girlfriend, who knows what he might do."
"Ex-girlfr-"
"Sunset and Flare broke up about a month ago," said Elusive. "It's amazing he's not done anything horrible to her."
"He's probably waiting do something really awful."
"So, do any of y'all how we're gonna help Dusk win them votes," asked Apple Jack.
"Hmm, I'VE GOT IT!" said Elusive. He jumped up from his seat and threw his hands up. He quickly sat down when everyone started to look at him. "I mean, I got it," he smiled sheepishly.
"An' what's your idea?" questioned A. J.
"Remember the Freshman year carnival, when everyone started that trend?" He pulled something from his bag. "I remember that I was selling these then, and everyone wore them as a sign of unity. If we wore them, we could win enough votes for you, Dusk." He showed them what he pulled out.
" How are some ears and tails going to help me, Elusive? It's only 2 more days until the Autumn Dance."
"You'll see, Dusk. Just follow my lead. If we all do it correctly, we'll win those votes you need," explained Elusive.
"Sunset Glare won't see what hit him,"said Rainbow Blitz.