Chapter 3

___________________________________________________________

“So, you have no idea who turned you and your spider into what you are now?” Sunset asks as we all sit at a table in the food court of the local mall.

I sip from my coco smoothie, set it down and nod, glancing to Scarab, who is laying on the table, his front legs folded, a pout on his face.

“Seems a bit odd, if you ask me,” Applejack says, looking at me from her side of the table. “Why would someone just send yall t’ another world while changing yer bodies at the same time?”

“And into a character from a comic book, to boot?” Dash, who’s sitting backward on her chair, remarks.

Wish we knew so we could make the asshole pay, Scarab mutters.

I fold my arms. “He wanted us to take part in some kind of war he’s in. It’s stupid, grabbing two highly inexperienced beings to fight in your war, let alone changing them physicality to something they’re not used and just expect them to fight for you. Plus, there’s the fact he took us from our homes, our friends and families, without asking first and only after. The fact he actually thinks we’ll be grateful to him shows, whomever this guy is, he’s got some kind of God complex and assumes wed just follow him like mindless sheep.”

And there’s fat chance of that, Scarab says, thrusting a leg forward, catching the others attention, before they look to me to translate. Asshole puts me in a world full of beautiful, big breasted anthro babes and turns me into a spider so I can’t enjoy them. Fucking ass.

I do not translate that last part.

“So, I don’t suppose you’ll help us win the Friendship Games?” Rarity asks.

I shake my head. “Not part of CHS, so can’t. Though I will be hanging around, make sure Crystal Prep doesn’t do anything out of line.” Or Cinch, to be more specific.

“Well, I don’t see why,” Fluttershy pouts, folding her arms on the table and leaning on them. “They haven’t exactly needed to cheat to win before.”

“This year’s gonna be different, Fluttershy,” Dash grins, putting a hand on her shoulder. “I know it.”

I blink, before looking away awkwardly. Um… I just realized something. I… hope the way we stopped the Sirens being different doesn’t change that early part of the movie’s events.

We finish up and all leave, Sunset offering to let me and Scarab stay at her place until I go back to Equestria.

As we leave, I stop, feeling my Spider Sense going off.

I glance around, frowning.

“What’s up?” Sunset asks, noticing my having halted.

You got it too, huh? Scarab asks, looking from one side of the parking lot we’re in to the other.

I nod slowly. “Yeah, we’re not alone. Someone’s watching us.”

Sunset blinks, before looking around herself. “I don’t see anything.”

“Spider Sense doesn’t need to see danger to know it’s there,” I say, slowly walking over to her.

“Then… what is it?” she asks, glancing around. “The Sirens?”

I shake my head. “Dunno. And, no, they won’t be a problem ever again, trust me on that. But we’d better remain cautious.”

We start off in the direction of her loft flat, being sure to keep our eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary.

We make it to her place without incident, but that feeling doesn’t go away. Someone is definitely keeping an eye on us. Why? Not sure, but they aren’t going away and they’re not friendly.

___________________________________________________________

“So, still nothing?” Dash asks as Rarity is going from one of her friends to the other, final checking her... unique, outfits for the games.

It’s the day Crystal Prep will arrive. Dash’s motivation song still worked out well, even if a few of the students needed some explanation about the Sirens picture shown during the performance.

I shake my head. “Whoever was tailing Sunset and me that night haven’t made a move… but they haven’t stopped following us, either.”

“Uh, Rarity, these outfits are great, but why would you put so much time and effort into clothes we might not even wear?” Applejack says, drawing my attention. It’s almost time. “Yer gonna exhaust yourself before the games even start.

Rarity waves a hand. “Oh, pff. Kch. Fff. Ts! Don’t be silly, darling! Putting effort into clothes is what I live for, and spending time on my friends fills me with energy!”

She Ponies Up, to everyone but my amazement. Even Scarab is taken aback. Guess his niece never watched Friendship Games while he was around.

“And magic, too, I guess,” Sunset says uncertainly.

I rub my chin. Should I let Rarity’s magic get drained? I mean, if Spike’s gonna talk, the events need to go as per normal, at least for the most part, so that Sci-Twi and Fluttershy talk and, while her pendant stealing Fluttershy’s magic alters Spike so he can talk, but…

“Is it worth the risk?” I murmur.

Suddenly my Spider Sense goes off and I notice Rarity’s magic slipping out the door, despite no one else seeming to pay it the slightest.

“Actually, Applejack,” the white girl says, out of breath, “now that you mention it, I suppose I could use a tiny break.”

Applejack catches her as she goes limp in the farm girl’s arms. “Ah told you.”

The door opens, revealing Sci-Twi.

“Twilight?” everyone cries in delight.

Sci-Twi looks uncertainly around at us. “Uh, yes?”

Applejack chuckles, making sure Rarity can stand on her own before going over and putting a friendly arm over the lavender girl’s shoulder. “Well, Ah’ll be. You shoulda told us you were comin’.”

I can only imagine how confusing that line is for her.

Rarity looks cautiously over the girl. “Darling, those glasses. What are you wearing? It’s so... severe.”

“My uniform?”

Fluttershy cocks her head. “Your uniform for what?”

“For... Crystal Prep.” She’s clearly getting more confused by the second. It’s kind of adorable in person, actually. “But why does everyone at this school know who I am?”

Rainbow cocks her head. “Did you just say “Crystal Prep”?”

Spike pops his head out of Sci-Twi’s bag and barks happily.

“Spike!” Fluttershy and Rarity cry in delight, the former petting him before Sci-Twi turns, pulling him away, a little alarmed now and I can’t say I blame her.

“You know my dog’s name, too?”

Yeah, this hasn’t gotten awkward in any way whatsoever.

Gasping causes us to turn to see Celestia and Cinch in the doorway. “Twilight?”

Sci-Twi facepalms. “This is getting ridiculous!”

Principal Cinch smiles smugly. “I must apologize for the curiosity of my prized student.”

Principal Celestia cocks an eyebrow. “Your student?”

Principal Cinch puts an arm around Twilight, pulling her closer in a way I hadn’t notice in the movie and I have to fight the urge to Taser Web her. “The smart ones are always curious. I’ll return her to check in with the rest of her classmates.”

As soon as Cinch is out of earshot, Principal Celestia looks to us. “I didn’t know Twilight had a twin sister.”

I tune out Pinkie Pie’s explanation, rubbing my chin in thought. I want to go help Sci-Twi, but I know if I do, I risk some things not happening and… wait a minute.

It’s like a lightbulb goes off in my head. Maybe I don’t have to let everything happen exactly the same. Sunset and the portal don’t have to lose their magic too. I don’t think it would be a big deal.

Though… what would Sunset come to find in Equestria if she does go through the portal, just a little later?

I’ve been messaging Princess Twilight and asking cryptic questions to see what’s been going on in Equestria since she returned, without letting her realize I know what’s supposed to be happening and whether or not they happened.

So far, only the events of episodes three, four, six and seven have happened, so, chances are, Twilight will be home if Sunset goes through the portal, since Starlight Glimmer needs to know about Star Swirl’s time travel spell and the exact point of the Rainboom in order to start her idiotic revenge.

Hey, I like Starlight since her redemption, but I’m still gonna call out how stupid her plan was.

I’m pulled from my musings by a pinch on my hand, followed by a beeping sound and glance down to see Scarab taking his fangs out of my hand.

“VENOM LEVELS: 0.00001% Estimated Recovery Time: 20 seconds” is visible on the holographic screen of my web shooters.

I frown at him. “Really? You bit me to get my attention?”

He shrugs, before pointing out the door.

I blush and hurry after the others, catching up as Sunset shouts, “Our Twilight is a princess in Equestria and an expert in friendship magic! And if she was here, we’d have already figured out why magic is randomly popping up during pep rallies and costume changes.”

She notices the others looking at her and takes a deep breath.

“Sorry. I’m just frustrated that I haven’t heard back from her.”

Applejack goes to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. “She’s a princess in Equestria. Probably got problems of her own to deal with.”

Rarity nods in agreement. “We certainly can’t expect her to drop everything and pop through the portal whenever. Especially if it’s to deal with something as minor as a few random pony-ups.”

Sunset shakes her head. “But they aren’t minor! Magic came into this world when I stole Twilight’s crown. It’s taken a lot for me to earn everyone’s trust. If we have to forfeit the games because I can’t think of a way to keep it under control...”

“Actually, magic’s been seeping into this world for a while.”

They all turn to me. I put my hands behind my head, looking up at the ceiling. “I mean, Star Swirl sent the Sirens here centuries before you came around, Sunset. Plus, the statue isn’t the only portal leading to Equestria and that one’s always open, so magic’s been seeping out of that one all the time.”

I blink as they all stare at me.

Shit, did I just blab that out loud? I mean, maybe telling them about the other portal isn’t such a bad thing, but…

“There’s another portal?” Sunset’s eyes are wide and she hurries over, putting her hands on my shoulder, bending down to my level. “Where?”

I shrug. “It’s on a remote island in the middle of the sea. Plus, it comes out close to the Everfree Forest. No problem for us right now.”

Sunset blinks, letting go. “Oh.”

Fluttershy looks kindly to the other yellow girl. “Oh, Sunset, I’m sure you’ll be able to figure things out.”

“I didn’t help much with the Sirens,” she replies, holding herself. “But Peni was the one who really figured out what we needed to defeat them.”

Rarity smiles, stepping forward and placing a hand on her shoulder. “But don’t you remember, darling? What we needed to defeat them was you.”

Sunset looks around at us as we all smile at her. She sighs, nodding. “All right.”

The others all cheer, before Dash grabs our attention. “Come on, guys! Let’s see if we can find any info about the events and come up with a strategy. You comin’, Sunset?”

Sunset pauses, her eyes lingering on the door leading out to the front yard, and the portal. “I’ll... catch up with you guys in a bit.”

The others nod and head off, but I remain behind. I wait til Sunset’s just about to reach the door, before I fire a web at it, it catching her and yank her back.

“Bwuh! Huh?” She tries to right herself, cocks her head, before looking down at me, an eyebrow raised in annoyance.

“One, you don’t need Twilight’s advice on this,” I say, holding up a finger, then another. “Two, trust me. You’ll wanna steer clear of the portal for a while.”

She folds her arms, looking at me quizzically. “And why’s that?”

“Well, unless you want your magic and the portal’s magic being stolen, I’d say just wait,” I shrug, turning around. “Your choice, Shimmer.”

She pauses, lowering her arms. “I’m listening.”

“Can’t say anything right now,” I grin at her over my shoulder. “Just give it a few hours. Otherwise, your only available link to Equestria will be cut off.”

She cocks her head slightly. “What about the other portal you mentioned?”

I turn around, shrugging again. “Like I said, it’s on a remote island in the middle of the ocean. I’m not even exactly sure where it is.”

Sunset narrows her eyes. “You know something, don’t you?”

I smirk. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

She folds her arms again. “Is this some kind of game to you?”

I shake my head. “I just want to keep a few specific things in check, while also trying to lessen how bad things could become.”

She lowers her arms again, worry entering her face. “Bad things like what?”

I walk over and wrap an arm around her. “Trust me, I got this covered. Things might be a little different from the original timeline, but I got this covered. Ain’t nothin’ gonna surprise us.”

___________________________________________________________

We all walk into the gym, where the rest of the school and Crystal Prep have gathered for the introductions.

Sunset has informed the others that I know something, but that I seem to have my reasons for keeping it to myself for now.

I reassured them, though, that I have a plan and know what I’m doing.

You know lying to them probably isn’t the best course, Scarab lectures me from my shoulder as we walk with the others. They’re going to find out whatever it is you’re hiding.

“And by the time they do, I’ll have stopped the world from nearly being torn apart and prevented an innocent girl from being put through unnecessary emotional torment of being controlled by a malevolent demon created from her inner psyche just because her principal’s a self-centred bitch,” I whisper back to him.

He gives me a sideways look. Touché.

“What in tarnation is she up to?” Applejack’s voice ends our little spat and I turn to see them looking at Sci-Twi, who’s currently walking near some of the bleachers, concentrating on her pendant.

“Leave this to me,” Sunset says, starting to step forward, but I zip in front of her and block her.

“How about we approach this politely, shall we? She is your world’s Twilight, after all. Ganging up on her isn’t going to help matters.”

Sunset looks back at the others, before returning to me. “Okay, Peni. How do you suggest we approach her?”

I fold my arms, smirking. “Like this.”

I head over, standing just behind Twilight. Time to let my new physical age come in handy. “Hi.”

She starts, turning around, before looking down. For once, the height difference isn’t bothering me as I smile up innocently at her.

“Oh, um… hi?” she says uncertainly, before frowning slightly. “Wait. Haven’t we met before?”

I nod. “Yeah. I was with my friends when you found us in the music room.”

“Oh… right,” she says and I can’t tell if she’s less nervous or more so after remembering that. “You… weren’t one of the people in the school who seemed to know me.”

I grin sheepishly, rubbing the back of my neck. “Yeah, sorry about that. It’s a funny story. This school has an exchange student whose name is also Twilight. You even look and sound alike. No one realized you weren’t her. Sorry for the mix up.”

Sci-Twi frowns, seeming to run that over, before nodding slowly. “I… guess that makes sense.” She blinks, cocking an eyebrow. “Wait. You said “this school” as if you don’t go here…” she looks me over, “and that’s clearly a uniform from some other school. If you don’t go to CHS, why’re you here? Shouldn’t you be at your own school?”

“Pupil free day,” I grin. “Chose to spend it here and…” I trail off at her confused expression. “Uh, what?”

She cocks her head. “What’s a “pupil free day”?”

I blink, frowning in confusion. “It’s a day where the school shuts down, either because the staff has a meeting or some other reason and the students get a day off. Doesn’t your school have those?”

She shakes her head. “No. We’re expected to come every day. Well, expect weekends. We don’t need to go on those days, but it is frowned upon if you don’t… are you okay?”

I’m standing there, my right eye twitching. Are you fucking kidding me?! Cinch is such a tight ass, self-absorbed, cares only about her own reputation kind of bitch that she doesn’t even give her students time off when it’s NORMAL TO?!

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” I’m pulled from my inner rage as I’m shoved aside, my vision clearing as I shake my head to show Indigo Zap standing between Sci-Twi and myself.

I open my mouth to speak, but Dash leaps in front of me. “Hey! Quit picking on Peni. She was just being friendly to Twilight. Something you guys clearly aren’t!”

Applejack steps between the two of them. “All right, everyone. Let’s not get too competitive before the games even start.”

“The games aren’t really competitive since we’ve never lost,” Sugarcoat says, causing me to deadpan.

Great. I try to make things smoother and things still go up shit creak, fast.

“Sorry, dearie, but these games aren’t about being nice,” I blink as Sour Sweet gets in Fluttershy’s face.

“Well, you might use a little tact,” Rarity points out and I see a chance.

“Plus, aren’t these called the Friendship Games, not the Be Horrid Games?” That causes the Crystal Prep girls’ attention to fall to me. “I mean, at least CHS try to live up to the standards of the games. All you care about is winning, no matter who you have to step on to do it, even your fellow students.”

Sour Sweet looks like she’s about to blow a fuse. “Are you lecturing us, brat?!”

I smirk, folding my arms. “If the shoe fits.”

She narrows her eyes. “Watch it, kid. You don’t know who you’re messing with.”

I sneer. “Oh, I’m so scared by a girl who’s name is Sour Sweet. Sounds terrifying.”

“That’s it! Kid or not, this brat is going down!” she snarls, lunging forward.

I smirk. Oh, she took the bait way too easy.

Peni, wait. I think you forgot the point here! Scarab tries to say, but I don’t hear him.

I’m too focused. As Sour Sweet lunges at me, I easily flip over her, grab her by the arm, twist her around and, lightly, slam her to the ground, pinning her down.

The rest of the Crystal Prep girls stare, stunned, as do the rest of the Humane 6, save Pinkie… wait. Where did she run off to?

I put it out of my mind, grinning down at the pinned girl. “Never judge a book by its cover, Sweet. I may be physically younger than you, but I’m more than ten times stronger. Keep that in mind the next time you decide to attack me just for pointing out the truth to you.”

I get off her and she gets up, snarling at us. “You’ll pay for that, CHS.” She points at me. “When the games start, I’m going to destroy you!”

I grin. “Well, that’s going to prove difficult, as I’m not in the games because I’m not a CHS student.”

Her face goes blank for a moment. “Uh… what?”

I put my hands behind my head. “I’m just a friend who tagged along to wish my friends from another school well in the games.”

Before she can retort, the lights go down and Pinkie’s party start.

I blink, before facepalming. Crap. Knew I was forgetting something.

I quickly look around, trying to find Pinkie and Sci-Twi. I gotta get to them before she accidently drains Pinkie’s magic.

Suddenly, a loud ringing starts, followed by the lights going up.

The heck was that? Scarab asks, front legs over his ear.

I deadpan. Whelp, I blew it.

We meet up with the girls and a dishevelled looking Pinkie after Cinch’s very rude, to put it lightly, speech.

“Ah’m sorry, Pinkie,” Applejack’s saying as we near them. “Ah thought yer party additions were really swell.”

Fluttershy nods. “They definitely broke the ice.”

“Yes,” Rarity pouts, folding her arms. “If only that Principal Cinch hadn’t frozen it again.”

Pinkie nods tiredly. “Yeah, she’s awful.”

Sunset looks her over. “Wow, Pinkie, what happened to you?”

Pinkie shrugs. “I don’t know. Everyone started having fun after Twilight and I fired the party cannons and I Ponied Up.

Sunset rolls her eyes, smirking slightly. “Of course you did.”

Pinkie sighs. “But then the magic just drained right out of me.”

Sunset blinks. “Wait, what do you mean "drained out of you"?”

“Hey,” Applejack looks around. “Where is that other Twilight?”

Long gone. We won’t be seeing her again til tomorrow.

We get through the rest of the day and I head off with Sunset to her place.

“So, are you ready to tell me what’s going on, Peni?” she asks as we sit at her table, eating microwave lasagna that evening.

Scarab has been tactfully choosing to feed on my blood whenever Sunset was out of the room. He also has been taking large amounts to ensure he doesn’t have to feed too often... though it does make him look a bit bloated and make me nervous how easily he could go pop if too much pressure is applied to him.

I tap my fork to my chin. “A bit after the first of the games contests ends and I should be able to give you the four-one-one, Sunset. Should being the operative word. I’m not really sure how this will go; I’ve just a blueprint I’m trying to follow.”

She gives me a raised eyebrow. “Is your Spider Sense telling you this?”

I shrug. Can’t rightly say it’s because I watched the movie now, can I?

___________________________________________________________

I slip away from the rest of the girls, staying my distance from Fluttershy.

And we’re following Fluttershy because…? Scarab asks from atop my head.

“Now’s the time for Spike to get his voice,” I murmur, keeping in the bushes.

CHS lost the first round, but that’s good, because it sets this up. And, if I time it right, this is where I can make things change for the better.

“Do you wanna give her a treat?” Fluttershy asks as the lavender girl pops through the bushes.

Sci-Twi looks down, before moving over to her and kneeling down. “Guess I’m not the only one to smuggle her pet into school.”

Fluttershy giggles. “Not just one.” She opens her pack, revealing a little bird and Angel.

Sci-Twi blinks. “Oh, wow. All I have is Spike.” She opens her own pack, the dog popping out, panting.

Fluttershy picks the little dog up. “It really is uncanny. Does he talk?”

I smirk. Not yet.

Sci-Twi gives her an odd look. “Um, not that I know of.”

I watch the exchange, leading up to Sci-Twi feeling better, before giving Fluttershy an odd look. “I’m on the other team and you just lost. Why are you being so nice to me?”

Fluttershy smiles. “You looked like you needed it.”

At once, she Ponies Up and Sci-Twi gasps as her device activates, pulling Fluttershy’s magic out of her.

Now’s my chance. I run back a bit, before rushing forward and leap into the air, flipping, firing a web, catching Spike and yank.

He goes flying, making sounds of confusion, before yowling in shock as he’s pulled into the line of Fluttershy’s magic and it surges through him.

“Spike! Sci-Twi yells, as her dog falls, Fluttershy catching him,

Said kind girl shudders as she lowers to the ground, exhausted, myself catching her in my arms.

“Spike, are you okay?” the lavender girl asks, cuddling her puppy.

“Um, I think so,” Spike says groggily.

Wait a minute. Did that dog just talk? Scarab asks, shocked.

“Bite me,” I say.

He frowns at me.

“No, seriously. Bite me!” I hiss.

He blinks, before seeming to get it.

Sci-Twi and Spike both yell, “Daaaah!!!”, the former dropping the dog and running off, squealing.

As she does, I fire a new type of webbing, a type of Foam Web shooting out and hitting the magic-stealing pendant, it hardening and falling off the girl’s neck, her shock and confusion keeping her from noticing.

“Bye,” Fluttershy sighs, before passing out.

This girl is too kind for her own good, Scarab shakes his head.

Oh, you have no idea, buddy. Risking your own health while suffering from a near incurable disease to save a friend suffering from the same disease definitely is bigger than this.

Shaking my head, I fire a normal web at the hardened foam, pulling it over and catching it with my free hand.

And you did that why, exactly? my spider friend asks.

“I’m keeping this from stealing more magic and from turning Sci-Twi into something that will haunt her,” I say, pocking the sealed device. “Now, we’d better get Fluttershy to the others.”

I lift her over my back and start carrying her.

Aren’t you strong enough to carry her in a less cumbersome manner? he asks, an eyebrow cocked.

I nod. “True. Spider strength means I could carry her over my shoulder or in my arms, but that would look a bit suspicious, a kid several years younger carrying a much older girl like she weighs no more than a doll.”

He thinks for a moment, before nodding. Good point.

“Plus, this gives Sci-Twi a better chance at making friends with the rest of the Humane 7,” I say as we go up the stairs into the school.

___________________________________________________________

“All I did was hand Twilight a bunny. Then I Ponied Up,” Flutteshy is saying as we walk towards the sports field for the second round.

Sunset rubs her chin. “I just don’t get it. Rarity’s magic came out when she made us outfits. Pinkie’s when she fixed the party and now Fluttershy.”

“And then Twilight’s pendant thingy just pulled the magic right out of me. I couldn’t even stand up.” She smiles at me. “If Peni hadn’t been there, I could’ve been stuck outside on my own for ages.”

“That’s like me at the party!” Pinkie gasps, referring to the feeling of exhaustion.

“Or me right before we met Twilight!” Rarity says, shocked.

Sunset frowns. “So she’s stealing magic?”

Applejack shakes her head. “Ah don’t know. She doesn’t seem like the magic-stealin’ type.”

“Plus, she won’t be unintentionally stealing anymore,” I say, holding up the sealed device. “Til we can figure out how to get your magic back out, it’s best I hold onto this and keep it sealed in this high-density polyurethane foam. It should keep it from stealing more magic.”

“But, how do we get the magic already in there back out?” Fluttershy asks, looking between Sunset and myself.

Sunset sighs, rubbing her temples. “I don’t know. And the pony or person or princess who could help me figure this out is completely unreachable now.”

Yeah, after I’d gotten Fluttershy to a safe place, I’d hurried back through the portal for some advice, only to find neither Twilight or Spike in the castle.

It turns out, currently the events of Princess Spike are happening, so the two are in Canterlot, with no quick means of me getting information to them in any capacity that would be of use to us. So, like in the movie, we can’t rely on the princess for help.

“For now, let’s just focus on beating the Shadowbolts,” Dash says, grinning as we open the doors. “And as long as this event puts me in a playing field, I don’t think we’ve got anything to worry about.”

“Oh, it puts you on a playin’ field, alright.”

We all look at the girl’s words to see the field as it is in the movie.

“Am I the only one who thinks this is overkill?” Sunset asks.

We all go through the events, myself joining the CHS students in the stands and watch the round play out.

It goes as expected; Fluttershy and AJ hit their targets, letting Rarity and Pinkie start their laps, CHS’s lead being much wider than in the movie.

Though, my eyes are focused on Sci-Twi as Sour Sweet just keeps throwing insults at her.

“You’re really bad at this!” Sugarcoat yells and I stand up.

“Ugh! Ah can’t take anymore!” Applejack yells my thoughts as I start stomping down the stairs. I get close as she calmly says to Sci-Twi, “Ya have to stop aimin’ at the target.”

“Oh, that makes perfect sense! Don’t aim at the target! Thanks so much!” Sour Sweet’s sweetly sarcastically saying as I get near.

Applejack gives her a displeased look, before looking back to the other girl, smiling. “Ya have to stop aimin’ at where the target is an’ aim at where the target’s gonna be.”

“Yeah! Definitely take advice from the person —” Sour Sweet tries to continue in the same sweetly sarcastic way, but is cut off by webbing covering her mouth.

She makes a muffled yell in surprise, before struggling to try pulling it off.

Applejack and Sci-Twi look to me and I nod, the farm girl returning her attention to the lavender one. “Do you wanna hit the bullseye or not?”

Sci-Twi nods, looking a mixture of grateful and confused.

Applejack smiles. “Then trust me. Take a deep breath.”

Sci-Twi does.

“And let the arrow go... riiiiight.... now!”

Upon the final word, Sci-Twi lets the arrow fly, it rushing through the air and hitting the target.

The bell rings and cheer go off as Crystal Prep start their laps.

“Yeah! That’s my girl!” Spike calls, hopping up onto the platform.

Sour Sweet, who’d just managed to get the webbing off her mouth, quickly starts backing away from him.

Sci-Twi smiles warmly and hugs Applejack tightly.

“See?” the farm girl says. “Ah was tellin’ ya the truth.”

She Ponies Up, leaving Sci-Twi to stare in shock, shock that thankfully is not being interrupted by a certain gizmo.

“So, this is Applejack and I’m Peni Parker,” I say, catching the lavender girl’s attention.

“Hey,” she frowns slightly. “You’re the girl from the gym.” Her eyes widen, then narrow. “And you’re the one who threw Spike into the air.”

“Wait. Peni, you did what?” Applejack looks to me, stunned.

I shrug. “If I hadn’t, Spike wouldn’t be able to talk right now, would he?”

She blinks, before that seems to click. “Wait, yeah. He can talk now!” She frowns, glancing at me. “Ya knew that would happen?”

“Wait,” Sci-Twi’s eyes narrow. “Did you take my pendant?!”

“Yes, but with good reason,” I say, patting the pocket I’ve got it in. “Twilight, you had no control over that device. You couldn’t stop it from taking Fluttershy’s magic. Left unchecked, things could’ve gone a lot worse.”

She blinks, before looking uncertain. “Worse?”

I nod, indicating to Applejack, who’s still Ponied Up. “Applejack has magic too, as do Rainbow Dash and Sunset. If you took in their magic too and it somehow got out, it would be a nightmare.”

Spike frowns at me. “How do you know that?”

I sigh, shaking my head. “Better you honestly not know, Spike.”

“Awesome!”

The yell pulls us from our conversation and we look to see Dash landing her bike after the jump, Sunset not far behind… with Sugarcoat and Indigo Zap far more behind than they were in the movie.

Indigo’s eyes narrow and my Spider Sense suddenly goes off.

I shake my head, putting a hand to it.

You too? Scarab asks.

I look back in time to see Sunny is gunning her bike way too hard, reaching Sunset, but still too hard as they turn, her bike knocking into Sunset’s causing hers to fall back, spinning out of control.

Dash seems to have noticed something off prior, as she’s pulled back and is now pushing her own bike as hard as possible to get to Sunset.

Sunset’s bike spins out, the girl struggling to get off, leaping into the air, Dash catching her on the bike just in time.

“Dash, you saved me!” I can see Sunset saying, not being able to actually hear her.

Dash replies, also not loud enough for me to hear, before she Ponies Up, getting off her bike, leaving it to Sunset.

I cock an eyebrow, wondering why she’s doing that, since there’s no tentacle monsters to keep the students safe from this time, before my Spider Sense goes off again and I look to the Shadowbolts in time to hear a horrible screeching as Indigo Zap ’s bike’s front tire blows out and she crashes into Sugarcoat, causing the both of them to fly through the air as their bikes explode, them falling back in the direction of the wrecked.

I waste no time, firing a web and slinging in their direction, Dash catching Sugarcoat, while I manage to web yank Sunny over to myself and swing us both to safety.

“Are you both out of your minds?!” I shout at them as Dash and I let them go, Dash hovering in the air. “You could’ve been seriously injured!”

“We needed to make up for lost time!” Sunny tries to defend. “We couldn’t risk losing.”

“Is winning more important than your own lives?” Dash yells at them. “So you’d lose the round. Big whop. Risking your lives is pointless!”

“Canterlot wins!”

We all blink, turning as Sunset slows her bike passed the finish line.

“And risking your lives yielded no results,” I point to Sunset, then the wreckage of their bikes, which is being put out by fire extinguishers by Cheerilee and Cranky Doodle. “If Dash and I hadn’t stepped in, you two would likely be needing medical attention and your school would’ve had to forfeit the games due to being two team members short.”

“She… has a point,” Sugarcoat says, folding her arms. “Us injuring ours in an attempt to win would’ve just resulted in our school losing because we lost here, while also would’ve been too injured to play, making our efforts moot.”

“Attention, students, please proceed to the gym,” Dean Cadance pulls as from our conversation and the other two, while giving us both somewhat grateful looks, hurry off.

“Is everybody all right?” Applejack’s asking as Dash and I rejoin them, her flying down, myself web-slinging over.

“Better than all right!” Dash cheers. “We won!”

Sunset takes off her helmet, a very disapproving look on her face. “Yeah, we won, but somebody could’ve been seriously hurt. Why would Cinch make her students desperate enough to risk their own lives just to win a stupid game?”

“Because that bitch cares only about winning to make herself look good,” I say, arms folded. “She doesn’t care who she has to sacrifice to get what she wants.” I look off towards the leaving CPA students. “Hopefully, this will change her students’ ideas about blindly doing what she wants, regardless of the risks to themselves.”

“Um, excuse me,” we all turn as Sci-Twi, Spike at her heels, comes over. She looks to Applejack and myself. “I… I wanted to thank you.” She then looks to Dash, then me again. “For helping me and my teammates.”

We nod.

Sunset steps forward, glancing at me, before to Sci-Twi. “Twilight, do you have any idea how we can remove my friends’ magic your pendant and give it back to them?”

She blinks, before looking down, ashamed. “No. I… I’m sorry. I had no idea that energy was magic, that my device would absorb it… or how it all works together.”

Dash puts and arm around her shoulder. “That’s okay. Neither do we.”

She looks from Dash to the rest of us. “Why aren’t you all angry at me? I took something from you without asking. Even if I didn’t mean to, I still did wrong by all of you… but you’ve all been nice to me.”

“That’s because, here at CHS, we like being nice to others,” Dash thumps her on the shoulder.

“I… I don’t fully understand…” Sci-Twi says, before looking firmly at us. “But I wanna understand!”

Sunset smiles, holding out a hand. “Leave out all the magic stealing, and we’d be happy to help you.”

Sci-Twi looks to it, before giving a small smile and take it, nodding.

“What are you doing, Twilight?”

At once, the girl goes ridged and we all turn to see Cinch walking towards us, a very displeased look on her face.

I step in front of the scared girl, arms folded. “She’s talking with her friends. What’s it matter to you, ya old hag?!”

At once, Cinch freezes in place, before her mouth pulls back in anger. “What was that, you little urchin?”

“Oh, you heard me.” I smirk. “Or are you deaf, as well as stupid?”

I hear Dash, AJ and Sunset have to try holding back snickers from behind me as Cinch’s eye twitches.

“My students are of no concern to you!” she says firmly, trying to step forward, only for Fluttershy and Pinkie to block her path.

“And who Twilight becomes friends with is none of yours, either!” the normally shy girl says with a strong tone.

Cinch looks like she’s about to pop a blood vessel.

A clearing of a throat causes all of us to look and see Principal Celestia, Vice Principal Luna and Dean Cadance coming over, their eyebrows raised.

Cinch seems to put our insults aside, before pointing at Dash and myself. “You can’t possibly call that a fair race.”

Principal Celestia just gives Cinch a “really, bitch?” look. “Principal Cinch, we all saw what happened. You can’t think CHS had some kind of advantage.”

Cinch looks offended. “Can’t I? Your students have wings and one fires what seem to be webs, even using them against my own students!”

Peni. Peni, calm down, Scarab tries from my shoulder, but I’m already seeing red.

“Oh, you did not just fucking try to pin your loss on Dash and I after we saved your students’ lives!” I snarl, stomping forward and, to the much taller woman’s shock, grab her by the front of her suit and yank her down to my eye level. “If not for us, Sugarcoat and Indigo Zap would, at best, be in the school infirmary and, at worst, off for intensive care at a hospital due to injuries caused by the crash they caused in their desperation to win so you wouldn’t lash out at them for losing, resulting it your school forfeiting the games altogether anyway! If anything, you should be thanking us for keeping you in the game, you self-centred, egotistical old bag!”

Everyone just stares, shocked into silence as I stand there, still holding onto her, breathing heavily.

After several long minutes, Principal Celestia clears her throat. “Well, the race certainly had some... extenuating circumstances. Perhaps we should end the games now and declare a tie.”

I let go as Cinch stands up, whirling around to glare at Celestia. “A tie? Was this your strategy all along? To force us into accepting you as equals? I think not. The games will continue and Crystal Prep will prevail despite your antics and whatever performance-enhancing regimen your students are on.”

With that, she stomps off in a huff, having completely forgotten about Sci-Twi, who comes out from hiding behind Dash.

Sunset sighs. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop all this from happening.”

Principal Celestia shakes her head, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Sunset.”

Sunset pulls away. “Isn’t it? I should know how to control the magic I brought here. But I don’t. I let everyone down. And now Principal Cinch thinks we’re cheating.”

Principal Celestia’s expression becomes stern. “It doesn’t matter what Principal Cinch thinks.”

Sunset shakes her head. “But it does. The students here at CHS don’t just wanna win. They wanna beat Crystal Prep. It isn’t gonna count if the other side doesn’t really think they lost. Crystal Prep is never gonna believe we won fair and square if there’s magic around. And that magic is only around... because of me.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Sunset,” I say firmly, turning to her. “Cinch may still see it as we not winning fair and square, but the rest of Crystal Prep is another matter. Indigo Zap and Sugarcoat know full well we saved their lives and Sour Sweet, Lemon Zest and Sunny Flare are their friends, so will be grateful, if begrudgingly. Cinch may see it as a not fair win, but her school will and that’s what matters.”

“I wish I didn’t have to keep competing against you all in the next round,” Sci-Twi looks to us all. “I never really wanted to be in these games and now I want to even less. I just want them to end.”

We all nod.

“Things should be fine, Twi,” I say, patting my pocket. “Magic won’t be interfering next round at all, not since Cinch can’t force you to use the magic you already accidentally stole, while having no idea how to use it or what it would do.”

“Would she seriously do that?” Rarity asks, aghast.

“it sure sounds like something she’d do,” Sci-Twi says sadly, before smiling and coming over, hugging me. “Guess I really owe you more thanks than I thought, Peni.”

“Especially since it’s because of you I can talk,” Spike yips, catching the adults off guard.

I smirk at the three of them. “I’ll explain later.” I look to the others. “Til then, we’ve a few hours before the final round. How about we hang with Twilight for a bit. Let her get to know us and us her more.”

She gives me a look, before a small smile comes to her face. “I’d like that a lot.” She then looks around at the others nervously. “If… if you’re all okay with it, that is?”

They all smile, Sunset putting a hand on her shoulder. “Sure, Twi.”

We all head off, myself patting myself on the back for averting so much disaster. Should be smooth sailing til the end of the games now.

___________________________________________________________

From across the street, a man lowered his binoculars and spoke into the hidden mic in his shirt. “Sir, target in range. She also appears to have an item of great power on her now. It could be of use.”

“Keep her in your sights. Don’t lose her,” a voice replied from the other end. “I’ll be arriving soon. Once we’re all set up, the plan will go into motion.”

Author's Note

So, i was able to get one more chapter out before my move after all.

I likely won't be able to update for a while, because we're moving most of my stuff to the new place today, the rest tomorrow, then i'll be spending lord only knows how long until i'll be fully settled in.

til then, this chapter will have to be enough.

So, how did you all like my take on the Friendship Games with Peni's interference? Does it all work for you? does it makes sense? Was the reason they still couldn't rely on Princess Twilight for help a reasonable situation for you?

And, if Midnight Sparkle isn't going to be a problem, what will? Who is keeping an eye on Peni? What do they want from her?

You'll have to wait and see.

I'll be off now, as we've a lot of stuff to move, but i wanted to finish this chapter and get it up before then, so you've at least got something to tied you over til i can return to writing.

so, til next time, which will be when i've fully moved into my new place, later everybody.