Author's Note

Longtime readers might've noticed how this chapter was supposed to be "Like a Diamond...Like an Apple," the general contents of which I'm sure you could figure out based on Chapter 14.

While that was originally the case, after looking at and debating on the framework for a while, I've decided to get this chapter out of the way first. Considering how it contains large amounts of setup—and how we're roughly at the halfway point of the story now—I figured it would be best to position this as early as possible before things get rolling again. Frankly, I kinda wish I could've made this the intro to Act 3 instead—and perhaps one day I'll shift things around to make that so—but for now, it's going right here.
Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 15 - Good Talks

As a general rule of thumb, scheduling an assembly for immediately after school was usually ill-advised—especially on a Friday of all days. After all, not many students appreciated having additional roadblocks between them and the coveted weekend, and most were already too burnt-out from the preceding school week to take much else in. Under those kinds of circumstances, almost any news then would've certainly been destined to fall on deaf ears.
And yet, that didn't appear to be the case this time around.

Being one of the last few to arrive at the auditorium, Sunset was struck by just how excited all of her classmates seemed then. Everywhere she went, conversations were drowning each other out—with only the occasional cheer or titter to rise above the collective white-noise—and peoples' faces almost blurred together for how much they kept shifting and shuffling about to intermingle. No two ways about it; her class was absolutely amped for this announcement, and the air was almost electric with their anticipation.

Of course, she couldn't really blame any of them. If indeed this assembly was over what everyone suspected and hoped, then it had been a long time coming. And what else could it be over, anyway? What else could possibly justify this level of enthusiasm? What else was there...besides the Fall Formal?
All well and good, and she shared in that enthusiasm to a degree, but that didn't make wading through the choppy waters of restless students then any easier. Thankfully, before Sunset ended up being washed up against one of the walls, someone appeared from behind to toss her a lifeline.

“Oh boy, oh boy, oh boyyyy!” Pinkie Pie cheered, gleefully hugging her wayward friend. “Isn't this exciting!? I feel like we've been waiting almost a whole year for this! When do you think it'll be!? Where do you think it'll be!? OOOOH WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'LL BE!?”

“Well...I think we'll be finding out soon enough,” she chuckled, before being pulled into the rest of their group.

Just like with Pinkie Pie, it looked as though all of the girls were getting pretty swept up in the hype then as well. On one side, there was Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy lively chatting it up with Trixie and Bulk Biceps. On the other, there was Twilight laughing and comparing notes amongst some of her robotics-club colleagues. Even Applejack seemed much more comfortable just listening to an absolutely giddy Rarity then, which was definitely an improvement over things lately.

Sure enough, despite having every reason to feel more than a little fatigued after this week, Sunset's friends were still just as energetic as always. In fact, even after having already suffered a handful of Equestrian Magic attacks—with no indication that they were getting any closer to relenting—everyone was still in such high spirits...
Of course, once again, Sunset couldn't blame any of them... She just wished that she were feeling as optimistic...

“Hey, Sunset?” Pinkie Pie suddenly asked, her voice raised against the growing commotion going on all around. “Where'd you disappear to, anyway?”

“Sorry, I was just—”

“What?”

“...I said, I was just putting up my stuff and...getting my journal to Princess Twilight.”

“She's right over here,” her bubbly friend replied, pointing over at the Twilight currently wrapped up in a conversation with the others.

“No! Princess Twilight! I...I'm thinking of writing to her!”

“Ohhh. What for? Ooh, did her school open up yet!? Is she gonna have a Fall Formal too!?”

“No—or at least, I don't know... She's probably too busy planning the first day to even worry about that. I'm sure she doesn't need any more silly things to think about right now, either...”

Seeing Sunset cast her eyes down then, Pinkie Pie couldn't help feeling a bit concerned. She had a sort of sixth sense when it came to spotting downers at a party—or maybe that was her seventh, behind snack-reading—and couldn't stand when her friends weren't enjoying themselves as much as they should be. Thankfully, there was nobody better than her at turning a frown upside down...or changing a Sunset into a Sunrise.

“Aw, what's wrong, Sunset? What's got you feeling so stressed?”

“...That obvious, huh?”

“Well, you did have autumn squash soup for lunch. That usually means you're worrying about something.”

Sure enough, Pinkie was right on the money. That was the power of her snack sense in action, and it quickly got to the root of Sunset's feelings. Just a shame she didn't know what exactly was pushing her to drown her troubles in squash soup lately.

“Ha, yeah... Guess I am feeling a bit uneasy right now... I'm sure it's probably just over the usual stuff...”

“You mean like the Fall Formal?”

“Yeah...maybe...”

“Well, don't you worry! Your best pal, Pinkie Pie, is here to help! Now, why don't you tell me everything going on in that troubled noggin, and we'll piece it all together...um...together!”

“Wait... Here!? Now!?”

“Sure! It's just the two of us,” she said, without even the slightest trace of irony in her elevated voice. “Now, go on! I'm alllll ears!”

Maybe it was the way that her friend playfully mimed having larger ears then—or the fact that Pinkie's cheery grin stretched all the way between them—but Sunset couldn't stifle either her giggling or the desire to get some of this off of her chest. Better than bothering a princess bogged down with far more important responsibilities, after all. Besides, with the way this crowd was beginning to carry on, it's not like anyone else was really gonna be privy to her ramblings.
What did she really have to lose?

“Alright... It's just that...”

With that, Sunset started rattling off the many things bouncing through her head lately. To her credit, she managed to cover quite a bit of ground in a little over three minutes.

At first, she thought this all was just over the sins of her past...
“I mean, I know everyone says I shouldn't blame myself—and I'm trying, really—but I just want us to remember our last Fall Formal as being better than that one, you know?”

But then, the issues of the present seemed much more concerning...
“Seriously, we keep beating this thing, but it just keeps coming back! Like, where is it coming from, and why is it doing this!? I think that's a bit more important than where our Formal might be held! Don't you!?”

And finally, it all came down to the future...or the possible lack thereof...
“But...what if it's just testing the waters right now? What if it starts getting even stronger, or it corrupts more than one person at a time!? Honestly, why does anyone even care about the Fall Formal right now!? WHAT IF THIS THING CAUSES A CATASTROPHE BEFORE WE EVEN GET TO THAT!?”

Meanwhile, as her friend steadily unraveled the tangled mess that was her troubled thoughts, Pinkie Pie remained absolutely silent. Nobody would've pegged the party planner as being a girl of few words...like, ever...but she didn't utter a single one then. Instead, she was content in simply allowing Sunset to vent for as long as needed.
That might not have seemed terribly helpful at first, but it actually was. Somehow, her just listening intently then helped the struggling young woman to work through so much...especially since her expressions alone spoke volumes.

Whenever Sunset seemed too doubtful or depreciative, a pensive frown reinforced just how much everyone believed in her now.
Whenever she started overwhelming herself with outlandish worst-case scenarios, a raised eyebrow served to reel her back into reality and the present.
Whenever she said anything apparently too askew, a pair of narrowed eyes—or even the occasional blank stare—forced her to rethink and reassess things more logically.

Honestly, it was almost as if Pinkie Pie understood her better than even she did, and by the end of their little discussion, Sunset finally realized what was truly bothering her. This wasn't about her past, or even the Fall Formal. It was something bigger than all of that, and something that she wasn't so sure could be handled alone.

“...It's just...I know we've been trying our hardest all week, especially after everything Rarity said, but I feel like we're getting nowhere...and I can't stop thinking, what else could I do? What should I do? Everyone here's acting like it'll all be okay, cause they think we'll just keep saving the day. But...what if we can't this time? What if we're not enough? Maybe...we need—”

At that moment, Sunset was interrupted by Pinkie's finger pressing against her lips. She had never seen the party planner wear such an unusually serious face before, and the sharp glare that came with it was almost enough to completely disarm her. At least the smile still remained as always, but whatever emotions were behind it then were a complete mystery.
Did Sunset say something wrong or offensive? Did she sound too stupid or incomprehensible? Did Pinkie Pie...agree with her? Did she also think that they needed Princess Twilight?

“...Sunset,” she finally said, just as the lights started to dim. “...Even if I don't—”

Before she could finish that thought, however, a sudden screech coursed through the auditorium and quickly silenced most of the students. Turns out, up on stage, Mr. Cranky Doodle had just finished setting up the microphone, and following that unpleasantly commanding bit of audio feedback, he excused himself to make room for this assembly's speakers.

“OOH, IT'S STARTING!” Pinkie cheered, suddenly shaking Sunset by the shoulders and completely losing her train of thought. Guess it could wait until after the assembly was over...

****

In her many years as both an instructor and administrator, Principal Celestia had grown accustomed to a myriad of routines at CHS. She was used to filling in as the occasional substitute for any class. She was adept at dishing out lunches over at the cafeteria when needed. And when it came to public speaking, she never had any issues getting up in front of a crowd and capturing their full attention with both elegance and eloquence.
But this assembly in particular was a little bit different for her—not because of the crowd or the topic at hand, but because of what she also wished to say on top of everything else. Things always got just a bit harder when emotions were mixed in with the routines.
Still, though, they had run through this speech multiple times already, and as both she and Vice Principal Luna stood up there to address such a special group of students, there were no doubts in either her mind or voice when she finally began to speak.

“...Good afternoon, senior class of Canterlot High. I'm sure that all of you are anxious to get started enjoying your weekend, but we have some exciting news to share with you first. Now that everything has been finalized, I am pleased to announce that we have officially made arrangements for the Fall Formal...and the date has been set!”

Without so much as another word to go off of, the seniors burst into cheers then. Granted, most of them had probably already figured out what this whole assembly was over, but that didn't seem to dampen the hype of it all becoming a reality too much. Besides, even if they knew where this was ultimately going, there were still a few twists that might serve as a more proper surprise.

“...Before we go into the details, however,” she continued, once the audience had settled down a bit, “there are some things that Vice Principal Luna and I would like to briefly discuss with you...”

There was a momentary pause as the principal switched places with her sister, who proceeded to adjust the microphone before elaborating further. Funnily enough, whereas the eldest tended to project a warm and uplifting light, the younger sibling spoke more to temper their students and imbue within them a sense of composure, as was certainly the case then.

“...As you all know, CHS has traditionally selected one student each year to be crowned as either Prince or Princess of the Fall Formal. Originally, this was intended as a way for the student body to formally recognize the contributions of one individual; someone who went above and beyond to embody what it truly means to be a Canterlot Wondercolt. However...after much consideration, we have decided to finally put an end to that tradition. As such, and as of this year, there will no longer be any sort of contest held at the Fall Formal.”

That sudden declaration sent a wave of murmurs throughout the audience, and it wasn't hard to spot some of the confused or concerned glances being exchanged then. However, before there was any room to really question things further, the vice principal carried on.

“Some of you are no doubt disappointed to hear this, especially after its absence last year. But...there are a few reasons as to why we've chosen to move forward without it...”

With that, Luna unfastened the microphone from its stand before handing it back over to her sister. This was probably both the easiest and hardest part of their entire speech...but Celestia delivered it with the same conviction as anyone would've expected.

“...As I'm sure we all still remember, our school was a very different place not even two years ago. Back then, the student body was fractured seemingly beyond repair, and even the faculty...myself included...couldn't recognize when we were needed the most... But then, we were visited by a remarkable young woman—someone who, despite having her own responsibilities, was willing to sacrifice so much to help us rediscover who we were as a school...and as friends...”

In truth, some of Celestia's original drafts for this speech went further in discussing Princess Twilight. After all, the students absolutely loved hearing about her, and they would've stood there for minutes on end just to reminisce on everything that she had done to help make CHS a better place.
Many of them probably would've even felt that she deserved to be the last Princess of the Fall Formal...that her actions alone were a fitting and unassailable finale to it all.
But she couldn't allow any of them to feel that way any longer.

“......But...this isn't about her... It's about all of you... Whereas Princess Twilight Sparkle may have rekindled the magic of friendship in our lives, all of you have been responsible for keeping its spirit alive these many years. You've faced countless hardships and challenges together... You've protected and helped others in need together... You've all grown into such fine young adults...and you've done it all together.”

Another pause as she allowed herself a moment to watch the students grow more encouraged and confident then.

“Now, I'd be lying if I said that your class hasn't occasionally been a handful to deal with,” she admitted playfully, to the sound of some light chuckling all around.

“...But...I can also confidently say that there is no class I have ever been prouder of... You've all done so many great things already, and I know you'll continue to do so long after this year is over. For these reasons, we cannot in good conscience recognize a single one of you for the Fall Formal...because you all deserve recognition! This is your coronation, and you've all earned it...together!”

At that declaration, the principal found it impossible to continue for a moment. Amazingly, however, it wasn't because her audience had grown too loud to speak over then. Instead, something much more heartwarming was happening.

All around, the students were joining together in a little moment. Some cheerfully high-fived, while others tearfully hugged. Some shared in an affectionate kiss, while others simply exchanged prideful glances. The expressions might've varied, but one thing was constant, and it was exactly what Celestia loved most about her job.
These students...these young adults... She could see that they all understood the weight of their accomplishments and that they were proud not just of themselves, but of each other. Without a doubt, at that moment, they were united not only as classmates...but as friends...and as a family...

“...Speaking of great things,” Luna added, seeing as her sister was understandably growing a bit tearful, “...we have one more to reveal to you all... It took a little while to tabulate everything, but I can tell you now that, through your hard work and contributions, this year's senior class has raised more money than any other in the history of CHS!”

Now there were the applauds and outcries that the principal was anticipating. In fact, the students were almost like a chorus then, with their jubilance growing all the louder as each incoming reveal steadily pumped them up further. Not much longer now.

“...Because of that, and following the many suggestions that we've been inundated with this past month, we have decided to host this year's Fall Formal off-campus... Specifically, it will be held at the grand theme park of Equestria Land on November 20th—three weeks from today—and it will be featuring performances by none other than...”

Much to her surprise, Celestia was suddenly handed the microphone to share alongside her sister. Originally, the vice principal was supposed to finish this all off on her own, but as Luna gave her a knowing smile then, they both decided to share in the final reveal together. It was absolutely worth it, too.

“...Countess Coloratura!”

It was fair to say that, in her many years as both an instructor and administrator, Principal Celestia had long ago grown accustomed to most routines at CHS. But as she proudly stood there with her sister, watching as the most amazing group of students she'd ever known absolutely erupted with cheers then, she still struggled with two of the most bittersweet routines of them all:

Gradually seeing her students growing up...and getting closer to having to say goodbye.

****

Being one of the last few to exit the auditorium, Sunset was surprised to find just how long her class had stayed behind after things wrapped up. For what would've ordinarily been just another roadblock any other time, this assembly had actually served to jumpstart the seniors' weekends. Suddenly, and without a doubt, this was going to be what everyone's plans revolved around for the next few weeks.
Of course, Sunset really couldn't blame any of them...not when even she thought it was all pretty awesome!

“AHHHHHHH!” Pinkie Pie shouted, once again hugging her unsuspecting friend. “I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT! OUR CD SELLING OUT! EQUESTRIA LAND! COUNTESS COLORATURA! THIS IS GONNA BE THE BEST FALL FORMAL EVER!”

“Hahaha—alright, alright! Don't get too excited yet! You'll party-poop yourself out before the Formal.”

“Ha! Good one!” she replied, before taking another swig of chocolate milk to keep her energy up.

The party planner might've been a bit hyperbolic—with emphasis on the “hyper” part—but she did sum things up rather nicely then. There was just so much to take in, and it seemed as though everyone had something to be excited over with these reveals.

You had Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy absolutely amped for Equestria Land—the latter especially after finding out that the nation's largest aviary was apparently being featured there that week.
You had Twilight marveling over the actual fundraising figures—especially since the Rainbooms's CD had ultimately contributed to almost a quarter of the class's total finances on hand.
Even Applejack couldn't hide the excitement as both she and Rarity gushed over the chance to finally see Countess Coloratura live and in-person—especially since the world-renowned pop singer had been on hiatus for months now.

Indeed, despite the already insurmountable level of hype going into things, this assembly had assuredly surpassed most people's expectations...including Sunset's. Leave it to two of the most charismatic leaders ever to pull off a magic trick like that...in this or any other world.

Speaking of, whereas her bubbly friend was sticking around simply to see how ecstatic everyone else was, Sunset had a different reason to stay behind then. But while she waited, this was certainly as good a time as any to bring something important up.

“...Hey, Pinkie Pie?”

“Hmm?” her friend hummed, chugging down the last ounces of her chocolate charge-up.

“Thanks a lot...for listening earlier. To be honest, at first, I thought I was writing to Twilight to work out my thoughts, but...I think I was really just...looking for an excuse to get her involved again. I've... We've never really faced anything like this before, and maybe I was a little scared that we couldn't do it on our own... But thanks to you and...well... Just, thanks...for showing me how silly I was being.”

“Aw,” Pinkie replied. “I didn't think you were being silly, silly.”

Without any hesitation, the party planner hugged her friend then.
Admittedly, she didn't hear most of the conversation that went on between the two earlier—despite every attempt to lipread and make out what was being said to her—and she still couldn't believe someone as confident and absolutely awe-inspiring as Sunset would worry over what to wear for the Fall Formal.
But none of that really mattered.

“...Like I was gonna say earlier... Even if I don't understand it all, there's nothing we can't figure out if we do it together!”

“Haha...you've got that right... Thanks.”

Wow... Pinkie Pie really deserved more credit than people gave her...especially since she was absolutely correct then!
There was still a lot of work to be done in these next few weeks, between finishing the Telemeter 2.0 and finding a way to go on the offensive against this Equestrian Magic.
On top of that, they were going to have to start contending with things getting a lot more hectic around here in preparation for the Fall Formal.
In the meantime, there were a few things that Sunset should get started on immediately. First and foremost, she still had to check in and make sure that Applejack was alright this weekend. Hopefully, her and Rarity harvesting was a sign that things had finally settled between them, especially since they would all have to start working much closer together come Monday.

It was going to be difficult. There was going to be a lot of trial and error, as well as plenty of adjustments and failures to deal with.
But at that moment, Sunset was confident...they could do this...and they would do it together!

“Oh! Be right back!” she said to Pinkie Pie, suddenly noticing the last thing that needed to be taken care of before her work could begin.

As she waited, the party planner took to watching a few more classmates leave the school then, all the while delighting in the shared elation circulating about. There really was nothing quite like a party to pep people up, especially in trying times like these, and seeing others getting excited for one always put a huge smile on her face.
However, when she turned around to check on her friend, Pinkie Pie found herself not only smiling...but also on the verge of crying.

Because there was Sunset...affectionately hugging a surprised Principal Celestia, who was all too happy to return the gesture after wiping away a subtle tear.

“AWWWW,” she shouted, before rushing over to join in.

Seriously...she just knew this was going to be the best Fall Formal ever!

Next Time: Like a Diamond...Like an Apple