Someone once told me that the universe likes to throw you curve-balls at the worst times. At the time, I think I told him, "Can you speak plain English? I don't really get sports idioms and a lot of pop-culture references." Dude was surprisingly chill about it. Hell, he spent most of the free time we had on the Gibraltar trip introducing me to all sorts of stuff I never really had exposure to growing up—sports, video games, and even 'degenerate weeb shit'. I still blame him for getting me hooked on ~~Todd Howard's Wild Ride~~ Skyrim, and what he called the 'android waifu' game.

Still, I'm glad that I got such idioms now, because if there was ever a curve-ball to be thrown, it was finding out that the mother of dead girl—one whom I was the spitting image of, no less—had been made aware of my existence. She might wait for more information, but chances are that the school principal had gotten—or would soon receive—a call from her. Even if this had all just been a hoax, and I was never here, I have no doubt that she would be demanding to know what the fuck is going on and why her dead daughter was suddenly being targeted by a rumour account.

Then of course, you had the other two with me. Neither of them seemed to know how to respond to my vulgar outburst. As such, they were both regarding me with a look of 'Who is this person?' It felt like when Fluttershy had mumbled about me not being anything like Emerald before. I also got the impression from the earlier interaction with Rainbow that there was some history everyone in their group thus far seemed aware of. They probably went to elementary school with Emerald.

"Darling, I'm sure it's not that bad," Rarity offered, holding open the door and ushering us into the band room. Rather than desks and chairs, there were chairs arrayed in rows with music stands in front of them. "Ms. Breeze is a wonderful woman; at most, she might want to meet with you, so that she can understand what is going on and how you're even here."

That's entirely the problem, I thought at the back of her head as I followed her in. What would I even say to her? I knew next to nothing about this world's Emerald, and up until recently, I was convinced that Emerald Flicker was just a figment of my dream. Now, however, I was starting to get this really gross feeling that maybe my old body hadn't been transformed, but rather my current form was a literal vessel for my soul. What, am I supposed to just say, "Sorry, Ma'am; the pony equivalent of your daughter gave up on life after your counterpart died, and some semi-sapient metaphysical embodiment of a magical concept stuffed my soul into her body for who knows what plot?"

Strangely enough, rather than taking a seat with Rarity, I noted that Fluttershy continued on through the room and into a side-chamber marked Equipment Storage. She probably had to fetch her own instrument, but if that were the case, why hadn't Rarity gone as well? My eyes flicked to the baby grand piano near the front of the room, remembering the one in her own Equestrian counterpart's house, and it clicked with me that she probably had permission to use that one when time to present pieces, or participating in a piece as a group.

Following Rarity's lead, I took a seat in one of the empty folding chairs beside her, tucking my bag beneath me. There was no mistaking the sidelong glance she was giving me, or more specifically the handiwork of my cloak. "Wherever did you get your frock, Emerald?" she asked as several students filed into the room. "It looks incredibly well-made, and a design like that had to have been custom."

Lowering my hood, I looked her in the eye and just smiled. "A very generous mare made it for me," I explained, undoing the clasp and rising off my seat just enough to remove it to pass to her. She seemed fascinated with the ears at the top of it, although she was definitely looking at the stitching and the hem-work. "She wanted to make me a dress as an apology for something a friend had done, but since I'm studying magic, I thought a mage's cloak would be more suitable. The ears were a detail I requested. When I'm a pony, my ears fit right in those, so they can keep nice and toasty."

"Oh! Does that mean you're a, um, a unicorn?" Fluttershy asked as she took a seat on the other side of Rarity, nearly scaring me out of my skin. In her hand, she had a... tambourine of all things. Her attention shifted to Rarity. "Isn't that what Twilight said? That only unicorns and alicorns really did that sort of thing?"

I shrugged and held my hand out, palm-down, tilting it from side to side. "All ponies are capable of magic, even earth-ponies like myself," I answered as Rarity passed me back my garment. I threw it back on over my 'uniform', although I left my hood down. "Non-unicorns only have access to a few uncommon forms of spellcasting, like runes or alchemy. My talent is in runic magic, which from everything I've seen in my studies so far, is effectively proto-unicorn magic." The corners of my mouth were beginning to turn upward. "Don't even get me started on my conspiracy theories surrounding the decline in non-unicorn spellcasters."

That sorta killed that conversation. While we waited for this class's teacher to arrive, the girls started taking out sheet music to place on their music stands, although Rarity didn't bother opening hers. Probably would open it if she needed to sit down at the piano over there. I noticed that other students were also seemingly grouped up with purpose, rather than just at random.

There were the human counterparts of Octavia Melody and Vinyl Scratch off to one side, having a hushed conversation involving whispering and what I was sure was American—or more likely, Amareican—Sign Language. Flash Sentry was with another group that looked like they were setting up for a rock show, although they kept shooting questioning glances to Fluttershy. Well, the rest of his group was; I wasn't sure how to interpret the look he was giving me. It was clear that each and every group was gearing up for some demonstrations.

As if picking up on my curiosity, Rarity explained that part of the class was about setting goals, teamwork, concentration, and self-discipline. Apparently all, or at least most, of that was judged by the teacher when students would present the pieces they'd been practising before the class. Apparently the demos today were to be an eclectic mix of rock and classical music. There were apparently even vocals permitted if the piece called for them. It was a bit surprising that there was no mention of EDM or electronica. Could totally see Vinyl doing Freezepop's Less Talk, More Rokk.

When the teacher finally entered and greeted everyone—extending a kind welcome to their special guest—things got really, really interesting. See, once everyone quieted down, the teacher called out the first student group to present their piece. First up were Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Melody presenting Claude Debussy's La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin. Sure, they didn't call Debussy Debussy, but there's no mistaking a name like that!

See, Octavia took the lead melody—HA!—with her cello, while Scratch provided the backing notes that a single string instrument couldn't provide. They were really good together, and even though it still felt weird seeing the synth-oriented Vinyl playing classical on a piano, it felt right. Everyone else seemed to think so as well, as when they came to a finish, the entire class broke into applause.

Up next, much to my fucking surprise, was Fluttershy, alongside Flash's group. The song? I shit you not, it was Golden Earring's Radar Love. Worse, despite his voice sounding off with his nose plugged up—guess he was still bleeding a bit—he did a pretty good job with the vocals. Guitar work was okay, but I'm a bit biased because I'll always love the original. Still a good cover.

The class went through a few more pieces—almost all of them solos—from Bach's Minuet and Badinerie Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor to Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. It was all beautiful, and very nostalgic, but also somewhat disappointing. I was hoping to hear something new—something I'd never heard before. I was instead being presented with a growing case of the old-world blues.

Once Rarity finished her own piece, Bach's Little Fugue in G Minor, there was apparently enough time before the class broke for lunch for one more. Yeah, apparently this time slot was hacked in half to allow students to take their lunch at midday. That said, nobody seemed willing to volunteer. Then, of course, the teacher's eyes fell on me.

Oh, oh no.

"I'm fully aware that you are only present because Fluttershy has been asked to allow you to shadow her," the kind, older woman said, smiling softly at me. "That said, I was wondering if you played any instruments. If you do, would you care to play a piece for us?"

"I mean, I have been learning piano, but I don't have anything prepared," I said with a shake of my head. That got a raised eyebrow from Rarity and Fluttershy. Oh lemme guess; Emerald played viola. "I was practising a song for class before I ended up having to come here, but it's not exactly a song from Equestria..."

Rarity placed a hand on my shoulder, and I wasn't able to stop myself from wincing this time around. I don't think even you could miss that. "Darling, I'm sure you'll be fine," she assured me. "I'm actually surprised to hear you play anything, and now I'm curious."

I bit the inside of my cheek and looked around at everyone in the room. They all looked quite interested to hear what I had to offer, and I was kinda interested in playing again, if nothing more than to get more practice in. I sagged my shoulders and stood up. "Fine," I said with a sigh, walking over to the piano at the front. Taking a seat on the bench, I cracked my knuckles and placed my fingertips on the ivory keys. That action got a lot of raised eyebrows. "This is a song from a piece of media a friend introduced me to a long time ago."

A hush fell across the room as I struck the opening chords. I had their attention the moment I transitioned into the main melody. Yet, the song I was playing wasn't a purely instrumental piece; it had a very important lyrical component as well. Sucking in a deep breath, I readied myself to sing for the first time in this form.

"Feel's like I've lost all hope, both in body and in soul," I sang. Somehow, just remembering the lyrics got me thinking about how Sunset must have felt. It somehow made it feel all the more important to get these lyrics out and have them be heard. Is this what it feels like to be swept up in a heartsong? My fingers were definitely gliding along the black and white keys with a lot more finesse than I was used to. "And the clouds, they look so minacious... And as time slows to a crawl, silence starts to overwhelm..." How alone did she feel when nobody would believe her—when someone tried to push her down the stairs? "My cries keep going unnoticed..."

In spite of myself, I found myself opening up to the emotion in the room as I transitioned into the second verse. Maybe it was the sorrowful lyrics, or the fact that I was tearing up myself, but everyone was beginning to radiate sadness and awe. "Answer, God; why all the punishment? Is this the price I'm to pay for all my past sins?" God, how many times had she asked that very question since this began? "This is my cry out for help; I need you more than ever before..." It somehow felt like Sunset herself was right there with me, singing along. It should've been her song... and only some of her friends who needed to hear her cry for help were here. "Can you hear my call?"

As I broke into the chorus, however, I'd begun to enter something of an emotional feedback loop. The more the others felt the impact of the lyrics, the worse I felt, and thus the words had a greater impact. More and more, I felt like I was in way over my head with this whole affair. Would she even want to come back when I clear her name? After how she'd been treated and everything she'd been blamed for? According to Harmony, I'm just a foal, so why is this on my shoulders? By the time I'd spoken the words "But the truth is that I'm only one girl," my voice had collapsed into a shallow croak. Oh god, I'm crying again. My fingers slipped off the keys, my hands beginning to tremble, and I scooted the bench back so that I could stand. Why am I crying?

Before anyone could make a move, I rushed over to the chair my bag was beneath, and grabbed it. I thought I heard Rarity say something about my ears, but I'd stopped listening. I knew that I was starting to have an anxiety attack, and I needed to get somewhere safe to centre myself; I didn't have my comfort plushie after all. Barely even felt the door when I barrelled through it and out into the hallway. I might've even bumped into a cerise-haired girl in a dark hoodie, but I wasn't entirely sure if I actually hit her, or if she was just nearby.

~ 23 ~

Ten minutes later, once I was finished crying and no longer felt like I was at risk of throwing up from stress, I stepped out of one of the restrooms and made my way towards the office. Luna did want to speak with me at the start of lunch, so I figured there was no point in wasting time. Better to deal with the matter of Emerald's Mom now, rather than later.

As I started picking my way through the hallway, I saw that there were more eyes on me. It probably meant that there was more stuff popping up in that Anon-a-Miss thread. More rumours? Or had someone filmed me singing? The fact that they were giving me pitying looks gave me the impression that it was probably the later. Someone probably sent my little breakdown.

God, I hate those pitying fucking looks.

The secretary—She's not Princess Celestia's assistant, Raven Inkwell, is she?—greeted me with a smile as I stepped into the office. "Ah, Miss Flicker; I was just about to page you over the PA," she said softly. Yeah, that's so Raven. "Vice Principal Luna is currently on an emergency conference call in the meeting room, but she'll be with you shortly. In the meantime, please have a seat in her office."

I nodded, entering the appropriately marked room, drawing closed the blinds, and taking a seat. Somehow, I had a good idea of who was involved in the call. In addition to Celestia, there was definitely a very confused and angry Emerald Breeze on the other end, and possibly a lawyer or someone from the school board if things were really bad. The problem became what we would be doing about this. I'm not sure what would happen if I had to meet her; it'd be bad if she somehow convinced herself her daughter wasn't dead, and wanted me to come stay with her. She'd just lose her daughter all over again.

Glancing down at the backpack I'd set down at me feet, I had a thought. Maybe Twilight could provide some advice. Peeking through the blinds toward the door marked Conference Room, I saw I'd probably have a few more minutes. Grabbing a pen from a cup on Luna's desk, I carefully removed the magic journal and opened to a fresh page.

Twilight, Starlight, Sunset, and Co.,

I'm just checking in to provide a status update. I've already gotten Anon-a-Miss's attention, and I'm pretty sure that Celestia and Luna are now convinced of your innocence, Sunset. I met them at Donut Joe's shortly after sending you on your way, and informed them that you were in Equestria as of this morning. Now it's just a matter of setting a rumour myself and then announcing it to the school. I'm thinking about 'letting slip' that I was a guy in my previous life to Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash at lunch, and then sending it in myself.

Unfortunately, we've hit a rather big snag, as well. As Sunset's probably told you, Twilight, my cover alias used to be a real person that people at the school knew. I don't think I need to impress upon you the fact that this means that the Emerald Flicker I dreamed about was a real filly. That's something we can address and look into later, though. No, our snag is that Rarity's mom tagged Emerald Breeze on a video of me that was taken during gym class. I'm pretty sure the Principal and Vice Principal are on a conference call with her right now.

A few things I think need to be addressed. I need advice as to what I should do if Emerald Breeze determines that she's going to meet me, one way or another? I don't want this woman thinking some twist of fate has given her her daughter back, but I also don't want her to go through losing her daughter all over again.

I hate to ask this of you, Sunset, but what happened to my human counterpart? Luna was keeping mum about it when I asked, and she advised that I not bring it up to the other students. The problem is that as the likelihood that I'm going to meet her mother is quickly rising, and it feels like knowing her situation might be important in making sure I don't cause the woman any more emotional harm.

Starlight, if you're back from the mission the map gave you already, I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye. I've only been gone a half-day from my perspective, and I already miss you.

'Emerald Flicker'

I was in the process of wrapping Sunset's journal in my pyjamas and placing it in the bottom of my bag when the door opened and an aggravated looking Luna stepped through. I finished packing my bag while she sat down in her comfy-looking ergonomic chair, and waited for her to strike up the conversation. As an afterthought, I returned the pen I'd borrowed to the cup on her desk.

She rubbed at her eyes as she slouched in her chair. "That is probably one of the most stressful conference calls I've had in a long time," she said with a sigh. "You Equestria girls come with no shortage of troubles, it seems."

I nodded, glancing at the door. "Yeah, Rarity filled me in," I murmured, sticking out my leg to push it shut. "Hadn't even thought parents might've been keeping an eye on the account. How bad is it?"

"Up until the second video hit, she was putting this off as some sort of hoax and an old video, and just wanted an explanation as to why a CHS-related rumour blog was acting as though she were alive." There was a coffee-cup on the desk in front of her, which she picked up and sipped at before cringing. Probably cold. Hate that. "Then in the middle of the call a student posted a video of you singing that song in the band classroom... complete with a timestamp."

Well fuck, shit just keeps getting worse, doesn't it? I shifted in my seat, and broke eye-contact. This was probably the one thing I was grateful for in Equestria. There, nobody was carrying around camera phones, ready to catch your bad moments to share with the world-brains in their pockets.

"She was very confused when you suddenly sprouted a pair of green horse ears mid-song," she added. "Now she's threatening to get a lawyer involved if we don't get this Anon-a-Miss business shut-down hard, and she wants an explanation for who or what you are."

My head snapped back to her as what she said sunk in. "Wait, I did what now?"

Luna arched an eyebrow. "That's what you got out of all that?" she asked, incredulity slipping into her voice and aura. "Can you please take this seriously?"

A giggle escaped me as I waved off her comment. "Anon-a-Miss is already one foot in the grave, ma'am," I said. Funny how that only made her eyebrow move closer to her hairline. "Think about it; where is Sunset Shimmer? Equestria. Even if she had her phone—I wonder what the portal would do to a smartphone—she has no service while the portal's closed. Not sure if she would if it was open, either." A look of understanding finally allowed her eyebrow a break before it vanished completely. "While the initial post might get waved off as scheduled, I actually have a two-factor plan to fully clear Sunset."

Pointing with my finger toward the front of the school, where the statue and mirror were located, I tilted my head at her. "You guys have to have a closed circuit camera or two out front, right? Maybe even one trained on a juicy vandalism target, such as the statue?" When she nodded, I clapped my hands together. "Have someone prep the clip of this morning when I pushed her into the portal. Meanwhile, I'm going to skip the second half of Fluttershy's band class, and submit a rumour myself—maybe let the librarian know I'll be in there and that I have an excuse for being on MyStable. When Anon-a-Miss takes the bait, well... wait until the change of period and then post that CCTV footage to the school's MyStable page."

Reclining in her chair, she steepled her hands."That would certainly clear Sunset Shimmer," she agreed. "But that still leaves us without the real culprit." Luna swivelled her chair away. "Unless we put pressure on them."

I stood up and stretched. "That's up to you guys at that point," I replied, taking a moment to put my backpack on beneath my cloak. "I will say, though, that their actions are endangering the well-being of others to an almost criminal degree. This school is one bad post away from lynching someone. There was almost a fight in the locker-room this morning after two girls were outed as being a couple; one didn't even show up to school, so for all I know, she might be in actual peril." I turned to look her in the eye as I opened the door. "Even if you can't really get the police involved on Sunset's behalf, they can't be sure of that. Hell, offer lenience if they come forward if you need to; their social life will be fucked either way."

~ 23 ~

It was kinda strange going into the dining hall and seeing all those faces—paradoxically familiar and foreign at the same time—all simultaneously look up at me. Most of them, all gathered at their own tables in their own little groups, didn't bother stopping their own conversations, but there was no mistaking the fact that almost all of them were looking at me. Well, I'm not actually sure who or what the wall-eyed girl was looking at, but given the rest of the crowd was looking at me, I had my suspicions.

I just shrugged my shoulders, waved awkwardly, and made my way over to a service-counter between the cafeteria. It took a moment for me to get a ten dollar note from my wallet, but given that I had to wait in line and grab a tray anyway, it hardly mattered. Gave me time to look over the day's specials marked on a whiteboard. Ooh, tuna salad wrap... but for $5 and no sides, it better be the most goddamn filling thing ever. Oooh, they even have coffee!

There was a bit of a surprise waiting for me as I came up to the counter. I dunno what I was even really expecting when it came to the school's lunch-lady. That said, it certainly wasn't seeing the wise elder of the Apple family there. She probably wasn't expecting to see a dead girl, either.

I braced myself for a potential freak-out, remembering how superstitious a pony she was. There was even a moment where I entertained the idea that I might have to hit the deck, dodging a thrown ladle, accompanied by a shout of, "Not today, Satan!" before she threw herself out the window. You know, normal old lady responses when someone in a cloak shows up wearing the face of a dead girl. "What can I get'cha, deary?" she asked instead.

That caught me by surprise. Not even a comment. "Um, one of those tuna salad wraps and a coffee please," I said, setting my tray on the counter. I wasted no time grabbing a pre-packaged creamer, two sugar packets, and a plastic stir-stick from a nearby dish and setting them on my tray. "Thanks, Granny Smith."

"That stuff stunts yer growth, ya know," she replied, but she still turned around and fetched a huge looking wrap from a cooler behind her, sliced it at the midway point, and set it on my tray. Still, she did end up pouring me a coffee. "That'll be six fifty."

A buck fifty for a coffee that size is crazy! That didn't stop me from handing over the tenner and holding out my hand. "That's a myth, Granny," I said as she placed the change in my palm. "It's poor sleep, influenced by caffeine, that does that."

Into my cloak's pocket went the change as I picked up my tray. As I walked away, I heard a muttered, "Can't be a myth; ya haven't grown an inch in the four years since I seen ya last." Just ignore her, Anon.

Stepping away from the counter, I glanced around the room once more. Where are those five, I wonder? Roseluck and the other two flower girls were standing around a table, where a despondent looking Bon Bon sat staring at her phone, occasionally typing something out. They might've been trying to apologise for earlier. That wall-eyed girl from earlier—I think she might've been the Ponyville mailmare's counterpart—was sharing some muffins with a well-dressed young man who might've been a teacher's aid for all I knew.

It took me a little bit longer to notice their group than was probably healthy. I mean, how in the fuck do you miss a hyperactive pink girl waving at you? Okay, maybe I've learned to block out cases of Pinkie-being-Pinkie back home to the point where I can overlook her presence, but still. Once I saw her, spotting Rainbow, Rarity, and Fluttershy in this technicolour sea of hormonal teenagers was a lot easier.

As soon as I made my way over to the table, I found myself barraged with the shrill, excitable sound of peak Pinkie behaviour. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! She's here!" she was squealing. "Hi, Not-our-Emerald!"

Shaking my head with a wry smile, I glanced at the empty spot beside Applejack. "I see Pinkie is still Pinkie, no matter which dimension she's from," I said aloud. "Mind if I sit there, Applejack?"

Huh, like Flash Sentry, AJ's counterpart seemed to have a more human complexion, and she even had honest-to-god freckles, unlike the freckle-like discolourations on my AJ's coat. She leaned back on her bench, looked me up and down, and then took a bite out of—You'll never guess!—an apple from her tray of food. "Sure thing, sugar."

Setting my tray down on the table, I saw their eyes lock on the wrap. "What? Some ponies eat fish," I immediately said, shrugging off my bag. I set it on the bench next to me, alongside my cloak, and got to stirring the sugar and creamer into my coffee. "Mostly it's the pegasi who do it, but we can all handle it. Omega-3 oils and all that."

That got a nod from Applejack and a comment about giving it to their horses for their coats. My attention was on my food, however; between the running, the kickball, and the singing, I was more than a little peckish. In fact, up until I consumed half the wrap in just a few moments, I was deaf to the world.

"So, darling, I was meaning to ask," said Rarity when I came up for ~~air~~ coffee to wash down some food stuck in my throat. "Are you alright? You looked quite upset when you ran out of the band room."

Ah, of course they'd want to ask that. From their perspective, I was a girl a few years their junior who'd already broke down once today. What exactly do I tell them, though? Can't just go and say, 'Yeah, see, I'm somewhat of an empath, and this school is a festering hive of negativity that's playing with my head right now'. It wasn't a constructive answer, and didn't give them any context to anything. I mean, I could give them Twilight's note, but...

Idly stirring my coffee with the little plastic stick, I looked at the five of them. "I've not had easy lives," I finally said in a quiet voice. Fuck it, let's info dump them. "Before I lived in Equestria, I came from a world not unlike this one. Grew up in a remote mining town, up 'til my abusive prick of a sperm donor killed my mother and then topped himself." I sipped at my coffee once more while the others reacted with a degree of sympathy. "Spent the last years of my teens homeless and on the road, doing whatever I had to do to survive.

"Then, one day in my twenties, I end up in a car accident on the Schwarzwaldbahn, wander off into the woods, and wake up in Equestria as an eight-year-old foal without a name." I let that hang in the air for a moment, wondering if they'd catch on that Emerald wasn't my name. "I lost my family, my humanity, my life," I said plainly, counting off with my fingers. "Hell, I wasn't even the same sex as I was in my old life."

Maybe it was because of my own indignation, but somehow, their own shock didn't really register; I barely even felt the negativity in the building. Hell, I felt more 'in control' than I'd felt all day. For emphasis, I took another huge bite of my wrap. "Even in a new life, I can't get a break. I got maimed—and nearly blinded—by an idiot kid who didn't understand the concept of scalding injuries, kidnapped by an evil shapeshifter with a vendetta against my caretakers, ended up with empathic powers that I don't have full control over..." In little more than a whisper, I finished my tirade with, something that I hadn't before considered. "And to top it all off, I'm not even sure if I'm actually Emerald Flicker, or if I'm just a soul crammed into a filly's corpse, getting the occasional flashes of her memories."

They all just sorta gawked at me as I finished off my wrap. "I guess being in this emotional powder-keg of a school was just bound to set off an anxiety attack, ya know?" I said with a dismissive wave of my hand. Oh look! their expressions all just morphed into that one I've come to link with the stunned silence I've learned to associate with 'What is wrong with you?' and not 'Please continue.' "I feel much better now; info dumping like that was kinda cathartic."

"Dude, what the hell?" was Rainbow Dash's response.

Pinkie, strangely enough focused on the weirdest parts. "You're an eight-year-old in her twenties?"

Fluttershy and Rarity were just cringing at my nonchalance—and probably an oncoming headache. Meanwhile, Applejack let out a long sigh. "Girls, pardon ma Prench," she said, turning to face me, "but what th' fuck is wrong with you?"

I shrugged, trying to decide if getting this AJ counted in the totally-made-up-on-the-spot game of getting Twilight and her friends to swear. "I thought I gave a pretty comprehensive list," I casually said, "although you could probably add on weird anxiety issues stemming from my old life and touch aversion." As if only just remembering something, I changed the topic. "Say, what's all this about me having horse ears during my song?"

Five consecutive face-palms was the only forthcoming answer as Rarity brought out her phone.

Author's Note

Surprise! Early chapter!

Initially the lyrics were word-for-word of Weight of the World, but then I remembered that unmodified lyrics from non-MLP songs weren't allowed. Honestly, probably works for the best that I changed them up while trying to remain true to the meaning. I get the opportunity to demonstrate how things can be changed by translating something from one language, to another, and back; especially when one-to-one translations are impossible.