Our Inner Ponies

I couldn't help but fidget as I waited for my number to be called. Me, Zaria, Spike, Pinkie, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash (Rarity couldn't make it due to an important clothes design for a client) were waiting in a small, plain waiting room. Earlier, I had had no idea what to mix in with the project (aka a potion), so I just mixed in a few liquids, shook it a bit with my magic, and followed everyone to, yes, Canterlot! It was a lot prettier in person; with its sparkling lights and crowded streets, it reminded me of New York—only a lot happier. Now we were all waiting for my number to be shouted on the other side of the room. I gazed down at the number on my chest. Earlier, some stallion had slapped a number 42 on me, and even though I said "Uh, ow?" he flat-out ignored me.

"Hey, what if that potion doesn't work?" Dash suddenly asked. "Then what'll you do?"

"Rainbow, think positive!" AJ urged her. "For Twilight's sake, anyway. We don't want her frettin' like she did earlier."

"I wasn't frettin'," I snapped, emphasizing the word. "I was just stressed, that's all."

"Doesn't that mean the same thing?" Pinkie wondered. I shot her a look.

"No," I responded. "Wait, yes! I dunno. I'm not a dictionary."

"Yes you are," Zaria said. "You once told me you loved reading and wr—"

"Nope! Nope! I know I do, but ssh, okay?" I interrupted, which caused Zaria to laugh again. She would laugh at anything hilarious. I was probably making her day right now.

"Number 42!" a gravelly voice cried. Finally, I'm up! I thought, standing up and following the stallion who had called my number. The others trailed behind me.

Now, at first I thought I'd be showing the potion off to millions of other ponies, but there were only four ponies: two stallions and two mares who, by the looks of it, were the judges. They were standing in front of a bare wooden table looking at their clipboards. Spike placed the potion (which was hidden under a cloth) on the table. I stepped up to it and took a good look at the bottle's structure. I wonder what's so special about this anyway, I wondered. It's just a potion.

"Twilight Sparkle, what a surprise to see you here," a majestic voice suddenly said. My eyes widened. No...she couldn't be here! Not now! I slowly turned around and held back a startled scream. Princess Celestia was staring down at me with a warm smile on her face. She seemed taller in person; almost like a giant goddess.

"P-Princess Celestia," I sputtered, lowering my head to try and bow. "It's an honor to see you here tonight. If you don't mind me asking this, but...what're you doing here?"

"When I heard my most faithful student was going to be demonstrating a certain project, I just had to watch for myself," the princess answered. Crap! This wasn't good. I was probably gonna screw things up! That would surely ruin Twilight's "most faithful student" reputation from the princess.

"Alright, let's see this project in action," one of the judges announced. "The sooner we're done, the sooner I can go home and relax." I had to laugh. Looks like someone didn't want to quit their day/night job. I cleared my throat.

"Okay, um, well...I'm very happy to be here tonight. So, nevertheless, this here potion will succeed in increasing your metabolism, and it'll—" I stopped short. Shoot! What else did Spike say when I asked him about the project much, much earlier? Think!

"Um, it'll also increase your...strength, I think?" I rattled on. The four judges scribbled something on their clipboards. I felt my face burn. Note to self: Never say "I think" near judges. They'll just assume you're second guessing yourself.

"Uh, anyways," I continued, "I've been working long and hard on this project, and I hope you all like the results." I gave a fake smile as I watched the judges write something else on their boards. You're blowin' it! a voice in my head cried. I know! I thought back. What should I do now? Just then, I heard someone clear their throat.

"Miss Sparkle, aren't you going to test this project?" one of the female judges asked, looking at me over her yellow glasses.

"Oh, uh...sure! I mean, of course! Why wouldn't I?" I looked around. "Any volunteers?" No one raised their hooves. Not even Pinkie!

"Okay, I'll just pick!" I looked around some more and grinned. "How about...you!" One of the judges looked up.

"Who me?"

"Of course!" I used my magic (thanks to that potion, I had almost mastered the art of magic) to pull him over to me. I levitated the cloth off of the small bottle and twisted the cap off.

"Drink up!" I cried cheerfully. The stallion sniffed the drink and took a small sip. Please work! I know it'll work! It's gotta work! My thoughts were racing and came to a stop when the judge wrote something on his clipboard.

"Interesting flavor, yet no results, Miss Sparkle," he informed me. "Does it take place in a matter of time? Because clearly, it doesn't happen right a—" He stopped mid-sentence and blinked. I smiled. Yes! The results were working!

Another few seconds went by, and they...weren't too good. First, the judge's head started growing like a balloon, then he started sweating like mad. He was moving all around like he was having a seizure, and worst of all, his face turned bright red and I literally saw steams of smoke escaping his ears! After that, he just jumped in midair and collapsed on the ground, breathing hard and barely moving a muscle. The other judges stared down at him with concern.

"I—I'm so sorry!" I cried, feeling embarrassed but trying hard not to laugh. "I really didn't mean for that to happen!" The judge just glared at me. I smiled sheepishly and used my magic to dump the rest of the potion out on the table. I swear I thought I saw the table's wood was burning a bit. Just imagine if that judge had drank the entire thing! Whoa mama.

"I'm seriously sorry," I repeated, swallowing the laughter about to erupt out of my throat. "What can I do to make it up to you, sir?"

"Leave....now!"

I blinked.

"W-what? But I—"

"No, better yet, I'll leave. Thank you kindly for your demonstration, Miss Sparkle, but I'm afraid that had to have been the worst experience I've felt in my life!"

"Excuse me?" I exploded angrily. "Look, I realize that the potion wasn't what you were expecting, but there's no need to be rude! I'm not your pal, Mr. Steamy Head!" My own head felt like cotton was stuffed in it. My face was burning hot and my mane and tail felt dangerously tingly.

"Miss Sparkle!" Yellow Glasses Judge cried. "That behavior is very unexceptional here!"

"Oh really, Miss Tacky Yellow Glasses? I think it's very exceptional!" I argued, my heart pumping. "In fact, I spent a lot of time on this project, and you think you have the right to tell me what I did wrong? Oh no! You messed with the wrong pony! You just—" I felt a tiny hand touch my leg.

I looked down to see Spike, giving me a Let It Go and Calm the Heck Down look. I huffed and rubbed the top of my head—which felt spiky and stiff! Oh God. Wasn't Twilight's mane and tail all spiky-looking in Lesson Zero? No, not Psycho Twilight! Anything but that! Without another word, the three standing judges helped the other judge up and scurried out the room.

I felt my mane and tail shake a teeny bit as they reformed into their straight, smooth self. People say close calls all the time, but that was more than a close call. I avoided making eye contact with the four mares looking at me worriedly and gazed up at the princess. She didn't seem like she wanted to look at me, and that was fine. But what she said next was harsh.

"Oh, what am I going to do with you, Twilight? I thought I taught a better student than this."

"You did!" I blurted out. "It's just that, tonight wasn't the right night to come and—"

"I can see that now," Celestia interrupted. "And I can't believe it, either. I am very disappointed in you." Then she spread her graceful wings and flew out of a giant open window, leaving the rest of us alone.

I stared at the floor sadly, not knowing what to do first: Cry, Scream, or Cry and Scream at the same time. I straightened up when I felt the burning sensation of hot tears tease me from the back of my eyes. Breaking my will to make eye contact, I looked straight at Applejack, who didn't look like she was going to say something now.

"Do you believe I'm not Twilight now?" I asked her. "Or do you still think I'm her?" AJ didn't reply. She just gazed at a confused looking Rainbow Dash.

"Uh, what's she talking about?" she asked. I sighed.

"Go ahead Applejack. Break your Pinkie Promise," I dared her. Pinkie's mouth gaped open.

"What?! You can't break a Pinkie Promise!" she objected.

"Well I want her to," I explained. "Go ahead, AJ. Or should I break it for you?" Applejack didn't say anything. I'm taking that as a Go Ahead and Tell 'Em.

So I told everyone how I wasn't Twilight and how Zaria wasn't Fluttershy, and what they said back was pretty much expected. All they said were things like of course we were Twilight and Fluttershy; I was just nervous about the project; the princess wasn't that mad at me; stuff like that. But I got seriously mad when, get this, Zaria agreed that she actually was Fluttershy! I couldn't believe her! As soon as she had said those words, I was beyond speechless.

"I'm telling the truth!" I cried weakly.

"Um, Twilight? Maybe you should go home and lie down or something," Spike advised me quietly.

I just stared at him with an annoyed and "shut up" look. I was done. I didn't care if these ponies didn't believe me, or if Zaria was willing to keep acting like she was Fluttershy. Inside my head, something snapped and I just lost it.

"Okay, fine. Whatever, yeah. If you all won't believe a single thing that I say, then maybe you should take some classes on how to be a good friend. Because you obviously don't know what a good friend IS!" I felt my hair prick up a bit.

"Sure, don't believe me at all! That's fine and dandy! Just great!" I gave them all a thin psycho smile and squinted my eyes. "Why believe a friend in need when you can just tell them excuses so they think you're not worthy believing, am I right?"

They all took a step back as I got closer.

"Ooh, what gooood friends you girls are...!" I finished sarcastically, my eye twitching. I stopped and looked at Zaria.

"Oh, ho ho - and as for you! Are you seriously gonna keep pretending you're Fluttershy now?" I asked angrily. "Give it a rest, dude!"

"What do you me? I am Fluttershy!" Zaria replied, hiding half her face with her hair. "Stop saying I'm not, 'cause I am! Maybe you should go home and rest..."

"No you're not!" I cried. "You're my friend, and we stick together! We're not ponies, we're ordinary girls!"

"Wow, nice vocabulary Twilight," Zaria sneered, rolling her eyes. "Giiiirls. Pssh, Fantastic."

"Okay, ya know what, fine!" I screamed. "I'm done with this! Done fighting, done stressing, done with everything!"

"Even done with talking?" Zaria added haughtily.

"Yes. So if you wanna keep saying who you are in order to keep this new life, then goodbye to you, Miss 'Shy'!" I snapped.

I roughly levitated Spike on my back and made my way outside into the night. I didn't know where I was going, and I didn't care. I just wanted to get away from my so called "friends."