Out in a lush green soccer field, Roxy was the only player. She was practicing her kicks when Ashleigh walked up to her with a shamed look on her face. Roxy could see her coming and looked at her sternly.

“Um…” Ashleigh started. “Ah see yer still on the soccer team, Roxy.”

“Yep,” Roxy said, making little effort to hide her annoyance. “Still on it.”

“That’s great ta hear,” Ashleigh smiled genuinely. “N’ how’s Tank, by the way? Is he eatin’ enough? Cuz, ya know, last time ah saw him, he was lookin’ kinda-”

Roxy kicked a ball and turned to face Ashleigh. “Cut the crap, Apple!” she snapped. “What the hell do you want?”

“Look, Roxy,” Ashleigh said gently. “Ah just wanted ta talk ‘bout–”

“Oh,” Roxy interrupted. “So, now, you want to talk?”

“Ah’m sorry, Roxy,” Ashleigh apologized. “But, right now, there’s a girl-”

“You’re sorry?” Roxy interrupted again.

“About the bake sale,” Ashleigh explained. “Listen, cuz-”

“Oh, of f*cking course,” Roxy interrupted a third time. “The bake sale. The one that you f*cking moved and then canceled on me, right?!”

“That was Susan Shoichet!” Ashleigh exclaimed. “Now, please, let me finish what ah’m-”

“Let you finish?!” Roxy interrupted again. “You don’t f*cking get the right to say that to me! What about all those times I tried to talk to you? Huh? All those times you avoided me? Did you give me a goddamn chance?!”

Ashleigh shamefully removed her hat and held it up to her chest. “No… ah didn’t.”

“Then, why the hell should I listen to you now?!” Roxy challenged. “Huh?! Give me a f*cking reason!”

“Because…” Ashleigh said earnestly. “Ya don’t have ta. But, ya see that girl over there?” Roxy looked where Ashleigh pointed. The athlete’s expression told Ashleigh to get to the point. “She could really use yer help. She’s fixin’ ta do somethin’ crazy n’ she needs all the help she can get. Ah know ah don’t deserve yer help, ah get it. But, ah swear on mah life that she does. Don’t let her down because o’ me. Even if ya won’t do it fer her, do it fer Sally.”

The mention of Sally struck a chord with Roxy. She was quiet for a moment. Then, she asked, “You sure about this girl?”

“She trusts me,” Ashleigh said. “At this point, that’s enough fer me.”

“I tried to be there for you, Ashleigh,” Roxy said. “Because I knew Sally would’ve wanted us to make peace.”

“Ah see that now,” Ashleigh said. “‘N ah want ta be there fer ya, too… ah’d do anythin’.”

“Well,” Roxy said. “I guess that’s enough for me, then. I’m still pissed at you for ghosting me for like a year, though.”

“Ah don’t blame ya,” Ashleigh said. “Ah won’t let it happen again. Ah should’ve reached out sooner.”

“Better late than never,” Roxy said.

Ashleigh and Roxy then hugged each other. They could hear Pinkie excitedly cheer from afar.

“Ah’m truly sorry,” Ashleigh apologized.

“It’s fine,” Roxy said. “So, what’s her plan?”

“She’s plannin’ on runnin’ fer Princess o’ the Fall Formal,” Ashleigh explained.

“Against Susan Shoichet?” Roxy asked. “Are you sh*tting me?”

“Ah ain’t,” Ashleigh said directly.

“Didn’t Rach tell her about the Spring—” Roxy began asking.

“She did,” Ashleigh said. “But, this girl is dee-termined ta keep runnin’.”

Roxy carefully studied Twilight from the bleachers.

“Seems like she is,” Roxy said. “How about we go over there and have a little chat?”*

“Sounds good ta me,” Ashleigh answered before they made their way to the rest of the girls.

Once they got closer, Ashleigh explained to the others what had happened. “So, someone, n’ ah think we can all guess who, told Roxy here that mah bake sale had been moved ta a different day. She brought all the softball team ta the location n’ ah thought ah had canceled on her.”

“I tried to talk things out,” Roxy put in. “I knew Sally would’ve wanted it. But, when Ashleigh kept ghosting me, I felt it was pointless and gave up trying.”

“Do you two feel better now that you’ve actually talked about your feelings?” Twilight asked.

“I’m still pissed,” Roxy admitted. “But, I think I can get over it. I know Sally would’ve tried to get us to talk things out if she hadn’t pulled a Houdini on us. Anyway, you’re looking to overthrow Susan and be the Fall Formal Princess, huh?”

“Yes, that’s right,” Twilight nodded. “Though, I was a bit confused when you said Houdini.”

The human world girls were equally confused.

“Harry Houdini?” Roxy asked. Twilight’s expression showed no signs of recognition. “The famous illusionist known for his escape stunts and vanished years ago?”

“Uh,” Twilight said. She then sounded like she did know, even though she really didn’t. “Oh, that Houdini~! Yes, of course, I guess it just slipped my mind.” This must be how my friends feel when I explain to them something they’re not familiar with, Twilight thought.

“You’re just faking understanding to avoid further embarrassment, aren’t you?” Roxy asked in a deadpan voice.

“Yes,” Twilight said, blushing with embarrassment.

“Hey, no judgment,” Roxy said. “I use a strategy like that all the time. Anyway, I would love to see Susan knocked down a few pegs. And I can help you out…” Twilight smiled happily at this. “...if you can take me on in a game of one on one.”

“What?!” Twilight yelped, her smile dropping to a look of surprised shock.

“You want my help?” Roxy said. “You need to earn it.”

Twilight gulped nervously and she stood up. “Alright,” she said. “What do I have to do in this game?”

“First one to five goals wins,” Roxy explained.

“Do I kick the balls in—” Twilight started asking before she heard Pinkie snickering. “What?”**

“That’s pretty much the gist of it,” Roxy said. “Come on over and we’ll get this game going!” Roxy quickly kicked one of the balls.

The game was on. Twilight wasn’t the most athletic pony back in Equestria, but, for a better chance of getting her crown, she ran faster than she ever did before. But, with Roxy being more athletic, she didn’t have much of a chance. After half an hour, the scores were in; Roxy with 5 goals and Twilight with 0 goals. Twilight then collapsed on the soccer field, panting to catch her breath.

“And that’s game!” Roxy said.

“I really thought you were going to pull through,” Rachael said to Twilight, trying to be supportive.

“Thanks, Rachael,” Twilight sighed. “But, I know I stunk.”

“So, what’s the plan?” Roxy asked as she helped Twilight back onto her feet.

“Wait, you’re helping me?” Twilight asked. “But, I lost.”

“That was a test,” Roxy said. “I didn’t expect a bookworm schoolgirl like you to keep up with me, but, I can’t just help anybody. The Fall Formal Princess should be a girl with heart and determination. You proved that you had both by actually trying.”

Twilight smiled happily at this. “Thank you,” she said gratefully. “Thank all of you.”

Later, after Twilight used the gym shower, the six girls and Spike were at a place called the Sweet Shoppe, which reminded her of Sugarcube Corner back home. Though, it was different. As the woman behind the counter, a rather plump lady who reminded Twilight of Mrs. Cake, was making a hot cocoa for Twilight, the purple girl piped up.

“And, can I get mine with extra oats, please?” Twilight asked politely.

“Oats?” the lady asked. “That’s strange. You’re the second customer we’ve had to make such a request.”

“Uh,” Twilight said, sheepishly giggling. “Scratch that. However you normally make it is fine.”

When her beverage was ready, Twilight took it and slowly turned to join her friends. Unfortunately, she accidentally bumped into Flynn, the boy that Twilight met yesterday. Some of the whipped cream from her hot cocoa had spilled on his shirt.

“Oh!” Twilight exclaimed. “I’m so sorry! I’ll help clean this up.”

“No harm done,” Flynn said with a nonchalant smile. “Though, we’ve got to stop bumping into each other like this.” He got some napkins to help.

“Well, you know me~” Twilight said sheepishly. “Always making a big splash around here, because my drink kind of splashed… on the ground.” I sound like such a dork, she mentally scolded herself.

Twilight and Flynn finished cleaning up the mess. Then, Twilight went back to join the other girls and Spike. The dragon turned puppy was sleeping peacefully on Rachael’s lap while she and Fauna doted over him. Rachael noticed the fascination Twilight had for Flynn.

“Don’t even think about it,” Rachael reprimanded. “You’re already trying to take the Fall Formal Princess crown from Susan. I can only imagine what she would do to you if you managed to get her ex-boyfriend along with it.”

“Ex-boyfriend?” Twilight asked.

“Flynn broke up with Susan a few weeks ago,” Fauna explained. “I’m just surprised she hasn’t done something awful to him yet.”

“If they’re not together,” Twilight asked. “Why would Susan care who Flynn dates? It doesn’t make sense.”***

“Susan has moments where she’s extremely possessive,” Rachael said. “Even of things she discarded or abandoned her. The sad thing is, she’s not the only person with such a mindset.”

“Oh dear,” Twilight said.

“Back ta helpin’ Twilight,” Ashleigh said. “Everyone in school only knows her from the video that Susan posted. We need ta help ‘em see her differently. There has ta be some way ta show that Twilight is a really smart gal and capable o’ bein’ the Fall Formal Princess.”

The girls were thinking hard, trying to think of any ideas.

“I’VE GOT IT!” Rachael exclaimed, suddenly standing up. Spike was abruptly woken up and scuttled up to Twilight, trembling with fright. Other patrons in the cafe looked at Rachael in surprise and confusion.

“Jeez, Rache!” Roxy griped, rubbing her pinky finger in her right ear. “Warn us next time when you’re going to do that.”

Rachael, realizing how much attention she brought to herself, blushed in embarrassment before calming down.

“Let’s go to my place down the block,” she said. “There’s something Sally and I worked on before she disappeared.”

Author's Note

Here's the next chapter.

*Inspiration.

**Pinkie showing immature humor.

***An excellent point.

Comments? Questions? Thoughts? You know where to leave them.