So, the six girls and one dog went to Rachael’s home. Rachael was digging through a cardboard box. Ashleigh crossed her arms in front of her.

“Want ta explain ta us just what exactly it is yer lookin’ for?” Ashleigh asked.

“Ah-ha!” Rachael called, pulling out what she was looking for. She presented before them blue headbands with yellow plastic pony-like ears and white waist wraps with a blue and yellow pony-like tail made of faux fur. “We can wear these as a sign of unity. Though we are all different, we are all Canterlot Wondercolts. Susan may have divided us, but, Twilight united us in a way that Sally would have done for us. We’re going to let everyone know that Twilight brought us back together as friends. So, what do you think?”

Fauna found herself enamored with the ears and tails, remembering them from freshman year. “Those look like the ones we wore freshmen year,” she said.

“Sally and I began revising them,” Rachael admitted. “She also pitched the idea of wings and horns for some. Personally, I felt that would undercut the unity symbolization.”

“You know,” Pinkie noted. “These are inspiring me to come up with a song.” She put the ears on, but, quickly found putting the tail on to be difficult due to the belt clearly not being meant for one as chubby as her.

“I’ll make sure to modify it to accommodate diverse body types,” Rachael said.

Ashleigh, Roxy, and Fauna were able to put their own tails and ears on with minimal effort.

“Ah ‘member when we first wore these,” Ashleigh said. “Sally said they reminded her o’ home.”

I can see why she would think that, Twilight internally thought.

“I also made sweaters to go with them,” Rachael said.

So, the girls modeled the sweaters. Pinkie managed to do just fine, but, it didn’t escape anyone’s notice that her sweater still failed to fully cover her belly.

“I’ll need to take your measurements again later, Pinkie,” Rachael said before gently poking the exposed part of Pinkie’s belly. “You’ve clearly put on more weight since the day Sally disappeared than I thought.”

“I like it, though,” Pinkie said. “It makes me extra soft for hugging.”*

“Fair enough,” Rachael conceded.

So, they worked for about one and a half hours practicing a new routine to help Twilight win the crown. Come the morning, it was Friday, the very day of the Fall Formal dance and Twilight and Spike’s third day in the human world (their last chance to return home before the portal closed). The students were sitting down to lunch in the cafeteria. It was then that the group of friends put their plan into action. They started making improvised music with lunch trays. Spike also subtly clicked on a music player that was plugged into a corner. Music that was specially made for the routine started to play and the girls began to sing. Ashleigh, Roxy, Pinkie, Fauna, and Rachael all started.

“Hey, hey, everybody~
We’ve got something to say~
We may seem as different~
As the night is from day~

But, you’ll look a little deeper~
And you will see~
That I’m just like you~
And you’re just like me~
Yeah~!

Hey, hey, everybody,
We’re here to shout~
That the magic of friendship~
Is what it’s all about~

Yeah, we thought we were different~
As the night is from the day~
Until Twilight Sparkle~
Helped us see another way~

So get up, get down~
If you’re gonna come around~
We can work together~
Helping Twilight win the crown~
So, get up, get down~
Cuz it’s gonna make a sound~
If we work together~
Helping Twilight Sparkle win the crown~!”

Pinkie sang her own verse.

“Hey, hey, hands up now~
We’re sending a message to the crowd~
Hands wave up, then come down~
We party together all around~!”

Rachael then sang, “Generous, honesty~”

Ashleigh followed up in tune by singing, “Laughter, kindness, loyalty~”

Fauna added, “Twilight helped us each to see~”

Roxy added in, “All that we can be~!”

They all joined in again.

“So get up, get down~
If you’re gonna come around~
We can work together~
Helping Twilight win the crown~
So, get up, get down~
Cuz it’s gonna make a sound~
If we work together~
Helping Twilight Sparkle win the crown~!”

Pinkie and Rachel opened the cafeteria doors and allowed Twilight inside, wearing the Canterlot Wondercolt swag. That was when Twilight finally joined in.

“I’m gonna be myself~
No matter what I do~
And if you’re different~
Yeah, I want you to be true to you~

If you follow me~
We’ll put our differences aside~
We’ll stick together~
And start working on that school pride~!”

At that point, the song became so infectious, all the students (with one notable exception) joined in.

“Jump up, make a sound~ (Hey!)
Stomp your hooves, turn around~
Stop now, make a change~
Gonna come around~

Jump up, make a sound~ (Hey!)
Stomp your hooves, turn around~
Canterlot Wondercolts~
Help her win the crown~!”

Susan, who was stepping outside the cafeteria with her sidekicks, grew annoyed as the song continued in the background. She noticed they were wearing ears and tails as well.

“Take those damn things off!” she demanded. Then, with a wicked smile, she added, “I have something more important I need you to do.”

“Get Karen to speak up against her?” Skip asked.

“No,” Susan said. “That ornery bitch’s words won’t mean much at this point.” She then whispered her actual plan to them.

Author's Note

Here's the next chapter.

*Be honest, that's totally in-character for her.

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