by Perdita Finn
Twilight took the pendant from around her neck. She studied it. What could it do? All kinds of possibilities began to arise in her mind, things she’d never imagined. What if it really was magic? She realized she was close to the statue of the Wondercolt. What secrets did it contain? “Imagine the things I could learn by setting it free!” she said aloud.
In the middle of the quad, Vice Principal Luna called the students to attention. “If both teams are ready…”
Twilight Sparkle’s pendant began to crackle. Twilight knew that her team was counting on her. The device lifted out of her hand and floated in the air in front of her. From across the quad, Sunset Shimmer saw what was happening. So did Principal Cinch. Her eyes narrowed. Was Twilight Sparkle going to release the magic?
“Twilight, no!” yelped Spike.
At the exact moment Dean Cadance and Vice Principal Luna signaled the start of the final event, Twilight snatched the device out of the air and popped it on. A swirling blast of dark energy hit her right in the forehead. Currents of magic crisscrossed through her body. The pendant fell out of her hands as she lifted off the ground. “Help me!” she called.
The Shadowbolts watched in horror as Twilight reached out toward Principal Cinch. “Keep away from me!” yelled the terrified principal, slipping away from her.
Lightning crackled. Thunder boomed. It all seemed to be coming out of Twilight Sparkle! Energy exploded and imploded until Twilight was surrounded by a twirling ball of light that at last burst open to reveal a giant girl with black wings, purple hair, and a glowing, twisted horn emerging from her forehead. Twilight Sparkle had transformed into Midnight Sparkle!
Stop the Games!
Poor Spike began to whimper. Everyone stared, dumbstruck, at Midnight Sparkle floating above them. She looked into Sunset Shimmer’s horrified eyes and cackled, “You were right. I didn’t understand magic before. But I do now!”
A powerful beam of crackling energy shot out of her twisted horn and blasted the statue of the Wondercolt. But it didn’t destroy it. Instead, it cracked the statue like a pane of glass. Into one of the cracks, Midnight Sparkle sent another blast—and it opened up to reveal another world. The rolling green hills of Ponyville were visible to everyone.
Midnight Sparkle turned toward Sunset Shimmer and blasted her. Just in time, Sunset Shimmer dove out of the beam. It hit the ground. Ripples spread out across the quad like a fissure in the earth. Students scrambled back from the edge. Rarity and Fluttershy stumbled toward it, and their friends tried to rescue them.
Principal Cinch headed toward the exit.
“Where are you going?” demanded Sunny Flare.
“Anywhere to avoid that monster, and I suggest you do the same!”
Sunset looked at the world visible through the rifts. “Equestria!” she cried.
Midnight Sparkle blasted the statue again, and cracks spread up toward the sky. It was as if the whole world of Canterlot High were falling to pieces. Sunset Shimmer knew she had to stop this, but how? She hurled herself toward the statue. “Twilight!” she shouted. “You can’t do this.”
“Why not?” Midnight Sparkle cackled. “There’s a whole other world right there, and it’s filled with magic!” She fired at the sky, and it fell away like a piece of glass, revealing more of Equestria.
“But you are destroying this world to get it!” Sunset Shimmer was begging her to stop.
“So what? There’s more magic there, and I want to understand it all!” She turned her horn toward the statue.
Sunset Shimmer spotted the pendant on the ground and, with all her might, grabbed it. She clutched it tightly with her fingers and raised it up over her head. As Midnight Sparkle released another blast, Sunset Shimmer managed to put the pendant directly in its path to absorb the magical energy. Sunset Shimmer fell backward, but she didn’t let go.
Frustrated, Midnight Sparkle focused her power and sent out an even stronger blast—but Sunset Shimmer rolled toward it and caught it with the pendant before it could hit anything else.
“You can’t understand everything,” Sunset Shimmer warned Midnight Sparkle. “No one can.”
“Oh, but I can! Oh, but I will!”
Sunset was struggling to hold on to the pendant filled with magical power, and it flew out of her hand and clattered to the ground.
Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie held tight as Rarity and Fluttershy dangled from the edge of the rift.
“Hang on!” urged Rainbow Dash.
“Obviously,” Rarity gasped.
The rift widened. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie started slipping toward it. Applejack pulled and strained, trying to keep all her friends from falling in. “Don’t let go!” Applejack begged.
All of a sudden, Applejack felt a surge of power. She wasn’t alone. She had help. Indigo Zap and all the kids from Crystal Prep were holding on, too, stretching farther and farther, right back to the front door of the school. “We’ve got you!” said Indigo Zap.
Sunset saw the danger her friends were in and the chain of kids all working together, and she knew exactly what to do. She grabbed the glowing pendant again and turned toward Midnight Sparkle. “This isn’t the way. I know you feel powerful right now, like you can have everything you want. I’ve been where you are. I’ve made the same mistakes you’re making.”
Midnight Sparkle’s dark eyes glittered. “You’re wrong! I can have everything I want!”
“No, you can’t.” Sunset Shimmer shook her head. She knew what she was talking about. She’d turned into a demonic beast once herself. “Even with all that magic and power, you’ll still be alone. True magic comes from honesty, loyalty, laughter, generosity, and kindness. I understand you, Twilight, and I want to show you the most important magic of all—the Magic of Friendship!”
Sunset Shimmer’s pony ears appeared and her tail grew long. She’d ponied up—and she was ready to take on Midnight Sparkle on her own terms. From her entire being came a shining aura of sunlight that connected and healed all the rifts and fissures. It touched every student. It even reached to Midnight Sparkle.
Midnight Sparkle fought back against the beam of light, and the air crackled with the opposing currents. But Sunset Shimmer didn’t want to fight. She stretched out her hand to Midnight Sparkle.
Somehow the rays of light were getting through to Midnight Sparkle. She began to see the kids beneath her holding hands, and she saw Spike’s worried face. The sight of her beloved dog was more powerful than anything. She realized Sunset Shimmer’s hand was extended toward her. She wanted to take it.
“Take my hand, Twilight,” Sunset urged. “Let me show you there’s another way, like someone else once did for me.” Midnight Sparkle reached out and clasped Sunset Shimmer’s fingers with her own.
With a magical whoosh, all the energy and enchantment poured back into the statue of the Wondercolt. The portal to Equestria was restored—and the world of Canterlot High was back to normal. Midnight Sparkle drifted down to the ground, transforming into Twilight Sparkle once again.
“I’m sorry,” she said at last. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“I know,” Sunset Shimmer said kindly. “And going on my own experiences, we’ll all forgive you.”
Spike leaped into Twilight Sparkle’s arms and gave her a sloppy kiss.
Everyone’s a Winner
Principal Cinch was ready to declare victory for her school the moment everything had quieted down. “Principal Celestia,” she announced, “on behalf of Crystal Prep, I demand that you forfeit the Friendship Games. Clearly, Canterlot High has had an unfair advantage for some time, and it’s certainly obvious that your students have been using magic for their own benefit.”
“I’d like to think that saving the world benefits us all,” said Principal Celestia with a tight smile.
Sugarcoat stepped forward and spoke up. “At least they didn’t manipulate Twilight into releasing all the stolen magic and turning into a power-crazed magical creature that tri
ed to rip the world apart just to win a game.”
“Wow,” said Pinkie Pie, wide-eyed. “That’s a lot to take in when you say it all at once.”
Principal Celestia turned to stare at Principal Cinch. Was it true?
“That’s ridiculous,” huffed Principal Cinch.
But Spike also was ready to speak up. “Nope. That’s pretty much what happened.”
After everything that had occurred, no one even blinked at a talking dog.
Sour Sweet sighed. “Actually, we’re all to blame.” Under her breath, however, she added, “But mostly it was Twilight.”
Principal Cinch wasn’t going to give in. “Obviously, my students have been infected with your magic, but I plan on taking all of this up with the school board.”
“Good,” agreed Principal Celestia. “I’m sure they would be very interested in hearing all about the magical students with wings.”
“And the portals to different dimensions,” added Vice Principal Luna.
“And don’t forget to tell them about the talking dog.” Dean Cadance smiled.
“Because that would ruin your reputation,” agreed Spike.
Principal Cinch looked from Vice Principal Luna to Principal Celestia to Dean Cadance and realized that she was beaten. Frowning, she stormed back into the school.
Principal Celestia noticed that all the students were gathered around her. “I know these Friendship Games haven’t been what any of us expected, but given what we’ve all just been through, I think it’s fair to declare us all winners.”
There were going to be medals and ribbons for everyone!
Everyone cheered—even Spike.
Dean Cadance walked over to Twilight Sparkle. “I guess that was one way to finish up your time at Crystal Prep. Pretty sure Principal Cinch will be fast-tracking your application after all of this.”
Twilight wasn’t so sure. “I’ve been thinking about it, and I’m not so sure now is the time for me to apply to Everton.”
“Really?” Dean Cadance was surprised.
Twilight Sparkle looked thoughtful. “I may know about a lot of things, but friendship really isn’t one of them, and I’m definitely not going to learn more about it by being alone all the time.”
“So you’re staying at Crystal Prep?”
Twilight bit her lip. An idea had come to her, but she was tentative about speaking it out loud. “Well,” she began, “it seems the students here at Canterlot High know an awful lot about the subject. I don’t suppose…”
“You could transfer to this school instead?” Dean Cadance suggested.
“Really?” Twilight Sparkle could barely contain her excitement.
Dean Cadance was a little sad, but she understood. “I’d miss you terribly, but I think that’s a great idea. I’m sure I could speak to Principal Celestia about it. She’s like an aunt to me.”
Twilight and Spike looked at each other, delighted. The next thing to do was tell the Equestria Girls.
They were all clustered around the statue of the Wondercolt. Sunset Shimmer had found her journal.
“Still no word from Princess Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.
Sunset Shimmer shook her head. “Not yet. But I think I figured out how magic works in this world. We pony up when we’re showing the truest part of ourselves. I was so busy waiting for someone else to give me the answers that I gave up looking for them myself. I’m sure there will be more magical problems that pop up in this world. Like Applejack said, Princess Twilight has her own problems to worry about in Equestria. We can’t expect her to always be around to help us.”
That was the thing about magic. You might not understand it, but you didn’t have to, really, because whenever friends got together, you could be sure it was going to happen!
Twilight Sparkle approached the girls. “I’m not sure how much help I can be, but I’d like to try. If you would all give me a chance…”
Principal Celestia, who had just finished conferring with Dean Cadance, came over to join them. “It seems we have a new Wondercolt here at Canterlot High! I’m sure I can count on you girls to make her feel at home.”
“You sure can!” Sunset Shimmer promised.
The girls all hugged one another—and Spike, too.
Life After the Games
A few days later, all the girls decided to have a picnic outside. They spread a blanket in front of the Wondercolt statue and began eating their lunches and catching up with one another. They were just packing up and getting ready to go back to class when Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship from Equestria, burst through the portal.
She was in a total panic and talking a mile a minute. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get here sooner,” she apologized. “I didn’t get your message until just now because I was caught in this time travel loop and, honestly, it was the strangest thing that has ever happened to me.…” Her voice trailed off.
Princess Twilight Sparkle had just noticed the new girl sitting with her friends. She blinked. She shook her head. She stared. Twilight Sparkle, the former Crystal Prep student, was equally confused. She gave the princess an awkward wave.
“Make that the second strangest!” announced Princess Twilight Sparkle.
The Equestria Girls burst out laughing. It was good to see their friend again—and there was a lot to catch up on. A lot!
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CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Welcome
Dedication
CHAPTER 1
A Whole New Ball Game
CHAPTER 2
The Name of the Game
CHAPTER 3
The Only Game in Town
CHAPTER 4
Game Plan
CHAPTER 5
She’s Got Game
CHAPTER 6
A Losing Game
CHAPTER 7
Fun and Games
CHAPTER 8
Two Can Play at That Game
CHAPTER 9
Ahead of the Game
CHAPTER 10
Game Changer
CHAPTER 11
At the Top of Her Game
CHAPTER 12
Let the Games Begin!
CHAPTER 13
Playing Games
CHAPTER 14
Game’s Up
CHAPTER 15
Back in the Game
CHAPTER 16
Fair Game?
CHAPTER 17
Endgame
CHAPTER 18
Stop the Games!
CHAPTER 19
Everyone’s a Winner
CHAPTER 20
Life After the Games
Copyright
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
HASBRO and its logo, MY LITTLE PONY, EQUESTRIA GIRLS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. © 2015 Hasbro. All rights reserved.
In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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First ebook edition: October 2015
ISBN 978-0-316-29511-6
E3