"So, your Dean Cadence's sister-in-law?" Sunset Shimmer was trying to make conversation with Twilight. Since they had left Cadence's office; Twilight hadn't really said anything other than here's blah-blah, founded blah-blah. This girl was boring Sunset to tears so she was going to try her darndest to get her into an actual conversation.

"That has been established." Twilight didn't want to mentor anybody. She disliked her fellow students and the feeling was mutual. Human interactions took away from her studies. And lately those studies concentrated on one thing - Cantorlot High! There had been some major anomalies lately, weather patterns, unexplained energy fluctuations, even reports of a night time rainbow. And the center of all the anomalies was Cantorlot High. Having to show the new girl around was going to be a major distraction. Twilight was not happy.

"Well, that could either be a really good thing or a really bad thing." Sunset was annoyed, but not shaken. She was going to break this girl down.

"Bad," Twilight responded flatly. Her relationship with Cadence offered her no advantages but the rest of the school thought so, so they made her life miserable.

"So what are your interests? You don't seem like the sportsy type, so I'll check that off the list. Hmm, mime? Interpretive dance? Puppetry?"

"Science." Twilight hoped this would shut Sunset up.

"Oh cool. Physics, chemistry, biology, geology, astronomy?"

"Physics mostly. Why? do YOU like science?" Twilight was sure this would make Sunset stop talking.

"Awesome. I prefer theoretical physics. I loved Brian Green's Elegant Universe. So what's your favorite branch?"

Twilight stopped dead. Her jaw dropped open and she swung her head around so hard her glasses almost fell off. "You read Brian Green?"

"Yep. I got body and brains both. Can't ask for more. So, can we please talk now like real human beings?"

"Come with me!" Twilight grabbed Sunset's arm and led her away as fast as she could.

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Everyone had gathered by the statue as the always had. It was the first day of the new school year. Most were in their junior year, Flash was in his senior. While they should have been happier, the noticeable absence of Fluttershy muted everything. Everyone was still trying to heal. Rainbow and Rarity were the two hardest hit. Neither had their usual spark or energy. They just hung around, in the back, like living wallpaper.

The bell rang and everyone went inside. On the first day Principle Celestia holds an assembly in the gym to welcome all the students. Everyone filed in, first to the bleachers then to folding chairs on the floor. Once everyone was in, Celestia walked up to the microphone and started to address the crowd.

"Greetings students; new and returning. First off, let me just address the hardships we have faced recently. Last year's turmoil at the Fall Formal, then the hijacking of the musical showcase by the Dazzelings," both Sunset rolled her eyes and Sonata sunk a little in her chair, "the disappearance of Trixie Lulamoon, and, finally, the passing of," Celestia had to choke down some tears as she thought about Fluttershy, " Fluttershy. And too that, let me take a moment to address that with you.

"If you or someone you know is being abused; please say something! Every year about fifteen hundred children die from child abuse in America; please don't be one of them. I am here for you. Vice-Principle Luna is here for you. Guidance Counselor Zecora is here for you. We want to help, we have resources; please take advantage of it. I don't, I can't lose another student. Believe it or not, we care for you, care about you. You have value, you have worth, your life has meaning! You didn't asked to be abused and you certainly don't deserve to be. Please." Celestia had to stop; her emotions were getting the better of her.

After a time, she began again. "Ok, on to more pleasant business. This year marks the return of The Friendship Games. We will be playing Crystal Prep again and I know this will be the year we finally win. After all we've been through; we are not just a school, but a family. And I have no doubt that we can and will all pull together to not only win the games but make this the best year ever at Cantorlot High!"

Celestia went on to announce new teachers, some policy changes, welcome all the new students, and to generally try to pump up the students for the upcoming year. She then dismissed everyone to their homerooms. As everyone was filing out, Celestia came and got Rainbow. She said she needed to talk to her for a minute. The rest just divided up to let the day, and the year, begin.

************************************************************************************************************

"These readings can't be right!" Sunset said in shock as peered over all the papers Twilight have given her. "According to this, there's a black hole some where around here. I mean, the background radiation, electromagnetic pulses, it's all out of order. Have you shown anybody these?"

"You're the first," Twilight said with glee. This was the first person she met that she feel she could talk to. As soon as Twilight had given Sunset her papers and saw Sunset's expression, she knew that Sunset understood.

"Twilight; you have to show somebody! -CERN, Neil deGrasse Tyson, heck, Bill Nye the Science Guy. This could change our understanding of physics and the natural world entirely." Sunset then stopped and thought for a second. "Wait, how did you find these and get all this equipment?"

Twilight blushed. "Well I guess having the Dean as a sister in law does have some advantages. And I found these readings by accident. I've been trying to find away to prove that time exist in two dimensions, not one. As we understand it now, time is just the measurement of change in an object. But what if that was only one dimension of time? If time does have another dimension, it could solve a lot of problems; especially at the quantum level."

"So could extra special dimensions." Sunset added, not knowing if she believed in the whole extra time dimension or not.

"That could as well. And I'm not saying that both are mutually exclusive. There could be both. If there was it could explain things like the quantum entanglement." Twilight got up and walked over to Sunset. "Then I found these and I've been hooked ever since. I've been doing my best to isolate the epicenter of the disturbances and it's here," Twilight pointed to a picture of a school hung up on her cork board, "Cantorlot High School."

"A high school? What in a high school could they have or be doing to create readings like this?" Sunset didn't know if she was skeptical, intrigued, or just surprised.

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out." Twilight then turned to Sunset. "Wanna help?"

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"So, how's everyone's first day going?" Sunset asked as everyone sat down for lunch.

Everyone shrugged and mumbled as they sat down.

"Oh come on now," Sunset said. She was desperately trying to get everyone talking. The fact is that since they all agreed to discontinue the band, none of them had gotten together as a group. Her, Flash, and Twilight formed one faction. Rarity and Rainbow just kept to themselves and didn't interact with anyone; and Apple, Pinkie, and Sonata formed another group (although Apple would have preferred to be on her own as well). "How's your teachers? Got any nice ones, funny ones, mean ones, heck; any with three heads?"

"If a teacher here had three heads, I'm sure everyone would know about it," Sonata said with complete sincerity.

"Yeah," Pinkie added, "a three headed teacher would be pretty famous."

"School's school Sunset," Apple said. "At this point we all know what it's all about."

"Ok, fine," Sunset said in defeat.

"I have a new band," Rainbow said quietly.

Everyone gasped in surprise. "When did that happen?" Rarity asked. She didn't want to do the band thing anymore; but it did feel wrong to think of any of them playing with someone new. That was their thing.

"About a week after we called it quits. I still love playing music and want to do something with it. But I didn't feel right to continue on without . . .," Rainbow trailed off.

"So Rainbow, what did Celestia want with you?" Twilight asked.

"Oh!" Rainbow cheered up immediately. "Principle Celestia said since I'm the best athlete her, she wants me to captain all the teams here for the Friendship Games." This was the best Rainbow felt in weeks.

Everyone congratulated her. They were all genuinely happy for her.

"Sunset, Twilight, Sonata, I got a question for y'all," Apple said. "You're all adults right? Well, how do you deal with being in school, surrounded by teenagers? I've been wondering that ever since you spent the night at my house."

Flash and Twilight both blushed when the realized what night Apple was referring to.

"Well, when I came here, I didn't know anything. I had to learn everything from scratch; so in a way, I actually am a schoolgirl. But, I didn't have a very good childhood the first time. Hard times in Equestria aren't the same here, but growing up on the streets is never easy no matter where you're from. So I'm using this as make-up time." Sunset said.

"It's kind of the same for me," Twilight added. "I didn't grow up on the streets; I just didn't talk to anyone. I mean, I had a small group of girls I kind of hung out with, but only because we were in school together. Once that was over I did everything to avoid them. So for me, this is like a re-do."

Then everyone looked at Sonata who just shrugged. "Who am I not older than? Seriously. Nursery, nursing home, it's all the same to me."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Speaking of nursery," Rarity started to say before she was cut off by Twilight.

"We use protection ok!" Twilight yelled in frustration. Everyone then looked at her with their eyes opened as wide as they could be. Flash leaned over and whispered in Twilight's ear that she wasn't talking about them. Twilight blushed, giggled, and sunk back into her chair ( to Sunset's amusement).

"As I was saying," Rarity gave Twilight the evil eye, "how is that baby coming along?"

"Outside of Maud turning into Linda Blair every morning, pretty good," Pinkie said happily.

"Except Maud's head doesn't spin around," added Sonata.

"Ok I guess, " Apple said unenthusiastically.

"What's wrong Apple?" Rarity asked. "Aren't you excited?"

"Apple, haven't you talked to Big Mac yet?" Sunset asked.

"Talk to him about what?" Pinkie asked. She was concerned that Apple didn't want Big Mac to be with her sister.

"I'm afraid he's tryin' to shut me out of the farm Pinkie. And, no not yet. I know I got to, but it's just hard. We're not a family that talks about their feelings easily."

"As long as you're honest, it should be fine," said Sunset.

"Yeah, I know. I just gotta get off my duff and do it."

"You want us to say something to Maud?" asked Pinkie, trying to help.

"No! Sorry Pinkie, but I got to be the one who does this."

"Well, we're all here for you Apple." Twilight said

"Thanks Twilight. Thanks everyone. I know we haven't hung out like we used to, but y'all's still my best friends and I love each and everyone of you."

Everyone "awed" and started talking about how much everyone meant to them and how no matter what happened they would all still be friends. Finally Sunset stood up, holding her chocolate milk in the sky. "Girls, and Flash, I propose a toast, a toast to the power of friendship."

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Adagio, Aria, and Trixie were on their last legs. Their skin hung to their bones so that despite their fur, you could still see all of their skeletons. Their fur was matted with dirt and grime, they stunk, their teeth were rotting and every muscle in their body ached. For months they had pushed on and on trying to get to the area where they first found the gems; and now they were here. Well, near there at least. They still had about two miles to go; but what was two after the hundreds of miles they had crossed?

They looked out over the prairie they had to cross yet to get to the hills. They could the ruins of the village that had been there. Almost everything was gone. Only a few piles of stones gave hint to the buildings that once stood there.

"Time is as merciful here as on Earth I see," Aria said sarcastically.

"So, this is finally it? The place where you found your gems?" Trixie was exhausted. Almost from the very beginning she had regretted coming here. Adagio and Aria were impossible to put up with. Plus she was always tired, hungry, and sore. She wondered about her parents. Did they miss her? Was revenge even necessary, let alone worth it anymore. But, now, if this was it, the end of the line, it all would be worth it.

Adagio just looked at the hill. "Go on ahead; I'll catch up."

Aria and Trixie turned and looked at her. It was clear something had changed in Adagio. The fire, the burning passion was gone. One could see a dull, aching sadness in her eyes. She was a empty, a hologram of the person she had been. Even being this close to the end did nothing to raise her spirits.

"Aren't you coming?" Aria asked. For the first time she almost felt herself having concern for another person. She hated Adagio, always had, but she had respected her. Seeing her this low made her worry.

"Yes, just not now. Now go ahead, both of you." It was an order without passion. The others started off when Adagio started talking again. "Aria, it was fun. For the longest time. Trixie, we couldn't have made it here without you. Yes. Now go."

Aria and Trixie looked at each other worriedly. But decided to walk on.

Adagio watched them walk off and laid down on the grass. She was done. She, by sheer force of will, got them here and now she realized she didn't care anymore. The others could continue on, she was just going to lay down and die.

"Aw, what's the matter my little pony?"

Adagio looked up. "Chaos Bringer," she said with all the passion of someone talking about paint drying. "What do you want." She lowered her head back to the ground.

"Now that doesn't sound like the pony I met all those moons ago. Where's that pony, the one full of fire and steel?"

"She's dead. If not in body, then in spirit. Anger can carry you only so far. The fire is gone, the fuel used up, I have nothing left but to await my demise. Please let that come in peace."

"Hmmm, this will not do. This will not do at all. I still need you. If you wish to die, that's fine, but at least have the common courtesy to fulfill our bargain first. After that you can drop dead if you wish; I'll even help you do it. But please uphold your end."

"I owe you nothing Chaos Bringer. Besides, you have the other two. They should afford your plan with enough power to accomplish your goals."

"No, this will not do at all. Hmm, maybe what you need is an alternative."

"I only need you to leave so I may die in peace Discord."

"I once showed a regretful man what his life would have been like if he had made one critical choice differently. I think nothing motivates more than knowing what might have been."

"Will. . . ." Adagio couldn't finish, she was suddenly back on Earth. She was human again and Discord was human as well. They were standing in a bedroom. In the bed laid two figures. The covers concealed them so as Adagio could not see who they were but their silhouettes showed them to be both female. "What is this? where are we?" Adagio whispered.

"No need to whisper my dear, they can't hear us and I already told you, this is what might have been. At least one possible what might have been."

One of the figures rolled over, revealing who it was that laid beneath those sheets - it was Sunset and Adagio.

Author's Notes:

Keeping this short. I'll write a whole blog on my story later. But for right now, stay tuned for the last and hopefully thrilling chapter "Deus Ex Machina" tonight.