Twilight put her books in her locker. It was the end of the day and the halls were a throbbing, teaming mass of kids trying to get out as fast as they could. People bumped, pushed, and shoved trying to leave as though the building was on fire. This, of course, meant those who were still trying to get things in and out of their locker were like those who stood by the pit at a metal show; technically not in the fray, but still catching the stray elbows and such.

This had always annoyed Twilight but she was even more agitated because Sunset had texted her earlier today and said she couldn't come over tonight like they had planned because she was doing something for Adagio. This annoyed her on two levels. One was the fact they had a monster to stop. A monster that had already killed at least three (possibly four) people already. This was serious business. This wasn't the time to go off and have fun.

The second reason it annoyed her so much was because she and Sunset were supposed to be "sisters". They were both princesses now. They had communicated at great length in the interim between The Battle of the Bands and her return. Yet her she was off with someone who neither of them had seen since trying to gain enough magic to - What ?

Come to think about it, none of them really knew what The Sirens had planned. Were they going to try and take over Earth? Were they trying to find a way to return to Equestria? Maybe Twilight should ask Sonata sometime. It was in the past now but it would still be nice to know.

Sonata. Twilight had found she really liked Sonata. It was like having a second Pinkie Pie around. And when those two got to talking, it was all she could do not to pee herself from laughing so hard. Sonata had turned into a wonderful person who Twilight liked a lot.

Then Twilight began to feel guilty. She hadn't seen Adagio in months but Sunset has seen her everyday for about a week. It's possible she saw in Adagio what Twilight had seen in Sonata. Sunset did say Adagio was working on helping their search. Twilight shook her head and decided that maybe she was just being jealous. The two of them really hadn't spent that much time together. Well, Saturday would help that.

"Hey Twilight, you ready?"

Twilight was so lost in her thoughts she had failed to see Flash walk up to her. She jumped a little bit and squeaked in surprise.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," Flash said, honestly feeling bad.

Twilight smiled and gave him the best hug she could with her arms full of books. "It's ok. I was just lost in my own head there. I should have figured my dad would want you to take me home as well. I'm almost ready."

Flash helped Twilight finish up and the two went to his car and started the drive back to her home.

"So what time is Sunset supposed to be over tonight?" Flash asked.

"She's not coming over. She texted me and said she was doing something with Adagio tonight."

"Really? That's not too responsible," Flash said in a surprised and disappointed manner.

Twilight shrugged. "She knows what she's doing. I was ticked too, but it is Sunset; I have to give her the benefit of the doubt."

"So what are you going to do tonight then?"

"Outside of homework?" Twilight gave a small laugh at her joke before turning serious again. "I don't know. I'm still trying to figure somethings out."

"Like what?"

"Well all the others girls had visions, got new names, and powers. Sunset and I did not. I figured it was because we were both princesses and didn't need them but then I started to think about what they actually meant, who gave them those names and powers, and why is it that both the human and pony forms of our friends have them.

"Also, I'm thinking about how orchestrated this feels. I mean, think about it. The exact same girls, well I guess not the exact same, but you get the point, that I met in Ponyville - girls who had all started off in different towns with different stations in life; were still able to come together in both realms. Except for Sunset and I.

"Really think about it for a second. Rarity, Pinkie, Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy, all met and become friends in two separate universes. Not parallel dimensions, but separate universes. Yet, where was human Sunset and me? Twilight was living in the city while I don't know where human Sunset is; but I expect to see her soon."

"What? Why?"

"Ah, let me explain. I think human Sunset and Twilight weren't here because if they were, then things wouldn't have played out as they have. When Sunset crossed over, if she would have seen another her here, I doubt she would have stayed or she might have traveled to someplace further away as not to arouse confusion or attract notice.

"And if human Twilight had been here, then I would have had to keep a low profile and not been seen by anyone when I came over. In either case, we would not have met the human forms of everyone. And that seems to be the key. All of us were supposed to meet. Including you."

"You know, it still bugs me there's another me in your dimension," Flash said with a bit of jealousy.

"Flash," Twilight gently scolded him. "We've had this conversion before. He's a version of you but he is not YOU. Besides I'm ok with you being around my human self."

Flash raised an eyebrow. "Really?" he asked skeptically.

"That's my story and I'm sticking to it," Twilight laughed. "Anyway. I remember when I first came here, Pinkie asked if I had a twin sister who lived in the city and was also named Twilight. That shows that they had at least met in passing before. Yet they made no connection until after I was there.

"I think whatever is setting this all up, wants all of us to meet. We have to meet. That there is a bond between us that transcends time and space. And I don't mean just me, Rarity, Sunset, etcetera, but even our other selves. I feel that I am supposed to have met human Twilight. I also feel that we're supposed to meet human Sunset and fairly soon."

"I haven't met my other self. So what does that say?"

"I'm not going there, that's what that says," Twilight said with both anger and sadness.

"So you really think it's all been set up?"

"There's too many coincidences for it all to be random chance."

"So I guess the two big questions are who and why."

"I think Princess Celestia knows, probably Princess Luna as well; but they're not saying. I got to figure this out. Maybe once the girls find out more about their names and we share that information, I can figure it out better."

"Have you thought about how you'll do your magic yet?"

"No. Sunset had said that she and the other girls were able to access magic by expressing what their true selves were during the games. But I don't know how that would apply to ponying up while playing music?"

"Well, this is just a guess, but, you are the princess of friendship with the power of friendship right? Well, being in a band is kind of like the ultimate expression of friendship. Everyone working together to accomplish a common goal that not only benefits them but others as well. Different instruments playing in harmony, different people coming together to perform the song."

Twilight's eyes grew wide and her face lit up. "Flash, you're a genius! That's it. Fluttershy and Apple Jack got their names after being intimate with the person they loved. Rainbow got hers after defending herself and her boyfriend. Once again, an act of love."

"What about Pinkie and Rarity?"

"Fluttershy told them their names, but it wasn't until Rarity, my Rarity, used her power to heal my Apple Jack did she earn it. Pinkie is still waiting to manifest any of her powers yet so all she has is the name Fluttershy told her.

"Our magic is activated by love! Friendship love, romantic love, but love. That is they key!"

"Well, if that's the case; maybe I'll get a name if you and I . . ."

"Slow down there hoss, as Apple Jack would say. Besides, I haven't figured out a time when we could put that hypothesis to the test."

"But you are working on it right?" Flash asked with a devilish grin.

Twilight blushed. "Let's just say, it's an experiment I'm most eager to try out."

Author's Notes:

There are references to previous stories of mine as well as events in the first 3 movies. Also this was to establish that the characters do talk and discuss things "off camera" so to speak. If I tried to fit everything in, I would die of old age before I was able to finish.