The school gym was filled with students who had gathered for the Fall Formal speeches from the candidates. Everyone was either sitting at the bleachers across from the stage or standing the large space between the bleachers and the stage. At the moment it was Sunset at the microphone. So far she had been talking for almost ten minutes.

“For all the time I have been elected Princess of the Fall Formal, or any of our school’s social events, you have been unified.” She said, putting on her good girl persona. “You were all together. You have all had a good time every time I was crowned. So I can’t imagine what would happen if I wasn’t crown can you?”

One of the many students who weren’t buying it was Dash. She leaned over to AJ and Flutters.

“You guys smell horseshit too?” She asked.

“Eeyup.” AJ said. “And lot of it.”

“I think we all do.” Flutters said. “As if anyone would believe anything Sunset is saying.”

Flutters looked over at Pinkie who was on her phone.

“What do you think, Pinkie?” She asked.

It took a moment before Pinkie answered.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” She asked. “I wasn’t listening.”

“I thought so.” Flutters said with a chuckle.

Back stage on the other hand, Twilight was with Spike, Rarity, Flash, and Derpy, and she looked as if her lungs were collapsing.

“Darling you need to calm down.” Rarity said. “You’re going to pass out otherwise.”

“Yeah, what are you so worried about? You pretty much got this.” Flash added.

“But what if I mess up?” Twilight asked with panic in her voice. “This is Sunset Shimmer we’re talking about. Even if I…”

Twilight was then interrupted by Spike putting his hand on her shoulder.

“Twilight look at me.”

Twilight did so and saw that Spike had possibly the most serious look he has ever had on his face.

“Did you forget who you are?” He asked. “I mean, do you honestly think you can’t do this?”

Twilight looked down at the floor for a moment.

“I...”

“I didn’t think so.” Spike continued. “You are Princess Twilight Sparkle for Celestia’s sake. You have saved Equestria in more ways than I could count; you helped raise me since I first hatched, you’re the Element of Magic, you have five great friends, and need I remind you that you are the Princess of Magic?”

Twilight was surprised by how serious Spike has gotten.

“So I don’t want hear any of this, “I can't do this” nonsense.” He continued. “You understand?”

Twilight looked at Spike and then at the rest of her friends who all looked back at her, all with smiles on their faces while they wore their fake ears and tails.

“I’m glad you came with me, Spike.”

Twilight pulled her number one assistant into a tight hug.

“And that is why I am the best choice for Princess of the Fall Formal.” Sunset said. “Thank you.”

Twilight and her friends didn’t hear a word Sunset had said during her speech.

Principle Celestia walked up to the microphone as Sunset left it, just has barely half of room applauded, possibly out of fear.

“Thank you Miss Stokes for your lovely speech.” She said. “Now everyone please put your hands together for our other candidate, Miss Twilight Spencer!”

The crowd cheered and applauded, much more than they did for Sunset.

“Break a leg Twilight.” Spike said.

“Good luck, Darling.” Rarity said.

“Knock em’ dead!” Flash added.

“Thank you all.” Twilight said.

She then turned and walked onto the staged, causing the applause to increase until she had gotten to the microphone. Silence the filled the room, only to be briefly broken by several shouts of “You go Twilight” and “Twilight for Princess”, some of them followed by hoots and whistles.

Twilight cleared his throat.

“Um, hello everyone.” She said. “I’m Twilight Spencer...”

“Hi Twilight!” Pinkie said as she bounced up and down from the center of the crowd.

“…and I’m running for Fall Formal Princess.”

This caused the audience to cheer briefly before settling down again.

“This is the part when I tell you why you should vote for me.” She said. She paused and looked over at Spike and company backstage. She then looked back at the crowd. “And to be honest, I don’t know why. I mean, why should you vote for me?”

She then paused to let the question sink in.

“Do you want to vote for me because I’m a new face? Do you want to vote for me because you think I’m hotter than Sunset, because I heard some of you actually say that. Thank you to those who said that by the way, that’s sweet of you.” This was met with laughter that echoed throughout the gym. “Do you want to vote for me because…” Twilight glanced over at the left side of the stage where Sunset stood with an arrogant smirk on her face. This triggered something in Twilight. “…because I don’t divide everyone?”

The smirk on Sunset’s face started to fade.

“Because I don’t blackmail my candidates into dropping out, something that has happened to some of you? You know who you are!” Twilight continued. “Do you want to vote for me because I don’t ruin friendships for her gain? Because I don't humiliate people? Because I’m not a liar, a thief, a bully, and an overall terrible person…” She then turned back to Sunset. “…unlike you Sunset Shimmer!”

The smirk on Sunset’s face completely faded into that of anger.

“Yes, that is her real name!” Twilight continued. “And if you want proof of her blackmailing, I’ll give you it!” She then faced the right side of the stage. “Vice-Principle Luna, would you kindly bring out the culprits?”

Out from backstage came Vice-Principle Lunawho was followed by two boys, known as Snips and Snails. They then stopped in the center of the stage. With the urging of Luna, the two boys reluctantly approached the microphone.

“What are your names?” Twilight asked as she removed the microphone from the stand and held it where the boys could speak into it. “Come on, you can tell us.”

“I… …I am Steve Maxwell.” Snails said, with guilt heavy in his voice.

“And I’m Sam Cutter.” Snips said.

“And what did you two do?” Twilight asked. “You can tell us.”

The two trouble makers were quiet for a moment.

“We.” Snips began. “We’re the ones who started that food fight earlier this week.”

“And we’re the ones who spread out the pictures causing some of the candidates to drop out.” Snails added. “Including that video of Rarity which cost her The Spring Fling and that video of Twilight.”

This was met with several boos from the crowd.

“And who was it that made you do these things?” Twilight asked.

“It was…” Snips was in the middle of answering when Snails cut in.

“It was Sunset! Sunset is the one that made us do it!” He shouted into the mic. “We’re sorry, we’re really sorry!”

“We really mean it! She threatened us!” Snips added as he fell to his knees. “We were just doing as we were told! Were sorry!”

The gym was completely silent after the two boys broke.

“I think we’ve heard enough.” Twilight said. “Do you all forgive them?”

The crowd erupted into a torrent of yes’s.

Twilight then nodded at Vice-Principle Luna, who took hold of the microphone.

“I don’t want to hear anything about them being bullied, is that understood?”

The crowd complied.

Luna handed the microphone back to Twilight before leading the two boys off the stage.

“Is Sunset really the girl you want for Fall Formal Princess?” She asked. “Someone who threatens and bullies others to do her bidding?”

“Or ruins friendships!?”

Twilight turned and saw Dash and AJ walk onto the stage, followed by Pinkie, Flutters, Rarity, Spike, Flash, and Derpy.

Twilight handed Dash the mic.

“Ever since Sunset came here, she has done nothing but tear us apart!” She said. “You remember when AJ and I got into that huge fight? You know what I’m talking about!”

AJ was then handed the mic.

“It was because of her Dash and I broke apart!” She said. “She’s why all of us were torn apart!”

AJ then passed the mic to Flutters.

“She threatened to hurt my Angel if I didn’t do her homework.” Flutters said which was met by several gasps from the crowd. “And hurt me too.”

Unable to speak anymore, Flutters handed the microphone to Flash before being held by Pinkie.

“Sunset has also used me the whole time we dated.” Flash said. “Whether it was me driving her around, to letting her stay the night without my Father knowing, and borrowing money to the point an entire paycheck went into her pocket. And after all of the things I did for her, she just blew me off, all because I wanted to hang out with my sister. Does that sound like someone who you want as Fall Formal Princess?”

Many people in the crowd shouted boos and no’s in response.

Flash felt a tug on his shoulder and saw that it was Derpy who wanted the mic. Flash complied and gave his half-sister the mic.

“If that is not enough, Sunset has often bullied me because of my eyes pointing in different directions and I have a speech impediment.” She said. “And not to mention, just earlier today, Sunset tried to assault me in the bathroom to try to get me to vote for her.” This was met with several boos. “But don’t worry, I didn’t let that happen. After all I was the first one to walk out of the bathroom.”

This was met by cheers of approval.

“And pardon my language.” Derpy continued. “But I much rather be retard than a bully like Sunset.”

Much of the crowd burst out laughing and applauded as Derpy handed the mic to Rarity.

“Now, now, let’s be fair and hear Sunset’s side of the story.” She said. “Sunset, would you come out here please?”

No response.

“Sunset?”

Spike walked to the left side of the stage where Celestia stood, and they both saw that Sunset has disappeared.

Spike then returned to the group and took hold of the mic.

“Guess she doesn’t have a side of the story.” He said, getting several laughs in return.

After the crowd’s laughter died down, Celestia approached the group and took hold of the mic.

“I would like to thank everyone for coming here today.” She said. “And I love that all of you have gotten so spirited for the election. Remember to go to the school website and caste your votes. And before you go, do you want to her the candidate say one final word?”

The crowd answered yes as Celestia handed Twilight the microphone.

“All I have to say now is that, unlike Sunset, I’m going to be myself no matter what I do. And if any of you are different, I want you to be true to you.” She said. “If you vote for me we can put our differences aside, stick together, and fully embrace our school pride!”

Everyone on stage crowded around the microphone.

“So come on Canterlot High!” They all said. “Help Twilight win the crown!”

Sunset was livid as she swung the washroom door open. She was breathing heavily as the door closed behind her, until her lid flipped.

“Fuck!”

She then kicked the trash bin, causing its contents to fly everywhere and the waist high container flipped through the air and bounced off the wall. She then set her sights on the paper towel dispenser and punched it, causing bits of plastic to fly everywhere as part of the box became unhinged by the force of Sunset’s punch.

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuuuuck!”

She then slumped over the sink as she continued to breathe heavily.

“Sore loser, huh?”

Sunset looked up at the mirror and saw herself. But the reflection was off. It was her, but her eyes were different. Instead of cyan on white they were cyan on black.

“Oh shut up!” She said to the reflection. “It’s over! First I get the crown and now it gets snatched away from me! Twice now! Twice!”

The reflection looked unamused.

“So you’re going to cry like a little filly.” It asked. “I thought you were better than that.”

“I am god dammit!” Sunset shouted.

Sunset then backed up and leaned against the space between the stall doors.

“What’s the use? It’s over! That fucking Twilight beat me.”

“Not yet she didn’t.” The mirror Sunset said. “We can still beat her.”

Sunset looked up at her reflection.

“Bullshit. Don’t you see? I’m fucked. I am royally fucked!” She said. “There’s no way I’m going to get the crown before the portal closes.”

“Who said you have to wait till then?”

Sunset looked at her reflection.

“What do mean?”

The reflection face palmed.

“The crown doesn’t need to be worn at a certain time dumbass.” It said. “Hell, you could’ve worn the crown at any time between when you first stole it and now. What was stopping you?”

“Because I like winning.” Sunset answered. “You’re my reflection, shouldn’t you know this?”

“Not the point!” The reflection shouted. “You can still win. You just need to plan it right.”

Sunset began to smile sinisterly.

“What do you want me to do?”

“First you go and get some rest.” The reflection said. “Tomorrow you’ll show them what happens when they defy you.”

Sunset’s smile grew.

“Consider it done.”

Sunset then exited the washroom and entered the hall, only to see a poster on the wall that said “Vote Twilight for Fall Formal Princess” across the top, Twilight’s cutie mark at the center, with “A Vote for Twilight is a Vote for Friendship” across the bottom.

Sunset scoffed at this and tore the poster off the wall, leaving the torn corners still taped on the wall.

“You’re going down Twilight Sparkle.”

Author's Notes:

Sorry it took me so long to get this out. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.