Searing, in a fancy dress, sat at a fancy table in a fancily decorated fancy place. It was prom, and as President of the student council, she had to attend. As much as she liked the finality of it, that her sentence at Crystal Prep was over, that she could finally, possibly, go back to Equestria, she also realized that she would miss some friends she had made.

"Well, look who's being a big bundle of joy," Midnight said as he took his spot next to her. "I thought you would be more excited about prom, honestly."

"It's just an endpoint," Searing replied, full of boredom. "I was hoping things would be quiet, but Babbling just HAD to get in my face as soon as I showed up."

"You handled it quite well."

"Only because I came up with a bit about Cultural Appropriation vs Cultural Appreciation. What kind of problem does she have with me wearing a Chinese dress?"

Midnight shrugged. "She was probably just going after you for some kind of last minute dig. By the way, I've heard rumors about there being two of you." He checked a notification that suddenly appeared on his phone. "Well, speak of the devil. I just got a picture of a girl at Canterlot High's prom that looks just like you. Same dress, even. Inverted colors though."

"Yep. Her idea, not mine."

"And just like that, rumor confirmed. How long have you known her?"

"No answer."

"No further questions, then." Midnight looked over the dancing graduates. "Are you going to go out there?"

"No."

"Are you suuuure?"

"Yes. I made my speech and I just want it to be done."

"I wouldn't call it much of a speech, really."

Principal Cinch stood at a microphone. "-and now, I present the President of the student council, Searing Victory!"

Searing walked onstage and stood at the microphone, Midnight next to her. "Thank you, Principal Cinch." She turned to the students, many of whom were taking pictures of her in her black and silver satin dress. "I will keep this speech simple and honest, like the policies I put in place." Searing took a second to clear her throat for effect. "Everybody have fun tonight. Enjoy yourselves. Or don't. It's your call. Thank you."

Principal Cinch blinked owlishly as the two walked past her and off to their designated table.

"Fair enough, but I've been sitting here bored for at least an hour-"

"Your speech was only fifteen minutes ago."

Searing buried her head in her hands. "How long do I have to be here?"

"They have about four more hours of stuff planned."

A quiet groan of frustration came from Searing. "I've made my speech, I'm not interested in the refreshments, I don't want to dance. . . Tell me at least one good thing, Midnight."

"Your simplification agenda definitely got under Principal Cinch's skin. Especially the changes to the operational procedures of the student council. It could be that she decides to get rid of it entirely."

"But your plan to get Dean Cadence to replace her didn't work out, did it?"

"Nope. Maybe someone else down the road will be able to do it."

"Could be." Searing glanced at the clock. "Hey, if I left early, do you think anyone would care?"

"Oh, I'm sure some people will notice, and there will definitely be those that care. But then again, what do you care?" Searing's resolve firmed up at that question, an idea formed, and she got her phone out of her clutch. "You know, for being so new to technology, you've picked up on it pretty quickly."

"Shut up, Midnight." It wasn't long before a text conversation was started up and a plan was formed. "If you're going to have fun here, you go ahead and do it. I'm leaving."

Principal Cinch, per the law of dramatics, walked by as the statement was made. "I'm sorry, Searing, but I'm afraid I can't let you do that. You are the President of the student council, and the student body seems to really like you. It would be a shame for them if you just walked out with no explanation."

Searing quickly returned fire. "And who's going to stop me? You?"

"Surely, you wouldn't want to disappoint anyone here, no?"

"If I stay, I'm going to disappoint myself, and a self-disappointing President would inspire less confidence than one that leaves on her own terms, right? I want everyone to have fun tonight. Put the school politics behind us, move on, and-"

"If I, the faculty member with the most authority, has to stay and supervise, so too does the student with the most authority. Besides, it's traditional."

"She makes some good points, Searing," Midnight said from behind his phone. "Whatever will you do?"

"And what have I done that's traditional?" Searing calmly asked. "I showed up in the senior year with no idea what anything was, and yet I got good grades in the end. I didn't have a phone until Christmas. I cut back on the rules and regulations from the student council instead of further adding to and complicating them. And I won the debate that got me the title of President. All that from an English girl who had never even seen a shopping mall when she got here. With that kind of record, what makes you think I'll follow the supposed tradition of staying through the whole prom?" Searing got up and made the walk to the exit.

Principal Cinch stopped her again. "How about this? If you can tell me one surprising thing about any of the notable students that are graduating, I'll let you leave."

"Hmm. . ." Searing thought back for a bit before coming up with an answer. "After the Friendship Games, I went with the soccer team and cheerleaders to celebrate their victory at Dairy Queen, mostly because I wanted something sweet after sleeping through the games. The captain was buying, with cash, and I tested myself by figuring out the change before the cashier entered anything, at my request. No calculator."

"And what's so surprising about this tale?"

"I got it right. He didn't."

Principal Cinch scoffed at the story. "Surely you jest. Any student of mine should be able to do that with no problem. There are more complicated things in all the math classes, after all."

"I have a recording." Searing got her phone out, found the video, and showed it to Principal Cinch.

"Your total is $115.47, please," the cashier said.

Just as the captain handed over six twenties, Searing stepped in. "Hold on a moment. I want to figure out the change first." A moment later, after a bit of muttering to herself, Searing had her answer. "$4.53."

The captain scoffed at that. "No way. It's $5.53 in change."

The cashier double checked the money to see if there were any bills he missed. After confirming there weren't, he entered the numbers. "And the moment of truth!" One dramatic key press later proved Searing right and left the captain confused.

Principal Cinch was left confused. "I. . . What? That doesn't make sense."

Searing reclaimed her phone. "You're surprised about a notable graduating student, I won, I'm leaving." Without another word, she left the fancy room.

A slow clap followed her. "Excellent work, Searing. Surely, that will be burned into Principal Cinch's memory for quite a while."

"I hope so." Towards the end of the hall, they came across a bored Dean Cadence, who was busy playing a game on her phone at the podium by the entrance. "Hey."

"Searing?" All traces of boredom turned into surprise. "You left the prom. . . I don't know why I'm surprised."

"Yeah. I decided to get milkshakes with a friend. She should be here any moment."

A moment later, a car pulled up and the silver and black clad driver came in. "Hello, Searing."

"So you got bored at your prom too, Searing?" Not-Unicorn Searing asked as she walked up. "I was on the verge of falling asleep when I texted you."

"Your text actually woke me up at mine," Human Searing said. "Go figure."

"Are you two twins? Seriously?" Dean Cadence asked.

Both Searings turned towards her. "It's just your imagination," they said at the same time.

Cadence was a little freaked out, to say the least. "Yeah. . . Hey, mind if I join you? I have, quite literally, nothing to do here and my husband has the car." Both Searings looked at each other, shrugged, and decided Cadence and Midnight could join them.

Midnight, in the back with Cadence, asked a question. "Hey, since I have both of you here, I just have to ask: do any skills one of you learn copy to the other?"

"Don't ask me to use chopsticks," Not-Unicorn Searing said. "I can't pick anything up with them and she can eat ice cream with the things."

"So there's no mystical twin connection or anything like that?"

"It's a cosmic coincidence," Human Searing said. "Any other questions?"

"Why was I not told about this, Searing?" Cadence asked. "Crystal Prep one."

Not-Unicorn Searing shrugged. "I didn't see any reason to tell you. Also, you never asked."

"Oh."

"Hm?" Human Searing slowed down and went to a Ruby Tuesday parking lot. "Huh."

"What?" Not-Unicorn Searing asked.

"Principal Celestia's car is here." She parked next to the modest light gold car in question.

The quartet got out and, led by Human Searing, went inside. The place wasn't busy, and she found both Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna at the bar, their backs to them. The doubles and their guests joined them.

Celestia looked to her right. "Hello, Searing."

Luna looked to her left. "Hello, Searing."

Celestia and Luna heard each other, then looked past each other and promptly doubled down on the double takes before double checking their non-alcoholic drinks double time.

"I assure you, it's just your imagination," Midnight said from Luna's side of the group. "They are totally different from each other."

"Who are you, anyways?" Luna asked. "I recognize Searing."

"Over here, Vice Principal," Human Searing said from Celestia's side.

"My name is Midnight Stroll, Vice President of the Crystal Prep student council," Midnight said. "The President, Searing Victory, is right here."

"I'm Cadence, Dean of Crystal Prep," Cadence said.

"So, why are you two here?" Human Searing asked. "We were just going to get milkshakes when I saw Principal Celestia's car here."

"Isn't Crystal Prep's prom still going on?" Luna asked. "They usually go until midnight."

"I got bored," Not-Unicorn Searing said. "It only took, what, fifteen minutes?"

"Approximately," Midnight supplied. "Hey, Searing?"

"Yes, Midnight?" Not-Unicorn Searing asked.

"I have an idea. . ."

Babbling Brooke, wearing a flowing water themed dress, was laughing it up with her friends and cohorts, especially the student council that Searing had so insulted with her rule slashing. "And look at that!" She said, gesturing to the empty table reserved for the President and Vice President. "They're not even here! They care so little for prom, they left. Who will the students turn to for-" Babbling's phone chirped. "Huh? I wonder what it is." She picked up her phone and checked the message. "What the? OH COME ON!"

Everyone gathered around to see the message from Midnight. "Hope you're having fun. We are." Attached to the message was a picture of him, Searing, Luna, Celestia, another Searing, and Cadence at a bar, all with milkshakes and grins.

"Why are there two Searings in the picture?" Someone asked.

"Must be an edited picture," Babbling concluded. "There's no way that-"

"No, there are two Searings," one of the cheerleaders said. "For real. It's what we've been saying all along."

"Then how come nobody got any pictures until now? Why couldn't we. . . She wasn't acting during the debate at all! It's the only explanation. The rumors were true."

And just like that, Babbling's night would be filled with introspection and fruit punch. So much fruit punch.

"Haven't gotten a response yet," Midnight said long after the shakes were finished off. "She'll probably reply at some point. So, Canterlot Searing, why did you fall asleep at your prom?"

"I was bored and didn't have any of my drawing materials," Human Searing said. "Didn't really want to dance. Wasn't feeling the mood, either." She turned to her school officials. "Why are you two here?"

"Truthfully?" Luna started. "Everyone was behaving very well, and we felt that, being young adults, they could celebrate responsibly. And we were bored."

"You can only keep up the celebratory mood for so many proms before they start to blend together," Celestia added. "Sure, the students are different every year, but. . ." She sighed into her empty glass. "Routine hosting gets to you, eventually. I remember my prom, and it was fun. But through all the lenses of hosting so many for so long, it's lost its luster." Celestia turned to Cadence. "Why are you here?"

"Nothing to do but stand at a podium in the hall, and my husband has the car," Cadence said. "Since Searing and Midnight managed to leave, they must have stunned Principal Cinch somehow. She loves keeping the valuable students at the proms."

"Video of the soccer captain not being able to figure out change at Dairy Queen while I got it right," Not-Unicorn Searing said. "No calculators."

Luna took her turn to sigh into her empty glass. "'Tis a sad fact of reality these days. Over a decade and half of education and there are graduates from our schools that can't balance their finances. I would love to bring those kinds of home economic classes back, and make them a mandated part of Canterlot High's curriculum. Cooking, cleaning, home improvement and maintenance. Reading an instruction manual. Celestia, please give our Searing a hug for me for not being one of those clueless types." Celestia did as was asked. "Thank you. What would it take to get that sort of plan in place?"

"Privatizing," Cadence said. "Of course, there's a whole lot of other stuff that goes with that. Admission fees, standards, communication with other schools, and so many other things."

"Sounds like you've done some research," Midnight said. "Are you thinking of becoming the Principal of Crystal Prep?"

"Well. . . It would be nice. How about we get some real food while we're here?"

Later on, Human Searing brought Not-Unicorn Searing home. "So you'll be leaving soon, huh?"

"So I've heard," Not-Unicorn Searing said. "I'm going to miss you."

"Yeah, I'll miss you too. Hey, do you think I'll be able to visit your world sometime? I'd love to meet Yang."

"She is pretty cool. I'll talk to Discord about it. I'll stay in touch as long as I can. See ya."

"See ya." Not-Unicorn Searing got out and waved as Human Searing drove off. Once the car was out of sight, Not-Unicorn Searing went inside. "I'm home, Discord."

"Well, it's about time." Discord ominously spun around in a chair that wasn't designed to spin and looked at Searing. "Wait a minute. . ." A full minute later, Discord seemed to realize something. "You're home early."

"So?" It wasn't long before he was up close, sniffing her. "What?"

"Did you. . . Have dessert before your meal?" Discord sternly asked.

"Yeah. So?"

Discord's mood shifted dramatically. "Oh, my little Searing Victory is growing up!" He pulled her into a hug. "You finally had a meal out of order. I'm so proud of you!"

Searing sighed and didn't return the hug. "Gee, thanks for the praise. Can I just go to my room and imagine burning all my school supplies?"

"A bit sour about that, are we?"

"A bit." Searing walked out of the hug and went upstairs.

A moment later, Discord, who hadn't undone the hug, fell forwards with a crash. "I'm okay!"

Searing, naturally, ignored him and went into her room, which looked like it was still under construction. She went straight to her scaffolding themed bed and lay down. The finality of her time in this world was really starting to come into view, and she could only wonder what everypony's reaction to her reappearance would be.

Author's Notes:

It's a sad fact of reality these days that being able to figure out change without a calculator can impress college students. Not anything advanced, just basic addition and subtraction. I speak from personal experience on that.