Let the Games Begin!

The first event, the Academic Decathlon, started in the science lab. Kids crowded into the doorway and peeked through the windows to get a look at the competitors.

Dean Cadance was explaining the rules: “You will be scored on chemistry, home ec, and everything in between. But remember, only the six students from each team with the most points will move on to event number two. Good luck!”

The teachers and administrators stood by, scorecards in hand. The school bell rang—and the experimenting began! The Wondercolts and the Shadowbolts lit their Bunsen burners. They picked up their pipettes. They tested their test tubes.

Twilight dripped a solution into her test tube, and it turned from red to blue.

The Great and Powerful Trixie dripped a solution into her test tube… and it exploded. When the smoke cleared, Trixie had vanished. Sort of. She was hiding under her lab table.

Sunset Shimmer’s test tube went from red to blue, and so did Rarity’s and Pinkie Pie’s. Flash Sentry’s turned black, but at least it didn’t explode. A girl from Crystal Prep watched as her test tube bubbled over. The judges wrote down their scores.

In the home ec kitchen, kids slid their soufflés into the oven. Would they rise or would they fall? The Canterlot High team members crossed their fingers but watched, disappointed, as their soufflé went up, up, up, and then flopped hopelessly down. Sour Sweet and Sunny Flare from Crystal Prep produced a perfect soufflé. But Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy managed to create a soufflé within a soufflé that not only looked amazing but also tasted delicious.

The next event was in the wood shop, and each team was working on building a birdhouse. Hammers pounded, drills buzzed, and saws sent sawdust up into the air. Applejack and Rainbow Dash worked together and created an architecturally sound and good-looking birdhouse. Indigo Zap and Sugarcoat made one with two stories, decorated in flames. Lyra and Bonbon’s birdhouse kept collapsing. Each judge wrote something in her book. A spelling bee was happening in the auditorium. The competitors all sat on the stage facing the judge, and one by one stood up to take the challenge. Out. Out. Out. One by one, the students were eliminated as the words got harder and harder.

But the hardest test of all was in the math room. Sunset Shimmer and Twilight were dueling at the blackboard. They divided; they added; they erased. They were working on one of the longest, hardest equations any of the kids had ever seen. Twilight kept glancing at her pendant, distracted. She didn’t want to be competing in the Friendship Games; she wanted to be continuing with her investigation. Sunset Shimmer was sure that Twilight was up to something. But what? She couldn’t think about it. She had to focus on the equation.

Finally, both girls put down their chalk, and the judges swooped in to check over their work. Faces peered in at the window. Kids held their breath. Who would win? Would it be the Shadowbolts again or did the Wondercolts have a chance this time?

Principal Cinch studied Sunset Shimmer’s work. Right, right, right, WRONG. “Incorrect,” she announced triumphantly.

Sunset Shimmer tried to hide her disappointment. She’d let down her school and her friends.

Vice Principal Luna stepped forward. “That means the winner of the Friendship Games’ first event is Twilight Sparkle and Crystal Prep.”

Twilight Sparkle’s teammates applauded, but they didn’t look any friendlier. The Equestria Girls, however, all crowded around Sunset Shimmer.

“That was awesome,” said Rainbow Dash.

Rarity nodded her head. “Truly amazing.”

“But we didn’t win,” said Sunset Shimmer sadly.

“Well,” said Applejack, “that was as close to winning as Canterlot’s ever been.”

After a brief conference, the judges announced the girls moving on to the next round.

Across the room, the Equestria Girls were hugging one another. Twilight wondered what it would feel like to be part of that kind of team. Suddenly, Flash Sentry was standing beside her.

“Congratulations,” he said to her. “You were really great.”

Twilight blushed. “Um… thanks.”

“I kinda knew home ec pretty much did me in,” he said, reminding her of his collapsed soufflé. “Hey, has anyone ever told you that you look just like—”

“Excuse me,” interrupted Twilight Sparkle. There was something she wanted to say to the Equestria Girls, and they were leaving the room.

“Okay, then,” sighed Flash Sentry, watching her go. It was strange. Except for her glasses, she looked exactly like Twilight Sparkle.