It was an unusually hot day in Canterlot, and that was reflected on the mountainside city. The cobblestone streets baked in the hot Equestrian sun, and heat waves bubbled up from between the cemented cracks. Canterlot, despite the heat, still sat majestically on the mountain into which it was built, and the bustle of the city still couldn't be stopped, despite many of its inhabitants inside with their fans and air conditioners. However the figurative and literal capital of the wonderful land of Equestria, was soon to be disrupted however, by a high-pitched wailing coming from the one and only, Tori Sprackle.

In the center of the city, just a block from the bakery, only two blocks from the finest adult video store in the city, and directly across the street from the Equestrian Army, Navy, and Air Force recruitment centers sat the grand, almost royal, castle-like structure of Canterlot University. Often praised as one of the finest universities in all of Equestria, considered second only to the Baltimare Institute of Technologies. Inside this prestigious school, all the way in the farthest building, which hadn't been modified since the school's founding, nearly two hundred years previously, a young girl, maybe only seventeen, was on her knees, face contorted into a gruesome open-mouthed mask of pain. This was the office of Dean Celeste.

In front of the kneeling girl was a large desk, covered in various papers and trinkets, snowglobes and the like (including one odd little statuette of a poorly crafted rocket, it's paint fading and the wording on the base far past legible) as well as an astrolabe with a tiny photo in the center. Behind the desk sat the godly figure of Canterlot University's head, the one, and only, dean.

Her hair (to Tori) always seemed to flow; as if constantly blown by an industrial fan, its multi-colored glory a misguided attempt during the eighty’s to 'connect' better with her younger students. Now the color was fading, but it was still there, taunting Tori with its soft glowing. Her mouth was a thin, albeit sympathetic, line on her face, and her eyes were small and almond-shaped, narrowed behind a pair of face fitting spectacles.

“Now Tori,” Celeste started, “I understand that this is a bit hard...” Tori looked at her with wild eyes, and Celeste almost regretted her decision. Almost. Tori sniffed, tears welling up between her eyelashes, and Celeste's heart gripped a bit.

“You're sending me away.” It wasn't a question. “Is it because I wasn't a good student?” The purple haired girl mumbled quietly, “Is it because I wasn't as good as I should have been?” Her head jerked up, “I'll try harder! I promise!” The older woman was taken aback. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked into Tori's desperate eggshell whites, tinged with deep red veins and puffy from crying. 'Oh dear... She honestly thinks that, doesn't she?' Sighing softly, she stood up from her desk, white pencil skirt sliding against her hard, back-breaking chair, and made her way over to the girl sobbing on her office floor. Slipping off her heels and folding her legs under her, she joined her mentee on the floor, her shins brushing against the ugly red carpet. Wrapping her long arms around the shuddering girl she pulled her into a gentle hug.

“My dearest Tori,” She said, “You have singlehandedly been the finest student to ever walk through these doors and into my office. You've been a wonderful student; always on time, studious, and passionate.” Tori looked at her mentor with watery eyes, face red, and Celeste brushed a stray purple hair off her face, “Don't ever think I'm not proud of who you are and who you have become.”

“B-but then why are you sending me away?” She squeaked, still confused. Celeste sighed and pushed herself to her feet, before offering a hand to Tori, who gratefully took it and let herself be guided to one of the, also red, couches in the office.

“Well that being said, I really am proud of you...” Celeste started, sliding onto the couch with Tori, “However,” with that, Tori visibly tensed, “I am... How do I say this... concerned, about you.” Tori gulped and everything that could have concerned her teacher ran through her head; grades, attendance, the fact that one of her prized possessions was the staff photo of Celeste with Tori's face photoshopped into it (despite what Spike said, it wasn't creepy. Really.).

“A-about what?” She asked hesitantly, Celeste opened her mouth,

“I've heard from a certain source,” 'She knows about the picture!' Tori screamed in her mind, “That you've been spending an awful lot of time cooped up in you room.” Tori blinked, eyes itching slightly due to the tears from earlier

“Oh.” Celeste looked at her, “Well that's because I study. I like to read... Is that bad?” Celeste smiled,

“Of course not, reading is a gateway to knowledge and knowledge is one of the most important things in the world.” Tori looked at her, confused.

“Then what's wrong? Aren't I doing something good?” Tori asked innocently. Celeste pointedly looked away, nibbling her lip, a habit she thought she had dropped years ago.

“This -source- has also brought to my attention that this what you do, constantly. All day, everyday.” Tori grinned a toothy smile, Celeste grinned weakly back, but it faded as soon as it appeared and Tori's along with it, a look of fear once again dawning on her face. “This isn't healthy, Tori. Look at you,” The younger girl looked at her hands, and Celeste took them in her own longer, slender ones, “You're so pale you're almost translucent. Spi- I mean my source- also tells me you rarely eat, and when you do, it's a small serving and unfinished.” Tori looked away,

“I just don't get that hungry when I'm studying. That's all.” Celeste's face grew a bit longer,

“Tell me Tori, when was the last time you talked to one of your friends?” An audible gulp hit her ears,

“Umm... I...er... I talked to...uhh that dancer, Dilly? Yesterday.” She said, eyes darting all over the room, except at Celeste.

“You mean Dana?” Tori jumped.

“Yes! Dana! I have no idea where Dilly cam-”

“Stop.” The word was sharp. Numbing. Painful. Tori's mouth snapped shut, threatening to let out a new round of bawling. Celeste sat up quickly, before slipping her feet back into her heels, careful to not make eye contact with her student. Re-seating herself in her chair, she spun around so that she was facing the back wall, covered in photographs of all the graduating classes she had seen pass through her school.

“Miss Celeste...” She began, but Celeste's sharp voice cut into it, slicing through her words like a sword.

“I understand that knowledge is important. But what good is knowledge if there's no one to share it with?” Tori opened her mouth to answer before Celeste continued, back still facing her, “I'm sending you to a small town called Ponyville, where maybe you can learn a bit more about friendship.” Tori nodded despondently, even knowing that Celeste couldn't see her. “My sister, Luna, has recently become the principal of a small high school there. You and Spike are to live with her for a year and make some friends.” Celeste replayed what she said in her mind, like she always did when she was speaking, but found she just couldn't concentrate. Tori gawked for a minute,

“A high school?! But even you yourself have said I'm on a completely different level!” Celeste's voice once again cut into her argument,

“You may be far beyond anybody in a high school, but you need to meet people your age! And you just so happen to be at that age for a high school!” Celeste mentally rebuked herself for raising her voice, 'Well, no turning back now.' she thought sullenly.

Tori closed her eyes and lowered her head.

“I understand.” Pulling herself up off the couch, she slumped to the door, and roughly grabbed it. Twisting it and yanking, the large wood door creaked open, revealing a short, green-haired boy pressed up against it, one hand on the door, the other one shoved into his purple sweater. Jumping, he backed up quickly.

“Oh, and Tori!” Celeste's voice jolted her to attention, turning around, she saw the dean had turned in her seat, hands now clasped together on the desk, and clear streaks of tiny tears were slowly making their way down her flawless skin, “Good luck...” she was quiet for a moment before blurting out: “And I expect to get a report from you every day.” Tori felt more tears spring to her eyes as she smiled as strong as she could before giving a firm nod and exiting the room. The engraved wood clicked shut with almost an air of finality. Celeste sighed as she dabbed her eyes and turned back to the wall with her photographs, mind slowly turning over itself.

“So...” Spike, the short purple-clad boy scratched behind his head, “What's goin' down?” Tori gave him a small glare,

“We're moving. The end.” Spike glared back at her.

“And?” He prompted, as they rounded a corner towards their room, near the T. Stark; the Ruggedly Handsome wing of the college dorms.

“I have to make... friends.” She muttered, fear slipping into her voice. Spike smiled as they trudged up the stairs toward their room, he absentmindedly ran a hand along the stone banister, tapping his fingers as he moved.

“Well that's good! Personally I think you needed to get out more.” He gave her a large grin, his sharp canines giving him an impish look as he reached out to put a hand on her shoulder. Glancing at it, she slapped his wrist, causing him to recoil sharply.

“This is all your fault.” She hissed as she slipped a small key into their dorm room door, slamming it open with a bang. The childish grin fell from his lips, replaced with sad frown as they entered the room.

“What did I-”

“I know you talked to Dean Celeste!” She shouted at him, “You got me kicked out of school! Got me sent to some backwater little hamlet! That's what you did!” Spike stared at her for a moment, before looking at the ground and visibly biting back his tears. Glaring at her, he went to the closet where he had most of his possessions. Reaching into the back, he yanked out a purple duffel-bag and began to wordlessly throw clothes into it.

Looking at him, Tori felt a wave of shame wash over her, immediately followed by a another wave of anger at him. Going to the other side of the room, she reached under her bed and pulled out a rarely touched suitcase. Looking at it, she felt a wave of nostalgia crash over her, wiping out the anger and guilt swirling inside her. 'This is the bag I came here in.' Looking around the room, which was on the larger side, she admired her time in the school as a collection of physical objects. Namely, books. A large bay window was on the east side so that the morning sun would always shine through, but it was covered by thick blue curtains, covered in a layer of dust that signaled that they hadn't been touched in a while.

A small mirror hung on Spike's side of the room, as well as a couple of posters of women in bikinis sprawled across cars. And one he had gotten at Comic-Con of a purple and green dragon that was beautifully and painstakingly painted. In the corner, a small signature in bright gold stood out, Always believe Spike.- L.F.. Tori had always liked that one, she really thought it exemplified his child-like belief. They had never gotten the artist's name, however, and try as he might, he couldn't find her again. It was a shame too, she was a truly magnificent painter.

Her eyes dragged over to her side of the room. Covering the walls were thesis papers, brainstorming maps, and the occasional book report. Boring. Nothing like Spike's side, which always seemed to be changing women and bands monthly. Tori was convinced he had a person who was giving them to him. Glancing down, she realized she had packed nothing so far and quietly began to neatly fold her clothes into the bag.

After about fifteen minutes had passed, Spikeleft, saying something about talking to their neighbor, Flinn Cedar. Tori ignored him and the broken face he made when she turned his nose up his goodbye. Eventually, she had finished pushing all of her clothes and all the books she wanted to take with her into the tiny purple suitcase. Sighing, she opened the door, and, with one last forlonging glance at her side of the room she shut it. Spike was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, duffel bag thrown over his shoulder casually, back to the door. However before she even stepped onto the wooden step, a voice caught her attention.

"You thinking about going without saying goodbye?" Tori stopped dead. Turning around slowly, she came face-to-chest with Flinn Cedar, who was in the dorm room right next to them. Tilting her neck slightly to look him in the face, she blushed red at his childish face and blue hair, before looking down at her shoes. "Listen, I heard everything from Spike." He said, raising his arms in a mock surrender, before realizing she wasn't looking at him and going the tiniest bit red.

"Then you also must have heard that he sold me out?" She mumbled bitterly, the grip on her suitcase tightened threatening to turn her knuckles whiter than they already were. Flinn sighed.

"Yeah I did. I'm also the one who told him should do it." Tori's eyes widened like dinner plates. She couldn't believe it. Wouldn't believe it. Flinn Cedar, cute, brilliant, military, physics major, everything, had told Spike that she shouldn't be around anymore? Tears threatened to well up in her eyes again.

"B-but why? She whimpered, "I thought you liked me? Why would you want me to go away?" Flinn's eyes grew the tiniest bit misty.

"I do like you. Probably more than I should." He looked away, red tinting his cheeks, "But the way you are, the way you're headed, you're going to destroy yourself." He looked at her before hesitantly taking her hands in his. "And neither Spike nor I could stand around and let that happen." Tori blinked away even more tears that were threatening to spill down her face.

"You really care?" She managed to blubber out, her suitcase now forgotten on the floor, as she wrapped her arms around his chest, feeling his arms snake their way around her.

"Of course I do." He mumbled into her hair, and she got tiniest of thrills from his hot breath against her scalp, and she couldn't help but nudge her head into his chin. "Now go. Make the friends and be a greater person than you already are. Go be the person I know you can be." A cough came from behind them and they jumped apart, Tori leaping right into Spike, who was giving them a flat look.

"Can we cut the mushy stuff and go?" He snarled, teeth poking over his lip, and his duffel bag slung over his shoulder. Tori whipped her head around to glare at him, while Flinn just smiled sheepishly and gave him a thumbs up. Reaching down, he grabbed Tori's bag.

"Here, I'll walk you guys to the train station." He smiled at her, his lips curved into a small grin before walking up next Spike. Tori smiled back at him, putting her hands to her cheeks to cool the heat that was accumulating in her head. Flinn was laughing with Spike, who was waving his hands above his head and glancing back at Tori. Tori couldn't help but feel a small bit of joy at seeing the two get along so well together, even though she wasn't going to see Flinn for another year. Sighing, she pushed those thoughts aside, and ran to catch up with the pair.

"Hey buddy, whattya say we race to the station? One last run before ya leave?" Spike put his hand on his chin and stroked for a minute in mock thought.

"Well maybe just one... Okay! OnetwothreeGO!" He shouted, taking off kicking up a small cloud of dust as he ran off. Flinn stood stunned for a minute before grabbing Tori's bag and pumping his legs to catch up.

"Hey no fair!" He shouted, his long strides quickly shortening the ground between them, even with the Tori quickly started after the two, trying desperately to keep her skirt from flying up as she ran after them.

"Hey! Guys! Flinn! Spike! UGH!"

Spike's eyes were squeezed shut as he ran past the blurring scenery and shouts from people as he flashed by. Today had not been his day. Tori was mad to the point of unforgiveness, and he was getting sent far away, never to see his friends, though they were small in number, again for an entire year. The only solace he took in the otherwise terrible day he had been having was the fact that he was finally going to beat Flinn at a physical competition for the first time since they'd met. Even if it meant kinda-sorta getting the tiniest head start. Seeing the large platform and booth that seemed to make up the basic blueprint of all of Equestria's train stations, Spike knew he was going to have to end this right then and there. Taking one final leap, Spike, his duffel, and his little green jacket, flew up into the air, both his legs bent just beneath his thighs. 'This is just like one of my Japonies animes!' he thought, only daring to think about how awesome he looked.

Flinn watched on, impressed, as Spike's leap of faith took him through the Canterlot air, past a thoroughly surprised civilian, who ducked when he saw the purple and green blur whizzing towards him. But, as soon as it had began, Spike's jump had ended and he was back on the ground, his sandal-ed feet hitting the floor with a sharp slapping sound. Right in front of Flinn. The younger boy stared up at him,

"OH GOD DAMMIT!" Flinn just laughed it off,

"Sorry Squirt! I guess you just gotta try harder next time." Spike just grumbled under his breath, still incredulous on Flinn's amazing physical prowess. Looking around however, he noticed something. He was there, Flinn was there, and Tori's bag was there, but Tori herself wasn't. Gazing down the street, however, he could see the panting and puffing purple-with-a-streak Tori. Soon, or rather, in five minutes, she had reached the station platform, glaring at both of them.

"Never. Again." She wheezed out, her voice cracking from lack of breath. Flinn and Spike shared a sly grin before sidling up to the conductor, and waving to Tori, who sighed again before trudging up to the conductor and reaching into her pocket for her ticket. Only to be met with the empty lining inside. After a frantic search of her entire person, what could only have been considered as a panic attack, followed by a small breakdown, it was finally brought to her attention that Spike had the tickets. Flinn gave her a hug, and patted her on the cheek,

"Be good to Spike, okay?" He said softly, making sure that the boy in question couldn't hear him, "He's a good kid." Tori scoffed,

"Hardly." Flinn gave her a look, mixed somewhere in between amused and reproachful, she looked away, "But I'll try."

And so, bags beneath their seats, Spike's trusty GameDragon outfitted with Tetris (which was twelve years out of date and the only game he owned. For twelve of his fifteen years of living.) they set off to a year in their new home of Ponyville. Tori rested her head against the back of the seat, feeling her eyes drooping and the days events catching up to her, the sounds of blocks snapping out of existence with mechanical buzzing soothed her to sleep. Sleepily, she looked over at Spike,

"You know I love you, right?" She said, shifting her head on his shoulder, Spike's eyes stayed glued to the screen, but he visibly relaxed, "And... I'm sorry. But don't think for a second that I've-" She yawned, "-forgiven you."

"Yeah, I do. And don't worry. I won't."

Author's Note

I was actually reading several FiMfictions while writing this, thereby my sense of POV kind of got jumbled, so if you see something that doesn't belong, please don't hesitate to point it out.