One In A Million

Chapters

Great Expectations
Don Quixote
Pride And Prejudice
Crime And Punishment
The Secret Garden
The Taming Of The Shrew
The Man In The Iron Mask
The Call Of The Wild
The Odyssey
Inferno

Great Expectations

he two fillies trotting along with me kept me going; Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle already had their cutie marks. I had to catch up.

The warm predawn light had only begun to make its way over the treetops, and the nighttime chill still lingered in the air. I hardly even noticed. Today was the day – the day I would finally fly. With any luck today would be the day I finally found mine, too.

My two friends weren't very enthusiastic about the early morning flying lesson of course, but they still followed me up the dew-covered path to the big grassy hill on the outskirts of Ponyville. My fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders had always been there to support me, and I knew they always would be. I smiled over at them – I could hardly help it, after all – and drowsy as they were, they smiled back. This would be the first time my friends ever watched one of my flying lessons with Rainbow. The last thing I wanted was to leave them disappointed, but I knew having them at my side would make all the difference.

As my hooves brought me closer and closer to the crest of the hill, I could see a rainbow-colored tail hanging from the edge of a cloud just above the peak. “Hey, Rainbow Dash! I made it!”

Rainbow's head popped up from behind the cloud. “About time, Squirt.” She hopped down from her cloud. “What took you so long?”

“Huh?” I tilted my head to the side. “You said to meet you at sunup, and the sun's not even up yet.”

Rainbow withered me with a sharp-eyed glare. “Well, I just thought that if flying was important to you or something, you'd come early so you could have your warm-ups finished before starting time...”

I gasped. “Oh no, I'm so sorry!” We hadn't even started yet, and already my grand plans for the day were falling to pieces. I looked around, desperate for a way to make everything better. “I just didn't want to force Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to get up even earlier, and I had no idea, and it didn't even cross my mind to–”

“Woah woah, easy there, Squirt.” Rainbow glanced back and forth before her glare melted into a wide smile and she trotted over to me. “I'm just messing with you.” She tussled my mane with a hoof, but I didn't care. “If you had shown up earlier, I would've been upset at you for waking me up...” She brought her hoof to her chin. “If you wanted to make it up to me though... you could, I don't know, get all your warm-up exercises done in record time?” She pulled the stopwatch out of her mane.

“On it!” I shouted. In a flash, I dove right into my wing squats, sending Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle dodging out of my way. I cranked the exercises out at top speed and jumped right into my stretches. In and out, up and down, I stretched my wings out faster than ever before. That just left the warm up laps.

I dashed to the bottom of the hill and raced around it, my wings pumping just as hard as my hooves. I put everything I had into it, circling around the base of the hill faster than ever before.

By the time I reached the third and final lap, my lungs burned, my legs cramped, and I was sure my wings were about to fall off. I hadn't pushed myself this hard for nothing, though, and I wasn't about to give up now. With a savage grunt, I plowed through the last lap and sprinted back up to the top.

“Not bad. Not bad. You beat your best time by three seconds.” Rainbow's eyes showed a glint of genuine admiration.

Despite my lungs gasping for air and my legs threatening to let me drop, that little shred of admiration was all I needed to keep going. I felt ready for anything.

“Okay, Squirt,” Rainbow said, pacing in front of me, “As you know, me and my friends have an important diplomatic mission to the Griffon Kingdoms coming up. We have to leave this very afternoon. That means this will be our last flying lesson for a while. I expect you to make the most of it! Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes ma'am!” Rainbow's pep talk had become part of the normal routine for flying lessons, and I knew she would be there for me, just like my two friends sitting on the wet grass watching me. They were more than just friends. These ponies were my family. Without them, I'd be nothing.

The first gleam of the rising sun came just in time to catch the proud grin on Rainbow's face. “Then get up there and prepare for takeoff!” I could feel the tension in Rainbow's voice. She wanted me to succeed as much as I did.

I hopped up to the top of the hill, wasting no time. This would be it. I just knew it. I spread my wings and let the newly risen sun's warmth soothe my flight muscles, still a little sore from my hectic warm-up. I stood still at the top for a moment, trying to calm my nervous breathing and relax. Rainbow had drilled into me a million times, after all, that flying should come easily and naturally.

I looked up at Rainbow just in time to see her nod. I was ready. My friends were there, watching me. It was time.

With one final, slow breath outwards, I flapped my wings for the first time of this lesson. Nervous energy boiled inside of me, urging me to go faster, go harder, go now... I kept it under control. Strong, sure, steady wing beats were the key, Rainbow always said. Start slow and then build. I sped up my flapping, just like I had been taught. I could feel the breeze they created now, cooling me, and I could feel myself getting lighter on my hooves.

My friends' eyes grew wide in anticipation. Even Rainbow seemed to be watching with bated breath.

I flapped harder and faster, squeezing my eyes shut. I had no attention to spare on anything external now – nothing but me and my wings mattered. My feet edged up off the ground, front first, then the back. I opened my eyes to see myself hovering just a hoof's-length above the ground. It wasn't much, but I held it. I was flying! “Oh my gosh! Rainbow, look! I'm doing it! I'm–”

The horizon tilted. No! It was happening all over again. I knew what was about to happen, but as always, I was powerless to stop it. I stretched out my hooves in a desperate bid to steady myself, but I was too late. I tipped forward, my wings forcing me into a tumble.

My face hit the sod hard, grinding the still-dewy grass into my teeth. I rolled completely over, coming to rest belly-down on the grass, and I looked up to see Rainbow's face looking back down at me.

I could see her let out the breath she had been holding. I knew she tried her hardest to hide it, but her weak smile couldn't mask the disappointment in her eyes. “Oh, um...” Rainbow looked away for a moment before returning to me. “I guess we need to work on balance and control exercises a little more.”

I slammed my hooves into the ground in front of me. They cut into the grass and came back with bits of dirt stuck to them. “We've done that a hundred times. It never works.” I grit my teeth in frustration and tried to stay in control. I was not about to break down and cry right in front of Rainbow Dash. I couldn't. My eyes burned, so I squeezed them shut. “I just can't do it.”

Apple Bloom's hoof on my shoulder brought my attention back to the world around me. “Come on, Scootaloo.” She took my hoof in hers and pulled me back to my feet. “Did Ah quit when those sleazy Manehattan colts took down my handymare business?” She pointed over to Sweetie Belle. “Did Sweetie Belle quit when she got voted out of Equestrian Idol?” She brought her hoof back to me, poking my chest. “Did you quit when they kicked you out of flight camp?”

“No,” I admitted, looking away.

“Then are you gonna quit now?”

My tears dried as I looked up. No. I wouldn't quit now. I would fly, and I would find my destiny. I hopped back up to the top of the hill.

As I stood preparing myself once again, Rainbow Dash slowly nodded. I could see the glimmer in her eyes. She was holding back tears of her own. Tears of pride.

I didn't need to focus on breathing or energy this time. I knew my friends and my mentor had faith in me, and that must be for a reason. I knew what I wanted, and I could – and would – do it.

Closing my eyes, I pumped my wings and focused on what I wanted. No stray thoughts about technique or control distracted me. No doubts poisoned my determination. Everything in me focused on one thing: using these wings to make me go up. I put my all into it, but I still wasn't even rising off the ground. I wouldn't let myself stop though. I couldn't. I flapped faster and faster, so fast that the sound blended into a constant hum.

I pressed on even harder, still focusing on just going up. Something inside me seemed to break free. The hum reached a crescendo, and a blinding purple flash shot through my closed eyelids.

When I opened my eyes, I couldn't believe it – I looked down on Rainbow and my friends from well above their heads... I was in the air! I never even noticed it happening. They drew closer, and I realized I was no longer flapping my wings. I tried to start again, to pull up, but I was too late. I managed to slow myself a little, but the impact with the grassy hill still took my breath away.

That crash couldn't stop me though. I shot straight back up, not even wincing from the hit. “Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash! Did you see? Did you see how high I flew?” I slowed, though, when I noticed Rainbow and my friends just staring at me, wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

“You... uh... You didn't fly, Kiddo.”

I looked up incredulously. “What? Of course I flew. Didn't you see when–”

“Scootaloo.” That stopped me. Rainbow never used my full name. “You didn't fly. You... teleported.”

“What? No, only unicorns can do that, and I'm a pegasus. There's no way I could–”

“You did, Scootaloo. We all saw it happen. When your wings were flapping really fast, they started to glow, and then you just teleported up.” Sweetie Belle looked over at Apple Bloom for confirmation.

“Eeyup,” she added, simply.

“But... but I can't...” None of this made any sense. I rushed back to Rainbow Dash. “What's going on? How did this happen to me?”

“I don't know,” Rainbow replied. She stroked her chin. “But I think I do know just who to ask about it. Come on, Squirt. I think it's time to visit the library.”

I wasn't ready to be finished just yet, not if I hadn't really flown. “Really? Are you sure we can't just do the rest of our flying lesson?”

“Yeah.” Rainbow nodded rapidly. “I'm sure.” She trotted off towards Ponyville.

“Aww...” This was not how I planned for the day to go.

Apple Bloom laid her hoof across my shoulders. “Look at the bright side, Scootaloo.”

“What bright side?”

She just pointed to my flank and smiled.

I twisted around to look, and I nearly fell over in shock. There, on my own flank, was a cutie mark! Three purple shooting stars now adorned my flank. It had finally happened!

I gasped, trying to catch my breath, but I still felt like I couldn't breathe. I couldn't believe it was finally there, my cutie mark. All I could do was stare at it with ever-widening eyes.

But as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle swept me up in a warm group hug, I couldn't help but wonder what it meant. The three purple stars reminded me of the big purple star on Twilight Sparkle's cutie mark. I didn't like thinking about what that might mean for me.

I rolled my eyes when Apple Bloom banged on the library door for the fifth time and still didn't get any response apart from clangs, thuds, and other random noises inside. “Twilight's our friend, right? Can't we just go on inside?”

Sweetie Belle stomped her hoof down. “Of course not! Friend or not, it's still rude to just barge in uninvited.”

“But this is a library.” I pointed at the sign. “And it is open.”

With a shrug and a flick of her tail, Rainbow pushed open the door.

More clutter than usual littered the floor, though I had seen it in worse shape.

There was no sign of Twilight or Spike, until a voice came yelling down from upstairs. “Spike! Where's Colton's Compendium of Curious Company?” As the shout trailed off, Twilight trotted down the library's steps, looking all around. “Spike! Where are you?”

“Right here.” The little dragon came running out of the kitchen. “And the book you're looking for is already packed in your bags.” He looked over at all of us still standing in the doorway. “Oh, hey, Rainbow's here, and she brought the Crusaders.”

“Never mind that.” Twilight kept pacing around the library in a blur of motion. The alicorn didn't seem to be getting much done. “Have you triple checked your suitcase against our packing checklist?”

“No, but–”

“Then get to it! If we forget something now, who knows if we'll ever be able to find a replacement inside the Griffon Kingdoms.”

“But I already double checked the–”

“Just. Make. Sure.” Twilight's eyes twitched a little, and her wings spread out seemingly of their own volition. As Spike trudged up the library's stairs, Twilight finally noticed Rainbow and me. “Oh, hi Rainbow. Done with flying practice already?”

Rainbow pulled me closer. “Actually, I'm here to talk about Scootaloo.” She looked at me, then back to Twilight. “Scootaloo got her cutie mark today.”

Twilight stopped her frenzy of movement to come over and see for herself. “Oh, that's wonderful.” She stared at it a moment, and her brows furrowed. “That's odd. Stars like those usually represent magic. What does this one represent?”

“That's just what we came here to talk about.” Rainbow's face grew pained. “This is really weird.”

Twilight's eyes wandered back to the mess on the floor. “I hope it's important. I have a lot to do, and the train leaves in less than two hours.”

“It is,” Rainbow assured. She remained quiet for a moment, her lips twisting into a grimace. “Well, uh, Scootaloo can do magic.”

Twilight snorted and held her hoof in front of her mouth as her eyes watered. After a moment, she couldn't hold it in anymore, and she burst into hysterical laughter. After too long of a moment, her laughter died down into a chuckle or two, and she said, “Oh geez, Rainbow, I knew you liked pranks, but this is just over the top, even for you.”

Nopony else laughed. Rainbow flicked her tail. “I'm serious, Twilight.”

“Rainbow, Scootaloo is a pegasus. Only unicorns and alicorns can practice the magical arts.”

“Come on outside, Twilight, and I'll prove it.” Without waiting, Rainbow stepped back through the door and onto the library's front lawn. “Come on, everypony.”

I followed Rainbow outside with more than a little trepidation. How was she planning on proving it?

“Okay, Rainbow, let's see it. I'm putting on a detection spell, though, so there won't be any funny business.” Twilight eyed Rainbow as she stepped through the door. A moment later, her horn began to glow. “There. The detection spell's in place now. Go ahead and show me.”

I felt a little nudge from behind. Apple Bloom had just pushed me to the front. I looked over to Rainbow, and she just waved me on. I had no idea what they all expected me to do.

“Go on,” Sweetie Belle prodded, “just think back to what you did before, and do it again.”

They wanted me to do that again? I didn't even know what I did! How was I supposed to just do it again, on command? My friends looked on, all around me, expecting me to do it again. I wasn't even sure I wanted to ever do it again.

With a sigh, I decided I had no choice. I tried to bring back my confidence and determination from earlier. That wasn't easy. I flapped my wings, bringing back that intense desire to go up. My wing speed increased, and before long, I could hear a now-familiar humming sound, and my wings began to glow.

Something just wasn't right. With a whine, the glow vanished from my wings, and I haphazardly fluttered up a few inches off the ground.

Twilight just raised an eyebrow at Rainbow.

“Come on, Squirt. Do it again.” I could see it was painful for her to be made a fool in front of her friends. I had to do it again. For Rainbow Dash.

I went through the routine, and again my wings glowed. I focused on going up, remembering how important it was to my idol. This time, it worked.

With my eyes open this time, I could clearly see the purple flash as the world around me lurched downwards. I did my best to stay airborne but still couldn't manage it. At least this time, I slowed my descent and came to an almost-graceful landing on my feet.

“That's... that's...” Twilight just sat there, staring at me with her eyes wide. “That is really not possible.” She shook her head. “And not just 'visited by myself from the future' impossible or 'grow a pair of wings' impossible. This is not supposed to happen!” Her horn glowed again, rechecking for any hidden magical interference, no doubt. “How did you do that?”

I actually felt a perverse sort of pride from my impossible accomplishment. “I just think about going up and try really hard.”

Twilight stood up again and started pacing back and forth sharply. “But you just can't teach yourself to teleport. It took me months to get it right, and that's not even counting the fact that you're a pegasus! You just can't!”

“We already know she can, Twilight.” Rainbow stepped in front of her, putting a halt to the alicorn's pacing. “What we're trying to find out is why... and who better to ask than the Princess of Magic herself?”

For a moment, Twilight did nothing but stare blankly ahead. But before long, she rushed right up into my face, causing me to jump back from her. She eyed me closely, a little too closely – I felt like a lab specimen under examination – and she actually sniffed me. “Did you drink any potions or anything? Maybe from Zecora?”

I backed a little further away. My earlier confidence evaporated. “No! No, I haven't seen Zecora in months, and I didn't drink anything weird.”

Twilight brought a hoof up to her chin and leaned in closer. “Have you been playing in the Everfree Forest, maybe around some little blue flowers?” Before I could reply, she cut me off. “Oh, or have you been cursed by anypony lately? Had any spells cast on you?”

“No, no, no!” I shook my head.

Her eyes narrowed. “Have you been hanging out with Pinkie Pie?”

“No! It's not anything like that!” I didn't know how I knew, but somehow it felt right, like it was a part of me, like it was... “It's just my special talent. I finally found it.”– I turned to put my new cutie mark on full display –“See, I've got the cutie mark for it and everything.”

At least that seemed to put an end to the interrogation. Twilight backed off, sat down, and stared off into the distance. “Hmm...” Her eyes came back to stare at me, but they were no longer inquisitive microscopes. Now she just stared at me, still deep in thought. “I think I read something about this a while back. If I could just remember...” Her gaze dropped down to the ground. “Aha!”– she popped back up –“Sir Colton's treatise on the nature and origins of magic!” Without explaining herself, she darted back into the library.

I looked over at my friends. Sweetie Belle just shrugged, and Apple Bloom was already heading inside. Guessing it couldn't hurt, I followed them in. Twilight's book learning was what we came for in the first place, right?

Inside, Twilight already stooped over her writing desk. On it laid not a huge dusty tome like I expected, but a single slim stack of paper held together by a clip.

“Here, Sir Colton's treatise on the nature and origins of magic.” Twilight flipped over the cover page. “You're lucky I had it here for review and editing. It won't be published for at least another two months.” She flipped through the pages with her magic, mumbling as she went, “Introduction, underlying field theory, harmonistic theory, reflections of the cosmos, magic as evidenced in other species... no, no... Ah, there!” She pounded a hoof down on what was now the topmost page. “The three distinct forms of magic found in ponykind.” As the rest of us leaned in, she resumed reading.

“The most obvious type of pony magic is, of course, the magic of the unicorns, with which all my readers will be familiar. Less known, though, is the magic of the pegasi, with which they are able to fly with wings that would otherwise be severely undersized for their mass and which allows them to manipulate weather and walk on clouds. The most subtle type of magic is that of the humble earth pony. Having no external effects due to the lack of any appendages to focus it, it nonetheless has a profound effect on the stamina, strength, and longevity of the earth pony race. It is said that alicorns posses all three types of magic in one body, each reinforcing the others and making their combined effect stronger.”

Twilight's face scrunched up. “I already know all that. Where was the part about...” She flipped a couple more pages. “Ah, there we go.” She leaned down again to read the cramped hoof-written script. “There are, however, occasional exceptions to these rules. Some ponies, most commonly earth ponies, but occasionally those of the other races as well, will on rare occasions display magic outside of what their race is normally capable of. While such ponies are often fascinating case studies, they are too rare for proper statistical analysis, and are therefore outside of the scope of this work. For more information about it, I highly recommend Sound Theory's book, A Compendium of the Curiously Counterintuitive, a delightful work wherein she has cataloged an unprecedented number of such cases in fine detail. As for the relation between the lifespans of earth ponies and alicorns, they are...”

Twilight looked up from the paper. “Where's Spike? I need him to find–”

“A Compendium of the Curiously Counterintuitive: The Ponies Who Defy the Laws of Magic, by Sound Theory, perhaps?” Spike came skipping up, holding a dusty blue book up in front of him.

I spun around, a little startled to see the baby dragon. I hadn't been paying much attention to anything besides what Twilight had been reading.

“Sound Theory...” Rainbow scratched the back of her head. “Isn't that the pony who came to interview Fluttershy about her stare powers?”

“That's the one.” Twilight nodded. “I bet Fluttershy's even in this book somewhere.” She wasted no time in flipping the book onto the desk with her magic and opening it. “Let's see... Index of case studies: that looks promising.” A couple more pages flipped, enveloped in a violet aura. “Okay, Buttercup, a unicorn who couldn't use magic but lived as long as an earth pony, no... Inner Workings, an earth pony with x-ray vision, no... Shooting Star, a unicorn who could fly, no... Surprise 'Granny' Pie, a pegasus who could–”

“Wait, Granny Pie?” Rainbow fluttered up above Twilight to get a better look at the book. “Is that Pinkie's Granny Pie, the one with all the songs?”

“Yes, Rainbow, it probably is, but we can't get distracted right now. We're on a strict schedule.” She brushed Rainbow away with a flare of magic. “Now, where was I? Ah, yes. Merry Weather, an earth pony who could predict and even change weather patterns, no...”

“...Razor Wing, a pegasus who could use unicorn-style magic... That's it!” Twilight furiously flipped through the pages.

“Hey, that's just like you!” Sweetie Belle nudged me on the shoulder.

“Of course.” I was far too busy paying attention to Twilight to give Sweetie Belle much mind. “That's what we've been looking for the whole time.”

“Okay, here we go.” Twilight stopped on the correct page. “Razor Wing, known only by historical accounts, was a pegasus stallion skilled in unicorn-style magic. He was particularly known for long range combat magic and distinguished himself in the Griffon War. By all accounts, he was never able to fly under his own power, but still retained the pegasus ability to walk on clouds.

“He was killed in action in the year of Our Princess, thirty-four eighteen, during the battle of Stalliongrad. He was posthumously awarded a service medallion and the Solar Shield, in addition to the silver wing and myriad decorations awarded before that date. Not much else is known about this stallion, or this rare form of misappropriated magic. No other cases of this particular deviation are known to exist.”

“Oh, there ya go.” Apple Bloom laid a hoof across my shoulders. “It's normal, even if it is kinda rare. You're not the only one.”

“The Griffon War?” Rainbow fluttered up to the book again. “Wasn't that, like, hundreds of years ago?”

“Four hundred and fourteen since the war began, to be precise.” Again, Twilight brushed Rainbow away magically. “Four hundred and eleven since the year Razor Wing died.”

“Wow, Scootaloo, you're the first magic pegasus in four hundred years – you're totally special!” Sweetie Belle hopped up and down in her excitement.

I looked down at the floor. “Yeah... special.” Special, and very, very alone. I didn't want to be a freakshow oddity. I just wanted to fly and be like Rainbow Dash.

“Hm... what to do, though...” Twilight turned to me with an appraising eye.

“Twilight, we're gonna be late!” Spike butted in and tugged on Twilight's leg. “The train leaves in ten minutes.”

“Hold on there, Spike.” Twilight extracted her leg from the dragon's claw. “This is important. You go ahead and take the bags to the train station. Rainbow and I can just fly over and get there in no time.” She turned back to me. “Well, we can't leave you without training. An untrained magic user is dangerous.”

“But I don't know a thing about magic.” Rainbow dropped to the ground. “How am I supposed to teach her about that?”

“You're not, obviously.” Twilight held still a moment. She seemed lost in thought. “Yes. It's time I took on a protégé of my own. I'll train her myself.”

My heart imploded, and I felt sick and empty inside. Not training with Rainbow Dash anymore? My mind wandered back to the pleasant memory of the day Rainbow had agreed to teach me to fly, but that memory already seemed somehow darker, dimmer, tainted by the wrenching loss I now felt.

“But I'll be heading off on that diplomatic mission for a week. You'll need someone to teach you the basics while we're gone.” Twilight stopped for a moment, tapping a hoof to her chin. “Aha! That's it! Spike, take a letter.”

Everypony stood silent for a moment. “Uh, Twilight,” Rainbow reminded, “you sent Spike off to carry the bags.”

“Oh.” Twilight blushed a little. “I guess I'll write it myself.” A quill and scroll came floating over, and Twilight dictated as she wrote, “From the desk of Princess of Magic, Twilight Sparkle. I am sending you a fine young pegasus mare named Scootaloo Songwing for instruction in the basics of magic. I know this is an unusual assignment, but Scootaloo is capable of using unicorn magic, as I have personally verified. Please enroll her into your school in the next class. She deserves the very best magic kindergarten education that Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns can provide. Gratefully yours, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

I couldn't hold it in any longer. “What?” I squeaked, “Magic kindergarten?”

“Of course,” Twilight confirmed, “It's a very good school.”

“But... but...” I latched onto Rainbow's leg. “I don't want to! I want to stay and learn how to fly with Rainbow Dash!”

“Squirt, you have to–”

Twilight hushed Rainbow with a raised hoof. “Easy there, Rainbow.” She looked down at me, and I could see a soft warmth come into her eyes. “It's okay, Scootaloo. I know this has kind of been forced on you, but sometimes that's how life is. Sometimes it isn't fair, and lots of times you don't get what you want. You just have to make the best of what life gives you.” She stepped over next to me. “Did I ever tell you the story about my coming to Ponyville? When Princess Celestia sent me here all that time ago, I thought it was the worst possible thing. It was the exact opposite of what I wanted to do. But I did it, because I had to.” Her eyes seemed to lose focus a little, and her smile grew dreamy. “But when I did, I discovered the magic of friendship and a whole new life – a life I wouldn't give up for the world.” She edged back into reality and looked me in the eye. “Where would I be now if I had stayed in Canterlot and insisted on the world being fair and getting what I wanted? Where would the world be?” She held out a lavender hoof. “Come and learn how to use your magic with me, Scootaloo. Please.”

I looked away from Twilight, trying to get some support from Rainbow Dash, but she just smiled at me and nodded towards Twilight. Even Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle watched me with naked anticipation in their eyes. I felt the walls closing in around me. I couldn't breathe in this trap. I had to get out!

I left Twilight Sparkle standing there with a hoof still held out to me as I rushed out through the library's front door. I burst through without closing it, without a thought of explaining myself, without thinking of anything besides getting away from this situation. Outside, with a clear blue sky above me and green grass under my feet, I could finally breathe again. I felt like I could just fly away from all this... but my respite was doomed to be short-lived.

“Scootaloo!” Twilight was the first to jump through the door. “What's wrong?”

I ground a hoof into the grass, dangerously close to lashing out at the alicorn behind me. After a moment, I couldn't hold it in any longer. I whirled around just as the other ponies came out. “What's wrong? What's wrong?” I felt my legs trembling. The only thing keeping me from collapsing was my disgust with the unfairness of it all. I couldn't believe how insensitive they all were. “Maybe it's how nopony cares what I think about it. Maybe it's because you're telling me I'll never be able to fly. Maybe it's–” My throat clenched, and I forced back a sob. I could barely see through my watering eyes. “Maybe getting to train with Rainbow Dash was the best thing that ever happened to me in my crummy life, and now you're taking it away from me.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn't want anypony here thinking I was a crybaby.

A strong pair of hooves wrapped around me and lifted me. “I said I was taking you under my wing, Squirt.” I opened my eyes to find Rainbow Dash holding me up. “And just because you're training with Twilight doesn't mean that's gonna stop.” She gave me a tight squeeze. “I'm sticking with you, kid.”

As Rainbow set me back down on the ground, I turned to the others. “I still don't know about this magic training thing, or about this magic kindergarten thing. It just doesn't seem very–”

“You have to.” Twilight trotted up next to Rainbow. “If you stay around as an untrained magic user, we'll always be one accident away from a disaster. It isn't safe.”

I could see that, of course, but that didn't mean I liked it. “Magic kindergarten, really?”

“Oh, don't say it like that,” Sweetie Belle said, popping out from behind Twilight. “Magic kindergarten is actually a lot of fun. I had a great time there.”

Apple Bloom edged up beside her. “And it's only about a week long. You'll be back before you know it.”

I glanced back and forth between my friends. “Well...” I pawed at the ground with my hoof; I still wasn't sure about it, but at least it didn't sound like the end of my life anymore. “If you all say so, I guess I should go.”

“Okay, good.” Twilight patted me on the back. It was somehow a little comforting. “Get home and pack your bag. They start new classes every second Monday, and–”

A distant whistle sounded.

Rainbow's head popped up. “Twilight, the train!”

A look of panic crossed Twilight's face, but passed quickly. “I think I can catch it.” She flapped her wings once and shot a challenging smirk at Rainbow. “How about you?”

“Oh, you are so on!” Rainbow let her own wings flare out.

“Okay, Scootaloo.” The smirk vanished from Twilight's face. “Just take the first train to Canterlot tomorrow morning. There should be a pony at the Canterlot station to lead all the new magic kindergarten students to the school.” A scroll floated out through the library's door, enveloped in Twilight's magical glow. “When you get there, give this letter to the headmaster. That should be enough to get you started.” She looked off into the distance, in the direction of the train station. “I'm sorry to have to leave so quickly, but I really have a train to catch. Good luck!” With a few wing beats, Twilight shot off into the sky.

Rainbow Dash followed close behind. “Good luck, Squirt!” she shouted as she took off.

I watched the two fly off together until they were just specks in the distance, my old mentor and my new mentor. There was a lot to soak in, and I was in no hurry to–

“Hey, Scootaloo.” Sweetie Belle poked me in my side. “Scoots!”

“What?” I growled. I wasn't in the mood for conversation at the moment.

“Cutie mark!” She nudged me, pointing at my flank and squealing like a little schoolfilly.

I couldn't help but smile as I bent around to look at it myself, and my dark mood washed into the background. There it was, my cutie mark. It was growing on me, I had to admit. The purple stars matched my mane well, and the trails behind them gave a hint at the action and speed I loved. Without warning, I scooped up my fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders into a big group hug. They seemed surprised at first, but quickly reciprocated.

Letting them go, I bent around to look at the matching mark on the other side. What had just happened to my life? What would Cheerilee think of it?

Don Quixote

weetie Belle and Apple Bloom bounced in front of Cheerilee on the train station's platform with an enthusiasm I could hardly share. Despite my hints of optimism from yesterday, now that I actually stood at the station, listening to the mumbling crowd and smelling the warm, acrid steam from the train, it started to seem all too real to me. I could feel my breathing getting shallower and a thin, cold sweat breaking out on the back of my neck.

“Are you really sure I should go?”

Cheerilee smiled back at me, just how she always did. “Scootaloo, I've known you were destined to be somepony special ever since I adopted you. I know you can do this.”

“But–”

“Not another word, there. You'll go, and you'll do fine. You'll learn all about that talent of yours, and when you come back, you'll be ready for anything.” She gave me a soft, quick pat on the head. “And when you come back, you'll have some wonderful stories to tell.” She glanced away, then back at me. “I do wish I could go with you, but the school needs me. Don't worry, though. You'll be picked up and taken care of when you get there.”

“I just–”

“All aboard who's comin' aboard!” I whirled to face the direction the shout came from just in time to see a mustached stallion disappear into the train.

“Cheerilee, I–”

“You'll be fine, Scootaloo. Now go. Don't miss your train.”

I didn't see any choice; I stepped into the train just in time for the door to slide closed behind me with an all-too-final thwack. I had my saddlebags on, and I had everything I needed. Though, honestly, the bags were nearly empty and I still felt immensely unprepared.

I made my way into the first passenger car. Ponies crowded around me on all sides; this would be the train's last stop before Canterlot, so it was already packed. All the wide-open seats were already taken, of course, which forced me to pick an unfamiliar pony to sit next to. I winced.

As I picked my way down the aisle, a mechanical squeak resounded through the car, and with a little lurch, the train began moving. I passed a few empty seats, but I just couldn't bring myself to sit next to any of these ponies. There was an elderly earth pony mare, pocket photo album already out, no doubt ready to assault anypony unlucky enough to sit beside her with tales of her grandchildren, and then a clean-cut businessmare who glared at me as I walked by, making it clear I wasn't welcome there. An obese stallion more than filled the next seat, so I gave him a wide berth. The well-dressed unicorn stallion beside the next empty seat met my gaze with a venomous sneer. I began to worry that I wouldn't find anyplace acceptable, that I'd have to go back and try to choose the lesser of these evils, but the last empty seat changed that. Next to it sat a unicorn colt, not much older than myself, with a white coat and a deep red mane. He smiled back at me as I looked, and my apprehensions about choosing a seat melted away.

“Hey, is this seat taken?” I asked, already sliding my saddlebags under it.

“Not at all, come on over.” His accent came through strongly, and I loved it.

I hopped into the thinly-cushioned seat. “You're from Trottingham?”

“Well, yes, but ever since I got my cutie mark last week I've been living with my Aunt Sapphire in Fillydelphia.”

“Really? You just got your cutie mark last week?” I stole a glance at it, a single big brilliant-cut ruby on his flank. “I just got mine yesterday!”

“That's right. I got mine sort of late. When your special talent is gem cutting, it's sort of hard to find out about, because, really, who's going to just give you a gem to practice on when you've never done it before?” He shook his head. “I tell you what, I sure did get fed up with being called a blank flank.”

I laughed. “I know what you mean!” Luckily, those days would be behind me now. “Better than being called a chicken though.”

“I bet!” He laughed along with me. “I'm glad that's all over now.”

I settled into my seat as the train picked up speed. “Me too. So, what brings you to Canterlot?”

“Oh, my Auntie's sending me off to magic kindergarten. She says I need to refine my magic to get the gems to sparkle with just the right colour.”

“Wow.” Just how intensive was this school going to be? “They teach about gem colors in magic kindergarten?”

“Heh, I bet not! My old auntie can get eccentric sometimes.” He turned from the window back towards me. “And what brings you to Canterlot?”

Well, this was probably going to be awkward. “For the same reason, actually.”

The colt's face scrunched up. “Huh? To learn how to cut gems better?”

I giggled, though much of it was just on account of nervousness. “No, no. To go to magic kindergarten.”

None of the confusion plastered on his face cleared up as he stared down at my wings and back up to my face. “Seriously?”

“That's what my cutie mark is for.” I pointed to the purple stars on my flank. “I really can use magic.”

He peered at me from the corners on his narrowed eyes. “You can use magic...?”

“I can.” It almost felt like a point of pride now. “Twilight Sparkle even tested it to make sure.”

“Wait.” The colt's eyes went wide. “Twilight Sparkle, as in Princess Twilight Sparkle?”

“Uh-huh. That's the one.”

“Wow, you know the Princess of Magic? Cool!” He sat silently for a moment, seemingly awed by the thought. “What's your name, anyway? I never got it.”

“I'm Scootaloo.” I reached out a hoof.

Instead of shaking my hoof like I expected him to, he picked it up and planted a little kiss on it. Was that some kind of Trottingham custom? “Pleased to meet you, Scootaloo. My name's Ruby Shine, but my friends just call me Ruby.”

I giggled; I wasn't used to such formal introductions. “The pleasure's all mine.” I could hardly say it with a straight face. “So, Ruby, what do they do for fun all the way out in Trottingham?

“You mean, besides train rides through the countryside?” He laughed. “Well, my personal favourite would have to be the stage shows. Why, just a month ago, there was one by a traveling unicorn magician called 'the Great and Powerful Trixie' that was completely amazing. She even...”

The conversation rolled on, to the accompaniment of the train's click-clacking wheels, and I decided I couldn't possibly have found a better seat-mate to share the trip with.

“And that's when I just had to reel back and punch him right in the nose!” Ruby burst into laughter as he finished his story.

I leaned away a little. “That doesn't sound very nice.”

“Oh, you don't know the half of it, but he totally deserved it, seriously.”

“Well, ah, okay.” I supposed that might be true. “But what did your dad do when–”

The screech of the train's brakes interrupted me, and a call of, “Last stop, Canterlot Station! Please watch your step as you exit onto the platform. Luggage pickup will be on your left,” punctuated the noise.

Ruby hopped up. “That's our stop.”

I grabbed my saddlebags and rushed to follow Ruby through the crowd. A few bumps, jostles, and mumbled apologies later, I stood in the middle of the crowd at the Canterlot rail station. I stared up at all the grand buildings and gleaming white spires; I had only been to Canterlot a few times before, and I still found the city impressive.

“Hey, there's our sign!” Ruby pointed to the left, where a mare with a yellow mane and a pink coat stood levitating a sign that read Magic Kindergarten with her magic. Her dull-eyed stare glazed over the crowd without seeming to actually see anything.

I trotted on over towards her, with Ruby following me this time. Several other fillies and colts were already gathering, and as I stepped up among them, I noticed more coming in from the crowd.

The mare in the center of the group put her sign away and came to life. “Okay, children, if you have more bags than you can carry, please put them in this wagon.” She gestured toward a wagon nearby, already hitched up to a tired-looking earth pony. “We'll be leaving to go to the magic kindergarten campus of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns in just a few minutes.”

Her eyes latched on to me for a moment before she walked up. She turned to Ruby Shine, who still stood beside me. “Your friend can walk with you to the school if she likes, but she can't come inside the gates with us.”

“She's not–”

“I'm a student, too.” I interrupted Ruby. “I'm not just going along for the ride.”

The mare stared at me for a moment, her gaze flickering down to my wings. She raised an eyebrow before shaking her head. “I really wish we still had entrance exams. Well, I'll just leave it for the headmaster to sort out when we arrive.” She looked up from me and addressed the students. “Okay, children, time to go. Follow me closely and don't wander off. If you're not with me when we get there, you're not getting into the school.” She walked into the city, drawing her little crowd along behind her, with the wagon bringing up the rear.

As we all walked together, I felt the eyes of all the little unicorns around me on my back, and we walked in an awkward quiet that did nothing to calm my nerves. Unlike my school in Ponyville, I was very much the exception to the norm now, and I did not enjoy the attention.

I stuck close to Ruby Shine the whole way, even though we were too intimidated to break the eerie silence surrounding us by talking. A low wall came up ahead, with a large gate in the middle, covered with ornate ironwork.

The unicorn mare leading us stepped in front of the gate, and her horn began to glow. A key in a matching pink glow shot out into the gate, and the sound of the lock clicking could be clearly heard. The gates themselves began to glow and open, and our guide walked through.

As the gates swung open, a wide stone courtyard revealed itself inside, with big ornate buildings on either side. A few unicorn fillies were already lined up against the far wall.

“Okay, kids, get yourselves lined up against the wall over there. The Headmaster will be along soon to introduce you all to the school.” As I trotted across the courtyard, she called out again. “No, dear, not yet. You'll be able to get your luggage out of the wagon before you're shown to your rooms. For now, please just line up.”

I stepped into place at the very end of the line, with only Ruby next to me. I didn't want to be next to the other unicorns. Something about their quiet watchfulness made my skin crawl.

Before the gates closed, though, another group of young ponies flooded in, led by a different unicorn. They also trotted across the courtyard and lined up – unfortunately making me no longer the last pony in line.

A violet filly trotted confidently to my side and slicked down her already-streamlined mane with a flick of her hoof. She looked me up and down as she stepped into place, and then leaned over as if to tell me a secret. “Don't look now, but I think somepony stole your horn.” She giggled derisively. “Did you get lost and just end up here or something? I knew earth ponies were that dumb, but I thought a pegasus would be just a little smarter.”

I blushed and looked away. I knew I didn't belong here. My glance caught sight of a distinguished-looking unicorn stallion coming out of the building on the right. Was that the Headmaster?

“Hey,” Ruby chipped in from my other side, “just calm down alright?”

“And what do you care about it, scrawny?” Again, she made that evil little giggle. “What? Is she your special somepony or something?”

I looked over to Ruby, mortified. He looked to be in even worse shape though. His eyes were wide around his constricted pupils and he seemed to be having trouble breathing. Even a drop of sweat trickled down the side of his face.

After a moment of what looked very much like panic, Ruby spoke. “What? Me? With an earth-pony-dumb pegasus like her? Not a chance in the world!” He punctuated his denial with a rough slap on my back.

I, unfortunately, did not expect his betrayal, or the sudden slap on my back. It threw me off balance and I teetered forward. I caught another glimpse of the approaching unicorn as I struggled with my wings to get myself back in balance. My wings never had been up to a challenge, though. I toppled forward, landing face-first on the hard white stone of the courtyard.

I stayed there, chin grinding into the dust and eyes squeezed shut, the cold knife of betrayal twisting inside me. I thought Ruby was my friend. How could he do that? What had I ever done to deserve–

“Ahem.”

I opened my eyes, only now realizing how blurry they had become. Looking up from my painful position against the ground, I saw the same unicorn stallion, now standing over me with a frown on his mustached face. I cringed as his eyebrow slowly rose.

“I'm terribly sorry. There must have been some mistake. You see, this is Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. You should probably be heading off to... wherever it is you're supposed to be.”

I picked myself up and tried my best to wipe off the dust and grit. “I, um... No sir. This is where I'm supposed to be, learning magic.”

His eyebrow rose even further, and he tilted his head to look at me over the rims of his glasses. “You poor, deluded thing. I'm sorry to be the one who has to break this to you, but you are a pegasus, not a unicorn.” A slight sneer broke out on his face. “You'd best be moving along to wherever your kind belongs.”

Doubts resurfaced in my mind. Was this really what I should be doing? But what would I tell Twilight and Rainbow Dash when I got back? That brought up a memory though... Twilight! I looked back up to the stallion. “But I've got a letter and everything. Princess Twilight sent me here.” I made sure to emphasize the 'princess' part. That might just impress him enough to get him off my case. I hopped up, reached into my saddlebags, and pulled out the letter, holding it out in front of me proudly.

With a huff, he took the letter up in his yellow-tinged magic, unfurled it, and began to read, “From the desk of Princess of Magic, Twilight Sparkle... pegasus named Scootaloo... unusual assignment... personally verified... next class...” He looked up from the letter. “This is completely unprecedented and absolutely preposterous. I said it myself that having such a young mare as a princess would lead down the road of folly, and here's the proof, right in front of me.” He sighed and rolled his eyes, his magic sending the letter back into my saddlebag. “I'll do my royal duty and humor this absurdity, though I have no idea what purpose there could be to it.” He turned and stepped away from me, still mumbling to himself.

I breathed a quick sigh of relief, glad that everypony's attention began to shift elsewhere.

He strode out into the sun-drenched courtyard with a slow strut that could easily be mistaken for dignity before turning around at the point exactly across from the middle of our line of students. For a moment, he just stood surveying us all, as a stern general inspecting his troops. “Welcome young unicorns, and other ponies, to the magic kindergarten campus of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, the most prestigious institution of magical instruction in all of Equestria.” His eyes shined out with a fierce pride. “Here, you will receive the finest education in magical principles to be found in the world. This is an accelerated course, and you will find it both rigorous and difficult. However, I am certain that”– his piercing gaze shot out directly towards me for a moment –“every unicorn here can successfully complete it with discipline, diligence, and the determination to prove yourself worthy of Canterlot's foremost institution.”

I could already tell that I was not going to have an easy time getting along with this guy.

“My name is Headmaster Herald Dust, and I'm here to ensure you all receive a firm grounding in not only the use and theory of magic, but in magic safety as well. As such, breaking of the safety rules will not be tolerated.” He stomped his hoof down. “First and foremost, the use of magic is absolutely prohibited except when authorized and supervised by one of the school's teachers. Roughhousing and – ahem – horseplay will not be permitted anywhere on school grounds. Finally, students will follow their teachers' instructions at all times.”

At least he didn't seem to be harping on me in particular anymore. That was an improvement.

“Following the principles taught in this school will endow you with the magical skills that will enable you to prosper in life, just as many of our alumni have, including such prestigious names as Crystal Sun, Sound Theory, Trillian Starmane, Midnight Rose, and even Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

My ears perked in interest. Twilight went to this school herself? I never knew that. It made me feel just a tiny bit better about her sending me here.

“This course is seven days long, not counting two days of break on the weekend. Starting tomorrow, you will be attending regular classes which will consist of a class on magical theory and a course of magical exercises. You will have the weekend off, giving you time to rest and study. Next Monday will be the final exam for your theory lessons, and the Tuesday following it will be your final test for demonstrating magical skill, followed by the exam results and graduation.” He blatantly looked right at me. “Or lack of graduation, whichever the case may be.”

My apprehensions about this weren't clearing up, that was for sure. What was this stallion's problem?

“I wish all of you promising young unicorns good fortune in your upcoming studies, and in your futures.” His voice lost its booming pride, without losing much of its volume, as he continued, “You will now be shown to your rooms. You may collect your luggage from the wagon now. Fillies, please follow Miss Honeydown to the left, colts, please follow Missus Primrose to the right. You are dismissed.”

I stood there, blinking for a moment as the rest of the students around me walked off in different directions. For some reason, it took me a moment to even register that the Headmaster's speech had ended. Before I knew it, I was the last in line to get into the buildings. I headed to the left with the rest of the fillies, of course, and by the time I made it into the line, ponies were already filing inside.

A few more fillies stepped into line behind me; the purple filly with the slicked-down mane somehow ended up right next to me again. Behind her came a light blue filly with a puffy, dark blue mane. Both of them pulled along heavy suitcases, making me wonder if I had come here under-prepared.

The yellow mare stood over me, pointing a hoof at me and the two fillies behind me. “And you, room three nineteen, along with the next two. Yes, you and you. Move along now.”

Did that mean that I had to share a room... with that filly? I didn't like the sound of that at all. “Miss...” What had the Headmaster called her? “Honeydown? Could I maybe get a different roommate?”

She brushed a bit of her mane out of her face and smiled down at me. “I'm sorry, little one, room assignments are permanent.” Without waiting for my reply, she moved on down the line, assigning more room numbers as she went along.

I thought about resisting for a moment, but as the line of unicorn fillies in front of me began to move, I went along with them, feeling a little like I was being swept along by an irresistible current. How bad could it be, though? Everything was going to be okay.

Miss Honeydown called out from the back of the line, herding all the students forward. “Okay, girls, once you get inside the doors, head to your right and then up the stairs.” As everypony filed inside, the mare continued, “The first floor is open to everypony. It includes the theory classroom and the dining hall, where you'll get your meals. Breakfast is at seven sharp tomorrow morning, by the way.”

I finally made it up to the doors to the building, despite the crowd in the way. Those doors, too, were ornately worked, but made of wood this time, not iron. As I stepped inside, I felt as if I had dropped into a different world. The lights shone dimly compared to the afternoon sunlight outside, and everything, from the musty smell to the way the students' voices echoed through the hallway, struck me as totally different than the atmosphere in the courtyard.

By the time I adjusted to the change, Miss Honeydown came through the doors behind me and shut them with a flick of magic. “On the ground floor of the other building, you'll find the magic exercise workroom and our staff offices.” She began shooing the fillies onward again. “Now, at the end of the hallway is a stairwell. Upstairs areas are for fillies only, just as the upstairs of the other building is only for colts. Now, please head upstairs and find your room. Room numbers starting with a two will be on the second floor, numbers starting with a three will be on the third.”

I waded through the crowd of noisy, jostling unicorn fillies, slowly making my way toward the stairwell. A plush maroon carpet softened the stone floor underfoot, but the rest of the building seemed dark and uninviting, and the bustle of a couple dozen young unicorns completely filled the close air of the hall.

As I set foot on the first step of the stairwell, the teacher called out from behind, “Bathrooms are at the end of the hall farthest from the stairs on each floor. The class schedule and a map will be posted in your room. Don't be late tomorrow!”

The wooden steps of the wide, spiraling stairwell creaked and groaned under the weight of all the fillies climbing up them at once, and the echoing sound of dozens of excited little mouths still filled every nook and cranny of the space. I hurried up the winding steps until I reached the top floor. The hallway here was made of the same dark grey stone, and the same red carpet ran down its center. The occasional picture frame or tapestry on the wall and the warmer lighting up here softened the effect. The noise, too, was softer. An occasional girlish squeal still lit up the hall, but the voices were more subdued, and there were fewer to be heard, thanks to leaving many of the other students behind on the second floor.

I followed the carpet down the hall, checking the brass numbers on the doors as I went along. Soon, I found the one I was looking for, nearly at the end of the hallway.

Pushing the door open, I breathed a sigh of relief when I found that I made it into the room first. It was tiny, with triple-stacked bunk beds and a tiny window filling the far wall, a desk with three chairs filling the right, and a few shelves on the left, all made with the same dark wood. I wasted no time in throwing my bag onto the shelves and hopping up onto the top bunk. The day had been long and stressful, and I felt more than tired enough to just go right to sleep. Though the room felt more than a little spartan, the bed's soft blankets welcomed me like an old friend's hug.

As I yawned and my eyelids drooped, my two new roommates barged in through the door, still lugging their suitcases. The violet one tossed her suitcase unceremoniously at the shelves, where it bounced off and clattered to the floor.

The other filly, the one with the puffy blue mane, walked quietly over to the shelves and softly placed her suitcase on the center of the bottom shelf.

Meanwhile, the first pony stared at me with narrowed eyes and a gradually deepening frown. Before I knew it, a purple aura surrounded me, and I hurtled through the air, to crash down on the rough wooden floor next to the door.

As I cleared the stars out of my eyes and shook my head from the shock, I saw the purple filly smirk at me and hop up into my top bunk.

I jumped back up and stomped a hoof down. This had gone on long enough. “Hey! Just what do you think you're doing?”

The blue filly quietly slipped into the bottom bunk as I waited on an answer. None was forthcoming.

I fluttered up and hung on the edge of the top bunk. “I'm talking to you! Just who do you think you are, tossing me out of my bed like that?”

“I am River Star, future diva of the musical stage, and you... you get the privilege of helping me and making sure I get through this as quickly and easily as possible.” She gave me a wide smile that couldn't hide the predatory gleam in her eyes.

“Not likely!” I reached out to grab her and toss her out of my bed, but just before I touched her, I found myself floating in a purple aura again.

River Star gave a showy gasp of faux disbelief. “Fighting? On your first day? What would the Headmaster say?”

I struggled in every direction, and even tried flapping my wings, but nothing could get me free of that magical grip. “Oh yeah? And what's he gonna say when he finds out you've been using magic without permission?”

“Oh, please.” She laughed as her magic shoved me down onto the floor again. “Who's he going to believe? The pegasus who wants to be a unicorn, or his own daughter?”

I picked myself up again. A sharp pain shot through my left hock where it had hit the wooden floor, but my heart boiled with impotent rage. My head spun, trying to think of something to do about it, but nothing came.

“Worm!” River's voice called out from the top bunk, “Introduce yourself!”

“Oh, um, okay,” the filly in the bottom bunk mumbled. Her sky blue head popped out, crowned with her messy dark blue mane. “Hello, my name ith Night Withper.”

“Um, nice to meet you, Whisper. I'm Scootaloo,” I replied, ignoring the lisp. What could I do?

“That's not your name, Worm!” River's harsh voice called down from above.

“Oh, I, um... thorry... my name ith, um, Worm.”

I looked back up at the top bunk. I couldn't see her from here, but I knew River was up there. “Hey, you can't do that to her!”

“Oh, really?” River's head popped out over the edge of the bed. “I can do whatever I want.”

River's horn lit up, and I winced reflexively, prompting a cruel chuckle from above.

The light switch clicked off and the violet glow around River's horn died away. “Now, I'm a little tired, so I say it's bedtime.” She laughed again; it could almost be called a cackle. “Nighty night!”

I sighed, still seething with frustration, before climbing into the middle bunk and snuggling into the blankets. I was ready for some sleep, after all. As I settled in and let my eyes droop closed, I thought of how nice it would be to at least get a good night's rest.

Slowly, my eyes closed and I could feel myself drifting off to–

An obnoxious snore cut through the quiet room, coming from the bunk above... and then another snore. I ground my face into my pillow and kicked at the bunk above, but yet another snore followed.

I let my head fall into the pillow, exhausted and defeated. What else was there to do?

Pride And Prejudice

espite the incessant snoring, and despite the thoughts whirling through my head, I could feel myself finally beginning to drift off to sleep. The morning wasn't far off, but at least I could get a little rest before I–

“Rise and shine, Early Bird!” River's face popped into shadowy view over the rim of the top bunk.

All I could manage was a confused, “Wha?” before I found myself yet again flying towards the floor, enveloped in a purple glow. Caught unprepared, I had no time to slow down my fall. I hit the floor hard, but at least this time, it was a shorter fall. “Huh?” I shook my head. “Why'd you call me 'early bird'?”

“What, you mean besides the feathers?” She giggled, but it hardly sounded happy. “Because the early bird gets the worm.”

I just stared at her, my head cocked to one side. She wasn't making much sense that I could see.

She pointed down at the bottom bunk. “Get the Worm, Early Bird!”

“But the sun hasn't even come up yet.”

She rolled her eyes in the dim light. “Does it look like I care? Just do it, or I'll wake her up myself... by throwing you at her.”

“Fine, whatever.” I tip-toed up to Whisper's bunk. “Um, Night Whisper, you need to get up.” I reached a hoof up to gently tap her foreleg. I tapped again... Nothing. She wasn't waking up.

“I'm growing old up here!” From the purple light above, I knew River's horn was glowing again.

I didn't want to find out what her plan would be for that magic. I reached up into the bunk again, and this time shook Whisper by the shoulders. “Hey, wake up!”

She sat straight up and woke with a gasp. “What? Whath wrong?”

I just pointed upwards.

“Oh. Thath whath wrong.” Whisper's face scrunched up.

“Good.” River's voice came from above, “Now that you two are finally awake, we can get started.” She hopped down from the top bunk, landing right in front of us. “First of all, your job here is to be my servants and make my time here as easy as possible, and that's the only reason you're here.” She held a hoof up to her face, posing as if she was on the front page of a magazine. “Someday, when I”m famous across all of Equestria, you'll realize that you were lucky to have a chance to spend so much time with the great River Star.” With her hooves back on the floor now, she became all business. “But that opportunity comes with a price.” Her eyes gleamed at the word. “To begin with, I expect the two of you to wake up this time every morning – without my help – and prepare my outfit for the day. You'll find what you need in my suitcase there.” She stopped for a moment, stroking her chin before seeming to come to a decision. “Today, I want the blue saddle with the white ruffles. It brings out the silver streak in my mane.” She ran a hoof through her mane, fluffing out a streak I could only see as white.

I stomped a hoof down. Enough was enough, and this filly had gone way too far. “Just hold it right there. If you think I'm gonna–”

“Um, Thcootaloo?” Whisper's hoof on my shoulder stopped me. “Pleath don't make a fight. I've been around her for long enough now, and I know she'll take it out on both of uth. Just do what she thays.”

“Listen to the Worm!” River stepped closer, too close for comfort. “You'll do it, you'll do it without making a mess, and you'll do it without waking me up. Clear?”

I gritted my teeth, and I could barely control the muscles in my legs. To hell with the consequences, I was going to pounce on this arrogant little–

“Pleath don't.”

One look in Whisper's pleading eyes, and I knew I couldn't go through with it. I let out an enormous sigh.

“Good then. I'll see the two of you at the wake-up bell!” With a transparently false smile, River jumped back up into the top bunk.

I shook my head, following Whisper over to the suitcase near the bottom of the shelves. What did I ever do to deserve this?

Whisper zipped open the frilled suitcase, and as we rifled through it for the requested garment, she leaned over to me. “Thank you, Thcootaloo, for not making her angry... and thank you, for, um... well, thath the first time anypony hath thtood up for me thince I got adopted as her sithter three yearth ago.”

“You're sisters?”

“I said without waking me up!” River's voice shouted down from the top bunk.

Both of us lowered our heads instinctively.

“You two are sisters?” I asked, my voice much softer this time.

“Mm-hm.” Whisper dropped the frilled scarf she had been holding in her mouth. “I got adopted by River'th family after my mom and dad got killed three yearth ago... that... it wath when Dithcord got loothe. They were cruthed by a giant cherry pie.”

I concentrated on finding the blue saddle, studiously keeping my mouth shut. I figured it would be best not to mention my involvement in Discord's escape.

“But in all those yearth, nopony ever thtood up for me.” She stopped looking through clothes, and instead just stared at me. Then, she wrapped her hooves around me without warning. “Thank you. It really meanth a lot to me.”

I tried to pull away a little, without much success. “But I wasn't trying to–”

Something in the way she held me told me that I was close to crushing whatever spirit she had left. I couldn't tell her that I had only been standing up for myself. It would take away what little hope I had just given her.

“–ah, I don't mean to pry into your personal life. Yeah. I wasn't trying to pry. You didn't have to tell me all that.” I put up the most convincing smile I could muster.

“Aw, ith okay. It doethent bother me anymore.” Her eyes told me a different story. “Oh, look, there it ith!” She pointed into the suitcase. “Thereth the blue thaddle with white ruffleth.”

I looked back into it, and there it was indeed – near the bottom of course.

“Good, now all we need to do ith get it out, thmooth out the wrinkleth, untangle the thraps and lay it all out how she liketh. Then, all we need to do ith fold them all up–” she pointed at all the clothes we had discarded on the floor “–and we'll be done!” She actually sounded happy about that.

I sighed again. This was going to be a long week.

I held up my tray. Finally, I was first in line to get some breakfast, and I just couldn't hold out anymore. Before I could get any food, though, a violet flank bumped me out of the way. River had insisted on getting in front of Whisper and me, of course, so she already had her food. “Meet my friend, Lilly Pearl.”

A white filly with a light green mane cut in front of me, holding up a tray.

“And Pearl, these are my two peasants – no need for names.” River waved the new pony on as her tray was filled. “Come on, let's get out there before all the good seats are taken.”

As the two of them left, the path finally opened for me to make my way up to the head of the line and get some breakfast.

The big earth pony stallion grinned at me from across the counter. From the look on his face, I could tell he'd seen everything. He winked at me and dropped a double-sized portion of eggs on my plate.

I pranced out, spirits high, holding my over-filled tray in my mouth. Finally, something here went my way. It wasn't much, but it was a start. I sneered at River Star as I trotted happily past her, plopping down at an empty seat. That would show her who–

“Oh, you brought me my tray, you're such a good peasant.” Glowing purple, my tray flew away, replaced by another one with less food. It even had a few bites already taken out of it. “Thanks, sucker!”

As River strutted away, I looked up in outrage. Somepony must have seen that. Not only had she just blatantly used magic without permission, but she stole my food. It wasn't fair! After a sweep around the room, my eyes caught what I had been looking for – an authority figure. My heart sank as I saw her though. The magic teacher stood by the wall near the door, looking right at me with a smirk on her face.

I slumped down into my seat as Whisper sat down next to me, and I poked my already half-eaten pancakes with the dirty fork. I felt empty inside, a defeated kind of empty that damped my hunger and turned it into nausea.

Whisper looked over at me. She hadn't been there, but somehow she seemed to know exactly what happened. “Here, take mine. I've had to eat after her plenty of timeth.”

A measure of warmth returned to me as we swapped trays. At least I wasn't alone here.

I hurried across the stone courtyard with all the other fillies and colts jostling around me. My very first class here would be the exercise class. Maybe if I did well here, I could learn some way to defend myself against River!

I pushed through the big wooden doors right along with everypony else. Inside, this new building was almost exactly like my own dorm; the only difference was this one had more doors on its main floor hallway. The hall came alive with the sound of a few dozen young unicorns, and I followed the crowd to the exercise classroom.

If not for the press of bodies around me, I would have stopped and stared. There were no neat rows of desks, and no educational decorations on the wall like I expected, just a ring of a few dozen chairs filling the big room, all facing inwards toward a scorched stain on the center of the floor.

The teacher already stood in the exact center of the ring, patting down a few wayward curls in her mane. “Okay, class, settle in and find your seats, please.”

I followed Whisper's fluffy blue tail towards an empty section of chairs near the far wall. Looking at all the unicorns around me, I wondered if any of them were having as bad of a time here as me. I settled into my seat just in time to see River Star prance in through the doorway, along with her new friend. I looked around again and groaned. Of course the only place left with two empty seats next to each other was right next to me.

“Hey there, buddy”– she slipped into the chair next to mine –“how's it going?”

I turned my head to stare at her, straight-faced. “I am not your friend.”

River laughed and nudged her companion. “See, Pearl? Peasants. No manners at all.”

I rolled my eyes, but before I could make any retort, the teacher in the center of the ring spoke up. “Good morning, students, I hope you're having a wonderful first day at the school so far.”

My shoulders drooped. I was having anything but a 'wonderful' day so far.

“My name is Miss Honeydown, and I'll be your instructor for the exercise portion of your studies here.” She walked in a slow circle, looking the class over. “I'd like to start our first session with what many unicorns consider the most basic form of magic use – telekinesis. Specifically, I'll be leading you through an exercise in levitation, which is a word we use to describe specifically when telekinesis is used to lift objects into the air.”

She trotted to the center of the ring again. Her horn glowed and something tiny – I could barely see it – floated up next to her, suspended in her magic. “If you all look under your seats, you'll each find a pebble just like this one.” Her magic faded, and the little pebble clattered to the floor. “There are four areas where you will work to improve you telekinetic abilities – speed, accuracy, power, and control. Each one of these can be improved upon independently of the others, and we will practice each one in turn. First, though, we will be focusing on a very easy task, lifting just one pebble.” She began pacing around the circle again. “Now, please, take the pebble out from under your seat.”

I reached down under my seat, felt around for the pebble, and pushed it out in front of me. It was only a tiny grey rock, but it still seemed a little intimidating.

“Very good,” Miss Honeydown cheered, as if we had all accomplished something important. “Now, like all true magic, this exercise will begin as a mental exercise.” She closed her eyes. “I'd like you all to focus your will and feed it into your horns. Just visualize everything flowing up into it. Yes, good. Your horn should be glowing now. Good.”

I glanced back and forth at the ponies around me. Almost all of their horns were glowing, their faces all in various degrees of concentration... but not me. I tried 'focusing my will' into my wings, but I couldn't feel anything. Was I supposed to flap them?

“Good. Now send a thin tendril of energy – it can be as tiny as you like, so small it's invisible – from the very tip of your horn out towards the pebble.” The teacher opened her eyes again, and looked around the room. I didn't know if I should be glad or disappointed that she didn't seem to take notice of me. “Your tendril of energy should touch the pebble from directly above. The direction you touch it from will determine its direction of motion.” She turned around to face away from me, towards the students on the other side of the ring. “Okay, good. Now, the tendril should stay attached with very little effort now – that's your connection. Now, increase the power just a tiny bit to begin lifting it. Increase it only slightly – these little pebbles won't take much to move.”

Around the room, pebbles began lifting up one by one, each one surrounded by a different color of magic. A few wavered, a few fell, and one even shot up to bounce off the roof, but mine was the only one that remained stubbornly in its place on the floor.

“Okay, good work, students.” Miss Honeydown clapped her pink hooves together. “Now practice that some more please, while I work my way around to any students who could use some help. Please raise your hoof if you do.”

I shot my right hoof up into the air like a rocket. I could definitely use some help! Slowly, a few more hooves raised around the room.

Miss Honeydown, I was grateful to see, trotted over to me first, smiling the whole way. “Ah, yes, I had a feeling that you would need a little help.”

For a moment, I felt primed to be offended, but then again, it was true, after all. I did need help. “Um, yeah, I think I'm having trouble with the 'focusing your will' part.” I ignored a little giggle coming from River's direction.

“Of course you are, dear. You do face some special challenges here.” She patted me on the head. “With no horn, you'll have to channel the magic into your... how do you do it anyway? How did you do it in the past?”

“Well, through my wings, I guess, but it's not working.”

“What was different the last time?”

“Well, Rainbow Dash and my friends were there, and I was flapping them really hard, and I was trying really hard.”

“Oh, okay.” Her smile brightened. “So just do that again!”

“Just to move a pebble?” That seemed like way too much effort to put into moving a tiny little rock.

“Well, sure.” She nodded me on.

I sighed and shook my head. “Okay.” Again, I focused on moving my energy into my wings, but this time I fluttered them as fast as I could and squeezed every bit of effort into it I could muster. Fitfully, my wings began to glow, but before I could move the pebble, the glow flickered and vanished.

“That's okay. You did very good for a pegasus.”

I could hear River snickering at the teacher's faint praise.

“You just keep practicing that. I need to go help a few other students, but don't worry, I'll be back to help you along some more later.”

I sank into my chair as she trotted over to the next raised hoof, keenly aware of the stares I was drawing from all over the room. My cheeks burned, and I wished I could just disappear. All my life I had dreamed of becoming the center of attention, but now it was the last thing I wanted.

“But really, you did really good.” Whisper patted me on the back. “I've never theen a pegathus do anything like that.”

I stopped pushing the remains of my lunch around the plate and glared at her. “Are you kidding? The rest of them were levitating six pebbles at once, and even by the end I could barely keep one in the air.”

“Well, yeah...” She backed away just slightly. “But you were really good for a pegathus.”

I slammed my hoof down on the table, rattling the plates and drawing more than a few stares. “I am so tired of hearing that! I don't want to be 'good for a pegasus'. I wanna just be 'good', period!” After a moment, my breathing slowed down and I came to my senses. Ponies all over the lunchroom stared at me, and Whisper cringed. I let myself calm back down. “I'm sorry, Whisper, I didn't mean to lash out like that... It's just... I'm just so frustrated, and there's nowhere to let it out.”

I could see the fear in her eyes recede a little. “It's okay, we're all under a lot of thtress, and when–”

The loud peal of the school bell cut into the conversation, and the teacher next to the lunchroom door – Miss Primrose, was it? – called out, “Lunch hour is now over. Everypony outside. Recess for one half hour.”

I rushed outside along with Whisper and a horde of other giggling, screaming young unicorns. It took us no time at all to get outside and raid the school's supply of outdoor toys.

I snagged a bright red ball for myself. One of my ambitions lately had been to top Rainbow Dash's ball-bouncing record. I had even gotten up to two hundred once, almost halfway there! If I just kept practicing, I'd be able to get there for sure, and then Rainbow Dash would have to be impressed by somepony who beat her own record!

I trotted over to a relatively open spot and readied myself. I checked all around. Good, nopony close enough to interfere. Half an hour wouldn't be enough time to actually make a real record attempt, but it would be a good time for a little practice. I tossed the ball up and watched it gleam in the sunshine before it came back down, expertly bounced off the top of my head and bounced back up again. One. The next one, I caught with a back hoof stretched out behind me. Two. I knocked the next one from my head to my back, jumping a little to pop it up off my back. Three and four. A quick jab with my front left caught it again. Five. It angled a bit too far forward – nothing I couldn't handle. I thrust myself forward, ready to bop it back up with my nose, and... it didn't come. I teetered there for a moment, confused and off-balance, before gravity got the best of me and I fell forward onto my chest.

I looked up from my new vantage point, with my chin on the schoolyard's hard stone. I finally found my ball, glowing purple and hovering far above my head. As soon as I spotted it, the glow around it vanished. I had just enough time to close my eyes before it came down and bounced off my head one last time. Six. I sighed and followed the ball with my eyes until it rolled up to a set of violet hooves.

River Star stopped the ball, setting her hoof down on top of it, and smirked to the filly beside her. “And to think, I had always been told that pegasi were supposed to be naturally athletic... but I guess somepony must have told me wrong.” She let out a cruel, cutting laugh and kicked my ball away into the crowd.

Enough was enough. Now she wasn't just mocking me, she was mocking every pegasus. “You take that back!”

Both River and Pearl stalked up close to me, circling their prey.

“Oh?” River edged even closer. “Or what? What are you going to do about it, Early Bird?”

“That is not her name!”

All three of us stared, wide-eyed, to see who came to defend me. Ruby Shine stood there, scowling at the two fillies.

River and Pearl glanced at each other for a moment before nodding to each other. They zeroed in on him. “So that isn't her name, huh?” Pearl prodded as the two circled around him.

River stopped right in front of him. “So, what is it then?”

I could see the weakness in his stance even before the look of worry crept over his face. It only intensified as River stared him down. He glanced back and forth between the two fillies as a bead of sweat grew on his face. “Her name is...”

He winced, and all the worry and fear melted away from his face. “Chicken,” he mumbled.

The breath I had been holding left me in one sickening gasp. So that's what it feels like to be stabbed in the back.

“Chicken, huh?” River whirled back towards me. “I like it. She looks like a chicken, too, don't you think?”

“Definitely!” Pearl still circled Ruby Shine. “Maybe we should hang out with Ruby more often.”

I just sat there and glared at him. I had only told him that hurtful nickname on the train ride because I thought he was my friend.

He had been smiling about Pearl's comment, but when his eyes met mine, his smile wilted and he glanced away.

I just kept on staring at him, empty and used. My red ball rolled back to me, kicked back by some kind soul, perhaps, but I didn't even look at it.

“And that, my little ponies, is what happens when a pony uses more magic than he or she can control – magic overload. It is essential that you avoid overload by remembering your limits. You are all still young fillies and colts. You need to build your skills gradually. Try too much too soon, and you'll end up magically exhausted. It is a dangerous medical condition for any unicorn.” Missus Primrose looked around the classroom. “Now, who can tell me what the symptoms of magical overexertion are?”

A few hooves, including mine, shot up around the classroom.

“Bass Clef?” The teacher pointed toward a colt in the back of the room.

“Symptoms of magical exhaustion are headache, body aches, and inability to focus.”

“Very good, Bass Clef. Though, you have missed perhaps the most important symptom – the inability to perform any magic.” She looked up at the clock in the back of the room. “Very well, class, any questions about tonight's homework?”

I raised my hoof. I still wasn't sure which book to find the five rules of magic safety in.

“Good. Since nopony has any questions, class dismissed!” Of course she didn't acknowledge me. She hadn't said a word to me at all throughout the whole class, and now I knew she was ignoring me on purpose.

Well, it suited me. My mood was dark enough now that I wanted to just be ignored, by everypony and everything.

“Are you coming, Thcootaloo?”

I looked up to see the classroom already mostly empty, and Whisper waiting for me halfway through the door. It wasn't much, but it was enough to get me moving again. “Okay, yeah, I'm coming.”

We shared the short walk back to our room on the third floor in silence. Maybe Whisper picked up on my mood and could tell I didn't feel like having any friendly chatter, or maybe she didn't want to talk either. I didn't care.

“Okay, you two, time to finally make yourselves useful.”

River Star's face was the first thing to greet us in the room, of course. My head sank down as I sighed. This day wasn't over yet.

“Worm, you'll be in charge of my reading and note-taking. I want full summaries of our assigned reading. Chicken, you're in charge of getting my homework done.”

I scowled at her when I heard my old nickname again.

“And both of them had better be done in my very best hoofwriting.” She winked at us and giggled, oblivious to my scowling. “As for me, I've got some serious catching up to do.” With that, she hopped up into bed and snuggled into the sheets.

I checked the list of homework to be done; it looked horrendous – easily enough to keep me busy until bedtime, even without making the extra copy for River.

I looked over at Whisper, and she answered me with a weak, tired smile. Shaking my head and sighing, I followed her to the desk.

Falling... falling forever... It wasn't unusual for me, really, to have dreams of falling. They never scared me as much as this one did though.

Crack. Ouch! Falling dreams usually didn't end with a painful landing. I forced my eyes open and rubbed the new bruise on the back of my head.

“What is the meaning of this?” River loomed over me in the dim morning light.

With a grunt, I picked myself up to a sitting position on the chilly wooden floor. My blankets were strewn all around me. “Huh? Meaning of what?”

River stalked even closer. “The meaning of you not waking up the Worm, and not getting my outfit ready!”

I rolled my eyes. “I was tired after being up all night doing your homework, and besides, you didn't even tell us which one you wanted.”

“That's no excuse!” She circled around me, stepping all over my blankets.

“Well, maybe I just didn't feel like getting up early to fix up your dumb clothes. Do whatever you want. I'm not scared of you.”

A disturbing smile broke out on her face, and her eyes narrowed into a predatory gleam. “So, you admit it! Laziness and insubordination, that's what it is.” She stepped up closer, shoving her face right into mine, despite me leaning back away from her. “Well, I'll just have to arrange a proper punishment for you, to remind you of your place.”

I stood up, getting a little distance away and flaring my wings. “I'm still not scared of you, River!” I put all the confidence I could muster into my voice. “There's nothing your magic can do that I can't handle!”

“Oh?” She smiled with a sickening faux sweetness in her voice. “Who said anything about magic?” She giggled as she turned and walked out through the door. “See you later, Chicken.”

I shook my head and scowled at the door. What could that obnoxious filly be up to now?

Crime And Punishment

ith no new signs of hostility from River, I was growing nervous. “I still can't believe she didn't do anything to me at breakfast,” I said to Whisper as we trotted across the courtyard to exercise class.

“I know.” Whisper shook her head. “She took my whole tray for herthelf.” She glanced over at me with a warm smile. “Thanks for tharing, by the way.”

I laughed. “You already thanked me, like, a hundred times! It was no big deal.” We were almost to the door now. “And maybe that's all it takes. Maybe if you just stand up to River a little, she backs off.”

Whisper's smile faded. “I with it was that easy. No... I'm thorry Thcootaloo, I'm really thorry... but I just know she mutht have thomthing really ugly planned.”

With that, we walked in through the big arched doorway, and the echoing sounds of rambunctious young unicorns drowned out any hope of further conversation.

Once all the students settled into their seats, Miss Honeydown spoke up from the center of the ring in her soft, clear voice. “Okay, my little ponies. Today we'll be learning the second basic spell any unicorn should know – the light spell.” She closed her eyes and kept talking, obviously in part of a well-rehearsed speech. “The light spell isn't a proper spell at all, actually, and thus is quite easy to execute. You need only focus your magical energy into your horn and not give it any release or any target.” As she spoke, her horn began to glow, slowly at first, but brighter and brighter. “The key to making your light steady and clear is to provide it with a very constant, smooth flow of energy. When you're done, you can turn off your light spell by drawing the remaining magical energy back into yourself.” By now, the deep yellow glow of her horn was the dominant light source in the room. As she completed her short lecture, the light dimmed and went out. “Now, just like yesterday, I'll be going around the circle answering questions–” she looked directly at me “–and helping anypony who needs a little extra assistance.”

I ducked my head low, and my cheeks burned. I didn't even need to look. I could feel the derisive stares of my classmates from all around.

Miss Honeydown discreetly slipped on a pair of sunglasses. “Okay, class, your turn. Give it a try.”

I wondered what the glasses were about, but not for long. A dazzling array of multicolored light shot out from all around the room, more colors and more brightness building up every moment. Many of them flickered, wavered, or sparked, but some of them burned painfully bright. This was Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, after all.

Squinting through the light, I belatedly realized that I should be trying it, too. I concentrated on the feeling of magical energy; it began to feel a little familiar. I directed it out to my wings, but nowhere else. Looking back at my wings, I sighed in dejection. They were glowing, but it was hardly even visible in the glare from all the unicorns around me. Well, what about flapping the wings? That always seemed to make my magic work better in the past... As soon as I moved my wings, the glow around them flared up impressively, but it flickered horribly.

A few of the students around me cried out as the strobing light from my wings blinded them. “Aah! Make it stop!”

I cringed and pulled my magic back into myself, and the flashing light from my wings died away. With a pained sigh, I raised my hoof. I hated playing into the teacher's assumption that I would need help, but honestly, I did.

“Yes, dear?”

I had thought of Miss Honeydown as benign and friendly, but by now I could see what she truly thought. She didn't hate me like some others did, but her assumptions about me and her lower standards for me were even more hurtful when it came down to it... especially because they were justified. “I'm having trouble keeping it steady.”

She smiled all too knowingly. “I saw, dear. Have you been keeping the magic flow nice and steady?”

I looked away. The other students were practicing again, most of them holding nice, steady lights... nothing like mine. “I have, but to make it bright, I have to flap my wings.” I ignored River's derisive giggle coming in from my left.

“Well, I don't know much about wings...” She squinted her eyes and brought a hoof up to her chin. “Could you maybe alternate the two, flapping one up while the other goes down?”

I shook my head and stared at the floor some more. “No.”

Her head tilted to the side a little, and confusion crept onto her face. “Why not?”

Wow, she was telling me the truth when she said she didn't know much about wings. Was that ignorance the reason for her attitude toward me? “They... they just don't work that way. They just kind of stay together all on their own.”

“Hm...” A raised eyebrow showed she wasn't quite convinced, but how could she argue after admitting she didn't know what she was talking about? “Well, maybe you could try flapping them slower?”

I shrugged. Well, it might be worth a try. Again, I focused my magic into my wings, and again I began to flap them, but slower this time. The only effect it seemed to have, though, was that the flashes of light were slower, in time with my wing beats. With an exasperated sigh, I stopped again and stared up at Miss Honeydown.

She smiled at me sweetly. “Aw, don't worry, dear. Soon these classes will be over, and then you can be back in the clouds where your kind belongs. Then everything will be okay.”

I plopped back down into my seat, feeling a little sick. The condescension in her voice infuriated and disgusted me all the more because she genuinely thought it would make me feel better. In reality, it made me feel like I'd just been kicked in the gut.

“Okay. You just keep practicing there.” With a twinge, she looked up at a few of the other students. “I need to get to some of the others who need help, but I'll be back for you.”

That wasn't comforting. With a heavy sigh, I channeled the energy again. It wasn't easy, given the thoughts running through my head. Dumb Twilight. What was she thinking, sending me to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns? I was anything but gifted, and definitely not a unicorn. Wouldn't she know how horrible it would be here as the least talented pony in class? Of course not. What would the princess of magic know about lacking magical talent?

I stepped through the lunchroom crowd carefully, carrying my tray of dirty, empty dishes in my mouth. This day had already been exhausting, even though it was only halfway done, so I had made short work of the hay pasta and garlic bread from today's lunch.

Thankfully, lunch had also been bully-free for me. It was a nice change of pace, to be sure.

I wondered if my upbeat feelings had been premature as I saw Lilly Pearl heading for me with a malicious grin on her face, though. She trotted toward me in a rush, her eyes glued to my tray, and my grip on it began to feel very precarious.

Just before the white filly sent my tray flying, a violet hoof slipped out in front of her chest and stopped her in her tracks. My tray was saved from disaster.

“Not yet, Lilly.” River dropped her hoof back down to the floor. “She'll get what's coming to her very soon... just be patient.”

Lilly just shrugged. “If you say so.”

“Soon,” River whispered to me as she backed away, smiling. “Soon.”

I tried to shake the foreboding thoughts out of my head as I resumed carrying my tray to the dishwashers' counter. She was probably just playing head games with me, right? She couldn't do anything too horrible to me and get away with it... I had to be sure of that, at least.

As I dropped my tray down on top of the shiny steel counter where the dishes were cleaned, I saw a few unicorns already heading out into the courtyard for recess. I hurried after them, eager to get some play time in before any of the usual bullies caught up to me.

Only a few ponies were in the yard, and the bin holding the toys was still locked. Still, that didn't mean I couldn't have any fun. I spotted one little group of fillies who seemed to be playing tag, and I trotted up with a smile on my face. “Hey, can I join in?”

They all stopped, and they looked at each other with doubt-filled faces. “Um, well,” one stammered, “We'd really rather you didn't.” They trotted away. “No offense.”

“Oh, yeah, okay... of course.” Well, that was a bust. I looked around again and spotted a pink colt running around. I sprinted up alongside him and flashed him my best challenging grin. “Hey, wanna race?”

He slowed to a stop and backed away. “Well, ah, I don't really feel like racing right now...”

I stood and watched him back away in disbelief. What was wrong with these unicorn ponies? As I turned around, I spotted Whisper coming outside, so I trotted over to her.

Her mane had tomato stains all over it, and she wouldn't look me in the eye.

“Hey, what happened?”

She shook her head and tried to wipe a little more sauce out of her mane. “What do you think happened? River and her freindth dumped my tray on my head.”

I winced. Whisper got the same treatment I had just narrowly avoided... and there was nothing I could do to make it better.

Before I could say anything, the school's bell rang, signaling the official start of recess. Among the rush of young ponies coming out through the door, I spotted River, with her friend Pearl by her side. She headed straight for me, with a predatory gleam in her eyes.

They trotted up to us, and it looked like the other ponies in the courtyard could sense the oncoming storm as well as I could. As River and Pearl stalked in a circle around us, we found ourselves in the middle of a wide open spot where no other pony dared to go.

“Oh give it a rest, River.” I rolled my eyes. “I already told you I'm not scared.”

Whisper, on the other hoof, cowered behind me, trembling. She must have been terrified.

River's horn lit up, and a shiny little red ball floated up to her, surrounded in her magic's violet glow. “Recognize this?” she asked, as she dropped it to the ground next to her.

“Yeah, that's the ball I was playing with yesterday.” I raised an eyebrow and looked at her out of the corner of my eye. This didn't make much sense. “What're you gonna do, steal it from me? You already have it.”

A savage grin spread across her face. “I'm going to do this.” With a back hoof, she gave the ball a solid kick, sending it flying off towards one of the school buildings. The sound of breaking glass came back in answer.

I looked over to where the ball went, still unsure what was going on. Just as I spotted the broken window, the Headmaster's face popped out through it.

The Headmaster stared out at me with a deepening frown on his face and a rage-filled glint in his eyes. Too late, I noticed River and Pearl pointing their hooves at Whisper and me. Several other ponies around us joined them.

My eyes widened in sudden realization of what River just did to me.

The Headmaster disappeared from his broken window and reappeared – shockingly quick – through the front door of the building, levitating a little whistle with his magic. As soon as he stepped out, he blew a piercing shriek on the whistle.

All the ponies who had been playing froze, and a still silence overtook the whole courtyard, broken only by the sound of a ball bouncing to a halt.

“You two.” The Headmaster's voice wasn't loud. It was cold and stark in the sudden hush. “The blue filly and the pegasus.” I could already feel the cold sweat breaking out as his frosty glare bored into me. “In my office. Now.”

I walked toward the building as he disappeared inside, keenly aware of how every eye in the courtyard stared at Whisper and me. Silence smothered the whole courtyard as everypony watched the two of us gingerly trodding our way to the door as if we were two condemned prisoners on our way to the gallows. That's what it felt like, anyway. Now I knew the full extent of River's plan, and I was trapped in it. No way out.

I nudged Whisper with a hoof and smiled weakly at her as we stepped in through the door. When she looked back at me though, I could only see fear and anxiety in her face, nothing reassuring.

Down the empty, echoing hall, the Headmaster's door already stood open. Whisper shot me another worried glance and with a gulp, walked up to it. “Headmathter, thir?”

A moment of silence passed as Whisper sweated in front of that foreboding door. “Ah, Night Whisper? I'll speak with each of you privately. Please tell the pegasus to wait outside.”

Whisper glanced over at me, looking to see if I got the message.

I nodded and let out the breath I had been holding. Reluctantly, I made my way to the wooden bench waiting for me in the hallway. I settled into the harsh, uncomfortable seat as well as I could, and watched Whisper disappear inside.

Voices percolated through the closed door, but they were too muffled to understand, which left me alone with my thoughts. It was the first time I had actually been alone since I left Ponyville, though the immense looming quiet of the hallway, the uncompromising wood of the bench beneath me, and of course, the reason I was here in the first place all conspired to make it anything but relaxing. I wished Rainbow Dash could be here with me, or Cheerilee. They would know what to do. Or maybe Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. They might not have been able to help, but at least they would make me feel better. We had been in trouble worse than this together so many times; this would feel like nothing. As it was, though, I had to face it more alone than I had ever been since I lost my parents, and I was too young to even remember that.

Whisper was my friend, sure, but I couldn't exactly count on her, and who else would look out for me? Nopony. I couldn't even–

With a soft click that would have been impossible to hear anywhere other than this silent, empty hallway, the doorknob turned. It opened, and Whisper slowly walked out. It was normal for her to not be able to look me – or anypony else for that matter – in the eye, but now she wouldn't look at me at all. She hung her head low and looked away as she slank away down the carpeted hallway. She never said a single word.

Before Whisper disappeared down the hall, the Headmaster's voice called out from the open door. “Come in.” It still retained an icy hardness.

With a chill creeping down my spine, I rose up from the bench and made the long trip across the hall and into the Headmaster's office.

Inside, the air stood perfectly still, despite the gaping window. Little sparkling shards of glass littered the plush red carpeting on the floor, and a shiny red ball sat on the dark, glossy desk, right next to the embossed brass nameplate reading: Herald Dust, Headmaster, Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, Magic Kindergarten division.

I gulped and looked up at the looming face of the Headmaster. His cold glare was even less welcoming than his dark, stuffy office. “Sit,” he said, motioning toward the chair across from his desk.

As inconspicuously as possible, I climbed into the simple wooden chair.

The Headmaster adjusted his glasses and set a hoof on top of the ball sitting on his desk. “Now, would you care to explain this?” His eyes pierced into me over the rims of his glasses.

Explain it? I could hardly breathe. Still, I couldn't let River get away with such a dirty trick without a fight. “That's the ball River Star kicked through your window.”

The Headmaster just sighed and shook his head. “Are you sure that's what happened, young pegasus?”

I couldn't back down now. “She's trying to blame it on me so I'll get in trouble.”

“Young mare, I will not have such talk in this office!” I shrank down into my seat as he finally allowed some heat into his voice. “Your friend Night Whisper already told me everything, so there's no point in lying.”

“She... huh?” I couldn't believe it. Why would she say something like that? “But that's not true. I really didn't do anything!”

He shot up from his chair, bracing his hooves on the desk in front of him, and towered over me. “Are you seriously insinuating that I should believe that two unicorns – my own daughters – as well as several of your classmates are all lying because one troublemaking pegasus says so?”

I glanced side to side, trying to find some way to escape this unicorn's fierce gaze. There was none, of course. “Um, yes?” I winced. That sounded weak even to me.

He sat back down, growling disgustedly. “As soon as you came here, I knew some damage to the school was bound to happen with a rough-and-tumble pegasus around... but I was prepared to accept that. 'At least she isn't an earth pony,' I thought. Turns out, I was wrong. Apparently, nothing is worse than a pegasus! Trying to blame your mistakes on your classmates and my own daughter, the nerve!” He shook his head. “I only warned Whisper to be more careful next time, as a reward for her admirable honesty.” His eyes zeroed in on me. “You though... Your brazen lying brings discredit upon you, your kind, and worse, it brings dishonor to this school. You will be reprimanded.”

I let out a heavy sigh and sank into my chair as he paused, presumably thinking up a suitable punishment. So much for defending myself. I should have known he wouldn't believe me.

He looked up at me again, over the rims of his glasses and smoothed down his mustache. “For the remainder of your time here at the school, rather than joining the other students at recess, you will be helping the kitchen staff clean up after the meal and prepare the next one.”

My resulting groan brought the first smile I'd ever seen on his face.

Standing up and walking around to the side of the desk, he leaned against it with one hoof. “You won't last long in this school with the moral quality you have displayed thus far. Another incident like this, and I will be forced to dismiss you from the school, no matter who sent you here. Do I make myself clear?”

I should have felt outraged, indignant, defiant... instead, I felt only the hollow emptiness of defeat. “Yes, Headmaster.”

“Good.” He raised an eyebrow at me, tilting his head a little. “I understand you're sharing a room with my daughters. You would do well to learn from their fine moral example.” He waved toward the door. “You are dismissed.”

“While zebra magic tends to center around the making of potions ... griffons are not known to possess any magical ... which is what results in the unusually long lifespans of most earth ponies...” The magic theory lessons were especially hard to pay attention to today. My mind kept wandering back to the events from recess, or forward to guess what helping in the kitchen would be like. “ ...And that's how pegasus magic interacts with the weather patterns...”

I shot up, my attention suddenly focused back on the lecture. “Pegasus magic? How does that apply to me?”

Missus Primrose glared at me from her position at the front of the room. The way her mane was tied up in a tight bun stretched and attenuated the thinly veiled loathing in her eyes. “I will thank you, young mare, to not disrupt the class further.” It was the first thing she had said to me – ever. Progress of a sort. “You wouldn't want me to have to send you to the Headmaster's office, would you?”

I shrank down into my seat. No, I definitely didn't want to go back there.

“Very well. Now, the next interaction class I would like to cover is unicorn-dragon interaction. The best known form of this is dragon's breath letter sending. This works by connecting with the dragon's inherent affinity to the element of fire. While most unicorns would send a letter to a dragon by magically igniting it, this is, in fact, not necessary. Because of this elemental connection, it is only necessary to levitate the letter, think of the intended recipient, and consume it with any fire, magical or mundane. Similarly, a unicorn's interaction with sylphs centers through the element of air. When a sylph...”

Well, that was interesting... and useful! I never guessed that sending letters to a dragon could be so easy. That could be very useful indeed. Maybe I didn't have to be so alone here after all.

I bent over my homework for the day in the flickering candlelight of my room. Having not paid much attention during the day, it gave me a particularly hard time.

Once again, an incomprehensible question forced me to crack open the textbook and search for the answer. This had to be the least fun place in all of Equestria.

I glanced up at River's bunk. No sign of movement there. Hopefully she was already asleep. As quietly as I could, I took out a fresh sheet of paper and began penning a letter to Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash, via Spike.

Maybe if they knew what I was going through here, they could do something about it and make this whole magic kindergarten thing into what it was supposed to be. I scribbled furiously, pouring all my frustration onto the page.

River's bedsheets rustled. She hopped out and eyed Whisper and me.

I froze. There was no hiding it now. If I tried to hide it, she'd see me and only want to see it more.

“Let's check and see how my servants are doing...” She leaned in over Whisper's shoulder, looking at her notes. “Good, good...” When she reached my side of the desk, though, she frowned. “What is this?”

I winced. She was never supposed to see it.

She pulled the half-finished letter out of my hooves with her magic and began reading it. Soon, she turned to me with a menacing glare. “I will not put up with a lowly pegasus saying things like that about me!” The letter suddenly shredded into tiny pieces under the violet glow of River's magic. “And I will not put up with this from you. You get back to my homework like you're supposed to and quit writing letters. Or else. I don't think you want another taste of punishment, do you?”

I just glared at her.

“That's what I thought.” She slicked her hair back with a hoof. “Now, I'm going over to Pearl's room to hang out with some ponies who aren't as horribly lame as you two.” She trotted to the door, her head held high.

“But you're not allowed to go into other ponieth' roomth.” Whisper turned to look in River's direction.

“Oh, and are you going to do something about it, Worm?” River stared her down. “You know better.”

Whisper lowered her head and went back to work on the notes.

“That's what I thought. Now, finally, I'm out of here.” She stepped out through the door, slamming it behind her.

I shook my head and went back to writing my letter. It was my only hope that anything would get better.

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to concentrate on both things at once. I had to keep my wings going, holding my letter aloft with my shaky magic, and I had to keep my recipient in mind, the little dragon Spike, far off in the Griffon Kingdoms with Twilight Sparkle. If I faltered in either one, this letter would burn up uselessly... like my last two attempts.

Carefully, I moved the letter over to the flickering candle's flame. I ignored Whisper's concerned look. For this, I needed total concentration.

The little flame flared up and consumed my letter, but the flames turned green as it burned. That was my sign that the message sent successfully. The smoke from the letter shimmered and sparkled and raced through the crack in the door, on its way. Now I only needed to wait.

I glanced to the side at Whisper. She still sat scribbling notes for her adoptive sister, her frizzy blue mane bobbing just a bit as she wrote. If she had taken issue with my letter sending activities, she wasn't saying anything about it. Shaking my head, I turned back to my own work. I couldn't imagine putting up with River's petty tyranny for even the few days of magic kindergarten, but this little filly had been with her for years. How was it even possible to endure somepony like River Star for that long?

As if in response to my thoughts, River burst in through the door, stomped over to her bed, and jumped in. Mere seconds later, a heavy snore gushed from the top bunk. I groaned. Doing this double-duty homework was difficult enough without that distracting noise, not to mention the damage it would do to my sleep schedule.

Drooping my head and sighing out my disgust, I picked up the quill again. These elemental interaction tables weren't going to do themselves – twice. With a smug grin, I drew another line into the diagram, proud that I had remembered what the teacher said about the lightning exception to the general fire and water interaction rules. Before I could copy it to River's sheet, though, a plume of green smoke snaked its way in under the door and swirled over my head. I dropped my quill just in time to lunge up and catch the falling scroll, setting it down on our desk.

This time, Whisper definitely was paying attention. She turned around in her seat to stare at me with wide open eyes. “You did magic? Without permithion?”

“Ugh, Whisper,” I whined, “you didn't tattle on River when she did it.” I looked her in the eye. “You aren't going to rat me out, are you?”

She looked away, unable to meet my gaze. “Well, no.”

“Good.” I gave her a warm smile. “Us two have to stick together.”

She looked back at me then, and while her smile wasn't as big as mine, it was just as warm. Whisper might not have been much help against River, but I was still glad to be able to call her my friend here. She leaned over to stare at the rolled-up scroll. “Who'th that from?”

I grabbed the scroll and opened it, a sly smile on my face and a beaming pride in my heart. “It's from a friend of mine.” I glanced at Whisper through the corner of my eye. I wanted to see her reaction. “Twilight Sparkle.”

Whisper just looked confused for a moment, squinting her eyes and cocking her head to the side, but a second later, her eyes shot open wide. “No! The Twilight Thparkle?” She just stared at me with her mouth gaping open. “You know the Printheths?”

I giggled a little at her reaction. I couldn't help it. “Yep, the Twilight Sparkle.” I spread the scroll out on the table. It was good news. This would change everything. “And it says here that she's going to write a royal decree to the school's headmaster to put a stop to the bullying!”

A true smile blossomed on Whisper's face, and joy augmented the shock in her eyes. “Really?”

“Yep. He should be getting it any minute now.”

Whisper jittered in her seat. She looked too excited to stay put, and her mane somehow seemed fluffier than ever, but she turned back to the desk and resumed working on the notes, despite rocking back and forth in the chair. For a moment, I wondered what this little blue filly would have been like if she hadn't been repressed by River Star. Perhaps I was getting a glimpse of it now.

Still, I supposed, she had the right idea. There was plenty of homework left to be done. Reluctantly, I turned back to the interaction tables. Now, earth and water in cooperative interaction, what class was that? Before I could come up with the answer, my eyes were drawn to River's extra copy. I probably should make her copy, I supposed, at least until after the Headmaster fixed things. I grinned wickedly as a devious idea came to me. River wouldn't know the difference between right and wrong answers.

I settled into my soft middle bunk with a grin on my face despite the snores still echoing from above. This was the first time in days that I had gone to bed looking forward to the next day. Between the letter and River about to discover her failing grade on the homework, this was shaping up to be the best day yet.

The Secret Garden

he nighttime quiet broke. “Wake up!”

I rolled away from the whispered voice, trying to ignore it – and the poke that followed it – and get back to sleep.

“Come on, Thcootaloo, get up!”

I groaned and flopped my pillow over my head. It was much too early to be getting up, especially after being kept up all night by River's incessant snoring.

“Thcootaloo! Until the Headmathter fixeth everything, we thtill have to get River'th thtuff ready.”

I sighed and tossed the pillow off of my head. Night Whisper was right, of course, even if she was living up to her name annoyingly well. Soon, River wouldn't be a problem anymore, but for now, it would be best not to make a scene. “Okay. I'm up.” With a moan, I rolled over and flopped out of the bunk. “Let's get this over with.”

“Hmph. Well, the hoofwriting on my paper is sloppy, and if you ever make a big ink splash on it like that again, you'll wish you never came here!”

I just shook my head at River's tirade. I already wished I had never come here. Soon, though, I knew this would all be over.

“And the sash on my favorite sundress has a wrinkle right through the middle of it!”

Whisper and me shared a look and a tiny invisible smile.

“But you know what? It doesn't matter.”

That focused my attention back on River in a hurry. How could these little faults possibly be unimportant to her?

“Because, you see, she is improving.” She turned to look at Whisper. “See, I told you, Worm. Even a chicken can be trained if you put enough work into it.”

My lips curled into an ugly snarl. “Don't get used to it, River! That's the last thing I'll ever do for you!”

As River's eyes bored into me, Whisper turned to me and said, “What? You can't thay that! The'll punith uth both!”

“The worm's right.” River's eyes cut into me. “So her punishment will be light... relatively speaking. Yours though... I'll have to make something extra special for you.”

Before I could say anything, the piercing ring of the school's bell echoed through the hall. That was the signal for breakfast. My inclination to argue with River dissipated, and I rushed out the door.

I worked my way through the crush of ponies in the hallway and down the stairs. They seemed to be moving slower and closer together than usual today, like something was holding them up.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I found out what that was.

Missus Primrose stood at the bottom of the steps, stiffly repeating, “All students to the courtyard. There will be a special announcement before breakfast.” Perhaps it was just my imagination, but her gaze seemed to take an especially waspish glare as she spotted me.

Despite the low-level growling in my belly, my heart leapt at the announcement. The Headmaster must want to clear up the bullying issue as soon as possible, even before breakfast! Sure, the meal would be delayed a bit, but at least I would be able to eat it in peace. Eager to find out what would be done, I followed the herd of students out into the courtyard.

Outside, a crowd of little unicorns already sprawled across the stone yard, and the Headmaster stood facing them all, patiently waiting for the last of them to gather.

I trotted up to the group, full of happy anticipation. I couldn't wait to see my fortunes turn around.

As I settled into a vacant spot at the front left side of the group, the Headmaster cleared his throat loudly. His horn began to glow, and his voice boomed out, “Good morning, students.” He must have been using some kind of voice amplification spell to have spoken so loud.

“Good morning, Headmaster,” the students replied in something almost resembling unison.

“Now, some of you may think that you can abuse your position, that your friends in high places will protect you from the consequences of your actions.”

I smirked. Good, that would show River that she couldn't rely on her daddy's help.

“Some of you may think that you can get away with lying and blaming your misdeeds on others.”

Good! He must have learned the truth about the window incident.

“Well, I'm standing here in front of you today to tell all of you that this kind of thinking is wrong!”

My heart soared. This was all the vindication I could have asked for and more! Sending that letter to Twilight was the best idea I'd had yet. Her influence had just solved my biggest problem here.

“Not even a royal decree will make me tolerate such injustices! Especially not from a new upstart. I take my orders from Princess Celestia herself!”

Wait. What?

“Within these walls is my domain, and nopony, unicorn or other–” he glared straight at me before continuing “–is beyond the reach of my discipline! Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes sir!” came the shout from the crowd.

I stood frozen still, not even able to take the stupid smile off my face. I could barely breathe. The letter had only made him more hostile! How could it have backfired so badly? What had Twilight written to him? As I came down from the shock, I realized I had been a fool to think one little letter would change an old pony as stuck in his ways as the Headmaster was. My hopes crashed, falling even lower for having been so high just a moment ago. What would I do now? Now I had no escape, no plan, and the whole school was coming down on me.

“And I also have one other matter to discuss while you are all here.” The Headmaster seemed more composed now, looking back to the main body of students and stroking his mustache. “During the weekend interlude, there will be a carnival in Canterlot – the Hundred Moon Festival.”

I didn't know what he was talking about, and I was in no state to care, but the excited murmur rising from the crowd said it all.

“I trust you will all enjoy yourselves there. Your teachers and myself will be chaperoning you while you are there to ensure your safety.” He glared directly at me again. “That is, of course, assuming you behave yourselves and don't get grounded to the school's premises for misbehavior.” He turned back to the others, adjusted his glasses, and smiled. “Now, please go on with your day as planned. Good luck, my little unicorns.”

I stumbled along with the crowd toward the dining hall, barely noticing what went on around me. Everything seemed somehow distant and removed from the reality I now faced. There would be no way out for me now. I was stuck in this place, and stuck in the grasp of ponies like River. I barely kept up with the crowd. What was the point, anyway?

As I made my way to exercise class, I realized that my morose thoughts during breakfast had probably been unfounded. Things might still be bad, but they weren't going to get any worse either... probably. I could handle this for just a week, and then I could get out and never come back.

I walked in through the classroom door, almost bumping into River and her friends, Pearl and Ruby. They had all been talking about something, but as soon as they saw me, they hushed up. I stepped past them as gingerly as I could, eying them the whole time.

As soon as I passed them by, they all broke out giggling behind my back.

I dreaded to think what that might mean for my near future, but there was no point in dwelling on it now. I spotted Whisper already sitting next to my usual spot, so I made my way over.

“Wath that your letter that the Headmaster wath talking about?” she asked, before I could even sit down.

“I think so, or at least it was Twilight's letter that he got because of me.”

“But it didn't theem to work.” She looked over at me with her eyes full of concern.

No, it didn't. “I can't believe he's just going to ignore a royal decree. Just who does he think he is?”

“Let's settle down, please!” Miss Honeydown sang out, “We have a very special lesson to get to today.”

Everypony hushed and scrambled off to their seats. As the noise quieted down, I noticed Ruby Shine sitting down next to me on the other side, where River would normally have gone. I didn't worry about it though. All those bully ponies were the same. What did it matter which one sat next to me?

“Today, class, we'll be working on the most special kind of magic – the kind that relates to your cutie mark and your special talent.”

I braced for the angst those words would call up, but instead, I felt uplifted. Of course! I had a cutie mark now, and I knew my special talent. The very idea of that warmed me inside and reminded me that whatever troubles this school might throw at me, I still had that going for me, and it was more than I ever had before.

Miss Honeydown strolled around the ring of chairs. “Now, I want you all to think back to how you first got your cutie marks. What happened?” She turned and started pacing along the other direction. “Most unicorns have magic closely tied to their special talent – you were probably using it when you got your cutie mark.”

So, was mine teleporting?

“Okay. Once you have the special spell you can perform in mind, I want each of you to execute it in the smallest, most controlled manner you can.” She slowly turned around, smiling reassuringly at the students around her. “And don't worry. I'll have shields ready to go, just in case anything gets a little out of control. That's my special talent, after all.”

All around me, little unicorns strained themselves and made their horns glow. More than a few of them were already performing their spells, causing a kaleidoscope of magic to whiz around the room, each spell caught and nullified by one of Miss Honeydown's shields.

Whatever might happen, I supposed there was no point living in fear of my own special talent. I thought back to the first couple times I had done magic, what that felt like. Closing my eyes against the distracting cacophony of unicorn magic around me, I focused on repeating that teleportation spell.

After a minute or two of trying harder and harder, I realized I was butting up against some kind of wall. For some reason, I just couldn't do it. No! After trying for so long to find my special talent, I was not going to let it just slip away. I redoubled my efforts, flapping my wings so fast I almost lifted off the ground, and making them glow so brightly I could see the glare even through my tightly closed eyes.

“Scootaloo, dear? Are you having some trouble?”

At the sound of my teacher's voice, my eyes popped open in surprise. She was calling for me? As soon as I spotted her, I felt the wall preventing my spell dissipate. A bright purple flash filled my vision. As soon as I could see again, I found myself in the air just above Miss Honeydown. I crashed down on top of her, and both of us crumpled to the floor.

Perhaps because I was more used to crashing, I was the first to recover. “Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean–”

“It's okay, Scootaloo. I've had worse.” The teacher picked herself up off of the dusty wooden floor and rubbed at her shoulder. “But now that I know your special talent is teleporting, I bet I know what your trouble was.” She patted me on the head. Somehow, it felt as if she was patting me like a well-behaved dog. “A teleport spell needs to have a destination before it can work. When you saw me, it took me for the destination.”

I looked away, my cheeks burning. I stood in the middle of the ring, of course, so all the other students had a front-row view of my stupid mistake.

“You just head back to your seat, dear, and keep practicing. I know it's especially hard for you, but on the bright side, you're doing very well at magic by pegasus standards.”

The smattering of laughter that followed me to my seat didn't do a thing to soften the blow of the teacher's double-edged compliment. She probably meant well, but it stung nonetheless.

My wings ached, my stomach growled, and my legs trembled. I had practiced teleportation for hours, but I never made any progress at all. I wasn't more accurate, I couldn't do it quicker or easier, and there was no way I could practice going further within the confines of the room. Why did magic have to be so hard? After a whole day of practice, I'd hardly even–

The peal of the school bell topped my thoughts in their tracks. For a moment, I looked forward to lunchtime, but then I remembered my punishment from the Headmaster. I wouldn't be eating; I'd be helping the kitchen staff.

With a resigned, plodding step, I headed off toward the cafeteria.

I caught Missus Primrose staring at me as I walked into the lunchroom. I was one of the last ponies to arrive.

Her usual look of superiority and slight disgust was nowhere to be seen today though. Now she just gave me a slight smug smile. “Run along now,” she chided, nodding toward the kitchen doors. “You know where you belong.”

I scowled back at her as I made my way to the door at the back of the room. I'd seen a lot here, but for it to be as blatant as that was just ridiculous. I continued on through the doors, shaking my head at the teacher's obvious prejudices.

Inside, gleaming metal appliances and countertops surrounded me. My hooves echoed against the shiny stone floor.

As soon as the sound of my steps died off, a chubby chocolate brown earth pony hurried around the corner from behind what looked like a big refrigerator. His mane was creamy white, and a spatula cutie mark adorned his – rather ample – flank. I recognized him as the same one who gave me double helpings after my place had been taken on the first day.

“Ho dere, you be my new liddle helpa?” Despite his thick accent, his deep voice put me at ease. Somehow, he seemed familiar to me, even though I was sure I'd never seen him before.

“Uh-huh.”

“Well, I could sho as da sun use some help scrubbin' dem pans. Dey's right back in da back o' da kichin.” He disappeared from view again, and I heard the clatter of more dishes. “Help yaself to some soap an' a scrubby. I be servin' trays fo a few mo minutes,” he called back as he disappeared toward the front of the kitchen.

What else was there to do? I wandered back toward the back of the kitchen in search of the sink, taking in the sights as I went along. I passed the big humming refrigerators on my left, and I could hear the muffled din of the students behind them. On the right, I passed a bank of enormous ovens, still going strong, with a couple pegasi busy taking huge pans out of them. As I continued on, I passed a big table with a cutting board countertop, shelves full of the biggest cans I had ever seen, and a can opener that looked like it belonged in a factory instead of a kitchen. It was manned by a huge earth pony mare who scowled at me as I slunk past.

Finally, at the very back of the kitchen, I found the sink. It, too, shone with the dull gleam of polished steel. Three huge basins, each big enough for me to use as a bathtub, shared a single faucet, and a soap dispenser hung on the wall above one of them. I looked in dismay at the huge pile of pots and pans already stacked up next to it, but at least there was a step stool there so I could reach.

I knew what to do, more or less. I had helped Cheerilee clean dishes plenty of times, and this would probably be the same, just bigger. With a sigh, I grabbed the step stool and got to work.

“Ey, good work dere! Ya figgered out da tree sink method, good. One ta soak, one ta wash, an' one ta sanitize.”

It hadn't been hard to figure out, of course. The sinks were already set up that way, complete with dishes already in each phase. I ate up the praise anyway, though. I'd gotten precious few genuine compliments since coming here.

“Da name's Cookie, by da way. Sugar Cookie.” The big stallion slid up next to me and started patiently scrubbing one of the larger pots. He stared at me over the pile of dishes.

I glanced back, but went back to rinsing off plates. I wasn't sure if I wanted a conversation.

“Dey ever done gave you a name, filly?”

Well, it looked like a conversation was going to happen whether I liked it or not. “Scootaloo,” I replied simply.

“Dat's a good name. I like it, but dey done told me dat already. What dey don' tell me is how a nice lil' filly end up workin' in da kichen.”

I shook my head. “It's a long story.”

“Don't ya worry none 'bout dat. We got a whole lotta dishes here, so we got lotsa time.” The warm smile on his face disarmed me. He wasn't making it easy to sulk.

“Well–” I paused. Should I tell him the real story, or what anypony else would tell him? One look at him, still patiently scrubbing his pot, decided it “–I was out in the playground when some bullies came up to me.”

Cookie nodded sagely at the mention of bullies.

“One of 'em kicked a ball through the Headmaster's window and blamed it on me. Of course everypony went along with it, even my best friend here, so the Headmaster believed her.” I tossed my sponge into the dishwater, making a little splash. “And this is my punishment for what I didn't do.”

He just kept staring at me, his hoof making lazy circles around the inside of the pot. His only response was a slightly raised eyebrow.

I knew it might be hard to believe, but it was the truth for pony's sake. Somepony had to believe me! “That's really what happened! I'm not making it up.”

His smile returned. “I believes ya, filly. But why ain't ya gone an' done somehtin' 'bout it yet?”

I groaned and went back to scrubbing, putting all my pent up frustrations into cleaning the limitless pile of dishes. “Like what? Nopony here believes me.” I glanced over at him again. “Well, except for you.”

“Cain't you write somethin' to ya parents?” He finally finished the big pot he had been workng on, only to drop it in the middle sink and pick up another just like it. “Dey could sho do somethin' 'bout it.”

I gave him a sharp glare he couldn't have known he deserved. “My parents died a long time ago.”

“Oh. Ah sorry lil' filly.” That had been enough to break the smile off his face. “If'n it make you feel any better, I knows how ya feel. My ol' ma done passed just last summer, bless 'er.”

I hadn't meant to bring down the mood so badly. Cookie wasn't a bad guy. “It's okay. I don't let it get to me.”

“Well, still, you gotta have somepony back home can help you. Somepony musta sent you here.” He paused for a moment, scrubbing fiercely at some stubborn spot. “Why don' you write to dem?”

“I did!” Stopping my scrubbing for a moment, I threw my head back and growled. “But did you see that assembly they had this morning? That was the Headmaster's way of telling everypony that he's not going to listen to the pony who sent me here!”

“But wait...” He squinted at me. “Ol' Dusty done said somethin' 'bout a royal decree. You got sent here by some royalty?”

“Ol' Dusty?”

Cookie chuckled. “I like to call 'im dat. Still gotta call 'im 'Heral' Dust' to 'is face tho', naturally.”

I chuckled back. “Of course. And yeah, Princess Twilight sent me here. Who else could get a pegasus into magic kindergarten? They only want ponies with magic horns. What am I doing here?”

“It all be da same to me.” He shrugged. “Dere ain't nopony else you could write to?”

I shook my head and ended up staring at the sudsy water below me. “Twilight's the only one with a dragon. Everypony else would take too long to write to. Their responses probably wouldn't even get here before I leave.”

“Well, ain't no harm in tryin'.”

“I guess so,” I conceded with a sigh.

His big smile returned, brighter than ever. “Dat's da spirit. What about ya friends here tho'? Dey can help, cain't dey?”

A derisive little laugh shot out of me before I could even think about it. “I've only got one friend here. She's nice and all, but she's never gonna stand up for me, or even for herself.”

“Huh.” He shook his head. “I'ssa sad, sad thing not havin' any good friends.” His second pot splashed into the water, and he leaned towards me with his eyes full of earnest concern. “You keep an eye out, ya hear? You don' never know when an' where ya might find a new friend who help you out and get you through all dis mess.”

He was right, of course. I couldn't just assume I'd never have any friends here. That would be a self-fulfilling prophecy. “Yeah. I'll keep looking.”

“Dere ya go, lil' filly. You jus' keep dat good attitude up, an' things is gonna be all right.” He glanced off to the side. “Now, thank ya fo ya help, lil' Scootaloo, but I think e'en my ol' bones can handle the res'.” Nodding towards the other side of the kitchen, he grinned widely. “Now I think ya should up an' get a lil' somethin' fo yaself. I done saved ya some on the cuttin' table. Ya run along now and you gonna have jus' 'nuff time to fill yaself up an' still get outside fo' some play.”

I beamed my brightest smile. Despite all this supposedly being punishment, Cookie's affectionate help had made my heart soar. It was the highlight of my day, for sure. “Thank you, Cookie! I'm so glad I got to talk to you.”

“Don' mention it.” He laughed. “Now run along lil' filly, an' don' be wastin' no mo' time with me.” He leaned back and started slowly scrubbing another pot while I hurried off to find my meal.

All the while, I could barely hold back my excitement. I finally found a true friend here, and I had been given some good advice. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

The Taming Of The Shrew

rushed out through the schoolhouse's elaborate wooden door, eager to get into the courtyard in time to get a little playtime in. Maybe I could even find a new friend like Cookie said. I blinked in the bright sunlight of the courtyard, made worse by the white walls all around reflecting it. Good – all the other fillies and colts were still outside, still running around and having a great time.

Just as I made it out into the mob of little unicorns, though, the school's bell rang out, signaling the end of recess. All the other little ponies stopped playing and began filing away, back to put away their toys and get back to their classroom, their faces drawn down by the end of their fun.

I was as downtrodden as any of them. I had rushed through my lunch in order to get here in time, and for what? I shook my head and stared into the crowd as it reluctantly dissipated.

One red and white face caught my attention though, different from all the others. While the others mourned their lost playtime, Ruby Shine's face held a little smile that reflected itself in true, happy eyes. With a start, I realized he was smiling at me.

“Come along, ponies, theory class begins in precisely three minutes. Do not allow me to catch you coming in late.”

When I turned back to look at Ruby again, he was already heading for the schoolhouse door, no longer looking at me. What had that been all about?

“And that, my little ponies, is why horns are so essential to the control of magic.” Missus Primrose paced stiffly back and forth in front of the class. “The sharp point serves as a wedge to force open a tiny gap in the fabric of the ether, and the body of the horn serves as a sounding board to...”

There! I caught him again! It was strange enough that Ruby sat right next to me, but now I even kept catching him looking at me in the strangest way, always with a weird little grin on his face. He took pains to hide it – he would always instantly look away and feign disinterest anytime I looked towards him, but in the corner of my eye, I could still catch him.

Whatever this was, I wanted no part of it. It was probably just that he was planning another scheme to embarrass me or hurt me or get me in trouble. I decided to keep as far away as I could from that treacherous little snake from now on. He was up to something, and it couldn't be anything good. Were River and Pearl in on it, too, I wondered, or was he going on his own initiative this time? Either way, I wouldn't be–

“Scootaloo! Would you care to give us your answer?”

Missus Primrose's question jarred me back into reality. I glanced side to side, mortified, before blushing and asking, “Um, could you repeat the question, please?”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Really,” she whispered, “why do I even bother calling on the pegasus?” With an exaggerated sigh, she stared down at me. “I asked, 'What effect does the rate of twist on a unicorn's horn have on his or her magical abilities?' Now, would you please grace us with your attempt at an answer?”

A chorus of quiet giggles answered the teacher, and my cheeks burned even hotter. “Um, it makes them easier to use?” I looked up into her hard eyes hopefully.

She sighed and just closed her eyes. “This is why I shouldn't even bother. I save the easiest question for the pegasus, and still I get nothing but disappointment.” She stepped away from me, the tight little bun her mane had been tied into bobbing as she walked back to the front of the room. “No. The rate of twist on a unicorn's horn determines his or her agility fulcrum. A lower rate of twist is better for casting spells quickly, while a higher rate enables more powerful spells. These are, of course, subject to a unicorn's natural ability level and his or her...”

I hung my head low. I would have been able to answer that if I had been paying attention. Could that have been Ruby's plan? It didn't seem likely, but I wasn't about to rule out anything where that colt was concerned.

“Well, that's all I have for you today, my students.” A pronouncement like that from the teacher was always enough to recapture my attention. “Be sure to double check today's homework. You'll find all the answers are in your assigned reading. Have a good night, everypony.”

I stretched as I rose up, looking forward to finally having time to unwind. Something about today had just been exhausting. As I made my way to follow my teacher out the door, though, I felt a hoof on my shoulder.

“Ah, Scootaloo, can we talk for a bit?”

I looked over in surprise and found Ruby Shine. Too shocked to respond, I just stared at him for a moment.

He seemed to suddenly realize his hoof was still on my shoulder, and he jerked it away as if he had been burned. “I, um, Scootaloo, I... you see...” He winced at his own words.

The last of the other students were already filing out through the door. I glared at him for delaying what little relaxation time I would have left. “Well, what is it already?”

“I...” He looked down and pawed at the floor. “I wanted to apologise for the way I treated you.”

“Huh?” There was no way that could be true.

“I really do.” He looked away to the left, to the right, anywhere but at me. “I am sorry for my behaviour. When I saw them all ganging up on you, it brought back to me how I was treated back in Trottingham. I've never been very strong, and I'm not clever either. I got picked on back home.” He finally managed to look at me, his eyes pleading, before looking away again, ashamed. “I thought that maybe if this time I was one of the bullies, then I wouldn't get picked on.”

My jaw dropped as it hit me. Of course! Just like when Babs first came to Ponyville... and now Babs was one of my best friends, despite not seeing her often.

“And, well, I...” He seemed especially at a loss for words now, and was he blushing? “When they sort of implied that we were together, like, you know, together, I sort of overreacted a little.” He seemed to shrink down even more. “Because, well, it was too close to the... well, I probably shouldn't say.” There was no doubt about it now. His cheeks were nearly as red as his hair.

My heart melted just a little, looking at this poor colt cowering in front of me. How could I stay mad? He had just overreacted to deny he was with me because... he wanted to be! The sudden reversal took my breath away. Could he be interested in me?

“But it didn't work, of course.” He sighed. “They still pick on me when you're not around... and, well...” he took a moment just to breathe, and then looked me in the eye. “Well, I don't want to be like that anymore. I want to... to...”

“What is it?” All the other ponies were long gone. What was this really about?

“I want to be...” He winced, then blurted out, “Will-you-go-to-the-fun-fair-with-me?” He stood staring at the floor, quivering and waiting for my answer.

“You mean, like together, like a date?” I stared down at him in disbelief.

He managed a quiet nod, if only just barely.

Well, my world was now officially upside-down. The pony who had been one of my tormentors was now sitting there asking me out on a date! Nopony had ever asked me out before; nopony had ever even shown any interest in me... This was something special. Cookie's advice to me back in the kitchen came up in my memories, too. Here was a golden opportunity to make a new friend. I remembered how well we had gotten along on the train ride... could it be like that between us again?

He still stood, staring at the floor with his heart laid out. It would be cruel to keep him waiting.

“I'd like that,” I said with a smile. Slowly, I realized I would like that. He was a nice colt when I met him, and I could forgive him if I forgave Babs Seed.

He seemed ready to burst on the spot, and his legs danced around on their own. “Oh, brilliant! Thank you thank you thank you!” Suddenly, he stopped. “Oh my gosh! Everypony already went back to their rooms! They'll be asking where I am!” A look of horror crossed his face. “I really need to go!” With that, he whizzed out the door.

Well, that was an interesting development, and I'd–

Ruby's face popped back into the doorway. “See you tomorrow,” he said with a smile, before disappearing again.

I couldn't help but smile along with him as I trotted out of the empty classroom. It was exciting, going out on a real date with a real colt. The more I thought about it, the better it sounded. For the first time, I had something here to look forward to.

“How dare you give me homework this sloppy to turn in?” River Star glared at me, feet spread apart and a look of pure fury on her face. “How dare you insult me like this?”

It was sloppy. I had been more than a little distracted with thoughts about Ruby Shine last night. I hadn't managed sleep much either, despite how badly I needed it. The prospect of being asked out on a real date was just too much to think about. Why, it even–

“Are you even listening to me?”

I knew better than to answer that one honestly. “Of course I am, River.”

She glowered at me as she slipped on the little white dress Whisper and I had prepared for her this morning. “Well, to make up for your substandard work, you and the Worm can just stay here during breakfast and redo it for me.” With a haughty flair, she turned to leave. “And no mistakes this time. Or else.”

Whisper shot me a reproachful look as River slipped out through the door. “Did you have to do that?”

I covered my head and groaned. “I didn't mean to do it... I was just, you know, thinking about stuff.”

“But did you have to involve me in it? It'h not fair.”

“I'm sorry, Whisper. I really am.” I shook my head. This was all River's fault, of course, but it was no use blaming her. “Come on, let's get this done...”

I popped across the room in another burst of teleportation, flashing away from Miss Honeydown and blowing her hair out of place.

“That's good, Scootaloo, but perhaps you should–”

I popped up next to her again, leaving an explosion of purple magical aura and startled students wherever I went. This was awesome! Today's magic exercise lesson had been about exploring your special talent's limits. I has struggled with it at first, as usual... but eventually, I figured it out.

“Scootaloo Songwing! Please stop this at once!”

I had never heard Miss Honeydown raise her voice like that; the sound of it startled me. Slowly, I looked around at the rest of the room, just in time to catch Ruby's appreciative stare before he turned away, hiding his face with a hoof. The rest of the room was in chaos, with students and chairs strewn all around.

“Now, Scootaloo, I'm glad for you that you've found a way to fully express your special talent, but do you think you could possibly practice it without making”– she glanced around –“so much of a mess of things?”

I smirked, and I may have even giggled a little. “Okay, I'll try.” This was just too much fun! Things here were finally beginning to go my way.

“Okay class, now how about we–”

The school's bell cut through the room. A few of the less manageable students cheered.

Miss Honeydown sighed heavily. “Oh well. I had hoped we could get some more exploration time, but it looks like we have to go now. Good luck, my little ponies, and enjoy your lunch!”

Most of the students ran out through the door before she even finished talking. Despite the fact that I was supposedly heading off to be punished, I rushed along just as eagerly as any of the other young ponies. I couldn't wait to tell Cookie about everything that had happened.

“Well, C'lestia bless me, ya sho do look happy today.” Cookie laughed and leaned back against the dish washing counter, in almost exactly the same place I had talked with him the day before.

“I am!” I jumped a little on the stool, nearly toppling a stack of dirty plates. “You were so right when you said things could get better!”

His grin grew even wider. “Oh, and how dat is?”

“I made a new friend where I never expected to, and it's all thanks to your advice, or I would have turned him down.”

“A colt, huh?” He laughed. “Now, why was you up an' gonna turn 'im down? He be ugly? Or maybe he smell ba'?”

“No, no.” I shook my head. “He's actually kind of cute.”

Cookie just looked at me with a smile on his face. His eyebrow rose.

“Okay, really cute.”

He laughed at that, and I couldn't help but join in with a little giggle of my own.

“So what been wrong with da colt den? What the real reason is?”

“Well, for a while, he was one of the bullies picking on me.”

Cookie recoiled back, his eyes wide. “An' now you up an' gonna be his friend? Filly, you crazy.”

“It's not like that, really.” I rolled my eyes. “He was just going along with the bullies to avoid being picked on himself. He explained it to me and apologized for everything.”

“An' now he wanna be ya friend, huh?”

I glanced away, blushing a little. “Well, more than that, maybe. He asked me to go to the carnival with him... you know, like a real date.”

Cookie resumed scrubbing and gave me a skeptical glare from the corner of his eye. “You be careful with dat colt now, ya hear?”

“Oh come on! This is the first time anypony has ever asked me out on a real date.” I pointed a hoof straight at Sugar Cookie. “And you're the one who said I should look for friends, after all.”

“Dat I was – dat I was.” He laughed and shrugged it off. “You probably right. You know dis colt better dan I do, fo sho.” His smile returned in full force. “I hopes ya have yaself a good time out dere.”

“But that's not even the best part!” I beamed a huge smile at him.

The skeptical look was back. “Oh, an' what dat be?”

“I've actually started to get good at my magical talent! I can teleport better than anypony! I'm finally learning how to really use my magic!”

“Well, dat do be da reason you up an' came here, don't it?”

I laughed. “Well, yeah, I guess so. But still.”

I waved goodbye to Cookie as I rushed out of the kitchen. If I hurried along fast enough, I might get to talk before theory class.

As soon as I stepped out into the noisy hallway, I spotted what – or who, rather – I was looking for. Ruby Shine trotted down the hall, looking from side to side. He didn't seem to have seen me yet. Luckily, River and Pearl were nowhere around.

“Ruby!” I yelled out, waving to get his attention.

As soon as he saw me, he turned and hurried closer. As he came up close, I could see just a faint sheen of sweat, and I could feel the heat still radiating off of him.

“Wow, must be a hot day out there, huh?” I asked. I hid a wince. Should I have talked about something deeper or more important?

“Well, yes, it is a bit... but most of this is from running away from those two horrid little fillies, River and Pearl.” He wiped a hoof through his mane, and I had to fight a sudden urge to do the same thing.

“Why'd you have to run from them?”

“What sort of question is that?” He shook his head. “Ever since I 'switched sides', as they call it, they've been furious with me. I can't get a moment's rest.”

“Aw.” I felt sorry to have put him through that. I knew perfectly well how awful those two could be. “I didn't mean to–”

“It's okay. Don't worry about it.” He gave me a delicious smile. “I'm better off like this anyway... well, sort of.”

“What do you mean, better off? Is it that...” Silence crept into the hallway. I suddenly realized that all the other students were already in class. We were about to be late! “Come on! We'd better get to class before the bell rings.” Without waiting for his response, I rushed down the hall and into the classroom.

Ruby lunged through the door right behind me. We were the last two in, but we weren't late. The tardy bell rang just after we came in. Ruby hurried over to an empty desk next to my usual spot, and – mindful of a reproachful glare from Missus Primrose – I hurried over to sit down next to him.

“Well, now that we can finally get started–” the uptight teacher paused for a moment to glare at Ruby and me “–let's examine the connections between a unicorn's special talent, cutie mark, and magical abilities. Now, the most essential thing to recognize is that while a cutie mark may be...”

When I stole a glance over at Ruby, only to find him already staring at me, I couldn't prevent a blush from spreading out on my face. I looked away again, hoping nopony would notice. How much had anypony noticed about the two of us? Did River realize just what was going on? What would she do if she found out?

Glancing around, I wondered who might have seen me blush. My eyes settled on Night Whisper. She stared from across the gap in the desks. How much did Whisper know? She didn't look happy. Maybe I should talk to her later, I thought. It wouldn't be a bad idea to–

“Well, pegasus?” Missus Primrose's sharply pitched voice cut through my thoughts. “Care to venture an answer to the question, or are we just going to wait eternally for a pointless stammer like last time?”

My heart froze. I had done it again! I should have been paying attention. “I, um... what was the question again?”

I didn't have to look far to find Ruby Shine when I left the classroom.

“I can't believe you totally bollocksed up the second question in a row.” He laughed a little, taking the sting out of his words. “Are you okay? Need some help studying, maybe?”

I shook my head as we made our way down the hallway. “I'm okay. I've just been a little distracted lately.” Would it be too forward to mention what distracted me? Only one way to find out. “By a certain somepony.” I smiled and glanced away.

He laughed and grinned back at me. His eyes shouted out to me how much he enjoyed hearing that. “Really, though, I don't want to get in your way. Today's lesson could be pretty important to you, what with the special talents and all. It would be a shame if you missed it.”

“Aw, I'll get it from the book later. Don't worry.”

The building's exit already loomed up next to us. “Well,” Ruby said, grimacing and looking towards it, “I guess I have to go now, or I'll be in trouble with the Headmaster for being in the wrong dorm.” He smiled. “See you tomorrow?”

I suddenly realized how close together we were standing. How had that happened? Why we were close enough to... I backed away with a start – that would be too forward. “Um, yeah.” I giggled and glanced away. “I'll see you tomorrow, Ruby.”

He nodded, a huge smile on his face, as he turned and walked away.

Somehow, it felt like I could still taste his name from saying it earlier, and I savored it. “Ruby Shine,” I whispered to myself, as I turned and headed for my room. I could grow to like a name like that.

“Look at me when I'm talking to you, Chicken!” River Star hadn't exactly been in her best of moods tonight. “I came here with one goal: to pass through with flying colors and impress my family. I am not going to let some Chicken interfere with that!” She stomped around the little room, circling me like a shark. “I'll do anything it takes, even if it means the Worm has to do all of it.”

A tiny little “Eep” came from the direction of the desk where Whisper sat already scribbling down notes.

I just shook my head at River. This whole song and dance routine was getting old.

“It's a good thing I've already started on your next punishment. I knew you'd do even more to deserve it, and this messed up homework proves me right.” That was enough to get my attention. I knew from experience River's punishments could be devious and harsh. “ ...But for now, Worm will just have to do all of my homework to make sure it's done right.” A malevolent glint sparkled in River's eyes. “But it's not fair for her to have to do it all alone, is it, Worm?”

Nothing but the quiet scribbling of a quill came in return.

River's cruel eyes turned toward the desk. “I said, 'That isn't fair, is it, Worm?'”

“Oh, um...” Whisper lived up to her name. I could barely hear her. “No.”

“Of course it isn't. We can't have the Chicken lying around being lazy while the Worm does all the work.” She smiled wickedly. “So, from now on, you'll both be doing all my work. Fair is fair.” Her giggle held little mirth.

Whisper stared at me with a slow burning fire in her eyes.

I looked away, unable to meet her gaze. I knew it was partly my fault that she would have to do extra work now. What could I do about it though?

“Oh, and speaking of fair–” River smiled and fluttered her false eyelashes in a disgustingly coquettish display “–If I'm going to be seen at this carnival, then I must look my absolute best.” She thrust a hoof toward her suitcase. “I'll want the maroon gown and my best red sash, and, of course, all the accoutrements. Worm, you know which ones. No wrinkles this time!”

I sighed. I should have seen that one coming.

She looked at us for a moment, as if surveying her work. “Good. Now that I've got that taken care of, I should go get a good night's sleep.” She let out an extravagant yawn. “I've got a big day ahead of me.”

As River hopped up into the top bunk, I made my way to the desk. Distracted as I was by my own thoughts of a big day tomorrow, getting all this work done and getting some sleep for myself wouldn't be easy.

The Man In The Iron Mask

iver Star slammed the door to our room with a crash as she stormed out, very nearly catching the hem of the elaborate gown she had put so much effort into complaining about this morning. With any luck, though, that would be the end of having to deal with her for the day.

Whisper kept staring at the door long after I turned away. “Wath it jutht me, or did she theem like she wath in a better mood than uthual?”

I stopped in my tracks and raised an eyebrow in Whisper's direction. “Better mood? Better?” I shook my head. “Did you see how much she complained about the dress?”

“A lot leth than she normally would. It'h a big event!”

I still looked at her with a skeptical eye, but she had known River for a lot longer than me, after all. “Aw, who cares. It doesn't matter.”

Whisper stared at me, slack-jawed. I could tell that not caring about River's moods was a foreign concept for her.

“Anyway, I'd better get going if I'm gonna get breakfast before I go.”

“You're not gonna wear anything thpecial?” Whisper cocked her head to the side.

“Of course not.”– I laughed. –“I didn't even bring anything!”

Whisper blinked, then looked over at her suitcase and back to me. “Oh... Well, I gueth I won't either.”

I started to question that, but then I just shrugged it off as unimportant. I had bigger and better things to think about. “Well, I'm off. See you at the fair,” I called behind me as I opened the door.

“Hey!” Whisper trailed close behind. “Wait up!”

The staggering opulence of Canterlot's buildings towered around me as I made my way to the carnival. Like Missus Primrose had ordered us all to, I stuck close to the pony in front of me, a pink and blue filly I hadn't talked to before. I gaped at the ornate buildings all around me, still unused to the grandeur of Canterlot's golden spires.

“Oh! We are gonna have tho much fun!” Whisper skipped along right behind me. “Watcha wanna do firtht? Ferith wheel? The gameth?” Her face lit up. “Ooh! Ooh! What about the water thlide? I heard there wath gonna be a water thlide!”

Wait. Did she...? “You're talking like you're planning to spend the whole day with–”

“Alright my little ponies!” Miss Honeydown called out from the back of the line. “We're almost there! Now, before you all go in, I want to remind you that I'll be waiting at the entrance if anypony needs help. Missus Primrose and Headmaster Herald Dust will be roaming around the fairgrounds, too, keeping an eye on everypony.” Her voice grew even more upbeat. “And remember, don't split off until after you pass the gates at the entrance. But mostly, have fun!”

As I rounded the next corner, the carnival finally came into view. A huge crowd of ponies milled around a pair of streamer-bedecked flagpoles. Most of them looked to be well-to-do Canterlot natives, all dressed up and with their noses held high, but more than a few sported styles that clearly marked them as being from out of town. The head of our line was already burrowing into the crowd, and before I knew it, I slipped into the crush of ponies all around, too. Beyond the babble of ponies around me, I could catch a few bouncing notes of music from inside. Despite all the disturbances surrounding me, I could smell a whiff of deep-fried carnival food. Hardly even realizing it, I picked up my pace.

As soon as I passed through the colorful gates, a cluster of my fellow students engulfed me. Although some of them immediately took off into the fairgrounds, many of them stayed, either in indecision about what to do first or, like me, looking for their friends.

Whisper jumped up next to me, uncharacteristically forward in her excitement. “Okay, Thcootaloo, where should we go? How about–”

“Scootaloo! There you are! I've been looking everywhere.” Even when excited, Whisper's voice was easily drowned out by Ruby Shine's shout. “So, ready to go?”

“You bet!” I'd been looking forward to this for a long time now, and for more reasons than one. “Let's go get some–”

“Wait...” Whisper rushed up and blocked my path. “Ruby ith coming with uth? Are you thure that's thuch a good idea?”

I winced. I never told her about Ruby, of course, but I had never promised to hang out with her either. “Uh, well... actually, he's just coming with me.”

Her mouth dropped open and heartbreak tore through her eyes. Even her ears drooped down. “I... I'm not invited?”

“Well”– I blushed as I smiled toward Ruby –“it's kind of a date.”

“And three would be sort of a crowd.” Ruby's addition was a little more blunt than I would have liked, but maybe that was necessary to get the point across.

“Oh, uh... well, thorry... I didn't mean to...” Whisper dropped her head down and looked away. She sighed before turning back to me with a resolute stare. “Good luck, Thcootaloo. Have fun today.” Her sharp glance at Ruby was so quick I almost missed it, but I could tell she wasn't happy with the colt.

“Come on, Scootaloo, let's get out there before all the queues fill up!”

I shook off Whisper's disappointment. In my rush to keep up with Ruby, I scarcely even noticed her still standing there, pining after me. I rushed down the crowded lane between food vendors, struggling to catch up as the rich smells from all around me buffeted me almost as roughly as the ponies I dodged around.

Finally, I caught up to him. “Where are we... going in such... a hurry... anyway?” I panted, straining to catch my breath.

“The Cyclotron,” he replied, still running along. “It's the biggest, baddest thrill ride in all of Equestria, and I want to get there before the line gets too long.”

Now that sounded promising! What a way to start the day off with a bang! I trailed Ruby in a mad dash through the crowds around the food vendors' stalls. Beyond those sprawled the midway rides in their gaudy colors. More than a few of them were obviously too tame for a pony as cool as myself, but some of them looked like a blast. Still, we were on a mission; we had no time to waste on these little filly rides.

As we neared the back of the fairgrounds, the crowds thinned out and I finally caught a glimpse of our goal. The top of the Cyclotron rose above the few rides still in the way; its nested green rings already spun in a dizzying display. We followed the curved path around the last few rides, and there it loomed in all its majesty. Ring after ring nested inside each other, each spinning in a different way, and the center ring housed a bunch of covered cars with ponies inside. The innermost ring could have been mistaken for a futuristic ferris wheel, if it wasn't busy spinning around every axis at once.

My jaw dropped. This ride was awesome! It more than lived up to the hype Ruby told me, and even better, the line wasn't even very long yet, maybe only a dozen ponies in it so far. I gave Ruby a huge smile. His idea to skip ahead to this ride had been perfect!

He nodded towards the entrance, and we rushed up into the line. We both had to strain and stand on the tips of our hooves to get by the 'you must be this tall to ride' sign, and though the attendant raised an eyebrow at us, she didn't stop us.

“Two bits each, please,” she droned, looking right through us like we weren't even there.

My heart sank. Of course the carnival wouldn't be free. I was a fool to think otherwise. I hadn't brought any money though. I didn't have any, to be honest. I never had. It looked like I wasn't going to have such a great time here after all.

“Here you are.” Ruby tossed four shiny coins up to the attendant, who then waved us through.

I looked over at Ruby in gratitude and surprise. I hadn't expected this kind of treatment. “Oh my gosh! Thank you so much!”

“Eh, it's nothing, really.”

“It's a big deal to me!” I squealed. “I wouldn't have gotten to ride if it wasn't for you.”

“Well, that's just the way you're supposed to treat a lady.” He shrugged.

I smiled and glanced away, but inwardly I felt a warm thrill. Nopony had ever called me a 'lady' before, and I liked it. It even made the constant drumming whine of the ride's machinery seem to slow and change pitch... Wait. No, that was... “The ride is slowing down!” I cried out. “It'll be our turn soon!”

Ruby just smirked as he watched me bounce in excitement.

A few more ponies filed in behind us as the Cyclotron ground to a halt. When it finally stopped, all the rings lined up together and made it look like just one big disk. It sure was more impressive when it was moving though! The disk began rotating slowly as a ramp raised up and ponies began methodically loading and unloading from the ride's cars.

Seeing that made me even more grateful for Ruby's advice on coming here first.

Thanks to his planning, though, we were already working our way to the front. In just moments, the ponies ahead of us stepped into their car, and the next one rolled around to us. It was finally time!

I could hardly contain myself as I followed Ruby into the car, our hooves clacking against its brightly painted steel deck. The door closed with an intimidating clang, and we had to strap ourselves into a spartan wooden seat that had obvious wear marks, but I didn't care about any of that. I couldn't wait for the ride to finally start. Only one more car behind ours still needed to be filled, and as we stopped to wait, already tilting upwards, I was glad that we wouldn't have to wait it out hanging upside down like some of the poor ponies above us.

The last car's door slammed shut with a harsh clank, and the ride was finally ready to go. A padded bar shoved itself down onto our laps to hold us down, and the whirring of the ride's machinery came to life. The ride began with the inner ring just spinning by itself, a simple loop like I'd done many times before. Quickly, though, it became more interesting. One by one, the other rings started to spin and turn as well, and the car swirled around in all kinds of ways.

As much as I might have liked to play up my bravado, it got pretty intense. I screamed right along with all the other ponies on the ride, and as the machine pressed us together against the side of the car, I reveled in the feeling of Ruby's warm fur pressing against me. The ride whirled on, twisting around in every direction, and I rode through every spiral and turn, screaming my heart out and squeezing Ruby close.

Just as I began to feel the dizziness I should have expected from having my world spin in every direction at once, the sounds of the ride's machinery began to wind down. As the car's mad tumble slowed, I let go of Ruby with a wince. I didn't want to let go, but my excuse to keep holding on rapidly whirred to a halt.

When the ride finally stopped, I realized just how dizzy it had made me. Even though we weren't moving, my head still spun.

Ruby looked over at me and giggled a little, probably at the faces I was making, but I didn't blame him; I knew I must have looked like a wreck. “You're cute when your eyes are all wobbly,” he said with another giggle.

A clang from one of the ride's doors resounded behind us, and then the wheel lurched forward a short distance. Of course. They were loading and unloading again. After another lurch, our car pointed straight up, and my stomach gave a lurch of its own. I paled in the sudden realization that we would have to go all the way around before we could get off. Another turn of the wheel left us in an awkward almost-inverted position, and my abused sense of equilibrium gave another vehement complaint.

I knew I wanted to stay strong and in control, especially in front of Ruby, but as the ride clicked around to put us totally upside-down and all my blood rushed to my head, I was far from sure that I would be able to.

Ruby just smiled at me and threw his hoof over my shoulder, as if he knew exactly what I needed.

As the ride lurched around again, putting us in the most awkward orientation yet, I truly was grateful for Ruby's firm grip on me. It did make me feel safer and more secure.

After a couple more lurching turns, we were in a much more tolerable position, almost at the bottom of the wheel again, and almost right side up again. Still, though, I made no move to brush Ruby's hoof off of me. It felt warm and fuzzy and firm at the same time, and he squeezed me just enough to hold me tight without being uncomfortable.

When our car finally made it to the bottom though, we did have to let go of each other. The restraining bar lifted and the door opened. With a sigh, I let Ruby's hoof slip away from me and unbuckled my safety belt. It was a shame we had to stop now, but after all, the day was only beginning.

I wobbled a little as I stepped out of the ride, but I managed to put on a brave face.

“Well, I don't suppose now is such a great time to try riding it again, is it?” Ruby pointed to the line in front of the ride – it stretched far longer than it had when we arrived. I couldn't see the end of it. It didn't bother me, though. I didn't think my stomach could take another round of the Cyclotron just yet.

Once again, I was glad Ruby had come up with the idea of coming here first. “Okay, what next then?”

“Well,”– he looked back over toward the food booths –“how about getting a snack?”

My stomach gave another tumultuous complaint. No, I definitely needed some time to recover from the Cyclotron before getting any heavy, fried carnival food. “Nah, I'm not hungry,” I lied, “I had a big breakfast.” I looked around for some alternative distraction that would give my insides a chance to settle down. A bit further down the path was just the thing. “Ooh, look, a funhouse! Let's go!”

I didn't wait for Ruby and I took off towards it, but before I got far, he shrugged and ran to catch up.

There was hardly any line for the funhouse at all, and as we rushed in, Ruby again paid the fare – one bit each this time. Where would I have been without him? As soon as we got through the entrance, we passed through a tall arch into a maze of clear glass walls and mirrors.

“Aw, brilliant!” Ruby cried out, “Race you to the other side!”

“A race?” A smug grin broke out on my face. “You are so on!”

I rushed on towards what I thought was an open path, only to smash right into a clear wall. I shook my head to clear away the stars as I picked myself up, and I searched around for Ruby Shine. He wasn't behind me, so he must have taken a different route.

In just a moment, I spotted him off to my left... running directly towards me! I winced, waiting for the impact, but it never came. Instead, he turned in the direction of the wall I had just run into, impossibly going right through it before disappearing. I had just been looking at his reflection, I realized.

I set off into the maze again, more carefully this time. I wasn't going to win this by rushing blindly ahead, after all. As I probed my way through the corners and false dead ends, a gratifying thud reverberated through the maze. Ruby must have hit something. Now I didn't feel so bad about it.

Ahead, I spotted the exit of the maze, but I stopped short when I noticed the glass wall in between me and it. Ruby, though, had a straight shot at the exit now, I could see.

There was only one way left I was going to win this, I knew. I focused my magic, flapped my wings furiously, and thought about nothing except being right there at the finish line.

With a purple flash, I appeared at the maze's exit. I wasted no time in stepping across the line. “I win!”

Ruby crossed the line only a moment behind me. “Hey, no fair! You used magic!”

“Silly!” I laughed. “Everypony knows pegasus ponies can't do magic!”

He shook his head, but he couldn't stop himself from joining in with my laughter. “You're mad, you know that? Completely mad.” With a shrug, he rushed back further into the funhouse. “Come on then. Let's see what else is in here.”

We trotted on into the next room, a staircase that, either through an optical illusion or some magic I couldn't sense, looked like it led downwards when it actually led upwards.

After navigating those tricky, colorful stairs, we came to a circular room where the whole floor spun and turned around in different brightly colored pieces. We laughed and stumbled our way through, stumbling right into each other more than once.

To finally get to the other side, I even hopped up and made a very respectable long jump on my wings.

Ruby stomped a hoof down as he finally caught up. “Aw, come on! You're cheating again?”

“Yep!” I laughed and stuck my tongue out at him.

Shaking his head, he followed me through the next doorway.

The next room held a collection of oddly-shaped mirrors. I wasn't sure what to do, but Ruby rushed right up to one and waved me over.

As soon as I walked up, I saw what it was about. Our reflections stood there gaping back at us, but with tiny bodies and enormous heads.

I laughed as Ruby tried making some silly faces, sticking his tongue out and crossing his eyes.

At the next mirror, we both looked tiny. Maybe it was made for full grown ponies? That gave me an idea though. I jumped up and hovered on my wings for a moment, and just for that little moment, my reflection dwarfed Ruby's.

We both broke out laughing as I came down. “So you think you're a big pony now, do you?” he joked, pushing me to the side.

“The biggest!” I laughed back and hopped over to the next mirror. “Ooh! Look at this one!”

We stopped in front of mirrors that made us look tall, and ones that made us look thin; we stopped at ones that made us look fat and ones that made us look short.

Before long, though, we made our way to a door that shone with real sunlight, and we found the way out of the funhouse.

I stopped for a moment, blinking in the brightness.

“Ready to go and get some snacks now?” Ruby's eyes didn't seem to be faring any better in the abrupt light.

My stomach had calmed down completely while in the funhouse without me even noticing, I realized. “Sure!”

I followed Ruby back through the fairgrounds, working my way through the mumbling crowd and around the bright, noisy rides. Before long, we made it to the other side of the kaleidoscope of color and sound to our goal – the food stands.

Again, a multitude of sweet and savory scents all clamored for recognition at the same time, from dozens of different booths and all the different foods being carried by the ponies around me.

“So, what do you feel like having?” Ruby asked.

I looked around, at a loss with this bonanza of choices. It looked like a pony could get just about anything here – especially if she wanted it deep fried, on a stick, or both. After a moment, I spotted an amazing funnel cake with chocolate and banana slices on it in the hooves of a grey unicorn mare. I ran up to her and asked, “'Scuse me, where'd you get that?”

The mare rolled her eyes, looking annoyed to have been asked, but she pointed a hoof at a tall white booth, one of the last in the line.

I shouted a quick “Thank you!” as I ran back over to Ruby. I waved him along and continued on through the crush of the crowd until I reached the booth I was looking for.

Pictures of delicious-looking funnel cakes adorned its tall white façade, and a chubby blue earth pony sat just inside. She started a whirlwind of banter as soon as she saw us coming. “Why step right up, little ones! My name's Blueberry, and right here I've got the tip-top, very best funnel cakes in this whole fair – in all of Equestria, some say! We've got your good ol' powdered sugar, but why stop there?” She winked at us. “'Cause we've got strawberries and cream, bananas and chocolate, and even apple cinnamon, made with apples from Sweet Apple Acres. Also the best in Equestria!”

Though I would never dare admit it where Apple Bloom could hear me, I'd tasted more than enough of her family's apples in my lifetime. “I'll take a strawberry one, please.”

“And a banana for me – it's my favourite,” Ruby added in from beside me.

“Sure thing!” She disappeared into the back of the booth for a moment, but soon came back and dropped two little paper plates down on the well-worn counter. “That'll be nine bits, please.”

Nine bits for a couple snacks? I coughed at the exorbitant price.

Ruby, though, just tossed the coins onto the counter and smoothly picked up our cakes with his steady telekinetic grip.

“Showoff,” I jibed.

Ruby laughed and led me through the thick crowd again, carefully weaving his way towards a small cluster of picnic tables tucked away to the side of the path.

We reached the little break area soon enough, and we even found an empty table – a lucky break, given how crowded the spot was.

I sat down next to Ruby, grateful to have found a table, even if it did have a few streaks of mustard on it.

Ruby grinned over at me, and my strawberry and cream funnel cake floated over, setting itself down in front of me. He wasted no time digging into his own, breaking pieces off directly with his magic.

I didn't have nearly good enough fine control over my levitation to attempt that. Instead, I stuck to using the flimsy plastic fork that came with my dish. Someday, maybe, I'd be able to eat the way Ruby was, but for now, I dug in with the fork, breaking off a few pieces of the tangled string of fried dough and making sure that I got plenty of strawberry and whipped cream topping along with it. My funnel cake, I had to admit, tasted wonderful – the sweet and tart strawberries mixed with the rich cream and fluffy cake just perfectly.

“Woah, Scootaloo, you have got to try this!” Apparently, Ruby enjoyed his, too. A bite of his funnel cake floated up in front of me.

Without hesitation, I jumped up and snatched it right out of the air with one chomp. His banana cake was sweeter and smoother, but it didn't have the tart strawberry kick that mine did. “Ooh, try mine!” I said, as soon as I finished the bite.

His eyes closed in bliss as he took a sample of my cake. “I have to admit, Scootaloo, you sure made a perfect choice of where to eat!”

I smiled, swimming in the warm praise. A day this wonderful was the last thing I would have expected just a couple days ago. Now, here I was sharing a great time with a cute colt. Cookie had been right – all I needed to do was to stay open to making new friends where I least expected, and everything would turn out fine.

I stepped off of the swinging ship ride for the fourth time, still just as enthusiastic about it as the first time. It looked pretty simple and dull from a distance, but it was actually really fun, especially the times when we managed to snag a seat at the front or the back. I was just about to run around to the end of the line again when Ruby stopped me.

“It'll be getting dark soon. You want to check out some of the games before we go?”

I stood still, conflicted for a moment, before deciding. “Sure. I don't want to miss out!”

“Well, crack on then – let's go!” He cantered off toward the game boards, smiling back at me as he ran.

I took off in hot pursuit. “So, which one first?”

“Come on, Scootaloo, you can do it!”

I drew my hoof back and squinted my eyes, aiming my last little Cadance dart at the row of moving crystal hearts in front of me. With a grunt, I let fly. The little alicorn-shaped dart flew straight and true – right in between two of the heart-shaped balloons.

Ruby fell silent. I couldn't see or hear it with him behind me, but I was sure he sighed.

I growled in frustration. That was the fourth time so far I'd missed with all three throws! How was that even possible? The only reason I'd come to this booth – it seemed to be modeled after the story of how Shining Armor threw his wife to save the Crystal Empire – was to get one of the little stuffed Spike dolls they gave out as prizes. It would be fun to show the baby dragon a toy of himself when I went back home... Only I couldn't seem to win one! “Ugh! Why does every game in this carnival have to be rigged?”

“Now don't fret there, little feathered filly, and don't despair,” the bright yellow mare manning the booth said, never losing her over-wide smile for even a moment. “I can assure you this humble game of luck and skill is one hundred percent entirely clean and fair!”

I rolled my eyes. Of course the mare in charge would say that.

Ruby stepped up next to me. “Let me have a go at it. I've always been clever with my hooves.”

“You think you can?” I asked as he tossed yet another two bits on the counter.

He just scooped up the Cadance darts the mare handed him and shot me a confident grin. Taking careful aim, he cocked his hoof back, readying for his first throw.

The first dart flew fast and high, sailing clear over the row of balloons.

Ruby winced. “Heh, these buggers fly better than I expected. Don't worry, I'll get the next one – right in the centre!” Without even seeming to aim, he launched the next dart. It shot straight through the center of a heart-shaped balloon; the popping sound echoed from the booth and through the clamor of the crowd behind us.

It was the most beautiful sound I'd heard all day. I jumped over and wrapped my hooves around Ruby, shouting, “You did it! You did it!”

Again, the smile never left the face of the mare behind the counter, not even for a moment. “There you go! What a throw! Straight and true – that means a prize for you!” She swept one of the little Spike dolls down off the wall next to her and plopped it onto the counter. “But you don't have to go away”– she looked straight at me –“care for another play?”

“Not today!” I swept up the prize, laughing at my imitation of her rhyme. I turned to Ruby. “It's gonna get dark soon, and I'm hungry after all these games.”

“Yeah!” His eyes looked oddly distant for a moment, but he recovered quickly. “How about some ice cream?”

“Totally! Let's go!” This time I ran ahead, with Ruby barely able to keep up. I skittered back and forth through the thick crowds and used my natural agility to my advantage. “Come on, slowpoke!” I looked back and laughed at how far behind Ruby already was. I did slow my pace just a little though; I didn't want to lose him entirely, after all.

I'd nearly made it through to the front of the line of ponies at the ice cream stand by the time Ruby caught up, wheezing and panting. “Ha... how can you... be... so fast?” he asked, still catching his breath. He looked around at where he was. “Huh... well at least... we don't have to queue for long.”

I laughed. “You don't, anyway, slowpoke.”

Before I could say anything else, the ponies ahead of us in the line walked away, happily carrying ice cream cones. A very big, very round, very white stallion waved us up to the counter. “Ha ha, what can I get for you two littles?” He waved his hoof toward the tall pictorial menu on the yellow wall next to him.

I looked over the different pictures for a moment; it didn't take me long to decide. “Rainbow sherbet, please!”

“Ha ho, good choice! And you, lad?”

Ruby stared at the different pictures for a while longer than I had. “Cherry flavoured,” he decided, finally.

The big stallion moved faster than his bulk suggested, and our two ice cream cones appeared on the counter in short order.

Ruby tossed six bits onto the counter before the rotund stallion even asked for it, once again paying my way.

“Heh he, thank you, good little sir, and enjoy!”

As we stepped away, Ruby holding both of our treats in his magical glow, I could already hear the big stallion welcoming his next customers; it was hardly a quiet voice, after all.

I couldn't wait to take a bite of mine. “Oh, I think I see an open table over there!” I cried out to Ruby, pointing my hoof. “Come on, let's go!”

“Hm, no. I have someplace a bit more special in mind – follow me!” Ruby took off through the crowd, still holding both ice cream cones.

“Hey! Come back!” I chased after him, steadily gaining on his short red tail as I trailed it through the crowd.

I caught him just as we reached the low wall at the edge of the fairgrounds.

Just as I was about to pounce, he turned towards me and offered me my cone. “Here's your sherbet, Scootaloo. I thought this might be a nice place to stop when I spotted it earlier.”

As I glanced around, I saw he was definitely right. The crowd was thin here, just little isolated groups of ponies wandering around, and between two show tents that seemed to already be closed for the evening, a stone bench waited with a big rose bush behind it in full bloom. “Wow,” I said, “this is a nice place.”

“Well come on, then. Let's not give our ice cream time to melt!” Ruby hurried over to the bench and took a seat.

I grabbed my cone out of his hooves as soon as I sat down next to him, and bit into the colorful dessert. The sudden mix of all six flavors lit me up just like I hoped it would, and I sighed in satisfaction, dropping the little Spike doll down next to me and settling in.

As I looked out over the fair, though, I could see the sky already beginning to take on an amber tinge. The day, and our time at the fair, would be coming to an end soon. I took another bite of sherbet, silently wishing it didn't have to end, but then I looked around me.

One by one, the lights of the fair flickered on, the muffled cries and conversations of the ponies around grew more subdued, and the sky developed into a magnificent sunset. I had my ice cream, and I was sitting on a nice isolated bench with a cute, generous colt. No, I didn't want to waste this moment by only thinking about how it would end.

So, I enjoyed it. I watched the slow, colorful sunset, and I savored my even more colorful sherbet. I breathed in the cool evening air and edged maybe just a little too close to the warm colt beside me.

I watched Ruby Shine finish the last of his ice cream cone. I followed suit, enjoying even the last little crunchy bits.

The sun was on its way down now, and the sky edged its way from orange to dark red. We should, perhaps, have been heading back into the fair for a last few minutes. Or maybe even heading back – all the rides' lights were twinkling now. I didn't make any move to get up, though, and neither did Ruby.

“Ruby?” I inched a tiny bit closer.

“Yeah, Scootaloo?”

“Thank you for taking me out like this. It really means a lot to me.”

He chuckled. “It's no big deal, honestly.”

“It's a big deal to me!” I put a hoof on his shoulder. “Because, well, ever since I lost my parents, I've been alone way too much.” I looked down at the trampled grass under our feet. “It means a lot to have a real friend.”

Any sign of mirth was gone from his face now. He looked me right in the eyes. “You don't have to be alone.”

My breath was taken away, and I didn't know what to say. Without even realizing it, I leaned in a little closer.

He slowly leaned in, too, leaving only the tiniest gap between our faces.

My heart raced as I realized what was happening, and I could hardly breathe. I couldn't believe I was about to get my very first kiss! I closed my eyes and edged even further toward Ruby, closing the gap. I leaned in further, nervous anticipation burning inside me for the moment of contact, but still I wasn't quite there. I couldn't take the tension anymore. I thrust myself forward to close the rest of the gap.

The contact I had been waiting for never came. Off balance and confused, I flailed my hooves in the air for a moment before crashing into the cold stone of the bench. Before I could even come to terms with what happened, I slipped from my awkward perch and flopped down hard on the sparse grass below.

Ruby's laughter cut through me more cruelly than the impact with the bench had. “Did you see that, River? She totally thought I was going to snog her! You were right – she does fancy me!”

My heart froze into a solid block of ice when I looked up from my spot on the ground to see River Star and Lilly Pearl trotting out from behind the rosebush with big smiles on their faces.

Pearl let out a sharp, cackling laugh. “And did you see the way she fell flat on her face?”

“I know, right?” River joined in with a derisive chuckle. “I knew my plan was good, but I didn't expect it to be that good!” She gave Ruby a peck on the cheek. “Nice job. You're officially off the hook.”

I turned and looked over to Ruby, letting all the pain of betrayal show in my eyes. “Plan?”

He laughed again, slicing my heart. “Of course. You didn't really think that I would be interested in a little chav like you, did you? It was River Star who came up with the idea to see just how thick and gullible you really were... By the way, thanks for the spending money, River.”

My eyes wavered as I looked back and forth between all the cruel, mocking faces around me, but I forced the tears back, fighting them off. I had to be strong. I couldn't give them that satisfaction. I stood up, trembling but strong, and I wiped the dust and grass from my face. I wanted to face them down, to tell them what kind of monsters they were, but I didn't dare say anything for the fear that I'd lose control and end up sobbing in front of them.

After a moment of silently staring down their laughter, my legs trembling with rage and heartbreak, I did the only thing left to me. I turned and ran, leaving my tormentors behind me and leaving the little stuffed Spike doll forgotten on the stone bench.

I ran through the fairground crowds, jostling and crashing through the other ponies thanks to my blurry eyes. I didn't care about any of it anymore. All the bright, colored lights and cheerful voices around me just emphasized how truly alone I was. None of them noticed my pain, and not one of them cared to ask me what was wrong.

As I neared the entrance, I spotted Night Whisper sitting alone on another stone bench. How long had she been there? She reached out to me as I ran by, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop, not here. I couldn't stop until this carnival and all the tainted memories in it were far behind me.

Author's Note

Okay, I admit it.

The romance tag was a lie... just there to enhance the surprise at the end of this chapter.

The Call Of The Wild

squinted my eyes against the glare of the light. “No, I'm not getting up!” I wasn't sleepy – even though I hadn't slept all night – but I had given up on this school. I wanted no part of it anymore.

“Worm, why isn't the Chicken awake yet? I told you to get her up!”

“She won't get out of bed – she'th not thleeping, but she won't get up.” I hated to be getting Whisper in trouble with River, but I had already resolved to stay in bed all day.

Suddenly, I could feel River's silent presence behind me. “I thought I had given you enough lessons on what happens when you don't do what I say.” She poked me harshly – and very uncomfortably – right between the joints of my wings. “Get up!”

I still refused to move. “I'm done with playing your games, River. I'm done with all of it. I don't care!”

“You're lucky the Worm did all of your work for you, or I'd make you get out of bed and then punish you properly, but... I've got breakfast to get to.” She turned and headed for the door. “Later, losers!”

“Thcootaloo, she'th gone now, you can come out.”

“I told you, I'm not coming out.” I pulled the blankets over my head.

“But... today ith the levi-ball day. Mith Honeydown thays it's gonna be really fun. And besideth, everypony hath to go.”

“I don't care.”

“But Thcootaloo, you–”

“I don't care! Go away.”

No response came from Whisper this time. A moment later, I heard the door open and close again, finally leaving me alone with my thoughts.

They weren't nice thoughts, of course. Ever since I had come to magic kindergarten, things had just been getting worse and worse. Even when they seemed to be getting better, it would just be a precursor to an even greater fall. So why try anymore? Why do anything? Maybe I could just wait it out, not even getting out of bed again until it was time to go home.

Crying myself to sleep last night might have been a relief, except that I neither cried nor slept at all. Even though they weren't here to see me now, I still couldn't give River and Ruby the satisfaction of my tears. That would make their victory over me complete.

I just wanted my time here to end somehow. I would do anything, as long as it meant I could go home, as long as it meant I didn't have to spend another wretched day in this place.

I should have known. I should have never given Ruby a second chance after he stabbed me in the back once already. That colt was a snake, and now I knew I could never trust him. I should have realized it sooner, if only I hadn't been so stupid... and what about Whisper? I had blown her off and cast her aside when she was the only real friend I had here. How could I ask her to forgive me when I couldn't even forgive myself?

My thoughts continued turning in dark little circles all morning as I hid from the world under my blankets. Hours passed, and yet, I didn't feel hungry or thirsty or anything. All I wanted was to stay here and keep the horrible world at bay.

I winced as I heard a harsh clank from the lock on my door being magically forced open. That could only mean that another interruption was coming.

“Scootaloo, is that you there?” I instantly recognized the perpetually strained voice of Missus Primrose.

“Yeah,” I mumbled, as quietly as I could.

“You've missed the entire first half of the levi-ball game.”

I let her disapproving words fade into the silence of the room without a response.

“Are you feeling ill?”

“No.”

A cold magical grip seized my whole body, and I flew through the air to land squarely on my feet in front of my scowling teacher.

“Then you will immediately cease this lazy truancy and get out of here!”

I had never heard Missus Primrose raise her voice like that. “Yes ma'am,” I called out before even realizing it.

“Now,” she continued, “it is already nearly lunchtime, so I suggest you make your way to the kitchens and complete your allotted discipline there.” She glared at me with her eyes squinted with one brow raised.

That rekindled my spirits just a little, actually. I would be able to talk to Sugar Cookie. He was perhaps the only real friend I had left here. I knew he wouldn't be able to fix any of it, but at least he deserved to know what happened. I slunk out of the room under the watchful eye of my teacher, only to pick up my pace as soon as I made it out into the hall.

The dining hall dully echoed my own hoofsteps back at me as I charged inside. Not a single pony had arrived yet. Nevertheless, I hurried through it and into the kitchens.

“Hey dere, little filly, you here early!” Even though he seemed busy chopping vegetables, he rushed over to see me. “How your date went?”

The way my face fell silenced his enthusiasm.

“Dat bad, huh?”

I just nodded.

“Well, you come up next ta me while I chop up dese carrot an' tell Cookie all 'bout it.”

Where should I start? As I took a seat on the stool next to Cookie's chopping table, I sighed. “Well, it all started with how you told me to be on the lookout for new friends where I least expected...”

“ ...and then all three of them just laughed at me. It had been their plan all along. So, well, I ran away. What else could I do?”

“Dat Ruby colt sho is a col' one.”

“I know, right?” I shook my head. “How could he do something like that?”

“He musta been da best actor anypony ever seen, an' 'ave a heart o' stone.”

I went back to my sulking, and the tears in my eyes weren't entirely due to the onions Cookie had moved on to chopping. “I just can't take it anymore. I've gotta get out of here somehow.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “Somehow, no matter what it takes... even if it's something drastic like–”

“Don' you even say it, filly,” Cookie's voice boomed out, “Don' you even think it!”

“But–”

“You got jus' two days lef'. I ain't hearin' no fool filly talk 'bout hurtin' herself to get outta jus' two days!”

“Two and a half days,” I corrected, “Today's not over yet.”

He just stared me down, reminding me that his point still stood.

“Cookie, I can't–”

“Who you is?”

“Huh?” He knew who I was. “I'm Scootaloo.”

“I know ya name, filly. I'm askin' who ya is.” He stomped a big hoof onto the table. “A name don' mean nothin'. What make you special? What you good at?”

“Well...” It made me think. “I've always wanted to be like Rainbow Dash.”

“An' would dis Rainbow Dash be scared o' two days?”

“No.” I looked down at the floor. “But any chance of being like her died when I found out these stupid wings”– I fluttered them –“are for magic instead of flying.”

“An' who say you cain't use magic to be like 'er?”

“Are you kidding? I can't...” I thought back to my practice session earlier, when I had begun to get good at short-range teleporting. “Well, maybe I could use magic for stunts, but–”

“No 'but'!” He patted me on the back. “Imma tell you a little secret. Sometimes ya cain't depend on other ponies to help ya. Sometimes ya gotta jus' be you, even when da whole worl' say diffrent.” He tilted my chin up with a hoof, bringing me up from staring at the floor to looking into his soul-piercing eyes. “Filly like you ain't got nopony but 'erself to tell 'er 'ow good she is... but dat's okay, 'cause when you get right down to it, das all anypony's got, ya hear?”

I gave him a reluctant nod, unsure that I like the sound of being all alone.

“An' when ya respect yaself an' is yaself, den you might just earn some real respect. Ain't nopony gonna respect you for tryin' to be somepony else – you want respect, you gotta earn it ya own way.”

“Thanks, Cookie.” I gave him a big hug that seemed to take him entirely by surprise. “Thanks for everything.”

Before I pulled away, the school's bell rang. Cookie chuckled and patted me on the back. “Ya very welcome, lil' filly.” Setting me down, he shoved me away. “Now dat's fo you – time you be getting' back to ya playtime instead o' bein' punished with me!”

I could tell from the sly grin on his face that he wasn't serious, and I laughed along with him. We both knew this 'punishment' was the highlight of my day.

“Run along now, filly, don' be late.”

I waved back at Cookie on my way out, but again, I had no intention of participating in any group sports. I had an altogether different destination in mind.

Moving as slowly as I could to avoid drawing any attention, I edged my way around the outside of the colts' dormitory. All the other ponies, even the teachers, seemed to be too engrossed in their levi-ball game to even look in my direction. Still, I figured that I should be careful; I didn't even know what the penalty for sneaking around the school grounds while skipping a mandatory activity might be, but I didn't care to find out.

A sudden cheer broke out from the middle of the courtyard. The ball flew high and fast towards the far side, a dozen different colors of magical aura surrounding it, and all the players in red vests frantically chased after it, all of them shouting to each other the whole way.

It was just the opportunity I had been waiting for. With everypony else's eyes glued to the game, I made a dash for the building's door and slipped inside, unseen by anypony.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind me, the musty stillness of the empty hallway struck me. After all the commotion outside, the stale air and muted echoes inside gave me the shivers.

I gingerly stalked around the corner into the main hall, for some reason reluctant to break the silence around me. I could feel it, as if it were somepony hiding right behind me, waiting to pounce as soon as I made a wrong move.

Shaking off the disturbing feeling of being quietly and malevolently watched, I hurried to the magic practice room. I knew nothing and nopony was there, of course, but something about the achingly empty schoolhouse did have me looking back over my shoulder more than necessary.

A wave of relief washed over me as soon as I set foot in the practice room. Even though this room was just as empty as the hall outside, the bright light filtering in through the windows onto the warm wooden floor somehow made the emptiness welcoming rather than eerie, and the sparkling motes of dust caught in the sunbeams made the silence feel tranquil rather than foreboding. Now I could relax and finally begin my secret practice session.

I took a deep breath. How to begin? When I had mentioned to Cookie that I might use magic for stunts, it had seemed so obvious and straightforward, but now I found myself stuck at the very basic question of 'how?'

Well, I seemed to have a knack for teleporting... why not start there? I tried to clear my mind as I stepped over to the black scorch mark in the center of the room. I couldn't help but anticipate all I might do today – the scorch mark did remind me to be careful, though. I briefly wondered what kind of spell-gone-wrong had caused it, and what kind of unicorn could have had so much power even just in magic kindergarten.

Reaching the center of the room, I paused for a moment. Should I really be here, all alone, trying to–

I shook my head. No more doubts, no more questions – it was time to start already! I concentrated and flapped my wings, feeling the now-familiar buildup and flow of magical energy. With only a slight strain, I focused my will onto being in the far corner of the room.

With a pop and a purple flash, I was there. Repeating the exercise, I popped back into the center of the room. This was foal's play for me now, after having practiced it so much in class. Still, lots of unicorns could teleport. It hardly counted as a 'stunt'. I needed something different, but what?

I had practiced teleporting as far as I could within the classroom already, and besides, nopony would think much of it even if I could blink from horizon to horizon. That was nothing new for a powerful unicorn. I needed something new and different.

Maybe I could teleport faster? I pooled my energy again, focusing on speed this time, and blinked just a hoof-length to the left.

I nodded my head in approval, appreciating my already-impressive speed. What would happen if I practiced that even more?

Grunting as I strained myself, I fluttered my wings as fast as they would go, and I dared to draw on more magical energy than I ever had before. Once, twice, three times I flashed myself over just a hoof-length or so, and I felt the magic rush through me. It was the most exhilarating thing I had ever experienced, and I realized that the smaller the distance I went, the quicker and easier it became.

Would that trend keep going, all the way down? Grinning confidently, I knew I had to try it! Again, I gathered my energy – it seemed to be getting easier each time – and focused on being where I wanted to go, the tiniest nudge to the right. With a barely discernible pop and flash, I was there, and I hardly even noticed the missing energy... Now I just needed to repeat it. I began again, working faster and faster, teleporting dozens, hundreds of times in a row, each one over a tiny distance. I kept at it, improving my speed until the tiny pops meshed together into a single high-pitched whine and the tiny flashes merged into a continuous glow. Before I knew it, I had reached the far wall of the room without taking a single step. Now that was a stunt! Unable to contain myself, I used the technique to send myself zooming all the way around the outer wall of the room.

I finally stopped back in the center of the room, sweating and panting, but feeling more alive than I ever had. This trick was awesome, and the trail of screaming sound and purple glowing sparks it left in my wake just made it even cooler! There was no way it could be topped, unless...

Still panting, I shook my head. That would be too good to be true. There was no way it was going to work... but... what if it did?

As soon as I caught my breath, I started again. This time, though, instead of focusing on tiny sideways steps, I focused on going up. Immediately, I shot into the air, accompanied by the now-familiar trail of sound and light. I was flying! It may have been by magic instead of wingpower, but I was flying!

I let myself get so worked up with that realization that I forgot to keep the spell going when my head hit the ceiling. Down I crashed, sprawling painfully out on the wooden floor. I didn't let that bother me in the slightest, though – I had been through plenty of worse crashes – the important thing was that I has just flown under my own power! I couldn't wait to show my friends back home. What would Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle think of it? What would Rainbow Dash think of it? This was going to be perfect!

Dropping into the spell again – it hardly took any effort this time – I combined the two techniques and flew a screaming, sparkling victory lap around the room. Coming down for a safe landing this time, I couldn't help but prance with joy; I finally knew I had found my true talent, and it was awesome!

With one more loop, I perfected my triple back flip. I'd be catching up to Rainbow Dash levels of awesome in no time! I stopped my spell, let myself drop back down to the floor, and wiped some of the sweat from my forelock.

Instead of the room fading back into a restful silence, though, I could hear shouts and laughter from out in the hall.

The cold realization was already stabbing into me, but I had to be sure. I rushed to the door, opened it just a crack, and peeked outside.

All the school's colts were filing through the hall, laughing, shouting, and crying out to each other as they headed back to their rooms for the night.

I quickly – but quietly – shut the door and pressed my back against it, panic already gripping at me. How could I have missed both the dinner bell and the dismissal bell? How could I have let time get away from me like that? And what would I do now? As soon as I left the room, everypony there would know I didn't belong here. I couldn't just wait it out either; I knew the teachers would be in their offices for hours, and I couldn't risk being caught by them. Stay here all night? River would notice me missing, and she'd be sure to get me in as much trouble as possible for it.

I collapsed down onto the floor. I was doomed – no matter what I did now, I would be in for a lot of trouble and embarrassment. I could already feel the tightness in my chest just thinking about what I was in for. What was I thinking, sneaking off like that? I should have known I would get in trouble for it! Now there was no way out... unless... I shook my head. It was a stupid idea; there was no way I could pull it off. Yet, it would solve my problem... Could I teleport all the way back to my room? I had never teleported anywhere near that far before, and I'd never gone anywhere I couldn't see before. What was my other option, though? Jump out in the hall and try to blend in with the colts? Wait for one of the teachers to find me? With a little nod to myself, I made up my mind – why not try? What was the worst that could happen, anyway?

I paced my way back to the scorch mark in the center of the room; it just seemed appropriate somehow. Now, if there was anything my teachers had drilled into me about teleporting, it was to have a clearly defined destination before you even start. Where should I go? I couldn't go straight back to my room – River would turn me in for doing magic without permission. I couldn't go to the hallway either, for the same reason – the hallway would still be full of little fillies, all of them ready to tattle on me. So where else? Where would be empty this time of day? The lunchroom. I grinned to myself. That would be the perfect place.

Now I just had to... well, do it. I giggled nervously at my own hubris. That would be the easy part, right? I closed my eyes, cleared my mind, and pooled more magical energy in myself than I had ever dared to before. Slowly at first, but quickly building up speed, I began flapping my wings.

Suddenly, the familiar glow of magic flowing through my wings flared up far brighter than I had ever seen before, dazzling me even through my closed eyes. I cried out and tried to stop it, but the spell seemed to have a life of its own now. I strained to keep my destination in mind, desperate to keep the spell under control. I didn't know what would happen if I lost it, but I was pretty sure it wouldn't be good. I clung to the thought of the school's cafeteria. It was my only lifeline in the maelstrom of energy flowing around me. With an even brighter flash and a strained groan, the world around me vanished.

I flashed into the corner of the lunchroom, surrounded by an explosion of wasted magical energy. I winced and groaned as I picked myself up off of the floor. My mane and wings were singed black at the tips, and I could already feel the beginnings of a massive headache, but I did it! I was free and clear!

The sound of somepony clearing his throat brought my attention back to the real world.

I looked up to see Cookie staring at me over the top of a half-cleaned table, his hoof still holding a dripping rag. Despite the growing pain in my head, I managed a smile and a wave.

Cookie didn't move, except for slowly raising an eyebrow.

Not wanting a confrontation just now, I rushed for the door.

Cookie called out to me as I scuttled away, “You be careful now, lil' filly!”

As I slipped out through the door into the hallway, I stumbled, barely catching myself before I hit the floor. I shook it off easily, of course, but the painful straining, stretching feeling spread from my head to everywhere else in my body. My joints felt like they were cracking on every step of the way up the staircase, and my wings were on fire as I weakly plodded through the hall to my room.

Magic overload, of course. Missus Primrose had warned me about it in that very first safety lecture. I had stretched my abilities too far, and now I had to pay the price. I pushed open the door to the room and limped in, heading straight for my bed. Maybe sleep could cure it.

The soft pillows and blankets wrapped around me as I plopped down into my bed. I breathed a sigh of relief; just being able to lay down and relax my tense muscles was a huge relief.

A violet face and a dark blue mane popped down from the top of my bunk, ruining any chance I had of relaxing. “And just where have you been all day, Chicken?”

I rolled over, turning my back to her. River was the last pony I wanted to deal with right now. “Leave me alone, River.”

“Are you telling me what to do?” Her voice took on a venomous edge. “Now tell me where you were, and remember your place this time.” I could hear the faint sound of her horn glowing with magic.

I groaned. “They stuck me in detention all day because I wouldn't leave my room.”

She giggled, and I could hear her flop back into her own bunk. “And good riddance! Levi-ball is a unicorn's game. The only reason I wanted you there is so I could kick you out of the game, but it looks like my dad beat me to it!”

I snuggled up into my pillow and let River keep her fantasies, grateful she believed my lie. I was in no mood to argue with that pony, or anypony else for that matter. Still, it had been a good day. I'd gotten my secret practice session in and gotten away with it, and I wasn't going to let Ruby's betrayal keep bothering me... right? I couldn't believe that colt; for him to spend the whole day like that just to–

I forced myself to stop. That line of thinking was only making my aches worse. I wasn't about to let that happen when instead I could have my first good night's sleep in nearly a week.

“And you tied the bow on completely backwards!” River shoved the offending fashion accessory into my face, her eyes burning with rage.

I just shook my head. River Star had been in rare form today, and it was getting old. I had no idea how anypony could even tell if a bow was backwards or not. “River, I can't even–”

“Of course you can't!” She growled at the ceiling. I had never seen her like this before. “But is it because you're a dumb, useless Chicken who can't even do magic, or is it because you're just lazy?”

I refused to respond to that. Instead, I just let my face express how I felt about her taunting.

“Worm! I think Little Miss Pegasus here needs some extra punishment time. You stay here and make sure the Chicken doesn't leave until breakfast is over.

Whisper shrank a little further behind the chair she had been using for cover since River's tirade began. “But... um, River–”

River whirled around and shot just a moment of her rage at the blue filly.

With a terrified squeak, Whisper dropped out of sight completely, behind her chair. “Oh – ah, okay.”

River turned her attention back to me just long enough to favor me with a contemptuous sneer. “See you at exercise class, losers!”

As River slammed the door behind her, I rolled my eyes. I knew today was the talent demonstration in exercise class – then I'd show her just how much magic I could do!

In the meantime, though, I could use some breakfast, especially after my overexertion and skipping dinner yesterday. “Okay, Whisper, she's gone now, you don't have to do what she says anymore.” Taking Whisper's silence as agreement, I headed for the door – only to be blocked by her. “Aw, come on, Whisper!”

She shrank down, but she didn't get out of the way. “I'm thorry, Thcootaloo.”

I shook my head. With friends like this, who would ever need enemies?

Despite my lingering aches, and rumbling belly, I actually looked forward to exercise class today. I walked into the room with my defiant spirits high. This would be the day everypony saw what I was truly capable of, and I couldn't wait to see the looks on their faces.

I spotted River in her usual seat as soon as I stepped in. Her expression, of course, was anything but charitable. I wasn't concerned about it, though. I'd just wait and see what she looked like after she'd seen my special talent.

She patted the empty seat next to her, beckoning Whisper and me over.

I sighed and took the proffered seat. I knew that if I went somewhere else, she'd just follow me there anyway.

“Let's quiet down, now, please,” Miss Honeydown cooed, even though the fillies and colts in the room weren't all that loud in the first place. As the students settled into their seats, she continued, “Today, we're all going to be demonstrating our special talents. Everypony has a special talent, and for nearly all unicorns, that talent is where their magic is strongest.” She turned around in the middle of the ring of students, seeming to look at each and every one of them. “Now, who would like to go fir–”

“Oh! Oh! Me!” All eyes, mine included, were drawn to River.

“That's very nice of you to volunteer, River–” Miss Honeydown smiled warmly at her “–but I know you're going to have quite the amazing performance...”

River beamed a pride-filled smile.

“ ...And that means that some of the other ponies who go after you would find it a tough act to follow and feel bad about themselves. Let's have somepony a little less talented go first.”

I saw the teacher's gaze slip from River to me. Oh no. She had to be kidding! Was she really going to give me an introduction like that?

“Scootaloo, would you like to go first?”

Yep. She did.

With a sigh, I stood up from my chair and prepared to show off my talent. After a moment to think about it, though, this might be just the thing. She didn't want to make the others feel bad because they couldn't match the first performance? Well I did want to make them feel bad after how they had all looked down on me... and I had just the performance to do it!

I made sure to make a show of stretching out my wings before I started, proud of them for the first time since I came here – well, that, and because stretching them out really felt good after all those overload aches.

With a smug grin, I gathered my energy and flapped my wings. This was going to be epic. With only a single deep breath to prepare myself, I jumped into the micro-teleportation spell I had invented yesterday.

Instead, a huge purple explosion flashed in front of my face.

I was thrown backwards, bouncing a couple times against the rough wooden floor and skidding to a halt.

I groaned and tried to make sense of the room swirling around me. I was laying on my side now, and as I lifted my head up to see what had happened, my headache returned with a vengeance.

“Oh my goodness! Are you okay?” Miss Honeydown was by my side in no time.

“Ugh. I'm fine,” I lied, “I – I don't know what went wrong.”

“Are you sure you're okay?” The look of concern in her eyes would have been heartbreaking if there had been any sincerity behind it.

With a heroic effort, I rose to my feet. “Yeah. I'm fine.”

She smiled, but seemed to be at a loss for words for a moment. “Well, ah... That was quite an... um, impressive backfire, for a pegasus. Keep practicing and I'm sure you'll catch up.”

With a frustrated sigh that turned into a pained groan as soon as I moved, I limped back to my seat, staring at the floor the whole way and valiantly trying to ignore the hushed giggles of my classmates.

“Maybe your special talent is failing,” River whispered to me as soon as I sat down.

I slowly shook my head, wary of my growing headache. I still knew my talent, and I still had plenty to prove, and that was something... I just hoped that this exhaustion would fix itself before the magical exam tomorrow.

I plodded my way into the school's kitchen, head held low and tail dragging the ground. Missus Primrose hadn't been kidding when she warned that magical overexertion would sap all the strength and energy from a pony.

“Whoo-wee! What dey did to ya now?” Cookie stopped chopping vegetables and beckoned me over with a hoof. “Come tell me all 'bout it.”

One hoof at a time, I climbed my way up the barstool-like seat next to his own. The exhaustion was taking a toll on me; normally I would have just hopped onto it. “Well, it wasn't really anything somepony else did to me.” I hesitated for a moment. “It was more like well... I guess I did it to myself.”

“Now why ya done did somethin' like dat?”

I laughed, and even though doing so grated against my aching head, doing it made me feel better overall. “I didn't mean to!”

“I know, lil' filly. I know.” He chuckled a little at his own joke. “But what did ya do?”

“Can you keep a secret?” I asked, glancing around the room.

“You gotta ask?”

I grinned. Cookie was my friend; I knew he wouldn't rat me out. “Well, instead of going to the levi-ball game yesterday, I kinda went to the magic exercise room instead and practiced.”

Cookie's eyes widened and his brows rose, but all he said was a noncommittal “Huh.”

“And, well, I invented this really neat new trick with teleporting that I can use to zoom around. I can even fly!” I paused for a moment, just savoring that thought, and enjoying the sound of it in my own voice. I could fly now! “But then, I sorta lost track of time, and the building started filling up with colts.”

“Now how you done manage to get away wit' dat?” He leaned back, his face scrunching up in skepticism.

I let my pride show through on my face. “I teleported. All the way to the lunchroom in one jump.”

“Ah, dat's what happened to ya. Ya dun burned yaself out.” He laughed at the face I made. “Don' ya go lookin' so surprised dere, lil' filly. Ya cain't serve up meals in dis school fo twenty-fo years without hearin' 'bout what happen to a pony when dey use too much magic.”

“Oh, right.” I scratched at the back of my head. I should have known that he'd pick up on some things about magic here, earth pony or not. “Well, that's why I'm so worn out today.”

“Dat sho ain't good, wit' da final exam bein' tomorra'.”

I sighed. “You're right. I just hope I get better by then. As long as I can pull off my magic flying trick, I'll pass for sure... I guess.”

“I ain't sho even dat woul' be 'nuff. Dey ain't gonna be impressed by no flyin' pegasus.”

“Huh?”

Cookie shook his head from side to side. “I done overheard da headmaster talkin' at da teachers in da breakroom. He said deys gonna fail you. Only way ya might pass is if ya do somethin' so amazin' dat dey cain't possibly jus'ify failin' ya.”

“What?” I groaned. “That is so unfair!”

“It sho 'nuff is.” He started cutting up vegetables again. “Don' make it no less true.”

“Ugh. How am I gonna pass now? I'm not even sure that I'll be able to do the trick I know! Now I have to come up with something even better? It's impossible!”

Cookie paused his cutting again and turned towards me, laying a hoof on my shoulder. “Don' give up hope, lil' filly. You's special, and you's diffren' fo' a reason. Ya gonna think of somethin'.”

“You're sure?”

“I's sho. Ya gonna do jus' fine as long as ya stay true to yaself an' remember dat you got a bigger future waitin' for you.” He used the blade of his knife to shove a pile of freshly chopped carrots in front of me. “Oh, an' as long as ya eat ya carrots.”

“What?” That came out of nowhere. “But I hate carrots.”

“Eat 'em up anyways. Dey's got vitamins dat's real good fo' recoverin' from burnout.”

I sighed heavily and popped a piece into my mouth with a wince. The bitter aftertaste was just as terrible as I remembered, but if it meant the difference between success and failure, I supposed I could do it. “Did you really mean what you said, about me being different for a reason?”

“I sho' did. Dere's importan' things in ya future, lil' filly.” He smiled, starting to chop vegetables again.

“But I'm just a regular old–”

The school's bell cut me off.

“Ya hurry on now – ya don' wanna be late fo' ya final theory tes'!”

“But I–”

“Go!” He shooed me on, dumping my uneaten carrots into a paper bag for me. “We'll have time fo' dat later.” He tossed the bag to me, motioning toward the door.

I sat there a minute longer with the bag in my teeth, unsure about what I should do, but he was right – I couldn't afford to be late for my theory final exam. Finally, with a muffled “Okay, thanks!” I ran off to the test.

The Odyssey

he smell of chalk dust and old books filled the theory classroom, as always, but the air of nervous tension was a new experience. The normally chatty students all sat at silent attention under the stern gaze of Missus Primrose. A few of the other students around me quietly pored over their notes, making me realize just how little I had prepared for this test. Never mind the applied magic test, would I even be able to pass this one?

The hand on the clock at the back of the room ticked over – facing forwards, I couldn't see it, but in this tense silence, it was the loudest sound in the room.

Missus Primrose must have been waiting for that little tick, because as soon as it passed, she stood up, levitating a stack of papers. “Good afternoon, class. Is everypony present and ready for the final theory exam?”

Everypony had been here and ready for at least five minutes now, but apparently starting early wasn't Missus Primrose's style. The classroom simply remained quiet.

“Good.” The magical glow around her horn flared, and the floating test sheets all separated, one thin stack flying over to each student's desk. “You are not to begin until I instruct you to do so, and at that time you will be given precisely one and one half hour to complete your test.” She scowled at the class over the rims of her glasses, and I felt her gaze boring into me in particular. “Any appearance of copying from a classmate's paper, any talking between students, any leaving the room will constitute a failure, and you will be required to retake the entire course. Is that clear?”

A halfhearted chorus of “Yes ma'am” came in return.

“Good.” She turned and paced back to her desk at the front of the room. “If you have any questions regarding the test, you may ask for my assistance by raising your hoof. On no occasion shall you request assistance verbally.” She paused, looking up at the clock in the back. “You may begin... now.”

Instantly, the room filled with the fluttering sound of dozens of young unicorns flipping over the first page of dozens of identical test packages.

I opened my own and began working, penciling in answers to the scratchy sound of dozens of other students doing the same. To my relief, I found that the questions weren't that hard, and I knew most of them... enough to pass the test anyway... probably. I winced as I came up to an especially tricky question about field interactions. Shrugging, I put down 'unaligned'. I might still get lucky, right?

A motion ahead to my left distracted me for a moment. It was River, leaning back and making faces at me.

I shook my head in disdain and turned back to my test, only to have my attention snagged by something else on my right.

Ruby Shine stuck his tongue out at me before moving on to obscenely exaggerated kissing motions. He broke out into a large grin when he saw the scowl on my face.

Stifling the urge to growl, I buried myself in the test, using the archetype identifications and spell symbology to isolate myself from the pain and betrayal of those memories. I was a different filly now – I had changed and grown since that happened. So why did it still hurt so much?

“Pencils down, everypony. Your time is up.”

Begrudgingly, I dropped my pencil to the desk as soon as I heard Missus Primrose's announcement.

I sighed as I stacked my test papers up, looking wistfully at those last three test questions I couldn't find time for. A few moans coming from around the classroom told me I wasn't the only one with some of the test left undone.

“Now, please, ensure that your name is on your papers and pass them forward.” As the shuffling papers made their way to the front, Missus Primrose continued, “After you are dismissed, you will have two hours until the dinner bell. During this time, you will return to your rooms. It is recommended that you use this time to review what you have learned and rest in preparation for the magic skill test tomorrow.”

River took the opportunity to turn around and make faces again, pinning her ears back and crossing her eyes at me.

The mailmare back home had eyes like that, and I actually really liked her, so to see River using them to taunt me struck a nerve. That was just too much. I scowled back at her, sticking my tongue out. It wasn't much, but it was all I could do at the moment to get back at–

“Scootaloo Songwing!” Hearing my name in Missus Primrose's terse voice froze me instantly. “Why are you disrupting my class?”

“I, uh...” Curse River Star for goading me into stooping to her level! “Well...”

“You will desist immediately, or I will be forced to take disciplinary action. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes ma'am,” I hurriedly replied, sitting straight up in my seat and doing my best impression of a perfect student.

“Now then,” Missus Primrose said, still glowering at me, “as I was trying to say, I wish you all good fortune in your future lives once you graduate from our school. Now, if there are no further questions...” She slowly panned her gaze across the room. “You may be dismissed.”

The quiet, rigidly disciplined classroom exploded into a cacophony of rambunctious unicorns. After sitting still for so long, everypony craved a little activity, myself included.

I hopped up from my seat, grabbing the bag of carrots from underneath it. Thankfully, nopony had questioned the slight smell wafting up from it yet.

A sharp impact from my left almost made me drop the bag. I looked up to see an unapologetic sneer from River.

“Hurry up, slowpoke, you've got work to do.” She walked off, flicking her tail into my face. “Don't be late, or you'll regret it.”

I sighed and shook my head, but it didn't bother me as much as it used to. This was all nearly over, after all. “Yeah, whatever,” I called back as she left the room. I doubted that she could have heard me over the chatter of the emptying classroom, though.

I followed along with the flow of students down the hall, up the stairs, and to the door of my room. I hesitated there, bag of carrots still clutched in my mouth – I could already hear River yelling at Whisper, even through the closed door. I stood there a moment, entertaining a quick fantasy of not going in there at all, but I soon swallowed that faint hope. Where else would I go, after all?

With a halfhearted shrug, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Whisper noticed me first, looking up from her spot on the floor to give me a wan smile before going back to scrubbing the floorboards with a little yellow sponge.

“Why did you just stop? Did I say you could stop?” River apparently hadn't noticed me coming in. She leaned down close to Whisper, right down into the submissive little filly's ear. “Well?”

Whisper didn't make even the slightest sound in answer, but she did glance up at me again.

This time, River caught it. She followed Whisper's eyes right up to me. “Oh, there you are! And where have you been, Chicken? I thought I told you not to be late!”

“I'm not late.” It was true; the bell announcing that everypony had to be in their rooms wouldn't ring for a few more minutes.

“If I get here before you,” she spat, stalking towards me, “then you're late.”

“What? Since when?”

“Since I said so!” River pushed her face right up into mine, leaving me to fight a strong urge to back away. “Where have you been?”

I decided to mess with her a little, just to see how gullible she was. “I've been here the whole time.”

“Just how stupid do you think I am?” she growled into my face. “I need this place spotless for the exit inspection, and you're playing stupid games with me?”

I should have known that wouldn't work. “River, you can–”

“I told you that you'd regret it, and you will!” She wormed her way around me, dropping a frigid whisper into my ear, “I think I'll give you a nice little surprise during your magic test – one you'll never forget.”

This time, I did recoil away. “What's that supposed to mean?”

A cold smile spread across her face, never reaching her eyes. “You'll see.”

Shaking off River's threat, I picked up my paper bag and tossed it onto my bed. I needed some time to relax and recover. Although they were duller than before, the aches I earned through my overload still plagued me. With a grimace, I opened the bag and tossed the first few carrot pieces into my mouth. The sickeningly sweet and bitter crunch washed over me. Why did it have to be carrots that were good for recovering from burnout? Why couldn't it be something I liked?

“And just what do you think you're doing now?” As much as I wanted to ignore her, River's outburst from right behind me sent a shiver up between my wings.

Enough was enough. “River, I'm almost done here, and I already know you're going to do everything you can to me. I'm not putting up with your demands anymore. Shout all you want.”

The lack of any answering outburst was actually disturbing. After a moment of silence, River just shrugged her shoulders. “Oh well, I guess the Worm will just have to do it all by herself, since you're too lazy to help her.” She stepped away from me, returning to the blue filly on the floor. “Faster, Worm! It needs to be spotless by morning!”

“But I–”

“And no more of your excuses! You don't need time to study – nopony cares if you pass or not.”

Whisper looked up at me sitting on my bed. The way her lips twitched and her eyes opened wide told me all about her despair, but a tiny glimmer in those eyes hinted at just one last little scrap of hope, entirely focused on me.

Even though I would be giving in to a bully, and even though I knew River was using Whisper to manipulate me, I couldn't bring myself to let that last little grain of hope die. With a sigh, I gave in. “Okay, I'll help her, but I'm doing it for her, River, not for you!”

It would have been impossible for River's expression to be any more smug. “Good. That's what I thought.” Another wet sponge flew towards me in River's violet magical glow. “Now get to work!”

I just barely managed to catch the soapy missile before it splatted into my face. Begrudgingly, I rose out of bed and made my way over to Whisper, ignoring the ongoing complaints from my aching limbs.

“There,” River cooed sweetly, “isn't that better?” She swaggered up to my bed and tossed my bag of carrots onto the floor, scattering pieces everywhere. “Oh–” she winked at me “–and do be sure to get it all cleaned up properly. They'll fail us all if it's too messy.”

I just sighed and glanced at Whisper.

Still scrubbing away at the floor, Whisper looked back at me. A forlorn smile brushed across her face for a moment, leading me to realize just how much what I did meant to her, and in that moment, I knew that despite everything, we still had each other. It might not have been much, but it meant a lot.

“Get up!”

I felt myself flying through the air, as I often did in my dreams. Flying dreams usually didn't turn into falling dreams, though, and what was with the–

With a dry, all-too-real thud, I slammed into the hard floorboards of my room. I found myself lying face down on the floor, blankets still wrapped around me, and both of my right legs sore from the impact.

Shaking my head clear, I spun around and looked to see what happened just in time to spot the violet glow fade from River Star's horn. I whipped off my blankets and shouted at her, “Hey! What was that for?”

River's horn lit up again, and with a quiet, high-pitched squeal, Whisper came flying out of her bunk, too. Her wail cut off sharply as she hit the floor.

“You two are going to need extra time to get my clothes ready for today. It's the big final exam, after all.”

I glanced to our little window, spotting the glow from the moon still high in the sky. “But it's way too early. We won't need to wake up for hours.”

“I know.” It was too dark to see her face clearly, but I could hear the smugness in her voice. “Like I said, you're going to need extra time.” She rolled over in her bed, facing away from us. “And don't make a racket while you're doing it. I need to make sure I'm well rested.”

I groaned. Between staying up late to clean last night and getting up early today, I'd only managed to get a couple hours of sleep at most. “You're not the only one who needs sleep,” I complained.

River shot upright in her bed. “You are so going to get it during the magic test! I've had it with your back talking. Get to work or I'll have to punish you right now!” Her horn began to glow, and even though my magic had improved lately, I still knew I couldn't win a fight.

With a smoldering glare that River might or might not have seen in the dark, I turned and headed for the shelves.

River gave a satisfied-sounding “Hmph” and laid back down in bed, again facing away from us.

I just had to keep reminding myself that I wouldn't have to see her ever again after today and that it all would be over soon. That way, I might have a chance of making it through without snapping completely.

I stood on the rough cobbles of the courtyard as stoically as I could, ignoring both my still-present aches and River's occasional whispered barbs. What I couldn't ignore, though, was the hollow pit in my chest – the nervous twinge brought on by the little voice inside of me that relentlessly told me how I was about to fail miserably in front of everypony. I knew I wasn't fully recovered from my overexertion. What was I thinking, trying to take a magic test now? I fought to keep myself steady standing in line, and I fought to keep myself breathing. It was all I could manage, just to do that.

A whistle shrieked out over the courtyard, and all the babbling from the alphabetically lined-up students stopped. The Headmaster lowered his whistle, stepping out into the bright courtyard. “My young fillies and colts,” he pronounced as he walked, his voice carrying easily in the sudden, still silence, “today is the day you have been training for since you arrived. Today is the day your skills will be put to the test.” Arriving at the desk in the center of the courtyard, he took his seat between the two teachers. “But don't worry. I'm certain that every unicorn here”– I could swear he gave me in particular a dirty look –“is capable of showing their talents and potential to the whole school and earning the right to a continuing education in the ways of magic.

“The test itself is quite simple, as Miss Honeydown will now demonstrate.” He gestured toward the exercise teacher, and she rose up with a bow. “First, you will proceed to the levitation table. On the table are three wooden cubes. You will be expected to magically levitate at least two of these cubes simultaneously.” He nodded toward Miss Honeydown. “If you would, please.”

Without the slightest sign of effort, she held all three cubes off of the table for a moment.

“Thank you, Miss Honeydown,” the Headmaster said softly, before continuing in his grand address voice, “The second portion of your test will also be a test of a basic magical skill. You will demonstrate your ability to perform a light spell. A passing score will be given if your light is discernible in full daylight.”

He nodded again, and Miss Honeydown immediately shot a bolt of light from her horn, making the courtyard even brighter. She slowly toned it down, though, until it could barely be seen in the bright sunlight. She held the faint glow for a few moments before extinguishing it entirely.

“Thank you. The final portion of the test will be a display of your particular special talent. If you require any materials or assistance for this demonstration, please inform me first.”

As he spoke, Miss Honeydown walked up to the desk and whispered something to him.

“Because Miss Honeydown's special talent is creating a magical containment shield, she asked that I demonstrate her shield's effectiveness by attempting to pass magic through it.” He rose up from his chair, preparing what I now recognized as a standard magic-casting stance. “Miss Honeydown, you may begin.”

Her horn glowed brightly, and soon, a barely discernible bubble encapsulated both her and the Headmaster.

After a moment, the Headmaster's horn developed an answering glow, and he shot a bright yellow bolt of lightning toward the empty schoolhouse. The lightning didn't get far before splashing against an invisible barrier and rippling around the bubble Miss Honeydown created.

As the last ripples of magical energy around the barrier dissipated, Miss Honeydown dropped her spell and returned to her seat at the desk.

“I am able to provide a magically equivalent simulacrum of any object of force you need for your demonstration, so don't worry about not having the proper materials available to work with. That is my special talent.” The headmaster returned to his own seat before continuing, “After you complete your test, you will present yourself in front of this desk to receive your grade. Good luck, everypony.” He stopped for a moment, leaving the courtyard unnaturally quiet as he shuffled a few papers around on the desk in front of him. Looking up again, he called out, “Abiding Light, you will be the first student of the day for testing. Please come forward and begin your test.”

Hesitantly, the white-maned colt at the head of the line stepped up to the table with the wooden blocks.

As the brightly colored unicorn worked his way through the stages of the magic test, I tried to calm my breathing and focus on what mattered. All I had to do was those three simple tasks, then I could graduate from this awful place and get back to where I belonged, with my friends. I wished I had some friends to rely on here – oh, what I wouldn't give to have my fellow crusaders at my back – but even Whisper couldn't be here with me, since the line was arranged alphabetically. Unfortunately, that did mean that River would be right next to me the whole time.

“Just you wait, Chicken. I've got a special surprise ready for your turn,” River whispered so close to my ear I could feel the slight breath of it against my fur. “I can't wait to watch you crash and burn in front of everypony.”

I tried to block her out of my mind as well as I could. I tried focusing on the colt in the middle of the courtyard going through his talent demonstration – he used his special talent to hold a magical light steady despite all the Headmaster's attempts to snuff it out... just like River was sure to try and snuff out my spells. I groaned. There was just no way to keep my mind off it. I could imagine my friends there cheering me on – my fellow crusaders Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom; I could even imagine Rainbow Dash herself there cheering for me... but what if my magical exhaustion kept me from even doing the simplest spells? What would Rainbow think then?

I shook my head violently. Why couldn't I keep my mind off of it? Why did I have to keep going over and over the ways I might fail? As more and more students passed through the tests, my worries just wrapped around me tighter and tighter. There was no way I could–

“The next student will be Night Whisper. Please step forward and begin your test.”

I looked up in surprise, hearing that my only friend here was about to go. I had grown so used to thinking of her as 'Whisper', I had forgotten that her full name of 'Night Whisper' meant that she'd be going before me.

Head low and ears pinned back, Whisper approached the levitation test table. For once, I couldn't blame her for being shy or nervous. I could only imagine what it would feel like to have everypony watching you, expecting you to perform. I dreaded my own turn in the spotlight.

Once she arrived at the table, Whisper's horn lit, and two of the blocks lifted effortlessly. I was sure Whisper could have done all three... What was holding her back?

Cringing at all the ponies watching her, Whisper stepped forward and prepared to take the light-making test. I had total confidence in her, even if she didn't look very confident in herself. Though she ducked away from the judges and seemed to be doing her best to hide it, the light from her horn shone brightly, more than bright enough to pass the test.

As she let the light from her horn fade, she cringed even more, as if ashamed of her success. Making her little blue form look as small as she could, she haltingly made her way up to the judge's table.

There was no way I could hear what Whisper said to the Headmaster, but I could see his slow nod in return. As she hurriedly retreated to the talent-testing circle, he began casting some kind of spell. A thin beam of white light shot out from his horn, over Whisper's place in the circle, and over the line of students waiting for their own tests.

Whisper's own horn began to glow, and the air above her distorted strangely. As the Headmaster's beam of light passed through the distorted area, it changed its angle and split into a brilliant, ever-widening rainbow.

My jaw dropped at the display, and some of the lined-up students even stomped their hooves in applause.

Whisper wasn't done yet, though. Another distorted patch of air formed in the rainbow's path, reflecting it back into the sky and spreading it out even more, until it filled half the sky.

The applause from the assembled students grew, and I even spotted Missus Primrose joining in before Whisper canceled out her spell and allowed the Headmaster's light to return to a simple beam.

The Headmaster's nod indicating a passing grade came as a surprise to nopony. Despite his approval and the crowd's applause, though, Whisper still cringed low, blushing furiously as she tried to get back to her place in the line with as little notice as possible.

I joined in the applause wholeheartedly, hoping to boost her spirits, but of course, she still crept back to the line as if she was a scolded puppy. Unsurprisingly, River's hooves stood silent the entire time.

As soon as Whisper made it back to the line, the Headmaster cleared his throat loudly, and his stern glare put a sudden stop to the outburst of enthusiasm. “North Wind, please come forward and begin your test,” he called out, letting his disapproval at the outburst of applause drip from his voice.

A pale blue filly with a flowing mane trotted out from the line, looking far more confident than anypony had a right to be in her situation.

As she worked her way through the steps of the test, my thoughts wandered to my own imminent test. I hadn't been able to do any magic since I overworked myself teleporting. I hadn't tried much, of course, but only because I knew that trying to use magic before I recovered would only worsen my condition. Unfortunately, though, that meant I would have no idea whether I'd pass or fail until I went out there and tried. Even if I was ready to test my magic, I wouldn't dare break the no-magic-without-permission rule right in front of all my teachers.

I shivered, despite the warm sun baking the courtyard around me. If I failed, would Twilight and Cheerilee make me come back and go through it all again, or would they just give up on me and write me off as a perpetual disappointment? How could I face them when I came home as a failure? I briefly imagined trying to talk to Rainbow Dash after coming home in disgrace like that, but I shoved the thought away before it could kick me in the gut even more. That was something I never wanted to contemplate. I hoped I'd never have to.

I wished for a moment that I'd never done that stupid teleport all the way across the school. I should have known better. But what was the alternative? If I had been caught breaking the rules again, I would have been kicked out for sure – I'd be right back in the same place, stuck trying to explain my failure to my role model and everypony I cared about. It was–

“That will do for now, everypony.” The surprise of hearing the Headmaster say anything other than calling up yet another student cut straight through my thoughts. “Please remain in your places while lunch is served. Testing will resume in exactly one hour.”

A quick glance around the courtyard confirmed it. I spotted Cookie emerging from the dark doorway of the school building, pushing a huge cart in front of him. He worked his way down the line of students, doling something out to each one. I couldn't tell what it was, but it must have been some kind of food. Though eating was the last thing on my mind just a moment ago, my stomach now found the thought of it very agreeable.

Before long, Cookie's cart stopped in front of me, and with a wink, he tossed me one of the paper-wrapped packages he'd been giving everypony else. “Jus' trus' yaself, lil' filly, an' ya gonna do jus' fine,” he whispered, before walking on.

Even though I trusted Sugar Cookie, his confidence in me felt hollow somehow. I just couldn't believe in myself that easily; I knew I was going to fail this test completely.

I tore into my package, finding a green apple, a little bottle of grape juice, and a daisy sandwich inside.

Before I could dig into the meal, though, River's whispered voice cut right through me. “Are you and that chef an item or something?” She favored me with a twisted sneer.

“What? No!” I glared at her for suggesting such a thing.

“Oh, you're right.” River giggled quietly and coldly. “He's a chef at a prestigious magic school, and you're just a miserable little pegasus who failed in her pathetic dream to become a unicorn. He's much too good for you!”

“I am not going to fail!” I growled back at her. “And I never wanted to do this,” I added to myself, too quietly for her to hear.

“Not going to fail, huh?” River laughed harshly. “We'll just see about that. I still owe you some punishment, remember?”

I bit into my sandwich, much less enthusiastic about it now. What comfort could just a sandwich be when my certain failure loomed right in front of me? If my magic overload didn't get me, River's 'punishment' would. I didn't know what she had planned, but knowing her like I did now, I knew it would be nasty. I sighed. Even without that, the Headmaster would fail me just out of spite, I was sure.

Resigned to my fate now, I took another bite of the sandwich. What else could I do?

“Rainy Day, please come forward and begin your test.”

The grey-maned filly in line just on the other side of River stepped away from the line, and my blood froze. My turn was approaching fast, much sooner than I would have liked. I watched the little grey filly go through the test, and with each section she completed, my trepidation grew. What was I doing here, anyway? What was I going to do when my turn came up?

As soon as the grey filly finished with her display of an umbrella-like rain control spell, the next milestone of my inevitable fate echoed out across the courtyard, “River Star, please come forward and begin your test.”

“Just watch and see how it's done before you fail, Chicken.” River swatted my face with her slick tail as she trotted toward the levitation test table.

She wasted no time in taking on the test. Her horn lit up with the bright violet glow that matched her coat so perfectly, and all three wooden blocks on the table shot up into the air. I should have known she'd be a showoff. She set the blocks down without even looking at the judges for confirmation and went straight into her light-spell test.

The light pouring out from River's horn grew so bright I couldn't even look at it. For all her faults, I had to admit, River had plenty of raw magical power.

As the light faded and I blinked the dazzlement out of my eyes, I spotted River, already on her way to test her special talent. “I don't need any accommodations,” she called out, loud enough for everypony in the courtyard to hear.

Even as far away as I stood, I was sure I could see a grin on the Headmaster's face as he waved his daughter on.

River's horn began to glow once more, and an unnatural hush swept across the courtyard. Suddenly, it seemed like everypony and everything in the courtyard was listening intently, right down to the very stones everypony stood on. River's flowing blue dress and her matching silky mane waved in a breeze only she could feel, and she began to sing.

The first notes of her song sliced through the expectant tension in the courtyard, delivering exactly what each and every pony there inexplicably thirsted for. The enchanting music washed across the courtyard, her melody evoking all of her yearning to impress the stallion at the judges' table. Despite the plaintive, wistful theme behind the music, it was still undeniably catchy.

Many of the ponies around me tapped a hoof to the beat or swayed back and forth with the melody. As disgusted with River as I was, I even caught myself humming along with the chorus.

Her song flowed on, bringing out dozens of smiles on the high notes and nearly bringing tears to the audience on the lows. Steadily throughout it built into a crescendo. Nopony in the courtyard seemed unmoved.

As River's performance wound down, total silence filled the courtyard for a few brief moments. The silence finally broke with the sound of a single little filly somewhere in the audience stomping in applause.

The applause and even cheering spread like a wildfire through the crowd, engulfing everypony. Eventually, even the Headmaster joined in, and though I never thought I'd see it, River actually cried. She stood there, staring at the Headmaster with tears in her eyes and a huge smile on her face, mouthing words too quietly for me to hear.

By the time River began slowly walking back to the line, waving at all her new fans as she went, I was the only pony in the courtyard not applauding her. It wasn't because I didn't enjoy the song; I had to admit, the quality of River's singing blew me away. It wasn't even because of my personal issues with the filly; I'd like to think I was a good enough sport to congratulate her for her performance even if I hated her. What kept me from applauding River's performance was the paralyzing realization of what must come next.

“Just try matching that,” River teased as she stepped back into her place next to me in the line.

I didn't respond. I couldn't. With my chest as tight as it was, I could scarcely breathe, much less talk. Any moment now it would be my turn to take the test, and I knew I wasn't ready for it. I'd be forced to go out and fail right in front of everypony. And then–

“Scootaloo Songwing...” The last lingering bits of applause dropped off as the words I had been dreading finally echoed across the courtyard. “ ...please come forward and begin your test.”

Inferno

wanted to move – I tried to step forward... but I just couldn't. My legs were frozen to the ground, and all my effort only made them twitch. Seconds passed, and a deep quiet settled over the courtyard, broken only by the occasional cough or shuffling feet.

“Scootaloo Songwing, please step forward and begin your test,” the Headmaster repeated.

Still, the best I could manage was a meager lean forward. I gritted my teeth, straining against myself, but it was no use.

“He means you, dumb Chicken!” River reached a hoof back and shoved me forward.

With the sudden forward impetus, my legs finally began to work, but they weren't working well enough just yet to keep up. I stumbled along for a few steps before tripping over my own hooves and crashing hard into the sun-baked cobblestones.

A few giggles and bursts of laughter caught my ears, coming from behind me. I looked up at the Headmaster, wiping the grey dust from my face, but he made no move to chastise River for pushing me nor any of the other ponies for laughing. He only raised an eyebrow at me, a slight sneer on his face.

At least the shove had broken me free of my paralysis. Shaking, I rose to my feet and started toward the levitation test table. Once I arrived there, I again tried to regulate my breathing. I failed miserably, of course, conscious as I was of the dozens of eyes drilling into my back.

I stared at the three simple wooden blocks in front of me and, in vain, tried to swallow my fear. This was it – the time when I'd finally find out if I was doomed to fail or not.

The Headmaster cleared his throat loudly, and when I turned, I saw him glance meaningfully at the school's clock tower. It was now or never.

Even just the motion of beginning to flap my wings brought a wave of pain and nausea, but I kept them going. Like Cookie said, I had to stay true to myself, and I'd never be the kind of pony to give up without a fight. I kept my wings going until my familiar purple aura glowed from them again.

With my energy harnessed, I focused on the wooden blocks in front of me. The moment I tried to harness any power, a splitting pain shot through my head and I winced my eyes shut – the symptoms of my overexertion were far from over. As I opened my eyes though, I could see that I had managed to lift one of the blocks. Maybe, just maybe, I could actually pull this off.

I needed to levitate two blocks at the same time to pass, though. It would have been challenging enough for me even with a clear head. Nervous, aching, and exhausted as I was, it would take a miracle. I gritted my teeth and strained my wings to beat even harder.

A faint, sputtering purple glow enveloped the second block, and it wobbled back and forth, but it still didn't rise.

That wasn't good enough. I had to do better before I failed. Straining with every scrap of strength in me, I redoubled my efforts.

I groaned in pain, but the second cube still didn't budge. I screamed in frustration, focusing everything I had on that one block.

It shot up into the air.

My hold on the first block faltered, though, and I nearly dropped it before refocusing enough to keep it up, too. My grip on the two was tenuous at best, and I had to keep switching my focus between them to keep them from falling, but my desperate juggling act paid off – I managed to keep both blocks in the air for a few precious seconds before I finally lost control and let them drop.

The wooden blocks clattered down onto the table, and one of them bounced all the way off, tumbling away on the ground. The Headmaster stared at me with a deep frown as I fumbled to pick up the wayward block – without magic – and put it back in place, but he did wave me on, signaling that I should continue the test. When the lost block flew back to its place enveloped in the Headmaster's magic, I knew it was time to begin my light-making test.

I smoothed my mane back with a practiced brush of my hoof. If I could manage the levitation, I could manage to make a little light for sure. I strutted forward confidently until I reached my position, and I fluttered my wings.

I cried out as the shock of pain hit me. It brought me to my knees. My magical exhaustion wasn't about to be cast aside so easily.

Though it brought tears to my eyes and made my legs tremble, I pressed on with the light spell, feeding it as much energy as I could.

No light came.

I knew the spell was working. I could feel the wrenching ache as my last reserve of magical energy flowed into it, but I still couldn't see any light. It must have been too dim to see in the bright sunlight, and if I couldn't see it, then the judges certainly couldn't.

It just wasn't fair. I put more effort into it than any of the ponies before me had, but it was getting me nowhere. The Headmaster looked up at the clock again, and I knew my time was running out, but I was already putting all I had into it. What else could I do?

I let out a sigh of regret through my clenched teeth. That was it. I failed.

Just as I was about to abandon my efforts, though, a wisp of cloud passed under the sun, and the whole courtyard darkened by a few shades – just enough to make my weak, flickering light visible. After holding that for a second longer, I finally allowed myself to let go.

As I collapsed onto the warm cobblestones, I looked up at the Headmaster. Though he sneered his disappointment at me, he did give me the nod indicating that I had passed the light-making portion of the test.

I let my head fall back down onto the stone, panting in exhaustion. I knew I couldn't lay and rest long though. The judges were waiting.

By force of will alone, I rose up to my feet. I swayed uncontrollably where I stood, but I did manage to stagger up to the judges' table. “I... I don't need anything special for my... talent,” I gasped.

Miss Honeydown stared at me in wide-eyed concern, but when neither of the other two judges did anything, she waved me on to the final portion of the test.

I had no magical energy left, exhaustion gripped my limbs, and crippling pain swirled and sparked inside my head. Now all I had to do was put on a dazzling display of my special talent. Right.

I bit back my pain and gave the judges my best winning smile, which amounted to little more than a grimace.

They continued to stare at me, unchanging. Missus Primrose covered a cough with her hoof.

Not seeing any point in continuing to stall, I held my breath and flapped my wings. Despite my precaution, the pain from gathering up what tiny scraps of magic I could still took my breath away, leaving me gasping.

I wouldn't give up though. I couldn't. I squeezed my eyes shut against the tears welling up and flapped my wings even harder, fighting for every drop of magic power I could scrape from my depleted reserves. Amazingly, I actually found enough to begin. It would be far too little to do a whole routine, but I could start – I could make some progress. Even if I couldn't finish, at least I would be able to say I tried.

Bracing for the pain, I focused my scraps of power into a few tiny upward teleports, just enough to get off the ground.

The pain never came. Somehow, maybe because it was my special talent, the little teleports weren't hurting me at all.

Reveling in my newfound freedom from pain, I shot up into the air, doing a slow, lazy circle over the lined-up students before coming up for a high pass over the judges' heads. The wind blowing through my mane brought the joy of it back to me. In my enthusiasm, though, I forgot about my limited amount of energy. My soaring pass over the judges sputtered, faltered, and became an out-of-control dive.

Terror gripped my heart as I watched the hard cobblestones approaching. There was no way I could survive a fall from that high. I desperately tried to restart my spell, but I only managed a couple of brief pauses in my fall – I couldn't stop.

The ground came at me fast. There was no way I'd be able to stop in time. I screamed and dug deep within myself, deeper than I ever knew I could, desperately grasping for more energy.

Something inside me snapped. It was as if I had broken through a dam holding all my energy back. I had access to more power than I'd ever dreamed of!

Just before I slammed into the stones of the courtyard, I restarted my spell, harnessing all the incredible new energy I'd discovered. I shot back up, missing the pavement by mere inches. Finally liberated from my lack of energy, I made another triumphant pass, circling around the inside of the courtyard.

When I glanced down at the judges, though, the slight frowns on their faces told me they weren't impressed. Cookie's words came back to me, 'Dey ain't gonna be impressed by no flyin' pegasus.' The blank stares of the three judges bore out Cookie's prediction. Even after all I'd done and all I'd been through, they still planned to fail me.

I had to find something to win them over, something they couldn't possibly ignore, but what? Well, if all I had to do was stay true to myself... what had I always done in the past when confronted with an obstacle like this?

As I circled the courtyard once more, it came to me – I always pushed myself even harder, pushing my limits.

So, I'd just push my limits, right? Limits like what, how fast I could go? I broke out into a feral grin. With my newly discovered store of energy, just how fast could I go?

Letting my full power loose, I zoomed up and away from the courtyard before circling back for a low flyby. The wind screamed through my ears, and the flashes from each tiny teleport grew so bright I had to squint my eyes against the glare. I shot down towards the line of students, ready to truly show what I was capable of. My control might have been a little shaky, but it didn't matter. I was doing it! I could hardly believe it myself.

My survival instincts flared and time crawled nearly to a halt, though, when I spotted River Star grinning at me in the line. Her horn was glowing.

Before I could react, River's spell shot out towards me, a crackling, twisted beam of violet light. I knew my control at this speed was too limited to dodge the attack. Cringing, I braced myself for whatever the spell's effect would be, preparing myself for the hit.

It never came. A little pocket of air just between River's spell and me distorted strangely, and the spell reflected off of it, right back at its owner.

Looking down at the line again, I noticed River wasn't the only one with a glowing horn. Whisper's horn shone with her own blue aura. I couldn't believe it. After all this time learning to never count on Whisper, the timid little filly had broken the rules and stood up to River, all to save me!

A moment later, River's reflected spell came back home, and even though she obviously put up her best shield, the spell still broke through and spun her crazily on every axis.

Thanking my lucky stars – and that little blue filly – I finished my pass and arced around for another, still accelerating. With River no doubt still recovering from her own spell, and with boundless energy at my hooves, nothing stood in the way of me pushing my limits as far as I could.

I stretched my arc as far as I could, giving myself plenty of room for my approach. Finally lined up with the distant courtyard again, I drew on my power reserve recklessly, accelerating down and toward the school with abandon.

The scream of the wind in my ears deafened me. I could barely keep my eyes open. My mane whipped wildly against my back, and I struggled to maintain control as I shuddered back and forth in the force of the headwind. The constant, blinding flashes of teleportation grew even more intense as I piled on more and more speed, but I actually began to outrun them. They started forming a wide cone of purple light behind me.

As the courtyard approached breathtakingly quickly, I felt myself building toward something. I didn't know what, but I wasn't about to hold back now!

I shot over the outer wall, and time froze.

I stared in astonishment as my breakneck burst of speed suddenly seemed to slow to a snail's pace. The howling wind still filled my ears, and my whipping mane still stung my back, but it was as if I wasn't moving at all.

With agonizing slowness, I noticed a tiny little spark right at the tip of my leading hoof. I watched, fascinated, as it flickered, the only quick-moving thing in my frozen world. The spark flared across my whole field of view, exploding all around me, but leaving a round hole in its wake that I easily slipped through.

I caught only the slightest hint of what must have been a deafening boom as the world decided to make up for its previous slowness by shooting into hyper speed. I soared away, zipping along faster than I'd ever imagined. By the time I thought to look behind me, I had already zoomed over half of Canterlot.

When I glanced behind, my jaw dropped. A solid line of crackling purple sparks led back from my tail, all the way to a huge – and still spreading – ring of purple fire. As I turned back to look where I was flying, my heart raced even faster than before. What had I done? It was like a sonic rainboom, but it was so... me! And it was so awesome! This went far beyond my wildest dreams.

I curved my sparkling path upward, barely missing Canterlot Castle, and completed a long upward flip to send me back toward the school. My ring of purple fire spread out over half the city before it finally began fading. It must have been visible for miles! Could Rainbow Dash have seen it? Would she realize I was the one who did it? Could anypony–

My time for speculation came to a halt when I spotted the school approaching, terrifyingly fast. I put everything I had into slowing down as I arced down toward it, realizing with a wince that I had no idea how to land after going so fast.

I screamed into the courtyard, teleportation explosions billowing in my wake. Struggling to maintain any control at all, I arced down and leveled off at the ground. I had slowed considerably, but I still rocketed along, still trailing a purple halo.

My hooves scraped the cobblestones, and I skidded toward the line of students. I dug in my heels and clenched my eyes shut as I scraped my way across the courtyard. This couldn't end well.

Finally, and surprisingly without a wreck, I slid to a spinning, shuddering halt.

After a moment of still silence, I dared to crack open an eye and peek to see what happened. I faced back the way I'd come from, and a huge triangular scorch mark scored across the entire courtyard, with me at the very tip of it. Occasional purple sparks still shot back and forth along my mane and tail. I looked up in awe at my still-dissipating ring of fire and trail of sparks before noticing with chagrin that every single window on the school's buildings had shattered.

I spun around and unexpectedly found myself face to face with Ruby Shine. I must have skidded right up to him when I stopped. He stared back at me, his mouth and eyes both gaping open as he sat back on his haunches. I wondered for a moment if he had fallen like that in shock or been blown down by my wake.

Before I could turn around and leave, he shook his head, recovering from his shock. “That was brilliant!” he gushed, “I've never seen anything like it! I always knew you had it in you.”

That stopped me in my tracks. “You always knew, really?” I puffed a breath upwards to clear my windblown mane from my eyes. “You really think I'm gonna buy a lie like that from you after the way you treated me?”

“I had to do that!” Ruby stood up and pleaded with me. “If I hadn't, River would have–”

I just turned and walked away. I was done with him, and I had no interest in hearing his lies and excuses.

As I approached the judges' table, I saw they weren't in much better shape than Ruby had been. All three of them still sat behind their desk, staring at me with mouths agape. The papers they had been shuffling the whole time laid strewn on the cobblestones all around their desk.

“I take it I passed?” I asked with my head held high, already knowing the answer. They could never deny a performance like that.

The Headmaster just nodded, his face still frozen, except for one twitching eye.

I strutted back to my place in line, head held high. A long while passed before the Headmaster gathered his wits back together enough to call up the next student.

With a flourish of golden sparks, the pale green and yellow filly in the center of the courtyard finished her test. Her firework display had been fun to watch, but it was still nothing compared to what I had pulled off. I glanced back at my huge black scorch mark across the courtyard again, wondering if it would ever wash off.

“Thank you, Zephyr Spark,” the Headmaster announced, “You have passed your magic skills test.” He stood up for the first time since beginning the tests. “That concludes the skills testing for this class. Congratulations to everypony who passed.” Slightly softer, he continued, “Bass Clef, Morning Dew, Opal Fire, and Starlove, please come see me in my office after today's events have concluded.” He returned to his original volume and pointed a hoof at the teacher to his right. “Missus Primrose will now announce the scores from the theory test you took yesterday.”

“Thank you, Headmaster Herald Dust,” she enunciated carefully. “I will now give you your test scores, beginning with our highest scoring students.” She took a moment to adjust her glasses and refer to a sheet of paper in front of her. “With a score of ninety-nine percent, Miss Night Whisper is our highest-scoring student of this class.” She gave a slight nod in Whisper's direction before adding perfunctorily, “Please give her a round of applause.”

Though the meager applause was scattered and sporadic, I joined in wholeheartedly, stomping my hooves against the cobblestones as hard as I could, despite how sore they felt from my skid earlier. The way I saw it, Whisper's accomplishment was every bit as important as my own.

“With a score of ninety-seven percent, Bass Clef... With a score of ninety-five percent, Comet Chaser and Velvet Touch... With a score of ninety-four percent...”

I quickly lost interest in her droning voice and instead daydreamed of the reception I'd get back home. Had they figured out I was the one who made the huge boom over Canterlot yet? How would Rainbow Dash react to finding out that her 'Sonic Rainboom' had been matched? For that matter, I probably should find a name for mine... a 'Sonic Scootaboom', perhaps? My grin grew even wider.

My grin faded, though, as Missus Primrose worked her way from the low eighties to the upper seventies. The passing score was seventy percent... If I didn't pass the written test, all my magic would have been for nothing.

“With a score of seventy-three percent, Diamond Gleam, Midnight Tear, Shuttershock, Silver Scroll, and Valley Mist... With a score of seventy-two percent, Coppermane and Starlove...”

The familiar claws of nervous dread gripped me; she still hadn't mentioned my name.

“With a score of seventy-one percent, Clear Sky, Feather Shine, Iridescence, Maple Leaf, Scootaloo Songwing, and Wave Crash... With a score of seventy percent...”

I breathed a sigh of relief. I made it, if just barely. I had officially made it through magic kindergarten.

“ ...sixty-two percent, Opal Fire and Tarot; please come see me in my office... With a score of thirty-nine percent, River Star; please come see me in my office.”

That got my attention again. River failed the theory test? With the lowest score in the class? I couldn't help but giggle. Maybe she should have done her own studying instead of making Whisper and me do it!

“That is all. Thank you, Headmaster Herald Dust,” Missus Primrose concluded with a nod.

“Thank you, Missus Primrose.” The Headmaster left his place behind his desk, circling around it to address the students directly. “Unless your presence has been requested elsewhere, you all may now return to your rooms and pack for departure." He shook his head. "River Star, please come see me in my office. We need to discuss your interference in the testing."

Beside me, River gasped.

"I will open the gate at eight thirty and personally dispense your diplomas as you exit. Congratulations on successfully completing magic kindergarten!”

As I waited in my room for the release time, River burst in and caught my hoof. I braced myself, but when I turned to look at her, she actually looked a little remorseful, though a hard glint still remained in her eyes.

“I – I shouldn't have treated you like I did,” she mumbled. “I just wanted to impress–”

“Yeah I heard your song about meeting your dad's expectations.” I rolled my eyes. “That still doesn't excuse–”

“No!” River's sudden vehemence startled me. “I mean, no. I wasn't really trying to... I was trying to impress my sister.”

“Oh, and who's that?”

“Trixie Lulamoon.”

That got my attention. Nopony could have lived in Ponyville for long and not known about Trixie.

River looked down and pawed at the ground. “All my life, I've lived under my sister's shadow, and nothing I did could ever compete with her, and now that you've humiliated me like–”

“River, just stop.” She looked up at me and jumped back as I interrupted. For a moment, I almost felt pity. “What you did was cruel and wrong, and I don't forgive you. I'm leaving.” With that, I stormed out of the room.

I slammed the door behind me.

“Oh, thorry, excuthe me, I didn't thee you there.” Whisper stood right in front of me. She must have been on her way in.

“Not your fault – don't worry about it.” I glanced back at the door. “I just couldn't stand to be around River anymore, and since I didn't have anything to pack...”

“It mutht be nithe,” Whisper mumbled, looking away down the dim hallway, “leaving River behind forever. I with I could.”

I laughed and patted her on the back. “You will! River failed her test. She's not going to the next school, but you are. Now you'll always be a little ahead of her, and you'll never be in the same classes again.”

Whisper's eyes grew wider and her mouth gaped as it dawned on her. She broke out into a huge grin. “I'll be able to get away from her thomtimes!” She surprised me with a huge hug around my neck. “This ith the betht thing that ever happened to me!”

“Easy there, Whisper.” I patted her on the back, glancing around awkwardly. “She's still your stepsister.”

“But don't you see? Now I don't alwayth have to be around her!”

“I know, I know.” I pushed her away a little, peeling the enthusiastic unicorn off of me. “But you need to get going and pack your stuff. Write to me, okay? We'll keep in touch.”

“Of courthe!” Still dancing with joy, she rushed in through the room's door.

As soon as the door closed again. I could hear River's strained voice yelling. I couldn't make out the words, but I knew it had to be River taking her frustrations out on her stepsister. It made me glad I hadn't forgiven that spiteful little unicorn. She was still a little monster.

With nothing left to do for a while, I let myself wander. The dim hallways that had intimidated me so much in the past now just seemed dreary and tiring. I let my hooves take me where they would, idly listening to the muffled conversations and laughter behind the closed doors.

For everypony else, this was a great day, a day to celebrate. It should have been for me, too. Everything I had been striving for, everything that I had wanted had come to pass. Instead of being ecstatically happy, though, I only felt tired, emotionally. Did that mean there was something wrong with me?

I reached a dead end in the hallway, forcing me to pay attention to where I was again. I vaguely remembered going down the stairs, but little else. I found myself just outside the doors to the school cafeteria. Of course. I should have known I'd end up here. For so long in this school, it had been the only place where I felt supported and safe.

I still had time to burn... Why not?

Pushing open the wide set of double doors, I stepped inside. The lights were off in the huge, silent room, and the sound of the door closing behind me echoed dully among the empty tables and neatly stacked chairs.

I felt silly and foolish. Of course he wasn't here. Why would he be? There were no meals to prepare. With a shake of my head, I turned back toward the door.

“Don' stop now, little filly. Come an' talk a while.”

I whipped myself back around again. I still couldn't see him until he stood up and started walking toward me. He must have been sitting at that table in the back of the room the whole time.

“Cookie!” I rushed over to him at a flat-out run. “You'll never believe what happened! I was out there taking my test, and it was going pretty–”

“I jus' mught believe it, lil' filly. I's watchin' the whole thing through my winda'... up until the winda' broke, dat is.”

I skidded to a stop next to him “So you saw the whole thing?”

“I did.” He draped a hoof across my back. “An' I'm pow'ful proud a' ya.”

I could feel the heat building in my cheeks. That was the nicest thing anypony had said about me the entire time I'd been at the school. I glanced away, not sure how to reply.

“It sho' 'nuff didn't happen by chance though.”

I looked back up at him, shrugging his hoof off of my shoulder.

“Huh?”

“Sometimes it might not look like it, but I've lived long 'nuff to know dat everything happens fo' a reason. Your talent, you bein' picked on, your success. It all done happened fo' a reason.”

I just kept staring at him, slowly raising an eyebrow. Cookie's advice was normally pretty good, but he'd lost me on this one.

“Whaddya think dat reason is?”

“I dunno.” I shrugged. “To make up for getting a cutie mark so late?”

Cookie laughed, making his belly shake. “Nah, lil' filly. It's fo' a much mo' important reason dan dat.

“Everywhere ya go, you gonna find pegasus ponies thinkin' dey's better dan da earth ponies, an' you gonna find unicorns thinkin' dey's better dan da both of 'em, just 'cause o' what's growin' outta dey's heads.” He poked his hoof into my chest. “You, though, you gotta be da one ta go out an' show 'em all da truth. You gotta do your magic an' show dem dere ain't no difference. Dat we all jus' ponies.”

“What?” I backed away. “There's no way I can do all that!”

“An' dere's no way a pegasus can do magic, an' dere's no way you can pass dis magic test when da Headmaster hate you.” He smiled at me, a smile that melted my heart. “You done did lots o' things dere's no way you could do. If you stay true to youself, I bet you can do a few mo' impossible things.”

He stared at me a moment longer, and his smile – though still there – faded just a little, allowing a touch of sadness into his eyes. “It's almos' time fo' you to go. You better go an' pack up ya stuff.” He made an obvious effort to bring his smile back full-force, but after he did, it was blatantly false.

I knew something was up. “What's wrong?”

“It always hard to see da lil' fillies an' colts go. Don' worry 'bout me.” To his credit, he didn't try to pretend everything was fine.

“But more are gonna come, right?”

Cookie began to laugh, but it ended up as more of a sigh. “Sometime, dere's one or two dat's special, an' all da new ones dat ever come through, no matter how many come, never make up fo' losin' dem.”

“You'll see me again,” I promised, “I'll come back and visit.”

“Heh. A lot of 'em say dat, an' none of 'em eva do.”

I stomped my hoof down. “I will. That's a promise.”

“Don' make promises you ain't gonna keep,” he mumbled.

“I am gonna keep it. It's just one more thing that can't happen, but I'm gonna do anyway!”

That brought his true smile back. “Jus' maybe you will... jus' maybe. You might prove me wrong yet, lil'–”

The sound of the school's bell cut through the still air of the lunchroom, signaling the release of all the students.

“Ah, so it be time fo' you to go now.”

“Well, yeah...” I gave him a big hug, which seemed to surprise him. “And remember, I made a promise!”

“Be sure you keep it, lil' filly,” he whispered, releasing me from the hug, “Be sure you do.”

“Of course!” I started trotting out of the room – I had a train to catch after all – but I stopped, just before going through the door, to look back at Sugar Cookie and give him one more smile before I left.

I clutched my new diploma and stepped out through the school's ornate front gates, glad to have seen the last of it. The crowd of students clogged the roadway, each of them struggling to get through on their way home or trying to force their way to the many parents who had come to pick them up.

I braced myself for my own push through the crowd, secure in my knowledge that I could do it on my own – without anypony's help.

My eyes were drawn to a flash of rainbow mane in the crowd... It couldn't be... but there she was, Rainbow Dash, hovering just above the crowd and looking at me with a big grin on her face. Just below her, I could spot Cheerilee and the tops of two manes that looked suspiciously like Sweetie Belle's and Apple Bloom's. They all came to see me?

I rushed over towards them, shoving my way through the dense crowd and struggling to get through. Seeing them again suddenly seemed like the most important thing in the world.

Before I could make it, though, ponies all around me started bowing. What was up with that? I looked all around and finally found the source of the commotion. Princess Celestia strode through the prostrate crowd, with Twilight Sparkle at her side... heading directly towards me!

I would have bowed myself. I should have. But I just couldn't move. I couldn't comprehend what was happening.

Even as the two princesses stepped right up in front of me, I just stood there, gaping at them like an idiot.

When Princess Celestia finally stopped in front of me, she didn't address the crowd and she didn't speak to me. She called out in a loud and clear voice, “Sugar Cookie, could you come forward please?”

My jaw dropped. What? Why would Princess Celestia of all ponies be calling for a kitchen helper?

Almost instantly – as if he had been waiting for this to happen – Cookie came trotting out through the school's gate. “Princess,” he said, calmly dipping down for a perfunctory bow.

Finally, I found my voice, at least enough to utter a “Huh? What's going on?”

Cookie beamed his biggest grin at me. “I's sorry, lil' filly. Dis mus' be confusin' for ya. A few day back, I done got a visitor when I went home after workin' the kitchens.”

“I recruited him to be my spy within the school,” Celestia cut in with a soft but overwhelming voice. “When Twilight Sparkle received your letter, she didn't only send messages to you and the Headmaster.” She smiled at the other alicorn beside her. “She sent a letter to me as well, and I took steps to verify and resolve these problems... starting with Sugar Cookie here.” She nodded to the rotund cook, and he made his way to her side. “As soon as he delivers his report, I will know enough about the problems in my school to be able to step in and rectify them.”

“Don' you worry, lil' filly. When C'lestia finds out, justice is gonna be served. I promise ya dat! I's gonna make sho she know everythin'.”

My eyes stayed wide, but a grin grew on my face, and a gasp that was almost laughter escaped from my mouth. All the ponies who had made my life miserable for the past week were going to be held accountable for it? I could hardly believe it.

“I just wish I could have intervened sooner, Scootaloo.” Celestia glanced away. “I know from Twilight's letter, you must have had a traumatic time here. I instructed Sugar Cookie to help as much as he could, and hopefully that at least granted you some measure of comfort... But I couldn't intervene directly until I had learned the full extent of the school's problems.” She glanced at the school with a narrowed eye. “Such problems have a habit of disappearing just as I come in and returning as soon as I leave.”

“Th– thank you, Princess!” I still couldn't believe that Princess Celestia herself was taking action on my behalf. “I... I just don't know what to–”

“Thank you Scootaloo.” The Princess gave me one of her slight little smiles. “Without you and your very unique special talent, the problems festering in this school might never have come to light. Now that I know, I can take action and once again make this the school it was meant to be.” She glanced over at Cookie. “Now, if you'll excuse us, I'm eager to hear Sugar Cookie's report. I have a feeling I'll be making some significant staff changes here. If you ever need my help, Scootaloo, I'm always just a letter away.”

As the two walked off together, Cookie turned and called over his shoulder, “An' I still 'spect ya to keep your promise, lil' filly!”

“I will!” I shouted back. Quietly, I added to myself, “I will.”

As Princess Celestia disappeared into the school and the crowd of ponies around me returned to their ordinary lives, I was swept up in an enormous group hug. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hit me first, with Rainbow Dash and Cheerilee following soon after. Even Twilight Sparkle joined in.

Sitting there with all my closest friends squeezed up against me and with my true special talent finally discovered, I realized I'd never been as well-off as I was now... I had a future – a future of fighting for the equality of all ponies... And with my friends at my side, I finally felt ready for it.

The End

Author's Note

As always, I adore getting comments about the story; the more specific and prolific the better -- negative comments included. Your comments help make my future stories better.

This story is my first serious use of the first-person POV, it's the slowest-paced story I've done yet, and it's the story I've put the most effort into perfecting. Please do let me know what you think!

Many thanks to my team. I couldn't have done it without them.
Pre-readers:
MailboxBomber
Kyaksa
tosety
IceBeerG

Dialog Consultants:
Jacob Ellinger
kidmurky
markey58

Editors:
IRpony

Proofreaders:
OkemosBrony
Unimpressive Vagaries

Artwork:
Scootaloo Vector by MoongazePonies
Background and cutie mark by author
In-Chapter art by author