Five. I only have five ponies chosen. Sixty students and five teachers. Well, I guess that is alright if we have twelve students in each class, but that's not the point. We need a teacher for each subject, and kitchen staff and custodians. I need a break. One more minute of this and I will lose it.

" Princess Mariposa?" Calls a soft voice from the other end of the room.

"Yes Feather Duster?" The last thing I need is a guest right now.

"The staff have a couple recommendations for teachers, if you want them." My spirits lifted, and a glimmer of hope shone through me.

"Yes! I mean, that would be much appreciated thank you." She smiles a little and I wink at her. She quietly leaves the room and shuts the door behind her. As I look over the list I see four names.

1. Hieroglyph
   
2. Regal Fantasy
   
3. Cocoa Fudge
   
4. Marshmallow Fluff

Yes. I think I'm about ready for the school year.

First I looked at Hieroglyph's resume. She graduated with honors, and went on to Pranceton University. She is an archaeologist, and has been on many important expeditions. Excellent background, and her criminal record is spotless. I put a check mark by her name with a red pen and look at the next resume.

Regal Fantasy. Taught at Central Las Pegasus Elementary. Has library experience. Wrote a couple foals books, and illustrated them too. Her criminal record is mostly clean, except she was a murder suspect. Innocent of course, but I'll have to ask her about that. Because the last one threw me off a bit, I took a black pen and wrote a question mark next to her name.

The next two names were for kitchen and custodian. I only asked for teachers, but believe me I am grateful for that. I get up out of my chair and place the paper on my nightstand, and walk over to the mirror hanging on my door. I look like a mess. I stride over to my vanity and levitate a hairbrush with my magic. I comb down in a smooth, swift motion. As my hair straightens, another hoof knocks at my door.

"Feather, is that you?" I ask.

"Nope." calls a voice. Definitely not Feather, she isn't a stallion.

"Stalagmite what are doing?" I ask. He walks in and hugs me from behind and I stop combing my mane. I look up and blow in his face. He jumps back and stumbles over laughing. I get up to help him. I extend my hoof too him, but he pulls me down. "I thought you were going on vacation."

He sighs. "Mari, you know me better than that. I always say goodbye."

We both get up and I hug him. "Happy trails."

The door opens, and Feather peaks through. "Uh, excuse me Princess, but I thought I heard voices. Wait, How did you get here?"
She points at Stalagmite, and looks back and forth at us.

"Oh, have I introduced you to Stalagmite yet, Feather, Stalagmite. He's always welcome." She nods and leaves with a confused grin on her face.
"How did you get in here anyway. In fact, how have you been getting in here, and getting out undetected by everypony except me."

His smile grows as I say that. "You should really lock your windows." He struts out , still smiling.

I sigh. He's the same old stalagmite as he was twenty years ago, which for me isn't that long. For him though, that's about a third of his lifetime. Feather Duster quietly peeks back in, and catches my eye.

"Yes Feather?" she steps into the room all the way and makes eye contact with me. Her brown mane looks dull in the dim lighting of the room.

"I know this isn't my place to ask but... are you sure you two are just freinds?" she looks up at me, a grin sweeping across her tan coat.

I laugh as well. "Well, we tried to take it a step further, but there were, complications. We are doing our best to keep it completely platonic, but trust me it's hard." It's been a while since I've had a good laugh with anyone but Stalagmite. Now here with Feather Duster, I realize maybe I have more friends than I know. Old memories came flooding back. I had only met with Princess Twilight a couple times, but she taught me something very valuable about friendship. That it comes in all shapes and forms.

"Feather, can I get something off my chest? It's been weighing me down, and I trust you will keep this between us." I don't use the words I trust very often, and it felt good to say. She nods, wavy mane bouncing.

"There is a bigger reason for reopening the school. A reason very important. I hope at the school, I will be able to find an heir to my throne. Someone to take over, whom I trust, that also meet the specifications."

"Wow, I-I never knew." I smile a bit.

"That's because I never told anypony. In the next two years, I have to find myself an heir. That gives me eight years to prepare them. They have to be a unicorn, and a certain level one. They also have to have to be a certain age, and special talent. If I chose a tailor, they would be the princess of what, clothes? No offense to tailors of course. I'm hoping at the school I find that certain somepony and get their approval to take over the throne." Feather stares at me in shock. I smirk at her priceless expression and put a hoof on her shoulder. "This is just between us, okay?" she nods "Then you are dismissed, friend." As she walks out the door, I resume brushing my mane and go to sleep. That night I had some of the best sleep I've had in a long time.

Author's Note

I hope you like! This is my take on future equestria.