The shadows of the night.

Nini ran over to the school door, and rattled on the door. She already knew that lessons had started as she could hear her new teacher talking on the other side of the red door. The rattling of the door stopped the voice and hoofsteps indicated he/she was getting closer.

''Yes?'' asked Cheerilee, opening the door. ''Oh, hello, little filly. Are you the new student, Night Shadow?''

Nini smiled, though did attempt to hide her fangs. ''Yep.'' when she said that, she realized she was gonna have a hard time keeping her fangs a secret from the other fillies and colts, which crowned the room, their was about 30 or so foals in that room, from what she could see.

''Come on in, then.'' said Cheerilee, with a smile still on her face.

The foals watched as the young bat pony walked into the room, chatter when around about the filly. Mainly on the topic of bat ponies, as they were so rare and were only seen a few times, like with Princess Luna's royal guards. One filly smiled, however and didn't join in the chatter.

This filly was a unicorn, with a ruby red and orange mane which looked like fire, but then again so did her mothers. The filly also had green eyes but a violet coating which was a good thing, as she had a cutie mark of a flame, which went with her name, Jacqueline Lantern.

Jacqueline watched carefully as little Nini walked into the room, she too was curious about the bat pony's appearance but she had a policy that appearance didn't matter, it was the heart and this filly just had to prove that she had personality, which she should be able to do in her self-introduction.

''Alright, little one. Introduce yourself to the class.'' said Cheerilee, kindly from behind her desk.

Nini blushed and nodded, mainly to calm her nerves which were threatening to make her mute, she had been to schools before but she was still nervous.

''Um, uh.....M-my name is...N-night...S-shadow...'' she said, shaking like a post. ''N-nice...to...m-meet you....''

Jackie smiled, this filly truly had heart, she was determined to introduce herself, despite being nervous and so, she clapped first promoting others to begin clapping. Nini blushed, but had a plain smile on her face.

''Now, Night Shadow. Your seat will be at the back, next to Jacqueline.'' said Cheerilee. ''Princess Jacqueline, rise your hoof please.''

''Fine, and don't call me 'princess' it doesn't fit.'' said Jackie, who rose her hoof gently.

Chattered went around the room again, the new student got to sit next to the daughter of the princess of friendship, that just didn't sound right and it was annoying to some, who didn't dare to even say a word to Jackie.

Jackie, however ignoring the chatter was happy that somepony was gonna sit next to her, the seat had been empty for weeks on end, and she didn't like it. Despite being princess, she loved being around ponies.

''Um, it's nice to be sitting next to you...'' said Nini, nervous again about being sat next to a princess.

''Hi, I might as well introduce myself. I'm Jacqueline Flame Lantern, and the daughter of Princess Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer.'' whispered Jackie, with a smile as she tried not to be proud, as it didn't fit her.

''Oh...Um...So, your really a princess?'' asked Nini, quietly, trying not to sound nervous.

''Yeah, I am but I'm more of a apprentice at the moment, like my mother I can't earn my wings unless I got through training but I don't wanna be a alicorn.''

''Girls!'' yelled Cheerilee.

The girls settled down, blushing to themselves as a bunch of fillies began giggling. The lesson continued like it hadn't been distrusted after that.

School is so fun!

That's what came to Nini's mind, as she wrote down note after note. The class was learning about planets, and she had taken a likely to it pretty quicker. She now knew books, upon books of research of it. As much as she didn't like admitting it, as she was a pegasus, she loved reading.

''Alright, class. Recess, then we'll continue where we left off.'' said Cheerilee, after the bell rang.

Most of the foals scattered the room within seconds, leaving Cheerilee, Jackie and Nini, who was pretty scared, behind. The rate that the foals left surprised Nini, but as if her thoughts was read, she was answered.

''I wouldn't get to fussed about it, if I was you. They normally live like that.''

It was Jackie who had spoke and she did it without emotion and without looking up from reading. Wait, reading?!

'She likes reading, too?' thought Nini, to herself.

She then took notice of Jackie's glowing horn, despite she wasn't holding anything in sight. It baffled her, but she didn't question it.

''If you confused, just ask.'' said Jackie, deadpan.

''Ah, um...''

''Ugh, reading minds is much easier then doing this.'' Jackie groaned.

''Wait, reading minds?''

''Yep, it's a spell, but I suppose bat ponies wouldn't know.'' said Jackie, with a tonal shift in her voice. And she smiled too.

Nini blushed for two different reasons, but didn't think as she didn't want to anymore. Jackie giggled at the unknown vampire's nervousness.

''Your cute when you blush.''

Your adorable, Nini

Nini blinked, she had heard what Jackie said but a voice, which she somehow remembered without fully remembering, rang out in her mind. She didn't know, and she wasn't certain if she wanted to know who that voice belonged to.

''You okay?'' asked Jackie.

''Yea....I am...Jacqueline...''

''Just call me Jackie, my parents do.''

''Then, please call me Nini.'' smiled Nini, glad she now had a friend.

Jackie joined in with a smile, and the two fillies ran out of the room, side by side to join the other foals at recess.