The Fillydelphia Institution of Fine Arts was "dedicated to the recognition and growth of creative youths." At least, that's what the brochure said. Sweetie Belle had dreamed of being enrolled here ever since she got her cutie mark: a pristine silver bell with an elegant ribbon curling around it. The school itself was legendary: anypony who wanted to pursue a serious artistic career came through here at some point. Canterlot may house the magic academies, but Fillydelphia was the cultural capital of Equestria.
Up close, the Institution was a lot more intimidating than on paper. A high stone arch greeted students as the gateway to the rolling lawn. The buildings surrounding the lawn were no less than three stories tall each, and displayed hints of old Pegasopolis architecture; fluted columns, domed roofs, and even frescoes were dotted here and there among the alcoves.
Sweetie took a deep breath and remembered her campus map. The girls dorms were to her left, across from the mess hall and next to the other dorm hall for colts. She made her way, admiring absolutely everything about the place. The buildings themselves were pretty, but exquisite topiaries and sculptures throughout the gardens caught her eye as she passed.
She barely dodged some of the other students who had gotten off the train with her, most of whom were also first-years trying to find their way. She made it to the dorm building and located her room: number 243, overlooking the outdoor amphitheater on the side of the building not facing the main lawn. The room was small, but not unbearably so. Rarity might have had a fit at the size of the closet, but Sweetie didn't put nearly as much stock into clothing as her sister. A few coats and scarves fit neatly on hangers, and her other garments got folded and placed in drawers.
She made her bed, set her books and saddlebags on her desk, and organized her bathroom bag near the door.
"Hmm, still missing something..." She mused. "Oh, that's right! How could I forget?" She rummaged in her last suitcase for a few seconds before triumphantly retrieving a long tube. She unrolled the two posters inside: the Sapphire Shores one was hung over her desk, but the other took a place of honor right above her headboard.
When her friends Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had gotten wind of her acceptance into the school, they had insisted on making her a going away present: a delightful collage of the three as fillies, at each other's cuteceneras, and finally a large group shot, directly in the middle, of them smiling gleefully together the day before she left. She hung this poster with reverence, and finally declared the room to be officially hers.
~><~
After settling in, Sweetie decided to roam the campus: classes didn't start until tomorrow, and this would be a great opportunity to build a mental map of the place.
Gazing left and right, she couldn't believe she was finally here, at the very hub of artistic education. She saw some students lounging idly on the lawn relaxing, chatting, even painting. Ambient a Capella voices wafted on the breeze where students were practicing. Sweetie found herself drawn to the source: a trio of older students harmonizing beautifully with each other.
The tune was familiar; a simple childhood lullaby transformed by the overlapping parts. Swaying her head, she sang softly to herself, filling in the missing soprano part. The pseudo-improvised notes flowed easily as her talent showcased itself.
I'll be with you throughout the night
Until the blessèd day aliiiiiiiights!
The last note glissed up to an even higher one as Sweetie finished her part. She smiled at a job well sung, even if it had only been half of a short song.
"Hey!" Somepony from the group called. "Hey, you!"
Sweetie checked behind her to make sure she was the one being addressed.
The one who had called out, a pale yellow unicorn with a pink mane, rolled her eyes. "Yes, we mean you! C'mon over, we just wanna talk,"
Sweetie Belle hurried over, not wanting to make enemies before classes even started. "What about?"
"That was you singin' along, wasn't it?"
Sweetie internally gasped. They had heard her? "I'm sorry," she stammered. "Did I interrupt your practice?"
"No, nothing like that," the yellow one, presumably the leader of the little gang, said. "Actually, we were impressed."
"Impressed?"
"You flawlessly inserted yourself into an established harmony, and knew exactly which notes to improvise for your part. I know we're at the Filly Institute, but I have to admit, that's still pretty good."
"You... really think so?"
"Sure I do! You've got what it takes, kid. Little bit of practice, you could be the next queen of the school!"
Sweetie could hardly believe she was receiving such praise so early. An older student told her she had what it took!
"So whaddaya say, kid? We're looking for a soprano voice to fill us out, and you fit the bill."
Sweetie Belle could only nod, still stunned by how well her first day was going.
"Oh, by the way, you should probably know: my name's Gentle Melody. This here's Dulcet Tones, and the weirdo behind him is Bassline." The yellow one continued, gesturing to her companions: a muted green unicorn with a cream mane, and a deep blue-gray pegasus with a jet black mane.
"Charming as ever, Melody," the pegasus quipped in a voice that fit his namesake perfectly.
"Oh, you love me." Gentle Melody said before turning back to Sweetie. "Why don't you meet us for lunch tomorrow. Maybe you'll be able to talk by then?"
"Uh huh," Sweetie squeaked.
~><~
Dear Rarity,
You'll never believe what happened on my very first day! I was walking around the campus when I heard singing. It turned out to be a group of students that were looking for a soprano voice! They heard me singing along, and offered me a position in the group! I was so excited I could barely even talk.
I'm meeting them for lunch tomorrow, so hopefully that'll go well, along with the beginning of my classes! Things are going better than I could have hoped, and I'm so excited for the rest of the year!
With sisterly love,
Sweetie Belle
Chapter 2
Sweetie Belle found it far more difficult to get to class than she had anticipated. With the addition of hundreds of ponies, navigating the grounds became next to impossible, let alone finding a single classroom in a specific building.
Between the jostling and the confusion and the building names and the steps and the door numbers Sweetie Belle ended up being late to her first class, Intro to Composition. The door was open, so she snuck through and silently found a seat. The professor, an older gray stallion with a quill and ink cutie mark, didn’t even look up from his lecture.
"... Assignments will be due at the beginning of class every Monday, no exceptions. If you are absent on a Monday you will receive a zero for the assignment as well as participation for the day. Now if you’ll turn your attention to what I’ve written on the board…”
Sweetie hurriedly opened her notebook and began scribbling furiously to catch up. She hadn’t been in class for five minutes and already she was lost. She knew how to read music, of course, but it had only ever been a single part she had to sing. In composition, there were several parts, and even multiple staffs to incorporate! Treble, bass, tenor, baritone; the notes began to blur together in Sweetie’s brain.
Even worse, most of the students did not seem to share her problem. Several were nodding in understanding as they wrote down key points. One colt wasn’t even taking notes: he was wearing bulbous blue headphones and tapping along to an unheard rhythm.
The hour crawled by. Sweetie Belle wrote down everything she could, but she missed a few things when the instructor erased the board, and what she did have only became messier and messier as the class period progressed. It would have been easier if the professor didn’t write down every single word he said; Sweetie couldn’t pay attention to both the writing and the talking.
When the clock chimed 11, the professor set down his chalk. “That’s all for today,” He called over the clamor of students packing up their things. “Assignment due Monday: I want you to write a simple three-part chorale, at least twenty bars in length, in 4/4 time. You can pick the key.” He paused, then decided to write the assignment on the board, which nopony but Sweetie bothered to copy.
Sweetie Belle was mentally exhausted, but the day was far from over. She had ten minutes to get to her next class.
~><~
The walk to the dining hall was significantly more draining than it should have been. Sweetie's second class, Music Theory, was easier than composition, but not by much. At least the instructor had clearly highlighted the main points instead of writing every little thing down.
The singer-in-training trudged to the queue for food and snagged a tray with her magic. Her fine-control levitation was really getting a workout today.
She selected two slices of veggie pizza, an apple, a bottle of milk, and a small brownie for dessert. Meal plans were included with tuition, so she didn't see any reason to skimp on nutrition. Well, perceived nutrition, at least. With tray in tow, she set off to find Gentle Melody and her companions.
Scanning the tables was an experience in and of itself. Just like the common outdoor area, students used the free time to discuss their particular interests in the arts. Drawings and musical scores were strewn across tables, leaving little room for actual trays of food. Some of the theater students were even standing or posing, putting on a show for their fellows. One was holding a plastic pony skull, for what reason Sweetie couldn’t discern.
“Hey!” A shout interrupted her thoughts. “Over here!” Sweetie turned to see a yellow hoof waving at her. Glad for the intervention, she made her way over to the table where Gentle Melody sat with Dulcet Tones and Bassline, as well as several other students Sweetie didn’t know. There was only one open seat left, so she took the empty spot next to Gentle Melody.
“Glad you could make it,” Melody said, as Dulcet Tones and Bassline greeted their new fourth voice with silent nods. “How’s your first day goin’?”
“Oh, you know… good.” Sweetie Belle was nervous again, especially since most of the students around Gentle Melody were listening to her, too. Being in front of crowds was a fear she had yet to get over.
“Good! Say, we never got your name yesterday. Mind filling us in?” Her conversation partner didn’t seem to notice the attention she garnered.
“I… I’m Sweetie Belle.” Her voice cracked, and she felt a hot blush spread across her face.
“Oh, you are just too cute!” Melody looked like she wanted to ruffle Sweetie’s mane, but refrained. “Well Sweetie Belle, there’s no need to be afraid around us, right guys?” She addressed to the other students around her. Nods and murmurs of agreement followed. “See?”
Sweetie found herself nodding along. Nothing to be afraid of. Nothing at all. “Are these music students, too?” She asked.
“Not all of them, but most,” Melody replied. “I like to cast my net as wide as possible.”
Something about that sentence was strange, but Sweetie didn’t have time to reflect on her confusion before the next question was directed at her.
“So when’s your next class today?”
“Not until three,” Sweetie had made sure to memorize her schedule, and after the difficulty finding her classes earlier, she was glad she had: pulling out the piece of paper to check where she was would have made the transitions all the harder.
“Great! You wanna hang out with me and the gang?”
It felt like somepony had removed the piece of her jaw holding it together. Using just her tongue to talk sounded garbled, so she forced her teeth to clack shut and tried again: “Sure, I would love to!”
~><~
Sweetie couldn’t believe it. She was establishing herself with a group of friends that could help her on her journey to becoming a musician! Gentle Melody was taking time to show her around the school and introduce her to some of the ponies that had been seated at her lunch table, not that Sweetie remembered any of their names. This was exciting! This was exactly what she wanted!
“So, what do you think?” The statement startled Sweetie.
“Um… well…”
Gentle Melody chuckled. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but you get used to it. Someday, this campus will be your domain, with you at the top of the totem pole.”
“I…”
Suddenly the older student leaned in close to Sweetie Belle’s ear. “And I’m going to give you everything you need to get there.” As quickly as she approached, she receded and giggled. “Won’t that be fun?”
“Y-yeah...” reluctance crept into Sweetie’s voice. “Fun…”
“Come on! I still have lots to show you!”
Following along warily now, Sweetie scanned the campus, barely listening to Melody anymore. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know what her new mentor was saying. Passing by the stairs leading to the music hall, a flash of blue and silver caught her eye.
Sweetie did a double take. She would recognize those headphones anywhere: it was the colt from her composition class! He was sitting on the stairs, still incessantly tapping all four hooves to whatever beat he heard. Deciding that this colt was more important than Melody at the moment, she took a closer look.
He was an chestnut earth pony with a tan mane that hung around his eyes. The eyes themselves were closed as he lost himself in the rhythm. She tried to get a peek at his cutie mark…
“Hey, whatcha lookin’ at?” The older unicorn followed Sweetie’s gaze to the steps.
Sweetie jerked at the sound of Melody’s voice. “Huh? Oh, he was just somepony I recognized from class.”
“Him?” Melody regarded the colt for all of two seconds before making her judgement. “Looks like he’s got some weird muscular disease. You can do much better.”
“Huh? What do you mean, better?”
Her mentor sighed in response. “Oh, Sweetie, you have so much to learn. Never fear, I’ll get you to the top eventually. By the end of the year, you’ll see what being popular can really do for you. But it’s all about image, and that colt? He’ll ruin yours.” She finished, saying the last part with as much certainty as she would have used claiming that Celestia raised the sun. It bothered Sweetie, but she couldn’t put a hoof on why.
~><~
The corridors of Fillymoore Hall were silent due to the soundproofing measures on each of the musical practice rooms. Sweetie Belle walked slowly, almost reverently, her hoofsteps echoing softly off the marble floor.
"116... 117... Here it is: 118!" The young unicorn stopped and regarded a plain wooden door that was cracked open slightly. This was the class she had been most eager for: Voice Instruction. She had been assigned an advisor for the entire four years that she would be enrolled in the Institution. Said advisor would teach, recommend, and otherwise guide her in developing her voice to the best of her ability, if all went well. But not if she stood out in the hallway all afternoon. Sweetie lifted a hoof and rapped gently on the door.
“Come iiiin!” lilted a high, but pleasant voice. Pushing against the portal, Sweetie found a cream colored Earth pony mare with a flowing pink and blue mane. She was bent over a modest desk, writing in what looked like a journal or agenda. At the sound of the door hinges squeaking, she glanced up. “Oh, you must be Sweetie Belle!”
The mare’s disarming smile and the faint smell of lilacs in the room eased Sweetie’s fears. At least her advisor wasn’t some old crone stuck in their ways who would teach you to sing like they had been taught because by golly it worked for them and music don’t change.
“Yes. Are you Miss… Fee? Fi? Fo?” The letters on her schedule were arranged in a twisted semblance of a word.
“Fioritura, dear.” The mare corrected with the experience of one who had pronounced her name for every pony she had ever met. “You can call me Miss F. Please, close the door behind you and have a seat.” Fioritura gestured gracefully to the chair set across from her desk.
Sweetie Belle settled down and scanned the rest of the room. A worn keyboard occupied the far corner behind her. The curtains over the windows were an airy blue, made from a thin fabric that tinted the light coming through them. Potted flowers were arranged on shelves and in the window sill. A stick of incense smoldered on the desk, the source of the lilac odor, Sweetie guessed. The effect was very calming.
“So then, let’s get started, shall we?” Fioritura smoothly rose and walked around the desk, as poised and confident as any unicorn in Canterlot. Her self-awareness impressed Sweetie Belle, as the only other pony she had seen move with such grace and surety was her sister. She sat herself at the keyboard a coaxed out a simple melody. “Show me what you’ve got!”
~><~
Dear Rarity,
Today was the first day of classes. They’re a lot harder than Miss Cheerilee’s lessons, for sure! My favorite, though, was definitely my voice instruction. Miss F was so nice! Also, I think she might have some unicorn blood in her, too. She walks like she knows she’s beautiful.
I met up with some of the friends I found yesterday, and they gave me a tour of the campus. I think they like me, but it’s going to take some getting used to. I miss Apple Bloom and Scootaloo… Can you say hi to them for me? I know Bloom’s probably busy with the harvest, but It’d make me feel better knowing that they know I’m thinking of them.
With sisterly love,
Sweetie Belle
Dearest Sweetie,
I’m so happy things are going well for you; you’ll have to tell me all about your new friends. I can’t wait to see what you do with your education there. If the upper classes say you’ve got what it takes, I look forward to seeing you grow into the beautiful mare you were meant to be.
Of course I’ll give your best wishes to both of your friends; they’ll be happy to hear from you.It sounds like you have a lot of work in store for you, but I know you’ll be able to handle it. Have you tried asking some of your friends or classmates for help with classes? They might surprise you.
All my love,
Rarity
"Are you quite sure you have everything?"
"Yes, Rar-"
"Toothbrush?"
"Yes,"
"Your special shampoo?"
"Ye-"
"Scarves for when it gets cold?"
Sweetie Belle just sighed at this point.
"Cosmetics! Oh, where is your cosmetics suitcase?" Rarity began unzipping her sister's luggage. "I can't have my sister looking like-"
"Rarity,"
"You know how these schools are-"
"Rarity."
"And what if you meet a colt? You simply must-"
"Rarity!" Sweetie blushed faintly at the last comment. "I'll be fine."
Her elder sister stopped, still levitating several personal articles.
Sweetie's blush deepened. "Can you please put those back?"
Rarity complied, organizing everything just so. "I'm sorry, dear. You know I'm only watching out for you." She re-zipped the suitcase, regarding her sister's belongings with a frown. "I can't imagine why you would only pack three bags. There simply isn't enough room for everything!"
"The dorms aren't palace suites, Rarity," the younger unicorn rolled her eyes. "I needed to pack a little bit lighter than you usually do."
"Mm, I suppose. Though I still think you should have at least packed a few cond-"
"Rarity!" Sweetie Belle's voice cracked as her face caught fire.
"All aboard!" The conductor's shout accompanied a shrill train whistle. "All aboard for Fillydelphia!"
"Oh! That's you, dear. Good luck!"
Sweetie Belle stole a hug before she left. "I'll write every day, starting tonight!"
Her sister returned the tender gesture. "I'll hold you to it, and reply when I can. Now go on! The train's about to leave!"
Sweetie gathered her things and boarded quickly. She found the first empty compartment she could and settled at the window, where she could still see Rarity on the platform. She waved fondly, and didn't stop until the station was nothing but a speck.
