Complexity of the Strongest
The classroom 3-C was filled with the sound of pencils scratching on paper. Occasionally, a groan could be heard from the desks ordered around the class, no doubt the groan was one of frustration. After all, today was a maths test. Not just any maths test mind you, a surprise maths test.
Undoubtedly, the teacher Silver Inkwell was from Tartarus. At least, the students currently thought so. As the clock neared closer and closer to 3:15, the sounds of frustration grew in number. The sound of scratching sped up and the flipping of pages could be heard as the students skipped the hard questions and focused on the easier ones, undoubtedly attempting to score just a couple of extra points in the time before the test finished.
“Ah!”
A loud cry came from the front of the class as the tip of a student's pencil broke off. Most likely it broke due to the furious writing and lack of care in the end of test panic. The pony stared at the pencil in horror, as if it had betrayed him. After flicking their gaze up for a second, the rest of the class continued to write, if not more furiously than before. It wasn’t as if the broken-pencil pony was ignored though, the sense of hopelessness the pony felt was shared throughout the class in the last minute rush. After all, the students had no time to stop, it was 3:14.
At the back of the class, something a little different was occurring. A young filly sat, not moving, just staring blankly at the round clock on the wall and counting the seconds until the class was over. Waiting until school was over. Her test was neatly placed on her desk, and her pencils lined up next to the test. They looked untouched which was a fair assessment; after all, she hadn’t written anything for the last twenty minutes. Looking at this scene, one could assume that the young filly was rather good at math which, in fact, she was. At her age, you could probably call her a math prodigy.
Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick..
A loud sound rang through the classroom causing the students to jump. The bell had gone, test was over and school was finished for the day. Normally one would expect cries of joy at the sound; after all, the students were free now.
“Ah, that test was so hard!”
“I know! I think my brains melted.”
“Anybody know what the answer to question fifteen was?”
“Help me! I’m still thinking in math!”
“I’ll save you. Hehe!”
“Ouch, what was that for?”
“..I think fifteen was minus two.”
“Ahh, Celestia, I had sixteen!”
“Bwahaha!”
While one would usually expect the young students to rush out the class, group of students were a little different. The students loved to learn. Undoubtedly, this was due to the young teacher, Silver Inkwell. Rather new to the teaching scene, Silver Inkwell made up for his lack of experience with fresh ideas and enthusiasm. He was also very friendly and approachable, which helped him to connect with the students.
Silver Inkwell gazed around the class of 3-C, a faint smile evident on his face. He was proud that he could give the young foals a passion for learning. His smile dropped and he let out quiet sigh as his gaze fell across the filly at the back of the class. She held no expression on her face, and looked at him expectantly. Waiting. He knew what she was waiting for and spoke.
“Alright my young students. How was the test?” The class quieted down as he spoke and the smile was back on his face.
“It was easy. I could do it in my sleep.” A young colt called out.
The class quickly filled with other remarks in a similar fashion. Silver Inkwell laughed. He knew the test was rather difficult . He knew the students knew it was hard to. He was happy though. Happy that the students had reassured him that the test wasn’t too difficult, honestly, he had been rather worried about whether or not he had made it too difficult. He did notice again however, the young filly at the back of the class said nothing and kept staring at him blankly.
“Alright class, don’t move. I’m coming to pick your tests up now.” Silver Inkwell spoke loudly to be heard over the talking students. “You can leave as soon as I pick up your test.”
Silver Inkwell quickly walked around the desks picking up the tests with his wings and placing them on his back as he went. It was a rather impressive display of wing dexterity and balance. He didn’t want the students to know he’d practiced it though, he’d be rather embarrassed. He kept walking past the desks, watching the students leave as he picked up the tests one by one. Whoops of joy could be heard from outside as the students from around the school left. Silver Inkwell, turned to the pick up the last test. It was the filly at the back of the class.
“Scalar Mist, did you finish the test early?” Silver Inkwell asked tentatively. He already knew the answer, he just wanted confirmation.
“Yes. I finished roughly twenty minutes ago.” Scalar Mist spoke emotionlessly and quickly, as if she was reciting facts from a page “The test was simple.”
“Alright then, you are free to go” Silver Inkwell said and watched her quickly leave the class.
Silver Inkwell sighed loudly after Scalar Mist left the class. She didn’t have any friends in the class. She didn’t speak with the classmates unless she had to. She was smart, incredibly so for her age. The biggest problem in Silver Inkwell’s opinion was that she showed no expression. Her eyes held no sign of life. She was utterly unapproachable. He’d tried to change this, but to no avail. He let out another sigh as he walked over and placed the tests on the teacher’s desk. He’d figure out something later. For now, he had to mark the tests.
***---***---***
Scalar Mist walked home quietly. The Guiding Light Orphanage was what she called home, but to her, it was just a place to sleep and eat. The Guiding Light Orphanage was well known throughout Pinto Creek. After all, it was the only one there. Scalar Mist rounded a corner and began to walk through the markets; it was the quickest way back home. The sounds of haggling ponies filled her ears. You could buy almost anything you needed at the market. As she passed a couple of stalls selling carrots and apples she felt rather hungry. Suddenly, her stomach growled at her and she paused, looking down at her stomach. She gave it a light prod to quiet it down and took a left into an alleyway as she passed a rose stall.
Scalar mist walked down the alleyway, her hooves clip-clopping as she went. The sound echoed down the alleyway. Scalar Mist was happy, it was quiet and she was alone. She preferred to be alone, for her, the solitude was comforting. Scalar Mist smiled faintly and noticed that she was halfway through the alleyway so she slowed down, she wanted to enjoy the solitude some more. However, just as she was thinking that, an Earth Pony colt, seemingly only a couple of years older rounded the corner in front of her and headed into the alleyway. At the same time two more Earth Pony colts advanced into the alleyway behind her.
“Oi. Scalar. Lend us some bits would you?” The colt in front of her spoke, a mocking tone was evident in his voice and a smirk was visible on his muzzle “Just a couple and we’ll leave you alone”
“Why? Did you finish extorting the rest of your classmates in 5-A?” Scalar Mist spoke calmly, not fazed by the situation at all. After all, she’d faced the same situations countless times before.
“Haha, what are you trying to say, Scalar.” The colts face had dropped into a frown and he glared at Scalar Mist “Give us some bits”
“How about… no.” Scalar Mist smiled as she replied, she wanted a fight, she’d provoke them some more “How about you and your stupid friends back there leave. You bunch of cowards. Ganging up on a defenceless young filly.”
“Alright, alright, okay. Alright!” The colt in front cried out maniacally “Well show you what we do when we don’t get our way.”
“Oh?” Scalar Mist raised her eyebrow. She was happy, very happy “Come and get me.”
“Let’s get her!” The colt called out to his comrades behind Scalar Mist “Let’s teach her.”
Scalar Mist grinned. She hadn’t had a fight in a while. The three ponies rushed towards her and she stood her ground. The colt in front reached her first; jumping into the air he spun his body and attempted to buck her whilst airborne. As his hoof drew nearer, Scalar Mist didn’t move, didn’t even blink. It wasn’t that she was scared, or that she couldn’t react. She just had no reason to. Then something impossible happened.
As soon as the colt's hoof touched her fur, he was flung backward as if struck by an invisible barrier. His body flipped over and he lay on the ground unmoving. You could hear him wheezing, likely winded from the impact. Watching this occur, the two ponies behind stopped running and slowly advanced wide eyed. They couldn’t believe what they saw. Was the boss countered? No, no. It must have been a trick. They nodded to each other and approached her sides, carefully watching for any movements. Scalar Mist stood unmoving, a wide grin on her face. Suddenly, the two colts either side spun and placed their body weight onto their front hooves, lifting their bodies and bucked outwards.
Again the impossible happened. As soon as they touched her fur, they were seemingly struck by an invisible barrier. Their back legs flung back towards them and they couldn’t maintain their balance, tumbling over and into the walls either side of the alleyway. Scalar Mist laughed loudly.
“Thanks for the fun gentlecolts, goodbye” Scalar Mist smiled kindly as she spoke.
She had had her fun. She was done now. She started to walk forwards and then stopped. The colt in front rose up, having caught his breath. Scalar Mist frowned
“You’re no unicorn. What… what did you do?” The colt gasped with a desperate look in his eyes “What in Tartarus did you do!”
“Hmm, I wonder.” said Scalar Mist emotionlessly. “I guess you’ll never find out”
Scalar Mist was not enjoying herself anymore. She started to move and slowly walked past the colt in front. After she passed him he ran towards his friends on either side of the alleyway. He bent over and lent a hoof to each of them, helping them stand. The three colts looked battered and bruised after being struck down. Scalar Mist kept walking.
“You, you bitch.” The colts used the worst word they knew and charged at her “You’re dead!”
Scalar Mist stopped moving and sighed deeply. The three colts lifted their front hooves and struck out at her. The colts struck simultaneously, and Scalar Mist was knocked down, blood leaking from her mouth where she’d bitten her tongue. At least, that was what was supposed to happen.
Instead, a large crack sounded in the air and the three colts were flung back crying in pain. They held their forehooves, now broken, with tears dripping down their faces. Scalar Mist quickly walked up to them and they stared at her with their teary-eyed, snot covered faces. She bent down and whispered to the leader.
“I suggest you don’t do this again. It’ll be the end.” Scalar Mist bent down lower and picked up a sack, it jingled as she lifted it “I’ll be taking this”
The three colts could only nod in terror as she robbed them and left. It wasn’t long afterwards their wails echoed down the alleyway and the rose stall's owner came running.