Magic Shimmer took a deep breath as the train pulled out of the station and she watched as it left her there in Ponyville, taking her mother with it. Her gut twisted with homesickness already and she had no idea what the princess would think of her.
“Excuse me little filly.” said a soft voice behind her.
Mage spun around and stared wide eyed up at the yellow pegasus mare before her.
“Are you Magic Shimmer?” a pink earth pony cried, seeming to just appear in her face.
“Uh-huh.” she replied, nodding.
“No need to look so scared, we don’t bite!” the earth pony said in her high pitched voice as she bounced up and down, causing her cotton candy-like curls to bounce with her.
“Twilight is a little busy right now so she asked us to get you.” the pegasus said gently as she brushed a lock of silky pink mane out of her teal eyes with one hoof, “I’m Fluttershy and this is Pinky Pie, we’re two of Twilight’s friends.”
“Enough chit-chat, let’s get you to the castle!” Pinky Pie said, grabbing them and pulling them after her, causing Mage to let out a yelp of surprise.
Soon they arrived at Princess Twilight’s castle and Pinky lead them inside, rambling about how excited everyone was about her arrival and how they should throw a party to celebrate. Fluttershy on the other hoof was quiet the whole time, but not in an awkward way, more in a comforting way.
“...and this is your room!” Pinky cried excitedly, ending the tour.
Mage looked around the room, it had plain walls, a plain bed, a desk bare of anything but a simple lamp and an empty dresser.
“We didn’t know what you would like so we left it plain until we can decorate it to your liking.” Fluttershy stated.
Mage nodded in understanding and put her suitcase on the bed to unpack later.
“We’ll leave you to get settled until Twilight gets back, which shouldn’t be long.” Pinky said as they left the room.
Mage had enough time to put away all her clothes in the dresser and set up a few keepsakes on the desk before there was a knock on the door.
“Come in.” she said, her first words since saying goodbye to her mother at the station.
Twilight came into the room with a dragon trailing behind, Mage recognized the purple alicorn from pictures in magazines and newspaper articles.
“Hello! I trust Pinky and Fluttershy gave you a tour of the castle?” the princess asked.
Mage nodded.
“Good, now about your name, Magic Shimmer is a bit long, is there anything you would rather us call you?”
“Mage is fine.”
“Great! Are you hungry, Mage?”
Mage remembered how she hadn’t eaten much on the train out of nerves, but those nerves weren’t quite gone yet. She nodded anyway though because she knew she probably should eat something.
“Then lets go, I invited my friends to have dinner with us so they could all meet you.” Twilight said as she started to leave the room.
It wasn’t long after they sat at the table that all of Twilight’s friends arrived, each introducing themselves before sitting. Rainbow Dash, the blue, rainbow haired pegasus and a member of the Wonderbolts, Rarity, white unicorn with purple curls and a well known fashion designer, Applejack, an orange country mare who runs a farm with her brother and sister, then the animal-lover Fluttershy and party-pony Pinky Pie returned.
“So,” Twilight began, “I don’t know how much my cousin told you Mage, but I suppose you would like to hear exactly how you came to be here?”
Mage nodded, a thing she’d been doing a lot of since she was too overwhelmed to form words.
"Well, Princess Celestia mentioned taking on a protegee and I remembered my cousin's letters about how she had a magically gifted filly so a sent her a letter and we decided you would come stay with me for a while to learn about magic and friendship. I understand that most princesses don't show any favoritism towards family and usually put potential students through a test, so you aren't officially my student yet, first I want to see what you can do."
Mage gave a slow nod of understanding, "Does this mean I might become a princess? I mean, you were Princess Celestia's protege and you became a princess."
Twilight gave a chuckle and said, "I don't know, we'll just have to wait and see."
~
Mage was silent as Twilight walked her to school, the princess may be her mother’s cousin, but she really didn’t know her and had no idea what to talk about.
“Did you have many friends in Canterlot?” Twilight asked suddenly.
“Meh, it can be difficult to make genuine friends in Canterlot.” Mage replied, “I mostly just study magic in my spare time.”
“Do you like reading?”
“Yeah, but I never got much time to read for pleasure.”
“We can fix that.” Twilight replied, grinning.
When they reached the school the other foals were already heading in, the older class of ponies coming out. When she entered most of the other students were already sitting.
“Ah, you must be Magic Shimmer?” said the teacher, a dark pink earth pony.
Mage nodded.
The teacher grinned and turned to the rest of the class, “Everyone, please welcome our new student from Canterlot, Magic Shimmer, she’s here to learn from the princess.”
Mage felt heat rise to her face as her new classmates whispered, casting her glances.
“I’m Miss Cheerilee, take a seat.”
Mage scanned the room for available seats and settled on one in the second row between a yellow maned red colt and a silver maned white filly wearing a plastic tiara and giving her a sickly sweet smile.
“Hi, I’m Zealous Crown. So you’re really studying with the princess?” the white filly introduced herself, bating her emerald green eyes to add to her charm, a trick Mage had seen plenty of Canterlot fillies doing when they wanted something.
“Mage.” she replied and turned her attention to the front of the class where Cheerilee was beginning the lesson.
Mage saw the filly frown and heard her let out a huff but she didn’t say anything else until class was over. Mage was heading out the door to go play like the other foals when the white filly stopped her.
“So what’s it like in Canterlot, and having a princess teach you magic?” the filly asked.
Mage didn’t get a good feeling from this filly, she felt the same around her as she felt around snobby Canterlot foals, “Meh, many of the Canterlot snobs aren't that different from you.”
This gave the filly pause and she narrowed her eyes, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“The only reason you’re talking to me is because I’m from Canterlot and Princess Twilight took me on as her student, you think I can make you more popular. But I hated Canterlot and the princess only took me as her student because my mother is her cousin. I was actually invisible to the snobby Canterlot foals so you wanting to be my friend is laughable.”
Zealous Crown glared at her for a moment and then left, “I can’t be seen around a blank flank anyway.”
“Wow,” said a voice behind her, “You totally called her out.”
When Mage looked she saw a dusty yellow earth pony with messy a pink and blue mane, and upon closer inspection Mage realized that the filly’s coat wasn’t dusty yellow, but just yellow and covered in dust as if she hadn’t bathed in a while.
“I’m Dipsy Swirl.” the filly introduced.
“I know a snob when I see one. You can call me Mage.”
“So, the princess really only picked you because you’re related?”
“Well...maybe not just, she didn’t have to pick me, but I guess she thought it was a good idea.” Mage replied with a frown.
The filly nodded and began leading the way into the playground, “Z’s bark is worse that her bite btw, and don’t mind that whole blank flank comment, there are a lot of blanks in our class.” she paused to gesture at her own blank flank, “Besides, it’s a compliment that she thought you approachable despite being a blank flank.”
“I see...so who are the other blanks?”
Dipsy stopped and looked around thoughtfully before pointing to the red colt Mage has sat next to, “Pepper Roll,” she then pointed to a pair of twins, one pink with a purple mane, the other purple with a pink mane, “Meadow Minstrel and Fancy Music,” she then pointed to a yellow pegasus with a green mane and a white maned purple unicorn, “Banana Flutter and Summer Moon,” she looked around and pointed to a few more, saying the names of the ones she knew and then resumed walking.
“I suppose we’ll all be getting our cutie marks this year or the next.” Mage replied.
Dipsy nodded, “In fact, only three ponies in the next grade up don't have cutie marks, they’re known as the cutie mark crusaders. We could always join them if we get desperate enough.”
"Not this year we don't, it's too soon." She giggled.
~
"How was your first day of school?" Twilight asked on their way home, "Did you make any new friends?"
Mage grinned at the word 'friends' she knew that as the princess of friendship Twilight took that kind of thing very seriously, as well as books and studying of course, "It was good, and I made friends with a filly called Dipsy Swirl."
"Great! No trouble with any bullies?"
"Well, there was this one snobby filly, but she didn't bother us much."
"Ahem." Came a voice from behind them, causing the to halt and look back at Spike, whom Mage hid forgotten was even there.
"Yes Spike?" Twilight asked.
"Don't you think we should get something to eat?" Spike asked, waving a schedule as he continued, "I hardly had time for lunch since we were so busy, and this is our only open time slot 'till dinner. I'm starving!"
Twilight giggled when a growl of his stomachs emphasized his point, "Alright Spike, we'll stop and get something to eat." Twilight then licked her lips and said, "Actually there's this restaurant nearby I've been dying to try! You don't mind, do you Mage?"
"I could eat." Mage responded with a smile.
"Great, let's go!" Spike said, hurrying onward, causing Twilight and Mage to giggle as they raced to catch up.
When they arrived Mage let out a satisfied sound at the smell of food, Spike drooling hungrily. When they sat down a bright red Pegasus mare with a light buttercream colored mane and tail passed out menus and introduced herself as Red Velvet before skating back to the kitchen, flapping her wings for added speed calling, "Hurry up kiddo, I'm only passing out menus, you have to wait your tables!"
"They sure have a lot of spicy foods on their menu." Twilight commented casually as she decided what she wanted.
Mage nodded in agreement.
Then a familiar red pegasus colt dashed out of the kitchen toward their table, not wearing roller skates unlike Red Velvet. When his yellow gaze met Mage's his eyes widened and he flushed in embarrassment, stuttering, "W-what would y-you like to drink?"
"Pepper Roll?" Mage asked.
His blush deepened, "Hi..."
Twilight glanced curiously between the two, "You've met?"
"Not exactly, we sit next to each other in class, be we haven't spoken to each other." Mage explained.
Twilight nodded and then turned to the colt, "Aren't you a little young to be a waiter?"
"My parents own the restaurant, they want me to help out so I wait tables." He said, his cheeks still flushed, though it was a bit hard to see since since his coat was red.
"Okay, well I'll just have some water please." Twilight said.
"Lemonade for me." Mage added.
"I'll just have water." Spike said.
"Coming right up." Pepper said, clearly happy to leave the table.
"I wonder why he seemed to timid and embarrassed?" Mage wondered aloud.
Twilight shrugged, "Some ponies are just more quiet and reserved than others."
Pepper was a good enough waiter despite his nervousness, he didn't mess up any orders and drop and food or drinks and they had a nice...linner? Dunch? Lupper? Sunch? Well, whatever it was called they thoroughly enjoyed it.
Dipsy Swirl was exceptionally happy when she arrived home from school that day, she was even humming as she did her chores and didn’t get too upset when her little brother spat his food on her.
“Alright hun, why are you so happy?” Sugar Lump asked, “Did a certain somepony finally notice you?”
Dipsy flushed when her mother winked at her, “No!”
“Then what is it?” Sugar asked, inspecting some candy that had just finished hardening.
“I...made a friend.” she replied, smiling down at the hooves, “Her name is magic Shimmer, she’s Twilight’s new student from Canterlot!”
“Oh how lovely!”
“Yeah, she didn’t even ask why I’m all dirty…” she said, her cheeks growing hot again.
Sugar raised a brow, “Well that would be rude, though I am surprised a Canterlot filly would ‘stoop so low’ as to associate with the likes of us.”
“She’s not like that, she’s really nice, in fact, she said she doesn’t even like most of the Canterlot ponies.” she then looked at the floor and said the five words she knew she would regret soon after, “They’re not all like dad.”
Sugar Lump’s lip quivered and her magic faltered, nearly dropping the tray of candy, but she didn’t say anything. She put the tray down and left the tiny area of their one room house that made up the kitchen. Licorice Spice stared obliviously at them from his crib.
Sugar sat down in their only chair and got out an album, tears filling her eyes as she looked through the pictures. It made Dipsy feel a little guilty, she hated it when her mother got like this and she hated being the cause of it even more, but she had to get real with her mom at one point or they would forever be dancing around the topic.
“Dad leaving us was nopony’s fault but his own, if he didn’t love us enough to stay then he’s not worth it.” Dipsy said, approaching her mother and closing the album before tossing it to the dirt floor at their hooves.
Sugar sighed and then smiled, “I don’t know what we’d do without you, my strong beautiful girl.”
When her mother caressed her cheek with one hoof she leaned her head into it and smiled, “I love you mom.”
“I love you too sweety.” the pale blue unicorn replied and planted a kiss on her daughter’s forehead.
Dipsy had no doubt that without her their mother would be in much worse condition, being in this situation with her emotional mother and her little brother who wasn't even old enough to understand that it's rude to spit food in your sister's face had matured her and she had no problem giving it to her mother straight. They're house was hardly a house, their mother couldn't find a job, their father just up and left them, they hardly got enough water for drinking and baking, let alone bathing so they were always a filthy mess and because of that nopony wanted anything to do with them, which is part of the reason why their mother couldn't get a job. Yes, foals her age in that situation had no choice but to grow up and grow up fast, if her mother couldn't be the one to keep them on their hooves then she had to.
Walking to school was nice and peaceful, but getting there was awful, it's like having an amazing dream that suddenly turns into a nightmare right before your mind's eye. Today was no exception.
"Oh look, it's Ditsy Swine!" Zealous Crown mocked, insulting the prefix of her name and her filthy appearance all in one go.
"Good one Z!" said Gold Shoes, Z's right hoof mare.
"She's so ugly!" Z said with a smug grin.
Then a voice spoke up from beside Dipsy, who was on the verge of tears, "Wow Z, that's an awful thing to say about yourself, maybe you should stop looking in the mirror?"
Dipsy looked to her said and stared wide eyed at Mage who stood there with a smirk on her face.
Z glared but since the bully had no idea what Mage's weaknesses are she backed down.
"Wow, thanks." Dipsy said, a soft smile gracing her lips.
"No problem!" Mage replied with a grin.
"That was awesome!" They looked up at a bright yellow, dark green maned Pegasus filly flying above them, Banana Flutter, "I've dealt with her many times but I've never thought about turning it back on her the way you did!"
"Well, I used to live in Canterlot, capital city of snobs." Mage hesitated and moment and then said, "Don't get me wrong, not all Canterlot
ponies are snobs, it's mostly the socialites and their foals."
"What's a socialite?" The Pegasus asked, flipping so that she flew upside down and eye to eye with Mage.
"A socialite is a pony who has a largely known reputation and a high social position in upper class society. Usually from a privileged,
wealthy or aristocratic background."
Banana Flutter simply blinked slowly as if she still didn't quite understand but didn't seem interested enough for a simpler definition. Dipsy Swirl was pretty sure she understood, she just didn't know what an arrest-a-cat is. Her family may be poor, but she wasn't simple...not that Nana was simple, just not well versed in the language of rich ponies.
"Where's Summer Moon?" Dipsy asked, glancing around for the white manned, purple unicorn filly.
Banana frowned and landed almost gracefully in front of them, "I don't know, but if I had to guess I'd say her mom finally went into labor."
Dipsy nodded her agreement.
"Do they know if it's a filly or a colt?" Magic Shimmer asked.
"Yeah, she told me it's a filly." Banana replied and then she seemed to come to a realization, "Oh, we haven't been properly on introduced! I'm Banana Flutter, everyone either calls me Banana or Nana. Magic Shimmer Right?"
Mage nodded, "Nice to meet you, call me Mage. Are you and Dipsy friends?"
Banana took on a thoughtful expression and looked at Dipsy before finally answering, "I guess you could say that, we don't hang out much, but we talk sometimes."
The bell chose that moment to ring and the three broke off their conversation to hurry in to class. Dipsy wasn't previously aware that Nana thought of her as a friend, but now that she knew she felt a little less lonely, pretty much nopony had bothered to make friends with her until Mage came.
She sat patiently through class until the bell rang and they were allowed to leave, she had just reached the door when Cheerilee called her her to wait and when the other students were gone the teacher shut the door.
“How is your mother?” she asked, giving Dipsy a sympathetic look.
“Fine.” she replied softly, she knew Cheerilee meant well but she didn’t like other ponies worrying about her family, or even knowing their situation for that matter.
“Good, and Licorice?”
“Yes, he’s fine too.”
“Good, and you?”
Dipsy suppressed a sigh but couldn’t help her ear flicking, “Better than ever now that I’m friends with Mage.”
That made Cheerilee smile, “That’s great, I’m glad you found a friend. But if you ever need anything I’m here.”
Dipsy nodded, “I know.”
Cheerilee nodded as well and opened the door, allowing Dipsy her freedom.
“Hey!” Mage called as she trotted toward Dipsy, “What did Miss Cheerilee want?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.” Dipsy replied softly, there was no need for her friend to find out and start worrying.
“Okay.” Mage replied, but Dipsy could tell she didn’t really believe her.
Dipsy remembered the conversation she’d had with her mother the other day and looked down at her own filthy coat, seriously wondering why Mage hadn’t said anything aven when the other fillies had pointed it out. She then looked back up at Mage, her blueish gray coat was spotless, her black and blue mane silky smooth and shiny, her hooves clean and polished, her blue eyes bright with happiness. She must live a life of luxury, living with a princess and coming from canterlot.
“You okay?” Mage asked with a raised brow.
Dipsy flushed a little when she realized that she must’ve been staring, “Yeah, let’s go play.”
Mage nodded and they trotted over to the swings where Banana Flutter was sitting by herself.
“Want some company?” Mage asked the yellow Pegasus.
Nana smiled and nodded, “It’s weird not having Summer around, I don’t really have any other friends.”
“Now you do.” Mage replied, sitting on a swing beside Nana, “Do you two want to hang out at Sugarcube Corner after school?”
“Sure.” Nana replied.
They looked to Dipsy for an answer, “Oh, well...I don’t have any money.” she blushed slightly in embarrassment, though she knew it was pretty normal.
“That’s fine, it’ll be my treat, okay?” Mage replied.
“Oh, you don’t have to.”
Mage shook her head, “No, but I want to.”
Dipsy thought for a moment and then nodded, “Only if you want to.”
Dipsy had never been to Sugarcube Corner before and she gazed in awe at all the sweets on display.
“Decided what you want yet?” Mage asked.
“It all looks so good!” she exclaimed.
Nana raised a brow, “You have been here before, right?”
Dipsy flushed, “O-of course I have! Who hasn't?” her embarrassment only increased with that last statement.
Nana simply shrugged and her gaze wandered around the room.
“I’ll have a strawberry milkshake please.” she said at last.
“Alright, I’ll go order.” Mage said and went to the counter where Pinkie Pie, the greatest party pony in ponyville and element of laughter was taking orders.
“So…” Nana said awkwardly now that they were alone.
Dipsy didn’t make an attempt to reply and they sat in awkward silence until Mage returned with one of each chocolate, strawberry and vanilla shakes.
“You got vanilla?” Nana asked, “How plain can you get?”
Mage let out a snort of laughter, “Vanilla isn’t plain, plain would be nothing but frozen cream mixed with sugar and milk, vanilla is a flavor.”
“Yeah, a boring flavor!” Nana giggled.
“So is chocolate.” Mage retorted.
Dipsy grinned and said, “Yes, both of your flavors are inferior, strawberry rules over you, for we have variety!”
“What makes strawberry so different?” Mage giggled.
“We have fruit!” Dipsy replied, “Which is more than you guys have, you guys are nothing but ice cream.”
They all giggled some more and then sipped their milkshakes. Dipsy looked between the two, their orange and blue eyes still bright with amusement.
“We should be this again sometime.” Mage said later when they were leaving.
“Yeah, and maybe next time Summer can come too.” Nana replied.
Dipsy nodded her own agreement and they parted. When she got home her mother looked up from reading the news and asked where she’d been.
“I went to Sugarcube Corner with Mage after school.” she replied.
“Great!” her mother replied, her blue eyes lighting up with happiness for her daughter.
Dipsy told her mother all about it as she dipped a sponge into a bucket of water and began to work on the dishes.
“I’m so glad you’re making friends. They sound very nice.”
Dipsy nodded, though Banana had hardly ever noticed her before she seemed nice enough and there was no doubt when it came to Mage.
“Would you mind watching your brother while I go into town later? I have a job interview.” Sugar asked.
Dipsy smiled brightly and nodded enthusiastically, “Of course! You better wash up, you don’t want to show up looking like you don’t care about personal hygiene do you? I don’t think it would go over so well.”
Sugar sighed but nodded and levitated a sponge with her magic, dropping it into a bucket of water and then scrubbing her light blue coat clean. When it came to her dark blue mane and tail she simply dipped them in it and did her best to wash them without the use of any shampoo. Dipsy momentarily stopped her chores to help her mother untangle her mane, taking extra care to make sure the pale pink streaks stood out.
When her mother was all clean and ready she glanced at herself in the mirror and couldn’t help comparing her own filthy yellow coat and matted pink and blue mane to her mother. She wished that she could wash up too but she knew it was a waste of water when she didn’t need it for anything special.
“Do you think I look okay?” her mother asked, looking herself in the mirror.
Dipsy nodded silently and went back to her chores, she always did her best not to look at her reflection because every time she did she could hear all of Zealous Crown’s comments echoing in her mind. Plus the fact that she was just down right disgusting to look at, she only got to bathe once every two weeks to save water. They didn’t have a well and they didn’t have plumbing, but even if they did have plumbing they wouldn’t be able to pay the bills, and so they had to buy buckets of water with what little money they had.
Life is definitely miserable when you’re dirt poor, but at least they had each other, and in the long run they really only needed each other anyway.
