The neighborhood in which Twilight Sparkle resided was quiet, ordinary, and extremely boring. None of the ponies that lived there had a cone on their forehead, or a mark on their flank. Well, besides Twilight.
With a sigh, Twilight fell into bed, her head aching from the ruckus that Diamond Tiara had caused her. The whole day, Diamond screeched at Twilight to hurry up with fixing her tiara. All that Uncle Filthy and Aunt Spoiled did was sit back, and watch, doting on their daughter as usual. Why have Twilight, a mare that knew nothing about fixing jewelry, fix the tiara? Well, there was no answer. They could afford to have it done professionally, and having Twilight do it would only make it worse. Then again, they could afford buying a newer, prettier one for the spoiled filly, and let Diamond do whatever she pleased with it.
Brat.
Twilight moaned into her pillow, squeezing her eyes shut. Tomorrow was the brat's birthday, and of course, that'd mean being left behind with the cat lady down the street, while the Riches went out on a family vacation at the zoo, or something, with Diamond's friend, Silver Spoon.
Personally, the cat lady is better than two spoiled brats.
The door slammed open, streaming bright light into Twilight's eyes. She opened them groggily, and yelped when she saw Aunt Spoiled leaning over her. "Up! Up up up up! It's my precious Diamond's birthday!"
Twilight rolled her eyes slightly. "And?"
Spoiled Rich got red in the face, her eye twitching slightly. Twilight leaned back further into her pillow as Spoiled leaned into her face, that awful sneer perched right on her mouth. "And, I want it to be PERFECT! Early breakfast for you, so you don't disrupt out family meal."
Twilight groaned, climbing out of bed. She trotted after Spoiled, silently mimicking her. 'Oh my precious Diamond! Family meal! Bleh bleh bleh!' She twitched her tail in an annoyed fashion, following her Aunt into the kitchen. Spoiled swept up a plate with burnt toast and butter, and shoved it right at Twilight.
"Eat, then get everything set up. I want six hay-bacon, three scrambled eggs, and three pieces of toast with strawberry marmalade evenly divided on three separate plates. I suppose I'll have to set the table... Make sure that the gifts are properly piled in the corner, and I want you in the dining room after breakfast, to clean the dishes up. Silver Spoon will be arriving at 10:00, and by 9:50 I want you standing by the door, to attend to her baggage."
'Baggage?' Twilight mouthed, confused.
"... and we'll be leaving for the Zoo at 10:30, dropping you off on the way, make sure you are on your best-" The phone began ringing, cutting Spoiled off. Spoiled swept the phone up, and spoke for a few minutes before stomping back. "Your babysitter has gone and broken her foreleg, for goodness sake, so I suppose we'll have to bring you with us." Spoiled flicked her tail, annoyed, before glancing at the clock. "Now get to work. I want breakfast on the table in an hour, and I might as well take care of the gifts for you. Oh, yes, before I forget, Silver Spoon will be staying the night with Diamond. Now, off you go!" At this, Spoiled trotted through the kitchen door, leaving a stunned Twilight to fix her breakfast.
Clink, Clink, Clink. Forks were dropped onto their plates, almost simultaneously, signaling Twilight to take the dishes into the kitchen. Murmurs drifted to Twilight's ears from outside, and she glanced out the window to see a carriage pull up to the driveway. Remembering that she needed to get Silver's luggage, she sped out of the kitchen, and flung open the front door.
Silver Spoon blinked. "So, you're the freak that Diamond talked about?" She shoved her luggage to Twilight. "Here." She flung a quarter at Twilight, and trotted inside, flipping her braided mane over a shoulder.
Twilight stared at the quarter with a mix of emotions. Here she was, holding her very own quarter! Yet, she had it because a filly thought she was just meant to get her luggage. All in all? She rather liked the quarter. It was rather pretty, and she rarely ever gets anything that shone like the moon. Twilight tucked the quarter behind an ear, and dragged the luggage up to Diamond's room.
"Alright, get in the carriage!" Uncle Filthy sat in the "drivers" seat, along with Spoiled, while Diamond, Silver Spoon, and Twilight sat in the carriage itself. Twilight fidgeted with excitement, rubbing a hoof on the velvet interior, and making sure the windows were really there. Diamond and Silver Spoon snickered at Twilight, whispering behind their hooves at how ridiculous she seemed.
"Hasn't she ever been in your carriage before?" Silver Spoon whispered with a giggle. Diamond shook her head, smirking.
"Watch this." Diamond whispered back, and she leaned towards Twilight. "Hey, Twilight."
Twilight glanced up at Diamond, ears folded back. "Uh, yeah?"
"You should pull that lever right there. It'll do something fun!" Diamond giggled, leaning back to watch Twilight inspect the lever. She bumped hooves with Silver Spoon, and chuckled under her breath.
Twilight, meanwhile, was closely examining it. It seemed perfectly harmless to her, likely not going to do anything. She yanked on it, and the carriage came to a halt, throwing her forwards, and headfirst into Diamond. Diamond screeched, pushing Twilight away, and scrambling over to Silver. The carriage door flung open, revealing a scowling figure.
Uncle Filthy.
Filthy stormed over to Twilight, his scowl deepening. He glanced around, seeing Diamond shivering in the corner, and Silver Spoon crying. "What. Did. Do?!" The normally calm stallion was quite red in the face, staring Twilight down, and causing her to feel minuscule.
"Diamond told me to-"
"What did YOU do. I'm not asking what my dear little DIAMOND did, I want to know what YOU did."
"I pulled that lever right there..." Twilight mumbled, her cheeks turning pink.
"Oh, you pulled that lever right there? Is that all? Then why is Diamond, and Miss Spoon crying?!"
"They aren't, they're faking-"
"If your babysitter hadn't broken her foreleg, you wouldn't be on this trip. So be on your BEST behavior, or so help me..."
"Yessir." Twilight backed into a corner, and sat down, her body slightly trembling. Uncle Filthy stormed out of the carriage, and she could hear him yelling at the stallions up front to get going.
Diamond and Silver got up, brushing themselves off. They smirked at Twilight, and sat down, to talk.
'This is going to be a horrid day...'
The carriage slowed to a stop, parking right in front of the entrance. Twilight jerked awake, and sleepily followed Diamond and Silver out of the carriage. It was a bit of a blur to her- the only things she remembered was the ice cream... and the wolf.
The ice cream went well, actually. Uncle Filthy was forced to buy her a small vanilla cone, since the mare at the stand had asked what he wanted, and unless Filthy wanted to seem like a horrible legal guardian, he had to get one for her.
At least, that's what Twilight thought.
Afterwards, they had gone to see the wolves. A particular wolf had been separated from the rest, on account of it having a rather contagious disease that the zoologists were trying to figure out. That wolf was sleeping, and no matter how many times Diamond banged on the glass, it wouldn't stir. Annoyed, Diamond went to the other side to see the rest of the wolves, leaving Twilight alone.
Twilight stared at the wolf, watching it's fur rise up and down. Quite suddenly, the wolf snapped open its eyes, revealing ice blue irises.
Oh, a unicorn. What a pleasant surprise. I don't often get one of *them** around here.* Twilight jumped as the wolf spoke. She glanced around wildly, wondering if anyone else heard it. The wolf chuckled, rising to a sitting position. I'm afraid you're the only one that can hear me, Unicorn. The plain ponies can't really hear me at all.
"Er... Plain ponies?"
Them. The ones without a "cutie mark", as you magical types call 'em. Most will mistake them for earth ponies, but they haven't an ounce of magic in them.
"Magic?"
Oh, you were raised by the plain ponies, weren't you? Well, it isn't really my place to tell you, since you'll need to go to that school to learn it. I expect you'll get the letter anytime now.
"Letter?"
My, my, full of questions aren't you? Oh, look, here comes that brat.
Twilight turned to see Diamond racing up to the glass. "Hey! It's awake!" She pounded on the glass, trying to get a reaction out of the wolf, but the wolf just sat and watched her with a slightly amused expression. Twilight's eye twitched, and a second later, Diamond tumbled into the exhibit, screaming. The wolf leaped up, bounding over the filly, ran through the entrance, scattering ponies, and raced out the door.
A few days later, the mail arrived. Twilight glanced through the mail, muttering, "Bill. Bill. Bill. Letter for me. Bill. Bill. Wait, what?" Twilight picked the letter up, staring at it. In the corner where one would usually place an address, was a small crest, with symbols Twilight couldn't see. Flipping it over, she saw that the envelope was sealed with wax, the strange crest stamped on it.
Twilight tore the letter open, glancing over the words with surprise.
From the desk of Professor Chrysalis
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Celestia's School for Gifted Ponies. With this letter is a list for what is required for first-years, should you decide to come. The School's mode of transportation is Celestia's express, at Ponyville station, platform 7 2/3.We shall be expecting you on the first of September.
List of Supplies
1) A wand, for pegasi and earth ponies.
2) Potion Basics by Lyrica Lilac
3) Herbal Functions by Lily Valley
4) Changing Appearance by Professor Chrysalis
5) Magic Fundamentals by Comet Tail
6) Copper cauldron
7) Set of quills and ink
8) A familiar
Twilight stared at the letter, eye twitching. "IS THIS SOME KIND OF CRUEL JOKE?!" She hollered, drawing her Aunt out of her room.
"Twilight, what is it?" Spoiled leaned against the wall tiredly. She yawned, glancing at the letter in Twilight's hoof. Eyes widening, she dashed over to read the letter.
"Well?" Twilight stomped her hoof. "Honestly! Is this some kind of joke that the kids next door are playing on me? Cause I'm a freak?!"
"No, this... this is real." Spoiled leaned against the wall in a tired fashion. She looked at Twilight with a blank stare, then back at the letter. "Your mother got this letter too. Back when she was your age. I'd go pack if I were you, before he-"
The door burst open, and in walked a strange creature. Lion's paw, eagle claw, donkey hoof, serpentine figure, dragon claw, snake-like tail, and an equine head. He towered over the two mares, staring entrancingly down on them, before bursting into laughter. "Oh, oh, OHOHOHOHOO! The looks on your faces! Priceless!" The creature cackled, reclining in the air.
Twilight did what any sane pony would do.
Scream, and wack the creatures head with the nearest thing, which happened to be a pillow. The pillow bounced harmlessly off of his chest, and fell at Twilight's feet, with a new pattern on it.
And then she screamed again.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Twilight was finally calmed down, but in her case, calmed down is in hysterics. She paced, shouting about how "This is some trick you've pulled, Auntie! It's not a magic school, I'll be going to a freak show!" The stranger tried to explain, but every time he tried, the response was; "LALALALALALALALA! NOT LISTENING!!!!!!!! GET AWAY FROM ME!"
Finally, she calmed down enough to let them speak. Actually, no, Spoiled had to resort to gagging her, and tying her to a chair.
"Listen, Celestia's school is NOT a freak show. You'd be going to a place where one-third of the school is just like you, with a horn. You'll learn to control your magic, and much more. Celestia isn't some crooked criminal; she's the headmaster of a good school!" The stranger cleared his throat. "Now, let's start again, shall we? I'm Discord, recruiter for magical creatures and such raised by plain ponies. You're the last on my list, so it's time we make a trip to Canterlot for your supplies."
