Picking up the saddle bag and positioning it on her shoulders, Spraia stopped at teh front door. She was fully ready now, having only known of the schools, and never been in one. Though she was fluent in equestrian now, thanks to Twilight.
"Are you ready, Spraia?", Twilight asked, approaching her side.
"Y-yes. I'm sure."
"You've been playing with only a few people for the past few months, you should get much mroe than just that sooner than later. I learned that the hard way."
"I know, you told me, and I've read every book on friendship and what it is. Atleast what you have in here."
"Really? How many books have you read?"
"I still have three left to read on the physics of quantum transponders and electron signals from twenty three dimensions."
Twiligth was surprised. Not only had she not heard of any of that int eh books in the library, having read them all, but Spraia was speaking like ti was nothing, had to be a bluff.
"Uhm...I don't...have any books on that subject, do I?"
"No, I just made that up to mess with you.", Spraia smiled.
"...You are very mischievous, you know that?"
"Teehee! So, uh...do I really have to do this?"
"The only friends you have are Tiny Stitch, Glow Worm, and Rock Tumbler."
"I know, but I like the friends I already have."
"But you can't have just three friends. It's not healthy, and leads to huge problems in life later on. The fact that you understand everything that those more than four times your age do, is a sure sign that you really need some newer friends, and lots of em."
"Aunt Twilight..."
"Yes?"
"Do I really have to do this?"
"Listen, Spraia. Going to school is just like me teaching you. Just, I got a little carried away with some things. You should know everything from now on till you are in the third grade."
"Why can't I just skip to the third grade, or just stay here and be home schooled?"
"Spraia, stop being so worried, I promise that you'll be fine. You're a smart young unicorn who has not failed a single test that I have given you. Thats soemthing, as my tests are...quite advanced."
"But I don't see very many unicorns that are purple, or that have eyes like mine, what about that, huh?"
She was rigth. Spraia was small, even for her age, and above that, she was the exact same color as Spike, even had dragon eyes.
"Well, I can't promise that other foals will be interested in your looks, but you will be fine, ok?"
"Ok..."
"Now, come on, we have to go before it's too late."
Nodding, Spraia followed behind the purple mare. Spraia was very weary of everything, shifting her eyes left and right, watching everything. She was mostly to herself, but when Tiny stitch, Glow Worm, and Rock Tumbler showed up, she always put downt he book she was reading, the test Twilgith gave her, even the object she was levitating tended to crash to the floor as she rushed out to meet them. She was often fussed at by Rarity when she got dirty from foalsplay, and then most times, Spike would argue with Rarity. Spraia knew why, though. But it was mroe in depth, like they were married, even.
She hated when they fought.
"Spraia."
Breaking her thoughts, Spraia looked up into a new face. It was the school teacher, miss Cheerilee.
"Uh-uh-uh-uhm, I uh..."
"Spraia why don't you go sit in the hall for a second?", Twilgith asked.
Looking around, Spraia noticed she had entered the school house, ans was even in miss Cheerilee's classroom.
"Uhm...Ok..."
Walking out, the door closed softly behind her as she willed it, and she sat down to the side of it, looking down.
The mumbled conversation was not understandable, nto a single word. Spraia didn't care though. She was too scared to even move.
"Hey, you alright?"
Her heart nearly stopped as fear gripped her core. This was the moment, the moment that would confirm, or deny her fears' existence. She closed her eyes, took a silent breath, then riased ehr head, opening her eyes to see who had talked to her. The filly in front of her was a little bigger than she, but a unicorn horn adorned on ehr head, a shear sign of a possible friendship, but pocessing the things that the unicorn could do to her, Spraia shut her yes, and shied away.
"Leave me alone!"
"Whoa! I only asked if you were alright...Miss Cheerilee yell at you or soemthing?"
"I...I've only just met her.", Spraia
"So you're a new student here. I just joined here last month."
"You...You did? So this is your first time?"
"Sorta, I guess you could say that. My name is Dinky."
"M-my name is Spraia."
"Spraia? Hmm..."
"What? Whats wrong with my name?"
"Nothing, I'm just thinking of something to do later while having simple conversation, it's a trick I picked up while trying to multi-task like my mom."
"So, you're thinking of two things at once?"
"Yeah, I do that a lot..."
"Do you even understand what it means or what you said?"
"Barely, I had to talk it over with my mom and she told me what to say when this exact scenar...scene-air..."
"Scenario."
"Yeah, that, when that happens. Why was I trying to say that?"
"To tell you the truth, I don't remember..."
"Eh, it must've been something about a muffin. I always talk about muffins, my mom is obsessed over em."
"Wait, you're talking about Ditzy Doo? Ditzy Doo is your mom?"
"Uh, yeah~! Why wouldn't she be?"
Spraia giggled, "She's my favorite mail-mare. She always cheers me up when I get sad..."
"She sees you that often? You must get a lot of mail."
"Actually, she always brings us the wrong mail, she never brings us our mail. Sometimes, she does impressions of the message, as she told me."
"Well, that does sound right, except that impressions part. I've never heard of ehr doing that."
"Well, I have proof that she was even dressed as a pirate last week."
"A pirate? Yeah, now that soudns like mom. She loves pirates, she even has a parrot, very few people have seen him though, cause she keeps him hidden in the bathroom. All he says is "Polly wanna cracker!", though."
"That must be cool."
"Not really, she won't bring him out, I don't even see how she could feed him unless I'm asleep, and it's during the middle of the night."
"Wait until she is asleep."
"I did, three times already. I still here her get up and go into the kitchen, then go into the bathroom. She's gotta be hiding him for something. Maybe he isn't a parrot, but actually a mix between a dragon and a falcon and phoenix!"
"Oh, that'd be so cool."
The door opened and the two fillies jumped out of the way as it swung wide.
"Oh, sorry about that, Spraia. Oh, I see you've met Dinky.", Cheerilee smiled.
"Uh, yeah, we were just talking about how my mom keeps a dragon, flacon, phoenix in her bathroom!"
"Oh, really? That must be soemthing interesting to talk about. Dinky, would you like to introduce Spraia to the class?"
"Oh, would I! Come on, Spraia, this'll be fun!"
"Oh...ok."
Spraia rose to her hooves, following a small ways behind the energetic, excited filly in front of her. Once entering the classroom, Dinky stopped in front of the desk, making an announcement.
"I would like to introduce our newest class addition, Spraia!"
Spraia walked into teh room, still cautious and tense, ready to react to any danger.
"Oh look, another, Tiara, When will this end?", Silver Spoons asked.
"She looks weird, like a dragon took her eyes and switched them with his so that she would have ugly eyes.", Diamond Tiara spoke.
Spraia was about to start tearing up, her fears confirmed before Dinky stepped inbetween them, staring directly at Diamond Tiara.
"What're you gonna do? Defend her? You'd really defend a loser like that?"
"Loser? You've got room to talk. You are the ones who thinks it's cool to put others down. You're just spoiled rich foals. Do you really think you will have any more friends than you do now?"
Turning to the cowering Spraia, Dinky spoke with a soft, caring voice, "It's alright, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoons are just bullies."
"You mean, like those no life bullies that bully others because secretly, they're poor?"
"Actually...I kind of shoulda just...let that slide, and just comforted you."
"Why would you do that?"
"Diamond Tiara has had a worse time than anyone else here. You don't see very many fillies losing one of their parents so early in life."
"What about Silver Spoons?"
"She is the one that dragged Diamond Tiara into bullying others. In fact, she used to be cool, now she's just a stuck up, spoiled rich foal."
"Wow. I'd've never thought that."
"Come on, lets find you a seat."
Looking from her spot int eh front row, Spraia couldn't help but take a few glances every now and then at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoons. Silver Spoons even looked back once and rolled her eyes, returning to her work.
After Cheerilee dismissed everyone to recess, Spraia stayed behind to exit with Diamond Tiara and Sivler Spoons. She thought of exactly what to say before catching up.
"Diamond Tiara."
Diamond Tiara stopped, and rolled her eyes, turning to the smiling Spraia.
"What do you want, ugly face?"
"Why do you bully others?"
Diamond Tiara was dumbfounded.
"Because she doesn't feel like stooping to such a stupid level to deal with your kind.", Silver Spoons answered for her.
"Hey, why don't you keep your big mouth shut and let Diamond Tiara answer for herself for once?"
Silver spoons gasped, "Come on Tiara, we're leaving this fool."
As Silver Spoons began walking, Diamond Tiara did too, but stopped after just a few steps.
"Tiara, I said lets go.", Silver Spoons demanded.
"No."
"What?! Know what, if you'd rather hang out with a dragon eyed, purple furred unicorn, be my guest, I'll just go play by myself!"
As Silver Spoons left, Diamond Tiarasat on her haunches, unsure of what to do.
"If she were really your friend, she would stay."
"How do you know?"
"My aunt is none other than the friendship expert, and the Element of magic. Twilight Sparkled taught all she knows of friendship, and more. It's easy tot ell if someone is using you, and if someone is really your friend. You don't like bullying others, do you?"
"No, I don't. But how could you tell she was not a good friend in the first place?"
"Dinky helped me figure that out."
"I've only known Dinky Doo as a pest. She always bothered me and Silver Spoons when we were swinging, playing int eh sand, or something."
"But were you really annoyed as much as Silver Spoons?"
"No, I wished Silver Spoons would actually be nicer to her, since Dinky's mom is such a funny mail-mare."
"Does she always bring yout he wrong mail too?"
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"She always brings us the wrong mail! Sometimes she even does impressions of the sender of the letter."
"I've seen her on one of her bad days when she's had a few collisions..."
"Thats when it's funniest cause she always smiles and salutes!"
"I know. This so much better than being friends with Silver Spoons, already."
"Well, it's not every day that you make a friend out of a bully. Now if I can just think of how to get Silver Spoons to stop bullying others. Either with slander and low blows, or the harder, challenging way. Luckily, I'm one for challenges mroe than ease."
"I hope you can, I mean, I've not had a friend other than her for almost a year now..."
"Don't worry. If I can find out enough about her, I'll see what I can do."
"You sound so smart."
"Well, I've been taught way above this grade level. Aunt Twilight was my teacher before this."
"Wait a minute, you mena Twilight as in the librarian? I used to go there and read Daring Do books!"
"Why not finish?"
"...Because...It's..."
"Oh, sorry bout that."
"He used to take me there all the time."
"Well then, how about I take you over there again today?"
"Really? You'd do that?"
"Yeah! I live there!"
"Wow, that must be so cool!"
"Boy is it, with Aunt Twilight, and my dad Spike living there it's-"
"Wait, you're dad is that purple dragon?"
"Yeah, is that a big deal?"
"That is....so cool! that explains why you have ug-I mean cool dragon eyes."
"Do you really think that thye are cool?"
"Well, yeah. I lied earlier when I said they made you look ugly. I'm sorry."
"It's ok. After all, we've only just met."
Cheerilee began calling all the foals into the building and the halls were soon to be filled.
"Well, it was cool getting to talk to you liek this. So can I see you again after school, so we can go to the library?"
"Sure, but I'll have to clear it with my mom first."
"Ok, see you then."
Spraia was more than excited to return to school the next day. Twilight was right, no one picked on her, and she even made two new friends, easily. She still wanted to try to make friends with Silver Spoons though, she was a bully, yes, but she already changed Diamond Tiara into another friend. Silver spoons would be a challenge, and she loved challenges.
As she trotted up the stairs to the school, she stopped in front to catch her breath, having been running the entire way there. As she entered though, there was a feel of fun in the air about her. Finding the classroom she sat down in her spot, next to Dinky, and soon, Diamond Tiara joined in, but didn't sit next to Spraia. Shedidn't say hello, didn't even spark up conversation with Spraia at all during class.
When the Cheerilee let everyone out for recess, Spraia had to get an answer to a question that has been bothering her all day. Aproaching Diamond Tiara, she was met with a sad face.
"Tiara, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, it's jsut..."
"Just what?"
"Mom said to not hang out with you ata ll anymore, much less, speak to you."
"But...why?"
"She said something about your parents. Thats all I know."
Diamond Tiara stood from where she was sitting and walked away. Spraia didn't follow, she knew it would make things worse.
Later that day, after school, Spraia walked home, unlike how she planned to get home, which was by running. Upon entering the library, her sad face was like a magnet, drawing Spike from his work. The taller dragon put down the large stack of books and kneeled down near the filly.
"Spraia, you alright?"
"Oh, it's Diamond Tiara."
"Is she bullying you?"
"No, far from it. Yesterday, we were such good friends, and today, she won't even talk to me."
"Do you know why?"
"Not really, all I know is that her mom won't let her even be near me."
"Well, why don't we go pay Her a visit, get some facts straight, get some answers, maybe even get you to back to being friends."
"You'd do that?"
"Yeah, you are my little girl after all."
"Thanks dad."
"Now, I know exactly where she lives, so we can get there quick."
Picking up the filly, Spike stretched his new wings out wide, flapping them once before letting them droop to his sides.
"Twilight, I'm going out for a few minutes with Spraia, I'll be back soon.", he called into the library as he walke dout. Closing the door behind him, he looked down intot eh filly in his arms.
"You ready?"
"Yeah!", she smiled.
Crouching down, his wings gave a single powerful beat, sending them both into the skies. A few more, and he was above ponyville by a far distance. Quickly coming to Diamond Tiara's house, no one was outside. As Spike landed, a fwoomf sounded back in reaction.
Spraia was elt down and she ran to the door, knocking on it a few quick times. Diamond Tiara opened it and her smile disappeared.
"Oh...Spraia..."
"Is your mom home?"
"Yeah, just a second."
She closed the door and after a few seconds, Diamond Tiara's mom opened the door, a bemused expression on her face.
"Oh, it's you. what do you want..."
"Uhm, I wanted to ask you why you won't let me play with Diamond Tiara."
"I told her to stay away from you because you are another mistake of society that should not exist, I don't want her getting the same idea and making the same mistake. If she did that, I'd disown her quickly."
"Thats not true at all, I have read many books on what happens every day, I've read newspapers, comics, magazines on scientific facts, you can't tell me that I'm wrong when I say you are lying."
"You're a smart filly, but that doesn't matter. You're just another problem of society, a mistake, a monster."
"No I am no-"
She stopped as her cheek was hit with force, leaving her in pain and silenced. Looking at the mare, she had her hoof raised, ready to strike again.
"Leave, and never return."
Spraia began tearing up, and then broke into sobs as she ran back to the waiting dragon not but ten feet away. He was actually approaching the mare that had stricken his daughter.
"Oh, who might you be, an adult to take her away? Good, do it quickly, I don't-"
"How abotu you save it. I knew there was going to be hardships for my own daughter, but this is just. You know, I could easily burn your house down, leave you without a home. Yeah, that'd make you even with my monster of a child, or what else did you call ehr? A mistake, a problem of society. not once did I hear half-breed, hybrid, or the much mroe preferred term, dragon pony. Not a single. The onyl thing keeping me from going further than this is your own daughter! If Spraia didn't bring this up with me because you told your daugther to stay away from mine, then I'd very well not be here, about to leave you homeless, would I? It's ponies like you that I can't stand. I knew her dad was a nice stallion, but I never knew her mother was such a bitch to others!"
Diamond Tiara's mom gasped, "You sir have insutled me! I wil-"
"So what?! You hit my child! You treated her like she was nothing more than annoying pest, a lifeless doll!! I will give you a choice, you can apologize, leave my kid alone, quite spreading lies, and stop beign such a bitch, or I can take my leave, then bring this up with Rarity, and you see a visit from someone who wouldn't allow this to happen."
"I think you should leave."
"Leave I will."
Fanning out his wings, he picked up Spraia quickly, then turned back to the mare.
"Should anythign bad happen to you, don't blame it on me."
He took off, leaving the mare at her own doorstep. Behind her soft sobs from her filly, Diamond Tiara, carried out the door.
"Diamond Tiara, stop crying.", she shut the door.
Spike stopped by the boutique, not even thinking that the argument ahead was going to be heated, still holding Spraia in his arms. As he landed, he set her down, then walked ot the door.
"Could you stay out here while I talk to your mother?"
Spraia nodded, looking up at the storm clouds overhead.
"I'll sit under the gazebo over there.", she motioned towards the nearby gazebo.
Spike waited till Spraia was under the gazebo's cover befroe walking inside.
"Rarity."
"Yes, dear? Is something wrong?"
"There sure is. Spraia came up to me today and-"
"She went to you? This has got to be good."
"Just listen. She came to me today, said that her friend as avoiding her. Well, I just accepted it as friend troubles and being as how she is new to school and making new friends, decided to help her out. Now, we are talking about Diamond Tiara here, one of the two bullies in schoo, it's why I was mostly not concerned, as they tend to use others to get what they want. Landing in the front yard of her house, Spraia ran up, knocked and got her mom to come out."
"And where is this going? Bad or good?"
"Bad. It went horribly wrong."
"...How bad?"
"She was fussing at Spraia, called her a mistake, a problem to society, and a monster."
"what?", Rairty cocked an eyebrow.
"Oh, quite literally. Spraia, being the smart filly she is, retaliated, and she hit Spraia."
Rarity sighed.
"You're not mad?"
"Doesn't even begin to explain what "mad" means. Anything else?"
"Well, I gave that bitch a piece of my mind, you need an address?"
"No, I've been there one too many times dealing with the bull shit between Diamond Tiara and Sweetie bell. I can't believe Diamond Tiara and Sivler Spoon are still in that school. I will be back in about ten to fifteen minutes."
"Would you like me to fly you there?"
"No, no. I've got it fine with my own magic."
A jolt of magic later and Rarity was gone, as said she could do. At Diamond Tiara's house, Rarity walked up to the door, no smile, no frown, a perfect poker face. Knocking ont he door, Diamond Tiara answered again.
"Yes ma'am?", she smiled.
"Is your mother home?", Rarity asked, keeping her poker face strong.
"Why yes, why do-"
"Then you should either go up to your room, or stay outside if you don't want to see this."
"W-what?"
Using amgic, Rarity swung the door wide open, Lightning striking behind her. Using mroe of her magic, she teleported the young filly up to her room, using magic to lock the door, and put a sound spell on it to keep it quiet. Looking directly at Diamond Tiara's mom, Rarity dropped her poker face, staring daggers at her.
"Ok, you trash, what gives you the bright idea of calling my daughter a monster? Hmm?"
"Maybe you shouldn't-"
"Oh shut your damn mouth, I've already heard enough from her father. It's one thing to call my foal a monster, a mistake, even a problem to everyone, but you will never hit MY foal."
"Well fi you_"
Rarity sealed the greyish black amre's mouth with a spell, approaching her.
"I do nto give a damn, I do nto care what you have to say in defence. I have one thing for you, at you'd better listen well or shit is going down. Leave my child alone, and stop acting like a bitch all the time. If your daughter wants to be friend with mine, then why should you interfere? Because you think you should take it upon yourself to decide whats right and whats wrong. That is not your job, that is the damned princess' job. Above that, you hit MY foal. For that, I am really angry, and wish I could rip you apart quite literally, but I am a lady, not a savage. Hit my child again, call her a monster, or whatever the hell else, and I will rip your throat out, you hear me?"
Releasing the spell fromt he mare, she seemed to growl at Rarity.
"How about you quit trying to stick up for a filthy shit like you-"
Rarity turned around and bucked the mare into the table, breakign it into several pieces and leaving her winded.
"I will nto give another warning. You insult my child again I will break of your horn, shove it down your throat and then throw you off of a fifty story cliff!!!"
Rarity turned around and left, her magic cleanign up the mess, doing the spell which locked the filly in her room, as well as fixing anything else wrong with the house, making so as she never entered the building. Once outside, her magic took affect as a lightning strike lit up the background of the trees and skies.
As she reappeared in the boutique, spike looked up from the sleeping filly in his arms.
"She just got to sleep."
"Good, then she can't hear this next part. If that trash insults her again, uses slander against her, or anything to further ruin my little filly's life, let me know, and I will kill her, quite literally."
"Rarity, calm down."
"Why should I when my own daughter is victim of someone who thinks she is better than everyone else? Maybe I should have left their house a mess when_"
Spike stopped her, "I will elt you know, but don't get so rowdy around Spraia. She is still just a filly after all. Can't traumatize her early in her foalhood and leave her depressed for the rest of her life."
"Y-you're right, I'm sorry, it's just I got so heated back there, I lost control and actually was very unlady-like. I even bucked her into a table..."
"good, she quite deserved it after what she did."
"It was still unlady-like."