Chapters Sweetie Belle, AB, and Scoots arrived at the school where they attended.
"Alright my little ponies, time for class! Please, take a seat every pony." Cheerilie smiled. "Oh, not you three fillies." She glanced at the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"Why not Ms. Cheerlie? Are we in trouble? I DIDN'T DO IT!" Scootaloo panicked.
Cheerilie chuckled. "No, girls. These are for you." She handed them each a letter with some kind of seal stamped on the front. "These were sent to you girls about a few weeks after you earned your cutie marks."
"Dear, Sweetie Belle, you have been hereby accepted into Pony-" Sweetie Belle read. She smiled and jumped up and down. "Guys! These are acceptance letters into a special academy! Open them!" She squeaked.
"We've been accepted into Ponyville High School!" The three fillies cheered and shouted so loud, Cloudsdale could hear them.
They heard a pony scoff. "You WHAT?! Let me see that!" Diamond Tiara claimed one of the letters and read it aloud. "So it's true... You've been accepted and not me?" Diamond whined.
"Well Diamond Tiara, you had to audition to get in. These girls did, and since they have cutie marks, perfect grades, and such, they've been accepted." Ms. Harshwinny came in and stood next to the three ponies. "It's time you came with me, you need to go. It's now or never fillies. Go on and enjoy your new school!" The three little ponies came with Ms. harshwinny into a tall, glossy carriage bus with the same seal from the letters on it. It was the school's seal. An earth pony, a unicorn, and a pegasus standing together forming a circle. They hopped aboard the bus and waved to the students, watching them see the three foals off as the bus sped away.
"So girls, what do y'all think will be waiting for us when we get there?" Apple Bloom grinned.
"I don't know, but I bet it will be AWESOME!" Scoots smiled and sat down on one of the seats. It automatically turned on and started massaging her back! "Ah... Right there!" Scootaloo said, pleased with the features that came with the new school. Sweetie belle had smiled and sat down as well, beside her friends.
"Ah can't believe we got accepted into what sounds like an amazing school. Whoa, there it is!" Apple Bloom shouted, pointing out the window as the bus came to a stop.
"Girls, welcome to ponyville High School. Word to the wise, don't disappoint me." A voice rang out. A tall, thin, grey pony with a black and midnight blue mane stepped into the bus. Her mane was curly but her tail was flat and put into a bun, her eyes were midnight blue like her hair. She was a unicorn, and had a somewhat British accent. Her cutie mark was a colorful rainbow potion in a bottle that looked like a crystal vase.
"Who are you?" Scootaloo questioned.
"I am Principal Blessed Spell. But you may address me as Principal Spell." The mare spoke, staring at the three small fillies in disgust. "Please, follow me into the school." The ponies went into the school building, unsure of what their future will hold.
It's Not Easy Being the New Kids
Principal Spell's office in the top of the Staff Tower was glamorous. A large grandfather clock painted white, a tall marble desk, silk curtains white as snow by a window that had a view of the whole rest of the campus, a white crisp carpet, fine wooden chairs with white cushions, several bookshelves and cabinets lined with gold rims. And to top it all off, a small black mini-fridge in a corner filled with several treats and drinks that she apparently liked. The principal just got off the PA calling a student to her office.
"A guide to help you tour the campus is on her way, one of my top students. So, what are your names?" The Principal asked.
"Apple Bloom." The filly on the left responded.
"Sweetie Belle." Right.
"Scootaloo." Middle.
"Yes, yes. What makes you think you have what it takes to attend this school?" She questioned. Before the three foals could respond, the glossy wood doors flung open.
"I'm here! I'm here Principal Spell!" A small pony said, panting. She was a blue-green earth filly, with a light and dark brown bouncy mane and tail, blue-green eyes, and a cutie mark of two brown suckers making an "X". She had a lime green saddle-bag around her waist.
"Ah, yes. Fillies, this is Caramel Pop. One of my most hard-working and bright students." The Principal introduced her.
"Sorry I took a while, ma'am. I was in cooking class and didn't wanna leave a currently used oven unattended and-" She paused. "OOH! New students! Hey, what's up?" Caramel smiled. she held out her hoof, expecting a hoof bump. The three fillies did it and grinned.
"CARAMEL!" The principal exclaimed, interrupting the fillies excitement. She immediately went back a bit and stood up straight and proud. Her face went blank.
"Ahem... Caramel, just because you're still a little new, doesn't mean you get special treatment. Now does it?" Spell requested.
"No, ma'am... It doesn't." Caramel's smile faded.
"Good girl. Now, please tour those foals around the campus. They're fish out of water for Pete's sake!" Principal Spell demanded. The doors slammed shut behind the ponies and they walked away.
"What was that all about?" Sweetie belle asked.
"Don't worry. It's not a problem for me, but it's not easy being the new kid at a school. This place welcomes all students: Colt or mare, young and old. But the students are different then the staff. Let's just say this school turns students against their better natures if they let it. This place, like few other schools, has... High standards. Very high standards."
"What?" Apple Bloom questioned.
"i'll explain later, maybe. In the meantime, whatever you do, DON'T DISAPPOINT PRINCIPAL SPELL..." Caramel responded, sadly walking off.
"Why? Why shouldn't we?" Scootaloo asked.
"She can tend to have extreme standards with most students. Especially new students. Once, a colt was a total rebellious individual brute, and he got expelled on his first day. And, it was SECOND PERIOD!" Caramel Pop replied, with the other foals in shock.
"On his first day?" Apple Bloom said, shocked like her friends.
The foals were panicked inside, they might not last a week...
New Classes, and New Bullies
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were rushing down the hallway for their first class: Magical Science. It was around 9:00 and they were running beyond late.
"Late! Late! Late, late, late!! We'll never make it in time. Might as well give up gals." Apple Bloom panicked.
"No way! Class starts in two minutes, we can do it!" Scoots shouted, and smiled.
They continued to run down the hall, unaware that running in the halls might be against the school rules.
"Where is this class supposed to be anyway?" Sweetie Belle asked Scoots.
"325 I think. We're almost there." Scootaloo answered. Only about thirty seconds until the bell would ring. 321...322...323...324...325! They rushed inside just moments before the bell rang through the hallowed halls.
"Check it out girls, who are the newbies? And nearly late to their first class on their first day, no less! Ha! Pathetic..." A voice called from across the room, and it was revealed to be a female pony, almost a mare. She had a white coat, a lime green and dark green mane and tail both in a cute little up-do, dark green eyes, and her cutie mark apparently was three colorful stones. One yellow, one blue, and the other lime green. She was a pegasus pony. Sitting beside her were two other female ponies: One had an orange coat, a fire red long and frizzy mane and tail, and yellow eyes. Her cutie mark was a single flame, bathed in several shimmering colors outside, like an aura. She was a unicorn. The other had a bright pink coat, a purple flat mane and tail, and purple eyes. Her cutie mark was a purple, pretty feather. She was also a unicorn.
"Now ladies. Shimmer Stone, Frizzy Fire, Fair Weather. That's enough!" Another voice called out, he must be the teacher. He had a yellow coat, a grey mane that was really curly yet flat, blue eyes, and his cutie mark was a small blue star or sparkle.
"Yes, Mr. Sparkle Shine." The students agreed and returned to their work. "Now class, let's return back to our assignment. *ahem* Can any pony tell me how to combine a gem-finding spell and a shape-shift spell with a rock, and turn it into a jewel using basic level concoction magic. How about you, Miss?" The teacher asked Sweetie Belle.
"Oh, um... My name is Sweetie Belle."
"Well, Sweetie, can you identify the way to use this magic?" The teacher requested.
"I, um... You cast the gem-finding spell on the rock, find a gem, and cast a shape-shift spell on it and place it on the rock still using both spells?" Sweetie Belle questioned. The teacher looked shocked.
"Sweetie Belle, that's correct !" He replied in joy.
"IT IS?!" Scoots and Apple Bloom has surprised looks on their faces.
"It is. Sweetie Belle, you have an amazing future in magic." Sparkle Shine, the teacher, smiled. After about 30 minutes, the class finally ended.
It was time for the next classes: Equestrian Literature in 307 for second period, Lunch time, Equestrian History in 205 for third period, and for the last class, Physical education on the first floor in the school's athletics room.
"I don't know why, but I'm not so sure I like this new boarding school in Ponyville anymore." Sweetie Belle whimpered.
"It's not so bad, we can leave and visit our friends back home on weekends." Apple Bloom replied.
"I guess, but still... And don't you think that those fillies in magical science were a little mean? They're almost as bad as Diamond Tiara." Sweetie asked.
"Aw, come on, lighten up! We don't have to worry about some fillies while we're here. Other then them, this is actually a sweet school!" Scoots grinned. The fillies continued on to their next class for second period, in hopes the day would go better soon on...
"So, Shimmer? What makes you so sure that this 'Scoots' will join us and ditch her loser friends?" Frizzy Fire, Fair Weather, and Shimmer Stone were talking in a hallway.
"Don't worry, I have my ways. I will get them nearly expelled from school, but say Scootaloo is innocent. If she refuses, I'll say she wasn't innocent after all. and the principal will have all three of those dorks expelled! Even though they're losers, there is a popularity pattern. Everyone who hates me is on the bottom, the others are in the middle, and I'm on TOP!" Shimmer laughed.
Eventually, it's time for third period. For once, the CMC are on time for class, and they take their seats.
"Alright every pony, let's get started on our quiz on the events when discord tried to take over again." The teacher started passing out papers and pencils. She had a quill and paper for a cutie mark.
"Yes Mrs. Paper Joy." The students all nodded.
Scoots was concentrating on her quiz, she knew most of the answers. Thinking to herself, she did every question correctly and easily.
#1. How did Discord escape from his prison? His stone statue state was broken.
#2. Who was set on stopping Discord from spreading his chaos? The bearers of the Elements of Harmony.
#3. True or False: The ponies who wanted to stop Discord had did perfectly and defeated him, on their first try. False.
#4. True or False: Discord married Mrs. Paper Joy. False.
"Hey, Scootaloo. Have you considered my offer?" Shimmer asked Scoots from right next to her since they were seated next to each other, but she was quickly stopped by the teacher, who accused her of cheating and gave her an automatic "F" on the quiz. Scootaloo, after she finished her quiz, couldn't stop thinking about the offer of a lifetime Shimmer Stone requested of her. Her heart kept thumping with the ticking of the clock tick, tick, tick, tick she couldn't focus her mind on even one thought at all. She could have a good future in popularity, but at the price of her best foal-friends? That she wasn't so sure about.
"Class dismissed." The teacher had called out, moments after the bell rang for next class. As she and her friends were heading to their last class, Scootaloo tried to keep her mouth shut that she might accept Shimmer's deal. Phys Ed went by really well. Scoots knew she had something awful planned for her and the rest of the CMC if she refused, but she couldn't find out what. All she knew was, Shimmer was obviously a dangerous pony, and would do anything to get what she wants. Ramming all of her obstacles out of the way. She was on her way to the dorms, and then she heard it.
"Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo. Please report to the Principal's office. NOW." She was in trouble, and she had a pretty good idea why. It was now or never, she knew what to do. It'd be tricky, but she'd prove that Shimmer might be to blame. She would "accept" Shimmer's offer.
Expulsion, or Popularity?
Scoots, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle met up together at the entrance of Principal Spell's office. The doors slowly opened by magic, and they saw it as a signal to come inside as the entrance shut behind them.
"Good day, girls. Take a seat. Now, foals." Principal Spell was staring out into the window, with a cold look on her face when she glared at the three foals. The three ponies each took a seat on the couch, they wanted to chat and assure each other it would be fine, but the look from the Principal made them fall silent.
"An anonymous source from a student has made me aware that you three fillies had vandalized the school. There was markings all over the school cafeteria this afternoon." The principal continued.
"When did this happen?" Sweetie Belle questioned.
"A few hours after lunch." The principal replied.
"That level of vandalism is a near expulsion offense. But since it's still your first day, and you are decent foals, I have taken the liberty of using the rest of today and most of the next day to think about your punishment. In the meantime, go rest in your dorm. And think about what you've done, I know it doesn't sound like much, but trust me on this. Your punishment, might be much more then you deserve." Principal Spell continued. "Go, to your dorms and rest now. Get out of my sight." She snapped the last part, and the whole room fell silent. The three foals nodded, and left without a word. Slightly hanging their heads.
Shimmer Stone was waiting outside the door, for Scootaloo.
"So, considered my offer? I understand your problem, and I could get you out of it. For a small favor in return." She chimed.
"Why do you want me to leave my friends anyway? Why are you and your crew against us so much?" Scoots replied.
"It's simple, really. I can't have these newbies ruining my reputation. You've already proven yourselves that you can stand up to me. That you can be popular. That. Cannot. Happen. This threat needs to be neutralized, immediately. I used to be like you, Scootaloo. Naive. Fear-minded. Lame. But I've been out in the real world. And in the real, cutthroat, world in school popularity, there's no such thing as being fair. You have to choose your moves, play mean, and step on every foal you can to become popular. And to remain there?" Shimmer continued, "Almost the same. I can't even count how many times I had nearly lost to another pathetic dork for my throne as Queen of the School." Shimmer Stone laughed.
"You're even worse then Diamond Tiara." Scoots became angry.
"Can you blame me? School's like this, are evil. At least, the cost of popularity is." Shimmer started walking around Scoots.
"You only have a few more hours until Spell has made her mind. What's it gonna be? Expulsion, or being besties with the Queen of the School?"
"What about your two foal-friends?" Scoots questioned.
"Oh please, they mean nothing to me. They're just another obstacle I got rid of. I gave them an option, and they took it. And that's the end." Shimmer laughed as she strutted away down the hall to the dorms, without her.
Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle were visiting each other's dorms, decorated by every student's request. Each pony's dorm was different from the other. Apple Bloom's dorm had a simple color: light red for the walls, and a simple, fine wood floor. There was some white colored furniture, a bright red wardrobe, a white, silky couch, a bed with a red blanket and white sheets and pillows, a plain wooden desk and fancy wooden chair with a silky cushion. It was simple, but fancy. There was a few other decorations but they had been brought from home as a care package from Applejack as soon as she heard her sister was away in a boarding school. Sweetie Belle's dorm had a violet colored walls, white carpet with a rainbow rug not far from the bed, which was almost all pink. There was a few plain paintings of nature and landmarks all over Equestria on the walls. There was one simple chair that was a violet color and a pink color, it was wooden with some fine carvings of musical notes on the edges. there was a colorful record player on a small table by the door. Scootaloo's dorm had bold purple colored walls, also decorated by orange and yellow lightning bolts stuck on the walls. There was a simple blue carpet. There was orange 2 couches, one by a blue desk and a chair, the other not far from the door. There was a blue-framed, large portrait of Ponyville on a wall. They were all sitting on the bed of Sweetie Belle's dorm, hanging out.
"Hey guys?" Scootaloo frowned.
"Yeah?" Her friends replied.
"Do you think, Shimmer Stone, was behind us being punished?" Scoots questioned.
"No, why?" Apple Bloom tilted her head at Scootaloo in confusion.
"I... She wants me to join her. Really , badly. I think she was so desperate she vandalized the school cafeteria and blamed it on us!" Scoots started to shout, but the two other fillies silenced her, Apple Bloom covered her mouth with her hoof.
"Shut up Scootaloo. you want to get us in even more trouble?" Apple Bloom glared at her, but then she managed to calmed down, and smiled.
"Let's just not worry about school until tomorrow. I'm, so tired." Sweetie Belle yawned.
Moments later, there was a knock on the door.
knock, knock
Scootaloo opened the door, to find Shimmer Stone and her crew.
"Hello. Mind if we drop by before lights out?" Frizzy Fire smiled. Fair Weather laughed, and Shimmer Stone, with a cold and smiling expression, strutted into the room.
"I was just thinking that Scootaloo and I wanted to confess something. Right, best friend ?" Shimmer added. The two other fillies behind Scoots were shocked, and nearly glared at Scootaloo.
"I will never leave my friends for you! You may see some potential in me to be another lackey for your popularity, but I refuse. I cannot go along with this! You can't buy my friendship, and you can't blackmail your way for my friendship either, like you obviously did with Frizzy Fire and Fair Weather! You're a cold, heartless, backstabbing devil foal! I'm shocked you're even at this school, or Diamond Tiara's cousin for that matter! You two are nothing alike! She was now our friend, but you just try to buy your friends and throne on top of every pony in this school. You're willing to step on anyone you can, so you can keep claiming more and more praise, but it gets you NOTHING! NOTHING! And it will never earn you me, or my closest friends! So go to hell where you belong!" It was the first time she had ever cursed. She was crying about her shameful act inside, but she managed to keep the tears and fear in. Scoots held her wings out in front of her friends, held her head high, and stared right into Shimmer's eyes, strong and proud. The room automatically fell so silent, you could here a unicorn cast a spell. You could hear a pin drop. You could even hear the sounds of the six foals, heavily breathing at each other in anger and shock. Scootaloo felt a heavy smack on her face, when she looked in a mirror, she saw that she had been hit by Shimmer Stone's hoof. She stared, terrified, into her cruel, large pupils in her eyes.
"How DARE you speak to your Student Council President that way! You will pay for what you just did... Some day, you will pay..." She said that last part, softly but harshly, as she and her friends marched off down the hallway to their own dorms.
The next day was pretty peaceful until they were called to the Principal's office again after breakfast in the cafeteria, to hear what she made up for their punishment. The three foals sadly trudged across the stairs and halls until they got to the office. The odd thing was, Shimmer Stone was there when they got inside the office. The four fillies each hopped onto a seat, got comfy, and prepared for the bad news.
"i could never believe, that one of my top students. One of my most, prized, students. Would sink so low to fill up the high standards we have here. Socially and academically." The Principal glared at them.
"Principal Spell, I-I can explain-" Scootaloo was interrupted.
"There is no need." The Principal snapped.
"You, aren't the foals in trouble." The Principal continued. "She is." She pointed directly at Shimmer Stone.
"Guilty..." Shimmer hung her head.
"This, you three need to see." Spell shows them several clips of their interactions that ended up on camera, how cruel she was. But the most shocking footage, was when they saw Shimmer herself vandalize the cafeteria...
"I don't understand." Apple Bloom questioned.
"Well, you should understand perfectly . I know I do." Principal Spell handed Shimmer Stone a large, paper with a bunch of words on it. "You three are excused from your punishment I was meant to give you. As for you..." Spell's voice started to become snappy and bold. "Shimmer Stone, for your several crimes at this school, you are hereby EXPELLED from Ponyville High School. The school security will escort you out, bring you your stuff, and leave you outside for you to wait to get a ride back home. I can assure you after your family see this about what you did, they will be very disappointed in you. Go!" The Principal sends in two buff colts, and Shimmer Stone follows them outside the campus, hanging her head.
The Most Popular Foal in School
"We're almost there to our Equestrian Literature class. I just hope it isn't too hard, or boring." Scootaloo fake yawned.
"Hello? Ah, new students eh? Please, take a seat." The teacher spoke out. She was a beautiful mare, her cutie mark was a tall textbook.
"My name is Ms. Bookworm. Now class, let's begin reading Act 2, of Romeo and Jul-Hooves." The teacher started reading a page from a comically large, old book with a picture of two ponies on it.
"Oh, ah have heard of Romeo and Jul-Hooves before. It's the most romantic, tragic but romantic, story in all of Equestria!" Apple Bloom cried.
"Oh, you know of Tails-Peare? Then perhaps since you love talking in class so much," The teacher had a scowl on her face. "You can give us a line or two from the Act we're reading?"
" *Ahem* But soft! Through what light does thy window break? It is the east, and Jul-Hooves is the sun! " Apple Bloom smiled.
"You've read Romeo and Jul-Hooves?" The teacher questioned.
"Oh, ah love poetry. After country music, though!" Apple Bloom grinned, and sighed.
"Who cares about one puny line? Let's make the pathetic poetry fan-filly read the entire Act for us! So we can watch her fail! Ha! Ha! Ha!"
It was that one filly Shimmer Stone, again. Along with her crew.
"You, be quiet when I'm talking. You're wasting time for us to start Act 2." The teacher snapped.
"That, in my opinion, isn't certainly a bad thing... Such a sappy story." Shimmer Stone whispered. Her friends smirked.
"Tell me about it." Scoots replied.
"Who's side are you on?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Oh be quiet, loser. Obviously she could be siding and be-friend US. I'm the most popular filly in school, but it doesn't hurt being the President of the Student Council." Shimmer laughed.
"Just because you're in some council, doesn't mean you can boss people around, or step on others to be popular. You can just ask one of our old classmates: Diamond Tiara." Scoots called out.
"Diamond Tiara? That filly, friends with YOU stupid ponies? Ha! Don't make me laugh. My cousin would never stoop so low as to socialize with ponies like you. A simple little ordinary mare, maybe. But you? Ha!" Shimmer laughed in their faces.
"Diamond Tiara was your cousin? WHAT?!" Scoots and her friends looked shocked.
"But don't worry about being popular or being wrecked by others. By the time I'm done, you'll be the biggest losers in school, or even worse, invisible ." Shimmer whispered in their ears. They couldn't utter a word until class was over...
After a long, long class, it was finally lunchtime! The ponies were lined up one-by-one, waiting to get their food. There was a menu sign at the area where the serving-area started:
Mushroom Soup or Carrot and Lettuce Stew
Salad /w Ranch, Thousand Island, or Blue Cheese Dressing
Apple, Blueberry, or Chocolate Pie
"Carrot and lettuce stew, please? Thanks for the salad, thousand island dressing. Blueberry pie." Sweetie Belle was at the front of the line, so she chose what she'd eat. The three fillies, once they had their lunch, sat down at a table.
"What did you get Apple Bloom? Scoots questioned.
"Mushroom soup, salad with ranch dressing, and apple pie!" Apple Bloom took a big spoonful of some soup, and smiled. Not half bad.
"I got the stew thing, salad with blue cheese dressing, and chocolate pie. Great, I'm starving." Scoots was taking several bites of some salad, eating quick.
"Well, well, well. Look at the cute, loser nobody fillies, enjoying some lunch." Shimmer Stone scoffed and high hoofed her friends.
"We're not in the mood, Shimmer." Scoots had a slightly angry look on her face.
"Aw, I was just going to make an offer. But only one of you can have it." Stone grinned.
"What is it?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Scootaloo. You have a little, potential, to be popular like me. But, it can only be you. You could climb from loser-dom to extreme school-wide fame in a matter of seconds ! All you have to do, is ditch your loser friends." Shimmer Stone nodded.
"No way, Stone!" Scoots became a little angry.
"Hm, your choice. But if you don't take up my offer to save you from them by the end of the day, you'll. Be. Sorry!"
"What're you going to do, Scoots?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"I...I don't know. She has something planned. But what?" Scoots stared up into the sky, unsure of her choice.