“This world of ours... must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect.”

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Chapter 1: Today’s Lesson

The bell rang loud and shrill into the young colt’s ear. It's meaning was simple: time for class. The colt sighed and started to make his way into the building, thinking of what he was going to do at break and lunch. He wouldn't call himself the most popular, but definitely not the least either. At the end of the day he was just another anonymous face in a sea full of anonymous faces. A light breeze brushed through his his royal blue fur and ruffled his brown mane slightly, forcing him to use his magic to move the bits of hair that had moved out of position back to where they should've been.

The colt’s name was Shockwave Spark. He was a quite a young thing, eleven years old in a few weeks. He’d have a small party with a few friends, be excited and happy about it for a day or two, and then settle back down with life.

He walked into his classroom and took his seat near a pony called Wood Timber and another called Shiny Whistle. They were both nice enough ponies, but he would’ve preferred to be sitting nearer to the pony he secretly had a crush on. Her name was Limeheart. Just Limeheart, a nice, simple name. She had the most shiniest white coat and a beautiful lime green mane and tail he had ever seen. He tried to act ‘cool’ whenever she was near. He didn't even think that she knew he existed though.

But enough on his crush, it's a secret crush for a reason. Shockwave Spark sighed and waited for class to begin.

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Shiny Whistle looked up from his work as the bell rang. The young lilac colored unicorn blew a strand of his lavender mane out of his face ‘he really needed to get it cut’ and held up the sheet music in front of him. Nodding, he grinned. His new song was coming along nicely, and he could hardly wait to get home to try it out on his penny whistle. Dew Song, his little sister, would love it.

The sheet music settled down on his desk when he looked up as Shockwave Spark walked in and sat down beside him. He really liked the royal blue colt, felt they could be good friends, but Shockwave paid more attention to Limeheart than anypony else in the class. Which wasn’t surprising, with the ratio of colts to fillies in their class being more colts, it was only logical the few fillies would be sought after so.

Shockwaves eleventh birthday was coming up, and Shiny had hopes he would be invited. Maybe he could even play a few songs? It was still a while until his birthday, closer to the summer holidays, but he was fine with being ten for now. After all, why not enjoy being a foal while it lasted?

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It was a normal day for Berry Mist, she got to school ten minutes before the bell chimed, she sat on her seat by the window at the front of the class waiting for everypony else to come into class, she was still waiting till finally the bell chimed for the class to begin. She looked out of the window to find inspiration for her work when suddenly, she received a note passed from Limeheart saying ‘meet me outside after class.’

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This day was like any other day for the young, brown colt, just contemplating the view of the small but vibrant town, while a gust of wind blew his dark green hair, whilst laying down right next to an oak tree, his name is Wood Timber. He just stays there, admiring the view with the tree providing some shade from the sunlight. And as much he liked to stay in his place of peace, he must go to his class as the bell already rang. Picking up his school supplies, and making sure he hadn’t forgot anything, he trotted his way to school.

He set his stuff aside of his desk when he notice that one of his classmates, a lilac colored unicorn sat down across him. The colt’s name is Shiny Whistle, he noticed also that he set up some music sheets atop of his desk, maybe one day he could ask Whistle if he could play him a song, just to see how good he was. He also noticed that a royal blue colt sat right next to Whistle, his name is Shockwave Spark. A good friend of him, one that at the moment is too busy looking at somepony else, more specifically a filly. ‘May Celestia protect his soul, cause I can’t see how these two are gonna end up being together’, thought Wood while evaluating the situation at hoof.

“Hey, Wood, you're finally here. You're not usually the latest out of us three, where you been?” Shockwave asked me.

“Huh? oh...um sorry about that, I was just you know, chillin’ at that oak tree atop of the small hill.”

“You're really into trees, aren't you,”

“What are you trying say, friend?”, not really knowing what Shockwave was trying to imply, hopefully something nice for a change.

“Ah, nothing. Forget it,” Shockwave said, “can you… Can you keep a secret?” he asked me,

“A secret? Um…..I guess, you can always trust me, right?”, well it can’t be that bad...right?

“I kind of have this crush-thing on Limeheart,” He whispered into my ear, “please don't tell anypony,”

“Oh! Um...sure bro, you can count on me...hehe”, I whispered back. Well then, this ain’t a secret that I already knew about, but I guess I was bound to be told sooner or later.

“I'm serious, don't tell anypony. She’s just so… nice… Hold on, is she looking at me? I think she is, is she?”

I looked at Limeheart for a moment, she seems to be just looking around, but then just when I was about to tell him a straight up “no”, she was looking at us. I don’t know who specifically, but she just turned around all the sudden...weird, “uhh, I don’t know dude, I think so...maybe not?”

“So she actually knows me? She actually recognises me?” Shockwave said, starting to unwillingly blush, embarrassed.

Shiny grinned watching the two converse about Limeheart. She was a sweet pony, and had a good heart. Maybe he could help Shockwave along in getting to know her? But that would have to wait until after school, or recess at least. He put his sheet music away, preparing for when their teacher arrived.

“Good morning, class,” The teacher, Ms Cheerilee said whilst walking into the room.

Shockwave groaned to himself as the class started and he put on a bored expression to mask his inner giddiness about Limeheart.

“Good morning Ms. Cheerilee,” Shiny said and sat up in his seat. He might not be the best in his classes, but he did try his best at least.

“Now class, today we’ll be continuing to talk about Equestria’s history with other nations. Today’s nation, will be the Human Federation,” Ms. Cheerilee said.

‘Why, oh why did they have to learn about humans? Dad said that humans were scum and don't deserve to live on this wonderful planet’, thought Shockwave.

“Whoopee, we’re learning about the monkeys,” Shockwave whispered sarcastically to Shiny Whistle, the colt sitting on his other side.

“Shockwave!” Ms. Cheerilee suddenly snapped at him,

“Yes Ms. Cheerilee?” Shockwave asked, sitting up suddenly to look like he was going to pay attention.

“Do you wish to tell the whole class about what you’re talking about?”

“No, Ms. Cheerilee.” Shockwave said, slouching down in his seat again.

“So as I was saying, today we’ll be learning about the Human Federation. Does anypony have any knowledge of the Human Federation to begin with?” Ms. Cheerilee asked the class.

Nopony raises their hooves and just when Ms. Cheerilee was about speak, Wood raises his hoof….slowly.

“Yes, Wood?” Ms. Cheerilee said with a sense of hope that at least “one” of her students have some knowledge about the humans.

“Um….what is a federation?” asked Wood with a puzzled face.

“Good question, Wood,” said Ms. Cheerilee, actually that is a good question, but how can you explain a foal about a complicated system that was strange to all ponies, “A federation is, um...think of this way, is where groups of ponies decide to form a nation, where they make rules and they also elect their leaders.”

“Oh, um...okay?” said Wood, humans elect their leaders? Wow that is….weird.

“Alright then, anypony else?” asked Ms. Cheerilee.

Meanwhile with two certain colts….

“Don’t drag me into this,” Shiny whisper hissed at Shockwave, lowering his ears. Then he turned back to Ms. Cheerilee and shook his head. He knew some sure, but not enough to want to say it out loud in front of the class.

Shockwave sighed at Shiny Whistle and looked around the classroom to see if anypony had put their hoof up to answer Ms. Cheerilee’s question.

“Okay, if you know so much ‘bout humans, go ahead and speak up,” Shockwave hissed back.

“I don’t,” he said groaning a little. Didn’t Shockwave know by now he didn’t like speaking up in class?

“Go on Shiny, be a stallion,” Shockwave egged him on, “Ms. Cheerilee will probably like you for it,”

He looked to see Ms. Cheerilee watching the two of them, and rubbed his forehead in frustration. “Fine,” he said and grinned up at her. “Well… it all started with the explosion thing, right?” He could feel his cheeks burning crimson, sure everypony’s eyes were on him.

“Correct,” Ms. Cheerilee smiled at him, “The Tragedy of Baltimare sparked the war between the Kingdom of Equestria and Human Federation. Anything else you’d like to add?”

Shiny shook his head, already feeling he said too much. “No Ms. Cheerilee.”

Shockwave grinned as Shiny said his part. That colt was too shy, he needed someone like himself to help him along. Shockwave sighed, his Dad always told him that humans were evil and that he should never trust them.

“Alright then,” Ms. Cheerilee addressing to the whole class, “history between ponies and humans weren’t always...nice. Both fear and hate caused mistrust and often times fights between the two races even long before they formed their respective nations. However, over time both ponies and humans became much friendlier during the period of Princess Celestia’s ruling, it was a time of peace and prosperity between the two nations. Such the case, that even ponies were allowed to cross into the human lands.”

“GASP!!!!”, this indeed shocked many students of the idea of back in the day when ponies could actually cross into their….lands?.

“Then what happened?” asked a student.

Ms. Cheerilee stood there for a moment, then she responded, “problems happen between them, each blaming each other for their misfortunes, such their relations was so bad, that many fear that war was coming. In a last attempt to preserve the peace between them, they each send their delegates to Baltimare to discuss their problems….that was till an explosion occur in their meeting conference….all delegates were killed.”

Students gasped as the thought of somepony committing such horrible act.

“Both pony and human?” Shiny asked, eyes wide and forehooves to his mouth. Who would do such a thing?

“Unfortunately yes, till this day nopony knows who did it, but it was for that reason that the war started,” Ms. Cheerilee said, “Now any questions?”

“Dad told me that it was a human who killed them,” Shockwave stated, “what is a delegate, anyway?” He asked.

And just when Ms. Cheerilee was about to answer, “Is it true that humans eat ponies?”, asked a student, and with this sort of interruption, it soon began a chain reaction of questions.

“Are humans evil? Cause my mom said that they came from Tartarus.”

“I heard that humans are only good at doing bad things, they are big meanies!”

“I heard that our janitor is a human?”, said Scootaloo. “Wait hold up, so your saying that there is a human in our school?” asked Apple Bloom, “No way, so does that mean that he or she is gonna eat us….do they?”

“What?! Humans don’t eat ponies, I heard that they eat dirt...like a TON of dirt,” replied Sweetie Belle, “Ms. Cheerilee, is it true that humans eat dirt?”

“I heard that humans hate trees”, said Wood. This was indeed the last question before the class ONCE respected for their discipline soon fall into madness.

One by one every student started rambling stuff that was related to humans, asking for confirmation for the typical stereotypes of humans that has been portrayed for years.

Shiny Whistle splayed his ears back at the chaos that ensued around him. Biting his upper lip, he ducked down, looking to Ms. Cheerilee as she seemed to try to calm the class down. He looked to the clock on the wall, but no was still a little too early for recess.

‘Were the humans everything they had heard?’ he thought. They couldn’t possibly do both, eat ponies and tons of dirt right? That would just be so weird.

*A few minutes later*

Once the class had become quiet again, Shockwave repeated his question, “Ms. Cheerilee, what is a delegate?”

“Good question Shockwave,” said Ms. Cheerilee, “a delegate is somepony or ponies that represent on behalf of a nation or in this case Equestria”. And just when the bell was going to ring, “ Alright class, before anypony can rush straight to recess, I’m gonna handout some permission slips.”

Shiny paused beside his desk, having stood up as the bell rang. “Do we have another field trip?” he asked softly.

“Yes we do. We are going to the cinema to watch a documentary on the war between the Human Federation and Equestria. Remember to get your parents to sign these and bring them back tomorrow,” Mrs. Cheerilee said whilst handing the slips out.

Shockwave levitated his slip into his bag, wondering how he would get his dad to sign it. His dad hated humans, or anything to do with them. He’ll just have to catch him in a good mood.

“Hey, Wood,” Shockwave said, trying to grab his friend’s attention.

Meanwhile Wood was once more zoning out on the events that occurred during the discussion about “humans”, that was till he got startled by Shockwave, “Uh, hey, uhm...what is it Shockwave?”

“You gonna go to this thing?” Shockwave asked.

“Uhm, Yeah...I guess?”, said Wood with uncertainty.

“Even though humans destroy trees and all that?” Shockwave questioned the brown colt.

“Well I mean, it’s just about the war, you know? And besides aren’t you at least interested in how we kick their...flanks?”

“Of course I am, I’ll have to convince dad to let me go though, he's really strict.” Shockwave said.

“Oh...well don’t you have to specifically tell him what is about the documentary, you can always, you know...tell a little lie perhaps?”

“You don't know my dad, do you? He can detect lies anywhere,” Shockwave stated.

“Well then, if that is the case, you better hope that your father is in a “very” good mood,” said Wood, which he then drew his attention to Shiny, “Hey Shiny, what about you?”

“I’ll probably have my mother sign, she is more open minded about the humans than my father,” Shiny said, levitating the permission slip into his saddlebag. “This should be interesting. I wonder who made the documentary, a pony or a human? I’d guess pony if they are taking us to see it.”

“Yeah,” Shockwave agreed, walking out of the class and outside for break-time.

The bell for end of class has rung and Berry met with Limeheart at the bottom end of the playground.

“h..hi Limeheart y..you wanted to meet me?” Berry asked,

“Hey Berry, yes, I need to tell you something,” Limeheart replied, nervously glancing around.

“umm why me?”

“because you're the only pony I can trust to keep a secret,” Limeheart whispered.

“w..what's your s..secret?”

“you see that colt over there?” Limeheart pointed at Shockwave.

“y..yes what about him?”

“promise you won't laugh?”

“why would I?”

“because I have a crush on him.” Limeheart whispered even quieter, right into Berry’s ear.

There was a long silence…

“why don't you ask him out on a date?” Berry asked Limeheart,

“Because I... oh look, there's Sweetie Belle. I'm going to go talk to her for a bit. See you in class!” Limeheart said, blushing and walking towards Sweetie Belle.

After minutes of playful time in recess, all students went to back to class for their afternoon lessons. Lessons here and there, all the students were thinking about going straight to their comforts of their home and probably procrastinate their homeworks. And with the recognisable ring of the bell, colts and fillies rush out straight to the door and trotting towards freedom. Every single day after class, all that is left is the teacher, papers and some mess in the room. And that is when the janitor comes in to clean their mess.

The janitor comes in the class, with his grey janitor uniform and hat, one hand holding the cleaning supplies and the other hand….a broom.

“Good afternoon Ms. Cheerilee,” greeted the janitor “how was your day?”

“Why hello Mr. Anderson,” Ms. Cheerilee said, straightening a pile of papers on her desk. “Well overall it was well, but things did get a little chaotic when I handed out permission slips for our next field trip. Nothing new there though, the colts and fillies sure do love them.” She grinned over at him. “And how about you?”

“Meh, everyday seems to be the same, wake up in the morning, take a cold shower, go to my morning job, kids calling all sorts of names while making my way to work, then there is the struggles of my job at the market, customers tend to look at me funny,” said Mr. Anderson with a neutral expression, “then after that, I make my way here to clean up the kid’s mess...but other than that life is pretty peachy.” said Anderson with sarcasm.

“Yes, ever since the war so long ago, things haven’t been so well between ponies and humans. Then the parents teach their kids to be just as prejudiced to them.” Ms. Cheerilee sighed. “Maybe that will change, at least a little, soon though. Have you heard of the new documentary that has been put out on the war?”

“Not really though, documentaries tend to be really biased to the audience. And besides, I don’t think that is a good idea for a kid to watch a documentary of the horrors of our war”, said Mr. Anderson while scrubbing off the drawings from the student’s desk, “darn kids, and this one drew it with a crayon….a CRAYON!”

“Yes, the sneaky little artists,” Ms. Cheerliee said, shaking her head. “Perhaps I should get them just colored pencils instead. They are easier to wash I imagine?” She stood and stretched, getting a kink out of her back. “But yes, documentaries usually are very biased and, especially war ones, very harsh. But then, most of the students in my class have grown fairly mature, I think all but maybe one or two have their cutie marks now. I would hope they could handle it with some maturity.”

“Ha! You speak of maturity, this kids know nothing about it, all they know is probably rainbows and sunshines and their unconditional freedom of responsibilities”, joked the janitor as he was finishing cleaning the last desk.

“If you gave them a chance, they might surprise you,” Ms. Cheerilee said, as she carefully put the children’s homework from the previous night in her saddlebag, then swung it around her to settle on her back. “Speaking of, I have an appointment at the doctor’s the day of the field trip. Nothing extreme just a little check-up, but they will need someone to chaperone them. It would just take a few hours, if you would be willing to do so? Wouldn’t have to do much, just sit in the back of the theater, keep the kids out of trouble, and then ask them what they have learned.”

“Well jeez lady, no disrespect or anything...but I don’t babysit kids, and I don’t think they will like me,” said Mr. Anderson, brooming the floors full of broken materials and dirt, “and besides they are too annoying for my liking, you know how they are now days.”

“Well, maybe if they had someone to talk to from the other side of the story, they could get to like you?” Ms. Cheerilee said with a grin, going over to the windows and closing them for the night. “They know the pony side of the war, but not so much the human side. Maybe if we teach them now, they won’t be as prejudiced as their parents. I know you’re not much for kids, but I think they would grow on you.” She closed her eyes and chuckled.

“Ha! Now that is a good joke, Cheerilee,” chuckled Mr. Anderson, picking up his broom and cleaning supplies. And after a moment of silence, the janitor spoke, “Well shoot, I guess you got yourself the first human chaperone. But don’t expect me to share the same optimism as yours.”

“Excellent,” Ms. Cheerilee said and clapped her forehooves together. “Thank you so much Mr. Anderson, I am sure you won’t regret it! Even if you don’t think so.” She tightened the straps of her saddlebag and looked over at him. “I’ll make sure to let the theater know you will be going in my place.”

“Very well then,” Mr. Anderson said while making his way to the door, “I guess we won’t being seeing each other tomorrow I guess….so good afternoon?”

“Indeed Mr. Anderson, good afternoon and I shall see you on Monday? I hope you enjoy your time with the students and have a wonderful weekend!” Ms. Cheerilee trotted toward the door, then looked around, making sure she hadn’t forgot anything. “Oh! And the bus will be here promptly at eight to drive everypony down to the theater.”

“Right, right, I won’t forget. Well, it seems that tomorrow is going to be hard...I guess, anyways enjoy your weekend!” said Mr. Anderson as they both left to their respective homes.

Author's Note

MichaelTheBoss: Hello and welcome to Faultlines. The wonderful cover-art was made by The Moon. Writing me with this is, in no particular order; The Moon, Dusk Lime and QueenChrysalisForever. We've been working on this for a fair amount of time now and hope you all like it. Anything to add, guys?
The Moon: What is up you crazy hooligans! Yeah we have been really busy with this story. Hopefully you will like it...or not.
QueenChrysalisForever: Hello everpony (or 'ling as I am sure there are some of you out there. *grins*) thanks for reading! We all have been working hard on this and hope you enjoy! And if you do, be sure to check out all the other amazing stories we all have written or are working on. Each writer here has some amazing stuff!
Dusk Lime: Hello everypony this is my first story and collaboration I hope you enjoy this story.
MichaelTheBoss: And that's about it. Have a good day/night. -MichaelTheBoss.