Learning Sucks.

In the classroom the girls were looking through textbooks. “This is boring.” Rainbow said. “When do we get to fight aliens?”

“The plumbers aren’t all about fighting aliens. There are processes, and procedure.” Trixie said. “We aren’t just a brute force, we’re the police of the universe.” Fluttershy nervously raised her hoof. “Yes Fluttershy?”

“What if I don’t want to fight the aliens? Is there like a field medic or something where I can at least help but avoid danger?” Fluttershy asked.

“There are a few positions that I could look into but we will train you how to defend yourself because you won’t always have those options, but I’m sure you understand.” Trixie said and Fluttershy nodded.

“Now these textbooks are a bit low tech by plumber’s standards but we don’t need anything broken because we don’t have a supply line coming in from Headquarters yet.” Trixie explained “Now if you all will turn to page 278, we’ll start on procedure and processing.”

Down in the science lab I was doing some of my own reading and Discord was filling me in on some of the abilities that the aliens I had at my disposal had. “Let’s start with the Segmentasapien, or Bloxx as you like to call him.”

“What about him?”

“You see as Bloxx you can shapeshift your body into anything you want, such as a catapult, or a shield, a dome, wall, etcetera, etcetera.” Discord said. “But there are some noticeable things that I see that most ponies lack.”

“What’s that?” I asked him.

“Creativity.” Discord said while perched on a cotton candy cloud. “You think I just create some of these things on a whim? Sometimes it takes planning, even planning on the fly.”

“Hmm, I think I understand what you’re saying.” I nodded. “But I have a question to ask you before we go on.”

“Sure thing my dear boy.” Discord nodded.

“Are you an alien Discord?” I asked.

“Yes I am, I’m not the only one of my kind. But my home planet was destroyed long ago and my species have been nomadic since then.” Discord admitted.

“Do you know who did it?” I asked without thinking.

“Let’s just say that there’s a distinct reason why I hate Vilgax, he wasn’t the only one responsible though but good things come to those who wait.” Discord said.

“I’m sorry.” I said.

“Not your fault, let’s move on.” Discord said and we continued with the lesson.

Back in the classroom with the main 6 and Trixie they were busy learning about the equipment a plumber is usually given, and Rainbow was bored as usual. She didn’t like learning, that was Twilight’s department, she dropped out of flight school because she didn’t want to learn. She had to go back eventually to get her weather degree and license to handle the weather but she still didn’t like it. She sighed for the eighth time and Trixie turned to her. “Is there a problem Rainbow Dash?” Trixie asked.

“Yeah, I didn’t come here to learn about processing and standards. I’m more of a hooves on type of girl. I want a challenge, I want a fight!” Rainbow stood upright.

“Hmm, I tell you what. I’ll cut you a deal, let’s head into the training room and have a sparring match. If you win, you don’t have to sit in here anymore I’ll even let you pick a partner to help you out. But if I win, you have to sit and learn. Without complaining.” Trixie stated.

“Deal.” Rainbow said. “Get ready to be the training room’s mop, cause I’m about to wipe the floor with you.”

“Tell you what, just for that. The loser has to clean the entire base for a month.” Trixie said.

“Hehehe, be prepared to lose then.” Rainbow looked at Applejack. “Hey AJ you want in on this?”

“Eenope.” AJ said imitating her brother.

“Why not?” Rainbow asked.

“Because I don’t want to go cleaning the castle for an entire month.” Applejack said. “I got a business to run.”

Rainbow looked around and Pinkie bounced up to her. “I’ll help you Dashie!”

“Then let us move to the training room.” Trixie said and then looked at Twilight. “Are you coming Twilight?”

“I’d rather stay here and take notes.” Twilight said. “I already went over the gear and processing, I’m just interested in the alien species.”

“If you want you can join Spike.” Trixie put a data pad on Twilight’s desk and the others left. Twilight got up and followed the pad to where Spike and Discord were talking.

“Oh hello Twilight.” Discord said as he noticed the alicorn.

“Hey Discord, how’s it going Spike?” Twilight asked as I looked at her.

“We’ve been going over the aliens that I have and their abilities.” I said to my mother. “How is the classwork going?” I asked.

“I wish I had more time and took the actual classes, but Trixie said that it takes years to do so. She started when she was a teenager.” Twilight said. “So what have you figured out?”

“Not a lot tech-wise but I learned the abilities of Bloxx, XLR8, Diamond Head, Heatblast, and Four Arms.” I told her. “What have you learned?”

“That’s great!” Twilight smiled. “I learned the process and procedure. The other girls are doing a stupid bet.”

“Rainbow?” I asked and she nodded. “Want to go see it?”

“Yeah.” Twilight nodded.

I got up but before I left I looked at Discord. “Are we done for today?”

“We got more covered than expected. So yes.” Discord nodded. “I need to sign off on a few things anyways, no job is without it’s paperwork.” Twilight and I chuckled at his sullen tone.

We walked over to the elevator and I typed into the data pad for directions for the training room and pressed the button for the platform to rise. Twilight was smiling as we walked to the room and opened the door to see Rainbow and Pinkie in the middle of fighting Trixie, who was easily evading their attempts at offense. Twilight and I joined the other three girls standing on the side. I looked to Rarity, “Who’s winning?”

“Trixie.” Rarity said while looking at a magazine. “But Rainbow being Rainbow, she won’t admit defeat until she’s knocked out.”

Applejack was busy studying the textbook and talking with Twilight, and Fluttershy was knitting while Rarity read from a magazine and giving tips to Fluttershy. I looked at Trixie in the middle of the fight. “Hey Trixie, can I fight you next?”

“Sure!” Trixie yelled while evading a laser from Pinkie. “Alright I’m getting tired of this.” Trixie conjured a weapon and shot it, it turned into a net and captured Pinkie while Trixie jumped up and landed onto Rainbow’s back and hit a spot in between her shoulders causing her wings to lock up mid-flap and she crashed to the ground while Trixie dismounted.

Rainbow moaned and got back up on her hooves. She then looked at Trixie. “What did you do?!”

“I just temporarily disabled your wings. You should be fine in 15 to 20 minutes.” Trixie said.

“You were holding back on us weren’t you?” Pinkie asked while she was trying to untangle herself from the net she was in.

“Yes, I wanted to test your ability to work together in a fight. While I don’t deny that you girls work well together, there’s a difference between friendship and a fight.” Trixie said then turned to me. “You want to spar Spike?”

I walked up while Rainbow got Pinkie out and joined the other four mares on the sidelines. “Yep. I can use the omnitrix, right?”

“I don’t mind.” Trixie said.

I activated the watch and searched through some, I couldn’t decide so I kept switching back and forth between Diamond Head and Rath until the watch beeped and then I saw a new silhouette. Curiously I pressed it down and my body started to bloat and grow I got these yellow plates that aligned themselves on my arms and back and I grew several feet taller. I finished transforming and looked at myself. “Well this is new!” I said with a deep voice and the girls looked up.

“I haven’t seen that one before.” Twilight said.

“An Arburian Pelarota?” Trixie asked. “I haven’t seen one of those in years!”

I was completely lost so I decided to just start running at Trixie, that turned out to be a mistake. This guy isn’t that fast, then like a clumsy foal I tripped over my feet. I decided to tuck and roll but then I transformed into a ball and the yellow things enveloped me. I then figured out what this alien can do, it’s like a roly-poly. I then started to accelerate in place and then rushed towards Trixie.

Trixie shrieked and dodged out of the way while I unrolled and slid to a halt. “Looks like I got a new ace up my sleeve.” I smirked and rolled back into a ball and shot towards her again Trixie made a wall of magic and I spun right into it, Trixie strained and then launched me back to where I started. I uncurled again and stared found the omnitrix symbol on my forehead. “As much as I like this new alien. I’d rather stick to what I know.” I turned the symbol and slammed it transforming into Rath. “AND I KNOW THAT YOU’RE GOING DOWN!” I got down to all fours and bolted after her as fast as I could.

Trixie crouched down. Think, it’s an Appoplexian. They’re easy to anger, cat-like tendencies, a certain sonic frequency can disable them, and a fear of water! She lit up her horn and summoned a fire hose and started to spray Rath down with water.

“AHHHHGGGGGGGGGH! I HATE WATER!!!” I yelled as I was sprayed down. I tried to dodge to the side but Trixie was there before I could try to escape. I got even more angry and roared. The soundwave from my roar was enough to interrupt Trixie’s spell and the water stopped. I growled and cracked my knuckles, the blades from my forearms extended. I walked towards Trixie until something caught my eye, it was a ball of yarn that Fluttershy had dropped. Fluttershy walked over to go pick it up but I rushed over and grabbed the yarn. “MINE!”

Fluttershy was startled when she first met Rath it wasn’t the best of meetings, but then she looked at me, then she smiled. “You’re just a big kitty aren’t you?” I was too busy pawing the yarn around to pay any attention. Fluttershy then started to pet me and I started purring, that is until the watch timed out. It was just a wet baby dragon with yarn in my mouth.

I spit the yarn out. “Ew.” I looked to Fluttershy. “Sorry Fluttershy.” I apologized for the yarn. “I’ll pay you back if you want me to.”

“There’s no need to do that, knowing that Rath isn’t all that bad actually helps me feel better.”

Trixie wiped her forehead from the sweat. “Wow Spike, it’s been a while since I’ve been pressured to think on my hooves like that.”

“I’m still shocked that I found a new alien.” I said.

“From what we understand, there are certain combinations that unlock certain aliens, it seems like you found one of those combinations.” Trixie said.

“I felt like a cannon ball. But fast as a bolt of lightning. I think I have a name for the new alien. Cannonbolt.” I smirked.

“I like it.” Pinkie said. “I need to rest my owies though, can we go back to the class?” The other girls helped Rainbow and Pinkie back to the classroom while Twilight and I followed behind laughing.