Canterlot Academy For Pets

Script always loved everything about train rides. Everything from the bumpiness of the tracks, the clicks and clacks of the wheels and the view from the window as she watched the world pass by.

This train ride was different.

The bumps turned from a fun jostle to an erratic roller coaster, each jump and bend threatening to make her spill her stomach’s contents as the feeling of longing to be home already grew stronger and stronger with each passing second.

The clacking wheels turned into a vicious timekeeper, a clock counting the seconds she had been away from her parent’s loving embrace.

The view was the only thing Script could still appreciate. She rested her chin on the back of her seat which pressed against the wall of the train carriage, her eyes watching the suburb she called home for so many years get smaller in the distance.

After a while the train started to ascend Canterlot Mountain, the suburbs disappearing behind the purple-grey rock face as the train made it’s way around the mountain. By the time she could see her home district again it was indistinguishable from the rest of the expansive sea of roofs spreading out from the mountain.

She was alone; no parents, no family, just her thoughts to keep her company.

She had never experienced such intense feelings of isolation, they bubbled in her stomach like a pot of boiling water, threatening to overflow and flood her face with tears.

Deciding that her current view was far too upsetting, she turned her attention upwards to the city she was spending most of the next year in, Canterlot.

From below, Script could see the intricate magical glyphs on the underside of the city which stopped at it from falling off the side of the mountain. She saw the Canterlot airship bay, the port for all of the airships between Canterlot and Manehattan, as well as where her father’s airships were built.

‘Ugh…’ The downtrodden filly thought to herself, ‘That just made me feel even worse!’.

She sat in her loneliness for a little while longer, counting each long second as she waited anxiously for her arduous thirty minute journey to be over.

It felt like a lifetime had passed before she could finally see the station where her train would stop, a much more extravagant building with statues and carvings lining each of the five platform entrances.

This wasn’t an unfamiliar sight for Script, as being a noble obligated her to attend a host of different dinner parties and events in Canterlot with her parents, even if they were only a maid family.

She had always seen the big city as nothing but a place where such parties were put on by ponies with considerable amount more money than her parents could afford, a place she could only hope to visit every other month or so, let alone live right in the center of!

And yet, there she was, sitting on a train with her bags packed to do just that.

Her glum thoughts were quickly replaced with that of nervous excitement, her face lighting up with glee as she thought about what she would do in and out of class.

Reaching into her saddlebags, she pulled out the letter she received confirming she’d been accepted to the academy, its envelope marked and torn around the edges from the countless times Script had read and re-read the letter in excitement.

She hugged the envelope close to her chest for a moment before carefully opening the envelope and removing the letter, which had been kept in a much more pristine state, with almost no signs that the parchment had ever even been touched by anything but the pen used to write on it.

Careful not to touch it any more than she absolutely had to, she admired the letter, her eyes still sparkling the same way as when she first opened the letter over four months ago as she admired the immaculate hoofwriting. Each familiar word still filled her with anticipation, anxious to start her new life at school.

She imagined meeting her teachers and learning all kinds of new things in class.

She imagined new friends and playing with her them at lunch time.

She imagined staying up late and studying with her roommate.

‘Probably not just theory study, too~’ She thought to herself, her orange face gaining a slightly redder glow for a moment as her thoughts wandered into lewder territory, her hoof starting to make its way across her lap and--

“No!” She muttered to herself quietly, biting her lip and moving her hoof back to her side as she recalled something her father told her before she left.

“Now Script, just because we’re not around to keep an eye on that naughty hoof of yours, doesn’t mean you can throw all your training to the wind!” Steam had told her the night before she departed.

The filly shook her head, clearing her naughty thoughts and refocusing on the real reason she’d opened up the letter, as in addition to her acceptance, the parchment detailed what she was to do once she got off the train,

She didn’t really need to read the instructions again, being that she’d recited them over and over again until she remembered them off by heart, not wanting to mess anything up on her big day.

Her eyes scanned the instructions carefully, making sure she knew exactly what she needed to do once she left the carriage.

Once she was sure she knew what she was to do, she painstakingly slipped the letter back into its envelope, closing it with a strip of tape she used to make sure it stayed closed after the original seal broke after her tenth time reading the letter the day it arrived.

She fidgeted in her seat, anxious to get off the train as quickly as she could as soon as it pulled in so she could get to her new school as quickly as possible.

Slowly but surely, the train came to a stop next to the train platform, the hiss of the excess engine steam being released resounding through the carriage as a sign that the ride was over.

Script jumped to her hooves, placing her saddlebags securely on her back and concentrating hard on her suitcase, willing her still weak and unrefined magic to take the handle in its grip. After a few seconds, her horn sparked and sputtered to life while the faintest sign of her yellow magical aura enveloped the handle.

Silently congratulating herself for her success in using her magic she eagerly began trotting to the doors of the train with her head held high and her tail flicking happily.

It was only now that she noticed the train’s other passengers, two stallions in airshipwright’s outfits, jovial bantering with one another about the work day ahead, a group of young mothers discussing the latest gossip as they rock their foals in their magic or hooves and three schoolfillies, not more three years older than Script.

They giggled and snorted, joy written onto their faces as they chattered to each other.

“Hey, did you hear the new Sapphire Shores song?” One of them asked enthusiastically.

“Yeah, her other one was way better, though.” Another said matter-of-factly.

“No way!” The third filly protested.

“Yes way!” Came the response from filly number two.

“It’s two-versus-one!” The first rebutted.

“Fine, it wasn’t that bad…” The filly Script had labeled ‘two’ admitted before all three of them broke into a fit of giggles.

A pang of jealousy hit Script in the chest, she’d never really had true friendships like the three girls she was watching, laughing and bantering with each other without a care in the world.

‘Going to a new school will change that, right?’ She asked herself, frowning a little.

She shook those thoughts from her head, instead focusing on the exciting day ahead of her as she stepped onto the platform, dragging her bags behind her.

She took a deep breath, trying not to get lost in the scores of ponies rushing past her in every direction, pushing her tiny body around carelessly as they rushed to wherever it was they were going.

Taking short and brisk steps, the filly made her way into the main building of the station, a large rectangular hall with towering arches of white stone which appeared to be holding up the intricately decorated ceiling depicting a host of constellations, the names of which Script could never remember despite her father explaining them each times they came to the city.

The flag of the two sisters hang above the main entrance to the building, which was in the wall opposite Script.

The cold stones of the station walls served as perfect amplifiers for the sound of each hoof hitting the smooth marble floor, creating an exciting symphony of city life which filled Script’s ears from all sides.

In the center of the bustling hall, a brass and marble pagoda served as an ticketing booth, mainly used by visitors who didn’t have a magical ticket card. Sitting atop of the booth was a large glass faced clock.

Her attention drawn to it, Script read the time from the clock, “Eleven thirty four…” She muttered to herself, “I was meant to be at the carriages four minutes ago!” She exclaimed, causing a few passing ponies to glance at her for a moment or two.

She galloped towards the other end of the building, quickly cantering up the steps and out into the open air. She briskly made her way to the taxi bay, where she was to be picked up by a carriage owned by the academy for the purpose of taking students to and from school.

As she neared the taxis, she noticed a few other of colts and fillies of various ages, a stark contrast to the grown ups who had dominated the inner station. She noticed a few of them carried a familiar envelope with them, recognising that all of those with the letter were close to her in age, they must have been new to the school like she was!

She decided that she would make friends with as many of them as she could as soon as she got to her first class, but first she had to find her carriage.

“Twenty three, twenty three…” She repeated, recalling the number of her carriage.

The carriages were painted a deep royal purple, with a few gold highlights painted onto various parts such as the hoofrails on the inside of the cart. Large numbers were painted in light blue on each side of the carts, making them easy to tell apart. They cycled in and out of the taxi bays each time a student boarded a carriage, allowing a new cart to come in and prepare for the next wave of students to arrive.

After a little searching, Script finally came to carriage number twenty three where a large, brown unicorn stallion stood waiting for her.

He smiled down at the panting filly, “Script Write?” He asked in a curt tone.

Script caught her breath for a moment, the toll of running around the station finally catching up with her, “Y-Yes sir!” She panted.

“Hop on up and we’ll be off!” He instructed, motioning towards the carriage with his head as he took her suitcase and placed it in the back compartment of the carriage

Script climbed into the carriage, splaying out across the faux-leather seat as she finally took off her heavy saddlebags, the panic from earlier slowly leaving her body.

The stallion closed the compartment and briskly trotted to the front of the cart, lifting the saddle and locking it to his torso, “You’re a first year, right?” He asked as he set off from the parking bay.

“Yep!” Script replied excitedly, sitting up in the back seat having recovered a little bit of energy.

“I thought so, only a first year student arrives at the carriages thirty minutes early!” He chuckled.

“E-Early?” Script stuttered. “B-But the clock in the station…” She trailed off, trying to work out what he meant, she was sure the letter said to be at the carriage bay at eleven thirty!

“They still haven’t fixed that dumb clock?” The stallion asked. “It’s been fast for a week now!”

Script groaned, “S-So I didn’t need to rush?”

“Not at all,” he told her. “At this rate, we’ll reach the school early!”

Script sighed with relief that she wouldn’t be late, her perfect first day was back on track.

“The name’s Geo, by the way,” he told her. “You’ll probably see me around school sometimes, so don’t be a stranger, okay?”

Script nodded, “Okay sir!” She said respectfully, happy to already be making friends even if they were considerably older than her.

They chatted all the way from the station to the school, the talkative filly eager to tell Geo whatever it was he wanted to know, everything from what she wanted to be when she grew up to her family and where she came from.

Though talking about her family made her feel the pangs of homesickness she had as she rode the train, talking to Geo about it made her feel much better. He was a great listener, and was always asking more about whatever it was she was explaining as her topics drifted from one to another.

As they talked, the pair slowly passed from downtown Canterlot, where the train station was, to uptown Canterlot. The streets became considerably nicer to ride on, the storefronts decorated with beautiful dresses and suits which Script could only afford in her wildest dreams and the greasy diners from downtown became fancier and fancier until they became cafes serving fifty-bit brunches.

She stared at the ponies walking along the sidewalk, each wearing a unique outfit with their heads held high as they headed to wherever they were going, mostly towards the castle which dominated the horizon.

The castle also served as another landmark for Script, as the Academy only lay a block from the castle walls!

Her eyes sparkled with awe as the cart rounded the corner, the large white gates of the pets dormitories swinging open for the cart as soon as the royal guards who stood watch recognised the unique Academy carriage.

“You’re back early, Geo,” One of the two guards remarked as they neared the gates.

“Yeah, seems they still haven’t fixed that darn clock at the station.” He replied, causing the guards to roll their eyes.

“Really?” The other guard asked, “It’s been a whole week since it broke!”

Script was rather oblivious to the conversation as she marveled at the size of the dorm building. Its 10 storeys towered over the immaculate gardens surrounding it, dominating her view.

Thick columns held up the white marble canopy which sat above a set of large wooden doors. A few mares and fillies of all ages passed in and out of the building carrying various bags and luggage.

‘This is it!’ Script thought to herself as Geo waved goodbye to the guards and set off once again.

After what felt like much too long for Script, Geo pulled into the designated taxi carriage parking close to the steps leading up to the entrance.

“Well, this is where I leave you,” he told her. “Head inside and talk to the one of the teachers. They’ll get you sorted out,” He instructed as he untied himself from the carriage and made his way to the back compartment, undoing the latch and swinging it open to retrieve her luggage.

“Thank you so much sir!” She said, beaming up at him as he handed her the suitcase, which she took with her magic.

“It was my pleasure, Script!” The stallion replied, nodding at her softly. “Remember what I told you, don’t be a stranger!”

“Yes sir!” She said, her tail flicking happily behind her as she set off for the dorm building. “Bye!” She shouted over her shoulder as she bounced up the stone steps.

He turned to re-attach himself to the carriage, before suddenly remembering something and spinning around quickly.

“Script!” He called, causing her to stop and turn to look at him, “Just Geo is fine!” He shouted.

Script nodded in response, somehow seeming to smile even wider than before. “Okay si--” She caught herself, “Geo!” She finished, glad to have made her first friend at her new school.

Geo chuckled to himself, continuing to fit the carriage’s saddle to his torso as he inspected the curious little filly, who hopped up the stairs with glee. For some reason, her name felt familiar to him, though he figured it was just his imagination.

“She’s definitely cute though~” He muttered, admiring her tight flank, it looked like he’d already started to find his favorite new arrivals.

Script was oblivious to the attention she was being given as she ran up the stairs and into the lobby, disappearing and leaving Geo to make his return to the station.

She stood in the doorway, watching as ponies moved around the lobby, dragging around bags and talking amongst each other. A few teachers stood keeping an eye on the students, helping them with their luggage and directing them to where they needed to go.

A lump formed in her throat as she started to trot towards one of the teachers, her ears flattening as she got closer as she started to panic.

‘What if I say something I’m not supposed to?’ She thought, wanting to make the best first impression she could.

By the time she came to stand in front of the older pony, her legs quivered with fear, trying desperately not to run away and hide in case she embarrassed herself in front of the grownup.

The teacher turned to look at her, “Yes, sweetheart?” He asked, smiling down at her kindly.

She sputtered, opening her mouth to speak but only managing to mutter incoherent sounds without forming a single word.

‘Oh no!’ She thought. ‘He must think I’m so stupid, I can’t even talk!’

The teacher simply chuckled, “There’s no need to be scared, you’re a first year, aren’t you?” He asked.

Script nodded, “Y-Yes sir!”

“And you’re living in the boarding houses?” He asked.

“Y-Yes sir!” She repeated.

“Good, we have to make sure you’re in the right place now don’t we?”

“Y-Yes sir!”

“Do you know how to say anything other than ‘Yes Sir’?” He teased.

“Yes sir!” Script exclaimed, causing the teacher to raise an eyebrow. “I-I mean…” She trailed off, panicking as she desperately searched her brain to figure out what to say.

The stallion before her chuckled once more, “It’s okay to be nervous, you are on your own in a new place you’ve never been before, after all,” he reassured her. “Let’s start with… Your name, what’s your name, sweetie?” He asked.

“Sc-Script Wr-Write!” The shaking filly stammered.

“My name is Riding Crop, that’s Mister Crop to you,” he told her. “Now, I expect you’re anxious to get to your room now aren’t you, sweetheart?” He said.

Script nodded quickly, still too scared to say much of anything lest she say the wrong thing and get into trouble.

“Well, normally we’d take you up with the other newcomers,” he explained. “But seeing as you’re early, I’ll take you up myself!”

Suddenly, Script remembered all of the other colts and fillies from the station. If the clock was fast, why were they not all arriving with her, they should have all been just as early as she was.

“Hold on,” The stallion in front of her said. “Sweetheart, do you remember the name of the pony who brought you here?” He asked.

“Y-Yes Sir!” She replied, causing Mister Crop to raise his eyebrow at her. She bit her lip, an embarrassed blush spreading across her face as she realised her mistake. “H-His name was G-Geo, sir.” She said.

Mister Crop rolled his eyes, “Of course it was Geo…” He muttered. “He was meant to turn you away if you were early, he just can’t resist getting to know any new fillies, especially ones as cute as you!”

Script’s blush thickened at his comment, her tail swishing behind her as she smiled sheepishly, breaking eye contact by staring at the floor while kicking her hoof.

Mister Crop grinned at the embarrassed filly, taking her luggage in his magical grip.

“Come on sweetheart, I’ll take you to where you’ll be staying,” he said before turning away from Script and setting off for the steps leading up to the dorms, pausing to check that Script was following him.

It took a moment before she realised that Mister Crop had started trotting away, hurrying along behind him as she noticed he had moved.

After making sure Script was close behind him, he began heading up the stairs to the floors above.

“Do you remember which floor your dorm is on, sweetheart?” He asked, looking back at Script.

Script tapped her chin with a hoof, trying to remember the floor number written on her letter, “Th-The fourth floor!” She said. “R-Room three!”

Mister Crop nodded in understanding, continuing to lead her up the stairs. Eventually, they arrived on the first floor.

Her eyes widened as she looked around the room, it was populated with sofas and chairs, a large floor-to-ceiling window on the wall opposite Script along with a bookshelf on the wall to her right

containing various fictional and nonfictional books. A pinboard was hung on the wall with various parchments tacked on, most of them notices from the previous year which were long out of date.

A few older fillies sat in the couches, chatting idly about various topics such as what they did over their holidays and which popular fashion was ‘all the rage’ with various celebrities or popular ponies from around school.

“This is the common room, you and the other first years will be getting a tour of the school starting from here…” Crop trailed off, checking a clipboard hung on the pinboard which he levitated over to himself, then the clock on the wall above the pinboard. “Two forty-five,” he said.

Script nodded, taking in this new information and committing it to memory as best she could.

Mister Crop hung the clipboard back where he got it from before retaking his place in front of Script and continuing up the steps with the filly close behind him.

The floors which housed the living quarters weren’t as much floors so much as a series of hallways with brown wooden doors labeled with the floor number followed by the individual room number and two plaques with the hoof written names of the room’s residents

The floor was covered with an ugly dark red carpet with a boring pattern of small black diamonds repeating endlessly across the span of the itchy carpet.

There were various stains all over the carpet, dull grey walls and even the plain white ceiling. The hall smelled of a mix of cleaning products and the scent Script was greeted with when she dared to disobey her parents and peek into their dungeon at home.

Script loved it.

She bounded up the steps behind Mister Crop, her reservations being replaced with foalish excitement as he lead her to a door labeled ‘4-3’, the room she was to be living in while going to school at the academy!

Crop’s horn glowed for a second before the sound of turning gears reverberated through the empty hall.

“Well,” he said. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave you to get settled in on your own because I’m needed back in the lobby, is that okay, sweetheart?” He asked.

“Yes sir!” She replied, causing Crop to raise an eyebrow as she mentally facehoofed.

“On your desk you’ll find your key, I’m guessing you picked a horn ring, so put it on now so you don’t forget it!” He instructed.

Script nodded quickly, anxious to see her room as she bounced on the spot.

The teacher noticed her eagerness, smiling down at her kindly.

“Alright Script, if you need anything, you know where to find me,” he told her, ruffling her mane with a hoof. “Oh, and let me be the first to welcome you to The Canterlot Academy for Pets!” He said.

Script grinned giddily, “Thank you!” She said as he turned and headed back towards the stairs.

“You’re very welcome, sweetheart,” he called over his shoulder. “Bye now!” He said as he disappeared back downstairs.

Script waved goodbye until she couldn’t see him anymore before quickly turning back to the door and staring at it.

This was it, she was taking her first steps into her new life as a student at the school of her dreams!

She pulled the handle and swung the door open, picking her bag up with her magic and stepping into her room for the first time.