Canterlot, Equestria; Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns: Magic Kindergarten
The day was young and fresh, the sun had risen by the grace of Celestia's magic and it's light shined over all of Equestria bathing it in its gracious light. Today was the big, big day! Her first day of school! She was so excited! She had all her stuff ready for the day; she even made that thing she saw mommy making: a checklist! She had pencils and pens, crayons and markers, a notebook, her daring do lunch box signed by A.K Yerling that her mommy got her on her trip to an A.K. Yerling book signing and best of all; HER BOOKS! She wanted to make a good first impression on everypony in class and so little Twilight Sparkle had the brilliant idea of winning over everypony with a book!
She had a few spare coloring books to give away and a couple of extra power pony comics she thought some of the kids might like; her BBBFF had said making friends in school was super important and so Twilight would put her best hoof forward into making friends the only way she knew how. With her saddle bags slugged onto her blank purple flank she sighed a little, still a little bit grumpy that her cutie mark hadn't appeared yet. Mommy and daddy always said 'it'll happen when its ready' but she wanted it NOW! She wanted to be a super strong pony like Celestia when she grew up and the best way she knew how to do that was study and to study she needed books and magic and she loved both of those things and she was sure that one day her cutie mark would reflect that.
'Stay positive Twi; it's your first day! You've got to make a good impression! That's on the list!' Twilight thought to herself as she trotted along the halls of the kindergarten wing of Celestia's school with her foalsitter Princess Cadence.
Twilight was trying her best to control her excitement, it was her first day of school but not only that, her foalsitter was an alicorn...a princess! She was the princess of love and would soon have many responsibilities according to Cady and daddy. She had even heard that she was adopted by Celestia herself! The other filly's and colt's looked in awe at Cadence and either indifferent or mildly interested in Twilight.
Twilight was of course a little pony. A young little filly with a lavender purple coat and big round purple eyes that sparkled like her namesake especially when she was learning about something or having a geek moment and the term geek was especially apparent given the pair of dorky black glasses the filly wore. Her mane was an indigo blue with a pink and violet streak going down the middle. As Cadence escorted her through the halls she saw many different pony's, other young fillies and colts who were being dropped off by their parents or guardians.
Twilight was being dropped off by Cadence and not her mom or dad or even her big brother because her mother was away on a editors convention in Manehatten, daddy was working at the Canterlot star labs and her big brother had school early because he was training to enlist in the Equestrian royal guard so he could be a knight like the heroes in the stories mom and dad would read to them.
Some fillies and colts were like her, glad and super excited to be going to school, one little filly with a cream color coat and red main with purple and indigo streaks with black glasses trotting along with her parents and she seemed really excited to be attending class, the orientation would happen first and then students would be assigned their teachers. Other's seemed less willing, whining and crying to not go either out of fear or pure apprehension. She couldn't imagine why; it wasn't like learning was a punishment, learning was fun! One little light blue unicorn filly with silver hair was making quite the fuss, using her magic to constantly teleport and escape from her mothers grasp shouting.
'Trixie doesn't wanna go!!!'
Twilight kept her composure as she entered the orientation room, trotting over to her seat which was a purple seating pillow and desk. She sat down and used her magic to lift her saddle bags off her flank and looked around to see the other children filing in. There were so many of them, filly's and colt's alike but the one thing they all had in common? They were all unicorns. They all had magic and were here to learn how to channel that magic into something wonderful. Twilight was amazed by the magic feats of those like Celestia and Starswirl the breaded, they had magic powerful enough to change the world and protect everypony; that's what she wanted to do more than anything else.
'What if nopony likes me?' Twilight thought as her train of thought started to head straight for panic town.
Noticing this instantly seeing the look on the little filly's face, Cadence would nudge to little pony and give her a concerned look.
"You okay ladybug? Nervous?"
"Mmhm..." Twilight nodded with a small blush of pink on her little cheeks. "what if nopony likes me and thinks I'm a big dork face? Some of these pony's don't look like they like me very much Cady..." Twilight said with a little bit of fear in her tone.
'Oh maker I was afraid of this.' Cadence thought but kept a gentle smile on her muzzle and said.
"Now don't you worry about them Twily; remember what I've always said you should do?" Cadence asked
"Always say please and thank you?" Twilight asked tilting her head.
"Hehehe yes; but not that...what's the most powerful magic of all?" Cadence asked in a riddle like tone.
"The magic of friendship!" Twilight chirped with a smile, she'd never forget that sacred philosophy Cadence had began to teach her.
"That's right! As long as you believe in it; it'll guide you through anything. Good times and bad. Now if somepony can name the seven virtues of harmony she can get a treeeeeat" Cadence said in a sing songy tease shaking a goodie bag with her magic at the little filly which contained her favorite snack.
"Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, Kindness, Loyalty, Empathy & Magic!" Twilight listed off the seven virtues that made up the magic of friendship that Cadence had told her about.
"That's right! A special treat for my super smarty little ladybug" Cadence chirped with a grin as she pulled a chocolate coated strawberry from the bag and hoofed it over to Twilight who promptly devoured the snack she was given for giving the right answer.
"Always learn to laugh and make the best of things, be generous to others but always know when to say no, always tell the truth even if that means it may hurt somepony's feelings but don't be rude and speaking of rude; be nice, be kind to other pony's and if they know best they'll be nice back but don't let anyone trot on you, speak up for yourself and for others you consider your friends, be loyal to them and to what you believe, know how your actions may make other pony's feel, empathize with them, get to know them and use that to make your friendship as strong as you can." Cadence explained, it was Celestia who passed the knowledge of the magic of friendship to her and she'd passed it to Twilight and she just knew the little star would shine it's light far and wide as she could.
"That's what true magic is, that's what friendship is. Never forget that and you'll be okay; alright ladybug?" Cadence asked Twilight with a knowing smiling.
"Yes ma'am!" Twilight saluted adorably with a smile
"I'm positive you'll make tons of friends Twily! See anypony you think would make a good friend?" Cadence asked looking to see how Twilight would respond.
"Hmmm a few, there was one filly with a red and purple mane and glasses and there was one filly who really looked like she didn't want to be here, I think she was scared and kept trying to teleport away." Twilight explained. "Maybe she just needs a friend?" Twilight stated curiously.
"Very good thinking ladybug, keep an eye out of them." Cadence stood from her place next to Twilight. "Now you wait right here okay lady bug? I have to sign some paper work in the next room, just be yourself and you'll be okay" Cadence said with a smile as she trotted into the next room with some of the other parents and guardians who needed to fill out paperwork.
It was at that moment an older unicorn mare trotted into the room, she bore a brown coat and had a black mane and her cutie mark was that of a notebook and pen.
"Good morning fillies, colts and parents; my name is Ms. Noteworthy; please be seat and our special guest will be with you shortly, you may occupy your time by mingling or-"
"TRIXIE DOESN'T WANNA GOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Little Trixie thrashed cried and whined trying to escape her mothers grasp so she wouldn't have to go to school. Eventually teleporting away in a cloud of sparkling white and blue smoke.
"Oh for the love of Luna...Trixie you come back here young filly!" Groaned the older mare with a coat light purple and a white mane and tail baring a magician like cape and cutie mark that looked like a flurry of stars shouted as she chased after the tantrum throwing filly. Some parents fixed her with a nasty glare for speaking that name but she didn't care because they didn't know the truth.
"-Console your children before their big day should you have other plans and cannot remain here during the orientation." The older mare said with a small chuckle. There were always a few who threw a tantrum their first day. With that she exited the room leaving the parents and children to their own devices.
'Cady is right Twi; you need to calm down, put on your best smile and be ready to learn! Hm I wonder who is going to be in my class?' Twilight wondered as her hopeful and curious eyes scanned the room.
Her eyes fell upon many a pony, colt's and fillies of all different color but remotely the same in size. Little just like her, there were no 'big kids' so no one could be a bully here, she wouldn't need shiny or Cady here; she'd be her own little pony and soon to be power pony mage like Starswirl. Of all he unicorns that entered however one filly in particular caught her attention aside from the return of the cream color filly with the red and purple mane.
This filly was a shimmering yellow coated filly with large teal eyes and a mane and tail that looked like fire with a pattern of red and yellow weaving around her. On her flank sat a red saddlebag with the initials "D.D." etched into it in cursive lettering and Twilight being the bookpony she was instantly recognized it because she had a similar one of a different color which her mother had obtained for her on one of her trips! That was without a doubt a daring do adventure backpack, one that was like an exact replica of one the daring treasure hunting mare carried along with her in her second book which was said to be the most popular.
'This is your chance Twi! Go on, don't be such a scardy pony just go over to her and say-" Twilight was lost on her train of excited thought as she tried to 'keep cool' and not stare or gawk at the filly she'd sought to make friends with by hiding her face in her current daring do book that she was re-reading which was Daring Do Hunter and the Hunted which was the third book in the new series that very few pony's had. Twilight's mother; Twilight Velvet was a book publisher and editor, both of her own work and of the work of famous pony's like her current favorite A.K. Yerling who wrote the Daring Do books which were her favorite adventure stories of all time!
It was then Twilight's train of thought was derailed by somepony's voice and it wasn't Cadence.
"Hey; is that Daring Do Hunter and the Hunted?" Asked a young filly.
Twilight lifted her face from her book to see that the fiery haired filly she'd seen had actually come and approached her first. A tint of pink would burn young Twilight's cheeks and she'd smile sheepishly and she nodded, the book shaking in her magical grip a little.
"Um...y-yes; my mommy got it for me"
"That's so cool! I've been waiting to read that one, I just finished the last one; A Thieves Honor, I loved it."
"Really?" Twilight asked instantly glad that she had seemed to start off good with this filly. The first thing that came to mind when she mentioned how much she liked daring do and couldn't wait to read the new book was Cadence's lessons on generosity, how she should give to others for the sake of making them happy. Smiling Twilight closed her book and thought to herself. 'I can finish re-reading it later'
"Wanna borrow it?" Twilight asked kindly hoping the filly would accepted and she could tell by the smile that adorned the filly's face that her answer would be a big fat-
"YES!!!" The filly shouted with glee and took the book in her teal aura and her smile persisted. "Oh thank you so much um-what's your name?"
"Twilight Sparkle" Twilight said with confidence and smiled and extended her hoof. "What's your name?"
"Sunset" Sunset smiled and extended her hoof to shake with Twilight and it was a charming playful smile that Twilight would come to always adore and remember as well as the filly's name. "Sunset Shimmer"
"Pleased to meet you Sunset!" Twilight said with a kind smile shaking the hoof of her first true friend!
Magic Kindergarten Orientation Room
A good twenty minutes had passed since most of the parents went to go sign all the needed paperwork. Contact information for emergency's and terms of agreement for use of magic and certain teachings that would be implemented allowing parents to give or deny consent . As that concluded and parents came back into the orientation room many were delighted to see their children getting along so well. The one mare who'd had to chase her distraught filly had finally calmed her down and brought her back into the room and promptly sat her down and fixed her with a motherly gaze.
"Now Trixie Miasma Lulamoon-" The older mare address the little filly by her full name and kept her motherly gaze fixed on the young filly baring a wizard like cap along with a sparkly cape with stars on it. "I know you are nervous about going to school and want to spend time with mommy and daddy but you have to go to school-"
Her voice low but obviously sadly Trixie replied"But Trixie-"
Stomping a stern hoof the mare snapped loud enough to silence Trixie. "No buts! You're father and I had to go, your big sister Moondancer is here; why are you so against attending little moon?" The mare asked her daughter, her ears folded down as she sighed wearily wondering why her daughter was being so difficult. She knew that the little filly was nervous, terrified even of the thought of interacting with other ponies besides herself, her father, her older sister and the family pet. However this was just ridiculous and she needed to calm the little filly and what the young mare said next only confirmed that this was going t be harder than she thought.
"Because Moony is here with Trixie; everypony is gonna like her more than Trixie cause she smarter-er than Trixie is and is better at magic and-No one will wanna be Trixie's friend" little Trixie wilted and pouted, using her wizard hat given to her by her mother who stood before her to hide her sad face and crying eyes as she always did. Her parents always seemed unhappy when they saw her sad face and so she'd always hide it it behind her hat and would hope for it t disappear in place of a smile. But all this made Trixie really sad, she didn't wanna go to school with Moondancer! She wanted to stay at home and run the magic shop with daddy and do magic shows as mommy's assistant!
Pouting her lip the mare scoffed lightly and clicked her tongue giving her daughter an incredulous look. "Is that what you're all fussy about little moon? Oh luna's stars-" Shaking her head the mare chuckled, still ignoring the stares she got for uttering that name. Looking lovingly upon her daughter and heard the clear crying tone in her voice and sighed, the little one was so sensitive and felt she had to 'measure up' to her big sister who was only older than her by a year; using her magic she'd capture Trixie's cap in her pink aura and lifted it just enough to see her daughters eyes and smiled at her and used her magic the pull a line of hankies from inside Trixie's cap and wiped her tears and she rejoiced in seeing the small smile on the little filly's face. She loved that little trick, she loved her mothers magic tricks as her father did; hence her daughters name.
"Now Trixie you listen to me little filly...do you know who I am?" The mare said with a proud but charming smile.
"My mommy?" Trixie said with slight confusion and a sniffle.
Giggling at her daughters answer she nodded. "Yes; that's right. I am you're mommy, The Almighty & Glorious Azure Lulamoon. And you are my daughter; and so I'll ask you this little my little filly" Azure smiled and leaned in close to her daughter. "What's your name?"
"Trixie"
"Nope, you're full name"
Trixie blushed a light shade of pink on her cheeks. "T-Trixe Miasma Lulamoon"
"Hmmm yes but how about something a bit more...showy?" She said with a chuckle. "After all your just as great as your sister can be at getting pony's to like you, and even if your not as good as she is at magic right now, I promise you you'll be a very powerful pony one day Trixie."
Trixie would process her mother's words with a clear and open mind. She was right, Trixie always made pony's laugh at the magic shows, she always dazzled them along with daddy and mommy while Moony just read books but would hardly preform with them. Trixie had nothing to fear! Mommy was right! She'd be great! She'd be powerful! She would be-
Seeing the changed look on her daughters face from sad to happy to determined she smirked as she recognized that look; the very same look she had when she discovered her lifelong stage name and moniker and she said. "So little filly; what's your name?"
Smiling a similar smile to her mother that was confident with a hint of haughty and playful she'd use her magic to tip her cap and she'd stand up on all four hooves and would proclaim her name. " I am the Great & Powerful Trixie!!!"
For dramatic effect Azure would cast a small spell around her daughter which would made sparkles of light fly off her and a small cloud of blue smoke would appear behind her and the sparkles would then spell out her name above her. Clapping her hooves in applause for her daughter other parents and young fillies and colts followed suit.
"Thank you everypony, thank you! Please pardon the earlier 'show' little trixie is just nervous about her first day; right sweetie?" Azure said with a kind but teasing motherly tone.
"Yes ma'am" Trixie blushed and nodded wringing her hooves. "Trixie is sorry, she didn't mean to-"
"I must say that was quite the show you put on little filly" Said the voice of Cadence as she trotted back into the room, many pony's instantly bowing at the sight of the alicorn princess. Blushing at the instant reaction she chuckled. "Oh my, please no everypony no need to bow; I'm not even wearing a crown" Cadence said with a smile.
"Why I'll be dazzled by the light of Luna's blue star! You're princess Mi Amore Cadenza! Oh it is such an honor to meet you!"Azure fawned and extended her hoof to shake with Cadence. "I am The Almighty & Glorious Azure Lulamoon; perhaps you've heard of me?" Azure said with a grin.
"Hm I'm rather new to Canterlot to be honest with you but the name Lulamoon does ring a bell, I believe I heard auntie Celestia talk about it once or twice" Cadence said looking to the ceiling for a moment and then realizing who she was speaking with. "Oh right! You're descended from well um 'that' side of the royal family right?" Cadence hoped she didn't sound incredibly rude, she felt this topic was super sensitive and given the negative vibes she felt from other pony's in the room? Safe to say many of them were very much triggered.
Azure was unphased by this comment, she knew the princess meant well and that the story of what happened to her ancestor is a tragic one, one who's truth remains shrouded for the good of Equestria.
"Yes I am, and its quite alright, the name isn't a stain upon me nor my children and it never shall be; but enough grim talk, I'd love if you'd come by my family magic shop in the Starswirl district, you have foals of your own your dropping off?" Azure asked. 'Wow, she's certainly younger than Luna was when she became a princess'
Blushing madly Cadence shook her head "O-Oh no, no; I'm just foalsitting, speaking of which where is she? Twilight? Twily?" Cadence called out for the lavender filly scanning the crowd for the little pony until she heard her voice call out to her.
Twilight called out and ran over to Cadence with a big smile and her new friend behind her."Over here Cady! I made a new friend! Sunset; this is Cadence, she's my-"
"P-P-Princess!!" Sunset gawked at the alicorn in awe
"Oh ponyfeathers-" Cadence mumbled
"Well hello there little pony's, what are your names?" Azure asked
"I'm Twilight Sparkle"
"I'm Sunset Shimmer"
Azure smiled and fawned over the two adorable filly's in front of her"Awww aren't you two the cutest pair of sisters, matching names, opposite color scheme; oh you are just precious!" Smiling proudly she'd look to her daughter. "Sweetie; come say hi"
'Sisters?' The two mares wondered in thought appealingly at the same time as they looked at one another as if analyzing each other
Looking at the two mare's who approached her mother Trixie scanned them both, both of them had books and one them had glasses like Moony! They were probably not gonna like her 'silly tricks' as Moony liked to called them. Her tricks weren't silly! They were fun and amazing and super cool and everyone loved Trixie's tricks! But then mommy and daddy always said 'never always judge a trick by how it looks' so she would give these 'bookworms' a chance. Trotting up to them she'd put on her best smile.
"I am the Great & Powerful Trixie; nice to meet you"
"Hi there Trixie; I'm Twilight Sparkle"
"And I'm Sunset Shimmer"
"So you have a sister too huh?"
"Whuh? O-Oh no; sunset isn't my sister silly; I have a big brother."
"But my mommy said you were-"
"Whoops; guess that's just my fault for assuming dear"
"It's okay" Twilight said with a smile. "I liked your magic trick earlier, your super cool" Twilight said truthfully with a smile.
"R-Really?" Trixie said with a blush at the filly's compliment. "Thank you, your nice for a bookworm" Trixie said giggling. She called her 'cool!' Maybe bookworms weren't be so bad after all. Trixie was happy to have now made not one but two new friends on her first day of school! Ha beat that Moondancer! Trixie thought in her head.
Author's Note
And thus the strings of destiny begin to show pull...It would appear Luna had gotten busy during her night before her banishment eh?
