Author's Note

Hokay!

So, I wasn't ready to put this out because I had wanted to complete this chapter with all the girls but again, I've been trying to curb stomp my tendency to upload ridiculously long chapters...probably nothing any of you mind but it's something that matters to me.

Two reasons it took me this godawful long to post a chapter (maybe 3)

1. I seriously had to rewrite this chapter over and mulled over several times how I wanted Spike's first meeting with each of the main six to go and how that ends, which leads into the next arc of the story. The first draft wasn't as impactful but hopefully the new revisions are better.

2. I've mentioned before that I had wanted to make this into a doujin of sorts and had been trying various things which were hit or miss...I did figure out a medium I could work with and thus had wanted to upload new material with my new method of storytelling...but I left this story for months and didn't want people to think I abandoned it, so...here, have a chapter!

Okay, so there's isn't a 3rd reason...except...I don't know when I'll update again but I'm working on it. Again, I'm one of those, 'slow burn' type of writers, and I tend to fuss over my world building so I don't end up having too many plotholes.

Also...MY GOD! Zecora bby, I love you, I do but I had a time of it with scrambling for ways to keep you in rhyme if not rhythm....ugh!

Well! Enjoy! Please let me know what you like...don't like...
And I'll be lurking around until next time!

02: First Impressions...

Color the Sky

02: First Impressions are Everything…

A comfortable silence filled the black sports car as Zecora cruise down the highway towards their destination. Spike turned his head away from the passing scenery outside his window to glance in the older woman’s direction.

Zecora Terrae had been with his family ever since he could remember. A young girl, paving a way for herself after moving far from her homeland. She had crossed paths with his mother during a windy winter’s night, just a month after the incident during his birthday.

He certainly found her interesting the first time he seen her, sure she was normal in appearance like everyone else, aside from himself but he knew right off she wasn’t your typical run of the mill Equine mare. Not that, that tidbit of scrutiny lessened her beauty.

While most of that time remains lost to him, a constant block his mind wasn’t willing to unlock because of his fear of what it would reveal, he knew he owed his life in part to Zecora for aiding in his recovery. She was a great potions mistress, truly one of a kind and he had loved learning from her (less stressful than being under Professor’s Rules critical eye) before she took on the job of being his mother’s personal assistant.

Ironically, he didn’t see her much because of the job and wondered for the hundredths time, just what in the world his mother and aunt weren’t willing to share. Normal secretaries usually stayed at their boss’s hip, ready to assist. Zecora’s job required her to be gone for weeks at a time before she came back for a brief moment and back out into the world she went again.

He likened Zecora’s job to that of an emissary…But that would be ridiculous, mom’s just a business woman of a small company. Still, mom and Zecora’s working relationship is odd.

“A bit for your wit?”

Spike blinked his eyes, looking at Zecora with a blank expression.

She smiled at him before continuing, tapping him lightly on the forehead, “Hard was your glare, I presume you want to share?”

He laughed, scratching the back of his head, “It’s nothing Miss Z, how you’ve been? Haven’t seen you in almost a month.”

Zecora smirked, keeping her eyes on the road. It was obvious a lie, but she wasn’t the type to press for answers, “It is a joy to see you are doing well, as for me, I am doing quite swell.”

She just made a swift turned back into the middle lane before continuing, “How does it feel to leave the place you’ve knew for one completely new?”

“Eh, nervous, having second thoughts but mostly nervous,” and he was. He might have been excited before he left home but now that this was becoming a reality for him, the butterflies were starting to make themselves known.

Spike could think of all the ways in which this was a bad idea from the start, of how this will all go wrong, but nothing outside of him contracting an incurable disease would deter Celestia’s mind.

To be fair, his mother despite her moments when she was too stubborn for her own good, had an abundance of patience. When he really thought about it, he doubts most parents would’ve let him get away with shutting himself up for five years in the hopes he could deal with his problems on his own.

“First day jitters can be cured with some healthy bitters,” he was brought out of his musings once again by Zecora. She was holding a metallic thermos up to his face and he could faintly smell something that reminded him of quartz mineral water.

He peered at the contents, hoping he could stomach the bitter taste of the drink. Best way to take it is by not thinking about it, works most of the time. Resign to his fate, he tipped the canister back, “Bottom’s up!”

His eyes lit up behind his glasses at the taste and before he knew it, the drink was gone, “Thanks, that was really good! What was it? It smells like the amethyst powdered health drinks I get, just less sweet.”

“What you have ate was a pinch of blue lace agate, a useful nerve calming remedy to keep Dracones in harmony.”

“Always looking out Miss Z,” he smiled, making a mental note to add blue lace agate on the list of gemstone mineral powders to his daily diet. She returned the smile and he sat back, feeling his nerves begin to settle.

Oh yea, definitely gotta stock up on this stuff in the future, it works fast. Silence dominated the car once more as Zecora continued their non-stop trip on interstate 71. The roads were sparse with traffic around this area even for an early Friday morning.

Considering where he lived, most things are sparse. The closest town near his home was Dodge City by three hours. If there hadn’t been other private houses and small businesses scattered about on the outskirts of the Everfree forest, leading a path to Dodge City, Spike would’ve thought his house was the only thing that existed.

And thinking of the nearest town, it dawned on him they were heading in the opposite direction, “Hey, Zecora, I just realized…I have no idea where I’ll be staying.”

Zecora chuckled, a quick glance in his direction told her all she needed to know. His face was flushed from embarrassment. She didn’t make comment on it, instead reaching over Spike inside the glove compartment, “Your mother thinks your suited best in Ponyville, compared to the hustle and bustle of Canterlot, she believes this to be the better deal.”

He took the offered pamphlet, pale blue and yellow in color, “Equestria Academia at Ponyville,” he opened it up, perusing through its contents. A genuine smile was beginning to form on his face as he continued to read the leaflet, “Maybe it won’t be so bad, they offer a lot of extracurricular activities, there’s no way students can get bored and it even has an accelerated independent study program!”

“Independent study sounds like a loner’s dream; mother dearest wants you to flourish among a team.”

He groans, “I know, don’t remind me.”

“No need to sound so grumpy, relax yourself so you don’t look so frumpy,” she pulled out an actual medium sized book from the compartment, dropping it in his hands, “Here, read this for more insight, it could help you later to feel alright.”

The Unofficial Guide Every Student Needs in Their Arsenal to Survive Equestria Academia! Who wrote this, some young professor trying to be hip with the current generation? That’s so cheesy! He had nothing else better to do, there was so much one could take playing solitaire on their phone before it got stale, “How long before we get there?”

“I assure you we are close, give it another two hours or three at the most.”

With that, Spike settled in for what turned out to be an entertaining read about student rights and responsibilities. It wasn’t long before he started nodding off to sleep, that he felt someone nudging his side gently.

“Wake up Spike and be revived, for you now see, we have arrived!”

The teen rubbed at his eyes, trying to absorb the situation, “Finally! My legs were starting to get cramped–WHAT THE HECK! Is this a school or a palace?!”

A sudden case of whiplash snapped him out of his tired daze, his jaw hitting the floor. He took off his glasses to rub at his eyes and to clean off his lenses before putting them back on, “Yep, I’m not hallucinating.”

Huge was an understatement, red-violet and cream-colored buildings were everywhere, but it wasn’t so much that the buildings themselves were massive, just the entirety of the campus looked like it encompassed at least 350 acres of land if not more.

“I must admit, it is very grand, a new place to make your stand,” Zecora parked the car in front of the main building, “Come, young Spike do not be slow, through these doors to Mrs. Harshwhinny your guidance counselor we must go.”

Spike shook his head, still feeling awe about the whole thing, “R-right!” He hurriedly gathered his belongings and followed behind Zecora inside the school building.

Blue, Cream, and yellow seem to dominate the overall interior of the building as they walked towards the guidance counselor’s office. It wasn’t near noon, yet the school felt eerily empty, a lot of classrooms were void of people, save a few with students, immerse in their studies and teacher’s giving lectures.

They turned a corner and stopped in front of a pale blue door with a metal plaque that read ‘Guidance Counselor’. Zecora smiled at him, patting his shoulder, “This is where we must part, for here is where you begin your start. All things will flow in due course, best not to fight this with force.”

He sighed but smiled at the advice, “You’re right Miss Z, best to take things as they come.”

She nodded her head and walked off, waving back to him as she left, “Take care and in time you may like this new affair.”

He waved back, watching the last familiar face in his life, leave him inside unknown territory. A sigh escaped from him, nothing to do but face it. He was here and running away wouldn’t solve any problems, squaring his shoulders he prepared himself to knock on the wooden door–

“No!”

“But I didn’t even ask my question yet!”

Spike froze in place, his hand raised to knock on the door, “Okay…I guess she’s dealing with another student right now,” he wasn’t too worried as he was sure, Zecora informed this Mrs. Harshwhinny that he’ll be here to complete his enrollment for the school year.

“There’s no need, you’ve been coming here at the same time every day, asking the same questions ad nauseam. And I tell you the same thing, every day, no!”

He was starting to get second hand embarrassment, mainly due to how this conversation made him an unwilling eavesdropper. He decided to wait it out by sitting on a nearby bench in the hallway, pulling the hood over his face as far as it could go, This is going to take a while.

“Because it doesn’t make sense!” there was a sound of a bang on the desk, “I’ve looked at all the possible variables, I even made notes, twice! And I still don’t understand why I’ve been dropped from all my independent study classes!”

“Look on the bright side. All your classes will still get you college credit.”

Spike sighed, wincing at his sensitive eardrums, “Any louder and the whole building will be able to hear you two.”

Perhaps he was exaggerating just a bit, but having sharp hearing was a blessing and a curse for Dragonborns, at least in his case.

Inside the office, sat a very irate short haired blonde woman with tired bags under her eyes. Mrs. Harshwhinny took pride in knowing Equestria Academia produced some of the greatest minds in the world and it really is a delight to have dedicated students.

But the young girl sitting across from her desk took achieving above one’s means to the next level and dear First Mother! Mrs. Harshwhinny really wanted to know what the hell went through the mind of the Headmaster for deciding to take the one student who actually cares, out of their independent study program.

The student in question seemed about on the verge of panicking. Her uniform was stained and unkempt, her dark hair messy and frazzled and her black rimmed glasses kept falling loose down her nose.

Most of all, she would not give up on this useless conquest of getting her independent study program back and it was driving the guidance counselor to an early grave, “True...however this school offers both IB and AP courses, with IB courses taking a higher precedence over the standard AP classes! For three weeks, I’ve been bored out of my mind because I’m already so far ahead of my classmates!”

Mrs. Harshwhinny sighed, keeping her hands clasp together to prevent her from facepalming. She was getting a migraine, “Those Advance Placement courses you’re so adamant about not taking Miss Sparkwell are not that lax as for you to feel your peers are so far behind you in the current curriculum. It’s obvious you made an effort to go above and beyond everybody in this school, even those in regular International Baccalaureate programs.”

There was silence, but that didn’t last long, if anything, Miss Sparkwell’s violet eyes widened and she looked more out of sorts than when she came in, “Is this because my test scores dropped by .02 percent last year?”

The guidance counselor gawked, Did she listen to anything I said?!

“I knew I shouldn’t have caved in at the last hour by cutting out study time for just one extra hour of sleep! No wonder I didn’t get full credit on that bonus question–”

Outside, Spike didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the poor girl, “Over achiever much?”

Inside, Mrs. Harshwhinny looked about ready to bust an aneurysm, “That is preposterous! For a bright mind, you surely create high scaled allusions!”

“Exactly! We finally agree!”

“On what? Your overactive imagination?”

“On how ridiculous it is that you’ve dropped me from all my IB Independent Study courses without any creditable reasons, other than the Headmaster said so!”

There was only one way to get her out of here and goddess help her if it didn’t work, “Miss Sparkwell, stop this nonsense before I decide to put you in remedial courses!”

“Re-re-remedial?!” Stunned, she was stunned. Miss Sparkwell’s mind went blank as she sat in front of the guidance counselor, whose mouth was moving but a ringing noise drown the woman out. The word remedial echoing in her thoughts.

Spike winced, “Ouch, no consideration for honor classes,” that had to be a huge blow to someone who strived to be the best.

“Listen Miss Sparkwell I’m willing to compromise with you, if you can manage to power through the first half of the school year being among your peers in the curriculum I’ve given you, I will reconsider moving you back to your independent study program.”

Spike felt kind of bad for the girl, “If she’s smart, she’ll take that deal.”

Miss Sparkwell’s lips looked on the verse of quivering, desperation had finally sunk in, “Can I just have one back?”

Mrs. Harshwhinny gave the girl a deadpan stare, “Get out.”

“But-”

Not waiting another minute, the guidance counselor got up from her seat and pushed the stubborn student out of her office and slammed the door, “Get out of my office!”

Spike watched as the girl banged on the door like that would make the woman who just literally kicked her out, come back to welcome her with opened arms.

“This is a direct violation of student rights! Chapter 23, section 4, paragraph 2 of ‘The Unofficial Guide Every Student Needs in Their Arsenal to Survive Equestria Academia!’; clearly states that no student’s curriculum shall be tampered, altered or unjustly switched without legal and reasonable cause!”

The guidance counselor released a breath, rubbing both sides of her temple, “Sweet Celestia! I don’t get paid enough for this job.”

“Mrs. Harshwhinny!” the girl yelled again. Seeing she was being ignored, she slapped her hand one last time on the door, “Argh! This is so unfair!”

“Um, rough day?” Spike supplied. He was still wincing from his eardrums ringing.

“How about a rough first month back to school!” she shouted, finally looking his way and immediately feeling her face get hot that she embarrassed herself in front of another student, “Oh, sorry you had to see that. I’m not usually this…”

“High-strung? Excitable? Panicky? Obsessive compulsive to the point you memorized the student handbook with the cheesy title to state your case?”

The rosy hue in her cheeks darkened, she rubbed her arm, eyes looking elsewhere, “Heh, heh, yeah…that…um who are you?”

If she wanted to change the subject, that was fine with him, “Name’s Spike Drache! I’m new.”

“Twylana Sparkwell, but you can call me Twilight Sparkle! Welcome to Equestria Academia: Ponyville House, sister school to Equestria Academia: Canterlot House, home of the Wondercolts!”

“Thanks for the warm welcome!” He offered his hand and she took it. An instant spark of energy like magic passed through both of them. What in Equestria?! I’ve never been able to sense someone’s magic! Is this the work of my gemstone? Or is she doing it!

Twilight was just as surprised, I’ve never felt such a strong magical presence like this before! For such a harmless looking kid, he has a very strong magic signature.

Her curiosity hummed to life after feeling something so raw and new. Twilight studied the new kid, she couldn’t really see much of his face, other than huge blue tinted glasses and wild green hair, readying to burst out of his purple and black hoodie. He was a bit on the short side as well, but nothing out of the unusual, however, his magic signature wasn’t something she ever came across before, “You don’t happen to have Unicorn ancestry, do you?”

The question threw him off guard and he tensed, taking a step back, “W-why would you ask me something like that?!”

Could she sense I’m dragonborn?! Can she see my eyes through these glasses? Oh great! And here I thought Ponyville didn’t discriminate or scrutinize you as bad as everywhere else for being different!

Twilight flushed, feeling that her innocent question sounded insensitive, “Ah! I-it was a dumb question, forget I said anything! I didn’t mean to offend you! There’s nothing wrong with being an Earthbound or Pegasus!”

That…didn’t sound any better, Yes, Twilight let’s continue to make an ass out of ourselves in front of the new kid and project the assumption of being a high-strung illogical raving blood supremacist!

He waved away the concern, the girl looked just as embarrassed if not a bit ashamed, “It’s okay! Your question just came out of left field, way out…”

Earth-blood? Pega-blood? She doesn’t have the faintest clue that I’m far from any of that.

“I know, and I apologize, it was uncalled for. It’s just, this may sound strange, but I never felt magical energy like yours. Even in today’s society, while humans hardly resemble the appearance of our ancestors and we pretty much all look the same. Usually, one can tell right off if someone has Unicorn, Pegasus or Earth ancestry by their magical signatures but you…there’s like there’s two magical signatures…one of them feels faintly familiar but just as foreign as the second one…” she trailed off, trying to find the right words to explain what she experienced.

Everything she was explaining to him, he was already well versed in, which was why he panicked in the first place. Now that he was spending a little more time around Twilight, he felt awful. It really wasn’t fair to assume the worse of everyone because of his setbacks or the whispers behind his back of people who turned their nose up at anyone who remotely looked out of the ordinary.

He sighed, “I…you-it’s okay, I get it, there’s nothing to apologize for Twilight or explain, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just…not that good around people is all.”

The smile she gave him was soft and despite her frazzled appearance and the glasses that kept slipping down her nose, her eyes were shining with an inquisitive nature to want to know and understand what she couldn’t. If the conversation she had with Mrs. Harshwhinny gave him any clues, he was willing to bet, Twilight Sparkle was dying to solve the mystery of his origins.

He had inadvertently became her new science project and he could see she was buzzing with all sorts of questions but was being polite not to pry, it gave her a charming appeal and dare he think, made her cute.

Until he was a bit more comfortable with himself, sadly she was just gonna have to wait, given he ever crossed her path and got to know her better.

She coughed, disrupting the awkward silence beginning to seep in, “Well I think I stole much of your time with pointless banter, aha ha…hmm…You obviously came here to see Mrs. Harshwhinny. Hope you have better luck than me getting what you need.”

She groaned, forcing herself to head back where she came from, “Speaking of, I need to see myself to class, where it’s boring, because I already learned everything in the entire curriculum.”

“I know it’s none of my business, but I did…sort of…kind of, well I overheard your entire conversation with the guidance counselor.”

“Oh, that’s embarrassing.”

“Yeah, I know it’s gotta suck being dropped down a level without a reason but think of it this way. If you’ve already learned everything your classes have to offer for the entire year, and your bored, why not see about being a tutor? Not only could you help out your other classmates, but it can keep your memory refreshed about everything you learned by the time exams come around.”

Her eyes lit up at the suggestion, “That’s a great idea Spike! Why didn’t I think of that?”

He smirked, seeing her renewed with vigor to set out and put his idea to task, “You’re welcome.”

He knocked on the door, reaching for the handle and turning, “Nice talking with ya, maybe we’ll see each other around!”

She smiled, waving, “Maybe,” she left, leaving him to deal with the counselor from hell. As she turned the corner she couldn’t help but still be intrigued by what she discovered, she definitely wanted to know more about him and what his unusual magic signature meant, “What an interesting kid.”

Spike waited until Twilight made a turn down the hall and then he entered the office.

“Miss Sparkwell-”

“Sorry to break it to ya but I’m not your favorite visitor and its Spike Drache by the way.”

Mrs. Harshwhinny turned around at the new voice, looking surprised to see someone other than her daily visitor, “Ahem,” she gestured for Spike to take a seat, while she finished gathering folders she needed from her file cabinet, “You must be the new student our estranged headmaster was referring to.”

She looked just like she sounded, unenthused and annoyed, Well, she’s just a ray of sunshine, “Estranged?”

“Estranged as in never here, never seen their face but able to miraculously know everything to keep order in this fine establishment. Unfortunately, this means that I or the other assistant faculty members must play as headmaster and dean.”

Yikes, if he had to deal with an absentee boss, he probably would feel the same. She finally sat down at her desk with a black folder with his name on it. This time she managed to give him a slight smile, “Forgive my rudeness Mister Drache, I had been aware of your arrival from Miss Terrae and was preparing to meet you but…other matters came up.”

He had a guess as to who made her agitated, instead he remained silent.

“I looked over your records mister Drache, their quite impressive, your years of tutorship under a well-known professor such as Strict Rules has made you qualified to be placed in with the third-year class. Since Fridays here are treated as a half day and study hall period, there won’t be much time for you to participate,” she handed him a copy of his class schedule.

“Normally we allow students to choose their own class rosters for the year, but everything was handled by your mother through Miss Terrae as I’m sure you are already aware.”

He nodded his head, “Good, well everything is all set, starting Monday, you’ll be taking Advanced Placement courses with the juniors.”

The poor woman looked like she swallowed a bitter lemon when she uttered ‘Advanced Placement’. First Mother! What did Twilight do to you?

“Our dress code requires students to wear the customary school uniform during school hours and to have a neat and orderly image,” he shifted under her gaze, “Other than that, you’re free to be as casual as is allowed.”

“Oh! Before I forget,” She unlocked a glass shelf next to her desk and took out a set of card keys, “Here, these are yours, one is for you to access your dorm apartment, the other, for your own bedroom,” she handed him the cards and a paper where his new sleeping quarters is located.

“Should you find that you have lost or misplaced your keys, your resident live-in professors will have a spare. Also, there is a strict curfew, all students are to be in by eight on weekdays, ten on weekends, the doors to the dorms lockdown after the ten-minute grace period is up and no, your key card cannot help you then. If you happen to find yourself outside passed curfew, it counts as an infraction and certain privileges will be limited or a punishment enacted. But worry not, one of your professors will let you in, so you won’t be stuck to sleep outdoors. Any questions?”

“I got it, even have a copy of the student handbook…but I do need directions to my dorm.”

“That’s already been taking care of, one of our students has volunteered to give you a general run of the school today, they should be waiting for your arrival outside the main doors to the school.”

“Great! I can take it from here! Thanks Mrs. Harshwhinny!”

She nodded her head, trying to return his 100-watt smile as he left and failing. Her hands were already searching one of her top desk drawers for something strong enough to curb stomp her pounding headache. At least that went smoothly, the last thing I need is another student making demands.

As she searched in vain for an extra packet of migraine meds, she felt like there was something very important she forgot to tell Spike.

Something about his new living space but for the life of her she couldn’t think of what it was. Any thinking she tried to do on her part was met with extensive pain and she was dismayed to see she was out of pain medicine.

She got up from her desk, she had to see the school nurse and quick! If the reason behind Spike’s living arrangements were that important, she’s sure she would’ve remember, Maybe I’ve been overworking too hard today.

Yeah, that had to be it.

She hopes that’s it because she honestly doesn’t want to even imagine the alternative.

TBC…