Author's Note

Hey guys, this thing still exists!

So, this is..a chapter. To be honest, I quickly typed this thing up in maybe the last half hour or so, and decided "Hey, rushing this out after all this time may be a good idea," and so I did. As such, this chapter probably sucks, but hey, what else is new?

I hope you all will forgive my hiatus, and while I cannot promise consistency or eventuality, I do want to try to make this story succeed, and will hopefully keep trying to have it do so, even when I do not have the free time that I have just been given recently.

The reasons for the part system with this chapter is as follows:

1. Maybe some new people will come and view the story, giving me more views and likes(funny joke), but also perhaps offering critiques and other feedback to make it better.
2. I feel as though I should put something out after all this time for you guys.
3. The first two were it, I just hit enter again and felt like typing something.

Please provide any comments, critiques, and other feedback you wish to give. I will be sure to read any comments I get, and fix things as I become aware of them.

Have a blessed one, and thank you for reading.

Chapter 3: The New Sapling(Part 1)

As the moon casts its light once more upon the walls of the Lunar Academy, all the students therein are either just getting to their respective classes, or are already there. All save for one particular student, a pegasus who definitely was not told explicitly by Raven a half hour prior not to be late her first night, and yet she is still trying to frantically get to her location due to being late.

“Stupid night..stupid confusing path..stupid long walks..” Holly mutters, or so she thinks, yet she was loud enough for a unicorn that made her way beside the mare to hear.

“I take it you are the outsider that was rumored to be lurking in our midst?” The mare asks, startling Holly. In pure comedic fashion, Holly also appropriately trips and falls due to being startled. “Did you have a nice trip?” The mare continues in joke inquiry, smiling.

“No,” Holly replies flatly.

“Okay then, see you next fall!” The mare exclaims, still smiling, before noticing Holly’s annoyed expression. “Oh come on! You really expected me to not capitalize on such a wonderful opportunity for a joke?” She continues, now with a straighter face.

“I..” Holly begins. “...suppose I cannot argue with that, even if I had the time to do so. I am running late to Mr. Scr-”

“Professor Scroll? What are the odds, I am heading that way myself,” The mare states.

“You..do not seem worried, why?” Holly inquires, even though her mind is telling her to book it.

“Oh, me and Professor Scroll are on really good terms. He knows that even if I am completely absent, which does not happen, I would still be able to do my work properly. As such, he could not care any less about when I trot in,” The mare explains.

“Sounds like favoritism,” Holly comments.

“Sounds like your ticket to not being penalized your first day due to you being late,” The mare returns.

“Touché,” Holly replies. “By the way, what is your name?” She asks.

“Silver Truth, though most call me Silver or Ghost, due both to my silvery appearance and my speciality at covert operations. That is why this is my weapon, temporarily that is,” The now-identified Silver states, showing the weapon in question.

“Temporarily?” Holly inquires.

“Yeah. This is a school-issued dagger. Before graduation, we prepare our graduation weapon, the one we shall use up until we must forge another, for conservation purposes of the original, or of necessity due to being worn and unusable,” Silver explains.

“So Raven’s sw-” Holly begins, before Silver gasps.

“Raven? The Mentor? How do you know him?” Silver asks in shock.

“He was assigned to mentor m-”

“Mentoring an outsider? I must admit there filly, I would have never thought that would happen. He hates outsiders about as much as he hates changelings and griffons,” Silver interrupts, putting her hoof to her chin in thought.

“That is..huh,” Holly gets out, thinking as well.

“Anyway, if you are still here and standing, he obviously has more than enough reason for such to be the case. As such, you should be fine, at least before practice begins. Speaking of, do you even have a weapon yet?” Silver asks.

“No, I was not given nor told to have one,” Holly replies.

“How strange..” Silver says. “Anyway, we are probably a good bit late to class now, we should probably get going,” She casually continues, trotting in that direction.

“This will end well..” Holly laments.

“And that is how, class, that the outsider-” Professor Scroll begins concluding on part of his lecture, as Silver and Holly appear.

“-showed up late to my class with Ghost. Care to explain?” He continues, looking at Silver.

“She was a bit lost sir, and we were talking for a little bit after I happened upon her. Transferring is never fun, especially not to a school secluded from the entire life she had previously lived,” Silver coolly responds.

“Methinks you just wanted an excuse to be late again,” A pony pipes up.

“Methinks you have no room to talk, Ms. Flattery-to-avoid-being-penalized Rose,” Silver retorts.

“Oh how clever, you put a string of words together. How so very creative of you,” Rose responds, not amused.

“Both of you need to stop this little back and forth before I hit you both with this book right here,” Professor Scroll states, wielding said book in his hoof. “If you really want to continue this, request a sparring match on the practice field later on,” He continues.

“Very well. May me and Holly here sit now?” Silver asks.

“You may, but I think that Holly might be able to help with a question we had during both of your absences earlier in the lesson, so she should come closer to me. I believe you asked the question, Mud?” He states, Silver and Holly both following as told.

“Yeah. I was wonderin’ about th’ whole weddin’ thing that happened, when th’ invasion-thingy happened. Why did the guard not do anythin’?” He asks.

“I was not there..nor did I get much in the way of news. However, from what I know, here and out there is very different. Love and friendship i-”

“Love? Friendship? With feelin’-suckin’ monsters hell-bent to destroy Equestria? Sounds like a bottle of stupid,” He interrupts.

“But..it worked?” She offers up.

“Temporarily, perhaps,” Rose pipes in. “What happens upon their return, however? That they will simply be all lovey-dovey, embracing “friendship,” as you say? The whole good changeling is a dead one, plain and simple.

“I concur with Rose, but there is something you forget,” Silver says, looking at Rose. “The guard is primarily for show. Remember what happened when they tried to do anything to our princess during her temporary corruption? As far as we know, the strategy was horrid. They are incompetent, due to “that,” princess’ over-reliance on the “magic of friendship.” It makes sense then, that those of outside would see things through those lens, since they have been basically brainwashed,” She continues.

“Believe me..I know a bit too well how those two things are not always possible nor beneficial..” Holly replies, a bit uncomfortable.

“Anyway,” Scroll interjects, noticing as much. “Would you mind a question from me? The information I was given is kind of limited,” He continues.

“Possibly so,” Holly says.

“What brings you to this academy? If you cannot say, then nevermind, but I am sure you will probably get that question more before the night concludes,” He asks.

“Pity?” Mud offers. “I doubt th’ outside i’ anythin’ worth a bit,” He continues.

“I..am honestly not sure. I was simply given the invite, and took the opportunity,” Holly responds.

“How nice The grapevine also tells of somepony you are already fairly cozy with. Care to tell us how you are so close with Raven?” Rose fires at her.

“Wait, how did you know about that? I just learned about it from her a little while ago,” Silver asks.

“I have my resources. Answer the question, filly,” Rose says, looking first at Silver and then to Holly.

“He was..assigned to me to trai-”

“Professor Scroll, is this even something that can happen?” Rose interrupts, looking at the teacher.

“The decisions of those of a higher pay grade is beyond me, Rose. I do not know of another incident, but I am sure there is a reason why Raven was specifically chosen to train Holly. How about we move on, hm? There is a bit more to cover before this class ends, after all. Holly, take a seat next to Silver,” Scroll replies, pointing to the seat in question.

As Holly sits, Silver whispers one last thing before the reconvening of the class.

“Welcome to the Lunar Academy.”

As the class continues, Raven keeps an eye out nearby, doing his normal patrol. Eventually, he finds himself face to face with the Headmaster.

“No, we did not have carnal embrace, Sonata,” Raven says with a straight face.

“You mean ma’am.”

“Sonata.”

“You better be happy that you are irreplaceable, Raven,” The Headmaster states.

“Yeah, yeah. What is so important as to interrupt my patrol?” He asks.

“Holly was late to class,” She responds, giving him a look of disappointment.

“Do not even try to give me that look. I cannot be her babysitter. I gave her a half hour notice, and left her to it. I did not sign up to hold her hoof and be a nanny,” He replies.

“I never said you had to, and you never signed up. Simply ensure she does not do that in the future. You know why being la-”

“I am well aware of both things. I will add a punishment into our training today and chat with her, alright?” He interrupts and offers.

“..see to it that it is done,” She simply says, before trotting away.

“Prick.”

“Right back at you, Raven,” She replies, continuing on her way until out of sight and earshot.

“Why do I get the feeling that things are only going to end poorly?” Raven asks himself, continuing his patrol.