Cloudsdale General Hospital

Drama Mask looked fondly at her two foals. One was a nearly black Pegasus colt. She could see that his tiny wings were shining when the light of Celestia's sun hit them just so.

Looking to her other foreleg, she saw her light gray -nearly white- Pegasus filly. Oddly enough, she also has membranous wings instead of feathered ones. The doctor on hoof nooticed this too, and made to prod the odd appendage.

"HISS" the silvery filly spat, also showing that she sported a full set of teeth. Clearly she didn't approve of her wings being touched.

Drama was shocked, but recomposed herself shortly. "O-kay. I'm bottle feeding that one."

"Probably for the best." the doctor said, nodding.

Shortly thereafter, a nurse brought a bottle filled with a white substance. "Did somepony say 'bottle feeding?'"

"Ah, Split Second. Punctual as usual."

"That's why you pay me, sir." Split said.

Drama took the bottle from the nurse. The bat-winged filly grinned and flailed her legs uncontrollably. After a few seconds of this she stopped and pouted. After the laughter stopped, Drama brought the bottle close enough for it to be taken by mouth, sucking sounds ensuing shortly thereafter.

The other foal awoke, yawning widely. Sure enough, no teeth had developed yet.

Calmly, the colt was brought to an available teat and began sucking eagerly.

The impromptu meal continued in silence until Drama asked, "How much longer do i have to stick around here?"

"Considering how quickly Pegasi heal, i'd say overnight should do. More importantly, what are their names?"

"Let's see..." Drama said, pensively. Indicating the black colt, she said, "I think i'll call this one Chrome." Indicating the still-drinking filly, "And this one will be.... Silver! Yes, that'll do. Chrome Masquerade and Silver Masquerade."

At that moment, Silver finished with her meal. "M-M-M-M-Mo'!" she exclaimed.

The doctor chuckled. "Sounds like she's still hungry."

Split Second walked in the door, carrying another bottle in one wing. "Did somepony say 'still hungry'?" he said, hoofing over the bottle, much to Silver's delight.

Shortly thereafter, the doctor frowned. "However do you do that?"

"It's my special talent, sir. I'm always where i need to be when i need to be." Sure enough, Split's Cutie Mark was a clock with its second hand split in half. "It used to be kind of annoying, but I've learned to live with it. If you want even faster service, you should have hired my brother, Nikko."

Turning in a direction none of the others could see, he said, "That said, be prepared to see me a LOT, folks."

Drama took that moment to watch her children babbling at each other.

~Do you know what happened to us?~

~Apparently we've literally been made foals of. This is your fault, you know.~

~My fault?! How is this my fault? I had no idea this would happen!~

~You bought the game. You got me to come over and take a look.~

~Feathers. You're right. I'm sorry.~

~Ah, momentai. If I were to go through this with anypony, I'm glad it's you. Brother.~

"I wish I could understand what you two are saying." Drama said.

"Regardless," the doctor said, "the three of you need your rest. That'll help speed up the healing."

"Thanks, doc. You heard the stallion, little songs. Time for beddy-byes." she said, directing the last at her offspring.

As if on cue, both of them yawned widely, one showing teeth, one not. "It's like you two are literally night and day." She shrugged and fell asleep as well.

1.5-2 years later

The last couple of years had gone by in a flash. The twins had developed rapidly, managing to control their flight (simultanously, I might add) at the tender age of one and a half. They were exultant at this and had zipped around the room in delight.

They were also starting to pick up words here and there. While their speech was still impeded (one by dint of not having fully developed teeth, the other having to work around their teeth), they were learning quickly and their progress was amazing.

"At this rate," Drama said to herself, "I wouldn't be surprised if they start reading soon!"

6 months-3 years later

Sheeeee was wrong!

The twins were reading together every day now, occasionally stopping to correct their counterpart. Now and then they needed to ask their mother for the definition of some of the words, but they quickly became surprisingly fluent in Eloch(1).

Then they moved on to OTHER languages!

By the time they were five and entered school, they had learned most of Germane, Manedarin, Prench and Neighponese! (2)

'Perhaps,' Drama thought to herself, 'it's time for 'take your kids to work' day.'

As it happens, Drama Mask worked at the Cloudsdale Art Center. Her two foals were perched on her back, looking at all of the new sights.

"This is where I work, you two."

Chrome asked, "What do you do here, ma?"

"I'm about to show you. Patience."

Soon enough, she opened a door and trotted in.

"Good morning, class!" Drama said.

"Good morning, miss Mask!" the reply came from several sources.

"Today i've brought two very special Ponies with me." Drama said. "These are my foals, Chrome and Silver. Treat them with respect; they're smarter than you might think."

A hoof was raised.

"Yes, Dawn Star?"

"Why did you bring them here, ma'am?"

"First, don't call me ma'am, please. It makes me sound old. I'm barely in my 40s."

This elicited laughter from the class.

"And secondly, it just happens to be Bring Your Kids to Work Day! I thought that they could use a change of scenery. Now, Attendance." she pulled out a list. "Amber Rose?"

"Here!"

"Artful Dodger?"

"Present!"

North, East, South and West Winds?"

"We're here too!" four voices rang out in unison.

"Mahoot?"

"What?"

"Mahoot?"

"What?"

"Some things never change."

Attendance went without incident. Every student on the list was accounted for.

"Now, today we're going to start with a special exercise."

All ears swiveled forwart to gain the most that they could from what was to come.

"For this, i'm going to play a song. Your goal is to only have two hooves on the floor at all times, preferably one.(3)"

Reaching into her left saddlebag, she pulled out a stereo and set it on the floor.

There were several 'Wooooow!' reactions from the assembled fillies and colts.

With the press of a button, music started to play.

As the class did their best to follow their instructor's... Well, instructions, Chrome started bobbing his head to the tune. The beat of the music was thrumming through his body. Suddenly, he got up from where he was.

Silver asked, "What are you doing?"

The reply was, "I... don't know!"

Chrome joined the others on the floor and without preamble, he began to dance.

At first he started off slowly, and then as the beat gained momentum, so too did he. Soon enough he was a whirling dervish of masterful choreography. The whole time, he had a huge grin plastered on his muzzle. He didn't care why, he didn't know how, but he was in his element!

As the music began to wind down, Chrome saw his flanks glowing... but it soon faded, leaving him rather put out. He went back to where he was and sat back down, pouting.

Silver put a hoof to one of her brother's withers. "Better luck next time, bro. you were sooo close!"

Chrome smiled at that. He could always count on his sister to cheer him up.

The other students, however, started clapping. Chrome looked up to see the many colts and fillies of the class applauding him, his mother just smiling proudly.

Silver nudged him, breaking the brief trance. "Go on. Take a bow."

Chrome nodded and did just that, bowing to the appreciative audience.

"I told you that they're smarter than they might seem. This is an important lesson, class. Appearances can be deceiving. Try to learn to see things as they really are."

The next exercise for the class was poetry. Each member of the class had prepared a poem beforehoof. Some did well with that, some did not.

Again, Chrome stepped up to the stage and all but intoned,

Imagine you
Tied to a tree
Chained with the sins of an eternity.

Now imagine an arrow
Flying through the air
Seeking your heart, to end your despair.

Now comes a knight
In armour of white
Who now rests in between you and its flight!

You open your eyes
Your bonds break and bend
You can see clearly the knight is quite dead

But do not weep as they lies on the ground
For they are not lost
It is you who are found!

(4)

Again, applause rang out as Chrome bowed. His flanks glowed again... and faded again.
"GRRR!" he growled and stalked back to where his sister was still seated.

A few more things followed, but none of them pulled at Chrome's heart as did the first two.

Shortly thereafter, the students left for their next class.

"Don't worry, Chrome. You'll get it soon enough. Your Cutie Mark will come when it's good and ready."

The trio went to a different classroom and they all assumed seats. A few minutes later, students filed into the room.. Some faces were familiar, some not. All of them were wearing white cloth robes.

"For those who don't know, these are my children. I was allowed to bring them to work today, so here they are. Chrome and Silver Masquerade."

On cue, the twins waved in unison.

"Again I will say, treat them with respect. They're smarter than they might appear. Okay, class, this time we'll start with high kicks. Remember: If you breathe correctly, you'll move correctly."

Soon enough, the class was united in their movements, each swiftly followed by an exclamation of some kind. Slowly but surely, the class built up momentum. This time Silver felt her soul being called to. She got up and took the extra space that was available.

Sure enough, she managed to keep up with and surpass most of the class, her movements having started out slow, like a calm lake. But soon enough she began moving with the force of a raging river, her movements blurring, nearely leaving afterimages!

Chrome watched his sister in fascination. "I think this is her calliing. Martial Arts."

Sure enough, as soon as he said that, a Mark of a pair of nunchaku encircled by throwing stars of various kinds appeared.

Soon, the class sttopped and bowed, Silver trotted back to where she was, pleased with herelf.

"Congrats, sis!" Chrome said. "You got your Cutie Mark!"

"You... aren't jealous?" she asked, apprehensively.

"Of course not! Well... maybe very slightly. I'll find my calling soon. You'll see." was the reply.

Then Silver's eyes wideed. "Wait, I think I know!"

"What? What is it?" Chrome asked.

"Your calling! I think it's the arts in... gen-er-al." For whatever reason, she'd always had trouble with a few words.

"The Arts... in general?" Chrome queried. Just then, a flash revealed a pair of drama masks on either flank.

"My Cutie Mark! I got it too!"

The two of them started doing a litle dance, spinning around in a circular motion.

At length, the class ended, and it was time for lunch and then a nap.

"I'm so proud of you, my little songs." Drama said to her children. "You both deserve a good rest."

She didn't have to tell them twice.

Author's Note

1: That's, uh... Welsh for Horse, if i remember correctly.
2: Horse Pun Combo!
3: This actually used to be an exercise that we used to do in Drama Class.
4: This poem bagged me an Editor's Choice award and a place in the finals of a poetry contest, some time ago.