Fair Fluttershy and the Stallion's Stone

Chapter 11

      Fluttershy and Applejack galloped full speed through an empty corridor. They were already late for their very first class.

They burst through the doors to their classroom. The other ponies were already busy writing. Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes.

Applejack looked around. "Thank goodness Professor Luna ain't here yet! Could you imagine the look on her face if we were late!"

     Fluttershy nodded in agreement, but she saw movement in the corner of her eye. The shadow of the desk at the front began twisting and turning. Suddenly, a hoof rose from the shadow. A wing slid out, as well as a head. Soon, Professor Luna was standing in front of them.

     "That was amazin'" Applejack said.

"Thank you for that assessment Applejack," Professor Luna said. "Perhaps I should transfigure Fair Fluttershy and yourself into a pocket watch. That way, one of you might be on time."

"W-we got lost," Fluttershy said.

"Then perhaps a map," Professor Luna replied. "I trust you don't need one to find your seat."

Applejack and Fluttershy sat down on the front row and began taking notes as well.

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      "What's our next class?" Fluttershy asked.

Applejack squinted at a piece of parchment.

"Potions with Professor Trixie," Applejack moaned.

"Maybe she isn't as bad as everypony says," Fluttershy suggested hopefully.

     The two of them walked down several sets of moving stairs until they reached the cold stone floor at the bottom.

They looked around. It was darker down here, and there weren't any portraits. The walls were lined with torches burning green flames. Fluttershy and Applejack walked down the corridor to potions.

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      Trixie's classroom was dark and dusty. The walls were solid stone, with the exception of two long slits near the ceiling to allow at least some light.

The back doors slid open and Professor Trixie marched into the room wearing a dark black cloak.

     "First and foremost," she announced. "Regardless of your previous religious beliefs," she said. "When you are in this classroom, you worship me and only me. Is that clear? Now, you aren't going to be learning about foolish ponies throughout history or understanding cutie marks. Potions is a serious subject, and you shall give it almost as much respect as you are to give me. I can teach you how to bewitch the mind or ensnare the senses. I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death."

     She walked over to Fluttershy's desk. "Miss Fluttershy," Trixie said. "Our new celebrity. Can you tell me what the effects of poisonous joke are?"

     Fluttershy glanced nervously at the other ponies. Twilight Sparkle's hoof shot straight up.

"I d-don't know," Fluttershy stuttered.

"I see," Trixie said with a smug expression. "Do you know how to cure a severe case of Cutie Pox?"

     Fluttershy looked around again. Gilda the Griffin was laughing her lion's tail off two rows over. Twilight Sparkle banged on her desk with her left hoof and held her right hoof high in the air.

"I don't know," Fluttershy said again.

"Well can you tell me where to find seeds of truth?"

     Fluttershy looked over to her left a third time. Twilight's purple face had turned red. She bit her lip as she pounded the desk with anxiety, all the while keeping her hand as high as she could in the air.

Trixie shook her head disapprovingly. "What a pity. Fame isn't everything, is it Miss Fluttershy."

     "Please Professor!" Twilight finally blurted. "Poisonous joke plays nasty tricks on those who come in contact with it. The cutie pox can only be cured by the seeds of truth, and the seeds of truth can be found quite easily in your average temperate coniferous environment."

     Trixie frowned. "You are correct. Five points to Gryffindor."

Applejack high fived another Gryffindor student in celebration.

"However," Professor Trixie added. "You spoke without being called upon. Ten points from Gryffindor!"

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     "It's ridiculous!" Applejack complained as they walked up and down the moving staircases. "Answerin' questions like that woulda gotten us ten points in any other class!"

As they ascended it, one of the staircases jerked to the left.

     "What was that?" Fluttershy asked.

"The staircases change, remember?" Twilight explained.

The stairs shifted so they were facing a different door than the one they had intended to go through.

"Let's go this way," Applejack said. "Before them stairs move again."

Without another word, the three of them opened the door on the third floor corridor on the right hand side, and entered.