"... understand why more don't have any. Like they're pretty much all cool. Obviously not all of them though, some are just creepy. Like a porcelain doll can really just creep someone the-" Aqua visibly stopped for a second. "out. Creep someone out."

Cotton smiled at the filly and extended her wing, rubbing the top of the filly's head.

Aqua twitched downwards and quietly yelped before freezing for a second.

Folding her wing back against her side with her ears flattening, Cotton whispered to the filly. "Sorry."

Aqua sheepishly smiled. "All good. Ya just startled me."

Cotton was glad the filly couldn't see her face. Cotton shook her head.

"Anyway, yeah I don't get it. They're literally made for sleeping with, so why don't more people have stuffed animals? Oh, by the way, feel free to cut me off if you see someone about to start talking."

Cotton giggled. "Okay, Aqua." Looking up, nothing had changed. The stage was still empty.

"Uh, so yeah I-" The filly started, only for the room to suddenly go nearly silent as a few ponies gasped. Aqua sighed.

The Princess was walking across the stage.

Cotton heard a giggle and a whisper from her side, "Did I summon someone?"

Glancing at the filly, who had a grin on her face, Cotton held back a laugh and whispered back, "Shush. The Princess is here."

Quietly, "I totally did."

The pegasus rolled her eyes and smiled. Focusing forward again, she saw The Princess slowly making her way to the podium, with Shimmering Sky following closely behind. As soon as The Princess stopped moving, what little sound still rang around the room, stopped.

The Princess stood with a large and comforting smile as she slowly looked out at everypony in the crowd. "Hello, my little ponies. I hope this day finds you well." The Princess once more looked over the gathered ponies.

Somepony gasped, but Cotton didn't turn to see who.

The Princess' voice once more broke the silence, "I welcome you all to this upcoming school year. With much to experience and more to learn, each and every one of the students become better ponies with every passing day. With your new community of passionate ponies, all who are just as curious as you, everypony alongside you will support you in your journey through knowledge and improvement. Alongside your peers both older and younger, the wonderfully helpful staff may act as a pillar; helping you when it is needed the most."

During the short lull in The Princess' speech, Cotton almost expected to hear a sound from Aqua.

As soon as it seemed to be the perfect time to continue to Cotton, The Princess continued, "New and returning students both, your time here is greatly valued, and I hope you continue on your path to greatness. Your futures look bright, and I am happy to say I am excited to see all my little ponies' lives improved by your efforts here after afterwards."

Once more, The Princess looked over the crowd, only for Cotton's breath to hitch when The Princess seemed to peer into her eyes specifically. The Princess' comforting smile calmed her. With another small glance towards the filly beside Cotton, The Princess' gaze continued across the room.

"With the beginning of the new school year here, all those who wish for further clarification on the procedures, look no further than our dedicated staff." The Princess glanced off the side of the stadium.

Cotton saw a few ponies, seemingly both middle-aged and old, smiling and standing proudly at the edge of the stage. Were they there a seco-. Cotton's eyes and ears were drawn back to The Princess.

"For those who this is their first orientation, let me begin with a warm welcome." The Princess' smile was seemingly even bigger than before.

Cotton felt Aqua stiffen suddenly.

"For the new students, you may have been instructed that one last test is to be taken right after my speech as part of the orientation. However, do not fret for this is not a normal test. Instead of one you can pass or fail, this test is instead closer to a checkup with a doctor, though hopefully not as scary to some." The princess lightly giggled. "And here my speech wraps up. Once more, I am certain that this upcoming year will be fruitful. Both for the staff, and every student." The Princess briefly glanced up in a sunbeam shining on her though a window. With a large smile, The Princess spoke one last time, "Thank you all." Giving a small nod, The Princess stepped off the podium.

As The Princess began to slowly walk backstage, the clopping of hooves upon polished wood filled the room. Briefly looking over the seated crowd, Cotton had a thought, Could probably hear from the next building over. Suddenly the pegasus' eyes opened further and she looked at Aqua. The filly's ears were flat on her head. Leaning in for a reassuring hug, Cotton whispered to the filly, "You okay?"

The filly turned to Cotton. "... Y-yeah."

The pegasus pulled away but left a wing on Aqua's withers. "If you're sure."

The filly nodded. "Yeah... I'll tell you later."

Cotton's eyebrows furrowed. "Okay." Other than the sound..?

The sound in the room quieted down as Cotton saw a pony trot up to the podium left empty by The Princess. The vice principal spoke after waiting for the room to settle. "Hello, everypony. Thank you for coming and thank you for your dedication. It is nice to meet all of you. I am your vice principal, Shimmering Sky. Just as Princess Celestia said, we welcome you all, both returning and new students. Nearing the end of orientation as a whole, we ask returning students to leave through the large door behind you on my left" As paused, she rose a hoof and pointed at a door with a navy blue trim on it. "While new students are to leave out of the door on my right." This time, she pointed to the other side of the room. This door was golden.

"New students, through the door with the golden trim are members of our staff that would be happy to direct you to the testing area. For extra clarity, the staff members will have a purple ribbon in their manes... Once more, thank you all for coming, and nurture your passion." The vice-principal nodded and headed off-stage as well. Once more the crowd made noise, though less than for The Princess. The other staff members onstage began to file out, while the ponies sitting down stood up and began to shuffle out.

As Cotton began to stand up, Aqua spoke, "Wait a minute."

Cotton hummed questioningly to Aqua.

The filly shrugged. "It's easier to wait for room to clear out." The filly had a small grin. "It's not as if it's first come first serve."

Cotton sat back down. "If it makes you feel better..."

"Ah. Nah not really, I'm just lazy."

Cotton smiled. "Yeah? You won't even be the one trotting."

Aqua giggled. "Eh, it's the thought that counts."

"I-..." Cotton snorted and gave a long-suffering sigh. "Never-mind."

The filly continued giggling. "That's the spirit."

Looking around, the pegasus saw the room almost cleared out, a few other groups of ponies with the same idea as Aqua. And soon, they too began to file out. "Alright, Aqua. Time to go."

"Yay."

With another snort, Cotton helped the filly onto her back and the two began towards the gold-trimmed door.

"Oh right, they said it'd be like a visit to the doctor... I'm so excited."

"It's going to be fine, Aqua. It's not gonna be weird. It's being done by the school."

"Eh, true."

As the two walked through the large door, Cotton made eye contact with a lime-green pony with a purple stripe in their white mane. There were a few others standing around. Extras just in case?

The green mare stepped forward and waved at the duo. "Hello! Welcome to Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns! Is the little filly on your back new?"

"Yup. She's Aqua and I'm Cotton Ball. I'm her helper. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Bright Breeze. Good to meet you two as well!" The green mare offered a hoof, which Cotton met with her own. "While I'm certain you two already know where to go, I'll help you along, Aqua."

Said filly spoke up, "Thank you."

"Unfortunately though, Cotton Ball, we have to ask you to let Aqua go ahead by herself. Sorry, but we want to make sure she's- she..." Suddenly, the green mare stiffened and her smile became slightly strained.

A familiar voice spoke up from behind the duo, "That won't be necessary, Bright Breeze. I will escort these two. Go enjoy the festivities, My Little Pony."

"Y-yes." The unicorn quickly nodded and hurried off.

Turning around and looking up, Cotton saw who spoke up. "P-Princess!"

Said Princess smiled warmly.

Author's Note

I am still alive. Unfortunately, I have been quite busy and once more getting used to new things in my life. Overall I am doing good though, so that is nice.

Sorry for making you all wait for what I believe is the longest wait in-between chapters. While the chapter is longer than usual five months longer than usual, I doubt the length of the chapter makes up for the delay.

I had a strangely hard time writing out the actual speech itself, despite the fact that I have written a few in the past. Once I started actually writing the body of the speech, the rest of the chapter was written within an hour.

Also, Reception was very slightly edited to better fit the events occuring and soon to occur.

Thank you all for reading, and as usual, I hope you all enjoyed and have a good day and night.