Tom watched as Twilight opened the door only to see a cerise mare with mane that was two tones of light pink. The three smiling flowers on her flanks was quite strange to the colt. Twilight smiled “Miss Cheerilee, it’s a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting you to visit.”

Cheerilee smiled “I am here to speak with you about Tom attending the School, it would help bond other foals his own age. The Crusaders informed me about his presence here.”

Twilight smiled “Come in.”

Cheerilee joined the other two ponies in the room at the table, she smiled “So Tom Riddle was it. I am here to learn what you know.”

Tom frowned “I don’t know much, just what I have read today and a bit of magic practice. I am a largely clean slate.”

Cheerilee nodded “I see, then you will have a lot to catch up on. I believe that Twilight will be able to help you catch up. There are plenty of books in the Library on all the topics I teach.”

Tom smiled “When would I be able to start.”

Cheerilee smiled “Officially tomorrow but today we can do an orientation. Help you to get to know your classmates before you attend proper classes.”

Tom turned to Twilight, she smiled at him “I think it would do you some good to meet some foals at around your age group.” Tom turned to Cheerilee and nodded.

Cheerilee guided him out of the door, he waved to his mum as he left. Twilight waved back with a smile. Cheerilee smiled as guided him through the town, he saw Applejack at one of the stalls. He raised an eyebrow as he saw a rainbow tail hanging over the side of a cloud.

Tom frowned as they approached the school, two fillies were staring at him. One with magenta coat and the other with a dark silver coat. The first had a tiara on her flanks as well as her head and the other had a silver spoon on her flanks. Soon Cheerilee let him into the school house to fill out some paperwork, after that was done she smiled “Go and hang out with some of the foals outside. I need to fill in some gaps from my side and then file your forms.”

Tom smiled “Yes, Miss Cheerilee.”

Tom left the schoolhouse to see the two fillies from earlier approaching him. He noticed the one wearing the Tiara approached him first, the other behind her “I am Diamond Tiara and this is Silver Spoon, I hear you’re the new colt in the school and a blank flank no less.”

Tom raised an eyebrow down at the tow fillies “What do you two want from me?’

Diamond Tiara smirked “We are just here to inform you that we are the top fillies here. You do understand that don’t you?”

Tom shrugged “It doesn’t matter to me who’s in charge here, besides we are too young to care about that kind of thing.” He realised that he was taller than most of the foals around him including the Crusaders and then ones in front of him. He frowned “How old are you anyway?”

Silver Spoon glared at him “We are eight! Still hasn’t anypony told you it is rude to ask a lady their age!”

Tom frowned “Answer to your first, no and second you two aren’t ladies. Besides I am ten and have no interest in being told what to do by those younger than me.” His horn lit up with a dark green aura before disappearing in a flash of light.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle jumped as he appeared beside them, Tom rubbed the back of his head “Twilight taught me how to teleport.”

Sweetie Belle pouted “You can teleport on your first day of magic training and I still can’t levitate anything larger than an empty box half my size.”

Tom smiled “I am not exactly from here and I technically was once part another being who had a formal magical education. In a weird way this is my second life, one I will make use of better than I did the first time. Even if I can’t remember my first life. So it does come easier, even if the memories aren’t there it feels easier to do magic.”

Apple Bloom frowned “Ah think Ah get it.”

Scootaloo frowned “Ah don’t.”

Sweetie Belle gave Tom a small smile “That makes me feel a bit better, thanks.”

Two friendly voices come from behind them “Hi.” Tom turned around to see a lanky colt carrying a camera and a colt with brownish patches across his light coat trotting over. The colt with the brown patches smiled “I’m Pipsqueak and this is Featherweight, we wondering if you four wanted to play some tag with us?”

Tom blinked “What’s Tag?”

Featherweight looked at him like her grew another head “You don’t know what tag is?”

Apple Bloom rubbed the back of her head “He doesn’t have any memories since he arrived a couple of days ago. Still can we show him what tag is, then he can join in when he’s ready.” Tom watched as the three fillies and Featherweight were running away from Pipsqueak.

Tom was enjoying watching, observing how the others moved. After an hour he decided to give it a try. He ran over to the group, Apple Bloom who was now chasing the others saw him and beelined for him. He started to gallop away from Apple Bloom. He was able to keep his distance but Apple Bloom was persistent, always just a couple hooves behind him. Apple Bloom smirked “Ya are pretty fast Tom but ya can’t outrun me.”

Tom reacted almost on instinct, he leapt forward onto his front hooves. He then pushed back leaping over Apple Bloom landing on his hind legs. Apple Bloom skidded to a halt, turning around galloping at him. He leapt sideways, using bipedal motion he was able to keep a distance from Apple Bloom by taking tighter turns. Eventually Apple Bloom decided to go for Scootaloo instead who was closer. Tom decided to take a breather, being chased was fun but exhausting.

Author's Note

Now the next chapter will be about something else, an interlude of sorts.