Author's Note

With a nice break behind me, I'm going to resume writing chapters for this shorter story. I'm not sure how, or when it'll conclude, but I do plan at least another five chapters minimum before making any permanent decisions.

I have a few ideas for book titles, but if anybody else has suggestions, and what the book is about, I'm more then open to them. I'll even credit you in the chapter if its used.

Peace!

Chapter 5: Was it Fight Club or Flight Club?

The weekend came and went for the foals, cubs, pups, nymphs, and all the other students of Ponyville, but even faster for those under the mentorship of the venerable Cheerilee.

As each student took their respective seats it became apparent something about this Monday was different, yet no amount of looking around, or asking their neighbors could come up with an answer. While this mysterious change preoccupied the attention of most students, a very small group had rejected this hunt in favor of listening to the lone Diamond Dog pup in the class recount a chilling encounter from the weekend…

“There’s no way that happened! My dad kicks clouds and saw nothing!” The golden eagle, puma griffon cub challenged his friend, confident that if his father had seen anything he would have heard of it by now. The pampered pup wasn’t amused.

“Is to, Ortiz! I saw it with my eyes and ears! That thing was shining so brightly it hurt my eyes, and then it made this loud sound…”

“Dusty, you're my best friend, but I don’t believe you saw an alien.” The pup was taken back by this admittance, ears standing up in shock before hitting the table with his paws.

“You're my friend Grog, and are supposed to believe me!”

Dusty Belle was now pleading with the two griffon cubs that rightly so, believed his strange story too absurd at best for their boring town of Ponyville. Growing up with his (very busy) mother had instilled certain mannerisms in him, but during charged moments he often reverted to the more instinctual habits of his species: crossing his arms while lowering his tail, or giving off slight yips were the more common gestures, but teeth baring was another level.

For Grog to see his best friend act like this wasn’t too much of a surprise, even expected.

Yet, for others of their class such as Ortiz, this would be one of the first times he would see his peer act like a true Diamond Dog from the older stories, and not as a pony. For each cub, the view meant different things, yet it added another layer to the pup’s strange tale, and it would be Ortiz Goldbeak to take the proverbial bite first.

“So, what did it look like? Was it made out of rocks like that one creature in the comics?”

“NO! The Clobbering Stallion would never leave comic books when he’s making more bits than my mother.” Dusty defended his favorite character, if too earnestly.

The two griffon cubs shared a look that wasn’t missed by Dusty, but said nothing as he waited for them to make some remark or criticism- he never got that remark. Instead, the diamond pup almost began wagging his tail when the two cubs tried leaning in closer to keep their conversation from being broadcasted any further than the three of them. Accepting their willingness to hear of this incredible encounter( fact or fiction pending) , Dusty began recounting from the beginning his extraterrestrial encounter that actually happened, and wasn’t a dream inspired by those scary comics his Uncle Spike lets him read.

While the two drakes and pup withdrew their focus, the rest of the class had forgotten their earlier fascination with the classroom, and equally fell into a similar group dynamic with three large groups.

The group closest to the three boys had become particularly interested with the conversation to the point the bookish filly Lily Pad in the group felt prudent to address their misguided belief, and spoke up against it. Taken back by this sudden intrusion,the soft spoken filly receives their full attention and accompanying ire of being called a bent feather even if it makes no sense. But the three colts saying it meant it was a bad thing else why would they call her one? The disagreement would have ended right there if not for the intervention of the rest of her group.

“At least she can read you mole rat!”

The class fell silent as they turned to see Night Shift smirking while leaning back in her chair, her rear hooves crossed on top of the desk. Her little fangs peaking just under lips only served to anger the Diamond Dog more than the comment from his on and off rival.

Dusty could only guess why the sight made his fur bristle the way it did, and worse was the changeling knew how upset it made him, and still did it anyway. In another rare public display, the pup bared his own little fangs causing the two griffions to jump back from the unusual aggression, but recovered enough to put themselves between the nymph and pup.

Night Shift further escalating this matched his lead and transformed into a similar looking Diamond Dog, and leaped off from her chair.

“YOU AND ME! AFTER SCHOOL!” Night Shfit challenged the riled up pup, her bat pony heritage egging on the old changeling blood in veins.

“FINE BY ME BUG!”

As suddenly as the tension escalated, it vanished once the two broke eye contact in favor of returning to their seats with the sparkling flame washing over Night Shift, and revealing her changeling self yet again. Dusty took to his seat with his whipping tail the only sign of his earlier aggression ever an issue. His best friends and the two colts protecting the bookish Lily Pad were left standing in the center of the gathered class wondering what had happened when the door began rattling. The entire student body turned to greet this strange phenomenon when the door was opened and stepped through the door was their missing teacher.

“Sorry children about my tardiness! I was stuck in traffic.” Mrs Cheerilee declared as she hurried into the room with her laden saddlebags. The students muttered a quieter ‘hello teacher’, and said little else as they realized her disappearance was what made today so unusual.

The older mare didn’t acknowledge their greeting as she quickly placed the heavy bags on the floor by her desk, and sighed with relief to be rid of the extra weight. Kicking the buckle up allowed her hoof to plunder its contents, and with little effort was withdrawn to reveal its prize- another book.

The more predatory students caught the signs marking this book as another original of their teacher, the partly ripped and faded dust jacket being the obvious tell tells followed by her careful handling of its placement on her desk. The rest of the class only saw a book being placed on the desk with her other hoof taking out a strange wooden box with a tight fitting lid to enclose whatever was inside being set next to the lone book.

“Today's class will be a quick, but important lecture over the 8th book in the ‘How to Pony’ series, ‘Learning to accept yourself- flaws and all’.

By reaction alone the class started to groan their disapproval, but with a quick accusing glance from Cheerilee stopped the outburst entirely leaving the mare satisfied enough to begin her lecture. Clapping her forehooves together, the automatic lighting dimmed enough that only the natural morning sunlight was the sole option for illumination making note passing extremely difficult to read when their hoof, claw, or horn writing was pitiful at best.

The exception being Dusty since his mother, the famed Element of Generosity, forced the young pup to practice his penmanship enough that it rivaled Mrs. Cheerilee’s own.

For the rest of the student body, they either had to wait until recess or try to catch one of the few rays of light with any hope in deciphering the terrible writing, leaving many with nothing better than to turn their attention to the projector. By many, it was every foal save the changeling, and diamond dog who continued to take disparaging glares whenever the opportunity presented itself, which was often since their teacher was more focused on the crystal projector.

“...was written later into his semi-professional career, which means post Canterlot. In a later interview he stated the book was written more for his daughter then a targeted audience during the first draft. The second and third drafts changed it into the current rendition we have today, though the first print like the one on my desk do have extra passages that were later removed to help give it a wider range of appeal. Like all books in the series, there is a wondrous amount of good vibes to be had, and I highly encourage all of you to give them a read on your own time. We have permission to access the School of Friendship’s Library if needed because of Princess Twilight’s ‘No foal left behind’ decree.”

Cheerilee waved her hoof, and the image on the board changed. The board now showed a (older) colorful illustration of a changeling nymph looking themselves over in the mirror as the old way of a transformation turned half of them into a pony. For the non-changelings, this depiction of a changeling usually comes off as wrong since the integration of the main hive, and comes off more of a ling trying, but failing to come off as cool. To the two nymphs in class, it's a reminder that the Big Bad Queen wasn’t a foal’s tale, but an actual monster most parents experienced.

Night Shift only knew of the stories from her grand sire, and even those presented the Old Queen positively for the most part.

“We had a home, order, and a job. That was all a ling needed back then.”

“But King Thorax says…”

“We don’t talk about him.”

It was how most conversations usually went before Nana Topaz, or Grand Nana VIVI would step in and correct him… sometimes. For Skittle Pop though? Her parents were young nymphs during her reign, likely the last clutch of the old hive, and though young, remember somethings, but mostly recounted the stories of their forebears.

Mrs. Cheerilee didn’t notice any of this as she waved her hoof to summon another illustration upon the board, this time of the same nymph surrounded by various foals, and other children admiring her wings and the holes in her legs.

“Each of our characteristics, and flaws are what make us unique. No two creatures are the same, and what one might see as a flaw, or advantage, another could see it as the opposite. I’ll use myself as an example. For most of my life, including the early years of my teaching profession, I’d considered being an earth pony a hindrance. All my of foalhood friends were unicorns, and being the only earth pony of the group meant I was left out often when it came to certain activities or conversations. Even being an earth pony didn’t mean I was blessed with the strength we’re often depicted with- I felt worthless.”

The mood was different. No student felt like talking as they heard (or felt) their teacher trying to hold back any sorrow before leaving them unsure what to say, or do, if at all. The two changelings especially were uncomfortable with this intimate display of emotions since King Thorax declared passive reading of another creature’s emotions invasive. Well except Night Shift’s Grand sire who sees it as his parental right, but that's an argument for another day.

Mrs Cheerilee regained some of her previous composure to continue with her story, recollecting how she was a yearling pressing her first year of adulthood when she saw the book in a store window. Fate is what she called it. Surprised by the discovery of this sole book sent their teacher down a path of collecting the rest in the series until the idea to become a teacher was suggested during a foal reading event at the Canterlot Library.

Now here she was before them about to force a group project upon their weary hearts just before class will end. Whenever Cheerilee turned her attention away from the class, those nearest the two feuding children would begin trying to hype up their sanctioned match, earning some less than enthusiastic responses.

“... which is why I want all of you to grab a sheet of parchment and pencils, and write at least three things you like about the foal sitting to your left and to your right…”

‘There it is.’ Came a collected chorus of mental anguish as the entire class nodded their understanding of the assignment.

Waiting until they were some distance away from the school, and off the main road in one of the alleyways, the two were surrounded by their peers itching to watch this fight…

“You ready to settle this fleabag?” Taunted the larger of the two changeling nymphs in their class, her purple head fin fanning out in conjunction to her mood as ready and willing to scrap. In today’s Equestria, and changeling dynamics, Night Shift was one of three left that could be mistaken for changelings of old. A boon for the nymph’s appearance.

Still, this did little to stop pup being pressured into this fight.

“Whenever you stop talking rollie pollie!” Growled the diamond dog pup, flicking his nose with a thumb like his griffon buddy showed him. The fillies around him giggling only fanning his ego while the colts with him cheered.

This exchange went on for another three minutes, with the students who already chose a side adding to the round of name calling and taunting. With the situation winding down, and the fight looking unavailable at this point, the nymph and pup were sizing each other up one last time for good measure when one of the neutral onlookers having enough of the waiting finally vented his frustration.

“Just start already! I have to be home in about 11 minutes, else I have to explain myself, and I’m not very good at that!”

The comment was an honest one, and likely a reflection of most children’s early lives when dealing with parents and their imposed curfews. To the rest of the spectators and actual fighters, it was enough to give them some pause and consider the actual repercussions of their fight for the first time today. Yet, the main drive for this thought was simply because no creature didn’t want to be the only one not to see it.

“Should we postpone it then? I’ve never fought before, and I don’t know how long this could take.” Dusty asked the nymph before him. Her own concerns became evident as her head fin slowly began falling back along her neck.

“I’ve fought before… It could take quite a while.” Night Shift fibbed. Her first fight had involved little fighting, and more running away from some crazy Crystal Ram in the Crystal Empire. Still her words were taken for face value by her peers who quickly began inputting why a certain time, or day didn’t work for them until Friday was suggested.

“We can’t. It's the Cutiemark Crusaders meeting.”

“Oh Twilight, I forgot about that.” A foal said aloud, and was quickly supported with mutterings of ‘Can’t miss that’ or “Oh yea!”.

Availability of time in their busy little week was what ultimately killed the fight. The class agreed to call it off in favor of declaring it a draw between the two fighters, but an innocent Dusty mistook the declaration as a shift to another activity, and offered his peers the use of his colored pencils and crayons should his mother be alright with company which was met with some acceptance, Night Shift included.

The rest of the children said their goodbyes quickly enough to not linger around this back alley, leaving the few left alone.

“What were we fighting about anyways?” Night Shift suddenly asked the small herd as they followed the alleyway behind the row of older houses. The five with her said nothing as they tried recalling what had started the fight.

“I think Night Shift said something mean, and Dusty didn’t like it.” Grog backed his friend only to have it challenged by prim and proper Silver Standard.

“I believe it was the other way around. Dusty said something about Lily Pad and Night Shift stepped in to stop it.”

“Lily Pad? Na that doesn’t sound right. That filly’s muzzle is so far into those books, I’m surprised she isn’t wearing ink as makeup.” Completely missing the irony of her comment, but earned their unanimous agreement anyway. Whoever started the fight might have gotten away with it, but it was them that finished it on good terms.

Grog came to class the next day to brag how his parents had put his drawing up on the fridge.