Canterlot Academy Trials

Meanwhile, on the train…

Blue was trying his best to make some idle conversation with the reindeer. “So. Uh…Thiasus, right? What’s it like up there? In the North, I mean.”

“Hm? Oh it’s mostly snow and caves,” the buck replied, “Nothing too substantial like all the fairytales and storybooks would have you believe.”

“But you guys do deal with present-making, right?”

“Yes, but it’s not as grandiose as you’d expect,” Thiasus continued with a roll of his eyes, “Just a few odd trinkets here and there. But you on the other hand…I’m interested in what you’re capable of, Blue. I don’t think I’ve seen a dragon in action.”

“Oh? It’s no big deal, honestly,” Blue downplayed it, “You’ve seen one dragon, you’ve seen ‘em all.”

Mistwalker would speak up from nearby. “Oi. Don’t talk about yerself like that. I fer one am eager to see what kinda techniques we can come up with when we put our heads and claws together.”

“That’s right,” Thiasus looked over at the water-pony, “You’re a type of kelpie, aren’t you?”

“Aye sorta. I’mma glashtyn. More along the lines of an aquatic goblin,” the mare replied with a flick of her shaggy mane. “Never met a deer before. Gonna be fun seein’ whatcha can do.”

As the others were talking, both Lee and Chang were seated in a nearby table within the train car.

“...they seem like a lively bunch,” Chang commented as he turned and smiled at Lee, “Are you prepared for this?”

“Hm? Oh, yes…yes I am,” Lee replied with hesitation as she glanced out of the window, “Sorry, I’m just a bit…off at the moment.”

“I suggest you go over there and speak with them,” Chang tilted his head in the direction of the group who were now cheering about their past experiences, “Best to know thyself and know thy ally, hm?”

Lee knew she couldn’t argue with the emperor’s wise words. So she took a deep breath. “...okay. I will speak with and learn more from water-horse, dragon, and deer.”

Meanwhile, back in Canterlot…

Rufus had taken some time to himself to meditate in his room in the dorms while thinking about just what he should say to the goblin woman.

“...okay, she seems nice. But…what should I…how should I…?”

Just then, his thoughts were interrupted by a certain pegasus mare.

“...Rufus? Hey.”

“Eh?” the yak looked over towards her, “What’s up, Rose?”

“We got an emergency,” she continued with a slightly elevated tone in her voice, “A demon was spotted near the Castle of the Two Sisters.”

“Can’t we just let the teachers handle it?” Rufus bemoaned. “Just got back from a mission, dawg.”

“They are,” Grimrose confirmed, “But I just think you should know just in case the teachers need extra heroes on deck.”

“Fair enough I suppose,” he replied with a nod, “I’ll stay awake.”

Meanwhile, near the castle of the two sisters itself…

“Which one of you summoned a demon to do your work for you?” Twilight asked the members of her class with a flat, yet annoyed tone as she tapped her hoof on the ground. As she was talking to them, the sounds of demonic screeching could be heard outside.

Everyone shook their heads in response.

“Wasn’t me,” the griffon student called out.

“Me neither,” said the changeling.

“Don’t look at me!” Luster Dawn squealed, “I was trying to do the assignment right!”

Nebula looked around, “Wasn’t me either. Probably just a straggler from one of our tests. Or maybe a bit of corruption that followed us back to Canterlot?”

“Hmph,” Twilight shut her eyes for a moment, then opened them with a gasp as she glanced at her students with a knowing smile that they rightfully feared. “Well maybe we can use this as a way to test your knowledge on battle tactics.”

“WHAT!?” all four students yelped.

“I was thrown to the timberwolves when I was your age,” Twilight continued, “Celestia always knew how to better my ability by putting me through a trial such as this. Now it’s your turn.”

Luster Dawn tried to reason with her teacher, “W-wait, hang on--”

“BYE-”

POOF!

With a flash of her horn, Twilight Sparkle had teleported away…to a few meters above the castle where she could observe them in action. “They’ll be fine,” she muttered to herself as she flew above the castle ruins with her hooves folded, “If anything happens, I’ll just step in.”

Back down in the castle itself…

The demon’s roars got closer and closer as it neared the castle walls. The impromptu team had to quickly come up with a solution on the spot.

“...did Princess Twilight just leave us alone to fight off a demon by ourselves?” the changeling mare asked.

“We better be getting extra credit for this,” the griffon bemoaned.

“That’s the last thing I would’ve expected from her,” Dawn complained, “Now I’m stuck in another assignment I wasn’t even--”

“Relax,” Nebula encouraged everyone to remain calm as he levitated his flute up beside himself, “I think we can handle this. Now huddle up.”