Canterlot Academy Trials

The exams were a long and arduous process for all of the students involved. Each of them put their heart and soul into answering each question. Interestingly enough, every student indeed had their own version of the test, and were all able to answer them accordingly.

Even the blindfolded minotaur man next to Nebula was writing with a quill with seemingly no issue whatsoever, much to the latter’s internal surprise from the corner of his eye.

The questions were rather varied. From simple ones such as "How was the sun raised before the alicorns?" and "Name the holiday celebrating the sun," to more complex, layered ones such as "How do you seize a fort with only 50 units?" and "What's the difference between dark magic and black magic?"

After a full hour of testing, the written exams would conclude for Nebula's group, and Fang’s group would partake in the same test alongside the other half of the student body afterwards.

After it was all said and done for Nebula’s group, they all left the exam hall and went back to their dorms as they discussed what was on the test.

“Man, that was rough, huh?” Blue hissed, “I think I nailed the combat section but the history section gave me some trouble.”

“Seriously? The history section was the easiest part,” Mei insisted, “It was that magic section that gave me a hard time. I couldn’t even decipher some of those sigils from each other.”

“They weren’t that bad,” Grimrose commented, “But the combat wasn’t really my thing. What about you, Atomic?” She then glanced at Nebula who had been silent the entire time with his nose practically buried in a pamphlet. “Atomic?”

“Hm?” Nebula looked up from the document, “Oh, sorry. I’m just glancing at the tournament bracket here. I don’t recognize anyone who we’re up against.”

Everyone leaned over Nebula’s shoulder and glanced at the schedule. Indeed, they didn’t recognize a single name that they were paired up against. Given the size of the school and its student body, it was only natural that they wouldn’t know who their opponents would be in this training session disguised as a tournament.

Blue was the first to find his name on the bronze-colored bracket and located his opponent. “Looks I’m up against someone named, ‘Kuno Itami’ huh? Sounds like a foreign name. Know where it could come from, Mei?” he looked to the kirin for an answer.

Mei scoffed and pushed up her glasses. “Hmph. A name that comes from the Far East in Japone. Guess all kinds are here after all then,” she muttered in a rather bitter tone in response to the name.

“...Right,” Blue replied in an uncertain manner before pointing a finger at Nebula’s name. “Here you are, bud. Looks like you’re up against someone named, ‘Noptera’. Hm. Any idea what that means?”

“Hymenoptera is the order of insects that includes wasps, bees, and ants,” Nebula answered, “I think I’m up against a Changeling. Not sure what it means for me since shapeshifting is kinda their thing. Hmmm…” He glanced around until he spotted Grimrose’s name within one of the brackets. “Looks like you’re up against someone named ‘Thiasus’. Sounds like someone from Thrace.”

Grimrose didn’t seem to care about the nature of her opponent or where they were from. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll use my skills to bring them down. Whoever they are.”

“Okaaay…” Mei commented on Rose’s apathy and leaned over Nebula’s shoulder. “Where’s my name? Hm? Oh there it is. I’m up against somebody called, ‘Dewdrop’. Not exactly a threatening name, huh?” she scoffed with a small grin on her face.

But Rose kept things practical. “Don’t underestimate someone because of their name.”

“She’s right,” Blue added, “I mean, I’m named after a color of all things and look at me. I’m not exactly the cuddliest dragon around--hmf?!”

All the sudden, Mei grabbed ahold of his cheeks in her hooves, mushing Blue’s face and causing him to forcibly stick out his tongue, giving him the appearance of a plush toy for a moment.

“Really? You look pretty cuddly to me,” she teased with a snicker, followed by Nebula and Rose giggling as well.

Blue narrowed his eyes and pushed Mei’s hooves off with his claws. “Stahp you. M’not cute.”

But Blue eventually couldn’t hold back his own laughter at the situation. It was a nice way for them to relieve their anxiety before the combat exam tournament.

Later that evening…

Nebula would hear a knock at his dorm room door. The stallion had just finished putting some eye drops in his eye via his levitation magic when he heard it.

“It’s open.”

The door opened, and Luster Dawn was behind it. “Hey. Uh…just wanted to wish you luck in the exams. I’m gonna be participating in the Tourney as well.”

“You are?” Nebula blinked his eyes a few times to get his drops in properly, then turned to shoot a smile in Dawn’s direction. “That’s good to hear. Hopefully you decide to join up with a team at some point.”

Dawn nervously rubbed the back of her head. “...maybe. Not sure if I’m ready for that. But yeah. Just wanted to…speak to someone. Princess Twilight is too busy…as usual,” she added with a flat sense of annoyance, “so I figured telling you would help calm my nerves, Nebula. Especially since…my mom and dad are gonna be there.”

“Anything to help a friend out. Starlight and Sunburst, right?” he asked about the names of her parents which she responded to with a nod. “I see. Well no matter what happens, I’m sure they’ll be proud of you, Dawn.”

“Thanks…” she replied with a sigh, “Hearing you say that makes me feel like it’s all gonna be okay somehow. A-anyway, I shouldn’t take up too much of your time. Should really start to make some other friends to talk to…”

Nebula shrugged. “Hey, it’s fine. So long as you trust in yourself, you’ll be alright, Dawn. The student body is pretty large, so I’m sure you’ll find someone who wants to research magic as much as you do,” he yawned as he flopped down into his bed. “But for now, I need to get some early rest. Gonna be a helluva fight tomorrow.”

“Yup…you’re right,” Dawn replied as she backed out of the room and shut the door, “Goodnight, Nebula.”

But as she walked away, she thought to herself.

'I just hope I can beat my opponent. Then Twilight will finally acknowledge my skill and leave me alone.'