Eric Sparkle and the Mysterious Filly

Eric was in his bedroom crying as a result of Chancellor Neighsay’s insult and being wrongfully expelled from school. Just then, his friends came in to help cheer him up.

“Eric? You feeling okay?” Apple Bloom asked.

“No,” Eric replied as he took his head off the pillow, “I’ve been expelled from Ponyville Grade School for no good reason.”

“Me too,” Holly added.

“He wrongfully expelled me as well,” Zuni said.

“All because six of us aren’t ponies, despite our good academic records,” Marina added.

“The nerve of that stallion for expelling us!” Pincer said.

“His speciesist attitude is a real thorn in our sides,” Slapstick added.

Sweetie Belle climbed onto the bed in an attempt to cheer up her boyfriend. She hugged him warmly as he just kept crying.

“We’re here for you, Eric,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Good friends are always there for each other,” Scootaloo added.

“I appreciate you trying to cheer me up, everyone,” Eric replied.

“Sure. You would do the same for any one of us,” Nightshade said.

Meanwhile, Twilight looked at her school as the big blue EEA lock sealed the entrance. “Oh...” Twilight groaned, looking down in sadness.

“I wondered how long you’d take to get tired of pillow-fort pouting,” Starlight said, as Twilight turned around and noticed her walking up to her.

“Everypony’s already tried to cheer me up. It won’t work,” Twilight said.

Starlight made a short laugh, then replied, “I’m not gonna cheer you up. I’m gonna tell you what you did wrong.”

“What?!” Twilight asked.

“You gave up too easily,” Starlight replied, as Twilight felt beat.

“Hey, you made me a guidance counselor. That means tough love,” Starlight said.

“Neighsay was right. Storm and I failed. The school was a disaster,” Twilight said.

“So was I when you met me, but you showed me that when you know in your heart something is right, you stand up for it. You and Storm did that for me. Why not for this?” Starlight reminded her.

“We can’t go against the EEA! They’re in charge of all the schools in Equestria!” Twilight exclaimed.

“And you’re in charge of all the friendship in Equestria. Why should you let somepony else stop you from doing your job?” Starlight asked.

“But the EEA rulebook—“ Starlight suddenly cut her off, “Doesn’t matter! You can write your own rules! Because you are doing something new. Something important!” she said.

Twilight then had confident look and said, “You’re right! Why we’re doing this is way more important than how we’re doing this! And we are doing this!”

“Now, that’s the Twilight I know. How can I help?” Starlight asked.

“You already have,” Twilight said.

Back at the Castle of Friendship, Storm and the others were with Eric and his friends, until the door opened.

“Guess what? The School of Friendship is back in business!” Twilight said.

“What?!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“But why?!” Rarity asked.

“Oh, no,” Fluttershy said.

“Bad idea,” Applejack added.

“Do we still get to guess?” Pinkie asked.

“Think positive, girls,” Storm replied to the others.

“No offense, Twilight, but teaching at that school was the most boring, horrible, awful thing ever,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Uh, pretty sure she’s gonna take offense to that,” Applejack said.

“No, Rainbow Dash is right. Storm and I owe you all an apology. We were so focused on doing things the EEA way, we didn’t listen to any of you. I’m sorry. I promise, this time, we’ll run the school the way friends should; together, but with a few regular school standards, and some of our personal traits,” Twilight said.

“I’m sorry too, for it was hard for me to disagree with Twilight. I tried to find balance,” Storm added.

“So... we’d be allowed to teach however we want to?” Rarity asked.

“No more scary pop quizzes?” Fluttershy added.

“Confetti cannons for all creatures?!” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Whatever you need to teach the Elements of Harmony, but with some editions on the curriculum,” Twilight said.

“Yippeeeee!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, as her party cannons fired confetti.

“Well, in that case, we’re behind you one hundred percent, Twilight,” Applejack replied.

Spike cleared his throat as the Mane 7 looked back at Spike, “Just two small problems. The school is still unaccredited...” Twilight’s eye twitched after looking back at Spike, “...and we don’t have any students.”

“I’ll take care of the first part if you six can round up our class,” Twilight said.

“Totally! Uh... how?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Applejack then thought for a moment, “Roundin’ up the pony students ain’t gonna be an issue, but...”

“The creatures from the other kingdoms seemed pretty upset with us,” Fluttershy finished for Applejack.

“Pfft! Nonsense! I’m certain we can win them over with our charm and style!” Rarity replied.

Soon enough, at the castle in Canterlot, the leaders, Twilight and Storm were arguing over the loss of their students with Lord Emerald, Princesses Celestia and Luna.

“Where Yona?! This all pony’s fault!” Prince Rutherford said.

“You’re pretty quick to blame them! What are you hiding, yak?!” Ember asked, until Prince Rutherford snorted.

“C-Can... Can we just focus on finding our lost students?” Thorax asked nervously.

“I agree with Thorax. Finding the students should matter more,” King Aspen added.

“Nice try! You grubs are probably hidin’ the whole lot of ‘em!” Grandpa Gruff snapped, “And who’s to say the deer aren’t hiding them either?!”

“Please, everyone! If you can just explain what happened!” Princess Celestia said.

“The students left us notes before they disappeared. When the school closed, they didn’t want to say goodbye to each other. They claim they ran away to stay together,” General Seaspray explained.

“I can’t believe it! They did learn friendship!” Twilight said as the dignitaries gave her a deadpanned look, “Sorry.”

“I still don’t understand why they ran off,” Storm said.

“The students couldn’t have done this by themselves. Some creature is hiding them! If the niece of our queen is not found soon, I promise there will be retribution!” General Seaspray said.

“Yeah? Well, my dragons will burn every kingdom until we find which of you is hiding Smolder!” Ember retorted.

“Tell it to the griffon army!” Grandpa Gruff yelled.

“Yaks fight griffons and dragons!” Prince Rutherford shouted.

“The Changeling Empire can’t afford an international incident. If any creature blames the changelings for this…”

Ember suddenly cut Thorax off, “What are you up to, shapeshifter?!”

“B-But we’re friends!” Thorax replied.

“Everyone please calm down! If we fight each other, our alliance could shatter and we’d be vulnerable to Glacio and his forces!” Storm said.

“Find the students quickly, Twilight and Storm, or I fear our world will be at war!” Princess Celestia told them. Twilight nodded, and then they all returned to Ponyville.

Meanwhile, back at the Castle of Friendship. Eric began writing a letter to Princess Celestia regarding the school closure by Chancellor Neighsay.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I am writing to inform you that Chancellor Neighsay closed down the School of Friendship. According to my daddy, the chancellor abused his power, for he was quick to close the school, even though my parents and their friends tried their hardest to follow the EEA guidelines. Since my parents and their friends are new to teaching, they found it extremely difficult to balance the guidelines with their own teaching methods. The chancellor also has negative opinions on other creatures that are clearly unjust. His insults led the dignitaries to send their students home and said students ran away to stay together, which lead their leaders to bicker and threaten to go to war with each other if their students weren’t found. One of his insults hurt my feelings and he even expelled me and five of my friends from Ponyville Grade School just for being non-ponies. If you could please inform the rest of the EEA about his actions right away, they might be able to do something about it and my parents and our friends would greatly appreciate it.

- Prince Eric Sparkle

He then put the letter in an envelope, then got on his broomstick and flew to Canterlot. There, he went to the mansion where Nightshade lived and knocked on the door. The butler, Clockwork opened the door revealing Nightshade.

“Hello, Eric,” Nightshade greeted.

“Hi, Nightshade,” Eric replied, then asked, “Can you please give this letter to Princess Celestia?”

“Of course,” Nightshade said.

It wasn’t long before Nightshade reached the castle and entered the throne room, where Princess Celestia finished reading a letter from Twilight saying that she, Storm, and their friends found the students.

“Princess Celestia, here’s a letter from Eric!” Nightshade said.

“Let’s see what it’s about,” Celestia replied as he gave it to her.

Celestia and Luna shocked to hear about what Eric wrote. She then went to the EEA headquarters to explain what Chancellor Neighsay did.

Later on, the Mane 7 and the Student Seven gathered at the entrance of the school. Before Twilight could open the door, she head a voice. “Twilight! I was so relieved to get your letter and Eric’s too!” Princess Celestia said, before Eric got off her back and hugged his parents.

“As was Queen Novo. Oh, we’re just glad you’re alright, Silverstream!” General Seaspray said.

Grandpa Gruff then approached Gallus, “Don’t expect a welcome party from me, sonny! It’s time you got home!” Gallus smacked Grandpa Gruff from tugging his ear, “I’m not leaving.”

“Whaaaat?!” Grandpa Gruff asked, until he wheezed.

“None of us are. Sorry, Thorax,” Ocellus said.

“Yak not understand. This pony joke?” Prince Rutherford asked.

“No. We’re going back to school,” Smolder said.

“How? You can’t even get inside!” Ember said. Twilight then walked over to the gate, then she and Storm the lock and chains from the entrance. “School is back in session!” Twilight said, and the students cheered, until a magic portal started warbling, and Chancellor Neighsay appeared. Eric just stayed behind his parents.

“Who dared remove my seal?” Chancellor Neighsay asked, touching the pieces.

“We did, Chancellor Neighsay! And we respectfully ask you to step aside, or classes will start late,” Twilight said, with Storm nodding in agreement.

“Classes won’t start at all! The EEA has spoken, and none shall pass!” Chancellor Neighsay said.

“Yak pass if yak say! Hmph!” Yona replied.

“This is for the greater good. The school was disorganized, the teachers unqualified! And those dangerous and unpredictable “students” put ponies’ lives in danger!” Chancellor Neighsay said.

“Only because we’re new at teaching and were underprepared!” Storm replied.

Prince Rutherford growled, until Ember growled back, “I’ll show you unpredictable!”

Grandpa Gruff, Ember, Prince Rutherford, General Seaspray, and Thorax started shouting, until Princess Celestia stood up to them, “Hold on, please! I’m sure Princess Twilight Sparkle has a good explanation for all of this.”

“I do! It’s true that my School of Friendship is EEA-unaccredited,” Twilight said.

“Then it is not a school!” Chancellor Neighsay retorted.

“It’s not an EEA school. It’s a friendship school with its own rules. I should know. I wrote the book!” Twilight replied, “These students reminded me that every friendship is special, so the way we teach it has to be just as unique. My school is going to do things differently.”

“Allowing all of these creatures to attend your school, changing the rules for them, it simply won’t work!” Chancellor Neighsay said.

“I seem to recall something about Earth ponies, unicorns, and Pegasi doing something similar, don’t you? I told the vice-chancellor about what happened, and the rest of the EEA has called your actions out of order. Neighsay, you are hereby stripped of your title and authority for abuse of power, including the wrongful expulsion of Prince Eric Sparkle and five of his friends, and your speciesist insults against our him and allies,” Princess Celestia said.

“I promise you, Neighsay. Our school will help protect Equestria,” Twilight said, as she made a confused eyebrow with a smirking smile.

“Just you wait and see. Trust me,” Storm added.

Neighsay then growled, “Or destroy it!” He then jumped back into the portal and then disappeared.

“Eric, I have a letter for you and your friends from Vice Chancellor Pearly Flare,” Princess Celestia said.

Once the princess gave him the letter, Eric opened it. He then began reading it:

Dear Prince Eric,

I was very displeased when Princess Celestia informed me that you, Slapstick, Holly, Marina, Pincer, and Zuni were wrongfully expelled from Ponyville Grade School. We at the EEA greatly apologize for you and your friends’ wrongful expulsion by Mr. Neighsay. Your academic records show nothing of long term concern to us and that you, along with your friends are actually great in school. We discussed the matter your teacher, Miss Cheerilee and resolved the issue. To amend this terrible mistake that Mr. Neighsay made, you and your friends are hereby reinstated to Ponyville Grade School.

Wishing you all the best, Vice Chancellor Pearly Flare

“At least we’’ll be back in school,” Eric said.

“We’re glad to have you back, Eric,” Sweetie Belle replied.

“Hmph. How is this school going to be any different from last time?” Grandpa Gruff asked.

“Ugh, fine! If you promise to stop singing, Smolder can stay!” Ember said.

“Wahoo!” Smolder cheered.

“Uh, if dragon stay, yak stay,” Prince Rutherford said, as Yona jumped happily.

“I know you will make the changelings proud, Ocellus,” Thorax said, as Ocellus nodded.

“Make our herd proud, son,” King Aspen said to Prince Bramble.

“You belong here. Now, can you show me those stair things you mentioned?” General Seaspray said, and Silverstream nodded with excitement.

“What? You belong at home! You think I care if you’ve made friends?” Grandpa Gruff said.

“Please, Grandpa Gruff?” Gallus asked, then gave a pleading look.

“Alright, alright! Stop doing that!” Grandpa Gruff replied.

“Guess I make a pretty good guidance counselor, huh?” Starlight asked.

“Yes! Writing the rulebook was the most fun ever! I can’t wait to start working on the new lesson plans!” Twilight said, until Applejack cleared her throat. “...with some help from my friends.”

“Well, let’s get our lessons going!” Rainbow Dash said.