Eric Sparkle and the Mysterious Filly

One day, at the School of Friendship, Twilight and Storm were reading letters and postcards from Starswirl about his travels.

“It must be gratifying to have your idol writing to both of you about the friendship lessons he’s learning,” Rarity said.

“I’m not sure we’ll ever get used to it. Of course, if he really wants to learn about friendship, he could just come to our school,” Twilight replied.

It was then that Eric and Cozy Glow entered the office.

“Professor Sparkle? Professor Storm Blade? The mailpony just came with, uh, a few things,” Cozy Glow said, revealing some wooden crates.

“Ooh! The sewing machines I ordered for my class!” Rarity replied, then dashed over to the crates.

“These came, too. I wasn’t sure what to make of them,” Cozy Glow said.

“I beg to differ, Cozy Glow. You seemed very interested in those flyers for some reason,” Eric replied, getting into her face, “Remember, I’ve got my eyes on you.”

“These machines were costly, but I am quite certain the friendship lessons I can teach my students with them will be invaluable,” Rarity said.

Twilight and Storm gasped at seeing one of the flyers.

“Oh, don’t worry, darlings. I’ll think of something. And I didn’t use the school funds to buy these. Jasper and I made the purchase entirely with our own bits,” Rarity said.

“It’s not that. It’s this!” Twilight replied, showing her the flyer.

“‘Why waste your time at a friendship school that’s just a school? Learn everything they teach and more at Friendship University’?!” Rarity read.

Twilight, Storm, and Eric were shocked at this.

It wasn’t long before Twilight, Storm, Rarity, and Eric speed walked through the hallway, pondering about Friendship University.

“Who would open another friendship school?“ Twilight asked.

“Oh, pfft! I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. You’re the Princess of Friendship. What could this other school possibly offer?” Rarity said.

“I’m not sure about that,” Storm replied.

The four of them were shocked as they stopped and noticed the Student 7 huddled up talking about Friendship University.

“It isn’t just another friendship school. It’s a university!” Smolder said.

“It says they teach the same lessons of competing schools in half the time. That’s twice the learning!“ Ocellus replied.

“And it’s in Las Pegasus? If Professor Rarity lets us skip her sewing class, road trip!” Gallus added.

The Student 7 chattered indistinctly as they moved on, leaving Rarity, Twilight, Storm, and Eric shocked.

“I think we need to look into this school,” Rarity said.

“Good thinking,” Storm replied.

“Las Pegasus? Can I please come with?” Eric asked.

“Of course, sweetheart and stay close to us,” Twilight replied. Eric nodded.

Once in Las Pegasus, the four of them were outside Friendship University.

“I don’t like to judge solely on appearances. But... what kind of friendship school is this?” Rarity asked.

“Only the best friendship school in the west... and maybe all of Equestria!” a stallion called Polo Play replied.

It wasn’t long before lots of ponies entered the building with Twilight, Rarity, Storm, and Eric entering from behind, trying to squeeze past them.

“There’s more ponies in here than at our whole school. Who is running this place?” Twilight asked.

“Welcome, friends! You are about to embark on a journey of amazing magnitude! One that will change your lives forever!” one stallion’s voice spoke up.

“Prepare yourselves to embrace a new path and become students of...” another stallion’s voice added.

“Friendship U!” Flim and Flam finished in unison, revealing themselves.

“Flim and Flam. Of course,” Twilight said.

“These guys just don’t know when to quit,” Storm added.

“Accredited?” Twilight asked.

“It means officially recognized or authorized,” Flam said.

“We know what it means. But who would accredit this place?” Rarity replied.

“Why, the EEA, of course,” a voice spoke up. The stallion revealed himself as Crimson Mystic.

“Professor Mystic?!” Twilight and Storm asked in unison. Eric just stayed behind Rarity.

“I’m the high secretary now, currently filling in for Vice Chancellor Pearly Flare while she is the acting chancellor,” Crimson said, “The Equestria Educational Association has taken an interest in institutions that teach friendship in a pony-first environment. Surely you didn’t think your school has a monopoly on the concept?”

“Well, they did write the book on it,” Rarity replied.

“Ah, yes. How to teach friendship to creatures who will one day use it as a weapon against us,” Crimson said.

“How could they use friendship as a weapon?!” Twilight asked.

“You tell me. It’s your book,” Crimson replied.

“Our school is supposed to teach ponies and other creatures about friendship and how to use it to defend us,” Storm retorted.

“Meantime, this university appears to be a promising option for ponies who’d prefer to stick to the EEA book on the subject,” Crimson said, giving Flam a hoof bump.

“You can’t be serious. They’re obviously up to something. It’s Flim and Flam!” Twilight retorted.

“Well, that certainly wasn’t friendly,” Flim replied, as the twins made sad faces.

“One would think the headmare and vice headstallion of a school of friendship, albeit an unaccredited one, would behave differently. Unless they were trying to undermine the competition? Hmm?” Crimson said.

Everypony else in the crowd gasped at the thought.

“I— No! What?! W-we are not!” Twilight replied.

“We’re only here for information,” Storm added.

“I did think the Prince and Princess of Friendship would be friendlier,” one mare remarked.

“Now, now, fillies and gentlecolts. Let’s show the princess just how friendly we are by signing up for some classes!” Flam said. He then gave out some sheets to several hopeful students.

“Why don’t I show you around?” Flim offered.

Twilight, Storm, Rarity, and Eric followed Flim and Crimson through the hallway.

“I’m sorry, but approval from the EEA won’t convince us that this school is what you promise,” Twilight said.

“And what would it take to convince you both?” Flim asked.

“Well, somepony whose opinion we respect, for one,” Twilight replied.

“Really? Somepony like... this?” Flim asked. He then opened a classroom door, revealing Starswirl, making Twilight, Rarity, Storm, and Eric gasp.

“Twilight? Storm?” Starswirl asked.

“Uh-oh,” Rarity said.

“Star Swirl? What are you doing here?” Twilight asked.

“Why, studying friendship at Flim and Flam’s wonderful school!” Starswirl replied.

“Oh, please. I think I know a disguise when I see one,” Rarity said, not buying it.

“Allow me, Rarity,” Eric replied, pointing his wand, “Revelio.”

“Now we know it’s really him,” Storm said, nothing that nothing happened.

“How’s it going in here?” Flam asked.

“I’d heard rumors you’ve returned, but I didn’t believe it until now. And if a pony of your stature is studying here, there really isn’t anything else I need to see,” Crimson said to Starswirl, “I, Secretary Crimson Mystic, hereby confer upon Friendship University complete and unreserved EEA accreditation!”

“I... I don’t understand. Why would you come here and not our school?” Twilight asked.

“My travels brought me to Las Pegasus. I didn’t come for the school, but Flim and Flam convinced me to try it out,” Starswirl replied.

“You can’t trust Flim and Flam! They tried to con the Apples out of their farm! They sold fake health tonic! They run a resort in Las Pegasus!” Twilight said.

“Technically, our resort is a legitimate business,” Flam pointed out.

“I spent a thousand years thinking the worst of a “bad” pony. You taught me to look for the best in him. Whatever Flim and Flam’s past may be, starting this school shows they want to change for the better,” Starswirl said.

“I wish Storm and I could believe that,” Twilight replied.

“Besides, what’s untrustworthy about opening a school of friendship? They don’t even charge for classes,” Starswirl said.

“I don’t know. But we know they’re up to something. And until we find out, I’m begging you, come to our school instead,” Twilight replied.

“I understand feeling threatened by competition, but my word, Princess. I wonder if the ill manners of the creatures at your school aren’t contagious. I think I will take my leave before I become infected,” Crimson said as he left the room.

“Twilight and Storm, I promise I’ll visit your school soon. But for now, perhaps it’s best if you return there,” Starswirl said.

Soon enough, the four of them walked through the hallway, pondering their next move.

“You don’t think they’re running an actual friendship school, do you?” Twilight asked.

“Darling, of course not. Which is why we have to investigate!” Rarity replied.

“What could Flim and Flam possibly have to gain from this?” Eric asked.

“Probably as a means of making money to fund the expansion of their resort,” Storm replied.

“But we can’t go poking around the school. Everypony’ll think we’re still just ‘threatened by the competition’” Twilight said.

“Only if we do it as ourselves,” Rarity replied.

“Good thinking, Rarity,” Storm said.

Rarity opened a closet door, then they all went inside and put on some disguises. It wasn’t long before Rarity came out wearing a pink shortsleeved shirt over a yellow long sleeve shirt and sky blue shorts, as well as a cap facing backwards. She also had her mane and tail a little messy.

“In these disguises, we could pass as students at our own school,” Rarity said.

“I don’t know, Rarity,” Twilight replied behind the door.

“Ah-ah. What did I say about using our real names?” Rarity asked.

“Sorry, “Plainity”. But I’m pretty sure this isn’t enough of a disguise,” Twilight replied as she opened the door. She wore an eyepatch and a large towel as a makeshift cloak.

“Luckily, I came prepared since my disguise is more likely to fool Flim and Flam than yours. Call me Shamrock Cones,” Storm pointed out in a Trottingham accent. He wore a dark blue trench coat over a black tuxedo shirt sleeve, with a fedora.

“Call me Burnferno the Dragon Warrior,” Eric said, wearing his Burnferno costume.

He then closed the door behind him as the stallion called Polo Play came up to them, “Hey, strangers! Are you four new here?” he asked.

“We sure are. Completely new,” Rarity said, blowing some bubblegum.

“Great! See ya in class!” Polo Play replied.

Rarity squealed excitedly that their disguises worked for the moment.

“Now, I’ve read enough Shadow Spade to know the key to going undercover is rehearsing your backstory,” Rarity said, then switched to a lower pitched voice, “I’m ‘Plainity’, and I love bland old normal stuff. No frills for me.” She then resumed her normal voice, “Okay! Your turn.”

“My name’s Eyepatch. I have an eye patch and a cloak,” Twilight replied, groaning.

“I’m Shamrock Cones, Equestria’s greatest detective,” Storm added in his best Trottingham accent.

“I’m Burnferno, the Dragon Warrior,” Eric finished.

“Perfect! Now, how do we start our investigation?” Rarity asked.

“I think we should split up. You enroll in some classes and find out what they’re actually teaching. I’ll look around and see what we can find, assuming I’m not recognized,” Twilight said.

“I think Eric and I should look around and see what we can find. Flim and Flam are likely to see through your crude disguise, honey,” Storm replied.

“Maybe you could look for a pen and some paper so we can write to Princess Celestia so she can inform Vice Chancellor Pearly Flare about this and have her shut this place down,” Eric added.

“Perhaps you’re right. In the meantime, I’ll just keep a low profile until either of you find something,” Twilight replied.

It wasn’t long before Rarity joined a class being taught by Flam.

“Welcome, newest students! Let’s dive right in, shall we? One of the most important elements of friendship is being thoughtful. True or false?” Flam said. The students chattered eagerly.

“If by “thoughtful” you mean “generous”, I’d say true,” Rarity answered.

“Correct!” Flam replied, then gave a laugh, “It was a trick question. Very impressive, Miss...?”

“Plainity,” Rarity said.

“Well, well, well, Miss Plainity, keep it up and you’ll be ready for our next level in no time!” Flam replied. The students were in awe at Rarity’s success.

“Now, let’s see if you can demonstrate for the class. What’s something generous you could do for... me right now?” Flam asked.

Rarity gave Flam a pillow and fed him some grapes from a bowl.

“Class, Plainity here is now my star pupil. If any of you want a chance at studying with Starswirl, I’d take notes on her every action,” Flam said. The students eagerly took notes.

An hour later

“You can be generous with all sorts of things. Gifts, compliments, your time,” Rarity said, answering the students’ questions. The students chattered excitedly at her helping them and eagerly took notes. Twilight, Storm, and Eric rejoined her hoping to check on her progress.

“Shamrock, did you and Burnferno find anything yet?” Rarity asked.

“Nothing, but Eyepatch found some paper and a pen so we can write a letter to Princess Celestia,” Storm replied.

“Have you found anything yet, Plainity?” Eric asked.

“I need the bits if I’m going to keep advancing here. Tuition’s free, but the worksheets sure aren’t,” Rarity said, revealing her worksheets.

“Flim and Flam are charging for these?” Twilight asked.

“Well, they have to cover expenses, and Flam insists that everything extra goes to improving the school and…” Rarity said, gasping, “This is the scam, isn’t it?”

“Let’s find out,” Twilight replied.

The four of them discreetly took a peek inside the classroom where they noticed Starswirl hoping to pay the brothers. They politely declined anything else he had to offer, then another student came up to the brothers hoping to buy a worksheet. The brothers only gave him half, causing their student to sell his shirt in desperation and they gave him the other half. Twilight, Storm, Rarity, and Eric felt sorry for that one student and everypony else in attendance as they heard everything. The four of them moved away from the door and pondered their next move.

It wasn’t long before Flim and Flam were headed to their office with a bag of bits, unaware that Twilight, Storm, Eric, and Rarity were following them. They opened the door and noticed the brothers turn the hands on the clock and flip the pictures of themselves, unlocking a secret room. The four of them followed the brothers inside.

Flam climbed a ladder and emptied the bits onto a pile, then climbed back down with a smile on his face. Flim took a paintbrush and filled in a drawn up beaker with red paint.

“Well, brother of mine, we’ve got almost all the bits we need to expand our resort. If we add another level of classes and worksheets, we’ll be there,” Flim said.

“Maybe we should add two levels, just to be safe,” Flam suggested.

The brothers looked at a scale model of their resort expansion plan, trying to decide where to place certain things.

“It’s a thing of beauty. But I was thinking. What if we added another extreme pool slide here?” Flim asked.

“Mmmm... Sure, as long as the pipes for the musical chocolate fountain go through... here,” Flam replied.

“But shouldn’t it go closer to the pudding hot tub here?” Twilight asked, pointing a hoof.

“Fair point, but… What?!” Flim replied.

He and Flam were surprised that Twilight, Storm, and Eric entered their secret room.

“We knew your school was a scam!“ Twilight said.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Princess of Friendship!” Flim replied.

“Don’t forget the Prince of Friendship! We figured you were up to something and we were right,” Storm said, dropping the accent and removing his disguise.

“You’re busted!” Eric added, having already removed his Burnferno costume.

“If it isn’t Eric Sparkle. Good to finally see you here in Las Pegasus,” Flim said.

“I would’ve preferred to meet you at your resort,” Eric replied.

“We’ll just lead your students into this secret room of bits and resort expansion plans!” Twilight said.

“Using your students’ bits to expand your resort is wrong, even if the lessons you teach are good ones. There are better ways to do so than this,” Storm added.

“Of course they’re good. We copied them from your book,” Flam replied, revealing their lesson plan.

“We just skipped every other page. All the lessons, half the time!” Flim added.

“Fine, but you have to give back the bits and stop charging for our lessons. Then you can teach them as much as you like,” Twilight said.

“Nah!” Flim and Flam replied in unison.

“Running a school is more work than we thought. Besides, we almost have everything we need,” Flim said.

The brothers headed for the door only to be blocked by Rarity, “I think not!” she replied.

“Plainity? My star pupil?” Flam asked.

“Not Plainity, but...” Rarity said, switching to her normal voice and removing her disguise, “Rarity!”

“Who?” Flim asked.

“We decided to bring somepony else here to listen to everything you just said!” Rarity replied.

It was then that Starswirl entered the room, along with Vice Chancellor Pearly Flare.

“Hey, Star Swirl. We were just about to…” Flim said, stuttering.

“Return the bits you’ve collected from your students and close your school?” Starswirl finished for him.

Flam gulped nervously, “Yeah. That,” he replied.

“I am Vice Chancellor Pearly Flare, currently the acting chancellor while Neighsay is suspended. Celestia informed me about this poor excuse for a school after she got your letter explaining everything,” Pearly Flare explained, “Flim and Flam, accreditation for this school has been revoked and by order of the EEA, this school is hereby shut down.”

It wasn’t long before Flim and Flam reluctantly gave the students their bits back.

“It seems I’ll never stop learning from your example, Twilight. It is a valuable lesson to stand up for what you know is true. I wish I had known it, too!” Starswirl said.

“Thanks for returning our bits. But how are we going to learn about friendship now?” a student asked. The students murmured in disappointment.

“Well, I can refer you to a fairly reputable establishment just outside of Ponyville. I’m quite certain the headmare and vice headstallion would consider letting you in,” Starswirl replied.

Twilight and Storm giggled, the students of the now former Friendship University cheered.

“As for you, Flim and Flam, Eric and I wrote letters to Mr. Filthy Rich and Mrs. Mint Spoon in Ponyville about the plan to expand your resort and both their families decided to give you a large sum of bits as a generous donation,” Storm said.

Soon enough, Twilight, Rarity, Storm, and Eric were back at the School of Friendship.

“…Of course, if I ever go to a school again, I’ll make sure it’s yours. In friendship, Star Swirl.” Twilight said, reading Starswirl’s latest postcard.

“I still don’t understand how Flim and Flam could have gotten a copy of your book,” Rarity replied.

“They told me that Secretary Mystic told them about this school,” Storm said.

“I think it was Cozy Glow,” Eric replied, “She must’ve given them a copy of your book.”

“She tells us that you refuse to give her tutoring when she asks you and that you keep a very close watch on her at all times,” Storm said, “Why do you do that?”

“Cozy Glow is just so shady and I suspect that she’s up to something that isn’t good, but I don’t know what,” Eric replied.

“Sweetheart, Cozy Glow is a nice little filly and you should be nice to her,” Twilight said.

“I don’t like her, mommy, and I never will!” Eric replied, then left the office in a huff.

Once back at his family’s castle, Eric was still thinking about Cozy Glow.

“What could Cozy Glow possibly have to gain from giving Flim and Flam a copy of my parents’ school lesson book?” Eric asked.