Chapter 1
Ms Cheerilee's lecture for the day was met with mild to generally no enthusiasm, especially for one young russet colored unicorn colt. Positioned cleverly in the back corner of the room he sat. His notebook propped up at a sly diagonal angle so that only he could see. From a distance it might appear that he was taking notes, eyes focused straight ahead towards his jubilant teacher as she discusses the finer nuances of language usage in Sherclop Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles, But no! This young fellows eyes were on a different target. A very bored looking bright orange pegasus encompassed his view as she listlessly toyed with a lock of her shock purple mane
“Olive!” A voice rang out, suddenly drawing the young colt up in his seat, eyes adjusting just slightly to meet his teachers gaze
“uhm...y-yes Ms Cheerilee?” he said, his heart sinking in anticipation for the question about to be lobbed his way
“Could you please tell us what figure of speech Doctor Trotson uses to describe Holmes at the end of Chapter 5?” Ms Cheerilee said, her green eyes boring into Olives little pony soul.
“uah..uhhm...m...Metaphor?” Olive squeaked out uncertainly, his face feeling flushed. Perhaps he could manage to hide from the entire class of foals, but he could never seem to evade detection by his teacher for long.
To his answer Ms Cheerilee narrowed her eyes for a moment, as if contemplating how to best scold him, before her face shifted into a bright smile “Correct! In describing what it is like to work with holmes, Trotson makes his comparison without using like or as” Cheerilee went on with her lecture, clearly enthused by a child providing proof of her ability to teach. Olive let out a great sigh, his eyes falling back to his notebook now that the crisis of the question was averted.
Olive was not a bad student, not at all in fact, but lately in place of notes, his notebook was filled with doodles, but not lazy half hearted doodles, no! These were lovely drawings, meticulously carried out when he should have been paying attention. All for...well, all for nothing, Olive solemnly thought to himself. Upon the past seven or so pages of his notebook were the illustrated, imaginary adventures of him and, in his mind, the most super, awesome, incredi-mazing, orangerific, funtastic pegasus ever, and Olive could not be more proud of his drawings. If not for one thing. His ears drooped as he leaned back in his chair, his horn glowing a soft golden orange light as he closed his notebook. Scootaloo had no idea he existed. Always the quiet one, Olive usually took a liking to not being noticed. Only now, here was attention he wanted, and after spending so much time trying not to be noticed, the young unicorn now had no idea how to fight for the reverse.
Olive let his gaze fall back on Scootaloo. Class was drawing to a close so he no longer feared the the threat of a question. Beside Scootaloo sat her two closest friends, the white unicorn Sweetie Belle, and the energetic, butter colored youngest of the apple family, AppleBloom. He wished he could be as close to her as those two, even more he wished for an excuse to become that close. Olive was never very good with words, he dreaded the idea of idling small talk. He needed a reason to speak to her, to any of them, yet his mind was drawing a blank, unlike his flank. Olive almost despised his cutie mark now, as it would have been the perfect excuse to join in on their adventures. Instead it sat, a dove upon his hips, reminding him of just how peaceful and unexciting things had been when he'd gotten it.
Getting his cutiemark had been a happy day to be sure, but now it almost seemed unimportant. Being good at calming others, and maintaining peace among your fellows meant very little in the game of introductions, and even less if he couldn't even calm himself down for long enough to think of a plan of action. Mustering all of his will Olive sucked in a breath and let his magic flow inwardly, warmth washing over him like a bath, clearing his mind if only a bit.
“Don't forget everypony! Hearts and Hooves day is coming up next week. I hope you all are thinking of wonderful things to put in your class hearts and hooves day cards. Unfortunately this year there wont be any punch at the class party. That's all for today class, dismissed.” Ms Cheerilee said cheefully, despite casting an accusational gaze towards Scoots and her two friends.
Olive exhaled audibly. His magic dispersing with a loud pop, drawing eyes from the ponies around him , causing a blush formed upon his cheeks. Hearts and Hooves day!? It was was this close? Olive had been far too distracted of late. Hearts and Hooves day had been the last thing on his mind. Olive glanced at his notebook, mentally paging through all his doodles of the adventures he and Scootaloo could have, no, would have if he could only get to know her. This was perfect! Surely it was a sign. He could do it, he could get Scootaloo to notice him, all he needed was a good excuse to talk to her, and surely the most fantastic hearts and hooves day card would do just that. Olive shot out of his desk, nearly tipping it as he pulled himself free. The desk wobbled back and forth, thumping the ground in a way that seemed to shake the entire room. Olive hid his eyes, his cheeks burning hotly. He was not usually so careless, but in his excitement he hardly seemed aware of himself. After gathering up his saddlebags, and righting his composure Olive practically pranced out of the classroom, lingering behind the other ponies of course, so as not to arouse suspicion. His mind was whirling, his face, aglow, and his heart aflutter.
