An Earthling Earth Pony at Celestia's School of Magic: Year One

After sitting through a lesson on differential equations that seemed to slow down somehow time to stretch a single hour into nine—or at least that was how it felt to me, we finally got to ask Professor Inkwell about who could be making me see things and why.

I sat in front of Inkwell, her horn glowing as she stared into my eyes.

“I do not see any trace of magic that would only impact your vision. Are you sure this was localized to you?” Inkwell asked as she continued to search my eyes, for I didn’t know what.

“The rest of us ain’t seen nothin’,” Bright confirmed. Hannah and Summer nodded in silent agreement.

She frowned as she let her horn’s light wink out. “Hmm, let me think. Come over here, Bright Pear. I want to see if a spell was cast to shield you from seeing an illusion. It is a more advanced tactic that could have been done, which requires simultaneous spellcasting of multiple spells, but it is an alternative explanation. It is also something that I wouldn’t expect any first-year student, even a strong one with an affinity for illusion magic, to be able to pull off. Only one of our fourth-years or a graduate could manage it, talented ones. This would be well beyond what any of your classmates are capable of. It would take careful planning, even for me, to manage a set of spells that elaborate. Still, let me check for it. Never rule anything possible, even if unlikely, out until you test for it.”

Bright did as instructed, and Inkwell relit her horn while examining his eyes. As she did, I reconsidered my earlier assumption that this was a case of Prim trying to mess with me. While I was willing to believe Prim had more talent and skill than the average member of our class due to her private tutoring before coming to this school, the idea that she could do something that even Professor Inkwell would have to put a great deal of effort into seemed somewhat far-fetched. It also seemed to be far too much work for a simple prank. I might not have been the most industrious of ponies, but I doubted even the hardest working students at the school would ever put so much work into trying to make me believe I was crazy and seeing things. @as it Discord? He was powerful enough to pull it off and he didn’t seem to like me, but he also seemed to want to avoid me altogether, and messing with me like this was not avoiding me. He’d mentioned forces that had connections to me, with me having a force that wasn’t connected to Hannah or Summer. Could this third unknown force be at work? Why did it even care about me?

Inkwell released her magic. “There’s nothing.”

“Ya’ve got pretty eyes,” Bright said.

Inkwell smirked. “Thank you, young colt, but the compliment isn’t going to get you any bonus points in my class. Anyway, I think we can rule this out as any traditional illusion spell.”

“What can it be then?” Summer asked.

“Is Turnip just delusional and seeing things?” Hannah asked. I gave her a dirty look for that, but she ignored it.

Inkwell looked at me, frowning slightly. “Has this happened before—you seeing something that others did not?”

There was one thing.

“The other night I saw a filly playing with a black butterfly in the fields just outside the campus,” I answered. “Those people who were taking Psychic Calm’s body back to Earth were passing by, and one of them asked me what I had been staring at. After I told them, they said they never saw the filly or butterfly. They seemed more interested in the butterfly for some reason after I told them what I had seen. This was right after sundown that night.”

“They were more interested in the butterfly?” Inkwell asked, seeming confused.

I nodded.

“I’m not an expert on Earth culture, flora, and fauna. Do butterflies, black or otherwise, have any special significance on Earth?” Inkwell asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Not that I know of. A butterfly is just a butterfly,” I answered. I looked at Hannah to see if she knew, but she just shook her head, seeming as confused as I was about why it was an important detail.

Inkwell sighed. “Perhaps Charlotte—Professor Newman—might have some idea what the significance of that is. She is familiar with more obscure knowledge that covers fields those bodyguards may be interested in.. It isn’t that important to this discussion anyway…at least…I don’t think it is important. The important part is that there was another instance of you seeing something that others didn’t. I have a theory on what this is, but it is a field I lack knowledge about. I have a feeling that there’s no current member of the faculty that is going to be particularly helpful with this if my guess is correct. I only know of three ponies in Equestria that have any real familiarity with the field. There may be more on Earth, but I’m not familiar with those ones. It will take me time to get in contact with any of them. Two of them are very busy and the third I’m unsure of the current whereabouts of…or if they are even still alive…I assume they’re alive since they’re a few years younger than me and there would have been news, even if it only got gossiped about for a only a day, if they’d passed away. They’re seclusive, but not that seclusive. Maybe Professor Newman or Moondancer knows where they are. Neighsay might as well. He personally instructed her back when he was last teaching regularly. It's been decades, sixty or more years, but he does tend to keep tabs on anypony he personally instructed. I know he followed my career, so I’m sure he followed hers.”

“What do you think it is?” I asked eagerly.

She shook her head. “I prefer not to say until I consult with one of those ponies. I’m out of my depth when discussing it and may be only considering it because I am so unfamiliar with it. For right now, you need to hurry on to your next class. Be prompt in getting to lunch as well. I know there should be some major announcements today. I’m not even sure about what all the details of those announcements are myself.”

Bright, Summer, Hannah, and I all shared a look. Bright gave a shrug which Hannah quickly mirrored. There was nothing to do but wait for lunch.

Professor Neighsay’s class wasn’t particularly interesting. I couldn’t talk about the truestones with him, despite the fact it would probably earn me a lot of brownie points with him considering he was so fascinated by Headmaster’s staff..I’m sure he would love to know that it wasn’t the staff that was important, but the small stone that was embedded somewhere within the staff and that one of these stones had decided I was their special person as if the truestone was a pet.

So I slugged through his lecture, taking notes, before being dismissed early once again.

Using my free time before lunch, I decided to check out the hallway again, to see if I would see a different setting again. After nearly half an hour of walking up and down the hallway and checking every crevice for any type of device or artifact that might have triggered a spell, I was no closer to understanding what had happened. I had no idea what had triggered it. If it happened once, there should be some way of making it happen again, but I was clueless about the how.

Lunch time came, and I was among the first in the cafeteria. This wasn’t the first time this occurred, but what was odd was Headmaster wasn’t in the cafeteria. I was fairly confident that he was almost always the first to arrive. He seemed to make it a point to see all the students come in. Why he made a point to do this, I didn’t know. Headmaster had a lot of odd eccentricities, and even after a few months of observing him, I knew barely anything more concrete about him than when I started. I hadn’t even figured out where he lived yet, something I had managed to do with just about all the other faculty—at least where they lived in general, like I knew the CMC founders commuted back and forth from Ponyville every day, most of the professors had houses somewhere in town, Stockman lived with his tribal community in the Canterlot mines, and Newman actually seemed to lodge in the castle for some reason. Where Headmaster went when he wasn’t at school was a mystery to everyone. No one ever saw him leave campus, but there were times he was gone. He likely teleported in and out, but to where was unknown.

I got my lunch and took my normal place at our table. More students had been drifting in while I was getting my food, and a more considerable stream began as I sat down. The next student to join our table was Hail Storm, who didn’t sit at his normal spot. He sat across from me.

“Hi, Turnip, how are you?” Hail asked in a singsong voice.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “If you want to know how Summer is doing, you can ask her.”

“But she hasn’t talked to me since the other night,” Hail said pleadingly. “Is she still mad?”

I shook my head. “She went and took some time to go nirik yesterday. I don’t know how she’s feeling after that. Ask her, and take some time to apologize.”

Hail cowered in his seat. “She went nirik?”

“She’s a kirin. They do that when they get mad. You knew she was mad,” I said dryly.

“She hadn’t gone nirik earlier when she was dealing with me,” Hail countered.

“She was holding it back because she has self control. She didn’t want to hurt anyone, especially you, or do any property damage,” I countered back. “Just talk to her. I don’t think she would appreciate you asking all her other friends about how she’s feeling instead of asking her directly,” I looked at the door of the cafeteria. “And it looks like she is coming in now, so you’ll have your chance.”

He looked and cowered again. “Hannah’s with her.”

“So?” I asked.

“Hannah will criticize me,” Hail explained.

“And avoiding Summer is going to make her feel better?” I asked. “Hannah’s going to be around her a lot. They’re roommates and best friends. You have to deal with it. Why are you so afraid of Hannah? Where’s your pegasus pride?”

Hail grimaced and retreated back to his normal seat as Sweetie Belle went to the normal spot for making announcements. “Students! Please keep the noise down as you are getting your food and taking your seats.nI have several important announcements to give.”

A few more of our classmates were already starting to take their seats at our table. Bright took his next to me.

“First off,” Sweetie Belle said. “Headmaster will be gone for a few days to assist a pony in a certain sensitive magical matter. He instructed me to take care of his duties while he was gone…which apparently includes dishwashing. So, if you are being sent to the Headmaster’s office for anything you are to find me instead. The other members of the faculty know when I’m teaching and won’t send you to me when there’s a schedule conflict.”

Sensitive magical matter? What did she mean by that? Perhaps he was moving the truestones to a more secure location. I guess that also settled the question of who the vice headmare was if Sweetie Belle was taking temporary charge.

“Next, the headmares and headstallions of several schools will be visiting tomorrow and staying for a few days as we make plans for the upcoming magic games. I will introduce them to you during lunch tomorrow so you know who they are,” Sweetie Belle continued. “I need every student to be on their best behavior. We don’t want to embarrass our school in front of the heads of the other schools. You should know that for most of these school leaders this will not only be the first visit to our school that they have made, but also their first visit to Equestria. You are representing not only our school but our entire world, remember that. Some of them may stop to speak with you as they tour. Be respectful and try to answer any questions they may have…with the exception of anything that may be sensitive information—that last applying primarily to the fourth-years. Still try to be respectful when explaining you can’t discuss those things if they come up.”

Fourth-years had access to sensitive information? What kinds of sensitive information? Sensitive to who? If some of them were expecting to move into government positions after graduating they might already be assisting or interning with them, and that might give them limited access to some government secrets. I suppose I technically had access to sensitive information when it concerned the truestones. Did Professor Sweetie Belle know about them? Were there other things than the truestones the school was protecting?

“Next, I know some of you who were in the dream magic classes were wondering who would be instructing you now that the teaching position is vacant,” Sweetie Belle continued. “We’re still considering our options for a permanent replacement for Psychic Calm, and we are compiling a list of potential candidates and it may take some time before we start interviews. In the meantime, Princess Luna has graciously agreed to substitute. I am unsure if she will be available outside of class for any assistance, as she has plenty of other duties to take care of, but this still should be an exciting opportunity for those of you taking those classes. Remember, this is not permanent. It is only lasting until we have found a proper replacement.”

There were a few excited mutters from over near the third and fourth year tables. Dream magic must not be available for second-years. It certainly wasn’t on the first-year list of classes. I knew Luna had personal students, so it wasn’t shocking that she would be willing to teach. I could understand the excitement of having an alicorn princess for a teacher, but I wasn’t jealous…at least, not very jealous. Sadly, there was almost certainly going to be a new dream magic professor long before I had a chance to take the class, probably before the school year was out.

“Lastly, Princess Flurry Heart may be at the school on and off for the next few days. While she is not the headmare of the Crystal Empire school of magic, she is deeply involved with it, as a pet project of hers, and she will be accompanying her appointed headmare on the tour. While she is head of a client state, she is still a princess of Equestria, and you should be extra respectful of her,” Sweetie Belle said, seeming uncomfortable. “Be respectful even if she makes some…disparaging comments about the school. Her school is freshly established. For those of you who saw many of your classmates exit this year in the scaling back of our class sizes, you may see them again during the games…as part of Crystal Prep Academy. Flurry Heart was quick to establish a large student body by poaching our former students and faculty. She wishes none of you ill, and cares deeply for your well-being, but she believes heartedly in the old ways when it comes to education, is wary of how many things are being introduced from Earth so quickly. She worries that what makes Equestria be Equestria may be lost in all this rapid change and is doing what she thinks is right to maintain our culture. Don’t let her comments upset you. Consider it a difference of opinion. That is all the announcements, please enjoy your lunch, and be prompt in getting to your next class.”

My friends had joined the table while Sweetie Belle was talking.

“Doesn’t the Crystal Empire control that there portal to Earth? Why does Flurry Heart keep it open if she don’ like Earth stuff that much?” Bright asked in confusion.

“I don't think she dislikes Earth. I think she is just worried about keeping our culture,” Summer explained.

“And she can control what comes in better by controlling that portal. That’s probably part of why so few Earth goods make it into Equestria. She isn’t stopping it altogether, she sees the value, but she’s throttling it,” Hannah said.

“I heard Princess Celestia agrees with her, and only changed what goes on at our school because she’s competitive and hates losing,” Summer said.

Red overheard us and looked our way. “Yes, it is quite the gossip among the nobles that the princesses are in strong disagreement with one another on how much of Earthling culture and technology to allow through the portal. Princesses Twilight Sparkle and Luna want more, while Celestia and Flurry Heart prefer less. Princess Cadence has yet to state any strong views one way or another. However, since she operates in an ambassadorial role since turning the Crystal Empire’s governance over to her daughter, it might be most prudent of her to remain quiet on such matters rather than take sides.”

“And how do the nobles feel?” I asked him, figuring he would know.

Red sighed. “They, like the princesses, are divided into two camps. The larger camp prefers to keep the Earthlings, their goods, and their influence, out. The smaller camp sees the Earthlings as an opportunity to expand their own house influence through trade. As for my house, my esteemed grandmare has yet to express any particular opinion upon the matter, nor has my beloved mother. As for my dear sister and I—”

Prim looked up from her meal to glare at her brother.

“—dear sister clings to the past and her antiquated belief in her superiority to all, while I would welcome the opportunity to have new trading partners,” Red concluded.

Prim set her fork down and sneered at her brother. “Tell me, dear brother, who all seem to think is soooo smart, what is the primary source of income for our house?”

Red raised his head proudly. “Textiles. We produce the best cloth available. All the greatest fashion designers eagerly purchase from us.”

She smirked. “And with that in mind, what happens when there is suddenly access to all the cloth and textiles from Earth? How goes our house’s fortunes then?”

“Ponies will see that we produce a superior product, so it will have no major impact,” Red asserted. “It only gives us access to the Earth market to sell to.”

She looked at him like he was stupid. “Are you that dense, brother? You would lead our house to ruin. Perhaps our product is of better quality, perhaps it is not. I believe that it is. However, how much are we capable of producing? That is the crux of the problem. It matters not how much better our product is, what matters is the Earthlings can outproduce us, dramatically outproduce us. Will we continue to enjoy market dominance when the Earthlings can flood the market with their inferior product at prices that we can’t possibly hope to compete against? No, we must keep their cloth and textiles out of Equestria or the order that gives our family its wealth and power will be disrupted.”

Hannah snorted. “Sadly, Prim’s right on that one. Earth companies would drive you guys out of business. They might flood the market specifically to drive you out of business and then raise prices afterwards when they have the market cornered.”

Prim pointed at Hannah. “See?! Even the trash-digging Earthling agrees with me. Perhaps I’ll get her a job with one of our producers after we graduate since she has the business sense you lack, dear brother.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. I prefer not to work for someone who refers to me as trash-digging,” Hannah replied, ears flattened.

Red smirked at his sister. “At least I have the manners to retain our best employees, dear sister. Something that will be your undoing and our house’s, if you remain the one in line to inherit.”

Prim stuck her nose up. “I barely interact with the help. We hire people for that. So it doesn’t matter if they like me or what I think of them. They never have to speak to me, and I never have to lower myself to speak to them.”

Professor Glitter Drops, who was at the head of our table today, smashed her hoof on the table, making us all jump. “I’ve had enough listening to the two of you for today. I try not to get involved in students’ personal squabbles, but sometimes it gets to be too much. Red Tape and Prim Tape, you are both serving detention with me after the last class today. Anypony who decides to needle either of them about it can join them. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, professor,” several of us answered in chorus.

The professor threw her hoofs up. “And no discussing economics at the lunch table! You are twelve or thirteen years old; you should be discussing games or books, or buckball, or whatever it is that is popular with foals these days, not bucking economics and international trade! Grief! Who the heck put together a class of students that behaves like this?!”

Professor Newman, that’s who, and it only now occurred to me how odd we all were. It didn’t stand out as much with a class full of students like us, but if we were in any typical class at any typical school, our interest in subjects like this would probably have us ostracized as weird. She had assembled a class full of students who paid an unusual amount of attention to the world and events happening around them—not only an unusual amount for people our age, but for people in general. This school was supposed to be training future leaders, and it seemed Professor Newman had taken that idea to heart.

“So…um…who won the buckball game yesterday?” Summer asked, seemingly searching for a way to change the subject.

Bright sighed. “Fourth-years. They were just too dang fast and big for the rest of us. It twern’t fair. Ah couldn’ even see over them when they stood up close ta meh.”

“Well, at least it was just a friendly game, and nothing official,” Hannah said. “You missed out on seeing a giraffe.”

Bright waved a hoof dismissively. “Nah, ah’ve seen all the critters over at Fluttershy’s place. Ya forget where ah’m from? Seen ‘em a million times. Ma and Pa have even had meh go do chores over there sometimes. Ever try ta clean up elephant droppins’? Ya haven’ lived till ya haft to clean up a turd that big. Stinks worse than a hen house after the hens got themselves a bag of chocolate—don’ ask. Pinkie Pie is banned from feedin’ chickens.”

“She fed chocolate to chickens?!” Summer gasped.

“Ah said don’ ask,” Bright reiterated.

“She could have killed them!” Summer exclaimed.

Glitter Drops leveled a hard stare our way and both Bright and Summer both crouched down a little. Was it wrong that I was curious whether the chickens lived or not? I’d ask some other time.