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

A single third-year and the groundskeeper for that building finally showed up right before Luster Dawn ordered the doors shut. They'd been out caroling on the far side of the city, so it had taken them a little longer to get back to the dorms. The groundskeeper reported that all the other third years had already departed the city. All students were therefore accounted for. Now, there was nothing to do but wait.

Bright was sitting on one of the lower seats, slowly dragging his hoof back and forth across the floor.

"You feeling a little better?" I asked him as I sat down beside him.

He looked up at me. "Not really. Ah'll feel better when ah get word 'bout mah sis and the rest of mah family. Sweet Apple Acres ain't too far from the woods. We can fix it up if there's damage, that's no big thing. Ah'm just worried 'bout mah folks. Mah pa is big an' strong, really big an' strong, like yer ma, but he ain't no fighter. Mah ma is a unicorn, but she don't know any combat spells. Mah sis is awesome, an' does know how ta fight really well, but..."

"It's okay. I kinda wish my parents were here instead of their hotel so I knew they were safe," I replied.

"Ya seem less worked up 'bout it than me," Bright said, head sagged.

I shrugged. "I just have a hard time imagining anything being a threat to my mom. I know, logically, that she's no match for that forest, but I still can't picture it, you know? You saw her. She's huge."

"Well... mah sis's location has been overrun, so easier for me ta picture it. Can't stop picturin' it," Bright replied.

I looked around at the other students. Most were gathered into small groups. Hannah and Summer were both with their parents. Most of the fourth-years, save one, had all gone out to the balconies to stand guard and be ready to mount a defense. The one remaining fourth-year stood by the entrance as a last line of defense.

"I think the waiting is getting to me more," I said. "We're just sitting here, knowing what's coming, and waiting. I know I should be scared, but I just want whatever is going to happen to happen. The sooner it happens, the sooner it's over with."

"Or the longer it continues," Bright corrected. He shook his head and looked around. "Ah hate bein' stuck in here, not knowin' what's goin' on. Do ya think they would even tell us if they heard somethin'?"

"I don't know. Maybe? Professor Inkwell seems mostly open. You heard her tell everyone about me," I answered.

"Do ya think she really would have tossed ya out there ta fight?" Bright asked. "Seems kinda insane ta ask outta ya."

"She hasn't said she still won't, it's just less likely with Professor Dawn here. Me being used was always a last resort according to her," I replied. "Not sure what I could do. If it is trees out there, I'd probably just panic."

Bright looked at Inkwell, who was reading a book—which seemed like a strange thing to be doing at a time like this. Then again, what else was she going to do? Preparations had been made, and she was just waiting like the rest of us. That must have been how she was distracting herself. It still seemed weird. How could she concentrate on what she was reading?

"Ah think that might be the idea. If ya surge because ya're panickin', that's maximum power, ain't it? Yer magic is strongest when in an emotional state," Bright responded. "She's goin' ta do what she thinks is best an' she ain't goin' ta care what happens ta ya if it means it buys the rest of us time."

"I'm sure she'll care," I replied, but that didn't deny Inkwell would probably still do it. She'd opened a whole can of worms just saying that I was an option and saying it right in front of everybody. She wasn't going to back down after doing that.

I looked around again. Hannah looked like she was playing some sort of board game with her parents—was that Monopoly? How'd they find a copy of Monopoly in Equestria? Summer and her parents were... humming? It sounded like they were humming the Christmas carol that had been sung in the cafeteria earlier that day. It was strange thinking that was just this morning. Summer must have taught the tune to her parents. Did she remember the tune but not the words? It seemed everyone was doing their own thing to distract themselves.

The entrance cracked open and the fourth-year conferred with someone on the other side before shutting the door.

"Plundervines have been confirmed within the city limits," he announced.

"What do we do?!" one of the second-year's parents asked, practically trembling where they stood.

Inkwell put her book down. "We continue to wait and count on our students and Professor Dawn to protect us."

"But you said those things are coming for the princess. We're the closest building to the castle!" another parent protested.

"I'm aware, but that doesn't change anything for us," Inkwell replied calmly.

"But you're putting our safety in the hooves of a bunch of students!" they continued to protest.

"And I have faith in them. This is why they are here. They are the ones who will be organizing Equestria against these kinds of issues in the very near future. Have faith in the program," Inkwell replied.

"If this kind of thing happens again in the future, are you going to put my son out there to fight?" another parent demanded to know.

Inkwell looked at them directly. "If I feel they are ready, then yes. That isn't today. Our fourth-years are ready, these students don't yet have the capability to defend us. I'm not going to do that to them."

"You were ready to do that with the earth pony!" another parent yelled, pointing at me. "I don't see anything special about him, but if you were ready to do it, why aren't you doing it? You should be taking every action to defend our foals! At least prep him to do whatever he is supposed to do, just in case. He's sitting around like he doesn't have a care in the world while our foals are in danger!"

I didn't like how quickly these adults were turning on me, and I could see other students were looking at me with similar looks as the adults. Even Hannah and Summer's parents were giving me considering looks, along with the kitchen staff.

Inkwell took a deep breath. "Turnip Jones is one of our foals too. He is woefully underprepared to face the dangers out there. He has one attribute that could buy us time, but could put him in mortal danger. If that was your son or daughter, would you want me utilizing them immediately if they were in his position, having one untrained attribute that could buy the rest time? How much prep can I give a thirteen-year-old in these circumstances? It takes years to prepare ponies for this kind of thing. There's nothing I could do to prepare him in this little time."

She looked at me. "That being said... Turnip, please follow me. I'm not taking you out to fight the forest, but I'm going to do what I can to get you ready just in case. That will be done in another room, away from this tension. Bright Pear, if you would, can you accompany us? I'm sure Turnip would appreciate having someone to lean on."

Bright stood up. "Yes, ma'am."

"I can come too!" Hannah announced.

Inkwell smiled at her. "I appreciate your loyalty to your friend, but I'm sure your parents, along with Summer's, want you to stay here with them. Your parents will be worried if you aren't with them."

"What about me or Lunar?" Rocky asked. "We're in his class, and our parents aren't here."

Inkwell gave him a tighter smile. "I must apologize, but no. There are a few foals here that know what I might be asking Turnip to do, and they only know by unfortunate accident. I prefer to keep those that know to a minimum. One of the things you need to learn is that those in command may need to keep information secret, with good reason, and you need to learn to respect that."

I shifted uncomfortably. There were going to be so many rumors about me going around school once the new term started. Rocky didn't look very happy about being turned down. As for Lunar... where was Lunar? It took several seconds to spot him off on his own in a corner... asleep. Well... at least he wasn't mad about being left out.

We followed Professor Inkwell out the side door. She shut it behind us and then lit her horn, looking around.

"How in Equestria does Charlotte manage this?" Inkwell muttered in exasperation as she looked around.

"Manage what?" I asked.

She sighed. "I have a small confession. I know your truestone is in the building, but not exactly where. I'm going to use a spell to track your connection, but I need you two to make sure I don't run into anything as I do. This spell will impair my vision while I am using it. Professor Newman apparently sees this way all the time with no issue. but I’m not used to it.”

“We can do that,” Bright replied. I nodded my own agreement.

Inkwell looked at me and seemed to be tracing with her eyes the various invisible strings I knew were there. It took her a few moments before she seemed to locate the appropriate string, but once she did. she started walking. We followed close behind.

After less than a minute, Bright darted in front of her. "Watch out! There's a table to yer right yer goin' ta clip."

"Thank you," Inkwell responded as she made an adjustment in her path.

"How were you so calm in the auditorium, professor?" I asked, curious. "You were reading a book like nothing bad was going to happen."

She chuckled. "Is that what you saw? You are usually more observant."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

She smiled, still following the path set by the string. "How many pages did you see me turn?"

I thought back. Did I see her turn any pages? I'm not sure if I did or not. Was she just pretending to read?

"There was a lot of tension in that room," she continued. "The Moonbows had been setting up that game for the better part of an hour without having actually started playing. I'm not familiar with what they were playing, but I doubt it takes that long to set up. Lunar Light was squeezing his eyes so firmly shut I wonder whether it hurt. So many little details just below the surface that I could continue to name, all betraying the tension ponies are feeling. When we return, you should take a closer look at what you're seeing. I forgive you for not noticing; you're under stress as well."

Her horn stopped glowing. "I can relax that for a moment. I can now tell which room it is likely in—Neighsay's office. Let's hurry over there and I will do the spell again once we are within.”

I flicked my tail nervously. “Do all the professors know about the truestone now?”

She nodded. “Yes, it was decided that it was essential that we know for your safety. I’m guessing Neighsay has it for a combination of study and trying to determine an effective way of keeping it close to you while keeping it hidden.”

“Oh…he hadn’t said anything to me about it during class,” I replied.

“He had no need to, and it wasn't urgent that you find that out. The more it is talked about, the more the wrong ponies may overhear. I’m only discussing it with you now because we aren’t in danger of encountering anypony in the halls due to the crisis,” Inkwell said. “While you may not see or be aware of everything that is going on, we are taking steps to ensure your safety as well as every other student. Just trust us that we are aware of your situation, just as we are aware of situations with other students. and we are quietly taking care of things.”

“Situations with other students?” I asked.

She raised a hoof and shook her head. “Not your concern. Just like we keep your situation private from parties that don’t need to know, so shall we keep their secrets. Their safety and privacy is as important as yours—respect that.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I quickly replied.

She turned and headed down the hall. “Good. Now let’s find this stone and see if you can do anything with it.”