Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns was very busy right now. Unicorns cantered in all directions, either desperately trying not to be late for a class or desperately trying to find some piece of research to finish a project, since it was the last day of finals. Red Ink, however, just meandered through the halls, whistling as he passed frantic students. He was a professor, so this day didn’t effect him nearly as badly as the students, and besides, he could give his students a few more minutes of review while he found some coffee. Some other professor must have some, since the faculty lounge was out. He peeked into a few offices, watching students jump and scrabble at their books. He smiled at the ones closest to him in each area before moving on. He really needed some if he was going to have the energy to test all these students.

After about ten minutes, it became apparent no other teacher kept coffee, so he magicked some from his own rooms. He might be cold, but with a few other minor spells, it turned into a decent cup. Finally, he trotted toward his own classroom. The stallion shook out his shaggy maroon mane before he pushed open his classroom door, with a glance making sure all of his two dozen students were there. Ponies of all colors and shades filled the classroom, though none exactly matched his bright red coat and maroon mane. Some of them wore ties or hats, which he didn’t mind, since he currently sported a green bow tie.

Not all of their cutie marks showed off their magical aptitude – some had discovered other talents, like cooking or they were from wealthy families. They still needed to learn to control their magic, even if it wouldn’t become their path in life. However, a few sets of sparks or elemental-themed cutie marks shown on flanks. Red Ink’s own cutie mark was an open book with sparks shooting from it, so it was easy to tell at a glance what he did for a living. Some of these young unicorns might end up in other jobs, but their magic would do them well for the rest of their lives.

“Books and notes away, colts and fillies,” he said and watched as they levitated everything into their bags and out of sight. After he made sure every scrap of paper was away, he stepped behind his desk and pulled out a bag of paintballs. These foals were only a year away from graduation at this point, so some practical application wouldn’t hurt.

“Shield charms!” he yelled before sparks erupted from his own horn. The bag of paintballs burst, the small pellets firing toward the students. Most of them got the shields up in time to stop the first salvo, but he heard some alarmed whinnies. However, by the time the second wave of little colorful explosions shot at the students, none actually splashed across coats. He levitated the bag down and smiled at his assembled students.

“Now…” He waited a few seconds as the door opened, revealing a small horde of puppies. Several of the fillies squealed, but now wasn’t the time for them to lose focus.

“Use your charms to convince these dogs to come to you… despite the temptation here at my desk.” He then opened a drawer, revealing a huge bowl of kibble. Every pup’s ears perked up and they rushed toward him, but he just watched as horns started blazing.

This spell was fairly simple, but he figured they’d use it a lot more than a gravity reversal spell or a spell to enchant other ponies. A spell to enhancing already-present emotions might be fun, but they better not have planned to control other ponies out in the real world. When he turned, he noticed only one puppy had made it to the kibble. When he counted, he realized two colts were warring over whom was going to charm a particular ebony-furred pup, and it was racing between them as green and silver light bounced around it. Red Ink quickly disrupted both enchantments the students casting with a toss of his head.

“Now, I appreciate the enthusiasm, so we’ll just count you both at full marks.” His pencil floated over his little checklist. He didn’t really expect anyone to fail, since this class was doing so much better than last year’s. However, the stallion still went through the motions, since Princess Celestia would definitely want to know about any standout students. Somepony would have to become a teacher after he retired, after all.

He transitioned them into the next spell – turning the dogs into rabbits. Every students managed to at least elongate their respective dog’s ears and feet, though a few still barked when stared at. Receiving a B was better than failure, but the current batch of students showed exceptional aptitude. Good, because he wasn’t planning on running classes during the summer.

Next, they had to reverse the spell and turn all those rabbits (or somewhere in between) back into puppies. This was a bit more difficult, but everyone managed it with a little concentration. He then charmed the small pack back out of the room, and proceeded to lead them through some basic levitation and repulsion spells.

“Looks like everyone is where they need to be,” the unicorn said. “I think most of you deserve As. Sparks, you’ll be receiving a B on your final.” A neon blue colt in the front row looked disappointed, but his puppy still possessed long ears and a strong urge for carrots by the look of it. He scooped that one up as well and ushered it out of the classroom.

“Now, you have about an hour before Professor Mystique quizzes you on theory. Notes can come back out, and I will see you all after the break.” The unicorn gave a theatrical bow before he left the students to a new wave of frantic studying.

Red Ink peeked in on a few other exams as he cantered toward the tempting sunlight. Professor Poppy Bloom was testing a few students on how to grow plants in a matter of seconds instead of weeks, while Professor Hostler quizzed his batch of colts and fillies on motion spells. Judging by the student on the roof, either gravity reversal spells were the current subject or a student screwed up. It was a difficult spell to pull off, even unintentionally – hopefully the cranky old professor wouldn’t grade too harshly.

The sun hit him and he took a few seconds to just close his eyes and enjoy it. This was his first time outside in nearly a week, thanks to exams – he lived in a tower on campus, along with most of the professors. The freshly-mowed grass, the faint scent of ozone from all the magic, wafting smells of cakes from the kitchen; these were the smells of home, but he could do without them for a bit. Some time in an isolated cabin to write a new book on charm theory would do him good. Besides, it was about time for a new edition. He decided to cut through one of the gardens, since it was the fastest path. He noticed a few ponies he recognized, and trotted up to one of them.

“Still going to your cabin?” one of the older professors asked him. He looked over at Magic Star, the head professor of elemental spells. Outside of a classroom or practical presentation, she just looked like any other older mare, though wearing a pointed, wide-brimmed hat. Her bright purple coat gleamed, showing off the deep red and orange whirls of her cutie mark: a swirl of fire.

“Yup!” He said, pausing to nibble on some roses. He hoped no gardeners saw him, but they were delicious.

“I wish you’d find someone to settle down with, Red Ink,” Magic Star said.

The stallion tossed his mane. “I’m young. There’s no rush,” he responded.

She tutted. “Just because you don’t want foals doesn’t mean you can’t find a stallion to settle down with. I know Starlight is looking for someone.”

“I don’t think we’d get along,” Red Ink answered tactfully. Starlight was her son, and he worked at the palace. They looked nothing alike, since his coat was ebony and his ‘talent’ – if you could call it that – was administration. His cutie mark was a ledger. The last time Red Ink had spent any time around the abrasive unicorn during a gala, he’d wanted to teleport out of Equestria entirely.

“What about the royal guards?” she offered. Red Ink didn’t want to miss his train, but he felt it would be rude to interrupt her. “I’ve heard rumors about a few of them.”

“That would be neat…” Red Ink mumbled. He wondered if the armor was enchanted to make them all look alike, or if they just dyed their fur. There was no way there were that many identical ponies.

“I’ll ask around for you,” Magic Star offered. “I do still have a few connections at the palace, you know.”

“Thank you, Magic Star, but I think I can manage on my own,” he said with as much grace as he could muster. He definitely needed to hurry now. “I need to catch my train…”

“Oh, yes,” Magic Star said, nodding a few times. “Go, go. I’ll see you at the start of the semester. I hope to read your new charms edition soon.”

“That’s the plan,” he said, and bolted toward the street entrance. Hopefully he wouldn’t get delayed again.

His bags should have already made it to the train station, thanks to the school’s very efficient staff. He could have gone first class, but where was the fun in that? The whole point of taking public transportation was to meet interesting ponies, see new sights, and learn about new spells. Many of Canterlot’s unicorns didn’t like associating with riff-raff, but Red Ink figured by those standards, he was riff-riff, what with his untrimmed mane and indifference to where someone was born. He had grown up here, and he certainly wasn’t rich. Well, he certainly wasn’t Filthy Rich rich. That was far too much money.

As expected, his bags were waiting for him at the train station. He didn’t see any member of the school’s staff, so he’d need to remember to send some flowers to that office in general, rather than to a specific pony. The northbound train was already there, and ponies were already boarding. No time like the present to start a relaxing vacation.

After boarding the train and showing the conductor his ticket, he decided now wasn’t the time to settle into his compartment. He trotted down the halls to the dinner cart, knowing they’d probably have some brunch out. As he expected, stallions and mares loitered around a bar that was covered in different vegetables and serviced by a bartender. He ordered an appletini, and while waiting for his drink, he chatted with a Pegasus who was on his way to a family reunion; that pony introduced him to his three brothers who were here for the same reason. The oldest brother smiled a bit shyly at him, but he bought all of them a round just to be on the safe side. It was a vacation, after all. Why couldn’t he make everyone a little happier?

When his brothers turned around, the oldest brother gave him a quick nuzzle and blushed all the way down his neck. Red Ink smiled, but he was getting off the train in only a few hours, and that was not nearly enough time for romance. Maybe he’d meet someone when he came back to Canterlot, but he’d probably be spending this vacation alone unless something strange happened.

Author's Note

Revision 2.1: Punctuation fixes
Revision 2: Updated due to Demetrius’ gracious feedback. Thank you.