The Academy Days

by Opalina Cecile

First published December 27th, 2012 06:40

Follow the unicorns, Velika Armswing, the exceptional student with a secret that will pop her chance of getting any friends, Twilight Sparkle, everyone’s favorite- except her Brewing and Bottling teacher, and Patricia Mage, who’ll become someone you know and hate, as they band together as roommates during the high stakes of the Canterlot Academy for Exceptional Magic. They each lost something to get here, and they'll do anything to prove their worth.

Chapters

Welcome to the Academy
Building 2, Room 16
Supper in the Dining Hall

Welcome to the Academy
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The Academy Days

Welcome to the Academy

*Patricia*

“Yo Trix, here’s the lay down… I’m a 3rd year. You’re a 1st year. So… don’t talk to me,” my brother Stellan Mage told me. I rolled my eyes. My doofus brother claims he’s ‘all that’ and Pixy and I would always laugh about him. We were planning on proving his extravagant tall tales false, but Trixie and Pixy have been separated. I got into the academy. Pixy Fierceheart did not.
“Sure, whatever.” I trotted along as he slipped into the 3rd-years hall. The halls were quiet, Stellan and I had come at the middle of night, and the doors had just opened. We were probably the only ponies there. I found the sign that read ‘1st-years hall’. I walked on in.
“Hello, you must be the first one in. I’ve just barely set up,” said the mare at the front desk. Her monotonous tone was unnerving.
“We arrived early, to get a good look around.”
“Hm. Hold your hooves while I access the files.” Her hooves expertly danced across the keys in a sort of puzzle. “Here we go. State your name and grade.”
“Patricia Mage of Canterlot. Year 1,” I stated, unsure of why we had to say the year when it was obvious. Why else would we be at the 1st-years hall?
“Aha, here we go. Here’s your schedule, handbook, and dorm key. Building 2, room 16,” she said, handing me a manila folder, thick book, and key card. I bowed my head slightly in thanks and cantered off to building 2.

~Twilight~

My mother pulled the baby carriage containing the little dragon I named Spike. I, on the other hand, had my packs strung across my body. My father just stood and looked important as he always does.
“Oh, darling, look- chess club! You used to love chess,” my mother chirped.
“Yeah, before Aunt Chessa died.” My mother gave me a disappointed glance.
“You were always so excited since you were a baby, and it only escalated after you got into the academy. Ever since Chessa died three days ago, you’ve lost your spark. If you want to come out on top, you’ve got to try your best,” her father said.
“Who said I wanted to be on top?” my mother quipped.
“Wouldn’t Chessa want you to be?” That struck me silent. I walked in quiet anger for a while. I wasn’t angry about her death anymore, it was just the fact she was correct. Chessa always expected the best from me.
I walked into the 1st-years hall. I walked up to the counter, my mother and father following.
“Name and grade,” said the mare. Her deep lipstick, tight bun, crisp uniform, and obvious distaste in children made her intimidating.
“Twilight Sparkle, year 1,” I said, confused at why we had to state our year. Aren’t we in the 1st-years hall?
“Ah, I see you here Ms. Sparkle. Here’s your handbook, schedule, and dorm key. Building 2, room 16. No parents allowed in the dormitories I’m afraid. You’ll have to say goodbye here.” She went back to typing on her computer.
“Bye mother, father, I’ll write soon, I promise,” I said. My mother’s eyes filled with tears and my father looked so proud. They gave me a hug and left the hall. I dragged along Spike’s carriage over to building 2.

/Velika/

“Welcome to the Academy,” said the mare over the speakers. I clopped along the linoleum hallway, looking around at the sign to join clubs and sports. My name is Velika Armswing, and I am known to be quite smart and quite small.
I made my way into the 1st-years hall. It was the area for my age group to gather any supplies or lock things in their safe, or even just hang out or study. Most of them had arrived a couple hours before, but my carriage came from far off. I’m not exactly a daughter of a noblepony from Canterlot like most of the students.
“Next!” cried the unicorn at the desk. I walked up to the desk. “Name and grade.”
“Velika Armswing, year 1.” I wasn’t sure why I had needed to restate her year when I was in the 1st-years hall.
“Ah, the scholarship girl. Yes, I see you here,” she said, her stare was as intimidating as her voice. I hoped that not many other ponies heard her say scholarship. I’d be socially dead before you could say “Princess Celestia.”
“Here’s your handbook, schedule and dorm key. Building 2, room 16.” I cantered off to building 2, excited about what my new life will be at the academy.

Building 2, Room 16
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The Academy Days

Building 2, Room 16

*Patricia*

“Hello? Oh, you’re such a silly filly, you’re the only one here!” I said, talking to myself. I shook my mane as I draped my packs over one of the three beds. I went over to the window at the side of the room.
It was still dusk, the last pieces of the night still holding on. The sun was just aboout to creep out. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
I flipped through the handbook. I was pretty thick for a book of rules.
'This book contains the rules, guidelines, FAQs, basic skill guidebook, and explanation for most everything at the academy. Further questions, contact a staff member.' I snapped it shut. I'd probably glance at it more later. I took a look at my schedule.
'Mage, Patricia. 1st period- Ancient Gemology with Madame Carat, 2nd period- free, break, 3rd period- Magical Creatures with Flame Drakkon, 4th period- 1st Year Spells with Julienne Warlock, midday meal, 5th period- Brewing and Bottling with Brewson Hogsnag, 6th period- Equestrian History with Hickory Oaken. 7th period- Astronomy with Constella. Free time and club activities. Supper.'
"Gosh, I'm tired. Nevermind that, might as well freshen up, don't you think? Goodness me, Trixie, you're talking to yourself again! Silly filly... silly filly," I said as I went into the adjoining bathroom. I stared at myself in the mirror. I ran a hoof through my orange and white hair. I never liked the white part of my hair, I always thought of dying it pure orange when I get older. That's for older me though. I walked to my pouch and grabbed my toiletries. I set them down on the counter next to the sink and mirror.
I looked up at my face. My light purple eyes gleamed. Almost angrily. There wasn't much of the pretty lavender there anyways. It was so light it blended with the whites. Then, it started happening again. My pupils started growing unusually large, taking over the color and everything. My eyes were becoming pitch black, ready to take over my personality again.
I quickly slapped a hoof over my face. My eyes returned to normal.
That was close. I almost became the killing machine again.

~Twilight~

After dropping spike off at my building's animal care room, I headed to my dorm room.
"Hello?" I said, stuffing the key card into my pack.
"Hello! I'm Patricia Mage, but everyone calls me Trixie!" A cheerful filly without a cute mark with a light blue coat and orange and whitish-blue mane and tail jumped up.
"Hi! I'm Twilight Sparkle, but people call me.... uh, Twilight."
"Whoa, cool mane! And I love your cutie mark! It's super pretty," she said.
"Thanks! I like your mane."
"Thanks. I want to take out the white parts though... I don't like it."
"I think it's gorgeous the way it is. What's your schedule like?"
"Ok, 1st period I've got 1st Year Spells Advanced with Julienne Warlock and Princess Celestia-"
"Whoa, you have advanced spells?"
"I guess so... 2nd period I have Brewing and Bottling with Brewson Hogsnag."
"Aw, that's my free period."
"3rd period I have Magical Creatures with Flame Drakkon."
"Same!"
"Awesome! Next is my free period."
"That's my spells."
"5th period is Library Duty with Sneazy Bookish."
"Library duty? Sounds ick. I've got Hogsnag that period."
"6th is Equestrian History with Hickory Oaken."
"Same!"
"7th is Astronomy."
"Great! We have 3rd, 6th, and 7th period together."
"Are you doing any clubs?"
"I dunno. Are you?"
"Maybe Book club."
"Maybe I'll do it with you. Oh, I should let you freshen up and claim a bed."
I claimed the bed next to Trixie. "So who else is coming?"
"I have no clue."

/Velika/

"Who bothers to read these manuals anyways? They're totally- Oh, hello there!" said a pretty filly an orange and white mane and tail. Her light blue coat was clear and she had yet to acquire a cutie mark.
"Hey! You must be our last roommate! I'm Twilight Sparkle, and that's Patricia Mage," said the one with a star cutie mark. It was not an ordinary star, but the famed madic star. She must be a great magician.
"You can call me Trixie," said the one with the blue coat.
"I'm Velika Armswing," I said. I shook hoofs with them and tried to smile.
"I love your coat color." That's what everyone notices about me first. My coat is a rare and lovely shade of light scarlet. My mane is a rich blue that almost seems to sparkle.
"Thanks." But one other thing is that I'm quite short.
"So let's see your schedule," said Trixie once my packs were on the last remaining bed. "Hm... you and Twilight have advanced spells together...we have the same free period... all three of us have Magical Creatures together... You've got Office Duty 4th period... sounds fun, I suppose. 5th period... we have the same. 6th all together, and 7th you've got Language Decoding! I wanted to get that, but It was taken. I was given Gemology instead, but it's still pretty good. Well, we have a lot of classes with each other!"
"I bet this year will be really fun!" Twilight said. If I can keep my parents and my scholarship a secret, maybe it will be.

Author's Note

If anyone wants to draw Velika, knock yourself out. I wish I could, but I can't draw. Trixie with her orange hair is you want as well.

Supper in the Dining Hall
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The Academy Days

Supper in the Dining Hall

/Velika/

“All students please report to the dining hall for supper. I repeat, all student to the dining hall,” said the mare in the speaker.
“We better get going,” Twilight said.
“I’d like to get settled a bit before, you go ahead to the dining hall,” I said quietly.
“Ok,” Trixie said and she went out the door. Twilight smiled and walked out behind her.
I unpacked my bags. Toiletries went in the bathroom, clothes in her drawer opposite the bed, her pillow and stuffed dog on the bed, and photo album.
One last time, for old time’s sake, I thought. I flipped open through the photos of baby filly me, my parents, my gran, my friends, and suddenly and unexpectedly I started crying. I found my self missing that rubbish place I called home. And my foolish mother, and my father who was here for 5 months before splitting. I think my father was disappointed I wasn’t an alicorn. Yeah, my father was a Pegasus. My mother is a unicorn. She’s a teacher at the small school in our town, Oakland.
And my father? He’s a-
“All students to the dining hall for supper.” I hid the album under my bed and clopped out.

*Patricia*

“That’s my brother, Stellan,” I said pointing my hoof toward the white coated colt who was telling a joke. He sat at the 3rd-years section of tables.
“He’s kinda cute…” Twilight said softly. I turned toward her with a ‘what?’ face.
“Don’t tell me you’re falling for him,” I said. If she was, it wouldn’t end well.
“No, no! Of course not. I don’t let petty things like boys stand in my way of coming out on top.”
“What if I get on top?”
“Then I’d be happy for you.” Her smile and tone were genuine.
“I’d be happy for you too.” We found a table in the 1st-years area and sat down.
“Most of the reason why I want to be top- besides getting to become Celestia’s faithful student- is my aunt Chessa.”
My heart struck a pang.
“Why, did she ask you to?” Maybe before it happened.
“No, but I’m sure she’d want me to. She was my favorite aunt, always pushing me. But she was attacked when coming to bring us some news. I mourned up until this morning, because now I’m determined to make it for her.” Twilight smiled proudly.
“Wow. My reasons seem so petty now…”
“Also for my babysitter Cadence. She’s a princess. I think my brother has a crush on her.”
“You have a brother too?”
“Yeah, he’s training to become part of the Royal Guard.”
“Wow! What’s his name?”
“Shining Armor. So what’s your brother like?”
“Well, when I was a younger filly, he put bugs in my bed and painted my hair…”

~Twilight~

“Hey, there you are Velika!” I said when I saw the red pony cantering towards us. She sat next to us.
“So where are you all from?” said a grey unicorn across from us. She was sitting with three others, one of them Trixie, the others must the grey one’s roommates. “Oh, and I’m Cloudy Skies.” Her mane was fluffy and white. Her expression was droopy however.
“I’m her sister, Clear Skies.” Her skin was a happy blue coat and a yellow mane.
“And I’m Pretty Posh, daughter of Very Posh and Super Starlet,” said the one I had seen in magazines before. She was quite famous, with rich movie star and millionaire parents. Her rich magenta mane was perfectly styled and her coat was a shiny golden color.
“That’s Twilight, I’m Trixie, and that’s Velika,” Trixie said. I waved. So did Velika.
“I’m from Canterlot, obviously. I live a few blocks away from the castle. My father is a diplomat in the Pony Parliament. My mother doesn’t work,” I said.
“I’m from Manehattan, the city of lights,” said Pretty Posh.
“Isn’t that Maris?” Trixie quipped.
“Whatever.”
“Anyways, I’m from East Canterlot. My parents are famous magicians,” Trixie said. I’ve heard of the Mages before. They fought against the dragons in the war.
“We’re from Fillydelphia,” said Clear Skies in her chirpy and-pardon the pun- sunny voice. Pretty Posh scoffed.
“What about you Velika?” I asked.
“Uh, well, I-”
“Ladies and gentleponies, I am proud to welcome you to this new school year at the Canterlot Academy for Exceptional Magic. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Founded by blah blah, over 500 gifted witches and wizards blah blah Now, dive in to your dinner!”
Food magically appeared on the tables, all delicacies and more. Each pony took portions on their plate and chattered eagerly as the ate.

Author's Note

Ok, a couple things. I deleted the comments by that guy. Thanks to August Rush and The Gweat and Powaful Twixie (love the name btw) for commenting. Thanks to the three likers and the couple favoriters. I shall love you forever.
Next, this isn't my best chapter or ending. Also sorry I couldn't find a good ponified name for Oakland. It's a little rushed because I really wanted it up today.
Which brings me to this- Tomorrow I am leaving for Tahoe and won't be back until the 1st. I'll try and possibly post on the 2nd if I can. Keep reading and stay awesome bronies :)
~Opal