//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Life of Death // by Fresnor //------------------------------// The filly stared at the room as the room stared back at her. Both sides waiting for the other to break or even blink first. The only movement came from various eyes darting from the doppelganger to the original. Even Cheerilee wasn't immune from the effect caused by the disturbing similarities of the new filly in front of her to the one she had known for a couple of years now. Still, being the responsible adult in the room meant that she had to do something to break the odd stalemate leading to her clearing her throat. “So, dearie. Why don't you tell the class a little about yourself.” Iris glanced back at the mulberry mare before turning back to the rest of the class, head tilted to the side in thought. “Not much to tell. I was isolated sick at home here in Ponyville the last few years and only recently was I well enough to leave my home.” This caused a few jaws to drop in shock before a tall tan unicorn in the back of the room spoke up. “Uhhh, but what did you do for fun then?” The filly looked at the tall colt for a moment before she shrugged. “I grew flowers.” The other students waited for her to continue but were quickly disappointed. Seeing the staring match about to begin again the teacher shook her head before clopping her front hooves together. “All right then, why don't you take a seat there in the back behind Sweetie Belle.” The earth pony filly looked where the mare was pointing to the back corner behind a familiar filly who was waving to her. With a sigh and roll of her eyes, she slowly walked back to the empty desk and took a seat. The unicorn filly turned to try and speak with her but was interrupted when the teacher tapped a ruler against her desk. “Settle down now children, you will all have time to talk with the new student during recess. As I told you last week I have a surprise lesson for you today. With help from the town librarian I was able to get enough copies of a special book for your reading assignment this month.” The class groaned at the news causing the mare to chuckle. “Now don't be like that. Unlike the last one which was part of the school supplies when I first moved into Ponyville, I am sure you will enjoy this one. It is considered to be one of the greatest works of fiction since the founding of Equestria.” Cheerilee dropped a small stack of books on the front desk of each row and had the students take one and pass the rest behind them. With how they were passed out, Iris was the last pony to receive a copy of the book. She took it, wondering if it would be something interesting considering her history, but her head quickly met her desk when she read the title of the book. The sound drew the attention of the teacher who looked at her curiously. “Lily, is there something wrong?” The filly didn't respond at first but she eventually sighed when she realized that there was no escape from answering. She raised the book up so that the title, The Princess Bride, was visible. “I have had time to read a lot of books, and I can honestly say that this is one of the worst ones I have ever read.” Cheerilee gasped as she heard this and looked rather insulted about the claim. “How can you say that? This book is a classic written by the great Williams Goldscolt centuries ago and few books can even compare to this centuries-old story!” The mare caught herself as she realized she was near yelling at a filly and looked ashamed of herself. The filly didn't seem to notice as she slowly lifted her head to glare at the book. “I say that because I have read the journal of the pony this is all based on. The only Buttercup involved was the ship of the writer, a terrible pen-name by the way, and Westleaf didn't become the pirate captain but fell in love with them. Any family in Ponyville with any real history and records from its founding could tell you the same.” The teacher looked confused at the claim, as well as many of the other fillies and colts. One though had a bit more to say about it. “And what would a blank flank like you know about my family? As if a Rich would have anything to with a filthy pirate.” Iris looked over at the pink earth pony filly with the crown on her flank and slowly raised an eyebrow. “Which of the founding families of Ponyville did you belong to? Really, there were only four ponies that actually had the skills to keep a journal or anything according to the one I have.” The crown-wearing filly just scoffs as she takes what she assumes to be a regal pose. “I am Diamond Tiara, and my father Filthy Rich is the richest pony in all of Ponyville.” Iris' eyebrow rose even higher at the familiar name. “Any relation to a Stinking Rich?” The other filly nodded haughtily causing the Applebloom-lookalike to grin. “Then you probably have his journal somewhere if it wasn't destroyed. Stinking 'Stinky' Rich was an important member of the crew that settled in Ponyville, and one of the most well off due to being the ship's money manager. The other three journals would have been written by the captain, Westfield Leaf Apple the first mate, and Long Dong Silver the treasure appraiser.” The two names drew the attention of two other fillies in the room who grew even more interested. The pink filly just scoffed once again, not believing a word of the new filly in the class. Iris just shrugged at her response and looked towards the conflicted teacher. “Believe me or not, I can bring the journal I have tomorrow if it is all right with you Ms. Cheerilee. You can even search your own home for your own if you feel like proving me wrong.” The teacher looked startled for a moment but after a quick moment of thought nodded her head to the suggestion. “Why that is an excellent idea. If it really is the basis for this book then I would be very interested in seeing it myself. But until then, everypony please open your books to the first page. Twist? Will you read the first paragraph?” With a sigh, the newest filly of Cheerilee's class opened her book and started to read along. <><><><><><><> The next day class began with three additional figures standing at the front of the room. The brown form of Filthy Rich, father to Diamond Tiara. The gray form of Dappled Silver, mother to Silver Spoon. The large red form of Big Macintosh, brother to Applebloom. The three each held a thick tome on their back, much like the one sitting on the desk of the newest filly, Iris. Most of the fillies and colts watched the three adults with interest, though one particular pink pony wasn't looking very thrilled. When Cheerilee was ready to start class she clapped her hooves together to get everyone's attention. “All right everypony, today we have something special. If you remember yesterday there was a discussion of the origins of your reading exercise. Each family has brought the journal from the pony that lived through those times and with their permission are allowing a copy to be made after a small reading today.” With a nod to the ponies, each of the four journals was brought up and set on her desk. Iris even passed her a list of dates to look up in each of them for comparison. Flipping through the pages she found the first date listed in each of them. “Let's see, ah, here we go. 'The new batch of recruits looks to be promising. Though I have concerns about the big guy who seems to be a bit of a klutz. He better get his sea legs if he wants to survive long though.' Odd, though these two confirm that they did take on new crew members that day, so that leaves, ah yes. 'I can not believe that I did that. First day on this ship and I already embarrass myself in front of the captain. Now I understand why they laughed when I asked what the captain was like. Still, out of all the pirates I heard of she is rumored to be the best, just the fact that the crew is given a ration of soap says a lot.'” Cheerilee paused as she began flipping through for the next entry which gave one of her students time to speak up. “Ms. Cheerilee? Why does soap sound so important for him?” The teacher looked up to Sweetie Belle but didn't need to answer as Filthy Rich spoke up in her stead. “I can answer that. Back in those days soap was something only rich ponies could get easily. For a pirate to be able to give their crew any amount of it like that is unheard of. The reason this crew had access was because of my grandfather Stinking Rich. While my family is known for initially making money by selling the Apple Family's zap apple jam, its fortune originally started by selling soap created by him. As my father tells it, he was never able to find a wife until he perfected the formula to a point that it removed the smell that earned him the nickname 'Stinky' by the rest of the crew.” A thump was heard which drew attention to the pink filly in the room as her head hit her desk in mortification at hearing of her family's history. Any comment on this was stalled as the teacher got the class' attention once again. “That does appear to be true as there are many notes in his journal to that effect. Most of it seems to involve that as well as the payment to the crew and various comments on them. The same with...” She pauses with a sigh before shaking her head. “I can't believe this is actually his name, Long Dong Silver.” The name brought giggles to the classroom as well as another thumping sound as a silver earth pony filly's head joined her friends in hitting the desk. “Anyways, the next entry starts to get interesting. 'The klutz is really starting to be a pain in my flank. Every time I see him something seems to end up broken. If he wasn't such a hard worker and good fighter I would have keel-hauled him long ago.' This doesn't sound much like a budding romance, maybe the other journal explains it more. 'What is wrong with me? I just keep making a mess of things in front of her. I've never been like this in front of a mare before, no matter how cute they are. Wait, why did I...' Well, I guess there is something there. There are still a couple more entries marked, maybe they will tell us more.” The mulberry mare quickly flipped through the pages while the rest of the room watched on in interest. Yet, there were still two ponies that kept an eye on the new filly, just wondering how she had something from their family. “'That stallion is really starting to creep me out. Just when I had gotten used to his clumsiness he starts pulling this on me. Every time I order him to do something it's 'As you wish' this and 'As you wish' that. If he wasn't such a strong fighter I would have kicked him off my ship ports ago.' 'I admit it, I have actually fallen for her. But she is just so distant, I don't think she would even accept my declaration of love. All I can do is do whatever she wishes and proclaim my love for her in my every word and deed.' That... that does match up with the book in a way. But, just who is this captain? I haven't seen their name written anywhere in this journal, and come to think of it I don't think I've ever even heard the name of the original founders of Ponyville from the Apple family. Maybe the last entry on the list?” Flipping through the books once again she ended up at the second to the last entry of the captain's journal while there not being a matching one in the other three. Doing a quick read through her eyes widened a bit before repeating it out loud. “'How in the world did this happen? Me? Getting married?! To him of all ponies?! I told him everything and even that wasn't enough to drive him away and here I am now in a wedding dress! Did my mind just shut off or something? I mean, Westfield Leaf Apple?! Him?!' Oh my, I wonder how this happened? The other journal seems to be missing some pages around this time.” Cheerilee looked at the other journal that was open to the same time frame, revealing multiple pages having been torn out. Shaking her head at the damage she quickly moved on to the last entry. “'I have seen many things in my time on this world, yet I have never been as terrified as I am now. I didn't even know that this was possible to have happen to me. I guess now I have a reason to retire from piracy, and the sisters have given me the perfect way to do so. It may be a bit of a risk, but I'll do anything to keep my most precious treasure safe. My little Gran-' Huh, it's a bit smudged there, but with who wrote this I can only assume that it is Granny Smith. But who would have been able to help her? From what I read about that time period the princesses were very aggressive in arresting and putting pirates on trial.” As the mare closed the journals, Filthy Rich stepped forward while pulling out a framed object. “I found this along with my grandfather's journal, as well as a copy of a certain law at that time.” The framed object was an old wanted poster with a poorly drawn picture of a mare. The text below it stated, 'Wanted: The captain of the pirate ship Flying Dutchmare. Reward: Title of nobility and choice of land deeds.' “Apparently the law at the time granted a blanket pardon to all nobles involved in piracy during that period. Records are scarce from that time as the Blank Years happened during the Age of Pirates but the law was passed to get nobles to return to Equestria once again. It seems that this mare abused that law by turning herself in to claim the reward.” Cheerilee blinked a couple times before looking down at the wanted poster. “You mean to tell me that she claimed the reward on herself to get a royal pardon? How could the princess allow something like that to happen?” The brown stallion could only shake his head. “I can only guess, though there are notes of my grandfather claiming it to be the greatest scheme of all time. The laws were soon revoked after that, but the end result was Ponyville's founding under the new Duchess of the Apple family.” Eyes all around the room widened as they slowly turned towards Applebloom who was looking rather shocked herself. “Wait, my family are nobles? How come Granny never said anything about that?” The filly's question was met only with a small smirk and shake of the stallion's head. Big Mac looked over at him with a raised eyebrow at how he would answer. “Your grandmother is a very shrewd mare and is why I do business directly with her. She rarely leans on the title and acts like it doesn't even exist. Only once have I seen her even mention the title and it was when a Count from Canterlot came down to Ponyville to try and take a contract with the Princess' chefs for supplying apples to the castle. I still remember the look on his face when he was sent running back to the capitol.” His words were met with nodding from Big Macintosh as he remembered that event. He knew Granny Smith had even framed the apology letter from said noble which she kept in a special memory chest. He was broken out of his thoughts as Cheerilee clopped her hooves together for attention. “This really has been an interesting piece of history, especially of Ponyville's history. While I take a moment with these stallions on getting copies of these journals the class can take an early recess. Iris, I will speak with your guardian about yours later.” The class let out a cheer at her words and quickly stampeded out of the room, the rearmost being a rather sullen pink pony who had basically had her worldview shattered. Iris was the last one to leave the room as she avoided the crowd and nodded to the teacher as she left the room. Outside she found that many of the fillies and colts had begun a game of pirates, led by a diminutive pinto colt wearing an old pirate hat. One of the few exceptions was the filly who had called her out the previous day that had started the current events. With a nod, she turned to find a quiet corner to rest in only to come face to face with a trio of wide grins.