“Star Buck, arise. Thou art late for school,” yelled the callous voice of my father. It was followed seconds later by a cuff to my shoulder, after I tried to protect myself by scrunching further into my blankets. A book fell of the side of my bed with a loud thump as I clumsily threw off my covers and emerged from my bed.
“What have I told thee about reading in bed before sleeping. Thou art going to ruin thine eyes trying to use such lacking candlelight to read.”
I responded with an affirmative grunt and blearily grabbed my saddlebags in my muzzle. Judging by the fact I could see rays of light streaming through my curtains, it was too late to worry about hygiene, as usual. When I was little my father would use his magic to secure them onto my back but on my sixth birthday he informed me I was going to have to learn how to do it myself because “It’s important for non unicorn ponies to practice dexterity.”
My poor lifestyle choices meant I had plenty of opportunities to practice putting them on quickly. I could now put saddlebags on even whilst flying, a skill I oft had need for. I gulped down a glass of lukewarm milk and chomped on a piece of cold toast before dashing out of the house. Of course, father had probably set out my breakfast about an hour ago. I still couldn’t understand how he could wake up so early every day even though he always came home late from work.
I flew over the city streets, already bustling with activity. I always wondered at how ponies had the patience to deal with all the traffic that tended to congest the streets in the morning. I often found traveling with my parents or sister through the narrow streets to be a test of patience.
I crossed over some of the larger markets, listening to the familiar din of ponies selling their wares. As I flew north, the density of ponies in the streets decreased. The buildings grew shorter and wood replaced brick. The streets were rougher and the windows more often than not held iron bars. I passed over a distinctive abandoned warehouse with a sizable hole in its roof, I started making my descent, knowing I was nearing my school.
The Sunbeam Sparkle Unity School was a very recent, unusual affair. The current Grand Vizier of Unicornia along with many of her friends funded the school in an attempt to promote education for those who would normally lack the means to afford schooling. Additionally, few schools boasted as diverse a population, and even though most of my classmates were earth ponies, there was a mix of pegasi and unicorns, too. Unlike many of the more affluent schools in Manehattan, entrance was determined based on a test rather than one’s parents’ ability to pay. It was said that Sunbeam herself always made sure the brightest graduating students had bright futures via her various connections.
I landed in front of a four story brick building surrounded by a metal fence. I nodded to one of the security ponies and made my way to pass through the main gate leading to the school’s grounds. Unfortunately, a group of loudly conversing earth ponies shoved me out of the way ere I could enter. I made no comment, knowing twould be easier to stay silent.
When I entered the classroom, I took a seat next to my best friend Anvil who was in deep concentration over whatever latest novel had caught her attention. In any event, our history teacher Grey Mane soon entered the room. We quickly fell silent as he began lecturing.
“Yesterday we discussed the Lyequinegas reforms that unified the Pegasopolis state. The formation of the Ephorate as the head ruling body helped to unify the largest of the roving bands. The old nomadic bands became the various clans of Pegasopolis. Over time various clans rose and fell. Currently, the four major clans are the Kickers, Strikers, Chargers and Doos. Each of these major clans usually takes a spot in the Ephorate. The fifth spot in the Ephorate is typically claimed by a member of one of the lesser clans.”
“The first ephorate signed agreements with the earth ponies and unicorns to provide regular weather services and military protection in return for food and other material goods. Although Cloudsdale is the largest city in Pegasopolis, there are other smaller ones occupied by the lesser clans. Many earth pony smiths and unicorn enchanters even moved to the ground near these cloud cities in order to be closer to their customers. Since the pegasi themselves do not use bits, these craftsponies are paid by the central government. Chancellor Celestia and the Ephorate decide together how many resources go to Pegasopolis each year.”
“While the four main clans and even the lesser clans directly oversee the military training of their young, the Ephorate also set up public schools to oversee the training of the clanless. It is not uncommon for Ephors and their subordinates to visit these schools to recruit bondponies or even adopt pegasi into their own clans. Starting from the age of eight, all pegasi undergo mandatory military training until the age of twelve, after which some ponies may continue their military training or decide to go into noncombat careers, including the weather service….”
I will admit I did not listen to the lecture as attentively as I perhaps should have. Staying up late the previous night had taken its toll and I struggled to merely keep my eyes open. My writing frequently trailed off into illegible scribbles as my quill fell from my hoof. While some might think it strange that a pegasus was less than attentive in learning the history of their biologic tribe, in all honesty I had no more interest in pegasus history and culture than the average unicorn or earth pony. Perhaps if I had been born to pegasus parents in Pegasopolis I would have been more intrigued, but as it was, I could feel my head nodding.
When school was finally over I burst out of the building and flew home as fast as my wings would take me. I loved learning but sometimes I felt an overwhelming need in the pit of my stomach to just fly, the need to stretch my wings and test their limits. There was something deeply alluring about the open sky and feeling the sun and crisp air kiss my face. Nothing could compare to the feeling of flying high into the sky and then diving faster and faster towards the ground.
Most of my classmates were pulled home on private carriages, while smaller percentage walked home. For all the school liked to boast of its inclusiveness, the children of day laborers and farmers did not have the same time or resources as those of magnates who could hire private tutors for their children. While the school was located in a less than reputable part of Manehattan, it was still well known for the high quality of education it provided. After graduating, most alumni found themselves receiving further education to become lawyers, bankers and civil servants. My sister herself was a prime example, having recently graduated from the Manehattan School of Law.
When I arrived home, I was met with a surprise. Usually neither of my parents came home from work until evening, but today they were both waiting for me. There was also a white mare with an orange and red mane sitting at the kitchen table with them. I removed off my saddle bags and awkwardly greeted them. I recognized the mare from the many paintings of here that decorated the walls of my school. My heart froze for a moment. I had heard stories about Sunbeam Sparkle, the Grand Vizier to the Chancellor and Archmagus of Canterlot. Even though our civics teachers frequently mentioned all the good her reforms caused, they did not easily cover up tales of her ruthlessness.
“Star Buck, I’d like you to meet Sunbeam Sparkle,” my mother said. “She would like to speak with you.”