What if you had the chance to learn how to be someones friend? What if you were tossed in a room with several other ponies who shared all of your bad characteristics? Would you change?
After a near riot at the Cloudsdale School for Gifted Flyers, Twilight decides to take some matters of friendship into her own hands. But when the other princesses block her from using royal funds she must find her own way to fund the small camp and hopefully learn from those society thinks they already know.
After finding out that Silver Spoon is spending the summer at a small metalurgy camp Diamond Tiara is even worse than ever before. At the end of their rope Diamond Tiara's parents decide to send her to Twilight Sparkles camp, hoping to end her bullying once and for all.
Dear Princess Celestia, It has come to my attention as the Princess of Friendship that while the magic of friendship is a powerful thing, it can also be easily drowned out or corrupted, especially in places where young colts and fillies frequent. Despite literature on how to fix this problem I’ve found that 97% of all areas that implement the recommended education programs only go down in bullying until there is a blow-up such as the Cloudsdale Academy for Gifted Flyers scandle a few years ago. I wish to propose, as my special princess project to be funded out of the treasury by the Princess Special Project Law (you know the one I mean, the one you and Luna forced through after Discord so you could get stuff done when the nobles wouldn’t give you and Luna an inch) to have it go to a special school run by myself as a social experiment and information gathering exchange to deal with those colts and fillies who are causing this shortage in friendship magic. I have written a report as to why the programs the government supports now do not work and am requesting yours and the other princess’ permission to run this project. I eagerly await your response.
Fellow Princess, Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship
Dear Princess Luna, As the Princess Special Project Law dictates I must request full permission before using the funds allocated to me for my project. Since the near riot at the Cloudsdale Academy for Gifted Flyers is still in your (and your guards’) recent memory I implore you to take a look at the data I collected before giving me your final assessment and hopefully your permission for my project. According to the charts the exact same problem that caused the near riot is happening in other areas, and the current methods aren’t enough. I humbly await your letter on your decision.
Fellow Princess, Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship
Dear Princess Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, As you might have heard there was a huge scandal at your alma mater Cloudsdale Academy for Gifted Flyers, and it doesn't look like the situation is any better around the country. I am pretty sure if we dug deep enough we might see some resurfacing in the Crystal Empire now that ponies are relaxing more about the whole Sombra incident. I would like the chance to head it off before it becomes like the rest of the nation. I believe that the programs we’ve been enacting in equestria haven’t been enough to fully prevent this sort of issue and request your approval for a personal project to allow me to attempt to understand not only why these programs aren’t working but to also figure out how to prevent issues like these in the future.
Fellow Princess, Twilight Sparkle Princess of Friendship
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle, It is saddening to know that my alma mater has not gotten its bullying problem under control. You were always good about double checking your information, and the call to the skepticism of the graphs is a very good point. Please let me know if you need any help in this endeavor and submit the document to the local treasury office when you have the time.
Fellow Princess, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Princess of Love
From the Desk of Princess Princess Mi Amore Cadenza
Princess Twilight Sparkle’s project Anti-bullying Study and Reduction receives an Approved.
Please note you must have documents from all princesses of age in order for funds to be released.
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle, After reading through the information you have presented I’m afraid I must turn down your proposal. The Special Projects Law was not made to do what school administrators should be doing but was instead an incentive to help the poor and hungry in Equestria and to set up ways and departments to protect ponies from their fellow ponies greed. I’m sorry but I must deny your request.
Fellow Princess, Luna Princess of the Night, Moon, Stars, and Dreams
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle, While I appreciate your concern, foals will be foals and there is evidence that the school was not following the recommendations to prevent the type of problem in the first place. I’m sure there are much better projects you can find to put your energies toward. Please don’t take this the wrong way Twilight, but the law was meant only as a means for Luna and I to step in when help was needed desperately, and the nobles would have a fit if it wasn’t kept that way.
Fellow Princess, Celestia Princess of the Sun, Day, and Protector of Equestria
From the Desk of Princess Twilight Sparkle:
New order for use of personal allocation of living funds. Please only spend 500 bits a month on food for those living in the castle. Please transfer the rest of the funds into a private account which I can access at any time. This note also gives Spike the Dragon authorization to oversee the Change in Funds Allocation paperwork.
Dear Princess Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, I seem to have hit a snag with the other princesses. I humbly request that you get in touch with some of the schools in the Crystal Empire and find candidates for my project. I had been hoping to go there myself, but I have to save funds in order to pull this project off. I hope this doesn’t seem to rash to you, but after the situation in Cloudsdale I don’t think this is a problem we can ignore.
Fellow Princess, Twilight Sparkle Princess of Friendship
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle, I have left your list of qualifications in Several Administrators Hooves. I will get back to you if any candidates that fit your requirements exist.
Fellow Princess, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Princess of Love
To Whom this May Concern: In this envelope you will find a list of criteria required for students to attend Princess Twilight’s School of Friendship and Summer Camp. Please have parents of students who fit the qualifications read over the intent of the school and sign the waivers for their foal to attend. Adhere strictly to the guidelines.
Princess of Equestria Twilight Sparkle Princess of Friendship Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle, I wish to invite you to a meeting with some parents of a prospective student. I hope it isn’t too much to ask, but since you lived in Ponyville I figured it wouldn’t hurt.
Last week of school was probably the best time of year. No wait scratch that, the third best time of year for Diamond Tiara. Her birthday and Hearth’s Warming got her presents after all, and anypony who was anypony knew it was what you had that mattered. She walked to school with a spring in her step, as the warm sun warmed her fur making her tiara glint. Nothing to could ruin this day.
She stopped in front of the second biggest house in Ponyville, home of the resident silversmiths Sterling Silver and Silver Circlet. It was also home to Ponyville ‘s second most infamous filly. “Silver Spoon!” Diamond called out, “Silver Spoon, come on, let’s go!”
A sudden slam came from the back of the house a the gray filly finally made her appearance. “Sorry Diamond,” she said practically bouncing on the tips of her hooves, “I just got the best news in the whole world!” Without giving Diamond Tiara a moment to even ask what kind of news Silver Spoon blurted, “I got accepted to the Young Metalworkers Camp! I’m going to be spending my whole summer making things to show off at the craft and art show in Canterlot at the end of the summer!”
Diamond Tiara’s face fell to a frown, “The whole summer?” She and Silver Spoon typically spent the summer going shopping, swimming, and rubbing their good fortunes in other foals faces.
“Yeah!” Silver Spoon babbled not realizing how her friend was upset about this news, “Of course since I’m too young to be pouring the metal it will mostly be design and cold shaping. My parents and I are going today to get my own tools since I’ve been borrowing theirs. Its really hard to get in anyways, passing the interviews was hard…”
Diamond listened in silence. A whole summer just by herself? This day just went from the best day ever, to the worst in her whole life.
“Its not fair daddy,” Diamond whined as her butler served the family small bowls of ice cream for dessert. “Why can’t she just stay here?!”
“Well its a big opportunity princess,” Filthy Rich explained, “And its just for the summer,” he added as Diamond grunted as she took a big bite of her ice cream.
“Besides,” her mother Golden Tiara, a bright gold pony with a lavender mane mane, “We have something special planned for you this summer as well.” She pulled a small pamphlet out and scooted it across the table to Diamond Tiara.
“Twilight’s Friendship School and Summer Camp?” Tiara spat out as she read the title, the image of the blue crystal palace that stood near where the library had been was on the cover. “Summer school?!”
“Its not exactly a school sweetheart,” Filthy Rich started.
“Its very difficult to get into though,” Golden Tiara nodded, “Only those who Princess Twilight stated fitted her specific specifications could get in. She’s going to be working with all the children who attend.”
Diamond closed her mouth for a moment. On one hand Twilight was originally a boring nopony, but now she was a princess. But she was more focused on studying, how could something that boring be a good thing.
“She has many planned activities,” Filthy continued, “Including trips to Trottingham and Manehatten, and I think even one to the Crystal Empire.”
Diamond finally opened the pamphlet, sure enough there were three listed field trips as well as a final ‘surprise trip’ in the brochure. It proclaimed that the students/campers would be spending their time learning about the magic of friendship and getting chances to do things that all foals would enjoy doing.
She frowned as she turned the brochure over and over, there was no indication as to how the special foals were picked. She wanted to know how she caught the princesses attention after all. Sure she was special but unlike the Cutie Mark Crusaders, the stupid blank flanks, she held no connection to Twilight’s friends. And even if she had been picked, how could she be sure those babies weren’t let in as well?
Twilight went over her classroom checklist for a third time. Magic chalkboard, twenty desks, rulers, pencils, art supplies (a separate list), reference books (yet another checklist), before she finally turned out the lights and closed and locked the door. “I just know I’m missing something,” She mumbled as she opened up the door on the right hand side. Five sets of bunk beds for the ten fillies that would be attending. She opened a cabinet and pulled out yet another checklist. Did she have enough blankets? Sheets? Bathroom supplies? It had been tricky to convert the five rooms in this hall to be camper rooms and she wanted to be sure she wasn’t missing anything.
“Spike!” She called out, the crystal reverberating as she called. She’d quickly learned that if anyone spoke higher than an indoor voice the crystal would vibrate and carry the words throughout the castle. Very handy when you needed to get someones attention quickly.
“Yes, Twilight?” Spike’s voice came from the vibrating crystal walls, as well as thumps that indicated that Spike was running towards her. “What do you need?” The little dragon asked as he got to the door.
“Can you bring me the book that holds the standard muffle spell? And my notebook on the crystal frequency of the castle? Oh! and a book on magic crystals in general?” After the library had been blown up Celestia, Luna, and Cadence had seen to it that she had the books she needed to rebuild a library. Infact with the exception of the friendship court the entire first floor of the Castle had been turned into the new Ponyville library. That had been another doozy of a spell, having to move the kitchen to the second floor.
“Why would you want those for?” Spike asked as he carefully wrote down what Twilight asked for.
“I’m going to place a special muffle spell on these rooms, so I can tell when there’s trouble and so that me calling to you won’t disturb the students if there are any problems,” she told him as she called on her magic once more. Sure she could use a measuring tape to measure the room, but sometimes it was just faster to use spells to measure dimensions, especially when a magical harmonious crystal made up the walls.
She slowly began to make notes of the dimensions on the checklists, so she could make sure that the matrices would be correct. She hoped that she would be more successful with her endeavors than those who had tried to tackle the problem before her.
Not for the first time she began to wonder what it was exactly she was so intent on getting herself into.
Diamond Tiara looked glumly at the packed bags at the end of the bed. Despite the camp being in the same town she would have to stay at the Palace of Friendship with every other pony that would be attending camp. Her parents had packed all the recommended things in the checklist sent from the princess, as well as a few extras, mostly a journal and stationary, along with extra quills so she could write to them.
“What’s the point? You’re right here in town!” she had complained, the answer being that she needed to have a real camp experience. “Why can’t I just walk there every morning?” was met with the same response. “It’s not fair!” she cried when her parents limited the amount of stuffed animals that could go with her. How was she supposed to get to sleep without Mrs Gemstuff and Mr. Periwinkle?
“I don’t wanna go to this stupid camp,” she moped over a stack of pancakes, covered in her favorite boysenberry syrup, “Why can’t I just go to fashion shows with you Mommy?” she asked of Golden Tiara.
“Because you need time with fillies and colts your own age. Don’t worry sweetheart.” Seeing her daughter’s face she bent low and nuzzled her, “How about this, be a good girl and go to summer camp, and I’ll see about talking to Mister Snapshot about getting you in a foal line up. Perhaps in Canterlot?”
Diamond Tiara’s eyes went wide. Her cutie mark had shown up when she had performed in a for fun mother and daughter fashion show. Despite her wanting to go into modeling right away her mother had held her back, not wanting to expose her to the harsh part of modeling until she was a bit older. “You really mean it?”
“Of course! I can’t keep you from your talent forever can I?” Golden Tiara said with a smile.
Diamond shook her head and dove head first into finishing her pancakes. With a fashion show on the line this camp would be a fine way to spend the summer. She could handle it.
Diamond Tiara’s saddle bags were heavy. She kept her head down as they, she and her father, walked through ponyville. She had attempted to get him to carry her bags, along with all the other things he was carrying to the castle for her camp only for him to turn her down. “You’re a big girl princess.” Was his response to her whining.
Diamond Tiara continued to drag her feet as they neared the castle. Even the promise of doing a fashion show wasn’t enough to make her keep her head up. She wished summer could just hurry up and be over. Then she could see her friend and get to do the show her mom promised.
They were stopped by a group of guards who were stationed outside of the Palace of Friendship, “Name and business?”
“Filthy Rich and Diamond Tiara. I’m dropping my daughter off for the Friendship School and Summer camp,” Filthy Rich stated.
With a nod the unicorn guard said, “If you can remove the luggage I will transport it up to your daughter’s quarters for her stay. Princess Twilight wants them to all enter the area set aside for the camp at the same time.”
The princess also stated that escorts can come in for a brief meeting if they have any questions, but as she wants the foals to have a true camp experience that you just drop the foals off in front of the castle,” relaxing his face he added, “We’ll keep a good eye on her Mister Rich.”
“If you’re sure, I wouldn’t want to impose,” Filthy Rich stated as he pulled off Diamond Tiara’s belongings.
Suddenly Diamond Tiara felt hooves around her as the other guard pushed Filthy Rich to the ground. “Look out below!” Came a cry from the sky as a chariot being pulled by two royal guards sped right for them. A sound of hooves skidding to a stop and wheels on dirt resounded through the street, the two pegasi ending up right in front of the guards who’d just moved Diamond Tiara and her father out of the way.
With a loud shout the unicorn who’d offered to take her things demanded, “What the hay was that?!”
With a salute the from the pegasus on the right and the one on the left looking more nervous and letting his head dip close to the ground instead of moving to attention. “Sir, we were delivering the filly from cloudsdale on request from Princess Twilight Sir!”
“Did the Princess specifically order you to run over one of the fillies and their escort when you came in?” the unicorn seethed getting into the face of the still saluting Pegasus.
“No! No she did not sir!” The Pegasus didn’t move from their position with the exception of their mouth, while the other simply tried to look away from the obviously angry unicorn.
“Then why did you nearly run us over?” he continued in an obviously stressed manner. “Name and rank soldier.”
“Airpony Quick Fortune! and flying to my far side is Airpony Sword Strike!” Quick fortune entoned still keeping his hoof up.
The unicorn pulled out a small notebook and quil and took down a notation before using his magic to hand it over to the pegasus. “Hand that to your superior officer air pony, and I will know if you followed through,” he threatened.
“Sir, my task has not been completed,” Quick Fortune told the unicorn only now putting his hoof down.
“Then drop her off here airpony. Then you better be reporting to your superior officer or I’ll have you flying laps until your wings fall off.”
Quick Fortune turned his head around, “You can disembark now miss,” he called to the sky chariot. A small light dusky blue filly slowly stepped down and around, at the sight of diamond tiara she ducked back behind the cart. “No one’s gonna bite you miss,” Quick Fortune continued, “I know Corporal Steel Magic seems scary, but he’s not a bad pony.”
A minutes passed and the small filly finally took a couple of steps out and walked over to Quick Fortune. Diamond Tiara’s eyes widened as she took in the small filly, who was a freak. She had bat wings and small fangs like the guard ponies that had pulled Princess Luna’s chariot. Her darker dusky blue mane and tail were tied into topknots at the top of her head completing the weird filly’s look. A small white and purple flower made up her cutie mark.
Filthy Rich cocked his head as he looked at the small filly. He knew what Twilight Sparkle’s plan was, but this he hadn’t realized that this would mean that his daughter would be going to camp with bat ponies.
“Now that you mention it I do have one question,” he told the earth pony guard who had knocked him to the ground.
The guard nodded, “This way Mr. Rich, Corporal you’ll find watching the foals?”
Steel Magic simply nodded as the earth pony guard lead Filthy Rich inside the castle. Steel turned toward the cowering bat pony filly, “Name?” he asked in much the same gruff manner as he had talked to Quick Fortune.
The filly mumbled something and the unicorn twitched his ears in irritation, “Come again?” The filly mumbled again though this time it came out as a squeak.
“Her name is Sky Orchid,” Quick Fortune stated.
Steel Magic held up a clipboard and nodded. “Alright Air Ponies you’re dismissed. No get to your superior officer.”
The two pegasi trotted off still connected to the cart, but not without Quick Fortune giving a small smile to Sky Orchid. The little filly smiled back before sitting in the dirt, fidgeting her wings nervously.
“I want an explanation,” Filthy Rich started as Twilight scribbled away some notes on her lesson plan.
“About what? Are you having second doubts about how this will help your daughter’s behaviour-” Twilight implored.
“About how hanging out with a bat pony will help! They’re nothing but bad influences,” Filthy Rich huffed.
Twilight frowned and pulled out some folders quickly sorting through and finding Sky Orchid’s folder. “I should remind you that we aren’t taking in ponies based on stereotypes Mr. Rich. She came with much the same issues your daughter had,” Twilight stated skimming over the report, “I don’t discriminate against any pony, and who knows perhaps Sky Orchid can learn a thing or two from Diamond Tiara.
But Really Mr. Rich bat ponies aren’t that different from their pegasi counterparts. Other than them keeping to the old clan family system for survival after the banishment of princess Luna, and thus keeping the old mirroring family clan system alive really quite fascinating-” Twilight began to lecture.
“You sure she won’t be a bad influence on my daughter?” he stated again.
“Mr. Rich,” Twilight held her head up and looked him straight in the eyes, “I’m more concerned about the older students being a bad influence. Sky Orchid is one of the younger foals and I don’t for see any problems from her that I wouldn’t be able to handle.”
It had been a few minutes since Filthy Rich had left Diamond Tiara with the grumpy unicorn guard and Sky Orchid. She let out loud sigh and sat on the road. This was so boring. She wanted nothing more to go home and relax by her pool, or go play with Silver Spoon.
She let out a snort, Silver Spoon must be having fun without her, away at a camp that allowed her to practice her special talent, and leaving Diamond Tiara to hang out with a bunch of freaks that Princess Twilight must have scrounged up from the streets.
“Your tiara’s pretty,” came a high pitched voice. Diamond turned sharply and glared at the filly who had just complimented her.
“Who asked you?” she spat causing Sky Orchid to flinch. “I don’t talk to freaks like you.”
“S-sorry,” Sky Orchid responded flattening her ears.
Diamond Tiara turned away from the filly and huffed. The sound of hoofsteps from the west side of the castle suddenly came within hearing range distracting her, and causing her to turn her head in the direction of the filly again. A unicorn guard, was leading a group of foals up to the palace. A mixed group of ponies from all colors and sizes were trotting along, goofing and bumping into each other as the unicorn came to a stop in front of Steel Magic. “Private First Class Iron Myth,” he said with a salute, “All eighteen foals are accounted for sir.”
Steel Magic took a clipboard from the other guard and double checked it against his. “Very good Private. You may return to your station now.”
Iron Myth ended the salute and trotted away leaving Steel Magic in the company of twenty foals.
As Iron Myth began to walk away two of the foals in the bunch got into a fight, scuffling along the ground with other ponies cheering them on. Diamond Tiara flattened her ears, what kind of camp would allow ponies who brawl in the street into it?
Steel Magic took several steps away from the door as his horn took on a gray glow. Suddenly both foals were pulled apart from each other and held against the ground. “I’m going to make one thing clear right now,” he growled as the foals stared at him. “But I will not tolerate fighting in the Princess’ castle, and neither will my superiors. This is your last warning.”
The foals started had him as he let the magic fade, though he didn’t move from his spot. “Corporal Steel Magic is everything alright?” Twilight Sparkle asked as she stepped out with Filthy Rich following her.
“Just a bit of a tussle, won’t happen again, right?” Steel Magic answered glaring at the two colts who had started the fight. There was a moment of silence before the two colts nodded.
“Well if that’s all it was,” Twilight smiled, “how about all you foals line up and I’ll give you a tour of the castle to start camp off right?”
“And this is our learning room. I know it looks like a classroom now but it won’t be like this all the time. I’d like you to find your seat and we can get started with an ice breaker after that. then we can move on to the rest of the plans today,” Twilight said completing the tour. The foals grumbled as they entered the room.
‘This was supposed to be a camp not a summer school’’ Diamond Tiara thought to herself as she situated herself in the front row. She glanced around at the other foals who gradually took their seats.
Diamond Tiara let out a sigh as the other campers introduced themselves. Apart from the little scaredey bat pony filly they all seemed to be normal. Some had come from Canterlot or other big cities, but most were from small towns that she had only heard of when her dad had debated opening another store.
"Now that we're all settled I we can get started on our first lesson," Princess Twilight began as she lifted up several pieces of multicolored chalk in her telekinetic grip.
"Boring," moaned the chestnut colored colt behind Diamond Tiara, who's name was Chinkapin.
"I think you'll be pleasently surprised," Princess Twilight remarked without turning around. Slowly the chalk began to move around in the board, drawing a picture that took up every square inch of the board. Several foals let out gasps as Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. She had seen Twilight carry an Ursa Major over the town, something like drawing a picture on a chalk board was child's play compared to that.
"This story should actually be rather familer to you," Princess Twilight shared as a blue alicorn with a mane of stars took shape on the black board. Facing the blue alicorn was a white one, with a multicolored mane and tale. "Today we'll be going over the tale of Nightmare Moon."
"Everyone already knows the tale of Nightmare Moon!" An aristocratic filly with a gold coat and frost white mane called out.
"You may know the tale told in history books," Princess Twilight told them, as her eyes moved around the crowd, but how many of you have heard it from the source?" This time nopony spoke up to interrupt the princess. Princess Twilight turned back towards the board, despite already laying down the chalk. Her horn glowed faintly as she began to tell the story.
"More than a thousand years ago, after Discord was defeated two alicorns became rulers of the land called equestria," the two alicorns flew to the top of the chalkboard, ponies emerged, bowing to them as crowns appeared on their heads. "Peace and harmony ruled the land, but it was a not to last. The elder one, named Celestia, rose the sun, and ruled over the day," the white alicorn nodded her head as her horn gained another few outlines to signify a glowing horn, and the sun rose from the left side of the of the board. Diamond Tiara was drawn into the tale despite her best wishes. The magic chalkboard keeping her attention as Princess Twilight told the familer tale.
"The younger one, named Luna, rose the moon, and ruled over the night," the blue one raised her head as the sun began to set, a pale silvery moon now climbing to the top of the board. The colors dimmed and the ponies who had been bowing began to curl up and fall asleep. And as time passed ponies began to show their love for the elder one, and the younger one felt no love from her ponies." The sun and moon moved faster now, and the ponies moved closer to the Celestia drawing leaving the Luna one teary eyed on the other side.
"In her sadness Princess Luna turned to the darker side of the night, her sadness became anger," tears stopped flowing as Luna's face took on a vengeful look, "and disappointment gave way to jealousy," the sun stopped in the middle of the sky as now a dark moon rose blocking out its light from the board. The Celestia drawing snapped its head toward its sister, as it became shrouded in shadow, "Gone was Princess Luna and in her place stood Nightmare Moon." The shadow's exploded as the two alicorns settled on the center of the board. Luna's had become inky black with armor and a crazy star filled mane and tail. "The sisters fought destroying the castle they had called home." Bright lines of chalk flew from both alicorn drawings as they flew around each other.
"It became clear to the elder sister that she would not be able to reason with her sister, and so she attempted to cleanse her sister with the Elements of Harmony," six gems appeared around Celestia followed by a rainbow beam hitting Nightmare Moon. "But Celestia had made a mistake. The elements were not made to be used by a single pony, nor did they appreciate being used against their bearer. Instead of cleansing her, the sealed Nightmare Moon in the moon." The moon turned bright as Nightmare Moons drawing was pushed into it, her silhouette coming into focus as it began to lower. "The elements broke their connection with Celestia leaving her unable to use them ever again."
"A thousand years passed, and Celestia, took a student by the name of Twilight Sparkle," Princess Twilight stopped as a drawing of her as a unicorn popped up on the board. "This student spent her time studying, while other fillies and colts her age spent their time playing." The chalk filly was suddenly surrounded by stacks of thick books, a thick pad of parchment and a quill scratching away furiously. "During her studies she came across the tale of Nightmare Moon. After discovering the exact time in which Nightmare Moon would return she sent an urgent warning to her mentor." A purple dragon appeared next the chalk pony, and with a breath of green fire the parchment disappeared and flew to the chalk Celestia. "Celestia told her student not to worry about Nightmare Moon and instead sent her away to the town of Ponyville," the books disappeared as the pony and dragon stepped into a chariot which carried them to the town which had just sprung up on the board.
"Despite Princess Celestia's orders to check on the preparations and to make friends the student was more focused on the possibility of Nightmare Moon's return. When she arrived in town she was determined to check on the preparations as fast as possible before trying to find more information," the purple unicorn bumped into a pink pony with curly hair, who immediately vanished into the chalk town. "The student first went to a farm named Sweet Apple Acres, to see how the food preparations were coming."
"The student met a pony by the name of Applejack, who in turn introduced Twilight to not only her entire family, but the large portion of apple dishes they had prepared as well." The chalkboard showed a bunch of ponies, lead by an orange one offering food to the purple unicorn. As the unicorn ate more and more her belly grew larger and larger, causing some of the students to giggle. "Full of food and feeling like she was behind schedule the unicorn raced off, taking a few pies with her for the road.
"The next part of her list included making sure the sky was clear," Several clouds appeared before the unicorn with a cyan and rainbow pegasus napping on one of them, "Which to her dismay had not already been done." Twilight continued on with her story as the characters on the blackboard acted them out. The foals laughed at the funny hairdo Rainbow Dash's tornado gave her, and how the student ran from her own party. They gasped as the enchanted light darkened when Nightmare moon took over the chalkboard and attacked the chalk guards. They went from shivering as Twilight described the trees to giggling at the ghosts as the chalk Pinkie Pie bounced across the board. They cheered for Fluttershy's bravery, and laughed at the vain sea serpent. They gasped when the Shadow Bolts tried to tempt Rainbow Dash and when the student fell of a cliff.
Diamond Tiara found herself at the edge of her seat. Storytime is for babies, she thought to herself, but it couldn't stop her from rooting for the little chalk ponies as they battled Nightmare Moon. It was a distraction from the desk she sat in, and for the moment she forgot about the other foals around her.
As the student named off the elements and blasted Nightmare Moon with a rainbow chalk beam Diamond lept up with the other children and cheered. As a chalk Luna replaced Nightmare Moon and the chalk Princess Celestia showed back up to claim her sister the story happily concluded. The lights brightened as Princess Twilight turned from the board, "This story was actually the first time I learned any lesson about friendship," She shared, sitting in front of her students. "The unicorn in that story who found the elements was me." She held a pause as gasps came from some of the younger students. She smiled, catching their attention was just part of the first day. "Can anyone tell me what made the elements work the second time?"
Diamond Tiara rose her hoof high in the air. "Was it because they weren't jewels but rocks?"
"Close, but not correct," Princess Twilight said with a smile, "While Gemstones have a crystalline structure that make it easier to use as a magic focus or magic battery the elements aren't pressure made, nor are they grown from deposits of minerals, and don't function like true gemstones," the foals glanced around with raised eyebrows, not understanding Princess Twilight's explanation. "Anyone else have another guess?"
"Was it because you needed more magic?" the golden unicorn filly asked.
Princess Twilight shook her head. "Any other ideas?" The foals remained quiet as she looked around the room. "Its because the elements of harmony are activated by friendship." Twilight went back to the board and cleared it off and wrote friendship at the top. "While you'll here you'll be exploring this magic, and how it not only affects the world we live in, but how it affects you as well."
"Doesn't that mean that only unicorn's should be here?" The golden coated filly snarked, a pointed stare towards the front row. The others who were unicorns chuckled and Diamond felt her face flush. She opened her mouth to answer, only to be cut off by the princess hers self.
"Perhaps if this was command magic," Princess Twilight Sparkle flatly looked at her seating chart before saying, "Golden Glass." Princess Twilight lifted her piece of chalk and wrote on the board three columns, Earth, Pegasus, Unicorn, before underlining all of them. She kept her flat look and addressed Golden Glass again. "Why don't you share why you think unicorns should be the only ones here?"
"Because unicorns are the only ones who can use magic! That's why they're the richest and best ponies!" Golden Glass iterated. "And besides you were a unicorn once." Princess Twilight's face went from flat to disappointment as Golden Glass continued to talk.
"Let me ask you a question my faithful students," She started holding her chalk underneath the Pegasus column. "What can Pegasi do that no other ponies can?"
"They can walk on clouds!" An orange pony with a darker orange mane said from the back.
Twilight nodded, moving the chalk to write 'Cloud Walking, passive type trait'. "Cloud walking is something only a pegasus can do. While there is the cloud walking spell, it wears off easily and only a few unicorns can cast it." Princess Twilight turned back to the foals and asked, "Can anyone else tell me another thing only pegasi can do?"
The bat filly, Sky Orchid raised her hoof, "Yes Sky Orchid?" Twilight prompted turning her head towards the dusky blue filly.
"They're the only ones who can dream walk, or manipulate the weather easily," the filly said slowly causing Princess Twilight to blink before writing down 'weather manipulation, active trait, day aligned' followed by 'dream walking, active trait, night aligned.'
"I was actually thinking about tackling night and day aligned ponies later," Princess Twilight shared, "So I'll give you a brief introduction before we continue," she began to lecture, explaining that while day ponies and night ponies had the same basic or passive abilities, they differed on two ends of the spectrum. This helped explain how ponies were able to survive so long as seperate kingdoms.
Diamond Tiara sighed. This was not as cool as the story. Her thoughts began to drift towards the filly who'd caused this whole lesson, Golden Glass. She frowned as she felt her face flush again. That filly felt she shouldn't be here because she was an earth pony.
"But this is deviating from the lesson plan," The Princess said shaking her head, "Let's move on to Earth Ponies. What can Earth Ponies do that other ponies can't?" The lesson continued on as she wrote, 'Extra Strength and Endurence, passive trait,' 'Growth and earth tending abilities, crystals (night), rock (day and night depending on the rock) and crystal (night). She smiled as she wrote under unicorn 'Command magic, active,' before turning to the class. "This is why all ponies are needed and special. While a unicorn may be able to grow a tree with magic, and a pegasi to tend to it with the right water to sunlight ratio, only an earth pony can accelerate growth and production without harming the plant or the earth. And just like all three tribes are needed for Equestria to function," she continued as she walked over to Golden Glass' desk, "So are all three users of friendship magic, and no tribe of ponies is better than any other tribe," she paused and looked disappointedly at the filly.
There was a sudden hush in the room. It was obvious that the lesson wasn't just because the Princess liked to lecture, it was because the filly had sad something bad. Most teachers would have demanded an apology, but instead she remained silent. Golden Glass fidgited a moment before saying, "I'm sorry."
Princess Twilight's ear twitched before saying, "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to." She turned back towards the board and erased it, letting the foals sit in silence. She turned back around with a small smile on her face, "Now I have a fun activity for everyone, would you all please get up and stand next to your desks?"
Diamond Tiara wiggled out from behind her desk and stood up silently. She'd never seen an adult do something like that before, not accepting an apology from a foal. At least not an apology that came immedeatly after a lesson. Most of the time it was 'Now don't do it again,' or something like that. She glanced briefly in the direction of Golden Glass, the filly looked shocked, but whether it was Princess Twilight's behavior, or the fact that the desks had begun to melt into the floor was unknown.
Diamond Tiara gasped as her desk disappeared with a small ripple into the floor, before several pillows flew out of the supply cabinet and landed on the floor where the desks had been. The room began to darken and a colt exclaimed "Look!" as the crystal ceiling suddenly exploded with stars around them.
Little crystals, paper, and all sorts of arts and crafts items flew out next, each crystal hovering above the foals and glowing a dim light, as the arts and crafts items distributed themselves around the room, making five piles. "For your first friendship lesson, I want you to save Luna." Princess Twilight said before gesturing to the piles, "Luna felt lost without friends and ponies who enjoyed her night, and so you are going to make her a card or letter."
Diamond Tiara glanced at the paper to her left, sitting next to the art supplies. She flopped down on the pillow where her desk used to be, the dim light following her as she grabbed a piece of paper and one of the black colored pencils. As she began to draw she heard the scratching of pencils and murmers from other ponies around the room. It wasn't long before there was a shout, "Give that back!"
A dark pegasus filly in another group was holding the bottle of rainbow glitter with an angry Golden Glass staring her down. "I was using that!"
"Well maybe you don't deserve to use it!" The older pegasus filly countered.
"Give it back!" Golden Glass screeched.
"Make me!" the pegasus filly countered before both fillies were suddenly surrounded by purple bubbles and lifted off the ground.
Princess Twilight Sparkle walked over to the fillies as they both began to ramble about the other one starting it. "Stop." She commanded causing the two fillies to go silent. "Volcanic Mist, I understand your feelings about what Golden Glass said, but by taking the glitter from her you are only re-enforcing that other ponies are below unicorns by antagonizing her. Golden Glass, I don't expect the other foals to be okay with what you said, and I'm certainly not going to let it slide here. You and everyone else here has something they can teach and something they can learn." She lowered the bubbles letting them disapate. "I wasn't going to assign an assignment to work on during free time but it seems we need to establish a basis to work on." She walked to the chalkboard and wrote 'Freetime Assignment: Learn about your partner and give a good introduction about them to the class. "I will work on the partners while you continue with your letters and cards to Luna."
