Uncle smiled down at the fillies as he reached the schoolhouse. "This is where you'll be attending school," he told them calmly. "Now, don't give Uncle those faces. Nothing to worry about!"
"But...children see truer," Sweetie Belle pointed out, shivering a bit.
Uncle nodded, understanding the problem she had. Not long ago, one antique customer had come in with very young children...who saw right through the 'normality field' of the pendants to realize the one coming up to them was a genuine unicorn...and then got rather grabby. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had gotten a tad...overprotective of Sweetie in how they responded. Uncle had lost a customer that day, and it took weeks to convince Sweetie Belle to stop being a hat. "Uncle knows this. That is why Uncle waited to enroll you all in first grade, rather than kindergarten. Trust Uncle, all will be fine."
Apple Bloom looked nervously towards the school. "But...without ya, Uncle?" she whimpered. As enthusiastic as the trio had been about the idea of school, that enthusiasm had dwindled rapidly when they realized it meant a protracted amount of time each day away from Uncle.
"Uncle will walk in with you today, and introduce to teacher and class," Uncle promised. "But after that, fillies must handle school on their own."
"Why can't I bring my cloud in?" Scootaloo grumbled, pawing unpleasantly at the ground.
"Must not stretch normal field too far too soon!" Uncle insisted. "Let school adjust to ponies being normal. Then let school adjust to magical ponies being normal. Then can bring pet cloud to school." All three fillies hung their heads, plainly not looking forward to this as much as they had been. Sighing, Uncle knelt down and embraced all three. "Now don't be so down. Uncle is sure fillies will love school! Uncle certainly did!" As the three perked up, Uncle pulled back and held up his hand. "Now remember, do not take off pendants while at school. No knowing what interrupted field effect might be." The three nodded and started to turn towards the school. "One more thing!" Uncle spoke up, causing them to turn back. "No chi or weather magic on school grounds. Teacher does not count as proper supervision for magic." He smiled as they nodded, turning once more to the school. "One more thing!" They again turned to Uncle, looking a bit more frustrated. "Uncle will be by to pick you up when school is out. Do not keep Uncle waiting!"
Nodding affirmatively, the three nodded before turning back towards the school.
"One more thing!"
"What?" Scootaloo demanded in irritation as the three turned back one last time.
Uncle pulled the three into another hug. "Uncle loves you all," he said softly. The realization of how quickly and firmly the three had found a place in his heart had shocked Uncle, and had been its own roller coaster of realization when it came to light. He'd made a mental note to properly think it through once he was back at the shop after dropping them off today.
Smiling, the three returned the hug. "We love you too, Uncle!" Sweetie Belle squeaked out as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo nodded affirmatively.
Standing up, Uncle led the three into the school. Finding the classroom he was looking for, he knocked. Inside, a young woman with very pale red hair and bright green eyes turned away from her class of first graders to smile at him. "Oh, you must be Uncle Chan," she greeted warmly. "I'm Dorothy Cheers." She smiled down at the fillies. "Are these your girls?"
Uncle nodded, returning the warm smile. "These are Uncle's girls, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Say hello, girls."
Apple Bloom glanced up, nervousness warring with confusion in her face. There was something oddly familiar here. "Uh...hello."
"Hi..." Scootaloo added, feeling uncharacteristically awkward.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Cheers!" Sweetie Belle piped up, deciding to try and be a bit more forward despite her own sense of dislocation.
"Well aren't you three just the cutest things ever," Miss Cheers praised, reaching down to ruffle each of their manes, plainly not seeing anything unusual about them. "Now, I understand you've been home schooling them until now?" she asked Uncle.
"Yes, Uncle is good teacher!" Uncle proclaimed proudly. "And girls are good students!" he added with praise.
"Well, we'll see how much they've learned, then," Miss Cheers confirmed. "For now, girls, take those three open seats in the back. We'll see about rearranging things once you're more at home in the classroom."
Nodding, the three fillies took the indicated seats. Smiling, Uncle waved goodbye to them. "See you after school!" he called out, turning to leave.
The three fillies waved goodbye as well, turning back to see what lessons Miss Cheers would impart. Something about her made the entire situation more comfortable for them, though none of them could quite put her hoof on why.
Unfortunately, the lessons proved rather dull for them. Uncle had already covered the basics of reading and writing with them - both in English and Chinese - and the basics of arithmetic had been covered watching Uncle make change in the store. Apple Bloom struggled to maintain her focus, if only to show respect. Sweetie Belle watched to see the different teaching methods, for a large group as opposed to just three.
Scootaloo lacked either curiosity or a desire to be respectful, and was quickly starting to nod off, despite Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle nudging her from either side.
"Girls?" Miss Cheers asked, a slight edge to her voice. "Is there something you want to say about the class?"
Apple Bloom gulped, not wanting to get in trouble. Sweetie Belle hesitated, unsure what to say.
Scootaloo pulled from a show they'd enjoyed watching with Uncle. "Miss Cheers, can we be excused to save the world?"
The entire class burst into laughter, Miss Cheers included. "Not a bad joke, Scootaloo," she offered chidingly. "I'll be passing out workbooks soon. If you feel you are ahead in the lesson, feel free to work ahead. Then you can get extra gold stars for helping any of your fellow students who ask."
All three fillies sat up eagerly. 'Gold Stars' sounded like a wonderful idea.
Add two more "One more thing" moments to the counter
7270608
One more thing!
Uncle actually said that three times!
Crusaders in a human school, and first grade... what could possibly go wrong?
7270622 Well, I stand corrected
7270629 Everything
Okay we now have the San Francisco version of Cherrilee.
So Scootaloo is Buttercup now?
Miss Cheers might as well be Cheerilee's counterpart here. Isn't there a universe or crossover where Cheerilee is NOT a teacher!?
This... cannot end well. I pity Ms Cheers. Somebody better get her some headache medication cause I think she might need it.
Chapter Sixteen:
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 16
"One More Thing!"
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Chapter Count: 3
Total Count: 33
7270637
Well who else would she be?
Let Echo remember...Jade was in fourth grade. Assuming Crusaders will be of equivalent age to Jade once she enters story, there still a few years left before she makes appearance.
But what are a few years to an author? Perhaps there shall be time skip!
Guess seeing through the illusion was... child's play.
Guess Sweetie... grabbed at the opportunity of the excuse to continue being a hat.
Guess Scoots likes the class since she's always... nodding her head.
I wonder if the girls will be competing to see which... star will shine the brightest. If it's any constellation at least they can arrange it.
The best/worst part is that the absurdity actually makes sense.
That right there was bucking perfect!
Great work!
I have put a correction in the above line in bold.
7270629 Seriously what's with people tempting Murphy!
Also
7270750 sssssaaaaaannssss!
Nice puns
So the cloud has been upgraded to pet? I had assumed that Scootaloo had just made new clouds as time goes on, but if she'd been pumping weather magic into the same cloud for, what, years now? Holy-moly that thing must be some sort of super cloud. Maybe it's even changed color a little bit, made it more orangey. I bet it would even come when she calls. Yes I want to see Scootaloo pretend to be The Monkey King, complete with cloud to fly on while she beats up bad guys with a shape changing staff, fine, you got me.
PLEASE?!
7270787 I don't what Scootalo said was funny, can someone explain it to me?
7270910
7270910
It was a reference to another cartoon called "The Powerpuff Girls" where the three girls are super heroes made by accident and they are in first grade. Whenever there was a big danger that threatened the city and they needed to go and be super heroes, they ask the teacher "Can we be excused to save the world?". She gives them permission and they go off to save the day.
Wait... Uncle's name is actually Uncle? That doesn't seem right, and if it is it should be remarked upon by someone. Also was that a PPG reference?
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
7270930 Ah okay, I've haven't watch PPG in a LONG time, I barely remember stuff like that.
The moment I read "Dorothy Cheers", it immediately made me think of Mrs. Cheerilee. I think the CMC are in capable hands, but how will they interact with the rest of the students?
7270939
It is commented on.
At one point in the show, Jade actually asks, "Is Uncle everyone's Uncle?" And yes, everyone in the show calls him Uncle. After a time, even Captain Black starts calling him Uncle.
7270638 I found a story where Sunset Shimmer and the CHS staff hunt monsters. Cheerilee is like the Demoman from TF2... but I guess she is still a teacher.
Ah, the time when a Gold Star actually meant something. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
that's a.... somewhat wiser decision.
7271054
that kind of reminds me of Berry Punch's Quest.
Well, as far as it's gotten, anyway
7270897 She better get that cloud spayed and neutered ASAP!
...I'll take "Sentences I Never Thought I Would Write" for $600, Alex.
Ooh, sorry, Scoots. That only works in the Townsville school district.
Sugar, Spices and pretty things, were the ingredientes to make the perfect fillies... But the Uncle added by accident one extra ingredient. Chi Magic.
And so, appeared the Cutie Mark Crusaders... And with her Cuteness, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo fight the crime and the forces of evil.
7271363
I never saw the power puff girls, but I did see a Ben Ten episode where the ending was pretty much the same. Teacher told Ben that it might be time for an early recess when an alien started destroying the school grounds.
Did she have a name in the original?
7270665 Heartwarming counter 1.
7271457
Not the fourth grade teacher from the show.
7270897 "Can somebody or somepony say Flying Nimbus?"
Well, at least Jade won't be the strangest thing in school. I can just see them making Ms. Cheers follow them from grade to grade because none of the other teachers can handle them. And she can most certainly handle Jade.
DAAAAWWWW!!!!!
Very nice chapter, though I can't wait to see the Crusaders' reaction to the school cafeteria... especially mystery meat.
Ah heart attacks.....is this what I get for that moment in Moon in the dark?
7271531 Flying Nimbus...was something suppose to happen?
Even in another dimension Cheerilee can't avoid the curse of the CMC.
How much you wanna bet the CMC will end up covered in gold stars?
7272110 I don't think it heard you. Try yelling it to the sky?
And then came the day they had to ask that for real.
7270681 Powerpuff CMC, two things come to my mind. 1: someone needs to find/draw some fanart of that. 2: that is simultaneously awesome and terrifying.
7271426 take all of my yes. Don't argue, just take it
7272760 pre09.deviantart.net/f431/th/pre/f/2012/337/3/c/golden_sweetie_belle_by_silentmatten-d5mdzmb.png
7272760 How much you wanna bet some bully is going to call Scootaloo chicken?
this, i have a feeling, is not going to go well in the long run.
7274793 Shindu? I kinda feel sorry for him since all those three walking disasters have to do is more or less sick Applebloom on him yet do since they more or lees fired off enough chi and earth magics to make him regret poking fate in the face.......regardless, I just wanna see how badly/funny they are gonna make Shindu's life be, especially his subordinates.....And question for the author: how closely are you planning on having this story stay to the show's timeline canon-wise? Was just curious is all
7278946
Yes!! I caught that too.
7270930 I thought the powerpuff girls were in kindergarten.