Scootaloo looked around plotting room two, taking in the polished black walls; the standard look for this place so far. Unlike previous rooms, however, this one had maps plastered across the walls. Some were new; made from thick paper with intricate colours and details. Others were old; yellowing, curling parchment, with stains, holes and burns. One map even seemed to be made from solid stone, veins of metal and slivers of crystal making up the detail.
“I wonder where that is?” Scootaloo muttered to herself, looking intently at the stone map.
“Ah doubt it’s anywhere we’d ‘ave heard off,” Applebloom answered, ignoring the rhetorical aspect of the question. “That map don’t even make sense to me.” Taking a close look at the ‘map’, Scootaloo noticed the compass rose; or rather a strange equivalent of one. Unlike a regular 8 pointed star, or even the simpler 4 pointed one, this rose had 6 points to it. The angles between the points weren’t even the same!
“Now, now younglings settle down. Take a seat anywhere.” A deep, operatic voice cut itself across the babbling students. Turning towards the source of the voice, Scootaloo spotted a pale, yellow earth pony mare reclining in a chair, the covering being some dark yet shiny material she didn’t recognise. In her left hoof, the mare held a long yet thin pipe, which had coloured smoke flowing from both ends. In front was a large table at least 6 lengths long, and 2 lengths across, made entirely of another material Scootaloo didn’t recognise. This material, however, was a blue or purple crystal and steamed very juxtaposed with the dark walls of the room, or the strange material the chairs surrounding the table were covered in. Inlayed into the centre of the table, in the same material as the walls, was the hoof crushing the globe, same as the statue out in the hallway. Unlike that one, however, this one's cracks were made from the same material as the rest of the table, almost as if the table had been grown around the insignia. Scootaloo trotted over to the table and took a seat, about halfway down, Apple Bloom sitting right behind her. Looking down the table from this angle, Scootaloo could now make out the mare more clearly. Amusement shone in her eyes as she looked over the young foals. Not amusement at the situation, like had been in Dr Shimmers eyes. Amusement at them, the students, like they were some sort of amusing pet. Scootaloo hated that look, that same look that the business ponies in central would give her. The mare leaned forward to tap some of the ash from her pipe into an ashtray on the table, her voluptuous orange hair bobbing around her, despite being tied back; it’s sheer size framing her head like a painting. Around the strange mare’s neck there sat a necklace with a single red crystal, a large crack running down the centre.
“You're the Alpha for this year then?” No one answered. The mare smiled, all eyes were focused on her, begging for answers. “My name is Contessa Adagio Dazzle, However, most simply refer to me as the Contessa.” For a second Scootaloo thought she heard a snort of mirth coming from somewhere behind her, but seeing nothing there she ignored it. “I take great pleasure, in being the one to introduce you to your new lives here, at the H.E.R.D. We will start with a short presentation, after which I will answer some of your questions. Let us begin.” As the Contessa spoke, her voice had slowly shifted to a smooth, soothing cadence, with many of the more tense or nervous students seeming to visibly relax at the sound. The Contessa then raised her hoof above the table and tapped gently on its crystal surface. The table immediately began to glow, a holographic image of what Scootaloo could only assume by now was the school's logo appeared above the table, rotating in place, before fading away to show a 3D image of the island they had flown over to get here, the smoking volcano at its center looking very active, despite their landing pad she knew was actually in the crater. A voice started to emanate from the centre of the table. It sounded equestrian but Scootaloo couldn’t recognise the accent. It was like someone had combined all of the equestrian accents into a single, completely generic one.
“Welcome to The Island, an undisclosed tropical location that houses the H.E.R.D; the most unique and prestigious educational institution in all of Equus. Founded in the 97th decade of the Celestial Era by Doctor Shimmer as a training ground for the leaders of tomorrow, the High Educator of Rogue Dignitaries has an illustrious history of villainous success. Now in its fourth decade of operation, The H.E.R.D. has become a state-of-the-art training facility, fully equipped, with the most cutting-edge of thaumatic and mechanical engineering, to better prepare YOU to rule the world in the future.” The image of the island began to change, the tropical trees and volcanic slopes fading away, leaving a series of translucent pipes and chambers, one of which Scootaloo quickly noticed was the room they were currently sitting in. But based on the scale of the model compared to the size of the room, this facility was huge!, Right now they seemed to be in a massive mesh of interlinked caverns, like a central core of some kind, with longer tunnels forking out of the core to other smaller clusters. If that diagram was accurate, then the only way out seemed to be the volcano landing pad from earlier.
“Dr Shimmer’s motto has always been ‘It takes the best, to create the worst’. As such, the H.E.R.D. is staffed by some of the greatest criminal educators in all of Equus. The fine mares and stallions that run this place have thus been provided with the facilities and equipment necessary to their jobs properly” The hologram started to display some of these facilities, ranging from Wonderbolt Style flight obstacle courses and gyms with earth pony weights to Science labs and Arcane Ritual rooms.
“Life as a H.E.R.D. student is full of fun and excitement. Here you will make friends that will last you a lifetime, or two if you’re good enough.” Another set of scenes, mostly of older looking colts and fillies Scootaloo notice, appeared in the hologram. A pair of pegasi sword fighting; a colt smiling with a bubbling test tube in hoof; a trio of fillies climb up a rock face together, and a smiling couple laughing behind a clear blast shield, a large rainbow coloured explosion going off behind them. A wild grin came to Scootaloo’s face. She so needed to find out how they create that explosion.
“For the next six years this facility will be your new home, and, while contact with the outside world is initially forbidden, H.E.R.D. is the perfect home away from home.” Images of fancy, but practical hotel-like rooms appeared above the table. More images of large indoor meadows complete with trees, grass and a few small lakes soon followed.
“At H.E.R.D. we aim to get the very best out ever student. Failure is not an option in our industry. Our friendly and professional staff will always be there to inspire, advise and assist students, helping you to strive for greatness!” The new scenes were now of orange jump-suited guard performing various acts of kindness. Somewhere giving directions to lost students, others were joining in with games or helping with what looked like homework. One image even showed a guard slicing a large chocolate cake, surrounded by smiling foals. Applebloom gave a derisive snort.
“If any of that is real, I’ll eat mah hat.” the yellow filly muttered. A small smirk grew on Scootaloo’s face. She had to agree. These ‘guards’ looked a lot softer than the ones back in the other room. The was one hole in Applebloom’s logic, however.
“You’re not actually wearing a hat, you know?” Scoots asked, a teasing mirth in her voice.
“Ah know that,” Applebloom replied defensively. “It just something Applejack would say...” Her voice trailed off as the filly looked down at the table, a look worry and sadness appearing in her face and eyes. Knowing she’d messed up, Scootaloo put one foreleg around Applebloom's shoulder and gave her a light squeeze. Looking up at the hologram, only to see a smiling image of Dr Shimmer, handing over a diploma scroll to a smirking caramel coloured stallion, in a black jumpsuit, before a large audience.
“...perfect start to a successful lifetime of villainy.” The crowd in the hologram started to stomp, the applause mixing in with the voice over. “ H.E.R.D. The School of Tomorrow, Today.” The image slowly faded away, leaving only the rotating hoof and globe from the beginning, before that too faded away.
“So younglings.” The Contessa’s voice rang out to the foals, focusing their attention back on her. “Since you have now seen a small sample of what the H.E.R.D. has to offer you, do you have any questions?”