The class was a chatter about news that a new student was joining them today.
“I wonder if they’re going to be a Ranger Cadet,” said a girl with purple eyes, and short purple hair that actually made her look more like a boy. She wore the standard Ranger School uniform of a green jacket over a blue dress shirt and yellow tie, and denim shorts, but also had on fingerless gloves and roller skates with retractable wheels instead of boots. There was also a bandage on one of her cheeks.
“I’m sure they’ll be an Operator,” said a second girl with curly pink and purple hair, and green eyes. She wore the same uniform, except hers had a skirt instead of pants.
“I bet they’ll be a Mechanic, like me,” said a third girl with red hair and amber eyes. She had some tools in the pockets of her uniform.
“How much you want to bet?” asked the tomboy.
“How does three days worth of chocolate chip muffins sound?” asked the girly girl.
“Ah’ll take that action,” said the redhead.
Just then the three students’ teacher walked into the room.
“Good morning, class,” she said. The teacher was tall, with two-tone pink hair, and green eyes. She wore a green blouse and a white skirt.
“Good morning, Ms. Cheerilee,” replied the class.
“Now, I assume you’ve all heard that we have a new student joining us today?” she asked, to which all the students nodded.
“What’s their name?” asked a female student.
“Are they a Cadet, Op, or Mechie?” asked a male student.
The class started asking a whole bunch of questions.
“Quiet please, class,” said Ms. Cheerilee. “Why don’t we let them introduce themself?”
Into the room walked a boy with green hair and green eyes. And it goes without saying that he wore a school uniform as well... yet I said it anyway for some reason.
“Hi, I’m Spike Sparkle,” said the boy, “I’m a Ranger Cadet.”
The tomboy quietly pumped her fist beneath her desk.
“So, Spike, why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself,” said Ms. Cheerilee.
“Alright. Um, I was adopted from an orphanage in Canterlot, my sister is the Leader of the Ranger Base there, and I’ve come here to follow in her footsteps.”
“Very good. Now, why don’t you have a seat in the open desk right there.” Ms. Cheerilee pointed to an open desk right next to where the girly girl sat.
Once Spike took his seat, Cheerilee continued, “Now, class, I’ll leave you to your own devices for now. Feel free to do whatever you’d like (within reason). Sweetie Belle?”
“Yes, Ms. Cheerilee?” asked the girly girl.
“Could give Spike a tour of the school?”
“Yes, ma’am!” Sweetie said, enthusiastically.
“Good. Now, if you need me, I’ll be in the main office.”
Ms. Cheerilee left the room. Almost immediately, the class began to chatter again.
Spike turned in his chair to face Sweetie Belle, and was greeted by two more faces; the tomboy and the redhead.
“Hi, I’m Sweetie. And I’m an Operator in-training.”
“I’m Scootaloo. I’m a Ranger Cadet too,” said the tomboy.
“And Ah’m Apple Bloom,” said the redhead. “Ah’m a Mechanic in-training.”
“It’s nice to meet you all,” said Spike. “So, about that tour...”
“Oh, right. Let’s go!” said Sweetie, heading to the door.
Spike, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom followed Sweetie into the hall.
“There really isn’t much to see of this school,” said Scootaloo, pressing the buttons on her skates to equip the wheels. She began to slowly skate alongside as they walked. “Sure, there’s a library, and a few classrooms, and the office, and the cafeteria, and the dorms upstairs, but that’s about it.”
“Don’t forget ‘bout Crusader Rock,” added Apple Bloom.
“Crusader Rock?” asked Spike.
“Yeah, it’s this statue right outside the school,” said Sweetie. “Come on, we’ll show you!”
The four students made their way out the building, and down a path leading to a big statue on the front lawn. The statue was made of marble and carved into the shapes of three Rangers, one male and two female, and three Pokemon at their feet; an Espeon, an Umbreon, and a Sableye.
“Oh, this thing,” said Spike. “I saw this when I arrived. What’s a statue of?”
“The first three Top Rangers in Equestria and their Partner Pokémon, who else?” said Scootaloo. “They are the pinnacle that all Rangers strive to be. And someday, I hope to have a statue of me standing nearby.”
“And Ah’m sure ya will be, Scoots. You too, Spike,” said Apple Bloom.
Suddenly, the bell rang from the school’s clock tower.
“Oh, there’s the bell. We better get back to class!” Sweetie said, before darting back inside. Spike, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo followed suit.
That night…
Spike was in the boys’ dorm, writing a letter to his sister. It read, “Dear Twilight, today was my first day at Ponyville Ranger Academy, and I think I made a good first impression. I also made three new friends; Apple Bloom, a farm girl from right here in Ponyville training to be a Mechanic; Sweetie Belle, a really pretty girl training to be an Operator; and Scootaloo, a tomboy who is a Ranger Cadet and a huge daredevil. They showed me around the school and even welcomed me into their club. I really think I’m gonna like it here. Love, Spike.”