Princess Flurry Heart snuggled her Molly Williams doll as she was tucked into bed. “Will you tell me a story, Miss Quizzical?”
Quizzical Greystone had been afraid she’d be asked this. “Would you not prefer to read quietly to yourself, Princess Flurry?” Professor Greystone had a tall stack of term papers to grade, and she was eager to curl up with them and while away the night correcting her student’s misconceptions about theoretical magic. It would be a delightful night. But she couldn’t get to her work until Flurry went to sleep.
“Make up a story for me, the way you do for Pound and Pumpkin,” said Flurry. “Please, Miss Quizzical.”
Quiz frowned. “The Cake twins are not very discerning, Princess Flurry. I believe you will find that whatever they have told you about my skills is greatly exaggerated. I am not a storyteller.”
“But you write books!” protested the Princess.
“Text books. It is not the same thing. You would not expect a mathematician to write a classic children’s book. And not all authors can write just any story. A master of spy adventures or one who crafts horror and suspense stories would not be likely to write great children’s literature.”
“I think you protest too much, Miss Quizzical,” stated Flurry. Then she added, with the confidence of a princess who knew she was going to get her way, “Please tell me a story.”
“Bother.” Grading term papers would have to wait until Quiz got this over with. “I assume you do not wish to hear about superheroes as the Cakes do.”
“You know what I want,” said Flurry. “I want to hear a story about Molly and Jennifer!”
“Of course,” said Quiz. She hoped Flurry didn’t notice her lack of enthusiasm. Flurry was an avid follower of the Midnight Castle series; stories about humans who lived in another dimension. Flurry’s original character, Jennifer, had been adopted as a sort of mascot by the Midnight Castle fandom, and many fanfictions about Jennifer had been written. Flurry couldn’t get enough of Jennifer.
The problem was Quiz did not read the Midnight Castle stories. However, foal sitting for an obsessed fan was enough to make Quiz almost an expert. That, and having some personal experiences to call on, might be enough to get through one bedtime story. At least Quiz hoped so.
“Very well. If I must begin then I wish to begin at the beginning. You have read many stories of Molly and Jennifer’s adventures. This is the story of the day they first met…”
#
Molly Williams was in first period study hall, doodling in her notebook, when the new girl came in and presented her paperwork to Miss Cheerilee. Cheerilee read it, then nodded and smiled. “Yes, this is all in order. Go ahead and take the seat you want, dear.”
There were only two open desks in the room. Molly frowned. Based on the girl’s expensive dress, Molly guessed that she would sit next to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Instead she took the desk next to Molly.
“Hello,” she said. “I’m Jennifer.”
[“Expensive dress? Miss Quizzical you’re not having her wearing a gown, are you?” interrupted Flurry.
“Of course not. It is a warm day and Jennifer has a sundress on. Before you ask, it is purple, with teal accents.”
“I wouldn’t ask if your descriptions were more detailed, Miss Quizzical,” grumbled Flurry. “What does Molly have on?”
“A bright pink top and purple tights. As you have told me many times, Molly enjoys bold colors.”
“They’re not wearing those boots, are they?”
“What? No. Molly wears a pair of sensible slippers. Jennifer has… sneakers, I believe they are called. With those remarkable fasteners the humans use. Velcro.”
“Good, those boots look silly.”]
First period was a relatively unrestricted study hall, and Cheerilee permitted quiet conversation, though she would shush any student who was too loud. Molly and Jennifer began to talk; but after introductions, and comparing their class schedules, and “So, you just moved here from Crystal City?”, and finally “Well, you’ve had nice weather for your move,” the conversation ground to a halt.
“So...um…?” began Jennifer, but had begun the sentence with no idea how to finish, and she failed to think of anything after she began. The she noticed the cartoons Molly had drawn in her notebook. Jennifer’s face lite up.
“Do you watch ‘OK, Crystal Star and the Wee Bears…?’”
“‘...Versus The Glitter Titan’s Club, GO!’!!!” The finished together, and ended with a excited squeal. This earned them a stern look from Cheerilee.
After that there was not stopping the two new friends’ excited chatter. Cheerilee had to shush them twice.
[“‘Crystal Star and the Wee Bears Versus something, something, whatever’?” asked Flurry. “What’s that?”
“It is an animated program.” said Quiz. “It is similar to the presentations we have here in Equestria, produced by Mr. Waltzing Dizzy. Does that not sound like something young humans would enjoy?”
“I think you made it up,” stated Flurry.
“This is a work of fiction, Princess Flurry.”]
Molly had a dance class after school and Jennifer needed to go to the library, so the girls agreed to meet at the dance studio later. Then they could walk over to Sugar Cube Corner to hang out for a while over milkshakes. When Jennifer arrived she found Molly in the studio’s lobby, talking with a tall, slender woman.
“Jennifer!” called Molly. “This is Miss Blaze. She teaches modern jazz and body movement.”
“Hello.”
“Pleased to meet you,” said the woman. She offered Jennifer her hand, and this simple gesture was startlingly beautiful. In fact her every little movement was perfect and beautiful. “But it’s Aria. If you’re a friend of Molly’s then you get to call me Aria.”
The moment she and Jennifer’s hands met Aria started in surprise. She tried to hide it, but both girls noticed.
Aria sniffed the air, then took a deep breath. The expression that briefly crossed her face was difficult to read, but most observers would guess it was pleasure, as if she sensed something very nice.
“Aria?” asked Molly. “Are you OK?”
“What? Oh, right, yeah. Everything’s fine.” said Aria. “Yeah, everything is real good.”