//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: We're the Foals Who Lived // by Maddie Koester //------------------------------// Though Twilight knew the escaped snake incident was an accident, she still 'punished' Morning Shine and Eclipse by having them not study magic for a week. For the them it was relief, but alas more mischievous magic was to come. It was an early morning in August, there was a horrible smell in the kitchen when Morning Shine and Eclipse went in for breakfast. When they stepped into the kitchen, they found Twilight using her magic to dye articles of clothing. “What are you doing, Aunt Twilight?” Morning Shine asked. Twilight's lips tightened in concentration. “Dying your new school uniforms,” she said. “Oh,” Eclipse said, “I didn’t realize it had to be magicked,” “Don’t be silly,” replied Twilight. I’m dyeing some of your old clothes the perfect shade of 'pure-beck stone'. They’ll look just like everyone else’s when I’ve finished.” Both foals thought it best not to argue. They sat down at the table and tried not to think about how lonely they were going to be on their first day at Astral Spell's Magic Academy — well they would be lonely, if it weren't for Radiance. Radiance and Flash came in, both with wrinkled noses because of the smell from the new uniforms. Flash opened his newspaper as usual and Radiance opened her spell books. They heard the click of the mail slot and flop of letters on the doormat. “Get the mail, Radiance,” said Flash from behind his paper. “Okay,” Sparkling Radiance said absent-mindedly as she attempted to levitate the letters from behind her books, the mail dropped with a small thump. “Get the mail, Shine.” Flash muttered Morning Shine rolled her eyes and went to get the letters. Five things lay on the doormat: a postcard from Flash’s brother First Base, who was vacationing on the Isle of Flight, a brown envelope that looked like a bill, and three scrolls - one for each of the three foals in the house hold. Shine picked it up and stared at it, the only times she would get letters was when it was her birthday, or a get-well card. And her friends would come over if they wanted to talk. Yet here it was, a letter, addressed so plainly there could be no mistake: Ms. M.S. Glimmer Castle of Friendship Ponyville, Equestria The scroll was thick and heavy, made of yellowish parchment, and the address was written in emerald-green ink, tied neatly with a red bow. She looked at the other two scrolls, they were exactly the same with the exception for who it was addressed to. “Everything okay Morning Shine?” Flash shouted from the kitchen. “What are you doing, checking for letter bombs?” He chuckled at his own joke. Shine went back to the kitchen, still staring at the scrolls. She handed Flash the bill and the postcard, gave the two other scrolls to their addressee respectively. The three foals opened the scrolls slowly. Flash ripped open the bill, and frowned at the postcard. “First Base’s ill,” he informed Twilight. “Ate a funny…” “What do you three have?" Twilight inquired the foals, as she levitated them out of their grasp. “Hey!” said the three, trying to snatch it back. Within seconds Twilight's face was as white as Rarity's coat. “F-F-Flash!” she gasped. "Twilight? What's the mat-?" Flash's face went the same shade of white. "What? Let us see!" Eclipse pleaded. "NO!" Twilight shrieked, as the scrolls burst into flames. Morning Shine, Eclipse, and Sparkling Radiance stared horror struck at the ashes. "Hey, who wants a vacation?!" Flash said nervously.