Twilight smiled with just a hint of awkardness. "An adult student... I hadn't considered that." She looked away, speaking to herself quietly, "But I should have." She quickly looked back at Stellar and Starlight. "So, tell me what you're hoping to get from this school? Obviously many of the classes are designed around furthering the study of friendship, but they were designed with foals in mind, so we go over many core concepts that you are likely well-aware of."
Stellar raised a hoof to her chest, lashes fluttering at Twilight. "While I may be a functioning, and successful, adult, my son's visit made it plain that I have much to learn in regards to being a good friend. Celestia knows what mistreatments I may be visiting on my other friends without realizing it."
Twilight glanced to Starlight, who nodded in reply. "Well, that is a refreshingly honest look at oneself." She smiled a little more confidently. "Are you comfortable being taught alongside creatures much less mature than yourself? We will be teaching at their pace." A thought seemed to occur to her, perking up. "We also must insist, being an adult, that you not belittle or attack any of the other students, even if they are of a species you are not comfortable with. We are all friends, here."
Stellar rose to her hooves. "Of course! This is a school of friendship, is it not?" Her eyes wandered over Twilight's office, taking in the details as she went. "Everyone here is a potential friend. I know how to make those, Princess, it's more about... being a good one. Friendship is a two way street and I know I have some darling friends who have given to me. The thought of not returning the favor is galling." She was laying it on thick and it showed in her voice a bit, but she didn't seem to be outright lying.
Starlight dipped her head. "Well, my job is complete. Let me know if she's joining the student body and I'll help her move in."
Twilight nodded to Starlight. "Of course, thank you. Before we get to that, we should go over finances." A scroll appeared beside her head. "Not the friendliest of topics, I admit, but an essential one. We get contributions to the school from the parents of the children, but they aren't much, since we don't even mandate it. As an adult student, this is not the case. Did Starlight mention that?"
Stellar leaned towards Twilight. "I confess, I'm surprised you had rules ready for adult students."
Twilight colored at that. "Not... exactly. It's, here." She turned the scroll to Stellar could see it. "We don't specifically mention adults paying, more that we do specifically mention that foals and creatures young enough to be the ward of another do not pay."
"Works out the same in the end," allowed Stellar with a soft nod. "Hoof over the figures and I'll have my people run through them and get the bits on the way." She sat down with a smug smile. "I'll gladly pay."
Twilight rolled a hoof. "You agree to respect and follow the orders of the faculty? Many of them are younger than you, but if you are a student here, they become your superiors and are to be listened to at all times." A brow hiked faintly. "Will that be an issue?"
"Whyever would it be?" She hiked a brow. "It's a new thing, but new things don't scare me, I promise." Her smile deepened. "Usually, I'm the source of the new things, but I can take this. I have it under control."
"That is precisely what you're giving up," chastised Twilight. "You're surrendering some control to us, to help mold you into a better pony. Do you accept that?"
Stellar's smile turned subtly. She was being challenged, and it was not one she'd back down from. "All I ask is that you leave me better than you found me. Now, should I go find Starlight for rooming arrangements?"
Twilight floated over a tightly-rolled scroll. "Here are the finances, feel free to mail that to your ponies. I'll see you to the dorms myself." She began walking for the door at an easy pace. "Do you have a history with Starlight? She looked tense."
Stellar laughed awkwardly. "What? Oh, of course. We've known each other for practically forever. Her father and I are friends, in fact. I look forward to working with her. Is she a good guidance counselor?" Her magic took hold of the scroll and tucked it away quietly.
"The best we have," chimed Twilight with no hint of even realizing the awkwardness of her also being the only one. "Right this way."
Sunburst wandered the castle, searching fruitlessly. "Starlight? Are you--" His call was interrupted by a door opening in front of him. Out stepped a mildly annoyed looking Spike.
"She's at work." He hiked a thumb in the general direction of the school. "What's up? You look kinda... worked up."
"I'm not worked up," Sunburst insisted. "I'm excited, about what I have in mind." He sat and rubbed his forehooves together. "If she's at work, I shouldn't... bother her."
Spike peered at the stallion. "You look like you have something interesting in mind. Wanna share?" He grinned salaciously. "Is it good?"
Sunburst's eager look faltered a little. "Uh, you know that board game that Starlight likes?"
Spike crossed his arms, his wings mildly unfurling. "The dragon one that isn't like what dragons actually are?"
Sunburst nervously chuckled, "Y-yeah, that one. It's not like dragons would ever run around while boulders were being thrown at them that could knock them into danger. That would be ridiculous."
Spike's confident disdain crumbled, rubbing at one arm with the hand of the other. "Y-yeah," he echoed. "Ridiculous. Um, so, what about it?"
Sunburst looked over Spike in a quick glance. "Oh, um, well... I was going to work with Twilight to cast a little shapechanging magic on Starlight and me."
Spike's brow rose, his own nervousness fading. "Into dragons? I mean, bro, that's a bold move. I'm... not exactly the expert, but if Ember is any hint to go on, when a lady dragon and a guy dragon meet, there's a lot of yelling involved."
Sunburst snorted softly. "You've met lady dragons without yelling at them."
Spike's nervousness returned with a self-depreciating guffaw. "I mean... yeah? Kinda... I'm not your usual dragon, as people remind me once in a while." He rolled a clawhand. "Having ponies as your caretakers will do that. So, uh, yeah, good luck with that?"
Sunburst suddenly perked up. "Hey, wait a minute! Would you like to play with us?"
"Say what now?" He had a skeptical brow raised, leaning against a wall. "So this isn't a try to win her hoof?"
Sunburst blinked naively. "W-what? No! I mean, she's a friend."
Spike waggled his brows. "Me and Rarity are friends."
"Precisely," concluded Sunburst, adjusting his cape. "As friends, we're going to play her favorite board game, but with the full-sized board, and as actual dragons. You're already a dragon, and our friend too, so if you wanted...?"
Spike raised a thumb. "Sure, why not, even if it's just to see you two trying to be dragons, badly. Hey, are you two gonna already have wings?"
"Already?" asked Sunburst with some obvious confusion. It was only then that it clicked that Spike certainly had wings. "When did you get those?! I thought..."
Spike's face split in a triumphant grin. "This dragon's becoming a big dragon." He hiked his thumbs at himself, bouncing a little on his toes. "They work too." He lifted from the ground, wobbling a little in the air. "Still getting the hang of them, but they work!"
Sunburst clopped his hooves together appreciatively. "Very nice, congratulations, Spike. I wonder how the crystal ponies will react when they see it."
Spike snorted as he came back down on his feet. "Wonder if they'll update the statue to match or not. Um, so anyway, yeah, sign me up. I can play a game or two." He thrust a hand forward, met with a hoof as they shook on it, the matter settled.
Starlight emerged from the school, weaving around other students that were dispersing. The school day was complete, and everyone was fleeing to other interests, including herself. "Finally," she sighed to herself, trotting across the bridge from the school.
"Starlight!" called a familiar older female voice, Stellar emerging from the crowd. "Oh, pardon me, Counselor." She dipped her head briefly. "I'm looking forward to starting!"
Starlight forced a smile. "Oh, so you're going through with it? Good luck. If you need any, you know, counseling, you know who to turn to."
"I certainly do." She bumped into Starlight as if they were good friends and trotted past towards Ponyville proper.
The other faculty were the last to come out, Twilight last of all, closing the doors behind herself. "Starlight, just the pony I wanted to speak to. Have you seen Sunburst today?"
"Hmm? Not since breakfast," she easily admitted, watching Twilight approach. "What's up?"
Twilight glanced around. "Ah, he was looking for you before, but, no matter. We have a little plan that he came up with."
Starlight's ears perked up. "Alright, that sounds fun for you two. What does this have to do with me?"
"It has everything to do with you." She grinned wide enough to squeak. "He wants to play your favorite game with you."
Starlight felt some of the drag of the day lift. "What? Really? I... thought he was mostly over that game. I mean, I appreciate the thought, but he really doesn't have to, not just for me."
Twilight raised a hoof to her friend's shoulder. "Don't even worry about it. This was his idea, and there's more to it."
"More?" Starlight raised a brow suspiciously. "What kind of more?"
"He wants to stretch his magic legs. We will be transforming the two of you to play the part. No costumes, because you two will actually be dragons." She reared up, freeing her forehooves to clap together in an eager clapping. "Won't that be fun?"
Starlight's cheeks darkened softly. "He really wants to go that far, for me? After... what I did that last time? I... thought he'd never want to even think about, you know, that kind of magic, especially with me..." She glanced towards the tall structure that was Twilight's castle and their home. "Wow... That's really thoughtful of him. I never really thought about playing it as a dragon, but hay, why not?"
Twilight came back down to all fours, her wings fluttering atop her as she turned for the castle. "Then let's find him and get this going. I've been looking forward to a distraction." She began walking, still talking, "I will not be joining your game, mind. I'll sit out and be available in case of any emergencies. While I have confidence in Sunburst's theoretical knowledge, I don't want to take chances with the return trip."
Starlight's steps were free of the drudgery of the day, her interest piqued. "I suppose that's playing it safe. No reason to take chances just to play a silly game. Thank you." She threw a foreleg over Twilight in a brief squeeze. "That's a really nice gesture, but, wait." She drew the leg back. "You're the one casting the spell, right?"
Twilight shook her head. "It will be a harmonic casting between Sunburst and me. I'll be providing a little 'oomph' and let him take charge in the shaping and directing. It'll be good practice for him and I'll be available if anything goes awry." She pushed the door open to the castle, unlocked as it tended to be. "We can play tonight, if you're feeling up for it? Sunburst seemed quite eager to proceed."
Starlight tilted her head a little. "Do you think he can handle it? No! Nevermind, that was awful of me. Of course he can." She smiled as a brief laugh escaped her. "What kind of friend doesn't have confidence in their friends, especially when he's trying so hard?"