It took two days by train to go from the Crystal Empire to Ponyville. Witherleaf and Flurry Heart spent the first day relaxing with Witherleaf’s last bag of Root Weed— Seriously, how much of that stuff did she bring. By the second day boredom began to set in, luckily Twilight had a pack of playing cards. By the time the train pulled into the Ponyville station, Flurry was more than ready to have land under her hooves once again.
It was early midday when everyone got off the train. Ponies on the station made a path for them to walk through, even as they waited to board the train themselves. The bags were handled by the Royal Guards and taken to the Friendship Castle for them, so the girls followed behind Twilight at a quick pace.
“I knew we should have left last night, now we’re late,” Twilight said, as they entered the market. Stands where set up in rolls as ponies haggled wares from produce to accessories. On the other side of the street the actual brick and mortar businesses stood.
“Where are we headed?” Asked Witherleaf
“City Hall, everyone was supposed to meat up there by noon,”
“Twilight!” At the sound of a soft voice and a waving yellow hoof everyone came to a stop.
Twilight trotted up and hugged the yellow pegasus. “Sorry that we’re running late, did we keep everyone waiting.”
Fluttershy shook her head. “No need to worry about that. In fact everyone’s not even here yet.”
“Really, who are we missing?”
“Let’s see,” Fluttershy said, as she counted them off on a hoof. “Rarity got caught up at work, so she’s not sure when she’ll be here, but Jazmin arrived a few hours ago with a message to start without her. Also I don’t know where Jazmin disappeared to. Oh and Shade Cloud hasn’t shown up yet.”
Twilight turn to the girls, “I have to help set up at City Hall, go find Jazmin and Shade Cloud than meet us there,”
“Ok mom, any ideas where we should look?” Asked Witherleaf.
“Let’s see,” Fluttershy pondered for a moment. “Jazmin mentioned needing a hooficure, so try the salon. As for Shade Cloud.” She gave a shrug. “You can try the lake, but I’m not sure. She has so many places she likes to draw at,”
“It’s a starting place at least,” Flurry said. they waved Twilight off and headed to the salon first, seeing as it was closer.
They entered the salon with the jingle of the door. A stallion at the front desk lowered a magazine, “Greetings, Princess Witherleaf, what service can we offer you today?”
“Nothing today,” Witherleaf answered. “Actually we’re looking for someone, a unicorn by the name of Jazmin.”
“Aw, yes. She came in here not too long ago. I’m not sure what room she’s in but you’re free to look.”
Witherleaf gave her thanks and both of them entered the next section of the building. Walking down a long white hallway, they occasionally looked into a passing room to see a pony getting a back massage or the like. They had nearly gone twenty feet when someone called out.
“Princess Witherleaf, Princess Flurry Heart.” They turned about at the call just in time to be pulled into a hug by a white unicorn in a green bath robe. “If I had known you two were coming to the salon I would have waited for you.” When she pulled back Flurry got a clear view of her blue mane. It was hard not to see the resemblance to Rarity.
“Hello, Two-Face,” said Witherleaf, looking unimpressed. Two-Face? Flurry gave Witherleaf a questioning look.
“It’s Jazmin!” she said, directing that more at Flurry Heart. “It’s been too long since our last get together, Princess Flurry Heart, I’m sure you barely recognize me.”
“Please address me as Flurry Heart, if you would. I will be here for some time, and if you keep calling me princess then you are likely to exhaust yourself.” Jazmin rose a hoof to her mouth and gave a haughty laugh. It was the type of laugh she would often hear from the nobles who would cling themselves to her mother in hopes of gaining favor. She was already growing a dislike for this mare. “I did recognize you actually, it’s hard not to see your mother in you.”
Jazmin beamed, “Why thank you. Everyone always says that I get my looks from my mother and my brains from my father.”
“That explains so much,” Witherleaf muttered. Jazmin shot her a glare but said nothing.
“Fluttershy said you disappeared, you do know we have to meet up at the City Hall, right?”
“Yes, yes, I know about that, but after spending two hours on the train from Canterlot, I just needed a hooficure.”
“Try spending two days on a train,” Flurry said jokingly.
Jazmin took Flurry by the hoof, her eyes grew sympathetic. “You pour dears, forgive my ignorance. I had completely forgotten that you just arrived. Come let us spend the day in this wonderful salon, getting their full service while we catch up with each other.”
“As fun as that sounds,” said Witherleaf in a sarcastic tone. “We’re here to bring you to the City Hall, Princess’ orders… not us, the ones that matter.”
Jazmin gave a huff of clear annoyance at being dragged away in the middle of her salon trip, but she didn’t put up a fight. “Very well, if my presents is so heavily requested that the princesses are demanding I go, then I have no choice.” With a too cheerful smile she added, “We should walk back together; we have so much we can talk about.”
“No can do, Two-face, we still have to track down Shade Cloud.”
Jazmin’s face dropped. “Oh that creep, I think I saw her trotting towards the apple farm. If you will excuse me I should be heading to the City Hall. I will see you there.”
The two of them watched as Jazmin trotted out of view. “She was certainly nice, if nothing else. Why did you insist on calling her Two-Face?” Asked Flurry.
Witherleaf laughed like there was a joke Flurry wasn’t in on. “Don’t worry,” she explained. “You’ll see soon enough, I guarantee it.”
The market was in full swing when the girls left the salon, and ponies were crowding the streets, so it took them nearly ten minutes to push their way past on the way to the farm. As they approached the farm they crossed paths with a sand colored stallion with a short brown mop of a mane. “Good afternoon, Mr. Apple.”
His name was Golden Hay, Applejack’s husband. If Flurry was remembering the story of how they met correctly. Apparently, Applejack’s brother had just moved out to start an apple farm in another town with his new wife, so they hired a farmhand to help out. Not long after that they fell in love, or he was kidnapped, depending on who you asked.
“I’m guessing you two are here looking for that one?” asked Golden Hay. He pointed off into the distance. They turn to look and could see the faint outline of a pony sitting next to a tree on the top of a hill.
“That we are, thanks Mr. Apple,” said Witherleaf. Golden Hay nodded and continued down the road. It took them only few minutes to climb the hill and reach Shade Cloud. Shade Cloud was a saffron yellow pegasus whose black mane seemed to permanently cover her right eye. From the angle of approach her sketch pad cutie mark was in plain view.
Shade Cloud ignored them as they approached, seemingly content with her drawling. It was only the slight glance from her eye, that showed she was aware of them. She continued to draw in a sketch pad on the ground at her hooves, a single dexterous wing held a pencil and traced out designs that would have been difficult with magic.
“Hello, Shade Cloud,” said Witherleaf. This time not having any strange nicknames. Shade Cloud looked up at them, with one eye hidden, and gave an inaudible response before turning back to her pad. “Shade Cloud, how about you speak like a civilized pony!”
Shade Cloud’s head snapped up and she glared at Witherleaf, like she was trying to set her on fire with her mind, “Fuck off!” she yelled. She held the glare for few tense seconds before turning back to her sketch pad.
Witherleaf looked to Flurry with a smile on her face and said, “And that is Shade Cloud. Shade Cloud, this is Princess Flurry Heart, I’m sure you remember her,”
More inaudible muttering.
“Shade Cloud we need you to come to the City Hall for the meeting,” Flurry Heart tried to explain. Shade Cloud rose a bit to look at Flurry, though she didn’t glare like she did at Witherleaf; however the annoyance was still clear in her eyes.
Witherleaf let out a tired groan. Like Flurry, she was tired with the lack of responses and the general hostile attitude. “Listen, Shade Cloud, we’re not going to drag you there kicking and screaming—mostly because I think you have a knife hidden on you—but if you don’t show we’re going to tell your mom that you refused to come. She’s already there by the way, waiting.”
Shade Cloud’s complexion visibly paled, like someone had just thrown cold water in her face. She quickly closed her sketch pad and packed it away in her saddle bag. With the spread of her wings, she jumped into the air and took off towards town.
“That was easier then I would have thought,” said Witherleaf, watching her fly off. “She didn’t even threaten to stab us.”
Flurry couldn’t help but look to Witherleaf and ask, “Do all of the ponies that live in this city have some kind of social problem?”
“No, of course not. I once met a few normal ponies… I think they still live here.”
With a sigh Flurry began the trip to City Hall.
The door to City Hall was guarded by two royal guards on each side. ‘I suppose that means they don’t want anyone to bother us during the meeting.’ Flurry thought. “Are we the last to arrive?” She asked the guard, who straitened themselves at their arrival.
“Yes princesses, everyone else is awaiting your arrival.”
“Then let us not keep them waiting.”
They entered the building and followed a straight hallway until they came to another set of doors that led into the conference room. The room could comfortably seat a few hundred ponies if needed; most of the chairs were stacked in a corner leaving ample space in the room. At that moment there were only seven ponies in the room, with the adults no were in sight.
Witherleaf took lead, “Let me introduce you to everyone.”
Flurry gave her a smile, “You have my thanks, I still barely remember the last time I met them, and it would be quite rude to get their names wrong,”
“Don’t worry about it. Half the time I can’t remember these losers’ names.” she led Flurry to the first pony on the path, a unicorn colt half her size. He had a white coat and his multicolor striped mane left little doubt in anyones mind that his mother was Rainbow Dash. On his flank was a rolled up scroll cutie mark. He was nose deep in a book, his eyes danced over each page before turning to the next. Witherleaf pointed at him, “This is Balls.”
The colt’s head jerked up from his book and he glowered at Witherleaf. “I’ve told you a thousand times, it’s Ballpoint!”
She gave him a giddy chuckle. “No it’s not.”
“What do you want?”
She pointed to Flurry. “Balls, do you know who this is?”
With a sigh he answered, “There are only five alicorns in this nation. Four of them are rulers, and seeing as you are not a ruler, I just couldn’t imagine who you could be.”
“It goes, my name is Ballpoint,” Witherleaf began lecturing him like a mother would a child. “It’s nice to meet you. Why yes, I do know who you are, Flurry Heart—Not everything you just said!”
“Again, I find I need to ask this. What do you want?”
“Just saying hi, although I don’t know why I bother.”
“Nor do I,” Ballpoint looked at Flurry with bored indifference, said “hi,” and turned back to his book.
“What are you reading?” Flurry asked.
Ballpoint looked up as if he was reevaluating her. “It’s about how the levitation spell can both enhance or hinder various other spells,”
“I see, that sounds… boring honestly. I read mostly adventure or romance novels. Generally, anything that lets me pretend I’m not at home,”
“I find those types of books a waste of time. They have nothing to offer ponies but eroding one’s mind with idiotic notions, considering that I’m not surprised you find this boring. But don’t let it bother you. I believe the library has some nice picture books you might like.”
Flurry stared blankly at him while debating whether she should give a counterargument or slap him across the room with her magic. Before she could decide Witherleaf chimed in, “Isn’t he adorable, I bet he’s just beating the mares off of him.”
Ballpoint turned around, clearly done with this conversation. As Witherleaf led them away she added, “Don’t let him bother you, as my mom says, ‘if you get mad at every idiot you’ll always be angry, and then you can’t join the friendship cult.’ Actually, maybe we should get angry.”
“She didn’t actually say that, did she?”
“More or less.”
The next ponies they trotted to were a group of three, one earthen stallion with his hooves around two mares, another earthen and a pegasus. The stallion was orange with a short brown mane. His cutie mark was of a single large golden apple. Witherleaf pointed at each one as she spoke, “The one in the middle is Golden Apple, Applejack’s son. That is Skank one and that is Skank two, both of them are Golden’s marefriends.”
“Sorry, but we don’t speak virgin,” the earthen mere said, who Witherleaf had designated as ‘Skank one’.
Witherleaf gave a smile that didn’t’ reach her eyes. “And thanks to you, neither do half the colts in Ponyville,”
“I’ll have you know I’m loyal to Golden!”
“You’re loyal to a guy that has two marefriends.”
Golden held onto the mares tighter. “Hey, you know they’re more mares than stallions in Equestria, well I’m just doin’ my part for the species,”
With a raised eyebrow Witherleaf mocked, “You’re a real humanitarian,”
Golden Apple looked Flurry Heart up and down, a stupid grin on his face that made her want to smack him. “Are you single?” He asked.
Witherleaf took a step forward and hit Golden softly on top of the head, “You do not ask if someone is single when you first meet them!”
“I’ve met her before.”
“Doesn’t matter how many times you’ve met them, it’s still rude!”
“Witherleaf, babe, why are you playing hard to get? I’ve got plenty of room over here for you too,” Golden said and flashed a set of pearly white teeth.
“Let’s go, Flurry, before his stupidity infects us, like it did these skanks.”
They turned and began walking away just as Golden called, “Hey, Flurry Heart, that offer extents to you too, so don’t be shy,” she didn’t bother dignifying that with a response.
Looking around Flurry spotted Shade Cloud in the farthest corner from everyone, her sketch pad out and drawing. They past Jazmin who set in the front roll of seats, looking at her hoof. Without her bathrobe her cutie mark was clear to see: a black spool of thread.
Near the front of the room was a three foot high stage, in front of that was a pink earthen mare with her light brown mane tight into a braid down her back. A trio of cupcakes decorated her flank. She sat with her back facing the two girls as they approached and Flurry could faintly hear her muttering to herself. ‘By the heavens, what’s wrong with this one?’
Without even addressing the pony Witherleaf said, “Last, and thankfully least, we have Raspberry Pie, daughter of Pinkie Pie. But everyone just calls her Livewire.”
“Do you have a nickname for everyone?” Flurry ask incredulously, and almost wondered why she didn’t have one for her.
“Hey I didn’t pick it, that’s just what everyone in my class calls her, anyway watch this.” Witherleaf stepped forward and tapped Livewire on the back. Livewire spun around with a surprised, 'I didn’t do it,' and stared at the new faces with expecting eyes.
“It’s too late to deny it now; we know what you did,” Flurry had know idea what Witherleaf was going on about, but she was far too intrigued to stop it.
Livewire’s eyes grew wide and she stuttered out, “W-w-what are you talking about?”
“Fine, play innocent if you wish, but it won’t help you. Don’t you know why we’re here?” She shook her head. “This is your trial, Livewire, we are the witnesses and the adults are the executioners,”
Livewire’s eyes looked like she could burst into tears at any moment. Flurry almost felt sorry for her.
“Executioners!”
Witherleaf gave a mock laugh and padded Livewire on the shoulder. “Oh come now, that’s just an exaggeration. You should know that Equestria doesn’t execute ponies. No, they are going to banish you.”
“Banish me!”
“And then imprison you in the place where they banished you. Honestly, after what you did it’s the least you can expect,” Witherleaf finished, a smug smile on her face.
“But… but I can explain.”
“Oh don’t waste your breath on me. Explain it to the adults when they show up,”
Livewire looked around, seeming to be on the verge of a full nervous breakdown, “Have to find them! Have to explain!” she muttered and galloped away from them.
“That was evil, you know that right?” Asked Flurry. As evil as it may have been, she couldn’t get the smirk off her face.
“Oh yeah, I’m so going to tartarus for that, worth it though,” She took a second to look around the room. “That’s everyone, all we can do now is wait.”
It was another few minutes before the adults decided to grace everyone with their presence. Twilight walked out from a side door onto the stage and the other parents followed suit. Everyone watched them closely, specifically the box that Twilight carried in her magic.
Everyone was seated in their own little corners of the room, keeping away from each other, Twilight seem to take note of that. When she spotted Golden Apple she rolled her eyes and motioned to Applejack as she pointed out her son, “I see’m, Honey Oak, Rain Dancer, you two are gonna have to wait outside.”
“But, Miss Apple, Golden Apple needs our support,” said the earthen mare, Honey Oak.
“Yawl can give him all the support you want outside, now get,”
Both meres gave Golden a kiss on the cheek and trotted out the door. Twilight cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention, “Can I have everyone gather around, we are about to begin.” Before she could get much further than that, Livewire jumped onto the stage and clinged to her mother’s hooves.
Flurry Heart wore a mask that perfectly hid her amusement, yet as she glanced to her side, Witherleaf already had to cover her mouth to quiet down her laughter, not even the pretense of a proper mask.
“I’m so sorry, please don’t banish me!” she cried.
And like a dam breaking, Witherleaf couldn’t hold it any more. Twilight looked at her, and the irritation was clear. “Witherleaf!” she yelled.
“I didn’t do it!” she managed to compose herself fast enough to call out. It wasn’t convincing.
“Then why are you laughing?”
“Complete coincidence.” Great line, now maybe if Twilight was brain dead that might actually work.
Luckily for Witherleaf, Livewire was more of a problem right now, so Twilight turned her attention back to her. Pinkie was trying to calm her sobbing daughter down. “No, we are not going to banish you,” said Pinkie.
Livewire looked at her with matted fur and unbelieving eyes, “Not even imprison me in the place where you banish me?”
“Not even imprison you,” Pinkie brushed away the tears and was finally getting her to calm down. “Have you done anything worth imprisoning you for?”
“I don’t’ think so.”
“WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID!” And just like that Livewire had another breakdown.
Flurry could only turn to stare at Witherleaf. Even as her mother’s head snapped to the side so fast she should have gotten whiplash. “You’re grounded, one week!”
“You had an out,” Flurry whispered, dumbfounded.
“I tried really hard not to, but did you see her face!”
It took another few minutes to calm Livewire enough that things could continue. Everyone had gathered near the stage as asked. Twilight began once more, “As you all know by now, we have lost our connection to the Elements of Harmony, but we have not lost hope. It is time for a new generation—your generation— to take up the mantle and become the next Bearers of the Elements!”
She set the box on the edge of the stage and opened it so everyone could see inside. The famed Elements of Harmony set in the box, now little more than hunks of stone. They held the shape of their last bearers cutie mark, but by their seemingly bland appearance, Flurry couldn’t understand what was so impressive about them.
Twilight took a stack of cue cards from her bags and prepared to give the next part of her speech.
“How long is this speech going to be?” Witherleaf asked. Twilight gave her a look, like she was debating grounding her again.
“Yeah, Twi, you think you can cut your speech short,” said Rainbow Dash, with Applejack nodding at her side.
Twilight threw a hoof into the air and the cue cards slipped from her grasp, raining down on the stage. “Fine we’ll skip it—I only spent the last two days writing it,”
“You can always read it to us later,” Fluttershy offered.
She shook her head, “No, it’s fine, let’s just move on,” Twilight said. “We want each of you to try and activate one of the elements. We don’t know if any of you are the chosen bearers yet, but we can still try. I also want you guys to think of this as a team building exercise.” The children groaned as one, voicing their excitement. “While you are trying to activate your element, help each other out, offer advice and just see where it takes you.”
“Hey, Ballpoint,” Rainbow called. “I bet you want to be the Element of Loyalty just like your awesome mom?”
Ballpoint shot a hoof into the air, a look of glee on his face, “I want to be the Element of Magic!”
“That’s… my boy,” Rainbow said, her enthusiasm having clearly waned.
Fluttershy trotted off the stage and around the gathered children to where Shade Cloud sat away from the group. “What’s wrong?” she asked. Shade Cloud’s muttering was too quiet for anyone to hear. Fluttershy put a hoof under her chin and rose her face up. With the other hoof she brushed the hair from her face. “Talk to me.”
Shade Cloud looked down but answered her mother, “I don’t want to be an Element of Harmony, because then I would have to hang out with those ponies, and I’ll have no time for my drawing.”
“Shade Cloud listen to me. Even if you turn out to be one of the element bearers you’ll still have plenty of time for your drawings, regardless I want you to take this seriously, interact, socialize, and try out the elements. Promise me you will.”
Still not looking at her mother, Shade Cloud gave a reluctant, “I promise,” satisfied, Fluttershy made her way back to the stage.
“Your mothers and I have things we have to take care of back stage so we will be leaving you to yourselves. Any questions before we go?”
Flurry Heart raised a hoof, “Aunt Twilight, I don’t have a cutie mark yet, so how could I possibly be one of the bearers?” Sixteen and still no cutie mark, for a normal pony that would be unheard of, but alicorns were different. Celestia and Luna had both been in their hundreds before getting theirs. Oh the joy of waiting.
“In truth, we don’t know if the elements require a pony to have a cutie mark at all. Think of this as a way to try and get your cutie mark,”
“Yes, Aunt Twilight,” At least this won’t be as bad as when she had to go to Cutie Mark Crusader Camp.
***
At the very back of the stage was a set of triple mirrors Twilight had installed for just this occasion, all of them were one-way. Standing on the other side of the mirror, Twilight and the parents watched the children tentatively as they examined the elements.
“Remind me again why we have to hide?” asked Applejack. “I’d think it be better for us to be in there help’m, seeing as those were ours not too long ago.”
“You know the trials we went through with Nightmare Moon to discover our elements,” Twilight asked. She nodded. “Now imagine if our parents were there… watching us,”
Applejack’s body visibly shook but she nodded. “I see you’re point.”
***
Not too surprisingly, Ballpoint had taken the Element of Magic and was now waving it around, trying to activate it. Livewire had taken Laughter and was quietly examining it at the back of the group. The others had yet to pick something and seemed rather uncertain about what to pick.
Flurry had no interest in them so stayed back. She didn’t believe she could get her cutie mark from this. She had heard enough stories from her father about how Twilight had to face random threats from monsters, all because they were the element bearers, to know that she wanted nothing to do with them.
Witherleaf stepped up to the box and withdrew the Element of Loyalty and Kindness. From today alone Flurry could already say that she should give up any hope on Kindness. As for Loyalty, she could see it, although it had to be better than other options. Witherleaf dropped them both back into the box and picked up the element of generosity. An unexpected choice.
Witherleaf called over her shoulder, “Hey, Two-Face, catch.” she threw the priceless and irreplaceable element of generosity, like it was a ball. Jazmin caught it in the air with her magic. “You’re good at kissing ass, so that should be a nice fit for you,”
Snickering could be heard from the other kids. Jazmin held a strained smile. She walked back to the box and placed her element back in before taking out the Element of Kindness. “My calling is clearly kindness; you could say I’m destined for it,” she said while placing the amulet around her neck.
Shade Cloud looked at Jazmin from where she sat, a slight grin on her otherwise perpetual frown. “Can a bitch even be considered kind?”
Jazmin spun around, her strained smile almost gone, “Can a sociopath even be considered a pony?”
The two held the stare for a long moment before Shade Cloud looked away. She trotted over to the corner she was in when Flurry first arrived and pulled out her sketch pad. Jazmin on the other hoof was speaking to her element, “Oh great Element of Kindness show these uncouth ponies how kind I am,”
Witherleaf stepped away from the box and trotted to Flurry’s side. “I don’t trust this,” she said. “It’s got Friendship Cult writing all over it, and I don’t want anything to do with it.”
“Ok, what’s the deal with this cult you keep going on about,” Flurry asked while looking at her.
Witherleaf glanced around conspiratorially, “My mother is secretly trying to get everyone in Equestria to join her cult. Where everyone in it has to be friends with everyone— no matter what— have a smile glued to their face, and pretend to have a super upbeat attitude,”
‘So it’s like being at home, but everywhere,’ Flurry reasoned. “Ok, that’s scary,”
“Exactly!”
“This has gotten boring fast. Do you have any more snacks?”
Witherleaf gave a snort and smiled. “Do you even need to ask?”
The two of them went back to their seats and Witherleaf brought out a new bag of Root Weed. Feeling… much better, they passed the time by watching the other kids.
Golden Apple trotted up behind Ballpoint and snatched the Element of Magic from the air. “I’ve decided I want to be the Element of Magic,” he declared.
Ballpoint turned on his hooves, fixing a stare on the pony nearly twice his size, “Hey, give that back, I called it first!”
“Yeah so, no one said it was first come first serve, now beat it, dork,”
Ballpoint lashed out with his magic and grabbed the element. He nearly ripped it out of Golden’s hoof, but Golden grabbed it with the other hoof. “Stop being dumb! Earthens can’t use magic, everyone knows that, so why don’t you go get the Element of Kindness instead!” Ballpoint yelled, and pulled with both his magic and hooves, but Golden was not letting go.
“No, the Element of Kindness is gay! Why don’t you get the Element of Generosity and learn to share!”
“I said let it go!” Ballpoint cried angrily and sent his free hoof into Golden’s face. Golden was staggered but still held on. He returned the punch in kind. Perhaps it was due to his anger or stubbornness, but Ballpoint managed to take the hit and send one back. The two stood there, one hoof on the element and the other swinging.
Witherleaf and Flurry laughed from their seats. Flurry didn’t know what she found funnier? That an earthen bully couldn’t take away something from a unicorn half his size, or that Ballpoint thought he could win a hoof fight. The other kids had also stopped to watch the brawl.
“Oh my Celestia, will you two just stop already,” Jazmin yelled. “Just give the baby back his toy! I’m sick of hearing you two fight, and why is a mud pony even bothering with magic? What’s next, are you going to try and fly?”
Not a sound could be heard. Ballpoint and Golden had stopped their fight mid punch.
Witherleaf finally chimed up, “That is why I call her Two-Face!”
Jazmin gave her a forced smile, “Oh, Princess Witherleaf, you should get the Element of Laughter, because you certainly love your jokes,”
“Speaking of jokes,” Livewire called out, jumping to the center of the room. “This reminds me of one. Why do pegasi live in the clouds?” she paused, giving time for everyone to think it over.
***
Pinkie Pie launched herself at the mirror and clung to its surface, “Don’t tell that joke!” she pleaded, making Twilight suddenly glad she had the forethought to have the room sound proofed.
***
“Because it’s the only time they can get their head out of their flanks. If Witherleaf and Flurry weren’t holding onto their chairs they would have fallen off from laughing at this point. She was right to pick the Element of Laughter, or was that the Root Weed talking, Flurry couldn’t really tell anymore .
“I’m not even a pegasus and I find that offensive,” said Ballpoint. Golden took the moment of distraction and tried to jerk the element away, but Ballpoint held firm and the fight was back on.
Livewire dropped on her flank and began muttering to herself, “I failed. I failed,” looking ready to tear up at any moment.
***
Twilight slowly turned her gaze to Pinkie, whose eyes were darting around the room. “Exactly what kind of jokes are you teaching her?” she asked, her eyebrow raised.
“The type that should never be said outside of family!”
“Hello girls, sorry I’m late!” From behind them Rarity trotted up from the back entrance. She gave everyone a beaming smile. “I thought that contract would take all day to get through, but enough of work. How is my Jazmin? What element did she pick? Oh I hope it’s generosity like me, of course I would be happy with whatever she picked.”
No one seemed to have the heart to speak, Twilight was no better. She stepped away from the mirror and pointed. It would be easier than explaining. Standing in the center of the room, Jazmin was pointing to the other kids and yelling, “You two are mud ponies, and you two are featherbags, princess or not. It’s just a fact of life that unicorns are the superior race; we have proven that time and time again! The sooner you get that through your country bumkin heads the better off you will be.”
Rarity stared quietly for nearly a full minute, her face emotionless. Finally she turned to Applejack, “Applejack, dear, do you have a shovel I could borrow?”
“I think so, but why?”
“So I can bury my daughter after I kill her, of course!”
Turning her back on the mirror Twilight addressed the girls, “Before we start committing foalicide I have another form of punishment that I think will be far more… satisfying.”
***
It was another ten minutes before the adults returned. By that point everyone was in a full blown argument. Names were being called, Livewire was crying, the boys were still fighting, and Witherleaf and Flurry were laughing in-between insults of their own, just to add a little fuel to the fire.
Any semblance of order was lost.
“ENOUGH!” Twilight’s voice reverberated through the room and shook the glass. Everyone froze, their attention fully on her. “What part of this is supposed to be teamwork?”
Five voices yelled, “They started it.”
“Don’t give me that, we’ve been watching this entire time. We saw everything!”
“Everything?” Jazmin asked, suddenly looking worried. It was then she saw her mother on the stage. “When did you get here?”
“Yes, young lady, everything.” Rarity trotted down the stage with that declaration. Jazmin stood unmoving as her mother approached her.
“Momma, I can explain,” Rarity didn’t give Jazmin the chance and slapped her hoof against her cheek.
“You must have lost your mind to speak such vulgarity! Neither your father nor I have ever spoken such rubbish in front of you. I will be having a very long talk with your father about this,”
Applejack looked down at her son from the stage, “I hope you like buckin’ apples, cause I got a whole field of’m with your name on it.” Golden Apple just hung his head. He seemed smart enough to know not to bother arguing.
Rainbow glided off the stage and over to her son. With a hoof she raised his face up to hers to see the skin around his right eyes was already swelling. “Now you have a black eye, anything to say for yourself?”
Without hesitation Ballpoint said, “The Element of Magic is mine!”
“Like apples it is, that element is mine!”
“Enough!” Both mothers yelled. “One more word and I’m tanning both of your hides,” Applejack added.
Fluttershy stepped off of the stage and look to where her daughter had hidden away. “Shade Cloud, come here,” She said with no hint of kindness. Shade Cloud rose to her hooves and trotted over, her eyes on the ground. “I thought we agreed you would participate,”
“I-I did—“Shade Cloud tried to defend herself but Fluttershy wasn’t listening.
“Was that before you called Jazmin a bitch, or after you snuck off without even looking at the elements?”
“Umm… after,”
Fluttershy took in a breath and held out a hoof, “Give me your sketch pad,” Shade Cloud looked shocked but hoofed over the pad. Fluttershy’s irritation only seemed to grow. “Don’t play games with me, young lady. Hand them all over.
Shade Cloud was gritting her teeth and muttering under her breath, too low to hear, but Flurry didn't need to hear to know what she was saying. She pulled out another five sketch pads from her saddlebag and placed them onto Fluttershy’s hoof. “From now on you are not to take any sketch pads out of the house. You can still draw at home, but it’s time you get interests outside of drawing,”
“Why are you doing this to me!” Shade Cloud cried with the stomp of a hoof.
“I asked you for one thing, Shade Cloud, one! I’m sorry, sweetie, but this is for your own good,”
“You’re ruining my life!” Shade Cloud turned, spread her wings, and shot out of the building. In that moment Flurry Heart had never been happier that her mother wasn’t there.
Twilight placed a wing over Fluttershy, who returned a thankful smile, but her eyes were on Witherleaf and Flurry. It was not the ‘I’m going to take us out for ice-cream’ look the two were hoping for. It was never that look?
“I knew this was a trap!” Witherleaf called.
“A friendship trap!” Flurry added and they both laughed again. It wasn’t even that funny but Flurry couldn’t stop herself. ‘Wow, I’ve had too much Root Weed.’
Twilight trotted over to stand in front of them and examined them closely. Their dilated eyes were clearly on display, and Witherleaf was trying to hide her bag of snacks with a wing. Twilight grabbed ahold of the plastic bag, only for Witherleaf to give a shout in protest. “What kind of snack is this?” she asked.
Witherleaf was fumbling with her words but Flurry spoke up first, “A bitter one,”
“Yes, very bitter and not to your liking,”
Taking out a single root Twilight placed it in her mouth. Both girls winced for what was coming. Flurry could almost read Twilight’s mind by her reaction. It wasn’t that bitter, there would be a slight tingling on the tongue as she chewed, and in just under a minute she would start to feel it.
When her eyes narrowed they knew the game was over. ‘Oh well, we’re in this deep, may as well keep digging,’ thought Flurry. With a short flair of her horn, Twilight hit both girls with a detoxification spell, and the buzz faded nearly as fast.
“No! My buzz!” Witherleaf cried. She fell to the floor like she had been stabbed.
“What was wrong with them?” asked Pinkie.
“They were high!” Turning back to her oh-so-grounded daughter and niece, she asked, “Where did you get this from?”
“Why outside, of course,” Flurry said, far too innocently. Twilight didn’t look like she believed it. “Why, Aunt Twilight, is there something wrong with them?”
“Let me get this straight, you picked random plants off the ground and ate them?”
With a beaming smile of someone who’s telling nothing but lies, Flurry explained, “I heard it was a local custom to try out the flora,”
“I could almost believe you falling for something like that,” Twilight said, then pointed at Witherleaf with a hoof. “But you?”
Witherleaf righted herself, “Hey you know what they say: when in pone,”
Flurry facepalmed. It was the only response she could muster for a moment.
“Don’t worry, I know another local custom: cleaning all of the smut off the castle walls from when the local baby dragon ran wild. And there is another punishment for you. There is another punishment for all of you!” she raised her voice at the end to be heard over the sound of bickering children and their mothers.
Twilight stepped away from us as she spoke, “Your mothers and I had a long talk before we came back here. We have decided that for the remainder of the school year all of you will be attending class together. Not only that, but all of you will be required to spend six hours together on weekends,”
There was a short moment of silence before everyone erupted into chaos. “What!?”
Flurry almost wanted to laugh, and this time not from the Root Weed. “Aunt Twilight, the school year just started. My mother will never allow me to be away for that long. I bet she’s counting down the seconds until my return, as we speak,”
“I will deal with your mother myself, but rest assure you will be attending.”
Flurry jerked her head away in a very unladylike manner. “I think I prefer the gilded cage,” she muttered.
Jazmin looked up to her mother, her eyes pleading. “Momma, please, you can’t mean to have me take a train twice a day just to attend class with… these ponies,”
Rarity smiled softly at Jazmin, “No, dearest, I do not,” Jazmin visibly relaxed, clearly unaware of the other hoof about to drop. “You will be living here in Ponyville for the duration of the school year. Twilight has already offered to provide you with boarding.”
“I have to live with commoners! Do you know how hard it is to get the smell of mud out of your coat?”
“Another word from you, young lady, and you will be using generic manecare products,” Rarity said, her eyebrow rose in challenge.
“You wouldn’t?”
“Try me?” Jazmin was silent after that.
“If there is nothing else, I think we should end this for today. It will take a few days to finalize the details on everything, so everyone meet at the castle on Monday for class.”
With nothing else to say everyone filed out of the building, not many heads were held high. As everyone trotted out, Livewire asked her mother, “Am I grounded?”
“No you’re not grounded, but we are going to have a talk about when some jokes should and shouldn’t be told.”
***
Rarity took Jazmin back to Canterlot to pack her belongings for the move. Twilight escorted her two troublemakers back to the castle. When they entered she ordered both of them to go change into work clothes and find some buckets of water. They groaned but obeyed. With a tired sigh she entered the round table room; six crystal chairs set around a large table, one for each of her friends and herself, as well as a smaller one for Spike that was now too small for him. Spike was in the room, sitting at Rarity’s chair, and holding a squirming Magma in his arms.
Spike had changed a lot since the time he was just her little assistant. He was now seven feet tall with a large pair of thin wings on his back. His green spines had grown out along with his muzzle, and of all things Spike was a father now.
Magma took after his mother, Ember, far more than he did Spike. He was a light blue with a purple underbelly. Two small dots on his forehead showed where his future horns would grow in. Magma was currently crawling on Spike trying to get at a gem he was holding.
“Spike, we’re back,” Twilight said as she trotted up next to him.
“How was your trip?” Spike gave Magma the gem he was so desperate to get and set him back into his lap to eat.
“Long, and my day was even longer.”
“So no luck with the elements I take it.”
Twilight rubbed her forehead as she thought of the best way to phrase it. “The only way it could have gone any worse is if we tied the elements onto a manticore and wished the kids the best of luck… no, maybe that would have been better.”
When Magma realized Twilight was there he dropped his gem onto the table and reached out for her with his arms. “Pony! Ride!” he called.
Twilight gave him a smile and patted his head. “Sorry, Magma, maybe later. So how long will Magma be here?”
Seeing that he wasn’t being picked up for a ride, Magma picked up his discarded gem and began eating once more. Spike watched him with the crack of a smile. “At least a week I would say. Ember kind of shoved Magma in my arms, and told me that if she sees us before the week is up she would let her father make good on his threats to kill me.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I did the same to Flash when Witherleaf was young; sometimes a mother just needs some alone time,” Twilight glanced out to the hall. “Speaking of mothers, I have a very important call to make.” Spike gave her a sympathetic look.
Twilight ascended the stairs to her room and entered quickly. Flash Sentry was nowhere to be seen, but given the time of day, he was likely still at the barracks. Twilight would have plenty of time to catch up with her love, but first duty called. She pulled off her regalia and set them in a display case before walking over to a round mirror on the wall. Despite its looks this wasn’t a mirror, but the latest in communication technology. It cost too much magic for the average unicorn to use and was quite expensive, so it was mostly only used to communicate between regions. Still it was a testament to the advancement of technology.
She placed her hoof at the base of the mirror and channeled magic into it. Normally, the magical channel would only open if the unicorn on the other side was there to open their end of the link, but Twilight had a feeling that even if Cadence wasn’t there herself she would have a servant on standby, just in case.
The mirror swirled and color rearranged itself, after a moment she was staring at a worried looking Cadence. “Twilight, is something wrong? Is it him, did he show up?”
Twilight held up a hoof to try and slow down the stream of questions. “Everything is fine,” Considering the subject at hoof, she chose not to mention the minor incident with Flurry Heart.
Cadence took in a breath, “I know Flurry Heart is almost grown, but it’s just so hard to not worry when she’s away. But I only have six more days.”
Twilight couldn’t help but give an uncomfortable chuckle, something that Cadence clearly noticed. “About that.”