//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Prom and Circumstance // by TheMessenger //------------------------------// The criteria for judging an academic institution are many and varied, to the point of filling an entire book so massive a fourth of its pages could hold several doors open. For those with less time than the Equestria Education Association or simply can’t be bothered to peruse six hundred pages on proper kitchen and lavatory maintenance in addition to interviewing and confirming the qualifications of an entire staff of educators, a couple of pamphlets, a short musical number, and a cursory tour of the facilities might be enough to determine the right school. And for those with even less time and energy, a quick peek into a school’s library can tell volumes. The size of library and its staff, for example, hints of the school’s budget and the importance the school places on literacy. The book collection will demonstrate what subjects take priority over others, with more valued subjects having more texts. And of course, the presence of students is indicative that the school is indeed an institution that genuinely fosters a desire for learning and not some expensive party venue disguised as one. Headmare Twilight Sparkle personally saw to the design and creation of the Ponyville School of Friendship’s library, doing everything in her power to ensure that her students had access to the finest literary resources. From copies and translations of ancient tomes to more current research journals, poetry from Yakyakistan and recipe books from Griffonstone, journals by hippogriffs written during the Storm King’s reign, even a few records of the stories from the Feast of Fire, if there was even an ounce of academic value, there was a good possibility that Twilight had at least attempted to add it to the library. As such, while the library of the School of Friendship may have been modest in size when compared to the royal archives in Canterlot, it was more than sufficient for the needs of the school’s students, whether they be research resources, some readings for pleasure, or just a quiet place to study. Sandbar sat one of the desks set aside for studying, surrounded by open books. The pony let out a loud frustrated sigh, one of apparently many as the staff and other student didn’t even bother hushing him, shooting him dirty looks instead. So engrossed was he with his work that he failed to notice the griffon approach and take the seat beside him until Gallus tapped his shoulder. “Huh? Oh, hey.” Sandbar stretched then turned to face the newcomer. “Hey, you know what you’re going to write your thesis on?” “Thesis? Oh, right, that.” Gallus shook his head. “Nope. I’ll probably, I don’t know, write it on one of the professors’s adventures.” “Seriously? Every creature’s going to do that.” “So?” The griffon shrugged. “Doesn’t break any rules.” “Yeah, but I want to do something exciting. I mean, come on, this is going to be our last school assignment, like, ever.” “You’re starting to sound like Ocellus. It’s a research paper,” Gallus said with a raised brow. “How exciting can that get?” “Here, just let me brainstorm. So I was thinking maybe something on the Idol of Boreas and how the downfall of Griffonstone was actually due to the lack of generosity.” “Okay, how?” “Don’t know. Just thought it’d be a cool subject,” Sandbar admitted with a shrug. “Or, or what about, if Star Swirl the Bearded was so bad at friendship, how did end up befriending Scorpan? There’s got to be something there.” “Wait, who?” “You know, Star Swirl the Bearded. Great and powerful unicorn conjurer, one of the Pillars of Old Equestria, part-time student here.” “I meant Scorpan.” “Tirek’s brother. He helped Star Swirl stop Tirek the first time around. There’s not a lot of info on him, but I’d figure I could interview Star Swirl the Bearded about him. That ought to get me extra points from Ms. Sparkle.” “Isn’t Star Swirl on some kind of quest thing?” “Oh. Right.” Sandbar’s face lit up before it even finished falling. “Okay, how about this one? Smolder’s is totally being groomed to be the next dragon lord, and it’s all part of Lord Ember’s plan.” “Yeah, I’m just going to assume that was a joke and move on,” Gallus said with a roll of his eyes. “But, uh, speaking of Smolder, you’ve seen her recently?” “No. Why? I can help you look for her.” “No, no, that’s cool,” Gallus quickly assured, raising his open claws. “You, uh, you remember last Hearts and Hooves Day?” he asked, his voice lowered. “Was that the one with that disastrous attempt to pair up so none of us would feel lonely.“ “That never happened, and if it ever had happened, which it didn’t, we would’ve agreed never to speak of it,” Gallus hissed through a closed beak. “And I meant the Hearts and Hooves Day the year after that one where nothing happened. You know, the pool?” “Pool?” Sandbar tapped his chin. “A pool? Let’s see, wasn’t that the year we saw Spike running around town so we decided to follow him and watch him try and fail to ask Professor Rarity out? Pool, pool, no, I don’t, wait. Oh, betting pool!” The stallion groaned. “I still can’t believe you talked me into it.” “Hey, we needed more than just me and Smolder, and who would’ve guessed Ocellus’d want in?” “Yeah, yeah,” Sandbar huffed. “So what about it? I’m still good for it, if that’s what you’re asking.” “Good to hear, but, ah.” Gallus quickly glanced around then motioned Sandbar closer. “So Spike just asked Professor Rarity out on a date.” “Hold on, what!” The collective hush from the rest of the library’s patrons nearly knocked the two over. Sandbar gave a small apologetic smile before lowering his voice. “You serious?” Gallus nodded slowly. “Dead serious.” “Is that what those tickets—“ “Yeah.” “What did she say?” “I don’t know, I didn’t stick around. Would you?” “I, guess not,” Sandbar admitted. “So we both lost?” “Well, see, I was thinking, and listen carefully, if Smolder never finds out, she can’t collect her winnings.” “But isn’t that—“ Sandbar gasped. “Hey, that’s cheating!” “It’s not cheating,” Gallus assured with a wave of his claw. “It’s just, an omission of information.“ His grin began to waver before Sandbar’s disapproving glare. “Alright, fine, it’s a bit dishonest.” “And what does Professor Applejack say about dishonesty?” “That it’s the quickest way to lose a friend’s trust,” Gallus recited dryly, his eyes slowly widening as he came to the realization that Sandbar hadn’t spoken. No, the voice of the questioner had been of a much higher pitch and had much more bubbly energy than Sandbar could ever muster. Perhaps more disturbing was the sudden cupcake that had appeared before griffon. “Correct!” exclaimed the pink earth pony that had suddenly wrapped her forelegs around Gallus’s shoulders. “But you two really need to lower your voices,” she added in a whisper. “This is a library, you know.” Sandbar recovered first. “Oh, hey Professor Pinkie Pie.” “Tsk, tsk,” Pinkie Pie said with a hoof waggle. “We’re not in class so I’m not a professor. So.” She released Gallus and slid into the empty seat on the opposite end of the desk. “What are we talking about?” Gallus rubbed his neck nervously. “It’s, um, kind of personal,” he said. “Ooh, I’ll go get Starlight.” “No, no, we, not like that, we don’t need the guidance counselor,” quickly assured Gallus, his usual cool and disinterested demeanor cracking. “Aw, but Starlight loves personal problems. She has ton of them. Hm.” Pinkie Pie rested her chin on the table and let her head roll side to side. “Are you two worried about school work?” “It’s not that,” Sandbar said. “I mean, I am having trouble deciding on a thesis topic, but—“ “Thesis? Pfft.” Pinkie waved dismissively. “I’m talking about your final exam. Wowzers, Twilight’s really making you work for that diploma. There’s stuff on there I don’t even remember teaching. I mean, seriously, when are any of you going to need to use old Ponish in the real world, am I right? But hey, if you fail, that just mean we get to spend another year together. Or does failing mean you have to start all over, like, back to year one? “Well, I guess we’re a little worried about that now,” Gallus said as he shared a nervous look with Sandbar. “But it’s not what you were worried about before, huh? Did Gallus forget his mother’s birthday and now has to come up with some elaborate and likely expensive scheme to show his appreciation and repair their strained relationship before it’s too late and she lives the rest of her days thinking she’s unwanted and unloved? Oh wait, that can’t be right. Gallus, you don’t have a mom.” Pinkie’s voice grew somber. “I am so sorry.” The glance the two shared was now awkward. Gallus rubbed the front of his neck. “Right, yeah. It’s not that.” “Did you forget Sandbar’s mom’s birthday? No, Sandbar’s dad’s birthday. No, wait, did you forget Sandbar’s birthday?” Pinkie Pie gasped. “How could you, Gallus? I thought you two were friends.” “I was at his party, the party you threw for him.” “Oh yeah. Then did you forget the mayor’s birthday? Lily’s birthday? Groundskeeper Wheelie’s? Scootaloo’s? Yona’s sister’s? Queen Nova’s? Shining Armor’s? The dragon formerly known as Dragon Lord Scorch’s? Braeburn’s? Chancellor Neighsay’s? Pumpkin and Pound Cake’s? Big McIntosh’s? Cranky Doodle’s? Mistmane’s? That one mailmare with the uneven eyes and affinity for muffins whose name I can’t remember for some reason? Spitfire’s? Rose’s? Angel Bunny’s? Grandpa Gruff’s? Maud’s?” “Spike asked Rarity out on a date!” Another wave of hushes and hisses rolled over the table, which did nothing to deter Pinkie Pie’s excited gasp. “He didn’t! He did! Oh my gosh, this calls for a party! I have to tell every creature! Where’s Spike? Where’s Rarity? I have to congratulate them!” The pink pony became a pink blur, knocking over the desk and sending books and papers flying. “Seriously?” Gallus said, frowning. “You couldn’t keep that a secret?” Sandbar took the claw Gallus was offering and got to his feet. “Dude, it was that or spend the rest of the day listening to her list every single pony, griffon, dragon, hippogriff, yak, and changeling in existence. Help me clean up.” “Smolder’s definitely going to find out now,” Gallus grumbled as he began to push the table back onto its legs. “You don’t know that.” “You heard Pinkie Pie. She’s going to tell every creature.” “Okay, yeah.” Sandbar chewed on his bottom lip. “Maybe, maybe she forgot about the bet. Smolder doesn’t really have the best memory.” “It has been a while, and she did actually forget your birthday that one time,” Gallus mused. With a final grunt, the table was upright, and he joined Sandbar on the floor to help with the scattered papers. “Maybe—“ “Maybe nothing.” Gallus and Sandbar looked up, and their spirits sank at the sight of the orange dragon sitting across from them with her feet propped up on the table and the smuggest grin they’ve ever seen on her face. “So, did you, ah, hear about, you know?” Sandbar began as Gallus sullenly took the seat beside him. Smolder rolled her eyes. “I’ll be surprised if there’s any creature who doesn’t know by the end of the day. Pinkie Pie’s singing about it in the halls. I just came here to escape the musical.” “I still, I just...” Gallus groaned then planted his face into the desk. “I can’t believe Spike actually did it. He actually asked Professor Rarity out.” Smolder shrugged. “Eh, as weird as he is, Spike’s still a, well, he’s some kind of a dragon, and dragons always get what they want. Or, at least, they try to. I’m just glad he did it before we graduated, otherwise...” “Yeah yeah, keep rubbing it in.” Gallus sighed and slumped down in his seat. “One more month. Just one more month and I would’ve won. He couldn’t have waited?” “Hey, that’s life,” Smolder Said with another dismissive shrug. “Now, about my winnings, what did we agree on again?” Gallus winced. “Alright, listen, I’m a little short on bits right now—“ “I also accept gems.” “Yeah, short on those too.” Smolder’s eyes narrowed. “Oh no, you’re not weaseling your way out of this one.” She turned to Sandbar. “What about you? Any excuses?” A short moment passed as the earth pony thought to himself. “Are we forgetting some creature?” he asked. “You know, little bluish, red back, super transformation powers, pupil-less eyes that make it hard to tell what she’s staring at sometimes.” “Oh yeah, Ocellus was part of the pool,” Gallus said, nodding. He turned to Smolder. “Why don’t you go bother her?” “Because I like her more and know she’ll actually be good for it,” Smolder responded with a smirk. “No, I mean, we don’t know how Professor Rarity responded. What if, you know, what if Ocellus was right?” The dragon and the griffon stared at Sandbar in silence, the first blissful silence in the library in several long minutes before being broken by Gallus: “You’re kidding, right?” “Why would I? I mean, I’m just saying, maybe she said yes.” Smolder planted a claw over her face. “Look, I get it, ponies are naive, it’s part of your charm, but you’re taking it too far. Rarity, she’s, and Spike’s...” She looked to Gallus. “Help me out here.” “Rarity’s,” the griffon began, motioning awkwardly with a claw as he tried to continue, saying, “um, Rarity while Spike’s, he’s Spike.” Sandbar leaned his head to the side, staring at Gallus in confusion as Smolder buried her face deeper into her palm. “Okay? And that means?” “Just, okay, look,” Gallus said, trying again. “Professor Rarity’s this, she’s this super pretty pony and a professional with high standards; I think only Headmare Twilight grades harder. And I heard she once turned down a prince, and I mean a literal member of Equestria’s royalty. Meanwhile you’ve got Spike who’s, honestly, kind of a dork.” “Hey, he’s not that bad. I’ve always thought he was pretty cool,” Sandbar argued. “He has his moments, and for a teacher he’s pretty chill, but cool?” Gallus clicked his tongue against his beak and rotated his claw side to side. “I was there when he asked her out, and I don’t think I’ve seen any creature screw up harder, and we’ve seen Yona try to polka. Plus he’s, well, eh. Smolder, on a scale from one to ten, how do you think he looks?” “I don’t know,” Smolder said with a shrug, “five or six? Give him a hundred years, and he might become a seven. And that’s in dragon terms, so that’s probably, I don’t know, a two by pony standard.” “And there’s that too,” Gallus added. “He’s a dragon, she’s a pony. You don’t exactly see many couples like that around.“ Sandbar threw his forelegs up into the air. “Alright, I get it, Spike doesn’t have much of a chance. I’m just saying, we should make sure before declaring any winners. Ocellus is just going to say the same thing once she finds out anyways.” “Fine, how are we going to find out?” Smolder asked. “Just walk up to him and ask?” “Well, Gallus was there when Spike asked her out. I don’t think it’d be too weird if he asked how it went.” “Oh, no. I am not doing that,” Gallus declared. “What if he starts crying? You know I can’t deal with crying. Besides, he helps with the grading, and I’m going to need to be on his good side if the final is as tough as Pinkie Pie says it is.” “Oh, crying!” Smolder suddenly exclaimed. “That’s it. We don’t have to ask any creature, we just have to see how Spike is doing. If Rarity rejected him, Spike’d probably off somewhere moping or drowning himself in ice cream.” Sandbar’s eyes grew wide with realization. “But if Professor Rarity said yes, he’d be, like, ecstatic.” “So all we have to do is find him and see how he’s acting,” Gallus jumped out of his seat. “Alright, we’d better get going.” “Wait, now?” “Makes sense,” Smolder agreed. “We don’t want Spike to get over that heartbreak before we confirm it. Yeah sure, that’ll probably be a while, but the sooner the better.” “But...” Sandbar turned to the stack of books he had just reorganized. “Homework can wait,” Gallus said. “That thesis isn’t due until the end of month. You’ve got plenty of time to figure it out.” “Yeah, I guess.” Sandbar got up as well. “Some creature has to make sure you two don’t get into trouble.” The remaining patrons release a relieved sigh as the three exited the library, and silence reigned once more in its proper place. Now in the lively school hallway, their conversation was just one of many as various groups of friends walked past each other, sharing news and gossip among themselves with every step. “So, where do we start?” Sandbar asked as they made their way through the crowd. “Gallus, you saw Spike last at Professor Rarity’s classroom, right?” “Yeah, but that was a while ago,” Gallus said. “He wouldn’t stick around after getting rejected, and even if he wasn’t, I don’t think he’d still be there.” “We could trying looking for Professor Rarity,” Smolder suggested. Of the three, she had the least trouble navigating the crowded hallway, thanks to her bipedalism and admittedly intimidating bearing. “She would’ve been the last one to see him, though we could probably figure out how things turned out for Spike based on how she’s acting.” “Either one works,” Gallus noted. He came to a stop and cupped a claw around his eyes, squinting. “I think I see Professor Rainbow Dash over there. Yep, that’s her mane alright. Come on, she might know where one of them is.” Those eagle eyes of his had seen correctly. There at the very end of the hall stood the blue pegasus, leaning against the doorway to some sort of break room with a half-empty mug in her hooves. Her distinct mane, in all of its many vibrant colors, was messy as usual, with multiple points sticking out in different directions, but there was a noticeable slickness that suggested a recent demonstration of her capabilities as a Wonderbolt. The student she had been talking to, a pegasus a year or two below them, left as they approach with a dissatisfied appearance. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes before noticing Gallus, Sandbar, and Smolder and giving them a wave. The wave grew wary as she realized that she was their destination. “Don’t tell me,” she said, frowning, “you want a chance to join next year’s buckball team even though tryouts ended a week ago.” “We’re graduating, remember?” Smolder answered with equal disinterest. “Oh, right.” Rainbow tapped herself lightly on the forehead. “Sorry, I’ve just spent the hour dealing with students giving me excuses, begging for another time, even bribes. Seriously, we’ve had tryouts for two whole weeks, and I made sure they were advertised all over the school.” She gestured to the posters wallpapering the hallway’s walls. “Isn’t it a bit early to be setting up the team for next year?” Gallus asked. “When is buckball season anyways?” “Buckball season is every season, and if the School of Friendship wants to stay competitive, we’ve got to start training now,” Rainbow asserted with a smirk. “So, what do you three need?” She glanced around and lowered her voice. “If it’s about the thesis, ask Twilight or someone else, I’ve got nothing on that.” “We’re looking of Spike or Professor Rarity,” Sandbar explained. “Have you seen either of them?” “Both, actually, with Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow Dash answered. “Sounded like they were planning something. Pinkie was all excited, then Rarity whispered something, Pinkie looked sad, became happy again and bounced off to who knows where.” “You know where they are know?” asked Gallus. “Told you, she bounced off to who knows where.” Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Don’t worry, Pinkie’ll find you first.” “Not Pinkie Pie.” Gallus said, shaking his head hurriedly. “I meant Spike, or Rarity.” “Spike I roped into cleaning up the equipment we were using on the track, but he’s probably done by now so who knows. No idea about Rarity. No, wait, she had a lot of scrap cloth and stuff with her so she might’ve gone home to organize. Why, what’s up?” Rainbow frowned at the disappointed faces of the three before her, so apparent even she noticed. “It’s, it’s nothing important,” Gallus said, his discouraged tone betraying him. “Wait, you said you saw Spike and Rarity, right?” Smolder interjected with a raised claw. “Yeah.” “Together?” Rainbow Dash leaned back. Fire had returned to Smolder’s eyes “Again, yeah.” “Do you remember how Spike was acting?” Smolder asked. The dragon’s wings were stiff and spread to the fullness of their length, a indication of excitement for just about all winged creatures, Rainbow Dash observed. “How Spike was acting? Normal, I guess. He had a goofy looking grin that he always has when he’s around Rarity.” Now Sandbar spoke up: “So he was happy?” “Yeah, that’s what smiling usually means.” “What about Rarity?” Gallus asked. “How was she acting?” “Acting like Rarity, I guess.” “Like normal? She wasn’t acting weird?” Rainbow Dash stared at Gallus for a good long second. “Should she have been?” She closed her eyes and tapped her chin. “Let’s see. Nothing out of the ordinary. Hold on, no, she looked a little, worried I think, no, embarrassed when she and Pinkie Pie were talking. I’m not sure, maybe Pinkie would know more.” Gallus groaned. “What’s that supposed to mean? Did she rejected him or not?” “Reject? Reject who? Smolder shook her head, but there was a lack of confidence in the motion. “She had to, there’s, I mean, there’s no way she’d—“ “Spike seemed happy,” noted Sandbar. “That probably means she said yes.” “Yeah, but that, Rainbow said he always has that smile around Rarity.” “You really think he’d still be wearing it after being rejected?” Gallus said. He folded his forelegs across his front. “Can’t believe it, but really does look she said—“ Rainbow Dash’s stomp, while not enough to crack the stone tile floor, echoed through the hallway. “Hey! You three are getting detention if I don’t start hearing explanations,” she exclaimed. “Who’s getting rejected, and why did she say yes? And yes, I can do that. I’m a teacher!” There was silence, then a jumbled mess of words as the three competed to be the first to break the news. “Alright, stop,” Rainbow Dash ordered, pulling at her ears. “All I heard was Rarity and Spike a bunch of times. Okay, you go first,” she said, pointing to Smolder before turning to Sandbar. “Then you. Then you,” she finished with her hoof directed at Gallus. “Alright, go.” “Spike asked Rarity out.” Rainbow Dash blinked. “Sorry, what?” “Spike asked Rarity out,” Smolder repeated. “On what? Like a date?” Smolder turned to Sandbar and Gallus. They nodded to her, and she nodded to Rainbow. “He had these fancy tickets to some show,” Gallus added. “No joke? This isn’t some sort of prank, is it?” The three shook their heads no. “I mean, if it is, we’re not part of it,” said Sandbar. “Wow, okay, that’s...” Rainbow cleared her throat, using the time to try to regain composure. “Well what did she say?” “We’re trying to figure that out,” Gallus explained. Sandbar nodded in agreement. “We thought we could tell based on how Spike was acting. Sounds like she said yes.” “Does anyone else know yet? Wait, does Pinkie Pie know? Is that what she and Rarity were whispering about? Where’s Pinkie? I’ve got to find her!” With that, Rainbow Dash took to the air and vanished, leaving behind a whirlwind of papers and a storm of complaining students and ruined hairstyles. Slowly, Gallus, Sandbar, and Smolder got back onto their feet. “So, still want to confirm it?” Sandbar asked. “Nah.” Gallus sighed. “It’s pretty clear. I mean, you can go ahead and congratulate Spike if you want, but I’m done for today.” “So, that’s that then,” Sandbar said. “Looks like Ocellus won.” The griffon nodded. “Yep. Didn’t see that coming.” The three continued their way through the hall with no destination in mind. After that exciting development, no creature had any desire to return to the library and resume the mundane school work. For a while, they simply wandered around the school aimlessly. Eventually, Smolder broke the silence: “Okay, see, I’ve been thinking, and listen carefully, if Ocellus never finds out...”