//------------------------------// // "If Only, If Only." The Mockingbird Cried. // Story: Equestrian Eeveelution. // by Symphonicdysonince //------------------------------// I lay on my patched up pillow, watching Rainbow toil away at her most dreaded enemy. The paper work monster had grown, and needed to be culled back. I would help, but obvious problems prevented me from doing more then providing silent support. You never really think about how much paperwork needs to be done at the manager position. I mused. "It's so boring. Hard to imagine anypony, let alone Rainbow, would willingly submit themselves to this torture." Better paycheck. I mentally concluded. An ear swiveled to the door as I listened to somepony's approaching hoof falls. Rainbow jumped as they knocked on the door. I rushed around, grabbing the papers that had been knocked over as Rainbow got her heart back under control. "Come in!" She called, pushing the form she had been working on to the side. I placed the small pile I had gathered onto Rainbow's desk as Scootaloo pushed the door open. "Oh hey, Squirt, what's up?" The filly looked over the pile of resting on the edge of the desk. I hopped to the floor as she asked, "Are you guys busy?" "Not at all." Rainbow leaned back in her chair. <> I retorted. "Oh, okay." Scootaloo cast a dubious eye over the desk. "I'm not sure if you know this, but we're going for our test tomorrow. Mom just found out that she won't be able to come with me, and I need a parent or trusted guardian to observe the testing." She rubbed the back of her head. "I know that this is pretty short notice, but I was wondering if you'd like to come?" I nodded as Rainbow gave the filly a smile. "We'd love to come!" "Great!" Scootaloo cheered, buzzing over to the desk. She pulled a small stack of papers from her hammerspace and plopped it in front of Rainbow. "You're going to need to sign this." Rainbow actually took her time reading the forms before sighing them. We watched as Scootaloo rushed from the office, her squeals fading into the distance. I lay down in my current spot. <> "I know." <> "It'd affect her no matter where I am. We're pretty close, after all." She got up from her desk and hovered her way to the door. Poking her head out, she called to somepony down the hall. "Yo, Thunderlane! Come here a sec!" She hovered back to her seat. The black furred stallion leaned his head in. "Yeah?" "Something's come up, very short notice. Going to be up in Canterlot for the next few days." She rummaged through her papers. "Oh, where is it?' She muttered to herself. She glanced at Thunderlane. "As soon as I find the weather schedule, you can see what needs to be covered by Leo and I leaving." <> Thunderlane fully entered the office. "You're right, we're going to need to work hard to cover for our littlest worker." "Just for Leo?" Rainbow playfully teased, finally pulling the schedule from the desk. "Anyways, we should be gone for a week at most. If we have to stay longer, I'll have a letter sent." "They usually take a while to get here." Thunderlane mused, taking the schedule from Rainbow. "Not when you've got a dragon like Spike." Rainbow smirked. "I'll send it to Moon Dancer. Speaking of, I need to finish this," she waved a hoof at the paper cluttering the desk, "and go let her know." "How do you know Twilight and Spike will even be going?" Thunder asked as he started to leave the office. "If I know her as well as I think I do," Rainbow propped her head on a hoof, "she'll want to be there for her first students." With that she slammed the drawer shut. Everyone paused as the stacks of paper fell off the side of the desk, covering me in an avalanche of paperwork. We had all boarded the train the next morning. Fluttershy was filling in for Applejack since they couldn't spare anyone else from the farm, although Vince was subbing in for Conner. The unevolved farm dog lay curled next to Apple Bloom and Villhiem. Lulu and Rarity were fussing over Sweetie's looks, much to the filly's chagrin. Rainbow and I where reading the next Daring Do while Scootaloo pored over her notes and formulas. Runic sat with Gemini, Porter blinking into and out of existence. The Abra was carrying what I assumed was forms, schedules and other such paperwork. For the most part, the ride was uneventful. The only break Rainbow and I took from our reading was to check up on Scootaloo, making sure she wasn't nervous. When we asked her what the notes were on, she just said that was for her bonded summon, but wouldn't give us more then that. As soon as the train pulled into the station, we made a beeline for the university. The Crusaders only had a couple of hours before their written exam, after all. Once there, Runic led us to a small amphitheater. The three fillies were asked to sit at three different desks, while we were placed among the upper seating. Runic introduced the three adjudicators, then had to retire from the room. For the next four hours, we waited. Whenever any of the fillies would glance our way, we would give them smiles and nods of encouragement. The whole ordeal was quite boring, from my point of view, but I still avoided causing a scene. After the four hours were up, the adjudicators took the papers from the Crusaders. Dismissing them, they told them to return the next day to learn the results. If they passed, then they would be allowed to attempt their bonding. We were given the same room in the castle we always were. The fillies were almost too anxious to sleep, but one furtive use of Sleep Powder helped them relax. The next morning, we were treated to a simple breakfast. We whiled away the morning until we were collected by a guard named Morning Light. She led us to back to the examination room from the day before. The three fillies were lined up in front of the adjudicators from the day before. The rest of us, Morning lead to seats beside Runic Gears, having us file past. The adjudicators sat at a raised desk, sternly glaring down at the fillies. "Don't worry." Runic murmured to us as we passed him. "This is just a scare tactic. They want to impress their next words firmly into their memory. We all get this treatment." He was silenced by the middle adjudicator, Steel Circle, tapping the three tests on her desk. "You three have shown promise. You've previously demonstrated your practical skill, and have given us a sample of your theoretical ability. But promise and so called skill will get you nowhere here." She bluntly stated. With swift, deft movements, she tore up the tests. The fillies couldn't help but give small cries of protest. She slammed her hoof onto the desk, silencing the fillies. "There isn't room in this University, nor on Equis, for three little Icurasi. You are going to burn your wings. You will buck up eventually. And when you do, you will be destroyed by the very forces you've dared to bend to your will. "And we will be forced to put you all down like the beasts you will be!" She glared at the three cowering fillies. Steel let the silence grow. She slowly stood. "There is no place for you here." She pointed a hoof to the door. "Leave, and maybe I will forget your arrogance." I saw Sweetie silently weeping. Apple Bloom was shaking, whether in anger or sorrow, I didn't know. But Scootaloo, she had a hardened glare. None of them broke for the door. "I see." Steel stated. "Fine then." She sat back. The adjudicator to her left pulling out a stack of papers. He floated them in his aura. He split them into three smaller stacks, hovering them in front of each filly. Steel nodded. "You've passed the final test. Congratulations. Though you are too young to officially join the University, you have passed the threshold in practical skill, theoretical knowledge, and willful resolve to attempt your first bonding." She rapped a hoof against her desk. "You are a couple of years younger then most who attempt their bonding; I will give you the same warning we give everypony at this point. I implore your young minds to heed it well. "What we do, what every summoner does, is not natural. These are not some other planar beasts we summon. Nor are they truly elementals. They are something in between. For all of our years of studying, we still don't know just what they are, or what they can do. You are advised to use the utmost caution in every summoning. "Remember, attempting to bond a summon is entirely optional for you at this point." Steel smiled for the first time since we'd first seen her. "Apple Bloom, if you so choose, you are to be here tomorrow at noon to make your attempt. Sweetie Belle, you will the day after at the same time. And, finally, Scootaloo, you will be the day after that." She placed her hooves together as if to mimic a human steepling their fingers. "I look forward to seeing what you will bring to our world."