I rolled out of bed, a smile still plastered to my face, Night Strider didn't take the prank overly well. I stretched, noting just how much better I felt today, it wasn't perfect, but it was leagues better than the prior day. "I'll probably gave to go to child pris- I mean school..." I mumbled, making my way downstairs and to the kitchen. My nose led me to Spike, or rather, what he was cooking, he was grilling some local white flower like eggs.
"Good morning Argent, sleep well?" he asked over his shoulder, while turning the fried flowers over.
"Yeah, any chance I can skip school today, on account of not feeling one hundred percent yet?" I asked, carefully getting into the empty chair next to Twilight, the mare looked like she had been up all night, and was nursing a cup of coffee.
"No, you are going to have to go to school," she said, her exaushtion evident in her voice. "You should be feeling fine by the time you get to school." She leveled a sleepily stare at me just over her foreleg.
"Sigh," I pronounced exageratedly. "It was worth a shot. Anyway, what's on the menu today?"
"Fried daisy, sunny side up, toast amd jam, and for you, some super sugary juice." Spike said, placing a plate infront of me, along with a similar concoction to the one I made the prior night.
"Thank you, this looks delicious, as always." I said, floating a fork down into the yellow center of one of the flowers, before stuffing the whole thing in my mouth.
"You're welcome!" Spike replied, placing down Twilight's plate infont of her, before retrieving his own gem covered plate and sitting down at the table.
"It still seems odd to me that you eat gems, are they good?" I asked, eyeing the crystals that would have set me up for life back home.
"Heck yeah they are! Hay is nice and all, but gemstones are where it's at for a dragon." He explained, taking a bite out of one like it was candy.
I stared at the bite mark he made in the crystal. "So odd... What does a sapphire taste like?"
"Well, it varries," he said, tossing the rest of the gem in his mouth. "A lot of gems come through Canterlot, but the ones that get dug up from the mountain itself tend to taste like plums, but kinda not at the same time, and the ones around Ponyville taste like blueberries!"
"Frick, now I kinda wish I could try some." Why Did I have to get stuck as a pony, a dragon would have been way cooler... I slumped.
"Well, as far as I know, only dragons have the ability to eat gems, sorry." Spike apologized, shoving another handful of tiny assorted precous stones in his maw.
"Eh, nah, thats fine, honestly all the food I've been having lately has been way better than normal, I don't think I'll be too sore that I can't try gems." I waved him off and rolled out of the chair. My desicion to literally roll out of the chair was an obvious mistake, as it took me far to long to recover from the botched landing. at least I didn't re-introduce my face to the floor.
"Off to school with you now, you don't wanna be late." Twilight said happily, the caffeine having apparently kicked in.
"Yes I do~" I called back into the kitchen, just barely catching sight of her rolling her eyes. "Ugh... here we go." I sighed, magicing on my saddle bags, I had to smile at the fact that I could do this. At least I got magic out of this deal. I stepped out the door and walked into town, about halfway to school I had the idea of ditching, but my plans for that were dashed when someone behind me spoke up.
"Heya Argent! You wanna walk ta school together?" Said the filly with a country accent.
I let my head droop to the ground and sighed. "...sure Apple Bloom, why not..."
"Great! How was yer morning? Mine was good, we had Apple pie for breakfast!" Said the yellow coated farm filly, completely missing my obvious foul mood.
"Uh huh." I replied not paying attention. I spied the other two fillies I knew by name ahead of us, Scootaloo was on a scooter, idly chatting with Sweetie Belle with her wings pushing her along. Welp, I don't wanna go earth pony before the entire class, soooo, introduction time I guess. "Hey Apple Bloom, I would like you to meet some ponies."I changed the topic, quickening my pace.
"Huh? Alrighty." She said, trotting back up beside me. I placed myself next to Sweetie Belle, as to keep my crystal noggin extension.
"Hey Argent, how's it hangin?" Scootaloo greeted.
"Could be better, how is it going with you two?"
"Great!" Sweetie Belle replied with a bounce. Scootaloo nodded in agreement.
"Good to hear, hey, do you two know Apple Bloom?" I prompted, to which they shook their heads. "Well, allow me to introduce you then, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, this Is Apple Bloom." I gestured to the yellow filly walking behind me.
"Hi!" She greeted with a wave, which the two returned.
"You're Applejack's sister right?" Sweetie Belle asked her.
"Yeah! And You're Rarity's sis?"
"Mmhmm!"
The three of them slowly eased into a conversation, and I took a half step closer to Sweetie so that my horn wouldn't start flaking away. Introduction successful, now even if i am forced into school I can just stick next to this one, and I can keep my horn. Plus, these three seemed like they could make good friends. I smiled to myself, retreating inward to go over pony symbols, so as not to make a mistake in class.
I might not want to go to school, but history class, should be at least a little interesting, maybe. I thought as we passed the doorway into the school house. The group split up and went to their respective seats, and I slid my bag under my own. Silver spoon and that one filly were glaring angrily at me, and it took me a moment to remember the fact I had ditched them yesterday. I smiled back at them return, shifting in my seat to get more comfortable.
"Good morning class." Cheerilee greeted upon entry.
"Good morning miss Cheerilee!" The room parroted back.
"How is everypony today?" A couple students took their turns telling the teacher how their morning was going, and then it was onto the day's lesson. "Alright little ponies, today is history class day, and we are going to be focusing on when Equestria first encountered diamond dogs."
Half of the room gave a sigh, but I actually found the subject of an alternate world's history interesting. I would simply rather learn it in the privacy of the library, rather than in this pond of prepubescent ponies. What the heck is a diamond dog anyways? A dog made out of gems? How have dragons not hunted them down yet if that is the case?
"Diamond dogs are a subteranian species, and they love collecting gems, their innate magic allows them to practically swim through the earth."
Cherrilee took a moment to kick the wall behind her, prompting the rolled up picture behind her to extend, showing off what looked like the bull dog version of a werewolf. "Diamond dogs were first encountered a little more than twenty years after Equestria's founding, but they were actually living here long before us! When first we Equestrians encountered diamond dogs, they were immediately hostile, foalnapping ponies to be slaves, or worse, food, unicorns especially, because they could use there magic to easily find their coveted gems. Princess Celestia tried to reason with the Diamond dog's leader, or Blood Alpha, but they would not listen, and so the great subteranian wars broke out. Most of Equestria' s military at the time, was comprised of Pegasi, whom were known to get claustrophobic in the diamond dog's underground tunnel systems, so for a time, it seemed that the Diamond dogs would win the war. Fortunately, the princesses, with the help of Starswirl the Bearded, developed a spell to nullify the Diamond dogs' abilities, and forced them to come up to the surface to fight, where the pegasus military had a major advantage, thanks to their ability to manipulate the weather."
I just ate up all of this information, from what I had gathered so far, I was starting to think that this world never experienced any kind of greater conflict, so it was refreshing to hear that they had gone through at least one war. Then again, maybe it is just the primitive part of my human psyche that enjoys war.
"...years later the battles finally stopped, with Princess Celestia banishing the cruel Blood Alpha to Tartarus, liberating the Diamond dogs to find a more peacful existence. The princess gathered the survivors of the conflict into a northern part of the continent, giving them plants that could supplement their carnivorous diet, and giving them the freedom to do as they wish, so long as it fell within the treaty between the two nations. Any questions?"
Sweetie Belle easier a hoof. "Why is it that they like gems so much?"
"Well, none remember the original reason as to why diamond dogs started collecting gems, but one of the more popular theories is that they were once enslaved under the dragon race, and that they would offer up large piles of gems to appease their masters."
That... is a rather interesting theory. I thought, tapping a hoof on my chin in thought. I stiffiled a yawn as the bell rang, people were always giving me funny looks when I yawned for some reason, so I had gotten into the habit. I meandered my way outside, when I was suddenly surrounded by three fillies.
"Hey Argent, do you wanna come play with us?" They said in sync.
"Uhh, sure?" I guess they really did hit it off. I was practically dragged outside, and into a game of tag. Apple Bloom was it first, and I just focused on sidestepping around whomever got tagged. The farm filly quickly got tired of trying to catch me and instead discreetly tapped Sweetie Belle on the barrel. The unicorn then ambushed Scootaloo, who then used her wings to speed up her run after me all over the yard.
I'm not much of a runner, or at least I didn't used to be, after finally building up some muscle memory, I found that my new body had considerably more stamina than my old one, I still wasn't very fast due to my stature and inexperience, but I could turn faster than the motorized mini horse that was after me. I was able to keep the chase going for a solid three minutes before my lungs started to burn, so I totally let the pegasus tag me, in no way was I suddenly startled by anything and tripped, that didn't happen. After I was tagged I took a few seconds to catch my breath, then zeroed in on my target, the fellow unicorn.
From what I had gathered, she was the one with the least stamina out of the four of us, nor was she very fast, making her easy prey. She put up a valiant effort, but I out-maneuvered her, she immedietly went about tagging me back, and the chase continued. When next I caught her, I quickly ducked out of the way of her return tag, and made my way up the tree, I was only able to get up to the lowest branch without magic, but that is still more than I expected.
Sweetie Belle made a few futile hops at the tree, and I couldn't help but smile back down at her. Her face turned to one of disappointment, and then determination as Apple Bloom trotted up beside her, wearing a mirror expession. The two of them bumped hooves, and then Apple Bloom bucked the base of the tree. The whole upper area of the tree shook violently, I'm still amazed at how much force she can impart from a single blow, with no windup or anything. Needless to say I was thrown from my perch, and Apple Bloom poked me square in the forehead. She and Sweetie Belle shared a nod before breaking out into giggles, soon enough Scootaloo joined in. The laughter was apparently contagious as I had an immensely hard time not throwing my own voice into the mix, fortunetly the moment passed as the bell rang, signalling everyone to return to class.
"That was fun!" Cheered Apple Bloom.
"We make a good team!" Sweetie Belle added.
"That was awesome!" Scootaloo threw in her two bits, wings buzzing.
The three of them bumped hooves in what I assume is some kind if high five replacement. I thought they would get along. I smiled, rolling off my side and to my feet, dusting myself off.
"We should hang out all the time!" Sweetie Belle suggested to the orange and yellow fillies, whom cheered back their agreement, they all bumped their hooves together in the air and held them, giggling.
I sighed at the sight contentedly. Welp, glad I could bring those three together. they turned to look at me expectantly. "...what?"
"Come on, aren't you gonna join?" Scootaloo prompted, pointing at the joined hooves with her wing.
"Uhh..." I began, internally wincing as their expressions began to fall. "Why not?" I gave in, adding my own light purple forelimb into the mix. Afterwards we had to quickly make our way back into the building, the fillies ahead of me throwing around the idea of forming some "secret society," of which I was sure would stay hidden for all of two minutes. I sat down at my desk, ready to get back to learning about gem hoarding canines, when I noticed another piece of paper had been set on my desk. This particular one read,
We know who you really are!
In bold lettering. I grinned at the note. Once again, very much doubt, but maybe I should humor them this time? Nah! I did a repeat of what I did the prior day, removing the ink and practicing my origami skills, or rather attempting to. I felt, and heard, a fizzle, followed by a mildly painful pop, as my magic failed, blue flakes rained down In front of me. huh, alright then, no magic for a few minutes. I assessed the damage to my horn, finding that only the very tip was at all brittle, and had exploded like a party popper when I fired up my magic. I then checked my sides, no new sparkly bits were growing. so I must have spent too much time around Apple Bloom then. I nodded, suddenly aware of the quickly fading feeling in my hooves. So instead of practicing magic control, I paid attention.
The remaining portion of class spoke of how the blood alpha was replaced by the far tamer sounding pack alpha, and boring political exchanges between the two peoples in the following years. After school let out, I started up my paper folding exercise while walking. I was joined by the yet to be named secret society, and they chattered around me while I repurposed the note I was left.
"-cha workin on?" I caught Apple Bloom ask.
"Nothing, just a bit of magic control practice." I replied, putting the finishing folds on my paper rabbit. I couldn't find a use for the ink this time around, so I just re-applied it to the inside of the paper in a big blob.
"That's cute!" Sweetie Belle comented.
"Thanks." I said, staring at my handi- magic work? craft from all angles to see if I left anything out. "It's kinda hard to do these from memory." I mumbled.
"Well, I would say it looks awsome! Maybe it's your special talent?" Scootaloo said, now atop her scooter.
"I should probably write down the instructions while I still- sorry what?"
"Your special talent! Like what your cutie mark says." Sweetie Belle supplied.
"I dunno, I'm not overly fond of oragami, it's just something I did when I was... younger, it's good dexterity practice."
"Oh, well what is your special talent? I've been staring at yer cutie mark, and I don't really know what it's supposed to be, I was wonderin if it was six step ore-ay- gom-ee." Apple Bloom admitted, poking me in the flank..
"Origami, and no, this thing here is just a handful more than six steps anyway. As for what this thing represents, I dunno, this thing has been here since I came to Ponyville, and I have no idea what it is supposed to mean." I said, placing the bunny in my bags as we passed town hall.
"What's a 'hand'?" Scootaloo asked.
"Uhh, nothing, it's just an expression me and my family used." I quickly said, hoping that would kill that line of questions.
"Oh, well okay!" Apple Bloom said for the group.
Speaking of groups. "Do you know what you are calling your "secret society" yet?"
"We're throwing around a few names, but we don't really have a goal to focus on yet. I gotta head on over there, see you girls later." Sweetie Belle informed, turning in the direction of Rarity's.
Oh bite me, don't call me that... I glared after her, but she didn't turn around to see it. "How bout you two, where do you live?" I inquired.
"I live North of here, gotta be heading out too," Scootaloo said. "See you all tomorrow!" She shouted as her wings propelled her land based craft forward at ludicrous speeds.
"I can keep goin fer a while." Apple Bloom said, catching my attention.
"Alright, let's keep going." We walked in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the bright scenery of the town.
"... How is yer horn doin?"
"Hmm?"
"Yer horn, I saw it kinda fallin apart durin class." She clarified, a concerned expression on her muzzle.
"Oh, that, it's fine, magic capable and everything." I assured her.
"We didn't... play to rough durin recess, did we?"
"What? Oh, no, no you didn't, it's nothing to be worried about, promise." I said with a smile. Though if we are here for much longer, it will start acting up again...
"Jus' tell us if were bein to rough on ya, alright?" She said, looking me square in the eyes.
"Sure, sure."
"Promise?"
suppress the eye roll! this, is, genuine, CONCERN! "Promise." I said as seriously as I could with my new girly voice.
"Well alright then, see ya tomorrow!" Said the filly galloping off in the direction of the massive Apple farm.
Isn't tomarrow the weekend? Did I agree to something without realizing it? I thought, pushing open the front door of Golden Oaks.
"Welcome back Argent, have a good day?" Spike greeted, a giant stack of books wobbling in his grasp.
"Passable." I said in a haughty voice before snickering. "Need any help with those?"
"Nah, I'm good, this is actually lighter than the last load." He said, plopping down the comparatively shorter stack next to the others surrounding Twilight.
"What is she looking for?"
"Princess Celestia gave her a few assigned readings." The baby dragon explained.
"Oh, alright then. How long has she been at this?"
"Since you left."
"No breaks?"
"Not one."
"Well, that certainly shows commitment." I said, digging my latest origami project out of my bag and setting it down on the table infront of her, she didn't seem to notice at all.
"Welp, I'm gonna go read up myself, you know where any history books on diamond dogs are?"
"Third row on the left, three from the top." Twilight said absent mindedly.
"Thanks." I said to no one in particular, walking strait up the wall to the suggested level.
"You already got that good at gravity spells?" Spike asked, suprised.
"Track record says I can do this for about twenty more seconds, so I would say no, I'm not that good at them." I said, scanning the titles of the shelf, removing a few and floating them down to the library floor.
"Well I would say it's still impressive, since you didn't use magic before this." Spike complimented.
"I really don't think I'm that good, since the literal embodiment of magic is sitting over there." I gestured, trotting back down to the floor, the spell cut out just before I could re orient myself, so I ended up closely observing the woodgrain of the floor. "And then, there is that." I finished, not getting up.
"You ok?" He asked, setting down another monolithic stack of books next to Twilight.
"Sunshine and rainbows friend." I replied, pulling my horn out of the floor, carefully. "How do I fix that?" I sighed.
"Twi will get it later, when she gets out of 'the zone.'" Spike assured me.
"Allright, well, ima go read, have fun with what you are doing." He nodded as I made my way upstairs. I plopped down on my bed, a total of three books in tow. "Alright, topic of interest, go." I halfheartedly cheered.