//------------------------------// // Act 1: Misjudgment // Story: Marks for Efforts: Twilight's Treatment // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle was very angry with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and asked to see them in her office at the School of Friendship. “I can’t believe you’d do something like this!” she scolded, “You tutored Cozy Glow, and you’ve been setting her up to fail?!” The Crusaders were most confused. “What are you talkin’ about?” asked Applebloom, and Twilight angrily showed them Cozy Glow’s failed exam. Surely enough it was filled with horribly incorrect answers. “What are the six Elements of Harmony? “Five turtlenecks and a cheese grater…?” “Who is the princess of Friendship? “Your mom…?!” The girls were most confused, and couldn’t understand it in the least, but it was in vain that they tried to explain, because Twilight already made her decision, nor did she seem interested in anything to suggest otherwise. “I never thought you three would pull such a mean prank. I'm afraid I'm going have to ask you to stay away from my school, and my students.” With her wing, she angrily motioned for the girls to leave, and she slammed the door right as they stepped outside. Disheartened, the girls slumped sadly away. While down the hall, Cozy Glow saw and heard everything in complete shock. “Oh, no!” she groaned softly to herself. The next day, Twilight and Spike were hanging out at the Cakes’ having a muffin before heading off to the school. “So you banned the girls from the school?” Spike asked. With a deep sigh, Twilight answered “Yes, I banned them from the school and having any contact with our students, and I made sure to tell their families about this too.” The two friends left the bakery together. “I think you were a bit too hard on them.” Pinkie said. “I did what I had to do.” protested Twilight “I can’t have them setting up our students to fail their courses in friendship like this. How will every-creature learn to get along? Equestria could go into all-out war if creatures don’t know how to be friends with one another.” “I know all that,” said Spike “I’m just saying I don’t think the girls would do such a thing. We know them better than that. Sure, they did some crazy things in the past, but this isn’t like them to make a student fail.” Twilight began to think maybe that was true, “I’ve made my decision.” said Twilight “Until the girls show me they can behave, and accept that we won’t accept them into our school, they are banned from the premises.” Spike was starting to not like Twilight’s tone. It almost sounded like she wanted to start and argument with him now. On their way, the Crusaders came along on their way to school, stopping to buy some apples from a nearby fruit-cart “Hiya girls…” Spike said cheerfully to them. “Hi, Spike.” the girls responded. “Good morning, girls.” said Twilight, but she got no response back as the girls just bought their apples. “…Girls, good morning.” The girls only gave her a stern stare and walked off. “Good morning!” Twilight sneered, but the girls had already gone. Now Spike was really getting concerned. “Wow! They’re really mad with you.” Twilight snuffed and held her muzzle up high, “If they think they can win me over with this childish act, they are sorely mistaken.” They got to the school, and saw their friends, the other ponies, sitting on the front stoop, like they were waiting for someone. “Look, there she is!” hissed Rainbow Dash. Every one of the others glared at Twilight with cross faces, which made Twilight blink in confusion. “What’s wrong?” she asked. Applejack stood firmly and pointed at the doors, and said deeply “You better come with us, right now.” “You’re in biiiiiiiiig trouble.” said Pinkie Pie. Rarity huffed and walked off with a flick of her mane with her muzzle up high, and Fluttershy walking the same way behind her, but she tripped slightly and almost fell over, but regained her balance and continued walked. “This doesn’t sound good.” said Spike. Before Twilight knew it, she was in her own office, where Starlight Glimmer was waiting for her, and she, too, looked non-too-thrilled, and next to her stood an embarrassed and shameful Cozy Glow. “What is all this?” asked Twilight. Starlight motioned to Cozy and said, “Tell the head-mare what you told me.” Cozy nervously approached Twilight and explained, “I… well I…” she took a breath “…I failed my test on purpose.” Spike gasped, and Twilight couldn’t believe her ears. “You did what?!” Cozy shamefully admitted, “I was hoping that if I failed, you’d think the Crusaders would need help with friendship, and we could all attend this school together. I’m so sorry.” Twilight shook her head in disbelief. Rarity stepped forth, “Last night, Sweetie Belle came home with a face bluer than a sapphire sequin, and when I asked her why, she had told me about your actions. I didn’t want to believe it at first, but then I got this letter!” She held up a parchment Twilight had sent her, telling her about banning the girls from the school. “I got one too.” said Applejack holding up the same letter “It was no wonder Applebloom was lookin’ bummed. Twilight, I can’t believe you would do such a thing. I know for a fact the girls wouldn’t have made Cozy try to fail. I saw them when they helped out Big Mac with his chores while the tutored her.” “Mrs. Cake told me that the girls and Cozy did wonderful jobs helping her to decorate cupcakes the other day.” added Pinkie. “Scottaloo, cheat on a test?” remarked Rainbow “…That’s ridiculous, but what really gets me is how you just throw the girls out without even going in greater detail.” That same shock of guilt struck Twilight again, this time with full-force, especially now that she knew the truth. “I misjudged the girls, very badly.” “Whoa.” said Spike “That would explain why the girls looked peeved with you.” Twilight felt ready to collapse to her knees in shame. “I’ve got to apologize to them.” “That would be a good idea.” said Fluttershy “Oh, but, what if they won’t accept your apology?” “What do you mean?” asked Twilight in shock “Of course they would, they have to. I mean, I just made a little mistake in judgment, but we’re all friends, we can make up for it.” “That’s what friends are supposed to do.” said Cozy. Starlight nodded and felt proud that Cozy knew that. “I think you know more about friendship than you think.” Cozy smiled, but she really hoped Twilight could make up with the girls.