//------------------------------// // School // Story: Backstory of Melody Song // by Melody Song //------------------------------// "Come on Mel, you've gotta get your mark soon!" Harper Lynn begged me "I know, I want it to come too." I replied "Good. We can't start our business-whatever it's gonna be-until you've got yours." Harper added, setting their things down at the desk. Harper Lynn is my best friend, they and I have done everything together, since we were twelve. They're a light brown pegasus with a pink and blue mane. It's so pretty, the pink fades to blue and creates an interesting shade of purple. Now that we're fifteen, Harper gets to decide how to style their mane. It's shaved close to their head on one side, and hangs low over their face on the other. Harper's always been Bi, and gender fluid. They explained to me everything I know about the LGBTQ+ community when I came out as Bi myself a few weeks ago. So, of course Harper's extra proud of their mane color. I keep telling them they got lucky that the color is exactly the same as the Bisexual flag. I know I'm only fueling their ego but I can't help it. Their mane is so cool. Anyway, Harper was so excited when their mark appeared a month ago. It's a paintbrush, but the bristles are covered in paint striped in all the colors of the rainbow. It just proves to me they were meant to be an artist. Harper's always scribbling on papers and tracing designs. Harper really likes drawing Griffons, Hippogriffs, and Kirins. Meanwhile I like learning about them in Headmare Twilight's History of Equestria class. Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention, Harper and I go to Princess Twilight's School of Friendship. I especially like Professor Dash's class, and Headmare Twilight's. Professor Fluttershy's animal lessons are really fun too, it's like escaping into your own private world. "Mel?" Harper snapped me back to my senses, and I smiled at my bestie. "Yeah Harp?" "Class is starting." Harper replied, grinning I snickered a little at Harper. They really didn't need to tell me that. Then, another student walked in, just before she would have been late. "She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." Harper and I whispered to each other, then giggled. Yeah. We have an enemy. We call her She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named because of this book series we like, the Harriet Powell series. One of my other friends, a Griffon (they spell it G-r-y-p-h-o-n though) named Glen, reads the books too. Like Harper, Glen is gender fluid. They actually changed their name to Glen because they didn't like their given name. "She's the worst." Harper muttered as we watched the unicorn arrange her books neatly on her desk. Harper reminded me, I need to focus on describing our enemy. Her name is Orchid Gleam. She's a yellow-coated unicorn with blue eyes and a white mane. Her cutie mark is of a lily, which I think is ridiculous. She's nothing like the sweet little flower you'd find on a field minding it's own business. Besides, lilies aren't orchids. Harper and I used to be her friends, until the incident. We don't talk about it. Before you ask, yes, the Professors know about it. Orchid told them her sob story and Harper and I told the truth. Ever since then the teachers don't really bother us about it, but occasionally if we're in the same class they ask either me or Harper to do things with her. Like, if we're passing out tests or the Professor needs volunteers to help with a demonstration of what we're supposed to be doing. "Right, class, today, we're going to be discussing Tirek's first attempt at taking over Equestria." Headmare Twilight said, pulling out a pointer rod and beginning to scribble on the chalkboard. While usually the class would be interesting, I'm too mad at seeing Orchid to focus. As Headmare Twilight launches into her lecture I force myself to pick up the quill and take notes. One of us has to, Harper's a terrible note-taker. They're lucky we share a dorm room, or they'd be flunking Headmare Twilight's class by now. After the lecture, Headmare Twilight gives us our homework. "Today the homework is going to be a little different. I'd like you to write a story about what Equestria would be like today if Scorpan didn't alert the Princesses and Tirek managed to overthrow them. Please have it ready to hand in by Thursday." Headmare Twilight instructed, then Harper raised their hoof. "Does it have to be a paper? Can it be a drawing?" I heard a snort of laughter from the front of the classroom, and my eyes narrowed. It was probably Orchid. I used to always hide behind Harper and let them protect me, but after the incident I actually enjoy defending myself. And Harper. "Well, okay. As long as there's a paragraph-long explanation of what the drawing represents." Headmare Twilight allowed, and Harper pumped their hoof in excitement. I just smiled. I love Friendship School. Its the one place where creativity is allowed in assignments...because the whole school was built on creativity and trying new methods.