//------------------------------// // 4. Jealous Teacher // Story: My Little Pony: How the Magic of Friendship Grows (Season 1) // by Majestical4729 //------------------------------// One afternoon, in the Castle of Friendship, Luster was in the library practising some spells with Sunset Shimmer, a moment before Volcano entered. "Oh hi, Volcano!" Luster greeted, before asking, "So, how did your Teacher Exam go? Past with flying colours?" "NO!" Volcano cried out loudly, "I got A star for the knowledge, but F minus for the teaching!" "What?! How can you get F minus?! You're a famous hero now!" Sunset asked. "How can the students not want to learn from a famous hero who just saved them and all of Equestria and beyond, not so long ago?!" Luster added. "They gave me a whole lot of bad comments, with all of those comments saying that my lessons are boring!" Volcano replied, showing the unicorn mares a paper that was filled with lots of different claw, mouth, wing or hoof writings. Luster read the first comment out loud, "Is Professor Volcano an all-subjects teacher, or a boredom teacher?! The only thing he can teach us is how to be bored!" Sunset read the second comment, "How can his friends not fall asleep whenever he is around?! Is he only interesting and not boring when he is not talking?!" Luster read another comment, "How can some creature like Professor Volcano be a famous hero who stops villains? Maybe he made everything so boring that the villains changed their minds and wanted to surrender?!" "I am not anything like that! And I totally don't teach boredom, I teach all subjects! And I can separate them just fine! My lessons aren't boring!" Volcano angrily declared. "Maybe they aren't boring for you, but are for the students." Sunset replied, making Volcano give out a nervous chuckle. After the series' theme song intro played, Volcano responded to Sunset's words, "I never thought of it like that. I was only focusing on my point of view, that I was not focused on what my students' points of view could be!" "So, what do you think that they find that's boring?" Luster asked. "I think...everything..." Volcano chuckled nervously, before a series of flashbacks began: During English Lesson... "Words in the adverbial form are used when describing an adjective. In the sentence, 'The road ahead is dangerously unstable', the adjectival form is used when describing something or some creature. Reversing time is impossible. The word 'impossible' is the adjective here. Continuous Tense is used when an action occurs simultaneously with the prior action, or any other action..." Volcano wrote what he was saying on the blackboard, not paying attention of how uninterested his students looked. During Math Lesson... "All non-zero digits are significant. Zeroes that are in between non-zeroes are for sure, significant. Such examples include 105, 200, 4.006 and many more. Zeroes in between non-zeroes and decimal points are also significant, and such examples include 11.04, 2.05 and 300.06. For zeroes that do not have a non-zero digit before them, they are surely insignificant. Such examples include 0.1, 0.01,0.001, 0.0001 and more. Now for zeroes at the end of the number, they can be either significant or insignificant, like 100 has two zeroes, and you can choose to have both of its zeroes significant, or the one in the middle significant while the one at the end insignificant, or both of them insignificant. Moving on..." The students started getting bored, followed by yawning, before falling asleep as Volcano wrote down what he was saying chunked in one huge paragraph. During Biology Lesson... "The Animal cell is surrounded by a semi-permeable cell membrane. The cell membrane allows only specific materials to move in and out of the cell.The different parts of the cell are called organelles. Nucleus, Mitochondria, Endoplasmic Reticulum, Golgi Apparatus, Lysosomes. The cytoplasm is a jelly like substance. Cytoplasm provides a surface for all the organelles in the animal cell. Nucleus being the control center of cell decides and controls most of the functions going on in the cell. Mitochondria are the sites for cellular respiration in cells. They are the powerhouses of the cell because they release energy rich compounds called ATP. ATP is needed for the functioning, growth and maintenance of the body. The endoplasmic reticulum is a large network of membrane bound sheets. They help in transporting and exchanging materials between the various regions of the cytoplasm.The endoplasmic reticulum is of two types: The smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The rough endoplasmic reticulum. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum helps in the formation of lipids. Lipids are essential components of the cell membrane. The rough endoplasmic reticulum has ribosomes. Ribosomes help in building proteins in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The protein is..." Volcano's long description was making the students fall asleep as he went on. During Geography Lesson... "Bearings actually tell us in what direction something is in, and bearings are more accurate than using compass points. We must always measure the angle clockwise from the North. It is important to always pay attention to the direction you will be the taking the bearing from. Finding the bearing from point A to Point B is actually different from finding the bearing from the Point B to Point A. To find a bearing, mark the north line of the point you are finding the bearing from, then draw the line connecting the points, then measure the angle clockwise from the North line to the point. Remember, the degree must be in three-digits. So if it is a number less than 100, for example 45, you have to write your answer as 045. Now, for the other way around, which is finding the bearings from the other point to the original point..." The students yawned as Volcano continued writing. During Equestria and Beyond History Lesson... "Before the era of Princess Twilight Sparkle, most weddings in Equestria have the newly weds, the chief witness, the flower girl, and the best mare. This went on until Rainbow Dash and Soarin's wedding in Cloudsdale, when Rainbow wanted her first non-pony friend, Gilda, to be the best non-mare, or technically, the position of best mare, without being a mare. After the wedding, all of Equestria and beyond decided that they should no longer just call a wedding's best mare best mare: They changed it into best creature, to respect every creature and give them a chance to serve regardless of species and gender." The students looked a bit interested only when the captain and co-captain of the Wonderbolts' names were mentioned, before gradually becoming bored again. After the flashbacks ended, Luster commented, "Those explanations were really long...I can see why your students dislike them so much." "What am I going to do?! Those are not just any students! Those are students at Improvement Academy!" Volcano explained, "The one and only school in all of Equestria for the students who are the poorest in their studies! They need my knowledge!" "But how are you supposed to get them to know what you know?! They don't like your lessons, and don't listen to you." Sunset pointed out. "The word 'listen' gives me an idea..." Volcano replied. The scene immediately changed from inside the castle of Friendship library to outside the castle, where Volcano had a conversation with Buffer. "Sorry, Volcano. I may be the listening expert, but not even I can make sure every creature will listen!" Buffer told the dragon, "But I know some creature who can!" "Who?" asked Volcano, in a confused tone. "One of our best friends, and a member of the Heroic Ten." Buffer replied. "I'm sorry Buffer, but I don't get who you are talking about." Volcano responded. "Alkali, of course! She's the encouraging expert. She'll totally know what your students like, and I'm sure she will get your students' interest as she encourage them..." "Alkali?! You got to be kidding me, Buffer! She's the one creature in our team to know everything about having fun, and nothing about being serious! And she may cause confusions if she came along for Chemistry lessons." Volcano cut Buffer off. "Why would you say that?" Buffer asked in a confused tone. "Because she is named after alkalis! Alkalis from Chemistry! Alkalis that turn red litmus paper blue! Alkalis that react with acids to form salt and water as they neutralise!" Volcano explained. "But other than that, she'll be fine! Plus, she isn't her little brother, Acid." Buffer pointed out. "But...she is always the kind that makes things fun! She'll totally dislike classes and lessons that aren't fun!" Volcano pointed out. "Or maybe, she can make them fun and interesting enough for your students to learn." Buffer told Volcano, in a positive tone. "Are you sure you're not Yellow Bright in a buffalo's disguise?" Volcano asked. Buffer chuckled, "I am not Yellow Bright, I just learn from his positive things and positive sayings." Later that day, in the Castle of Friendship Throne Room, Volcano told Alkali all about his decision to make her his teaching assistant. "Really?! You think I can be a teacher?!" Alkali asked. "Technically, a teaching assistant. My teaching assistant who will help me teach the students." Volcano clarified. "Thanks, Volcano! Now I'm finally getting a job! With a job, I can earn some bits for all of us for the rest of our lives!" Alkali exclaimed. "If you made it. I may know all the right information, but I can't get my students to absorb it. They think my teachings are boring!" Volcano told the hyperactive hippogriff. "Don't worry, Volcano! I can assure you, your students will not find your lessons boring with me around!" Alkali declared. "Good. Now, all I have to do is to teach you at least some of the basic information you need to know as a teaching assistant. If you can show the principle that you know the basics, you'll totally get in!" Volcano announced, taking out his notebook, "Here's the notebook I had written before I became a student at the School of Friendship. It contains all the information I ever needed, including some additional ones that aren't so important. Now, all you have to do in this one hour time period, is to write down the notes in your own notebook, before writing down what you know in front of me without any reference!" "That's...a lot." Alkali commented. "If you can't make it, I'm sure I'll figure another way to convince Principal Calligraphy to let you in as my teaching assistant." Volcano assured. "Never mind Volcano, I have to at least try to help one of my best friends here." Alkali told the dragon. "If you say so, I'll be back to check on you once one hour is over!" Volcano replied, closing the door. One hour flew by and Volcano returned to check on Alkali, "Alright, one hour is up! Now, write down everything you can remember on these sheets of paper." Alkali did as Volcano told, much to his surprise, as he never thought that Alkali could remember so much in a short amount of time. His eyes turned wide oval as he scanned through Alkali's words. All of them were so newly arranged and the same as his notes. "How did you do that?! I mean...not even I can remember that much in an hour!" Volcano asked in disbelief. "Well, I may not be serious, but I can still do things. I totally copied your notes, but made a few alterations in my notes..." Alkali replied, showing Volcano a new bow of scrapbooks she made. "Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Additional Mathematics, Elementary Mathematics, Geography, Equestria and Beyond History? How did you remember all of those details, or more importantly, write that fast?!" Volcano asked. "Well, I actually wrote your basic information down only, figured that the additional ones should be reserved for later. And unlike you, I made some cartoon characters to help me remember! Plus, used coloured pencils instead of just plain pencils made of graphite." answered Alkali, as she opened her scrapbook for Volcano to see. "You are so...amazing...Alkali...I guess I was wrong about you." Volcano scratched his head. "Wrong about me? What is it that you're wrong about me?!" Alkali asked. "Nothing. But we still have to make sure that your name does not cause any confusion for Chemistry lessons. Especially when we mention alkalis." Volcano pointed out. "Alkalis?! Ooh, they are my most favourite part in all of chemistry!" Alkali squealed. "You are named after them, because all the colours you have are the colours strong alkalis' pH values have when they are represented on the pH scale." Volcano explained in a plain tone. "And they feel soapy, and soaps are made of them, and soaps can make bubbles, which are fun to play with!" Alkali continued. "Did I forget to mention that alkalis taste bitter?" Volcano sarcastically asked. "I know that, but I sure am not bitter, and I still love them!" Alkali exclaimed. The next day, Volcano brought Alkali to Principal Calligraphy's office. "Good morning, Principal Calligraphy, as I told you, since I can't get my students to be interested, I figured that I had to bring a friend of mine with me, to get the students to be interested. And, she is not going to be a teacher, but my teaching assistant, once you see her methods and approve her." Volcano greeted the principal. Principal Calligraphy placed a file that she was holding aside, revealing her appearance to Alkali The principal was a cat with white fur and hair flowing down her head, which had the colours of Princess Celestia's mane. "Wow, you really look like Princess Celestia if she was a cat!" Alkali commented, before getting hushed by Volcano. "Alkali, she's the principal, show some respect!" "That is actually alright, Alkali. I understand that you are new, and you have never worked at a school before as one of the staffs. I hope that you can and will be the teaching assistant that the school needs." Principal Calligraphy told the newcomer in a tone that strongly matched Princess Celestia's usual tone. "I totally will do as you say, Principal Calligraphy," Alkali saluted. "Good, now would you please show me how you will teach, as in, the way you will teach what you know?" the principal asked. "Totally!" Alkali replied, "But I am going to need three creatures for my enactment to explain covalent bonding, so I need your help." "Alkali! She's the judge...I mean...examiner...I mean...principal! You cannot ask her for help in..." Volcano told the hippogriff, before being cut off by the principal. "Don't worry, Volcano. I can see that Alkali believes that things will be a lot clearer for the creatures involved. Taking part in her enactment will give me clearer knowledge of what the students will learn from her methods." "Thank you for participating, Principal Calligraphy, and I hope that you will not be offended by my decision of casting you and Volcano as the oxygen atoms as you two walk on two legs, while I play the carbon atom as I am different and walk on four..." Alkali began, before being cut off by Volcano, "Alkali! Are you out of your mind?! Giving yourself a position that is more special than the one you give to the principal?! You totally..." "It's alright Volcano, I'm sure that if this method is more effective the way Alkali planned, I accept it." Principal Calligraphy assured. "Alright, now to make this enactment more interesting and clear, you're going to have hole hoops and dots and crosses!" Alkali announced in a cheerful tone, unpacking her bag and taking out the said equipment. "What?! Seriously, this is what you bring to teach?!" Volcano asked. "It is to teach, in a fun way." Alkali told her Best Friend, before explaining, "Now, the oxygen atoms need eight valence electrons..." A few hours passed, and after Alkali's final presentation, the principal commented, "Alkali, all those methods are extraordinary, and way beyond what the other Teaching Assistants do. And since they are very interesting, fun and enjoyable, I am sure that they will be absolutely beneficial to the students here. You are approved and therefore, you can be Volcano's Teaching Assistant." "That is great to know, Principal Calligraphy." Volcano replied, before telling Alkali, "Come on, Alkali! Now to see if you really are the teaching assistant that I needed." The teenaged students in the classroom were busy chit-chattering amongst themselves, a moment before they heard footsteps headed their way. Stopping all conversations, the students rushed back to their seats before their teacher entered. "Good afternoon, students." Volcano greeted, "Today, I have brought my teaching assistant, an old Best Friend of mine for over two years, to help you all learn better. Meet Miss Alkali." "Hi, every creature!" Alkali cheerfully greeter as she entered, "I am indeed..." "Alkali from the Heroic Ten!" the students exclaimed in unison. "What?! But...I am from the Heroic Ten, too! I helped the whole team through the catacombs by diligently clearing up that giant boulder until I created an opening for all of them to fit through!" Volcano pointed out. "Now, now, every creature, I am not here for all of your love and attention, I am here to help you all learn your education lessons so you will pass your tests!" Alkali told the students in a Pinkie Pie-like tone. The students groaned after hearing what their heroine had to say, with a yellow changeling commenting, "I though we were going to have fun." "Especially after Professor Volcano's descriptions made us so bored, that we fell asleep!" a grey-green Kirin added. "Don't worry, every creature! Because we are going to learn things...the fun way!" Alkali announced in a hyperactive tone, followed by the students exclaiming in unison, "YAY!" In a montage, Volcano tried explaining the lessons his way, as usual. But every time he finished the sentence, Alkali repeated it in her hyperactive, cheerleading tone, as she encouraged the students to repeat the sentences with different tones and voices. Alkali's methods were indeed, very effective, as the students started liking their lessons and were able to remember all the details they needed to know. At the end of the day, a few minutes before dismissal, the students were cleaning up the classroom without annoyed, unsatisfied expressions on their faces. "Wow, Alkali. I have never seen these students so willing to learn or clean the classroom before!" Volcano told his Best Friend, "You really encouraged them in ways no creature else could!" "What can I say? I am the encouraging expert, and I always know how to encourage!" Alkali replied, before the school bell rang. "Dismissal time!" the hyperactive hippogriff announced in a singing tone, but to the heroes' surprise, the students seemed reluctant to go. "What's wrong? You students are always begging to go home!" Volcano asked the class. "That's only because Miss Alkali wasn't there to make things fun." a female griffon student replied. "Now that she's here, we love lessons and classes more than ever!" a male blue Earth Pony stated. "Because lessons that she teach are fun!" a male yak student declared. "Alright, since you all like lessons now, can you promise me that you will all come to class, like you should?" Alkali asked. "We sure will!" the students replied, before rushing out of the classroom. "Wow, with you around, they really changed." Volcano commented. Soon, not long after Alkali became his teaching assistant, Volcano was in the hallway that contained the rooms he and Alkali teach their students in. In an unpleasant, annoyed tone, he mumbled to himself, "With Alkali's loud, singing, cheerleading and playing methods going on every time she's around, the other classes may never get the silence they need! Good thing I know how to install vacuums in the walls. As Physics stated, sound waves can only travel through mediums, and therefore, they cannot travel through vacuums." After he finished his sentence however, Volcano could hear voices that did not belong to him, saying, "Miss Alkali is so cool! She made learning a trillion times more fun than it can ever be!" Knowing that the vacuums would prevent any sound from entering and leaving the classrooms, Volcano knew that some creature else was in the hallway, headed towards him. Hiding in the nearest classroom, he hid from the passers, while leaving a tiny opening in between the door and wall, so he could still overhear the conversation. "I wish I was in Miss Alkali's class, she's like the best teacher around!" another voice claimed, making Volcano gasp. "But...but...but Alkali's not really a teacher! She's a teaching assistant! My teaching assistant!" Volcano said to himself, before listening to more voices. "That's because she is the best teacher around! She makes everything fun!" the first voice declared. "Her Bearings Game was so interesting an enjoyable! I can't wait to show you now it goes!" a student told her company. "Her rearranging of sentences in all sorts of ways helped me remember information clearly." a male student contributed. "Her Chemistry Balancing Equations enactment made us remember the basics clear as day!" another student added. "Her Equestria and Beyond enactment made us remember the whole story super well!" a male student stated. "But, she would never know any of that super well herself, if it were not for me to be there to ensure she got all the facts right!" Volcano complained, only for himself to hear. "I cannot wait to nominate her for the upcoming Monthly Award Ceremony as the Best Teaching Staff!" a female student declared, making Volcano's eyes turn wide oval. "Now that you mentioned it, I can't wait to nominate her, too!" one of the students exclaimed. "I totally will nominate her, as well!" another student joined in, contributing to the growth of Volcano's fury and jealousy towards Alkali. After the students' voices could no longer be heard, Volcano stepped out of his hiding place and back into the hallway, with his face darker than ever. "Alkali...so bubbly, cheerful and lovable...just wait till the awards come!" That evening, during dinner time at the Castle of Friendship, Volcano was unhappier than ever, barely showing a smile as he ate his meal. Nature Bloom quickly took notice of her best friend's expressions and asked, "Um, Volcano? Are you alright?" "Sure. Why wouldn't I be?" Volcano answered in an unpleasant tone. "By listening to your tone and observing your expressions, I can identify that you are not telling the truth, Volcano." Buffer pointed out. "What?! How can you lie, Volcano?! You just graduated from the School of Friendship less than a month ago!" Krona asked. "Sorry, it's just that I am not in the mood for telling the truth about a certain something lately." Volcano replied. "What is that something?" asked Evergreen. "We totally understand if you are not comfortable about telling us, but cheer up! We're your best friends! We won't make fun of you!" Yellow Bright told Volcano in a cheerful tone. "Some friends would like teasing their friends, but we obviously are not those kind of friends," Sunshine Rays assured. "So, what's the problem?" asked Falcon Dive. "It's no big deal, guys. I am not a teenager anymore, I am a young adult older than nineteen, and I can handle things by myself." Volcano told his best friends. "It is not that we care about you like we re taking care of you, Volcano." Luster explained, "We are your best friends!" "And that is true, best friends!" Sunshine Rays added. "Because we really care about you!" Falcon Dive contributed. "Each and every little thing about you," Nature Bloom continued. "Or anything that have something to do with you," Evergreen filled in. "We all care about them!" Buffer resumed. "Like true friends would!" Krona declared. "And if you're facing a problem, we will help in any way we can!" Yellow Bright finished. "Thanks for your care and support, every creature, but this is something that I should be handling...by myself." Volcano told the creatures, before poring his dinner into his snout, chewing it and swallowing it, as he left. "Are you sure this is the Volcano we know?" Falcon Dive sarcastically asked his best friends after the dragon's departure. "Well, we've been with Volcano for over two years at the School of Friendship..." Nature Bloom stated, before Luster cut her off. "Technically, most of us have been with Volcano for over two years at the School of Friendship." "Of course Luster," Evergreen responded, a moment before Alkali entered the dining room. "Hey, every creature!" she greeted in her usual cheerful tone, "Where's Volcano?! I thought he's joining us for dinner, as usual!" "He did, but he wolfed down and gobbled up his meal in five seconds flat," Sunshine Rays sarcastically stated. "And then he left," Yellow Bright concluded. "That's...so...not him!" Alkali commented, "Could he be replaced by an imposter?!" "I am not replaced nor impersonated!" Volcano's voice called, "I am just feeling a little grumpy, and wanted to take a break, as soon as now! And in case you that isn't enough, here's my knowledge as proof: I went to the School of Friendship because I had nothing else to learn about education! At the rare, once in a blue moon, New Students Welcoming Fair, I first met Alkali at the Magic of Science booth, where we watched some interesting science experiments! Then, we went to the Make A New Friend Event where we parted ways and made new friends! Alkali met Evergreen, I met Yellow Bright. Soon, after talking and sharing facts with our new friends, we moved onto the Multiple Friends Section, where we had to make and accept another friend. Buffer joined Alkali and Evergreen, Nature Bloom joined me and Yellow Bright..." "Alright, alright! That's enough, Volcano!" Alkali called to him, "You totally proved that you'e the real you." "Great! Now I'm going to rest!" Volcano called back. "So, how did teaching go?" Yellow Bright asked. "Teaching was fun! Or mostly, because I teach it in a fun way!" Alkali answered, "The students loved my sentence rearranging games, cheerleading and singing methods to help them remember, and my enactments that I allowed all of them to take part in!" "Wow, for some creature fun-loving, you really got teaching potential." Evergreen commented. "You are not even Volcano, but you really know how to teach!" Nature Bloom added. "Probably because I know how to encourage!" Alkali replied. "Wow, now I really wish that you were my teacher back in the school I was in, before the School of Friendship." Falcon Dive commented. "Who wouldn't? Fun Teachers are BEST!" Krona exclaimed. "I knew that you were the right choice to be Volcano's teaching assistant!" Buffer gratefully told Alkali. "And the students are making progress, and they like class, and they keep on cheering on me! Or, cheering for me? Or, whatever. But the main point is, classes are fun and lovable!" Alkali cheered, with her hyperactive tone transforming into a singing tone at the end of the sentence. Unknown to the nine creatures, Volcano overhead their conversation, and got even more jealous of Alkali getting all the love and praise. He angrily groaned before storming off to his room. The next day, Volcano and Alkali returned to Improvement Academy to teach their students, as usual. But not everything was as for usual, as Volcano began trying to make his lessons interesting like Alkali would. Only, instead of cheerleading, singing, and enactments, he tried using flash cards and trivial games to teach, in hopes of getting the students' love and praise. Unfortunately, things did not go the way he hoped at the end of the day. "Alright, every creature. It's almost dismissal time, so, before you go, is there anything you would like to say about how my lessons are today?" Volcano asked the students. "Professor Volcano really seems to finally decided to teach us the fun way," one of the students told his classmate. "But since he only started being like this after Miss Alkali came, he mostly got that idea from her!" the classmate responded. "Did you change your ways, only because Miss Alkali inspired you to do so?" a male teenaged light grey-coated pegasus student asked. Knowing that his best friends would never like dishonesty, Volcano told the truth, "Well, you can say inspired, but I would say, copy. I figured that if I were like Miss Alkali in the way I teach, you will finally...like me the way you like her." "Nice confession, Professor Volcano," the female griffon student told her teacher, "But we are still interested, and will give the credit to Miss Alkali." "Because if it were not for her, we would still be falling asleep during your boring lessons! And you would never change if it were not for her!" a male, teenaged minotaur concluded, before he joined the other students, thanking Alkali as they went out of the room. Volcano watched in jealousy before marching after every creature. In a montage, as the days flew by, Volcano attempted to make his lessons more interesting, but Alkali kept beating him in earning the students' love and praises. Whenever Alkali made a mistake, Volcano pointed the mistake out by mentioning the actual fact, but unfortunately, the students still praise Alkali, never acknowledging what Volcano always do for them. The actual teacher's jealousy towards his teaching assistant grew with each passing second, to the point that he would try to avoid having meals with her, even when the rest of their friends were around. One evening, Luster Dawn asked the rest of the Heroic Ten, with the exception of a diligent dragon and an encouraging hippogriff, about Volcano's odd behaviour around Alkali. "Does any creature find it strange that Volcano is acting really bitter around Alkali? I mean, he kept on trying to avoid her for these few days!" "Now that you mentioned it, it is kind of...strange." Nature Bloom responded. "Not strange, but something's up, for real." Sunshine Rays added. "So...what is that something that is up?" Falcon Dive sarcastically asked. "I don't know, but it cannot be good." Sunshine Rays answered. "How are you so sure?" asked Evergreen. "She's concerned for every creature's personalities, basically for their morality." Buffer replied. "And all kinds of other things," Yellow Bright added. "Volcano seems to be very grumpy lately, and since he kept on wanting to avoid Alkali...I figure..." Sunshine Rays began a theory, making Krona gasp. "Sunshine Rays figured that Volcano does not like Alkali?!" "But, they are best friends for two years plus now!" Luster pointed out. "I'm afraid that not every friendship goes so smoothly after it is formed," Nature Bloom stated. "But, how can Volcano start disliking Alkali?" Falcon Dive asked. "That is something we need to investigate," Sunshine Rays answered, "If Volcano won't tell us, and Alkali being somewhat oblivious, we have to find out ourselves," "Should we warn Alkali?" Yellow Bright asked. "We better, but not make her freak out," Sunshine Rays replied. "Understood," Luster responded, before instructing, "Evergreen, Nature Bloom, you two will go find Alkali and warn her!" "Roger that!" Evergreen replied, striking a posture. "We'll try to use the least scary words we can think of," Nature Bloom added, before trotting off with Evergreen. "So...what about the rest of the Heroic Ten?" asked Krona. "We have to investigate, and I think I know where we can start." Sunshine Rays announced. Gentle with their steps and wing flaps, the six heroes bravely snuck through the hallway, until they reached the door to Volcano's room. Using one of her latest spells, Luster created a magical vortex that revealed what was on the other side of the door, without letting any creature inside see them. Seeing that Volcano was asleep, the heroes quietly snuck in and picked up all sorts of things in his room, trying to find a clue. Falcon Dive eventually found something that the others figured was a strong clue. "Guys, I found Volcano's record book, and it seems to have all the details of what Volcano is like at Improvement Academy, Falcon told his best friends. "That's great, Falcon! We can totally find out what was happening between Volcano and Alkali by reading it!" Sunshine Rays stated. "But it's pretty long...and it's a record of what is happening to Volcano at Improvement Academy over twenty-eight days." Falcon pointed out. "That's a lot!" Krona complained. "Reading that could take hours!" Buffer added. "But not if you're a super fast reader," Yellow Bright figured, causing the others to look at Luster. "Well...I may be a fast reader, but I think it is safer, if I read a copy of the actual book," Luster responded. "But, we don't have a copy!" Sunshine Rays pointed out. "Just watch," Luster told her best friends, before levitating the record book in front of her, and sending a beam to zap it, and create an identical duplicate. Noticing that Volcano seemed a bit startled from his slumber by the noise, Luster quickly gave Falcon the real record book to return, while she and the others quietly rushed out. After the book was placed back where it was found, Luster teleported Falcon to the team, who silently closed the door and make their getaway with the copy. The next morning, all kinds of creatures went to Improvement Academy to attend the Monthly Award Ceremony. Alkali waited nervously as she sat in alongside the other teaching staff, looking around for Volcano , The dark orange dragon showed up eventually, and sat far away from his Best Friend, looking away from her, shocking her. Despite being warned earlier by her friends about Volcano's attitude, Alkali flew towards her long-time friend. "Hey, Volcano. I'm so sorry I had breakfast and left before you, it's just that...our best friends told me that it was for the better." "Great job for your listening skills, listening to them, Alkali. I really needed some space from you," Volcano negatively replied. "What?! But...but why?" Alkali asked, in a hurt tone. "It's not worth talking about right now, the ceremony is about to start!" Volcano pressurised her, just before the room turned dark, proving his words true. "Thanks for the reminder, Volcano!" the hippogriff said, before rushing back to her seat. "Great. Now some creature finally thanked me." Volcano sarcastically said to himself. Principal Calligraphy stepped onto the stage, underneath the yellow spotlight, where she began her speech, "Every creature in this crowd, we are gathered here today to witness and acknowledge several of our school's best creatures and what they did that makes them the best for this month." Meanwhile, in the Castle of Friendship, Luster was writing down the most important details she could find, while the others examined the details. "Uh, we are never going to find our answers by looking at all this!" Falcon Dive complained. "Patience, Falcon. Remember, complaining never helps!" Evergreen reminded. "Plus, you can be positive, and try to think of some possible bright sides and good things like me!" Yellow Bright added. "Well, I think we are getting somewhere by reading all these; we figured out that Volcano was trying to earn the students' love and praises," Nature Bloom pointed out. "But the students kept on liking Alkali over him," Sunshine Rays stated. "And, Volcano had pointed out Alkali's mistakes for Math Lessons! Look, 8 x 60 = 8 x 6 x 10, but 3 x 14 is not equal to 3 x 10 x 4!" Krona read. "The same thing goes for Biology Lesson when he pointed out that chloroplast and chlorophyll are not the same! The chloroplast is a cell organelle where photosynthesis takes place, while the chlorophyll converts the light it absorbs into chemical energy!" Buffer mentioned another example. "And Volcano pointed out a major notice that the students should take note of. The students must never answer chemistry questions about the change of state with the knowledge from Physics' Internal Energy lessons." Evergreen stated. "But he never got any praises or credit nor anything he did!" Nature Bloom pointed out. "The students kept on only liking and praising Alkali!" Falcon Dive contributed. "And Volcano kept on expressing some really awful expressions, watching Alkali get all the students' love." Buffer added. "I may look on the positive side very frequently, but do you think that Volcano is...jealous?" Yellow Bright asked. "Now that you say it, I think Volcano is jealous! Jealous of Alkali!" Luster gasped, causing the whole room to gasp. "Calm down, every creature! Panicking does not help!" Evergreen told her friends. "Calm down?! Do not panic?! We're having a crisis here!" Falcon Dive complained. "Volcano jealous of Alkali! He can do anything to her, and that anything is. Not. Good!" Krona declared. "There's an award ceremony today, what if Alkali wins an award?!" Nature Bloom asked. "And Volcano does not?" Sunshine Rays continued. "He'll go from jealous, to jealous Evil Queen from the Pony Tale!" Yellow Bright dramatically exclaimed. "Are you talking about The Evil Queen from the Pony Tale, 'Snow White and the Seven Foals?' "Buffer asked in a normal tone. "Guys, we got to do something!" Luster announced, "If we don't, who knows what Volcano will do?!" "Something really awful?" Nature Bloom replied. "We got to get to the ceremony in Improvement Academy, right now!" Luster declared, teleporting the team out of the castle. "Um, is this the School Hall where the Monthly Award Ceremony is taking place, or what?! I don't see any students, families of the school staff, teaching staff, or principals!" Yellow Bright asked, looking around the area the team teleported themselves to. "Of course it isn't!" Sunshine Rays told the Earth Pony, "We're not even in the school!" "We are outside Improvement Academy, and in front of the main entrance." Evergreen pointed out. "The school has magic-absorbing protection!" Luster gasped, "So no creature can use magic to get in!" "Then how else are we going to get in?" Nature Bloom asked. "Um, we can walk, or fly?" Falcon Dive sarcastically answered. "It won't be that easy," Krona stated, pointing at two white Pegasi in Royal Guard attires, "Royal Guards over there are just going to prevent us from entering so easily." "Maybe we should just tell them the truth?" Buffer suggested. "Great idea, Buffer! That's what we'll do." Luster praised, before trotting towards the entrance. "Excuse me, Royal Guards?" Luster asked, approaching them before she cleared her throat, "I am Luster Dawn, as you know, Princess Twilight Sparkle's star student. And, my best friends and I really need to pass this entrance so we can attend the Monthly Award Ceremony right now." "So sorry, Miss 'Luster', but we cannot just let any creature in, without a security check." one of the Royal Guards responded in a strict tone, using his wings to prevent Luster from entering. "You don't recognise the leader of the Heroic Ten?" Buffer asked. "The famous heroes who just saved you and all of Equestria and beyond, a month ago!" Falcon Dive added. "And the heroes who introduced the Elements of Purity?" Yellow Bright finished. "Of course we know what Luster Dawn and the Heroic Ten look like," the other Royal Guard begun, before his companion finished the sentence for him. "But in the aftermath of Eclipse Instant switching bodies with Princess Twilight Sparkle, we had to conduct security tests to check every creature's identity, and never fall for any imposter's tricks." The Royal Guards gave the creatures a blank paper each, instructing them, "Write down everything that is about your identities, including full name, species, gender, birthday, birth place, parents/guardians...." "Urgh! The Heroic Ten actually do not have time for this!" Krona declared. "Our Best Friend Volcano is getting really jealous of Alkali!" Nature Bloom stated. "Who knows what he will do if Alkali won this month's best teaching staff award?" Sunshine Rays pointed out. "Please, let us through! It is very urgent!" Luster pleaded. "Sorry, miss. We cannot make any exceptions. Not even for famous heroes or royalty." one of the guards replied. Luster Dawn groaned, "But, I am Luster Dawn! The star student of Princess Twilight Sparkle! As well as the biological daughter of Head-mare Starlight and Vice Head-stallion Sunburst of the School of Friendship in Ponyville, even though they could not and did not raise me, sending me to Sire's Hollow to be raised by their parents so they could run the school!" "Sorry, young lady, but every creature knows that." One of the guards responded. "I grew up not knowing anything about friendship, and was still anti-social after I performed an irreversible age spell on myself that makes me a decade older than I chronologically am, when I got into the School for Gifted Unicorns. I was soon sent to Ponyville, where I made friends with Falcon Dive, Yellow Bright, Evergreen, Alkali, Nature Bloom, Volcano, Sunshine Rays, Buffer and Krona! We got through everything together, especially when we defeated Eclipse Instant with the Magic of Friendship we possessed." Luster stated another fact that she knew. "Every creature knows that, too." the other Royal Guard stated, "So sorry, miss. But the only way you can prove yourself is to fill up this paper with your identity description. The same goes for your friends." "Uh!" Falcon Dive groaned and face-clawed himself. "And now, for the award we are all waiting for...the Best Teaching Staff Award!" Principal Calligraphy announced, "Without further ado, let us welcome the winner of this award, who is surprisingly one of the two newest teaching staffs, as well as one of the two heroes of Equestria who work here! And that creature is..." Alkali looked nervous while Volcano looked extremely interested, but not in a pleasant way. "Miss Alkali!" the principal announced, making the crowd cheer, while Alkali was overwhelmed. "What?!" Volcano said to himself, as he watch his Best Friend walk up the stairs and onto the stage. His face turned from dark orange to red, as the events unfold. "Congratulations, Miss Alkali," Principal Calligraphy told the hippogriff, presenting the latter a golden trophy. "You really are inspiring, and something Improvement Academy has never seen before! You are the first-ever teaching staff to win the Best Teaching Staff Award, on their very first Monthly Award Ceremo..." Before the principal could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Volcano's enraged growl, as he leapt out of his seat, rose into the air, causing every creature to gasp in horror as they watched. "Volcano?!" Alkali asked in shock, before he charged down towards her and the principal. Fortunately for the girls, Falcon Dive flew in and used his pushing force to change Volcano's direction. "Alkali! Volcano is..." Falcon tried to warn the hippogriff, but he was stopped by Volcano, who flipped over, sending the griffon towards the empty seats. Following Falcon's 'defeat', Sunshine Rays and Nature Bloom tried tying Volcano up with rope, while Luster approached the confused girls on stage. "Alkali! Principal Calligraphy! Volcano is jealous of a certain indigo hippogriff, and now he is super mad." "Volcano is jealous of me the whole time?!" gasped Alkali, "But, why?!" "Long story summarised!" Yellow Bright explained, "Volcano actually has a lot of contribution to what you've been teaching, Alkali, by pointing out your mistakes, ensuring that you teach the right information!" "But, unfortunately, the students love you so much that they don't give him any credit," Evergreen added, "He even installed vacuums in the walls to prevent your loudness from disrupting the other classes, but no creature seems to acknowledge that!" "No creature acknowledges what Volcano does!" Krona pointed out. "And they kept giving you all the credit, including the credit that he actually deserves, being the one reason you can teach the right information!" ended Buffer. "In that case, Volcano deserves the award as well!" Principal Calligraphy claimed, just before Sunshine Rays and Nature Bloom were thrown aside. "Volcano, I have made a new decision, and I would like you to know, that Alkali is not the first-ever teaching staff to win the Best Teaching Staff Award on their first Monthly Award Ceremony anymore." the principal told the furious, out-of-control dragon, calming him down. "You and Alkali have won the Best Teaching Staff Award, as the very first pair of winners in the history of Improvement Academy!" "Wait, what?!" asked Volcano, in a confused tone. "Alkali could not have taught the right information to the students, if it were not or you to check on her! Teaching the right information is just as important as being able to teach, and therefore, I consider you two an official team. From now on, you both will get to win awards, together." the principal declared. "Thank you so much, Principal Calligraphy! We really are so lucky to have you as the founder, and principal of our school." Volcano thanked, before he turned to Alkali, "Alkali, I am so sorry I got so jealous of you, and never told the truth. I bottled my emotions up, and became a disaster! And...I'm really sorry about how I acted these few days." "I'm so sorry, too, Volcano." Alkali apologised, "I was so overwhelmed by the students' love for me, that I never thought about you! I was so oblivious to you until...some creature made me notice. I should have cared about you, checked on you, like all our best friends would!" "It looks like you two have learnt something about friendship!" Luster Dawn pointed out. "Indeed, we totally have!" Volcano responded, before he and Alkali wrote a letter to Princess Twilight Sparkle. Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle, We may have graduated from the School of Friendship a month ago, but we just forgot some tips about true, good friendship, until we learnt a valuable lesson about it. True good friends will never stop being concerned for their friends, and they will never bottle up their emotions and not admit the truth until disaster strikes. They should always care about each other for as long as they remember each other, and tell each other the truth about any unpleasant emotion they have at the start. This valuable friendship lesson is indeed, a good lesson that we will always remember. Signed, two of your faithful student's best friends, Volcano and Alkali "That's a really good moral!" Sunshine Rays commented, catching every creature's attention. "But are there any ones that teach you that you should not do nothing about tossing your friends at the walls?" Nature Bloom added. "Or the empty seats!" Falcon Dive ended, showing up. Volcano let out a nervous chuckle, "Whops, I am really sorry about all of that. Why don't I make amends for that by cleaning up your rooms for the rest of the year?" "Sure, but you still got to keep your words!" Sunshine Rays demanded. "I totally will," Volcano responded. "And now, we got a ceremony to finish." Principal Calligraphy declared. After all the damage was fixed and the return of the audience, Principal Calligraphy announced Alkali and Volcano the first pair of winners, and the first official team in the school, as she gave them both the golden trophy that they raised up high with their claws for the crowd to see, cheer and applaud.