//------------------------------// // Bright and Early // Story: Learning is Magic: The Beginning // by lyramei //------------------------------// "Island! It's time to wake up!" called Ember, his dragon assistant. Ember was a distant relative of Spike, Princess Twilight Sparkle's number-one assistant. "Ember, if only I could fake sick and all that..." said Island drowsily. "Nope, nope, nope. Superintendent's orders! Why are you so hesitant?" asked Ember. "Because... because... I'm not ready! I don't want to go to Ponyville! But apparently the superintendent says I'm not good at friendship, so..." Island turned away, tears welling up in his eyes. He had a reputation for being strict and tough-as-nails; not a cry-foal. He didn't even want his own assistant to see him cry. "I'm a failure," whispered Island. "No! Don't say that," said Ember, who gave her friend a hug. "Just try, okay? Moving is hard. But who knows, you might end up loving it!" Island smiled. He was glad to have a loving dragon assistant who doubled as a best friend. Just then, a carriage pulled up to take Island and Ember to Ponyville. Ember loaded Island's stuff into the carriage and jumped in. "Come on, Island!" she coaxed. Ember extended her claw, to which Island's hoof slowly took it. The carriage began to lift off the ground. In a few seconds, Island and Ember were in the clouds. "Bye, Canterlot," said Island sadly. Ember took his hoof. A few minutes later, the carriage landed near Ponyville Middle School. Island brought his stuff out and sighed. Ember, on the other hoof, loved the vibes of Ponyville Middle. "I am so glad this place is not a super-strict-no-fun academy!" exclaimed the dragon. Island slowly trudged his way to the school's office. "Mr. Island Skies?" asked the office clerk. Island nodded. "Ah, welcome! You will be a part of Team 7C. Let me show you to your classroom. Follow me!" said the clerk cheerfully. The clerk led Island past a few hallways until they reached a classroom. Island found a class full of smiling faces inside. "Welcome, Mr. Island Skies!" the class exclaimed. The clerk laughed. "They will be a fraction of your team students," she explained. "I'm off. Bye!" A student, Cupcake Swirl, came up to Island. "Hello, I'm Cupcake Swirl. Welcome to Ponyville Middle!" She extended her hoof. Island stretched his hoof out slowly and shook it. "Hello, class. I am Mr. Island Skies and I will be your new Social Studies teacher," said Island. The class got excited and greeted Island enthusiastically and energetically, with a variety of greetings ranging from hoof bumps to jokes. Island was so not used to this. Students at CPA aren't like this, he thought. As the energy level increased, Island became more and more frustrated. Anger began to build up inside of him. "QUIET!" he yelled once he couldn't take it anymore. The class froze with fear and trudged back to their seats. "I'm sorry, but students aren't like this at CPA! They don't get out of their seats when the teacher doesn't excuse them! I am so disappointed that the superintendent sent me to this small-town school where everything is downright rowdy!" "The superintendent sent you here and you... don't want to be here?" asked a student named Minty Drops. "No! Moving is hard for me. I'd rather be at CPA where students are refined and teachers are strict! Why did the superintendent send me here to learn about friendship? Ridiculous. Why?" exclaimed Island with frustration. "Anyway, take out your textbooks and put your homework on my desk now! We are going to be doing a lecture on the history of friendship in Equestria!" The class moaned.