That evening, in the school library, Mystic sat at a table, letting out a yawn. Her day was well spent due to spending time with Starlight.
How could I have relaxed at a spa and still be exhausted at this hour? She thought, lightly chuckling at the irony. She decided to get up from her seat and leave the lounge, but she saw the Young Six all huddled together with homework papers in their claws, or hoof, or whatever.
“What’re you six doing here?” Mystic asked.
“Oh, hello Mystic,” Ocellus said, looking up at her.
“Late night study and homework session,” said Sandbar. “We sometimes stay up too late and sleep in the library.”
“Seriously?”
“Why not? The library’s just the comfiest,” Ocellus giggled.
“Oh! I’ll get more of our drinks,” said Sandbar, getting up and leaving the library.
“And we kinda need to concentrate,” said Smolder.
“Smolder!” Ocellus scolded, causing the dragoness to shoot her a glare. Mystic looked at Yona and she hadn’t said much of anything to her. Not that Mystic wasn’t used to ponies or creatures being uncomfortable around her.
“I also want to... apologize if I said something wrong when we had lunch together before,” said Mystic.
“If?” Smolder asked.
“We accept your apology!” Ocellus spoke up.
“Though, I don’t see what you said,” said Silverstream, “Or was it what I heard?”
Smolder abruptly got up from the floor, followed by Gallus.
“We’re finding hard to concentrate,” said Gallus before he and Smolder flew off.
“Yona getting sleepy,” the young yak frowned.
“Are you okay, Yona?” Ocellus asked.
“Yona fine, just a little upset,” said Yona before she got up and left as well. Silverstream had a downcast expression.
“I was wanting a good time with each other,” Silverstream said sadly.
“You can go if you want,” Ocellus said softly, “I’ll go meet you in our room.”
The hippogriff nodded and left, causing Mystic to feel bad for these creatures again.
“What’s wrong with them?” Mystic asked.
Ocellus shrugged, “I’m honestly not sure. We do hang out and do some of our activities together but it just feels hallow.”
“Hmm,” Mystic said. She thought about investigating it more, but these creatures were obviously more than one being unlike Starlight. Plus, if their bond is so strong, wouldn’t they work it out themselves? She looked at Ocellus, “I hope you can figure things out.” She didn’t know if she believed that.
“Me too,” replied Ocellus.
It had been another wonderful day of teaching for Fluttershy. As she softly walked through the school’s corridors, she was happy the students still enjoyed her classes and teachings about animals. They pushed her uneasiness behind her but the feelings still lingered.
Sometimes I wonder how I even got here, she thought, even though she had reassured herself time and time again of her past accomplishments.
Fluttershy entered the school library and saw it was mostly empty aside from a certain orange unicorn sitting on the central couch surrounded by books and sheets of paper. Mystic looked deep into the book she was reading, reminding Fluttershy of their bookish alicorn friend.
“How am I going to get this down?” Mystic asked herself, “I try with ponies but I can’t seem to be efficient enough in friendship.”
Fluttershy accidentally bumped into a nearby chair, causing Mystic to gasp and look up at her with a surprised expression. Fluttershy meekly shrank back.
“Oh, Fluttershy?” said Mystic.
“S-Sorry,” said Fluttershy, “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It’s fine,” said Mystic. “Say, can I ask you to join me real quick?”
Fluttershy perked up, surprised, “Oh?”
“Yeah,” said Mystic, picking up her materials in a sweep of magic, “I need to ask one of the professors something.” She smirked and winked.
“Oh, uh, sure,” Fluttershy said with a meek grin, hoping she could help, yet she was nervous, reminding her of her early days. She joined Mystic on the couch and saw the unicorn had a frown on her face and her gaze held an annoyed look in it. “Is everything okay?”
“Not really,” Mystic said, leaning back against the couch, “I am just not getting this friendship thing.”
“Oh?” Fluttershy asked, knowing that new students could be frustrated when they first start.
“I mean, I can’t hide it anymore!” Mystic huffed, “I’ve been doing all these activities not only with the Crusaders and the school but I just can’t seem to fit in with all of these ridiculous activities. Some of them are silly and redundant.” She sat up, maintaining her look, “I can study and learn things in my mind because of my travels but when I try everything out, I just can’t seem to get it done right!”
“Goodness,” said Fluttershy, frowning sympathetically at Mystic.
Mystic crossed her forelegs, hugging herself, “I swear, I just feel like I’m plain useless to friendship even with my work into it.”
“Mystic, you are not useless,” said Fluttershy, placing a hoof on the unicorn’s shoulder.
“Sure as crap feels like it,” said Mystic, “I just feel like all my actions don’t really amount to much.”
“Don’t talk like that,” Fluttershy said with a whimper, “You did a lot of stuff for us when you helped us get Starlight back and save Equestria.”
Mystic scoffed, “Just feels like circumstances have led me to do that.”
“Mystic,” said Fluttershy, “You can’t have just knowledge of friendship, you need to live it out in your life. Practice it.”
“I have multiple times today,” said Mystic.
“Friendship just doesn’t happen because of facts, you need to let it happen naturally and what you learned here will work its way in naturally, too,” said Fluttershy.
Mystic let out a “humph” and just sat there.
I don’t know if my advice is working, Fluttershy thought.
“It sounds simple enough on paper, but it takes so much work,” Mystic sighed, her look softening. “Work, studying, and writing I can handle, but this is so not my thing.”
Fluttershy sat there for a little while, thinking over Mystic’s words. “Mystic, when I was beginning my adventures with Twilight and the others, I was nothing but a pony who was scared of her own shadow. Now I have an animal sanctuary because of the journey I took. It just takes time.”
Mystic shook her head, “But I still don’t know what path to take in this thing and I don’t know if I’ll stick with it.”
“Friendship is more than a thing, it’s a world of opportunities and growth,” said Fluttershy.
“I’m just trying to figure this out,” said Mystic, getting up.
“Well, if you need any help, you can always talk to others,” said Fluttershy getting up as well. “If you have made any connections, why not consider how you did so?”
“I’ll try,” said Mystic, “But I need to get to bed and have a fresh mind tomorrow.” She grabbed her stuff with her magic and began to leave the lounge, “Good talk.”
When Mystic left, Fluttershy wasn’t so sure of herself. I don’t know if I was any help there.
The next morning, Twilight stood in her Headmare’s office, but her heart was beginning to thud.
Mystic’s studying has been impressive, Twilight thought, looking at the papers she had graded, all of which had solid A’s on them. But she hasn’t been making friends like she ought to be.
The process she had her in as an appeal to a court case was coming up and she wasn’t going as far as she needed to. Twilight began to inwardly panic, sweating at the thought, and with the school under scrutiny, they need to make sure it and her friends are still able to teach friendship efficiently.
I might need to give her some lessons of my own! Twilight thought, grabbing a huge roll of paper and quill. She sat behind her desk and began scribbling away. Because she needs to keep in line with it and I will make sure she does!
Another day, more lessons to learn, Mystic thought, sitting in the students’ lounge. She didn’t have her books open to study, but her mind was thinking of Applejack’s classes and how she had come back in the face of her question about moral ambiguity.
She answered very... well on that, Mystic thought, and her mind wandered again to Ocellus telling her of how friendship was the most real thing to her. But something in the back of her mind was wondering, how did Cierra and her ways fail? Her memory had been suppressed for most of those events, but was she winning a fight she couldn’t have won?
Feeling a presence behind her, Mystic looked over her shoulder to see a smiling Twilight Sparkle. Almost a little too brightly, causing the unicorn to feel uncomfortable.
“Uh, hi, Headmare?” Mystic awkwardly spoke.
“Hey there my new student!” Twilight chirped. “Well, since you’re just starting, I, Twilight Sparkle, the Headmare of the School, should give you some helpful tips and monitorization!”
“Uhhhh...” Mystic awkwardly looked around. “Why?”
“Why?” Twilight gasped. “Because I want the best for my students!” She smiled again. “And you’re my number one student for the day! I think it’d be great if we both benefited from this!”
“Uh... what?”
“Come on!” Twilight grabbed Mystic with her magic, and before Mystic knew it, she was teleported out of there.
This is ridiculous! Mystic thought as she faced another friendship student that had an awkward look on her face, she'd seen the Headmare act a little crazy but this was on a new level.
“So, let’s try this again,” said Twilight, “The proper way to do a hello, start talking, is to find another one’s common interests and connect over them! Even if they’re hypothetical, try and talk about them.”
“Hi,” said Mystic, “I’m Mystic, and your name is?”
“Soaring Virtue,” said Soaring, “Nice to meet you.”
“Good! Now start talking!” Twilight squeed.
Mystic held back an annoyed grunt, “I’m into traveling and learning about creatures across the world.”
“I like learning about friendship and my part-time weather job,” said Soaring, “Is there any kind of weather you like?”
“Cloudy, a little breezy and cool,” said Mystic. “It just seems serene and relaxing to me.”
“Hey, that’s great,” said Soaring, “I like sunny weather.”
“Yeah, that’s nice too.”
“Try and connect over Mystic’s interests,” Twilight whispered.
Mystic’s left eyelid began to twitch.
The rest of the sections weren't much better.
How am I going to see what friendship is about if she’s always hovering over my shoulder? Mystic thought. She was standing in the middle of the room, looking over many notes Twilight had given her to review and she was expected to memorize them.
“Keep them organized, please!” Twilight said. Mystic just ignored her, “If we can’t get you to learn friendship, the lessons you’ve been learning might go three steps backward.”
“I doubt that,” Mystic muttered.
“Mystic!” Twilight suddenly grasped her shoulders, startling Mystic, “Please take this seriously!”
“Get off me,” Mystic said simply, “You made me drop some of my notes.”
“Shoot! Now to reorganize them!” said Twilight, shooting her a smile that looked a little unhinged to Mystic.
An hour later, Mystic was sitting in Twilight’s classroom as the alicorn wrote various friendship illustrations on the chalkboard.
“You need to find friendship problems whenever there is one and resolve them the best you can,” Twilight went on with a crazed grin. “And the way to making a lot of friends is to just that by showing your examples to them.” She smiled at Mystic, it looking a little natural, “Something you’ll be learning quite often here at the school!”
Does she not know of my talks with Starlight and Ocellus? Mystic thought.
Mystic did her best to keep herself quiet and respectful to “keep in line” with the program but Twilight was going over thoroughly over common courtesies and lessons she had ideas of.
“-and learning to compromise is the most important lesson in swallowing pride and just listening and understanding one another’s sides to better resolve conflicts in that way,” Twilight lectured, her grin turning crazed again.
I’m so over this... Mystic thought as she looked up at the clock and saw it was almost five minutes until noon, almost immediately her stomach growled.
She stood up from her desk.
“As interesting as this is, it’s almost time for lunch!” said Mystic.
“But I haven’t gotten to the final lesson yet!” Twilight protested, part of her mane getting frazzled.
“Gah!” Mystic cried, “Twilight, I know you’re excited but I need to eat.”
Twilight sighed and frowned, “I... you’re right...” She sighed, “I know you need to get some lunch... I guess I did go a little overboard with my lessons.”
“A little?” Mystic retorted, levitating a bunch of sheets of paper Twilight had given her.
Twilight reddened. “Oh, wow.”
“Yeah, a little my flank,” Mystic glared.
“Yeeeaaaah, this would be a good time to have lunch,” Twilight’s blush deepened.
Mystic just got up and left the classroom.
Twilight reappeared in her headmare’s office and sat down in her chair.
“Oh, what is wrong with me?” Twilight muttered, brushing her mane with a comb. She couldn’t believe how much she shoved into Mystic’s face. Monitoring your students as if they’re children? Well, they are, but still... She looked up and saw her empty office. Suddenly, she remembered a smiling Cozy Glow flying to her, eager to help out. The alicorn nearly teared up. That won’t happen again! I won’t let it happen again!
She sighed.
“Oh, I would love to have some of that Starlight wisdom right about now...” said Twilight. She couldn't fail again with Bullion's sons and--
“Hey Twilight!” said Spike.
The doors to her office opened up, revealing the drake and a nervous look on his face.
“What’s wrong, Spike?” Twilight asked.
“Mr. Bullion is here and he wants to talk.”
Just what I needed! Twilight facehoofed.
“Thanks, Pinkie,” said Mystic as the pink mare put the salad in Mystic’s bowl.
“You’re welcome!” Pinkie beamed. Mystic gave her a courteous smirk and left to pick a table in the cafeteria.
What do you know, they want me to sit with them again, Mystic thought. She was getting annoyed yet again, but there were barely any seats left and she saw other students heading in their direction. Without much choice, she decided to sit down with the creatures again.
“I’m telling you, this isn’t a good idea,” she heard the dragoness whisper as she came over.
“She’s coming over,” Silverstream whispered.
“Hey,” said Gallus, “I just wanted to apologize for my behavior last night.”
“Me too,” Smolder muttered.
“All of us weren’t acting right,” said Silverstream.
“Most of us,” said Yona, motioning to Sandbar.
“I accept your apologies,” replied Mystic, cutting herself off before saying any more.
“Learn anything new and exciting?” Ocellus asked, “Are you enjoying the studying?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be as bad if she weren’t hovering over my shoulders trying to teach me specific lessons,” said Mystic before taking a sip of her water.
“Oh, she does tend to get a little guide-y but she’ll ease off soon,” said Sandbar.
“I don’t know... she seemed rather clingy when it comes to me learning,” replied Mystic. “Like today for example.”
“Huh.”
“That is odd,” said Gallus.
What seems odd is how you all extend your friendship to me despite your issues, Mystic thought, feeling a small sense of gratitude for some reason.
“Maybe I have been distant from you all,” she said, “I apologize. I’m just not used to all of this.”
“We understand, Mystic,” said Ocellus. “It must be hard out beyond Equestria, right?”
Mystic nodded. “The world is a lot darker than you would think.”
“Which is why we need to shine our friendship very brightly,” Sandbar smiled.
“So I’ve been hearing,” Mystic smirked, catching something out of the corner of her eye. Looking towards her right, she saw Starry and Lucky had entered. She paused, knowing she had to made sure they got their due.
However, she decided to play dumb and ask the Young Six who they were.
“Who’re those two?” Mystic asked, pointing at the two bullies in line.
“You mean you don’t know?” Ocellus asked with wide eyes.
“I think... vaguely, but I’m not sure,” replied Mystic.
“That’s Starry and Lucky,” said Smolder. “Two colts of a rich pony.”
“Really?” Mystic asked, eyes narrowing at the colts as they began to get their food.
“Yeah, and those two have been causing problems for every student here, and Mr. Bullion seems to be getting to our Headmare,” Ocellus explained.
Mystic cleared her throat, “What about you six?”
The other six glanced at one another. That was all Mystic needed to know. She smirked a little, “Do you know anything they don’t like?”
The Young Six looked confused, but Gallus seemed to be quick to pick up on what Mystic was implying.
“Oooh, I think I know,” he smiled deviously.
Ocellus’ eyes widened, “Oh no, Mystic.”
“Trust me, I know what I’m doing,” replied Mystic, she glanced over at them as they continued eating, “Those two are rats.”
“You got that right,” Smolder agreed for once.
“I mean it, please don’t try!” Ocellus begged.
Mystic ignored her and turned to Gallus, “What do you believe they don’t like?”
“I think they don’t like spicy things,” replied Gallus.
“Perfect.”
When the two colts got up from their seats, Mystic got up from her seat.
“Oh, I think this is going to be sweet,” she heard Gallus say.
Mystic headed over to some condiments for the food and picked up a few packets of hot sauce. Smirking deviously, she saw a water fountain, walked over to it, and cast a bit of magic into it. Mystic glanced around to see nocreature paid her much attention. She saw Starry and Lucky getting some peach cobbler from the serving area. Coming up with a plan fast, she began whistling lightly to herself as she trotted over, grabbing a plate for dessert. When she got close to the colts, she bumped into them.
“Oof!” all three of them grunted. The force knocked both colts down.
“Hey watch it, blank flank!” Starry snarled, picking himself off the floor.
“Apologies, I didn’t see you there,” Mystic lied.
“If you couldn’t see us then you must have really misaligned eyes,” Lucky snarled.
Ignoring that comment, Mystic said, “Hey, both of you got something on your coat.”
“What?!” Starry, “See what happens when you’re not careful?!”
“Hey, I apologized.”
Starry and Lucky both turned away, taking their jackets off to examine them. Mystic made sure nopony was behind the dessert counter and nopony was looking except the Young Six before she opened the packets of hot sauce, poured about an even amount of hot sauce into the peach cobbler poured it in the middle of the cobbler, and levitated a piece of the dessert to keep it hidden.
“Well, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be, but it was still enough to muddy us down to these ponies’ levels,” said Starry as they slipped their coats back on.
“Yeah, they don’t understand us important ponies,” Lucky agreed. He glared at Mystic, “As for you, clumsy one, watch your darn step!”
Mystic glared back, “Maybe I will and you can watch your big bound-to-get-you in trouble attitudes.”
They both scoffed, grabbed their cobbler, and began walking off, both bumping into Mystic on purpose. The unicorn held back a snarl and watched them head back to their table. They sat down separate from the other kids while Mystic smirked and winked at the Young Six. The griffon and dragoness formed devious looks, holding back their chuckles, the others were uncertain, especially Ocellus, as both colts began taking bites of their cobbler.
A few seconds passed before their eyes widened.
Lucky screamed.
“Hot hot hot!” Starry screamed.
Mystic saw all of the students had looked over to see what’s going on, including Pinkie.
“Who put the hot sauce into the cobbler?!” Starry screamed, fanning his tongue.
The two bullies began looking around frantically for ways to cool their mouths off, their cups were empty, but they saw the water fountain. Galloping over, Lucky pushed Starry out of the way as he turned it on.
Only for no water to come out.
Their faces turn red, their tongues burning up. Some of the students begin snickering at their misfortune while Mystic holds back an amused look.
“Give us some water! anything!” Lucky bellowed as he turned the fountain’s knob, but nothing came out. Both scampered, trying to look around for an alternative way of cooling themselves off. Mystic looked over to see Gallus and Smolder were snickering, tears coming to their eyes.
“Some of you losers might’ve done this!” Starry shouted. Mystic just looked away, pretending to finally get her dessert.
The cafeteria’s doors opened, revealing Mr. Bullion and a wide-eyed Twilight.
“What’s going on here?!” Twilight asked.
“Somepony put the hot sauce into the cobbler!” Lucky announced as he and his brother ran to the dessert table.
“What?!” Bullion and Twilight shouted.
Lucky and Starry grabbed a pie and practically threw it into their faces, biting into it. They seemed to calm down as some students snickered while Mystic maintained a mostly neutral look. Mr. Bullion walked over to his sons and pulled out a bottle of water.
Both colts took it without hesitation as Mr. Bullion glared at all of the students, silencing them.
Pinkie hopped over to Twilight.
“Pinkie, what in Equestria happened?” Twilight asked nervously, glancing at Bullion.
“I don’t know,” replied Pinkie, “I’m confused, I thought I removed my desserts with hot sauce.”
Twilight’s eyes widened, “You mean you think it could’ve been that?”
“I don’t know.”
Mr. Bullion finished helping his son and turned back to Twilight.
“I came here to check and see how this trash heap is doing and now I find my sons eating peach cobbler with hot sauce?” he growled.
“I don’t know what happened, Mr. Bullion,” said Twilight, “We don’t know how it could’ve gotten in there.” Twilight glanced at her students, “Unless somepony or creature put in there on purpose.”
“Whoever it was, I demand you’d find them,” said Bullion, looking back at Twilight.
“Right,” said Twilight, she looked at Starry and Lucky, “Both of you, Pinkie’ll give you some fresh peach cobbler if you want it.
“No thanks,” said Lucky, turning his nose up, “My taste buds were ruined by somepony’s carelessness.”
Starry turned his nose up as well before he walked out of the cafeteria.
“I expect much better things,” Bullion said to Twilight.
The alicorn slightly sulked before nodding, “I promise to get things back on track.”
“I doubt that.”
Having seen the whole thing performed by that stallion, Mystic began walking up to Mr. Bullion. She noticed some surprised looks from the nearby students as the stallion began to depart.
“Hey buster,” said Mystic.
Mr. Bullion spun around with an angered expression with his mouth open but he paused when he saw Mystic standing in front of him.
“What do you want? I don’t have time for low lives like you,” he scolded.
“Just as I thought you’d be,” Mystic glared.
“How what?” Bullion demanded.
“Of course, your tiny brain would be confused, suppose I should spell it out for you,” Mystic went on.
“My what’s too tiny?!” Bullion shouted, nostrils flaring.
“Oh, wow, and it’s smaller than what I thought it’d be,” Mystic smirked a bit, “I’ve heard of your attitude around the school. Downright distasteful if you ask me.”
“You little muddy pony! Do you even know who I am?!”
“A big flashy egotistical rich pony that thinks he’s too good for everypony? Yeah, I think I know.”
“What?!”
Mystic glared harder, “Don’t get smart with me, buster. I know you won’t try any physical violence here, and neither will I. But trust me,” she leaned forward, “I know what your kind is like.”
Bullion leaned forward, almost making contact with Mystic. “You better watch yourself, or I’ll have your head.”
“I always watch myself and I know a real threat when I see one. So, unless you have anything else to say to me other than be a jerk-face, I suggest you move along.”
It gave her great satisfaction as this stallion stared, slack-jawed at her. Mystic glanced and saw the students watched with amazement as the two ponies stood their ground.
“A young lady like you shouldn't be acting like this,” Mr. Bullion finally said.
“And your sons are nothing but ransacking angry bullies, you don't have the conduct to deter how young ladies should behave.” Mystic shot back.
Bullion’s nostrils flared as his pupils shrank. He huffed angrily, as Mystic noticed Twilight continued staring in complete shock, sweat pouring down her face. Mystic held her ground and never let her glare drop. Finally, Bullion stomped out of the cafeteria, intentionally making his steps boom down the hall. When he was gone, all of the students clapped and Gallus whistled. Mystic turned and walked back to the Young Six.
“Way to show him!” Smolder said happily.
“I agree!” Gallus inquired.
The other students let out their own agreements while Mystic shrugged.
“Hey, mess with the wrong pony, you’ll get the horn,” Mystic said loud enough for the rest of the students to hear. She lit up her horn as a point. The students cheered even more as Mystic’s smirk grew.
Feeling a tap on her shoulder, she turned to see Spike with a concerned look.
“Twilight wants to see you in her office,” he said.
Mystic rolled her eyes and followed the young drake.
When they arrived at Twilight’s office, Spike opened the door to a pacing and hyperventilating Twilight. Mystic cocked an eyebrow upward at the scene. When Spike closed the door, Twilight snapped her head in their direction, eyes wide and panicked.
“Oh, thank goodness! Spike, have her sit in front of my desk,” she said.
Spike flapped himself forward and motioned Mystic to sit down. The unicorn did so and faced the concerned headmare.
“Mystic, what have you done?!” she practically screamed.
Mystic raised an eyebrow, “I stood up to somepony.”
“And that somepony was Mr. Bullion!” Twilight cried, “He owns businesses all across Equestria and has connections in the government!”
“Oh, is that who that was? Seemed like a big egotistical nopony to me.”
Twilight loudly gasped, “Mystic!”
Mystic shrugged, “What?”
“Didn’t I tell you we had a very delicate business going on with Mr. Bullion?!”
“Eh,” Mystic tapped her forehead with a nonchalant look
“Mystic, please listen,” said Twilight, her look becoming desperate, “Mr. Bullion is...”
“You don’t need a blind eye to know he’s not friendly,” Mystic cut in.
“Lately he’s wormed his way and his sons into the School and has a bit of a grasp around us.” Twilight let out an exhale, “We’ve tried dealing with his sons and get them help, but they didn’t take it and just kept harassing ponies.”
“So?”
“Just before you showed up, Mr. Bullion revealed he knew what his sons were doing and nopony can deter him of any wrongdoing. Without any evidence to support a case against him, the ponies that’re close business partners, congressponies, and the high-class ponies in Canterlot will back him up through Tartarus and back!”
Mystic scoffed, “Sounds like a bunch of self-important brats to me.”
“Mystic!” Twilight scolded, “This is a serious matter! If we can’t save our School from him and keep this place together, the entire thing will be closed! I might be the Princess of Friendship but I have a huge responsibility to keep this building safe.” Twilight rubbed her head.
“What she’s saying, Mystic,” said Spike, “Is that with those ponies having Bullion’s back and the School having these issues, we might have a huge court case against us and the School.”
“And what I wanted to do for the different species beyond our land will be totally trashed!” Twilight cried, “Celestia and Luna want to help but this is bigger than them.” She paused, her lip slightly trembling, the pressure of the whole situation getting to her, “I mean we’re doing our best to pull through, but I’m...” She shook her head, “Oh, what am I saying?! We will pull through this!”
“I... I guess that makes the situation a bit icky,” replied Mystic.
“It’s more than that! It’s everything my friends and I have gotten to on our long road ever since becoming friends. We love this school, the students love the school, we can’t let Mr. Bullion take this away!”
“Aren’t you doing anything about this?”
“Yes, we have somepony looking into the whole thing to see if magic is involved or any other circumstances. But for right now, we have no idea what’s causing this.”
“Could it be Bullion causing this?”
“Mr. Bullion’s an earth pony, how could he pull this off without magic?” Spike asked.
“I like to keep a suspect list,” replied Mystic, looking at him.
“I want to be sure we get all of the facts before we start pointing hooves,” said Twilight, “I told my friends I’m under a lot of pressure with what’s happening lately and it’s wearing me down.” She held her head, “Not to mention giving me a bit of a headache, too.”
“I’ve got some ibuprofen if you need it, Twilight,” said Spike, flapping over to a drawer and pulling out a small bottle of pills.
“Thanks, Spike,” Twilight briefly smiled at him before looking back at Mystic.
“Do you understand what’s going on here?” she asked.
“I do, but you stood up to...” Mystic paused, “That disgusting pony when we chased off the Pride.”
“I told Rainbow this before, Hong wasn’t in a position Bullion is,” said Twilight, “The circumstances were different.”
“I see.” Mystic slightly leaned back in her chair, “Still, I think you need to ‘buck up’ and stand up a bit more for yourself.”
Twilight’s eyes widened as if she’d been slapped, she slightly glared, “Did you not hear what I told you?”
“I heard you, I just think you need to stand up more. There’s nothing wrong with standing up for something you know could help a lot of ponies, especially with a pony of your stature.”
“I agree, Mystic, but this situation is not a cut and dry situation you can trot away easily from,” said Twilight, “I have done my part and my friends are too.” Mystic just sat there, listening to Twilight. “I know you probably did something to Lucky and Starry,” the alicorn added, “Did you prank them with that hot sauce and dried up water fountain?” Mystic snorted, smirking a bit, confirming Twilight’s suspicions. “You did do it!” Twilight pointed at her, “Why?”
“They were asking for it,” Mystic smirked, “Besides, I don’t consider it a ‘prank’ I consider it getting justice.”
Twilight groaned, “You know I’d have you in detention for doing something like that.” She sighed, “However, you’ve only just started, so I’ll give you a warning. Don’t pull off pranks like that in this facility.”
“Whatever. Besides, they harassed me the other day.”
Twilight and Spike exchanged glances with one another.
“Mystic, I’m glad you did some research and wrote some things down,” said Twilight. Mystic scoffed inwardly, “However, I do ask one major thing of you.”
“What?”
“To keep this situation a bit more under control, I’d like for you to apologize to Mr. Bullion and his sons.”
Mystic’s eyes widened, “What? You want me to apologize to those jerks after I stood up to them?”
“It’s just to keep the situation under control.”
Mystic crossed her forelegs and gave a firm look, “No.”
“What?!”
“I said ‘no.’ I won’t apologize to the likes of them if my life depended on it.”
“Mystic, you have to!”
“No.”
Mystic could tell by the look on the alicorn’s face, with her wide furious eyes, she was doing everything she could to keep herself calm. Mystic just sat there, unmoving.
“Mystic, either you apologize to them or I’ll have to give you extra homework, detention, and clean up around the school,” Twilight said firmly.
“Those seem preferable compared to the former.”
“Very well,” Twilight said with a glare, “I’ll have you write a ten-page essay straight from the Friendship Guides, clean some of the school, and extra homework. How does that sound?”
“Fine,” replied Mystic, “But I think you’re making a mistake.” She stood up as Twilight levitated some papers.
“My biggest mistake was letting them in here, now we have this situation,” said Twilight, giving Mystic the sheets. “Go to your next class, Mystic. I’ll have some of my friends see you after school.”
Mystic didn’t reply, except getting up and turning to the door. When she was almost at the door, she stopped.
“I have one thing to say to you,” said Mystic, looking at her. “By my experiences, since you care so much about this school and how it could help everycreature beyond Equestria, then why don’t you buck up and stand up against this stallion and his lackeys? You’ve been through Tartarus recently and on many adventures before.”
“Just go, Mystic!”
Mystic sighed and walked out.
For most of the day, Starlight had been in her office just sitting and waiting for more students to counsel. In front of her was a mint colored pegasus mare with a brown mane, but she hardly paid her mind, letting her gaze slightly gaze to her recently purchased plant she named Phyllis.
“And then I just had to-” the student’s voice reached her ears.
No need to worry about my own problems! Starlight thought as the student continued.
“So, what do you think I should do?” the student asked.
Shoot! Shoot! Shoot! I hadn’t been listening! Starlight thought. She had to improvise.
“Well, I was... thoroughly interested in your problems, but I think you have the ability and knowledge to solve it on your own!” Starlight chirped, smiling brightly.
“Are you sure? It seems rather complica--”
“Yes!” Starlight got up, getting the student up and placing a foreleg around her back, “You’re a smart, capable student. Believe me, I’ve been in plenty of situations like that!” She led the student out of the room and slipped back into her office.
“Guidance Counselor,” said the student, turning around.
“Just remember my advice!” Starlight chirped, “Goodbye! Lunch break!” She closed the door. The unicorn facehoofed, knowing it was way past lunch.
“Great, now I’m running students out of my office for my selfish reasons,” said Starlight, slumping onto her desk. This was the second student she had done that before, but she needed to keep up with her responsibilities.
Yet, she couldn’t help but feel insulted others are coming to her. Her! The one who was broken and selfish.
My advice is needless for them... Starlight thought.
She walked back over to her desk and sat in her chair, her gaze going to a nearby picture hanging on the wall containing her and her friends, only to see a flash of Nightfall’s face. “Everypony will know what you did and tried to do!”
The unicorn lit up her horn to destroy it but immediately cursed herself, stopping herself. When she blinked, the picture was back to normal with all of their smiling faces. When she looked at herself next to Twilight, she recalled the last conversation that became very heated with her former mentor.
“I’m trying to help you, Starlight! Why won’t you talk to me?!” she could hear the alicorn still begging her. All of her friends were concerned but had given her some space, unlike the first week.
She is hurting because of me... Starlight thought. Just like Maud was and I have no doubt that Trixie is too...
But she couldn’t let them in. They needed to get back to their lives just as she’s trying to. But she couldn’t let them help her after all the choices she’d made. Just move on and things will get better.
A few knocks came from behind her door.
“It’s open,” Starlight called, nervous and unenthused. The door cracked open, revealing a sheepish Mystic, much to her surprise.
“Hi Starlight,” said Mystic, walking over.
“Hey,” replied Starlight, Gee, way to greet a new friend. “What’re you up to?”
“I’ve had to do extra studying, homework, and cleaning around the school because I stood up against an evil stallion,” Mystic said in a blunt tone.
“Oh,” said Starlight. “I thought I heard something like that.” Mystic took her seat on the green couch in front of Starlight’s desk. Starlight forced a smile on her face, ready to talk with Mystic about any issues she has been having. “Welcome to my guidance counseling office, my fair student. Can I offer you a throw pillow? A comfort blanket?”
“No thanks,” replied Mystic.
Starlight straightened in her chair, putting her hooves together, “Well, go ahead, Mystic. I am listening.”
“When are we going to learn magic?” Mystic asked.
“I told you when my schedule allows it,” replied Starlight.
Mystic glared. “We talked about this a couple of days ago and we still haven’t done anything.”
Starlight was beginning to feel very annoyed, but she hid it by clearing her throat. “Mystic, I understand that you want to do magic, but I ask you to please just work with me when I feel it’s the best time.”
“You’d better not be putting it off because we both need to get to know each other more,” Mystic spoke in a strained tone.
“As you know, you’re in a guidance counselor’s office, so you probably had a reason other than that. If we’re going to speak, we need to talk about your problems,” Starlight said.
“Aw, gosh, Starlight!” Mystic cried, falling back onto the couch onto her back, “I’ve just been having a hectic time. I mean, I am new here but I just can’t seem to understand friendship, oh woe is me!”
All right, now you’re just being silly, Starlight thought.
“You’re a vigilant and you’ve probably seen some terrible things,” said Starlight. “Twilight wants you to get into full swing at this school.”
“I’m aware.”
“Either we talk about what you really came in here for, or you go back to class.”
“Classes are over,” said Mystic, sitting back up, “Besides, little Starlight.” Starlight lightly tensed when Mystic locked onto her. “I think you might recall where you were. In Oogundaa, and I saved you.”
“So, you feel like I owe you something?”
“Just as a common courtesy,” said Mystic, crossing her forelegs.
“I see,” said Starlight, “But can you look into your sense of morality and think that I’m a little uncomfortable and busy right now?”
“Why so uncomfortable? Do you hate magic?”
Starlight glared hard, “No!” Mystic raised an eyebrow, causing Starlight to curse herself for nearly revealing that detail. “Look, Mystic, I don’t want to argue with you. I’m not in the mood.”
“I could argue if I wanted to, so I’m just wanting to cut to the chase,” said Mystic, looking at her left hoof. Starlight sighed. “Maybe if you won’t teach me magic, maybe we should part ways.”
“No!” Starlight snapped.
“So, you will teach me magic?”
“When I’m ready!”
“You’ve told me that a few times now. And is that twenty moons from now?”
Starlight growled, “Mystic, please just try to consider things from my point of view!”
“You seem to have reclused for over a week,” said Mystic, “I think I might have considered you.” Starlight felt her cheeks flush. “Buuut, I may think about just letting myself be closed off from you when we said we’ll see who would spill first.”
Starlight ran a hoof down her face, getting tired of this. “You’re a real gambler, Mystic.
“And you’re a unicorn who’s stubborn and won’t open up.”
Starlight dryly chuckled. It was true. “I’m craving for a drink, Mystic, would you like some empathy cocoa?”
“I’m not a sweet eater, but thanks anyway,” said Mystic. “Starlight,” she leaned forward in her seat, “I’m not trying to be a bad guy. I care for you.”
“I’ve had a lot of that,” Starlight muttered, “I don’t deserve any of it.”
“I see,” said Mystic, causing Starlight to curse herself again. “Nopony in this world deserves much of what they get, Starlight. But I guess that’s just life’s good blessings, huh?”
“I guess,” replied Starlight, “Some get far too much of it.”
“Probably. But that doesn’t mean you should hold it all in.”
Starlight slumped onto her desk, her head thudding. “I swear this session is killing me, I wonder what kind of stuff lies beyond the grave.”
“I guess you might find out because I think we know I’m not the most open pony either,” Mystic lightly smirked. “I’m a lone wolf and all there is surviving or not.”
Starlight looked up at her, “What if your survival depends on seeking others out for advice?”
“I get my own advice. It’s worked for me, after all, I’ve been through just about anything.”
“Oh ho, you think you’re so smart, huh?” Starlight asked in a low tone.
“I believe so and maybe you’d learn a few things from me.”
Starlight let out a harsh laugh, “Wow.” Both ponies went silent and Starlight knew she wouldn’t get much out of this filly. Mystic sat there with a neutral expression.
Maybe she does care about me, Starlight thought, she was barely anypony she knew, yet she felt as if they had a connection.
“Maybe this was a mistake,” said Mystic, “I probably should’ve just left you alone.”
“Oh, I see,” Starlight frowned.
“Yeah, because ponies deteriorate around me!”
Starlight paused. “What?”
“I think you heard what I said,” replied Mystic, sulking in her chair.
No way... Starlight thought, gaining sympathy for the mare again. Ah! It’s like we’re tangled together!
“Fine!” Starlight shouted, “Tomorrow, Rarity is having you prepare for the Convocation, right?”
“I have to do some work around the village afterward,” replied Mystic.
“All right,” Starlight stood up from behind her desk, and walked over to Mystic, “After all of that, we’re going to do the magic lessons. You have my word.”
Mystic nodded, “You also need to follow through on it.”
“I will,” Starlight assured her.
Both ponies just looked at each other for what felt like a few minutes.
“Do you want some empathy cocoa?” Starlight asked.
“I think I’d like that,” replied Mystic.