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// Chapter 21: Meet The New Foals...Same As The Old Foals! 
// Story: Starlight Glimmer's First Student: A "Human"?! 
// by Clockwork2003 
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I went riding with Starlight for…I don’t know how long. All I know is that Twilight had to turn around because Rebecca was screaming about how high we were flying. I think she’ll stick to the “Trixie Express”. Not a bad choice, if we’re being honest with ourselves. We stayed in the skies for a few more minutes, before coming back to the castle. When we landed, I saw the Mirror Portal acting up, and Starlight immediately went to investigate. A teenage girl popped out of it, by herself, no less!

This all happened in quite a blur, so I am not really paying attention to the finer details. What I do know is that my mother recognized this young girl, and was quite pleased to see her. I assume it’s one of her students from school, but I can’t know for sure. Starlight taps me on the shoulder and wishes to speak with me privately.

“Yeah, Glimmy. What’s up?” I ask my teacher. She smiles at me and nudges me with her muzzle.

“You need to replenish your magic, stud. Remember what I told you a week ago? You need to have a pony rejuvenate the soul connections every seven days. It’s been almost a whole week since we’ve made this novel arrangement. Why don’t you give your mare a hug, and she’ll give you your “superpowers” back?”

I completely forgot that I needed to replenish my magical source every seven days! Starlight spreads her wings, and embraces me, stroking my back with her new winged appendages. As her horn lights up, my hands begin to glow as well. A tiny, but somewhat larger spark than last time erupts from her horn, and it enters my chest. I feel warm and fuzzy, and Starlight does, too! After a good minute of a warm pony hug, the magic calms down, and I feel refreshed! My hands sparkle a bit, and I playfully stroke Starlight’s mane in gratitude.

“Thank you, ‘Miss Starlight’”. I say, using the teacher honorific for the first time in a while. She chuckles and kisses me on the cheek.

“No problem, “my lovely pupil”. Now, let’s find out who this little girl is, and see if she wants to have dinner with us tonight. It’s already 4:45 PM!” Starlight says, giving me her wing to hold as we walk towards Twilight and the new human visitor. I love Starlight’s wings! They are so fluffy! 

We finally make our way to this new student, and I see that my sister is busy asking her questions, with Trixie writing everything down magically. I wonder if I need to introduce myself, but Starlight gives me a look, telling me I should wait for a while longer. Starlight takes the lead, and once Twilight, my sister, and Trixie are done with her.

She looks at the young girl and sees that she is both excited and nervous. Lending out her hoof in affection, she waits to see what the youngster will do.

“Hello, young one. I’m Princess Starlight Glimmer. What’s your name?” She asks the young girl. She looks at my marefriend carefully, and giggles.

“Um, hello? Am, am I allowed to ask you a question?” The young girl asks Starlight. She nods her head and sits down on her haunches, eager to hear what the youngster has to say for herself.

“Of course, you can ask me anything!” Starlight warmly replies, putting the teenager at ease. The young girl takes a deep breath and begins her query.

“I, I don’t know how exactly I got here! I saw the telecast you sent to Earth on my TV, and I was watching it with my mom. She Googled how to apply, and I just vanished!” She says, a bit concerned that her family doesn’t know where she is.

“Wait right here, uh, what’s your name?” Starlight asks the youngster.

“Anastasia, Princess.” She replies.

“Ok, wait right here, Anastasia. I am going to ask my teacher what to do. I am new at this Princess job, so I need a little bit of help! It’s always okay to ask for help when you don’t know what to do!” 

That reply made Anastasia feel better about her uncertainty, and she waited here with me, while Starlight went over to the Princess of Friendship. Twilight was busy talking to Trixie about Anastasia’s abrupt arrival, and what could be done about it. 

“Hey, Starlight. What’s up?” Twilight says, quite happy to see her pupil. Starlight smiles and asks her a question.

“Did you and/or Trixie figure out how Anastasia got here? If the human doesn’t know how she came here, then we have a problem! What will the human governments say when a child goes missing?! They could think it was an act of war, or worse!” My marefriend says, quite alarmed by this. She does bring up a very good point. If there isn’t an explanation for how the girl came here, then this program could be dead on arrival!

Twilight’s horn lights up, and she thinks about what could possibly have happened. Trixie (and my sister) interrupts her, gently tapping the Princess’s wings with her front hoof.

“Trixie knows what happened, at least, she thinks she does! The Cutie Map brought her here on its own! Didn’t you say that it has a mind of it’s own sometimes?” 

Twilight and Starlight both gasp, realizing that Trixie might be right.

“Oh, sweet Celestia. I’m screwed!” Twilight says as the mulberry color drains from her face in shock and horror. Why is she screwed? What am I missing here, exactly? How exactly can the Cutie Map bring people here on its own? If it could do that, then why didn’t it do that with me? I was the first human here, right?

“NOAH! GET YOUR CUTE SELF OVER HERE! BRING THE GIRL, TOO!” Starlight shrieks. Anastasia and I both get up, and we quickly run over to the Princess of Justice. I’m more eager to help, but she just wants to know what’s going on. Twilight casts a spell on Anastasia, painlessly scanning her body from head to toe. She shrieks in horror, but Twilight shushes her, trying to calm her down.

“What are you doing?!” Anastasia cries, terrified by the purple magical aura around her. Twilight finishes casting her spell and tries to calm the girl down. “I just wanted to cast a spell to see your energy levels. If the Cutie Map brought you here on it’s own, you’d have residual Harmony particles on you, and it turns out that you do!” Twilight says, quickly spawning her notepad and scribbling down her new findings.

Starlight is also quite interested in what just happened, but Twilight looks at her and gives her a signal not to intervene. I remembered that my mom came here with Lyra and Bon Bon, and I am trying to figure out where exactly they went. I don’t need to think too hard, because Lyra trots into the room, trying to figure out what’s going on.

“Hey, did I miss anything important?” Lyra asks me. I shrug my shoulders, unsure of how to respond.

“Well, it seems from preliminary data that Anastasia just appeared here because the Cutie Map summoned her. Twilight needs to do some more research to find out what exactly happened.” I reply, Starlight quickly changing her focus to the lime green unicorn mare’s arrival. Starlight waves at Lyra, and Lyra waves back.

“How’ve you been, Princess? We haven’t seen each other since we had lunch!” Lyra asks, and Starlight smiles.

“The week’s been hectic, to say the least. I got wings, found a rider, and I’m working on opening a new school!” Starlight quickly replies. Lyra nods in understanding, before turning her attention to the new human visitor to Equestria.

“Hello there! I’m Lyra Heartstrings!” She says, putting out her green hoof to shake the girl’s hand. She shakes “hands” with Lyra, and smiles.

“I’m Anastasia. Nice to meet you. I have a question for you. Why do you, Princess Twilight, Trixie, and Princess Starlight all have pictures on your butts?”

The rather blunt question from Anastasia sent all the ponies in the room into a fit of laughter. Maybe it was the timing of the question, or the query itself, but I haven’t seen Twilight laugh like that ever! Trixie uses magic to place my sister off her back, returning her to solid ground. She then zaps her riding equipment away. Maybe she needs her back to herself to answer this question!

Trixie trots over to Anastasia and sits down on the floor next to her.

“Trixie likes your inquisitive nature, youngster! What do you see on Trixie’s flank?” The showpony asks her. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Anastasia peeks at the unicorn’s Cutie Mark and replies.

“A crescent moon and a wand. Why?” She asks. Trixie smiles and pats Anastasia on the head with her front hoof.

“Trixie has this Cutie Mark, because she is quite adept with magic! In fact, she’s a traveling showpony who makes others smile. Isn’t that fun?” Trixie asks, before quickly realizing she can entertain this new girl while we’re waiting for results! Quickly taking off her conical magician’s hat, Trixie pulls out a deck of cards.

“Would you like to see some magic tricks while we wait for Princess Twilight?” Trixie asks Anastasia. She nods her head, and the two of them start their mini performance! I wonder what’s running through Starlight’s head right now, while we’re waiting?

***

An early human student?! This is nuts! I don’t know what to do, and I am totally unprepared for this. I have my Friendship program all planned out for Noah, but I am utterly lost and confused right now! Trixie is busy playing cards with Anastasia, so my Chief of Staff is unavailable at the moment. Twilight Sparkle is combing through all of the data, so that leaves Lyra and Bon Bon as the only ponies I could talk to at the moment. 

Actually, I have a better idea. I make my way over towards my student, and I tap him on the shoulder.

“Hey. I wanna chat with you for a bit. Fill me in!” I ask him, as he gets up from his seat at the Cutie Map table, and walks closer to me.

“You are a smart mare, Starlight. Do you have any idea how Anastasia got here? I am not sure! Didn’t you have to come and pick me up? What makes her different?” He asks, wanting to learn more about this piece of Equestrian magical technology.

“I don’t know for sure, but I overheard Twilight say something about Harmony particles. It doesn’t matter that much, anyway. She usually figures things out quickly! In the meantime, I was wondering how you’re holding up? This week must have been a lot to take in, and I understand if you’re overwhelmed.”

I want to be helpful, and I don’t want my lovely rider to be worried about anything beyond his control. Perhaps checking in on him will help? Only time will tell! He looks at me and sighs with relief.

“I’m just glad my whole family is in on this new pony stuff. I missed my sister and mother dearly, and you and Twilight found a way to bring them both here, even it was just for a visit.” He says, giving me a warm embrace. I think fusing souls with Noah really improved his empathy! I return the hug, but I nudge Noah to pay attention! Twilight is waving her hoof asking for us to come closer! Noah and I make our way towards my teacher, and we await further instructions.

“So, I think I’ve figured out why this “Anastasia” came here early,” Twilight says, quickly pulling out a book with magic, and opening it. She flips through the pages, before landing on the one she wanted. Noah and I both peek at the page, and I quickly realize why Anastasia came early.

She has zero Friendship, not just a dangerous amount. The Cutie Map acted on its own to save her life! 

“Noah, you realize what just happened, right? The Cutie Map saved this girl’s life! If she has zero Friendship, she could have taken her own life! Not even her own family gives her the Friendship that she deserves! Poor, poor girl…” I say, trying not to cry. I don’t think this is information that we should share with her just yet, as this could make an already tumultuous situation worse.

Twilight must have realized this damning situation as well because she’s appalled that anycreature could be left in a state of zero Friendship.

“H…how horrible are somehumans! Letting a poor little girl with issues wallow in her own shame! What about Mrs. Weiss, Noah? Didn’t your mom show her Friendship?” Twilight asks my rider. He takes a minute to think about the question, and then he replies, quite bluntly.

“Mom doesn’t talk about work at home, so I really don’t know. My guess is that this girl closed herself off from the world, and wasn’t willing to receive any Friendship. I remember reading in your textbook that Friendship has to be reciprocal, no?” Noah asks, cleverly remembering a key aspect of his studies. Twilight nods, signaling that this is most likely the case.

“She probably did close herself off. I think this is a job for Fluttershy. I don’t feel qualified to deal with her, because I could accidentally make this situation worse.” Twilight says, opening a window of her castle, and flying outside; presumably to find Fluttershy. This is really, really bad!

I trot over to Trixie, who just finishes doing her short card-reading routine with the girl, and I light up my horn, grabbing Trixie’s attention.

“What is it, Glimmy? Trixie serves at the pleasure!” The showpony says, clearly eager to prove her worth.

“I want you to write a statement regarding Anastasia’s arrival for broadcast to the human world, Explain that she got here because of Harmony Deficiency. I assume you know what this is?” I ask my Chief of Staff. She nods, quickly grabs her notepad, and begins scribbling down a draft address. Anastasia looks at me with confusion and seems distraught.

“What’s a Harmony Deficiency, Miss Starlight?” The girl asks me. I take a minute, unsure how to properly explain this to a thirteen-year-old, but I came up with something reasonable.

“It’s something technical about the Cutie Map, sweetheart. It’s nothing to be worried about. I promise.” I say, lying through my teeth. I have to deceive her, or something horrible could happen! I don’t want blood on my hooves. Noah looks at me and realizes that I lied, but he keeps his mouth shut and doesn’t reveal the truth. 

Bon Bon and Mrs. Weiss are still chatting about teaching, so Lyra trots over to the young girl, and lights up her horn, bringing her harp to the castle.

“Do you like music, human girl?” Lyra asks Anastasia. The child’s eyes light up with joy, and she nods vigorously. “Yes, I do, uh, what’s your name again?” She asks, forgetting Lyra’s name.

“Lyra Heartstrings, Anastasia, but you can call me Lyra. I play the harp. Do you want to try it out for yourself?” The unicorn asks her. Lyra sits on her hind legs, and invites the girl to sit in between her legs, so she can access the harp. Anastasia slowly but surely makes her way next to Lyra, and she touches the strings of the harp. She plucks one, and it makes a funny noise! Lyra laughs.

“Yeah, you got it, that was a C note. Want to see something cool?” Lyra asks, looking at the human underneath her. Anastasia nods, and Lyra’s horn lights up. A perfect C scale is played majestically, both up and down the scale. Anastasia is impressed and claps her hands.

“That was pretty good. I’ve always loved music, Miss Lyra!” Anastasia says, clearly pleased with herself. She carefully plucks the string again, before plucking another one, and then another one. No magic was used at all. It’s all her fingers! I could have sworn that she began to play a melody, and Lyra looked at the human dumbfounded.

“Uh…Anastasia. Did you just play a melody? Have, have you ever played the harp before?” Lyra asks, in complete and total shock. Anastasia shakes her head, that she hasn’t.

“Nope. I just sort of saw the music in front of me, and I played the notes accordingly. It happens sometimes when I listen to a song, and then I can sing it on key!” Anastasia says, with directness.

Lyra’s muzzle drops in shock, and she tries to process the information we all just heard. Even Twilight got up from her studies about the Mirror Portal to see what just happened.

“Do you have synesthesia, Anastasia?” Noah asks the girl. She doesn’t know what that is, because she didn’t answer the question. 

“Can I have a turn with the harp, Lyra? I want to prove a point.” Noah asks. Lyra nods her head, and he uses his magic to slowly but surely bring the harp closer to him. Anastasia was shocked that my rider can use magic, and her mouth opened in awe.

“WOAH! You can do that?” She says, as Noah simply nods his head that yes, he can use magic. Sitting down, Noah begins to play a song on the harp, without any sheet music! Lyra is dumbfounded before she musters up the courage to ask what’s going on.

“HOW CAN TWO HUMANS PLAY THE HARP SO WELL?!” Lyra says, shocked, impressed, and envious. “It took me YEARS to learn how to play.” She continues.

“Well, I have an unfair advantage, Lyra. I’ve been playing musical instruments since I could walk, but I prefer the piano. I have the same thing that Anastasia has. I see the music that’s in front of me, and it makes it easier for me to play!” He says, trying to explain this concept to the bedazzled child in front of us.

Music is a huge turn-on for me! I love it, and knowing my rider can play musical instruments makes me love him even more!

“I…I want to pick this human as my pet!” Lyra asks Twilight, clearly eager to spend more time with Anastasia.

“Well, she is going to need somewhere to live, and Noah’s mom is her teacher, and she’s already friends with Bon Bon. I don’t see why not.” Twilight says, making Lyra smile. 

“THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Lyra exclaims, quickly casting “Want It, Need It” to bring herself some riding equipment. Her horn lights up again, and the harp disappears.

“Come with me, kid. I want to try this riding thing, and I need to teach you music professionally!” Lyra says with urgency. Anastasia doesn’t know how to use any of the tools that Lyra conjured, so Noah goes up to the lime mare and bridles her for Anastasia.

“Ish…a..weird…thing…in…my…mouth…” Lyra mumbles, not liking the bit in her mouth. It’s weird at first, but I got used to it. Lyra then equips her saddle quite easily, before levitating Anastasia into the air, plopping the girl onto her back.

“I’ve never done this before, so don’t panic, okay?” Lyra asks, now speaking normally after fixing her bit. Anastasia nods, and Lyra smiles.

“Have fun, you two!” Bon Bon pipes in, noticing her marefriend leaving. Lyra waves and she quickly canters off back towards her home, riding towards the staircase that leads to the castle exit.

I summon my own riding gear, and Noah wonders what’s going on.

“Where are we heading now, Starlight?” Noah asks me, climbing aboard but unsure of where to go.

“My apartment. I’m starving, and we still have leftover pizza in the fridge.” I say. Trixie and Rebecca have already left, doing Celestia knows what, so it’s just me, Noah, Twilight, Bon Bon, and Mrs. Weiss.

“We’re going to have a late lunch, Twilight. I’ll be back shortly!” I say, quickly launching myself out the window, en route to my apartment.

 It only took a few short minutes for us to ride from Twilight’s castle to my apartment, and I was a bit lazy with my landing. Nocreature got hurt, but it could have gone more smoothly. Once we’re all inside and my gear is removed, I make a slight detour from the kitchen into my bedroom. Noah curiously follows me, and he’s confused.

“Do you even know what time it is, Starlight?” Noah asks me, as I quickly check my clock.

“5:15 PM. We’ll have pizza later, but I want snuggles first!” I coo, quickly flopping onto my mattress. Noah chuckles and wonders what’s gotten into me. I’m allowed to want cuddles, am I not?

“Just cuddles? He says dryly.”

“Yeah, we’ll train you for riding later. I want to feel your warmth and you probably want to pet me!” I say with a hint of lust. Noah is always in the mood to pet me. I am so soft and cuddly! He makes his way into my bed, and unlike previous times, he goes behind me and snuggles from my back. How mischievous! Usually, I’m the big spoon, befitting my divine nature. I’ll let it slide, at least, this time!

“So…soft…Glimmy…” He says, clearly out of the world of reality, burying his body into my wings.

He’s a cute one! I didn’t expect him to be a music prodigy, but there’s always more to learn. Supper is at 7:00 PM sharp, so I’ll be sure to stay awake during this cuddle session!

Noah, you’re my rider, and I love you.