//------------------------------//
// #15 - A Whirlwind of Emotions 
// Story: The "Season 11" Project! -- Camp Harmony! (And What Is Patriotism?) 
// by starponys87 
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Section #1:

Sandbar and Sweetie Belle brought Whirlwind into the Headmare's office. With her horn, Sweetie continued to hold Whirlwind by the hoof -- until Sandbar shut the door.

"Good afternoon, Sandbar and Sweetie Belle!" greeted Starlight Glimmer. "What brings you here?"

On the desk, Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst were playing a game of Ogres & Oubliettes.

"Take a guess," said Sweetie.

Starlight looked down and noticed Whirlwind.

"Having trouble with one of the new students?" asked Starlight.

"Whirlwind made fun of Winger, our student from Ornithia," explained Sandbar. "You see, Winger was crying because he missed his father. He was crying so loud it disturbed the other students. Whirlwind was making fun of him -- telling him he would get expelled and that his parents would stop caring about him."

Starlight and Sunburst gasped. Starlight was in the middle of rolling two dice. In her surprise, she accidentally rolled them off the table and onto the floor.

Deep inside, Starlight was fuming with anger. But she took a few deep breaths and calmed down.

"Whirlwind," asked Starlight, "was there ever someone you loved? One you thought you couldn't live without?"

Whirlwind stood for a moment. Then she laughed.

"You have to be kidding me," she remarked. "I'm not some fragile and sensitive little boy."

"It gets worse," continued Sweetie Belle. "When Professor Pinkie Pie was playing with the other five students, she pounced on them. And they weren't expecting that. For a moment, we were worried she might have hurt them. Whirlwind made fun of Pinkie and said she might start a war. We were all getting angry. Gallus scolded Whirlwind and told her 'shut up'."

"Oh, dear," said Starlight. "One of our teachers said a bad word?"

"He was as mortified as us," said Sandbar.

"If a student is bad enough to make a good teacher say a bad word," remarked Sunburst, "then that sounds like a really bad student."

Whirlwind laughed again. "You got to admit, it was good situational comedy ... right?"

"Whirlwind," said Starlight sternly, "it seems you know much less about friendship than I first thought. You will need to take some remedial courses."

Whirlwind laughed nervously now. "You mean ... more homework?"

"I don't want you to sit in a desk reading books and writing papers," said Starlight. "I want you to get up and do the things friends do. You can start by doing some favors for Professor Gallus."

"Right," said Sunburst. "Yesterday, Gallus burned down the kitchen when he tried to make deep-fried hayburgers. Every day now, he has to help clean up the mess and rebuild the kitchen."

"And he could use some help," added Starlight.

Whirlwind smiled nervously, scratching the floor with her front hoof. "S-S-Sentencing a child ... to hard labor? ... You ... you don't want to start a diplomatic disaster, do you ...?"

"I'm sure Zecora will understand," retorted Sweetie. "We've been friends for a long time!"

Whirlwind gulped, not feeling so happy now. "I'm ... I'm not much for heavy lifting, you know. ... And ... I think there must be some law against child labor ..."

"Those laws are meant to keep adults from taking advantage of children," explained Sunburst. "It does not stop children from earning extra money, or supporting the family business. Nor does it stop them from helping those who could use an extra hoof."

"It's not going to hurt you," said Starlight.

"Apple Bloom does heavy lifting all the time on her family farm," said Sweetie. "And she feels proud of what she does. Not to mention -- you're Dust Devil's cousin. You must have a lot more power in that horn than you think!"

"Fine, fine," said Whirlwind. She sat down and crossed her arms. "I guess I don't have much better to do anyway. Let's just get it over with."


Section #2:

Starlight teleported herself, Sunburst, and Whirlwind into the burned-down kitchen.

With a sledgehammer, Gallus was busy breaking up burnt-up cabinets and walls.

Gallus muttered, "I can't believe I'm spending my days cleaning up this great big mess -- when I could be having fun with my friends! I never want to see another kitchen in my life!"

Whirlwind giggled. "Hey, Professor Birb! Look who's here to help you!"

Gallus turned around. Horrified by the sight of Whirlwind, he dropped the sledgehammer.

"Oh, no!" he said. "Not that little brat again!"

Gallus gasped. "Did I say a bad word again?"

Whirlwind giggled once more.

"Gallus," said Starlight, "I understand that you're trying to mend your manners. You're going to make a few mistakes, and I accept that. Raising children is one of the greatest tests of character."

"Starlight brought me here so that I could help you out," said Whirlwind. "But ... if you'd rather me not be here, I guess that makes things easier for me!"

Starlight gave Whirlwind a dirty look. So did Sunburst.

"Whirlwind," said Sunburst, calmly but firmly. "I don't care if you want to help him or not. You're going to do it. Or you will be in real trouble with Zecora!"

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie burst out of one of the burnt-up cabinets (causing the burnt doors to crumble in the process). Gallus yelped. Starlight jumped with surprise, but Whirlwind wasn't really startled at all.

With a big smile, Pinkie shouted, "I hear that a certain blue gryphon misses his friends. So I brought them to you!"

One by one, the rest of the Student 6 jumped out of the cabinet.

"Don't worry, Gallus!" said Sandbar, carrying a box of tools with his mouth. "We'll have a new kitchen by the end of the day!"

"Yona smash burnt-up kitchen!" Yona jumped on the kitchen island and smashed half of it.

"And I'll vaporize those ashes!" added Smolder. She took in a deep breath. "On second thought, I probably shouldn't add fire to the fire."

"I could try turning into Discord," suggested Ocellus. "Maybe I could copy some of his reality-bending powers?"

"It's all good, my favorite birb!" declared Silverstream. Hovering in the air, she was carrying a chainsaw and a paint bucket. "After the Storm King destroyed my kingdom, we rebuilt it in less than a week! It's like nothing ever happened!"

Gallus was bewildered. "Wait -- wait ... How did she do that? Can earth ponies teleport?"

"It's Pinkie Pie," replied Starlight. "She works in mysterious ways."

"Hey, Whirlwind!" greeted Smolder, approaching the little abada. "Would you like to break some stuff with me?"

Ocellus also approached Whirlwind. "I-I don't normally break stuff ... but it's destruction for a good cause. Smolder and I are going to have lots of fun! Would you like to join?"

Whirlwind sat on the floor. She crossed her arms and pouted. Then she started to smile. She got back up.

"Yeah!" remarked Whirlwind. "Why not? Friends who love to break things are my kind of friends!"

With a karate kick, Smolder smashed a large chunk of the burnt kitchen counter. Ocellus turned into her dragon persona. With her tailspade, she smashed out another large chunk.

"Show me what you got, Whirlwind!" cheered Smolder.

"Yeah, Whirlwind!" cheered Ocellus. "I think there's a lot of power in your horn -- if you just believe in yourself."

Starlight waved to Whirlwind. "See you later, Whirlwind! Maybe there's something you can teach me!"

"Friendship isn't just about love and hugs," added Sunburst. "It's a science! The more we learn from one another, the more we see the value in one another!"

"All we want is to see the value in you!" said Starlight. "Then maybe you will see the value in us."

Whirlwind felt kind of touched, but she wasn't sure if she liked these new feelings. She blushed a little but tried to maintain a normal smile.

"See you later, Headmare," said Whirlwind. "I think Professors Smolder and Ocellus might make some good partners in crime!"

Starlight laughed a little nervously. "They certainly seem to love each other's company. Well ... I have to go now. Sunburst and I have some serious business to do!"

Starlight teleported herself and Sunburst out of the scene.

"Go on, Whirlwind!" cheered Ocellus. "Let's see what you can do!"

"Yeah!" cheered Smolder. "Can you blow up this refrigerator?" She pointed to the burnt refrigerator.

With a mischievous grin, Whirlwind laughed mischievously. Facing the refrigerator, she closed her eyes and concentrated.

Slowly, her horn started to glow -- both her big horn and her nose horn. Finally, it was glowing like a torch.

With a big grunt, Whirlwind let out a big burst of power. She blew off both doors of the refrigerator!

It wasn't a massive explosion. Mainly, the doors just got disconnected, falling down a few inches away. But still, she might be able to send a full-grown pony to the hospital.

Smolder and Ocellus stared with amazement.

"That was amazing!" praised Smolder. She picked up Whirlwind and gave the little abada a big hug.

"I love it!" exclaimed Ocellus. Turning back into her normal self, she also hugged Whirlwind (which doubled as a hug for Smolder).

Whirlwind blushed warmly. Then smiled a little smugly.

"This friendship stuff might not be so bad," said Whirlwind to herself. "I think I like being popular -- and having other creatures praise me and doing me favors. Maybe I should ask Rarity for some more tips ..."