For anypony who knew Twilight Sparkle, a few things that normally would be considered "strange", sometimes were not very strange. She could stare down the demigod of Chaos, but the moment she saw a ladybug, she'd run away spooked. She could recite every book in the Canterlot library forwards and backwards, but one late friendship report was all it took for a whole village to become a madhouse.
Everypony in Ponyville could attest to that fact: strange things were not always so strange when Twilight was involved.
However, there was another fact that was not quite as well known: seeing Twilight Sparkle do things that most ponies considered normal might, in fact, be highly abnormal behavior that warranted the closest scrutiny.
Starlight Glimmer however, did know that. Which was why she raised her eyebrows when she came into the headmare's office of the Friendship School. Behind the desk sat Twilight Sparkle, as per usual. But there were no stacks of paper on the desk. No scrolls floating in her magic, and not even an inkhorn.
However there was a small pegasus pony sitting obediently on a plush pillow in front of her. Cozy Glow, the filly who had once deliberately failed her exam to assist the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Starlight didn't know why she was here. Was she in trouble? Was that why Twilight had asked her, as guidance counselor, here?
"Hi, Starlight! Thanks for coming so soon," Twilight said with a kind, upbeat sort of voice. It didn't sound like Cozy was in trouble…
"Oh, it's nothing. I didn't have much to do."
"But I did!" Cozy piped up, raising her hoof for emphasis. "I was reading up for the seminar on Applied Generosity for Rarity's class next week."
"It's good that you are working hard, Cozy, but there is something I want to ask the both of you," Twilight said patiently. She turned to Starlight. "You remember when you and Discord had to supervise the school when me and my friends were called away on a friendship quest?"
Starlight shuddered. She absolutely remembered, despite repeated, increasingly drastic measures (and volumes of cider) not to.
"Not again, right?" Cozy asked cautiously. She coughed. "Uh… actually, I think I'm maybe starting to get sick… so I'll have to be away… resting… and stuff."
"Well…" Twilight said sheepishly and emerged from behind her desk. Her cutie mark was glowing in that telltale way that signaled she had, indeed, been called away again. "It's… for my friends too. But don't worry; I checked with Discord! He's going away with Spike and Big Mac to an Ogres & Oubliettes convention in Las Pegasus! So you two won't have to work together again."
Starlight knew that she was supposed to be Discord's friend, and thus she was supposed to feel sad about this. Still, the room suddenly seemed a lot brighter and the whole day felt a lot better. Almost like a looming threat of an impending disaster had suddenly vanished. "Oh. Well, say no more! I'll gladly watch the school while you're gone! And even without Spike, I'm sure I can manage. I'm sure Trixie, Maud and Spitfire will help out as substitute teachers again."
Twilight nodded. "I'm sure you've got it under control. However…" She turned to Cozy. "You have been a model student for the school and from what I see in my classes, many student's look up to you, Cozy."
Cozy smiled brightly and pushed her chest forward.
"As such, I decided to run a small experiment: I want you to work together with Starlight Glimmer when my friends and I are gone! I want to bring the student perspective into the school system a bit more, and having the students themselves say what they think would be a great way to do it!"
"Oh… golly, headmare, I'm honored," Cozy chirped, her eyes sparkling with pride. "And I'm sure I can be a great help, both to you, and the school and the students and… well, everypony!"
"Then it's decided," Twilight said and clapped her hooves together. "Starlight Glimmer, I once again name you the acting headmare of the school while I'm gone. Cozy Glow, I name you… student council president, at first while I'm gone but if you like it, and the students are happy about it, I could see your tenure being extended."
"This will be the start of something great, I'm sure!" Cozy chirped.
"I think so too," Twilight said with finality. "Well, me and my friends will be leaving tomorrow. Will the two of you be able to find substitute teachers on your own? I have prepared all the lesson plans, so it won't be a difficult job at all."
"I already have some ponies in mind," Starlight said.
"I can help too!" Cozy hurried to say. That was surprising. Just who did Cozy know who could be a teacher with just a day's notice? Then again, it was a good thing she did. Trixie, Maud Pie and Spitfire were probably a little apprehensive after last time she asked them, and some extra teachers alongside those three would make things easier.
"Then I'll leave you to it," Twilight said. "Good luck, and have fun!"
Starlight nodded. "Bye for now then." She and Cozy both left the office.
"Right… okay," Cozy said and tapped her small hooves together. "I'll go track down my substitute teachers and ask them here tomorrow morning, so you can see if you like them. And then I'll make the rounds to the dorm rooms to inform everycreature about this, and…" she put a hoof under her chin. "Uhm… what more should I do, Headmare Starlight?"
"That sounds like more than enough," Starlight said. "I'll notify some old friends and review the classes Twilight wants us to cover… I think that will be plenty for today! Say we meet up tomorrow morning an hour before school, and I'll introduce your substitute teachers to the work. Also, before the first lesson, I will address the school about your position too. Just to clarify for everypony that you have both mine and Twilight's full trust."
"Good golly, you're the best!" Cozy all but crooned in satisfaction. Starlight patted her on the head. Cozy was a little bit weird, but she definitely was an ambitious, talented student.
"Then… we'll see each other tomorrow." Starlight smiled as she looked down on the small pegasus.
"And how! I promise it'll be… unforgettable..."
It was strange, but somehow when she said that, Cozy's face seemed to split into a rictus grin for a fraction of a second.
Oh well… it was probably nothing.