The princess exchanged a look with the brown mare she locked eyes with Opaline’s father.
“This is your daughter?”
“Well, yes. But I can be objective.”
“No, I think I understand. You left quite a generous donation and wiggled your way onto the judgment council to help your daughter attend.”
“You have to admit she has potential,” Papa said.
Twilight shook her head. “That wasn’t unicorn magic.”
“But I controlled the fire!” Opaline said, “What else was I supposed to do?”
The brown mare tilted her head. She pet the ursa minor plush in her lap. “You do have potential. But I don’t think this is the school for you.”
Opaline’s ears flattened. “What?”
The Princess stood. She walked up to Opaline. Opaline stared up. She saw the princess’ wings and gulped. They seemed bigger than a cloud up close.
“Opaline, you absorbed dragon fire. I’ve never seen a pony do that. I’m afraid the School for Gifted Unicorns doesn’t have the facilities for that talent.”
Opaline blinked back tears. “No! this is the best school. I’m supposed to get into the best school.”
Princess Twilight lowered her head to the filly’s eye level. “There is no best school, only what school is best for you.”
Opaline ran her foreleg across her eyes. She glared at the ground trying to keep the tears in with her rage.
Twilight stood. She turned to Opaline’s father.
“I can give her a recommendation for the School of Friendship.”
“What? Friendship is for babies!” Opaline said.
Twilight chuckled. "Yet you have a spark of talent for that as well. Bringing gifts for those you wish to think of you fondly is a good first step. And beyond that, it is the only school in Equestria with dragons in the student body.”
Opaline looked at her newly minted cutie mark. “So I can learn more about dragon fire there?”
“You can.”
Opaline kicked the ground. She looked up at Papa. He nodded encouragingly.
“Ok, I’ll go,” she told the Princess.
“And Plasma Burst?” the Princess said.
Papa grimaced. “Yes, Princess?”
The Princess’s tone was gentle. “If you wish to move to Ponyville, the funds will be available.”
“Oh...thank you, Princess.”
“But don’t let this happen again.”
“No, Princess. Of course not.”
Princess Twilight nodded. She nodded toward the exit door. “Go on. We have more candidates before lunch.” She turned to the brown mare. ”Would you fetch Sapphire Star? We have need of a new third judge.”
“But Princess, I can…” Papa started.
“No Plasma, your daughter needs you. Go.” She gestured to the door with one massive wing.
Papa nodded. He picked up Opaline’s bags with his magic and shooed her toward the exit. Opaline flexed her shoulders. She stared at Princess Twilight’s wings until the door closed behind her.
She spun to her dad. “Papa, am I really going to get to meet dragons? Like Spike the Hero?”
“It sounds like it, jewel. We better go tell your mother.”
Opaline put her ears back. “She’s been working on that necklace to pay for my school. But I failed. Is she gonna be mad?”
Papa shook his head. “You still have a school to go to. And you got your cutie mark! We have a Cutseñera to throw!”
Opaline gasped. She grabbed her father and hugged him close. “You’re the best, Papa!”
They rode the train home together. When Papa opened the door, Opaline saw Mama had hung up the necklace on its stand. The silver shone like fire. The light from the window refracted blue light through the sapphire in its center.
“Wow, Mama! It's beautiful!”
“It is Isn’t it?” Pinfire said. She turned to her daughter and husband. She gasped. “Is that a cutie mark?”
“My special talent is fire magic!”
“That’s my girl,” Pinfire said. She pulled her filly and husband into a hug. “Does this mean you made it in?”
“No, they said they don’t have the fasisitees.”
“The facilities,” Papa corrected, “We have a recommendation for the School of Friendship from the Princess herself.”
“That’s great news! Why are your ears down, Plasma?”
Papa shook his head. “I have been given the option to relocate to stay close.” He rubbed his knee with a hoof and wouldn't meet his wife's eyes.
Pinfire’s ears dropped. “My work is here, Plasma. I can’t just leave the Crystal Empire. Where is the school even at?”
“It’s in Ponyville.”
Silence filled the air. Opaline looked back and forth at her parents.
“I swore I’d never go back. You know that.”
“I know darling.” Papa’s ear went flatter.
“What’s wrong Mama? I get to go to the best school for me. I get to learn with dragons!”
Mama stepped back. Her hoof went to her shoulder. She stared blankly at the wall. “By Celestia, I guess you did say your special talent was fire magic.”
Pinfire let out a deep breath. She lowered her hoof and pasted on a grin. “Why don’t you run upstairs and decide on what to wear for your Cutseñera while I talk to Papa.”
“Ok!” Opaline dashed upstairs, eager to leave behind the awkward silence.