Her name was 'Rosa'.
It wasn't pronounced like most people would say it - 'Rose', except with an 'ah' at the end instead of 'eh'. The instructor to whom she was assigned came from a distant country where they spoke another language. She said it was pronounced like 'Rossa' and meant 'Morning Dew'. She liked both versions of the name. One of the older pony maids had said it was a proper pony name, such as they had in their old world.
All Rosa knew about the old world was that it was called 'Equestria' and it was where ponies had lived before they came to Earth. Why they had left was a mystery and the older ponies, those who still remembered Equestria, wouldn't say. They didn't like to talk about it much. Besides, Rosa was sure the humans wouldn't like such things discussed. Since they couldn't or wouldn't tell her any pony history, Rosa had just learned what she could from the human history books instead. History and art and writing and even a bit about computers and maths. Her main class, however, was Profession Training. She had been picked by her instructor, Martha, to become an Assistant Pony. The instructor had said she selected Rosa for it because she had kind eyes and a gentle voice.
Profession Training was where they taught her how to be a good helper.
There were humans out there who weren't doing well. Rosa had been learning all about anxiety attacks and diseases such as Asperger's and Autism. Also, some people were fine in their heads, but had damaged or incomplete bodies. Her job would eventually be to lend them a hoof. She would wash and clean and cook for them. She would be there to comfort them and make sure they were alright.
It was an important responsibility and Rosa was determined to do it well, so she always paid close attention in class. Some of the other fillies and colts in the Pony School would go on to work with machines, or help humans with manual labors. That was what usually happened to earth ponies - the ones without wings or a horn.
Actually, there were no unicorns in that place. They could use magic and the humans said it was too dangerous. Such ponies were sent elsewhere upon birth, to find a different profession, so Rosa was told.
She was special because she was an earth pony, but like Martha said she wouldn't have to work with her hooves. Rosa had Empathy and that allowed her instructor to place her in specialized classes. Sometimes She worried about letting her Person down - whoever it might eventually be - but mostly she was excited that she would get to help some poor human in need.
The face in the mirror stared back amicably as Rosa finished getting her mane in order. It was black, which Martha assured her was very pretty and went well with her purple coat. She also often said what lovely, green eyes Rosa had. The compliment never failed to make the mare smile and wag her tail. Just the memory was enough to make the corners of her mouth twitch up now. Last week Martha had gotten her a simple silver pendant with a bit of opal in the shape of a drop. She had said it was Rosa's birthday.
The pony had been thrilled, but a little sad as well. Every time it was her birthday she asked Martha if she could meet her mother, but the Instructor just looked at her sadly for a moment and said no. Those were the Rules. Ponies were not allowed to know their dams or sires. In fact, most of the time the dams didn't know the stallions with whom they'd conceived their foals. Then, right after birth, the babies were taken and cared for by their human Instructors.
Rosa don't know why it had to be so. She would have liked to see her mother, tell her how much she loved her and give her a big hug to thank her for bringing her into such a nice place. Some ponies on Earth didn't have it nearly as good, Rosa knew. In one of her classes, Mr. Marston, her history teacher, had shown them how ponies were treated around the world and told them how lucky they were to be born in a good country. Elsewhere the ponies were starved and beaten and forced to lug heavy carts and plow fields, or they were made to work at assembly lines. Of course, some of Rosa's classmates would end up doing those jobs, but they would be well cared for, get lots of breaks and wouldn't be overworked. It was paradise compared to some places.
Others, like Rosa herself, would go to needy humans, to help them with everyday lives. Still other ponies, the prettier mares mostly, and the ones with softest, most beautiful coats and manes, would be sold to rich families. They would do light housework and mostly go on pony shows to compete against other beautiful fillies and colts. Rosa was a bit jealous of a few of her classmates, who would end up being caretakers of young children for those humans who were too busy with their work.
She would have liked to work with children.
Martha said there was a slight chance Rosa would be assigned to a disabled child, but that she shouldn't count on it. It would be so wonderful. She knew she could really help a young human, and her heart broke when she read about some of the ailments which afflicted the poor things. She was sure, however, that the humans would assign her where she could do the most good. The Instructors and the people who ran the School were very smart and Rosa trusted them with her future.
She finished her examination in the tiny bathroom she shared with five other young mares her age, then opened a small drawer with her name on it and fetched out a soft brush and a box of powder. Rosa almost giggled when she remembered her first fumbling attempts at makeup, just after Martha had taught her. She had learned a lot since then and now skillfully dabbed just a touch on her muzzle and nose to 'enhance' - as she'd heard one of the older students say. It was important to always look her best. Humans went to such lengths to care for ponies because they were cute, Mr. Marston had said once.
There, nearly perfect. Rosa put the brush back and brought out the perfume bottle. Another gift from Martha, it was rose-scented, but very diluted. Most humans wouldn't sense anything until they were close enough to hug her, but Rosa smelled it and it gave her confidence.
There was a knock on the door and an impatient voice quavered: "Rosa? Can you please finish up, I really have to go!"
Rosa could almost imagine that yellow, scrunched up muzzle of Felicity as she hopped from hoof to hoof, legs nearly crossing with the effort to hold in her pee.
"Yeah! Sorry!"
She hurried up and put her things away, then pulled the door open. The handle was wide and low, easy for a pony to operate with a hoof. Before she could even leave, there was a yellow and gray streak that shouldered Rosa aside and Felicity was suddenly sitting on the toilet. She didn't seem to mind her roommate there, so Rosa knew it must have been pretty urgent. Most of the time she and the girls did their 'business' in private, but it was not uncommon to shower together if time was short. After all, they didn't usually wear clothes so it wasn't indecent, like with humans.
"Why didn't you say before?"
Her friend was looking straight ahead as she let go a mighty stream. It took her a few moments to process Rosa's question. "I was... sleeping," she admitted and blushed a little. "I just woke up."
Rosa almost gasped. It was nearly nine in the morning! By now the ponies were supposed to be up and ready for their classes! Now that her attention has been drawn to it, Rosa saw that Felicity's mane and tail were in tangles and her coat was matted and sticky in places.
She hadn't showered and brushed herself while Rosa was at breakfast like she'd originally surmised!
"You're gonna be so late!"
"I know!" Felicity squeaked, finishing and flushing the toilet. She jumped down, faced her roommate and put her hooves right on her shoulders. "Come on, tell me Rosa - can I skip shower do you think?"
Rosa tried to gauge her state. Maybe she could pull it off. if she brushed the worst parts of her coat and untangled her mane. Some of the teachers couldn't see all that well. "I t-think so. Here, let me help you with your tail. I'll let you borrow my perfume afterwards, but you gotta brush your teeth like right now!"
The filly nodded and reached into her own drawer under the sink. In moments she was busily cleaning her teeth, while Rosa grabbed her hairbrush and started working on her tail.
"The others have left already?"
The other fillies in her room didn't usually get breakfast, choosing instead to sleep thirty minutes longer. That gave Rosa free reign of the bathroom both before, while they were still in beds, and after, once they'd woken up, gotten ready and left. She liked to freshen up after breakfast, so she could look her best for class. Being cute was Rosa's main asset and she couldn't afford to disappoint Martha. She was the one who would have final say over her assignment once Rosa graduated.
"'essh!" Felicity confirmed, then spat out the foam. "Yes!"
"Why didn't they wake you?" Rosa was done with her tail and started on her gray mane with white streaks. Luckily, it wasn't as long as her own, so there was less to untangle.
"I don't know!" the filly wailed. "They're just mean!"
It didn't sound like their roommates. Rosa knew for a fact that Amethyst was a sweetheart, because she had the same instructor as her and was also training to be an assistant pony. The others - especially Maribelle, who was an unofficial leader of their group - wouldn't have just let their friend be late for class. Rosa felt like something was wrong. Yes their friends and her sometimes played tricks on each other, but this went too far.
"I don't think they were being mean..."
It was then she heard the door creak and hooves walk in their dorm room. The bathroom was still open and Valentina came into view, pale and trembling a little. Beside her, Amethyst stood stock still, as if in a daze.
Rosa's stomach shrivelled and the hairbrush clattered on the tiles as she lost her grip.
Something dreadful must have happened!
Felicity and her mane forgotten, Rosa came out and carefully nuzzled Amethyst, who was nearer. "What happened?" She was almost afraid to know the answer. The other filly turned her head to look at her roommates and Rosa noticed her wings were trembling against her barrel.
"It- iiit's- it's Maribelle!" Amethyst managed to choke out.
Rosa's heart nearly stopped. Not sweet, beautiful Maribelle! She didn't think she could stand hearing that something had happened to her. "W-What?! Tell me!"
With a small sigh, Amethyst curled up on the floor, but Valentina had the presence of mind to answer. "S-S-She... Maribelle- s-she got her- her cutie mark!"
Rosa's gasp was echoed by Felicity, who had slowly come out of the bathroom to stand beside her. She unconsciously stepped closer until their flanks touched and Rosa was grateful for her comforting presence.
"God, no!"
It was with great relief that Rosa noticed Martha come into the room and close the door behind her. Her eyes scanned the group of gathered fillies. "Where iz Iskra?" she asked in her thick accent. Rosa shook her head because she don't know, but luckily Valentina did.
"S-She left early to practice her German with Mrs. Ingeburg."
The woman relaxed a little. "Okay, zat is good. Come, help me get her on the bed," she ordered and pointed to Amethyst. Rosa easily lifted her on her back with Felicity's help and took her to the nearest bunk bed. There was no way they could get her up the ladder, though, so they simply deposited her on the bottom mattress.
After a moment Rosa climbed up with her and put a leg around the poor, stricken pony.
"Now girls," Martha said in a calm, authoritative voice, "you probably heard zat Maribelle has gotten her cutie mark, correct?"
There was a chorus of squeaks and nods, all affirmative. Maybe it was easier for Rosa and Felicity because they'd only just heard about it and the shock hadn't yet had time to work through their minds. It was going to be alright, now that Martha was there. The instructor would know what to do.
"There is nothing to be afraid of, do you understand?"
Rosa wanted to believe it.
The official story was that ponies who got their cutie marks while in the School were taken for special training and placed according to their newly-revealed talent.
They were very rare.
It was a little strange, because the older ponies - the ones who had come from Equestria, all had their cutie marks. They didn't want to talk about that either, but Rosa had heard here and there that most ponies used to get a cutie mark when they were around ten years old.
Here on Earth, almost no pony ever got their cutie mark, and if they did, it was way later. Maribelle was seventeen, the oldest in Rosa's group by nearly a year.
Rosa begin to worry that she might also get a cutie mark. The unofficial story, whispered around the dorms, said that ponies who manifested their talent like that were put in a lab and studied for a while, before they were simply killed. It was ridiculous, of course. It was just like the other spooky stories some of the colts across the hall liked to tell each other at night! If cutie marks were so dangerous, why did the humans allow old Equestrian ponies to walk around freely with them in plain view?
True, they were servants, but no one was studying them in a lab and most certainly they hadn't been killed! Then again - Rosa had never, ever heard about any colt of filly who got their cutie mark coming back, ever! It was as if they completely vanished.
"W-What was her- um, Maribelle's cu-cutie mark?"
Martha sighed and reached out with her hand to pat Rosa. "I do not know zat, but I'm sure she will be fine."
The young mare took comfort from her Instructor's words, even while the butterflies were swarming in her stomach. The reality sunk in and her ears dropped. She'd never see Maribelle again. She wouldn't even get a chance to say goodbye! As her tears began to flow, Rosa clung to the feeling of Martha's hand in her mane and her soothing, cooing voice. It was just like with her mother, except it was worse, because she had known Maribelle. She had seen her, talked with her just the previous day as they were preparing for bed.
It wasn't fair! Why did she of all ponies have to get a cutie mark?! As Rosa broke down, so did her friends around her. After Maribelle, Rosa was the oldest and so they would look to her for guidance. It was a burden Rosa absolutely don't want!
"Zere, zere," Martha said soothingly and sat on the bed beside her charges. "I'll speak with ze teachers and excuse you from your classes today, yes?"
Rosa knew it was hopeless, but she had to try anyway. "C-Can we see Maribelle? J-Just to say goodbye? Please, Instructor Martha? Please!"
The woman sighed and pulled Rosa's head against her side with her hand. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, but you know zis is impossible. Ze rules..."
At least, Rosa managed to think before giving in to grief, Felicity wouldn't be late for her class.