//------------------------------//
// Welcome to the Academy 
// Story: The Academy Days 
// by Opalina Cecile 
//------------------------------//

*Patricia*

“Yo Trix, here’s the lay down… I’m a 3rd year. You’re a 1st year. So… don’t talk to me,” my brother Stellan Mage told me. I rolled my eyes. My doofus brother claims he’s ‘all that’ and Pixy and I would always laugh about him. We were planning on proving his extravagant tall tales false, but Trixie and Pixy have been separated. I got into the academy. Pixy Fierceheart did not. 
“Sure, whatever.” I trotted along as he slipped into the 3rd-years hall. The halls were quiet, Stellan and I had come at the middle of night, and the doors had just opened. We were probably the only ponies there. I found the sign that read ‘1st-years hall’. I walked on in.
“Hello, you must be the first one in. I’ve just barely set up,” said the mare at the front desk. Her monotonous tone was unnerving. 
“We arrived early, to get a good look around.”
“Hm. Hold your hooves while I access the files.” Her hooves expertly danced across the keys in a sort of puzzle. “Here we go. State your name and grade.”
“Patricia Mage of Canterlot. Year 1,” I stated, unsure of why we had to say the year when it was obvious. Why else would we be at the 1st-years hall?
“Aha, here we go. Here’s your schedule, handbook, and dorm key. Building 2, room 16,” she said, handing me a manila folder, thick book, and key card. I bowed my head slightly in thanks and cantered off to building 2.

~Twilight~

My mother pulled the baby carriage containing the little dragon I named Spike. I, on the other hand, had my packs strung across my body. My father just stood and looked important as he always does. 
“Oh, darling, look- chess club! You used to love chess,” my mother chirped.
“Yeah, before Aunt Chessa died.” My mother gave me a disappointed glance. 
“You were always so excited since you were a baby, and it only escalated after you got into the academy. Ever since Chessa died three days ago, you’ve lost your spark. If you want to come out on top, you’ve got to try your best,” her father said.
“Who said I wanted to be on top?” my mother quipped.
“Wouldn’t Chessa want you to be?” That struck me silent. I walked in quiet anger for a while. I wasn’t angry about her death anymore, it was just the fact she was correct. Chessa always expected the best from me. 
I walked into the 1st-years hall. I walked up to the counter, my mother and father following.
“Name and grade,” said the mare. Her deep lipstick, tight bun, crisp uniform, and obvious distaste in children made her intimidating.
“Twilight Sparkle, year 1,” I said, confused at why we had to state our year. Aren’t we in the 1st-years hall?
“Ah, I see you here Ms. Sparkle. Here’s your handbook, schedule, and dorm key. Building 2, room 16. No parents allowed in the dormitories I’m afraid. You’ll have to say goodbye here.” She went back to typing on her computer. 
“Bye mother, father, I’ll write soon, I promise,” I said. My mother’s eyes filled with tears and my father looked so proud. They gave me a hug and left the hall. I dragged along Spike’s carriage over to building 2.

/Velika/

“Welcome to the Academy,” said the mare over the speakers. I clopped along the linoleum hallway, looking around at the sign to join clubs and sports. My name is Velika Armswing, and I am known to be quite smart and quite small.
I made my way into the 1st-years hall. It was the area for my age group to gather any supplies or lock things in their safe, or even just hang out or study. Most of them had arrived a couple hours before, but my carriage came from far off. I’m not exactly a daughter of a noblepony from Canterlot like most of the students. 
“Next!” cried the unicorn at the desk. I walked up to the desk. “Name and grade.”
“Velika Armswing, year 1.” I wasn’t sure why I had needed to restate her year when I was in the 1st-years hall. 
“Ah, the scholarship girl. Yes, I see you here,” she said, her stare was as intimidating as her voice. I hoped that not many other ponies heard her say scholarship. I’d be socially dead before you could say “Princess Celestia.”
“Here’s your handbook, schedule and dorm key. Building 2, room 16.” I cantered off to building 2, excited about what my new life will be at the academy.