//------------------------------//
// Principals Office 
// Story: High School is Annoying 
// by Granite 
//------------------------------//

Principal Shepard was putting the finishing touches on his office. He had a few diplomas hanging about, his name plate was laced with platinum. He had a large desk with a stack of office papers that needed to be copied. His secretary had just ran the morning schedule. He was a generally neat stallion, with his graying mane and deep blue coat. He always wore a classic tie and semi-formal shirt. His cutie mark was a rolled up scroll. He filling up his morning coffee when his secretary show him the security footage of an orange pegasus who had pulled a knife on the new transfer student from Manehattan. Great. Not even a hour into the school-year and he already had life threats. Now he was sitting in his big official-looking chair waiting for the student to be called in. She trotted in and she did not look happy. He had her file in hoof, but he hadn't read it yet. Instead he sat there silently eyeing her. She sat in the chair opposite. School had started only nine minutes ago and she already had that "I could give a buck less" aura swarming her. Her purple mane was a bit messed up, he avoided asking why. 

He spoke in a accusing tone. "Well, miss Scootaloo I have to admit you shattered the record for quickest appointment change. I'm sure you know that violence is not tolerated. Let me start by saying that....."

She interrupted him. "Look you can just stop right there, If your gonna threaten me with expulsion then don't waste your breath. I don't care what you say. My friends and I had enough of that one back in elementary school. She is totally rude. She probably would've been long gone by now if her dad didn't have his hoof in Equestria's bank account. So yeah I think, for what she said to be a knife threat was needed." She waited for him to send her out and label her with detention or something stupid like that. Instead he just looked at her with a curious expression. He asked a question she never expected.

"What did she say to you?"

She hesitated a bit and then told him. If anypony ever asked...well nopony did ask. So she felt like he might understand. "Well, it's...my entire life that got in the way. I'm an orphan. Been one for as long as I remember. Lived in the foster homes until they booted me out at, like seven. Now I live in an alleyway that I can still barely afford. My friends provide for me most of the time. Diamond bullied us since grade school. Then she moved to Manehattan and we were doing okay. Now she is back and makes fun of the two ponies who actually care about me and have helped me through everything. So I used the knife then she brought up my past and I cried. Nuff said. Now are you gonna bash me with detention or can I go?"

He looked at her for a moment. When he spoke he did so in absolute monotone. "No I won't. The way I see it, eveypony gets one. This is yours. You can go back to class." He started shuffling papers as a sign to take it or leave it. Scootaloo took it. She stood and trotted out of the office. She didn't know what to think. Usually principal's pegged her with immediate dislike. Principal Shepard hadn't. Yet. She walked through the admin building with most of the assistants and parents looking at her cautiously. She knew what they were thinking and didn't give a second glance.