January 3rd, 1011
I woke up this morning after a long night on the hardwood floor. The youngest fillies get to sleep on the mattress, which is probably why all of them have either bedbugs or lice...
I woke up, sore all over, stretching out the cramps in my legs and nursing various splinters. Since the mattress was only big enough to fit a few foals, and the room was meant to accommodate just one adult pony, the seventeen eldest of the group were forced to sleep in a pile on the floor.
The ponies here were all rather unique. I didn't know all of them by name, but there were twin earth ponies (brother and sister), a pegasus whose wing had been clipped after an injury, and a female unicorn with a terrible stutter. Accompanying them, a blind earth pony colt, and a bright young filly who only possessed a book entitled 'Something Happened,' which she would never let go of.
I only knew three by name: first was the white-coated Celestia, who took responsibility for the safety of all the others. Second was the youngest foal, a male pegasus by the name of Thunder Bolt who had a navy-blue coat and silver mane. Last was the mysterious unicorn named Burnt Oak. Most of the other fillies avoided him, and he slept over in the corner, away from everypony else. I was told that he never spoke, and his tan flank was unadorned by a cutie mark. In fact, none of the ponies here possessed a cutie mark.
"Celsetia?" I called. I found it odd to see my mentor at such a young age.
"Why is it that nopony here has a cutie mark?"
Celestia looked confused, and blinked a few times to clear her head, "I... I don't know. Are you sure? I thought at least--"
"RISE AND SHINE!" cackled the voice of the Professor as she threw open the door to the bedroom, "Time for our first lesson! All twenty-four of you have arrived, and we are ready to begin!" Chip sat behind the Professor, his half-grin sagging slowly as he stared at us.
Celestia stepped forward and said, "We're ready. But you have to let me be the first to perform your 'experiments', alright?"
The Professor scoffed, "Fine. Do what you have to do to clear your conscience. I won't get in your way." Celestia glared into the scarlet eyes of the mare. She turned and led the way with a determined trot, the hesitant ponies galloping behind her to keep up. Celestia carried several of the youngest ones on her back, and they bounced with her cantering gait.
After a few confusing turns, the mismatched group reached the main room, the one full of machinery. Several seats had been set up: beat-up lawn chairs, some actual desks, and a park bench or two were lined up against the one empty wall.
"Everypony take a seat. I'd like to explain our first unit!" The Professor announced. She kicked Chip in the rear, and he waddled over to something old and dusty that was covered by a tarp. As the fillies sat down, Chip tore the tarp off of the object: a player piano.
The fillies looked at each other, wondering what would happen. As they mumbled to each other, Chip started to turn the crank to the player piano. Bouncy music started up, and the Professor straightened up, cleared her throat, and sang:
Now, listen up little ponies
Please listen to me
You're going to be part of something special,
Just wait and you'll see.
For far too long us earth ponies have had no recognition.
This fact has put me and dear Chip into a bad position.
But now that I have come up
with this fantastic plan,
My name
and fame
and fortune
so many years will span!
Heads up!
Pay attention!
For I will help you earn your name!
What I have here
Is something special
Soon you won't be so mundane!
And this solution
to all our problems
This, almost magical, cure
I present to you,
partners and friends,
My invention:
The Alicorn!
An awkward silence followed: ponies blinked, looking at each other, trying to figure out what had just happened. Had she really just sung a song about this terrible place? What did she mean, 'invention?' And how would it help earth ponies?
"I have invented so much!" the mare thrilled, "Look at this! I can use it to do magic!" She said, holding up an amulet, "a-and this!" she was breathing hard, trying to catch her breath after the exertion. She took the mask off from around her neck and held it proudly up.
"This is a mask that can allow you to breath amongst dangerous chemicals! Don't you see? I can do so many things, and so can all of you, but ponies are only afraid of my intellect. You can help me!"
Celestia moved nervously in her seat, knowing that something was wrong. She leaned over and whispered, "I think something's wrong with her. She's not right in the head. This isn't normal behavior for a pony, even from a genius such as herself."
"YOU!" she shouted to Celestia, pointing an accusatory hoof, "Up here. Now! You're going to go first, am I right?"
The mare beside me shifted in her seat, "Y-yes"
"'Y-yes!'" the Professor mocked, "Come on, I don't have all day."
Celestia took shaky steps up to the crazed Professor, "What must I do?"
"Test my inventions. You're going to fly Celestia! It's simple: throw yourself at the ground, and miss. It's never been done by an earth pony. You'll be the first. What do you say? Ready to earn that cutie mark, you over-sized blank-flank?"
Celestia's eyes blazed with loathing and trepidation, but she rasped, "Yes."