It was almost hard to believe that Pacifica was back in time over 500 years, of course spending a lifetime with someone like Discord sure dampens the element of surprise in these kinds of situations.
Despite Mark’s worries, the animals living in the dining hall didn’t seem to mind the newcomer, what’s more, they were fine with them in their changeling form (thanks to Fluttershy’s amazing diplomatic and convincing skills)
Pacifica was sitting down comfortably on one of the tables eating the delicious oaty breakfast prepared by her Ancestor who was getting ready for a busy day of work.
“So, what do you think, would customers like that?”
“?”
“Yes, I know we don’t eat regular food but I’m asking for your opinion whether I could add this to the menu”
“…”
“The menu it is then”
Mark finished doing whatever he was doing, approached Pacifica from behind the counter, sat down by the same table and gently leaned towards her
“Look, I know you’re curious about the whole hearts and hooves legend and so am I but we can’t just barge into Canterlot… and start asking Celestia and Luna questions”
“?”
“Well, for starters we haven’t got any money”
“?”
“NO, we’re not borrowing any money, I just started this business and it’s hard enough to take off as it is, even if it is a success, I don’t need debt on top of all this so I’m just going to have to work for the money, it shouldn’t take more than a day or two considering we don’t need to spend money on food for us… I’m also going to need to pull some strings to be able to get anywhere near the princesses”
“?”
“Don’t worry, I know ponies…”
Pacifica finished eating her breakfast and got up, put on her schoolbag of old borrowed items from Fluttershy and got ready to walk out the door into the unknown new school (or rather, a really old school from Pacifica’s point of view)
“Wait”
Pacifica stopped, her hoof leaned on the door
“Let’s see what you’re gonna change into”
Pacifica turned into a blue pony with a curly mane
“Hmmm… no… not good”
“?”
“Blue is not a common shade of coat among ponies, you’re gonna stick out… go for brown… you’re supposed to be my niece so go with the same coat as mine, some shade of brown or something”
Pacifica changed into a shade of hazel
“Not bad, not bad at all…”
Mark circled around Pacifica for a moment
“Wait a minute, what’s this?”
Mark pointed at Pacifica’s rump where a cutie mark lay in the form of a pony’s snout with a red X over it
“…”
“NAH-AH”
“?”
“You’re good at changing but you still need to know some basics… rule #1 when changing into a small colt or filly: if you’re young enough not to have a cutie mark, don’t have one, EVER”
“?”
“Because cutie marks are the single most dangerous thing for a changeling to have, it not only makes you instantly identifiable in any crowd but it can also give you away easily, a pony’s cutie mark represents their special ability, something only they excel in… what if you choose the wrong cutie mark that doesn’t suit your character or abilities? You’d be instantly discovered… don’t you ever forget that… fortunately for you, you still have some time before your age would require you to have a cutie mark in your transformations… until then you need to think about what your cutie mark would be, there’s no rush”
“…” silenced out Pacifica, pointing at her rump where the same cutie mark appeared a moment ago
“Well, that may be a quite fitting cutie mark for you in this case but that might not necessarily be your special skill, you’re still young and haven’t tried many things… it’s too dangerous, we can’t risk it, if you’re found out, all of this” Mark pointed at the restaurant “will not only be gone but we’ll be lucky if we manage to survive with nothing and we won’t be able to come back here for a while, even if we can transform into somepony else… that’s another rule we have, the 30 day rule but I’ll teach you about that some other time because we’re already late for your first day and I have to be back here within a few minutes before opening… now take that thing off”
“…”
Pacifica’s cutie mark disappeared in a rapid green flash.
“That’s much better… don’t worry, you’ll be practically invisible”
When Pacifica entered into the town centre with her great-uncle she was amazed at how different everything was yet so familiar… what is going to be Discord’s realm in 504 years’ time is now some sort of puny little village…
The danger of the situation just occurred to Pacifica… not a single changeling in sight… gruncle wasn’t joking around when he said that it’s going to be all over for them if they are found out.
“Pacifica”
Pacifica jumped
“?”
“Calm down, you know my mum used to say that fear is a cloth that dampens a changeling’s mind, relax, nopony can tell, and besides I’m with you right now so you’ll be fine! Take your mind off it, look! It’s a great day! You’ll meet plenty of new fillies in school, aren’t you excited?”
Pacifica looked down on the ground and smiled with a light blush
“Pacifica?”
“?”
“We’re here”
Pacifica looked up at the school barn, it looked just like it sounded… full of life.
The two entered the premises into the classroom.
Inside, a whole bunch of crazy fillies and colts were running around, throwing paper planes and all sorts of things one would expect to see in an average classroom.
Pacifica relaxed, this looked pleasant, maybe she’ll make friends for the time being.
Mark nudged her rib with his elbow
“?”
“Don’t relax too much, never let your guard down and remember, take breaks from the transformation as often as possible when you’re alone but make sure you ARE alone, OK?”
Pacifica nodded
The only other adult pony in the room approached the duo
“This must be Pacifica”
“Ah, yes, hello Miss Cheerilee, I am so sorry for this sudden turn of events but how could I have said no to family?”
“It’s Ok mr. Sails I understand, these things happen, I’m sure we’ll find a seat for her…”
“Oh, also I just wanted to pass on that she might have to rest every once in a while, you know, take breaks, she’s very… fragile. She must’ve gotten that from my mother’s side of the family unfortunately…”
“No problem, you’ll feel just like at home Pacifica, I’m sure you’ll make friends here in no time! Come on”
Cheerilee’s hoof wrapped itself around Pacifica’s neck as she was slowly dragged towards the front of the blackboard.
Pacifica looked back one last time at gruncle to see him give her a hooves up and rush out of the schoolbarn in hope to make it back to the restaurant in time to open.
“Everpyoy! Settle down!”
Pacifica doubted that something like a simple request would put the rowdy bunch in order.
It did.
All the fillies and colts were seated within a split second in their appropriate places, fitting in perfectly like a bunch of puzzle pieces.
“Everypony, this is Pacifica, she just moved in yesterday, I hope you’ll all get along well, Pacifica do you want to say anything about yourself?”
“…”
Pacifica shrugged, what is she going to say? It’s not like she can talk about her friends or what it’s like where she came from… as gruncle said, remain inconspicuous
“In that case let’s begin the lesson, Pacifica, you can sit right next to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon”
Cheerilee pointed at an empty seat between 2 fillies, one with a diamond tiara on her head (wonder which one could she be?) and the other one looked generic enough to sit next to.
Silver Spoon seemed fine but sitting next to a pony that goes as far as wearing a diamond tiara just for the sake of attention might give Pacifica unwanted attention.
Pacifica reluctantly sat next to the two fillies.
Lessons started… they were so easy! The stuff they were doing was nothing compared to the stuff Pacifica had to deal in her previous school…
“Psst!”
Pacifica turned her head towards Diamond Tiara
“Hey! My name’s Diamond Tiara, but you may call me Tiara, nice too meet you!”
“…”
Pacifica just nodded deciding to go along with whatever is about to happen
“Listen, if you want to make it through this school just fine you should know that there are some ponies that you shouldn’t be with or talk to, they are a mean bunch”
“?”
“Do you see those three behind you?”
Pacifica gently turned her head to be just barely able to see the ponies in question
“The white unicorn is called Sweetiebelle, she pretends to be nice but she’s a horrible fashion diva, the one next to her with a bow is called Applebloom, don’t get too close to her, I heard that she uses her friends for free work with her family and they don’t let you go until you’re finished”
Silver Spoon continued for Tiara
“the last one is Scootaloo, nopony knows where she came from or where her parents are… some say she killed her parents, I’d say it’s better to keep away from her too, otherwise one day she’ll invite you to her shed and….”
Silver spoon slashed her own neck with her hoof
Pacifica rolled her eyes… she was a changeling, she could taste emotions, she was practically a living lie detector and she called bullshit on this one but nonetheless she just nodded for now and deal with the two later, possibly request for a change of desks to a more comfortable and less visible place in the back.
After a few lessons of pony history and arts and crafts the time for recess finally came.
Pacifica was exhausted and needed some time to rest from the transformation.
The first thing Pacifica did after hearing the teacher’s announcement she trotted rather hastily into the filly’s room and transformed back into her original changeling form after having closed the door tightly and making sure there was nopony around.
As gruncle suggested, Pacifica didn’t rest for more than 5 minutes as being gone too often and for too long is going to attract unwanted attention and ponies might start talking.
Pacifica got ready to blend into the crowd playing outside.
The changeling glanced at Tiara and Silver Spoon talking down rather harshly at the trio of fillies that sat behind Pacifica, she could sense the particular taste of bullying…
If there’s one thing that gets on Pacifica’s nerves its bullying… the act is selfish and serves no particular purpose making the whole thing meaningless.
Being inconspicuous shall have to wait.
Pacifica approached the crowd of five
“-I see you met our new friend Pacifica?” said Tiara as she embraced Pacifica in a “friendly” manner.
Pacifica could taste the rivalization between the trio and the duo.
It’s as if the sky itself was split in an invisible line dividing the three little ponyteers and the two just as little brats ready to rumble.
From her own side Pacifica could sense the velvety taste of victory along with the rock hard conviction of one’s upmanship above the other’s dipped in a thick cocoon of fake Chinese innocence and bullshit.
The side of the bullied fillies was an entirely different story, the taste of shame with fear was prevailing over the deep depression of regret of being born the way one is and all that was topped up with a cherry of hatred and restlessness... Pacifica’s least favourite set of emotions all wrapped up with a bow.
Pacifica winked at the three fillies to let them know that it’s going to be OK
“Let’s go Pacifica, we don’t need to waste our time on these three”
“No, thanks, I think I’ll stay”
“What? You don’t mean you want to talk to those…. Three?”
“Why not?” asked Pacifica with a pretend dumb look on her face
“Wha- what?” Tiara was surprised that her new little minion was thinking all by herself “Are you trying to tell me that you want to make friends with them?”
It was time for Pacifica to bitchslap that bully into her rightful place
“Are you trying to tell me that you have the right to tell me what friends I can or can’t make?”
Pacifica began to slowly taste the spicy anger coming from Tiara more and more.
“I told you already, you don’t want to be friends with them”
“I don’t? I had no idea you knew what I was thinking”
“S-stop that!”
“Stop what? I’m not doing anything”
“That”
“What? Talking?”
Now tiara was being overshadowed by the burning sensation of uncertainty's fear, nopony aver talked to her that way before, how is she supposed to deal with this?
“N-no, stop saying those things! Stop playing with me, you're playing with me!”
“So… you want me to stop talking but you don’t want me to shut up? I’m sorry; I don’t quite understand how that’s any different from shutting up”
Tiara was on the verge of bursting
“J-just come on! You’d be better off with us!”
“Better? Sounds like arrogance to me, no thanks I don’t like stuck up ponies that think they’re better than others… I should have noticed this before, you know…”
“WHAT?”
“Well…” Pacifica leaned towards Tiara and began to whisper just loud enough for the trio to hear “Your cutie mark”
Pacifica pointed ad Tiara’s rump
Pacifica sensed Tiara’s emotional state toppling chipping and crumbling… she hit where it hurts
“W-what! How dare you! Daddy says that my Mark represents my high social status!, what do you have, you’re a blank flank!”
“Do you even know what a social status is or are you just quoting your dad?”
“HM! I guess I was wrong about you… blank flank!”
“At least I’m not branded”
“Blank flank!”
“You can't hurt me with something I don't consider an insult” replied Pacifica whilst turning around and intentionally using her tail to knock off Tiara’s tiara.
Tiara’s body filled with rage
Pacifica smiled towards the three girls and extended her hoof as a sign of friendship
“…”
“What do you think you’re doing?” raged on Tiara
Pacifica continued to ignore the bully and continued to shake hoofs with Scootaloo, Sweetiebelle and Applebloom
“…”
“Don’t ignore me!”
“My name’s Pacifica and if I can remember your names, they’re… Sweetiebelle, Applebloom and Scootaloo”
Pacifica pointed out and named each pony correctly
“HEY! DON’T YOU IGNORE ME! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?”
“…”
“Answer me! Or else-“
“Pacifica harshly turned around dangerously close to Tiara letting her know that she’s not playing around
“You’ll what? Huh? Call me something mean? Or did you run out of ideas after you called me a blank flank?”
Pacifica turned around from the shocked filly that couldn’t take it anymore.
Tiara ran away leaving Silver Spoon who picked up Tiara’s tiara and attempted to catch up with her calling out to her repeatedly.
The Cutie Mark Crusader's jaws dropped, this was the first time they saw anypony talk back to Tiara that way.
“Is she always like that?” asked Pacifica
The shock surging through the fillies dampened that question and a few seconds later finally one of them answered after shaking their head back into reality
“Unfortunately” answered Applebloom
Scootaloo began jumping up and down.
“That was so cool! Nopony ever talked back to her like that before! Maybe she’ll stop bullying us now!”
Pacifica shrugged
The rest of the break the changeling spent on getting to know the other ponies from her class which involved… talking, as much as Pacifica hated doing that, she was forced to do so nonetheless and soon her role of blending in has come to a completion and her gruncle was in fact right about that cutie mark she wanted to use, it would have been a horrible idea to use it.
The class day came to an end, setting the base for afternoon activities…
The sun was slowly melting into the distant hills smouldering the land with a golden buttery consistency counting down moments till the end of the day
Pacifica galloped out from the schoolbarn along with all the other classmates (Galloping isn’t Pacifica’s style but one does what one can to blend in with the rest) and was instantly surrounded by the smell of roasted hot dry soil along with the excitement that one gets once they’re freed from the oppressive lessons.
“HAY! WAIT! PACIFICA!”
Pacifica halted to be caught up by Applebloom and the rest.
“y’know, we were thinkin’ and maybe you’d wanna join us as a cutie mark crusader?”
“?”
“Well? What ya think”
“Applebloom…” began Scootaloo
“What?”
“I don’t think she knows who a cutie mark crusader is…”
“We’re the cutie mark crusaders, we are on a quest to find what our cutie mark might be” Applebloom stood up on her hind hooves and with her front hooves open trying to show how BIG of a deal this was apparently
Sweetiebelle approached Pacifica only to be stopped by the mystery pony’s hoof.
“…”
Pacifica shook her head suggesting that she doesn’t want to be affiliated with their club in any way and walked away home.