Three Years Later
"Steamy, it's time to wake up!" Lantern smiled, gently shaking her daughter's back. "It's your first day of school! Aren't you excited?"
Steam Snowflake hugged Mr. Woofs close and bit her lip, turning over to look at her mom. "I'm scared to go, mommy."
"Why are you scared, baby?" Lantern asked, petting her mane.
"I don't want to leave you, mommy. I want to stay home with you forever." Steam said, hugging her mother's neck.
"Aw, Steamy, you have to go. Every little filly and colt goes to school when they're five. You'll have a great time, honey. I promise." Lantern smiled.
"Do you pinkie promise?" Steam asked, holding Mr. Woofs closer.
"Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye. If I lie I will not speak, because I made a promise." Lenora smiled, singing the little 'pinkie promise' song she had learned when she was Steam's age.
Steam giggled as she heard her mother sing the little tune and hopped out of her bed. "Can I bring Mr. Woofs?"
Lenora thought for a moment but nodded. "Yes, if you want to."
Steam smiled and hugged Mr. Woofs, saying, "Mr. Woofs, we're going to school!"
Steam galloped into the kitchen and sat down in her chair while her mother made her bed in her room. After Steam Snowflake had gotten old enough to sleep on her own, Lantern Glow had built her her very own room connected to the living room. Steam had toys, a bookshelf, a bed, a rug, a toy box, and many posters had adorned the walls over time.
The small Alicorn filly used her magic to give Mr. Woofs a seat and smiled, holding her hooves on the table. Lantern swiftly trotted in, making them both some cereal. They ate it quietly together, the occasional munching sound coming from the filly. As the time for the carriage came closer and closer, Steam's anxiety rose further and further.
But she kept a calm exterior and got her saddlebag, putting Mr. Woofs in it securely so he wouldn't fall out. She walked outside of her home and stood on the lawn with her mother, biting her lip. Lantern rubbed her mane and smiled. The sound of hooves alerted the duo to the approaching carriage.
"Okay honey, have a good day at school," Lantern smiled. "I'll be right here at four o'clock when you get back. I always will."
"O-Okay, mommy." Steam said, pecking her mother on the cheek and trotting onto the carriage.
There were four rows of seats, able to seat about three foals each. Steam sat in the very back against the window to see her mother wave until she was out of sight. Steam then sighed and plopped her fore hooves on the plush chair, looking around. There was one other filly and two colts on the carriage, and one stallion drove the bus/carriage.
Once they finally arrived at the school, there were ten ponies on the bus besides Steam Snowflake. She trotted off the bus and followed the others into the school, sitting down in a random seat. She levitated Mr. Woofs out of her bag and held him close, setting her saddle bag by her hind hooves.
"Okay, class, this is your first year of school. You're all in Kindergarten! My name is Ms. Daytime Dash, but you may call me Ms. Day. Would any pony like to introduce themselves first?" No pony rose a hoof in response. "Any pony? No pony? Okay, I'll pick." She smiled, walking over to a filly. "What's your name?"
"My name is Cinnamon Sticks." A small, brown filly smiled.
Steam wiggled, uneasy in her seat. This 'Cinnamon Sticks' was only one seat away from her. That meant Steam was the third! She hugged Mr. Woofs tightly, the colt next to her speaking.
"My name is Lighter," The Unicorn colt said, looking down shyly.
"And you? What?" Ms. Day stuttered as she saw a horn and wings on Steam Snowflake. "Are you an... Alicorn?"
Steam looked around and frowned, looking up at the teacher. "I-I-I don't k-know wh-what that is."
"A pony born with a horn and wings, or a pony who writes his or her own magic becomes an Alicorn." Ms. Day explained.
"I-I was born this way," Steam said, shrinking in her seat. "M-My name is Steam Snowflake."
"Well, nice to meet you, Steam Snowflake."
"Likewise, Ms. Daytime Dash." Steam gave a weak smile.
Ms. Day patted her on the head. "Thank you for being so polite, Steam!"
Recess
Steam had Mr. Woofs on her back, strapped down with yarn she'd found in the creation station. She walked proudly, her head high in the air. Despite being five, she looked like she was eight or nine. She sat down under a tree and looked around, sighing. Steam patted the dirt, looking at the horse shoe print it made.
She tilted her head as she began to drag her hoof across the dirt, making a line. She didn't quite understand it. The filly began dragging her hoof all across the patch of dirt, soon making a lovely drawing of gears. She didn't know what they were, but she liked how they looked.
She smiled, looking closer at the gears she'd made on the dirt. What were they? What did they do? How did she know how to draw them? She was filled with many questions similar, even different, and she backed up, looking at the drawing again. As she backed up, she realized the gears she had drawn all became one large drawing.
It was Canterlot Castle.
She tilted her head, looking at the Castle in Canterlot a few miles away. She'd only seen it on the way to school, which made it all the stranger. She smiled as she looked at the detailed drawing, flying up a ways to see it clearer. Soon, her classmates had gathered around her to look at the picture, and Ms. Day was astonished.
"Steam Snowflake... Did you... Did you draw this by yourself?"
Steam sat on the ground and hugged her doll close, looking at the dirt, frowning. "Y-Yes.... Was I not supposed to?"
"My dear, it's amazing!" She smiled, quickly ushering the foals inside as another teacher took photographs of the drawing.