//------------------------------// // Welcome to Starswirl Academy // Story: P.O.N.Y. // by SAmaster //------------------------------// To my most faithful student- Twilight Sparkle Dear Twilight- I send this letter to you in good health. You have been under my personal tutelage for many a year. I know you seek to follow in the footsteps of your elder brother, and become a Huntress. After much time and training, you have reached sufficient age and proficiency to be enrolled at the Prestigious Starswirl Academy, where you shall join the ranks of many like you who seek to keep our world safe. Expect the road ahead to be difficult and dangerous. I would never try to lie or deceive you. Your chosen path is a dangerous one, one that I will not always be able guide you on. I put my trust and faith in you to do your best, and make the best decisions you can. Remember however to not leave the worlds problems to yourself. There will be others here at this academy who can aid you in your problems and journey. I know this was never a strong suit of yours but I urge you in the upcoming days to not only find amongst the student body ally’s and rivals, but also friends and compatriots. It is a lesson I have learned all too dearly that relying on oneself for everything can have dire consequences. -Sincerely- Your Friend and Teacher- Headmaster Celestia~ *** Twilight Sparkle was a beautiful young woman, who had every aspect of her attire in it’s prim and proper place. She was of Oriental descent, with tan skin, and sparkling magenta almond-shaped eyes, her recently washed purple hair, carrying one pink and one lavender stripe down left side, was grown all the way down past her shoulders. As for her Attire, she had a pair of black polished shoes, and tall white socks going up her legs ending in purple trimming. She had a purple tartan skirt ending above her knees, with a purple sweater vest over a white button-up shirt and tie. Over her shoulder she wore a half-shawl/half-cape draped over her left arm the color of twilight with a large bright six-pointed star with five smaller ones orbiting it emblazoned upon it, and on her head a small witches hat a small tie keeping it on her head. And lastly she had a pair of round spectacles perched on her small nose. All of it had been pressed, cleaned, and primped to perfection, and all her effort to look absolutely perfect that day was steadily being lost as she slept and drooled along the train’s window, her letter draped across her legs. Her young brother Spike, who sat across her, deep into his comic book, peered over the page to see his elder sister in such a state, and entertained the notion of rudely awakening her, before dismissing it, deciding it wouldn’t be worth it. He himself, still being a young child, wore simple sneakers and socks, a pair of shorts, and a baggy purple hoodie with green highlights to complement his gelled and spiked green hair that attempted to make him look taller. His bright green eyes burned with as a dull, placid ember. The two of them sat in their compartment with Twilights multiple suitcases and bags, mostly books, hung overhead threatening to collapse on them, as the train continued to clack seamlessly across the tracks as the scenery beyond the wet and muggy window zipped past faster than the eye. Spike shook his head as he recounted earlier events. He remembered Twilight Sparkle at home, panicking endlessly and needlessly over a heavily anticipated letter from her mentor. Of course she received it as intended, and proceeded to grossly overreact when she did. She spent the next several hours checking, double checking, and triple checking her baggage and supplies she would be taking, and the necessary precautions for her trip, and then checked it again to make sure. And Spike had been there to be caught up in the whirlwind of it all. He had told her, he had told her to get her rest, but she insisted she didn’t need it, and well… here she was. He absentmindedly reached for some rock candy to his right only to find it mysteriously disappeared. He licked his sugar coated lips at this new mystery before deciding to delve back into his comic-cook. He, unlike his older sister was not in any hurry to get to their destination. After all, he was simply there to act as the luggage carrier. That guy you see in Hotel dressed in all red that get paid next to nothing for moving all the bags, that was Spike. He was just as much a personal assistant as a brother to Twilight, and he just couldn’t see that changing much over the course of his life. But try as he might, the train barreled through the forests and fields in due time, reaching it’s destination on the riverbanks. The train chugged and chugged, before harshly slowing down at its stop, lurching, finally rousing Twilight Sparkle from her sleeping. “Huh, what?” She said, still in a daze. “You got drool on your chin.” Spike told her, to which she absentmindedly began to correct. “Where are we?” She asked. “There.” Spike said, not bothering to look up. “Where?” “We’re there.” Spike told her. “Oh. Wait, we’re HERE!” Twilight screeched, now very much awake. She looked out the window to see the Grand Train Station in all her glory. “Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! I overslept!” “Relax, we have plenty of time.” Spike said futilely. “Why didn’t you wake me up!?” Twilight cried, as she began triple checking the cart to make sure she hadn’t left anything behind, which she hadn’t. “Because you needed your sleep?” Spike offered, brushing off the candy wrappers on his seat on to the floor for some other schmuck to take care of. “Spike I swear, if I’m late, and Headmaster Celestia expels me before I even begin tuition!” She said, not completing the thought. “I know.” Spike sighed, folding up his comic-book, and going to Twilight to catch their bags just as she unloaded them from the overhead. They then rushed out of the train onto the platform, racing past the various other peoples who were probably trying to do likewise. Twilight got onto the platform, surrounded by strangers, dizzy, and out of breath before she checked the holographic timetables above them. “We’re right on time.” She breathed. “Toldya.” Spike said, carrying their bags with him. Twilight’s was a full duffel bag, half filled with ‘necessities’ half filled with various studying materials, much bigger than his own bags, which he carried on his back. “Well then.” Twilight said breathing. “In that case… I suppose we should make our way to the academy.” The two then walked through the train station made of brass, glass, and light, and out onto the cobbled roads, and fresh cool breeze of Ponyville. Ponyville had an illustrious history to it, settled out in the wilds, on the very edge of the fabled and cursed Everfree Forest. Brave men and woman had plundered it’s magic, or so the saying goes, to grow their crops, and tame the land. When the forest fought back, the settlers had taken arms and defended their homestead. As years went by, the small frontier settlement grew, and grew, grass was replaced by dirt, replaced by roads, replaced by stone, small home’s and shacks gave way to stone giants, their walls and windows carved and decorated with the best of care. The river was tamed by the city, dug for canals, a great wall was erected to protect the foundling city and it’s inhabitants, constantly manned and defended, as the city grew and matured. Spike knew all this because his sister had spent the night researching anything and everything related to the city. Of course to his eyes at least, the myth was much more than the reality. The place was nice enough he supposed, the people on the street seemed a little nice at least. But the cobbled stone, iron gas-lamps and air of hard worked dignity were all a far cry from the opulent wealth and esteemed prestige of Canterlot, where he and his family lived. He figured most rubes coming from the country, or a lesser city would be impressed, but as sturdy as the city tried to be, it just didn’t measure up to the magic of his hometown, and that was in as an objective state he could be in. As the two walked on, Twilight soon requested her map from her bag, which Spike was quick to acquiesce of her, and she surveyed it with an expert eye. “We’ll need to cross the river, and half the city before we get to the Barrier Wall, where the Academy will be not far from the Apple Estates.” Twilight said meaninglessly. “Uh-huh.” Spike said, not paying terribly too much attention to the whole thing, rather taking in the scenery, and blindly following Twilight around. This continued, with Twilight occasionally checking the maps for street names, and mumbling things and instructions under her breath. This continued for the many minutes it took to go through the city, during which they passed storefronts, town hall, a gag shop, a spa, and a plethora of other attractions. But none of that really compared to the Academy. It started to clear up as they got closer, the sun deigning to spread it’s rays against it’s façade. Built into a great thick wall as tall as a mountain cliff, the Academy was a great jewel of a piece clinging to either side of the wall. Made of carved wood, fine marble and sturdy red bricks, it’s windows poised to pierce any gloom as it rose majestically. At the center, was a tall clock towers, it’s clock face, and great brass bell displayed proudly. At the foot of it’s grand and wide staircase which rose for more than a few stories, was a colossal marble statue of three majestic beasts, a Pegasus, standing with it’s wings spread wide on the left, a Unicorn with a mighty horn standing head held high to the right, and in the center, a strong and noble horse, standing strong and ready. “There it is.” Twilight said, the wind blowing in her hair. “Starswirl Academy.” “Nice place.” Spike said, laying down her bag. “Nice Place?” Twilight said, letting Spike now that he was about to get a lecture. “Starswirl Academy has a magnificent history both to this city, and to the entire country! It was founded by teams of the settlers fighting against the Grimm of the Everfree Forest, settlers from every part of the country, from Canterlot to Fillydelphia, to Vanhoover, and everywhere inbetween! It was built right into the Barrier Wall, incorporating designs by half a dozen famed architects! Dozens of great heroes trained here! And to top it all off, Celestia is it’s Headmaster.” “I get it, I get it, this Starswirl guy knows how to make a nice school.” Spike said. Twilight pulled Spike’s hood over his head. “It’s named in honor of Starswirl the Bearded you clod-head.” She told him. “He predates the founding of this city by Centuries.” “Okay, okay!” Spike said. “Really Spike, you should know all this already.” Twilight said. “You would do well to pay much more attention than you do now.” “WATCH OUT!!!!” Where once Twilight stood, she was gone with a pink blur, and found herself dizzy, sore, and at the base of the horse stature, with something soft and fuzzy on her, while a pipe bounced around to the side. “OW!!!” Said the pink soft and fuzzy something which revealed itself to be a person, as she stood up, and began stretching. “Note to self: Only use explosions as a means of transportation only if absolutely necessary. Am I okay? Arms, check. Legs, check. Body, check. Head… check! Okay I’m an A-Okay!” She said giving a thumbs up to no-one in particular. “Oh hey there cutie, whatcha doin?” “I think you may have killed my sister.” Spike said, having picked up the baby blue and pink pipe that was rolling around. “I what?” She asked, turning to see Twilight on the ground with spirals in here eyes. “The value of Pi is three point one four one five nine…” She mumbled. “Oh my gosh! She’s speaking nonsense!” The girl said grabbing Twilight and shaking her some more. “ARE YOU OKAY!??!?” She yelled into Twilights ear. “DON’T WORRY I’LL SAVE YOU!!! Quick, do you know CPR?” She asked, turning to Spike. Spike was sorely tempted to stand back and watch what happened, so that’s exactly what he did. “No.” He answered. “Alright then, I guess it’s up to good old Pinkie Pie!” She said, before moving closer to Twilight. “Huh… wait… what…?” Twilight mumbled, before she locked lips with the pink-haired girl. At that moment her brain began working again, as she struggled against the girls iron grip. After some struggling, she wrenched herself free. “Ah!” Pinkie Pie gasped. “Looks like I have once again saved the day!” She cried. “Blech! Ble-ech!” Twilight gagged. “Oh no need to thank me, all in a days work for an aspiring Huntress after all!” She said. “What is wrong with you!” Twilight cried. “Well you see, I’ve spent my whole life fighting monsters back on the farm, but it turns out I’m so good, I got myself a scholarship!” She told her. Twilight was agape before turning to Spike. “Don’t look at me, I know just as much as you do.” He said. She was an odd one, her hair a deep wondrous pink, frizzed, light, and bouncy, defiant of gravity, and wrapped all around her face and neck. She wore a pair of t-shirts, a white one beneath a smaller pink one that had a trio of balloons, much like her personality, emblazoned on her chest, with a combination of shorts, pink frilled skirt, pink and white striped stockings, and a pair of cartoonishly oversized sneakers stuffed with fuzzy socks, yellow, blue and white on her legs, with only a pair of fingerless gloves on her hands or arms. Her round face seemed almost stretched from smiling, and her blue eyes twinkled with joy. “Yes, well, ‘thank you’-“ Twilight said, standing up. “But if that’s going to be all, I really must be going.” “Where to?” She asked. “Well if you must know-“ Twilight said, dusting herself off, and making sure everything was in it’s right place. “I happen to have an appointment at the Academy here, that I simply must keep, and-“ “Are you a Huntress too!?” The girl immediately asked. “Well yes, I mean not yet, but-“ “That’s perfect!” She exclaimed with a jump in the air, stars in her eyes. “That means we can be best friends!” And with that, Twilight was brought into a back-breaking embrace. “We’ll have fun, and have makeovers, and have sleepovers, and kill monsters together! It’ll be great!” “It’ll what?” Twilight groaned as her body was strained. “Best of friends!” She cried, letting go of Twilight. “Don’t you worry, you just follow your Aunt Pinkie Pie, and I’ll take care of the rest.” Twilight just stared at the pink girl, simply agape. And then Spike burst into laughter. “You think this is funny?” Twilight asked. “Hilarious!” Spike cried, as Pinkie Pie joined in. The unspoken joke continued until all three were distracted by the cavalcade of imposing cars that drove past, with a Limousine emblazoned with symbol of the Apple Family smack dab in the middle. A group of suited thugs piled out of the cars, surveying the area, fingering hidden weapons, and talking and mumbling on their mini phone earpieces wedged in their ears. After enough commotion and fanfare, they opened the back door to the Limousine, out of which stepped a leather cowboy boot attached to a blue jeans clad leg. “You have a good day at school now, ye-hear!” Cried an elderly voice as a giant of a woman, with her golden locks tied in a single braid flowing to her back, stepped out. “Ah will Granny Smith. No need to worry about me.” The girl, if she could be called that, said. “Who’s worryin?” The elderly voice called out with a chuckle. The girl was a full two metres tall, a thick braided belt wrapped around her waist, with a prominent belt buckle with a trio of apples on it. She had an orange flannel shirt, with a brown leather vest and gloves, and a prominent cowboy hat, it’s tassels blowing in the wind. Her golden blonde hair blew around her tanned face, and eyes green as the grass on a summer day, nestled amongst a series of freckles. “Wait sis!” A young voice cried out. Stumbling from the limousine was a tiny red-head, probably the same age as Spike. She reached into her vest, plucking out a gorgeously red apple, and handing it to the giant of a woman. “Lucky Apple! I picked it mahself!” She said in what was possibly the cutest way possible. “Thanks Applebloom.” She said, rubbing the redheads head, who beamed at the attention, before climbing back into limousine. “Alrighty then. Bye Abblebloom. Bye Granny Smith. Bye Big Macintosh. Bye Ernie. Bye Jay. Bye Joe. Bye Joey. Bye Big Joe. Bye Little Joe. Bye Cuthbert. Bye Kenny. Bye Bob. Bye Bobby. Bye Billy. Bye Billy-Bob. Bye-Billy-Joe. Bye Billy-Joe-Bob. Bye Billy-Bob-Joe. Bye Billy-Billy-Joe-Willy. Bye Reginald Kentsworth Huntington the Third. And goodbye Kevin!” “Goodbye Ms. Applejack! Have a good day at school!” The Men in Black replied, returning to the unmarked cars they had come from before driving off. After they had all gone, the girl grabbed her bag, a simple ruck-sack, slinging it over her shoulder and turned to where Twilight, Spike and Pinkie Pie were watching. “Howdy.” She said taking a bite from her lucky apple. “Howdy!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, running up to the girl, grabbing her hand to so she could shake it violently. “I’m Pinkie Pie! Nice to meet ya!” “Howdy.” She said, keeping her face still, before turning to Twilight, and extending her hand to her. “Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight said, shaking hands with the giantess, which she quickly regretted, when she felt her hand get crushed. “Howdy.” She said, before turning to Spike. “Spike.” He said simply, not bothering to shake hands, wanting to avoid Twilights fate. “Howdy.” She said. “I figured there’d be more of y’all out here.” “Why’s that, where you expecting someone?” Pinkie asked. “Not really.” She said with a slight grin. “I was just expecting an all-or-nothin deal. You don’t know who I am, do ya?” “Not. A. Clue!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Well then. Ain’t that refreshin’. Applejack.” She told them, taking another bite. “Applejack? As in Applejack of the Apple Family, one of the most influential families in Ponyville and all of Equestria?” Twilight asked. “Eeyup.” She said. Pinkie slid up to Twilight. “Psst. Who’re they?” “You’re kidding right?” Twilight said. “You’re not. The Apples? Their family helped found Ponyville?” Pinkie’s face was a blank. “They OWN the Apple market?” Pinkie’s face remained as it was. “They’re members of the family everywhere from Manehattan to Appleloosa!” Her expression remained changed. “They make Granny Smith’s Scrumdidlyumptious Apple Flakes!!!” Twilight said exasperatedly. “Oooohhhh….” Pinkie and Spike said. “Yep, that’s us alright.” Applejack said with a chuckle, wiping her mouth. “So then, ahm a guessing you three ain’t here to be taking my bags.” “You kidding, I got enough to carry already.” Spike said. “Spike!” “Ain’t no worry. I didn’t bring much with me anyway. I ain’t fussy.” Applejack said. “That bein’ said, now ahm a might curious as to what you three are standin’ outside the academy fer anyhow.” “We’re aspiring Huntresses!” Pinkie exclaimed with a jump. “Well-“ Twilight tried. “Well except for this handsome guy!” She said grabbing Spike from behind, causing him to drop the bags. “He’s a guy, so he’d be more of a Hunter! Or a Huntsman! Though you’re a little young to be a man. Huntsboy!” “Hey-Hey! I’m just here to carry the bags!” Spike exclaimed. “I toldya I ain’t got no bags.” Applejack said. “Not yours, hers!” Spike said, trying to wiggle out of Pinkie Pies grip. “Oh good!” A new voice carried over the breeze, causing all four heads to turn to see a vision of a young woman crossing the pavement with enough bags to furnish a small hotel room. She was a beauty in flawless ivory skin, clothed in a expertly made white dress, that held her body perfectly while allowing her complete freedom of movement, over top a black sweater and skirt. She wore studded white high-heeled boots, with stockings covering her legs, and great purple sash, twirled and curled, holding her waistline together. Her makeup was done perfectly, from her lips which were coated in a fine layer of lip-gloss not too showy, but just showy enough, to her nails, perfectly manicured with a single defect not to be found, done up in the same blue as her eye shadow and mascara, a brilliant color to highlight her naturally brilliant sapphire eyes, her face framed by her flowing locks of well-conditioned and scented violet hair, which fell far past her shoulders. She wore a multitude of jewelry, jeweled bracelets at her wrist, a magnificent purple necklace, and a pair of amethyst earrings that shone from beneath her violet locks. All in all, she was a stunning vision of beauty. “I was hoping they’d be sending someone.” She said, in a voice that spoke of sophistication and elegance. “Do be some darlings, and help me won’t you? I’m quite afraid I won’t manage to put everything away in time.” “Excuse me?” Applejack asked. “Oh of course, silly me, you’ll want to be paid first.” She said, fishing into a small purse tied into her sash. “Here you go.” She said, handing each of them a rather generous amount of money. “Now go on. Chop-chop.” “Um, I’m afraid you’re mistaken about something…” Twilight said, wondering where her day had gone. “Keep yer dang-gone money.” Applejack said, shoving the bills back to the girl. “I don’t work for no-one but mahself.” “Well fine then. Be that way. I’ll be sure to send a note of this behavior to the staff I’ll have you know!” She told them. “No, we’re not luggage carriers.” Twilight explained, handing back the money. “Oh? You’re not?” She asked. “Then what are you?” “Aspiring huntresses!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, grabbing both Twilight and Applejack as an example. “Oh! How fortuitous! So am I!” Pinkie Pie gasped. “You are! What are the odds!?” “Well considering we’re standing in front of one of the biggest Hunter Academy in all of Equestria, and that’s all we seem to be running into today-“ Twilight muttered. “You have to tell us your story!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, ignoring Twilight’s muttering. “Oh, I’m afraid that would simply bore you.” She said. “Oh, but where are my manners, I haven’t managed to introduce myself. I’m Rarity, just Rarity.” “Howdy.” “Well Rarity Just Rarity, I am called Pinkie Pie! I look forward to seeing you in school, fighting alongside you, against you, and inevitably kicking your butt!” “…Twilight Sparkle.” “Nice to meet all of you.” She said. “Although this does put me in a pit of a pickle. How am I possibly going to be able to carry all of my things up all these stairs?” She said, leading the three of them to look at the great staircase in front of them. “I’ll do it!” Spike volunteered, who hadn’t stopped staring at Rarity since she had first caught their attention. “Oh what a dear! I don’t believe I caught your name.” She said sweetly. “SPIKE!” He said a little too quickly. “I mean, uh-hem, ah-huh… name’s Spike.” Twilight grabbed Spikes hood, and pulled him back. “Hey, I thought you were my luggage carrier lover-boy.” “You don’t pay me enough.” He grumbled. “Don’t worry.” Rarity said. “If need be, I suppose I could just make more than one trip. Oh but I so wish I didn’t have to, they’re so heavy.” “If you’re wantin’ to be Huntress an’ all, you shouldn’t be actin’ all fussy about carryin’ those bags up some steps.” Applejack said. “And if you were worried about carryin’ them, maybe you shouldn’t have brought so many.” “Well excuse me!” She said, standing indignant. “If I had wanted your opinion, I would have asked for it, you, you-“ “GANGWAY!!!” “What?” Rarity asked just as they were interrupted by another crash of a person that zoomed so fast none of the five assembled saw what knocked them down. “NOT AGAIN!!!” Twilight cried flat on her back. “Time!” The newcomer yelled. “Ten Seconds Flat!” A wispy voice called out, as the second voices shoes came clacking across the ground. “It seems mah lucky apple’s proving it ain’t that lucky…” Applejack moaned. “Okay who is it this time!?” Twilight asked, as she got up, and dragged Spike to his feet. She saw a rainbow-haired girl, already on her feet, and doing some stretches. She was soon joined by another girl with wispy pink hair and a big yellow sweater holding a stopwatch. “Toldya I could do it.” The smaller, Technicolor haired girl said to the second. “I never doubted you for a second Rainbow Dash.” She responded. “Excuse me! Excuse me!” Rarity cried out, trying to get up, and wipe the dirt off her clothes. “But just what was that?” “What was what?” She asked. “The running into us like that!” Rarity exclaimed. “You knocked all five of us down, and knocked my luggage everywhere! Now apologize!” “It’s not my problem. I said gangway, I guess none of you heard me.” She said. “Well in that case you should still apologize!” “Yeah! It’s not nice to bang into people like that!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed jumping to her feet. “Look who’s talking…” Twilight muttered. “Yeah yeah, cry me a river.” The girl said. “Um, um!” The Pinkette cried. “What!?” She said harshly only to have the other girl giving the most adorable puppy dog eyes humanly possible. “Oh fine then. Sorry.” The first one, with short hair streaked in every color of the rainbow, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and indigo. She only wore a pair of aviator goggles to tame it. She had on a pair of tights with painted on blue-jeans short-shorts, with well-made running shoes, and her blue hoodie wrapped by the sleeves around her waist. This left her top half with only her bandaged hands with a single sweatband around her wrist, and her white t-shirt which had the symbol of a rainbow-colored lightning-bolt striking from a cloud. She was a small thing, smaller than all those assembled, save for Spike, standing little less than five feet. She had an athletic body, thin, petite, but well muscled and hard. Her tan face was worn from either too much scowling or two much smirking, and her violet-red eyes spoke of much mischief to be had. The second one was much the opposite to her companion, as soft as the other was hard, timid and small were the other was proud and large, and a full head taller too, filled out in all the right places, and feminine where the other was much more tomboyish. She wore a cream colored sweater, that was probably a size or two too large. It almost managed to cover the light brown skirt she wore above her white tights, and brown lace-up boots. Lastly she wore a yellow scarf wrapped around her neck, and a hair clip which was made to look like a trio of butterfly’s landed and nestled in her long wispy pink hair. She was blessed with a soft timid beauty, like that of a new-born doe. Her pale blue eyes still had a look of concern, worry, and apprehension to them. “Much better.” Rarity said. “At least someone here understands basic manners.” “And you would be?” Applejack asked, wiping her half-eaten apple on her sleeve before taking another bite. “What’s it to you?” The smaller one shot back, before the Pinkette whispered something in her ear. “Oh fine them. I’m Rainbow Dash. This is Fluttershy. We’re here to become huntresses.” “No way!” Pinkie cried. “Howdy.” “Of course you are.” Twilight said. “Spike, I’m beginning to think we should be leaving before the whole student body shows up. Spike?” Spike was too distracted by the vision of beauty before, a little dirty, but far from stained. “An’ what’s a half-pint like you hoping to be doing fighting monsters?” “Half-Pint! Why I oughta!” The Rainbow one said, having to be restrained by her friend. “And you.” She said, turning to Fluttershy, who froze, and shrank under her gaze. “What’s your deal?” “I…. uh…. I………..” She stuttered, seeming like she was practically incapable of responding. “Hey! Leave her alone!” Rainbow Dash said, getting in between them, trying her best to seem intimidating, and not doing a good job against the girl who was two feet taller than her. “Well, ain’t his a hoot and a half!” Applejack cried. “Looks like this year, Starswirl’ll have a Bookworm, a spazz, a fussy know-nothing, a half-pint, and a mute! Competition’ll be real fierce this year!” “Hey!” Twilight said. “Why I never!” Rarity called out. “Hey you!” Rainbow Dash said, invading Applejacks space. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll take back what you said!” “Why, are you going to make me?” Applejack said with a grin, taking a bite from her apple. Rainbow dash growled, her eyes fleeting to Fluttershy, who looked like she was almost going to pass out from anxiety. “You’re not worth it.” Rainbow Dash said. “Come on Fluttershy, let’s go.” She said, grabbing her friends wrist, and leading her up the stairs. Applejack for her credit, simply smirked. “Well then. Here’s to a good year.” She said, as she made her own trek up the stairs, taking another bite from her apple. “Hmmph.” Rarity said, deciding to grab the heaviest of her bags, and begin hauling them up herself. “Well, I’m glad that’s finally over.” Twilight said. “Looks like you’re going to be meeting a lot of interesting people here.” Spike said, grabbing all the bags. “Yeah, looks like.” She said in a resigned tone. “So, where to next new best friend?” Pinkie Pie asked.