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Sweetie Belle and the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
11
The sun was not up quite yet, and yet, Sweetie Belle was prancing on the spot, staring up at Madam Pomfrey with her big, glistening green eyes and a pout on her lips.
“Pleeeeeeaaaaase may I go? I don't have a lot of time.”
“No, and that's that. You're still glittery from that dust.” Madam Pomfrey crossed her arms, doing her damn best to avoid looking at the filly.
Sweetie Belle would not have any of it. She came around in front of the plump woman, her weapon systems fully armed and ready to fire. And fire she did. “But I can use my magic again and all I need to do is take a bath to get the glitter out of my coat and mane. Pwetty pwease?”
By all the forces of the darkest magic there are... If this filly had faced Voldamort those long years ago, he would have been blasted to cinders from this filly's blasted glare... This is what Madam Pomfrey was thinking the moment she made eye contact. “Fine... You can go.”
“Thank you Madam Pomfrey.” Sweetie Belle nuzzled up against the woman's knee before galloping from the ward.
“Don't... run...” Pomfrey started to say, but the Unicorn was already gone. “She's got more than just magic to deal with her problems, that's for sure. That, and she certainly is quick on her feet... er, hooves...”
Sweetie Belle galloped quickly through the halls, all the way back to those annoying moving staircases, but thankfully they were on her side for once. She rushed up to the painting of the fat woman and spoke the password. “Candycane Drumsticks.”
The Fat Woman smiled fondly at the little filly who had on occasion just sat and chatted with her. “Hello there Sweetie Belle, come on in.” She swung aside and let the smallest ever Griffondor enter.
Once in, Sweetie Belle rushed past a couple early to rise students and into her room. She skidded to a stop in front of a washing pan in her room and quickly washed out the glitter. After drying off and quickly combing her mane, she stepped in front of the mirror and beamed in delight. Her horn lit up with soft green magic, sparkling and shimmering as the reflective surface changed to show the room in the Golden Boughs Library.
And standing on the other side...
...
The two students who were awake already heard the sounds of laughter and joy emerging from the former store room. Voices they didn't recognize at all.
“Hey Berty? What's going on in Sweetie Belle's room?”
“How should I know Fernandus.” The boy shrugged, looking over the back of the chair he sat in. “It sounds like... no... that rumor couldn't have been true...”
“What rumor?”
Berty gulped, almost dreading what may be emerging from that room at any moment. “You know how adorable Sweetie Belle is, right?”
A simple nod.
“Imagine that tripled.”
Fernandus blinked his dark brown eyes and pushed his messy brown hair from his face. “Wait, what rumor? Does she know some duplication spell or something?”
“Worse...” Berty really liked Sweetie Belle. She was smart, funny, kind and talented. “She has special permission from both the Ministry of Magic and Headmistress McGonnogal to have...” He didn't get to finish as the door opened and Sweetie Belle emerged, followed moments later by a pair of other like sized ponies.
One was orange with purple mane, tail and eyes. She sported a pair of small wings that buzzed as quickly as a humming birds, yet she remained on the floor.
The second one was a soft yellow coated little filly with neatly combed red mane and tail, and sported a red bow in her mane to keep it out of her amber eyes.
“Oh no...” Fernandus scrambled back from his place on the sofa. “My heart can barely handle one of them.”
Sweetie Belle and the other two approached. “Hello Berty, Fernandus.” Sweetie Belle beamed cutely. “May I introduce my two best friends in Equestria? This is Scootaloo.” She gestured a hoof at the pegasus. “And this is Applebloom.” She then gestured to the pony that had no horn or wings.
“Hiya.” Scootaloo waved a wing at the pair of boys. “Wow, you're huge. Sweetie Belle, your letters never said how big they were.”
“Howdy.” Applebloom grinned at the boys. “An' so what if they're big? They're real nice to Sweetie Belle, ain't that right?”
Sweetie Belle nodded. “They're all so nice, well, aside from a rare few, but here in House Griffondor, everyone is really nice.”
Berty stared at the pair for a moment, then spoke. “Hi. I'm Berty Timble. This is Fernandus Griswold.”
“Pleasure t' make yer aqua... awk... er, nice t' meetcha.” Applebloom struggled for a moment.
Fernandus groaned softly. “Er, nice to meet you too. Um, I have some homework I need to finish.” He jumped up and rushed up a flight of stairs.
Berty watched him run off and smirked. “Yea, Fernandus has a bit of an allergy to cute things. I think.”
Sweetie Belle had learned this and tended to leave the other boy alone. “That's ok Berty.”
“Hey, I'm not cute.” Scootaloo puffed her cheeks out, looking slightly indignant.
“Sure ya are Scoots. Yer just adorable.” Applebloom teased.
“Am not.”
“Are too.”
Sweetie Belle stopped them by nuzzling them both. “Oh come on now. No fighting. Let's go say hello to the Headmistress.”
“She's that cool Earth Pony who can become a cat, right?” Scootaloo really liked her for some reason.
“Um, yea, she can become a cat.” Sweetie Belle hid a giggle behind a hoof. “Come on, let's get going before everyone else is up.”
Applebloom and Scootaloo nodded and followed their Unicorn friend from the commons room and out into the hallways with the moving stairs.
“What the heck?” Applebloom stared as the stairway before them shifted.
“Looks like we're taking the long way.” Sweetie Belle sighed.
“Have a good day Sweetie Belle.” The Fat Lady waved.
Scootaloo and Applebloom both jumped and hid behind their friend.
“The hay? Did that painting just talk?” Applebloom stared.
“Whoa! That's so cool.” Scootaloo came out from hiding. It wasn't cool to be startled after all. She came up and pressed a hoof against the painting. “Wow, it IS a painting. This place is awesome.”
“You have yet to see the rest of the place." The Fat Lady beamed. “Now, off with you.”
Sweetie Belle dragged her friends off up some stairs, then down a number of halls, across some battlements, then into a thick tower. From there, they wound up and down stairs, through halls, a few empty rooms, and finally into the courtyard.
By now, other students were up and about, and all could only stare at the trio of ponies as they cantered, trotted and occasionally galloped trough the halls and yard. Many had similar thoughts. “Oh no... there's MORE of them now?” Many could feel cavities forming just from watching the trio as they talked, laughed and occasionally chased each other in circles. Even the few teachers who saw them got out of their way.
“Ok, now I know where I am.” Sweetie Belle beamed as she recognized the courtyard. “This way to the Headmistress' office.” And once again she led her friends, this time certain of where they were going.
“Wait.” Applebloom paused. “Ya tellin me you was lost?”
“Not lost, just turned around and not fully sure where we were.”
“That's what I would call lost.” Scootaloo hopped up onto the stair's railing, leading inside.
Sweetie Belle shrugged. “Well, you can't really get lost here. I've learned that you can always get to where you need to go, no matter which way you take to get there. I think I got to the Astronomy Tower once by going through the dungeons.”
“That don't make no sense.” Applebloom raised an eyebrow.
“But it's true.” Sweetie Belle said as she started climbing the stairs with Applebloom right beside her. Scootaloo hopped off the railing and buzzed her wings and managed to land at the top of the short flight of stone steps.
“I believe you Sweetie Belle. I was counting which floor we were on, and I think we went from the fourth floor at one point to entering this outside room thing.”
“Courtyard.” Sweetie Belle corrected her friend. “I come here to study and eat my lunch sometimes.” She led the pair inside, through the entry hall, which had the two visitors gawking and rubbernecking at all the amazing sights. Up the stairs, then through some more halls till they finally stopped at a spiraling staircase that was nestled in an alcove.
Sweetie Belle led her friends up the steep stairs and into a grand office that had to have more books than their own Princess' library home.
“Golly, sure are a lotta books and knicknacks.”
“There most certainly are.” A familiar voice came from further in the room. Stepping into view was the tallest being two of the fillies had ever seen.
“Hello Headmistress McGonnagal.” Sweetie Belle greeted the head teacher politely.
“What?” Scootaloo stared at the woman. “No way that's the same magic using Earth Pony we met back in Ponyville. She's not even a pony.”
Applebloom swatted Scootaloo. “Cause the mirror turned her into a pony when she came to Ponyville, remember?”
“Ow. Oh yea, I remember now. So you're really her? That awesome pony?”
Minerva smiled softly and nodded. “Yes I am Scootaloo. It is a pleasure to see the both of you again. Now, I have a few rules I need to lay down for all three of you.”
“Rules?” Scootaloo frowned.
Again she was swatted by Applebloom. “There's gotta be rules. This IS a school after all, right Ms. McGonnagal?”
“Right you are Applebloom. Now, come over and have a seat.” She gestured to a large (to the CMC) chair.
Sweetie Belle scrambled up onto the chair and helped her friends up, then they all sat down. Sweetie Belle in the middle with Applebloom to her right and Scootaloo to her left.
“First, do not leave, or attempt to leave school grounds. Second, do not enter the Dark Forest. It's very dangerous in there and you can easily get lost, killed, or worse.”
“What's worse than getting killed?” Applebloom asked.
Sweetie Belle hugged Applebloom. “You do not want to know.”
“Right you are Sweetie Belle.” Minerva nodded. “And third, stay out of the kitchen. If you are hungry, go to the main hall and take a seat. Food will be provided for you.”
Scootaloo and Applebloom nodded. “We understand.” They said in unison.
“Now, off with you, and please try to stay out of trouble.” Minerva never lost that soft smile. Sweetie Belle certainly had formed a fond spot in her heart, shared by Harry Potter and a few other special students.
“Thank you Ma'am/Miss/Headmistress.” The trio chimed and headed out of the office.
Scootaloo reached the bottom of the steps first, followed by Sweetie Belle, who was now fairly used to steep steps, and finally by Applebloom, who only managed to get down without tumbling because she was used to ladders back home.
“So, where to first?” Scootaloo asked excitedly.
Sweetie Belle thought for a moment. Suddenly her face lit up. “I know what we can do first. Back to my room so I can pick something up.”
…
An hour later.
“Finally, we made it.” Scootaloo flopped onto the carpeted floor of the common room, mostly ignoring all the stares that she and Applebloom were receiving.
Sweetie Belle trotted into her room to fetch whatever it was that she wanted to fetch. She had not told either of her friends, only saying that it was something totally awesome.
Applebloom sat next to Scootaloo, looking at all the human children that were looking back at the pair.
Sweetie Belle emerged from her room, levitating something long, flat and narrow, wrapped in cloth, and saw the following scene.
Scootaloo was being hugged by Janna. Said human looked to be in heaven while said pegasus looked to be less than impressed, unable to escape and only able to buzz her wings.
Applebloom was sitting on Mary's lap, her hair ribbon undone and was having her mane combed. She looked to actually be enjoying the attention, and totally loving the girl's fingers as they stroked her back.
The rest of the House were sitting around asking the pair all sorts of questions, which Applebloom was doing well to answer. Scootaloo looked like she was about to give in to the hugs when she spotted Sweetie Belle and something that she swore she recognized.
With a burst of power from her wings, she shot free from Janna's hugs and hovered for a few seconds in front of Sweetie Belle before landing on her face with a soft thud. “Is... is that what I think it is?”
Sweetie Belle nodded. “It's my Cloud Skimmer that everyone helped me make. Let's go outside and I'll show you how it works.”
…
Three fillies, and about a dozen Griffindor students of all ages were now out in the large yard where flight training took place.
Sweetie Belle unwrapped her board and let it hover next to her as she used her unicorn magic to fold the cloth and set it aside to keep it clean.
“Ok, I'll show you how this works.” The white Unicorn hopped onto the board, and she crouched slightly before leaning forward. The board took off suddenly, and Sweetie Belle was able to control it really well, despite not being a natural flier. She showed off to her friends, both equine and human.
Many of her fellow Griffondors had not seen her flying board till now, and they were all impressed that she, along with a couple teachers, had created such an interesting magic item.
After flying about, she came in for a landing and hopped off the board. “So, what do you think?”
Applebloom nudged it with a hoof. “All I can say is wow.”
“Can I try it?” Scootaloo's eyes were shining brightly as she stared at the board, and most likely the only means she'd ever have to be able to fly.
“I don't know...” Sweetie Belle gave a teasing grin. “Ok, but please don't break it.”
Scootaloo let out a whoop of joy and hopped onto the board, crouched like Sweetie Belle had, and quickly flapped her wings.
In less than a second, Scootaloo was airborne, and whipping around the courtyard with amazing speed and agility. Sweetie Belle had not come close to being able to fly the board like this, and all she could do was stare in awe.
Scootaloo climbed higher and higher, somehow not once loosing grip on the Cloud Skimmer, thanks to certain enchantments. She twisted, turned and even flipped upside down, and still stayed with the board.
She pushed it, even performing a few of her own scooter based stunts, as well as some of the easier ones she'd seen Rainbow Dash pull.
For nearly half an hour the filly flew free from the ground that had held her for all her life (aside from the many times they got airtime while flying or being flung by some of their attempts at earning their cutie marks).
But finally she came in for a landing and hopped off the board, breathing heavily and sporting the hugest grin anypony had ever seen on the young Pegasus before.
“That was so awesome.”
Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were staring at their friend in awe.
Well, less at her and more at her flank.
“Scootaloo...” Applebloom moved around to get a better look. “Oh mah gosh! Ya got yer cutie mark!”
Scootaloo.exe took a moment to register the comment, then spread her wings and looked.
It looked like a purple Cloud Skimmer with white wings and a rainbow trail behind it.
“Oh... My... GOSH!!!” Scootaloo jumped at her friends and hugged them tightly, swinging them around and dancing with joy. “I got it. I finally got it. I love my cutie mark so much!”
Sweetie Belle and Applebloom hugged Scootaloo back as she swung them around till someone spoke.
“What the hell? There's more of them? What's this place coming too when they allow such an infestation.”
“And that would be Phineas Malphoy...” Sweetie Belle replied, less than pleased that he would show up at any time, least of all when her best friends were visiting.
“Who?” Scootaloo asked, then spotted the platinum blond boy glaring at them. “Oh, somepony new. Hello.”
“Ugh... a winged one that can't fly on it's own. Just like a...”
“Don'cha dare say it.” Applebloom growled at the boy.
“A flightless chicken.”
Applebloom screamed and launched herself at the startled Malphoy boy, but was caught in midair as he whipped out his wand and muttered some words the filly didn't understand. “Hey! Put me down!”
“Alright, I will. You're a runt and you stink of a barn.” Phineas laughed.
His laughing stopped when he found over a dozen wands pointing at him, as well as a glowing green horn and a really annoyed looking pegasus who was hovering on that blasted fireproof washboard.
“Fine, you can't take a joke.” He flicked his wand and sent Applebloom flying through the air, only to be caught by Scootaloo with the greatest of ease. “Pathetic mules.” He spun on his heel and started to storm off.
“Phineas, wait.” Sweetie Belle called out.
The boy stopped and looked back over his shoulder. “Why should I?”
“Can't we just get along? I have nothing against you, so why are you always so mean to me?”
“Because you are a barnyard animal.”
“Hey, that's not a nice thing to say about Applebloom.” Scootaloo hollered back.
Phineas burst out laughing. “A chicken and a mule and a witch wannabe. You three are perfect for each other.” He then walked off, chuckling the whole way.
Applebloom frowned as Scootaloo set her back on her beloved ground. “Ah can mix up a potion that can make him grow a bushy beard. Ah bet that'd be really funny.”
Scootaloo was in full agreement with Applebloom. “Oh, can we Sweetie Belle? He insulted us, so why can't we get back at him?”
“I don't know.”
“Please?” Dual puppydog eyes.
Let's make a special note here. Humans are largely unable to withstand a single filly giving the puppydog eyes. Some may be able to resist though. But two of them at once?
“Go for it Sweetie Belle.” Berty nodded. “I'm sure you can get some stuff to make a potion from the potion's classroom.”
The rest of the students, even the responsible ones like Mary, were all in agreement.
Let us add a secondary note here. Those capable of properly using the puppydog eyes are oddly resistant to the same technique.
Sweetie Belle shook her head. “I don't want to do anything to hurt anyone. Phineas is just a meany, just like Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. Have we ever done anything to get back at them?”
“No...” Applebloom and Scootaloo hung their heads in defeat.
“But we totally should.” Scootaloo added.
Applebloom shook her head. “Sweetie Belle is right. Ain't no way I'm gonna sink down to their level. I'm not gonna be no snake in the grass like them.”
Sweete Belle hugged Applebloom. “I'm so glad to hear you say that.”
“It's true Sweets. Ain't no way I'm gonna do that. Aj would be downright mad at me if I pulled something like that.” She then tapped her chin. “So, what's this about a potions class?” She grinned.
…
Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Applebloom had somehow gotten away from the humans who seemed dead set on following them around to watch them all day.
But the Cutie Mark Crusaders had finally done so.
Scootaloo was so pleased she'd gotten her cutie mark, and Sweetie Belle had totally agreed to her request to make her her own Cloud Skimmer, once all the materials had been sent over for her to make it with.
Applebloom couldn't stop staring at Scootaloo's cutie mark and having a mix of feelings. Sure, she was really happy for Scootaloo and 100% proud, but at the same time, she was a little jealous that said Pegasus had been the first to get her mark.
“Say Sweetie Belle?” Scootaloo paused in following her friend. “Where are we exactly?”
“We're in the dungeons.” Came the reply from Sweetie Belle. “We're going to say hello to Prof. Snape.”
Applebloom giggled. “These humans have such silly names.”
“Our names are silly to them you know.” Sweetie Belle countered. “But that's ok. It hasn't stopped me from making friends here.”
Applebloom and Scootaloo nodded, and resumed following.
They finally reached an open door and entered the room.
Inside was a tall man wearing black robes. He turned around and spotted Sweetie Belle. “Why hello. It's not like you to come to this class when you don't have to.”
“Hello Prof. Snape.” She greeted Rettimus with a smile. “While potions are nowhere near my best or favorite class, my friend here, Applebloom, is pretty good with potions.”
Rettimus blinked and only now noticed the other two little ponies. One was orange with purple mane, and had something long and flat wrapped in cloth balanced on her back, and the other was yellow with red mane and tail.
“You... don't say? Are they new students who arrived late?” He eyed the trio carefully.
Applebloom shook her head. “No sir. We're friends of Sweetie Belle's. We got special permission to come visit from the Mistral of Magic.”
“Ministry.” Sweetie Belle corrected.
“Right, that, and Headmistress McGonnagal.”
Rettimus nodded. “All teachers have been made aware of this, and we have all been asked to at least keep an eye on the three of you to make certain you cause no trouble.” He walked over, his cloak billowing behind him till he stood over the three. “Now, why exactly have you come here?”
“I'm learning about potions an stuff like that from Princess Twilight. Ah was curious what differences there are in Equestrian potions and your potions.”
This caught Snape's attention. “Equestrian potions you say? Well, I am always interested in learning more about the art of alchemy. Come on in and let us compare knowledge.”
Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “This is going to be boring, isn't it?”
Sweetie Belle shook her head. “Not at all. Potions class is interesting. I'm just not that good at it.” She giggled as Applebloom and Rettimus started talking. Applebloom even pulled out her own book on potions from somewhere, most likely from within her tail or mane. Earth Ponies seemed to have that ability where Unicorns and Pegasai had it to a lesser degree.
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo played some games with a deck of cards, using the Cloud Skimmer as a table top while Applebloom learned some new things about potions, and even taught some to someone who had thought themselves to be a potions master.
No, Applebloom didn't get her cutie mark like Scootaloo did, but she certainly had some good basic knowledge of potions, and Rettimus was impressed.
“I do not normally ask this, but Applebloom, would you be interested in learning about potions from me?”
“Would I? You bet!” She then frowned. “But I'm only allowed to visit on weekends.”
Rettimus understood this, and pulled out a first year's book on potions and held it out for Applebloom. “There's plenty to learn in this book. Give it to your Princess Twilight, so she may read it over and I am more than certain that she will be able to teach you. When you next come and visit, you can show me what you have learned.” He also wrote some notes on a scroll. “Try to make these two potions and bring them back to show me. Don't open the scroll till after your Princess has read the book. Let her read the scroll as well, I have added some instructions.” He smirked. “I get the feeling you can eventually learn to be a potions master in your own right.”
Applebloom nodded and took her book back, after Prof. Snape had cast a copy spell on it. She then stowed it away, along with the book and scroll she'd been given.
“Now, I have much work I need to complete. It is nearing lunch time, so I suggest you go get something to eat.”
Sweetie Belle nodded, her stomach choosing that exact moment to remind her that she had not had breakfast.
…
Another paper crane landed in the outstretched hand. “There are two more magic talking ponies. Not much is known, but one is a Pegasus. Will contact you later with more information.”
“So there are more of them, are there? I wonder, will we be able to catch them as well? We could triple our income if we can.” The woman grinned at her shorter companion.
“We still have to wait for them to leave the school.”
“Soon my dear Crunk Burger. Soon.”
To Be Continued...