Two weeks had passed since Fillynocchio was brought to life. Rosalia was very happy that she finally had a foal of her own to love and take care of. Though Fillynocchio was still a wooden puppet and couldn't do things normal ponies could do, she never let her limitations bother her. Rosalia used a spare storage room to make a bedroom for her so she could have her own room to sleep in and a place to keep her things. Twinkle Bunny moved his basket bed into Fillynocchio's room so he could watch over her and keep her company. As her conscience, it was his responsibility to make sure she behaved and stayed out of trouble. He had done his best to help Rosalia instruct her the ways of right and wrong, and so far she was doing very well.
Fillynocchio had become very close friends with Flora's daughter, Jezebel. She visited them every day after school and even offered to watch over Fillynocchio when Rosalia and Twinkle weren't around. Rosalia was glad to see how well her new daughter was adjusting to being alive, but still worried how the rest of the Trottingham townsponies would think of her.Only a few ponies had seen her. Though they were kind and understanding, she feared others in Equestria might not like her or that greedy people might try and steal her away because she was a living puppet. Still, Fillynocchio was happy, and everything was perfect. One day, Jezebel stopped by after school. She went to play with Fillynocchio in her room while Rosalia was working in her shop.
"Hey, Jezebel?" Fillynocchio asked her friend. "What's this place you go every day called school like?"
"Oh, well, it's where little colts and fillies go to learn," Jezebel started to explain, "Our teacher, Miss Honey Blossom, is very nice and she teaches us things like math, spelling, reading, and writing, and about the history of Equestria."
Fillynocchio was very interested in this place called school and wanted to know more.
"Do you meet other ponies and make friends with them?" She asked curiously.
"Yes, I have lots of friends at school, and we all play together at recess," Jezebel replied.
"Wow, this school place sounds like fun," Fillynocchio thought, "Do you think maybe I could go to school too?"
Twinkle bunny was sitting on the bed watching and was thinking the same thing.
"Ya know kiddo, that's not a bad idea," said Twinkle hopping down off the bed, "Your mom and I can't teach you everything, and going to school will help you learn how to be a real pony."
When Fillynocchio heard this, she stood up straight and nodded.
"Then I made up my mind," she said determinedly, "I want to go to school to learn to be a real pony."
Twinkle was very proud of the wooden filly´s determination but wasn't sure if Rosalia would agree with her.
"We'll have to ask your mother if she thinks it's a good idea, Fillynocchio," said Twinkle.
The fillies and the bunny left the bedroom and walked into the workshop. Jezebel had never been in here before and was fascinated by all the wooden toys and puppets littered around the room. Rosalia was busy working on making some puppets for a traveling puppet show that was in town when the foals came into the shop.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Fillynocchio shouted excitedly. Rosalia stopped what she was doing and turned to her daughter and her friend.
"What is it, Fillynocchio, sweetie?" Rosalia answered kindly.
"Mommy, is it ok if I go to school with Jezebel?" Fillynocchio asked politely. Rosalia was very surprised by her daughter's request.
"You-you want to go to school?" She replied nervously.
"Uh-huh, I want to learn math, spelling, reading and history, so I can become a real pony and make lots of friends," Fillynocchio explained to her. Twinkle noticed that Rosalia was worried about the idea of her daughter going to school and stepped in.
"If I may, Miss Rose," said Twinkle hopping onto the table, "I think it would be a good idea if she got an education and socialized with other ponies her age."
"But, Twinkle, she's..." Rosalia didn't want to say anything while Fillynocchio was around fearing she might upset her.
"I understand that you're worried about her because she's different, but she can't stay here all the time. She needs to be treated like every other pony in Equestria."
“Twinkle is right, Miss Rose," Jezebel agreed, "I'm sure all the other colts and fillies will love her. And I can look after her and make sure nopony is mean or hurts her."
Rosalia looked at Jezebel and the bunny, and then looked at her Fillynocchio. Though she was concerned for her daughter's' well-being, she knew they were right. She couldn't teach her everything herself, and that she needed to socialize to be accepted by the rest of the town and Equestria. Rosalia thought about it for a minute. Then, breathed calmly and turned to her daughter.
"Alright, you can go to school," She replied with a smile.
"YIPPEE! Yeah!" Fillynocchio cheered and hopped around the workshop like the happy little filly she was, "Thank you, Mommy! You're the best mommy in all of Equestria!"
The wooden filly ran over and hugged her mother's foreleg. Rosalia smiled and placed her other foreleg on her daughter’s back returning the hug. Jezebel was happy too. Now she and Fillynocchio could come to school with her and they could learn and play together every day. Twinkle was very proud of the wooden filly. His duty of being her conscience was paying off, and she seemed to be on the right track. He only hoped she wouldn't stray off that path.
Later that evening, Rosalia went into town to buy some school supplies for Fillynocchio's first day of school. The shopkeepers were very kind to her and told her how lucky she was to have been blessed with a special little foal like her. She was glad these ponies didn't treat her daughter differently because of her appearance. On the way home, she thought back to the night when Princess Luna brought Fillynocchio to life, and how much she had changed her life. She was no longer a sad, lonely mare, but a proud mother.
"Thank you, princess of the night, for gifting me with such a sweet little foal," she said happily and proudly.
The next morning some bells in the chapel were ringing, and everypony in town was out and about. All the little colts and fillies were laughing and shouting as they hurried along to school. Rosalia and Fillynocchio were up bright an early. Rosalia packed her a little saddlebag with a big green spelling book and utensils for her first day of school. Fillynocchio bounced around with the house playfully, barely able to contain her excitement. Once Rosalia got her to calm down, she placed the saddlebag on the wooden filly’s back, adjusted her hat and fixed her bow tie, making sure she looked presentable.
"Here, Fillynocchio, give this apple to your teacher, Miss Honey Blossom," said Rosalia, picking up a shiny red apple with mouth.
"Ok, Mommy," The wooden filly took the apple from her mom with her mouth and stuffed it into her saddlebag. As they walked to the door, she noticed Twinkle bunny wasn't around.
"Wait! Where's Twinkle?" Fillynocchio asked looking around for her furry companion, "I thought he said he was going to come to school with me and help me learn."
"He was up last night helping me with a big order for a puppet show in town, and we got to bed later than usual. Once he wakes up, I'll send him to check up on you. Now you'd better hurry, or you're going to be late," Rosalia told her.
Fillynocchio gave her mother a hug and kiss, and started trotting happily away to school.
"Bye, Mommy!" She stopped and shouted waving her left foreleg in the air.
"Goodbye sweetheart! Have a good day at school!" Rosalia smiled and waved back. She watched her until she was out of sight then trotting cheerfully back into the house. As Fillynocchio was trotting happily along, she spotted her friend Jezebel and ran towards her.
"Jezebel!" She shouted to her friend.
"Fillynocchio!"
When the two fillies met, they greeted each other like they always did with their special song and dance.
"Sunshine, sunshine. Ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" They laughed and hugged each other.
"So, are you ready for to go to school, Fillynocchio?" Jezebel asked her friend.
"Yup! I'm ready to learn and make lots of friends so I can become a real pony like you," Fillynocchio cheered happily jumping up and down with excitement.
"Alright then, let's go! I can wait to introduce you to everypony,"
Jezebel led the way as they trotted side-by-side through the town on the path that led to the school house. Farther away ahead, two tall yellow stallions were trotting casually along. They both had short red and white manes and tails. They wore light brown derby hats on their heads and a red and white striped vest with blue bow ties. They were Unicorns. One had a red mustache and his cutie mark was a dollar symbol. The other stallion's cutie mark was a wagon wheel. They were pulling a large wooden cart with a sign that read: "The Wheel and Deal brothers"
"Here we are, brother, Trottingham! The town of opportunity!" said Wheel to his brother, lifting his right foreleg in the air.
"You say that every time we enter and new town, brother," replied Deal, not feeling as opportunistic as his sibling.
"Yes, but this time I can feel it, Brother! This town is filled with ponies to swindle, and soon we'll make it BIG!"
"If you say so, brother," Deal said rolling his eyes.
"I do say so, brother," Wheel boasted.
Just then, a group of colts and fillies came galloping past the two brothers, shouting and laughing, making their way to school.
"Look at them, brother, all those little colts and fillies hurrying along to school. Tiny minds rushing to the fountain of knowledge. Ha!" Wheel laughed, "What has school ever done for us?"
"We were always skipping school and swindling other ponies, and that's why mum kicked us out for following in dad's hoof steps. And look where that got us, we’re broke!" Deal replied.
"I'm telling you, brother; this is the town where we're going to make it big! And with our latest scheme we'll..."
Suddenly something caught Wheel's attention. Hanging on the side of a wall was a large poster with a picture of a large creature that looked like a blue bull. However, he was standing on his hind legs and had hands instead of hooves. He wore a big green coat with a white shirt, a red tie and a big top hat. There were pictures of marionettes dancing on a stage and above them it read: "The magnificent Strombully’s traveling puppet show'.
"Well, well, look who it is, brother!" said Wheel pointing his left hoof to the poster.
"It's our of pal, Strombully the Minotaur! That old rascal!" Deal chuckled.
"Remember the time I tried to pass you off as a puppet by tying strings on you?" Wheel asked.
"Oh yes, we nearly pulled one over on the old gypsy that time, brother!” They both laughed hysterically as the continued along.
At that moment, Fillynocchio and Jezebel came around the corner and were heading straight towards them.
"Good morning!" The fillies chanted as they passed the two stallions.
"Good morning, little fillies!" Wheel replied as they trotted by. Suddenly realizing what had just passed by, the brother spun their heads around and looked back.
"Brother! Did you just see that?" Wheel gasped.
"A wooden filly!" Deal replied.
They unhooked themselves from their wagon and ran after them. They ducked behind a corner and poked their head outs. They were both astonished when they saw Fillynocchio trotting away with her friend.
"I-I can't believe what I'm seeing right now, brother!" said Wheel.
"A living puppet that can move and talk without strings or unicorn magic to operate it!" Deal replied. Suddenly Wheel got a greedy idea.
"You see brother? I told you there was opportunity in this town! That little wooden foal is worth a fortune!" said wheel.
"I think you might on to something this time, brother," Deal agreed with his brother. "All we have to do is sell her off to the right purchaser, but who?"
The brothers pondered for a few seconds then remembered the poster they saw.
"That's it! Strombulli! A living puppet would be perfect for his show and would certainly bring big crowds. We pawn her off to him and well make out like bandits!" Wheel explained.
"But brother, how do we get our hoofs on her? If she's alive she can probably think for herself," Deal asked.
"Just leave it to me, brother. Persuading ponies is my special talent you know," Wheel boasted and grinned. "Quickly, brother! Let's get ahead of them!"
The brothers ran after the foals and managed to get ahead of them without being seen. They stopped hind a wall and poked their heads out. When they saw the girls approaching they grinned wickedly and pulled their head in.
"Here they come, brother, now just follow my lead," Wheel whispered putting his plan into motion.
"I'll follow you, brother," replied Deal. He knew what his brother was planning.
Wheel turned around and pretended to be having a normal conversation with his brother acting like nothing was going on. As the fillies approach, Wheel stuck his left back leg out from behind the wall. Fillynocchio tripped over him and fell to the ground making a loud wood clattering sound. Jezebel tripped too and fell on top of her friend.
"OH Goodness! How terribly clumsy of me!" Shouted wheel trotting over to Fillynocchio and helping her up, "I'm terribly sorry my dears, I didn't see you coming!"
"Please forgive my clumsy brother little ones, neither of you are hurt are you?" asked Deal as he helped Jezebel up.
"I'm alright Sirs, said Fillynocchio, adjusting her heat that had fallen over her face, "Are you okay, Jezebel?"
"Ya, I'm alright," Jezebel replied fixing her ribbon.
"Oh that's splendid news, right brother?" Wheel breathed a sigh of relief.
"Indeed brother," Deal agreed nodding his head.
"Hey, I don't think I've seen you two ponies around here before?" said Jezebel.
"Ahem, allow us to introduce ourselves my dear fillies. He's Wheel," said Deal pointing to his brother.
"He's Deal," said Wheel mimicking his brother.
"We're the world famous-Wheel and Deal Brothers!" They chanted as they stood proudly on their hind legs back-to-back with their fore hooves tipping their hats.
"The Wheel and Deal Brothers?" Fillynocchio asked looking at Jezebel. She lifted her right hoof and looked at her, confused. Clearly she had never heard of them.
"We're travelling sales ponies," said Wheel, bowing, and lifted his hat.
"We travel Equestria and sell things to ponies," Deal finished the sentence bowing and lifting his hat as well.
"That's very nice, but we don't have time to talk. Come on, Fillynocchio, we're going to be late!" said Jezebel trying pull her friend along.
"Ok," She replied.
The foals tried to continue on their way to school when Wheel leaped in front of them preventing them from leaving.
"Forgive us for holding you up, but where are you two off to in such a hurry?" Wheel asked.
"My friend and me are going to school," Fillynocchio told them, "I'm going to learn and make lots of friends so I become a real pony."
"School eh, why, of course. But you know there's always the easy road to success," said Wheel.
"The easy road to success, what's that?" Fillynocchio asked curiously.
"Why I'm speaking my little pony, of the theater! Bright lights, music, and the applause from many ponies," Wheel explained kneeling down trying to persuade her.
"It's the opportunity of a lifetime, my dear! You can sing and dance on stage while the crowds cheer for you. You'd be a star!" said Deal.
"A star?" Fillynocchio asked, becoming interested.
"Exactly! And with that personality, the profile, and physique. She's natural born actor, right brother?" asked Wheel winking.
"Indeed, brother," Deal agreed.
"Wow, I'd really like to go to the theater and sing and dance for everypony!" said Fillynocchio with excitement.
"But Fillynocchio, I thought you wanted to go to school," said Jezebel reminding her of their original destination.
"Aw, but I want to be a star and perform for everypony," Fillynocchio complained. Jezebel wasn't sure about this idea, but hated seeing her friend sad.
"Ok, then." She agreed.
"Yeah! I'm going to be a star!" Fillynocchio cheered happily.
"You made the right choice, my little pony," said Wheel, "Why I can see your name in light six feet high! Wait! What's your name again?"
"Fillynocchio," She replied.
"FILLYNOCCHIO! F-I-L-L-E eh, C-O...uh? Wait! That's not.." Wheel scratched his head not sure how to spell her name.
"Nevermind it. Come with us my dear, we'll show you to the theater," said Deal holding out his left hoof.
"OK, come on, Jezebel, let's go!" Fillynocchio cheered happily pulling her friend along.
"Fillynocchio, I have to go to school," said Jezebel.
"Please come with me!" Fillynocchio begged her, "I don't want to go alone, and I want you there to cheer for me."
Normally Jezebel wouldn't consider skipping school. But she also remembered that she promised to keep an eye on Fillynocchio when her mother and Twinkle weren't around.
"Well...Ok, I'll come with you," She finally agreed.
"Is it ok, if my friend comes too? I want her to see perform," Fillynocchio asked Wheel and Deal.
"I don't see why not, do you brother?" Wheel asked.
“Not at all, brother the more, the merrier I say," Deal nodded.
"Come my little ponies! To the theater!"
The foals happily followed the brothers as the led them away from school and towards Strombulli's puppet theater. Meanwhile, Twinkle bunny was running through the town on all our legs in a big hurry.
“I can't believe I overslept! Fine conscience I am!" He huffed and puffed as he raced through the streets, "Hopefully, Fillynocchio got to school on time and didn't get into any trouble,"
As he stopped to catch his breath, two yellow stallions passed came around the corner. It were the Wheel and Deal brothers. He was about to continue on his way when he turned around and saw two fillies trotting alongside them, heading away from school.
"Fillynocchio and Jezebel! Where are those foals going with those stallions?" Twinkle sensed they were heading for trouble and hopped after them. He had to get them away from those shady ponies and to school. He managed to get ahead of them, and as they approached he picked up two small rocks and throw them at Wheel and Deal. Both rocks hit them in the face, and they stopped.
"Hey! What did you throw a rock at me for?" Wheel said in anger.
"I didn't throw a rock, you threw one at me!" Deal yelled back.
"No, you threw it at me!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
While the brother argued with each other, Twinkle ducked behind an alley and called to Fillynocchio and Jezebel.
"Psst! Girls! over here!" He whispered. The foals saw him waving and followed him into the alley.
"Twinkle, what are you doing here?" Fillynocchio asked him.
"What am I doing here? I'm the one who should be asking you what you and Jezebel are doing with those two shady creeps," Twinkle asked folding his paws and looking angry.
"I'm going to be a star at Strombulli's puppet theater," Fillynocchio explained to him.
"Now hold on there, kiddo! Remember what I told you before about temptations?" Twinkled reminded her.
"Uh-huh," she nodded.
"Well, that's them!" Twinkle pointed to the two stallions still arguing with each other.
"That's not their names, Twinkle! That's Mister Wheel and Mister Deal," Fillynocchio and Jezebel laughed.
"That's not what I meant!" said Twinkle putting his paw over his face.
Wheel and Deal finally stopped arguing when they realized the girls had vanished.
"Great! Now our Goldmine has wondered off!" Wheel yelled in fustigation.
"They couldn't have gone too far, brother," said Deal as they started looking around for them. While they were searching, Twinkle still talking with the girls.
“Alright, Filly, here's what we'll do,” Twinkle instructed her, "You tell those ponies out there that you can't go to the theater. You’re sorry but you and Jezebel have to go to school. And remember to be polite."
"Ok, Twinkle," Fillynocchio replied happily. Just then, they heard the brother calling for them. Twinkle hide behind a wooden barrel.
"Fillynocchio! Where are you, dear?" Wheel called out.
"Here they come, now you go tell them," Twinkle told her. The spotted them as they emerged from the alley.
"There you are my dears, we were afraid you'd gotten lost, now where were we?" Said wheel.
"On to the theater!" Deal cheered raising his left hoof.
Twinkle poked his head out and lifted his hat hoping to hear Fillynocchio tell them what he had told her to say.
"Bye, Twinkle! See ya later!" Fillynocchio called to him.
"WHAT! Goodbye!" Twinkle gasped. He jumped out and saw the girls foolishly walking away with the brothers.
"Fillynocchio you can't..." But it was too late, they were out of sight.
"Oh great, what do I do now?" He wondered. At first he thought about going to tell Rosalia. "No, she's my responsibility. I'll go after her myself."
Following his responsibility, he hopped after them hoping he could stop them before something bad happened.
End of chapter-6