“You’ve arrived at Ponyville Station!” shouted a male pony in a tailor suit as he strolled the outside aisles of the train, “All that’s coming aboard, get aboard and all that’s leaving, enjoy your stay in Ponyville.”
Two unicorns were the last to exit the train charts with each of them carrying several large shopping bags with their magic. They both carried an air of superiority compared to the surrounding country folk, whom the fashionista seem to know and greet as her new friend continued to sight see along the way.
The Canterlot city gal seemed intrigued in the simplest of things the countryside offered including the clean fresh air and scenery. One thing Trixie seemed to be dumbfounded about was how nice and welcoming everypony was compared to the rich folk she grew up with. Not just the pretend kindness one uses to put up with one another, but ponies here seem to genuinely like each other.
Ponies greeted everyone they saw on a first name basis, never shying away and giving a delighted smile. Trixie even considered buying a summer home here just to get away when she couldn’t stand the snobs anymore.
“It’s really nice here...” Trixie mumbled to Rarity on their walk.
“That’s a strange thing to hear considering where you grew up,” Rarity replied back to her dazed friend.
“Well, it’s no Royal palace but it’s still really nice,” Trixie debunked, “And everypony here is just so...”
“Ordinary?” Rarity filled in for her with a small grin painted on her face.
“Well yes, but when you live with extraordinary ponies all your life, it gets quite boring. The norm is what’s strange to me nowadays,” Trixie answered back, “Not to mention when you’ve been to all the private schools Canterlot has to offer, a routine eventually sets in: make a name for yourself the first day or become one with the background.”
“I’m guessing you didn’t always get yourself in trouble just to spite a certain mother and sister?” Rarity asked with joking delight.
“Maybe once or twice,” Trixie openly admitted with guilt plastered on her features, “Just for the heck of it.”
“Surely your mother must have run out of private schools to put you in?” Rarity inquired, remembering only a handful of schools in Canterlot off the top of her head.
“As a matter of fact she did,” Trixie answered like it was her greatest life achievement, “Kinda dug myself into a bigger hole since the last resort was homeschooling again. I really didn’t think it through that well.”
“And Twilight, she got kicked out of all the schools as well?” Rarity questioned further, “With the pattern that’s forming it’s safe to guess all your schemes got her into just as much trouble as you did?”
“Someone seems to be a Sherclop Homes around here,” Trixie retorted back as Rarity hit a nerve, but masked her anger with cheerful smile, “It wasn’t as bad now, but back then she got herself into as much trouble if not more just to get me out of the frying pan.”
“Hmm, do tell,” Rarity requested as they pressed on towards her boutique.
|~|~|~|~|~|
“What do you mean we’re going to boarding school?!” Trixie shouted towards Twilight’s turned back. The angered filly watched as her sister levitated several stacks of books into an enchanted suitcase that seemed to be bottomless as she laid upside down on their bed.
“It’s not a boarding school,” Twilight tiredly sighed as she continued their packing, “It’s a private school for gifted unicorns.”
“Same difference Twi!” Trixie exclaimed, “It’s just another school where rich ponies pay to have their fillies and colts locked up and demoralized.”
“I wish you kept an open mind about this,” Twilight tried to argue, “This school is different though. There’s an entrance exam that every student has to take in order to actually be accepted into the school.”
“An entrance exam?” Trixie asked back, slightly worried now. She rolled on the bed to meet Twilight’s eye level, and asked with rapt attention, “What kind of exam pray tell?”
The other filly stopped for a second in sheer shock, holding the books aloof in the air. “I don’t really know yet. According to the brochures, the exam is different for each student as the proctors test for different kinds of talent in each of their students.”
“Huh,” Trixie sighed. “So if one of us doesn’t make it...”
“Then this is goodbye,” Twilight said, as she closed their suitcase with magic. “I really want to get into this school Trixie. I can study the same magic that Starswirl once did, and maybe even meet Princess Celestia,” Twilight said in a daze like she was a some kind of fan.
“How can you say that so easily?!” Trixie shouted as she jumped from their bed. “After all we’ve been through, you’re just gonna say goodbye?!”
“More like what you’ve put me through,” Twilight corrected. She had been prepared for this kind of reaction, but that did not make it easier to calm Trixie down. “It’s not like I am saying goodbye Trixie, I’m just saying that it might be goodbye if you don’t study and prepare for this exam.”
Trixie watched as Twilight levitated a shelf full of books to now in front of her. “What is this for?”
“We are gonna stay up all night, for all the nights, studying until I am sure that you and I can pass this exam with flying colors!” Twilight said back with a smile and cheery tone.
Trixie weighed her options heavily. On one hoof, several dozen nights without sleep could mean another dozen years with Twilight doing her homework. On the other hoof, it would mean she could sleep for several dozen nights. “I’m gonna hate myself...” Trixie sighed as she nodded her head yes.
“Good, because I was gonna make you do it anyways,” Twilight cheered as she leaped atop their bed to join Trixie. “Alright, first subject: recognizing different types of magic and how different colors of magic affect it,” Twilight explained, opening the first of a series of books.
Trixie wanted to bury herself underneath pillows and blankets. She was in for a long night.
|~|~|~|~|~|
“You mean THE School for Gifted Unicorns? Ran by Princess Celestia herself?” Rarity exclaimed, trying to keep her voice from going into a shrill. They had reached the fashionista’s home and workplace, entering in softly as they had arrived very late at night.
“The very one,” Trixie quietly confirmed, feeling a bit of pride in herself. She dimly lit her horn, lighting their way and casting long shadows of the sewing machines. “This is quite a nice setup you’ve got here.”
“Thank you,” Rarity replied, as she magicked the the light switch on. “This is my humble abode; nothing too fancy, but still up to par with those Canterlot workshops I ho-” Rarity was cut short as a sporadic little object collided with chest first, knocking her back as well as making Trixie jump back in surprise.
“What did you get me?! What did you get me?! What did you get me?!” Shrieked a tiny little white coated filly, no older than primary school Trixie guessed.
“Please,” Rarity exclaimed as she magicked the filly off of her chest, “Sweetie Belle, we have a guest. Introduce yourself before you start asking for souvenirs,” Rarity reminded.
“Hello! I’m Sweetie Belle!” the little filly introduced, running around Trixie and examining her. “I’m currently attending Miss Cheerilee’s school and work part time for Rarity, although she works me like a mule and doesn’t pay me,” Sweetie Belle said out loud.
Rarity quickly pulled the little filly back, stuffing a hoof into Sweetie Belle’s mouth to keep her from spewing more things. “Hehehe...” Rarity laughed awkwardly, “Fillies, they say the darnedest things...”
“Sister?” Trixie asked with an understanding look.
“Sister...” Rarity mumbled quietly.
“Hello there Sweetie Belle, I’m Trixie. I’m currently attending Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns and my sister works me to death too,” Trixie smiled back, extending a hoof out.
Sweetie Belle spat Rarity’s hoof out, dislodging herself and accepted the hoofshake Trixie offered. “Nice to meet you Trixie! I haven’t seen you before. Are you not from around here?” She asked politely like Rarity taught her.
“I’m visiting from Canterlot and wanted to have your sister make something for me. It’s for someone special to me. Would you mind helping your sister out?” Trixie asked calmly.
“Can I really?!” Sweetie asked excitedly, jumping up and down and rushing to Rarity.
“You can, but we’ll have to be up early tomorrow, Sweetie Belle. Get to bed or else you won’t get to help me,” Rarity replied, shooting a thankful look to Trixie.
“Alright!” echoed Sweetie Belle as she zoomed upstairs, leaving nothing but a smoke trail.
Rarity sighed, dropping down like she had just had the weight of a mountain atop of her. “I could never get her to do something like that so easily. Thank you for that.”
“No problem about it,” Trixie replied, levitated all their bags to a nearby couch. “I’m minoring in psychology. It’s quite easy to appease a child when you know the works,” Trixie explained as she helped the tired out Rarity into her kitchen.
“That Canterlot school must do wonders then,” Rarity said, retiring to one of the stools around their kitchen table. “Listening is like pulling teeth with her. I always get caught up looking after her and making my deadlines.
“What are sisters for?” Trixie joked, filling a glass of water from the sink. “You can’t live with them and you can’t live without them.”
“Still, with what you and your sister went through, I guess I really shouldn’t be complaining,” Rarity said in modesty. “You two seem so close to one another and put up a lot to be with each other.”
“I guess so,” Trixie replied, shying away and rubbing the back of her head. “I’ve lost a lot of sleep because of her, but I don’t blame her for it.”
“You two passed the exam, correct?” Rarity asked to clarify.
“Of course, with how much sleep I lost?” Trixie replied, “The exam was a breeze, although Twilight did have some trouble at first. She nearly failed and panicked during most of it.”
“Was she nervous?” Rarity asked, taking a sip of water.
“More like she was having a mental breakdown,” Trixie chuckled.
“That bad?”
“Yea, that bad.”