//------------------------------// // Day Two: School // Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Fate // by Kujo Blaze //------------------------------// It’s almost seven thirty. Sweetie and Pinkie have already left for their morning club practice. I went to school early yesterday because Applejack wanted me to, but I leave my house at the usual time today. I run into an unusual scene when I reach the intersection. Several police cars are parked outside a house. Something must have happened, as it’s noisy and lots of ponies are surrounding the area. “Hm?” I’m curious, but I cannot tell what’s going on with all the ponies surrounding it. I have no time, so I should prioritize school. I reach school ten minutes before the bell. I enter the main gate as usual. “Hey, morning Storm.” I bump into a familiar mare student. “What, you’ve not changed yet, Lyra? It’s almost homeroom, you shouldn’t have time to say hello to me.” “Ahahaha! You’re right. You’re cold as always, Storm!” She laughs as if something is really funny. Lyra… She was my classmate in first year, and she’s now the captain of the archery club. She’s very insightful, and everypony expected her to become captain since the first year. …Well, in other words, her mental age is older than her real age, so she’s been the older sister type everypony counts on since she was a first year. Though, she gets mad when ponies say that. According to her, she’s not that old. “Huh? Were you just thinking badly of me?” “I wouldn’t dream of it. I was just thinking objectively about the truth. Though, it’s up to you if you want to feel angry about it.” “Oh, you don’t say. That’s good. You answered honestly, but you never revealed what you were thinking about. You don’t let your guard down like Trixie does.” “Trixie? What does she have to do with this?” “Because you ponies are friends. You’re the only stallion friend she has, right? And you might have forgotten, but I’m the captain of the archery club. Don’t you think it’s only natural for me to connect the current problem student and the problem student that quit?” “Yeah, that’s certainly natural. The archery club has nothing to do with it, but I certainly do have an unsavory and inseparable relationship with her.” “Oh, that makes me mad. You get so cold when talking about the archery club. You’ve got it nice. You left Trixie behind and just quit. Couldn’t you think about those who were left, like me and Sweetie?” “Hmm. Did Trixie do something again?” “A day doesn’t pass when she doesn’t do something. …But still, yesterday was a bit too much. She even made a stallion from the first year quit.” Lyra sighs seriously. It’s rare for her to make a face like this, but even more than that, I can’t ignore what she just said. “What’s that? A student quit? Why?” “Trixie took her anger out on him. She got loads of mare students around and made the stallion, who was barely started handling bows, shoot. She laughed at him until he hit the target.” “Huh!? And you let that happen!?” “Of course I didn’t! But a captain’s busy, you know? I can’t always be in the gym. You know that.” “That’s true, but what the hell was Trixie thinking? She does teach very harshly, but she’s not the type to make fun of ponies like that.” “…I’m surprised. You really are like that.” “Hm, what do you mean by that? Were you thinking badly of me?” “Oh, I was just thinking objectively about the truth. So it’s up to you if you want to feel angry about it.” “…Stop copying me. Fine, but what about Trixie? Why did she act like that?” “Hmm, from what I heard, it was something like getting turned down harshly by Rarity.” “Huh? You mean, that Rarity?” “There’s no other Rarity at our school. I’m talking about the honor student in class 2-A, Miss Perfect, Rarity Jewel.” “…I don’t think I’ve heard that nickname before.” It’s the first time I’ve heard the nickname, but I would probably agree with it. With Rarity involved, I can understand even Trixie getting turned down, and most of all… If it was Rarity, I can see her refusing her mercilessly. “Anyways, Trixie’s been like this since yesterday. That’s why I’ve had to keep an eye on the gym until now today.” “Trixie has a nasty temper. I know it’s hard, but keep up the hard work, Lyra.” “Okay, okay. But Trixie never knows when to stop, you know? I feel like she’ll do something really bad if she asks her out again and gets turned down again.” “No, even Trixie wouldn’t approach somepony who turned her down. She’s pretty good about that kind of thing.” “But she can’t help it if the pony who turned her down comes near her. I don’t know why, but Rarity visits the gym pretty often. You quit, so you wouldn’t know.” “Hm?” That’s the first I’ve heard of it. Rarity Jewel doesn’t do any club activities for personal reasons. I thought she went straight home since she even turned down the recommendation to join the student council. “Well, maybe that sort of thing is good every now and then. She has a haughty attitude, so it might be good for her to have a hard time for once.” Lyra says some dangerous things. …Come to think of it, I heard Rarity has many enemies. Could Lyra be one of them? “Hey Lyra, that’s going too…” “Oh, it’s almost time. Bye Storm, come and see my archery skills sometime.” Lyra hurries off. “…She’s just like always.” But I like that part of her. Feeling calmer now, I head for the classroom. It’s lunchtime. Our school has a splendid cafeteria and most students eat there. But there are some old-fashioned students who bring their own lunches. Two of them happen to be me, and the student council president in front of me. “Sugarcube, would you mind if I took some of that tofu? My lunch is desperately lacking in tofu.” “Sure, but why is your lunch so plain? You live at a farm, but there aren’t any rules prohibiting tofu or alcohol, right?” “It’s just my father’s way. He says there’s no luxurious foods for a young farmer like me, and that I should have to work for what I want. I’m thinking of running away and joining the circus.” “Oh, yeah, that sounds like that stallion.” Applejack’s father is the owner of the Sweet Apple Acres, and a bold guy who’s old friends with the old man at Pinkie’s place. You can’t expect a normal personality when he’s friends with a stallion like that. “That’s great. Well then, I’ll give you one in the hope of repayment someday.” I hand her my lunchbox. “Thank you, sugarcube.” Applejack bows deeply. …How can I put this? I never know what to say when things like this remind me that she’s the daughter of a farmer. “Oh, by the way, Storm. Did you know there was something going on around the 2nd avenue? It’s right around the intersection where we part.” “Intersection…” The intersection this morning… she must mean that clamor with all the police cars. “I heard there was a murder. I don’t know the details, but of the family of four, only the child survived. They say the older sister and the parents were stabbed to death. But what’s strange is that they think the weapon was a long one, not like a knife or something.” “……” A long weapon? She must mean something like a sword. It was a murder… so that must mean the sister and the parents were killed. …I picture it. Somepony barging in during the night; unjust violence, a one-sided pillage like an accident, slashed parents. The sister killed without even knowing what’s going on. To the side, the foal covered in their blood. “Applejack, have they caught the murderer?” “It doesn’t seem like it. Accidents from faulty construction in New Ponyville, and murder here. It’s no wonder they’re making the curfew here at school ear… what’s wrong, Storm? Did you choke on something?” “Hm? Nothing, what’s wrong?” “No… I was just surprised since you had a nasty expression. Sorry, this wasn’t something I should have brought up during lunch.” Applejack tries to soften the air apologetically. …I was fine with the topic, but was I really making such a nasty face? And then, there’s a quiet knock at the door. “Excuse me, is Applejack here?” “Huh? Oh, what is it, Mac?” Applejack addresses Macintosh, who just entered. It must be a simple talk about the student council as Applejack seems pretty relaxed. “…Wow.” That’s not something you see every day. Despite her appearance, Applejack is shy. The mare who draws a line against her classmates and even her teachers is letting her guard down with Macintosh. “Maybe they get along because they’re both so serious.” Big Macintosh, the teacher in charge of class 2-A, is serious and stubborn. Probably that aspect helps him get along with Applejack, who prizes order and discipline. “……” The two continue to talk. All the while, I can’t get the story of the murder out of my head. Classes end and it’s time to go home. I can’t go anywhere as I have work today. I should leave school and go straight to the neighboring town, but… I'm worried about Sweetie Note: you require 2 Sweetie route points for the choice above! I'm worried about Rarity