Chapter 3: The school for princesses
The carriage ride to the school had been a long and quiet one, but Fluttershy didn't mind. She was more than content to look out the window at the passing landscapes. The tall mountains, lush forests, and rolling green farmlands made her feel at ease. A soft breeze blew, lightly whipping her pale pink locks out of her face as the carriage sped down the path. The pegasus' thoughts began to drift to what the other princesses could be like.
'Perhaps they're nice ponies who like flowers and animals also,' she thought hopefully to herself. 'We could all have tea and cucumber sandwiches, and maybe and I can work up the courage to talk to them!'
As they drew near the Everfree Forest, the school came into view. The old castle of Celestia and Luna had been remodeled to suit the needs for the princesses and the lessons they'd be partaking in. A large gray stone castle with spire towers not unlike the ones of the castle back home. The forest surrounded it on all sides like a semi circle. A clearing off near the back full of ponies in armor, playfully sparing one another. Fluttershy felt her heartbeat as fast as a hummingbird's wings as they approached.
"You can do this Fluttershy." she said softly. "Just do what mother said, and everything will be fine."
The carriage lined up along with long stream of other carriages. Out from each stepped out a lovely pony, unicorn or pegasus, (though there were more unicorns than any other pony) dressed in fine dresses worthy of their noble blood. Fluttershy was tempted to just stay in the carriage and wait till there was nopony around to notice her. But she managed to get herself out the door and stood nervously as the the coach horse took her suitcase down.
"T-thank you." she stammered. The stallion bowed lightly and said, "It's my pleasure your highness." Fluttershy looked around, wondering where to go from there. Her attention was caught by a lanky pony struggling under the weight of a dozen heavy bags and trunks.
"Come along now, I need my luggage my room as soon as possible." said a white unicorn with a white coat, curled purple mane and light blue eyes. Her elaborate dress swayed as she walked up the steps to the opened entrance of the school. The servant was moving at a sluggish pace. Fluttershy felt pity toward the poor stallion and trotted up to him.
"Do you need any help?" she asked. The servant looked up at her, before he could answer, a bag from high up fell. Fluttershy caught it and took several other bags from his load.
"Thank you kindly, your highness." he said. She walked alongside him, carrying the bags and dragging her suitcase up the steps and into the grand foyer. Throngs of ponies were chatting amongst themselves, their voices echoing off the high ceiling, filling the room and making it hard to maneuver the luggage. Fluttershy wasn't sure how much longer she'd be able to carry the heavy luggage, when somepony spoke up.
"Here, let me help yall with that." an orange pony with a blonde mane pulled into a pony tail and green eyes helped assist them to a good place to pile the bags and cases.
"I can help him from here, you better get ready for the opening ceremony." said the mare.
"Okay." said Fluttershy.
" Thanks for helping!" called out the servant, as Fluttershy disappeared into the crowd.
Princess Twilight Sparkle was beyond thrilled to stand at the old castle that once housed one of the greatest rulers of Equestria. The purple alicorn had read about this place and saw ancient pictures of it in her books. To actually see it and be continuing her studies here by her idol was nothing short of a dream come true. She tried to contain herself from bouncing around with excitement like a little filly, as she did when she'd received the invitation to attend the school.
"You're sure you're gonna be okay Twily?" Twilight smiled at her big brother, Prince Shining Armor. She gave a hug and said, "I'll be fine. I can take care of myself pretty well." Shining Armor laughed.
"You can't blame a big brother for worrying about his little sister." he said. The white unicorn stallion ruffled his sister's mane playfully.
"I'll miss you," said Twilight.
"I'll miss you too Twily." After their fond farewell, Twilight entered the grand foyer, taking in everything she could. From the crystal chandelier to the refurbished tapestries depicting the sun, the moon and moments in Equestrian history. Her mind began spinning at the thought of all the magic and things she'd be learning. She was pulled out of her thoughts by the loud fanfare of trumpets.
"Announcing, their royal highnesses, Queen Celestia and Princess Luna!" The alicorn sisters walked gracefully up to the front of the foyer, a hushed silence fell over the crowd. All eyes on them. Queen Celestia smiled to them and spoke, "My dear princesses, I'm pleased that you all were able to make it to our beloved school. Once home to me and my sister, it shall now be home to you. For the rest of the year, we'll teach you the needed necessities of being a good ruler. As you progress through your studies, you must remember the qualities that make a true queen." Twilight mouthed along as Queen Celestia recited the qualities.
"A true queen is: honest, loyal, generous, happy, and kind." Twilight had gone over the line a dozen times since she got her letter, wanting to have it memorized for when attending classes.
"I wish you all the best of luck. Classes begin tomorrow at 8 o'clock sharp. You shall receive your class schedules after diner. If there are any questions, feel free to ask me, Luna, or any other teacher. That is all." With her speech concluded, Celestia and Luna left for their 'office'. The other princesses hurried toward the dorm rooms, to meet their roommates and get their things set up. Twilight wanted to follow after Queen Celestia to discuss all the things on her mind, but was stopped by a solider. A White unicorn stallion in golden armor.
"Halt, nopony is to see the Queen or Princess until after dinner!" he said. Twilight looked over his shoulder.
"What about her?" she asked, pointing a hoof at a butter-yellow pegasus with a pink mane following close behind the royal sisters. The solider glance at the pegasus.
"She is a special case, Queen Celestia herself has allowed her to come and talk to her whenever she pleases." Twilight stared at him in shock.
"That's not fair! I used to be her student any way, why does she get the special treatment?" The solider shrugged as though it wasn't his problem. Twilight stalked away, unable to understand why that pegasus could talk to the queen and she couldn't. She hadn't been lying when she said that Queen Celestia was her teacher. The alicorn had taught her to take control of her alicorn magic, once she had it down, Twilight began studying on her own. She'd have to keep an eye on that pegasus, just in case.