The Harmony Initiative

by uhrora

PART ONE - Chapter One

"You called me, Tia?"

"Luna." The pastel-haired woman turned from her window to face her sister, smiling at her. "I know you want to get to bed, but…" She faltered, shifting her lavender eyes away from the younger woman in front of her. Her gaze settled on the large window that enveloped her office in early morning light. "What if it doesn't work?" she asked, hating herself for the question. Hating herself for the way she asked it—that rare pathetic voice of hers. The one that she only let slip around Luna. Nowadays, anyway.

Luna met her sister's uncertainty with confidence. "Come on, it'll be fine!" she assured her. "We've planned for years for this. This was what we told Equestria we would do. And, besides, it was an initiative. Not exactly a royal decree. We didn't do anything until the people brought it before us."

"Yes," Celestia added. "The small group of integrationists. It seemes that everyone else hates us for this."

Luna shook her head, coming to sit down in one of the chairs across from Celestia's desk. "We just have to make everyone else see why it's important. But they love you as a leader, you know that."

Celestia looked back at her younger sister, raising an eyebrow. "They love peace. They love living without fear from our foreign neighbors. But internal harmony?"

"What do you mean?"

"I just got the newest edition of the Canterlot Chronicle," Celestia explained. She and Luna had to put up with a lot of the Royal Clan's nonsense living in Canterlot, and its "high-class" publications were certainly nonsense. All the clans published newspapers and magazines that at times poked fun at the other clans, but the Royal Times and the Canterlot Chronicle were the most vocal. The recent issues had focused on Celestia and Luna's plans of fostering integration between the clans. While none of the Royal Clan would ever come out and speak against the royal family, its sugarcoated insults of their new plan annoyed Celestia.

"Oh," Luna said. "Well, how bad is it?"

"The front page has a picture of Ponyville High School. The title?" Celestia picked up the paper and handed it to Luna.

"Sin-tegration Academy: 'Why We Shouldn't Mix Clans.' Oh. That's pretty bad. At least they put it in quotes."

"Yes, and I'm sure they were the editor's words. Here. Read this part," Celestia told her sister, pointing at one passage.

"'The main focus of the princesses' new Harmony Initiative is the integrated academy, which would bring children of all clans together under one roof. Experts have pointed out the unrealistic nature of this endeavor, which would cease to provide Directed Training toward Clan members. Royal Clan members would no longer be specifically taught in schools about politics and governance. Similarly, Sky Clan members would not receive a military and strategics background, and Earth Clan members would be forced to learn about agricultural practices from their families alone. One Canterlot woman voiced her worries that, if sent to an integrated academy, her children would not be raised knowing the importance of being Royal Clan members. Additionally, she was concerned that being educated among Earth and Sky Clans might have a negative impact on their behavior. "What if they came home like those Sky hooligans? Or shoveling dirt like the Earth hillbillies?"' ...Yes, that is pretty awful, Tia."

"Continue."

"'A recent study at Canterlot University showed that a Sky Clan member has 120% more of the so-called 'aggression hormone' than an ordinary member of the Royal Clan. Furthermore, the same study measured IQ scores of Royal Clan versus Earth Clan. Unsurprisingly, Royal Clan's average is more than 60 intelligence points over Earth Clan's average. Using this data, it is not hard to see the concern raised among Royal Clan members.' This is nothing we have not heard before. Well, those numbers are new. I wonder how legitimate they are."

"Probably not very. Go on. The next part."

"'It is with dread that some Canterlot parents send their children to school today. Those families who were not selected to send their children to school alongside Earth and Sky Clans heave a sigh of relief that their 'invitations' were not simply lost in the mail. The attitude is reminiscent of the Darkest Days of the war, when Sky Clan's underpopulation crisis coupled with a necessary escalation of war efforts led to Royal and Earth Clan members being drafted. As remembered by all Equestria, this move produced unspeakable consequences. Canterlot parents today send their children into a warzone—a warzone fraught with uneducated and aggressive enemies.'" Luna paused for a moment. "You're right. That is bad. The war? The non-Sky draft? How could they even compare that with integration?" Luna shook her head, throwing the newspaper down on the desk. "Listen, Tia, you can't take that seriously. You just see what happens in a year from now. What that school accomplishes."

"We didn't even send that many Canterlot children to Ponyville," Celestia said defensively, though her tone was low. There are already Royal Clan members living in the town, and they have been integrating the school there for years now. But it was too small of a minority."

"I know, Tia," Luna said, her voice gentle. "We wanted equal percentages of all Clans. And we needed to send students to show that we were really integrating the school, not just allowing Ponyville Royal Clan members to go to school alongside Earth. Besides, Canterlot Royal Clan members view Ponyville Royals as… er, more on the Earth Clan side anyway."

Celestia finally sat back, looking at her sister. "I'm sorry, Luna. You really do need to get to sleep. You've had a long night. Now it's my turn to deal with the problem." She gave her a small smile. "Don't take all this the wrong way. It's just my nerves speaking, I think. I'm certainly excited to see what happens. I just wish someone would write an article about the positive side to integration."

"Ban Clan newspapers and print a national one instead?" Luna offered with a wry smile.

"Don't tempt me."

Luna laughed and stood up. "Good luck," she offered Celestia. "Let me know how it goes as soon as I wake up!"

Celestia nodded.

"Oh, and you have lots of Royal Clan parents to see. They all made appointments for the morning. It's strange how everyone else does business during the day, isn't it?" Luna added.

Celestia groaned.

"Twilight! Honey! It's time to wake up! The sun is shining and the birds are singing and it's a beauuuutiful day!"

Twilight mumbled something from below her comforter.

"What was that, dear?"

"A beautiful day to go to Ponyville," came the response, clearer this time.

The overhead light flicked on and Twilight let out a yelp, hiding beneath the covers again. Her mother crossed her arms, frowning at her daughter. Ms. Sparkle was a tall, stately woman with all the air of Canterlot royalty—even if she only worked in the palace as an aide. "I've had just about enough of this Ponyville attitude," she replied. "It may be a little bit more... pastoral than you're used to, but I trust the princesses. Don't you?"

Well, when she put it that way... "Yes, mother." Of course she did. Her whole family had close ties to the princesses, and unlike some of the more pretentious Royal Clan members, Twilight actually knew them quite well. Particularly Princess Celestia, who joked that Twilight's organizational habits made her the princess's protégée. She'd even awarded Twilight the Equestrian Scholar of the Year Award, placing her under the princess's direct guidance for the next year! Of course, that didn't go to Twilight's head. Not at all. Even if it meant she had to go to Ponyville as part of the award. She'd be reporting back to the princess herself on the integration process at Ponyville High School.

Twilight slowly peeled back the covers, sitting up stiffly in her bed. She resembled her mother in height, though her willowy limbs were thinner and her complexion much paler than Ms. Sparkle. The tall, skinny build was characteristic for Royal Clan members. Her room was cluttered with boxes fresh from the move. The fact that Twilight hadn't organized anything yet was one of the many clues that told Ms. Sparkle Ponyville wasn't so welcome to her.

"I just… I don't understand!" Twilight said for what seemed like the hundredth time.

Her mother didn't have much patience for this anymore. "Twilight. Please. You understand everything. Just be a good sport about this, will you?"

"Shi got to go to high school in Canterlot," Twilight muttered.

Ms. Sparkle sighed. "Honey. He's graduated now. The Harmony Initiative wasn't around back then. This is what the princess wants for you. And, to be honest, it's what I want for you, too. I'm so proud that you're going to be part of this."

Well, she couldn't argue with that, no matter how much she wanted to. Twilight sighed. It was bad enough that she had to go to school in dinky little Ponyville. But she didn't even know any of the other Royal Clan members going to the school. Her mother's old friend had one daughter going, but apparently the daughter had been in Ponyville her whole life. As a Royal Clan member, too! After living in Canterlot, Twilight could hardly believe that kind of attitude existed among Royal Clan members.

Although she wouldn't admit it, Twilight knew that there was really nothing for her here in Canterlot anyway. She didn't have any friends except her older brother. And he no longer lived at home. But she would miss the city, and being able to spend all her time at the palace library. Sure, she'd still be living there, but with an hour train ride in each direction? There went a good chunk of her reading time.

And speaking of the train:

"Twilight, you're going to be late," her mother pressed.

If there was one thing Twilight hated, it was being late. "Fine," she snapped, pulling herself out of bed.

"Cheer up, sweetie! It's going to be a great day."

"School bus, school bus, we're waiting for the school bus!" sang a girl around Twilight's age, while hopping side to side at the bus stop. Her large pink hair hopped along with her, clashing entirely with her mismatched wardrobe: pink dress, bright blue sweater, polka-dot pink and purple tights, and bright red shoes with large bows. On her wrist she sported the green band of the Earth Clan, complete with silver leaf-shaped crest.

"I can't believe you're excited to go to school, Pinkie," her younger sister Inkie sighed. It was her first day of middle school, and her appearance was more sedate than Pinkie's. Her straight black hair fell over one eye, and her black dress-black tights-black shoes look went along well.

"Well, of course, silly! The first day of school is always the best. New friends! And we never do real work on the first day! And they make extra special good cafeteria food!"

"I'm glad we're starting, too," replied the youngest, gray-haired Blinkie, clad in a light blue t-shirt and black jeans. She smiled, though no grin could match Pinkie's. "Though we won't get to help Mom and Dad as much."

Pinkie shrugged. "Oh well!" That was fine with her. Her family ran a rock farm, and though her sisters seemed to never tire of work there, Pinkie could hardly stand it. She spent most of her time daydreaming or playing pranks, neither of which were entirely productive. Her family was all about productivity. That was the Earth Clan way, after all.

"I just… I wish there were more farm kids who went to my school," Inkie said quietly.

"There's me!" Blinkie replied.

"You'll be on the other side of the school with the elementary kids still. I mean in my grade. Other ponies tease me for it."

Pinkie's eyes narrowed. "Oh yeah? Like who?" she demanded. "I demand vengeance!"

"Oh… Just… Nobody!" Inkie said quickly.

"Just don't listen to them," Blinkie advised. "People are gonna say stuff, no matter who you are. Just don't get bothered by it, and make real friends!"

"Yeah, what she said!" Pinkie agreed. "But if you want vengeance…"

"Pinkie," Blinkie warned, shaking her head. Although she was the youngest, she was often the voice of reason.

"Right! Okay! Anyway, there are plenty of country kids who go to school in Ponyville. You just have to find them."

Inkie frowned, looking even more worried. "But… didn't you say that you don't like the country kids?"

Pinkie thought for a moment, trying to remember. Did she? "Well… just that one, I guess." Applejack. But she wasn't sure how much she could dislike someone, really. Still, she had been a meanie-meanie-pants shithead party pooper for their middle school's government. Applejack had been president with Pinkie as vice. Pinkie had tried to throw a big end-of-year party two years ago, but Applejack had insisted they focus on more important things, like using that time to study for finals. Ha! How boring! Applejack had claimed she didn't have much time for studying back at the farm. Well, Pinkie lived on a farm, too. And she couldn't exactly throw parties there! Not anymore. Her parents had made that pretty clear. At least Applejack was a year older than Pinkie. Once she was gone, Pinkie had one whole more year. And at the end of that year, Pinkie had thrown a huge party. Take that, Applejack!

"Just be yourself," Blinkie was saying. "You'll make lots of friends in no time!"

"Lots and lots of friends!" Pinkie agreed. "And then invite them over! We can throw a huge party! Especially with the new integra-whattchit students!"

"They're only at Ponyville High," Blinkie reminded her. "We won't be getting any."

"Here comes the bus," Inkie replied, pulling on her hair nervously.

"School bus, school bus, yay!" Pinkie sang.

"Fucking shit, I'm going to be late!" yelled Rainbow Dash, slapping her alarm silent. Fuck. It. All. She'd set her alarm to go off with enough time to get to Cloudsdale High, but—until the second she woke up, she'd completely forgotten that she wasn't going there anymore.

The princesses had 'invited' her to go to the new integrated school down in Ponyville. Dash had been to the hick town once, maybe twice in her whole life. It wasn't that long of a drive, but nearly everyone in Cloudsdale looked down on Ponyville. Literally. Cloudsdale was atop a mountain peak that leveled out to a grand plateau. It had a better view of the rest of Equestria than Canterlot did, but it wasn't exactly a metropolis. It was more of a military base masquerading as a city. Sure, people outside Sky Clan lived there. Like one Earth Clan family that did mining in one section of the mountain. And the Royal Clan scientists who worked at the observatory. Other than that, it was mainly the Air Force and other Sky Clan members.

Rainbow Dash was a military brat; her parents had both served in the Royal Equestrian Air Force. Her father had been one of the first members of the Wonderbolts, a special forces unit that performed aerobatics shows during peacetime. Dash's mom was more sedate, preferring to focus on military tactics. Now her mom worked closely with the other military heads in Canterlot, controlling national security from capital war rooms. Her dad remained a powerful air force general, but now during peacetime he mainly traveled, working on organizational strategies at other bases. Dash's hilltop mansion was elegant and spacious, if a bit lonely at times. Not that she'd ever admit that. Besides, she liked her freedom.

As Rainbow Dash dressed—baggy black pants, blue tanktop and olive green jacket—she wolfed down a cold slice of pizza. Hate cooking, have money from guiltily absent rich parents? Get pizza every night. Not all parents would trust their fifteen year old daughter to fend for herself, but her grandmother lived in town and came by often. And, as Dash's parents told her constantly, their numerous family friends were always there for her. They invited her to dinners nearly every week. She mostly turned them down, and they'd learned. Except one pesky family.

Dash would have been much happier had she never known the Swift family.

Machelle Swift was the Chief Defense Secretary of the Royal Equestrian Air Force. And, thus, Dash's mom's boss. Machelle's husband, Peregrine, was mayor of Cloudsdale. And their daughter Fluttershy was Dash's classmate. Despite her parents' badass jobs, Fluttershy was… kind of a wimp. And that was being nice.

If only going to school down in Ponyville was the last Dash would see of Fluttershy.

But, no. Because Fluttershy had been sent, too. And she was ecstatic. Ponyville was the nearest town in the flatlands, where she could be with the farmlands and baby bunnies and whatever else it was the flower child longed for that didn't exist at the top of a mountain. Worse, Dash was expected to carpool with the dweeb. Carpool! As if that girl could even buckle a seatbelt without getting motion sickness. With Dash's driving, and their late start, there'd be puke all over the car.

As if reading her mind, Rainbow Dash's cell phone buzzed. She'd left it in the kitchen overnight. Sixteen missed calls? Really? She picked up the phone as she hunted for her car keys. "What?" she snapped into it.

"Oh! Um, I was calling for Rainbow Dash."

"Yeah. It's Dash."

"Oh. Okay. Um, Dash. Yes, I was calling for Dash."

The rainbow-haired girl rolled her eyes. "Could this be Fluttershy?"

"Yes! Yes, this is Fluttershy."

Another pause. Dash suddenly saw a glint of metal on the dining table and swept off the pizza box to find her keys.

"Um, Rainbow Dash? I mean, Dash? Are you still there?"

"Yes…"

"Oh. Okay."

"Fluttershy, you called me. What's up?" Dash barked impatiently. It was almost impossible to talk on the phone and put on her boots at the same time.

"Oh, right! Well, my dad is just getting worried about the time and everything, and I wanted to make sure you were still picking me up? If that's okay?"

"Yep. On my way." Dash hung up the phone, tied her boots and ran out the door.

"I can't believe you didn't fix the car in time for school!" Applejack complained to her big brother. "You know, it's kind of important we get Apple Bloom to school on time. And us!"

"Eeyup. Sorry, AJ," replied Big Macintosh with a sigh.

AJ shook her head. "Sorry doesn't cut it, mister! Bloom's school is far away, and this is your first day of senior year. Don't you wanna make a good impression?"

Big Mac shrugged. "I guess I'll fix it this weekend. Got lots of work on the farm." He didn't have anything more to say on the subject, but then again he never was the most talkative guy.

AJ leaned back in the bus seat. At least they'd been able to find a last minute carpool for Apple Bloom before catching the school bus to Ponyville High. They'd made the bus on time, but punctuality was important to Applejack, and she needed to know they'd be able to get to school on time from now on.

Still, she knew her brother's worries about the farm all too well. There was a lot of work, and even with the hired help, Big Mac and AJ were doing most of it. Granny Smith was the expert, of course, but neither of them wanted to let her work too hard. It annoyed her, but after she'd developed arthritis in her hands she couldn't protest much. It was nearly harvest season now, and they'd be needing to deal with that. But it was a long process, and school always got in the way.

"You know, I could always—"

"Stop right there," AJ interrupted Big Mac. "I know what you're going to say, and hell no. You're not dropping out of school just to work on the farm. We'll make ends meet. We always have before with you in school." Not without Granny Smith, though, but she didn't say that. Both of them were thinking it.

Big Mac shrugged. He was agreeable, but AJ knew that when he got an idea in his head he could be stubborn as a mule. She had to make sure it didn't become like that with this idea.

"So what kinda people you think are gonna be at school today?" AJ asked with a smirk. "Uppity Crownies? Adrenaline-junkie Cloudheads?"

Big Mac shook his head. "Probably a lot of both. I just worry we can't all fit."

"Well, they've been working on the expansion for years now. And the princesses got it all under control, I guess. Think we'll have to show our bands to get in?" AJ joked, referring to the bands each citizen of Equestria wore around their wrist. Green for Earth Clan members, with a silver leaf crest. Blue for Sky Clan, with a tiny wing. And Purple for Royal, with a crown. These were given at birth and impossible to remove except by the three Clanleaders.

"I was thinking they might just get rid of them," Big Mac replied. "Since the point is for us all to be the same, right? Maybe the princesses are gonna do away with bands next."

AJ frowned. She hoped that wouldn't be the case. As much as she resented being looked down upon by the other Clans, she had to admit it was fun to do the same to the others. Or at least the ones who lived up to the stereotype. And she was proud of her Earth Clan heritage. It was what made her hard work so rewarding. She was working for a greater goal, as part of a community.

Still, she was sure there would be some kids from other Clans she'd like. Just as she didn't like some of the kids from Earth Clan. It didn't work like that, and it wouldn't have made sense for it to have worked like that.

Applejack leaned back in the bus seat, her head rolling back impatiently. "Can't this thing go any faster?" she griped.

"D-do you have to go so fast?"

"What was that?"

"Do you have to go so fast?" The plaintive question was asked by a cringing pink-haired girl in the passenger seat of Rainbow Dash's old Firebird convertible. She was clutching the armrest, terror in her teal eyes. Fluttershy was not a fan of the ride down the mountain. She was finding that she was even less of a fan when Rainbow Dash was driving.

"Can't hear you above the wind, sorry!" Dash shot back.

"That's okay," Fluttershy replied.

"What?"

"That's okay!"

Fluttershy had been so excited to start over anew at Ponyville High School. Being down with Earth Clan members would be great! She'd learn all sorts of things from them about how to take care of the earth, and to grow a garden, and to help little animals… Her whole family was so Sky-entrenched that it was expected for her to be, too. Sometimes Fluttershy worried that the teasing she got from her classmates was true: she was really an Earth Clan member in a Sky body. There was no worse shame than someone who fit another Clan over his or her own. But she just found the things the Earth Clan did to be so much more interesting than all that military and meteorology business…

She admitted, she was even excited to be carpooling with Rainbow Dash. Or, as she preferred to be called now, just Dash. They'd been friends when they were younger and had gone to summer camp together every year. But slowly they'd grown apart—Dash had become more independent, more into Sky Clan things. Until, in the end, she'd even turned against Fluttershy. Fluttershy, the baby Earth-wannabe. Losing her friend had been hard on such a sensitive girl. And making friends was even harder thanks to her near-crippling timidity. For awhile, Fluttershy's only friends had been the birds that lived atop the mountain. She took care of them, built them little houses, bought them birdseed. And gradually they'd begun to trust her.

If she was going to be honest with herself, they were still really her only friends. But now maybe Rainbow Dash would like her again. Neither of them enjoyed huge popularity—for vastly different reasons, of course—and Fluttershy didn't think Dash had any friends at Ponyville High. It was a chance to be friends all over again!

And then, as they reached the flatlands, the wind died down. Fluttershy heaved a sigh of relief. She still couldn't hold a conversation due to the top being down, but it no longer felt like the car was going to be pushed over the edge of the cliff road. If only she hadn't worn her favorite yellow dress, prone to wrinkles, she may have turned up at school looking all right. If only she'd brought a brush with her, her pink hair wouldn't have turned into a mess.

Oh well. So much for making an impression. At least, she hoped, nobody would be judging her on her appearance.

"Dear Celestia, our classmates are like unwashed yokels!"

"They… they don't look so bad," replied Twilight Sparkle diplomatically, though she didn't seem so sure.

The first speaker, wearing a pristine white tennis dress, diamond earrings, and small purple heels that matched her Royal Clan band perfectly, gave a light shrug. "They look much worse than last year to me," she said darkly. Her makeup was immaculate, her plum-colored hair perfectly curled around her face.

"So, Rarity?" asked Twilight.

"Yes, darling?" Rarity asked, though her blue eyes surveyed the crowd. Where were her friends? She wanted to introduce Twilight to them! Rarity knew that Twilight was going to be her new best friend. They'd go to Canterlot together on shopping trips and Rarity would meet the princesses. In fact—Twilight lived in Canterlot! Rarity could actually have a sleepover in Canterlot! Of all the best things that could happen, this was the. Best. Possible. Thing!

"When do I find out where my locker is?" Twilight was asking.

Oh, what a reasonable question. "We'll get our schedules and our locker numbers will be printed on them. I must warn you, though, I'm sure they're nothing compared to Canterlot."

"A locker is a locker," Twilight laughed. She seemed uneasy.

Uneasy? Why? Rarity was stunned. If anything she was being overly welcoming to Twilight. She didn't know how she could give her any better of a welcome! Well, perhaps if she'd had time to give her a teensy little makeover before they'd gotten to school. Twilight and her mom had shown up at Rarity's house, their mothers being old friends, and Rarity had escorted Twilight to school for her first day. Rarity's father, who taught at Ponyville High, had offered a ride, but Rarity had nearly screeched a no. "And don't even bring it up in front of Twilight!" Rarity had her own car, and there was no reason for her to show up with her dad, who was probably planning on wearing one of his Hawaiian shirts to school.

But it turned out Twilight was not much more fashion-aware. The Canterlot girl's wardrobe was certainly not Canterlot couture. She didn't look frumpy, but she wasn't exactly sporting designer brands. Rarity would have called her purple plaid skirt, purple vest over white collared shirt, black flats and sensible glasses "schoolgirl chic," but there wasn't much "chic" to it. It was painfully... well, Ponyville. Maybe that was the look she was going for? Trying to fit in? That must have been it! And she was doing a fabulous job! Probably all the new students thought Rarity was the Canterlot girl, not Twilight. For that purpose, she tried to look a little lost, turning her head slightly back and forth, as if trying to take it all in.

"So, Rarity?"

"Yes?"

"Where do we get our schedules, then?" Twilight asked.

"Oh, dear. Right this way! I'm sorry, I was just… looking for some friends."

"Oh, you can wait for them if you want to. If you give me directions, I'm sure I can figure it out."

Now she'd gone and made the poor girl feel unwelcome, as if Rarity didn't want her there! "Oh, no, darling," she reassured her. "I'll take you there in an instant! Come with me!" She was going to have to work harder to be Twilight's friend—after all, it wasn't every day such high class ponies came from Canterlot!

Navigating through a group of Sky Clan kids speaking in that annoying Cloudsdale vernacular, Rarity couldn't help but giggle to herself. She was familiar with Canterlot and Ponyville accents, but she'd never been to Cloudsdale and had never really talked to anyone from there. Though, she supposed, that was about to change.

Once Rarity and Twilight had reached the school's front entrance, they stepped inside. "The main office is straight to the left," Rarity instructed. "There's bound to be a long line, but you can get your schedule and locker there."

"Don't you have to wait too?" Twilight asked. Finally! Rarity smiled. Twilight was trying to spend time with her!

"No, I'm a continuing student so I signed up for classes at the end of last year and was already given my schedule. And I have the same locker this year, unfortunately. Shall I wait with you? I can show you to your first class. I'm not sure how they're doing things this year, but homeroom is ordinarily separated by Clan. Naturally, there are more Earth Clan homerooms than the others, but being part of an elite community has its perks, too," Rarity told her.

Twilight was nodding slowly. "Yeah... I guess so... Um, that's nice of you, but I'll be fine on my own. Really! But thank you." She smiled back.

Rarity was a bit disappointed, but it would be best not to smother her too quickly. Oh well. Time to go see if she could find some of her other friends, or get to her locker! "All right then. Perhaps I'll see you at lunch? My friends and I always sit at the nicest table. It's kind of our thing, I suppose. You have no idea what wonders it does for your reputation to sit with us. And you're invited!"

Twilight stared at her for a moment. "Oh... thanks," she said. "That's nice of you." Rarity could tell she was trying to be gracious but didn't really see the point.

It wasn't exactly the reaction she'd been hoping for. Oh well. She was probably just overwhelmed with all the new changes. "Of course, dear! I'll see you then!" Without giving Twilight a chance to react, Rarity added, "Well, good luck, darling!" With that, she turned and walked down the hall. It was time for her to tell her friends all about her brush with near-royalty.

Celestia was exhausted after dealing with all these Canterlot parents. They were all so angry. They'd all been making a fuss over the integrated academy the whole summer, but evidently had believed their whining would make Celestia call off the whole plan. It hadn't, and they were there to complain some more.

After one particularly emotional mother had left, wiping her mascara-lined face as she exited, Celestia called in an aide. Ms. Sparkle hurried in, and Celestia gave her a weak smile. At least there was one parent who didn't complain about her child being sent to Ponyville High.

"I don't think things are going very well," Celestia admitted.

"What should we do, your majesty?"

Celestia hesitated. "Perhaps it is time for Luna and I to meet with the Clanleaders. Diplomacy never hurt anyone."

"But last time—"

"I know," Celestia interrupted. "Last time we met with them they only started bickering. That's how it has always been with them. The only time they can ever agree is when they come against the Harmony Initiative. But we will try again."

"I'll have someone contact them," Ms. Sparkle replied with a nod.

"Thank you." Celestia smiled at her aide as she left the office. After years of the Clanleaders trying to stop integration, Celestia and Luna had finally ignored their complaints and gone ahead with the Harmony Initiative. It was not the best move, but it seemed the only way they could get the gears turning. The princesses knew very well that it was impossible for this to happen, though, without the Clanleaders. They controlled popular support. They were, in some ways, mightier than the princesses themselves.

Celestia's hand went to her neckline, and she pulled a gold chain out of her collar. Attached was a tiny gold key, and she used this to unlock the top drawer in her desk. The princess pulled it open, staring down into its contents. Letters. The entire drawer was filled with letters. Suddenly, there was a knock at her door and she quickly slid the drawer shut.

"Come in."

The door opened and another one of her aides entered. She was a bit shorter than Ms. Sparkle, with straight brown hair. "I have a letter for you, your majesty," she announced, crossing the room and placing it on her desk.

Celestia picked up the letter. "Thank you," she said. The princess waited for her aide to leave before she looked down at the envelope. It was the same as all the others. That stark white paper.

She reached for her letter opener and tore the seal, pulling the letter out. Her eyes scanned it quickly, skimming between words and phrases. She saw why haven't you replied? and really use a drink and tyrant and one line, that stopped her. You'll never win over the Clanleaders this way.

Celestia stopped herself from reading any more. She folded up the letter tightly, then opened her drawer again. The letter was added to the pile, and then she shut the drawer tightly, locking it again. She couldn't ignore the letters forever but she could try.