Miss Prose sat at a booth in Sugarcube Corner, sipping on her usual hot chocolate as Pinkie Pie bounced in and plopped into a seat opposite her.
"Hi, Miss Prose! Are you excited about the party? I know I am!" Pinkie Pie said and pulled out a folder, much to the teacher's confusion.
"Wait... What's that for? I thought it was a small get-together?" Prose asked.
"You're a new guest, silly," Pinkie explained as she opened the folder. "As a new guest, I gotta make sure you have the most fun possible. First impressions are really important, after all."
"Well, you've got a point there... I'm guessing you want a list of allergies or something?"
"Yup. I also need to know what your favourite snack foods are, favourite soda, favourite colour... Oh, and your favourite kind of music, too!" Pinkie replied happily.
"Um, why?" the teacher asked.
"So, it can be the best party ever! Your a new friend and a teacher. I have to make an extra, super, mega great first impression for your very first Pinkie Pie Party," the pink teen replied.
Prose was silent for a few seconds and she took a swig of her drink before replying. "Seems legit. I like blocks of chocolate or sea salt flavored chips for snacks, Pepsi max for soda, my favourite colour is dark blue, I like classical or alternate rock music, and I'm only allergic to a really strange plant called Dragon's Bane."
Pinkie wrote everything down at a rapid pace and stored the notes in her folder.
"OK, that's everything I need to know. I'll send an invitation in the next three days!" Pinkie said brightly.
Prose walked down the street as she neared the poorer end of town. She noticed one of the girls who started the Battle of the Bands fiasco sitting by herself at a small cafe. Not only did the former siren look upset but the teacher noticed something else was off about her.
She looks a bit thin for a girl her age... The teacher mused as she continued walking. I need more info.
The day of the party soon rolled around. Sunset and the gang had met up at Sweet Apple Acres for the night's festivities. Tables were set up outdoors and piled high with snacks while a white tarp held up with metal poles provided shelter. Picnic blankets were strewn across the ground and an old boom box was set up nearby.
The roar of Prose's motorbike announced her arrival with Scootaloo in tow again, who ran off to play with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.
"Hey, girls," the teacher greeted casually.
"Glad you could make it, Miss Prose. Pinkie sure put in a lot of effort," Applejack commented.
"Well, it is free food. I dunno about you, but I never pass up free food," Prose replied as she walked over to the snack table.
As night fell, lighting was set up and the group all but dragged their guest of honour towards the designated 'dance area'.
"Come on, Teach. What fun is a party if you don't dance?" Rainbow asked.
"You lot clearly have not heard of peer pressure," Prose replied flatly.
"Come on, Miss Prose, please?" Scootaloo asked and looked very much like a kicked puppy.
"No, not the puppy eyes!" Prose groaned.
"Please? Pretty please?" Scootaloo asked again.
"Too. Much. Cute...! Alright, Scoots I'll dance with you...On one condition," Prose stated with a sly grin.
"W-what is it?"
"Everyone here has to stop with the whole teacher thing outside of school hours. It's getting kinda annoying," The English teacher said. "Just call me Prose when I'm off work, kay?"
"Um... Isn't that you're last name?" Fluttershy asked softly. "I mean, shouldn't we call you by your first name?"
"Not until you know me better. It's a personal thing," Prose replied and looked at Scootaloo. "Guess I owe you a dance now huh?"
Later that evening the group sat on blankets or sleeping bags in one of the Apple Family barns they had borrowed for the night.
"Aw yeah that was awesome, I haven't had that much fun since your last party Pinkie." Rainbow said and stretched out onto her blanket.
"I know right?" Pinkie replied. "I haven't had that much fun since the battle of bands."
"I wonder what happened to The Dazzlings?" Sunset asked.
"Who cares? We won, they lost. Show's over." Rainbow said.
"I have some questions about those girls myself, to be honest," Prose stated. "They were called sirens right?"
"Yeah. They were using their magic to brainwash everyone," Sunset explained.
"But, why?" the teacher asked. "Something doesn't add up."
"Well, from what I heard from one of their songs, they were just trying to be good for nothing attention seekers," Applejack replied.
"That's stupid," Prose stated flatly. "You don't need magic to garner popularity."
"I noticed that when they sang, the magic they used went back into their pendants when they finished," Rarity mentioned.
"Hm... I saw them in the staff room once. The ring leader wasn't ashamed of using her, let's just say 'assets', to grab the attention of the guys," Prose mused.
"I noticed that, too. I, um, thought it was kind of disgusting," Fluttershy added.
"They didn't eat much either!" Pinkie chimed in. "Boy were they skinny."
"I wonder if they're alright?" Prose asked.
"Does it matter? They had the entire school at each other's throats," Rainbow argued.
"I must admit she does have a point. They were simply awful." Rarity agreed.
"Those three caused enough trouble. I say good riddance." Applejack replied.
"That's weird, coming from you guys," the teacher commented idly.
"How is that weird? The Dazzlings were taking over the school!" Rainbow countered.
"You helped Sunset, didn't you?" Prose simply stated. "Didn't she cause more trouble for a lot longer?"
"That's different. We hit her with a magic rainbow laser. She's fine now." Rainbow said.
"She does have a point," Sunset said. "I'd probably still be evil if it weren't for Twilight showing me the magic of friendship."
"Which could have been achieved without magic," Prose stated. "It would take longer but it's still doable."
"Do you think we should try and help The Dazzlings?" Fluttershy asked. "I mean, they were so mean..."
"We shouldn't have to help them. We beat them at their own game," Rainbow replied.
Prose frowned slightly. "Something just doesn't seem right. Sure, you beat them, but that's it? No consequences whatsoever?"
"That would imply there would be consequences, but I can't think of anything that would happen from defeating the Dazzlings." Rarity said.
"What if they have friends that want revenge?" Pinkie exclaimed.
"I hope not," Fluttershy said worriedly. "I don't want anyone getting hurt..."
"Well, I don't think it's anything that extreme... I think they could be, I dunno, reformed or something?" Prose suggested.
"But how? And why?" Asked Rainbow. "What would be the point?"
The orange haired young adult of the group grinned. "I reiterate; you helped Sunset, who caused years of torment. Is the idea of helping others to not repeat their mistakes really so hard to hear?"
"You're right... We could be helping them," Sunset admitted. "But where do we start?"
Prose shrugged. "Wait for them to come to you, maybe? They might be more receptive if they initiate 'first contact', so to speak."
There was a noise from the barn entrance and a nervous looking Scootaloo walked in with her friends right behind her.
"Can we stay with you tonight?" Sweetie asked.
"Why, Sweetie Belle? I thought you were looking forward to camping outside?" Rarity said.
"Well..." the younger sibling looked down at the ground nervously.
"She had a nightmare!" Scootaloo said hastily.
"Yeah, it didn't feel right staying without her," Apple Bloom added.
"Well, there's plenty of room. Make yourselves comfy," Applejack replied.
"So, Sweetie had a nightmare, huh?" Prose asked Scootaloo quietly once everyone had settled down for the night.
"I just... You promise not to tell, right?" Scootaloo whispered.
"Nah, it's cool... I won't tell a soul," replied Prose.
"I... I got scared after reading about the mountain we're going to hike up tomorrow...What if something happens?" Scootaloo explained.
"We've gone hiking before and that turned out fine," Prose pointed out helpfully, but Scootaloo still looked unsure.
"Yeah but..."
"What if I see if your friends want to join us?" Prose offered. "It'll be an adventure."
"Okay, sure... That sounds like fun," Scootaloo replied and yawned.
"Get some sleep, Scoots. You sound like you need it."
"Yeah, thanks," Scootaloo sleepily said.
"No prob," Prose replied.