Chapter Three: First Days At School Are Always Tough
Unaware of the consternation her sudden episode was having on her dear school friends, Twilight's headlong dash for the school continued on unabated.
Anypony on her path who deigned assist the visibly agitated filly was swiftly left behind in a cloud of smoke. The undaunted youngster had already reached the conclusion that any further explanation of her unique situation would further define her as coo-coo crazy...
...And it would almost certainly be impossible to reach the truth of this mockery, if she was stuck in a padded cell. Of course I'm speaking rhetorically, they'd never do that to anycreature my age, apart from Cozy Glow, but that was a special case...
"Ow, my brain!" Twilight cursed herself, realising she needed to focus on the here and now instead of overanalysing all possible actions and consequences. "I haven't changed at all since foalhood, have I? Freaking out over every little thing, even circumstances I have no control over. Maybe if I'd got some therapy when I was still this age, I wouldn't have grown up with my neuroses in hyperdrive half the time. Well, not much I can do about that now. All I have to do is climb over this hill, and then..."
What Twilight Sparkle referred to was the location of her old School Of Friendship, at least where it should be. In this crazy alternate dimension, who's to say what happened to it? She reasoned, not without justification.
And on that front at least, there was some good and bad news.
The positive part was the fact that the school seemed more-or-less untouched by the shifted timeline. It was still painted her favourite purplish colour, every room was the same size and even the four waterfalls dutifully filled the nearby stream with crystal-clear water.
The bad stuff? Well, that mostly affected the unicorn's ego. Her six-pronged cutie mark motif no longer proudly hung from the front, which was to be expected as she naturally was no longer in charge.
I'd sure like to meet who is though, maybe then I'll get some answers...Twilight frowned, less at the loss of personal prestige and more regarding whatever could've been responsible for this travesty. Judging by what Ocellus told me, the new headmare doesn't sound very interested in Friendship. I just hope she hasn't corrupted the rest of my friends with her beliefs, if they're still teachers here that is...
Once again, the sheer number of queries which ran like wild horses through the prodigious filly's mind threatened to overwhelm her, so in an uncharacteristic display of impulse she decided to just trot inside and see what was up.
"I sure miss wings round about now, these hooves get tired much too easily." Twilight noted to herself, whilst passing a few other ponies her size en route to the entrance. One of them looked back oddly at her, which bought a sudden realisation to mind. "Oops, maybe I should stop saying things like that aloud: I don't want to be the social wallflower I was during my first educational stint, do I? No wonder my family and students treated me so strangely when we first met. Maybe I should play along, just for now, until I know more a-about..." gasp.
If Twilight wanted something to distract her ailing brain from the current confusion, then she certainly got it upon entering the building. As normal as the exterior of the structure seemed, the interior had been completely transformed.
And the reason it could be referred to as a 'building' or 'structure' now is because it was no longer the 'School Of Friendship'. Indeed, a giant plaque hanging above the wall clearly unveiled it as the 'College Of Change'.
But before Twilight could ponder the pure ridiculousness of that name (for starters, weren't the children who attended here too young for college?) another very jarring element of this new-look establishment begged her attention.
Namely, the many busts and portraits of a certain former Changeling Queen scattered everywhere. In each carefully posed piece of artwork, she looked more and menacing: as if the first finished article was just a warm-up for her to outdo her intimidation in every subsequent attempt.
W-Wow. It's amazing the pupils here can get any work done at all, this is like one of those horror comics Spike can never finish... Twilight flinched a bit at being reminded of the absence of her special little guy, before returning to the present. Now lets read some of these inscriptions... 'Our Beloved Principal', 'Our All-Conquering Mistress', 'Our Fearless Leader'... yep, I think it's safe you say I now know who's the boss here. I couldn't disapprove of the choice more, and judging by way she introduces herself, she's got her priorities all wrong too.
Thinking that an utterly chaotic educational system run by Discord would still be more beneficial than the despotic Changeling's, Twilight's fears were further escalated by the surfeit of so-called 'motivational' posters scattered around: 'WAR IS PEACE!' 'FREEDOM IS SLAVERY! 'IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH!' they screamed, amongst other such heartwarming adages.
The more she gazed around dumbfounded, the worst she felt. The awful new name. The grotesque art. The abominable phrases. Then, something snapped.
"T-this is an outrage!!" Twilight gasped, forgetting her earlier vow to keep quiet in compete shock at what she witnessed. "What has happened to my wonderful school? When I find out who's responsible for bringing this parody of friendship into existence, I'm gonna... mmmmm"
"Shhh, Twi. Pipe down, or we'll all end up locked in the closet together again as punishment. And as I recall, this was just before Yona wanted to use the bathroom. So it was not a pleasant experience..." Without warning, the unicorn was grabbed and smuggled behind a golden sculpture of Chrysalis by an irate Smoulder, who'd finally caught up with her along with the rest of the gang.
"Hey! Dragon watch tongue! Yona was strong in holding bladder 'til out of tiny dark room, so what Smoulder complain about?" The yak was most disgruntled at what she regarded as an untrue slur.
"What he's 'complaining' about is that in doing that, you hopped around so much we were nearly all crushed to death!" Ocellus reminded her hairy chum of their friend group's almost-flattening by her considerable bulk.
"Look, this arguing isn't getting us anywhere! How are we gonna 'fix' Twilight this time? It was bad enough when she obsessed over making lists for her lists, but now she's acting certifiably insane!" Gallus was not known for sugarcoating his thoughts, and he blunt assessment of the unicorn's mental state was clear.
"Ooh, I know! I know!! Let's go see Nurse Starlight! She helped me that time I caught my wing in my desk. I don't know how she is as a psychiatrist, But it's worth a try... right?" Silverstream put her hoof up eagerly, even though her enthusiasm for the plan was slightly less than her beaming face would suggest.
Besides, nocreature there had any better idea how to handle this tricky matter, so all present agreed this was in all likelihood the option that had the most realistic chance of success. Both for Twilight's sake, and their's regarding The Big Test due at the end of the week.
Because obviously, without the unicorn's nerdy noggin to help them cram for it, their prospects of passing were something between 'slim' and 'nil'.
In the end, Twilight put up little resistance in being frogmarched to a small office further down the hall (with a lovingly mounted 'I'm here to heal' sign on the door, in contrast to the dire warnings elsewhere). This was because she was currently dwelling on two words she'd heard, that put everything else for now in the shade.
N-Nurse... Starlight?
The world is sick with an incurable virus...
Protests are raging everywhere against the inhumane treatment of minorities...
The environment is crumbling before our eyes...
In other words, everything sucks.
So what do I do to combat the never-ending bleakness?
Curl up into a corner and cry?
No, update some stories.
Starting with this one. Get ready for lots more soon, too.
Hope you enjoy! And remember: 'Better Days Are Ahead' (lets hope so anyway) 
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well, this new update has served to make me very nervous
especially with Chrysalis channeling her inner Big Brother
NIce work! Hope you are safe
REALLY good job on this latest chapter. Took a while, but was definitely worth the wait. And, yeah, Chrysalis is headmare at the College Of Change? Yeah, safe to say things have gone from bad to worse. Though, Twi DOES have a point about how extensive psychiatric care at a young age would probably have fixed MOST of her issues. Seeing Nurse Starlight? To be honest, I'm more than a little worried about it. I mean, with Twilight still a filly in this universe, Starlight is probably still a villain, which is why she would have ANY job at a school run by Chrysalis.
So, yeah, the exchange and characterizations are well done in all the right places and I will definitely be looking forward to more of this.
10269868
Nice spot.
10269874
Tbh I'm more concerned for my family, but I'm not doing too bad. Thanks for asking.
10269879
YOU're welcome. We all have to say strong, stay together
10269878
It was pretty tough going back to this story and having to reread everything to get up to speed. Now I have a clear idea where I want it to go though, I hope to provide regular updates and put my vision to good use. Now I just have to repeat the process for about twenty other chapter fics, and it'll all work out amazingly...
I'm kind of sad that spike and sandbar are not in the picture 🥺
What’s with so many old stories updating?
Well, I’m here for this one.
Well this escalated quickly.
Chrysalis is in charge? What kind of nightmare alternative timeline is Twilight stuck in where that would ever be allowed?! Especially since it doesn't seem like Chrysalis conquered Starlight.
Chrysalis? I had my money on Sunset.
Well, that sounds familiar...
Also... Ocellus was condemned for using changeling abilities when Chrysalis is in charge of the school? Heck, reformed changelings are even a thing when Chrysalis is out and about? As are Generosity studies? To say nothing of the concerns about Chryssy's curriculum getting out among the wider populace...
Yeah, no wonder Twilight had a breakdown. This whole scenario doesn't make any sense. I have to wonder if this is less being displaced in time and more being trapped in some mad fantasy. We'll see in time.
10269903
Same here. They're so much fun to write...
10269922
Good to hear. Still a way to go yet. And I think people are returning to the show during the summer, because maybe there's nothing else worth watching...
10269923
Increasing the drama and tension with every passing chapter? Sounds like a plan to me.
10269924
Well as 'they' say (i.e me)... all will be revealed.
10269925
Sorry to lose you the bet. But she may pop up in some other role, who knows...
Well things are about to get very interesting. I think Twilight is going to be causing some trouble as she will be unable to cast some of her more powerful spells and her message will probably not work out as well because of all the negative influences going around. Hopefully when she starts to go full power she can show why she is the Princess of Friendship.
10269940
I knew someone would point out the apparent contradiction with Ocellus. But fear not, there is a reason behind that and the 'Generosity' studies. If you can wait 'til next chapter to find out, anyway.
a few typos here and there, but all and all a good update
10269946
She probably just wants to go back to her own time... But if she can help in the present, I'm sure she'll try.
10269958
Thanks. And if you can point out those typos to me, I'd be more than happy to take care of them now.
Party up with Starlight and start a school revolution?
10269966
here's one of the bigger ones I noticed. it looks like its missing a few words.
10269976
Just one, which hopefully I fixed now.
This can go many place. All of them interesting.
10269974
The possibilities are endless!
10269989
Hopefully, I picked the best one.
1: escalated
2: ARROGANCE IS FOREVER, POWER IS OVERWHELMING, PINKIE PIE IS WA- wait, what?
10270025
Hmm... I think both words can work, but let's try it your way.
I know your 'incurable virus' thing was meant literally, but it's metaphorical, too, tying into the next bit. The metaphorical virus is hypocrisy, because those 'protests' are inhumane treatment of the white majority. Also, 'inhumane treatment of minorities'? That's old news. That hasn't happened since the 1800s, at least not in any way worth protesting. The simple fact is that the oppressed have become the oppressors, and they're too well brainwashed by the powers that want it that way to even realize that they're doing exactly what they claim to be protesting.
Sorry to focus only on your author's note, but it's a sore spot for me.
10270037
Well I wasn't trying to be political, I was just saying as it's being reported. In terms of my own views on this and many other real life things, I try to keep them separate from this site... from my experience, such debates always end up very... fractious.
Could Nurse Starlight be like Nurse Ratched? A silver tongued witch who hides behind a motherly demeanor?
10270037
It is especially telling of the absurdity of things when a group known as "Black Lives Matter" wants to defund the police.
Oof
10270050
Well, anything that involves Jack Nicholson is cool, so wouldn't be the worst idea...
10270064
Black Lives Matter is a political agenda meant to divide and weaken the people. We can't fight a bad regime if we're too busy fighting ourselves. It's just the latest iteration of a tactic that's been used throughout history and it always works.
I didn't see Chrysalis coming. I just kind of expected Twilight to be put back with no explanation until near the end.
I found it kind of hard to track who was talking when the Student 6 were smuggling Twilight about.
Also, does Twilight have her cutie mark still?
10270107
As stated in the first chapter, yes she does.
When the frag did Warhammer 40k get dragged into this? Cause that is taken word for word from that franchise. I should know. I'm a huge fan of it.
This sorta sceams Chrysalis. But she was never this smart. Starlight was my first choice. But that's gone out the window.
10270074
Sorry for bringing politics into the comments, everyone.
10270157
Well it was more a reference to a certain classic book, as another reader pointed out, but if the words are there it could work for both...
And another takeover I want people to get from this story is: don’t discount any possibility...
Probably CoC roll off the tongue better than SoC (School of Change)?
10269887
Yeah. That's understandable.
Being trapped in a nightmare created by her own mind is a possibility, but I rather doubt that is the case because that would seem too obvious (and besides, if that were the case, Luna would be popping up to at least TRY to help her if the nightmare got THAT bad).
It's more likely that Twilight ended up getting her mind swapped with her filly self in this universe, as I said in another review. There are definitely no shortage of villains who have a grudge against Twilight who would have the power to pull that. As I said that earlier review, while it would admittedly require A LOT of power to pull off a multiversal mind swap, it would still require MUCH LESS power than deaging Twilight and her family and literally messing with EVERYBODY's minds. Even so, that is just a guess and is just as likely to be wrong as right (if not even more likely to be wrong).
10270220
The CMC might lodge an appeal...
10270157
It's from Orwells 1984
And now I'm like, I bet Canterlt Collage as a Comunity Pool. {CCCP}
10270067
Well Starlight, in canon, was basically a hypocritical, controlling wingnut.
Basically....the Cutie Mark Ratched.
Oh dear God no. I'm out. There are enough of those sorts of people in office right now, I don't need them among my magical horses.
(For those playing at home, those phrases are taken directly from Orwell's 1984)
10271256
Hopefully, Chrissy won't be quite as uncompromising with her doctrine as those guys, but we'll see...
10271457
I think there's been a misunderstanding. That "I'm out" was not hyperbole. The moment I got to that line, I copy-pasted it into that comment and then removed the story from Tracking. Didn't even finish the chapter, because it wasn't going to go anywhere I wanted to read about.
10271502
No hard feelings, I think I knew what you meant. When I said ‘we’ll see’ I was more talking to myself in the direction I was writing it. Have a good day, and I hope you find other stories you enjoy which might remind you less of depressing real life events now
I'm definitely liking this big brother esque scenario
10272026
Good to hear. More soon!
10272110
I'm definitely looking forward to more. This chapter was definitely worth the wait
See you next year