After a high school gets sent to Equestria, Mark and Balkin must do what they can to stay safe and sane.
Cliffside High was sent to the outskirts of Ponyville, causing mass hysteria to both the ponies and the humans. After Mark and Princess Celestia patches the trust, the students continue to learn in school while learning the life of Equestria. Many are hoping to come back home while others have left behind the school altogether, both students and teachers.
Question remains. Will they come back home? Or are they stuck forever?
--- You may suggest random human names for future chapters.
Outside of the gigantic school was the confrontation of Princess Celestia and a young student Mark. He stood still in the presence of the tall pony, gulping at his throat.
"Well?" Princess Celestia wondered. "What was your intention on coming here?"
"I don't know why we're here, and we certainly don't have any intent or knowledge on arriving here." Mark replied.
"Really? Is that all you have to say to me?" Celestia said, unimpressed by the boy.
"Yes your highness. We mean you no harm." Mark assured her.
"You dumb little wuss!" Vick scolded at Mark.
Celestia and Mark looked toward another human boy who held a kitchen knife. He ran towards the princess with a vicious roar. Mark stood in the way between Vick and Celestia as the students inside the school watched and the royal guards noticed too late.
"MARK! WAKE UP!"
"Huh!? What!?" Mark shouted as he rose from his sleep. He rubbed his eyes as he looked around the classroom seeing his fellow students chuckling.
"Were you dreaming about the fateful encounter again?" Balkin, Marks best friend asked.
"Y-Yeah… Something like that…" Mark replied drowsily. He yawned before he looked at his newest teacher who was glaring at him. Miss Twilight Sparkle.
"Mark, would you care to explain why you slept in class yet again?" She asked while twitching her eye.
Mark had a worried look. This was about the third time this happened ever since the biggest change to the entire school's life. Ever since Cliffside High was magically teleported to the outskirts of Ponyville, many strange things have happened.
First, the school fell from the sky. After that, the students along with the teachers went hysterical. Some students have fled from the area all together along with most of the staff. It was difficult to understand what was going on or what to do. Vick, the school's top athlete proposed to take control in the absence of the principal, who failed to arrive at school that day due to the flu. Together with two hundred students, they had failed to get anything working. Vick was on the edge and food was beginning to go low. What didn't make sense was why they feared the colorful talking ponies. Upon first sight, the two factions of species have gotten scared over appearance, and that's it. It was on that fateful day, Princess Celestia arrived to deal with the problem, and Mark volunteered himself to be the ambassador to represent for the school. Vick however didn't want to side with a lower species and at first chance attempted to take down the princess. Mark successfully stopped him, and drove him off. This was not however without losing the support of up to fifty student who had agreed with Vick on not befriending the ponies and left with him.
Long story short, Mark and the rest of what's left of the school are now being taught by the remaining teachers. One of the positions needed to be filled however, and that's when Twilight Sparkle made herself Mark's new Equestrian history teacher.
Weirdest week ever. Especially to learn that Twilight isn't that much older than most of the students.
Back to the present, Mark bites his lip trying to answer.
"I-I'm sorry Miss Sparkle, I just had a bad night."
Twilight sighed as she said, "Well, seeing how you all have to resort to sleeping in a school, I could see why. However, your fellow classmates seem to be doing just fine, so why just you Mark?"
"I don't know, I guess I have a lot on my mind right now."
"Oh really?" Twilight said with a glitter in her eye. she levitated Marks desk up to hers and puts on her teacher to child glasses.
"Oh god no…" Mark muttered, realizing where this was going.
"Please Mark, tell us what's on your mind." Twilight asked him sincerely.
"Miss Sparkle, please…!" Mark begged.
"Now, now, call me Twilight. We're all friends here." Twilight told the boy.
Mark slapped his face as the other classmates started to giggle. Balkin was trying to hold his mouth from bursting into laugher at Mark's situation.
"I don't have a problem… Twilight." Mark lazily said with an annoyed expression.
"Are you sure? You can tell us anything, or me for that matter. I'm a great listener after all, and I can help you with whatever's on your mind. This is a safe place after all." Twilight stated.
"Right, one where a crazy student tried to stab the princess with the culinary art's knife." Mark coldly stated.
Ignoring that part, Twilight continued. "So, what problem is on your shoulders? Do you have a problem with a bully? Not getting the material? Disorganized? A little crush on a special some pony?"
Mark widened his eyes at the last one and blushed madly. "What!? By god no! I don't have any of those problems!"
Sadly, Twilight didn't believe that. She had on a smirk and said, "Oh, I see what it is."
"No… You don't…" Mark muttered, sweating at what she was about to say.
"Well Mark, it seems you're at that age…" Twilight began.
"Oh god…"
"Where we'll have to talk about the unicorns and the pegasuses…"
At the lunch table, Balkin was chuckling his last breaths from what happened in class. Mark ate angrily as he chewed his food thoroughly and quickly. After Balkin finally finished up laughing, he turned to Mark and finally asked…
"So, what is on your mind anyways?"
Swallowing down the grub, Mark wiped his mouth and said, "Just the fact on how long we'll be here. I mean, aren't you freaked out that we suddenly left our family behind and everything? We gotta get back home… but at our knowledge and what we have to gather, it doesn't look like we're ever gonna come back…"
"Eh, you win some, you lose some." Balkin responded as he bit his apple. "I mean, you can't do what you can't, just do what you can. Am I right?"
"Whatever." Mark replied, unhappy of his answer. As he gets another spoonful of soup in his mouth, his teacher sat beside him.
"Hello Mark!" Twilight greeted her student. His response was a massive spit of soup towards Balkin, splattering his face. They both looked at Balkin as he wiped the liquid off his eyes.
"Thanks, I sure like that tomato soup." Balkin stated sarcastically.
Mark rubbed his mouth clean and said, "M-Miss Sparkle…! What a pleasant surprise."
"Aw, glad you think so!" Twilight said happily as she levitated her sandwich to her mouth, taking a small bite. Mark was a bit disturbed of the fact that ponies have been making their own strange versions of food. What seems to be meat is actually fake. It is actually a mixture of exotic plants that mimic the flavor, hay, or some type of flower. Regardless, Mark wanted to throw up if he had to resort to eating such foods. Luckily, they had a bakery as well that made their dishes like humans do. Thank god is what Mark thought.
"What are you doing here anyways?" Balkin questioned as he cleaned his face of the spat soup. "The teacher's table is over there."
"I just wanted to see my student to see if he was awake. But seeing how you're not asleep right now makes me wonder…" Twilight stated.
"I'm fine. I won't sleep in class anymore, okay?" Mark said sternly. Not good enough however as Twilight loomed in closer.
"I hope so Mark. We have a test tomorrow, so I would recommend studying tonight."
"Tomorrow!?" Balkin repeated the date. "Already!? Aw! Come on teach! You gotta be kidding me!"
"Don't worry too much Balkin." Twilight assured him. "We're just going over what we've went through so far. As long as you've listened to what I've said, you'll pass."
Balkin began to sweat, covering up his stress with a fake smile. "Listened…? Sure…!"
"You… have listened, haven't you?" Twilight questioned, glaring at him.
"Yep…! Totally…! One… hundred… percent…!"
"What a terrible poker face." Mark teased.
"Shut up Mark!" Balkin scolded.
Twilight rolled her eyes as she finished up her meal. Picking up her tray with her levitation, she placed it on the tray rack for it to be cleaned.
"Well, I hope you all do well on the test tomorrow." She said before heading out the door. "I'm sorry to leave so early, but I have to meet with my friends. See you tomorrow!"
"And the day after that, and the day after, and after…" Balkin chanted, making Mark laugh. Twilight rolled her eyes at that remark and left them be.
What used to be the gymnasium was now a big bedroom for a hundred and fifty students. The beds were supplied by none other than Princess Celestia to give them a place to sleep. Among the many mattresses with a blanket, a pillow, and a person was specifically Mark and Balkin's beds. They're just across the row like in a classroom. As Balkin snored away, Mark studied for the test tomorrow. He wasn't going to prove Twilight right about his sleeping problem which started to happen recently, but he knew he would fall asleep if he kept studying so late as well. Closing the book feeling somewhat confident of the knowledge he has accrued, he lies on his bed staring straight up to the ceiling.
This sucks… Being away from mom and dad… Why did all of this happen anyways? It couldn't be because of… no… no, that's stupid.
Then again, magic exists in this world, so… no, it can’t be because of…
Mark stopped his train of thought and rolled to the side. As he began to sleep, he dreamed of a memory. The day before this all happened.
Mark was shouting at his parents, back and forth. An argument that breaks loose leads to anger flowing and regretful words.
"I wish I could leave you guys! You suck!" Mark yelled at his parents.
"Then as soon as you graduate, go ahead!" his father shouted.
"I'll go! I just wish I could leave sooner! I don't ever want to see you again!"
"The day you leave us… no, the second you get granted that freedom mister…" Mark's mother began. "You're going to miss us! You'll come back, just watch!"
"No! I'll never come back! The day I do is when you guys are just… GONE! JUST GONE!!"
Suddenly, Mark woke up in the same bed he was before. Looking out the windows of the gym, it was still night. Balkin was still snoring among other students who can't keep it in. It was just the same. Mark lied on his bed and looked up at the ceiling.
"Stupid mom… Stupid dad… It's been a week… I… I'm not back yet, am I…?" Mark muttered before tearing up. "I'm… never coming back…"
Mark was sitting in the classroom with his fellow classmates like before. Twilight was handing out the tests with her levitation. They haven't gotten used to magic yet, so it was very spectacular to watch Twilight use it whenever the time came. Mark was too tired to keep his eyes opened. He had apparently cried himself to sleep for whatever happened in his sleep. He looked at the test only to see squiggles his hallucination was creating. He picked up his pencil about to write, but was unsure where the pencil was going to write. Outside of his vision, Twilight saw him drawing squiggles in his paper.
"Mark…? Are you… doodling on the test!?" Twilight said in frustration.
"Wha? Uh… no?" Mark said in a tired tone.
"Then… what kind of answers are these?" She questioned, revealing the poorly drawn lines on his paper.
"Uh… that's a… two? and a… three?"
"This is Equestrian history, not math." Twilight stated, still disappointed. Sighing, she brought the test over to her desk and said, "If you're not going to take it seriously, I'm afraid I'm going to have to fail you for this one."
"Wait! I-I'm just…" Mark paused, not wanting to say sleepy like he was for the past three days.
"Just… what?" Twilight questioned, waiting for an answer.
Mark simply froze at his seat. He didn't want to fail, that's for sure. But his eyesight had worsened due to the lack of sleep. It's even a mystery to him how he got to class in one piece. As the minute flew by, a knock on the door broke the silence. Twilight went over to the door and dropped her jaw upon the visitor. She left for a moment talking to the guest. After so, she came back and said…
"Mark, some pony wants to see you."
Mark blinked at his teacher, unsure what to say. "But… I don't know anyone who would visit me at this hour."
"She knows you well enough."
Leading Mark out the door, he stood up and left the class. Twilight closed the door after he left, letting him speak to another princess.
Mark saw Princess Cadence, also known as the princess of love. Her light purple eyes gazed towards the human boy as he just waited there for something to be said.
"You must be Mark. I'm Princess Cadence." She introduced herself.
"Um… Hi…" Mark replied before yawning loudly. He rubbed his eyes as he wobbled a bit too. Cadence easily noticed his drowsiness as he rocked back and forth.
Giggling to herself, Cadence opened up an offer. "Would you like some coffee so I can talk to you without having you asleep?"
"Oh yes, please." Mark accepted.
Drinking the coffee down the hatch, he breathed out a warm breath from the satisfying elixir, waking him up from his exhaustion. Cadence waited patiently for Mark to open his eyes completely before saying what was on her mind. It was a nice breezy day outside of the school's central park. They sat at the table just a few feet away from the café run by ponies, taking advantage of the selling spot as well as the free extra help from students who volunteered.
Finally, after Mark was fully awakened, he stretched his arms before saying, "Alright Princess Cadence. Why did you get me out of class?"
"Well, your teacher Twilight called me." Cadence explained.
"Huh… How do you know her?" Mark wondered.
"She's my sister in law."
"Oh… I see." Mark replied, taking a sip of what's left of the coffee. He wasn't sure where this was going, but knowing it might have something to do with Twilight, he was a bit on edge.
"Now, she called me over to talk to you about… Well, some advice on attracting a mate."
Right there was when Mark slammed his head down the table, cursing his teacher under his breath. He got back up and tried to smile no matter how annoying it was going through this.
"That's okay." Mark told her while gritting his teeth. "I'm not really interested in that right now."
"Well, Twilight told me that you've been looking a little lonely seeing how you only have one friend, that boy named Balkin." Cadence pointed out.
"And I'm fine with that." Mark assured her.
"I'm sure you are, but you should know there is more to life than just your one friend." Cadence told Mark. "There's the plentiful amount of friends you'll make here at school and in Ponyville, and also the love of your life."
Mark rolled his eyes, blowing a huff at all of this. "I like being alone, alright? And besides, I never was interested in going to Ponyville."
"Why not?" Cadence wondered.
"Well… Mostly because I got better things to do." Mark replied. In his mind however, he had a different thought. I also don't want to meet anymore ponies. Miss Twilight is already a hassle.
Cadence sighed at his response. "Well, you must have met some pony that you've been interested in here at school. Surely some pony."
By some pony, she mean somebody in my language. "No, I haven't. Listen, as much as I want to hear about all the beautiful things of love, I need to get back to class."
Mark got up and walked away from Cadence followed by a groan. "Thanks for the coffee. It was nice."
In Animal Care, Mark and Balkin were checking on their assignment. The behavior patterns of their newly born bunnies. Balkin was asleep while Mark checked the little rabbits. He wasn't fond of animals, but still liked anything cute. The bunnies were still so young, eyes still closed, but fur had begun to show. It felt like it was only yesterday they were back in their world and the bunnies looked like naked mole rats.
"Aw, aren't you a cutie?" Mark teased as he held one of them up to his face. The bunny sniffed him and licked the tip of his nose. He chuckled before placing it back into the cage so it could eat the meal Balkin had placed before taking a nap.
"Mark!" Mrs. Paula, the teacher of animal care called out. "Someone's here to see you."
Mark was getting tired of this. He didn't like his teacher pulling strings on his school life. "Can you tell Miss Sparkle or Princess Cadence that I'm busy?"
"It's not them." Mrs. Paula replied. "Also, I wouldn't want to keep her waiting."
Mark groaned and looked at Balkin. He poked him until he woke up. "Hey, wake up."
"Huh? What?" Balkin said as he rubbed his eyes. "What is it? I'm trying to take a nap."
"Watch the critters. I gotta go." Mark told him.
"Again!?" Balkin yelled. "Why are you always moving around? Did you get popular or something?"
"You wanna talk to whoever's beyond that door? I've been meeting a bunch of ponies lately."
"Pass, I'm not into politics." Balkin declined.
Mark rolled his eyes before grabbing his stuff and leaving the class. Balkin looked at the bunnies before him for ten seconds before falling back to sleep. It wasn't until he heard a soft voice whisper in his sleep.
"Aw! How could any pony ignore you?"
Balkin tried to ignore the voice, but it was very expressive.
"You're so adorable! Some pony needs to keep an eye after you."
Balkin clenched his eyes shut, trying his best to ignore the voice. Ignore hippie… Ignore hippie
"Excuse me?" The quiet voice spoke to Balkin as well as poking his arm.
Annoyed and tired, he got up and yawned before realizing his new partner was the yellow pegasus, Fluttershy.
"Who're you?" Balkin questioned.
"Oh, um… My name is Fluttershy…" She answered.
"Butter Guy? Uh… Wow…" Balkin responded as he rubbed his eyes. "I guess you kinda look like you're made of butter."
"N-No… I'm Fluttershy…"
"So! Butter Guy, what is it?" Balkin asked.
"Oh, well… I think you should pay attention to the bunnies. They're so young, they need proper caring." Fluttershy advised Balkin. "Also, I'm a girl."
"Well Butter Guy, to tell you the truth, I don't really care about bunnies."
Fluttershy gasped before saying, "What!? Why!?"
"It's a fur ball that breathes." Balking pointed out. "Besides, I like lions way better. You know, cool animals that bite and stuff."
"Even so, you should take care of these bunnies! If you don't, who will?"
"Mark, my partner." Balkin answered. "Since he's not here right now, you wanna watch after these guys?"
"Me? Why, I'd love to!" She said before turning to the rabbits. "Don't worry little ones! Fluttershy is going to look after you now."
"Fluttershy?" Twilight called as she entered the classroom too. "What are you doing here?"
Are we taking care of horses now? Balkin wondered.
"Well, you see, this student here was ignoring the bunnies who need special care. So I wanted to take care of them in his place." Fluttershy explained.
"I'm sorry, I can't let you do that Fluttershy." Twilight told her. "He needs to do his own work. And since you're neither a teacher nor a student, you can't interfere."
"But, the bunnies-!"
"Eh!" Twilight cut her off with her hoof raised up. "No means no. And Balkin."
"Yes?" Balkin responded to his teacher's call.
"First of all…" Twilight growled while closing her eyes. She levitated a sheet of paper up to Balkin's face for him to see. "Can you explain the meaning of this?"
Balkin looked at the familiar sheet of paper with a picture of Twilight and an arrow pointing to her horn. It read, Twilight's Horn- finishing off with an unpleasant word. He only laughed at the sight before saying, "Um… I don't know Miss Sparkle. You might wanna ask Mrs. Paula. She's an expert at mating research."
His comedy routine stopped as Twilight closed in and said, "I'll see you in detention. On time."
As Twilight left, Balkin slouched and complained. "Can you believe that Butter Guy? She can't even take a joke."
"Um… I'm Fluttershy… and, can you please watch after the bunnies?"
He wailed his arms around an groaned loudly before giving in. "Fine, I'll watch after the balls of fur."
"Thank you." Fluttershy replied gratefully before leaving Balkin alone. As Balkin watched the rabbits for a couple of seconds, he began to grow drowsy. However, before his head even reached the table, Mrs. Paula scolded at him.
"Balkin! Proper care requires the parent to be awake."
He looked at the teacher wondering how she noticed him since he was in the back of the classroom. As it turns out, Fluttershy was still there watching him, making sure he was awake. He glared at her as she timidly smiles and waves over to him.
"Butter Guy, you suck…" Balkin sneered.
Mark was having his usual meeting with Princess Celestia in the park. The conversation would usually be about the morale of students, food supplies, anything they need in particular, so on and so forth. Mark always made his demands brief. Not too much, not too little. However, their meetings never end quickly. Celestia had extended the time of their meetings due to the fact that she was intrigued by the humans. Mark never noticed her actions since she was as mischievous as any other student here. Only difference was that she knew how to hide it right. Didn't make her impure of heart though.
"So, we need about two hundred rolls of toilet paper, month supply of food, twenty tons of paper-"
"What kind of food?" Celestia asked.
"What?"
"What kind of food? Turnips, onions, carrots, roses-"
Mark felt his stomach gurgle up at the mentioning of eating plants of the inedible. "No flowers… None at all…"
Celestia raised her eyebrow as she began to wonder. "But what about these flowers you're growing? They're here ready to eat." She pointed out as she snacked on a bud of a nearby daisy.
"Those are for decoration and atmosphere." Mark retorted.
After Celestia swallowed her snack, she commented, "Humans use flowers as a decoration? What a strange culture you all have."
"There are a bunch of cultures back at my world." Mark told Celestia. "Heck, you might get to see a bunch of different cultures if you talk to other students around here."
"How many of your friends have a different culture?" Celestia asked.
"I only have Balkin as my only friend, so I'm not too familiar with different cultures."
Celestia tilted her head and brought it up to Mark. "Why is that Mark?"
"Why is what?" He questioned.
"Why you only have one friend."
"Kinda busy, you know?" Mark answered as he lightly nudged her head away from him. "Seeing how I have to be the ambassador of a school, all while I'm still having to focus on my studies."
"There's always time to make friends Mark." Celestia told him.
"Right, sure there is." Mark said sarcastically. "While I'm at it, I'll build a theme park."
Celestia playfully chuckled as she said, "Aren't you touchy?"
"Geez, you sound like my Mom."
The princess wrapped the student with her magnificent wing and said, "Isn't a motherly personality nice?"
"Not really." He said without hesitation.
No matter what Mark said, Celestia only smiled and laughed it off. Nothing bothered her and it only fueled her desire to teach Mark something about opening up. Sadly, he had no intention on turning over a new leaf yet.
"Don't you have some royal responsibilities to go to?" he asked.
"Ah yes." she said solemnly. "Too bad. I wanted to get to know you better."
"Why do you want to get to know me?" Mark asked with a hint of paranoia.
"Well, I wanted to learn more about my only human friend." She stated, nuzzling him by the nose. Mark backed up and blushed a bit before she took off. As she did, Mark turned around and sighed.
"I don't want anyone to know about me." Mark thought to himself. "I just want to be alone with my work so that someday…"
Balkin was in detention chewing on his pencil as he watched Twilight going over the test.
This is so boring… Uh, there has to be something to do…
He looked outside to see students playing basketball. He happened to notice a cyan blue pegasus with a rainbow mane playing with them. She was dashing around the kids swiftly and easily as she scored net after net. Balkin stared at her as she did a slam dunk with her mane blowing in the wind. He was very impressed.
Whoa… Why can't Butter Guy be like her?
"Balkin?" Twilight called.
"Huh? Um- Yes Miss Sparkle?" he responded.
"What are you looking at?" She questioned before leaning over the desk to see the basketball game. "Oh… I guess you were watching that."
"Is there a problem with that?"
"No, of course not." Twilight assured him. "Now… How did you do on today's test?"
"Hm? I… Well I think?" Balkin shrugged.
Twilight looked very sad. Balkin noticed easily as she just stared at the sheets of paper. Balkin felt as if she was disappointed in him for failing the test. She didn't look like she wanted to talk anymore.
"Um… So how did I do?" He wondered.
"Do you really want to know?" Twilight questioned, only to receive a blank stare from Balkin as his response. "I thought so."
She must be really peeved! I know it's only been like a week, but she doesn't act this serious around me. Then again, this is the first test I ever took. She was pretty excited about being a teacher when she volunteered. Heck, she even butted into our lives when we didn't want her to. Why so gloomy now?
Then again, I'd rather not find out. She doesn't seem like she's in a chatty mood right now.
The bell finally rung, making Balkin nearly jump out of his desk. He went over to the door and left. As he walked through the hallway, he felt an urge to check on his teacher. Though he wasn't completely fond of her, he didn't want to leave her like this. At least, part of him didn't. He peeked back inside to see her lying on her desk, almost as if she was crying. At that moment, Balkin lost the confidence to help her. Seeing her cry made it awkward for him, so he decided to leave.
Maybe she'll be fine tomorrow.
Another day in class. Mark woke up among the hundreds of students with him in the gymnasium. He and Balkin brushed their teeth, changed in the bathrooms, and got their backpacks and some other stuff out of the lockers. They were walking down the hall with a topic at hand.
"She was crying?" Mark repeated the words of his friend.
"Yeah! It was so weird! I know she wasn't exactly Miss Sunshine, but she was bawling over! I couldn't bring myself to go in that room since it'd be… Well, weird."
"What do you think she was crying about?"
"I don't know. She asked about how I did on the test at one point. Maybe she was sad that I failed." Balkin guessed.
"Wait, you failed the test yesterday?"
"It was pretty hard for a test with twenty questions."
As Mark and Balkin peeked inside the classroom, they saw the students sitting at their desks. The usual talkative atmosphere of the classroom was now a stale and stressful. No one talked and looked as if they were too scared to talk. Their teacher, Twilight was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Miss Sparkle?" Mark wondered.
Just as he asked that, Twilight was looming over them with a deathly glare. Balkin happened to notice and turned slowly to see her intimidating eyes.
"Is… Is she… behind us?" Mark happened to ask.
Balkin nodded before Twilight levitated the two over to their desks and dropped them on their chairs. Her attitude towards the student wasn't to the point where she started beating them to death, or using her magic to torture them. Thank goodness for that. One thing though was a noticeable expression upon Twilight. It was a mix of anger, sadness, and disappointment. She walked to the front of the classroom and gathered everyone's attention.
"Class… Tell me… What are we learning in here?" Twilight asked.
"Equestrian History." They all said in unison.
"Really? Is that what we're learning?"
The student exchanged confused looks before Twilight slammed a stack of papers on her desk with her magic.
"Your grades… All of you… Every single one of you failed…"
Mark was surprised. He looked around to see the students eerily silent as if they knew. Mark looked back to Twilight to see her shedding tears.
"So you really didn't listen, did you? None of you did…" Twilight stated. She walked to the board trying her best to hold herself together. She then began to say what was on her mind.
"I was very excited during my first few days here. Even though you all are different creatures, I sensed that you all had the intelligence and the sentience like us ponies. I believed that you were eager to learn seeing how you're in school. You all… acted like you cared about our history…"
"No! That's not true Miss Sparkle!" One of the students claimed.
"Yeah! We love having you as our teacher!" Another added.
"Oh really!? Then explain this!" Twilight shouted. She levitated the papers and showed all the F's from all of her students. Every paper was an F. There wasn't even a D minus. For every page flipped, the students began to turn away in shame. Mark only watched as Twilight simply dropped the papers onto the floor.
"You all lied about wanting to learn. You all didn't care at all about our history. You wasted your time and my time. Worst of all, you made me think… You made me think I was inspiring some pony… You made me think I was helping some pony… You… You…"
"Miss… I mean… Twilight." Mark called out. Twilight looked up to see Mark raising his hand. His face was not the usual uncaring expression as before. It had a sense of humanity in it this time. Twilight looked at him for a moment before saying something back.
"Yes… Mark?"
"I didn't finish the test yesterday because I was too tired. I can finish it today if I can."
She merely closed her eyes and said, "Why don't you just skip it. I have a feeling you won't do any better."
"Please ask me the questions Twilight. I think I can do it." Mark insisted.
Twilight sighed and began the test. "What do the Elements of Harmony consist of?"
"Kindness, Loyalty, Honesty, Laughter, Generosity, and the Spark."
Twilight's eyes widened in disbelief. She had previously checked Mark's test to be nothing but squiggly lines. She then continued the test with a speck of eagerness.
"How many years was Luna banished to the moon?"
"A thousand years."
"When was she released?"
"When the stars aid her escape, Summer Sun Celebration."
Question after question, Twilight's hopes began to return. Mark was focused and answering them without hesitation. Students were impressed that he was actually able to remember this fairy tale of a history. As he reached the last question, Twilight asked it slowly.
"Who is the current ruler… of the Crystal Empire?"
Mark stood still, unsure what to say. He could barely recall what he read in the textbook anymore. As the moment passed, Twilight continued.
"Princess of Love…? The pony who you met…?"
"Princess Cadence?" Mark realized.
"Right!" Twilight cried. "You got it right! A plus!"
She hugged Mark tightly as he couldn't help but actually give a meaningful smile. The class clapped for the only student who passed the test. As Twilight releases Mark from her grip, she levitated a sheet of stickers from her desk. She plucked a star shaped sticker out and placed it on Mark's cheek.
A whole month has finally passed. Mark could barely enjoy his weekend. He was always around people. Secretly to himself, he disliked the company of strangers. He didn't like meeting new people as it was just too time consuming and it took too much energy. He usually avoided people if he could, and only accepted few in his social circle. That would be Balkin and Celestia. Sometimes Twilight since he would be annoyed of her consistency of the frequent question.
"Mark, where are your friends?" Twilight asked as he was reading outside the café. He simply sipped his cup of coffee as a reply. It didn't drive her off though.
"Mark, you should go out and make some friends." Twilight advised him.
"First love advice, now friends? Please Miss Sparkle, I'm busy." He complained before returning to his reading.
Twilight levitated the book out of his hands and said, "Look, I love reading as much as any pony else. but there must be a line when it comes to the ponies and humans well being."
"Well being of what?" He retorted.
"Social contact."
Rolling his eyes, Mark simply took another sip of his coffee and said, "I don't need any more friends. Balkin is my friend, and that's good enough."
"Really Mark?"
"Really." Mark said as he snatched the book from Twilight. He left the table and Twilight altogether. at that point, Twilight began to think.
There has to be a way for him to make some more friends… but how…?
The talkative class exchanging conversations, hot topics, and gossip flow around the room. Balkin is one of them, spreading rumors of the so called, pony lover. It was a rumor that there were actual students seeing other ponies as their dates. The idea of it had made the school antsy. Pony and human. How would that work? How would it last? And most of all, are they planning to come back home? Though it was a number one priority to go back home, many of the high school residents began to accept the facts. No one knew how to come back. It was pointless. Of course, if they had believe that a hundred percent, the idea of going to this school would be useless since it had no real learning value in the magical world of Equestria. At least to this point, not anymore.
Twilight enters the classroom with her assistant, Spike. The class stares at the little dragon, not ever seeing one before. Spike was a bit nervous as everyone looked at him without taking a moment to blink.
"Hello class. As you can see, we have a special guest." Twilight announced.
"Who's the lizard?" Balkin questioned.
Spike jumped up to Balkin and scolded, "I'm not a lizard! I'm a dragon!"
Balkin only stared at him for a few moments before he could come up with a response. "… Really?"
"Yes, really!" Spike shouted before being whisked away back to Twilight's side using her magic.
"This is my number one assistant, Spike." Twilight told everyone. "Say hello class."
"Hello Spike." They greeted in unison.
"Hi every pony! It's great to be here!" Spike responded quite cheerfully. "Twilight told me a lot about you guys, so I was pretty excited that I got to finally meet you."
Mark had a feeling that Twilight was up to something. Of course it sounds silly, but Mark has been developing a keen sense on times when Twilight plans something… fishy.
"Now, I have a special surprise for you class." Twilight began. "We have a few new students who are attending class with us."
Where is this going? Mark wondered as he eyed his teacher suspiciously.
"They'll be with us for a while to see how if the school fits them or not. Without further ado, let's have them come in."
Spike opened the door and coming in are 5 ponies. The class however was unaware that these five ponies are none other than Twilight's friends. Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. They entered in that order and stood in front of the class by the board.
"Why don't you introduce yourselves?" Twilight insisted.
"Really Twi?" Rainbow questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"That's Miss Sparkle." She responded with a twitchy eye.
"Alright then." Applejack started off. "Howdy every pony! My name is Applejack."
"Hello Applejack." The class greeted in unison.
"I'm Rarity." She introduced herself with a bow.
"Hi Rarity." They all responded in unison.
"And I'm Pinkie!" she shouted out immediately. "Wow! I never seen so many humans at once before! I heard every pony was scared of you at first until this boy named Mark came and talked to Princess Celestia. Is he in your class by the way?"
Mark held the book up to cover his face, but it was no use as everyone pointed at his location, including Balkin.
You all are the worst.
The five ponies looked at Mark and nodded at each other. No one noticed the sly looks on their faces before it changed into a dumb smile.
"Anyways…" Rainbow began. "My name is Rainbow Dash!"
Somehow, she brought excitement to the class. They all started to ask questions as they were familiar with this tomboyish pegasus.
"Aren't you the same one who won at those soccer games?" Nick asked.
"Or the one who bragged about how you broke the sound barrier making a sonic rainboom?" Tucker added.
Balkin also happened to say something. "I remember you! You were playing basketball outside of this classroom when I was in detention!"
Before she could reply, Twilight knocked on her desk to gather everyone's attention with the noise.
"Thank you Rainbow Dash!" Twilight shouted rather sarcastically. "Now then… let her introduce herself."
Everyone turned their attention towards Fluttershy. With the sudden amount of eyes staring down at her, she quickly began to freeze up. It was a standstill of the frightened pegasus and the vast amount of attention onto her. It was a while before Balkin happened to break the ice.
"I remember you too! You're Butter Guy!"
Silence flooded the classroom as the ponies simply dropped their jaws. The class held in their laughter for a few seconds before they all exploded in laughter. Fluttershy hid behind her mane due to her insecurity. At that moment, Rainbow rushed towards Balkin and grabbed his shirt with her hooves, holding him up.
"What'd you call her!?" Rainbow questioned angrily.
"I just said her name!" Balkin replied. "Right Butter Guy?"
"Her name isn't Butter Guy! It's Fluttershy!" she shouted.
Balkin tilted his head in confusion. "Really? But she told me it was Butter Guy!"
"Rainbow!" Twilight called. "Release Balkin this instant!"
"But this kid's making fun of Fluttershy!" Rainbow rebutted.
"I wasn't making fun of her!" he insisted.
"Rainbow… put… him… down… NOW." Twilight demanded quite sternly. The students shut their mouths as the ponies were quiet too. Rainbow regretfully lets go of Balkin and lets him back in his seat. He tugged his shirt quite annoyed of Rainbow.
"Now Balkin…" Twilight called. "Even though you didn't mean it, you should apologize to Fluttershy."
Balkin rolled his eyes before apologizing. "Sorry Fluttershy."
"Say it like you mean it!" Rainbow threatened.
"That's enough Rainbow!" Twilight scolded. "Now apologize to Balkin."
"WHAT!? Why do I have to say sorry!?" Rainbow questioned.
"You held him by his shirt and above the floor." Twilight reminded her. "Here at school, we do our best to diminish violence to the best of our ability."
Rainbow groaned and turned away muttering to Balkin, "Sorry…"
"What? What was that?" Balkin asked.
"Rainbow." Twilight spoke rather strongly.
Rainbow Dash turned to Balkin and said, "Sorry. There, ya happy?"
"Maybe." Balkin chuckled to himself.
Twilight sighed at this already going downhill. Continuing to hold her composure, she continued on. "Alright you five, take a seat. Spike, just sit by me in case I need anything."
The five ponies chose their seats. Balkin glared at Rainbow as she too glared back. Mark looked behind him to see Fluttershy covering her face with a book. He turned slowly away from the pegasus.
"Can you believe her!?" Balkin complained. "I didn't mean to insult her anyways! And then she suddenly flies up to me and was like-"
"You called her Butter Guy." Mark reminded him. "Those two obviously are friends, so it was natural that she defended her name."
"Still, she was over the top about it." Balkin grumbled, crossing his arms.
In cooking class, Mr. Beck finishes his roll call as well as adding down the students name to his roll sheet for later.
"Alright class." Mr. Beck calls out, grasping the attention of his students. "We'll be cooking something so easy, it'll be a piece of cake!"
"Is it a cake?" Balkin spoke.
"No, it's a pie."
"Why didn't you just say easy as pie, then?"
"Because that would be too obvious dumb-dumb!" Mr. Beck retorted, making Balkin groan. "Anyways, listen for your name. This will be your group for today."
He checks his list of students and begins.
"Carlton, Dalton, and Nick. You are group A. Mark, Balkin, and Garett, you are-"
Suddenly, a note is flung over to Mr. Beck. The class looks around wondering who had shot the note. Mr. Beck opened it and read its contents.
"What does it say?" Mark asked.
Mr. Beck scans the note and crumbles it up. "Nothing important. Now then, Mark, Balkin, and Applejack. You are in group B"
"Uh… Wasn't I supposed to be in group B?" Garett wondered.
"I'm choosing randomly Garett. Please calm yourself." Mr. Beck claimed.
"More like someone's pulling the strings." Balkin whispered to Mark.
"Or some pony." Mark growled.
After prepping up for cooking, the groups gather together and went into their designated kitchens. In kitchen B, Mark, Balkin, and Applejack are checking the recipe. Cherry pie was the order, and they had to bake it.
"Cherry pie?" Applejack retorted. "Why not apples?"
"It's no big deal." Mark stated as he took out the listed ingredients. "I hope you know how to bake Applejack."
"Actually, I bake a lot back home. This won't take long." Applejack told the boys.
"Really?" Balkin responded quite surprised.
"Yep! In fact, let me handle this. That way, we can get through this a lot quicker."
Mark didn't want to let her do all the work by herself. "But we're not supposed to do it alone."
"No, it's fine. Just let me handle it and you two will have the tastiest pie in your life!" Applejack assured him.
Sighing, he allows the new student do as she pleases. In his mind, he knew it was a bad idea. However, who would say no to free time? Mark took out his book and passed the time reading. Balkin watched closely watching Applejack live up to her words. She took barely any time making the batter and pretty much carried the group on her back. As she places the pie in the oven, she looks at the familiar oven with not so familiar buttons.
"Uh… What's all this doohickey?" Applejack asked.
"Hm? Oh, well you know. These buttons allow you to choose the temperature and how long you want to bake it." Balkin explained. "Need help with it?"
"Nah, I'm okay… Oh horse apples!" Applejack realized something important. "I forgot to preheat the oven!"
"Maybe you can turn up the temperature to bake it faster." Balkin suggested.
"Well… Doing something like that doesn't usually end well…" Applejack thought. She looked at the clock seeing only ten minutes of class left. Not wanting to fail on her first day, she followed the plan anyways. "I suppose a rise in heat won't be too much trouble…"
Applejack fiddles with the buttons, getting the numbers just how she wanted it. Balkin pressed the start button, and the oven started to bake. Sighing in relief, she left Balkin to watch after the oven while she went over to Mark. Balkin wasn't really paying attention to the pie however as he simply stared into space, daydreaming. Mark was reading until he received a little nudge from his leg. Applejack was poking him to get his attention.
"Oh, uh… What is it Applejack?" Mark wondered.
"So, you're Mark? The same boy who protected the Princess when that other human was about to attack her?" Applejack asked.
"Don't bring up the past." Mark told her. "I'm not one to like remembering things of yesterday."
"You and me both." Applejack sighed. "Glad you aren't the boastful type."
"You know me too well." Mark said as he turned the page.
Applejack started to scratch the back of her head to that statement. "Aw, well, I don't know about knowing you too well-"
"No, you're getting to know me too well." Mark said it again, only more clearly of what he meant. "I don't think we should stay on this subject anymore, much less talk about me."
"What's wrong with that partner?" Applejack questioned rather curious of his change in mood.
Mark turned the next page, not stuttering in anyway. "I don't want to share anymore info to you. I rather be alone right now."
"But we're in a group. You know, in this together?" Applejack reminded him.
"You mean how we baked the pie together?" Mark retorted, making Applejack back off a bit. "Exactly. We rather do things on our own, do we not?"
Applejack tried to shake the conversation towards the main topic in her mind. "Well… that aside, you do things with others, right?"
"Not really… Why?" Mark asked, eying her with a steady glance.
Before she could continue, something started to smell. It was a smoky sensation up in the air. It took a while to notice it had a hint of apple in it too.
"Smoke?" Mark realized. "From our oven!?"
Balkin snapped out of his trance and looked at the burning pie within the oven. He looked at the temperature had surpassed five hundred degrees and had gone on for eight minutes.
"What the!? The timer's not turned on!" Balkin realized before running to the oven. "There's no timer set… but someone did change the time of day to two o clock."
"Oh… I think I got the two mixed up." Applejack admitted.
One fire panic later, Mark and Balkin moves to their next class. Wearing their burnt school uniforms and moving along with the wind blowing their hair full of soot, the students gaze among the magnificence of burning an apple pie.
"How the heck does that even happen!?" Balkin questioned the laws of physics.
"Bake an apple pie, set no timer, put the heat to five hundred degrees… No, I don't see how the oven exploding should ever happen. I don't even know how we're alive." Mark said before coughing.
"I'm gonna hit the showers before we go Algebra." Balkin planned.
"You're gonna skip algebra? Really?" Mark spoke with disappointment.
"Just the first thirty minutes." He claimed. Either way, if he took a shower for thirty minutes, he would practically miss class.
After Balkin left, Mark roamed the hallways alone. Not minding it, he continued to read his book. It was going at a quiet, serene pace. Outside, you can see leaves being blown in the autumn sky. Even though it was fall, it was still pretty warm. Probably due to the fact that pegasi can control the weather to any way they want it. Upon entering the class, the students were at their seats watching Rarity, demonstrate a very long equation to Mr. Christopher, the teacher of the class.
"And that's how you find the answer Mr. Christopher." Rarity finished, placing the chalk onto the board.
The teacher was in awe. "I'm very impressed Rarity! I didn't think you'd finish it so swiftly!"
"Well, being a clothing designer, one must use lots of math to make the correct measurements." Rarity informed her teacher. She was about to head to her seat until she noticed Mark in his… state. "Mark! What on earth happened to you?"
The class turned to Mark, standing in the class covered in ashes. Mark sighed out three simple words. "Cooking class explosion."
"Well, we can't leave you like this!" Rarity stated. She turned to the teacher and said, "Excuse me! Do you have any spare cloth materials? My friend will need a brand new attire to replace his current clothing."
"Uh… In the sewing class, but I don't think-" Mr. Christopher began, but was immediately outspoken by Rarity.
"You have a sewing class!? Why in Equestria did Twilight not tell me!?" Rarity questioned the heavans before turning to Mark. "Where is it?"
"Uh… It's in the third floor-" Mark stopped as he felt the magic of Rarity carry him.
"Then on we go!" Rarity said as she took them both out of Algebra.
"Wait! We can't just leave class! Hey!" Mark shouted as he was brought farther and farther from the classroom.
The students stared at the door before Mr. Christopher wrote something in his roll sheet. "Mark… is… absent…"
As she raced through with Mark floating right by her, she finds herself upon a room full of tailoring supplies, but no students or teachers. She looked around to find the finest of school sewing equipment, but no one in sight.
"Mark?" She called. "Where is everypony? Why is this class empty?"
"First… let me down." Mark demanded. Rarity releases him from her grasp, allowing him to stand. "Thank you. As for the class, it's because the teacher of this classroom isn't here anymore."
"What do you mean?" Rarity asked still confused.
"Well, she was one of the other staff and students who ran away from the school. Since then, classes and programs like sewing has been closed down since there's no one to teach it." Mark explained.
"Oh… how awful!" Rarity said dreadfully. "Whatever shall this school do without the knowledge of fashion?"
"Uh… find other opportunities?" Mark commented.
"Certainly there must be some pony that still sews… hold on…" She spoke, inspecting the sewing machine. "This one has been used…"
Mark took a look at the sewing machine. He felt the warmth of the hardware and looked at the roll of string still attached to the top. "You're right… But no one's allowed to be in here except the staff and me…"
As the two pondered at this anomaly, another clue brings them ever closer to solving this small time mystery. Listening carefully, Mark and Rarity heard something quite melodious.
Mark and Rarity followed the music leading to the ballroom. The doors leading inside were locked, yet underneath it you could see colorful lights being set into motion. The music was also on and was constantly switching songs. It wasn't just tunes though. There was a set of giggles being heard as numerous sounds were being produced from noises similar to wrapping paper and clanging of metal. Mark shook the door to open it to get whoever was inside's attention.
"Hey! Open up! You're not allowed to be in there!"
He stepped back and awaited to for some kind of response. The doors began to creak open as they confront the maker of the noises.
"Pinkie Pie!?" Rarity exclaimed.
"Oh! Hi guys!" Pinkie greeted with a chuckle. She looked at Mark at his current state, baked by the oven. "What happened to you Marky?"
Mark ignored that question and asked his own. "What's going on in there?"
Pinkie blocked the door and explained. "Sorry! I'm working on a surprise party for some pony! You have to wait outside until later."
Before Pinkie could shut the door, Mark placed his foot stopping her. "I think not." Mark bellowed. "Pinkie, you may be new here, but you should know that regulations require you to stay in class, especially if this is your first day here. Also, you're not allowed in this ballroom. Only the staff can access it for future gatherings."
"Aw! But no pony said it wasn't okay when I started!" Pinkie complained.
"Well, I'm here to tell you no." He beckoned. "Come on, I can't have you staying here. You have to get back to class right now."
"Mark! Please let me stay in here! This is the perfect place to plan parties!" Pinkie reasoned.
"No! You need the school's staff permission to stay in here." Mark informed her. "If you just stay here, you could get into trouble."
Pinkie gasped and whimpered. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't want to make any trouble… I just wanted to throw some pony a party…"
Mark looked at the saddened Pinkie who seemed really excited on whatever she was planning. Rarity bumped his leg to get his attention.
"Mark, is it alright if we just let Pinkie not get in trouble and let her do as she pleases?" Rarity requested.
"I can't do that!" Mark implied. "The school's teachers are the only ones who can let a student overwrite a rule."
"But aren't you the ambassador of this school?" she reminded him.
"I'm just representing!" Mark claimed. However, one more look on Pinkies puppy dog eyes made him reconsider. "Ugh… Alright! Fine! I'll see what I can do to let you off the hook!"
Pinkie jumped in happiness, yelling, "YAY~!"
"As for the meantime, you do whatever it is you're… doing, and I'll report to the teachers that it's alright."
"And as for us, we'll be making a new attire to redress Mark here." Rarity said.
"Okie dokey! Thanks again! See you later!" Pinkie said as the two left.
Balkin was taking it nice and easy. The school's shower had nice hot water, and it wasn't bad so long as there weren't too many guys there. He took his time just to relax as well as waste time until algebra was over. When the bell rung, he turned off the waters and puts on a towel.
"Ah, did I take too long again?" He joked to himself. "Oh well. I guess I better get to science."
Balkin reached over for his clothes on the table nearby. Or where they should have been. Placing his hand on the deserted table, he takes a look to see that his clothes were not there anymore.
"What the heck!?" Balkin shouted. He looked around looking for his attire as he realized, it's not there anymore.
He then happened to hear a chuckle outside. He took a small peek to see Rainbow holding his folded clothes on her hoof.
"Hey! Give those back!" Balkin ordered.
"You snooze you lose, sucker!" Rainbow jeered.
"You better give it back or else!" he threatened.
"Or what? You gonna come after me? naked?" Rainbow teased, knowing that humans apparently never leave without clothing, due to their body's appearance. Overconfident, she kept on pulling the attire back and forth towards Balkin, urging him to come after her. What she wasn't expecting was that he immediately ran after her without a second thought. Rainbow flew away while Balkin chased after her. It was a bad time, because right now, all the students were exiting their classes, able to see what was going on and Balkin's… body.
"Oh my god!" A student screamed.
"Cover yourself you pervert!" Another demanded.
"Have you no shame!?"
Balkin ignored the voices as he ran after Rainbow. Along the way, Mark and Rarity were coming downstairs. Mark had on a new black jacket over his white t-shirt, and nicely made jeans. He tugged on his collar feeling a bit iffy.
"Thanks for this I guess, but did you really have to throw away my old uniform?" Mark asked.
"Of course! That thing was far from repairable. I simply had no choice." Rarity claimed. "Besides, at least you're not running around naked. Then again, why do you humans wear clothing?"
Before Mark could answer, Rainbow Dash flew nearby with Balkin's clothes hanging in her mouth as well as he himself running by, answering Rarity's question. Her face turned green as Mark lowered his head in shame.
"My eyes…" Rarity coughed.
"My dignity…" Mark muttered.
Rainbow flew all around the school with Balkin hot on her trail. The screams of the torturing sight quake the school as the students eyes were scarred forever.
"My innocence!" Fluttershy yelled.
Twilight was yelling at Rainbow Dash and Balkin in the office. In the next room were the teachers who had to hold off class until further notice. Among the familiar teachers was Mark, having to attend due to the fact that he holds the school as much as the others. Mark was annoyed of Rainbow's stunt, having to hold off his learning much longer. He had a feeling Twilight had something to do with these six new students and suspected that she knows them. It was clear as day after all, but he just needed a bit more information just to be sure. Meanwhile, what was going on between Twilight and the two troublemakers was just a lot of lecturing.
"How could you steal Rainbow!?" Twilight questioned. "That is against the law! You know that! And you should obviously know that stealing in school, from another student, in the shower room is wrong! May I add that you aren't allowed in the other gender's shower room too!?"
"Geez, sorry Twi." Rainbow replied. "I just wanted to get back at Balkin."
"And back at the whole school too!? Do you know how many kids saw a naked boy running around?" Twilight shouted. "What kind of an example are you trying to show these students!?"
"Yeah you jerk! What the heck is your problem!?" Balkin yelled, fully clothed by the way.
"Oh, you're not off the leash either mister!" Twilight growled.
Balkin was a bit taken back. "What? Why!?"
"What made you think it was a good idea running around the school, naked?" Twilight questioned.
"I wanted my clothes back!" Balkin claimed.
"Well, a lot of good getting back your clothes! Now no pony will ever have to see you nude. Oh wait a minute! EVERY PONY SAW YOU WITHOUT CLOTHES ALREADY!" Twilight pointed out.
She groaned at the mess they had made. In a single day, it had been one thing after another. Mr. Beck had informed Twilight that Applejack had destroyed part of the kitchen. Rarity got Mark to skip Algebra, and Pinkie was nowhere to be seen in her assigned classes. The one that didn't cause trouble was Fluttershy. Good thing too, because she didn't want any more shenanigans to happen today.
"WHAT!?" Mark yelled in the other room.
The three jumped and turned to the door. The cracked it open just a bit to peek outside on what happened.
"A-Are you sure?" Mark asked the hall monitor.
"Uh… yes. I saw it with my own two eyes. Mrs. Paula stole a majority of our food supplies and put it in her truck. By the time we found out, she somehow got the car to work and left us." The boy reported
Mark was stunned. He could not believe that Mrs. Paula would desert the school as well. He sighed and asked, "What happened exactly? What finally made her leave?"
"I think she was crazy. She kept yelling about how this yellow pegasus kept on smart talking her on how to raise animals." The hall monitor said.
Mark twitched his eye hearing the description. He had enough of these new students, and finally glared at the one to blame.
"Miss Sparkle…?" He called.
Twilight's eyes shrunk as she shuts the door. She looks at the other two feeling a bit frightened of his reaction.
"Well… looks like we're not the only ones in trouble…" Balkin said to Rainbow.
Mark was pacing back and forth of this current dilemma. Now there was no animal care tutor now. The class would be canceled. There was a shortage of teachers as it already is, and Mark is the only one with enough sense to ensure the school that everything will be fine. The thing is, everything isn't fine. The kitchen was in need of repairs, the morale of students has been cut down due to the Rainbow and Balkin's fooling around, and now a pile of requests and questions has been sent to Mark. He walks in Twilight's class room trying to figure this out. Not only that, but he has Twilight here to do something that must be done.
"Twilight." He said with a stern tone. "About those five students. We should expel them right now."
"We can't do that!" Twilight stated.
"Are you serious? Look at all the damage they've done! Look at everything we have to rebuild!" Mark pointed out. "I can't just have the Princess repairing all of this daily! We're struggling with our sanity as it is! We just lost another teacher! We can't afford having them here. We have no choice."
"Geez! What's your problem dude!?" Spike questioned as he entered the room.
"Spike! What are you doing!?" Twilight spoke.
"My problem are those ponies making a ruckus and setting a bad habit around the school! How can anyone work with such distractions!? We're here to learn, not fool around!" Mark told Spike.
"Twilight just wanted you to have some friends! Don't have to be uptight about it!" Spike retorted.
"Spike!" Twilight scolded.
Mark stared at Spike for a moment before turning back to Twilight. He gritted his teeth and shook his head.
"Is he saying the truth?" Mark questioned. Twilight bit her lip as Mark awaited an answer. "Miss Sparkle!"
"Yes… it's true. I asked my friends to meet you so that you could… get along. So that way, you wouldn't be so lonely." she explained.
"Well, great job Miss Sparkle!" Mark said sarcastically. "A lot of good they did, cheering me up! I miss a class, lose a teacher, and now I have to request all of this to your ruler! Great! Just great! I can't believe how well this plan turned out!"
"M-Mark…" Twilight whimpered.
"No! I'm done!" he snapped. "I'm tired of this friendship you keep babbling about! I just want to be alone with my studies, but you and your friends just have to muck it all up! But that's alright! I'll just have no future back in my world or this world! I'll just be some idiot working a part time job twenty four, seven!"
He walked out the door shoving Spike along the way. Under his breath, he muttered, "Tired of you…"
Mark waited at the top of the school upon the rooftops. He was exhausted of everything that's happened so far. He felt as if he could just spend his week doing nothing on the cement floor. Of course, he couldn't even do that. He heard steps coming near, metal to stone hoof steps letting him know who it was easily.
Groaning, he looks up with a deadpan voice. "Hello Princess Celestia."
"Mark…" She said, quite saddened to see his moody expression. "Why the long face?"
"Seriously?" Mark said, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm only concerned on your behalf." Celestia said. "Forgive me for worrying."
"No, it's alright." Mark replied. "I'm just a bit annoyed is all."
"What's the matter?" She asked.
"I… I have a huge request this time. We need… a lot of things." Mark said sadly.
Pulling out a list, he explained the situation. The oven exploding, need of repairs, need something to calm the students, more security for their food reserves. Celestia was amazed on how everything escalated so quickly. As Mark finishes up, he sighs awaiting to hear her response. Though he expected disapproval, she was laughing quite loudly.
"I-I'm so sorry!" She said while chuckling under her breath. "But did all of this really happen in one day?"
"Yeah, it did." Mark answered. "It's not that funny."
"It's hilarious! A boy traumatizing all of the students was quite the event. I do understand how it's bad on your part, but you must admit, it's quite a story!" Celestia giggled.
Mark looked down and played with his thumbs trying to deny it. However, in moments he too laughed. He grinned as he tried to keep his voice down. "I guess… it's pretty funny…"
"It is, isn't it?" She said before looking off into the distance. "Anyways, about your repairs. You mustn't worry about it. I'll have some experts aid you in repairing whatever you need."
"R-Really? Thank you Princess Celestia!" Mark bowed graciously to her. "I thought that you would decline my request due to it being so hefty!"
Celestia wrapped her wing around Mark and held him close. "Mark… what are friends for?"
He looked down and thought about all those things Twilight kept pushing onto him. He sighs and decided, for the first time ever, to talk to someone about his personal problems. He sits down and oats the ground for Celestia to do the same.
"Princess… I want to talk to you about someone…" Mark began. "Someone has been pushing all this stuff about making friends on me, and by doing this, she caused all of these problems to happen."
"Twilight Sparkle, right?" Celestia guessed.
"Yes. Do you know her?" he asked.
"She's my faithful student." She stated.
Mark was shock and jumped back hearing those words. "You're Twilight's teacher!?"
"Yes. I taught her magic ever since she was just a foal." She informed Mark. "She and I are very close, like family."
"Bet she had a lot of friends too, seeing how she was under the teachings of the princess herself." Mark thought.
Celestia closed her eyes and nodded. "Actually, she didn't have much friends at all. She only had Spike to talk to. Other than him, she had no friends. She was only focused on learning more and more about Equestria and magic."
Mark was still, hearing all this. It sounded exactly like him. He only wanted to learn for his future and his sake. He only had Balkin to talk to. He and Twilight were the same. Celestia continued her story.
"One day however, I sent her to Ponyville. There, she met five wonderful friends and found a bond that she would never forge alone. She found her home. Right in Ponyville."
"And now she's trying to do the same for me…" Mark muttered as he poked the floor. "I don't believe this…"
"Like always, the teacher tries to do what's best for her faithful student, regardless of what might happen to her." Celestia claimed. They looked at the sunset and knew it was time to go. "I kept you too long my friend. We'll talk more tomorrow."
"… Yeah…" Mark agreed. As Princess Celestia flew off, Mark ran with her for a moment just to say, "I think… you did a great job with Twilight!"
Celestia smiled as he waved goodbye for now.
After learning hours, Mark had wandered the school by himself. Even though they lived in school, it was quite frightening to walk around the area at night. This is why Mark brought a flashlight with him just in case. Though he thought he was walking alone, Mark started to hear footsteps of another nearby. He stops and looks around, but sees no one in sight. Taking a few more steps, he felt something grasp upon his shoulder, causing him to swing his arm at the person.
"Ah! Dude! Watch it!" Balkin scolded as he rubbed his nose.
"Balkin!? What are you doing? Don't you go to sleep at this time?" Mark thought.
"Yeah, yeah, but Twilight told me to bring you somewhere." Balkin explained. "Follow me."
Mark followed Balkin upstairs to the third floor. There, he leads him to the ballroom doors. Mark glanced at Balkin before opening the entrance to reveal the massive amount of decorations made inside, the vast amount of tables holding countless dishes, and the music played by a number of pony musicians. Mark dropped his jaw as he walked inside slowly taking it all in. Pinkie happened to jump right in to help him with that.
"Hi Marky! I'm glad you could make it! I bet you're surprised huh? Were ya? Were ya? Were ya?" Pinkie badgered.
"Yes, I-I am Pinkie! How'd you do all of this in less than a day?" Mark questioned.
"Easy!" Pinkie said as she pulled out a colorful cannon. "I just used my party cannon to liven the place up!"
"Haven't use this place forever… The last time we used it was years ago…" Mark stated.
"Well, I actually wanted to do this for you so that we could be friends. But when Twilight told me that you didn't want us around anymore, I felt I should use this to say sorry for everything that's happened." Pinkie said in one breath.
Mark looked up to see a number of students, teachers, and all of the ponies in the room. They watched him as he walked up to Twilight who was with her friends. None of them seemed happy, rather, they seemed to be ashamed of what they did. Mark and Twilight were looking at each other, eye to eye. after that, Mark grinned.
"So… a lot of stuff happened today, huh?" Mark pointed out.
"Um… yeah, sure did." Twilight replied.
"I guess that's just another day at Cliffside high, huh?" Mark stated. He looked over to the teacher's tables and eyed the beverages being served. He winked at Twilight to follow him. "Feeling kinda thirsty."
As Mark walked over to the table, Twilight tried to stop him. "Wait! Mark, those are alcoholic drinks! It's against school regulations to even take a sip if you're underage!"
Mark didn't care. He popped a cap of a wine bottle and served two cups. "Well Twilight, there's more to life than just school. Wasn't that what you were trying to tell me?" He reminded her as he gave Twilight a cup. "Besides, today is a special occasion. I made a lot of new friends today."
Twilight became surprised. "But I thought you didn't want any friends. I thought you didn't like them."
"Took a while for me to realize something. I'm a bit slow on the subject, but maybe you can teach me a thing or two on this friendship stuff." Mark offered, raising his glass to her. "You don't mind do you? I know you're teaching Equestrian history, but maybe you can give me some pointers."
Twilight was still. She took some time to slowly smile as she took levitated her glass up high. "Alright then Mark. I'll be glad to show you a few things."
Their glass cups clink as they drank the wine. Everyone did the same, with alchohol or soda, it didn’t matter. Today was a start of another class.
Mark writes in his journal recording a memorable day. For the first time in years, Cliffside High will have a field trip for all students taking Equestrian History. The class is getting into groups and everyone is being watched under ponies themselves. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, and Twilight will be escorting the students. As Mark records this moment to remember the most fantastic and extraordinary days of Cliffside High.
I haven't been on a field trip in years! Especially going somewhere totally exotic. What more can I say? I'm excited for what's to come. I know I'm not one to express a lot of emotions, but I still stand by it to see what Ponyville has in store. This is a learning experience, right? It better be, or else I'm gonna have to switch classes.
Closing his book and putting it away in his bag, he looks up to see Twilight waving towards him with a smile. "Come on Mark!" She called. "You don't want to keep your fellow classmates waiting, do you?"
"I'm coming!" Mark replied. Running to his teacher, he walks right beside her as they exit the school.
For the first time ever since the descent to Equestria, the humans walk outside of the school zone. The kids take a breath of fresh air as they wander into town. The ponies guiding them are excited too. Pinkie's hopping was one of the examples of excitement to come.
"I can't wait to show you some cool spots to hang out!" Rainbow spoke.
"I think I'll take them to the farm. The orchards is a sight to see for first timers." Applejack claimed.
"Um… well… I uh…" Fluttershy muttered. "Maybe I'll take them to my house… To show them the animals I've been taking care of."
"To her house? That sounds like child abduction." Balkin whispered to Mark, making him raise an eyebrow at that joke.
Rainbow flew up to Balkin, face to face. "What'd you say?" She growled. The two glared at each other while snarling like dogs.
Mark stepped away from the two before bumping into Spike. His spine poked Mark's hind, making him jump in pain. Spike didn't notice as he was too focused on his debate with Twilight.
"I just don't get it Twi!" He complained. "Why can't I be in charge of some kids? I know Ponyville just as well as you!"
"Spike, you don't get it." Twilight reasoned. "You're way younger than all of the students here! They might not listen to you since you're just a baby dragon."
"Oh, come on! They'd totally listen to me! Come on Twilight! Just give me a shot!" he begged.
She was about to say no, but Spike kept insisting he could. As they escorted the students to the plaza, Spike was riding on Twilight's back still begging. Finally, she caved in.
"Alright! Alright! You'll take my group, okay!?" Twilight shouted.
Spike pumped his fist muttering, "Yes!"
"But! If anything goes wrong, don't say I didn't warn you mister!" She reminded her assistant.
"Please Twi, it's gonna be fine. In fact, by the end of the day, the kids are gonna love this field trip!" Spike declared.
She rolled her eyes in response before turning to her group. "Everypony listen!" Twilight yelled, gathering their attention. "Instead of following me for the day, you'll be following my assistant, Spike. Do whatever he tells you and don't make any trouble. That goes for all of you! I don't want to return to the school having to write in any pony for detention. Also, I've been told this is your first field trip, so please stay on good behavior. Is every pony clear?"
The class nods and reply with many synonyms of yes. Smiling that they understood, Twilight trots over to Mark. "Mark, you're staying with me."
"What? But I thought everyone in your group follows Spike now." Mark reminded her.
"You're an exception. Besides, I think you'll like where I'm taking you." Twilight insisted. He shrugged not seeing anything bad. Twilight is still his teacher and at times his friend. He'll do as she tells him to as that is the protocol of all students under teachers.
Twilight give her friends clipboards. Levitating them to each of their hooves and claws in Spike's case, she gives them time to look over it.
"What the hay is this?" Rainbow asked.
"It's a roll sheet." Twilight explained. "You're watching over my students, so I expect them all back here by 4 o clock. Use these to make sure every pony in your group is accounted for."
"Aye aye Miss Twilight!" Pinkie saluted before hopping away with her students. "Come on every pony! We're about to go to the best place ever!"
The kids cheered as they followed Pinkie. The groups nodded and splits up, leaving Twilight and Mark the last ones to head off somewhere.
"So, where are you taking me anyways?" Mark questioned.
"My place." Twilight simply replied.
She guided him through town, and led him to her home. Mark was skeptical about all of this. Teacher inviting student to her house? That usually has trouble written all over it. However, when the house came into view, Mark was stunned. In front of him stood a tall tree, obviously having someone living there judging from the windows, doors, and the balcony up there. Twilight opened the door and showed him inside. Even though the outside was impressive, only what was inside made Mark's eyes glitter and amazement. Books. A library of knowledge was all you needed to let the boy seize the day. He ran up to the shelves examining the conditions of these books.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! This is a library!?" He shouted in happiness. "With organized books in alphabetical order placed in the correct genre as well as books being up to date!? This place is so well kept!"
"Well, I try." Twilight blushed as she scratched the back of her head. She watched as Mark scoured around the shelves looking for one to read. "Have any in mind?"
Mark held is chin thinking. He wasn't sure what to pick. Right now, he was in an equestrian library, which meant that it held countless information about the world they're in. Plant species, monsters, otherworldly places, and more. Unsure what to choose, he turns to his teacher. "How about you suggest one Miss Sparkle?"
Twilight grinned and said, "First, just call me Twilight from now on, except when we're in class. Second, I'd recommend the Elements of Harmony. That was the first book I read when I moved into Ponyville."
He looked down at the shelf and saw it under E. He reached for it and ended up placing his hand on Twilight's hoof. They looked at each other before they pulled back their arms.
"Eh, whoops!" Twilight said, looking away. "I thought I'd show you where it is."
"It's okay, the library is well kept. I don’t think I'll have any trouble finding any book here." Mark pointed out.
"Oh, you." Twilight blushed again at the compliment.
Rainbow lead her group to the park. Wide open space for everyone to play, especially since Rainbow had a lot of athletic friends who'd love nothing more than to play sports. She gathered the players and sets up the game in much haste so they can get to playing. Rainbow's team consisted of seven other teammates pitted against Balkin and seven opponents. Rainbow kicked it off, and the game began. For those who didn't want to play were nearby where Rainbow can still watch them. Free to talk with other ponies while making sure they're in line.
In the game, Rainbow had the ball. She kicked it back and forth to her ally, Dalton. As they drew closer to the goal, Rainbow shot the ball in and got a point. The game goes back to reset. This time, Balkin had the ball. He was bringing the ball to the other side, but Rainbow managed to swoop in and steal the ball with her foreleg.
"Hey!" Balkin yelled. "You can't do that!"
"What? My legs?" Rainbow taunted, showing off her legs. "I thought you couldn't use hands in soccer, I'm only using hooves."
Rainbow began kicking it to the other side and scored another point. Balkin's face began to steam. Once more, they start off and Rainbow has the ball. She's going forward with the ball and is about to reach the goal. That was until Balkin came in and blocked her. Rainbow ended up bumping into him and letting the ball roll under him, giving his teammate a chance to steal the ball. Rainbow pushed Balkin away and ran after the ball, only to end up kicking it to a tree. The kids nearby the tree jumped at the shot nearly chopping down the thing.
"Out of bounds!" The referee said. "Visitors gets the ball!"
"Sweet!" Balkin shouted. "Okay, let me at it!"
"Pfft, I wanna see this." Rainbow scoffed, receiving a glare from the boy.
As Balkin took the ball, he went to the line and readied his kick. However, he couldn't focus as Rainbow began to make faces at him. Balkin tried his best to ignore it, but as he kicked, he ended up hitting Rainbow's face with the ball. Everyone was shocked, even Balkin. Moments passed as the ball fell down and rolled away from Rainbow.
"… S-Sorry…" Balkin apologized.
"Oh, you're DEAD!" Rainbow threatened.
She tackled Balkin down to the floor. He got right back up and pushed Rainbow back. The two started fighting. The kids began to cheer for either side as the punches and kicks were given to each other. Eventually, somebody broke up the fuss.
"Enough!" shouted Lyra, pushing the two away from each other. She glared at Rainbow Dash followed by a scolding. "Rainbow, what do you think you're doing?"
"What are you talking about? He hit me with a ball!" Rainbow informed her.
"On accident!" Balkin added.
"See? It was an accident." Lyra repeated. "Rainbow, you should be a bit kinder to our human guests. I mean, if I remember clearly, this is their first time being out here in Ponyville! And I don't think it's a good idea to give them a bad memory of our town if you beat one of them up."
The students nodded, agreeing that it was true. Rainbow groaned as Lyra was acquainting herself with Balkin.
"Thanks for that! I'm Balkin. Who're you?"
"I'm Lyra Heartstrings." She introduced herself. "I heard a lot about you humans. I even came over to your school and saw how you moved around the clock. I guess you could say I was very interested by all of you."
"That's neat." Balkin commented with a grin. "Hey, wanna hang out?"
"Sure!" Lyra agreed.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Rainbow intervened. "In case you've forgotten, I'm in charge of this group! You can't go anywhere without my say so!"
"I'm sure the humans also want to do more than just play sports all day. Why don't we go shopping?" Lyra recommended.
"We don't have any money." A student informed her.
"You don't?"
"None of the students have a part time job ever since we came here." Balkin explained.
"Hmm… That's too bad…" Lyra thought. "I know! We'll just go see Bonbon! My roommate always said she needs more help around the candy shop!"
"Candy!?" They all spoke at once.
"Oh please." Rainbow scoffed. "They may be kids, but they're not 10."
"If you all do a good job, I'm sure I can convince Bonbon to get you some bits too."
"What are we waiting for?" Balkin exclaimed. "Let's follow Lyra!"
The students immediately followed Lyra, leaving Rainbow in the dust. She was saddened by how quickly the kids left her, not to mention that they'd follow Balkin.
Mark and Twilight quietly read in peace. It has been a while since Mark had this much comfort learning. The school had long ago lost the silence it required to make a library a library. He enjoyed the polite gestures of his teacher as the books were organized and clean from dirt or any messy nonsense. This was a library he loves to be in.
Twilight has already done this plenty of times. This time was different though. She had a student with her, and it began to remind her of the times when she and Celestia used to study together. It had been so long since she felt such a wonderful moment. It had been so long, and now she's the teacher. The only thing that would complete this picture is if she was a princess.
But right now, reading wasn't the only thing on her mind. She wanted to get to know her most faithful student. So she threw in a question.
"Mark?"
Mark looked up from his copy of Daring Do and said, "Yes?"
"I was just wondering about how is everything for you at the moment."
"It's good Twi." He replies. A moment later, he widens his eyes and covers his mouth before saying, "I-I mean Miss Twilight! I-I'm sorry. That slipped out somehow…"
Twilight giggled and reassured her student. "It's fine Mark. It's good to see that you're getting used to me."
"N-No, that was impolite." He states. "I'm really sorry."
"Mark, I rather you feel comfortable around me." Twilight informs him. "These formalities... I don't need them. Once we leave the school, we can be whatever we want to be. So just try and be a bit more casual, okay?"
Mark nods slowly in acknowledgement. He tries again speaking, but was stopped once he saw Spike running outside alone.
"Twilight..."
"Yes?" She responded.
"I see Spike..."
"Oh really?"
"Alone..."
Twilight stares into space and realizes where this is heading. She quickly attempts to calm him down as he starts to steam off.
"D-Don't worry! Spike is probably just... getting something! The students are alright!"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LOST THEM!?!?" Twilight questioned Spike as he kicked the concrete floor regretfully.
"Eh... I showed them a tour around Ponyville, but some of them got lost. So I told the rest of my group to wait, but then when I couldn't find them, I went back, and more left. So I had what was left follow me to look for them, but they got tired and sat on the benches while I continued looking. When I came back to the benches, they... left too..."
Twilight looked to Mark to see him surprisingly calm.
"No, no. It's alright. The students probably didn't think any better." He states. "But... I don't know how we're going to tell Princess Celestia, or everyone else at school about this. Morale is as low as it is."
"And we still have to check up on everypony else!" Twilight added to the list.
"So... What do we do!?"
Mark held his chin in thought. "Spike can go round up the other groups to meet up at the plaza. It's almost four, so we'll have to do our best to find them."
"Are you talking about those humans?" Scootaloo asked, sneaking up behind them. They jumped in surprise only to calm down and listen. "I saw a bunch of them walk around the Everfree Forest."
Twilight and Spike drop their jaws while Mark cried in the corner.
"Why? Why am I somehow responsible?" Mark questioned.
“Why would they go there!?” Twilight asked.
“I think it’s because Zecora was asking for some help, and some of them decided to go real quick. I saw more and more go with them before like, a huge crowd of them left.” Scootaloo explained.
“This is awful.” Mark groaned. “I remember very well that the Everfree Forest is full of creatures that are both dangerous and unpredictable.”
“We have to go and help!” Twilight told Mark. She turned to Spike and said, “And you better round up every pony at the plaza!”
“Yes Mam!” Spike nervously saluted, complying with the order.
The duo rush off to gather the students while Spike ran to get the others.
Upon arrival in the forest that is said to be full of monsters lied an entrance of a familiar dirt path. One probably crafted by Zecora, so travel wouldn’t be hard, and they could safely reach the other side without getting lost. Mark and Twilight ventured forth to see what had become of the humans. Traveling further in, they find nothing but darkness of the trees and leaves, covering the light. Twilight lights her horn, offering assurance once they saw the dirt path underneath their feet and hooves.
“I can’t stand this.” Mark stated. “This is too dangerous for students to go about. What were they thinking?”
“Don’t worry Mark.” Twilight assured him. “If Zecora’s with them, I’m sure everything is fine. She’s pretty responsible.”
“That’s not the problem though!” Mark exclaimed. “It’s just that they always get into these problems that drive me crazy! I can’t stand it!”
As they ventured further, Twilight began to ask something. “Mark… About your fellow students… How come you don’t have any more friends?”
“This again?” Mark sighed, rolling his eyes. “Miss Sparkle, please.”
“I’m asking as a friend this time.” She stated. “I’m not looking for facts. I’m looking for reason.”
“What reason is there without facts?” Mark retorted, walking a bit faster.
About a couple of minute passed, and he sighs. He looks up to see the leaves clearing up, allowing him to glimpse at the sky.
“Vick used to be my best friend…”
Twilight was stunned to hear this. Mark looked forward without so much as batting an eye, making Twilight know he wasn’t joking. He continued with his story.
“Vick was… energetic to say the least. He was always up for adventures and whatnot. We would make plans on being on top of the world with money and fame. He thought pursuing sports would accommodate for money and fans. Me? I was looking for success. Life wise.”
“So… what happened?”
“Over time, I realized… how much of an idiot he was…” Mark said with a crumbling grin. “He talked of being the best there ever was. The way he views himself was perfection, and he would never waste a second breathing without uttering how great he was. I followed him a bit because he had one thing. Success. He was the star quarterback of the football team, the talk of school, and the second go to man if the principal wasn’t around.”
Twilight was listening on to his words. Mark then mentions their arrival to Equestria.
“When we arrived in Equestria, Vick was immediately up for the challenge to take control. I once again, followed him, but I was at the peak of my patience. After he made these retarded decisions, and soon wasted our food supplies because of it, I stopped being his friend. He and I never talked again. A few weeks later, Princess Celestia came. Vick was planning to do an army assault on her, which would be a suicide run because most of us aren’t even full-fledged adults. We had no skill in fighting, no weapons, nor armor. Yet the populace was that close to listening to him. That’s why I can’t stand making friends. Most of them are halfwit excuses of a human being. If it weren’t for me sticking up for everyone, we would’ve had a very short war.”
Twilight was stunned to hear all of this. Especially knowing that means her students could’ve waged an idiotic war with the boy. Mark looked up and said, “People tend to forget about who they are and that they have choices too. Peer pressure… bullying… All of these are the same as when we become adults. To pressure our opponents with scandalous evidence. To bully our competitors to do what we want them to. These are the people I can’t stand, who have no willpower or no ability to think. If it weren’t for me, we’d be dead.”
Mark then turned to Twilight and said, “But now I regret this success I’ve been looking for. I don’t want fame anymore. I don’t think I need a lot of money anymore. I just want to live a bit more peacefully. But thanks to my standing as ambassador, I won’t be able to live that life for a very long time.”
Twilight now understood what Mark has been going through. Betrayal, leading, and helping everyone. He doesn’t seem to enjoy what he has to do. Before Twilight could say anything, a sudden rustle in the bushes grabbed their attention. Mark stood in front of Twilight as it continued to make the noise. It wasn’t long before a timber wolf pounced at them. Mark gently stepped back so Twilight could move along with him without tripping. Once they dodged the attack, Mark gave the signal to run further in.
They ran as fast as they could, hoping to escape from their attacker. As they ran down the dirt path, more of them blocked the way. The two were surrounded, with no place to squeeze out. Just as the two stood close together, Balkin came in from behind and destroyed one of the timber wolves with a large stone. The two looked at Balkin with surprise as he said, “What are you two doing out here!? Having an adventure without me!?”
“Balkin!” Twilight called out. Mark was looking up in the air, noticing a rainbow nearby. The timber wolf squadron attacked, but Mark managed to take Twilight away from their range. They once again surrounded the trio, but Balkin was ready to fight.
“Come at me you Pinocchio of a dog!” He challenged them.
Somehow, it annoyed them enough to attack. Balkin then took out a frying pan from his backpack, and slapped it down to the ground. Mark raised an eyebrow at Balkin and said, “Where’d you get that?”
“I stole it from Lyra.” Balkin claimed.
Another pair of timber wolves attacked Twilight, but Rainbow flew in at the nick of time. Using the speed and distance, she practically smashed them. She then roars out loud, “Yeah! Take that! Can’t touch this!”
The crowd of them continues to surround them until they had nowhere to move. Twilight pulled up a shield to stop their advance, but things were looking hopeless. It seemed to be the end until…
FWOOSH!
A loud spark followed by tall flames engulfs the timber wolves. The creatures burned to ashes and the danger was thus, no more. Once the fire died out, Twilight released the shield, and the four looked to their savior.
A group of worried students looking at them, armed with what looks to be potions. The one who threw one recently was a girl with long, brown hair, wearing a pink long skirt and a white tee. Along with the students was Zecora, who walks up to the girl.
“Very good flames finish the job in a flash, so long as your potions are not done too rash. Very good Mimi.”
“Thanks Zecora.” Mimi blushed.
“They’re you all are!” Twilight exclaimed. “I was worried sick about you! What’d I say about sticking with Spike!?”
“Well, all he did was take us to go to Rarity’s for a while.” One of them claimed. “It was… kinda boring.”
“Figures.” Twilight scowled. “But even so! You can’t leave him without telling any pony! You all are in SO much trouble!”
“Even after we saved you!?” Mimi exclaimed.
Mark took the debate into his own hands from then on. “We wouldn’t have gone here if you’d just tell someone where you were. So that excuse isn’t going to work.”
The kids frowned but understood where Mark was coming from. Mark however did hold back for another reason. “But… tell me, are those actual potions?”
“Yes, they are.” Mimi nodded.
“And they were made by you?” Mark asked.
“Yeah?”
“That’s really impressive.” Mark commended them. “I never seen anything like what you did before. It was amazing.”
Mimi scratched her head and said, “Well, I couldn’t have done it without Zecora.”
Mark turned to Zecora and said, “So you’re the one who abducted these kids and taught them potion making?”
“I asked for some help with gathering ingredients, and they came back with such eagerness.”
“Well, I can’t say I’m happy about you taking the students without informing anyone.” Mark stated. “But… There’s something I need, and I think you can help with it.”
Back at the rooftop of the school, Celestia once again amazed by another day in Cliffside High.
“You hired Zecora as a chemistry teacher?” Celestia repeated.
“Yeah, she seemed to be able to teach the students very well.” Mark noted. “She’s efficient at teaching, but her constant rhyming allows the students to enjoy her class. Morale skyrocketed today, and I’m quite happy of it. Less work on my end.”
“You seem to be happier than your days of relaxation.” Celestia pointed out.
Mark held his chin in thought, but declined. “Nope. Can’t say I do.”
“Mark. I know you don’t want the success you got from being an ambassador, and I know you want a normal life now. But even then, I can tell you’re proud of what you made. What you built up. And I know if you continue trying your best, every pony here will look up to you.”
“Celestia, I’m just here to give my report.” Mark claimed. “Speaking of which, we have a new policy. One I hope you can help me with.”
“What is it?”
“The students want to get some income for their personal lives. Bonbon got a booming supply of candy, thanks to Lyra and her workers she brought over. Because of this, I think that a lot of ponies can benefit some helping hands. I noticed that humans have more efficiency than earth ponies and pegasus, so we need to get that word out so humans have a chance to join the work force if needed.”
“My, my, how ambitious!” Celestia giggled. “Well, I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, you can focus your human jobs here in Ponyville. I’m sure you’ll turn this town up with your new ideas.”
“It’s just part of my job Princess.” Mark grinned.