Princess Twilight and Spike are on vacation on the other side of the mirror portal, join them, the human five, Sunset Shimmer and a newly reformed Sonata Dusk as they make new friends, enemies and more in one of world's deadliest environments.
High School!
A clop-free, canon counterpart to 'Hot Times at Canterlot High', by co-writer Dragonfire2lm.
That night Sugarcube Corner was loud and vibrant with the sounds of celebration. Cars were parked along the side of the street and the brightly coloured, music thumping wonder that was Vinyl Scratch's Bass Car pulled up beside them.
"Rainbow Dash, get off the table!" Rarity hissed. "People are staring at us."
"Aw yeah, who's awesome, We're awe-Whoa!"
Rainbow was yanked off of the table by a woman in her early twenties with orange hair pulled up into a ponytail and wearing a blue trench coat over a white turtleneck top. She adjusted her glasses with one hand and steadied the teenager with the other.
"Ya know you could be kicked out if you behave like that," The woman stated. "I'd hate to have to pull rank on my night off."
"Do forgive Rainbow for her behaviour, Miss Prose, she's just overexcited after we won the battle of the bands." Rarity replied with a smile.
"I'm only making sure neither of us get in trouble for Dash's...Stunts," Miss Prose stated calmly. "This cafe has the best hot chocolate in town and I'd rather not have a student screwing things up too much while I'm here, I like my teachers discount."
"Besides, you all deserve a little fun after tonight." She stated and wandered off towards the counter.
"That was close," Rainbow admitted with a cheeky grin. "Good thing our English teacher is so cool right?"
"How come I just walked past to see Rainbow dancing on a table?" Applejack asked as she came over with a tray of drinks and Fluttershy trailing behind her.
"Someone was a little excitable after our victory." Rarity scoffed.
"Well as long she ain't drunk-"
"Oh come on, I tried alcoholic cider once."
"I still have the pictures!" Pinkie cheerfully added as she popped up from behind Rarity.
Rainbow groaned in embarrassment. "Oh for the love of-can you girls give me a break?"
"Nope." Applejack replied as the others grabbed their drinks and took a seat.
"Hey girls, sorry I'm late," Sunset said as she took a seat next to Fluttershy. "Did I miss anything?"
"Nothing much, aside from Dash here acting like she got ants in her pants," Applejack replied. "What kept ya?"
"I just wanted to make sure Twilight was alright, she wanted to stay behind to go through some things with Principal Celestia for the next time she visits."
"So there'll be a next time? Sweet!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"I know right? I can't wait to show her around when she has more time to hang out." Sunset replied.
"Hang on, don't ya mean we get to show her around?" Applejack corrected with a grin. "Or do you have plans thought out already?"
"I show all the new students around school."
"Yes darling, but Twilight isn't exactly new." Rarity interjected.
"Ooo I know, you feel bad for not helping us fight the Dazzlings until the veeerrry end and you think Twilight is better than you, so you want to impress her by showing her all the cool-slightly-maybe-not-really romantic places around town?" Pinkie rambled.
"Um...What?" Sunset asked.
"Nothing."
"Seriously, what the heck was that?" Rainbow added.
"I have two respones to that" Miss Prose stated as leaned up against a nearby wall. "Pinkie is either foreshadowing, lampshading or outright guessing future events, or chalk it up to Pinkie being Pinkie."
The girls around the table stared at their teacher, until Rainbow broke the silence.
"Why aren't you this weird during class?"
"Well, My job is to teach high school students," the english teacher replied and took a sip of the take away cup of hot chocolate she held in her left hand. "Narrative tropes is something I won't be teaching you until next semester, so you'll hopefully understand what I just said in a few months, or ya know, you can google it or something."
"Does anyone have plans for the school holidays?" Fluttershy asked. "I was wondering if we could put on a charity event to raise money for the animal shelter, if um you don't mind."
"I can make little puppy and kitty shaped cookies!" Pinkie exclaimed. "And cookies for the puppies and kitties!"
"Well I don't have much to do, Granny Smith hired some farmhands from the Timberwolf Corporation so Apple Bloom and I could properly enjoy the two week break," Applejack replied. "If'n you need help, I'll see what I can do."
"I'll help, I was planning on just studying, but I could put that aside for a few days." Sunset added.
"I get to rock out and help out my friends," Rainbow stated casually. "Count me in!"
"After tonight's success, how could I refuse?" Rarity added. "Can we hold off until next week though? I need to design a new wardrobe for the event."
"That sounds wonderful, thank you girls," Fluttershy replied.
"Try to send out flyers a few days beforehand, I wouldn't mind seeing you lot in action." Miss Prose advised.
"Didn't you see us fight the Dazzlings?" Sunset asked.
"Nope, I saw the mess they started in the cafeteria and figured that the higher ups could handle it," the teacher replied. "Plus all the shouting gave me a migraine."
The conversation drifted from one topic to the next and eventually the party began to wind down. The girls called it a night and went their separate ways, though all were excited about tomorrow, the first day of the two week break.
It had been a few days since the battle of the bands, the school break was in full swing and the girls decided to meet up Rarity's place to discuss the fashionista's designs for the upcoming charity event.
Applejack stood in the centre of a room that had rolls of cloth stacked near a far wall and a board covered in potential designs near a small sewing station across from it. Applejack patiently looked out the window that was partially obscured by a clothibg rack while she waited for her friend.
"Sorry about the wait darling," Rarity apologised as she walked in carrying a folder, some ribbon and a tape measure. "As much as I would like to have more space to work on my craft, my parents simply couldn't afford anything other than this simple place for Sweetie Belle and I while they work overseas."
"Rarity," Applejack deadpanned. "This is a two story, three bedroom house in the most well off part of town, I think you're parents couldn't have gotten anything better even if they wanted to."
"I suppose you're right, now I have a few ideas for your outfit, let me just make sure my measurements are up to date and we can go the designs." Rarity replied.
"You only updated them last week," Applejack countered. "Measuring all six of us will take all day!"
"Do you want everything to fit properly or not?" the designer stated curtly.
Applejack stopped herself from turning the conversation into yet another argument, sighed and gave her friend a smile.
"Rarity, the stuff you make fits better and sure lasts a heck of a lot longer than some the clothes the girls and I buy from the mall," she stated. "Are you really that worried about messing up that you to take our measurements every darn time?"
Rarity flinched. "I had hoped to pass that little quirk off as part of the process but it appears I wasn't as subtle as I thought."
"Why? Everyone knows making clothes is your passion," Applejack said calmly. "You got nothing to worry about."
"If it were just my passion you would be correct," Rarity explained. "But this is my dream Applejack! To work in the fashion industry, to bring the art of the tailor back from the brink of death itself! How can I not be worried when my future career is at stake?"
"That's easy, trust in yourself," Applejack replied. "If things don't go right, find out where you went wrong and learn from it, I know I did after Princess Twilight brought us all back together."
"But it wasn't your fault darling, that was all a misunderstanding-" Rarity stated.
"A misunderstanding I should've looked into when our cell phones started going missing, only to turn up days before that mess started," Applejack interjected. "I can't believe I trusted a darn text message instead of looking for the truth of the matter, if just one of us questioned each other 'bout it all, none of it woulda happened."
"It's all behind us now, why you don't you help me choose a design before the others get here?" Rarity suggested.
"I suppose you're right," Applejack finally admitted. "So what do you have in mind?"
After a few hours spent choosing, altering and finishing the final designs for the costumes, fliers and food for the event, Rainbow dragged the group out to a small burger joint for lunch.
"Why here? I thought you didn't like fast food?" Sunset asked and paused to eat a french fry. "Oh hey, these fries aren't half bad."
"I do like stuff like this, I just can't have it very often, gotta stay in top shape if I'm the captain of the sports team," Dash replied. "Fluttershy showed me this place a while ago, I figured it was time we went here as a group, you know?"
"They have wonderful veggie burgers here and they source their food locally." Fluttershy added.
"That and they have the students discount here, so beats paying an extra five bucks at Hay Burger." Rainbow stated.
"Are you all excited for next week, I know I am!" Pinkie said.
"I just hope everything goes well," Fluttershy replied worriedly. "I know the concert isn't until next week but so many things could still go wrong and all those animals are counting on us."
"We'll be fine 'Shy, don't worry so much," Rainbow said. "I'll grab my bike and deliver those fliers as soon as their hot off the printer, Rarity's got the costumes sorted and Applejack and Pinkie are working on the food. With you and Sunset keeping things organised, what could go wrong?"
"You just had to say it didn't you?" Sunset flatly stated.
"What? I never leave my friends hanging and... Well, you know..." Rainbow trailed off sheepishly.
"Is something wrong?" Fluttershy asked.
Rainbow stayed silent and avoided everyone's questioning gaze for a moment. Eventually she sighed and looked at the curious group.
"Fluttershy and I were childhood friends, we went to kindergarten together...After we all stopped being friends I got caught up in a bad crowd and sort of ignored her because she wasn't 'cool', I did some really dumb stuff back then." Rainbow admitted.
"I remember that," Fluttershy added. "I saw a lot of the awful things those bullies did and I knew you weren't nearly as bad, you even tried to help people behind their backs."
"I still haven't made it up to you for just pushing you aside like that, or to Applejack for all the mean stuff I-"
"Now hold on there sugar cube," Applejack interrupted Rainbow's rambling. "You're not the only one still worked up over all that, so if you can forgive me for my part in it, then I'd call us even, what do you say?"
"Really, it's that easy?" Dash asked.
"Eeyup." Applejack replied and made an effort to ignore Rarity, who was looking her way with an 'I told you so' expression on her face.
"Heh, cool." Rainbow looked relieved as she and AJ shook hands.
Fluttershy smiled and pulled Rainbow into a hug. "I forgave you along time ago Dash. You're one of my best friends. How could I not?"
The confident sports star let out an embarrassed squeak.
"Hey Fluttershy!" Rainbow called as she walked into the animal shelter. "You here?"
The hissing and meowing of a cat could be heard from the kennels. Fluttershy herself could only just be heard over the noise as she tried to reason with the aggressive feline.
The bell above the door jingled as Sunset walked in.
"Oh, hey Dash, here to see Fluttershy too?" Sunset asked.
"Yeah, I wanted to know if she wanted a flyer to put on the shelter's notice board," Rainbow replied. "Also Miss Prose volunteered to help us set up on the day ."
"I wonder if she'd be willing to help with the opening act, we still-"
Sunset was cut off as a pain filled scream came from the back.
"Fluttershy!" both girls exclaimed and raced through the door that lead to the kennels. Rainbow burst in to find her pink haired friend trying to pry a black cat from her arm, the creature had latched onto her jumper and was trying to pull it's top jaw out of the thick sleeve.
"Hey leave her alone!" Rainbow growled and a grab for the animal, only for it free itself from Fluttershy's arm, hiss angrily at the newcomers and bolt for an open window.
"Are you alright?" Dash asked the trembling Fluttershy, who was holding back tears and let out a sniff or two.
"We should get her to a doctor, that cat could've had rabies or something" Sunset suggested.
Rainbow nodded and led Fluttershy out towards the main entrance. "I'll call Applejack and see if Big Mac can take us to the clinic."
"Fluttershy got what? I'll get Mac to ya right away, Hey Big Mac! Dash says Fluttershy got hurt. Can you take 'em to the doctors?" Applejack called out from the living room. "They're waiting for you at the animal shelter."
The familiar "Eeyup" echoed from the front lawn, shortly followed by the oldest Apple sibling starting up the family's pickup and heading out.
"Thanks a bunch AJ, I gotta go, catch you later." Rainbow replied hastily and hung up as Rarity walked onto the farm.
"Is something wrong Applejack?" Asked Rarity. "Your brother left in quite a hurry."
"Oh, uh, howdy Rarity," Applejack replied absentmindedly. "Fluttershy had a run-in with a critter at the shelter and got bitten, Mac's taking her to the clinic to get looked at."
"Goodness, that is simply horrible!" Rarity exclaimed. "The poor dear must be terrified."
"Yeah, but she has Rainbow with her so she's got some support and Sunset's taking over her workload for the day," Applejack explained calmly. "We get our work done now an' go check up on her after, as long as one of us is there to support Fluttershy, she'll be fine."
"Yes, I suppose you're right, Fluttershy is looking forward to the concert and she'd be devastated if it was cancelled for some reason." Rarity agreed.
"Alright, you want to help making the food for the animals 'Shy going to offer for adoption during the concert?" Applejack asked.
"Of course darling, I even brought a few recipe's with me, Opal such a fussy eater that I find it easier to make her treats myself," Rarity said. "I made sure to bring enough ingredients for a few batches."
"Thanks for helping out Rares." Applejack said as the pair got to work in the Apple family's surprisingly spacious kitchen.
"My part in this was simply the wardrobe, once that was finished I felt like I simply hadn't 'pulled my weight' so to speak," Rarity admitted. "After all, Rainbow was running messages from one group to another, Sunset had almost exhausted herself booking the venue and organising seats and not to mention your own hard work as well."
"You shouldn't be so modest Rarity," Applejack stated as she measured spoonfuls of cat biscuit dough onto a oven tray. "I've seen the long hours you've put into making any kinds of clothing, things don't have to tire you out physically to be considered hard work."
Rarity pulled a freshly cooked tray of treats from the oven. "If only everyone shared your optimism Applejack, now where should I put these to cool?"
"There's a wire rack by the window." AJ replied .
Applejack and Rarity were working as a pair to do the dishes when a crash from the other side of the kitchen startled them. They turned to see a black cat helping itself to the cooling treats, an empty tray on the floor from nearby.
Applejack took off her rubber gloves, stomped towards the feline and grabbed it by the scruff of its neck. It yowled and twisted violently, which forced her to drop it. The cat sunk it claws into Applejack's leg and was about to bite her when a broom smacked the animal in the face.
"Get away you foul creature, shoo!" Rarity demanded as she swatted the beast. In response it lunged at her, only to miss and skid into a table leg. The feline bolted from the house before anyone could stop it.
"Applejack are you alright?" Rarity asked as she put the broom down and her friend carefully moved to sit down in a nearby chair.
"I'll live," Applejack reassured her and inspected the claw marks on her leg. "The first-aid kit is in the bathroom, could you grab it? That varmint sure had tight grip."
"Now if you could put some of that antiseptic-"
"I know how to treat a cat scratch darling," Rarity stated curtly to Applejack's instructions. "Opal was a bit rough with Sweetie Belle and I when we first got her, now shush a let me treat the wound."
"Wound? It's just a scratch it'll be-- ow!' Applejack winced as her friend dabbed a cotton bud onto the claw marks.
"That beast was going to more than just scratch you, now hush, I don't want to risk you getting an infection." Rarity stated.
"It won't-" Applejack retorted.
"Now what did I just say?" Rarity asked.
Applejack sighed and let the other girl look after her injured leg.
"There. Was that so hard?" Rarity rhetorically asked once she finished.
"You didn't need ta baby me Rares, I can take care of myself." Applejack replied.
"I saw one of friends bleeding onto the kitchen floor-"
"It wasn't that bad." Applejack countered.
"It could have been!" Rarity argued back. "You were hurt. I was worried, I had to do something!"
Applejack was dumbfounded.
"I'm sorry for making you worry, I would do the same thing in your situation come to think of it," Applejack said after a moment. "Then I'd boot the critter all the way to the moon."
Rarity giggled. "I can imagine."
The doorbell rang, Applejack made to get to answer, only for Rarity to push her back down.
"You be a dear and rest, I'll get the door."
"Jeez, what happened to you?" Miss Prose asked as she walked in, an ink blue satchel slung over her left shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, now what brings you here Miss Prose?" Applejack replied warmly.
"Got a call from Rainbow, Fluttershy is doing fine and the concert's still on," the teacher explained. "Sunset said you guys had trouble picking something for an opening act, so I offered a couple of old songs I learnt a few years back."
Prose pulled out two two sets of sheet music. "I wanted an opinion on which song to play, I can play acoustic guitar so the more 'cheery' option I won't need help with, but the other is a slightly more serious song that requires a bass and piano keyboard, do you think you'd be able to learn it in time?"
"It doesn't look too complicated," Rarity mused. "But are you sure a somber song would work?"
"Rainbow suggested something a bit less bouncy would make the audience more pumped for the main event," Miss Prose replied with a shrug. "Either way I'll be on vocals, doesn't matter to me."
A small stage had been tossed together for the charity concert in the park. Sunset and Rainbow were setting the equipment while Applejack and Rarity sorted out the snack table. Fluttershy and Pinkie had a couple of small pens set up to house a few animals the shelter had ready for adoption and were making sure all of them had food, water and toys to last the afternoon.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had begged their siblings to let them help out, so Rarity had decided let the two start setting up chairs while they waited for their friend Scootaloo to arrive.
The roar of an engine cut through the noise of preparation as Miss Prose rode in on her motorcycle, with Scootaloo in the side car. The teacher had swapped out her usual attire for a white T-shirt, a blue hoodie and jeans.
"Now Scoots," Prose instructed as the young girl all but leapt out of the side car and tossed her purple helmet onto the seat. "Your mother wants you to take your meds before you eat anything. Think you can do that?"
"Yeah I know, if I don't I'll get sick, can go play now?" Scootaloo replied and fished out a pill bottle from her backpack and swallowed a tablet.
"Yeah, have fun."
Miss Prose pocketed her bike's key and wheeled it over to behind the stage.
"Hey girls, can I park this here?" She asked.
"I don't see why not," Applejack replied. "Once your done there, mind helping my 'Bloom with the chairs?"
"No prob," Miss Prose replied. "Make sure my bike doesn't get nicked ok? It's the new model from Timberwolf Motors and I don't want to lose it after working so hard to finally afford it."
"Hey um, Miss Prose?" Apple Bloom asked not long after the small group finished placing the chairs. "Why does Scootaloo have to take medicine before she eats something?"
"Did you ask her yourself?" Prose questioned.
"Course I did, but she won't tell me or Sweetie." Apple Bloom replied. "I just want to know if she's ok, that's all..."
"Scoots is allergic to certain chemicals found in food, mainly theobromine," Prose explained. "It's mostly found in coco and chocolate, her body can't process it properly, so she'll get sick if she has too much. Her medication helps her body handle it so she doesn't get sick."
"Scootaloo is allergic to chocolate?" Apple Bloom said. "That's terrible!"
"As long as she takes her pills, she'll be fine," Miss Prose said reassuringly. "Just try not to let it get between you all as friends ok?"
"I won't," The youngest Apple sibling said. "I was just worried she was sick or something."
"Well now that you know, she'll be annoyed that you found out once you talk to her about it. Just tell her I thought you ought to know since the three of you are good friends. Now, I better make sure stuff is ready for the opening act."
The audience talked quietly amongst themselves as they waited for the show to start. Without warning Rarity began to play a slow melody as Miss Prose sat on a stool on stage and lazily leaned forward towards the microphone.
"Don't you know that you could tell me anything," she sang softly. "And I would tell not another soul...In the end when the laughter's gone, I think we both feel quite alone."
Applejack plucked a steady tune in harmony with the existing music.
"You can tell by the way I act around you that there is so much that I might know," Prose continued with a lazy grin. "Even so, it doesn't fill the emptiness that chills me to the bone."
"Now and then, I'll try to seek your company, looking forward to plans in store. Making promises I don't want to keep 'cause I've made them once before..."
"Some days I feel like a mess sometimes, I hope you think that's it ok. Searching endlessly for a distraction, just...to make it through the day." Miss Prose sang and pulled the mike of its stand and straightened her posture with a more lighthearted grin at the audience.
"So what if I don't have everything sorted out right now? I'll get there in time..."
The main melody repeated as Prose got of the stool, held the microphone in her left hand and stuffed her right into her hoodie's pocket. "Don't you know that you could tell me anything and I would tell not another soul."
"Go ahead, you can hurl your insults at me. But one day, I'll be gone."
"Quietly, you can make you confessions, through the string of truth as you speak in just. I can hold it within my heart 'till I am finally turned to dust..."
Miss Prose bowed as the song ended and sauntered over to the snack table as soon as she walked offstage.
"That was awesome!" Scootaloo said as she ran over. "I didn't know you could sing."
"It wasn't a very happy song though," Apple Bloom commented. "What was it about?"
"Some people have days where not everything seems to go right," Prose explained. "That song was about one of mine... Some things aren't all sunshine and rainbows."
"But you're alright now aren't you?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"I got good food, good friends and good music, everything is awesome." Miss Prose replied with a smile.
The afternoon flew by, songs were sung, food was eaten and many an animal found a new home. The group was cleaning up when a noise from a trash can caught their attention.
"I got it." Sunset said and headed towards the disturbance. She yelled out in surprise as a black cat leapt from the trash and made a swipe at her. Sunset sidestepped the creature, the beast twisted around for a second strike, only to be caught in a net by Applejack.
"You alright Sunset?" the farm girl asked as she twisted the top of the net to keep the cat contained.
"Yeah, I'm okay."
"This looks like the same critter that attacked me." Applejack mused.
"And the same cat that bit Fluttershy!" Rainbow added. "So what do we do with it?"
"Is Miss Prose still here?" Fluttershy asked. "We could ask her to take it to the veterinarian to, um, to be put down..."
The girls fell silent at the notion.
"That sounds pretty harsh..." Rainbow began.
"But it has attacked people," Sunset stated. "What if it went after Scootaloo, or Sweetie Belle?"
"I don't like the idea either," Fluttershy added. "But you all know I want to be a vet and sometimes that means making the hard choices."
The decision was made. Rainbow kept an eye on Scootaloo while Miss Prose dropped off the crazed feline. When she returned, she was reluctantly roped into the effort to cheer up Fluttershy.
"You're the adult here," Rainbow bluntly said. "Maybe you have some advice you can offer."
"She's your friend," Prose replied. "I'm just the hired help."
"So you're telling me that you showed up, helped out and dealt with an emergency and you don't see yourself as our friend?" Applejack countered.
"It's not exactly professional..." Miss Prose replied.
"During school hours of course," Rarity interjected. "But you're on break and let's not forget the fact that you are only a few years older than some of us-"
"I'm twenty-three," the teacher deadpanned.
"Still you have taken time out of your day to help us- for free I might add, yet you refuse to help a pupil in need?"
The teacher muttered something that sounded like, "I'm a bloody side character not a damn sage...", before she sighed and ran a hand through her ponytail. "Ya really think I'm needed here?" she asked and received encouragement from the group. "Welp, I'll do what I can."
Miss Prose found Fluttershy crying quietly in a small area near the yet to be removed stage. The teacher's reluctant demeanor steadily gave way to an almost maternal look as she sat down next to Fluttershy and gave the girl a one armed hug.
"You made a tough choice Fluttershy, you'll never know if it was the right one, but sometimes you have you to think of the needs of many over the needs of a few, it's a choice humanity will always have to make and it's never easy." Prose said kindly.
"R-really?" Fluttershy sniffed after she had calmed down. "Have you ever made a choice like that?"
"Well it's hard to explain but yeah..." Prose replied. "My best friend was, is, not in a right state of mind, he did a bunch of illegal stuff. So I had to pick between the safety of everyone I knew over our friendship."
"What happened?"
"I don't feel like telling you the details but I tried to convince him, damn near begged him, to stop doing what he was doing, he wouldn't listen..." Miss Prose explained and took a deep breath. "So I turned him into the cops, saved a few lives and lost my best friend in the span of one day."
"That sounds awful." Fluttershy replied.
"Well eh, stuff happens, just remember what makes you happy and enjoy life the way you want to and stuff like that shouldn't get to you." Prose replied.
"What makes you happy?" Fluttershy asked.
"Uh, me? Well aside from my hobbies and some good food, helping people I suppose, guess I'm too nice for my own good huh?" Miss Prose replied with a smile.
Fluttershy smiled back. "Thank you for talking with me, it really helped to have someone who understands how I feel."
"I'm sure your friends would've done a better job." Prose stated.
"Who says you're not my friend?"
"The others said the exact same thing," Miss Prose sighed. "Maybe I should stop being so nice off hours."
"Why? Pinkie wanted to invite you to a party next week, I know Scootaloo and her friends love having you as a babysitter when everyone's busy and I really appreciate all the work you do at the animal shelter." Fluttershy stated.
"I'm invited to a party?" Prose asked, bewildered. "Huh, that's new."
"Of course you are, it's only fair after you've helped out today."
"But, I'm like, five years older than you and your teacher..."
"Well you could be there as adult supervision." Fluttershy suggested helpfully.
"Why are you all being so nice to me?" the dumbstruck teacher asked.
"You would do the same for us wouldn't you?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yeah, but I'm the adult, I have to act my age, set a good example..." Prose trailed off. " I'm not doing a very good job right now am I?"
"It's ok, no one's perfect." Fluttershy said.
"I came here to help you, not the other way around." Miss Prose said flatly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't offend you did I?" Fluttershy apologised.
"No, it's cool, how about we head back? I gotta get Scootaloo home anyway... Tell Pinkie I'll meet her at Sugarcube Corner tomorrow around midday to talk about that party." Miss Prose said.
The group finished cleaning up, Miss Prose was pulled into group hug courtesy of Pinkie Pie and left to take Scootaloo home shortly. Fluttershy's return made the mood all the more cheerful and with plans set for the last week of the break, the girls went home with smiles all round.
Miss Prose sat at a booth in Sugarcube Corner, sipping on her usual hot chocolate as Pinkie Pie bounced in and plopped into a seat opposite her.
"Hi, Miss Prose! Are you excited about the party? I know I am!" Pinkie Pie said and pulled out a folder, much to the teacher's confusion.
"Wait... What's that for? I thought it was a small get-together?" Prose asked.
"You're a new guest, silly," Pinkie explained as she opened the folder. "As a new guest, I gotta make sure you have the most fun possible. First impressions are really important, after all."
"Well, you've got a point there... I'm guessing you want a list of allergies or something?"
"Yup. I also need to know what your favourite snack foods are, favourite soda, favourite colour... Oh, and your favourite kind of music, too!" Pinkie replied happily.
"Um, why?" the teacher asked.
"So, it can be the best party ever! Your a new friend and a teacher. I have to make an extra, super, mega great first impression for your very first Pinkie Pie Party," the pink teen replied.
Prose was silent for a few seconds and she took a swig of her drink before replying. "Seems legit. I like blocks of chocolate or sea salt flavored chips for snacks, Pepsi max for soda, my favourite colour is dark blue, I like classical or alternate rock music, and I'm only allergic to a really strange plant called Dragon's Bane."
Pinkie wrote everything down at a rapid pace and stored the notes in her folder.
"OK, that's everything I need to know. I'll send an invitation in the next three days!" Pinkie said brightly.
Prose walked down the street as she neared the poorer end of town. She noticed one of the girls who started the Battle of the Bands fiasco sitting by herself at a small cafe. Not only did the former siren look upset but the teacher noticed something else was off about her.
She looks a bit thin for a girl her age... The teacher mused as she continued walking. I need more info.
The day of the party soon rolled around. Sunset and the gang had met up at Sweet Apple Acres for the night's festivities. Tables were set up outdoors and piled high with snacks while a white tarp held up with metal poles provided shelter. Picnic blankets were strewn across the ground and an old boom box was set up nearby.
The roar of Prose's motorbike announced her arrival with Scootaloo in tow again, who ran off to play with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.
"Hey, girls," the teacher greeted casually.
"Glad you could make it, Miss Prose. Pinkie sure put in a lot of effort," Applejack commented.
"Well, it is free food. I dunno about you, but I never pass up free food," Prose replied as she walked over to the snack table.
As night fell, lighting was set up and the group all but dragged their guest of honour towards the designated 'dance area'.
"Come on, Teach. What fun is a party if you don't dance?" Rainbow asked.
"You lot clearly have not heard of peer pressure," Prose replied flatly.
"Come on, Miss Prose, please?" Scootaloo asked and looked very much like a kicked puppy.
"No, not the puppy eyes!" Prose groaned.
"Please? Pretty please?" Scootaloo asked again.
"Too. Much. Cute...! Alright, Scoots I'll dance with you...On one condition," Prose stated with a sly grin.
"W-what is it?"
"Everyone here has to stop with the whole teacher thing outside of school hours. It's getting kinda annoying," The English teacher said. "Just call me Prose when I'm off work, kay?"
"Um... Isn't that you're last name?" Fluttershy asked softly. "I mean, shouldn't we call you by your first name?"
"Not until you know me better. It's a personal thing," Prose replied and looked at Scootaloo. "Guess I owe you a dance now huh?"
Later that evening the group sat on blankets or sleeping bags in one of the Apple Family barns they had borrowed for the night.
"Aw yeah that was awesome, I haven't had that much fun since your last party Pinkie." Rainbow said and stretched out onto her blanket.
"I know right?" Pinkie replied. "I haven't had that much fun since the battle of bands."
"I wonder what happened to The Dazzlings?" Sunset asked.
"Who cares? We won, they lost. Show's over." Rainbow said.
"I have some questions about those girls myself, to be honest," Prose stated. "They were called sirens right?"
"Yeah. They were using their magic to brainwash everyone," Sunset explained.
"But, why?" the teacher asked. "Something doesn't add up."
"Well, from what I heard from one of their songs, they were just trying to be good for nothing attention seekers," Applejack replied.
"That's stupid," Prose stated flatly. "You don't need magic to garner popularity."
"I noticed that when they sang, the magic they used went back into their pendants when they finished," Rarity mentioned.
"Hm... I saw them in the staff room once. The ring leader wasn't ashamed of using her, let's just say 'assets', to grab the attention of the guys," Prose mused.
"I noticed that, too. I, um, thought it was kind of disgusting," Fluttershy added.
"They didn't eat much either!" Pinkie chimed in. "Boy were they skinny."
"I wonder if they're alright?" Prose asked.
"Does it matter? They had the entire school at each other's throats," Rainbow argued.
"I must admit she does have a point. They were simply awful." Rarity agreed.
"Those three caused enough trouble. I say good riddance." Applejack replied.
"That's weird, coming from you guys," the teacher commented idly.
"How is that weird? The Dazzlings were taking over the school!" Rainbow countered.
"You helped Sunset, didn't you?" Prose simply stated. "Didn't she cause more trouble for a lot longer?"
"That's different. We hit her with a magic rainbow laser. She's fine now." Rainbow said.
"She does have a point," Sunset said. "I'd probably still be evil if it weren't for Twilight showing me the magic of friendship."
"Which could have been achieved without magic," Prose stated. "It would take longer but it's still doable."
"Do you think we should try and help The Dazzlings?" Fluttershy asked. "I mean, they were so mean..."
"We shouldn't have to help them. We beat them at their own game," Rainbow replied.
Prose frowned slightly. "Something just doesn't seem right. Sure, you beat them, but that's it? No consequences whatsoever?"
"That would imply there would be consequences, but I can't think of anything that would happen from defeating the Dazzlings." Rarity said.
"What if they have friends that want revenge?" Pinkie exclaimed.
"I hope not," Fluttershy said worriedly. "I don't want anyone getting hurt..."
"Well, I don't think it's anything that extreme... I think they could be, I dunno, reformed or something?" Prose suggested.
"But how? And why?" Asked Rainbow. "What would be the point?"
The orange haired young adult of the group grinned. "I reiterate; you helped Sunset, who caused years of torment. Is the idea of helping others to not repeat their mistakes really so hard to hear?"
"You're right... We could be helping them," Sunset admitted. "But where do we start?"
Prose shrugged. "Wait for them to come to you, maybe? They might be more receptive if they initiate 'first contact', so to speak."
There was a noise from the barn entrance and a nervous looking Scootaloo walked in with her friends right behind her.
"Can we stay with you tonight?" Sweetie asked.
"Why, Sweetie Belle? I thought you were looking forward to camping outside?" Rarity said.
"Well..." the younger sibling looked down at the ground nervously.
"She had a nightmare!" Scootaloo said hastily.
"Yeah, it didn't feel right staying without her," Apple Bloom added.
"Well, there's plenty of room. Make yourselves comfy," Applejack replied.
"So, Sweetie had a nightmare, huh?" Prose asked Scootaloo quietly once everyone had settled down for the night.
"I just... You promise not to tell, right?" Scootaloo whispered.
"Nah, it's cool... I won't tell a soul," replied Prose.
"I... I got scared after reading about the mountain we're going to hike up tomorrow...What if something happens?" Scootaloo explained.
"We've gone hiking before and that turned out fine," Prose pointed out helpfully, but Scootaloo still looked unsure.
"Yeah but..."
"What if I see if your friends want to join us?" Prose offered. "It'll be an adventure."
"Okay, sure... That sounds like fun," Scootaloo replied and yawned.
"Get some sleep, Scoots. You sound like you need it."
Block 2 Sonata took a seat near the back of the classroom and fiddled nervously with her pen as she watched the other students trickle in. Many looked at her with a scathing glare, or simply muttered between one another as they shot a hateful look in her direction. She sunk herself into her chair in a vain attempt to hide. "Are you alright there sugar cube?" a voice asked and the former siren looked up to see one of the Rainbooms sitting in the seat beside her, looking concerned. "It's nothing... um what was your name again?" Sonata asked. The other girl tipped her Stetson towards her in greeting. "My name's Applejack and your Sonata right?" "Yeah, I'm really sorry about the battle of the bands and all the brainwashing and..." Sonata apologized hastly. "Now none of that, you can make it up to everyone in your own time," Applejack replied reassuringly. "My friends and I plan to help you through it as best we can, and the first step is get you used to proper school life." "Um, how do we do that?" Sonata asked curiously. "By having you learn and doing well in class, if folks see you as a regular student, they'll start to warm up to you." Applejack explained. "Oh, good idea!" the siren replied and began to focus as the teacher walked in. ________________________________________ "Learning makes my brain hurt..." Sonata groaned as the bell rang. "You'll get used to it." Applejack chuckled. "How about you join the girls and I for lunch?" "Really?" Sonata excitedly replied but hesitated slightly, her grin falling. "I mean, if everyone doesn't mind..." "We're helping you remember? 'Course they won't mind." Applejack stated simply and led Sonata to the cafeteria.
Block 3 Sonata stood at the front of class and fidgeted nervously as the other students took their seats. Miss Prose walked in, another teacher wheeled in a stand with a television and a DVD player on it. It was plugged in and set up while the english teacher addressed the class. "Now everyone, we have a new student joining us, this is Sonata Dusk. She was with a bad crowd, I'm sure you know the details, but this nice young lady just wants to learn and make up for the battle of the bands incident." Miss Prose paused and smiled at her new student before focusing a more stern look at the rest of the class. "I will not tolerate bullying in my classroom, if I get word of anyone tormenting Sonata, be it during school hours or not, the individuals responsible get detention, with me. Are we clear?" A chorus of "Yes Miss Prose" answered back. "Wonderful, now Sonata, feel free to take a seat and we'll begin today's lesson." "Now then," Miss Prose began. "For the next two weeks we'll be doing everyone's favourite subject, Shakespeare!' As a few students, including Rainbow Dash groaned or grimaced at the idea. Their teacher chuckled. "Relax, I picked the interesting one, today we'll be watching Macbeth, once you understand the story from a more up-to-date film, then we'll look at the play, and yes I brought translations."
Block 4
Sonata sat on the lower seats of the gymnasium stand, silently crying as the brash teen called Gilda insulted and mocked her. The siren was left speechless as several other students looked down at her, their contempt towards her filled the very air, the negative emotions directed at her hurt. It clawed at her body and the starving girl tried to eat it but all it did was cause her to flinch and cry some more as a sharp ache ran through her stomach. A voice snapped back at the hostile group as a green skinned, green haired girl marched up to Gilda and began a tirade of her own. Another girl, with cream coloured skin and blue and purple hair joined in soon after. Sonata sniffed and wiped her eyes. She looked up to see a young girl with grey skin and messy yellow hair stand between the two arguing groups and with a bright smile she politely reminded everyone that the gym teacher would be here soon. Gilda looked at the girl for a moment before she huffed and walked off.
After school, Lyra and Bon Bon half encouraged, half dragged Sonata to a classroom where several other students were doing all manner of fun activities. The siren stared wide-eyed at the board games, puzzles and the small performance about a human in a world of monsters acted out a trio of much younger students. "Ok everyone, I got snacks," Miss Prose announced as she walked in triumphantly with several bags of treats and cans of soda. "S.E.E.S is back in full swing for the term." A cheer went up as the student body stopped what they were doing to browse through the food. Two of the three children stopped their act and rushed to join the others while the third was in the middle of her lines. "-are you there? It's me, your best friend Asri-Hey no fair! Apple Bloom, Scootaloo! Wait for me." "Sorry Sweetie Belle." Her friends replied. Sonata turned to Derpy, who was patiently watching the former Dazzling with a kind smile, Sonata didn't really know what to think. "What is all this?" "S.E.E.S, the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad," Derpy explained brightly. "A club designed by Miss Prose to allow students to have fun and make friends at their own pace. To enjoy what they like without criticism or discrimination." "It looks like fun, I am allowed to join?" Sonata asked. "Of course you can! You're already here aren't you?" the wall eyed girl replied and guided the new student further into the room. "I'll introduce you!"
