If you should see a lavender airship in your sky, hurry to get on board. You don't want to miss being part of Equestria's future, aboard Princess Twilight's School of Friendship... (An AU reboot of season 8)
If you should see a lavender airship in your sky, hurry to get on board. You don't want to miss being part of Equestria's future, aboard Princess Twilight's School of Friendship...
Princess Twilight's Friendship School proposal has been denied even preliminary approval by the EEA. Fortunately Tempest Shadow and her fleet of warships are back in town, and Tempest has a somewhat unorthodox idea for how Twilight can get around this. Plus, we find out more about how each of the Young Six came to be enrolled at the School. And Starlight ends up with a much better job...
Calling the mood in the EEA audience theater chilly would have been an affront to glaciers everywhere.
The shadowy multi-tiered gallery was lit only by the sepulchral glow of reading lights. From their seats the EEA council ponies gazed down, stern and unmoved, as Twilight wound up her presentation.
"I think you'll find my proposed curriculum meets all your requirements, Chancellor."
"Doin' great, Twilight!" Spike whispered.
"Hush, Spike!" Twilight hissed back, but with a grateful smile.
From the high seat Chancellor Neighsay glared down at her, steely-eyed and distrustful. The goateed unicorn's magic riffled quickly through his copy of her proposal, as he speed-skimmed it with disconcerting ease.
"And can we trust you," Neighsay replied at last, "to follow through on this plan? Or will you leave the school unattended to gallop off on your... adventures?"
"My journeys beyond Equestria have shown me firsthoof the need for a school like this," Twilight warned. "The potential threats out there are greater than we could imagine -- if we do nothing to prevent them, that is. And to do that, Friendship is clearly our best course of action. So," she concluded, "if we want to keep our land safe and create a friendlier tomorrow, we need to teach the Magic of Friendship far and wide."
The EEA members were whispering among themselves. Chancellor Neighsay sat in stony silence, apparently taking a reading of the room.
"So..." he summarized cautiously, "a school for ponies to learn how to protect themselves?"
"Uh, more like respecting differences and communicating," Twilight said. "And it wouldn't just be ponies. There's a need for this kind of school in lands outside of Equestria as well. So we propose to open our doors to students from other nations as well, so students from all the various lands can learn from each other, and..."
"Wait!" Neighsay interrupted, glaring at her in righteous outrage. "Let me get this straight... you propose to allow non-ponies to attend? Dangerous creatures, who by your own acknowledgement lack the fellowship we take for granted? Creatures who would not have our best interests at heart?"
"We would welcome students," Twilight replied carefully, "of all lands that can benefit from the lessons we hold most dear. This school would teach all of us to work together through friendship..."
"You would simply gift them with everything we've learned, without knowing what they intend to do with that knowledge? How do we know these... creatures," Neighsay interrupted, "won't take what they've learned about us, about our way of life, and use it against us? "
Twilight stared at him in disbelief. "Friendship isn't just for ponies!"
"It should be." Neighsay shook his head dismissively. "I am afraid, Princess, based on what we've heard here today, the EEA cannot grant even provisional approval for this... Friendship School. Your request, therefore, is hereby... denied!"
The glint of his magic lifted the lesson plan books that Twilight had distributed to the council members into the air... and flung them into a disordered pile at her hooves.
"Thank you," he said coldly. "And good day... Princess Twilight Sparkle!"
Twilight stared at the discarded books, and then up at Neighsay, shocked.
Her head drooped, her shoulders fell.
"I failed, Spike!" she whispered.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dressed in formal armor, her berry-red double-lightning-bolt mark on the flank plates, Commander Tempest Shadow stalked down the landing ramp of her flagship and onto the meadow behind the Friendship castle.
Beside her, Grubber padded along, wearing his own best tunic and gazing around happily. He grinned up at her. "Nice to be home, eh, boss?"
"Yeah. Even nicer being able to say it." Tempest looked up at the tree-like castle, its magenta crystal walls gleaming in the warm sunlight. "I wonder if they even missed us while we were gone?"
"Heh, you know ponies! Probably throw a surprise party soon as we walk in the door."
"That wouldn't be all bad. I just hope that offer of a room is still open. A warm bath might be nice too." She glared disapprovingly at Grubber. "For you, as well!"
"Hey! I washed behind my ears this morning."
"Amazed you could find them." Tempest said, distractedly. She stared up at the castle again.
And smiled, in a way she hadn't smiled for a long while.
"Come on, Grubber..." she said, at last. "Let's go get ourselves partied to death."
Trotting around to the main entrance at the Friendship Castle's base, Tempest raised an armored hoof and rapped thrice. The doors swung open smartly, the hulking scarlet-furred, mask-faced soldiers standing just behind them coming sharply to attention.
"At ease, Fred. It's only me." Tempest stepped inside, with Grubber at her hooves.
Before her in the entrance hall, another soldier materialized out of thin air. This one's fur was barred in gold and black stripes. He bowed respectfully. "Welcome home, Commander Tempest!"
"Strife... I spoke to you on the ship not two minutes ago."
He gently shrugged. "Merely playing my part as your adjutant, Commander. Helping you to feel welcome."
"More like buttering me up to be taken off probation," she said. "But it's appreciated." She glanced around. "So... where is everypony? Where's the never-ending party?"
"Ah..." Strife looked uncomfortable. "It would seem that the Princess has cancelled her appointments and asked to be left by herself for a bit. She's received some... distressing news."
"I see." Tempest frowned. "Grubber!"
"Yeah, boss?"
"Permission granted to go stuff your face."
"Hey, thanks! Uh... sure you won't need me?"
"The Princess has asked to be left alone. I'm going to presume this doesn't apply to her personal bodyguard. But it does apply to you. Go make a nuisance of yourself somewhere."
"Gotcha, boss!" Grubber willingly ambled off towards the kitchen.
"So..." Tempest went on, turning her attention back to Strife. "Where exactly did the Princess ask to be left alone?"
Strife pointed. "In the map room."
"Then hold my calls."
Tempest strode over to the map room door, and gently shouldered it open. Inside, she found Twilight sitting on her chair by the map-table, and staring gloomily at the books and papers stacked in front of her. Spike was sitting on his own chair beside her, clearly trying his best to comfort her without getting himself sent away as well.
At the sound of the door opening, he leaned around to look. "Tempest! You're back early!"
Twilight looked around as well. She tried to smile welcomingly, but her drawn face spoke of an extended bout of crying.
"Hey, Tempest," she said in a small voice. "Welcome home."
"Princess." Tempest stepped into the room, coming smoothly to attention. "Permission to make my initial report?"
Twilight frowned at the formality, but then nodded.
Tempest quickly summarized the swift progress that Capper and Mama Orcina were making in reorganizing Klugetown along friendlier lines, and then her own brief tour of Abyssinia and other regions attacked and oppressed by the Storm King. "Most of them were just relieved to know the Storm King wouldn't be coming back," she finished. "But I made sure to offer our help with reconstruction and the like. I may need to take one or two of the ships back down there, once the requests start to come in."
"That's great, Tempest," Twilight said, her tone flat and lifeless. "You're doing a wonderful job. I'm really proud of you."
Tempest waited a moment. Then she sighed.
"All right, Princess, formality has been satisfied. Now, speaking as your bodyguard -- and your friend -- you are going to tell me what's bothering you, so I can go do something about it. And I don't need to remind you how difficult it'll be to get me to leave the room."
Twilight didn't even put up a token objection. She just gestured with a hoof toward the documents on the table. "I wanted to found a School of Friendship," she said. "Where we could teach what we've learned to a new generation of students, pass on the wisdom we've gathered and the values we hold important."
Tempest nodded. "Sounds like a great idea... but...?"
"... but to do so, the school needs accreditation from the Equestria Education Association. And Chancellor Neighsay has made it very clear he doesn't approve of my School's intended mission: to teach lessons about Friendship to everyone... including the other nations outside of Equestria."
"Excuse me?" Tempest looked puzzled. "I may have been out of it for a while, Princess, but isn't that a rather... un-pony attitude for him to take?"
"He's just afraid." Twilight grimaced. "They all are, of things they're not familiar with... afraid of change." She slammed a hoof on the table. "I tried to explain that was the whole point! It's only by meeting other species, getting to know them, seeing how they're like us -- and unlike us -- that we can get past that fear and learn to work together!"
Tempest eyed her. "You don't need to convince me, Princess."
"Sorry!" Twilight's head drooped again. "But I wasn't able to convince them. So they won't grant approval for the Friendship School. After all my hard work, all my effort... I failed to convince them. I failed, Tempest!"
Tempest's expression darkened. Her jaw set tightly. Her broken horn crackled with arcing electric light. "Well..." she said silkily, "if it would help, Your Highness, I could always take a couple of squads up to Canterlot, find this Neighsay, and make him see reason..."
Twilight merely looked up at her sadly.
Tempest's horn silenced. She snorted in amusement.
"Wow. They must have really gotten to you, Princess. You didn't even hit the ceiling that time."
Twilight shook her head. "I honestly felt this was the right thing to do, Tempest. Being able to spread the magic of Friendship to students everywhere, including outside of Equestria. It's what I should be doing, as Princess of Friendship. I've been a student most of my life. I wanted to start giving that back to others. The School seemed like the perfect way to do it..." She gestured sadly to the lesson plan documents on the table. "And now it all seems like such a waste of effort, like there was no point even trying."
Tempest nodded. She thought quietly for a moment.
"Princess, I have a suggestion... and like all my suggestions, feel free to ignore it if it seems inappropriate, but..."
Twilight looked up at her, clearly willing to listen to anything that might help.
"... have you ever heard," Tempest asked, "of a riverboat casino?"
"Woah, woah, woah!" Rainbow Dash said, wide-eyed. "A pirate school?" She grinned and waved a hoof. "Okay, say no more! I'm sold! Sign me up! Now," she added with a baffled look, "... what the hay is it?"
"It's a school that operates outside of official licensing and sanction," Twilight explained. "Though it's really closer to the concept of boat-based casinos. They're mobile so they can pick up and drop off passengers, and then operate on waterways outside local jurisdiction, and thus skirt local rules about gambling."
Fluttershy looked uncomfortable. "Um, we're not teaching the students gambling, are we?"
Twilight shook her head, and gestured with a hoof towards the map room's windows, high on the walls. Through them, one of Tempest's black airships was visible holding station in the sky beyond the castle.
"We'll equip one of Tempest's larger ships as a kind of flying school, with classrooms and quarters for the students. The school can operate outside of Equestria's borders, or at the very least high enough in the air that it's technically not within Equestrian airspace. I looked it up: the EEA's legal mandate only covers educational facilities physically located in Equestria. It's a thin line to be sure, but I think it's just enough that we can claim to be operating outside of it, so they can't just shut us down."
Starlight Glimmer was standing beside Twilight, clipboard in hoof. She'd been clued in to the project early on, and had helped work out some of the logistical details. "Since the school isn't physically bound," she said with a gesture at the map-table, "it can relocate on a regular basis to wherever makes the most sense, in order to teach classes, conduct field trips, visit different cultures, and so forth. It can also travel to more distant lands whose inhabitants might not be able to attend a school located here in Ponyville."
Twilight nodded. "For research and study purposes, the School can return to Ponyville periodically, to allow the students to make use of the more extensive library facilities here in the Friendship Castle." She put a hoof around Starlight's shoulders. "And Starlight here would be in charge of the Castle, whenever I'm away traveling with the School."
"Assisted by the Grrreat and Powerful Trrrixie!" Trixie put her own hoof around Starlight's shoulders. Then she shrugged and waved her other forehoof airily. "Ya know, whenever I'm in town!"
Twilight frowned at her, then looked around at the other ponies. "And by coming back here on a regular basis, we'll be able to accommodate all of your schedules for harvests, design shows, animal care, flight school, and party-planning... because I'm going to need all of you along as my teaching staff, to help make this work. I can't imagine ever running a School of Friendship without my best friends!"
"Sounds peachy keen!" said Pinkie Pie. "Count me in!"
The others nodded in agreement... except for Rainbow. "Us? Teaching? Like, in classrooms? Urgh, they're gonna think I'm an egghead!"
"I realize it's not some big, cool adventure against the forces of evil," Twilight admitted. "But this could be the most important thing we've ever done. Can I count on all of you?"
"Of course you can, dahling!" Rarity said.
"Absolutely, hon!" Applejack agreed.
Rainbow glanced at the others, then shrugged. "Okay, fine! Call me Professor Egghead. I'm in!"
"Oh! Me too!" Fluttershy said nervously. "But what about Celestia and Luna? Are you sure they'd be okay with all this?"
Twilight looked uneasy. "That's the rub: this is all unofficial in the extreme. I mean, we're basically skirting around Equestrian law here. I can't ask the other Princesses to give it their blessing. Though I do intend to give Celestia some warning at least, so it's not a total surprise. We'll just have to get everything ready and go ahead with it on our own... and hope that the name of the Princess of Friendship carries enough weight with the other lands to convince them to allow their students to attend the school."
"Annnnd..." Rainbow waved a hoof. "...assuming we get that far?"
"Then we keep going, see how far we can take this," Twilight said. "Because I am not giving up on the Friendship School. It's too important!"
"We're with you, Twi!" Applejack said.
"All of us," Tempest agreed, from her seat by the door. Since it'd been her idea to begin with, she'd unobtrusively left herself out of the discussion so as not to bias opinion. "I'll have Fred start construction work on the ship right away. I already have Grubber looking into obtaining building supplies, paint and the like, from sources who can keep things quiet. Applejack and Rarity, could I borrow you for some construction and design advice?"
"Surely can!"
"Of course, dahling!"
"And everypony else," Twilight said, "start working on plans for your Friendship lessons. Oh! And not a word about this to anyone, until we're ready to go ahead with it. All right?"
They all nodded, and split up to go about their tasks.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Chief Steward's voice rang out in the Royal Audience Hall: "Chancellor Neighsay, of the Equestria Education Association!"
The berobed unicorn stepped forward onto the red carpet, and curtly bowed to the twin thrones.
Celestia looked down loftily at him. "Yes, Chancellor? How may we be of assistance to the mission of the EEA?"
"Your Highness, I have been hearing some disquieting rumors... about an unlicensed, unaccredited school being organized within Equestria's borders... a 'pirate school', I have heard it called."
"These rumors have reached our ears as well," Celestia acknowledged. "However at the moment that is all they are... rumors. The Crown cannot act on the basis of mere rumor, Chancellor."
"Your Highness, this 'pirate school' is sounding suspiciously like the Friendship School that Princess Twilight presented to our Council late last month. Now, if this is true, I expect prompt action to be taken to curb this illegal activity! Clearly, the EEA has full authority over the curriculum and operation of all Equestrian educational facilities. Such 'pirate' organizations cannot be tolerated!"
Celestia eyed him sternly.
"Officially, we cannot comment on the existence or provenance of such an organization," she said. "Unofficially... there's something you should understand about Princess Twilight, Chancellor: her tenacity. She never truly gives up on what she believes in. In all honesty, it might have been a better decision to grant her School provisional approval, so that she might demonstrate her ability to teach according to the EEA's guidelines. Denying her that opportunity, forcing her to fall back on her own resources... well, all I'll say is, you only have yourself to blame."
Neighsay glared, outraged. "So you intend to do nothing?"
"As we said, it is mere rumor at this point. But even so, if such a school operates outside the purview of Equestrian law -- as currently specified in that law -- the Crown cannot be expected to intervene in the name of the law, can it?" Celestia gently shrugged. "But it's a fair point. The law should be reviewed, to see if it might require... adjustment? Rest assured, Chancellor, we shall make a point to bring it up at our next weekly meeting with the legislature." She smiled thinly. "But do not be hopeful of immediate change. As you are well aware, these things take time."
"Princess Celestia...!"
"You have made your position quite clear, Chancellor," Celestia interrupted, calmly but with just a hint of iron in her tone. "And there are several other high-ranking petitioners requiring our attention this morning. Good day to you!"
Huffing angrily, Neighsay managed a travesty of a bow, then stormed angrily out of the Audience Chamber.
Celestia looked to the Chief Steward. "Ah... remind me, who was next on the list?"
"A Miss Cinnamon Chai, Highness. She wished to ask permission to use Your Majesty's name in an upcoming tea-of-the-day promotion at her shop."
"Oh! There was absolutely no need for her to wait. Tell her we approve! And schedule an appointment for me to drop by that day to sample it. We must encourage things that help brighten everyone's day, mustn't we?"
"Your Majesty is most understanding," the Steward said, waving over a underling to handle the details.
Celestia sat back on her throne, a smile on her face.
All right, Twilight, she thought. The rest is up to you!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"No peeking, Twi!" Pinkie Pie warned, her forehooves crossed over Twilight's face.
"Pinkie!" Twilight grumbled good-naturedly, "you've been saying that for the last five minutes. Are we there yet?"
"Just about, Princess," Tempest replied. "All right, Grubber, this is close enough. All stop!"
"Right, boss!" Grubber swung around on the ship's wheel and slapped the throttle home with his paw. The warship they were on gradually swept to a halt.
"Open 'em up, Twi!" Pinkie said.
Twilight looked... and gaped in awe.
Directly ahead of her, beyond the ship's railing, she could see the largest of Tempest's fleet of ships holding station among the clouds, surrounded by several of the smaller black warships.
But the huge ship looked nothing like a warship now.
The ship's hull and armor had been repainted a warm lavender hue, with swirling curlicue highlights of brighter and darker shades, nicely complementing the roseate hue of the airship's balloon. The glowing double-bolt icon on the prow armor had been covered over, and repainted with Twilight's six-star cutie-mark. And hanging from either side of the balloon were large banners displaying the School's logo: a shield bearing six element gems, set around a large purple star.
"Whatta ya think, Twi?" Applejack asked nervously.
"I think it looks amazing!" Twilight replied, leaning her forehooves on the railing, staring at it. "And I really appreciate you letting us use the big ship, Tempest!"
"Not a problem, Princess," Tempest said. "We needed the extra space to fit everything in."
"So!" Rainbow asked eagerly, "what are we gonna call it?"
Twilight didn't hesitate. "The Friendship School," she said, proudly.
"Heh!" Rainbow sniggered. "Betcha that gets shortened to the Friendship inside of a day!"
"Warned you, Princess," Tempest said, shaking her head. "But the tour's not over yet. Wait 'til you see inside."
"I can hardly wait!"
They came alongside the lavender ship and then shuttled everyone across. Soldiers in winged form ferried those unable to fly themselves. And Tempest simply backed up several paces and then fearlessly leapt the gap on her own.
They went down two decks via the forward stairs, then around the curving corridor and into the main classroom. It was a large amphitheater with a central stage and blackboard, comfortable tiered seating platforms, and shelves of books around the walls. Overhead there was an orrery of gold and silver planets, and above them skylights allowed a cascade of warm sunlight to fill the room.
"We can use this as an assembly hall," Rarity explained, "or for teaching larger classes. And there are individual classrooms down the halls on either side of the ship, for each of us to teach more specialized subjects."
Twilight trotted down into the room and up onto the stage, turning to face the rows of empty seats.
"It's perfect!" she cried. "Now all we need are students!"
Starlight consulted her clipboard. "The pony students we've signed up will be arriving later today, once the ship is enroute. Their cutter should be loading up at Dodge station just about now."
"Come on, Twi!" Rainbow said, waving a hoof. "Take a look at the rest of the place!"
They proceeded down the corridor to the midsection of the ship, beyond the classrooms. Here there were dormitory quarters for the students, and beyond them were a dining hall, a kitchen, and recreation rooms toward the rear of the ship.
"You're kidding me!" Twilight said, peering through a doorway. "You managed to squeeze in a buckball court back here?"
"Well... it's not official size," Rainbow admitted. "But it's enough for a quick pick-up game if anyone feels like it. And it doubles as a gym as well."
They proceeded up the rear stairwell one flight, to the administrative deck. Here there were staff offices, conference and common rooms, and file rooms. Forward of these, on either side of the ship, were staff quarters and guest rooms.
And then they reached the royal suite, on its own at the bow of the ship. It was entered via a pair of doors painted red, with a familiar candlestick logo on each of them. And when Twilight stepped through them, she came to a halt in amazement.
The wood-paneled room, insulated with bookshelves... the table with the large chesspiece sculpture... the desk with scrolls and quills and a few books that needed sortation... and at the very front of the suite, up a short stairway, there was a sleeping area with a bed and an oval window, looking out on the cloud-dotted blue sky.
"Woah!" Spike breathed, astonished. "Am I dreaming this?"
Twilight just stood and stared at it all. It wasn't exactly the same, but it was close enough. It felt familiar.
She belatedly noticed that Tempest had trotted over to stand next to her. "I remember you mentioning how much you liked that oak tree library you used to live in," Tempest said. "So I talked to your friends, and consulted the original Ponyville design plans. We came up with this. I... hope we got it right. After all, I never saw it myself."
Twilight smiled at her. "It's perfect, Tempest!"
Tempest shrugged. "Call it a thank you for helping me find my place, Princess. After all, it's because of you that I have these ships at all. And if you're going to be spending a lot of time aboard, I'd want you to feel right at home."
"I already do. Thanks!" Twilight trotted forward and took the stairs up to the loft. She hopped up on the bed and leaned on the windowsill. For a long moment she looked out at the wide-open sky, enjoying the warm sunlight on her face.
Then she looked back down at the others, standing there waiting patiently for her.
"What do you think, everypony?" she called. "Are we ready?"
"Ready when you are, Twi!" Applejack said happily.
"Right!" Twilight faced forward again. "Let's do this!"
Down the straw-strewn main street of Griffonstone, a young griffon with bright blue pinions sauntered, trying to look like he had somewhere to be. And inwardly, he quietly fumed.
"Hey, Bluebird!" called a loud voice behind him. "I'm talkin' to you!"
Gallus kept on walking, not looking back.
Two other young griffons, with more typical grey and brown plumage, thunked down in front of him. They smirked at him in that particularly annoying, can't-touch-me kind of way.
"Why don't you sing for us, little Bluebird?" sneered the grey one. "Huh? Make us all happy!"
"Gee, I don't know. Maybe because singing is forbidden here in town?" Gallus rolled his eyes. "Just give it a rest, guys."
"Why don't you make us?" The larger brown griffon glared at him, and fluffed up to look even more threatening -- in his imagination, that is. To Gallus, he still looked like a fat feather-duster with mange.
"Yeah!" the gray griffon jeered. "Show us how a real griffon behaves, huh?"
"I don't think he can. Doesn't want to muss up those delicate little blue pinfeathers!"
"Actually, they're kind of a dark aquamarine," Gallus said, in a bored tone. "Except for the crest, where it fades to a goldenrod. Of course," he added with a crafty smirk, "that's assuming you could even find those colors in your box of crayons."
The grey griffon scowled. "Ohhh! Gettin' disrespectful are we?"
"No, I'm just standing here. Amazed that carpeting has language skills."
Annoyed, the other griffons set their beaks fiercely and stalked closer.
Gallus sighed, preparing to make a break for the open air. And then a brown-and-white wall of feathers suddenly dropped out of the sky to land right in front of him.
"Hey, jerks!" Gilda snarled. "Back off!"
Startled, the two griffons took a step back. Then they quickly recovered. "Oh, look!" the brown one crowed. "It's the namby-pamby scone-seller!"
"Standing up for her weak little friends again!"
"Oh yeah?" Gilda's eyes narrowed. "Last week's trash just called, and wanted to know when you two were coming home! And I said I'd make sure you got there!" She wound up and delivered a full-throated lion's roar, rattling nearby windows.
Rather than tangle with her, the bullies wisely leapt into the air and flew off.
Gilda nodded with pride, watching them flee. Then she turned to Gallus.
"Hey, loser."
He nodded back. "Gilda."
"You know, you really gotta learn to stand up for yourself."
"What would be the point?" Gallus shrugged. "If I fight 'em, I get hurt, and everyone yells at me for fighting. If I ignore 'em... well, it still hurts, but at least no one yells at me about it."
"You're pathetic!"
"Yep, that's me. Any other words of cheery wisdom?"
"Nope. Not here to chat, anyway. I'm taking this up to the Palace."
Gilda unslung a cloth bundle from her back and unwrapped it. Within, there was a large golden chalice containing a cloudy peach-colored pearl. The rim of the chalice swirled up and around like a gilded flame.
"Gee." Gallus nodded. "I'd be impressed... if I even knew what it was."
Gilda sighed exasperatedly. "Uh, the Idol of Boreas? The one that's been lost for generations? Along with pretty much any pride we griffons ever had?"
"Seriously?" Gallus stared at it. "Grampa Gruff always said that fell down the Abysmal Abyss, along with... who was it, Arimaspi or something?"
"Yeah, it totally did. Only when I went down the Abyss to save Rainbow Dash, I found it'd been stuck on a ledge all this time. I knocked it loose, and it fell the rest of the way down to the bottom."
"So... how'd you ever get it out?"
"Duh! I took the scenic route. Down the mountain to the base of the gorge? And then I walked in. It took a while, hunting through all the broken rock down there, but I finally came across it again." She shrugged, and bundled the idol back up again. "Might not mean anything anymore, but I figured, what the fluff? Better than just leaving it there for scavengers."
"That's... amazingly responsible for you. You feeling okay?"
Gilda frowned at him. Without bothering to reply, she hopped into the air and flew off up the street, heading for the path that led up the massive trunk of the Great Nesting Tree, toward the ruin of the Royal Palace at its height.
For lack of anything better to do, Gallus took wing and headed that way himself. Not flying with Gilda, obviously, because they weren't really friends all that much. But they got along all right generally. And among modern-day griffons, that was practically like being family.
Eventually they landed at the doorway of the palace, and then they walked inside, into the bare and dilapidated throne room. Unwrapping the Idol, Gilda walked up to the stump-like pedestal. Cautiously, she brushed aside the growth of moss and mushrooms on its surface, then set the Idol in place on top of it.
The two of them glanced around.
Nothing had changed.
"Was... something weird supposed to happen?" Gallus asked. "Like glowing lights and a griffon chorus, and King Guto springing back to life?"
Gilda glared at him, and then at the Idol. "Useless junk! Probably not even worth the gold it's made out of. I'll take it to Grampa Gruff. It'll make his day seeing it back again." She shrugged. "Then he'll probably hock it for the bits."
"Pity." Gallus shook his head. "I always did like that story about King Grover uniting the griffons. Even if nothing like that could happen today, it's kinda nice thinking it once could."
He turned to head back out the door. And then came to a halt, staring through it. "Uhhh, Gilda?"
"Yeah, dweeb?"
"C'mere a sec."
She joined him, and they both stared at the huge lavender ship with the star on its prow, descending from the clouds.
"So tell me..." Gallus asked, "does that count as something weird?"
"Yeah..." she agreed. "Yeah, I think it might."
Gilda swiftly wrapped up the Idol and slung it on her back again, and then the two of them took off and flew down the trunk of the Tree, heading for Grampa Gruff's house.
By the time they got there, the aged, fez-wearing griffon was standing in front of it, and surrounded by a small crowd of other elderly griffons, all muttering and grumbling amongst themselves.
Facing them were two ponies Gilda knew well: Rainbow Dash and her bookish friend Twilight Sparkle. A discreet distance away a tall maroon pony in battle-armor stood waiting for them, bracketed by a pair of scarlet-furred soldiers and a white-maned hedgehog.
"Hey, Gilda!" Rainbow waved her over. "Great to see ya again!"
"Rainbow." Gilda nodded, glancing around reservedly as she approached.
"This is Princess Twilight!" Rainbow went on excitedly, speaking to the crowd in general. "She's got a really cool idea for a... mmf!"
Twilight had quickly stoppered Rainbow's mouth with a hoof. "... an international School of Friendship," she continued, "open to all species. It'll help us all learn to get along with each other, while respecting each other's differences. I'm hoping that the griffons would be willing to enroll a student in the initial class, to represent your people and your culture."
"How much does it cost?" groused a white-crested elder.
"Tuition will be free for the initial class," Twilight said. "Since we'll be finding our hooves as much as the students, this first year. But I know it will be a great success... with your help!"
Grampa Gruff snorted. "What does a pony school know about teaching young griffons? Instilling values, teaching them their past, giving them pride in themselves? Helping them be productive citizens... not slouching wastrels -- like Gallus over there!"
"Gee..." Gallus muttered, rolling his eyes, "thanks for that vote of confidence."
"None o' your lip, sonny! Be thankful somegriff around here gives a squawk about your future!"
"Friendship can help with all those things," Twilight replied soothingly. "It gives you the confidence to speak with others, to build relationships, and in so doing, learn more about both your culture and others."
"And the ponies know all about friendship!" Gabby the mail-griffon sprang into the air on the other side of the crowd. "They helped me to find the one thing I'm best at: helping others!" She swiveled in midair, proudly displaying the cutie-mark badges clipped to her mailbags. "Huh? Huh?"
Rainbow nodded. "And Pinkie Pie and I were able to help Gilda here..."
"Help her with what?" Grampa Gruff snarled. "Meddling with my secret family scone recipe, handed down from my own grandpere? Teaching her to be weak and kind, instead of helping her find the strength and pride any young griffon should have?"
"Hey!" Gilda scowled. "At least I don't lurk around the house all day, cadging bits for odd jobs and old stories!"
"Whaaat!" Grampa Gruff drew himself up proudly, and glared back. "You take that back! And just what have you been wasting your time on? I haven't clapped eyes on ya all morning!"
"Well, for your information..." Gilda said, unslinging the bundle from her back, "I've been wasting my time... finding this!"
She unwrapped the bundle and held the Idol aloft.
"Woah!" Rainbow yelled. "The Idol of Boreas? Way to go, Gilda!"
The effect on the crowd was startling. As one, the elder griffons stared in awe and reverence. Grampa Gruff's own eyes went wide. "The Idol?" He gaped. "Where? How? Wait a minute!" Turning, he dashed into his house. Loud rummaging and crashing sounds could be heard from within. And then he returned, carrying a yellowed and dusty scroll in one claw.
"The Prophecy of Arawaki!" he intoned proudly.
Rainbow stared. "Who?"
Gallus sighed wearily. "King Guto's advisor and soothsayer." He looked around. "Hey, just because I'm bored all the time doesn't mean I'm not paying attention. I've heard this one a thousand times. It's one of Grampa Gruff's favorites." He smirked. "He charges extra for it."
"This one's on the house!" called Grampa Gruff, prompting a gasp from the crowd. "It predicts the return of the Idol... and states that the griffon who returns the Idol to its rightful place, on the plinth in the Royal Palace, shall show the way for griffons to achieve their pride once more!"
"Yeah, well..." Gilda waved a disparaging claw. "Been there, done that already. Nothing happened, seriously!"
But the elder griffons were removing their hats and bowing their heads.
Gilda looked around nervously. "Uh, hey... what's going on?"
"You youngsters might not care anymore," Grampa Gruff said. "But when you get to be our age, you find yourself wishing for something better... and worrying you won't live long enough to see it! And, young Gallus, the reason I've told this story a thousand times," he growled, "is 'cause older griffons will pay good bits to hear it! It speaks to something we all thought was lost forever. But... I see it wasn't lost after all. It just ended up someplace we never expected to find it..."
He looked around at the other elders. "Much as it pains me to say it... maybe this 'friendship' thing Gilda learned from these ponies is the answer Arawaki was talking about all those years ago!"
There was some muttering and grumbling amongst the elder griffons, but the general consensus appeared to be begrudging agreement.
"So, uh... what does this mean?" Gilda stared worriedly from the Idol in her claw to the crowd around her.
Rainbow bounced into the air excitedly. "It means Gilda should totally come be a student at Twilight's school! How 'bout it, Gilda? You in? It'll be just like junior speedster flight camp all over again!"
"Out of the question!" Grampa Gruff thundered, before Gilda could even draw breath. "I don't think any of us here are prepared to start making drastic changes in griffon society. But..." He glanced around uncertainly at the other griffons. "I think we've all dreamed in our heart of hearts it might one day happen. And if now's the time to start making those kind of changes, somegriff's's got to set the example for us. And it looks like you're elected, young Gilda!"
"Now hang on a minute!" Gilda objected. "Baking better scones is one thing. Being a role-model for friendship? Me? Anyone else think that's a really bad idea?"
Twilight smiled reassuringly. "You can do it, Gilda. I know you can! All you have to do is be yourself, the way griffons ought to be. That's all Arawaki was saying: show the other griffons the way, by just doing what you do already!"
"Well..." Gilda looked uneasy, then shrugged. "I suppose. After all, I did find this Idol thing. And I returned it to the palace because, hey, I wanted to see what would happen as much as anyone else did. So... okay, yeah. I guess I might as well give the rest of it a shot." She snorted. "For whatever that's worth!"
"Good for you, Gilda!" Twilight smiled, then looked around at the crowd of elders. "So... about the School. Could we ask you to enroll a student to represent the Griffon Kingdom? It would be another way," she hinted, "for the griffons to learn more about friendship!"
"Well," Grampa Gruff mused, "if friendship is the new way of doing things, we should have someone representing us at this School thing of yours."
"Oh, oh! I know!" Gabby chirped. "Gallus should go! He'd be a great Friendship student! He's really bright, even though he doesn't like to show it. It'll be super easy for him!"
Gallus raised an eyebrow. "Ohhh, right," he said. "Griffon... Friendship School... how hard could that be?"
For a moment, he was going to refuse. But then he looked up at Twilight's ship, hanging in the sky overhead. And around at the ramshackle houses of Griffonstone. At the litter-strewn alleys he skulked through during the day, filled with bullies who tormented him because he didn't fight back. And he thought about his life in general, where it seemed to be going lately. Like... nowhere, really.
"Okay... yeah," he said. "I'll go." At the surprised looks from those around him, he shrugged. "Hey, it beats hanging around this place."
"You sure about this, dweeb?" Gilda muttered to him. "Gonna miss saving your butt around here every other day."
"Yeah, I'm sure." he replied. "And, hey, it's not like I'm leaving forever."
He leaned closer to whisper to her. "Bet you two bits they kick me out the first week!"
The waters of the Celestial Sea roared and crashed around the base of Speartooth Rock, on the grainy basalt shores of the Dragonlands.
Out of the sky overhead, a small orange dragoness with overlarge yellow horns and a fuschia crest flapped carefully down through the cross-breeze. Picking her moment, Smolder swept down and landed neatly on a narrow ledge of stone near the Rock's peak.
Glancing around to be sure she wasn't being watched, she quickly wormed her way into a narrow crevice. At its far end she kept her horns lowered and smoothly stepped right a pace, then crawled forward around a narrow turn.
And then she stood up, in the midst of a small hidden cavern she'd come across some time ago. It was lit by glowing gemstones embedded in the dark gray basalt above, and by the simmering orange gleam of a lava upwelling on the far side.
Smolder had never told any other dragon about the cavern, and as far as she knew no other dragon knew it was there. Which was just fine for her. That made it a perfect place to hide her toy box.
Sighing unhappily, she crossed the cavern to an old wooden crate on the far side, and folded back the old sea-cloth wrapped around its contents.
Within there was a small collection of various toys: a large wooden rowboat, some delicately-formed animals carved from various hues of crystal, a small tea-set with teapot, cups and saucers, and a gilt serving bowl with a small silver spoon. There was even a doll, crocheted from fine wool and wearing a small pirate outfit. It had a beak and lime-colored crest like a bird, but arms instead of wings.
Smolder didn't know what kind of creature the doll was, and had never dared ask another dragon. And it was her favorite, of all the cast-off items she'd come across in shipwrecks and the occasional lost shipping crate washed up on the shores of the Dragonlands.
She'd found the doll while rummaging in an old seachest, half-buried in the sand after a hurricane had passed by. And even though it embarrassed her immensely to recall it, she simply couldn't leave it there, to be found by other dragons and kicked around or torn apart for fun. It spoke to her, in a way that she wasn't sure she liked... it certainly wasn't very dragon-like. The toy needed a home, needed to be looked after. It was... she mentally gagged... cute. And she'd never been able to resist cute stuff.
Well, she thought. All that changes today. She put her claws on her hips, staring at the toys. I'm going to be Dragon Lord Ember's student now, learn to be a proper dragon. So it's time to get rid of this old junk.
It would have to be done properly, she knew... respectfully, given how much these things had been a comfort to her whenever she'd needed them. That was the only way she'd ever finally be shut of them.
She started with the boat, picking it up and holding it in one claw. Then one by one she loaded the crystal animals into it. She put the tea things in the bow, and the serving bowl in the stern, arranging things so it was balanced properly. And then, finally, she picked up the pirate doll. She looked at it one last time, then laid it on top of the animals, with its tiny arms crossed.
And then she turned and walked to the lava pool. Without hesitation, she set the boat down into it, taking care so that it wouldn't capsize prematurely.
The wood immediately caught fire, flames licking up over the boat's contents. Gradually the boat and its cargo sank into the molten rock, with everything charring, burning, and melting together into ash and discolored impurities, which smeared out over the surface and then sank away into the orange glow.
Smolder watched, silently, until the very last trace was gone. Then she nodded. That would do. Time to put childish stuff behind her, and go be a tough, grown-up, take-no-prisoners dragon, just like Ember.
Enough with the cute stuff, she thought.
She kicked over the empty crate, then turned and crawled back out through the crevice.
Standing up on the ledge, she looked out at the looming ash and smoke clouds hanging over the glowing volcanic peaks and spires of the Dragonlands. She smiled at the sight. That was home, where any dragon worth her scales should be able to find her place. All she had to do was take it.
And then she turned to look out across the Celestial Sea. There was nothing on that side but blue sky and some puffy clouds overhead. Except...
She blinked and stared, momentarily at a loss for what to think.
A massive lavender airship, a large star on its prow, was steadily descending from the clouds to the west. As she watched in astonishment, it swept by overhead, clearly angling towards the landing zone a short way up the coast.
Smolder crossed her arms and scowled after it. She huffed an annoyed wisp of smoke from her nostrils.
"Okay, so what's the deal here?" she asked. "Burn up the cute little toy boat to get rid of it, and whammo, here's a great big toy boat for ya, to replace it?" She shook her head crossly. "Someone just isn't getting the message here, and I don't think it's me."
Nevertheless, she leapt into the air, and flew off after the airship.
By the time she'd caught up, the ship had already come to a halt over the landing zone, and had lowered a winch platform to the rocky ground below. From the platform stepped a lavender pony and a pint-sized dragon. They were accompanied by a larger maroon pony wearing battle armor, with a squat hedgehog and a couple scarlet-furred soldiers marching along behind her.
Standing facing them all was blue-scaled Dragon Lord Ember herself, the Bloodstone Scepter held tight in her claw. She was surrounded by a small flight of dragons, both young and old, who looked on with a mixture of mild curiosity and sneering disdain.
Smolder came in for a landing, then quickly moved to stand close to the Dragon Lord as the pony and dragon stepped forward.
The pony nodded respectfully. "Dragon Lord Ember."
Ember nodded in return. "Princess Twilight... and Spike. It's... ah, nice to see you again? Is that how you say it?" Then she smirked. "What's with the colorful boat? When the patrol reported we were being attacked by a ship made out of candy, I had a feeling you might be behind it." She eyed Twilight. "Is this another weird pony friendship thing?"
"Actually, it is," Twilight replied unabashedly. She quickly explained the School and its purpose, to the increasing amusement of the assembled dragons. Ember herself remained sternly silent, patiently hearing Twilight out. But not all of the dragons were so patient.
"Well that's dumb!" called a loud, sneering voice. It was Garble. The red dragon waved a claw in disbelief. "What kind of loser dragon would ever go to a pony school? To learn about friendship?" He laughed raucously, and so did the other young dragons with him.
Ember briefly glanced his way, but still said nothing. She looked significantly at Twilight, who nodded. "It would be a dragon who likes a challenge," Twilight answered him. "Who's willing to learn about other lands, and other cultures. One who isn't afraid to learn some things about himself that he'd never learn anywhere else!"
Garble made a face. "You got nothing dragons want to learn about! So why don't you hop back on that candy boat and buzz off, cutesy little pony!"
"Hey!" Spike shouted. "That's no way to talk to the Princess of Friendship!"
"Yeah? Says who?" Garble fired back. "I ain't talkin' to you, shrimp! Not since you ran off with my surfboard! I only talk to real dragons! Not ponies with scales! And certainly not some sissy little Princess pony!"
Twilight quickly put out a hoof to forestall Spike's angry retort. She was about to reply, and then...
... she heard a light cough behind her. "Princess? If I may?"
Twilight considered it for a moment, and then nodded. "All right, Tempest."
And Tempest stalked forward. She came to a halt facing Garble, head lowered, eyes narrowed. "Maybe," she said softly and languidly, "you'd prefer a chat with a real pony?"
Garble glanced around at his friends with a broad grin, and then looked back at Tempest.
"Maybe you know where I could find one!"
Tempest smiled at him.
Then her horn crackled and blazed. An electric blast caught Garble's left wing, stunning it. Shocked, he opened his mouth to let loose a burst of flame. But Tempest had already launched herself into the air. Her right forehoof smacked down on his upper jaw, slamming his mouth shut and causing him to make a horrified face as the trapped belch of flame made his cheeks bulge.
Tempest landed heavily on his back, smashing him down onto the rocky ground. And then she kept right on going, grabbing the tip of his tail in her teeth as she passed it. She whirled about, planted her hooves firmly, and yanked.
Garble was hauled bodily backward, then flipped over and slammed down hard onto his back. And then Tempest leapt after him, landing beside him with an armored shoe jammed down tight against his throat, preventing him from either getting up or using his flame breath again.
She glared down at him. Her horn crackled threateningly.
"Well..." she said mildly. "If I should come across any, I'll make sure they know where you live."
"Ohhh, nice burn, boss!" the hedgehog cheered. He looked around proudly. "Heh, heh, burn, right?"
The assembled dragons stared at Tempest in astonishment. And then as a group, they began cheering loudly and raucously. "Yeah!... Sweet!... Nice one!... That's how it's done!... Now there's a pony that fights like a dragon!"
Smolder just stared, though she felt like joining in and cheering too. She'd never seen a dragon get taken down by a non-dragon like that... and by a pony? Clearly there were angles to these creatures she'd never considered.
And Garble? Smolder mentally shrugged. The big loudmouthed doofus totally had it coming.
Tempest finally lifted her forehoof, allowing Garble to stand. But there was a warning look in her eye: I can do that again, anytime I want! Garble appeared to get the message. He tried unsuccessfully to look unconcerned about it as he slunk away in shame to rejoin his friends.
Then Tempest turned to face Ember, bowing her head respectfully. "Sorry about that, Dragon Lord. But it's Twilight who's the Friendship Princess around here. I'm just her bodyguard." She gave a thin smile. "Which means I don't have to be friends with anyone!"
Ember eyed her thoughtfully. Then she smiled back. "I like this one already. I think I understand her better than I understand you, Princess Twilight." Then she raised her voice. "Now listen up, all of you! The ponies of Equestria are our allies. And they consider friendship important. So we're all going to learn about friendship... even if I have to beat it into your thick skulls myself!"
She glanced at Twilight. "Metaphorically speaking, of course."
"Thanks, Ember," Twilight said. "So... would you consider enrolling a dragon as a student in the School?"
"More than that," Ember replied. "I have one in mind already." She swept out a claw...
... and grabbed Smolder's arm.
"What?" Smolder's eyes went wide. "Wait a second! I thought I was going to be your student!"
"You are!" Ember snapped. "And here's your first lesson: you're going to attend Princess Twilight's school as representative of the Dragonlands, and learn all you can about friendship. And then you're going to come back here, and show us all how it's done!"
"Seriously? You're sending me away to some pony school?" Smolder protested. "Dragons are better than this! Why do I have to go?"
Ember glared at her, threateningly. "Because I'm your Dragon Lord! And I say you have to!"
Smolder stared in disbelief, her dreams of being the Dragon Lord's personal protegé crumbling to dust. For a brief moment, she angrily considered rejecting the idea, refusing to go. But... no true dragon ever defied the word of the Dragon Lord.
At least, no dragon who liked living amongst other dragons... ever again.
Crossing her arms, Smolder snorted crossly. "Fine. I'll go."
"You're learning already."
"I don't promise to like it!" Smolder spat testily.
Ember nodded curtly. "Spoken like a true dragon." Then she looked to Twilight. "I trust this flying School thing of yours isn't flammable, Princess?"
"Spike's helped test it already."
"Then I wish you the best of luck. And I'll look forward to hearing about Smolder's progress."
Twilight smiled. "I'm sure she'll fit right in!"
Smolder frowned back. We'll just see about that, her expression said.
The brilliant afternoon sunlight glistened on the clear blue waters of the bay beyond Mount Aris, beneath which lay the hidden realm of Seaquestria. And out of the water a seapony, bright pink with blue-and-white crest and fins, flung herself excitedly into the air, turned a somersault, and then plunged back in.
Silverstream was overjoyed. Not about anything in particular... just life in general. It was the way she approached everything. There was no downside, really. Well, sometimes there was a slightly gloomier side, which might have troubled her if she thought about it for a moment. But really, she couldn't be bothered to pay attention that long -- oh, was that a shell?
She arrowed quickly down to the seafloor. It was a shell, an elegantly-striped oval coquina. And over here was a small cache of translucent jingle shells. And an elegant, spiny conch -- perfect! She quickly added them to the collector's bag slung over her shoulder, to take back to Princess Skystar.
Silverstream wished Skystar could come shelling with her like they used to. But ever since the hippogriffs' liberation from the Storm King, the Princess had been grounded for the longest time. And then suddenly she was being sent off on diplomatic visits to various dominions of the nearby bays, and of the shadowy Deeps beyond. So there was precious little time for them to spend together, collecting shells.
Soooo... Silverstream simply gathered up more shells, and brought them along for the two of them to sort through together while they travelled to and from Skystar's diplomatic functions. Both of them enjoyed doing that immensely. It gave them plenty of time to chatter with each other about... well, everything. Which was the point, really.
Silverstream smiled. Everything had an upside. You just had to look for it --
Oooh, like that nice shell over there!
When her collector's bag was full, Silverstream turned and swam back through the shallows of the bay. Along her route she passed through one of the old underwater ruins that dotted the seabed near Seaquestria. It wasn't as grand as the sunken city inhabited by the sharks, but there were some interesting relics here and there. Like for instance, the tall broken-topped obelisk standing in what might have once been a town square. On its six sides, worn and seaweed-covered carvings depicted hippogriffs in land form, then in sea-form, and some kind of big catastrophe as well. Silverstream wasn't entirely sure. She really didn't pay it much attention, anyway. She just used it as a landmark to find the hidden entrance.
Let's see, we need to turn right... here, she thought. Down the street facing the carving with the strange flying ships in the sky.
Following the street until it petered out into sand and rocky outcroppings, she came to an unremarkable cave entrance concealed in one of the rockpiles. This led to a shadowy descending tunnel, down which she plunged with complete confidence. She followed the tunnel as it twisted and turned, passing through underwater chambers with heavy stone walls and ceilings. Finally, the tunnel came out in a massive underwater grotto, from the ceiling of which descended a huge, elegant chandelier of glowing purple glass and stone: the royal palace of Seaquestria.
Silverstream waved to passing seaponies as she swam up to the brightly lit entrance at the palace's base, and navigated her way up into the vast throne room.
And she all but collided with a golden-flanked, cyan-finned seapony going the other way.
"Skystar!" Silverstream hugged the Princess happily. "I was just coming to find you! I found some really nice shells that you can use for that ceremonial crown for Mama Orcina -- oh, but right, it's a secret! Don't worry, I'm totally zip-lipped about it! Trust me! I won't tell a soul!"
"That's... really great. Really." Skystar attempted a smile, which vanished immediately. "Thanks, Silver. I appreciate it."
Silverstream stared. "Is something wrong? You seem, well... I dunno... downer than usual!"
"Oh... it's just that Mother got this scroll from Princess Twilight. And the Princess herself is coming here for a visit."
"Princess Twilight! Yay! Wow! Oh... um..." Silverstream forced herself to calm down. "Are we not supposed to feel happy about that? Why not? I thought Twilight and her friends were so great!"
"She is... they are! Um... it's just..."
Wordlessly, Skystar grabbed Silverstream's arm and pulled. Silverstream was puzzled, but willingly allowed herself to be towed along, as they both approached the throne and its royal occupant.
"Mother..." Skystar said, sadly, "I think I know exactly who deserves to go to Princess Twilight's school..."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Well now, time certainly flies, doesn't it, Princess?" said Queen Novo. The ivory-white seapony, lounging comfortably on the Purple Orchid Throne of Seaquestria, smiled down at Twilight, floating before her in seapony form. "You were only here, what, a couple moons ago? I mean, really! Trying to get Princess Celestia to come down here for an official visit takes forever. But the Princess of Friendship? Can't hardly turn around, but there you are again!"
Twilight shrugged. "What can I say? Mount Aris was next on our grand tour to open the School."
Sculling beside the throne was Princess Skystar. The gold seapony pouted sadly. "I wish I could go to your school, Twilight!" She sighed. "It sounds like it's going to be such fun!"
"Skystar, we talked about this," Novo gently warned her. "You have a meeting day after next with Bruce the Toothed, to plan an initial diplomatic visit to Seaquestria by the sharks. And I'm going to need your help finding an appropriate gift for Queen Orcina, for when we visit her castle next week."
"I know... I know!" Skystar rolled her eyes. "Diplomacy lessons!"
"Either that or being grounded again." Novo shrugged. "Take your pick!"
Twilight smiled in sympathy at Skystar's gloomy expression. Then she looked at Queen Novo. "Uhh... you do know Orcina's not really a queen, right?"
"She likes to style herself one." Novo tilted her head indulgently. "And like the sharks say, whatever Mama wants..."
"... Mama gets. I remember!" Twilight smiled.
Queen Novo nodded. Then she frowned, though not at Twilight. "Now where is that sister of mine?" she grumbled. "Girl never can manage to show up anywhere on time. Always busy with somethin' social!"
"I'm right here, Nonny!" sang lavender-maned Ocean Flow, swimming up through the floor entrance. "Sorry we're late, I had to stop off up top to have a word with Sky Beak, make sure he's in the picture. And Silverstream wanted to say goodbye to Terramar."
Silverstream was swimming right behind her, but when she saw who was there, the pink seapony put on a burst of speed, shot past her mother, and practically collided with Twilight to grab her in a tight hug.
"Twilight! It's just so great to see you again! I'm so excited! And also nervous. But, you know, excited-nervous, kind of. So that's a good thing? Right?" Noticing that Skystar was trying to put on a brave face, Silverstream darted over to hug her as well. "And thanks ever so much, Skystar, for recommending I go in your place," she said. "I'll be sure to write you about everything I'm learning. So it'll be just like you're going with me! And you write me back, in case I'm not making sense or something. I get like that when I'm excited. I don't know if anyone notices, but I do!" She grinned sheepishly.
Ocean Flow smiled at her, then at Twilight. "And I appreciate the invitation as well," she said. "I've heard so much about you, Princess, from both Silverstream and from Nonny."
Queen Novo gave her a look. "Flo, would you mind not callin' me Nonny in my own throne room? I'd rather it didn't catch on 'round here!"
"Sorry, Your Majesty!" Ocean Flow essayed a graceful curtsey. Then she looked back to Twilight, an uneasy look on her face. "Uh... no disrespect meant, Your Highness, but... I just need to know that Silverstream will be safe, while she's attending your School. Your letter did say that the School would be travelling around Equestria quite a lot."
"Only to Equestria's cities and towns, and to nations we've established peaceful relations with," Twilight assured her. "And the Friendship School will have an armed escort at all times. Speaking of which, allow me to introduce the head of my armed forces, Commander Tempest Shadow. She'll be providing security for both our School and its students."
Tempest, in her streamlined seapony form, swept forward and bowed her head respectfully.
Ocean Flow eyed her uncomfortably. It was clearly difficult for her to ignore the maroon pony's past. But then she glanced at Twilight, and managed a smile. "Of course... Skystar's told us a lot about you, Commander."
"Ohmygosh, yes!" Skystar broke in, brightening up at the memory, "Tempest is, like... amazing! She took on an entire school of sharks to protect us, and fought three full-grown orcas, all by herself! Oh, you should have seen it!"
Grubber, in his eel form, exchanged a glance with Tempest. "They always forget the assistants, huh?"
Spike, who was floating beside Twilight in his puffer-fish form, rolled his eyes. "Yeah, tell me about it!"
"And that magic army of hers," Queen Novo said with a wry smile, "they gave our forces a fight to remember. Without a single casualty on either side, I might add. Our guards are still running remedial drills over it."
"Plus, Tempest is my personal bodyguard," Twilight added. "So that tells you how much I trust her to keep us all safe."
"Well then! That... sounds all right. Um." Ocean Flow looked at Silverstream, then held out her arms. Silverstream swept over and hugged her. "Try not to pester them too much, Silverstream, the first day or two," Flow whispered. "Give them time to get to know you. Oh, who am I kidding? They'll get the picture pretty quick." She smiled proudly, stroking Silverstream's crest.
"Bye, Mom," Silverstream said, a little sadly. Then she gently spun around, nodding to everyone. "Bye, Skystar! Bye, Auntie Novo! Bye, Princess Twilight! Oh, wait... I'm going with you! Don't mind me... excited-nervous, remember?"
Saying their own goodbyes to Queen Novo and Skystar, Twilight and her friends took Silverstream in tow, and with an escort of seapony guards, they swam down through the throne room's lower exit and out of the palace, and then along the secret underwater entrance tunnel, and finally back up to the surface.
All the way, Silverstream was looking increasingly nervous. When Twilight gave her an inquiring look, she shrugged and smiled weakly. "This is all still kind of new to me. I mean, when you rescued me, that was only like the third or fourth time I'd even been up on the land."
"Well, don't worry," Twilight replied. "I think you'll enjoy it a lot. There are so many new and exciting things to see up here, believe me!"
Silverstream gasped. "More exciting than stairs?"
Twilight nodded. "Definitely more exciting than stairs. I don't think you'll have time to be nervous."
Once they'd all reached the surface, the seapony escort set about using their Pearl fragments to transform Twilight and the others back to their land forms. Stretching her back legs as she tread water, just to get used to having them again, Twilight looked over to Silverstream, who'd gone unusually quiet.
"Ready to start learning all about Friendship?" she asked.
But Silverstream was just staring, wide-eyed, at the immense lavender ship hanging in the sky over their heads, as it lowered its winch platform to collect them.
"That's the Friendship School?"
"It sure is!" Twilight said proudly.
"O...kay..." Silverstream said, in a small voice. "Now I'm nervous! I mean, nervous-nervous, you know?"
Then she beamed, and laughed. "And it's actually totally okay! Wow! Who knew?"
The room, located near the peak of the changeling Hive, had once been the Queen's private larder, where food was kept safe until the love could be ruthlessly drained from it. Now it had been cleared out, a window-ledge knocked through the outer wall, and the room filled with tall shelves... full of books.
King Thorax had taken a cue from Twilight and her library in Ponyville, recognizing the value in making knowledge easily and freely available to the Hive. True, there wasn't much order to the place yet, the collection had been hastily scrounged from junk-heaps deep in the basement, the discarded remnants of the changelings' former, rapacious lifestyle. Thorax had been hoping one day to bring up the subject of library organization techniques with Princess Twilight... some day when both of them had a few hours to spare. Yet the Hive's new ruler had high hopes that eventually, like so many of his other innovations, the Hive would adopt the library as their own.
And in one case at least, this was already true.
Around one of the rear shelves trotted a small arctic-blue changeling, with red wing-case and pink fronds and wings. She held a small volume in her mouth, and she hopped up onto the seating platform below the window, to spread it open in the late morning sunlight and dive right in.
Ocellus loved reading. Well... now that she'd been taught what the odd squiggles in the books were for, she loved it. Every book was like a new and unexpected hidden landscape. It was much like digging tunnels in the Hive: tons of boring dirt and rock, and then suddenly a sparkling gemstone, or an unexpected underground cavern -- or in the case of the books, a discovery about the world or about herself that made the effort all worth it. It almost didn't matter what the book she was reading was about. The disordered shelves of the library just made it more fun. She never knew what she'd come across next. It might be poetry or pottery or plumbing, it hardly mattered.
While thinking about a difficult concept on the page before her, she happened to look up, out through the window. And then she suddenly jumped up and put her forehooves on the windowsill, staring out at the enormous lavender shape descending from the sunlit sky towards the Hive.
Leaping off the window-seat she dove back into the shelves, hunting frantically. And then she found what she was looking for: an old tome, broken-backed and tattered, bearing a double-bolt mark on its cover. Bringing it back to the window she flipped it open and paged through it, struggling with the text. It was written in a much older alphabet and an archaic speaking style, but it described in detail and sketches the ships currently descending from the sky.
Though truth be told, it said nothing about any of them being lavender in color.
Even so, she drank in the words, every now and then glancing up at the approaching air-ships. It was intensely exciting. She'd never seen anything like them before, and yet here she was, learning all about them, even before they'd arrived... almost as if she'd always known it. She loved reading!
Belatedly, it occurred to her to wonder if the ships were friendly.
"There you are!" a gruff voice called from the doorway. The dark-green adult changeling glanced around sourly at the shelving and its contents. "Thorax said you'd probably be in here, lost in one of these books. Come on, the King wants you present to help welcome our guests." He turned the last word into a doubtful sneer.
"Who are they?" Ocellus asked nervously, closing the book and hopping down to join Pharynx. "Where are they from?"
"Ponies," the older changeling snarled. "From Equestria."
Ocellus hunched nervously. Like the rest of the Hive, she'd heard all about the ponies from Thorax. She'd also heard they were supposed to be friendly... but hearing the way Pharynx spoke, she wasn't so sure now.
The two of them walked quickly up the corridor, then through an archway into the open-air Throne Garden. As always under King Thorax's rule, the Garden was green and pleasant with small plants and ivy sprays everywhere, making it a welcoming place for everyone, changeling or otherwise.
"Ocellus! I'm glad you're here," Thorax called excitedly from the throne. "Come on over!" Ocellus approached timidly, and the light-green changeling King hopped down to meet her halfway. "I've just gotten a really exciting letter from Princess Twilight," Thorax said. "She's opening a new school to teach creatures all over the world about friendship. And more than that..." He gestured with a hoof at the approaching lavender ship, "... she's even brought the school with her!"
Ocellus looked up at the approaching ship, astonished. She hadn't realized that a school could be so... portable, for want of another word.
"And," Thorax went on, "she's invited the Hive to enroll one of our own in her School, to represent the new way we changelings live and learn. And right away I thought of you... of how bright you are, how quick you are to learn new things. I can't think of any of the younger changelings who'd be a better student." He paused, looking a little uncertain. "That is... if you want to go. I realize this is all kind of sudden. But it's a great opportunity, and I wanted to you to know about it right away. It'll take a while for them to get here, so think about it in the meantime. No pressure!"
Ocellus nodded, and stood beside Thorax as the ship slowly descended and maneuvered closer, carefully sweeping down until it was holding station on a level with the Throne Garden. It swung out and lowered a landing ramp, and lined it up with an open landing area to the left of the Garden. All the while, the Garden itself began filling up with changelings, curious and eager to see the unexpected guests.
Finally, Princess Twilight trotted down the ramp, accompanied by Spike. And as always, Tempest followed a short distance behind her, with Grubber and her guards to either side.
"King Thorax!" Twilight called, smiling at him.
"Princess Twilight, welcome!" Thorax's orange horns bobbed as he nodded his head in reply. "And Spike, old buddy! Good to see you again!" He glanced past them. "Uh, isn't Starlight with you?"
"Not this trip, sorry. She's holding down the fort back home."
"Oh..." Thorax looked sad. "I just... well, I was just thinking about the last time she visited. I just wanted her to know there's no hard feelings. You know."
"I know," Twilight said, nodding. "And Starlight specifically asked me to say Hi to you on her behalf. And who knows? If I'm needed back in Ponyville the next time we swing by, she might be here in my place, and you can catch up with her yourself. So..." she went on eagerly, "did you get my letter?"
Thorax nodded. "The School sounds like a wonderful idea, Twilight! While the Hive has taken to heart the suggestions that you've been sending us for making it a friendlier place, I'm... not always sure we're getting everything right. Some one-on-one education would really help. Though I wonder, if you wouldn't mind..." He added a significant side-glance. "... maybe you could tell us a bit about the kind of students you're looking for?"
Twilight took the hint. "We're looking for intelligent, dedicated students. There'll be a lot of classwork and studying, no question about that. But we're also looking for students who'd like to meet creatures from all over the world, and learn totally new ways of making friends. And above all else, students who are okay with having fun, and enjoying the process of learning. I've always said, if I'm going to run a school, it will be one that my students will want to attend, and will find worth their time."
"Well!" Thorax said. "I think I know of at least one of our number who would fit that description perfectly. Let me introduce you to Ocellus!" He gestured with a forehoof.
Twilight smiled, then looked puzzled. "Uh, sorry -- where are you pointing? Which one's Ocellus?"
Thorax looked himself, and realized he was gesturing at a rock. He sighed. "Ocellus, we've talked about this. Stay in your own form when meeting guests for the first time. It's the polite thing to do!"
The stone erupted in shimmering light, and in its place was Ocellus, looking sheepish. Thorax put his forehoof comfortingly around her shoulders. "She's a little shy, that's all."
"I understand." Twilight stepped closer, and gently put out a hoof for a shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ocellus," she said. "And I want you to know how much I'd look forward to having you in our initial class. Both for what you can learn from us... and for what you can teach us about changelings."
"You love reading and learning, Ocellus," Thorax gently encouraged her. "And you'd like making some new friends, wouldn't you?"
"I... suppose..." Ocellus's shoulders hunched, and she nodded minutely.
Thorax smiled, and gently ruffled the fronds on her head. "I know it makes you a bit nervous. But trust me... these ponies have helped all of us, the whole Hive! I have to admit, their approach can be a little confusing at times. But I know they'll do everything they can to help you feel comfortable among them."
"Absolutely," Twilight said. "That's what the School's all about."
Ocellus looked up, a hopeful light in her eyes.
And then Pharynx snorted loudly.
"Great!" he grumbled. "More lessons in being kind and polite. Never seems to be anything coming out of Equestria about defense or security... about protecting the Hive from threats. Stuff that really matters!"
Before anyone else could speak, Tempest trotted closer.
"Oh, tell me about it," she said, with feeling. "I mean, I'm Twilight's bodyguard, and it's left entirely up to me to ensure she's kept safe. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one considering it." She gestured with a forehoof at the smaller black warships holding station overhead. "You see those? They're on constant watch for any dangers to the School or its students. Vigilance, preparedness, and the ability to defend ourselves if need be... that's our security."
"Huh. Doesn't sound very friendly," Pharynx sneered.
"It isn't," Tempest agreed. "But it's important to the School's mission. I'm here to see to it that Twilight and her students don't need to worry about their safety. That way they can focus on the much harder task of making friends. Which... in the long run, will do more for their safety than an entire fleet of ships could." She shrugged. "But even so, keeping them all safe in the meantime... well, let's just say it's not a easy job."
"But it's an important one," Twilight added. "And I can't think of anyone better suited for the role than Tempest. Everyone at the School respects her, and we're glad to have her keeping an eye on us!"
Pharynx looked sour. Then he eyed Tempest. "Does she do stuff like changing her plans at the last minute, welcoming complete strangers in, without a word of warning? And then being ridiculously tolerant when they turn the place upside down?" He chuckled. "Thorax here loves to pull that crap!"
"You have no idea," Tempest shook her head. "But I try not to take offense at it. It keeps me from getting lazy, keeps me on my hooves... at least, that's what I tell myself, to maintain my sanity at times."
Pharynx huffed. "How well I know that!" He rolled his eyes, and gave Thorax a baleful stare. Then he waved a disparaging forehoof. "Okay! Fine. Just as long as at least one of you ponies is keeping an eye out for trouble!"
Twilight turned back to Ocellus. "So," she said hopefully, "what do you think? Would you like to give the School a try?"
Ocellus was staring up at the huge lavender ship.
"Does... it have a library?" she asked, worriedly.
Twilight glanced around at the assembled changelings, and then smiled at her.
The high mountain winds tore through the Great Yakaznik Forest, making the heavy pines creak and groan, and knocking yesterday's snowfall from the branches. The snow sloughed away in heavy drifts, trailing dense clouds of flakes that whipped away on the cutting breeze.
Yona loved it. It was pleasant day in Yakyakistan.
Her family worked their way through the forest, looking for the perfect trees to knock down and break up into smashing logs. Oh, and some logs that were not for smashing, which could be used for walls of huts. But those were not the best logs. That was why they were not for smashing.
Yona bounded over the heavy snow cover, or simply bulled her way through the lighter drifts. It depended on Yona's mood. Occasionally her hoof caught one of her long mane braids, or her other forehoof, or simply landed wrong and Yona went tumbling, landing with a heavy thump in a confused heap.
But Yona didn't mind. Snow was soft, so what was problem? Tumble never hurt yak, and was fun besides!
Yona had wandered a little ways away from her family, coming to the edge of the forest. Here the snow-drifted hillside abruptly dropped away, diving into the tree line below. Beyond she could see the central village of Yakyakistan spread out before her, its great log walls and thatched huts a cheering sight in the chilly wilderness. She took in a great sniffing breath of the icy wind, enjoying the bracing cold and the tickling crackle of it inside her nose.
And then she snorted in surprise, huffing out clouds of mist. Her hazel eyes were wide open and staring.
There was something else down there, something that made her doubt her eyes. It was a massive lavender ship, descending steadily through the air towards the main entrance to the village. Yona had never seen anything like it. Yet, there was something oddly familiar about it... the vibrant colors, the peculiar swirling patterns on its sides...
"Oh! Is ponies!" Yona leapt happily. Like all yaks, she recalled the occasional visits of the curious, thin-coated creatures from the far south. For some reason no yak could fathom, everything ponies touched turned bright colors, including the balloon they traveled in, and clearly this big lavender ship as well.
Yona thought ponies were fun. Strange, yes, but Yona liked strange things. Except spiders. Yona shuddered at memory, of plunge through unexpected hole in snow, into cavern filled with cobweb and crawling, eight-legged creatures... and also strange pictures on cavern walls: yaks fighting dragons, bolts of lightning, and strange angular shapes floating in sky. Yona had no idea what pictures were about. Yona remembered only because Yona was able to follow them to find cave exit.
No, Yona decided... spiders definitely not on list of strange things Yona liked!
But this great lavender-colored ship... this could be fun!
Yona turned and bounded back into the forest, to find family and tell of pony visit. Harvest of smashing logs could wait. Yona needed to see this for self!
A short time later Yona and her family returned to the village, entering via the smaller rear gate. Yona hurried ahead, through the jumble of huts, to the village center where many important yaks were already gathered.
Yona arrived just in time to see a familiar, radioactively pink pony trot through the main gate, wearing a helmet with outsized horns on her head. The pony wound up and then belted out a high-pitched greeting:
"Goooooood Afternoon Yakyakistannnn!"
"Pink pony!" Prince Rutherford roared happily in reply.
"Hey there, Prince!" Pinkie bounded over to him, and clonked her helmet's horns against his gold-plated ones. Then she glanced around the open space excitedly. "Oh, hey! I didn't realize Yickslurbertfest was here already!"
"Is not!" Rutherford gestured with a hoof at the heavy logs scattered around the square in front of the many yaks present. "These not holiday smashing logs! These everyday smashing logs!" He scowled disapprovingly at her. "Pink pony not know difference?"
"Wellllll... now you mention it..." Pinkie eyed the logs carefully, in every detail. Then she shook her head. "Nope! Can't fool me! These are the same high quality smashing logs you use on every occasion!"
There was a dangerous pause. Then the yaks burst into bellowing laughter and loud stomping.
"Pink pony know yak ways!" Rutherford complimented her. "Is true honorary yak! Always good seeing pink pony and pony friends!"
"A pleasure to see you again, Prince Rutherford." Twilight nodded in reply.
"And this is Spike! He's Twilight's assistant. And over there is Commander Tempest... and her assistant, Grubber. Tempest is Twilight's bodyguard!"
"Huh!" Rutherford looked doubtful. "Pony bodyguard for Princess? How that keep Princess safe?"
Tempest glanced at Twilight for permission, and then she stepped forward to face Rutherford.
"Like this," she said.
She stamped an armored shoe on the end of the log sitting in front of him, flipping it high into the air. Bounding after it, she swiped a forehoof, cutting it in half. Her hooves lashed out in two directions, detonating both pieces.
She came down, foresquare on her hooves... in a shower of toothpicks.
In the stunned silence that followed, Yona's excited scream was piercing.
"Yona not believe that! Ponies smash good as yaks!"
There was general agreement, and much excited shouting and stamping of hooves by the assembled yaks. Rutherford nodded in approval. "I see Princess Twilight safe, with Tempest pony as bodyguard. Ponies full of surprises! Now, what bring Princess to yaks for visit?"
"Well..." Twilight said, "if I could have juuust a few minutes of your time, I have an exciting idea I wanted to share with Yakyakistan. One that can benefit both yaks and ponies alike."
"Ponies have yaks interest! Yaks listen!"
Rapidly, Twilight spelled out the School and her plans for it. The yaks nodded attentively. "So... is pony school?" Rutherford summarized, a little doubtfully. "Teach pony friendship?"
"It teaches friendship," Twilight gently corrected, "which applies to every creature, whether they be yaks or ponies or otherwise. And it also teaches how every creature may express their friendship differently, but we can all benefit from it just the same."
"Hmmm... is good for School to teach Yak ways of friendship! Yaks live in cold and snow. It make yaks tough. So yaks not always show friendship. But yaks know it valuable. Teaching yak friendship help others to understand yaks better... so they be better friends for yaks!"
Yona hopped excitedly. "And School teach ponies how to smash like yaks?"
"Eee-yes, well," Twilight said, a little self-consciously, "that's not all we teach. Although I certainly wouldn't object to adding a physical education class. Maybe Commander Tempest could even be persuaded to teach it?"
"I'll see if I can fit it in my schedule, Your Highness," Tempest replied with a smirk.
Rutherford nodded. "Ha! Ponies more like yaks than yaks thought! Yaks be proud to send student to school that understand yaks so well!"
"That's great!" Twilight said, relieved. "So, did you have anyone in mind?"
"Oh! Yona! Yona want to go!" she cried, bounding in place.
"Is good idea!" Prince Rutherford gestured toward her. "This Yona yak! Very strong, very smart yak. She go to School, she make it better!"
"Yona can go? Pleeeease?" She looked beseechingly at her parents. "Want to see ponies, tell all about how Yakyakistan is best!"
The bemused yaks looked at each other, then her mother nodded indulgently. "Yona old enough to wear hair in braids, Yona old enough to make choice for self," her mother said flatly. "Yona make yak family very proud!"
"Yay!" Overjoyed, Yona bounced in the air. "Yona not let family down!" Then she turned and raced forward towards Twilight. Unfortunately, she landed a hoof wrong, catching the end of one of her braids. In moments, she was tumbling out of control, heading straight for the Princess.
And then she hit what felt like a solid wall. It was Commander Tempest, who had swiftly interposed herself, taking the full force of Yona's impact against her armor without flinching.
Yona landed on her back. She stared up at the Commander's darkly serious expression.
"Yona not mean to do that," she offered meekly. "Pony not be mad at Yona?"
Tempest simply raised an eyebrow. "Maybe we should add lessons in poise as well, little one," she replied. Then she looked to Twilight. "What do you think, Princess?"
"I think Yona will make a great addition to the School's initial class." Twilight beamed. "Prince Rutherford, I can't tell you how much this means to us! Thank you!"
"Ponies welcome! Now, come join yaks in friendly smashing!"
Sandbar couldn't have been happier. Seriously, about anything. He just didn't stress out as a rule. It wasn't how he rolled.
Being the first pony student admitted to Twilight's new school was a total fluke. The light-green, blue-maned pony had been down by the lower falls on the Argentum river, just shy of the Everfree Forest. He was searching for turtles to invite to spend some time in the class aquarium in Miss Cheerilee's schoolroom. And then...
... he didn't find any, so he'd had to return to the schoolhouse empty-hoofed, and worrying that he wouldn't get the extra credit for his Living Creatures assignment.
When he got there, Miss Cheerilee was just reading a letter she'd received from Princess Twilight, describing the School of Friendship and asking if Cheerilee could recommend any young pony students to attend its initial class. And Cheerilee had given Sandbar an odd look, and declared she knew exactly who should go.
Sandbar was okay with that. He never worried too much about having friends or making friends. Things generally worked out okay on his own, and if other ponies wanted to be friendly, hey, that was okay too. But he wasn't against going to a School of Friendship either. It sounded all right.
Miss Cheerilee had talked it over with Sandbar's parents when they came by for their semi-annual parent-teacher conference. And Sandbar's parents had also thought it was a marvelous idea. Sandbar himself wasn't sure why they made such a fuss about it. After all, it was just another school, right? Even if it was being run by one of the four ruling Princesses of Equestria. And there seemed to be an awful lot of secrecy, which Sandbar didn't get at all. Who ever heard of a school being organized in secret? Still, it was mildly intriguing, and added to the feeling of mystery about it all.
And then he and his parents took the Friendship Train down to Dodge, and a local stagecoach across the Appleloosa desert to a remote valley that was being used as a temporary landing strip and work site.
They came around the final turn, and Sandbar finally got his first look at the School itself, the great lavender ship holding station in the sky overhead. It wasn't anything like he'd expected. It hung poised in the air with a promise of adventure and faraway lands... and homework assignments, too. After all, it was a school. But hey, rough with the smooth, right?
Sandbar was hooked instantly. He had to be a part of it, even if his parents hadn't already been sold on the idea. It took a lot to get Sandbar truly excited about anything. But when it happened, he went all in, gung-ho, no reservations. It was simply the way he was.
There had been a number of arrangements to make, which delayed things. And then Sandbar's little sister had to go and catch the pony flu the day before they were supposed to leave for Dodge to board the cutter to the School. Which meant they were delayed getting there, and only just made it in time.
So in the end, Sandbar wound up being the last pony student to officially sign in aboard the Friendship -- as the students immediately started calling it. And thus he was also last on room assignments too, and wound up the only student initally assigned to his three-bunk dorm cabin.
Which was cool. Sandbar was totally okay with getting to know the place first, and seeing who else from Ponyville and Canterlot had managed to wangle a place in the School's initial class. He figured he'd have roommates soon enough.
And so he did. The very next morning, he pulled open the door to the cabin and headed out into the corridor... and smacked straight into the hindquarters of a bright blue feathered creature with wings, beak, and claws.
"Whoa, sorry! I'm Sandbar. Are you a student here too?"
"No, I just thought I'd stand here and see how many ponies would just randomly walk into me." When Sandbar didn't react to that, the griffon put out a claw. "Name's Gallus. You happen to know where room 6A is?"
"Right here. Looks like we're roomies." Sandbar stepped aside and gestured welcomingly. "I had trouble finding it myself. That jog in the corridor really throws you off, doesn't it?"
"Yeah." Gallus strolled into the room, and flung himself onto the bottom bunk of the bunk bed, putting his claws behind his head. "Not bad. This place is pretty nice actually. Still, I give it a week. Me, I mean. Griffons aren't really the friendliest of species."
"I dunno." Sandbar shrugged. "I think you're all right."
"Wait 'til the shock wears off," Gallus replied dryly, "and you get to know the real me."
"Okay." Sandbar sat down on his own bunk in companionable silence, apparently taking Gallus entirely literally.
Gallus stared at him. "Are all ponies like you?"
Sandbar shrugged. "Dunno. Are all griffons like you?"
Despite himself, Gallus found himself liking the light-green pony. Sandbar didn't push, and he didn't take offense. He simply made himself available for any overture at friendship. And if it didn't happen right away... well, apparently he was in no hurry.
Gallus found it surprisingly difficult to be snarky when he got nothing back.
He sighed. "You wouldn't happen to know where Professor Dash's classroom is, would you? I'm booked for an orientation session this afternoon."
"Hey, yeah, I was just there myself this morning. What do you think of her, huh? Element of Loyalty, member of Princess Twilight's inner circle, flyer on the Wonderbolts. And now, teaching Friendship lessons, too!"
"Not sure. From the way Gilda described her, I thought she'd be, you know..." Gallus smirked. "... cooler!"
Later that afternoon a third roommate arrived, in the form of a young orange dragoness. She immediately flapped up to the top bunk and sat on it, looking seriously grouched.
"Smolder," she introduced herself curtly, when they asked.
Gallus peered up at her from the bunk below. "They... do know you're a girl, right, sharing a room with us?"
She glared down at him. "You got a problem with that, griffon?"
"Nah, not at all. It actually restores my faith in the essential brokenness of things."
"Hmph!" She crossed her arms angrily. "I'm supposed to be here learning about friendship. Can you imagine anything lamer for a dragon?"
There was a knock at the door, and then it swung open. A small purple dragon wearing a chef's hat and an apron with a heart on it, and carrying a tray of rainbow-sprinkled cupcakes, peered in at them.
"Hey, guys! Just makin' sure you all know about the welcome get-together tomorrow evening! It'll be in the main classroom, right after dinner." With a cheery wave Spike left, shutting the door behind him.
Smolder raised an eyebrow. "Well... okay. Maybe it's not the lamest thing for a dragon!"
They all smiled.
The next day, room 6B next door began to fill up. Sandbar worked out how to slide open the connecting partition door, so they could all get to know each other. First there was a pink hippogriff, who introduced herself as Silverstream... about five minutes into a breathless, pauseless conversation in which she herself did most of the talking.
Later, Professor Fluttershy came by. And so did Professor Fluttershy.
Seeing their startled looks, Fluttershy looked at the other copy of herself. "Ocellus..." she said, gently.
With a flash, the other Fluttershy became an arctic-blue insect-like creature. Who scuffed one forehoof against the other nervously, and then tried to hide behind Fluttershy's mane.
"This is Ocellus," Fluttershy explained. "She's just a little shy..."
But she got no further. "What is that?" Silverstream said, barely able to contain her excitement. "No way! I didn't know ponies could turn into... um... what are you?"
"Oh! She's a changeling," Fluttershy said.
"Ponies can turn into changelings?"
"No, but changelings can turn into ponies."
Silverstream scratched her mane. "Huh. That's confusing!" She smiled happily. "But I like it!"
Sandbar trotted over. "Hey, welcome aboard, Ocellus! I'm Sandbar." He offered a hoof.
After a moment Ocellus cautiously shook it, with an uneasy look. "Um, hi!" she whispered. "And, well... I'm sorry, by the way."
"About what?"
"Uh..." Ocellus winced. "About the changeling attack on Canterlot?"
"Oh, that! That was what, like five years ago?" Sandbar shrugged. "Ancient history! Princess Twilight says the changelings are friendly now, and that's good enough for me. C'mon in. I'll introduce you to the rest of the Odd Squad."
Gallus and Smolder glanced at each other.
"Odd Squad?" Smolder asked, a disgusted look on her face. "Seriously?"
Sandbar shrugged. "You got a better name for us, now's the time!"
The last member of their group arrived that afternoon. When the door to the hallway swung open, the lower half of the doorway seemed to be entirely filled with hair, horns, and yard-long braids.
"Yona confused!" she shouted. "This room 6A? Or 6B?"
"WOW! Is that a YAK?" Silverstream dove at her excitedly, causing Yona to tumble backwards into the corridor. The two of them disappeared to the left, a sound of stampeding hooves and general thumping and banging echoing up and down the corridor. Then Yona raced past the doorway to the right, pursued by Silverstream, followed by even more thumping and banging. After a few more moments of this, Yona came racing by again. And this time, she was laughing as loudly as Silverstream, both of them clearly enjoying the chase.
Gallus looked at the others. "Guess we won't need an alarm clock, huh?"
"Guess not!" Sandbar agreed, grinning.
Ocellus smiled at that, and Gallus chuckled. Even Smolder managed a begrudging smirk.
That evening, they trooped up the corridor together and into the main classroom. They found that all the other students were gathered there already, either on the main floor or sitting on the seating ranks, chatting happily together. Their professors were there as well, walking around and introducing themselves to anyone they hadn't met individually yet.
Professor Pie greeted Sandbar and the others at the door, made sure they were each served with punch and cake, and encouraged them to mingle with the other students. Sandbar appointed himself unofficial cultural ambassador, and introduced them all around. The pony students were friendly in general, if a little cautious and curious around them. Yet even with the friendly welcome, both from the pony students and from the professors, the Odd Squad ultimately found themselves re-congregating on one of the curved seating platforms in front of the stage. Somehow they all felt more at ease amongst fellow roommates, at least at first.
And then Princess Twilight herself took the stage. She called for attention with a spell that played a brief, fluting melody in the air.
"Hello, everycreature! And welcome to the Friendship School. I'm your Headmare, Princess Twilight Sparkle. And I want to welcome each and every one of you to this inaugural class. I'm sure we'll have a lot to learn from each other, and I can't wait to get started. In particular, I want to extend a special welcome to our international students!"
She gestured towards the Odd Squad, who looked around uncomfortably, wondering if they were expected to stand or wave at everyone.
"A key mission of the Friendship School," Twilight went on, "is to open doors between our many cultures, and help us come to understand one another. So I hope you'll all join with me in making them feel welcome here!"
The pony students willingly clapped and stamped hooves in welcome.
Sandbar looked around at his new friends, and held up his punch glass.
"To the Odd Squad," he said.
They all glanced at each other, and then self-consciously clinked glasses with him.
"The Odd Squad," Smolder agreed. Then she waved a claw, rolling her eyes. "Whatever!"
Twilight awoke to the warm glow of morning sunshine, cascading through the oval window next to her bed in the royal suite. She yawned and stretched, then gazed around sleepily. The suite was so similar to her old loft room in the Golden Oak Library, it was subtly disorienting... though in a nice way. She almost felt like she'd travelled back in time. She allowed herself a long, lazy moment to revel in the pleasant confusion.
Then, practical as ever, she turned to considering her plans for the day ahead. She was looking forward to a leisurely breakfast, and after that her first full lecture class of the trip. Since it was her specialty, she'd decided on a brief rundown of the major branches and types of magic. "Light, Shadow, Dark, and Friendship," she recited, pushing aside the covers and then hauling herself up to a sitting position on the edge of the bed. "Light: Luminance, Elemental, Kinesis, Shield, Divination, Enchantment, Healing, Empathy..."
The suite doors slammed open, and Spike raced in.
"Twilight!" he shouted. "One of the students is hurt!"
"Aaahh!" Startled, Twilight leapt into the air, then came down wrong and fell off the bed, sprawling on the floor. "Omigosh!" She picked herself up, wide-eyed. "Spike, is whoever it is okay?"
"Yeah, sure, but Fluttershy sent me to find you, just in case. They're in the dispensary."
"Ohhhh! How could this happen?"
"Well, it was his own fault. See, he was running up and down the rear stairs..."
"I mean, how could we be so careless! Oh, tell me on the way!" Twilight raced past him, out the door, and Spike hurried after her.
In the dispensary, Fluttershy was examining the hind leg of a sandy-coated, red-maned colt from Appleloosa, while Pinkie Pie stood ready with bandages, stethescope, and candy-striped tongue-depressors. Rarity stood behind both of them, ready in case healing magic was needed, although it wasn't really her specialty. They'd decided to always have a three-pony first-aid team on call, so as to have experience in care for all three types of ponies. But Fluttershy, not surprisingly, wound up being the lead specialist given her experience with tending to injured critters.
"Oh, good," Fluttershy said calmly. "Thanks for coming, Twilight. I don't think it's really anything worse than a sprain, but I wonder if you'd mind double-checking, just to be sure?"
Taking the hint, and forcing herself to calm down as well, Twilight powered up her horn and cast a quick scrying spell over the colt's leg and hoof. To her relief she found no hint of fractures or other major injury. "You're right, Fluttershy. It's just a sprain. But I'll apply a light healing spell, just to be sure."
"Oh, let me do that, dahling," Rarity said. "I need to polish my skills anyway."
"All right. And then I'll want you to take it easy on that hoof for today, okay, Hay Bale?"
"Ah'm powerful sorry, Headmare!" The colt grimaced as the healing spell took hold, then sighed as he felt it working. "Guess ah was just feelin' mah oats this mornin', as mah pappy would say."
"That's all right... just remember the stairs aren't for getting exercise. That's what the gym is for."
"Ah surely will!"
"Yo, Twilight!" Rainbow appeared at the door, looking anxious. "The door to my classroom is stuck! I can't budge it, and my homeroom is about to start!"
"Uhh..." Twilight thought rapidly. "Use the main auditorium. I'll get one of Tempest's soldiers to help unstick your classroom's door, and hold my lecture class in there this morning."
"Thanks, Twi! You're awesome!" Rainbow darted off. But just as Twilight stepped into the corridor, she encountered Applejack.
"Mornin' Twi! Y'all got a minute, hon? Wanted to run an idea by ya."
"Tell me on the way, Applejack... there's a stuck classroom door. And you might be able to help buck it open, actually."
"Sure! I'll give it mah best! Now, what I was thinkin' is, I could throw in some practical lessons 'bout carpentry and suchlike, but we're gonna need some tools and lumber to work with..."
With help from Applejack, Twilight was able to get the classroom open. The farm pony hurried off to her own morning class, but just as students were arriving for Twilight's session, Pinkie Pie hurried up.
"Hey, Twi! Do you think we can put a couple spare ovens in my classroom? Then I can demonstrate new recipes while the students are waiting for their own cupcakes to bake!"
"Uh, sure... I don't see why not. I'll put it on my list."
"Thanks, Twi! You're the bestest!" Pinkie bounded off happily.
Relieved, Twilight turned to her own students. "Good morning, everycreature! Please take your seats, and I apologize for the sudden change in rooms this morning. Today, I thought we'd start off a series of lectures on the branches and kinds of magic. And... oh, Smolder? You have a question?"
"Yeah." Smolder crossed her arms with a scowl. "How exactly is this supposed to help us learn about friendship? A lot of us here can't do magic. It's only the ponies with horns that can work spells, right?"
"Oh, well..." Twilight realized she'd planned on having an answer to that, but never got around to actually coming up with one. "It's... something I have a lot of experience with. And it plays a pretty significant role in pony society, even for ponies who can't work spells, so having at least a passing familiarity with what magic can do -- and what it can't do -- will be of use to you here."
"Yaks no need magic!" Yona declared proudly. "But Yona want to learn anyway!"
"Oh! We have a transformation spell," Silverstream said, touching the Pearl fragment on her necklace. "For when we need to breathe underwater. And we can do air-bubbles, and... hmmm. There's really not a lot of our magic that applies on land, is there?"
"Will this be on the test?" Gallus asked mischievously, smiling around at the other students.
"Well, let's see," Twilight shot back, "would you prefer it as an essay or practical demonstration?" Then she winced. She'd heard that come-back often enough in her days at Celestia's school, but that was no reason to be snippy with her students. But Gallus was nodding appreciatively, apparently feeling he'd been properly told off.
Seeing there were no more questions, Twilight hurriedly gathered her thoughts, and pressed on. "All right, then. Can any of you name the four kinds of..."
"Um. Uh... excuse me, Twilight?"
"Oh! Fluttershy... is something wrong?"
"No, no. Everything's fine. It's just... well... if it wouldn't be too much trouble... I wonder if we might use that spare office on the admin level as space for some of the smaller critters, so they won't get underfoot so much? I mean, if that's okay?"
"Oh! Well... I was talking with Rarity about possibly using that as a supply cupboard, but..."
"Um, sure. That's okay..." Fluttershy hunched and turned away, waving a hoof dismissively. "It's not urgent... really, it's not..."
"Fluttershy!" Twilight followed her into the corridor, and practically ran into Rarity coming the other way.
"Twilight, dahling! It's absolutely awful!"
"What is? Uh... Fluttershy?"
"I just realized I forgot to pack enough black thread! I mean how are we going to ever do the session on basic black formal wear without black thread?"
"Uh... use another color? Excuse me, Rarity. Fluttershy!"
"Twilight!" it was Spike, wearing his chef's hat and heart apron, running up the corridor from the kitchen. "Those sacks in the pantry I thought were flour? I just opened one, and it turns out they're seed grain! We're gonna need to replace them soon, or we're going to run short on meals for the students!"
"Uh... right! I'll add that to the shopping list. Are we okay on other supplies?"
"I'll double-check!" Spike hurried off.
"Wait! Spike!"
"Hey, Twi!" It was Pinkie Pie again, stotting merrily. "You look like you're busy, and they always say if you need something done, talk to the pony who's busy!"
"Pinkie! Uh... what do you need now?"
"Oh, nothing! Just wanted to let you know my class will be using the main deck this morning. We're going to practice being fired from a party cannon, so we need the extra space."
"What? Pinkie, have you gone insane? I mean, more insane than usual? You know how dangerous that is?"
"Relax, Twi! It worked perfectly for us when we were fighting the Storm King."
"That was a total fluke! We still don't know why the six of you didn't end up pasted on the wall of the castle!"
"Oh, c',mon, Twi! It'll be fine! We'll set up mattresses and everything. What could go wrong? I'll let ya know how it goes! La la-la la-la..."
"Pinkie!"
"Uh, 'scuse me, Twi...?"
Twilight facehoofed. "What now, Applejack?"
"Just wanted ta let ya know... Hay Bale fell down the stairs again..."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It was well past lunchtime. But Twilight hadn't had lunch. In fact, she hadn't even had breakfast yet. She was back in her suite, lying on the bed, face pressed firmly into the pillow.
The muffled, high-pitched noise might have been frustrated screaming. It was hard to tell.
"A bit for your thoughts, Highness."
Startled, Twilight looked up. It was Tempest, standing in the middle of the suite, with Grubber beside her munching on a slice of cake.
Twilight blinked in surprise. She hadn't heard the two of them enter the room -- and she thought she'd locked the door.
She sighed wearily. "I thought I was ready to handle this," she said. "But it's been one thing after another all morning. I barely got through a quarter of a lesson with my own students. And half of the classes had some kind of disruption or other. And I still need to write up the requisition and shopping lists. And Spike's so busy in the kitchen I haven't had his help with doing that, or with organizing the lesson schedule for this week, and..."
"... and with all due respect," Tempest interrupted, "you appear to be out of your mind."
"Uhhh... does it show?" Twilight asked, half-seriously.
"I meant," Tempest went on, "you're apparently under the delusion that you have to do everything yourself."
"Well... I am supposed to be headmare here. I need to keep everything running, and keep everypony busy and happy."
"And the most important lesson you can learn, as the pony in charge," Tempest said, "is delegation. We need you focused on lesson plans, on advising your teachers and students. So we can't have you dealing with administrivia all the time. Plus, you can definitely dole out some of the work to the other professors. For example, you need Spike to help you with dictation and organization, so why is he working the kitchen?"
"Well, Spike said he didn't mind helping out. After all, he usually does meals back at the Castle..."
"Seems to me Pinkie Pie could get the cooking done ten times as fast, even on top of her class load. You should have her handle the kitchen duty. And Applejack can help see to ship maintenance. Fluttershy is perfect for first-aid duty, I wouldn't change that. Rainbow can help with finding ponies when they're needed. And Rarity... well," Tempest smirked. "Somepony should see to it the Headmare gets a wake-up call and a hot breakfast every morning, right?"
Twilight flung her hooves in the air. "But I still need to make sure the teachers have the supplies they've been requesting... and oh, drat, I forgot! We need to restock flour for the kitchen, on top of restocking other supplies, and..."
"I wasn't finished, Princess. You can delegate supply work like that to Grubber here. When it comes to handling requisitions, my cake-chomping associate is the best scrounge this side of Klugetown."
Grubber looked up at her, startled. "Gosh! Thanks, Tempest!"
"Don't let it go to your head. Grubber here can manage gathering and filling requisitions for the teachers. Though he'll of course get your approval for anything major, or expensive." She gave Grubber a warning look. "And, he can see to restocking the kitchen as well. Though we'll want Pinkie to draw up the shopping list, or we'll be eating cake for a month."
Grubber shrugged. "Can I help it if cake is the perfect food?"
"Okay..." Twilight said, the beginnings of a smile on her face. "If the two of you wouldn't mind, that would really help!"
Tempest eyed her derisively. "Princess, we do happen to work for you." She snorted. "And I've found that keeping Grubber busy is the best way of keeping him out of mischief."
"Thanks, Tempest. And you too, Grubber! I really appreciate the help... uh, not to mention your candor in setting me straight."
"It's what I do best, Princess. Oh... and speaking of mischief..."
Tempest smiled evilly.
"Have you given any thought to having a truant officer?"
Like the ticking of a clock at a party, which no one notices until there's a momentary lull in the conversation and it suddenly becomes clearly, ominously audible, the sound of iron-shod hoofsteps echoed along the Friendship's corridors.
In the various classrooms, lessons were in full swing, and finally operating without major issues.
In Rainbow's class on loyalty, Yona stood poised on a pile of the classroom's desks, ready to fall backward into the waiting arms of the other students standing ready to catch her.
In Pinkie's class on laughter, the air was filled with both confetti and the warm aroma of freshly-baked cupcakes.
In Fluttershy's kindness class, the students dared each other to be the first one to hug Harry the Bear.
Rarity, dressed in full schoolmarm's outfit complete with glasses and hoof-length skirt, was demonstrating to her class the thoughtfulness and care that went into the design of a high-fashion evening gown and hat, making them both practical and comfortable.
Applejack was giving practical demonstrations of apple-bucking technique to her students, and explaining carefully and honestly why apples were far superior to oranges and strawberries for the purpose... not that she was in any way biased, of course!
And in the main auditorium, Twilight alternated between lessons in magic and an introductory course on Equestrian history, as well as providing helpful guidelines for good study habits, and answers to any questions the students might have about the School's policies and procedures.
In between classes, the students shuttled quickly from room to room along the corridors, or to the cafeteria for meals, or the rec-room for their free periods.
But during every class period, the hallways were empty and silent, save for the steady, relentless tapping of armored shoes, as Commander Tempest made her rounds.
Every time the conversation level dropped in class, every time there was a pause for questions, the students could hear the steady, metronome-like pacing along the corridors outside. And every now and then, glancing at the open door, they would catch sight of Tempest striding past. And she would stare back in at them, with that enigmatic knowing smile on her face, her broken horn crackling and sparking.
None of the students wanted to come face to face with the Commander's forbidding gaze as they wandered the halls.
There had already been one incident. A young, white-flanked unicorn named Snowball had skipped class and climbed up to the main deck of the ship. He stood leaning on the side rail, idly folding paper airplanes with his magic and flinging them into the open air.
He never even heard Tempest come up behind him.
He found himself suddenly seized up by the tail, and then dangled over the edge, held in place only by an armored shoe pinning his tail to the railing.
"You really think this is a wise use of your time?" Tempest sternly demanded, "Chucking things overboard?" She laughed nastily. "Maybe I should just throw you along with them, hmm?"
"I'm sorry!" he cried. "I won't do it again, I promise!"
"Oh... I wish I could believe that. But you know, you can't kid a kidder! And I don't think you've really learned your lesson yet. I can't afford to let any lapse in behavior on this ship go unpunished... soooo..."
She lifted her hoof. And the colt plunged screaming for twenty yards... then was swiftly caught by one of the the winged soldiers on station beneath the ship's keel. He was gently flown back up and deposited onto the main deck again.
Right in front of Commander Tempest.
It was almost worse than plummeting to his death. At least that had a known, predictable end to it. He stared up at her, shivering. And Tempest glared down at him for a long, silent moment, a horribly evaluating look on her face. Almost as if she was trying to decide which torment would be the most fun to inflict on him next.
"Have we learned anything yet?" she finally asked.
Snowball nodded.
"You have a class to be in right now?"
He nodded again, wide-eyed.
Tempest's snout was suddenly inches from his. Her eyes glared.
"Then why aren't you in it?"
There was a clattering of hooves, and Tempest was suddenly alone. The colt had gotten belowdecks so fast, it was like he'd simply dropped straight through the deck itself.
Word about someone like Tempest got around fast. There hadn't been any other incidents.
The Odd Squad discussed her amongst themselves the next morning, as they sat waiting on the seating ranks in the main classroom. "So... what do you guys think of her?" Gallus asked.
"She's eerie!" Sandbar said. "Somehow she's always there, whatever's going on. Any time, day or night. I mean, it's like she never sleeps."
"I heard she sleeps with one eye open!" Silverstream gasped. She shut one eye, and then the other. "I wonder if it's the left eye or the right eye?"
"There's a rumor," Smolder said, "that she's fitted out a room on one of those other warships of hers as a torture chamber." She grinned. "Complete with hoof-manacles on the wall -- near the ceiling!"
"That sounds about right." Gallus nodded. "She's got a few screws loose, if you ask me."
"Yona like Tempest pony!" She stomped a hoof. "She strong! Not take guff from no one. Just like yak!"
"She is really tough and scary," Ocellus said. "But no one's gotten hurt, right? I mean, so far?"
"That we know of," Gallus warned. "I mean we're not actually missing any students yet."
"Princess Twilight wouldn't let anyone get hurt," Sandbar said. "And she lets Commander Tempest run this ship however she likes, so she must trust her."
"Wish I could..." Gallus muttered. "Hey, what's this session supposed to be about again?"
"Uh... Safety and Security Briefing," Ocellus read off her schedule.
"Huh... that should be quick." Gallus smiled at the others. "Probably just be Tempest the Terrible saying do what I tell you, and giving us the eyeball."
A voice spoke from behind them. "That's an... interesting approach. Though rather lacking in style."
Gallus flinched, and then looked round. Tempest had just stepped into the classroom through its rear doors on the upper level. Accompanying her were Grubber and a number of her soldiers.
The Commander smiled down at them all, but particularly at Gallus. "Any other suggestions you'd like to share with the group?"
"Uhhh... how does she do that?" Gallus whispered to the others.
"Told ya... any time, day or night!" Sandbar whispered back.
Tempest went on speaking as she strolled casually around the upper landing of the classroom, then descended the left-hand staircase, with Grubber and two of the soldiers following her.
"For those of you who've been unwisely not paying attention up to now, I am Commander Tempest Shadow. I am personal bodyguard to Her Highness Princess Twilight Sparkle. I am in charge of her armed forces in general, and of this ship in particular..."
She paused, gazing around at them all.
"... which makes me your new worst nightmare!"
She mounted the stage and swung to face them all. "I have heard it rumored," she said, "that I am irrational, ruthless, and completely lacking a sense of humor. You'll find these rumors are quite true... if I catch any of you stepping out of line. And just let me remind you, I managed to subdue three of the four alicorn Princesses of Equestria in less than twenty seconds. I don't mention that out of any sense of pride, mind you. It's merely to be sure you understand who you're dealing with."
She gestured with a forehoof to the scarlet-furred soldier who had moved to stand to her left on the stage, and the gold-and-black soldier to her right. "Allow me to introduce you to Fred and Strife here. You'll be seeing a lot of them while you're here at the School. And make no mistake: they are my eyes and ears, as well as your hall monitors. If you're up to something -- anything -- be warned: I will know about it!"
She gave them a moment to let that sink in, then went on.
"Now, in the unlikely event of an emergency, the ship's horn will sound..." She paused, as a deep, thundering blast filled the air for several seconds. "And you will immediately report here for roll call. After which, if necessary, my soldiers will transfer you to one of the other ships, or to some other safe location, until the crisis is past.
"But we shouldn't have any difficulties of that nature right away. So my best advice to you is this: focus on your studies and on the activities the School has to offer. Make new friends... because that's what this School is all about. And don't get up to mischief. Because understand me clearly," she added, "if I am given any reason to be displeased, any reason at all, I will be just as harsh, just as unforgiving, as you may have heard."
Tempest glanced around at the silent, staring faces.
"And it's for one, simple reason," she went on. "This School, its students, and its mission, are important to Princess Twilight. She's putting her reputation on the line, making this opportunity available to you. Your actions will reflect not only on this School, but also on her judgment in founding and operating it."
She looked around again, making certain she had their attention. "So we're not going to do anything that would make her second-guess that judgment, are we? You know why? Because before you do anything that will disappoint Princess Twilight, you'll first have to disappoint me. And quite frankly..."
Her head lowered, and she glared at them, her horn sizzling. "...that would be suicidal. Am I making myself clearly understood?"
"Huh," Gallus whispered to the others. "It's all an act! No way she could get away with treating students like that."
"I wouldn't provoke her," Smolder whispered back, shaking her head. "You know what they're already calling her, back home? The Pony who Fights Like a Dragon... and that's no joke!"
"Yeah, right... I'll believe that when I see it!"
Tempest had given no sign that she'd heard the exchange, but then she made a quick, sharp gesture with a forehoof. One of the winged soldiers standing at the back of the room had already leapt into the air. He swooped down and neatly snatched up Gallus. The startled griffon quickly found himself dangling helplessly in the soldier's grasp, inches from Tempest's sparking horn and evil smile.
"I look forward to getting to know you better, Mister Gallus," she said, silkily. "I can tell you're going to give me plenty of opportunities, aren't you?"
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Bring it... if you dare!"
She swept her hoof again, and the soldier swung back towards the audience, smoothly dropping Gallus back in his place amongst the other students.
Smolder shook her head at him. "Told ya! She doesn't take prisoners!"
"Yeah!" Yona cheered. "Tempest is yak's kind of pony!"
"But kind of fun!" Silverstream chirped. "... and scary, too! But fun!"
"I know I won't be crossing her." Sandbar shook his head. "It's not worth it!"
Tempest gazed around at the wide-eyed students. "Now that we've all gotten to know each other a little better, I have one other announcement. Tomorrow, the School will be making its first port of call for a research field trip. And given that we're all learning the ropes here, your professors have decided we should start simple, with a visit to Vanhoover, one of Equestria's larger cities, to learn a thing or two about pony society and culture."
Tempest smiled broadly.
"And you know what? I'm actually looking forward to this! It'll be nice making landfall in a city just to visit, stroll around, see the sights..." Her tone turned cold, her eyes narrowed. "... not having to immediately subdue it by force, and place it under strict martial law..."
"Okaaaay... leaning towards scary again..." Silverstream shivered. "She's joking, right?"
"I sure hope so," Sandbar said.
"So," Tempest concluded, "let's all meet here bright and early tomorrow morning. And then... let's just not do anything that would spoil my pleasant day ashore, hmm?"
With that, she dismissed them all.
The students left the room and headed off to their next class, subdued and thoughtful. There was many a worried backward glance at the armored pony still standing on the stage.
As they left, Princess Twilight entered the classroom, trotting down one of the side staircases, exchanging smiles with the students as they left.
Reaching the stage, she looked up at the Commander, a little sadly. "Are you really sure you want to play it tough like this, Tempest? It might help if you got to know the students as friends... let them see the real you."
Tempest sighed. "Maybe I will, Princess, eventually." She looked at Twilight. "But like we discussed, for now it's simpler if they see you as the teacher, and me as the disciplinarian. We want them to like you and respect you, so they'll listen to you, and turn to you when they need advice. And we need to keep them safe and out of mischief in the meantime... so that's my job. It's better if they're uncertain of me at first, at least until we have this place running smoothly. For now, you're the carrot... and I'm the stick. You focus on keeping them happy and learning, I'll keep them in line."
"All right, Tempest." Twilight said, reluctantly. "I trust your judgment."
"Don't worry, Princess." Tempest smiled. "They'll get to like me in time."
She glared up at the rear doors of the classroom, through which the last of the students was leaving. There was a crafty smile on her face.
"Eventually... the ones who survive, that is..."
"Tempest..."
The Commander looked at Twilight. And laughed.
"Oh, come on, Princess! Let me have this! It helps to keep me sharp..."
That evening, Twilight stood with her forehooves hooked over the rear railing of the main deck, looking up at the stars overhead, and downward at the clouds passing below.
She sighed unhappily.
Then she heard her friends approaching, chatting excitedly amongst themselves.
Spotting Twilight, Rainbow swooped over. "Hey, Twilight! Great first few days, huh? We launched the school without anypony stopping us. We got all of Equestria's allies to send their students here. And the students really like me! I'm not just Professor Egghead to them! Hah! This is awesome! We're a real pirate school now, huh?"
"More precisely," Twilight replied, "we're an extra-territorial, extra-legal, unaccredited, international educational facility."
"Eee-yeah," Rainbow replied. "So, like I said... pirate school!"
Pinkie popped up beside Twilight wearing a pirate's hat and eyepatch. "Arrr! Shiver me test plans and gimme a number two pencil, matey!" Then she giggled. "I've never had so much fun! And the students love my classes!"
"I really like how the students themselves are getting along so well," Fluttershy said. "They're all so excited to be here, we're not having any problems."
"Absolutely, dahling," Rarity said. "We just need to be sure to keep them busy, and having fun learning. Idle hooves, you know."
"It's definitely workin' all raight so far," Applejack agreed. "Better than we could'a hoped!" Then she looked concernedly at Twilight. "So why the long face, sugarcube?"
Twilight sighed again. "I'm sorry to be so gloomy. You're all doing your very best, and I couldn't wish for better. I just wish... I wish we didn't have to operate the School outside the rules, outside the EEA's guidelines. The guidelines themselves aren't wrong. In coming up with rules and procedures for the School, I pretty much reinvented a lot of what they consider standard practice. It's just the EEA's approach that's wrong... their resistance to sharing what we know of Friendship with other cultures."
"I hear ya, Twi. And it's a darn shame things have to be this way. But even so, we're doin' a great job."
"Exactly!" Twilight gestured around at the Friendship School itself. "I look at the progress we've made so far, just in getting the School up and running, and I can tell that we're doing something that's right, something that's necessary... so why does it have to feel so wrong?"
"It's not easy," Rarity agreed. "It never is when you're a trend-setter. You just have to grit your teeth and do what's needful. Show the critics what they've been missing, help them see what they haven't seen up to now."
Spike reached up to touch Twilight's shoulder. "We're all with you, Twi! We all want to make it work as much as you do."
"Thanks, Spike! And thanks to all the rest of you as well."
She paused, and looked up at the stars again. "I wish Princess Celestia could see this place, see what we're doing here. Not being able to talk with her about it, not being able to share our accomplishments with her, that's hurt more than anything else."
"I know she'd be proud of ya, hon," Applejack said. "Don't ever think otherwise"
Twilight nodded. And then she drew herself up, her face set determinedly.
"We're going to make this work, everypony!" she said. "And when we get back to Ponyville, we'll have something to show the Princesses -- to show to all of them. Something that proves that what we're doing is right!"
"Now you're talking, Twi!" Spike said, pumping a claw.
"That's the spirit, dahling!" Rarity said.
"Yeah!" Rainbow punched the air with a hoof. "No guts, no glory!"
"All for one, an' one for all!" Applejack shouted.
"And a cupcake in every hoof!" Pinkie cried, giggling.
"Yay!" whispered Fluttershy.
The seven of them grabbed each other in a crushing group-hug, laughing uncontrollably...
... and completely unaware that they were being observed.
In the gloom of the foredeck, beside the helm wheel, Tempest Shadow stood watching them, silent and unseen.
Grubber was standing next to her, messily devouring a cupcake.
"Look at them," Tempest finally said. "So happy all the time, no matter what troubles they're facing." She snorted. "I'm a pony too, and I'm still getting used to it."
"Yeah," Grubber said. "Kinda nice though, while it lasts. And hey, great job, boss... gettin' Twilight to put you in charge of everything. Just like the Storm King all over again, huh?"
"It wasn't all that hard." She glanced at him. "The head of state always wants someone to manage all the troublesome little details. Speaking of which, did you get that kitchen supply list from Pinkie?"
"Sure did," Grubber replied. "Bright and early tomorrow, I'll grab one of the skiffs and go shopping. Heh, heh! Kinda nice bein' on an expense account again!"
"Don't get carried away." Tempest glanced at Twilight and her friends, then leaned closer and lowered her voice. "And while you're at it, you can make a side-trip. I'll want you to take a message to our friends... tell them to be ready in a couple days, to lend a claw..."
"Seriously, boss?" Grubber's eyes went wide. "We're gonna do it? Ohhh, yeah! I can't wait to see the looks on their faces!"
"Keep it to yourself for now... loose lips, you know."
"Gotcha, boss!" Grubber finished the cupcake in one gulp, and then grinned nastily, rubbing his paws in anticipation.
Tempest smiled as well, looking across the Friendship's deck at Twilight and her friends. They were so trusting, so unsuspecting. Such easy targets for those who might wish them harm. Tempest knew a thing or two about that.
She thought back to the curious message-scroll that Grubber had brought to her room in Twilight's castle, shortly before they'd all left to board the Friendship:
To Commander Tempest Shadow:
It has come to the attention of certain highly-placed and influential authorities that the Princess Twilight Sparkle has been engaged in an ill-advised venture, which is both highly unorthodox and illegal. This venture will likely take the Princess outside of the relative safety of Canterlot and Ponyville for substantial periods of time. And it has also come to their attention that you, as the Princess's nominal bodyguard, are in a unique position to see to both the Princess's safety and security, as well as to the overall success of this venture.
Should anything happen that might threaten the Princess's safety, and expose the illegality of this venture and her lack of judgement in organizing and supporting it, these authorities would like to assure you that an appropriate response would be made. And that the Royal Guard always has a place for those who are loyal to Equestria, and respectful of its well-considered, approved guidelines for the operation of its educational facilities.
Sincerely, A Mutual Patriot
Tempest had read the letter twice, just to be sure she hadn't missed anything. And then she'd laughed delightedly. And burned it to avoid incriminating evidence.
She grinned, looking at Twilight and her friends.
The letter had given her an idea. And now that all the international students were aboard, she could finally move forward with it. She had a surprise in store for all of them, a real wake-up call.
The next morning, with the Friendship docked safely at the city's downtown airfield, the students trooped out of the local intra-city train station and down the sidewalks of Vanhoover's downtown district. They were shepherded closely by their professors, with Tempest and her soldiers bringing up the rear.
"Okay," Smolder said, her arms crossed in annoyance. "Explain to me again how we're supposed to learn anything about inter-species friendship... by visiting a pony city?"
"You heard Tempest." Gallus smiled. "Our professors want to keep it easy on themselves this first field-trip."
"Maybe," Ocellus offered nervously, "they think that if we each learn how to make friends with ponies, it'll be that much easier to make friends with each other?"
"Or maybe this way, there'll be more ponies to go around?" Silverstream said, excitely. "So everyone's sure to find a friend?"
"Maybe they try to scare us!" Yona growled. "By taking us to big pony city, when Yona come from small yak village. But Yona not scared! Yona is grown yak! Yona can take any..."
They came around a corner, and stood facing a seemingly endless avenue, with tall skyscrapers to either side and bustling traffic all along its length.
"...thing?" Yona finished weakly, cringing and peering up in astonishment.
For many of the Ponyville students, it was also their first visit to one of Equestria's larger urban environments. They gazed in awe at the tall, cylindrical office blocks and apartment complexes, and around at the hundreds of ponies, both locals and tourists, who thronged the sidewalks.
"Now remember!" Twilight called out from her place in front. "This isn't just a pleasure cruise: it's a field trip in Friendship studies. So I'd like you all to start practicing right away. Pair up with your tour buddy, stick close to your assigned professor, and let's get out there and say hello!"
The teams of pony students found this relatively easy, since ponies made up the majority of Vanhoover's population. They simply introduced themselves and the School, and had pleasant chats, both with passersby on the streets and with ponies seated at the outdoor tables of local restaurants.
The members of the Odd Squad, however, found it more of a challenge.
Sandbar was teamed up with Ocellus, which was a study in contrasts: the locals nodded politely enough to him, but eyed her a little nervously. Sandbar had to keep reminding Ocellus not to hide herself in pony form, since the point of the exercise was to promote interspecies understanding... and also because Ocellus had an unfortunate habit of simply copying any pony she happened to be standing next to. This tended to put off anyone who wasn't already a twin or triplet by birth.
Gallus and Smolder each took turns greeting the locals, and they did surprisingly well... considering that each of them would offer a barely tolerant, dispiritedly grumbled "hello" to whoever happened to be standing right in front of them. But given that they were in an urban environment, this paradoxically helped them fit right in. They would often get a mildly disinterested nod in response... at which they would proudly bump claws like champions.
Silverstream was paired up with Yona, and they were like the tag-team of verbal assault. Silverstream would launch herself into the personal space of passers-by, talking a mile a minute. Occasionally she'd remember to introduce herself, usually just as ponies were already running away. And Yona simply trotted around bellowing "Hello!" at everyone, at the top of her lungs.
After an hour or so of this, Twilight called everyone back together. "Now, I know some of you found that easier than others," she told them. "But I want you all to remember that learning to make friends takes time. It doesn't happen overnight. You have to give it time, keep at it, give friendship every opportunity. If you stick with it, you'll get there. So each of you, remember how you did today because one day, when you've finished your classes at the School, you'll be able to look back on today and see just how much progress you've made!"
With that, Twilight swung round and headed off, leading the group onward into the city center.
It so happened that the city was holding a dedication ceremony for its brand new city hall, so the students joined the crowd that had gathered to watch. Gallus pointed a claw-tip at the stage. "Uh, what's with the curly-haired yaks with the feathered headdresses, and the wheelbarrows full of burning tree branches?"
"Those are buffalo, not yaks," Twilight corrected him. "And the branches are cedar. This is a smudging ceremony, where plant matter like sage or cedar is burned and the smoke is used, together with prayer, to symbolically purify an individual or a location, removing any bad influences."
"Seriously?" Smolder shrugged, looking nonplussed. "For a dragon, smoke just means your flame isn't running hot enough. All smoke does is get up your nose."
"Maybe in the Dragonlands," Applejack reminded her. "Where y'all have hot and cold running volcanoes on every corner. But here in the north, fire helps keep folks warm, and the smoke has uses of its own. Like hick'ry-smoked vegetable skewers... mmm... them's good eatin'!"
The buffalo elders were carefully maneuvering the wheelbarrows of smoking cedar along the sidewalks around the exterior of the building, and younger buffalo were carefully carrying smaller clay bowls of smoking herbs into the building, to walk the interior rooms. They also carried small fans made of turkey feathers, which they used to gently guide the smoke to where it was needed.
"Okay," Gallus summarized, "so... smoke used to purify stuff. Uh... why?"
"Because this land once belonged to the buffalo?" Ocellus offered. Then, when the others turned to look at her, she hunched bashfully. "Um... I read that in a history book on Equestria last night."
"Absolutely right," Fluttershy said. "The buffalo were the original inhabitants of the southern and northwestern regions of the continent. And as Equestria expanded over the centuries, we did pretty much push them out of many of their original territories."
Twilight nodded. "Most of the city of Vanhoover is on what's termed 'unceded land', meaning that native title to the land hasn't been officially surrendered nor acquired. So it's common for dedication ceremonies like this to include native purification rituals, as a way of honoring and acknowledging the original inhabitants of the region."
"Yona not understand! Ponies push out buffalos, but have ceremonies honoring them? And buffalos not push out ponies in return?" She shook her head, confused. "Yaks not do things like that. Either yaks in, or yaks out!"
"It is a sore point," Rarity acknowledged. "But for the most part, both sides acknowledge it's the way things are now, and do their best not to step on each other's feelings. The buffalo understand that it's not like the city of Vanhoover could just pack up and move elsewhere. And the city acknowledges that it's occupying their land. And both sides get along from day to day on those terms, more or less."
"That's... pretty reasonable of them," Gallus acknowledged.
"Yeah," Smolder agreed. "And I suppose I can see the point of the smoke-purification thing." She noticed a local pony standing nearby who had unpacked a small bundle of sage for his own use, and was trying unsuccessfully to strike a match to light it. "Here, lemme get that for ya," she said. Snatching the bundle from his startled hoof, she huffed flame on it, then tamped out the flame with her claw, leaving it gently smoking. "There ya go," she said, passing it back. "No charge!"
The pony nervously nodded to her, and began wafting the smoke from the bundle about himself, fervently whispering a prayer to Celestia... though whether it was to purify himself or to guard against creatures like Smolder wasn't quite clear.
After the ceremony, the group wandered along Quilter Street, and passed through the obsidian crystal gate marking the entrance to the city's Dragontown district.
Everyone was amazed by the colorful signs, the seemingly endless small shops and restaurants, and the resident dragons wandering about on their errands. And none more than Smolder, who looked upon the whole thing with a seriously raised eyebrow. "This is what passes for dragon culture in Equestria?" she asked. "Can you say tourist trap? I mean, at home, what few visitors we get take one look at the hot lava baths and combat arenas and run screaming back where they came from."
"Eee-yeah, it's imported culture," Rainbow agreed. "And I suppose it loses a lot in translation. But, ya can't beat good Dragon food, when you're really hungry and nothin' else will hit the spot. Am I right, gang?"
Twilight and the others willingly agreed.
"Dragon food?" Smolder looked unimpressed. "This I gotta see!"
"Well," Twilight suggested, "it's close to lunchtime anyway. What say we find a likely-looking place, and give Smolder a chance to try some?"
There were plenty of options, so they took their time, window-shopping along the way. Finally they came across a place located on a side-street that looked like a hole in the wall from the outside, but had a family-sized dining area inside. The dining room was decorated in dark crystal paneling with glowing lava-seam lighting, beaded curtains, and lava-lamps as accents on each of the tables.
The School's party pretty much filled the place to capacity, but even so it didn't take long for the team of dragon and pony servers to get everyone's order and serve out piping hot plates to them all.
Smolder eyed hers with suspicion. "Uh... what's with all these noodles?" she asked. "And chopped vegetables? And fried hay?" She looked around at the other Odd Squad members. "You guys know this isn't real dragon cuisine, right? I mean, where's the pummeled granite base, the diced gemstones? And where's the lava pool to dip stuff in?"
Rainbow, who happened to be sitting at their table, shrugged at this. "Yeah, to be honest, a lot of this stuff was actually invented in Equestria. The dragons who originally migrated here needed to make a living, so they figured out what ponies liked to eat, and came up with stuff that was quick to prepare and tasty as well. And it works! I mean, I can't tell ya how often I've found myself dying for some sweet and sour lava rocks!"
"Bleh." Smolder wrinkled her nose. "It's just diced vegetables in some kind of fried pastry, with honey and hot sauce drizzled all over it. I mean, come on!"
Gallus grinned. "Hey, don't knock it. This stuff is pretty great."
"Not you too! I thought you were the sensible one here!"
"I'm a griffon." He shrugged. "We like what we like."
"And I looove the noodles!" Silverstream said. "And the egg-rolls! And the carrots in Commander Hurricane's Sauce! And... that other thing that I just ate! I don't know what it was, but it was delicious! Oh, and did I mention the noodles?"
"Yona want more pancakes!" She pounded the table with a hoof.
"Uh, I think you're supposed to use them to wrap the chopped vegetables," Ocellus suggested nervously. "Not just eat them by themselves."
"Oh. Yona not know this. Yona try it that way..." She smiled craftily. "If Yona get more pancakes!"
Sandbar was loading his plate with an extra helping of the chopped suet. "Could somepony... uh, sorry... somecreature pass the sear sauce?"
Gallus stared at the various condiment bottles, utterly baffled. "Uh... is that the red stuff, the brown stuff, the green stuff, or the... what the heck color is that anyway?"
"The bottle that looks like it's filled with squid ink."
"Oh. Here." Gallus gingerly passed it to him. "Whatever lifts your wings, I guess."
"Thanks! Yum!"
After lunch, they continued their walk through the downtown area, exiting Dragontown and coming to a large marketplace square, with shops and small carts selling sweets and baked goods.
"Now, if you'll indulge me," Twilight said, "there's a particular store over there a friend asked me to visit, since it has something he was looking for. And I also think it would make a useful stop on our Friendship field trip. So stick close together, and remember to take notes!"
The griffon owner of Wing And Claw Games was rather startled when the store was suddenly inundated by a large group of ponies and other creatures. She was even more amazed when she saw that the pony in the lead was Princess Twilight.
"This is such an honor!" Diceclaw's gold-flecked wings flapped excitedly as she rushed around the counter to shake Twilight's hoof. "I've read so much about you, Your Highness. In your Friendship Journal, I mean!" She pointed a claw at the purple-jacketed volume sitting on a display shelf behind the register.
"Oh, call me Twilight, please! And it's wonderful meeting someone who's actually read the thing." Twilight grinned. "I'm here with a group of students from my School of Friendship, on a field trip to see the city and its culture. And I figured it might be interesting for them to learn about the kinds of games ponies like to play. I mean, if you have time, and wouldn't mind answering questions?"
"Not at all. It's not busy right now. I'd be glad to!"
Twilight nodded thankfully. "Oh, and one other thing: my assistant asked me -- well, pestered me is more like it! -- to ask if you might have a Third Edition copy of the Monster Manual from Ogres and Oubliettes? Apparently he wanted to compare the old stats for some of the tougher monsters he's using in his next adventure."
"Absolutely! I probably have that on the used book shelf on the back room. Give me one second and I'll check!"
Diceclaw quickly found and wrapped the book up for Twilight. Then she circulated among the students wandering amongst the shelves, to answer questions.
Smolder was doubtfully picking up boxes and reading the descriptions on the backs of them. "Lemme get this straight," she finally said to the other students. "Instead of actually going out and doing things like fighting monsters, cutting trade deals, and waging battles for dominance and territory... you just sit around playing cards, rolling dice, and pushing little markers around on a piece of cardboard?"
Sandbar shrugged. "Hey, don't knock it. If you don't happen to be a big muscular pony, it evens out the playing field. And it means you can wage no-holds-barred war in your living room and everyone can still go home completely unharmed. And some of these games can be really challenging." He pointed a hoof at a huge box on one shelf. "That one, in particular... it's a test of memory and skill just setting it up to play. But it's totally worth it once you do!"
Ocellus stared wide-eyed at a display table, which had a game board set up, covered with cards, markers, and small colored chips. "We don't have anything like this back in the Changeling Hive!" she whispered.
Sandbar smiled at the others. "Looks like we've got a convert already!"
"I should totally learn some of these games," Ocellus went on. "And then send them back home for the other Changelings to play. We'd be able to settle our disagreements so much more peacefully!"
Pinkie Pie happened to be listening. "Don't send them Ponyopoly!" she warned. "Or you might not have a Hive to go back to. But you should totally talk to Spike, Twilight's assistant. He's our resident game-master back in Ponyville."
"Thanks, I will!"
Near the front of the store, Gallus was chatting with Diceclaw. "So, you started this store pretty much on your own? That's... seriously awesome!"
"Thanks!" She nodded. "It was rough at first, figuring out what to stock, keeping track of orders, and so on. But once I got into the swing of it, things went much more smoothly. And once I felt able to run gaming nights -- phew! I never looked back. Those are so much fun!"
"Gaming nights?"
"Nights when the store is open late, and locals come by to play their favorite games against each other. We've got a bunch of regulars already, and it's nice seeing them again and again. We get the veteran gamers, of course, but we also get businessponies, and students from the University, and families with older children, and customers who wander in off the street to see what the fuss is about. And we get all kinds of species, since it's a college town. There's ponies, and griffons, and dragons from Dragontown... they're really into Clawstrike, by the way! Don't ever challenge a dragon at Clawstrike!"
"I'll... make a note of it," Gallus said.
"And some of the regulars are so hilarious. There's the showboats who can't really play but are a scream to listen to, because they talk a mile a minute, all night long..."
"Sounds like somecreature I know." Gallus glanced at Silverstream, who was enthusing at length to a startled pony customer about some game she herself had only learned about thirty seconds ago.
"... and then there's the quiet ones," Diceclaw went on, "who wait until the very last second to drop that triple damage combo in Assembly of Sorcery. And then there's these two ponies who spend so much time arguing over minutia of rules... it's like they hardly ever finish a game, right?" She smiled. "And then there's Bug Out!"
"Bug Out?" Gallus raised an eyebrow.
"That's not his real name. It's a nickname folks have given him. He's this really huge, really aggressive griffon. He's seriously into wargaming, and he basically loses it at every session and flips the table. Some of the customers even take side bets on how long he'll last!"
Gallus looked uncomfortable. "But... if he's always like that, who'd ever want to play games with him?"
Diceclaw shrugged. "Because he's so apologetic afterward, and he pays for any damage. And he'll always take the time to tutor anycreature who wants to play the games he's expert in. So we've gotten used to him. He's basically just part of the evening's entertainment."
"Wow..." Gallus looked thoughtful. "I never realized anyone could actually learn to like how we griffons behave!"
"That's the funny thing about gaming," Diceclaw agreed. "It gives you something safe to argue about and compete in, so you have a chance to learn about the nice qualities of the creatures you're gaming with."
"I'll... bear that in mind, too!"
Since many of the students had expressed interest in learning some of the more well-known board and card games, Twilight purchased a few of them for the School and had one of Tempest's soldiers take charge of them to bring back to the ship.
And then, gathering up the students, she pressed onwards, leading them up into the heights near the tip of the seaboard peninsula, and onto the main campus of the University of Vanhoover.
"And here we are," she said, proudly. "One of the finer institutions of higher education in all of Equestria!"
And if the population on the streets of downtown had felt mildly diverse, here it was a true melting pot: there were ponies from all the various towns and cities in Equestria, plus a smattering of dragons, griffons, and a fair number of buffalo students. There was even a small group of zebra, trotting quietly in perfect step across the central quad. And Ocellus was pretty sure she could sense a Changeling or two, hidden somewhere amongst the passing students.
"Wow!" Sandbar said. "I thought the School of Friendship was cool, having students from so many cultures studying together. But this place..."
"What pony mean?" Yona glanced around, dismissively. "Yona not see yaks! School not cool without yaks!"
"And hippogriffs!" Silverstream shouted. "Oh yeah, right. We're still just coming out of hiding. And that means... I'm the first one here! YAY!"
"There's all kinds of creatures here," Smolder agreed. "It's nice seeing I'm not the only dragon who wound up being shipped off to school."
"And griffons, too..." Gallus chuckled. "Hey, maybe this school thing isn't going to be as hard as I thought."
"Is that a library over there?" Ocellus pointed with a hoof. "Wow! I wonder how many books it has!"
The students were all looking around now, commenting animatedly, pointing things out to each other.
At the head of the group, Twilight had come to a halt. And she stood there, an uncomfortable look on her face.
"There are a lot of different species here," she said quietly.
Rainbow, standing next to her, shrugged dismissively. "Eh, it probably has a lot to do with this place being so far from Canterlot," she said. "Nobody bothers coming all this way to check up on who's enrolled."
"And too," Applejack added, "this place has been in operation a while. They've had time to bring in students from different cultures bit by bit. Whereas we're basically startin' from scratch, gettin' it all rolling all at once."
"And ya know," Pinkie added, stotting happily, "this place just teaches boring practical stuff like science and art and history and engineering. But we're the only School that's all about teaching Friendship! Yes, indeedy!"
Twilight nodded, dispiritedly. Then she wandered away from the group and came to a halt beside a nearby fountain, staring down into its rippling waters.
Gallus stared after her, puzzled. "Hey, what's up with Headmare Twilight?"
Smolder crossed her arms. "Yeah! I thought she was all about schools and learning and stuff. What's got her so down about this place?"
The students suddenly became aware of Tempest. The Commander had trotted forward from her place at the back of the group, and stood close behind them, staring at Twilight. There was an unreadable look on her face.
"This Friendship School means a lot to her," she said quietly. "She wants it to be the very best it can be. And she's been facing... well, I'll just say she's had to deal with some opposition back home. Some officials have questioned the need for a school devoted to Friendship."
"Oh!" Silverstream looked worried. "There's nothing, well... wrong with it, is there?"
"Nothing at all," Tempest replied evenly. "Why would there be?"
Applejack trotted over and put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "Y'alright there, sugarcube?" she asked gently. "We, uh... we still got a field-trip to finish up here..."
Twilight sighed, and pulled herself together. "You're right, A.J. ... and thanks for reminding me."
"Uh... perhaps, Your Highness..." Tempest said, "we should consider heading back soon? It's getting late in the day. And it'll be a bit of a walk back, even if we take the cross-town train like we planned."
"Good point," Twilight agreed, turning back to the students. "Though I did want you all to have a chance to see what a land-based school was like. So we'll limit ourselves to a quick tour around the campus, just to get a feel for things. And who knows? Maybe along the way we'll see some useful ideas for things we can do at our School, huh?"
The students nodded willingly, and followed after her.
That evening, Twilight sat on the bed in her suite, staring at her ghostly reflection in the window, and the stars visible beyond it. Spike was sitting beside her, scroll and quill ready in his claws. But it had been a while since he'd had to take anything down.
Twilight's friends were gathered in a rough semi-circle on seating cushions on the suite's main floor, in a kind of informal teachers' meeting. But the subject of the conversation at the moment wasn't lesson plans.
"We all get how ya feel, hon," Applejack said. "But it don't help much, takin' it personal-like."
"Yeah, Twi!" Rainbow nodded. "You can't let it get you down."
"I just feel like it's my fault," Twilight said. "I worked so hard, pushed so hard, making the presentation about the School, because it mattered so much to me. I wanted to do everything right, the way it should be, right from the very beginning. And then the EEA shut me down without even giving the School fair consideration... because I threw too much at them all at once."
"So they made a snap judgement!" Rainbow waved a hoof. "Those losers at the EEA aren't perfect. No pony is! They just couldn't handle how awesome our Friendship School could be."
"But the EEA is supposed to oversee educational institutions for all of Equestria," Twilight objected, turning to face them. "Holding them all accountable to the same rigorous-but-fair standard. If they can reject my school out of hoof, just because it's new and unfamiliar and right in front of them... while at the same time turning a blind eye to Vanhoover just because it's old enough and far away enough, what does that say about how impartial they are about other matters?"
"Maybe if you brought that up?" Spike suggested. "Show them there's already an example of a school that admits non-pony students, and that it works out just fine!"
"No, Spike," Twilight said firmly. "They'd simply take that as a reason to come here and kick Vanhoover's students out too. It's not fair to the students. They deserve to be here. This isn't their problem."
"Maybe," Fluttershy offered nervously, "if we did operate with only pony students at first, and showed how well the Friendship School operates, then perhaps... over time..."
"Seriously, Fluttershy?" Rainbow glared at her. "Just give in and let ourselves be bullied by bureaucrats? Let the paper-pushers tell us who we can teach and how? That'd never fly in the Wonderbolts! The reason we flyers all respect Spitfire as Captain is because she's a flyer just like us. We'd never let her decide who's fit to fly if she just sat behind a desk all day, and never flew herself!"
"All I'm saying," Fluttershy said, quietly but determinedly, "is that if we gave the EEA time to see our School for what it really is, on their terms, we might have better luck convincing them."
"But how long would that take?" Rarity shook her head. "It might take years, dahling! And, even assuming we managed to win them over, there's no guarantee they wouldn't just change their minds and take their approval away again, if we change how we operate. Opinion is fickle, that's one thing you learn in the fashion trade."
"The plain truth of the matter is," said Applejack, "that rules exist to help provide some kind of order... but nothin' would ever get done if we had to follow every single one of them all the time! Society gets along as well as it does because we all know darn well the rules only really get enforced when there's a real problem, or if somepony makes a stink. So we cain't really beef about it if'n Vanhoover gets a pass, simply 'cause there haven't been any problems here lately."
"But why should things be wrong," Twilight asked, "only because they're new? And just how long do you have to wait, to be allowed to change what should change?" She shook her head, frustrated.
Applejack shrugged. Then she looked at Pinkie Pie, who was sitting next to her. "How 'bout you, Pinkster? You've been awful quiet so far. I'm startin' to worry about ya."
"I dunno!" Pinkie Pie said breezily. "I just know that when it's time for a party, you don't put it off. Especially if whoever it is you're throwing it for really, really needs one!"
Twilight looked up at her. And smiled. "You're right, Pinkie!"
"Great! I love being right!" Then she looked puzzled. "Uh, what am I right about?"
"We can't do this by half-measures, a little at a time, hoping to be ignored," Twilight said. "We have to draw a hard line. And if something's right in a hundred years, it's right today. So we need to draw that line right now. It's all or nothing!"
She sighed, and turned her head to stare out through the window again.
"I just wish it didn't have to be like this. I wish we could be a school like any other, that what we have to offer was normal enough that it wouldn't be an issue!"
"Shoot!" Applejack grinned. "If'n friendship were that normal, there'd be nothing to teach, right?"
"I suppose..."
There was a polite rap at the suite's main doors.
It swung open, and Tempest looked in. "Excuse me, Your Highness... could I have a moment?"
"Oh, right!" Twilight said, hopping down from the bed. "Just a sec, everypony. This won't take long."
She followed Tempest out into the corridor.
"I just wanted to suggest," Tempest said quietly, "tomorrow might be a good time... while we're on our way back to Ponyville."
"And you're sure no one will be in any danger? Especially not the students."
"None whatsoever, Your Highness." Tempest smiled. "My soldiers have strict orders."
"All right, then! I'll leave the details to you. Just give me a signal when you're about to start."
"I will. And good night, Princess."
"Good night, Tempest!"
Twilight trotted back into the suite, to some curious looks from her friends.
"What was that about, dahling?" Rarity asked.
"Oh, nothing! I just asked Tempest to give me an estimate about when we'd be getting back to Ponyville, so we can plan tomorrow's classes. Speaking of which... have you given any thought to your homework assignments, for when the students are visiting the library at the Friendship Castle?"
The sudden change of subject prompted some wondering glances back and forth. Nevertheless, they all willingly changed gears and started discussing how their various assignments might be tailored to work together effectively.
And in the corridor outside, Tempest stood for a moment, quietly going over plans in her mind. And then she swiftly turned and took the stairs down to the student's level.
She patrolled along the starboard corridor, past the student quarters, making her rounds as usual, in no hurry. Coming to the rear stairwell, she climbed back up two levels to the main deck. And found Grubber in conversation with a winged soldier who'd just arrived from one of the other airships.
"Oh, hey, Tempest!" Grubber said, as she approached. "Fred here got in touch with you-know-who." He held up a message scroll. "And they're ready for tomorrow, whenever we want to drop the hammer. We just need to let 'em know when!"
"Good. I just checked on Twilight," Tempest replied. "We'll time it for eight in the morning, just as classes start. That should be the perfect time to catch them all napping!"
"And Twilight doesn't even know when it's goin' down?"
"Of course not. She knows how much I like surprises. And this one should catch even her unawares!" She glanced at the soldier. "Right, Fred, that'll be all. On your way."
The soldier saluted, then flapped into the air and flew back across to the other airship. The ship came about smoothly and headed off, slipping away through the night-shrouded clouds.
Tempest watched it go, smiling to herself. And then she and Grubber turned and headed down below.
And above, around the edge of the hard ceiling beneath the airship's balloon... a bright blue avian head appeared.
"Okay..." Gallus whispered to himself. "That sounded... ominous..."
"I'm tellin' you, she's up to something!" Gallus said, after having quietly made his way back to room 6A. "Look, I followed Commander Tempest..."
"Seriously?" Smolder interrupted, eyeing him. "And she didn't spot you? You've got more horns than I gave you credit for, griffon!"
"Uh, thanks... I suppose. Anyway, I overheard her talking with that hedgehog who works for her. Tempest's got something planned for tomorrow morning. She didn't say what it was, but it sure didn't sound like one of Professor Pie's parties. And she's not alone in this... she's bringing in outside help. She's been using one of her ships to send secret messages to them."
"Are you sure?" Ocellus asked nervously. "I mean, Tempest is really scary, but... well, she wouldn't turn on Headmare Twilight, would she?"
Gallus rotated a claw beside his head. "I said she's got a few screws loose! She's probably planning to take Twilight hostage!"
"Yona not see!" The yak snorted. "Why Tempest do that?"
"Who can say, with her?" Gallus shrugged. "Maybe it's for ransom. I mean, Twilight is a Princess, after all. Or maybe Tempest is just doing it for laughs. How the fluff should I know? I'm not the power-mad crazy-pony!"
"Waaait a second..." Sandbar suddenly looked worried. "Tempest mentioned that the School is facing some kind of official opposition back home. What if Tempest is secretly working for... well, whoever it is?"
"Right!" Gallus nodded. "Maybe Tempest is going to take Twilight captive... in order to make the School seem too dangerous! So it'll be shut down!"
"Shut down the School?" Silverstream cried. "No no no! They can't do that! We've only just started classes! I've only just learned where my desk is! Would they put us in another school? Would they just send us back home? Aaaah! We need to warn Twilight and the other professors!"
"Warn them of what?" Smolder sneered. "Seriously, what have we got? Gallus thinks he overheard Tempest planning... something. We're just guessing at the rest. Where's the proof?"
Gallus thought about it. "That ship she's using to send messages back and forth... when it gets back later tonight, we could go over there and search it. Maybe we'll find something we can use as evidence."
"I dunno..." Sandbar said. "That sounds awful risky... being caught out after curfew, for starters."
"More risky than just doing nothing? Letting Tempest get away with it?" Gallus looked around. "So, who's in?"
"Meh, I'll go with you..." Smolder swatted a claw. "If only to see you prove yourself wrong."
"Yona go too! Yona not afraid." The yak stamped her hoof proudly.
The others still looked doubtful, but eventually nodded. Sandbar was the final holdout, then he reluctantly gave in. "Well... I guess I should tag along with you guys," he said. "Just to make sure you don't get into trouble."
They waited a decent interval, uselessly attempting to pass the time by studying. Finally, Gallus came back to the room with word that the Tempest's messenger ship had returned.
They checked the hallway. Seeing no one, the students crept out of the room and along the corridor to the aft stairs, then climbed them.
Just as they'd reached the admin deck, they heard hoofsteps coming from around the corner.
All at once, Ocellus darted to the head of the group. There was a flash, and the other students found themselves looking...
... at Headmare Twilight.
Fluttershy and Angel the bunny came around the corner. The pegasus came to a halt, looking surprised.
"Oh my! Twilight! Where are you all headed?"
"Uh... just... a quick science lesson!" Twilight smiled nervously. "Right! I'm taking the students up on deck to show them a few of the northern constellations!" She added a weak grin.
Fluttershy apparently took this to be totally normal behavior for the headmare. "Oh, that's a wonderful idea!" she said. "Have fun!" Turning, she trotted off down the stairs. Angel paused to stare at them for a moment longer, grumbling distrustfully to himself. And then he hopped down the stairs after Fluttershy.
When it was clear they were all alone again, there was another flash and Ocellus was standing before them, gasping in relief.
"O-kay..." Smolder said as they turned to climb the stairs to the main deck. "I take back everything I said about you...that was cool!"
"Thanks!" Ocellus came to a halt. "Wait... what have you been saying about me?"
To their surprise, the main deck was empty. "Where's the guards?" Sandbar asked, as they crossed to the starboard railing.
"Probably wherever Tempest is," Gallus replied. "Don't turn your beak up at found money." He pointed. "There's the ship, that one over there with the crack in the stern."
"Uh huh," Smolder nodded. "And... how do we all get over there?"
"Duh, wings?" Gallus spread his.
"Works for some of us," Sandbar said. "What about Yona and me?"
"Easy." Gallus leapt into the air, and then snatched up Sandbar in his claws. Taking the hint, Smolder and Silverstream took wing, and together they grabbed hold of Yona by her forehooves. And Ocellus followed along by herself.
"Yaaa!" Yona squirmed uneasily, staring at the drop below. "Yaks not good at flying!"
"Oh come on, Yona!" Silverstream laughed.
"Yeah," Smolder added. "What's so difficult about it? We're the ones doing all the hard work here."
Realizing her friends had a firm grip on her, Yona calmed down a bit. And then began smiling... and laughing along with them, as the slipstream whipped her coat and braids behind her. "Yes! Flying is best!"
"Congratulations, Yona!" Silverstream said, with a giggle. "You are officially the weirdest thing I've seen at the School so far."
"What about you, Ocellus?" Sandbar called. "Can you be weirder than a flying yak?"
The students looked where Ocellus had been... and collectively blinked in astonishment. Pacing them was one of Tempest's flying soldiers.
"Relax," Ocellus said to them. "It's only me."
"Okay..." Gallus nodded, approvingly. "Now that my heart's started up again, that is pretty cool!"
Ocellus, in her soldier form, led the group as they came in for a landing on the other ship. Dropping lightly onto the deck, she glanced around, then quickly motioned for the others to join her. They did so, with Yona making a fairly rough but relatively quiet four-point landing on her hooves.
With a flash, Ocellus was back in her own form again. "No one around," she whispered, in a worried tone. "Are you sure this is the right ship?"
"Positive," Gallus said. "Let's check belowdecks... but quietly!"
They moved to a nearby bulkhead door, pulled it open, and descended the stairs. Below they found a corridor, and they followed it forward. All was silent around them... except for the sound of voices up ahead.
They crept forward to the ship's captain's cabin, and peered through the doors, which stood slightly ajar.
Inside, they saw Commander Tempest, in full body armor, standing with her forehooves resting on a map-table lit by candle-lanterns. And across from her was a shadowy, cloaked figure, its back to the doors.
"... and then you know, the fun really begins," Tempest said. She pointed a hoof at a diagram on the table. "I take Princess Twilight hostage in her suite. And you and your crew take charge of the students, who will be gathered in the main auditorium here."
The cloaked figure paused for a moment as if surprised. Then it nodded and spoke. "And then we wait for them to be ransomed?"
"Actually... I have a better idea." Tempest smiled evilly. "We use them as bait... to lure the Princesses of Canterlot out into the open. And then we finish the job I started under the Storm King: the total subjugation of Equestria!"
The students all stared, in shocked disbelief. Unable to contain her nervousness, Silverstream gasped, claws pressed to her beak.
At the sound, Tempest looked up sharply, towards the doorway. The cloaked figure turned to look as well. And then the students heard loud footfalls... behind them.
"What have we got here?" said one of the shadowy figures looming in the dark corridor.
"Looks like a pack of stowaways to me," said the other.
"Stowaways, eh? What're we supposed to do with them?"
"That's for the Captain to decide. What say ye, Cap'n?"
The cloaked figure pushed back its hood, revealing a lime-crested avian head. Smolder stared, unable to believe her eyes... and then she really hoped no one had noticed her reaction.
The pirate Captain eyed them coldly. "Commander Tempest says..."
She paused for effect. Her eyes narrowed.
"...throw them in... the brig..."
The students cowered in terror as the pirates reached for them...
The students were split up and locked securely in separate cabins along a lower corridor of the warship.
Or so Gallus assumed, since he was shut up in his cabin first. He paced angrily around the room. It was about the size of one the dorms on the Friendship, and had a soft bed and a small cupboard with a water jug and cup sitting on it. It was actually surprisingly comfortable, for a prison cell.
There was also a porthole. It was far too small to get through and the thick glass was much too strong to break. But it afforded a very good view of the Friendship, hanging in the air a short distance away.
"Ugh! Silverstream was right," he grumbled. "We should have gone straight to the professors."
Gallus's only hope was that the professors would eventually realize there were students missing, and start looking for them. But he realized that Tempest had planned it all extremely well. The attack would happen early in the morning, at the start of classes, before their teachers had any chance to take notice of missing students... because Tempest herself was in charge of doing room-checks on the students after hours.
He tried rapping hard on the wall, to see if any of the other students had wound up in the cabin next to his. But the walls were metal-clad heavy oak. He just wound up sucking his hurt knuckles in annoyance.
With nothing else to do he flung himself onto the bed, claws behind his head on the pillow. And waited. And thought.
And after a long while, since it was really late, he fell asleep.
He was awakened by the sound of tramping steps in the corridor outside. It sounded like an entire army was being mobilized.
Jumping up, he went to the porthole and peered out, squinting against the early-morning sunlight.
He had a perfect ringside view as an unfamiliar walnut-hued airship, with Tempest's mark on its armored prow, swept in on full sail and smoke-billowing engines from the cloudbanks to the starboard side of the Friendship, and took up station alongside.
Gallus heard the extended alert blast of the Friendship's horn, and saw Tempest's soldiers mobilizing on its deck, shooing panicky students below, presumably to gather them into the main classroom. Additional soldiers from Tempest's other warships were already flying across, taking up defensive positions on the Friendship's main deck.
At the same time, pirates from the invading ship were launching arrows with ropes attached, and using them to swing across. The pirates quickly formed up in a wedge facing the Friendship's soldiers, weapons at the ready. At the head of the group was the lime-crested pirate captain that Gallus had seen the night before. The captain was in full battle kit, with leather armor and swords at her waist, and wearing a large tricornered pirate's hat atop her head.
From belowdecks Tempest emerged, wearing full armor. She trotted forward to stand opposite the pirate captain. The two leaders faced off, staring at each other for a long, tense moment...
... and then the captain and Tempest companionably teamed up and headed below, accompanied by soldiers and pirates alike, leaving a small force of Tempest's soldiers abovedecks to keep watch.
Unable to do anything about it, Gallus pounded the wall in frustration. "How could we let this happen!"
Then he shook his claw, wincing. "Ow. That's... not helping..."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Stay calm, everyone," Twilight said to the students as she trotted along the student-level corridor, looking for stragglers. "Remember, head for the main classroom for roll-call. Quickly but safely, now."
She came to the side door of the main classroom herself, and looked in to check that Applejack and Rarity had already begun taking attendance, as they'd planned. She didn't see Gallus and the other international students yet, but she wasn't concerned. Tempest had said she was rounding them up herself.
She trotted onward, around the curve of the corridor, to the stairwell leading up.
And suddenly found herself confronting a familiar face. Several familiar faces, in fact.
"Captain!" she said, pleased. "This is a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?"
Captain Celaeno smiled back. Then she drew her sword. Twilight found herself staring cross-eyed at its finely sharpened point.
"Commandeering your vessel, of course... what else would no-account scurvy scoundrels like us do?"
Twilight blinked. "Uhhh... help us save Equestria? More than once? Er... Captain? You are joking, right?" She leaned around Celaeno to look worriedly at Tempest, standing right behind the parrot captain with a sternly watchful expression on her face.
Captain Celaeno held her own fierce glare a moment longer. Then she put up her sword. And laughed pleasantly.
"Well of course I am, Your Highness! Who do you take me for?"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
With nothing else to do, Gallus went back to the bed and thumped down on it, his head in his claws. He felt completely helpless and alone.
Then there was a soft, almost genteel rap on the door. It opened, and one of Tempest's soldiers looked in. It was the gold-and-black furred one, the one Tempest had introduced as Strife.
"Mister Gallus," the soldier said. His voice had the soft, respectful monotone of an undertaker at a funeral. "Sorry you've been kept waiting. Would you come with me, please?"
Surrounded by soldiers, with no opportunity to escape, Gallus was quickly returned to the Friendship... alone. None of the other students were in evidence. Gallus kept his beak shut, hoping against hope that some or all of the Odd Squad had managed to escape and raise the alarm.
On reaching the lavender ship, Gallus was quickly escorted down the forward stairs and around into the main classroom...
... and there he found Headmare Twilight, the pirate captain, and Commander Tempest all standing calmly together on the stage like old friends, waiting for him with large smiles on their faces. Spike and Grubber were standing next to their respective ponies, grinning like gargoyles.
The other professors were present too, sitting amongst the students on the ranks of seats... including the members of the Odd Squad, sitting together down front as usual, and grinning just as broadly as everyone else. And to either side of the stage, and ranged around the upper curve of the room, were the other parrot pirates, accompanied watchfully by Tempest's soldiers.
And at the sight of Gallus's astonished face, everyone in the room burst into laughter.
"Mister Gallus!" called out Tempest, when the laughter had died down somewhat. "I see you're late for class yet again. And wandering around out of your room after hours? My, my! You're flirting with detention, you know."
Gallus stared around at everyone. He didn't know whether to be relieved, outraged, or just plain dumbstruck. He glared at Tempest. "You mean... this was all a gag? A put-on? Just to set me up?"
"Oh, no, not at all." Twilight shook her head. "Commander Tempest and I had always planned to conduct an emergency preparedness drill at some point during this shakedown flight, just to be sure we'd be ready against an actual assault. And let me add," she said to the students, "you all handled it calmly and maturely. I was very impressed!"
"Absolutely," Celaeno said, nodding. "If this had been an actual pirate assault, I doubt you'd have had anything to worry about. But we'd have had a fine fight on our claws!" She glanced at Tempest, who nodded at the compliment.
"As you can see," Twilight went on, "our Commander took the opportunity to add a little, well... realism to the drill."
"That's putting it mildly," Gallus grumbled, coming down the steps to a gleeful welcome by his roommates.
Tempest tsk-ed gently at him. "You think I missed you tailing me, Mister Gallus? Looking for an opportunity to catch me out? Can't very well blame me for turning the tables on you, can you? And this was such a good opportunity, I couldn't resist. I love surprises, you know." She glared warningly around the room. "As long as I'm the one dishing them out..."
"You certainly surprised me!" Twilight said, eyeing her. Then she turned back to the students. "Commander Tempest got in touch with a mutual friend of ours, and asked her to oblige us by playing the invading force for this drill. Students, would you please give a warm Friendship School welcome to Captain Celaeno and her crew of, ah... swashbuckling treasure hunters, do I have that right?"
"That's us, Princess!" The parrot captain stepped forward, doffed her hat, and took a bow for the applauding students. "Well!" she added, as she came up again, "when we heard that there was a pirate school plying the skies, we felt honor-bound to swing by and check it out. Give all of you fresh-faced swabs a chance to see what actual pirates are like!"
"Pirate school?" Ocellus echoed, with a puzzled look. But she fell silent as Celaeno went on speaking.
"You might look upon us," the Captain said, "as nothing but a band of bloodthirsty, scheming, villainous cutthroats, who'd stop at nothing for a sack of bits." Celaeno eyed the students in mock seriousness... then broke it with a disarming smile. "And we wouldn't mind that, it'd be great for our image. But, when you get right down to it, we're... a family of sorts." She gestured to the other pirates, standing beside the stage on either side. "We sail together, we fight together... and yes, we scavenge for riches where we can find them. But the one thing we like most -- and Princess Twilight and her friends kindly helped us remember this a while back -- is fighting together as a team, in a worthy cause!"
She smiled at Twilight. "And from the looks of things, it seems that's just what you're doing here, Princess. So, speaking as one head of a family to another, I salute you! And I am so glad I didn't throw you and your friends overboard when you stowed away on my ship."
The students all looked surprised by that. But Twilight nodded in response. "Absolutely true! Though Captain Celaeno didn't have to throw us off her ship. We did it ourselves, to save her the trouble." She waved a hoof. "Don't worry, I'll explain it all later, when we have a spare moment in history class. But for now... Captain, would you and your crew have time to give us an impromptu class in swashbuckling? And then maybe join us for lunch? I still owe you for that meal you gave us, after all."
"We'd be honored, Your Highness!"
With Twilight and Celaeno in the lead, and Tempest and her soldiers bringing up the rear to watch for stragglers, the students, their teachers, and the pirates all headed up to the main deck. And they spent a pleasantly exciting morning learning about sword play and swinging on boarding ropes, about forming plans for mass assault on an unsuspecting target... and learning about what it meant to be a family, plying the skies, working together. And how to tell a good cause when you saw one, so you could willingly throw yourself into it, without reservation.
Even Gallus begrudgingly got over his embarrassment, and eventually was trading swipes with wooden practice swords with Smolder and Sandbar with happy abandon.
But every now and then he and Tempest would exchange glances.
This isn't over, his look said.
Bring it, mister! her smug look said in return. Any time you like!
The Friendship finally made landfall again in Ponyville, in the meadow behind Twilight's castle, lowering its landing ramp so the students and their professors could disembark on hoof... or foot, or claw, as the case might be.
Starlight Glimmer was waiting for them, standing by the end of the ramp with her clipboard in hoof, checking off names as the students exited the ship. "Welcome to the Friendship Castle, everyone!" she called. "Students who will be heading over to the Castle for the early orientation and study session, form up behind me, please. Any students who are local to Ponyville, you're more than welcome to take a couple hours to visit your families, but please be back by three for the afternoon orientation session! Thanks so much!"
A few of the local pony students headed into town. The rest congregated around Starlight, and then followed her around the Castle to its entrance. Spike headed to the Castle as well, to work on an afternoon tea for the students. And most of the professors headed off to their homes and businesses, to check up on their own responsibilities.
The Odd Squad, being new in town for the most part, were the last students down the ramp, and were escorted at a discreet distance by Twilight, Tempest, and Grubber. The six students chatted amiably amongst themselves, comparing notes on what they liked the most.
"I liked Vanhoover," Sandbar said. "Being able to actually see places and cultures, instead of just reading about them!"
Smolder laughed. "He just liked the all-you-can-eat Dragon food buffet!"
"Yeah, well, I've always liked Dragon food. You dragons really know how to cook!"
"Huh! We'll go out for some real lava-rocks some time," Smolder warned him. "That'll cure you of your taste for it."
"Okay!" Sandbar agreed readily. "You're on!"
Smolder rolled her eyes, and tossed her claws in the air. "Does no pony ever get sarcasm?"
"Don't mind him." Gallus shrugged. "He's just like that. What I really liked was how all the griffons we met seemed to find ways of fitting in here. I mean Diceclaw runs her own store, for crying out loud! And that other griffon... Bug Out? He's loud and rude and obnoxious, yet ponies treat him like that's a good thing. That was... an eye-opener."
"The field-trip was really super," Silverstream allowed. "But I loved the classes too. I looooved Professor Pie's baking class! How we all got to make stuff, and then share it with each other!"
"If you can stomach Smolder's briquette-flavor cupcakes!" Gallus said, grinning at her.
"Yeah, well, some dragons just aren't into cooking," she tossed back.
"What about you, Ocellus?" Sandbar asked. "What did you like best?"
"Um... reading?"
The students rolled their eyes. "Why did I not guess that?" Gallus said.
But Ocellus went on, her eyes shining and a smile on her face. "I loved how I could read stuff in class, and then apply it right away when we went on the field-trip. Like knowing about that smudging ceremony, and the history of the Buffalo tribes. It really made it feel like it was worth learning all those facts about pony history. I've always had a knack for reading, ever since we changelings started keeping a library. But it was wonderful being able to put that to use!"
"Not to mention her mad mimicry skills." Smolder nudged Ocellus's shoulder. "I mean, that impression of Headmare Twilight was dead on!"
Ocellus hunched nervously. "Um... I hope no one thinks I was making fun of her."
"Nah, it's a compliment!" Gallus said. "You got her exactly right. You've been paying more attention in class than the rest of us put together!"
Ocellus smiled happily at that.
Then they all looked at Yona. Yona looked back at them. And then Yona gave her opinion, simply and succinctly:
"YONA LIKE FLYING WITH FRIENDS BEST!"
When they'd all recovered, Smolder nodded in agreement. "Yeah, the six of us teaming up like that, that was pretty awesome." She glanced around, a little self-consciously, and then shrugged and went on. "But my personal favorite was the pirates. They rocked, dragon-style!"
"Ooooh! Yes!" Silverstream cried. "I thought Captain Celaeno was a-ma-zing! She was just totally in charge, you know what I mean?"
"She must have been," Gallus said. "I still can't believe she talked all of you into keeping the secret that long."
"Yeah, well..." Smolder said cautiously, scratching at one of her horns with a claw. "She just... seemed like someone we could trust." The dragon suddenly looked somber, almost wistful, thinking of a favorite toy she would never see again. "She was all right... more all right than I would have imagined..."
Gallus eyed her, puzzled. Then he shrugged. "But yeah, once I got over being the butt of the joke, I've got to admit it... that lesson with the pirates was the coolest class of all. Learning about what the pirate life is like... swashbuckling... swordfighting..."
"Takin' your attitude and showin' it to the world," Sandbar said, swinging a hoof, "standing up to everyone, not worrying about anyone giving you grief for it..."
"Um... and working together as a family?" Ocellus quietly reminded them. "For a good cause?"
"Oh, yeah," Smoulder waved a claw dismissively. "That too!"
Yona stamped her hooves. "Yona want be pirate yak! Arrrrr!"
"Yes!" Silverstream cried. "I wish they were our regular teachers!"
"I'd never be late for class," Ocellus agreed.
"You never are, anyway." Gallus smirked at her. "Hey, I wonder what a pirate final exam would be like... might give me a reason to actually want to study!"
"That'd be a first," Smolder said, with a snide grin. "But sure, it'd be cool if we had pirates swing by for lessons on every trip!"
The students all laughed, nodding in agreement. Behind them, Twilight smiled happily, proud of how well her most diverse group of students were getting along. She glanced at Tempest, who smirked proudly.
And then...
... a voice spoke up from right behind them... cold, and sternly disapproving.
"Am I hearing this correctly? This school employs actual pirates as teaching staff?"
They all turned. A shimmering blue vortex portal had appeared at the head of the ramp, and through it a familiar gray, goateed unicorn had stepped out.
"Chancellor Neighsay?" Twilight gasped.
"How nice of you to recall my name -- and my office, Princess Twilight!" He strode haughtily down the ramp towards her. "Bad enough that you disagreed with the EEA's decision regarding admission of non-ponies to your so-called 'school'. But teaching your students about pirating? Hmph! I wonder if the rest of your 'curriculum' has been similarly lax?"
"Chancellor," Twilight replied, forcing herself to speak calmly, "the Friendship School has accomplished exactly what it set out to do. As you can see, we've shown that students from all nations can learn to live and work together, in the best tradition of friendship."
She gestured to the Odd Squad, who were standing behind her watching the exchange in surprise.
"Those are students?" Neighsay glared at them in affronted disbelief. "Well, be that as it may... as I informed you when you presented this ill-advised idea, allowing non-ponies to attend is not in accordance with the EEA's guidelines. Guidelines, I might add, that the EEA has established for the protection of Equestria and its citizens from... undesirable elements!" He glared at the students, who stared back angrily.
"Yona confused... unicorn think yaks no need friendship?" She stamped a hoof. "Maybe yaks no need pony school!"
Neighsay sneered at her. "Well, then... perhaps you should just return to your kind!"
"Chancellor!" Twilight said, before the shocked students could respond. "You need take a clear, reasoned look at what we've accomplished so far. If you could see the report I plan to present to their Highnesses Celestia and Luna on our progress..."
"All I see," Neighsay retorted, unimpressed, "is proof of the importance of an organization such as the EEA, to provide guidance -- and, if necessary, enforcement -- of the laws governing the education of Equestria's students!"
Twilight suddenly brightened up. She smiled confidently at him, playing her high card:
"Laws which -- in this particular case -- don't apply."
"Don't they?" Neighsay smiled, in a way that made Twilight suddenly feel like she'd taken a step too far on very thin ice. He gestured a hoof at the landing ramp they were both standing on. "The moment this so-called 'pirate school' touched Equestrian soil, it came under the aegis of the EEA's legal purview." Neighsay drew himself up formally. "And as such, I find it in violation of numerous statues: unapproved teaching plans, inappropriate instruction methods... and extremely lax admission standards!" He briefly glowered at the Odd Squad again.
"And as such, by order of the EEA... I am shutting this school down!"
He swung towards the ship. His horn blazed alight. The entry doors at the head of the ramp slammed shut. Swirling blue arcs of magic encircled the hull of the ship, coalescing into heavy spectral chains, encasing it tightly. And the chains met on a massive wax-like seal bearing the EEA symbol, plastered right across the entry door.
Neighsay turned back to Twilight, a satisfied smirk on his face. Twilight stared back, at a loss for words.
Then she suddenly noticed that Tempest, standing beside her, had tensed angrily. There was a dark, forbidding scowl on the Commander's face. Her broken horn sizzled dangerously.
"Let me at him, Your Highness..." Tempest whispered dangerously, "... they can only execute me once..."
"Tempest!" Twilight hissed back. Then she spoke more loudly, somehow managing to keep her voice even. "Commander, will you please escort the students into the castle, show them where the library is, and then keep an eye on them? The Chancellor and I need to have a word... in private."
Tempest eyed her. For a moment, Twilight worried that Tempest was actually going to launch herself at Neighsay anyway. And then the Commander drew herself up formally, her horn silencing. Turning about, she moved to shepherd the students towards the castle's main entrance. Though it was not without her casting one final glance in Neighsay's direction.
You live today! her look said. Consider yourself lucky!
Once they were alone, Twilight went on.
"Chancellor, I wish you would reconsider. Don't throw away what we've accomplished here."
"Don't you mean what you have accomplished here?" Neighsay countered. "Can you honestly say, Princess, that you are concerned with the welfare of Equestria's students, and not merely your own self-aggrandisement, in flaunting the EEA guidelines like this?"
"I am not opposed to the EEA's guidelines..." Twilight said.
"I'm delighted to hear it," Neighsay sneered.
"... just the spirit in which you enforce them. The presumption of Equestrian superiority... when we ourselves have so much to learn in the process of teaching Friendship to students from the other nations."
"We have nothing to learn." Neighsay sniffed. "It is for us to teach them. And we won't accomplish that with... cafeteria stewardship! Allowing institutions to conform merely to the standards they happen to approve of! There is one standard, Highness! And it is our standard, approved and battle-tested! Fair and impartial! The EEA stands ready to defend Equestria from all who would threaten the very core of our society!"
Twilight shut her mouth tightly... to keep what she wanted to say from burning her tongue to ashes.
"Chancellor," she finally said. "I intend to make a full report to the Princesses Celestia and Luna... on the progress of our School to date, and the numerous points in its favor. I'll let our success speak for itself!"
"I wish you joy of it, Princess," Neighsay retorted coldly. "And I shall look forward to reviewing your revised, conformant plans for this so-called School, once you have them. Do feel free to remind me... after all, I have many important tasks requiring my attention." He smiled thinly. "Good day to you!"
Re-summoning the vortex portal, he stepped through it. The portal vanished, leaving Twilight staring helplessly at the forbidding seal, barring the door of her School.
She felt utterly devastated, unsure of what to say to her students...
... or to Princess Celestia...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In the castle's main library, the Odd Squad were seated around a table near the door, looking at each other uneasily. Some of them had pulled books from the shelves and were making a half-hearted attempt at their homework assignments. But no one felt particularly like studying at the moment.
Starlight and the other students were apparently off on the initial orientation tour, somewhere in the castle's confusing tangle of corridors. Commander Tempest had sent Grubber to locate Starlight, and then she'd firmly shut the library doors and sat down beside them to wait. She was clearly following her orders to the letter, not taking her eyes off the students for a moment. Yet it was patently clear from the expression on her face that it was the last thing she wanted to be doing.
"Oooh! I hope we're not in trouble," Silverstream gasped. "For wanting to go to school! That would be... uh, ironic? Right? Because it's the opposite of how things should be, and it's not intended to hurt anyone?"
Sandbar thought about it, then nodded sadly. "Yeah, that sounds about right."
"Yona feel like bad yak!" Yona frowned. "Should Yona feel bad? Yona rather not feel bad, if others wondering."
Ocellus looked uncomfortable. "When Captain Celaeno mentioned this was a pirate school, I thought she was only joking. It looks like she wasn't."
"You mean our school was actually illegal, the whole time?" Gallus smirked. "Hey, that makes me glad I came here. I feel like I fit in now."
"Extra-legal," Tempest corrected, startling them. She eyed them, and then went on. "As I said, there's been official resistance to an international school of Friendship. Princess Twilight took it upon herself to employ a method of operating the school that's... well, outside official legal boundaries."
"That's even cooler," Gallus nodded appreciatively. "And that Chancellor wasn't happy about it. He came down on her hard."
"She should have told him off!" Smolder said. "Dragons never put up with crap like that. We don't let anyone push us around. Um, except for Dragon Lord Ember. Every dragon follows the Dragon Lord's orders."
"But," Sandbar asked, "what if your Dragon Lord told you to do something you didn't want to do?"
Smolder held up her claws in astonishment. "Uh, hello? How do you think I wound up here? But I feel just like Tempest," she added, jerking a thumb in the Commander's direction. "The way that Chancellor Horseface was looking at us, I wanted to give him a good scorching to remind him who he was talking to!"
"That's true," Silverstream nodded. "Tempest was really cross with him. I mean I've seen her get angry with us. But I've never seen her get that angry! Like she wanted to bite our heads off!"
Tempest raised an eyebrow at that. "I've never been angry with you," she said mildly, then shrugged. "Just uncompromisingly strict, because that's the job I signed up for. In fact, I've found you six to be the most entertaining part of this whole trip. It's been a kind of perverse pleasure, keeping all you students whipped in line."
Sandbar looked at Tempest uneasily. Pleasant chattiness from their unforgiving truant officer was feeling a little surreal. "So... what's up between you and the Chancellor?" he cautiously asked. "Did he kick you out of school or something?"
Tempest shook her head. "Oh no... much, much worse!" Her voice was silky-smooth, her eyes glaring dangerously at them. "He disappointed Princess Twilight!"
Startled, the students looked at each other for a moment. And then broke out laughing. After a moment, Tempest smirked, and joined in as well.
Ocellus was the first to speak. "I guess you really like Princess Twilight, huh?"
"I do consider her a very close friend," Tempest agreed, "As her bodyguard, I have a professional bone to pick with anyone who gets in her way. And on a personal level..." Tempest sighed unhappily. "During the Storm King's invasion of Canterlot, I was in a really bad place. Princess Twilight trusted me, helped me find my way out of it. She helped me to re-find my sense of purpose, my sense of self, my place among ponies. And I do really admire her for that..."
She s suddenly stamped a forehoof angrily, the armored shoe ringing on the tiled floor.
"... because she's the kindest, most understanding pony I know! I can't stand seeing anyone walk all over that. I can't stand just sitting here, unable to do anything about it! Because ponies like her are few and far between! They need someone to stand up for them, make room for them, force others to listen to them, kick down the door if necessary! And, if I can do nothing else in this world... that is something I can do!"
She realized the students were all staring at her wide-eyed. She lowered her eyes, embarrassed by the outburst. "I just... feel like I owe her my entire life," she said quietly.
"Yona understand." The yak smiled. "Tempest pony okay in Yona book!"
The others nodded as well.
"Thanks..." Tempest looked up at them with a wry smile. "You know... I hadn't actually planned on doing the whole opening-up-and-getting-to-know-you thing for a while yet. But... I'm kinda glad I did, just the same..."
Further conversation was halted when the library doors gleamed with magenta magic, and then swung open.
Twilight stepped into the room, a solemn look on her face.
"Headmare Twilight!" Silverstream leapt into the air and hovered nervously. "Is the school shut down? Are you in trouble? Are we in trouble? Are we going to be sent to another school? Are we going to be sent home? Do we still have to turn in our book reports on Monday? Is there anything we can do to help?"
The other students looked at each other. "Uh, yeah," Sandbar added lamely, "everything she just said."
Twilight took a moment, and then spoke.
"The Friendship School is temporarily shut down," she said. "And I want to apologize to you all for not explaining our... unusual legal status. I didn't want it to interfere with your studies. It was my worry, not yours." She looked downcast, and went on in a sad monotone. "As you saw, the EEA has certain reservations about our methods. They feel the School conflicts with their guidelines. And thus the School needed to be closed down, pending further discussion, and..."
"Well, that's just dumb!" Smolder interrupted. She glanced around, and then shrugged. "I mean, okay, I wasn't into this place all that much at first, but... yeah, I like it here! The Friendship School is all right!"
"Have to say," Gallus agreed, "I'm learning things here I'd never have learned at home. About ponies, about griffons, and about all the rest of you too. Seems worth it to me."
"And our school is so much better than that school in Vanhoover," Ocellus piped up. "Because our school can fly! Instead of just sitting in classrooms, we get to have our lessons someplace new, every single day! I like our school!"
"Yona not want Headmare Twilight unhappy! Yona like Friendship School too!"
"Yay! Go Friendship!" Silverstream shouted. "Oooh, is that our new school cheer?"
Sandbar shrugged, grinning. "It'll do, until we come up with something better!"
Twilight looked at them all, a hesitant smile spreading across her face.
"Don't worry," she said. "I'm heading to Canterlot right now, to speak with Princesses Celestia and Luna. I'll describe the wonderful progress you've all made, and I hope I'll be back soon with good news. In the meantime, I'd like all you to keep busy with your homework assignments. Tempest, can I ask you and Starlight to manage things here until I get back?"
"You... don't want me with you, Highness?"
"It's probably better for me to do this one alone. And despite what Chancellor Neighsay seems to think, the well-being of our students is our top priority. So I'll need you to see to that."
Tempest nodded. "Consider it done, Your Highness. And we'll see you when you get back."
Twilight smiled in return, and left through the doors, shutting them behind her.
Outside, on the path in front of the castle, Twilight gradually came to a halt, feeling her confidence and determination ebbing away. She cast a long, sad look back towards the Friendship, still encased in the EEA's seal-spell.
What am I going to do? she wondered. What am going to I ask for? And do I have any justification in asking for it?
Still feeling like she didn't have an answer, she was about to spread her wings and take off.
And then the doors to the castle gleamed with blue magic and were flung open.
"Hey, Twilight! Wait a moment! You forgot something!" It was Starlight Glimmer. Clipboard in hoof, she hurried over.
"Tempest told me what happened with Neighsay. And don't worry, we've got things covered here. I assume you're on your way to Canterlot?"
"Yes. I'm going to go talk to the other Princesses, see if I can get their help. We need to make the EEA see reason on this!"
"Uh huh. And if they don't?"
"They've got to! This means too much! Circumventing the law is one thing, but we can't operate a school in open defiance of the law. We need to convince Neighsay to change his mind, get him to remove the seal and allow the Friendship School to reopen."
"Mm hmm... mm hmm... nope, still not seeing it."
"Starlight!"
"Look, we agreed that in your absence I'd be in charge of the Friendship Castle, right?"
"Um, yeah?" Twilight replied uncertainly.
"Soooo... that kinda makes me acting Friendship Princess right now, doesn't it?"
Twilight gave her a sceptical look. "Don't get any ideas, Starlight!"
"Relax! I'm not after your crown, Twilight. Which... I brought along, by the way, since you're gonna need it." Producing the crown from behind her clipboard, she used her magic to place it on Twilight's head. "And along with the crown, as acting Friendship Princess, I'm gonna give you a bit's worth of free Friendship advice."
"Ooo-kay."
"You don't need their approval."
"Huh?"
"What I said. Look, the EEA may be in charge of all the schools in Equestria, but you're in charge of all the Friendship in Equestria." She pointed a hoof at the crown. "You're the Princess of Friendship. I checked, it says so on the back of the crown. So why the hay would you let somepony else stop you from doing your job, huh?"
"But the EEA's guidelines..."
"Don't apply here! You need to write your own guidelines on this, because you're doing something new here... something really important."
"I don't know..."
"Twilight, you showed me that when you know in your heart something is right, you stand up for it. You stood up to me when I was out of control, showed me where I was wrong. Why is this any different?" Seeing Twilight was still not convinced, Starlight smiled. "Hey, who are you going to listen to? The desk-bound, hide-bound bureaucrat who's trying to take away everything you've dreamed of, trying to make you forget who you are? Or... the former power-mad, cutie-mark-stealing dictator... who totally has your best interests at heart?"
Starlight grinned, with just a hint of an intense stare thrown in for good measure.
Twilight smirked, and then laughed. And nodded in agreement.
"You're right, Starlight. Why we're doing this is way more important than how we're doing it." She stamped a hoof. "And we are doing it!"
"That's the Twilight I know! How can I help?"
Twilight hugged her. "You already have!"
Flapping her wings, Twilight launched into the sky. She circled briefly to wave at Starlight, and then set off towards Canterlot Mountain in the distance.
Starlight waved back, then turned and trotted back into the castle.
Acting Friendship Princess..., she thought to herself. I could get used to this!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Twilight was hoping for a quick, private audience with the Princesses, to explain things. What she found, when she was respectfully bowed into the Royal Audience Hall in Canterlot, was the exact opposite.
The Princesses Celestia and Luna were both present -- which was unusual in itself. But they were far from alone. Leaders and representatives of all the other nations were gathered on the red carpet before the twin thrones: gray-feathered General Seaspray of the hippogriff navy, changeling King Thorax, Prince Rutherford of the yaks, Dragon Lord Ember herself, and even Grampa Gruff from Griffonstone.
And all of them looked hopping mad.
"Where Yona?" Prince Rutherford roared furiously. "This all ponies' fault!"
Dragon Lord Ember glared at him. "You're pretty quick to blame the ponies! What are you hiding, yak?"
Prince Rutherford snorted angrily in return. And Thorax... timidly interceded.
"C-can, we just focus on finding our students?"
"Nice try!" Grampa Gruff shouted. "You grubs are probably hiding the whole lot of 'em!"
General Seaspray rapped his foreclaws for attention. His expression was stern and loftily impassive. "The hippogriff nation does not seek open conflict, but if the niece of our queen is not found and returned soon, I promise you there will be severe retribution!"
Ember ground her teeth. "Yeah? My dragons will burn every dominion to the ground until we find which of you is hiding Smolder!"
"Tell it to the griffon army!" Grampa Gruff fired back.
Prince Rutherford jumped between them, but not to intercede. "Yaks fight griffons and dragons!"
Thorax drew back nervously. "The Changeling Empire can't afford an international incident. If any creature blames the changelings for this--"
"Yeah?" Ember eyed him narrowly. "Why are you so nervous? What are you up to, shapeshifter?"
"B-but, I thought we were friends!"
"Please, everycreature!" called out Princess Celestia from the throne. "Calm yourselves. I see that Princess Twilight Sparkle has just arrived. And I am certain she can provide a reasonable explanation for all of this." Celestia eyed Twilight intently, and Twilight tried to remain calm as she stepped forward to stand before the agitated representatives.
"Hello, everyone," she said. "It's wonderful to see you all again. And your students are not missing. The Friendship School has just docked in Ponyville. At this moment, they're all safely working on homework assignments at my Castle. I regret that you might have felt in any way concerned for their safety. And I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have."
"This so-called School of yours is a fraud!" Grampa Gruff pointed a claw at her. "It's not even legal in Equestria!"
Twilight chose her words with care. "The Friendship School does operate under an unusual exception to the guidelines for most educational institutions here. But strictly speaking, it's not illegal. And its purpose is exactly as I described it: to teach the principles of Friendship to all cultures and creatures, from Equestria and from your own lands. And we've done so... with great success so far, I might add!"
"Then, Your Highness," Seaspray said loftily, "how do you explain this?" He held up an open scroll. "Not long after your departure, Queen Novo received this missive, informing her that your School operates contrary to Equestria's own guidelines for its schools, and as such, would place any students who attended it at risk. Hence, we were advised to avoid having anything to do with it."
"Yaks get letter too!" Prince Rutherford held up his -- proudly, it seemed, at having been included. And Twilight saw that each of the representatives held one.
"May I?" Twilight asked Thorax, who willingly passed over his scroll. Twilight quickly scanned it, and her heart sank. If they'd all received a letter like this...
"If I can just explain..." she said, rapidly marshaling her arguments.
"I am afraid that there is nothing to explain!" called a cold, forbidding voice from the doorway.
"Er... Chancellor Neighsay," the Chief Steward belatedly announced, "of the Equestria Education Association!"
Neighsay trotted briskly up the carpet, eyeing Twilight sternly. "Princess Twilight presented her plans for this 'Friendship School' to our governing body. The proposal was rightly denied accreditation. Whereupon she willfully chose to operate it as a so-called 'pirate school', contrary to Equestrian law. And then conned unsuspecting parents into sending their children as students."
Neighsay looked to Celestia and Luna. "Your Highnesses, I have just had the unfortunate duty of placing Princess Twilight's 'school' under EEA seal, as an unaccredited institution operating on Equestrian soil, in violation of numerous EEA educational decrees and statutes."
"I see." Celestia gave him an unreadable look. "Are you certain that was wise, Chancellor? Our understanding is that the school was able to bring together students from many different lands in peaceful cooperation."
Twilight was about to emphatically agree. But Neighsay spoke first. "Non-pony students, Your Highnesses! Which in our view represent a potentially disruptive influence!"
"What pony saying?" Prince Rutherford growled. "Ponies think yaks not good enough for pony school?"
Ember growled. "I'll show you a disruptive influence!"
"Get in line, missy!" Grampa Gruff snarled.
"Queen Novo will want to hear of this!" warned General Seaspray.
Thorax just looked downcast, unable to find words.
Neighsay spoke gently, soothingly, as if to children. "Please understand... this is for the greater good. The school was improperly organized. It employed inexperienced staff... and inappropriate 'teachers'. And its lax standards, particularly with respect to its student body, placed ponies' lives in jeopardy. The School has therefore been shut down. The EEA has spoken!"
Twilight struggled to stay calm. "Chancellor... it's true that my Friendship School is EEA-unaccedited..."
"Then it is not a school!" Neighsay interrupted.
"It's not an EEA school. It's a school of Friendship... with its own rules and procedures. Many of which are modeled after the EEA's own guidelines... which are an excellent start, but only a start, for a school such as mine. And my teaching staff are Equestria's own experts in Friendship, so they're far from inexperienced! And our school has always operated with concern for the welfare and safety of its students, first and foremost."
She turned to the representatives from the other nations, putting her case to them as much as to the Chancellor.
"The only difference of opinion I have with the EEA's guidelines is that my school, by its very nature, requires the presence of students from other lands. Far from being a 'disruptive influence' as the Chancellor puts it, these students have repeatedly demonstrated everything that's best in what we're trying to accomplish. There isn't time here to summarize all the progress they've made, but it's safe to say the School wouldn't be what it is without them."
"Nevertheless," Neighsay retorted, unmoved, "the EEA's decision stands! The school remains closed!"
Prince Rutherford was scratching his head. "Yaks confused! Pony school good, or pony school bad?"
"I don't think even they know." Ember sniffed. "We should take our students back home, and let the ponies argue it out amongst themselves first."
"That seems... wise," General Seaspray said, somberly. "Disappointing to hear, but it's probably best not to involve our students until the issues have been sorted out."
Thorax smiled uncertainly. "The Changeling Empire still supports the idea of the School, Twilight... I mean, whenever you're able to open it again."
"Bah! I thought this whole School thing sounded lame anyway!" Grampa Gruff said. "So just hand over Gallus and the others, and we can all go home!"
"Wait, please!" Twilight cried, looking frantically from one of them to the next.
And then another voice spoke up from the doorway. "We're not leaving!"
Grampa Gruff's fez nearly flew in the air. "Whaaaat?"
It was Gallus, together with the other members of the Odd Squad, advancing up the carpet. Behind the Odd Squad were the other pony students from the class. And in the rear, Commander Tempest and her soldiers stood silent guard as usual, keeping watch on them all.
Yona stamped her forehooves on the carpet. "Yona want stay in School! Yona not leave!"
"Goes for me too!" Silverstream shouted. "Yay! Being rebellious is so exciting!"
"None of us are leaving!" Ocellus called out. Then she hunched nervously. "Um... sorry, Thorax..."
Prince Rutherford was staring at them in confusion. "Yaks not understand. This pony joke?"
"It's no joke," Smolder snarled. "We're going back to school."
"All of us," Sandbar agreed. "Ponies as well!" Behind him, the rest of the pony students were nodding in support.
Twilight stared at the students -- her students -- in astonishment and ever-increasing pride. And as she looked at them, she suddenly felt as if one final piece had fallen into place... and a door had opened, one that she hadn't even been truly aware of until now...
"How can you go back?" Ember demanded. "If this EEA has placed this Friendship School under seal..."
"Ahem!" Twilight said loudly. She took a deep breath, and then went on. "The situation has changed. The Friendship School will reopen. And all creatures will be welcome to attend!"
"Your Highness, please," Neighsay sighed tiredly, "you don't have the authority..."
"I have all the authority I need, Chancellor!" Twilight fired back. "I am the Princess of Friendship! Furthermore, I have a class of deserving students, who in coming here and standing together and declaring their support for their School -- for our school -- have demonstrated exactly what the Friendship School seeks to teach. So, as Princess of Friendship, I will determine when and how a School of Friendship will be operated!"
"Uh, guys..." whispered Gallus to the other students, "... our headmare is glowing... should we be worried about that?"
The shimmering magenta gleam radiating from Twilight gradually faded away, but not her determined attitude.
"These students," she said, "continually remind me that every friendship is different -- every friendship special! So the way we teach it has to be just as unique and individual. My school will operate in accord with the best advice the EEA has to offer... but it will do things differently, because it has to!"
Neighsay looked astonished. He glanced to the twin thrones for support. But both Celestia and Luna simply looked on, silent and impassive, expressing no opinion either way.
"Chancellor," Twilight persisted, "I promise you, by bringing together students from different cultures, we will help prevent future conflicts, by building bridges instead of walls. My school will help protect Equestria!"
But Neighsay was shaking his head, unconvinced. "Princess Twilight, allowing all these creatures to attend your school... changing the rules for them -- it simply won't work!"
And now Celestia did speak up from the throne, sounding mildly amused. "I seem to recall Earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi doing something similar... don't you?"
"Your Highness, that was long ago... and they were pony tribes, so they had that in common at least! Opening our educational institutions to non-ponies... it's simply irresponsible!"
"We feel that it might in fact succeed, given sufficient support and encouragement..."
"Impossible!" Neighsay interrupted. "There is one standard for education in Equestria, and it is the EEA's standard! I demand that your Highnesses disband this illegal organization, and take steps to ensure similar irresponsible acts are not perpetrated in future. In particular, I demand that you specifically bar Princess Twilight henceforth from operating any educational institution that is not in full compliance with EEA standards!"
Neighsay stared up at the Princesses, head held high, proud and serenely self-righteous.
And then he suddenly felt a twinge of nervousness. Their Highnesses were both looking down upon him sternly. No, worse than that -- observing him narrowly, like something they'd found on a slide in a microscope.
Celestia spoke, her tone coldly unmoved. "You didn't listen to me last time, Chancellor. I did warn you that Princess Twilight never gives up on what she believes in. She will not be dissuaded from a goal she knows is in the best interests of Equestria, its citizens, and its allies. And neither should she be... because she happens to be a Princess of Equestria. As are Luna and I..."
Celestia leaned forward. Her eyes blazed like the heart of her Sun. Her voice was cold steel.
"... and no one tells a Princess of Equestria her business! No one!"
She leaned back, her eyes returning to normal, her expression turning sardonic. "Perhaps you'd like to try closing down my school next, Chancellor?" She smiled thinly, but there was still a definite chill in her voice. "Then we would see how much support the EEA actually enjoys. In fact, I think along with review of the EEA's mandate, a complete review of the department and its procedures might be in order. In particular, methods for approval of diplomatic correspondence. And the vestment of enforcement power in the office of its Chancellor. That is... unless the EEA happens to be wisely considering changes of its own along those lines. Hmm?"
She glanced at Luna. "Do you concur, Sister?"
Luna nodded sternly. "Most whole-heartedly, Sister!"
Then the two of them fixed Neighsay with matched forbidding glares. Under pressure of which the Chancellor drew back, clearly unnerved. He blustered uselessly for a few moments, and then turned to depart with bad grace. He glared as he passed the students, in particular at the Odd Squad, standing at the head of the group.
Pausing just short of the doorway, he looked back. "Mark my words, Your Highnesses! Being so cavalier with our most important institutions... it will only destroy Equestria!"
"We shall see, Chancellor..." Celestia replied, unmoved, watching him depart.
Then she sighed, a little wearily. "... after all, we always do."
Then she turned back to the assembled representatives, her tone instantly warm and businesslike once again. "Given that the Friendship School is to be reopened," she said, "and that we have students apparently eager to return to their studies, could you all be persuaded to give the Friendship School the benefit of the doubt, and allow your students to attend once more?"
The representatives looked at each other, uncertainly. Then Ember glared across at Smolder. "I thought you didn't want to come here?"
Smoulder crossed her arms defiantly. "Yeah, well... I changed my mind. I'm staying."
"I could order you to come back to the Dragonlands with me..." Ember grinned craftily.
Smolder eyed her levelly. "Go for it. Knock yourself out. I'm staying!"
Ember held her gaze a moment longer. And then shrugged, rolling her eyes. "Urgh! Fine! Smolder can stay."
Smolder punched the air. "Woohoo!"
Prince Rutherford was not going to be left out. "Err... if dragon stay, yak stay!"
Thorax nodded agreement. "I know you will make the changelings proud, Ocellus!" He smiled at her.
Seaspray likewise nodded to Silverstream. "I'm proud of you as well, my dear! You belong here!"
Grampa Gruff was still exchanging hostile looks with Gallus. "What?" he grumbled. "I still say there's something fishy about this school! You belong back at home!"
"Please, Grampa Gruff?" Gallus gave him a miserably imploring look. "Everyone else is staying!"
"Urrr.... alright, alright! Stop looking at me like that. But don't forget, sonny! You're still a griffon, friendship or no!"
"Sure thing, Gramps!" Gallus replied, smirking at his new friends. The students all cheered happily.
And the Friendship Princess was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Then Twilight caught Celestia's eye... and the Sun Princess nodded understandingly in return.
The representatives of the other nations had gone their separate ways. Tempest had escorted the students back to the skiff they'd used to follow Twilight to Canterlot. So Twilight finally had her private audience, alone with the Princesses.
Celestia had even ordered the guards out of the Audience Chamber so they might speak freely with one another.
"I see, Twilight." Celestia nodded. "We'll look forward to reading your detailed report, of course. But I believe we have the general picture."
Twilight, standing on the carpet before the twin thrones, gritted her teeth nervously. Both Celestia and Luna, seated side-by-side on the throne platform, had remained sitting tall and proud, their expressions calmly unreadable, throughout Twilight's hurried summary of the Friendship's recruitment tour and initial classes.
"Thank you, Princesses," Twilight said. "And my apologies for having to go ahead with this without approval from the EEA... and without consulting the two of you. It just... seemed like something had to be done. And there was no other way to do it."
Celestia looked surprised. "Twilight! You're acting as if you're here to be punished!"
"You... mean I'm not?"
"As you said, you did what had to be done. Luna and I are both quite impressed with your success in recruiting your initial class, and with their evident progress in so short a time."
"Indeed!" Luna nodded. "No princess of Equestria has ever convinced so many of our allies to participate in an international diplomatic function so quickly!"
"Nor recruited and managed such a diverse class of students and teachers," Celestia said, "with so few issues, even during the field-trip you mentioned. And I was most interested to hear about Vanhoover University! Though do I understand your reluctance to bring the subject up, Twilight. We will be careful with that information, trust me. As you said, the students don't deserve to have their studies interrupted."
"Thank you, Princesses!" Twilight said, gratefully. "Then... you're okay if I go ahead with my plans?"
Celestia and Luna exchanged a glance.
"Officially, Twilight," Celestia said, "we of course cannot approve of the School. But by the same token, neither must we officially disapprove of it. And nothing prevents us from making the existence of such an institution known to other nations, as well as the merits of the very capable pony who operates it." And now Celestia smiled warmly. "Off the record, Twilight? Luna and I are most proud of you for following your instincts on this. You're really learning what being a Princess is all about!"
"I'm also as good as breaking Equestrian law. That's not very Princess-like, is it?"
"It is true," Luna observed, "that a Princess should normally abide within the law, when it is fair and just and established by legitimate means. It represents a compact of trust with those whom she governs."
"Yet, every now and then," Celestia said, "there comes a time when a Princess has to act on her own judgment. And in so doing, expand the boundary of the law to where the law needs to be." Celestia smiled reassuringly. "In short, Twilight, as long as you always act in the best interests of your students, and of Equestria in general, we have no problem with your School. And Princess Luna and I will be most interested to see where this takes you!"
"Thank you, Princesses! Then, if you'll excuse me? I think I'll return to my students. I want to see how they're getting on with their homework assignments."
"Of course, Princess Twilight!"
The three of them exchanged regal nods. And then Twilight turned and trotted out of the chamber. The returning guards saluted to her and then shut the doors behind her.
"She's progressing so quickly," Celestia said, proudly and a little sadly.
"Indeed she is," Luna agreed. "And yet she remains the most unconventional of all of us."
"That is something I hope will never change." Celestia nodded. "She will need that, in the years ahead."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In the Friendship Castle's library, the other professors had returned and been apprised of the situation. They were gamely providing advice and guidance to the waiting students, helping to keep their spirits up. But there was an inescapable tension in the air.
And then Princess Twilight returned, swinging the library doors open with her magic. When the students saw the serious look on her face, they automatically assumed the worst.
"Uh oh." Gallus said. "Did something go wrong after we left? Should we get packed to go home?"
"How can we?" Smolder complained. "All our stuff is still onboard the Friendship!"
"You won't have to unpack," Twilight said. "Because we're still reopening the School. Will you all come with me, please?"
She led the way out of the castle and around to the Friendship. Ascending the ramp partway, she turned to face the students and teachers.
"I want you all to understand, I'm not doing this arbitrarily. I've given it a great deal of thought. I always wanted to operate the Friendship School in accord with the EEA's guidelines, with their approval. I wanted us to be an educational institution like any other. But we're not going to be able to do that, because what we're teaching here is too new. The School will require an entire new rulebook of its own. And I can't wait to get started on it..." She glanced around her friends. "Er... with input from all of you, of course. We're just going to have to continue to operate the School outside the bounds of Equestrian law, until the law is able to catch up with us. And therefore..."
She turned to face the spectral seal and chains barring the door.
"The Friendship School is hereby back in session! By order of Princess Twilight Sparkle!"
She fired up her horn and blasted the seal with a dissolution spell...
... which had no apparent effect.
Twilight blinked, and looked around, worried.
Starlight coughed politely, and trotted forward. "Let me give you a hoof with that!"
Twilight nodded thankfully. Starlight's horn lit up, and she remote-projected her own deep reserves of magic, making it available to Twilight. With it, Twilight re-cast her spell on the seal... which shimmered... fractured... then shattered utterly. The spectral chains dissolved into a wispy blue glow, which faded away into the air itself.
"Yee haw!" Applejack cried, waving her hat. "Now that's gettin' her done!"
The other professors cheered and stamped approvingly.
"Thanks, Starlight!" Twilight said.
"Not a problem, Your Highness," Starlight replied cheerfully. "Just one of the perks of being seriously overpowered and a bit of a loose cannon with my magic."
The students were cheering as well, in particular the Odd Squad. "Woah, seriously radical move!" Sandbar said.
"Yeah," Gallus agreed. "I never realized our teachers were this awesome!"
"Oh! Does this mean we're dangerous outlaws now?" Silverstream asked excitedly.
"Only if they'll give us a degree in it," Smolder said, grinning.
"Well, if we're going to a pirate school," Ocellus said reasonably, "we must be pirate students!"
"Yona will be best pirate yak!" Yona smiled proudly. "Make Yakyakistan very proud!"
The students cheered excitedly. And then they all fell silent again, as Princess Twilight turned to face them.
"Commander Tempest!" she called.
"Your Highness?" Tempest stepped forward.
"I think it would be a good idea to cut this visit short. The students can complete their homework enroute. Are we ready to set sail again?"
"Of course," Tempest replied smoothly. But then her expression turned cold. She frowned darkly. "But I am seriously disappointed in you, Your Highness!"
"What?"
Tempest lowered her head, scowling, and stalked closer. The students quickly moved to get out of her way.
"I really wanted to teach that Neighsay a lesson... a personal lesson in just how far the borders of Equestria actually extend! You denied me the opportunity!" She scowled, her horn sparking. "You're too reasonable, Princess. Too reasonable by half! And one day, trust me... that's going to backfire on you!"
Twilight stared at her, wide-eyed and affronted. "Tempest!"
Tempest held the look for a moment longer. Then she came to attention, horn silent, her expression smug. She sniggered gently.
"Well! That time I got you going, didn't I, Princess?"
"You... I... uh... urrrhh!" Twilight fell silent, looking aggrieved. Then she shook her head. Rather than say anything further she turned and headed up the ramp to reopen the entry doors. The other teachers and the students quickly followed along, up the ramp and into the ship.
As the Odd Squad walked and flew up the ramp at the rear of the group, Gallus nodded back at Tempest, who was still standing at the base of the ramp discussing something with Starlight.
"You know... I really think I'm getting to like her," he whispered.
The other students agreed readily.
"The Pony who Fights Like a Dragon!" Smolder said, nodding approval.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It was late in the evening, long after midnight. Tempest trotted unhurriedly along the admin-level corridor, having just finished an inspection of the students' level. The students were all safely in bed and for the most part quiet... or at least not drawing attention to themselves. Which was even better, since it made the game more interesting.
The professors were mostly asleep as well, except for those who by nature were night-owls, finishing up a last grading session or a lesson plan.
Tempest was just passing the red doors of the royal suite, when from inside she heard a soft thump.
Glancing both ways along the corridor to be sure she was unobserved, she pressed an armored shoe against the door's lock, then gently rotated it. The disbarring gem built into her shoe invisibly engaged the lock's tumblers. The lock snicked open, the door swung ajar. Pushing it open, she peered inside.
Twilight was seated at the desk, face-down in a copy of her own rulebook for the School, gently snoring. And Spike was collapsed on his back on the desk, pen still gripped in one claw, mumbling incoherently to himself and surrounded by scrolls filled with editorial notes for the next edition.
Tempest nodded. About time, she thought.
Turning, she stepped away from the door into the corridor. Her horn came alight, gently crackling. She lightly tapped an armored hoof on the floor twice.
Instantly, two scarlet-furred soldiers materialized in the corridor to either side of her. A few seconds later, Grubber came hustling up the corridor from his room, rubbing his eyes. Tempest looked from each of them to the next, a stern expression on her face.
"Gentlemen," she said calmly, "the first one that makes a sound I shall turn into carpeting. Do we have an understanding?"
They nodded. Then they followed her as she stepped quietly into the suite and crossed to the desk. At her swift gesture, one of the soldiers collected Spike and brought him over to the small adjoining bedroom on the left, where Grubber helped tuck him in. And the other soldier gently gathered up Twilight, and carried her over to the loft bed, which Tempest had already turned down for her.
Getting her settled, Tempest inexpertly tucked in the covers around her. And then she stood looking down at the slumbering alicorn, an unreadable expression on her face.
"Sleep well, Princess," she finally said, softly. "Dream a few pleasant dreams... for those of us who have to live in the real world."
Then she turned and crossed back to the doors, where Grubber and the soldiers stood waiting. They all stepped out into the hallway, and Grubber gently shut the doors again. He breathed a sigh of relief, then looked up at Tempest.
"Geez, boss. How come you're always bright-eyed and on the go? You were never like this under the Storm King!"
"I've turned the catnap into an artform," she replied. "You can go on back to bed now."
"Thanks! What about you, Tempest?"
"I'm... just going to make another sweep of the students' level." She smirked. "After all, a truant officer's work is never done..."
The End
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, its characters and indicia are the property of Hasbro. No infringement is intended. This story is a work of fan fiction, written by fans for fans of the series.
