St Trineighans School for Fillies

by SamuelK28

First published 24th of March, 2022

Instead of being sent to the moon, Luna is given a school to teach her subjects the importance of the night

Welcome to St Trineighans, the most prestigious school outside of Celestia's school for gifted unicorns run by Princess Luna herself. Yeah right. Apple Bloom knew something was off the moment the acceptance letter came through the door. Only fifteen ten year old fillies are chosen each year to go to St Trineighans . She can just barely manage a C average despite her siblings help, so why in Equestria was she chosen? It won't be long until she has her answers. The problem now is, will she be able to survive even one year?

Welcome to St Trineighans School for Fillies, where if it doesn't make you a profit it isn't worth doing it.

Introductions

Once upon a time in the magical land of Equestria there were two regal sisters who ruled together and spread harmony throughout the land by raising the sun to mark the dawn of a new day and raising the moon to mark the beginning of another night. The elder would do the former whilst the younger the latter and for a time all was well. Sadly, as she watched the ponies relish and play in the daytime her sister brought forth yet sleep during her beautiful night, the younger sister slowly became bitter and resentful. Seeing the pain her sister was in, the elder of the two decided to decree to their subjects that she was leaving the ancestral home to start anew elsewhere so that her sister could turn the castle into a school to teach the offspring of their subjects the importance and beauty of the night. These were the first fillies of the night, for you see, as it so happened, all of these first offspring were fillies and thus the first tradition of St Trineighans Finishing School for Fillies was born. As the years passed, the school grew alongside the population and now, one thousand years later, its power and influence spreads across the whole of Equestria. It is here that our story truly begins.

*

Apple Bloom shuffled nervously as she waited alongside her big sister at the edge of the Everfree Forest. Celestia’s sun was just rising in the distance to mark the beginning of a new day.

“I’m so proud of you sis,” Applejack gushed for what must have been the thousandth time as she gave Apple Bloom yet another squeeze with her forehooves.

Apple Bloom blushed in embarrassment as she tried to desperately squeeze herself out of her sister’s grasp. “Applejack,” she whined, “you’re embarrassing me!”

“Tough,” Applejack replied mischievously as she slowly released her sister. “And besides, I’m not going to see you again for months! I still can’t believe it. My sister, picked by the Princess of the Night herself. Did I tell you how proud I am…”

“YES!” Apple Bloom interrupted rudely before she could stop herself.

Applejack turned her head sideways and stared at her younger sister for a moment before asking, “Nervous Sugarcube?”

Apple Bloom let out a sigh as her head drooped and she stared at the grass that adorned the edge of Sweet Apple Acres, her home for her entire life thus far. Did she really want to go through with this? It had been two weeks since that life changing letter had dropped through the farmhouse’s letter box offering her a full scholarship to the most prestigious school in Equestria outside of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns - St Trineighans Finishing School for Fillies, run by Princess Luna herself. As an earth pony, unless a miracle occurred, it wasn’t like she would be able to attend the former and any normal filly would have been ecstatic at such an offer to attend the oldest known school in Equestria. The school only offered fifteen places a year to outstanding ten-year-old fillies across Equestria.

Having been brought up on a farm though and without both her parents since the age of three, Apple Bloom had a lot more sense than other fillies her age and had been taught by her siblings to never take anything at face value. If something seemed to be good to be true, it almost certainly was. After the initial shock had slowly worn off and she had realised that it wasn’t a dream and that, yes, she really had been admitted to the second most prestigious school in Equestria at no cost to her or her family, the questions had begun to infiltrate her mind thick and fast. For a start, why her?

Although her siblings had ensured she grew up with a proper education, something they had both lacked after her father’s mysterious disappearance, she wasn’t that smart and it was only down to Applejack and Big Mac pushing her that she had managed relatively okay grades. Still, she’d never achieved anything more than Cs and Bs in any of her school work. Heck, she’d soon be eleven and still didn’t have her cutie mark yet! So, again, why her? Surely there were many other fillies across Equestria more deserving of a scholarship and a place in the school than her.

Then there was the mysterious school itself. In spite of the many graduates it had produced over the years, very little was actually known about it or its principal, Princess Luna, the reclusive Princess of the Night. This had produced an uneasy nagging feeling in the back of Apple Bloom’s head that had only increased as she realised that once she arrived at the school there would be no escape if things went south. This was due to the fact the school was located in a clearing in the centre of the Everfree Forest, a forest that was filled with many of the deadliest beasts known to pony kind and yet another reason so little was known about the school. The school, for all intents and purposes, would be equal to that of a prison once she arrived there. That realisation had only unnerved her further and an examination of the letter she had received only made her worries grow further. Aside from a short paragraph explaining her acceptance, where to meet and what time, the letter contained very little information. There was no itinerary of what she would need, no brochure or flyer included highlighting the school’s positive attributes and not even a mention of how to accept her place at the school, as if they presumed no one would dare reject such an honour. It all seemed very suspicious, as if the school was hiding something.

It had taken all her resolve, along with the fact she didn’t want to disappoint her family, especially her sister, to accept her place and get to this point. Even then when she’d first caught eyes of her fellow prospective first years she’d nearly bolted. If she hadn’t known she was going to a school, she really would have thought she was heading to prison. One of the ponies had an axe strapped to her side, another a large hammer in her mouth, another was a purple unicorn with a broken horn and a large scar running down across one eye, and yet another didn’t seem to be a pony at all!

Yes, something definitely wasn’t quite right with St Trineighans and Apple Bloom was determined to get to the bottom of it.

“Well, Sugarcube, I’m waiting,” Applejack pressed as her gaze bore its way into the very depths of Apple Bloom’s being.

It was at that moment Apple Bloom realised she had been staring at the ground for over a minute lost in her own thoughts. Slowly, she looked up at her sister and met her piercing gaze. “It’s just…”

“Alright, settle down,” a booming voice suddenly cut in and both mares attentions turned to the direction from which the voice had come from.

A lilac unicorn with a purple and teal mane wearing formal attire had appeared from the forest holding a clipboard.

“Listen up. I’m going to say each of your names once and once only. Then I expect you to form a nice orderly queue. I hope you’ve all said your goodbyes, because if not, well, it's too late now.”

*

“Equestria to new girl, Equestria to new girl,” a voice echoed bringing Apple Bloom back to her senses.

“Huh, what, where am I?” Apple Bloom queried shaking her head. Damn her head was pounding fiercely. “The last thing I remember is a lilac unicorn calling my name on the edge of the forest and then… nothing.”

“Oh, that’s Vice Headmare Glimmer. Her special talent is hypnotism and mind control. The headache will pass over time although these will help.”

Still regaining her bearings, Apple Bloom suddenly found two pills being forcibly thrust down her throat by a hoof before her jaws were yanked open and a glass of water followed them causing Apple Bloom to cough and splutter. As she did so, and for the second time attempted to regain her bearings, the voice spoke for a third time.

“I’m Scootaloo, the white unicorn is Sweetie Belle and the earth pony on the top bunk over there is Screwball. Your bed is below hers. Welcome to St Trineighans. So, what’s your name and what are you in for? Grand larceny? Super strength? Some other power? Your connections?”

Apple Bloom shook her head once more in an attempt to clear it and gradually the orange Pegasus filly with a purple mohawk came into focus in front of her.

“What, whatever do you mean?” Apple Bloom stuttered as she steadily took in her surroundings.

She appeared to find herself in a bedroom with two bunk beds pushed up against the walls to her left and right whilst in the middle of the far wall in front of her a window revealed a gloomy looking sky outside. She was guessing the door to said room was behind her.

“Don’t even think about it. No pony has ever managed to navigate the forest successfully. No Pegasus can fly out of here due to the wild weather the Everfree produces and the same in regards to teleportation due to the effect it has on a unicorn’s magic,” Scootaloo explained before returning to her previous line of enquiry. “Again, welcome to St Trineighans School for Wild Fillies. As for your question, Sweetie over there is here because her sister is a teacher at the school and because she likes to start fires. SWEETIE, HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU NOT IN OUR DORMITORY!” Scootaloo suddenly bellowed as smoke started to spread across the roof of the dormitory. “Don’t make me turn you to stone again!”

Apple Bloom’s eyes opened wide as she looked past Scootaloo to see that in less than a minute from her last look the unicorn had started a fire in a waste paper bin. What was even more concerning was the cannister labelled EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE! that she was levitating precariously above said waste paper bin and the fact the unicorn had a ball of flame sporting her flank for a cutie mark.

Sweetie Belle whined and gave Scootaloo a morose look before relenting and throwing the canister out of the window, breaking the window in the process before a loud explosion erupted from outside.

“SWEEETIEEE BEELLE!” A shrill voice echoed from outside.

“Eeeep!” Sweetie squeaked before diving under her bed.

“Now you’ve gone and done it. You know very well your sister is one of the few staff you cannot mess…” Scootaloo never finished her sentence as Sweetie, coated in a light blue magical aura, was dragged kicking and screaming from underneath the bed and proceeded to follow the canister out the window.

“Okay, anyway, where was I?” Scootaloo chuckled nervously trying to ignore the screams of agony now reverberating from out the window as she walked over to the waste paper basket with the fire extinguisher she had just pulled off the wall from the end of her bunk bed. “Oh right, explanations. “So, Sweetie is here because of her sister and penchant for fire. I’m here because I was raised by cockatrices until I was six and as such can turn living creatures to stone simply by looking at them, thus my cutie mark.” She pointed to the cockatrice that lined her own flank before continuing in the extinguishing of the fire. “As for Screwball…”

“Two plus Two is forty-four!” The other filly in the room chuckled as she leapt from her bed and literally floated to the ground using the propeller hat that adorned her head, defying almost every known law of physics that Apple Bloom had been taught in the process. “Hi knew friend, I’m Screwball. Have you heard of our divine lord and chaos bringer Discord?” Screwball eqnquired as she wrapped her forehooves around one of Apple Bloom’s and shook it vigorously.

Apple Bloom, already completely lost over what had transpired over the past five minutes simply stared blankly back at the swirling vortexes that made up Screwball’s eyes until Scootaloo pushed her out the way.

“Sorry about that. I should have warned you sooner not to stare directly into Screwball’s eyes unless you want to become a drooling paralysed wreck trapped within your own mind. You see, Screwball stared into the chaos realm when she was six after a rift tore open in her village. She was the only one to survive with their mind somewhat intact.”

“Erm, okay? I’m Apple Bloom by the way. No idea what I’m doing here but I’m here for one reason or another,” Apple Bloom stammered as Scootaloo helped her from the floor whilst her mind tried desperately to comprehend everything that had transpired over the course of the day so far. Hypnotised then foalnapped, check. Left in a room with three mentally unstable fillies, check. What next, who knows but by the way Scootaloo’s face had just dropped, she was pretty sure she was not going to like it.

“Wait, did you just say Apple Bloom? Oh Tartarus no. She hasn’t, please tell me she hasn’t,” Scootaloo rambled.

“What?” Apple Bloom asked equally confused.

“Well, as I’m guessing you’ve already realised, St Trineighans isn’t a normal school for normal fillies. It’s a school for special fillies aged ten to sixteen along with a class for younger fillies in need of special attention, aka what us three were a part of up until just recently,” Scootaloo began to explain.

“Okay,” Apple Bloom replied rubbing her head with a forehoof not liking where this was going. “So, where do I fit into all this?”

“Well, the school is literally a front for the biggest and only crime organisation in Equestria, run by Princess Luna aka Nightmare Moon herself and controlling the Equestrian market in a wide variety of areas from fashion to drugs. I’m guessing you are here because your family and their power has grown too much. Simply put, Moon is going to use you to try and persuade your family to join the St Trineighans family and I’m guessing I’m your babysitter, just like with those two.” Scootaloo paused and pointed at the broken window and then Screwball who replied with an unnerving smile. “Anything bad happens to you, I’m going to be in serious trouble, so please, try not to die.”

Thrust into the life of a criminal, check. What a day.

“Okay, and I’m guessing if I don’t like what I see and play ball, me and my family will suffer because of it?” Apple Bloom deadpanned as she continued rubbing her head with her forehoof. No, she definitely didn’t like the sound of it. Why oh why hadn’t she listened to herself instead of her family, refused the invitation and stayed home.

For just a moment Apple Bloom saw genuine fear creep into Scootaloo’s eyes before she coughed and said flatly, “Trust me when I say, refusal isn’t an option. If you think Screwball and Sweetie are bad, try an alicorn princess with extreme split personality disorder.”

“What?” Apple Bloom replied.

“Luna has a dark alter ego known as Nightmare Moon. Most of the time even she is fine but trust me, you do not want to stand in her way. Imagine her as a child with god-like powers, telling her no is not an option unless you don’t like living,” Scootaloo explained.

Apple Bloom gulped. “Gotcha, don’t annoy the mentally unhinged principal with god-like powers. Anyway, what happens next?”

As if on cue, she heard the door to her new bedroom open behind her. Turning around she saw Vice Principal Glimmer pointing at her.

Her and her big mouth!

*

“So, to put it simply, even if she says just one word, you’ll end up losing at least five minutes of your life,” Apple Bloom stated as they trotted down the hall behind Starlight Glimmer.

Scootaloo nodded in reply.

“Damn, that’s some powerful magic. But she also can’t control it. So, she can’t speak without controlling someone’s mind. That’s quite a conundrum.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much the gist of it,” Scootaloo replied. “The teachers are quite laid back here so unless you do something super bad, they won’t punish you. Even so, with a power like Starlight’s you’ve no hope of getting away with anything anyway so it’s just best not to bother. Nevertheless, if you stick with me and the girls, we’ll make sure you stay out of major trouble. The older students have learnt already that picking on someone that can turn you to stone in an instant will not end well, especially after seeing one of their number lose a leg that way.”

Screwball chuckled on Apple Bloom’s other side. “Oh yeah, I remember that. One of the older mares shaved poor Sweetie’s mane off and wrote nasty things all over her coat with permanent spray ink. I’ve never seen Scootaloo so mad. That was just the start. By the time the girl was out of the infirmary she found out from her friends that everything in their room had been torched and the gravity reversed. The gravity still remains that way to this day!”

“Woah,” Apple Bloom replied. “You seriously don’t do things by halves do you?”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “You’ll learn sooner rather than later that at St Trineighans there is no room for the weak and pretty much anything goes aside murder and occasionally serious bodily harm. I only got away with that stunt because of what the girl had done to Sweetie and the fact Sweetie’s sister is a teacher. Otherwise, I would have been in serious hot water. Now, we’re here. Its best you keep quiet and only speak when I nudge you, okay?”

Apple Bloom nodded in reply as she watched Starlight open a large solid oak door without even knocking first and gestured for them to step inside.

Apple Bloom gulped and pushed along by Scootaloo entered into almost total darkness. Only a few flickering candles and the ebb of magical fire that still lingered in Rarity’s mane, illuminated the otherwise pitch-black room as the door closed with a thud behind them. Princess Luna, coated by shadows, sat behind a desk waiting for them. Rarity stood next to her. In front of the desk Apple Bloom could just make out the outline of four chairs. Sweetie was already seated in one, playing casually as one does with a ball of fire between her hooves.

“Welcome Miss Bloom. It’s great to finally meet you. Have a seat next to your dormmate. I’m hoping Scootaloo has been helping you settle in although she should have been asleep three hours ago,” Luna commented casually.

“Bite me Moon,” Scootaloo retorted, a knife lodging itself in the wall behind the alicorn as Scootaloo took her seat next to Apple Bloom. “You barely pay me enough to stop these two from unleashing a fiery yet chaotically funny apocalypse upon the world and now you want me to babysit this weakling too. What’s in it for me?”

“Tsh, tsh, how rude, although I won’t have to if she does it for me,” Nightmare Moon replied leaning across the desk with a wicked leer that revealed a set of ultra sharp and pointed teeth.

Apple Bloom gasped as she took in the black as night appearance of their host with her eery cyan eyes that pierced the inky blackness and sent shivers racing through her entire body.

Meanwhile, alarm bells had started to ring in Scootaloo’s head. “What exactly do you mean?” she queried, barely finishing before her head was turning sideways to Apple Bloom next to her.

“Yowch! That hurt,” the earth Pony grunted rubbing her right shoulder.

Scootaloo saw the needle in Starlight's magical grip and the alarm bells intensified further. “What did you…”

This time Scootaloo didn’t even have a chance to finish before a flash of blinding white light engulfed Apple Bloom. As it slowly started to clear and Scootaloo saw what now adorned the earth pony’s flank her right forehoof met her forehead.

“Please tell me you didn’t?” Scootaloo groaned.

“If you are implying that I had Mrs Glimmer inject her with the W chromosome, then yes, yes I did,” Nightmare Moon admitted frankly before letting loose a nefarious and bone chilling cackle.

Scootaloo groaned once more. “I’ll expect triple what you’re paying me now and no less.”

“Will someone please tell me what the hay is going on?” Apple Bloom cut in bluntly.

“I have some good news and some bad news,” Scootaloo deadpanned turning her attention to Apple Bloom as Nightmare Moon finally finished her award winning cackle attempt. “Congratulations, you got your cutie mark.”

“I did!!!” Apple Bloom replied practically leaping of her chair in excitement as she swung her head round to see what the image that now adorned both her flanks was. Unbeknownst to her, her tail also started wagging uncontrollably with joy. “What is it?” She squinted in the darkness but couldn’t quite make it out in the dim light of the room.

“A wolf howling at an apple,” Scootaloo deadpanned once more.

“Huh, that seems a little strange and obscure,” Apple Bloom replied, the pieces of the jigsaw having not quite yet fit into place in her mind. “Although I guess the apple is symbolic and meant to represent the moon. It seems pretty…”

“You’re also a werewolf,” Scootaloo cut in rudely. “Glimmer injected you with the werewolf gene, chromosome W. It’s a safety feature to ensure you cooperate with Luna’s plans in the long run.”

“Oh, that kinda makes sense now. But on the plus side, I did get my cutie mark,” Apple Bloom replied, her tail still wagging at a speed seemingly faster than that of the speed of light.

Scootaloo looked at the other filly as if the injection had just caused her to grow another head. “You’re seriously taking this a lot better than I thought you would,” she managed to spit out eventually.

“I got my dang cutie mark and it’s freaking awesome! Do you know how long I’ve waited for this moment? Most foals get their cutie marks by the age of five or six, latest eight. I’ll be ELEVEN in the fall. Right now, it could suggest I’m going to be a mass murderer and I still wouldn’t care two bits. I got my dang cutie mark,” she hollered for the second time nearly piercing Scootaloo’s ear drums as she did so. She followed that up by shaking the Pegasus like she was nothing more than a can of beans. Her tail had somehow seemed to pick up even more speed and had also seemingly altered its appearance to the more scruffy and unkempt style of a canine.

“Oh, I like her, I like her a lot,” Nightmare Moon chuckled in the background as Scootaloo continued looking at Apple Bloom like she’d grown another head.

“But you do realise that Principal Moon is night incarnate right and as such one of her powers is that she can take complete control of any creatures associated with the night,” Scootaloo attempted to explain trying desperately not to slam her head into her hooves and proceed to scream every obscenity known to pony kind.

“So?” Apple Bloom replied, her tail slowing ever so slightly, unsure what Scootaloo was going on about.

“So that means she can turn you into a werewolf at any time along with the amount of control she desires to give you. You make one slip up to your family and they’ll end up as your lunch, you get me?” Scootaloo explained.

“Ah, cow dung. But, as long as I’m a good girl, behave myself, do as I’m told and don’t say anything I’ll be fine, right, and have complete control over my werewolf form? Wait can I be a werewolf right now!” Apple Bloom exclaimed, too excited by what had transpired to truly grasp the severity of the situation.

“If you concentrate hard enough, poss…” Nightmare Moon didn’t even finish her sentence before a shaggy furred butter cream werewolf with sharpened teeth and a wet button red nose had replaced Apple Bloom.

“AWESOME!!!” Apple Bloom cried. “AWOOOOOOOOOOOOO,” she then howled, her tail once more trying to challenge the speed of light.

“Interesting. That was incredibly fast, almost as if it was destined to be. It usually takes months for a werewolf to master their transformations,” Nightmare Moon stated stroking her chin with a hoof deep in thought.

Scootaloo meanwhile wished she’d grabbed that cannister from Sweetie earlier and thrown herself on the paper basket fire her friend had started as Apple Bloom began to sniff her all over.

“Down girl, down,” Scootaloo commanded and Apple Bloom returned to her seat looking somewhat dejectedly at her new friend and dormmate.

“Oh, this is going to be such fun,” Nightmare Moon giggled.

“For you maybe,” Scootaloo grumbled. “Although it does answer why you haven’t gone after the Apple family previously. You needed an unmarked filly to make your plan work. It is well known that the W chromosome will only take effect on those who have yet to receive their cutie marks. Otherwise, the only way to turn someone is if they are bitten by a werewolf. Apple Bloom, I may be immune to lycanthropy but my foreleg is not a chew toy,” Scootaloo finished with a sigh.

Apple Bloom looked up from where she had started gnawing on Scootaloo’s foreleg and gave her friend a pitiful look. Scootaloo retaliated by flicking Apple Bloom's nose with one of her wings, this sent the werewolf retreating back to her own seat to nurse her now sore nose.

Nightmare Moon chuckled before continuing. “Ahh, how cute, she likes you, although I might have to give her a little more control. Can’t have her turning half the school into werewolves now, can we? Oh wait, that’s what I have you for. I’ll triple what I’m paying you now for keeping her out of trouble and harms way alongside Misses Belle and Ball. Plus, not that you’ll need it but, as the head of the Equestrian Education Association, I’ll even ensure that no matter what happens in the next six-years, you come out of here with a top-class diploma.”

“And three for my friends as well?” Scootaloo negotiated.

Nightmare Moon seemed a little taken aback by that. “Really, that’s it? I had expected more from you.”

Scootaloo shrugged her shoulders. “It’s a fair offer and despite driving me round the bend at least once a day, they’ve grown on me quite a bit. Plus, I can’t deny you’ve already done a whole lot for me these past four years. Heck, when Fluttershy brought me in, I couldn’t even speak a word of Equestrian,” Scootaloo finished as Apple Bloom began playfully nuzzling her side.

“Yes, you certainly have surpassed all our expectations since arriving. Then we have a deal?”

Scootaloo extended her hoof and Nightmare Moon took it in her own to seal the deal.

“I’ll keep them safe. You can count on me,” Scootaloo chuckled. “Although no promises on Rarity’s mane.”

Nightmare Moon let out another hearty chuckle as Rarity harumphed. “Splendid and I’m sure you will. Now, I’ve still two more groups of your peers to talk to so here are your timetables and daily schedules. Classes start tomorrow night. Tonight, you’ll be given a tour of the school and then we’ll be having our traditional beginning of year games out on the sports field and obstacle course. Oh, and Miss Sweetie Belle, do try to keep the fires away from the school and the forest. Although I do admire your love of pyromancy, I really don’t want to have to be forced to rebuild part of the school or regrow a large chunk of the forest, understood?”

Sweetie, who hadn’t in the least been paying any attention to the conversation thus far, looked up and nodded. “Huh? Oh, yes, Principal Moon,” the girl replied having clearly not taken in a word Nightmare Moon had said to her.

As Nightmare Moon passed Scootaloo the necessary paperwork for all of them, both mares exchanged a knowing look. “Twelve, twenty-four or forty-eight?” The alicorn whispered as the papers transferred hooves.”

“I give it twelve hours max. Five bits?”

“Five bits,” Nightmare Moon replied dismissing the girls as she did so.

On the way out, Starlight passed Apple Bloom the satchel that she hadn’t even realised had been missing when she had arrived. As soon as they were back out in the hallway Apple Bloom shivered and, after taking a couple of deep breaths, gradyually returned to her pony form.

“Okay, can somepony please explain to me what just happened?”

Daily Schedule at St Trineighans for first- and second- years

18:00- Breakfast

18:45- Physical Education

19:45- First Period

21:45- Break

22:15- Second Period

00:15- Lunch

1:00- Third Period

3:00- School end

5:00- Dinner

7:00-8:00 Lights out

Lessons are held Moonday, Hoofsday, Wingsday and Fursday nights. Students are free to do as they please on other nights (Hornday, Magicday and Sunday).

Author's Notes:

I'm baaaaaack! The writing bug has hit me hard once more, I wrote this inbetween a night shift in a little over two days. I learnt a lot from the CMCxHP crossover and hope this one can stick this time. There is so much to explore, including eight more staff to reveal. But first who are Apple Bloom's fellow first years? And how many will survive complete the obstacle course. This will likely be slower updates than my previous long fic, I've learnt my lesson in rushing things to quickly!

P.S. Pyromaniac Sweetie Belle is my favourite idea, ever.

Finalised version: 20/07/2022

Day 1 Part 1: Diamond is not a filly's best friend

Despite going to bed early the previous evening, Apple Bloom had still collapsed on her new bed as soon as they’d returned to the dormitory and proceeded to fall asleep as soon as her head had met the pillow. Part of that might have been due to the headache that still lingered in the back of her head, whilst another logical reason was a reaction to the strange injection Starlight had given her.

Her sleep had been a dreamless and restful one until Scootaloo had awakened her by dangling a feather in front of her nose as the school clock chimed four times in the distance. This had resulted in Apple Bloom awaking with a start and falling out of bed, taking Scootaloo with her as she fell to the floor in a heap.

“BUNDLE!” Screwball screamed as she along with Sweetie joined the mass of flailing limbs.

“This did not go as well as I had hoped,” Scootaloo groaned before Apple Bloom gave her cheek a lick. “Eww, wolf slobber,” she grumbled trying, unsuccessfully, to get one of her hooves free to wipe said cheek clean.

“That’s for waking me up,” Apple Bloom replied as she forced her way out from underneath Screwball and Sweetie Belle causing the pile of ponies to collapse.

As the four fillies lay on the floor giggling, a barely audible knock came upon their dormitory door.

“Enter,” Scootaloo called.

The door opened slightly and a timid looking pale-yellow face with a pink mane covering one of its eyes poked its way around the door.

“H-hi girls, I-I’m h-here to assess the damage to your w-wind…” Fluttershy stuttered before she caught sight of Apple Bloom, still in wolf form.

“Oh, my, word, she’s so cute!!!” Fluttershy squeaked.

Before Apple Bloom knew what was happening, Fluttershy had lifted her off the floor with her forehooves and had begun to nuzzle her nose with Apple Bloom's.

“When Starlight informed me your new dormmate was a werewolf, she didn’t inform me she was going to be so adorable! Who’s a good girl, who’s a good girl,” Fluttershy cooed lowering Apple Bloom to the ground as her three new friends sniggered behind her.

Apple Bloom blushed in embarrassment as Fluttershy continued to dote her with affection, giving her a good scratch behind her right ear that prompted Apple Bloom’s back right hoof to begin stomping uncontrollably.

“Fluttershy, Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom, Fluttershy, groundsmare, animal caretaker and best teacher in the entire school although sadly she only looks after the early entry students,” Scootaloo explained righting herself from the floor. “Damn, you seem to be really enjoying that…”

“AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,” Apple Bloom howled in reply before she clamped a hoof over her mouth in embarrassment.

Scootaloo immediately fell back onto her back howling with laughter.

“Oh, that was priceless,” she finally managed to wheeze.

By this point Fluttershy had finished doting on Apple Bloom and had moved to the window to take some measurements with a measuring tape. After a couple of minutes, she turned away from the window and addressed Scootaloo, depositing a few shards of glass into a satchel slung over her back.

“I should be able to source a new pane for you within a few days. Starlight will be along then to put it in for you. How are you all feeling about becoming first years? Nervous?”

“Excited,” Screwball exclaimed bouncing up and down on the spot.

“Both,” Scootaloo responded. “Especially now I’ve got another one to… where did you get THAT?” she exclaimed pointing at the ginormous meaty bone Apple Bloom was now gnawing. She turned and glared at Fluttershy who whistled and looked up at the ceiling as guilty as guilty could be. “Eugh, just please don’t get blood all over the room. I don’t want one of the other teachers coming in here thinking we’ve murdered somepony.”

Apple Bloom waved a paw dismissively at Scootaloo and continued her attack on the bone.

“And what about you?” Fluttershy asked ducking her head under Scootaloo and Sweetie’s bunk where the latter had retreated to with her ball of flame. “You know very well I don’t bite but we do need to have a talk about yesterday’s episode.”

Sweetie shook her head and pushed herself further under the bed.

“Shame, I guess I’ll just have to give this strawberry cupcake I brought with me especially for you to Scootaloo instead,” Fluttershy sighed removing her head from under the bed.

Scootaloo chuckled, “3”

“2,” Screwball added in between munching on a cupcake of her own.

“1,” Scootaloo finished as Sweetie’s head popped out from underneath the bed followed by a hoof.

“Oh no, you’ve got to come and sit next to me on the bed here,” Fluttershy said softly yet with a stern and commanding undertone.

Sweetie lay there thinking for a moment.

“Sweetie, I suggest you hurry. Screwball just finished hers and you know what she’s like when cupcakes are on the table.” Scootaloo added.

That did the trick. Sweetie had lost out on a number of cupcakes to Screwball in the past and this had taught her a valuable lesson on how hesitancy could prove to be very costly, especially when cupcakes were concerned. As she sat tentatively down next to Fluttershy and reached out in expectation with a hoof, Fluttershy spoke firmly, looking down at Sweetie like a mother would a naughty foal.

“No, first I want to know why you did what you did yesterday. None of us mind your fondness for fire but you must remember to only act on such desires either in one of the magically reinforced classrooms or outside and nowhere near the forest. Has all my help and confidence building sessions been for nothing these past four years?”

Sweetie turned her head away and looked down at the bed as her horn emitted a light green aura. “I got over excited at the prospect of a new friend and wanted to impress her,” she murmured barely above a whisper. “I was afraid she wouldn’t… EWWWWWWWW, stinky dog breath,” Sweetie groused as Apple Bloom, abandoning her bone momentarily, came and gave Sweetie’s face a massive lick before pushing her down onto the bed.

“Pinned ya,” Apple Bloom chuckled before feeling a lump crash into her back. She didn’t move an inch.

“Why did that sneak attack play out better in my head?” Scootaloo wheezed toppling off the bed and onto her back on the floor. Simply crashing into Apple Bloom had winded her.

“Because you’re a lightweight Pegasus designed for flying and I’m an earth Pony designed for manual hard labour,” Apple Bloom deadpanned. “Me being a werewolf probably also does your case no favours.”

“Fair point,” Scootaloo wheezed.

“Here Bloomy, here,” came Screwball’s voice all of a sudden. The other earth Pony had picked up Apple Bloom’s bone.

Apple Bloom’s eyes went wide as her canine instincts kicked in.

Screwball threw the bone.

Not thinking clearly, Apple Bloom leapt after it.

The eyes of Scootaloo and Sweetie went wide as the bone flew through the air and out the broken window followed by Apple Bloom.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Fluttershy screamed.

They were four floors up.

“Oops,” Screwball chuckled as Fluttershy prepared to dive out the window after Apple Bloom only for said filly and her bone to float back in with a note attached:

For safety reasons, please refrain from playing fetch in your dormitory, thank you, Vice Principal Glimmer.

“Good thing I saw Vice Principal Glimmer out there before doing that, wasn’t it? Otherwise, that could have got messy although they do say a werewolf can heal from any wound aside silver,” Screwball stated with a cheeky grin. “Maybe we should test that at some point?”

A second note floated through the window.

P.S. Only under strict supervision in a classroom setting.

“How?” Screwball stated but no one else in the room was willing to give her an answer.

Fluttershy looked like she was having a heart attack, taking deep breaths in and out of a paper bag to calm her totally frazzled nerves.

Scootaloo meanwhile was too shocked at what Screwball had just done to form a reply.

And Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle?

The two new friends had snuggled up together on the floor, the former gnawing at her bone whilst the latter had finally gotten her hooves on that elusive cupcake.

*

A little over an hour later the four fillies found themselves heading to where Scootaloo believed the dining hall was located. She explained on the way to Apple Bloom how the early years students are kept in a separate annexe from the rest of the students and that they’d only a few days ago moved into their new room and as such were still getting used to the layout of the castle themselves. After eventually reaching the huge hall of a side corridor they found the whole place alive with activity, in particular at a table against the wall opposite them.

“ROLL UP, ROLL UP,” a voice boomed. “All bets now being taken for the annual year one initiation obstacle course. Everything from team and individual winners to how many students will get set on fire and lose a limb this year.”

“Set on fire? Lose a limb?” Apple Bloom gulped as they trotted towards the table. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“Oh, that’s just Miss Dust, the Physical Education teacher. She’s a little bit reckless and apparently her safety record is appalling but overall, I don’t think she would truly put us in any serious danger. Most the times we had P.E she would just give us the equipment then go take a nap on a cloud after telling us “I don’t care what you do over the course of the next hour, just leave me in peace.” She was also an awesome cover teacher when Fluttershy and Vice Principal Glimmer were unavailable as we could literally do anything we wanted as long as it didn’t wake her up.”

“Okay, that’s somewhat reassuring but still, have you any idea what this obstacle course contains?” Apple Bloom requested, her nerves yet to be soothed.

“Oh, that’s a closely guarded secret, even to the younger years. Now I’m not supposed to take bets from those competing but if you want to place a bet on you winning or your dorm winning as a collective, I don’t see any harm in that,” Lightning Dust said slyly as the group of first years neared one less crowded end of the table.

Apple Bloom’s eyes followed Lightning Dust’s hoof as she indicated to the whiteboard behind her. And, as she slowly took in what her and her dormmates nickname was, her hoof met her face. 1 day, 1 day:

Obstacle Course winners – live odds

Dorm 1: The Posh Kids 10/1

Dorm 2: The Crazies 3/2

Dorm 3: The Jocks 1/5

Dorm 4: The Nerds 2/1

A mixture of emotions bubbled up inside of Apple Bloom and before she knew just what exactly she was doing she was slamming the ten-bit note Applejack had entrusted her with on the table. Growing up on a farm, cash was a luxury one could ill afford to use recklessly or squander on trivial pursuits or unnecessary items. Heck, she was grateful for the one bit her family would come together to give her on her birthday and the few meagre gifts they managed to give her each Hearths Warming. In recent years, it had not escaped her attention that no other member of her family received anything for Hearths Warming. Everything they had had gone toward putting a smile on her face and that for them was a present no amount of money could buy. Anyhow, she had been stunned when Applejack had slipped the ten bit note into her hoof this morning and refused to take it back, whispering in her ear as she forced it into her hoof to “make good use of it”.

Right now, that was exactly the opposite of what she was doing but the arrogance and smug attitude of the Pegasus had riled her.

“Ten bits on The Crazies!” she cried with more confidence than she felt but before she had a chance to think about her decision and possibly retract her offer the ten-bit note had been swept away from her and replaced with a slip of paper.

More money than she’d ever had in her life and she’d gone and blown it because of her hot headedness. Applejack was going to kill her for blowing her savings, however meagre they may have been.

Meanwhile both Scootaloo’s and Sweetie’s eyes had gone wide behind her.

“Cow dung,” she muttered under her breath but Lightning’s sharp hearing had still caught it.

“No take backs. Good luck!” She had chuckled before zipping off to goad her next sucker.

Apple Bloom turned and chuckled nervously. “Well, now I’m going to either win this obstacle course or die trying, because otherwise my sister will do the latter for wasting her life savings. Who’s with me?”

Screwball clapped her hooves and whistled. Scootaloo and Sweetie looked nervously at one another before turning back to Apple Bloom.

“Tartarus yeah!” Scootaloo cackled as she walked up and pushed past Apple Bloom on her way up to the makeshift betting station. “Ten bits on the Crazies,” she declared confidently before being followed by Sweetie and Screwball who made similar bets.

*

Apple Bloom’s hooves were still shaking as she sat down to eat breakfast. She couldn’t believe they’d just bet forty bits on themselves wining the obstacle course. Were they crazy? Well, according to the board they were so in actual fact it made perfect sense. She cackled like a loon having taken inspiration from Nightmare Moon during last night's meeting.

“What’s so funny?” Scootaloo enquired looking at Apple Bloom a little perplexed.

“The fact that we just proved Miss Dust right. We are a bunch of total nutjobs,” Apple Bloom responded. “Who else would bet forty bits on themselves to win a competition they have no idea what either the competition is or who the other competitors are?” Apple Bloom chuckled.

“Fair point,” Scootaloo chuckled in reply.

“At least we can hope being classed as crazy might prevent others from messing with us,” Apple Bloom stated optimistically as she leaned over to take a croissant from a bowl on the table. Eating breakfast at six in the evening rather than six in the morning sure was going to take some getting used to.

As if on cue a snide voice remarked behind her. “Oh, look what the cat dragged in. Seriously? I thought my dad was sending me to the best school money could buy. How did you get in here?”

Apple Bloom’s face paled and her breathing quickened as her canines started to extend. Not her, please not her. Slowly she turned her head and came face to face with Diamond Tiara, the pink filly with a purple and white mane who had bullied her non-stop during her schooling in Ponyville over the past five years and had very nearly led to Apple Bloom’s expulsion on several occasions not to mention some really awkward conversations with her sister.

“I suppose, at least you’ve got your cutie mark at last but what’s that even…” Diamond Tiara stopped as she saw the fur grow on Apple Bloom and her nose steadily change.

“Apple Bloom, you need to listen to me and take deep breaths. Whatever she’s done in the past, trust me, it’s not worth it,” Scootaloo’s voice echoed in her ear. To Apple Bloom it felt like she was talking from several miles away.

A fire that threatened to rage out of control had ignited inside Apple Bloom and she was barely able to quell it but somehow she managed to take a deep breath and…

“Correction, look what the dog dragged in. Dearie me, was the dog pound full in Ponyville? Or maybe Princess Luna came along and knew such a worthless mutt would only be put down and felt pity for you? I don’t even need to guess which dorm they must have put you in. The special needs weirdos,” Diamond Tiara snickered coldly. Silver Spoon, her right-hoof mare, a medium grey filly with a light grey mane, joined in next to her.

That was to much. Yet somehow Apple Bloom managed to hold herself back. Instead, she stood up on the bench she was sat on, turned around, and then proceeded to spray the two bullies before sitting down and going back to her breakfast, whilst slowly returning to her pony form.

“You little brat,” Diamond Tiara growled with disgust. “How dare you!”

“I was marking my territory that you’d invaded and threatened, as all good mutts do. You have a problem with that you can deal with me and my pack but I’d be careful if I was you. As you just witnessed, us special needs fillies, as you so rudely referred to us as, are a little unstable and if you mess with one of us, there is no denying just what the rest might do. So, what will it be?” Apple Bloom stated not even bothering to turn around and face the two filles whilst addressing them.

Diamond Tiara stammered and spluttered before finally walking off in a humph pulling Silver Spoon with her. “Just you wait, Bloom; this isn’t over!” She hollered over her shoulder heading straight out of the hall and back towards her dormitory for a much-needed shower.

“Woah, care to explain?” Scootaloo asked after the two fillies had gone.

“Not really but I guess you deserve something. They tormented me for years at my old school and because of Diamond’s father’s money no pony did jack manure about,” Apple Bloom replied solemnly as she pulled out and started to examine her timetable for the year whilst munching an apple. “Instead, I nearly got expelled three times when I finally lost it and socked her one. The last time her father nearly took our damn farm after I fractured her jaw. That took a lot of negotiating to prevent but she still didn’t stop yet by then I’d realised one more slip up and it could lead to my whole family being homeless. Only reason I didn’t lay into her right now. I don’t want to be expelled or get you in trouble on my first day.” The remains of the apple slammed into the table and turned to mush under Apple Bloom’s right forehoof.

“Woah, that’s messed up,” Scootaloo replied

“Eeyup. She’s bad news but I think with you guys around she’s realised she’s going to have to be a lot more careful. Just watch out because now you’ve sided with me, she won’t hesitate to…” Apple Bloom paused as Scootaloo gave her a questioning look. “What I mean is her family has money and influence and that means if you touch her, or turn her to stone, she’ll go squealing to daddy at the first oppurtunity and you’ll probably be expelled,” she explained.

“Aah, okay, yeah, now I understand and no Sweetie, we cannot set her on fire,” Scootaloo sighed looking across the table at the white unicorn who was holding up her left forehoof that was somehow alight. A manic grin adorned her face that slowly descended into a pout as Scootaloo rejected her silent suggestion.

“Erm, should we be worried her hoof is on fire?” Apple Bloom questioned.

“Nah, she’s learnt self-combustion. She’ll be fine,” Scootaloo stated nonchalantly. “Although, she must be seriously mad if that’s happening.”

“Self-combustion?” Apple Bloom questioned.

“Yeah. She’s learnt to use her magic so that she can ignite any part of herself without hurting herself. The only downside is she's yet to master control of it and as such it sets everything she touches on fire,” Scootaloo answered.

“Woah,” this time it was Apple Bloom’s turn to be shocked by a revelation.

“I could hypnotise her and then sacrifice her to Discord if you’d…”

“No Screwball, no sacrificing to your god,” Scootaloo cut in firmly.

“Aah shoot,” Screwball replied.

“Girls,” Apple Bloom interrupted. “Can we just drop it for now and enjoy breakfast?” Apple Bloom sighed as she finished a second apple and unexpectedly found a leg wrapped around her.

“Hey, don’t you worry. There’s one thing you’ve got now that you didn’t have back at your old school,” Scootaloo said with a cheeky grin.

“What?” Apple Bloom queried.

“A pack of friends who won’t let anything bad happen to you,” Scootaloo exclaimed, tightening her grip around Apple Bloom as both Sweetie and Screwball nodded in agreement across the table.

Apple Bloom’s tail began to wag as a wide smile crossed her face. She’d tried for five years to make friends at her old school to no avail and now, in less than a day, she had three.

Author's Notes:

So been working on and off the past week and have managed two new chapters for you. I'm trying to take things a little slower so these chapters are designed to give you an introduction to a fair amount of the main/minor characters along with the school. Second chapter, obstacles and backstories, will be up as soon as edited.

Finalised 20/07/22

Day 1 part 2: Obstacles and Backstories

After breakfast, The Crazies as they’d been dubbed, were gathered up alongside their fellow first-years and provided with the so-called tour of the school. In fact, Starlight had simply collected them all together in the dining hall and levitated up signs that displayed the name of the subject and an arrow pointing toward its rough location. How they were going to find the Chemistry lab in particular was anypony’s guess as the only instruction they had been provided with was an arrow pointing down at the floor.

They were then led out the front of the castle cum school where they were greeted by a loud roar from all the other students before Vice Principal Glimmer raised a hoof and everypony fell instantly silent as Miss Dust swept down out of nowhere and addressed them.

“All right firsties. It's tradition here at St Trineighans for every first year to take part in the obstacle course as a rite of passage and to be inducted as a proper St Trineighan filly. You don’t have to finish it; just take part. As an incentive, the pony with the best time or who gets the furthest will earn one hundred bits and the best overall dorm will earn another one hundred bits or twenty-five bits per pony along with any other bets you may have placed.” She paused for a moment as her eyes deliberately picked out Apple Bloom in the crowd.

“Sounds simple enough? Wrong. Let me introduce St Trineighans' Seven Deadly Sins Obstacle Course. First up we’re giving you a freebie. Simply walk across the bridge to task number two, that simple. Just mind the trapdoors as that’s quicksand underneath. Next up is the cockatrice pen, try not to get turned to stone. Then you need to leap across the chasm on perilously unstable pillars before waltzing along the hot coals and then back over the canyon along the lubricated balance beam. Six is where it really gets tricky; navigating the swinging blades of death whilst trying to avoid being shot with paint balls. Oh, did I mention if you fall off that bridge there are a hundred or so Red Everfree snakes, the most venomous in Equestria, just waiting to bite you? Don’t worry; we do have Madam Zecora, the school witch doctor, on hoof with the antidote if needs be. Last up is the Mount Canter climbing wall and the dive into a paddling pool to finish. Just don’t miss the pool unless you want to be impaled by spikes. Any questions?” Lightning Dust finished in rapid time without even taking a breath.

Every first-year stared at her completely dumbstruck aside Apple Bloom who’d turned and was now glowering at Scootaloo. "Wouldn’t put us in any true danger my arse!" she retorted before turning her attention back to Miss Dust.

“No? Excellent. Then we’ll go one team at a time in alphabe…” Lightning Dust began to continue only for Diamond Tiara to rudely interrupt.

“Yeah, are you bucking insane? That’s a death sentence!” she exclaimed.

“I can promise that you are in no serious danger and congratulate you on volunteering to be the first up from dorm one. Tiara, Diamond, isn’t it?” Lightning Dust said with a smug smile.

“What? No way. You’ve got to be kidding?” Diamond replied, taking a somewhat less-confident step back.

“Well, you can refuse but then we’d have to expel you, lock you in the dungeon and manipulate your father’s memories of you, your choice,” Lightning Dust responded, all the while maintaining her smug smile.

Diamond stared at Dust for a moment unsure if she was for real. For one of the few times in her life Diamond felt true fear. This crazy mare wasn’t joking.

She barely made it a third of the way across the first bridge before a trapdoor opened up and swallowed her whole. A loud splash followed accompanied by a squeal of disgust and then a shrill cry for help.

Lightning looked at Starlight and asked, “Do I have to? She’s an annoying brat.”

Starlight simply frowned at her and a moment later Lightning had plucked Diamond out of the quicksand and put her back on solid ground.

“Why don’t you go take a shower and then comeback out to watch the rest of your fellow firsties fail?” Lightning suggested to Diamond in a voice laced with clearly fake sympathy.

“NO,” Diamond spat, shaking off the sludge that now gripped her coat. “Not until I see her fail.” She jabbed a sludge covered hoof in Apple Bloom's direction.

Apple Bloom glowered back at Diamond before she spat back in return, “Fine. Miss Dust, am I free to proceed for dorm two?”

“Erm, yeah, I guess. Go ahead,” Lightning said a little surprised at Apple Bloom’s willingness. As far back as she could remember nopony had ever wanted to do the obstacle course and especially to be one of the first. Those few who had succeeded had been those who went last and who had observed intently how their year mates had failed.

Apple Bloom raced forward transforming into her wolf form as she did so. Some might have seen her speed as foolhardy and that she was rushing into the first obstacle. That was until she raced up the ramp and leapt high over both the entire trapdoor bridge and the quicksand, landing at the far end of the bridge on the descending ramp.

“Woah. Okay, I’ll admit, that was pretty awesome,” Lightning Dust muttered under her breath.

Next up Apple Bloom curled into a ball and closed her eyes tightly shut before barrelling through the cockatrice pen to numerous squawks and hisses of indignation. It wasn’t a perfect run by any means as she crashed through the wall rather than pass through the flap but she’d made it through without turning to stone.

Lightning Dust continued to look on impressed with the werewolf’s attempt so far.

Next up was the unstable stepping stones across the chasm. The gap was too large for her to jump in a single bound but she was also too quick for the one pillar she did land on for it to be of any issue to her.

“Nice,” Lightning Dust commented.

The hot coals had been painful but Apple Bloom had gritted her teeth and moved on to the balance beam. This time she didn’t dare jump for fear she’d slip on the beam and fall to her doom. Instead, she gripped the beam as best she could with her paws and slid across like a slug. This was by far the slowest bit of her run so far but she forced herself not to rush as she eventually made it to the other side after what felt like an eternity.

By now a hushed silence had fallen upon the crowd of students. All of them knew from previous experience very few made it even this far as Apple Bloom reached the swinging blades of death and ducked as a paintball flew over where her head had been mere moments ago. Taking a deep breath, she charged the blades leaping over the first two and sweeping past three with ease as paintballs flew all around her. Blade four though was where she made her first critical error as a slight misjudgement saw the final blade take off her tail!

“Oof, that’s gonna hurt in the morning,” Lightning grimaced yet Apple Bloom doggedly soldiered on even as a snake tried to leap out the pit at her. She nimbly dodged it as paintballs continued raining down on her until she finally staggered of the bridge and towards the final obstacle, blood oozing from the wound to her tail.

The climbing wall must have risen at least one hundred hooves into the air. Ignoring the wooziness due to the blood loss from her missing tail, Apple Bloom leapt onto the wall and began the arduous climb. She hadn’t even noticed that half her body now depicted a rainbow from numerous paintball hits, her werewolf and earth pony genes having numbed the pain alongside the shock of losing her tail.

“Come on kid, you can do it,” Lightning Dust murmured under her breath.

The whole field had fallen deathly quiet.

And then Lightning Dust saw her and shot of as fast as her name suggested.

Dizzy and disoriented from the loss of blood from the wound to her tail, Apple Bloom had finally stubbornly made it to the top of the ginormous climbing wall. It was because of how out of it she was by this point that she didn’t really register how far up she was and thus simply stumbled off the platform to either her doom or success, closing her eyes as she did so. She felt the air shoot past her and wondered if this is what it felt like to be a Pegasus before her thoughts turned to the spikes that encircled the swimming pool that would almost certainly turn her into a grotesque imitation of a lollipop. And then all of a sudden the breeze changed and she was no longer falling.

“See, what did I tell you, no serious danger,” a voice she vaguely recognised chuckled.

“Tell that to my tail and my hooves,” Apple Bloom grumbled to a massive roar of congratulations as they came into land.

“Miss Bloom completes the course in five minutes twenty-seven seconds,” Princess Luna informed the crowd. “An outstanding achievement. Next up Alafern, Spur for dorm three.”

Apple Bloom hadn't heard her, she'd passed out, her reserves of adrenalin having been well and truly exhausted.

*

Both Spur and Dinky Doo made it as far as the cockatrice pen before having to be retrieved by Fluttershy and then revived by Scootaloo. Apple Bloom was just coming round as round two was about to begin.

“Aah,” she screamed as she woke to see a skeletal face staring right back at her.

“Do not worry my dear, you have nothing to fear,” Madam Zecora replied, pulling back the mask she was wearing before she finished applying some horrifically foul-smelling poultices to Apple Bloom’s badly burned hooves and wrapped them in bandages. “I must now ask that you don’t move, if you wish for your condition to improve. Your natural earth pony healing magic should have you back on your feet in a beat but your tail may take several days to regenerate.”

Apple Bloom stared down at her bandaged hooves and then looked up at the zebra who had treated her. “Well, that’s a relief. As for moving, I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere with my hooves bandaged like this.” She waggled her hooves to emphasise her point.

“Well, for that I am glad. I have others I need to see, so relax and watch the display, okay?”

Apple Bloom nodded her head in reply to the peculiar rhyming zebra, who, as soon as she departed was replaced by Scootaloo and Screwball.

“That was incredible! I can’t believe you succeeded!” Scootaloo squeaked, buzzing with excitement.

“I had to put a few ponies in their place,” Apple Bloom grunted in reply. “Who’s next by the way?”

“Moon, Moon,” Lightning Dust’s voice echoed out across the playing fields.

A Pegasus filly as black as night, including her mane, walked forward. She sported two moons on her flank.

Apple Bloom watched as the filly shot off faster than her eyes could follow. In the blink of an eye, she was attempting to fly across the gorge only to realise her mistake a moment to late as multiple gusts of winds from every direction imaginable sent her careering of course. She made it across the gorge but landed with a sickening crunch on the other side. She momentarily rose to three of her hooves in defiance but it was clear her wounds were too severe to continue and she abruptly collapsed onto the ground panting heavily.

“And that Pegasi is why you shouldn’t attempt to fly across the gorge,” Lightning Dust informed before she raced of to retrieve Moon Moon only to find Starlight and Luna had already done so.

The serious injuries their year mate had suffered seemed to have only further amplified the anxiety amongst the remaining eleven students who still needed to complete their initiation.

Sweetie was up next and sadly for Apple Bloom and her dormmates the filly’s luck wasn’t in and she only made it halfway across the first obstacle before falling through a trapdoor. She tried her best to levitate herself up but her magic wasn’t strong enough and eventually she succumbed to the quicksand.

As Apple Bloom consoled her distraught friend, Mjӧlna Ragnarök went for dorm three. As an earth pony she was at a serious disadvantage on the first obstacle but despite one or two scares she made it across, wedging her hammer across the gaps and climbing back up to safety on the few occasions she fell through a trapdoor. She also made it through the cockatrice pen and then managed to navigate the tricky pillars. By this point though you could tell the amount of exertion she had so far put in was starting to tell as sweat began dripping down her muzzle. Burning her hooves on the hot coals only worsened matters and by the end of the walk she staggered and fell, her hooves too burnt and blistered for her to continue.

“A very good attempt by Mjӧlna there putting her into second place so far. Up next is Erroria, Princess,” Lightning Dust instructed.

A yellow Pegasus filly with a purple mane and tail stepped forward. Her cutie mark was a peculiar one, a red and yellow triangle with a black exclamation mark in the middle of it. Apple Bloom watched impressed as the Pegasus, learning from her prior competitors' mistakes navigated the first three obstacles cautiously but successfully. She then used her wings to direct a breeze at the coals to cool them before crossing them and then attempting the beam. Unfortunately, this was where she made her mistake, not using Apple Bloom’s successful method and instead attempting to walk across it. Halfway across she slipped and was only saved a similar fate as Moon Moon by Rarity who wrapped her in her magic and brought her back to safety. It did not go unnoticed by Apple Bloom that Vice Principal Glimmer had disappeared alongside Moon Moon and Zecora.

“Well, that was another brave run by Princess Erroria, if somewhat slow. Let’s check the halftime leader board to see where we are at,” Lightning Dust’s voice hollered across the field.

Apple Bloom looked up from where she was still consoling Sweetie to find that despite the unicorn’s poor performance, they were still tied for the team title with two other dorms while dorm one was currently trailing and needing a good performance from their next performer, Ruby Pinch.

And she didn’t disappoint, storming the course until a torrent of paintballs sent her toppling into the snake pit to visible grimaces from everyone in the audience. Then it was Screwball’s turn and everyone watched on in amazement as she floated across the first obstacle, through the pen, across the chasm and hot coals, back across the chasm and then went THROUGH the snake pit, leaving the snakes dancing in her wake before floating up and over the climbing wall into the pool below.

Stunned silence greeted the insane filly’s performance until Lightning Dust shrugged her shoulders and spoke up. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t be to surprised. What was her time Principal Moon?”

“Five minutes twenty-eight seconds,” Nightmare Moon replied as Screwball bounced over to embrace her friends.

“How’d I do?” she giggled.

“Incredible,” Apple Bloom replied

“Outstanding,” Scootaloo exclaimed.

Sweetie, wiping the last of the tears from her eyes, simply launched herself at Screwball and embraced her in a tight hug.

“D’aww, I love you to Sweetie.”

They barely caught the next run by Tempest Shadow, a broody purple unicorn wearing a tight black jumpsuit with a broken horn and a scar going the whole way down the right side of her face until they caught sight of her being hit in the head with a paintball over the snake pit that clearly made her dizzy and disorientated resulting in her walking right into the final blade. She would have been sliced in two if not for Rarity teleporting her out at the last second.

The final filly on round three was Lily Longsocks, a timid looking earth pony who never looked comfortable and got only marginally further than Sweetie Belle before succumbing to the quicksand. Looking up at the scoreboard Apple Bloom could see after Screwball’s performance they were clear favourites to win but that dorm three, the so-called jocks, were still in contention.

After watching, and laughing so hard her sides hurt, as Silver Spoon barely made it any further than Diamond Tiara before succumbing to the quicksand, she turned and gave Scootaloo a curt nod.

“Try not to break a leg out there,” She chuckled.

“Thanks for the encouragement,” Scootaloo replied with a smirk as she pushed herself forward and prepared to take on the course.

It started well as she raced up the ramp and copied Apple Bloom’s technique, except as a Pegasus she used her wings to glide across the bridge. Of course, she had no issue tackling the cockatrice pen but then, as she came to the chasm, she froze.

“Ah, shit,” Screwball muttered under her breath just loud enough for Apple Bloom to hear.

“What, what do you mean?” Apple Bloom replied, somewhat concerned at the usually jovial filly’s sudden shift in tone.

“She’s afraid of heights,” Screwball replied.

Apple Bloom stared at the other filly as if she was mad. Okay, so she was but still. “Afraid of heights? She’s a Pegasus. A ruler of the skies. How can she be afraid of heights?”

Screwball shrugged her shoulders. “No idea. She just is. One of the reasons why I’m guessing I’ve never seen her attempt to fly over the past four years. Oh Discord.”

Upon the second curse from the insane filly Apple Bloom squinted and saw that Scootaloo was backing up. And then she sprinted to the edge of the chasm and leapt. Gasps erupted from the older students watching on as she released her wings and attempted to glide across the canyon.

“Is she mad!” Apple Bloom screamed remembering what had happened to Moon Moon just a little while earlier.

“Hmm, clever,” Screwball chuckled clearly knowing something Apple Bloom didn’t.

The werewolf glowered at her crazy friend.

“Have you finally decided to submit to the will and madness of our lord and saviour Discord?” Screwball asked hopefully.

Apple Bloom showed off her sharpened canines.

“Okay, I may be insane but I can take a hint. So, what’s the difference between a chicken and a Pegasus?”

“What?” Apple Bloom grumbled; eyes glued on Scootaloo as she dangerously hovered above the canyon. “Come on,” she muttered under her breath, hoping and praying Scootaloo could prove Lightning Dust wrong.

“Huh, clever. Still, even with your reduced wingspan you’ll find it difficult,” the P.E. teacher announced causing Apple Bloom to briefly turn her attention back to Screwball then turn back to Scootaloo and focus intently on the Pegasus’ wings. Now that she looked closely, they did seem awfully small for a Pegasus her age.

“Wait, is there something wrong with her wings! Can she not fly properly!” Apple Bloom blurted, eyes going wide.

“Jackpot, we have a winner,” Screwball announced but Apple Bloom wasn’t listening.

Instead, her attention was solely focused on Scootaloo and specifically the fact that although the Pegasus was nearing the other side, she almost certainly wasn’t going to make it.

That was until an unexpected updraught came out of nowhere and sent Scootaloo spinning dangerously out of control. What came next were two things. First, Scootaloo’s breakfast went everywhere. Then, she somehow managed to land perfectly on her feet before ungracefully depositing the last remains of her breakfast on the grass and passing out in said remains.

*

Screaming and falling. Screaming and falling. Screaming and falling. That’s all she could ever remember. And then all of a sudden everything changed and she was in a pool of water struggling to stay afloat.

Scootaloo awoke with a start as ice cold water flooded her vision.

“Glub, blub, flub,” she spluttered trying to regain her bearings.

“Sweetie, will you stop trying to drown poor Scootaloo,” she heard what sounded like Apple Bloom chastise her other friend. “Yes, I know she stinks but I think that’s enough. Yes, you can apply whatever soaps and makeup you like to that braindead Pegasus just as long as you turn off the hose.”

The hose immediately stopped to Scootaloo’s relief only for her to slowly realise just what Apple Bloom had said. She immediately tried to rise to her hooves only for an overwhelming dizziness to overtake her.

“I wouldn’t try standing if I were you,” Apple Bloom chuckled in the distance. “Just how many flips did she do in the end Screwball?”

“Thirty-eight,” Screwball replied.

“Yeah. Lightning said it could be up to an hour before you fully regain your sense of balance. So why don’t you just do what I’m doing and rest while Sweetie cleans you up. They’ll be announcing the results soon,” Apple Bloom explained.

“Before Sweetie tortures me with unfair and unusual punishment, can you at least tell me what happened? The last thing I remember is leaping across the chasm and then a lot of spinning.” Even the memory made Scootaloo turn green and she dry heaved onto the grass next to her, her stomach having long been emptied.

“You got hit with one of the strange gusts of wind the chasm is renowned for, sent you spiralling out of control. Nice landing though although the passing out in your own vomit knocks a few marks off,” Apple Bloom explained.

“Ah, that explains the hose,” Scootaloo replied as Sweetie silently sat down next to her with more makeup and bottles of soap than Scootaloo could possibly count. “What about the competition?” she added as Sweetie started on her hooves.

“And we have our winners,” Luna’s perfectly timed and booming voice called out across the field. “But first, a warm round of applause for all of the first years who bravely completed their initiations. I know some of them will still be feeling the after effects for many days to come!”

A loud round of whistles, claps and hollers erupted around them before once again abruptly falling silent at Luna’s command. Scootaloo had finally noticed that the principal was making herself heard from a temporary stage that must have been set up whilst she was unconscious.

“First up are the participation awards starting with Best Elimination which goes to Moon Moon for that spectacular crash landing. We’ll get her trophy to her as soon as she’s a bit more alive,” Luna chuckled and her laughter was reciprocated by many of the other students. “Anyway, moving on as I know many of you will want to enjoy the remainder of this final night before school starts proper for yet another year. The next participation award goes to Diamond Tiara for worst, sorry, funniest performance.”

This time laughter erupted amongst everypony as an embarrassed and rather displeased looking Diamond Tiara, fresh from the shower, was pushed forward to collect her prize, a trophy of a pony’s face pulling what was supposed to be a comedic expression although which more resembled a pony having a heart attack.

“Do you have any words to describe your feeble attempt?” Luna enquired looking at Diamond expectantly as she passed the trophy over. “Aside from “My daddy will be hearing about this” because trust me, he won’t,” Luna stated jovially to everypony before leaning into Diamond’s ear and whispering deadly seriously, “Because you know, all it will take is a bit of mind control and a terrible accident and daddy’s little girl is left with nothing in his will, understood?”

Diamond Tiara shivered at the coldness of the Moon Princess’s words before she turned to everypony and stammered. “G-glad I was able to give every pony a laugh. Thanks for the award,” and with that she shot off the stage and back into the crowd of first years faster than even Lightning Dust could move.

“Woah, I’ve never seen her that skittish,” Apple Bloom admitted. “I wonder what Luna said to her.”

“No idea,” Scootaloo sighed, not even bothering to stop Sweetie as she continued her rigorous cleaning regime. She had just come to the end of giving Scootaloo a perfect hooficure along with applying purple hoof polish to her hooves.

Apple Bloom sniggered. “You look like you’re enjoying yourself.”

“You realise after a while that sacrifices have to be made if you don’t want an unhappy unicorn burning the school to the ground. Unfortunately for me, the only other thing she really seems to enjoy aside fire is making others look like princesses. Oh, and I’m not sure why you’re laughing, you’re next, Rainbow Bloom.”

“What?” Apple Bloom exclaimed as the next award was called out.

“The Best Strategy award goes to Princess Erroria who kept calm, level-headed and refused to rush into any of the obstacles despite being in a time critical environment. I hope you older years have taken note of her actions as some of you still don’t seem able to understand the concept of thinking first before you act,” Princess Luna explained as Erroria came up and collected her award.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo watched as the girl gave a quick, nervous thank you, blushed profusely and then retreated back to her fellow dormmates as quickly as she could.

“Finally, we have the sportsmareship award which, unusually, I will be doing alongside the best individual performance award. So, could I have Screwball and Apple Bloom up here please.”

“Yay, we won!” Screwball cried as Apple Bloom was encased in a blue aura and levitated to where Luna stood on the stage.

“I don’t think many others would have held back to allow a friend the opportunity to win instead, especially with one hundred bits on the table,” Luna explained handing Screwball her trophy.

“Pfft, oh please. My new friend Apple Bloom deserved to win and needs the money way more than me,” Screwball replied as the trophy disappeared into her hair. “I mean just look at her. It’s a good job we have Sweetie otherwise she’d need to spend the one hundred bits on cleaning herself up alone!”

Apple Bloom’s mouth had slipped open wide in shock. She had completely forgotten about the one-hundred-bit prize for finishing first.

“Such modesty, how humbling. Miss Bloom, is there anything you’d like to add?” Luna asked as she passed over Apple Bloom’s own trophy.

“One hundred bits,” Apple Bloom squeaked in disbelief.

Luna chuckled. “Yes, that is correct. You can collect the bits from Miss Dust after I've announced the winner of the collective prize and the sooner you return to your classmates, the sooner I can do that.” She lowered Apple Bloom onto Screwball’s back and as Apple Bloom gripped on for dear life as Screwball bounced back to their friends, Luna was left in deep conversation with Lightning Dust.

“Erm, Princess, not sure how to tell you this but for the first time ever we have a tie,” Lightning whispered into her ear.

“What do you mean it’s a tie?” Luna hissed back as she tried to remain calm and cheerful in front of the students.

“Well dorm two’s students finished first, second, tenth and fourteenth. That’s forty-one points. Dorm three’s students on the other hoof finished third, sixth, seventh and eleventh. Also equalling forty-one points,” Lightning explained as Luna sighed.

Did she have to do everything around here herself?

“Right folks, it seems we’ve a very interesting scenario and a tie for first place that will need to be settled,” Luna stated to gasps and murmurs from the crowd. Luna ignored them and went on. “But first a big round of applause to dorms one and four who scored twenty-four and thirty points respectively.

A polite applause accompanied that revelation as murmurs continued around the playing fields.

“Now, in second place with a total score of forty-one points but with zero ponies completing the course, is dorm three. So that means our winners with forty-one points and…”

“THAT’S NOT FAIR,” a voice interrupted to gasps of shock and surprise.

Who in their right mind would interrupt a princess?

Everybody moved to one side to reveal a brown earth pony littered with scars with curled green locks looking up angrily at Princess Luna.

“Okay then. Would you prefer being turned to stone again instead?” Luna enquired nonchalantly. “Because that can be arranged. We are always in need for more garden ornaments.”

Spur gulped, eyes going wide. Being turned to stone, even for only a couple of minutes, had not been at all a nice experience. She bent low to the ground and muttered through gritted teeth, “I apologise my princess. My outburst was uncalled for.”

“Apology accepted. Now, who wants to come up and receive the award for dorm two?”

*

Apple Bloom stared at the wad of notes in her hoof. One hundred and fifty bits. One hundred and fifty bits. More money than she’d ever had in her entire life and yet Applejack would still be disappointed in her for being so careless with the ten bits she’d entrusted her with.

“Earth to Apple Bloom. Earth to Apple Bloom. You’ve been staring at your money for the past fifteen minutes,” Scootaloo stated, finishing with a chortle. “It’s like you’ve never seen such a meagre amount of money in your…”

“No, I haven’t. Before today the most I’ve ever had to my name is one solitary bit. I don’t even class the ten bits my sister gave me, likely her life savings, as truly mine. So yeah, this to me is a lot of money.”

“Huh, sounds like you had it tough growing up. Like to talk about it?” Scootaloo asked with genuine concern.

Even after heading over to Miss Dust to collect their winnings there had still been two hours until lunch so the girls had retired to their dorm for the time being to unwind and let Sweetie continue their makeovers. The trophies they’d won now had pride of place on the window sill next to their beds.

Apple Bloom sighed and gave a Scootaloo a questioning look. “Says the girl who grew up alongside cockatrices and well, okay, I’m not going to lie, Sweetie did an epic job and really helped me get all that paint off,” she replied.

Sweetie smiled behind her as she continued to braid Apple Bloom’s mane.

Scootaloo shrugged her shoulders. Her usually unkempt mane had been straightened and now flowed freely down the back of her head whilst her coat had been thoroughly brushed and washed with shampoo along with her tail which now sported black highlights. To finish the look Sweetie had applied purple eyeliner, eyeshadow and lipstick. Scootaloo had at least managed to stop her friend applying any blush.

“At least living with cockatrices was simple. No money, just every cockatrice pulls its weight for the flock. Whether that be finding food, looking after the young, protecting the flock. Life was simple from what little I can remember. As for Sweetie, yeah, she could make a killing as a beautician although walking around like this for the next few days is going to be painfully embarrassing.”

Sweetie glowered at Scootaloo and ignited one of her hooves.

“Okay, okay, fine, a week but then the hair goes back to normal,” Scootaloo conceded looking less than pleased with the deal.

Sweetie nodded and the flames went out as she returned her attention to Apple Bloom’s mane.

Apple Bloom sniggered before asking, “So anyway, seeing as we have some time, what was it like, living with cockatrices?”

“Honestly, I don’t remember much before Fluttershy came along with Starlight to negotiate my release when I was, we believe, five? My exact age isn’t truly known,” Scootaloo admitted looking somewhat distant. “And before you ask, I’ve no idea how I got there or what happened to my true parents.” Tears had slowly formed in her eyes but she blinked them away before asking, “Now, I do believe I asked you first.”

“I was born on an apple farm and live with my two older siblings and grandmother. Ma died shortly after I was born. All me and my siblings know is there were some complications with my birth. Apparently, it was a miracle they saved one of us but it hit my father hard and he became distant after that. Disappeared shortly after my third birthday to leave a farm barely breaking even in the hooves of a thirteen- and eleven-year-old the no-good deserter. Yeah, you can imagine how that played out. Still, despite a tough beginning they did everything they could to turn the farm around, raise me proper and respect the importance of every hard-earned bit. My sister ever finds out I nearly lost what was likely her life-savings on a wager, damn, it would likely be months until she even spoke to me again,” Apple Bloom finished with a whistle of relief.

“Then why did you?” Scootaloo pressed.

“Honestly? Us Apples do have a couple of well-known weaknesses. We’re hot-headed and defensive,” Apple Bloom confessed sheepishly.

“Ah, I see and I know what you mean. Miss Dust does seem to rub off the wrong way on a lot of ponies. At least you got the bits back though. Fluttershy probably tell us there’s a lesson to be learnt there,” Scootaloo stated with a forced chuckle.

Sweetie nodded from behind Apple Bloom as she finished braiding the filly’s hair.

“And at least she didn’t dub us the orphan dorm,” Scootaloo added to a look of surprise from Apple Bloom.

“Wait, all of you, too?”

“Well, not really,” Screwball admitted. “My father’s head exploded when he came to find me and looked into the chaos realm. I used his blood and organs to temporarily summon Discord so he could bless me with a fraction of his power. As for mum, she just went insane and thinks she’s a dog. You’ll meet her tomorrow night; she’s the languages teacher. Although, the only language she can actually speak now is canine but still, should be a laugh.” Screwball casually revealed to her friends.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo simply stared at one another for a moment before both saying the same thing simultaneously.

“Time for lunch.”

It wasn’t a question as they hurriedly made their way to the door to their dormitory neither wanting to continue their backstories after that bombshell.

Sweetie was only too happy to follow them. She didn’t like talking about the accident that took her parents and her voice away then labelled her with this cruel reminder of a cutie mark, even if it was fun to spontaneously set herself on fire sometimes. Ooh, maybe she should do that right now.

“SWEETIE!” Scootaloo screamed.

*

Starlight looked down upon the prone filly in the bed like a disappointed mother looking down at their foal after they’d been caught with their hoof in the cookie jar.

You really did a number on yourself this time, didn’t you? the sign Starlight held up read.

Moon Moon looked at it with her one good eye, the other covered with an ice pack, and turned her head away. She hadn’t talked to her mother in more than two years since finding out the truth. She’d be damned if she was going to start now.

For a while the two just sat there in ever growing awkward silence until the door to the infirmary creaked open behind Starlight.

“How’s my favourite pupil doing? That was a nasty landing back there,” Luna chuckled as she entered the infirmary, casting a silencing charm on the room as she did so.

Grumpy, Starlight replied as she rose from her chair and headed for the door Luna just entered from. You talk to her.

And without another written word she was gone and the awkward silence was back.

“So,” Luna began. “I brought you your trophy. You won best elimination. That was some crash back there.”

The only response she got in reply was silence as she placed said trophy down on the trolley next to the infirmary bed.

“Still giving us the silent treatment, huh? How many years you been doing that…” Luna paused as a poorly scribbled note was lifted from the bed.

BUCK OF BITCH!

“Woah, lucky Starlight’s not here or she’d ground you for a month for such language. Where did you even hear such language in the…” Luna paused and thought for a moment. “I’ll have to have a word with Lightning later.” She settled down on the end of the bed. “How many times do we need to have the whole you may have been a drunken mistake but you’re the best thing to ever happen to us speech?”

Silence.

“Because that’s the honest truth and your childish actions right now are breaking Starlight’s heart. You know what? This is going to sound so stereotypical but you should be grateful for what you’ve got. Most you classmates don’t even have one loving parent let alone two,” Luna explained.

Moon’s head turned with a ferocious death glare.

“Girl, I had to deal with your pregnant mother. No matter how ferocious your one-eyed death glare may be, nothing you could possibly do could compete against that, except maybe you being you,” Luna chuckled receiving a prod from Moon in retaliation. “Ow, that really hurt,” Luna chuckled as Moon returned to trying to murder her mother with her eyes.

“Anyway, I’m getting off track. Let me go over these as quickly as I can for you. Scootaloo, raised by cockatrices, parents unknown. Alafern, Spur, abused from the age of three by her father, finally murdered him when she was eight. Cracked his head open with an axe.”

“Wait, one of my classmates is a murderer?” Moon exclaimed in astonishment.

“Oh, woops, my mistake. Killed in self-defence. You should see what that bastard did to her. He got exactly what he deserved,” Luna explained. “And does that mean you’re finally talking to me again?” she added looking hopefully at the rebellious filly in the infirmary bed.

Moon’s death glare returned.

“I guess I’ll have to continue then,” Luna said with a heavy sigh. “Where was I? Oh yes, Belle, Sweetie, parents died in a housefire when she was four. Barely survived herself and suffered permanent damage to her vocal chords that means she can only speak via magic. Bloom, Apple, mother died shortly after she was born, father disappeared when she was only three. You don’t want to know what Screwball did to her father. Pinch, Ruby, mum’s an alcoholic. No idea who her father might be. Dinky Doo, parents are divorced, lives with her mother who’s slowly going blind. Little Strongheart, the buffalo, mother killed fighting against the first pony settlers. Shadow, Tempest, ran away from home after having her horn cleaved of by an ursa minor. Longsocks, Lily, extremely strong even for an earth pony, a tantrum when she was seven saw her accidentally paralyse her mother. Paleo, Petunia, was abandoned at an orphanage when her cutie mark was revealed to be necromancy whilst Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon probably have it the worst. Their parents are so rich they feel they can just answer all of their problems with money, including their fillies. All those two girls have ever wanted is one day with their parents rather than a butler or a nanny. And what might I ask is your problem? Yeah, you weren’t exactly expected and were the result of a night of debauchery but damn was it a whole lot of fun. Starlight sure isn’t a saint, that’s for sure,” Luna finished with a devilish smirk.

Moon Moon’s glare turned to a look of disgust.

“Hmm, would you like to hear some of the things we got up to the night you were conceived?”

Moon Moon’s one visible eye twitched before finally she blurted, “NO, please for the love of Celestia I’m too young for the talk!”

“Hmm, two years and all I had to do was cripple you and then threaten you with the talk. Damn, if I’d known it was going to be that easy,” Luna replied merrily.

“To be fair you never really bothered after the first couple of times. Told mum I’d come around eventually. But that was just mean,” Moon grumbled. “Maybe I’ll tell her how you got me to talk after scarring me for life?”

“Oh, there’s the conniving and manipulative filly I helped bring up. Double desert?” Luna chuckled.

“Double desert,” Moon replied. “And m-mum did my fellow classmates really go through all that?”

“Yeah, they did, just don’t go revealing any of what I just told you to anyone as even a princess can be done by her sister’s data protection laws. Why do you think St Trineighans is a school for special fillies?”

“Because it takes in those fillies who are criminally insane?” Moon deadpanned.

“Close,” Luna chuckled. It’s because we take in those with difficult upbringings and unusual special talents and give them a chance to succeed when almost every pony else in society has given up on them. Yes, there may be other factors as to why some are picked, the school does need bits to survive, but our main aim is to help those fillies in need and give them that chance at life they could have only dreamed of previously. What?” Luna suddenly exclaimed finding two hooves wrapped around her and a head snuggling deep into her belly.

“I’m sorry mum. I really am,” Moon sniffled as the tears bottled up inside her for two years finally came out. “I just…”

“Thought we didn’t want you? That you were nothing more than an unwanted mistake. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me and don’t you ever forget it. Aside possibly from that night with Starlight. You know she can even hypnotise me, right?”

“Triple desert,” Moon sniggered into her mother’s chest.

“Triple desert. And I promise we’ll never argue within earshot of you again,” Luna sighed with content only for the fire alarm to suddenly blare out.

“Shouldn’t you go sort that?” Moon asked snuggling into her mother’s fur.

“I’m sure Starlight can sort it.”

“Double desert for a week.”

Author's Notes:

First 3 chapters edited by Rich online, thanks!

Chapter 3 finalised: 24/07/22

Day 2 part 1: Return to Sender

Apple Bloom awoke the following afternoon to find herself in total darkness, the magically infused blackout blinds preventing even a spec of light from penetrating the room. Unsure of the time, she lay on her back and looked up at the base of Screwball’s bunk above hers, letting her mind wander to the chaos of the previous night’s events. There was way too much for her mind to comprehend, from her introduction to Fluttershy to her confrontations with Miss Dust and Diamond Tiara. Then there was the obstacle course and Sweetie Belle getting covered in foam after self-combusting right in front of her eyes. That last one had left her speechless for a while despite Scootaloo having already told her it was something Sweetie could do. It was one of those things where you simply had to see it to believe it. And that had only been the first half of the night! She had tired after lunch, not used to being up so late, but after Sweetie had been carted of to have another talk with Fluttershy, the three remaining Crazy Mark Crusaders, as Scootaloo had dubbed them over lunch, had decided to conduct their own tour of the castle.

Considering how large just one floor of the castle was, it was to no great surprise it took them nearly until dinner to explore all seven floors. Okay, so the top floor was out of bounds to students being the teachers’ quarters and the fourth floor was just one humongous library and the second and third floors were the students’ dorms with the second floor also host to the infirmary. Okay, so maybe they only really had to explore three floors but still, even that took over two hours.

It was in the basement that they eventually found the Chemistry labs down a maze of corridors along with a dance studio and theatre whilst in the opposite direction they came across the school kitchens and Home Economics classroom. On the ground floor alongside the dining hall was a sports hall, swimming pool and the biology classroom that was located next to a large greenhouse, the view inside of which was obscured by an impenetrable mist. Meanwhile, on the first floor, they discovered the textiles, languages and art classrooms amongst a whole host of empty and deserted rooms. By the time dinner had come around Apple Bloom had been almost too tired to eat, emphasis on the almost, and had unsurprisingly crashed on her bunk as soon as they had returned to their dorm after dinner.

“Hey,” Scootaloo’s voice pierced though the darkness. “Anyone else… Screwball you’ve snuck in behind me again, haven’t you?”

“Nope,” Screwball replied.

Scootaloo looked up and was immediately buried by Screwball and a horde of plushies.

“Surprise!” the mare giggled as suddenly the room was enveloped in a dim orange glow.

Apple Bloom stifled a giggle at the pile of plushies Screwball now sat atop, a lone orange leg sticking out from them as muffled curses emanated from the pile.

“Huh, morning girls or should that be afternoon? Who knows? Anyhow, anyone seen Scootaloo? I swore I heard her just now,” Apple Bloom enquired deciding to get in on the act as she rolled out of her bed and onto all four of her hooves.

The orange leg started waving frantically.

“No idea,” Screwball replied looking anything but innocent.

“Damn, rude of her to go to breakfast without us. Mind if I sit with you? Those plushies look mighty comfy.”

The leg started waving even more frantically.

“Sure! Would you like one to gnaw on?” Screwball replied.

“That sounds delightful,” Apple Bloom replied jumping into the pile. “That orange bone looking one looks particularly tasty.”

“Don’t you dare,” Scootaloo said firmly, her head finally breaking free of its unusual prison.

“Oh, there you are Scootaloo. We were wondering where you had got to. Dare to do what?” Apple Bloom said with mock sincerity before opening her mouth wide and looking like she was about to take a bite out of Scootaloo’s leg.

And then she suddenly stopped as her pinprick hearing picked up the most delightful of noises.

“Oh, you like that do you?” Scootaloo chuckled as another hoof forced its way out of the pile holding a peculiar looking creature that squeaked ever so delightfully to Apple Bloom’s ears.

“SQUEAKY!!!” Apple Bloom cooed, totally transfixed by the plush toy.

“Ooh, someone found the squeaky Discord!” Screwball giggled only to suddenly find the aforementioned toy in her hooves. “Uh-Oh.”

“FETCH!” Scootaloo commanded.

*

“Mind if I sit with you? Moon is still in the infirmary and those two are insufferable,” a voice said behind Scootaloo as she tucked into a pancake. “I’ve already gone through a bottle of vodka this morning alone.”

Scootaloo chuckled. “Oh, hey Ruby,” she replied through a mouthful of pancake. “Sure thing. Just don’t take Apple Bloom’s squeaky toy. The last thing I need is two werewolves wrestling on the table sending breakfast items flying everywhere.”

Ruby, a pink unicorn filly with a two-tone pink mane, chuckled as she pulled up a chair and squeezed in between Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, the latter giving her a good sniff as she did so and letting out a low growl.

Ruby raised her forehooves into the air. “Easy girl. Friend not foe.”

Apple Bloom continued looking at the other filly questioningly.

Ruby sighed and reached into her mane. “Biscuit?”

Apple Bloom’s tongue lolled out of her mouth as she opened wide to reveal an extensive range of sharp pointed teeth.

Ruby chuckled once more and threw the biscuit into the gaping maw. “I remember those times. Don’t worry; you’ll gain more control over time.”

“I really hope so. She jumped out the window yesterday chasing a bone. Thankfully, Starlight was outside to return to sender,” Scootaloo admitted with a sigh.

“Hey, it was a really good bone,” Apple Bloom replied indignantly as she started pouring herself a bowl of cereal.

“I bet if it was one of Fluttershy’s. She only ever gives the best,” Ruby responded, a glob of drool dripping from her mouth as she did so.

“Eww, Ruby, you’re drooling on the toast,” Scootaloo grumbled.

“Scratches, too,” Apple Bloom confessed, her cheeks going a rosy red at the memory as she ignored the interruption from Scootaloo.

“Damn straight. Can tell by your face she’s already made you howl with delight. It’s been two years since I was bitten and I still can’t stop myself when she hits that sweet spot behind my ear,” Ruby admitted herself. “But damn, is the embarrassment worth it.”

“Agreed,” Apple Bloom replied, innocently pressing down on the squeaky toy that sat by her bowl of cereal.

Ruby’s ears immediately perked up and her eyes went wide. “Squeaky?”

“Don’t you two even think about it or I’ll turn you both to stone until… OH LUNA DAMMIT!” Scootaloo swore as Ruby gave her cheek a slow, slobbery lick.

“Still got it,” Ruby giggled as Apple Bloom sniggered next to her.

“What is it with canines and wet slobbery licks?” Scootaloo grumbled wiping her cheek with a hoof.

“It’s our way of showing affection, that’s what,” Ruby giggled some more as she turned her attention to Apple Bloom. “Nice squeaky toy by the way, who gave you that?”

“Catch! I have plenty stashed in my mane for my mum,” Screwball interjected across the table, throwing a squeaky Celestia this time to Ruby who caught it in her mouth as her tail beginning to wag uncontrollably with happiness.

“More control over time, huh?” Apple Bloom queried with a telling look.

This time it was Ruby’s cheeks that took on a rosy glow as she dropped her gift onto the table. “To a degree but remember we are part canine and no matter how hard we try, those basic urges and needs will always still be there.”

“Huh, okay, so how would you react if I told you your dormmate called me a mutt yesterday?” Apple Bloom enquired.

“Oh, that stuck up bitch called you that to? She treats me like a damn slave and refuses to call me anything but Mutt,” Ruby growled in reply. “Drinking is about the only thing that keeps me sane and from outright attacking her. Us werewolves have a ridiculously high tolerance to alcohol in case you’ve yet to be told.”

“Alcohol, what’s that?” Apple Bloom queried.

“Something I’m going to need a lot of soon,” Scootaloo groaned, head hitting the table.

“A drink that usually only grown-ups are allowed to consume. A little can help them relax, a bit more and they forget their day even happened and to much and they pass out and feel like crap when they wake up. But as werewolves we seem to burn it off at an alarmingly quick rate, so unless we drink copious amounts in an extremely short space of time we avoid most of the negative effects. I think the only time I managed to even get somewhat drunk was after five bottles of vodka, six bottles of wine and then a bottle of my ma’s special brew on top of that. My word was Luna pissed at me and my mum after that. Went full on Nightmare Moon at both of us,” Ruby explained as a shiver ran down her back.

“Why’s that?” Apple Bloom enquired.

“Simple, I was literally running around with no idea what I was doing and could have bitten and infected any pony without knowing it.”

“Ah, I see,” Apple Bloom replied.

“Please don’t remind me. Who do you think had to catch her and then keep her on a leash during that time? As in literally,” Scootaloo’s muffled voice interrupted. “She was so out of it I couldn’t even get her to focus long enough on me to turn her to stone.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” Ruby sniggered. “I woke up next to one irate chicken the next day.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes as she lifted her head up of the table. “She was more out of it than when she sees a full moon and even then, all she wants to do is howl not bite or maim anyone.” Her face suddenly dropped as realisation dawned on her. “Oh no, I need to invest in better ear muffs.”

“Yep, now I have a howling buddy!” Ruby chuckled grasping Apple Bloom with one foreleg. “It’s going to be great. Six to eight hours of nothing but howling to the moon goddess, snacks and booze, lots of booze.”

“Kill me now, please,” Scootaloo groaned, her ear drums already fearing the worst.

As if on cue, a fireball came hurtling towards her head and she was forced to take evasive action.

“Sweetie, I didn’t mean literally!” Scootaloo exclaimed, turning to see a pair of curtains on fire behind her. “Sigh, I’m going to go put that out. You,” she pointed a hoof at Ruby, “don’t give her,” she pointed at Apple Bloom, “or any of them for that matter, bad ideas.”

“Me,” Ruby said incredulously. “Would I really do…” she paused seeing the look on Scootaloo’s face. “Okay fine, we’ll just talk about how we can get back at little Miss Princess over there for all the years she’s been abusing my new pack mate. I could barely get to sleep this morning with that bitch whining on to her stooge about how they could allow such trash into the school, me included in that conversation.”

“You know what, I’m just going to pretend I didn’t hear that but if you start a prank war, I’ll turn every pony involved to stone and cart them to Glimmer’s office for punishment,” Scootaloo warned before heading over to deal with the fire.

“I think she meant it and trust me when I tell you that you don’t want to mess with Diamond. Also, did you mean that about being my friend?” Apple Bloom finished, hopeful at the prospect of a fourth new friend in two days.

“Of course, pack mate. As long as you want to be?” Ruby said with a smirk. “It would be really nice to have someone to howl at the moon with.”

“Yeah, I’d love to,” Apple Bloom immediately replied, her tail, having fully grown back whilst she slept, wagging with joy.

“Excellent. As for Miss Prim and Proper, you let me and Screwball handle that. Remember, she can only retaliate if she knows it wasn’t an accident and who did it,” Ruby stated.

*

There first lesson of the day was supposed to be an hour of physical education with Miss Dust and the second-years. Five minutes in though and the teacher was still rolling on the floor laughing her head off.

“I can’t believe you two fell for the oldest trick in the book, the old glue and feathers in a bucket on a door trick,” Lightning eventually wheezed, forcing herself to her hooves. “Alright, we were going to play baseball but I’ve a better idea. Let’s have ourselves a chicken hunt. You two have a two-minute head start and then I send every pony else after you. If they catch you, they pluck you and considering that looks like industrial strength glue, that’ll hurt, a lot. If you can avoid capture for half an hour, I’ll let you take the rest of the lesson of to go see Madam Zecora who’ll douse you with one of her potions. It’ll stink, but it’ll also be a lot less painful.”

“What!” Diamond cried indignantly. “You can’t do that.”

“Buck it. Who wants to just pluck the annoying brats now and then play baseball?”

“AYE!” everypony except Diamond, Silver, Sweetie and Scootaloo roared.

Diamond learned a valuable lesson that day. At St Trineighans, no pony cares when you scream.

*

After Diamond and Silver had finally got free and raced of crying back to their dorm, Lightning let all the remaining students go early rather than have them play baseball, especially seeing as one of the storms the Everfree was famous for was rolling in. As they headed off to the Chemistry lab Scootaloo rounded on Apple Bloom and Ruby who, alongside Screwball, were holding each other up they were laughing that hard.

“You know you’ve almost certainly started a prank war, don’t you?” Scootaloo sighed.

“Hey,” Apple Bloom interjected, “Don’t look at me. I played no part in this. I even told them it would almost certainly only end very badly.”

“Pfft, what’s the worst they going to do?” Ruby replied, not at all fussed. “Tell daddy about us? And they can’t prove anything, anyway.”

“Still doesn’t mean they won’t retaliate at the most likely suspects. And you forget, they have money. Money equals power. You’ve put a target on all of our backs,” Scootaloo countered, continuing to argue her point.

“Hah, I’d like to see them try,” Ruby interjected before attempting to change the subject. “Now, shall we see what my mum’s got planned for us today?”

“Five bits says she’s already passed out on her desk,” Scootaloo retorted in reply.

“Your loss. Even she won’t have drunk that much by first period,” Ruby replied with a shrug of her shoulders as she took Scootaloo’s outstretched hoof and shook it to confirm the bet.

“With your mum Ruby, nothing would surprise me. Hey Bloom, you know Ruby’s mum was so desperate to finally drink after nearly a year sober when her daughter was born, she misspelt the surname on Ruby’s birth certificate because she was so out of it at the time. That’s why she’s called Ruby Pinch instead of Ruby Punch,” Scootaloo informed Apple Bloom as Ruby gave her a glower. “Hey, don’t look at me like that, you were the one who wanted to change the subject.”

“Are you being serious? Our Chemistry teacher is an alcoholic?” Apple Bloom questioned, unwilling to believe what she’d just heard.

Ruby’s glower turned to a look of confusion. “Have you not told her?”

“Told me what?” Apple Bloom cut in.

Scootaloo sighed, “I was trying to break her in gently. Okay, remember when I told you the school’s a front for the biggest crime organisation in Equestria?”

“Eeyup,” Apple Bloom replied with a nod of her head.

“Well, let me put it this way. Rather than a school, imagine this place as a factory and we’re the workers. The school’s motto is if it doesn't make you a profit it isn't worth doing it. Chemistry is just a front for brewing bootleg liqueur. Ruby’s mum, despite her love of the bottle, is the best in the business at that. Biology, a front for growing all kinds of narcotics that if not used by Madam Zecora are shipped all across Equestria for exorbitant amounts of bits. Textiles and design, in just six years since graduating Sweetie’s sister has cornered the Equestrian fashion market and put every other designer not under Luna’s pay out of business. How has she done that? Using us students to pump out large quantities of her latest designs in record time. No other maker could keep up. There may have also been some espionage involved which is where art class comes in. As far as I’m aware it is actually art of espionage. The kind of markets the school is working in there are always some upstart competitors or clients who need to be shown their place. Understood?”

Apple Bloom stared at her friend for a moment before slowly nodding her head, still trying to comprehend just what her friend was telling her.

“Scoots, you forgot the best part,” Ruby interjected. “Unlike regular school, we get a share of the profits. The more we help, the more bits we make and by the end of our schooling we’re pretty much guaranteed a job at one of Luna’s subsidiaries across Equestria and beyond. She’s recently been branching south to the Buffalo lands, north to Yakyakistan, east into dragon and griffon territory and even been sending expeditions into the unknown west. Celestia might be Equestria’s figurehead but Luna is Equestria’s heart and brain.”

Apple Bloom took a deep breath and then replied, “So, what yah telling me is that Luna is basically breaking every foal labour law in the book, not to mention making us all criminals in the process.”

“In a sense, yeah but she’s also providing us with vital skills, lifetime work and, unlike school, we’re paid for our work and it’s not even mandatory. If we don’t like a subject, no teacher is going to come barging down our dormitory door questioning where we were. We just don’t get paid is all. Rather than a negative penal system, forcing us to take subjects we have no interest in, Luna rewards us for doing work we want to do,” Scootaloo explained. “They don’t even mind if we stop going to certain classes and instead focus on a single subject and join some of the older year classes. By your final year you are pretty much free to study whatever you like.”

“Yeah, I’m going to see what the other subjects are like but I’ll likely drop a few very quickly and just focus on helping mum. Not many other students are keen on brewing alcoholic beverages,” Ruby explained and for the first time Apple Bloom noticed the other werewolf’s cutie mark, a green bottle filled with crimson liquid, the label of which sported a werewolf howling at the moon.

“Okay, not to sound rude or anything but where are you getting all of this information from? You told me the early years students are kept separate from the rest of the school and furthermore, although I understand your logic, it sounds like you’ve been brainwashed by a cult,” Apple Bloom blurted out.

“Oh, well,” Scootaloo chuckled nervously, “We had a careers day with Fluttershy towards the end of last year, a presentation followed by being escorted to the main hall where they’d set up a load of booths with the teachers to discuss certain career paths we might like to follow. Call it an early introduction to the course.”

“And?” Apple Bloom questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“What do you mean and?” Scootaloo chuckled nervously once more.

“We may have snuck out the annexe a number of times when left unsupervised despite that being a big no no and pretty much the only rule,” Ruby admitted sheepishly. “You see, until those final few lessons before graduating from the early years class, they try to keep all the shady stuff hidden and solely focus on your basic education as well as for a lot of us helping us come to terms with whatever trauma we have suffered to end up here in the first place. Luna simply doesn’t want to burden us with stuff we are unlikely to understand until we are older along with the fact we could very well get hurt if we ventured into the forest…”

“Or got drunk and went all werewolf?” Scootaloo deadpanned.

“You just had to bring that up again, didn’t you?” Ruby sighed.

“Well, you brought it up first. Aside from the absolute rollicking you got, I think they confiscated all your alcohol and confined you to your dorm for six months. Plus, didn’t they deduct your mum two months’ pay?” Scootaloo stated.

Ruby shivered. “Don’t remind me, please. I’m still paying her back now. And you forgot the worst part. The only time I was allowed out of the dorm was under Vice Principal Glimmer’s supervision and I don’t remember any of that. Hours upon hours I don’t remember.”

Scootaloo snickered. “Oh yeah, I remember. If you like, we’ve got the photos to remind you again. You made a very good maid and I’m sure Apple Bloom would like to see them as well.”

“NO,” Ruby immediately squeaked, her cheeks once more imitating her name.

“I thought not. Anyway, on a serious note, we don’t talk about our excursions as even now we fear they might lead to severe repercussions, understood?” Scootaloo explained for Apple Bloom.

“Understood, as long as you tell me why you snuck out in the first place if you knew you could get in serious trouble?” Apple Bloom queried.

“We were inquisitive, bored and it seemed exciting to defy the rules at the time. After Ruby got so severely punished though and we had a stern talking to from Luna herself, not one of us dared risk it again. And that’s all I’m going to say on the matter, so no more questions,” Scootaloo said firmly. “Especially as we’ve… ah shit.”

“That’ll be five bits please,” Ruby tittered holding out a hoof as she watched her mother stagger into the classroom.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll give it to you as soon as Luna coughs up the five bits she owes me for Sweetie not lasting twelve hours before trying to set our room on fire again last night,” Scootaloo responded.

Sweetie looked up from the ball of flame that she was passing between her hooves and smiled at Scootaloo.

“Humph, fine,” Ruby responded pulling her hoof back in, “But you better have it for me by the end of the night,” she added firmly.

“You know I will,” Scootaloo replied as they followed Mrs. Punch into the classroom.

The room contained three long tables laid out to face a chalkboard and projector at the front of the classroom. Notebooks, quills and ink pots had already been set out for sixteen students. Seeing as their classmates had already taken most of the back two rows, the Crazy Mark Crusaders decided to stay together and squeeze into the front row as Mrs. Punch started counting them. She could barely stay upright yet still managed not to spill any of the drink from the bottle she held in her right hoof. It was barely a quarter full.

“Twelve, “hic”, thirteen, “hic”, aah, close enough,” she stammered swaying from one side of the room to the other before heading to the chalkboard and writing Mrs Bunch in barely legible hand writing on the board.

“All right, first years,” she called turning to the first-years. “I’m Mrs…” she paused and turned back to the board, squinting to help her focus. “Bunch, yeah, that sounds about right.”

Ruby’s head met her forehooves. Seriously, how had her mum got this drunk since breakfast?

“And I’ll be teaching you how to brew a variety of alcoholic beverages over the next few years,” Berry went on. “To start “hic” I was going to have you working in the orchard harvesting the grapes for this year’s wine but I’m afraid due to the storm you’ll be having a theoretical lesson and discussion on how to brew the best vodka whilst I take a nap right about…”

She slumped to the ground, snoring gently as she hugged the bottle of wine in her hooves to her chest.

Ruby sighed and rose to her hooves as Scootaloo tried to hide a snigger next to her. This earnt Scootaloo a slap to the back of the head.

“Ouch, that was mean,” Scootaloo exclaimed, rubbing the back of her head.

“As far as I’m concerned, I’m now in charge and that means as the teacher I can do whatever I please,” Ruby whispered into Scootaloo’s ear as she ignited her horn and locked the door. She then turned and addressed the rest of the class.

“Listen up. Due to my mum being incapacitated right now I’ll be taking the lesson. Anyone got an issue with that…” Ruby paused and opened one of the slim rectangular windows at the top of the classroom with her magic. The intense roar of the storm invaded the room for a moment until she closed it once more with a lot of effort, the storm trying its very best to force its way into the classroom. “…You can take your chances out there.”

“Yeah, you and whose army, pipsqueak,” a voice hollered from the back of the room to a few sniggers and snickers.

“Oh shit. Ruby, remain…” Scootaloo began to say but Ruby was already gone and had pinned Tempest to the back wall, her sharpened canines a hair’s breadth away from the clearly panicking filly’s neck. Her eyes had gone from their usual lime green colour to a blood red. Tempest gulped, fearing every breath would be her last.

Slowly she removed her teeth from the other filly’s neck and called to the class. “Lessons one and two for you all. Write these down!” she barked. There was hasty scrabbling behind Ruby as everypony raced to grab their quills and open the notebooks set out for them in double quick time. “Lesson one, don’t rush into battle without knowing every little detail about your enemy first. Lesson two, don’t fuck with a werewolf unless you want to be their next meal, understood?”

Rapid nodding swiftly erupted around the room.

“Excellent,” Ruby replied turning back to Tempest still pinned up against the wall with the cheekiest of grins across her face.

“You’re all right, Miss Pipsqueak.”

“As are you Miss Berrytwist,” Ruby replied to an astonished look as she lowered Tempest to the ground.

“How?”

Ruby simply tapped her nose with a hoof and turned to address the class once more as she trotted back to the front, leaving a dazed and bewildered Tempest in her wake. “Now, where were we? Oh yes, vodka is one of the easiest spirits to brew and probably the biggest money maker due mostly to the fact it doesn’t have to age, thus meaning you can produce large quantities of strong alcohol for sale in a relatively short period of time. Today I will go over the six key steps and give you tips and tricks on how to brew the best vodka along with the dangers that you need to look out for along the way. Later this year, after the wine harvest, those of you who don’t ditch the class will be tasked with brewing your own vodka, which, if deemed good enough, will be sent out for sale across Equestria. Now, onto step one…”

*

“Seriously Ruby, how did your mum ever get her job?” Scootaloo enquired stretching her left wing that had cramped up from so much writing.

“She’s exceptionally good at her job, even when drunk. You should see how much me and her can brew on the nights she’s not teaching. And trust me, it’s the good stuff. Luna may have control over orchards and alcohol making facilities across Equestria but anything labelled Punch’s is usually sold at double the going rate and even then, it flies out faster than stores can stock it. Simply put, it takes an alcoholic to know alcohol and none more so than my mum. She also knew I would be there and, having been brewing vodka with her since I was five despite Princess Luna’s reservations, could easily handle taking the class, especially considering how much I still owe her for the drunken werewolf debacle.”

“Huh, okay, well I’m convinced,” Scootaloo conceded. “But did you have to make us take so many notes, my wing’s killing me,” Scootaloo groused.

“Try writing with your mouth,” Apple Bloom grumbled whilst Sweetie rubbed her aching horn.

“You need to be thorough when making booze. Every mistake equals wasted product and eats into your profit. Not to mention the poisons that need to be carefully extracted and not consumed. Better to be over prepared than under prepared. A mistake could prove costly not only financially but also to your health. Now, come on. I need to drop a copy of these notes of to Moon before we head to art class.”

*

Diamond and Silver still weren’t present as they entered art class and sat down in pairs at the desks that were spread throughout the room. Neither for that matter, was the teacher.

“Huh, not a great start when…” Apple Bloom began before something clamped onto her hindhoof and made her wince. “Yow, what the?” she queried looking down to see that her left hind leg now adorned a clamp that was chained to one of the desk legs. Said table she now also noticed was nailed to the floor.

“Silver,” Ruby growled next to her. “Madam Trixie has done her homework.”

“Madam…” Apple Bloom began before a female voice reverberated around the room.

“Greetings firsties and welcome to the art of espionage. I’m your wonderful teacher the Elusive and Mysterious Madam Trixie. Your first lesson is a simple one, lock picking. Good luck…oh and try not to drown.”

“Dangnabbit,” Apple Bloom cursed next to Ruby. “I’m an Earth pony; we’re not exactly built for this sort of thing. What do you think she meant as well by that…” she paused as something wet trickled past her hooves. “Ah.”

Water was seeping into the room from somewhere.

“Use your claws,” Ruby instructed, her horn already alight.

“Won’t that hurt?” Apple Bloom replied.

“Yes, but would you rather drown over and over and over again?” Ruby replied.

“Fair point,” Apple Bloom responded transforming one of her hooves into a paw and beginning on the lock.

Although a total novice and under extreme pressure with the water level rising every few minutes, Apple Bloom found the lock wasn’t actually that difficult to pick, even if it was a lot longer than Ruby who had the lock of within a minute and was hunting for a way out of their watery tomb.

After ten minutes and with her now working underwater, Apple Bloom finally managed to pick the lock.

“How you doing? Oh, neat you got it off,” Ruby commented as Apple Bloom looked around the room. Aside two others, she’d been practically the last to pick the lock. “Well, now the bad news.”

“She sealed the room,” Apple Bloom deadpanned.

“Tighter than a barrel of wine,” Ruby replied.

“So, it’s an escape room scenario. How we doing with clues?”

“Clues? All of us have just been hunting for a way out of this mess,” Ruby said with clear exasperation.

“She told us it was a lock picking exercise. Please tell me one of you had the brains to check the teacher’s desk.”

Everypony looked at her blankly until Sweetie’s head popped up from behind the teacher’s desk waving a selection of five keys.

“Thank goodness Sweetie had some brains. Let’s get out of here,” Apple Bloom sighed with relief only to see Ruby’s grim expression in reply.

“We need a key card for the door,” Ruby explained.

Apple Bloom looked to the ceiling as the water reached her underbelly. Of course, it wouldn’t be that simple. “Everypony, fan out and get searching for anything with a lock on it. In case you haven’t realised yet Trixie is also testing our teamwork here. We’re either getting out of here as a class or none of us are at all, simple as that,” Apple Bloom said bluntly. “I don’t care who wants to be in charge but we’ve no time to argue with this water rising so just listen to me for now and get hunting.”

*

Twenty minutes later the room had been turned into a swimming pool but they had at least found the lock and key that had shut the water of before the water had got too deep giving them just a little more time to think. The only problem was that they’d exhausted all possible hiding places above the water and still not found any other clues or means to escape the room, of course. As such, Ruby, Screwball and Dinky were now scouring the depths for further clues and means to escape the room while the rest of the class sat on the half-submerged desks.

“So,” Apple Bloom started, trying to break the awkward silence that had descended upon the classroom. “How much longer do you think they’ll be down there?”

“Who knows?” Scootaloo replied, shaking a hoof in a vain attempt to keep herself dry considering she was standing ankle deep in water.

“Anything else you’d like to inform me about to prepare me in future lessons. Like, I don’t know, how to detect poison in cupcakes in Home Economics or making suitable clothing in Textiles to avoid being fatally stabbed to death?” Apple Bloom said flatly.

“Nah, all of those are more likely to happen with Madam Trixie,” Ruby said sneaking up behind Apple Bloom.

“Don’t you know it isn’t wise to sneak up on a werewolf?” Apple Bloom chastised turning to face the unicorn.

“Nah, it’s fine if you’re also a werewolf,” Ruby responded impishly.

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes as Ruby pulled herself onto the desk “Anyhow, what did you find? Hey, is it me or is the water going down?”

“Yep, we managed to find four locks for the four remaining keys in the floor. Two revealed drains whilst another held this,” Ruby informed throwing what looked like a pack of cards in a sealed waterproof bag onto the table.

“Interesting,” Apple Bloom said picking up the pack of cards. “I’m guessing one of these will be the card we need but considering how tricky Trixie has made it for us this far, I bet if we try to many the door will lock us out for a set amount of time.”

“Yeah,” Ruby chuckled nervously next to Apple Bloom, “That’s something we can ill afford to happen.”

“And why might that be?” Apple Bloom sighed not wanting to hear the answer.

“Wait, didn’t you say there were four locks, yet you’ve only revealed what was behind three,” Scootaloo’s brain finally clicked into action.

Screwball chose that exact moment to pop her head out of the receding water. “Hey gals, we found a bomb!”

“Congratulations fillies on making it this far but can you escape the room before the bomb explodes. By the way, I’ve sealed all the cupboards so don’t even think about trying to stifle the explosion,” Madam Trixie’s high pitched and extremely annoying voice abruptly reverberated around the room once more.

Apple Bloom’s eye twitched. So far in this lesson she’d suffered a nasty burn on her left hind leg from the silver chains, aimlessly hunted through countless cupboards for locks and now knew what “wet dog smell” meant, as if a werewolf's natural odour wasn't bad enough. So far, she’d put up with Madam Trixie’s antics and games but no more. It was time to show Madam Trixie that you don’t fuck around and play games with werewolves.

“Erm, Bloom, you okay there?” Scootaloo asked looking seriously concerned.

“Lily, would you be a dear and join me by the door please,” Apple Bloom said in a voice that clearly indicated it was a demand and not a request.

The timid pink Earth pony with pigtails and a hedgehog cutie mark reluctantly did as she was told.

“W-what d-do you need me for?” she stammered.

“Is it true you’re super strong even by Earth pony standards?” Apple Bloom replied.

Lily blushed and looked at the floor before nodding in reply.

“All right, then on three we’re going to buck this door down and pay Madam Trixie a visit to give her a little present, understood?”

Lily wanted to argue that the door was at least fifteen centimetres of solid metal and they were more than likely going to break their hindlegs in trying to do so but wisely opted not to argue with the clearly seething werewolf. Instead, she nodded and prepped herself.

“One, two, three,” Apple Bloom commanded.

To Lily’s utter astonishment she did not suffer a serious injury, rather, the door did instead. It was now embedded in the wall opposite the classroom.

“How long we got left on that bomb, Screwball?” Apple Bloom barked.

“Four and a half minutes,” Screwball giggled in reply.

“Excellent. Seeing as Madam Trixie likes to play games, how about we take a little trip to her office?”

*

For once Starlight’s evening had been less than eventful and she’d actually managed to get on top of the ever-increasing mountain of paperwork that seemed destined to cause her poor desk to collapse from the weight.

And then, the explosion happened. Seeing as it was extremely close this time, she knew it couldn’t be from the Chemistry lab. She knew allowing Trixie to have the office next to hers was a bad idea even if she was her best friend and Moon’s godmother.

Stepping out of her office she saw a gaggle of retreating first years disappearing down the end of the hall. She wondered if she should go after them but thought it best to see what damage the explosion had caused. The door to her friend’s office was now barely hanging on by a single screw that looked like it could give way at any moment. Smoke billowed out from the room and, as she expected, the fire alarms started to blare out once more. Brilliant, just brilliant, there went her quiet evening. Stepping through the smoke into the former office that now looked like a bomb had hit it with several individual fires across the room, she realised Trixie was nowhere to be seen.

Just what in Equestria had she been up to this time? Starlight thought to herself as she pushed through the smoke and stopped as she realised there was no more floor ahead of her. In fact, the entire outer wall had been blown away and the fierce storm outside now battered into Starlight. She didn’t flinch an inch. Whatever Trixie had been playing with, it must have been awfully powerful to cause this much damage.

“Erm, Starlight,” a meek little voice said just below her feet.

Looking down Starlight saw Trixie precariously hanging onto a makeshift rope made up of multicoloured handkerchiefs.

Starlight let out another sigh and levitated her friend back onto solid ground whilst giving her an inquisitive look.

Trixie chuckled nervously. “I think the bomb might just have been a little too much in the first years' first lesson.”

Starlight levitated up a sign. You think?

Author's Notes:

Second part up shortly. Welcome Ruby to the pack! They always say two werewolves are better than one or something like that. Edited by Rich online

Finalised: 27/07/22

Day 2 Part 2: Barking Mad

After blowing up their teacher’s office, with their teacher inside, the first-years understandably went into hiding until lunch, at which point their stomachs got the best of them. The Crazy Mark Crusaders were not at all surprised when Luna herself approached them as they were tucking into their sausages and mash (vegetarian for most).

“So, how’s your first day of lessons going?” Luna asked calmly. “Anything you’d like to tell me about? Maybe to do with a teacher ending up in the infirmary?”

“Oh dear, we’re so sorry to hear that. We were only being polite and returning her property to her after we escaped the escape room she set for us. I’m also surprised that someone who uses elusive to describe themselves would be caught out by a bunch of ten-year-old fillies and hoist with her own petard. Maybe the school needs to hire a new espionage teacher? One who preferably doesn’t use silver on werewolves? My leg is bucking killing me,” Apple Bloom said casually to looks of shock and astonishment from Scootaloo and Ruby.

Luna too stared at Apple Bloom for a moment in astonishment before she joined Screwball in doubling over with laughter. After several anxious minutes she finally spoke. “Oh, I like you. I like you a lot and I’m glad to see Scootaloo is helping you settle in. We can never have to much mischief and chaos around here.” She ruffled the Pegasus filly’s mane and dropped the five bits onto the table. “Keep up the great work all of you, especially you two.” She pointed at Apple Bloom and Ruby. “Great leadership in art and Ruby, an excellent lecture on brewing vodka, I’m sure your mother is very proud with your progress. Just try not to threaten your fellow classmates too much. Anyway, if you’ll excuse me, I’m late for my own lunch.”

And with that she began to trot away only to pause and turn her head and attention back towards them. “And make sure you visit Zecora for that silver burn, I’m sure she’ll have a poultice that will help it heal. Just remember girls, I see, hear and know everything in this school. Nothing ever evades me.”

And after a blink-and-you’d-miss-it glance at Scootaloo, Luna was gone.

Scootaloo swallowed a mouthful of food practically without chewing and looked across at Ruby as Apple Bloom slumped in her chair.

“Thank goodness that’s over. Even her sheer presence is intimidating,” Apple Bloom admitted.

Scootaloo barely heard her as she continued staring at Ruby. “Do you think…”

“Oh, she definitely knows,” Ruby chuckled in reply.

“Fuck,” Scootaloo swore.

“And I’ll have those,” Ruby added swiping the five bits Luna had left for Scootaloo away from her.

*

“So wait, you’re telling me this whole time you were just acting tough to try and fit in?” Scootaloo asked, turning on Apple Bloom as they left the dining hall.

“To a degree, yeah. I realised after our first encounter with Nightmare Moon that you can’t show any weakness at St Trineighans for fear of that weakness being used against you. But I can’t explain it…”

“Oh, I know exactly what you mean sister. Becoming a werewolf does that to you. It’s called being set free. Everypony has this raw wildness locked up inside of them but very few ever have the padlock unlocked. You suddenly feel like you could take on the world and if anypony even tries to stand in your way, you’ll just throw them aside. Am I right or am I right?” Ruby interjected.

Apple Bloom looked at the other werewolf completely taken aback. “Yeah, you nailed it, I feel like something’s been unleashed inside me and now nothing can stop me.”

“That’s it exactly,” Ruby chortled.

“Shit,” Scootaloo groaned. “Just please don’t go do a Ruby. And keep the howling down to a minimum. I don’t think any of us want to be deaf by the time we leave…”

“AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,” Ruby howled

“AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,” Apple Bloom replied.

And then, one by one, all of the other werewolves that attended the school started to join in.

Scootaloo’s hooves were now plastered to her ears, “RUUUUUUUUUUBYYYYYYYYYYYY,” she wailed, barely audible above the din.

*

“Moooon,” Scootaloo whined upon entering the infirmary, “save me from these two,”

Moon giggled and looked up from the notes Ruby had given her earlier. “Let me guess. By 'these two' you mean Ruby and that other werewolf and that Ruby started that howl a short while back?”

Scootaloo simply nodded in reply as she pulled up a chair next to Moon. “So, how’s the recovery going?”

“Painful but hopefully I’m over the worst of it. Thankfully none of the breaks were too bad and Mum was able to fix them with her magic. Still been told I can’t risk walking for two weeks and flying for a month. Being grounded for so long is going to suck. Oh, sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” Moon blurted sheepishly remembering Scootaloo couldn’t fly.

“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Scootaloo replied not at all fussed. “I’m just glad you’re getting better and that you didn’t cause any serious damage to your wing because, as you stated, being grounded sucks. Might I also ask when did you start referring to your parents as mums again? You finally managed to bury the hatchet? I know you were pretty peeved about the whole being an accident thing.”

“Yeah, me and Luna finally talked it out last night and hopefully Starlight will be along later tonight to do similar, I just hope she doesn’t try to use the same underhoofed tactics as my other mum did.” Moon shuddered just from bringing it up.

“Oh?” Scootaloo replied with a merciless grin, a twinkle in her eye. “And what might those be?”

“She threatened to go into explicit detail about what she and Starlight got up to the night I was conceived. Simply put, her twisted version of the talk,” Moon said solemnly in reply, finishing with another shudder.

Scootaloo burst out laughing.

“It was not funny,” Moon grumbled. “How would you like it… ah shit, just forget that. I’m sorry.”

Scootaloo, noting the sudden shift in tone in Moon’s voice, stopped laughing and looked at her friend concerned. “Sorry for what?” she pressed.

“For, you know, ah Tartarus with it. What’s it like not having any parents or family?” Moon blurted.

Scootaloo looked at her friend taken aback for a moment and then shrugged her shoulders. “I have parents and a family, just a different sort. Just because they aren’t my biological ones doesn’t mean we don’t love each other as much. In fact, I think they love me even more. They could have left me for dead or turned me to stone but instead took me in and raised me as one of their own. Then, when the time came for me to move on, they moved too so they could stay in touch. That doesn’t mean I don’t think about what could have been or what happened to my real parents because I do, all the time, but when those thoughts pop into my head I just remind myself of what my adoptive family has done for me and that makes me realise just how lucky I am to have any family that cares so much for me and who have always wanted the best for me no matter what. Family isn’t solely about blood; it’s those ponies, or cockatrices in my case, who care the most about you and only want what’s best for you. And, I’m sorry if I’m overstepping here, but both of your mums fit into that category. Yeah, they may be super busy with the school but if somepony ever bullied you and you went crying to their door in the middle of a super important meeting, they’d postpone the meeting and hunt that pony down before sending them to Tartarus, literally.”

Moon chuckled at that last part unable to help herself. “I’m not sure even Celestia could overlook that last one.”

“But I can tell from your reaction that you know it’s true and that’s why I’m so glad you’ve stopped this silly charade after so long. Anyhow, enough of the mushy stuff because I bet you’ll be doing a lot more of that later tonight with Starlight, when she arrives. Just to warn you, she might be a little late.”

“Oh, and why’s that?” Moon enquired.

“Madam Trixie’s lesson was what would be classed as an extreme version of an escape room.”

Moon looked extremely unhappy when her godmother’s name was brought up. “What did that annoying bitch do? And please tell me you put her in her… ahh, sorry mum,” Moon added suddenly seeing her mother appear at the end of the bed. And then she saw a rather sorry looking Trixie and growled, “What’s she doing here?”

Trixie glowered back at the filly before announcing, “The elusive and mysterious Madam Trixie has just been released after an accident in her office and Starlight has offered to help me fix things up after seeing you first. I also came to tell the chicken her friends have been seen…”

Trixie got no further as Scootaloo turned her to stone. “Oops, my bad. I would stay and turn her back to normal but if I don’t hurry…” Starlight gave her a telling look as Moon tried to stifle her laughter with a hoof. “Oh fine,” Scootaloo conceded turning Trixie back to normal before rising to leave. “Apologies Madam Trixie, us chickens don’t have the biggest brains and can often act before we think. Glad to see you’re okay after we so kindly returned your bomb with interest. Have a great night.”

And before Trixie had a chance to regain her bearings and retaliate, Scootaloo had ducked through the curtains and back into the main part of the infirmary. It took every last ounce of her restraint not to collapse onto the floor with laughter as she laid eyes on the sight before her.

“One word, just one word and I’ll rip that smug smile of your face with my claws,” Apple Bloom said coldly. “The cones are to stop us from messing with the poultice Madam Zecora applied to our burns because damn does it sting. She had to muzzle and restrain us when applying it as it hurt that much. It was ten times worse, if not more, than having my tail chopped off. I would have howled the place down if I could have.”

“Damn straight, although I don’t see why I had to have it applied. My burns aren’t nearly as bad as yours,” Ruby grumbled from her own cone of shame.

“You know as well as I do that even the smallest of wounds if left untreated over time can leave a pony depleted,” Zecora’s voice interrupted, her head popping out from behind a curtain. “Now be off with you, I have a lot of work to do.”

*

To some surprise no pony commented on Apple Bloom’s and Ruby’s unusual headwear as they entered the classroom for languages, no doubt Ruby’s warning from earlier was still lingering in their minds.

As the class settled down a sky-blue earth Pony mare with an unkempt greyish blue mane started writing on the chalkboard at the front of the class in beautiful handwriting.

Bark bark growl woof Awooo. Awoo growl bark bark growl Mrs. Screwloose.

Everypony stared at the blackboard in stunned silence. Everypony that is except Apple Bloom, Ruby and Screwball.

As the lesson went on, those that were lucky managed to fall asleep whilst those that were not found their brains totally scrambled and turned to mush as Screwloose went through the canine alphabet. Now, to any that don’t know, canine is considered a chaotic language. Unless you’re a canine, completely insane or Fluttershy, the language sounds like total nonsense and makes no sense at all no matter how hard you try to learn it. Heck, even attempting to learn it would likely drive one insane and not even Luna herself could comprehend it in the slightest. So why did she let Screwloose teach it? Five reasons.

1. She felt sorry for the poor mare driven mad through no fault of her own.
2. She actually was an exceptionally good Equestrian language teacher before the accident and those few that could understand her ramblings actually found them extremely useful in understanding canine. Furthermore, bizarrely she was still exceptionally gifted in written language and Luna would often task her with writing letters to foreign dignitaries for her.
3. For the slim few that could understand the language the class was extremely useful in mastering it and many werewolves who passed through the school continued to use it in future, particularly when writing confidential documents or in situations when you don’t want somecreature to know just what you are talking about.
4. For those that could not understand the language the lessons were a great way to improve mental resilience and if any students did go insane along the way it wasn’t a huge problem as they were then able to understand canine.
5. And most importantly, it was hilarious.

By the end of the lesson Sweetie had fallen asleep, totally disinterested, and Scootaloo, at a total loss from the very beginning, had decided to cut her losses and continue her practice of transferring cockatrice from solely a spoken language to a written one instead. The remainder of the crazy mark crusaders however had all taken diligent notes, enraptured by the extraordinary lesson. As Screwloose came over to reward the only three students who had managed to pay attention throughout the entire lesson with gold stars and provide them with their homework assignment, she paused momentarily looking over Scootaloo’s shoulder.

Then, to Scootaloo’s disbelief, Screwloose grabbed a spare quill in her mouth and corrected something Scootaloo had been trying to solve without success for the past ten minutes. After giving Scootaloo’s notebook a gold star as well she returned to the front of the class in silence.

Slowly Scootaloo came out of her stupor and saw that from seemingly out of nowhere a book with strange writing on it had appeared next to her notebook. If that wasn’t peculiar enough, Scootaloo immediately understood the writing and nearly fell out of her chair in shock. It was written in cockatrice. Surely not? She hastily flipped the book open and as she flicked through several pages with a wing, she was transfixed by what she found. The entire thing was seemingly written in cockatrice. Screwloose had written an entire book in cockatrice.

“Oh yeah, mum’s good with languages. She might only be able to speak dog now but she used to be a professor of Ancient and Modern Languages at Manehattan University until the accident and could speak countless different ones, including griffin, yak and even dragon. Her minds not totally there anymore but on occasions she’s still lucid enough to learn another and continue her studies. I’m guessing she must have been studying cockatrice ever since I told her about you. Wow, she even translated the book she gave us for you. How thoughtful!” Screwball informed Scootaloo peering over the other filly’s shoulder to see what had her so transfixed.

“Yeah, this is incredible,” Scootaloo muttered, barely able to form the words in her mouth she was that taken aback by the gift.

“Oh, and by the way, you're it,” Screwball added with a titter.

“What?” Scootaloo replied, slowly regaining her senses.

It was only then that she noticed every other pony, even Sweetie, who was still snoring softly with her head resting gently upon the table, had placed a hoof upon their nose.

“Nuts, what’s the forfeit?” Scootaloo sighed.

“You have to wipe the chalkboard clean,” Screwball replied.

“That it?” Scootaloo replied sceptically. “That sounds too easy.”

“Well, unless you want to use your hoof, you’ll have to fight mum for the eraser,” Screwball pointed out.

And that was when Scootaloo noticed where the eraser was, gripped in Mrs. Screwloose’s mouth, the mare waiting patiently for somepony to try and take it from her.

Scootaloo looked around desperately for support and found none.

Author's Notes:

One more update on its way soon!

Finalised 27/07/22

Day 2 Part 3: Lessons learnt.

By the time Scootaloo reached the top of the stairs to the third floor nearly an hour later she wanted nothing more than a shower, some dinner and then her bed, falling asleep with the novel Screwloose had provided her with in her hooves. Instead, she was greeted by a loud wailing and immediately threw back her head in resignation.

“Is it so much just to ask for a nice quiet finish to the night?” she muttered to herself rolling back her eyes as she approached the dormitory she shared with her friends, only to see it slam open and a furious looking Rarity storm out.

“Woah, what’s wrong? Is it Sweetie?” Scootaloo queried blocking the enraged unicorn’s path.

“I’m going to stick their heads on a pike and see how they like it,” Rarity growled pushing Scootaloo aside and continuing back down the corridor that Scootaloo had just come up.

“Shit, she’s mad,” Scootaloo said to herself reaching the doorway to her dorm. “Hey, anyone know what’s up with…”

She stopped mid-sentence. Even for St Trineighans this was too far. The whole room had been gutted and the walls had been graffitied with words such as “spastics” “idiots” “retards” and many more derogatory slurs whilst in the centre was the only object that remained, a spike with the head of a plush toy Scootaloo knew only too well. It had been Sweetie’s prize possession, a plush pony dragon hybrid called Nirik from an ancient legend Rarity had told her many a time as she recovered from the accident that had robbed her of her parents, her voice and ultimately her confidence. It was one of the few things Sweetie had been happy to strain her magic to talk to Scootaloo about. It was a beautifully handcrafted plush her sister had gifted her for her fifth birthday as she lay in a hospital bed desperately trying not to recall what she heard and saw that fateful night. And now its head had been ripped clean off and left as a message for them almost certainly by two fillies who hadn’t bothered to show up to any classes since P.E. A desolate Sweetie sat in one corner holding the body of her prized possession as Screwball and Fluttershy tried desperately to console her. Standing a little way off, heads down, were Apple Bloom and Ruby.

Without a word Scootaloo trotted over and, as Ruby looked up to see who the newcomer was, Scootaloo smacked her hard across the face with a hoof.

“What’s the worst they could do?” Scootaloo growled pointing a hoof at Sweetie. “She did fucking nothing but because of your stupidity she’s now suffering the consequences. I’ve a good mind turning you to stone and leaving you that way for the rest of the week but feel this is much better. Look at her. Look at the pain your actions have indirectly caused. All because you couldn’t just turn the other cheek and ignore them like Apple Bloom. Did you not think for even a moment that they wouldn’t retaliate or that they’d target all of us in doing so? Oh wait, sorry, you never do think, do you? You’re just a stupid brain-dead werewolf with an oversized ego who’s trying desperately not to follow in her mother’s drunken hoofsteps yet failing miserably at doing so,” Scootaloo spat the final sentence out like it was poison.

Silence engulfed the room. Even Fluttershy and Screwball had turned their attentions away from Sweetie in total shock at the outburst. Tears welled in Ruby’s eyes.

“I-I-I,” she started to stammer before her eyes turned red and she attempted to lunge at Scootaloo.

Scootaloo didn’t even blink as the werewolf got within millimetres of her face before turning to stone and falling to the floor with a loud thump.

“Exactly what I thought.” And with a sorry sigh she turned away and headed back the way she had come. Without looking back, she called to Apple Bloom. “I’m going to help Rarity sort out this mess, you coming?”

Apple Bloom took one further look at Ruby on the floor, gulped, and then hesitantly followed Scootaloo.

*

By the time they’d reached Diamond and Silver’s dorm Rarity was already pounding on the door demanding the two girls open up as two startled older fillies looked on.

Slowly a hatch slid back on the door and a calm and collected Diamond Tiara replied, “Yes? Anything we can help you with. Sorry for the security measures but even in our short time here we’ve learned that it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

“This is Miss Rarity Belle, your Textiles teacher and head of year one. I’ve just come to ensure everything is all right as apparently neither of you turned up to any of your classes today after Physical Education? Now, I understand classes are not mandatory but it is vital for first-years to turn up to them to see where they would like to focus their studies in future.” Rarity explained gruffly. “If you wouldn’t mind letting me in so that we may discuss the matter further in pony rather than through a door.”

“Yeah, no thanks,” Diamond replied nonchalantly. “We’re fine and will be back in class tomorrow. We just had a little accident with some glue and feathers today that needed to be sorted, nothing major.”

“Okay, well that’s a relief. Might I ask though why you are refusing to let one of your dormmates in and left all of her belongings out in the hall?” Rarity continued, barely holding back the anger in her voice. Scootaloo could tell the older mare wanted to do nothing more than rip the door of at that moment in time and tear Diamond and Silver apart.

“I don’t know what you mean Miss. My daddy specifically paid extra so that me and Silver could have our own dorm all to ourselves. We haven’t evicted anypony,” Diamond replied equally as nonchalantly. “There was a mistake initially and we did have to share our dorm with a couple of ponies for a few nights but they’ve been relocated now. Just ask Principal Moon.”

“Oh really?” Rarity replied disbelievingly. “Well, that is news to me. I’ll have to ask her about it in due course. For now, I’ve only one more thing to ask. One of the dorms of your fellow first-years has been callously vandalised whilst they were in lessons. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that or could explain your whereabouts tonight when you should’ve been in lessons?”

“Oh dear, I’m sorry to hear that but we didn’t hear or see anything I’m afraid. Hope nothing valuable was taken?” Diamond replied with clearly feigned surprise.

Rarity sighed and took a deep breath. “Thankfully they were careful enough not to leave anything truly valuable lying around.”

“Well that is…”

“Except,” Rarity cut in. “It was my sister’s dorm and something of serious sentimental value to her was heartlessly vandalised. In short, when she was four, she was involved in a house fire and witnessed the demise of our parents. Physically she’s fine but mentally she’s never truly recovered, especially considering the cutie mark she received as a result. During her time recovering in the hospital there was a certain fable that she greatly enjoyed and as a result I spent countless hours making her the perfect physical replica of her favourite character for her fifth birthday. Now, I’m going to ask you one more time, do you know anything about the vandalism, because if you do and you don’t tell me now, the repercussions will be a lot, lot worse. That I can assure you.”

“I’m sorry,” Diamond replied, “We’ve been in here quietly reading and playing cards most of the day and haven’t heard anything suspicious, have we Silver?”

“No,” Silver Spoon replied. “Maybe the occasional bump and bang but we thought nothing of it at the time.”

Rarity took another deep breath. “I see. Well, if you do remember anything that might be of use please come and find me. My sister has done absolutely no harm on purpose to anyone nor would she mean to. Nevertheless, have a great rest of the night and I expect you to be in classes tomorrow or face serious consequences, understood?”

“Yes Miss Belle,” Diamond swiftly replied before slamming the hatch shut.

It was as Rarity turned that she finally became aware of Scootaloo and Apple Bloom.

“That’s it?” Scootaloo growled angrily. “They’re clearly guilty.”

“Do you have any proof regarding the matter at hand?” Rarity sighed with the air of a defeated mare, having seemingly expended all of the anger that had bubbled up inside of her.

“Well, no but who else had the opportunity and motif to strip our room bare!” Scootaloo exclaimed. “Not to mention what they did to poor Sweetie’s stuffed toy.”

Rarity involuntarily twitched as she leant in and whispered to the two fillies, “No matter how guilty somepony may be without evidence there is no case, especially when the families of the fillies involved have donated so much money to the school. That does not mean I cannot make the next six years a living Tartarus for them within reason.”

Scootaloo wilted as she saw the glint in Rarity’s eye as a crazed smile crossed the older mare’s face. It was only there for a split second but Scootaloo caught it. Damn she wouldn’t like to be in Diamond’s hooves right now.

“Now, come along, girls; we’ve a lot of work to do to refurbish your room before the night is over. I feel lots of pillows and blankets are in order. We’ll have to repaint as well but we’ll save that for later in the week. I’m also going to need Ruby’s help in particular as well on a certain project; where is that rascal by the way?” Rarity said with a warm smile as she turned and began heading back to Scootaloo and Apple Bloom’s dorm.

Scootaloo suddenly looked like she’d been hit by a train. Rarity was going to be so mad at her for what she’d done.

“W-we kind of had a fight. Some words were said and I ended up turning her to stone,” Scootaloo awkwardly admitted.

“I see,” Rarity responded slowing just a tad.

Scootaloo immediately took her response as a cue for her to continue. “I kind of called her a stupid brain-dead werewolf with an oversized ego who’s trying desperately not to follow in her mother’s drunken hoofsteps yet failing miserably at doing so,”

Rarity stopped in her tracks and turned her head back to face Scootaloo. “And did you mean that?”

“No,” Scootaloo confessed, head drooping. “I was just super mad with her for not listening to me again and how her actions had indirectly hurt Sweetie.”

Rarity sighed. “What did Fluttershy tell you to do in such situations?”

“To take a deep breath and count to ten,” Scootaloo murmured, head still down.

“Precisely. And what about if you forget that and say something you regret?” Rarity went on.

“Apologise and ask for their forgiveness.”

“Well, what’re we waiting for then?” Rarity questioned as she began trotting to the fillies’ dormitory once more.

*

The last thing Ruby expected when one of the teachers inevitably got a hold of Scootaloo and forced her to turn her back into a fully living being was for the other filly to proceed to throw her forehooves around her neck and blubber into her chest like an infant. Yeah, Ruby was still mad at Scootaloo for what she said and for turning her to stone but honestly, why what her friend had said had struck a nerve was because, in all honesty, it was true. She was too impulsive and she definitely did drink too much.

“I-I’m so sorry,” Scootaloo blubbered into Ruby’s chest. “I-I w-was a-angry and u-upset. I-I didn’t m-mean what I said. Y-you’re a great friend Rubes a-and…” she paused as Ruby placed her head atop her own.

“Hey, you don’t owe me an apology. Being turned to stone gave me some time to think. I fucked up massively and deserved to be told a few home truths for doing so. Still, I did not appreciate being turned to stone.” She lifted a paw and raked a claw down Scootaloo’s back.

Scootaloo twitched momentarily but did nothing to stop her friend. “Werewolf code?”

“Werewolf code. That’ll leave a nice scar for you to tell stories about in the future. How the great cockatrice master fended of a whole pack of werewolves single hooved,” Ruby chuckled.

Scootaloo returned the chuckle as she slowly released her friend from the bear hug. “So, still friends?” she asked wiping away the tears from her face.

“Of course, dunderhead,” Ruby replied. “Now, how can I make it up to Sweetie?”

Author's Notes:

And that's day 2 sorted.

Finalised: 27/07/22

Day 3 Part 1: Ministry of Image

“I hate you so much,” Apple Bloom grumbled as they left the swimming pool. “I look like a poodle!” she whined.

Sweetie tittered next to her.

“That’s for pushing me into the deep end,” Scootaloo replied, trying desperately to hide the amusement in her voice.

“Did I not rescue you once I realised you couldn’t swim?” Apple Bloom exclaimed.

“And did you not ask for some help drying off?” Scootaloo retaliated.

“Touché,” Apple Bloom conceded shaking herself to try and return her coat back to normal. “Anyway, what do you think Ruby and Screwball are up to? They were gone all day helping Rarity.”

After their room had been gutted the night before, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had managed to calm Sweetie down by distracting her with the job of redecorating their dormitory as Rarity took her sister’s sacred plush away for repairs. This had led to not only the entire floor of their dorm being covered in pillows and blankets but also the mysterious disappearance of Ruby and Screwball who hadn’t returned to the dorm all day or been present for either breakfast or their swimming lesson.

“Who knows? But, if you don’t stop grumbling and start moving, we’ll never find out and also be crucified by Rarity for being late,” Scootaloo responded ruffling Apple Bloom’s mane with a hoof that resulted in it exploding once more into a frizzy abomination. “Oops,” Scootaloo tittered as Sweetie illuminated her horn and Apple Bloom’s entire coat and tail copied her mane.

Scootaloo and Sweetie stared at one another for a moment, then at Apple Bloom, then at each other again and were about to collapse on the floor laughing when a low ominous growl made them think otherwise and they bolted down the corridor followed by an enraged puff ball of fur.

“I’m going to tear you two into itty bitty pieces and then eat you,” Apple Bloom roared as she chased after her friends.

*

Scootaloo and Sweetie only just made it into the Textiles classroom before Apple Bloom clattered into them from behind sending all three fillies sprawling in a massive ball of fluff and legs.

“Huh, what the?” Rarity exclaimed as she awoke with a start in a chair behind her desk. “Oh, is that the time already?” she said to herself with a yawn as she moved her head from side to side in an attempt to get the awful cricks out of it from having used her desk as a rather uncomfortable makeshift pillow. It was as she rose to her hooves that she caught sight of the three squabbling fillies on the other side of her desk. “What in Luna are you three up to down there? And Apple Bloom darling, just what have you done to yourself? You look atrocious.”

Apple Bloom, sitting atop a struggling Sweetie whilst simultaneously restraining Scootaloo in a headlock as she gave her a noogie replied, “Due to the storm Miss Dust took us to the swimming pool instead. This was how I looked after I got out and dried myself. I had just got my coat under control when these two rascals decided to intervene.”

“Hey, all I did was ruffle your mane a bit,” Scootaloo objected. “Sweetie did the rest.”

Meanwhile, Sweetie, realising her struggling was futile and that she was well and truly caught, decided to look up at her sister with the most innocent expression she could muster. It wasn’t fooling anypony. To Sweetie’s surprise though, her sister actually smiled back at her.

“Thank you to both of you for distracting my sister and cheering her up. Apple Bloom, as punishment I’ll have Sweetie attend to your mane, coat and tail in a moment. For now, please take your seats so that I may begin the lesson,” Rarity said softly.

Apple Bloom reluctantly released Scootaloo after ensuring her mane was just as messy as her own before lifting herself off Sweetie and helping the unicorn to her hooves. With a succession of giggles, the three went and found their seats. Sweetie and Apple Bloom sat together behind one desk whilst Scootaloo joined Moon Moon behind another, the black Pegasus filly still heavily bandaged from her crash landing the other night. Each of the desks was fitted with a sewing machine and a pile of fabric.

“All right, first-years, settle down. I’m glad to see everypony here even if two are recuperating after assisting me with a project way past their bedtime,” Rarity stated before pointing a hoof towards a corner of the room where Ruby and Screwball were huddled together fast asleep under a blanket. Next to them was a large lump hidden by another blanket.

Scootaloo and a number of others immediately raised a hoof.

“No, I will not be revealing what is under the blanket as it has no relevance to today’s lesson,” Rarity answered before anypony could ask the question.

Groans and moans erupted from the students.

“Unless that is you all behave yourselves and work hard today. Then, and only then, will I be willing to show you at the end of the lesson. Understood?” Rarity continued.

The groans and moans immediately stopped.

“Excellent, now where was I. Ah, yes, I am Miss Belle your Textiles teacher and also your head of year. That means if you have any problems during your time at the school, I am the pony you should come and find to discuss the matter and you will almost always find me here or in the dining hall. Understood?” Rarity repeated.

The first years all nodded in reply.

“Fabulous, then let’s get on with the lesson. Now, despite your timetables highlighting this as Textiles class, in actual fact the class is all about helping you understand the importance of image, which isn’t solely about the right dress code for the occasion. Take Apple Bloom as an example here. Imagine she has a revolutionary idea that would take Equestria by storm and managed to get a ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala, Canterlot’s biggest event of the year. Even if we put the most magnificent and marvellous dress imaginable on her right now, it is likely that most ponies at the gala would turn their noses up at her because of her unkempt mane, coat and tail, no matter how good her idea is. As such, the perfect opportunity to establish new contacts and sources of funding for her idea is ruined. This is why image is so important; first impressions are what will always make or break any deal. Secondly, it isn’t just your image in pony. Self-promotion and the right advertisement are just as important as your image in-pony. But this is something I will talk more to you about when you’re a little older and can understand the complex concepts of the cutthroat business world a little better. For the first two years we here at the school like to keep things simple and as such we will be focusing on your in-pony image, from lessons on developing your skill on a sewing machine and making the perfect clothing, to how to apply makeup and even the way you speak.”

Apple Bloom glowered at Rarity after that last remark but held her tongue.

If Rarity noticed the stern look she had received from the earth pony filly she didn’t register it. “Tonight, I was going to test how good your sewing and dress making skills are but the appearance of a certain filly has given you all a reprieve and two nights to prepare yourselves as best you can for that one. Instead, tonight’s lesson will be all about giving your desk partner the best makeover possible. You’ll each have forty-five minutes to transform your partner’s appearance and the two ponies who impress me the most will earn themselves five bits each. And before you ask, no, I cannot choose my sister or her partner. Now, you’ll find everything you need in the cupboard over there. Ponies to my left are the models to begin with, ponies to my right are the artists, GO.”

*

“So,” Rarity asked as she began her inspection at Scootaloo and Moon Moon’s desk, “Can you tell me why Moon looks no different?”

“Well, you didn’t explicitly state what the scenario was that we would be applying ourselves to,” Scootaloo began.

Rarity already wished she’d never asked.

“I’m sending Moon here on a stealth reconnaissance mission in the dead of night whereby the necessary first impression is that she must not be seen at all costs. As such, her natural black colouring is vital for this and therefore, any makeup becomes obsolete,” Scootaloo blagged.

Moon sniggered.

Rarity’s hooves met her forehead. She really wished she hadn’t asked. “How about I just call it a pass for effort and clever interpretation and we move on?” she said with a heavy sigh turning her attention to Scootaloo who now sported a mohawk with black highlights that were also present in her tail. The filly also donned black eyeliner and hoof polish along with fake eye lashes, piercings in her right ear and a studded collar round her neck that matched the colour of her mane. “On second thought, how about I just call it a pass for both of you before I have a stroke,” and without another word she swiftly moved onto Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

Apple Bloom was less than happy about the amount of makeup Sweetie had applied to her but had nevertheless suffered in silence for her friend’s benefit. As for her attempt, well, she’d at least tried and, dare she say it, had fun learning and discussing about such frivolous things as what was the best shade of hoof polish to complement Sweetie’s fur and mane colour? Back on the farm, with zero friends and lots of work to be done, Apple Bloom had never really had the chance to just act her age and be able to do things a normal filly her age would do.

“Exceptional as always Sweetie. I’m hopeful you’ll make a wonderful makeup artist one day,” Rarity stated, receiving a beaming smile from her sister in reply. “As for you Apple Bloom, I could see this is not an area you seem accustomed to yet you didn’t let pride interfere, were willing to accept the assistance my sister offered and gave it your best effort. A fine one for a first try, too. Well done.”

“Thank you,” Apple Bloom somehow forced out almost lost for words, having expected a lecture on what she had done wrong.

“You’re welcome,” Rarity replied as she trotted on to see Dinky and Petunia’s efforts and immediately stopped in her tracks. Of course, the necromancer.

Petunia and Dinkie were both covered in fluorescent paint depicting a skeleton over their fur. Rarity immediately recognised the design as that of a Zebrican witch doctor on the Night of Necromancy, one of the biggest nights in the Zebra calendar if Zecora’s tales were true. From Rarity’s recollection of what Luna and Zecora had told her in a discussion over a cup of tea late into the night shortly after she’d become a teacher at the school, Luna admitted that although usually on amicable terms, over the years her and her sister would occasionally fall out about certain things. On this occasion some seven hundred and fifty years ago or so the topic had been dark magic.

Whereas Luna had argued that if used sensibly by the moral and just such magic could be helpful in certain situations, Celestia had argued that not only could dark magic corrupt even the purest soul but the cost of its use far outweighed the benefits and as such it should be totally outlawed in Equestria. Long story short, Luna had tried to prove her point through a practical demonstration and had not only very nearly doomed Equestria through an infestation of undead and unholy monsters but had also caused herself permanent damage through releasing her dark alter ego Nightmare Moon that she had to this day never been able to fully control despite her best efforts. To Luna’s relief, Celestia had cleaned up the mess she had made and afterwards both the royal sisters had decided to forbid dark magic in Equestria with anyone found even attempting to practice it being sentenced to immediate death and having their remains burned to ash and scattered on the wind to prevent even the slimmest chance of them coming back to life. Luna though had occasionally bent this law over the years for special cases, such as Petunia, who were unfortunate enough to be blessed by Faust with cutie marks in the dark arts. Even so, these students were only given one chance and even the slightest error of judgement or misdemeanour would seem them either permanently imprisoned or worse.

Anyway, seeing as Luna constantly enjoyed playing pranks on Celestia during their younger years and even as they got older, Celestia decided for once she’d get one up on her sister through constantly reminding her of the time she nearly doomed Equestria by covering up the whole debacle as a grand reveal to a new Equestrian holiday, Nightmare Night. It was decreed by Celestia that on this night, once a year, fillies would dress up as monsters and go from door to door collecting sweet treats from their neighbours late into the evening. Celestia had stated it was a holiday designed to boost morale at a time of the year where the nights were drawing in and the weather got colder as winter approached. In reality Celestia had solely created the holiday to embarrass her sister yet seven hundred and fifty years later it was more popular than ever and had also proved a great way for communities to come together and celebrate the beauty of Luna’s night. Unfortunately for the royal sisters not every creature had been fooled by their cover-up and over a number of years of experimentation the zebra’s discovered that because of Luna’s actions the boundary between realms had been seriously weakened on that specific night. Thus, the zebra’s decided to create their own holiday on this night, The Night of Necromancy, where they use necromancy to summon and communicate with deceased family members and loved ones.

To no real surprise, once word of what the zebra’s were doing reached Celestia and Luna, the already taut relationship between the two kingdoms reached breaking point and all ties between the two were severed. Despite multiple attempts over the years since to reconcile, the relationship between the two kingdoms had only degraded further. As far as Rarity was aware, currently both kingdoms refused to even acknowledge the other existed and most ponies thought zebras were a myth from stories told to scare young foals on Nightmare Night.

“Uhm, Miss Belle, you okay? You’ve kind of been staring at nothing for several minutes,” Dinky inquired.

Rarity shook her head. “Huh? Oh yes, I’m fine. Might I ask where you found out about the Night of Necromancy?”

“I was exploring the library last night in search of books about necromancy. Sadly, I couldn’t find anything and, as Dinky will tell you, I got quite upset until Principal Moon bumped into us,” Petunia answered for the two fillies.

“Oh, and what might I ask did Principal Moon do to make you feel better?” Rarity asked with a strained smile.

“She gave me a hug and consoled me for a while until I’d calmed down. Then she explained to me how my magic was misunderstood and sadly seen as highly dangerous by pony kind. What was it she called it again?” Petunia paused trying to remember the name Nightmare Moon had applied to her special talent.

“Dark magic,” Rarity answered for the filly with a heavy sigh. She was really not liking where this was going.

“Yeah, that’s it. Said that for everyponies safety necromancy, along with all other branches of dark magic, had been outlawed for over seven hundred and fifty years which meant that there were no books in Equestria or pony alive that could help me with my special talent,” Petunia said despondently.

Rarity closed her eyes momentarily. “She told you to go find Madam Zecora, didn’t she?”

Petunia nodded her head sheepishly in reply as Rarity slowly opened her eyes once more not wanting to hear or see the answer. “She did and almost as soon as I’d stepped foot into the infirmary and before I’d even had a chance to say one word, Madam Zecora had whisked me off to her office for a talk about my cutie mark and how it relates to necromancy. From there she then told me a brief history of necromancy along with its importance in zebra culture. She’s even offered to tutor me after classes and hopes that I’ll be able to conjure a spirit on Nightmare Night, sorry, The Night of Necromancy,” Petunia finished with barely contained excitement.

Rarity’s right eye twitched. Although she trusted Zecora and knew for certain she would never intentionally put any of the students in any danger, accidents did happen, especially when dark magic was involved. She’d be having a very loud word in a princess’s ear later. The last thing she needed was a malevolent spirit or a horde of rebellious undead trying to murder everypony, especially if the pony responsible was supposed to be under her supervision when out of class.

“Uhm, Miss Belle, you okay?” Petunia stated, repeating what Dinky had asked earlier. Her excitement had swiftly turned to concern.

Rarity forced her eye to stop twitching and gave the filly a strained smile. “That’s wonderful darling but you must promise me you will do everything Zecora tells you to and not to practice without either her, myself, Luna or Starlight present. Although she is an extremely talented and experienced enchantress, dark magic is extremely volatile and even the slightest lapse in concentration could lead to an apocalyptic catastrophe!” Rarity explained.

To her surprise she received a giggle in reply before Petunia raised her right foreleg. Underneath the fluorescent paint Rarity could just make out a thin perfectly cut scar.

“Zecora also went over the dangers with me in a lot of detail and refused to teach me anything unless I agreed to a blood oath. It prevents me from using any magic unless I’m within twenty-five metres of Zecora up until my sixteenth birthday. It feels strange having my magic restricted but I’m slowly getting used to it and is totally worth it if it helps me grow as a necromancer,” Petunia explained, bubbling with excitement once more.

Rarity heaved a huge sigh of relief, of course Zecora would have taken safety precautions. “Well, I’m glad to hear that and I hope overtime you can help change ponies views on the subject. For now though I need to get back to the lesson at hoof. Although I must admit your appearance would certainly cast a lasting first impression on anyone you met, I’m not sure it would be the right type of impression. I understand you want to embrace your special talent but remember, almost everypony else does not. At the very least they’ll run away but more than likely they will attack and attempt to harm, if not kill, you because of what you are. I know it is not what you want to hear but sometimes we have to hide our true selves from others for one reason or another. Understood?”

Tears had slowly formed in Petunia’s eyes as Rarity had explained to the filly the danger her cutie mark and special talent unfortunately and unfairly put her in. Rarity, seeing the distress she had unwittingly caused her student leaned in and wrapped her hooves around Petunia to provide some comfort as she whispered in the filly’s ear.

“That does not though mean you should ever be ashamed of who you are.”

And with those words of wisdom, she slowly let Petunia go.

“An outstanding effort all the same,” Rarity said, finishing her analysis as she trotted on to Diamond and Silver’s desk. To the mare’s annoyance the two fillies looked absolutely stunning. “Well done to the both of you,” she said through clenched teeth refusing to add a barb no matter how much she wanted to. She was, after all, their teacher and supposed to set a good example and not show any bias.

“Yeah, I guess makeup would be good at covering up a couple of snakes,” Scootaloo’s voice reverberated round the class to a torrent of sniggers and snickers.

Rarity closed her eyes and took another deep breath. She seemed to be taking a lot of those tonight “Thank you Scootaloo for volunteering. I expect you back here as soon as classes finish to model my latest line of colt and filly wear.”

“What?” Scootaloo replied in exasperation. “But that’s not fair!” she argued.

Without turning to look at the aggrieved filly Rarity replied, “I don’t know about your other teachers but in my classes young miss outright bullying of other students shall not be tolerated. Now apologise to your classmates.”

Smug smiles had crossed Diamond’s and Silver’s muzzles.

“I’d rather drink werewolf piss,” Scootaloo responded coldly.

“That wasn’t a request,” Rarity said flatly turning to face the stubborn filly.

The formerly jovial tone of the room had dropped like a stone as the two faced off. Slowly Rarity’s hind legs turned to stone but she refused to look away. Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, Scootaloo yielded and looked away, releasing Rarity from her magical grip as she did so.

“Fine,” she grumbled mutinously looking at the floor before raising her head and glowering at Diamond and Silver. “I’m sorry I called you names,” Scootaloo practically spat out of her mouth as if it was poison.

“Apology accepted,” Diamond replied smugly.

“There, that wasn’t so hard, was it now?” Rarity said to Scootaloo as she moved onto Tempest and Mjӧlna only to pause mid-step. “Diamond, I see you’ll be joining Scootaloo after classes are finished, unless you’d prefer being shown what the so-called chicken you are taunting can do?”

Diamond stopped flapping her forelegs and imitating a chicken in total shock. How had Miss Belle known what she was doing? Her teacher hadn’t looked back at her at all.

“Remember, I was once your age Diamond. I knew exactly what a filly like you was thinking and going to do. You just couldn’t help but gloat after getting one up on your enemy, could you? As such, what’s your choice? Model or statue?”

“Model,” Diamond grumbled, pouting in her chair as Scootaloo returned the smug smile from across the room.

“Now, let me take a look at you…” Rarity paused as she stared at the two abominations before her. “What in Equestria happened to you two?” she exclaimed, now wishing she hadn’t continued her nap as the class got on with the assignment. “Giving each other a black eye certainly wasn’t part of the assignment and you both look like you’ve been dragged through the forest by a timberwolf!”

“She refused to let me apply any makeup,” Mjӧlna argued.

“As did you,” Tempest retorted, sticking out her tongue at her dormmate.

“So, we both decided to try and assert our dominance over one another and found we are very evenly matched. She isn’t half bad for half a unicorn,” Mjӧlna chuckled.

“As are you for an earth pony,” Tempest chuckled back throwing a foreleg around her friend. “I’d certainly like to see you in action with that hammer of yours sometime.”

For the umpteenth time Rarity let out a sigh before cutting into the debate. “Detention after classes for the both of you. Maybe my sister and I can teach you both a thing or two about applying makeup. And I’m sure the rest of the school will be delighted to see the results at dinner.”

Both fillies faces dropped. “Crap,” they both swore in unison as Rarity moved on to the final two pairs.

Little Strongheart and Spur had at least made a valiant attempt at the assignment even if it was not something they were used to doing. As for Princess and Lily, Rarity stared at the two of them for a moment wondering if they were the same ponies, having to double check their cutie marks to make sure. Both ponies coat and mane colours had changed, their manes and tails had been styled, hooves applied with polish and so on and so forth. What was even more striking though was the fact that they were both now unicorns instead of a Pegasus and an earth pony. And then, all of a sudden, they were back to normal, albeit with makeup still expertly applied.

“What in Equestria?” Rarity exclaimed, rubbing her temple with confusion.

“Ah shoot. I hate when that happens,” Princess confessed.

“When what happens?” Rarity enquired with intrigue.

“Illusion magic is my special talent but I’m still learning to control it for long periods of time,” Princess admitted guiltily.

“So, you thought you’d try and cheat your way to victory?” Rarity said with a disapproving look down at the filly.

“No, not at all. You said the aim of the assignment was to give the best first impression and that’s what we attempted to do. As you can clearly see, I’m exceptionally good with all kinds of makeup due, in part, to my special talent. The illusion I applied was only to do with coat colour and to make it appear that we were unicorns as it has been heavily documented that despite the unification of the three pony tribes there is still disparity and species bias even to this day,” Princess began to explain like a mare three times her age.

Rarity suddenly looked a little nervous. She was well aware of what the filly was talking about but it was also not something she was comfortable discussing with fillies so young. It was actually a subject she spent much of the first term discussing with her fifth years along with ways to overcome it.

“Around three quarters of the wealthiest ponies in Equestria are unicorns who often look down upon the other races and will only support other unicorns to keep the outdated class structure intact. They are also often fickle about which unicorns they support as well. Any with coat and mane colours to brash and bright reminds them of the Pegasi, anything to drab, like browns and dull oranges, reminds them of earth ponies resulting in an unfounded subconscious reaction of fear that that unicorn may have…” Princess went on only to suddenly find a hoof jammed in her mouth.

“You’ve made your point. Excellent deductions and equally excellent application of makeup. We have our winners. Ten bits to you each,” Rarity conceded with a nervous chuckle levitating the bits over to Princess and Lily in her attempt to buy their silence and prevent a very awkward discussion on speciesism breaking out in the first-years' very first lesson.

Princess smiled and nodded to inform Rarity she got the subliminal message. Good, Rarity thought turning her attention over towards Diamond who seemed ready to object to Rarity’s overall verdict.

The alabaster unicorn quickly blurted, “Who wants to see what’s under the blanket?”

Reminding the class about the mysterious lump under the blanket brought a huge roar of anticipation from the class that prevented Diamond from proceeding with her protest.

As Rarity raised a hoof to ask for silence that slowly came, she went on. “I thought that would be your answer. Sweetie darling, would you do the honours?”

Sweetie looked at her older sister in surprise for a moment before rising from her chair and heading to the mysterious lump, waiting for her sister to give her the signal.

“Go ahead dear,” Rarity urged before addressing the whole class. “Sewing is a form of art and it is not just dresses and clothing that you can create. Some of you may enjoy sewing but in a different capacity and that is fine to. The school is always on the lookout for Plushmancers. You’d be surprised how profitable the plush market is.”

A squeal from the front of the classroom cut Rarity off. She’d barely turned her head in the direction of her sister before a small pair of hooves were wrapped around her neck.

A tear formed in Rarity’s eye as she reciprocated the hug. At the front of the classroom was not only Sweetie’s beloved plush good as new but it was now sat atop a giant-sized lying replica as well. The black monstrosity adorned grey scales along its back, had a long-curved horn protruding from its head, a tail and mane that were a blazing blue and red inferno and, what freaked Scootaloo out the most, soulless white eyes that had no iris or pupil.

“Woah,” Moon commented. “You made that in a day?”

“I love you too dear,” Rarity whispered into her sister’s ear before turning to address the class once more. “A one and a half metre lying plush like that would usually take at least several months to make and could easily fetch over a thousand bits to the right pony. But then, I am an expert of my craft and had significant assistance.” She pointed at Ruby who was groggily awakening from her slumber next too Screwball.

“Huh, what’s going on?” Ruby queried, rubbing her bleary eyes not believing the sight in front of her. “Am I still dreaming or has Scootaloo gone goth?”

Author's Notes:

Here we get a bit more depth about some secondary characters and we see how strong the bond is between Sweetie and Rarity. Next up is Home Economics class followed by Biology. Any guesses on the teachers for those two welcome.

All chapters up to this point proof read by Rich Online. Thanks for the suggestions (02/05/22)

Finalised: 02/08/2022

Day 3 Part 2: Ghostly Goings On

“So, who’s the Home Economics teacher?” Apple Bloom queried as they hastily made their way down several flights of stairs after lugging Sweetie’s new plush up to their dorm.

With the new lock and alarm spells they had had to disarm to enter their dorm and then reapply as they left, they were now running mightily close to being late to their next class.

“You know what? We actually don’t know. We know Tree Hugger teaches Biology as she’s a very good friend of Fluttershy’s and was at the careers’ day but the Home Economics teacher sent a couple of students in her stead,” Scootaloo admitted.

“My cousins to be precise, Cherry Pie and Blue Berry,” Ruby added. “They’re third years now but when I asked at the careers’ day, they refused to tell me anything, the insufferable gits. All they told me is 'you’ll see'.”

“Yeah, all we’ve managed to establish is she’s a miserable grouch,” Scootaloo supplemented.

“And that it’s best not to anger her further,” Ruby stated as they hurried down the final corridor.

“Why it’s imperative we get to class on time,” Scootaloo finished as they made it to the door to the classroom just as the bell rang to indicate the end of break and the beginning of second period.

“Made it,” Scootaloo sighed as they pushed the door open and headed toward their desks.

In this classroom there were three lines of desks once again except this time the desks were doubled up so that pairs of students faced each other. Each pair had access to an oven and a hob and shared a sink with another pair.

“Not a great first impression,” a voice growled from the front of the class. “I expect you to be ready to bake when that bell goes not sauntering into my classroom. Next time I shall not be so lenient, understood?”

“Yes Miss…” four of the five fillies began only to realise they did not yet know their teacher’s name.

“Pie, Limestone “Lightning” Pie to be entirely accurate,” Limestone droned as she began trotting round the classroom. “And before any of you ask, I am the only known pony to be directly struck by wild lightning and survive. On the downside this resulted in the right side of my body being permanently disfigured and I’m blind in my right eye. On the plus side, if you annoy or make me angry…” she paused as she raised her left forehoof and, to the first-years' astonishment, sent lightning shooting from it into the back wall leaving an explosion of black in its wake.

There were numerous audible gulps after that demonstration and Sweetie literally dove under her desk in fright. Scootaloo meanwhile had spotted that their teacher’s one remaining cutie mark was a lightning bolt striking diagonally across two stones with a lime above them.

“Rule number one, never piss me off or you’ll likely receive a permanent burn in return. Understood?”

Everypony that was visible swiftly nodded their heads in response.

“I can’t hear you,” Limestone bellowed in reply as she ducked her head under Sweetie’s desk to scowl at the frightened filly.

“Yes, Miss Pie,” the class bellowed in return aside Sweetie who curled tighter into a ball as tears welled in her eyes.

“Better. But I still don’t hear all of you,” Limestone hollered, continuing to scowl at Sweetie.

“Hey,” Scootaloo unwisely interrupted. “Leave Sweetie alone. It’s not her fault she’s practically mute.”

Limestone’s head momentarily popped out from under the desk. “Shit, she’s Rarity’s sister?” she said with a look of worry before her head returned under the desk not waiting for an answer. “Hey filly, sorry to scare you. Don’t tell anypony this but I’m actually really pleased to finally meet you. We have a lot more in common than you can imagine.”

Sweetie continued to refuse to unfurl herself so Limestone pulled a lollipop from her mane and attempted to bribe the filly.

“Always keep a raspberry one on me in case of emergencies. It was my sister’s favourite flavour. You know, I lost her the day I gained my powers, just like you lost some ponies close to you. Lightning bolt went right through me and made a significant fracture in the ground underneath my hooves. I was nearly dead by this point and unconscious, didn’t even see the large boulder roll of the cliff and…” Limestone choked, unable to finish the sentence as tears welled in her eyes, the memory just as painful now as it was when she’d reawakened in hospital.

“KERSPLAT!” A second voice interrupted. “Pinkie Pie pancake,” the voice giggled as a translucent pink head appeared through the floor under Sweetie’s head. “Hi little one, my name’s Pinkie Pie and I’m a nice ghost, woooooooooo. Don’t mind Grouchy McGrouchington over here, her bark is a lot worse than her bite…actually that’s probably not entirely true but she does have a kind heart in there somewhere,” Pinkie giggled once more.

Sweetie stared at the translucent pink head that had just appeared through the floor with an unreadable expression, lollipop now held tightly in her hooves.

Limestone wiped the tears from her eyes with a forehoof and then grumbled, “Pinkie, I thought I told you to wait before making an appearance so as not to scare the first-years half to death.”

“Fat lot of good that did,” Pinkie retorted. “You did that all on your own,” the ghost said in a tone resembling that of a mother scolding their foal.

“I didn’t know she was Rarity’s sister!” Limestone retorted back, attempting to defend her actions.

“But you did know she was moving up to the first-year this year and a highly sensitive filly,” Pinkie continued to scold.

“And you know very well I’m not good with foals,” Limestone countered. “And that I only took this job as there was literally no chance of me getting a job anywhere else. Who in their right mind would hire a disfigured, semi-blind cripple with ODD that is bound to the ghost of her long dead sister and has a penchant for lightning?” Limestone snapped as tears started to fill her vision once more. She quickly tried to blink them away as Pinkie gave her sister a questioning look. “Damn it, Pinkie, I know that look and we are most definitely not having that conversation again now, I’ve a class to…” she stopped mid-sentence, eyes going wide, and slowly looked down to find Sweetie hugging her disfigured foreleg, lollipop in her mouth.

“D’aww,” Pinkie cooed.

The remaining bluish grey fur on Limestone’s face started to take on a reddish tinge before she pulled Sweetie out from under the desk and attempted to shake the filly off with no success.

“Fine,” Limestone grumbled, getting some odd looks from the rest of the first-years.

These only lasted a moment though before Pinkie’s translucent pink body floated up through the desk.

“Hi everypony, I’m Pinkie Pie, Limestone’s sister and teaching assistant. Oh, and I’m also dead and a ghost, wooooooooooo!” Pinkie introduced herself to the rest of the class.

“Cool,” Screwball and Petunia said simultaneously as the rest of the class looked on, muzzles open wide totally dumbstruck.

Limestone’s free forehoof met her forehead and she closed the one good eye she still had. “Everypony meet my sister. Do not be alarmed; she will not hurt you. She died shortly after receiving her cutie mark thus why she’s a filly. All she wants to do is help you bake the best sweet treats imaginable and I’m guessing all of you have tried one of Pinkie’s brand of cakes in your time?”

“Wait?” Apple Bloom interrupted. “Do you mean THE PINKIE PIE? We can’t afford much on the farm but the local café in Ponyville used to always give me one of her speciality birthday cupcakes on my birthday free of charge.” Apple Bloom never finished what she was about to say as she began to drool onto her desk, simply the memory of one of those cupcakes being to much for her brain to handle.

Apple Bloom’s recollection seemed to bring many of her fellow classmates out of their stupors as Pinkie tittered.

“Yep, that’s me! I’ll let you kiddos in on a little secret. Limestone here can’t even cook rock soup!” the ghost replied.

“PINKIE!” Limestone exclaimed in embarrassment before sighing and agreeing with her sister. “It’s true. Pinkie here is the brains behind the baked goods division here at the school. I’m just her lackey so to speak as ghosts can’t physically touch or hold anything, only float, pass through walls and, often to my annoyance, talk, especially talk. And there is literally no way to stop them talking as you can’t touch or hold onto them. Sweet Celestia does she annoy me sometimes but I love her all the same. Thus, rule two, hurt her or the marshmallow currently attached to my leg in any way and…” Another bolt of lightning struck the back wall.

Diamond and Silver looked at each other and gulped nervously. They silently agreed with each other then and there that Sweetie was out of bounds for bullying despite being the easiest target.

“Oh Limey, you are such a tease,” Pinkie giggled.

Limestone glowered at her sister. “I told you not to call me that in public,” she growled.

Pinkie simply let out another giggle in reply and Limestone wisely opted to just ignore her and proceed with the lesson.

“Okay, that’s enough time wasted on introductions. Listen up everypony. Home Economics is literally the easiest class in the entire school to pass and earn some much-needed bits from. All you need to do is follow the instructions precisely that I provide you with week in, week out and you’re sorted. The more quality goods you bake and we can ship out to Canterlot and other nearby settlements, the greater the share of the profits you receive. If you don’t want to bake, that’s fine too; you just don’t earn any bits. It is that simple. Do I make myself clear?” Limestone said firmly.

“Yes Miss Pie,” the class responded as one.

“Good. Today though I want to see just how good at baking you all are. We are always on the lookout here at the school for those ponies who could potentially improve both the quality and range of goods we provide. Laid out on the desks in front of you are an assortment of ingredients that you may or may not need. Choose wisely and remember, I may be the worst cook imaginable without my sister’s input but I’ve tasted enough breads, cakes and pastries over the past fifteen years to know what’s hot and what’s not. Thus, you are going to have to work exceptionally hard to impress me. You have one hour and fifteen minutes, GO,” Limestone commanded before she looked down at Sweetie still gripping tightly to her leg. “That means you too, marshmallow.”

Sweetie looked beseechingly up at Limestone.

“You get to play with fire,” Limestone said softly with a warm, if somewhat unnerving, smile considering her disfigurement. “Just try not to blow up the classroom.”

Reluctantly Sweetie let Limestone’s leg go and Screwball helped her friend back onto her stool.

“Awesome,” Limestone said before turning to Pinkie and giving her a nod.

Pinkie immediately got the message, watch these two.

*

Limestone stared at the three-tier pink abomination covered in way too much-icing and many-strawberries before her and then turned and glowered at her sister.

“I told you to watch them, not help them!” Limestone reprimanded.

Pinkie simply whistled guiltily in return whilst avoiding eye contact with her sister.

“You know what, never mind. At least the classroom’s safe,” Limestone sighed, turning her attention back to the cake. “And it’ll be nice to eat something decent after the utter abomination my eyes just had to endure along with the mediocrity I’ve tasted so far.”

The abomination she had just witnessed had been Diamond and Silver’s attempt at something but what she wasn’t quite sure. When the glop on top had moved, formed a mouth and then emitted an unholy shriek, Limestone had swiftly vaporised the fillies' attempt with a bolt of lightning and then put them both on washing up duty for the next month at least. To be honest, none of the other pairs so far had done anything even remotely better and she now had a broken floor and oven to fix as well.

Shivering simply at the memory, Limestone forced herself to concentrate on the task at hoof. “What’s this pink eyesore called before I try a slice?”

“Strawberry Blast,” Screwball tittered.

“Interesting and why might that be?” Limestone reluctantly asked.

“Because that's not a sparkler on top,” Screwball answered as she grabbed Sweetie and dived under the desk.

Limestone’s eyes bulged as she finally noticed the sparkler that wasn’t a sparkler on top of the cake.

“Fuck,” Limestone swore before the spark reached its destination and the whole cake exploded sending sponge, jam, strawberries and frosting, an insane amount of frosting, everywhere.

By some miracle, almost certainly Pinkie’s doing, a whole slice of the cake had ended up in Limestone’s mouth.

As Pinkie collapsed with laughter next to her, Limestone took a bite and then critiqued the cake. “Not bad. You two can come out now, I’m not going to scold you. In fact, Luna is going to love this idea for Celestia’s birthday cake next year.”

“That I shall,” Luna’s voice echoed around the classroom as she materialised next to Limestone and levitated some frosting off the mare. “Exquisite as always Pinkie. You’re such a good ghost helping our fillies nurture their special talents. Over a thousand years and I’ve never once thought about sending my sister an exploding cake, criminal.”

The translucent pink pony gave Luna a massive smile as Sweetie's and Screwball’s heads peeped out from under the desk.

“Thank you, little ones, for giving me the idea. I hope you’ll be willing to assist me when the need arises to provide my sister with one for her birthday,” Luna stated, swiping some more frosting off Limestone’s coat with a strawberry. “This frosting is particularly divine.”

In total shock at the outcome of their prank, Sweetie and Screwball could only nod in response.

“Huzzah, my sister won’t know what hit her!” Luna exclaimed. “Now, as I am already here, shall we see what the other fillies have baked tonight?”

“Unless you want food poisoning, I’d suggest you leave now,” Limestone deadpanned, not even bothering to rid her coat or mane of the cake that now covered it almost entirely.

“Oh, come now, surely it cannot be that bad,” Luna responded jovially.

“Aside from these two covering me and the classroom in cake, those two blew up an oven, those two created cookies hard enough to break the floor and they baked the blandest bread I’ve ever had the misfortune of tasting,” Limestone said flatly pointing one by one at Tempest and Little Strongheart, Lily and Princess, and finally Mjӧlna and Spur before coming to rest on Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. “And don’t get me started on what those two conjured up.”

“I saw. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a baked bad go so bad. I’d love to send one of those to my sister the next time she instantly gives up on the latest fad diet but alas, even I can’t figure out how they managed to create life from simple baking ingredients,” Luna commented in reply. “And muzzle up, it can only get better from here! Look, Apple Bloom’s baked us each an apple pie!”

“How original,” Limestone droned, rolling her eyes. “I didn’t even give you apples so how…”

A snigger from Screwball behind her answered Limestone’s question before she’d even finished asking it.

“They needed strawberries; we needed apples, fair trade,” Apple Bloom said coldly toward Limestone as she pushed two plates with a slice each on them and a spoon over to Luna and Limestone. “Secret Apple family recipe passed down from my great great great grandparents or something like that according to ma granny. Best apple pie you’ll ever taste.”

“Pfft, I’ll be the judge of that,” Limestone scoffed, earning her another glare in return from Apple Bloom as she ignored the spoon and picked the slice of pie up in a hoof before taking a massive bite. Her eyes went wide. “Woah,” she mumbled through a mouthful of pie before swallowing and going back for the remainder in her hoof. “That’s good pie. Dare I say it? Even better than Pinkie’s.”

“Told you so,” Apple Bloom retorted in a snarky tone. “Only an Apple can make the best apple-baked sweet treats and, before either of you ask, the recipe is not for sale, at any price. So don’t even try to pry it from my brain. All our baked goods recipes are closely guarded secrets.”

“That is a shame as this apple pie is truly divine but I understand and respect your decision,” Luna commented, delicately finishing of her slice of pie and levitating the plate back down onto the desk. “The same can be said about all of Pinkie’s recipes. It’s why we use a simple mind fog spell on them so that students forget what they have read within a minute of doing so and why no copies of her recipes leave the lab. If her secrets were to get out to an upstart rival, we could possibly have a real challenge on our hands. As long as we can convince your family to sell under the logo of the Princess of the Night, I have no problems with only Apples knowing the secrets behind perfect apple based sweet treats.”

“Sounds fair to me. I’d think my family would be ludicrous not to accept such an offer but we’ll see. For now, would you like some more pie?” Apple Bloom said politely cutting another slice and placing it delicately on Luna’s plate for her. “I’m not sure Scootaloo can handle any more,” she added with a giggle pointing at her partner who was face down in another pie.

Luna snickered as she gratefully accepted another slice. “Indeed.”

“Erm, is she okay?” Limestone commented nervously.

“Too much pie,” Scootaloo’s muffled voice groaned from the pie tin.

“That answer your question? Total lightweight, that’s only her third pie,” Apple Bloom retorted.

Luna snickered once more finishing her second slice of pie in record time. “I do certainly hope we can come to an agreement over time,” she said as if the Apple family would have a choice in the matter; they wouldn’t. “I believe we certainly could mutually benefit one another greatly but that conversation must wait for another time when you are a bit older. For now, your baking skills will come in quite handy as we try to meet ever increasing demand for Pinkie’s baked goods.”

“Thank you Headmare Luna,” Apple Bloom replied with a polite nod before the alicorn trotted on to her daughter's and Ruby’s attempt.

Luna instantly regretted her decision and Moon immediately caught sight of the grimace that crossed her mother’s face.

“What’s wrong dear mother?” Moon cooed in a sickly-sweet tone looking up at her mother with a pained expression. “Do you not like our attempt? Sadly, neither of us have had much experience with baking; so some of the ingredients may not have been correct,” Moon explained with an obvious jab at her mother.

Luna chose to ignore it. “Erm, no, no, not at all Moon dear. It’s just different is all,” she replied, forcing a chuckle from her lips. “Might I ask what exactly it is?” she added looking down at the green and black lump covered haphazardly in white icing and sprinkles.

“A simple iced sponge,” Moon said with a devilish smirk. “Here, why don’t you try a piece,”

Luna’s face dropped as Moon began cutting her a slice of the cake, Limestone’s earlier warning about food poisoning returning to the forefront of her mind. The last thing she wanted tonight was food poisoning but she also knew declining the offering was not an option unless she wished to offend her daughter. So, she took the somehow burnt yet undercooked off-colour offering that was handed to her, closed her eyes and forced herself to take a small bite… only to find the whole slice being thrust into her mouth. As Luna’s eyes shot open with surprise, she saw Ruby looking away from her with a clearly guilty look, her horn illuminating a similar colour as her mane. That little devil. Slowly Luna forced herself to devour and swallow the slice of cake in her mouth, closing her eyes as she did so.

As the last piece slid down her throat Luna opened her eyes. “That was vile. I must agree with you dear daughter that you and Miss Pinch do indeed need more than the standard amount of tutoring in regard to baking. I am very sorry for my negligence in regards to this area of your education and as such, will line up a couple of tutors immediately for an extra two hours on Hornday evenings for the rest of the first term for you and your friend. I believe Miss Pinch’s cousins would be more than willing to help.”

The smiles that adorned Moon’s and Ruby’s muzzles fell away in an instant.

“Unless of course you wish to taste your own creation and write me a thousand-word report on exactly where you went wrong?” Luna said with a wicked leer. “And then, just maybe, I might feel you’re both at the level you need to be.”

Ruby instantly grabbed a hoofful of the cake and shoved it into her gob. Even in spite of the taste, it was still worth it over having to be tutored by her insufferable cousins for a whole term. She gagged as she finally managed to force herself to swallow it.

“I see you’ve made your choice; what about you dear daughter of mine? How would you like to improve upon your baking skills? Tutoring or self-learning?” Luna said mockingly as she turned her head towards Moon.

Moon scowled at her mother and then took her own hoofful of cake and shoved it into her mouth. The taste very nearly made her throw it back up again but she forced herself to eat it.

“See, that wasn’t so bad, was it? You certainly wouldn’t offer something to your own mother if you weren’t willing to try it yourself, would you now?” Luna mocked as she leaned in and lifted her daughter’s head with a hoof.

Moon tried to scowl at her mother but the lingering aftertaste of the cake prevented her from doing so. Finally, she spat out, “No, mother,” and then crossed her forehooves mutinously in defeat.

“Excellent. I’ll expect those essays by Sunday,” Luna said, releasing Moon’s head as she did so. “Just remember Moon darling, I’ve a thousand-year head start on pranking over you and am both your mother and headmistress. Nice try but you’ll have to try a lot harder next time if you wish to get one over on me. Anyhow, who’s left?” Luna asked turning to a stunned Limestone behind her.

“Erm, just Petunia and Dinky,” Limestone gulped as she caught the glint of a fang at the edge of Luna’s mouth. She could count the number of ponies that scared her on her hoof. Luna, or more specifically Nightmare Moon, was that pony.

“Wonderful. I need something to clean my tastebuds with,” Luna replied licking her slowly sharpening teeth.

Limestone seriously hoped for the fillies’ sake their cake was good or she feared filly flambé might be on the menu.

Author's Notes:

Home Economics classroom based of this: https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*pU2WPqUD5CqkmjbbI3-WnQ.jpeg

Thought I'd throw in a couple of cheap adoptables to I found and bought (You can find the Cherry one by scrolling through the comments: https://www.deviantart.com/celes-969/art/Adoptable-CLOSED-914455013

ODD: Oppositional Defiant Disorder, a pattern of angry/irritable, argumentative/defiant behavior, or vindictiveness. This behavior is usually targeted toward peers, parents, teachers, and other authority figures (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppositional_defiant_disorder). Simply put, Pinkie's death resulted in Limestone becoming very defensive and viewing everyone as against her, her remaining sisters and her parents. Why, when Luna came calling, Igneous and Cloudy Quartz, though reluctant, knew the school would be best for their troubled daughter.

Hornday is the equivalent of Friday in Equestria. From Monday to Sunday, in this verse it goes Moonday, Hoofsday, Wingsday, Fursday, Hornday, Magicday, Sunday.

And finally this chapter did start to hit a stumbling block towards the end. There are only so many scenarios I can think of of the top of my head but hope the ending is okay, enjoy and if you have any more questions feel free to ask!

Edited 07/05/2022
Finalised 02/08/22

Day 3 Part 3: Drugs are no Joke

“Gah,” Ruby gagged as the group of friends settled down for lunch. “I can still taste that salty monstrosity now. I told you that was salt not sugar,” she grumbled to Moon.

“Well, she might not have made us eat any of it if you hadn’t forced the whole slice into her muzzle with your magic,” Moon retorted.

“Apples!” Scootaloo added to the conversation followed by a loud belch before her eyes closed and she fell silent once more atop Apple Bloom’s back.

“Damn lightweight,” Apple Bloom grumbled as she lowered Scootaloo gently to the floor to sleep off her apple pie hangover whilst she had lunch.

Another benefit for Apple Bloom since arriving at the school had been a bit of variation to her diet and the chance to try new things. Though she thoroughly enjoyed apples, having them for practically every meal for most your life can get a tad boring after a while, not that she’d ever admit it! Tonight’s delicacy for lunch was vegetable curry.

“Oh, like you didn’t want me to do that?” Ruby countered across the table as Apple Bloom sat down. “And that was only after you pushed her to try it. You could have just admitted it was terrible and asked your mum for forgiveness but oh no, little miss rebellious just had to…”

“ENOUGH!” Apple Bloom roared slamming a hoof on the table as she sat down. “I’ve had enough of you two bickering like two old mares. If you shake hooves and laugh the whole thing of right now, I’ll give you both a hand writing those essays in the library later whilst Scootaloo has detention with Rarity. But only if you give my ears a rest, deal?”

Her two friends looked across at her eyes wide.

It was Moon who spoke first. “Wait, you’d do that for me? You hardly even know me.”

Apple Bloom shrugged her shoulders. “Any friend of Ruby’s is a friend of mine.”

“But you’ve hardly known her much longer!” Moon argued.

“Fine, write them yourselves then,” Apple Bloom said testily as she poured a large portion of vegetables in a brownish orange sauce atop a mountain of yellow rice.

Moon stared at Apple Bloom for a moment longer and then turned to Ruby. “Okay, so I’m sorry I can’t tell the difference between sugar and salt, can’t crack an egg open properly to save my life and am totally rubbish at baking because not even once did my damn parents show me how to,” Moon admitted with a tear in her eye. She was about to continue her tirade but Luna’s voice behind her stopped her in her tracks.

“Well, you only had to ask. How about instead of an essay we have a practical lesson. You, me and your two friends because, to tell you the truth, I can’t bake either. I never told you the story of how shortly after you were born, I attempted to bake your mother a cake for her birthday. Gave her the mega trots for a…”

Luna stopped mid-sentence as a deceptively sweet voice whispered in her ear, “I told you what would happen if you ever told any pony that story. Go change into your maid outfit and clean the castle for the next hour.”

“Yes, Vice Principal Glimmer. Whatever you say Vice Principal Glimmer,” Luna responded before disappearing in a puff of dark blue smoke.

Don’t worry, it’ll wear off in fifteen minutes. Alicorn’s unfortunately have a greater resistance to my power. We’ll see you in the Home Economics classroom after classes finished. A mother daughter baking session sounds like a wonderful idea! Starlight said to the fillies via one of her trademark signs. She followed this up by wrapping her forehooves around Moon and giving her daughter a kiss on the top of her head before releasing her and trotting off to have her own lunch.

Moon’s head hit the table. “What have I done?”

“Wait,” Apple Bloom queried through a mouthful of curry. “Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Moon reluctantly raised her head. “You don’t understand. I wanted one of my parents to teach me how to bake,” she lamented before slamming her head multiple times on the table. “Stupid, stupid, stupid,” she repeated over and over again.

Apple Bloom, totally at a loss, turned to a sniggering Ruby for assistance.

“You see, as you may have guessed Moon’s parents aren’t a couple. They tried to make it work for Moon’s sake but it didn’t work out,” Ruby began.

“Okay,” Apple Bloom replied, “So, I’m guessing that the whole acting nice around each other in public thing is a show and just for the benefit of the school when really, they despise each other’s guts?” Apple Bloom guessed.

“Nowhere close,” Ruby replied. “They are actually really good friends and the perfect team when working together but…” Ruby paused unsure how to finish that sentence.

“But what?” Apple Bloom pressed.

“Imagine taking an alicorn and one of Equestria’s strongest unicorns and pitting them against one another. Now imagine the prize is their daughter’s affection,” Ruby attempted to explain.

“Oh buck,” Apple Bloom swore.

“Exactly. Her parents are perfect when working together but when you put them against each other, especially for Moon’s affection, things get a little out of hoof and extremely embarrassing. You should have seen some of the birthday parties we’ve had these past couple of years. And there was this one summer when a leak finally got out about Moon’s parentage. For the whole summer we had assassins attempting to infiltrate the school and murder Moon, although this soon turned into a contest between Starlight and Nightmare Moon to see who could catch and deal with the most assassins, often with Moon here as a spectator,” Ruby went on.

Moon stopped banging her head on the table and shuddered as she turned to face Ruby. “Please, don’t remind me. I still have nightmares about what they did and the fact they used me as an excuse for their actions,” she paused as she turned and enlightened Apple Bloom whilst mocking both her mothers. “Dear, I caught this griffon trying to infiltrate your quarters and do you harm; watch as I pluck her one feather at a time to teach her a lesson. That was only the start. Among the creepiest things from that summer was awaking one afternoon to find a zebra’s skull on my bed, an apparent present from Starlight of a would-be assassin, and watching as Nightmare Moon lowered some poor pony into a pool of acid excruciatingly slowly.” Moon shuddered again. “I still hear her screams to this very day.”

Apple Bloom allowed her mind a moment to slot all the pieces of the jigsaw together. “So, all we need to do is ensure they work together rather than against each other and we’ll be fine? I’m guessing that’ll be easier said than…”

“ROLL UP, ROLL UP,” Miss Dust’s voice suddenly interrupted across the hall. “Place a bet on the first annual Great St Trineighans bakeoff! After classes today. Look at the board to see which teacher is paired with which two first-year students and then choose wisely. Special first five-minute offer, all groups 2/1 on!”

Both Moon’s and Apple Bloom’s heads slammed onto the table.

“How?” Ruby said with a look of complete astonishment turning around to see the makeshift betting station that had once again been set up in the dining hall and reappeared in the blink of an eye.

“Pegasi,” Scootaloo yawned rising from the floor whilst stretching her wings to remove the cramp that settled into them. “Ninety percent of the time we’re extremely lazy, the other ten percent highly motivated and efficient,” she explained. “And when it comes to the chance of earning a few extra bits, nothing motivates Lightning more.”

“Nice to see you are back with the living,” Ruby responded.

“Oh, I’d recovered by the end of Home Ec, just wanted a little longer to sleep off all that pie,” Scootaloo confessed with a yawn

“Wait, so you tricked Apple Bloom into carrying you all the way here when she could have just woken you up?” Ruby queried.

“Well, I didn’t ask her to carry me,” Scootaloo retorted as she moved toward the table. “Any food still left?”

CLANG. Curry, bowl included, now adorned Scootaloo’s head courtesy of an irate Apple Bloom.

“Light as a feather my hoof,” the Earth Pony grumbled before returning to her own plateful of curry as she tried to put the forthcoming baking war to the back of her mind.

Ruby sniggered. “Well, I guess that answers your question.”

“Any chance of some rice?” Scootaloo requested cheekily as she lifted the bowl from her head and licked the sauce and vegetables that now adorned her muzzle.

A moment later a second bowl and a tsunami of rice headed her way.

*

Scootaloo swiped some of the few remaining vegetables from her mane and then turned to Apple Bloom. “So, who have I got?” she asked nonchalantly as she threw the vegetables into her mouth.

“Do you want the good news or the bad news?” Apple Bloom replied, diverting her concentration away from the list for a moment.

Scootaloo shrugged as she finished munching on the remainder of her lunch.

“We’re paired together,” Apple Bloom answered.

“Sweet,” Scootaloo said as she swallowed the vegetables. “We’ll win for sure,” she added confidently. “Which teacher we partnered with, Luna, Fluttershy…”

“Trixie,” Apple Bloom deadpanned.

“Come again?” Scootaloo queried hoping she’d heard that wrong. “I thought you said…”

“Trixie,” Apple Bloom repeated in an equally emotionless voice. “Also, you’re bleeding again. I think it’s going to need stitches,” she added pointing at the deep laceration that now adorned Scootaloo’s forehead just above her right eye.

“Shit and double shit,” Scootaloo swore trying to stem the bleeding with a napkin. “Did you have to throw that second bowl so hard?”

“You asked for rice, you got rice,” Apple Bloom deadpanned in response. “As for teachers, all I can say is that this is not going to end well. Lightning has deliberately paired students up with either other students or teachers they don’t or won’t get on well with to cause conflict. She’s even paired herself with Tempest and Silver!”

“Seriously? Well, I was wondering why she was taking bets on which team would start a food fight between themselves first. I guess that answers another question. So, what are the teams anyway?”

“Team 1: Luna, Dinky and Mjolna. Team 2: Starlight, Moon and Ruby.”

Scootaloo closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m already not liking where this is going.”

“Us either,” Moon and Ruby chorused, the latter pushing the former along in a wheelchair

Apple Bloom ignored the interruptions and continued, “Team 3: Trixie, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Team 4: Screwloose, Screwball, Spur. Team 5: Rarity, Sweetie and…” she paused unable to say the last name.

“She didn’t?” Scootaloo pressed already knowing the answer to her own query.

“She did.”

“You’re right, this is certainly not going to end well. Do I even want to hear the final two teams?” Scootaloo said with the look of a dead mare walking. “Surely none of them can get any worse after these five and Limestone’s.”

“Oh, it can. Team 7 is Tree Hugger, Lily and Princess…”

“Well, that doesn’t sound too…” Scootaloo interrupted only for herself to be interrupted by Apple Bloom.

“Team 8: Zecora, Petunia and Little Strongheart. Judges Berry Punch, Limestone and Fluttershy.”

“She didn’t.”

Apple Bloom nodded. “She did.”

Scootaloo groaned. “Somecreature is definitely going to end up in a pie.”

“Agreed,” her three friends concurred in unison.

*

They’d only just made it into the hallway that led to Tree Hugger’s classroom with the rest of the first-years when the door was blown off its hinges into the wall opposite by a torrent of fire.

In an instant Scootaloo was in the door frame.

“See, told you I could do it,” Sweetie giggled atop a beanbag smoking from a pipe with bloodshot eyes.

“Woah, far out,” Tree Hugger replied with equally bloodshot eyes in a beanbag opposite Sweetie.

Before Screwball even spoke, Scootaloo had figured it all out and knew she was dead.

“Hello dear friend, chipper day we’re having today, isn’t it? As we were helping Miss Pie clear up the mess we had made in the Home Economics classroom and had lunch there, we got here a little early and Tree Hugger very kindly offered us some 'herbal relaxation'.”

Scootaloo stared at Screwball’s eyes and shivered at the normality of them.

Screwball threw back her head and guffawed before addressing Scootaloo once more, her eyes now back to their usual swirls of madness. “I’m just messing with you. Damn this is some good stuff. Its affecting even me a little.” She took a deep inhale from a pipe somehow hovering in front of her and blew out a perfect ring of blue smoke.

“Just wait until the hallucinations kick in, poison joke always gives the best,” Tree Hugger commented.

Scootaloo’s eyes went wide. The last thing she or anypony needed was Sweetie burning down the whole school lost in her own mind and unaware of the damage she was causing. Upon seeing the smile growing across the unicorn’s face and the flames tickling at her hooves, she feared that time would come sooner than she liked.

“Oh, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope,” she repeated over and over to herself as she trotted over and, ignoring both the smell and the pain as Sweetie’s hooves singed her fur and burnt the skin underneath, lugged the placid Sweetie onto her back and trotted back the way she came. “Apple Bloom, you’re in charge of Screwball until I get back,” she said as she passed the werewolf.

“Me,” Apple Bloom objected indignantly but Scootaloo was already gone.

“Hey Bloom, want to try some?” Screwball asked in a tempting tone holding out the pipe she was smoking with a hoof.

Apple Bloom knew she shouldn’t, her sister would kill her if she found out, but…

“You know, it wouldn’t hurt to try. As werewolves, I doubt it would have much effect on us anyway?” Ruby whispered into Apple Bloom’s ear.

*

“Hey, Zecora, you in here? I’ve kind of got an emergency. Yowch, will you stop burning me, Sweetie?” Scootaloo said with a grimace, her coat now pockmarked with burns.

“Oh, what’s that talking ball of flame? You want me to burn everything?” Sweetie replied staring deep into Scootaloo’s eyes with dilated pupils. Her irises had also turned from green to blue.

“Okay, scrap that. I’ve got an emergency and I can’t get her to focus long enough for me to turn her to stone,” Scootaloo said rapidly, the panic in her voice starting to rise as the lump on her back started to get hotter. She had no idea what Sweetie might be capable of in this state.

Zecora’s head suddenly appeared from under one of the infirmary beds. Her eyes widened at the sight of a slowly combusting Sweetie atop Scootaloo, the latter finally having no choice but to drop her friend onto the infirmary floor.

“Yow!” Scootaloo exclaimed swinging her head around to see just how badly burned her back was.

Her eyes went wide. Her back was on fire. Like, actually on fire. And not just a teensy-weensy bit either.

Scootaloo began to scream only for her mouth to be filled with ice cold water.

Zecora lowered the now empty bucket she was holding in her teeth to the floor. “Tree Hugger’s work I presume?”

“Yeah, how’d you guess?” Scootaloo replied, suddenly feeling a little unsteady on her hooves.

“The smoking of Poison Joke not only quadruples the size off a pony’s pupils but also turns their irises blue,” Zecora deadpanned.

“I see,” Scootaloo replied suddenly feeling a little unsteady on her hooves, most likely due to the fact her back had been on fire just moments before and was still steaming.

“Do not worry though; the antidote is a simple one that I know. Bring her to…” Zecora paused mid-sentence.

“What?” Scootaloo queried looking all around, the unsteadiness of her hooves growing every second. “Oh no, where’s she gone? We’ve got to find her before she burns down the school or worse, Rarity finds her and blames me!”

Scootaloo was just about to head for the door when her hooves gave out from underneath her. “Shit,” she grumbled trying to force herself back to her hooves and failing.

“You, my dear, are going nowhere, except here,” Zecora said sternly trotting over and grabbing Scootaloo’s tail in her teeth before dragging and throwing her on an empty bed. “Those burns need time to heal and seal,” the zebra said calmly. “Now, hold on tightly while I apply this ointment, as it may bring about a sting,” she explained in her usually roundabout way.

The final word had barely left Zecora’s lips before the howl ripped through the infirmary.

“Please tell me Miss Bloom or Pinch did not also seek release, as that will certainly destroy our peace. You see, werewolves and Poison Joke is certainly no joke. A feral, rabid beast intent to feast on you and me, is what you shall see,” Zecora said cryptically to Scootaloo.

Scootaloo though had already passed out.

Zecora let out a sigh and began applying the ointment. She was certain it was going to be a busy night.

*

Luna groaned as she rested her head on her desk whilst holding an ice pack atop it with a hoof. Damn how she hated Starlight using her magic on her. She still wore the maid outfit. Maybe she could tease Starlight later with it in retaliation for using her magic on her. Right now, she needed something to get rid of this unrelenting headache.

And, of course, that was the exact moment the security alarm started to blare out.

“What is it this time?” Luna groaned lifting her head off her desk.

As if in answer to her question, a werewolf, frothing at the mouth, came crashing through her office door.

Luna rubbed her temple. “Tree Hugger, how many times do I have to tell you not to let the werewolves try Poison Joke?” she sighed as Apple Bloom shook herself down and returned to her hooves growling ferociously at Luna with cobalt blue eyes. “Sleep,” Luna commanded rising to her hooves.

Apple Bloom immediately fell to the floor snoring softly.

“Good girl. Now you stay there while I try and pinpoint where…” Luna began only to be interrupted by a low growl in the doorway. “Well, that was easier than expected.”

Ruby threw herself at the alicorn of the night.

“Sleep,” Luna commanded for the second time.

One adorable bundle of sleeping fur on the floor became two.

Luna was just bending down to examine something on Apple Bloom’s teeth that had caught her eye when she heard a voice from the doorway.

“Whoa, gnarly Limey, you like, totally took this door out with that kick!”

“You call me that once more and I swear to Faust you’ll be going through the next door,” Limestone growled as Luna looked up at the two latest intruders.

“No need to harsh the vibes, mare. And is that Princess Luna in a maid outfit or am I just tripping hard right now?” Tree Hugger replied.

“Seriously? In what rational world would Princess Luna be wearing a maid…” Limestone began only to stop mid-sentence as she caught sight of the alicorn in said outfit. “Starlight?” she deadpanned.

“Need you even ask?” Luna responded before swiftly changing the topic of conversation. “What I would like to know Tree Hugger is how two werewolves gained access to Poison Joke after I handed you a list of students you must not under any circumstances give drugs to, specifically werewolves, first and second years, and those who are classed as extremely mentally vulnerable.”

On cue, a loud explosion suddenly rocked the castle’s very foundations.

“Not her, too,” Luna groaned walking over and banging her head against a wall.

“Oh, I thought it was a list of names and years you wanted me to try herbal medicines out on, my bad,” Tree Hugger said casually. “I did wonder why the rest refused aside the first years.”

Luna started banging her head against the wall with a little more force.

“Just please tell me that isn’t blood on her teeth. This may be St Trineighans School for incompetent teachers but I most definitely do not wish it to be a school for solely werewolves,” Luna said exasperated, finally finishing pounding a dent in the wall with her head and turning to the earth pony mare. “We’d end up spending half our budget on air freshener alone.”

“Oh, she only bit one fellow student and it wasn’t even that bad. Starlight took her to the infirmary as a precaution, whilst me, Dusty and then Limey went after them after they broke out of the classroom. Well, not really a breakout as the classroom had no door at that point but, woah, I never knew the walls of your office were so colourful.”

Luna’s right eye twitched as she watched Tree Hugger’s eyes fully dilate. Great, just fucking great. She turned instead to Limestone for further answers.

“Hey, what are you looking at me for. All I know is there was a commotion outside my classroom, I peek out and there’s Dust slumped at the end of the corridor about to be ripped to shreds by those two,” Limestone exclaimed pointing at Ruby and Apple Bloom on the floor. “I scared them with a few lightning bolts, followed protocol and ensured my students were safe, then chased them halfway across the school meeting Tree Hugger along the way. They ended up pouncing on us down the hall and I sent Apple Bloom through your door. That’s it.”

“Did Lightning or either of you get bit?” Luna pressed.

“I know I didn’t and I’m pretty sure Tree Hugger didn’t either but Lightning was pretty messed up when I left her,” Limestone replied.

“So, you just left her there in the corridor?”

“Would you rather have a horde of new werewolves to deal with?” Limestone retaliated. “She’s a tough mare, I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

“That I am. Damn, I missed all the fun,” Dust’s voice chuckled behind Limestone before she flew into view above the two other mares in the doorway. “Nothing but a few scrapes and bruises. No way either of those two rapscallions could catch me unawares.”

“That so?” Luna deadpanned examining Dust from head to paw. “Then why’s one of your eyes closed?”

“A cheap shot,” Lightning retorted.

“Your leg?” Luna asked inquisitively.

“Badly wrenched a muscle in my back leg barrelling down the stairs with those two.”

“And the clear bite mark to your left ear? Not to mention the fangs, fur and paws?” Luna quizzed with a devilish smirk.

“Come again?” Lightning replied suddenly looking a lot less confident.

“Sit,” Luna commanded.

Lightning’s wings snapped tight to her side.

“Ah shit,” Limestone swore before the Pegasus fell atop her.

“Congratulations Miss Dust; you’re now a werewolf,” Luna said emotionlessly.

“Wh-what?” Lightning replied untangling herself from Limestone. “B-but I don’t want to be a werewolf!” she exclaimed.

“Well, unless you shoot yourself with a silver bullet, tough. Now, let us get you to the infirmary for a check-up and to find out which of the first-years has also joined my army of furballs, seeing as Tree Hugger is in no fit state to tell me,” Luna said stoically, lifting Lightning, Ruby and Apple Bloom effortlessly with her magic as she did so before departing her office.

Limestone, carrying a now totally spaced-out Tree Hugger on her back, followed as yet another distant explosion rocked the school.

Author's Notes:

Two nights girls, two nights and you've already blown up a teachers office, gone to war with your year mates, nearly drowned, caused a howl, inspired the first St Trineighans bake off and got ridiculously high.

So who's the new werewolf? I'm pretty certain who it shall be but am open for suggestions for the next day or so to tell me otherwise.

Edited 19/05/2022

Repercussions

Moon awoke to a splitting headache and groaned as her distorted vision slowly cleared to reveal a very unhappy looking lilac unicorn. “Oh shit, I’m in…” she began only to pause as she saw her other mother, in Nightmare form, with the creepiest grin imaginable standing behind Starlight practically bouncing with glee.

“Wait, what?” Moon said in confusion only for her head to throb painfully. She instinctively reached up with a hoof only to feel something that most certainly hadn’t been there previously.

Her eyes widened as realisation dawned on her. “This is a fucking dream, please tell me this is a fucking dream,” she practically screamed.

Starlight held up a sign.

Congratulations, you’re grounded for the rest of the school year for disobeying me, taking drugs and ultimately becoming the Princess of Werewolves.

Moon’s jaw dropped.

“Oh, stop being so melodramatic; our daughter’s an alicorn!!!” Nightmare Moon squealed. “And the Princess of Werewolves to boot!”

Moon’s eye began to twitch. Shit, fucking shit.

*

Scootaloo awoke to a very loud scream and winced as pain flooded her body.

“I DON’T WANT TO BE AN ALICORN!” she heard Moon wail somewhere to her right as she sluggishly regained her bearings.

And then it hit her.

“SWEETIE!” she screeched trying to force herself up in the bed she was in only to find that she was strapped to said bed.

“She’s fine dear. Might have a bit of a headache when she wakes but she’ll be fine. The school and you on the other hoof have seen better nights,” Rarity’s voice cooed from somewhere Scootaloo couldn’t pinpoint as she was strapped onto the bed so that she was lying on her stomach.

“I tried, I really did,” Scootaloo sniffled as tears came to her eyes.

“Now, now, there is no need for waterworks dear. I know you did all you could. This is all that mare Tree Hugger’s fault and trust me, we’ve already had words. She’ll be paying the school back for a long time after this debacle. I barely kept Sweetie from burning down half the school,” Rarity cooed.

“B-but…” Scootaloo began.

“No buts. You can’t always be there to look out for my sister and those that should have in your stead did not. I don’t blame Screwball as the poor mite is totally insane but Tree Hugger’s lack of care and due diligence has been a serious issue for the school for a while. Hopefully tonight’s debacle will help her realise she can’t just keep giving drugs to anypony she feels like.”

“Yeah, I know you’re right but it still feels like I failed her,” Scootaloo groaned.

“Your back tells me otherwise,” Rarity replied.

“Huh?”

“You literally put your own health and safety on the line for my sister’s. How could I ask any more from you?” Rarity said, her voice getting ever closer to Scootaloo’s ear. “It puts me at ease knowing she’s got friends like you looking out for her no matter what, thank you,” she whispered into Scootaloo’s ear before the sound of trotting got steadily further and further away. “Ah, Zecora, perfect timing, she’s all yours. Get well soon dear.”

And with that Rarity departed as Zecora trotted over to Scootaloo’s side.

“I am glad to see you awake, although I am afraid to say this will cause you more than a small ache,” the zebra rhymed as Scootaloo watched her uncork a bottle of some foul-smelling liquid.

*

“MOTHER OF CELESTIA THAT STINGS!”

Apple Bloom awoke with a jerk at the sound of Scootaloo’s voice.

“Huh, where am I? The last thing I remember was…oh cow dung,” the earth pony cursed licking the unmistakeable coppery taste of blood from her lips.

“Yeah, thanks a lot, although I think you bit your classmate. It was her who took a chunk out of my ear although you didn’t exactly help matters,” Lightning grumbled from the edge of the bed pointing at the mulberry lump that was stirring next to Apple Bloom.

“Woah, what happened?” Ruby said with a yawn next to Apple Bloom only to immediately catch sight of Lightning Dust. “Oh no, please tell me that wasn’t me,” she groaned. “I thought the rumours were just misinformation to try and stop us from trying drugs. If I’d known, I never would have let Apple Bloom or myself have a puff,” she admitted guiltily.

“Well, now you know they’re not and seeing as you two did beat me up pretty bad, nearly blinded me in one eye and turned me into a werewolf, Nightmare Moon has left it to me to punish the two of you, although I can see one of you is more to blame than the other,” Lightning explained.

“Hold it. She didn’t force me to take anything. I knew the risks of taking drugs and should have been sensible enough to say no but I was curious and…” Apple Bloom never got any further as Ruby stuffed a hoof into her mouth.

“Don’t listen to her. I pushed her into having a puff of poison joke. It was me, all…OW, you bit me,” Ruby grumbled pulling her hoof from Apple Bloom’s mouth.

“No, she didn’t; we are both equally to blame,” Apple Bloom blurted glowering at Ruby. “Punish us equally,” she demanded.

Ruby let out a low, ominous growl. “No, we’re…”

“ENOUGH!” Lightning interrupted before letting a smirk cross her face. “Have you two learnt your lesson and promise not to take any more drugs until you are at least sixteen?”

Both fillies turned and nodded.

“Well, aside alcohol,” Ruby admitted.

“Good enough. Then you can help me with the accounts after our belated baking competition,” Lightning said pointing at Apple Bloom before turning to Ruby. “As for you, a bottle of your mother’s finest whisky.”

Ruby grimaced; her mother was not going to like that but in truth she was still getting of rather lightly. “Fine, I’ll get it sorted for you as soon as I’m out of here, wherever here is?”

“The infirmary,” Lightning deadpanned. “Luna or Nightmare Moon, I forget which form she was in at that point, brought you in after Limestone kicked Apple Bloom through Luna’s office door.”

“Huh, that explains the shards of wood in my mane,” Apple Bloom replied nonchalantly pulling one such shard out of her mane as she did so. “Wait, oh no, oh no, oh no,” Apple Bloom repeated turning to Ruby with a look of horror across her face.

“What?” Ruby asked anxiously.

“I bit Moon,” Apple Bloom deadpanned.

*

“WHAT!”

Sweetie awoke to the sound of Ruby screaming the place down and immediately tried to bury her head in her hooves as even the dim torch light of the infirmary stung her eyes.

“Oh no you don’t, you’re coming with me to give Scootaloo an apology and to see the consequences of your actions. Then, young Miss, you’re going to help tidy up the mess you’ve caused after which you’re going to be in detention with me after classes for the rest of the term,” Sweetie heard her sister scold, pulling her from the bed she was laying on with her magic as she did so. “No more nice older sister.”

Sweetie let out a pitiful wail and attempted to set herself on fire in retaliation only to find she couldn’t.

“Seeing as you cannot be trusted, I’ve also taken the liberty of placing a magical inhibitor on your horn that shall stay in place until you can once again earn my trust,” Rarity said firmly as she pushed the curtain back and trotted out into the centre of the infirmary.

With her magic restricted, all Sweetie could do was howl silently and make the journey as difficult for her sister as she could by having the biggest tantrum imaginable. It was extremely childish of her and made little difference except for making her feel a little better that Rarity wouldn’t get everything her own way. And then, suddenly, she was free!

“What in Equestria?” Rarity exclaimed from where she now resided on the infirmary floor.

“Oops, sorry,” Ruby apologised. “I was trying to get to Moon,” she explained, pulling herself off Rarity. “MOON MOON, where are you?” she called as Rarity rose to her hooves.

Rarity was about to scold the filly for not looking where she was going only for Apple Bloom to pull her concentration elsewhere.

“Er, little help,” the earth pony werewolf interjected as she tried desperately to keep Sweetie from wrestling out of her hooves.

“Thank Luna,” Rarity sighed ensnaring Sweetie in her magic once more.

Sweetie pouted and stuck out her tongue at Apple Bloom for preventing her escape.

“No problem. Ruby, you can’t just go running off in an…erm, why are you bowing? Holy alicorn!” Apple Bloom exclaimed following the direction Ruby was looking in with her own eyes. “Moon, is that you?”

“Yes, yes it is, thank you very much. Three,” Moon replied flatly.

“Look, I’m sorry. How was I to know…” Apple Bloom tried to explain.

“Two,” Moon interrupted, her horn starting to spark.

“Oh, horse apples,” Apple Bloom cursed, deciding to walk towards the clearly pissed off newly ascended alicorn rather than away from her like any sensible being would do.

“One,” Moon growled only to be completely taken by surprise as Apple Bloom threw her hooves around her neck.

“I’m sorry. I know you’re angry with me and you’ve every right to be. I knew it was wrong but did so anyway and I know there’s nothing I can do to make it up to you but…”

“Dance,” Moon instructed.

“What?” Apple Bloom replied slowly releasing Moon and giving the alicorn a confused look.

“Dance,” Moon repeated, a smirk appearing across her lips as her horn ignited.

And to Apple Bloom’s shock and horror she released Moon and started to do exactly that.

Moon’s smirk grew wider. “Ruby, cheer me up and join her in doing a tango.”

“What, no…” Ruby got no further as her hooves sent her crashing into Apple Bloom.

Rarity and Sweetie watched on in astonishment alongside Lightning, who’d finally made an appearance, as the two performed a perfect rendition of a tango for several minutes until a stern voice behind Moon sent a chill up her spine.

“That’s enough of a demonstration, Moon. Release them now.”

Moon shuddered. “Yes, mum,” she said glumly, “after they kiss,” she added wickedly.

“WHAT!” both Ruby and Apple Bloom said in unison. “I’m not doing that, that’s gross. Hey, stop getting closer to me. Don’t you think I’m trying? Stop saying what I’m saying.” And then their muzzles locked onto one another’s. Only then did Moon finally release them from her magic.

Both fillies turned and retched.

“Ew, ew, ew,” Apple Bloom finally groused still trying to wipe her mouth of the taste. “That was disgusting.”

“You’re telling me,” Ruby replied. “Moon, what gives?”

Moon pointed at Ruby. “That’s for encouraging her to take poison joke.” Then she pointed at Apple Bloom. “That’s for biting my flank.”

Ruby looked at Apple Bloom and sniggered, “You bit her where?”

Apple Bloom was attempting to hide her now bright red face in her hooves. “I was hoping you wouldn’t bring that up,” she muttered as Moon showed of her left cutie mark, or, rather, where her left cutie mark should have been. Instead, there was a pile of red soaked bandages.

“Damn it, how deep did you bite me Bloom?” Moon groused.

“Moon and Apple Bloom sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g,” Ruby began to tease only for Moon to interrupt her.

“Great, it’s true. Why did I have to get stuck with the idiots?” Moon grumbled turning to her mother. “Congratulations Moon, you’re the proud Princess of a race of imbecilic, brain-dead canines, that absolutely stink.” She sniffed herself and reeled her head back. “Blegh, seriously, how do you cope with the smell?” she finished her rant turning her head back in the direction of Apple Bloom and Ruby.

“That’s honestly something I’ve been wondering too,” Lightning suggested giving herself a sniff that received an almost identical reaction to Moon’s.

“Alcohol helps,” Ruby answered flatly.

“Don’t ask. I didn’t want to get out of the swimming pool today,” Apple Bloom replied. “And wait a minute, I’m a little confused. Are you telling us you’re some kind of Princess of Werewolves?”

Ruby doubled over with laughter at the mere suggestion. “That’s the most absurd thing…” she managed to wheeze before Moon cut her off.

“Yes, yes I am,” Moon deadpanned.

Ruby immediately stopped laughing, her eyes going wide. Lightning’s and Apple Bloom’s had done likewise.

“So, which one of you bit the bird-brain?” Moon went on.

“Hey, I resent being called…” Lightning began only for her mouth to be clamped shut by Moon’s magic.

“Sigh, I’m sorry, this has just been a really, really, long night or is it morning now, I really don’t know at this point. My mind is all over the place right now. I mean, yes, maybe someday I would have liked to follow in my mother’s hoof steps and become an alicorn but not this young and certainly not after getting my arse chomped on by a werewolf high on poison joke. I mean, how can I tell ponies that when they inevitably ask me for my ascension story?” Moon admitted slumping down on to her rump, only to wince from the pain and instantly rise back to her hooves. “Oh right. You know what, buck it, let’s go raid the kitchens for every last ounce of ice cream then retire back to the dorm to mope, moan about why being a werewolf sucks, devour said ice cream and howl ridiculously loudly until we fall asleep.”

“Sounds good to me,” Apple Bloom replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

“Now hold on…” Nightmare Moon tried to interject only to be immediately outspoken.

“Throw in some alcohol and we’ve got a deal,” Lightning deliberated.

“Miss Dust, you’re not...” Nightmare Moon tried again, only to fail again.

“Awesome! All hail the Princess of Werewolves!” Ruby hollered. “I’ll provide the booze!”

“STOP!” Nightmare Moon yelled at the top of her lungs with the Canterlot voice only to find the werewolves, along with Sweetie, were gone. Only a flabbergasted Rarity remained in the infirmary. “What just happened?” she muttered to herself only for a hoof to tap her rump.

Starlight stood behind her holding a sign.

It seems our darling daughter has reached the terrible teens three years early.

Author's Notes:

And that ends this little segment. Hopefully now things can calm down a bit. What am I saying, this is the CMC we're talking about.

Love Hurts

Apple Bloom yawned as she slowly opened her eyes to a set of extremely pointy white teeth. To her enormous credit, she somehow didn’t scream the place down and jump to the ceiling.

Gradually her vision cleared and she recognised Sweetie’s face looming over her, a beaming, if somewhat unnerving, smile, plastered across her muzzle.

Oh right, now she remembered. Shortly after acquiring a ridiculous amount of ice cream and returning to their dorm, Sweetie had tried to force her to bite her by shoving a hoof in her muzzle. Apple Bloom had managed to resist the temptation much to Sweetie’s frustration and the pouting filly had been pulled away by Moon to be given a lecture on how becoming a werewolf was more of a curse than a blessing but the filly was not to be put off, or rather, Lightning had snuck up behind Sweetie and bitten one of her hind legs to, quote, “piss off Miss High and Mighty”, aka Rarity. Lightning may have somehow already had several bottles of vodka by this point and also used Moon’s words against her, apologising for her actions but then stating she was a “bird-brain” after all.

Moon had reacted to this by guzzling down way more ice cream than was healthy whilst cackling like a loon and mumbling that she was, “Surrounded by idiot minions who would accidentally bring about the end of Equestria through their incompetence.” There may have also been a few tears involved before she’d fallen into an ice cream induced coma with Ruby trying to comfort her.

Meanwhile, Lightning and the rest of the Crazy Mark Crusaders who were present, all aside Scootaloo, had spent the time discussing the advantages and disadvantages to being a werewolf, seen who could howl the loudest (To everypony’s surprise it had been Sweetie), eaten tons of ice cream and drunk litres upon litres of alcohol (in Lightning’s case. Apple Bloom had refused to let herself or either Sweetie or Screwball have a drop), had a pillow fight that turned into a wrestling match, bemoaned the life of a werewolf once more, then finally snuggled up with Ruby and Moon after one final group howl and fallen asleep.

“Eugh, what time is it?” Apple Bloom groaned pushing a still snoring Lighting’s leg off of her as she rose to her hooves.

Sweetie shrugged, not having any idea what the time was and pointed up at a clock Rarity had hung up for them on the still graffiti-stained walls. 15:35 Apple Bloom swiftly realised, plenty of time until breakfast. As if to remind her she’d had nothing but Moon’s flank and ice cream since lunch last night, her stomach grumbled ravenously.

“Yeah, yeah, I know you’re hungry but you’ll just have to wait a little while longer,” she told her stomach only for it to grumble once more. Ignoring it, Apple Bloom turned to address Sweetie. “I’m going for a shower whilst everyone else is asleep; try not to set anything on fire whilst I’m gone.”

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes as Sweetie simply gave her a toothy grin in reply and headed for the bathroom.

*

Apple Bloom pushed open the door to the bathroom twenty minutes later fully refreshed from her shower and ready to start another school night. She didn’t even bat an eyelid at what greeted her back in the dormitory. An incensed Rarity was trying desperately to free herself from Ruby’s and Moon’s combined magical power and get her hooves on a laughing Lightning whilst Sweetie and Screwball stood to one side sharing a bag of popcorn.

“I’LL SKIN YOU ALIVE AND TURN YOU INTO A DRESS FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE!” Rarity roared from where she floated in the centre of the dormitory.

“Ahh, diddums, does Miss Prim and Proper not like the improvement I made to her sister?” Lightning mocked not fazed in the slightest by the unicorn’s anger. “She wanted to be a werewolf; so, I granted her that wish,” she teased with a toothy smile bringing her face right up to the orb of magic that imprisoned Rarity.

“LET ME AT HER! LET ME AT HER!” Rarity roared once more, slamming her hooves against the orb. “AS YOUR TEACHER, I ORDER YOU TO LET ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!”

“Yeah, no. Sorry Miss Belle but I can’t have you harming one of my subjects no matter how much of a bird brain they might be,” Moon deadpanned.

“Yeah, you heard the Princess. Anyway, thanks for the awesome party girls but I gotta shoot and get ready for classes. See you in the hall for dodgeball later and I’m glad you’ve no regrets being a werewolf, Sweetie,” Lightning said smugly, trotting to the door as she did so. Once there, she paused for a moment, turned, and then blew a kiss in Rarity’s direction that only angered the unicorn even more. “Call me,” she taunted the restrained unicorn one final time before departing the dorm.

Several extremely awkward minutes passed until Moon let out a sigh and spoke. “Okay, we’re going to let you free if you promise not to go chasing after Lightning. Understood?”

Rarity, who in the past few minutes had gone from pounding desperately on her magical prison to sitting down and sulking, turned and gave Moon a look that if it could, would have killed the newly ascended alicorn.

“Are you sure that’s wise?” Apple Bloom enquired.

“Not at all but what other choice do we have? We can’t keep her in their forever,” Moon explained.

“Fair point,” Apple Bloom replied as Moon turned back to Rarity who still had her unwavering eyes locked upon her.

“So, do you promise not to hurt Lightning or any of us for that matter if we let you go?” Moon asked hopefully.

“No,” Rarity replied flatly.

“Pretty please,” Moon tried again.

“No,” Rarity replied flatly once more.

Moon gave the fashionista her best puppy dog eye expression.

“No,” was Rarity’s reply for the third time.

This time tears crept into Moon’s vision.

“That still won’t work with…” Rarity commenced.

“MUM!” Moon interrupted at the top of her lungs, “Rarity’s being mean to me!”

“You little minx,” Rarity said with another scowl as in an instant a puff of navy-blue smoke had appeared and then reformed into Nightmare Moon.

“Is something…” Nightmare started before catching sight of Sweetie’s new look. “Sweet Luna, not another one,” she exclaimed before noticing Rarity in the magical bubble. “Let me guess, one of you had a few to many drinks and bit Sweetie?” she said with a resigned sigh whilst popping the bubble and sending Rarity tumbling onto the cushions that adorned the floor.

“Not exactly.” It was Apple Bloom who had stepped forward to explain the situation. “You see, Sweetie was afraid of being left out because she wasn’t a werewolf so tried to get me to bite her. I refused and Moon and I took her aside to talk her out of it, explaining how being a werewolf wasn’t a choice to make lightly and that she needed to take her time to think about it along with trying to reassure her that no matter what choice she made, she would still be our friend. Well, that’s what we would have said if Lightning hadn’t downed two bottles of vodka and decided… oh,” Apple Bloom paused unsure how to phrase that final part as a few vital pieces of information clicked together in her brain.

“What?” Nightmare enquired nonchalantly as Rarity’s stern gaze rested on Apple Bloom.

“I don’t think the alcohol played any part in Miss Dust’s decision,” Apple Bloom admitted.

“And what makes you say that?” Nightmare replied equally as nonchalantly.

“The fact she told us so,” Apple Bloom deadpanned in reply.

“Then what, may I ask, were her reasons for doing so?” Nightmare pressed.

“Rarity,” Apple Bloom said pointing a hoof in said unicorn’s direction only to find she was gone. “Uh oh, that can’t be good.”

“I think I get the picture but can you please clarify for me,” Nightmare sighed.

“She apologised for biting Sweetie and admitted she’d only done so to get back at her sister for knocking her back…” Apple Bloom explained, “…two-hundred and seventeen times over the past four years.”

Nightmare Moon closed her eyes and shook her head. She knew Lightning had a crush on Rarity as the latter had made several complaints about the former’s unwanted attentions that had led to several verbal warnings being issued to the Pegasus about her conduct although a lack of evidence had prevented Nightmare from being able to take things any further. This though, was too far. She needed to find Lightning before Rarity did.

And that was, of course, when Lightning’s head came flying through the door.

“Fuck me she’s pissed,” the Pegasus groaned from where her head now protruded through the door. “And not the good kind,” she added before the door swung open violently.

Nightmare grimaced as the Pegasus cum werewolf’s head met solid stone wall.

Rarity stepped in spinning a ball with her magic on a forehoof. “Anypony seen Miss Dust?” she queried, ignoring said pony’s rump that was sticking out the back of the door. “Seeing as she said she would be teaching dodgeball today I thought I’d give her a few pointers, as I am a keen player myself. For some reason though she didn’t seem that pleased to see me and ran off,” the unicorn clarified.

“So, you have no idea how she became wedged in the fillies’ dormitory door?” Nightmare deadpanned looking less than pleased.

“Oh, so there you are. Come along, let’s head to the hall so I can demonstrate to you the optimal technique to maximise both the speed and accuracy of your shot.” Rarity said casually as she dropped the ball momentarily and focused her magic on forcing Lightning from the door. The Pegasus was out for the count and couldn’t resist even if she most certainly would have wanted to.

“Rarity, you know I can’t let you beat her senseless with a dodgeball no matter how much you want to,” Nightmare sighed.

Rarity paused in the doorway. “Well, are you going to fire her for turning my sister into a werewolf?” she inquired, turning her head back to look at the Princess of the Night.

Nightmare Moon could literally see the fire burning behind the incensed mare’s eyes. She looked away momentarily and across at Sweetie, who was now munching on a bag of something called Maltesers alongside her friends. “Sweetie, did you want to become a werewolf and are you happy being one?”

The filly immediately nodded her head rapidly in reply. Nightmare turned back to Rarity. “My hooves are tied. It quite clearly states in the school rules that a werewolf must not bite other students or staff that do not wish to become werewolves or will be severely reprimanded, up to expulsion from the school. She’s happy being a werewolf so, as stated previously, my hooves are tied. But I’m guessing you already knew that.”

Rarity’s eyes became like daggers. “Well then, I guess my hooves are also tied. I’m technically doing nothing wrong. You know very well from my time at the school of my skill in the art of dodgeball. I’m only being a good pony passing what I know onto Miss Dust, even if she may not remember most of it.”

Nightmare shuddered remembering Rarity’s time at the school. The mare had hated Physical Education with a passion, arguing that it was uncouth for a lady to participate in such primitive activities and had tried to get out of the lesson whenever she could in her first year. Then, one night, Mr. Waddle, the old P.E. teacher, had decided to teach them dodgeball. Rarity had, as per the norm, tried everything to avoid participating only for an earth pony named Bon Bon to finally have enough of her whining and fire a ball with all her earth pony strength straight into Rarity’s face. Rarity had come away with a black eye, most her classmates on the other hoof had spent several nights in the infirmary and Mr. Waddle had finally had enough and retired to Las Pegasus on the spot. Still, Nightmare’s alter ego Luna had managed to twist the whole situation in her favour, incorporating dodgeball into the annual Royal School Games between her school and Celestia’s. Her sister had laughed when only a pint sized first year had stepped onto the court to take on her team of six foals. Less than a minute later her jaw had practically hit the floor and the price of her cakes had doubled for the next year. It was supposed to be a best of three contest; none of Celestia’s team had got up after the first game. The feat had then been repeated the following five years although most the time the foals on Celestia’s team took themselves out to save themselves significant injuries from the “Alabaster Assassin” as Rarity had been dubbed.

“Miss Belle, as your boss I’m ordering you to stop. Miss Dust clearly needs medical attention,” Nightmare ordered only for Lightning to reply from where she was now draped across Rarity’s back.

“I’m fine,” the mare grunted. “Just a bloody muzzle, that’s all. I’ve had crashes way worse. Miss Frou Frou here throws like a ten-year-old filly,” Lightning goaded before dropping the bait. “If you’re that desperate to get rid of me how about a little wager? Three on three dodgeball, best of three games. I’ll take the Apple one and Berry’s filly, you take your sister and the insane one. The alicorns can be the judges to ensure no pony cheats. If you win, I’ll step down from my post at the school immediately.”

“And in the unlikely event you win?” Rarity sneered, already knowing the answer.

“You have to finally go on a date with me,” Lightning replied smugly.

“Seriously? You will never give up, will you? Even in spite of however many times I tell you I’m not interested,” Rarity grumbled.

“We got a deal or not?” Lightning replied sharply, before she was unceremoniously dumped onto the floor.

“See you in the gymnasium in fifteen. Sweetie, Screwball, with me please. We’ve a gameplan to devise.” And without waiting for a response Rarity left, swiftly followed by her sister who pulled a floating Screwball along with her.

“Erm, what just happened?” Apple Bloom queried after Rarity and two of her friends had disappeared.

“I think we just got sucked into a lover’s tiff,” Ruby replied. “You even played dodgeball before?”

“As mah brother would say, 'Nnnnnope',” Apple Bloom replied.

“Great. Well, I guess I’ve fifteen minutes to teach you the basics. C’mon, I’ll tell you on the way,” Ruby sighed as she got to her hooves.

*

“Okay,” Nightmare reluctantly said looking across at the two teams.

Behind her, a large crowd of students had gathered. How they had heard about the bet she didn’t know but it didn’t surprise her in the least. All it takes is one pony to leak the news and it spreads like wildfire. Some were even taking bets on how long Lightning would survive. So far, she hadn’t heard anything longer than fifteen seconds. Nightmare felt that was being generous.

“You each see three balls in the centre of the court. Your task is to get to that ball before your opponent and then throw it at them to knock them out. Magic may be used to enhance your attack but cannot be used for defence otherwise you will be eliminated. You can either dodge the ball, block it with another ball or catch it. If you do miraculously catch it the opposing player is eliminated instead. Finally, you may not leave the court otherwise you are out of the game. Any balls that go out of bounds shall be returned by Moon to the point they exited the court. The winning team is the one that eliminates all the opposition players first, understood? Good,” Nightmare finished not waiting for a response. “Then go.”

Things went bad from the start for Team Dust. Apple Bloom easily outstripped Sweetie for pace and then, not knowing her own strength and with adrenaline pumping through her veins, she sent the unicorn flying into a wall with the ball she’d claimed. Staring slack jawed at what she’d unwittingly done, a furious Rarity had practically taken her jaw off with the ball she’d nabbed just ahead of Lightning. Ruby didn’t fare much better, ending up under a pile of balls delivered by a gigging Screwball despite the crazy filly having only initially grabbed the one. Lightning, trying to seize her chance, dove for the massive pile of balls and grabbed one before throwing with all her might at Rarity. The unicorn didn’t even flinch as she stood on her hind hooves and plucked the ball out of the air with ease with her forehooves. The game hadn’t even lasted fifteen seconds.

Lightning stared in disbelief at what the unicorn had done. “Oh c’mon; that’s just ridiculous.”

“Game. Team Belle, prepare for game two,” Nightmare Moon replied uninterested in the Pegasus’s complaint.

Lightning muttered to herself as she got back into position for round two. Apple Bloom meanwhile was trying to help Sweetie back to her hooves but Zecora, who somepony had been smart enough to wake, shook her head.

“I’m afraid that I must insist that you do not persist. You gambled and now her brains are scrambled.”

Apple Bloom looked at the zebra and scratched her head.

“Your thrust has left her concussed,” the zebra tried to explain for a second time.

“Hello little firefly, come to say hello, have we?” Sweetie giggled as if to emphasise a point looking at nothing in particular of interest before her head slumped and she continued to giggle.

“Miss Bloom, back to your position please,” Nightmare Moon bellowed.

Apple Bloom took one final look at Sweetie as Zecora set to work, then raced back to the court where she found Moon had been pushed into service in place of Sweetie.

“And it looks like we’ve a substitution for game two, Moon Moon replaces the concussed Sweetie Belle,” Nightmare explained before counting down. “3…2…1, go.”

Although Moon did not suffer as bad a fate as Sweetie now that Apple Bloom had realised her own strength, the alicorn simply couldn’t match the earth pony’s fitness levels and her attempt at dodging was worse than embarrassing as she slipped and went barrelling into Rarity as the shot from Apple Bloom clipped one of her forelegs.

“Moon Moon, eliminated,” Nightmare yelled.

As fate would have it, Moon’s slip caused a ripple effect that totally changed the course of game two. Rarity, who a moment ago had been about to dispatch Lightning, dropped the ball she was holding, whilst a diving Ruby managed to beat Screwball to their ball, knocking it straight into the path of Lightning who showed Rarity no mercy.

“Rarity, to my great surprise, eliminated,” Nightmare yelled for a second time before swiftly adding, “Again with the pile of balls trick Screwball? Ruby, eliminated.”

Unfortunately for Screwball, the balls she’d piled atop Ruby had proceeded to roll everywhere, one of which landed straight at the hooves of Apple Bloom, who, like Lightning, showed the opposition no mercy.

“Well, there’s a turn up for the books. Game, Team Dust,” Nightmare announced with genuine surprise.

Murmurs immediately started up behind Nightmare amongst the audience of students as the players returned to their positions for the deciding game only for Rarity to make a bold announcement.

“Thanks for the support fillies but I’ll take it from here. You take a break,” she told Moon and Screwball.

Moon wanted to argue but remembering her disastrous first game thought better of it, Screwball just shrugged her shoulders and wandered off to the side humming a little tune that was stuck in her head.

“Uh oh,” Nightmare gulped seeing the look that had crossed Rarity’s eyes.

“Wow Rarity, I didn’t realise you’d changed your mind and want to finally go on that date?” Lightning chuckled, “Or have your teammates just had enough of your obnoxious attitude already?”

“I work better alone,” Rarity deadpanned in reply.

“Suit yourself,” Lightning replied as she returned to her starting position alongside Apple Bloom and Ruby.

Nightmare thought for a moment about warning Lightning and then thought it was best for her to learn from first hoof experience. “Everypony in position? Excellent, 3…2…1, go!”

Rarity didn’t even make an attempt to go for the balls.

“Wow, this is almost too easy,” Lightning mocked. “Altogether girls on three. 1, 2, 3” Lightning roared.

Rarity didn’t even flinch as the three dodgeballs hurtled simultaneously through the air towards her before she plucked Apple Bloom’s out of the air, blocked Lightning’s with the ball she was holding and then did similar with Ruby’s, except she sent the filly’s ball high into the air as she did so. Calmly she placed the ball she was holding on the floor and then, as Ruby’s ball fell from the heavens, plucked it out of the air.

“Oh fuck,” Lightning gulped as the ball was returned with interest.

*

“You can’t be serious!” Rarity exclaimed. “She went out of bounds!” the unicorn argued.

“Did she not catch the ball first?” Nightmare replied in an uninterested tone.

“Yes but…” Rarity attempted to argue her case only to be cut off by Nightmare.

“And am I not the judge?”

“Yes but…”

“Then my decision is that Miss Dust caught the ball before going out of bounds. Therefore, Miss Belle was eliminated first and as such Team Dust wins,” Nightmare said before leaning over and whispering wickedly into Rarity’s ear, “Enjoy your date.”

Rarity’s right eye twitched. In that instant two things became clear in her mind. Firstly, she knew for a fact that Nightmare knew she was right, that the fact that her shot had sent Lightning cartwheeling head over hooves out of play made the other mare’s somehow successful catch redundant. Secondly, Nightmare didn’t care and wanted to see Rarity suffer for her own amusement because, after all, she was a villain.

Rarity slumped onto her rump in defeat as a hoof settled on her back. Turning her head to see who it was she was startled to find a pair of lips locking onto her own!

Swiftly thrusting her hooves out, she pushed herself away from whoever had the audacity to invade her personal space in such a way.

“Nailed, it,” Lightning chuckled as Rarity desperately tried to get the awful taste of the Pegasus from her lips. “So, when’s the date?” she proceeded to ask before one of the dodgeballs slammed into the side of her face. “Still totally worth it,” she groaned from where she now resided on the floor as Rarity attempted to leave only to be stopped by Nightmare.

“I believe after dinner today will suit the both of you. I’ll arrange everything and collect you both from Rarity’s classroom when ready.”

Rarity wanted to continue arguing but knew it was futile. “Eugh, fine,” she conceded with a harrumph of dissatisfaction. “Can I go now? I need to have a chat with my sister, shower and then prepare myself for tonight’s lessons."

“Of course,” Nightmare replied, moving to one side to let the unicorn through.

“See you later Prissy Pants,” Lightning called after Rarity before swiftly ducking as another dodgeball hurtled her way. “Hah, nice try, can’t catch the infamous Lightning Dust out twice!” she claimed only for a mountain of dodgeballs to fall atop her.

Off to one side, Screwball whistled innocently as Ruby turned to Apple Bloom.

“Five bits says those two end up together by the end of the year.”

Mr. Gleamy

In the end Physical Education was cancelled due to Miss Dust being confined to the infirmary by Madam Zecora alongside Sweetie and Scootaloo. Instead, with the storm having finally abated, the first-years were led by Mrs. Punch out of the back of the school right to the edge of the forest for an extended Chemistry lesson. Here, hidden away amongst the dense foliage of the Everfree Forest, a ginormous greenhouse that contained a vineyard with its own microclimate stood. Magic infused lamps that replicated Celestia’s sun blazed down from the ceiling upon the grapes that were awaiting harvest whilst in one corner there were several Pegasi pushing around rain clouds to ensure that the vines were properly hydrated. After being divided into pairs, over the next three hours the first years picked, inspected, and then sorted thousands of grapes into either the bin for pig slop or the baskets for what was destined to become ambrosia. By the end of the extended lesson, even Apple Bloom was starting to feel the strain of a hard evening's work as the reduced group of four friends trudged off a water fountain for rest and refreshment before they had to report for their Art class.

“I still can’t believe you two beat us!” Apple Bloom griped waiting for the last of her friends to finish having a drink.

“Seriously Bloom? Both of us may be the most experienced farm ponies in our year but even we can’t compete against chaos magic and a freaking alicorn,” Ruby replied flatly.

“Fair point,” Bloom concurred reluctantly.

“Still, did you have to turn the grapes every colour of the rainbow Screwball?” Ruby continued, turning her head in the direction of the aforementioned filly. Upon seeing the smile that adorned Screwball’s face along with the swirling pools of madness that were her eyes, Ruby wisely decided to answer her own line of enquiry. “Right, daughter of chaos. I suppose I should look on the bright side; mum’s happy enough with them and thinks she might be able to craft a rainbow-coloured wine that she can sell for an astronomical number of bits. Also, between the whole class we broke the record for the most grapes picked in a single session.”

Screwball giggled in response before adding, “You’re welcome!”

“Just be glad you didn’t have to sort through them all,” Moon chipped in finishing at the water fountain. “I can tell you now, that was not fun.”

“That’s something we can both agree on,” Ruby concurred. “I could barely keep up with Bloom; she was bucking vines so swiftly. I’ve never seen grapes collected in such a way before. Usually, the unicorns pick them in bunches with their magic or Pegasi gently with their wings and then the earth ponies use their magic to examine and separate the good from the bad.”

“Pfft, those trees were weak. I can barely get one or two apples of our trees back on the farm. Just be grateful my sister or brother aren’t here. They would have likely sent them flying out the ground!” Apple Bloom exclaimed.

"Hold up," Moon interjected. "Did you just say the grapes are usually picked in bunches?"

"Yes," Ruby replied momentarily turning to face Moon before anticipating her next question. "But if even one grape is bad in a bunch it could spoil the taste of the wine, thus why my mum insists every grape is inspected individually."

"Huh, fair enough, although I do still think it's unfair we had to pick them," Moon grumbled.

"Do you know how to make wine?" Ruby retorted.

"No," Moon replied.

"Then there's your answer and chin up, it usually takes week if not a full month to clear the vineyard totally but if we work at today's pace we could probably have it done after one maybe two more lessons!"

"Swell," Moon grumbled under her breath.

Ruby ignored her and turned back to Apple Bloom. "Now, where was I. Ah yes. Those vines, or trees as you referred to them as, might be weak but they are also extremely valuable,” Ruby stated, unable to continue her explanation as Apple Bloom cut her off.

“I don’t doubt it. It’s the same with our apple trees. Each and every seed was hoof-picked from the best apples of the best trees and then planted and nurtured until it came to maturity and bore only the finest apples in the entirety of Equestria. Many have tried to replicate our success but no pony aside an Apple have ever managed to grow apples even half as delicious as those at Sweet Apple Acres. That was one of the first lessons Applejack taught me. Respect the trees that give you food and they shall in turn reward you. It’s why I tried to be extra careful when bucking your weakling trees, sorry vines," Apple Bloom mocked resulting in a playful tongue being stuck out at her by Ruby, "as I’m guessing the same applies.”

“Precisely. It’s partly why my mum’s wines are so sought after, because she only uses the best individually picked grapes that are nurtured to perfection giving the wine the perfect flavour. It’s also why the grapes are usually hoof, wing or magically picked, to prevent them or the vine from being damaged. You nearly gave me a heart attack when I saw you buck that first vine! I only just managed to get the baskets in the correct positions in time,” Ruby admitted.

“My pleasure,” Apple Bloom replied cheekily. “Sorry I scared ya. I had to test out my theory before you could stop me. I was just as afraid I was going to break a leg or worse, your scrawny roots.”

That last remark earned her a grape to the head from Ruby. "You ever refer to my family's vines as scrawny roots again..."

"And what?" Apple Bloom interrupted with a devilish smirk edging ever closer to her pack mate. Before she could leap at Ruby though Moon's commanding voice echoed through the hallway.

"SIT."

Apple Bloom's and Ruby's flanks hit the solid stone floor faster than lightning.

"Mooooooon," Ruby whined, "What gives?"

"Don't give me that look, I knew exactly what both of you were thinking. No play fighting in the corridors, I don't need my mother giving me Tartarus for not keeping my new subjects in line."

"But..." Ruby began.

"Do a backflip," Moon commanded.

Apple Bloom winced as Ruby attempted to do a backflip and ended up landing with a sickening crunch on her back on the stone floor knocking all the wind from her body.

"Well? I'm waiting?"

Apple Bloom managed to force her gaze from Ruby to see Moon staring expectantly at her.

"Or would you rather..."

Apple Bloom swiftly turned back to Ruby. "I'm sorry I goaded you, it was not at all kind of me and it is nice to have a similar age pony to talk about farming with."

"Apology accepted and same here," Ruby wheezed from the floor before turning to Moon with a telling look. "Damn Moon that hurt. You owe me for that one."

Moon sighed, "Whatever you want, it'll have to wait. I need to get going and find some place to lay low for the next few periods. No way am I going to be stuck in a classroom with that stuck up, obnoxious and arrogant witch. I just don’t know what my mum sees in her. ‘Oh, look at me, I’m the Elusive and Mysterious Madam Trixie; revel in my averageness and oversized ego.’” Moon mocked before suddenly finding something clamping over her hooves, then her horn and finally, her back and barrel.

“Your mother thought you might play truant from my class; so, she kindly asked me to ensure you did not,” Madam Trixie’s unpleased voice suddenly sounded from behind Moon. “Sounds like it was a good thing she did. Anyhoof, today we shall be continuing your studies on escaping dangerous situations. I was going to demonstrate myself first to give you all a helping hoof but it looks like Moon here has volunteered to meet Mr. Gleamy first instead. Come along girls,” Trixie instructed not waiting for a reply as she levitated Moon, who was now sporting a straitjacket and a magic dampening horn ring along with her hind hooves hobbled.”

The three remaining fillies hastily followed, somewhat intrigued but mostly not wanting to suffer a similar fate as their friend.

*

“ARE YOU INSANE!” Moon screamed from where she currently dangled precariously above a large pool of water in the straitjacket that that was now cocooned in silver chain. “WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?”

“You mean Mr. Gleamy? He does have a name you know and in your current predicament I’d suggest not making him angry by hurting his feelings. In reply to your question, he’s a great white shark. Fluttershy saved him as a nipper after he washed up on an Equestrian beach. Don’t worry; if you fail to escape in time he won’t hurt you, much. I’m sure it won’t take the Princess of Werewolves that long to regenerate a limb. At worst, you’ll be eaten, partially digested and spend a few days in the infirmary recuperating after coming out his rear end but I’m sure someone as skilled as yourself can avoid that situation. Shall we begin the demonstration?”

“When I get out of this, I’m going to ram your horn where the sun doesn’t shine and then, if my mums haven’t intervened by that point, tear you apart piece by piece and make you watch as I do so," Moon threatened, continuing to scream at the top of her lungs.

“Oh, what’s that? You want me to drop you straight in the water? Okay then,” Madam Trixie responded pushing a lever.

“What? Don’t you daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare,” Moon screamed as she began hurtling towards the water.

That was until a ginormous maw rose from it, filled with extremely sharp, gleaming white teeth.

At least she now knew where the shark got its name from before she died, Moon thought to herself as she closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable, only for the inevitable to never arrive. Instead, there was a sudden gust of wind followed by a solid lump hitting her and sending her crashing to the ground but, to her relief, not in the shark-filled pool of water.

“You can open your eyes now; I got you,” Apple Bloom chuckled. “You really think we’d let our princess get eaten by a shark? Not likely,” Apple Bloom scoffed. “Tartarus no, not more silver,” she hissed. “I don’t want another cone of shame. Screwball, any chance of a helping hoof?”

“Tsk, tsk, some princess,” Trixie mocked in reply as Screwball bounced across to help. “Although, I’ll give you one plus for that daring rescue and having loyal subjects at least. Now, who wants to go next or would you like to try one of the other pits I’ve set up over the past hour? The pit of acid perhaps? The pit of snakes maybe? Or how about a pit of spikes or creepy purple gunk with eyes?”

Everypony stepped back.

“Seriously? There is no need to be afraid. I won’t make it quite as hard as Moon’s test; she is an alicorn after all. Wait, what are you doing?” Trixie questioned as she was suddenly lifted off the ground by an invisible force and flung into the shark infested pool of water.

“And you should stop rabbiting on and check to see where exactly said subjects are. Enjoy your bath,” Ruby grumbled, reappearing in a position that had, until moments ago, been just behind Trixie. She wobbled unsteadily for a moment before stabilising herself. “Dang, that invisibility spell really does take a lot out of you. Heaving that fat lump into the pool didn’t help either even with my increased werewolf strength,” she muttered to herself before turning to Moon, ignoring the screams and sounds of frantic splashing that had erupted from the shark pool. “Your highness, would it be okay if I collapse?”

“Erm, sure, go ahead but are you okay Rubes?” Moon said as Screwball finished removing the straitjacket whilst Apple Bloom worked on removing the hobbles.

Ruby had already collapsed to the floor, her energy totally drained from the invisibility spell. Meanwhile, Trixie had managed to drag herself from the pool. Impressively, she had managed to escape Mr. Gleamy’s clutches with no more than a few scratches and a shiny white tooth embedded in her rump. She had a wild look in her eyes and cackled like some kind of madmare who had just escaped an insane asylum.

“You really thought a mere shark could take down the Elusive and Majestic Trixie?” she exclaimed before cackling some more. “Now, no more distractions. Who’s next?”

Once again, the gaggle of students looked at one another nervously as they swiftly took another step back, preparing to bolt if necessary.

“Come on, don’t be shy, I’m sure you’ll do just fine,” Trixie encouraged.

And then Mr. Gleamy leapt out of the pool and devoured Trixie whole.

*

Luna stared at the chaos before her and almost wished she’d remained in her Nightmare form. To her left Fluttershy was consoling a ginormous great white shark that was not only somehow breathing out of water but also crying into her fur. Luna would have been wondering how either of these were possible if it wasn’t for the fact the shark now also sported fur, legs and paws. Meanwhile, to her right, Apple Bloom looked less than pleased sporting a cone of shame whilst Zecora was forcing Ruby to drink something whilst scolding the filly in Zebrican. The zebra must have been extremely displeased with whatever Ruby had done if she was doing that. And then, to top it all off, standing in front of her, were Trixie and Moon. Both looked like they might pounce on the other at any moment.

“Okay, where shall we start? Perhaps with how Mr. Gleamy came to have fur, legs and paws?” Luna sighed as her hoof met her temple. She felt a headache coming along. She knew this particular year of students was going to be a difficult bunch but this was getting ridiculous and Trixie certainly wasn’t helping matters.

“That blasted shark ate me; it should be vaporised,” Trixie spat angrily covered in slime, smelling nearly as bad as the werewolves and desperately needing a shower. “How dare it even attempt to eat me!”

“Attempt is the right word. You tasted so vile he vomited you back up again. Told us he’s had seaweed that tasted better,” Moon retorted with a smirk.

“He said what!” Trixie exclaimed.

“Why else do you think Fluttershy had to empty his tank? He has good taste if you ask me, unlike my other mum,” Moon said, muttering the last bit under her breath.

“What was that?” Trixie growled angrily.

“You heard me, skank.”

“Detention, for a month, for insulting your teacher. I wonder how many times you can write ‘I will not call my teacher names,’ in that time?” Trixie growled.

“Teacher, teacher? Is that what you call yourself. I thought it was attempted filly murderer? In two lessons so far, you’ve tried to drown and blow up my classmates and feed me to a shark because I gave a rather accurate representation of you. Would you like to see it mum?”

Luna wasn’t paying her daughter any attention having turned to face a now nervous looking Trixie.

“You tried to feed my daughter to Mr. Gleamy?” Luna said deliberately slowly, a clear edge to her voice.

“W-w-well, y-y-you see…” Trixie began only to be interrupted by Apple Bloom.

“Yeah, hobbled her hooves together, put a magical dampener on her horn and then restrained her in a straitjacket with silver chains even better than my sister can do with a lasso. Didn’t even give her a chance to get herself free, just sent her freefalling straight into the waiting jaws of Mr. Gleamy. Well, would have, if I hadn’t saved her. How do you think I got these silver burns?”

“Well, that at least answers one of my questions. Thank you, Apple Bloom, for your testimony and diligent actions. I’ll reward you in due course. As for you, Madam Trixie, what do you have to say for yourself in your defence? Wait, where did she go?”

Luna had only turned her head for a second but that was all Trixie had needed. She had, for once, chosen the sensible option and fled rather than face up to a pissed off mentally unstable alicorn whose daughter she’d just tried to feed to a hungry shark, even if said daughter was invulnerable to practically everything aside silver.

Luna sighed. “I’ll deal with her later,” she muttered under her breath turning back to Apple Bloom. “Honest Apple, would you be so kind to fill me in from the beginning please?” she requested politely.

“Of course, your highness. It all began as we took a stop at a water fountain for a drink on our way from helping Berry with the grape harvest in her vineyard,” Apple Bloom began.

“Yes, I heard of that. Berry sent word to me of the excellent work all of you first-years had done for her and was extremely pleased with all of your hard work and effort to help her,” Luna commented. “Sorry, please go on,” she swiftly added.

“Well, anyway, we were just finishing up when Moon announced she wasn’t planning on attending Art,” Apple Bloom admitted.

“I see,” Luna said turning her gaze toward her daughter. “And why might that be?”

“Bloom!” Moon whined.

“Hey, she’s your mother, the headmistress and a princess. Lying to her would be as bad as trying to lie to mah sister and trust me, you do not want to do that unless you want your hide whipped and to be sent to bed with no dinner,” Apple Bloom retorted with a shiver, remembering one such time she had tried to mislead her sister about how a window had been broken when she was five. She hadn’t done that again.

“Your sister sounds like a smart mare Apple Bloom; maybe you can continue filling me in seeing as my own daughter seems reluctant to?” Luna asked politely.

“You know why already!” Moon spat angrily. “And Starlight even sent her to try and ensure I didn’t play hooky. That’s how this mess even happened in the first place. If mum had just kept her nose out of my business, none of this craziness would have happened,” Moon argued.

Luna looked a little confuddled after that statement.

“Let me translate. Moon was insulting and mocking Madam Trixie unaware she had appeared right behind her. Thus, she decided to use Moon as her test subject for our latest lesson in escaping dangerous situations,” Apple Bloom simplified. “Moon did not take this well and may have insulted Trixie some more, specifically to do with shoving her horn where the sun doesn’t shine and making her watch as she ripped her to pieces. Looking back, this was most certainly not a smart thing to do when hanging over a pool of water with a hungry shark in it, especially when the pony who has control over your freedom or demise is the pony you are threatening,” Apple Bloom concluded.

“You think? I’m guessing Trixie proceeded to drop you then to your doom and Apple Bloom intervened?” Luna sought to clarify turning to her daughter.

“Yeah, and then, as Apple Bloom and Screwball saw to helping free me, Ruby used an invisibility spell to sneak up behind Trixie and throw her into Mr. Gleamy’s pool,” Moon answered.

“An invisibility spell? At her age? Well, that explains why she looks like death and is getting a rollicking from Zecora. Such a spell is not only extremely difficult to cast but requires a ridiculous amount of magic to cast. I’m impressed but she could have easily caused herself serious harm by being so reckless. Such powerful magic should not be used lightly, by one so young or for such trivial means as getting back at one’s teacher,” Luna cautioned.

“Huh, I guess that explains why she passed out shortly after performing it,” Moon responded. “Anyway, I’m guessing you are wondering why Apple Bloom bit Mr Gleamy and turned him into a wereshark?”

“That would be nice to know, yes,” Luna replied.

“Well, after Trixie managed to get out of the pool, Mr. Gleamy was less than happy about losing his prey so leapt after and ate her whole only to realise too late that, one, Trixie tasted terrible, and two, he couldn’t breathe out of water. We tried to get him back into his pool but he was just to slippery, so, as Screwball went to fetch a competent teacher, we took the drastic step and decided to bite him in the hope he’d be able to breathe out of water. Miraculously it worked, with some mild side effects and now I have a wereshark at my disposal. He’s actually really friendly once you get to know him and even apologised for trying to eat me, saying he was upset because of the ‘blue one constantly taunting him and teasing him with food’. It’s nice to have somecreature that despises Trixie just as much as I do and I think that just about sums up everything as well, Mum,” Moon finished, “Oh, aside the fact that Mr. Gleamy is also really upset Trixie’s fat arse stole one of his prized teeth.”

Luna’s headache was slowly becoming a migraine. “Class dismissed,” she instructed. “As for you dear daughter, I think there shall be a slight change to tonight’s rearranged baking competition…”

Author's Notes:

Why does Moon hate Trixie?: Moon wrongly blames Trixie for her mothers' relationship failing. Moon was to young to know why her parents broke up but seeing Starlight start to go out with her best friend since school shortly after they did made her think Trixie was the reason and, despite Starlight trying to reason with her, Moon has always resented, despised and played pranks on Trixie since and still believes she was the reason her parents' relationship failed.

Edited 28/06/22

The Great St Trineighans Bake Off

Author's Notes:

WARNING: Although I'm trying to downplay the seriousness of every situation and make it stupid and funny, sometimes this is not always possible as these are a bunch of mentally ill fillies after all. This chapter sadly features some disturbing parts that some readers may not enjoy. Apologies in advance.

Edited alongside previous chapter 28/06/2022

Apple Bloom groaned and slammed her head against the desk. Well, she would have, if not for the cone that once again was her collar.

They had been given an hour to make and bake the best cake possible from a pre-selected set of ingredients they had been provided with. Unfortunately for Apple Bloom, the first five minutes had been wasted trying to get her teammates to cooperate whilst trying to come to terms with using her paws to hold things instead of her mouth. To no real surprise, neither was going well, despite Apple Bloom’s best efforts otherwise.

Grumbling to herself, she lifted her head and tried desperately to reason with her friend once more. “Moon, did you not hear Luna? The group who makes the worst cake has to clean up the entire lab and does not get dinner until they do so!”

“Sorry Bloom, I refuse to participate in this farcical competition with her,” Moon replied stubbornly with her back to Apple Bloom.

“Same,” Trixie nipped in.

“No one asked you homewrecker,” Moon snapped back.

“Brat.”

“Harlot.”

“Twerp.”

“Tramp.”

An egg dropped on top of Moon’s head.

“Oh no.” The words had barely left Apple Bloom’s lips before a bag of flour slammed into the back of Trixie’s head.

The filly and the mare turned and glowered ferociously at one another. Apple Bloom seized her chance and slammed both of their heads against one another so hard they collapsed in a heap on the floor, both out cold.

“Great, just great. Looks like it’s down to me,” Apple Bloom sighed looking at the remaining ingredients she had at her disposal and realising she was in serious trouble as all her flour was now all over Trixie. Not only that but all the recipes she knew involved apples and the judges had evilly provided her with several pears and a pineapple instead. Seeing that she strangely had a bag of oats at her disposal along with some syrup, sugar and butter, she did at least have one possible option left.

“I guess it’s better than nothing.”

*

Meanwhile, next to Apple Bloom, the team of Starlight, Scootaloo and Ruby were making good process on their Victoria Sponge cake. In all honesty, it was actually all Starlight’s work. Scootaloo probably should still have been in the infirmary but had got herself released for Screwloose’s language lesson. That, combined with a strong painkiller just before the competition began, now meant that not even Apple Bloom, Sweetie, Moon and Ruby howling the place down would have awakened her as she slept soundly under the desk, her head resting on her hooves. As for Ruby, before she could even admit how bad her baking was, Starlight had passed her a note:

I’ll make the cake, you pass me the ingredients when I point to them.

And so, that’s how they had proceeded and made extremely swift progress, Starlight working in her usually efficient manner. That was, until, a strawberry had hit Starlight’s cheek. Turning, she had sent a death glare in Ruby’s direction only for the terrified filly to swiftly point a hoof at the next table along where Luna was whistling innocently as Dinky and Mjӧlna sniggered either side of her.

To Ruby’s surprise, Starlight simply smiled and returned to making their cake, slipping a piece of paper over to Ruby as a glob of butter hit her cheek.

Don’t worry, I whispered in Luna’s ear as she walked in. This was all planned. Limestone, Fluttershy and Berry will be getting a very hot surprise when they try her lemon drizzle cake.

As soon as Ruby had finished reading the piece of paper it went up in flames and, in a flash, nothing remained aside a pile of ash on the desk. She turned and stared at Starlight who looked back at her with just the merest hint of a devilish smirk before she pointed at two tins with a hoof as she continued to stir the mixture in a bowl with a spoon using her magic.

Ruby added to an earlier mental note never to get on Starlight’s bad side.

*

In the row in front, Diamond had been more than happy to stay out of the way and let Rarity and Sweetie attempt to make something with the ingredients provided, which included just about everything Rarity refused to let Sweetie eat due to the amount of sugar and artificial ingredients they contained. These included two boxes of Wainbow Wispies, an artificially, multicoloured crisped rice cereal containing enough sugar to possibly turn Sweetie into a miniature sun. They also had countless amounts of chocolate, tubs of syrup, butter and, of course, marshmallows. Seriously? That joke was growing old, fast.

To Rarity’s relief, as her baking experience was pretty limited, the boxes of cereal had actually provided her with a simple recipe for Wainbow Wispiecakes, for which they just so happened to have all the ingredients for. So, overall, things were going a lot better than she’d feared they would and she was even spending some much-needed quality time with her sister. There was only one remaining problem.

“So, how you getting along there, Marshmallow?” Lightning teased as she sidled up to Rarity.

Rarity shivered from the touch as Lightning wrapped a wing around her. She was so close Rarity could smell the other mare’s breath. At least she’d had the sense to brush her teeth or take a breath mint; that was at least one positive to take from this ordeal, even if it was the only one so far. When Luna had told her this would be part one of her date with Lightning, she had not been pleased in the slightest but, a bet was a bet, and she’d reluctantly forced herself not to murder the other mare, so far. The fact Luna was happy to provide the “happy couple” with unlimited wine for the evening might have also played a part in that. Rarity was already on her second glass; she’d downed the first.

“Better than you, darling, it seems. I think Tempest and Silver might need your help,” Rarity forced herself to say politely.

“Pfft, all they have to do is put the cake in the oven, what can possibly go…”

A loud bang sent Lightning shooting into the air. She turned and stared at Tempest, whose face now looked like an extension to the black jumpsuit she insisted on wearing everywhere. That was apart from two wide opal-coloured eyes.

Silver was snickering next to her. “Look on the bright side; at least you got the oven started.”

*

As Lightning and Rarity saw to it that Tempest was all right, the final three teams in the front row were also making progress. The less said about Screwloose and Screwball’s attempt, the better for everyone’s sanity whilst Tree Hugger, Lily and Princess were making brownies with, according to Tree Hugger, “enough horse nip to stone even an elephant”. Beside them though, things weren’t going quite as well. Still, despite a possibly fractured muzzle that was oozing blood along with a sulking, scowling buffalo trying to murder her with her eyes, Zecora had still managed to make steady progress on an apple cake with Petunia’s help. As the filly started to dice some apples, Zecora turned to the rebellious young buffalo.

“Well?” The zebra enquired remarkably well considering her injury before she replaced the tissue that she’d shoved up her nostrils to stem the bleeding.

“Murderer,” Little Strongheart growled.

“Your statement is fair but I don’t care. I am who I am, necromancy is my game and it brings me no shame.”

“The ponies I understand, they just wanted farmland, you though are just sick in the head, spreading red wherever you tread,” Little Strongheart retorted. “Tell the innocent youth the truth or I shall.”

“Zecora, what’s she talking about?” Petunia interrupted, pausing what she was doing and looking up to her mentor with some concern.

“Necromancy and dark magic in general messes with one’s brain and sends you slowly insane. There’s a reason no one dares to go near zebra territory and let me tell you, it is rather gory. Griffon, dragon, cat, buffalo, pony, they don’t care, they’ll cut you up to please their fallen gods and keep you alive just long enough to watch your own organs be pulled out of your body. What they don’t use in their demonic sacrifices and potions, they eat and when they don’t get enough unwary travellers, they resort to alternate means. My own grandmother was captured by slavers and before the tribe could retrieve her, she was traded to the zebras. She wasn’t the first or the last. Why do you think we’re seeking an alliance with you ponies for? Without your help, sooner rather than later there will be none of us left. My dad is the last family I have left and without me to lead it in the future, yet another ancient buffalo tribe will be gone,” Little Strongheart exploded with unbridled fury, not bothering to mock Zecora anymore with pointless rhymes. At this point she was just barely holding herself back from launching herself at the zebra.

“Z-Zecora, is this true?” Petunia stammered, her look of concern turning to one of horror.

“I would say I’m sorry but I’m not. We’ve found a way to survive and thrive whereas your brethren are stuck in the past and will not last if you don’t act fast,” Zecora replied with a toothy grin.

In a fit of rage, Little Strongheart threw herself at the zebra but Zecora was ready. Little Strongheart’s eyes went wide as she froze mid-leap and fell to the floor, unable to move. She hadn’t even seen Zecora move; she’d been that quick.

“Too slow; buffalo. You’ll be fine in about an hour, for now you can lay there and glower whilst we make our cake. Huh, where did she go?” Zecora said confused, suddenly realising Petunia had disappeared.

The door to the classroom slammed shut.

*

Luna took a deep inhale as she levitated the two trays of lemon drizzle cake out of the oven and placed them down upon the desk. They were cooked to perfection. She smiled to herself. She was actually rather surprised with how well they’d turned out, especially after her last attempt at baking a cake. Yet, looking back, she couldn’t remember just how she’d managed to achieve such a perfect result. And that made her suspicious. Levitating a knife over she cut herself a small slice to try and, after another deep inhale, closed her eyes and took a bite.

Not bad and definitely not going to cause digestive problems like last time. Heck, she might even have a chance…. And then it hit her. HOT, extremely hot.

“Water, I need water now!” she exclaimed, pushing past Dinky and Mjӧlna in her attempt to reach the sink before diving her head under the tap as she illuminated her horn to turn it on.

Swiftly realising her mistake, that water has little, if any effect, on counteracting hot sauce, she took the only course of action she could. She pulled the bottle of Berry's extra strong Moonshine that she'd been spiking both Lightning's and Rarity's drinks with from her ethereal mane, and downed it. As Luna slowly felt the effects of the alcohol take a hold of her body, next door to her team, stifled giggles had erupted from Starlight and Ruby as they removed their own attempt from the oven. That was until a stern voice brought them back down to reality.

“Anything you two would like to tell me?” Limestone said looking less than pleased. To be fair, she almost always looked less than pleased; so it was, in truth, not much different to how she normally looked.

“It seems our neighbours have made an error with their cake,” Ruby answered for Starlight.

“And that has nothing to do with either of you two?” Limestone pressed, looking specifically at Starlight.

Starlight shrugged her shoulders.

“So, hypothetically speaking, you didn’t whisper into your ex’s ear as she walked in to put hot sauce into her cake,” Limestone said, placing said bottle of hot sauce down on the table.

Starlight suddenly looked a little nervous, like a foal caught with their hoof in the cookie jar.

“You thought no one saw you as you walked in, well, you were wrong. My evidence might be circumstantial, my word against yours, but then I’m the head judge and you’re not. Disqualified and congratulations on volunteering to clean the classroom afterwards. Oh, and I’m taking your cake as evidence.”

As Limestone prepared to take the cake, a loud crash behind her diverted her attention. Turning, her muzzle dropped open at what she saw. Rarity and Lightning, who had both clearly had too much to drink considering the number of bottles they’d just sent flying everywhere, were making out on the desk whilst the fillies they were supposed to supervising were watching on whilst munching on Wainbow Wispie cakes. Meanwhile, black smoke was rising from the oven Lightning should have been watching over.

Letting out another resigned sigh, Limestone trotted over, minding the minefield of broken glass that now adorned the floor, and turned the oven of before opening the door to see what remained of team Lightning’s cake. After being hit by a waft of black smoke a blackened, charred and clearly inedible lump greeted her, along with the sounds of amorous drunken love making.

Looking even less pleased than usual, Limestone removed her head from the oven and turned to Rarity and Lightning. Now, she knew she should intervene and stop Rarity from doing something she’d later regret but, no punishment she could think of would be better than seeing the look on the mare’s face if she woke up beside said Pegasus after doing something she most certainly regretted.

A disturbing grin crossed Limestone’s face. “Wouldn’t you two much prefer to take this somewhere a little more private?” she encouraged.

After a moment, the two drunken lovebirds paused in sucking each other’s faces off.

“Well, how about it, Marshmallow?” Lightning slurred as she pushed herself off Rarity and fell to the floor, just managing to land on her hooves.

“Sounds delightful darling,” Rarity replied pushing herself off the desk whilst fluttering her eyelashes at Lightning seductively.

Steadying each other, Limestone allowed the two clearly drunken ponies to pass her on their way to the door and out of the classroom, Lightning slapping a wing against Rarity’s rump as they exited.

“That was just plain evil,” Luna chuckled tottering unsteadily on her hooves towards the Pegasus.

"Says the one who spiked their drinks," Limestone replied flatly.

"Touche," Luna replied, letting out a loud burp. "Eugh, I'm going to have such a hangover later, " she groaned using a desk to prop herself up as Limestone turned to address the remaining competitors.

“Now, for the three teams still remaining in the competition, you have ten minutes…”

A loud explosion from the front of the room cut her off. Turning, Limestone gawped as a wave of pink washed over her.

“Oops, my bad,” Screwball tittered, clearly not at all bothered that she’d just covered her Home Economics teacher in cake for the second night running.

Of course, that was the exact moment Luna also proceeded to throw up all over Limestone.

*

“Wait, what?” Apple Bloom said in complete and utter astonishment.

“I said, you won,” Limestone, still covered in sticky pink goop and vomit and desperately needing a shower, repeated flatly as Madam Trixie, forgetting her pounding headache for a moment, grabbed a hold of Apple Bloom and shook her with delight, despite doing absolutely nothing to help aside lie on the floor unconscious for nearly an hour.

“With boring old plain flapjack? It wasn't even that good, I'm still getting used to using paws instead of my mouth,” Apple Bloom admitted, completely at a loss as she ignored Trixie for the moment. “I know almost all the teams were disqualified but surely Tree Hugger managed to bake something better than that?” Apple Bloom queried.

Lightning pointed towards the floor of the dining hall where both Fluttershy and Berry were rolling around giggling like school fillies. “Her team was also disqualified for using outside illegal ingredients,” she said flatly. “And as, you quite rightly stated, they were the only team left after all of the others were disqualified for one reason or another, you win by default.”

“The Elusive and Mysterious Madam Trixie does not care; a win is a win!” Trixie said, finally letting Apple Bloom go.

“Yes, well, from what I saw, you hardly did anything to actually help, so I’m leaving it up to Apple Bloom here if she wishes to share the prize money of fifteen bits or not. And she, not you, keeps the trophy,” Limestone replied gruffly lugging over said trophy and bits to Apple Bloom.

Trixie suddenly looked a little dejected but Apple Bloom soon managed to perk her up again by pouring the bits out onto the table and passing her five.

“No matter how much more I contributed, we’re a team and it wouldn’t feel right not to share the prize fairly,” Apple Bloom explained passing Moon, who was holding an ice pack to her forehead, her five bits as well.

“Suit yourself,” Limestone replied. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got to go and ensure Starlight and some of your classmates aren’t goofing off and actually cleaning my classroom properly before spending the rest of the night in the shower.” And, on that announcement, she departed.

“Yes, and I also need a shower after somepony threw flour all over me,” Madam Trixie stated, turning a disgruntled gaze upon Moon for a second before trotting away.

Apple Bloom was thankful Moon hadn’t had time to think of a retort and quickly shoved a piece of flapjack in her mouth to stop her from running after her Godmother and having yet another argument.

“Come on; let’s go find Scootaloo and Sweetie then get some dinner,” she said, attempting to pick up her latest acquired trophy in her mouth before realising she couldn't due to her cone and as such instead shoved it into Moon's mouth before pulling the young alicorn firmly in the opposite direction to the one Trixie had gone in.

*

Apple Bloom let out a mighty yawn as she climbed the stairs back to their dormitory, a softly snoring Scootaloo draped across her back. The poor Pegasus had just about managed to get through dinner but hadn’t had the energy to wait for Ruby and Screwball to finish theirs after they’d eventually arrived from cleaning up the Home Economics classroom and had subsequently dozed off on the table. Not wanting to wake her clearly still unwell friend, Apple Bloom, with Ruby’s assistance, had decided to kindly carry her friend back to their dorm after they’d unanimously agreed between them on an early end to the night. They had planned for Sweetie to give them some tips and pointers before their next test from Rarity later that day but the filly was currently draped across Ruby’s back in a sugar induced coma after consuming way too many Wainbow Wispiecakes. They were just thankful her sugar rush had been short and sweet with no further damage to the school.

It was as Apple Bloom finally managed to get her weary limbs to the top of the last stair and was just allowing herself to think about the sweet release of sleep from yet another tough night at this bonkers school when she heard the ear-piercing scream ahead of her and looked up to see the pale face of Dinky staring wide eyed at something in her dorm, the one next door to Apple Bloom’s, as Princess tried to console a visibly shaking and upset Lily next to Dinky.

“What now?” Apple Bloom sighed forcing her weary limbs to rush to Dinky’s side. Scootaloo, somehow, still remained fast asleep on her back.

She froze next to Ruby as both fillies took in what had caused their friends such discomfort.

Hanging by her neck from a rope in the middle of the room was Petunia, a pool of blood lay at her feet from numerous gouges on both her flanks. And then, to Apple Bloom’s shock and horror, Petunia sniffled and spoke.

“Why won’t my magic just let me die?”

A Princess' Lament

Incidents involving first-years during their first week

Luna, her mouth feeling as dry as the Badlands desert and her head feeling like an Everfree storm was taking place within it, glanced at the title of the report and let out an audible sigh. First week was being generous; it had only been four nights so far. Lifting a mug of extra strong coffee with her hoof - she didn’t dare use her magic with how her head was throbbing right now - she took a long sip and read the first item on the list.

1. Property damage. 46% of the school has suffered some form of fire damage due to one Miss Sweetie Belle. There have also been reports of other isolated incidents of damage to school property including at least one broken window and several broken doors whilst several classrooms/dormitories have been trashed along with a broken oven in the Home Economics classroom.

Luna’s eyes turned toward the ceiling. She had known for a while that Rarity’s sister, even for St Trineighans standards, was going to be an extremely difficult case and that was why she’d recruited a peer to watch over Sweetie and report back to her. Even so, neither Sweetie nor Scootaloo could be blamed for Tree Hugger’s incompetence and the latter had suffered significantly because of it. She was just thankful she’d been smart enough to invest in a number of building firms over the years whilst Scootaloo’s injuries actually brought her onto item number two on the list and the stack of paperwork that adorned one corner of her desk

2. Nineteen filed medical reports from Zecora on first-years alone.

Luna’s eyes focused their attention to the stack of paperwork for a moment. She would not deny Zecora was excellent at her job but it also meant that the copies of her patients’ medical reports that she sent Luna to examine and file into the students’ personal files were often highly detailed and long winded. She’d probably be spending at least the first half of tomorrow evening going through them all, but that was future Luna’s problem. Right now, she had more pressing matters at hoof. Her eyes flicked back to the list.

3. Two students being evicted from their dorm.

4. Two students covered in glue and feathers.

5. Three attempts on Madam Trixie’s life by irate first-years the first of which resulted in the destruction of her office (See point 1, specifically the part surrounding fire damage).

6. Serious breaches of foal endangerment laws.

Luna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Most of the first-years had settled in well but two, well, the less said about them the better. Even she, the Princess of the Night, had her price and both those fillies’ fathers had met it, five million bits each to be precise. As for Trixie, she did not see the childish spat with her daughter or her daughter’s friends ending anytime soon. She would have to keep an eye on both feuds to ensure they did not get further out of hoof in the near future. Talking about feuds…

7. One dodgeball competition.

8. One baking competition, two exploding cakes and several baked bads, including a living cake?

9. Two counts of indecent exposure.

It was at that moment realisation of what she had done dawned on Luna and her head slammed against her desk making her hangover even worse. She let out a massive groan. St Trineighans truly was becoming a boarding kennel for werewolves. Even worse, Rarity was going to kill her. Not only had she made sure to get the unicorn tipsy to let down her guard with Lightning but she had also forgotten what amorous werewolves were notorious for from her own few previous private and personal encounters. In her defence, the last time she had laid with a werewolf had been several centuries ago and there was a good reason for that - biting, lots of biting. Slowly, she lifted her head from the desk, reached for a quill and proceeded to alter the next point.

10.(a) An outbreak of lycanthropy resulting in a 50% 62.5% increase in werewolf ponies at the school, from 8 to 12 13 along with a wereshark.

10. (b) One alicornification and newly entitled Princess of Werewolves along with the formation of the Crazy Mark Crusaders, otherwise known as the Royal Pack.

10. (c) Miss Sweetie Belle is one of the new werewolves and likes to howl, a lot!

10. (d) Seventeen noise complaints in relation to howling at unsociable hours, with most to do with a single event Wingsday morning.

Luna looked at the four points that consisted of number ten and decided to break them down one at a time. Firstly, she had several hours to hide before Rarity awoke and found out she was not only sharing her bed with Lightning but was also, almost certainly, now a werewolf as well. Secondly, she was immensely proud but also concerned with her daughter’s ascension. It was going to be a busy couple of years helping Moon adjust to her new form and the increased amount of power and level of responsibility she now wielded. Her daughter might not know it yet but she had already started to form her inner circle, those ponies and werewolves that would be there to assist and guide her when she most needed help over the coming years. Hopefully though this would give her a good excuse to keep watch over the so-dubbed Crazy Mark Crusaders who already seemed to be at the centre of all of the chaos, mayhem and destruction that had occurred during this first week back after summer break. To be fair, she wasn’t to surprised considering that a disciple of chaos was among their ranks alongside a pyromaniac and several other werewolves. Luna let out an umpteenth sigh and stared to the heavens once more. Scrap a busy couple of years; it was going to be a long six years and that was before she considered her daughter’s impending puberty. She shuddered simply from the thought and turned her attention swiftly back to the list as her head started pounding ever more fiercely.

11. Underage use of Narcotics.

The less said about that one the better. She just hoped that Rarity had had more success than her at getting Tree Hugger to see sense. In all seriousness she needed to get this lycanthropy outbreak under control before it somehow got even more out of hoof, even if she was unsure how that was even possible, but not having the werewolves tripping on drugs every five minutes was a crucial part of her plan. A grimace once more shot across Luna’s face as another bolt of pain shot through her skull. Damn Starlight. Her grimace slowly turned to a smirk though as she remembered Limestone forcing the unicorn to clean up her vomit by hoof with a mop and then being made to supervise the cleaning of the entire home economics classroom as well. Luna felt that was a punishment well and truly deserved. The cake that had also “accidentally” fallen from the ceiling and into Starlight’s mane had... How would you say it?... been the icing on the cake.

12. One impromptu dance performance.

Luna made another mental note that she would be informing her daughter that they would be having a one-to-one tutoring session twice a week from here on out. She once more paused from looking at the list of incidents to turn her attention to another stack of papers that sat next to the medical reports, specifically the one that sat on the top of the pile.

Name of Student and Year: Moon Moon, 1^st

Suggested After Class Activity/Club: Werewolf Wrestling

Description of Activity/Club: Are you a werewolf itching to release a bit of pent-up aggression? Come meet and join your newly ascended Princess and take part in no holds barred wrestling against your peers. If that’s not enough, you’ll receive a share of the profits from a paying crowd and all bets placed! What more could you want?

Equipment required: Use of the Sports Hall and Vice-Headmare Glimmer to cast a magical dome over the competitors and oversee proceedings.

Accepted: Y/N Weekly slot: Signed:

It was yet another job she had yet to address. In the first week of each new school year, forms were left in the dining hall along with a box. All students were expected to take on at least one extracurricular activity a year at St Trineighans. Whilst some students offered to help their teachers and one or two even helped in the library, most signed up to one or two run by their peers with each weekday offering one to two clubs that students could choose from if they so wished. Often these were run by older students, taking over the established after school clubs, like music and drama, formerly run by students that had just departed, but she’d get at least one or two peculiar or joke requests each year. Favourites of the students were the BBHC (Boycott and Burn Homework Club) and the St Trineighans Association of Sleeping Enthusiasts (ASE), the latter being used by many students over the years as an excuse for being late to classes. The looks on both those students faces when she’d approved their clubs had been priceless, especially as she’d placed them on the weekday night the students would have otherwise had off. Interestingly, both clubs had now become stalwarts of the two slots for Hornday along with extra rehearsals for certain other clubs that put on a performance at the end of the year and she expected no different this year.

Anyway, she was getting off track. It was her job to go through the suggestions and choose the clubs that would take place for the rest of the school year. It wasn’t a particularly difficult job, usually just renewing the same clubs year in, year out and having a laugh at the comedic suggestions one or two bright sparks had come up with in the current year to humour her. Last year it had been the Glue Everything to the Ceiling club and Pirate club, where everypony who joined up would have had to speak and dress like a pirate for the entire year amongst other things. Generally speaking, first-years were usually too busy settling in during their first week to even think about submitting an idea and by their second-year they’d learnt from older years that the whole process was tradition but no more than a formality. The same eight clubs, Drama and Dance, Music, Social Games, Book, Daredevil, The School Newspaper, BBHC and ASE, had been picked every year for over a century now. Of course, it just had to be her daughter who wanted to break tradition. Still, although she had her reservations and didn’t particularly want more infirmary reports from Zecora to read, it would be better to know just what chaos her daughter and her friends were up to than not know. Furthermore, it would be a proper punishment for Starlight after the maid outfit and chili cake incidents. The unicorn would absolute hate having to play nanny and ensure the club didn’t get too out of hoof. A smirk slowly crossed Luna’s muzzle as she took the form, circled Y, filled in Wingsday and then stamped it with her hoof before placing it off to one side and turning her attention back to the remaining three points on the list.

13. Multi-coloured grapes.

In the blink of an eye the smile that graced Luna’s muzzle was gone. Screwball and her childish antics might seem innocent enough but Luna was not going to be fooled having faced the filly’s god in the past. If she so wished, she could literally make another pony or creature laugh themselves to death or turn their insides to jelly and custard. Chaos magic was wild, reckless and practically had no limits as long as it was total madness. And the power Discord had gifted her with would only grow as she got older. Not for the first time Luna wondered if she’d done the right thing. She and Celestia knew exactly why Discord had done what he had done and Discord knew they knew. It was all part of his game. He knew neither her or her sister’s consciences would let them kill a foal, even one tainted with his chaos magic. As such, this would allow him the time to get into Screwball’s head as her power grew as she got older, messing with her unstable psyche further in the hope that she would one day free him from his stony prison in the Canterlot Castle gardens. Meanwhile, it was Luna’s job, along with Screwball’s new found friends, to try and teach the filly right from wrong and alter the path Discord had laid out for her. Ultimately, it was like one big game of chess and Luna knew that Discord was a bad loser. If Screwball didn’t do what he wanted in the end and free him…

She paused, closed her eyes and reached for the bottom drawer of her desk and pulled it open. Even in spite of her head splitting hangover, she gripped the bottle that resided within with a hoof, popped the cork with her teeth and then proceeded to chug a large mouthful hoping that by doing so she could push the thought to the back of her mind. As she slammed the bottle down on her desk, she attempted to distract herself further by reopening her eyes and looking at the next item on the list.

14. Every last carton of ice cream stolen from the school kitchen’s freezers.

On this occasion, she couldn’t fault her daughter. She had just had an almighty shock and two hundred bits worth of ice cream was easily replaceable. Plus, kitchen raids were common practice at St Trineighans and never taken too seriously as long as they didn’t become regular occurrences from the same students. Even so, her daughter was a Princess now and she had to learn that such actions were unbecoming of one of such…

Luna paused once more as she remembered the number of times she’d caught Celestia late at night pilfering cake, ice cream and anything else sweet and unhealthy she could get her hooves on that she didn’t want the servants or her dieticians to see her eating.

Luna let out yet another deep sigh and looked to the heavens once more.

“Faust guide and help me,” she murmured under her breath, wisely choosing to classify the ice cream incident as “foals will be foals” and swiftly moving onto the final item on the list.

15. One suicide.

Luna took another swig from the bottle before slamming it down on the desk for a second time.

“So, ready to talk yet?” she asked her guest who was sat in the chair on the other side of her desk.

Petunia Paleo refused to lift her head from the desk where pitiful sniffles were emanating from. A greyish blue scarf that matched her mane covered her neck and in particular the nasty red raw circle necklace that now adorned it. She had also been provided with a spare black jump suit of Tempest’s to help conceal the deep lacerations that now covered her meagre frame.

“Kill me,” a muffled voice eventually replied. “Smash my skull in and finally end my miserable existence.”

“Ah, so you do know the first two laws of necromancy. You know, it’s been a while and my memory’s a little hazy so do you think you can remind me exactly what they are?” Luna lied in an attempt to get Petunia to open up.

It did the trick. The filly lifted her head up and looked sceptically at Luna for a moment. “Seriously? Even I can tell that’s a lie.”

“Well, one way or another, it got the reaction I required,” Luna responded, a smirk returning to her muzzle. “So, are you going to tell me those laws or not?”

Petunia glowered at Luna for a moment and then let out a resigned sigh. “First law of necromancy: As long as the brain's intact and you’ve the magic at your hooftips, you can bring anything back to life. Second rule of necromancy: If your creation turns on you, target the brain. Failing that, take out the limbs to stop it moving and then take out the brain.”

“If that’s the case and you wanted to successfully end your life, why didn’t you target your brain?” Luna asked casually, attempting to coerce Petunia into revealing more.

“I wasn’t thinking clearly for one after what Little Strongheart said to me. As I sat on my bed cutting myself, I felt it was either the hangmare’s noose or jumping out the window. Although the latter might have caused more damage there was also a greater chance of a passing Pegasus or unicorn catching me. As I had no idea my magic would resurrect me at the time I went with the former and then, once I reopened my eyes after choking out, I realised I couldn’t get down so hung around until my dormmates arrived and could help me down,” Petunia said distantly before her eyes snapped back into focus and locked onto Luna’s. “I’m dead though, aren’t I? I can’t feel my heart beating in my chest and despite wanting to, I couldn’t cry a moment ago either.”

“Good observations but it’s a little more complicated than that. First up, why don’t you tell me what Little Strongheart told you that made you do what you did? Because, right now I’m a little confused. When I left you in the library the other night, you seemed to have come to terms with your special talent and were settling in wonderfully well with your new dormmates,” Luna explained. “As such, despite being one of our highest risk students of such an event, I was not expecting you to do what you have done tonight.”

Petunia’s eyes had gone wide upon realising what she’d let slip. Her head fell back onto the desk. Eventually, a muffled and distorted voice broke the silence that had slowly descended upon the room again.

“She told me dark magic and necromancy sends you insane, along with…” Petunia paused unsure how to phrase the next part.

“The bad things zebras do because of it?”

Petunia lifted her head and nodded, tears beginning to stream down her face.

“And I’m guessing you took the news badly and didn’t want to become like her?”

Petunia nodded again and then opened her mouth and spoke clearly. “You know what it’s like to have a cutie mark like mine? My first memory was of me receiving my cutie mark when I was four. It’s also the only solid memory I have of my parents. They should have been happy for me. Instead, the only memories I have of them is them looking at me in horror because I’d just resurrected the dead mouse the cat had brought in and then them telling me to wait on a set of steps with said mouse. It was an orphanage. They never returned and have never been found since.”

“Yes, I’ve read your file. Although, up until this point, I was unsure of the exact reason why your parents left you at the Trottingham orphanage aside it most probably having something to do with necromancy,” Luna admitted before prompting Petunia to continue.

Petunia took a deep breath and did just that. “How is a four-year old who up until that point had the best parents in the world supposed to understand those same parents abandoning them? Mentally I shut down and spent most of the next six years alone with Roger, my pet mouse and only true friend, hiding for the most part just what I was capable of. There was one occasion where one of the older kids picked on me and gave me a black eye. I barely laid a scratch on him but that was all I needed. One single drop of blood. They never did find out just why he broke into the kitchens that night and poured a boiling hot pan of water on himself.”

Luna looked at Petunia in surprise for a moment as a sadistic grin crossed the filly’s muzzle. “You have blood magic as well?” That had not been in the filly’s file.

“I blamed myself a lot for what happened in the beginning of my time at the orphanage and swiftly realised I could manipulate blood as well. Making it dance and swirl around in front of me helped pass the countless hours I’d spend alone in silence. It wasn’t long until the carers discovered the scars and became extremely careful with what they left near me. The funny thing was they had no idea of the real reason why I was cutting myself. Anyway, the other children knew it was too much of a coincidence for the bully to pick on the filly with the peculiar unknown cutie mark, calling them “ugly” and “a freak”, and then attempt to seriously disfigure themselves that very night, especially as he couldn’t recall anything after lights out. So, they left me in peace from there on out and informed all newcomers to avoid the weird silent filly in the corner with the mouse. Carer after carer tried to get me involved with the other fillies and colts, tried to find me a family that were willing to take me on, tried to simply get me to talk. I wasn’t interested and over time they gave up believing that I’d suffered some previously extremely traumatic event when in truth I was simply afraid, afraid of a similar reaction to the one of my parents if they found out just what I was capable of and that I’d be dumped somewhere else, somewhere worse. So, by the time I was seven a silent agreement had been reached. I did everything they asked of me schoolwork- and chores-wise and they left me in peace the rest of the time. To them I was the model inmate. Never made or got in any trouble after that first time and did all that was asked without any fuss. Then you showed up two months ago, sent my head spiralling out of control and proceeded to drag me to this school after threatening to have me thrown in a dungeon if I didn’t cooperate!”

“I apologise but as I said at the time, your profile stuck out like a sore hoof. New born foals get abandoned by single mothers not four-year olds with loving parents. Nearly six-years in Trottingham orphanage with no new attempts to adopt in the past three. Then, as soon as I saw a picture of your cutie mark, I knew exactly why,” Luna explained. “I’m sorry for not giving you a choice in the matter but you’re too much of a security risk, as you are now all too aware of with the zebras. Also, like many of your peers, I also wanted to give you the chance at as much of a normal fillyhood as I could rather than simply putting you in the depths of Canterlot dungeon and throwing away the key.”

“And I couldn’t be more grateful for what you’ve done for me. For the first time in my life, I could just be me and not have to worry about how others would react. I was so nervous meeting my dormmates for the first time but you stood by my side. You gave me the confidence to tell them what I am and showed me that I didn’t need to be afraid anymore,” Petunia sniffled wiping the tears from her face with a forehoof. “I-I couldn’t bear it if someday I deliberately hurt them,” she admitted.

“You’d never do that!” A voice exclaimed from the doorway all of a sudden.

“Miss Hooves, why are you and your dormmates not in bed? And how long have you been standing in the doorway?” Luna sighed.

“Long enough and our friend needs us; we weren’t going to let her face this alone,” Dinky said firmly as she, followed by Lily and Princess, entered the room, the door to Luna’s office having yet to be fixed.

As Dinky trotted over and threw her hooves around Petunia in a massive hug, Luna felt it best to get this talk over with as quickly as possible.

“Fair enough. I won’t punish you on this occasion but Miss Paleo, I must let you know something before I take you and your friends straight back to your dormitory for some much-needed sleep,” Luna stated firmly.

Petunia managed to poke her head out from where three pairs of forehooves were now doing their best to squeeze her to death.

“You need to know that Little Strongheart was wrong and that you are nothing like Zecora or any of the zebras for that matter.” Luna closed her eyes before continuing. “I wanted to save this conversation for when you were a little older and able to fully understand what I'm about to tell you but after last night’s events I feel I no longer have that option. But what I’m about to tell you and your friends does not leave this room, understood?”

Petunia stared at Luna for a moment and then slowly nodded her head. “You have my word and theirs.”

“Fine. Dark magic is very much like chaos magic in many ways. Both are like diseases, that can corrupt and make even the strongest willed creatures, such as myself, sick. Now, like all diseases, how sick you become is dependent on many factors; for example, I, as an alicorn, am extremely healthy but because I cast such a powerful dark magic spell, not even I could fight it of completely without long lasting repercussions. The zebras on the other hoof have suffered repeated exposure to a low-level dose of the disease for centuries. Although initially able to shake off the effects, the consistent build-up of dark magic over the years has allowed it to grow stronger and slowly warp their minds. By the time any of them realised what was happening…”

“It was too late,” Petunia finished for Luna.

“Precisely, every new zebra born now is nothing more than another puppet for dark magic to control and use for despicable and heinous crimes to please goodness knows what. Imagine seeing everything you do but being unable to do anything about it. That’s pretty much the life of every zebra right now but like every disease there are a few that are naturally immune and these zebras could, if they chose to, cure their brethren and cleanse the zebras of dark magic,” Luna went on.

“And I’m guessing whatever is controlling the zebras doesn’t want that?” Petunia asked already knowing the answer.

“Of course not. They may be extremely rare but any zebras that are discovered to have immunity and free will are immediately sacrificed before they can become a threat to their way of life. Trust me when I tell you that you don’t want to know what they do to them in any detail. All I’ll say is it’s not a pretty sight,” Luna stated before a shiver ran down her spine and she had to momentarily pause. “We’ve tried to save one or two over the years but unsuccessfully, our best bet being to look closer to home for an answer to the zebra problem.”

“Closer to home? Wait, are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Petunia interrupted.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Immunity to such magic is not just exclusive to zebras but ponies are the only known other species who would become aware that they are immune to such effects,” Luna clarified.

“Because of our cutie marks,” Petunia finished.

“Right again. You are one of only seven known ponies over the past thousand years to have a dark mark and the first for necromancy. What it means is that you can choose how you use such magic. For example, you might have noticed that you’ve actually managed to produce tears in the last few minutes and if you tried hard enough you could probably get your magic to restart your heart and your entire body for that matter rather than just your brain. You could pretty much bring yourself back to life piece by piece.”

Petunia stared at Luna in stunned silence.

“Now, I won’t deny that your magic will always try to steer you down the path of madness but unlike the zebras you have the choice to refuse such a path and take another,” Luna explained. “It will be difficult though. Only two of the six before you have succeeded in doing so and both of those ended up being murdered by the zebras.”

Petunia’s eyes somehow managed to go even wider. “Wait, what? Oh,” she murmured as everything started to click in her head.

“Yes, as I take it you just realised. It is one of the main reasons the zebras send spies to Equestria as they know we are the biggest threat to their current way of life. Obviously, it is extremely difficult for them to blend in and almost all are captured and executed at some point. The zebras don’t take prisoners so neither do we but at least we terminate ours quickly and painlessly. Again, you don’t want to know what they do to any of our spies they capture,” Luna responded as another shiver ran down her spine.

“Wait, if you terminate any zebras that are discovered in Equestria, why is Zecora still alive and working in the school?” Petunia questioned.

Luna inhaled deeply and then released before continuing, “We caught her hiding out in the Everfree forest a few years back. She’d been sent here to scope out the school knowing that would be the most likely place for any pony with such a cutie mark. Of course, execution was the initial plan but…” Luna paused and closed her eyes.

“But what?” Petunia pressed still encased in limbs, her friends still refusing to let her go.

“She told us she’s the chieftain’s only daughter, a fact that has since been verified. Executing her would be an all-out declaration of war between Equestria and Zebrica, something neither country wants. We outnumber the zebras nearly twenty to one and even if we don’t know exactly what ancient horrors are controlling them, they are well aware that a full out war could very well lead to the extinction of their entire species. For Equestria, it would shatter our core belief to negotiate peace by any means and although victory is almost a guaranteed certainty it would come at a huge cost of life on our side and leave us vulnerable to attack from some of our less than friendly neighbours, likely leading to a full-on world war and the inevitable return of the windigos.”

Petunia had finally been released by her friends. She, Lily and Princess were now staring at Luna with open mouths in total shock. Dinky on the other hoof looked completely unfazed by the proclamation and it was she who replied to Luna.

“Let me guess. Because they kill all their prisoners the zebras didn’t have anything of value to trade for Zecora. As she is royalty, even if it is from a hostile country not on friendly terms with Equestria, you couldn’t just throw her into the deepest darkest dungeon for fear of some form of retaliation and rescue attempt from the zebras. As such you had two choices, a luxury suite in Canterlot castle or a position here at the school. You chose here because you felt you might as well put her talents to use whilst implementing some security features to ensure she remains cooperative and doesn’t try anything foolish. Meanwhile, Zecora secretly continues her mission and when she sees Petunia, her eyes light up. The problem she now has is that if she tries anything not only is she dead but her entire species and their way of life along with it, so she goes along with what you want her to do with the intention of slowly corrupting my friend. You though, know you’ve got no choice, it’s not like there are any other necromancers just walking on a street nearby to teach Petunia and as such you pray that Petunia is smart enough to avoid the carrot that Zecora dangles in front of her so that in the future you can use her for your own selfish needs. Or are you going to deny that you hope that one day Petunia here might be able to finally rid the darkness that clouds the zebra lands?”

Luna, along with Petunia, Lily and Princess, stared at Dinky in astonishment. Luna knew the filly was incredibly smart for her age, that was the prime reason she had gambled and given her a chance after she’d failed the entrance test to Celestia’s school, but that bit of deduction, especially for a ten-year-old, had been something else. She made a mental note to be careful what she said around Dinky in future as the unicorn continued where she had left off.

“Just be careful because if any harm comes to my friend again, I’ve the brains, brawn,” she jabbed a hoof in Lily’s direction, “And stealth,” the hoofed moved over to Princess, “At my disposal to ensure whoever caused such pain, regrets it, a lot. Understood?”

Luna smiled getting over her initial shock. “Understood. You need not worry though. As long as Petunia is on school grounds and does not try to cause herself any more harm in future, she shall be fine but it would help put me at ease if at least one of you could be with her outside of classes and her extracurricular studies with Zecora.”

“Of course, no problem,” Dinky replied followed by a large yawn.

“Now, I do think it’s time we all went to bed. Petunia, if you have any further questions once you’ve had a bit of time to think things over, you know you can always come and find me, okay?” Luna said politely.

“Yes headmistress. And thank you, for everything.”

“My pleasure Petunia and please, call me Luna; we’re friends after all.”

*

Rarity awoke feeling sore all over and somewhat disorientated. To her surprise though, her head wasn’t pounding like it usually did when she had had one too many drinks the night before because considering how dry her mouth was, that could be the only answer to her current state. There was also the fact that her memory of the bake off was hazy at best. The strangest thing was that in spite of her not having that much of a hangover, certain other parts of her body ached, a lot. As her eyes slowly adjusted to the gloom, she realised that she was at least in her own bedroom.

“Well, that’s at least something,” she muttered to herself igniting her horn to turn on the two magical lamps that were on the two dressers that lined either side of her luxurious four poster bed.

“Eugh, turn of the light,” a voice groaned next to Rarity startling her.

As she fell out of bed in a heap taking the duvet with her, the voice spoke once more.

“Not cool marshmallow, not cool. Hang on, what’s the time?”

“Five o’clock,” a sweet, innocent voice said from the doorway too the room as some rather indecent and vulgar memories started to flood Rarity’s mind and fill in the blanks. She really wished her mind hadn’t.

“Oh, thanks Sweetie Be… Uh oh,” Lightning gulped as a camera flashed.

“Ooh, this’ll get me on the front page of the school newspaper for sure,” Sweetie giggled.

“Sweetie Belle, you give me that photo this instant,” Rarity demanded throwing the duvet cover of her and leaping to her hooves.

“Hey,” Lightning cried as the duvet fell on top of her.

“Shut it you. No doubt this was some devilish, perverted trick of yours to…” Rarity began only to find herself interrupted by Apple Bloom.

“Oh no, Luna spiked both your drinks to teach you both a lesson. Limestone might have also pushed you along after you started to get frisky and ruin her classroom. This is all on both of you.”

Rarity slumped back onto her rump, right eye twitching.

“I’m going to kill her!” she growled.

“I highly doubt that,” a third voice said calmly stepping out of the shadows. “Oh, and welcome to the smelly, obnoxious, brain-dead canine club; we hope you enjoy your stay. The bill for your lifetime membership will be invoiced to you in two to three working days,” Moon added sarcastically.

Rarity turned her hatred to Lightning who was still fighting her way out of the duvet on the bed, the alabaster mare’s eyes turning red and her canines extending. “You didn’t,” she growled running her tongue over her extended canines.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that, I was drunk and it’s a well-documented fact werewolves bite when…” Lightning never finished as Rarity threw herself at the Pegasus.

“Moon, aren’t you going to stop them?” Bloom queried turning to her friend as Rarity went rolling with Lightning of the bed before the unicorn slammed the Pegasus’ head into the stone floor.

“Ooo, that looked nasty,” Scootaloo commented, whilst munching on a jelly baby she had pilfered from a bag Ruby was holding.

“Maybe if it gets to out of hoof, right now though I’m enjoying the show, sweet?” Moon asked, thrusting another bag of Jelly Babies towards Bloom as Lightning went from the stone floor to the stone wall.

“What the hay?” Bloom replied with a shrug of her shoulders taking a hoofful and throwing them in her muzzle as Sweetie’s camera clicked once more. “There’s never a dull moment at St Trineighans is there,” she asked Moon once she’d finished devouring the candy.

“Nope,” Moon replied as Lightning took a chair to the muzzle.

END OF ACT 1

Author's Notes:

Edited 20/07/22

Interlude: Club Day

Apple Bloom looked across at Rarity and gulped; Sweetie’s sister had the same look on her face that Applejack did when Apple Bloom had done something wrong. In other words, she and her fellow first-years were in even more trouble for something. Great, and just when she’d thought things had finally calmed down after her mental first week at this insane asylum for fillies. What worried her most though was that she couldn’t think of any reason over the past week for Rarity to be mad at them. They’d practically cleared Berry’s vineyard for her, even if they’d been down two students due to Diamond and Silver playing hooky again, made ample progress in languages and had glowing feedback for the cakes they’d made in Home Economics. Okay, so maybe Scootaloo had skipped out on Textiles with Mjӧlna and Tempest to have a buckball rematch with some second-years and maybe she’d been ordered by Moon to skip Art to go howl at the moon but…

“Ah,” Apple Bloom said as the bit dropped.

“Ah, what?” Scootaloo questioned to her left through a mouthful of croissant.

Apple Bloom was just about to fill Scootaloo in on her deductions only for Rarity to not give her the opportunity to do so by addressing the entire room.

“Good late afternoon first years and welcome to your first monthly assembly. I have decided to set these up to not only keep you informed of any vital information pertaining to your time here at the school but also to answer any questions or resolve any problems you might have. I do hope you have enjoyed your breakfast because we have a lot to get through before today’s festivities can begin,” Rarity explained. “Any questions?”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo questioned without bothering to raise her hoof. “Where are Sweetie, Ruby and Moon?”

“Good question and I’ll answer that shortly. Please though raise your hoof in future Scootaloo if you wish to ask a question,” Rarity replied before turning and addressing the whole of her year group once more. “Now, unless there are any other urgent questions, how about we save them for the end because right now we have some serious issues to attend to, starting with your attendance levels in class these past two weeks.”

“Knew it,” Apple Bloom muttered under her breath to Scootaloo but not low enough it would seem as Rarity’s attention immediately darted back to the two fillies.

“Care to explain, fillies, where you were this week when you should have been in Art and Textiles?” Rarity enquired, turning her disapproving gaze upon both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

To Apple Bloom’s credit, and surprise, she wasn’t in the least bit fazed. “Sorry Miss Belle, Princess’ orders. Did you not read last week’s St Trineighans’ Trash?” she said calmly, despite already knowing the answer.

Out of the corner of her eye Apple Bloom caught Scootaloo staring at her like she’d just signed her own note of execution, unsurprising considering they were the reason Rarity had most definitely not read last week’s edition of the school newspaper, or, as Rarity called it, “A gossip rag only fit for Opal’s litter tray”. In fact, their head-of-year had even gone as far as attempting to vaporise every last copy of last week’s edition in existence after one of Sweetie’s photos had appeared on the front cover along with the headline, Belle and the Beast: Dust finally gets her mare!. Unfortunately, for the alabaster mare anyway, there had been way too many copies and she had swiftly realised her efforts to eradicate the incriminating material were pointless. To top it all off, the Crazy Mark Crusaders had avoided punishment due to the fact that they were “only reporting the truth” whilst Rarity had barely been able to set foot out of her classroom due to the never-ending stream of wolf whistles, hushed whispers and giggling she constantly received in the hallways from the students. So, for Apple Bloom to bring up the topic in assembly was either an extremely bold or an extremely stupid move.

Rarity’s disapproving gaze grew in its intensity as she let out a snort of barely restrained fury and said through gritted teeth, “Unfortunately, I did not, as although such publications can provide useful information to their target audience, they are more notorious for scandalous stories to pull in readers that have little, if any, factual basis to them.”

“I think the fact Miss Dust is still not walking straight a week later is all the evidence we need,” Tempest hollered from somewhere near the back.

Aside Mjӧlna and Spur, who couldn’t help breaking out into sniggers on either side of Tempest, none of the first-years dared to react to that remark. Of course, her friends’ reactions only fuelled Tempest’s ego further and she couldn’t help but add further fuel to the metaphorical fire.

“How’s the horn by the way?”

Somehow, the fur on Rarity’s face had gone from white to bright red, likely a magical reaction to the embarrassment or anger from which she was now suffering. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes momentarily, and then redirected her attention to Tempest as her eyes burst open.

Tempest gulped, her usually cocky and brash outer exterior wavering for just a second as she shuffled nervously in her chair and looked down at her desk, unable to hold Rarity’s gaze.

“Let me make this clear to you Miss Berrytwist and this goes for the rest of you, too, so listen carefully as I’m only going to say this once. Most teachers here at St Trineighans couldn’t care less how you spend your time at the school or how you behave. I am not most teachers and as your head-of-year, I am going to make sure you hoof the line and attend all your lessons unless you have an extremely good reason not to so that you can one day achieve a decent career. If you do not, well, might I remind you that I’m a former student of the school. If you haven't thought about what that means, well, I've learned more than my share of lessons. Would you believe a spell that when cast on food can cause spots to appear on the coat of anypony who consumes that food? White suits you by the way,” Rarity finished, a smug smile now adorning her muzzle.

Tempest stared at the white specks of fur on one of her forelegs, her mouth agape in surprise.

“Call that a group punishment for all the unauthorised absences over the past two weeks. Don’t worry; the effects will wear off…over time,” Rarity explained as many of the other first-years began to stare at the spots that now adorned their coats, the colours of which ranged from bright pink to luminous yellow.

“Why do mine have to be pink?” Scootaloo groused.

Rarity barely registered the interruption, her eyes solely fixed upon Tempest, who was now staring back at her with an equally devilish smirk whilst clapping her hooves. “I misjudged you; Marshmallow, you’re not half bad. Leave it with me and I’ll ensure no pony misses any classes again in future.”

“I’m wondering if I should be annoyed by the nickname, concerned by what that final statement might entail or both, probably both, but we’ve barely cracked the surface and have a lot to get through in this assembly; so, you know what, why not?” Rarity paused before turning her attention to every filly in the room. “Listen up; I’ll put the absences over the first two weeks down to you settling in at the school but from here on out, unless I receive a note from Zecora, Starlight or Luna, I expect to see you all in every lesson from here on out. Take the spots as a warning because if you do try and play truant in future, Tempest and Mjӧlna have my authority to drag you to said lesson however they see fit as my attendance enforcers. They shall report back to me at the end of every week and if I find any of you have been avoiding classes, well, let’s just say I’d advise you to grow eyes in the back of your head,” Rarity stated firmly, her smug smile taking a somewhat unnerving turn that sent a chill down more than one of her students’ spines. “Understood?”

“Yes, Miss Belle,” the first-years swiftly replied as one except Apple Bloom who was waving her pale-yellow left forehoof, now covered in red spots, high in the air.

“Yes, Apple Bloom, is there a problem?” Rarity said in a sickly-sweet voice, her tone a clear indication that there better not be.

“Erm, yeah,” she pulled a letter from her hair with her left forehoof and held it out for Rarity to take. “Ruby and Sweetie also have one, excuses us from Art, my Princess’ orders,” she explained. “It was in the school paper but as we just cleared up, you didn’t read last week’s edition,” she added as a slightly confused looking Rarity trotted over to take the letter from Apple Bloom.

“Why in Faust would Luna allow you to skip classes?” she said gruffly as she snatched the letter from Apple Bloom’s hoof.

“I said MY princess, as in her Royal Highness, Princess Moon Moon of the Night Howlers, daughter of Princess Luna of the Moon, Stars and Dream Realm,” Apple Bloom explained. “It’s all there in the letter,” she added.

Rarity barely heard her, all her attention on the letter she’d just swiped from Apple Bloom.

To my loyal subject, I am sad to inform you that in my short time as your Princess I have already faced a failed assassination attempt from the so called Elusive and Mysterious Madam Trixie. Due to being outranked by my mother, Princess Luna of the Moon, Stars and Dream realm, I am currently unable to issue a warrant for her capture and execution for this heinous crime. I can though still decree that the Elusive and Mysterious Madam Trixie is an enemy to all werewolf kind and that any werewolves found aiding and abetting this low life scumbag shall be bound with silver chains, thrown in a coffin that shall also be bound with silver chains and then be buried alive. What this means for you, a student of St Trineighans is the following:

- You must stay one hundred metres from the Elusive and Mysterious Madam Trixie at all times unless using her for a toilet.
- You must not attend any lessons this criminal teaches.
- You must not talk to her for any reason.
- As she is a citizen of Equestria, you cannot physically harm her in any way in retaliation for her crimes or you will (unfortunately) face punishment for any crime you commit.

Although my mum is strongly against this decree, she knows that she is powerless to contradict any business that only affects my subjects and as such, in time, she will be seeking us a tutor for Art. For the time being though, please use your new found free time wisely,

Her Royal Highness, Princess Moon Moon of the Night Howlers, Daughter of Princess Luna of the Moon, Stars and Dream Realm

Rarity’s eyes started to widen as she continued through the letter before she went back over it twice just to make sure she hadn’t read it wrong; she hadn’t. At least that cleared up why Madam Trixie had smelt like werewolf piss the one time she’d passed the other teacher in the hallway this past week. “Okay, leave it with me,” she finally sighed as she levitated the letter to her desk with her magic. “I’ll talk to Principal Luna about finding a solution,” she stated, before turning her attention back to the entire class. “Anypony else have a decent excuse for not attending a particular class?”

Wisely, no filly else dared to challenge their head-of-year’s authority.

“Excellent. Take note Tempest that until further notice, all werewolves are excused from attending Art,” Rarity stated as she returned back to the front of the classroom. “Now, onto a few other pressing matters, for a start, unsociable howling. It has come to us teachers’ attention that there has been a significant increase in werewolves howling this term, in particularly at unsociable hours when students should be sleeping. I understand there is only one werewolf in attendance here but please can you inform your friends to remember to be considerate to your fellow students or we will have to unfortunately take the drastic measure of muzzling you. Please also make a note Apple Bloom that it has also been decided that howling will only be permitted on the nights of a full moon when on school grounds, understood?” Rarity finished, levitating a small stack of papers up from her desk and heading back over toward Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom nodded in reply as the papers were placed down on the desk in front of her. “Understood,” she responded unhappily before taking a glance at the papers she’d just been provided.

“Good, in front of you is a list of all of the dates of full moons this school year along with a written copy of the school’s decision on the matter. Please pass the copies on to your friends,” Rarity explained before swiftly moving onto the next topic, leaving Apple Bloom to mull over the school’s decision to restrict her and her friends right to freely express themselves.

It was about fifteen minutes later, which had been spent mostly listening to Diamond Tiara complain about one thing or another, when Rarity was finally able to come to the last topic for discussion, today’s event.

“Okay, if there is nothing further anypony would like to talk to me about, let me fill you in quickly about this evening’s event, entitled Club Day. Simply put, every student at St Trineighans must take up at least one club or extracurricular activity and on the second Hornday of the first term, an event is held in the sports hall whereby the ponies running these clubs try to persuade others to sign up to their club or activity. Some of these are run by other students, such as Moon Moon who is running Werewolf Wrestling this year, whilst others are run by teachers often looking for assistance with their work outside of the classroom, such as Mrs Punch who will be seeking help for her brewing business. Overall, this year there are fifteen options for you to choose from and I expect you to choose not one but two of these activities to keep you out of trouble outside of classes. With me so far?”

A series of nods was the reply from the first-years.

“Excellent, then before we head off, here are your choices and the night or nights they run. Although technically incorrect, we class the first night as Moonday and continue from there.” Rarity responded trotting over to the blackboard and pulling it down to reveal a list of clubs. “I’ll give you several minutes to have a think over what you might enjoy outside of classes and then we’ll make our way to the sports hall. Oh, and please choose wisely; your extracurricular activities can play a vital part in your future career choice. I know you are probably a little too young to understand but although boycotting and burning homework may sound like a laugh now, you might seriously come to regret that decision in a few years’ time.”

And with that last piece of spoken wisdom, Rarity fell silent as the students examined the list of extracurricular activities upon the board and the days they ran.

Drama and Dance – Moonday and some Horndays

Book Club and Amateur Librarian – Moonday (Book Club), Any other spare time (Librarian)

School Newspaper – Hoofsday, Fursday and Sunday

Music – Hoofsday and Hornday

Daredevil – Wingsday

Werewolf Wrestling (Werewolves only) – Wingsday

Social Games – Fursday and Magicday

Boycott and Burn Homework Club – Hornday

Association of Sleeping Enthusiasts – Hornday

Assistance in either the Chemistry lab, Herbology Greenhouse or Kitchens – Any school night after classes or all day on days off.

Preparation for the Royal School Games – At least two of Moonday, Hoofsday, Fursday and Magicday.

Dress Making and Crafts - Any school night after classes or all day on days off.

Silence – Moonday, Hoofsday and Fursday.

Apple Bloom looked at the list and pondered. Werewolf Wrestling was obviously going to be one of her choices but the fact it only ran once a week meant she had a lot of time she could spend doing something else but what was the big question. There were a lot of possible options. The fact she wanted to do something with the rest of her free time ruled out the two joke clubs instantly whilst the fact she couldn’t play an instrument or sing and also wasn’t a keen reader ruled out Music and Book Club. Daredevil club was in part run by Trixie and also clashed with wrestling so that was immediately out. Social Gaming sounded fun but she felt her time could be spent doing something more worthwhile. Journalism didn’t really appeal to her, especially as her hoofwriting was just as bad as her reading ability whilst Silence just sounded peculiar. Her best options were either more physical exertion, what earth ponies excelled at, or helping a teacher.

“Equestria to Bloom, Equestria to Bloom,” Scootaloo’s voice suddenly echoed in Apple Bloom’s ear, piercing into her thoughts.

“Huh, what?” Apple Bloom queried, coming back to her senses.

“It’s time to go. You’ve spent the past five minutes staring blankly at nothing,” Scootaloo explained rising from her stool. “Tough decision?”

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom replied, slipping of her own stall. “You seem to have made up your mind though?”

“That’s easy, sports have always been my thing and the Royal School Games is a great way to get noticed,” Scootaloo swiftly dismissed.

Too swiftly.

“And?” Apple Bloom queried.

“And what?” Scootaloo responded with clearly feigned surprise at the enquiry.

“Well, for a start we need to choose two activities and secondly, us Apples are excellent judges of character and right now your body language is telling me you’re hiding something; so spill,” Apple Bloom demanded.

Scootaloo suddenly looked like she’d been caught with her hoof in the cookie jar but before she had a chance to try and muster an excuse for her behaviour, she was saved by Rarity.

“Come on; stop dilly-dallying. We’re already late,” their head-of-year called from the doorway.

Scootaloo saw her opportunity and took it, using the momentary distraction to hurry away into the mob of students squeezing through the doorway and out of the classroom.

“Oh, she is so hiding something from us,” Screwball whispered into Apple Bloom’s ear. “Want to find out what it is?”

“You bet,” Apple Bloom replied as they started after Scootaloo.

*

“Hey Moon, how’s it going? Haven’t seen Scootaloo have you?” Apple Bloom queried as she picked up the quill and signed her name up for Werewolf Wrestling.

“Hey Bloom, hey Screwy. Woah, what happened to you two?” Moon requested, staring at the spots that now adorned both her friends’ coats.

“Rarity. She laced our breakfast with a magical spell to teach us a lesson about not skipping classes anymore. Apparently, they are temporary but who knows just how long they will last?” Apple Bloom grumbled, having already received a number of peculiar looks and sniggers of amusement from fellow students upon entering the hall. “She was also extremely unhappy with your declaration surrounding Trixie. I’m glad you weren’t there or I don’t doubt she would have tried, by hook or by crook, to get you to overturn your proclamation.”

“Pfft, she could try but she wouldn’t win that battle. I’m already pissed off enough as it is by the howling restrictions my mum has lumped on us,” Moon said testily, the smile that had adorned her muzzle after seeing her friends’ peculiar looks instantly evaporating.

“Ah, that was the next thing I was going to talk to you about after Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom replied, placing one of the copies of the announcement Rarity had given her on the table for Moon to examine.

“I’m afraid I can’t help you with Scootaloo,” Moon stated with little interest, her attention solely on the two pieces of paper now held in her magic. “Although not like I’d see much in this position.”

Being the newest club and one in which not many students would be interested or able to participate, Moon had to no real surprise been given the worst position in the entire hall, tucked away in the furthest corner from the entrance next to the fire exit.

“Still hasn’t stopped you getting a fair number of recruits,” Apple Bloom stated, in an attempt to cheer her friend up. “I’m guessing it’s down to that sign your mum gave you for your booth; it looks amazing.”

“Plus, you get first dibs on the fire extinguisher!” Screwball added with her usual amount of excessive enthusiasm.

Moon chuckled, diverting her attention for a second away from the paperwork and back onto her friends. “I suppose that could have come in handy when Sweetie was giving me a hoof setting up before heading off to stand in for Rarity until she arrived with the rest of you. As for the banner, it certainly has caught a few eyes and so far, every werewolf except one has signed up which I class as a huge success. Why is Scootaloo not with you by the way?” Moon finished, returning her attention to the paperwork.

“We think she’s got a secret hobby she’s embarrassed about that relates to a club she wants to sign up for. Apple Bloom called her out but before we could press an answer out of her, she managed to slip away from us,” Screwball explained, practically bouncing on the spot in anticipation of discovering Scootaloo’s secret.

“Oh, does she now? That does sound interesting but unfortunately no matter how much I’d like to help, I can’t leave my booth unattended I’m afraid even if it is…” Moon stopped mid-sentence, her eyes moving from the paperwork once more and focusing on something, correction someone, behind Apple Bloom and Screwball. “Blood Moon,” she muttered, barely loud enough for anyone even in close proximity to hear.

“Moon Moon, our so-called new princess and ruler,” Blood Moon said scornfully, rudely pushing Apple Bloom and Screwball aside so she could come face to face with the other werewolf. “I see you’ve got your paws on the new howling restrictions. Funny how there’s been no issues until you and your merry band of rapscallions appeared.”

Blood Moon was a year older than Moon, although slightly shorter, and quite literally the complete opposite, her coat and mane being entirely white. Blood Moon’s all-white appearance though was neither the only or most peculiar thing about her, that honour falling to her eyes. The left one was a cloudy grey, now unable to see anything due to a gruesome gouge that dominated that side of her face. Half her left ear was also missing. The right eye on the other hoof was what gave Blood Moon her werewolf name, a pinkish red orb that right now was staring at Moon with utter disdain.

“Blood Moon, I wasn’t expecting you to want to sign up to my…”

“I don’t,” Blood Moon interrupted before spitting on the sign-up sheet. “Thanks for nothing,” she growled before turning and pushing past Bloom and Screwball once more, disappearing back into the general throng of students that were ambling through the hall perusing the different extracurricular activities that were on offer.

“Well, that was rude. What’s her problem?” Screwball exclaimed, sticking her tongue out at the departing pony.

“Yeah, I’ve noticed her giving me and Ruby dirty glances in Physical Education as well,” Apple Bloom added.

Moon sighed. “She just doesn’t like being a werewolf is all, nothing I can’t handle. Why don’t you two shoot off and find out what Scootaloo’s up to?”

Apple Bloom looked at her friend with a raised eyebrow. “Seriously? First Scootaloo and now you too?”

Moon sighed. “Fine, due to subject confidentiality reasons I am unable to disclose any information in regards to Blood Moon or any of the werewolves within the school. So yes Bloom, I do know why she is acting that way but if I tell you or anyone for that matter, my mum told me she would throw me in a bath of liquid silver. I’m sorry but the only way you’ll receive any more information on the matter is either Blood tells you herself or if she becomes a serious threat to your safety. Understood?”

“Okay, okay, got ya,” Apple Bloom replied.

“As for the restrictions, sadly it’s out of my hooves. Mum owns the school and has to think about the majority of students first and foremost. Hopefully if we can have a few incident-free moon cycles I might be able to get Mum to reconsider the matter. For now, we must ensure we act responsibly. None of us want the muzzle of shame,” Moon ended somberly.

“It’s fine, I understand totally. I just wanted to ensure you were aware of the matter is all as Rarity asked me to pass these on to you, Sweet…

A lump suddenly landed atop Apple Bloom’s back. She didn’t even flinch.

“Hi Sweetie,” Apple Bloom deadpanned not even turning to see who had pounced on her. “I see Rarity finally relieved you.”

“Ooh, looks like you might need that fire extinguisher after all,” Screwball tittered.

“I know exactly what you’re thinking. Firstly, I’m a werewolf and werewolves have an acute sense of smell. Secondly, even if I wasn’t a werewolf, you’re a werewolf and all werewolves have a unique and very strong scent that even a filly with the worst cold imaginable could smell a mile away. Werewolves and stealth equals impossible, nice try though,” Apple Bloom explained. “Now, would you kindly get off my back?”

To Apple Bloom’s surprise the other filly leaned in and stuttered in her ear, “I-I n-need your help,” just loud enough for Screwball and Moon to also catch what she had just said.

“Wait, what? Sweetie are you in trouble, has someone hurt you again?” Apple Bloom replied with clear concern.

“No,” the other filly replied sheepishly. “I just need another werewolf and Moon and Ruby are too busy,” Sweetie began before Moon interjected as she delicately levitated her friend off Apple Bloom's back and onto the floor.

“Sweetie, I know I’m an alicorn now but I’m never too busy to help one of my subjects and more importantly, a very good friend. Just tell me what you need and I’m sure I can help just as much as Apple Bloom can.”

“No, no,” Sweetie stumbled with her words, not used to speaking. “I-I’m not i-in any trouble, it’s just I need another werewolf who’s yet to commit to all their ex-exter-exteracur, clubs,” Sweetie finally blurted in frustration.

“I see. And you were hoping Bloom hadn’t committed to anything else yet aside wrestling,” Moon replied, stroking her chin deep in thought.

“Please tell me you haven’t,” Sweetie squeaked with alarm, turning to face Apple Bloom with the look of a puppy who’s just had their favourite toy taken away from them. Tears were welling in her eyes.

“No, I haven’t,” Apple Bloom responded. “I came right here to see Moon. But if you think you can coerce me with the puppy dog look, you can think again. I’ll decide what clubs I take and no one else.”

Sweetie looked like she was about to burst into tears.

“BUT, if you give me a good reason to choose your…”

Apple Bloom got no further as Sweetie grabbed her hoof and, with surprising strength for a unicorn, began to pull her away from Moon’s booth.

“Okay, okay, I get the message, I’m coming, I’m coming,” Apple Bloom said to Sweetie before turning back to Moon and Screwball. “Sorry Moon, we’ll talk again later. Screwball, you all right looking for…” Apple Bloom stopped mid-sentence once more. Screwball was gone.

Apple Bloom wasn’t allowed even a second to ponder though where the insane filly had disappeared due to the constant tug on her left forehoof by Sweetie Belle.

“Okay, okay, I’m coming,” Apple Bloom sighed following the other filly as she raced through the throng of students, using her petite size to her advantage to slip through the smallest of gaps imaginable.

Apple Bloom, slightly bigger than Sweetie due to her earth pony heritage, struggled to keep up. Thankfully, it was only a minute or so later that Sweetie reached her destination, one of the biggest booths in the whole hall.

“Oh no,” Apple Bloom whimpered, rapidly turning and attempting to head back in the direction she had come from only to find that her hooves weren’t obeying her command. In fact, she was heading in totally the opposite direction.

“So, you’re Sweetie’s friend. Sorry to use my magic but we’re a little desperate and I could see you were more than a little apprehensive. I guess she didn’t tell you the full story before bringing you along?” an orange unicorn with a short blonde mane that reminded Apple Bloom very much of her sister said on the other side of the booth’s table.

“Hey Carrie, is she the one?” A second unicorn, who looked identical to Carrie in almost every way, asked, trotting over after finishing, unsuccessfully, to persuade some third-years to sign up.

“Sure is Theresa. Our last hope if we want this year’s production to be a success,” Carrie informed. “But where are my manners? I’m Carrie Zation and this is my twin sister Theresa and we’re fifth-years that are also the new heads of the Drama and Dance Association here at the school.”

Apple Bloom looked at the two unicorns sceptically for a moment before muttering, “Apple Bloom. I wish I could say it’s nice to meet you but, well, kind of being held against my will here. Whatever Sweetie promised, I’m not…” Apple Bloom paused as she saw the tears well in Sweetie’s eyes once more. That though, wasn’t what made her change her mind. The fact her friend looked like she was about to explode into a miniature sun on the other hoof, very much did. “Fine, I’ll listen to what you have to say but I’m not promising anything especially as I can’t act or dance,” Apple Bloom conceded. Thankfully that was enough to prevent the miniature sun, for now. “Just get straight to the point of why you need me specifically, please.”

“Thank you,” Carrie replied, letting out a relieved breath as she released Apple Bloom from her magical grip.

“Here,” Theresa added, passing Apple Bloom a flyer.

St Trineighans Amateur Dramatical association proudly presents this year’s chosen production:

THE WEREWOLF OF FILLIES’ HOLLOW!

Apple Bloom read the top two lines then looked at the picture of a bloodthirsty werewolf and a screaming mare underneath and sighed; she wasn’t liking where this was going. Underneath the picture was one final line that only further fueled her unease.

Newcomers welcome, no acting or dance experience required, many parts available, including preferably a werewolf for the lead antagonist role.

“Let me guess; you’ve had no luck finding that werewolf?” Apple Bloom stated bluntly.

“You got it,” Theresa sighed. “There are only eleven werewolf students in the entire school. We had hoped at least one might be interested but only two so far have even glanced at our booth before you and one of those was Sweetie and she’s our head of costumes and makeup. The other one didn’t even hang around for us to talk to them.”

“I’m not surprised,” Apple Bloom replied. “May I ask what made you choose this particular play? From just your recruitment poster it seems more than a little offensive in its stereotypical portrayal of werewolves as nothing more than savage beasts,” Apple Bloom grumbled.

Carrie and Theresa shared a nervous glance between each other for a moment and then Carrie turned towards Apple Bloom and blurted, “We’re psychics.”

Apple Bloom stared at Carrie for a second like the older filly was insane. “Come again?”

Theresa’s head hit her right forehoof. “Well, there goes any chance she’ll sign on now,” she grumbled under her breath. “Good job, careless Carrie.”

Carrie turned and glared at her sister. “What did you want me to say, huh? That we thought it looked like a cool production to put on? As far as I’m concerned, we either tell her the truth and pray she is kind enough to help us out, or end up spending the next nine months foolishly working on a play that we know is destined to fail. I know what my dream showed me, her contribution is pivotal to the play’s success.”

Theresa met her sister’s glare with one of her own and for a time the twins were at an impasse. Eventually, it was Theresa who buckled and turned her head in Apple Bloom’s direction.

“Look at our cutie marks. We each have one half of an iconic symbol of drama. Mine is a mask that represents tragedy whereas Carrie has a mask that represents comedy. But they also have a darker meaning to them. We have dreams of the future, or rather, Carrie has dreams; I have nightmares,” Theresa explained.

It was only then that Apple Bloom noticed the dark circles that buried the older filly’s eyes. “What do you mean, nightmares?” she pressed hesitantly. Apple Bloom was pretty sure she was not going to like the answer to her question but if she was going to be coerced into the Drama and Dance club, she wanted to know exactly what she was getting herself into.

Theresa let out a deep breath and closed her eyes. “It’s simple really, even for a young filly such as yourself to understand. Carrie dreams the best possible outcome; I dream the worst. We have no control over when they will occur or any idea what they will be about and they can vary in many ways such as how many times we have that particular dream, how far in the future it will be and how much of the dream we can remember when we wake up.”

“Not even Luna has the power to be able to access and view our dreams,” Carrie added.

“And let me guess; the last one was of this year’s play,” Apple Bloom stated, closing her own eyes and rubbing her temple with her right forehoof. She was really not liking where this was going.

“Correct,” Theresa replied before adding, “But it was very vague and all we could make out for certain is the play’s name and that it will only be successful if an actual werewolf plays the antagonists role.”

“Actually,” Carrie interrupted, “There is one more thing.”

Theresa opened her eyes and turned her this time shocked gaze upon her sister.

“I’m sorry sister, I did not feel it important at the time. In fact, I’d completely forgotten until now and upon seeing that bright red mane. I’m one hundred per cent certain the filly playing the werewolf in my dream is her,” Carrie stated firmly, jabbing a hoof in Apple Bloom’s direction.

Apple Bloom banged her head hard against the table. “Ow,” she murmured not lifting her head up. “And what happens if I refuse to participate?”

Once again, the twin sisters glanced at each other nervously. It was Carrie who eventually turned and addressed Apple Bloom.

“At best we recreate Theresa’s nightmare scenario and the play turns out to be a massive catastrophe.”

“At worst neither dream is recreated and…” Theresa abruptly cut off before she turned and buried her head into Carrie’s neck, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Woah, wait, I’m sorry. D-did I say something wrong?” Apple Bloom queried, barely able to hide the rising panic in her voice.

“No, it’s just…” Carrie paused, unsure what to say next.

“Death,” Luna’s stone-cold voice brusquely cut into the discussion behind Apple Bloom that sent a chill shooting up the filly’s spine. “If one of the two outcomes is not achieved, a grisly death awaits one of those who features in them.”

Apple Bloom slammed her head hard for the second time into the table. The poor table broke in half.

“Bucks sake,” she grumbled turning to Luna. “So, I either participate in this play or possibly end up getting a silver bullet to the brain? Or worse, one of my friends does.”

“Possibly but it is likely to be much, much more painful than that,” Luna replied solemnly.

“Well, that’s a lot better isn’t it?” Apple Bloom replied sarcastically. “Where do I sign up?” she sighed, turning back to the twins in defeat.

Carrie smiled, “You mean it?” she said as Apple Bloom found the sign-up sheet and pot of ink amongst the rubble and committed to her fate in writing.

“Well, I don’t feel like I’ve much choice,” Apple Bloom stated before adding, “Yet how your play is going to be a success with a pony who can’t act or dance is beyond me. Wait, what is Scootaloo’s name doing on here?”

“She a friend of yours? We’ve had a fair few first years sign up I’m afraid so I’m not sure I’d be able to say who you’re referring to without seeing them first” Carrie explained.

Apple Bloom groaned, already regretting her decision, even if she might have found out just why Scootaloo was being so secretive. Making herself look like a jackass was going to be embarrassing enough but in front of her friends, it was going to be total humiliation.

“Geronimo! Hey Apple Bloom, I found her.”

“What now?” Apple Bloom grumbled, looking up. “Pony dung,” she swore as two heavy lumps barrelled into her.

“Screwball, you have three seconds to give me a good reason for literally dropping in on me like this before I send you back to where you came from, 1…” Apple Bloom growled from the bottom of yet another pony pile.

“You and me both,” Scootaloo groaned sandwiched between Apple Bloom and Screwball. “One moment I’m signing up for Royal Games try outs the next I hear a pony scream my name and suddenly I’m here. Where is here exactly?”

“Drama and Dance booth,” Apple Bloom deadpanned, forcing her friends off her and rising to her hooves.

Scootaloo’s eyes bulged. “I-I didn’t think that would be your thing,” she stammered.

“It’s not but being a werewolf is. What’s your excuse?” Apple Bloom replied with a malevolent grin.

“B-because she loves them," Sweetie interjected tentatively.

"Excuse me, what?" Apple Bloom queried turning to Sweetie Belle. "If you have something to say Sweetie please do," Apple Bloom attempted to coerce.

"I like to sing and dance," Scootaloo interjected this time in a low tone, her gamboge cheeks taking on a rosy hue as she directed her eyes at the floor.

“Woah, okay, that was unexpected but you shouldn’t feel embarrassed about what you love doing,” Apple Bloom said, trying to stem her friend’s embarrassment. "And how does Sweetie fit into this anyway?"

"I'd help her and Rarity with the costumes and in return they would let me sneak into the back row of rehearsals," Scootaloo explained, still not lifting her gaze from the floor.

"I see," Apple Bloom replied, everything becoming somewhat clearer in her mind.

“I personally want to hear what she sounds like,” Luna chipped in, intrigued. “This is also news to me and as you are all well aware, very little in this school remains secret from me for very long.”

Scootaloo’s eyes shot up in panic at that comment and she looked like she was about to attempt to bolt once more as Apple Bloom turned to Luna with a look of thunder.

“You’re not helping,” she snapped angrily.

“She’s good,” Theresa interrupted with a sniffle causing everypony to turn their attention her way. “I spotted her sitting in the back corner of the theatre when she popped by with Rarity last year. I didn’t know who she was at the time and was heading over to confront her for intruding our private practice when I started to hear her following along and singing softly to The Music of the Night. She scarpered though at the end of the song after spotting me and before I could get a clear look at her. She’s young and her voice is rough around the edges but I’m sure she could make it as a singer with the right training and attitude. I was thrilled to spot her hesitantly hovering around a little while back and be able to persuade her to sign on.”

Scootaloo looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole and buried her head into her forehooves in embarrassment.

“C’mon Scoots, it’s not that bad. At least you can sing,” Apple Bloom stated with a forced chuckle, throwing a foreleg around her friend and pulling her in for a hug.

“And this way we get to have fun and spend more time with each other!” Screwball exclaimed as she finished adding her own name to the sign-up sheet. “It’s a win-win.”

Scootaloo slowly removed her head from her hooves and forced a smile across her muzzle. “Seriously? You two not going to laugh at me, the ruggish tomcolt, for being into such sissy things?”

“Nah, I’m more likely to laugh at how stupid you look right now,” Apple Bloom teased. “Although, I’ll make you a deal. You don’t laugh at how bad my acting is and I’ll forget this awkward incident ever happened. Deal?”

“Deal,” Scootaloo chuckled “Now, as soon as you each grab a script, how about we get out of here and enjoy the rest of our weekend?”

“I’d love to but I think I’ve a table to…huh?” Apple Bloom finished, staring at the pristine table in front of her. “How?”

“Don’t mention it,” Luna said behind Apple Bloom. “And if you leave the scripts to me, I’ll take them to your dorms. It’s a lovely evening out there and there’s still an hour or so until my sister’s sun sets; so why don’t you grab a ball or something from the equipment shed and go play? Just take my daughter with you if you don’t mind. She looks bored out of her mind in that far corner.”

“I’m not going to say no to that. What do you say Screwball; Baseball, Hoofball or Buckball?” Scootaloo asked her friend looking a lot more like her old self.

“I’ve already grabbed the bat, ball and catcher’s mitt,” Screwball giggled.

“When…” Apple Bloom began, only for Luna to cut in.

“Miss Ball, might I remind you to be careful and limit the use of portals on school grounds. The last thing we need is a student to accidentally stumble into one and end up lost in the chaos realm,” Luna reprimanded.

“Sorry headmistress,” Screwball replied not in the least regretting her actions.

“No harm done on this occasion just remember for future please. Now of with the lot of you,” Luna said, waving the fillies away with a hoof.

It was as the four members of the Crazy Mark Crusaders departed that they heard Luna’s voice one final time call after them.

“Oh, and Scootaloo, just a heads up that I’ll be along to rehearsals to hear you sing at some point, please don’t disappoint me. And loving the new look, pink suits you.”

Scootaloo didn’t look back as her expression turned to one of a dead filly trotting.

Author's Notes:

And we're back. Ending is a little iffy but I was struggling with it for most this week and maybe just being to critical. Hope you enjoy it anyway and I now have a key plot for book one. Oh and anyone get it?

Carrie + Theresa + Zation = Characterization

Next onto Act 2: An Inspector Calls.

Werewolves of Fillies Hollow: Act 1 Scene 1

“Miss Dust, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in the Sports Hall addressing those who wish to try out and compete for the Royal School Games?” Apple Bloom said as she, Sweetie, Scootaloo, Screwball and Princess entered the theatre.

Lightning Dust rolled her eyes. “I owed Luna a favour. A fair proportion of Drama and Dance Club members from last year were in their final year. That combined with many of the others not wanting to get involved due to a variety of reasons meant Carrie and Theresa were a little short of members this year.”

Apple Bloom let out a loud groan. They’d barely walked through the door and already things were going wrong.

“Don’t you worry Apple Bloom; everything will be fine. We will all just have to pitch in a little more with the menial background tasks is all,” Carrie said with a beaming smile as she approached them. “You do not know how relieved I am to see you make it,” she added as she shook Apple Bloom’s hoof.

“Like I had much choice in the matter,” Apple Bloom grumbled. “And just how many others beside you and me did you manage to recruit?”

“Hey, Carrie, everypony seems to be here; shall we get started with introductions?” Theresa interrupted trotting over. “Oh, hi Apple Bloom.”

Apple Bloom looked around anxiously. “This is it?” There are barely ten ponies here!” she exclaimed.

“Twelve including us,” Theresa deadpanned. “Turned out not many of our fellow schoolmates wanted to participate in such a controversial play. Still, we’ll manage. The show must go on as they say.”

“Exactly, now we need to go and make a start with the introductory session. If you and your friends wouldn’t mind taking a seat at the front for us, please,” Carrie chipped in.

“Wait, I’ve still several more…” Apple Bloom tried to object unsuccessfully. “…questions,” she finished with a heavy sigh as Carrie and Theresa disappeared toward the stage.

“Did I hear that right? We have to put on a show with only twelve of us?” Scootaloo asked, equally as anxious.

“Looks that way,” Apple Bloom replied and before she had a chance to say anymore, Carrie’s amplified voice echoed from the stage.

“Hello everyone, it’s great to see so many willing recruits this year,” Carrie began.

“Is she being sarcastic,” Apple Bloom whispered to Scootaloo.

If Carrie had heard Apple Bloom, she pretended that she had not. “And we do hope you’ve already been getting to know some of your fellow performers this past five minutes but now that we’re all here, it is time for us to get this show on the road!” she finished, bubbling with enthusiasm.

“So, if you wouldn’t mind taking a seat down the front here so that we may begin, that would be mightily appreciated,” Theresa continued for her sister.

“Well, I guess the only way we’ll find out more is by taking a seat,” Scootaloo said as she began ambling towards the front. “C’mon.”

Her friends didn’t need to be asked twice and soon they were all seated, patiently waiting for Carrie and Theresa to explain a few things.

“Okay, so first off, I’m guessing you are all a little concerned by the lack of numbers we’ve managed to attract this year and wondering why there is another script on your seat. Simply put we’ve had to make a few minor tweaks due to our small intake this year. Also, unlike prior years, there will be no auditions; rather we’ve instead assigned each of you a character that we feel best suits your personality,” Carrie explained.

“But,” Theresa cut in, “the lack of participants also means that everyone has a slightly bigger role to play; so everyone will get their time in the spotlight, hurray! Unfortunately, the downside to this is we’ll also need everyone to help get the show ready. Sweetie along with Princess will be in charge of makeup and wardrobe whilst the rest of you will be helping with any other miscellaneous tasks to ensure the performance is a success, mostly making backgrounds and props alongside a few other general errands. Myself and Carrie will oversee and help out wherever we can but will mostly be busy not only with our own parts in the play but also helping all of you to achieve your bests. Meanwhile, Principal Luna and Vice Principal Starlight have kindly agreed to work the lighting for us whilst the Music Club have, after some persuasion, agreed to provide the background music as per norm.”

“Everyone following us so far?” Carrie asked.

She received a hesitant round of nods from her small audience in response.

“Awesome, then let me tell you what this first session is all about, getting to know one another. Look around you, these are the ponies you are going to spend a vast amount time with over the next nine or so months. There will be good times, bad times and almost certainly many, many arguments. But we will overcome our differences and by the end of the school year shall work together to provide the school with a jaw dropping spectacle they will never forget. And who knows? Maybe I’ll even see some of you next year!” Carrie went on.

“Not likely,” Apple Bloom whispered in Scootaloo’s ear next to her.

“Ah, Miss Bloom, our first volunteer,” Carrie said with a wry smile. “Would you like to come up and pick a name?”

“Not particularly but I guess I don’t have a choice,” Apple Bloom retorted rudely to a round of sniggers as she grudgingly rose from her seat and made her way to one of the small sets of steps that lined either side of the stage.

The sniggers didn’t last to long and by the time Apple Bloom had reached Carrie on the centre of the stage, everypony had fallen silent once more, eager to see what the older filly had in store for her younger victim.

“Okay, so what do you want me to do?” Apple Bloom said with about as much enthusiasm as a stubborn mule.

Perfectly on cue Theresa wheeled a whiteboard onto the stage from the wing opposite from where Apple Bloom had entered.

“These are the names of the twelve characters in the show -- four unicorns, four earth ponies, four Pegasi. In the next hour and a half, through these names, a series of team building activities and the modified script we have just provided you with, you must gradually work out who is playing who. If, as a collective group, you can correctly guess everyone’s part, then you’ll win a grand mystery prize, which, trust me, you will love,” Carrie explained.

Bella Donna

Chip Chop

Nightingale

Parsley Snip

Honeycrisp Apple

Polly Teasan

Snow Frost

Tricksie

Barbera Crat

Cortland Apple

Loop De Loop

Donner Blitz

Apple Bloom glanced at the board and then stared at Carrie with a raised eyebrow. “Seriously, you altered my character to be an apple farmer?”

“You think that’s bad? Blitz is Ancient Pegasus for a powerful lightning storm,” Lightning Dust rudely called out.

Both Carrie’s and Theresa’s mouths fell open in surprise.

“How?” Carrie managed to sputter as Theresa grudgingly wrote Lightning’s name next to Donner Blitz at the bottom of the board.

What should have been a simple and innocuous question seemed to catch Lightning by surprise. “I-I-I…Never you mind, that’s none of your business,” she suddenly snapped before raising her hindlegs onto the seat and burying her head into them.

An uncomfortable silence abruptly fell over the theatre for what felt like an eternity until Apple Bloom mustered the courage to intervene.

“Okay, so am I free to go or is there something else you need from me?” Apple Bloom asked already knowing the answer but hoping for a miracle.

No luck.

“Oh right, yeah,” Carrie responded, still distracted by her teacher’s peculiar response to her earlier question.

Slowly regaining her focus, Carrie ignited her horn and brought forth two bags full of scraps of paper that she placed carefully at her forehooves. She then carefully levitated out one piece from one of the bags and hovered the folded piece of paper in front of Apple Bloom’s muzzle. “The first task is as simple as they come. Our five newbie first years and Miss Dust will each be paired up with an established member. You’ll then have two minutes each to ask and find out as much as possible about your partner before switching roles. So, who have you got?” Carrie explained as her magic unravelled the piece of paper.

Apple Bloom somehow looked even less pleased.

“Fleur De Lis,” she grumbled. And that’s when she noticed it, the briefest twitch on Carrie’s face.

“Okay,” Carrie said hesitantly.

Apple Bloom could tell the older filly was clearly agitated about something. Even so, Carrie continued as nothing was wrong.

“Fleur, where are you please? I don’t see you down here with the others.”

“Here,” a broody voice boomed from the back of the hall, the owner of which was hidden in shadow.

“Okay,” Carrie said before giving Apple Bloom a gentle nudge to indicate she was free to go. “Please at least try to make Apple Bloom feel welcome,” Carrie added half-heartedly, as if she was asking something as difficult as having an earth pony fly.

There was no response to her request as Apple Bloom uneasily made her way of the stage and then up the middle aisle whilst Carrie moved on and continued the task of pairing up the filly's friends with the more established members of the club.

“Sweetie Belle, please go sit next to Mimi.”

It was as Apple Bloom reached the back row that the heavy scent of perfume mixed with something else that she knew only too well hit her.

“Wait?” Apple Bloom began before being immediately cut off.

“Come here and sit down,” the voice commanded from the shadows at the very end of the row of seats.

“Erm, okay,” Apple Bloom said apprehensively as she made her way hesitantly along the row of seats, proceeding to alter her hooves into paws and claws just in case. She’d got pretty good over the past few weeks with countless hours of practice at transforming just parts of herself.

“You can put the claws away, I don’t bite… much,” the voice finished with a chortle. “So, how did you get roped into this travesty of a play?” it added in a much more jovial tone.

Slowly Fleur De Lis came into focus in the dim light of the theatre for Apple Bloom to see somewhat clearly. She was more a young mare than a filly as far as Apple Bloom could tell, a unicorn with a beautiful two-tone pink mane and the perfect body to match, or she would have been if not for one glaring thing that Apple Bloom couldn’t help but stare at.

“Your mamma never taught you that it’s rude to stare?” Fleur said coldly.

“She’s dead. Complications when I was born,” Apple Bloom deadpanned in response.

“Huh, sorry to hear that. If it makes you feel any better, I killed mine when I was six. Ripped the ungrateful bitch’s head off along with my father’s. Got locked up in a padded cell for two years because of it and then Luna came and took me here. Now looking forward to the future and hopefully, if I can get through this mockery and insult of a play that Principal Luna forced me to participate in, can become a star on Bridleway after my final year here. That’s my dream anyway and frustratingly it’s currently in Principal Luna’s hooves. So, that’s most of my story, and now I’ll ask again; how did you get roped into this travesty of a play?”

Apple Bloom stared at the older werewolf mouth agape as she slumped into the seat next to Fleur. She could innately tell that everything the werewolf had just told her was true. She really had ripped both her parents heads off. “You, you…”

Fleur stopped Apple Bloom by placing a hoof on her mouth. “Answer my question and then I’ll let you ask me one. Understood?”

Apple Bloom nodded her head slowly in response, in a bit of a daze from Fleur’s open admission of double murder. After a little while to regain her composure, she managed to respond. “In short, Carrie and Theresa needed a werewolf, specifically one that looked like me, to play the lead in their play; otherwise, the dream prophecy they’d had couldn’t be fulfilled and somepony I knew was more than likely going to die. Also, Sweetie Belle.”

“Ah, I’ll accept that second reason. She’s a wild one that unicorn and a pony you definitely don’t won’t to mess with unless you want third degree burns.”

“Agreed and also adorably cute,” Apple Bloom responded, remembering the first time she’d met Sweetie Belle.

Fleur chuckled. “That too. As for this so-called prophecy Luna informed of, I wouldn’t be surprised if Carrie and Theresa made the whole thing up just so that they could put on a performance that further paints us werewolves in a bad way; they’ve never been comfortable around me,” Fleur suggested.

“Well, you did rip off your parents’ heads,” Apple Bloom pointed out.

“Fair point but I think it goes deeper than that. Together they’re excellent at writing and directing, we even did one of their productions a few years back, but their acting, although decent, wouldn’t be good enough to break onto Bridleway. They’ll likely make it as a top writing and directing team but will never be able to show off their works of art themselves and I think that makes both of them a little bitter and jealous of me and my natural talent. It’s another reason why I initially refused to participate this year when I heard they were taking over. If it wouldn’t be bad enough displaying the stereotypical mindless beast image we’re trying so hard to dispel, they would be on at me for every miniscule mistake,” Fleur explained. “But…”

“Luna intervened,” Apple Bloom finished.

“Correct and for your information, my parents were nobility linked to the crown. Celestia, unlike her sister, has had several mortal foals over the years who have gone on to sire offspring of their own. Long story short, I was foalnapped when I was six by a band of rogue werewolves who wanted nothing more than a million bits or they’d kill me. Absolute chickenfeed for ponies like my parents. You know what my tight arse parents’ response was?”

Apple Bloom shook her head.

“You really think we’re going to pay you a million bits. Ha, you’d be lucky if we even gave you a thousand bits you bunch of Neanderthals. This is the exact reason why we had a second foal. Keep her or kill her. It matters little to us; all you’ve done is shown us where we need to tighten up on security to prevent such a lapse from happening again, the Duke and Duchess of Eastern Equestria. I read that letter over and over again in the locked room my kidnappers were keeping me in until eventually, their leader appeared and practically tore my throat out. It was my first test. After I survived, he asked if I wanted to test those new security measures, I agreed. Vengeance and anger can be huge motivators you know. Combine that with having inside knowledge meant that once the kidnappers dumped me outside my parents fortress it was easy enough for me to avoid security, sneak inside and well, let me just say I painted my parents’ bedroom walls red. By the time security were aware of what was happening it was too late. I didn’t even offer any resistance, just handed myself over to them,” Fleur finished distantly.

“Whoa, that’s…”

“Depressing? Insane? I know but a common theme you’ll find amongst the lives of the ponies of St Trineighans prior to arriving here. I’d say up to half of the students here have lost someone close to them, usually one or both parents, and a number of those were the ones who killed said family member, whether deliberately or accidentally. And you know why we end up here?” Fleur rambled on, staring off into the darkness of the theatre at nothing in particular. “Because Equestria has no idea what to do with criminally insane foals. We’re too young for conventional prison and both Luna and Celestia are strongly against the death penalty. As such, I spent a year of my life muzzled and restrained in a straitjacket staring at four white walls day after day after day…”

As Fleur’s voice slowly trailed off Apple Bloom was left stumped at how she could possibly reply to what Fleur had just said. Thankfully, Carrie came to the rescue.

“TIME!”

That snapped Fleur out of her daze and back to the present.

“Huh, what?” she exclaimed.

“Fleur and Apple Bloom, would you kindly join the rest of us down the front and tell us three things you have found out that you have in common and three things that you don’t,” Carrie called from the front.”

“Come on, the sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can get out of here,” Fleur grumbled rising from her chair and pushing past Apple Bloom before pausing and turning her head back to the younger filly. “Thanks, by the way, for listening. Most ponies run a mile when I tell them I’m a werewolf and a mass murderer. Maybe this this year won’t be so bad after all.”

“Well, we’re waiting,” Carrie cried impatiently from the front preventing Apple Bloom from replying as she hastily shuffled after Fleur.

“Yeah, yeah, keep your fur on Carrion or are you T-bone steak? I can never tell which of you is which as you’re both just as whiny as each other,” Fleur said rudely as she ambled down the middle aisle.

Apple Bloom couldn’t help but let out a snigger in response as Carrie gave Fleur a reproachful glare in return. That was until Fleur moved her gaze onto the unicorn’s flank, flashed her sharpened canines and ran her tongue over them like a predator sizing up their next meal. Apple Bloom couldn’t help herself and collapsed on the floor in utter hysterics as Carrie’s glare turned to a look of concern as she pondered whether to fight or flight.

“Oh, come on Carrie; I’m only teasing,” Fleur said sweetly as she collapsed into the second seat of to the left on the second row and motioned for Apple Bloom to sit next to her. “Hey Bloom, why don’t you tell Carrie here three things we have in common.”

Apple Bloom, trying desperately to regain control of her body eventually managed to stand up and, after a few deep breaths said, “We both killed our mothers, we’re both werewolves and neither of us particularly want to be here.”

Everypony stared at Apple Bloom, aside Fleur who had a massive smile plastered across her muzzle, as an awkward silence fell upon the theatre.

“Now, if it wasn’t rude for a lady like myself to laugh, I would,” Fleur said sardonically as Carrie once more looked like she wanted to wring the older unicorn’s neck.

“I knew it was a bad idea putting those two together,” Carrie murmured under her breath.

“What was that? You know it is exceptionally impolite for a lady to murmur under one’s breath. Oh wait, my mistake, you and your sister are nothing more than…” Fleur continued sardonically.

“Don’t you dare,” Carrie growled as Theresa rushed to her sister’s side.

“Well, you’re hardly proving me otherwise by interrupting me, are you? Extremely uncouth but I guess that’s to be expected from the lower class who don’t know a thing about manners,” Fleur said snobbishly.

“Don’t do it,” Theresa whispered into Carrie’s ear. “It’s not worth making a scene over.”

“Oh, I’m not going to,” Carrie said allowing a broad grin to cross her muzzle. “Don’t worry everypony, me and Fleur are just acting and demonstrating for you my earlier point that you will not always see eye to eye with your fellow actors. Let’s all give Fleur here a massive round of applause for her display today,” Carrie explained.

Fleur was about to argue that she was in no way acting when a piece of paper levitated into her lap.

Play along or you can kiss your chance at Bridleway goodbye.

Fleur rolled her eyes and directed her gaze up towards the ceiling.

“That’s right everypony, Carrie asked me to put on this little stunt for you to show you just how easy it is for anypony to have a bad day and lash out at their friends for no particular reason. I’d never really refer to Carrie as traveller trash,” she said, forcing a smile across her own muzzle.

As an uneasy applause broke out, Carrie gave Fleur one final sharp look and mouthed, “You’re on thin ice,” before redirecting her attention elsewhere. “As time is ticking by why don’t we move onto Sweetie Belle and Mimi.”

Mimi was a scrawny second-year earth pony with a dark brown coat and beige mane who sported a swede for a cutie mark. She was at St Trineighans because a freak accident with a swede when she was six had given her permanent brain damage and for some unknown reason, she now permanently believed she was a mime.

“I really didn’t think this one through either,” Carrie groaned two minutes later completely at a loss.

Sweetie and Mimi had mimed their answers.

“NEXT!” she cried, moving onto Frosty and Lightning Dust.

“Erm, well Miss Dust refused to tell me anything, so I guess we’re both Pegasi but that’s where the similarities end. She’s a hot headed, sleep obsessed, sports freak,” Frosty, an all-white Pegasus with light blue eyes began.”

“HEY!” Lightning objected.

“Anypony disagree with Frosty’s description of our Physical Education teacher?” Theresa deadpanned.

“I’d add with an appalling safety record to that list but otherwise I feel she got it spot on,” Fleur nipped in to a number of snickers and murmurs of agreement.

“HEY!” Lightning objected for a second time.

“Objection denied. Carry on Frosty,” Theresa deadpanned once more.

Lightning pouted as Frosty did just that.

“Well, anyway, I’m more reserved and prefer spending my time reading on a cloud or acting. I’m not the best actor or looking for a career in the arts, I just enjoy drama as a hobby and the social side of the club.”

“That’s fair enough. You don’t always need to be the best and we’re happy to have you here, Frosty; you’re a valued and extremely important member of the club,” Carrie replied. “Without ponies such as yourself who are willing to play the smaller parts, plays such as ours wouldn’t be able to happen!”

“On that note, I had time to skim over the updated script seeing as Miss Dust was being so uncooperative. Snow Frost, a Pegasus who is killed roughly halfway through. I think that’s just a little to coincidental, don’t you?”

Theresa levitated the pen and wrote Frosty’s name next to Snow Frost.

“We had less than three nights to re-write practically the entire script to fit a smaller cast. Give us a break,” Carrie chuckled.

“How much coffee did you consume this time?” Frosty jested in reply before redirecting her attention to Scootaloo. “Hey Scootaloo, in your two minutes asking Carrie questions, did you ask her what her record was for most cups of coffee in one night?”

Carrie’s head met one of her forehooves.

“No,” Scootaloo responded with clear intrigue at where this line of inquiry was going.

“Seventeen,” Frosty replied. “We got way behind last year and the last week was manic in ensuring the play was ready. Carrie and Theresa were as such tasked with ensuring everypony would be ready for the performance. Carrie not only drank the school dry of coffee but once the play was done, she totally crashed. No one was able to wake her for the next three days and nights. When she eventually woke up and looked in the mirror, she found a rainbow wig stuck to her head, a pair of glasses drawn on her face with permanent marker and her coat covered in polka dot paint amongst a number of other things.”

“Oh, so that’s where that can of chaos paint went to,” Screwball snickered, entering the conversation.

“THAT WAS YOU!” Carrie exclaimed, turning and looking furiously at Screwball.

“I was in a seriously boring maths lesson, my left ear twitched to inform me someone was discussing a prank nearby so I pinpointed their location and sent them a gift,” Screwball went on nonchalantly.

Carrie’s face had gone red and, forgetting just who she was talking to, she stormed over and thrust her head into Screwball’s. “Three weeks, three bucking weeks I was the laughing stock of the damn school and then poof, they just disappeared in an instant after I’d tried everything to scrub them off.”

Screwball giggled, completely unfazed by the unicorn’s demeanour. “Oh silly, you can’t wash off chaos paint, it doesn’t even have a colour until you pour it onto something. Just count yourself lucky; Papa Discord once told me the story of a zebra who had rainbow-coloured stripes for six years after being doused in chaos paint!”

Carrie’s right eye twitched and Theresa had to pull her sister back before Carrie did something she instantly would regret.

“We’re already behind; so, why don’t we just move onto the next activity? For this one we’d like everypony to come onto the stage. Apple Bloom, why don’t you be one captain and Scootaloo, you can be the other as for this activity we require two teams,” Theresa said, attempting to defuse the situation.

Begrudgingly everypony made their way onto the stage, Fleur unsurprisingly last of all.

“Okay, now that we’re all here, who would like to pick first?” Theresa asked the two team captains.

“Aren’t you going to tell us what we’re picking ponies for?” Apple Bloom immediately questioned.

“Doesn’t matter because whoever I pick is still going to wipe the floor with your team,” Scootaloo said cockily.

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes, opting smartly not to be drawn into a sparring match by Scootaloo’s jibe.

“Now, now, remember actions speak louder than words,” Theresa responded as a smile graced her lips. “As for an answer to your question, where would the fun be in that? I will tell you as soon as the teams are picked.”

“Well then, Scootaloo, I’ll be the gentlemare and let you pick first,” Apple Bloom said politely.”

“Pfft, already conceding defeat. We haven’t even started yet Bloom,” Scootaloo mocked practically jumping with excitement. “I’ll take Miss Dust.”

“Fine by me. I’ll take Mimi,” Apple Bloom responded.

“Fleur,” Scootaloo said as soon as Apple Bloom was finished.

“Hmm, let me see,” Apple Bloom said, taking her time over her choice.

“Come on, come on, we don’t have all day,” Scootaloo huffed impatiently.

Apple Bloom ignored her. “Sweetie,” she finally said.

“Carrie,” Scootaloo instantly replied.

“Frosty,” was Apple Bloom’s response.

“Theresa.”

“Screwball.”

“That earth pony over there,” Scootaloo said, jabbing a hoof at said caramel coloured Earth pony.

“My name is Melody Rama,” Melody said moodily as she trotted over to join Scootaloo’s team.

“And I’ll take Princess then,” Apple Bloom said. “Sorry you were the last pick, it’s nothing personal and I’m really happy to have you on my team,” she sincerely apologised to Princess as the Pegasus trotted over, offering out her left hoof.

“T-thanks,” Princess stammered a little taken aback by the greeting as she took the proffered hoofshake. “And really, don’t worry about it; somepony had to be picked last,” Princess said, finishing the hoofshake and moving on to mingle with the rest of Apple Bloom’s team.

“Okay, if you two are quite done, what’s the task you want us to do Theresa?” Scootaloo said somewhat rudely to the unicorn.

“Simple, make a pyramid. Three ponies at the bottom, two in the middle, one on top. First team to do so wins,” Carrie responded instead of her sister, having finally calmed down. “On your marks, get set, go!”

Scootaloo studied her team and pointed at Fleur and then Carrie and Theresa. “You three are the tallest so you will be the base.”

“Buck that,” Fleur said uncooperatively. “We all know earth ponies are the strongest followed by Pegasi. A base of solely unicorns is destined to fail,” she argued.

“Us Pegasi though are also well known for being the lightest due to our strict physical regimes and diet,” Lightning Dust argued.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Melody harrumphed.

“Well, for most earth ponies this would mean increased body mass in the rear due to an increase in muscle from an increased amount of physical labour. In your case though, I think it’s from having one cake to many at some namby pamby tea party,” Lightning stated with a devious smirk in Melody’s direction.

It was at that moment Scootaloo realised the error of her ways. She had chosen her six ponies because they were the oldest and she therefore presumed would be the best rather than thinking things through like Apple Bloom had done and choosing the ponies who would work best as a team.

“CALL ME FAT WILL YOU? I’LL SEND YOU SIX FEET UNDER!” Melody roared as she lunged at Lightning.

As the two went rolling off the front of the stage in a tangle of limbs and a mighty crash, Carrie looked like she was about to have a mental breakdown, Theresa and Fleur were hooked on watching the show that was now happening off stage and poor Scootaloo? She had to stare at Apple Bloom’s smug smile from the bottom of her team’s perfect pyramid.

Actions most definitely speak louder than words.

To be continued.

Author's Notes:

Unfortunately was nowhere near completing this one so it'll have to be a two parter with the second part being written after I return from my first pony convention this weekend.

Poor Carrie and Theresa certainly have their work cut out!

Edited by Rich-online, thank you!

An Inspector Calls: Part 1 (Now the end)

Twilight Sparkle was not happy, not happy at all. Right now, she should be snuggled in a blanket with Spike in her deluxe apartment that sat atop one of the spires of Canterlot Castle. Instead, Principal Celestia had sent her on a top-secret mission to inspect Princess Luna’s school after a supposed inside source had tipped Celestia of about some alarming developments, most notably a possible outbreak of lycanthropy.

Now, Twilight had been to Luna’s school once before with Celestia and was well aware it was a little peculiar, so took the fact werewolves were real remarkably well she felt (There had only been several minutes of hyperventilating into a brown paper bag). What had startled her more was the fact her mentor suspected that her sister and co-ruler was involved in many unscrupulous and black-market activities, with the school being the central hub for them all. The problem Celestia had always had though was gathering evidence that she could then confront her sister about, her sister was not only exceptional at clearing her tracks but also centred her operations in a castle in the middle of an impenetrable forest that could only be accessed on hoof. That one Celestia had admitted to Twilight had been her fault although it did at least mean that none of the more dangerous students could escape. Even so, she had expected her sister to help and nurture troubled fillies, not push them further into a life of crime!

Anyway, as Twilight had seen first-hoof, the only time Celestia could get near the school was the annual pre-arranged independent inspection. This gave Luna ample time to ensure anything she did not want her sister to see was covered up until she left and Twilight had to admit looking back on the visit, the pupils did seem to be trying overly hard to impress them. In fact, the overly enthusiastic and somewhat unnerving positivity of the school’s students had been what she found so peculiar about the place but until now she had been unable to unearth that memory. Very peculiar and now that she thought about it, she realised there was actually not much she could remember about the visit at all. Did this suggest her mentor’s wild accusations surrounding her sister might actually hold some truth to them? She might never know, as currently it looked like this fucking forest would be the death of her but only after she murdered the idiotic Pegasus with odd coloured eyes, one a reddish pink, one green with an unnatural black sclera, who had guaranteed her she could successfully traverse the forest and bring her safely to the school.

Unfortunately for Twilight, she hadn’t had much choice. According to Celestia, Luna had ponies everywhere, the last thing they wanted to do was tip her of to the surprise inspection. On top of that, none of the superstitious locals dared step anywhere near the forest if they could help it. Thus, Twilight had been stuck with one Rainbow Reckless Dash, a newbie to the area with less brains than a pigeon and who would say yes to anything if it earnt her a quick bit. The scars and needle marks along with her odd colour eyes and rainbow hair should all have been warning signs that Twilight should have heeded to and inevitably led to an immediate U-turn back to Canterlot. But she hadn’t and now two days on from that fateful first meeting at the break of dawn at the edge of the Everfree forest they were lost in the midst of one of the most dangerous places in Equestria having come face to face with everything from timberwolves to manticores, giant spiders to pony eating plants, and everything else you can think of in-between that would like nothing more than to have pony for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, it had started to rain so hard that not even the dense canopy was able to prevent all the rain from reaching them. Their tent had also been torn to pieces by the manticore surprising them the previous night so they didn’t even have that to help try and keep them dry. It had not taken more than a minute after the rain had begun for Twilight to be drenched head to hoof and push her mood to beyond breaking point as dawn neared on the third day.

“Not long now Miss Sparkle, just a little further,” Dash said for the umpteenth time Twilight could remember since they’d started this hopeless quest. “Should be just through these… ah,”

“What now?” Twilight snapped.

“Well, the good news is I found the school,” Dash chuckled nervously.

“And the bad news?” Twilight deadpanned not in the least amused.

“Cockatrices, a whole flock, we’re surrounded.”

“I’ve already sent a scout back to the school. You’ve ten seconds to surrender and tell me who you are and what you are doing here before I instruct them to close in and turn you into garden ornaments,” Scootaloo demanded coldly.

*

The noise in the crowd was deafening as Moon attempted valiantly to make herself heard over the din

“Okay, I hope by now you all know how this goes down but just a quick summary in case. Everypony has one fight a week except the odd one out who has a rest week and operates the commentary booth for us alongside Screwball. The two wrestlers will be sealed in a magical bubble by Vice Principal Glimmer and fight it out until one of you either taps out, is unable to continue fighting or if the fight is timed out. Each fight will last no more than ten minutes and Starlight’s call is final. The only rule is strictly no silver and if possible, try not to rip each other’s limbs of, I would prefer it if the audience kept their lunches in their stomachs, especially as the more bits we make, the greater the prize pool at the end of the year. Magic is permitted to make the fights more interesting and a running table shall be kept to determine positional fights at the end of the year with trophies and bits handed out to the top four fighters. We all clear and ready for a bit of stress relief?” Moon clarified swiftly.

The werewolves in front of Moon all looked like they were ready to let out a deafening howl but just about managed to withhold their enthusiasm for now and instead gave her rapid nods of agreement.

“Excellent, then up first…”

The doors to the sports hall slammed open.

“ME AND YOU, NOW!” Blood Moon roared storming into the hall and jabbing a claw in Moon Moon’s direction.

“B-B-Blood Moon, I wasn’t expecting you here,” Moon Moon stammered in response, taken by surprise by the sudden interruption.

“Cut the crap, I know you sent your mum after me in an attempt to force me to join your pathetic little werewolf club,” Blood Moon practically yelled in Moon Moon’s face.

“What? I did nothing of the…”

WHACK

Gasps reverberated around the Sports Hall.

“She didn’t?” Apple Bloom said, disbelieving what her own eyes had just seen.

“She did,” Ruby deadpanned in reply, letting out a deep growl and baring her fangs.

“Easy Rubes,” Moon Moon said in an attempt to calm her friend down. Four fresh claw marks now sported Moon Moon’s left cheek, blood dripping from said cheek onto the sports hall floor below.

“I can see you are upset and so I will forget…”

WHACK

Four more claw marks adorned Moon Moon’s right cheek.

“If you really are their so-called Princess, prove it,” Blood Moon growled before turning and heading to the ring. “FIGHT ME… or would you rather go running crying to your harlot of a mother here?” She jabbed a hoof in Starlight’s direction, the vice principal looking just as shocked as everypony else at that last comment.

Moon Moon closed her eyes and tried desperately to take some deep breaths as the rage that was known to dwell and fester like a gaping wound inside all werewolves started to overwhelm her. It was no use. Her eyes shot open blazing red as her mind went blank and one sole emotion took hold of her, rage.

“Got ya,” Blood Moon muttered under her breath with a sly smirk as the other werewolf hurtled towards her.

*

Dearest Lulu,

Due to some concerning rumours surrounding an outbreak of Lycanthropy at St Trineighans, I have reluctantly decided to send Miss Sparkle here on my behalf to conduct an immediate surprise inspection of the school, as I am within my rights to do so under section 5 subsection 3 of the Equestrian Education Association Guidelines. Please treat my star pupil with respect,

Yours sincerely, Celestia

“Well played sister, well played,” Luna muttered under her breath. She turned to Twilight, screwed up the letter into a ball with her magic and then threw it into the stunned unicorn’s face. “So, why are you really here?”

“E-e-excuse me?” Twilight stammered.

“You heard me. Why are you really here? My sister knows I have full control over beasts of the night such as werewolves and that there would be no pony better capable in the whole of Equestria to deal with a supposed outbreak, not that there is one at the school. I hate to tell you this Miss Sparkle but my sister is sick in the head. She’s been paranoid for centuries that I’m conducting unholy evils at the school when all I’m actually doing is providing underprivileged fillies like Scootaloo here the opportunity to receive a decent education and a better chance at life. So, if you’ve come here to spy Miss Sparkle, you might as well turnaround and head back the way you’ve come, because I can assure you that you’ll find nothing amiss or out of the ordinary here compared to any other school,” Luna finished bluntly.

Of course, that was the exact moment one of the walls of the Sports Hall exploded in a mass of masonry behind Luna.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Luna sighed putting on a seriously fake smile for Twilight, not even bothering to turn around and assess just what act of mayhem was on today’s menu. “I do apologise, Wednesday is Werewolf Wrestling. It’s a new activity I’ve introduced to hopefully help our werewolves release a bit of stress and aggression. This first session must have just got a little out of…”

“IS THAT AN ALICORN!” Twilight screamed, not paying Luna any attention whatsoever and instead pointing towards Moon Moon who was leisurely floating out of the gaping hole in the Sports Hall wall.

“Double fuck,” Luna cursed.

“Yep, a doodle doo. That’s Moon Moon, Luna’s daughter and Princess of all Werewolves,” Screwball explained, seemingly appearing out of nowhere again. “And the werewolf that just crash landed over there is Blood Moon, she’s been a very naughty girl and needs punishing. I’d use a whip myself but Moony prefers the more hooves on approach.”

“D-daughter?” Twilight blubbered; her mind barely able to comprehend what Screwball had just told her.

“Triple fuck,” Luna swore yet again as Scootaloo’s forehead hit one of her forehooves. “Thank you, Miss Ball, for enlightening us,” she continued. “But what did I tell you about speaking to strangers?”

“Not to,” Screwball replied with a shrug of her shoulders as a malevolent grin crossed her muzzle. “But it’s more fun if I do.”

Twilight did not like the sound of that and without even thinking twice about it turned and bolted for the deadly forest she had been trying desperately to escape from the past two days. Or she would have if her hooves weren’t now stuck to the ground with a sticky pink substance. Instead, she went tumbling into the pink goop.

“Oh, what’s the rush? I thought you wanted to play?” Screwball said in a sickly-sweet tone, the swirling pools of chaos that made up her eyes locking onto Twilight’s as the lavender mare tried hopelessly to fight her way out of the sticky pink goop.

Gradually Twilight’s struggles ceased as Screwball floated down to her, the lavender filly’s muzzle opening way wider than it naturally should be able to and revealing a set of extremely sharp and deadly teeth. It was just as Screwball reached the ground that her concentration was broken as something hard slammed into the side of her face.

Screwball turned and hissed angrily, like a hungry snake interrupted in the middle of ensnaring its prey, only for something to be shoved into her muzzle.

“Screwball, how many times do I have to tell you not to go more than an hour without any sugar, it makes you cranky,” Scootaloo scolded as Screwball threw her hooves around her friend’s neck and pulled her in for a hug.

“Thanks, Scooty Wooty, I needed that,” Screwball giggled.

“Don’t mention it. As for you,” Scootaloo said, directing her attention towards Twilight; who had now added her own vomit to the pink goop from being subjected to Screwball’s chaos magic.

Scootaloo was just about to proceed in turning Twilight to stone when a much larger hoof rested on her back.

“I’ll handle her,” Luna said stoically. “As you can see Miss Sparkle, it was very unwise of you to come here unannounced. If you and your mentor want the truth, this is not just a school but a psychiatric facility for the most mentally disturbed fillies across Equestria and beyond, as you have just witnessed first hoof. St. Trineighans is as much about rehabilitation as it is about a traditional education with our location chosen to minimise the risk to the surrounding population. If my sister wants control of my school that’s fine but let me warn you Miss Sparkle that what you have here is a school full of monsters, many of which wouldn’t think twice about torturing and killing you. Now, if you do value your life, I suggest you duck. Miss Sweetie Belle has joined the fight.”

Twilight smartly chose to heed the alicorn’s advice as the pre-dawn darkness was shattered by an enormous ball of flame that exploded on a tree behind her and sent flames shooting everywhere that were quickly extinguished by the relentless tirade of rain that had soaked Luna as soon as she’d stepped hoof out of the castle.

“MISS BELLE, WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT PLAYING WITH FIRE NEAR THE FOREST!” Luna bellowed.

All she received in reply was a fireball directed at her head as Sweetie, Ruby and a few others tried to stop a totally loco Moon Moon from tearing Blood Moon into so many pieces that not even a werewolf could recover from the damage.

“Could use a little help if you wouldn’t mind!” Ruby yelled as Moon Moon clamped her jaws on her fore leg. “Blood Moon has made her see AAAAAAAHHHHH!”

Luna winced at the scream that was accompanied by the sound of bone shattering as her daughter’s jaws crushed one of her best friends’ leg. She was just about to get involved when somepony beat her to it. A rainbow blur cannoned into Moon and sent her flying into the distance.

“Woah,” Luna exclaimed turning once more to Twilight. “Did you know she could do that?”

Twilight didn’t reply, her focus entirely on Rainbow Dash, mouth floundering to make anything coherent come out of it.

“I guess not,” Luna deadpanned. “Now, excuse me while I go see to my daughter.”

She turned and gave Scootaloo a brief look which, without a single spoken word, gave the filly a clear message, keep an eye on her. And then her attention was back on her daughter, who was just picking herself out of the rubble of the wall of the castle she had crashed into.

“MOONABELLA ASTRA STARMOON, JUST WHAT IN BLAZES DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING!” Luna roared.

Moon stopped in her tracks and her eyes immediately reverted back to cyan. She looked sheepishly in her mother’s direction before rapidly assessing all her possible avenues of escape.

“Uh oh,” Screwball said with a grimace to Scootaloo. “Full name. She’s in a LOT of trouble.”

“Agreed. What I would like to know is just what Blood Moon did to cause such a reaction?” Scootaloo asked Screwball.

“Long story short, she stormed into the hall and started making a scene, accusing Moon Moon of sending her mother to try and force Blood Moon into joining her club. Blood Moon proceeded to try and challenge Moon to a fight by hitting her twice but Moon Moon refused to take the bait. That was until she called Starlight a harlot in front of most of the school.”

Luna had just been about to confront her daughter before she had a chance to flee but stopped in her tracks upon hearing what Screwball had to say. “Wait what? I never did anything of the sort,” she exclaimed. “I think Miss Blood Moon has some explaining to do but first I need to deal with my daughter.”

“I’m here mum,” Moon Moon said with a sniffle.

Having come to her senses at last, it hadn’t taken Moon long to realise that running away and barricading herself in her dormitory would, almost certainly, only make her mum even more mad at her and result in a heftier punishment. Thus, she had decided to simply get the inevitable over with whilst acting as pitiful and sorry as she could to try and minimise said punishment.

“If I turn around and see the puppy dog expression, fuck Miss Snoopy Sparkle over there and my bitch of a sister, I’m locking you in the school dungeon for a week chained upside down to the wall and with nothing but bread and water to eat and drink, if you’re lucky. 3…2…1,” Luna said turning around to face her daughter.

In that moment Moon Moon wondered if fleeing to the Northern Mountains and living the rest of her life in solitude as a hermit might well have been the better option. But then the stern expression on her mum’s face softened as she saw the state of her daughter’s face and Moon finally remembered how to breathe once more.

“Blood Moon really did number on your face, didn’t she? Those are definitely going to leave a mark,” Luna said, unable to mask the motherly concern in her voice.

“You should see what I did to her in retaliation,” Moon Moon replied before she could stop herself.

Luna chuckled, approaching her daughter and lifting Moon’s chin with a hoof. “I heard it was only once your mother’s honour was insulted that you truly flew of the handle?”

Moon Moon’s cheeks started to go red and it wasn’t solely from the blood that stained and still dripped down her face.

“Nice to know family honour means something to you although that still doesn’t excuse your actions. I think an extra anger management class for all werewolves is in order every Magicday from here on out,” Luna stated calmly as she used a royal blue hanky to try and clean her delinquent daughter’s face.

The expression of hope on Moon’s Moon’s face that she might get out of this situation with only a heavy telling off immediately disappeared. “But, but, my subjects are already reluctant to follow me. Forcing them to attend an extra weekend class because I messed up and stupidly let Blood Moon get to me will just make them outright hate me!” Moon practically wailed with despair.

“Precisely, which is why I’m doing exactly that to not only try and prevent a future outburst but show you that your actions can and will likely have significant consequences that you will then have to overcome, especially now that you are a ruler. Take this as the first of many lessons you will learn and challenges you will have to overcome during countless years of service to your subjects, understood?” Luna replied, not wavering in the slightest.

“Yes mum,” Moon Moon responded dejectedly as her mother continued to clean her face.

“Good. My word she really did cut you deep, we’re going to need to get Zecora to apply stitches to these,” Luna said, temporarily distracted before she cleared her throat and continued applying the rest of her daughter’s punishment. “After which, you will then not be going to bed until you’ve helped me fix the mess you’ve made and apologised to both Miss Sparkle over there, who has just arrived having been sent by my sister to do a surprise inspection of the school and assess the lycanthropy outbreak, and Miss Pinch whose leg you just shattered with your teeth,” Luna ended firmly, not allowing their relationship to impair her judgement.

“But, but, wait, who?” Moon said as the gravity of the situation registered in her brain. “Oh fuck.”

“Although I would usually scold you for such language, I think that sums up this situation nicely, especially as prior to five minutes ago, only those in the school knew I not only had a daughter but that she was also an alicorn,” Luna deadpanned looking less than pleased as she finally finished cleaning her daughter’s face, to the best of her ability, and let her go. “So, go ahead, introduce yourself,” she said, pointing in Twilight’s direction.

Moon let out a sigh and for the first time turned and acknowledged the newcomer to the school.

Twilight, who had finally given up trying to escape her prison of pink goop, looked at her expectantly.

“Wait, why is she covered in gum?” Moon exclaimed.

“This is gum, ewwwww,” Twilight replied, desperately trying once more to escape her prison.

“Bubble gum to be precise,” Screwball replied in an uninterested drone whilst laying lazily on a cloud that hovered a few feet of the ground. She proceeded to throw a piece of said gum into her mouth having run out of chocolate to eat.

“Ew, ew, ew, it’s everywhere,” Twilight wailed, only making things worse by increasing her struggling.

Luna rolled her eyes and turned her attention to Screwball. “Miss Ball, if you’d be so kind.”

“Okey, dokey, lokey. If you’re sure she won’t try and do a runner again,” Screwball responded clapping her forehooves together. The bubblegum immediately disappeared aside a small amount that still resided in Twilight’s mane.

“Sorry about that. Now, introductions…” Luna began only for a dishevelled and rather battered looking Blood Moon to appear out of nowhere and launch herself at Twilight.

Twilight screamed and closed her eyes expecting the worse only to slowly realise it wasn’t forthcoming. She tentatively opened one eye to see the werewolf frozen in mid-air mere millimetres from her flank.

“Seriously, you really thought that was going to work? I could smell you a mile off,” Luna said flatly before turning to Twilight once more. “I’m sorry about that. White Potato here is one of our more troubled students. Apologise to Miss Sparkle this instant for your behaviour young Miss,” she added placing White Potato or Blood Moon as she now preferred to be called into an impenetrable ball of blue magic.

White Potato, aka Blood Moon, having quickly realised she’d been lured into a trap and that there was now no escape from her prison, decided to do the only rebellious things that she could think of in her current predicament. She stuck her tongue out at Luna defiantly, then raised her rear end and mooned the Moon Princess before slumping onto her rump and turning her back on Luna.

“Suit yourself,” Luna said with a shrug of her shoulders. “How many times have you attempted suicide in the past eighteen months by the way? Seven if I’m correct and am I not also correct in saying that one of the main reasons you stopped was because you’re a werewolf and aside from silver or practically impossible levels of bodily damage, death is impossible,” Luna said nonchalantly.

Blood Moon, interest piqued, turned her head and gave Luna her best death glare. She’d heard a similar lecture a number of times before and it always ended with a so-called choice for her. It was never really a choice though, rather obey or suffer a severe punishment.

“I see I have your attention so I will continue. I’ve seen on several occasions you coming back to life and it appears neither pleasant nor painless, so I’m going to ask you again, apologise to Miss Sparkle for your behaviour or I shall cut the oxygen supply from that bubble until you do,” Luna said coldly. “So, what will it be?”

Blood Moon spat in Luna’s direction before reluctantly turning her death glare in Twilight’s direction. “I’m sorry for trying to bite you, it was wrong of me to do so,” she grumbled unhappily, not meaning one word of what she said.

“Excellent, now, as for the rest of your punishment, you shall not only be attending an anger management class alongside your fellow brethren on Magicday from here on out but you’ll also not be going to bed until you’ve helped tidy up the mess you and Moon have created, understood?” Luna said firmly.

Blood Moon turned and locked her one good eye back on Luna. For a moment the two were at an impasse as an awkward silence fell over the field. And then Blood Moon lowered her head in defeat.

“Fine,” she grumbled mutinously.

“Excellent, and one more thing, I’m appointing you my daughter’s Royal Advisor and Confidant,” Luna replied.

“WHAT!” Blood Moon and Moon Moon both exclaimed as one.

“But she hates me!” Moon Moon tried to argue.

“For once I have to agree with her. I absolutely despise her and what she is. Heck, if you hadn’t got it hidden away somewhere under lock and key after my last attempt, I’d have already tried to slip some silver nightshade in her food or drink,” Blood Moon admitted.

“See, she doesn’t even deny…wait what?” Moon Moon began, only for it to dawn on her just what Blood Moon was saying. “You do realise what you just admitted to, don’t you?”

“And you realise that I’ve been transformed into one of the very monsters that killed my entire family. I plan to eradicate the werewolf plague from this world or die trying, I don’t really care which,” Blood Moon openly admitted with a shrug of her shoulders. “Why do you think I’m trying to bite her, for fun?” she said, thrusting a claw in Twilight’s direction. Celestia would have a fit if her prize pupil was turned into a werewolf. The fallout would be astronomical.”

Moon’s jaw dropped and she slowly turned to face her mother. “YOU WANT ME TO HANG OUT WITH A PONY THAT WANTS TO MURDER ME AND MY SUBJECTS!” she screamed. “WHAT IN TARTARUS MUM, ARE YOU INSANE?”

Luna simply stared emotionlessly back at her daughter for a moment before replying calmly, “Why yes, yes, I am but I am also hopeful that overtime you two will be able to overcome your differences and become good friends and if not, it is always wise dear daughter to keep your enemies close. Count that as your second lesson today. So, you can either accept my appointment or, if you’d prefer, I can have the two of you betrothed and married once you turn sixteen. Your choice.”

Moon Moon’s right eye twitched. “You, you, can’t do that!” she whined.

“Actually, I can. A betrothal requires the consent of the parents or guardians of both foals along with royal authorisation from myself or my sister. As Blood Moon stated, she has no remaining living family making her the responsibility of the country. More specifically, she was signed over to my care by my sister and the head of foal protective services. Thus, if I wanted to…” Luna trailed off with an impish grin.

“Oh mare, she got you good,” Blood Moon quipped from her prison after letting out a snigger of amusement.

“You’re not helping!” Moon Moon snapped, sending a scathing glare Blood Mooon’s way.

“Why should I?” Blood Moon retorted, totally unfazed with a shrug of her shoulders.

“Do you want us to be betrothed?” Moon Moon snapped in reply.

Blood Moon shrugged her shoulders. “Doesn’t bother me as either way it’s almost certain at least one of us won’t make it to their sixteenth birthday anyway. At worst, we’ll have a killer honeymoon.”

Moon Moon’s eyes widened and she stared at Blood Moon, then at her mother and then proceeded to jab a hoof in Blood Moon’s direction.

“Oh, stop being so melodramatic and choose before I do for you, you’re keeping our esteemed guest waiting and we’re all getting soaked and a chill from standing here in the rain,” Luna reprimanded sharply.

Moon Moon took a deep breath and stared up into the rain. Then, she abruptly turned and addressed Blood Moon through gritted teeth. “Congratulations on your appointment as Royal Advisor and Confident, I look forward to working with you.”

Blood Moon smirked. “Cool. As your newly appointed Royal Advisor, I advise you to stab yourself in the heart with a silver sword to remove yourself from this awkward situation.”

Moon Moon slumped to her rump open mouthed in total shock at how brazen this bitch was. This time Moon Moon threw both her forehooves in Blood Moon’s direction as she stared pleadingly at her mother in hope Luna would allow her to reverse the proclamation.

No such luck.

“What did I just tell you about being overdramatic? Don’t make me go through with the betrothal as well,” Luna warned.

Moon Moon, wisely opting not to push her luck any further, chose the only course of rebellious action she had left at her disposal, crossing her forehooves across her chest and have a good sulk.

Luna ignored her daughter’s childish reaction and continued. “Besides, she wouldn’t actually kill you or allow any serious harm to befall you, otherwise she’d spend the next thousand years writhing in agony begging for death at my hoof. Think of her as an extra layer of protection that knows a fate a thousand times worse than death awaits her if she should fail in her added duty to protect you from harm.”

The smirk on Blood Moon’s face fell away in an instant, replaced with a large, extremely nervous gulp as Luna sent an extremely unnerving smile her way that was accompanied by one of her forehooves making a slicing motion across her throat.

Moon Moon meanwhile went from sulking to burying her head in her forehooves, no longer sure just how to react to her overprotective mother’s antics.

“Now that that’s sorted, I do believe we’ve been very rudely ignoring our esteemed guest who has been waiting very patiently for you to introduce yourself,” Luna said in a more casual tone, returning her attention back to Twilight.

“Oh,” Twilight said nervously breaking into the conversation and realising she should have been doing a lot less gawking at the mother daughter squabble and a lot more running for her life. “Don’t mind me, I’m just going to…”

“Hi new friend!” Pinkie exclaimed, materialising through the ground in an explosion of confetti.

“GAH!” Twilight screamed leaping into the air.

Luna felt yet another headache coming along, she’d been having a lot of those recently. Or maybe this time it was simply the spark of flame that had caught her mane from one of Sweetie’s fireballs that had somehow so far avoided being extinguished by the torrential downpour. She swiftly put it out. Either way, this surprise visit and inspection couldn’t have got off to a worse start.

“Sorry, I was distracted helping Rarity calm down Sweetie before she attempted to burn down the rest of the school. Rarity and Starlight are just disbanding the last of the students now. Thankfully, it seems that aside from Ruby’s leg, nopony else was seriously harmed, just very, very wet. We’ve instructed them to head to the dining hall to dry off and get a good meal into them,” Limestone panted, racing over as Sweetie ambled along next to her, no longer on fire and happily sucking on a lollipop. “Pinkie, how many times do I have to repeat myself, wait and I’ll introduce you if it is safe to do so. We have no idea who she is or why she’s here.”

“Thanks Limestone and this is Miss Twilight Sparkle, who has been sent here by my sister to do a surprise inspection of the school and to see what measures have been put in place to curb the lycanthropy outbreak,” Luna deadpanned.

“Ah,” Limestone replied.

“Ah indeed,” Luna replied. “Miss Sparkle, this here is our Home Economics teachers, Miss Limestone Pie and the ghost is her sister Pinkamena.”

“Hello, please call me Pinkie. Only squares, Lulu and my mum call me Pinkamena,” Pinkie giggled floating in front of Twilight, who was no longer paying the ghost any attention, instead staring straight through her at her disfigured sister.

“Why don’t you take a picture, it’ll last longer,” Limestone growled as her one good eye flashed yellow for just a moment.

“Oooh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Miss Grumpy Pants bite is just as bad as her bark,” Pinkie whispered into Twilight’s ear that sent a chill down the unicorn’s spine.

“Pinkie, just because I’ve only got one good ear doesn’t mean I can’t hear you,” Limestone growled as sparks started to fly of her hooves.

Luna attempted to intervene. “Miss Sparkle, although you are a guest here and have not encountered our Home Economics teacher before, might I please remind you that it is extremely rude to stare along with the fact that it is not just our students who have difficulty fitting in with normal society.”

Twilight’s cheeks started to take on a rosy hue as she lowered herself to the ground. “Please forgive me Miss, it was extremely rude of me to stare.”

The sparks immediately went out as Limestone stared at Twilight, totally taken aback by the other mare’s actions. “Huh, no need to be so formal egghead but thanks all the same, you’re all right. Also, you might want to brace yourself, Screwloose is coming and she’s not overly keen on strangers.”

“Screw…”

“BARK, BARK, GROWL.”

“GAHHHHH,” Twilight screamed once more as a pale blue pony barrelled into her and pinned her to the ground.

“Quadruple fuck,” Luna groaned, wondering how much alcohol she would need to consume to forget this mess ever happened and if there would be anyway to bribe Miss Sparke not to spill the school’s secrets to Celestia. “Screwball, would you mind calling of your mother please.”

“Sorry,” Screwball giggled, not in the least bit sorry. “She gets overprotective of me around strange adults she doesn’t recognise. It’s okay mum, Twilight’s a friend, for now,” she added with a wicked smile across her face as she pulled out an exact replica of Twilight in squeaky toy form and pressed it to catch her mother’s attention. “How about we leave the grown-ups to discuss the boring stuff and go play fetch.” She pressed the toy once more and then launched it halfway across the open field.

Screwloose, attention hooked, immediately bolted after it in the rain.

“Just be warned Miss Sparkle, one word from Principal Lulu and that squeaky toy becomes you. Have a pleasant day,” Screwball cautioned before finishing with yet another disturbing smile and floating away on her cloud after her mother.

Twilight shuddered as a distant voice with a Canterlot twang echoed across the playing fields.

“Yow, who’s throwing dog toys at me? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH,” Rarity screamed followed by a loud splash.

“Aw, mum found another bitch to play with,” Screwball cooed.

“SCREWBALL, get your mother of me this instant or so help me I’ll have you in detention with Vice Principal Glimmer until the day you graduate,” Rarity roared angrily, now not only sopping wet but covered in mud as well.

Luna, having already had enough for one night in the past half an hour alone, decided to tune out and leave Rarity and Starlight to deal with Screwball and Screwloose.

“Sorry about that,” Luna apologised for the third time to her guest, not even bothering to explain to Twilight this time. She needed a strong drink and fast, there was literally no way this situation could get any worse. “I think it is high time we head inside for dinner, then you two are going to spend at least the next several hours helping me fix up the Sports Hall and whatever else you’ve damaged,” Luna commanded, firing a hoof first in Moon Moon’s direction and then in Blood Moon’s, who was still imprisoned in the magical bubble. She then turned and faced Twilight. “We’ll talk and arrange a schedule over dinner and I’ll have Vice Principal Starlight escort you to your quarters afterwards. I believe you met her on your previous visit if my memory serves me correctly.”

“She’s the mute mare who looks remarkably similar to myself and uses signs to communicate, correct? We had a fascinating discussion regarding the origin of magic. I would love to continue that,” Twilight said enthusiastically, thoughts of being brutally murdered by an insane filly in this lunatic asylum momentarily pushed to the back of her mind.

“Excellent, then you and your guide can bunk with Starlight in her quarters. I must warn you though not to wander around without another teacher to escort you, as I cannot promise your safety if you do and the last thing I need is my sister up my arse because you stupidly got yourself killed snooping around my school. Understood,” Luna finished coldly.

And just like that the thoughts Twilight had just managed to repress were immediately returned to the forefront of her mind. As words once again failed to form in her mouth, she instead simply shook her head up and down in acknowledgement. Just what had her mentor got her into!

“Brilliant, then all that is left to do before we head inside is for my daughter to introduce herself to you. I’m waiting…”

“Can’t a damn Pegasus get any peace, I’ve only just got the early years fed and into their dorms…WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO THE SPORTS HALL!” Lightning Dust exclaimed appearing on the scene. “And who the hell is…”

“Hi sis.”

Lightning Dust froze mid-air, nearly forgetting to fly as she slowly turned and faced the glistening rainbow pony behind her. Even in spite of her look, there was no way she wouldn’t recognise her own sister.

“I-I-I,” Dust stammered before in a flash Dash sent her cartwheeling out of control into a tree at the edge of the forest.

“Go fuck yourself. That’s for our parents. This is from me,” Dash said solemnly as a beam of magic shot out of her green eye.

Dust sighed, closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable. When all that arrived was a loud explosion that didn’t result in her demise, she tentatively opened them to see her sister pounding on an impenetrable bubble.

“I’ve no idea what the buck is going on right now but you can’t just go around vaporising my subjects,” Moon Moon scolded, breathing heavily from the magical strain before turning and smiling at her mother who did likewise back as Dash continued to slam relentlessly on the bubble.

“That’s my filly,” Luna said proudly.

“It’s no use, I’ve tried,” Blood Moon quipped, moping in her own bubble prison.

Dash wasn’t listening. “Let me at her. Let me at her. She killed them. They are dead because of her. She needs to pay, please just…” and then, finally, she broke and collapsed onto the floor of the bubble sobbing uncontrollably as Lightning rather gingerly pulled herself from the remains of the tree.

“Wait, what?” Lightning enquired, eyes going wide.

Dash just continued sobbing on the floor of the bubble as she slowly returned to her natural form.

“Okay, now even I am at a total loss. Kindly like to explain why your guide just tried to kill one of my teachers?” Luna asked Twilight who looked just as stunned as most the other ponies in the near vicinity. “I guess not. Come on, let’s head to my office. Miss Sparkle, you might want to stand next to me so that Miss Potato doesn’t get any ideas when I release her.”

Even before she had finished the sentence, Twilight was glued to Luna’s side, when, of course, another couple of ponies just had to make an inopportune appearance.

“Like, anyone like to explain what’s going on. Me and Fluttershy were just mellowing out with Manuel here, relaxing, having a bit of nip and then we start to hear loud explosions. Initially we thought it was some bad…”

“Mrs. Tree Hugger,” Luna said through gritted teeth, suddenly remembering it was Wingsday which meant Fluttershy got part of the night of to “relax” with her friend. “This is Miss Sparkle. She has come to do a surprise inspection of the school on behalf of my sister due to the lycanthropy outbreak.”

“Oh, so you want Manuel to eat her then,” Tree Hugger replied, as usual, higher than Cloudsdale and completely misreading the situation.

Fluttershy giggled, also totally off her trolley.

Luna’s forehoof met her forehead wishing for a second that somepony would find that one ancient dark magic tainted sword and chop her head of with it.

Manuel, the extremely large Manticore, licked his extremely large teeth, eyeing Twilight up hungrily as she dived under Luna for protection. The ponynip had given him the munchies.

Twilight gulped nervously, cowering underneath Luna. Why, oh why did Celestia have to send her to this mad-house?

Author's Notes:

I hope you enjoyed this final hurrah. I wrote this before realising I needed to do the chapter before for the story to make sense. Even though the second half of the last part only got half done and won't be completed or released, I felt those few who did like this story might enjoy this. Why is Dash so mad at Dust? If you must know, my idea was that Dust was a reckless wild, child, with no concern for safety and as such, constantly causing problems at school because of it and this led to numerous expulsions resulting in the only school left being a private one for the foals of what would be classed as the upper class of Cloudsdale. One huge mess later that resulted in the wrong filly getting seriously hurt and Dust ends up at Luna's school whilst her parents are left with paying off a huge debt because of their daughter. This leads to Dust and Dash's father literally working himself to death and a year later, still under a mountain of debt and having never gotten over her husband's death, their mother commits suicide. The debt then passed onto Dash who did whatever she could to pay it off, including a wide range of questionable experiments.