> Ponyville Kindergarten > by Visharo > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 - Kindergarten is Magic > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "But I no wanna!" Twilight Sparkle, age 4, is currently being dragged to a kindergarten off in the distance by her mother, Twilight Velvet. "Honey...this is the best for you." Her mom sighed, concentrated more into her magic. "But!" "No more buts, missy. You're going and that's that." Twilight fell silent, pouting. The unknown town of Ponyville passed around her, upside down. It was strange seeing the world this way. Random ponies, hanging off the ceiling, she didn't know stared at her, some confused, some amused. She snorted at them, they're strangers! Mom always said to only judge a pony after you get to know them. Why do they get to judge her and her mom! She was moments away from giving them a piece of her mind when suddenly, the world shifted again. "Ah. There we go." Her mom stood back up with a forced smile. There was another pony beside her. A young mare with a white coat and a friendly enough smile. But that didn't mean anything. "This will be your teacher. Be nice." And trotted away. "Hi Twilight! My name is Miss Celestia, if you'll follow me..." She paused while stretching a hoof to point behind her. Twilight followed obediently. The two trotted into a large room and so many ponies were everywhere! Twilight's never seen so many ponies before, she couldn't even count them all! Granted, she could only count to five, but still! "Why don't you go sit over there?" Miss Celestia pointed to a group of five. HA! "They're nice fillies, I think you'll get along with them." Twilight nodded wordlessly and trotted over, but when she looked again, there were only four. Huh? She tilted her head and looked around, perhaps she miscounted? "Hi!" "AAH!" Twilight jumped away from the filly that suddenly appeared next to her. "Pinkie! What did we say about scaring the new students!" Miss Celestia said loudly. "M'sorry, Miss. I just get exited, ya know?" The so called Pinkie. She was pink, very pink. Her mane and coat were pink, and her mane and tail were a mess compared to Twilight's neatly brushed hair. Her eyes were a pretty blue, though. "Don't you mean excited?" Twilight corrected softly, slowly picking herself off the ground. "Oh yeah! Excited." Pinkie nodded with a bright smile. "M'name's Pinkie Pie!" "Twilight Sparkle." "Oooh, you got such a pretty name." Pinkie giggled, making Twilight smile too. "Come on, lemme show you th'others." Twilight allowed herself to be dragged, unsure of what else to do. The first filly they came across was facing away from them, but had an orange coat and a blonde mane. A small cowpony hat covered her head, it was cute. "Applejack! Meet Twilit!" "Twilight." "Twilight!" The orange filly turned around and looked up with sparkling green eyes. They were so pretty that Twilight nearly missed the cookie in Applejack's mouth. "Mmm MM mmm!" The filly paused, look down, then munched the rest of the cookie with a single bite. "Mjam! Howdy, m'name's Applejack, was yers?" "Twilight Sparkle." "Thas a mighty fine name. Wanna cookie? Muh granny made it. Is apple oat." The filly smiled sincerely while holding up another cookie. Twilight smiled bashfully and accepted. The three then spent a couple of minutes munching on the cookies. It was very good. "Okay, thank you Applejack! M'very yummy." Pinkie bounced up, her mane and tail seemed to poof out even more. "C'mon Twilit, lesgo!" The next pony was a cyan pegasus with a pretty rainbow mane. She was sleeping though. "Rainbow!" Pinkie shouted into the filly's ear. It was astanishing...astinishing...astonishing to see a filly jump so high. She went so high that she crashed into a cloud mobile before falling back down into the pillows. She groaned and looked up with bleary eyes. The mobile fell too and landed next to her. "PINKIE!" "Sorry Miss!" Pinkie immediately looked back. "Twilit, this is Rain..." "Rainbow Dash! I can say my own name okay, hmph." Rainbow pouted, although it was clear that she was still sleepy. "M'sorry Dashie, I was exited. We's got a new friend!" "We do?" The filly's head popped up again and looked at her. "Huh." Then promptly fell asleep again. "Aw, lesgo, we no wake Dashie. She gets mad if we wake her." Pinkie half whispered, half spoke before hopping away. Twilight followed with only a single glance back. The next filly is a beautiful white unicorn, like her! She has a curly purple mane and tail. Somehow, her whole face was smeared with something red, it looked weird. "This is Rarity!" Pinkie presented her like a big surprise. "The pwettiest filly in Kindergarten!" "Oh, dawling, m'not that pwetty." Rarity giggled. "Thas why I'm putting on make-up!" "...Rarity. Did you steal my make-up kit again?" Miss Celestia was suddenly behind the filly with a stern look. Rarity looked back with shameless innocence. "No." Then fluttered her eyes and smiled prettily. "Nice try." The teacher snatched the tube away from the filly and trotted away. "Awwww..." "I think you're pretty." Twilight said suddenly, unsure where that came from, but it was true. Rarity was pretty! "Thank you, dawling." The filly beamed, only marred by that red stuff everywhere. "You're pwetty too!" Twilight smiled bashfully and shifted her little hooves a little. "I'm Twilight Sparkle." "Rarity, pleasure to meet you." The last line sounded well reherthsed...reharsed...rehearsed. Like that one time Twilight had to perform for her pre-school. "Yay! Now c'mon! We has one last friend to get to." With warning, Twilight was whisked away by Pinkie once again. She found herself by the window in a few seconds. By the window was another pegasus, this one yellow and had a pink mane. She was also pretty. "Fwuttershy!" "Aah!" The filly squeaked and fell to the floor and curled up. The bird she was watching flew away. Twilight felt sad for some reason. "Oop, sorry Fwuttershy. I was exited..." Pinkie really did seem sorry. Twilight decided to initiate a hug. Mom always said, 'initiating hugs are good' or something like that. Fwuttershy seemed to appreciate that as she stopped shaking. Before long she uncurled and looked up, one pink eye hiding behind her mane. "Hi, I'm Twilight Sparkle." "Umm.........I'm Fluttershy." "Wha?" "Fluttershy." "Fluttershy?" A nod. "Nice to meet you!" Another nod. "Yay!" Pinkie giggled and bounced on the spot with a huge grin. "New friends! Now, c'mon! The rest of the class gotta meet you!" Before she could react, Twilight was once again taken for the ride. "B...but, waaaait, noooooo." Twilight's protest fell on deaf ears. Then promptly found herself on top of table. "Everypony! This is Twilit! Say hello!" Pinkie shouted to the many, many foals of Ponyville Kindergarten. There was a deafening roar of "Hellloooooooooooooo!!!" "Hello..." Twilight replied meekly, feeling very insecure about all of this, but when her gaze landed on her friends, she smiled. Then, without warning, scary laughing filled the room. The room was immediately filled with screaming as fillies and colts started running around and trying to find cover. Twilight tried to do the same but felt the world turn again and found that it was upside down for the second time. She squirmed her pudgy legs, but nothing happened. "My my, what a precious little snack I have here." An evil cackle was right behind her. Twilight started screaming for help. "Don'tchya worry! We're here!" A hanging Applejack said with a sure grin before pouncing. She was immediately followed by her other friends. "Let go of her!" "Rawr!" "Meanie!" "Oh..." Twilight was dropped onto some pillows and she quickly scrambled upwards to find her five new friends on top of a dark mare. She was howling about being van squished. Twilight felt angry and jumped in with her new friends. This meanie had attacked her, she deserved to be van squished! ...whatever that meant. The mare started giggling after a while and slowly pushed off the fillies much to their annoyance. Twilight was prepared to pounce again but then Miss Celestia cleared her throat. She stopped, as did the other fillies. When an adult pony clears their throat, it means they gonna speak. "My Little Ponies, I want you to meet my sister, Luna. She's going to help from now on, there's just been so many of you little guys that it's been getting a bit hard." She chuckled. "She likes having fun from time to time, so don't be afraid, okay? Okay!" That seemed to be the end and the Kindergarten erupted with chatter about the new teacher. Twilight was a little disappointed that she wasn't actually a bad pony, but just in case, she stuck out her tongue. "Hey, nice fighting!" A raspy voice appeared next to her. It was Rainbow. "I'm Rainbow Dash." "Twilight Sparkle, and thank you." "I think we gonna have lots of fun." She said with a grin. Behind her, the other four also smiled. Twilight trotted forward to her new friends with a big smile of her own. Maybe coming here wasn't such a bad idea after all. > Chapter 2 - The Candy Master > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight Velvet dropped Twilight Sparkle off at the Kindergarten before rushing off, leaving a confused Twilight behind. "Twilight!" A voice behind her calls. She turned around and saw Miss Celestia waving a hoof, standing in front of the building. "Come over here, I've got a surprise for you." Not knowing what else to do, Twilight trotted over. Behind them, a bunch of foals trot inside, some of them looking at them with various expressions. When Twilight finally made it, she looked up to see Miss Celestia with a conspora...conspiratira...conspiratorial grin. She hoofed over two small wrapped packages before trotting back inside, leaving a still confused Twilight. "Wow, Miss Celestia gave ya her special candy." Applejack was suddenly behind her, sending Twilight to the floor in shock. It hurt. "And she gave ya two! Could ah have one..?" The orange earth pony suddenly looked even more cute. Twilight didn't know what to do, so she 'eep'ed' and rushed inside the kindergarten. Before she could take two more steps after entering, she was tackled. Twilight found herself on the ground for the second time today. Her flank hurt! Then a thought occurred to her that froze her on the spot. What if she got her cutie mark in falling, that would be the end for her! "Oop, sorry!" Rainbow Dash helped the poor filly to her hooves and grinned. "I was flying..." "No yous not!" Called out a random colt. "Shuddup!" She called back. A few kindergarteners gasped, one even started to cry. "Hey! Language!" "Sorry Miss!" Rainbow kicked at a wooden block. "So, I was flying and this dragon was like, raaawr. I had turn, so I did! Then I crash into you. M'sorry." "Is okay." Twilight tried to look sincere, but she was still scared. She don't want a falling cutie mark! So, she started to scooch away. "Hey, wait, thas Miss Celestia's special candy? And yous has two! Means you give one to me!" Rainbow chuckled as if that was normal. What she didn't realize was that Twilight was galloping away now. No falling cutie mark for her! She weaved through the many foals but was then immediately intercap...interceptood...intercepted by somepony. Twilight jumped back in an attempt to not fall, but her pudgy legs couldn't react fast enough and she ended up on her face. "Oh, are you okay?" A yellow hoof helped Twilight back up. "Oh. Oh. Is that Miss Celestia's special candy?" Fluttershy was staring at the two wrapped candies Twilight still had in her mouth. "...yes?" She was edging away from the yellow pegasus. She was no longer quiet and she also made her fall! "OoOoOoOoH!" Pink filled her vision. "AH!" Twilight fell again. It really hurts! She quickly checked and sighed, relieved. She does not have a cutie mark...yet. "Pinkie, stop scaring Twilight. Is not nice." Rarity trotted up behind Pinkie. Today, she didn't have red stuff. She looked prettier without it. Twilight decided to take her chances with the other unicorn, Rarity hasn't made her fall. "Is not my fault!" "I know, but, oooh! Is that Miss Celestia's special candy?" Rarity was suddenly really close to Twilight, but this time she was prepared. Instead of falling over, she decided to sit. HA! Twilight adopted a smug smile, she won't get that falling cutie mark. "Why do you look so happy?" Fluttershy suddenly asked, also really close. "Umm...wha?" Twilight was suddenly taken aback by how many faces was looking at her, including Rainbow and Applejack who were now standing by her other friends. "Twilit is feeling special because Miss Cewestia gave her candy!" Pinkie Pie cried, attracting even more attention. "Now she wants dem for herself." "Is this true?" Applejack asked, looking a bit hurt. "I thoughts we was friends!" Rainbow said, her wings buzzing angrily. "Thas not nice, dawling." Rarity harrumphed, looking away. "Oh..." Fluttershy hugged a bunny plushie close. Twilight burst into tears, dropped the candies, and ran away. She didn't know why her new friends were being so mean. She was just so focused on not getting that cutie mark! With her blurry vision, she made out a corner where she could cry alone. But before she made it, she bumped into a white mare and fell. She cried even harder. Now Miss Celestia was being mean! "My little pony, what's wrong?" "No!" Twilight tried to scooch away, but she didn't get far. "Twilight," her voice was soothing. "What's wrong?" "My friends are being mean, and now you're being mean!" She said through sobs. "I'm sorry, dear, truly." Celestia levitated Twilight up and had her stand. "There, a filly should be on the floor. Now, why don't you tell me about your friends." "Well..." Twilight sniffed, wiping her hooves over her eyes a couple of times to get rid of the tears. "They wanted the candy you gave me and I only had two! I don't have enough for...for, uhhh...five and one." "Six, dear." "Yeah!" Twilight sat back down, feeling even more sad. "I wasn't paying attention and they got mad. I don't have the candy anymore, I dropped it. They probably don't like me anymore." "Well, I don't know about that." Celestia said. "What you mean?" Twilight looked up and then saw the five fillies standing in front of her looking sad too. "We're sorry, Twilit." Pinkie's mane was all droopy. "Yeah, we was not cool." Rainbow had tears in her eyes. "Ah'm sorry." Applejack was holding her cowpony hat over her chest. "We has the candies if you want it back." Rarity said, offering the still wrapped candies. Fluttershy was just crying. "How about this." Celestia lifted four more candies from her saddlebags and gave them to Twilight. "Why don't you give these to your friends and make up." "Oh." Twilight sniffled, the tears drying up. "Thank you, miss." She quickly hugged the mare before scampering off with her new friends. Soon after, they were all giggling and munching on the very special candy. > Chapter 3 - Applefritter Season > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Applejack smiled as she munched on another applefritter. Delicious! Granny makes good applefritters! Her big brother trotted into the room, looking a bit tired. Pap was working the farm and he said Big Mac was big enough to work the field. Earth ponies are very no-bell for working fields, thas what Pap said! So Applejack was very proud of her brother, she hopes to become no-bell like him when she grows up. "Don't eat so much." Big Mac murmured before eating an applefritter. "Y'all git sick." "But they yummy!" The filly protested, already reaching for the next one. Her brother doesn't understand. He sighed. Yes! Applejack won! She celebrated by eating another fritter. It was yummy. "Oi! Wha're y'all lazin' 'round fer?" Granny burst into the room, her face all mad. Mad adults usually yell, Applejack flattened her ears, just in case, but still munched on her fritter. "Macintosh, yer father is still workin', that means ya gotta help him. So git! As fer ya, little missy." She moved closer to Applejack who shrunk in her chair in turn. "It's time fer school." *** "Let's all give Applejack a round of applause for bringing applefritters for the class." Miss Celestia stood at the front of the class with Miss Luna standing beside her. They smiled at the filly who also stood in front of the class, awkwardly, who was trying to hide under her cowpony hat. Everypony else was stomping and saying 'thank yous' and other things. Then there was a giggle. "You can go now, Applejack." "Thank ya, miss." Applejack quickly hurried off stage but found that it was harder to move her stubby legs than usual. She looked down and frowned. Was her belly bigger? "Applejack! Thank yoooooooou. Is dewicious!" Pinkie tackled the filly and the two landed in a heap. "Is awesome!" Rainbow grinned, her mouth had crumbs all over. "Lesgo play now! I founds this cool...thing!" Applejack felt a bit off so she let herself get dragged. The two fillies ended up by the blocks. In the middle, sat a small teeter-totter. "It moves!" Rainbow started placing blocks on each end and watched with glee as it moved from one side to the other. Applejcak tried to follow along but then fell over, feeling kind of sick. "Are you okay?" Twilight asked, trotting up from behind Applejack. The filly quickly sat up and shook herself. "Yep! Just dandy!" "...okay." "Don't worry, Twilit! I's gots this." Pinkie suddenly appeared and dragged off Applejack, leaving a confused Rainbow and Twilight. The world moved around a lot. It didn't feel good, but Applejack swallowed it down. 'Tough it out,' thas what Pap always says. Soon, Pinkie stopped at the sandpit. Applejack got up and looked around. When did they go outside? "Looks! I made mud pies. Wanna try?" "...okay?" Applejack took a 'mud pie' from Pinkie. They did not look yummy. She took a bite, and then spat it out. "This not yummy." "I knows that!" "...wha?" She was about to say something else but then fell over. She no feel good. "Are you sure you okay?" "Ah!" Twilight was next to her again. "Where ya come from!?" "I followed you." "Thas weird." "Really? Oh. Sorry." Twilight walked back inside, her ears droopy and head low. "Thas not nice, Applejack." Pinkie said after a while, but she was walking away. She was tired and hurting and she didn't want another mud pie. Applejack pushed open the door and was met with Fluttershy. She was having tea with her stuffed rabbit. Applejack decided to trot over and sat down next to the pegasus. "Howdy. Mind if ah sit here?" "...no. I don't mind." Fluttershy smiled weakly before going back to her tea. She whispered to the bunny, smiled, then giggled. It was weird, but Applejack liked Fluttershy enough to not say anything. Then without warning, her belly hurt a lot more and she fell over, onto the table, which knocked the bunny to the ground. There was a soft gasp from Fluttershy and then heavy hooffalls. Then nothing. *** "Applejack!" Twilight's mane was bouncing up and down at the edge of Applejack's vision. She tried to sit up, but couldn't. The bed she was on felt nice though. Nice and soft. "Twi...where?" "The nurse. I told Miss Celestia, I'm sorry. I was worried. You didn't look good. Are you okay now?" Applejack waited, then said. "Ah'm okay. Honestly." "Thas good." A white mare trotted into the room with a smile. "Ah, Applejack. How are you feeling?" "Ah'm okay, miss. Mah belly hurts sometimes, but ah'm okay." "That's good. You must thank Twilight for this, she noticed you weren't feeling well and told me. Thank goodness you were inside, otherwise I might've been fired for not taking care of my sick students." Miss Celestia chuckled and trotted out. Applejack waited for a moment. She needed to say something now, or it might be too late. "Ah'm sorry, Twi." "Why?" "Ah wasn't honest. Ah'm sorry." "Is okay, we're friends!" Twilight scampered over and took some time to get on top of the bed and the two fillies hugged. > Chapter 4 - Griffon a Warm Welcome > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were causing havoc and Pinkie was having a blast. "Dashie! Les get Twilit next!" She said with a grin. The pegasus nodded, also with a smile. The day started with Pinkie swapping Miss Cewestia's and Miss Woona's cups, causing some confusion. Rainbow thought it was really funny that Miss Cewestia didn't like the black drink that Miss Woona always has, while, Miss Woona took a sip of the T drink and then fell asleep. Pinkie and Rainbow couldn't stop laughing. They decided to team up and start pwanking everypony! "Okay!" The two waddled over to where Twilit was looking at a picture book. The entire time, they giggled uncontrollably by what they were going to do. "Shhhhh!!!" "I am shush! You shush!" The two giggled again before coming to a stop next to Twilit. She looked up, confused. "Wha?" Pinkie and Rainbow quickly bopped her nose with their stubby hooves before scampering away, giggling. Rainbow stumbled and fell, knocking over some wooden blocks. She quickly got up and kept on running. Once they decided that was enough distance, they fell over and continued to giggle. It took a while before they were able to breathe again. "Lesgo to Rarity next!" Rainbow exclaimed, Pinkie nodded exited, but before they could, Miss Cewestia stomped her hoof. That means something's gonna happen. "My little ponies, if you'll come down for a second. I would like to introduce a new student, she just transferred to Ponyville from Griffonstone." She swept a leg to the side and a small...cweature walked up. "This is Gilda, she's a griffin, make her feel welcome! " Pinkie was gone immediately and was by her side. "Hello! M'name's Pinkie Pie! Whas yers?" "Gilda, featherbrain. Teach just said so." The weird cweature started walking away. Pinkie felt sad. It was soon after that Pinkie found herself next to Twilit. "Hey Pinkie." She was reading, again. But thas okay! At least she said hello, unlike that cweature! "Twilit, that Gilda. She a meanie. She called me a...a featherbrain." There was a sudden hush around Pinkie. She looked around and saw that everypony was staring at her. "Haha! I said feather grain." She smiled to add some more effect. It looked like it worked. "Hmmm, thats no good." Twilit said. "Right?" "Wha?" Twilit looked up, confused. "Oh, sorry. The Power Ponies are getting attacked. Is no good." "Oh no! That is no good!" They spent the next two minutes reading. "Okay! I go bye bye, now." Pinkie scampered off and then spotted Rainbow standing on top of a box. Her face brightened and she turned to go in her direction. Once she got close enough, she called out. "Dashie!" "Pinkie! Have you meet Gilda? She is awesome!" The meanie cweature stepped out from behind Dashie with a smug smile. Pinkie doesn't like smug smiles, theys not real smiles! "G, this Pinkie." "Hi!" "Pink pony." "Do you likes pwanks? Dashie and I like doing pwanks." Pinkie giggled. "Pranks? I love pranks." Gilda crackled. "Yay! Who should we pwank?" Pinkie thinked for a bit. "How about..." Gilda started, then pointed at her. "You, Pinkie." The pink pony gasped, then grinned. "Yay! I get to be pwanked!" "Alright!" Rainbow joined in with smiling. "Les think of pranks." "Wait, wha?" Gilda said again. "Yous okay with this?" "Yep! I love pwanks, so, is cool if I's get pwanked." She was basically vibrating with exite. She's never been pwanked before. "Come on! Pwank me!" "Uhhh..." Gilda looked confused, then she smiled. But it was a meanie smile. "I run away! C'mon Dash!" The two ran away, leaving Pinkie all alone. This wasn't a good pwank. It didn't make anypony laugh. It just made her feel sad. She decided to trot somewhere, where, she did not know. Some ponies said hello to her, but she didn't respond. She was too sad. The more she walked, the more ponies said hi. Slowly, she became happier. Happy is always good. Thas what Maud always says. Then Pinkie got an idea. If saying hi makes her happy, it must make Gilda happy too! She quickly galloped to find Gilda on her stubby little legs. It didn't take long. She and Dashie were jumping and flapping their wings. Without saying something, she quickly jumped on top of a box next to Gilda and shouted to everypony. "Everypony! This is Gilda! Say hello!" There was a deafening roar. Heh, Twilit taught her that word after her first day. She turned around, expecting to see a happy Gilda, but there was no happy Gilda. There was a mad Gilda, and she was mad. "Ah!" Pinkie took off. She no wants to be eaten! She's not cotton candy! She tried! "Come here, you featherbrain!" Gilda was right behind her with a scary smile, ignoring all the gasps and comments. Pinkie kept on running, and then she sees white legs. White legs are always good against bullies. "Miss!" She quickly scrambled around Miss Cewestia's legs and then hugged them tightly. "What's wrong, my little pony?" She asked. "Gilda!" Then in that moment, the cweature came closer with a scary smile. "Pinkieeeeee. I know yer here!" "No! I am not here!" "Ah, I see what's happening here." Miss Celestia stood up and trotted over to Gilda. "Gilda, sweetie, you're going to have to learn a different culture while remaining your own. Be mindful of both yours and others, that means to not be so angry when somecreature likes to do something else." "Huh..." The cweature looked deep into Miss Cewestia's eyes and then Pinkie felt something tingly, like something important happened. "Okay...I'll try to be nicer." "Thank you. Now, continue your play." "Yay!" Pinkie bounced away, whistling a happy tune. New friend is nice now! > Chapter 5 - Boast Around > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight Sparkle was trying to do magic. The best she could come up with was sparks, bigger sparks than most fillies, but still sparks. It frustrated her. She sat down and pouted, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She shook her head and wiped away the tears. She will be special! But before she could try again, a colt shouted something, attracting the attention of many of the kindergarteners. "Whas happening?" Twilight asked, trotting next to her friends. "I dunno." Said Applejack. "E'vreypony! Gis it up for the Twixe and Powefool!" Two colts, one skinny and the other fat, were standing on top of tables. Twilight looked around to see if Miss Celestia or Miss Luna were paying attention. They were, but they weren't doing anything. "Is the Great and Powerful Twixie, not the Twixe and Powefool!" An annooyed...annoyed voice spoke up. "Oop, sorry. I says actually, the Grates and Powefool Twixie!" The fat one said then giggled. There was a loud exploshun...explooshin...explotion? Explode...EXPLOSHUN. There was a loud exploshun and smoke. "Ahhhh!" "Ah can't see!" "My eyes!" "Maamaaaaaa!" "Miss!" "Waaaaaaaaaaa." "Wheres me tombstone!?" There was a pause in the chaos after that comment. "Right! No explosives in school, Trixie. How many times do I have to say this? I thought you learn your lesson after you burned down the wooden toaster?" Miss Celestia said, not looking very nice. "M'sorry Miss..." Trixie was now on the table and she hung her head. She was wearing a very big purple cape and hat, it nearly covered her eyes and she was constantly pushing the hat up. She waited until the white mare went back to where she was sitting. "HA! M'name's the Great and Powerful Twixie, twemble in fear!" She raised a hoof with a grin, then slowly lowered it after looking back at Miss Celestia. "Why?" Rainbow asked. "Why?" Trixie repeated, looking confused. "Why what?" "Why shous I 'twemble in fear'?" Twilight was impressed, Rainbow almost said a good sentence. "Because...just because!" Trixie stomped her hoof and tried to look mad. "I'm speshul, so yous should twemble!" "But...I no wanna." "But...but...but..." Trixie fell back on her butt, her hat falling over her eyes. "I'm speshul..." "Dawling, is just yous not a very scary pony." Rarity said. Twilight nodded, then stared in surprise. Rarity's face was all red again! The pretty face was wuined! "Twilight?" She quickly scampered to her friend and tried wiping off the red. "Noooooo, staaaaaahp. I need to look pwetty!" "But I don't like it!" The two fillies ended up pushing each other, it wasn't long before they became tired and fell over. "Hey, where did flashy pony go?" Pinkie said, sounding sad. Twilight wiggled her stubby legs, trying to look where Trixie was. She wasn't there anymore. "Oh, there she is!" Twilight followed Pinkie's hoof and saw the blue filly trip over her cape and fall to the floor. "...she fell. Thas no good." Before anypony could stop her, Pinkie scampered over and tried to talk to Trixie. There was a loud bang, smoke, and lots of wailing from the kindergarteners. "Trixie!" "...sorry, miss..." Pinkie walked back to them after coming out of the smoke. "Eep!" Fluttershy disappeared. She was so fast, Twilight didn't even see her! "She's gone!" Cried Pinkie. "Huh." Applejack said after sitting down. "She no scary." Rainbow nodded, looking very important. "My pwettiness..." Rarity said sadly. "You look more pretty with no red." Twilight said with a smile. "My pwettiness..." Rarity said sadly. Twilight sighed. "Hey, where Twixie go?" The skinny colt asked, walking from a pile of pillows. The fat colt followed him. They both looked scared. "I dunno." Said Applejack. "Okay, byeee." The two walked away. Twilight and the others watched them walk away. "Wha should we do now?" Pinkie asked, rolling a small ball between her hooves. It bounced wrong and it rolled away. Pinkie tried to grab it but it got too far. "Nooooooooooooo, mister ball!" "I'm going to find Trixie." Twilight said and got up. She trotted in the direckshun...directshun...direction...Ooooh. Explotion...wait. She harrumphed. Big words are annoying. She found Trixie crying behind a big stuffed bear. "Whas wrong?" "I'm not speshul!" Trixie cried harder. "Nopony said that..." Twilight said awkwardly. She sat down, her legs hurt. "That...that pegasus...said shooooo..." She said through wails. "She just said she don't wanna tremble." "But she shooooould. I'm speshuuuul! M'dad said so!" She stomped a hoof, it wasn't very strong. She was also trying to wipe away the tears with her cape. It wasn't working. "You're special. You're just not scary." Twilight said with a small smile. It didn't work, it made her cry more. "Why...yous being so...meaaaan! You says I'm speshul, then you says I'm not speshul!" Twilight sighed. "Why are you special?" Maybe a different tactics will work. "Because me family is speshul! They's best magichins! So, I best magichin...but I's not!" She cried more. Twilight came closer and gave the filly a hug. "Is okay. Everypony is special in their own way." "...really?" "Yep." Twilight smiled. "...sank you." Trixie stopped crying, dried her eyes, smiled and then scampered off. "I AM THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE!" > Chapter 6 - Twice Shy > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fluttershy was timidly hiding from everypony. One of the first things she did when her parents dropped her off was find a quiet place. In one of the far back corners where the wallpaper showed trees. The butterfly pillows made the place cozy too! Today, she was here as well. "D'you want sum tea, Angel?" She held out a teacup to her bunny plushie. The plushie nodded, Fluttershy giggled. Then there was a crash. "Eep!" With extreme bravery and a high potential of pain, Fluttershy looked outside of her personal haven. Outside, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were playing with a ball. The ball had hit some books knocking it over. Twilight Sparkle who was reading said books, got up and stared the two down. They looked really mad. Fluttershy decided to lower herself, make herself invisible. Yes! Nopony will see her! "Fluttershy!" A pony called out. No! "Fluttershy, where are you!?" It was Miss Celestia! "I've got somepony I want you to meet!" "C...coming!" She turned back and looked sadly at Angel. "I'm sorry. I have to go." She looked around three times before finally stepping out of her hiding place. That was the easy step. Now...just get to the other side. But there are so many ponies! She felt herself sinking to the ground, too scared to go on. She decided that fear was much better than whatever Miss Celestia wanted her for, so she covered her eyes and ears with her forehooves and waited. "Fwuttershy!" A familiar voice popped up next to her. "Miss Cewestia wan's you." "..." "Ooohs, yous scared. No worries, I's gots you." Fluttershy could practically hear Pinkie's grin. "Step one! Chin up! Step two! Shift your haunches! Step three! Give a leap!" "Wow, you said that perfectly, Pinkie." Twilight suddenly said, also next to her, causing Fluttershy to 'eep' yet again. "I's try." She giggled. "Come oooon, you try Fwuttershy!" She began to prod the pegasus. "O...okay..okay." With trembling legs, Fluttershy pushed herself off the ground. Slowly and very unsteadily, she rose her chin. Shaking uncontrollably, her legs shook as she rose up. The last step, but before she could leap, a white mare trotted up. "There you are Fluttershy. Come, I want to show you the new student." Miss Celestia started pushing the unwilling filly towards the front of the Kindergarten. Then it was then did Fluttershy see...him. "Eep!" Nopony saw what happened next. "Angel!" Fluttershy was hiding in her secret hideout, tears in her eyes. "I think I messed up. I saw that dragon and I ran! He's so big...so scary..." "Fluttershy?" Applejack called. "Ah know yer in there. The Miss is worried for ya. Y'all okay in there?" "Yes!" A little too loudly. Fluttershy winced. "Sorry..." "...mmm, what if we come with ya? Fer yer backup." "Yeah!" Rainbow's voice. "We will push him if he do bad!" "Oh...okay...umm..." She shuffled her way to the exit and cautiously poked her head out. Her friends were all there, smiling. "Come on! Lesgo meet this new friend!" Pinkie grabbed Fluttershy and started walking towards Miss Celestia. Fluttershy, in the meantime, tried very hard not to panic. Then she saw him again. "Nooooooooooo." She tried to wrestle out of Pinkie's grasp but found herself unable to move. "I don't wannaaaaaa." "Don't worry, dawling, I's gots this." Rarity puffed out her chest and waddled over to the scary dragon next to Miss Celestia. She looked up and smiled, then her smile turned to horror and she bolted back. "What happened?" Twilight asked, very worried. Fluttershy was not worried. She was terrified. "His mane! It was terrible!" She then proceeded to cry. Applejack patted her on the back. "This big meanie, don't worry Fwuttershy. I's got this!" Pinkie walked up, tripped, and then came back in tears. Twilight started to comfort her. Rainbow stepped up, very angry. "Making me friends cry! Thas not very nice!" She puffed out her tiny wings and buzzed them rapidly. Then with a war cry, she charged...right past Miss Celestia and crashed into the desk. Miss Celestia was so surprised, it took her a moment to realize that Rainbow was bawling, complete with a bloody nose. "Come here, Rainbow Dash. Oh, you silly filly. Let's get you to the nurse's office." While the white mare shepherded Rainbow away, Fluttershy stalked up to the dragon. She was beyond furious. Her friends are crying all because of HIM! The dragon saw her and started to look scared. Good. She went up even closer and he started going backwards. "You better apologize, mister! My friends are crying because of you!" "I'm soorrryyyyyyyy! I dunno what I did, but I'm sorrrryyyyyy!" He sat down and started to cry as well. Fluttershy blinked, surprised. The scary dragon was actually just a big scared colt. Knew to the Kindergarten and uncertain. Oh. Fluttershy trotted up to him and hugged him. "I'm very sorry. Wanna play later?" "Sniff...o...okay." > Chapter 7 - Sleepover > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pear Butter, Cookie Crumbles, and Twilight Velvet had a delightful time at Sugarcube Corner. They sipped their teas and nibbled at their hay cookies. "Twilight, dear, it's been delightful having you here in Ponyville." Cookie smiled pleasantly. "Oh no, please, call me Velvet. Twilight's my daughter." Velvet smiled back. "Speakin' of, all of our daughters are the same age, ain't that a coincidence?" Pear Butter commented. "It certainly is..." A comfortable lull fell before Velvet spoke up. "Say, what do you girls say to a sleepover?" *** Twilight Sparkle sat on her couch, for once, too anxious to read a book. Her friends were coming over! She even had a book to help her: Slumber 101: All You Ever Wanted to Know About Slumber Parties But Were Afraid to Ask. It's going to be perfect! Then it started to rain. Huh. Twilight rolled onto her back and looked at the world upside down. She watched the clock tick by. She watched the rain slide down the windows. She annoyed her dad for a bit. After she was told to go away, she went to her mom. "Twilight, honey, you just have to be patient. Maybe go read that book of yours?" "But, I already read it four times already!" "Well, then find another book. I'm busy." Her mom went back to trying to figure out how to bake a pie. Twilight sighed, if only Shiny was here. Then there a rough knocking on the door. Twilight instantly perked up and shot for the door, screaming, "I'll get it!" With some fumbling, annoyed grunts, and lots of hopping, Twilight was able to reach for the door handle and open it. Revealing Applejack and her mom. "Applejack!" "Twilight!" The two embraced before scampering off into the living room. Behind them, the moms were talking about nothing important. "So...whas you wanna do?" "I dunno." "Mmm...well, I have a book. Umm, it says 'scary stories'." Twilight looked up but before Applejack could say anything, there was another knock. The two fillies immediately took off for the door, nearly bowling over their moms. This time it was Rarity (with no red!) and her mom. "Rarity!" "Twilight! Applejack!" The three embraced, ignoring the fact that two of them were wet, and once again took for the living room. "Whas you doing?" "Scary stories." "Yessum!" "...but theys are scawy." Rarity plopped down on the carpet. Applejack and Twilight followed suit. "Yeah, that's true." "Well, whas else is in yer book, Twi?" "Cooking s'mores!" Rarity made a face. "Theys make yous fat! Is bad for you." "Yer a s'more, Rarity." The orange filly burst out laughing, Rarity pouted. "I don't thinks we have marshmallows, anyways..." Twilight skimmed through the book until she landed on something. "Ooh! What about truth or dare!" "Ah like that idea." "Me too. I go first!" Rarity smiled, looked at one then the other. "Applejack! Twuth or dare?" "Truth!" The two stared at each other. "Who do you like?" "Ah like all of y'all." Applejack replied, smugly. "Hey! That's cheating!" Twilight called out. "You can't like everypony! ...wait, can you?" "Mah turn. Twi, truth or dare?" "...truth!" "Aww, dawling, thas so lame." Rarity protested. "Fiiine, dare then." "Ah dare ya to a pillow fight!" Applejack grabbed a pillow from the couch and threw it directly at Twilight. It hit her directly in the eye. "Ah!" Twilight started crying, rubbing at her eyes. "Aplejack!" Pear Butter scolded. "Say sorry." Twilight's mom came to comfort her daughter while Applejack looked at the floor, tears in her eyes. "M'sorry Twi. Ah didn't mean it." "It's sniff, it's okay." The two fillies hugged, sniffling all the while. "Twilight, honey, maybe you and your friends can go up to your room." "...kay." The three got up and Twilight led her friends to her room. "Thas a lot of books, dawling." "Thank you! I like books." "Ain't no shame in that." "We only have two beds, is it okay if you two sleep together?" Velvet appeared behind them. "Thas fine by me." "Me too!" The rest of the afternoon, the three tried their best to prepare sleeping arrageman...arringemints...arrangements. After an hour of bickering and getting lost with bedsheets, Twilight's mom had to come in and do it for them. "Thanks, miss Velvet." "Think nothing of it, now come on down. Dinner's ready." "Yay!" The three fillies once again, galloped through the house despite Twilight's mom's protests. Twilight's dad brought out the hayburgers which were immediately inhaled. Rarity scolded Applejack for eating so messily, which she was then quick to point out the tomato juice on her cheek. After dinner, they headed back up to get ready for bed. The lights turned off, the three under the covers, and the hoofsteps faded from earshot. "Are you girls having fun?" Twilight asked, hesi...hesitentily...hesitantly? Hesitantly. "Ah'm havin' fun, s'long's Rarity doesn't start with the pwetty stuff." "I'm having fun, as long's Applejack isn't so bwutish!" There was a noise, a gasp, then the two started shifting around and angry shouts were thrown around. "Girls! Stop it! We're supposed to have fun!" Twilight shouted, but it didn't work. "We're friends, aren't we?" The other two ignored her and kept on bickering. Twilight started crying and burst out of her room, leaving the other two confused. She barreled down the stairs and crashed into her mom's embrace. "What's wrong? Did something happen?" "sniff...Rarity and hic and...and Applejack are...sob...are fighting and...and..." She gave up and started bawling. "Hey now...look, why don't you go to dad and I'll talk to the girls." Twilight's mom went upstairs and vague murmuring could be heard. All the while, Twilight's dad held the filly, whispering that everything was going to be okay. Friends fight sometimes, it's normal. After a bit, Twilight's mom came back down. "Okay, they're ready to say sorry. And this time, go to sleep instead of talking." "Yes, mom...thank you." Twilight dragged her hooves all the way upstairs and then into her room. It was eerily quiet. "We're sorry, Twi. Honest." "We didn't mean to upset you." The three stood there for a bit, before hugging. "Thanks...we should probably go to sleep." There was a giggle or two and the three went back to their beds. "G'night!" "Good night, dawlings!" "Don't let the parasprites bite." > Chapter 8 - Foal Gossip > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight Sparkle trotted into the door after saying goodbye to her mom. Today marked her second week at the kindergarten as well as Ponyville. It was exciting. But...the kindergarten was very empty. Suspishi...suspishoos...suspicious? Suspicious. Twilight steeled her nerves and took a step, then paused immediately. This was too scary! She could feel tears building up and was this close to crying. "Twilit!" "AH!" "SHHHHHH!" Twilight looked around frantically, scared out of her mind. Then, she saw a pink head behind a cupboard. "Come here, Twilit! Is not safe!" With nothing else to do, not to mention very frightened, she scampered to her friend. Pinkie Pie grabbed her before she could make it all the way and dragged her into hiding. After overcoming her surprise, Twilight looked around and noticed her other friends also hiding. "What's happening?" "Shhh, dawling. Like Pinkie says, is not safe." Rarity stared at the front door. "Yessum, they's right." Applejack crouched behind a pillow, her big hat giving her away. "Ummm..." Twilight got shushed by everypony there. She sighed and then dropped her voice. "Why are we hiding?" "Your mom not tell you?" Rainbow Dash asked, suddenly next to her. "Miss Celestia is gone. We has a sub." "...what about Miss Luna?" "Huh? Oh...yeah. I thinks she gone too?" "That's not nice." Twilight pouted. Just because she hasn't been seen a lot doesn't mean she doesn't exist. At least, she thinks that's how it works. "Well, what about the sub? What's wrong about that?" "She scary." Fluttershy whispered, her hiding spot seemed to be sandwiched between two large shark plushies. "Everything is scary to you, though." "No! Fwuttershy is right. Miss Zecowa is scary. I even thinks she evil." Pinkie exclaimed. "No no, I knows she evil." Rainbow said. "Ah dunno if she evil, all ah know is she bad. Mah baby sister was sick, then Zecora came. After ah gets back from farmin', she gone and mah sister fine! Thas bad." Applejack said, darkly. Twilight was confused. "...isn't that good?" "No, dawling! Thas not good. You don't has a baby sister, you can't's understand." Rarity had a weird look. "A baby sister cries. A sick baby sister, does not cry. You get it, dawling?" "...no..." "Is okay, Twilit." Pinkie patted her on her back. "Yous donot has to knows everything." "Wha?" "Oh, she's he..." "She's here! Everypony, hide!" Rainbow ducked immediately after that, and everypony followed. Still confused, Twilight did the same. From her hiding spot, she was able to see the front door easily. Her heart was pounding so much, she was scared it was going to run away. That would be bad. Then the door opened. And Twilight stopped breathing. Was Miss Zecora a dragon? Or one of those scary monsters!? A...a...a hydree? Was it a hydree! Those are scary. Then a pony trotted in and Twilight breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Girls, what was..." She found several hooves had been shoved into her mouth, shushing her. "Twilit! Dids you not hear what we just said?" Pinkie basically shouted. "Miss Zecora is eviiiil." "Pinkie, that's dumb." At least, that's what she tried to say. "No no no, you still donot understand! Look. She has striiiiipes." Pinkie grabbed Twilight's face and made her turn to look at the substitute. And yes, there were stripes. "So what?" Hooves out of her mouth never felt so good. "Thats eviiiiil." "..." Twilight sighed. "Okay." "Hello, my little ponies, I am the substitute. I am Miss Zecora, I tell tales that sure to give a hoot." The zebra, because now Twilight knew what she was, grinned to the empty classroom. "Seeeee? She rhymes. Thas bad." "Pinkie, you are not making any sense." "And to make it all the sweeter, I hope you all are eaters." Miss Zecora whipped out a bowl and carefully placed it on the teacher's desk. "Thas her evil brew! So eviiiil." "For your continued silence, I must be congratulatory, now, let this game be over, it's time for a story." And with that, the whole kindergarten burst into action, dozens of foals charged towards the zebra with joyful expressions. Twilight's friends included, leaving her most baffled. "Oh, what is this? A new foal is nothing to dismiss. Come, come." Miss Zecora waved Twilight forward with a kindly smile. "What is your name? Do not worry, there is no shame." "Twi...Twilight Sparkle." "A name that is very neat, have a treat." She gestured to the bowl which turned out to have cookies. Twilight quickly grabbed one and shuffled away. After everypony got themselves a cookie, Zecora cleared her throat and asked what story everypony wanted to hear. "The jokes! The jokes!" "Yeah!" "Miss Zecora is the best!" "Best stories, you mean!" "Yeaaaah!" "Alright, alright." Miss Zecora chuckled before clearing her throat again. "There is this flower called Poison Joke. It contains a secret it hides like a cloak..." *** "How was school, Twilight?" Twilight's mom asked after picking her up from the kindergarten. "It was very fun! The substitute is very nice." "Oh yeah? What was her name?" "Miss Zecora!" "She has the best stories, doesn't she?" "Yeah!" Twilight giggled, then paused. "Wait, how do you know that?" "Wouldn't you like to know?" "I would!" Twilight stomped a hoof. When she didn't get an answer, she charged after her mom. "Heeeeey! Tell meeeeeeee!" > Chapter 9 - Have a Lice Day! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fluttershy was walked to the kindergarten by her dad, like he does everyday. She appreciates him a lot for that, and everyday, she makes sure to give him an extra hug. Out of kindness, definitely not because she was scared or anything. No, that was for the third hug. "It's alright, dear. Just go do what you need to do." Her dad said softly. "Okay." Fluttershy replied, equally as soft. She trembled slightly as she put on hoof after the other towards the front door. She looked back and saw her dad with an encouraging smile. Fluttershy steeled her heart and took two more steps. Then it was on the third did the terror start to set in. But, before she could turn around and bolt, a blue body crashed into her. "Hiya, Flutters! We go!" "Waaaaaaait, noooooo...!" Rainbow Dash dragged Fluttershy into the kindergarten and was greeted by Celestia and Luna. The yellow pegasus tried, without much success, to escape from her friend's hug, but eventually gave up. Instead, she decided to curl up and try to make the world disappear. She heard Rainbow trying to talk to her, but that too disappeared. Soon, it was just her and the ticklies. "Huh?" "Whazzat, Flutters?" "Ticklies!" Fluttershy started giggling, her hooves trying to scratch her mane. It was too tickly! "Yous okay?" It was hard to see, but Fluttershy thought she saw Rainbow looking down at her. "Heeeheeee!" "Miss! I thinks something is happings to Flutters!" Fluttershy couldn't stop giggling. Tears were dripping down her face, making everything weird. Her cheeks were hurting from laughing. Her head was so itchy! "Fluttershy, is everything alright?" "Mi...heeeheee!" "It's okay Fluttershy, Luna's coming with the nurse." "Okiii...heeeheee!" Then it went black. *** "..." Fluttershy opened her eyes slowly. This wasn't her bed, she noticed. "Flutters! Yous okay!" "Rainbow?" "Yep! I's here." Rainbow grinned with her messy hair to one side. "Where...am I?" "Da nurse. She says yous has lees. I dunnos wha thas is." "Oh." "Ah, Fluttershy, you're awake." A white mare entered the room with a kindly smile. "The nurse says you have lice, Luna is calling your parents now to pick you up." "I'm going home?" "I'm afraid so. Lice is not funny this time of year, especially with little ones. If only we had a special lice deterrent, you, and a bunch of other children, would be able to stay at school." Miss Celestia sighed regretfully, shaking her head. "Others?" Fluttershy felt ashamed. She caused this, didn't she? "Unfortunately. Twilight, Rarity, Applejack all got them. Strangely, Pinkie Pie doesn't have any, despite her mess of a mane." The mare hummed slightly. "Ah, you don't need to listen to little old me." She giggled. "Everything will be alright, Fluttershy. No need to worry." "Oh...okay." "See! Miss says is gonna okay." Rainbow said after Miss Celestia left. "Hmm." Fluttershy retreated within herself. Then the door burst open, revealing a pink and blue mess. "Pinkie?" Rainbow asked, wondering why there was blue soap all over her. Fluttershy wondered too, if only for a second. "No time!" Pinkie dashed up to Fluttershy's bed, she pushed a bar of soap in her hooves. "Use it!" "Piiiinkieeeeee!" The door burst open again, this time it was a very mad blue mare. "Sorrys, miss Luna! Is important!" Pinkie opened a window and dove out, leaving a confused Rainbow and Fluttershy and a very angry Luna. "Whas happening?" "Pinkie has been spraying soap everywhere! She even got it on my beautiful mane! I swear..." Miss Luna turned around and exited the nurse's office with a huff. "Soooo...soap." *** "Fluttershy, your dad is here!" Miss Celestia called from outside the office. Fluttershy nodded, slipped off the bed, and trotted out of the office with Rainbow following. What they saw, surprised them. A lot. The entire kindergarten was covered in soapy blue bubbles. Many foals were running around, laughing as they slipped around, spreading more of the bubbles around. It also seemed that the soap had gotten in everypony's manes and tails as well, making it hard to tell who was who. There was one pony who Fluttershy could tell who they were. Well, two ponies. "Come back here!" The very blue Miss Luna slipped after the fast not so pink Pinkie. While the two raced around the entire kindergarten, Pinkie kept on spraying soap everywhere. Miss Celestia was found near the entrance with a very dejected look. Fluttershy couldn't even tell what her coat's color was. "Your dad is outside." "O...okay." Miss Celestia opened the door with a sigh, then took a step back from the pony standing in the doorway. "Pinkamena." A gray mare trotted into the kindergarten, and almost at once, Pinkie stopped in place. Poor Miss Luna zipped past her and crashed into a bookcase. "You have my lice repellent soap." "Yes, mother." Fluttershy blinked. Pinkie sounded so different. "My friends had lice, so I gave them your soap." "I see. You are a kind girl, Pinkamena." "Whas happening? Why theys sounds boring?" Rainbow whispered into Fluttershy's ear. "I dunno." She whispered back. "Thank you, mother." "Miss Celestia. Miss Luna." The blue mare pulled herself out of the bookcase and limped over to where her sister was. "I apologize for Pinkamena's mess. She was just trying to help." "Oh, no worries at all, miss...?" Celestia began. "Cloudy Quartz." "Claudy Quartz." "Yes." "Okay. Well, thank you for the lice soap. We appreciate it, even if we have to clean up the mess." "Of course." The strange mare left after that, leaving the kindergarten in quiet. "Well, that was weird." Miss Luna said. "Yeah. First things first, Fluttershy, your dad is out there, waiting." "Okay. Goodbye." "Bai, Flutters!" Rainbow giggled, then scampered off. Fluttershy trotted over to her awaiting dad. He was standing a bit far off from the kindergarten. "You okay, honey?" "Hmm."