> A Cold World > by Ice > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > A legend told thrice > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter One "The elements. They are the very foundations of our world, and yet even the brightest of us fail to understand them. Earth, Fire, Wind and Water are the four basic elements that are within each and every pony. However, there are few lucky enough to be born with the power to reach inside themselves and harness these powers and become masters of their destinies.(Please note this is not Avatar: the last airbender rules here) However, while it may be rare every fiftieth generation, a mare is born and she will wield the power of a fifth element, and yet while each bearer has similar powers, their true potential comes with their name. Winter, she could create a storm so powerful and chilling no foe could stand against her. Snow, she had unending potential, constantly developing her magic beyond her limits, maybe even to match Celestia's if she had lived longer. And Frost, it is said she was a gem. She was a true elemental, nothing phased her, not even her family's and Equestria's greatest enemies the de-" "Then they slayed the Jabberwocky and saved Equestria." interrupted a young voice sarcastically. "You know boy, when I was your age, I would beg my father to tell me a story like this." replied a deeper voice. The owner of said voice was the father of the young voice "Was this before or after your mother scolded both of you?" came a questioning voice from across the room. Standing at the door was a dark purple coated mare with a short black mane and long blue and yellow striped tail looking at the colt and stallion in the room with an expression which was a cross between a grin, smirk and a glare. The stallion chuckled slightly as he walked over to the mare, pretending he was trying avoid making eye contact as if he was a child being sent out of the class by a teacher. “Very funny, lights out for you, boy.” said the Mare as she turned and began to follow the stallion. “Night, Mom.” said the colt, barely above a whisper as he turned off his lamp. * * * “Time to get up kid, you don’t want to be late!” called the stallion from the living room. Slowly the colt got up, scratching his mane, as his brain began to processes what he had just heard. “.....Monday already?” he groaned as he rolled out of his bed, somehow managing to land on his hooves. After a quick visit to the loo, he walked slowly down the stairs, trying to avoid making any noise. “..Three steps...four steps...five st*Creak*..oh no.” thought the colt as he was quickly pulled upwards as something or somepony began to noogie him. “Hey there little bro, back to school today?” said a different older voice as he dropped back to the ground. “Heh, kind of, we’re just seeing the view.” he said innocently as the two older stallions chuckled slightly. “I think you mean classrooms, honey.” said the colt’s mother, glaring at the stallions, who both acted as though they had been insulted. “....Did Daddy and bro do something wrong?” asked the young colt. “Che, I’ll tell when you’re older than me squirt.” chuckled the colt’s older brother as he headed towards the door ruffling the his younger brother’s mane in the process. “May I ask where you’re going this early in the morning?” asked the oldest stallion. “Oh you know... around.” said the stallion jokingly as he opened the door. “Son, if you’re up to something you shouldn't be, when I find out, you won’t be able to walk for a month.” said the stallion in a threatening tone. “Uh... yeah, I’m... not.” said the older of the two brothers as he walked out the door, visibly shaken by his father’s threat. “You should trust your son more, Force.” sighed the mare as she put the colts breakfast in front of him. “Silver, you know I do, but I worry about him sometimes, that’s all.” replied Force while looking skeptically at his son who had somehow managed to devour his entire breakfast in the short span of him speaking. “Done.” chirped the colt, jumping down from his chair. “Good boy, now go get ready for school.” “YAY!” yelled the colt bounding up the stairs. “...You know, I can’t think of any other foal that enjoys school that much.” chuckled Force. “Oh come on, we were all like that once.” replied Silver, smiling slightly. “You make it sound as if we’re old.” said Force in a raspy old voice, causing his wife to burst into laughter. * * * "AHH, whereisitwhereisitwhereisit?" thought the foal running around his room looking under, behind and on top of everything. He dashed out of his room looking around frantically while repeating the process from his bedroom. After a few moments his ears perked up as he heard a small "Squeak." slowly, he turned his head to see the door to the one place he was told never to enter, a place that contained such dark secrets even Celestia herself would go insane....his brother's room. The colt slowly tiptoed up to the door, as if as though his brother could hear him approaching it. He stopped roughly ten centimeters from the door, taking one last look around him he slowly nudged the door open trying to nudge it open slowly as to make as little noise as possible. After a heart stopping ten seconds he finally managed to slip inside of his brothers room, the walls where painted a strange light, lime green, the floor have several empty drinks cans, pizza boxes and pieces of paper with numbers too big for the colt to pronounce. "Squeak." the colt looked towards the area the noise came from just to notice the small brown mouse that had its tail caught underneath a box filled with broken toys, old pictures and a few books. "Hey Mickey." whispered the colt as he lowered himself to try and push the box off of "Mickey's" tail. "HNNG, HNNNG!" strained the colt struggling to push the box. "Heh....heh..." panted the colt leaning against the box. "COME ON KID. WE'RE LEAVING!" shouted Force at the bottom of the stairs. "NONONONONONONONO!" the colt thought desperately, as he tried to move the box again in a last ditch attempt. "...Are you okay up there?" called Force beginning to ascend the stairs. ".....Wait, I've got an idea." muttered the colt as he began to reposition himself against the box. Force opened the door to the colt's room and was somewhat surprised to find he wasn't in there, THUNK the stallion quickly ran of the room and into the one beside it to find his son on his back, a mouse on his mouth and the floor around him surrounded with junk. The two stared at one another for a moment before a quiet "Squeak" broke it. The colt turned onto his side and spat the mouse out before saying "I can explain. > And so we begin > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Two "So let me get this straight, you were looking after the class pet, you were keeping it over the break, you were feeding it food by using your own allowance and all of this was being done without my or your mother's permission?" groaned Force as he and his son were putting things back in the box that had been knocked over during the colts "great quest of saving the tailed one" as his son had so elegantly put it. "Kind of, I mean, it's not I wasn't as if he was hurting anybody so it doesn't mean it was wrong does it?" asked the colt looking innocently at his father. "....Well it depends on how you look at it," he replied while throwing a few bits of oddly shaped metal into the box. "Huh?" "Well, if you look at it as you didn't do anything bad because you didn't hurt anybody then you've got a very immature view on right and wrong," he said sitting on his eldest son's bed looking down at the colt. "I don't get it," replied the colt with a look a confusion. "Well, say an older mare was walking down the street and she dropped ten bits, you saw her drop them but you know she just got them from......lets say she won big at her bingo night, would it be wrong to take those bits?" questioned Force looking at his son who still had a confused look on his face. "...Okay let me simplify it, why don't you take cookies from the jar without asking me or your mom?" "Because you told me little monkeys will take me to Celestia and she'll send me to the Moon." replied the colt shaking slightly. ".....Forget it, I was expecting a little too much from a kid your age," chuckled Force as he walked out of the room. "Dad," called the colt behind him. "Yeah?" "I'm late." * * * "You're......in....so....much...trouble....later..." panted Force as he sprinted down the street trying to avoid every other stallion, mare and foal. "You're the one who wasted time trying to lecture me about old mares and bingo," replied the colt who had his hooves wrapped around his father's neck, as he tried desperately not to fall off. "...You...do...realize...you've...made..things...worse...for yourself?" "Yes sir." * * * "Can everybody please come inside now!" called a mare's voice, the mare had a dark green coat, her main was styled in a beehive shape and she had a pair of glasses balancing on her snout. Two lines began to form in front of her, to her left was a line of fillies standing in pairs and to her right was a line of colts. The mare began to walk between the lines inspecting everypony as though she was taking mental notes on who hadn't washed properly or who had the classic "Did we have homework...I hope we didn't because I didn't do it....oh no.."...well not so classic but for the mare it was somewhat standard. "Alright children, follow me inside." called the mare as she opened the doors with the colts and fillies in tow. The inside of the complex was rather small, it was basically a small corridor with five doors on either side and a large room at the end which served as a staff room. As the group moved down the corridor they broke up into smaller groups standing in line against the wall beside their classroom doors, waiting for somepony to take them in. "Everypony may now enter," said the same mare to her class as they silently but quickly moved into the room and each of them sat at their desks as though is was a finely practised routine. "Lets see, four, eight, twelve, sixte..fifteen, nineteen, who's off today?" asked the mare, a strange moment of silence passed through the room as everypony looked at the desks in front, behind and beside them, near the back of the class a small colt with a brown coat and short mane raised his hoof. "Yes Rough?" asked the mare. "It's.." the colt's sentence was cut short as everybody turned to the door which has just been closed...well slammed rather loudly. "Oops....sorry I'm late Mrs. Sharp-Pen," said the blue coated colt. "Ah, so you finally decide that we are finally worth your time," said Mrs. Sharp-pen sharply... "....I....uh..." mumbles the look with a look that was crossed between confusion and fear. "Do you have a reason for being late?" she asked bluntly. "Yeah, I've got a note," replied the colt taking a small sheet of paper out of his satchel. "Dear Mrs Sharp-Pen, I apologise for my Son being late, it is my fault entirely and I beg of you not to punish him as this will be the one and only time this will happen. Due to him looking after the class pet over the break we normally were awake earlier as it would wake us up, however today ,due to this, we were awake later than we would've been and due to me wasting time it ended with him being late. Yours Sincerely, Force Runner." "Ah, so where is Mickey may I ask?" questioned Mrs Sharp-pen going over the note again. "Right here," said the colt as he gestured towards his head as the little mouse jumped out of his hair. ".......Go take your seat and we'll get started." she said sticking her leg out for the mouse to jump on. "Yes Miss." * * * The colt looked at the clock, he wasn't the best at telling the time but based on where the big hand was he could roughly guess how long they had left before the bell went for playtime.(That's recess to you Americans) He sighed quietly to himself as he look back down at his piece of paper, they had just started the three and four times table and they were try to work it out for themselves using the same system they'd used for the two times table. He'd been able to work out the four times table as it was pretty much just double of what the two times table gave you, however for him the three times table was like looking at advanced mechanics if you've just only just learnt your A-Z. *RIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG* "Alright, you're all excused for recess, put your papers down at the front as you walk out." One by one the students put their paper on her desk, going from a slow trot to a rapid gallop the moment they were out of the door. "Time for some fun," thought the colt as he ran towards the doors only to be tripped by a hoof. "Hey punk, long time no see." > The Foodchain > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Three "Hey punk, long time no see," chuckled a voice. "Ugh, hey Spark," chuckled the colt. "Where've you been?" replied Spark as the two walked out of the building. "Well, I've sort of just....been around," shrugged the colt somewhat confused. "Nooo, what I mean is where were you during the break?" asked Spark a little more aggressively. "Oh, that." "Yes. that." replied Spark angrily. ".....I dunno, I guess I must've been busy because you know I come over all the time," replied the blue colt. "Ugh, I guess we should just leave it at," murmured the colt. "So what'd you do during the break?" "I went to visit my grandma and papa in the country." "The country, what's that like?" "Well, it's pretty quite I supp...crud, look down," whispered the colt as a group of four fillies chattering amongst themselves with a dark look in their eyes began to walk towards them. "Am I missing something?" whispered the colt. "Dude that's Short Stop...the bully in the year above us." "......How am I only just finding out about this?" replied the colt almost shouting, cringing slightly as he realised his mistake. "Hello there runt and run...tiar. " chuckled Short as she and her "friends" circled the two. The colt sized up Short Stop, she was only slightly bigger than himself, had a longish grey mane with a strip of white in it, her neck was covered up by a and her coat was only a shade or two darker making him looking rather....bland. However the thing that caught his attention was not her horn, no what caught his attention was the fact that it was glowing and he was now above it. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHmmmmfffffff !" his screaming was caught short as she tied her scarf around his muzzle. "Now listen to me and listen good," she said pulling him closer "Your little friend and I have some business to talk over so you're going go lie down over there like a good mongrel," she said cruelly throwing the colt to the side. "Now you, where are this weeks bits?" she said glaring down at him, while she was only slightly taller than the blue colt Spark was even smaller than him which did a lot for intimidation. "I...I....c-.couldn't..get any," he said shaking. "Aww, what a shame, well, we both know what happens next," she grinned as she slowly lifted the colt in the air. "One......twwwooooooo......thre.." "PUT HIM DOWN NOW!" roared a voice causing the filly to squeal in fright. "I don't know what you're doing to my little brother or his friend but this.stops.now," he said looking at the group with an insane look in his eye. "...Fine but this isn't over Rus...HEY!" she screamed as the older brother grabbed with one hoof and began to walk towards the building. "You're right, Shorty and co, lets go," he said looking at the blue colt and the others as he continued to walk. * * * "THEY'RE LYING!" screamed the filly. The group was sat in front of Mrs Sharp-pen, beside her was the blue colts older brother and in front of her were the four fillies, the colt and Spark. "Well, he has an injured leg," she said pointing at the colt "He has a bruise on his side from being dropped and they both have Bolt here, who was an example pupil, who saw the entire thing." "That proves nothing and why's he here in the first place?" she asked while glaring at Bolt accusingly. "Well, the kid here forgot his lunch, since dad was in such a rush to get him here, because he was running late for some reason." "A likely story." "Miss Stop, you will not speak to an older pony like that again, do I make myself clear?" ".....Yes Miss." "Also, I myself can confirm that he was late." she said forcing herself not to scream at the filly in front of her. "What does it matter anyways? You can't expect me to take any punishment you give me seriously," Short said cockily while everybody else in the room looked at like she was an idiot. "Is that so, because you're facing expulsion," said the mare, receiving a group of confused looks. "It means she'll be expelled," to which a chorus of "Ooooh's" replied. "Tch, like I care, I was getting moved to the "Manehattan Magical Institute for young unicorns" next week, " she said smirking. "...You're not the sharpest knife are you?" said Bolt with a "are you serious?" look on his face. "..Excuse me?" she asked slightly confused. "The "Manehattan Institute" is a well known school for gifted unicorns and it's also famous for its zero tolerance policy," answered Miss Sharp-Pen. "...So?" "Meaning, that if you were to be expelled, you wouldn't be accepted." "...No...no..no..NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" screamed Short Stop. "MISS SHORT STOP, IF YOU RAISE YOUR VOICE ONE MORE TIME YOU ARE DONE HERE, DO YOU UNDERSTAND!" roared Mrs Sharp-Pen. "...Yes.." "Yes what?" "Yes Miss," "Better, now Spark," she said turning to the young colt who'd been silent the entire time. "Yes Miss?" "Do you think Short Stop should be expelled?" "Um, well....I want to say yeah but....ruining her future seems a little unfair...maybe she should get a few detentions or her parents should be told?" suggested the colt. Mrs Sharp-Pen stared at the colt amazed at the maturity he was showing for somepony his age. "You're sure?" she asked. "Yes." "Absolutely sure?" "Yes." "..I suppose I'll let it slide...this time." "Mrs Short-Stop and co. I expect to see you every day during break for detention, for the next month, do I make myself clear?" "Crystal," the group replied in unison. "You three are free to go," looking at the two colts and Bolt. "Yes Miss, thank you miss." * * * The rest of the day seemed to drag on for the blue colt as Mrs Sharp-Pen tried to force more and more knowledge down their throats the longer the day went on. *RRRRRRIIIIINNNNGGGG* "Alright class, I expect all of you to have read about how our government works by tomorrow," called Mrs Sharp-Pen as the colts and fillies raced out of the classroom. "Hey shorty," said Bolt as the colt ran out. "Hey Bolt, where're mum and dad?" "Dad's working late and mum is away visiting your aunt, so it's just you and me tonight." "...This isn't going to end well is it?" asked the young colt. "Of course not, it is me after all," chuckled Bolt. > Surprise > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter four "Fish isn't a meat." "If it isn't a meat why can't we eat it?" "I didn't do biology, I just know the basics." "I'm telling you, it's a meat." "Isn't. "Is." "Isn't." "Is." "Isn't....shorty." ".....Is......um......." "Got nothing shorty?" "..." "I thought so," chuckled Bolt as he and his younger brother continued one of their many strange, odd and unimportant arguments. The two brothers continued to walk through the streets towards their home from the school, occasionally bumping into one of Bolt's numerous friends or one of the small blue colt's friends. "So, what's your history with the filly?" asked Bolt as the duo turned and started to walk through an alleyway. "Who?" "That...ugh....Sh...Shortas....Shortile.....Short-stop...yeah that sounds right, what's your history with her?" he asked while coming up with several nicknames for the young filly as they turned out off the ally heading down and waited as a carriage went by to cross the road. "Well she picked me up with magic and then dropped me." replied the colt using his hoof to illustrate going up and being thrown down. "..That's it?" asked Bolt as they quickly crossed the road, barely dodging an oncoming carriage. "..Yeah...is that weird?" "Huh, I guess she only knew Sparky then." "Sparky...that's a dog name," thought the young colt. The two were rather quiet for the rest of the walk home except for the occasional comment from the colt about how he'd been right about the whole "Fish is not a meat thing" and Bolt throwing a random name at him in return. "Anyways, we're home." said Bolt nodding towards the door, turning towards as he heard a mare behind him. "Ohhh, you've gotten so much bigger since I last saw you," chirped a chirpy voice. (1) "Oh, hey Aunt Shimmer," said Bolt trying to hide a look of disappointment that was slowly forming. "And look at you Bolt, you've gotten so..... much......." mumbled Shimmer Stone trying to think of something to say. "It's alright, I'm just plain old me," he chuckled. "And that's the way to stay," she said looking down at the blue colt as Bolt mouthed, "What the hay?" to his mother getting, "I'll tell you later," mouthed in return. "Hey Mom," said the blue colt happily as he bounced up to her. "Hello, how was school today?" she said smiling as she unlocked the front door to the house. "Well.... it was alright," mumbled the colt. "Why, what happened?" she asked worriedly looking at Bolt who mouthed back,"I'll tell you later," in return. "So tea?" asked Silver. * * * "I must say Silver, I do love what you've done with the place, the green looks much better than those bland white walls you used to have." commented Shimmer as she took a sip of her tea. "Yes, well we had to go to something other than white because somebody kept marking it with their hooves," said Silver glancing at the blue colt. "... What.... seriously what?" said the colt confused at the look his mother was giving him. "So, Bolt, whatever you been doing with yourself since you left school?" asked Shimmer. "Well, I've managed to get a part time job at the local gym, you know simple things like sending overdue payments notices and writing up the overall income of the gym, simple things." "They gave a part time worker that kind of responsibility?" said Shimmer shocked. "Well, it's less of a part time job and more of a temporary position as a financier." "Ah, I always thought you hated things like that." "Well as dad always says, "Whatever puts a bit in the pocket," chuckled Bolt impersonating his father to the best of his abilities. "Well, I suppose it's an admiral idea," commented Shimmer. "And what do you mean by that?" growled Silver. "Oh nothing, it just seems a little... bland." "Yeah, well not all of us decided to marry off to some rich stallion and divorce him for his money." "... You might want to your room right now," whispered Bolt to the blue colt. "Bu-" "Now." "Okay," whimpered the colt as he exited the living room. * * * Three minutes later "HOW DARE YOU!" screamed Silver as the blue colt sat on his bed, a pillow over his head, as he tried to block out the screaming of the two mares. "Hey champ," whispered a voice as his bedroom door opened, the colt looked up to his father slowly closing the door, trying to make as little noise as possible. "Dad... shouldn't you be down the-" "I'd only make it worse, granted it'd be over quickly but your mother wouldn't want that," chuckled Force as he sat down beside the colt pulling a slip of paper out of his saddlebag. "What's that?" asked the colt curiously. "This, is a permission slip your teacher gave to me outside to allow the school to take you to Ponyville on Friday and bring you back on Saturday. "..Why?" "Well, since most of you are reaching the age were you'd normally be getting your "Cutie Marks" your school decided it'd be a good idea since there's a large range of things to do there compared to here in the city," explained Force. "Okay, but what's so special about Ponyville?" "Well, there's a farm, animal shelter, a library, a weather center, a bakery and a boutique plus they're all a lot smaller than anything out here so it's easier to keep an eye on everypony and for the ponies there to interact with the students." "Ah." "And... well, the elements of harmony are the ones taking the students on there." "... WHAT!" (1) Yup, that was seriously just said. > More like Garfield > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Five Four days later "Come on dad, we're going to be late," shouted the blue colt at the bottom of the stairs, in the hall. "Rightf, rightf," grumbled Force as he carried a brown suitcase in his mouth, as he slowly came down the stairs. "Off so soon?" asked Silver poking her head out from the kitchen. "Yeah, we've got to be there for five past eight," replied Force as he opened the door. "Honey." "Yes?" "It's three minutes past, right now." * * * 1 minute later "EVERY CELESTIA DAMNED TIME!" thought Force as he was once again running through the streets with his son barely holding with his hooves around his neck. "Dad," said the blue colt looking up at something. "Nft now," grunted Force, his words sounding like gibberish due to the luggage he had in his mouth. After another minute of Force galloping full speed down the streets, he finally came to a stop next to a lamp-post with a sign that read "East PPP (Public Pickup Point) " "Damn, we... missed them," murmured Force as he took a deep breath in trying to catch his breath. "Dad." "Look son I'm so..." he stopped as he followed his son's hoof which was pointing to a large clock tower just across the street from them. "It's only five past seven... but how... the clocks went back didn't they?" he asked looking at his son. "Yep." "And you never thought to say to me before we left the house?" "Nope." "... You know what this means don't you?" "Unfertuantly." "... It's unfortunately." *** "Why should you hire a scarecrow? Because he's outstanding in his field," laughed Force to which he was returned with a cry of pain. "Please Celestia, make him stop, they're so terrible," thought the blue colt, lying in the fetal position with his hooves covering his ears trying to block out his father's terrible puns, to no avail. "Hello Mr. Putt," called a female voice across the street. "Ah, hello Mrs Sharp-Pen, how are you today?" "Oh I'm quite fine thank you and yourself?" "Well both the kids are away for the weekend so Silver and I are having a special weekend all to ourselves." "Ah... may I ask why you're seems to be in a state of shell shock?" "No reason, just a father son talk," chuckled Force evilly. "Ah, I understand," replied Mrs Sharp-Pen. "Well, I'll see you later son, make sure to behave yourself... and remember." "Remember what?" "Try to enjoy yourself because a bad field trip is one you don't get up from," said Force, grinning like a mad-mare. To which the colt just turned mouthing the words "Help me" to his teacher as his father left laughing. * * * Ten minutes later "Now that everypony is here, we're just waiting for the carriage to arrive and then we'll be leaving for Ponyville, make sure you're with your travel buddy and you've handed in your permission slips to go. "So, Spark, who do you want to meet first?" asked the blue colt to his friend. "I dunno, I'm just looking forward to going somewhere outside of the city," "I dunno, I like the city a lot," replied the blue colt. "Yeah, but you've only lived here for a few years," countered Spark. "It's not as if Scoltand was any different, we had cities there too, it's not all kilts and caggis you know," laughed the blue colt as Spark took a scarf out of his suit case and wrapped it round his stomach so it drooped down over his hind legs when he stood up on them. "And 'ah suppose you and you're wee Scolttish armies plan tae take ma land away from me and ma fellow countrponies," said Spark with a think Scolttish accent. "Oh aye, when 'ah finish pillaging you're pathetic wee toons, I'll be sure tae force feed half a ton of caggis tae all of yer commanding officers so 'ah shall," replied the blue colt, with both of them struggling to keep a straight face. "Boys, don't do anything stupid near the road," said Mrs Sharp-Pen grabbing the scarf off of Spark and putting it back into his suitcase. "Aww miss, we were just talking aboot ma... about Scoltand's history," whined the blue colt, quick to correct himself to "proper" Equis. "Well if that's the case, you can write me a two page report on it when we back then," said Mrs Sharp-Pen as she began to gather all of the luggage as a large purple, gold-trimmed carriage; being pulled by two pegasi approached them. * * * "Now, is everypony in their seat?" "Yes, miss," came an almost military reply. "Good, I'll be in the front discussing something with a guard and I do not want to have to back to this carriage, do I make myself clear?" And as expected a unison of "Yes, miss," was heard in return. * * * Around twenty minutes into the journey "... and to finish off, Princess Celestia asked I gave you this note, just in case you misplaced the last one," said a mare, somewhat harshly, levitating a parchment in front of Mrs Sharp-Pen. "Dear Mrs Sharp-Pen, As my dear student Twilight-Sparkle, has only recently been coronated, I feel it would be best for her if she were to teach a large group of the younger generation as a lesson on guidance instead of throwing her instantly into the fray. This is why I request, you and your class to visit Twilight Sparkle and the other element bearers as they her most trusted friends and will become her most trusted advisers in the future. Should you accept, all the necessary details will be sent to you about the date, time and travel arrangements. Yours Sincerely, Princess Celestia." "Thank you, now I do have one question though." "Oh, and what would that be?" "Well, we're just a small class; in a small city tucked away in a part of Equestria, why didn't she send some of the unicorns from her own school or one of the richer or even one of the closer schools?" ".... Well you see Miss Sharp-Pen...." > The Field trip: The boutique > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Six We join the class as they arrive in Ponyvile "Now remember children, you will be on your best behaviour; you will not wander off and you will not I repeat will not break anything, do I make myself clear?" "Yes, miss" replied the class as she gave them one more look over, just to ensure nopony had managed to slip away already. "Good, first off we will be visiting Miss Amour , the element of Generosity." "What does she work as?" called out one filly. "I believe she works at the local boutique," replied Miss Sharp-pen to which she received a mixture of groans, squeals of delight and what she could've sworn to be somepony quoting one of the darker tales of "Starswirl the Bearded." "Ugh, I hate boutiques," groaned Spark as he and the blue colt followed the rest of the class, from the back. "..... What's a boutique?" asked the blue colt after a moment of silence. "Seriously?" "Seriously." "I guess the best way to put it would be to say it's like a manedressers and a tailors packed into one place." "Huh, that doesn't sound too terrible." "What?" said Spark a little taken aback by what seemed to be unforgivable ignorance on his friends part. "Well, if you think about it there's not much she can really do to us, since my mane and tail a pretty short and yours can't really anything done to it," said the blue colt pointing to the parts he was talking about in turn. "Yeah, I suppose s... what the hay does that mean?" "Oh, nothing." * * * At the boutique "Hello, colts and fillies, my name is Rarity Amour and I shall be showing the magnificent world of fashion and art today," the mare currently speaking had a snow white coat, a purple mane and tail, both of which had obviously been styled and to top all off, she was a unicorn, which to the more mischievous colts of the class meant several less ways to escape to a more enjoyable location. "Now, I would like you all to split into two groups of colts and fillies," she said gathering a few bits and bobs from around the room. "Now, I would like you all to meet my adorable assistant for today, Spike," she said as she opened a door to reveal a small purple and green baby dragon. "Aww," cooed the fillies. "... Awesome," whispered the colts among themselves. "Now, if you please, would the fillies follow Spike and the colts I," she said as the two groups split off. * * * "Ahem, now that you are all seated we shall begin," said Rarity as she pulled down a sheet on the to reveal a large blackboard with the words "One-hundred and one rules to being a gentlecolt." "Now, in front of you are a pencil and several pieces of paper, you are to take notes as I teach you all the proper way to become a gentlecolt," she said, sounding almost gleeful to teach the young generation on how to properly conduct themselves. "Oh, I wouldn't recommend falling asleep, their will be a test at the end, now: rule number one a gentlecolt is always on time; rule number two a gentlecolt never carries less than fifty bits; rule three a gentlecolt will always adhere to the words of his mate; rule four a gentlecolt will never....." * * * ".... And finally rule one-hundred and one, a gentlecolt will never, I repeat never hurt somepony without good reason," she finished, putting down the now stub of chalk she had been using to write down all one-hundred and one rules. "Any questions? Yes, the blue colt at the back." "Will all of this be in the test?" he asked, to which he received a chuckle that confused him and all of his classmates. "Oh boys, I'm not that heartless, I only said there would be a test as I knew you would have never payed attention otherwise... or have I misjudged all of you?" she asked to which she received a collection of murmurs and accepting sighs. "Now, if you will follow me to the other room where Spike will now take charge of all of you," she said leading the out of the door, then closing it behind them with magic. "Rule eighty-seven," called out a colt to which Rarity merely chuckled. "At least one of them remembered," she thought with a slight smile on her face, as they crossed the hall over to pink door which she knocked on three times. After a moment or two the little dragon known as spike popped his head out "Oh hey, Rarity I'll just send the fillies out, the colts can come in the now," he said, fully opening the door to let the colts in as he called to the fillies to leave and follow Rarity. "Now, if you look around you'll see a bunch of really cool pictures done by the fillies that just left," said Spike as he ran around setting up new places for the colts to do their task. "Hey.... Spike, who drew this one?" asked Spark looking at, what would seem at first, a simple drawing of a bridge over a lake but if one looked they could clearly see every single little detail, be it the bricks that made up the bridge; to every blade of grass and even the water seemed like it had some sort of realism to it. "That? I think it was done by some filly called Blue petal," he said as began directing individual colts to a piece of paper where they could make their own drawings. "Huh, I thought I noticed something different about her," thought Spark as he was led over by Spike to where he could draw his own masterpiece. * * * "All right, these are all really good," said spike as he and the colts all looked at their creations, which varied from self portraits to drawings of buildings and somepony even drew an Ursa Minor. "Now, lets go outside, don't worry we'll send all of these to your teacher to give to you when you get back," he said as he lead them all outside to where Mrs Sharp-pen, Rarity and the fillies were all waiting. "Oh yes, they were absolute dears," said Rarity as Spike and the colts approached them. "Oh hello children, did you have fun?" asked Mrs Sharp-pen. "Yes, Miss." "Good, now I'd like you all to thank Mrs Amour and Spike." "Thank you," chanted the class. "Good, now we're going to find a Miss Dash... you wouldn't know where to find her, would you?" she asked looking at Rarity. "Oh, but of course, just follow me," she said as she began to trot towards the centre of town with the class and Mrs Sharp-pen in tow. > The Field trip: New Friends, Flying and Feathers > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Seven Last time, we left that class as they were headed to see Miss, Rainbow Dash and now we join them just as they arrive "... and at the very least she should have...." said Rarity as she and Mrs Sharp-Pen spoke to one another as they approached a large oak surrounded by a string of young pegasi and one older one.(1) "Alright troops, listen up," said the older one, her mane and tail seeming to cover the entire light spectrum which somehow seemed to work rather well with her cyan coloured fur. "You all been sent here because you are going to some of the best flyers in Equestria at some point, your teachers and parents see this too, that is why they sent you to be taught by me. The greatest flyer in Equestria Ra..." "RAINBOW DASH!" screamed a feminine voice. "Oh jeez," thought the mare as she floated down to meet the voice. "What do you want Rarity? I'm sorta busy, if you hadn't notice.... what's with the mare and kids?" "If, you remember correctly, Twilight told you that you would be responsible for teaching these fillies and colts about the different ways they can find out what their good at, so that they may try and get their cutie marks." "... OOOoooohhhh, that." "Yes, that," replied Rarity sounding somewhat exasperated. "Well, you see, I kinda, sorta, mighta; really shouldn't have but did, slightly agreed to take some of the kids from the Cloudsdale Flight Academy." "Deary me, well I suppose you'll just to make do then won't you?" she said as turned towards Mrs Sharp-Pen whispering something along the lines of "Good luck," to her. "Ugh, I suppose I'll just work it out somehow," mumbled Rainbow Dash. "Mrs, can we come down now?" called one of the pegasi. "... Oh yeah... might as well." * * * "Now with introductions out of the way, here's the game plan," began Rainbow Dash. "You're going to split into pairs but it has to be somepony from the other class, are we clear?" "Crystal," replied both classes as colts and fillies broke up to pair up with one another. "Hey, you got a partner?" asked a filly, hovering above the blue colt. "No, I don't," mumbled the colt. "One more time?" "No," he replied barely any louder than the last time. "Ugh, I'll go find somepony that can actually talk," she muttered flying away. "Oh... okay then," mumbled the blue colt looking around, seeing various other ponies joining up with one another. "Uh, hey, you wanna pair up?" asked another voice, causing the colt to look upwards, seeing a dark blue pegasi with a blonde mane that looked somewhat like a helmet. "... Uh, I think we might have to."(2) "Why's that?" asked the colt, somewhat confused. "Everypony else has paired up," replied the blue colt, pointing a hoof towards the line of colts and fillies, standing in twos. "Ah, well we better join them then, eh?" said the pegasus. * * * "Alright kids, here's the idea, each pair is going to get a hoop, the pegasus' task is to catch the other pony and get the hoop off of them, any questions?" "Isn't it kinda unfair since we can only run but they can run and fly, therefore making it so we have to advance over more complicated terrain faster, therefore giving us an unfair disadvantage?" asked one filly. ".... What she said," said her partner. "... I suppose we could give the hoop holder a twenty-second head start then?" "That should be suffice," replied the filly. "... Well then... run."(3) * * * "Run, run, run, run," thought the blue colt, ducking into some bushes as his partner whizzed past him, shaking the bush. "Jeez, he caught up already?" thought the colt, peeping out of the bush. "Hey man." "ARGH!" screamed the colt, falling backwards as he saw a blue form descend from above. "Not very fast are you?" asked the blue pegasus, sitting down beside him. "Not really.... so what's your name?" asked the colt. "The names Blue or Blue Breeze." "You're a blue pegasus... called Blue Breeze?" chuckled the blue colt. "Got a problem with it?" replied Blue with an eyebrow raised. "Not really, hardly any worse than mine." "And that'd be?" "Es.." "HELP!" screamed a certain colt as he ran by the duo, being closely followed by a somewhat pissed looking colt. "And that'll be Spark," chuckled the colt. "Being chased by Wing Glimmer... poor guy." "What's so bad about her?" "Ever hear of Roid Rage?" "The Hoof-Fighter?" "Yeah, that's his daughter." ".... He's dead." "Very. Well, shall we head back then, Slowpoke?" "Yeah we probably shou... wait a minute..." "See you there." "HEY!" * * * "Hi Mrs." "Ah Blue, nice to see you back so soon," replied Rainbow Dash. "Speaking of which, where's your partner?" "He should be right ther.. oh there he is," said Blue pointing towards a small blue dot charging towards them. "I'm.... gonna.... break... oh Celestia it burns," panted the colt as he approached Blue and Rainbow Dash. * * * "And I think that's everybody," said Mrs Sharp-Pen counting up the colts and fillies in her class. "Alright then, where you headed next?" "Well, we're off to the local inn tonight and then we're visiting a Miss Applejack." "Oh right, I know AJ, she stays up on Sweet Apple Acres you can't miss it. "Ah, well, say goodbye children." "Bye!" called the class as they walked away, a few waves between them and the others. "So, how'd it go?" asked the blue colt, walking with Spark. ".... Bending..... lots a bending." "... Okay then." said the colt as they and the rest of class walked into the middle of the town just as several books came hurtling towards them at deadly speeds. *WHAM*