“My friends, we have gathered here today to bid a fond farewell to a dear old friend of ours.” I looked at everypony that had gathered. All with long, worn out faces. All looking back at fond memories, but also looking forward to the future. “What shall we do when this day has ended and tomorrow has begun? Will we mourn what we’ve lost, or go on with our lives and strive to do better than we have in the past?”
A few sniffs of the more emotional ponies were clear in the silent room. I took one last look at my friends. I had known them for so long. Notebook, a light purple unicorn with a pastel pink mane and tail. She had taken her glasses off and was rubbing her eyes. Slendy, my boyfreind of a little over a year and a half. He was, as his name suggested, slender and very tall. He had lost his vision but could see with his magic. The CMC, Sweetie, Scoots, and Apple Bloom. There was shockingly a new set of friends, Sports Star and his marefriend Silverspoon. Then there was me. Confident and always good at speeches. A simple earth pony.
“Goodbye high school, we hardly knew ye.” The room erupted into a mix of reactions. There was some high-hoofing and laughter, mixed in there was some fake crying. Sweetie Belle was actually crying, no surprise there. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were consoling her. Scoots was leaving in the morning to go to Wonder Bolts Acadamy to train as Captain Dash’s apprentice. Sweetie and Apple Bloom were leaving in the next month for Canterlot. They were going to Celestia’s School of Visual and Preforming Arts. Sweetie would be working on her singing career and Apple bloom on her fashion. I didn’t know where Sport and Spoon were going. No doubt Sport got a scholarship for football and Silverspoon would go with him. The normal highschool couple. The jock and the cheerleader. In the middle of this past year, he apologized to Slendy for being such an ass.
And then there was me and Slendy.
We were gathered in my living room. Everypony had stayed the night so we could leave for graduation together.
“Hey Night?” Notebook had lightly grabbed my shoulder. She had a concerned look on her face. “What’s happening with Slen? Is he going to college?”
I looked over at Slendy. I smiled. He wasn’t going to college, no. He showed a great amount of magic. I convinced him to take the entrance exams for Princess Celestia’s School of magic. He not only passed with flying colors but also excelled over the highest possible score. At his exams both princesses were there, watching all the potential students.
He wasn’t going to college for his magic.
The princesses spoke in private and then came to a decision.
~~~~~
“Slendy, could you come here please?” Princess Celestia beckoned Slen to join them where they stood. With measured steps, each filled with the utmost poise, Slendy walked up to the princesses and bowed. Celestia fixed Slendy with a stern, calculating look. Luna smiled kindly down at him.
“Yes my princesses?” Slendy looked up at them both, making Celestia smile, and Luna’s own smile widened.
“Slendy. Though you have shown powers stronger than any before you, I’m afraid you will not be able to attend my school, nor any others for magic.”
Slendy straightened from his bow, his ears falling along with his hopes. “I’m sorry your majesties. I’ll take my leave now.” He bowed and turned away.
Luna placed her hoof on Slendy’s shoulder. “However,” Slendy turned towards her. “I have been looking for an apprentice. Somepony that I may teach and train to help with night time affairs, such as raising stars and many other important tasks. I need somepony strong willed, strong hearted, and, of course, having strong powerful magic. I know you will be more than perfect.”
~~~~
Notebook looked at me. “I had no clue! Wait, does is mean you two won’t see each other anymore?”
I shook my head. “No that’s the best part! Luna is the headmaster of the college, she’s there all the time. Which means...” I smiled triumphantly.
“Awesome! When were you leaving? Did you wanna take the train?”
“I don’t know. But I’m leaving in a week. You?”
“A week also. Can’t believe we were both accepted! I’m gonna be the greatest writer ever!”
Once Note had stopped laughing mentally, I agreed “Buck yeah you are! Can’t wait to start music 101 and animation classes.”
Notebook and I high-hoofed as my mother came into the room.
Oh boy.
“Hey dumb-bucks! Get your flanks in motion or else your gonna miss your own graduation.” Always the blunt pony, my mother.
“Miss Scratch, my favorite mare!” Sport threw his arm around my mother. “We were just about to leave, right everypony?” Most of the ponies nodded. I only face-hoofed. “Thank you for the hospitality ma’am, and might I say, your plot looks fantastic this morning!”
My mother and I simultaneously swung our hooves him. He dodged them of course.
Vinyl shook her head. “See if I ever let you or your friends in to my club. You’ll just have to party elsewhere.” My mother was the famous Vinyl Scratch, better known as DJ PON-3, the greatest DJ in all of Equestria.
The CMC asked my mother "Will 'Tavi be playing at the ceremony?"
To my surprise, she said no. Aunt Octy will be in the crowd with my mother. The have a local DJ to preform all of the live music.
"Gee, wonder who that could be" I hugged my mother “See ya at the ceremony. Better leave before Sport gets his rump romped.” Another squeeze and we took out the front door.
Sport sauntered out singing “Night Glow's mom has got it goin’ on! She’s all I want and I’ve waited for so lon-” Slendy’s hoof was shoved right in Sports mouth.
“Shut the buck up.”
“How are you kids this morning? Excited?” Cherilee had stopped us before we entered the school. Her mane was a lovely pink with a few grey streaks running through it. Her coat was a darker shade of pink. Though Cherilee was getting old, she still had a spring in her step.
“We are PUMPED!” Silverspoon's voice rang out. She had a high pitched voice.
“I honestly never thought you two would be friends, Slends and Sport. I’m... So proud... Of all of you...” She wiped her eyes.
I gave her a hug. “What will you be doing next year?”
“I’ll be staying here of course, I’ll have a new batch of little foals come autumn.”
“Then please don’t be sad. You’ll have new students expecting a great, strong, fun teacher. And that’s exactly what they’ll get.” I smiled.
Slendy spoke up. “We have to get going or else we’ll be late, Miss Cherilee.” She nodded and hugged each of us.
“I’ll be watching from the crowd!” She shouted as we trotted away.
“I’m gonna miss her.” Sport looked down sadly.
“We all are, dude.” Slendy threw his arm around Sports neck.
Sport looked at him and nodded. He then leaned over and whispered, loud enough for everypony to hear, “Sorry bro, no homo.”
Slendy jumped away from Sport. Laughter erupted from our group as the boys got into a mock fight. Slendy, had bulked up. In ten seconds flat, Slendy had Sport pinned and was biting his ear.
“Uncle! Uncle!” Sport was kicking out, trying get the upper hoof. Slendy got off and helped Sport to his feet.
“Okay. Okay.”
We got into the high school. It had been built last year, right next to the one room school house. It was nice to finally not be lumped with the little kids. The old, now primary, school was dwarfed by the high school. The high school had to be at least 4 times larger than old school.
Slendy hugged me and kissed my cheek.“See ya at the ceremony.”
“I gave his hoof a quick squeeze. “I’ll see you soon, hun.”
We went to separate rooms to get changed and prepped.
The ceremony was quick. We trotted up got our diplomas, and trotted back to our seats. Nothing fancy. There were tears of course. Most all the mares who attended shed a tear for their sons or daughters. The stallions were calm and stoic.
My group of friends all went to my house for buckin’ sweet party.
Tonight was the night we had become adults. And damn, did it feel good!
~~~
“You ‘bout ready?” Slendy’s vibrant white coat shone in the early morning sun. I gently punched his shoulder.
“Calm down! The train doesn’t even leave for an hour.”
We were in my almost empty room, packing the last of my items.
He brushed my green tipped forelock out of my eyes. “I know, I know, I just wanna make sure I’m not too late, kick Sport's butt one last time.” Men. “Especially after what he said about your mother.”
“I assure you, he’ll get whats coming to him. And you know was kidding about Mom.”
Speak of the devil and she shall appear.
Vinyl’s head peeked around the corner at us. “Oh, what? I’m not good enough for a young stallion?”
“Were you listening to us?!” I yelled at her.
“Oh! I mean.. Hey kiddos! Octy brought some cookies for us!” She disappeared for a moment. A quiet struggle could be heard outside my room. After a minute my adoptive aunt Octavia was roughly shoved into my door way, holding a tray of cookies. A pair of white hooves was seen darting back out of view.
“Hey kids! Cookies?” Octy blushed and smiled sheepishly, grey fur ruffling up a little. She gently set the cookies down, composed herself and ran her hoof over her black mane. “ You two eat up. No need to be hungry on the train ride.” She nodded at us and darted out the door. When she left we could hear her running after mom. “VINYL! IT WAS YOUR IDEA IN THE FIRST PALCE! GET YOUR FAT WHITE FLANK BACK HERE SO I CAN KICK IT!”
I face-hoofed. Mom ran back in, her electric blue mane ruffled. “Hide me!” Octavia rushed in after, her own mane a little askew.
I repeatedly banged my hoof against my for head. Slendy was laughing his mane-less head off. Vinyl was laughing while Octy let out a little chuckle.
“Get out and let them finish getting ready Vinyl! Slendy are you even packed?”
“I had all of my stuff packed 2 days ago, unlike some.” He looked over at me.
“I am a procrastinator.” I only had a few things to left to pack. Some blankets and a couple of stuffed animals. I hugged my favorite stuffed animal. It was a stuffed rabbit I had made years ago. He had become ragged and dusty over the years but I still loved him. Mr. Giles. He had floppy ears, buttons for eyes, and a sewn on smile. I remebered the night I made him. Mom had been out DJing and I was home alone. I took out some fabric and cut it up. I made him in only a few hours. He didn’t look as good as he does now, of course. I was only a filly and I had no idea how to make stuff like this.
When mom returned early in the morning, she found me asleep on the floor, hugging my new toy close, surrounded by crafting supplies. She woke me up.
After she had seen the doll she smiled. “May I help?” I nodded and together we made Mr. Giles.
“You’re bringing Giles?” Slendy interrupted my nostalgia.
“MR. Giles!!!.” I hugged the stuffed rabbit close to me. “And, yes, he means a lot to me.”
Mom smiled. “Yeah I know he does. If you’re okay with it, I wanna take him to Rarity’s place and get him cleaned up a little. I’ll bring him to the dorm when he’s done?”
I looked down. He was looking worse for ware. “Okay.. Just.. Please don’t take to long.”
“ I won’t.” She hugged me and looked at Octy. “WOAH!! WHAT”S THAT OUTSIDE?!!” We all turned our heads. Mom bolted past Octy and out of my room.
“VINYL! Don’t think your getting off that easy!” Octy had dashed out after Mom. I facehoofed again.