[Ponyville] Back To School [Ended]

[WillowWisp]

Candy? Grim had just been listening to each of the stories as they were told. But when Twist's came with candy he had to blink. That was one way to get popular with most any group of foals. Maybe he should have brought something to hand out as well. Then maybe nopony would pick on him. And if nopony picked on him and he made friends, he could go home. Not that he didn't like living with his cousin, but he missed his mom and dad.

As he waited for the sweets to be passed out he glanced over toward Sweetie Belle's desk. He was going to write her a song, just like he promised. The white Unicorn actually had him quite smitten but he wouldn't admit it out loud. She was just perfect in his mind, soft spoke, polite, and had a wonderful voice.

He caught Champ fiddling with something out of the corner of his eye and knew exactly what it was. Grim often found himself the spit ball target back home and the motions were all too familiar. Without saying anything, he sprung up from his desk, not caring if it drew attention and in the nick of time, took the hit instead. The wet paper wad nailing him in the side as he turned his attention to the bully.

'Hey,' he paused. What was he going to say? Grim wasn't good at this kind of thing, and his eyes instantly shot to the floor. 'You... you shouldn't do that. It's...it's rude.'

[Bramble Rose]

Sweetie Belle cowered behind the desk. Oh, goodness, Miz Cheerilee was going through the whole class! Was she going to have to talk in front of the class after all? All the other ponies seemed to excited to talk ... Scootaloo was just going on, and on, and on... but then, Scootaloo was brave!

She blushed and hugged Scootaloo back, rubbing her cheek against Scootaloo's neck as the foal stopped by her desk on the way back to her seat. Scootaloo was always so nice to her, going out of her way to protect her, or give her a ride on her scooter... even if she did go awfully fast on the scooter! Sweetie Belle thought she was so *lucky* to have such a *nice* friend! But ... what if Miz Cheerilee ended up noticing Sweetie Belle because she got a hug?

She nervously considered that possibility as the butterflies fluttered about in her stomach. Oh no, she was! Miz Cheerilee was looking right at her! She tried to hunker down even further behind the desk, hoping, hoping so hard that she wouldn't get called on...

And suddenly Grim was standing beside her, and she was blinking in confusion. What was rude? But he wasn't looking at her, even though he was standing right next to her. She had no idea what was going on, alas... but all this attention was happening right next to her! If they didn't stop, Miz Cheerilee was going to notice her and that she hadn't given a report yet!

She tried so hard to hide behind the desk, and trying to bluff, softly murmured to Grim, "I... I'm fine, thank you... You're very nice to worry about me. **"

[Skye]

Cheerilee was busy helping Twist share her candies with the class when suddenly there was a ruckus just out of her field of view. When she turned, she discovered the sight: Grim standing there with a goodsized spitball on his side, an entirely too smug look on Champ's face, a terrified Sweetie Belle and general mayhem. This had gone on long enough! "Ponies, settle down!" the teacher exlaimed, looking rather stern. She noticed the paper balls and prepared spitwads on Champ's desk from where she stood. "Champ, I think you've earned yourself a detention after class, and I will be speaking to your father tonight as well. I'm going to have to ask you to take a seat at the front of the class for the rest of the day as well." Cheerilee's expression was not one of particularily cheerful mood, though it didn't last long as it softened towards Grim.

"Class, come to order this instant!" the teacher called, returning to the front of the classroom. This just wasn't going to do at all! She was originally just going to speak with Champ and see if she could turn some of that destructive energy towards something useful, but now she had to add discipline to her list. And it was only the first day of school, too! She was not looking forwards to this. And she'd hoped to take Grim to Sugar Cube Corner for a cupcake to help make him feel more at home. Maybe she'd have to put that off for another day. As things returned to control (Not that there was a whole lot...merely one student out of his seat, another having to change seats, and a single unicorn horn poking up out of yet a third...), thereafter came the words.

"Sweetie Belle, would you please come and give your report? Don't be shy now, it wouldn't be fair to expect everypony else to give theirs and leave you out of it, would it?" Cheerilee smiled sweetly to her. "I promise it won't hurt. And Grim, please take your seat as well, I cannot stand for disruptions to the class. I'm afraid this will have to count as a warning."

[StrawberryBlossom]

Twist was nearly done handing out her candies when the ruckus started. She jumped a little as Grim launched out of his seat, and turned to stare at the three ponies in question. Ohh, she'd known that blue colt looked like trouble!

"Here you go... um, Starlight, right?" she murmured to the white pegasus - entirely forgetting that she wasn't supposed to be using 's' words, but she didn't notice her slipup in the general commotion, merely selecting a candy cane with multicolored sugar swirls to offer him. Once that was handed out, she headed back to her own desk, dropping off candies to foals that didn't have them. She hesitated slightly before setting one at Champ's new desk, since she had a feeling he would have nothing nice to say and she was just setting herself up, but in the end he got one too. It was even blue, since she'd been trying to match candy sticks to their recipients.

"You'll be great!" she assured Sweetie Belle in passing (back to avoiding the Dread S now). "You had a great time I bet, and I like hearing you." Twist had, after all, caught a few snatches of song from time to time as she passed Sweetie Belle. Wouldn't it be awesome if she made a summer vacation song? Not likely with how shy she seemed, but it would be cool. Maybe she should say it aloud? She carefully set a purple and pink candy can on Sweetie's desk so it would be there when she got back, deciding that yes, it was worth suggesting.

"Maybe making it to a tune will help you!" she whispered.

Gosh, she hoped she hadn't just put to much pressure on her! Twist hated it when people pressured her.

Grim was her last stop; she offered him a darker purple-striped cane with a smile.

"And um... what you did for her was... pretty cool."

With that she scurried back to her own seat to await Sweetie's presentation.

[MudBug]

There was a smile that beamed over Starlight's muzzle as he took the multicolored stick of candy with such a gleeful expression, tiny tail tickling away as he clutched it delicately between his forehooves.

"Mhm! Thank you very much!" Not picking up on the lisp, if anything, it made her more interesting to listen too as he began licking his candy cane happily, watching the colors smear together before the indicent went on.

Blinking over his shoulder at the commotion, tongue still stuck out mid-lick, he had to peer at Champ and frown ever so slightly. What was his problem?

They were getting candy and he was acting like a jerk still!

Glancing at Grim and the splat of paper on his person, Starlight couldn't help but look on in faint awe. He was really brave! Another soft feeling of vindication came to the foal's face as Champ was given detention, memories lingering on when he was dared into Everfree because of him and watching the blue colt closely.

Champ's face was a picture, first seeing his spitwad intercepted by that geek from the other day and then Cherilee's voice perked up and made the colt's head turn with a blink on his face. Then the bomb was dropped and so did the foal's face. Detention? He had to stay AFTER this stupid class!?

For a moment, he could only stand there and blink before turning his eyes on Grim and growling with a very blatant ferocity to his deep orange eyes as his ears splayed against his head. One hoof irritantly pawing the floor.

"You are so -dead-, lame-o." He hissed between his teeth, making sure it was low enough for a whisper...but loud enough so that this LOSER heard him.

With a stomp, he moved to his new desk and peered at the blue swirled candy cane once he'd gotten there with a faint look of suprise and confusion. Squaring his jaw and glancing at Twist, he raised a hoof to crush the candy cane under it, grinding it almost painfully slowly aswell. Hoping that she saw that.

Stupid candy.

Stupid school.

Ears splayed against his head, he slumped over his new desk and puffed the candy 'powder' out of his way whilst staring at the chalk board. Making sure to take his gnawed pencil and his notebook so atleast he wouldn't get told off for that..and that he wouldn't get bored.

[Mutt]

Pacing, pacing, hooves clicking back and forth along the cobblestones as her dark cloak rustles around her body, concealing her expertly from the general public and giving her a most omi.... intib... A scary look if she did say so herself! But still, few were taking notice and none were taking her seriously. She grumbles as she travels along the streets, she must do something decidedly evilish to be accepted as a real and present master of the dark forces of.. uhm.. Who cares they're dark forces, that should be good enough! She hasn't gotten all the kinks worked out of her imaginary plans yet. Still, the game is ahoof! She holds the reigns and neigh will anyone stop her!

She absolutely must think of something sufficiently mischievous and threatening to make herself be taken seriously by the foolish heroes who are almost certainly hiding and pretending to live normal lives in the town nearby, perhaps enough so to bring them out of hiding, even! But what, what could she do? Spook the butterflies? Done it, nothing. Tip over an applestand? No, that's more likely to happen up the street from her and the resulting wave of rolling fruit would carry her off to a painful crash the way things have been going for her. It might even enrage the bees again, oh sweetness and apples the BEES. How she hated those little yellow critters, they seemed to have a knack for always building their nests in the most inconvenient of places, like, wherever her often uncontrollable trajectory causes her to crash into. How dare they! Wait she's d.. iiig... going off topic now!

What... What what what could she do to make her grandly great, wonderful terrible entry into the hearts and minds of the citizens of fair Ponyville, to strike fear into their hearts for reasons only she, as the great contemplatorer and controllerer of magic and armies could understand! Even the foals did not rightfully fear her as they should, she could understand the grownups, but the foals weren't any bigger than she was! What, wait. Wait a moment yes. Of course! The foals~ She stops mid pace, propping hersel against a wall so as to be assured she remains upright for this part. Her hooves click together in a hoof pyramid of eeeeebil ... errr.. plotting! as she concocts her most brilliant of plans ever. The foals of Ponyville, she will incite them into rebellion! They are the future, with them under her sway, the town will have no choice but to give into her demands! To be determined later with the aid of an impartial bipartisanship committee with rotating members of course, she needed different viewpoints to help her decide what she needs. A sock chuckle builds in her throat, and it quickly builds into a riotous cackle of triumph as she forms her grand plot. Time to put it into action!

Her hooves beat rapidly against the street as she gallops down to the schoolhouse. Class was in session today of course, plenty of young minds for her to influence! Clearly oblivious to the actual, possible ramifications of her fantasy if she actually succeeds, she is so caught up in her play that she almost becomes the mask! It is a dangerous line that she treads, but it is the only thing that really seems to make her happy. She spots a fence, a sign in the distance, almost there! She slows her pace, sneaking onto the school groans and taking a sneaky peek into the classroom, there they all were up in a row, more likes sheeps than ponies! She ducks back down, scanning the surroundings as she crawls around the ground, lurking quietly. She needed a high place to perch and dispense her wisdom. There, up on the roof, a bell tower of course! With that she can not only preach but also alert them to her presence in a dramatic manner! How to reach it, how to reach it.

She quirks up, a shrubbery! Her forelock glimmers darkly, shining and in conjunction with her hood, effectively concealing her poor little horn from the world. Self-Image issues are a real pain. She needed to be able to jump, to climb. She was somehow always able to do these things when she felt she really needed it.. Okay, well, sometimes. A dramatic leap! cloak rustling in the breeze as she makes her way onto the shrubbery, scrambling. From there, another leap onto the small.. uhm, sticking out thing! A soft thump rings out as the small pony hits the roof protruding from the front of the building, and from there, another, onto the slanted roof! She gets her front hooves planted upon it firmly, but her legs lag behind and she begins sliding. An uncharacteristically girly squeal escapes her as she scrambles, eventually getting herself up on top. Her legs quake a bit as she paces, carefully, to the stop of the building, and the tower, the glow in her hood fading.

From her new position, she sees the bell is clearly out of her reach. and she works over the problem. Maybe, maybe she can ring it with her horn. She tries to move the bell, struggling with little pony might. But she has neither the experience, the control, nor the power to swing it, and is forced to rethink her plan. She looks at it from a different angle, and sees the dangly bit inside. So that's how it works! She could probably move that! She props herself up and tries again, trying to swing it against the sides. But nothing, maybe a different way. Push, pull, push, pull. Yes! Eventually she gets full swings, bringing about a loud 'Clang, Clang, Clang, Clang!' to announce her presence. She clears her throat, and attempts to produce a low, mysterious and enticing voice. It does not work particularly well, but the effort is evident.

"Attention foals of Ponyville, I, a mysterious traveler have come to free you from your not freedom! You do not need to go to school, it does nothing for you, only takes time away from the things that really make you happy! All the standards, the structure, the rules! They are unnecessary, rules are for fools! Follow me and I promise you will be free! Join the party, you won't be sorry! All of you, with you as my dark army...errr.. I mean my trusted friends and companions, no-one will stop us, we will be free to do as we will! We are the foals, we control the future!" she proclaims this dramatically from the rooftop, hoof shaking as she does so. Yes, perfect, absolutely perfect, no-one could resist her entirely catchy and not at all hastily thought out slogans. Victory would be hers for certain this time! She wobbles a bit on the rooftop, and suddenly becomes intensely aware of how high up she is.

[Skye]

Cheerilee watched as Champ made his way to the front of the class. She kept her eye on him as he made his way up, "Champ, I am so very disappoined in you, young colt." she said plainly to him, before giving a bit of a sigh. "Now, if we can get back to the tasks at hand...thank you again, Twist, for the candies." she repeated as the colts and fillies found their seats once again.

Before little Sweetie Belle could be coaxed up to the front of the class for her presentation, a sudden racket began sounding through the classroom. There was a terrific clattering and scrabbling at the roof. Did somepony just squeal? And then a few moments later, somepony was ringing the bell on the roof! How in the world...what in the world was going on? Cheerilee gave a start from the sudden unexpected sound of the bell. "Goodness Gracious, what was that?" She sat bolt upright and scanned her class. Who could possibly be doing that? The bell's rope was inside and attached to the bracket on the wall, and from where she was sitting, there was nopony out in the hall pulling the cord.

"Stay in your seats, ponies, while I look into this." the purple mare trotted around from behind her desk and around her students to peer up into the belfry. As she did, suddenly out came the voice of the little filly on the roof, though she couldn't be seen from the current vantage point. How did anypony get up there in the first place? And who had rung the bell? It was mercifully silent now but the voice that had followed along was young, female and from the sounds of things, not terribly good at acting. What was it with little ponies these days? It seemed like there was no end to their antics these days. "On second thought, I think it's time for lunch and then recess. Be back in class in an hour!" she called out to her students, before opening the door to head outside.

Cheerilee cantered down the front steps and onto the walk, before peering up at the bell tower of the school. "Who's up there? Don't you realize how dangerous it is? And what are you talking about? Who are you, and how did you get up there in the first place? Come down this instant!"

[Bramble Rose]

Sweetie Belle whimpered in fear, as she was called to the front. She got to shaky feet, stepping forward towards the front of the class. What was she going to do? What was she going to say? Everyone was looking at her! Terror coursed through her little form, and a faint little squeak sounded from the back of her throat. She felt more like miss Fluttershy than like her big sister Rarity.

She took a deep breath, took another step. And then the bell started ringing, and a voice started calling.

Sweetie Belle breathed out a sigh of relief, and for once was the first foal out the door to get to recess.

[StrawberryBlossom]

Twist winced as Champ crushed the candycane, ears laying back as she rested her chin on her desk, eyes half-closed in a hurt expression. She'd worked really hard on those! And... well... she'd tried. Someponies just couldn't be made friends with, maybe. Her chin remained flat on the desk as she watched Sweetie Belle get up, barely twitching her ears up as she tried to give the little unicorn an encouraging smile.

Then the first clunk sounded on the roof and she bolted upright in shock, nearly falling right over before recovering and staring up at the ceiling in confusion. A few clatters later and she jumped again as the bell began clinging and a little voice sounded from above.

Wow.

She looked over at Cheerilee as the teacher addressed them, ears flicking forward. Recess? Well... with that, maybe she could talk to Grim, Starlight, and the others a little more, and find out what was going on on the roof to boot!

With that in mind she got to her hooves and trotted for the door, completely ignoring Champ but offering a smile to Grim and Starlight.

"Hi you two... I hope you liked them!"

[MudBug]

The little foal had to glare slightly at Champ's crushing of the candy cane, who would give up on such an awesome candy? The flavour. The texture. For home made, this wasn't bad at all and Starlight revelled in it quite happily as he watched Cherilee chide the brute.

Serves him right.

As everything was settled back to order, it seemed the day would continue without a hitch-

What was that ringing?

Whose voice was that?

Looking up to the ceiling, the foal had to blink slightly with the end of the candy cane sticking out of his mouth like a cigar and soon reccess was called. Poor miss Cherilee, she was so stressed out because of everything and now some weird pony was on the roof.

Was it that gray pegasus that kept bumping into things?

Oh well.

With lunch and reccess called, the little pegasus smiled towards the nice filly who gave him his candy cane and offered a nod. Slurping the stick out of his hungry maw.

"It's super yummy! You have a real talent for candy!" He piped up happily.

For most of what happened, the telling off and settling down for lessions, Champ just sat there with his pencil in his mouth and crudley doodled away in his notepad. Since the day was ruined anyway, he found no point taking anymore notice in what was said and lost himself in his own little world.

He did manage to catch the reaction of that frizzy haired dork, seeing that anguished expression of hers over the destruction of her stupid candy cane...so why didn't he feel any better?

Glancing to the dust that had now scattered around the floor, that inevitable pang of guilt tugged at his chest like the other day with Sweetie...frowning he just furiously continued to doodle.

He didn't have to appologise...stupid candy...

When the lesson seemed to settle, like the other ponies, he too glanced up at the roof and groaned as a hoof rubbed at his face in irritation.

Great. Now they had a weirdo on the roof.

Lunch was called and Champ felt a tiny bit torn, did that mean he had to stay in class and get a telling off? It probably did...detention and stuff...with a grumble, he moved to grab his bag from under his old desk and bring it under his new one.

Taking out a carved lunch box with a metal handle his dad had managed to make for him and paint his favourite colors, the usual blues and golds. And once settled, took to eating at a daffodil and tulip butter sandwhich as he blanked the rest of the class completely as they blanked him.

Eyes settling on the doodle he'd made of two ponies...well...what looked like two ponies atleast...he wasn't an artist.

[brianblackberry]

Sunrise awoke late that morning. She had just arrived in Ponyville very late the night before - the train had thrown a wheel, and the engineer ponies had taken hours to fit it back on. Quite a start to the new chapter in her life - what her mom said was so she could 'finally receive a steady education and learn more responsibility in a stable environment'

Of course, the first thing she did was over sleep! Now she was late for her first day, not the best start for her. As she slung her school saddlebags over her withers, she briefly looked over at a picture of her mom, Martini Twist, that sat on the nightstand. A twinge of sadness and loneliness shot through the little foal - she already missed her mother terribly. Mom said it was for the best, though - as much as she wanted to spend as much time as possible with Sunrise, she just couldn't find work anywhere better. Sunrise could visit during her time off, which was just about every weekend. The separation wasn't meant to be permanent, at least Sunrise hoped it would work out that way! If there was one thing she knew for certain in her young life, it was that plans rarely seemed to work out.

"Good morning Ma'am!" she quickly chirped as she ran by Tea Cozy and out the door. She didn't have a real chance to know her benefactor yet, who was allowing Sunrise to stay at her place - but she seemed like a very nice Pegasus. Oh well, there was plenty of time for that later. Right now the little unicorn had to get to school!

The morning's pattern followed even after she'd left, when she found herself misremembering the brief tour that Miss Cozy had given her last night on the way here from the station, and got herself lost on the way to school. Luckily, the town was full of nice ponies who were willing to help, and she soon found herself back on track - though very, very, ridiculously very late now.

Sunrise breathed a sigh of relief as she finally spotted the small bell tower up top the school house and broke into a trot to get there all the faster, as tired as her little legs were. her stomach rumbled - it was nearly lunch time already, and now she was both hungry and worried. Had anypony ever been as late to school as she was?

As she approached she noticed several foals milling about outside. It must be, like, recess..or lunch, or maybe both? Amongst the foals was the full-grown purplish earth pony. that must totally be the teacher! Everyone was staring up at the bell tower of the school, and it didn't take long to see why - there was a white foal, or what she thinks is white form the little she could see, standing up on the roof ... wearing a cloak. Sunrise's gallop slowed considerably when she watched the spectacle. She wasn't sure what to think, other than that must be one strange foal. She approached some of the others who had gathered together to talk about what was happening, "Umm ... hello, like, umm, what's going on?"

[Mutt]

Minimaxie tucks her hoof in triumph as class suddenly stops mid-lesson. AWESOME, phase one was a rousing success! Now, onto phase two, time to stick the landing and woo the crowd into following her. She points a hoof at the purple pony addressing her, giving a seething glare. "Yours is not to ask, yours is to listen! Do you grasp the quandary of asking a disguised individual who they are? Who would be so foolish as to reveal themselves to their critics! Neigh, you shall listen and listen well, for mine is that path that leads to the future. Foals! Hear me! This school is unnecessary, you need not to learn social skills or physics! It takes time away from your day and your pursuit of happiness! You foals are the future, by controlling you they can shape it the way they want. You are being in.. in... brainwashed into conforming to their standards! This must not stand! Hear me my fellows, join me and your freedom is assured! No longer will your parents, your elders be able to tell you what you do! Also, I have berry tarts!"

Yes, berry tarts, that will reel them in. Everypony likes berry tarts! Now, what to follow up with, she's gotten their attention, she's monologued, she's denounced the adult for her foolishness.What hasn't she done. Ohright, she forgot to set the scene! Daggit. Oh well, certainly they will take her just as seriously without mentally picturing high winds and a glorious rebel banner waving behind her, amidst a light rain. Uhmn.. Okay, she would have to get down somehow, eventually. She can table that for now, just try not to get vertigo. Ah-hah, yes, a crowd is forming. Her calls are working, people are listening. She shall lead the foals to revolution! And then she will.. uhh. Wait. She didn't really think this through very far. Curses! Whatever it doesn't matter, she can make something up on the fly.

She clears her throat and begins up again, it was starting to get irritating but she had to stay in character no matter what!"Hear me citizens of Ponyville! We need not these rules, your food, your water, your demands! Foals are the future! Come with me and I shall show you wonders you have have never thought possible!" okay, that was enough for now, no need to stretch the envelope, if they didn't bite after that, she'd have to think of another strategy to cause unrest amongst the popu.. the popy... the ponies of the city. Mwahahah.

[Skye]

Cheerilee was waving her forehooves at the little filly at the peak of the school, and appeared to be in a state of distress as she tried to figure out how she'd gotten up there in the first place. And how to get her down. Oh, if only there were a Pegasus pony on hoof right about now! Surely one of them would help get the little dear down. Whatever she was going on about up there, anyway. As students dashed out around her onto the grounds of the school, she waved to the nearest other adult pony she could find and flagged her down. "Someone needs to get a Firepony out here to get her down!" she indicated Minimaxie on the roof. Her glance dropped for a moment and caught Champ sitting all by his lonesome in the school, eating his lunch. She sighed, there was entirely too much going on for just one teacher pony and made her wish she'd been able to find someone to help with all these new colts and fillies in town.

Even as Maxie was monologing, Cheerilee wasn't really paying much attention in trying to figure out how to get up onto the roof safely to extract the young pony, while at the same time ensuring her students weren't considering the same thing.

And then suddenly, piped up a new voice. Cheerilee turned to the new little pony who had arrived amidst all the chaos, though she'd seemed to find a little group of ponies who were forming to talk about the interloper. Another student, and so late? She wondered who was sponsoring this one. Another mental note, there were so many up there, to ask the student where she was staying and what her name was. No pony was left behind in Cheerilee's class! And then she was reminded of the pony on the roof. "You up there! Just stay put, and don't move! If you slip, you'll fall and you could get hurt! The Fireponies should be here any moment to help you down. How did you get up there, anyway? Don't you know it's dangerous?"

She couldn't believe there was so much going on, on just the first day! This was going to be a crazy year if this was any indication!

[WillowWisp]

Grim wasn't really in the mood for playing now. He'd just been trying to keep Sweetie Belle from being pegged with a spit wad but he ended up with a warning due to making a scene. That and now Champ was out to get him. At least he'd done what he intended and kept her from getting hit though, and she seemed thankful.

But now the foal was a bit lost in all that was going on. Class seemed like it was going to start again, until someone started shouting from the roof. So recess was called. He would have stayed in, but since Champ was doing that, he opted otherwise.

'Huh,' his attention turned to Twist when she approached. 'Oh yeah, it was good. You really do have a gift for that.' He gave a weak smile that, like all his smiles, faded quickly. 'No wonder you got a candy can for a Cutie Mark.'

As he made his way outside, he ignored the shouting pony on the roof, and made his way over to a tree. Sitting in the shade was his kind of thing, even if it seemed anti-social.

'What a morning...' he sighed again. 'School was never this way back home...'

[MudBug]

The blue colt glared silently at Grim as he left out through the door, ears splayed against his head as he chewed his food slowly, cheeks puffed out with bread and butter before he swallowed and went about doodling once more. His drawings now crude etchings and crass words, which continued for the page before he worked onto the new one and let the pencil simply draw on whilst he stared at the chalk board in boredom.

Glancing to the group that had soon become two talking of candy canes, there was an irritant snort that escaped his nostrils as that strange voice continued to rant on.

Bad enough he had the queen of dorkitude and the scrawny white runt going on about stupid, hairy candy, but that noisy little foal, whoever it was, was still going on about some stupid nonsense.

Could the teacher handle it? He let out a loud groan as he covered his ears with his hooves and began to slowly grind his teeth as the noise continued.

The irritating noise that drilled into his head, pierced his ears, made him so angry...so...SO angry.

It was bad enough he was stuck here but now...gah!

At some point, something must've snapped, because inbetween the grinding of the teeth a slow, bubbling growl began well up in his chest like the distant rumble of a storm and his hooves began shaking against his ears before they slammed against his new desk. A deep breath was taken and those lungs seemed to open up as the noise and the anger got far too much, shouting up at the ceiling.

"SHUUUUUUUUUUUT UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[StrawberryBlossom]

Twist smiled at Starlight and Grim's remarks, tail whisking happily.

"Glad you like them! Maybe I could show you how - it'll be fun, even if they're not your big thing!"

She followed Grim automatically, givng Starlight a smile to indicate she'd like him to come too.

"Not usually so... um... exciting here either," she admitted. Darn, there was that cursed 's' again, hiding where she least expected! Oh well; she was feeling comfortable with the colts, and was less careful with her word choices for the moment. "A new foal's pretty exciting - with three maybe it's multiplying. I like you two at least," she added, glancing back toward where Champ sat with a sigh. Bet he'd fit right in with SIlver Spoon and Diamond Tiara.

Twist was barely listening to the foal on the roof now, instead paying attention to Grim and Starlight, though she kept one ear on the situation. (Fireponies? Even more excitement! This was gonna be some kind of year.) She looked up as Sunrise approached though, smiling with an apologetic shrug.

"Don't know - we were told to go to lunch when that foal kicked up her...." Ruckus? No. What meant the same? Riot? Maybe. Fuss? Even stronger 's'. Commotion? Ah ha! "...commotion. Here - want a candy cane?" Another new foal... Ponyville was really booming lately! She offered her bag to Sunrise so she could pick out a candy cane... and nearly spilled them as Champ shouted and she gave a surprised little buck, rescuing her candy canes in the nick of time and looking toward him with hooded eyes.

Well, he DID have a point, but still.

[Bramble Rose]

Sweetie Belle sat outside the school, panting softly after her sprint. The noise from up above drew her attention, and she looked up. Oh my gosh! That looked soooo dangerous! And she was giving such a huge speech about... some sort of weird thing? Not that she was being any more dangerous than stuff that Scootaloo had them do for their Crusader Quests, but... still! And getting everyone's attention to talk like that? Her stomach fluttered at the very thought.

Her tummy rumbled, and she realized that in her haste to get out of the classroom, she'd forgotten her lunch! Embarrassedly, she went back into the schoolhouse, pulling out her little lunch box, then followed the other little group of foals outside.

As Sunrise Beach stepped up, Sweetie Belle smiled to her. "I have no idea what's up," she quietly said. "Everything just started happening..." She smiled to Grim Tales. He was up standing next to her right at the start of all the weirdness. "And he was protecting me from something... I don't know what, exactly, but he seemed very brave, whatever it was! Thank you, Grim!" She gave him a little nuzzle on his neck out of gratitude.

Then she turned her head back to Sunrise Beach. "Oh! Where are my manners? I'm Sweetie Belle!" she bent her front knees slightly in a little curtsy, and came back up with a happy smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you!"

She nuzzled at her lunch box and it clicked open, so she could look inside. Her big sister Rarity had made a gorgeous lunch box, indeed! It had a nice big bed of oats, and then the little carrot slices and apple slices made an image of an orange pony in a layered dress! Her big sister never did anything without making it super-pretty!

She looked up at Twist, and flushed. "Um, Twist? I'm sorry, I ran out before you gave me a candy cane... can... can I still try one? For desert?"

[brianblackberry]

Sunrise was rather dumbfounded at first. Was that foal ... monologuing? Was this some recess game that went a little too far, and now she trapped herself up there and didn't want to go back to school? Or was she just spazzing? Mom said this was, like, totally a safe and stable town to, like, go to school! Has she, like, even been here? While Sunrise stared up, thinking about how strange the situation, and perhaps the town, was, she was approached by another unicorn - a pretty white foal with a purple and pink mane who looked rather fancy for someone so young. Sunrise's worries that she was snobby quickly feel by the wayside though as the other unicorn introduced herself and even curtsied. "Right, Iiiiiii'm Sunrise Beach! I'm totally a transfer student, and ... well sorta. It's a grody story". Sunrise was going to elaborate on that when another, curly haired earth pony with glasses came up and offered her a candy cane.

Sunrise looked at the bag hungrily. she very rarely got any treats - her dam couldn't usually afford to buy anymore then the basics, like hay. She smiled "ohmigawd, thank youuuu!" She snagged one of the candy canes and sucked on it happily. "Mmm, totally rad... and what's your name?" Before Twist could answer, they were interrupted by a fierce, loud yell from the schoolhouse - somepony screaming for the crazy monologuer to stop. Sunrise jumped slightly in surprise - everypony was shouting! Honestly, she was about ready to bolt, but she managed to keep her wits about her. Looking back at the two foals that were kind enough to greet her, she just gave them a dazed and confused expression, "Is this, like, what it's always like here?"

[StrawberryBlossom]

"I've got candy for anypony that wants it!" Twist assured Sweetie Belle, offering her the bag. "I've even got pink and purple stripes!" A giggle as she looked over at Sunrise. "Nice to meet you - I'm Twist."

She smiled at the question, shaking her head.

"Nah - we're kind of having a crazy day today." She looked at the foal on the roof again, ears perking further forward.

"It happens. But I gotta admit - pretty weird even for here!" Another giggle, this one a little nervous. She couldn't imagine what the new ponies must think - this was some welcome!

[Mutt]

Minimaxie openly scoffs at the teacher's concern for her. This was beginning to grow both boring and irritating. No-one was taking her seriously! It was also making it apparent that her personal vendetta against the educational system was going to be more difficult to complete than previous assumed. If she can't even turn the youth to her side in this small town, how will she ever cause the complete and total collapse of private and public schooling? It's suddenly beginning to seem like a monumental task for some reason instead of a set precariously perched dominoes! She glowers down at the happy purple pony, sticking her tongue out in flagrant disrespectfulness! "Well I jumped up here, DUR, how do you think I got up? S'not like, assuming I had wings, I could use them under this cloak!" she grows increasingly irate at this point, losing her airs but keeping her tone.

NOT A SINGLE PONY IS PAYING DUE ATTENTION! This shall not stand! They should be lined up and listening attentively as she ushers in a new age of darkness and anarchy! "WHY ISN'T ANYBODY LISTENING?!" she exclaims in immense frustration, only to be responded to with an even louder, and incredibly rude reply from inside the building. She is shocked, absolutely SHOCKED! She stomps a hoof on the roof in reply, about to tell him off... When a soft sound hits her ears. 'Clik, click, scraaaaape.' She blinks confusedly as her world tilts, slowly registering the broken tile under her left foot, oh dear. She scrambles violently and gives out a resounding squeal as she tumbles down the roof, stage right, her hooves flailing wildly for purchase. She disappears off the roof with another squeal, and a heavy THUMP follows a moment later.

There is a fiercely tentative moment of oppressive silence on her part, due either to being winded or attempting to figure out a way to save face. Then, from behind the building comes a shaky, "No you shutup! Owwie... I'm okayyyyy!" Well THAT could have gone better. She wobbles up to her feet, horn glinting as she begins to limp off, trying to vacate the premises as quickly as possible. Oww, oww, charlie horse. Who named that anyway? She expedites her shuffling limping escape. If only she had some sort of smokebomb and magical teleporting implement, she could make a grand escape and people would take her seriously THEN. Ow. Today really sucked. She was bored and hurty now. She's GOING HOME. Screw these ponies, they all suck. She huffs poutily, sniffling and suppressing faint sounds of pain and disappointment. She mumbles to herself. "It's okay Maxie, nobody saw you land, for all they know you landed on your hooves gracefully, right?"

[Skye]

Cheerilee gasped as the little pony on the roof flailed and spouted her nonsense, and looked completely perplexed at her apparent anger and frustration. It was all so confusing! Her ears flattened at Champ's sudden outburst, and she resolved to go back in and speak with him before recess was over, as she didn't particularily relish the idea of holding him after school for too long. At least the other fillies and colts seemed to be doing okay, that was one less frustration! They'd keep for the lunch hour at least. "Be careful up there, you'll...oops!" as the little filly broke the tile and slid down on her rear all the way to the ground behind the schoolhouse. "Goodness, are you...okay?" The teacher dashed behind the bush where Minimaxie had fallen and looked completely surprised not to see her laying there in a state of disarray before she noticed the little unicorn limping off a short distance away. Cheerilee sighed; there wasn't much she could do at this point and she hoped somepony would catch up with Minimaxie before she got too far off. She couldn't leave these ponies by themselves at the school, who knew what would happen! Sadly, the purple mare turned back towards the schoolyard and checked to make sure her charges were getting along well.

Grim had met Twist and Starlight and seemed to be bonding well, this brought a smile to the teacher's face. She was worried little Grim wouldn't make any friends so easily out here, but he seemed to be doing quite well on his own. Sweet little Twist was doing a good job with her sweets, and speaking of sweets, Sweetie Belle had found her old friend once again. Things were looking much better. She still had to deal with the new filly that had arrived, but she trusted the other students to welcome her in. That was the beauty of the Ponyville school, everyone was welcome! She'd make a point to call the new little filly up and introduce herself once class resumed. But for now...she had a little problem she had to work with before it became a big problem.

The mare trotted back in, and closed the school door behind her. Walking back into the school room, she chose not to look at Champ until she'd returned to behind her desk, and folded her hooves atop it and looked at him as he ate his lunch. She waited patiently until he'd finished his sandwich. She didn't stare, however, she took the moment to look through the papers that had been piled neatly on her desk, noting the students who had done their homework and those who hadn't. Little Sweetie Belle had, of course, done hers and even if the little filly wasn't comfortable with public speaking, one of these days Cheerilee hoped she would. When Champ had finished his sandwich, she stacked the papers on the corner of her desk.

"Now, Champ, I think you and I need to have a little talk. I can tell there's something on your mind that's really bothering you. Your father told me that you were a great student and a good colt, but so far all I've seen is a surly little pony who doesn't look interested in anyone else but himself. So know there's something wrong here, and I would like you to help me find out what it is. Is there anything you would like to tell me? I would like to help you, and as your teacher, maybe together we can figure out a solution." her voice was calm, and even cheerful, but calculated not to sound too much so. She knew that the last thing an angry pony needed was someone sounding too cheerful, it tended to cause even deeper resentment. "Your father mentioned you had some friends at your old home. Maybe we could see about a pen pal program? Would you like that?"

[MudBug]

Noticing everyone had gone outside, Starlight followed suit, especially when the teacher came in and it looked like a really private talk was to be had. And he could've used the fresh air really, so once he was outside, his attention was brought to the little group around another new pony!

Eyes smiling before it reached his face and he tottered towards them all with a bright, cheery expression as his eyes fixed on the new little unicorn. She had such colorful hair!

"Hi!"

Oh great, now he was alone with the teacher, that was all he really needed right now. As the door was closed behind the teacher he just stuck to doodling to himself before he was adressed and even then he didn't stop his doodling. Why should he? The teacher was just gonna rag on him...well...good. He'd just rag back.

Raising his eyes, he watched her talk in that calm tone and it put him as such an unease...this gave him nothing to fight back agaiinst. Why was she being NICE? He'd been BAD! WHY WASN'T SHE SHOUTING OR SOMETHING!?

The mention of his friends made him sink slightly into his desk with a soft 'huff' sound, dangit dad, did you have to tell everything about him to these stupid ponies!? As the teacher mentioned a pen pal programme, a hoof scraped the top of his desk and he looked up at her with his ears splayed ahainst his head.

"It wouldn't be the same as them being here...or me being there though...-would it-?" He replied in a slightly fierce tone, not a lot of passion was put into it though as he looked back to his pieces of paper.

His doodles and scribbles...pfft...a bird could do better than he did. Scrawling further, he rested an elbow on his desk as one cheek sat atop one hoof.

"'Sides, I didn' do nuffin'...just tried to get that stupid filly to stand up and talk and that lame dork had to get in the way..."

[Skye]

Cheerilee sighed. "Champ, please look at me." she said, waiting for his approval before she continued. "No, it wouldn't be the same as you being there or their being here. Unfortunately, being a grown-up pony means that you don't always get what you want. But I'm trying to offer you something that might be just as good. And besides, perhaps together you can plan trips to visit. Besides, Fillydelphia isn't so far away that you can't find a way to visit somehow. You're almost old enough to be on your own and you'll be able to see them anytime then. But for now, all I need you to do is your classwork and to be a good pony." her eyes searched for his, before she gave him a big smile. "Just think of how much fun it will be after all. You have been apart for a little bit, and you'll have so much to catch up on. I'm sure you'll make the best of the time you'll get to have when you do. And the more you help out at your father's shop, the sooner he can make enough bits for the trip. Doesn't that sound nice?"

She stood up and walked over to his desk, her eyes glancing at the paper for a moment but not registering what was on it, not unless he wanted to show her. She rested a hoof on his desk, then sat in front of him. "Listen, Champ, I know it's hard for you. It's hard for every young pony. But it's not the end of tomorrow. Sweetie Belle has her own hurdles to overcome, she'll get there on her own as well. That's part of my job. But your job is to be a good student and finish up with good marks. And I'd like to see Ponyville have a great sports team this year. They could use your help, I hear you're really good at them. I'm sure they could use a good coach like you. What do you think? Would you like to help me out? And in return, I'll help you as best I can. If you can give me a big, bright smile and a heartfelt promise, I think we can leave all this behind us. I know I'd like that, how about you?"

Cheerilee waited for his response, mindful of the coming end of the school lunch hour, but knowing that good thing were worth waiting for. After all, she knew Champ was a good colt when he wanted to be, it was just a matter of finding that right center and nurturing it as best she can. Maybe with luck, she could get a real smile out of him, and just maybe Ponyville could have that sports team it always deserved!

[MudBug]

After a second, he finally looked up at her when he was asked too and watched the earth pony with a faint and juvenille frown on his face as his hooves rested on his desk as he listened to what the teacher had to say...partially...

Mostly his mind went on its own little tangeant at most of what she had to say, hoof tugging at one note and looking over the doodles he'd made. Dusky. Chip. Dad...mom. Ears splayed against his head silently and most of what he heard was muffled by his own thoughts.

A trip?

Blinking he briefly glanced to the teacher, most of his irritation and anger drained out at this point as his thoughts snatched them away and caught him off guard, but there was still that faint wall of resistance that burnt like a flame in his eyes. Atrip could work...but he didn't want to just visit his friends. He wanted to go back to them.

He wanted to stay there.

He wanted to be there and live in his memories and the joy of his childhood...not wallow here in hicksville with ponies he didn't know and didn't care about. No matter if they tried to be friendly to him. He...he just didn't want it.

Soon the fire spread in his mind and the frown grew again, mentioning the sports team. Pfft, this town WOULD need a good coach. That ego of his rose its head. Did these ponies even know how to properly play hoofball? The rules? The regulations? The ammount of skill it took? Probably not, they probably all wallowed in muddy fields for all he knew...

His patience began to wore thin as a soft snort escaped him, any anguish he felt earlier was quickly diminished in the flare of anger that rose its head like a venomous snake and soon he looked up to Cherilee with that rebellious frown.

"Look! I don't have to socialise or be friends with any stupid pony here, I'll do whatever work you want but I aint doin' anything to get to know these lame-o's, their lame sports team or you!" He snapped, ears splayed against his head. "And as soon as I'm old enough I'm leaving this stupid hick town and going home so I don't have to deal with ANY of you!"

[Skye]

She waited until he looked up, her eyes searching for his. Before finding the little colt's gaze, she watched his expression and his face as he considered what he was going to say. What was going on in that little mind of his? She'd give just about anything to knew. She was sure that somewhere in there, was a little colt who needed a hug, but she felt he was a little old for that. But trying to appeal to his sense of anticipation, and of competition, surely that'd give her something to work with? She couldn't have an angry young pony in her class all day, every day, and it wasn't within her power to change his conditions for herself. She was only his teacher after all.

Oh, she noticed when he looked up at her mention of the trip. Every little nuance was important, his body language, clues to what he was thinking about. She waited after she'd finished speaking, for his response. However it came out, it would only help her understand him better and help him be a better pony for it. After all, wasn't her goal to bring cheer into every young pony's life where she could? And she wouldn't give up on this one, he deserved better. She'd have to have a talk with his father. It wasn't her business to pry, but she couldn't help wonder where his mother was. Usually young ponies with their families came to Ponyville together. It wasn't unusual for single parents to have just their foals with them, though usually it was due to circumstance or misadventure that broke them up, but it wasn't uncommon for them to just not get along. And it wasn't her business to ask unless he told her.

But this outburst of anger, while not surprising, still took her breath away for a moment. Oh, yes. She noticed the deepening frown. Something she'd said there was percolating in the colt's mind, and it was fanning the flames of his resentment. She resolved to get through this, there was no way it could burn forever unless she let it; and she had no desire to let it. It wasn't in Cheerilee's nature to let despair get the better of her. Yes, she stared back at him as his frown deepened until he couldn't contain it any longer. His words struck her ears like the wind on a wheaten field, but she would bend, she would not break. She was his teacher, but she was not his mistress. She let him speak, let him get the anger out. It had to. It was going to one way or another. When he'd finished, she continued to look at him as he glared back at her.

Though what she was going to say next was very careful, and she hoped it was the right thing to say. Cheerilee reached out and gently placed a hoof on Champ's shoulder. "Champ. Tell me what's really eating you. You might not want to get to know me. But I want to get to know you. Home is what you make of it. I've been living here all my life, but I've been elsewhere. So I know what it's like to be somewhere new and strange and scary. It's scary here, because it's new, I'm sure. But you're not alone, Champ. Here's your chance to make a real difference, and turn things around. You can be a great pony, and I want to help you get there. That's my job as a teacher. But as your friend, I also care about what is making you feel this way. There has to be something, and I need you to help me learn what it is."

Cheerilee waited there a moment, her ears pricked forwards and her green eyes on his. "What would your mother say if she saw you like this?" this was a very dangerous question, and it was a gamble, but she hoped that it would break through the walls he was so rapidly building. If she could just touch him, get to his heart, she could help him begin rebuilding, but she needed his help to find the way in. She waited for his response.