Preface / Setting the Scene

I anxiously awaited the mail-pony's arrival. It takes a little more time for it to arrive than in any other place in Equestria but that is what I get for living on the border of the Hayseed Swamp and The Badlands.

I turn to the setting sun, sighing, this was later than it should normally arrive.

"Ester!" my mother hollers, "You're going to catch a cold if you don't come in soon!"

"In a minute!" I yell back, "It should be here any second now!" It should have been here two hours ago, but I needed to give my mom the delusion that I would go inside the house sooner rather than later.

She is a great mom but I think that she can be kinda strict. I think she gets that from her dad's dragon genes. But then again, Gran can be kinda fierce for an earth pony. My mom is what some call a Long-ma, a dragon-pony, others call them thestrals but that isn't entirely correct because thestrals are more ghosts than dragons.

My dad is a regular unicorn who works for a science-research facility in Baltimare. It is a bit of a commute each morning but he still does it.

Then I have two younger are annoying brats but are honestly softhearted. The youngest is a unicorn filly named Lemondrops and my brother, is a pegasus colt named Facade. They always would complain that it wasn't fair that I was the only one who could shift between dragon and pony form. But they don't understand how lucky they are. They at least know what they are and are still at an age that it isn't abnormal for them to not have a cutie mark. They would never be bullied or stared at in fear and horror. Unlike me...

As my thoughts trail off into a swirling abyss of negativity, I become startled back to reality by the sound of rapid breathing and the rustle of wings. The mail-pony finally arrived!

I jump to my hooves, all previous thoughts forgotten, and immediately start questioning the bedraggled and late mail-pony.

"Why are you so late? I know that the swamp is a bit difficult to traverse but you can fly! There is no way you should be two hours late!"

"Sorry Miss," the gray pegasus sheepishly replies. "I got a little lost. I have a problem with directions and thought I could take a shortcut by going around The Badlands."

Sighing, I shook my head and calmed myself down. I should have known a pony who has navigational difficulties would deliver the only mail that would ever be important to me.

"No, I'm sorry," I reply. "I never should have yelled at you. I'm just a little impatient because I'm expecting an important letter."

"Well, you're going to have to look through these letters and tell me which ones are yours. They all look so similar."

I shake my head in annoyance as I start to rustle through the mail-pony's saddle bags. I stick my head in at one point and emerge with the letters that are addressed to my home in my mouth.

"Um, miss, you do know that you have a horn, right?"

I nearly put my hoof to my face at my idiocy. "Yes, I know. I just forget sometimes, that's all," I mumble.

"Um, ok... I'll be going now miss. Sorry for my mishap, it won't happen again."

"That's fine, um...what was your name again?" I ask, with the letters now being carried by my horn's odd blue-green silver glow.

"It's Muffins miss, but my friends call me Derpy," she replies as she stares at my magic aura surrounding the letters.

"Hm, that is an interesting nickname," I comment. "Well, it was nice meeting you Derpy. I'm Ester and I hope you have a safe journey back home."

"Good night Ester, and don't forget to trust in your friends as well as read all the ads in the newspaper," Derpy replied as she flew off.

"...ok?" I replied, completely confused by her advice.

That mail-pony was certainly a very odd pony, but somehow during our conversation I started to think of her as an old friend even though I had only just met her. But that was a ridiculous notion, I barely spoke to anyone, let alone make friends! I was probably just fantasizing again, especially since now my mind was racing at the possibility that my application was accepted.

As I started to walk inside the house I began to shift throughout the letters. Bills, ads, a letter from dad's parents, and...

I stop, barely inside the doorframe. The letter that I stopped at had the Canterlot seal on it and was encased by a envelope of high quality fabric-paper. Still staring at the seal, I carefully open the envelope and hold my breath as I read the flawless calligraphy.

Congratulations Ester Silverscale!

In accordance with the recently implemented law, the prestigious Canterlot High has been made to prepare young ponies for college.

Your application to Canterlot's secondary school, Canterlot High, has been accepted. You will enter the upcoming school year as a freshpony. Please fill out the form attached to the letter to sign up for classes and if needed, specify if you will rent a dorm for the school year. Don't forget to attend the orientation day, it is a week before classes begin and any additional questions you have can be answered then.

We look forward to your arrival!

I did it...I got accepted! Finally after all that work...the late nights, the essays, and filling out all those forms. I was finally going to get a chance to figure out what to do with my life.