MLP FIM Season 10 Episode 14-The Very Quiet Kirin
It was a well-known fact by now that the students at the School of Friendship came from various backgrounds and races. And not all of them shared the same personality. It was what made the school unique from other schools in Equestria, which was both a good and bad thing depending on who you asked.
For Scarlet Blossom being enrolled at the School of Friendship was challenging, but he was managing to get adjusted to his life. One morning he arrived at school like always when he noticed something. "Hey, Cherry Gem is that a new student?" He asked directing her first Ponyville friend to a young kirin who was being escorted into the school by another kirin.
"Yeah, didn't you hear what Headmare Starlight said two days ago?" Cherry Gem replied. "There's to be a kirin joining our school. She is very shy."
"Just like me," Scarlet Blossom commented as he observed the two kirin walk into Trixie's office. "Is she in any of our classes?"
"I'm not sure, but we'll find out. Come on, let's get to class before Vice Headstallion Sunburst forces us to." Cherry Gem encouraged and Scarlet Blossom away.
Arriving at Celestia's class a short time later, Scarlet and Cherry took their seats along with the rest of the students.
Once Celestia took their attendance it appeared to the class that she had something to say. "Good morning, everycreature," She began as the students quieted down. "As you probably have heard, we have a new student joining us today. She is a kirin who I think will be a fine addition to this class."
Right then and there, Scarlet realized just what Celestia was talking about.
"Um, Professor Celestia," Icarus the griffon asked, raising his claw. "This is the student that Headmare Starlight talked about, right?"
Just then, the door to the classroom opened, and in stepped Trixie with the young kirin behind her. Right away, Scarlet began to realize that there was something strange about this particular Kirin.
"Everycreature, this is Quiet Play," Trixie announced, introducing her to the class. "I trust you will all be very welcoming of her."
"Hi," The kirin replied in an almost silent voice. "I'm Quiet Play. Forgive me if I don't sound like all the other students. I'm new here."
"She seems anxious," Cherry Gem whispered to Scarlet Blossom. "I told you that she would be shy, right?"
Scarlet said nothing, wanting to learn more about this Kirin as time would go on.
Sitting at the front of the class, Quiet Play stood at attention while Professor Celestia taught her class. Naturally, Scarlet Blossom couldn't take her eyes off of the kirin. She wanted to get to know Quiet Play a little better, but she would have to wait until the day was over before she would have a chance.
Once the day had ended, Scarlet Blossom arrived in the school's library and noticed Quiet Play sitting alone at a table at the far end of the library.
"Hey," Scarlet asked Ocellus and the rest of her friends at their usual table. "Quiet Play, she's…sitting over there by herself."
"Yeah, we asked her if she wanted to sit with us, but it seems like she doesn't like company," Ocellus replied. "There's something odd about her. I mean, I'm usually quiet but this is very odd behavior for a kirin."
"Yona thinks kirin doesn't want to be friends," Yona added, looking over at Scarlet Blossom. "Very sad."
"We can't just make assumptions about her," Scarlet firmly protested. "Why don't I talk to her and see if she can join us? Maybe she'll be more comfortable around ponies, I hear two of our professors once visited an entire village of kirin, so maybe ponies are more friendly towards kirin."
Good luck on getting her to come over here," Gallus replied with a shake of his head. "Believe me, we've tried."
Taking a deep breath, Luster walked over to the table where Quiet Play was sitting. But no sooner did she make her way over, than did Quiet Play get up and move to another seat at the table.
"Hey, uh, Quiet Play?" Luster asked, taking another deep breath.
"Hey, Quiet Play." Quiet Play replied in a monotone voice, mimicking Scarlet's statement, no," Luster Dawn stammered, slightly taken aback. "I'm Luster Dawn, one of the students in Professor Celestia's class. I was wondering if you wanted to come over and sit with me and the rest of my friends."
"No thank you," Quiet Play whispered, trying to concentrate on the homework in front of her. "I don't socialize as well as others. Now if you don't mind I wish to be left in peace."
Opting to reluctantly keep her distance from Quiet Play, Luster sat down at the end of the table. "So…what do you do for fun?" She asked the kirin, hoping to start up a conversation.
"I'm busy right now," Quiet Play answered, her eyes locked on the homework assignment as Luster noticed Quiet Play took her left foreleg and flapped it. "Leave me alone, please."
"Um, okay," Scarlet nervously replied while producing a forced smile. "I-if you want to join us, there's an extra seat for you at the table. So uh, just come over i-if you feel like it."
Quiet Play said nothing as Scarlet returned to the table. She couldn't help but feel slightly taken aback by the new student's behavior.
"Told you she would be difficult to talk to," Gallus sighed. "I don't know about you guys, but she seems a little…odd for our school. Don't you think?"
"I wouldn't say that she's no odder than I am, and you all accept me," Ocellus remarked. "I'm sometimes like her, but I don't shut other creatures out. At least, I don't do that intentionally anymore."
"Might as well leave her alone, if she doesn't want to be friends I doubt we can force her. Even dragons know when it's better to back off." Smolder shrugged her claws, returning to her homework.
However, Scarlet Blossom's head was turning with thoughts and opinions about Quiet Play's situation. Surely there was a reason why the kirin was being so aloof, and he was going to find out what that reason was.
…
…
Once he left the school, Scarlet made his way over to the Castle of Friendship, hoping that Princess Twilight might be home. If anyone would have the answers it would be her. "Why can't Quiet Play talk to me or even be open with me?" Scarlet thought to herself.
Walking up to the castle's front doors, Luster knocked on the door in the hopes that it would be Twilight answering it. After all, Scarlet had become Twilight's pupil for a reason.
But after a few moments, the door opened to reveal Celestia on the other side. "Oh, Scarlet Blossom," Celestia chuckled rather sheepishly. "What can I do for you?"
"Sorry to disturb you, Professor Celestia," Scarlet Blossom replied and shrank back a bit. "Uh, I just was wondering if Princess Twilight was home. I want to talk to her."
"She's doing some last-minute business in Canterlot, but she'll be home in a little bit," Celestia explained and gestured a hoof. "Care to come in? Luna's not around right now, I could use some company."
Accepting Celestia's gesture, Scarlet made his way into the castle.
"Um, P-Professor Celestia," Scarlet Blossom struggled not to stutter. "About Quiet Play…don't you think she seems... different?"
This put Celestia in a somewhat awkward predicament, but being the benevolent pony she was, she was more than willing to listen to Scarlet Blossom in place of Twilight. "Yes, she does seem... different," Celestia answered as they walked into Twilight's large library. "But you must remember that she has only been here for a short time. It was her first day after all. And the kirin up until recently was a solitary species."
"True," Scarlet nodded. "But ever since I moved here, I've had to learn to be more open to other creatures. I just thought that maybe I could get Quiet Play to come out of her shell."
"Give her time, Scarlet Blossom," Celestia suggested, draping a wing over the young unicorn. "We all need to take our time to properly adjust to major changes. I've seen it before in many of my students, Twilight included. They take time to get used to their surroundings before they can truly make friends."
At that moment, the doors to the library opened, and in stepped Twilight, suddenly noticing Luster Dawn with Celestia. "Oh, hi Scarlet," Twilight greeted, feeling both surprised and delighted at having her protégé in her presence. "I...wasn't expecting to see you here. What can I do for you on such short notice?"
Having said her piece, Celestia left the young unicorn and new Supreme Ruler of Equestria alone in the library.
"It's…it's about this new student at the school," explained once he and Twilight were alone. "She well…seems socially different."
Immediately, Twilight began to think back to when she was a student of Celestia's and how socially awkward she was. "In what way?" She asked her student.
"Well, just today, she was sitting alone at the school's library. I tried to invite her over, but she told me to just leave her alone quite sternly, so I did," Scarlet explained. "I mean, you used to be like her once upon a time, right?"
Twilight nodded. "I didn't learn how to make friends until I came to Ponyville, and even then it was a concept I had to come around to gradually. As for Quiet Play though, it's something else. I haven't met her personally yet, but from what I understand, this new student might have some kind of disability."
Scarlet was surprised to hear such a statement from her mentor. "Disability? Like that bully Princesses, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy confronted at their flight school reunion?" Twilight blinked in surprise. "What?" Scarlet answered. "It was in the Canterlot Chronicle, wasn't it? Ponies with disabilities are usually not very nice."
"That is not true at all, Scarlet." Twilight firmly replied. "Not everypony or everycreature with a disability is mean. There are lots of mean ponies and creatures that have no disabilities at all. Disabilities can come in all shapes and sizes."
Scarlet still couldn't picture what Twilight was trying to say. To her, Quiet Play seemed like any other student at the school.
"Just give her time," Twilight continued, as she proceeded to make her way over to her library's large bookshelf. "In fact, why don't you read this book?"
Passing the book onto Scarlet, He read the cover of the book out loud: Disabilities, why they make us unique.
"Not to add to your homework pile," Twilight chuckled. "But I want you to read the first few chapters over the next few days, and then share with me what you learned from it. Will you do that for me?"
"Of course, Princess Twilight," Luster Dawn nervously replied with a bow. "If you say so." And with the book in her aura, Luster Dawn left the library and proceeded to make her way home.
That night, Scarlet Blossom went about reading the book Twilight had given her. In her mind, Quiet Play was different and socially awkward. This resonated in a personal connection with him, at least that's what he thought.
"Scarlet?" He heard Solar Daisy say from outside his "Dinner will be ready shortly."
"Hey, Mom, can you come in here for a second?" he asked his mom complied, entering her daughter's bedroom. "Princess Twilight gave me this book to read. What do you think of it?"
Taking the book, she skimmed through the book, carefully reading what was inside of it before passing it back to Luster Dawn. "It's a book on disabilities," Fire Blaster remarked, as she sat next to her daughter. "Why would Princess Twilight give this to you?"
"There's…there's a new student at the school who well…seems different. She's very quiet and doesn't want to make friends." Scarlet explained.
"So, what's wrong with that?" He asked.
"Mom, it seems like she doesn't want to be at our school." He protested.
"I wouldn't say that, dear," She gently replied. "Maybe she wants to be there but isn't sure how to fit in. What's her name?"
"Quiet Play. She's a kirin. That's all I know about her." Scarlet answered.
Taking in what was said She looked up at the ceiling and tried to think of how to address her daughter's concerns. "Well, kirins have been living under a code of silence for a long time from what I heard. Maybe she's just a quiet kirin."
"A very quiet kirin if you ask me," Scarlet Blossom remarked. "But I used to be just like her. I was always a quiet pony, right?"
"Indeed you were, Honey," Solar nodded. "It was somewhat alarming for your father and me. We knew that there was something odd and we were going to have you evaluated, but then the Legion of Doom attacked and…"
"Yes, I remember you and Dad were saying that to me," Scarlet interrupted quite bitterly. "But I guess that's the drawback of being socially different, right? I want her to be friends with me, but…"
"You can't force her to be friends with you, Scarlet," Solar Daisy interrupted back, getting up to walk out of the bedroom. "If she wishes to be left alone, you need to respect her wishes. Still, it's nice of Princess Twilight to help you get context through that book."
Putting the book aside, Luster made her way downstairs to dinner, still keeping the thought of Quiet Play in his mind.
…
The next morning, He returned to school where she noticed Quiet Playmaking her way out of Trixie's office. Curious, Luster decided to follow Quiet Play and as she followed her, Scarlet heard Quiet Play talking in a low voice.
"Counselor Trixie thinks you are special in every way; Counselor Trixie thinks you are special in every way."
"Um, Quiet Play?" He asked. "How… are you doing today?"
"Counselor Trixie thinks you are special in every way." Quiet Play said again, which made him blink in surprise.
"Well, I don't think she considers me special," He awkwardly chuckled. "We are all special. Anyways, I was wondering how you're adjusting to life here at the school."
Oh, just making…idle conversation, I guess," Scarlet shrugged. "I hope you're looking forward to Professor Luna's drama class later today. We'll be doing scenes from MacPony. I heard there was one of you kirins who had a thing for theatrical productions, maybe you'll do well there."
Quiet Play said nothing and instead made her way to class. Luster felt slightly taken aback but remembered the words her mother and Princess Twilight explained to her. Maybe Quiet Play still lived by that oath of silence.
Later in Luna's Class…
"Now Cherry Gem," Luna directed during drama class. "MacPony comes to the three witches demanding answers from the weird sisters. I want you to put some oomph into your dialogue when you deliver. Add some flair to it!"
Taking a deep breath, the young mare walked towards Ocellus, Smolder, and Silverstream, all of whom were wearing long robes and standing around a makeshift cauldron. "Double, Double, Toil and Trouble," They chanted. "Fire burn and cauldron bubble."
"By the pricking of my claws," Silverstream spoke up. "Something wicked this way comes."
Watching from the audience, Scarlet Blossom noticed how Quiet Play remained silent throughout the whole performance.
"How now, you black and midnight gags?" Cherry Gem tried to say, but Luna wasn't impressed.
"That is not correct, Cherry," Luna corrected him. "It's secret black and midnight hags, Cherry Gem."
"What isn't you do?" Quiet Play whispered, much to Scarlet's surprise. "Answer me to what I ask you."
"How does she know that?" He thought. "Nopony can remember Shakespony that well." Still, He stayed respectful as Luna directed Yona and two other students to the stage.
"Gallus, come forward," Luna called, directing Gallus up to the stage. "You shall play the part of MacPony."
"Um, I'm a griffon, Professor Luna," Gallus remarked.
"That doesn't matter, young griffon!" Luna sternly spoke up. "Just think of yourself as…MacGriff if that helps." Taking in Luna's suggestion, Gallus did as he was told.
…
…
After an intense showing in the drama class, The next day, When the sun rose the next morning, Luster returned to school still racked with guilt. Headmare Starlight was already there, waiting for her.
"Scarlet Blossom," Starlight declared, gesturing the unicorn to come forward. "Would you come with me, please?"
Without saying a word, he did as she was told. Following Starlight into her office, she saw Trixie, Sunburst, Celestia and Luna, Cass, Jestro had all gathered.
"Scarlet Blossom," Jestro spoke as he stepped forward. "The reason we all called you in this morning was because of what happened yesterday."
"Look, I know I had good intentions…" He tried to explain.
"And we commend you for having them," Celestia warmly interrupted. "You were just trying to be a good friend and classmate to Quiet Play. But I'm sure Professor Luna talked to you about…"
"Yes," Scarlet interrupted back, further approaching the kirin. "Quiet Play," She struggled to find the right words. "I…I'm sorry for what I did to you yesterday. It's just, I couldn't help but notice you were liking the scene that we were performing and… I thought that maybe… you wanted to participate."
"I know you wanted me to participate," Quiet Play finally spoke in a full sentence (albeit with her quiet voice). "However, just because I like something doesn't mean I have to participate in it. I have what is known as…autism, something that is only made worse by my kirin nature.."
"Autism? I've…never heard of that before," He blinked in surprise. "What does it mean?"
"I was born with Autism." Quiet Play answered.
"Yes, but what does it mean?" Scarlet demanded. "Please, I need to know if I'm going to understand you at all, Quiet Play."
Autism is a disorder that among other things makes one withdrawn and socially awkward," Luna explained, walking up to Luster Dawn. "Remember what I said about the ponies I helped who would flap or do other things? That's what Quiet Play does."
At that moment Scarlet Blossom thought to himself and then he asked Luna. "Is there a cure for this 'autism'?"
"I'm afraid not, Luster," Starlight replied while sitting behind her desk. "When one is born with something like that, they have that something for the rest of our lives. It can't be treated either, at least not in the traditional sense. But many who are autistic go on to lead successful and productive lives. It's clear to all of us that Quiet Play wants to be friends with you, but you're going to have to be willing to be friends on her level. Do you understand what that means?"
Taking in what Starlight had said, He took a deep breath looked right at Quiet Play, trying his hardest to not mess up with what he needed to do. "Quiet Play," He softly spoke to the kirin. "I know I made you upset yesterday, but…if I promise to understand your feelings and boundaries better and be respectful of them, would you… like to be friends with me?"
It took a while for Quiet Play to respond but she accepts his friendship.
…
"Well, at least you two made peace with each other," Cherry Gem remarked, much his relief "And you've gained yourself another friend in the process."
"Do you think that maybe she can hang out with us at least once in a while someday?" Ocellus pondered.
"Maybe, but we have to accept her for who she is, guys," Scarlet Blossom answered. "I've learned now that just because somecreature is different, as long as you respect their boundaries and understand them for who they are, then they will open their friendship to you."
"Sounds like something you should write to Princess Twilight about. You know, kind of like she used to do with Professor Celestia." Gallus suggested in a slightly teasing tone.
"Maybe I will." He declared and began to do exactly that, write a letter to Princess Twilight, explaining what he had learned from the experience of meeting a creature with a social disability.
The Magic Continues Next in Episode 15- Souls Unleashed