My name's Twilight Sparkle. Yes, I know I didn't tell you first hand, but I needed it to stay that way for effect. Don't ask me why, it's an avid book reader and story-writer's natural instinct to make a story good. Although in this case it's gonna be even harder. Because this is a bad story. Trying to be told in a good way. But not good as in the events that go in it are good. The events that happen are terrible, far too terrible to reveal right away. But I must come out it alive, right? I mean, I am here right now telling it, aren't I? Haha, that's what you think...
"Alright class, have you all brought your books with you today?" that's me.
"Yes Miss Sparkle!" that's Applebloom, giggling.
"Yeah..." that's Scootaloo, moaning because we're not reading her favourite book series (introduced to her by Rainbow Dash of course) 'Daring Do'.
"Yup!" Snips and Snails both call at the same time.
And finally... "Yes." that's Silverspoon, whispering hoarsely because now that her best friend Diamond Tiara is gone, all her confidence has been knocked. Heck, I bet Fluttershy could give her lessons on confidence.
Oh Fluttershy.
But anyway, you're probably all wondering why I was saying this to them. The reason was, well, I had adopted the role as teacher. Well, when I say teacher, I mean, mare-who-helps-them-get-through-more-than-five-pages-of-a-book-and-stuff. After Celestia relieved me (not that I was at all happy or relived about this) of my role as her personal apprentice and notes-on-frienship-giver, I guess I did have a lot of free time on my hooves. And so to fill it up, every day apart from Saturday and Sunday the small group of foals and fillies would come to me for lessons.
The lessons were never hard, they were more or less as easy as pie, and they always had fun, so I and their parents were happy to oblige. Sometimes the others (Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Apple Jack) would show up too to lend a helping hoof or just to sit and have fun with the others. I guess it did make the long, hard days just a little more bearable.
You may be wondering about Sweetiebell. Or Diamond Tiara. Or any of the other fillies and foals not mentioned. Simple really, they moved. Or escaped as some described it. Rarity's Mom and Dad packed up and left, taking Sweetie with them. They begged Rarity to come too, but she refused. Celestia knows why. I'd leave if my parents asked me too. But they didn't. They didn't live in Ponyville, heck, I don't think they even knew what was happening here until it was...too late.
Oh, I miss them so.
Now Diamond Tiara's parents did just the same, and the rest of the fillies's parents either took them too or just didn't let them come to my makeshift 'school'. I didn't blame them, I suppose it does sound a bit weird if you've never actually come and seen what happens for yourself.
"Now class, who's read up to chapter nine like I asked?" I said sternly, though they all knew I was only kidding about, none of them ever read out of class, I'd say they had better things to do than sit and read all day but then I might just be lying.
Anyway.
"Noooooo!" they all chorused at one (all but Silverspoon that is) before collapsing to the floor in a heap of giggles.
"Yes..." a small voice muttered. It was Silverspoon.
All eyes fell upon her. She turned bright red and her bottom lip twitched. I could tell she was holding back tears, as I did every day after Spike was taken so cruelly away from me. But enough about me.
"O-oh." I said hoarsly, voice strained. "W-well then...well done." I smiled warmly at her.
She looked back at me meekly, face unemotionless.
"But nobody EVER reads what Miss Twilight tells us too!" Scootaloo said, a slight edge of mocking in her voice.
They all just called me 'Miss Twilight' for a sort of joke, even though I told them they could all just call me Twilight and I'd be happy with it.
"Well maybe Silver Spoon just felt like it!" I felt myself for some reason defending the poor Silverspoon, despite knowing of her past bullying steak.
We read in silence for the rest of the lesson, but upon looking up from my book at one point I did notice Silver Spoon give me a shy nod and mouth the words 'thank-you' to me when the other fillies weren't looking. I pretended not to notice but as she looked back down at the pages of text, most probably completely meaningless too her, I saw the sparkling tears in her eyes as they slid down her face and onto the pages below.
Maybe she was nicer than I thought.
Or maybe she just missed her bullying buddy.
"Okay, class dismissed!" I said, looking up at my clock an hour later as it reached 12 O'clock.
Everyone charged out and Silver Spoon walked slowly and silently behind. I wanted to do nothing but something deep inside me caused me to do otherwise.
"Silver Spoon, I'd like to see you for a few moments please." I called out feebly, more nervous than she probably was.
"Ooooh, Silver Spoon's in trouble!" Scootaloo cried to Apple Bloom, who snorted with laughter in response.
I sighed and shook my head but did nothing more, not in the mood for petty reasoning with the two immature fillies.
"A-am I in trouble Miss Twilight?" Silver Spoon whimpered weakly, eyes beginning to wet again. "Whatever I did, I'm sorry!" she blurted out.
"No, no." I smiled and shook my head. "You're not in any sort of trouble Spoon, take a seat." I nodded at an old wooden seat that Spike used to sit on.
She edged towards the seat gingerly, like it may bite her, before plonking her rump down and looking up at me with blank, emotionless eyes.
I bit my lip. "Sooo..." I started, looking away awkwardly. "Look, I know you miss Diamond Tiara." I said quickly, looking straight at her now and getting straight to the point.
"And I know you miss Spike." she snapped back just as quickly.
I sat stunned, shocked but also mildly amused at her feistiness and rather cheeky temper.
I raised an eyebrow. "Yes, but this isn't about me and Spike, is it?" I said calmly
She shrugged, slumping back in the seat. "It might as well as be, you and I both know fine well the only reason you hold these stupid classes is so you have something to do now that Celestia took Spike away from you."
My eyes grew wide and I struggled to keep my temper. "Now hold on a minute!" I started, but then stopped and sighed. "No, no...you're right...I guess. But...how do you even know about Celestia taking Spike anyway? Did you...did you see it happen?" my bottom lip quivered slightly.
Silver Spoon shook her head. "Nope. But everyone just knows about it. Gossip spreads. Especially these days."
"'These days'?" I raised both eyebrows.
"Yeah, you know, all the pain, suffering, poverty, hunger, sickness..." she didn't seem like she was every going to stop.
"Yes yes, I get the point, you know, okay. But anyway." I said, getting back to my point. "You said 'stupid' lessons, if they're so stupid then why do you come?"
Silver Spoon frowned. "I only come 'cus my Mom and Dad force me too. They say they can'y bear me sitting in my room all day staring up at the ceiling...the ceiling me and Diamond used to stare up at during our slumber parties..." her eyes filled with tears and she suddenly ran to me and pressed her head to my chest and wept and wept and wept.
My own eyes stung with tears, for whatever reason I wasn't quite sure, and I rocked her and whispered soothing words in her ears.
Suddenly, two huge Police Colts came charging in, bursting down the door and stomping up to us. I gasped and clutched Spoon, these days nobody knew whose side the Police Force was truly on.
"Miss S. Spoon?" one said in a deep but emotionless voice.
"Y-yes?" Spoon wailed, tears still flowing. Her eyes didn't open as she turned to face the two.
"Wait...does she...does she know already?" the other, younger Police Colt addressed me now.
"Kn-know what?" Silver Spoon's eyes opened wide and she leapt off my lap.
"Miss Spoon, we've got reason to believe both your Mother and Father have committed suicide together. Both are now dead and having the autopsy preformed as we speak. If you'd like to come with us..."
Silver Spoon looked back at me, then to the two colts, and was suddenly violently sick all over the carpet.