I was pelting through the town as fast a s possible, following the decayin gmagic trail. What would I find when I got the re? "This whole day is a distaster..."

"Why, and where are you going?"

Glancing up, I saw Rainbow Dash flying o ver me, easily keeping pace. "The river, I'm guessing. Those foals are trying to copy my crest."

Rainbow Dash groaned and face-hoofed. "Scoot..."

"That's the orange one, right?"

"Yeah."

I ducked a tree branch. "I hope for her sake we get there quickly."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't want to-"

"Tell me."

We ran in silence for several long momen ts. "I saw a vision of her dead. It's wh y I made them give that oath on their ma nes and tails. My magic activated becaus e they broke their oath, and I sent kniv es to cut off their manes and tails."

Rainbow Dash said nothing, but picked up the pace. I had to mentally kick myself to stay focused with that fine flank ri ght there. 1000+ years with no action can be maddening!

We burst our of the trees into the open fields beside a river- just in time to s ee the fillies leap off a high platform into the water. I could see the flashing of knives in their mouths.

Rainbow flew ahead as fast as she could, scooping Applebloom out of the air, but the other two hit the water hard. I cou ldn't see them through the turbulence, b ut the crimson washing up was not a good sign. Without waiting for Dash, I leapt into the water.

Oh sweet relief and peace! Over 1000 yea rs and finally I was in my element. Imme diately, I spotted Sweetie drifting with the current. She appeared to be in shoc k, a deep gash in her flank. A few quick paddles, and I was bearing her to the s urface. Breaking the surface, I shouted to Dash "Take her! Then go get help!"

As soon as her weight left my shoulders I was off downstream looking for Scootal oo. After a few frantic moments, I spott ed her. She'd somehow avoided injury so far, and was thrashing around in the wat er with the knife. I could see the rapid s coming. She was so busy looking at her flank, she didn't. Finding no mark, she dropped the knife in disappointment and turned to swim to shore.

The world seemed to shift into slow-moti on. I was surging ahead in the water, but for once it didn't feel like it. The knife was flipping over and over in the water, looking more like a mobile on a lazy day. It came to rest on a rock in the rapids, hilt first. Unable to get to her, I watched Schootaloo get pushed by the current into the same rocks, until the hilt was touching her chest...

Everything seemed to kick back into full speed a second after the impact. My full speed suddenly re-realized, I was at her side in an instant, and pulled her out of the water. I was panicking, looking around to see if Rainbow was back with a doctor, while trying to analyze Scootaloo's condition. I could feel the total entropy that comes with death pouring off her. NO! I was not letting another foal die under my watch! Plants and trees all around me started to fade and die as I channeled the entropy away from the filly. My wings slowly spread out as I transformed to handle the level of power.

I reflected on how very few Kelpies could "go ali" as Dad always put it. Just thinking about him helped me relax some. Mom too- I could still remember her in alicorn form when she was meditating in the falls. "Don't bug your mom, unless you want to get wet in the bad way." ...Even after all these years, I could still see their faces as clearly as I did that last day... If I'd only known then what I did now...

I needed to focus on what was around me. I kept up my spell, listening and watching carefully for the others. I couldn't let them see my wings. So far, still nothing. The doctor must be an earth pony or unicorn- a pegasus would have been here by now. I bent closer to Scootaloo, trying to see if I could do anything about the buried knife.

"Who...?" I realized the little foal was still barely conscious.

"Shh." I rested my horn on her head gently. "relax and rest, Scootaloo. You made a mistake and paid for it, but I will make sure you don't end your story here."

"I didn't... didn't get my cutiemark..."

"No, no you didn't. Maybe you should have listened when somepony warned you. Then you wouldn't be hurt like this."

"...Maybe... I'm..." she trailed off, passing out. She must be one tough little pony to have stayed awake that long... ...Still stupid. In the silence, I could hear them coming. I quickly transformed back to Unicorn and stopped channeling the spell when they were right on top of me. I would have to leave it in the doctor's hands now, and pray to Luna I didn't lose another foal.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today, I learned a difficult lesson, in a terrifying way. We have always given the three fillies I have written to you about before (Sweetiebell, Applebloom, and Scootaloo) freedom to do what they wanted in search for their cutiemarks. Obviously some things were dangerous, such as ziplining, but because they set them up themself, they never ended up hurt. Today I realized that as their friends, and especially those of us who are their big sisters, need to keep a closer eye on what they attempt. A new pony arrived in Ponyville today, and he has knives and a river as his cutiemark. They tried to copy his mark by jumping into a river carrying weapons. Sweetiebelle was injured, but Scootaloo nearly died.

Were you or Luna around Ponyville today? Scootaloo claims that after she was dragged out of the water, an alicorn talked to her. But, Lantra (that's the new pony) says he didn't see one, and he doesn't know what Scootaloo is talking about. I was just wondering if one of you interacted with her.

As Scootaloo has no sister, I will attempt to keep a closer eye on her myself, although it will be difficult to find the time with my studies. I already will be taking time out of it to talk to Lantra more. He is an extremely fascinating pony, with unique ideas from outside Equestria, seemingly more from where Zacora is from. He's also enjoyable to talk to as a pony, and seems to have a firm grasp of magic. I can't wait to just spend some time with him without all the other ponies around and get to know him better.

I will, of course, see you tomorrow morning for my test, as scheduled.

Your faithful studen,

Twilight Sparkle

My dearest Twilight,

Indeed, while foals need freedom, too much can be dangerous. Rules are set for a reason. Which is something you need to remember. I've warned you again and again about contact with stallions. It can be extremely detrimental to your continued studies, and can lead to baby foals. Just look at your friends, the Cakes. Do you really want to deal with babies like that? Your studies would quite simply have to come to an end. So, while I encourage you to make friends at every chance, remember that stallions are to be friends at a slight distance.

until tomorrow,

Princess Celestia

Hope you all liked this chapter! I plan to try to write so that there are lessons in groups of chapters for people to write to the tyra- I mean the Princess about, just like the real show. The next chapter will be up when my co-writer is finished with it, which should hopefully be by tomorrow or the day after. (The story will show two OCs point of view. the chapters for Seth will be written by my brother and co-writer.)

As always, I do not own MLPFIM. It is the property of Hasbro, so support the official release.