The sun was shining brightly against the sky blue canvas as Kelly, Luu Luu, Crystal, and Toby arrived at the school. Bigjaw landed on the ground, and the basket beside him at the same tree as they day before. Luu Luu jumped off of Bigjaw and landed safely to the ground. Kelly climbed out of the basket, and turned around to offer Toby a hand, so he can climb down safely. Crystal climbed out last, and the four made their way onto the pathway to go inside the school.
As they were walking along the path Layla, along with Scarlett, came walking up behind the group a couple feet away. She leaned her head closer to Scarlett, and said quietly. "Watch this Scarlett."
Scarlett looked up ahead at the group, and then back at her friend with a confused look. "Layla what are you.." Before she could finish asking, Layla ran up to the group, and pushed through Luu Luu, and Toby who was on the end. Causing him to fall to the ground.
"Hey, what's the big idea Layla?" Luu Luu asked as she kept her balance, and walked over to Toby offering him a hand. "Are you alright Toby?" As she helped him stand up, and dusted the dirt off his clothes.
"Y-yes, I-I am okay Luu Luu, thank you." He said softly as he looked up at her smiling. He bent down to get his lunch.
"Aww.. ain't that a precious picture, bluh. Maybe next time runt, you should watch out where you are going." Layla said with a snarky tone as she flicked her hair and walked inside the school.
Scarlett gasped at her friend's actions, and carefully walked up to the four. "Toby are you okay?" She gently reached a hand, and rubbed at his shoulder very gently.
He smiled up at her softly and nodded. "Y-yes Scarlett, thank you."
"I thought you were going to talk to her about being mean to Toby, and us, Scarlett." Kelly spoke up a little but annoyed.
"I tried to, but she was just so mad about not being in the talent show that she just ignored me." She lowered her head with a frown.
Crystal looked at her, and gently patted her on her back. "Hey now. It's okay Scarlett. You tried your best." She gave Scarlett a reassuring smile.
Toby looked up, and nodded. "Y-yes Scarlett, don't be upset. I-I asked Ms. Stoner if she could put Layla back in the talent show tomorrow." The girls gasped and looked down at the little boy shocked.
"Come on kids, it's almost time to start class." Ms. Stoner came out to greet the group.
"Yes Ms. Stoner." They all said in unison as they entered into the building.
Toby stopped and looked up at Ms. Stoner before going in. "M-Ms. Stoner, is it too late to participate in the talent show tomorrow?" He asked with a soft and hopeful smile.
Ms. Stoner smiled warmly down at him, and shook her head gently. "Of course not dear. What would you like to do?" She asked kindly.
"I-I want to play the piano Ms. Stoner."
She smiled brightly. "Well, that is a wonderful idea Toby. I will arrange to get a piano for tomorrow then. Now go on inside, so we can start class." He nodded up at her and walked inside.
Toby sat down at the desk on the far right side, between Crystal in the front, Luu Luu in the back, and Kelly on his left side. They each gave him a warm smile, but still was stunned to bear that he wanted Ms. Stoner to let Layla back into the talent show.
Ms. Stoner walked into the classroom, and stood behind her desk. "Alright class, today we are going to be preparing for the talent show tomorrow evening." She pulled out a clipboard with what appeared to be a piece of paper which was a checklist. "First, Crystal. Do you think you could go, and ask your friend Rarity to make a few costumes? I have a checklist here of the costumes, and which people will be wearing them." She looked at Crystal
"Of course Ms. Stoner. I am sure Rarity will be glad to create costumes for us. She is the best fashionista in East Liverpool, and she always loves designing something new." She smiled brightly, and got up from her desk to walk up to Ms. Stoner. "I can go ask her now if you would like for me to Ms. Stoner."
"That would be wonderful dear, thank you. Here is the checklist." She handed Crystal the clipboard as Crystal turned toward her friends, and waved a hand as she skipped happily out of the classroom toward the teachers' lounge.
"Next, Kelly I would like your you to work with Mike, and Drake to get the stage set. Get the curtains set up, and also the stage lights." She looked at the three with a smile, and nod.
Kelly placed a hand up in a salute. "You got it Ms. Stoner. Mike, Drake, you guys ready?"
Mike spoke up first. "Yeah, you bet Kelly. What do you say Drake, you want to make the stage look cool?" Drake looked toward his friend.
Drake replied. "Sure thing Mike." He said.
The girl, and the two boys got up from their desks to go to the auditorium to get to work. Kelly patted Toby's shoulder gently, and waved at him, and Luu Luu as she left with the other two.
Ms. Stoner looked at Luu Luu, and Toby next. "Now, Toby, and Luu Luu, I would like for you two to pass out these flyers to all the residents of East Liverpool." She pulled out a stack of papers tied with a string in a bow to keep them all together.
Luu Luu smiled over at Toby, and then looked at Ms. Stoner with a nod. "You got it Ms. Stoner, we won't let you down." She smiled, and got up from her desk as Toby did the same.
Toby walked up to the desk, and stretched out his arms for Ms. Stoner to put the flyers in them. "I-it's okay Ms. Stoner, I will be careful with them."
She carefully picked them up by the string with her hand, and very gently placed them in the child's awaiting arms. "Here you go dears." She smiled warmly at the two as they walked outside.
"Alright, the rest of you, I would like for you to go out to the playground, and make sure there isn't anything laying around." She smiled at the rest of the remaining boys, and girls.
"Yes Ms. Stoner." They all said in unison as they walked out one by one.
Ms. Stoner spotted Layla, and Scarlett. "Oh, Layla, could you come see me for a minute, please? Scarlett you can go outside if you would like." Scarlett nodded, and smiled a little at her friend before walking outside.
"Yes Ms. Stoner?" Layla asked with a curious look on her face as she looked up at the older woman.
"Layla, I am very disappointed in you of how you treated Toby on his first day of school. You still have detention for a whole week, but I have decided to let you perform in the talent show." She looked at the girl with a soft smile.
Layla smiled brightly. "Oh, thank you, thank you Ms. Stoner. I can't wait for all of East Liverpool to see my fabulousness." She exclaimed happily.
"You are very welcome dear. Now go on outside to help the others get the playground clean." Layla nodded, and walked outside.
Before Toby, and Luu Luu was ready to set out toward the city, Toby saw Scarlett. He turned, and looked up at Luu Luu. "L-Luu Luu, can I tell Scarlett something real quick?" He asked with a soft smile.
"Of course Toby, I don't mind. I'll be waiting right here, alright?" She smiled warmly at him. He nodded, and carefully walked over to Scarlett.
"S-Scarlett?" He asked softly.
She turned around after facing the door waiting for Layla to come out. She smiled down at the little boy. "Yes Toby?" She said.
He looked up at her with pleading eyes. "P-please don't tell Layla that I asked Ms. Stoner to let her back into the talent show. I-I just didn't want her to be mad at me for causing her to lose her spot in the talent show." He lowered his head solemnly.
She frowned at him and lifted a hand to very gently rub at his shoulder. "That was very sweet of you Toby to do that." She lowered her head to try and look into his eyes. "Hey sweetie pie, look at me, please?"
He swallowed deeply, and raised his head to look into her eyes.
"There, that's better." She gave him a warm smile. "I won't tell her, I promise." She gently reached her hand up to caringly stroke at the top of his head. "You know Toby, you have a big, and caring heart. Don't you ever feel bad about the kindness that you show, okay little guy?"
He smiled up softly, and nodded. "Th-thank you Scarlett." He waved at her as he turned to go back to go join Luu Luu.
Scarlett smiled, and waved back at him. 'He is such a sweet little thing. I just wish Layla could see that.' She thought to herself, she frowned as she waited for Layla to come out.
Toby, and Luu Luu were on Bigjaw flying toward East Liverpool when he looked over at her while carrying the flyers. "L-Luu Luu, you, Kelly, and Crystal aren't mad at me for asking Ms. Stoner to let Layal back in the talent show, are you?"
She turned her head toward him, and gave him a soft smile. "Nah, of course not Toby. Yeah, we are a bit shocked, but you are a sweet little boy that we understand. You have a big heart Toby, and just maybe Layla will see that, and change her tune." She smiled, and made a soft smirk. She continued to focus on flying.
"M-maybe you are right Luu Luu." He smiled to himself, and looked to see Luu Luu was paying attention to the sky. "L-Luu Luu are you.. a-alright?" Luu Luu carefully lifted her hand, and ruffled his head.
"Haha.. come on Toby, at least we don't have to walk all the way through East Liverpool." She smiled happily as Toby held onto Luu Luu, while still holding the stack of flyers.
"A-are you sure Bigjaw doesn't mind us riding on his back though Luu Luu? I-I am not too heavy am I?"
"Nah, you are light as you are small. Besides, Gronckles are strong." She smiled to herself as they arrived in the city.
Back at the school
All the boys and girls returned after completing their assigned tasks. Luu Luu came walking in with Toby beside her. He smiled up at her softly. "Th-thank you Luu Luu."
She reached a hand up, and rubbed at the top of his head. "Don't mention it buddy." She smiled warmly at him as she walked over to her desk. Crystal, and Kelly smiled at the two as they were seated at their desks.
"Alright class, I would like to thank you all for helping prepare for the talent show. You all have worked very hard, and I am very proud of all of you." She smiled happily at her class.
The last school bell rang for the day. "Remember everybody, the talent show starts at eight o'clock, but be here by seven to rehearse your acts. Have a good day, and I will see you all tomorrow evening." She smiled at her class as they all got up from their desks, and started to walk out, one by one.
Toby got up from his desk, and followed the Dragon Girls. "Bye Ms. Stoner." The three girls said in unison.
Toby smiled up at her. "B-bye Ms. Stoner."
"Bye Toby, bye girls. Have a good day." She waved them off with a hand as they walked over to the tree where Bigjaw is at.
While Luu Luu was on Bigjaw flying with the other three in the basket, Luu Luu looked at Toby. "Hey Toby, we have a surprise for you, but you have to close your eyes alright?" He nodded, and closed his eyes.
So he wouldn't feel scared Kelly, and Crystal gently placed a hand on each of his shoulders. Crystal smiled at the little boy, and leaned her head towards his, and whispered softly. "Don't worry Toby, you will see what your surprise is soon."
Toby gave a small smile a little nervous of what the surprise was, but remained calm.
After several minutes, Luu Luu pulled up to the Dragon Girls clubhouse. "Okay buddy, keep your eyes closed." She told Toby. Kelly climbed out of the basket. Crystal gently placed her other hand on Toby's other shoulder to safely guide him towards Luu Luu, who was standing sideways next to the basket.
"Alright Toby, you can just climb onto my back,: She said softly to the child as Crystal helped him onto her back, then climbed out of the basket next.
Kelly lead the way, while Luu Luu followed behind her carefully walking up the ram, so not to scare Toby. Crystal followed last as she smiled brightly at the little boy riding on Luu Luu's back. Kelly opened the door to the clubhouse, and the other two walked in.
"Okay buddy, you can open your eyes." Kelly said with a smile.
Toby opened his eyes, and saw he was in a small room made out of planks of plywod. There was a small assortment of furniture such as a table, and a few chairs. There was a few posters on the wall with one that appeared to be a diagram of the buildings in East Liverpool. "O-oh, cool. Wh-what is this place?" He asked curiously with a look of wonder, and a soft smile.
"Toby, we welcome you to the Dragon Girls Clubhouse." Luu Luu smiled as she lowered herself a bit to let Toby climb off. "This is where I train the girls on how to be dragon riders."
Crystal giggled with a bright smile. "Oh, hehe.. I almost forgot. Toby, we have one more surprise for you. Do you mind closing your eyes one more time?" He nodded, and closed his eyes.
Kelly walked over a ladder that led to the upstairs section of the clubhouse. She carefully ascended the ladder. After a couple of minutes she came back carrying a folded up piece of cloth in her hands.
"Alright kid, open your eyes." She said with excitement.
Toby opened his eyes to see Kelly standing sideways in front of his with something in her hands. "Wh-what is that?"
Luu Luu smiled, and reached for the cloth, and unfolded it to reveal a cape that was a deep red in color on the outside, with gold silk on the inside, and on the outside was a blue shield with a yellow silhouette of the Striker Class symbol.
"We like to call this the official uniform of the Dragon Girls." Luu Luu smiled warmly at the little boy and handed the cape to Crystal. "We would like to make you an honorary member of the Dragon Girls Toby."
The two smiled, and nodded in unison. Toby looked at each of the three girls with a soft smile. "T-thank you you three. I-I would like to be apart of the Dragon Girls, but are you sure if it's okay if I am not a girl?"
Kelly giggled, and reached a hand to rub at his head. "Of course buddy. You don't have to be a girl to be a part of our group. And besides, we've renamed our group the Dragon Kids. You are our friend, and it would be cool to have you come along with us on our adventures."
"Yeah. Besides Appleblooms cousin Babs Seed is a member of the Canterlot Movie Club as well. Maybe you will get to meet her when the Apples have their Apple Family Reunion in a couple of months. I'm sure she will like you just as we all do." Luu Luu smiled, and patted him on the back gently.
"Having such a little cutie like you in our group will be so much fun." Crystal exclaimed as she gave him a friendly nuzzle on the cheek. Toby blushed slightly in reaction. Crystal helped tie the cape gently around Toby's neck as it smoothly fell over his back.
Suddenly the ring of a bell could be heard. "Well, that means it is time to eat Toby, would you like to join us? I'm sure Applejack and Big Mac made plenty to eat. Kelly, and Crystal are going to eat as well."
"O-okay, that sounds good." He said softly.
"Awesome. First, we have to put our hands together to make this official." She looked at the other two girls with a soft smirk. "Ready girls?"
They nodded, and placed their three hands together leaving space for Toby. Toby smiled softly and placed his hand in the group of hands.
"Toby you are now officially a member of THE DRAGON KIDS!" The three said in unison, and all four lifted their hands in the air.
Luu Luu smiled brightly, and carefully lifted Toby up onto her back. "Let's go get something to eat, shall we?" With that the four exited the clubhouse, and started toward the Rainbooms fraternity house to enjoy dinner with their friend, and new Dragon Kid.