>"And now class, we will be going over the early life of Starswirl the Bearded" >A few muffled groans are heard in the background amongst the clattering of Cheerilee's chalk striking the blackboard >"Please turn to chapter 12, section B. This will be on the upco-" >Before Cheerilee can finish her sentence the door bursts open and a gray mare comes crashing into the ground next to Cheerilee's desk >Everypony is in shock for a second but the majority of fillies and colts burst into laughter at the unexpected disturbance saving them from boredom >Dinky's mouth drops open as she watches her mom stumble around on the floor >"Excuse me ma'am, but I'm running a class here can you please explain yourself" >Cheerilee gives a stern look while tapping her hoof >"Ow...my head" >Derpy rubs her noggin as she stands up >"Oh, is that you Ms. Hooves? I thought you 'retired' from mail deliveries?" >"Oh Ms. Cheerilee I'm sorry! And this isn't mail for the school it's my daughter's lunch. She even made it herself but forgot to pack it" >Cheerilee takes a moment to absorb everything and gives Derpy a smile >"That was sweet of you Ms. Hooves, thank you. I wouldn't want one of my hard workers going hungry" >Derpy picks up the miraculously still intact lunch basket and carries it over to Dinky plopping it on her desk >With a warm smile Derpy greets Dinky >"Hi Muffin, you forgot this!" >Derpy nuzzles Dinky's face and then walks back to the front of class >Dinky is sat there embarrassed beyond belief, face red as a tomato. Some of her classmates give strange glances and a few are snickering >Completely oblivious to the ongoings of the school ponies, Derpy apologies again to Cheerilee and leaves the schoolhouse >"Alright, where were we..." >Cheerilee continues with her lesson while writing more notes on the board >Dinky is flustered over the scene that just played out >Ever since she got older she's been conscious about her mom out in public >Derpy is an outgoing pony and constantly embarrasses her >And of all places for Derpy to show up, at school >There is some whispering behind her but she doesn't pay it any mind, copying Cheerilee's notes in her journal instead >"...by that time Starswirl mastered the basics of aura magic and went on to advance the..." >Out of nowhere Dinky feels something moist hit the back of her head >It's a spitball >She turns around and sees a note on the floor next to her chair >Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon wave at her with a smirk >Dinky sighs and picks up the note. She knows these two are trouble but was always able to avoid their ire >She unfolds the paper :Hi Muffin! Meet us outside at lunch, we'll be next to the tree swing: >Dinky folds the paper up and gulps. She's not afraid, but knowing they have her in their sights after what happened with her mom has her uneasy >"And with that we are wrapped up with Starswirl for today" >Half of the class sighs in relief >"Lunch time! Everypony be back in 30 minutes." >Cheerilee winds up the alarm on her mechanical clock and then sits down at her desk. Chomping into a shiny red apple she turns the page of the Ponyville Post sitting on her desk >Pipsqueak walks over to Dinky >"You all right? 'at Devil Tiara wacked you wivv a wet one and 'er goon ran up wivv a note" >Dinky knows Pipsqueak has had his fair share of trouble with them in the past "Hi Pip, I'll be alright. I am going to meet them by the tree and see what they want" >"...I could go wivv ya if ya want" >It's obvious that Pipsqueak would rather do anything but what he just offered "I'm okay but thanks" >Dinky uses telekinesis on her lunch basket and brings it with her as she goes outside >Dinky heads over to the tree swing where Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are waiting >Diamond Tiara is sitting on the swing and eating a sandwich, Silver Spoon sitting down on a blanket next to her mixing up a salad >"Oh you came, good" >Diamond Tiara addresses Dinky with a grin and finishes the last bite of her sandwich "I got your note...what do you want?" >"Please make yourself comfortable and eat with us" >Silver Spoon taps on the blanket gesturing for Dinky to join >Reluctantly Dinky puts down her lunch basket and sits down >She takes off the cover and pulls out a sandwich >"So you made that all by yourself huh" >Diamond Tiara states with a smug look "Yes, is that a problem?" >Dinky surprises herself by how combatant her response came out >Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara look at each other for a moment and then giggle >"You've got spunk, I'll give you that" >Diamond Tiara gets off the swing and walks over to the picnic blanket >Dinky puts down her half eaten sandwich and looks up at Diamond Tiara who's next to her now >Dinky feels a little scared but isn't going to back down >"Want to be our friend?" >Baffled at the change of topic, Dinky pauses a moment before replying "U-um...sure?" >Silver Spoon chips in >"We could use another filly with a backbone in our crew, whaddya say" >Diamond Tiara gives an approving nod "Yeah, I would like that...I thought you were calling me out here to make fun of me or something" >Dinky blushes and looks away from the two other fillies >"Us? We would never. I think it's cute that your mom calls you muffin. Isn't that right Silver Spoon?" >She nods and giggles "Okay. Then we're friends?" >"Friends" >Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon pull in for a team hoof bump >With a little smile on her face Dinky hoofs them back >After finishing up their lunch they head back to the classroom >Dinky takes her seat and Pipsqueak gives her an inquisitive glance >She gives him a smile and he just shrugs >"Alright class, lunch is over. Next we will be reviewing some quadratic equations in your Maregebra II book, please turn to page..." >Dinky's mind starts drifting off at the thought of having new friends. Aside from Pipsqueak she doesn't really talk that much to the other ponies >She's always been a bit more introverted, basically the opposite of her mother >"Who can solve for Y? Any volunteers?" >Dinky glances up and realizes she hasn't been paying attention >"Ooh, me! Me!" >Apple Bloom raises her hoof in excitement >Cheerilee looks around the room and sets her gaze on Dinky as though she knows Dinky was drifting off >Dinky freezes up and gives an awkward smile while trying not to look obvious. Cheerilee just smirks at her and points at Apple Bloom >"Alright you're up!" >A couple lessons later and the school bell rings, audible noises of relief are heard around the room >"Class dismissed!" >Fillies and colts alike make haste and leave the schoolhouse >"Cya tomorrow new friend" >Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon wave at Dinky as they leave in the opposite direction >Dinky waves back garnering a concerned glance from Pipsqueak >"Oi, what's fis about being friends?" >He walks up alongside Dinky on the road >Dinky sighs "You heard right, apparently I'm their friend now. Which isn't a bad thing right?" >"Well..'at Diamond can be right mean but I s'pose Silver Spoon ain't all bad..." >Pipsqueak blushes as he mentions Silver Spoon's name "Oh, I see" >Dinky giggles as she notices but doesn't pry >They enjoy the cool autumn breeze while taking in the view of all the orange and yellow leaves as the sun sets behind them "I'm home" >Dinky announces casually as she shuts the door behind her "Mom?" >Dinky walks in the kitchen and puts her bag down, she can smell something good in the oven >"Boo!" >Dinky yelps and jumps in the air >Derpy comes up from behind her laughing "What the hay mom!" >Dinky frowns as she recovers from the fright >"Sorry muffin but I couldn't resist. Also, language" >Derpy nuzzles into Dinky, as she normally does when she gets home from school >Dinky nuzzles her back "It's fine, I know how much you love Nightmare Night. And I'm not a little filly anymore" >Dinky says this as she looks at all the decorations that were put up over a month in advance "What's that in the oven? It smells great" >Derpy smiles at the compliment >"It's Anon's favorite, vegetable pot pie. It will be done soon" "Yum! I'm going to put my stuff away and then I'll help you set the table" >Dinky heads to her room and unpacks her books, sorting the ones she will need for homework later >As she's setting the table the door opens >"Welcome home sweetie" >Derpy greets her husband with a more intimate nuzzle followed up with a little kiss >"Derpy...dear" >He takes off his jacket and puts down his delivery satchel >"How was work?" >"It was alright, the deliveries went fine. Enough about work though because I'm starving and it smells amazing in here" "Hi dad" >Dinky greets Anon as he enters the kitchen. Her real father died in a factory accident when she was just a foal and doesn't remember much >Ever since Dinky was a young filly, Anon has been in her life as her step-father. He's a hard working earth pony who's been there for the both of them when things were tough >"Hey there kid, I see you're mom's little helper today" "Actually I just got back from school and am just setting the table" >"Still helping" >With a warm smile Anon gives her a pat on the head >"And done!" >Derpy places the pie at the center of the table and everypony takes a seat >Anon doesn't need any prodding and cuts a few pieces of pie and serves them out >Anon stuffs his face, as does Derpy "So...I made new friends today at school" >Anon finishes a mouthful of doughy vegetables and rinses it down with cider >"That's great Dinky, it's important to have friends at your age" >Derpy nods merrily as she continues to munch >Dinky smiles and goes back to her creamy slice >Anon is first to clear his plate, well technically his second plate >"That was delicious honey" >He gets up and kisses Derpy on the forehead >"mhmm" >Mouth still full and crumbs on cheek Derpy responds to the best of her ability >Anon starts cleaning up his area and takes his plate over to the sink "Don't worry about that dad I'll clean up" >"Thanks champ. I'll start getting the bath ready Derpy" >Now finished her last bite, Derpy wipes off her face >"Remember to add extra bubbles!" >"Yes ma'am" >Anon heads to the bathroom while Derpy and Dinky get all the dishes over to the sink "I can take it from here mom" >Derpy smiles >"Alright muffin, tell your new friends I said Hi" >Dinky blushes for a moment "Uh... sure. Goodnight mom" >Derpy pecks her on the cheek and giddily trots off >Dinky finishes scrubbing the plates, briefly washes up herself and then walks to her room >She levitates her Maregebra II textbook along with a notepad over to her bed where she lays down >She opens her book to where she left off in class >It doesn't take long before she starts to get chilly so she slides under the blanket >Now that it's deep into autumn the nights have been getting colder >A hot bath right about now sounds majestic but she's on a schedule where she gets her bath in the morning and her parents get the bath at night >Dinky zones out from her studies as her mind drifts off thinking about tomorrow >She hasn't really thought about making friends, especially not with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon >The closest pony she has to a friend is Pip but they aren't official friends. Or are they? Dinky shrugs at the thought as she returns to her studies >Still feeling a bit restless she uses the time to review everything she had planned, and more >She eventually yawns and passes out >"...-in...-ke up" >Dinky's blurry eyes start to open as she feels something on her nose >"Muffin, wake up" >Derpy boops Dinky lightly several times until Dinky hops out of bed >Dinky looks at her alarm clock that she forgot to set and panics "Oh no!" >She scrambles around the room packing her saddlebag with books and other accessories >Derpy's eyes swirl around watching her go >"Were you up late studying? I found you sleeping in your book" >Dinky ignores her mom's commentary as she darts out of the room >Heading into the kitchen she grabs a piece of jelly toast that was sitting on a plate >"Hey, that was mine!" >Disregarding Anon's objection she heads out the front door and quickly trots off to school >Anon sighs and puts another piece of bread in the toaster >Dinky bursts open the door to the schoolhouse "I made it..." >The room is silent as everyone stares at the out of breath filly >Cheerilee gives Dinky a stern look >"And your late, please take your seat" >With a reddened face Dinky hurries over to her desk >Diamond Tiara grins and gives her a nod >"As I was saying...after homeroom activities we will be heading into town to help the Mayor's office prepare for Nightmare Night" >Cheering can be heard around the classroom >She shushes the room but smiles as she continues >"And we have a half day so you have plenty of time to get home and get your costumes ready, I can't wait to see them later!" >More cheering >"Yay!" >Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon give each other a high hoof >After the excitement dies down Cheerilee finishes up homeroom and gets the class ready for departure To be continued...