private Slice of School (1x1 with Reality Check)

[Reality Check 632]

Once they got to the first obstacle, several others tried to get across the wall on their own. Unsurprisingly, none of them managed to do so. When Skylight whispered to him about his idea, he simply nodded and complied as it wasn't hard to guess how they're supposed to pass it after a bit of observation.

Just as Skylight told him to do, Reality lifts Skylight high enough that he could reach the top of the wall. Soon after, Reality back up a few steps before running and jumping for the wall. He managed to catch Skylight's hoof as he climbed up, using Skylight's help and grabbing onto the ledge with his other hoof as support to get himself up.

"I... can imagine." Reality said as he panted a little before moving on the next obstacle, while the other students replicated Skylight's and Reality's technique to climb up.

[Skylight Scintillate]

The rest of the obstacle course was pretty similar; they would require one of the pair to help the other get past it and it was up to the other of the pair to turn around once they were past it and help the member that originally helped them. Skylight would alternate between helping Reality cross first and having Reality help him cross first.

Once they reached the last obstacle, Skylight helped Reality pass it first. However, by then, some of the other pairs have caught up, and as soon as the first member of the two pairs passed the obstacle, a few of them ditched their partners and made a mad dash for the finish line.

Skylight noticed this. "Oh dear, they are going to beat us..." he said watching them as he was in the middle of doing the last obstacle himself.

Edited May 1, 2022 by Skylight Scintillate

[Reality Check 632]

The rest of the obstacle were fairly easy to overcome, as long as the two of them kept supporting each other. With Reality helping Skylight and Skylight helping Reality, they both pass the obstacle course with relative ease.

At the final obstacle, as Reality was helping Skylight, he saw several others catching up and abandoning their partners to get to the finish line at the end. Initially, he wanted to go ahead and win for them, but he also knew that he's basically leave Skylight on his own if he did. Plus he was never saw winning as his main goal to begin with. With that in mind, he assisted Skylight in making it through the final obstacle.

Eventually, Skylight made it through the last obstacle. "I wouldn't worry about it. Trust me." Reality responded to his words before they made their way to the finish line.

[Skylight Scintillate]

Skylight was relived that Reality didn’t leave him behind as he scrambled over the last obstacle himself. The idea that some students would betray their partners when it was most conscientious didn't sit right with Skylight. Then, he dashed with Reality across the finish line together. 

“And the winners are Reality and Skylight!” Rainbow Dash announced, glaring at the students that ditched their partners.

”What? Oh...” those students said as they realized what Rainbow Dash meant. They ran back to help their partners over the last obstacle.

”What just happened? We won?” Skylight wheezed as he looked around. Sure enough, some of there other pairs were just crossing the finish line. 

“Yeah, you two won. Here’s some candy,” Rainbow Dash said, handing them some candy as their prize. Then Rainbow Dash turned to address the group as a whole. “So, what have we learned here?” She asked.

[Reality Check 632]

When Rainbow handed that them some candy, Reality thought it was slightly weird at first, but just put them away for the time being. Once everyone finished the course and gathered around, Rainbow asked them the question. One by one, the students raised their hooves as she picked them to answer.

"Never leave your partner behind just for winning." One student said. Rainbow nodded and picked another.

"Always help each other with obstacles that no pony can handle on their own." Another said.

[Skylight Scintillate]

Skylight also put his candy away, not quite sure what to make of the whole thing.

"I think the idea is that since this activity is meant for pairs, it would only make sense for the pairs to finish together," Skylight reasoned. 

"That my partner sucks?" a unicorn that got left behind grumbled.

"Yes! Wait, no, not the last one. Uh, class dismissed," Rainbow Dash said nervously while rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment.

"Well that certainly was interesting. It looks like our next class is with Rarity on the second floor on the other side of the school," Skylight noted. "So, Reality, what did you think of that?"

[Reality Check 632]

Reality snickered quietly at Rainbow Dash's last line before leaving the class room. Soon after they left, Skylight asked him the same question after they left Applejack's class. "To be honest, almost the same as before. I don't know what to think about it just yet." Reality answered. "I know it's... probably gonna get repetitive, but I don't really like to give an answer without having a solid opinion on it. Still, the obstacle course was pretty fun though."

They had to walk for a while as the classroom they're looking for is, since it's on the other side of the school. When they reached the inside, they saw Rarity wearing what appears to be a teacher's outfit with reading glasses. Not to mention it looked like she had several items prepared on her desk, probably for this class' upcoming activity.

[Skylight Scintillate]

The rest of the classes went about as Skylight expected. Most of the teachers did some kind of ice breaker  for the students. By the end of the day, they had ended up meeting all five of the teachers that were teaching friendship, along with some of the other teachers that taught the other subjects. They ended the day with an ice breaker party from Pinkie Pie, which Skylight Scintillate could only describe by saying "You had to be there." Once the students started leaving class ad the end of the block, Pinkie Pie waved them over. "Pst! Come on! let's go!" Pinkie Pie whispered in a not so subtle way.

[Reality Check 632]

As soon as they saw Pinkie trying to get their attention, Skylight and Reality looked at each other for a few seconds before following her. They continued following until they reached what looks like a buckball field, where it's mostly empty with no ponies or creatures in sight. In the middle of the field, there were Pinkie Pie and three small fillies, one earth pony, one unicorn, and one pegasus. Guessing from what Reality remembered about their professor's words, he presumed that the fillies are the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

While Reality did think that the CMC could help if Pinkie recommended them, he didn't expect them to be younger than him.

Edited May 24, 2022 by Reality Check

[Skylight Scintillate]

Skylight Scintillate had heard a bit about the Cutie Mark Crusaders, having lived in Ponyville for a bit. However, he was still a bit skeptical about them being able to interpret his cutie mark. He had certain conceptions about the trio from before they got their cutie marks that was hard to shake out of his head.

"So these are the students you are talking about?" Scootaloo asked Pinkie Pie.

"Yup!" Pinkie Pie chirped. "Come on, introduce yourselves!"

"Hello, I'm Skylight Scintillate and this is my friend Reality Check. Pinkie Pie suggested that we talk to you three for cutie mark advice," Skylight said, feeling a bit nervous about meeting some ponies for the first time.

"Houdy, I'm Apple Bloom, this is Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. We are glad to help you figure out your cutie marks," Apple Bloom said, gesturing to each of the cutie mark crusaders respectively.

"So how did you get your cutie marks?" Sweetie Belle asked the two students. She pulled out a parchment and a feather to take down notes. The cutie mark crusaders sat down and motioned Skylight and Reality to sit down too.

"Well I'm not really sure," Skylight said, rubbing his chin in thought as he sat down with the others.

"Well starting off with how you got it usually reveals a lot about what it actually is," Sweetie Belle replied. "So go on, how did you get it? Also, list somethings that you like to do."

"So it started out when I was messing with an abacus and I was wondering if there was some way to mimic it's functions using magic. So I like to tinker with things and most of the time, they don't work. However, this time, the spells actually worked, and I ended up creating an abacus made completely out of magic. Once the spell seemed to be stable, I got my cutie mark. It could do basic arithmetic functions, but not much more than that, and at that point, it just made more sense to have an actual abacus around." Skylight said.

"Let's see, some things I like to do are doodling and tinkering with things, writing fan fiction even though using parchment and feathers is really annoying, and trying different magic spells even though most of them fail," Skylight said, frowning slightly at he last sentence.

While Skylight was telling his cutie mark story, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were closely observing Skylight's and Reality's cutie marks while Sweetie belle was taking down notes. "Ok then, what about you, Reality Check?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Well I've got to throw my 'finished first day of school' party for the other teachers now. You five have fun!" Pinkie Pie said as she bounced off.

Edited May 29, 2022 by Skylight Scintillate

[Reality Check 632]

When the Cutie Mark Crusaders introduced themselves and they did the same, Reality was just sitting down and listening to their conversation, not saying a single thing to interrupt them. Skylight began explaining how he got his cutie mark, about how he got it by making an abacus out of magic. Hearing that caught Reality's interest as it didn't sound too different from his own ability to pop out his own drawings.

After Skylight shared his backstory and a few hobbies, it was his turn to share. "Well, it began when I was heading back from my old school. Back then, I still had a knack of drawing, though I didn't really show it at the time. I decided I wanted to make something for my family, so I went and got myself a sketchbook and began drawing. After I was done with it, I showed it to my parents and they were pretty happy. I was happy that they liked it and... well, that's when my cutie mark."

"Well aside from drawing, I usually spent time alone trying out magic or going out and playing a few games, whether it'd be alone or with a few others. Aside from that, I... don't really have a lot of hobbies." Reality answered as best as he can.

[Skylight Scintillate]

While Reality Check was explaining the backstory of his cutie mark, Sweetie Belle was enthusiastically taking down notes. Then Reality Check finished, Sweetie Belle looked up to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo."So, do any of you recognize anything on their cutie marks?" she asked.

"I think their cutie marks have something to do with magic," Apple Bloom and Scootaloo replied simultaneously. Sweetie Belle looked down at the notes she had taken so fa, trying to piece it together with what Apple Bloom and Scootaloo just said. She suddenly lit up as an idea flew into her mind.

"Reality Check, have you considered trying to draw with magic? I mean, not levitating a feather to draw, but drawing with magic itself. And Skylight, for your abacus idea, you know how each number is a combination of 0s and 1s? What if you did the same thing to letters and you use your magical spell to write? In fact, I think if you can turn colors into numbers, than you could draw things that way too," Sweetie Belle rambled.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at Sweetie Belle with a confused look. "I have no idea what you just said," they said simultaneously. "It's a unicorn thing," Sweetie Belle replied.

"Hmm, well that would make sense, although that would require a lot of digits. So how should we do this spell that you are suggesting?" Skylight asked.

Sweetie Belle would give Reality Check a chance to reply about what she suggested before replying to Skylight. "Well you should ask Twilight and Starlight. Both of them started using this spell extensively to run the school," Sweetie Belle replied. "Apparently, I asked Starlight if she could apply that spell to me so I could use it too but she said that my magic still needs to develop more 'due to the fact that this spell has a high barrier of entry for the first time it is used but very little magic each consecutive time' according to Starlight. We can lead you to her office though." Apple Bloom and Scootaloo continued to glance on with confusion.

[Reality Check 632]

"Um, no? I have used magic on my drawings itself, but not using magic itself to draw. It never really crossed my mind before." Reality answered, tilting his head up. "If anything, I usually prefer to do it the old-fashioned way because of how simple and I'm used to it. But even so, I'm not sure how or where to start."

After hearing Sweetie Belle solution, Reality thought about it for a little before nodding. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea. From what I've heard, they're pretty good at magic, so it wouldn't surprise me if they knew a thing or two about our problems." He replied before turning to Skylight. "Plus I'm kinda curious about the whole 'using this spell extensively' part."

[Skylight Scintillate]

"Oh. Ok then, let's go!" Sweetie Belle said, getting up from where she was sitting and started leading the way towards Guidance Consoler Starlight's office. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo got up and followed her reluctantly, still confused about what was going on.

"Do you have any idea what is going on?" Scootaloo asked Apple Bloom. "I have no idea..." Apple Bloom replied.

Skylight followed along. He knew that both Starlight and Twilight were powerful at magic and he was interested in seeing this spell in use. He also found it intriguing that Sweetie Belle mentioned that there was a new way to draw for Reality Check, then mentioned drawing by changing colors into numbers for Skylight. This made Skylight wonder if both methods were somehow connected.

Soon enough, they arrived at Guidance Counselor Starlight's office. Sweetie Belle threw the doors open and lead the group inside.

Inside, Starlight appeared to be writing on some kind of thin translucent light turquoise book. "Oh, hello Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Reality Check, and Skylight Scintillate. How can I help you?" she said, greeting each pony respectively and lowering the magical book she was writing on.

[Reality Check 632]

The five ponies looked at each other before Sweetie Belle spoke for them. "Skylight and Reality are have some cutie mark problems and I suggested that they should ask you and Twilight." Sweetie answered. "And also about that spell I asked if you could apply to me."

As they all talked, they sat down on the couch in front of Starlight's desk. As soon as they sat down, Reality then explained the rest. "Skylight and I were wondering what our cutie marks could mean. Professor Pinkie overheard us and suggested we go to the cutie mark crusaders. As for the rest, it's just as Sweetie Belle explained."

While they all began talking, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at each other, as they were still trying to catch up on what they are talking about.

[Skylight Scintillate]

"What kind of cutie mark problems?" Starlight asked. She was aware that the CMCs were known for trying to help others with their cutie marks. However, she saw that the two unicorn colts in front of her already had their cutie marks, even though she wasn't exactly sure what they meant.

"How do I say it? I think that their cutie marks involve magic that has not been created, Ahem, I mean, magic that is just recently created and they need your help with it," Sweetie Belle explained pointing to Starlight's magical tablet. "Also, I want to be able to use it too."

"Oh!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said as they suddenly understood what was going on.

"Oh, I can help you create it since casting the spell to create it requires a lot of magic while the spell to use it after it's created doesn't require much magic. However, the notes to do it are in Princess Twilight's castle. Can I trust the quintet of you to get it? I can't exactly go now because I have a lot of paperwork to fill out. Although, I suppose I can't call it paperwork no that it's on magic... Anyways, come back here once you get it. Bye," Starlight said.

[Reality Check 632]

As soon as Starlight finished speaking, she teleported away along with several papers. All five of them were a bit confused at first, none of them were sure what to say after Starlight just left them with a task without much of an explanation on what his and Skylight's cutie mark could mean, let along the spell they wanted to ask about.

They all looked at each other before someone spoke up. "So... I guess we're going to Twilight's castle then?" Apple Bloom questioned.

"I guess so." Scootaloo answered, right before they all got up and left Starlight's office.

As they were walking, Reality couldn't help but think about the tablet that Starlight had before she left. It didn't seem like something you'd see in a store, let alone something that he's ever seen before. "Hey Skylight?" Reality looked to him. "About that tablet Starlight was holding, where do you think she got it from?"

[Skylight Scintillate]

Skylight thought about the question Reality asked. “Hmm, well I think that with the way sweetie Belle was gesturing at it while describing the spell needed, that the spell we are looking for will create that. 

Soon enough, the group arrived at the library in Twilight’s castle. There was a changeling looking around nervously by the entrance  and a dragon and griffin arguing by one of the bookshelves.

Skylight pulled a bunch of papers, levitating them all in the air around him. “Alright, one of these says which book we are looking for. Gosh, I wish there was an easier way to do things other than carrying a million different papers around. These papers are so hard to organize...”

”Um excuse me?” The changeling spoke up. 

“Agh!” Skylight said, breaking his focus and causing him to drop all his papers on he ground.

Edited June 17, 2022 by Skylight Scintillate

[Reality Check 632]

It didn't take long before all of them reached the castle. Once they all reached the library, they looked for the notes, but there are a lot of books all around, so it was naturally going to take a while, even for five ponies.

Reality looked at a few of them when he suddenly heard Skylight yelling behind him. He immediately turned and saw him with a changeling beside him. The changeling didn't look like she was going to hurt him. In fact, she looks startled by Skylight's reaction. Though he also noticed the papers on the floor, which was enough for him to make a guess what just happened.

Knowing that scanning the shelves for the notes will take a lot of time, he went up to Skylight and the changeling regarding his thoughts and about what just happened. "Is everything all right?" Reality asked.

[Skylight Scintillate]

"Yeah I'm fine," Skylight said as he got up, dusted himself off, and collected the papers he dropped. "However, carrying around all these papers for all the different classes is so annoying, and it takes forever to find the papers I need. There has to be a better way than all of this. Oh look, there's Starlight's note. 'Applied Digital Magic' by Twilight Sparkle, well that certainly is an interesting name. Now where could that book be?" Skylight Scintillate asked, glancing around the library. The library definitely was larger than it appeared.

"Oh, it's right there, the shelf right behind where Gemini (the griffon) and Spark (the dragon) are arguing. It's all my fault though," the (reformed) changeling interrupted. "I was browsing the books while thinking about how some of the dragons and griffons from earlier today said that they were so much better than a school of friendship run by ponies. However, I must have said it out loud because those two overheard and started arguing with each other. It's all my fault," The changeling repeated, covering her face with her hooves in embarrassment.

[Reality Check 632]

"... Convenient but okay." Reality muttered when Skylight picked up Starlight's note. He was ready to speak up when the changeling explained where the book was, which was behind the two others that were arguing. The CMC were also there watching Gemini and Spark, while trying to get past them to look for the book or get them to stop arguing.

"Aight then..." Reality said with an eyebrow raised. "Thanks uh..."

[Skylight Scintillate]

"Well you were like 'Oh, us griffons and dragons are so much better than these ponies and their lame school of friendship,' well I think that you need to stop assuming that all griffons are grumpy and angry all the time! You know, some of us creatures actually want to learn friendship!" Gemini shouted.

"You aren't listening to me, this whole argument is pointless! I'm saying that I didn't say that and you keep bringing up all these baseless reasons to be angry at me!" Spark fumed. "What!?" he shouted as he abruptly turned to face Skylight. "Can't you see we are in the middle of an argument here!?"

Skylight flinched, which caused him to drop all his papers again. When the dragon went back to arguing with the griffon, Skylight backed up quietly and asked the others; "Now what do we do?"

"You see, they just won't stop arguing and it's all my fault," the changeling mopped.

[Reality Check 632]

Walking up to the others, he saw their attempts to get behind them and retrieve the book they're looking for, including Skylight dropping his papers once again. Reality tried walking up to them and asking them to move aside, though that was drowned out by their constant shouting. He even tried looking past them, but still couldn't see where the book is. Apple Bloom and the other CMC also heard the changeling said she blames herself for the two arguing.

"Hey, if you didn't mean it, then there's no reason to blame yourself about it." Apple Bloom affirmed, hoping to at least reassure her.

Feeling that there isn't any way to get them to stop arguing and that he was beginning to feel a bit agitated, Reality whispered to the others about what to next. "Aight, I've got two options in mind. Either we somehow get them to stop or we move them entirely with our magic, because I'm getting the feeling that we won't be able to get them to stop given how loud they are being."

[Skylight Scintillate]

"Yeah I know, " the changeling said, still shifting around nervously. "It's just that I have no idea what to say to them or if they will accept my apology..."

"Hmm, well I don't think I would be able to move them, and I feel like that would make them really angry at us too. We could try to get  them to stop arguing for a second to listen to us or something, but I'm not really sure how we could do that..."Skylight thought out loud. 

"You high school students are always overthinking everything," Sweetie Belle said, before suddenly shouting, "Stop!" and casting a magical spell that muted both Gemini and Spark. Then, she pushed Reality Check and the changeling up to the muted pair. "Go on, explain to them."

[Reality Check 632]

Gemini and Spark were still trying to yell, even though their lips are sealed by Sweetie Belle's magic. The two also glared at Reality and the changeling, silently asking the same question Spark yelled at Skylight to the both of them.

As much as Reality didn't exactly appreciate the fact that he was pushed into explaining, he begrudgingly explained to the two of them about what he wants. "Sorry, but can you two move aside so we can get the book that's right behind you both? 'Cause my patience is dwindling already from you two and I'd much rather be done that trying any further to you two from bickering." Reality said in an annoyed tone, glaring them in return.

The changeling, however, was slightly more hesitant. She was feeling more guilty than annoyed, but she tried and explain to them about what happened earlier. "... and um, I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I-I didn't mean to say anything about one species being better than the other at running the school so... please stop arguing with each other." The changeling said timidly.

Edited July 3, 2022 by Reality Check