"There is no such thing as a ghost," said Silver matter-of-factly, "And they wouldn't be like a ghost even if ghosts did exist. It's more like multiple ponies sharing a body. They are just as tangible as you or I, but they are all in one body. So tangible really isn't the word we are looking for here, because obviously I can touch them." He prodded Cherry's head with his hoof to prove his point. " It's more...that if they are self-conscious, then they are real. Of course, we can never be sure if all of them are self-conscious or if one of them is in control of all of them, but I would lean toward the former. And even if it is the latter, their personalities are different enough that they should be treated as separate phychological entities in any case." He blinked, then looked away frowning and blushed. "I...um, sorry. To have interrupted you, I mean."
Fernleaf threw a nasty look at Silver. "It was an analogy, you dingbat. You don't have to go over-analyzing it like that." Turning back to Cherry, she said "So...apology accepted?"
Raspberry's eye crossed at Silver's explanation. She then swiped a hoof over her head. "Whoosh! That's where that went. But, yeah, it's like Silver said: W're all sharing the same body, so that kinda makes us tangible. I think. Kinda. Anyway," She lightly bumped Fernleaf's hoof with her own. "Apology accepted."
Silver shrank back into his seat and ate his oatmeal. Without organizing it. Or looking at anypony else.
Sonicbeat had wached quietly after feeling rejected from Silver. She realised he seemed somewhat embarassed, pr thats how her mind comprehended it. She tried, and succedded, at saying a sentance, which was getting harder and harder. "Silver, it's okay, they just don't... Understand." She said, trying to find the right words to use. She was hoping to make a friend... Even if they were a crazy organizer.
Ms. Mellow appeared at the end of the table, her head high and her horn glowing softly. All of the plates before the ponies quickly poofed out of existence, and she stomped a hoof to the floor. "Up, my little ponies. Line up into a single line behind me." Her eyes swept over the small ponies, radiating hatred. *** Ultra winced at Ms. Mellow's hateful glare, glanced back sadly where her food once was, and hesitatingly fell into line behind her. She was beginning to think that this palace might not be all its made out to be. *** Toxic Rain patted Star Trender's head, still smiling. "If you need somepony, I'm here!" she said cheerfully. She trotted after Ultra.
Silver looked at Sonicbeat sadly. "I know. Nopony does. Not even me, really..." Suddenly the food disappeared and they were told to form a line. He looked over at Ms. Mellow, who had interrupted his thoughts, then back to Sonicbeat. "Well, we'd better listen..." he mumbled glumly.
Lemon Lime got behind Silver Shield. Ooh...Punkie and Limey sittin' in a tree... K-I-S-S-I-N-G... No, Strawberry, it's more like...B-U-C-K- "Stop it!", Lime shouted. She then glanced around as her face turned beet red and she crouched down, hoping beyond hope that no one heard her.
Silver jumped at Lemon's voice and lost his balance, bumping into a chair and knocking it over. He quickly realigned it, and then giving her a confused look, he continued walking in the line.
Ms. Mellow turned slowly, her heavy glare settling on Cherry Berry. "You.." she said, with such force that the other ponies shuddered. "You have shown such outlandish behaviour that even I cannot handle you in these first days! Your language is abominable!" Her horn glowed ominously, and a pair of ponies shimmered into view. They both were pristinely white, wearing crisp nurse outfits, and they quickly approached Cherry Berry. Before she could protest, the two ponies ushered her down a side hallway, through a door that didn't seem to be there just the moment before. The hallway quickly grew dark. Meanwhile, Ms. Mellow faced the other ponies, smiling satisfactorily. "Now I assume the rest of you will behave properly before we reach your councilors." Turning, she went back to her slow pace.
Cherry shook as the nurses took her into the dark hallway. [size=-3]"W-Where are we going?"[/size] [size=-3]"We're dead meat..."[/size] [size=-3]"Hush! It's probably some sort of detention. Nothing overly serious...right?"[/size] [size=-3]"I'm scared..."[/size] [size=-3]"It's going to be okay..."[/size] Other than the hushed conversation going on in her head, she made not a sound except for her hoofsteps on the hard tiles.
Star shook at the sight in front of her. She whimpered into her seat, making a small peep before going completley quiet, shivering.
The two nurse-like ponies trotted on either of Cherry's sides, keeping their eyes straight. They lead her down a long, dim hallway, marked with doors. They stopped at a door, which opened automatically. They nudged her inside, where it was pitch dark, and the door shut quickly behind her. Before the filly could feel the blackness pressing on her, a single lightbulb flickered on in the center of the cieling. As she blinked, adjusting her eyes, she realized she was in a room just barely bigger then she was. As she tried to turn and bumped the wall, she felt that it was soft and plush.
"Huh?" Fernleaf questioned as Cherry was taken away. "Wh- Where are they taking her?" Fernleaf whimpered as she turned to the nearest pony, being Star. "Do you know what's going on!?"
Silver stared at the doors, shocked. They were taking her away? Where?! And what did she even do?! All she said was "Stop it", which, while strange, was not disrespectful in any way HE knew of... He gulped. Maybe he should be on his very, VERY best behavior from now on... Perhaps later he would have a chance to respectfully ask Ms. Mellow where Cherry had gone. Yes, it couldn't be anywhere THAT bad...
Sonicbeat almost flew into the air and demanded to know what was going on. But she convinced herself not to... If it was bad she didn't want it to happen to her. With a sigh, she trotted behind somepony, wondering what had been going on. Maybe Fernleaf was right... All the ponies that werent alicorns or the other students looked verry... Nurselike.
A CLOSET?! THEY PUT US IN A BUCKING CLOSET?! Calm down, Mango. We probably won't be here for very long. They've already forgotten about us. No they haven't, Jelly. Strawberry Cream bounced from side to side. WHEE! This is way better than our room at home! When we get home, we should get mom and dad to cover our walls with pillows! We're in a closet, stupid. Mango! What? It's a closet. They locked us in a closet. Where they've forgotten about us. I wonder if Fernleaf is having fun? Come off it, Jelly. You come off it, Mango. YOU COME OFF IT, LIMEY! CALM DOWN! YOU CALM DOWN! I AM CALM! Cherry Berry screwed her eyes shut, then screamed as loud as she possibly could. Everypony in her head qucikly clammed up.
Fernleaf's ears perked up. What was that? She could have sworn she had just heard a distant far off screaming...almost like Cherry's voice? No, she wasn't screaming. Fernleaf pushed it out of her head under the premise that her mind had made it up as an explaination. Making up rediculous things about Cherry was not going to help anypony. All they could really do was continue on with their day. Although...their days had only just begun...
Ms. Mellow escorted the class of young fillies to what looked like a large, lush waiting room. Green plants stood in the corners, a few lounging couches spread around. A coffeetable sat low in the middle. The back wall had several decorated doors, each with a panel on the front. Ms. Mellow turned, counting the heads of the various ponies, and summoned a small checklist with a popping noise. "Silver," she called, "You are assigned to Ms. Gunpowder." She gestured with a hoof to a door on the farthest right. "Fernleaf, you are to go to Ms. Lilyliver," she announced, pointing to the next door. "Sonic, you're assigned to Mr. Chaser, and Toxic reports to Ms. Willow." She cleared her throat, eying the ponies called to hurry. "The rest of you; make yourself comfortable and wait your turns."
