"And that's how Equestria was made," Cheerilee concluded her little history lesson. She turned away from the blackboard to face the class, and was at once struck by how eerily unfamiliar the scene still felt. Ever since the board had decided to change up the groups and put her in charge of the fillies and foals who needed some 'extra attention', things had been taking a turn for the worst. She was used to seeing students off at the end of the year and welcoming new ones back in the beginning of the next, of course. But despite that, getting a new group assigned to her out of the blue just didn't feel quite right.
Especially not this group, Cheerilee thought as she gritted her teeth in pure frustration.
It became at once clear that no filly or foal in the room had actually been listening to a word she had said, as per usual. Instead Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were having a hushed conversation, while Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara seemed to be more inclined to admiring each other's jewellery instead of concentrating on the lesson at hand. In the back row, Snips and Snails were laughing at something that could only ever be amusing to the likes of them.
A smile suddenly crept onto Cheerilee's face as she noticed there was, in fact, one single filly who seemed to be paying attention.
"Oh Apple Bloom? Would you mind explaining the importance of the day-night cycle to your less attentive classmates?" Cheerilee asked as cheerfully as she could manage.
To her great surprise and even greater annoyance, Apple Bloom seemed to veer up at the mere mention of her name, looking around the room somewhat panicky. "Oh... ummm...Yea, yea I s'pose ah can... ehhmmm... lessee here now..." Apple Bloom said as she scratched her head. "Night an' day are important... Because... Because if there were only one or th'other, either Luna or Celestia would be very sad," she concluded with a smile, raising a hoof in a 'That's it, right?' gesture.
Cheerilee gritted her teeth once again. Of course. The one filly who had been paying attention hadn't understood a word she'd said.
As Cheerilee opened her mouth to formulate a chastising response, Scootaloo suddenly loudly interjected "That's stupid! Really, who could ever come up with a reason as ridiculous as that?" she pointed a hoof towards Apple Bloom.
"Ah don't see you comin' up with a better answer either. Ah bet you don't even know what you're talking about!" Apple Bloom retorted just as loudly as she crossed her hooves in front of her chest.
"Oh yeah? Why did I get a better grade on that last test then?"
"We all know you cheated!" "Did not!" "Did so!" "Did NOT!" "DID SO! "DI-"
"GIRLS!" Cheerilee shouted. "This is neither the time nor the place to hold such pointless debates! You're here to learn and pay attention. And that goes for all of you, yes you too Diamond Tiara, don't look so surprised!" She paused one moment as she met the gaze of every filly and foal in turn, as they were finally quiet for once. "I'd have thought the topic of today's class would be exceedingly interesting to young ponies who, like you all, witnessed Princess Luna's return, a major historical event that shed much light on our country's history and origins."
"Oh yeah!" Apple Bloom chimed in. "She was stuck on the moon for a thousand years, right?"
"The moon?" Scootaloo snorted. "That's impossible. Not even Rainbow Dash could fly that high! Besides, what would she eat for a thousand years? The moon doesn't exactly look grassy from where I'm standing."
At this Apple Bloom remained uncharacteristically silent, as she pondered the question. "She could just eat cheese, right? The moon's made of the stuff!"
Scootaloo rolled her eyes as she planted her own hoof against her forehead. "The moon is not made of cheese!" "Oh it is so!"
"Ehem," came a more serene voice from beside the two, as Sweetie Belle moved her head closer to the pair. "I'm sorry Apple Bloom, but I have to agree with Scootaloo here. The moon can't be made out of cheese."
