"Alright fillies and colts, let's settle down." Cheerilee had only to raise her voice a little to catch the attention of the rambunctious class of young stallions and mares. Despite most of them being nearly adults, the past several years of spending the better part of every weekday under Miss Cheerilee's firm discipline had conditioned them to obey her despite their newfound rebellious streaks. Almost immediately, the din of conversation died down as the young ponies meandered back to their seats, some of them intentionally waiting until the last possible moment before sitting down as Cheerilee made her way to her desk and set her saddlebags down on it. "I know it's hard to come back from a long break like Hearth's Warming, but we've still got a lot of material to cover before the final test this summer, so we're going to need to focus, study hard, and not talk when I'm speaking, Miss Tiara."

The magenta schoolteacher glared in the pink earth pony's direction, meeting her eyes with determination as the younger mare contemplated brushing her off. A few tense moments later, Diamond Tiara sighed heavily and turned back around in her seat, breaking off her conversation with the slate grey bespectacled filly sitting behind her. Cheerilee chose to ignore her angry pout as she continued speaking. "As I was saying, we have a great deal of work ahead of us, as for many of you, this will be your final season of primary schooling before you all take your place in the adult world, get jobs, and let your special talents shine brightly for the world to see!" She beamed at the collected ponies, most of whom reacted with ennui, or simply rolled their eyes.

A sherbet-orange filly with a shock of unkempt violet hair was in the latter group, and barely managed to suppress a groan at the saccharine sentiment. Cheerilee was undaunted by their lack of enthusiasm. "To that end, in addition to your normal schoolwork, I will be assigning a project that you will each have to complete in pairs. You will spend the entirety of the Spring season working on the project, and it will account for a rather substantial portion of your final marks. Unlike many other group activities you have done in the past, I will be pairing you up myself, and giving each pair a specific project to work on. My hope is that you will take the opportunity to explore and excel in areas you may not have any experience in, and thereby learn something new about yourselves." She paused as she glanced over at Scootaloo's raised hoof with skepticism. "Yes, Miss Scratch-Philharmonica?"

"What if there's nothing to learn about yourself? Like, say, if your 'special talent' is just being a spoiled bitch?" She casually glanced in Diamond Tiara's direction, smirking as the earth pony glared daggers back at her and the rest of the class tittered quietly at the insult.

"That's uncalled for, Miss Scratch, and you know it. See me after class today."

The pegasus shrugged with feigned nonchalance. "Just asking."

Cheerilee sighed and shook her head as she looked over and saw another hoof raised. She contemplated telling its owner to put it down and keep her comments to herself, but decided that because it was Silver Spoon, and not Diamond Tiara, there was a chance the question would be genuine. "Yes, Miss Spoon?"

"Are our grades going to take our partner into consideration?"

The schoolteacher hesitated, wondering how the young mare could make this into a personal affront. "Well...there will be a personal element to the grading, but yes, I suppose if there's a good reason, I might consider how your partner may have impacted the final product."

Silver Spoon nodded, satisfied. "Good. You hear that, Scratchy-Harmonica? Your idiotic laziness won't be ruining anyone's grade but your own."

The class giggled again, slightly more loudly this time. Cheerilee's eyes narrowed at the grey filly, but before she could speak, Scootaloo sat up in her chair and retorted, "I dunno why you're worried about my grade. You should be worrying about who your partner's going to be. You know she's not going to set you up with your leash-holder this time, right?"

"Miss Scratch! That is quite--"

"Oh yeah?" Silver Spoon interrupted the teacher, her cheeks flushing. "Aren't you worried about having to work without your little fillyfriends? Who's going to do all the work while you stare at their flank if not Sweetie Belle?"

"Enough!" Cheerilee snapped as Scootaloo's mouth fell open in shock and she stole a momentary glance at a wide-eyed, pink-cheeked Sweetie Belle sitting next to her. The ivory unicorn looked nervously back at her, but neither had an opportunity to speak before Cheerilee said, "That is enough out of both of you. Silver Spoon, I am extremely disappointed in your behavior."

"But she--"

"But nothing!' the magenta earth pony cut her off, her eyes glinting. "Both of you will see me after class, and I will be writing to both of your parents. Scootaloo, I know for a fact that your mother does not approve of this sort of behavior."

"Which one?" Diamond Tiara muttered under her breath.

Cheerilee turned her sizzling gaze to the roseate young pony, who shied away under the intense stare. "Careful, Miss Tiara, or you will be joining them." She looked back at the rest of the class, all of whom had rather forgotten any amusement from the exchange. "If no one else has any clever remarks to make, perhaps we can all remember how to act our age and open our books to chapter twenty-six." There was a flurry of movement as the entire class dove for their texts, not wanting to test the irate teacher's patience any further. Scootaloo and Silver Spoon shot one last detesting look across the room at one another before opening their books and joining the rest of the class in their studying.

"I don't know what to say," Miss Cheerilee huffed as she looked across her desk at the two young mares standing as far away from one another as they could on the other side. "We are one season away from graduation and the two of you are still acting like children!"

"But Miss Cheer--"

"Quiet!" Silver Spoon's complaint was immediately silenced as Cheerilee snapped at her, eyes glittering with anger. "I've had enough of the two of you! I've come to expect this sort of behavior from Diamond Tiara, but you're supposed to be one of my star pupils, Silver Spoon. Whatever happened to the sweet little filly who always had good questions, perfect attendance, and proper manners?" Silver Spoon looked away, an odd mix of defiance and shame crossing her face. "And you, Scootaloo!" the teacher said, turning to the orange pegasus. "This is the last straw. You're one of my smartest students, but you never apply yourself. If you would put even the least effort into anything, you could be extraordinary!" Scootaloo also looked away, her forced expression of careless boredom not quite masking the guilt tracing across her brow.

Cheerilee sighed, her voice softening as she continued. "Honest to Celestia, I'm at the end of my rope. I can't waste class time holding your hooves while you learn to be mature adults. After giving it a lot of thought, I've decided there's only one solution: I want the two of you to work together on the final project."

There was a moment of stunned silence before Scootaloo suddenly burst out laughing. "Are you kidding? I can't work with her!"

Cheerilee was stoic. "You can...and you will. I won't tell you what to do the project on, but you will do it together."

The orange filly snorted derisively. "Great. Looks like we'll both be getting zeroes on it, then."

"That's not fair!" Silver Spoon squealed in protest. "Miss Cheerilee, I don't want to get a zero just because she's a lazy, selfish mule!"

"Then you will have to find a way to work with her, won't you?" Before Silver Spoon could argue further, Cheerilee turned back to Scootaloo. "And lest you think you can ruin Silver Spoon's grade just because you're getting good marks, this project is going to be pass/fail for you, Miss Scratch-Philharmonica, and it better be your best work, because if it isn't done to my satisfaction, I will fail it, and you, for the entire year." Scootaloo's eyes widened suddenly, and her mouth fell open in shock. Cheerilee nodded grimly at the reaction. "I don't think I need to explain to you what that would mean, do I?"

Silver Spoon glanced between them, wearing an expression of vague confusion. Scootaloo ignored her, the brusque facade crumbling slowly. "Miss Cheerilee, you can't...you wouldn't...if I fail, I--"

"I know exactly what happens, Scootaloo. Don't think that will stop me from doing it."

Real panic started to creep into her voice. "My mothers...they won't let you! They'll--"

"I have spoken to your mothers a number of times in the past several months," Cheerilee interrupted her, still maintaining a sense of control and dignity, "and I assure you that not only will they let me, they have encouraged this course of action."

Scootaloo blanched. "Encouraged?"

Cheerilee nodded. "Yes. They are as concerned as I am about your lack of focus and sincerity, and frankly, it was your mother, Octavia, who suggested this particular course of action." Her voice softened slightly as Scootaloo's face fell into a hurt expression. "Look, Scootaloo, this isn't a punishment. We're just worried about you. You're so smart, and so ambitious, and you could go so far, if only you would--"

"I get it!" Scootaloo suddenly shouted, tossing her head in frustration. Her short mane whipped through the air smartly, falling into a completely new, but equally untidy thatch. "I'm a screwup loser who could do anything if I wanted to, but I'm just not applying myself, right?"

"No, Scootaloo, you aren't--"

"Great! I get it! Thanks a lot, Miss Cheerilee!" Her eyes glittering with unshed tears of anger, the young mare suddenly turned on her hoof and stomped out of the schoolhouse, her wings flared defiantly as she ignored Cheerilee's repeated shouts for her to return.

"Scootaloo!" Cheerilee winced as the door slammed, echoing loudly in the mostly-empty classroom. She sighed and settled back behind her desk.

Silver Spoon looked awkwardly between the door and the teacher, who was now rubbing her temples with her hooves and staring glumly at her desktop. "Um...do we still have to..."

"Yes," Cheerilee said, looking up at the grey filly. "You and Scootaloo are still working together on the project. You'll have until the last week of classes to work on it, and since you're both extremely smart, I expect it to be excellent. No excuses."

"But what if Scootaloo doesn't want to work with me?" She didn't add the converse, but Cheerilee could see it in her expression just the same.

"Well, you'll just have to convince her to, now won't you? Oh, don't give me that look," she added, rolling her eyes in exasperation. "Scootaloo is stubborn, I know, but if you really put your mind to it, I bet you could find a way to get her to come around."

"But what if I can't?"

"You can."

"But--"

"Silver!" Cheerilee interrupted her firmly. "Look, I know you're worried about your grade, and I know you think Scootaloo is going to ruin it for you, but trust me, you'll be okay. She'll come around, I promise. And if she doesn't," Cheerilee continued, staving off another interruption, "let me know. We'll find a way to work it out. Just do your best, alright?"

Silver Spoon sighed and let her gaze slide to the floor dejectedly. "Alright, Miss Cheerilee." A moment of silence passed before she looked up from under her bangs. "What did you want us to do the project on?"

Cheerilee shrugged. "Well, unlike the rest of the groups I have in mind, I think the two of you would be best off if I let you decide for yourselves what to do. Talk to Scootaloo about it, I'm sure she has some interesting ideas that you of all ponies would probably be eager to work on with her."

"Why me?" Silver Spoon asked suspiciously.

Cheerilee simply smiled and shook her head. "You'll have to ask Scootaloo."

The grey filly sighed heavily and nodded. "Yeah, I'll get right on that," she said, her voice flat and humorless. Without any further discussion, she turned and plodded out of the front of the schoolhouse, lightly kicking the door closed behind her.

Outside, Scootaloo found her friends waiting for her at the edge of the yard, Sweetie Belle humming quietly to herself as she watched Apple Bloom absently examining the rough-hewn wooden fencing encircling the area. Even from a distance, their cutie marks were easily visible, the swooping lavender musical note that adorned Sweetie's flank standing in stark contrast against her brilliant ivory coat, much as the crossed hammer and saw on Apple Bloom's stood out on her buttercup flank. Scootaloo's cutie mark was less obviously visible, but she figured it was so, well, cool that it didn't really matter. The flaming tire riding across her flank from the base of her tail to the front of her leg was mostly the same color as her mane and coat, a mix of oranges, reds, and magentas, except for the black of the tire itself, and was easily mistaken from a distance. Still, up close it was easy to see what it was, and anyone who knew her agreed it fit her and her special talent perfectly.

Sweetie Belle noticed her first, and Scootaloo noticed a flash of awkward discomfort cross her face before it was supplanted by a grin that was a bit too wide to be entirely genuine. "Oh, hey Scoots! How did it go? Detention again?"

Scootaloo shook her head, "No, although I'd rather be in detention than have to work with that...that...airhead!" This seemed to Scootaloo an entirely insufficient epithet to describe Silver Spoon, but she was too incensed and frustrated to think of something stronger.

"What do you mean?" Sweetie Belle asked. Scootaloo filled them in on the details of her partnership with Silver Spoon. They were appropriately appalled at the idea.

Apple Bloom stopped staring at the slats of the fence and shook her head at Scootaloo. "What is Miss Cheerilee thinking? How're you supposed to work with that lazy wannabe? She's not exactly the smartest filly in the class, you know."

"Yeah, I know," Scootaloo groaned. Grades weren't supposed to be common knowledge among the students, but it didn't take a genius to figure out what Silver Spoon's habit of asking simple, obvious questions and being the last to leave the classroom every test day meant. "And you know what's worse?" Her friends indicated that they did not. "She says my MOM was the one who suggested it to her!"

"What?!" Sweetie Belle's voice cracked in indignation at this revelation. "You're kidding! Why?"

Scootaloo shrugged. "I dunno. I don't really care, either," she said. This was not entirely true, she admitted silently, but she'd rather be banished to the moon for a thousand years than admit she was genuinely upset by this betrayal. "All I care about is passing this stupid year so I can get the heck out of here and never have to see Silver Spoon or Diamond Tiara's stupid faces ever again."

"Can you just...you know...not do the project?" Apple Bloom asked, a hint of sly malice in her eyes. "I mean, your grades are pretty good, right? And if Spoon failed..."

Scootaloo shook her head glumly. "No, I can't. Miss Cheerilee says she'll fail me for the whole year if I don't ace the project."

"That's not fair! You've got like 100%, don't you?"

Scootaloo smirked. "Maybe. Anyway, it doesn't matter if it's fair--Nightmare Moon in there has it out for me. Did you see how she jumped straight to 'See me after class' when I raised my hoof?"

Apple Bloom looked away uncomfortably and Sweetie Belle frowned. "Well, you were being kind of rude..."

"So? She didn't do anything to Silver Spoon until she started insulting you, Sweetie Belle."

"Well, technically she was still insulting you."

"Yeah, but she said I just let you do all the work and stared at your flank the whole time, which I don't," she added with a hair more intensity than was necessary.

"I know," Sweetie Belle said, her cheeks turning pink again as she looked away.

"Seriously," Scootaloo continued vehemently. "I'm not like that. I'm not my mothers."

"We know, Scootaloo," Apple Bloom soothed with a hint of exasperation. "You've said so before."

"Just making it clear." The pegasus tossed her mane defiantly again and then sat back on her haunches heavily.

An awkward moment passed before Apple Bloom spoke again. "So...what're you gonna do?"

Scootaloo shrugged. "I dunno." She sighed. "Come on, girls, let's get out of here." She got up and took off towards the town square, trailing her friends behind her.