The crowded foyer fell deathly silent. Princess Luna surveyed her audience, her silent spectators and students, and drew in a long breath as she straightened her sturdy stature.

“My students, I find no use in obscuring the truth whatsoever: Crescent Island is no longer safe.”

A number in the crowd gasped. Those who tried to save their breaths merely shook their heads in shock.

Princess Luna continued, “This latest incident which you all have experienced has confirmed suspicions that there is something here that does not favor our presence.” Students began to murmur, but for a moment Luna did not raise her voice in response. Suddenly, however, her ears perked up. “I understand your confusion, my students, but I ask that you continue to listen to what I have to say. For those of you who ask how I have not foreseen such peril, I do not have an answer. This fiend, whatever it is, has mysteriously escaped my sights numerous times. Today, however, it has revealed its existence.”

Twilight caught of glimpse of her fellow Ponyville friends. Each one had been through at least one major incident on the island; the mare wondered why Luna had not yet mentioned any such occurrences.

“One matter that I must emphasize,” the headmare added, “is that the evil that lingers has no grievance against any of you in particular; it is I whom he wishes to distress. However, regardless of this resentment, he has made clear a malicious desire to harm whomever is within his reach. Due to this, I am enforcing a stronger set of security measurements.”

Amongst the murmurs and mumbles a cry erupted, “What about Celestia? Can she help?”

A white streak crossed Luna's eyes as the pale moonlight passed through her vision. She shook her head as though an anchor were tied around her neck and looked over the crowd with bitter woe.

“I do not think my sister Celestia shall be able help us. This villain, Tempest, claims to possess a strange force even I do not fully understand. Though he boasts of tremendous magical power, even the sole guardianship over this island, I cannot help but cast a shadow of doubt over such avowals. If he indeed had complete control over Crescent Island, I am sure we all would not be standing here today.

“However, I have found it suspicious to have not received word from my sister – not by spell or messenger – in the past couple of weeks. Due to my focus shifting to more immediate problems recently, I failed to continue effective communication with my sister in Canterlot.”

The student body began to erupt again, this time louder than before. Twilight could even hear her friends nearly shouting to have their voices heard by those just standing a hoof's reach away.

“What does that mean now?”

“Does she have a plan to get us out of here?”

“Why didn't Luna tell us this any sooner?”

Twilight felt a bit of panic herself. Her face began to heat up as though she were feeling embarrassment for the princess; exactly why, though, the mare could not tell. What she could make out all of a sudden were the alicorn's eyes which were lighting up again. Within seconds Twilight braced her ears for impact.

“STUDENTS!” Luna shouted, projecting her voice above the increasingly loud panic. “WE HAVE ACTED IN SUCH A MANNER IN ORDER THAT YOU ALL WOULD NOT PANIC AS YOU ARE NOW. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SITUATION APPEARS MOST DIRE, BUT BELIEVE US WHEN WE SAY THAT WE SHALL FIND A WAY OUT OF THIS QUANDARY AT ALL COSTS.”

Twilight felt her hooves shaking, though her ears took the greater portion of her attention as they reverberated like giant drums being relentlessly pounded.

Princess Luna looked over her audience once again. With a more contained tone of proclamation, she carried on. “Though I had intended for the next few days to be a break for you all, I believe it would benefit us all if you all were to resume your magic studies, if not intensify your practice and scope of spells. Sharpening your skills is the best manner in which to prepare for an emergency.”

Twilight saw a couple of her friends flinch at the thought. The mare herself was indeed anxious, yet also adrenalized by the thought of already returning to her studies. She had felt as though the spells had been rather easy to learn and execute up until that point, and that now a new door of possibilities was opening.

However, aware of the others' lack of enthusiasm, Twilight prevented herself from showing more than a ghost of a grin. Deep down, though, a certain expectancy continued to well up.

“I shall prepare an official edict for later,” Princess Luna stated. “But for now, the most important mandate which you all should follow is that exploring beyond the academy grounds is strictly prohibited.” A few in the audience grumbled – Twilight spotted Colgate rolling her eyes – but after a couple of shoves and covered mouths, most were nodding in understanding. “Furthermore, in order to amplify our security measures - which regrettably have not changed since our second week of winter - groups shall be created in order to ensure accountability.”

Twilight overheard Starlight whisper, “What ever did happen to the guards? Weren't they around in the beginning?”

“Princess Luna dismissed them after the first couple weeks,” Gallant answered just as quietly. “I think I heard that Celestia thought her sister was being too overprotective of us. That, or something was stirring in the capital. I guess they never came around to returning.”

“Whatever the case, we could sure use them now,” Quirky grumbled. “I'd rather not have to keep a close eye on each other.”

“Aw, Q, but I thought you liked spying?” Vinyl jeered.

“As if!” Quirky remarked. “I’m more worried about those of us who wander off on their own all the time.”

A number of eyes fell on Windchaser, who up until then had been grinning at their small talk. He had always found listening somewhat entertaining; that is, until the subject somehow fell on him. The chances weren't always in his favor when avoiding the spotlight.

“What?” asked the light gray stallion.

“Come on, Windchaser, we all know you’re the one who goes off alone all the time.”

The stallion shook his head and laughed. “I don't hate company.”

I just can't be around some ponies for too long, that's all.

Luna's announcement ran on, “Your groups shall be assigned by your professors according to which magic track you are currently enrolled in here at the academy. If you have not packed all of your things yet, prepare to do so now. Your groups - as well as new room assignments - shall become effective tonight.”

Windchaser remembered the small bag of winter clothes he had left in the dormitory foyer. With hardly anything packed, he was ready to go.

“Your professors shall await you in the dormitory building. Group and suite allotments shall be designated there. Once settled, please stay put until further word is received from your instructors or myself. We shall try and have a meal prepared as soon as possible. Should you observe any strange activity, do not hesitate to inform your instructors or myself. That is all for now.”

Like honey being poured from a bowl, the students gradually filed into the funnel of the glass corridor. An awkward blend of speechlessness and anticipation spread as ponies passed through, and Windchaser could feel it as he found himself caught in the crowd. Some simply had nothing to say, and so stared on as though lost in thought. Others buzzed about the new changes, either complaining or secretly expressing relief in having a chance to escape past suitemates.

Lyra, of course, was a part of the buzz.

“New suitemates?” she wailed, before suddenly perking up. “When I think about it, it's quite exciting!” Then her pace slowed down. “But now I might not be on the top floor...” Then she began hopping in place. “But now I might get to meet somepony new!”

Twilight, who was walking beside Windchaser at the moment, raised an eyebrow. “Lyra, I thought the last thing you wanted was to change rooms.”

“Well, Twilight, it’s not so uncommon that opinions can change frequently given certain circumstances.” Those within ear’s reach who knew the minty mare gave an appropriate stare. All Lyra did in turn was lift her nose and sniff. “What? If others were opening the lounge windows without asking, or even moving seats so they weren't evenly spread, you'd be annoyed from time to time too!”

Windchaser shook his head.

Typical Lyra...

“I'm glad we've got some food,” Vinyl said as her stomach grumbled loudly. “I was wonderin' if we were gonna have to resort to some crazy tactics for eating. You know, like in those stories where the main character has to eat carpet or something-”

“I'm pretty sure they have large reservoirs in case of emergency,” Twilight interrupted, uneasy. “Princess Luna is always prepared.”

“Prepared, but apparently not foreseeing,” Lyra whined. “We wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for-”

All of a sudden a heap of ponies began to stack in the hallway. One by one bodies were being pushed up off their hooves into the figure in front, forming a clog in the artery of the corridor. At the tail end was Pokey Pierce, who – unaware of his inadvertent, forceful shoving – was panting just trying to catch up to the rest of the group.

“Guys, did you hear?” Pokey blurted. “We might have to move into new rooms.”

“Yes, Pokey, we heard,” Twilight explained in her kind – or rather, tolerable – manner. “And should you really be pushing your way through this crowd when you were just in a wheelchair this morning?”

Vinyl cocked her head. “Yeah, whatever happened to all that..?”

The chatter continued on, but Windchaser was too busy overcoming his discomfort. The number of his peers cramming into the hall was suffocating. The only relief he found was in looking at the night sky laid out overhead through the glass. Though cramped within the confines of the corridor, Windchaser felt as though he were losing himself through exploring the wide open territory of the star-filled space. His mind took the expanse and released what little thoughts he could.

Before long, a hoof nudged deep into his side, causing the stallion to jump.

“Earth to Windy,” Vinyl said with a victorious grin. “I know that look like I know my vintage records. What's goin' on in that dangerous mind of yours?”

The stallion shooed his friend's poking limb away and chuckled.

“‘Dangerous’? Nothing, really.”

“Nothing? Really,” Vinyl repeated in reply. “You sure you're not thinkin' 'bout who you're gonna get stuck with in this room swap?”

That was in fact what had been at the edge of Windchaser's mind, the thing that was spinning a new strand of anxiety. He had been content with his current suitemate, though in all honesty if he saw any individual as little as he saw Cheerio – a social butterfly from Fillydelphia – he would have managed just fine.

Really, the only individual he worried about wouldn't even end up in his room.

She could be in my group, though.

“It's crossed my mind,” Windchaser admitted after a pause.

“Knowing you, it won't be an issue,” Starlight said as he was pushed along by Pokey, who was still unaware of the disoriented bodies he was pushing along. “I wonder, though, if we're getting put into groups, do you suppose they'll try and put us with ponies we know?”

“Makes sense to me,” Vinyl said. “Stick the peas of similar green in the same pod, ya know? Whaddaya think, Windy?”

“Doesn't matter to me.”

“Aw, no love for your Ponyville sibbies?” Vinyl laughed. “Whatever, we'll see. I wonder, though, is there any pony that could drive you insane? I feel like you're the most low-key, quiet stallion I've ever met, though not the most harmless...”

Windchaser narrowed his eyes.

Vinyl laughed. “Ho ho ho, I know that look! You've got somepony in mind.”

Windchaser tried to wipe the serious expression from his face, but Vinyl's pointing it out only made matters worse. Soon Starlight's eyes were shooting open as the two stared at him like hungry pets awaiting a treat.

The gray stallion rolled his eyes. “I'd rather not risk it.”

“Aw, come on, it's not like Lyra's listening or anything,” Vinyl joked.

“Indeed I'm not!” came the voice of the minty mare from behind. The three shut up rather quickly; Windchaser let out a sigh of relief.

Saved by the ‘belle’.

Time passed ever so slowly until the assembly made their way into more spacious quarters. In the middle of the foyer stood the three professors, back-to-back, each holding a checklist and quill in the air with their magic. Student after student they searched for names, told of groups, and directed bodies to their respective rooms. Windchaser thought it similar to his mother’s descriptions of her first day at flight camp.

Windchaser waited until the crowds thinned out. He preferred not pushing his way through lines and had the patience to wait a great deal longer than most, whereas Vinyl and Starlight had made their way to their respective professors within seconds. When orderly lines began to form, he swiftly joined and found his mind occupied with worry.

What are the chances? The professor probably thinks that we’re ‘familiar’, but only because she’s forced us to be...

From time to time Windchaser could hear the names and details being read off clearer and clearer as he drew closer to the front. How the instructors had come up with their lists in such a short time, Windchaser wasn't quite sure. If anything, he was utterly impressed, but he also had his concerns. With a mother famous for racing, he of all ponies had been taught that sometimes speed comes at the cost of accuracy.

In this case, choosing groups quickly may have left poor placement.

“Mister Windchaser. Are you feeling well?” came a voice.

Windchaser snapped out of his daydream and found himself face-to-face with Doctor Marie, his professor.

“Yes, thank you,” he answered, quickly gathering himself.

So long as she's not in my group...

“Let's see, I have you staying in your current room,” Doctor Marie stated. “Lucky you, hmm? Your roommate now is Mister Seven Seas. I believe I sent him to the room already. He’s quite the character.”

“And my group?” Windchaser asked, then paused, surprised by the blip of anxiety that was rather atypical of himself to express.

Doctor Marie looked over the list. “Keep in mind that we tried to keep students more familiar with one another in the same collection.”

Oh no.

“Seems reasonable,” was all Windchaser said.

“Besides Seven Seas, let's see, I have you down with Miss Vinyl Scratch...”

Oh, that kind of familiar!

“...Miss Lemon Hearts...”

That’s all righ- wait...

“...and Miss Bonfire.”

Windchaser's blank expression remained, but beneath the facade was a terrible frown carved solid onto a frozen face.

“You'd best be on your way, then,” Doctor Marie suggested, waving him to the side. “Dinner should be ready sometime soon. Try and relax this evening; you’ve been through a lot.”

Windchaser nodded his thanks and started towards his room. The farther he walked away, however, the more his content appearance faded, teeth grinding and eyebrows furrowing.

I think I'm about to go through a lot worse starting tonight.

Next Chapter: Chapter 37 (Episode 10): Revisiting Past Annoyances Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 16 Minutes