The weekend came and went for the students of the Ponyville Foalhood Education Center. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle spent their weekend at home, being too exhausted to do anything else. Apple Bloom especially couldn't do anything Crusading with the chores that needed to be done at her home.

The rest of the Crusaders studied the magical gemstones with the help of Twilight Sparkle over the weekend. While the founding members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders emphasized the need to try new things for one's Cutie Mark to the point where they never did the same thing twice in a Crusade, the others were happy to take their time with their Crusades and were more concerned about having fun and spending time with their friends.

The Crusaders sans the founding members, weren't too sure what to think about their new honorary member however. Noblesse Oblige, while not hostile, wasn't very welcoming either. He was more than happy to spend time with the other Crusaders, but was cold and distant. They didn't know if he had trouble interacting with other Ponies or if they needed to do more themselves to interact with metal colored colt, this was a problem that Rumble and Pipsqueak in particular wanted to solve.

Noblesse on the other hoof, was enjoying the Crusades he was apart of. While he wouldn't say he was friends with the other Crusaders like he was with the founding members, he could do more than tolerate their presence.

The foals streamed into the school building on Monday and took their seats as usual. While there were no seating arrangements that dictated who sat where, everypony had their own chosen spots. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle always sat next to each other close to the center of the room. Diamond Tiara sat in the front row of the seats with Silver Spoon directly behind her. Pipsqueak, being as short as he is, had to sit up front and placed himself next to the window. The left most column of seats was a new addition needed for the class's new students. Noblesse sat in the second seat from the back and Rumble sat in the very front.

The class bell rang bringing everypony's attention to Cheerilee and the famous lavender Unicorn next to her.

“Good morning class,” Said Cheerilee in a sing-song voice, “Before we begin, I need to introduce a new addition to the class!”

Cheerilee gave the class a moment to talk among themselves. Cheerilee usually made a point of telling the class when they would be getting a new student, of course, they didn't realize that the 'new addition' was already in the room with them.

Cheerilee tapped her ruler against the chalkboard to get the class's attention once again, “Class, I would like to introduce you to my new teacher's assistant: Ms. Twilight Sparkle.”

“Hello everypony,” Said Twilight at her cue, “There's no reason to call me 'Miss,' my name will do just fine.”

The class talked excitedly amongst themselves once again, with two noticeable exceptions.

Diamond Tiara raised her nose into the air while Silver Spoon slumped in her seat. Twilight was unfortunately familiar with the two spoiled brats. Their first time at her library was also their last. These runts had mocked the other foals who came to her for help, insulted Spike, and worst of all, wrote in her books! After that, Twilight explicitly banned the two from entering her library and made sure their legal guardians understood why. Filthy Rich had punished his daughter and niece and had even offered to replace Twilight's defiled books. Safe to say that Twilight wasn't exactly their biggest fan.

“Alright everypony,” Said Twilight happily, “Open your math books to page...”

The bell rang to let the class out for recess. Today's lesson was much easier to comprehend than the lesson on last Friday.

“Rumble,” the light gray colt stopped short of the door as he heard the teacher's voice, “Twilight and I would like to talk to you about something before you go out to recess today.”

Rumble turned around to face Cheerilee and Twilight and saw the serious expressions on their faces, “Is something wrong?”

Twilight nodded her head in affirmation, “Yes, but it's nothing you could have helped.”

“Twilight and I are aware that you transferred here after graduating Cloudsdale Fight School,” Said Cheerilee.

“Is that a problem?” Asked Rumble.

“You see Rumble,” Cheerilee started to explain, “Schools like that mostly concentrate on a single subject, in this case Weather Manipulation and Physical Education, this means that you're behind the rest of the class in academia.”

Twilight was the first to noticed Rumble's worried expression and softened the look on her face, “If you're willing to spend some time after school, and maybe even during recess, Ms. Cheerilee and I would be more than happy to help study so you don't stay behind the rest of the class.”

Rumble's worries went away as he realized that he wasn't in trouble, at least not the in since he thought at first, “Oh, thank you. I would like that, I think?”

Cheerilee smiled softly, “You're excused for recess.”

Rumble nodded his head and went out the door.

“Do you think he even knows what studying is?” Asked Twilight as she turned to face Cheerilee.

Cheerilee chuckled, “At least in concept,” The two mares started laughing as they gathered worksheets to grade during recess.

“What should we do today Di?” Asked Silver Spoon.

“Ugh, I don't know for once,” Replied Diamond Tiara.

Silver Spoon readjusted her glasses as she looked around the playground, “Well, unless we want to chase the others away from the playground equipment, we could play on the slide, again.”

Diamond Tiara gave an exaggerated sigh to emphasize how bored she was, “We did that all recess yesterday, but I really don't feel like messing with just anypony.”

Silver Spoon's gaze on a particular group of classmates, “Whats going on over there?”

Diamond Tiara traced her cousin's gaze back to the schoolhouse as she saw all of the Cutie Mark Crusaders in attendance gathered around the door, all except for one notable exception who was just now getting out of class.

“Why is Filly Face only now getting out of class?” Asked Diamond Tiara.

“Maybe if we taunt her enough, we can get some dirt,” Said Silver Spoon excitedly.

Diamond Tiara nodded her head enthusiastically at Silver Spoon's suggestion. Though it was rare for Silver Spoon to bully their classmates as much as Diamond Tiara did, Silver Spoon was usually the mastermind behind all of their put-downs.

The infamous duo started making their way to the equally infamous group for their daily dose of fun.

“Hello Rumble,” Said Noblesse as the effeminate colt exited the building.

Rumble gave a yelp of surprise at hearing Noblesse's voice almost directly in his ear. Rumble looked around to see all of his friends sans Ruby and Dinky as well as Noblesse and the founding members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders sitting around the entrance to the schoolhouse.

“Looks like I owe'st thou four bits, Scootaloo,” Said Noblesse plainly, “I apologize, twas not mine intent to frighten thou.”

“Uhh, it's fine,” Rumble was close enough to Noblesse to notice how his pupils grew in length into form vertical slits, though you wouldn't notice it at a distance, “But what are you all doing here?”

“We wanted to check up on yah,” Explained Apple Bloom, “It ain't anthin' bahd, right?”

Rumble sat in silence for a moment as he deciphered Apple Bloom's accented speech, “Nah, Ms. Cheerilee and Twilight were just letting me know that I can go to them for extra studying sessions.”

“Awww, it's nothing juicy,” Said a familiar haughty voice from behind the group.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders turned around to see their usual tormentors: Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

“Cheer up Di,” Said Silver Spoon patting her cousin's back, “He's still a filly faced blank flank.”

Rumble scoffed at their petty insults, the elitists in Cloudsdale were worse by leaps and bounds, “Is that all you've got?” Asked Rumble, more insulted at how they actually thought their words would be considered offensive as opposed to the words themselves.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon looked at each other with surprised looks on their faces. Ponies had talked back to them, but never had they fought back like this.

“Whats wrong?” Asked Noblesse with a tone of voice that was either sarcasm or actual concern, no one within earshot could tell which, “Doth thou know'st not how to deal with pray that does more than squirm at your feet?”

Noblesse's exact words and his tone of voice sent shivers down everypony's spines, none more so than Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon thanks to the harsh glare the pair were receiving from the iron colored colt.

It was Diamond Tiara who first found her voice, but could not keep it steady, “W-what d-do you know?” Diamond Tiara was actually too scared to think of insults quickly, “Y-you worthless, ugly, freak!”

Diamond Tiara's voice had brought nearby foals to their attention.

“Ugly?” Asked Noblesse rhetorically, “I find that few can keep their eyes off of my unique appearance, and that it is you two whom others shy away from in disgust.”

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon flinched hard. It was true however. Ponies usually kept away from the pair despite their natural beauty, their words and reputation kept most away however. The pair of bullies knew this, but treacherous voices in the back of their minds said otherwise.

Silver Spoon's anger overcame her instinctual fear as she also found her voice, “At least our parents actually love us! I bet the mare that adopted you only did so out of pity!”

Several of the foals were about to speak in Noblesse's defense. Even Cheerilee and Twilight, who were listening through the closed door, were about to intervene when Noblesse spoke, “You're point?”

Everypony who heard him speak froze then and there, “W-what?”

The expected reaction to such an accusation would be to vehemently deny it, to viciously attack whoever so much as suggested such a thing, to run away crying trying your hardest to refute it, most certainly not treat it like it were a given fact.

Noblesse gave a smile that was simultaneously soft and cold, “Captain Top Priority did adopt me out of pity. She took a cold, starving, and uneducated colt out of the streets, and into the most luxurious place in Equestria with best education possible. I couldn't care less if anyone loves me or not, I'm set for life. And if I get lonely, I could easily hustle someone's love for myself.”

Everypony was horrified that someone could even think this. Even the Ponies who knew that this was just a cover story, were still horrified by how convincingly Noblesse told this tale. If they didn't know better, the Ponies in the know would think that this actually fit into his philosophy.

Noblesse slapped Diamond Tiara in the face with his tail as he left laughing. Noblesse walked sedately to the tree where the Crusaders usually hung out and climbed to the branch he usually rested in during recess while everyone decided what they wanted to do. The Ponies who were still watching the metal colored Unicorn were shocked to see how he climbed the tree.

Noblesse's entire body seemed to go limp all at once. Then, when his stomach hit the ground, Noblesse became an iron gray blur that up and around the bark of the tree and stopped in his tree branch. His friends were used to this by now, but the Ponies who didn't keep their eyes on him were absolutely shocked.

Legal Procedure walked into the throne room of the Canterlot Palace to answer the Sun Princess's summons. Upon noticing her rival, Celestia sent everyone who wasn't a guard out of the room so they could talk in private.

Legalese trotted cheerfully to Celestia's throne and bowed politely, “Hello grandma♪”

Before Celestia could respond, one of the guards at the foot of her throne raised his voice, “How dare you address Her Radiance in such an insulting manor!”

Legalese gave the guard a glare so harsh that it could have peeled coats of paint, “Listen here you worthless toad, my grandfather was Celestia's eighth husband. So I think that I know better how to address my grandmother, than some primary school dropout that just barely passed the academy exam.”

Legalese gave an annoyed sigh as she turned her head to once again face her grandmother, “How can I help you today grandma?” She just as cheerfully as she said hi.

Celestia needed a few moments to get control of her mirth over the look on her usually stoney guards.

Celestia wiped a tear from her eye before she spoke, “I need to talk to you about your cousin.”

Legalese tilted her head, “Which one?”

“Noblesse Oblige,” Celestia said plainly.

Legalese flinched slightly and her happy demeanor faded, “What about him?”

Celestia frowned at her granddaughter's reaction, “Do you think he's... dangerous?”

Legalese facehoofed and sighed. This obviously wasn't the first time somepony had spoken to her about this topic.

“No,” Answered Legalese, trying her best to keep the anger from her voice, “He is not a danger to anyone, until you give him a reason to be.”

Celestia was about to continue her questioning, but Legalese wasn't done, “He had nothing to do with the disappearances around Canterlot, I should also point out that those Ponies were last seen around the labyrinthine Crystal Caverns. Noblesse is not a serial killer, he is not a monster, and he is not a danger to society.”

Celestia gave the young mare in front of her a few moments to calm down before speaking again, “This isn't the first time someone has talked to you about Noblesse is it?”

Legalese sighed, “No, no it isn't.”

Celestia thought about how to phrase her next question for a moment, “What kind of person do you think Noblesse is?”

“There are two words that summarizes Noblesse Oblige in general,” Answered Legalese plainly, “'Pragmatic' and 'curious,' its why he has so many problems with his emotions.”

Celestia leaned back in her throne, “The populations of the creatures in the Everfree Forest has remained stagnant when they should be increasing drastically, do you think Noblesse has anything to do with this?”

Legalese scoffed, “Oh, I know he does.”

Celestia was taken back by her answer, “What do you suppose he's doing with them?”

This time, it was Legalese who needed time to think about how to phrase her words, “Research.”

“Too what end?” Asked Celestia more desperately than she meant to.

“Noblesse doesn't believe in the concept of 'Forbidden Knowledge,'” Replied Legalese, “He probably wants to study their anatomy and publish his findings for the public.”

Legalese's words confirmed some of Celestia's suspicions. From what Celestia could gather, Noblesse was somewhat like Starswirl the Bearded. Going out of his way to learn new things only to teach whatever he discovered. This means that Noblesse is indirectly dangerous, which will make him harder to deal with.

“If Noblesse were too be a danger to society, in what way do you think he would be dangerous?”

Celestia almost flinched at the glare her granddaughter was giving her, “The most dangerous thing he would do, assuming that no one attacks him, would be uncovering dangerous knowledge and sharing it without second thought as to who he was teaching.”

Legalese spoke again before Celestia could, “If you will excuse me, I have to get packing,” Legalese turned around without taking steps backwards, as was considered polite, and lashed her tail at Celestia in agitation, another rude gesture, and left the throne room.