“That was a little harsh, don't you think?” Asked Rumble looking up at his friend.

“Considering that she has been constantly hounding everypony on their insecurities and abusing her family's wealth and modicum of power to meet that end, I'd say it's just desserts,” Replied Noblesse Oblige with a casual tone of voice.

“Cheers to that mate,” Pipsqueak agreed vocally.

“Aren't you afraid of what she'll do for the sake of revenge?” Asked Rumble. While he, like everypony else present, didn't care about what Diamond Tiara or Silver Spoon, he did worry about what lengths the two would go to to hurt others. Especially if someone hurt them.

“Not really,” Said Noblesse, “They are legally adults and I am legally a child, their Noble Rank also makes them more vulnerable to the law than the rest of us. I also live on what is considered to be 'Royal Property,' I won't bore you with the details, but any crime committed on Royal Property is considered an act of treason. Also, their words can't hurt me.”

Despite the confident tone Noblesse spoke with, Pipsqueak and Rumble weren't so sure. Of course, they weren't aware that the colt they were speaking to was actual royalty.

“What is everypony doing after school today?” Asked Noblesse.

“Rarity said that she would start teaching me how to sew today, so I'll be preoccupied with that today,” Said Sweetie Belle.

“Rainbow Dash is giving me flying lessons!” Said Scootaloo excitedly.

“Me mum and dad are goin' to need 'elp settin' our place up for the family that's movin' in with us,” Said Pipsqueak displaying mixed feelings about the matter.

“Wait!” Exclaimed Apple Bloom worriedly, “Ya'll have plans fer today?”

“Were you hoping to Crusade today?” Asked Noblesse.

“No,” Replied Apple Bloom, eliciting surprised looks from her friends, “I agreed to foalsit for the Cakes today, 'nd I was hopin' to have sum halp.”

“I don't have any plans for today,” Said Rumble, “I would be happy to help you.”

“I'd appreciate that Rumble,” Said Apple Bloom, relieved that she wouldn't have to look after two foals that were still going through magical surges.

“Would you like to come with us?” Asked Apple Bloom addressing Noblesse.

“I would consider it,” Said Noblesse, “But I doubt the Cakes would particularly want me around their children.”

Apple Bloom opened her mouth to argue against that statement, but realized it was probably true. Even if they didn't care about Noblesse's appearance, they still have a business to run. Not to mention that the way the town treated Zecora once upon a time, meant that Noblesse wouldn't be particularly welcomed. And letting one's children, especially infants, around someone perceived as a monster could damage their reputation.

“That was cold,” Said Cheerilee.

“No kidding,” Replied Twilight Sparkle.

The two mares had overheard Noblesse Oblige dealing with Diamond Tiara. Namely Noblesse throwing her every taunt back into her face.

“Hey Cheerilee, need to ask you a question.”

“Oh, what is it deary?” Asked Cheerilee.

“I've noticed Diamond Tiara's sour attitude, and how you do nothing about it,” Said the lavender Unicorn bluntly, “And I was wondering why that is.”

Cheerilee sighed, “Diamond Tiara's father, Filthy Rich, is the Baron of Ponyville. His rank gives his family special privileges that protects him and his family. And if that wasn't bad enough, her mother is the head of the School Board. So there's no way I can get rid of those two.”

“Speaking of those two,” Started Twilight Sparkle, “Who are Silver Spoon's parents? I always see her with Diamond Tiara, but I have never seen anyone that could be her parents.”

“I'm not sure about her mother,” Started Cheerilee, “But her father is Gilded Chalice: the Margrave of Manehattan Crescent, and for whatever reason he sent his daughter to live with his sister. That sister being Spoiled Rich.”

Twilight paused at the mention of Gilded Chalice. In the last few years of her stay at Canterlot, Celestia often raved about how much she loathed Gilded Chalice. He was known for constantly insulting other nobles to the point where they challenged him to duels. As the one being challenged, Gilded Chalice got to decide the Rules of Engagement, and it always ended in death. Gilded Chalice always demanded the same thing as reparations, land and titles, and Gilded Chalice currently counted over a third of Equestria in his family's holdings because of his duels.

“Hey Twilight?”

Cheerilee's voice brought Twilight out of her thoughts and back into reality, “Hm?”

“Are you okay?” Cheerilee knew Twilight by reputation of course, but didn't know her well enough to know that she often stared off into space when thinking about something.

Twilight nodded her head, “I'm fine Cheerilee, just got caught in my thoughts.”

Cheerilee turned her to look out the window, specifically at the tree where the Cutie Mark Crusaders typically gather, “At least he's making some progress.”

Twilight traced her new boss's gaze, “Yeah, he hit off instantly with Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle.”

“Really?” Asked Cheerilee. Cheerilee started to giggle at her thoughts, “I can only imagine how Applejack and Rarity reacted.”

Twilight smiled, “When we were called to Canterlot, Celestia specifically asked for those three.”

“Why?” Asked Cheerilee.

“Apple Bloom was the one who first accepted Zecora, and Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had trouble with things Pegasi and Unicorns typically don't,” Explained Twilight, “If anyone was going to befriend that colt, it was them.”

“Huh, I can certainly see where her majesty was coming fr- Oh dear!” Cheerilee immediately went out the door.

Twilight looked out the window to see a couple of new things. One: Noblesse was no longer in the tree. Two: some other students were at the tree, and many of them looked scared.

Twilight decided to follow Cheerilee out the door.

“So, what are we going to do today?” Asked Noblesse.

Everypony down below started looking around to see what their classmates were doing.

Sweetie Belle was the first to spot something appealing, “They're playing Kick Ball over there!”

Noblesse started to trace Sweetie's hoof, “Over whe-” Noblesse would've finished his question if a rubber ball hadn't hit him right in the eye.

The ball didn't hit him very hard, but Noblesse wasn't expecting it. And thus, he fell out of the tree branch and landed hard on his side, specifically his shoulder. Noblesse's 'graceful' landing came with a sickening pop.

The foals that were playing Kick Ball ran over to get their ball when they realized they hit somepony. A dark blue Pegasus filly with a bow and arrow Cutie Mark came closer than most of her friends, “Oh gosh! Are you oh-kaay...” She stopped in fear when she realized who she had hit with her ball.

Noblesse got up on his haunches. Everypony could see that the leg he landed on was clearly limp. There had been enough accidents on Sweet Apple Acres for Apple Bloom to know that Noblesse's shoulder was dislocated, though that's not what caught everypony's eye.

The place around Noblesse's right eye and left shoulder were completely bald. That in of itself was unusual as blunt impacts shouldn't be able to shave sections of a Pony's body, but what horrified everypony was not the loss of hair, but what was underneath. A Pony's skin was supposed to be a light brown similar to chestnuts, not sheet white. And to everypony's shock, Noblesse's veins were very visible through his skin and were an unnatural black color, oddly similar to his magic.”

Noblesse was still dizzy from the fall, but he still tended to his shoulder. Noblesse set his hoof on the ground and adjusted his body's angle so that his leg was perpendicular to his body. Noblesse's leg tensed as there was another sickening pop. Noblesse was slowly rotating his leg to make sure he had actually fixed the problem, “Been awhile since I had to do that.”

Noblesse looked around to see Ponies staring at him, “Is something wrong?”

Archer lifted a shaky hoof, “Y-y-your sh-shoulder and, and f-face,” She had overheard Noblesse back-talking Diamond Tiara and saw the predatory glare he gave her. Archer was terrified at what Noblesse would do to her when he realized that she kicked the ball that hit him.

Noblesse could just barely see the bald spot on his shoulder, “Oh, that. That's not supposed to happen for a few days, oh well.”

“Y-you're not m-mad?” Asked Archer.

“Not really,” Replied Noblesse plainly, “I was going to molt soon anyway, and it was an accident. I see no reason to get angry at anyone over it.”

Archer gave a relieved sigh as she ran away.

“Is everyone okay!?” Called out Cheerilee's voice, “Oh my goodness!”

The first thing Cheerilee saw were the huge amount of gray hairs on the ground. Next she saw the colt that they came from, and his sickly skin.

“Oh my! Are you okay dear?” Cheerilee ran over to Noblesse and started to mother him slightly, “Do you need to go the hospital?”

Noblesse started chuckling at how Cheerilee was acting, “Really, I'm fine Ms. Cheerilee. There's no reason to panic.”

“Let me help you with that,” Said a familiar voice as Twilight approached. Her horn glowed a soft pink color, not too dissimilar to the sclera of Noblesse's eyes. Bandages materialized and covered Noblesse's eye and shoulder.

While everypony present looked over to Twilight Sparkle, only Cheerilee and Noblesse noticed the look of recognition in her eyes.

Noblesse's pupils narrowed and his eyes widened, “You've already read that far in the spell book I gave you?” Noblesse started laughing.

It didn't take long for Noblesse to overcome his mirth, “You are truly amazing Twilight Sparkle.”

“Twilight,” The tone in Cheerilee's voice was urgent, “Do you know what's wrong with him?”

Twilight bit her lip as Noblesse cleared his throat, “I'd prefer it if you two discussed this in private.”

“He's not sick or hurt or anything like that,” Assured Twilight.

“Hey everypony,” Said Noblesse catching the attention of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, “The slide's open.”

“Last there's a rotten apple!” Exclaimed Pipsqueak as he ran off.

“You little weasel!” Called out Rumble as he gave chase.

Noblesse chuckled as he watched his friends run off towards the slide. He left with the two school matrons eying him.

Cheerilee and Twilight made their way back to the schoolhouse. After shutting the door, Cheerilee turned to Twilight, “What horrible condition could do that to a Pony?”

Twilight started pacing as she gathered her thoughts, “Do you know anything about the Under-Cities?”