Lightning and all his friends were at the Cake’s café for some breakfast. Mykan was present as well. Two weeks have passed and there has been no sign of attacks. “So Mykan, hows Sapphire doing?” Lightning asked.

“She’s okay. Reading as always.” He replied. Ever since Sapphire came to live with Mykan, she’s been reading 24/7 all day everyday only to stop when she’s hanging out with her friends, dragons or Kyara. “Shouldn’t she been confident by now?” Rainbow asked “I mean it’s been two months already.”

“It’s not that easy sugarcube.” Applejack said.

“She’s right darling, Sapphire’s social skills aren’t... good as of now. Being locked up in that horrible place not to mention being abused made her have little to no self esteem at all.” Rarity added.

“But she needs to have confidence. If she doesn’t then she may never heal.” Lightning noted. The others agreed and decided to help Sapphire with her confidence. The problem was, what would be compatible activity for her that would give her confidence too?

“What about being a vet like Fluttershy? She’s knows a lot about animals.” Pinkie suggested.

“I think that’ll be too stressful for her, Pinkie. Remember, she needs a something that’s easy in a calm environment.” Rainbow retorted.

“How about working at Rarity’s boutique?” Buddy asked.

“I don’t think she’s ready for sewing and making clothes.” Mykan replied.

“What about being a teacher at New Ponyville Elementary, like Mykan and Cheerlie?” Artie suggested. Everybody throught of that idea. “Well, It is in a calm environment.” Lightning said.

“The kids would like to see Sapphire’s magic and she won’t be under a lot of stress. And the crusaders are there, maybe they can help Sapphire it’s her social skills.” Mykan explained.

The ponies like the sound of that. “Then it's settled tomorrow Sapphire will be the newest teacher at New Ponyville Elementary!” Pinkie declared.

The gang cheered

When Mykan got home that afternoon, he told Sapphire about the teaching idea,, she didn’t want to it. However, Mykan told her it would be good for her self-esteem. So she told him whe would give it a try

---

The next morning at New Ponyville Elementary, Mykan and Cheerlie we’re getting ready to teach the classs. They noticed Applejack, Buddy, Rainbow and Rarity’s younger siblings; Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Daphine Dill or DD for short.

“Alright students, today we’d like to introduce you to a special guest.” Mykan declared. The class gasped in excitement and began chattering excitedly. Cheerlie spoke next, “Now students, we’d like to introduce Lieutenant Sapphire Shimmer.”

Sapphire came into the room and the children just stared at her in awe. They never throught a Starfleet Lieutenant would be there guest. “H-Hello.” Sapphire greeted shyly.

“Good morning.” the children greeted back. Sapphire smiled a little. “Alright children, I would like you all to help Sapphire get used to this environment, okay?” Mykan asked.

“Yes, Mr. Stevens.” the children replied. Mykan and Cheerlie smiled at the clas while Sapphire just walked over to the window.

This all new to her. Being in a school with children. Her shyness kicked in. She just wanted to say ‘hi’ then go home, but Mykan told her this would be good for her. She needed to be more confident in public rather than only being around animals. She decided just to stay out of the way for Mykan and Cheerlie.

“Alright children, today we will learn about the animals on my planet. First we’ll discuss big cats. They come in all shapes and sizes, helping them survive in their natural habitats.” Mykan began. He turned towards Sapphire.

“Sapphire, will you show the class what one of these cats look like?”

Sapphire froze for a second, “Okay.”

To the amazement of the class, Sapphire’s body glowed and in her place was a Jaguar. “Woah!” Scootaloo cried. “That’s awesome!”

Sapphire walked over to Mykan. “This is a Jaguar. He lives in dense rainforests and has a powerful bite. They use their spots to camouflage against the leaves and trees.”

The children couldn’t stop looking Sapphire in her Jaguar form. “Now let’s go outside and we’ll show you the power of this majestic cat.” The class follows their teachers outside. “Sapphire, will you show the class what jaguars can do?”

Sapphire shyly nodded and rushed forth towards the playground swing. Leaping up onto the top of the swing set, she walked on the pole with grace and ease. “Incredible!” Apple Bloom exclaimed.

Sapphire leaped down from the swing and walked over to the Mykan and Cheerlie. “See class, these cats are masters of hunting as well as the other big cats.”

Sapphire glowed again and changed back into her normal self.

Then Buffy Box, the school bully spoke up. “Oh Please, that teachers nothing special.”

Sapphire partly hid behind Mykan at that comment. Apple Bloom retorted. “Biffy, leave Sapphire alone!”

“No, she’s just a freak.” The class gasped. Sapphire had heard enough, with tears threatening to come out of her eyes, she turned and flew away. “Sapphire! Wait, come back!” DD called.

Sapphire didn’t listen and glen out of sight. The teachers were not happy. “Biffy Box, stay after school for detention.” Cheerlie said in anger. Biffy rolled his eyes. “Mykan, can you go find her?”

“No problem, Cheerlie.” Mykan flew off with the help of his red cape. Flying over New Ponyville, he couldn’t see any sign of Sapphire. “Come on Sapphire, where are you?”

He went to his friends and told them what happened. They were concern and upset. “Why can’t that kid leave anybody alone?!” Applejack questioned.

“Poor Sapphire, we have to find her.” Fluttershy noted. Before any of them could split up Pinkie came bouncing around them chanting, “I found her, l found her, I found her.”

The followed the bouncing pony to the Cake’s Café where they found Sapphire drinking a milkshake with tears streaming down her eyes. “Oh, dear.” Rarity cooed.

“Now what?” Artie asked.

“Me and the girls will go in and see if we can cheer her up.” Applejack suggested. The others agreed to the idea and the girls decided to enter the café. They sat down with Sapphire. “Darling, are you alright?” Rarity asked.

Sapphire sniffled and shook her head. “Oh you poor thing.” Fluttershy cooed as she came and hugged Sapphire. She gratefully returned the hug while burying her face into Fluttershy’s shoulder, sobbing and sniffling. The girls and everybody else could see it was going to take a lot of help to rebuild Sapphire’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

“You wanna see the boys, sugarcube?” Applejack asked. Sapphire sniffled, looked up at Applejack and she nodded. “Come on.” Fluttershy slowly stood up with Sapphire hugging her.

Exiting the café, they were greeted by the boys. “How is she?” Spike asked.

“Broken.” Rainbow answered simply. The boys could tell by how red Sapphire’s eyes were.

“Lightning, dear, could you take Sapphire to your place?” Rarity asked. Lightning nodded and gently took Sapphire into his arms, bridal style and flew off with her.

When they were gone, “Now what?” Krysta asked. “Sapphire still needs her confidence boost.”

“Well, she can’t go back to teaching. That one little insult made her cry and run away.” Mykan stated.

“What about a leadership test? That may help.” Buddy suggested.

“Leadership test. Well... being a leader does give people confidence and self-esteem. The question is... is Sapphire up to it?” Artie questioned.

“Let’s go see.” Artie said. They all warped to Lightning and Starla’s place via Kyrsta’s portal. Entering the house, they found Sapphire looking a little better and Lightning was by her side.

“Hey guys. How is she Lightning?” Starla asked.

“Better.”

“Well we wanted to ask Sapphire something.” Starla approached Sapphire and she looked at her. “Sapphire, do you want to try something else to help your confidence?”

Sapphire sniffled and shook her head. “I know I wouldn’t succeed anyway.”

“What do you mean?” Rainbow said. “You saved us many times in battle.”

Sapphire answered in a miserable voice “Yeah. in battle, not in public. That’s how I was raised. Just because I have confidence in battle, that doesn’t mean I’ll be a leader. I’m not cut out for. I can’t even handle one insult without crying.

I appreciate your help for trying to boost my confidence, but I’m just a lost cause. You guys don’t have to waste your time on a useless member like me. Please just forget it.” Sapphire got up and walked out of the house with her head down, leaving her friends stunned.

“Tell me she didn’t call herself useless.” Artie gasped.

“She did.” Pinkie replied. “She really lost all of her confidence.” The gang felt bad for Sapphire. She didn’t think she has what it takes to be a confidence outside of battle.

Outside, Sapphire walked through New Ponyville watching ponies smile and play and have confidence something she thinks she’ll never have. She began singing about not being a human everybody wants her to be.

(Play until 1:48)

https://m.

(Parody of the Not Myself Today)

She passed by a some officers on patrol, looking really brave and confident is themselves. Making her feel even more insecure, knowing that’ll never be her cause of her past.

She sees ponies and families being happy with each other. Knowing that she’ll never have happy future or a futur at all, she turned away and head towards New Everfree, the only place she felt like she belonged.

She reached the enternce to New Everfree and walked in.

Sapphire lowered her head as she trekked deeper into the forest.

---

Meanwhile, Lightning and the others were busy searching for Sapphire but came up short.

“Find anything?” Lightning asked.

“Nothing.” Rainbow replied.

“Me either.” Applejack added. The others gave the similar answers. “Do you think she ran away?” Fluttershy replied.

“I wouldn’t be suprised,
A lost cause she said that’s where she lies.” Rhymey replied.

“But where would she even run away too?” Dyno questioned.

“New Everfree Forest.” Myte replied. “It’s isolated, perfect for a runaway.”

“Well then let’s go see.” Starla suggested. The friends went to New Everfree Forest and they walked into the forest. Searching left and right, they didn’t see any sign of Sapphire, but they did see Zecors.

“Zecora!” Pinkie called. The friends came down and landed near Zecora.

“Hello, my friends, how’s your day
What brings you to the first today?” she asked.

“Zecora, did happen to see Sapphire anywhere?” Rarity asked. “The poor dear is terribly low in confidence and our attempts to help her didn’t work at all.”

“Now we believe she’s runaway to here.” Spike added.

Zecora smiled a little and said,

“For your friend is what you seek,
She’s at my hut as we speak.” That surpised the ponies.

“Can you take us to her?” Artie asked. Zecora nodded and led the gang to her hut. When they entered, they saw Sapphire sitting on the floor with some tea in her hands.

Mykan approached Sapphire. “Sapphire, are you feeling any better?”

Sapphire sniffled and nodded her head. “Well, would you like to come back to New Ponyville with us?”

Sapphire shook her head. “Why, I’m just useless.”

Artie came up to them, “Sapphire, you’re not useless or a lost cause. We’re not giving up until you get our confidence up.”

Sapphire just looked away. Zecora then suggested to the ponies,

“Sapphire has had a horrible past,
And the mental effects stay and last,
If confidence is what she needs to deal,
Then healing the mental issues is the first step to heal.”

“Mental issues?” Rainbow asked.

“Yeah. Think about it, Rainbow, she’s scared of being in public that she shelters herself all day. She’s even scared to show her wings and horn because of the memories of the lab.” Mykan replied.

“So if we can get her to be comfortable with being in public,” Dyno started.

“Then that’ll be the first step to give her confidence.” Myte finished. The gang agreed with the plan. “Well, Sapphire, will you do it?” Starla asked.

Sapphire thought about this idea. “... okay. I’ll try.” The friends smiled at Sapphire.

---

Soon, they were back at New Ponyville. The gang started by helping Sapphire learn to talk to ponies in public. “Now Sapphire, when someone comes up and says hi to you, what do you do?” Mykan asked.

“Umm... you say hi back and introduce yourself.”

“Good. Now do it with Pinkie Pie.” Pinkie came up to Sapphire.

“Hello there, I’m Pinkie Pie.”

Sapphire rubbed her arm a little, “Hi... my name is Sapphire Shimmer, nice to meet you.”

Lightning and the others smiled at Sapphire. She achieved the first step to regaining her confidence and they’ve learned a friendship lesson in the progress.

Sometimes in order to give someone confidence, you have to take it slow and deal with their mental problems first. If you go too fast it’ll just setback the progress. So the help someone, you have to just take it one step at a time instead of taking shortcuts.

Next Chapter: Episode 7: Unknown Element Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 22 Minutes