state approved class skipping ( open)

There comes a time in every ponies life when they must stand tall and face the things they hate. When they must toil for the greater good. when they must suffer for the benefit of others. This was of course not one of those times, this was shopping trip of sorts.

It had been a while since Heartspan had made the trip to Canterlot but so long as he was here, for certain he aimed to take his little sister Winterdream out, and that was precisely what he was doing at this early hour and in the shopping district. The only problem had been the fact that it was a school day and little fillies were not supposed to be out roaming the town.

That said, Heartspan had simply pretended that he was taking his dear sis to school when in fact they had no such plan. now they were aimlessly looking for a place to get breakfast.




Winterdream trotted alongside her brother. She watched the various ponies going about there business. All the while visions of fresh pancakes danced in her head. She could almost taste them as she walked. She could hardly wait and this was one thing she truly enjoyed about her brothers visits, pancakes and skipping boring old school to have them.

Amina tried to keep her ornaments from making so much noise as she carefully cantered down the street. The traditional Saddle Arabian garb caught much unwanted attention, but Mina refused to stop wearing the saddle, headpiece, and scarves. It made her feel naked without them, and to take them off would make it seem like she was giving into the Equestrian society and its petty fads.

Amina was a member of the Royal Court of Saddle Arabia, the delegate for the year. She would not succumb to the Equestrian subjects. She would not betray her country in such a way.

Mina did, however, like trying to make friends with the mares and gentlecolts who respected her differences and could see past her heavy accent and occasional difficulty with Equestrian. They were always the best of friends, though there were few.

Across the street, there seemed to be a stallion and his younger sister. They didn't look like the fancy snobs of Canterlot Society, and Amina trotted over to introduce herself. It was her duty, after all, but maybe they would turn out to be decent.

Winter had to keep a careful eye on her brother as they moved through the busy street. he never paid enough attention and a couple times ponies had simply brushed passed her blocking her view of her brother and she been forced to run to catch up to him. It was during such a moment that she spied a pony who stuck out more than any pony she had ever seen. She had the most beautiful clothes Winter had ever seen a mare wear. The mare jingled and jangled like a hearths warming eve present. She tugged at her brothers tail.

" Heart!heart! look ! look!" winter demanded." Isn't she pretty!"

Heartspan peered through the crowd trying to find his favorite cafe. it was tucked away almost as if hiding from the more fancy shops and he had not been there in a time. he just hoped it hadn't been closed down in the time he was gone. a sudden tugging on his tail brought him to a stop.

" Heart!heart! look ! look!" winter demanded." Isn't she pretty!"

His sister was rarely so excited and her words bubbled out as he turned to her.
" Whose pretty?" he asked warmly.

Winter pointed into the crowd

" That mare in the fancy dress!" she beamed in reply.

Heartspan turned and he had no doubt who his sister was pointing to. The mare stood out against Canterlot's high fashion like a sore thumb. She brought many awkward looks as she crossed the street. She seemed to be aiming in their direction and as he watched her he tried to think of where she might be from. It was clear she was not from any of the towns he had visited, but he was not one who kept up to frequently with fashion. he knew he had seen the style before but he just could not place it.

" yes, very pretty." He replied to his sister.

The other thing Amina was used to was the stare. Ponies pointed and stared at her legs, or her mouth, or her clothes. Her legs were skinny, compared to the Equestrians, bony and sharp. Her muzzle was flat. Her clothes odd. It was not her fault she was a different species than these ponies, but she didn't see them pointing and staring at griffins, zebras, or hippogriffs. What made her any different?

She bowed her head to the stallion.

"My name is Amina Abbasi," she introduced. "It know it may seem odd, introducing myself to you for no apparent reason, but I am ze delegate from Saddle Arabia, and I wish to make your acquaintance."

She bowed to the younger one as well.

"My name is Amina Abbasi," she introduced. "It know it may seem odd, introducing myself to you for no apparent reason, but I am ze delegate from Saddle Arabia, and I wish to make your acquaintance."

Heartspan's eyes widened almost imperceptibly at her introduction. Now he knew he had been mistaken in thinking he could place the mare in memory.

" My name's Winterdream and I come from Canterlot." Winter proudly declared " This is my big Brother Heartspan."

Winterdream had caught him off guard with her sudden introduction.

" Oh-ah..um yes , A pleasure to make your aqaintance." he said as he began to recover himself
For only the second time in his life he met a pony with whom it felt natural to display the old customs of his grandfather, and so without thinking he gave her a short crisp bow after the fashion of older gentlecolts.
" It would be our great pleasure if you joined us for our morning meal, miss Abbasi." he stated politely

" We're having pancakes." Winter beamed almost instantly at the mention of breakfast.

Already, these ponies were showing promise. Amina felt hope for Equestria.

"Please, call me Amina," she said. "I would love to join you for a morning meal, if it isn't too much of a bozzer."

The stallion had impeccable manners. It was common in Canterlot, but manners from the high and mighty Canterlot Society always came with a bite, a bit of disgust or distaste. The filly was adorable, seeming to show no qualms at all about Amina's... differences.

"I have never had ze honor of enjoying a 'bancake,'" Amina said, smiling gently at Winter. "Would you do me the honor of introducing me to ze food?"

Winterdream had a tough time understanding some of the mare's words and had to think for a moment, then as realization dawned on her a worried and surprised look crossed her little face.

" You really never had one?" she asked innocently as a warm smile spread on her face " they're my favorite. You'll love them for sure."

Heartspan smiled a small smile. he felt very nervous. He had met plenty of Canterlot's rich, but not since his great great grandfather had anyone met someone from the royal court let alone a dignitary of a foreign nation. he cleared his throat self consciously

" well shall we?" he said politely.

he pushed winter along as he began to walk down the road. he had no idea what to say but fumbled forward anyway.

" So, um Amina...what brings..um, well Ah how are you liking your stay in equestria?" he asked

Amina sighed in response to Heartspan's question.

"Not so well, unfortunately," she said. "What my Brincess did not exbect was for ze Equestrians to see us as dirt. I have made exactly four friends in the bast six monzs, and all ze rest have stared and whisbered. Ponyville seems a much friendlier blace zan Canterlot, however."

She shook her head and smiled at the two.

"I hobe you will helb me change the feeling," she said. "Now, what exactly is a 'bancake?'"

Heartspan looked at the mare with a very serious face as she spoke. What she had experienced was precisely why he had left Canterlot, but to hear that this way of thinking was extended even to foreign delegates was a surprise, though only a small one. It did not sit well with him and for certain he felt a lump of anger at Celestia and his fellow Caterlotian's.

he felt he should offer something, an apology or explanation but nothing really would make up for anything his peers had done and so he said nothing.

"Now, what exactly is a 'bancake?'" thankfully Amina had changed the subject, and to one his sister would gladly answer. He whispered a mental prayer of thanks to luna that his sister happened to be with him.

Winter listened as the grown-ups talked. She knew she needed to be quiet, but she also felt sorry Mina. She felt the little lump of angry rising in her little heart. She hated when people were mean. Then suddenly Mina was talking to her. She looked up at mina an angry little scowl on her face.
" What'd you ask me?" she asked her tone still grumpy and slightly distracted

Amina's eyes widened at the little filly's sudden anger.

"A bancake," she repeated. "You offered me a bancake. Do explain to me what it is?"

Both ponies seemed to be upset at what she had said, and she regretted answering at all. It probably wasn't the most intelligent thing to do, put down an entire nation like that, but their culture was drastically different from Arabian standards. Most Equestrians didn't wear clothes, for one, and when they did, they were hot, bulky dresses and jackets. Their manners were either over-the-top or nonexistent, rude, petty, and fake.

They were also kind, however, or at least some were. Calla Lily was one such mare, offering Amina a room in her home during Amina's trips to Ponyville in exchange for her cooking. Calla was a dreadful chef, but Amina was glad to help the mare out in any way.

She was curious as to what a pancake was. Maybe she could make it for Calla and Cloud.

Winter looked at her as her anger slowly turned to enthusiasm. A warm smile gracing her little face, before it turned into a look of deep thought.
" Well....they're round, and flat, and yummy.." she began to explain. " you put syrup on them....you know breakfast cake.' this last was said with complete confidence as if she had just explain so complicated spell formula.

heartspan smiled as he look at his sister and Then turning to Amina he spoke kindly.
"I don't think i can explain it any better than that." he said with a smile.

looking at her he could not help but to be curious. Asking about her time in equestria had been a bad choice and so he decided to take another route.

" So, what is Saddle Arabia like? do you only have the one Princess that you mentuioned, and is she much like Celestia or Luna? I hope more like luna. where else have you been besides Ponyville?" he had meant to be more casual but his enthusiasm got the better of him and he fired off these questions in quick succession.

Winter smiled at amina as her brother began talking about Amina's home. The more her brother seemed interested the more it made her interested and as soon as he finished she fired off a series of her own questions.

" Are all the ponies there pretty as you? Why don't you have pancakes? How come you're so nice? Is everyone in saddarabia nice? " she beamed enthusiastically, her head held high as if in grand accomplishment.

"Mmm," she said in response, immediately imagining the food. "I'd be glad to join you."

In response to his questions, she answered them in order. "Zere are a lot of things to describe Arabia, but I'll start wiz ze bhysical description. It is very sandy, mostly desert and barren wastelands, but every oasis is heavily bobulated wiz our kind. We call ourselves horses or Arabians. Ze oases are very lush and green, wiz balm trees and springs. Our capitol is in Manecca. We do only have one brincess, and her name is Amira. It means brincess. She was elected by our beoble after we overthrew ze dictators and oppressors, who would not allow girls to study. Our brincess possesses no magical powers, and she is mortal, unlike Celestia, Twilight, and Luna. She is just as normal as ze rest of us, and it shows us zat anypony could become ze leader of our country. She is extremely down to earz, as I have learned, and I zink she is better zan Celestia, most definitely. She listens to her subjects, not just ze select few who are close to her. I have been to Manehatten once, but I am mostly in Ponyville and Canterlot."

In response to Winter, she giggled and shook her head.

"Sank you for ze compliment, but I am not zat pretty. But, yes, zey all look like me. We don't have pancakes because zat is Equestrian food. We eat other sings. Um, I am nice because zat was how I was brought up, by my mozzer, Isma. It is an Arabian way of life. And, no, not everypony is good."

Her expression darkened at the thought of the bad Arabians, but she did not elaborate.

Winter grinned up at Amina. She liked the funny accent and she listened in rapt attention to her new friend. it sounded like she came from a fairy tale book and winter was delighted.

" I like you Mina." she beamed " wanna be my bestie?"

Heartspan thought of the things the Arabian had said while she spoke with winter. While he thought he also looked for their diner and at last he espied it and let out an inward sigh thankful the little place had not been closed.

" Hmm Your princess sounds nice and your country seems very interesting to be sure. i think i would like to meet both one day. " he spoke absently as he began to grow comfortable with the mare. " personally i am not a fan of Celestia, and i think we share the same view of her. Twilight i do not know much of, but i hear she was Celestia's hoof chosen... so to my mind that does not equate to anything good. I like Luna, but she is a powerless figurehead in a political sense. Though i think she would be the better ruler if given the chance. "

he looked over at the mare.
" I'm sorry you have had such a poor experience here Amina. " he said kindly before looking back toward the restaurant. " it is my goal to make a positive change in equestria, even if it is only one pony at a time. "

he looked down at his little sister with a broad smile.

" I have two ponies who have inspired me to this end. This silly filly is one of them." he said with a laugh. " anyway i found our diner."

Winter frowned when her brother interrupted her but she didn't say anything. she liked to listen to him even if he didn't always pay attention to her talking time. She also didn't know why he didn't like the princesses but if he didn't like them then neither did she. She nodded to herself in an act of self approval then she turned a bright smile to Amina her mood shifting at the notion that pancakes were to be very shortly in her tummy.

Amina followed the two into the restaurant and nodded at the servers.

"Is it considered treason in your country to sbeak boorly of ze leaders?" she asked curiously. "Your opinion was quite frank, and I was wondering if it may cost you if anypony hears. I certainly would not want to offend the mares offering me a place in zeir country, but if it is okay..."

She leaned down to Winter and grinned.

"I would love to be friends wiz you, Winterdream," she declared. "It would be my honor to have such an acquaintance. Tell me, Winterdream; what is your favorite sing to do?"

Heartspan lead them to his favorite booth in the back corner of the restaurant.

Winter smiled even wider at Amina's words.
" Well...I like carrying groceries, and fixing things, and going for a'ventures and i like beating up bullies, and i like to help mom cook, and i like to visit heart, and I like to shop." she rattled her little list of favorite things.


" Well, i am not sure if it is treason or not to be honest, but as our grandfather and his grandfather before him would say 'Don't make an opinion unless you have the brass to stand behind it when things go rough.' " he replied with a smile. " Besides i hate people who lie too often or are too fake. So, please feel free to speak your mind around me and winter i would prefer your honesty over polite candor, but i suppose better to be cautious around other ponies as a rule."

he slid into the booth.


" what are your favorite things?" winter asked as she hopped into their favorite booth next to heartspan.

" honestly i would like it a great deal if i could hear more of your thoughts on things or about some of your adventures. We've never gotten to speak with anyone from outside of equestria. You are a very nice pon..er..arabian and it is a very great pleasure to get this chance." he added to winter's question and he smiled as he fumbled over the unfamiliar term.

"Alright then," she started. "If you would like to hear it, I sink zat your main ruler is a dictator, heavily disguised by layers of protection to seem like a loving princess. She has been ruling for over a thousand years, has she not? She threw her sister in ze moon for being a bit jealous, zen had some little ponies do ze dirty work of purging her sister of any desire to want equality. The only leaders are Alicorns, supreme beings of immense power. Surely, zat says somezing about your political system."

She patted Winter on the head, knowing the filly understood nothing.

"I like reading, cooking, learning Equestrian, and making friends," Amina answered lightly. "Zey are ze best activities. Good for you to stand up for yourself, Winterdream, but I do not believe zat violence is ze key to your freedom. Assertive command will suit you much better, I have learned."

Turning back to Heart, she nodded.

"What kind of adventures would you like to hear? Zere are plenty to go around. I have some from here, some from home, and some from Zebrica. Your choice."

heartspan was a bit surprised at how her view of equestria and its's leadership was so similar to his. he didn't let his surprise show outwardly but he gained a measure of trust toward this particular mare. She was so kind to his sister and when she mentioned having a variety of adventures he was more than eager to hear them sitting forward ever so slightly

" Well, i am not sure which i want to hear first. you must travel to many many places. I guess you could tell me the one you liked the best." he said his voice tinted with excitement.

he wanted to know this mare a bit better and hoped that by hearing her favorite he would gain a better understanding of her. from what he had heard already he felt she was a mare who preferred humility and nobility over glamour. perhaps it was from what she had said about her country, and it's rebellion.

Winter listened intently to her new friend smiling warmly as the mare patted her head. They were talking about grown up stuff but there was a chance of hearing an adventure and winter did not want to miss it and so she sat quietly and listened patiently.

"Alright. I'll tell you about my way into ze royal court," she started.

"It was a bright and sunny day, like it is most of ze time in Arabia. A letter had arrived in ze mail for me, and I had promised my mozzer to let her see it when I opened ze paper. I had applied for the position of ze official delegate of Saddle Arabia at ze age of 18, after I had graduated school a few year early.

The heavy parchment shone brightly in the hot desert sun as I raced through ze streets, dodging smelly goat carts and fruit-laden carriages. Out of nowhere, a large shape came barreling into my side, knocking ze envelope out of my grip and sending it flying shrough ze air...

As it flew away on ze wind, I looked to see what had fallen into me. It was a tiny dog, a little thing, but it backed a hard punch. I set it upright and went racing after my letter. It was ze most important sing to me at ze moment, and I needed it.

I jumped carts and raced around corners, even leaping onto a clay roof to avoid a clan of camels. The wind was twisting my mane into knots, the sun burning my skin a deep bink, but nothing could keep me from my brize.

Little did I know zat ze brincess was visiting our neighborhood on a monthly trip to ensure our circumstances were well. Her carriage was only around ze block, and to my horror, I saw ze envelope slip right in front of her muzzle, landing at her feet.

I tripped and fell off ze roof, landing in a bush and finally a mud puddle. Tumbling out, I found myself right in front of ze brincess...

I was terrified of what would come to me. She gave me a curious look before examining ze paper at her feet and chuckling. There I stood, a mare wiz a tangled mane, covered in leaves and mud, and ze brincess was having ze time of her life.

'I believe zis is yours,' she said calmly, stepping out of the carriage and hoofing me ze letter.

'No need to open it, Amina,' she said as I hesitantly took it from her, 'because I can tell you already zat you were accepted for ze job. Your efforts at retrieving my letter proved it even more. Go tell your mozzer your accomplishment, wash up, and come to my castle by tomorrow. I will await you zere.'

And thus began the longest adventure of my life. And zough zis was not an action-packed adventure, it is one of my favorite stories to tell. Anysing else you would like to know?"

both Heartspan and Winterdream had listened eagerly as the tale began. their eyes were bright and here and there they would laugh as they pictured the mare running frantically for the letter. When it was finished Winter was the first to respond.

" What happened next?!?" she said in awe. " were you hurt? what did your momma say? how long did it take you to clean up? you really climbed on a roof? What are camels? are they nice? "


her questions came in an excited tumble, heart span was about to ask a question when a waitress came up to them.
" Sorry to interrupt?" the mare stated politely " Are you ready to order? i suppose it will be the usual for my favorite little filly." the waitress smiled as Winter nodded her head enthusiastically.

" i'll take two eggs side along with a side of pancakes, and an orange juice please" heartspan replied

The waitress turned to amina.
" And what will you have Miss?" she asked sweetly.

"I'll have a bancake with a side of hash browns," she requested, having fallen in love with the crispy potatoes in Ponyville. "A black coffee as well, please."

As the waitress left, Amina turned back to answer Winter's questions.

"I was fine. A few scratches here and zere dotted my flank, but it was fine. My mozzer was bos excited and sad, for I was her eldest daughter, and I was leaving ze home for ze last time. We had a tearful goodbye, and I of course had to say farewell to all of my brozzers and sisters. Um, I sink it only took me an hour to rinse off and pack my scarves and saddles. I did climb on a roof. Certain camels are pleasant to be around, but that particular group was a nasty bunch, spitting on ze cobblestones and jeering at ze mares. Zat's why I took ze roof."

She looked up at Heartspan.

"What about you two?" she asked. "What adventures have the brave duo Heartspan and Winterdream embarked upon?"

Winter stood up in her seat and placed a hoof very seriously on Amina's leg.
" I went to Manehattan and I go to ponyville a lot and once i helped a pony run their store in manehattan. i got to take bits and sell stuff just like my pappa. When i was done i got to pick out a treasure to take home." She said very seriously, her eyes bright with excitement at telling her adventure.

Heartspan could not help but to smile.

" I have only been on one Adventure..I think if you have been to ponyville that you must have heard of the everfree forest, or even maybe you have gone into it. Well, i went into this forest and traveled all the way to where our princess luna had been defeated...and it was dangerous but fun and from this i learned many things. " heartspan answered shyly.

"Oh?" Amina asked curiously. "That sounds like an amazing adventure. My dear friend did get lost in the Everfree once, and her magic was severely damaged as a result. She's healing as we sbeak, but it was a deterrent against my likings for ze woods. Tell me: what did you learn zere, at ze ruins of ze castle?"

" i can see how your friend could have run into some lasting harm. It can at times be very dangerous, but it is also sometimes very beautiful. i will hope to luna that she becomes fully recovered." he replied after a moment of thought. " As for what i learned on my journey....."

He looked over to his little sister. He wasn't sure he wanted to tell the story in front of her but he doubted he would soon get a chance to speak with anypony from outside equestria. besides, Amina seemed nice enough and she had told them a very personal albeit fun story.

" Well, i will begin at the beginning i guess. I for a time had been considering the state of our society. Take all your opinions of our government, Amina, Consider what you know of our history and then magnify it a little. I began to wonder if it was wrong to view things this way, considering the Holy appearance of our fair princess." he paused and blushed " Well, i am sure my personal thoughts are a bit boring and off topic. Suffice it to say i went into the forest that day to determine whether i was in fact good or evil and what i should do to change everypony's life in an unalterable way. Would i become a hero? or a villain? would i rebel like nightmaremoon? how would i gain the power to do it?
Going to the castle had only been meant as a brief stop as i intended to go as far through the forest as i could manage and to stay until i found my answers. however, things took a twist of fate. I found strait away a companion who desired to journey with me and so the castle became our primary goal where before it had only been secondary.
We saved each others lives, fought tooth and nail for survival, and wandered through a place that had not been touched in ages. What i learned was that i was no where near being evil or villainous, other ponies lives are too valuable to me. Though my beliefs were solidified i learned that to change everypony's life for the better it must be done with careful patience. care has to be taken not to cause harm in the place of good. I guess in meeting my companion i learned that i need to not hide from my responsibilities. I found a part of me that i hadn't even known was missing on that short trip. "

he paused as their meal was brought out to them, thanking the waitress as she left.

" While i may not yet be a hero, i believe that one day i will be. But real heroism starts small, by taking ownership of responsibility and looking out for those who are closest to you and from there you must be strong and diligent in your work as you move outward always cautious not to cause harm like i said." he smiled a small smile " Sorry, i do not mean to bore you, Amina."

Then he carefully began to eat his breakfast.


Winter sulked into her seat as Amina questioned her brother. She listened as he told the story of how he had gone to the everfree forest. he had told her some of it here and there but as she listened she grew worried for her brother. She did not understand everything they discussed but she could tell by his heavy words that he had been very hurt at one time and now was not this way.
She hadn't even known he was hurt and her heart grew a little sad knowing he had not come to her. She always worked hard to make him feel happy. When at last her pancakes arrived she ate them slowly and tried to resolved these overwhelming emotions. she hated when she had too many feels.

"Winterdream," Amina asked the filly, as she was obviously upset about the matter, "would you like to join me on an adventure? You and your brother could join me. You'll get to see some of ze interesting areas of the castle, where I've been lodging, and zere are many adventures to be had among ze hallways. Are you two up for it?"

The pancakes were what Amina was saving for last. They looked delicious, they smelled delicious, but the mare wanted the full impact.

winter looked up as the Mare spoke to her.

"would you like to join me on an adventure?

Those words had rang like a gunshot in her ears. They slowly filtered through her mind resolving and becoming reality. her eyes lit with sudden excitement and her head whipped toward Amina.

" Do you mean it?!?" she asked thinking she might be dreaming.

her grumpiness and deep thoughts vanishing in an instant.

Heartspan was stunned, his fork full of eggs half way to his open mouth. he looked at Amina and then to Winter. Fully stunned, he slowly set his fork down.

" that would be....amazing." he said suppressing his excitement.