Whats So Civil About War Anyway?

[Lady (Lurking)]

(September 4rth-Open to all in Lady's US Civil War Class)

The grandfather clock chimed out the hour. Soon the students would be arriving. Light poured in from a set of large glass multi-pained windows. Their arching keystones just touching the vaulted ceiling. The classroom had two floors. The upper balcony holding bookshelves upon bookshelves full of old tomes and ledgers...all dating back to the 1860s, as well as several comfortable chairs and pillows for students of the two and four legged variety to read and study on. Tables and display cases held models of artillery, dioramas of battles, and a few models of odd looking ironclad ships. Two massive display cases held two uniforms, one blue, and one gray, on manikins in the very back of the room, under the upper balcony and framing the curved stairwell that led up to it. The center of the room was dominated by a full size, 1862 Hotchkiss cannon. Several live steam models stood on tables in the back.

Lady's nails clicked on the stone floor between the rugs. She moved to the front of the classroom and sat on a nicely comfortable velvet pillow below the chalkboard. She had no desk, preferring to keep material stored in drawers and files along the walls. She looked around the room, brown eyes takeing in the history that decked her walls. The only clues that a canine was living here where the dog beds spaced around the room, and the soft carpeted footstools that allowed her to reach the shelves. All on rollers so she could push them around the room with her snout.

Despite her misgivings about the mysterious boards of shadowy figures that had instated her...they had somehow retrieved all the artifacts she had requested. She swallowed hard. Here in her fortress of history, she felt that she was far away from the amphitheater and the fights that would soon e taking place. She folded her forepaws before her, long mahogany colored ears rolling behind her shoulders. She herself had only been a student of history thanks to her close proximity to it at home.

A look of determination crossed her face as her eyebrows furrowed and her mouth tightened as she waited for the arrival of her students. She was determined she would teach these young men and women how to think as a unit, as a team...and she would use the past to teach the present. To protect them as her own.

[Arietta]

Small pink haired girl entered the classroom, taken back by the sudden change compared to all the other rooms. It seemed much more...ancient, much like the rooms that had been her home in Daath. Her heart was still pounding, one day left until that dreaded list was to be posted. She had tried to focus on her school work but the thoughts of such a thing terrified the young sage. The teacher, was a dog. That didn't seem to surprise her. She had a dance teacher that was a cat. "Hello." she said quietly.

---
Sweetie Belle was another one of Lady's students. The young filly was sad to know that none of her friends had been her classes yet. She hoped that at least Apple Bloom or Babs would be in this class with her. Like the human girl, Sweetie was taken back by the room's apperance. "Wow. It looks like something out of the books I've seen Twilight reading." Maybe Rarity had read books like this to? To get inspired for historic fashion. Either way, the young unicorn was looking forward to learning something different.

[Princess Luna]

"Ah, one of the little ponies who is friends with Twilight Sparkle. We greet you, young filly." Ears perked as the princess walked past Sweetie Belle into the classroom, her horn and magic lifting her tie to smooth it. Her wings uncomfortably fidgeted in the shirt where the holes had been cut. The Princess wasn't used to having something restrict her wings. She hoped and prayed she wouldn't have to fly anywhere. She lifted her head, marching into the room and placing her book bag onto a desk and turning to Lady.

"Thou art the history teacher, correct?" Luna said pointing a royal hoof at Lady. "I am Princess Luna of Equestria, sister to Princess Celestia. Pray tell, fair canine, will thou be teaching your students about the History of Equestria as well? Please feel free to exclude the portion about us as Nightmare Moon, we do not need to be embarassed in front of the other citizen of our fair lands."

[Lady (Lurking)]

Lady smiled, and nodded her head at the pink haired girl as she entered. "Good morning." her voice was chipper, and kind. So far she was the only human to enter the room. She was used to humans, and in this strange world of creatures from all across the universe, her inner canine was pleased to see one in her class.

The pony on the other hand caught the cocker's attention. She seemed to be a smaller copy of some of the larger animals she had seen roaming about the hails and libraries. Lady liked her instantly, her personality and wonder upon entering the room made her think of her own pups. The fact that Sweetie Belle was just about Lady's size also helped the cocker identify with the young mare.

Lady however raised an eyebrow at Luna, the canine shifting upright to sit on her rump. Lady had never met a Princess before, and where the younger pony gave the spaniel warm motherly emotions, she felt a bit unsure at the dark blue equine. She had been told through the grapevine the stories of the royal sisters and Nightmare Moon. However meeting one so quickly made her want to learn more. She made a mental note to brush up on Equestria when she got the first chance.

"Why, no. I do not teach Equestrian history." Lady said, putting a smile on her muzzle. "I specialize in American history, mainly in the late 19th century and early 20th. Focusing on the War between the States."

She winked at the regal pony. "So no worries. No tales of Nightmare Moon will be told here."

[Deleted]

The big mutant dog slowly made his way into the classroom, eyes flicking this way and that. Morri was still not completely comfortable being inside like this, and, so far, ad yet to fully get to know anybody. But it could be worse. It could be the Crater. So he'd make do, at least for now. He paused in the doorway for a moment, distracted by all of the things laying about in the room, until an irritated grumbling behind him sent him hurrying in.

He paused again when he caught sight of the teacher, and his tail wagged a bit, then drooped. A dog. And not a mutant like him, either. His confidence faltered, and he eyed Lady warily. Dogs didn't like Craterhounds, and they never had. And now, one was his teacher? Not good.

---

Nuka grumbled in irritation as the tall canine ahead of hm paused, blocking the doorway. The scrawny lion had been irritated ever since he'd learned Kuzimu wasn't in the Fire Circle. What had the people here been thinking? She was an Outlander! The Fire Circle was the natural place for her! Irritated as he was, having his path blocked by some freak of a dog certainly didn't improve his mood.

Luckily, the dog didn't take too long to get out of the way, and allow him to enter the room. For his part, he didn't pause, but he did slow down a bit as he looked around at everything in the room. It all seemed so strange. "What's all this junk?" he muttered, more to himself than to anyone in particular, but not low enough to hide his voice.

[Princess Luna]

Luna nodded, ears folding back as she relaxed. No more Nightmare Moon following her when history stories were told, at least in this class. She listened to what Lady was saying. Early Twentieth Century and nineteenth century. Did that not mean the canine was ancient and old? From what she knew dogs only lived for about 10-20 years! She braced her footing, nodding her head in an impressed manner.

"Thou must be an immortal canine to have lived to tell the tale of this war," Luna said, "We are not quite sure what American history is, however, we shall listen and drink in your wisdom like a mighty beverage." Luna peered at the lion who'd entered. Her eyes narrowed.

"You dare enter the classroom with such disrespect to our teacher? How dare thee!" She scoffed, "Thou shalt enjoy thy class and not question fair Lady about it! Shall we take our seat?" She asked Lady, turning her head back to the dog.

[Lady (Lurking)]

Lady watched the multi-eyes canine enter the room. While yes she was becoming used to such creatures, it did not mean that they could not take her by surprise. She winced looking at his face, doing all she can to hold back and "unpleasant" emotion. He was a student after-all, just like anyone else. She would not treat him any different, despite his physical shape causing her stomach to do a somersault.

However that was all overpowered almost immediately by the lion's outburst, and Luna retaliation. Truthfully it made the cocker giggle to herself. The lion in a way reminded her of her own son's attitude. She did wonder if she would see any of her own pups in her class. Luna's insistent wish for knowledge and defense giving her a little boost to her own nervous conscious. She placed a paw under the mouth, corners of her lips rolled upwards in a smile. Her eyes laughing for her.

"Settle down now. Thank you Miss Luna, I am only a scant five human years old. I just happen to know that time very well, having lived through it myself. I will do my best to teach you all and I know you will all do well."

Luna's question did raise a thought in Lady's mind. What year was it? She had naturally assumed it was still 1912. Did time stop in this strange ghost town. Another puzzle piece...she would ponder that later.

The cocker stood up off her pillow. All-ready the class was filling up. She looked at the grandfather clock. "We will begin in a few moments."

[Angel]

Smooth. Very smooth, Angel. Now you've gone and made yourself late.

Angel quickly padded into class, keeping her head held high so she didn't raise too many suspicions about her tardiness, and seated herself just as quickly. A brief observation around the room revealed to her that this class was filled with more animals than the last history class she had been in. Well, that was an improvement. It seemed animals had more interest in the Civil War than they had in Daring Do's class. Regardless, Angel wanted to get started as soon as possible. So, she brought her attention to the front of the room and looked to where Lady was standing. The second she did, the stray's eyes grew wide for a moment.

That... That was... No, it couldn't be. If Buster's stories were accurate, that would have been the house pet that had supposedly lured the Tramp into the life of a pet dog. But that couldn't be right; Sparky's stories had always sounded so convincing to her and she'd thought Buster's held some resentment. If the reverse was true, wouldn't that mean that the cocker spaniel before her was indeed who she might have thought? ...No. Angel was being silly, she realized. The very idea that her history class was being taught by the possible mate of the dog she admired so was ridiculous. So, Angel relaxed herself and shook her head a bit to bring herself back down to reality.

"Sorry I'm late. I got a little turned around in the hallway," Angel said at length. It was a bit of a lame excuse, but Angel would have to roll with it. It was the best she had.

[Lady (Lurking)]

Lady raised an eyebrow and gave the pom a silent knowing glare. Not angry, but just letting the blonde canine know that she was well aware of her tardiness. But also that for now, she was going to let that slide.

"God Morning class!" Lady chirped, facing her students. "My name is Lady, and welcome to A Comprehensive Study of the War Between the States!"

The cocker stood up and trotted across the front of the classroom. "This is my first time teaching, and I know that studying some musty old battles that happened ages ago must not seem so exciting. But here we will take the lessons learned from the past and use them to help us today."

The spaniel looked at her students. While on the outside she was determined to show a calm, motherly poise, inside she was very nervous. Her brown eyes darted across her students. But she steadied herself, and took a deep breath before she plopped down on her hunches in the center of the class. "I myself am from the town of Marcaline Massachusetts, and my Master was alive during the time of the great war."

"So, before we get too deep into things. Lets play a game..."

[Princess Luna]

Luna had taken her seat gladly (albeit rather awkwardly) and eagerly listened to Lady speak. Her first time teaching? Luna barely believed it! She was very good at it! She folded her wings and used her magic to lift a quill and a piece of paper out of her bag. Though she didn't know many of the words Lady used like 'States' and 'Massachusetts' but she was eager to learn of wars and battles. Since Lady's 'master' whoever he was had been present, Luna knew she must have had a wonderful lesson coming.

"So, before we get too deep into things. Lets play a game..."

"Oh? A game? We do enjoy games, fair teacher!" She smiled and sat up straighter. The fun the teacher's game would bring would hopefully be just the same as the fun she'd learned about from Applejack and Twilight Sparkle. "It shall be a game of 'bobbing apples' or throwing spiders at a wall to see if they stick? Or is it a new type of fun we are not aware of? Do tell us teacher!"

[Deleted]

Terry, having only recently came, had gotten completely lost on his way to class. He had went to room after room to find the class he was looking for. He realized, though he was late.

'Couldn't their have at least been a map of the damn place?' He thought. 'At the very least, I found it.' He opened the door and walked in. As he walked in, he saw that his teacher was a dog. A dog that was teaching about the Civil War. Not that it was unusual. Well, it was, but Terry had seen weirder. Experiences with various criminals, some being superhuman, on a daily basis had made a canine teacher hardly unlikely.

"Sorry I was late. I got lost on the way." He said while taking a seat.

[Arietta]

A game? That sounded like fun, small girl's eyes lit up as Luna expressed the same delight she had been feeling. "Oh, that sounds like fun." in truth, Arietta had never actually played games with anyone before. So, she was really really looking forward to playing a game rather than learning for the moment. "Is it a game like hide-and-seek? I'm really good at that game."

Arietta had played that game with the animals before being taken away to learn magic and have a better life.

[Deleted]

Morri drew i a deep breath, and let it out as he took a seat beside a desk. He had already given up trying to fit his long-limbed body into a desk. The teacher seemed nice enough, and didn't seem like she was going to give him a hard time, so he began to relax, and look around. Now he was able to take in his surroundings, and there were a good many things to take in.

But his attention was brought right back to Lady when she began speaking. A game? His tail wagged at the thought, and his tongue lolled out of his mouth at the idea. But he was a bit puzzled when she mentioned the great war. The only war he knew of was the war between dogs and Craterhounds. Was that the one she meant? After a moment, he decided it didn't matter.

---

Nuka had shot Luna a contemptuous glance when she berated him. Who did she think she was? He just snorted, and went back to looking around for a moment. He padded over to the cannon in the middle of the room, and peered down its barrel before sniffing at it. The faintest scent of fre, and something he couldn't name, entered his nostrils, and he frowned in thought. Whatever this thing was, fire was involved somehow. he couldn't help but smile to himself as he took a seat.

His smile widened a bit when the teacher mentioned a game. Unlike Kovu, Nuka still remembered what fun and games were. "Does it involve fire?" he asked, hoping the metal thing in the middle of the room might be involved.

[Lady (Lurking)]

Lady smiled. Putting her forepaws atop the desk, she reached up and grasped a small rubber ball in her maw. Sitting back down on her pillow, she held the ball in her mouth, the rubber sphere filling her jaw, the corners of her mouth raised in a cute smile. Her brown eyes looked across the room, stubby docked tail wagging. Some seconds ticked by...building a bit of tension.

"Think fast!" She barked!

Suddenly, the cocker spaniel lept into the air, body contorting in half circles as she suddenly rolled in a back flip in mid air. Long fluffy ears rolling with the movement of her body like twin banners caught in an ocean current. It was obvious that Lady was a sporting dog, her body built for quick moves. As she rolled back wards, she whipped her head, and launched the rubber ball with an incredible speed.

All this movement was a blur in just a millisecond. As Lady landed on her feet atop the pillow, the rubber ball shot across the room, zooming just over the heads of her students. She wanted to see how they would react to a sudden surprise, a shot from the dark if it where. The ball crossed the room and bounced off the back wall atop the balcony before shooting down at the classroom...headed strait for the blonde furred Pomeranian.