I know how hard you've been working lately,
so I figured you could use a break.
Trixie, this looks amazing!
But my job doesn't really seem like work.
Speaking of…
Sure, being counselor for the students at Twilight's School of Friendship is demanding, but…
One sec.
What was I saying?
Oh, right.
Being able to use the experiences of my checkered past and help young students feels pretty great.
Oh, yum!
Thanks!
Of course I feel nothing but admiration for the work you do,
but it is a little all-consuming.
And I miss spending time with you.
What are you talking about?
We're spending time right now.
Well…
Hold that thought.
Sorry.
I cast a spell on the door to my office so this bracelet goes off whenever there's a knock.
Yona is having the worst time with her braids lately.
Anyway, you were saying?
I totally respect my younger cousins' decisions to stay seaponies,
but they've never been on dry land.
Preparing for a visit with them is almost as much work as the research assignment
Headmare Twilight gave me on hazardous fauna of the Everfree Forest!
How would you describe a shower to creatures who live in water?
So far, I've got "warm" and "steamy".
Actually, steam has water in it.
Silverstream, there are a lot of students who want to see me today.
I just need a few shower adjectives…
that don't rely on the wet part.
Well, there's "clean", "relaxing", um…
"Relaxing"… I don't know. A nap's relaxing, too.
"Warm" and "clean" are okay.
Wow. I have to give this some more thought.
Okay. Well, I'm here to help. My door is always open.
Except for today, of course.
If we leave now, we can finish everything before sundown.
Trixie, I-I can't leave.
It's almost spring break.
Twilight and the others have already left to celebrate the spring solstice in Canterlot,
and I have to help the students with any issues before they head home for the holiday.
I know you're busy, but I hope you haven't forgotten about the Spring Solst-astic!
The party Maud and Mudbriar are throwing?
Sunburst is coming to town?
You and I promised to make the cake?
How could I possibly forget about that?
Nopony is saying your job isn't important, but plans you make with your friends are important, too.
I know. I'm sorry.
I shouldn't have forgotten.
Obviously I need to be available to my students,
but that doesn't mean I can't help with all the things we have to do.
Good!
Great!
So…
what are all the things we have to do?
Maud needs streamers for the decorations.
Sunburst wants us to pick up a genuine pre-Equestrian spring solstice chafing dish from the antique shop.
Of course he does.
Mudbriar wants a bouquet of flowering sticks – whatever that means.
And I thought we were both looking forward to Mrs. Cake teaching us
the secret recipe to her famous spring solstice cake.
I-I totally am!
But we could just buy a cake from her, right?
We could…
but then we'd miss out on baking together.
Plus, the time I spent flattering and convincing and begging her to share the recipe with you for nothing!
And we promised to make a cake, not buy a cake!
And the Great and Powerful Trixie keeps her promises!
Okay!
Why don't we just split up these jobs?
I'll get the streamers and the chafing dish. You…
…get started on those sticks, and I'll be right back!
You know, why don't I just hang on to this?
Don't want to forget the things I just said I'd take care of.
Because I am totally gonna take care of them!
Could it be plum blossom?
I have no idea.
Sorry, Rose. But I need a bouquet of flowering sticks, stat!
I thought I was getting the flowering sticks.
I'm still not exactly sure what they are.
No one is.
Right. Got it.
You get the sticks. I'll get the streamers…
…right after I take care of what I'm sure is an even smaller student problem than the last one!
I think I have the shower thing under control.
But I can't figure out how to describe a towel.
Now, Smolder, I understand the school can be a bit drafty,
but that doesn't mean you can breathe fire anywhere you want!
What do you mean Trixie already picked up Sunburst's genuine pre-Equestrian equinox chafing dish?!
That was my job!
I think. Wait.
Was it?
Ocellus, it's perfectly normal for a changeling to struggle with identity issues, but…
Counselor Starlight!
When you're done, I need some synonyms for the word "dry".
Or, really, just help explaining the concept.
Wait, Mrs. Cake!
You can't close!
Trixie and I need to learn the recipe for your equinox cake!
Oh, it's fine, dear.
Trixie was already here.
I told her everything she needs to know.
What?
No!
The Great and Powerful Trixie might keep her promises,
but the Busy and Distracted Starlight sure doesn't.
I promised to help her today, and I haven't done a single thing.
That does sound hard, dear.
A-And I'm not quite sure how to tell you this, but…
your hoof is glowing.
Of course it is.
Trixie? What are you doing here?
It's the one place I knew I could find you.
I am so sorry about today. I'm just so…
Busy. I know.
Obviously your students are more important than your friends.
That's not…!
Starlight, you have a minute?
Actually, Silverstream, I don't.
Besides, I need to lock up the school for the holiday, and it's time you caught the train home.
I'm sure a smart and capable student like you can figure out the solution to any problem over the break.
But for now, the counselor's office is closed.
I have a cake to bake.
Is this cake supposed to be so sharp?
I mean, it looks really…
interesting?
Technically…
it's not symmetrical or aesthetically pleasing.
Maybe it's not the best cake.
But we made it together, and that's what counts.
I'm glad you brought it.
And everything else.
I'm very excited.
This is going to be the most perfect party ever.
And with all of your students home for the holiday,
I won't have to worry about you being summoned to your office in the middle of it.
Nothing is gonna take me away from this party.
Hello?! Starlight?!
Starlight?!
Sorry. This is a private cavern.
Is Starlight here?! I was told she'd be here!
What's wrong?
I'm Terramar, Silverstream's brother.
I've been looking all over for you.
Silverstream is missing!
I don't understand. Silverstream didn't come home?
I was supposed to meet her at the Mount Aris train station, but she never showed up!
It's a long way between Ponyville and Mount Aris.
She could be anywhere.
Our parents are leading teams of Hippogriffs and seaponies,
searching the land and sea between here and our home.
They sent me to check the school.
But the school's closed. All the students are gone.
Are you sure? I know she had a big project due for Twilight.
Do you think she might've stayed to finish it?
She never told me about a project.
Well, to be fair, you closed your office the last time she came by.
Really?
What kind of counselor turns away a student with a problem?!
The kind with too much on her plate!
Starlight has always gone out of her way for her students.
And I mean always.
Except apparently when it matters.
This is all my fault!
You all go back to the party.
Terramar and I will check the school.
We'll find your sister.
I should've known it couldn't last.
Party perfection is more of a Pinkie thing.
I wasn't going to say anything,
but these flowers are just glued on, so…
technically, it wasn't perfect already.
But that's probably not important.
You check the grounds, and I'll look inside.
Silverstream?
Hello?
Anycreature?!
She's not down here.
I don't see her anywhere.
Did you check her room?
Well, she's not here.
No, she isn't.
But look at this.
A cockatrice?
Could that be what her project was on?
You don't think she went into the Everfree Forest to find a cockatrice by herself, do you?
I don't know, but I'm going to find out.
What are you all doing here?
We came to help.
We couldn't let you handle this alone.
Technically, she wasn't alone.
But we wanted to help anyway.
Thanks.
All of you.
But the students are my responsibility.
I'm the one who didn't do my job when it actually mattered.
I… might share a bit of the blame for pressuring you into leaving work early.
But I don't want to ruin your party.
We can still have a party.
A search party.
Can we talk about all this later?
Silverstream might be in the Everfree Forest alone!
We think she went in to do research on cockatrices.
What?! The gaze of the cockatrice is known to petrify any who dare to cross its path!
And the reptilian birds are elusive and solitary!
W-Where would we even start?!
I have a lot of experience telling ponies that I have experience
with the dangerous creatures of Everfree Forest!
Follow me!
The Great and Directionally Astute Trixie says we go left!
This way!
Weren't we just here?
Trixie, do you have any idea how to find a cockatrice?
No. But usually, when there's a dangerous creature in the forest
I don't want to meet, this is how I meet them.
We might need a more concrete plan.
Suit yourself.
According to Silverstream's research,
the cockatrice prefers rocky terrain and ample shade.
Rocks and shade.
I can't imagine where we'll find that in a forest.
Actually, rocks aren't the most hospitable environment for shade trees.
Technically, pine trees like Pinus cembra or Pinus sylvestris
can grow from narrow crevasses or cracks in a rocky rhizosphere.
You complete me.
There's some pine trees over there!
I thought you said they were solitary!
They are! This must be some kind of migration.
At least there's no sign of Silverstream.
I can't imagine getting caught in the middle of that flock.
It's just lucky we're all over here and they're all over there.
Technically…
Don't even say it!
Whatever you do, don't look at them.
Their gaze can turn you to stone.
So what do we do?
Run!
Sunburst!
Stop! It's me!
Starlight! I'm so sorry.
We have to get out of here.
I know. Hang on.
We can't leave. Silverstream might still be in the forest.
Stay here. I'll get the others.
Be careful!
The clucking is coming from everywhere!
The Great and Powerful Trixie fears no cluck!
Come on!
Maud! We've got to get out of here!
I'm not leaving him.
Mudbriar's been turned to stone?!
I didn't think I could love him any more.
We've got to get out of here!
But we haven't found Silverstream!
We can't leave yet!
Well, we can't stay here! Come on!
This way!
Now what?!
Let's hope Silverstream found a good place to hide.
There could be hundreds more cockatrices on the way.
If this really is a migration, it'll take a full lunar cycle to complete.
I have to get word back to our parents that Silverstream could be surrounded by those terrifying birds!
And as handsome as Mudbriar is now,
we should probably catch one of them to turn him back to normal.
This is all my fault.
I'm never taking time off from my counseling duties again.
That seems a little extreme.
Really?!
If I hadn't galloped off to a holiday celebration,
Silverstream would be safe with her family, and you'd all be enjoying Maud's party!
Instead, my student is missing, we're surrounded by a flock of petrifying chicken-snakes,
and Maud's boyfriend was turned into a hunk of rock!
You got the "hunk" part right.
And to top it off, we have no idea if Silverstream even came to Everfree at all!
But I have no idea where else to look!
Has that always been there?
What?
That's the students' treehouse.
Apparently it grew from the Tree of Harmony and—
Of course!
That should've been the first place we looked!
Silverstream, look out!
Counselor Starlight, no!
Wait!
This is Edith.
She's helping me with my project.
I… don't understand.
After you encouraged me to solve my own problem, I decided to get my project done before I left.
That way, I could really focus on my family during my visit.
The school was closed, so I came here.
Why didn't you tell anyone? Mom and Dad are worried sick!
Oh, no! I'm so sorry!
Once Edith volunteered to help, I guess I lost track of time.
Cockatrices are really friendly if you know how to interact with them.
I can't believe you figured out how to trigger her nesting response.
They are really fascinating creatures.
Did you know that they migrate to the Everfree Forest once a year?
Can you imagine what would happen if you stumble on a whole flock of these?
I have a few ideas.
I'm sorry you got turned to stone looking for me.
But I'm glad Edith was able to turn you back.
How do you tell the difference?
I have mixed feelings about it.
Technically, I will always be a stick pony.
But the experience has given me an even deeper appreciation for the density and permanence of rock.
Swoon.
Silverstream and I should get going.
But I wanted to thank you for everything you did to help find her.
I just wish I hadn't abandoned her in the first place.
Starlight, you didn't abandon her.
I might as well have.
Even though it turned out all right, things could've been a lot worse.
You can't be expected to supervise your students every second of every day.
I'm not so sure.
I like that you're always available,
but it kind of makes it okay to come to you with stuff that maybe isn't super important.
Of course being a school counselor is a big responsibility.
But always being at work isn't fair to anypony.
Especially me.
Do you think if I had set times to see me, it might help you decide what you really need to talk about?
To be honest,
you really weren't very helpful with the other stuff anyway.
Yeah… Wait, what?!
Happy Spring Solst-astic, everypony!
Who wants a piece of Mrs. Cake's famous…
Petrified dessert?
You had me at "petrified".
SCHASTLIVIY PONETS
anon2anon sunnysubs.com