//------------------------------// // Old Building, New News! // Story: Questions and Answers with House Path // by AlaskaIsCold //------------------------------// Gisela walked down the hallway with a tired yawn – it was way too early in the morning. She sat down at the kitchen table and fumbled around for her coffee mug, only to be handed a cup while a second person poured some of the precious brew for her. It only took her a few moments to blink and look at two of her grandparents grinning at her. “What do you two scoundrels want?” she asked, her lips starting to curl into a smile. Generally, when those two were up this early and were grinning that widely, it was for something big. “So – you know how you had the debriefing for the government heads?” Path asked. “And then for the House Path headmasters?” Free followed up. “...Yes?” She kept listening as she munched a hot buttered muffin that had been placed next to her mug. “Can Free and I host a Q and A session for the general public? I’ve been hearing a lot of questions being asked about what happens now with the Stellar Federation and with the entire universe.” Path put on his best puppy face. “Grandpa – you’re nearly two hundred years old, so why do you act like a kid all the time?” she asked with a groan. “Because acting young is the best way to stop aging!” Path exclaimed! “Well, most of the venues large enough are booked up with other events – this is the middle of the semester, after all.” “Don’t worry – one of my good friends can get me some space in Old Canterlot University! I figure it will be just a one day thing. People can call in or walk in and ask questions. I’ll confirm with Pif and Hype what subjects I can talk about. It’ll be fun!” Path grinned. “There will be cake!” Free exclaimed! Gisela just looked at the pair of them for a few moments before she groaned again and went back to her coffee. “Go ahead,” she said with a dismissive wave of her claws. “Generally, when you two pull PR stunts, we get a huge boom to enrolment and contracts. Have fun, but don’t go overboard.” The hippogriff almost regretted her words as she watched her grandfathers depart with gleeful looks on their faces. ---Four Days Later--- Path and Free Sat in the two old dusty chairs that were on the old canterlot college auditorium stage. Very few events were booked in this room so it still had a lot of the old decorations and items from back when Path did his last session here. Regardless the place had cleaned up nicely and lighting as well as telecom units were set up in a way that everyone can access. Free yawned while Path bounced what looked like a very old, dingy ball. "You still kept that?" "Yup, its the official Q and A ball. I used it, Lucida used it, Gisela hates using it but even she did once to make me happy." Free rolled his eyes and looked to the entrance. "The dean just opened up the doors, we should be getting a flood of people coming in soon." Path took a moment to gather his thoughts while the room filled up, he opened his eyes and tossed the ball high up into the tall room. watching it land in the hands of one of the audience members. "Ask a question then toss it back up into the air as hard as you can. It will go to who wants to ask another one. Don't worry about yelling the ball has a moderate voice amplifier spell on it so everyone will hear you."