//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Beginning of Autumn // by MagicTypingPony //------------------------------// Autumn walked along with his mother next to him to the gates of the school, which were tall, thin, and seemed to be made of gold. His mother stopped and looked down at him. “You know where to go from here, right?” “Yes...Room A03.” Autumn replied shyly “That’s good...well, I’d better leave you to it.” she said beginning to trot off. “M-Mom...wait?” She stopped and turned back around to him, “What is it Autumn?” “D-Do you think I’ll do well?” he asked shyly. “Autumn, of course you’ll do well.” she proclaimed cheerfully. “I-I guess...how good were you at your school?” “Me?” she thought for a moment, “I was top of my school, why ask?” “Just a thought...I’ll see you after school.” he said walking off to class. “Alright see you at 3pm!” his mother yelled cheerfully. He walked into the front doors of the school; it seemed larger than the castle Celestia lives in and there was no pony around the school halls. ‘Maybe I’m early’ he thought to himself as he walked through the empty corridors of the school. He walked until he saw room A03, he quietly knocked on the door and then entered, and he saw a bunch of filly and colt unicorns sitting down at tables as they were all staring at him. The teacher turned and looked at him raising an eyebrow, “Ahh, you must be Autummmmmnnn...” he checked his notepad, “Mist? Is it?” Autumn nodded reluctantly, “Well then Mist, go ahead and take a seat” said the teacher waving his hoof around the class. Autumn walked to the back of the room and took the seat to the left corner. It was a cold and quiet part of the classroom, to his right there was a baby blue stone wall and to his left there was another colt, with a dark navy coat and a sky blue mane. The colt next to him smiled and leaned over to offer his hoof, “Hey there, I’m Nocter” “A-Am I late?” Autumn asked shaking his hoof shyly. “No, everyone else was just early; trying to make a good impression I guess” Nocter said shuffling back into his seat. “So...we haven’t started yet?” “No, we’re just about to.” The teacher used his magic to ring a bell as the class went quiet, “All right students, let’s begin. I will be your teacher for the rest of the year; you may address me as Artifice. Now please open your history books to page 183.” The class began as Autumn opened his pack and searched for the page in his history book and began to read along with the class. Recess came as Artifice rung the bell to let us outside, Autumn quietly packed his books as he was the last one to leave the classroom. He walked out as Nocter was waiting for him. “Hey!” Nocter said waving a hooves. “Oh...H-hello.” Autumn responded. “You finished reading rather quickly?” “W-well, I've read that book before so it wasn't too hard to remember everything.” “I see...” he patted Autumn’s back, “Parents really wanted you to get in I’m guessing?” Autumn nodded, “Well nothing wrong with that, besides they can’t watch you while you’re here, so loosen up a bit, the schools not that strict.” Nocter said leading Autumn outside. Autumn only shyly nodded as he followed Nocter. Outside Nocter lead Autumn threw the crowd of fillies. “Alright Mist listen to me here, there are a few social rules that I suggest you follow. Number One: Never talk to Maple Gem. And Number 2....actually...that’s about it.” “Who’s Maple Gem?” Autumn asked his curiosity peeked by who this pony might be. “Last year, she was ranked as top of whole school, with nopony else getting close to her scores. She continuously brags about how she’s the best in Equestria, and that multiplies the size of her ego.” “I...see.” “Sooooo yeah don’t talk to her, in fact, avoid her at all cost.” “I-I’ll try.” “Good, now that you’re aware of the social rules, why don’t we have a game of spell tennis?” “Spell tennis?” Autumn looked at him puzzled. “Seriously! Were you living under a rock before you came here?” “W-well...I wasn't allowed to leave the house.” “Alright, Alright. Here” Nocter used his magic and lifted over a small racket. Autumn used his magic and enveloped the racket in his white aura. Nocter got another racket for himself and used his magic to move it. “Now, to play the game you need three ponies, two players and one referee. The idea is that one player hit’s a ball then the other player hit’s it back. The idea is to make it so that your opponent misses. Got it?” “Y-Yeah” Autumn nodded. “Good, now all we need it a ref...” “I’ll do it” said a filly voice from behind a corner. As she stepped out Autumn was struck with an odd sense, her coat was bright yellow, her mane was orange with a streak of pink and tied up in a small bun at the back with the image of a golden star gem on her flank. “Speak of Discord…” Nocter groaned to Autumn. “Is that?” he asked. “Yes that’s her…Maple Gem.” “It’s good to see my name doesn't get forgotten here.” she smugly stated. “Don’t you need to read anything?” said Nocter. “What is there to read? I’m already the best. Now are you going to let me ref or not?” “Like I have a choice…” Nocter groaned “Well then let’s begin” she said cheerfully before noticing Autumn, she came close and looked him dead in the eye. “Nocter…who is this?” she asked snobbishly “That’s Autumn, he’s the nebbie” said Nocter with a sickened look on his face. “Y-Yeah…M-Me…” said Autumn blushing. Maple circled around Autumn, inspecting and criticizing him in her mind, “Hmmmm…what makes you so special? I mean look at you? You don’t even have a cutie mark” Autumn looked at the ground ashamed of his blank flank, Nocter stepped in front of her, “Stop that Maple, from what I remember, it wasn't too long ago that you had the same problem” Maple blushed and was slightly offended, “How…DARE you talk to me like that! A small minded colt like yourself should have more respect for the greatest student in Equestria” “Then why do you want to ref for us?” Nocter asked. “Why would it matter to you?” Maple said avoiding the question “…Fine you can ref…but don’t let your ego get in the way?” Nocter said giving up on the argument. “It never does. Now both of you to your places!” she said creating a whistle and blowing into it. Autumn covered his ears and slowly trotted over to the end of a panted square on the ground, other students started to gather around as the game begun. “Nocter…you start” Maple said turning to Nocter and magically lifting a ball to him. He took the ball, rapping it in his aura and lifted it into the air. Nocter nodded to Autumn, “Don’t worry, it’s just for fun” he said hitting the ball with his racket. The ball flew straight pass Autumn’s field, a whistle blew. “One point to Nocter!” Maple called out, “Autumn you serve now” she said lifting the ball to Autumn. He took the ball and lifted it back into the air and lightly hit the ball with his racket. The ball went smoothly to Nocter’s part of the field as he smash the ball back to Autumn “Two points to Nocter!” Maple yelled again after blowing her whistle, Autumn didn’t even realise that the ball passed him. He looked over to Nocter, “H-How did…?” “Did I forget to mention I’m the best player in the school” Nocter cut in. The bell rang before Autumn could get another word in, Nocter walked beside him and put his hooves over his neck. “Don’t worry about it there was no way you were going to beat me, but at least you got a reputation now.” Nocter said chuckling. “For losing you mean?” Autumn asked. “Well…when you say it like that…” Nocter shamefully admitted.