//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Into the portal I go, Geronimo! // Story: Equestria University Adventures // by Freewillornot //------------------------------// Waking up I looked to my trusty alarm clock which read 3 o’clock in the afternoon. After reading it a realization came to me “Oh crap, I’m late!” Jumping out of my bed and throwing my clothes on I ran to my car. On my arrive all I could muster after seeing what awaited me from the parking lot to the portal was an “Oh no”. It looked as if every TV news station reporter from around the world was here waiting for me especially since I was the last of the students to arrive, I was late. I was forewarned about this due to me watching on TV every year what happens to the students that are late. I would be Bomb barded with various microphones being shoved in my face along with reporters asking all sorts of questions. “How are you doing today?” “Why were you late for the biggest day of your life?” “Did you eat breakfast?” “What color underwear are you wearing?” Aww, just the thought sucks. Well, maybe they won’t notice me if I just act natural. Though I doubt that will work since I’m carrying all this stuff to suggest that I am indeed the last student. Screw it; I’m just going to make a run for it. “There he is!” I heard from behind. Turning around I saw Josh pointing at me with a smile on his face. “Josh you son of-“I couldn't even finish my sentence before the horde of reporter surrounded me. There had to be 100, no 200 I don’t know how many there actually were. I just kept saying “No comment” about a dozen times. It seemed not to get into their skulls that I was not going to answer any of their questions. A horn being sound from above caused everyone to immediately look up and step away from me on seeing two Pegasus’s from Portal Patrol touchdown from the sky. Portal Patrol was an elite group chosen by Princess Celestia to guard the portal. One of the Pegasus’s came up to me while the other did crowd control, he took a step forward everyone took 3 steps back. “Are you Greg Frederickson?” The Pegasus asked me. I didn't really know what to say I mean I was a little nervous this being my first encounter with any of the pony kind so I kind of didn't respond. “ARE YOU GREG FREDERICKSON?” He repeated himself but this time a little louder which jolted me from my nerves and cause me to answer right away. “Yes Ma’am, no sir, I mean pony” Idiot that’s all I was thinking of myself. He kneeled down and told me to get on his back and he’ll fly me the rest of the way there. Now I’m no mathematician but my weight plus all the stuff I was carrying there was no way we’d even get off the ground. Well, what the heck I’m not going to refuse a free ride. As soon as I climbed aboard no warning was given as the Pegasus shot into the air. My reaction to this was me grabbing on for dear life and screaming like a little girl. As soon as we landed I was off in an instant. That may have been the worst experience in my life. Then I saw it and all of what just happened was gone from my mind. The portal to Equestria was right in front of me. It looked so majestic, so magical I could just stare at it forever, not giving a hoot about anything less. A nudge to my side caused me to be taken from the trance I was placed in. “Be careful, stare too long and you may not want to part with it.” Turning, I saw a Unicorn. She had the nerdiest pink glasses on and had horrible horse breathe but I wasn't going to say anything about that cause that’s kind of rude. “Who are you?” “Well it doesn’t really matter to whom I am Greg Frederickson, you’re late. Dr. Theodore Ivon and the other students have already entered the portal.” Panic and a little anxiety hit me. “What does that mean!? Does that mean I can’t go!? Do I have to wait a year!?” “Calm yourself, take a few deep breathes and just re-gather yourself.” Jeeze, I can tell already this kid is going to be a handful. To why Dr. Ivon chooses him it still baffles me. He didn't even meet the qualifications yet he bent the rules for him. Don’t tell me just because he taunted Dr. Ivon in that sorry excuse of a paper entry he allowed him entrance into the most excluded University in Equestria not to mention all of the earth as well. Taking her advice I took a few needed deep breaths, inhale-exhale, inhale exhale and just like that I was calmed and collective. “So what happens now?” I asked her. “Now you enter the portal and meet the others on the other side.” Wow, all that panic for no reason. I turn towards the portal and paused again to look at it once more. “I’d get a move on it if I were you; you've kept them waiting long enough.” She was right and I was ready now. Ready, set, go! I thought to myself when I spray forward towards the portal. I yelled “Geronimo!” as I entered the portal and exited out the other side, landing face-first in a pile of dirt. “Thank you for joining us, Mr. Fredrickson.” That voice, it was Dr. Theodore Ivon’s. A few giggles from the other students while I arose from the ground, spitting some dirt from my mouth.” You know my name?” “But of course, I mean after all there is no way I wouldn't.” My attention was taken elsewhere on remembering I just entered the portal and looked to my back, nothing. It looked as if I would be put in the boring category as well. This time laughter was heard from Dr. Ivon on seeing my expression. For it had seemed everyone had looked towards their back to find nothing was waiting for them. I was surprised at seeing only 5 other students. Out of the 10 slots only 6 were selected, I kind of felt sorry for all those that registered for the slots only for them to be cut short. My thoughts were interrupted by Dr. Ivon speaking to us all. “Gather around students, before we head off to your dorms I’ll be going over a few rules you must abide by while you stay here in Equestria. 1st no sexual relationships of any kind will be tolerated with the locals of this land.” Eeww, oh God as soon as he said that I was grossed out. Who would even consider doing something like that? Looking to my left I saw one of the other students showed signs of disappointment. Oh God, don’t tell me he’s one of those people. “2nd your Guidance Buddies will be in charge of looking after you while you stay here, not corroborating with them will get you sent home.” Guidance buddies? “Excuse me, Dr. Ivon, who are our Guidance Buddies again?” “I was just about to cover that part. Please save all your questions for the end, Mr. Fredrickson. Your Guidance buddies comprises of selected volunteers that you will meet inside your dorm rooms. 3rd and last conduct yourself in a mature fashion this is not a rule however I’d hope you’d have the common scene to remember you are representing earth while you stay here. Now, are there any questions? No questions alright let me introduce you to Professor Starmoon.” The Unicorn I met from before stepped forward. “Prof. Starmoon will be aiding us with a teleportation spell that will take us directly to the dorms, unless you all prefer taking a 3-day march there. No takers?” “Is he trying to be funny or is that just him?” I whispered to another student that just shhhed me. “Dr. Ivon while I find your humor to be funny I believe the students would like to be on their way.” Dr. Ivon looked towards us and saw that indeed we all looked a little exhausted. It had been quite the day for us all. “Very well Prof. Starmoon if you would please now perform the teleportation spell.” We were directed by Prof. Starmoon to be seated on the ground and to be silent. She had to focus on our destination. Teleporting herself was a snap but teleporting a group of people was a little more challenging. She closed her eyes and her horn started to radiate a glowing kind of pinkish color that started to spread and soon engulfed all of us inside of it. To put it simply it looked as if we were in a giant pink bubble. I saw Dr. Ivon on the other side of the bubble waving us off. “Isn't Dr. Ivon coming with us too?” I asked wishing I hadn't. Immediately Prof. Starmoon opened her eyes and glared at me for speaking when she asked for silence. A flash of light later, next I knew it looked as if we were in front of the main entrance into the University and not at the dorms. “What happened, I thought we were going to the dorms?” One of the students asked. Prof. Starmoon looked a little wary from the spell and sat down before speaking. “That is what I was focusing on until someone broke my concentration.” Everyone turned to face me with angry looks on their faces. “Not to worry students it’s just a mile walk from here.” The mile walk was horrible I think I had some type of teleportation sickness, something similar to jet lag. Plus it didn't help with all the glares I was getting from everyone; needless to say they all hated me even including Prof. Starmoon. When we arrived in front of the dorms the sun was setting and we met a familiar face there. “You all look so droopy. I thought you would beat me here and you’d be waiting for me not the other way around.” “We had some setbacks.” Prof. Starmoon plainly stated to Dr. Ivon while looking towards me. “How’d you get here so fast? I thought you said it was a 3-day march” I asked forgetting he had wings. “Indeed I did however When you have these” Dr. Ivon gestured to his back where his wings were located.”Who needs teleportation?” Prof. Starmoon just laughed at that then commented. “Let’s see how far those get you in a storm.” “Well if the wind currents are pointed in the direction of where I am going then I would probably get to my destination a lot faster.” The two proceeded into an argument about flying and teleportation while the rest of us sat down exhausted to the point of just falling asleep on the ground. Once the two had concluded their argument they turned towards us to find most had fallen asleep just I remained awake. Dr. Ivon gestured to me to come forward.” Well, Mr. Fredrickson, since you’re the only one awake you’ll be given first choice to the dorms.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out 6 separate keys with numbers on them. He then extended his hand out towards me to select one. It looked as if they were color coated as well blue, orange, yellow, pink, white and purple. Blue is my favorite color so why not. I reached for the blue one but right before grabbing it Dr. Ivon said something strange. “Be warned for the choice you make here will change everything.” I stopped right before grabbing the blue one. What the heck is he talking about? Not sure what to do I reach for the orange one. He spoke once more. “You must look beyond what you seek.” Is he just messing with me? I turn my hand towards the yellow one looked to Dr. Ivon and waited to see if he’d say anything about this one. Nothing, taking the opportunity I thrusted my hand forward to grab the yellow one when all of a sudden a gust of wind blew dust into my eyes and they immediately sealed shut and I grabbed a key.“Ouch ow ow” I rubbed my eyes with my hands but that just made it worse. “Hold still,” Prof. Starmoon said. She used magic to remove the dust. On opening my eyes I saw I was not holding the yellow key, I was holding the purple one with the number 6 on it. I looked to Dr. Ivon who stuffed the other keys into his pocket and gave me a smile.” Aw, looks as if you got dorm room number 6 that’s on the 2nd floor let me give you a hand.” Prof. Starmoon said. With the wave of her horn, she teleported me. I found myself in front of a door that read number 6 on it. I kind of wanted to find my own way here so I’d know where it was but oh well. The only thing left to do was to insert my key into the door and go in. Placing my key into the door I turned it to the right and walked inside..