Chapter One-point-Five: Enter the tutor(s).
“Banned for a whole two months?” My Sports captain screamed, her knuckles turning a shade of unnerving chalk-white as the vice grips on both of her chair handles tightened. “That tightwad dictator!”
As expected, my sports captain, Rainbow Dash was informed about the two-month ban by Miss Harshwhinny.
“And you! Just when we’re about to start our training for the Events!” My captain threw her arms up into the air as she snarled. “What were you thinking, doing something that banned you from future competitions?”
I wouldn’t say my sports captain was pleased with this new development, which had effectively threw a spanner into her back up works…
“Hey, I just told her the truth, Captain.” I raised my arms to show her my open palms. “She just overreacted, and the teachers just misinterpreted the whole situation as usual. I bet they’re just using my results in the Harmony programme as an excuse to screw me up.”
“Is that so?” My captain furrowed her brow as she gave me a glare. “Mr. Wise Guy?”
“Yup,” I gave a nod of my head. “Any overreaction she had on her part was her fault.”
“Uh-huh,” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow as she reached for a folder and a pen in a drawer. “Well, since I can’t do anything to overrule your detention, I have no choice but to pull in another substitute to take your place on the substitute bench for the Events.”
...but I can safely say that it went a lot better than expected.
Ah, yes. The training and preparations for the Dreaded Curb-stomping Events. Two things that are both nerve-wracking and totally useless at the same time.
“Wonderful,” I commented. “Still preparing for the Dreaded Curb-stomping Events, Captain? As meticulous as ever.”
“It’s part of my duty,” She waved it off as she opened the folder, revealing a list of names. “List of athletes...here we go.” Rainbow Dash lifted up the hardcover with her left hand, revealing a long list of names that was sorted by year, events and alphabetical order, spanning on for a few pages.
“List of backup-substitute athletes. Castle, Air… There you are. ” She uncapped the bulky, red pen in her hand, striking off my name with a thick, blood-red line. “Comments: Air Castle is unable to attend Beta training as an auxiliary-substitute unit for the…” Captain Dash squeezed her eyes shut as she opened her mouth to reveal gritted teeth. “...Friendship Games. Reasons: For being an insufferable, miserable fucktard towards innocent people.”
“C’mon,” I interrupted her. “I wasn’t that bad.”
“Replace Air Castle with…” Captain Dash trailed off again. “Fine. Not fucktard. Retard. That okay with you?”
“Well,” I ran a hand down the back of my head as I glanced away from her. “I was going to say honest truthbringer, but meh.”
“Enough with the self-promotion, athlete.” Dash barked. "From now on, you can forget about turning up for training unless your training is completed or Miss Harshwhinny overturns your punishment."
The loud snap she made as she slammed the file shut reinforced her words.
"Yes, Captain." I nodded my head in acknowledgement. "But just so you know, judging by the way Canterlot High's played against Crystal Prep last time, I don't think we can catch up to them this year, barring unforeseen circumstances."
“Try what I will," I gave my shoulders a heave. "The competitions we usually lose in are the ones where I can’t make a difference. Or most of the team, for that matter.”
“Hey! Can it!” Rainbow exclaimed. “I don't care if you're in the Alpha accelerated programme or the Gamma remedial programme. The slightest effort can make all the difference!”
I raised an eyebrow at that statement. “Does it? I highly doubt that. Plus, even the greatest efforts our team makes never seems to faze Crystal Prep.”
“Stop that!” Rainbow’s pitch grew a little bit higher. “We will make it this year! Just a bit more training and hustle from everybody and we’ll trounce the heck outta them in the Friendship Games!”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” If Rainbow had sensed my sarcasm, she didn't mention it to my face. “For a bilateral event between two schools meant to promote camaraderie, it formed nothing but grudges and antipathy between the both of them. At least my old school was much more direct.”
“Well, I have to go.” A slow, long breath escaped my nostrils as I got to my feet and paced out of the briefing room. “My detention starts at three-thirty.”
“Well, bye then.” Rainbow muttered her farewells. “And don’t forget to train! This two-month long detention doesn't mean you can just slack off like that!”
“Yeah, I know.” I waved. “I'm no Thunderlane.”
My hand settled on the door knob just as a silhouette popped up behind the glass pane. With a twist and a pull, it opened to reveal a neatly-dressed Thunderlane and a bubbly Flitter.
“Well, speak of the devil and he appears.” I muttered. “Hey, Zapper.”
Thunderlane raised an eyebrow. “Hi. Were you talking about me?”
“No.” A mischievous smile spread across my face. “We were discussing about how we could assign Lightning Dust to be on your sub-team to replace Blossomforth. You’ll like that, wouldn’t you?”
"W-what?" Thunderlane was taken aback. "No!"
I chuckled as I reached out a hand to ruffle his hair. “Of course not. I have no power to do that, and Rainbow Dash isn't that cruel.” I turned back to face Rainbow. “Right?”
Rainbow’s only physical response was to roll her eyes. “Whatever. Just get to detention already.”
“Right.” I shook my finger. “Gotta go. My Daily Trolling Quota has been filled.”
As I sauntered away, a glance over my shoulder revealed a frowning Thunderlane deep in a conversation with our Captain and a neutral Flitter staring at me with searching eyes. Out of the blue, Miss Harsh Whinny’s words from yesterday repeated itself.
“You should, however, interact more with your peers and weigh your words carefully before speaking and responding to others.”
I gave my head a vigorous shake as I slapped it.
That’s enough. I thought. I need to finish this week’s assignment. The last thing I need is the reproaching words of some old crow in my head while I'm suffering in jail.
And it’s not as if anyone’s gonna be hurt by what I say. And if they are hurt, well, they can get over it.
Fast forward nine days and fourteen hours of mind-numbing detention, I was back inside the Scourge’s room, staring straight at her.
“So,” she started. “Did you learn anything in detention?”
A smile stretched across my face. “Yeah. I've learned a few lessons.”
Miss Harshwhinny cocked an eyebrow.
“I've learned that irradiating food is safe because it works by only firing gamma rays and not alpha and beta particles, which is what makes the food radioactive; the lowest soil layer is the ‘R’ horizon, or bedrock, the layer from which the parent material is formed; the three types of weathering are physical, chemical and biological weathering; radioisotopes exist because excess neutrons are joined to the nucleus, thus making it energetic and unstable; and that Professor Oblong Chalkboard would rather write teacher comments in assignments in purple ink for students if the school law allowed it.”
Her response was a tilt of the head and a narrowing of her eyes to slits. “We've never had a teacher named Oblong Chalkboard in this school, Air Castle.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Who said it was during this seven-day period? This isn't the first time I've been in detention.”
A pause hung in the air before I remembered to add, “Miss Harshwhinny.”
“Getting back on track,” Miss Harshwhinny continued. “Today marks the start of your two-month tutorship. Do you need me to go over the details again?”
I snorted. “No.”
Miss Harshwhinny nodded. “Good. Because I've finally selected a tutor for you, as well as two substitutes.”
“So where are they?” I asked.
“They should be on their way.” She answered. With an extended arm down beneath her desk, she pulled out a large water pitcher and a dull, grayish cup, pouring herself a cup of water with the same frown on her face I've seen for the past year. "Oh, yes, and there is one more thing I should have mentioned to you last week." Miss Harshwhinny added.
I looked back at her.
"You are required to write and submit a three-hundred word summary of the two days' lessons of Kindness and Empathy every week. The report will be looked over and marked according to its phrasing and its accuracy in summarising the lessons' points. The effort you've put into your reports determines the final grade you'll receive at the end of the year."
Oh, fantastic. Written reports. And important ones, no less.
“And while we’re on the subject, there are some things that I should tell you.”
I kept a neutral face as I stared at her. “Do I have a choice?”
Miss Harshwhinny ignored this. “Let’s imagine a hypothetical scenario, Air Castle. For example, matters in this school may take a sudden turn for the worse for you, and that everything about your life in High School is turned upon its head.”
I craned my neck.
“Unforeseen Incidents may occur where the staff of the school is unable to help or otherwise unaware about problems that the school may take time to recover from. Incidents where students’ lives will be negatively affected.”
I pressed two fingers against the side of my head, slowly massaging the same spot over and over again. “Get to the point.”
“My point is, Snowy Skies,” Miss Harshwhinny continued. “You need to rely on the generosity of other people to give you support when disasters beyond our control occur, as well as support them when the time comes.”
“And if those same people start to question whether you are someone you can trust or be friends with, there’s the possibility that these people will cut off your friendships with you, leaving you high and dry without harbouring regrets about it at all.”
Fantastic. More mumbo-jumbo. Why couldn’t I stay with my old school?
“Now, I’m not asking you to make friends with the tutors or be close friends with every peer you come across,” Miss Harshwhinny added. “But reaching out and connecting with others is the whole point of the program.”
Never thought I’ll say this, but…
“I’m…I’m…I’m actually touched.” I raised a hand and placed it over my mouth, making sure to coax a bit of moisture out of my glands and crack my voice up.
“Spare me the terrible acting, Skies.” Harshwhinny barked. “If you do not truly give a flying pea’s worth of care towards the moral lessons taught, then at least try your miserable best at this to improve your grades and G.P.A.”
Still worth a shot.
“Welp, it was still worth a shot.” I reverted back to my previous expression. “But they are taking their own sweet time about this, aren’t they?”
I could see Miss Harshwhinny slightly lower her jaw in response, but before she could say a word, the sounds of knocked door rang out from behind me.
Knock! Knock!
“Come in!” Miss Harshwhinny announced.
Creak! Neeeeeee!
“Hello, Miss Harshwhinny. Sorry we’re a little bit late; we had to help the biology teacher clear up.”
I turned my head to study the newcomers; both of them.
“We helped cleaned Greenhouse Three after a sweet potato experiment, with Miss Chrysalis guiding us.” The speaker’s skin was a faded whitish tinge with a vivid green hair. “Again, Miss Harshwhinny, we’re sorry for being late.”
“Yeah!”A second voice bellowed. This one was chalk-white, with light yellow, spiky hair and red eyes.
Not to mention the fact he was ridiculously ripped.
“Settle down, both of you.” Miss Harshwhinny waved a hand. “Snowy Skies, allow me to introduce you to these two tutors. Air Castle, this is Sweet Leaf and Bulk Biceps respectively. Sweet Leaf and Bulk Biceps, this is Snowy Skies, a third-year student. He’ll be the one the main tutor will be teaching for the month.”
“Hey.” I deadpanned as I raised a hand.
“Hi! Pleased to meet you!” Sweet Leaf flashed a smile.
“Trust me, the pleasure’s all yours.” I snarked.
A small sneer lined my face as I saw her face change expressions.
Ah, changing a few words in common everyday phrases and watching their reactions as I say it is so fun.
“Speaking of which,” Miss Harshwhinny asked. “Where is the main tutor?”
“Oh!” Sweet Leaf gave a start. “She said she left her books back in class. She should be here any minute now.”
"Playing pronoun games?" I interrupted. "Why don't you start telling me about the one who's going to teach me before this girl gets here?"
"Politeness, Snowy Skies." Miss Harshwhinny snapped. "I have no obligation to tell you any details about about your tutor upon request, so patiently wait until your main tutor reports to my office."
Well, talk about suspense. I can barely wait to get this over with.
I folded my arms as I sat back down in one of the benches at the side of the office closest to the closed door, silently listening to the girl called Sweet Leaf exchange words with Miss Harshwhinny.
Gwuf, gwuf. Gwuf, gwuf.
With a slow turn of my body, I gave a glance towards the huge guy called Bulk Biceps, studying his solid, steel gaze as he stared ahead out of the window at...nothing in particular.
Haven't I seen him somewhere before? Maybe in the weightlifting-slash-wrestling sports team or something?
Gwuf, gwuf. Gwuf, gwuf.
Oh, well. It doesn't really matter anyway. Save for Bulk Biceps, they're all probably just a bunch of weaklings. And dumb too. If they came from where I came from, they'd probably get their head stuck in a toilet on their first day of Middle school and get yelled at for displaying weakness. And that's just for starters.
Gwuf, gwuf. Gwuf, gwuf.
And the main tutor who'll be teaching me...she'll probably be the weakest of them all.
Gwuf, gwuf. Gwuf, gwuf.
I heaved a sigh as I turned back towards the closed office door, trying my best to tune out any background noise.
Canterlot really is nothing like where I came from.
Gwuf, gwuf. Gwuf, gwuf.
I miss my old school. Sure, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, but hey, that's life. There are a whole lot of cloudy and rainy parts in it too, and I'm not letting anyone tell me any different.
Gwuf, gwuf. Gwuf, gwuf.
Hmm?
I slowly adjusted myself so that I sat upright, craning my neck for a better hearing of the sound of footsteps.
Is someone coming along?
Gwuf, gwuf. Gwuf, gwuf.
Well, someone was, and it got the attention of the others. I could practically hear Miss Harshwhinny slightly shift herself to handle whoever was coming.
Gwuf, gwuf. Gwuf, gwuf!
"Think that's the main tutor coming along?" I asked.
No one replied.
"Excuse me, is Miss Harshwhinny in the office?" A small, timid voice called out from around the corner.
"Come in, Fluttershy!" Miss Harshwhinny called out.
A few seconds later, I saw the speaker walk into the open doorway.
"Hey, Fluttershy." Sweet Leaf piped up. "Good thing you're here now."
"Yeah!" Bulk Biceps yelled.
Why does this seem so familiar?
I watched with narrowed eyes as the main tutor strolled into the office. A girl with butter-coloured skin, long hair the tone of cotton candy and wide, teal eyes that-
Wait, teal eyes?
“Um, hello.” The teal-eyed girl mumbled as she strolled in, clutching a book tightly against her chest. She wore a plain, white tank-top, along with a green skirt that was decorated with three pink butterflies along each side.
Oh! Well, well.
"Hello, Fluttershy. You are late." Miss Harshwhinny remarked. "And just after the two have finished introducing themselves to the student."
I spun back to see the stoic look on Miss Harshwhinny's face.
“Snowy Skies, meet Fluttershy. Fluttershy, meet Air Castle.” Miss Harshwhinny introduced. “She will be your main tutor. Fluttershy, this will be the student you will be tutoring for the next two months.
What?
My vision darted between Miss Harshwhinny and this new girl that stood in the doorway, studying the person who straight-up dissed her friend with a curious gaze in her eyes, my mind aching as it backpedaled on what they just threw at me.
And to think that this is the girl who saw me give her friend the unbearable truth. Oh, Life can be funny sometimes.
"Well, Mister Skies?" Miss Harshwhinny urged. "I believe you owe her a proper introduction."
That I do.
"Hey," I almost spat it out. "Name's Air Castle. Third-year student and Beta-rank athlete."
Fluttershy hugged her book tighter around her waist with one arm as she reached out an arm with the other.
"H-hello." Fluttershy squeaked, staring straight up at me. "My name's Fluttershy, and I'm a second year student."
Oh, having another second year student coaching me? I just wish it was Captain Dash; she wouldn't care about this kind of stuff.
"And there we are." Miss Harshwhinny concluded. "As I've said, Fluttershy will be your main tutor, with Sweet Leaf and Bulk Biceps filling in for her when she is not available. Now, remember that your first session will start tomorrow, and attendance is mandatory. If you skip it, we'll know, and there will be consequences."
First, a two-month tutorship with a soft hippie, and then a threat from the Fall Formal Princess herself. How more insane can this school year get?
Wait. I probably shouldn't have asked that.
"Well, if there is nothing else, the four of you are dismissed." Miss Harshwhinny announced.
I saw no reason to stay around for longer than necessary.
My eyes swept over the three juniors that were supposed to tutor me, a pair of folded arms over my chest as I furrowed my brows at the sight.
"So," I began. "Where's your homeroom?"
I saw Fluttershy hastily bring her lime-green bag to the front as she dug around for a pencil and a slip of paper instead of, y'know, talking to me.
"No, Fluttershy, let me handle this." Sweet Leaf interrupted her. With a fast pull and a few short scribbles, she written down the homeroom's location on a paper pad and gave a small smile.
Rip!
"Here you go!" Sweet Leaf handed the torn slip to me. "The three of us share the same homeroom, so just report to it every session without any fear of changes to the plan!"
"At this point, I would accept any with open arms, because there's no way in Tartarus it can get any worse than this."
"Alright." I gave the three of them a smile as I strolled off. "Thanks so much for your help. See you soon."
I studied the slip as I walked further down the hallway, my ears catching snippets of conversation from the three.
"I can definitely see why he needs help..." Sweet Leaf started. "But I don't know if he'll ever learn to do it for the sake of others..."
"Yeah..."
I gave a snort as I paced faster towards the main door.
Well, screw them. I have more important things to do than learn about kindness.
The glass doors swung outward to the front of the school, where a giant, three-part marble statue rested in the middle of the school-yard.
Thud, thud. Thud, thud.
I continued making my way down the steps as I stared at the symbol of Canterlot High.
Thud, thud. Thud, thud.
The first part of the statue was a wide, flat pedestal that raised the rest of the sculpture above the ground, about as tall as a human foot from the sole to the heel. The second part was a huge, block-like structure with a large, mirror-like surface on all four sides and a fancy decoration on the top, covered with three marble slabs.
The final part of the statue was emblematic of the school's spirit; a statue of a horse on its hind-legs, rearing up in preparation for a deadly, overhead strike against its assailants. Stallion, from what I've heard the other students and staff talk about it. And something about how it was supposed to represent the spirit of hard work and strength.
Not that it helped us in any of the Friendship Games events against...ugh.
Crystal Prep Academy.
I strolled over to the mirror-like surface, stuffing my hands back into their pockets as I studied the details of the large block.
Hey. Is one of my hair braids loose?
As I arrived within arm distance of the statue, I bent over slightly and tilted my head to the right, allowing me a full view of the errant hair braid. As both hands were raised to adjust it back to its usual tightness, I took another look at my colour scheme.
My straight, shoulder-length hair was a dirty, aged-white tone, and my skin the colour of old concrete. Separating my hair into several thick, rope-like strands were several cylindrical, black braids with one red line at both ends, varying in terms of sizes and occupying different parts of my hair based on the distance from the scalp.
Best decoration present set I've ever got.
Once it regained its usual tightness, I gave my reflection a nod and continued strolling away from the school's front, eager to get to the nearest bus stop.
Like I've said, there's no way I'm driving a car to school when there are nutcases out there ready to thrash it.
A quick walk around the block revealed an alternative bus stop where the bus service that would take me back to the nearest bus stop near my house was.
Screech!
I jolted at the sound, glancing up at the bus that had just arrived at the stop. A quick glance at the bus number told me that it was the one I was looking for.
"That was fast." I noted.
"Psssst! Thok!"
Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!
The sound of footsteps thundered throughout the bus as a large group of children hurried down the steps, happily chatting away as the bus driver tapped a finger against the driving wheel in irritation.
“C’mon, people! It’s almost time for Rainbow Dash to start training with the athletes!”
Oh, look. It’s Captain’s own little fan club.
I watched as a gaggle of little tweens stepped down from the bus, each and every one of them wearing a hair hat that was messily styled with the seven different colours of the rainbow.
And at the forefront of the group was the enthusiastic, tomboy club leader, whose name was…
“Scootaloo, good to see you.” I maintained a neutral stare. “If I recall correctly, Captain Dash should start training with the Alpha athletes under Coach Stormy Flare at the Soccer Field in fifteen minutes, so you've still got time.”
The violet-haired girl returned my gesture as she twisted her head back to her group and the pair of adult chaperones that had just gotten off.
“Alright, you've heard what the big guy said. We've got some time before the training session starts, so get yourselves ready before we move out! Thanks, Skies!”
I stared with remote interest as she herded the entire group off to a small gate that led to the stadium. With a guttural sigh, I made my way up the bus and took a seat.
If it wasn't for Miss Harshwhinny, I would be out there, training with the rest of them.
"Psssst! Thok!"
And I certainly wouldn't be stuck in a mind-numbing lesson with that wimp called Fluttershy.
The bus gave a forward lurch as it prepared to move off, gradually settling into a slightly smoother form of motion when the bus reached its normal traveling speed.
It's only a matter of time before the whole thing ends. I thought. Just two more months and she'll be out of my hair.
I won't be sad to see her go in the end, anyhow.