Dropping by for a Visit
March 12th, 2013
I drove on the west path of the Everfree Forest to get back to Ponyville since it's basically straightforward and leads towards one of Ponyville's entrances. This path also T-intersects with the entrance to Sweet Apple Acres, so I might as well check on how the apples trees are doing in the season so far.
When I approached Sweet Apple Acres, I took a gander at the trees, and so far the leaves are pretty much what have grown for now, but I could be wrong because apple buds are pretty small. As I drove past the rows of apple trees, I noticed a familiar orange pony examining one of the trees. I slowed down, pulled over to the side of the white fence and opened the sliding window.
"Howdy, Caleb." Applejack greeted.
"Hey Applejack," I replied. "Whatcha' doin'?" I asked.
"Just checkin' out on these here apple trees. Seems like it's taking more time than usual for the buds to show up." Applejack said.
"You know why?" I asked.
"I have no idea, but it could just be a short delay I guess." Applejack assumed, looking up at the budless tree.
"Well, I hope that they start sprouting soon. Those apples sure are delicious." I said.
"Oh, why thank you, Caleb," Applejack thanked. "What're you doin' out there in the Everfree?"
"Just taking a drive. Gotta get this puppy some use or else it'll go dead again." I replied.
"Keep at it then. That Land Rover of yours can sure cover a lot of ground pretty quick." Applejack said.
"It sure does," I said. "How's your wonderful family?"
"They're doing mighty fine. Big Mac's been helping me out with the hard work, and Granny Smith's doing a good job at keeping the garden looking nice and dandy." Applejack replied.
"What about Applebloom?" I asked.
"She's helps out with minor tasks, but she's in school right now at the moment." Applejack replied.
"School, huh?" I asked.
"That she is." Applejack said.
A idea then came to mind.
"You think the school would mind if I dropped in to surprise the kids?" I asked.
"I'm not too sure about that. Miss Cheerilee probably wouldn't take kindly to barging in on one of her lessons." Applejack replied.
"Is she like the mean, grouchy teacher?" I asked.
"Oh, no, no, no, she is the exact opposite of that. She's one of the most kindest and caring teachers you could ever possibly meet in all your days." Applejack explained.
"Oh, well that's great news." I said.
I checked at my watch and it was 12:04.
"Y'know, I might be able to catch them at after lunch recess if I drive over there fast enough." I mentioned to Applejack.
"Heck, you may be right about that." Applejack agreed.
"You mind giving me directions? I've never really seen the school for myself." I asked.
"Sure. Just keep heading straight, cross the purple bridge, take the first left, follow the path forwards and take the last right. Eventually, you should come across a red schoolhouse with a red flag tied to a pole." Applejack instructed.
"Red schoolhouse with red flag. Okay, I got it. Thanks a lot, Applejack!" I said as I put the Defender in first gear.
"You betcha. See ya later." Applejack said as she waved at me.
Once I reached the end of the Everfree Forest and crossed the purple stone bridge that leads into Ponyville, I followed Applejack's directions to find the schoolhouse. I continued on the straight path and took the last right. I was pretty much on the outer rim of Ponyville now. There wasn't much to my left, excluding the trees that I passed by, but I kept looking left until I saw a red building in the distance.
"This must be it." I said, looking at my watch that now read 12:15.
As I got closer to the building and white fence that acted as a perimeter for the school, I took notice of the sign with a book on it that read, "Ponyville Schoolhouse." The building's color scheme reminded a whole lot of the barn-house's colors at Sweet Apple Acres. On the roof of the building was a huge grey bell. I'm guessing that acts as the bell that signifies when school starts and gets out. When I sat in the Defender, a whole wave of small fillies and colts flooded out of the school and towards the back, supposing that recess had just started.
I pulled the Land Rover to the side of the road, put on the parking brake, and exited. I walked towards the school and right when I got on school grounds, a mare with a cerise coat, light green eyes, and a mane that consisted of the color rose and a whitish-rose mixed stripes exited the front entrance. She immediately took notice of me and a look of welcoming surprise appeared on her face.
"Caleb Barlow?" Cheerilee asked.
"Hi there!" I replied with a wave. "I'm supposing you're Miss Cheerilee?"
"Yes, that would be me. It's such a surprise to have you here, Caleb." Cheerilee said as we shook for the first time.
"I suppose this is a little bit sudden." I said.
"Oh, nonsense, it's perfectly fine," she assured. "What brings you to the school?"
"I thought it would be nice to drop in and surprise the kids with a visit, if that's okay with you." I said.
"I bet the the children would love that! How sweet of you." Cheerilee accepted.
"So, it's a yes?" I asked with anticipation.
"Of course it is. You have full permission." Cheerilee replied.
"Fantastic!" I said.
"Everypony should be in the back right now. We should probably get a move on because those little fillies and colts need supervision." Cheerilee mentioned.
"Absolutely. Let's move then." I agreed.
Me and Cheerilee began to walk towards the right side of the school where the fillies and colts are playing.
"So, you got anything special planned for the children this week?" I asked.
"Actually I do. On Friday, i'm taking the children on a field trip to the Canterlot statue gardens to teach them about what each statue is and symbolizes." Cheerilee replied.
"Really? I remember seeing this one statue that stood out from the rest." I said.
"Which one would that be?" Cheerilee asked.
"Ahhh, it's on the tip of my tongue," I tried to remember. "Ummm, it was.... Discord! The lord of chaos, right?" I asked.
"Not lord. Spirit of chaos." Cheerilee corrected.
"That's who he is. But anyways, that sounds like a nice, little educational trip." I said.
"Educational, indeed. My three students, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo talk about you alot." Cheerilee brought up.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure them three and this small colt named, Pipsqueak, are the only kids I've met in Ponyville. I've been going back and forth from Ponyville to Canterlot most of the time here and I think the parents were a little uneasy about me at first." I said.
"It was quite a scare back in November of last year, I'll admit. But after everypony listened to your speech, it really showed that you were really a kind individual with good intentions and emotions. With all the crazy stuff that goes on in Equestria, it's hard to tell what's friendly and what's not." Cheerilee explained.
"I can't blame them. I would probably freak out too if I were in their hooves and saw something like me for the first time." I said.
"Well, at least that's all in the past." Cheerilee said.
After our little conversation, we finally reached to where the fillies and colts were playing. Some were chasing after each other, some were by the swings, and some were even sitting innocently on the grass, just taking in the view. It sure was huge contrast to what I witnessed in the Everfree Forest like twenty minutes ago.
"Aww, they're cute." I said.
Cheerilee raised her hoof to her mouth and whistled to get the kids attentions.
"Attention, my little ponies! We have a very special guest who decided to drop by for a visit." Cheerilee announced.
Every single one of them turned towards my direction and noticed me right away.
"Look everypony! It's Caleb the human!" a filly with a light purple coat and opal mane, added to the announcement.
"Caleb!" a trio of three familiar voices exclaimed to my left.
I turned towards the direction of the voices and here comes the CMC running right at me.
"Hey, girls!" I replied back.
The three fillies then latched onto my legs in the form of a hug.
"What in Equestria are you doin' here?" Applebloom asked with excitement.
"I thought I'd pay you and your classmates a visit." I replied.
"C'mon, everypony, he's really friendly." Scootaloo said.
"Yeah! Think of him as a gentle giant." Sweetie Belle added.
"It's okay. There's nothing to be afraid of." Cheerilee supported.
The fillies and colts began to trot slowly over to me and their faces expressed amazement.
"Try sitting down. They might be a bit skittish on how tall you are." Cheerilee suggested.
"Watch out, girls." I alerted the CMC.
Once they slightly moved out of the way, I slowly sat down on my butt and criss-crossed my legs.
"He's huge." a colt with orange coat and dark blue mane remarked.
Within seconds, I had a crowd of small fillies and colts stared up at me interest, the CMC also joined the crowd.
"Caleb, how about you tell the children why you're here." Cheerilee said.
"Sure thing. Well, like your teacher said, I'm here because I thought I would drop by to visit the school and check on how you guys are doing. I've never really got to meet you guys too, so I thought, 'Why not drop by?'" I said.
The kids continued to look up and pay attention.
"How about one of you tell what you guys learn. I used to learn about criminal justice back in my world, like catching bad guys." I said.
"I can!" a filly wearing a tiara exclaimed, raising her hoof.
"Go right ahead." I said.
"So basically, we learn cutie mark magic and why we get them, but it doesn't really apply to me because I already have one." the filly said in a somewhat snobbish tone.
"Nice! And what is your name?" I asked.
"Diamond Tiara." she replied, slightly flipping her mane.
"Cool name. Goes with your appearance real well." I said.
"Why, thank you so much." Diamond Tiara thanked to her compliment.
"And I'm Silverspoon." another filly next to Diamond Tiara said.
"I like your glasses. Very fancy lookin'. You and Diamond Tiara are friends?" I asked.
"Best friends for better words." Diamond Tiara replied for Silverspoon, using emphasis with her snobbish tone.
Out of the bottom of my eyes, I could see Scootaloo mouthing something while looking rather annoyed, but couldn't make it out. I slightly lowered my lower lip in suspicion. A slightly thinner and taller colt with a orange coat and turquoise mane raised his hoof.
"Question?" I asked.
"What are those worm like thingies." the colt asked in a voice that sounded goofy, slow, low, and a hint of Canadian accent in it.
"Yeah, like.... What are those for?" a more rounded and shorter colt with a higher voice asked.
"These? These worm thingies are called fingers and make up my hand. They help me grab and hold objects." I explained.
A filly in the front row of the crowd was appeared to be fixated on my fingers at the moment. I looked at her and she looked at me.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare." the filly apologized innocently.
"No, it's alright. Are you interested in them?" I asked.
"Your fingers are really cool looking." the filly replied.
"Here. Touch here and see what happens." I said, presenting the palm of my hand.
"The center?" the filly asked.
"Yep." I said.
The filly face lit up with interest and slowly moved her tiny hoof towards my large hand. When her tiny hoof made contact, I quickly flexed my index finger towards my palm. The filly giggled to my quick actions and made contact again. Suddenly, more children began to walk up and touch my hands. I found it funny how the children were treating my fingers like the most biggest discovery of their lives.
"Wow. Imagine how good you would be at video games." a colt wearing a striped hat with one of those helicopter twirlers at the top, said.
"You play videogames, too?" I asked the colt.
"All the time. I just can't get enough of them," the colt replied. "What's your favorite video game?"
"Favorite game.... hmm. Ah, when I was ten, my favorite game of all time was founded. It was called Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis. A game where you could design and build your own theme park filled with dinosaurs." I explained.
"What's a dinosaur?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"They're like dragons, but come in various shapes, sizes, and can't talk." I said.
"Wow. Your games sound more fun than the games that ponies get." the colt said.
"It does? Huh." I said.
I looked at my watch and it was now 12:24.
"Hey Cheerilee, how much time do you guys have left?" I asked, showing her the watch.
"Exactly six minutes." she replied.
"Six minutes, okay. Quick, CMC, what do you guys do for fun here?" I asked.
"We usually like to play four square over there by the fence." Scootaloo replied.
"Four square, that'll do," I said to myself. "Okay, kids, we're gonna finish off this visit with a game of four square, but it won't be your average four square." I said.
"What'll it be like?" Applebloom asked.
"I'll show you. Follow me." I said to the fillies and colts.
I then rose up and walked towards the white lines that formed the four squares while the children followed behind. In the center was a blue ball.
"Okay, so this version of four square will be testing your reflexes and is called King of the hill four square. I will be standing in the king square and every one of you will be trying to get me out only. It will be fast paced and the next player must enter the toilet square to keep the flow moving. Whoever can get me out will become the king or queen of four square. Got it?" I explained.
The crowd of fillies and colts all nodded and replied in understanding. I then chose three random kids while the rest lined up.
"Cheerilee, you mind shagging the ball for us?" I asked her.
"No problem at all." Cheerilee replied.
"Ready?" I asked, grabbing the blue ball.
"Ready!" everypony replied with enthusiasm.
"Go!" I exclaimed bouncing the ball into the square to my left.
Pipsqueak quickly reacted and swiped the ball back into my square, and I deflected that to the right square, where Aura shot the ball back into mine. I then hit the ball back into her square, but she missed the ball. Cheerilee quickly ran to where the ball was bouncing out of bounds and tossed it back towards me. For a teacher, she's pretty fast, but it could be the fact that ponies are faster than humans.
"Good try!" I called to Aura. "Next one get in here." I reminded.
Aura obediently moved out of her square and the next player entered the first square. I hastily shot the ball in the far left square where Pipsqueak was positioned, but he wasn't paying attention to the ball at the time.
"Gosh darn it!" he exclaimed with his British accent.
Next up was Applebloom and she moved into the square where Pipsqueak moved out. Sweetie Belle then moved into the first square while Scootaloo waited next in line. As I played against the three ponies, the rest in line's eyeballs followed the ball with each movement it made, focusing intensely on the game. Sweetie Belle hit the ball towards me and I hit it into Diamond Tiara's square, who was to my right. She hit the ball, but physics, angles, and directional force betrayed her, causing the ball to not land in the square, but out of bounds.
"Uggggh." she moaned without much sportsmanship, but I didn't mind.
Scootaloo then stepped into the first square. It was now me up against the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Sweetie Belle looked over at Applebloom and nodded, while Scootaloo quickly nodded her head as well.
"That can't be good." I thought to myself.
I began by bouncing the ball into Applebloom square, but she hit it into Sweetie's rather than mine. Sweetie hit the ball into Scootaloo's and she hit it into Applebloom's. They repeated the order numerous times and my eyes followed the ball. When the ball was passed into Applebloom's square again, I automatically looked over at Sweetie Belle, expecting the ball to go there, but the ball landed into my square and rolled under between my legs instead. The crowd of young ponies cheered for the CMC for that had achieved victory at King of the hill foursquare. The three fillies then joined together and bumped one of their hooves together in unison.
"How about that, Caleb?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"You gotta admit that was pretty clever." Scootaloo said.
"Okay, I admit it, that was pretty smart thinking. Good on you! Whose idea was that?" I asked the three fillies.
"It was mine." Applebloom replied.
"Oh, Applebloom. Being the leader of the CMC, I should've guessed it would be you." I said.
The CMC then moved towards the kind square and shouted in unison: "We are the queens of four square!"
Everypony clopped their hooves to the declaration of victory. With that, Cheerilee got my attention.
"Caleb, what's the time?" Cheerilee asked.
"Twelve-thirty one." I replied.
"Okay, little ponies, time to head back inside." Cheerilee announced.
"Awwww." everypony moaned.
"A word of advice, little ponies," I began, "You are very lucky to have this kind mare to be teaching you. Her job is to inform and teach you on what you'll be needing to know in the future ahead. If you don't know what you need to know, how would you be able to do it? Think about that." I said to the children.
The children began to think to visibly from the facial expressions. Once they accepted my advice, they all nodded and chatted in agreement.
"Thank you." Cheerilee mouthed.
I replied to her with a thumbs up.
"You guys keep up your hard work, I bet you a million bits it'll pay off in the future." I added onto my advice.
"Keep that advice in mind, kids. Now don't I have a lesson that I need to teach you?" Cheerilee asked her class.
"Yes, Miss Cheerilee." the fillies and colts replied obediently.
"Very good. Now say goodbye to Caleb, head back inside, and take your seats." Cheerilee instructed.
"Goodbye, Mr. Caleb." they farewelled innocently.
"Bye, kids." I replied.
Once most of the students headed back inside, I held back Scootaloo to ask her why she mocked Diamond Tiara earlier.
"She's yours, Sweetie Belle's, and Applebloom's bully?" I asked Scootaloo in surprise to the revelation.
"Yeah, she keeps calling us blank flanks and it gets really annoying at times." Scootaloo said.
"Ehhh, I'll talk to Cheerilee about this. You better head back inside and take your seat." I said.
"Okay, Caleb. Thanks for helping out." Scootaloo thanked while hugging my leg again.
"Your welcome. See ya, kiddo." I said.
"See ya." Scootaloo replied.
Scootaloo then ran back towards the school and I managed to catch Cheerilee before she headed back inside.
"Excuse me, Cheerilee?" I said from behind her.
"What can I do for you?" she asked.
"Look, Scootaloo just informed me that her and the CMC have a bully." I said.
"Oh, are Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon at it again?" Cheerilee asked.
"I suppose. I remember Applebloom telling me once that she had a bully, but she didn't say who. Now I know who those two are." I said.
"I guess I'll have to have a little chat with them after school, won't I? Perhaps their parents, too." Cheerilee asked.
"That you will." I chuckled along with Cheerilee.
"Well, I want to thank you again for dropping by for a visit, you sure are really good with kids." Cheerilee remarked.
"Yeah, I had a little sister named Eveline, who I would babysit back in my world." I said.
"I bet she misses you very much. Sorry to hear that you had to leave her behind." Cheerliee said with sympathy.
"No, no, that's alright. Sometimes it's nice to think about my family every once and awhile though." I said.
"Family is pretty important as they say." Cheerilee phrased.
"That they are. Okay, I'd better let you get back to teaching. I'll see you around, Miss Cheerilee." I said.
"You too, Caleb. Bye now." Cheerilee said with wave.
I took one more look back at the school and Cheerilee had just closed the door. I then walked back to the Land Rover and hopped back. As I drove away from the school, I saw a few fillies, colts, and the CMC by the side window on the left side of the school waving at me through the windows. I simply replied by waving my hand out the Land Rover's driver window. With that, I headed back to the Golden Oak Library.
"That was a nice little stop." I thought to myself.