//------------------------------// // Date Prep // Story: School Days // by Dai Kirai //------------------------------// Stormy stood outside his brother’s house. It was only three so Thunder Cloud was still at work but Wishing Well would be home. Outside of special conferences she was always home. He gave three quick raps on the door. “One moment please.” His sister-in-law called out, Stormy knew she would be extricating herself and not to mess up her ‘carefully constructed organizational system’ of stacks and piles of papers. It took several minutes before clopping could be heard nearing the door. The door opened to a pale pink mare the color of unbleached silk her mane like a subtle blush with the deep purple pink eyes of a myrtle tree. The colors were hard to see and if Stormy had not recognized the blur he might have screamed at the onrushing pony that glomped on. He stood and took it, she normally let go after a minute or so. He tried to wrap a leg around the earth pony to return the hug and failed miserably in her steel grip. “Finally taking a break from the constant studying?” wishing Well chuckled and let the smothered pegasus extricate himself.” “No.” Stormy followed her in. “I kinda got kicked out.” Well gave a concerned look but nothing more and quickly made her way to a free- standing whiteboard, carefully moving through piles of papers. The whiteboard sat against one wall, all six feet of height and eight with width were covered in scribbles and equations similar to her cutie mark. “Can I ask you a question?” “Besides that one?” Well asked while working on some new problem. “I need some help preparing for a date tonight.” Her marker clattered to the floor. A massive “SQUEEE!” echoed through the room and Wishing Well bounded over her papers in one leap and rapid fired questions. “What’s she like? Is it a she? Where did you meet? Cute? Pony? Human? Griffon? Zebra? Does Thundy know?” Uhhhhhh. “Met her on Earth during orientation,” Stormy started, he might as well tell her, and he needed someone to tell. “She is the most beautiful pegasus you have ever seen.” He recalled her fiery mane. “But we’ve only known each other for a little bit.” He openly pawed the ground. Wishing smiled gleefully. “So first off we need to decide on attire. Where are you going? Blooming Iris? Thats where I went on my first date and you can go in casual attire.” “Some place called the Golden Crow but I’ve never heard of it.” The earth pony’s snout turned down and she stared at her brother-in-law. “You’re sure? The Golden Crow?” “That’s what her letter said.” Butterflies started growing in his stomach, something had to be off. “Is that a problem?” “No?” Well cleared her throat. “I mean, no. It was just unexpected. That’s where Thunder took me when he proposed. You must tell me about this mare later. For now let’s get you into one of your brother’s suits, something very fancy.” “How fancy?” Stormy hesitated, he did not like dressing up, suits rubbed against his flank weirdly. “Tux.” Wishing Well stated before trotting off to the back rooms, only now did he notice a slight bulge to her belly. *** Stormy stood in the front room struggling against the fabric. It looked nice he had to admit. A white undershirt covered his chest while a black overcoat went along his back and down the flank, both went down his forelegs. There was a blue something he didnt know the name of between the two and a pink bowtie at his neck. The shoes were worse than the suit though all shiny and black and stiff. No matter how he moved something brushed against his fur in an unused to manner. “Quit fidgeting.” Wishing Well ordered, “and let me finish your mane.” She had taken a brush to both his mane and tail along with some sort of sweet smelling spray. “Next, you need to pick up a flower for your date, something that goes with her mane.” She took a step back to look at her work. “It will have to do.” She gave him a wink. “Good luck Stormy.” He tried not to gag upon leaving, the butterflies had yet to leave him, in fact they seemed to be multiplying like an altostratus. He knew where the Golden Crow was but not a flower shop, so he kept his eyes open along the way. Celestia’s sun had set but a full moon shone plenty of light upon the streets of Canterlot while the ensconced lights showed off varied houses and storefronts. Stormy slowed his gait and focused on his breathing, he rarely took the time to stroll down streets. There were so many shops and all selling something different. It wasn’t until he got to the restaurant that he found a flower stand. It was a bland little thing next door to the restaurant, a mass of beige, the only reason he saw it was because a shock of colorful flowers through its windows. Even then he barely noticed it next to the gold, black, and white of the Golden Crow. Stormy entered “Daisy’s Daisies”, unsure what to expect. He was blasted by the colors and fragrance, it was like a war as soon as hoof entered store. Everything was competing and clashing but they were the most beautiful flowers he had ever seen with the most vivids greens, brash pinks, dappled purples and cool blues. There was one flower that he was particularly enamored with called a fire bloom, it had five petals that radiated from a bright fushia to a golden yellow surrounding a navy blue center. It reminded him a the Radiant Dawn’s morning mane and took three of them to the counter and paid for them. He carried them outside in his mouth, the had a cool smoky scent that filled his nose along with a hint of pine and waited for his date.