//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Night Falls and The Second Day Finally Begins… // Story: Their New Life In Equestria // by HAZESHIFT //------------------------------// Chapter 8: Night Falls and The Second Day Finally Begins… Erina slowly fell in behind Dan, Gaia, And Hope as they all re-emerged into the main living area of the tree//crystal/library/royal palace, confusing herself when thinking about how all four of those things combined together to form a suitable living house. As she came around from where the three had aligned she stopped when she came face to face with Princess Twilight who now looked calm and collected and was staring straight at her. “Princess Twilight!” Erina said dropping into an immediate bow. “I’m so sorry about before I hope I-” Was all she was able to get out before she felt herself lifted and brought into a hug. “Oh, now-now none of that Erina. And now more ‘Princess Twilight’ either. It’s either aunt or auntie Twilight. I’m not your godmother for nothing you know.” Twilight told Erina as she hugged her with enough force to be just short of crushing. “What?” Erina managed to choke out in surprise and was joined in unison by Gaia and Hope. Twilight let Erina go, who proceeded to stretch slightly but still kept her gaze on the princess while waiting for an answer “Yeah it’s true, guess you guys forgot over the years, it has been awhile since we saw you all. Heck, i still have pictures of all three of you as young foals playing naked in a mud puddle.” Dan joined in. “Dad we’re always naked. We only wear clothes when we feel like it.” Hope chimed in missing the look her father had that suggested he was waiting for someone to speak up. “Yeah but it doesn't make it any less embarrassing does it?” he asked to which Hope opened her mouth to reply but no words came out. She held the pose for a few seconds before clicking her jaws shut.  “Thought so. But anyways, looks like all of you have been learning a lot today.” “I’ll say. This day has been quite...illuminating.” Erina responded. She was a bit confused on how she couldn’t remember a lot of this. “Yes it probably has, but as much as I would love for you to stay and talk and catch up I think it’s time we get you back to your home before it gets too late. It is a school night after all.” Twilight said as her horn lit up and a magic circle appeared. “This should put you at the entrance...you all still live at the place near the outside walls of the palace correct?” Twilight asked and Erina could only nod. She had always heard of Princess Twilight being extremely talented in magic but a long-range precision transport circle was practically unheard of when being done by one pony. But then again, Princess Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship was not a normal pony by any stretch of the imagination.”Oh good then, I always liked that place.” “Ooh! I wanna go!” Hope said as she hopped into the circle, Dan joining her as Erina slowly made her way to the circle. “Sounds fine. Not coming Gaia?” Dan asked as the colt gave them a short wave before starting to head off, only pausing when his father called out to him. “Nah got a bit of homework for auditions tomorrow. See you there ms. number one.” Gaia said with a bit of cockiness in his voice while giving Erina a quick nod before disappearing down a hallway. “Well, he’s certainly one for theatrics...although with my family I’m not exactly one to talk,” Erina said and noticed the Twilight chuckled. “Yeah, your mom and his father sometimes have a bit more in common than they like to admit. Twilight responded and then gave a husband a look. Erina looked up only to find Dan with his mouth open about to say something before he closed it and rolled his eyes. “Alright now try not to move too much while the spell takes effect. And when you arrive feel free to link if you got spots in your vision it should wear off quickly. Tell Trixie that she needs to come down to visit, it’s been way too long.” Twilight said and Erina watched her horn light up in a brilliant light, everything flashed and there was a loud whooshing sound and for a second Erina had no idea where she was as the light blinded her and forced to her to shut her eyes until it passed. ____________________________________________________________________________ As quick as the noise and light had come they stopped and Erina stood with her ears folded and eyes closed just in case there was going to be a secondary effect. “Young miss is that you?” That was until she heard a familiar voice call out to her.  Immediately she opened her eyes to find herself in the lobby of her house and her butler Wordsworth looking at her with surprise. Taking a quick look around she also found several other members of the staff around the room, far too many for doing anything in one particular room. “Uh hello everypony, I-” was the only words she was able to get out before Words Worth in his stealthy butler ways had sidled up to her and swept her into a hug which was then followed by all the other staff joining in on the hug. As she was hugged and slightly crushed by the number of ponies she heard muted “she’s back” whispers which simply had her roll her eyes. “Dawww, that’s precious, the silence and happiness of the moment were broken when Dan spoke and all eyes except for Erina’s turned to the two other standing in the lobby. As quick as it had assembled and in the same amount of time the hug pile dispersed leaving Erina standing again and Wordsworth at her side, all the other staff members seemingly disappeared leaving only 4 in the room. “Ah Prince Allen, I did not see you there. And is that Princess Hope? My it certainly been too long you grown so long since last I saw you milady.” The Butler gave a bow and Erina looked to find that Dan and Hope had similar looks about them. “Yeah yeah enough of that,” Both of them said synchronized without even looking at one another and Erina felt the urge to laugh as Wordsworth gave a slight head nod before walking towards the hallway which led to the living room while Erina, Dan, and Hope fell in behind him ____________________________________________________________________________ Wordsworth led them to a door and opened it for them to walk through while taking a quick bow. Erina was the first through and found Her mother and Father Now looking at her as she took her first steps into the room, their eyes widening as they saw her. “Hi mom, Dad. I’m hommmf,” Erina found herself once again cut off but this time it was due to her parents swiftly capturing her in a dual hug. Her mother one side and her father on the other as they smothered her with affection. “OH finally you’ve come home, we were starting to become unnerved.” Her father said as he slowly let go. “Ha speak for yourself. I was fine the entire time, I knew she would eventually come home safe and sound.” her mother said although Erina knew better since she could hear just a bit of wavering in her mother’s voice. “Wow she didn’t even break into the third person, it has been a while.” The moment Erina was having with her parents was interrupted when Dan spoke from a few feet away. She felt her parents flinch and looked to see them look at who else had walked into the room. “Hello you two,” he said and laughed as they quickly disentangled themselves from the hug. “Oh, Dan we didn’t see you there. How have you- Oh my gosh is that Hope!?” Trixie began to welcome him and then saw the pony at his side and immediately all pretenses ran away as she rushed forward just stopping just short of hope before giving her a once over.  “My you’ve gotten so big since last time! “It’s nice to see you again too Aunt Trixie.” She said as Trixie hugged her for a minute before abruptly pulling back and looking at her, Erina, Dan, and Blueblood.  “Err... is something wrong,” she said as she saw a look akin to her own mother’s when something was wrong on her face. “I just realized. We’ve officially become one of those families that fell out of touch with their friends and haven’t seen each other and now has to remember that the little fillies and colts they saw years ago are now all grown up.” Trixie said as she turned to her husband who just raised an eyebrow at her words but still looked like he understood the implications. “To be fair Trix, I think we’ve all been feeling like that today. I think a good amount of us were surprised by how much Erina has grown...and how much of a freak out she actually had at some of the shenanigans our kids got into today.” Dan said. I did not freak out...that badly” Erina amended the end of her sentence when she noticed Hope raise an eyebrow at her. “You barged into the train car and started demanding an answer of my brother after he took on 20 semi-organized colts.  “She said to Erina who managed to maintain her composure and not blush. “Oh, so it was Gaia that everyone has been talking about,” Blueblood said when Hope gave a slight synopsis of some of the afternoon’s events causing Erina and Hope to look at him questioningly.  Well, some time during the afternoon a story began making its way around about a fight between a group of colts from the high school and, from what the neighbors were saying, some kind of ‘spider pony’. But now that Dan and Hope are here I think we can put together...did he really beat 20 colts?” Blueblood said and then asked Erina who in turn nodded at her father. “Yeah, and pretty soundly too. Also ripped a vending machine off the ground and threw it like it was a baseball.” She said and watched as her parent's eyes widened only slightly. “So I take it he’s gotten a good deal stronger since childhood.” Erina heard her mother say and chuckle. She wondered exactly what she meant by that but decided against asking any further questions for today. “Well I’m glad by this reunion but today has exhausted me. So unless there are any more big revelations for today…” She said looking to Dan who gave her a quick negative shake of his head. “Then I will be going to my room to get ready for tomorrow.  Have a good night Hope.” Erina finished announcing before giving Hope a quick hoof bump and leaving her, her father, and her parents behind. After getting some things ready for tomorrow, eating a small meal brought to her by one of the staff who she thanked, and saying goodnight to her mother who came to say goodnight, Erina settled down into her bed with the memories of the day fresh in her head as she soon fell asleep. ____________________________________________________________________________ The next morning saw Erina in her usual routine of waking up, preparing herself, having breakfast with her parents who showed no energy until their first cup of coffee. After that, she grabbed her things and headed towards school. Along her walk, she was joined by her two friends, Sprite Step and Coral Line. Two filly sisters, one a pegasus and one a unicorn, she had grown up with and seemed to sometimes follow her around like bodyguards and formed the two heads of her high school fan club. They walked on either side of her. Talking about something she wasn’t fully paying attention to. Erina was busy thinking about the previous day’s events. She was thinking about how they would play into today’s events before a nudge broke her train of thought. “Erina, are you even pay attention to what we’re talking about?” Sprite Step asked as she nudged her again to make sure she was paying attention this time. “Oh no sorry, I was lost in thought.” She apologized. And listened as Coral snickered next to her. “You’ve been thinking really hard this whole morning. What’s on your mind. Is it a colt?” Coral said as best she could without bursting into laughter. And on the other side of her Sprite was in the same situation. But instead of falling prey to their bait Erina just simply raised an eyebrow as the two giggled like the fillies they were.  Although if Erina was honest with herself then they weren’t technically wrong, but not correct either. “No you two I am not thinking about a colt, just about some things that happened yesterday.” She told them and noticed them quickly glance at each other. “Well, what a coincidence we were just talking about something like that as well...So Erina...real question here. DO you believe in Spider Ponies?” Sprite said and immediately Erina knew where this conversation was going to go. “This is about how Vice’s gang mercilessly beat down by an unknown ‘Spider Pony”, isn’t it?” Erina asked, stopping only for a second to make quick air quotes when she said Spider Pony. “Well yeah, it all anyone has been-....wait how did you know it was Vice’s gang?” Coral started to say but stopped mid-sentence when her mind processed what Erina said. “The same way I know that this wasn’t a ‘Spider Pony’ and also that he isn’t mysterious, you’ve already met him. “ Erina told them and didn’t bother to stop as they froze mid-step and just stared at her as she walked off. After a few seconds of walking away from them, Erina heard a combined “WHAT!” from behind her followed by the sounds of hooves rushing towards her as her friends caught up with her.  As they did they unleashed a flurry of questions that Erina pushed off as the continued walking towards school. She chuckled and pushed off answering anything until they reached one of the main roads of to the school and Erina stopped and took a seat. “Uh, Erina...are you bother going to explaining...anything?” Sprite asked and received no answer “eeeee-” Despite Sprite and Coral talking to her and all the other ponies talking around them Erina could make out a particular sound. “Oh in good time I will,” Erina told them. “-eeeeeE-” Erina listened carefully as the sound started getting louder. “Is that time going to be before school starts for the day?” Coraline kept on questioning. “-EEEEEE-” and closer “Ok, will you stop giving us the runaround and just- What is that!” Sprite said leaping into the air as a pink blur which was the source of the noise zoomed towards them. “EEEERINA!” the noise came and went as it passed Erina who, unlike her friends who freaked out, remained seated where she was. A screeching sound followed as the pink blur slowed down rapidly. Revealing a pink earth pony who was looking around frantically. “Good morning Doppler,” Erina said calmly as he friends overcame their fear of the speedy filly. Doppler heard Erina call out to her and spun around finding Erina behind her and quickly zipped over to her faster than Sprite and Coral thought a pony should be able to move. “You too. Mom thought it would be a good idea if I brought you some goods from the shop since you only got to eat one thing yesterday. She also put  some in there for Sprite Step and Coral Line.” Doppler greeted her and reached a hoof inside her pink mane before pulling out a white paper bag and handing it to Erina. Sprite and Coral watched in amazement as Erina opened the bag and the smell of sugar wafted from the opening. Multiple different donuts sat at the bottom of the bag just waiting to be eaten. Varied color frosting and sprinkles waited on the fluffy heaven that was those donuts and as Erina  formed thoughts about the sugary delights she didn’t notice as her friend's faces slid up next to hers, their cheeks touching as all three looked into the bag “Oh my Celestia, those look delicious,” Sprite said “Yeah, they are totally driving me to look past the fact that this filly just sped in out of nowhere and somehow knows both of our names without us ever giving her our names,” Coral said and couldn’t wait any longer and reached into the bag and took a donut. Her friends watched as the pink frosting seemed to glisten in the light as she took a bite.  All the meanwhile none of them noticed the small group walking towards them.  Erina watched her friend chew and couldn’t help but wonder of Coral’s thoughts was now echoing her own from yesterday. “Erina wondered how they would taste as she watched her friend devour the delicious delicate morsel. These thoughts continued even as she forgot to notice that she failed to give thanks to the filly that brought her these totally tasty treasures.” A voice directly next to Erina made her jump and accidentally throw the bag of donuts into the air where it was caught by Sprite. “You!” Erina heard Sprite call out and turned to find Gaia who was standing next to the spot she was just standing in. But besides that, she noticed something else. He wasn’t wearing any fancy clothes like he was yesterday, and all eight of his hooves were visible.  “You’re….” Sprite started too say something but Erina watch whatever she was about to say die on her tongue as she got a good look at Gaia. “you...you...you?” she couldn’t string a sentence together as Gaia just stood there looking quizzically at her for a bit. “Well I’ll let you figure that out but I got to get to school.” He told her giving her a polite nod before setting off towards the school the rest of the group said good morning to Erina as well as she joined them in walking leaving Sprite and Coral standing there with the bag of donuts for a while before Coral finally spoke up. “What in Tartarus was that!” ____________________________________________________________________________ After getting over their shock they caught up with the group and were given the proper explanation which put them into even more shock when they were told the parentage of everyone, more so when Gaia told them about his and Hope’s parents.  They apologized profusely for their behavior which Gaia quickly forgave them for and then told them to knock it off. “So why exactly do you have an extra set of hooves instead of being an alicorn like your mom?” Sprite asked as they got closer to the school. “Well from what my dad has told me I get it form him...sort of,” Gaia replied. “But doesn’t your dad also has four limbs?” “Yeah, that’s why I said sort of. From what he told me it’s that something that was supposed to go to him way back when but didn’t happen for some reason and now for continuity’s sake it was given to me.” “I have no clue what that means….” Sprite said and looked at Coral who nodded that she was in the same boat. “Yeah about the same here. It’s over most of our heads. But hey I just roll with it… oh boy looks like it’s showtime.” Gaia told them with a shrug before looking ahead. Sprite and Coral looked ahead to find they had made it to the school entrance. They could already see a number of heads turned in their direction, more specifically looking directly at Gaia. “And somebody is already waiting for us as well,” G got everyone’s attention as he motioned towards the school entrance where they were able to make out the shape of Andromedus waiting for them. “Well he looks happy,” Gaia said as they made their way across the schoolyard, and as they got closer it became apparent to everyone in the group that Andromeda was not happy due to the fact that they could make out a frown that in a way made him look very much like his mother. “Good morning everyone.” he greeted them when they got closer.watching as Erina, Sprite Step, and Coral Line was the only ones in the group that gave a slight bow, something he was ok with people doing but never asked for it. “Your look says otherwise.” Gaia quipped as he gave Andromedus a quick hoof bump, noting some hushed whispers from some corner of the schoolyard. “Yeah well you know why that is,” Andromedus said as his frown slowly shifted into a small smile “True. So how many of them have noble parents?” Gaia asked confusing Erina, Sprite, and Coral. “Well, would you be surprised if I said all of them?” “Actually yes. I was expecting a bit lower ratio on that. Maybe like three quarters. I’m guessing all of them are inside?” Gaia said with a level of cheer that confused Erina. “No.” And with one word from Andromedus, Erina watched all that cheer seemingly crash. “No?” “They decided that instead of taking it up with the principal, that since it happened off of school grounds that they would take it up with the uh... city government.” Erina couldn’t help but notice the smug look and eyebrow movement from Andromedus when he said “city government”. “They want to take it that far, really?” “Well, you know how dumb and stuck up nobles can be,” “Ahem…” Gaia and Andromedus turned and found Erina giving them a glare and then paused to go back over their words. “You’re an exception, Erina.” Andromedus gave her a slight apology while Gaia nodded in agreement. “Wait a minute, hold on I’m still confused. Since when did Canterlot have a city government?” Sprite spoke up confused about some of the information she was hearing between the two princes.G leaned over and poked her to get her attention and when she turned to face him she found him pointing towards Canterlot Castle. The group watched as the wheels started turning in her head. “Ooooh….Oh! I get it know.” she said and everyone managed to maintain their laughter. “Well, I guess this means that you’ll have to visit after school today. I’d love to talk more but i have to take care of something before class.” Andromedus said as he turned to walk back into the school leaving the rest of the group standing there still being watched by multiple groups. “He sure is a mode leader amongst all the second generation Alicorns...and Sleipnir.” Erina said and had to quickly correct her statement. “Well, when you’re the oldest out of the four of us...and most likely the sanest-” “Hey!” Hope interjected and slugged her brother in one of his forelegs. “-of us, he decided by himself to step up and try to be the best shining example he could.” Gaia told Erina and then began his march inside the school, the rest of the group following behind him. “Wait a minute… what did he mean four of them?” Coral asked and Erina just laughed it off as she finally took a donut. They were just as delicious as what she had eaten yesterday. ____________________________________________________________________________ After finishing the donut Erina made her way to her locker, taking note of the few groups of ponies that were giving her looks. It seemed like no more than usual but she guessed that what they were talking about had to do something with the events of yesterday. She wondered how many ponies actually knew what actually happened and how many were just spreading stories. As she walked to the theater she wondered if Gaia would clear anything up and explain what happened yesterday. “Good morning, Ms. Erina” her thoughts were broken up when she noticed Professor Juilliard was standing at the entrance to the theater. “Ah good morning professor, how are you today?” she asked. “Oh I’m fit as a fiddle,” he told her chuckling at his own little musical pun. “More importantly are you ok?” “I assume that you’ve heard something about what happened yesterday?” Erina asked probably knowing the answer to her own question. “Oh, a bit more than that. The whole staff was briefed by the royal guard yesterday before we all left. So that colt, Gaia is really an...well he is a prince but not an alicorn.” “The term is Sleipnir. And I’ve taken you’ve seen already him?” “Yes, he walked in a few minutes ago. The weird thing was that I started to give a bit of a bow and apologize for not recognizing him but-” “He interrupted you and told you ‘no more of that’.” Erina interrupted and enjoyed the puzzled look on the professor's face. “How did you know?” “Let’s just say that it runs in his family.” Erina gave him a simple answer rather than spend way too much time explaining. “Do you think his extra legs will have any impact on his musical skills?” the professor asked as he gave a wave to the last student and turned to walk into the theater. “Well if they are anything like his fighting skills we may be in for something different,” Erina said following alongside him. She listened to the buzzing of groups talking and going over the plans. “But let’s wait and see if he is actually any good before heaping any praise on him.” “Ah there the shrewd diva of the stage that I know.” the professor laughed as they reach the front of the theater as the bell rang. ____________________________________________________________________________ Erina along with one of the more instrumentally talented Junior made up the two student judges, who with the professor made up the audition panel. They along with some possible help from the audience would decide whether or not the student or students made it into the class in the first audition or if they had to revise their plans and try for the second audition. Professor Juilliard, though known to be a tough and stern judge on the outside was truly a softy on the inside who always knew just how to word his critiques that guaranteed that whoever failed the first audition. Erina knew this but never said anything since she was a fan of this approach. Although she knew that there had been a few times where ponies hadn’t taken his words to heart and they made the list of ponies who gave this course the stories about it being hard to get into. “OK and next we have Shady Grove, G, and, Gaia’s Fury.” The professor called out and some hushed whispers spread throughout the theater. Erina had to quickly clear her mind and think about how much time had actually passed. They had gone through a good number of auditions with the usual almost fifty-fifty ratio of passes to fails and it was now time for what others may have been considering as the most important audition. As the last group who had passed came off the stage the dragon, the Sleipnir, and a from what Erina could see, normal earth pony took the stage. Shady Grove quickly moved over to the drumset and after double checking, it took his spot. G stood off to the side with an electric guitar slung over his shoulder and before turning off the amp quickly plucked his claws over the strings. And Gaia,  whose bass guitar looked to be awkwardly settled around his four forelegs, approached the microphone. “Uh hello...The song my friends and I are about to perform is an original song that we came up with over the summer. It’s something we’ve let a few people hear, but those who did have gave us good feedback so that’s good news!” he said and his voice carried through the sound system. A few ponies, including the professor, laughed at his joke. Erina knew that the professor preferred ponies who had a more positive outlook and she could say that Gaia definitely fit that bill. “Something original you say P- Mr.Gaia, sounds interesting. And what style of music is this?” Professor Juilliard asked, Erina, noting that the grin Gaia had on never faltered as he started to speak again. “Well that’s the thing, it’s something new we came up with that we haven’t heard so we had a hard time coming up with a name for this music,” he said out loud and ponies around the theater began to look at each other in confusion. “That was till my mom happened to come by and hear us.” G said speaking up. “She said, and I quote “OH that sounds all messy, grimy, dirty, and grungy!” He paused as ponies laughed at his imitation of his mom, Erina laughed as well knowing that that definitely a spot-on impression of Mrs. Rarity. “So afterward we thought about and she was right so in honor of my mom we decided to call it Grunge.” He said and then picked up his guitar and got ready. Everyone in the theater hushed other to be quite as Sady began to clap his sticks together. After a four-count G started playing a simple riff for five seconds before Gaia and Grove joined in in a loud booming way before things went a bit quieter as Gaia began singing...