//------------------------------// // Part Three // Story: On the Other Side // by Gumo //------------------------------// “Fine, fine,” you concede with a soft sigh. “What next then?” “Well, before you head over to orientation, you’ll need to choose a new name, won’t you?” The prospect of a new name has not occurred to you until now. You just assumed you'd be same out Louise despite the new body. Now that you're here though, it's obvious how that's just not going to work for you. No ideas jump out at you as you rack your brain. Naming anything is hard enough, giving yourself a new name is a different beast all together. Maybe you should just ask for help. "Can I hear some examples of names other transfer students chose?" "Well, most students are just going by their original names. A name from your world will help not with not getting confused for a student who didn't transfer," the nurse explains. "I'll just... go by Lou then. Make it short for Louis." She nods, taking note of that. It's not even much of a new name. You've been called Lou by your mother since you were a kid after all. But something feels so different about it now. You almost want to hastily change the name to something else, but you know that won't actually change anything. You'll feel out of place no matter what name you're going by. Might as well just roll with this for now. "Alright then Louis," she replies, toying with the sound of the name. She has most likely never said the name "Louis" before in her entire life. The thought does amuse you as you begin to wonder what else is going to be oddly foreign to the ponies here. "Follow me." You walk with her down the halls. As your eyes wander about, you can't help but be impressed by everything around you. It's as if every depiction of a school in a cartoon has been brought together, all the best stereotypes being laid out into an actual place. Everything is immaculately clean, the weather looks gorgeous from your view through the windows. If you weren't standing right here you'd no doubt say a school this pristine could never exist. And, if you were still on Earth, you'd probably be right. A pair of ornate doors open with a graceful glide outwards as you approach them. Your eyes dart around, looking for the sensors, yet find nothing. Maybe the doors are enchanted? All the resources you've read seem to indicate that magic tends to be the source of most advancement in Equestria. The door lead out into the maid quad of the campus, or at least, you assume that's what this has to be. The sprawling, perfectly cut, lawn stretches out in all directions. Paved walkways are spread about the area, leading into all the disconnected buildings. You assume these are mostly lecture halls, although you really can't be sure until you've seen things closer. In the center of the campus you see a large ornate fountain. Arcs of water spout from the base of a statue of two ponies. Based on their stature and the intricacy of the sculpture, they're quite important. One is carved in a marble white, the other a dark stone that you think is obsidian. "Who are they?" "Those are Princesses Celestia and Luna, rulers of the kingdom and founders of this university," explains the nurse, at first surprised to have to explain such a thing. "Oh, that's... important to know." "Quite so, I had assumed they'd have prepared you better for visiting!" "Heh, y-yeah," you look down. You were sent a rather long document full of information about Equestria once you were accepted. You... definitely skimmed it. Being honest you just decided to push it off for later and printed it out and shoved it in your bag. Wait, your bag! "Hey, uh, my belongings were sent in the portal before me. Where are they?" "In your dorm room." "Oh, good..." Silence falls once more as you notice the group of figures around the fountain. Most are other ponies. They stand amongst each other chatting idly. A few are keeping to themselves, waiting around for something. You notice of the fifteen or so by the fountain, a few aren't quite like the others. One that particularly catches your eye is similar to a pony but with key differences. They're a bright green with insectile features. Their eyes are compound, their wings more like a fly's than the soft wings of pegasi. Even their body seems to lack fur, being covered instead by a carapace. "Um... is that a giant bug?" You cock your head as you try to resist pointing at it. "A changeling, they're shapeshifters. It was surprising to see one of the students come out as one, but it was always possible. Don't worry though, she's the friendly type." "Friendly type?" "Somewhat recently widespread reforms took place among changeling hives. Their bodies shifted to reflect that change. She's one of the reformed changelings. Most changelings who refused to reform exist in fractured nests, so you shouldn't worry about running into them," explains the nurse. "Gotcha," you reply, really wishing you hadn't blown off that document. "So these are the other transfer students?" The nurse nods as she motions for you to join them. "Your guide will be here shortly along with a special guest speaker, so be on your best behavior when they arrive." With that she leaves you to the crowd of transfer students. Most of them don't pay you mouch mind. A few nod your way and say hello, simple introductions. That is, most everyone except the creature who has just bounded up to you. They're not a pony. Their body is an amalgam of feline and avian parts. They have the head of some bird of prey, probably an eagle or a hawk, but the hindquarters of a lion. A large pair of wings are tucked behind them as their beak stretches into an eager grin. You may have skimmed that packet, but even you know a griffon when you see one. "Hey there," says the griffon, his voice coming out in an english accent. At first the voice surprises you, but there was mention of this being an international effort after all. "You the last one?" "I think so," you reply, waving a hoof awkwardly at the eager guy. "Finally, I've been waiting here for hours!" He stretches like a cat, leaning forward and arching his back. "I'm ready to get things rolling!" His tawny feathers and brown fur seem somewhat damp as you look him over closer. You gaze over at the fountain, noticing what seem to be claw marks cut into the basin. At first you want to ask him about what he has done in these hours, but decide against it. "The nurse said that the guide should get here soon." "Perfect! I'm Peter by the way," he extends a talon to shake hands, only to remember that you have hooves and set his arm down. "I"m Louise, err, Louis." "Well which one is it mate? Louise or Louis? You don't sound like much of a Louise." "I was a Louise," you explain, "now I'm a Louise. But... you can call me Lou." "Wait, you..." Peter looks you up and down, processing what you said. "You used to be a girl?" "Yes," you reply curtly, your face feeling warm with embarrassment. "Neat, you'll have to tell me about how this happened later, but right now I see someone coming!" Your embarrassment is sidetracked as you look over to where Peter is pointing. A pony with radiant emerald color fur approaches the group. She's wearing a simple smile as she surveys the crowd. A nod of approval leads into her speech, "Welcome, visitors from Earth! I am Glittering Grove, and I'll be leading your tour around campus. I'm a graduate student here and very involved with functions here at Equestria University." She pauses as students mumble out quick greetings. Everybody's eyes are glued to her. Even the ones who looked a little bored and drowsy just moments ago are alert and attentive. Seems like everybody was just as eager to get going as Peter. The eager silence is infectious as you too find yourself now glued to Glittering Grove the moment she begins speaking again. "But before we do that, somebody wants to have a word with you all! She may not mean much to you all yet, but she's very important member of society here in Equestria. Despite her youth, I am certain she could teach here if she wanted to! So, without any further ado, let's hear it for Princess Twilight Sparkle!"