The bus finally pulled under a large sign that read Camp Everfree and rolled to a stop. As everyone started to get off the bus and look around, the camp announcement speakers squealed, and everyone covered their ears.
"Sorry about that. If everyone could start heading to the courtyard, we can start of the best week of Camp Everfree ever!" A cheerful voice came over. Everyone made their way over to the main gazebo in the courtyard, waiting for the counselors to begin their speech.
"Hi everyone, welcome to Camp Everfree! I'm Gloriosa Daisy. Think of me as your friendly camp and nature guide. I am also the camp Director. This here is my brother, Timber Spruce!" Gloriosa speaks with an overly cheerful demeanor. Sunset is the only one who seems to notice that it seems just a little fake, or so it seems. Someone else has noticed as well.
"Think of me as the fun counselor that you bring to the cool events. You know, the cool guy." Timber says, taking the mike from his sister and doing some fancy flips and twirls with it before handing it back.
"Well, you campers are allowed to do most everything around here. We do recommend that you don't that you don't hike far away from the camp though." Gloriosa says, before being interrupted by her brother, who says.
"And also don't hike by the rock quarry. That is off limits to." He finishes.
"Well yes the rock quarry is off limits, but otherwise you are able to do whatever you want. Come on, give some suggestions." Gloriosa instructs to the students, who then start to raise their hands, shouting out different things that they feel like doing their.
After a few moments, Principal Celestia, who has forgone her usual business suit for a more outdoors approach, raises er hand before speaking.
"I remember that my favorite part of coming here as a child was the Camp Gift. Every year, the campers would build or donate something for the next year, to be displayed for all. We gave the sundial you see." Celestia gestured to the stone sundial, which she was sitting on.
"Yes, though some of us didn't see the appeal, as you can't use a sundial at night." Vice-principal Luna said with distaste, showing off the fact that she was much more of a night owl.
"Yes, well I do see your point, but now it's time for tent assignments. Girls go with Timberspruce, and boys will get your tent assignments from me.
The 7 girls made their way to Timberspruce, and each drew from a pouch he held out. Pinkie and Rarity where first to pick, getting the emerald tent. Applejack went next, with a few going after her and Rainbow finally grabbing a card.
"Ah got aquamarine. Who else?" Rainbow quickly ran up to the farm girl and showed her the card she got ,which was also aquamarine.
Fluttershy finally got to pick a card and she got amethyst, a girl named Vinyl Scratch waving her over, showing she had the tent as well.
In the end, Sunset and Twilight got to pick their tent card, and they got sapphire. Twilight went off on a small lecture on how sapphires are not only blue, but other colors like pink, purple, and yellow. Timber heard this, and came over to talk to the two high school students.
"Yeah, but primarily they are blue. It is the most common color they are found as, with the others showing up less frequently, despite how they grow now since magic came to the land. Damn, wish Tirik had never shown up in this world, then we wouldn't have to worry about anything like they do in Equestria. Well, the other Equestria."
"SHHHH. Keep your voice down about stuff like that. You don't know who is watching for Tirik. And besides, yes they mostly come in blue, but the other colors still come up quite enough."
"True, but since they were more commonly blue, they were named after the Ancient language of the word sapphirus.
That means blue." He whispered. to which Twilight smiled and whispered back.
"I know. But did you know that sapphires are just rubies without chromium?"
"No, actually I've never heard that. But, I do know that sapphire is the best tent in the camp, and not just cause your in it."
"Really, why is it the best?" Twilight asked, wanting to know, her hunger for the unknown coming up.
"Because it is the oldest tent that has had the least amount of repairs over the years. All the other tents we have to replace the canvas tops every few months, but Sapphire tent keeps on trucking for a year, before we feel the need to change out the canvas. We never figured out why, but it might have to do with the root that makes up most of the tents floor."
"Why do you think the floor has to do with keeping the tent good?" Sunset asked, finally deciding to get in on the conversation. She was listening the whole time, but eventually when the love interest died down for actual story, she decided to actually come and hear what was being said.
"Well, a long time ago, this entire clearing was covered in roots, and when my grand parents came here, they saw the beauty, and so decided to share it with everyone. But they needed to cut the roots out to do so. So my grandfather started to remove the large roots that twisted around this camp, and each time he removed the wood, and set it aside to be used, he thought he could here distant wailing. He never could find where it came from, so he never gave it much thought. But then, one night, he started to hear the wailing. It was coming from the woods, and getting closer and closer to the house that my grandfather had built, using the roots and trees he had cleared out. He rushed out side with my grandmother beside him, and what awaited them was the spirit of the Menoa Tree, Gaea Everfree."
"Wait, what is the Menoa Tree? I have never heard of a tree named that." Twilight asked. A new voice answered her.
"The Menoa tree is the lifeblood of this forest, an ancient tree from back when this forest was named something other than Everfree. When this forest was named Du Weldenvarden. The tree was massive. The trunk was as thick as a hundred small trees, roots reached out for acres around it, each as thick as the base of the pine trees of the Spines Whitetail woods."
The new speaker was Mr. Had, and everyone looked at him in surprise. nobody had seen him coming, and they didn't even know he had heard them. Before they can say anything about what he said, Rarity, Rainbow, and Applejack come over to see what is going on. As they get to the small group, Gloriosa blows a whistle and calls the attention of the campers.
"Alright everyone, why don't you go get settled in. We will be meeting later down by the docks to go over camp safety guidelines. If anyone needs anything, don't hesitate to ask." It was at this time everyone saw a stretch limo pull up and a man stepped out of the back.
The man had a hooked nose that looked mashed to his face, and bushy eyebrows that gave him the look of a greedy thief. His face was flat and he wore a blue suit with a red tie and brown wingtip shoes. A golden buckle could be seen on his belt. Everyone in the camp immediately disliked him, Mr. Had more so for reasons that nobody understood.
"I need something." The mans voice was a deep nasally voice that sounded stuck up and high society at the same time. Gloriosa walked over to the man and grabbed him by the arm, leading him away from everyone while saying.
"Filthy Rich,how are you. You need to leave. This is the first day of camp. What are you doing here?"
"Oh, just looking around. Lord Tirik want's my company to start breaking ground soon, and I wanted to 'take in the scenery' if you catch my drift. I'll leave you alone, but if you don't pay soon, we will buy this place out." And with that, Filthy Rich got back in the limo, and left.