“Sunshine, we missed you this morning.” Announced a staff member in the office as she Nova and Wintry entered. “Mrs Mustang, did something happen this morning?”
“Yes, yes it did,” Wintry replied with a big smile.
“I get to call Wintry Mom from now on!” Sunshine exclaimed with a pronk.
“And she comes complete with a sister.” Wintry offered. “This is Miss Bright Star. She also answers to Nova.”
“Nova Mustang, at your service my lady.” Nova offered with a curtsy.
“Oh my. Today is just your lucky day.” The Clerk offered. “And I see you are a very special young filly.”
“She had a mishap and isn’t to use her wings for a while, but we were hoping she could start today.” Wintry offered.
“Yes, yes of course. We just need to enroll her.” The clerk offered. “Lunch is nearly over, have they had anything to eat.”
“Yes, thank you.” Nova offered.
“We stopped off for hay burgers on the way,” Sunshine informed.
“Well then, let’s get your file updated and your new sister enrolled.”
“Summer, where were you this morning?” demanded a cyan-blue filly with a rainbow mane as Sunshine entered the class.
“Hi, Dashie.”
“And don’t call me Dashie.”
“I got adopted this morning,” Sunshine announced.
“Awesome souse, that makes you like twenty percent cooler. Who’d you get?”
“Wintry and Colonel Mustang. I am now an official Mustang.”
“You mean no one else wanted you, don’t you?”
“Shut it, Hoops.” Dash scolded.
“I also got a sister who is also my cousin, believe it or not.”
“Sounds like another reject.”
“Dumbbell! Office. Now.” Their instructor, a gray mare with a red mane and tail, said crossly as she entered the classroom followed by Nova. Her entry preceded a high-pitched squeal which was followed by a yellow filly with a long pink mane glomping Nova.
"But?!" protested a small brown colt with a tan mane.
“So Cute!”
“Eeep!” Nova exclaimed.
“Um, Flutters?” Dash asked fully perplexed by Fluttershy’s reaction to the little fox pony.
“Never thought I’d see that happen,” Sunshine offered. “Nova is kind of cute though. Almost as cute as you Dashi.” Truth be told Nova reminded her of a doggy.
“I’m not cute!” Dash protested.
“Alright, every pony in your seats, except Dumbbell. Dumbbell, go, now,” ordered their instructor.
"Hoops was saying it too." Dumbbell protested.
"I didn't hear hoops, I heard you, now go. You know better."
“Yes, Mrs Chart Fluff.” Replied Dumbbell.
“Can’t breathe… owe-owe…” Nova protested.
“Fluttershy?!” Dash exclaimed.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Fluttershy replied as she let go, backed away, and hid behind her main. Nova was now sitting with her wings askew.
“Hang on.” Sunshine offered going over to Nova and tried to see if she could duplicate what Wind Rider did. It took a bit of trial and error, but they eventually got Nova’s wings back in place.
“Is she going to be alright?” Mrs Chart Fluff asked.
“I think so, yes, good, thank you.” Nova offered as Sunshine somehow managed to get the twist out of Nova’s back and then went to sit down.
“Now, every pony, listen up, we have got a new student joining us. Summer would you like to introduce your new sister?”
“Oh ya.” Sunshine offered and got up from her seat having already sat down. She walked up, turned, “Hi every pony, the reason why I’m so late today is that Colonel Mustang and Wintry adopted me. And this is my cousin, Nova.” Sunshine placed a wing over Nova and gave her a hug. “Who is also my new sister.”
“Don’t tell me that little squirt is the one my mom was all worked up over?” Asked the lone Griffin in the class. Like Mrs Seakite, she too was light brown and white. She was also the only one in the class who was not a pegasus.
“Oh wow, she’s an alicorn.” Someone in the class whispered.
“I’m sorry, no.” Nova offered. “I’m a fox pony, not an Alicorn, and I’m not a princess unless a sovereign of a kingdom recognizes me as such. It’s not that unusual for fox ponies to have both a horn and wings. It gives me a wider range of potential talents, but it’s raw power that makes a pony like me an alicorn. Right now my manna levels are probably a little lower than average. ” She gave that a moment to sink in. “Hi, I’m Nova Mustang. And yes, I’m Sunshine’s cousin, and now I get to be her sister.”
“So what happened to your family?” Asked the tall orange colt named Hoops.
“It was a magical accident that left me stranded on a cloud.” Nova offered. “I can’t really say for certain what happened at home, just that I can’t go back. Not because they don't want me, but because I don't know how to get home and no pony knows where my home was.”
“She’s a night pony,” Sunshine added. “Night pony enclaves will abandon a pony rather than risk discovery of their settlement. You see, the thing is, that’s why no pony ever came for me. I came from a hidden settlement. About the most they’ll do is make sure we are in safe hooves.” Of course, what she’d said was a blatant lie but it was one that would be backed up by the adults because it had indeed happened in the past. Nor could she tell any pony that she was actually from another world or that Nova was Nightmare Moon’s daughter.
“Wow, that really bucks.”
“Dash!” Mrs Chart Fluff scolded. "Care to join Dumbbell?"
"No mam. Sorry, mam." Dash said right quick-like. "It kind of does though," she added.
"Fair point, just watch your mouth."
“I do miss my birth mom, but she broke up with my father and wasn’t speaking with my Aunt,” Sunshine explained as she weaved a half-truth with a white lie. “I feel bad about it, but I’ve gotten a really cool Mom and Dad now, my cousin gets to be my sister, and we even get to be friends with Wonderbolts.”
“That is a whole lot of awesome right there.” Dash offered. “Can you introduce me?”
“I suppose we can always have a homework session at our house.” Sunshine offered. “No guarantee any of the Wonderbolts will come by though.”
“I ga-ta do homework?!” Dash exclaimed causing more than a few of the foals to laugh. “I might turn into an egg head though.”
“News flash, the Wonderbolts are all egg heads,” Sunshine informed her. “They don’t except ponies who can’t get good grades into the program. If you really want to be a Wonderbolt someday you have to be more than just a good flier, you have to be smart, and you have to be the best of the best in everything. That’s what makes them so awesome.”
“I ga-ta do homework?!” Dash protested.
“I’ll help you Dashie.” Fluttershy offered in her meek little voice.
“Like Dash could ever make the Wonderbolts.”
“Score, maybe you should be more concerned with what you can achieve?” Mrs Chart Fluff scolded. “Now, let's get started with class, fillies, seats please, Nova, I assume you want to be called Nova?”
“Yes mam.” Nova offered.
“Just pick any empty seat.”
“She can sit next to me. If that’s OK?” Fluttershy offered so quietly it was a miracle any pony could hear her.
“Fluttershy, you really need to speak up.” Mrs Chart Fluff prompted.
“She said I may sit by her,” Nova informed Mrs Chart Fluff and then went back to sit at an empty desk next to Fluttershy.
“Ha, she can speak Shy.” Score teased.
“Ek megmræli mang tungsrs.” Nova offered using a Nordic language that she knew.
“Oh, which was that?” Sunshine asked, and then regretted asking when a look of sadness crossed Nova’s face.
“It’s the language of the Crystal Empire.” Nova offered. “I, um, I know many stories about the Empire and its collapse. It was the fall of the principality that preceded the Empire that leads to the great migration… according to the historians of my home.” Nova couldn't very well say she’d been alive when the Empire was still a very real place. “Without the Crystal Heart, there was nothing to keep back the Windigos and ponies set to fighting among the tribes.”
“Ah, yes, I can see that.” Sunshine offered. “Kind of fits with what I know too.”
“And then Hearths warming came and they all learned to get along.” Offered a dark blue filly with a purple mane and tail. Her name was Indigo.
“Actually no, Discord happened.” Nova offered sheepishly.
“Well, as interesting as that may be, it’s the modern history we need to concern ourselves with for now.” Mrs Chart Fluff announced, waited a moment, and then began the lesson for that hour. Nor was she going to correct Nova since she knew from her college studies that Nova was probably right. In order to get the tribes to stop warring the best way to do it was with an imported threat that would unite them.
“Come on Dash, come to our house, we’ll help you with your homework.” Sunshine offered as they were leaving the school later that afternoon.
“Gilda?” Nova asked looking at the Griffin. “You can come too.”
“Whatever,” Gilda said and started walking away. “Hey Dash, you coming or hanging out with the loos…!” She spun around at the sound of a loud crack. A short distance above Nova, Dumbbell had a small black cloud. Arches of electricity danced about an apparently unfazed Nova.
“Dumbbell, What the Fuck?!” Sunshine shouted angrily, anger that evaporated to amused amazement as Nova’s wings spread and went straight up, the arches of electricity dancing from wing to wing traveled up to the tips which now framed the colt. Her fur also stuck straight out as well.
“Aaaaaaaaa!!!!!!” Dumbbell called out as the bolt struck him charring feathers.
“Wow,” Gilda whispered as Nova dropped her wings to the cloud-base they were standing on followed by shaking them out and folding them up, the electricity danced into the clouds below, spread out, and dissipated. At least most of it dissipated. Nova was still looking extra poofy. Overall she looked like it hadn’t really fazed her. “No wonder mom is freaked out by the dweeb.”
“That was awesome!” Dash shouted while Nova shook herself out fluffing her feathers even more in the process. “Alright, let's go. Hey Flutters, you coming?”
“If that’s alright.” Fluttershy replied meekly.
“Yes, we’d love to have you.” Nova offered.
“You Alright?” Sunshine asked Nova.
“I’m good… sort of. Kind of my, my wings shoot out and up for a bit, but I’m alright. Just a little sore. My thick fur kind of shields me from the worst of it, but not quite. I’m still a little tingly. Better not give me any hugs for a while.”
“Um, is it too late to change my mind?” Gilda asked.
“It’s never too late.” Sunshine offered. “Just because your mom works for us doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. We aren’t like that.”
“Long ago when the world was young and mighty Sol was King empires stood or fell upon the bonds of friendship keen.” Nova sang out as she looked to Sunshine a smile on her face. “Into the night the champions flew to defend the slumber of the free.”
“Er, long ago the night wing fell upon the blades of traitors foul, Celestia, dear Celestia blinded by her light. And when the shadows came stalking no night wing was there to guard the night.” Sunshine replied in spoken voice.
“Come on, let's go get our homework done,” Sunshine added a moment later.
“So we flying?” Dash asked.
“You can if you want, but you know I’m not a strong flier, Dash.” Sunshine offered. “Shy isn’t either, and Nova did a number on her muscles trying to make it to safety.”
“Fine, we’ll take the bus.” Dash conceded.
The group of five trotted on over to a bus stop where they waited for the bus which was a long carriage suspend under a canopy filled with expanded cloud material with engines that were big open tubes that relied on spells to draw air through to provide propulsion. The lanes themselves were gaps in the clouds.
“We are on our way to my house to do our homework together,” Sunshine informed the operator. Foals were allowed to ride free if they could state a valid reason.
“She’s my sister,” Nova offered. “We just finished school. Also one of the other foals pranked me with a little lightning cloud so I may be a little zappy.”
“Oh, you’re fine.” Dash proclaimed, tried to give her a hug, and got a static zap. “OK, I guess you are a little zappy.”
“Not to worry fillies, the hoof rails are set up to discharge pones in addition to providing assistance.” Offered the driver who was a gray pegasus with a blue mane. He also had a wheel cap on that had the company logo in front.
“Oh, alright.” Nova offered, stepped on board, and experienced static discharge as the remainder of the charge in her fur dissipated. The visual results on her fur made it look like she was deflating which caused the driver to lose it. Nova dropped her ears for a moment, but couldn't help but join in on the laughter followed by the other fillies joining.
Nova climbed up, still laughing, meeting ponies with happy faces wondering what they’d just missed.
“She was all staticky and her fur deflated when she climbed on board.” Sunshine offered as a way of explanation leading to those who heard to start laughing. The others climbed aboard, the driver managed to regain his composure, and they were on their way.
“Wait, you never said you lived on base?” Dash asked as the bus drove onto the cloud where the base was.
“Hello, Colonel Mustang.” Gilda scolded. “Base Commander? How else would they know Wonderbolts?”
“Wait, seriously?” Dash asked.
“You seriously hadn’t put two and two together?” Sunshine asked.
“You know I can’t do maths.”
“Oy vey,” Gilda said with a talon to her face.
“Come on, we are coming up to our stop.” Sunshine prompted, reached up, and pulled the bell cord. A couple of minutes later the bus stopped and the five friends got out.
“Dash, Gilda, stay clear of the parade ground, they use it as a runway.” Sunshine cautioned once they were all out.
“Wow, airships!” Dash exclaimed while hovering in place. “Wonderbolts!”
“Come on Dashie,” Sunshine said grabbing hold of Rainbow’s tail, and dragging her along as a team of Wonderbolts fly by.
They arrived at the house a short time later, and Dash finally stopped trying to get away.
“Library or upstairs?” Nova asked as the door closed behind them.
“This is nice.” Gilda offered.
“Have you never been here even though your mom works here?” Nova asked.
“Not while I’ve been here, which has kind of bugged me,” Sunshine said. “I guess we can go upstairs.”
“It’s not that I never wanted to, it’s just…”
“Your mom has some weird ideas about not mixing with the people who employ her, doesn’t she?” Dash asked.
“The Colonel is a soldier, not nobility, and they take in strays like Nova and me.” Sunshine offered. “Come on, let's go upstairs.”
“Strays?” Fluttershy asked.
“Ha, you did not just call yourself a stray?!” Dash asked and laughed as she followed.
“What’s a stray?” Nova asked.
“Oh, um, I’m sorry,” Sunshine said, went to Nova, and gave her a hug.
“It’s a domesticated creature without a home that needs one.” Gilda offered. And for once in her life, she was actually trying to be diplomatic.
“I guess that kind of applies to us.” Nova mused. “I’m still having issues with various aspects of the language.”
“You seem to be doing very good, even if you do have a bit of an accent. I’m sorry.” Fluttershy offered.
“Come on Flutters, you don’t have to apologize for that.” Dash offered as they found their way upstairs.
“This is your bedroom?” Gilda asked moments later.
“Cool, isn’t it? But before you get any idea it’s base housing. Mom and dad don’t own it. Even if he does say the whole base is his.” Sunshine offered followed by shuddering and pronking in place. “That is so awesome I get to call them Mom and Dad!”
“Nova?” Fluttershy asked. A sad look had crossed Nova’s face and Fluttershy was the first to notice.
“It’s alright, it’s just… everything happened so fast.”
“Nova is still morning her Mom and Dad,” Sunshine explained softly as she pulled off her saddlebags. “Come on, let's get started.”
“Probably best I don’t talk about the family I left behind.” Nova offered as she pulled her saddlebags off and they all found a place to sit as they gathered around the table in the turret.
“I – I can understand.” Gilda offered. “Lost my dad in a border raid.”
“He was defending against border raiders?” Nova asked.
“Na, he was one of the raiders. Not against Equestria. No one would dare. Not after Princess Celestia solar flared that last griffin tribe that was raiding across the Equestrian border.”
“Are you serious?!” Dash asked. “That makes her twenty percent cooler.”
“Funny how that’s not in the Equestrian history books.” Sunshine mused.
“Maybe that’s just not the sort of thing they like to teach foals.” Fluttershy offered.
“I suppose that’s possible. It’s not like I knew everything that was going on.” Nova offered.
“OK, let's get this over with.” Dash proclaimed as she got her assignments out.
👥
They hadn’t been too long at their assignments when some pony knocked at the front door.
“Wonder who that could be?” Sunshine asked.
“Should we go see?” Nova asked.
“No one I know knocks. They just open the door and announce themselves.” Sunshine replied.
“I’ll go.” Gilda offered as she got up. “I mean, why not? That is, I’ll probably end up doing the same thing my mom does.”
“Are there no other opportunities for Griffins?” Nova asked.
“In Equestria, not really, no,” Gilda replied and left the room.
Gilda rushed back up a few moments later.
“It’s the cops.”
“We’re on a military base,” Sunshine stated as she got up. “Probably some pony looking for my Dad.”
“Not the Guard, the City police,” Gilda announced.
“Police? But this is a military base?” Dash asked. “Are they even allowed?”
“It’s an open base, but I don’t think they are supposed to be going up to ponies' houses… maybe something happened?” Sunshine said as she got up. The others got up as well and followed her downstairs.
“Hello, has something happened?” Sunshine asked.
“Sunshine, stay there, I’ll see what they want.” Mrs Seakite offered as she came down the hall. She paused only momentarily on seeing Gilda on the stairs with the others.
“Can I help you?” Mrs Seakite asked momentarily after opening the door.
“Are you the Lady of the house?”
“No, I’m the maid. I just got in that’s why I don’t have my apron on. Is this for a fundraising drive?”
“No mam, I’m afraid there’s been a complaint.”
Mrs Seakite let out a heartfelt sigh. “What did Gilda do this time?”
“But I didn’t do anything?” Gilda protested.
“Gilda? Wait, your Gilda’s mother?”
“That’s not why we are here. There’s been a complaint against a pony residing at this residence.”
“Wonderbolts!” Dash shouted as the porch filled with a Wonderbolt squad.
“Officers, you are aware that you only have pass-through privileges, correct?” Fast Clip asked.
“What’s going on here?” Colonel Ray Mustang asked as he landed along with a squad of base security and several officers.
“It’s Ray Mustang, the Flame Pegasus.” One of the police officers said with a tone of awe.
“Is, is this your house?” The other police officer asked.
“This entire base is mine. Care to tell me why you are on my doorstep?”
“I’m sorry, but there was a complaint against a Miss Nova… oh shit.”
“My name is not Oh shit.” Nova protested.
“He means he just realized he’s in way over his pay grade.” Sunshine offered. “Hang on…” She trotted the rest of the way down the stairs and over to the door. “As we were leaving school Dumbbell zapped Nova with a lightning bolt, and got caught in the feedback. I mean, that’s the only thing I can think of. Mom dropped us off at school after lunch, and after school, we came straight home to do our homework. I mean, Nova hasn’t exactly been anywhere?”
“Nova, are you alright?” colonel Mustang asked.
“Yes, dad. Mom was a master of lightning… little bolts are nothing. It kind of gets trapped in my fur and feeds back. My wings kind of popped up too when I was hit. I guess that’s when he got caught in the feedback.”
Ray Mustang had a slight smile, one that went straight back to a frown as he diverted his gaze back to the two police officers. “You two must be rookies. Let me make one thing perfectly clear. You have no authority on my base without a Royal Guard and a Royal warrant. If you need anything other than the privilege of passing through, you are to report the matter directly to my office. Is that understood?”
“Ye-yes, sir,” Both police officers stammer out.
“Now, first off just so you know, I’m going to be contacting your Chief. Second, you go tell Mr Dumbbell senior that if his son ever touches one of my girls again, we are going to volunteer him for target drone duty. Now get off my base.”
“Yes sir, we are going sir, going now…”