“What’s going on?” Flash looked down at Sunset who was next to him still asleep. He looked around. The sun was just rising out the window and they were still in the bus as it drove down the road with trees passing by.
“What’s happening?” Sunset sat up and yawned. “Did we… fall asleep together?”
“I think we did, looks like we're in Everfree forest now.”
“Thought that this would end up being more awkward, whait, did you say the E-e-ver-free f-f-forest?”
“Yes, what’s wrong?”
Sunset leaned back in her seat. “That name is supposed to scare anyone who hears it where I come from, Timber wolves, pony eating plants, the haunted castle of the two sisters, my grandmother used to tell me this story about that castle, I actual remember it because she always would sneak around in the shadows when she told the story, it scared me so bad the story became embedded in my memory.”
“Really? There’s actually the remains of a small castle here, and it used to belong to two sisters who ruled over an old city that used to be here about… wow one thousand and fifty years ago.” He looked down at his phone.
“Is it haunted?”
“No, I don’t think so, why?”
“In the story my grandmother told me that when nightmare moon got trapped in the moon by Celestia, not all her dark magic went with her, and it formed a murderous ghost of dark magic that romes the castle and goes after anyone stupid enough to be in there, well, except the rightful keepers of the elements of harmony.”
“Is that what that crown was called?”
“The element of magic, yes, our pendants are reflections of them, honesty, kindness, laughter, generosity, loyalty and magic, the crown from the fall formal is the element of magic.”
“Wait a minute, if those pendants are reflections of the six elements of friendship, and there are seven pendants, shouldn't there be seven elements of harmony?”
“I never thought much about it, that is weird.”
“What’s yours called?”
“As far as I know, I don’t have one.”
“You have a pendant, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then maybe you do have one.”
“Quit trying to make the beginning of summer so confusing.” She gently nudged his shoulder.
“Sorry, I-” the sound of the speaker interrupted him.
“Attention all campers, we have reached Camp Glacier View, any counselors on this bus need to get off first so you can sign in and wait for your campers to be directed to you.”
“That’s us.” Flash got up from his seat and Sunset followed.
About three others got up and the group climbed off the bus. Everyone went to the back and got their things from the back of the bus.
“What cabin did you get?” Flash looked back at Sunset as they walked to the sign in table.
“I got dear, what did you get?”
“I got eagle cabin.”
They reached the sign in table, and Wallflower greeted them.
“Wallflower?” They both said in unison.
“Hey Sunset, Flash, nice to see you here, although you're the last two people I would think i’d see together.”
“Please tell me no one else who comes to our school is here.” Sunset looked at Flash who had the same worried expression on his face.
“Nope, only the three of us.”
“Please don’t tell anyone.” Flash said.
“I won’t, I owe Sunset, I did use a magical stone to make everyone at school hate her, although the fact that you're here together explains why you were the only one out of seven hundred students that I never heard trash talking her.”
“You realize i’m right here, right?”
“Hey, it’s time for the campers to go settle into their cabins, you need to go meet them.”
Sunset and Flash said bye and walked away to the group of campers gathering on the lawn. Someone ran up to them and looked at Flash.
“Hi, my name is Sunburst, are you my councillor?”
“Yes, Flash Sentry, nice to meet you.”
Sunburst looked at Sunset. “You look just like my older sister.”
“Okay, my name is Sunset.”
“Same name too, if we were in my town, I'd think you actually were my sister, and Flash, why do you have the last name ‘Sentry’? Doesn't that word mean a soldier stationed to keep control or gaurd a specific place?”
“Yes, and the way you said it made you sound like you swallowed a dictionary, can you help me find Riptide, Canoe Tipper and Rocket launch?”
“Sure.”
“Okay, looks like you two got this handled, I'm going to find my campers.”
Flash kissed her cheek. “Bye Sunset.”
“Bye Flash.”
Sunset walked away and looked around. A girl who looked about thirteen caught her eye. She walked up to her. “Hi, I’m Sunset, and I’m guessing you're Violet.” and Violet really lived up to her name. She had dark purple hair, a light violet shirt with a purple jacket, purple shorts, and a pair of dark Violet shoes.
“I sure am, so you’re my councillor, huh?”
“Yep.”
“Who are my other cabin mates?”
“You have another named Camouflage and another that I still can’t find the name of.”
“I think I know who Camouflage is.”
“Really, where is she?”
“I met her on the bus ride here, she’s the girl who looks like she’s going to war over there. Hey! Camouflage! I found our counselor! Come on over and meet her!”
Another girl about the same age as Violet ran over to them and saluted. “Camouflage reporting for duty ma’am!”
“I’m a councillor, not a general, drop the military speak.”
“Okay, sorry, I live in a military base and my parents thought it would be good for me to come here and make some friends.”
“Well if there's anyone who knows how important friendship is, it’s me.”
“Why’s that?”
“Check the Canterlot high school website, go under the tab ‘magical happenings’ and it explains everything from the moment Twilight showed up, if you go to our school you can access it, principal Celestia did something to were only Cantorlot High students can get to it.”
“Who’s Twilight?”
“A pony princess from another dimension.”
“WHAT?”
“Would you believe I actually grew up there too?”
“Okay, I’m glad I get to go to Canterlot high for the eighth grade, and I want you to tell me all the stories behind all this stuff you're talking about.”
“Or you could read the books I made, I swear if Sci-Twi finds out I wrote a book and didn’t let her read it first she’s gonna kill me.” Sunset reached into her suitcase and Ray crawled up to her shoulder.
“Is that a leopard gecko?”
“Yes, the camp director let me bring him, his name is Ray.”
“Is that a guitar case?”
“Yes, me and a friend are supposed to play music during the campfires during camp, and you know, you ask a lot of questions.” She handed a few small notebooks to Camouflage.
“Thanks. One more question?”
“Go for it.”
“Do we have any other cabin mates or is it just the three of us?”
“Thanks for reminding me, her name isn't on my list, where-.” she was cut off by the sound of a car driving up to the camp entrance. It was a police car, and an officer got out of it.
Camouflage marched up to him. “Officer ski? What’s going on?”
“Good morning Ms. Camouflage, I was ordered to come here to drop off silence as part of their nature rehabilitation program.”
“Who’s silence?”
“Well, ma’am, we don’t know what her real name is, she came from juvie.”
Sunset ran up to them. “Is this possibly the non name camper that i’m supposed to have?”
“Yes, GET OUT HERE!”
A girl about thirteen or fourteen climbed out of the police car. She scowled at everyone.
“This is who we call silence, because she is a thief who is never heard or seen when she steals.”
Silence rolled her eyes and opened her mouth, then started to move her hands into different symbols.
“Do any of you know what she's doing, she won’t talk, and keeps doing that all the time!”
Sunset tilted her head. “She’s using sign language, which means she probably can’t talk. I learned what sign language was and how to do it when I first came to this world.”
Officer Ski looked at her. “Came to this world?”
“Long, long story.”
“Can you tell us what she’s saying?”
“Sure. Can you tell us what your name is?”
“I-don’t-have-a-name-my-parents-died-when-I-was-four.”
“Can I call you June?”
“Sure-I-guess-so.”
“These are your cabin mates Camouflage and Violet, I am your councillor, Sunset.”
Violet looked up at her. “Why don’t you have to use sign language to ask her stuff?”
“I’m-mute-not-deaf-you-blockhead.”
“What did she say?”
Sunset looked over to Violet then back to June. “She said “I’m mute not deaf you blockhead.””
“Hey!” Violet crossed her arms.
Camouflage tilted her head. “What did she say her name was?”
“She’s gonna let us call her June, she doesn't remember her name because her parents died when she was four.”
Sunset heard footsteps and turned to see Flash walking over to her. She smiled. “Hey Flash, this is Camouflage, that's Violet, and this is June, she’s mute, and part of a nature rehabilitation program.”
“Thank Goodness, I thought the government was taking you in to interrogate you about the other world and the magic pendants.”
Camouflage stared at him. “Is this guy on drugs or something?”
“Sunset sighed and shook her head. “No he’s not, this is my friend Flash, and read those notebooks I gave you, what he just said will make a lot more sense once you have.”
“Good to meet you all, hey Ski.”
“Flash Sentry, long time no see.”
“You two know each other?” Sunset said.
Flash shrugged. “He’s one of my parent’s friends. The last time I saw him I was ten.”
“I need to get going Ms. Camouflage.”
“You may officer.”
Officer Ski drove away and June watched the car leave. “This-is-the-first-time-in-a-year-and-a-half- I-haven't-been-near-a-part-of-the-police-force.”
As she signed, Sunset translated so everyone knew what she was saying. “Okay, Flash, we can meet up later at lunch, campers, where in deer cabin, right over there, grab your things, and unpack fast, I’m planning on giving you some sign language lessons so you can understand June.”
“I-don’t-have-anything-to-unpack,-i’m-a-fellen,-remember?”
“Okay, we’ll figure something out. Camouflage, you have any clothes June can borrow? I would ask Violet, but i’m pretty sure everything she owns is purple.”
“Sure, lets go to our cabin.”
They all walked in the direction of their cabin, June ran toward it and looked through the window. She turned back to them, and like before, as she signed, Sunset translated. “This-is-cool-i’ve-only-ever-slept
outside-or-in-a-jail-cell.”
Sunset opened the door and looked around. It seemed very nice and peaceful. “Okay, everyone choose a bed, then unpack. June, could you try using different symbols like nodding and pointing? Just until everyone can understand sign language a little better.”
June nodded, and climbed onto a bed in the corner. She sat down and started to look bored.
Sunset looked back at June. “I brought an extra blanket and sheet you can have, and you already have a pillow.” She walked over to June and handed her an extra sheet and blanket.
June smiled up at her. “Can-I-have-a-hairbrush? I-think-I-should-probably
-look-less-like-a-criminal -at-lunch.”
“Of course, Camouflage can let you borrow some clothes for today and I can ask the director if I can go into town and get you some tomaro.”
Camouflage handed her a white shirt with yellow sleeves, jeans, and a pair of white and aqua tennis shoes. June walked away to the bathroom to change.
Sunset walked outside and came back with some leaves, a flower, some pebbles and a small handful of dirt. .
Violet looked at Sunset. “What are those for?”
Sunset let Ray crawl from her shoulder down to the mini dresser next to her bed. Sunset put everything down next to Ray and he started to move different things into different places.
“Ray, he likes to fit things together to make pictures, which makes me wonder if I should bring him to arts and crafts tomorrow and let him arrange some stained glass, Fluttershy would love that.” She pointed to Ray who had arranged everything to look like a crab.
“You're not putting him in a terrarium?”
“No, I never do, he stays in his spot and doesn't really leave it, and even when he goes outside he never goes that far and always comes back.”
“Wow, he really likes you as his owner.”
“Friend."
“Whatever.”
June walked out of the bathroom now wearing the clothes that Camouflage had lent her and sat down on her bed brushing her hair, out until it was flat and reached to her shoulders.
Violet looked over at her. “Well that’s certainly a big improvement.”
Both June and Sunset rolled their eyes at Violet not knowing it was less of a compliment and more of an insult.
Sunset, Violet and Camouflage all finished making their beds and unpacking. “Well girls, since we finished a little early, how about we all get to know each other a little better?”
Everyone sat down on the floor and listened to each other's interests and hobbies, Sunet shared a few stories about her friends, Violet told them about her family moving to Canterlot city, and Camo described her life on the army base she lived in. Then it was June’s turn.
Sunset translated for her because pointing and nodding wouldn't really work this time around.
“My-name-is-June,-I-live-in-juvy,-and-I-used-to-share-a-cell-with-a-girl-that-had-a
-mustache,-a-bald-head-and-a-necklace-made-of-human-fingers.”
“Now I'm a little frightened that we share a cabin.” Violet said and continued to look worried.
“You-better-be.”
“What does that mean?” She looked over at Sunset.
“She… uhh… said you have no need to worry.” Sunset quickly replied. “It’s time to go to lunch now, since today’s the first day we get to explore camp afterward, and please don’t try archery when there’s not a councillor around, the director told us that last year some kid got pinned to a target by his shirt.”
*****
Sunset and her campers made their way to the mess hall, where dozens of campers sat together enjoying their food with the rest of their cabin. Sunset led her campers to the line where the camp cook was scooping out the food and strangely enough, when it landed on the plates it didn’t lose its shape.
Sunset leaned over and whispered to the girls. “Maybe we should just get some salad instead, I’m vegetarian anyway.” The three of them nodded in agreement.
After getting their food they looked around for a table to sit at. “Hey Sunset.”
She turned around to see Flash shyly smiling at her, and met his gaze with the same smile. Both the deer and falcon cabin campers looked at eachother then back at their councillors. Sunset and Flash snapped out of their trance when they noticed their campers staring at them.
“Oh, umm, hi Flash, nice to see you.”
“Nice to see you too Sunset, so I… thought, maybe after the campfire tonight we could, I don’t know, go on a canoe ride?” Flash smiled hopefully.
Sunset smiled and her face went red. Did he just ask me on a date? “That sounds like fun, yhea, I would like that.” ...and did I just agree to it?! Oh jeez my face is red.
….
….
….
After an awkward moment of silence the two councillors lead their campers to their tables. As soon as they sat down June hit her with a question.
“You-two-dating? I-swear-your-face-when-he-asked-you-to-join-him-on-that-canoe-ride.”
“No, I mean, maybe, we go to school together.”
Camo and Violet smirked.
What is that supposed to mean?!
Violet decided to change the subject. “That’s a pretty necklace you're wearing, can I see it?”
“Well… it’s very fragile and-” Camo cut her off. “Gives you the power to see others' memories and thoughts when you touch them, and also your friends, levitation, super speed, creating crystals, super strength, talking to animals, and… causing sweets to explode when they're thrown, they also give you pony ears, and wings.”
“How on earth did you know that?”
Camo took out the notebook about camp everfree. “I decided to start reading these.”
“Ooh… tell me what i’m thinking right now.” Violet said excitedly and grabbed Sunset’s hand.
“Purple pizza with grape ice cream on top?”
“Whow. I was thinking that! You can read minds!”
“Keep it down, you guys and Flash are the only ones at this camp that know about it, and it’s gonna be weird enough when we play our guitars at the campfire together and pony ears appear on my head.”
“Hey Camo?”
“Yhea Violet?”
“Can I borrow those when you're done with them?”
Camo shrugged. “Can you read cursive?”
Violet looked offended. “Of course I can read cursive! I’m not stupid!”
June smiled. “I-wouldn’t-bet-on-it.”
“June, that's not funny.” Sunset shook her head.
“What did she say?” Violet demanded.
“Nothing Violet, let’s just say she wasn’t a fan of that comment about the big improvement from earlier.”
“Sorry, I think it came out wrong.”
Camo raised an eyebrow. “You think?”
“Okay girls, what do you want to do first after lunch?” Sunset said after swallowing a bite of her salad.
Violet, “Make friendship bracelets!”
Camo, “tug a war!”
June let a smug smile spread across her face. “Archery.”
“Okay, we can do all those things before the dinner and the campfire.”
“And-you're-date.”
“Quit it June, and please don’t pin Violet to the target during archery.”
“Say what now?”
After they had their fun doing their activities, there was still an hour until dinner, and the painted orange and yellow sun set over the lake while the ski turned brilliant shades of pink purple and blue.
The current campers in deer cabin sat at the picnic table as June and Sunset taught them basic sign language so they could understand June. June made different symbols with her hands and Sunset explained what each one meant.
“Violet, what does this mean?”
“I think it means hello, but why do I half answer questions? Camo doesn't have to.”
Sunset sighed. “It means goodbye, and I was asking you that because you don’t seem to be paying attention.”
“I am so!”
“Yhea-to-the-boys-playing-rock-paper-scissors-by-the-mess-hall.”
Violet tilted her head. “What does that mean?”
Camo jumped up and down. “I know, I know! She said “Yhea to the boys playing rock-paper-scissors by the mess hall!”’
Violet crossed her arms. “I’m sure that’s not what she said.”
Sunset smiled at Camo. “No, she’s pretty spot on, you're a quick learner.”
“YAY!” Camo seemed to be extremely excited to have Sunset compliment her for picking up so fast.
Sunset looked at her watch. “It’s time for us to get our dinner, where all eating outside by the campfire tonight, hey June, you ever have a smore?”
“Yes,-wait-what’s-a-smore?”