//------------------------------// // It's only the First Day (Part 1) // Story: Equestria Girls: Love Is Magic // by onekface //------------------------------// Chapter 60: It’s Only the First Day! (Part 1) (Equestria) He’ll be fine. He’ll definitely be fine. Trixie paced back and forth in front of the mirror portal, trying to convince herself that everything will be just fine and that she had absolutely had nothing to worry about. Except that it wasn’t working and she was worrying about everything that could happen. Ever since Sunburst ran straight into the portal and disappear to the other side, she made an attempt to just brush it off and head back to the School of Friendship and be done wait for the guy to come back safe and sound. But instead she found herself pacing like a loon thinking of every worst-case-scenario like she was doom scrolling on the internet. Sunburst was a great magician. A semi-powerful wizard. He was no Starswirl but he fought off dangerous creatures before. He even fought a changeling right before their reformation under King Thorax. Surely he could handle whatever dangers that presents himself in that other world. … But what if he gets sucked into a black hole? Or gets ambushed by a nine-headed hydra? What if he gets stuck there than more than a few days and then the apple pie she gave him wasn’t enough and he starves to death? What if he’s swallowed by quicksand… or worse… swallowed by a pony-eating yeti!? Starlight would be devastated! And so for the sake of their friendship, she must do what all friends do. Follow the stallion in. Thankfully she prepared for such an event and had extra-extra gear ready just for such occasion. “Don’t you worry Sunburst! I’m coming to save you!” And with little hesitation, the egotistical unicorn jumped in expecting to be greeted with revelry. She didn’t even feel the hurl from the portal when it spat her out on the other side. “Have no fear, friend! The Great and Powerful Trixie is here to save the d—goh!” She slammed head first onto a wall stopping her midsentence like a pony-wrecking-ball. The gear which she carefully packed spilled almost immediately across the floor. Yeah… she might’ve forgotten that these portals have a habit of tossing you out like a rag doll if you don’t know what you’re doing. Really now Starswirl. Can’t you put the effort of putting warning label or something? Shaking off the dizziness from the fall, Trixie’s blood froze when her vision cleared up, only to be greeted by a monstrous horned figure. “Eeeeeep!” She squealed and ran like a cartoon character, taking cover behind the largest boulder she could find. For a moment she thought it might’ve been a minotaur… or maybe even Tirek himself from another world who could suck the magic out of everycreature. She cowered there for a moment before realizing that the figure was not attacking. In fact… it didn’t seem to be moving at all. She poked her head out and quickly realized that the horned figure was actually stoic to a tea. A well made one too. Though the creature’s name was not something she recognized. It was far too chubby to be a minotaur and far too rocky to be alive. “Oh… you’re just a statue.” Trixie breathed a sigh of relief, brushing off that humiliating act like it was nothing. “Pfft. That was embarrassing. Good thing no one saw that.” That’s what she thinks. There were about a dozen of these statues standing around. Each of them unique and different. One looked like a bulky humanoid with a donkey head. But they all appeared to ‘Guarding’ this area. Or perhaps they were protecting the portal? Eh… either way, they were no threat. Just rubbish art. She scanned her surrounding and found herself standing in what looked like some sort of decrepit temple. It was hard to discern the architect of this place even with the light on her horn. Was there a time difference between worlds that she didn’t know about? Ugh… so much for my grand entrance. And to think I made all that effort for nothing. Hmm? Just as she was collecting her gear, Trixie paused when she noted something else lying on the floor. For a second there she thought that some of her stuff had scattered all across the room. But she later noticed that some of the equipment here were from the gear she gave to Sunburst. That idiot had better not drop the stuff she brought. These things are really expensive. It practically took half of her savings to get all this equipment together. But unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case. Because beside those scattered tools laid a fabric that she was all too familiar with. It was a blue cape with star prints. (Human world) (CHS) Luna often enjoyed seeing her sister all flustered and worried. In fact when they were children, she’d play a number of pranks on her just to see her reaction. It was kind of the few times where she actually got to laugh at her perfect big sis. But sadly today was not one of those moments. Because she wasn’t the one who pulled the prank and she was oddly in it with her. By now the whole school would’ve known that the three powerful Sirens are back. Though Sunset did say that they lost most of their magic, that didn’t exactly make them feel better. If they could’ve had it their way, they would’ve simply expelled the three and be done with it. But alas, they had to jump through a few hoops to save the school’s reputation (And funding). “Sister. Will you please calm down? You’re going to ruin the new carpets at this rate.” Celestia grunted loudly, her hands pressed on her table. “I’m trying, Luna. But every time I think about this whole scenario, all I can think about is what could go wrong.” “We’ve done everything we could to make it easier on the girls.” Luna explained. “We even convinced them to attend with all the bribes we put in.” Getting those three to actually attend school was kind of a hurdle. They had nothing to gain from returning at all so they had to add some… incentives to get them in. “Do you really think they’ll keep their end of the deal?” Celestia asked, biting her thumb. “What if they decide to use their magic again? Or endanger the other students?” “You’re thinking of the worst case scenario. Try to relax. That’s the whole reason why we put them with Sunset and her friends. They’ll keep an eye out if they try anything funny. They are partially their responsibility after all.” Actually, scratch that. Anything magic related should be their responsibility. “Maybe I should follow them.” “NO!” Luna ran to the door and sprawled herself across it, using herself as a human barricade. “Luna, get out of the way.” “I will certainly not! Do you have any idea what the others would think when the school Principal is peeking through classrooms with those three? If you start making a big deal out of this, the students will panic!” Not to mention the teachers too. The last thing they want is for the faculty to request hazard pay – and the school’s budget was already put on life support. Thankfully Celestia saw reason in her rant and quickly calmed down. She grabbed her coffee and chugged it down to bury the stress in caffeine. “Right. You’re… absolutely right. But still…” Oh god. This girl really wasn’t gonna let this go. She always was a worry wart. But if folks around here start seeing the head honcho wondering around school grounds, they’ll know that something was up. “Why don’t I go instead?” Luna offered. “If it’s me, people won’t be too suspicious. I’ll keep an eye out for those three just in case.” “Are you sure? What if they use their magic?” “Oh… I wouldn’t worry about that.” Luna casually slip her hand into her pocket dangling the pretty gemstone that Twilight gave her the other day. If it works the way she says it does, then she won’t have to worry about magic ever again. “I’ve learned a few things while I was away.” “Maybe I should go with you?” Celestia insisted again. “People won’t find it odd if I took a stroll around the school on the first day.” Well… that’s true. But it’ll still raise a few eyebrows around here. Unfortunately I can’t think of a reason to say no either. “Principal Celestia?” The intercom suddenly buzzed to life interrupting their conversation. “I’m a little busy right now.” Celestia responded rubbing the temple above her nose. “I’m sorry ma’am. But your 8 o’clock appointment is here to see you.” Celestia blinked. “Did I make an appointment?” “Yes ma’am. He’s on his way to your office.” And true to her words, a polite knocked echoed from the door. It tapped gently on the glass as a mighty silhouette appeared behind it. Unconsciously Luna opened it and was somewhat surprised to see the visitor. “Pardon me. Am I interrupting something?” “Sombra?” Celestia balked. “Wh… what are you… doing here?” “I’m your eight o’clock appointment.” He said casually like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “We were supposed to discuss the financial troubles that we talked about?” Celestia slapped her head in realization. “Oh! Right. That… thing.” “Is there something wrong?” “No!” Luna answered for her dragging the man in. “It’s actually perfect timing. Lesty and I were just finishing up. Isn’t that right, sister?” “Well…” “Right. Off I go then. You two have fun now. Enjoy talking about… money and stuff.” Luna practically pushed the man to her sister closing the door behind her. She even wrote in a ‘Do not disturb’ sign on a notepad just for safe measures. That should keep Celestia busy all morning at the very least. Now… she should head off to find those Sirens. Hopefully people haven’t noticed that they were here yet. xxxxxxxxxx Ok… this can’t be a coincidence. Twilight muttered the words in her head as she tried to focus on her textbook. Although she didn’t exactly glance over to her right, she could feel her there. Adagio was sitting beside her, eyeing her… nay… staring at her with a look that could probably frighten an innocent critter. It didn’t exactly help when the rest of the class seemed to notice this too, leaving a line of empty seats between them and the two creating some kind of buffer zone. Those who recognized Adagio buried themselves with anything else they could do and those who did not were clearly advised by others not to mess with her. Even Micro Chips looked uncomfortable, suddenly becoming far more interested in the wall than he had any right to be. The normal chatter you would hear from an unattended class like this was reduced to whispers and hushed voices. No one was willing to gather than girl’s ire or be the first to incite her wrath. Unfortunately though, she seemed to have a beef with… well… her. What was her problem? Did I do something to her? Was she irritated at the way I read my books? Did she not like the way I do my hair? What? WHAT!? “Hey.” “AHHH!” Twilight squealed, flinging her books all over the place, subconsciously grabbing her geode preparing for a malicious attack. The whole classroom went deathly quiet, expecting an explosion to happen any second now. But thankfully none of that happened. “Uh… I mean wh… wh… what? Ahehehe…” Adagio, didn’t seem all that surprised of her reaction, remaining about as stoic as Maud Pie on her birthday. “What’s your hobby?” Eh? “My… what?” “Your hobby.” She repeated. “What do you like to do… for fun?” Well that was a rather random question if there ever was one. “Oh… well… uh…” “You do have one… don’t you?” “Course I do! It’s… um… music?” That sounded like a question, which only made Adagio shrink a brow. “Well… I calculations and algebra in my head when I’m not really doing anything.” “What a boring hobby.” “THANK YOU! Finally! Someone else notices!” Who asked you!? “That’s not very nice.” Twilight retorted. “Not everyone has the same interest. What about you then? What’s your hobby?” “Other than making humans bow before my every whim?” Adagio gave a seductive chuckle which only made the other students visibly shiver. “I like collecting stamps.” Stamps? “Stamps?” “Stamps?” “Yup. It sooths me.” The Siren put her feet up, ignoring the few brave glances that came her way. “I happen to have an impressive collection all the way from…… well… a long while.” “That’s… actually surprising.” And she wasn’t lying on that either. You wouldn’t expect someone as dangerous and cunning as Adagio would diminish herself in collecting postal antiquities. “But… why?” “When you live as long as I have, you tend to try new things to keep yourself from getting bored.” As long as you… wait… how old is she exactly? Is she even… “Another question. What’s your favorite color?” “Color?” She paused for a moment. “Umm… I guess… maybe… purple?” “Hmm… mine’s blue.” Adagio cupped her chin in thought. Ok, what was she going on about? What’s with these ordinary yet bizarre questions? Twilight opened her mouth to ask but found herself interrupted when the bell rang. “Alright class.” Ms. Cheerilee began, entering the class just in the nick of time. She didn’t seem keen on noting the strange situation… or perhaps she was ordered to ignore it entirely. “Welcome to super-advance-physics. I know that this may be the last semester with all of you, and that your grades alone are above your average student. But that doesn’t mean we can get careless. We still have a long way to go before you can call yourselves geniuses.” Meh. Not surprising. The world of science is pretty vast even for Twilight. “Oh! And that reminds me. Before we start I just got word that: The B.B. Science Regional Tournament has just been announced. And you’re not gonna believe that it’ll be held here in Canterlot City.” Twilight’s eyes shot open. “The Brain-Blast competition!?” Micro Chips followed suit with a loud gasp. “The very same event that they hold every three years?” “That’s correct. The very same one.” Cheerilee nodded. “It was originally supposed to be held in Vanhoover, but got moved here after some incident. The best young minds from all over the country will be butting heads going against one another.” “So it’s a gathering of nerds. Great~~.” Adagio muttered boringly. “And as you may know, the Brain-Blast Tournament is sponsored by many high end businesses. And the winners of the event leaves with a fabulous grand prize money.” The Siren’s eyes curled upward. “Thanks to our city hosting such a famed tournament, we are granted a slot in the event. Principal Celestia has already given me the go-ahead. Two of our best academics will represent our school in the upcoming competition. Which is why we brought all of you to the Super-Advance-Physics class. The pair that achieves the most points in the midterm exams will be sent in as our representative.” Twilight gripped the edges of her table, a wide smile curling on her lips. There wasn’t a nerd out there who didn’t know about the Brain-Blast Tournament. It was something of a major event for teens with deep aspiration for all things academic. Geniuses from all around the country compete in them hoping to earn a science grant from multi-billion businesses. The greatest scientists and philosophers were discovered in this event becoming instant celebrities in the academic circles. And those who win become renowned for their breakthroughs. Not to mention the money alone would be enough to finance her whole career up to space! Ok… maybe that last part was a bit of a stretch but still…! With that kind of cash, she could pay back her parents for the electric bill and even have more than enough to run her lab for years! And if she can introduce magic into the mix, she’ll be golden! There wouldn’t be a businessman out there who wouldn’t want to sponsor her. The implications alone would make her career a legend. Forget the scholarship to Everton Academy. This might just be the support she needs to set herself for life. I am so in! xxxxxxxxxx “She’s got a crush on you, alright!?” Timber’s words rang in Flash’s head like a broken recorder. It replayed itself endlessly in a loop, with him trying to discern every word like it was a riddle sent by the gods. He spent all night trying to process it all, but no matter how hard he tried it just seemed too surreal to believe. Was Timber playing a prank on him? If he was, then it was a bad one. I mean… there’s just no way. There’s just no way that Twilight… the Twilight from this world… had a thing for him? The thought alone was enough to make him blush. He was definitely flattered for sure. I mean… who wouldn’t be? To have an adorable girl like Twilight have an infatuation with you? He was honored. Heck, if this had happened during their trip to Camp Everfree, he’d be jumping with joy. But… sadly that wasn’t the case. Flash was confused. His head was in the air and his mind was convoluted with too much information to deal with. What was he to do? It took him a while to get over the other Twilight. And he was already in love with Sunset. Though granted: That whole ordeal with Sunset wasn’t exactly going as well as he wanted to. Should he just ask and break her heart? No. That kind of thing would just destroy their friendship. It took a while but he was able to build some manner of trust between them. It’s too soon to assume such a thing. There was a chance that Timber might be wrong and this whole thing was nothing more than his inner jealously “Uh… Flash?” I mean come on. This is Twilight. THE Twilight. Not the Princess from another world. Sure they hung around for a while. But they’re just friends. “Flash!” And even if Timber wanted him to stay away from her. He couldn’t possibly do that. Never in this lifetime. “FLASH!” “Huh? What?” The boy bounced out of his train of thought when he realized a blazing inferno raging in front of him. “Whoa!” … … … “What in tarnation were you thinking dozing off like that in the middle of cooking!?” Granny Smith scolded, like the nanny that she was. Thankfully the blaze wasn’t too bad and it was brought under control by Pinkie who strangely-yet-unsurprisingly pulled out a fire extinguisher out of her hair. The whole class was put on hold thanks to his error. “This ain’t some snooze fest class you can just daydream! The kitchen work is serious business. One wrong move and you’ll get yourself hurt!” “Yes ma’am.” Flash sulked, his head hanging low. “Sorry.” “Sorry ain’t really gonna cut it kiddo. I’m putting you on potato peeling duty for the rest of the week until you can learn how to use the stuff around here.” He didn’t decline. But rather nodded in acceptance. “Alright you young’ins. Back to your stations. We still got an hour before class ends. Applejack, take this fella to the nurse’s office and have that burn looked at. And try to keep him from burning anything else. Otherwise, Principal-Celestia will be tanning my hide over budget.” “Sure thing granny.” Ugh… great job there Flash. On your first day and already you made a hiccup. “Thanks AJ.” “Don’t sweat it.” The cowgirl brushed it off casually like she was used to it before leading the boy off to the hallway. “This ain’t my first rodeo in the kitchen. Though I gotta admit, I didn’t expect you to burn pancakes.” “Sorry. I must’ve set the stove too high. I’ve… never really had much luck with cooking.” “I know.” She gave a smug look. “I’ve tried your soup.” His face turned a beat red. “Ah… right.” “But it looks more to me like you’re distracted about something.” Was it that obvious? Well it must be seeing how he just torched the poor ceiling and burned out one of the fans. He quickly jotted a mental note to have to have the school reimbursed. “Yeah.” He admitted, sighing heavily into his hands. “I got… something on my mind right now.” “You… wanna talk about it?” Talk about it? Absolutely! To you? That… might not be the best idea. “I don’t think it’s right.” Flash gave a forceful smile, trying his best to assure her. “You guys got a lot on your plates already. You don’t need to hear about my problems.” “Oh now that’s hogwash. You know full well that the whole gang owes you more than just my burnt down barn. You’re part of the team now. You’re our friend. And as your friend, I can at least hear you out.” He wanted to agree – and normally he’d accept the offer. But the problem he was dealing now was more… personal… and very much related to one of your friends. It was a question loaded with enough explosives that’ll blow a hole in his brain. “Thanks Applejack. But I think this is a problem I need to deal on my own. Right now I’m more worried that your Grandma hates me.” Again the cowgirl brushed it off. “Oh please. That’s just Granny’s way of setting folk straight. Trust me. Big Mac, Apple Bloom and I have been on the receiving end of her scolding more times than I can count. But she’s always got our best interest at heart. That’s just her way of saying that she doesn’t want you getting hurt. Think of it as another one of our family traditions.” Did anyone ever tell you that your family has some strange traditions? “Well… I hope that’s the last one I’ll get.” “I wouldn’t hold you up to that.” She chuckled. “With the way you handled the stove today, it won’t be long before she talks your ears off.” “Yeah~~ I really need to get better or I’ll be peeling potatoes for the whole semester.” “Heh… well it’ll be bad if you break another stove down.” Applejack cupped her chin in thought just as an idea came through. “Hey now. How about you drop by my place this weekend and I can teach you the basics?” “Really?” He blinked. “Will that be ok?” “Sure! What’s the worst that can happen?” (Ezaquatel) “Sunburst? Are you in here?” Trixie whimpered, treading softly and carefully through the halls of the temple. It’s been over an hour since she arrived in this strange house of horrors and has been regretting it ever since. The whole place felt like a labyrinth with enough corners and turns that would confuse tomb raiders. Not to mention that several section of the temple had sunk into the ground twisting and contorting the very hallway making anyone lose their sense of directions in a matter of minutes. And there were even more statues in the halls than in the portal room. Each of them even more ridiculous than the last. Whoever designed this place surely had some kind of twisted sense of architectural design. That… or they were really into freaky statues. It was getting so creepy that it made the Castle of the Two Sisters looked like a holiday destination rather than a haunted fortress. All that was missing now were a few traumatizing tapestries, a couple of armor sets, and maybe a dozen or so hidden passage ways. Hmm… maybe she should bring Discord along. He’d love this place. Not to mention his chaotic magic would be a heck of a lot helpful here. “If you can hear me, say: Trixie is amazing. And that’ll be enough.” She called out again. Though she doubts the pony would be able to respond. While she still held onto hope that the orange unicorn was fine and simply lost in this maze, a part of her began to wonder if something had happened to him. He did have a habit of finding trouble whenever he’s on one of his expeditions. But the deeper she traveled, the dreaded feeling inside of her grew. And that only solidified with that thin piece of fabric on her hoof. Trixie has known Sunburst long enough to be called a friend. And she knew that the stallion would never throw away his trusty cape. He’d wear it for every occasion. It was his trademark, his comfort blanket, and maybe his trusty sidekick, all in one. Taking it away was equivalent to taking his identity. He’d let the Crystal Empire sink into the depths of Tartarus before he’d lose this cape. And yet here it was. She only hope that the pony simply dropped it when he was on his research. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.” Trixie paused on her hoof, considering the thought of heading back. But her ego brushed it away. “No no! You can do this. You’re the Amazing Trixie. Something as childish as this shouldn’t deter you from finding your friend.” A rumbling noise in the dark decided to test that faith. “Eeeep! On second thought. Maybe it would be better if I… went back and get some extra… help?” “… back…” The hair on Trixie’s mane stood on end when her ears picked up a voice in the air. It was quiet as a whisper, and just barely noticeable from the drumming of her heartbeat. “Who’s there!?” She demanded, shining a light in all directions but saw nothing but the stone walls and the many statues. “I warn you. I am a master in all forms of magic! Don’t you dare come close!” … “Go… back…” The words practically echoed next to her ear at this point, causing her to whip her head in all directions. Her body rattled, as she backed herself into a corner. “Sunburst. If that’s you, this is a poorly made prank.” Her flank smacked against something freezing her on the spot. Please don’t let it be a monster. Please don’t let it be a monster. Please don’t let it be a monster. Please don’t let it be a monster. Please don’t let it be a monster. Please don’t let it be a monster. Please don’t let it be a monster. Please don’t let it be a monster. Please don’t let it be a monster. Please don’t let it be a monster. Please don’t let it be a monster. Please don’t let it be a monster. Her eyes slowly glanced back, sighting a cracked creature standing behind her, glaring madly with its goat head. Oh thank Celestia. “Oh… it’s just another statue. Silly me.” But her sigh of relief lasted only for a split moment, when the statue’s lifeless eyes sprung open bursting with a magical flame. “Oh… well… that’s… certainly… something… you don’t see… every day.” It roared, and Trixie bolted screaming. (School of Friendship) Starlight Glimmer poked her head out of her paperwork, ears flickering as if she picked up a strange frequency that only she could hear. The first day of school was starting up and there was a lot to be done. And things would go a heck of a lot smoother if some of her other teachers were around to pick up the slack. “Something wrong, Headmare?” Sweetie Belle asked, serving as her new assistant. “It’s strange.” She mumbled. “For a second I thought I could hear Trixie screaming.” “Is she being run out of town again? She does have a tendency to be chased by an angry mob like the Flim Flam Brothers.” “That’s… true.” Starlight admitted. “It’s probably nothing.” (Human world) (CHS) Ugh… this is really not how I wanted to start the first day of school. Luna wandered through the empty halls, looking through the detailed schedule that her sister carefully crafted for the three Sirens. The whole trick was to keep them apart for as long as possible while making sure at least one or two of the Rainbooms were keeping watch over them. While she doubts that those three would cause any kind of calamity since their defeat in the Battle of the Bands, they were technically still powerful sorceresses capable of turning students and teachers alike against one another. The thought alone made Luna fiddle with her newly acquired bracelet, tucked inside her pocket. It made her feel somewhat special to have such a powerful object in her inventory. But at the same time it made her feel like a walking target. And the agreement of not having magic in the school is pretty much thrown into the dirt now. Not only did they have three creatures capable of casting powerful mind-altering spells, but they also had a member of this secret organization hidden as one of their faculty. What’s next? An alien invasion? Demons pouring out of the gates of hell coming to consume their world to feed their ancient god that can only be defeated by assembling the four pieces of a legendary sword, which can only be found in a legendary island open by some mystical key? … Ok she needs to really stop reading the guidebook of Ogres & Oubliettes. But seriously though. When did their school… no… their city, become such a hotbed for magic conundrums? Everywhere she looked, there was some phenomenon going on about. Who was to say that the next tabloid piece she reads on the news wouldn’t actually be real magic? Ugh… she doesn’t recognize this world anymore. “Vice-Principal Luna.” “GAHHH!” She flipped a switch in her head readying what looked like a martial art stance. “Stand back! I know my grasshopper-kick!” She paused and gapped when she saw her assailant with a stone cold expression. “Oh… P… Professor Neighsay *ahem*. I was um… thinking you were someone else. How are you?” “Delightful.” Neighsay answered, not even a hint of emotion leaking from his face. He then produced a piece of paper from his jacket, handing it to her. “Anyway. Here is the list of students I wanted to speak with for tomorrow’s session.” “Eh?” Luna’s head tilted. “It’s for the Career Aptitude Test.” He explained. “With the majority of your senior students graduating this semester, I thought it’d best to quickly conduct as many of them through this exam before the finals.” Oh right. That was the whole reason he was here. At least… officially. Luna scanned the list and noted one of the Rainbooms were on it. A certain Pinkie Pie. That can’t be a coincidence. No doubt he plans to use these one-on-one meetings as a chance to brainwash each and every one of them. Well not this time. Not on her 24 carat watch. “Just a… slight inquiry.” She spoke up. “What would these sessions entail?” “A short series of questions regarding their future occupations, a few off-branching opinions, and perhaps a suggestion or two where they would benefit the most in society.” He paused. “We’ll narrow down the options they have and ensure that they’re picking something realistic and nothing out of reach like say: Becoming an astronaut. You know. The usual.” Uh huh. Right. And where in this document does it say, that when you have them in your clutches, you’ll reveal your fangs and suck the blood out of each and every last one of them!? Did you have the fine print written down in invisible ink!? Are you gonna try and brainwash them like the Sirens did to them? You can’t trick me you… vampire. I’m onto you. As long as I’m still the Vice-Principal of this school, you won’t be harming the hair of any of my students. “Emm hmm…” Luna hummed. “I don’t see any problems bringing these students up to date.” “Excellent. I’ll prepare for…” “But there’s just one tiny thing I want to add.” Neighsay’s brow rose about an inch. “And… that would be?” “Normally I wouldn’t mind having students be interviewed by our own faculties. I conduct a few of these myself. But seeing as you’re new around here, I’d like to have someone observe these sessions to ensure that everything you do is up to standard.” “I believe my resume speaks for itself.” “Even paperwork can be exaggerated.” Luna asserted. “That… is true.” He admitted painfully. “But I still cannot. It’s a violation of the student-teacher confidentiality.” “And it’ll stay that way.” She rebuked him, putting her foot down. “I don’t know how you did things back in Hooverton, but down here in CHS, you follow our rules. I’ll be observing your sessions quietly in a corner. I don’t want any of them feeling overwhelmed just because they’re graduating. You may be a well-known professor back in your place, but while you’re teaching in this school, you’ll do things our way.” Neighsay’s eyes squinted as his frown dipped even deeper down his face. She half expected him to use some of his magic at this point, which she was ready for. In fact, he looked ready to start an hour-long argument. “Very well.” He submitted, which was rather surprising. The guy looked like he was going to say something else but changed it at the last minute. His eyes shifted suspiciously to the side. “I suppose one audience will make little difference.” “Great! I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She turned and walked away, holding back a triumphant grin that threatened to spill out. xxxxxxxxxx “You can come out now. I know you’re there.” Ah crud. Figured he notice me. And to think I hid so well. Sunset groaned, appearing out of her hiding place just between two pillars in the hallway. Being a former delinquent, she had a knack for remembering all the hidey spots around school. It’s how she manages to ambush students without them noticing. “Playing hooky on your first day, Ms. Shimmer?” “I got a hall pass.” She responded showing said pass which seemed to satisfy the man’s curiosity. “Ah… I see. It’s good to know that even students such as yourself are following the rules.” He smiled – or maybe he didn’t. It’s kinda hard to tell. “So what brings you here? I didn’t think you’d come and meet with me alone.” “Let’s just say I’m strong enough to take you on.” She fiddled with an amulet just under her shirt. “But honestly… I’m here to make a deal.” “A deal?” The man’s eyes rose in interest. “Have you considered my master’s offer?” “No. And I highly doubt any of us will. I’m here to strike a new deal.” His expression went from stern to brick-like but remained silent to listen. “I… we… got a lot on our plate right now. But my friend advised me to give you the benefit of the doubt. So I figured we’d start off with something we both can agree to.” Neighsay bobbed his head slowly. “I’m listening.” “I want… a truce.” “A truce?” “No more fighting. No more attacks.” She explained. “If you can leave me and my friends alone for a whole month, I’ll take it as a sign that you’re serious about your stand as a peaceful group. And if you can do that, we’ll consider your offer.” Neighsay gave a thinking face before he answered. “Very well. I accept.” “Really? Just like that?” “Just like that.” He confirmed. “No conditions or trade or anything?” “I told you already, Ms. Shimmer. Our organization is focused on studying magic for the benefit of all mankind. And if this is what it takes to prove our commitment, then it is a small price to pay.” Huh… that was surprisingly easy. “If that will be all, then I must excuse myself. And you have a class to return to.” (Animal Shelter behind the auditorium) Fluttershy took in a deep breath as she hung around the animal shelter. Normally she’d be thrilled to hang out with all of her animal friends. But unfortunately today was not such occasion and all of her little furry companions can feel it. As a matter of fact she was standing stiffer than a board as the fashionista puffed her cheeks constantly with powder. “Uh… Rarity. Are you sure this is necessary?” She asked as her good friend applied some last minute makeup to make her look more ‘presentable’. “Absolutely darling. You’re about to meet your secret admirer. You have to look your absolute best. You’ll never know if this kind of thing sparks interest. So you have be prepared for each and every occasions.” “But… don’t you think this is a little too much?” “Of course not!” She retorted, puffing her nose with an extra layer of powder. “The blush is to make your expression more appealing, the powder is there to absorb any tears, the mascara is just the bare minimum for first meetings, and let’s not forget the eye-liners.” The fashionista then put on another thick layer of cream, before wiping it all off with a hot towel. “There. You are now ready for your secret rendezvous with your very own stalker.” Does she? Because she feels like she was being dolled up for a dancing ball. “Now remember. Listen before you give your answer. Give the fellow a chance to explain and have everything laid out. Once you’ve made your decision, let the other person know it firmly. No half bake replies, understand? Do that… and you’ll satisfy both parties.” “What party?” “Oh! Better go now. Good luck. I’ll be nearby, recording everything for future reference.” And without another word, the fashionista dove into the bushes, away from prying eyes. Ugh… why did have to be like this? Fluttershy has never considered having a romantic relationship before. She’s always been the shy timid one. The girl no one would ever notice. A background character that folks tend to ignore while the main heroine takes center stage along with the hero after vanquishing a dragon or something. How anyone would show any kind of interest towards her was beyond her own comprehension. The guy must’ve either had strange or poor taste. Perhaps even both. Smokey Junior let out a worried squeak. “Oh. Sorry little fella. I guess you could say that I’m a little nervous.” She said to her little animal friends. “I’m meeting up with somebody. And it’s not the normal kind of meeting. I know that this person has some feelings for me.” She held up the letter, sighing out loud. “I can’t say that I’m not curious. But I don’t think I’m ready for a serious relationship.” And worse yet… what will she do if she lets him down? Reject this stranger’s heartfelt proposal? The letter that was given to her seemed so well made and so personal. Getting rejected after going through all those hoops would be devastating. Oh dear. I hope the guy won’t feel too bad. After all, she wasn’t in the mood for any kind of romantic attachment. If anything, she was more inclined of loving her animal friends than anything else. Maybe she should’ve asked Rarity for more advice. She wasn’t ready for confrontation. But that thought came too little, too late, as the animals scattered when they noted a figure approaching them. “Fluttershy?” Every cell in her body froze when she heard her name being called by a muscular voice. Here it was. This was it. The moment she’s been waiting for. Do or die! Ok… not really die, but this was close enough. She swallowed down her fears and anxiety and stood up, slowly turning to meet… “Umm… hi there.” She greeted in the politest way possible. … … … Who is he again? I don’t recognize the guy. The brown hair, lightly tanned skin and bangs over his face. He looks somewhat familiar but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Was he even a student here? “You are…” No. Don’t make it sound like a question. He might take it as an insult. “It’s me.” The cool guy pointed at himself. “Feather Bangs.” “Feather Bangs?” A voice in the bushes squeaked. Feather… Bangs? Fluttershy blinked, hoping he didn’t notice her confused brow. “We’re classmates in Biology this afternoon?” “Uhh…” “We met in 7th Grade History?” Nope. Not ringing a bell. In fact I can hear an echo inside my head. “We were in the same Geography team last year?” Still drawing a blank here. “We’re in the same knitting club last semester!” Still nothing. “We handed out flyers together for Tree Hugger’s recycle movement?” I wonder if there’s a sale in the bird feed today. The poor boy sighed. “I was Frog #4 in the school play of The Ugly Duckling?” OH! Her memories finally clicked. “Right! I remember you now. Feather Bang. Of course.” She’d remember all animals. Even those pretending to be one. “How are you?” “Uh… I’m… fine?” He responded, looking like he was caught off guard. Thankfully he recovered, coughing into his fist to hide his embarrassment and turning his attitude around. “I take it you got my letter.” “Oh! Right. The letter.” Fluttershy immediately remembered her position and had her cheeks turn a ray of pink. “It was um… very sweet. I think.” “Why thank you.” Feather Bang casually responded, flipping his bang in a strange yet surprisingly naturally way. “I spent all week trying to find the right words for it. I’m kind of a master in poetry.” He gave out a flirty wink and a very toothy smile flashing his ivory teeth. “So what do you think, Fluttershy?” “That thing took you a week? Lame!” The bushes rumbled, but none of them heard it. “Uh… about what?” “About… us?” He said in a manner of factly. “I thought… you know… me and you… going out proper?” Oh! Right. That’s what Rarity said earlier. Come on Fluttershy, focus! “Right… about that. Umm… uh… sorry. This isn’t what I expected. It’s just that… why?” “Why what?” “Why me?” She asked so cutely that even Angel was sticking his head out to support her. “I mean… you are umm… popular. I don’t think you’d like someone like me.” “Nonsense lady.” Feather Bangs waved it off cockily, again whipping his hair to the other side. “You’re the perfect one. The real deal. I’ve been infatuated with you since the first time we’ve met.” “You… have?” “From the moment I laid eyes on you in History Class. A voice in my head said to me: Feather Bangs old chum. That’s the gal of your dreams. That’s the gal who you’ll be infatuated till the end of your days.” That’s… not exactly helpful. “I’ve watched you from afar, darling. I’ve seen you in the hallway, on stage, fighting dangerous monsters and show more love to every critter here that anyone I’ve ever seen. You’re gosh darn gorgeous in every possible way.” Oh… well… that was… “Th… thank you. That’s umm… such a lovely compliment.” She can’t help but admit that those words did strike a chord on her. Her cheeks darkened a bit. “But I’m not really much of a… people person.” “That’s fine by me.” The boy coolly approached. “All the more reason why I’m so into sweetie. That adorable voice of yours is sweeter than an apple pie. You got the heart the size of a giant. And I love every bit of you that you show and don’t show.” He inched closer, his face just a meter away from hers. “So whadaya say? You love animals, I love animals. You like music, I like music. We totally complement each other. We’d make the perfect couple, don’t you agree?” Would they? Because she really can’t see it. Ok. This is getting way too out of hand. She was supposed to let him down gently, but this guy seemed like the kind of stalker that only attention-lovers like Rarity would appreciate. In fact… he was giving her rather… TOO much attention. It’s like being an amoeba under a microscope, whose every motion was being observed and recorded for study. Something that she was semi-deathly allergic to. Perhaps it would be best to just reject him. But do it slowly so to not hurt his feelings. “I’m sorry.” She sucked up her inner strength and gave him her answer, which unsurprisingly, caught him off guard. “I can’t.” Feather Bangs recoiled like he was struck by a rock. “But… why not? We’re perfect for one another.” Perhaps in your point of view. She shyly brushed her hair and poke her feet on the ground. “You seem like a really nice person, and I’m really flattered. But I’m afraid I can’t. It’s just… complicated.” “But Fluttershy, sweetie. You gotta see that we’re meant for one another. We got what this world can never have.” “I’m sorry. I really am.” She lowered her head shallowly, feeling somewhat guilty as well. Feather Bang opened his mouth to argue but found himself turning away. “I… guess… if that’s your answer.” He sighed. “Can I at least know why?” Why indeed. Why was she rejecting him? Because he was a creep? Because he was a stalker? Because she had no interest in a romantic relationship at the moment? No. None of those sounded like a viable excuse. It was more like an insult or maybe a slap in the face. She can’t let him go on such a lame reasoning. Rarity would scold her for such a thing. She needed to be firm. She needed to give him an answer that’ll satisfy him. An answer so resolute that he’ll get the message. “It’s because…” Fluttershy’s mind went blank. “I’m actually seeing someone else.” … “What?” Feather Bang blinked. What? “WHATTTT!!!!!?” The bushes screamed. The cows in the background mooed, the donkeys went hoarse, the birds chirped, the little critters began to make noise, and poor little Angel fainted. Fluttershy paused, and allowed the moment to sink in as the rest of the animal shelter collectively gasp. It was only after that split moment did she realize the words she said. Oh… fudge. I think I made a big mistake. Quick… think of something witty. Can I take it back? No! It’s too late. The sentence was already thrown out there. The Akashic Records has placed them in its compendium and locked away for all eternity. There are no take-backs. Just like a person sends out a lame text and can’t go back and rewrite it! How about we just laugh it off and say I was kidding? No! That’ll just make her look stupid. “You’re… seeing someone?” The boy recovered as if he was in shock. “Yes! Yes I am.” Fluttershy was mentally breaking at this point. While she tried to remain calm on the outside, every voice inside her head were screaming to the dark void, letting the echoes reach the deepest corners of her sanity. “Oh… I see. I guess I should’ve seen that coming.” Feather Bang slouched down dejectedly. “We’ve been… going out for a while now actually.” Forget it. If this is how things were gonna roll, then she may as well roll with it. Bury the lie under a ton of lies. Bury it so deep that no one would separate the truth. “But we’ve been keeping it a secret from the others.” “Is that… so…?” "I’m sorry. But I don’t think things will work out between us right now.” “Yeah… I understand.” He brushed his bangs dejectedly. “I’ll uh… see ya?” She waved him farewell, putting on a smile. She waited patiently and calmly. Only when she was sure that he was out of sight and out of mind, did she fall to the ground, face redder than a tomato.