Teaching gym was surprisingly fun. It was her chance to be mostly-human, female, and moving around. Her new body did it pretty well. It was a bit of a shame that, as the teacher, she wasn't moving full tilt. It was her job to get the students moving about. Also she was not wearing proper gym shoes at all. That portal had assumed she was a business lady of some kind, and her footwear reflected that.
The students laughed a little at it, but she was able to direct the class despite that. One game of volleyball for one period, and some soccer in the second. Gym sports, prepare for balls! Either way, she was a substitute teacher, and it was working out fine. A pity she was getting not a step closer to getting that tiara.
Even if she did get her eyes on it. Called to Celestia's office after the second gym period, she could see it, under a glass box. "That's rather fancy."
"I thought--" Celestia uncurled a few fingers towards it, seated at her desk. "--being able to see the prize would motivate students that happened to come in. I think it's working, perhaps too well." She depressed a button and twirled her monitor for Umbra to see. It was the cafeteria, where the students were singing and dancing. The words were lost, no sound, but they were having a grand time of it. Soon they were all wearing pony ears and some even pony tails. "Community spirit is up, and so is the competition."
"Wow," let out Umbra as the monitor was turned back ground. "I've never had my school burst out into spontaneous musical numbers." She quietly blamed Equestria's influence on that. "Still, is that bad?"
"Not by itself. I just hope they don't get carried away. This is supposed to be a fun--" She steepled her fingers. "--event. If they keep it to reasons to dance and sing, no harm there. Now, about you. You may have been unexpected, but you are getting the job done. I have a question for you."
"Which is?" That had the potential to be dire, but the tone and way it was said implied she wasn't in any trouble, despite the words saying she was super spotted. "I'm happy to help."
"I know you are that." Celestia smiled in that gentle way she had. "First, union. By default, all teaching staff pays a portion of their wages towards it, but you are entitled to opt out. Which would you prefer?"
Oh! "I'll pay." She was not going to take part in any union busting in her brief time in another world. She held up a finger. "Actually, about that... I feel kinda bad taking any money... I'm pretty sure you've figured out I'm not a licensed teacher at this point."
"A while back," assured Celestia, still wielding that knowing smile like the deadly weapon it was. "And yet, you keep doing it. Your students speak well of you. If, after Cadance stops by and we put this mystery to rest, you feel up for it, I wouldn't mind sending you back to school to get that accreditation."
Umbra's cheeks were on fire. "That is such a nice thought!" Aw, that human not-Celestia was being so nice! "But I can't take that in good conscious." She didn't plan to stay in their world and all. "Luna was mentioning it before she knew more and got all... prickly."
"By the book," reminded Celestia, not seeming upset or surprised. "She'd come around if you began the process of doing it right. But, back to the matter at hand." She reached into her desk and came out with a folded envelope. "This is your pay. You earned it. Accredited or not, you worked for this school. The first day, I could have blamed you. After that, I knew what you were doing, and you were still allowed here, so it is my responsibility to see that all staff here gets paid." She set the envelope on the desk. "Minus union fees."
Umbra hiked a brow even as she reached for it. It reminded her of how a japanese person would give cash, which felt odd, but then, why should it? Equestria High wasn't American, or anything else earth-related. She shook that thought away. "Did you guess I'd--"
"--I did," cut in Celestia. "And I was, fortunately, correct. You are much like that crown." Her eyes were on it, sealed in its cube. "Both of you came to me without warning, but right when I wanted them. Ah, before you ask, your first day is not included. That went to the substitute whose hours you so casually... stole."
Umbra smiled awkwardly at that. "I'm so completely fine with the poor guy getting his money for that. I don't want to steal his cash!"
"I had hoped you'd say that." Celestia set her hands flat on the desk. "Now, you're done with today. I'll be arranging a schedule for you tomorrow. No objections?" None came. "Then enjoy the rest of the day to yourself."
Umbra was dismissed, with money, and a job... "Man... Earth was never this easy." She felt the folded paper in her pocket that hid the cash. "If I was staying, a bank account would be the next step..." Walking around with paper money? Who even did that?! Well, their technology level being what it seemed to be, maybe they did do exactly that... It was hard to say... "Sorry!" She almost crashed into a student. "I was spacing out."
"Umbra?"
Umbra blinked. "That's me." The student didn't look like one of the ones she had taught. They had dark grey, almost black skin, like her, though a bit darker. Their shirt, however, was bright colors, like an explosion of rainbows.
"Umbra!" The student girl grabbed at Umbra's right hand. "I found you."
That voice... "Shifting?" Umbra glanced around nervously. "Is that you?"
"It's me." Shifting squeezed Umbra's hand all the firmer. "You are hard to find!"
Umbra scooped up her friend in a hug. "Are you alright? I knew Twilight was here. Also..." She stepped back from Shifting, looking her over. "Am I the oldest person in my peer group? Because that's uncanny now."
Shifting looked up and down at her friend who had become significantly larger, and mature. "Huh. Um... I can't fix that."
"Can't fi.. oh! Right, you're a human." Umbra pointed at her. "Not a changeling, right now, so no shapeshifting for you. Ah! Did you bring any magical items with you? They still work." She pointed instead up at her tiara. "Already tested." A thought tickled her. "Aren't you... either a boy or a both, by default?"
Shifting began to color. She already had plenty of color to go around, but more red flooded into her cheeks. "Both," she muttered in barely a whisper. "Don't hate me."
"You didn't pick it." Umbra poked at her bashful friend. "And I'm going to introduce you now."
"Wha?" But no time for questions, Shifting was being drawn by Umbra through the hallways. "Is this good?"
"Completely." Umbra rapped a knuckle on the door. "Celly, sorry to bother you."
The door swung open. "Umbra? I didn't expect... Who's this?" She looked past Umbra to Shifting. "A new student?"
"In part." Umbra wobbled a hand. "This is a cousin of mine, Shifting Prism. Shifting, say hello to Principal Celestia."
"Hi!" squeaked out Shifting, looking like a deer caught in headlights.
"Aw, don't be scared," assured Celestia. "It's nice to meet them, but what do they have to do with me?"
"Family stuff," sighed out Umbra. "I wanted to be sure it's alright if she hangs out with me for now. She won't get in the way, and hopefully she'll learn a few things while I teach classes."
"I appreciate you asking first." That could have been a lot of shenanigans with a hidden Shifting. "So long as they don't disrupt the classes, I have nothing against that. Why aren't they are their own school?"
Shifting raised a hand with an awkward smile. "I came a long way. I can't go to my school right now." All honest! Umbra smiled with pride at the speed at which Shifting got into role. "Sorry for the trouble, ma'am."
"It's no trouble at all." She patted Shifting gently on the shoulder. "Stay near your cousin and do as she asks. She works here, you know. Don't make her look bad."
Umbra snagged Shifting, one arm around her. "I'll keep her safe and out of the way. You're the best, Celestia."
"You're too much." But the door closed. Celestia had other things to tend to.
Confident, Umbra strolled from the office with a cocky grin. "And, just like that, you belong here."
"Wow." Shifting looked around with new eyes. "I was just getting used to being sneaky."
"Why be sneaky when you can be an adult?" reasoned Umbra. "Speaking of adult privs." She hiked a thumb at the teacher lounge. "This is where we adults go to get away from kids. You get a pass, being mine." She opened the door and headed inside.
The guy teacher she had seen was there, with some other teachers she didn't know. "Hey." she waved at the one she did know. "This is my cousin. Celestia knows about him." A few noises of assent. If the boss knew, well, clearly it was alright then. "What flavors do we have today?" She went over to the doughnut box.
"You're just in time." A thinner male teacher was looking at Shifting. "Is she going to bring you to the formal? It almost got cancelled."
"Ugh." A female rolled her eyes. "That would have been a mess. Luna, love you, but that... would not have ended well."
The portly male teacher Umbra had met first nodded. "Thankfully that's past, so we can throw a little party for our hardworking students. They deserve it. Besides, these memories are the sort of thing they'll never forget."
"For good or bad," noted the female with a smirk. "Well, coming?" Her eyes went to Shifting.
Who was looking to Umbra. Who was busy picking out the best nut-covered douhnut, mmm... She only just noticed then the attention was on her. "Huh? Oh! Yeah, sure. Shifting, that sound fun to you?" Umbra nodded subtly, hoping she'd get the hint.
"Yeah!" Shifting clapped her hands together, meshing her fingers. "I'd love to. thanks. You're the best cousin I could ask for."
"Aw." The female teacher giggled at their apparent closeness. "What a cutie. You keep an eye on her. You want a snack too?" She pointed to the doughnut box Umbra had just plundered. "Plenty to go around. Any guest of a teacher gets to enjoy."
"Do they drink coffee?" asked the portly male teacher, cradling his ceramic container of wake-up juice. "Bad habit." He drew a heavy gulp. "Best to quit it early."
Umbra grabbed a Styrofoam cup to avail herself of the coffee offerings. "Thankfully, she hasn't picked up the habit to quit it." Technically, Umbra had quit it cold turkey since going to the pony world, but taking it back up again was so very not hard. "You stay away from this stuff."
Shifting looked from cup to cup. There were so many teachers with a cup of coffee. "Um... If it's bad, why are so many of you drinking it?" That only got a laugh out of the room. "What?"
The man leaned forward, still sitting. "It helps us get through the day. It's a bad habit, but none of us are quitting it any time soon. You're doing just fine not getting into it."
"A dirty adult habit," agreed Umbra with a shrug. "Enjoy not needing it, hopefully ever."
"I'll drink to that." Several cups met with squeaks of Styrofoam and tinks of ceramic before the entire room, minus Shifting Prism, drank some coffee to the idea of Shifting Prism never trying her first cup.