//------------------------------// // Chapter. 2 – Meetings, Memories and Measles Prevention // Story: The Road to Who We Are // by hamishwarfare //------------------------------// Chapter. 2 – Meetings, Memories and Measles Prevention Starlight Glimmer gulped nervously and hesitated for a moment before steeling herself and knocked on the solid wood door. Her two friends were not with her; but they had reassured her that this was a normal thing, apparently. They had never had the first month interview, since they were brought here as infants; but had heard from more than a few other fillies and colts that this was a standard thing. That and they both had, if not good, then at least respectful things to say about the director of the orphanage. “Enter.” The words were muffled through the solid oak, but the power held by the pony on the other side was clear from those five letters. Starlight took one last look at the brass name tag on the door; she had to look up, but she could still make out the letters. “Director Race Control” The office she walked into was probably on the smaller side for such a high position; but there was an air of comfort about the room. With the grass green carpet on the floor, the bright shiny wood book cases and shelves resting in front of pale orange walls. Then there was the mahogany desk and the pony behind it. He was clearly a retired military pegasus stallion; his sandy yellow coat was fading quite considerably and his mane of red fire was scattered in salt and pepper shades and flecks. He looked up from the paper on his desk and gave a gruff, “Yes?” “Uh, I’m Starlight Glimmer. Y-you requested to see me, sir?” The stallion blinked before using his left wing to look at a small time piece on his desk. “Ah, is that the time. My apologies, it appears I have let myself get distracted.” “Oh, well I could come back when you’re ready–” “No, no. I have your file right here. Please, take a seat.” Sure enough, his right wing was already sliding a small folder over to himself; a file that had already been sitting there, waiting. Starlight hopped up and sat on the adult sized chair. The cushion was actually comfortable, a surprise for an otherwise boring and non-descriptive piece of wood. “Your records from your previous orphanage state you are a bright young filly, with very few demerits; mostly from tardiness.” “Y-yes sir, I kept getting distracted by my books.” Race Control just snorted. “It also mentions that you are a very bright child. How are you finding our lesson plan?” “Umm, Ok.” His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared down at the child. This was a stare that screamed he knew she was hiding something, and it would be in her best interest to reveal it. “W-w-well. It’s just I finish all my work very quickly and then have to sit and wait for the others in my class to catch up.” “Does this happen often? And in how many classes?” Young Starlight felt like a bunny facing down a predator. It was only thanks to the tone of his voice that she was able to keep speaking; the air of concern within it felt at least a little reassuring. “A-all of them, sir. In some it might take me longer than others, but it happens in almost every lesson. Uh –” The hesitation was batted away by an inquisitive eyebrow and wing gesture to proceed. “It’s just that my friends have said they’ve been moved forward a few years. C-Could I, as well? Please?” Slowly the old stallion across from her leaned back from his desk; “well now, that is something we do not normally do. We keep our years together so that you can make friends with ponies your own age…tell me, who are these friends you speak of?” “Twilight sir. Uhh, Twilight, and Rainbow, sir.” She closed her eyes and waited for the disapproval of her choice in friends. “Oh? You’ve become friends with those two have you? Twilight I can see, your both unicorns, but what made you become friends with Rainbow?” His voice was utterly neutral; slow and deliberate, not a blemish or a moment of hesitation. Starlight was completely lost. The only way she could go was forward. “W-well on the third day I was here, I was getting bullied.” The old stallion said nothing, not wanting to interrupt the story, but he was not happy to hear there was bullying under his snout. “Rainbow noticed it happening and came to my rescue. Not soon after Twilight arrived and we all got talking. I-I was hesitant at first,” she gulped and took a breath to firm up her resolve. “But it felt right; and since then they’re both been the best friends I’ve ever had.” Race Control rubbed his chin with a hoof as he thought over the story. It was not the whole truth that much he could tell; that Twilight arrived after Rainbow faced off against these bullies said that the pegasus filly was losing her temper. A quick glance down at the folder told him the date of the incident; there was nothing unusual about that day as far as he could remember. If Rainbow or Twilight had lost control, had needed to use the kiln, he would have remembered. “I see. Tell me did anything strange happen to either of the two?” The question confused the young filly. “Uh no, not that I can remember. Rainbow slipped as she was charging the three earth ponies; she looked like she was about to continue as they ran away, when she stilled and took a deep breath. It was not long after that that Twilight came around the corner.” He nodded his head as pieces came together. He smiled. “Those two have come a long way then; I’m glad to hear nothing happened in the end and I apologise to you for the incident. Please inform the staff if something like that happens again though. I do not tolerate bullying.” “S-sure, but I’ve not been bothered at all since I became friends with the two of them. Not many other ponies seem to like them much.” Race Control nodded his head in agreement. “Not many their age are brave enough to look past the size difference; others are two ingrained by tribal thinking. That you have managed to look past both says a lot about your character. “Now as for your lesson problem; I shall talk to your teachers and hear what they have to say about you, as well as arrange a few tests to see where you are. That you are a friend of Twilights makes me more inclined to believe in your abilities; but we will still need to make sure you are not over taxing yourself to be in their classes.” The smile on the young unicorns face was small, but it was an honest one. The door clicked closed behind young Starlight Glimmer, leaving Race Control alone once more. The meeting with the young filly had been reassuring over all. He had heard rumours that she was friendly with his two unique charges, and he wanted a read of her. ‘Those two changed the direction of my life; and while it has not been easy, not by a long shot, it has been more than worth it.’ A gust of wind rattled his office window, and brought with it the distant rustle of leaves from the small fruit tree orchard. Memories began to surface within Race Controls mind; memories of almost a decade ago. The tree tops rustled and swayed as the small group of pegasi flew overhead, their hooves and wing tips just barely missing the top most leaves. Every single pony was dressed in a tight fitting blue body suit and was wearing flight goggles. The five ponies were in a V shaped flying formation, following the lead pony and flying as one. The forest below them was one of, if not the, most dangerous areas of Equestria; with beasts of all shapes and sizes. Even the plant life was a threat to a pony. But these five fliers were not your average pegasi, they were a part of the Wonderbolts, elite scouts and daredevil extraordinaire. The reason why this group was flying over such a dangerous forest was a simple one; training. The green sea below them was breached ahead of them as a vine whipped out of the canopy to try and ensnare the low flying team. Its movements were a blurr to the eye as it whipped about, but the formation was un-phased. With honed reflexes and exact precision the five pegasi barrel rolled up and over the attacking flora; before settling back to their original height above the dangerous green sea. It was the final trial for the four ponies following their mentor. He was significantly older, past the age for active duty; but his reputation and experience was still in high demand. “Magical anomaly at three-o-clock.” The call came out from one of the wing ponies, and a quick glance confirmed a few bolts of lightning could be seen striking out of the trees. The Everfree forest was dangerous and held mysteries ponykind would likely never figure out; but the lead pony has flown over it dozens of times, if not more. This was not something he had seen before and certainly required a closer look. No words were required as the lead pony altered his wing and started to bank; their new trajectory taking them deeper into the depths of the chaotic forest. Race Control shook his head and blinked away the memory of him and his trainee Wonderbolts discovering the two unique sisters. But the memories simply moved past their finding and onto other events involving the two strange fillies Times where they defied everything to be together; from what had to be teleportation, breaking through restraints, to even flying under anaesthetic induced sleep. Other memories followed; magic bursts, blazing fires, and their strength. It rivalled that of an earth pony, perhaps even more so. Honestly most other places would have gotten rid of them. But it was he that found them, on his last training patrol of the Everfree Forest. Two infant fillies who defied the forest and had survived within it somehow; huddling together for warmth with big scared and confused eyes. He was even the one who named them; Rainbow was easy, the colour of her mane. Twilight was a little harder, but again he looked at her mane; it matched the twilight sky, the same time he had discovered them. There were no reports of lost fillies anywhere in Equestria that matched their descriptions. And thanks to their inability to be separated; it was not possible to place them in a standard unicorn or pegasi orphanage. So he founded one for them. Rather he took the helm of the family orphanage belonging to his wife; a failing place that was only still running thanks to his donations. With his firm hooves at the helm, he turned it around to one of the more successful orphanages in Equestria. That they were the first orphanage to accept all tribes also contributed to their success as well. His office door opened, breaking his train of thought; that there was no knock, told him who it was. The white mare pushed the door open with a wing; her heavy steps were slow but sure, bringing the face he had loved for so long closer to his desk. “So are the rumours true? Have Rainbow and Twilight finally found a friend their age?” “Gentle Breeze, the young filly has barely left my office; hell you could have probably asked her as she walked past you.” His wife said nothing, just kept looking at him with eyes so caring and curious, “sigh, yes dear, I believe Miss Glimmer is honest with her claim that those two are her friends.” The large pegasus let out a happy and relieved sigh as she collapsed into the vacant chair opposite her husband. She used a fore hoof to push away a stray strand of fading pink hair. “Finally, lets hope this is the start of something better for those two. They’re such good fillies, they deserve a change in luck.” Race Control raised an eyebrow, “oh? You want them to find a family now that they have found a friend?” “You know what I mean, Race; I want them to be happy, like all of our charges. It’s just those two will never get adopted; ponies just don’t understand their connection.” She shook her head, “I mean how long did it take us to get past the disbelief that a unicorn and a pegasus could have such a close bond?” “Too long,” Race Control agreed, his head slowly nodding along. “And our lives changed thanks to them showing us how close the tribes can be.” He sighed, “they’re going to change the world when they grow up; and if no family can do it, that just leaves us to raise them as best as we can. Just like the rest of our charges.” Gentle Breeze eyed her husband affectionately, “there’s that soft centre I fell in love with. Who would have guessed behind such a tough exterior, there was a soft centre.” “Are you comparing me to candy again?” “Chuckle, who said I ever stopped?” Gentle Breeze winked cheekily at her husband before getting up and exiting through the door with a sway to her tail; leaving an ex-military pony blushing like a school filly. It was the start of a new week, and with it a whole new set of classes for Starlight Glimmer. It was with a slightly nervous step that she walked into a classroom. “Hey, Starlight. You didn’t say anything about joining us the last time we saw each other.” The voice came from behind Starlight; she spun round and came face to face with a red gem surrounded by fluffy light blue fur. Starlight skittered back in shock before looking higher up to see her friends face, “Did you get even bigger since I last saw you, Rainbow?” “Naa, she’s just standing on the tips of her hooves.” Twilight came from behind her companion, shouldering the pegasus slightly to knock her off the tips of said hooves. “We noticed you just a moment ago and she rushed on ahead.” She gave Rainbow a cheeky grin in response to the slight pout. “Still, well done getting into the same classes as us. If you need any help at all, don’t hesitate to ask me; I’ve managed to get Rainbow here, I can certainly help you too.” “Hey!” the look of indignation lasted all of a second before she joined in with the others laughter. The class itself had no fixed seating, just single desks with connected chairs placed in rows. It was all situated in front of a black board with a larger desk clearly meant for a teacher. They took three seats together in the front row, with Starlight situated between the other two; almost like they were her bodyguards. The lesson passed with minimal fuss, or fanfare; the teacher was an earth pony stallion with a monotone voice that perfectly matched his coat. He didn’t even acknowledge the smaller filly in the room, just continued his lecture of the founding of the Pony Parliament. Starlight found it a little challenging; not the work, so much as just having the lack of context from the previous lectures. But this was a small problem that would be easily dealt with thanks to the notes Twilight had made during previous lessons. Other classes weren’t so uneventful; the teachers actually acknowledged Starlight and welcomed her to their classes. Some of the other students clearly weren’t happy with the situation, a few more so than others. But in the end nothing happened, other than a few whispered comments and names. Starlight’s new life continued in such a fashion with her friends; until something happened to change the routine. It was deep into winter – a little past the New Year – when the eight year olds of the orphanage were informed that they would be receiving their immunisations; a standard event that happened every year. The timing couldn’t have been better as it was only a few weeks ago that Starlight had turned eight. Meaning that at this moment in time she was the same age as Rainbow and Twilight; their birthday – more so their day of discovery – wasn’t until the end of March. It also meant she would be joining the eight year olds for their injection. The three friends walked into the main assembly hall and it was here that Starlight heard her two friends groan in unison. “What, What’s wrong? It can’t have just hit you two what’s happening today?” “Starlight, look at me and Twilight. Then look out into the hall. Can you see the problem?” Starlight did as she was asked from Rainbow and looked into the hall. They were some of the last of the eight year olds to arrive, due in part to their lesson schedule being different to the others; so the hall was quite full with almost a dozen colts and fillies comfortably sitting in chairs. …Oh. Starlight looked over at her friends once more, before doing the same to the furniture set out for the expected eight year olds. She tried not to laugh; she did not mean for the snigger to escape her hoof covered mouth. She really did, but her two friends returned the coughed out laugh with a half-hearted glare. “Cough. Umm, I mean oh dear. It looks like you two might find this a little uncomfortable.” It was Twilight who responded with a sarcastic, “ya think?” The three friends continued their now standard seating arrangement, with Starlight in the centre. She had to admit it was a nice change not having to reach up slightly to sit down; her two friends, however, did not have quite as good a time as herself. Yes the seats weren’t that much smaller than what they were used to, but it was still a funny sight to see. Rainbow had it easier than Twilight as she had her wings to at least help stabilize herself, as she bent her knees quite a bit higher than she was used to. Unfortunately for Twilight, she had miss judged where her chair was and she ended up sitting on less than half of the seat. She over compensated when she realised this fact and ended up falling off of the chair entirely; crashing onto the floor. It was Rainbow who laughed first out of the group; the snark that she tried to cover up with a cough was undeniable, and the smile could clearly be seen regardless of her hoof covering her mouth. “Yeah, yeah laugh it up.” Twilight got back onto her hooves and was rubbing her behind in an attempt to take away the sting of the drop. “Giggle, here let me help you Twilight; Rainbow is clearly too busy lau – I mean coughing to do it.” It was not all that difficult for the two unicorns to get Twilight seated properly; though they almost wished it had been. With all three of them sitting nicely, there was nothing else to do and an awkward silence started to form. “Sooo, do you both have any dreams?” Regardless of how few children there were waiting, the line seem to be taking a very long time; it was Starlight who could not take the quiet any longer. Rainbow beat her sister to the punch, “I’m going to be a Wonderbolt! Director Race Control has been amazing and said I have the right stuff for it as well. Did you know he used to be a Wonderbolt? He didn’t take part in many shows, but he specialised in planning and scouting. He even got me a few posters for our room; posters featuring Spitfire! She’s, umph.” “Yeah, Rainbow is just a little bit obsessed with the Wonderbolts.” Twilight had covered her sister’s mouth with a hoof as soon as she heard mentioned the name of Spitfire. Rainbow had to be her biggest fan, even if Spitfire was only a Sargent right now. “For me, my dream is to become a researcher into magical theory; I wanna be like Star Swirl the Bearded and create new spells to help Ponykind.” “Oooh, yeah I wanna be like Star Swirl too; but I’m more interested in the stories behind the spells, yunno? Like why did they need to make this spell or that one?” Rainbow huffed and looked away from the two unicorns. Starlight felt a little guilty for her less academic friend and was going to say something to reassure her, when she saw Rainbows shoulders droop from their former tense state. Seeing Rainbow calm down brought a smile to Starlight’s face; but as she watched her pegasus friend she began to notice something strange. Her ears flicked, the corner of her mouth would twitch and she shifted in her seat as she looked towards her unicorn sister. What made things stranger was that Twilight was reacting similarly but with a slight offset. To Starlight it was almost like these two were speaking to each other. “Uh, guys? You’re staring at each other quite strangely.” “OH! Sorry Starlight.” Twilight said as she blinked before looking at the other unicorn, “I was just reassuring Rainbow that we won’t spend all our time inside a library getting fat.” “Huh, you were? But you weren’t saying anything. Oh, is it that you two know each other so well you can have a silent conversation?” Starlight was amazed that they could do something like that, and hoped she could be that close to them one day. However, Rainbow put that thought to bed rather quickly. “Naa, it’s not that. We can just speak to each other in our heads.” Starlight blinked; what did her friend mean by that? “You can read each other’s minds?” Twilight sighed, “no its not Telepa. Sigh, me and Rainbow have a special connection. We can talk to each other, as well as listen to conversations around each other as well; if we really focus on the connection. And if we feel the need, we can even appear at each other’s side; but we can only do that when we really need each other.” “Huh?” This was not what she was expecting to hear. “Yeah its like we have special powers, just like in the comics. And since I can do it also, its clearly not magic.” “It is magic Rainbow.” Twilight said with exasperation. “It’s just not normal magic. Its –” “Miss Twilight.” The shout from the front of the room stopped the conversation dead; they had almost forgotten that they were waiting for a shot. Twilight gulped, before steeling herself and got up off the chair. She smiled in gratitude as the sitting ponies gave reassurances and encouragement. It was a tense few seconds before Rainbow broke the silence, “we’ll show you what we mean after all this.” “You don’t have to; it’s a thing between you and Twilight,” Rainbow huffed, “that’s what Twilight says too; that we should keep quiet about it. But your our friend, and I don’t like keeping something this big a secret from a friend.” It was said with conviction and certainty, Starlight couldn’t help but smile, “thank you, Rainbow.” Rainbow smiled and nodded back, before her ears flattened, her body flinched, and she rubbed her right foreleg just below the shoulder; no doubt where Twilight had just been given her shot. Starlight figured it out quickly; there were down sides to their connection, it seemed.