//------------------------------// // Ch. 4 Orientation // Story: Scootaloo's Years // by Broneyofnoel //------------------------------// Peachy and I darted from building to building on campus. We stopped by the Art, Literature, and Dance areas in our quest to learn as much about the campus as possible. We spent a little time in the first two areas, but then we arrived at the dance area; "Wow...." I said as the two of us looked up at the massive dancing complex. We walked through the front door of the large studio, inside were lots of separate floors with glass walls on almost every room. We looked for the sign that showed what was what on each floor. After searching around the lobby for a moment, we saw the sign, it read: Year 6---Floor 1 Year 5---Floor 2 Year 4---Floor 3 Year 3---Floor 4 Year 2---Floor 5 Year 1---Floor 6 Open Courts---Floors 7-10 "That;s what we need!" I said excitedly. "What?" she turned to me. "I've seen you act, you should see me dance!" "Cool! Let's do it!" The two of us looked up. "Well darn, the floor is 7 stories up, I don't wanna make you walk......I have an idea!" I said even more excitedly. "What is it?" Peachy said, still looking at the 7th floor landing. "Well, I could fly you up there...I've flown with some of the fastest flyers in Equestria." "I don't know Scootaloo, that sounds dangerous." "Come on, trust me." Peachy sighed as she walked over to me, i wrapped my front hooves around her and gripped her tightly, I opened my wings and I looked at her, "You sure?" "Go for it!" I closed my eyes and shot off of the ground, propelling the both of us evenly straight up into the air. Peachy was a very light pony, so lifting her was no problem, even for me. I flew the both of us to the seventh floor and landed smoothly. Peachy hugged my tightly even after I landed, she was almost chocking me when she realized it was over. "That. Was. Awesome!" Peachy said as she unlatched herself from me. "It was nothing, you're really light." i said, walking forward. "Really? I used to be really big." Peachy said as we walked into the first open studio. "Really?" I asked, I'd have never guessed. "Yeah, I'll tell you about it later. I want to see you dance." She said happily. "Cool, let's find a song first!" I said as we dove into the racks of music that was placed aside. Peachy and I looked through dozens of CD's and records before she found a record, while she put it in the record player, i took my position in the center of the room. I heard the music start, and I was off! I slowly moved around the room, slipping from hoof to hoof. I slid my head from shoulder to shoulder, moving with the music. i jumped and spun as the chorus set in, opening my wings to provide a balance. I almost fell as I landed, but I kept through. My body felt alive as I moved, more alive than it had felt in a long time. As the music reached its climax, I spun quickly, and slowed to a stop within seconds. I looked at Peachy as she stopped the music. Stop the music Peachy was silent, I looked at her, she seemed uneasy. I noticed that the door was open and a mare was standing there, a cold look on her face. I dropped from my stance and walked over to Peachy. i grabbed her as the mare approached the two of us. She stopped at the record player and eyed me cautiously. "I've seen your kind before." She spoke, her long black mane moving from her white and coat, echoing off of her golden eyes. "You're from a small town, you think you're special, I will let you know something, you are not." I wanted to speak out, but something inside me told me that I shouldn't. I let the mare continue. "By the end of this year, you will either be a dancer, a failure, or long gone." She paused for a moment, "Now leave my studio." I was torn to pieces on the inside, but I held myself together long enough to leave the room and make it to the stairwell. When I made it there with Peachy, I started crying slightly. Peachy tried to comfort me, but I wouldn't let her see me like this so i hid my face from her. "C'mon Scootaloo, we have to go to Freshman Orientation." Peachy said, patting my back as we walked. "I guess." I said, I wiped my eyes as we entered the lobby. We walked slowly across campus towards the large open noel in the center, hundreds of chairs were lined up in sections that extended from near the center to the sidewalk. We sat in the middle, surrounded by other fillies and colts of assorted colors and talents. Once the lot of us were settled in our seats, the very center of the meeting place lit up to show on mare. I recognized her, she was the one i saw in the Headmaster's office when I first arrived. "Hello new Freshmen!" She called out, some cheering was heard, but it died down quickly. "I'll be your year's leader in your studies at the academy, but tonight i'll be helping you understand the rules of the campus." The mare grabbed a small booklet, and held it up with her magic. "You'll find a handbook below each of your chairs, I'm going to make this quick so I'll only be covering the basic points of the rules." All of the ponies in the audience pulled out their handbooks. The Headmaster continued, "Big Rules; Any Sexual Misconduct will result in immediate expulsion from my Academy, I'm looking at you boys. An additional note is that public display of affection is not allowed in classes themselves, but life on the campus is normal. Violence, threats, and profanity will be dealt with by me personally, anywhere from a small mark on the record to expulsion depending on severity should be expected." The Headmaster paused for a moment, and then concluded her tiny lectern with one sentence: "Please enjoy your year, we can't wait to see you all grow." As she left the stage, hundreds of ponies started getting up, which caused a miniature rush, Peachy and I would just have to sit here until everything was finished...