//------------------------------// // Nervousness - Chapter 6 // Story: Anomalous // by Richu Yue //------------------------------// “So, the Princess said that you will go….” Scale scanned the letter and lifted his head to see a gate and a building. Between the gate and the building was a long path through a simple but beautiful garden. At least there’s some colour around here… Aura thought to herself, giving a bit of a smile off. Scale saw the sign behind the gate. “Here.” The sign read ‘Summerview High School’ in a bold red font. “Princess Twilight put me here? How?” Aura inquired him. She was confused. How did the Princess do this? Have a house, sign me up in this high school, and get everything ready as if it was planned a long time ago? Scales looked at her and sighed. “She came to the human world before, I think.” Scale answered, he seemed confused as well. “Well, she is the Princess!” He rolled his eyes, smiling. “She can do whatever she wants, in her own weird way. You know that, right Aura?” She looked down at him, trying to open the gate, which was rusty and old. She wondered about Twilight doing ‘whatever she wants’ and if he was right. “You’re right. She can…” She gave a small smile and knelt down to open the gate. Tink, the gate open with a creaky sound when they pushed it open. “She went to the human world before?” He nodded. She looked down at herself. She wore a plain cyan tee shirt and a pair of long jeans, with a pair of night black sneakers. Scale had given her a backpack, she was used to saddle bags, but she had to cope with human conditions. To her, it was weird. How she was human, how this world did exist. And how dull the place is. She just wished that she would wake up and realize it was all a dream like in the stories she read back in Canterlot. But this was different. She wasn’t in Canterlot. She was in a human town, Summerview. She only saw two humans by now. A random person passing their home and Scale... Well… He’s not entirely human. He’s a dragon. But he seems human enough. She sighed deeply, hating the silence as they walked along the long path. “So, try and act... Human?” “Don’t question anything. Just in the classroom. You did your bit of human reading last night, right?” Scale looked up from the cement ground. She nodded. “Like that, and watch how they act and learn from them. Oh and after the school ends, write to the Princess.” She sighed. What do other humans look like? Are they dull like Scale says so? Is Scale coming along? What’s it going to be like here? Is it hard- “Aura, you were about to walk into the door.” She looked up and saw the door. She squeezed her fingers around the handle, trying to push the door. “It says pull.” She looked at the sign above her. ‘PULL’ was written in black letters on a metallic surface. “Oops?” She smiled nervously and pulled the door with all her might. She held the door for Scale who tried to not look at her with embarrassment. She walked in after it, closing the door slowly. She turned around, seeing a long curved desk with three chairs behind it. Two chairs were empty and in the last chair sat was an older lady with short straight mud brown hair. She wore spectacles and a white shirt. She seemed to be using something Aura never saw. She kept clicking squares with letters on them. What is that…? Scale walked over to the desk and got a small piece of paper and slid it across the desk. “Miss Sparkle said I should give this to you.” Scale told the lady who unfolded the small paper and read it, her brown eyes scanning it fast. “Who is Aura Stars?” The lady spoke, still looking at the paper. She seemed emotionless, as plain as humans looked. “M-M-Me. I’m Aura Stars” Aura murmured, playing with her fingers nervously. The lady looked up, seeing how tall Aura was compared to Scale. She got up from her chair and called up another lady named ‘Andréa’ and the supposed Andréa rushed over, pulling back her long blonde hair and sat down on one of the chairs. “This way, Aura. Sir you may leave. She’s in my good hands.” The lady stated starting to walk down a hallway. Aura turned and waved ‘goodbye’ to Scale but he was already gone. She quickly followed the lady. “I’m Miss Forrester, I’ll guide you to your locker and give you your timetable.” She paced down the hallway till she stopped. “This is the main hallway.” It was full of humans. Too many humans for Aura. Oh boy. The door cracked a bit of light into the room. It was always dark in that room. An alicorn shadow came out from the light. The shadow started to move into the room, and looked down upon an alicorn lying down on a cushion, her muzzle into the pillow. Silence was broken by a flap of wings. “Get up.” An energetic voice came out from nowhere. “Why aren’t you coming with us, Dashie?” She came closer to the alicorn on the cushion. Pinkie’s blue eyes stood out as everything was grey in the room. The alicorn’s rainbow hair seemed gray and so did her coat. “Leave me alone.” Rainbow Dash replied with a harsh tone. She looked up. “Wait, where are you guys going? I’ve been here since Aura left.” Pinkie sighed and lifted up the purple curtains in the room. The floor was messy. It was flooded with cushions, clothes from Rarity, letters, and a Wonderbolt uniform. Pinkie shot up immediately. “Sheesh, you should clean up!” She squeaked from shock. She flew towards Rainbow Dash’s four poster bed and pointed at a poster on the wall. It wasn't really a poster, just a vivid map of Ponyville. “Here. Ponyville, for the Cupcake festival and the Running of the Leaves. You know it’s the end of fall, right?” “In a week. Just because I cooped myself up in here doesn't mean I don’t keep track of the dates.” Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Why the Cupcake festiv- Oh never mind, you’re Pinkie. I used to like the Running of the Leaves. But now… I can’t compete.” She got up and walked over to Pinkie who was staring at the map. “Well you need to get out more. This map is so outdated. When did you get this?” Pinkie Pie sighed. “You know, you’re the only pony that I can never seem to cheer up. I’ve made everypony in Equestria happy in some sort of way, but you. Ever since you left the Wonderbolts, you’ve been Ms. Gloomy Grump pants.” Her eyes zoomed around looking at all the pictures. Her eyes widened with shock when she laid eyes on a picture. That picture was of a colt. “Dashie. Why do you still have that picture? Is that why you’re so…. Sad?” Pinkie Pie turned her head to face Rainbow Dash, who seemed stressed. “Maybe.” Rainbow Dash replied blankly. Pinkie sighed and flew towards the door. “You don’t seem like going. I’ll tell the others you’re not coming along.” She shrugged and was half way through the doorway before Rainbow yelled ‘Wait!’ I don’t need to go to Ponyville…But Pinkie’s right. I do need to cheer up. “I’ll go.” Rainbow Dash smiled and Pinkie gasped and jumped up and down. She walked towards two brown saddle bags and saw that they were already packed. She put them on her back and ran towards Pinkie. “Let’s go.” “Oh my Celestia! You’re… Smiling!” Pinkie beamed brightly. She jumped across the hallway and started shouting ‘She’s smiling! She is smiling!’ Rainbow Dash gave a little grin and walked across the hallway. “When’s the train?” Aura looked inside the hollow metal box with her books inside. This was something she saw before in Canterlot, in the schools left abandoned for various reasons. She once used one when she was very young. Canterlot. She sighed How are they doing? Are they taking the usual trip to Ponyville? I wonder what Princess Twilight is doing… “Aura, this is your locker and those are your books” Ms. Forrester pointed out for Aura, and handed her stack of another books. Papers flew out of Aura’s hands and Ms. Forrester shrugged. “Since it’s your first day, I’ll leave you with Isabelle.” She turned and Aura carefully put her books in her locker. Math, English, French, History, Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Physics… They teach the same things…. Hopefully. “Isabelle, meet Aura Stars. Aura, Isabelle will help you around the school. I’ll leave you two to get to your first class.” Ms. Forrester explained and introduced a blonde haired girl. She smiled and held out her hand. Isabelle? That’s a really strange name. Why not, ‘Berry Bloom’ or anything else? Humans are so dull. Ms. Forrester turned on her heel and walked around the hallway, greeting people. “Isabelle. Aura, right? Really cute name.” She sung out. Aura read enough books to figure out that Isabelle’s hand was held out for a hand shake. She extended her arm and clasped her hand with Isabelle, slowly shaking. Isabelle’s hand was warmer than hers. “Y-y-yeah, Aura. Thanks. Isabelle is nice too.” She smiled nervously. Isabelle let go of her Aura’s hand and slid it in her snow-white bag made from some sort of fur. She was muttering something and came out with a ‘Ah ha!’ and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She unfolded it and took Aura’s schedule and compared it. “Hmmm, only a few lessons. I’ll take you to biology then meet me back here, when the class is... y’know… over.” Isabelle murmured under her breath, glaring at the papers. Aura nodded and Isabelle looked up. “You’re tall for a girl.” She stated with a harsh tone. “I am? Well, I never noticed.” Aura smiled. Isabelle handed her one of the papers and beamed back. She folded the other one and slipped it back into her bag. Isabelle shrugged and started to walk away. “Follow me.” She said from afar. Aura took a book and closed the door of the locker with a dull metallic sound and rushed over to Isabelle, who was now walking with three other girls. The three girls were also blondes, they were chatting away with Isabelle. They all wore white for some unknown reason. Aura was behind Isabelle, trying to not pay attention to their conversation. One of the blondes in the group, the tallest, realized they were being followed and turned to face Aura. The other two and Isabelle turned as well. Isabelle gave no emotion away, but the two glared at her. “And just who are you?” The taller one snapped at Aura. Aura shivered and tried to calm herself down. She was like Emerald, one of her old classmates. Emerald was a ringleader of her clique. They used to bully Aura around until the Princess put an end to it. Emerald’s piercing jade eyes matched with the girl’s. Their voices seemed to sound the same as well. “A-A-Aura, I’m following Isabelle…” Aura stammered and the girls turned to look at Isabelle. “She said I should follow her… To class…” “Oh, she’s new? Alright. I’ll let her come along.” She suddenly said with a sweet voice. The other girls exchanged looks of anger. “Just this once.” The girl growled. Isabelle gasped. “Forrester told me to take her to the classes. Jade, let her come along.” Isabelle begged. The other girls then drew their attention to Aura, while Isabelle and Jade were arguing. “Is your hair really like that?” The first one spoke up to Aura, pointing towards Aura’s hair. She nodded and tried to smile. “Ew jeans. What kind of girl are you?!” The second pointed out. They both seemed to be twins. She spoke the same way, shared the same face and did their hair the same way. Isabelle shrugged and pulled Aura’s arm. “Let’s get her to class, Jade. We don’t have biology with her.” Isabelle snapped at Jade with a harsher tone. Jade rolled her green eyes and strolled along with them. The other two caught up and started talking about a boy band while Isabelle was ignoring Jade. They suddenly stopped in front of a door. A metal label on the door read ‘G67’ and Isabelle let go of Aura’s arm. A red hand print was left on her arm. Ow… “Here’s biology. See you later?” Jade grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her along the hall. “Yeah.. I guess…” Aura muttered and walked into the class. A jungle lived in there. Many humans, standing on desks, trying to climb the wall, talking, playing, and seemed like monkeys rather than normal ‘dull’ humans. There were three girls with bright pink hair. Maybe they aren't so dull after all… “The clique? Are you serious?” A male voice spoke next to her and she twisted her head to see a boy with ginger hair and freckles. “You don’t look like one of them.” “I’m not.” She stated. His eyes seemed focused on her and he pointed to the desk next to him. She understood that meant ‘sit here.’ And she did. She then turned her chair to face him. He was still staring at her. “Then why were you with them?” He questioned her with a confused hint in his voice. She sighed and put her book on the table. “Well, I’m new here. So Isabelle was assigned to help me….” She started to explained before he interrupted her. “Isabelle? Short, sour Isabelle? Seriously? Did she call you tall?” He laughed. And she nodded. “That means she likes you. Stay away from her though. Oh I’m Kevin by the way. Where are you from?” He continued. Oh no. Um um um. She tried to remember the states she read about. There was one that sounded like… “Fillydelphia . Yeah. I’m Aura.” She beamed. He seemed confused then nodded. I hope that worked. If it didn’t. Oh no, I wouldn’t fit it. “Philadelphia is a nice place.” Kevin stated. Three other boys passed by Kevin and Aura, but one stopped. His hair was spiked and a dull maroon. “Nice dish you’re flirtin’ with, Kev.” He grimaced and walked over. Aura rolled her eyes and turned back to Kevin. “Hey, Kevi-“ “Get your books out! We have to study meiosis today! Hurry up!” A man wearing a suit and tie marched in and plopped his books on the desk in front of the dusty chalkboard with a flunk! Kevin mouthed ‘Later?’ and she nodded. Darkness took over the room, except the little candle light that was on top of a wooden desk. A scroll was rolled open on it. Then appearing from the darkness, to see the scroll, was an alicorn with midnight blue hair with pink and lavender streaks. She looked at the scroll like she was a manic. “I’ve waited all this time to do this. All. This. Time.” She murmured to herself. “I’ve planned this since I left the human world… It will work. With Aura there… nothing will stop me…” She laughed, and levitated the candle light to see a calendar on the white castle walls. There were many crosses on dates. There was a bright bold circle around a date. Heart’s Warming Eve. There were no pictures, like normal calendars. “In just a month, I will be…” A knock interrupted the Princess from continuing. “Come on Twilight!!” An energetic voice came from behind the door. “We have to go to the Cupcake festival!!” She shouted once again and Twilight groaned. “I’ll come out in a second. And I’ll be out. I just have to finish this…” Twilight yelled back. The stomps and knocking coming from Pinkie and the yells from the other ponies. “Finish what, Twalight?” Applejack yelled from behind the door. Pairs of wings flapped behind the door. Rainbow dash’s voice could be heard from behind, talking to Fluttershy who was talking about her animals. “A spell.” Twilight snapped and put down the candle and looked back the scroll. “…Just tell her to hurry up…” Rarity’s elegant voice was heard as well. Twilight rolled her violet eyes. “Hurry up Twi!” Pinkie bellowed once again and the sound of the flapping of wings disappeared. Twilight sighed. The scroll was inked with many words. There was one unfinished line in the whole scroll. A amethyst quill came from nowhere and dipped itself into the night black ink. “Yes, when I’m done with this. On Heart’s Warming Eve, when I cast this… Ooh everything is going to change. No one must see this.” Twilight told herself. The quill went to the last sentence. It started to write. “This will change everything. Yes. Everything…” “HURRY UP TWILIGHT!” Pinkie yelled from afar. “Okay Pinkie!” Twilight snapped out of her hypotonic trance. “I’ll be out in a second!” Twilight looked back down. “No one said I was the Element of Honesty anyway. Why not lie?” She laughed to herself. The quill ran across the scroll, inking shapes and lines into letters, letters into words and words into phrases. The quill rested and the scroll rolled itself up on the desk. Twilight’s face twisted into an insane smile. She got up and flew over to the door. She opened it slowly using her magic and slammed it behind her. The scroll rolled open, revealing the last sentence. And a twisted change in creations takes over and customary changes once more.