//------------------------------//
// Travel Plans 
// Story: School Days 
// by Dai Kirai 
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	Stormy skies was ready, somewhat. Today he was going to the human world for his three day orientation session, even though he would be staying for three nights due to how long it took to travel there. It starts tomorrow but I still have to get from Canterlot to DC to LA in eight hours. The pegasus ran through his mental checklist. He had tried inviting Ai to at least escort him to the human airport, but she declined every time. 
Stormy wasn’t sure if he wanted her to go because he liked her, despite never having seen what the guard actually looked like under that armor, or if it was because he was truly scared of going to a completely alien world, alone. He had studied them more, the books Ai had recommended were wonderful and humans seemed so similar to ponies in so many ways, but it was still a foreign land; and he had never been outside of Canterlot except for flight camp in Cloudsdale. And now he was to go alone.
The mustard yellow pegasus took one last look around his small apartment. There wasn’t much outside of the cream colored walls and wooden floor. He had a small kitchen to cook with, a bathroom, and a bedroom connected by a small hallway to the room he was currently sitting in. There wasn’t much to it, what objects he did have were in the beginning stages of being packed and his landpony had been informed he would only be there another few months. Stormy couldn’t afford an apartment; he would just stay on campus over breaks or find something else. 
His reminiscing was just a way of procrastinating, of prolonging his having to leave. Stormy picked up his saddlebags filled with a few books, his identification, paperwork and money. As the bag settled on his flank, the pegasus left his home and into the great beyond.
Canterlot didn’t look any different as Stormy flew back to the castle. The white buildings with their gold trim and purple parapets were the same, yet at the same time he couldn’t view them without a touch of sorrow. It was a pleasant Monday morning with ponies leaving for work or just out for a pleasant walk or running early morning errands. The perfectly pleasant peaceful preoccupied ponies, whose lives were set, they knew what would happen the next day and every one after. But they will never see something new; never see beyond their own talent. While this trip may be nerve-wracking, he didn’t regret his decision, yet.
Today the pegasus made his way to the castle with less hustle, he had been warned how different legs of the trip might face delays and he had to get into Los Angeles tonight. It was amazing how regular flying and not racing could extend ones flight time. The wind whipping through his hair felt nice and helped relax the nervous pony in the crisp morning air. The castle was over 4000 feet up the side of the mountain; Stormy had plenty of time to enjoy the weather. The scenery wasn’t bad either with grass and trees as far as the eyes could see and the Pronktze River flowing gently into Ponyville. 
Stormy landed at the foot of the draw bridge to Canterlot Castle, having made plans and gotten a flight path scheduled caused the guards to ‘ignore’ him until making his way to the front gate. The two guards at the gate were both gold clad earth ponies holding spears with bowmen on the battlements above the gate. “Identification and reason for visit.” The left guard ordered.
The pegasus pulled out the paperwork from his bag: identification, proof of orientation date, plane tickets, and passport with a visa stamp. “Headed to Earth for school orientation.” Stormy Skies offered as the guard took the papers with his hoof. 
The last month had been hectic getting all the documentation even with both sides working to get the documentation finished. The portal worked just as any other border in Equestria and supposedly Earth. The only issue had been the proof that he could support himself financially. With only 120,000 bit a year income, or $24,000 US, his savings were rather small. A savings account had been set up in his name with enough funds to covers everything for the first two years. But he had enough trouble making sure everything was ready for the next three months to worry about something that far in the future. 
“Everything is in order.” The guard stated with a sonorous voice and hoofed back the papers. “There will be a guard inside to escort you to the portal.” 
The door opened to a pink glow and a grey unicorn guard came out to greet him. “If you will follow me.” He offered and walked back into the castle, forcing Stormy to catch up or get left behind. 
The walls were the same as last time, but the art seemed to blend together after a while as they took a different path than his last visit. “So…” The pegasus started. “What’s your name?” The only thing that greeted him was silence, the guard didn’t even break stride. “Where’s the portal at?” He tried again. All anypony seemed to know was that it was somewhere in the castle. There were scattered rumors about it being in the sculpture garden but that always seemed like such an odd location for something that could have posed a threat. Again, only silence greeted him so he fell into step with the guard and followed silently. 
The trip was taking longer than he expected, it had been at least 20 minutes and they were still walking. If this keeps up, he worried, things may get tight… He stopped mid step as the hedge maze came into view. Already Stormy could see the statue of Victory through the giant glass walls overlooking the garden. Each statue represented an ideal in pony society or a threat that ponies needed to be vigilant of. Friendship sat next to Discord, meant to warn how quickly things could turn.  
Stormy saw the hedge maze, but was still enamored by the sculpture garden; he hadn’t seen it since the class fieldtrip as a foal. He walked up to Victory in a trance. Her eyes were closed, cape and mane billowing in the wind as she stood on her hind legs holding a pumpkin orange flag. This one had always been his favorite, for some reason it always inspired him as a foal and continued to do so. Sincerity looked more regal with her robe and staff, it made him feel calm but never motivated him. 
“GAH!” He yelped as a hoof tapped him on the withers. He turned around to see a white Celestial Guard standing there smirking as his own heart felt like bursting out of his chest.
“Mine was always passion.” A new voice responded. 
Stormy looked at the newcomer. It looked like just another white unicorn Celestial Guard except for the voice; the voice was soft and non-masculine, it seemed jovial even. “What?” He asked, still trying to figure out what was going on as adrenaline surged through his body and his wings flared, wanting to escape.
The guard lifted a hoof. “That one.” It said pointing at a pegasus holding a bow with its hoof with the string pulled taut, the arrow head shaped like a heart. The statue’s tail was bushy and a smile crossed her lips. “They say we are innately attracted to whatever aspect we hold most dear.” The guard then turned to an impatient looking gray guard. “I got it from here, Swift.” And the other guard just humphed and walked away without a backward glance. 
Stormy just stared. What the… his mind froze.
“Don’t mind him; he just takes his job way too seriously.” The guard’s silken smooth voice responded. “Now let’s get you to the portal before you miss your flight. You wouldn’t want to miss check in at UCLA.” As the guard slowly walked off towards the back of the garden. 
Stormy just followed in a stupor. The guard felt familiar to the pegasus, they knew things most guards wouldn’t even be concerned with. He hesitantly spoke up. “Ai?” He questioned, trying to get his legs moving after so much had happened so quickly.
The guard just smirked as she continued leading the pegasus to an unknown location.
As they progressed, fewer and fewer ponies can be seen until it seems like they are the only ones. “Is it really back here?” Stormy asked unsure, things were feeling off. He didn’t have many friends, and she was acting a little…something.
“You’ll see.” She taunted and smiled coyly. 
The mare’s voice coming out of a stallion’s shape was more than a little disconcerting to the pegasus, but he stayed quiet.
They were at the back of the garden, Ai stopped Stormy at an L-bend, and the only other place to go was around to a ‘hidden’ alcove. The sun was still shining brightly as she put her muzzle to his ear. “Wow, you are easily distracted.” She whispered as she shoved him past the bend.
Stormy was taken aback at the sight, the alcove was only a few inches deep and housed a giant white circle. The surface was pure white like the magic of Celestia and stood ten feet across. It emitted no magic, no nothing. If his eyes weren’t telling him it existed he would never believe it existed. His jaw dropped and his escort gave a hearty laugh.
“Sorry,” Ai apologized, it sounded earnest but Stormy barely heard her voice and couldn’t turn away from the mass of white. “It’s just spectacular and I thought this should be something you should never forget.”
Stormy finally managed to look over at his friend, that’s the only thing he could think to call her at this point. And she did look a little sheepish; in fact she looked like a she. The armor was still on, her fur was still white, but she looked like a she. “Is this why you said you couldn’t meet up?” He asked unsure if he wanted to know the answer. Too much was going on for him to process. 
“No.” Ai looked down and pawed the earth with a forehoof. “This is my last day as a guard and I didn’t know if there would be time.” 
“But you love the guard, why would you leave?” Stormy asked hesitantly.
“Restrictions.” Ai said sheepishly. “I’d rather not say more.” And in an instant her demeanor changed to the happy pony she had been before. “I wish I could see their world.”
The disjointed thought process threw Stormy off for a moment and his natural politeness towards a friend took over. “My offer still stands.” Feeling the idea was unfinished he quickly added, “To stay with me that is.” 
Ai looked up with a knowing smile; the pegasus had no idea what her expression meant. “Get going.” She insisted. “On that other side is a whole new world. Just exhale before stepping through, it helps.” She offered turning and walking back the way she came.
Stormy watched Ai depart, she looked sad but he couldn’t follow. His own life lay on a different path. If he didn’t leave soon there was no way he could get to Dulles in time. His flight was at 1pm and it was already 10, if he didn’t get there soon he wouldn’t have the requisite two hours for security that was recommended. 
As Stormy stepped up to the large white circle he had to laugh at himself. I never asked how she changed her appearance. The pegasus didn’t understand enchantments, only weather. He touched his hoof to the surface of the portal and stared as ripples spread out to the edges so far apart and just vanished. 
Stormy followed the odd pony’s advice, the pony that always seemed so strange and kept changing how he thought. He took a deep breath only to let it out slowly. As he finished exhaling he stepped into the portal. The first thing he noticed was how cold it was, and how quickly his surroundings changed. One minute he was staring at greenery and a white circle, the next he was blinded by a burst of white, and lastly he saw grey. He stared at a bland concrete wall.
The room was large with the portal at his back. It was at least thirty feet in every direction; a white banner happily announced ‘WELCOME TO EARTH’ in green lettering.