Field Trip, Part 1! Bright lights, Bright Valley!
"Look, whatever you are... Stay back!"
A terrified Cheerilee stared in horror at the nearly hairless creature that stood before her. Uncertain of what to do, she decided it would be best to not make any sudden moves.
The earth pony teacher had just come out of her classroom, when she had heard footsteps coming down the hallway. "That doesn't sound like a pony." Cheerilee thought to herself. It was then that this strange, ape-like animal with a blonde mane came around the corner, startling the poor mare out of her wits.
"Oh, hello! I've never seen you before." The strange creature said to her, smiling. "What's your name?"
"AIEEEEE!" The earth pony mare shrieked, stumbling backward and falling on her flank. "What are you? What do you want with me?" Cheerilee stammered out.
The earth pony's mind raced... from the sound of it's voice and it's scent, the thing was female. She spoke, so perhaps she could be reasoned with? But Cheerilee had no way of knowing if she had hostile intentions. Oh, who knew what this terrible monster had in store for her?
It was at that point, that Sundance came around the corner.
"Megan? Where did you go? Meg-" She saw Cheerilee facing the creature down. "Aha! Megan! There you are!"
"Sorry, Sundance." The creature replied, going back over towards the white earth pony. "I was just introducing myself to this new pony over here."
"Megan?" Cheerilee said, her ears perking up."The human filly my students are always talking about?" She walked around the young human female, looking her over. "So this is what a Homo Sapiens looks like."
"And you must be Cheerilee. A pleasure to finally meet you." Sundance replied. "I hope my former students haven't been too much trouble?"
"Not at all, Miss Sundance." Cheerilee replied, realizing who this pony must be. "Oh, we had a little trouble at first... but when I tried talking to them in their own language, everything just clicked."
"So you're the new teacher at the castle school room." Megan, who was raised on a horse farm, stroked the pony's mane. "Nice to meet you!"
Cheerilee balked at this stranger's invasion of her privacy at first... but she found the scratch behind the ears was a very pleasant experience. "So this is why the Dream Valley ponies were so fond of humans." She thought to herself.
"Is that how all humans dress?" The pink earth pony asked Megan, looking over the frilly pink abomination the girl was wearing. "It's very... colorful."
"Yeah... this was my mom's idea. Says it makes me look less 'tomboyish'." Megan rolled her eyes. "I think I'm gonna go back to my jeans and t-shirt when I get back home."
Seeing that her only young student was talking so easily with the mare who replaced her, Sundance's eye began to twitch.
"Come along, Megan. Miss Cheerilee probably has a lots to do." The white early pony insisted, firmly nudging the girl down the hallway. "We best be going!"
"Oh, okay Sundance." Megan waved back to the pink earth pony. "Goodbye, Cheerilee! Hope to see you again soon!"
The pink earth pony watched the human and pony leave. As she looked on, a confused Cheerilee wondered what all that had been about.
...
"Yesss! This is soo awesome! I loooove field trips!"
Cheerilee and her Class were aboard the Strident Mare, the sloop-of -war belonging to The Earth pony Captain, Barnacle Star. The Good Captain had agreed to take them up the navigable rivers that flowed from the coast, into the interior of Ponyland.
"Arrr, Miss Cheerilee. I am pleased ta transport ye an' yer class ta yer destination!" The blue earth stallion took off his tri-cornered hat, and bowed. "And rest assured, I be more than willin' ta take ya home 'ta Dream Valley, after ye are finished!"
"Why thank you, Captain Barnacle!" Cheerilee replied with a smile. "The class and I are truly grateful for your gracious generosity!"
Cheerilee had received a letter from North Star, the Dream Castle archeologist (and mother of a certain juvenile pony delinquent), whose team had reached a critical point in their dig at the Ponyville ruins, and she was eager to have the students see her exciting finds. The letter had been sent to Sundance, of course, but the pink earth pony teacher had decided to take her class to see the ruins anyway. Besides, it would give her first time to get out, and see the rest of the former Equestria for herself.
But first, they scheduled to go on the annual class trip to Bright Valley, the sole remaining city in Ponyland. Queen Majesty felt that the manoral foals should know about what kind of life their ancestors had lived. The teaching mare was just happy to see a city again. To save time, the two events had been combined into a single three-day trip.
"Can you believe it? We're actually going to Bright Valley!" Bow Tie, one of the two selected chaperone mares, squealed with delight. "I was born and raised there, ya know. It's my hometown!"
"I had heard that Bright Valley was infested by an army of fakies, lass." Barnacle said, taking a puff on his pipe. "Pony zombies, who've had their shadows stolen!"
"The city was recently cleansed on it's infestation, and restored to it's former glory." Bow Tie replied sadly, her ears drooping. "It's not something I wanna talking about."
Turning away, Cheerilee saw Wigwam standing leaning on the ship's rail, staring out at the scenery going by. She had asked Wigwam to come along, when Majesty insisted they take a Big Brother pony along as security. She was going to ask him what was on his mind, but she thought she picked up a feeling of 'I want to be left alone' from him. The teacher turned back towards her students.
Near the stern, her class was laughing at the antics of Surprise, the other chaperone mare that had come along to watch the foals.
"Okay, kids! This is how you make a rubber chicken explode!" The crazy mare cackled hysterically.
"More like keep them entertained." Cheerilee grumbled to herself. The earth pony teacher did not like this crazy Pegasus, having been scared out of her wits by her 'fake wall' gag. The queen's royal court jester, Surprise was despised by most of the mares of the castle, due to her insane practical jokes from which none were spared. Her only real friend around the Castle was Megan's brother Danny... and Cheerilee didn't even want to think about some of the rumors she had heard about those two.
"Heya, Cheerilee! Betcha can't wait to get ta Bright Valley, huh?" The white Pegasus flew up to the teacher, twitching erratically.
"I'm ecstatic. Can't you tell?" Cheerilee replied dryly. "Why are you over here bothering me, anyway? Don't you have some belfry to hang from with the other bats?"
"Awww, don't tell me you're still sore from the wall joke?" Surprise extended her hoof. "Isn't ponykind all about friendship? No hard feelings, k?"
Cheerilee smiled. "Okay, I guess you're right." She reached to shake Surprise's hoof.
BZZZZZT! Surprise's joy buzzer made Cheerilee to light up like a pinball machine, showing her skeleton as the volts poured through her. All of the Students burst out laughing.
"The haha joy buzzer,- enchanted to create a cartoony visual effect when shocking ponies." Bow Tie snorted, helping the scorched Cheerilee up. "Very funny, Surprise."
"Ya fell for it! I already got ya once, and ya fell for it!" Surprise fell on her back, laughing hysterically. "By the horsemaster, Equestrian Ponies are sooo gullible!"
"I'll get you for this, you flying bag of laughing gas." Cherrilee muttered to herself, straightening her frizzed out ponytails. "Next time, the joke will be on you!"
...
The Ship Docked in the River port of Bright Valley, and all the pony passengers disembarked. Cheerilee was amazed by the sight of the modern town. Cars and buses drove up and down the streets, while ponies trotted in and out of Victorian-style townhouses. A huge cliff wall surrounded the northern side of the city, It looked far different than the towns of old Equestria... but the place had a charm all it's own.
"This place is so amazing!" Cheerilee exclaimed. "For being in a dark age, this town seems really advanced!"
A bus soon arrived to pick them up, and Cheerilee trotted on board. The motorized vehicle reminded her of the Flimflam brother's crazy machine... thought it was a much smoother ride.
"Can't catch me!" Baby North Star hopped over the seats, with Baby Firefly in hot pursuit.
"Girls! Please calm down!" Cheerilee yelled to them. "I really don't think that's safe!"
That statement proved to be true, as the two tumbled over the seat, and landed on Bow Tie's head.
"Hey! Get off me, you two!" Bow Tie yelled angrily, picking the two of them up with her hooves, and slam dunking them in their seats. "Either you two sit still, or you'll be staying in your hotel rooms for the rest of the trip!"
"Good grief, I wonder whose harsher in this era." Cheerilee thought to herself. "The foals... or their parents."
It was soon, that the bus brought them to the palace-like mansion on the top of the cliff side. They stepped out and trotted up to the door.
"Princess Silver Swirl is the city-state's regional ruler." Bow Tie Told Cheerilee. "Even though our town is an earth pony community, their royal line is made up of Unicorns. One of the Town's odd little quirks."
The group was quickly led into a large hallway filled with mirrors. Speedy and Baby Bow Tie ran from mirror to mirror, making faces. It was soon that a tall, white unicorn mare with a silver mane and a silver swirl cutie mark that stretched across her flank stepped into the room.
"Greetings, visitors!" She said with a smile. "I am Princess Sliver Swirl, and I welcome you to Bright Valley!"
"Hello, your highness!" Bow Tie bowed. "It is a pleasure to be back home again!"
"Bow Tie! How wonderful to see you again!" The princess smiled. "It has been some time since you moved away from Bright Valley! How wonderful for you to return for a visit!"
"Princess, this is Cheerilee, Dream Castle's new teacher." Bow tie introduced her.
Cheerilee bowed to Silver Swirl. "Your grace, it is an honor to be here."
"Miss Cheerilee, I hope you and your class enjoy your stay here!" Silver Swirl said with a smile "Please, allow me to start your visit the big city, with a tour of my estate!"
"Wow, you sure have a lot of mirrors around here!" Surprise said, looking at her reflection. The white pony in the mirror suddenly stuck her tongue out at Surprise.
"Eeeep!" The white Pegasus squeaked, hiding behind Cheerilee. Silver Swirl just laughed.
"These enchanted Mirrors help me keep me keep an eye on all that occurs within my domain." Silver Swirl Replied. "Which considering our problems with the recent infestation, is a good thing."
"Princess, would you care to send an escort around to show us the city's sights?" Cheerilee asked the Princess.
"Certainly. In fact, I shall be more than happy to escort your tour group personally." The white unicorn smiled. "The least I can do, after the Dream Valley Ponies saved my home here -and my entire city- from the evil Genie Arabus."
They left the princess's mansion, and proceeded to tour all of the City's sights. Their first stop was the Royal theater, where they watched a play on the fall of Canterlot, specially put on for the visiting class.
"Those are goblins?" A shocked Cheerilee asked, as they watched the play. "They seem so fierce and violent!"
"Yep, they helped Grogar destroy Equestra." Bow Tie whispered back. "Trust me, they're far worse in person!"
"Well, at least ponykind made a heroic last stand." The teacher replied, her ears drooping. "Even if we did lose."
After the performance, they went up to Cliffside caverns above the town, to look at the city's massive battery of cannons. Most of the colts and fillies listened intently, as the civil defense ponies described how and why the guns were used.
"Do ponies really need these giant death engines to protect themselves?" A horrified Cheerilee asked. "Is there no loving and tolerant solution to deal with the city's attackers?"
Bow Tie shook her head. "Try telling a swarm of griffins, snarling and hungry for pony flesh, about love and tolerance."
The earth pony teacher thought of the blood-stained tomahawk that she had seen Wigwam carrying on his belt. "I see your point." A depressed Cheerilee replied, her ponytails drooping with her ears.
After The tour of the city's defenses was complete, the group went to eat at a local street side cafe. Princess Silver Swirl sat with Bow Tie, catching up on old times. While Surprise sat at a table with the students, showing them how to make animal balloons. Cheerilee, meanwhile, sat off by herself, ears drooping as she stared at her hay and cheese club sandwich.
"A bit for your thoughts?" Wigwam asked her, sitting down with his meal.
"Oh, Wigwam!" She smiled at him, then sighed. "I'm sorry, I hate being a downer on the foals trip, but... it's hard for me to think of how much blood and violence is in this world, that my students will grow up in."
"And how violent they will have to become to survive in that world?" Wigwam asked.
"Yes! Exactly!" Cheerilee responded sadly. "Why must friendship wither in the face of war?"
"I know it's hard, Cheerilee. I'm not a big fan of war myself." He replied, taking a bite of his cheese pizza. "But if the herds of Ponyland do not fight to protect themselves, then they will be eaten alive by the darkness. We don't fight to destroy love and tolerance, my lovely smiling flower... we fight to keep it's flame alive, so that your students can grow up to have a future."
Cheerilee blushed at his compliment, realizing he was comparing her to her cutie mark. After they finished their meal, the teacher moved her chair over beside Wigwam. Making sure none of the Students were watching, she leaned in against the big brother pony, nuzzling him.
"Wigwam, do you think the Queen would let you spend my class's summer break at the castle, instead of going back out to buffalo country?" The teacher asked, smiling. Wigwam looked down, smiling back at her. Both of them felt the other's warm feelings towards each other in their minds, the tug of the pony lifebond-
"Oooooohhhh, lookie kids! Teach-er's gotta a boyfriend!" Surprise was hopping up and down, pointing at the pony couple.
Both ponies blushed furiously, before pulling away from each other. As the students and Bow Tie laughed their flanks off, Cheerilee was positively fuming.
"You interrupted the lifebond...." Cheerile thought angrily. "I swear I'm going to break you in half, Surprise!"
After their meal, the Princess led the rest of the group to the Bright Valley art museum. There, Silver Swirl led them around, showing them various works from throughout ponykind's history.
"Amazing, I love those tapestries from the Preclassical era!" Cheerilee exclaimed. "And those ancient Penna frescoes are very beautiful!"
"Wait until you see our bust of Starswirl the bearded!" Bow Tie boasted. "The Bright Valley museum only has the best!"
Cheerilee even recognized some of the statues that once stood in the Canterlot statue gardens- like the ones representing victory and friendship. Normally, Cheerilee would have been leading this tour herself, but right now she was learning as much as the students about the modern world.
"I'll be able to give the tour to my future classes in the years to come, once I'm entirely culturally acclimated." She thought to herself. After the tour was over, Surprise took the kids to the gift shop.
"For the three of you, I can take you to the room where the more... mature works in the collection are kept." Silver Swirl offered to the adult ponies.
"Art is creative expression, no matter what form it takes." Cheerilee responded. "Lead on, your highness."
Princess Silver Swirl led them down a long hall, to a separate gallery. "We just received some very interesting exhibits unearthed from the Ponyville excavation. The star piece in our collection is the scupture called 'the lovers', made by the famous Ponyville artist, Colto Ponycasso!"
"Ponycasso? Why he was living in Ponyville when I was teaching there!" Cheerilee exclaimed. "I heard Apple Bloom once ruined one of his paintings, while trying to sell him some apples!"
"This piece was supposedly inspired by something he saw one Hearts and Hooves day in Ponyville, while strolling near the Ponyville Gazebo." Silver Swirl exclaimed. "Though he sculpted it later in his life."
Bow Tie was the first to arrive in the exhibition hall, and gave out a whinny of surprise, as her eyes went as wide as dinner plates. She immediately turned, and blocked Cheerilee's entrance into the room.
"Why Bow Tie!" Cheerilee exclaimed. "What's wrong?"
"Cheerilee... didn't you once tell me that you and Applejack's brother fell under the influence of a love poison on hearts and hooves day... and three of your students left you and him alone near the Ponyville Gazebo?" Bow Tie asked nervously.
"Yes, they said they went back to thier clubhouse, and caught up with us the next day at Sugarcube corners. " Cheerilee shrugged. "Though neither of us remembered anything that happened while we were under the influence of the Love Poison."
"Well, I think Ponycosso stumbled across you that day." Bow Tie sighed, stepping out of the way.
Cheerilee saw the sculpture... a mare and a Stallion making passionate love. At first Cheerilee didn't see what was bothering Bow Tie... until she realized the two ponies in the sculpture looked exactly like her and big mac!
Cheerilee's eye went wide, and she broke into a cold sweat. Wigwam was just standing next to her, his mouth hanging open.
Bow Tie shook her mane. "Cue teacher fainting, in three... two..."
"AIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" *THUD*