//------------------------------// // IV- Free Time 1: Corona // Story: Foal Games // by DuskShadowBrony //------------------------------// Chapter IV- Free Time 1: Corona I walked down the hallway, until I got to the room with my nametag. By the time I got to my room, most of the other ponies had reached their room, other than FlashRain and a brown Earth Pony. “Well, see you later.” I muttered. FlashRain nodded, and we parted ways. I touched my hoof to the door, and a tingling sensation spread across where I touched it. The door’s lock clicked and swung open. I walked inside, and took a look around. The decoration, thankfully, was not foalish. Bookcases lined the walls, and a comfortable-looking bed was in the corner. A desk with a candle was by the window. I checked the window, and to no surprise, found a barrier spell over it. There was also a mirror along another wall, and soft blue carpeting on the ground. The walls were solid blue, aside from a large family crest in the center of one of the walls. I jumped as a magically enhanced voice sounded. “Hello? Can you hear me, my little ponies? Ah, good. You are now in what I call ‘Free Time’. You’re free to wander around this floor, we have a common area in the center of the dorms, a cafeteria to prepare food, with three of our best cooks there, a recreation room, and an assortment of other rooms to keep you entertained and happy. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask!” Corona gave a bright laugh, and the broadcast stopped. I decided to try and gather the other ponies in the common area, to discuss a game plan. I exited my room, and went to each door, knocking, and engaging in conversation with the pony there. I waited in the common area, and soon, a few ponies filed in. I roved my eyes over the assembled group. Seven. Eight, including myself. The ponies who lost had not come, and I did not blame them for that. FlashRain took a place at my side, and we waited for the chatter to die down. “All right, everypony. As you can see, they’re not going to let us out of here this easily. Each and every one of us needs to play a role. Look for something, anything, that can help. Cracks in the wall, faults in the magic, anything. I’m sure none of you want to be a foal again.” FlashRain spoke loudly. “Right. With our movements being restricted and monitored, it’ll be difficult to do much, but the longer we take, the more time they have to turn us back into foals. We don’t know what exactly comes next, but we have to be cautious. Eight ponies have already gotten their first age loss. Corona said three times is enough to turn them into a very young foal, right? So it’s three strikes, you’re out.” I said. “But what can we do? They’re probably watching us right now!” A pink Pegasus flapped her wings in worry. “That would be correct.” came a deep voice from the doorway. We all turned to see the buffed unicorn standing there. “You know, Miss Corona won’t be happy if she hears about your escape plans. As faulted as they are.” “Who asked you?” snarled the brown earth pony from before. He got to his hooves, and started towards Torrent. “Stop!” I said sharply. He ignored me, putting his face up against Torrent’s. “What’s to stop me from beating you up right now and escaping, huh?” “Stop it!” I repeated, in an even sharper tone. “I won’t approve of you treating me this way. That also applies for TalonFeather and Miss Corona. Especially Miss Corona.” He narrowed his eyes. “STOP!” I rose my voice to a shout. This seemed to finally get his attention. He looked over at me, then back at Torrent. He huffed, and backed down. “At least you have common sense of some sort.” Torrent said to me. “Next time that happens, no matter who it is, don’t expect me to be so lenient. And you’re free to attempt to escape all you want, but you will not be successful. And by the way, Miss Corona wants to see you and your partner.” I frowned. “Us? Why?” “She didn’t say. All she said was that she wanted to talk to you, then FlashRain. Of course, she said you’re free to go talk to her together.” I looked over at Flash, and he shrugged. “Might as well see what she wants.” *** “Tea?” Corona poured out a cup of hot tea for each of us. I looked down suspiciously at mine, and she sighed. “Look, I didn’t do anything to it.” She took my cup, and drank a sip. “There, see?” she passed the cup back, and I took a cautious drink. I didn’t taste anything abnormal, and the tea seemed to be just tea. “What did you want to talk to us about?” Flash asked. “Well… I want to know a bit more about your… Special Investigations Unit. Will ponies go looking for you?” she swirled her tea and looked at us. “No.” I answered. I repeated to her what I told Dawn. She looked at me directly in the eye. I felt like her gaze was piercing, and I flinched a little. Her gaze then softened, and she smiled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you. It’s okay. I trust your words. It’s just that if there were others, I would have to deal with them accordingly.” “You wouldn’t… hurt them, would you?” I asked worriedly. Surprise crossed her face. “Hurt? Never! I told you, I would never hurt anypony. Don’t you believe me?” I looked into her eyes and saw the truth in them. FlashRain, however, wasn’t convinced, and simply crossed his hooves in silence. “Miss Corona?” I questioned tentatively. She tilted her head at my formal addressing, a gentle look in her eyes. “You can just call me Corona.” I nodded. “Corona, you’re not a bad pony. I can tell that you don’t want to hurt others. But you’re doing something that someponies don’t want to do. Well, I don’t think anypony here wants to do this. So why?” She smiled at me. “Some ponies just need to be reminded of it, that’s all. They think they don’t want to, because they’re afraid. But as a foal, they don’t have to be afraid of anything anymore. They don’t have to worry about anything. Don’t tell me that’s not something you thought of. Not having to worry about anything. All your problems being taken care of for you.” I looked down at my cup. FlashRain huffed and stood up. “I’m out of here, I’ve heard enough.” He stormed out, the door slamming shut behind him. Corona turned back to me. “I can see it, you know.” She said to me. “You try to hide it, but I can see it.” I looked up again. “See what?” “Tell me about your family.” She asked quietly. “Please?” I was caught off guard by her request, and nearly dropped my tea. I placed it carefully on the table. “I don’t feel comfortable answering that.” I looked back at her, and saw a knowing glint in her eyes. “I see. Nevermind then. Forgive me for asking." She gathered the teacups on a tray. "You should all get some sleep, the next round of Foal Games starts tomorrow.” She stood up, carrying the tray with her. “I trust you enough to show yourself back to the rooms.” Her eyes flicked to a window. I looked over at it. I could see the courtyard, the sky, and sensed no magic around the window. She smiled at me again, and left the room. I glanced at the window, then back at the door. I bit my lip, trying to decide. I stood up, and with one last look back at the window, left the room through the door, and headed back to the dorms.