//------------------------------//
// Outside of Class 
// Story: School Days 
// by Dai Kirai 
//------------------------------//

	The small group walked down the road next to Ackerman, construction on both sides of the road. Left behind Ackerman had another red brick building aimed for the sky, seven floors; to the right were the remains of a parking structure, past that a road leading underground with light at the end. 
The next block contained red brick buildings on either side with a road upward to Stormy’s left. So much for that way being flat. His hope deflated. 
Beyond that were two parking structures before the large building returned. A shorter building had a slew of pipes and steam emerging from its roof.
“Up ahead we have Ronald Reagan Medical Center.” Chevonne spoke before being cut off by a loud chuffing sound. 
“What’s the helicopter doing?” Stormy asked, drowned out by the noise as it lowered to the hospital’s roof. Although he now had an idea why there were flight restrictions. How common are they? How low do they fly?
“You know what helicopters are?” Katherine asked, curiosity piqued.
“He had to have taken a plane to get here.” Suzanne chimed in.
“Equestria has helicopters. They are smaller and definitely quieter, they are also pony powered. They are pretty rare, I only ever saw one in Canterlot, some odd earth pony took it to visit the clouds.”
“Why is that odd?” Katherine asked again.
“You never hear of ponies that can’t fly being interested in air travel, and if they are they travel by hot air balloon, or if it is very important a royal carriage.”
“Royal carriage?” Edward asked, finally speaking up. They had passed the hospital, with its L-shaped and quarter circle walls, which took at least three blocks. A few people walking past, all around the same age, a few older people in suit or white knee-length jackets passed. 
“A carriage pulled by royal or lunar guards depending on which princess they are working for and urgency.”
“How does the princess system work? Is it like the Queen of England?” Chevonne queried. “A monarch with a two house system to pass laws? Are they just figureheads?” 
Stormy stopped in his tracks. “No. They make the laws themselves. They have advisors but Celestia and Luna have divine rule.” The pegasus started.
“Divine rule?” 
“Ponies have a religion?”
“What race are they?”
“Alicorns. They control the sun and moon, Celestia has protected the land of Equestria for over a thousand years. Why shouldn’t they be trusted?” 
No response came quickly, stunned expressions, until Suzanne spoke up. “So it’s a caste system?”
“A caste system?”
Suzanne floundered for words. “Umm.”
“Stratified social structure based upon different criteria such as race, religion, or job. Where higher caste members are due more respect and the top is almost revered, you don’t associate with lower caste member who are beneath you.” Edward explained. “It was a popular belief in the East.”
“NO! No pony is worth more than any other! How do races work on Earth?” Stormy would get one of his questions fulfilled, if it wouldn’t be on helicopters it would be on this.
They stopped at the next intersection, his friends hesitated to answer.
“Based upon the region someone comes from or differences on the color of one’s skin they are believed to carry specific traits or to be less worthy or as extreme as a contamination of the planet.” Edward explained, face neutral despite Suzanne, Katherine, and Chevonne casting their eyes anywhere but at the pony. “Some places it leads to genocide, or one race trying to kill all the members of another. Or as an excuse to force one group into slavery. The list can go on.” 
The light changed and people flooded across the street, they were crossing from one corner to any of the other three, all vehicles were stopped outside the intersection. 
Maybe questions are better not asked. Stormy’s ears dropped against his head, his book starting to make more sense. An awning covered their heads down the entire block, conversation dead for the moment. 
“We are now in Westwood, there are several shops around, mostly places to eat, but there is a little bit of everything.” Chevonne changed the topic. “And I do mean anything, even vegetarian, and grocery store which will be useful if you live off campus. Target, which is where we are heading now. And there are some great theaters, you will have plenty of time to explore.”
At the next turn their NSA led them to the left. None of the names on the building meant anything to the pony unless they said what kind of company they were like the bank in the middle of the block. 
Everywhere the pony looked were store fronts, the only place to park was along the street under shade trees down the sidewalk. No spaces were empty yet cars were still going traveling down the roads. 
“Are these all the parking spaces?” Stormy turned around, butt pointed toward the white walled building, the huge windows the same as every other store. 
“Fly up. Take a look.” Chevonne quirked. “And don’t worry about the regulations, most people couldn’t care less.”
Stormy looked between the blank faces of his companions, then the roof twenty feet above him past the awning. 
“If anything does happen I will take full responsibility. That’s my job after all.” Chevonne offered, raising her hand toward the sky to mimic the act of flying.
Stormy spread his wings, careful to keep them over the sidewalk, away from oncoming traffic, as pedestrians stopped to see the unique site.
Wuff, wuff. His feathered wings beat the air as he gained altitude. The beating of his wings stretched his supracoracoideus muscles on the upstroke and pectorals on the downstroke, stretching muscles that hadn’t fully stretched in over a full day. It felt sublime to the pegasus. He rose above the roof but kept his eyes closed and just enjoyed the act of flying, of hovering, of moving.
“Well?” Chevonne called up to the pony, breaking his reverie. “What do you see?”
Reluctantly the pegasus opened his eyes to see a parking lot along the roof. Stormy assumed it was a parking lot, it had cars inside lines which crisscrossed the roof with several spaces currently filled. He knew the cars couldn’t fly, they were too heavy, and it just wasn’t physically possible. Sure enough off to the side was a ramp that adjoined a street on the opposite side of the building. They use every square inch. Do they have this on other buildings?
Stormy flew higher to check the roof on the other side of the street. His estimation of humans improved, in the middle of somewhere holes down to the ground, allowing for more windows and even trees, and no parking lots, they had angled roof to prevent water from accumulating and causing damage though. Is there a competition between aesthetics and utility? He vowed to keep an eye on design patterns.
Stormy took the opportunity to get a better view of the city, just as he thought it never ended. It was one thing to see it at ground level and another from the treetops where a pegasus’ eye view. The low building continued for a while before being consumed all too soon by more that seemed to scrape the sky. Wonder what they look like from a higher altitude? His fear forgotten in the rush of air.
“And?” Chevonne yelled as they pegasus beat his wings to rise. “What do you think?”
Stormy shook his head, he was at least thirty-five feet in the air, above regulations with a small crowd forming below him. Cheeks reddened as the lone flier lowered, tucking in his wings upon landing and giving them a good ruffle. 
“There aren’t a lot of cars up there. Why don’t more people park up there?”
“It’s may be farther from what they want, or it could be that it’s more expensive than parking on the street. I have a car but never drive around here.”
The crowd consisted of less than a dozen people that would have crowded around except for the closeness of his group members and moving towards the doors.
“What were they staring at?” Stormy asked, slightly confused, eyes shifting from face to face. 
“They can’t understand how such a large creature can fly, there was a newscast last year saying how pegasi flying should not be possible due to the size of their wings versus body size and the effects of gravity.” Edward quietly spoke.
“Gravity isn’t real, the Earth sucks. From up there it just doesn’t suck as badly.” Stormy laughed at the old joke from flight school. It was something of a popular joke among his instructors. 
Edward’s mouth quirked. “There’s a similar saying here, ask helicopter pilots about it sometime.”
Chevonne called out to the new students, “Come on. We don’t have all day.”
Stormy didn’t check the name of the store, but these glass doors opened as the group approached, revealing an inside of bright white with red walls, bulls eyes scattered throughout. Rows of registers at the front and more of the acrid smelling drink from before, coffee. 
“This is the only department store close by unless you have access to a car.” Chevonne advised. “And for picking out a gift you can spend a total of two dollars each-“
“No.” Katherine interrupted, louder than any were expecting, lips still pursed into an “O”. 
“Every group is limited to this amount.”
“No, that’s not fair! Every other group has double the number of people in it.” Kat stamped a pink shod foot into the linoleum. “So whatever kid gets ours winds up with the short end because we get a pony? How is that fair?” Her voice going up in tone, becoming shrill to the pegasus’ ears.
“Is it fair to require you to pay more? And you think the child will know the difference? They would just be happy for something thoughtful.” The leader spoke more neutral.
The two women stared each other down for a moment. “It is just a guideline though and I won’t check the receipt so long as you keep it reasonable. I will be waiting in the coffee shop for you to return.” Chevonne turned her back on the group, walking up to the counter in the dark brown coffee section.
“I know just what to get.” Kat ran out, leaving the other three to catch up.
“Wait!” Edward yelled in the runner’s direction as he followed.
“Don’t bother. She won’t stop unless you force her too.” Suzanne informed, keeping up. “Just roll with it.”
Stormy followed but watched the grip his hooves maintained on the smooth surface. He wouldn’t run into something else this time, dreading about how sturdy the shelves were.
The aisles zipped past along with stares garnered from other shoppers. The group of four wound through the aisles, the pegasus had no idea what many if not any of these items were. Red lines along the floor formed sections, each aisles stuffed and seven feet tall. The aisles changed as they ran: clothing, school supplies, finally books and toys to the side. 
Kat turned down an aisle filled with enough bright pink to surprise half of Equestria. A pink ball of fluff in her hands. She turned to the group. “This company called ‘Once Upon a Stuffy’ made a new line of stuffed animals based off ponies. Isn’t it so cute!” Hugging the animal to her chest. 
Stormy looked carefully at the item. Four limbs of equal length, it was a pony, the face was of a mare. There was no mane or tail, not even a cutie mark, it was just a ball of fluff over a pony including the ears. 
“That’s one word for it.” Suzanne quipped. 
“Then you can carry it up to the register.” Kat smiled. Handing over the puff of fluff to Sue. 
“Then let’s make this quick.” Suzanne groused, ends of her lips still upturned. 
“If you two boys can give me your four dollars we can pay for it.” Kat offered.
Stormy reached into his bag while Edward pulled a leather wallet out of his pocket. 
“Thank you.” Katherine gave a slight curtsey, bending at the knees before the pair walked off. 
“How much was that though?” Stormy asked, headed to the slot in the shelves that housed a similar size Princess Celestia.
“It is unimportant, why don’t we take a gander around the store? See what else they have to offer.” Edward walked off leaving the pony with a chance to look at the price of the dolls or risk losing the human. 
The store itself was monotonous, every aisle seemed the same with the items shifting. A second set of registers sat in the back leading out to a parking lot under a concrete ceiling. But the store housed almost anything the pony could need including food.
They soon met back up in the coffee shop, the store seemed large to the pony but could be traversed in ten minutes. 
“Would either of you like something to drink?” Chevonne offered, holding up her own white cup emblazoned with a green portrait. 
“That would be delightful.” Edward gave a brief nod of his head. “What would you like Stormy Skies? I will go order it.”
The pegasus looked over his shoulder to the green text over a black board that was their menu. Most of the words meant nothing to a nonhuman. Macchiato, espresso, mocha?
“Whatever is good.” Stormy saw the three women all had drinks, the younger two in clear cups with a white topping. 
Chevonne handed Edward a plastic blue card.
Sue and Kim were busy, hands moving quickly with no sound. There was a similar game in Equestria where you would act something out and the other person would have to figure it out, but the second person usually spoke, just something else that was similar yet slightly different. Chevonne had her little white slab of plastic out, fingers moving across the screen, eyes scanning above it every few seconds.
“They will call you up when your drink is ready.” Edward said from behind as he pulled up a seat next to the pegasus, all five sitting at the small square table. Edward pulled his book back out from under his arm. 
Pocket! His arm must work like a pocket! Not even many ponies do that unless it’s around their neck or hidden in their mane or tail. Everyone was doing their own thing so the pegasus rotated his head to observe the other humans. 
A baby was pushed in a stroller quiet as could be, small conversations were held at the registers as people checked out. The whir of machines behind the counter in the café. Small things that were so similar.
“Ed! Strom!” An oddly accented voice yelled.
Edward and Stormy stood to get their drinks. The counter was another raised one the pony couldn’t reach. Edward grabbed both drinks, one in a white cup and the other in a clear cup. The clear cup was handed to the pony.
Stormy eyed the cup, unsure how to pick it up. Normally he could just grab it with his hoof and fly holding the cup, only earth ponies tended to learn how to carry and walk. He moved his wings forward to carry it either in the tips or against his body but it could be heavy and slip or could spill out. The last option would be in his mouth but spilling or walking with his head down would be an issue. 
“Why don’t I carry it for you.” Edward offered, taking it to the table before the pony could object.
The drink was a cool caramel color with light and dark streaks spread throughout and a white top. Ssshhllpp. Stormy took a sip using the straw inserted into the domed top. The flavors quickly assaulted his senses. Sweet caramel like eating a fresh candy, milky whipped cream, ice cold with small chunks of ice and a bitter endnote of something acrid almost burnt. It was a good drink that the pony happily went back to despite the aftertaste. 
Chevonne put the hunk of plastic to her ear and walked away from the table. “I am calling about the place on Wilshire. Your ad said to call after five.” 
“What drink you get him Edward?” Sue asked.
“A cinnamon dolce frappuccino. It seemed like a good idea, decently sweet and have no knowledge of equine reactions to chocolate.”
Suzanne question the pegasus next. “Stormy, have you ever had coffee before? Or caffeine in general?”
“Some teas have caffeine but I stick to carrot juice.”
Suzanne narrowed her eyes at her male colleague. 
“Do not fret. I shall watch him.” Edward reassured. “It was my mistake.”
“What problems?” Stormy fretted, looked down at his empty glass. “I’ve never heard of any problems.”
“That would be because the effects are mostly if taken to excess and are typically minor.” Edward informed. 
“Ok.” Stormy responded with a downturned head, staring into the cup.
Chevonne came back. “It’s time to head back. We are running a bit late to finish the tour of Westwood.”
The group cleared the table of their desiccated cups. 
“Why perchance did you make such a big deal over the stuffed animal Katherine?” Edward asked as they left the store.
“What kid doesn’t love a stuffed animal when stressed? And it only seemed fitting they get a pony from a pony. No kid could ever forget it.” Hugging the white plastic bag containing the fluffy pony to her chest. 
An uncomfortable silence followed as nobody had any idea what to say, again. 
“How do majors work?” Stormy finally asked. “Everypon- um everyone has a major. Why?”
The four humans stopped to look at each other. “Well. I picked anthropology because it’s the only thing I could imagine working on the rest of my life. It describes the basics of how people and cultures work. In fact the opening of the portal has started several new branches in many fields.” Chevonne offered, moving as she walked to keep the rest of the group moving. “Majors prove you have a set amount of knowledge in that field.”
“Speech therapist. People are judged automatically by their accents.” Edward revealed. “Call it leveling the playing field.”
“Does that mean you can change accents?” Suzanne asked, a familiar glint returning to her eyes.
“With a disproportionate amount of effort yes, vaguely.” Edward answered. “And why are you into physics?”
“The fun traps isn’t enough?” Suzanne grinned wide enough for her canines to show. “Fine, it’s the idea of pushing what is humanly possible. Just look at the work CERN has done in the past few years or the effects of the space program.” Her eyes lit up with every word. “And you don’t understand any of it.” Sue huffed, clenching her teeth. 
Katherine put a soothing hand on her friends shoulder. “Math. It explains the world and working on it shuts out the rest of the world.”
“But what can you do with math? Teach?” Chevonne asked.
“There are many possibilities. Won’t know until I start my upper division classes. Optimize the 405 freeway. Analyze traffic patterns to make better routes and figure the exact amount of road needed along with other possibilities. Finance, some of the best actuaries or stockbrokers are math majors.” As her voice went up in agitation, her speech impediment became more pronounced. 
“Thank you.” Stormy replied. They all have passion but how do they pick one? He didn’t even know what half of what they talked about meant though.
“What was it like back home?” Edward asked.
“Umm…well…” Stormy mumbled. “Just different.”
“Not so fast. You have to answer some questions too.” Suzanne stuck a finger towards the pegasus’ chest. “How does it work in Equestria?” 
“Don’t force him to answer if he doesn’t want to.” Katherine rebuked, sticking her own finger at the friend.
“That’s okay.” Stormy shifted his wings uncomfortably. How will they treat me if they know? “Primary school is from three to twelve with summers taken up at camp. For pegasi it is flight school, I don’t know what it is for non-pegasi. After that is two years studying and working on weather formations. At fourteen or earlier you apprentice in whatever your special talent is.”
“But…” Kat started.
“Why did you go into weather?” Sue finished.
“I’m a pegasus.” Stormy had trouble with the question. They don’t have cutie marks. The mustard yellow pegasus reminded himself. “My whole family works with weather.” He lifted his saddlebag up, exposing his flank and the dark grey cloud with its light outline. “I resheibed dish at eight.” He spoke through the latch in his mouth, settling it back down. “My special talent is making storm clouds. So after my two years apprenticing at the weather factory, shifting from job to job they kept me in cloud production.”
“A tattoo says what your job will be?” Chevonne asked, eyes wide in shock.
“It’s magic. It just appears when a pony discovers what they are meant to do or enjoy. There were some dying plants, I made a storm cloud for some rain and it just appeared.”
“Every cloud has a silver lining.” Sue giggled. 
“Then why are you here? Meteorology? Weather forecasting of terrestrial systems?” Edward queried. 
They had just returned to the steps in front of Ackerman, Stormy had to stop and think. “Curiosity? Humans and ponies working together after that earthquake, it was impressive.” It was stupid, I was stupid. ’You have a chance to do something grand. Step outside your comfort zone.’ 
The pegasi’s mind shifted quicker than he could imagine. “To try something new.”
“Quite honorable.” Edward offered. “Maybe we shall be in the same classes, Gen Eds being what they are.”
“That is wonderful advice.” Chevonne spoke up. “Don’t be afraid to get help, classes will be hard. Now we do need to head inside. Back up to the food court for dinner provided by UCLA and a chance to meet some of the clubs.”
There were more people inside than there was earlier in the day, only Stormy seemed to carry a bag, outside of the women with small ones over their shoulders. 
The conversation shifted to cities as the group of five ascended the steps. The pony heard of the sprawling fields of Oklahoma with large cities with great distances between them. Los Angeles, the sprawling city of millions that was always busy and always innovating; even the port city of San Francisco with its bustling enterprises and fresh air. In return Stormy told them about Upper and Lower Canterlot, the center of Equestria.
He learned the starts of weather patterns: tornadoes in the Midwest like Oklahoma and their swaths of destruction, winds of two hundred miles an hour. Fires that forced evacuations in Southern California every year, and earthquakes strong enough to level cities. Snow that blanketed areas and made it so cold people couldn’t leave their homes. 
Sooner than the pegasus would of liked they reached the third floor. Stormy looked out at the changed scenery, all the restaurants were there except half of the tables had been moved away from the windows to be replaced by manned booths with large signs proclaiming what organization each represented. Archery was the only group he recognized. Other included Nerdfighters, Alpha Lambda Delta and it continued, names he couldn’t recognize. 
The humans streamed past to look at clubs or find a good table while their friends got food from a long table filled with sandwiches. Stormy didn’t feel physically tired but his mind slowed. Too much information too fast while surrounded by aliens, he just wanted to sit. The pony pulled out the schedule to check how late things would run.

5:30pm        Activities Fair & Orientation/ASUCLA Dinner – Ackerman Terrace: 1st Level
Enjoy the music while visiting the tables surrounding the dining area for information about some of the groups and services on campus. Use the conversation starters on the tables to get to know your fellow Bruins.

It was still early for the tired pegasus to eat, but events went on until one and this was the only meal time scheduled in. Best to get food now. He surmised. The tabled filled with free sandwiches and drinks were surrounded by grasping arms, and the table would still be hard to reach up to. 
Stormy decided just to head out the double doors that faced the road they had come back on. The terrace was wide, able to seat two tables side by side and it wrapped around the building to his left. The tables were a soft beige while the chairs were silver. The pegasus jumped up to the table, closed his eyes and let his head settle to the surface, touching the cool metal. Stormy released a deep sigh as the breeze tousled his hair, mixing its fresh aroma with the tinge of metal his muzzle rested on. Utterly serene, the sounds of traffic barely reaching this far into campus and all the humans inside enjoying the food and excitement. 
The screech of a chair being pulled across concrete disturbed the pegasus’ reverie, but not enough to move his head. 
“Are you not hungry?” A familiar voice asked. “No need to be reticent, I would have gladly procured you a sandwich.”
Stormy mumbled, knowing he said nothing. 
“However, you might want to move soon unless you enjoy rude awakenings.” He finished. The sound of sipping next came from that direction.
A sweet voice whispered in his ear. “He was right you know.” As something landed on the pony’s back. “Wakey wakey.”  
Stormy felt something drizzle down his spine, traveling all the way to the base of his tail before he reacted. Head jerked up as his shoulders and wings moved back, chest forward with a single thought flashing through his mind. COLD!!!
With two solid flaps he was in the air searching for the errant storm cloud that drizzled on him. Down below he heard Edward guffawing. 
Stormy shook off and landed, the human that had been behind him moved to an adjacent seat while Edward’s face turned red. Stormy took a closer look at Sue to see the front of her shirt covered in water. 
Stormy looked between the two humans, confusion etched across his face. “Wha-what happened.”
“Sue dripped water down your back.” Edward started to regain control of his lungs. “And you jumped with a start, knocking the cup she had used into her chest.” He then turned to Suzanne, grin still in place. “Just be glad you weren’t wearing white.”
“You would have loved that.” Sue muttered brushing at her shirt with napkins.
“Perchance.”
Stormy swiveled his head, looking for the one in pink. “Why are you two out here? Where’s Katherine?”
“We came out here to find our best pony.” Sue smiled as she pulled the shirt away from her skin.
“And because the noise level inside made it impossible to communicate. I assume you came out here for the same purpose.” Edward clarified. “Kat has volunteered to bring food and survey the clubs for us.”
“She handles loud noises better than I do.” Sue confessed. “And this guy said he had to warn you about me.” Pointing to the other human at the table with her thumb. 
Stormy shook the excess water from his pelt, but what little water Sue had used already soaked in. 
There was no card with a discussion topic on the table, they either figured nobody would go outside or afraid the wind would blow it away. Another difference nudged its way into the pony’s mind. These tables could only seat four easily with their square surface and legs at the edges, but the ones inside were round with legs that didn’t stick out as far. 
While waiting for Kat, Edward started the conversation back up. “What is your opinion of the Pony Immigration Policy?”
“Huh?” Stormy had let his mind wander off again. “I don’t really know much about it. Outside of something in a newspaper about it. Equetrians don’t pay much attention to what happens on this side of the portal unless it’s a threat.” The pegasus squared his eyes. “Although a lot of negatives do come through the portal.”
“Like what?” Kat asked, pushing the door open with her back, holding a stack of paper plates with several sandwiches on top.
“Civil wars, but the names don’t mean anything to me. It comes up a lot in talks of exchanges of technology about how humans can’t be trusted.”
“But there have been numerous exchanges already. Weather forecasting has improved tremendously, and I know various technologies have already been sent over.” Edward brought up.
“Celestia doesn’t always do what her advisors say. She took heating gems with her to that tsunami to help those without power stay warm.”
“Is she not afraid those could be used for war?” Edward asked. “It would make a decent explosive if exposed to pressure and had an electric current run through it.”
Stormy moved further back in his chair, what little appetite he had dissipated at the thought of bodies being incinerated. 
“I think what he means is that the levels of cooperation are quite surprising and this bill can impact immigration and students.” Sue responded, casting a scowl at her male friend. “But let’s not talk politics over food. I’m starving.”
Without asking, Kat spread out the plates and gave everyone a sandwich with three halves left on a plate in the middle. Looking at his food, Stormy gingerly lifted it with one of his hooves, inspecting the ingredients. He could easily smell the fresh tomato, cucumber and sprouts that made up a large portion of his sandwich, but the thick white substance eluded him. His nose informing him it was some sort of cheese.
“Veggie?! What kind of torture is this?” Sue moaned. “I need meat.”
“Then you should have gotten your own.” Katherine cheerfully replied. “Think of this as karma for the water. Besides it good for you.”
Stormy watched the two go back and forth while the two ate. Despites Sue’s complaints her sandwich disappeared as she reached for another. 

The hour and a half for dinner passed quickly, Kat had to go back in for more sandwiches at one point. 
“So private schools are filled with scum too huh?” Sue asked, trying to get more information out of Edward.
“Quite.” Edward stated, refusing to expand on the sting operation at his school that netted a ring that cheated the SAT.
Chevonne came out. “The next program is starting soon in ten. I’ll meet you in front of the ballroom.” And she was gone. 
“What is up with her?” Sue asked, turning to Kat. “Doesn’t she seem odd to you.”
“She may just be having a rough time.” Kat replied. “Remember plenty of times you were in a bad mood.”
“Change of topics.” Sue quickly responded to the threat. “Why don’t we head up now?”
The plates were placed into a trash can and the four of them headed past the still full dining area and up the stairs. The doors to the grand ballroom were open with people slowly trickling in. The group found their NSA in the area they previously sat it, moving out of the way to let the new students enter.
The five of them sat quietly as more and more people shuffled in. Sunny’s group got to their seats as the place was pretty much full. Roderick and Edward exchanged glares. 
“Welcome back.” Maitland started. “Hope you enjoyed your dinner and meeting some of the clubs. We will now have four New Student Advisors come up on stage to talk about their experiences here at UCLA.”
Stormy listened as well as he could, everything just seemed to blend together though. The first lady dressed in some sort of business suit, talked about how fast her classes moved and how quickly she got left behind. 
The next person to get up on stage was another human female, skin a deep ebony, eyes sharp contrasting pinpoints. Roommates, something about roommates making the experience great but to find people you like or it could be unbearable. Stormy never had to share a room except with his brother at a young age.
The next person was rather skinny with short hair and ambiguous features. They talked about the opportunities, how everyone could find something that interested them. “With over a thousand clubs,” stuck out, such a large number. How companies would hire and some classes had interviews as finals. 
The pony’s laconic mind jumped as he saw the last speaker take the stage, a yellow earth pony stallion. He named off locations like La Brea and Gaetti which meant nothing. “With so many great things to see, you should take the opportunities while you have the chance.” 
Maitland returned to the stage. Releasing everyone for something called “Summer in the Union.”
“Who wants to join me for Cabaret?” Edward queried, eyes passing between his three friends.
“No thank you.” Katherine responded first. “Not a fan of war musicals.”
“Nah. Someone should be playing a game of poker downstairs.” Sue’s wicked grin returned to her face, canine becoming visible. “Maybe some of the guys will want to try betting with real money.”
Edward turned to Stormy, eyebrow raised questioning.
“Uh…” Stormy stopped, not knowing what to say. There was so far too much sitting and he didn’t want to watch something about war. Maybe a run at the stadium. “I’d rather not.”
Leaving the ballroom they parted ways.
No context. Even with the studying and the help of Ai, too much history, differences in thought. The pegasus needed to move, time to organize his thoughts.
Outside a small swarm of student departed, he went along with the crowd, most heading up to the dorms or back out to Westwood to explore. 
The pony turned right. The track surrounded a brownish green field painted with white lines. The material of the track itself wasn’t dirt like he was used to seeing, but he no longer expected it of the tech enthused humans. It was some sort of red rubbery material absorbing his footfalls as he clopped down the track. He’d never run at a track before, never had a need to.
Are clubs and volunteering expected? Everyone seems to give them such a high priority. How hard are the classes? 
His mind soon shifted to a person. So far humans had all been nice, why had that human given him a warning? Is it related to wars and different beliefs?
Faster. He needed to go faster as his mind worked slowly. The field was empty. Stormy unfurled his wings. Rounding a corner he pumped his wings and legs hard. A slight burn developed in his legs, then his wings. Another corner, then another around the oval track. White lines flashed below him. Heart racing but his wings couldn’t keep up the pace. The pegasus lowered clunkily to the ground as his wings began to give. His hooves wanting to give under the returned weight.
Huff. Huff. Huff. The pony decidedly left this field, dragging his tired hooves up the steep walk. The exhaustion hit his mind, all thoughts outside of sleep stopped. 
He found his room, hoof slapping the door until his key found its way into the lock, a slight twist opening of the handle opening the door. He left the light off, his eyes able to adjust with the open blinds letting in light.
Staring at the beds, the bottom bunk had already been taken if the bag next to it was any indication. The bunk across the room was too with sheets half off the bed, no humans were present though. 
Stormy dropped his saddlebag in front of the desk, wings barely generating enough lift to raise him to the bunk. His hooves barely touched the bed before they collapsed under him. The darkness of sleep taking the pegasus before his head reached the sheets.