//------------------------------// // First Day of School // Story: Our Little Clementine // by MaxBeezy //------------------------------// In the residence of the Williams-Apple family, Matt is putting down a plate of cut apples and a blueberry muffin on the table for somepony who hasn’t arrived yet. He does the same for another side, and another for himself. Looking over at the table, he thinks, wondering what is next, The lightbulb inside his head goes off, and he goes to the fridge to get some juice. As he pours three glasses of orange juice, a door in the hallway opens up, and the pitter pattering of enthusiastic and energetic hooves races through into the living room and around the couches. “First day of school! First day of school!” the little filly says. Clementine. Five years old. She is celebrating her first day at Ponyville Elementary. It’s been a long road for Applejack and Matt; taking care of her when she was a little bundle of fluff. Now, she can run and talk and cause more trouble than ever. Her voice gives that of a southern drawl, much like Applejack, while sounding more like a squeakier Applebloom. The four years that passed from her first birthday to now have been quite eventful for the family and their friends. Donut Joe and Rarity moved in together, Big Mac and Twilight were officially married, and Matt’s parents have been visiting them a lot more frequently than usual. Whenever Pinkie Pie couldn’t make it to foalsitting duties, Matt’s parents were more than willing to help out, jumping at the chance to see their granddaughter again and again. The young filly barrels into dining room, hopping up on the table, and immediately gets to munching on her morning meal. Matt steps back from all the crumbs and apple bits flying through the air, and getting onto his and Applejack’s plates. “Easy! Easy, Clem!” Matt chuckles, slowing her down with a pat on the mane. “You’ll give yourself a tummy ache, eating like that.” “I’m just excited, is all!” she smiles a wide smile, with blueberries stuck in her baby teeth. “I’ve been waitin’ for school, and ah can’t help but get so…so…” “Excited?” Matt says drolly. “Yeah! Excited! Ah know ah used that word before, but it’s so…so…” “Appropriate?” “Yeah! That!” Applejack comes walking into the dining room, tuckered out and with a disheveled mane. She yawns and walks over to Matt, giving him a kiss good morning. “Good mornin’ Matt.” she smiles, “Did ya wake up early?” “Not that early. Maybe like an hour before you.” “What’s the occasion?” she looks over at the plate of food. “First day of school, Mom!” Clementine chimes in excitedly. “Really?” Applejack sounds surprised, “Ah thought it was Sunday…” she glances at the nearby calendar on the wall. It is most certainly Monday. “Sweet Celestia, I’m a mess! Ah shouldn’t be taking you to school like this!” “Hot?” Matt slyly quips. Applejack responds with a playful prod of the hoof. “No. Unkempt.” She chuckles, “After breakfast, I’m gonna get ready to take Clementine to school.” “Don’t worry. You can stay in. I’ll take her.” “No, sir.” Applejack brings her hoof down on the table, “Ah ain’t gonna stay home as our little filly goes off on her first day of elementary school. No way, no how.” “Far be it from me to argue with the devastatingly gorgeous mare with the messy mane.” he sits down in front of his plate of food. “Let’s eat…” he immediately puts a hand on Clementine’s shoulder, “Slowly, this time. You have plenty of time to enjoy your food, Clem. There’s no rush.” “Okay.” Clementine nods, eating her food at a better pace. An hour passes, and Clementine gets her little bag ready for school, while Applejack straightens out her mane, bringing it into her normal and familiar appearance. Matt, who had been ready since the morning, sits on the couch with the still excited Clementine, watching more old school Transformers episodes on the television. Applejack emerges from the hallway; the last one ready to go. The two turn to see the farmpony smiling and nodding that she’s ready, which prompts Clementine to jump off the couch and run around the room. The three walk into Ponyville, with a half hour to go before Clementine’s first day at school is to begin. Matt and Applejack talk with her about what she might experience, while also giving her advice. “Now, Clem…” Applejack says with kind sternness, “School ain’t all fun and games, now. There’s a lot of work and learnin’ that needs ta be done, so listen to the teacher at all times. Now, ah know that she can be a might borin’ in areas, but it’s stuff that ya have ta remember, when it comes down to tests.” “If you’re having any trouble, don’t hesitate to ask us for help.” Matt smiles. “Your Mom may know more about Equestrian history than I do, but I’ve been here long enough to know a thing or two as well.” “No problem.” Clementine nods, “Ah can’t wait to make some new friends.” “That might take some time.” Matt says, “But then again…” he looks at Applejack, “Your mother is the most likable pony in Equestria, so it might take you all of two seconds to make friends!” Clementine giggles as she goes ahead towards the school, leaving Matt and Applejack at a distance, but they can still se her clearly. “Don’t run too far!” Applejack calls out, turning her head to Matt. “Ya think she’ll be okay?” “I think so. She has more of you than she does of me.” “Oof!” Clementine grunts, tripping over a rock. “I’m okay!” “Ya sure about that?” Applajack smirks. “Okay, maybe about fifty-fifty.” They make it over to the school, where other fillies and colts have already arrived and playing in the yard out front. Ms. Cheerilee, still looking wonderful and as vibrant as ever, watching the young ponies with a smile on her face. She notices the Williams-Apple family approach the schoolhouse, with young Clementine already halfway through the gate, before Applejack catches her. “Easy there, ya little varmint.” Applejack jokingly says, “Gotta make sure your mane isn’t all mussed up.” she pats any dirt and dust from Clementine’s mane; accumulated after her battle with the rock in the ground. “There we go, all better now.” “Thanks, Mom.” Clementine hugs her. Matt kneels down for her to hug him, which she happily does. “You have a good day, Clem.” Matt says, letting her forelegs go back down onto the ground. “We’ll pick you from this this exact spot, okay? No wandering off.” “Ah will, Dad.” she stamps a hoof on the ground, indicating the exact spot where she’s going to be. “That’s our little Clementine.” Matt pats her on the mane, standing back up, “Go on, have fun.” “But learn, too.” Applejack cuts in. “Ah will. Love ya both.” Clementine runs off past the approaching Cheerilee. “It’s lovely to see you two.” Cheerilee says with a wide smile, “I was looking forward to the day where you brought your daughter to school. She’s a bundle of energy, that one.” “She sure is.” Applejack chuckles, “Y’all will make her feel welcome and all, won’t ya?” “I promise that she’ll feel right at home here.” Cheerilee says with confidence and pride. She looks up at the Ponyville Clocktower, making note of the time. “I got to get going. Lots to do. You both take care.” “See you later, Cheerliee.” Matt waves. “Okay, my little ponies! It’s time for school!” she gathers them up to go inside the schoolhouse. They pour inside, all laughing and talking to one another. The last one in is Clementine. She hangs at the doorframe, with a sudden twinge of nervousness hitting her. She looks back at her parents, who smile and wave with all the love in their hearts. The sight makes the young filly get a boost of confidence, responding to the wave with one of her own. Matt and Applejack watch as she goes into the classroom, with the door closing soon afterwards. “Ah miss her already.” Applejack sighs. “It’ll only be for a few hours.” Matt assures her, kneeling down and putting a hand on her shoulder. “She’ll be fine. Trust me.” “She better be fine, or else ah will have to knock some sense into any foals that try to hurt mah little filly.” “I’ll do some of the knocking as well.” Matt pulls her in closer, “So, what would you like to do now? Go to Rarity’s, or to the Apple Farm?” “Ah forget, what are were going to Rarity’s for, again?” “I don’t know. She wants us to come over so she can show us something. I don’t know what.” “She is closer…” Applejack ponders, “Let’s see her first. I’m sure it’s a new dress or something.” The two arrive at Carousel Boutique in little to no time at all. Inside, they can hear the galloping of hooves, with the occasional piece of fabric floating by the window, surrounded by the unmistakable blue glow of Rarity’s magic. It’s only when Applejack knocks on the door, that the sounds stop, and the door opens, revealing a uncommonly disheveled and tired Rarity. “Oh, you two made it.” she smiles, seemingly unaware of her appearance. “Come in, come in.” The two walk in to her place, seeing that the area is…actually quite clean, and the opposite of what they expected; judging by the noises they heard from the outside. Things have changed over the years for the fashionista. She has a popular fashion line known as Rarity’s Secret, with the name taken by the advice of a knowing and smirking Matt, who was surprised that there was no such Equestrian version of his world’s Victoria’s Secret up until now. “Sorry about the mess.” Rarity utters, sparking confusion amongst the two, as all they can see it a clean floor and well-organized shelves. “Erm…it’s okay…” Applejack trails, “How are things?” “Fine, darling, just fine.” she smiles, walking around in an investigatory pace. “Are you looking for something?” Matt wonders. “Umm…yes…I’m trying to find a white cloth that I somehow managed to misplace. I need it to complete my ensemble, and I cannot for the life of me find it.” “You mean that piece over there?” Matt points to her couch, which has a white piece of a fabric laying on it. “Oh my goodness, yes! Why did I not think to look over there?” she picks up the cloth with her magic, “I tell you, the moment you stop looking for something, you manage to find it in the most obvious of places.” She disappears behind a velvet curtain. “Glad to be of help.” Matt looks down at Applejack, shrugging. “So…um…you said you wanted us to come over to show us something.” “In a moment…” Rarity calls out from behind the curtain, “Just…let me…there! Perfect!” She walks out of the curtain with a look of pride on her face. “Allow me to present to you…my wedding dress!” with a glow of her horn, the curtain opens to reveal a dazzling and elaborate wedding gown. “Holy cow.” Matt awes, “That looks…expensive.” “You like it? I spent all weekend making designs, and putting this together. The inspiration just came to me!” “It’s beautiful, Rarity.” Applejack nods, “But…uh…why did you make a wedding dress?” “Because Joe asked me to marry him, that’s why.” Rarity says in a tone that suggests that Applejack should know this. “Hold up…” Matt puts a hand up, “Donut Joe asked you to marry him?” “Yes…” “Rarity…” Applejack continues Matt’s train of though, “Ya didn’t tell us about that.” “I didn’t?” “Nope.” “Well…now you know.” “Well…” Matt shares a look with Applejack, “Now that we know…” they smile and rush up to Rarity, giving her a simultaneous hug of joy. “Congratulations!” they say at the same time. “Oh, my!” Rarity is caught off guard by the sudden showing of affection, but the feeling is pleasant, to say that least. “Thank you.” “Who else knows? Applejack asks, with her and Matt letting her back on the floor. “Just you two, for the time being.” “Why just us?” Matt wonders. “Because Joe and I want to ask something of you. I want you…” she looks to Applejack, “…to be my Maid of Honor. Joe…” she looks to Matt, “…would like you to be his best…how do you put it again…oh, right…Best Man.” “Best Man?” Matt questions quietly. “Maid of Honor?” Applejack does the same. They are quiet for so long, that Rarity is wondering if they are going to say yes or not. As her hope begins to dwindle, Matt and Applejack turn back and smile, nodding their heads in definite approval. “That would be awesome…” Matt begins, “…but why me?” “Well, you two are good friends. You guys have been hanging around a lot ever since Big Mac started getting busy…in more ways than one…with Twilight, and it was either you or Trenderhoof.” “Trenderhoof? I didn’t know Joe knew Trenderhoof!” “He doesn't, darling. I was just joking. Even if he did, I’m sure poor Trenderhoof wouldn’t want to come to the wedding, on account of the incident with Applejack a few years ago.” “Oh, yeah…” Matt thinks back to that incident, which occurred a few months after the birth of Clementine. He looks over at Applejack, “We went to the farm so you could try applebucking again, and Rarity showed up with Trenderhoof on a tour of Ponyville.” “Yeah…ah remember…” the memory isn’t too fond in Applejack’s mind. “The moment he saw me, he went right up ta me, and started ta flirt.” “The best part was when he saw you.” Rarity giggled at Matt. “Hey…” Matt takes faux offence, “He called me a monster and a…um…apparition?” “Aberration, dear.” Rarity corrects him. “When he found out who you really were, he went off on the both of you for being in such a relationship.” “And then ya hit him over the head with a chair.” Applejack finishes the story, “Scaring him off from Ponyville forever, and writin’ a bad review in his travel column. “ “Hey, I didn’t hit him with a chair!” “Oh really?” Applejack raises a disbelieving eyebrow, “What did ya hit him with, then?” “I hit him with a stool.” “That’s technically a chair.” Rarity chimes in. “No. A chair and a stool are completely different things.” “Can ya sit on a stool?” “Yes.” “It’s a chair.” Applejack and Rarity say in unison. “Chair or not, he was being unpleasant. So, I did what I do best.” “Matt…ah love ya and all…but ya gotta stop with the chair related violence. It’s like it’s become a habit or somethin'.” “Oh, please. It is NOT a habit. Name any other time I struck another being with a piece of small furniture in the past few years. I dare you both.” “A Cerberus from Tartarus.” Rarity says. “He was peeing on our lawn.” “Prince Blueblood at the Grand Galloping Gala.” Applejack says another. “He complained about your food…again, from what I understood.” “The Flim-Flam Brothers.” they say together. “OH MY GOD THOSE FLIM-FLAM BROTHERS!!!” Matt throws his hands up in anger, “They tried to put your farm out of business for the third time, and I couldn’t…URGH! It felt so great smacking those two horrible con ponies in the face with a chair.” “As satisfying as it was to watch…” Rarity grimaces, “…you did gain a rather unpleasant reputation about being a violent individual. Lyra had to psychologically examine you and everything.” “Yeah, but I was fine. She just said that I was easily irritated by those who insult or conspire against my family. She gave me some pills, and I mellowed out.” “Mellowed out?” Applejack interrupts, “They increased your libido!” “And that was a problem because….?” “Well…it’s wasn’t…” Applejack said quietly, “To be fair…at least you weren’t hittin’ anything after that.” “And I haven’t since. Trust me, if I get in the hitting mood, it’ll be for emergency acts of violence only. “ Inside the classroom of the Ponyville Schoolhouse, Clementine had her hooves glued to her cheeks as she watches Cheerilee give a lecture about Equestrian history. Other foals in the classroom were more interesting in making doodles of stick figures or sleeping, but Clementine was enraptured by the teacher’s tale of magic and whimsy, while all the while being entirely true. Once Cheerilee was finished with the lecture, it was time for lunch. Clementine went outside onto the play yard, finding a nice looking table right in the shade of a beautiful tree. She immediately went to sitting down, putting up her lunchbox, which had been decorated with stickers placed there by her, onto the table. She immediately went to eating, devouring her tasty daffodil and tomato sandwich like her life depended on it. Without her father around to tell her how to eat, she happily munches on her own pace. It was then she realizes what he was trying to teach her, as the sandwich was gone within half a minute upon eating it. “Oh…ah guess ah should have paced mahself.” she shrugs, getting to the juice box. As she moved on to her various snacks and juice box, a feeling that she hadn’t felt before starts to creep up on her. Clementine looks around, noticing that despite the big space of the table, no other pony is there, drinking their juices or eating their meals. She’s confused at the sight, wondering where everypony else is. Glancing over at the play area, she sees various colts and fillies eating over on the grass, making occasional looks over at Clementine’s area. She gives them a smile and a wave, hoping that they would wave back, or come over to her in a best-case scenario. Instead, they go back to eating and talking to their respective groups. A couple of minutes pass, and Clementine gets a couple of visitors. Two fillies, one with a cream colored coat, and another that’s a shade of orange, walk up to her with a look of curiosity in their eyes. “Excuse me.” The orange one says, “My friend and I were wondering…is your dad that creature we see around town?” “Uhh…yeah, ah think so.” Clementine responds, “Where he comes from, he’s called a human.” “Okay. Thanks.” the inquisitive filly says, motioning to her friend to leave. The two go back to their end of the play yard, leaving Clementine in a state of confusion. She thinks about the short and abrupt encounter for several minutes; tempted to go over there and ask why that was the only thing they wanted to know. Before she could give in to that response, the school bell rings, prompting everypony to head back into the schoolhouse. Clementine closes up her lunchbox, heading back to class with the other foals. Matt and Applejack spent a longer time at Rarity’s than they expected. Once she gave them the news about her and Donut Joe’s engagement, followed by them reminiscing about past events, most of them involving Matt getting himself into a situation that ends in pain or chair battles, the three ended up spending the day together. They went out to eat over at the Hayburger, where Matt decided to get a salad, as the titular burger didn’t have the most pleasing effect on his stomach the first and only time he ate it. Food in Equestria has been kind on his stomach, but this was one of a few that he could not handle. He didn’t mind so much, as the occasional trip over to his world, or a visit by his parents gets him some meat; after his Mother had pointed out that his figure was getting a little too skinny. Out of respect to the cows of Equestria, Matt has regulated his meat intake with only chicken, being one of the many creatures in the world that he could not have an actual conversation with. They also took a stop over at the market, where Applejack picked up some ingredients for the night’s meal of creamy potato soup, a favorite dish of Clementine’s. After saying their goodbyes, Applejack and Matt arrive back at the Ponyville Schoolhouse, where the fillies and colts pool out and into the town, or into the forelegs of their waiting parents. The last one to exit is Clementine, who trots over to her parents with that look of confusion still on her face. “How was your first day of school?” Matt asks, not noting the expression on Clementine. “It was okay.” she says, in deep thought. “What’s the matter, sugarcube?” Applejack is the first one to notice, “Y’all alright?” “I’m fine, mom.” Clementine does her best smile and nod before replying, “It’s just…weird is all.” “Weird?” Applejack glances over at Matt as they begin to walk back home, “What do ya mean?” “Well, these two fillies walked up to me, and asked if you…” she looks up at Matt, “…were mah daddy. Ah said yes, and they just…nodded and walked away.” “That’s it?” Matt is intrigued, “They just walked away after you told them?” “Yeah.” “Hmmm….” Matt thinks about it, “That’s odd.” “Ah don’t know what it means.” “Well, maybe they were only curious. I’m sure that in the followin’ days, they’ll be more comfortable talkin’. Foals can be like that on the first day of school.” Applejack assures her, “Back when ah went ta school, ah would walk around, and say hi, and that’s all I’d do. It took me weeks before ah had the courage to say any more than that.” “Really? No foolin’?” “No foolin’, Clem.” Applejack chuckles, holding her close. “Now, come along. We gotta get home and make some potato soup; your favorite.” “Alright!” Clementine says in excitement.