It was sunset the day after Aurora’s exploration of the palace and the foals were up early enjoying the last rays of sunshine. As the sky got darker the children were called in to eat breakfast and get ready for their first day of school.
Aurora and Sprocket sat side by side, each with a heaping stack of pancakes in front of them. Sprocket happily chatted to some of the other foals while Aurora stared off into space. She hadn’t fully zoned out but was busy thinking about what to expect at school.
Once they finished eating Aurora and Sprocket ran to their rooms. Aurora did a quick check of her saddle bags before choosing a baby blue puffy jacket and slipping it on along with the saddle bags. She then turned off her light and went to wait by her brother’s door.
When he came out he had donned a burgundy fleece hoodie and had his saddle bags secured. “Ready for school?” Aurora nodded and they both headed out.
The stars had just finished coming out as the two foals made their way across the square and to the temporary school house. Apparently a much bigger and fancier facility was being built, but wouldn’t be ready for several more weeks.
They were the first of the foals from the dorms to arrive, however many of the lunar foals were already there. “Do you think we should introduce ourselves?” Sprocket asked, a bit put off by the lunar colts cold looks.
Aurora ignored her brothers comment, her eyes scanning the group for her friend. She spotted Moonlit Jinx hanging near a few other fillies. Her hair hung in a single braid that fell over her back, the second she spotted aurora she smiled and began to walk over. “Aurora, good thing you came first, now we have an icebreaker.”
Sprocket looked slightly surprised at the familiarity the two girls shared, not that his sister couldn’t make friends but usually he was the first one to make a move when it came to ponies.
“Sprocket this is Moonlit Jinx, Jinx this is my brother Sprocket Watch” Aurora gestured to each pony in turn then stepped back. Her brother could make friends with almost anypony if given a place to start, and from what time she had spent with jinx, it seemed that the filly wasn't to bad herself.
“Nice to meet you, I can’t believe that Rory actually managed to make a friend already.” Sprocket said shaking her hoof.
“Well we still don’t know much about each other, we have only had a few conversations and spent most of the time stargazing in the forest.”
Sprocket looked at Aurora with a look of mock hurt. “You went exploring and didn’t invite me?” Aurora just rolled her eyes and ignored him.
“How do you think thing are going to go?” Aurora said motioning to the solar foals that were now heading towards the temporary school yard, the others turned.
“I am expecting a lot of coldness from the lunar foals and a lot of ponies staying in their own groups.” Jinx said looking over at her peers. “My kind aren't really all that sociable. There is going to be a lot of cultural differences.”
Sprocket put on a warm grin “Well then maybe we can set a good example, you seem quite sociable.”
“I’m kinda and oddball.” Jinx said with a sheepish grin.
“Awesome, then we all have something in common.” Jinx giggled and Sprockets grin widened. Aurora smiled, she couldn’t have asked for a better beginning to a possible friendship.
As the solar foals entered the school yard they steered clear of the lunar foals and congregated on the other side, chatting amongst each other. The lunar foals just ignored them and kept conversing.
“Well this is going to be interesting.” Sprocket said. The three headed over to a bench near the front of the school house. As soon as they all got seated the door swung open and a Blue maned Lunar mare stepped out.
“Children, please follow me inside.” She said before turning back around.
“Cultural difference or just a strict teacher?” Sprocket asked getting up.
“The first one mostly. She is actually pretty nice.” Jinx said following her new friends.
“You know her? Wait let me guess, mom?”
Jinx laughed. “No, just a friend of the family. Most of the lunar pegasi families here either know, or know of each other.”
“Know of?” Aurora asked, she had a million questions about Lunar pegasi culture.
Jinx was about to answer when they reached the classroom. “Please take a seat quietly and quickly. The faster we get thing started the quicker we can get to the interesting stuff.”
The three did as they were told and took seats next to each other in the second row. Aurora squirmed a bit, she knew she would get answers eventually but she was dying with curiosity.