“Ah. Mister Stablehaus. We have reviewed your application and chosen to decline.”
Frank blankly looked on. How fitting. Why did Mom think that they were going to let me in now, a year after they rejected me the first time?
And thus began the 1997 application marathon. The Manehattan Magic Academy had rejected him again. Not to worry- Celestia’s Magic School had offered him a try. Unfortunately, due to his Dad’s schedule, they would be there… tomorrow. The Elementary Flight School of Cloudsdale had rejected him again as well.
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He peeked in at the applicant before him. She had just gone into Magic Overdrive when the Rainboom had occurred. Chaos ensued, and Frank's glasses turned purple. At least I'm not a cactus... he thought, glancing over at where Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle had been standing. Shortly after, Princess Celestia came out and undid all of the magic. Only then did Frank stop peeking through the door.
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Frank's task was not to hatch a dragon, but to move as many items as he could at once. To do this, he asked to do so in the library, and the judges obliged. He passed several other colts and fillies who were enrolled, and several of them looked at him with a glint of curiosity. Some hid snickers under their breath, while others made no attempt to hide their amusement, laughing loudly at Frank. James was scowling. He had half a mind to tell the next one to shove their face into a couch.
Anna, however, hadn't said a thing. Nor did she let it known that it bothered her.
When they got to the library, they found Princess Celestia there, talking to Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle, who were still a little wary of applicants (even their own).
The judges looked embarrassed. "Sorry, Princess. We'll move elsewhere if you want us to."
"No, it's my fault. You're running the Movement Test, I presume?"
"Yes, we ran out of dragon's eggs with young Ms. Sparkle."
"Understandable." Turning to Frank, she asked, "And what is your name?"
Frank replied softly, "Frank Stablehaus."
Celestia looked pensive for a moment. "Stablehaus... Stablehaus...but they're a long established Maresland Pegasi family... is your father James?"
"Yes, your highness."
It was like a lightbulb went off in Celestia's head at that moment."Are your parents here?"
"Yes, Tia." Mrs. Stablehaus had been the one to reply. With a smile on her face.
"Anna? Is that really you? I forgot you had a son! And is he really...?"
"Yes."
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As he took off, the remnants of the Rainboom were spread across the sky. He knew that his dad wanted him to search for the creator, as he thought that they might be a good fit for the Wonderbolts. Typical Dad. Frank had been to most of the Wonderbolts’ events since his birth… as his Dad knew them personally, and since no 2 events were ever the same, it never got boring.
The results were in. The judges had been impressed. He started there in a week. Celestia and Mrs. Stablehaus were still talking, reminiscing... of course, Celestia thought that Twilight Sparkle had more potential, and so she remained Celestia's assistant. No big problem for him, of course.
A few minutes later, he noticed a pale yellow filly with light pink hair trying to fly. He slowed down. “Hi there.”
The filly’s voice was quiet. “Hi.”
“Is something the matter?”
“I’m trying to get back to Cloudsdale, but I’m not a very good flier.”
“Do you need help?”
“That would be great.” Frank helped her up and began to fly next to her. She put a foreleg around his torso for support as they began to travel back. “By the way, I’m Fluttershy.”
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Frank.”
"It's nice to meet you too, Frank. Where are you going to school? I haven't seen you at Elementary Flight."
"Oh. They -uh- rejected me. Believe me, my dad was ticked off. He said, 'What makes him so different to other Pegasi? He just has a glorified bump on his head.' My mom smacked him for that."
"Wait. A glorified bump? Does that mean..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes trailed to the top of his head. "But how... There's only been Princess Celestia..."
"There's been 3- me, Princess Celestia, and Nightmare Moon. Though I am the first born in over 1000 years..."
"So how good are you at Flying? and Magic?"
"I'm good at both, I guess. Probably 'cause it runs in my blood."
"Well, I suppose that I should thank you, so... how 'bout I show you around the school?"
"Sure." Frank was smiling. "That would be lovely."
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They were almost done when they came upon a filly being lifted by a multitude of her peers. "Hey Fluttershy! You'll never guess what I did!"
"You completed the Sonic Rainboom." Frank was cutting in, but his excitement was barely contained.
Rainbow Dash was puzzled."Who are you?"
"Frank Stablehaus. From Maresland."
Just then, a blue and purple colt cried out, "Freak!" Everyone turned to him. "He's got a unicorn's horn, but Pegasus wings!"
The group turned to complete laughter. Several were chanting "Frank the Freak! Frank the Freak!"
Head between hooves, and his tail drooping low, Frank left silently, as Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy looked on in semi-horror, semi-sadness. But neither said anything.