Settling In
The trip to Earth had taken several days but had been somewhat enjoyable. Of course the first night on the ship Pinkie had thrown a huge party for them and the crew in the lounge Ten Forward. In fact all of the main bridge officers with the exception of Worf, had attended as it took place after the shift change. Knowing her long time friend as well as she did Twilight went to the captain and got permission, she also got permission from the from the barkeep Guinan as the wise sounding woman seemed to take what happened in the lounge very seriously.
Once the ship had docked with the Earth Spacedock the mares were gathered up by Admiral Nsomeka and led off of the large ship and onto the massive space station. After working their way through the busy station did they finally reach the transporter room. Finally with a beam of blue light the six mares were now the very first equine to ever set hoof on an alien world. They got curious looks from some of the students making their way from and too various classes through the beautifully maintained gardens.
"Cadets, I am sorry we had to go through the station. Normally we would just have the Enterprise beam us down directly, but the ship is undergoing a full overhaul. This means that as soon as the ship docked and all systems were down or secure they had the crew had to gather their effects and disembark themselves," The admiral stated.
"We understand admiral," Twilight replied in a now crisp tone snapping to attention remembering that Starfleet was military. Growing up watching her brother rise through the ranks as a royal guard had taught her how to act in this setting.
The aging leader gave a hidden smile at the response not expecting it from any of the none militaristic mares. "Good now follow along we need to get you six signed you up for classes, get you the proper uniforms and get you your dorms," she finished.
"Ma'am permission to speak," Twilight asked and waiting for a nod of response before continuing. After getting the nod she finished. "Admiral is it normal for somepo... I mean someone of your stature to be showing around new cadets?" Having been a leader for a few hundred years herself she knew that things like this were usually handed down the chain of command so the busy leader could get back to important things.
"Not normally no, but we usually do for the first of any new members to the Federation to join. Since you six are the first from Equuis to join the the academy I will make sure your fully settled in," she answered leading the to a large building of metal and glass that stood at a slight slant to it at on end of the gardens they had beamed into. and guiding them through the large double doors.
It took 2 hours to finish the registration for classes. Twilight had obviously picked science with course and pushed for as many courses as she could. Some of her main classes would be in astrophysics, elementary temporal mechanics, biochemistry, organic chemistry and quantum chemistry. Rarity majored in ship operations and transporter theory. Applejack decided to focus on security and tactics. Rainbow really wandered to focus on piloting more then anything but was talked into security as a back up. Pinkie being the main inventor of Equuis warp drive with Twilight only work theory signed up for engineering courses. Fluttershy picked out the medical field mostly a focus on medicine and exo/xenobiologies.
After the courses they were taken to the academy's requisition offices to get their uniform. The uniforms were different then the ones the crew on the ship wore. Instead of the top being specialty colors and black shoulders, these were all black with specialization colored shoulders. Twilight and Fluttershy wearing uniforms with blue shoulders. Ratity, Applejack and Pinkie got gold shoulder uniforms. Rainbow got the only one of the group in a red shouldered uniform. All the uniforms had a combadge similar to the ones the crew wore. Unlike most races short of the the caitians were not required to wear boots over their hooves.
Finally they were brought to their dorms were they could finally rest until the morning when classes would start tomorrow morning at 7 am. The dorm set ups were arranged to allow two to a dorm in three dorms all next to one another with a single large bed instead of twin beds. Rarity and Twilight taking the one in the middle, with Fluttershy and Pinkie to their left and Applejack and Rainbow to their right. By the time they all got to their dorms they were so exhausted from all the business that day that they only wanted to settle into bed and sleep, so with her snuggling into Rarity the two peacefully drifted off to slumber ending their day.
A beeping sound rang through the room gentle rousing the newly alicorn cadet from her warm comfortable slumber against her lovely wife. Groaning as she opens her eyes gently prying herself from the white unicorn's grasp she looks over to the alarm clock on the table indicating it to be 5 am. She looked over to Rarity's sleeping form saddened she needed to awaken the angelic form in the bed, but needing to so they have time to get ready and have a breakfast before they all have to head off to their classes.
"Rarity, sweetheart wake up. We need to get started," she said softly but loud enough to start to rouse the mare. Seeing Rarity slowly coming back to the world of the living she decides to help her along. Leaning over the bed her body held above the mare with an arm on each side of her she leans in pressing her lips to the well cared for lips of her lover.
"Ohh, I haven't gotten up this early in centuries. At least it was a pleasant way to wake up," the white mare responded her sapphire blue eyes taking in the world around her.
"Come on you go get a shower while i go make sure the others are up. After we get dressed and make the bed we can all head off to breakfast. We are going to need it before class we missed lunch and dinner yesterday with all the admissions stuff," Twilight commented as she pulled herself out of the bed walking toward the door.
"Just meet me there when you get them up all take your stuff to the showers with me," called out as she gathered up both of their uniforms and health and beauty supplies they both needed into a basket. Turning toward the bed she decided to beat Twilight to it. Pulling the sheets up and smoothing them out she made the bed for them. After the bed was crisply made to her satisfaction she headed out of the dorm carrying the basket of supplies to the floors showers.
When all six were up showered and dressed they headed out of the female dorms and trotting quickly across the campus toward the cafeteria. Looking at the selections available in the lines, the sight of meat still making them queasy even after all dealing with the carnivorous griffons on a semi regular basis. After each grabbing various vegetables and breads they all took seats at the table and dung in hungrily, the lack of two meals yesterday. As they ate a group of young cadets made their way toward them holding food trays.
"Do you mid if we join you," asked a young human male with bright red hair asked the mares.
"Sure, sit where ever you like," Twilight replied with a welcoming smile. Taking in the group she noticed two humans out of the four cadets now taking seats. The second with a human female around the same age as the male with sandy blond. an andoria male with droopy antenna and a catian though the mares were not familiar enough with the feline race to know the gender.
"Thank you, I am Jaden O'Conner first year cadet and in command school, this is Kaitlin Samuels same in both areas. Our andorian friend is Gareb th'Zarath first year as well engineering school. Finally this is C'halaa first year and in the medical school," Jaden introduced his companions before continuing. "You are all from Equuis, are you not. It was just announced your planet joining the Federation. We are ashamed to admit we know little of your race other then your kind is the first to be discovered that can weird actual magic. Perhaps you could be kind enough to tell us a little and maybe include why some of of have accessories like horns and wings while others don't."
Twilight after finishing off her meal as the young man talked to her then gave him her full attention. "Not a problem I'll start be introducing my herd, firstly like you we are all first year students. At the end down there the one with the pink mane and wings is Fluttershy who is in medical school, next to her is Pinkie Pie engineering. The one with the rainbow colored mane is aptly names Rainbow Dash she is in command school to learn piloting. Next the orange mare with the blond mane is Applejack she is in security school. to my other side is rarity is is studying operation, and I am Twilight Sparkle I am a student of science."
Taking a pause to catch her breath. "Now as far as pony kind there are four sub races and all the races use magic differently. Applejack and Pinkie Pie are earth ponies, this group's magic makes them stronger and more durable it also allows them to grow food easier since through touch the subcousiously inject mana the energy that makes up magic into the plant. Rainbow and Fluttershy are pegasus, they manifest magic for flight and and can use it to manipulate the weather by pushing clouds around and stimulating them. Also recently we discovered they actually generate a personal atmosphere so they can survive with out protection in space, the amount of time demends on the mana levels they possess. Rarity is a unicorn their magic is more blatant as the horn allows them to focus magic in other forms though most can only use magic based on their special talents. Lastly myself I am an alicorn there are only three of us alive including myself. We have properties of all three sub races."
"Man, that must be helpful as heck to have at your disposal. So how strong can earth ponies get and how fast can a pegasus fly," he continued.
"Applejack thanks to certain events is probably the strongest earth pony on Equuis as for a idea on strength. Are any of you familiar with Commander Data on the Enterprise," she asked getting nods from the cadets as everyone in Starfleet has at least heard of the unique android. " She is as strong as him, we learned this when they had an arm wrestling match turning our trip here. She held out for about an hour only lost because he doesn't tire she does. As far as pegasus speed Rainbow is the fastest flier she has been clocked doing Mach 10," Twilight finished astounding the group.
"One last question before we all need to head off, what is with the patches on your uniforms," he asked pointing at the cutie mark patches on their left shoulders
"These are cutie mark patches. They are to show are cutie marks which appear in a very personal place and would be improper to show. But the marks are important to our society always have been, they are the first sign pf adulthood that shows up around the start of puberty and show that we have discovered what we are most talented in. We were given cultural rights to wear them on our uniforms. Well we have to all go we need to make it across campus to make our classes on time. If you like, you are more then welcome to join us for meals from now on we can learn more about each others cultures and even become friends. Those never hurt do they, " Twilight finished as she and the others gathered up their trays and set them on the counter to be taken. After they had cleaned up all 10 of the cadets set off in separate directions toward their assigned classes.