Pint and Bucky spent the days leading up to their school’s ‘Bring Your Sibling to School’ day preparing Fall for what to expect. The more they shared, the more interested she became. It also goes without saying that Pint got creative when it came to geting a ‘signed, permission slip’ by Fall’s family to allow her to participate in the event as Bucky’s younger cousin.
Bucky wasn’t too keen on getting up extra early to get Fall out of the orphanage so they could bring her to school. But it did make him feel a bit excited viewing her as his younger relative. Plus it was very hard to ignore Pint’s enthusiasm for what they were going to do on ‘Bring Your Sibling to School’ day.
Bucky yawned after leaping over the fence, acquiring Fall, and fluttering back over to join his Unicorn friend.
“It’s too early,” he pouted.
Fall smiled at Pint who was aglow with excitement.
“I got you something special,” said Pint as he lifted a pink saddlebag with a picture of the Backyard Brawler, Faerequine, on it and presented it to her.
“Is this…,” she said while reaching out for the bag. “For me?”
“Yep!” assured Bucky. “Pint and I went out over the weekend and he bought this for you.”
Fall slipped the saddlebag on her side. She seemed quite surprised at how comfortably it fit her.
“Thank you,” she said as she felt her little wings stick up in the air. Her eyes were wide and her smile was even wider.
“I remembered how much you liked Faerequine,” stated Pint. “So Bucky and I went school shopping for you and were very happy to have found something with her on it.”
“She does listen,” giggled Fall.
“Who?” asked Pint.
Fall gestured towards the sky and said, “Princess Luna. I asked her to make this day a special day and I can’t remember the last time I felt so… so… happy!”
Pint did a little jump for how overjoyed he was to hear Fall sounding so optimistic about the day ahead.
“And we got you some pencils, quills, ink, paints, and paper to use at school, too!” he announced.
“Yep,” added Bucky. “We wanted to make sure your first visit was the best it could be.”
“You, two…,” Fall said as she felt tears form in her eyes. “I’m so happy.”
Tears of joy were not often seen by Fall. This brought Bucky and Pint to give her a hug.
“Well,” said Bucky. “This is definitely not the day to be tardy.”
“You’re right,” agreed Pint as he walked alongside Fall. “Let’s go!”
***
The sound of the school bell greeted the trio as they entered into the schoolyard.
“Uh…,” Fall gasped nervously upon seeing all the fillies and colts in the yard playing.
“What’s wrong?” asked Pint.
Fall pointed towards the fenced in yard, large building, and random gathering of kids.”
“Oh…,” sighed Pint. “Trust me. It’s not what you think.”
“It’s… not?” Fall whimpered.
Bucky gently nudged Fall and said, “Wait here,” before dashing into the schoolyard.
“What’s he doing?” asked Fall as she reached for Pint’s hoof.
Pint smiled and said assuredly, “You’ll see.”
Bucky returned with a group of younger fillies and colts.
“Here she is!” he announced. “My little cousin, Fall!”
Fall closed her eyes, fell to the ground, and began to shake.
“It’s okay,” said a filly. “I was scared, too.”
“Yeah,” a colt added. “But school isn’t scary.”
“Nope, nope!” proclaimed a high-pitched filly. “Ms. Star is the best!”
Fall opened her eyes and took in all the young, smiling faces looking down at her.
“Do you need help?” asked a colt while reching his hoof out.
“I really like your pigtails!” announced a filly. “Did your mom do them?”
Fall was at a loss for words. These kids weren’t saying anything cruel or mean to her. Instead it seemed like they admired her and genuinely wanted her around.
“Wow!” awed a filly as she tapped at Fall’s headband. “That’s a beautiful headband! I wish I had one.”
“It’s…,” Fall said. “My mom’s.”
“My mom gave me this!” announced a filly as she turned to show a big, yellow ribbon on her blue tail that accented her white coat.
“And my dad gave me these!” proudly stated a colt as he raised his hooves to show a pair of red bands on his hooves along with a matching bandanna around his head. “My dad’s awesome!”
DING-A-LING-A-DING!
Every pony turned to face the school where Ms. Star’s Aid was now standing at the school’s front door.
“Okay, class!” she called. “It’s time for school!”
All the children began to quickly make their way into the school.
“Mind if I walk with you?” asked the filly who admired Fall’s pigtails and headband. “I think we’ll be great friends!”
“Friends?” asked Fall.
“You bet!” the filly assured with a squeak. “You’re pretty and I want to be pretty like you.”
“Like…,” Fall said. “Want tob be… like me?”
The filly laughed as she said, “Ms. Star will help you like she helped me with my words. I used to have a hard time talking, too.”
Fall checked to see that Bucky and Pint were with her.
Pint gestured for her to join the young filly.
“We’ll be right behind you,” he said softly.
Fall smiled and followed the fascinated filly into the schoolhouse with Pint and Bucky right behind her.