//------------------------------// // Chapter 74: The Test Results // Story: Quest For Equestria // by Skyguy626 //------------------------------// A sunny afternoon, at the local mall, groceries department. Flash was helping out, seeing as his dad is the manager of the entire mall. "Welcome, one and all!", Flash said with practice showmanship, "Choice salmon, two bucks a slice, just as advertised! And while you're at it, how about some cheese? Direct from Italy and just 13 bucks for today only...", he turned his head to the one who was helping him. "Restock this shelf, too!", he ordered, the young man raised to his feet, an irritated expression on his face. "Don't push your luck!", Skywalker said as he started to restock the shelf. "Okay, I'm sorry!", Flash said quickly with a sheepish smile. After their shift ended, the two decided went to the food court to grab some grub. As the two were eating, the two started to talk about work. "Phew, I'm dead tired...", Flash said as he stretched himself, "They decided on the sale at the last minute, and Dad was bugging me to find helpers. I told him I didn't have time for that, but he wasn't listening. But hey, I'm glad you were there! Thanks.", he said truly grateful to his friend. Skywalker waved it off as he took a sip from his soda, "No problem, just tell me next time.", Skywalker said with a faint chuckle. "Sorry about that. I thought if I told you, you wouldn't come... You really are a good guy.", he said with a sheepish smile while is scratching the back of his head. "Oh, Sentry.", a whiny voice said, gaining the attention of the two. "There goes the quite...", Flash muttered as two girls walked up to them and started to complain to Flash. "What's with the crowd today? It's way busy. If I'd known, I would a skipped out.". Flash had told Skywalker that since he was the son of the manager, the employers always came to him to complain. Annoying, but what can you do about it? After a few more complains the two girls stormed off, "What a pain...", Flash muttered annoyed, before looking back up at Skywalker, "Oh, uh, not you... I wonder what it is. I dunno...", he said rubbing the back of his head. "Say Flash, can I ask you something?", the black haired asked, gaining a smile from his friend, "How come such a nice guy like you ended up being the ex of someone like Shimmers?". Flash thought about it for a moment before slowly looking up, "I don't know... I was just the new kid at the time, and when the most popular girl ask you on a date... I don't know.", he muttered. Skywalker shook his head, "I understand. Shimmers isn't bad looking if you ask me.", he added with a smile. "Yeah, you two would make a great couple! A guy and a girl who hate each other!", Flash said with a laugh. Skywalker joined in himself, "Think about all the crazy sex Shimmers and me would have!". Skywalker woke up the next day, he decided to boot up the Lost Story: MMO, trying to see if Calista was online. His avatar arrived in Lazulis City, but unfortunately Calista was not signed on. Instead he got a PM from his gaming partner, "I'm running a little late! I'll be right there, k?" And indeed a few minutes later, Calista entered the area. Skywalker made his avatar stand up as Calista walked over to him, "I have been waiting for you. What happend?", Zael said as Calista dropped her head. "I had a talk with my older sister. Whenever we talk, its always the same... Ugh, its like all she cares about is marrying me to some dude.", Calista said slightly offended. The two avatars started to walk around Lazulis city, as Calista talked about her problems. "Well, to get married you need a boyfriend for that first.", he remarked but Calista started to angrily jump up and down. "I'm taking my time! There's no rush. Half the population is male, right? I'll be fine. I don't wanna get married, just yet. Eventually! Maybe! But not until I'm like 40. I mean, WTF! Everyone acts like a girl has to get married to be happy.". He nodded his head at what Calista had said, "It's sexist to think women can only be happy when they're tied down.". This made Calista jump again, but this time of joy. "I knew you would understand Zael!", she said, her avatar smiling. "But if your looking for mate, why don't we get married?", Skywalker said as a joke, making the Calista avatar laugh. "Even with out meeting me in rl? Take me, Zael! And don't worry... I still have some spunk left at my age.", her avatar was smiling, giving Skywalker a warm feeling. "The weathers nice today huh? Let's go outside!", Calista said as she started to make her way towards an Area Exit. "You want to go outside?", Skywalker asked, making her reply with a "In game, duh!". He quickly ran after her as he replied, "Oh yeah. That makes way more sense." The two found themselves in a area called the Mysterious Forest, the two soon engaged a horde of monsters, who they made quick work off by combining their efforts. "I'm so lazy in rl Zael...", Calista said as she struck down a monster with one of her abilities, "I haven't even gotten dressed or put on makeup.". Skywalker destroyed some demons with Heat Vision, an ability he picked up from he previous level up, before he could respond, Calista unleashed her Ult as she typed, "AAARGH!! I'm so pissed off right now! Mr. S is such a stupid eh so bee!!". Skywalker totally forgot what she had said previously, so he asked about Mr.S. "... Zael, you know too much.", Calista started as the two began to loot the corpses of their fallen enemies, "I shouldn't have mentioned his name, huh? Don't get me busted, k?", she asked, making him nod. "I won't. But don't you mean that this Mr. S is a S.O.B.?", he remarked, making her smile for another time. "See!? You understand! wooooo! Zael and Calista for the win! We must be soulmates! High five!", she said, making her put up her hand. Skywalker's avatar didn't respond, making this scene a little awkward, "...Which hotkey is that?", he asked as Calista quickly told him. The two give each other a high five, Calista is looking around, "You see, Mr. S is a teacher with seniority over me but... Oh no! You can't figure out what my job is can you?", she asked with a titled head. "Are you a teacher?", he remarked sarcastically, making her nod smiling, "Yeah, your smart. I knew you'd figure it out! You get an A+ for reading comprehension today!", she complimented in before realizing something, "Hey! I just figured something out! When I complain to you, I feel better afterwards! From now on we HAVE to group together promise!". Skywalker nodded, "I promise!", with that their game session ended. A few hours later, found Skywalker and Rainbow after their training standing in front of a food stand called Daigusto. "Have you had the steak skewer? The meat is tender and delicious, and they hardly cost anything!", she asked as the two looked over what they wanted to buy. "I think I went here once or twice before.", Skywalker admitted, Rainbow asked what he thought of the meat, "To be honest, it might not even be cow meat.", he replied dryly, making his friend look shocked. "Just kidding... Whoa, thinking about it, that's kinda gross.", he admitted as he noticed a police man. "The police are here...", Rainbow muttered, "Then is this place really serving fake meat!?". The police officer came over to them to asked them something, but before he could open his mouth, Rainbow shouted "We haven't eaten any of the meat today, I swear!". The police officer was quite for a moment before speaking up, "Lately, there's been several incidents with a group of teenagers bullying people around here.", he started, at the mentioning of bullying, Skywalker's eyes narrowed. "Extortion, if you will. Have you seen anyone suspicious?". Neither of them had seen anything, so the officer advised them to be careful before taking his leave. "I'm glad it wasn't the meat...", Rainbow said before turning her gaze towards Skywalker, who had baled his hand into a fist. "Bullying... Bullying!? What cowards, ganging up on the weak like that!", Skywalker suddenly shouted, his friend taken slightly aback by his sudden outburst, "It's stupid! And cruel! And stupid! But I already said that!". She couldn't help but agree as she looked him in the eye, "We'll grab 'em and make them apologize! Right, Skywalker?". He nodded, gaining a grin from her. "Mowing down villains and saving the weak, to protect the peace. That's why I have this power.", he thought to himself, "Alright then... But first, let's eat!", he said, his tone back to his usual calm tone. The next day on his way to school, Skywalker came across Flash Sentry who for a change was not rolling around in a trash can, the two walked towards the school together, discussing how they should receive test result today and how they post the results in the hall for everybody to see. "On a whole different subject... What do you think about Twilight?", he asked a slight blush on his face, gaining a questioning look from his friend, "I mean as girlfriend material?". Skywalker thought about said question for a few moments, "Alright, I guess. If your into girls who are smarter and prettier than you.", he answered as they entered the school. It wasn't until their lunch break that the test result were posted. "The moment of truth.", Griffifth said as the gang left the cafeteria and walked to the message board. Looking over the top of the list of Class 2-15 read as followed, Test Results of Class 2-15, #1 - Jason Skywalker/Twilight Sparkle #2 - Toshiyuki Sutakira/Pinkie Pie #3 - Fluttershy Flowers/David McGrath #4 - Sunset Shimmer/Macintosh Apple #5 - Rarity Shine/Kyle Phoenix #6 - Applejack Apple/Adam Griffifth And somewhere near the middle was Rainbow with Flash. Everybody looked at Skywalker in awe, nobody in the history of Canterlot High had ever tied with Twilight for the top spot. Their lunch break soon ended and Rainbow and Skywalker had gym class for the next hour. "...But still, you've got brains. I mean your results were really amazing.", she complimented him. "Oh? Is that not normal?", he asked in his usual calm tone, making it hard for her to figure out if he was serious or not. "Like it ever would be! So why bother to study? Hell, when did you study? Your always helping us or other people out and that one time we studied together, all you did was drawing pictures of Twilight.", she responded. He gave a smile raising his index finger as he winked at her, "Well, you see...", he started, gaining a hopeful look from her, "It's a secret!". The two arrived at gym class but before each went to a different locker room, she said "Figures. You really are horrible...". For some reason Skywalker broke down in laughter before making his way into the boys locker room. A few minutes later found the class running laps, Skywalker and Rainbow were leading the pack, neither having difficulty keeping up with the other, "Oh yeah, I think I've seen you laugh that way before.", she said, her condition good enough that they could have a casual conversation. "I wanna show that face of yours to everyone and be like 'His cover's blown! The cool city boy isn't who he says he is!'.", she added with a smirk. "You're going to tell them how I laugh all the time?", he said, making her shake her head. "Maybe not. It does sound a bit creepy.", she admitted. After gym class, Skywalker over heard some first years talk about how near the shopping district were a bunch of bullies stealing peoples money and that McGrath was one of them. Not willing to believe the rumors, he asked him to meet on the school roof. And so we found the two there, "Why did you drag me out here? Oh, you here to tell me off or something?", the brunette asked, as he leaned against a wall. "I'm just here to talk.", Skywalker said but McGrath eyed him suspiciously, "How come you are sounding like a cop?". Skywalker looked him in the eyes, "There have been a lot of bulling around here. And the rumor goes that your part of it.", McGrath looked shock at this, but in Skywalker's amber eyes there we nothing but sympathy, "I'm don't think you'll do it. That's why I asked you for the truth.". McGrath stood up straight, "Skywalker, I didn't do it. I mean... Maybe it isn't that easy to trust me. But you gotta believe me.". Skywalker couldn't hear his heartbeat rise and in his green eyes there was no lying in them. Skywalker nodded, indicating he believed him, the brunette let out a relieved sigh, "It's my own fault rumors like that go around, huh? At this rate, I'll be causing trouble for you guys.", he said turning his head towards the horizon. Skywalker told him to not worry about it, "Hey, Skywalker. When ever you got time. Could you maybe hear what I have to say? I feel all cramped inside... And I'm too dumb to know what it's about.". Skywalker nodded at this, this McGrath was not as closed off as his McGrath, probably because this one hadn't been through as much as his McGrath.