"This is so exciting!" Sapphire said, walking alongside Zoe through the crowded gymnasium of the newly built Thunder Head Memorial Consolidated Education Center.
The large school building was originally being built to replace the ageing Ponyville High School, but during a flood the year before, the Elementry school had to be demolished, so the new school was expanded to accommodate students from elementary to high-school, and not just those from Ponyville, but the surrounding towns and villages. When it was completed, the town unanimously decided to name it after Guard Captain Thunder Head, who had lost his life rescuing ponies during the same flood that destroyed the old schoolhouse.
All throughout the gym were stands in neat rows, each with representatives of the many clubs, all vying to get the attention of the first year students, Zoe and Sapphire among them.
"Which club are you going to join?" Zoe asked.
"I think I'll join the student council," Sapphire said without hesitation. When she didn't immediately get a sarcastic quip from her friend at her choice, she turned her head to look in her direction, who only smiled back. "What are you smiling about?"
"That's just, so... you," Zoe said, which got her a warm smile back.
"I'm also going to help out with the Peer Tutoring club as well."
"Egghead."
"Ignoramus."
The two young mares burst into laughter as they continued through the crowds.
"You haven't told me which one you're going to join." Sapphire pointed out.
"Well..." Zoe began, levitating a piece of paper from her bag, and showed it to her friend.
"J.R.G.C?"
"Junior Royal Guard Corps," Zoe explained.
"You want to be a Guard?" Sapphire asked, a little dumbfounded.
"I think so, but I don't know for sure," Zoe responded, sounding apprehensive. "If I do want to be a guard, joining the JRGC can help me be an officer if I wanted to, and you know me, I like a challenge, and that's just what this brochure says the programme provides."
"Yeah, I do know you, but this is a little out of pasture for you," Sapphire responded. "I would have expected you to go into the Telekinetics club, to be honest."
"They're my second choice."
"Thought so."
The two made their way to one of the largest stalls, staffed with an intimidating earth pony stallion and a pegasus mare wearing a smug smile, both seniors, donned in lighter versions, but no less imposing, of the current Royal Guard parade armour.
"Two prospective candidates?" The earth pony said, addressing Zoe and Sapphire both.
"Uh, no, my friend here is interested, though," Sapphire said before Zoe could respond.
"Yeah, I read your brochure, but it doesn't explain much." Zoe continued.
"First, we need to make it clear that the JRGC is not a recruitment tool for the Royal Guard," The stallion started.
"That being said, we don't discourage joining the guard," The pegasus quipped.
"The JRGC was formed to help instil in youth a sense of citizenship and patriotism," The stallion continued.
"You don't seem to be lacking that,"
"It'll help you with improving your written and verbal communication skills,"
"Your friend here might need help with that,"
"Self-reliance and responsiveness to authority are also key things taught in the programme, as well as physical fitness,"
"You could use some meat on your bones,"
"We'll also teach you team building skills and the basic skills needed to be a Guard,"
"You sure you're still interested?"
Through all that, Zoe shifted her attention between the two, cycling between hanging on to every word the stallion said and holding a tinge of annoyance at the pegasus.
"Yes, if signing up means I get to prove her wrong." Zoe told the stallion.
The earth pony went into a deep belly laugh while the pegasus just smirked. The next few minutes involved filling out a small stack of paperwork.
"That all but finishes it, there is one last thing," the stallion explained.
"What's that?" Zoe asked.
"Parental permission form." The pegasus responded.
"Yeah, thought that might be a thing," Zoe said, taking the form from the two ponies.
"You have until the end of the week to turn the form in, we start activities after school the following week."
"I'll have it back before then," Zoe said, turning to Sapphire and giving her a weak worried smile.
"You want to join what?" Fluttershy asked, exhibiting a rare show of anger. Zoe knew her mother wasn't really angry at her, nor was she against the idea of the Royal Guard, she knew that it had its place in society, protecting and serving the Princesses and their citizens. She just didn't like the idea of her daughter among them.
"The Junior Royal Guard Corps."
"I know what you said, I'm just confused as to why you want to join them." Zoe's mother responded.
"I don't know why" Zoe started to explain. "I mean... It just seems like the right thing for me. I got my cutie-mark protecting Sapph, maybe that's what I'm meant to do."
"Honey, I've read through the handouts she brought home," James stated. "Yeah, they're run like the Royal Guard, but the programme is geared towards youth. In fact, it sounds pretty much like Scouts my grandmothers put me in when I was a kid."
"Why is this bothering you?" Zoe said with an inquisitive gaze. "I've never met a bad Guard in my life, and I'm sure you haven't either."
"I know, I know," Fluttershy said. "It's just... you're my little girl, and here you are making a choice that might change the course of your life." She continued, a smile creeping onto her face. "Part of me, I guess, still sees you as the little filly who, only yesterday it seems, was only concerned with where her stuffed bear was before bed."
"I can't stay that little filly forever, Mom," Zoe stated. "And Brutus is next to my pillow."
That put a smile on Fluttershy's face, who then pulled Zoe into a tight hug.
"Alright, give me the pen..."
Standing the hallway, Zoe looked up at the wall in front of her and the poster on it.
Enchantment Under The Sea
|
Come Join Us at T.H. Memorial's
First Fall Formal Dance
|
18th Day of Fall - 7pm-1am
T.H. Memorial Gymnasium
Entry Fee 10 Bits
|
Themed Costumes Optional but Encouraged
Formal Attire a Must
"I did a good job, didn't I?" Sapphire said, startling Zoe for a brief moment.
"You made that?" Zoe asked.
"My idea too," She answered. "The dance I mean. Brought it up at the last student council meeting. Didn't think they would go for it, it is a pretty cliched theme..."
"Yeah, it is, but it sounds like fun." Zoe said, looking back at the poster. "You think anypony is going ask us out?" She said after a brief pause, turning to her friend.
"Uh..." Sapphire stammered for a moment, acutely aware of the new heat in her cheeks and glad that her blue coat is keeping it hidden. "I don't know. You, though, I'm sure some colt will try his luck and ask."
"Hey, don't sell yourself short," Zoe said almost immediately. "A few of the other Junior Guards asked me about you the other day." She continued with a wink. "Speaking of the Guards, I gotta get going. See ya at Sugarcube Corner later?"
"Yeah, sure." Sapphire answered, watching her friend turn and head down the hall then around a corner. At that exact moment, her heart felt heavy in her chest.
"Come on out, dear, and take a spin so we can get a look at you," Rarity said, adjusting her glasses.
Zoe stepped out from behind the changing room curtain and up onto the pedestal and took a slow turn. Wearing a simple yet elegant dark purple gown with pink accents that matched her mane's natural highlights, Zoe looked at Rarity and Sapphire for a response but didn't get one right away.
"So?" Zoe asked, grabbing their attention.
"Wow," Sapphire said, but otherwise remained silent.
"Well, I think we have it." Rarity said with a nod, which Sapphire mimicked
"You think so?" Zoe asked with a smile then turned look in the mirror and let out a squeal of glee.
"Sorry to interrupt," Sassy Saddles said, poking her head through the curtain divide separating the dressing room and the store front. "But there is a rather dashing young colt inquiring after you, Miss Zoe." She explained with an ear to ear smile.
"Who could it be?" Zoe asked, lifting up her gown slightly with her magic so she could step off the pedestal and headed out to the front of the store.
"Well, isn't that nice," Rarity said. "Oh, I almost forgot, I finished the alterations to the gown your mother picked out for you, I'll be right back and you can try it on!" Rarity explained as she walked into her back room workshop.
Alone in the dressing room, Sapphire pulled the curtain divider slightly so she could see who it was, and there talking with Zoe was Rocky Charge, the Junior Guard's top-ranked member and a senior at school.
Sapphire's heart sank in her chest as she let the curtain close and stared at the floor. Without noticing that she was crying, the appearance of a wet spot on the floor surprised her.
"Alright, let's get you in this dress," Rarity said walking into the room. "Sapphire, what's wrong?"
"Rarity," Sapphire said, her voice downtrodden while walking towards Rarity. "How do you tell someone you like them?" She asked, briefly casting a glance back towards the curtain leading to the front of the store.
Before Rarity could formulate a response, Zoe came bursting into the room with a gleeful smile on her face. At that same moment, the look of shock and discomfort on Sapphire's face was all it took for Rarity to put two and two together.
"He asked me out!" Zoe exclaimed. "Rocky asked me to the dance!"
"I need to use the washroom, excuse me," Sapphire said, and quickly left the room.
"What?" Zoe asked.
For the first time in a long time, Rarity didn't know how to answer.
The music was loud and incessant, and the cheesy mirror ball casting light everywhere was slightly nauseating. At least that's what it was like to Sapphire as she sat along the wall, watching the rest of the school dance the night away.
A few colts had asked her to dance, but she politely refused. She did not want to be here, but her mother had already paid the entry fee and for the alterations for her dress, that she picked out, Sapphire had no choice, the fact she had no date didn't even occur to her mother.
Zoe had come and spent some time with her between songs, but never for long, and all they talked about was how nice Rocky was being.
Every now and then she would hear word circulating about a party going on somewhere else. This piqued her interest the first time she heard it but thought better when she realised that her mother would kill her if she found out.
Getting up, Sapphire walked over to the punch table to refill her drink when she overheard something that she couldn't ignore.
"You going to that party?" One colt said.
"Nah, too much trouble for me. Just saw Rocky leaving with that Zoe girl, almost feel sorry for her. First years are so easy." His friend responded.
"Rocky's been pulling that stunt even at the old school, maybe he'll get caught this time."
"I doubt it, Dad's got too much money."
The world seemed to spin around Zoe ever so slightly. Even the crisp night-fall air wasn't enough to snap her out of it. Missing a step, she almost tumbled but Rocky extended a wing and steadied her.
"Wher're we goin' 'gain?" Zoe asked, her voice slightly slurred.
"The party, remember? We're going to have some fun." Rocky said with a smile.