//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 - Back To School // Story: 10 Days, 3 Adventures - Part 3 - "Cloudsdale Reunion" // by TP Night //------------------------------// The next day, Rainbow Dash awoke to the aroma of new-brewed coffee and the soft Humming of Fluttershy and her mother. She slowly arose from the guest-bed, Got her slippers and robe on, and made her way out to the kitchen, where all the Others already waited. Fluttershy was making oatmeal, her mother poured coffee into a few large cups, and Mr. Shy was reading the ‘Cloudsdale Tribute’, the local paper. “Good morning, Rainbow.” Fluttershy smiled. “Would you like some oatmeal? It’s almost done.” “Mornin’... and yeah, sounds good. Oh, and that coffee.. it smells delicious...” “Oh, this? It’s a dark African roast I bought at the market, I figured we could all use some good stuff in the mornings this week. You two have all the reunion stuff, I have my job...” Mrs. Shy said, and Mr. Shy added, “...and I have my cloud collection, and I’m also helping an old friend remodel his entire house. It’s going to take us at least a week, maybe more, starting today. Complete re-construction. New walls, new roof, new floor, new floor-plan all over. We’re basically building a whole new house.” “Sounds like a lot of work. Can’t he just get actual construction crews to do it, or buy a already-made house somewhere?” Rainbow asked. “Well, he could, but... He used to be a construction worker as a profession, and an architect as a hobby on the side, and one of his lifelong dreams has been To build his own place, from scratch, with his friends instead of a hired team. Which among others include me.” “Oh, okay. That makes sense, I guess.” Rainbow yawned. “Did you sleep well?” Mrs. Shy asked as she hoofed over a cup of the coffee to Rainbow, who took it and smiled as she sipped it. “Kinda, but I had a weird dream. Flutters, you know, same as last night. The one I told you about. Exactly the same one again.” They all looked at Rainbow. Fluttershy with an expression that seemed to say ‘I remember’, and here parents with curious looks that seemed to say ‘tell us’. So, Rainbow proceeded to tell them the dream, after which Fluttershy told them about hers too, and also added, “...And this night, I too had my dream again, just like Rainbow did.” Both parents looked curious, if somewhat confused. Mr. Shy spoke first. “So you say you both had the dreams two nights in a row, the exact same ones, and in both your dreams you heard foreign words. Strange indeed.” He turned to his wife. “Honey, is there anypony here in Cloudsdale who knows about such stuff? A Psychologist or fortune teller or something?” Mrs. Shy smiled. “Oh, I don’t think we need to go that far. It’s just a recurring dream, and those foreign words they probably heard somewhere, and just include in the dream for some reason. It’s probably just something from a movie or radio show.” “Maybe, but it still feels weird. So as soon as we get home to Ponyville, we’re gonna ask Twilight about it, and maybe even Princess Luna if we need to.” Rainbow said as she finished her coffee. “...and can I have some more of this?” She added, nodding to Mrs, Dash and pointing at the now empty cup. “Of course, dear.” Mrs. Shy smiled and poured some more into Rainbows cup. “Would you like some cream or sugar this time? It was rather bitter...” “No thanks, I like my coffee dark and bitter, so this is perfect.” Rainbow smiled and started sipping again. * * * A couple of hours later, Rainbow and Fluttershy packed a few necessities in a small one-sided saddlebag, which Rainbow then strapped unto herself. Their wallets, a pair of small umbrellas due to a scheduled rain later, keys to the house, the stuff one usually takes when going out. “So, where to first?” Rainbow asked. “Do we go directly to the school now, or is there anywhere else we should go first?” “Oh, we don’t have time for any detours. We’re almost late as it is.” Fluttershy replied, checking the time. “If we walk at a decent pace, we’ll get there just in time.” “Very well then, School first, sight-seeing later.” Rainbow said in a half-serious, half-joking tone. “Yes, that was my plan.” Fluttershy said with a smile. “Oh, but... I’m nervous. I mean, we haven’t met most of our old classmates and teachers for several years, even when we’ve visited here... It feels a bit weird...” she added with a nervous smile. “Relax, Flutter. We’ll be okay. I’m sure everypony’s gonna be nice and friendly. And if anypony is not, just remember, you’re not alone here. You’ve got me.” Rainbow smiled confidently. “True... The ones who used to tease me have probably grown up and matured by now, just like we’ve changed too. Everypony does with enough time, and it has been a few years after all...” Fluttershy said, her nervous smile slowly changing into a slightly more confident one. She added, “Thanks. I feel better already.” “Yeah, but.. keep in mind, somepony might still be stuck in their old ways. I mean, most of them must’ve matured by now, but considering the sheer number of complete flank-holes we had in our school, I doubt all of them are nice guys now, so don’t drop your guard completely, okay?” Rainbow said in a thoughtful tone. “I.. guess you’re right, We did have a lot of bad ponies in our class. Oh, and not just our class, the whole school was full of them. Then again, the few ponies who were nice were really nice, so I’m looking forward to seeing some of them again, and.. I also really liked most of the teachers, and Principle Aurora.” Fluttershy said, trying to keep her confident smile. “Oh yeah, I remember Aurora. Is she still alive though? I mean, she was at least 60 already when we had her, so she’s gotta be like, 70 or 80 now.” “Oh, she’s alive. I read in the information papers that she’ll make an appearance at the reunion. She’s retired now, and her daughter took over her job as principal a few years ago. So we’ll get to meet her again. And most of our teachers will be here too. I’m really curious to see if they all look the same, or if anypony has changed.” “Hmm.. I’m guessing a few are the same, and a few have changed.” Rainbow said. Fluttershy just nodded in agreement as they kept walking. After a while, they arrived at the old school house, a massive complex of buildings, and a large open yard in between, like a campus ground. One of the buildings was a student dormitory, one was a dining hall and kitchen, there was a library, a building for all the classrooms, and a main office where the principals office and teacher offices were located. Above the school was also a sports arena, designed like a coliseum, where the sports teams had their training and matches, and where most regular P.E. classes were held. As they walked through the old gates and into the yard, they looked around. Memories washed over them, both good and bad, of their countless hours spent in the buildings and the yard, and the coliseum above their heads. For a few moments, they both stood speechless, just looking around and remembering. Soon, they were called upon by a voice from the office building. “You two. You’re here for the reunion, right? Come on, it’s over in the Lecture Hall behind the offices.” “Lecture Hall?” Fluttershy asked. “Must’ve been added after our time. I do recall rumors of new buildings during the last year here before we took the exam... Guess they were true.” Rainbow replied. “Guess so.” Fluttershy smiled. They walked up to the office building and stepped inside, and was met by a janitor, a late-teen-looking stallion. “Welcome. Name’s Sweep Brush. Soon-to-graduate student, and part-time janitor. And today, I’m also making sure you reunion visitors find your way to the new Lecture Hall, since it wasn’t here when you guys graduated years ago. It was actually finished just last year. Basically just a large hall with seats and a small stage up-front. The Principal will hold a speech there soon, so you guys better get there. It’s gonna include stuff like the schedule for the reunion, and such. Y’know, all that important stuff. “Thanks for the help, Mr. Brush.” Fluttershy smiled. “I’m no ‘Mr.’, just call me Sweep, Ladies. Now, the lecture hall is that way, just go through the new big red door down this hall. Can’t miss it. “Well, thanks again. Oh, and I’m Rainbow Dash. This is Fluttershy. Nice to meet you, Sweep.” “Likewise. If you need any more help remembering where stuff is, just ask. I know this place like the back of my wing.” “We will. But we gotta get going.” Rainbow said, and turned toward the hall, and started walking. Fluttershy waved goodbye to Sweep, and followed her. They reached the large red doors, and entered into a hall, filled with ponies and griffins, looking at the stage, waiting for somepony to walk up and start talking. Rainbow and Fluttershy sat down in a couple of empty seats, and joined the waiting. After a few minutes, the lights in the room dimmed slightly, and a spotlight lit up the stage, where an old mare walked up to the small podium and adjusted the microphone, and then started talking. She was dark blue, almost the same shade as Princess Luna, and with a pale multicolored shimmering mane, with a few strands of silver mixed in with the colors. The mane was tied up in a tight knot, while the tail was let loose, long and wavy. She wore a pair of thin-framed gold glasses and a white pearl necklace. She smiled as she looked out across the room. “Welcome back to school, Everypony - and every griffin. I’m sure most of you remember me... My name is Aurora Borealis, and I was your Principal.”