Fall Semester

by Yosh-E-O

Chapter 7 - The Difference a Day Makes

Everything seemed to good to be true as Fall enjoyed her first day in the schoolhouse. She and Candy Cloud found out they had lots of things about each other that kept the two talking and having a good time as they worked together on assignments. Ms. Dovetail even came by and gave both Fall and Candy Cloud a special ‘Teamwork’ sticker for their sticker accomplishment sheet within their folders. And, although Fall didn’t have a behavior pin, she was told she’d have most definitely would’ve moved her’s up twice for how well behaved and helpful she was.

Before school let out for the day, the students were asked to volunteer to help get the room ready for the next day at school. Fall dreaded this as, for her, volunteer often meant that she was going to do the chore. But she was pleasantly surprised to see Candy Cloud raise her hoof to volunteer for Purple Class folder collection.

“Would you like to help me, Fall?” she asked.

Fall looked at her folder and sighed.

“Sure…,” she said while looking at her folder that was now filled with pages of words and numbers she wrote a whole lot better than ever before thanks to Candy Cloud and Ms. Dovetail helping her with her penmanship.

“Thanks for volunteering,” stated Ms. Star as she walked by Fall’s table. “And, Fall. You get to keep your folder.”

“I…, do?” she asked.

“Why, yes!” Ms. Star announced proudly. “We want all our future friends to remember all the fun they had here with us at school.”

Fall squeaked as she held the purple-tinted folder against her chest.

“Thank you!” she exclaimed.

“You’re most welcome,” Ms. Star said with a bright smile. “We hope you will be able to attend our spring ‘Bring Your Sibling to School Day’.”

“I’ll have to ask Ms…,” Fall started to say as she, for the briefest time, forgot about what she was really heading back to. “….Bucky.”

“Oh!” squealed Candy Cloud. “I really hope you come back! I feel we are going to be besties!”

“See,” giggled Ms. Star. “Now you have to come back.”

Fall put her folder into her Faerequine saddlebag. She then joined Candy Cloud in collecting the other Purple Class folders from the students, brought them to a purple basket, and placed them inside for Ms. Star and Ms. Dovetail to review and grade.

Candy Cloud slipped on her saddlebag after finishing her volunteer work and smiled.

“Can I give you something?” she asked.

Fall didn’t know what to say.

“Here,” Candy Cloud said giddily while sifting through her saddlebag and pulling out a small, colored ball. “This is for you.”

Fall held out her hoof and held the tiny ball. It looked a lot like one of the Backyard Brawlers that Bucky and Pint had showed her during their visits to the orphanage.

“Push the button on the top,” encouraged the pink Pegasus.

Fall lifted her other, front hoof and pushed the button.

POP!

The ball opened to reveal a figurine of what looked like an orange bird.

“What is it?” Fall asked.

“It’s Phoenihatch,” stated Candy Cloud. “It was one of my first Backyard Brawler toys and I want you to have it to remember me by.”

River Runner was observing the generosity going on between Fall and Candy Cloud.

“Hey!” he called as he stumbled forward while reaching into his saddlebag. “I want to give you something, too!”

Fall was once again speechless as River Runner handed her a bunch of very worn cards.

“These are the cards with all the words that power up your Backyard Brawler,” he said. “You seem super smart! So, maybe, when you come back you can tell me what they do?”

Fall looked at the worn cards, the images on them, and printed text she, for the most part, could read perfectly.

“I’ll see what I can do,” she said.

“Woo-hoo!” cheered River Runner. He then looked towards the purple Unicorn who had teased him earlier and said, “I’m friends with a smarty who’s going to make me the best Backyard Brawler ever!”

The Unicorn pointed his front hoof down, made a face, and finished packing his saddlebag.

“Okay,” said Pint as he walked alongside Fall. “It’s time to head out.”

Fall sighed.

“Do I have to?” she asked.

Pint felt his heart sink.

“Yeah…,” he pouted.

“Hey, Fall!” exclaimed Candy Cloud. “If I had Bucky help me out, would you mind if we became pen pals until you come back?”

“Pen pals?” asked Fall.

“Yeah,” said the pink Pegasus. “Bucky told us all how you lived outside of town, but were moving here next summer and, since you’re his cousin, I thought he could deliver letters to you from me and he could help you write letters back to me.”

Pint looked to Bucky.

“I’d be happy to, Candy Cloud,” the yellow Pegasus with the amber mane replied.

“Well,” said Candy Cloud as she noticed her parents waiting outside. “I’ve got to go! See you soon, Fall!”

Fall smiled and waved as the pink Pegasus galloped out the door.

“Don’t forget to figure out those cards for me!” shouted River Runner as he dashed outside to meet up with his mom.

Fall giggled and waved.

“You bet,” she said softly.

“Well,” said Bucky with a deep sigh. “We got to get going.”

“I know,” moped Fall. “But I don’t want to go.”

“Don’t worry,” said Pint as he took hold of the little, brown Pegasus’ hoof. “Bucky and I are going to make sure you have more days like this everyday.”

“Thank you,” said Fall as she gave Pint a little kiss on the cheek. “Thank you so much.”

“What about me?” asked Bucky. “Don’t I get a kiss, too?”

Fall laughed as she kissed Bucky’s front upper-leg.

Pint chuckled as Bucky realized that Fall was closer to Pint’s size than his.

“Okay,” Bucky said. “Let’s get you back before we all get in trouble.”

“And,” added Pint. “Know that Bucky and I are going to do everything we can to get you out of that place for good.”

Author's Note:

This is the 5th story in the "Fallen Angel" series. Some details have changed since the inception of the story so please don't mind any slight variances between what the characters know and don't know. Particularly on Pint's part.

The characters are continually getting updates to improve upon the telling of their story. Though these are minor changes in which do not impact the story's whole. We hope you enjoy it.

Comments

[Yosh-E-O]

6134672
It'd make me very happy if more people read and commented on these stories. Not so much for me, but for Ari who has invested a lot of effort into developing them and the overall tale.

I enjoy helping Ari flush out her series and characters. Seeing Fall discover how life is better beyond the mismanaged orphanage is rather heartwarming. Taking a character who once felt totally helpless and hopeless to where she knows there's a happier world out there is a very rewarding experience for me as an author.

The next story, "Pint's Birthday Party" is HUGE when it comes to character and world development. Lots of delightful "Firsts" for Fall that will fuel her self-determination to not allow the orphanage to beat her down. The story after that, "Fall's Hearth's Warming" is one that, I hope, shows how much her attitude towards life has changed despite the negative environment she must live within.

Thanks for reading and thank you even more for allowing me to share with Ari that someone truly enjoys the OCs and world she has developed through our collaboration.