Blaze…
I heard someone say something but I couldn’t make it out. I was enjoying the sweet bliss that was the plains. Sitting there on the grass as the wind blew gently around me. I was fully relaxed and at ease.
Blaze…
There it was again. I could’ve sworn someone was calling out for someone but I couldn’t place the name. I started looking around for the source. “Wait… how did I get here anyway…?”
“Blazing Light!”
I jumped out of my chair and landed on the floor. I looked around and found that the rest of the class was staring at me. My cheeks lit up with embarrassment. I was a blue coated Pegasus with black and white streaked hair and my eyes were a pale yellow. I wore a black t-shirt and dark jeans. I was about average height for a Pegasi and had a six-and-a-half foot wingspan. I looked up and saw what caused me to fall.
Mr. Swift Wind was standing above me with an exasperated look on his face. “Mr. Light, this is the third time you’ve zoned out in my class. You would take care to remember that this is a place of learning. Not daydreaming,” Swift Wind said as he walked back to the front of the room and continued his lecture on Mythology. Swift Wind was a tan coated Pegasus with blue hair and tail. Wearing his normal white shirt and purple pants, he was a bit odd. He was only a few years older than anypony else in the class, so he was a pretty cool teacher… most of the time.
“Dude, you need a hand?” I looked over at the stallion next to me holding his hand out. Moon Shadow was my best friend and was a total mythology nerd. He had a purple coat and short light purple hair with light blue tips. His purple tail was longer and a lot messier with blue stripes. His black shirt with an ‘AA’ logo on it went well with the black pants he had on. The horn on his head marked him as a Unicorn.
I grabbed his hand and got up and back into my seat. “Thanks, Moon. Guess I dozed off there for a minute.”
“A minute? Blaze, you were zoned out for a good half hour. You’re lucky it was in Swift’s class and not Mr. Blade’s. You would be in Tempest’s office before you had the chance to fall out of your seat.” He gave me a look that said ‘stop being a klutz’ and went back to paying attention to Swift.
I took that moment to look around the room. Moonlit Night was sitting just to the right of Moon and was writing down every word as fast as she could. I expected nothing less of ‘Miss Honor Student’. She was another Unicorn with a black coat and black hair and tail with white streaks. Her cutie mark of a full moon surrounded by stars was printed onto her bag and notebook. The dress she wore was a pale gray and really said ‘nerd’. Near the door was Dancing Embers; she was a beautiful orange coated Earth Pony with two tone reddish hair and a messy tail. Her red t-shirt embroidered with her cutie mark of an anvil and gem hugged her chest nicely and the yellow skirt was almost enough to give me a ‘cute attack’. Her face was usually lit up with a smile and was humming some tune to herself.
Wait… did I really call her beautiful? I mean, yeah, she’s not bad looking but I’ve never even called anypony cute let alone beautiful. Ember turned and saw me staring and lifted a hand to wave while her eyes closed and the cute smile on her face. I hurriedly turned away with a blush on my face. I looked to the other two in the room; Night Shadow and Glittering Rubi. Rubi was Moonlit’s cousin. She had a red coat, light purple hair like Moon’s with a blue highlight going through her tail. Her eyes were a jade green and a golden heart locket was around her neck. She always carried it with her, like a good luck charm or something. A white hoodie and red skinnies completed her look.
Night Shadow was a pretty cool guy. He had a light gray coat and blue hair with black streaks, amber eyes and wore dark clothes. He gave off that gothic vibe and I was sure he didn’t care. He caught my glance and nodded his head. I gave him a nod back and sat facing forward listening to the lecture…
“Gah!” I sighed as I exited the classroom, “I thought his spiel would never end.”
“You should really try to be more appreciative of his class,” Moon laughed. “It was really interesting learning about those that came before the Princesses.”
“Moon…” I said, looking at him as we walked across campus to the dorms. “You and Moonlit were the only two really paying attention to the lesson. I mean, come on, it was boring. So there were ancient Alicorns that ruled the wasteland that was Equestria before Discord came and drove them out. Big whoop.”
We continued arguing about the ‘merit’ of Mythology as we reached our room on the third floor of the dorm. I put my hand in my pocket as I started to search for my key, but soon panicked when I couldn’t find it. “Bro, where’s my key? Don’t tell me I left it in the room again?”
“Blaze…you’re hopeless. You remember I have a key, too, right?”
“……Oh yeah. My bad.”
Moon Shadow shook his head while digging his key out of his pocket and unlocking the door. As soon as the door opened, I rushed in and noticed my room key on the desk next to my laptop. “Hey, I did leave it in here.”
“You have got to be the most hopeless stallion at this University. How can you keep forgetting things? Last week it was your backpack with all your work in it. The week before that…”
“Whoa there Moon. I think I get what you’re saying. Let’s just not talk about that, alright?” I had a major blush on my face when he started to mention that unmentionable week. I won’t let that happen ever again.
Moon just sighed and looked at me. “What I’m saying is that you should pay attention more.” He walked over to his bed and lay down, pulling his laptop over to him and started to look at pictures around the web while listening to his music on his phone. I left him to his business and sat on my own bed.
‘Maybe I should start doing better. Maybe I could talk to Moonlit or Ember. Dancing Embers…’ I thought as I passed out.
Just another day at this boring school…
I woke up to Moon Shadow shaking my shoulder. “Ugh… 5 more minutes, mom.” Turning over and pulling the covers over my head, I started to go back to sleep only for somepony to roll me onto the floor.
“OW! Alright, I’m up! I’m up,” I said as I rubbed my sore flank. “Did you really have to throw me on the floor?”
“Yeah. You’re very stubborn, so I helped you wake up,” Moon said walking back to the table in the room. He picked up a newspaper and started reading as I got up and started getting ready for the day. “Did you know Ponyville got a castle?”
I almost fell on my face trying to get my pants on. “Wait… Ponyville? As in ‘started by apple farmers’ Ponyville?”
“Duh. Is there another one I don’t know about? Besides, the castle is for Princess Twilight and her friends,” Moon responded. “I guess she finally got one like the other princesses.”
I sat there stunned while I digested that. “Hey, don’t you have family in Ponyville?”
“Well, yeah. A cousin I was close to when I was younger. Why?”
“Dude, we should go there on our spring break. It’ll be fun. Maybe we could see the castle.”
“I knew that was the real reason you wanted to go. But, hay, why not? It’ll be fun to hang out with my cousin again. I wonder how she’s doing.”
While he was busy wondering what his cousin was getting on in life, I was busy getting ready for my only class today: Math… I don’t really mind math, but it gets seriously boring and I just can’t stand it. “Moon, I’m heading to class. Oh, before I forget, can you email Blue Jay for me? K, thanks.”
I left before he could reply and made it to the front of the dorms. As I walked towards the math wing of the school, I spotted Moonlit with Ember. So, I made my way over to them, seeing as they were also walking towards the math hall. “Hey, girls, wait up.”
They turned at my voice and slowed down. “Hey, Blaze. Did you sleep this time?” Moonlit smirked at me while Ember giggled. “Or were you planning on sleeping in class again?”
Ember broke down into full laughter as I replied. “Oh, har har, you’re a riot. Yes, I slept fine. Although, math is so boring that it might put me to sleep anyway.”
“Right… maybe you should concentrate rather than slack off.”
“I’ll ask Moon to help me in that department. So, Ember…”
“Yes?”
“I… uh…” I stammered, blushing.
“Hmm?”
“Blazing Light, are you ok?”
They both looked at me curiously. I was just stuttering my way through the conversation and I couldn’t figure out why I had such a hard time talking to her. Maybe I really did have a crush on her. We passed by a few more students as we made our way to class.
“Uhh… yeah. Never better. Oh look, we’re here. Let’s find a seat.” I sped up and took my usual spot at the back of the classroom. Ember and Moonlit looked at each other and took their own seats. Ember took a chair near mine as Moonlit sat in the front of the room.
“So, Blaze…” Ember started to say, until the math teacher walked in. Cloud Swirl looked around the room, before saying, “Alright, take your seats and books open.”
Ember looked forward so we wouldn’t get in trouble. I was actually feeling glad that the teacher walked in when she did, or it would’ve gotten awkward fast. I kept stealing glances at Ember throughout the class.
I looked up from the notes I was writing to stare at the board a bit more. ‘xy^2 -7=7x… Uhh is this even a possible equation?’ I wondered about the possibility of that statement, I glanced at Ember, then back to my own notebook.
Cloud swirl looked around the room as the class was copying down notes. She noticed me sitting at the back of the class looking out the window, doodling on my notebook. “Blazing Light.”
I snapped my eyes forward and looked at Ms. Swirl. “Uhh… yes?”
“Mr. Light, I’m sure you’d like to solve the problem on the board, since you’ve so obviously figured it out by now?”
“Uhh…” I looked at my notebook then to the board. I honestly had no clue as to what the teacher was even talking about, let alone the problem on the board. “I believe the answer is…. Uhh not solvable?”
Cloud Swirl’s eyebrows rose as she looked at me with surprise. “Actually, yes. You're correct. I’m glad to see that you’ve learned something in my class.”
I sat down with a sigh of relief as the bell signaled the end of the lesson. “Alright, now remember, the assignment on page 35 is due next week. Blazing Light, do stay a moment.”
As everypony left the classroom, Ember cast me a worried look. I saw this and said, “Hey, don’t worry. I’ll be out soon. How about you wait for me at the dorm?”
Ember nodded. “OK. But, you’re going to explain what had you embarrassed earlier.” Then, she left with Moonlit.
Sitting in an empty classroom, alone with a teacher was not where I wanted to be at the moment, but didn’t really have a choice in the matter. “So… what did you need, Ms. Swirl?”
Cloud Swirl looked at me with a bemused expression. “Blaze, why do you feel the need to slack off in every class? I’ve heard from Swift and Storm that you do the same in their classes as well. I just want to know why.”
“I’m sorry. But, I’m just not a very focused guy. I have a certain interest span, and not that much includes school.”
Swirl just sighed and replied with, “Is that really a reason? Why are you here at OCU when you obviously don’t want to be?”
I looked at her and deeply thought about my answer. “Actually… I want to be here, it’s just that nothing catches my attention. I’m a smart kid, but I don’t exactly like the work involved with taking courses.”
“Oh? Did you want to take online courses instead? I might be able to get you started on that.”
My jaw dropped as she suggested that. “Wha-? No… I don’t want online courses. I honestly like live teachers talking with their students through the lessons, even if I don’t pay attention to them.”
“Well that’s quite a contradiction, Blaze. But, I’ll honor your decision on one condition…”
“Uhh… yes?”
“Do try to put more effort into your studies and try not to guess at the answers. Your luck won’t last forever.”
I sighed. She was right after all and it was only a matter of time that my luck would fail. “Yes, Cloud Swirl, I’ll try my best.”
She looked visibly pleased with my response and said, “Good, now be on your way. I have a meeting to get to.”
Ember was waiting for me when I reached my room. She looked exuberant leaning against the wall staring at the clouds with a smile on her lips and her hands entwined behind her back. She was wearing a green shirt with her cutie mark on the bottom left and a pair of light blue fitting jeans. A couple baubles on her left wrist drew my attention as she never wore much jewelry. As I was walking towards her, she turned and noticed me. She waved and said, “Hiya, Blaze,” with that perfect smile of hers.
I responded by smiling back and saying, “Hey, Ember.” I reached my room and tried to go in, only to find the door locked. Luckily, I had my key this time or I would’ve been embarrassed. Unlocking the door, I opened it and allowed Ember to go in. “You know, Blaze. Your room is pretty neat.”
“Nah, most of it is Moon Shadow’s stuff. I barely had anything to even put in here, much less any money to buy any more. And Moon keeps it clean most of the time too.”
Ember giggled as something crossed her mind. “We have something in common. We both have a friend called ‘Moon’.”
I laughed as I realized she was right. I sat on my bed and offered her the chair to my desk to sit on. When she sat down she immediately said, “So, what were you going to say earlier?”
I was caught off guard at such a quick question and as I opened my mouth to answer, the door opened and Moon walked in. “Hey, Blaze, have you started packing for the trip, yet?”
He froze when he saw Ember and stared at me until I answered his silent question. “Oh, uhh… Moon, we have a guest. Haha…”
“Trip? You are going on a trip? Where to?”
I hopped up and rushed to Moon’s side. “Just excuse us for a second, Em.” To Moon Shadow I whispered, “Dude, what do we tell her?”
“Why are you asking me? This is your mess, my friend.” And with that he walked over to his bed and sat down facing Ember. “So, Ember, what brings you over to our dorm room?”
Ember looked suspiciously over at me before answering him. “Well, Blazing Light was going to tell me something that he couldn’t earlier.”
Moon looked over at me, too, and I started to shrink away from their combined gaze. “So, Blaze, what were you going to tell her? Were you going to invite her to join us on our trip to Ponyville?” He asked with a sly grin creeping onto his face.
My face immediately started to redden, but just as I was about to protest, there was a sudden voice behind me. “What? You were going to invite Ember and leave me out of it? Might as well make it a double date if anything.”
I jumped and spun around to find none other than Moonlit Night standing at the door with a broad smirk splitting her features. She wore a gray sweater vest with a black undershirt, accompanied by informal black pants. She was cute… in a nerdy way. “What are you doing here, Moonlit? And what do you mean ‘double date’?”
I looked around and saw that Ember was blushing and Moon had a thoughtful expression. I turned back to Moonlit as she answered, “Well, I’ll go with Moon and you get to go with Ember. Sound fair?”
“Yeah, I guess that… Hey! What? And who said we were going to invite you?”
“I think it’s a great idea. Something like this should be fun. Though, with so many people going, we won’t be able to stay with my cousin. Does anypony have a plan as to where we’re staying in Ponyville?”
Moonlit looked over my shoulder at Moon saying, “I have a place in Ponyville. It’s right outside the main market area. And it’s a great shopping spot.” Moonlit was grinning, thinking that there was no counting her out now… and she was right.
“That sounds perfect. I assume it’s big enough for us?”
“Of course. Ember can stay in my room, you can have the spare bedroom, and Blaze can have the couch,” Moonlit replied, laughing.
I wasn’t too happy with that arrangement. Spinning around to face her, I said, “Seriously? What’s your deal? Why do you pick on me so much, huh?”
Ember, Moon and Moonlit started to laugh at how I took the situation, only making me more frustrated. I sat down on my bed with a huff and turned away from them. After a good few minutes they calmed down.
“Alright, we have a place to stay. Now we need to come up with what we’re going to do while we’re there. Any ideas?” Moon asked the group.
“Well, since it’s by the market, we can easily get our shopping done. And I also know that during our spring break that there will be a festival going on. Maybe we could go to that,” Moonlit suggested, immediately thing about the kiosks she wanted to visit and the food she wanted to try.
“Oh, that sounds like a lot of fun. We should definitely go. Right, Blaze?” Ember said, excitedly.
I turned around and saw that she was looking at me expectantly, with sparkles in her eyes. I knew I couldn’t say no to that, so all I ended up saying was, “Sure. That sounds great.”
“Whoa, easy on the sarcasm there. You’re going to smother us in here,” Moon laughed.
“Oh quiet, Moon. What else are we doing in Ponyville anyway? I really want to see Princess Twilight’s new castle.” I sat there imagining what it would be like walking into Twilight’s castle and exploring the many rooms it has.
“I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is no; you cannot just randomly explore a Princess’s castle. What is the matter with you?”
I glared at him and answered with, “So what? I don’t think she’d mind. There happens to be nothing wrong with me anyway.”
“Alright colts, no need to get into a lover’s quarrel right now. Wait until we get to my place,” Moonlit said, standing between us.
“What do you mean ‘lover’s quarrel'?!”
“What do you mean ‘lover’s quarrel'?!”
Moonlit laughed at our flustered answer and turned to Ember. “So, shall we continue with the planning? Or are we going to be spontaneous while we’re in Ponyville?”
Ember placed a hooked finger to her chin as she hummed. “We could do both. Like the plan for the festival, ooo and the shopping. And I kinda want to see the castle as well… I mean, they say it’s made of crystal.”
I turned to look at her as she said that, exclaiming, “No way! Are you serious? We totally have to go see it now. Moon, come on… it’s made of crystals.”
“If you don’t cause any trouble, I don’t see why we couldn’t take a peek inside.”
“Sweet!” I shouted to the room, too excited to care about the noise.
Moon calmly looked at Moonlit and said, “Well, I guess that’s settled. We should probably pack now before we forget.”
Moonlit nodded and headed for the door. “That’s right. Spring Break is in a few days though. The only one who needs to pack before he forgets is Blazing Light.”
Everypony in the room started to laugh and I just looked at them with a sour look on my face. “Yeah yeah. You guys are hilarious. I won’t forget, since I've got Moon here to remind me.”
With that, Moonlit and Ember left the dorm room. I sat on my bed pondering about the trip when Moon leaned over and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Blaze, this will be a trip to remember.”
I laughed as I responded to that. “Yeah, it sure is. Anyway, I’ll start packing.”