Trust Me, I'm An Expert

By 8:15, all of the new and future students were arriving at Marefield. Many colts and fillies, along with their families, were gathering around each other making small talk. Others, however, especially ones without families present, were just mostly intent on figuring out academic planning and registration. It was of course a weekend to have fun, but there was still plenty of business to be taken care of.

This didn't concern Lassi, however, as he arrived to the school wearing his apathy more visibly than his backpack. Sighing deeply through the strap in his mouth, Lassi decided to get this over with and walked down the sidewalk towards the welcoming center.

The loud speaker began to turn on as Cheerilee's voice spoke through:

Good morning, everypony! The staff and faculty welcome all students and parents to Marefield University. Just a reminder to drop off all belongings in your assigned rooms and pick up your first year experience cars in the welcome center. Be sure to report outside of the Elm Room for our special welcome presentation. Further instructions will be provided by your NSL's. We hope you enjoy orientation!

"Ugh, loud speakers? What is this? Buckin' high school?" griped Lassi who especially felt irritated by the loudness of the speakers.

Right behind him flew in Deb's carriage as it landed lightly on the ground. Hopping out of the golden vehicle, she looked left and right, feeling pretty embarrassed to be the only pony to show up via horse carriage. Keeping her composure, however, Deb used her magic to lift out the luggages, thanks the guards for the ride, and trots down the sidewalk towards the residence halls.

Deb had always done her best to look posh and presentable out in public, but today it was especially crucial that she caught the attention, and approval, of her surroundings. She wanted to capture the acclaim of her fellow future colleagues. She needed to. Just like her mother always said. Good impressions are always vital. No other way.

Feeling a tad drab, she put down her bags to pull out a powder mirror and puff to do up her face. Can never be too sure of staying beautiful, now can you, Deb thought as she applied the powder to herself.

Just right behind the mare approached a unicorn displaying a more honest sense of vanity. Her coat azure, eyes purple, and mane in stripes of cerulean, amber, and cornflower blue, the mare, who wore a black silk blazer jacket and a key pad for her cutie mark, walked along two other ponies on either side of her, whom she gave very distinct directions to as they walked along the sidewalk.

"I mean seriously, Milly. What are we gonna do? With Fetched Gretch going to another school, that leaves only three of us in the group", stressed her friend, Hales.

"Now now, girls. Let's not fuss", Milly recommended. "We're entering college now. It's a new dawn, a new day, which means plenty of fish in the sea. Once four years wrap up, we'll have acquainted enough ponies to start a sizable business. If we can get our hooves on one lucky pony, then just imagine how many we can get just by the end of freshman year." While speaking, Milly was rubbing her hooves together with a sly grin.

"But Milly, didn't your mom warn you about letting too much power go to your head?" Gravy Train asked.

"Oh yeah, like what? The eightieth time?" Hales joked with Gravy Train as Milly grunted.

"Well what does she know? Should I really be taking advice from a magician," Milly snarled, leaving Hales and Gravy Train speechless. "Let's just look around and see what we can find."

Milly's eyes began darting around to find ponies until she spotted Deb applying make-up in front of her. Examining her glamorous style, trimmed dress, and haughty attitude, Milly figured she had found her perfect fit.

"Are you checking her out?" asked Gravy Train.

"Yeah", Milly answered, staying focused.

"As in checking her out?"

"What? NO! I'm inspecting our new candidate." Milly began to walk over to Deb.

"Ugh! Yeah, Grave! Why don't you get your head out of the gutter for once?" Hales emphasized with unconvincing disdain.

Deb finished covering her face and put away her kit as Milly came up to her.

"Um, excuse me, but I couldn't help but notice that beautiful dress you were wearing", Milly said fictitiously. Deb was instantly delighted by the compliment.

"Uh, well thank you! I and my mother design it for me," Deb responded as Hales and Gravy Train came up beside Milly.

"You're mother's a fashion designer?"

"Why yes she is."

Suddenly, Deb saw one of the carriage horsemen rush towards her from behind Milly. He excused himself past the mares to get to Deb.

"Hey, uh, Deb, what time should the carriage come tomorrow?" asked the horseman.

"Oh yes! Uh, by three," Deb answered.

"Three, got it. We'll see you tomorrow," said the horseman before he galloped back to the carriage. Impressed, Milly turned her head away from the horseman and back to Deb.

"You had a carriage come drop you off?" asked Milly.

"Uh, yes. I did," Deb answered, feeling confident about this new acquaintance that she just made. After noticing the dress and the carriage horsemen, Milly thought what kind of family this mare would be a part of to have such elegant tastes. After pondering for a brief moment, she came to a fascinating realization.

"Wait. Let me guess…are your parents Fancy Pants and Rarity?" asked the excited mare.

"Why yes! Yes they are!" exclaimed Deb. She was reluctant to share this information with other students, not wanting to attract too much attention. However, after making a new friend so fast, Deb was now more than willing to boast about such a high privilege. And indeed it payed off at this very moment.

"Oh. My. Celestia! That's amazing! I'm with Fancy's daughter! I can't believe this!" Milly squealed as she jumped up and down. However, her jubilation quickly died down as she looked past Deb to find Lassi, who was looking through his bag.

"What is it?" Deb asked as she turned around to find what Milly was eye-balling.

"Oh nothing. It's just…that Lassi pony", Milly watched Lassi retrieve his sunglasses and continue to walk towards the center. "Nothing more than your typical southern earth pony." She leaned in close to Deb. "I heard that his parents are cousins." Deb eyes widened with shock as she watched Lassi walk into the distance.

"Eeewww!" exclaimed Hales in an exaggerated manner.

"Well I better get these to my dorm before the Elm Room presentation", Deb lifted her bags with her magic once more. "I'm glad that we could meet each other."

"Oh I'm more than glad to have met you," Milly assured Deb. "We should definitely meet up sometime later on. There's so much about each other we should get to know." Deb nearly felt a twinkle in her eye after hearing Milly say that. Yet, as Milly turned to Hales and Gravy Train once more, Deb maintained her composure and turned around, immediately slamming face first into Pin Drop.

Both ponies fell flank first onto the ground with their stuff flying everywhere. Pin Drop was quick to collect his belongings as he looked up at the unicorn he bumped into.

"I-I'm sorry about that. I-I should've been more careful where I was going," Pin Drop said, taking note of how much attention he paid to the map that fell onto his torso.

"No. It's fine. Really. It happens," Deb promised while reclaiming her possessions.

As Pin Drop was storing his beloved map into his shirt pocket to avoid future incidents, he noticed the cutie mark on the grey pony's flank: four black footprints.

"So do you tap-dance?" asked Pin Drop, somewhat curious about the pony's special talent.

"Uh, ballroom, actually," said Deb, now standing up.

"Sweet. I always wondered what it would be like to accomplish something like that."

"Oh it takes hard work, but it's absolutely worth it once you've got all the steps down."

"I see." Wanting to remain polite, Deb tried to show interest in the yellow pegasus as well.

"And I think I can take from your big map that you're some kind of geography pony."

"I'm actually into exploring."

"Oh wow!"

"Yeah. I plan on exploring all of Equestria someday. The Everfree Forest, the Flame Geyser Swamp, Froggy Bottom Bogg, you name it. In fact, looky here." Pin Drop showed his flank to Deb, revealing his cutie mark to be a pair of binoculars.

"Wow, neat", Deb said, showing interest.

"Thanks", Pin Drop said, before holding a out his hoof to Deb. "I'm Pin Drop, by the way."

"I'm Deb," said Deb shaking hooves with the newly acquainted pegasus. Deb suddenly remembered Milly and looked behind herself to see if she was still there. Surely enough, she was, and was now looking towards Deb, noticing her interacting with Pin Drop and raising an eyebrow. Deb had to quickly save herself from embarrassment. She abruptly let go of Pin Drop's hoof.

"And you should especially know how high my standards are, especially towards ponies with such clumsy coordination. Has it ever occurred to you that you big map doesn't pin point where other people are walking? I suggest that you watch your step better next time."

Deb took a quick glance back at Milly, who watching with a smile. Feeling a sense of relief, she lifted her bags and proceeded to head to her dorm, leaving behind Pin Drop, who still looked surprised by this snooty attitude Deb just displayed out of no where.

Pin Drop turned his head over to Milly, who was now walking away with Hales and Gravy Train. Now with all of his stuff packed away, Pin Drop had his head tilted in shame. It's episodes like Deb's that explains why it's better for him to just stay away from other ponies. Then again, as he put his backpack on again, he looked around at all the mares and stallions interacting with each other. Every pegasus giving each other brohooves. Every earth pony exchanging hugs. Every unicorn lending a hoof to those dropping their bags. Every parent of every student making small talk; big talk; any kind of talk at all. It was all around him. Pin Drop felt envious of anypony that could even start a conversation. How could they make it look so easy? What was so wrong with him? Was it his shyness? Why did he have to be so shy? All these questions raced through Pin Drop's mind as he slowly resumed walking to his dorm.

Inside the lounge of the campus center, Quill Pusher and Crystal Clear were sitting on sofas having small chit-chat as Top Marks was having a quick discussion with a unicorn by the stairs. Wearing glasses, he had a magenta coat, dark brown curly mane and tail, and a straw of hay for a cutie mark. Quill Pusher looked over to the two stallions, noticing on the look of their faces that there was probably a slight mishap going on. Finishing up the conversation, the magenta pony quickly exited the lounge, leaving Top Marks, from Quill Pusher's point of view, looking frustrated.

"Is there a problem?" asked Quill Pusher.

"Yeah. Barley just told me that he's having trouble figuring out where his FYE group is gonna be meeting up," answered Top Marks.

"What's FYE again?" asked Crystal Clear.

"First Year Experience," answered Quill Pusher, allowing Crystal Clear to nod as a sign of acknowledgement.

"I should try to get that taken care of before the assembly starts," Top Marks walked from the top of the stairs to the middle of the lounge, wondering how to organize the groups. "I just hope I can fix things up before Cheerliee finds out…"

"Yes?" Cheerilee instantly appears right in front of Top Marks, causing the light blue unicorn to jump back with great surprise. His eyes widened, Top Marks began to hyperventilate as he noticed Cheerilee still giving that same overblown smile from earlier.

"Cheerilee…what…did you…how?" The professor honestly needed a moment to catch his breath.

"You ask for me, dear?" Cheerilee questioned in her most chipper tone. Top Marks resented the way she called him "dear."

"I was just talking with Barley about how needs to know where group SSTT is gonna be meeting up," Top Marks informed Cheerilee, finally catching his breath.

"Oh really?" asked Cheerilee, beginning to pace around the room with Top Marks following.

"Yes, and I figured that it's best to get that straightened out before the assembly in the elm room starts."

"Okay, well let's see. There's fifty groups. Three of them are already around Banisius Hall, four are gonna be placed by Nolan, five behind Northwell…" Cheerilee proceeded to mull over the set up for the groups and what locations they'll be heading to. Suddenly, Top Marks came up with an idea.

"Wait how about the Ponna--" Top Marks began before Cheerilee cut him off.

"THE GYM!" Cheerilee blurted out.

"Well, I was thinking maybe we place them in front of Ponnaruma since there's plenty of--"

"Top Marks, I'm the president here. I make the rules. You be the mule." Top Marks gave the president an awkward expression in response to that remark.

"That's…actually kind of insensitive."

"Here, I'll even go ask Ace right now to see if they can borrow the gym."

"Uh, I'm don't think it wo--"

"Hesaiditsfine." Top Marks once again jumped backwards, this time surprised by the two weird marks instantaneously appearing on her face, almost as if somepony took a large paintbrush and drew two yellow-orangish strokes from both corners of her mouth. He once again struggled to regain composure.

"Cheeril…please…stop scaring me like that," the blue pony begged as he caught his breath once more.

"I talked to Ace and he said it was okay for SSTT to use the gym," Cheerilee informed Top Marks, who yet again reached equilibrium.

"Okay," Top Marks said, still confused. "What are those, uh…" Cheerilee took notice of the chunky substance on her face.

"Oh this? Oh it's nothing," Cheerilee promised before letting out a small burp, causing Top Marks to be particularly disgusted. "Well go! Tell the group leader the great news!" Following orders, Top Marks dashed out of the lounge to find Barley.

Just as Cheerilee was about to get on with the rest of the day, Gingersnap entered the lounge with two mares, one the color of salmon, the other orchid.

"Uh, president Cheerilee," the orange unicorn said.

"Yes?" Cheerilee turned to the three mares with that same wide smile of hers, now covered in dry puke.

"Uh…well, these two fillies--"

"Hello, president Cheerilee at your service," Cheerilee said, holding out a hoof to the salmon pony. Grabbing it, the young mare gave it a light shake before Cheerilee fell to the ground, lightly shrieking with pain. Getting back up, she told her, "Oh, well, what a tight grip you got there," with the salmon pony reluctantly nodding in agreement. She then approached the orchid pony, holding out a hoof. However, she took it back, telling her "You know what? I think that's about enough hoof shaking for today. It kind of weakens me out," the second young mare giving a superficial smile. "So what seems to be the situation here?"

"Well these two here never received their FYE cards, and they're not sure as to what group their suppose to be in," said Gingersnap.

"Oh, well mind if I offer a few suggestions?" Crystal Clear approached the other mares with a book. "If you want I can help you two pick you own groups to stay in for now."

"Oh, not at all," answered Gingersnap.

"Okay. Well where do you ladies want to go?" Crystal Clear flipped through her book. "There are fifty groups in the entire program. And the options are all open to y--"

"AA!" exclaimed Cheerilee, startling the two mares.

"Uh, w-what?" Crystal Clear confusingly asked while closing her book.

"I think I remember they needed one extra member, so, uh, you!" Cheerilee pointed towards the orchid filly. "Go out and find them! Quick! Before the assembly!" The president scooted the young mare down the stairs and back outside. You think they're short on students, wondered Crystal Clear.

"As for you," Cheerilee directed her attention to the salmon pony. Cheerilee closed her eyes and thought for a moment, placing her hooves on the side of her head. "Yah-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da…TT!!!" Gingersnap nearly had a heart attack when she heard Cheerilee exclaim. "You'll go with group TT! They'll be in the gym! Gingersnap, would you be so kind to lead this young filly to the group?"

"But the assembly hasn't even st--"

"JUST GO!" Cheerilee asserted to the orange unicorn, doing her best to keep her composure with that forced smile. As quickly as possible, Gingersnap accompanied the equally shocked student as the two walked out of the lounge. Cheerilee somewhat felt a sign of relief, managing to take care of two important tasks in one day. Though Crystal Clear felt anything but satisfaction.

"President Cheerilee, was that really necessary?" the pink professor angrily asked. "I had that completely under cont--"

"Upupup. There's no need to fret", Cheerilee promised. "As your president and appointed leader, I can assure you that my assistance is most vital, and thus most foremost. No need to thank me. That's what I'm here for." Cheerilee delightfully trotted out of the lounge, leaving a frustrated Crystal Clear to walk back to her chair.

"Well that was more than rude, now wasn't it?" Crystal Clear asked, sitting down. "Now as I was saying Quill Push--"

Quill Pusher's head was turned to the spot where Cheerilee had just been. His expression was frozen and puzzled, just like it had been for the past few minutes. He felt amazed by what just happened, yet that didn't stop him from being concerned. He had just sat there, wondering how much longer he could stand watching Cheerilee conduct herself like this. He thought to himself how if this is the manner that shell keep up throughout the day, or even year, is her assistance even that vital. And should it have been foremost.

"Quill Pusher?" Crystal Clear asked, waving a hoof in front of his face, getting no response. "Well, then. I think I've seen enough creepy faces for one day." Taking her coffee, she proceeded to walk down the steps that lead out of the lounge, leaving the frozen Quill Pusher all by himself.