Managing the Rainbooms

The blinding light of the morning sun drew Ash from his uncomfortable yet well-needed slumber; he felt a burning sting in his back after sleeping on an old mattress straight off the floor. He was grateful that the car trip from hell was finally over having been squashed up against luggage in the back of a hot car for 16 hours; however he’d be pleased to do it a thousand times over if it had meant he didn’t have to move in the first place - not that this new house was bad. It was bigger than his old house with better utilities and his bedroom window had a much better view; but he didn’t care, for him it was just another reminder of what he’d left behind. “Well… looks like day one of this awful place,” Ash mumbled to himself as he slowly sat up.

Once awake and moving It didn’t take long for him to throw on some clothes and make his way downstairs for breakfast where he was greeted by his parents who had already begun unpacking and sorting through boxes. Ash’s father heard his son’s footsteps descending down the wood staircase smiling and turning to see him. Although all he saw was the look of distain and tiredness plastered on Ash’s face “Morning champ you sleep well?” he asked with an unsure tone of voice.

Ash merely scowled when he heard this “Being patronising won’t help the situation if that’s what you’re asking.” Ash replied coldly.

“Now Ash that’s no way to talk to your father,” his mother replied with a soft sighed tone. Letting out a sigh of his own Ash proceeded to trudge slowly past his parents like a zombie noting his new surroundings. The house was a dream come true; large, comfortable and better than anything he was used to living back in Denver, the futuristic home was certainly a product of 21st century technology, but that was part of the problem. Despite these conflicted emotions about the move Ash certainly wasn’t going to let his mom or dad ‘read’ him yet he wanted to keep on his poker face. After grabbing twenty dollars from the counter and finding what few school supplies he could out of boxes; Ash left the new house confident he could find his way to school.

Lost. It isn’t something you want to be… especially in a new state, town and when you only have a limited amount of time to find your way. ‘Better consult a map; if I can find one’ Ash thought strolling casually down the street he found himself on. The inhibition to care about what was going on around him had not yet returned so wasn’t all too worried about being late for school but felt obliged to at least put some effort into finding it on the first day. The street he was walking down had a wide variety of shops; some beginning to open their doors for late morning while a few corporate ones had been open since 06:00 am, each one looking as if there was a small flat or extra shop above them. It was walking down the street glancing into the windows he saw not a shop; but an animal shelter, something he’d have paid no mind to expect there was a girl of similar age to him just walking out the door. She had long pink flowing hair, big cyan blue eyes and a green skirt with three pink and white butterflies on it. On realising there was a stranger looking at her the girl let out a sudden high pitched “Eeep!” before hiding her face behind her hair.

“Whoa! I’m sorry didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” Ash responded quickly walking with a fast pace trying to get out of this awkward situation until a thought dawned on his mind, this girl was a very similar age to him.

“Actually one thing, sorry to ask but you wouldn’t happen to know where a ‘Canterlot High’ is, would you?” the girl perked up in stance a little; her trembling instantly seizing. “It’s just I’m lost and have no idea where I am or how to get there,” The girls face became partly visible as she nodded meekly “great!” Ash thought aloud “Please, lead the way,” his enthusiasm for the school surprising both himself and the girl, as she hid in her hair again.

They’d both started walking down the street like Ash had been but now with clarity of direction. The girl with the pink hair didn’t say much… in fact she didn’t say anything; just walked a little ahead of Ash always looking straight ahead of her so Ash picking up his walking pace to keep on her right side (closest to the road) and began to try and strike up a conversation. “So… what’s your name?” he asked carefully.

For a second the girl with the pink hair shot him a glance of something that wasn’t fear “M-my name is f-Fluttershy,”
In a bustling retail district full of panicked shops and rushing people ash wouldn’t have heard that; but in the early morning calmness and his good hearing he just about caught it.

“Fluttershy huh? Guess the shy part makes sense, and those butterflies on your skirt are the fluttering part.”
Fluttershy stopped and hid again; Ash couldn’t help but think this was a common problem people must have and how boring and repetitive it must get. “What’s wrong now?”

The thought of a girl being embarrassed that a boy had been looking at her skirt was not something Ash considered; he was observant and made a deduction nothing more to it. While unknown to Ash, Fluttershy had picked up one his innocent demeanour, deciding he didn’t mean any harm.
“Oh... it’s nothing,” she cleared her thought quietly “Canterlot high is just around the corner now,”

Ash could tell it wasn’t ‘nothing’ that just made Fluttershy stop; but if she didn’t want to talk about it he wouldn’t push her on it and instead let it go deciding to try and get their conversation back on track “So you work at that animal shelter?”

Fluttershy opened up at his question almost instantly “Oh no, I just volunteer there, I don’t think there’s anything I’d rather do with my free time then help all those cute little animals,” she finished with a small smile and contented sigh.

“I see, well good for you not many people would be willing to do that for others,”

“Thanks” Fluttershy whispered timidly; a blush starting to spread on her face. “What’s your name? …If you don’t mind my asking,” Ash turned to his head to look at her; he couldn’t think of anyone he’d ever met being this cautious and considerate.

“Err… It’s Ash, Ash Blake,” Ash replied forgetting his own name for a brief second as he was feeling a weird sensation; this girl seemed to have a strong aura of kindness about her; all his current problems melted away like leaves in the wind.

“Pleased to meet you Ash Blake,” Fluttershy responded smiling; Ash smiled back as the two wandered merrily down the road.
Just as they were getting confident in speaking to one another a large building came into sight, it looked very impressive and grand in the bright morning sun; two stories with symmetrical windows all the way across, purple brick work and golden horse head finials on the top of every corner, a glass dome on the roof which had some kind of small clock tower perched on top of it. This was clearly the front of the building as a magnificent marble white horse sculpture stood proud between the buildings symmetry. A flurry of different students could be seen; wandering towards the doors, sitting lazily on the grass either relaxing or writing things down into books and others standing in groups talking to each other.
“Ash, this is Canterlot high,” Fluttershy announced, gesturing her left hand towards the large building for emphasis. As she said this buses pulled up on the curb in front the school obscuring his brief view of the new ‘associates’ he’d be learning alongside.

“Er… wow, thanks for the directions Fluttershy. I guess I should sign in at the main office; you know make sure they know the new student’s here.” Ash answered to her proclamation to which she nodded in understanding.

“Oh yes, um that makes sense,” Fluttershy replied her voice and shyness shining though again.

“But I’m sure I’ll see you around,” Ash ended the conversation there crossing the road and making a B-line to the high schools front doors; ignoring the students that noticed him.

“I hope so,” a silent voice whispered to herself.

~

Clean, organized and colourful: the schools interior was as good as its exterior with its shiny lockers, reflective floors and exciting displays about the schools accomplishments and latest goings on. It wasn’t long since Ash Blake had spoken to reception, quickly being guided in the direction of the principal’s office (Somewhere he didn’t want to familiarise himself with) with no hesitation Ash knocked on the door and was permitted entry.

The office was large and fancy with potted plants in every corner, whiteboards and pin boards on the walls; the furniture looked soft and comfy and the desk was made of dark wood. Behind this desk was a pale skinned woman with multi-coloured hair wearing a yellow blouse with a purple shirt underneath witch had a sun badge on the collar. “Ah, you must be Ash Blake,” the woman said looking up from some paperwork she’d been doing. Ash noted her voice: it was soft like Fluttershy’s but far more authoritative; someone you could trust but definitely to be respected and obeyed, certainly good qualities of a high school principal.

“Yes… Principal Celestia,” Ash responded shaking her hand as she stood up “You run a nice school and I look forward to learning here.”
“Not,” Ash thought to himself.

“Why thank you, we here at CHS are welcoming and friendly so I’m sure you’ll settle into your new environment quite quickly and if you have any concerns; Vice principal Luna and myself always have our doors open,” Celestia finished with a smile. “Now just for your first day we’ve arranged to have a mature and responsible student help you around; she won’t be holding your hand but can help you at any time,”

“She?” Ash started before he was cut off by a knock on the door.

“Come in!” Celestia called.

“Well howdy, Stanger!”