Of Blood and Honor

Several years went by, after her birth, and Scarletta was on her way to her first day of school, her broad wings flapping rapidly, her heart pitter-pattering in her small chest. She was excited. Almost frighteningly so. She couldn't wait to make new friends. On either side of her, her father and mother flew alongside her, her mother's under her, ready to catch her if she faltered.

"Come on dad! I wanna get there!" Scarletta crowed, giggling, "I can't wait! This is going to be exciting!" She wobbled some, her wings working a bit more, trying to readjust herself without her parents' intervening. "This is going to be fun!"

"Now don't forget to do what your teacher says Scarletta." Lanora murmured softly, her mane billowing in the wind in all its curly glory. Scarletta couldn't help but stare in awe at her mother. Lanora was a beauty, a true beauty, and Scarletta was letting her mane grow out as well. She tried to match her mother's graceful posture and elegant nature, but due to her more bulky size, it looked off. Lanora was a very slender mare, and Scarletta would have to accept that she would never flow like water through the sky.

On the other hoof, Thunderstrike was a bold, and muscular stallion, and Scarletta took after him in size and shape, and if anything attitude. He was authoritative, honest and loyal, and Scarletta admired him greatly. He took his duty seriously, something that pegasi were notorious for not doing. Scarletta could see the various battle scars he bore like badges, reminding him of everything he had done for his home, and letting others know what he did as well. Crime in her home was very low, and Thunderstrike liked it that way.

Scarletta was wrenched from her admirations when she was suddenly yanked back by her tail, just as a group of larger colts rushed by, tossing what appeared to see an oblong ball back and forth. Scarletta watched in silence, jaw slack, eyes wide. Then the gentle rumbling of her father's voice, "You must always watch your surroundings, Scarletta. We pegasi can take in and focus on many things, even when we are not looking. But, we must always be aware of what is going on around us."

Squeaking, Scarletta nodded, taking in her father's words. He was right. Pegasi were known for being able to focus on many things at once. But now her attention was on the schoolhouse. It was large, yet to her it seemed cozy, and Scarletta squealed. She fluttered forth, giggling as she landed on the soft cloud. She paused, and she kneaded the cloud, frowning some, "This cloud feels weird dad. It feels...thicker?"

"Very good!" A bright peppy voice chimed, and Scarletta turned her head to see a dark cream pegasus mare walking towards them. Her mane was a honey wheat, and she was smiling, "The clouds here at the School are thicker, and feel different, because it takes so much more to support all of our weight, unlike that of your own homes! Well done! I can see we are going to have a bright one!" She giggled, and she turned to Thunderstrike and Lanora, "Oh where are my manners! I am Ms. Poppy Cloud!  Or Ms. Poppy for short! It is wonderful to see you Commander and Lady! I couldn't wait for little Scarletta to be ready for school!"

Scarletta blinked, and she was suddenly nervous; they had been expecting her? What if she didn't meet their expectations? What if she made a fool of herself? And so Scarlet did the natural thing; she ducked behind her mother, hiding her face in Lanora's leg. Lanora laughed, and she murmured, "Oh my dear, it will be fine." to Ms. Poppy she replied, "A pleasure to meet you Ms. Poppy. I know you will teach our little Scarletta well." she chuckled.

Sensing that Scarletta was having second thoughts, Poppy smiled gently, leaning her head down, "Come on Scarletta...aren't you excited to see your new classmates? To meet new ponies and make new friends?" she chuckled, her soft blue eyes shining warmly. Scarletta relaxed a bit, nodding shyly. She slowly, tentatively, inched her way from her mother, and Ms. Poppy extended a wing, letting the soft primaries rustle gently as the stretched out. Seeing the wing, Scarletta stretched her own wing out, a sign of trust, and tapped the feathers with her own wings. The feathers interlocked, and Ms. Poppy slowly began to guide Scarletta, "Say goodbye Scarletta. Your mother and father cant stay with you here, but I will make sure you will be just fine."

At that, Scarletta squeaked, and she let go of Ms. Poppy's wing, rushing over to her mother and hugging her. Lanora hugged back, wrapping a slender fetlock around her daughter's small barrel, "I hope you have fun Scarletta. Behave for Mama please?" And then she was passed over, and Thunderstrike, almost crushed his daughter to him, giving her a soft kiss on the nose and nuzzling her fiercely, "if you have any trouble with any pony, you tell Ms. Poppy, you understand?" His voice was husky, which was a strange sound for Scarletta.

"Yes daddy.." Scarletta squeaked, leaning into the nuzzles, and then she was set free, and Scarletta latched her wing back onto Ms. Poppy's using her other one to wave farewell to her mother and father. She noted that they looked tearful, and they held themselves close together. Smile faltering, Scarletta was a bit worried, but she allowed herself to be guided away. She looked back at Ms. Poppy, and she gave a nervous little laugh.

"You are going to love it here Scarlet. If I may call you that?" Ms. Poppy looked down at the little filly, "May I call you Scarlet?" Scarletta, who had never been called anything but Scarletta her whole life, pricked her ears at the new name, and she nodded vigorously, much to Ms. Poppy's delight. "Well Scarlet, here we are going to teach you all sorts of things! How to read and write, and even how to count your numbers!" she giggled, looking to the front entrance of the school. Scarletta looked at it as well, and she gulped.

They traveled inside, and Scarletta's little heart began to beat madly in her chest. She was scared. What if they didn't like her? What if she wasn't smart enough? She felt herself begin to panic, even more so when Ms. Poppy drew her wing away. She reached out for it desperately, voice caught in her throat.

"Now, now Scarlet, relax.." Ms. Poppy cooed, "I am right here." she said. She opened the door to a classroom, and she led Scarletta inside.