Bumbling through my Education

Chapter 2: Mismanaged Funds

Getting set up into the dorms wasn’t too much of a problem. Bumble had to admit that it was a little odd to be sharing his room with another pony, but so far he’d only seen his roommate twice, and thankfully it seemed that his roommate was constantly out with somepony or another. That was surprisingly fine with him. More or less he was left to his own devices, in his dorm room, and secure in the fact that the scholarship he was awarded was handling his tuition, dorm room, books, and even allowed him enough meals throughout the week to survive on.

Was it a perfect situation, no, but it was certainly better than he had hoped for.

“Bumble Hooves?”

He looked up to see a mare, not much older than himself, standing in his doorway. She was an Earth Pony, which was a little strange to see going to a magic school, but he left his thoughts out as he got up and nodded, “Yes, I’m Bumble.”

She giggled as he tripped over his hooves, landed squarely on his rump, and his glasses somehow managed to land off of his muzzle and onto his crotch.

“I’m terribly sorry, it’s not polite to laugh,” she said as she extended her hand, “But maybe my helping you up and giving you your mail will make up for it?”

He took her hand, grabbed his glasses, and then he began to get up with her help. Once up she gave him a hug, something she took a little longer to break. Of course, like several mares, and fillies, before her she had felt the promise that laid between his legs. Her mind began to construct the idea of him being interested, them being a little bad, and her introducing him into some light bondage.

She stopped those thoughts almost at once. She was here to prove her worth. There hadn’t been many ponies accepted into this university, but she’d made it, and while she couldn’t do unicorn magic she was proving to be better than most of them with potions. They could cast spells for lightening, she could mix a potion that would explode with lightening, they could cast spells for fire, and she could match them with her potions. But a part of her deeply yearned for what she had felt for a brief moment.

“T..Thanks,” Bumble mumbled.

She was nearly lost in thought, but her upbringing caused her mint green eyes to focus on his own. Her charcoal gray cheeks had a bit of a blush bleed through as she drove the thoughts back. Was he somepony worth getting to know, yes, yes he was, or at least he was from a physical standpoint. But then again he most likely was from an intellectual one as well. Granted he was an Unicorn, but she knew he wasn’t nobility. That meant he earned his place here. Earning a spot in the Canterlot College for Magical Studies wasn’t a walk in the park. It either took impressive intelligence, and talent, or a very well connected, and wealthy, family.

There were exceptions of course. Princess Twilight Sparkle had attended, and while her family was consider nobility, lower nobility but nobility all the same, she had been incredibly intelligent, talented, and gifted.

“You’re welcome,” she said stepping back, but her mind was screaming to keep the conversation going, try to get to know him, maybe talk him into taking that monster out and letting her worship it. Yeah, that thought ended real quick, “Say, are you, or what I mean is… Gah, listen to me.”

She sighed, and Bumble watched as she composed herself, “Look, there’s a local production of Hinny of the Hills this weekend, and I know that it’s kind of sudden, but would you maybe like to go?”

He stood there uncertain of what just happened. Fillies didn’t ask him out. He didn’t ask them out either, but it wasn’t because he wasn’t interested. Far from it. He liked fillies, and mares, and he certainly wanted to be somepony’s special somepony, but it just… Honestly he didn’t know how to talk to mares, except for his sisters and his mother. That was different. He could see her acting nervous, and then he could see her expression getting sad. He didn’t want that. Luna and Celestia he didn’t want that. He cleared his throat and smiled at her. He tried to open his mouth, but the words simply wouldn’t come like he wanted them to.

Instead what he got out was, “I umm, I.. I… Okay?”

She wrapped him into a hug, something he understood all too well. Growing up with a very huggie Pegasus for a mother had gotten him well used to the idea of being physically touched in this manner. Some of the hugs had been different, the place where some of the mares’ legs had went had certainly been in an odd place, and he tried desperately not to embarrass himself by having part of his anatomy stand up and say hi.

It was a losing battle, but she didn’t seem to say anything, and he was thankful that she was kind enough not to point out that a part of him was attempting to poke into her hip. Instead she tightened the hug, which by Pegasi terms meant that she really liked him, and he began to feel a little uncomfortable. Finally she let go, a dopey smile on her face. She giggled softly.

“Thank you… I… Ummm.. That is it’s this Saturday, eight pm?”

He nodded, watched as she walked off, and he also noticed that her school robes smelled a little as she walked. Not in a bad way, but rather it was something like gumdrops. He hadn’t noticed the smell before hand. Putting it out of his mind he stepped back into the dorm, glad to be free from distractions, free from ponies knocking on the door, and he looked at the mail he received. There was three letters, the first was from his mother. He opened it, happy to see that she was writing him already.

My little muffin Bumble,

I hope that you’re doing okay. Dinky is actually missing you more than you think. She’s talking about coming and seeing you, and apparently so is Berry Pinch and Pina Colada. It’s kind of funny that her friends wants to see you too. Oh! Mr. Swifty said I couldn’t mail you Muffins, so when Dinky does come she’s going to bring you a pan full. I’ll send an extra pan for the girls.

I’m so proud of you my little Muffin.

Love you bunches,

Your Mama.

He smiled at it, sat it down, and looked at the other two letters. One was from the school, and he knew that it was most likely welcoming him officially, and the other was Books and Scones. Which it was weird to have a scone shop inside of a book store. He knew what that was without opening it. The campus bookstore was currently out of everything, so he had to resort to using Books and Scones to get his class books. They said that they’d wait until the disbursement of his scholarship happened, and then they’d want his payment.

He ignored the letter, knowing it was the bill, but also knowing that he had an arrangement with them. Sighing, he looked at his class schedule. Classes started tomorrow. Thinking ahead he’d visited his professors, seeing if they minded getting him the syllabuses to their classes early, and most had been fine with it. While he wasn’t going to start the actual work until they began to teach him, which only made sense, he did plan on reading ahead.

He cracked open the first book when the door opened again. He looked up to see his roommate. The alabaster colored Unicorn with a royal blue mane staggered in with a rosy pink Unicorn that had a purple mane and tail. The rosy pink Unicorn stumbled slightly, falling onto the bed, and her shirt popped open revealing her smallish breasts.

“Shhhh… We...We’re supposed to be quietly foolin’ around.” she slurred.

He looked toward his roommate who was currently getting undressed. Realizing that neither of them seemed to be sober, and realizing that he didn’t want a part of this, he grabbed his books, his letters, and got up.

“Wh...What..Who’s that?” she asked.

The Alabaster Unicorn looked toward him and smiled, “That’s me roomy! Nice bloke right?! Say… I ain’t never seen a Canterlot noble’s tailhole ‘fore, mine if’n I see now luv?”

She giggled like a mad mare, and Bumble practically ran from the room. He had the sense, and decency, to shut the door, but he headed out, going straight toward the library. He silently thanked Princess Twilight Sparkle for giving him the map of the campus, and he walked across the courtyard straight toward the building that he felt was most likely going to be his home away from home for a good long while.

He stepped into the building and he could smell the parchment, ink, and old tomes of days past. The school’s library boasted having the most complete works of Starswirl the Bearded, Pre-banishment literature, and even the most complete works of Fillyam Shirespear. Not that he’d be doing much reading of plays and classical liteature. Finally satisfied that he was indeed able to read in peace, and not see… What those two were going to do, he settled into a chair.

He cracked open the first book, and began to read about the theory of dynamic spell casting, and its application in golem production. The first minute turned to fifteen, then to an hour, and before he realized what was going on multiple hours had passed. He yawned and leaned back. It wasn’t his intention, but he thought that he’d just rest his head a moment.

The sound of the bell alarmed Bumble. Groaning he stretched and felt his back popping as he stood. His study habits had remained basically the same, and once again he had found himself inside of the library after it had closed. Although that wasn't quite the same as the library back in Ponyville. Back home, well Princess Twilight Sparkle had opened up her private library to the public to be used. Often when he fell asleep in it he'd wake up to hear somepony, or dragon rather, walking around and reshelving books. Spike had been more than kind to usually let him out, explain that he wasn't the first pony he'd ever seen fall asleep with a collection of books, and even wave off any apology explaining that he knew he was there.

This wasn't Princess Sparkle's library. This was the Canterlot University Library, and he was a bit more afraid that the librarian over it would be somewhat more cross with him. He stood, his horn ignited, and and he looked around. When he did there was a flash and suddenly several torches began to ignite. He walked toward one, waiting for a moment, and then held his hand near it. The flame didn't feel hot, but it looked real.

"Quite convincing, yes?"

Hearing the sound he turned around to see a mare in the shadow. Swallowing his nervousness he tried to smile, "Sorry, I seem to have fallen asleep while I was studying, umm, would it be any trouble to let me out?"

She stepped into the light and he realized that the mare wasn't just a mare, no, she was royalty. Instantly he bowed, giving the respect the Princess of the Night deserved.

"Please, do not give us, or me rather, such reverence. Here in this school I am a teacher, nothing more."

"Princess, I..."

"Bumble Hooves, it is fine."

He looked at her a little confused, "You know my name?"

She smiled, touching the table behind him and he watched as it disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"What in the world?"

She grinned, "It is a dream. You are sleeping, inside of the library, but still sleeping. Bumble, I've noticed something from your dreams, and from what I've observed while you've attended classes."

"Yes Princess?"

She smiled softly at him, "You're a diligent student, driven, intelligent, and you show a creativity that will truly help to move Equestria forward, but you are also very awkward around others. You seem, more withdrawn," she touched his shoulder, "I admire the desire to complete your project, but part of the reason for this college is to help students meet and communicate with one another. It is our truest hope that you will become friends with your fellow ponies."

He looked away, "I'm not really good at that."

She hugged him, her leg brushing between his own, and her experience with dreams, with how the body created the dream bodies, had taught her that the mind created the exact body of which it was housed inside of the dream. This made her eyes widened as she felt it. Thick, long, easily on par with any Minotaur. Her tongue touched her lips. It would be a dream, forgotten in a day or two, she could experience it, feel it, taste it, for these next few fleeting moments it truly could be hers.

Nine, resist! We will not abuse our subjects like this!

"Bumble," she said, her voice sounding heavy and full of need, "I...I must depart, but consider what I have said my little pony."

He shot awake, his eyes darting around until he finally relaxed. He was in the library, which did disorient him for a moment until he remembered that he was going to just rest his head for a moment. He got up, stretched, and felt his back pop. He looked at his books, satisfied that he managed to get through most of them, and then he walked toward the outside. When he had came to the library it had been around three in the afternoon, but now Luna’s moon was high in the night sky. He headed toward his dorm, found the building, managed to get inside, and then he headed toward his room. He carefully opened it and saw that the mare his roommate had brought back with him was still there.

Currently she was far less dressed, her head resting on his chest, and his arm was around her. Bumble stumbled back, closed the door, and sighed. He’d hoped to have the dorm room to himself, at least for a little bit, but his roommate seemed determined to be in there. He stopped his line of thinking. It wasn’t right, or fair, to want to have his roommate out of the room. Maybe out of it when this was going on, but not to have him out of it completely. Instead Bumble headed toward the lounge area, found a nice couch, and stretched out on it. In truth it was softer than the bed in the dorm room, so maybe he was coming out ahead on it anyway. He yawned again, settled down, and soon fell asleep.

A shaking sensation woke him, and he nearly fell out of the bed.

“Mate, you’re bloody alright taking the couch last night. Damned good of ya, got ta get inta that sweet mare I did. Nice enough filly, a little needy, but nice enough anyway. Think that I’ll see what kind of mischief we can get inta. Room’s all yours mate, gonna head ta class.”

He nodded, and then he sat up, “What time is it?!”

His roommate looked at him and grinned, “Fifteen after seven it is. Got an early class too eh?”

He nodded, “Alright, lookit, since I took the room, you take the shower. Rush a bit, if ya don’t mind, and then rush ta class. Good as gold eh?”

Bumble nodded, thanked him, and then ran straight toward the shower that was connected between the two rooms. There was two stalls, and he heard one of them already going. He stripped off, looked around, and realized that he left his shower stuff in the room. He started to dart out when he heard someone clearing their throat.

“Always happens at least once. You forgot your towel, soap, and the like right?”

He nodded and then realized that the other pony couldn’t see him.

“Yeah, I did.”

The other pony stuck his head out of the stall and looked at him.

“Daymn!”

Bumble covered himself, not sure what was wrong exactly.

“Sorry, sorry, look, you can borrow my extra towel, soap, and shampoo, and… Ummm… you aren’t interested in colts are you?”

Bumble shook his head.

“Pity, well, whatever mare you get with… She’s going to be happy. Bowlegged, but happy.”

“Thanks… for the towel and everything.”

The other stallion smiled, his soft blue coat revealing a faint blush, “Think nothing of it,” he said, and then he paused, “Silly me, I didn’t think to introduce myself. I’m Poetic Pin.”

Bumble smiled, “Bumble, Bumble Hooves.”

Poetic grinned, “Well it’s a pleasure to meet you Bumble. I do hope that we can become friends.”

With that Poetic slipped back into his stall, and Bumble went into his own. The shower was warm, inviting, and far too quick. Bumble got everything clean, but he didn’t have the time to really enjoy the shower like he would have rather done. He dried off, and Poetic told him to just leave the towel, soap, and shampoo on the bench and he’d retrieve it.

Doing just that Bumble headed out, determined to get to his room, get dressed, and get to class. He carried his clothes in front of him, keeping everything covered as best he could, and he moved into his room with a sense of urgency. He put his dirty clothes on the bed, determined to take them to the laundry later, grabbed a fresh set of clothes, and robe, and then he ran straight toward automation and automatons.

Running once again showed that it had no great love for Bumble as he tripped and fell the moment he entered into the class. He could feel everypony’s eyes on him, and silently he wished that he could simply crawl into a hole and disappear. He looked up, half expecting to see the smirks of other ponies, but instead there was concerned faces.

“Young sir, are you okay?”

He looked at the professor, an elderly mare, and nodded.

“Good, then please take your seat. You are,” she looked toward the corner where a grandfather clock stood, “Just barely in time for class.”

She got up, the sounds of her bones creaking with every movement.

“I am Clockwork Quartz, and I will be your professor for Automation and Automatons,” she said as she wrote the name of the class on the board, “In this class you will be creating more than simple golems. Your creations will contain no less than two dynamic spells, and will also feature some simple mechanics inside. I suggest that those of you who do not know how the insides of a gear driven machine works that you take extra time to study.”

She walked back toward her desk, “Now, I’m going to call your names, and you will indicate if you are here or not.”

Bumble was surprised at being the first one called, but he answered that he was there, and then he watched as everyone else did likewise. The class started pretty much how he expected, since he’d taken theory of automation and automatons back home. As the class neared the end he looked the syllabus that Mrs. Quartz handed them. It was direct, simple, and fairly easy to follow. They would read on their own time, follow her lectures, go to the lab connected to this class twice a week, and once there they would begin construction of their Automatons.

He knew that his Medical Golems could work, but he wasn’t sure if he had enough mechanical pieces inside of them. For the most part they were spell driven magic infused glass. Practically invulnerable to almost anything. Which certainly made them the perfect assets to rendering care to ponies in the harshest of places, but as he considered it he wasn’t sure if they would qualify as automatons.

When lab came up he decided to ask Mrs Quartz and see if she would allow it, or if he needed to build another project. If he had to build another one, perhaps he could create an automaton that would also serve as a medical golem. He had the spell core perfected. All he really needed to do was work on another body.

Deciding that if needed he could certainly do it he headed toward the next class. The day passed before him, those classes he read ahead in he was more than prepared for. Those that he didn’t, like Mrs Quartz class, he was ready for the challenge. Once he was done with the four classes he had for Tuesdays and Thursdays he headed back to his dorm room. He opened the door find it empty, and honestly he was glad. He stumbled toward his bed, put his books down, and looked at the two unopened letters. He opened the one from Books and Scones first. He pulled the two pieces of parchment out.

He unfolded the first and looked at it.

Mr. Bumble Hooves,

We at Books and Scones wish to thank you for choosing us as your alternative university bookstore. As per our arrangement your balance has been included with this letter, and the due date is that of the official disbursement of the scholarships accepted by your University. Thank you,

Mr. Warm Book, Founder of Books and Scones.

He turned the other page and looked at the prices of the books.

Advanced Automation and Automaton, Golem Studies 101, Ponunculi and you/creating a realistic magical creature, and Transmodification, A Study into Starswirl the Bearded’s proudest studies. Together the aforementioned books bill at 400 bits. An interest of five percent will be added every quarter until paid in full.

He sighed, that was well within budget. He grabbed the letter from the university, opened it and his eyes widened. He felt his mouth go dry and he slumped against the wall behind his bed.

“Mr. Bumble Hooves,

First we wish to welcome you to Canterlot College for Magical Studies, or as it is better known as Canterlot University. We do regret to inform you that while you have been awarded the royal scholarship, via Princess Twilight Sparkle’s recommendation, we can not apply said scholarship until midterms.

This mistake is in part at our hooves. Unfortunately a good deal of student’s financial information was misplaced. However, know that everything charged to the school will be placed on hold until such time that it can be taken out after the scholarship has been applied. You may continue your classes, and stay in your dorm. Unfortunately you will not be able to eat at the University’s cafeteria without the funds needed, and as such we again apologize.

Thank you for understanding,

Harmony Melody, head of Financial Aid.

He felt sick to his stomach as he looked at the letter again. He couldn’t eat. He was going to starve, and his books! The bookstore had been out, and he wanted to get them early! He looked at the books lying there on the floor beside the bed. He’d have to return them. That or he’d have to find another way to pay for them. He leaned against the wall, desperately wishing that the letter from the school was nothing more than a bad joke. He heard the door, and saw his roommate standing there.

“‘Ello, what’s eating you mate?”

He showed him the letter. The Alabaster Unicorn with a royal blue mane let out a long whistle.

“Wow mate, they really stuck it in and broke it off…” suddenly a giant smile crossed his face, “MATE I GOT IT!”

Bumble looked at this grinning stallion, “Ya need a job, I know a place hiring, and they pay like drunken mare at a strip club! Comeon!”

He felt himself dragged to his feet and following behind his roommate.

“Never did introduce meself did I? Name’s Whet, Whet Box. I know your name’s Bumble Hooves, and it’s a pleasure!”

The two were out of the dorm, across campus, and heading into the business district. It was there that they stepped into a shop that made Bumble think about that Earth Pony mare that had brought him his mail. The sounds of hooves on a tile floor caught his attention, and he turned to see Flagrante Delicto nearing them.

“Well, this is a surprise,” she said in a voice that dripped with need, “Whet, is this the model?”

Bumble looked at her, “Model?”

She nodded, and walked toward him, “Yes, my dear colt, I’m in need of a model. See, I produce… Toys, certain wonderful toys, for mares and stallions that help them come to grips with loving themselves better. Of course I also help with certain spells that will prevent pregnancies, or will encourage them, depending on the situation, the customer, and of course the money provided.”

She walked them toward a large room in the back where Bumble saw dozens upon dozens of false phalluses adorning the walls, near them were tubes, similar to cylinders, that had… He turned his head away not wanting to see fake mare bits.

“Oh, you are so innocently charming!” she giggled, “What I need is a new model. I’m willing to pay handsomely for it, and if you decide I can even put you on retainer, ensuring that if you don’t ‘model’ for a new mold during a month you’ll still be paid.”

He swallowed and looked down at his crotch, then up a her, and then at Whet who looked as if he happy that he helped him out.

“H..How much?”

She grinned and walked over a desk where she picked up a piece of parchment, “Fifteen hundred bits for the first mold, five percent in sales of the productions, negotiable price of fifteen hundred to three thousand bits for the second mold. Retainer fee of six hundred bits per month for the first six months. Sound fair enough?”

He nodded, and she pulled a quill out from behind her ear, levitated an ink well over, and he dipped the quill in, signed the parchment, and then handed her back the quill.

She smiled brightly, “We are going to make so much money together, and you… you my fine young colt are going to make thousands of mares, fillies, and stallions incredibly happy.”

Author's Note

(AN: The long awaited second chapter! Sorry for it taking a while guys. I've been job searching, taking up some arts and crafts, and working on a novel... Lots of irons in the fire. I hope that you enjoy this romp as much as the first chapter, and here's to hoping that it continues to delight.)