"Hey, hey Astra" Antithesis poked at his sleeping friend. "You gotta get up"

"Uhh?" the gray pony sat up wiping the drool from his muzzle. Then rubbing his eyes he asked "What's so important?"

"Lareow is passing out the quiz, hope you were dreaming of decimals" Antithesis said with a laugh.

Yawning Astra replied "I'll.. ju..st guessss".

"It's not that hard" Antithesis offered before being interrupted.

"No talking during the quiz." Lareow boomed as she passed Astra his paper.

The test was simple addition and subtraction of decimals and some math vocab. After twelve minutes Antithesis finished writing looking around he saw one other finish their test. He decided to look over his test finding nothing wrong with his answers. He sat quietly not wanting to hand his in first.

Astra scanned the questions looking in the air he did the math in his head. Astra finished only a little after Antithesis, who was just sitting there. Figuring he was done Astra took his test to the front dropping it in the bin with Antithesis following suit.

"All done?" Lareow asked sarcastically.

Astra gave no reply as he continued back to his desk. After a few minutes of silence he began to nod off once more.

"Alright here are your tests back." Lareow called out. She walked around passing back their papers until arriving at Astra's. She raised her hoof to stomp but stopped and exhaled heavily turning to Antithesis. "You'll catch him up won't you?"

Antithesis gave a nod in response. As she walked away Antithesis looked at his paper scoring a 98%. Searching for his mistake he landed on question nine where he had forgotten the negative symbol. He facehoof, a little upset he didn't catch it. Turning to his friend who was still snoozing, Antithesis picked up his paper giving a light laugh at was written.

"Hey," Shure called to Antithesis and Astra entered the hallway. "what'd you guys do today?"

"Took a math quiz other than that, nothing besides that." Antithesis replied.

"Hm, we took our quiz yesterday, got 90%." Shure replied.

"98%" Antithesis added.

"What about you?" Shure asked, turning to Astra.

"I forgot to write my name so I got a 95%." he said as he rolled his neck.

"That's not bad at all." Antithesis said.

They walked until they reached the entrance of the school stepping out shure stopped for a second.

"Oh, I almost forgot, my dad is taking me and Meana to Whinnyapolis this summer for a week."

"What are you going to do up there?" Astra asked as he held the door for both of them.

"Dad said he has a business meeting." Shure answered. stepping into the daylight.

"That's a week of training you'll have to make up." Antithesis joked.

"Please, you're like five sit ups from finishing the basics chapter, Astra is nearly there and I'm right behind him." Shure said in defence.

"Well we won't make any progress if we just stand around here!" Antithesis said he sped up.

The three of them ran along to Taupe and Maple, who were still walking towards the school. After meeting up they made the journey to Taupe's place.

As they walked down Flamington St. a large cart blocked the sidewalk with a pony moving large metal objects in and out. Antithesis who was walking in the back of the group, slowly strayed from the group approaching the entrance to the cart where a dark purple earth pony with a bright orange jacket, was struggling to remove a long rectangular board that was stuck.

"You want some help?" Antithesis asked.

(Gruff New Yorker Accent)
"Huh, oh na kid it's pretty fuckin heavy." He responded.

Antithesis placed his hooves under the board and began to lift it slightly but only made it so far before placing it back down. The worker looked over a little surprised that Antithesis could move it at all. "Hey, say kid could you do that again use Tellus this time."

"Sorry, I uhh don't know how to.. use it just yet." Antithesis answered.

"Ha, yous is still young, how about this. When I was a colt I just thought of my favorite food, it always did the trick." The purple pony offered. "Nothin better than a grilled cheese wita perfect crunch to match the gooey inside.

"That's weird," Antithesis said.

"It just happened that way alright, try it." he replied.

Antithesis stood there for a second in search of his favorite food after a minute he couldn't think of anything by itself that was his favorite. Though as he opened his eyes it hit him quick, there wasn't a food but a meal he loved apple cider and Malpe's pancakes. Nothing like a perfectly sweet yet evenly spiced cider with a hint of vanilla that tied the drink to the smooth buttery fluff of her pancakes.

He placed his hooves once more under the board and began to lift it higher and higher.

"That's incredible I can't lift it that fast!" the purple pony said.

With Antithesis' help they laid the sign inside the building, once they put it down the purple pony dug around in his pocket and pulled out three bits dropping them in Antithesis' hoof. "Thanks for the help kid, it woulda taken me all day to get that out."

"No problem." Antithesis said, giving a smile.

"The names Kander, but most call me Haul" Haul said, holding out his hoof.

"Antithesis, but friends call me Thees." taking Haul's hoof.

"I can see why, I couldn't begin to spell that." Haul said with a laugh.

They both walked outside where Taupe ran towards him, others in tow. "Antithesis where did you go!?"

"I was helping Haul," Antithesis replied as his mother wrapped her hooves around him.

"Don't wander off again." Taupe reprimanded.

"Excuse me Mam, but you're colt was helpin me out. Ya see none of my crew showed up today so I was solo. I gotta say you have one strong stallion here"

"Who are you?" Taupe asked.

"Ah, friends call me Haul. I gave him what I had on me in return, he's gonna go places I tell ya." Hall admitted. "Thanks again for the help."

"Na, thank you." Antithesis said with a nodd.

Haul waved as they walked away Antithesis returned the gesture, however Taupe wasn't so happy. Antithesis apologized but she gave no response and so the rest of the walk was silent between them.

Arriving at the house the colts placed their school bags at the door continuing on to Antithesis' room. Shure and Astra hit the stairs first but before Antithesis began to climb Taupe called him with a stern voice to the kitchen. He shrugged his shoulders and turned around, Maple signaled the other two to go up.

Entering Antithesis had dropped his head and ears drooped. "Yes?" he asked.

Taupe breathed in heavily and spoke. "I know you were helping him, I get that. But you can't just run off in the middle of town to talk to somepony!"

"I was just curious." Antithesis replied.

"And that's ok but don't wander to strangers." Taupe demanded

"Listen I get what you're saying, but if I see someone who needs help I'm not gonna ignore it!" Antithesis came back, as raised his head.

"Antithesis!" Taupe closed her eyes and breathed heavily once more "I'm asking you to stop before I have to ground you.".

Antithesis' ears dropped again "Fine" he gave up knowing he wouldn't win. He left the kitchen going to the stairs. Maple stopped him before ascending.

"Listen These, I know you meant well but you have to realise you and your mom that's all you got. If she loses you or something happens I don't think she'd be able to handle it." Maple said with a soft look.

"I get that but this time it was worth it." Antithesis said before taking off.

Antithesis entered his room finding his friends in the middle of a hoof wrestling match. Astra looked over not bending to the smaller unicorn. "Everything good?" Astra asked.

"Ya, it'll be fine." Antithesis answered.

"Hey Thees, ugh, how'd you lift that thing anyway it was huge. AH!" Shure asked as he lost the match.

"OH! That's right, stop what you're doing and clear off the desk." Antithesis said

Both did so quickly placing everything on his bed. "What now?" Shure asked.

Antithesis gave no reply only walking over to the desk, feeling for where the best grip was. The dest was an older hard wood desk still in good condition, it had drawers on both sides that were filled with miscellaneous items.

He placed his hooves under the where the seat went and tried to pick it up, stopping he closed his eyes as he did before and pictured the meal once more letting the smell of fragrant apples fill his nostrils followed by a smooth sweet scent of syrup. Opening his eyes he had begun to raise the desk off the floor, to his friends amazement.

Antithesis had put it back down and turned to his friends Shure had his jaw lowered but Astra closed hit for him. "What do you guys think?"

"Dude! You figured it out!" Astra flew up giving him a high hoof.

"Haul showed me how to." Antithesis admitted.

"No cheating in your workout." Shure joked.

"You'd have to catch up for me to cheat." Antithesis replied.

They headed outside to begin their usual routine starting with laps, thanks to Meana who did the math they could run well beyond a mile. They ran at a uniform pace even breaking concentration to joke or speed up. The first to stop was Shure finishing at nearly three laps, almost two miles. Astra and Antithesis were neck and neck trying to keep pace while not letting the other get in front of them.

Eventually both of them died out at a four and a quarter laps. Shure greeted them as they dragged themselves to the porch taking a breath.

"New Record!" Antithesis and Astra said as they brohoofed.

"Meanwhile I can't catch up." Shure said with an unease in his voice.

"Hello Pegasus Earthpony". Astra said as he pointed between the two.

"That doesn't mean anything." Shure replied.

"But it sure helps." Antithesis added.

They all laughed for a minute as they rested. Figuring it was time to continue Antithesis got down in the hoof up position and began. Astra and Shure followed suit.

"29,30,31,32" they called in unison. ``39" shure squeaked, jaw clenched and forelegs wobbling he lowered himself once more then raising "40!" he collapsed belly flat on the ground.

Astra and Antithesis continued "45.... 46 ..forty.. seve..." Astra had to stop.

Antithesis continued on hitting 50 and even going to 58.

"No need to show off." Astra said with a laugh.

"I recall somepony saying "Push your limits" a while ago." Antithesis replied.

"Ya ya ya" Astra said as he climbed onto the stump ready for his sit ups.

Shure held his legs as he began powering through the exercise. "1,2,3,4,.....45,46,47,48,49," he took a second to breath before coming up for fifty though like Antithesis he didn't stop "58,59,60." He finished and got off the stump.

"Light work" Antithesis said as he climbed onto the stump. Not making it as far he finished counting at forty eight.

Shure gave a smirk "Light work my ass."

"Shut it," Antithesis said with a light punch to the shoulder. Finally it was Shure's turn starting off with a strong pace faster than his friends but it slowed in the thirties "38,39,40 once more his jaw was clenched he stopped there and was about to get off the stump.

"Hold on try relaxing your neck and do some more." Antithesis advised.

"wWat would that do?" Shure asked.

"Just do it" Antithesis told him

At first it was tough until he released his jaw, allowing him to do five more. "New records all day!" Astra called out.

Meanwhile inside.

Taupe gave a sigh as she poured a glass of whiskey for Maple hand herself. "Ya know I get it he was trying to help but he doesn't realise how dangerous it is out there." Taupe said, taking a sip.

"Taupe, Creston isn't like it was, it's a much safer town. Plus he's just about a grown stallion himself. No doubt he can handle himself."

"I know that, but I can shake my own fears." Taupe said eyes beginning to water as she peered through the window to see her son doing hoof ups.

"Taupe you can't let what you're scared of hold him back. If you want to face your fear then raise him to never be what you can't face."
Maple said, putting her foreleg around her friend.

"I.. guess I did overreact a litte." she said with a little sniffle.

"So when we leave I'd say you sit and talk, don't just tell him what to do. Also I spoke with Argo he's gonna let Astra start going around on his own. I'd recommend the same to you." Maple said with a soft expression.

"But he..." Taupe wiped away a tear.

"It's ok you couldn't tear those three apart if Celestia herself came down to do it." Maple offered.

"You're right," Taupe laughed, "You're always right." She turned to hug her friend but ended up bumping snouts with Maple's lowered head. that caused both to go red and back up.

"My bad," Maple said as she drew maple in for a hug.

Taupe didn't say anything as she reveled in Maples embrace. It took a moment but Taupe pulled away with a smile on her face now. "Let's start dinner."

Before long the colts reentered the house and made their way upstairs to get washed up. Shure went first grabbing a towel on the way in, leaving Astra and Antithesis in his room.

Antithesis wiped his brow once again as he took a seat at his desk. Astra looked over at Antithesis while he stretched his wings.

"How are you still sweating? We stopped like thirty minutes ago." Astra asked.

"I don't know, I guess I'm just hot." Antithesis replied.

"Hot dude it's like barely 50 degrees out." Astra said.

"Whatever, I can't control it."

"Anyways I saw something about DS&C opening a branch in town."

"DS&C you mean the comic store?" Antithesis asked as he hopped off the chair and grabbed his new pack of cards he was yet to open. "what about it?".

"What about it you can get your NIGHTMARE care properly laminated so it doesn't take any damage, that's what." Astra said with excitement.

"Oh, that's a good idea" Antithesis replied, opening the pack and pulling out five cards.

He laid them out to read them looking over for a second at Shure who entered the room. "Courua-Silver I have a gold. Depwer- bronze got it. Filaur- silver don't have this yet." He place that one to the side passing the rest to Astra who pick one card out and handed them back.

"Shure why don't you start collecting?" Astra asked as Shure took a seat next to him.

"Seems like a waste of time and bits." Shure replied.

"You're joking. Listen I have some duplicate cards I can give ya start with those." Antithesis said as he got up grabbing his towel.

"Yea I got some too" Astra said watching Antithesis leave the room.

Shure gave a sigh "It's cool you guys are into that but I don't find it all that interesting."

"Ahhh yes I almost forgot you're a history nerd. Starswirl and all that." Astra chuckled.

"Just watch every mare is gonna want a NERD in the future." Shure replied.

"Like that will happen, good thing you're working out with us you'll be a chick magnet." Astra said smiling.

"Wel.. Hold on did you say Starswirl. Everyone thinks Starswirl is soooo great yea sure he did some grand spells that paved the way but nothing like Nikola Trotta. He completely revolutionized magic and science less than seventy years ago bringing the two together."

"Ima be honest I don't know jack about that stuff sooo.." Astra trailed off.

"Well I'll tell you about him, essentially he is the .." Shure got interrupted.

"Oh would you look at that Thees is back well I'll go get washed now." Astra flew over Antithesis as he entered the room.

"Did he say something about Starswirl?" Antithesis asked.

Shure laughed through his nose then answered. "Yeah you weren't joking when you said he hates history."

"It's cause he's a math nerd" Antithesis joked.

It came time for Maple to take Astra and Shure back home, leaving just Antithesis and his mom. He hadn't forgotten their argument from earlier but tried to walk away not wanting to bring it up.

Unfortunately Taupe didn't let him get far. "Antithesis could you hold on for a second?" she asked quietly.

Antithesis replied softly. "Yeah."

They sat next to each other on the couch hesitant to speak as dusk filled the room with a faint light. Taupe broke the silence as she placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Antithesis I want to apologize for how I was acting earlier."

He hesitated, surprised at what she said. He turned his head towards her and spoke. "It's not your fault, next time I'll tell you what I'm doing."

"You are becoming a young stallion and I can't stop that, not to mention how tall you are. I think it's time I let you go out by yourself."

Antithesis pulled his mom in for a hug saying, "Thanks mom".

She wrapped her hooves around him and said. "Well as long as you are with your friends that is". They sat there for a minute before pulling away. Taupe stood up and asked. "Now how about you help me clean up the kitchen."

Author's Note

So when it comes to this story I'd like to follow some social/societal rules that can be seen in the show with a semi modern twist.
Also Maple is one of the taller mares that you see in Manehattan and canterlot.

If you like the story and think it has potential please comment and let me know what what could be improved or added,