Canterlot Academy Trials

When it was time for everyone’s mandated lunch break, the students were given a full hour to roam Canterlot in order to get lunch for themselves. Luckily, many of the local restaurants were offering deals and specials to students on behalf of the lunch program that Princess Twilight enacted.

With their familiars de-summoned, Nebula’s class headed out. The unicorn himself trotted along until he neared Restaurant Row…

“Hm…”

That’s when the smell of pizza caught his attention. “Hm. That smells nice.” Following his nose, Nebula continued until he arrived at what looked like an old-world bistro. A rustic place that gave regional scents of--

“Bitaly. Hey, I remember this place. I think Tungsten ordered pizza for us from here once,” he muttered as he walked in, and was greeted by a pony that somehow knew him.

“Oh hey. How ya doin’,” a tall, wide-bodied earth pony mare with a thick, heavy Hooflyn accent who stood behind a register next to a display case filled with various regional desserts. She had a cream-colored body, brown eyes, a brown mane and tail, and her cutie mark was a set of parsley leaves. “Ain’tcha name Nebula or somethin’?”

“...yes, that’s me?” Nebula replied hesitantly, as he slowed to a stop. “...but I don’t recall ever setting hoof in here before. How do you know me?”

“The guards routinely come around here when they off-duty, bud,” the mare went on while tapping the side of her face, “Which one…it was a silva-colored guy with these burns all ovah him.”

Nebula immediately knew who she was referring to. “Tungsten Wolfe?” he asked while stepping forward once more. “Royal Guard #74! He’s the best!”

“Yeah das him,” she replied with a nod and turned around. The mare then trotted to the kitchen and raised her voice so she could continue to speak with him as she walked off, “Said you’d be comin’ in for lunch and paid for ya ahead of time, so what wouldja like, sugah?”

“Really?” Nebula tilted his head as he looked up at the menu. “That’s nice of him. I’ll have to make sure I thank him later. And uh…huh. What’s a calzone? Looks very interesting.”

“Basically a folded pizza, hon. That whatcha want?” she asked from the kitchen.

Nebula closed the gap by walking through the place where he’d see a few other patrons enjoying their lunch at diner-style tables with red and white tablecloth. The young stallion’s eyes went wide as his nose twitched from the various smells that filled his head.

“Man how interesting…” he muttered, then looked up at the mare in the kitchen. “Oh, uh--before I continue, mind if I get your name?”

“Prezzemola, sweetie,” she replied with a smile, “But since you’re cute, you can call me Prez.”

Nebula chuckled bashfully in response. “Oh uh…thank you, Ms. Prez. Anyhow…I think I’ll try that calzone. With a sunflower salad on the side. And some cider to go with it--er, non-alcoholic, please.”

“Good choice! I’ll have that right out for ya in a bit, okay?” Prezzemola said as she scribbled his order down on paper with a pencil between her teeth. “Have a seat anywhere, ‘kay, Nebula?”

“Got it. And thank you.” He replied with a smile as he took a seat at an empty table and took a look around the restaurant, noting the pictures of various ponies and landmarks from Bitaly including the leaning tower.

“Interesting…” he muttered as he looked over everything on display, “This could serve as a good research report for an upcoming assignment I have.”

Just then, two more students from Canterlot College would make their appearance. Two mares. One, a pale-purple unicorn with a brown mane that featured small streaks of blue cutting through it. The other, a cyan unicorn mare with a reddish-brown mane. They were both wearing white and gold cheerleader uniforms--the colors of Canterlot itself.

“Hey, Ms. Prez. We’ll take our usual when you get a chance,” said the purple one with a hint of a Trotland accent in her voice.

“Gotcha. Gimme a bit, yeah?” Prezzemola shouted from the kitchen.

Then, the cyan mare noticed Nebula. “Oh hey, is that one of the new freshmen?”

“...don’t embarrass him--or yourself--”

“Heyyyyy!” the cyan mare quickly abandoned her purple friend. The latter of which slapped her forehead with her hoof out of shame as her friend left her side.

Nebula blinked while looking at the notes he had already taken thus far with a levitated pencil, noting how some of his writing felt blurry. “Hrm…gah. It’s a bad day when you can’t read your own penmanship…”

The cyan mare sat at the table with him. “Hey! You’re one of the new guys, huh?”

“Oh…” he looked up, staring at the unicorn for a moment until the blurry state of his vision went away and he could see just one of her instead of three. “Yes. My name is Atomic Nebula. Nice to meet you. I assume you’re on Canterlot’s Cheer Squad, yes?”

“We totes are,” she replied with a smug smile while looking at her friend over Nebula’s shoulder and raising her eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

“Hm? ‘We’?” Nebula asked, wondering who she could be referring to.

The purple mare simply rolled her eyes and followed her friend over. “Hey. I’m Lily Love and this bimbo is Sweet Curd.”

“Now that’s just harsh, isn’t it?” Sweet stuck out her tongue at her friend. “Just wanted to greet one of our new Canterlot Alumni. Is that so wrong?”

“It isn't when you’re a complete and utter numpty,” Lily sighed and looked at Nebula. “I’m sorry in advance.”

Nebula shook his head. “Oh it’s no problem.”

“So how’s your first day been so far?” Sweet asked.

“Well…had it’s ups and downs…”

“...What’s wrong?” Lily asked with a concerned tone as she took a seat next to Sweet.

Nebula would go on to explain the situation with the griffoness in regards to the way she bullied others…

“Ugh…seriously?” Sweet rolled her eyes, “That crap’s so played out.”

“You’re telling me,” Lily groaned, “Clearly that griffon chick hasn’t dropped off her bad habits from high school. It’s a joke, innit?”

“Agreed. But I’m not sure how to approach her,” Nebula sighed, “I don’t wanna snap and attack her to defend myself, but if I have to…”

“Then that’s on her,” Sweet folded her hooves and turned her nose up, “If a grown-ass lady like herself can’t treat other people with respect, then she’s gonna catch it. Just imagine your magic like an arcade game.”

“...excuse me?”

“Rated E--for everyone.”

Lily shook her head. “What Sweet means is, if she attacks any of us, we’re going to defend ourselves and fight back if need be. Then report it. Just make sure you look out for your friends in your Dorm Block, eh?”

“Of course,” Nebula replied, and realized that they were a bit older than he was, meaning that they’ve likely experienced this before.

“Oh yeah and stock up on condoms,” Sweet teased him with half-lidded eyes, “You’re in co-ed dorms, so you’ll need to protect your c--”

ZAP!

With a flash of Lily’s horn, a zipper appeared over Sweet’s mouth. “...fookin’ ‘ell. I’m sure the lad knows what a rubber is. Don’t embarrass him. This is why I never go out with you,” she muttered while shaking her head in further disappointment.

“Oh don’t worry about that,” Nebula retorted with a confident tone, “I’m not remotely interested in anyone.”

Poof!

Sweet used her horn to remove the zipper from her lips and glared daggers at Lily. “Uncalled for.”

“Eat my arse,” Lily casually snapped back.

Sweet rolled her eyes and looked at Nebula. “Anyway. Famous last words. No heterosexual college boy keeps to himself with the imbalance of mares around.”

“Just be careful, yeah?” Lily added, “Don’t catch any bumps or knock anyone up. The things I’ve seen still gimme nightmares, mate.”

“Trust me, I’m more than aware of the risks,” Nebula retained his confidence, “...but I will make sure I keep some protection on standby.”

The cheerleader mares got up from the table.

“Good. Best of luck to ye,” Lily said as she trotted away.

Sweet waited until Lily was out of earshot to whisper to Nebula. “For the record, a cute guy like you is gonna score big time. Tell me all about it when you--WAGH!”

Lily force-grabbed Sweet with her magical aura while carrying two bags in her magic at the same time. “We’re leaving, mate.”

“Hey! Put me down, dammit! At least lemme get some of my sandwich!” Sweet squirmed and yelped from within the magical hold as they both left.

“...what an interesting pair,” Nebula muttered. “Still…can’t get careless.”