I made it through the end of spring heat season without incident this year. The other colts and I spent all our times hiding out in the dorms during the season but now classes were resuming for the start summer. It’s odd not having a summer break but all this time off makes up for it I guess. Oh this year’s Summer Sun Celebration should be happening soon as well, I remember Celestia wanted Twilight and I to attend.

As I sat listening to a lecture from Celestia in my first class of the day I couldn’t help but notice a few groups of fillies had gotten closer while others were sticking further apart. Looks like new Trial Herds may have formed, I hope they didn’t do it just because of the season. I knew they probably did but I also knew very well how puppy love worked.

Is it just me or Twilight being avoided more than usual? It was subtle but the students on either side of her were closer to the ponies on their other sides and leaving a wider gap with Twilight.

“Dawn?” Celestia spoke up as she noticed me looking around the room. “Please focus on the front of the class.”

The room let out small giggles.

“Sorry Ms. Celestia.” My ears pinned back as I focused back on her lecture. We were reviewing more runes again and how they were used in everyday life. The class often rotated between ‘Brute force’ magic which was just forcing magic through your horn and thinking about a spell, rune magic which was casting via well runes, and the practical applications of both. There were many other lessons sprinkled in such as safety, proper application, etc making it well rounded.

When we weren’t having lectures we were memorizing runes or practicing them without casting anything. It’s no wonder CSGU is such a competitive four year school to get into when there’s so much to learn. If I couldn’t make comparisons to programming, math, or other things from earth it would be overwhelming.

When the bell rang I tried to catch Twilight but she was already gone. Celestia had left quickly as well since she had to return to the castle. Guess I’ll see them next time we have personal lessons.

I found myself suddenly getting a kiss on each cheek as I waited in the lunch line.

“Hey girls good to see you again.” I smiled at Trixie and Staright.

“We’re so sorry for avoiding you Dawn it’s just if we didn’t…” Starlight stared.

“Starlight and Trixie feel like they would have made a mistake.” Trixie bashfully finished.

“Ah, it’s ok you two. How about this weekend we hang out instead.” I gave them both a kiss on the cheek back causing their ears to perk up. Such cute reactions.

“Sounds like a great idea.” Starlight took up her spot at my side. “Though I doubt we’ll get permission to go off campus again.”

“Trixie could preform some of her newer tricks, provided by her parents, for you both. She could also use some practice and feedback.” Her ears wiggled a bit in anticipation.

“Trixie I don’t think…” Straight started before I accidentally cut her off.

“Sounds fun Trixie. By the way your parents are performers in a circus right?” I didn’t know much about the pony circus. “Mind telling me more about it?” She looked excited since we typically only talk about school work.

Starlight looked a bit upset at the attention I was giving to Trixie so I whispered into her ear as we moved to sit down. “We grew up in the same town so I don’t know as much about her as I do you is all.”

The three of us spent the rest of lunch eating and listening to what circus life was like while I also scoped out the room. Looks like I wasn’t the only colt to join a Trial herd. There were plenty of other colts shrouded by fillies just conversing while plenty of other filly only herds looked on a bit jealously.

“Starlight are you okay?” Trixie gave her filly friend a nuzzle after lunch while heading to their next class.

“I’m… No, I’m upset you monopolized Dawn all of lunch.” Starlight huffed while Trixie frowned. “I’m already upset that he went and became Celestia’s personal student and spends every weekend with Twilight and I didn’t get to see him all season.” she stomped her hoof causing a few other students to back away from them. “We’ve been spending less time together ever since leaving Sires Hollow and it’s almost like Sunburst all over again. I can’t even tell him else he will just find another filly who won’t complain.” Starlight hung her head and was surprised when Trixie hugged her.

“He still chose us Starlight. Trixie is… I’m, sorry about lunch but Dawn took the lead in asking. Are you mad at us?” Trixie made sure to keep a calming tone.

“No.” Starlight scuffed at the floor then looked at her herd mate.

“Then you shouldn’t be afraid of talking with him.” Trixie puffed up her chest fluff.

Starlight mulled over what she said as they headed into their next class.

“Hey Dawn, do you know why we’re meeting near the pond today?” I had just walked up next to Moon Dancer as she was reading where we were meeting for gym.

“No, we normally either meet in the training field or the inside gym if rain is scheduled.” I tilted my head to double check the instructions before shrugging. “Maybe we’re going to be swimming.”

Moon Dancer missed a step as we headed outside. “Swimming? Have you ever been before?”

“Yeah I… wait, no I haven’t.” I had to think hard about it while we crossed the grounds. I used to love swimming as a human since I had family near the ocean, even if I didn’t get many opportunities but I don’t think I’ve ever been as a pony.

“Sires Hollow didn’t have any large bodies of water and it was too cold for swimming every time I was in Ponyville.” We arrived at the pond not long after my explanation.

“Me neither, I hope it’s not Swimming though.” Moon’s ears pinned back.

“Afternoon Class. We’re going to be swimming today.” Gale happily explained while Moon Dancer groaned. “It’s a good way to keep cool and those of you who want to be guards will need to know how. So, how many of you know how to swim?”

Less than a third of the class raised their hooves.

“Well that’s alright. We’re here to learn after all. First up I want to see those of you who know how to swim get into the water first.” She clapped her forehooves while hovering over the large pond and the group got moving as the rest of us watched.

Wow, ponies Swimming is so strange. It looked like most used an inefficient Dog Paddle style which was also slow or a pony version of the breast stroke that didn’t look comfortable and was also slow. It probably doesn’t help our nostrils face forward instead of down so water gets in easier without magic. Wait…

“Alright everypony not a bad start but can any of you tell me what went wrong?” She asked those of us on shore as the others shook themselves off.

I raised my hoof and decided to take a guess after being called. “They were too afraid of water getting in their nose?”

Gale blinked then smiled. “Exactly! Despite how our muzzles look it is very hard for water to get into it accidentally thanks to our innate magic, think about how water doesn’t get in when you bathe, so those of you doing the frog kick were on the right track but you needed to get your heads lower so it’s not as inefficient and you can swim faster.”

She then jumped in the water and demonstrated by diving under and doing a quick lap. When she came back she shook herself off and fluttered her wings. “See, that’s closer to how a unicorn should swim. Now I of course have the advantage of my wings, which work just as well for swimming in water as flying in the air, after some practice of course.”

I raised my hoof again.

“Yes Dawn?” She smiled my way.

“So you can swim with wings?” She nodded. I’ll have to get mom to teach me that. “What about magic?”

“Ah, excellent question young unicorn. There are spells that can be learned and you will be doing that after you’ve all gotten regular swimming down, to avoid shortcuts. There are also water walking spells and Pegasi like myself can walk on water, with training.” She then stepped onto the ponds surface and turned around to face us.

“Cool,” and other such phrases came from most of the class as we watched her easily walk on the pond’s surface.

“How are you doing that?” Moon Dancer asked.

“Clouds are just water vapor and our innate magic allows us to walk on them. Walking on water requires more magic and concentration, since it’s natural magic acts against you, but is still possible.” She walked back onto shore. “Now then let’s get you all in the water.”

Swimming was nice. It was hot and sunny out and the water was cool and refreshing. I was a bit reluctant to put my muzzle underwater but once I did it wasn’t so bad.

Quite a few refused to get in without Gale watching over them while others jumped right in and had to be helped by friends to stay afloat.

Once class was nearing its end we were all told to get out and dried off by a combination of shaking and magic.

“That wasn’t so bad.” I commented.

“Speak for yourself.” I almost snorted while Laughing as Moon Dancer walked over with a soaked mane covering her face.

“Somepony needs a mane cut.” I laughed while she huffed.

“So what do you girls think?” Rarity asked to her fellow herd mates.

“I don’t know Rarity should we really be asking Appljack to help us? Isn’t that Dawn’s sister?” Rainbow Dash replied as they sat around in Rarity’s living room after they all finished work for the day.

“Yes darling but not by blood. If we were going after Big Mac then it would be wrong of course.” Rarity fussed while sketching out designs on the side.

“Isn’t he with Cheerilee anyway.” Fluttershy blushed.

“Yes and while he is a handsome stallion he would not quite fit into our dynamics. So it’s a moot point anyway.” Rarity waved off the idea with a hoof.

“Moot?” Rainbow mouthed to Fluttershy while she giggled. “I still don’t understand why we have to go after Dawn. There’s some nice colts on the weather team.” Rainbow said aloud.

“We could.” Rarity hummed. “But how much competition is there for them already?” She looked Rainbow in the eye.

“Quite a lot.” Rainbow’s wings sagged.

“Um, Rarity isn’t Dawn in a school full of other unicorns most of which are fillies?” Fluttershy tapped her hooves together.

Rarity’s eyes went wide as she realized the implications. “This is the worst possible thing.” She fell back on her fainting couch as the other two shared a look.

“Sugar you out here?” Pear Butter called for her daughter while walking the orchard.

“Here dam.” She bucked another pear tree. Their family had started working those lands again after Pear had admitted to already owning them.

“Now what are you doing so far out?” She gave Applejack a nuzzle.

“Was still feeling restless.” She blushed and loaded a filled basket onto her cart.

“Oh sugar, I’m sorry. Us pears have always had a longer cycle than normal if not properly quenched. Luckily, I have your moms to help me.” she joked.

“Aww dam, too much information.” Aj covered her face with her hat.

“Who knows, maybe Dawn can help you out next time to keep it in the family.” Pear laughed

“Ma!” Applejack whinnied.

“Oh I’m just joking with you sugar. Though it’s not unheard of.” Pear tapped her chin as AJ huffed and gave her dam’s side a playful head but.

Author's Note

World building:

Ponies handle non blood siblings in an odd manner. With the example of AJ and Dawn their parents would find it perfectly acceptable if they wanted to herd together.

In fact some herds will scout out a mare to join them if she is single and has a colt from a stud contract or if her previous herd dissolved for some reason, just so the colt could get close to their own daughters. That situation is both good for the single mother, who wants a loving herd, hopefully one that includes a stallion, and potentially good for the colt as he’s now blood tied to the original herd if he sires a child with his ‘step sister’.

The ‘step sister’ (EX; AJ) might be interested since they are already family and she wouldn’t have to compete as hard for a stallion or end up with somepony she isn’t comfortable with.

In the Example of Dawn and AJ if they got together and sires a foal, Dawn would be blood tied to clan Apple instead of just marriage tied via his mothers.