Dawn's new day.

Today stunk, literally, with the Summer Sun Celebration over school had resumed and my normal school routine had resumed. I was disappointed my family had to leave so quickly, but farm and weather work never stopped. As I moved through the halls I grumbled ‘hello’ to a few other students before arriving at my next class.

“Alright everypony I know it’s hot today but please keep focused. The cooling crystals for the school should be repaired before tomorrow’s lessons.” That was why today stunk, the school’s cooling crystals had failed and needed to be replaced. It was almost hotter inside the school than outside causing the air to smell of musk and sweat. I was lucky I knew a cooling charm however, while it helped with the heat it was another drain on my magic.

“Dawn.” Lyra whispered from my side. “Pst, Dawn.”

“What?” I hissed through my teeth. I just wasn’t in a good mood today with everything going on. Twilight and Starlight still need to talk soon too.

“Could you please cast a cooling spell on me. Mine isn’t working right.” She pleaded as sweat was rolling off her neck. I sighed and thought up a quick charm.

“Fine.” I lit my horn and the relief on her face was instant. “Just be sure to maintain it.”

“Thanks.” She lit her horn and took over powering the charm. “Oh wow yours is way more efficient than mine, I was worried I wouldn’t make it through the day.”

“No problem Lyra.” I sighed and focused back on the front of the class.

What in Equestria are we even learning today? I almost couldn’t believe the lesson we were having in our History/ Equestrian Civics class once I started paying improper attention. The lesson was mainly about family structures and gender roles in society along with its history. It’s way to hot for this stuff and aren’t we a bit young for this, even if this is an advanced school.

“And that class is why the guard allows Stallions while the army still does not.” Our teacher had just finished a portion of her lecture that I was half paying attention to. I could tell the other few colts found it just as disappointing though hardly anypony was paying attention to anything other than the heat. “Not that we maintain a large standing army these days.” The teacher lamely finished.

I knew mares were the dominant ones but actually learning about it in school feels different. I had been at the school for almost a year and matured quite a bit in the time after getting my cutie mark. I still wouldn’t be fully grown for a few years but I was well on my way. Wonder If I’ll get as large as Celestia eventually?

As class continued I started thinking about my family again. We kept in contact with letters and even though I had seen them recently, I was really starting to feel homesick. Aside from just being hot, Summer was our longest time without a long break meaning I hadn’t been home in a while. I’m jealous of those who’s families live in the city. Maybe I’ll ask mom to pick me up for a weekend soon.

“Trixie is not having a good day.” She gave me a long nuzzle and enjoyed the effect my cooling charm had on her.

“I agree.” I was a bit concerned about her being so warm so cast a fresh one on her as well. “It’s way too warm. Why didn’t they just let us have the day off?”

“Oh that feels nice.” Trixie sagged onto my side and I actually blushed as my mood slightly improved. Strange she can have such an effect when we haven’t even kissed on the lips. We all knew better than to rush things at our age.

“They probably didn’t expect it to be so bad with cooling charms being available.” Starlight didn’t look sweaty but the strain of magic drain was showing on her face. She had probably offered to help others like I had but without transferring the cost to the recipient.

“Day not going well for you either?” I asked and gave her a nuzzle.

“No and…” Starlight almost growled at being interrupted.

“Hi there.” Twilight had adopted an almost manic smile while sitting down across from us. “It’s hot today right?”

My eyes went a bit wide. Twilight what is that timing? It’s bad right?

“Hello Twilight. Yeah, it is hot.” Starlight grit her teeth. Her already sour mood made worse by Twilight’s casual attitude.

Trixie and I shared a worried look at Twilight’s density.

“Right, so hey Starlight I was wondering if I could talk with you about Dawn?” Her smile shifted from manic to nervous then continued speaking as if I wasn’t sitting right here when Starlight didn’t reply. “So I know you and Trixie are in a trial herd with him and I was wondering if I could join as well? Considering we are both Princess Celestia’s personal students I figured I would be a good addition plus Dawn and I are already friends and he treats my dragon son, Spike, like his own so… yeah, can I?”

It took immense effort not to face hoof. Twilight. What the buck was that? Starlight glanced my way as I panicked a bit as the focus shifted my direction.

Twilight this was not how I wanted this done, especially on a day like today. Why would you bring up your position as personal student. It probably just made her jealous. I was practically screaming in my own head. Oh, this is bad.

“Twilight.” Starlight started as she slowly turned back and looked her in the eye.

“Yes?” Twilight tilted her head, still with an inappropriately friendly smile.

“Buck off!” I pinned my ears back at Starlight’s candor while Trixie winced from the volume.

“What, but?” Twilight looked hurt and pinned her ears back tail tucked between her legs. The groups around us stopped their own conversations to look our way.

“You come over here, bragging about being the princesses personal student, and how close you’ve already gotten with Dawn! And then, you ask to join our herd?” Starlight slammed her hooves on the table, earning plenty of more attention and whispers. I noticed a few cooling charms of Starlight’s acquaintances broke at the same time her own did. “Are you really that dense? Why would you think I’d let you join after asking like that on the worst day ever?”

Twilight looked on the verge of tears. “I just thought…”

“Thought your status could buy your way in and take the lead? Dawn and I have been friends for years, I already lost one friend and you won’t take him from me too?!” Starlight yelled and Twilight who had been sitting there stunned, ran off crying once Starlight finished.

What happened between her and Sunburst? I was shocked at her outburst but eventually found my voice. Those around us went back to doing their own things but I could hear some murmurs about what just happened.

“Starlight.” She looked at me and flinched when she heard the flat tone of my voice. “You’ll need to apologize later.”

I didn’t say anything else or move from my spot and focused on eating with a sour expression. I did however feel Trixie tense up a bit and glance towards Starlight sympathetically.

Celestia was concerned when she heard the sound of crying coming from her study as she entered. Her wards had alerted her somepony was inside outside of her schedule.

“Twilight? What’s wrong?” She asked the small filly laying on her floor. “Why are you not in school but here in the castle?” Celestia’s heart almost broke when Twilight looked up with tear stained fur. The alicorn immediately pulled her into a hug.

“They don’t like me. No. Pony. Likes. Me.” Twilight wailed and dug her face into Celestia’s chest fluff.

“Oh Twilight.” Celestia wrapped her student in her wings as her heart melted. Whoever made our student cry will feel the full weight of the sun.Perhaps we should find out what’s wrong first?

“Twilight, I know you’re upset but can you tell me what happened?” Celestia tried to keep her voice as soothing as possible.

With a few stalled attempts Twilight eventually finished her story about what happened. Celestia almost cringed at her students inability to read social situations. Reminds me of Luna.…

“So Starlight said no, how did Dawn react?” Celestia clung to that sliver of hope for Twilight who gained a pondering look.

“He. He didn’t say no but he didn’t stop her either.” Twilight sniffed but had stopped crying.

“Well Twilight he is a colt in a herd. He can’t just dismiss his mares, well fillies, in any case, even if it is just a trial herd.” Or even if he is a young Alicorn. Celestia gave Twilight a motherly look.

Twilight looked as if she just gotten the best news. “You’re right. I’ll just have to study harder to prove I’m worth it.”

“Twilight that’s not what I was implying…” Twilight had already ran off though yelling about doing her missing work. That could have gone better.You think.

“Dawn what are you doing up here?” Celestia had flown up to a cloud hanging lazily over her school. One of the school’s staff had mentioned a young pegasus napping on it so she decided to investigate.

“Just needed to get away for a bit and clouds are nice and cool.” I lethargically rolled over and stretched my wings. My horn and cutie mark were hidden but anypony close could easily recognize me if they tried. Probably not the smartest idea but I just couldn’t be bothered to care today.

“I see.” She landed on what little space there was left and nuzzled up close. “I heard about what happened at lunch with Twilight, is that why you’re up here?”

I flinched and nodded.

“Well it is a nice view.” She looked out over the city in the late afternoon light.

Neither of us spoke for a while as we just lay on the cloud.

“Why does Twilight have to be so~.” I huffed and buried my muzzle in the soft cloud. “Dense. I really like her but that was not the way to have that conversation.”

Celestia tittered at my antics. “No it probably wasn’t.” Celestia hummed. “She should have gotten advice from my niece Cadence.”

“It’s not funny Tia.” I used Luna’s nickname for her as mild revenge.

She gave me a conflicted look then looked back over the city. “No you’re right Dawn, it’s not.” She sighed. “Twilight now has it in her head that studying harder will somehow earn Starlight’s approval after crying and you’re up here sulking on a cloud.”

“Not sulking.” I grumbled while clearly sulking. She wrapped a wing over my back.

“I need to remember that while you’re an alicorn you are still just a colt so shouldn’t make light of such things.” She comforted.

After another few moments I nuzzled her side. “Thanks Tia.”

I stood up and stretched my wings then jumped off the cloud to glide back near the dorms as she watched.

Perhaps this is what having our own foals will be like.Don’t you mean foals we actually watch over like a mother should?

I was feeling better after returning to the dorms after returning to my normal look.

“Hey Dawn, where you been?” Sunburst asked from the lounge as I walked inside.

“Just out cooling off. Hey did something happen with you and Starlight?” He looked guilty after I asked.

“Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “She had asked me out a while back but I said no. She’s a great friend but I’m just not looking to herd yet. I may have also lied about not liking fillies.”

I had reached my limit for the day and face hoofed. I walked off towards the dining room for dinner ignoring Sunburst asking if I wanted to play a game. She better not have asked me just because Sunbust said no and we’re friends. At least I know Trixie is truly interested.