As it turned out, Spike had spoken out of place. I woke up to find a paper resting on my side. I rolled to my hooves and turned to look at it.

Hello David,

You're an adult, so I figured I'd just tell you. Stop by the school when you can during the day to finish signing up. It is then that you can also schedule which classes you are taking at what time. I hope you can fit things into your schedule.

I admit, working for a world you'll never see is a curious thing, but I can understand not wanting to abandon your family, even a world away. You're a good pony for that, better than many. I don't think everypony else would arrive at the same conclusion.

Wishing You Well,
Twilight Sparkle.

PS: Got called away on an urgent request. You're on your own for breakfast. There are supplies in the kitchen.

I looked up from the paper and trotted out... to the door. It took a moment to get that open. Outside, there was no Spike. It was an empty library, with only me in it. "Hm..." Back home, such a day of isolation was a welcome bit of a break. It was time to work on my various words without being interrupted constantly with needs and motions that made my failing body scream with every motion.

In that library, I found myself more wishing for company. I liked Twilight, and Spike. Their voices hadn't become attached with a demand. They talked because they wanted to hear what I said in return.

My eyes stung.

Oh, I was starting to cry.

Right... It just wasn't terribly fun to think of interactions with your mom that way. I didn't want it to be that way, but it had been. Her voice meant a demand. It was so rarely without one. I even made bets with myself on the odds that it'd be a request. I so very rarely lost that wager.

And I hated being the winner of that gamble...

With a sigh, I shook myself out. I wasn't home. She wasn't there. I lived with Twilight and Spike and both seemed to care about me a lot. A little smile emerged as I wandered into the kitchen and began nosing around for food.

Nothing was prepared, but there were plenty of ingredients. I decided to cook the Bachelor way. Take thing, apply heat, wait, eat, yum!

With a plate of roasted hay and veggies, I chewed with a pleased smile. It was better than I would have guessed. Pony food was pretty good to pony tongues. I wouldn't starve.

Still chewing, I placed my hooves on the keyboard. I had words to write. I checked the calender. Oh, no games to run, just words to write. So I wrote them swiftly out. Would they get better for having first-hand...hoof? experience with ponies? Maybe. I could hope. Did their opinions even matter?

I suppose they did, as I had to keep the bills paid for mom until that was done.

That reminded me. Since I seemed to have control of my computer, or at least an interface much like it, I pulled up my phone control and checked my text messages.

Wow.

Wow....

Mom had sent quite a few, looking for me. At first, annoyed demands, but turning into more worried prods and pokes. I hadn't replied. I was gone.

I should reply, right? Yeah... I jammed out a quick message.

Hey Mom. I'm not there, and I won't be there, but I'm okay! I'll keep paying my share of the mortgage. I'm okay. I will not be returning home.

I pressed send, then removed my hooves from the keyboard. That was enough earth for one day.

I had other things to do! I headed for the door and stepped out. I would have locked it, but Twilight had not given me a key. Did ponies lock their doors? I couldn't do anything about it, so I tossed the thought aside. With my saddlebags full of the things I'd gone to shop with Applejack for, I turned until I saw the school, wedged in the hillside, jewel encrusted, and headed towards it through the town.

I made my way up the winding path leading towards the Friendship Academy, taking in the sights of the magnificent crystal entrance embedded in the hillside. Other young ponies and creatures mingled and chatted amongst the ornamental gardens surrounding the entrance, likely fellow students enjoying some fresh air between classes.

A few shot me curious glances, no doubt noticing the unfamiliar face passing by. I felt suddenly self-conscious, realizing I still had no idea what enrollment procedures were like here or what would be expected of me. Would they judge a random new pony trying to join mid-term?

Swallowing my nerves, I pushed through the ornate double doors hoping I looked more confident than I felt. The interior opened up into a grand lobby with hallways branching off it to further wings of the building. Young ponies strode about with books and supplies, filling the space with lively energy.

Nearby, a pink coated earth pony with a blond mane and freckles sat behind a large desk, cheerfully sorting papers. She seemed a good bet for a guide. I headed over, clearing my throat awkwardly to get her attention when I arrived at the desk side and realized I had no clue how to gracefully ask for directions.

"Um, hello!" I started in what I hoped was a friendly tone. "I'm new around here and Princess Twilight said I should, uh, sign up for some... friendship classes?" I trailed off lamely, feeling my ears heat with sudden embarrassment. Maybe I should have planned an introduction...

The pink secretary pony turned from her paperwork and met my stumbling query with a huge, welcoming smile!

"Why, of course, new student! Professor Twilight mentioned we should expect you." She stuck out a hoof eagerly over the tabletop. "I'm Dawn, one of the school office team and happy to get you started! First, let me just say welcome..."

I shook Dawn's offered hoof, relief washing over me at her warm greeting as she babbled on about signup procedures with continued pep. So far, so welcoming! With ponies like her guiding me, perhaps I could make a smooth enough transition into school life after all.

Though part of me wonders, who was Dawn? She wasn't one of Twilight's friends. Had all the teachers been scrambled in that Equestria? "I was hoping to make a schedule around other things I have planned. Is that alright?"

She inclined her head. "Well, when are these other things?"

Shoot! A fine question! I frowned, thinking back to the times I had seen, and the times it seemed to be in Equestria. Equestria seemed to be at about Eastern Standard Time, a few hours off from where I'd been back on Earth... but that actually worked in my favor. "Actually... I only need a few days worked around." The others were so late, later afternoon, they wouldn't bother with school.

"But, and this is going to sound stupid... But what are the days of the week around here?"

Dawn blinked in surprise at my question before giving an understanding laugh. "Oh that's quite alright! I can only imagine how many differences there must be between worlds. Let me explain..."

She slid a calendar chart over, tapping various squares. "We follow standard decimal timekeeping just like your 24 hour day, but our weekly cycles are eight days currently. They used to be ten days about a century back until revised for simplicity."

She indicated each column. "So the days progress Sunrise, Garden, Festival, Study, Harbor, Market, Performance, and Restday before repeating." She looked back up with a smile. "We set our class schedules using those as reference points. Does aligning your prior commitments around that make sense?"

I examined the new weekly layout with interest, mouthing the uniquely pony day names to memorize them better. An eight day week would take some realigning for my inner clock indeed! But the whimsical titles felt comforting in their familiarity - trusts these names captured the rhythms of idealized village living at heart.

"I think I've got it, thanks Dawn!" I said, pointing to a few work blocks that seemed safest to schedule around without risking magical disconnects mid-session. "If you could schedule classes avoiding these windows, I'll manage the rest."

"Excellent!" She eagerly noted down the openings I indicated. "We'll find some nice sections for you in no time..."

She paused as she worked. "Wait... Why are yours in... Oh. Your hometown used seven day weeks? Interesting." She did her best to work around that. "First day here and already giving me plenty to do. We're going to love you, David."

I smiled awkwardly. "I hope that's not sarcastic."

"No! No... If you want sarcasm, look for Gallus, or Smolder. Those two... Um... Not that I'm bad talking them. They're lovely creatures! Are you scared of not-ponies?"

"No way." I looked around for more creatures amidst the pony-dominated hallway. "I'd love to meet them, later. Today, we're scheduling."

"That we are," she sang, sliding a paper towards me. "Your schedule for this month. Now, since you've made this tricky, remember to stop by once a moon for a new schedule. Oh, or I could give it to Professor Twilight? She stops by at least once a moon, often more often."

I examined the schedule Dawn provided, smiling to see she had managed to smoothly work my outside obligations into the mix across a nice spread of classes. Ancient Runes & Languages, Cross-Cultural Customs, even Mythic Creatures Biology...it made for an intriguing academic blend with time still reserved for my remote writing work.

"This looks perfect, thanks so much Dawn!" I said sincerely, truly impressed by how handily she had pieced together a curriculum catered to my unique needs on such short notice. Perhaps the administrators here were used to out-of-the-box enrollment cases.

I noticed an open Empathy & Emotions seminar still had space mid-week. On impulse I decided to add it - Starswirl knew I could use all the insight I could get into the psychological intricacies connecting creatures here. Getting schooled on pony feelings might provide clarity to ease my own lingering inner knots too.

"Let me get you the reading lists for these..." Dawn slid an intimidatingly tall stack of books from under the desk with an energetic wing flap, the miniature tower nearly toppling twice before she secured it in her telekinetic hold. "Just some light background for your first classes," she assured with a cheery wink.

Stumbling only slightly under my suddenly cumbersome laden saddlebags, I had to laugh. Apparently studying friendship was serious business even in whimsical Equestria! But with guides as openly upbeat as Dawn facilitating things, I felt any academic or social hurdles couldn't overwhelm me too badly. This was already shaping up far less stressful than anticipated!

"One question." I shuffled in place, getting comfortable with the great load of textbooks. "I don't even know if this is a known 'thing' in Equestria, but I have autism." She stared at me blankly. "It means I'm a bit awkward. My reactions aren't quite right, and I don't pick up on the same social cues. It's not because I'm angry, or don't like people. I do! I just suck at... expressing that, and understanding what other people are tossing back at me sometimes."

Dawn burst into merry laughter. "Well! Then you're coming to the right place. Helping all creatures, ponies included, deal with friendship problems is exactly what you're here for." She pointed at my schedule. "And you just took the right class. Just be honest, with yourself and with us, and we'll be a helping hoof forward to a better you."

I wandered out of the school with a silly smile. They were just... accepting me. It was--

"--Hey," called a voice behind me. "New?"

Author's Note

Who that? It could be near anyone! Well, except Twilight. That'd be odd.

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