Chapter 2: Keeping in Shape

The next day of school came up. Marissa dropped off Aaron, Smolder and Megan at school before heading to work. Aaron, Smolder and Megan were talking with each other as they were heading down the hall.

"So, ya came from another dimension and decided ta stay here?" Megan asked.

"Yeah," Smolder said. "But living here isn't so bad. Sure, not as many gems here than there is back in Equestria."

"Yeah, Ah guess so," Megan said.

"But it's not so bad," Smolder said. "Being part human here does have some disadvantages. In human form, I can't fly, or breathe fire, which the second part is good because of what fire can do.

"Yeah, that's true," Megan said. "But you don't seem like you're one of those nasty dragons in the show the last time Ah watched it. Especially that red one, Garble."

"Hey, that's my brother," Smolder said.

"Seriously?" Megan asked.

"I was surprised about it myself when I saw that episode," Aaron said. "When she mentioned her brother in the show before the fans saw it was Garble, she never mentioned him by name."

"That was on me," Smolder said. "I don't know what Spike would have done if I told him my brother's name since he already had a bad rep with him before."

"Well, we should get to class," Aaron said. "We got English."

"What's the point of taking English Class if we already speak it?" Smolder asked.

"Ah would say... the grammar, the spelling and even the book reports," Megan said. "Hope ya prepare yerself fer all that."

"Meh, whatever," Smolder said. "I just hope that we don't get something too tough."

"I'm sure that it won't be too bad," Aaron said. "Let's go." Then they all headed towards their homeroom class.

Aaron, Smolder and the rest of the class made it through English and Math class. They were about to walk into History Class. They walked into one room and got into their seats in the back. On the teacher's desk, there was a nameplate with the name "Mrs. Byrne" on it.

"History in Human High School," Smolder said. "I wonder what we'll learn here."

"That depends," Aaron said. "Whether it's world or American History. We'll find out soon." Just then, an old woman came into the room.

"Hello, class, my name is Mrs. Byrne," the old woman said. "I'm your history teacher. Now, listen up, because I'm gonna teach this only once." She then walked towards the whiteboard and pulled down on the projector screen and it went up, and there was something written on the whiteboard. "Who has heard of the War of 1812?"

Everyone in class got confused about it and looked around.

"Okay, class, pull out your textbooks and we'll get started," Mrs. Byrne said.

Aaron raised his hand and said, "Um, Mrs. Byrne, we haven't gotten our textbooks yet."

"You haven't?" Mrs. Byrne asked.

"No," Aaron said. "It's only the second day of the school year."

"Well then, I guess we'll have to go get our textbooks then," Mrs. Byrne said. "Now, everyone, out of your seats, and we'll get our textbooks. Come come." She then escorted the class out of the classroom. "Don't worry, we won't be out long."

Almost an hour later, the students and Mrs. Byrne finally returned to the classroom.

"Oh my Dragon Lord, that took forever!" Smolder said. "And that was just trying to get to the library for our textbooks!"

"Ah wish that Mrs. Byrne would have let one o' us lead 'er to the library," Megan said.

"I agree with you, Megan," Kyle said. "Let's just get through the rest of the day." They all returned to their seats. As soon as all of them got into their seats, the bell rang. Then they all got ready to leave for their next class. But then, Mrs. Byrne came back in.

"Hello, class, my name is Mrs. Byrne," Mrs. Byrne said. "I'm your history teacher. Now, listen up, because I'm gonna teach this only once." She then walked over to the whiteboard. "Who has heard of the War of 1812?"

"Uh, Mrs. Byrne," Paul said. "Class just ended."

"What?" Mrs. Byrne asked, looking at the clock. "Oh, I supposed it did. Alright, dismissed." Then everyone went out of the classroom to head to their next class.

"All that to learn nothing in History Class," Smolder said.

"Let's just get to our next class," Aaron said. Then they all split up to head to their different classes. Aaron and Smolder headed off towards the computer typing class.

At free period, Aaron, Paul and Kyle were at an outdoor basketball court, playing basketball together to keep in shape for the upcoming basketball season. Smolder and Megan were watching from the sidelines.

"Wow, these boys are great at this sport," Megan said.

"Yeah, they're good," Smolder said. "Aaron's very goot at the sport himself. Even the Harlem Globetrotters thought he was good when we had a scrimmage with 'em for a fundraiser."

"You played Basketball against the Harlem Globetrotters?" Megan asked.

"Me, Aaron, Gallus, Silverstream and Ocellus," Smolder said. "We lost by one point, but we made enough money for our middle school. Aaron made the final shot, but we still lost. And it was very impressive."

"I made a 4-point-shot in that game," Aaron said. "Dragon strength is impressive."

"C'mon, Aaron," Paul said. "Show us your dragon form."

"Sorry, but if I'm gonna play basketball on the team, I might as well keep it a fair game," Aaron said. "My dragon form might be too much of an advantage for our school. Plus, there won't be other non-human creatures playing for the other schools."

"He's got a point," Smolder said. "It's best to keep things fair. Especially without flying."

"Which we had special medallions that kept us from flying during our game against the Harlem Globetrotters," Aaron said.

"Who knows, maybe one day we might see the Harlem Globetrotters again," Smolder said. Then Principal Sanders came towards the group.

"Ah, I see you boys are warming up for Basketball Season," Principal Sanders said. "That's good."

"It sure is, Principal Sanders," Aaron said. "No way I'm not gonna let the team down. And neither will Paul or Kyle."

"That's the Spirit," Principal Sanders said. "As important it is to keep your bodies in shape, you should also keep your grades up." She then looked towards Smolder. "And Smolder, the Cheerleading Squad will start on the first week of September in the gym during the Free Period. You feel ready?"

"Oh, hell yeah," Smolder said. "I'm more than ready."

"Never thought Ah'd hear swearin' from a character from a little kids cartoon show," Megan said.

"Real swear words just bleep in Equestria," Smolder said. "Especially in the G5 time. Which we've been to."

"I still can't believe you two went to the next generation time in Equestria," Paul said. "And you two got magic just like that little dragon in that generation?"

"Funny you should say that," Smolder said. "Apparently... Sparky... is our son." She gestured her thumb to point at herself and Aaron.

"Seriously?!" Kyle asked. "Sparky is your son? How do you know that?"

"At first, Sparky was really attached to us," Aaron said. "We didn't know why he was doing it. Then we found out with a magical family tree which scans his DNA and... our heads were in his parents's spots."

"And dragon hatchlings remember the smell of the pheromones from their parents," Smolder said. "If dragons don't smell the pheromones of their parents 3 years after they were hatched, then they completely forget their family forever."

"Which is why Spike wouldn't be able to find his birth parents," Aaron said.

"That makes sense," Paul said. "And I'm guessing that Sparky would be trying to find a way back to you?'

"Hopefully, when we're grown up," Aaron said. "We're not old enough to be raising him."

"Especially since you two haven't taken the parenting assignment in Health Class," Principal Sanders said.

"Parenting assignment?" Smolder asked. "What's that?"

"It's when one male student and one female students are paired up together to take care of a fake baby over Spring Break to see how well they're accomplished of taking care of a baby," Principal Sanders answered. "This fake baby could be anything, whether it's a bag of flour, an egg or maybe even a baby doll with a recording device on it."

"Wow, that sounds complicated," Smolder said. "I'd rather take care of a real dragon hatchling."

Aaron then thought about something and asked, "Why do I get the feeling that that's a foreshadowing moment for something in the future?" Smolder responded by just shrugging her shoulders.

Aaron, Paul and Kyle were all outside of Aaron and Smolder's home, playing basketball in the driveway. Marissa and Liam weren't home yet, so they were getting some practice in.

"Gonna need to keep in shape for the basketball team," Aaron said. "It's best we keep practicing."

"You got that right, Aaron," Paul said. "Can't wait for the season."

"Let's do it," Kyle said. Then they continued playing outside.

Meanwhile, inside, Ocellus was helping Smolder study for future Spanish tests by making flashcards.

"You sure flashcards are gonna help me learn Spanish?" Smolder asked.

"Si," Ocellus said. "You're gonna need all the help you can get from me. I'll be here whenever you need me."

"But what if you get sick?" Smolder asked. She then thought about something. "Wait, you changelings do get sick, right?"

"Yeah, we do," Ocellus said. "But... it's... a lot more nastier than you would expect."

"How so?" Smolder asked. Ocellus then thought of what happens when changeling gets sick. She remembered when she got sick during one summer. Her body got coated in forest green spots, and she was sneezing yellow slime towards other changelings in the hive. She shuttered at the memory. Smolder then said, "Okay, you don't wanna talk about it, I get it. Let's just get back to work." Smolder's Apple Watch then buzzed. Smolder changed back into her human form and saw it was a group text with Marissa, Aaron and Smolder.

"What is it?" Ocellus asked.

Smolder sighed and said, "Marissa's gonna be working late. She'll be sending us pizza for dinner tonight."

"That's good," Ocellus said. "Okay, let's get back to studying." Just then, the portal started reacting, surprising both Smolder and Ocellus.

"Ocellus!" came a male voice. Smolder and Ocellus looked towards the portal and there stood Thorax.

"K-King Thorax!" Ocellus said, shocked. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to Ponyville to check on your progress of helping other creatures study friendship only to find out you're in this world," Thorax said. "What are you doing here?"

"Helping Smolder with a class she's in," Ocellus said.

"Oh, really?" Thorax asked. "What class?"

"Foreign language class," Smolder said. "Specifically, Spanish."

"Spanish?" Thorax asked. "Why?"

"It's a requirement for me to graduate high school," Smolder said.

"That makes sense," Thorax said. "Alright. Sorry for barging in like this. I'll head on back to the kingdom. Also, Ocellus, your parents are starting to worry about you being a teacher at Twilight's School."

"Oh, maybe I should let them know about my time teaching at the school," Ocellus said. "I'll write them a letter as soon as I get back."

"Good to know," Thorax said. "I'll be sure to let them know." Thorax then headed back towards the portal and went through.

"Guess we should continue studying," Smolder said.

"Si," Ocellus said. "Volvamos al trabajo."

"What?" Smolder asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Let's get back to work," Ocellus translated. Then they continued working on Smolder's Spanish work. Then Aaron came into the house.

"Hey, Smolder, you got Marissa's message?" Aaron asked.

"Yeah, I did," Smolder said. "Can't wait for the pizza to get here. Where are Paul and Kyle?"

"They went home," Aaron said. "Had to get home for dinner."

"Understandable," Smolder said. She then sniffed something. "Whew, guess you should head the shower."

Aaron sniffed his armpit and gave out a sound of disgust. He then said, "You're right. I'm gonna take one right now." He then went through the door that led to the main house and went through.

Author's Note

VOTING TIME!!!

It's been a couple months since then. But this time, it seems that the home economics teacher had to retire early. But she did find someone to replace her for the rest of the school year. Only to surprise the students of the school that the new Home Ec Teacher happens to be a World Famous Chef. You vote who gets to be teaching Home Economics.

Option 1:

Bobby Flay

Option 2:

Guy Fieri

Option 3:

Jamie Oliver

You all vote for who gets to be teaching Home Economics, but remember, only one vote per commenter. See you all next time!