I didn’t study very much of this. Scratch that, I didn’t study it period. The only studying I’ve been doing since the last test was meticulously poring over every inch of Eepy’s sweet flank. But this test, much less a History of Flight test, was not something I’d been looking forward to, so I put it lower on my mental priority list this time around.
Between banging Eepy, sleeping, eating, drinking, and looking at Eepy’s voluptuous features, I simply didn’t have time to study this past week. I knew it was coming, but I wrote it off as less than important. Nevertheless, here I was, with a massive undertaking staring right into my soul in the form of four stapled pieces of paper. I begin hesitantly, going straight to the back to see how many—
60 questions?! What, am I in Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns or something? Tests are never this hard. Perhaps it’s the teacher. Yes, the teacher’s strict, that’s why I won’t pass this. I flip back to the first page, and read the first question.
What is the main advantage of aerodynamics?
A) Maneuverability
B) Speed
C) Energy-saving
D) All of the above
Well, clearly since there’s an answer for all of them, it’s gotta be that one, right? I begin to doubt myself when a mare two desks to the left of mine drops her pencil. I snicker, knowing how difficult it is to grasp them without digits. She fumbles around the linoleum floor, practically playing cat-and-mouse with the pencil. She finally gives up, sighing heavily in frustration. She reaches down to pick it up with her teeth, and returns to her desk. I can’t contain my giggles, so I cover my mouth as one slips out, and she gives me a scowl laced with aggravation.
I return my attention to my own exam, and just decide to circle D) All of the above.
I hear the rhythmical clicking in the air conditioning vent, and my thoughts are diverted once again. I listen to it intently, wondering if it’s always sounded like that. I think it’s clicking at 6 clicks per second, and I hear the wind rushing through the air ducts. Maybe a stray piece of paper got stuck in the higher part of the air vent. But if the air is blowing into the classroom, then how did… No, you know what? I have a test to do.
I just can’t seem to do it. It’s right in my face, but it’s not getting any of my attention. Why does it smell like sweat and body odor? Oh wait, considering Rainbow Dash sits in front of me, and is as active as a hundred-plus bunny orgy on crack, she was undoubtedly out practicing some sweet moves before class. I think she’s more stressed out than she lets on, but she sure can prevent fatigue from affecting her. Would she ever teach me any of her moves? They might help me out in my combat training. I’ll ask her about it after class.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a small stain on my shoulder. How did that get there? I mean, I don’t take immaculate care of my coat, but I think I would’ve noticed a stain larger than a few inches wide. Maybe it was my breakfast, as miniscule as it may have been. Orange juice tends to have bad effects on lavender coats. Perhaps it was an after effect of me banging Eepy before class. After all, she’s usually on the receiving end of my muzzle, and she’s not the most restrained when it comes to the downstairs department.
I really miss her. I wonder how she’s doing. She said she was just gonna be taking notes all class, so I hope her mouth doesn’t get too tired. Just the fact that Eepy’s about twenty feet away and through a four-inch-thick wall of clouds puts me in a brighter mood. What I think I like most about her is how she holds me. It’s such an innocent thing, yet it can mean so much. Some days, like if a particular teacher is being a major mule, I prefer to cuddle instead of bang.
The way Eepy smiles when she’s taking care of animals can put a spell on me, whether she’s a unicorn or not. She puts so much care into feeding them, housing them, and making sure every little accommodation is just right.
I can only hope Fluttershy cares about me that much. I’d hate for what we have to be one-sided.
I refocus my attention to my test, reading off the next question in my head:
Who was Commander Hurricane’s subordinate?
A) Chancellor Puddinghead
B) Private Pansy
C) Clover the Clever
D) Rainbow Dash
Ha! I see the students aren’t the only ones who notice Rainbow’s radicalness. I guess he put that in there as a little shout-out to the filly, so good for her. I remember this one from the last time Cloudsdale had its own little version of the Hearth’s Warming play. I begin to circle B) when I push too hard with my front veneers and hear a ‘snap’ from below my jaw, and the circle I was drawing now is interrupted. Ponyfeathers... I stand up from my desk to survey the damage, and tiphoof my way over to the sharpener. I slide my pencil into the sharpener, giving some pressure. I twist it around with my hooves to even out the point, and unexpectedly wonder what kind of relationship the pencil has with the sharpener. Obviously, that sharpener must get around.
I glance at the clock and see 9:48. Crap, 45 minutes left. As I return to my desk, my breathing and heart rate increase. I just don’t know if I’ll be able to get this test done. I raise my hoof up high to make sure the professor notices.
“Yes, Cloud Kicker?” he utters quietly, lowering his glasses.
“Can I please go get some water?” I call out a little faster than is necessary.
“Go ahead.”
Oh, thank Celestia. Practically shooting up from my chair, I hastily trot to the door, and then straight to the water fountain. I crush the button beneath my titanium-shod horseshoes, and drink impatiently.
When my thirst was quelled I looked up for a moment, reveling in the somewhat metallic taste of the water. It gives it a bit of a tangy flavor.
I begin the micro-journey back to my class, and I figure now would be as good a time as any to see if Fluttershy is doing okay. I skip on over to her room, and peek through the door window. I expect to see her smiling and daintily taking her notes. What my eyes are met with is a yellow shivering ball with the silkiest hair of a modestly light pink in the back of the room.
Eepy peeks out from behind her cute mane, looking right at the door in what looks to be anxiousness. She notices me in the window, and I give a little wave of my hoof and flash a caring smile her way. She stops visibly trembling, and looks at me with a tender grin. She looked back to the front of the classroom, picked up her pencil, and resumed taking her notes. I always had a surefire way to lift Eepy’s mental state. I’m glad Fluttershy sees me as someone to lean on, whether physically or mentally.
I canter on back to my room grinning, open the door, and park my plot in my seat. I proceed to lay my head down, using my mane as a pillow. I thought about how Eepy looked at me, and how I instilled confidence in her. I hope she knows that she has a similar effect on this mare… I don’t even know if my sudden showing up lasted, but… I mean, at least it helped, right…? Should I go back and see her again? Even if it is through a window and twenty feet of air…? Maybe later I could—
BAP!
I lurch my head up as my reflective thoughts are loudly interrupted by a text book colliding with the empty desk to my right. I glare pissed-offedly at the teacher, and I hear snickers all around me. Rainbow Dash, being her loud self, didn’t hold back from her unconcealed laughter.
“Shut up, Dash,” I angrily whispered through gritted teeth.
“Oh, come on Cloud Kicker, you know it was funny!” she quipped.
"It would be if it wasn't me..." I shrugged it off as teasing before I realized that I still had a test to finish. I only had twenty minutes to do it.
I rushed through each question, reading them off inwardly. I guessed on a few, but most of them were actually easy once given a bit of thought. I get to the last question, and read it off hastily. Home stretch, baby! I circle the answer that sounds right, and with a mere three minutes left of class, I slammed my pencil back down on my desk, hopped out of mentioned desk, and hoofed my test over to the teacher without hesitation.
I went to that class at the end of the day, hoping I could somehow make up the test, and thinking that I couldn’t have possibly passed the first time. He’s looking at me condescendingly. Now I know I didn’t pass.
“Hey, teach… I wanted to find out if I could possibly make up that test.” I explained.
“I don’t know if even doing that would help.”
“Did I really suck that bad?”
“No, I’m just giving you hell. Congratulations Cloud Kicker, you got a 95 on your test!” the professor beamed.
I give a sigh of relief I didn’t know I was holding in, and let out a trickle of light laughter at the surprise I was experiencing. As my mirth died down, I politely thanked my professor, brushed a blond lock of my mane from my eyes, and flew out of the classroom with a smile on my muzzle and a spring in my step.
This calls for celebrating. Time to go find Eepy.
Author's Note
I've gained a new respect for authors. This was kinda hard for me, but all in all, I'm happy with it. It's certainly better than some others' first fics. Perhaps when I get more inspiration, I'll write another. This being my first fic, criticism is accepted. Do your worst, and don't hesitate to point out EVERY LITTLE FLAW! Thanks for reading!
