Half 5: Lemondrops
By Firefly
The clip-clop of hooves towards the onerous linoleum flooring was a surprisingly pleasurable sound as Lily adopted her tour information alongside. Usually you’d anticipate an everyday tour information, however in a faculty that was identified for its pony-based-career-tracks, they tended to make use of a little bit of a special technique. The tour information in query was a tall lady, wearing a cute tour information outfit. A straight skirt, a costume shirt, a vest, and a tastefully tied scarf. All within the college colours. However that is the place the similarity to an everyday tour information ended.
An intricate black leather-based harness was cinched round her torso, it bore a chest plate with an intricate design of the college’s emblem glowing in pastel blue LEDs. An identical bridle was on her head, full with leather-based horse ears, and a holographic HUD stretching between two panels on both facet of her eyes. This display screen was a HUD linked to the college’s community in addition to possessing many different capabilities together with a map that guided the tour. On this case, it had now led them to the whole lot from the Gymnastics Membership to the Swim Membership. The college boasted MANY superb extracurricular actions and to this point Lily was a bit overwhelmed on the sheer vary of decisions.
Lots of the Membership leads and Staff Captains had come to speak with them personally after they arrived. Explaining their actions, expectations and welcoming Lily to the college, though she wasn’t a brand new scholar. However her information had instructed her to simply go together with it in order that her ‘first impression’ wasn’t spoiled. And so she had.
Now they had been making their method alongside the central hallway within the college that led to the rear exit. The identical one Lily had been operating throughout at full velocity the opposite day to make it to class. NOt solely did this path result in the dorm buildings. It additionally led to the coaching grounds in addition to the in depth ponygirl services encompassed in a really barn-like setting on the rear of the college. These services took up practically half of the land the college was located on. In spite of everything, you did not identify your College ‘HighTail’ with out a formidable array of pony-based services, programs, and belongings.
Designed because it was, the college sat on a slight angle. With the college being on the backside of a really refined slope. Adequately subtle that you simply could not even see a lot of the pony services till you bought to the ‘crest’ of the strolling path. A crest that Lily and her information now made their method in direction of, “So, what do you suppose to this point Miss McKinsey?” The tour information requested, she was a bitless pony, needing her voice to supply correct excursions.
“I instructed you, name me Lily. No want for formality. However to this point, I get the impression there’s been lots that I’ve missed out on within the final six months. Residing in a bubble actually does make you unaware of all of the superb issues a faculty presents would not it?”
The tour information chuckled, urgent a sequence of buttons within the management unit she held deep inside the thick leather-based armbinder that held her arms behind her again. This introduced up a number of screens on her HUD, “Properly, you would be shocked how many individuals dwell in the same scenario. They arrive to highschool and easily fall into their courses. By no means realizing the scope of the issues that their college presents. I preserve saying we’d like a greater promoting price range for the extracurriculars, however no adjustments but, sadly.”
Lily nodded, “It could definitely assist. As a result of I did not even learn about half of those services earlier than you confirmed me at present.”
The horse slowed down barely, turning about and tilting her head a bit, “One thing tells me you are one of many few who did not get a tour earlier than attending?”
“How might you inform?”
The horse blew a couple of strands of sun-kissed blonde out of her face, “Oh you recognize…the sense of surprise and awe on that face is a lifeless giveaway. Though I anticipate that to be eclipsed by the sights you are about to be offered with.”
Because the information stated this, they reached the crest of the somewhat refined hill, and the sight earlier than them was…bustling. Stretched out for what felt like miles was The HighTail College PonyGirl Farm. A state-of-the-art coaching facility for individuals who wished to dip their toes right into a pony-based profession, which lately encompassed nearly any profession you might consider. Inside purpose. Clearly, you did not see Ponies flipping burgers, however you probably did see them in the whole lot from the police to supply providers. What had as soon as been thought of a ‘fad’ for the pursuit of a greener world, had ended up as part of life that modified the world.
The sight earlier than the pair of them was a literal sea of exercise. Surrounding an enormous multi-level barn had been all types of coaching services. In a single discipline, ponies in primary tack ran impediment programs. Dipping and ducking round obstacles, leaping over low partitions, and being inspired by trainers wearing classical English driving gear. Crisp white collared shirts, beige breeches, tall driving boots, and a stern look on their faces as they directed their prices. In one other discipline, a dozen ponies ran on treadmills. Every one fitted with its personal holo-screen exhibiting the ‘terrain’ they had been operating by means of as a way of leisure. Close to the barn was what seemed like a number of ponies being taken by means of virtually military-like drill instructions.
In all places you seemed there was a special type of exercise happening. Lily blinked a number of instances. She hadn’t realized the sheer quantity of ponies attending the college. Heck, she’d by no means even come to peek at this facility earlier to now.
“Fairly spectacular huh?” Her tour information requested.
“It is…uh…one thing.” Lily stated merely.
The tour information chuckled at this response, “Properly, THIS is the college’s Ponygirl coaching facility. Getting ready college students for a wide range of profession’s in a wide range of fields that require ponies.”
“Ah, so why are we right here then?”
The tour information raised a well-plucked eyebrow, “Do you suppose ponies solely come right here for profession tracks? We’re right here as a result of the college has a Ponygirl membership. For these interested in it, or who wish to take pleasure in it as a pastime and never a profession, or for many who are merely curious. We’re right here to talk to the top of the Ponyplay membership. The pinnacle of whom my HUD tells me is presently on the stadium.” She nodded in direction of the big oval constructing behind the primary barn. Arrange with all types of stadium lights and with an immaculately stored inexperienced garden housed in its middle and painted just like a soccer discipline.
“Ponygirl membership…” Lily stated merely. Whereas she’d averted the entire pony-crazy most of her life. It was onerous to disregard such an enormous a part of the world. It aggravated her, having it in her face on a regular basis however she had promised Professor Barnes that she’d undergo this tour with an open thoughts and it is what she meant to do, even when she was telling herself that this membership was DEFINITELY not for her.
“Sure. Ponygirl membership. Now we could? If we hurry alongside we will seemingly watch a couple of polo matches earlier than chatting with the membership head.” The tour information turned, trotting down the trail in direction of the cornucopia of services.
Lily it appeared did not have a lot of a selection however to observe. She hurried alongside behind the enthusiastic tour information who was off at a gradual trot down the slope in direction of the coaching facility under.
It wasn’t usually Lily felt a bit out-of-place. It was one factor to see ponies milling about in society as that they had been since earlier than she was born. It was one other to be strolling behind one and thru a coaching facility stuffed with them. It felt a bit like being a recent piece of meat in a lion’s den with what number of eyes fell upon her. Or at the least, what number of eyes she felt like had been on her. In reality, a couple of spared her a look however many had been too entwined of their coaching to essentially spare her a lot consideration.
They walked by the group of Mares and Stallions trotting away on the treadmills. All of them gleaming with sweat in the summertime solar bearing down upon them. On the far finish, one pony was standing nonetheless as one of many trainers toweled him down and slathered him in sunscreen. The remainder continued to trot away, seeming to benefit from the holographic screens exhibiting their progress by means of forests, trails, and even post-apocalyptic settings. Loads of thought had gone into making pony coaching extra fascinating.
Lily did let her eyes roam a good bit as they walked down the central path, shifting to the facet as a cart being pulled by a mare and a stallion rolled by, a coach on the again cracking a whip a number of instances to which they responded by turning the subsequent nook they got here to.
“It is like a complete completely different world.” Lily mused.
“That is what number of see it. An escape from actuality in a method.” Her tour information responded, turning a nook and main Lily across the far finish of the barn. It was humorous how a lot it might really feel like a horse farm, however on the similar time not. For one factor, it did not scent like horses. Although it did have a selected scent that Lily could not put her finger on. Like that just about candy scent that permeated a gymnastics membership however blended with the scent of latex and leather-based. It definitely wasn’t disagreeable.
Across the nook they moved, dipping and dodging round anybody they glided by, a couple of folks providing a wave to the tour information and her protege. It did not take lengthy to get away from the barn, making their approach to the pretty giant stadium within the again. It was in-built, with rooms and hallways operating by means of the underside of the stadium-style seating surrounding it. It was like a miniaturized soccer discipline. The tour information led Sofia in by means of a set of double doorways and up a flight of stairs to the decrease degree of the stadium seating so that they had been within the seats closest to and simply above the sphere. Down under was a gaggle of six ponies who had been enjoying what Lily might solely describe as…soccer? Besides the ball was a couple of sizes greater than a soccer ball and was being kicked about with hooves somewhat than toes.
The pair settled right into a seat because the ponies under performed, kicking the ball forwards and backwards till finally a objective was scored in one of many two objectives, one crimson and one blue. A pointy buzzer sounded and the six made their method again in direction of the middle, one of many ponies on the left staff seemed like she was limping barely.
“Oi! Twilly, did you roll your hoof or one thing?” Requested a pony with brief fiery crimson and orange mane of hair, she was additionally the one one with out a bit in her mouth.
The horse in query, wearing inexperienced and black seemed down at her toes, encased from toe to knee in black leather-based hoof boots. She lifted her proper hoof and tapped it on the bottom a couple of instances gingerly earlier than trying up on the fiery-haired pony and nodding.
The fiery one let loose a sigh, “I figured. Off to the care station with you then, get that ankle iced and sorted. I am placing you again in hoof coaching as quickly as you are again on it. That is the third time you’ve got rolled it in a month and I am unable to preserve risking you breaking a hoof and hoping you will simply get higher.”
The green-clad pony slumped barely and nodded once more.
The fiery one moved over and bent over, trying up and into Twilly’s eyes, “Do not pout. Do higher. I do know you’ve got obtained some talent in you, I simply suppose we rushed you thru issues a bit too rapidly. So let’s get your fundamentals sorted and you will be again on the sphere earlier than lengthy. Okay?” She leaned up, urgent her nostril towards Twilly’s, who smiled round her bit earlier than nodding.
Trotting concerning the Fiery pony would give Twilly a kick within the bottom to encourage her to rush off and get her ankle checked out within the care station again on the barn.
The fiery pony, additionally the one one whose fingers weren’t sure, reached up, flipping off the clear blue HUD display screen over her eyes and motioning the remainder of the group over, “Alright guys, we’re a bit brief and it appears like we now have a visitor. So I’ll take a small break and you are able to do 2v2 for now. Carrot, I anticipate faster returns if you get the ball. Blue, when you’ve got the ball, work on management. You retain dropping it as a result of you may’t preserve it between your legs, I do know…stallion issues and all that. However focus! Rain, Ephereal, You two simply sustain what you are doing. Your time spent practising off the clock is admittedly exhibiting!”
Clapping her fingers she’d wave the 4 away who went again to the middle to proceed their observe. The fiery feminine reached up, operating a hand by means of her messy sweat-soaked hair earlier than unclipping a water bottle from a particular holder on her thigh and taking an extended drink as she walked in direction of the identical tunnel that Lily and the Tour information would have are available in. It was only some moments after Lily watched the lady disappear that the sound of her tough-soled pony boots arising the steps could possibly be heard.
Lily watched her tour information rise up and hurry over, burying her face into the neck of the fiery pony in query who let loose a chuckle and smiled.
“Properly howdy there Lemondrop! Gosh, it has been a scorching minute hasn’t it?” She requested, wrapping her arms across the tour information, Lemondrop, and giving her a good hug.
Lily realized that till now she’d not even bothered asking the lady’s identify. It wasn’t usually she let herself slip and be fairly THAT impolite. She reached up, tousling her hair a bit bit.
“Too lengthy Ember! Gosh. Two years now is not it?”
Ember grinned and patted Lemondrop on the top, “One thing like that. I would heard you had been giving excursions on the Haysonian? What brings you again right here? And as a tour information no much less?”
Lemondrop shrugged a bit, “Truthfully? I missed the place. The Haysonian paid extra however wasn’t practically as fulfilling. Y’know?”
Ember nodded, “As somebody who has chosen to stay and turn into a coach right here for that precise purpose, I get it.” Ember crossed her arms over her chest and leaned again towards the railing, “So who’s the recent piece of meat you’ve got introduced me?” She requested, her eyes giving Lily a really thorough scan from top-to-bottom making the brunette really feel barely uncomfortable. Humorous to suppose probably the most uncomfortable one was absolutely clothed whereas the assured and Fiery ember had barely any materials overlaying her besides the racer-style pony boots, and the barely-existing bikini backside overlaying her ‘bits’. The remainder of her was practically naked. She wore crimson and orange gloves that got here as much as her elbows together with her full breasts hanging out for all to see. Though with the intricate brand-work it did not really feel like she wasn’t lined. She had tribal-like racing stripes emblazoned on her physique in other places giving her a really sporty look. The marks weren’t really manufacturers a lot as a contemporary breakthrough in short-term tattoos that could possibly be achieved in an infinite variety of designs and colours. Ponies usually used it to create a novel look very similar to Ember.
Moreover the design, she additionally had a quantity 7 emblazoned in a barely glittery orange simply above her left breast and a small and curious yellow tag hanging from her proper ear. A tag that Lily had observed virtually each pony was sporting.
“That my expensive Ember, Is Lily! She’s my first tour after coming again to the college. She’s on the hunt for extracurriculars so as to add to her attendance listing. You have obtained the pleasure of being her final membership tour of the day.”
Ember pushed off the railing, sparing a look on the ponies down under for a second and letting a smile slip throughout her lips. She planted her hooves in an virtually overly assured method and crossed her arms once more.
“Say, Lily, You ever performed polo earlier than?” Ember requested all of a sudden.
“Cannot say I’ve. Do not sustain a lot with sports activities.” Lily stated with a small, even shy, shrug.
“Wish to strive it?”
“I uhm…would not wish to intervene together with your observe or something.”
“Ember…Take it straightforward on her…” Lemondrop stated softly.
Ember appeared to ignore Lemondrop’s phrases and stretched, “Nonsense, you would not be interfering. C’mon, you may come kick the ball round with us for a couple of minutes. No approach to inform should you’ll like a membership with out making an attempt it proper?”
Lily seemed between Ember and Lemondrop, the latter providing her a little bit of a helpless look.
“I am going to go. I am hardly dressed for the half and I am simply touring at present.”
Ember grinned, “Nonsense. Tack is just a part of the equation. One turns into a pony in right here first…” She poked Lily’s brow with a red-painted fingernail, “…Lengthy earlier than they ever costume the half. C’mon beginner. Get your ass onto the sphere. Let’s have a look at should you’ve obtained the legs for it. No time like the current!” And with out taking any form of protest or argument, she took Lily by the hand, tugging her alongside in direction of the steps and in direction of the middle of the sphere the place the opposite ponies stopped and tilted their heads curiously.
Lemondrop could not assist however sigh, strolling over to lean on the rail and watch.
“Private area by no means was Ember’s sturdy go well with…” She mumbled.