Moonshine was sitting still and staring at me in shock. I just smiled at her, knowing that everything has changed for the better. There is nothing between us now. There is nothing between me and a new life I was gifted with, either. I finally accept the differences of our species and I accept that I am a pony now.

Slowly, I moved my face closer to hers. I think another kiss of love is needed to bring her out of her stunned state. Without closing my eyes, I pressed my lips against hers ever so tenderly. Then, I slowly lowered my eyelids, watching hers following, and both of us closed our eyes at the same moment. We kissed. Not passionately, not with tongues swirling, it was just a simple kiss of love and appreciation for one-another.

We parted and opened our eyes. In hers, I saw love. In reflection, I saw my own eyes, and they were filled with love, too. As cheesy as it sounds, it's true.

This is indeed a new life, and I will live it to its fullest, including loving someone. It is what I always wanted to have but never had. Now, however... I'm happy. For the first time in forever, I am truly happy. It doesn't matter what happened before, what matters is what is happening right here, right now.

"Flame," I heard her saying. "But... didn't you say you can't love me?"

"I was wrong." I shook my head. "I was very wrong, Moonshine. But it came to me that I need to embrace who I am now. And I now understand that I can and do love you, even if it goes against what I've been taught."

"I... I don't know what to say." she blushed.

"Words aren't needed, Moon." I said, smiling at her. "Let's just enjoy the rest of the day. How about we play instruments together?"

She nodded vigorously, and went to set the synthesizer. I picked up my guitar, the one that Moonshine bought for me. Using my magic to set the tone right, including boosting the sound a bit, adding mids and bass in the right proportions... Yeah, that seems right.

"Start first." I told her. She nodded and started playing. After a few seconds, I understood where her improvisation goes, and I followed her. It was a rather happy song in major scale. It definitely suits how I feel now. How we both feel.

So, the two of us played this song of improvisation, humming something uplifting slightly out of synch with each-other. This is a good way to finish the day.

The day that changed my life forever.

***

The next day came, and I woke with a sincere smile on my face. During the night, Moonshine told me that she wanted to sleep with me. In the literal sense, mind you. She joined our beds and we shared the night together. Truth be told, I was enjoying feeling her warmth by my side. I'm no longer against it. After all, it feels... comfortable. Like it's supposed to be like that.

Unlike other times I found her in my bed, this night was different. I enjoyed being able to hear someone breathing by my side. This is... indescribable with words. I don't say I felt butterflies in my stomach, but I did feel... something. My soul is filled with warmth. Maybe that is what I feel.

I've never seen Moonshine so happy before, too. She seemed to be filled up with happiness because we are finally together.

Today is the first real day of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, and I can't be more ready for it!

I sprung from the bed. Today, I'll wear something different. Where's that red sweater I got for my birthday? Must be... yep, here it is. Along with those striped red and white socks. I don't think I want to wear them today, though. The sweater will be enough.

Concealing my wings under the magic, I put on the sweater. Yeah, that is much better! I suppose I should sometimes wear something... not black. I'm not against wearing something different for a change, after all.

We packed the needed stuff into our saddlebags and went to the school. It's two Arcane Arts lessons, two Physical Culture lessons, and one History. Not too different from the previous school so far. Arcane Arts seems just a fancy title for Magic lessons. I hope it'll be more difficult this time. I really want to learn some neat tricks that will help me in my future life. I remember that magic makes a lot of stuff possible.

Again, we met Night Breeze and White Light as soon as we exited our room. Then, we went to the first floor and exited the hostel, and White went his way while the three of us went to our school.

Sometimes, I feel like I'm surrounded by fillies. Somehow... Well, I won't say I'm popular with them or anything, but it makes me think... What am I, a magnet?

What a load of crap, of course I'm not! I don't even know why I thought that in the first place... I don't want a harem or anything. Or a herd? Besides, there is only one of these fillies that is attracted to me. I don't think I'm the most handsome colt in the world, after all. Surely there are other colts getting their fillies and the other way around.

Alright, whatever. Let's just get into the school and see what it has for us.

***

There is a board with schedules for each class at the first floor. Finding ours was easy — it is 1-C, and C stands for Celestia, our form mistress, and the number stands for the year of studying. Other classes are marked in the same way. There isn't a class overseen by Celestia except ours. That's a surprise, actually... Not that there are many classes. It's only, like, eight of them, and each one is different year. There isn't many gifted unicorns, I see.

I still wouldn't see myself as gifted. I know some stuff, that's all. My magical power comes from my alicorn nature. I'm not that special if you think of it. Besides the whole human-turned-alicorn thing... I think I contradict myself. Oh, well...

Alright, the auditorium is 202. So, it's on the second floor, I assume.

This school isn't too large, but I feel like it is. While there's not much ponies in here, everything is rather big and has much space. I like that. Never liked crumpled, claustrophobic look of my first human school. I think it was built in the beginning of twentieth century as the school for workers' kids or something. Not exactly the best school ever... My dad told me that the school prepared me for future hardships. Can't say he was entirely wrong, but, well, he was a bit wrong. I don't think kids should be raised like that. It's no longer the ancient times when men could only become warriors and such. Making someone tough as fuck, not to mention angry, isn't going to work out well. We needn't fight each-other. It's twenty-first century, after all!

I am very happy to know that foals don't have to go through what I did. It brings me joy seeing those sincere smile ponies seem to constantly bear, too. I certainly don't like fake smiles a lot of people seem to bear nor do I like constant frowning.

Here's the auditorium. The three of us entered, and—

Whoaaa, this looks amazing! It is literally filled with trees, grass, and flowers! There are also seventeen big pillow seats placed in a circle, on one of which Celestia is sitting, sipping some tea.

"Good morning, students!" she greeted us. "Come in!"

"Princess, this looks awesome!" Night Breeze commented on the whole auditorium.

"I always wanted unicorns to study magic in natural environment. I don't like regular auditoriums much. I decided that I could transform this one to be a bit different." she replied. Suddenly, a squirrel appeared, stealing a cube of sugar. Celestia just laughed at this, watching as the animal ran away. "Oh my, it's so cute when they do that!"

I love nature. Especially considering that I haven't seen any mosquitos anywhere in Equestria yet. No bugs trying to get into your clothes, too. At least they knew to keep their distance.

So, we all sat on those pillows and relaxed. Except Night Breeze. I think that wheelchair thing makes some things hard for her.

The pillows are rather big for us to lie on them, too. Not missing the chance, I relaxed. Moonshine moved her pillow closer to mine, and then relaxed by lying down on it.

Celestia glanced at us and sipped her tea, a smile on her face. I owe her for pushing me in the right direction. So, I just nodded, a content smile on my face.

Night Breeze successfully detached herself from the wheelchair and lied down, just like us, and sighed in relief.

"Night Breeze, may I ask you about your legs?" Celestia spoke.

"Nothing too bad." the filly replied. "I broke my hind legs on accident this summer. They healed in the wrong way due to some magic stuff going a bit wrong, they had to be broken again. They're almost fine now. Though, doctors don't recommend to stand on them fully until they're completely healed, and that's why I have the wheelchair."

"Glad to know you'll soon be fine." the princess smiled.

"Thank you, princess." Night Breeze smiled in return.

Good to know that thing isn't constant. I've not broken anything in my life, thankfully, and I don't want to ever have to deal with that kind of stuff. Though, I'm not sure I'll stay whole in this world.

So, all of us relaxed. Night Breeze, Moonshine, and I lied on our pillows, resting, while Celestia drank her tea, greeting new students as they came into the auditorium, engaging in a small talk with each of them. Some replied somewhat warily, others were glad to talk, and some just mumbled incoherently, too shy to speak freely with a princess.

In time, the ball rang, announcing the beginning of our first lesson in this school.

"Good morning, everypony!" Celestia spoke. "You may remain on your seats. Today, we will learn about teleportation."

Now, that is awesome!

"Who can teleport already?" she asked. I and a few other students raised our hooves. "Who is brave enough to show?" I don't think I want to end up in a bathtub of... Luna. Nope, not demonstrating now.

"Bwah, that's easy!" one of the colts said, teleporting himself onto the tree. I looked at the colt and... well, he's a teenager. And what's with the white fur? Most unicorns I see in this city are white. Coincidence? Royal incest? White supremacy?

Nah, I don't think either of those are true. Not to mention that any kind of white supremacy would be stupid. Ponies are of many colors, after all. Even relatives might have different fur color.

"Good, Lighthorn." Celestia nodded. "How long have you been able to teleport?"

"Since I was nine, I think." the colt replied, teleporting back to his seat. That's showing off.

"That is quite the accomplishment for such a young age. You should be proud of yourself for being able to do that." the princess smiled. "These two lessons are introductory." she addressed all of us. "Those that are able teleport are free to leave. If you stay, don't distract other students unless you want to help them."

I think I'll stay. Lighthorn and other unicorns that can teleport left the auditorium. Hm, I wonder... Will I passively distract Moonshine?

"Alright, students." Celestia said. "Does everypony know what teleportation is?"

Everyone nodded. 'Everypony', what a silly word to use. It makes sense, though.

"We should start with practice, then." she nodded. "First of all, we will try to teleport a small rock. There are plenty of those lying around. Find yourself one. Smaller the size, easier it'll be to teleport."

I watched as others picked up various rocks from the ground. From a mere pebble to a tennis-ball sized rock.

"A bit of theory should be spoken, though." Celestia said. "There are two types of teleportation. One of them requires the destination to be open, and the other does not. The first type is, basically, increasing your speed so much it seems like you do the teleportation. It's the easiest form of teleportation. The second type requires more concentration and power, both willpower and magic.

"In this school, we study the second type. While it is much difficult, it is also much more useful once mastered. So, let us begin. Look at the rock you have. Hold it in your magical grasp tightly."

I watched as Moonshine levitated her own rock. It wasn't the biggest, and yet it wasn't the smallest. I think she's pretty confident in herself.

"Think of a place you want this rock to be. Then, release your magical hold on it, letting it go. Direct its fall, make it fall not on the ground but where you want it to be."

In a flash of light, Moonshine's rock disappeared. Judging by an uncomfortable sensation on my head, it's there. That's impressive! So, I levitated the rock from my head. Yep, this one is hers.

"Sorry..." she mumbled, blushing. "I didn't mean to do that."

"It's alright." I replied. "After all, you did teleport that rock! That's actually great!"

"Thank you..." she kissed me on my cheek, and then giggled girlishly.

Others were about just as lucky. One rock, unfortunately, gained speed and crashed one of the windows. However, Celestia quickly fixed that with her magic.

"If you didn't succeed, it's alright. Rarely anypony is able to do that right on the first try." she said. "Try not to give so much energy to the rock. It would be unfortunate if it hits somepony just as hard as it hit that poor window. It's not the first time something happens to it." she laughed softly. "Now, just try again. Do it ten times, and then rest. If you feel you can't do it any longer, don't do it. There's no need to overexert yourself."

Alright, this seems fun. At least that is much difficult than anything else I've seen. I don't think I've mastered teleportation yet, but I think I'm close to it. I shouldn't distract anyone now, though, and that is why I'll train my teleportation when others get to it.

As of now, I'll just sit and watch how Moonshine progresses. I feel that she'll become a great mage someday.

Author's Notes:

We'll now see how Flame's life goes after he completely accepted his new life. There's a lot,of things for him to see, a lot of things for him to learn. He is indeed like a foal — he doesn't know too much about Equestria.

Also, some of you are maybe wondering where will Blueblood Junior appear again. You'll find out soon.