Chapter 10

     "Attention everypony," Professor Celestia called. She stood up and looked over the students.

"Before the feast begins, I would like to welcome all the first years. I would also like to remind you all of some of the rules. First and foremost, the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to anypony who does not wish to die a most painful death. Also, Mr Hayseed has asked me to remind you that the Everfree Forest is off limits. Thank you."

     She took her seat, and her horn began to glow. Then, out of nowhere, entire trays of food just appeared. Hay fries, toast, and salads. Everypony filled their plates, but every time somepony grabbed a biscuit or scone, another one appeared in it's place.

     Even Fluttershy who was full from the sweets on the train couldn't resist the food. 

"My name's Scootaloo," Fluttershy heard a brown pegasus with a purple mane talking to some of the older ponies. "My dad's a blank flank. My mum's special. Bit of a nasty shock for him when he found out."

     As Fluttershy ate, she looked over to the staff table. At the center was Professor Celestia. To her left was Professor Luna, Rarity, and several mares and stallions that she didn't recognize. To her right was another pony wearing a strange purple turban and eating with trembling hooves. As Fluttershy looked further to the right, she noticed a blue unicorn with a white mane glaring back at her. As they locked eyes, Fluttershy felt a sharp pain right on her cutie mark.

     "Rainbow?" Fluttershy asked Applejack's multiple colored sister.

"Please," she said. "Call me Dashie."

"Oh, sorry," Fluttershy said. "So who is that?"

Fluttershy pointed at the blue unicorn with her hoof.

"That's Professor Trixie," Dashie explained. "Head of Slytherin."

"She teaches potions," Pinkie added. "Her class is so boring."

Dashie nodded in agreement.

Professor Trixie continued to glare at Fluttershy, occasionally taking a break to prod at her food with her fork.

     After the feast, Applejack's older brother, Big Macintosh, lead the first years to the Gryffindor common room.

"He's a Prefect," Applejack whispered. "They're the best students. They sorta lead the rest of the house and stuff."

"This way," Big Macintosh called. 

They entered a huge stairwell. There were stairs going in every direction.

The walls were covered in windows. Ponies on the other side moved about, playing, dancing, singing, talking. No, they weren't windows. Fluttershy realized that they were paintings. These paintings moved, but they were still parchment in picture frames.

"Be careful," Big Macintosh cautioned. "The staircases move a lot."

     He was right. The staircases twisted and turned, even while ponies were walking on them. The staircase ahead of the crowd of first years turned to the left instead of the right as they walked up it.

After five minutes of ascending moving stairs, the ponies finally reached a huge picture of a fat mare standing in front of an Italian vineyard.

"Fresh meat?" She said.

"Eeyuup!" Big Macintosh said. "First years! Just gonna drop 'em off in the common room."

"Do you have the password?" The fat mare asked.

"Return of Harmony!" Big Macintosh said.

"You may pass," the mare said indifferently. 

      The portrait swung open revealing a hole in the wall.

Inside, the common room was decorated with red and gold rugs and banners. There were several large crimson recliners placed around a toasty fire.

"Filly's dorm is up the stairs on your right," Big Macintosh said. "Colts, same on your left. All your stuff is waiting for you upstairs."

*************

     Some of the other ponies snored  late into the night. Fluttershy was tired, but she had too much on her mind to get any sleep.

Fluttershy sat, stroking Angel's white fur, staring at the cold black lake below.

     She didn't belong here. She didn't feel special or extraordinary like everypony else. Why did everyone think she was so great?

     It had been the longest day of her life. She had entirely forgotten it was still her birthday. It felt like a whole week had passed from when Rarity broke in and snatched her away from the Tiara's. Heck, she barely even remembered the Tiara's and how dreadful they were. Rather than worrying about silly things like cooking breakfast and visiting zoos, she was worrying about being the most famous filly in a strange new world.

     Fluttershy set Angel back in his cage, got into bed, and tried getting some sleep. She could figure this all out in the morning.