HighTail University: Sera Pt. 02

Dawn of

The First... Tuesday.

-No Hours Remain-

It's funny how, even as an adult, wearing a set of headphones playing a particularly juicy beat can make it seem like you're in a world of your own. The music wraps around you like a cloak while you dip and dodge between your fellow students like some sort of ninja while the epic tones of the Sons of Asgard blast in your ears. Sure, plenty of people gave you weird looks as you mouthed the words and spun about like a ballerina on cocaine.

But you were safe. You had your own place.

For Sera, this had been her crutch for much of her life. It wasn't often you'd see her without a pair of headphones about her neck or perched upon her ears. They were a modern security blanket for an adult world.

Today, however, it wasn't just students casting her curious looks as she danced along. A few students milled about, looking sweaty in their uniforms as they hiked along the dirt path up towards the back of the school. But it was the various creatures lining the fence that cast the most curious of looks at Sera as she wiggled her way along the path, wrapped as they were in latex, leather, and artistry. For the back half of the university was where the Equine Programs were housed. Nestled within a honeycomb of barns surrounded by rolling fields, training facilities, and just about any amenity that a student walking around half-naked half the time might need.

If you'd never been to a facility like this. It could come as quite a surprise, even with ponygirls being so prominent in the world these days. The green initiative had taken hold in the last five years. Fossil fuels being done away with, and many public services being replaced with skilled ponygirls from every walk of life. It certainly brought an entirely new meaning to 'mounted police officers'. Because there was no mounting, just a tacked-up ponygirl in a tactical vest chasing and drop kicking a criminal to the curb with her durasteel hooves while other officers cuffed them and cleaned up the mess. Or sitting in the back of a rickshaw being pulled around by a pony with a particularly cute tail coloration.

The world had become an ever-so-curious place. But it was better for it. Forests were healthier, and the land was recovering.

And Sera, she was here for it! She'd never been into the pony scene personally. But it had always fascinated her enough to keep her finger on the pulse. How coal plants had been replaced with the equivalent of hamster wheels attached to super-efficient coils. Think hundreds of ponygirls on rotating shifts, running for days on end.

It was fascinating.

And here she was walking down towards the latticework of training facilities at the bottom of the sloped backdrop of the university.

But of course, Sera was lost in her own world, so it came as a shock to the group inside the main doors when she kicked the door open and belted out, "... SHOW ME THE CHAMPION OF LIGHT! I'LL SHOW YOU THE HERALD OF DARKNEEEEEESS!"

Two ponies nearly jumped out of their hooves on either side of a handler speaking to a small group of students sitting in a small row of chairs.

Sera froze in her tracks when she found herself standing there with the eyes of half a dozen people, as well as two ponies boring into her.

She reached up meekly, her cheeks growing a vibrant pink as she tugged off her headphones, "Oh... ehm..."

"... Sorry. Really good song."

The handler, a brunette with her hair hanging down her back in a thick plait, put her hands on her hips and tilted her head a little bit, "Well. If you're done being a songbird. Is there something you need, or did you interrupt us just to annoy me?" Asked the brunette, her fingers idly tapping at the riding crop clipped onto her belt. Something that made the pony on her left shuffle her hooves nervously.

~Deep breaths. Collect yourself. Count to five. Then speak.~

With her therapist's words ringing in her head, Sera drew in a slow breath, and after she breathed out, she nodded and reached into the convenient pocket sewn into the skirt of her uniform, pulling out the pamphlet she'd been given by Ophelia, her therapist, "I'm looking for... Aurora? I was told she holds a basics things at five?"

The brunette's face seemed to soften at Sera's words, "Ah. I'm afraid you've burst into the wrong building for that little Songbird. This is 2-A. You need 2-B, which is the next row of buildings towards the central meadow."

Sera looked down at the pamphlet where '2-A' was clearly written next to the information she'd been given.

"It would seem I was given the wrong place. So, next building then?" She pointed in a random direction, which made the brunette stifle a giggle as she walked over, reaching up to tenderly take Sera's hand and turn her to point down the long hallway leading between dozens of stalls, "Thatta way, Songbird. It's the first big building to the left when you get out the door." She reached up to give Sera's cheek a pat, "... And do try and enter that one a little less... noisily. There are ponies resting in the infirmary in there."

The closeness and sudden touching caught Sera off guard. But then, she understood that the world was a place where personal space was a little less personal. Physical touch and interaction was a much more present thing in society now. Especially in the world of ponying. Of course, as it had been in the beginning. Consent was still key. No always meant no, and personal boundaries were respected as soon as they were established. Of course, this made it occasionally muddy to figure out. But then, the world had become significantly more respectful of one another whilst also becoming closer physically over the years.

Sera wouldn't lie. Despite her anxieties, physical touch was something valued. If you wanted to win her over, just brush her hair and she'd be putty in your hands. Of course, she didn't tell anyone that which left her standing there blushing and looking rather huffy at the Brunette's playful antics.

The snapping of fingers in front of her face brought Sera back to reality.

"Earth-to-Songbird. You ok?"

Sera shook her head, and then nodded, and then smiled. Giving every mixed signal she possibly could before speaking to reset her brain, "Yes, yes! Sorry! Was just thinking. I'll go now. Thatta way!" She pointed down the hall and before she could make herself look like more of a ditz, she hurried off down the hall leaving the curious group of individuals behind, a playful whinny followed her down the hall from one of the two ponies on either side of the brunette who was quick to go back into her 'Rules of the Barn' spiel to the tour students.

This left Sera to hurry down the path, not stopping until she slipped through the hologram door at the end of the barn and back out into the sunlight. The next set of buildings in the honeycomb layout was, as the brunette had said, to the left. She was surprised there wasn't more milling about. But then it was early evening, so most of the handlers and ponies were readying to wind down for the day. Not many primary classes went past 5 pm. Though there were night classes, they were held in a different section of the training facility so as not to disturb those who may be sleeping or resting.

Sera subconsciously followed the weathered section of the cobblestone path between the buildings. So many hooves had scraped the cobblestones between these two buildings that the path had been 'carved' into the stone. Such was what happened when steel consistently met stone.

As she stepped into the next building, she first noted that it had an entirely different layout. This was not built like a typical 'barn' like the other one had been. This was like a massive training

building. Much like walking into a gymnastics facility. Except the floor was turf and the facilities were designed for ponygirls, not gymnasts. Though there were a few ponies that could put some gymnasts to shame.

To the left was a door with a bright red cross on it and the words 'infirmary' written on it in plain black lettering, while to the right was another door with 'Tack Storage' written on it. But that was it. A big training building, a few doors and for as far as Sera could tell... not another soul in sight.

~Did I go to the wrong building again?~

She was beginning to wonder if this was the case when the infirmary door nearby opened and a girl who had thick lavender hair decorated with silvery white star clips stepped out and froze in her tracks as her minty green eyes came to rest on Sera standing there awkwardly.

"Oh! Hello Luv, You headed into the infirmary?" She asked, her eyes roaming up and down Sera curiously.

She tilted her head, "Although... you don't look injured. Or like a pony. Oh! I know! You're an apprentice medical student who's come to help bandage up busted ponies? Oh oh! Or you're a famous Equine trainer who's come to give a demo... at the wrong time..." She trailed off, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

Sera had a hard time getting a word in until the girl was lost in thoughts about what other ideas she could throw out, "Ehm... actually..."

"... You're actually the owner of the university, and you've come to give out a bunch of scholarships?!"

"No, that's no--"

The girl held up a hand to silence Sera.

"Speak now, or forever hold your peace! Or whatever they say in the movies..."

Sera drew in a sharp breath, feeling like she'd have to speak quickly if she wanted to get a word in edgewise with this curious girl. Which translated to her speaking a nearly unintelligible string of words, "I'mLookingForAuroraAndIWasToldICouldFindHerHereAtFive!"

The girl's eyes widened, "Gosh. You'd give Jet a run for her money with word vomit like that. But alas, you're in luck. Because if you were looking for Aurora.."

The lavender-haired girl did a rather elegant pirouette on the spot, ending with her holding her hands out, "Then you've found her. And since you were looking for me specifically at Five PM, I'm guessing you were looking for the beginners class?"

Sera didn't speak; she only nodded in response.

Aurora beamed, "Well then. You're entirely out of luck because the beginners' class is on Thursdays now. Womp womp." Aurora gave a bit of a thumbs down, though she kept smiling as she noted Sera's shoulders seemed to slump at the fact that she'd come at the wrong day and time.

~The one time I make the effort..~

She was tugged back out of her thoughts as Aurora moved up to her and tossed an arm casually over Sera's shoulders, which was a bit awkward because Aurora was nearly a foot taller than her.

"Fortunately for you, I'm me. And you made ALL the effort to come down here. Recommended by Doctor Harlow, no less. I guess that earns you..." She looked at her watch and rocked her head back and forth, "An hour and a half of my time, then I'm on shampoo duty! The best part of my day." She let out a dramatically relaxed sigh.

Sera wrinkled her nose visibly as she tried to digest this girl's rapid-fire statements. But the one thing that stuck out had her curious as Aurora steered her towards the center of the training area, gently but firmly at the same time, "How did you know Doctor Harlow had sent me?"

Aurora gave her a little nudge, making her stumble to stand in the center of a white ring painted on the turf. She spoke as she began to walk around Sera, looking her up and down like a predator might do to their prey, "Well. The only person I've not updated on the time and day change is Doctor Harlow, not for lack of wanting to. I've just been a little preoccupied with race season on the horizon. That and you look the type."

"The type...?"

Aurora stepped into the circle, pressing a single finger underneath Sera's chin and forcing her to look up and into Aurora's mint green eyes, "The type who could use a bit of guidance in her life. Who has no idea if she has potential. The type who seeks a path. To trim a bridle path into her hair and see if she can walk with elegance, grace, and skill. One who wants to show that she's sooOOoo much more than just another cog in the wheel of society. Or perhaps I'm reading you wrong." Aurora said this, nearly nose-to-nose with Sera as she forced the eye contact with the tip of her finger. The scent of playfully soft perfume danced around Aurora's person.

Sera took a small step backwards to free herself from Aurora's 'grasp'.

Aurora took a step back respectfully, dipping into a curtsy in an almost apologetic way as she picked up on Sera's physical queues.

"Mm. Why don't you tell me why you're here instead?" Aurora said softly, offering the floor to Sera with a wave of her hand before she sank onto a nearby chair, looking up at Sera instead of down at her.

Sera moved to walk over to sit next to Aurora, "Ah ah. Didn't say you could leave the circle. Stand there, take your time, and tell me why the pamphlet given to you brought you here. No rush. We've got time." Sera may not have picked up on it, but to any other observer, they may have noticed that Aurora was speaking almost soothingly now, like she was talking to a spooked horse and trying to instill calm.

It was time for Sera to ponder why she'd climbed out of bed this afternoon and made her way out here.