Author's Note

Sorry about the length of this one. It's really just a stop gap chapter to segue into what I have in store for Dusk's later years. I decided it would be best to get into those sooner than later because that is where the bulk of my ideas are stemming from and the bulk of the story should be.

Sit tight, because more will come soon!

End of the Line

Chapter 9 - End of the Line

When Dusk returned to school the following week, he distanced himself from other ponies; mares in particular. He got the same bullshit stares he always got, ones that ended in him huffing and trotting past the 'offender' while staring at his hooves in mild frustration. It was different this time, however. All he felt was pure, unadulterated rage at the ponies around him. He trotted around, visibly angry, and many of the stares he received were from wary and mildly afraid ponies. Walking through crowds was easy, considering many parted for him when they saw the obvious fire in his eyes as he walked along with rage in his step and a scowl on his face.

It was late on a Thursday, and Dusk was sitting in Math class, struggling with some linear functions. He growled and slammed his desk with his hoof.

"Buck Math...." Dusk growled.

"What was that, Mr. Fire?" Mr. Roston asked.

"I said buck Math, sir. It's a shit subject and it's absolutely useless!" Dusk retorted, his rage clear in his voice.

Roston came down to Dusk's desk and looked at the scrawls and failed equations written in Dusk's exercise book. "Get up," Roston said sharply.

Dusk did as he was instructed, pushing his chair out and standing up in one swift action, his forehooves still settled on the table as he stared straight ahead.

"Come up to the front," Roston said as he trotted to the black board, Dusk soon tailing as ponies watched him intently.

"This," Roston began, addressing the class, "is an example of a failure. A stallion who cannot and will not try or succeed at anything in his life. He resorts to vulgarities to express his rage. The stallion stan-"

Roston was cut off by a blood-curdling roar from Dusk. He grabbed the back of Roston's head and pushed it down, slamming it into the desk, breaking his nose and spraying blood onto the pens and paper laying there. Dusk pulled Roston up, who had yelled in pain and was now clutching his bleeding nose, and stared into his eyes before smashing the side of his head into the black board, splitting the side of Roston's head open like a busted seam and putting a large dent in the board. Dusk laid into him, holding the scruff of his neck as he punched up into Roston's gut again and again, roaring with each punch.

Pulling back, Dusk grabbed Roston's collar and punched him in the face over and over, each punch emphasized by a word. "I. AM. NOT. A. FAILURE!!!!!"

By the time he was finished, the students were cowering in fear as Dusk stood over the bruised, battered, and bleeding body of his Mathematics teacher. Dusk took one look at Petal before using his hoof to violently sweep everything off the teacher's desk and storming out the classroom door.

Dusk soon found himself in the Principal's office, his parents sitting either side of him as the Principal looked at him with disappointment and Mr. Roston stared him down with obvious contempt. Dusk tensed, throwing Roston a rage-filled glare which consequently made the Math teacher flinch in fear.

"Do you want to get into more trouble?" Dusk's father asked as he laid a hoof on his son's shoulder.

"The only reason why this cunt isn't dead yet is because I want him to be afraid of me...." Dusk replied through gritted teeth.

"Calm down, Dusk. There's no need for this," His father replied.

Dusk simply huffed and sat back in his seat as the principal began speaking.

"Dusk Fire, what you did this afternoon was extremely unacceptable. Not only did you break the rules and values of this school, but you also broke the law. You, young colt, are very lucky that I have decided to handle this affair internally and not notify the police. And you are also lucky that Mr. Roston has decided against pressing charges against you and your family. As for the consequences of these actions, you will be promptly expelled from this school at the end of the week. You have tomorrow to say goodbye to your friends before you leave. I wish you the very best of luck in your future endeavours, Dusk," The principal stated clearly and surely, as if he had rehearsed it.

Dusk's parents simply nodded their understanding while Dusk kicked his chair out from underneath him and left the room.

Petal was in tears when Dusk told her what happened. Monroe stood indifferent before him, only uttering how he deserved it after what he had done. Crystal was nowhere to be found. According to Monroe. she was scared to death of Dusk now.

"Yeah. Petal saw what happened, and I'm sure you heard about it," Dusk stated after having finished recounting the events of Thursday. "Fucker deserved it, but I'm still being expelled, apparently..."

"You bloody well deserved, ya bloody wanka," Monroe replied.

"Yeah, fuck you too," Dusk replied, venom dripping from his words. "Anyway, I'm outta here. And I ain't fucking writing. I'm sick of this shithole full of slutty mares, bullies, and asshole teachers."

At that, Dusk stood up from the canteen bench they had been sitting at and left as unceremoniously as he had left the principal's office the day before. Petal chased him out as Dusk made his way to the doors, intent on heading home early, considering he had nothing left to do at the place. Staying for his last class was as useless as staying for the first three, considering he would learn the same crap at his next school.

"Dusk! Don't go yet!" Petal called out as she hurried up to him, tears streaking down her pink cheeks.

"I'm going. I haven't got a damned choice," Dusk replied coldly, not even turning to face her.

"Dusk.... all I ask is that you stay in touch..." Petal pleaded as she slowed her trots.

"I'll do what I can. Don't expect anything," Dusk replied as he finally left.

Dusk had been expelled from all but one school in Manehattan. The only school left was the most prestigious, and expensive, school in the city: The Grey Mare College of Excellence. This school had one of the best sporting and academic ratings in the country, surpassed only by those in Canterlot.

"You better not fuck this one up, Dusk," His father replied while they were eating dinner that night.

"This is the most expensive school we've sent you to, and it's the only option we have left. After this, you'll have to get a job. We simply won't have enough money to send you to another school," Dusk's mother chimed in, extremely resentful of her son's actions the previous day.

"Yeah yeah.... I know what it's all about. Just let me eat my bloody dinner...." Dusk replied softly.

"DAMMIT DUSK!" His father yelled, slamming his hoof into the table and causing Dusk's mother to jump in fright. "This is the twelfth time you've been expelled from a school! You need to get your fucking act together!"

"Look, I was fucking pissed off at what Lavender tried to do, and then Mr. Roston just had to ridicule me in front of the whole fucking class. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?!" Dusk yelled back, stabbing his fork into the table.

"Calm down, both of you!" Dusk's mother's voice uttered, rising over the clamour.

Dusk sits back in a huff, no longer interested in his food. He received his father's abuse, taking it all in as he ranted and raved about the importance of education and how he should be more careful with his emotions and all the bullshit Dusk had heard before. Once his father had finished, he stood up and went to his room, closing the door softly and laying down on his bed as tears began to flow from his face. He had snapped again. For the twelfth time. Twelve different schools, every one of them had kicked him out for similar reasons and because of similar events. Dusk sobbed quietly as sleep began to take him, his regret and anger at himself overwhelming him and pouring out in the form of tears.