Good Morning in Manehattan
As I look out the window of my bedroom, I watch the scenery pass by as the birds chirp freely, and the trees gracefully blow in the wind. I notice the ponies on the outside walking, like in a hurry. It is not easy being a city pony, for I am from Manehattan, and everything is fast paced.
Little did I know the trouble I was going to get myself into within the following weeks, but I can say it all happened so sudden.
It is another school day during the week. As I groggily reach for my alarm clock, I happen to fall out of my bed.
"Great", I say as I stand up. "What a way to start the morning". After the alarm clock incident, I stumble to the bathroom. Still being half-asleep, I splash some water on my face to make myself wake up. I then freshen up to get ready for the school day ahead.
Being all ready to leave for the League Academy, as which it was called, I proceed out the front door of my house. As I wait for my bus, I see all the fillies and colts walking with their parents, as their school was rather close. As I was distracted by the other ponies, I did not realize that I had missed the bus. I proceed to run after it, but it was already too far away.
"Oh-no!" I said to myself. "I'm going to be late for school!" Knowing I have very little money, I start to advance towards the train station so I could take the train to school.
I purchase my ticket and then wait on the platform for the train. A train approaches the station a few minutes later. As it comes to a halt, the screeching of the wheels is very bothersome to the ears. After regaining myself of such shrill noise, I board the train and find a seat next to the window. As the train departs from the station, I elusively enter one of my many daydreams.
My subconscious is one of the strangest places I have ever been. It is where I fantasize about our alicorn princesses, or what would have happened if our beloved sun princess did not go missing when her rebellious, evil sister showed up during the Summer Sun Celebration. That day was supposed to be a great day, if eternal night wasn’t brought forth. Good thing that purple pony, with five others, defeated her bringing her back to her normal state.
Coming back to reality, I notice the train has approached the next stop, which happens to be my stop. I then depart the train car, and proceed to school.
I was quite lucky, because I happen to get to my first class a few minutes early. ”Hey Azure!” a voice shouted. “Azure Blaze!” I turn around and find one of my best friends Valiant Sprint, walking towards me. “Hey Valiant.” I said. “How have you been?”
“Oh. I’m good. It just felt like forever since we last seen each other.”
“Yeah” I said. “That break from school was a bit long. So how was your vacation?”
“It was boring. I just stayed in Manehattan and did things here. How about you?”
“Well I had actually went to Ponyville for the Summer Sun Celebration, but-”
“Oooo, what happened?” Valiant said. “Did you find that special somepony or what?”
“Heh, I wish” I said. “It just so happened that Princess Celestia went missing and her sister showed up to bring eternal night. But other than that, it was still awesome.”
“Well it was sure better than what I did. I’m just glad to be back.”
“Yeah.” I said.
There was something in his eyes that told me something was bothering him.
“Hey Azure, are you-”
I was interrupted by the sound of the bell and the flood of the students into the classroom. I had lost the opportunity to ask him what’s wrong, and I had to do it now, for this is the only class I have with him. As all the students take their seat, I turn my attention to the front of the class. This is a typical good morning for me in Manehattan.
My first period happened to be science class. It is very unusual to have this class first for a new school year. Last year I did not really take this class seriously. I didn't study much and performed poorly on several tests. Once I got my final grade for the class, I was a bit saddened because I know I could do better. To prepare for this current school year, I studied over the summer, which would take up my time to have fun, besides going to Ponyville for the Summer Sun Celebration. So I know that this school year would be better for me.
"Poison Joke" a voice says from the back of the room. All heads turn to see the teacher coming into the class. He has this bond with us students that he let us give him a nickname: I.Q. Ivan.
"Does anypony know the effects of Poison Joke?"
No pony in the classroom raised a hoof except me. He looked around the whole classroom until he spotted me.
"Yes Mr.Blaze."
"Poison Joke is a type of magical plant where if you were to come into contact with it, it will cause ridicule-inducing afflictions depending on the pony's personality and traits, but may I ask why are we doing this so early in the year?"
"Excellent question Azure. We are not going to get in-depth of it right now, but we will later on. As of right now, we will just examine the plant and as what you had said, we will name our personality and traits."
There is then a bright blue glow in his horn and we then see the poison joke plant flying throughout the room.
"Now be careful not to touch it yet. Let me first get the right equipment so we can further analyze it." And he walks over to a supply closet.
There is a silent in the classroom while we all patiently wait. But there is soon an interruption with someone saying "he really thinks he knows it all."
I turn around to find Thunder Dart, talking about me. That pony has always had it out for me ever since we were little. I guess he always picked on me just because I was always short, but the thing is that he is not much taller than me.
“Wow its amazing that after all these years you still find a way to mess with me” I snidely remark. “You probably would have known that too if you took the time to study, but no you're always hanging out with your friends.” As I said this, it really hurt me on the inside. I have many friends, but I usually like to isolate myself not just from my friends. but the world. Because of this, I consider that I have no friends.
“Oh that really hurts” he sarcastically says, and the group that accompanies him laughs. “And as a matter of fact, I do study, so you can now shut your mouth and mind your business.”
“HEY!!!” a voice booms and everybody’s attention turns to I.Q. Ivan. “I will not have this nonsense in my class, especially this early into the school year. Now if you two ponies want to act like a bunch of fillies, then i’m gonna have to ask you to leave my classroom.”
There was not a sound throughout the whole room for we all know that he was serious. It is a strange thing though because I don’t usually interact with the other ponies in the school.
“So if you two are done with your bickering we can continue on with this lesson. Now remember that we are only examining it for we will get deeper into it later.”
We all take some time scanning the plant. I just happen to over-analyze it trying to point out every little detail there is. I raise a hoof and he spots me again.
“Mr.Blaze, it is nice that you are able to redeem yourself. Please give us what you see in this plant and tell us how it would affect you.”
Well it is blue, obviously, there are large leaves with a bulb, several petals sticking out of the center, and each bulb is sporting a few stamen. It also has dark streaks running all over the plant, sorta like in a design. Now how would this plant affect me? Well Judging from my size of being small, or more of being short, I guess it would change my appearance of shrinking me or some sort.
"Excellent Azure. Any pony else?"
"We'll I guess it would affect me by changing my pure awesomeness!!" A voice says. I immediately knew who it was.
"You know, I'm getting real tired of your shit Thunder Dart!"
"And what are you going to do about it!" He started to stand up which got a little intimidating. "Oh yeah, that's right. You're not going to do anything because your a little bitch! A bitch with no father!!!"
There was a sudden burst of rage from within me. I had finally lost it. I tackled him into a corner in the room and repeatedly him in the face until he appeared unconscious. Other teachers came rushing into the room from all of the commotion. "Thank you for coming to my aid. I had enough of this nonsense going on in my class and I would please like it if you escort Blaze here out of my room."
This is an action that has never occurred to me before, we'll not recently. The last time I actually physically hurt someone was when I was a little colt. I don't like to harm any pony, but Thunder Dart finally pushed the wrong button. As I turn around on my way out of the classroom, I was stricken with a sense of grief as the poison joke plant falls from his body to the floor.
Well, it was no doubt that I was in trouble. Having problems like this is not my forte, but it can happen to anyone.
I steadily pace outside the office they sent me to. I hear slight murmurs from within the room as they talk about the incident. It appears that they don’t know the real problem at hand. He had came into physical contact with the poison joke and it will change his appearance. What will it change, I do not know. Maybe he was serious with the whole awesomeness, but it was his tone of voice that seemed off.
Through all of my thoughts and possibilities, I did not notice the bell ring and the rush of students in the hallway. I press up against the wall to let the ongoing kids pass by. As the crowd starts to thin, I am yet again left in the empty hallway. Before I started to pace again, I heard a voice at one end of the hallway. I was able to tell who it was by the voice.
“Hey Valiant,” I say.
“Hey. How are you holding up?”
“I’m actually fine at the moment. They did not tell me anything yet.”
“Oh. Well I hope it isn't bad. And what you did back in class was a brave feat. I don’t think I would have been able to do that myself.”
Now I am standing here thinking about what he just said. I had sensed the irony in the sentence, with his name included, but I couldn't let that ruin our friendship.
"Well I still can't believe I was able to do it myself," I jokingly said. "Because you know I'm not that aggressive since you knew me for years."
There was a brief moment of silence. And within that moment, the office door swung open and the two teachers that escorted me here, left the room.
"You best head on to class Mr. Sprint. You don't want to be late," a voice says. I turn around and I was face to face with the head of the school standing in the doorway.
"Well I guess I'll go now. I will see you later Azure."
"Okay maybe after school."
"Sure after school is fine."
As I wave off Valiant, I am pushed into the room. Upon entering, I see the head's assistant, sitting at the desk.
"Please take a seat," the headmaster said. I proceed to walk towards the seat and rest my flank upon it. " I'm pretty sure you already know why you were brought here, Azure. Don't you?"
"Yeah I do. But sir if you just let me explain I-"
"I don't want to hear what you have to say. In a new school year and you want to cause havoc early."
"Sure I was the one that retaliated, but I was also the one who was being provoked. Can I just explain to you what happened?"
"I'm sorry Azure, but I can't believe you. You have done some questionable things in this school over the years. Maybe some of the other teachers would believe you, but I can't."
Just as I was getting ready to speak again, another teacher walks through the door. It was IQ Ivan.
"What's the problem Ivan?"
"Well just as the boy was gaining conscience, I noticed something that's bad on your part Mr.Blaze. It appears that Thunder Dart came into contact with the poison joke. And another thing that's bad is that we are out of stock of some of the ingredients for the cure. I must ask when do we get our next shipment of supplies?"
"That doesn't come in for another few weeks" he said as he slowly turned his head my way. "Do you see why I can't believe you Azure? What is going to be told to this kids parents?"
I was speechless. I did not know what to say to that. A teacher that does not trust me, but that is okay for they are only that.
"Okay," I sighed deeply, clapping hooves together. “What type of trouble or punishment am I getting?”
“Oh believe me Azure, we already thought of that.”
I have to believe you, but you won't believe me.” I muttered under my breath.
“Because of your previous actions, plus this one, you will receive a suspension for the rest of the week and a cut from every club in the school.”
“Wait a minute now,” I said, with anger rising. “Why the hell would you penalize me for things that happened in the past? Do you know how unfair that is?”
I don’t care how unfair it is. It was-”
“NO! Now you're going to listen to me.” I shouted. “Anypony else could do these things, and they have in the past, and wouldn't get this treatment, but I do one thing, ONE THING, and I get suspension and cuts from clubs. Sure these things happened years ago, but don’t you think something should have happened then?”
There was a long pause within the room. I was now standing on my feet. The anger was built up so much inside of me that I could have been fuming from the nose.
The headmaster leaned in close and said, “You know I have been in this school for just as long you was. We have seen multiple headmasters come and go. I was not the head. That is why they got away. You and all the other ponies in this school may have gotten away with things, but now I am headmaster, and I will take one action the others failed to do, and that is making sure you all stay in your place."
“You know what, F-” and I caught myself there. As I was looking at him, he conspicuously raised an eyebrow. As I did not want to get into anymore trouble that I was already in, I quickly switched up my wordplay. “ Fine whatever,” I said exasperated as I stormed out of the room.
Word eventually got out that I attacked Thunder Dart. Everybody was coming up to me, like some kind of hero of some sort, asking how was I able to hurt him. Some believed me when I said “anger,” some didn’t. Learning a few new things, some even told me that they were also being picked on by Thunder Dart. So it turned out to be that I wasn't the only one who was being bullied by him. Other than that, I was praised throughout the whole school, which was a weird feeling.
The rest of the day happen to fly by. At one moment Math, the next it was lunch and finally it was time to go. I had told the crowd that continued to follow me that I will not be at school since the headmaster suspended me for the rest of the week, and they said that they will await my arrival the following week.
I was actually able to catch the bus home. It was a good thing because it was much quicker than the train. While on the bus, my mind kept replaying the scene from within the office.
“You will receive a suspension for the rest of the week and a cut from every club in the school.” the voice echoed. I tried to shake it away from my mind, but it was no use.
A few minutes had passed and the bus is a few blocks away from my house. I depart from the bus and I walk the rest of the way home. As I near my place of residence, I can see my mother standing in the threshold. That could usually mean one thing other than her going to work to manage my father’s business: trouble. As soon as I got in front of the house, I was hit with a mouthful of words from her.
“Now what were you thinking when you decided to do what you did Azure?” she yelled.
I ignored her. Mainly because I had already knew what she was going to say, which was what the headmaster had said. That was where her voice got stern.
“I know you hear me talking to you Azure. Answer me!” as we both entered the house.
“Do you want to why I did what I did?” I said almost shouting. “ because that pony has been messing with me for years now, in fact ever since we were colts. You would think something should have been done by now, but no, no type of consequences have been set for this kid.” My voice started to crack like on the verge of tears. A long silence had followed the outburst of mine. My mom happened to break this silence.
“I understand, but that still doesn’t give you any reason to beat up on anypony.”
“But mom, I said, tears now rolling down my face, “he talked…...he talked about dad.” Another silence had occurred, but this one shorter than the last. My mom broke the silence yet again. She looked to the ground and repeated “that still doesn’t give you any reason to beat up on anypony.”
After she finished speaking, I noticed what looked like a tear roll down her cheek and fall to the floor.
Realizing that she too started crying, I walked off to my room and shut the door. I go over to my bed, and bury my face in the pillow. There is then faint, muffled sobs as I weep. The memories of my father before his death had really took a toll on me. He had always always told me that I should stay strong for there will be a day that he will no longer be here with me. And he was right.
I can see myself as a young colt, walking alongside my father. He had the same face as me, with his coat a brighter blue than mine. As I look at him, I notice his cutie mark, which consisted of two bits and a dollar sign.
“Dad, what is your special talent supposed to be?”
“Well Azure, i’m a salespony. So I sell certain items to the other ponies. Why do you ask?”
“Because I don’t have a special talent,” I said sadly looking at my flank to see nothing there. “Most of the ponies at school laugh and make fun of me for not having my cutie mark yet.”
“That says that you still got time to discover who you are,” my father says. “Tell me Azure, what do you think your special talent is.”
Being hesitant at first, I eventually answered. “Uh, well I am pretty resourceful with working with what I got in front of me, but what would a cutie mark like that look like?”
“So what you’re saying is that you can use substitutes as tools when they are not present? That’s great! But since you are still young, who knows, you might find something else you’re better at.”
I go in closer to my dad and hug him. He had this way of cheering me up in my deepest of depression.
“Hey.” he said. “How would you like to go to the Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot?”
“Yes,” I said with enthusiasm. “I would love to go.”
“That’s great he said, but you have to promise me that you will not sleep, ok?”
“I promise.”
“I don’t know why mom didn’t want to come,” I said. “It’s going to be awesome!”
“Yeah I don’t know why she didn’t come, but maybe she’ll come with us another time.”
As we neared Canterlot, the castle could be seen in the distance. I have never been to Canterlot before, so everything about it was a new experience to me. The beautiful structures of the place in the night environment fascinated me the most.
I was excited during the entire train ride. Bouncing from seat to seat, I asked "so what happens during the summer sun celebration?"
"Well it is pretty much like a carnival where the main event will be when Princess Celestia raises the sun."
"Ooo. I can't wait! When will she raise the sun?"
"That won't be until dawn Azure.”
“Oh. Well I still can’t wait to get there.”
“Me neither. It is going to be a great father-son experience.”
We finally arrive at the Canterlot train station. Once I laid one hoof into the station platform, I became overzealous and ran off. My dad after me because he knew I couldn’t hold in my joy.
“So what would you like to do first,” he said.
I’m feeling brave, so lets go on the Ferris Wheel.”
But just like that, my bravery changed to cowardice. Because I was afraid of heights, I never liked Ferris Wheels.
“Next time i’ll choose the roller coaster,” I implied, covering my eyes with my hooves. My dad laughed and pulled me closer to him.
After that frightful experience, I decided to get some funnel cake. I ended up splitting it with my dad because there was too much. We later played some of the carnival-like games there. I had liked all the rides, food, and games, but nothing grabbed my attention more than the castle. As I stood there admiring it, I didn’t hear my dad calling out to me.
“Come on, Azure the princess is getting ready to raise the sun.
My concentration upon the castle had broke and I see my dad running towards a large crowd of gathering ponies. As I caught up to him, I realize why he wanted me to come faster: all of the spots up close were taken, but we were still pretty close. While we were standing there waiting, he said “thanks for not breaking our promise Azure.”
“I was never going to break it dad.”
We then hugged for a second, before horns started blaring throughout the area. I was excited to see the sun rise, but within that moment, a pony bumped into me.
“Sorry,” she said. I turn my head to notice that it was a purple unicorn. Her mane was what seemed like a sapphire blue with violet and rose streaks. And believe it or not, she too did not have a cutie mark. I was tempted to talk to her, but my excitement of seeing Princess Celestia appear took it away. With her horn lit with a magical aura, she flew up and quick fast the area was flooded with light as it flushed out the darkness. This sight mesmerized me and it became the most cherished moment in my life.
The sound of my alarm clock woke me up. As I gained conscience from my slumber, I notice that it was morning. “I guess I cried myself to sleep,” I thought. Some elements of my dream started to recur, which made me happy and sad. I then look at my flank and notice the cutie mark of a cog with a screwdriver and wrench. My special talent didn’t change like my dad said, but I am glad for this one since he also thought it was great. What I not thought of is what do I do with my suspension from school. I thought long and hard, then it came to me.
“Although he is a bully, and sorta an enemy, of mine, I will find a way to help out Thunder Dart the best way I can. I guess it is best since I am the one who caused this problem, so I am going to fix it!”