Sweetie Belle sighed deeply as she absentmindedly stared out of the large window beside her. Yet again she found herself wishing something would happen. Anything would be better than sitting here listening to Ms. Gurta talk about how interesting and important trigonometry was.
For crying out loud they were just numbers! If you’d seen them once you’ve seen them all. Can’t the ponies in charge of the school system think of anything better to waste time and money on? Maybe soccer. Soccer sounded like something fun to try. Maybe then she could finally show off to all the colts in her grade.
Laying her head on her hooves, Sweetie Belle looked down at her watch. It was barely 8:25am. Not even a full half hour had gone by yet since school began. Frustrated she glanced back out the window hoping to spot something interesting. A small group of colts were out tagging some poor sap’s car. Some fillies were watching the football team doing drills. And Applebloom was being chased by Diamond Tiara through the parking lot again with Scootaloo chasing the latter.
Sighing again, Sweetie Belle decided to go to the restroom. With a nod at Ms. Gurta, she got up and headed for the door. She was almost to the restroom when the first scream sounded from behind her. Startled Sweetie Belle’s head whipped around as the hallway suddenly erupted in shrill screams. Ponies started pouring from down the hallway, running towards the exit in a frenzied panic.
Pieces of wood and debris rained down on the crowd, causing them to panic even harder. A desk flew past her slamming into a fleeing student and throwing her through a wall. Pressing herself against the wall Sweetie Belle tried to figure out what was going on as she scanned the busy hallway.
That's when she saw him. A young colt with strange black tentacles walking out of one of the classrooms. He had dark green skin with spikes going up his back that seemed to be emitting some kind of glow. His eyes were hollow as he scanned the hallway and settled on her. With a smile he took a step toward her, throwing several students out of his way without a single care for what happened to them.
“Did you seriously think you could get away?” He asked staring at her. “No one ever fully escapes.” As if to emphasize he reached for a nearby teacher and threw him through the ceiling. The crowd cringed as they heard his bones break as he collided with the ground below.
Sweetie Belle screamed. Then she looked at the desk which had almost hit her. Thus deciding otherwise. Following the crowd she ran outside where the first of emergency personnel had started to arrive. As she rushed down the steps, Sweetie Belle was suddenly tackled from behind and slammed onto the ground. Rubbing her head, she turned to see two uniformed police officers lifting someone off her body. They appeared to be struggling to hold the person as she thrashed violently in their grip.
"Get your freaking hooves off of me! Let me go! I have to get back in there! I have to save her!" The young filly screamed as she struggled to break free.
"Please miss calm down. What’s the point putting yourself in danger?” One of the officers asked as he reached for a zip tie on his belt. "Please just calm down. Don’t make me have to restrain you or your friend for failing to cooperate with a government official."
"The flip I will!” The filly screamed. “Let me go! I need to get back in there! Let me go!" She hissed, slamming a hoof between the officer’s hindlegs.
“MOTHER-” shouted the officer as he bent over. He reached for his baton but was stopped by a silent shake of his partner’s head.
By now Sweetie Belle had recognized the filly as Summer Nip from her science class. Though she didn’t know her very well, Sweetie Belle did know one important fact about Summer Nip. She was never without her twin sister Kraven. Never.
"Summer Nip! Summer Nip!” Sweetie Belle called as she rushed over. “Summer Nip, what’s going on? Where's Kraven?"
“Sweetie Belle?” Summer Nip called. “Sweetie Belle! You have to help me! Kraven is still inside!”
Sweetie Belle looked at the officer holding Summer Nip. “What the heck is wrong with you? Why are you doing this to her? Why don’t you let her go? Or better yet, go save her sister?”
“You don’t understand youngin it’s too dangerous for anyone to go inside. We can’t allow it.”
“Can’t allow it?” Sweetie Belle demanded. “Why can't you allow it? Isn’t it your job to protect us? To keep the things we fear away? I’m tired of the way you grown ups treat us like we don’t know anything. Well let me tell you!”
“Miss calm down. We don’t want any trouble-”
“Calm down?” Sweetie Belle screamed. “Calm down! You’re telling me to calm down?”
“Ma’am. Please-” Started the other officer.
“No! I will not calm down!” Sweetie Belle shouted. “Not until you answer me!”
The officers didn’t say anything, instead both suddenly drew their weapons and aimed at her.
“What are you doing?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Are you going to shoot me now? Just because i asked a question?”
In a flash something grabbed Sweetie Belle around the waist and lifted her off her hooves. Then before she could react, Sweetie Belle felt her body get slammed against a nearby car. She screamed as a rib snapped, along with both of her hindhooves. Bleeding and broken, she felt her world turn upside down as she toppled off of the car and to the cracked ground below.
Sweetie Belle slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurring as she struggled to focus. Not far from her she could make out the shape of one of the police officers lying on his side. Hearing a click, she turned her head to the right. There stood the colt. He was watching her with his emotionless stare. In his tentacles he held the other officer, who was gasping loudly as he clawed at the abomination around his neck. Throwing the officer to the side, the colt walked over to Sweetie Belle. He grabbed Sweetie Belle by her neck and swiftly lifted her off the ground.
“It’s been a while.” He told her. There was a low hum to his voice. “Almost six years to be exact. What are you, fourteen now?”
Sweetie Belle didn’t answer.
“What’s wrong? You act like you don’t remember me Sweetie Belle. Did Rarity do something to you? Figures. Oh well no matter. Shall we continue where we left off?” He gripped her neck tighter till she started squirming as she struggled to breathe. Then dropped her back on the ground. “As you can probably tell your body feels heavier and you’re having trouble breathing. Partly because I almost choked you to death. But more because I just released a toxin into you.”
He smiled at Sweetie Belle’s reaction. “That’s right I’m going to kill you now. And I’m going to enjoy it.”
Not far from her, Sweetie Belle made out another figure watching the events unfold from the shadows. He seemed to be enjoying the look on her face as she struggled to breathe. The stare-down lasted for nearly a minute, the cold dark eyes of the figure boring holes into her’s.
“Your turn,” The figure whispered giving a wide grin. “Go ahead and die for me.”
“No.” Sweetie Belle whispered back, as she struggled to stand up.
With her eyes burning and the world beginning to grow darker, Sweetie Belle finally conceded. Dropping to her knees, she coughed loudly as the toxin filled her lungs, her mind burning from the pain. She fell to the ground, screaming for it all to come to an end. With a nod from the figure in the shadows, the colt lowered his hoof on her neck. As her vision faded into nothingness, Sweetie focused on the colt’s eyes suddenly feeling a small warmness coming from them.
I craned his neck, wincing as stiff bones popped and feeling the slight ache from the strain on my tortured shoulders. Peering out the dusty window beside me, I could just make out the blurry orange outline of Applejack and Winona walking toward the school with Applebloom. Sighing I looked at my watch.
8:10 AM. Class had just started.
Yet again, it was Monday and Twilight was trying to invoke another one of her plans. This latest one involving the termination of my homeschooling, and my enrollment at Ponyville Middle School. Though she kept insisting it was at Princess Celestia’s request, that I get out of the house and go meet ponies my own age like she herself at done. I soon learned from Spike that she had been talking to Rarity and Applejack about last month’s explosion that freed the Timberwolves into Sweet Apple Acres. Something she had explained away to everyone else as a random science experiment to test a new magical portal. Yeah right, science experiment indeed. Running a gloved hoof through my light green hair, I sighed and turned back to what the other students were doing.
“Morning class!” Charming Crescent, one of the Algebra teachers exclaimed, as he stumbled through the door carrying a large box of papers. “Before we begin today’s lesson, I would like to take care of something first. As most of you might have already noticed. We have a new student in our midst today.”
Instantly, everyone’s eyes snapped to me. In the course of five seconds, my good mood was replaced with the feeling of twenty-five pairs of eyes drilling into my skull. Even Mr. Crescent’s yellow one’s seemed intrigued by the student who had arrived with Twilight this morning. Behind him, there was a stallion silently cracking his hooves as he sized me up. Being as unostentatious as I could, I slid down further in my seat.
“Midnight Sparkle, is it?” Mr. Crescent asked, looking over his notes. “Why don’t you come on up to the front and tell us about yourself?”
I ignored him.
“Midnight? Don’t be shy, it’s just fifteen minutes of peer judgement. Hardly anything to worry about.”
Again I ignore him, this time slipping my backpack over my head.
“Mr. Sparkle. If you don’t get your little flank up here. I’ll be forced to send you to the office. Whereas you’ll be sent home.”
A few students laughed at this. Some even going as far as throwing in some chicken noises.
Cursing my luck, I reluctantly obliged. Standing in front of the class, my eyes scanned the room for any friendly faces. All i got were twenty-five sneering faces that made me regret ever listening to Twilight about this.
“Well as you said, my name is Midnight.” I said, flashing a smile. “As for a little about myself, there’s not much to tell. I’m a simple pony with the simplest of needs.”
Not the best speech ever, but it got my point across. At least nopony was kicking my flank...yet. So I’ll take this as a victory.
“You can’t be serious.” Mr. Crescent said, interrupting my self praise. “Isn’t there something else you want to tell us?”
“No that’s about all of it.” I replied slowly backing toward my seat. “Like I said. I’m not that complicated.”
It was around this time that I proceeded to trip over something in the aisle and fell to the floor.
The room erupted in shrill laughter, as I swiftly picked myself off the floor. I could feel my cheeks burning from the embarrassment.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I trip you?” A voice asked behind me. “Maybe you should look where you’re going next time.”
Now I had two choices: I could turn around, face the jerk and most definitely break his nose. Or, I could continue to my seat. Being the rational pony that I was known for, and remembering the wise threats Twilight had made before school, I walked away.
And being the typical jerk, he began making loud clucking sounds.
“What’s wrong Middy? Are you normally a pathetic mare?”
Pathetic? My vision flickered slightly as I listened. Not thinking much of it I leaned against the wall.
“That’s enough Lightning Rain.” Charming Crescent voiced, appearing next to me and setting a hoof on my shoulder. “Or do you wish to go visit the principal again?”
“Sheesh. I’m just having fun, Mr. Crescent. Lighten up.”
Lighten up? Again my vision flickered. This time showing everyone as shadowy red outlines.
“Yeah, he’s right. It was just a silly prank right?” I said, wrapping a hoof around the pegasus’ neck.
“Yeah, see he gets it.” Lightning Rain smiled, rubbing a hoof through my mane. “It’s all just harmless fun.”
“Yeah I get it.” I agreed. Seconds later the pegasus’ mane caught on fire.
“Ex-AHHHHHHHHH!”
Lightning Rain started running around the room hysterically, as he tried his best to put out the flames. Mr. Crescent was running behind him, trying his best to make use of the fire extinguisher. During all this, everyone else could only watch on in silence as the two rushed passed them. None of them having the faintest idea what was going on.
"Fire!" Lightning Rain screamed.
“Hold still!” Mr. Crescent shouted.
After five minutes of this, the poor pony tripped and fell, his body becoming fully engulfed. Taking the opportunity, Mr. Crescent started spraying him. Eventually, the fire was put out, but Lightning Rain was still lying prone on the floor.
"Feather Rise, go get the nurse…and the principal.” Mr. Crescent ordered.
"Is he alright?" An orange mare asked.
Mr. Crescent sighed. "He’s...I’m going to call 911, we need to get him to a hospital. There is nothing I can do for him here."
Everyone exchanged looks with each other. Fear, confusion, and worry on most of their face.
What happened.
"What a morning" I muttered to myself as I collapsed against a wall. School is tougher than I thought. And I thought having Celestia and Twilight teach me for the first few years of my life was a pain in the flank. Barely an hour into it and everything was already falling apart. Besides having to deal with all the schoolwork and everything that comes with it, being mistaken for a pitiful orphan who took advantage of Miss Twilight’s generosity by students and even a few teachers, being a student wasn't looking like much fun.
Also, what happened back in class? I remembered seeing Lightning Rain’s mane catch fire after he tripped me, but then nothing. I awake on the floor next to a dead body, a crippling headache, and suspicious faces. From what I could gather from those who would talk to me, the guy’s head spontaneously combusted by itself. And nopony seemed to be able to conjure up a flame by themselves. So, was it me? There are images. Thoughts or whatever that keep popping up. Hatred. Amusement. Laughter. Domination. What happened?
As I silently mused over this, the hallway filled with laughter as I walked past a group of ponies huddled near the gym. As I watched, they threw something against the wall and it gave a high-pitched scream. Curious pony that I was I ventured closer. And almost killed somepony. There on the ground laying in her a pool of blood, surrounded by four older ponies holding knives and dressed in red leather jackets, was the pulverized body of Sweetie Belle.
Ignoring me, one of the ponies motioned to Sweetie Belle’s prone body. Nodding their heads, a pony with bright green magical runes along his back and a muscle bound one broke from the group and roughly forced their victim to her hooves. From the way she grimaced when she stood, I guessed that her left leg was broken. Utterly helpless, Sweetie Belle started pleading with the gang, promising various favors if they would let her go. Unfortunately, the leader, a small stallion in a mask, refused to listen. He pulled back his hoof to hit her, grinning deviously.
WHUMP!
The hoof makes contact with her stomach. Sweetie Belle screamed as she coughed up blood. For a moment she looked in my direction. Our eyes met for a few seconds. It was evident she recognized.
Help me. Please.
The leader pulled back his fist again.
CRACK!
His fist slammed into my cheek this time, knocking loose one of my teeth. Surprised, he staggered back a few feet.
“That all you got?” I asked, spitting blood at the leader’s feet. Behind me, Sweetie Belle gave a low sigh.
For a few moments everyone was silent. Everyone too shocked by my sudden appearance to move. Much less say anything. They all just stared at me with vacant stares. For five minutes. Five whole minutes. Finally, the leader broke the silence.
“Who the heck are you?” He asked in a strangely high voice. He turned to his other lackey, a stallion in a white full body costume and a hood. “Thunder Gear, what is this?”
Instead of answering I broke into a fit of laughter, brought on by hearing a stallion that sounded like he had ingested helium.
The leader turned back to me. “Something funny?” He asked.
“It’s your voice dude. You sound like a mare!” I said, struggling to breathe. “It’s really quite hilarious.”
“And that’s funny?”
“I think it is.” I said giving him a goofy grin.
“Well guess what genius. I am a mare.”
I stopped laughing and looked back at the leader. He looked serious. “You’re a mare?”
“Yes. That would explain why my voice is so high.” The leader nodded. He motioned to his body,which consisted of black boots, makeup, and a bracelet around her right forehoof, in addition to the leather jacket. How did I miss that? “Also why my parents named me Peach Darling when they had me.”
I continued to stare blankly. Struggling to comprehend how a mare had just punched me hard enough to knock a tooth loose.
Sighing the gang leader shook her head. “Thunder Gear. Brawny. Chaust. Teach this fool the difference between stallions and mares.”
Instantly, I was surrounded by the lackeys. Brawny, the muscular one, grabbed my forehooves and pinned them roughly behind me. Then Chaust, the one with the curse marks on his back, and Thunder Gear took turns punching me in the stomach, head, and other areas.
“So you little dipstick, learn your lesson yet?” Thunder Gear said, delivering another punch in the stomach.
“That you’re just a bunch of lowlife punks who’d be nothing without your precious leader over there? Who hits harder than you punks?” I tried, spitting up blood.
Thunder Gear delivered another punch to my gut. “Try again.”
“How about, only cowards pick on those who can’t fight back?” I said. “Is that it?”
“Cowards, eh?” Thunder Gear pulled out a knife. Winking at me, he proceeded to cut a thin line across my cheek. I grimaced internally. “Who’s the coward again?”
I answered him with a swift kick between the hindlegs.
“AHHHHHHH!” He shouted, dropping the knife.
Next, the back of my head became good friends with Brawny’s nose, breaking it. Screaming, he released my limbs and shortly afterwards, he also received a kick to the privates.
Lastly, in front of me, was Chaust. I’ve had enough practice with curse marks to know I won’t be able to get away with a simple kick. So I’ll just have to try something else. Except, for some reason he wasn’t attacking. Confused, I looked around for the last lackey. Nothing. Where did he go?
Suddenly, there’s a knife at my neck cutting off my ability to breathe: Peach Darling.
“You fight well newbie. What’s your name?” She asked.
“Midnight.” I answered, looking down at the blood tainted floor.
“Midnight.” She repeated, spitting it out like poison. “Well, Midnight. You got lucky today. Usually I wouldn’t hesitate to get back at someone who crosses me, but I like you. So I’ll let you go.”
Gee thanks.
“But.” Peach Darling pushed the knife deeper into my neck and moved closer to my ear. “If you ever try a stunt like that again. I won’t be so forgiving. Capiche?”
I nodded.
“Good boy.” The knife removed from my neck. Then before I could relax, she kissed me on the cheek.
“What?”
Peach Darling winked at me and turned to leave with her ruffled gang. Brawny, nursing a broken nose. And Thunder Gear making obscene gestures as he struggled to help his friend. Neither looked like he’d be bothering anyone for a while.
Shaking my head, I turned back to their victim. A wrecked Sweetie Belle slowly dragging herself onto a bench.
“You okay Sweetie Belle?” I asked, as I sat down beside her. Her body was covered in various cuts from where the thugs’ knives touched her.
She nodded. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
I shrugged, “I had fun to be honest. Does it happen often?”
She nodded again. “ Everyday. I’d fight back but Rarity wouldn’t be very happy if she knew I got into fights.”
“She wouldn’t like you getting your flank handed to you either.” I pointed out.
“You have a point.”
I sighed, giving her a hug. “Come on let’s go get you fixed up.”