Masks

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Epilogue

Chapter 1

Masks
Chapter 1

Another new school, but it feels like the same day as the last. I’m not too sure how many times my family and I have moved, but this time my parents feel Ponyville just might be the place they’ve been searching for. A place where friendship is abundant, or so I’ve heard. I really have no reason to believe this isn’t so, with everyone’s smiling faces and exchange of kind words. The very first day we went to explore this little town further, I felt my face was the only one without a smile. After every pony that turned their head to look my way, I immediately hid myself from their view. When my parents told me to stop acting silly and keep my head up, I did so, but not without the dread that came with it. I knew that if I didn’t do as they said, they’d give me another lecture afterwards. That night they told me I’d be starting school the very next day, and to keep them happy, I pretended to act excited when tomorrow became the day I would dread the most.

Now here I am, and just as I tried to hide myself from every pony’s view of my face yesterday, I did it again today as all my new classmates stared at me once I entered the room. I thought I could be safe by choosing the seat far in the back of the classroom, and keeping the hood of my sweat-jacket over my head. That way I wouldn’t have to deal with their stares, or have to share a conversation with any of them or the teacher. “Good morning class!” The teacher greeted as she stood in front of the chalkboard.

“Hello Ms. Cheerilee!” Replied everyone else in the class, aside from me.

“Now class, I want you all to be aware that we have a new student joining our class today!” Immediately, my heart began to race. “So, to help ourselves get to know him better, I’d like to have him stand up here with me and introduce himself to the class.” The very thought of the idea made me hide my face beneath my hooves, hoping that perhaps she’d change her mind. “Where is he . . . oh there he is! Why don’t you come on up and introduce yourself!” I could feel her eyes staring at me, and I could hear everypony else turning in their seats to look back at me. With my face down to the surface of the wooden desk, I shake my head without a word. “Oh come now, there’s no need to be afraid.” Despite her attempts to bring me to the front of the class, I remain in my seat not even bothering to look up. “. . . Will you tell us your name?” My mouth opens, as if wanting to share my name, but I can’t bring myself to utter a word. Ms. Cheerilee sighs. “Would you at least take your hood off so I know you won’t be sleeping during class?” To satisfy her, even if just a little, I pull my hood off my head. With the safety of my hood gone, I don’t even dare to look up to the rest of the class. “Thank you. Well class, let us begin.”

Ms. Cheerilee began her lesson, as I followed every word, and took down every note. When it came time for recess, everypony filled the playground with games and laughter, while I chose to sit as far from them as I can. At least out here I could have my hood back on for a short while. As I stare down and watch the dead leaves tumble across the dirt path I chose to sit on, I draw circles in the dirt with some stick I found beside me. I catch the sight of somepony’s hooves waking towards me, where I immediately turn stiff as a statue. Soon, whoever is walking towards me is joined by another. “Hey you,” says a very daunting voice. “Is there something wrong with you or what? Too afraid to tell everyone your name?” I will not respond to her, clearly she’s only concerned with poking fun at me. I’ve encountered too many who only wish to do the same from the other schools I’ve been to.

“I’ll bet his cutie mark isn’t for bravery, I can tell you that much,” says the other filly.

“Wait a second Silverspoon, he doesn’t even have a cutie mark!” The both of them start laughing, and I let them have their fun. “And what is it with you and this hood? Too afraid to show your face?” The filly flips the hood off my head, and out of pure surprise I raise my head to see the two bullies. The one who flipped my hood is wearing a little silver tiara at the top of her well-groomed mane, and the other wears stylish-looking glasses. Taking one look at me, they begin to laugh even harder. Realizing that I had let them take a good look at me, I quickly bring my hood back over my head and hide my face beneath my hooves. “Let’s go Silverspoon, let’s leave the weirdo to himself.”

“What’s with his face?”

“I don’t know, but it’s too funny!” The both of them finally leave as I boil on the inside. I try to refrain from getting too upset by convincing myself I had done the right thing by not saying a word to them. Hoping they’ve left for good, I hear more sets of hoofsteps approaching me. I suppose they haven’t gotten enough out of me.

“Um . . . howdy!” A different voice greets. “Don’t listen to them two, they’re just bullies.”

“Are you okay?” Asks one of the other fillies. It’s possible these may be the only fillies that have actually spoken to me this way. An actual ‘kind’ tone, I don’t think I’ve heard that from anyone else aside from my parents. No matter how rude I feel for not saying a word to them, I made a promise to myself to not indulge in any sort of conversation with anypony else. I want to be alone, I feel more at peace that way.

“Are you girls sure we should be talking to him? He’s kinda strange,” says a third new voice.

“Scootaloo!” One of them whispers, followed by a grunt from the filly who made the comment.

“Ouch! Sorry!”

“So uh . . . Sweetie, Scootaloo and I were gonna start a game of tag! You can join us if you want.” I am taken completely by surprise. This just may be the first time somepony’s ever invited me to do anything with them, it almost makes me want to stand and say yes, but then I remember what has always been holding me back. I shake my head, and peeking through a small space between my hooves, I see them turn to each other, unsure of what to say next. “Well . . . if you change your mind, you’re always welcome.” The three of them leave, returning to the playground where everyone else is.

After recess had ended and the bell rang for class to begin again, it at least felt good to stretch out my legs after sitting in the same spot for the rest of recess. I contemplated so many times of joining those three fillies. I occasionally would peek over my folded forelegs to watch them play. However, I knew better. Nopony would want someone like me joining in their game. Sitting back down in my desk, I came to the dreadful realization that I must remove my hood, fearing Ms. Cheerilee would bring the class’s attention back to me by ordering me to take it off once again.

The rest of the school day continued just as it did before recess. She gave us all a math worksheet to complete for homework, which seemed simple enough. The final bell rang, and I made sure to let everypony else collect their things and leave the classroom before I did. I never leave the class in a group, I make sure I’m as far from anypony as I possibly can. Once the room is cleared, I stand and pass by Ms. Cheerilee’s desk where she’s writing on some papers. Fearing she might try to keep me in the classroom with who knows what, I try to move as quickly as I can to the door. “Could you wait here just a second?” Just the question I feared, and so I halt, waiting for what she has in store for me. “Is everything alright? First you don’t want to tell us your name, and next I see you sitting all by yourself far from everypony else. You know, if something’s bothering you, you can always talk to me about it.”

“. . . Th-There’s nothing wrong.” I mumble, hoping to end the conversation quickly.

“Well, then . . .” Ms. Cheerilee sighs, unsure of how to continue. “Could you please just tell me your name? If this is all just because you’re shy, then I understand; but now that everypony has left, can you tell me your name?”

“. . . Avral.”

“It’s nice to meet you Avral, and I hope that I can maybe help you get comfortable around your classmates. Remember, if there’s something bothering you, you let me know.” Still not even facing her direction, I nod my head. “Okay, go on, you’re dismissed. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Like a dog loose from its leash, I leave the classroom and bolt home. With the wind fighting my hood, I do my best to keep it over my head.

I hurry inside my home, well, new home, and try to hurry up the stairs to my room. “Hey! You’re home!” My Dad shouts from the living room. “Why don’t you come back down and tell us about your day?” Gloomily, I walk back down the stairs, and meet my Mom and Dad sitting on the couch.

“Well? How did it go?” My Mom asks.

“Did you have a good day?” I nod my head, hoping they’ll believe me. “It wasn’t that good, was it?” I stare off to the corner of the room, and my Dad sighs. “Did you talk to anypony?” I shake my head, and he puts his hooves into the air with that look of his, that well how are you supposed to make any friends if you don’t talk to anyone look.

“Avral, you need to start talking to other ponies if you’re going to make any friends,” says my Mom.

“But . . . I-I don’t want any friends.” I tell her.

“You say that, but sweetie I figure you would be much happier if you did. I mean, you don’t even try it seems.”

“Look son,” my Dad begins, “I know how you’re so self-conscious about the way you look, but you can’t let this bother you forever. You’re Mother and I have been putting up with the whole hassle of moving every so often because of how you keep saying you get bullied at school, and honestly, I’m tired of it. We’ve gone around town some more while you were out at school, and we feel that this place is just perfect compared to our previous living arrangements. I mean Avral, it’s time you stop worrying about what others say about you. I know it’s hard, but if you just try and hold your head up high, I think you’ll be much happier. So, Avral, can you promise me that tomorrow you’ll try to make some friends? Please?”

“. . . Yes Dad.”

“Thank you. Go ahead, you can go. We’ll have dinner ready soon.” The evening continues as the sun is lowered to the horizon, and the moon takes its place. I love looking through an open window. It’s high where nopony really looks, and I can hold my head up without fearing any watchful eyes. Just sitting by the windowsill, breathing in the cool air, listening to all the sounds that make up the world outside. It’s funny, I find everything about the outside so beautiful, yet I condemn myself to this room of mine. I suppose, since everything beautiful is out there, it’s only right that I remain in here. As my bedtime approaches, I head to the bathroom to wash up. Squeezing a bit of toothpaste onto my brush, I begin scrubbing my teeth. I do all this away from the mirror, and when it comes time for me to spit into the sink, I close my eyes until I can look down into the bowl of the sink. Finishing up, I leave without having to have caught a single glimpse at my reflection, but of course, my own image never leaves my head. Mirrors just serve as a constant reminder, a reminder of why I hide.

After a ‘goodnight’ to my parents, I lay myself down in my bed. Tossing and turning under the covers, I just can’t seem to get to sleep. I can’t stop thinking about what my Dad said. Telling me to just ignore what others say and hold my head up high, he makes it sound so easy. I can’t take it anymore, I’m tired of always hiding myself. I wish I could just live in a place where we all looked the same, that way nopony can point, laugh, or be disgusted by someone like me. The images of the two fillies that poked fun at me back at school taint my thoughts, their words and laughter constantly repeating in my head, mixing with just about everything I’ve heard from everypony else. Burning with frustration, I throw off the covers and walk over to the window hoping that the stars that dot the sky and the calming breeze can soothe me. I can feel tears starting to form behind my eyes. I’ve felt hopeless before, but not to the point of tears. There’s no way I’m getting back to sleep, I can already tell. I don’t want to be here anymore, this room almost feels like a prison cell. I wish there was somewhere else I could be. A place where I can clear my head, and not have to worry about everypony else around me. Something almost like a safe haven of sorts, but where? My eyes follow the stars all the way down to the horizon, which is blocked by masses of trees. A forest sits just outside Ponyville. It’s dark out, so nopony is going to be outside; and nopony is definitely going to be in those woods. I think I just may have found a place where I won’t have to worry about being seen by anyone, my safe haven.

Chapter 2

I throw on my jacket, pulling up my hood almost by instinct, and sneakily make my way passed my parents’ bedroom. Gently, I lay my hooves down onto the steps of the staircase, fearing that at any moment one of them could creak so loud as to disturb my parents. As soon as I’m clear of the stairs, I waste no time to rush out the front door, but carefully shutting it back in place behind me. Standing on the doormat outside my home, I feel like I should just turn back and get inside before I get into trouble. They could wake up at some point in the night and decide to check on me. They would lose their minds if they didn’t see me lying in bed, and I don’t even want to think of the lecture I’d get once I returned home. Knowing my luck, it wouldn’t surprise me if this were all to happen. With my hoof resting on the doorknob, ready to twist and head back to bed, I toss all those thoughts aside and dash down the dirt road.

Already I can tell I might regret my decision, but I don’t care at this point. I haven’t felt so free before in my lifetime, this almost enjoyable rush of adrenaline coursing through me. It feels great to wander the streets of Ponyville without having to fear the eyes of others. Galloping across the field of tall grass with the woods straight ahead, I glance back at the town, watching the distance between it and I grow. All I feel is that I’m leaving all those horrible stares behind me, and even though it may be only for a short time this night, I’m ready to enjoy it for as long as I can. My parents will never know, there’s no way they’d try to wake me in the middle of the night when they never have before. I’ll be back under the covers of my bed before they know it.

Entering the woods, I continue to gallop. Hopping over broken logs and maneuvering around the trees and bushes that stand in my way. However, I feel something catch my hoof, causing me to come crashing down onto the cold hard ground. Lifting up my head, I find that a root protruding out from the soil has looped around my hoof. Pushing myself up off the ground, I find myself covered in pieces of dead leaves. I stand with an aching ankle and cheek as I brush off the leaves from my jacket and mane. Near my hooves, I see a big smooth stone lying on the forest floor where my head nearly landed. It’s a good thing I just barely missed it, I don’t think I’d be able to explain a big bruise on my head to my parents. Maybe I should just take this as a warning to not continue forward and just turn back, but after all the trouble I’ve gone through to convince myself to go through with it, I don’t see that happening. I step over the stone, ready to explore these woods just a bit further.

I gaze up to the towering trees, it looks like they can almost touch the sky. Most of their leaves have fallen with the fall season coming into play, allowing some of the moonlight to shine through the spaces between the branches. Eventually, I come to a small clearing down a steep little hill. Careful to not slip, I climb down to the small space clear of trees. I come to a little nearby stream, and choose to take a seat on a little log to watch the water. It’s almost hypnotizing to watch the moonlight glisten off the tiny waves. I’ve always thought listening to the sounds of the outside were soothing, but to be completely surrounded by them feels like a whole new story. The lapping of the water is joined by the whistling of the wind, and that is joined by the groups of fallen leaves rolling across the ground. I take off my hood and allow the breeze to blow through my mane and across my ears. I almost feel like laying back and shutting my eyes to let myself become completely immersed in nothing but these sounds.

Until, a new sound emerges. Something that doesn’t sound anything like the wind, or the leaves, but almost like a chirping sound. I turn and glance all around me to maybe find the source of the sound, but it seems so far away. I stand up from the log, and walk with my ear lent to the air so that I may follow the sound. Just when I can tell I’m getting closer, the sound feels much more organized than just random chirping. It almost sounds like music. Venturing deeper into the woods, I can definitely tell the sound is like the tones of a music box or something of the like. Suddenly, the music stops, and so I halt in the middle of the woods, listening carefully incase the sounds starts again. I hear the quiet sound of something mechanical winding, and the music begins again. Oddly, it sounded very close by. I take just a few steps further, carefully examining to forest for what may be playing this music. Then, I stop, and find a whole other little clearing, and somepony sitting in the center with his or her back to me.

From what I can tell, this pony seems to be just around my age. It must be a filly, her gray dress and somewhat long black mane prove so. I just don’t understand why somepony like her would be out here all alone like this. Then again, remembering my current situation, I suppose it’s a question I really shouldn’t ask. After taking a few steps closer to her, the music stops once again, and I watch her wind whatever it is she has back up. “. . . Hello?” I ask. Immediately the filly gasps and hops to her hooves. Frightened, I jump back and yank my hood over my head to hide myself as much as possible. “I-I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” I shout with my eyes shut.

“You scared me,” she says while taking a breath of relief. “I didn’t expect to find anyone else here.”

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to. . . I’ll just go.” I say, walking away with my head low to keep her from seeing my face.

“Wait!” She calls, and so I stop. “Why are you hiding?”

“Oh uh . . . n-no reason. I really should be going—”

“Nopony hides themselves like that just for no reason.” Just as I try to escape her once again, she ends up yanking me back. “Are you afraid?”

“. . . Of what?”

“Of being seen.” Shaken by how she knows my reason, I am unable to form words. “I know how you feel. There’s no need for you to hide.” Curiously, I turn just enough to get a short glance at what she looks like, but I pull back in fear. “It’s okay, I won’t say anything. I promise.” I’m not sure why, but I’m all of a sudden overtaken by a sense of security by her innocent voice. I turn my body back towards her, and lift up my hood just a little to see her face. However, it’s her face that forces me back into hiding. I caught a glimpse of a sleek, white, porcelain face. Her eyes appeared completely vacant and dark, like the very night itself. “Why are you afraid. . ? Is it my mask?”

“M-Mask?” I take another peek, and indeed she appears to be wearing a plain white mask. For the short glimpse I got of her, I was convinced it was her actual face. “W-Why are you wearing a mask?”

“It is the rule. We must always wear our masks.”

“We?”

“Yes, each and every pony in my town must be always wearing their mask. It is who we are. May I see you?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“Please? I promised I wouldn’t say anything. Besides, what do you have to fear? It is just us here.” I refuse to respond, I refuse to show myself to her. I can feel the fear building up inside me, I want to gallop away, but it feels like her dark eyes have shackles around my ankles. “How about for just a second? After that, you can put your hood back on. I promise I won’t laugh like the others.”

“How do you know I’ve been laughed at?”

“My parents told me that ponies like us will always be laughed at. For the way you hide yourself, others must laugh at you too.” It’s strange, it’s almost like she knows me somehow. As though she knows what it must be like to be in my situation. For some reason, I feel safe. I carefully pull back my hood, and I let her get a short look at me. She tilts her head, and I quickly yank my hood back over my head.

“There, you saw.” I say, turning my back to her once again.

“What is your name?”

“My name. . ? A-Avral, my name’s Avral.”

“Hello Avral, my name is Suave. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“You-You too.”

“Why are you out here in the woods anyway? Were you looking for something?”

“No I just . . . I wanted to be alone.”

“Really? That’s why I’m here too.”

“Well, why did ‘you’ want to be alone?”

“I guess . . . nopony really understands me.”

“I uh, I heard music. Was that you?”

“Oh! Yes, it was. I love listening to my music box, it’s so relaxing. Wanna see?” She holds out her music box, and cranks the little handle on its side just a little to play some music. “I just love it, it’s my favorite thing in the whole world!”

“It’s nice. . . You know, I think it’s just about time I get going. I didn’t plan on staying out here for too long anyway.”

“Well wait! Would you like to come visit my town? I really think you’ll like it there. We . . . don’t get too many visitors. You must be the first I’ve ever seen outside of town. Please? Just for a little while?” I think, and I feel I do really need to get home; but, I don’t think just a few more minutes outside will hurt. Besides, I’m finding it all too difficult to say no to her. Her mask may have put me on edge, but now that we’ve spoken, and I’ve seen that she seems pretty friendly, I suppose I could go with her for just a little while.

“Okay, I’ll go.”

“Hooray! Come on, follow me!” She cheers. Suave trots further into the woods, beckoning me to follow. I glance back at the way I came, realizing this is my last chance to change my mind and return home. However, after some thought, I turn and follow Suave into the woods. I’ll only be gone for a little while longer, after that, I’ll head back home.

Chapter 3

I’ve been following Suave for quite some time now. I’m constantly thinking of how I’m going to remember the path back home. I’m sure that as long as I just keep moving forward once I reenter the woods, I’ll be fine. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. Although, even if I didn’t know where to find my way back home, I’m sure someone in Suave’s town could help me find my way back. “We’re almost there,” she says. Realizing that she’s getting closer, she picks up her pace just a bit, as do I in order to keep up with her. Finally, we come to the end of the woods. I can see a little village just ahead, and from what I can tell, the streets look empty. Smoke is rising from the chimneys of the little cottages, and I can just barely make out little flickers of orange lights through the windows. “There it is.” Suave holds out her hoof to stop me in my tracks before I can come any closer. “Before we go, I need you to promise me something.”

“Promise what?”

“That you won’t tell anypony that I was out in the woods, understand?”

“Well, why wouldn’t you be able to go into the woods?”

“Because it’s forbidden! None of us are allowed to enter that territory of the land. Everypony tells me it’s dangerous.”

“Well, then, why were you in there?”

“It’s the only place where I can be alone. Where I can just . . . listen to my music in peace without having to worry about anything else around me. Please, will you promise me?”

“Yeah, I-I promise.” Suave guides me out of the woods and into the field of grass towards the town. The wind picks up, trying to rip my hood from my head, but I hold it firmly in place. It blows the blades of grass in a way that makes me think of the waves of an ocean. In the sky, dark, gray clouds have emerged to block my view of the stars. Strange, the sky was clear before, these clouds seem to have come out of nowhere. I hope it doesn’t start to storm soon, I don’t want to trot back home in the rain.

We arrive to the entrance of town, following the dirt path to wherever it is she’s taking me. I spend some time to look around and really get a better look at the town, however, there doesn’t really seem to be much. If anything, this place feels deserted. Until, I hear a scuffling off to my right. I whip my head around to look, but all I find is an empty, open window. I hear a sharp creak of wood back to my left, and glancing back brings me to a door, slightly ajar before being quickly closed shut. It could just be the wind playing games with me, even so, it doesn’t take away the feeling that somepony might be watching me. Ignoring every other sound, I pull my hood over my ears, and focus all my attention forward.

“Well, here we are!” Says Suave excitedly, leading me to the front porch to one of the cottages. She knocks on the door, and after a while, it slowly creaks open. Standing before us is a tall, well-dressed stallion; but his most outstanding feature, is the white mask adorned on his face. It is similar to Suave’s with its sleek porcelain look, and dark eyes. “Hello Father.”

“Oh hello Suave, darling!” He happily greets. “I was wondering when you’d be returning home. . . And who is this you’ve brought with you?” He asks, leaning down to get a better look at me. With my hood tight over my head, I step back to hide behind Suave. “Now, now, there’s nothing to be afraid of. What is your name?” I can’t do it, I can’t bring myself to utter my name to him. My own fear has me by the throat.

“His name is Avral,” says Suave.

“Well hello there Avral. Why don’t you two come inside? It’s getting cold out here.”

“Yes Father. Come on Avral!” Suave follows her Father inside, but I am reluctant to set hoof through the doorway. I turn my head to gaze back down at the path I came, and I spot a mare staring at me from her doorway. It’s hard to tell as she is mostly shrouded by shadows, but I can see her dark green dress, and a small portion of what looks like the same porcelain mask Suave and her Father are wearing. The mare doesn’t try to hide, she merely continues to watch me. Wanting to escape, I enter Suave’s home as her Father closes the door behind me.

“Dear! Suave’s home! And she’s brought a friend!” By the pulsing light of a crackling fire in the fireplace, a mare steps down from the staircase. Her dark mane is tied back in a tail, her dress is vanilla white, and over her face, is the same white mask.

“Oh hello sweetie! I’m glad you’re home, and who is this you’ve brought with you?” The mare asks.

“Mother, this is Avral,” says Suave.

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you Avral. . ! Are you cold? Why do you have your hood on?”

“He’s just shy.”

“Oh, I see. Well Suave honey, why don’t you take him upstairs with you to your room and play? Your Father and I are going to prepare dinner. Would you care to stay and join us Avral?”

“Oh, I uh . . . I don’t know I mean . . . I should be heading home soon—”

“You must be hungry. Are you sure you can’t stay? Please, we insist.”

“Well . . . sure I-I suppose.”

“Great! I'll call you both down when it’s ready!”

“Uh thank you, Miss.”

“It’s no trouble at all dear, now you two go and play.”

“Come on Avral, let’s go!” Grabbing my hoof, she hurriedly guides me upstairs. She leads me into a room alighted only by the moonlight glaring through the single window near a well-made, little bed. Along the walls are shelves, filled with nothing but dolls of all sizes. Most of them are dressed in little, white dresses, but they all seem to have similar faces. They’re all pure white, except for their big black eyes. Suave hops onto her bed, giggling from her own excitement. “Well, welcome to my room! Do you like it?”

“. . . Yeah, it’s great. What’s this?” I ask, walking over to a little desk and drawer.

“Oh that’s my make-up desk.” For a make-up desk, it’s very odd. There’s a tall, round opening for where a mirror should be, but there’s nothing.

“Shouldn’t there be a mirror here?”

“Mirror?”

“Yeah, you know, a mirror so you can see what you’re doing.”

“What’s a mirror?”

“What do you mean? You . . . you don’t know what a mirror is?”

“I’ve never heard of it before. What is it?

“Well, it’s kind of like glass, except you can see your reflection in it.”

“That sounds incredible! Do you think you could show me one sometime?”

“Yeah I uh . . . I guess. . . So, I saw your Mom and Dad are wearing masks too.”

“Yeah, I told you, we all must wear our masks. My parents told me that we’re never supposed to take them off.”

“Well, then, how do you put on your make-up without taking off the mask?”

Suave then tilts her head in confusion. “I don’t think I understand. . . Why would I take my mask off to put on my make-up?”

“Becau— . . . Don’t you—? Never mind.” I take a seat on the little chair near her make-up desk, trying to rid my head of the maze I had found myself in from her question. “So, you never told me ‘why’ everypony has to wear the masks.”

“My Father just told me so. I always do what Father says, or else he puts me in the room.”

“Room? W-What room?”

“The room he puts me in to let me think. Until I’ve learned. I remember the first time he put me in there. . .”

“. . . We’re you scared?”

“I was, very scared. That’s why I always do whatever he says. I never want to go back in there. That’s why I wanted you to promise you wouldn’t tell my Father I went into the woods. I don’t want to go back in there.” I can hear her voice growing weak, the first sign she might start to cry. Although, she may have already started, but I would never know with that mask in the way.

“Don’t worry, I made a promise, and I’m keeping it. I won’t tell them anything about you being in the woods, I swear.”

“Thank you, Avral.”

“Sure. . .”

“Anyway, why don’t you tell me more about you? What’s your home like?”

“Well, I mean . . . I love my Mom and Dad, and everypony in town is just really friendly. Everyone smiles and laughs.”

“Really?”

“But not me. It’s hard to remember a time where I did either of those things. Probably because I never wanted to show my face to anyone. I think this is actually the . . . fourth or fifth time we’ve moved to a new town.”

“Why?”

“It’s because of me. I always complain to them about getting bullied at school, now I feel like I’ve become an annoyance because of it.” I can feel tears starting to build up behind my eyes, I know I should just stop talking, but I can’t. Unlike anypony else, I feel like I can actually talk with Suave, and that she’ll actually listen. “I make them miserable, I know I do. We can’t just settle in and live like a normal family without me forcing them to move every so often.”

“You shouldn’t think like that.”

“Why not? It’s true.”

“How do you know?”

“I heard my Dad say so himself.” Suave silences, clearly stunned by my statement. “I remember the very night he said that to my Mom.” Suave simply sat, ready to listen, as I prepare myself to tell her all about that night.

It was after we had already moved a few times, which I could tell was hindering at my Father’s sanity when I watched him carry the cardboard boxes full of our belongings to the mover’s carriage. I was lying in bed, and I could hear my parents’ voices all the way from downstairs. I crept out from my bedroom, and I could see the amber glow of the dining room light against the walls of the hall. I snuck down each step, careful not to press down too hard in case they might creak. I peered around the corner and between the bars of the railing, watching them talk at the dinner table. My Mom said, “Darling, just give it some time. Maybe in this new town, it’ll be easier for him.”

“I don’t know hon, I think this is getting out of control,” my Dad said.

“It’s for our son. I’m not going to have him go to school every day just to be mocked by some kids.”

“And do you think I want to see that happen? Hon, when I would get made fun of, I just learned to brush it off and not think about it.”

“Right, but you didn’t have his problem. Would you be able to just ‘brush it off’ if, at that age, some of your classmates poked fun at you and laughed at you because of the way you look, and you look in the mirror and feel that they were right? Sweetie, this is going to be something that’s going to affect him for his whole life.”

“. . . I know, I know.”

“I offered to take him to the Therapist.”

“No, there is no way I’m taking him to a Therapist. My son isn’t messed up in the head, all he needs to do is just learn to block everypony out.”

“Dear, I told you, he can’t do that—”

“Well maybe if he did we wouldn’t have to move every few months! We could just live like everypony else! Like a normal family! But no, because of a few things some kids say to him at school, you’re ready to let that dictate the decision of living in one spot?”

“Would you keep your voice down?! You’ll wake up Avral! I don’t care how many times we move, we will move until our son is happy!”

My Dad sighed. “Fine, we’ll keep trying; but if this keeps going, he has to learn to not worry about what other people say.”

“Okay, we’ll do that then, now just . . . let’s get some sleep. You’re stressed, and we need to get up early to call the movers.”

“I’ll meet you there, let me just check up on Avral.” I saw them both get up from their chairs, and I immediately crept back to my room and into my bed. I got under the covers, and turned myself away from the door. My Dad opened the door, and just watched me from the doorway. I heard him whispering, but I couldn’t tell what he was saying. Then I heard my Mom come up and tell him to come to bed. He left, and my heart was ravaged with guilt.

“It was the night that made me believe that the reason we can’t be a happy, normal family, is because of me. Ever since then, I never felt the same. I was just hoping that the next town or school would be a place where I can show my face and not have to hide behind this hood, but it never was. . . Today was my first day at my new school, and the first thing that happens, two girls laugh at me once they see my face. . . I just don’t understand. Why do I have to be so different?”

“. . . I ask myself that question all the time,” says Suave.

Chapter 4

“You and I . . . really aren’t too different,” says Suave.

“How’s that?” I ask. Suave pulls out her little music box, cradling it in her hooves to comfort herself.

“The day Father put me in the room, was the day I always regretted. It started out quiet and peaceful, just like any other day. Until he saw me trying to take off my mask. He walked into my room to tell me dinner was ready, and the tone of his voice just . . . changed. He kept asking me what I was doing, but I just kept telling him I wasn’t doing anything. He got mad, and he yanked me out of bed and into the hall. He unlocked the door and threw me into the room. I was screaming, begging for him to let me out, and he said, ‘Not until you’ve learned,’ before he left to go back downstairs. So I sat, with my eyes shut, waiting for him to come back.”

“W-Well, if you knew it was wrong, why did you try to take the mask off?”

“Because I—” she stops, and glances over at the door. “Come here.” She whispers whilst beckoning me over to her bedside. I get up from the little seat to her make-up desk, and walk over to her bed. She pats the surface of the bed next to her, signaling me to be next to her. Mixed with curiosity, and a small ounce of fear, I cautiously sit near her on her bed. “Can you keep another promise for me? Nopony can know about what I’m about to tell you. This is a secret just between you and me.” She whispers. I nod my head to her, and she leans in just a little bit closer. “I don’t want to wear this mask anymore. Sometimes I just feel like tearing it off my face and throwing it across the room, but I know if I do, Father will know. He’ll put me back in the room if I do. I don’t want to go back in the room. I don’t want to go back in the room.” She repeats nervously.

“You won’t go back in the room, don’t worry.”

“I hate this mask Avral, I hate it. I’m sick of seeing the same face everywhere I go. I’m sick of not being able to show ‘my’ face to anyone. Nopony in this town would understand me, no one. That’s why I said you and I are the same.”

“I don’t know. Most of the time, I feel like I should be the one behind a mask.”

“But I mean that, because we’re different from everyone around us, it makes us similar in a way.”

“But . . . why ‘wouldn’t’ you like it here? With everyone wearing these masks, there’s no one to point and laugh at you for looking different. Nothing for you to be ashamed of.”

“Well . . . maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”

“I-I don’t understand, why wouldn’t that be a bad thing?”

“I mean, if everyone’s the same, then there’s nothing that makes you . . . you. Nothing that makes you different from all the rest. And that’s what I want, I want to be different . . . I want to be like you.”

“Like me? I don’t see why anypony would want to be like me.”

“I want to because you’re different. Tell me, what is it like where you live? What is everypony else like? Does everyone have their own face?”

“Well, yes we do. Nopony wears masks where I live. Everyone usually seems so happy and . . . carefree.”

“Oh, it sounds like the perfect place to live. You know, I’ve always dreamt of a place like that, but it’s just so hard to think of so many different faces. I wish I could just . . . see it. Just to know that it’s real.”

“. . . I could take you.”

“Would you?”

“Sure, I mean, why not?”

“Oh Avral, thank you!” Suave unexpectedly tosses herself onto me and throws her forelegs around me to wrap me in a tight hug. Not wanting her so close to my face, I try to turn my head away and lean back as far as I can. After noticing how uncomfortable I’ve become, she lets go, returning to her space on the bedside. “I’m sorry, I let my excitement get the best of me.”

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it.” Suddenly, we hear a loud knocking from downstairs. The both of us leave the bed to quietly investigate what’s going on in the living room. We descend down the staircase, and stop to peek through the bars of the banister. Suave’s Father is talking to somepony at the front door. It’s the same mare I saw staring at me from outside before I entered the house.

“I hope I haven’t disturbed your family,” she says.

“Oh not at all. Why is it you’ve stopped by this hour?” Suave’s Father asks.

“Well, I couldn’t help but notice you have a visitor.”

“Why indeed we do. One of Suave’s friends I believe.”

“You wouldn’t mind I meet, and welcome the young colt to our little town would you?”

“Oh of course not, please come in.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Suave! Honey could you and your friend come down for just a moment?!”

“Come on, let’s go.” Suave whispers. We walk the rest of the way down, as the mare’s empty eyes immediately glue to me. I check to make sure my hood is held securely over my head as I warily step closer to her. However, some of that tension is relieved with Suave by my side.

“Hello dear,” says the mare. Her stare feels like it has me by the throat, as I feel too afraid to utter even a ‘hello’.

“Oh, excuse me Miss.” Suave’s Father begins. “You see, he’s not that much of a talker.”

“Oh that’s quite alright. No worries, I just wanted to say, welcome our town. I saw you outside earlier. I hope I didn’t scare you.” I then shake my head to her. “Oh that’s good, I wouldn’t want to make a bad first impression. I understand you’re not too fond of speaking, but could I at the very least know your name?” She asks, squatting down to meet me at eye level.

“. . . A-Avral.” I mutter.

“Ah, Avral, such a nice name. Well, I should go and inform the mayor of our new visitor. I’m sure he’d love to welcome him as well. In fact . . . this just might call for a gathering!”

“What a delightful idea!” Suave’s Mother cheers.

“You know what, I feel you’re right. Everypony in town should welcome our new visitor!” Says Suave’s Father.

“Oh I-I don’t know. . .” I say.

“Do not worry young Avral, we want you to feel right at home. It’ll be a time of merriment! Surely you must stay with us for just a little while longer, at least until our short celebration has ended?”

“I . . . I. . .”

“Please Avral? Stay just a little while longer?” Suave asks.

“Please, we insist.” Her Father continues. Glancing back and forth between the four of them, I give in, unable to resist.

“Well . . . okay. I’ll stay.”

“Splendid! I’ll go ahead and inform the mayor! I’m certain he will be overjoyed.” The mare leaves, closing the door behind her as she walks away. Walking over to the window, I peer over the windowsill to watch her walk down the dirt road. Oddly, she stops, and as I continue to watch her, she turns her head back to me. Fearing being noticed, I hide under the window. After a about a second or two, I carefully peer back over the windowsill to find that she has somehow vanished.

“Oh! I do believe dinner is just about ready!” Says Suave’s Mother as she trots into the kitchen, immediately tending to the steaming pots that rest on the stove.

“Please, Avral, follow us to the dining table. Suave honey, would you please help me set the table?” Her Father asks.

“Yes Father.” The both of them hurry to the dining room, and I awkwardly follow from a distance, still a bit distraught from the sudden disappearance of the mare from outside. All this hospitality is almost jarring. Especially after hearing about this ‘gathering’, it makes me feel a bit uneasy. All this attention, focused on me, isn’t really something I’m new to; but not in such a positive manner. These ponies seem so kind that it almost feels unreal. However, in the same token, it feels refreshing.

After the table is set with bowls and utensils, Suave’s Mother begins dishing out the stew she’s prepared. Setting the big pot in the center of the table on top of a dish cloth, she lowers a big ladle inside to catch a big spoonful of stew and pour it into everypony’s bowl. All of us take a seat in the wooden chairs set up around the table, with Suave and I on one side, and her parents just across from us. As they all dip their spoons into their bowls, they guide the stew under their masks and to their mouths. “Thank you for joining us, Avral. We appreciate your company,” says Suave’s Father.

“So, where are you from dear? Surely you’re not from around here.” Suave’s Mother asks.

“Um, I’m from Ponyville,” I say.

“Ponyville? Hm, I’ve never heard of such a place.”

“Wait a second, are you saying you came from beyond the woods all by yourself? Aren’t you aware of the dangers that could be lurking in there?” Suave’s Father asks.

“You’re lucky you found us. Who knows what might’ve happened to you out there?”

“Suave honey, how did you meet Avral?”

“Well, he . . . I was playing at the edge of town, and I just saw him come out from the woods,” says Suave.

“I see. Well, as I said, we are glad to have you here.

“. . . Thank you,” I say. None of us say another word for a short while as they all continue to eat, and I stare at the bowl before me, too uncomfortable to even attempt to pick up the spoon.

“Is everything alright dear?” Her Mother asks. “You’re not eating.”

“I’m uh . . . I’m not very hungry.”

“Oh but you must at least try it. It’s my family’s favorite stew, they’ve never sat down without taking a single bite.”

“Come on Avral, it’s really good.” Suave adds. Feeling backed up into a corner, I try to reiterate to Suave.

“N-No, really I—”

“Please?” She interrupts. “For me?” I pause, as the soft innocence of Suave’s voice acts as the final blow in my fight to resist. I pick up the spoon, lower it down into my bowl, and allow the brownish-green liquid to pour into the cup of the spoon. I guide the steaming spoon to my mouth, and taste the warm, wondrous, grassy, and salty sensation on my tongue. The family, seemingly pleased, watch as I eagerly go for another spoonful.

“Well, I take it you like it!” Suave’s Mother chuckles. Halfway through our bowls, Suave’s Father looks up at me.

“Pardon me Avral.” He begins. “I don’t mean to impose, but would you mind if you lowered your hood? I don’t think I got quite a good look at you, and besides, when we’re at the table I feel it only proper.” Just like back at the beginning of my first day at the new school, that rush of anxiety fills me. With my hooves gripping the edges of the hood, I tug it down to keep it over my head. “Please Avral, just for a moment. I’d like to at least ‘see’ my daughter’s friend eye to eye. After that, you can have your hood back on for as long as you like.” Conflicted, I feel I don’t want to be rude, but the fact still remains, I don’t want to potentially ruin their dinner by showing myself.

“Go on, Avral,” says Suave as she nudges my shoulder.

“Yes dear, go right ahead, there’s nothing to be nervous about.” Suave’s Mother adds. Again, it’s hard to fight back against their words. I am in their home, and I suppose the polite thing to do would be to just do as they ask. Cautiously and slowly, I remove my hood, watching to see if any of them reel back in their seat from the sight of me. However, they seem to do no such thing.

“There, that wasn’t so bad now was it?” Her Father asks as he proceeds to eat. I take a look around the table, and am overcome with thoughts. I hadn’t received a single gasp or concerned question about my appearance. It’s strange, it feels so abnormal to not have received the reaction I was expecting. For once, I actually feel accepted. I can sit at this dinner table, and almost feel without shame. Unlike at my own dinner table, where shame felt prominent. Suddenly, a knock at the door breaks the peace, and as Suave’s Father goes to answer it, I yank my hood back over my head. He opens the door, and happily greets an older, well-dressed stallion in a gray suit. As expected, he as well is wearing a white, porcelain mask. “Ah, good afternoon Mister Mayor!”

“The same to you! Now, I do hope I’m not interrupting,” he says in a rather jolly voice.

“Oh not at all.”

“Good. So, I hear we have a visitor in your home today.”

“Indeed we do, he’s just over there.”

“Oh-hoh! So this is the young lad I’ve been hearing about! What would your name be dear colt?”

“. . . Avral,” I mutter.

“Well Avral, I would like you to know that we have something planned for you, and we do hope you enjoy it. As a matter of fact . . . it would seem that nearly everypony is set for the gathering! Please sir, you and your family will join us right?”

“But of course, we wouldn’t want to miss an occasion such as this,” says Suave’s Father.

“Great! Well, as long as you’re all ready, I’d like to guide you all to the park. I must say, everypony is a bit eager to get started.”

“Well I believe we are. Sweetheart!” He calls to Suave’s Mother. “Go ahead and wrap up the stew for later darling, the gathering is about to begin!”

“Oh wonderful!” She says happily. “Why don’t you kids go and meet up with the mayor, I’ll be there shortly.”

“Okay Mother!” Suave cheers as I follow her from the table all the way to the front door where her Father and the mayor stand.

“Well now, good afternoon Suave!” The mayor greets. “How have you been dear?”

“I’ve been well,” she says.

“That’s good to hear. And what say you Mister Avral? Are you excited?” Not wanting to respond, I keep my head low and eyes to the floor.

“You’ll have to excuse him Mister Mayor, he’s a bit shy.”

“Why that’s no problem at all. Although, I do hope he doesn’t plan on being that way throughout the entire festivity. It’s a time of celebration! Not a time for hiding. Well now, shall we get going?”

“Yes, yes, I’m ready,” says Suave’s Mother joining us at the doorway.

“Splendid! Then let us be on our way.” The mayor leads us all outside, and I follow behind, unsure of what to expect.

Chapter 5

The nearby park is cluttered with what must be every pony in town. All of them walking about, talking and laughing with each other. Ponies gently glide their bows along the strings of their violins. One stallion, front and center, softly plays off of his piano. As all of them fill the air with their music, it quickly becomes a delight to my ears. White chairs and tables under sheets of the same bright white color are set up all around an area of the park, and they all hold an assortment of silver trays stacked with snacks. The only thing keeping this place from being completely calming, is the fact that each and every pony is wearing those unsettling white masks molded with false smiles. Nearly every mare’s mask has rosy, powdered cheeks. The mayor leads Suave’s family and I under a white archway into the park, where he raises both his hooves and voice to get everypony’s attention.

“Greetings everyony!” The music silences, and everypony turns to see the mayor. “I’m glad to see you all here! I understand the hour is late, but this is quite a special occasion! Our visitor has now arrived, so please, give a nice, warm welcome to: Avral!” He then steps aside, allowing everyone to get a good view of me. Not expecting all of their dark eyes to be gazing at me all at once, I lower my head with my hood still hiding me. I cringe in fear, until the sounds of stomping hooves and joyful cheers beckon me to lift my head. It feels unreal, I don’t understand how all this excitement can be pointed towards me. Their cheers are something almost as unsettling as their porcelain faces, but also just as comforting. “Now everyone, please continue to play and endure in the merriment! Soon, I will return to speak and give a proper introduction to our new visitor! For now, I’d like him to get comfortable, and hopefully know he’s welcome among friends.”

The mayor trots off into the crowd, eventually meeting up with a mare in a striking, yellow dress who I can only assume is perhaps a family member as they engage in a heartfelt hug. The music begins anew, however this time it is much more powerful. Mares and stallions, hoof to hoof, gather in the center of the park where they engage in an energetic dance. Stepping and twirling with grace, followed by the cheery giggles from the fillies, it makes me wonder what I thought was so daunting about these ponies from the beginning. “Come darling, let us dance,” says Suave’s Father to his wife.

“I would be delighted to,” she says.

“What about you kids? Will you join everypony else?” I can already feel my muscles tense up at the very idea of his suggestion.

“Maybe later, for now I think we’ll just take a seat,” says Suave.

“Very well, although I do hope you two don’t plan on just sitting around for long. There’s much more fun to be had.” Suave’s Father takes his wife’s hoof, and they both join the rhythmic crowd of dancing ponies.

“Come on Avral, let’s find a place to sit.” I follow Suave to one of the sheeted tables, where I take a seat and await for her to take hers right across from me. Instead, she pulls the chair over to my side, and then decides to sit down once she’s got the chair positioned comfortably near me. “So, what do you think?”

“It’s um . . . it’s nice.”

“Why do you seem so . . . down? I thought you would be more excited.”

“I would, but. . .” I tug at my hood to keep it nice and snug over my head. “I just don’t think I can.” Suave suddenly becomes silent, as if pondering on what to say next. I shouldn’t have come here, all of this just feels unnecessary. Much to my surprise, these ponies have shown me more kindness than I have ever received. I know I should feel a bit ashamed to say, but even more than my own parents have shown. They simply expect me to accept the way I am, when to me that feels like an impossibility. I just feel the need to go back home, plant myself in my bed, and await the next dreadful morning. Just to let the endless monotony of the days proceed. There isn’t any point in me staying here any longer. Breaking from my thoughts, I feel something touch my hoof, and it’s Suave, trying to lower it down from my hood. I let go of the tension that kept my hoof around the brim of my hood, and shift my eyes to her, no longer feeling comfortable to look at her face to face.

“Avral, why are you so scared?” She asks.

“You know why.”

“No, I don’t. To me, you really have no reason to be scared.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I’ll tell you, but first you have to turn and look at me.”

“N-No, you’ve already seen me. I don’t want—”

“Avral, please?” Falling victim to her soft plea, I turn to face her, but not without my hood shrouding my face in shadows. She reaches for my hood, and I immediately lean back as far as I need to in my chair to avoid her. “Avral, please, just one more time. After that, you don’t have to take your hood off anymore.” Giving in, I move back to my original position in my chair. She grips the brim of my hood, and carefully lifts it up and off of my head. I stare into the dark eyes of her mask, impatiently waiting for what she has been wanting to tell me. “See? Isn’t that better?” I refuse to answer, instead I turn away to hide as much of my face as I can. “Avral, I don’t understand what you’re afraid of.”

“How do you not understand? My face is just. . .” Frustrated, I sigh to maybe relieve some of the anxiety building up inside me. “I don’t understand ‘you’.” I continue. “Y-You don’t point or-or laugh, or act disgusted. . .”

“Why would I act that way?”

“Everypony else does. So, why should I expect anything less?”

“Avral, when I look at you, I don’t think about how your face looks; because all I see is ‘you’ . . . someone I can actually call ‘my friend’.”

“I can’t be your ‘only’ friend.”

“Everypony in this town pretends to be friends. They talk, laugh, play; but to me, it all feels fake. It’s like a disguise. It feels like we all have to be friends since we all look the same, but that can’t be how friendship works. Real friends should be able to see you, to be allowed to show themselves, and not be afraid. If we didn’t have to wear these masks with these fake smiles, maybe then we can make ‘real’ friends, and see some ‘real’ smiles. Right now, I feel like you’re my only real friend, because you’re not hiding behind a lie. If those ponies you talk about would only give you a chance, maybe then they can see what I see . . . and I think I know how to fix it.”

“Really? How?” I ask, almost ready to dismiss her answer as something that may never work. She puts her hoof under my chin, and raises my head up to the same level as hers.

“Lift your head up, and show everypony you don’t care about what they think of your face. I’m sure that if you would just show everypony who you are instead of hiding under that hood, they would finally see what I see: somepony who’s kind and sweet.” I find myself unable to resist the sudden build-up of water behind my eyes as it carefully begins to trickle down from the base of my eyelids. Something I just couldn’t fight back, was the smile that seems to have found its way across my face. I can’t remember another time where I smiled quite like this. “Show them that. Show them your ‘real’ smile.”

“Suave, honey!” Suave’s Mother calls from the crowd. “Are you and Avral going to join us?”

Suave gets up from her seat. “Want to dance?” She asks.

“I-I don’t know how to dance.” I stutter.

“It’s okay, I’ll teach you! Come on!” She grabs my hoof, and walks me over to the crowd of dancing ponies. We stop at an open space deep in the crowd, and I shiver from the sheer terror of being surrounded by so many ponies. “Now, give me your hooves. . .” She puts her hooves against mine, keeping them raised up to about our chests. “And do as I do.” I watch her hind legs, trying ever so desperately to follow her flow. Every step she takes appears as though it’s flowing with the very tones of the music being played. I raise my head up to her, coming to the revelation that I seem to have somehow captured her rhythmic steps. I am able to keep each step in memory and simply continue to move with the music. “You got it! Keep going!” Soon, the both of us are moving and twirling about just as everypony else. This smile on my face seems to have grown from the utter joy I have found myself in. Looking into Suave’s dark eyes upon her fake, white face, I feel something I never have before. It isn’t fear, it isn’t sadness; it’s something great, something that alights my body with a wave of energy. I can feel my mane flowing with the air as we dance, reminding me that my hood is still down. For the first time, I no longer feel compelled to reach for it and pull it over my head. For the first time, I feel happy.

The pianist’s hooves dance over the piano, picking up in speed, as well as the violinists. Ponies around us halt their dances to watch, backing up to make more space for us until they’ve formed a ring around us. Suave’s dancing picks up with the music, and I seem to follow just as well. “Get ready, I’m going to do a spin. Just keep your right hoof on mine until I spin, and get ready to catch me when I lean back. You know what I mean right?” She asks.

“Yeah, yeah I do.”

“Okay, here goes. . .” I raise my right hoof, and she twirls around before leaving my hoof. She takes a few steps away from me, and immediately begins twirling her way back towards me. Anxiously, I wait for her to stop, and once she does, she folds her hooves on her chest before allowing herself to fall backwards. I catch her with my entire foreleg, and the both of us hold our pose. The music comes to a finish, and I take a look at every pony who has stopped dancing to watch us, and they all stomp their hooves to the ground whilst cheering with joy. Suave jumps up, clearly giddy, she hops around excitedly. “That was great! You were great!” She cheers.

“That was wonderful! You two were just simply wonderful!” Suave’s Mother congratulates as she and her husband emerge from the crowd.

“Indeed, you two make quite the duo!” Suave’s Father adds.

“I must say, it would seem you two have captivated just about everypony!” The mayor adds, making his way to us through the crowd. “Why, even I was quite enchanted by the lovely dance you two had put together. I never would have guessed our visitor was so talented! And you Suave, that was a wonderful finish, beautiful as always.”

“Thank you Mister Mayor,” says Suave.

“Well, I’m sure by now everypony is eager to hear from you Avral. Please, follow me.” With one last cheerful glance to Suave, I turn and follow the mayor all the way up to the little podium set up at the end of the space where everypony had been dancing. With his hooves resting on the little surface of the podium, everypony gathers around to listen. “My dearest friends, we are all here today to celebrate the coming of our visitor. And it is with great pleasure, that I introduce to you all, Mister Avral!” He points his hoof at me, and I wave to the cheering crowd. “Now Avral, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself? Just where do you come from?”

“Ponyville,” I say.

“Ponyville? Well, I’ve never heard of such a place. However, the only way you could have gotten here from the outside, is to have crossed the thicket of woods that surrounds our town. Is that correct?”

“Well . . . yes.” As soon as I answer, a gasp overtakes the crowd.

“You are quite lucky to have found our little town Avral. Thank the heavens you made it through without falling victim to the dangers that lurk within those woods. You truly are a brave, young colt. I think I speak for all of us when I say we are overjoyed to have you with us today, and we dread the moment we let you return to that dark place. Not only because it is dangerous, but because we will dearly miss your presence. Which is why I would like to ask you something that I’m sure everyone would like an answer to. Would you, Avral, care to say here with us? To make this place your new home?” The question strikes me as completely unexpected and jarring. I’m not quite sure how to answer, as all I can offer is a confused stutter.

“I-I . . . I don’t. . .”

“I understand this is a bit difficult to take in all at once; but you must understand that, from the very short time you’ve spent with us, you have become beloved among us. And the last thing we would want is for you to risk your very life to return to those woods. Besides, I’m certain you must have left your hometown for a reason, yes?”

“What do you mean?”

“Nopony would make the journey through the woods without a clear motive. Perhaps something was . . . driving you to escape?” I had almost completely forgotten about the moments that led me to seek out somewhere to hide in the first place, but from the mayor’s words, every memory is returning to me, and the smile I held so dearly upon my face fades away. I cannot deny it. He’s right, I did leave to escape. I wanted to find a place I could call my ‘safe haven’. I never was truly happy back home, and I never was happy back at the many homes before that. “I am sorry Avral, I didn’t mean to upset you; but I understand, we all understand. That is why we would love for you to stay with us, we want to be there for you. Together, as one big family, we’ve been able to overcome our struggles. We can do the same for you. . . Avral, I have something for you.” The mayor reaches in a little compartment in the podium, and pulls out a small, porcelain mask. “I have for you, your new face. Wear this, and you will be considered a part of our family.” I take the mask from his hoof, staring into the vacant eyes. “What say you? Will you join us?”

“I . . . I don’t know.”

“Please, we insist.” With the mask in my hooves, I look at just how perfect the face is. Smooth, clean, and flawless. It’s everything I wished my face could be. I realize now that I’ve finally found what I’ve been looking for, my safe haven. This place seems just too good to be true, but once I adorn this new face, this place will become my home. I turn to the crowd, who all appear to be watching eagerly for me to put on the mask. All but one, Suave, who has her head down. Even though her mask blocks my view of her face, I can imagine the emotion on her face at this moment, and that would be of pure discontent. Seeing her reminds me of everything she’s told me. Everything about herself, and about me. This place is everything I wanted, but now, I’m not sure if it truly is anymore. I feel that with what Suave has taught me, I could return home and just try again. For my parents, and for myself, I feel I could begin anew. I no longer feel the need to escape, and no longer do I feel afraid.

“No,” I say.

“Pardon? Could you say that just once more?”

“I . . . I said no, I’m sorry Mister Mayor, b-but I really should be heading back home.”

“Well now let’s just hold on for a minute here. I don’t think you’ve had the opportunity to truly think this through.”

“No, really I don’t—”

“You must not be understanding.” His tone becoming more impatient. “I said, I don’t think you’ve had enough time to think this through, so why don’t I help you?”

“W-What? No I-I—”

“I’ll just have Suave’s Father bring you back to his home, and you two can talk more about this. Maybe he can help you understand.”

“What? N-No I—!” I feel something grasp my shoulder.

“Come, Avral, let’s go.” Suave’s Father tries to take me down from the podium, but I do my best to resist. Violently, he grabs onto my hoof, and forcibly drags me away. “Let me go! Help!” I scream, but nopony in the crowd appears to be phased. They turn their heads to watch me get dragged away, but none of them decide to take any course of action.

“Avral! Father!” Suave shouts.

“Do not worry sweetheart! Avral and I are just going to talk, there is nothing for you to be concerned about!” Suave’s Father meets up with his wife still gripping tightly onto my hoof. “Honey, keep Suave here, we don’t need her interfering.”

“Of course, goodbye Avral, I hope you two can work things out,” says Suave’s Mother as she walks towards Suave.

“Oh do not worry, I’m almost certain we will.” Suave’s Father aggressively leads me away from the crowd, and no amount of tugging and shouting can get him to let me go. I see Suave trotting in my direction, hopeful that maybe she can do something to stop him; but way before she can reach us, her Mother grabs and holds her back.

“Help! Somepony!” I continue to pointlessly shout until I am dragged all the way back into the neighborhood. Suave’s Father opens the front door to his home and tosses me inside. I fall to the floor, and he slams the door behind him. I frantically get back up to my hooves and try to trot passed him, but he stands tall and stiff like a wall to keep me from leaving. He grabs me again, and leans in closer to whisper to me.

“Please, be calm Avral. I’m going to help you, and I know a special place for you to think.”

“No! Let me go!” I continue to fight and kick at his legs, but he doesn’t seem to care. He carries me up the stairs with his foreleg around my waist, and brings me to one certain room. He reaches into his pocket with the sound of jingling metal. He pulls out a ring of keys, and unlocks the door, pushing it open with a loud creaking noise. He throws me into the room, and as my body tumbles over the wood floor, clouds of dust are kicked up, forcing me to cough incessantly. My body is so exhausted from my attempts to free myself from his grip, that I can’t get up in time to even try to escape. I look up to see Suave’s Father standing in the middle of the doorway, which is the where the only source of light is coming from. Suave’s Father slams the door, covering the entire room in blackness; and as I listen to the dreadful clicking of the lock, get up to hurry over to the door and pound as hard as I can. “Let me out! Please!” I beg.

“I’m sorry Avral, I can’t. I will only open the door, once you’ve learned.” Overcome by fear, I listen to his steps as he returns down stairs. From what he said, I realize just exactly where he’s locked me in. This is what Suave was talking about before. This is the room.

Chapter 6

I don’t know how much time has gone by, but I’ve been curled up with my back against this door for so long that I feel the need to stretch out and reawaken my muscles. However, I don’t even dare move an inch, afraid something might be lurking the darkness. My body is exhausted from all the pointless shouting and pounding at the door for Suave’s Father to let me out, but he never came, never even said a word. The room, along with the house, has been quiet for such a long time. I haven’t heard any hoofsteps from Suave’s Father downstairs, not even the wind seems to be interested in howling any longer. I’ve been keeping my head hidden beneath my forelegs to hide myself from the dark. It feels like a large blanket has shrouded me, suffocating me. I can feel my heart steadily picking up its pace, and sweat is beginning to form at the base of my forehead. I try to calm myself by listening to the silence of the room. Until a sudden, loud creak in the wood floor forces me to raise my head up. I see nothing but blackness, but I listen, anticipating another sound to rupture the silence. Just as I pass it off as the house making noises, ready to lay my head back down, I hear something big shift across the floor on the opposite side of the room. I sit up, pushing my back even closer to the door as the sounds of some large animal moving about in the room become more frequent. The sounds shift from the left to the right and nearly every corner of the room. The noises become louder, and whatever is in this room with me, is coming closer. I shield my face with my hooves on the brink of breaking out into a loud sob.

“Avral?” A voice whispers on the other side of the door. The noises have stopped, and I realize just how terribly my body is trembling. “Avral, are you in there?”

“Suave! Suave help!” I plea with my body pressed against the door.

“Avral, don’t worry I’m here to help you.”

“H-How-How did you find me?”

“I snuck away from my parents back at the park as soon as my Father came back. . . I had a feeling he locked you in there. Hopefully they won’t notice I’m gone.”

“Suave, please, please open the door.” I beg, still nearly hyperventilating.

“I need to go find the key to the door, I hope he still keeps it in the same spot he always does.”

“Please hurry, I think there’s something in here.”

“What? What do you mean?” I hear the dreadful sound of something scuffling off in the opposite end of the room, and already I can feel my heartbeat picking back up.

“There’s something in here! Hurry! Please!”

“O-Okay! I’ll be back!” I listen to her steps as she trots down the hall, and the noises continue to creep up behind me. My hooves feel nailed to the door, and my neck turns stiff. I can hear the faint sound of raspy breathing as it draws closer. My mind is telling me to trot away, somewhere, anywhere but staying near this door. However, despite how desperate my legs are to gallop, I remain at the doorstep eagerly awaiting Suave’s return. With my patience quickly running thin, and the undeniable presence drawing near, I bang on the door as hard as I can whilst screaming for Suave to come back. With the soft touch of breath over the back of my neck, I silence. It moves up to my left ear, breathing into my very ear canal. Suddenly, the door opens, and I fall to the floor.

“Suave! Suave, I swear, there’s something—” I pause after picking my head up from the floor to see who has opened the door for me. Suave’s Father stands before me, carrying Suave with his foreleg around her waist. He tilts his head, just waiting to see what my next move is. I can see the stairway just down the hall, but I fear what he’ll do if he were to catch me.

“Avral, would you mind getting back inside the room?” He asks.

“Please, th-there’s something in there. . . D-Don’t make me go back, please.” I beg, on the edge of sobbing before his hooves.

“I will only ask you once more. Please, will you get back inside the room?” Fearing the possible consequences if I don’t obey his order, I crawl back inside to the center of the room. “Now sweetheart,” he says, now looking down to Suave whom he still has in his grasp. “I know you’re upset, but you’ll just have to spend some time in the room as well.” He throws Suave down onto the floor without any attempt at being gentle. “Now, I will be back later to check up on you two. I hope the both of you will learn.” He slams the door shut, coating everything in shadows once again, followed by the sounds of the tumblers in the lock fitting back into place. Quickly, I hurry to Suave who is struggling to sit up from the floor.

“Suave, are you okay? What happened?” I ask frantically.

“I . . . I was looking for the key, and right when I found it he snuck up behind me.”

“Are you hurt?”

“Well . . . my leg aches a little, but I’ll be fine.”

“What’s going on with him? What’s going on with everypony? Before, they were kind and caring, now they’re—”

“Different?” Suave interrupts. “I know, Father was like this the first time he put me in this room. B-But, I still can’t believe what you did.”

“What do you mean?”

“When Mister Mayor offered you the mask, you told him ‘no’. . . I-I don’t know how you did it. I thought for sure you were going to say ‘yes’. If it were me, I think I would’ve been too afraid to tell him ‘no’. I wish I was like you.”

“Really. . ? Because, all this time I’ve been wishing I was more like you.”

“Me? Why?”

“Because you already knew something I should’ve from the beginning. I can’t keep hiding behind a lie, I can’t be afraid to show everypony who I am, so that they can see ‘me’ . . . the real me. That’s why I told him ‘no’, because I couldn’t stop thinking about what you said to me.”

“You mean, after hearing what I said . . . I helped you?” She asks, astonished.

“Well, yeah, I feel like you’ve helped me understand.”

“I knew it! I knew you’d understand me!” She cheers. “I thought nopony would ever understand the way I feel, but as soon as I met you, I knew you were different from everypony else!” Then all of a sudden, her bright and cheerful celebration quickly calms to a saddened mumble. “I just wish . . . Father, Mother, or anyone else could understand.” Noticing the change in the tone of her voice, I feel determined to pull her out of it and bring back that jovial tone of hers.

“. . . W-Well, back home, I-I’m sure everypony would understand!”

“Oh, you make it sound like such a wonderful place. If only my home could be like yours.”

“I-I’m still going to take you with me, a-and you’ll see!”

“Avral, I don’t think there’s a chance of that happening. After what’s happened so far, we’d be lucky if just one of us escapes this room. I know you’re just trying to be kind, but please don’t fill me with false hope.”

“No! Th-That’s not it! We’re going to get out of here, both of us, and when we do I’m bringing you with me. We can both escape this place!”

“Avral. . .” Suave, still sounding unconvinced.

“Have I gone back on ‘any’ of the promises I made you?”

“No, but. . .”

“Then I promise you, that you and I are going to get out of here, and I’m taking you back home with me. You’ll be able to be who you are and-and not be afraid of it! You helped me learn what I should have known from the start, and I intend on repaying you by keeping this promise.” I sit, patiently waiting for her response. Instead of words, I am startled by her sudden embrace, the smooth cheek of her porcelain mask against my chest, all to the sound of her crying.

“Avral, I . . . thank you.” She struggles to say, fighting through her sobs to utter the words. It seems Suave’s crying is the only noise taking the place of the silence, until my ears catch the faint sound of scuffling off in the corner of the room, reminding me that I wasn’t just imagining what I heard earlier. The scuffles turn to scratches and thuds, and Suave’s crying quickly halts so that she can listen to the noises. “W-What was that?” She asks, still overwhelmed by her sudden burst of tears.

“It’s what I heard before, I told you there was something in here!” I whisper. The grotesque sound of the raspy breathing begins again, sending Suave and I bolting towards the door. The both of us pound as hard as we can on the door, calling for Suave’s Father, or just about any sort of help from anyone who might hear us. “Do you think he went back to the park?” I dreadfully ask. Suave doesn’t answer, I assume she believes he indeed did leave the house. With whatever is with us in this room, we listen as it inches closer; breathing, and scratching at the wood floor. Suave and I crumble to our knees, clutching each other. In the very midst of our fearful breakdown, the sounds stop, and the room is once again overtaken by silence. Realizing that it may have left us alone, I try to calm Suave, as she still is grasping onto the cloth of my sleeve rather tightly. “Suave, I think it’s gone. You can let go of my sleeve.”

“I’m not holding your sleeve.” I feel whatever has my sleeve, grip and yank me away from the door. With a frantic cry for help, I reach out for Suave’s hoof, and almost instantly I feel her grasp mine. She tries to pull me back, but the creature’s strength is just too great. It grabs onto my hood, and I choke at the violent tug it gives. I can feel Suave’s grip weakening, urging me to come up with some way to set myself free. I, with as much strength as I can muster, reach for the zipper to my hood. The creature’s grip on my sleeve is strong, but I can just barely touch the metal of the zipper. With one desperate pull, I unzip my jacket, and the creature pulls it right off. I scurry back to Suave’s side, listening as the creature scratches at the walls far off to one side of the room. “Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m-I’m alright.” I stutter, struggling to catch my breath. “Now do you believe me?”

“I’ve heard these sounds before.”

“What?”

“The last time Father locked me in here, I thought I heard something moving about in the room. I was so scared that I was completely convinced there was something here with me. Father used to tell me stories about this room. He did it to scare me, to make sure I wouldn’t do any wrong that could get me locked in this room. It was so dark, and the noises made me feel I wasn’t alone, so I believed his stories. It’s why I never wanted to be locked in here ever again. I was afraid of something that probably didn’t even exist.”

“How come you never told me?”

“I-I was afraid of what you’d think. We were getting along so well I just . . . I didn’t want to scare you away.”

“ . . . I would’ve believed you.”

“You would?”

“My Dad used to tell me stories too. Whenever he would tuck me in bed, he would tell me all kinds of stories; but it was his scary stories that haunted me. I guess it was to try and toughen me up, since I would always come to him in tears, just telling him about how awful my day was. That was just about every day, so he had a story for me nearly every night. I loved the ones he would tell me about adventures and mystery, but his scary stories always left me wide awake in bed. I always heard noises. If you were there, I would swear to you there was something in my closet back in one of my old homes. Whatever is in here right now, it’s real; and if your Dad isn’t coming back soon, we’re going to have to find our own way out of here.”

“But how? The only way out is the door, and it’s just so dark in here, we wouldn’t be able to see a way out even if we tried.”

“Th-There’s got to be something!” I whisper in denial. “Let’s just . . . feel around the walls. Maybe we’ll find something that way. Just . . . be careful.” Suave and I split up, hugging the walls. I feel around for just about anything. A light switch, maybe another door, I’m not too sure what to expect; but it’s better than just sitting around waiting for that thing to attack us again. I hear the violent scratching coming from the far side of the room, it sounds like it’s etching into the wall.

“Avral!” Suave whispers. “Come here!” I follow her voice with my hooves out to keep myself from bumping into her or the wall.

“Where are you?”

“Here, I’m right here.” Her voice is close, and we meet up at once. “Touch the wall here.” I feel the surface of the wall, and it caves in, crinkling like paper. “It’s covering something, I think we can tear right through this.” Just as she finishes, the scratching grows louder, becoming more violent.

“Hurry!” I shout. We rip at the paper, revealing a beam of moonlight firing into the room through the newly created hole. Shred after shred, we tear away the paper to reveal a dusty old window, casting away the dark with the moon beaming through the glass. The scratching silences, and with the room now alighted, we turn to get a clear view at what was once hidden by blackness. The entire room appears to be empty, but my eyes are caught by a shadow in the corner of the room.

“There was a window here all along.” Suave murmurs. “He must’ve covered it with paper to keep the light out, and hoped I would never find it. . . Avral, this is our way out. Could you help me open this. . ? Avral?”

“Suave . . . look.” I whisper. She turns, and upon noticing what’s nestled in the corner of the room, she becomes still. Something hunched over, dressed in what looks like my dark jacket with the hood over its head. Covering its face, is one of the same white porcelain masks caked with dust. Behind the mask, I can hear the faint sounds of what I believe is a light weeping. The creature tries to hide away from the moonlight, keeping its limbs in the shadows. I step closer to it, and immediately Suave calls my name.

“Avral, don’t!” Ignoring her plea, I proceed to inch even closer to the crying creature. As soon as she realizes that I’m not going to stop, she follows closely behind me. I walk until I am a mere foot away, and I can tell quite clearly now that the creature is crying, and its body is moving in a way that makes it appear like it’s breathing. I stretch my foreleg out, and Suave quickly lowers it down before I can get close. She shakes her head to me, and I realize how ridiculous it sounds, but I just want to see it. Again, I reach my hoof out, and just as I’m about to pull the hood down from its head, the mask and jacket fall flat to the floor. Simultaneously, Suave and I jolt once the clothing hits the floor. I step on and kick at the jacket, but nothing happens. I pick up my jacket to see if there was something underneath, but all I find is the bare wood floor. Suave picks up and inspects the dusty mask, as I hold the jacket in my hoof, gazing down at it, wondering if I should even bother taking it back. The only purpose this jacket had was to help hide my face. Now, I see no other use for it. I toss the jacket back into the corner of the room where the creature sat. Turning to Suave, she seems to be gazing down at the mask with the same intensity. “Avral, are you ready to leave?” She asks with her eyes still stuck on the mask.

“Yeah, I am.”

“Good.” She tosses the mask back to the corner of the room, atop my jacket. “So am I.”

Chapter 7

Suave and I gaze through the dusty and foggy glass of the window, down at the drop below to the backyard. We grip the bottom of the window, and on the count of three, we both try to push it up. However, after a couple attempts, it seems we aren’t strong enough to get it open. We tire out, and I look down to my hooves which are caked in dust and grim from the window. “How are we going to get this open?” Suave asks. Soon after, we begin to hear heavy steps ascending the stairs beyond the room.

“I-I don’t know-but we have to keep trying!” I panic, using all of the might I possess to force the window open. Suave, noticing the approaching threat, rejoins me in my struggle. The wood creaks, and the window is suddenly dislodged, but only slightly. The escape to our freedom is nearly set, we just need to keep trying. I can feel and hear the wind from outside begging for us to escape, encouraging me to push even harder on the bottom of the window.

“Suave? Avral? What is all this commotion I hear?” Suave’s Father asks, nearing the door.

“Suave we need to hurry!” I urge her, trying to keep my voice as low as possible.

“I’m trying!” She says, clearly suffering from fatigue. The door to the room opens, just as the window finally gives way. Our escape is right before us, yet here we stand, frozen in fear as we stare blankly at Suave’s Father. The moonlight from the window barely reaches his still body, but reveals part of his mask to where one of his dark, vacant eyes are visible. He’s just standing there, watching, not saying a word. I can only imagine what are in his thoughts at this very moment, what he’s thinking of doing to us for trying to escape. “Avral . . . he’s mad. Very mad.”

“We need to jump.”

“No. No, no, no-he’s mad. Who knows what he’ll do to us now?”

“Suave honey, can you come here please?” Her Father asks in a gentle tone.

“Suave, don’t.” I beg.

“Please dear? I promise you aren’t in any trouble. It’s Avral who’s the one that needs to be punished. He’s the one who’s been naughty.”

“Suave, don’t listen to him.”

“Come, Suave, be a good girl and listen to your Father,” he says, lending out his hoof to her.

“Suave, please, don’t.” Suave turns to me, then back to her Father. The silence is growing, all I can feel is every beat from my heart, and the sudden belief that she may leave me. I know how frightened she was the first time her Father punished her, and perhaps she’ll take the chance that maybe he’ll let her go this time. Although, I believe she’s stronger than that, I know she is. Every passing second feels like torture waiting for her response. ‘Please Suave, don’t listen, don’t go,’ is all I can say to myself now. She turns to the corner of the room where the masked creature sat, but long behold, that corner of the room is now empty.

“No Father . . . I won’t,” she says. Suave’s Father doesn’t say another word as his hoof is slowly brought back down to the floor. He continues to stand there, motionless. Until he suddenly charges towards us in a burst of speed. The both of us turn and climb onto the windowsill, and without a second thought, we toss ourselves out of the window. Our bodies tumble over the grass, we feel from such a height that my leg and side feel like they’ve bruised, and my head aches. I lift my head, and see Suave’s Father looking down at us from the window before he turns and joins the shadows. He could be making his way downstairs right now, and we need to move.

I force myself up, looking around for Suave, and I find her struggling to sit up. I hurry to her side, and I find that her porcelain mask has a jagged crack running down the middle of it; and her dress is splotched with stains of dirt and grass. “Are you alright?” I ask.

“I-I think so. We-We need to go, we need to get to the woods. Just follow me, I’ll guide us there.” She struggles to stand, but manages to stay strong. We trot away from the house, following the dirt road to the exit of town. Suspiciously, the village seems empty. Not a single pony is found along the road, and not a single voice accompanies the wind. However, I have no time to think about that, I need to focus on leaving. I need to get back home, ‘we’ need to get out of here. “We’re not too far now, just make a right down here, and we should be headed in the right direction.” We turn the corner, and our sprint comes to a screeching halt after seeing what is brought before us. What seems like the entire town is gathered on this one road, with lit candles in their hooves, glaring right at us as if they have been waiting there the whole time. Everypony from the park is in the group, including the Mayor and even Suave’s Mother.

“Leaving so soon Mister Avral?” The Mayor asks. “We’ve been looking all over for you. Have you made your decision yet? Has Sauve’s Father helped you understand what it is you ‘really’ want?”

“No, no-you leave me alone!” I shout.

“Suave honey, why don’t come and stand by your Mother?” Suave’s Mother asks. “I’ve been worried about you. Avral seems very ill, I think it’s best you stay away from him.”

“N-No Mother, I won’t,” says Suave.

“Avral, please, we insist,” says the Mayor.

“Yes, we insist.” Suave’s Mother adds. Soon, every pony in the mob begins chanting the same phrase.

“We insist. We insist. We insist,” they say, as they all start stepping toward us.

“Avral, follow me!” Suave advises as she yanks me by the foreleg. Together, Suave and I retreat to follow a new path to reach the woods. I can’t help but glance back at the approaching mob of ponies; however, every time I look back, it seems that they are always closer to us than the last glance. With Suave and I trotting, they somehow manage to keep up with us while in a calm stroll. More ponies emerge from their homes, bursting open their doors, with a candle in their hoof to join the chase. Mares, stallions, fillies, and colts, all chanting the same two hypnotic words; but Suave and I try to block them out, focusing only on escaping. Making sharp turns and cutting corners, we make our way back around to the point to where we should have left before being stopped by the mob. We gallop across the grassy plain, and with not a flicker of a candle in sight, we approach the dense woods from which we came. “You remember the way back don’t you?”

“Um . . . I-I think so.” I stutter.

“Just keep going straight, you should find the spot where we first met. From there, you should be able to find your way home.”

“Okay, well come on, let’s go!” I grab her hoof, and attempt to bolt into the woods, but am stopped as Suave holds her place, refusing to follow. “Suave? What are you doing? Come on, we have to go!” I urge her as I yank on her hoof.

“Avral I . . . I can’t.”

“W-What do you mean? I thought you wanted to come with me, to see my town? To get away from here?”

“I know, but . . . it doesn’t feel right.” Baffled and frustrated, I look on, speechless. “My family is back there Avral, I can’t just leave them.”

“B-But, after all the trouble you went through with me, who knows how much trouble you’ll be in once they catch you?!”

“I’ve been hiding, running away for too long Avral; and I think it’s time I stopped. It’s time I be brave, just like you.”

“Suave, please, don’t. I-I made you a promise!”

“No more promises Avral. You’ve kept every promise you’ve made me up until now, and that was all you needed to do. I helped you understand why you don’t need to hide behind that silly hood, didn’t I?”

“. . . Yes.”

“And you helped me understand that I can’t keep hiding behind my mask, not just the one on my face, but the one where I pretend to be somepony different. Where I pretend to love and cherish their rules just like everyone else. Well, not anymore.”

“W-What are you going to do?” Instead of answering, Suave reaches behind her head, and unties the black strap keeping her mask in place. She grabs the edges of her mask, and carefully lifts it away from her face, lowering it down to her chest. It feels strange, as I have been so used to seeing her porcelain mask, that seeing her in her truest form almost makes it feel like I’m staring at a stranger. Perhaps it’s because of the pure shock that shot through my entire body as she removed her mask. However, as I examine her features, it now feels like I’ve seen her many times before, as if I’ve already known her for many years. I’m not sure if it’s just the new way Suave has taught me to view a face, but to me, everything about her face is perfect. Her most outstanding feature would have to be her eyes. It’s hard to believe the shadow of the mask was able to hide such a magnificent glow. The moonlight brings out the sparkling gloss of her ocean blue eyes, in a way that seems to have made me forget all about the threat and horror of the village.

“Avral, how do I look?” A question so simple to answer, I respond without as much as a second of hesitation.

“Beautiful,” I say promptly. Suave’s eyes begin to water, and her pale cheeks flush. A smile spreads across her face, and now I understand just how she felt when she spoke to me during the party at the park. Their truly is something about seeing a ‘real’ smile as opposed to the one sculpted on every white mask. Indeed, there is something wonderful about seeing her real smile, so wonderful that I can’t help but give her a smile just as big. She leaps into me, wrapping her forelegs around me with her chin over my shoulder. Finally breaking down, I put my forelegs around her with just as much strength and passion, and maybe just the same amount of tears streaming down our faces. I can only wish that I didn’t have to let go, but as soon as she begins to tear away from me, I feel I have no choice. Suave takes a few steps away from me, tossing her mask into the grass.

“Goodbye Avral, thank you for everything.”

“Goodbye . . . Suave.” She turns and walks back to her village, as the wind blows her mane, dress, and the tall grass around her. Up ahead, I watch in terror as several little, orange lights appear ahead of her. With the fear building up inside of me, I call out to her one last time. “Suave!” She stops, and turns her head back to me. “Will we see each other again?!”

“Maybe! Maybe we will!” She continues to walk towards the lights, and I, not wanting to watch her leave any longer, gallop into the woods. It feels like there’s a hurricane of emotions stirring in my head and heart. Fear, sadness, and even anger are bubbling up inside me. I should have faced them with her, I shouldn’t have let her go alone; but what is someone like me to do? I’m small and weak, I couldn’t stand up to her Father, so how am I supposed to face an entire town? Then again, am I just asking these questions to make myself feel better for running away? I want to stop and turn back, but my legs just won’t stop. Perhaps she is the best one to convince them, to help them understand unlike an outsider like me. With every passing second being precious time wasted on making my decision, I cannot muster the strength to go back. With the anger, and hatred of myself building, I think back to her final goodbye. No Suave, there is no ‘maybe’, we ‘will’ see each other again. She said no more promises, but I don’t care. Suave, I promise I’ll be back; I won’t let this fear keep its grip around me. Galloping passed the small open area I found before I met Sauve, I can’t help but glance back, realizing Distracted by my constant glances back at the direction I came, I stumble and plummet down to the forest floor with a hard thud, and am overcome by a sudden blackness.

Chapter 8

I can hear birds singing, and the wind rustling the leaves in the trees. I open up my eyes, and immediately an aching pain pounds inside my head. With my hooves against the ground, I push myself up to find a black sleeve covering my foreleg. Somehow, I have my hooded jacket back on, even though I could’ve sworn I lost it back at the village. I touch my forehead to maybe ease the pain of this massive headache, but of course it doesn’t do much to relieve the pain. Staring down at the ground, I see a big stone just below my face. I guess I must’ve tripped and slammed my head against it, I probably have a bruise on my forehead now. I look up to the sky, and my eyes are met with the intense light of the sun. Realizing that my parents might be awake by now, I hurry to my hooves and continue trotting forward. However, I soon notice how familiar this all looks. I come to a little open area, which is the same spot I found when I snuck out of the house last night. Strange, I could have sworn I already passed it before blacking out. What’s also odd, is that I thought I almost landed on a stone when I first entered the woods last night. Perhaps, the right way to go ‘is’ back. With doubt in my mind, I turn back and trot in the direction I thought I already came from. However, sure enough, I can see the end of the woods just ahead. With no time to question myself, I gallop home, hoping my parents haven’t realized I’m gone.

With my hoof on the knob of the front door, I carefully twist and push the door open. Creeping inside as to not make a sound. Just as the door locks in place, I hear steps coming down the stairway. “Avral? What are you doing up?” My Mom asks drowsily, clearly just waking up. Just seeing her face again brings a rush of excitement through me. As she is just making her way down the steps, I hurry to hug her by the waist. “Well, good morning!” She giggles. “Did you sleep well last night?”

“Um . . . y-yes, yes I did!” I say.

“What’s that? Is that Avral?” My Dad asks, now making his way downstairs. “What are you doing up already Avral?”

“Dad!” I then leave my Mom to give my Dad the same great hug.

“Woah, careful on the stairs there son. What’s got you all excited huh?”

“I’m just . . . happy to see you guys.”

“Well, we’re happy to see you too. Say, hon, why don’t we start getting breakfast ready? You hungry Avral?”

“You bet!” Together, my Mom and Dad begin putting together breakfast. I ask my Mom if I can lend a hoof, and she seemed stunned by my offer. She questioned why I was so energetic and giddy, but not even I could really answer her question. I don’t what it is, but something inside me just wants to jump about. Despite how confused they are, I can tell they seem to be enjoying this sudden change; and in fact, so do I. I usually just let them make breakfast on their own, and I woke up late on purpose so that I could just rush out the door and get the school day over with. With a big plate of flapjacks stacked high, we all took our seats at the table. In the middle of eating, my Dad tries to figure this all out.

“Avral, I’m just curious, you didn’t happen to hear your Mom and I talking last night, did you?” He asks.

“No, why?”

“Well,” says my Mom. “Your Father and I talked for a while, and we settled that we don’t have to stay and live here if you’re still uncomfortable. It took a lot of convincing, but your Dad finally gave in.”

“R-Really?”

“I just want you to be happy son, and I just figured that if we settled down for more than just a couple days, then maybe you’d . . . I don’t know . . . find some friends. But, your Mom is right. If you’re still not happy, I can call the Moving Ponies and we can start packing.”

“. . . Thanks Dad, thanks Mom.”

“You’re welcome Avral,” says my Mom.

“Yep, so, what’ll it be son? You still don’t like it here?” My Dad asks.

“Actually . . . I want to try again,” I say.

“Really?”

“You made it seem like you hated your first day. Are you sure?” My Mom asks.

I then smile. “Positive.”

“Good! I’m glad you’re willing to give this place another shot, Avral,” says My Dad.

“Yeah, just . . . try and talk to some of the other kids. I’m sure you’ll start making friends quick.” After breakfast, I hurry upstairs to get myself ready for the school day. I collect my book bag, making sure I have everything I need. Out of pure instinct, I open my closet for my jacket, but I remember I still have it on me from last night. With my hoof clutching the cloth, I tear the jacket from my body and toss it, allowing it to be swallowed by the darkness of the closet. I shut the closet door, hurl my book bag over my back, and hurry down the stairs. My Mom meets me by the door, ready to send me on my way, until she seems puzzled about something. “Avral, where’s your jacket? You had it just a moment ago.”

“I know Mom, I just . . . I don’t need it anymore,” I say.

“Are you sure? I mean, you could still bring it with you if you want.”

“I’m fine Mom, trust me.”

“. . . Okay, well, you have a good day at school. We’ll see you when you get back.”

“Bye Avral, I hope today goes better for you,” My Dad says.

“Bye Dad, bye Mom!” Determined, I trot to school; ready for my second chance.

Unexpectedly early, I take the same seat I did as yesterday. With my shoulders cocked, and my hooves folded over the desk, I watch as the rest of the class rolls in. Each time somepony new entered the room, they would each give me a stunned stare.

“Hey, are you that new colt from yesterday?” One filly asks.

“Yes, I am,” I say.

“Oh, cool! My name’s Soprano!”

“Um . . . hey.” I respond in a state of shock.

“Hey, you’re the new kid right? What’s your name?” Asks another classmate.

“Avral . . . my name’s Avral.” I smile.

“Cool! My name’s Ruby.”

“I’m Daffodil!” Another filly joins.

“Hey, my name’s Dusty.” A colt joins.

“You can call me Jazzie!” Joins another voice.

“I’m Lightning!” And another.

“Alright class, take your seats!” Ms. Cheerilee steps in. “My, what’s are all of you bunched up together?” They all step aside to reveal me, nearly overwhelmed by all the new names and greetings. “Oh! Avral! I take it you’re feeling better since yesterday, considering I can actually ‘see’ that big smile of yours. Well, we better get started, we have a lot to cover today.” Ms. Cheerilee turns and begins writing on the big chalkboard, and we proceed to go through our day. As I took my notes, I couldn’t help but notice the two fillies who mocked me during recess yesterday, giving me disgusted looks. However, it doesn’t hurt like it did the first time. I glance down to my notebook feeling rather indifferent. I remember when I couldn’t look away without even an ounce of shame, now I feel nothing except for the same amount of glee I had when I first stepped into the classroom.

Class is then dismissed for recess, and we all race outside. Everyone gathers at the playground, and I find myself in a familiar position, unsure of how to join in with them. Until I spot the same three fillies talking amongst themselves. I can do this, all I have to do is walk up and just start a conversation. Step after anxiety filling step, they spot me before I even get close. I freeze in place, so they decide to approach me, closing the gap. “Uh, howdy again. So, Ms. Cheerilee said your name’s Avral, right?” I nod my head. “Well, I’m Applebloom; and this is Sweetiebelle, and Scootaloo.”

The other two greet me with a “Hi!” and “What’s up?”

“So, um, are ya feelin’ better? ‘Cause yesterday you seemed a little . . .” Applebloom continues.

“No, I-I’m fine. Much better, actually,” I say.

“Great! Say, the girls and I were just about to start a game, wanna join us?”

“I sure would!” And just like that, any anxiety that I had was completely diminished.

“Hey! You know we have this ‘special club’, you wanna hear about it?”

I glumly walk through the front door to my home, where my parents are waiting on the sofa. My head hangs low, and all the glee I felt before I left my house seems to have completely vanished. “Well? Go on, tell us! How did it go?” My Mom asks excitedly, launching up from her seat.

“. . . Awful.” I murmur. Stunned, she retakes her seat, and my Dad sighs.

“Well, I’m sure you gave it your best. We can start making plans for a move, but right now, let’s just get dinner ready and—”

“I’m just kidding!” I interrupt my Dad’s gloomy speech. “It was the best day I’ve had since . . . forever!”

“That’s amazing, dear!” My Mom cheers, trotting over to hug me tightly. “So what happened? Did you talk with anypony? Did you make any friends?”

“I did, and it feels like I became friends with almost the entire class!”

“Oh, I’m so proud of you!”

“I gotta say, you had me goin’ there for a minute,” says my Dad, still recovering from my prank. “That must’ve been some night’s sleep you had, because I swear, this morning you seemed like a completely different pony. I’m very proud of you son, I knew you had it in you somewhere.”

“Thanks Dad.”

“Why don’t you go ahead and go upstairs and put away your book bag while we start working on dinner.” Just as he suggests, I hurry upstairs and toss my book bag onto my bed before heading to the washroom. I lather my hooves in soap and turn the faucet valve to let the water fill the sink bowl. I glance at myself in the mirror, no longer afraid of what I’m going to see, but instead, puzzled. Just as I finish washing up, I turn off the water and lean over the counter to make sure what I’m seeing is real. A fall onto a large stone should have most certainly left a mark, bruise or something. However, there’s not a single injury anywhere on my head. Even if I touch and press on my forehead, I feel no pain.

“Avral!” My Mom shouts from downstairs. “Could you come down for a minute?!” Putting the whole thing out of my mind for a moment, I leave the room and hurry back downstairs to see what it is she needs, and I see her holding a small, cardboard box. “I was so excited to know about your day, that I forgot to show you this. A box appeared on our doorstep while you were away at school. It doesn’t say who or where it’s from. If anything it must be another housewarming gift from your grandmother. Why don’t you go ahead and open it up?” I take the strange box from her, and the both of us take a seat at the dinner table while my Dad starts preparing to cook. I untie the thin rope tied around the box, and carefully lift the lid off the box. The box was pretty light, meaning there mustn’t be much inside; and upon reaching inside, it feels almost completely empty. Until my hoof bumps something small in the corner of the box. I pull it out, and it’s some small little metal box with a tiny crank sticking out from its side. “Oh, it’s a little music box! How cute! Go ahead and wind it up, let’s hear the song.” I turn the little crank until it can’t anymore, and I release it as the chimes inside begin to play. The song sounds eerily familiar, and then I realize, it’s the exact same melody I heard in the woods that came from the exact same music box. “What a nice little song, don’t you think hon?”

“Eh, it’s fine,” says my Dad.

“How come you never find any interest in these neat little things?”

“Hey, Mom, I uh . . . I think I’m going to go outside for a little while,” I say, bursting from my chair to the door with the music box in my hooves.

“Oh-okay! Just be back in time for dinner!” She shouts as I hurry out the door. Galloping at full speed, I have my mind set on just one thing, and that’s the woods. It wasn’t a dream, it couldn’t have been. With no bruise mark on my head, and then this music box showing up at my house, it means that all of it was real. I need to know, I need to see for myself. I rush into the woods, pushing through all the tree branches blocking my path. I dig into my memory to remember the way I went when I first found Sauve. I hop over the stone in the middle of the path, passed the little clearing, and she was here, sitting right in this spot. I can feel myself getting frustrated trying to remember where she led me, so much so that my heart is pounding crazily. It was this way, she guided me passed these trees, through here, and then we finally came to the big open field. Gazing out, I can see the sun beginning to set, and the sky darkening; but that is the problem. I can see everything including the trees on the other side of the field, but there is no village. Confused and breathless, I walk further into the field, where not so much as a sign of a town even existing is present.

Epilogue

My days never felt the same after that, but I never forgot the lesson she taught me, nor could I forget her face or voice. Every night I would sneak out of the house just as I did the first night. I always brought the little music box with me, as it felt like the only connection I had to her. I would go to the same field, and sit with the box cradled in my lap, as I played the song over and over. I never gave up looking, and I still haven’t.

I still go to school, in the same town, living in the same house. I’m much more involved with the ponies in my life, especially my parents. If I had known I could’ve been ‘this’ happy years ago, I feel I may have changed my view of things much earlier. However, in the same token, I’m glad I didn’t. If I had, I don’t think I would’ve come to this town, and I wouldn’t have met Suave as a result.

I never told my parents why I hurried out of the house like that, or about my constant sneaking out of the house just to sit in the woods. They’d just think I’m losing my mind, just another problem for them to worry about just after solving another. I think I’ll just keep this as my own secret, I don’t want to ruin what I’ve fixed. However, that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up looking. I made her a promise, a promise I intend to keep. I don’t care how much of my life it takes, weeks, months, even years; I’m going to find her, no matter what it takes. I know it sounds like nonsense, and that perhaps that whole incident truly was just nothing but my imagination. Maybe the music box is just a gift from a relative, and it playing the same tune I heard in the woods could just a coincidence; but when I got home after seeing the empty field with no sign of the village, my Mom found a note inside the box, and it was that note that proved to me that she’s real. Suave is out there somewhere, it’s just a matter of time until we meet again, I can feel it. Go ahead, call me crazy; but that girl changed my life forever, and I feel like I can’t be completely happy unless I find her.

Dearest Avral,

I hope you get this package. It’s something that always made me happy, and just helped me forget about all the bad things around me. I don’t know if we’ll ever see each other again, but in case we don’t, I want you to have this. You gave me something I’ve been needing for so long, a friend, and with that, the confidence you gave me to face my biggest fear. That is something I feel I can never repay you for. So, I hope this is enough. This is my gift to you, I hope it helps you just as it helped me.

Your friend forever, Suave