Masks

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.