The Fear of Change

Hello to anyone that bothers to read this. Wow, what a terrible way to start a story. Well, might as well start somewhere. I was decided to be the first one to write because my story starts first. What? Fine, we agreed that my story started at the most important time. Hey! No wait, I got it. Ow! Look, it was my idea to write this, so I'm going first. Got it? Good. So I'm going to dictate my part of the story and just pretend everyone else isn't watching over my shoulders or listening in another room. Yeah, I know you're there. And, let's begin. I'm Starry Skies, and here's the first piece of our story.

"Starry Skies! Breakfast!"

I rolled over a shoved my head beneath a pillow. Breakfast? I didn't want breakfast. I wanted to sleep. I heard my mom come up the stairs.

"Come on, honey. You don't want to be late for school."

"Yes I do. Especially if it means I get to sleep more."

I felt a telekinetic grip around my tail. My mom gently began pulling me out of bed. My hooves scrambled helplessly against the bed. This would be so much easier with a horn or wings. I resolved to just hold onto the bedpost as hard as I could. My mom tugged harder and harder, and then suddenly relaxed her grip. That wasn't a good sign. I warily turned my head, and suddenly cried out. Oh no.

"Stop! I give!" I squealed, and the tickling stopped. My mother tucked the feather back into my pillow as I slid out of bed. I glanced at my nearby Super Stallions calendar. Monday. Of course it was.

I stumbled groggily downstairs and flopped into a chair. My mom floated a bowl Frosted Oats in front of me. I grabbed a spoon and scooped it up. As I ate, I slowly began to recover from the shock of getting out of bed as my mind cleared.

"So, honey, are you excited to start another week?" My mom asked cheerily, attempting to make conversation.

I groaned "School is tiring," I replied grumpily, "and I would much rather stay home today. It's not like I have any friends there, anyway." I finished with a touch of sadness.

"You could join that group-what are they called again? Oh, I know, the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

I sighed and shook my head, "Mom, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are a group that do as many activities as possible to try and get their cutie marks as a group. I haven't joined them because their activities are often dangerous and having an original cutie mark should happen on your own. Besides, not everypony is that desperate to get a cutie mark!"

My mom smiled thoughtfully, "Well, you could at least try to become friends with them. Even the Elements of Harmony had to seek out friends."

"Mom, I know I need some friends. I just don't feel like I get along with anyone."

"I could invite some other ponies over, if you wanted." She replied hopefully, innocently sipping her coffee.

"Mom, I'm a teenager! I don't need you setting up play dates for me!"

"But you'll always be my little colt." She said happily, giving me a kiss. "Now, make sure your bags are packed, and then its time for you to go."

I tossed my lunch into my saddle bags, then pulled them tight around myself.

"Bye mom!" I called over my shoulder, almost ready to face the world.

I walked off to school, basking in the brilliant sunshine and gentle breeze. Celestia's glorious sun shone brightly on the school house, making it look deceptively inviting. I sighed and walked in, greeted by an off hoof taunt. They often teased me for a random thing about myself, such as my blank flank or my incessant curiosity.

Right before class started, the Cutie Mark Crusaders came galloping in. There was an earth pony named Bubbles, a pegasus named Weeping Willows, another pegasus named Clear Window, and a unicorn named Rolling Meadow. They were covered in glue and glitter, of course. An adult earth pony, named Morning Gleam, walked into the room. She was both our teacher and a student of the famous Twilight Sparkle, our local princess. The best thing about Miss Gleam was probably that she learned at taught on the same day. She began doing the former and class was started.

After school I trotted merrily through the shop part of Ponyville. Though, quite often, ponies lived and worked in the same place. I was planning on walking around a bit before heading home. Today was exciting because Princess Luna had scheduled a blood moon and aligned the stars accordingly. I loved stargazing, as my name implies, but I wasn't sure yet if that was my special talent. Anyway, I was excitedly glancing around when I saw a pony beckon me over. Not one to be rude, I made my way over to her. She was a pale greenish gray mare with a faded ruby mane and a large hat.

"Hey." I greeted her.

"Hi," she replied, with a strange, almost fearful expression on her face, "I just wanted to say that..."

I felt a small sting in my right foreleg. I looked down to find a small syringe protruding from it. As I watched, my mind slowly becoming more and more bleary, the syringe floated out and into a saddlebag. My fading gaze shifted to the pony it belonged to. Her face was clear now. She was wearing a look of pure terror. Suddenly my hooves couldn't support me anymore. Right before I lost consciousness, my numbed mind barely caught the words, "I'm sorry about this, but I'm even more sorry if you live."