Place of Learning
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Melodies of the Heart

Place of Learning

I yawned and stretched before sitting up and opening my eyes. I looked to my right to see Listless still sound asleep. There are ponies who make no sounds in their sleep. Their are ponies who snore so loud they keep you awake. Somewhere in the middle are ponies like Listless with a snore so quiet it's adorable. I looked over by the entrance to the alcove to see a couple saddlebags. "Did she leave at some point last night to get our school supplies?" I asked, tilting my head.

A light "Mmhm" came the reply from beside me. I looked back to Listless to see her sprawled out and wearily staring at the ceiling. "'Told Miss Moon that you were staying over at my place. That you were already asleep, and that I had just dropped by to pick up your stuff for today," she replied with a yawn.

I nodded lightly, returning my gaze to the bags. "And your saddlebag?"

"'Told Dad that I was staying the night at your place," she replied.

I looked back to her, my ears falling back. "And if my parents talk to your father?"

Listless chuckled a bit before replying, "Who cares? We're fine and no pony that could, or even would, possibly hurt us is getting in here. Entrance is too small, remember?"

"I'm not really worried for us..."

"Oh... yeah... Anyway, we should probably get going. School will be opening soon," she stated as she got onto her hooves.

I stood up and walked over to strap on my saddle bag. "Okay, but just... let's not make a habit of the whole lying thing, alright?"

Listless followed and strapped her own saddle bag on before replying, "Of course, so long as sleeping here doesn't become a habit."

"I'll try, but it's the one place the both of us can be alone and get away from any and all problems we happen to have. It's comfortable here. Serene," I finished, looking around the vast room.

"Yeah... at times I wish we didn't have to leave... but school calls. We're probably already going to be a little late," Listless stated before ducking under the entrance.

I followed suit and we walked for a few minutes in silence. I stayed lost in thought until one simple question got stuck. "So, Listless..?"

"Hm?" she looked to me.

"What do you think the teacher is like?"

"Oh, she's an," Listless paused for a moment, furrowing her brow, "interesting mare. Her teaching method matches as far as I can tell. It'll definitely be a lesson, even when there isn't one to be had."

"You've already met her? And what do you mean her teaching method is interesting?" I asked.

"I learned who the teacher was a couple weeks back and thought I'd visit before school started up. As for what I mean, we're heading there now. You'll see when we get there," Listless replied.

I rolled my eyes, "Way to be vague."

"Why should I spoil the surprise?" Listless replied as she picked up the pace ever so slightly. "We're gonna be a little late, I believe. Oh, well. She won't mind too much. Besides, it's the first day. We probably won't be doing much of anything."

"If we aren't doing anything lesson-wise, what do you think we'll be doing?" I asked, matching her pace. Listless seemed to be in thought for a moment before shrugging. "You are so helpful, you know that Listless?"

"I know," she replied, stopping at a small staircase. I looked up to see the school building. "After you, Squeaky."

I walked inside and found a seat in the far left row. There was a seat directly to my right that Listless took. Once bags were in the floor and we were both situated, chalk hit chalkboard. I looked to the front to see a light blue mare. Her mane and tail are cerulean with teal tips. I then looked to the chalkboard to see what she was writing. 'Those of you that can read this, please inform those that cannot at this moment in time. My name is Mute Thought. I'm your teacher. We are not going to have a lesson today, as it is only the first day. For now, I just ask that you get to know at least the select few seated around you.'

I looked to Listless, "So, the 'Mute' part..?"

"Yup. You won't hear a peep out of her," Listless confirmed my suspicion with a slight grin.

"She can still understand us... right?" I asked, a bit worried.

Listless just stared at me for a moment before replying, "Yes, Eumelia. She's 'Mute', not 'Deaf'."

"Oh... yeah, sorry. So," I turned to look to the pony behind me; his coat is a dull gold. His mane and tail are a kind of... buttered rum-like color with the smallest streaks of a dull sangria running throughout. His most interesting feature, however, are his eyes. His left eye matches the streaks in his mane and his right eye is a cauliflower blue. He was looking down at his own desk, seemingly trying not to make eye contact with anypony. "Heterochromia iridum?"

He suddenly froze up at the words. Ever so slowly he looked up at me, before looking back down and drooping his ears.

"What's wrong? I like it."

"R-really?" He asked, tilting his head to the side. I simply nodded a bit in response. "It's so... weird though."

I shook my head and laughed. "It's not weird, it's pretty. Honestly, I'm a little bit envious."

He tilted his head to the other side and just kept staring for a minute before replying. "You know... I don't think I understand you."

"Well, let's help you begin to understand then. My name's Eumelia. What's yours?"

He began to open his mouth before the pony to his right spoke. "His name is Timid Cross." He was rather quiet, and yet still very articulate. He was laying down with his head turned the other way. His ears, however, were swiveled slightly backwards. His coat is a smokey purple. His mane and tail are wisteria in color with a charcoal grey underlay. I looked to 'Timid Cross' and he nodded.

"Alright... He could have told me that himself," I stated, a bit annoyed.

He sat up and looked at me. His mane was straight and choppy at the ends, falling a few inches below his neckline. His eyes are purpureus in color. Pretty, and yet somehow... sinister? "Perhaps, but he tends to have trouble with introductions," the colt replied.

"Well, you have to at least give him a chance. Otherwise that won't change."

"No, that will not matter. He may try, but it is in his personality. It is who he is. He is predisposed to have that trouble. I help out where I can," he replied before laying his head back down. I looked back to Timid Cross who lightly nodded before speaking.

"Fang's right for the most part. I usually freeze up when talking to somepony new. It's in part due to the heterochromia. It's different. I don't know anypony else with it," he sighed, looking back down at his desk. "I could have done so this time though. You're nice. It makes things easier," he finished, looking back up at me.

I simply smiled in response. I then looked to this 'Fang' colt. Maybe somepony to keep on eye on? I looked back to Timid Cross. "I'll be there if you ever want to talk about anything. Just don't be afraid to reach out." Timid Cross gave a light nod and smile in reply, so I turned back around to see two fillies looking back to me. "Oh, um... Hi?" I asked, raising my hoof to give a light wave.

"Hi!" They replied in unison. The one sat in front of me has a fuchsia coat with a spring green mane and tail. Her eyes match her mane color. The filly to her right shared the same colors, just opposite. Aside from that, I only see one real difference between the two. The way they wear their manes. The one on the right has voluminous curls. The one in front of me has an extremely well-kempt straight mane with the lightest curls at the end.

The one in front of me spoke on her own, "I'm Sweet Tune, and this is-"

"Mellow Sweets!" the other mare spoke up.

"Oh, uh, I'm Eumelia. Twins?" was all I could think to ask.

"Of course," Mellow Sweets replied.

Sweet Tune spoke up as soon as Mellow Sweets finished, "You don't think that that big of a coincidence would happen do you?"

Mellow Sweets followed in right after the question was asked, "Two fillies around the same age that have pretty much the same colors in this small of a space?"

"No, of course not. The probability of that happening is extremely low. It's possible, but unlikely," I replied, not entirely sure how to talk to the pair. "So... random question."

"Yes?" they replied, once more in unison.

I lightly shook my head before looking back to them. "What's it like? Having a twin, I mean?"

Mellow Sweets started first. "It's definitely interesting. Especially the constant thing we seem to have going. The replying in unison."

"We also share almost everything. It isn't all that bothersome, really, but there are times when we want our own stuff," Sweet Tune continued.

"There is one definite perk, though," Mellow Sweets stated, looking at both of us.

"What's that?" we both asked.

Mellow Sweets giggled a bit as Sweet Tune and I stared at each other for a moment, smiles creeping across our faces, before looking back to Mellow Sweets. "No matter what happens, we always have each other."

"Always," Sweet Tune replied with a smile.

Dear Diary,

Today was an interesting day. I met a few new ponies. The first was Timid Cross. As his name might suggest, he is rather shy, at least at first. I'm pretty sure that that's mostly just because he is afraid he'll be made fun of for his eyes, though. I think they're pretty. Then there was a colt he called Fang. I'm not sure I like the look in his eyes or not. I can't say much about him right now. Not aside from the fact he doesn't seem to think that Timid Cross can be his own pony. Then there were these two sisters. Twins, more specifically. Both are rather pretty. They seem to have a habit of either speaking in unison or finishing thoughts together. They definitely seem like an interesting pair. And... then there is the teacher. Mute Thought. Class should definitely be interesting with her. She doesn't speak at all. She is, well, 'Mute'. She gave instructions over the chalkboard. I can't imagine trying to talk like that, let alone teach. But that was just school.

I got home and even Dad didn't seem to care if I didn't train today. I was getting ready once I got home to do so, but Mom said I didn't have to. That it was okay if I rested today since it was the first day of school. I was ready and willing, but she insisted that I take at least today off. I'm not really sure why, but if that's what she wants.

And then there was Listless earlier today. I suppose it was actually late last night. After I had already fallen asleep. She told Mom that I was spending the night at her place and she told her father that she was staying here. I just hope that, should we sleep there again, she doesn't keep that up. I worry for how her father will feel. He's already having enough trouble as it is. I guess it's nice that she covered for us, but still.

I think I'm going to go ahead and go to sleep now. I'll see you again later.

Yours always,

Eumelia