The Blood White Rose

Chapters

Nightfall
Rise and Shine
The Cat's in the Cradle
The Devi's Advocate
Coming of Age Day
The Angel's Scream and the Devil's cry

Nightfall

Dainichi

He laid there, cuddled to his teddy bear like an animal. whose habit is to sleep in the smallest place possible. Dainichi knows she is the one who bared him, even as he sleeps she keeps an arm over Bishamon as if to protect him from his bad dreams. Ayaka Flowers and Dr. Sprocket watch over him into the dark as to see any movement. The same way they had watched him for the past five years. A slice of white moon shines on to the colt. The light divided his his body in parts of both light and dark. But not one from the other. No light would be able to show where it started or ended. Maybe with mother's intuition could tell. The colt laid there in his corpse like collapse that takes hold of weary foals. He was in his dreams. He dreamed not of sunshine, rainbows and the magic of friendship. But he dreamed of a series of ice blue discords without meaning. He hated those dreams, they are without meaning as though it was meant by Luna to mean something. And yet they still watch knowing there is nothing to see, and yet they won't risk going in to stand over the bed the same way they would of in the past. The Colt was exhausted. He had been in a fight and he was left defeated with hoof and leg casts as scars to remind him what had transpired. His mane was tattered with dirt and pollen with the blood of crushed roses all over his coat. He had picked up a white rose from the garden for his fillyfriend. From the doorway they could smell the rose blood on him. Morning was a worlds away now. It's still early on the night of Ha o ochimasu. The day where foals would play in the garden while parents celebrated the coming winter and gathered food. Of course now it's just the day when fall starts. Foals still played in the gardens.

They stood in the hallway knowing what would be best as all parents do. They know it is no longer heartburn that hurt them. It's the simple pain of having to watch their only foal like this. And they can weep when they want to, but they carry on. Knowing what the future could carry for the two of them. Parenting is a heavy burden that will never be lifted. The colt would later wake up in the morning to be greeted by two loving parents.

"What do we do about him? I hate to see him like this." The stallion asked his wife as he walked towered their bedroom.

"We do what we must. If you are referring to who's staying home to tend to him until he is able to attend school again. Then I will stay home. If you're talking about him as in what we will do next then I will say get him out of that school. A foal like him has no reason to attend a school like that. If push comes to shove I will quit my job and home school him!" The wife said with some tendency. She knew how things would change if she quit her job.

"You can't quit your job even with all the money I make I can support you and Crimson alone. We would have to move to a lower rent apartment and eat watermelon husks. Not to mention I'll be gone for days to months depending on what they enroll me for. I could even die while out for all I know. Plus it was your dream job to become a teacher. You shouldn't quit it when you've come this far and have so much to lose." The husband remarked as he made his obvious points as he always has.

"I'm aware of that Sprocket but I don't care about my life. I don't care about eating watermelon husks. I've gone my entire foalhood eating one cup of rice a day. And I was never fortunate to have a thing called welfare like you had. Get off your high horse and start thinking about our child. Besides my dreams are not as important as my foal's well being!" She started to get angry toward her husband. The feeling was mutual.

"You're only saying I had welfare because I'm half zebra. I am off my high horse and I am thinking about our foal. I just don't..."He lost meaning in his words as his wife spoke."

"There you go again with your half zebra crap!!! You know you better stop looking toward the past and think about what to do next. Bottom line is I am staying home. You know this conversation would be over if you had just understood. I know what you don't want. I know you don't want to go back to those projects where those thugs sell drugs where you had once played hoofball. I get that. But why would you send your only son to a school in those same projects. This conversation is over. The last thing I want is for our anniversary to end because you got offended. You know you're not the only one that gets labeled. Ponies think I have poor eyesight and can't fly correctly. They even go as far to say that I don't understand english. But please give me this. It's our ninth year anniversary. You know this day is special to me. I didn't spend seven thousand bits on a custom made red rose petal dress just to make my family happy. Plus it's the day I finally got what every mare has dreamed of. A husband that only comes once in a blue moon! Besides I've been thinking we should have another foal... liven up the house a little more." She walked into the room and laid on her bed. The night was quiet after their conversation. And morning would still be a worlds away. Well someone's world was rocked.

Rise and Shine

Bishamon

The date was August 26th. It was currently five in the morning and I, Crimson September awoke to the sound of my mother's voice. She still had Nighponese in her voice. It may of been rough but it was soothing. But it could also be vigorous and bitter much like a bee sting. Well if I said bee sting it would be ironic since she is allergic to bee's. And now that I think about it even her name is ironic since her name is Ayaka. Or Precious Flower. She goes by Ayaka. But the irony is that she hates flowers. She hates the smell and taste of them. But that's beside the point. My name is Crimson as you already know. I live in the city of Manehatten. And as of now I am five years old. "Rise and shine my little mobster. Today is going to be a big day for you." I hear my mother's voice as she picks me up takes me to the bathroom.

She turned on the tub and lets it fill half way with warm water. When the water is finished filling the tub she puts me in the water and starts washing my mane and coat. She uses a tea tree shampoo for my mane, and a tobacco and bay leaf scented coat wash. She made herself just so she can use it on me. She says it's a real stallion's scent. When the bath was over she dried me off. Dressed me in a silver vest and white fedora and called me her little mobster. After that she kissed me on the cheek and trotted over to the kitchen where she had made me breakfast. She had made me chocolate chip pancakes with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, berries with a tall glass of milk.

I sat down and she placed a napkin around my neck."This is so you don't spill anything on your vest. I don't want to send you to school looking dirty. No mother should ever do that." She said tending to her breakfast which was a cup of coffee and some eggs mixed in with some hay. She looked at the oven clock and noticed it was now six in the morning. She had to be at work in thirty. She told me to hurry up and I did as she asked still making sure I didn't spill any. And when I finished I galloped to the bathroom in order to brush my teeth. When I finished that I galloped to the door where she was standing with my saddle bag. It was brown like an adventurer would have. She said getting black or white or even red would be more of a mare's bag than anything. So she got brown and packed it with all the basics: Notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, map pencils, glue, tissues, and erasers. She had even prepared my lunch which was a cup of her famous beet soup, with some bread to dip it in, a bag of raspberries, and a cup of chocolate milk along with two cookies.

She picked me up and put me on her back as she started to walk. She walked out of the apartment building and we saw how the sky was still nightfall with the sun just barely peaking out. I was always a morning pony. If I could wake up at seven in the morning everyday or even five in the morning I could do so much and it wouldn't even be noon yet. She started to talk again.

"It's a lovely morning in Manehatten you know that right?" She asked expecting a question from her son. She never got an answer."Well you know this is the city that never sleeps. The place where you can make a part of anything and be king of the hill. Ever since I first moved here seventeen years ago I've never wanted to leave this place. There is so much to do and you'll meet someone new everyday. It's so are you find a place like this. You won't find any melting pot quite like this. When I first came here everyone wanted to know what it was like to be so mixed with culture. They wanted to know what it was like to be Neighponese, Buckssian, Hoofrish, Italipon. They wanted to know what farm life was like. Well of course it was different back then. Back then I couldn't speak any English. Strange that in seventeen years I started from no where and made a better life than my parents did. Let that be a lesson Crimson. Never leave Highschool your 11th grade year and hook up with a girl way younger then you and drop out and start a family. That was my parents. I mean me and your dad waited about nine years before we got married. And then we waited two years before we decided to have a foal. Oh! It seems it's time for me to drop you off."She pick me up and set me on the ground" Well sweetie have a good first day of kindergarten. When school gets out you come to my classroom. It'll be at the high school down the street. By sweetie."She cooed him, kissing him on the cheek.

I stood there for a while to watch his mom walk off. After a little while he started to walk towards the front door. The sun light was peaking out of the night sky bringing daylight. When he walked in he looked around. Being a naive child I was. I thought nothing off the graffiti on the wall, the broken floor tiles and the oddly strange smell of cigarettes. I was used to the smell. My mom smoked two or three a day. Maybe five if she had a bad day. I continued to walk down the hallway toward my classroom. As of now I was currently the only student in the entire school. Maybe I was too early. And so I had made it to his classroom and walked in. I saw my teacher. She was a ragged old mare with a silver coat and a snow white mane. She had a metal ruler and a pencil for a cutie mark. She spoke to the colt."Well it's not often I get to see a fine young gentle colt these days. If you give me a few bits I'll make today worth your while." She said to the naive colt as she took a smoke out of her cigarette."

I spoke up"No grazie, sto bene."The teacher gave him a mean glare as she isn't too happy about me learning ahead of my class.

"What was that you little brat?! In this class we will not be leaning how to speak like angry ponies. We will learn to be polite and proper. And we will speak proper english." Her raspy voice was enough to scare the colt. Not to mention she was holding a metal ruler.

"But what's wrong with speaking my native tongue. All I said was no tha-" I was cut off as the teacher came closer to me. Her grin only got worse.

"Because when in Ponyville do as the ponies do. No I don't want this native tongue bullshit. Do you hear my you defiant little fuck. If I were your mother right now I'd smack you upside the head and make you pick a switch. Now you will speak proper english! Do you understand!" She continued to berate me until I went silent. She stopped knowing that she had won the argument."Now take your seat in the back. Class will start in a few." She sat back in her desk and continued to smoke her cigarette. Ten minutes of silence three gangs of foals came into the classroom and played around sitting on the desk as the teacher continued to smoke. When her smoke was over she came to me and pulled me to the front of the classroom. She spoke"Good morning class. My name is Miss Silver Lining. Today we are joined by our new student Crimson September." The teacher seemed to be excited and yet it was still fake. She seemed to hate me for some reason. All I did was speak a little Italipon. She pushed me ahead of her.

The gangs made their comments.

"Wow look at that foal, thinking he's all cool because he has nice clothes. Fucking loser."

"I didn't know mob foals had to go to public school."

"Go home kid we don't want you in these parts."

"Now Crimson will join us in the classroom by doing our class Initiation!!! Now Crimson to be a part of this class you must remove your vest and hat. You should know the rules. Not hats in school." Everyone started to laugh at me for some reason. I had no idea why they were laughing. But my gut told me that I should listen to the teacher. As I removed the hat my teacher took it away from me and lightly smacked me with her ruler. I then removed my vest and took that away from me. As she did that she took out a cigar and lit it up. As she lit it up the students got into a line. She pushed me to the from of the line and give the first pony the cigar." Remember if you punch him you'll get extra credit." the first pony put the cigar on my flank.

"Look everyone the colt's my cow now for I have branded him. Now his cutie mark is to be my bitch to do my bidding. That's all you'll ever own up to. Is to be a little bitch that no one will like. you better get used to kissing ass." The first colt said feeling proud of himself as everyone laughed. Again I don't know why. I yelped in pain of the white hot burning sensation I had gotten. The burn was followed by a slap to the face. The line had continued like clock work. Burn, slap/punch/buck/. Lather, rinse, repeat. By the time the line had ended there was a blue filly with a pink mane. When she was given the cigar, she put it out and gave me a hug. She said that everything would be fine. She would care for me and make sure I was fine.

When the "Initiation" Was over the teacher threw my clothes out the window and said I could get them back at the end of the day.

I sat with the filly. She smiled at me and started to talk."Hi! My name is Cotton Candy, don't mind those foals. They just like to be mean. Also let me take care of that. You're mom would be livid if she knew you got cigar burns and bruises. Don't worry this remedy worked wonders for me. I never knew if you took coconut oil and used a simple healing spell that it would heal almost any wound." Cotton Candy said as she pulled out a bottle of coconut oil. She put some on her hoof and rubbed it on all of my wounds. After that she used her magic to use her healing spell. It tingled and when I looked down all my wounds were gone.

School continued onward. As it let out I gathered my clothes and put them back on. I had made my way toward the school where my mom had taught. When I walked into the building I walked toward her classroom and knocked on her door. She answered."There's my baby colt. Did you miss mama bear sweetie? Did you enjoy your first day of school?" She flooded me with kisses as she picked me up. Sweet, warm, embraced kisses. After my day this was the best thing that could happen.

"My first day was good. I made a friend and she's really nice. We played with blocks, and drinked apple juice together." I said. She looked at me with her playful smile.

"Well it looks like my little stallion has a marefriend... I bet you and her would make a great pair. I can't wait to meet her she sound's so cute. Oh and Crimson its drank, not drinked. Sorry just force of habit." She walked over to her desk and sat down."I'm gonna have to stay for an hour or so longer to grade some papers So I hope you don't mind." She had a stack of papers on her desk. She had all of her classes read To Kill A Mocking Bird for the summer. And so she had the luxury of having to read well over one hundred cringe worthy book reports talking of nothing more than a basic plot summary. Not to mention bad grammar. And as the start of her seventh year teaching she would go off the same rant as she hardly knew English and she did better then some college English majors. Given plenty of time and effort. But she would never go on her soap box. That's not my mother. She would never say her foalhood was that bad. She knew there were ponies who had it worse. I sat near her desk and did my homework. Well fluff work I should say. It has nothing to do with what I learned. And it seems all too easy. When I had finished my mom had allowed me to read a copy of the book.

I spent the rest of my time there reading. It almost made me forget about what happened today. Only to realize that To Kill A Mocking Bird is about racism. And so instead of being reminded of what happened I learned from it and now I realize what those ponies did was wrong. But I didn't want to tell my mom about it. She would get really mad and I didn't want that. Well at this point she'll find out one way or another...

Fast forward one month and it's almost time for my sixth birthday. I was talking to Cotton Candy about my birthday and what I asked for. I had asked for puzzles and books. They were the only things that seemed fun to me, and seemed quite relaxing. And they seemed to be really fun. I was never into "smoking and drinking and ballin'" as they called it. But the day was now September 22nd and now we were celebrating the equrestian holiday known as "Ha o ochimasu" Or "Fall leaves" If you don't understand Neighponese. But it's to celebrate the oncoming winter through one last summer party. But I guess cook outs are out of the list for school trips so we ended up going to the Manehatten garden. It was a little area inside of central park where there were a large assortment of flowers and plants. There were an entire rainbow of roses, marigolds, tulips, lotus plants, sunflowers and dandelions. Being me I had picked up a white rose for Cotton. I had seen it in movies that my mom watches when my dad was away. The stallion would always pick a rose for his loved one and he would surprise her with it.

I had my white rose in my hoof and I walked up to her. She was looking at a honeybee sucking nectar out of one of plants. But I was soon stopped by one of the gang foals. He looked at me strangely."What kind of colt goes around holding a flower. What are you going to admit your love for some filly? I bet it's that Cotton filly isn't it?" He never gave me a chance to respond."Well too bad!"He took the white rose out of my hoof and stomped on it. He then got to my face, grabbing my the root of my mane."That filly is mine!!" He had pushed me and knocked me into a rose bush. There was a fiery white hot stinging sensation all over my body. I had a serious allergic reaction if a rose thorn got into my skin. So I developed an extreme rash. A thousand thorns had struck all over my body. Each long enough to pierce my once pure coat. I tried to get up but the thorns proved to hurt the more I moved. The colt then picked me up and hollered his fellow gang members over. At this point my coat was being stained with blood like watercolors on a canvas.

They circled me and began throwing a series of punches and kicks. The brutes wouldn't let up as with each kick made the pain grow only worse. I screamed in agony but they would not cease their assault. It was only then when they were done, I was left with two broken arms and three broken hooves that they let up. Feeling satisfied of their heist they had left to do better things with their time. All I was left with was a broken white rose with blood stains, And an empty sense of reason. I wasn't fueled with rage. But with the agony of a thousand bee stings, and the dissatisfaction that they had mercilessly killed a song bird. A song bird that wanted to do what it loved to do. It was pointless to do such a thing. At this point Cotton Candy turned around and saw me. She screamed for help and pulled out one of those ladybug phones. The kind of phones where you can only call your parents number, or the emergency number.

She had called for an ambulance and she used her magic to stop blood from coming out of all the holes and rash the thorns had made. When the ambulance had came the teacher had to call my mother and tell her of my situation. As parental instincts kicked in she dropped everything and flew to the garden as fast as she could. Of course she was constantly stopped by every red light possible. I was carried to a the back of an ambulance wagon and was rushed to the ER. After that they took my weight, height, blood type, age, medical history and what I had eaten in the past 8 hours. After that they had put me on some pain medication and the world soon went black. The next thing I knew I was laying on my stomach in my room. The moon was shining, and I could hear my parents bed rattling.

The Cat's in the Cradle

Dainichi

From the shards of tattered dreams he rose. Unwillingly tossed upon tides of pain that seared him awake. It was now half past seven in the morning and it was time to give Crimson his medication. He was to take one pill every six hours until the bottle was finished. Well it has been a harsh twelve hours so far. I was so excited to get his birthday ready and this comes up. I yell and scream a hundred curses at them and I get nothing. It's painful enough to see your child get beaten up for no reason. But to have the adults go as far as torment him and call me a bad mother is just a joke. Not to mention that I am responsible for all of his medical costs when it was their fault that Crimson got hurt. I no longer have any reason to forgive them. They can all burn in Tartarus for all I care. Why my husband thought it was a good idea to send him to that school I will never know. He even made me try to teach there. Saying it was a title one school and my college debt would be forgiven. No I spent all of those bits on books and classes I will pay them off myself.

When I had walked into my son's room there was only a sliver of amber sun shining through the curtains. I decided to keep the window's closed as to not disturb him. The light would be too much for him to bare. But I had to wake him up for his medicine. Besides it was his birthday and I'm not going to ruin that for him. I had tugged him a few times as to wake him. As he woke I greeted him. He looked dreadful like a cat hearing storms strong enough to rip lead off of buildings. But he was tired, the medicine had tuckered him out almost sending him to near death. I myself nearly died of shock from hearing of Crimson's injuries.

"Good morning sweetie. I hope I don't disturb you too much. I made you a protein shake as the doctor's orders to go along with your medicine. Go on and drink it. You need to be a big and strong stallion like your dad." I handed the shake to him and helped him down it as though he was still a foal needing to have his bottle feed to him. He drank half, took his pills and drank another half. And much like a baby he fell asleep soon afterwards. I left to get something for him. It was his birthday gift. I had a box full of old books I read along with some puzzles I bought for him. I suppose there is no point in throwing a party when the pony of the hour would be bedridden for the two months month or so. But there was something off about him.

Any normal foal would cry and ask for comfort until they were satisfied. Instead he just shrugged it off and did as he said. Maybe it was due to the fact that he ran into a lot of trouble with adults and fellow foals. But he knows well enough who is mom is and who isn't. Okay any normal foal wouldn't look the other way at other things. Instead of playing in the park he just looks at rocks, and when he is at home when he plays in the living room he stacks the pillows... Okay perhaps there is something wrong with him. But he seems so fine. Well Mother's intuition would dictate that there is something wrong and I should get it checked out.

Yes that's what I need to do. I had left his box of gifts next to his bed, and left to my student psychology handbook. Perhaps this would give me what I am looking for. No damn it! That's for teen ponies not foals. I teach high school not elementary... Okay I'll just call an expert and have the expert take a look. I go to the yellow page and start looking for a Doctor who could shed some light on this matter. I don't know why I would ever want to invest in a phone book anyways. It's big and bulky and ruins the rustic look I have made in my apartment. It's my apartment since I am the one who pays all the bills and the one who tends to it the most. My husband just ruins everything. Okay getting off track. After a long call with a local parenting center I have made an appointment for Crimson this Sunday.

There is still some undeniable truth that I as a mother should protect my foal. Is that what all mother's strive to do for their foals. There's no point in asking myself this. When it comes to parenting there is no real answer to this. But with the strength of a grizzly bear, me and Crimson will make it through. Should I just keep the results from him a secret? It's the only way I can really keep him safe I suppose. If he never knows about it then he will have nothing to worry about. If he questions why foals call him such names I will tell him that foals are cruel. You've known those kinds of foals before.

A few hours have passed and it seemed Crimson has finally woken up. It was time again. Four hours in my study and I had to tend to him again. I fed him another protein shake. I pulled up an old foals book back when I was a filly. He heard my clearly. I read to him until he slept thinking of the endless amounts of gods watching over him and the endless amounts of dreams he was having.

I was sitting in Dr. AngelSpell's office. Crimson was still in his casts but I laid him on a couch to where he could rest. He was sleeping as I spoke with the Doctor. She gave me the results and talked about him for a while. My suspensions were correct... There was something wrong with him. Nothing I would ever expect. This was only one case out of a hundred thousand. And I had been dealt this impossible hoof. Crimson has autism. High functioning autism to be more specific. There is no need to get into the science of it, but all that matters now is that he is safe. I must hurry, the storm is getting worse by the second, and the clouds are blocking out the sun more and more until it could recreate nightmare moon's eternal night. He was fast asleep as I picked him up and placed him on my back as I flew out the door.

The fly home was quicker then expected. I laid him in bed and I needed think what would be next for him. I could go home schooling for him if things were bad enough. But I can't keep him like this forever. He needs to go outside and see other ponies. Perhaps the best thing is to hide him in plain sight. I know what to do. He will go to school. And I will pretend to not understand his issue. There I can make sure he and I are safe. I must go now I have to apply him for a new school.

The Devi's Advocate

Dainichi

As of right now I was in an office with a stallion by the name of Sterling Silver. I had been smoking a cigarette and we passed notes to each other as a way to commune. I knew this man for seven years and things started to take it's course. Now was the time for Crimson's future to unfold. He passed me a note as it was written in kanji."Is it time? You said by the time he was six years of age he would be ready."

I read the note and wrote in response."He is ready I just need the final preparations. After that little incident he needs time to heal and get ready." I know he would be mad but I need all the time I can get. If things go as planned he will start to become aware of these things."I just need until January on coming of age day."

The stallion sighed. He knew things would be delayed, but whatever is good must be worth waiting for. The plan must move on forward regardless of what happens. His safety must come first before anything. He handed me a piece of paper. It was of course the paperwork I need to fill out in order to get him into this school. I had put my cigarette down and filled out the paper work."I don't suppose you have any scotch. I haven't drank in eight years. Last drink I had was a Rocktopus." He nodded and poured me a drink.

"Didn't you say you're having another foal soon?" He asked seeming to look at me as if I'm crazy

"I'm not sure yet. it takes a week or two to tell if I am or not. So I'm living a little bit before I have a commitment for another eleven months. You know parenting stuff." I had lifted the glass and took a sip of the devilish liquor. It burned like hell, but it later subsided. I had grown used to it considering I spent my foalhood drinking coffee, water, or vinegar. But alas I put the glass down and proceed with the paper work. I soon finished and we continued to pass notes to each other like middle-schoolers would on any given day. I continued to finish my cigarette as I read it.

"You know I am under the watch of the police, we must stay at distance from me. Pretend you just say me if we see each other again. No foal here knows of this meeting or of what we really do here. All of life is but a stage, and all the mares and stallions play their part. Your father played a great deal in our plan. Now we can move to the next stage. You as a teacher will make things flow so much easier. Consider your son a part of this institution. We will meet again in coming of age day." I had finished my glass and my smoke and stood up.

"Thank you Mr.Silver. Consider our work for today finished. If things plan out the way they do we can start anew."

Sterling nodded and continued to more important matters. I left the room and made my way back to Crimson. Crimson has been getting better. All of his puncture wounds from the rose bush have healed and he can move around a little bit I be it not much. But my baby is going to do just fine.

All that's left is to get Crimson ready...

Coming of Age Day

Bishamon

It has been about three and a half months since the incident. As of now all my wounds have subsided and now I am stuck in this room only to read, study, and train. Ever since I was able to my dad has been teaching me some basic military combat specifically CQC. This is so if I have any more issues with other foals I can defend myself. I have the basics of it down. I can anticipate upcoming attacks, what attack they'll go for and where they're aiming their attack. And ever since I could walk my mom has taken me to a Torii Shine out in the park. She says it's the one she used to go to when she growing up here. She takes me there every Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday. Me and her offer some food that we had left over. We pray and and ask for our safety as well as our well being.

Also she says that I need to find some outlet so I'm not just consumed in work. So she not only works me into practicing Shinto. But I also have martial arts lessons. And as of late she seems to be a little more uptight and a little scary at times. Like a tiger. And I have been improving on many subjects: Such as english, languages other then english, math, science, history, even things like engineering, and socializing. I wake up at four in the morning, and I don't sleep until ten at night doing the things I have to do. Each morning begins with getting ready, then my morning workout, my dad's short CQC lessons, followed by going to the shrine if it falls under one of those three days, next it's get back and eat breakfast, then I do my studies for a few hours as though I was still in school, then I go to martial arts practice, followed by coming home to read in my spare time, then comes social therapy, and then if that's it I eat dinner, take a shower, then do my nightly workout, Sleep. Later, rinse, repeat.

In the past few months I have gotten to the point where my mom says I, '"Ahead of ponies even in High School." So far it's January on coming of age day. Fitting as my mom would say. I'm taking my first steps out there on a day celebrated for adults. Part of growing up I suppose. My mom tells me that this new school won't be anything like the old one. There will be foals like me she says. And they look forward to seeing me. She tells me that this would be her dream come true. Her own son having a better education than she did, an outer haven of sorts for her. She seems to be happy about it. So I should be happy as well. As long as I don't make her mad things should be nice. Today is my"Second first day of school." I've done my morning rituals and grabbed my bag and waited for my mom.

She picked me up and we left toward the new school."Now Crimson when you get there walk to the office and ask for your schedule. You'll have nine classes throughout the day each lasting thirty minutes. When school gets out come to Mommy. If any foals give you any trouble to the point where they scare you, you know what to do." She concluded her pep talk of sorts and looked up."Look at that Crimson... it's snowing. it's so beautiful. I always love this time of year honey. When I was growing up here I loved to play in the snow. Me and your father always went ice skating when we could. Plus there is no sun to blind me since it's so cloudy. Just to celebrate your special day we can get some hot apple cider and blueberry muffins." As she finished she had put me down. I was at the school. She had gone her own way and flown off. I had been wearing a black vest with a black fedora, along with my saddle bag. From it looked like it was somewhat shrouded like a crow. I was currently in the building's shadow as the sun began to rise.

In the distance the place seemed to be any other normal building, but on the inside was another story. The room radiated with vast pastel colors, paintings, and was lit with a perfect light that made things seem cozy, but far off things had a tint of blue to it. I personally liked the blue tint to it. It just speaks with me. Maybe I've been in the dark for too long and I just like it. Maybe darkness is my safe haven. But I make my way to the office and ask for my schedule. After what seemed to be five minutes I received my paper and made my way toward my first class.

I must say things are very different then the last school. Ponies here seem to range from my age almost to my mother's age from when she had me. She was only twenty five years old when I was conceived. But ponies here seemed off. I can't put my hoof on it but it seemed that they were more jumpy, shaky and all around strange like some alien world. As the colt I was raised to be I put that in the back of my mind and thought nothing of it. But what really irks me is how they seem so mindless. Maybe it's just part of who they are.

I arrived to my first class to find many foals to be just like me. It was scary almost looking into a mirror of sorts. I took my seat among a group of foals who were in need of a third person. Both of them were fillies around my age. One was a unicorn with an amber coat, a golden mare and brown eyes. While the other was a popcorn yellow Pegasus with red hair.

"Hello... I'm Crimson" I mumbled not sure if what I learned at social therapy helped or not."My favorite color is ice blue." I followed. The pegasus seemed to scare me a little bit. It's just the way she looks at me that gets me

"Hello Crimson. I'm Amber and this is my sister Octo-chan." The Pegasus nodded"Don't mind Octo, She tends to scare ponies. She's got the heart of a lion at times. But my favorite color is... Well all of them, but I'll say I like a rosy red kinda like your mane color." Amber replied making blush just a little bit"Just so you know I get pretty violent when I'm mad." She finished. The teacher stood up and began class.

"Hello every pony. I am miss Green Leaf. I am your first period teacher. I hope all of you are excited as it's the first day of school. This year we will do many exciting things and I hope to learn a lot about you all." And so began the backdrop of my ascension. Only later would I realize that this is a school for mentally impaired foals.

The Angel's Scream and the Devil's cry

Bishamon

School for the most part is going well. There have been two new additions to my social circle. A green unicorn with a yellow mane named Mr. Rich for short. And a Blue Pegasus with another yellow mane. He was named Chill Time. In my time I realized why the school and the foals were so off. I was attending a school for mentally impaired foals. Who knows I may of mentioned it before. Amber has a somewhat uncanny obsessions with our beloved Princess Celestia, I'm not sure if this would crescendo into a rocket into insanity or not. Side note she doesn't care about what I think. It's all her,and her world.. Octo has a hard time telling from fiction to reality. I often find her reading a neighponese manga. Chill Time is too symmetrical always making sure things are in the right spot checking his binder at least ten times to see if he had his homework. And Rich. He was much like me. Only he was far too analytical than he should be. Give him any story and he'll find something crazy and outlandish about it. But he is too good at making those connections.

It's currently been about a month since I have started this new school. I must say the things I'm leaning are quite arbitrary. As I am on the verge of learning college level materials while they hardly begin with the basics. This was still kindergarten after all. Well except for Rich. He seemed to be the only one that could match me in terms of intellect. But I not grow arrogant unlike him. As of now I was sitting in class reading a classic as I always do in my spare time. But of course one friend has to interrupt. "So Crimmy do you think Celestia has a plan for us?" Amber asked. She's given everyone a nickname as of late and asking the question all around school.

"What do you mean by Us? As in you and me, or as in the world?" I asked in response. She answered almost an instant almost cutting me off. Her words were at the speed of bullets with how fast she replied.

"How about both Crimson." She answered

"Well I don't care if Celestia has a plan or not. If you think she is your savior then go ahead. I follow the way of the gods. All eighteen million plus their antithesis. So I have no real say as I have never really considered Celestia to be that kind of pony. To me she raises the sun, goes to meetings, eat cake, calls it a day, and lowers the sun. But as in you and me I could see it, but I choose not to. Besides you and your Princess nonsense is too much for me. And take note that this conversation is way too Adult for someone like you to have. Wait a few more years before you go off taking interest in the wonders of the world." I finished returning to the safe haven of my reading.

"I have no clue what he said, but he has a point." Octo remarked toward her sister.

"There is only one god and that's Celestia. Her light is perfect as no shadows can form from her elegance and perfection!"Her voice was getting more stern. It's time to get out of that ancient nature stuff, and look toward her life." She seemed to be more demanding.

"Amber that's rude. not everyone wants to believe in Celestia. Which is why I am a child of the night."Her sister added agreeing to disagree with her sister.

"You know Amber you're only a celestial infa-" I was cut off

"Toddler!" She corrected me

"Okay Toddler. But I believe in a religion in which the self can be loved and happy. Besides; one of Celestia's scholars said that a weak pony will read their fate while a strong one creates one for their own. I don't want to hear what you have to say next. You read your scriptures and follow the rules it lays out. You' have had your fate read to you. Now please stop. I will refuse to be with you like I refuse to change the way I think just for you. But remember this. No matter what happens. There is no erasing shadows if there is light. To get rid of evil you must get rid of the good. One of these days your own good will be your undoing. Do not be that pony." I continued again to the safety of my book where no one else could bother me. If only there was a way of silencing her I would take it the moment I got it. But she had called my name and i looked at her. She told me to close my eyes and as I did my face was met with a very audible slap.

"Ugh you're so ridiculous Crimson. Why can't you see things my way?" She screamed at me with her oddly quiet voice.

"I said I don't want to talk about this. What's wrong with believing in eighteen million gods. If you wanna believe in one god go ahead. I said I'm done Amber!" I had looked away from her not wanting to make things worse I had just left the classroom. The school let foals do this. They weren't going to hold you like rats in a cage.

For the rest of the day she remained silent. In someway I must of offended her. But she disrespected my way of thinking when I respected hers and all I got was a slap to the face. But I still loved her as a friend. Toxic love is still love for some. But I digress. When school had gotten out I made my way to my mom. However the only problem was that no matter which route I took I had to walk past my old school. The one with the gangs and all that. I had no fear of course. I know basic CQC and knife combat and how to disarm someone with a gun. But as I made my way across I was stopped by those same foals. the ones that stopped me when I was going to give Cotton her rose.

"Oh my look who it is. It's the same bitch we beat at the park. We're going to enjoy beating the living hell out of you again." There was only four of them. Now that I know combat I can tell they're just plain dumb using brute strength. This would make things easier. But at heart violence is just not who I am. The gods would condemn me if I did such a thing.

"I wish to not fight you, the Kami would not want it to be this way."I walked past them pushing them to the side not wanting to cause any more issues.

"Oh lookie here we have a pussy. I guess it's true about what they say about Neighponese ponies. All they do is spout peaceful crap and fish and study to be doctors." He put his hoof on my shoulder"You're not getting away this time buddy" I had no other choice. I put my hat and my saddle bag down and got into my stance. As much as I hate it there was something deep down inside me that intoxicated me. Non the less the first pony went for a punch. I grabbed his extending arm and jabbed him in the rib cage and knocked him down to the ground.

"Not bad kid. You took one down." Said another pony going toward me. This one tried going for a punch but I grabbed his arm and pushed his elbow inwards dislocating his arm. For some reason this blood lust continued as it felt even better now. The next pony in line came in from behind me and put me in a choke hold. I however elbowed him in the face and put him in a chokehold while punching him in the back of his skull. When I was finished with him I threw him down onto the pony with the dislocated elbow. There was on left. This one run up to me to buck me in the face. I countered sliding down to the ground to buck him in the gut. When he fell to the ground I got on top of him and started to punch him repeatedly in the face.

This was the same pony that started the last fight. He tried to call a cease fire but his words fell on deaf ears. When I was finished with his face I went down to start stomping on his chest. Giving him an extreme version of CPR with my hoof. I could hear a few audible cracks and breaks. After his ribcage was done for I broke both his front and back legs. One of his buddies got up to fight me but he only met my hoof punching his throat. He seemed to be choking for some reason.

Another one came to me and I knocked him down onto his back only for me to take his hind leg and to dislocate it proceeded by playfully moving it around just to hear him scream in a white agony with his face completely with sweat and turning into a fearful pale white. "Please stop it for the love of Celestia."

"I don't believe in her love remember. I'm just a typical neighsian. One who believes in the binding forces of nature. And that force is telling me to take you four down." I continued to play with his leg a little more and moved on to dislocated his other leg. When I got bored of that I finished him by stomping on his groin with a very loud squish followed by another scream. By the time I was done with him he as out.

The pony with the dislocated elbow stood up, and ran toward me. Only for me to buck him in the face and throw him into the pony with the broken body. They were finished."I guess they never taught you what happens when you mess with a Buckssian earth pony. They do more than just drink vodka and shout bombs. Let that be a lesson to you. Your buddy is dead if you don't get him help in fifteen minutes." I finished my fight, gathered my stuff and left. Unfortunately my mom had seen the whole ordeal. But she seemed rather proud me standing up to a bully. No son of hers would step down from a fight. In some sick twist of irony. The only way to stop a bully is to bully them back. As we left we went to got hot apple cider, and go to the alter for a prayer.

I of course had felt guilty. I may of just killed someone in cold blood and anger and my mom wasn't the least bit worried. Well to be fair it was self defense but the law would dictate that If I kill some pony in self defense It it counted as third degree murder. Plus what would the gods think of me doing such a thing. Perhaps this was the way things were meant to be anyways. There's no point in making crazy stories. What happened is what happened. This event would lead to the start of something very important that would drive every other thing I do in life from here on...