Live&Learn

My body was being tossed up and down in Steel heads back as he trotted to the city. It was really early in the morning and I couldn't help to yawn and rub my eyes to make the sleepiness go away. Twilight had really did come by my house to take me to school. When I was going to refuse, Steel Head reminded me about our bet and, to my misfortune, I was a man of my word.

The sun had just risen above the horizon and the sky had light blue color. It was full of clouds since it was too early even for the pegasi to clear out the sky.
“So, remind me Twilight...” I started saying. “...Why am I, a 19 years old guy, going to this children school?” I was a little angry with her... and more angry with Steel.
“You know only the basics of equestrian, remember? You are going to live here now, so, you need to have a full knowledge of our written language and our history.” She said smiling to me.
“But why could I not learn with you like last time?” I argued.
“Last time you were a full grown human... now you are just a baby dragon, and that means that you can go to school where you have a proper ambiance of learning.” She smiled to me. “Also, it’s the opportunity for you to make some friends.”
“Twilight, just to remind you, I'm only a child in BODY! My mind is still of a full grown human!” That whole idea of me going to school was really annoying.
“Oh stop that Eravel... it will be fun, you will see.” Steel head said chuckling.
I just crossed my arms in frustration.

Soon I could see that wooden building with a small tower to house a bell. In front of it, foals were playing in a small park under the watch of the fuccia mare, Cherlee. Steel Head and Twilight walked near her and she smiled wider.
“Oh, hello Twilight. Steel Head.” She greeted “And hi to you too Erin.” She looked at me.
“Hey Cherlee... “ I said visibly unhappy to be there. I felt Twilight's glare towards me for a second.
“Thank you for inviting him to your class miss Cherlee.” She said trying to compensate my lack of “animo”.
“It is my pleasure to have such a special student. A baby dragon! Who would imagine.” Cherlee said really excited.
I simply climbed down Steel's back and when I looked back at me I was face to face with a light olive foal, with a big ribbon in her head. Next to her was an orange foal pegasus and on the other side was a white unicorn. The three of them smiled widely to me in a... creepy way.
“Ahm... hi?” I said feeling a little awkward.
“Howdy!” The olive foal said.
“How are you?” The pegasus said right next
“What's your name?” The unicorn said before I could even answer the previous question.
“Girls, this is Erin... He will be attending to our school from now on” Cherlee said to the three of them. As if I would really come back to this another day... I was only there because I lost a bet.
“Ah'm Apple Bloom! Nice t' met ya” The olive said with a strong accent.
“I'm Scootaloo” The orange pegasus introduced herself
“And I'm Sweetie Bell! And we are...” She said an both took a deep breath.
“THE CUTE MARK CRUSADERS!” They shouted right in my face making me lose any kind of balance and fall on the ground. My ears were ringing for the volume of their voices. What the hell was wrong with these foals!? Were they trying to shout me apart!?
I pressed my hands against my ears to cover them for a second.
“Please to meet you girls... I think...” I said still shaken by their shout and very hesitant about being near them. Slowly I stood up again and looked at them. My head was at the same level as theirs. “Wait... I think I know you girls already...” I said looking at the olive foal and the white unicorn. “You must be Applejack's sister... and you Rarity's sister...right?”
“Yeah, how do you know our sisters?” Sweetie asked, arching an eyebrow.
“I'm friends of Twilight so, I kinda know them... I heard about you two...” I realised that I shouldn't have said that. It appeared that Rarity and Applejack didn't tell their sisters about me turning into a dragon and I didn't want them finding out that I was responsible for attacking their sisters.

Apple Bloom was going to say something but then the school bell started to rang, calling the foals to go inside. I sighed in relief as the three of them walked away going to the wooden building. Someone pushed me from behind... Looking back I saw Twilight smiling at me.
“Go, and good luck in your first day at school” She said.
I rolled my eyes and then started to walk, draging myself to the other foals and going inside the building.

The class room had several chairs with table in front of it. On the front wall of the building there was a big table with some papers on it and a big board with a green so dark that it almost looked black. The foals started to take their places and I simply awaited till everyone were sit. I got a table that was at a dark corner at the room, really discrete place. Cherlee soon took her place in front of the foals and called their attention.
“Ok everypony, Before we start the class lets introduce you all your new class mate” She said looking straight to me. I gulped and shrank a little into the chair. I was pondering what was worse... Having to face that class or fight a manticore. Yeah... The manticore looked a little less scary right now.
“Can you come here for a second?” Cherlee called me.
I sighed and stood up, walking to the front of the class.
“I want everypony to say hi to Erin. As you may notice he's a dragon and is gong to attend to our classes from now on.” She said happily. The three crusaders waved to me from their sits but the other ponies just stared at me with curiosity, as if I was some kind of weird animal. Not that I could blame them... My reaction would probably be the same in their place.
“Ahm... Hi... nice to meet you guys...” I said really nervous... The class simply stood in silence staring at me in response.
“Ok, Erin, go to your seat so we can start the class.” Cherlee said and I quickly went to my place at the back of the class.

Aside from the start, the rest of the morning was really calm... I found it a lot more easy to learn some things about the equestrian writing with the fuccia mare than with Twilight. Cherlee had a charismatic voice and had good way to explain things and before I knew, I got really wrapped up in the lessons, since it was for my own interest that I learned how to write properly. She explained a little about the Everfree forest and how dangerous it was... not that I needed any more details about that place. I knew very well how that forest could be dangerous to anyone.

After her speech on the Everfree forest, the bell rang again and we were dismissed. It was only four hours of class and we could go home, but many of the foals just stood there to play in the gardens ... but not me. I didn't have the will to stay among them, after all, I was not a foal, cub, child or whatever. My mind had things more important to think of, like possible ways to recover the skills I had when human.

I walked past the foals and was almost at the road that leaded to the city when I saw Applejack approaching.
“Howdy Eravel... what’re ya do’n here?” She asked smiling towards me. “Oh wait... don' answer... lemme guess... Twilight right?” She said and I nodded, making the orange mare chuckle.
“I lost a bet against Steel Head... I didn't really believed that she would actually show up in my home to drag me here.” I shrugged.
“Yer should know that she's just like that” Apple jack said still chuckling a little.
“Ahm... Applejack, I never had the chance to say this but... I'm sorry.” I scratched the back of my head.
“Fer what sugar cube?” She asked arching an eyebrow.
“Well... for the whole incident when I was a human...”
“Aw don't fetch 'bout that... It's all past waters now.” She rubbed a hoof on my head smiling. “'Sides, we already told ya that if’n it not fer you, we wouldn't be able to fight gains't so many changelin’s... Yer showed us that sum' times we hafta stand up and fight with our own hoofs!”
I smiled back at her, feeling a little better with that... But the fact that I wasn't yet able to talk with Fluttershy was still bothering me.

I started to hear a commotion coming from behind. As I looked back I saw all the foals gathering to watch something. I started to walk near it next to Applejack to see what it was. All the foals had made a circle around five ponies. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo where on one side and on the other was a pink foal waring a tiara and a gray foal with glasses. They looked to be arguing with each other.
“...but still you girls are a trio of blank flanks” The pink foal said chuckling “ and no matter how much 'crusades' you do, lowly ponies such as you girls don't have any kind of special talent.” she kept saying that and the gray foal laughed a little.

As I learned, the 'cute mark' was the representation of the talent of that specific pony, and it would appear when the pony in question found out what was his or her special talent.
“oh you little...” Scotaloo said, really angry at the pink pony.
“Aw shuks... they are at it again...” Applejack sighed near me.
“Again?” I asked looking at her.
“Yeah... those two are Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Both foals always give mah sister a hard time.” She frowned. “Ah'll go ther'n solve this.” the orange mare said but I stepped in her way.
“no... let them be.” I said holding the orange pony back.
“What? Why?” She sounded a little angry with me.
“You can't always be there for your sister...” I said simply. “Besides they are only arguing... And if needed, I know Apple Bloom will be able to defend herself... she is your sister after all.” I said smiling to Applejack who seemed more calm now.
“...You girls are so low that you grab any chance to be around 'something' that makes you less losers... like that baby lizard from today.” I heard Diamond Tiara saying.
“Yeah... I mean, that thing is nothing but a big “lagartixa”... I bet he can't even fly or breath fire like a true dragon.” Silver spoon said and both started to laugh.

Those words hit me like stones. The thing that I almost hated was that I was still learning how to control this new body, and to have those words throwing at me... was too much.
“Oh, I'm gonna rip someone's face off now...” I said growling and walked in the circle's direction but Applejack grabbed my tail, holding me in place.
“Hold yer horses Eravel!” She said a bit muffled by my tail and I stopped pulling it. “Yer not gonna go there and attack those two are ya? Ya said it Yerself that they're only arguin.”
“...what could we expect from the sister of a fifth class pony farm like her sister...” I heard Diamond Tiara saying and Applejack snorted.
“Go get'em Eravel...” She said and pushed me lightly.

I entered the circle of ponies and glared at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon with my sharp claws exposed... I really wanted to test them right now, but I knew that no matter how angry I was, they were not worth it.
“So, I heard that you like to make fun of others isn't that right Diamond Tiara?” I crossed my arms... That would have sounded ten times better if my voice were not so childish.
“Ohhh look, is the wannabe dragon! Oh Celestia, somepony save me from this ferocious beast!” She said making a huge drama... Silver Spoon started to laugh at the scene... I simply snorted and small flames escaped from my nose... I really had to learn how to control that.
“Yeah, very funny, but may I ask you something?” I said getting closer to her “What exactly is your Cute Mark?” I stopped in the middle of the circle, glaring at them. Apple bloom walked next to me and glared at them too.
“Are you blind or something? Is a tiara, a beautiful tiara, just like I use in my head!” She said showing her flank to me.
“Yeah, but what does that mean? Huh?” I said defiant and Diamond Tiara looked at me confused... Apple Bloom proved to be really smart because she was the first to catch my line of thought.
“What he means is, what is your special talent? Huh? Wearing a tiara? Wah'kind of talent is that anyway?” Apple Bloom saying and Diamond Tiara widened her eyes.
“W-What do you mean by this!?” She said starting to get angry.
“What ah mean is, besides wearing a tiara and mocking others, what else do ya do? Nuthig! Tha's what I mean!. Look at everypony 'round us. Each Cute Mark have a reason but yours!”
Diamond Tiara dropped her ears and stepped back.
“So... I hope you rethink your words, because I'm small TODAY and Apple Bloom don't have a cute mark YET, but you? You are branded with a useless talent.” I said narrowing my eyes.

Diamond Tiara's eyes filled with tear with my last words and she ran away crying. Silver Spoon looked at her friend running and then at me again. I snorted leaving two small flames from my nose and that was enough for the gray mare run away too.
“wow... that was really mean... but she deserved to hear that.” I heard Scotaloo saying next to me.
“Sorry... I think I got a little over the edge here...” I sighed realizing that I had just made a foal cry like that.
“Don't yer worry about that.” Apple Bloom said smiling at me. “She jus' got what she deserved... Ah think she'll think twice next time she decides that it’s a good idea to mess with us.” The olive foal stomped hard on the floor and smirked.
“O'right girls...” I heard Applejack approaching us with a soft smile. “Let's get going” The three foals gathered around the orange farm mare. “Wanna come too Eravel?” She said looking at me and the three foals looked at me with interest.
“Did mah sister jus' call you 'Eravel'?” Apple Bloom asked to me.
“No!, of course not... she called me by my name, Erin” I said breaking a sweat now. I didn't wanted ponies to know that I was the human.
“Erin? Who in tarnation is Erin, yer name is Ervael” Applejack said and I face palmed. Damn element of honesty...
“You are Eravel? That human that everyone talked about? But wait, you are no human, you are a dragon.” Sweetie Bell said looking at me now.
“And what in tarnation is this 'Erin' thing Eravel?” Applejack asked.
“I didn't want anyone to know that I'm Eravel because I don't want to explain how I ended up as a dragon... I saw your reaction at the explanation that Twilight gave... and I don't want others making that face to me when they found out.” I explained.
“But how did you ended up as a dragon?” Scotaloo asked.
I simply arched an eyebrow at her and crossed my arms... “What did I just said?” I asked a little annoyed.
“OH , yeah... sorry...” She blushed a little.
“Anyway... I should go back to my home now... I'm feeling a bit tired after today's activities... this new body can't stand a whole day awake.” I said feeling the sleepiness crawling on me.
“Wanna a ride to yer house?” Applejack offered.
“No... thanks Applejack, I think I can walk home on my own.” I said and started to walk, waving goodbye to the for mares behind me.

With my tiny legs I took more time to reach the city's border... each step was a challenge. Each step the sleepiness got stronger... I gave up in the middle of the way... Walked a few steps to reach a nearby tree and sat under it... just a quick nap won't hurt, yeah... it won't hurt. As soon as I closed my eyes I fell asleep.

Right after I closed my eyes I felt someone poking me in the fore head... at first I moved my had, making a sign to whoever it was to go away... but then I felt another poke.
“Go away I'm trying to sleep here...” I said and made a sign, telling to whoever it was t go away... And the poke came again... I opened my eyes with anger to see who was this pain in the flank.
“I SAID TO STOP THAT DAMN -” I stopped mid sentence when I saw Discord laying in front of me, smiling. “Oh... looks like I'm already sleeping...” I said looking around. It was the same place where I stopped to sleep, but if Discord was there, there was no doubt that this was a dream.
“Heh... yes you are” He said in that usual joyfully voice of his. “How's this new body going?”
“Bad... Can't hold a whole day awake, and these wings and tail always get in the way..” I said crossing my arms.
“Heh, yeah, I was watching you... Funnies thing ever!” He said laughing softly. “But I have to admit that you have a strong will. Your brain was used to a specific set of moves but you manage to rearrange it all in matter of days with only practice and will power.”
“My father used to say that there is nothing one can't do if you really put your soul on it.” I said shrugging.
“And you have a nice cyan motive to be back to normal, am I right?” Discord said smirking.
“Y-Yeah... I guess I have... Can't face her until I'm good again” I said looking at the sky
“Well, good thing then I made you sleep before she could find you” Discord said smiling at me.”
“WHAT!?” I jumped staring at him... I knew he had some influence in this world, but to make me sleep was too much!
“She's outside right now, in the top of the tree watching you sleep.” He said and pointed up. I looked at the tree and saw her. Her body was partially transparent, like a ghost. “She's in the real world right now... That's why her body is like that...” he explained. “And you are going to join her... NOW!” I heard Discord saying and the ground opened under my feet.

I woke up widening my eyes. My heart was racing and I was shaking a little. I heard a rustle in the trees and when I looked up I saw only a few leaves falling. I saw Rainbow Dash flying away really fast, to get away.
“There you are!” I heard a male voice calling me. “I looked for you all over!” Steel Head said landing next to me. “Was that Rainbow Dash?
“Yeah... I said watching her fly away... She flew away when I woke up...” I sighed.
“Eravel... I can't say that I understand how you feel, but I understand that you like her as much as she likes you... You should throw your pride away and go find her. You won’t find a mare like that again.” He said looking at me.
“I know that... but it's hard to face her in my current state. I fell like I'm not worthy enough for her right now...” I looked back at him.
“Well... can't say that I don't understand that feeling either...” Steel Head said to my surprise.
“What... how?”
“Long story Eravel... maybe I’ll tell you some day... but now, let's get home... I spent the whole morning looking for you and now is hours past lunch time, and I'm starving!” He said and lowered his body so I could climb up.

I mounted on him and we flew to our house... The few minutes of flight we stood in silence. I couldn't stop thinking about the cyan pegasus. I had to gather courage to meet her and soon. My thoughts about Rainbow Dash stopped when we arrived at home and saw that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were waiting for us, both with a smile on their faces. I wondered what they wanted...
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A/N: Here we are... another chapter ^^
Hope you guys enjoy and as always... COMMENTS!
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Tell me things that you like or dislike, suggestions and etc... Everything is welcome ^^