Old memories- Gentle Dancer
Authors note: All the characters in this story are Human in form. "But how do you tell the races apart?" you might ask. simple. Earth ponies appear as normal human, nothing special to see; Unicorns have a diamond shaped birthmark on their foreheads that glows whenever they use their magic; Pegasi have wing like birthmarks on their shoulder blades, and can summon somewhat translucent energy wings to fly (they can still walk on clouds and do other pegasi duties with or without wings); Alicorns have both Unicorn and Pegasi traits, and of course, human bodies.
Gentle Dancer was gently swaying to the soft, classical tunes of an Octavia CD. She was wearing her favorite tye-dye tee shirt, as well as a pair of black sweat pants. Her shoulder length Navy blue hair was tied back out of her face as she danced to the music, revealing a diamond shaped birthmark on her forehead.
There was a knock at the door. Before she could even make it to the door, a boy walked in, followed by a girl. The boy was dressed in a light brown shirt, with a dusty and worn leather vest over it. His jeans here a bit torn, an caked with a layer of dust. The girl was wearing an orange top and jean shorts.
“Hey Gen.” said the boy, shaking his messy, sand colored hair.
“Hey Dusty, hey Solar”
“So what’s up?” asked Solar Flicker, plopping down on the couch. “Or you listening to that boring music?”
“The music isn’t boring, I’m just practicing for a competition coming up soon” she said as she clicked the remote, the stereo turning off.
“I still give you props for signing up for it,” said Dusty, leaning against the wall. “I could never do that”
“That’s cause you can’t dance to save your life” said Gentle Dance. “And to be honest, i was never really this open...if it hadn’t been for him, I would only dance in private.”
““Him”?” asked Solar. “Who are you talking about?”
“Just...someone who helped me become who I am today...”
[Gentle dance's memory]
It all started when i was in school. Since I had started using my magic, my parents enrolled me in a school that taught unicorns like me how to use their magic. It wasn't like I was anyone special; I wasn't learning like spells and potions, i was just learning the most basic of skills so that I could not have my magic spazzing out on me.
I had been there only a few days, and already I was having difficulties. I could barely do any of the spells that the other students could do. While they could lift basic things, I struggled to get it off the ground. When they could teleport something across the class room, i only got it to go a few inches.
Most of the students and teachers were supportive. They said that it was ok that I was struggling with my magic...but it was a small group of students that made me feel like a freak. Their names were Crystal Charmer, Diamond, and Dream Sparkle. The teased me relentless cause of that fact.
i feared seeing them at all, knowing what they would do if they saw me. I didn't have a lot of friends, cause when ever we would hang out, the three of them would start yelling at me and calling me names.
I remember a day when I was sitting in the school courtyard, just having out by the fountain. I was so focused on studying basic levitation that I didn't notice them, but when I looked up to go, They had surrounded me, and the teasing started.
"Freak!" yelled Dream Sparkle, flipping my books onto the ground.
"You'll never learn magic" said Diamond, laughing.
I covered my ears and squeezed my eyes shut. I fell onto my knees, tears in my eyes. Even with my ears covered, I could hear them laughing more. I just wanted it to stop. I wanted them to leave me alone.
"Hey!" called a males voice, making the girls stop. "Leave her alone!"
I looked up with my teary eyes to see who had called in my defense. I saw a boy, about a few years older than I was, standing a few feet away from the fountain. He had black hair, with bangs that stopped above his red eyes, a pony tail waving in the wind. His black trench coat, with the arms covered in red arcane symbols, was flapping in the wind, revealing jeans and black sneakers.
"Hey, who are you?" called out Dream Song, taking a step forward towards the stranger. Her posture was one of intimidation.
"That's none of your concern," said the stranger, standing defiant and strong. "I'll ask you again nicely; Leave her alone!"
The three girls chuckled to them selves. All of their birthmarks started glowing, and the held out their hands, a shimmering, pastel metallic orb appeared in front of them. I gasped; it was their mane attack, known as the Crystal blast. It took them a few seconds to charge it, but I knew that it had some kick to it.
The three of them chuckled before they launched it at him. I was scared for the boy; I had seen teachers get knocked back quite a few feet after taking a hit from it.
But the boy barely blinked. Just before it hit him, a red spot appeared on his forehead, and he raised him hand, a translucent red shield appearing in front of him. The magic ball of energy slammed into it, but the shield wouldn't budge. The boy didn't even break a sweat, and with a bang and in a flash of light, the ball vanished, leaving his shield.
All four of us gasped. I had never seen someone with such strong maid before; well, stronger than my tormenters anyways, and I could see that Crystal and her crew had no idea what to do now.
"What is going on here?" came a voice. I looked and saw the head master heading over towards us.
"These three girls were picking on the smaller one," the stranger said in a calm voice as his shield dissipated. "I came over to stop it, but the three attacked me."
"Well, it seems like you handled yourself accordingly," said the Head Master, before looking sternly at the girls. "You three, meet me in my office. We'll discuss your consequences laster." The three girls went to protest, but the Head master waved his hand, silencing all three of them. The glared at the stranger as they went off, followed y the Head master.
"You alright?" the stranger asked. His birthmark appeared again, glowing red as my books and school material levitated off the ground and arranged themselves neatly beside me.
"Y...yeah..." I said, still somewhat speechless from what I had seen. "Thanks..."
"Its nothing. If you don't mind me asking, why were they teasing you?"
"I...I...I can barely use magic..." I said, looking at the ground. "I can't even levitate an apple...I'm weak"
"No you're not," he said, sitting down across from me. "Believe it or not, I used to be like you: I couldn't even do the basics. But what you have to do is work hard, and soon, you'll be able to use your magic with ease."
I sniffled a bit, and i looked up to thank him, but he was heading out towards the library. I would've run after him, but the bell for my next class rang, so I grabbed my things and ran off to class.
Old memories- Dusty Boulder
Back in Gentle Dancer's house
"And that was the last I ever saw him." Gentle Dancer said, finishing her story. "Without him, I might not have had the courage to try magic again. And at the same time as i started mastering my magic, I learned that I was a pretty open and outgoing person."
"Ugh...enough," groaned Dusty, his head rolling back. "Yuck, what a sappy story. You sound like Princess talking about her Prince Charming"
"Oh hush you," Dancer said as she tossed a pillow at him, smacking him dead in the face. Dusty growled and, grabbing the pillow and throwing it back, but Dancer dodged and stepped to the side.
"So is there anything you two clowns wanna do today?" asked Solar Flicker. " I mean, other than play some video games or what not. Maybe go swimming by the waterfall?"
"Uh...I think I'll pass" Dusty said, a visible shudder passed through his body as a little color drained from his face. It was something that his friends had never seen before.
"What's with you dude?" asked Dancer, cocking her head to the side.
"I just....bad memories about waterfalls...water in general...it was when I was learning to fly...but that was when I met the coolest person I've ever seen."
Dusty Bouler's memory
I was pretty young when my family took a vacation to the Calvary Forest; my Dad thought that it would be a good idea to give me a break from my flying lesson's. It was my first big trip anywhere outside of home, so i was really excited.
You see, I had been having a rough time with my flying practicing. It wasn't that I couldn't summon my wings, it was that there had been a lot of stress between me and my dad. Maybe it was because of all of his work, i don't know.
We spent a few days just looking around. Let me tell you, it was so beautiful up there. Trees as thick as a house and as tall as mountains. it looked like one stepped back in time.
After a few days, we found our selves by a large river, next to a set of rapids . We had decided to take a break from our long trip, and since this was my first time seeing a river like this, I decided to go closer to it to get a better look. My mom had told be to be careful, but that was a split second before my feet slipped on the wet rocks.
I fell into the cold water, my mom's shocked cries muffled by the water. I struggled to get to the surface, and soon I bobbed above the surface. I gasped for air, and tried to call out for help, but I was suddenly sucked under the water again. After a few minutes i was at the surface again, and I turned in the water, and my eyes widened as I saw that I was getting ever closer to a water fall; fear surged through me, and i struggled to get to shore, but I ended up flailing my arms instead.
I was pulled under the water one more time, and before I knew it, I felt myself falling, a dull roar filling my ears. I knew I had gone over the edge, and it terrified me; not because I most likely wouldn't make it, but mostly because of how hurt my parents would feel. Now, if I had a clear head, i would've summoned my wings. BUt i could barely manage to get off the ground back home; they were gonna be no help here.
As i fell in what felt like slow motion, I made a soft prayer to Celestia. i don't remember if I asked her to save me, or make everything all right afterwards, but I do remember praying. I also remember that after that, i felt someone catch me, and then the wind against my wet face. I was still so shocked that I didn't open my eyes. Whoever had caught me, I could tell that they were strong; i could feel muscles, though they weren't like my dad's.
I could feel whoever it was slowly climb higher and higher into the sky, and after a few minutes, I felt myself being set on something soft and hard. I opened my eyes and saw that I was back on the river bank, my mom crying as she ran over to me, tears streaming from her eyes as she hugged me tight. My dad came next and hugged me tight as well. He was crying: it scared me to see him like that. I had always seen him as someone who stood like a mountain, strong and unmovable. But I saw that he was just as the same as my mom was.
As my parents hugged me, I looked up to see if I could see who had saved me. I saw a boy, older than me but younger than my parents, standing near the bank. He had a pair of dark jeans on, sneakers, a tight white tee shirt, and black hair, with bangs stopping before his red eyes. A pair of Red wings stood out behind him.
"Are you gonna be alright kid?" he asked, in a voice that was concerned, despite his somewhat stoic appearance.
"Uh..I..I think so...thanks" i said meekly.
"Yes, thank you," said my mom, looking up at him with gratitude. "Thank Celestia that you were here when you were. Who knows what would've happened if you hadn't been here."
"Just glad i could help," he said. He bent down to pick up a black coat, and with a running leap, lept off the cliff and flew away in a sudden burst of speed. I watched him fly away, and I thought of how cool he was. He was like Rainbow Dash from all the stories my mom ever told me.